bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phytochemical and Pharmacological Research in Agrimonia eupatoria L. Herb Extract with Anti-Inflammatory and Hepatoprotective Properties
Authors: Huzio Natalia , Grytsyk Andriy , Raal Ain , Grytsyk Lyubov , Koshovyi Oleh
Published: September 2022

The most promising plant from the genus Agrimony (Agrimonia L.) of the Rosaceae family for use in medical practice is Agrimonia eupatoria L. Phytochemical and pharmacological research in Agrimonia eupatoria L. herb extract, obtained with using 40% ethanol solution as an extractant were carried out. A total of 11 free and 17 bound monosaccharides, 17 amino acids were found in the studied extract, 9 of which are essential. Gallic and ellagic acids, gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, catechin, epicatechin, and epicatechin gallate were identified in the extract of A. eupatoria by the HPLC method; as well as hydroxycinnamic acids: hydroxyphenylacetate, caffeic, syringic, p-coumaric, ferulic, sinapic, cinnamic and quinic acid; flavonoids: quercetin-3-D-glucoside (isoquercitrin), neohesperidin, naringenin, luteolin were found, and their quantitative content was determined, as well by spectrophotometric methods. The herb extract of A. eupatoria belongs to practically non-toxic substances and has pronounced anti-inflammatory (at a dose of 10.0 mg/kg anti-exudative activity reached a maximum in 5 h (88.17%)) and hepatoprotective activity (at a dose of 25 mg/kg it reduce AlAt level by 1.1 and 1.2 times, respectively; AsAt by 1.2 and 1.1 times, respectively), reduces the level of lipid peroxidation and stabilizes the membrane structures of liver cells. Thus, the herb extract of A. eupatoria is a promising substance for the creation of phytomedicines with anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activity.
Antibacterial Activities of Monsonia Angustifolia and Momordica Balsamina Linn Extracts against Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii
Authors: Nogbou Noel-David , Mabela Dimpho Raesibe , Matseke Buang , Mapfumari Ntwanano Sipho , Mothibe Mmammosheledi Elsie , Obi Lawrence Chikwelu , Musyoki Andrew Munyalo
Published: September 2022

Carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is resistant to most of the available antibiotics and poses serious therapeutic challenges. The study investigated Monsonia angustifolia (M. angustifolia) and Momordica balsamina Linn (M. balsamina Linn) extracts for antibacterial activity against a clinical isolate of carbapenemase-producing A. baumannii using the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion and TLC coupled with bioautography. MIC determination experiments were conducted on a molecularly characterized A. baumannii isolate identified using VITEK2. Positive PCR detection of blaOXA-51 and blaOXA-23 confirmed isolate identity and the presence of a carbapenemase-encoding gene. Antibacterial activity was observed with the methanolic extract of M. balsamina Linn with a MIC of 0.5 mg/mL. Compounds with Rf values of 0.05; 0.17; 0.39 obtained from M. angustifolia hexane extract; compounds with Rf values of 0.58; 0.78; 0.36; 0.48; 0.5; 0.56; 0.67; 0.9 obtained from M. angustifolia dichloromethane extract; compounds with Rf values of 0.11; 0.56; 0.24; 0.37 obtained from M. angustifolia acetone extract and compounds with Rf values of 0.11; 0.27 obtained from M. angustifolia methanol extract demonstrated a level of antibacterial activity. M. angustifolia and M. balsamina Linn plant extracts have a clinically significant antibacterial activity against a carbapenemase-producing A. baumannii strain.
Pepper Plants Harboring L Resistance Alleles Showed Tolerance toward Manifestations of Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus Disease
Authors: Eldan Or , Ofir Arie , Luria Neta , Klap Chen , Lachman Oded , Bakelman Elena , Belausov Eduard , Smith Elisheva , Dombrovsky Aviv
Published: September 2022

The tobamovirus tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) infects tomato plants harboring the Tm-22 resistance allele, which corresponds with tobamoviruses’ avirulence (Avr) gene encoding the movement protein to activate a resistance-associated hypersensitive response (HR). ToBRFV has caused severe damage to tomato crops worldwide. Unlike tomato plants, pepper plants harboring the L resistance alleles, which correspond with the tobamovirus Avr gene encoding the coat protein, have shown HR manifestations upon ToBRFV infection. We have found that ToBRFV inoculation of a wide range of undefined pepper plant varieties could cause a “hypersensitive-like cell death” response, which was associated with ToBRFV transient systemic infection dissociated from disease symptom manifestations on fruits. Susceptibility of pepper plants harboring L1, L3, or L4 resistance alleles to ToBRFV infection following HRs was similarly transient and dissociated from disease symptom manifestations on fruits. Interestingly, ToBRFV stable infection of a pepper cultivar not harboring the L gene was also not associated with disease symptoms on fruits, although ToBRFV was localized in the seed epidermis, parenchyma, and endothelium, which borders the endosperm, indicating that a stable infection of maternal origin of these tissues occurred. Pepper plants with systemic ToBRFV infection could constitute an inoculum source for adjacently grown tomato plants.
Biological Assay-Guided Fractionation and Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolite Profiling of Annona muricata L. Cytotoxic Compounds against Lung Cancer A549 Cell Line
Authors: Salac Edcyl Lee O. , Alvarez Michael Russelle , Gaurana Rnie Shayne , Grijaldo Sheryl Joyce B. , Serrano Luster Mae , Juan Florence de , Abogado Rowell , Padolina Jr. Isagani , Deniega Froila Marie , Delica Kimberly , Fernandez Kimberly , Lebrilla Carlito B. , Manalo Marlon N. , Heralde III Francisco M. , Completo Gladys Cherisse J. , Nacario Ruel C.
Published: September 2022

Annona muricata L. (Guyabano) leaves are reported to exhibit anticancer activity against cancer cells. In this study, the ethyl acetate extract from guyabano leaves was purified through column chromatography, and the cytotoxic effects of the semi-purified fractions were evaluated against A549 lung cancer cells using in vitro MTS cytotoxicity and scratch/wound healing assays. Fractions F15-16C and F15-16D exhibited the highest anticancer activity in the MTS assay, with % cytotoxicity values of 99.6% and 99.4%, respectively. The bioactivity of the fractions was also consistent with the results of the scratch/wound healing assay. Moreover, untargeted metabolomics was employed on the semi-purified fractions to determine the putative compounds responsible for the bioactivity. The active fractions were processed using LC-MS/MS analysis with the integration of the following metabolomic tools: MS-DIAL (for data processing), MetaboAnalyst (for data analysis), GNPS (for metabolite annotation), and Cytoscape (for network visualization). Results revealed that the putative compounds with a significant difference between active and inactive fractions in PCA and OPLS-DA models were pheophorbide A and diphenylcyclopropenone.
Mechanical Properties and In Vitro Biocompatibility of Hybrid Polymer-HA/BAG Ceramic Dental Materials
Authors: Chen Yuanyuan , Sun Cheng , Cao Jinfang , Wu Yuanyuan , Cui Bencang , Ma Jianfeng , Wang Huining
Published: September 2022

The aim of this study is to prepare hybrid polymer–ceramic dental materials for chairside computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) applications. The hybrid polymer–ceramic materials were fabricated via infiltrating polymerizable monomer mixtures into sintered hydroxyapatite/bioactive glass (HA/BAG) ceramic blocks and thermo-curing. The microstructure was observed by scanning electron microscopy and an energy-dispersive spectrometer. The phase structure was analyzed by X-ray diffraction. The composition ratio was analyzed by a thermogravimetric analyzer. The hardness was measured by a Vickers hardness tester. The flexural strength, flexural modulus, and compressive strength were measured and calculated by a universal testing machine. The growth of human gingival fibroblasts was evaluated by a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay and immunofluorescence staining. The results showed that the sintering temperature and BAG content affected the mechanical properties of the hybrid polymer–ceramic materials. The X-ray diffraction analysis showed that high-temperature sintering promoted the partial conversion of HA to β-tricalcium phosphate. The values of the hardness, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and compressive strength of all the hybrid polymer–ceramic materials were 0.89–3.51 GPa, 57.61–118.05 MPa, 20.26–39.77 GPa, and 60.36–390.46 MPa, respectively. The mechanical properties of the hybrid polymer–ceramic materials were similar to natural teeth. As a trade-off between flexural strength and hardness, hybrid polymer–ceramic material with 20 wt.% BAG sintered at 1000 °C was the best material. In vitro experiments confirmed the biocompatibility of the hybrid polymer–ceramic material. Therefore, the hybrid polymer–ceramic material is expected to become a new type of dental restoration material.
Quality Definition in Micro Injection Molding Process by Means of Surface Characterization Parameters
Authors: Bellantone Vincenzo , Surace Rossella , Fassi Irene
Published: September 2022

Quality evaluation of micro injection molded products is a complex task, in particular when instruments basing on contact methods are used and issues in measurements could arise due to the contact tool dimension not fitting well with extremely narrow features. Therefore, in these cases, optical methods may be preferred for the evaluation of molded products’ dimensions and surface quality, especially for parts devoted to applications requiring functional purposes. In this context, the present paper proposes the use of surface parameters as a quality index for the evaluation of both the micro injection molding process and the resulting products. To this aim, two experimental procedures were implemented to allow for: (i) the evaluation of the most suitable surface parameters identified in relation to the process parameters; (ii) comparisons of the surface parameters findings with those obtained by classic dimensional quantity via a designed experimental plan (DoE). The results show that the surface parameters, evaluated in critical areas of the components, can ensure reliable estimates for the surface quality of the molded parts and can be preferred in comparison to linear measurements.
Investigating the Deformation Characteristics of Buried High-Density Polyethylene Pipes: Considering the Effect of Sequentially Applying Pressure and Elevating Temperature
Authors: Zhang Yuchen , Shi Jianyong , Liu Zhanlei , Sun Zhenming , Wu Xun
Published: September 2022

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) materials have many applications in the municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. HDPE gravity drainage pipes are commonly utilized in MSW landfills because of the polymer’s resistance to harsh chemical conditions. When landfill wastes are freshly filled, the weight acting on the leachate collection pipe increases. The temperature of the leachate collection pipe increases as a result of the heat produced by the decomposition of organic components after waste filling. In this paper, the effects of sequentially applying pressure and elevating temperature on the deformation characteristics (such as deformations and strains) of HDPE pipes are investigated. Measurements of pipe deformations and circumferential strains from model experiments in which 110 mm HDPE pipes were backfilled with sand and subjected to 300 kPa of maximum vertical pressure at temperatures of 20, 60 and 80 °C showed the following results: (1) a classification of pipe behavior relative to the surrounding soil stiffness is advantageous for HDPE pipe design; (2) when temperature increases to 60 °C and 80 °C, the strain distribution around the pipe changes from V-shaped to U-shaped, and the pipe deformation profile changes from elliptical to rectangular; (3) when temperature increases from 20 °C to 60 °C, the vertical and horizontal pipe deflections increase by a factor of 1.08~1.19; (4) when temperature increases from 60 °C to 80 °C, the vertical and horizontal pipe deflections increase by a factor of 1.15~1.31; and (5) the existing analytical method that considers two extreme interfaces can capture the deformations measured in the model test well. In addition, preliminary recommendations for the design of leachate collection pipes are provided based on the analysis of differences in pipe profile versus temperature.
Electrospun Collagen Scaffold Bio-Functionalized with Recombinant ICOS-Fc: An Advanced Approach to Promote Bone Remodelling
Authors: Melo Priscila , Montalbano Giorgia , Boggio Elena , Gigliotti Casimiro Luca , Dianzani Chiara , Dianzani Umberto , Vitale-Brovarone Chiara , Fiorilli Sonia
Published: September 2022

The treatment of osteoporotic fractures is a severe clinical issue, especially in cases where low support is provided, e.g., pelvis. New treatments aim to stimulate bone formation in compromised scenarios by using multifunctional biomaterials combined with biofabrication techniques to produce 3D structures (scaffolds) that can support bone formation. Bone’s extracellular matrix (ECM) is mainly composed of type I collagen, making this material highly desirable in bone tissue engineering applications, and its bioactivity can be improved by incorporating specific biomolecules. In this work, type I collagen membranes were produced by electrospinning showing a fibre diameter below 200 nm. An optimized one-step strategy allowed to simultaneously crosslink the electrospun membranes and bind ICOS-Fc, a biomolecule able to reversibly inhibit osteoclast activity. The post-treatment did not alter the ECM-like nanostructure of the meshes and the physicochemical properties of collagen. UV-Vis and TGA analyses confirmed both crosslinking and grafting of ICOS-Fc onto the collagen fibres. The preservation of the biological activity of grafted ICOS-Fc was evidenced by the ability to affect the migratory activity of ICOSL-positive cells. The combination of ICOS-Fc with electrospun collagen represents a promising strategy to design multifunctional devices able to boost bone regeneration in osteoporotic fractures.
Effect of Hardener Type on the Photochemical and Antifungal Performance of Epoxy and Oligophosphonate S–IPNs
Authors: Varganici Cristian-Dragos , Rosu Liliana , Rosu Dan , Hamciuc Corneliu , Rosca Irina , Vasiliu Ana-Lavinia
Published: September 2022

Due to their highly reactive character and multiple crosslinking capacity, epoxy resins are one of the worldwide market-dominating classes of thermosetting polymers and are present in a wide range of technical applications, including structural adhesives, coatings and polymer matrices for composite materials. Despite their excellent features, epoxy resins are known to be highly flammable and possess low thermal stability and a brittle character and crack easily under impact forces. An efficient approach towards eliminating such drawbacks resides in obtaining epoxy-based semi-interpenetrating polymer networks, which possess excellent control over the morphology. The article describes the comparative effect of three hardeners (aromatic, cycloaliphatic and aliphatic) in the presence of an oligophosphonate (–R–O–PO(C6H5)–O–) (2 wt.% phosphorus) on the photochemical, fire and antifungal performance of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether semi-interpenetrating polymer networks. The networks are designed as future potential outdoor protective coatings for different substrates. The fire resistance capacity of the networks was undertaken with microscale combustion calorimetry before and after photochemical aging. Structural changes during photoirradiation were monitored via color modification studies, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, morphological assessment through scanning electron microscopy and mass loss measurements in order to propose the action mode of the hardeners and the oligophosphonate on the material properties. Microbiological testing was also undertaken with the aid of three specific wood decaying fungi as a first substrate.
Locating Method for Electrical Tree Degradation in XLPE Cable Insulation Based on Broadband Impedance Spectrum
Authors: Han Tao , Yao Yufei , Li Qiang , Huang Youcong , Zheng Zhongnan , Gao Yu
Published: September 2022

Electrical treeing is one of the main causes of crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) cable failure. The current methods for locating electrical trees are mainly based on the partial discharge (PD) signal. However, PD signals are easily attenuated in the long cable and the PD test voltage may cause damage to the insulation. This work proposes an improved broadband impedance spectrum (BIS) method to locate electrical trees in XLPE cable. A mathematical model of a long cable containing local electrical tree degradation is established. The Gaussian signal is chosen as the simulated incident signal to reduce the spectral leakage. The location spectrum is obtained by multiplying the frequency domain function of the single-ended reflection coefficient and the Gaussian pulse. It has been found that the location spectrum of the local capacitance change can be characterized as a typical double-peak waveform and the spectrum of the local conductance change can be regarded as a typical single-peak waveform. Electrical tree experiments at different temperatures were carried out to initiate different types of electrical trees. A vector network analyzer (VNA) was used to test the high frequency capacitance characteristics in the treeing process. The location spectra of the 20 m long cable containing different types of electrical trees was calculated by the improved location algorithm. The results show that the location error of local electrical tree degradation is less than 3%. The capacitance of the sliced sample decreases with treeing time. The effect of the bush-pine tree on capacitance parameters is greater than that of the branch-pine tree. A typical double-peak is found in the bush-pine tree location spectrum and a single-peak is found in the branch-pine tree spectrum.
Functional Polymer and Packaging Technology for Bakery Products
Authors: San Horman , Laorenza Yeyen , Behzadfar Ehsan , Sonchaeng Uruchaya , Wadaugsorn Kiattichai , Sodsai Janenutch , Kaewpetch Thitiporn , Promhuad Khwanchat , Srisa Atcharawan , Wongphan Phanwipa , Harnkarnsujarit Nathdanai
Published: September 2022

Polymeric materials including plastic and paper are commonly used as packaging for bakery products. The incorporation of active substances produces functional polymers that can effectively retain the quality and safety of packaged products. Polymeric materials can be used to produce a variety of package forms such as film, tray, pouch, rigid container and multilayer film. This review summarizes recent findings and developments of functional polymeric packaging for bakery products. Functional polymerics are mainly produced by the incorporation of non-volatile and volatile active substances that effectively retain the quality of packaged bakery products. Antimicrobial agents (either synthetic or natural substances) have been intensively investigated, whereas advances in coating technology with functional materials either as edible coatings or non-edible coatings have also preserved the quality of packaged bakery products. Recent patents demonstrate novel structural packaging designs combined with active functions to extend the shelf life of bakery products. Other forms of active packaging technology for bakery products include oxygen absorbers and ethanol emitters. The latest research progress of functional polymeric packaging for bakery products, which provides important reference value for reducing the waste and improving the quality of packaged products, is demonstrated. Moreover, the review systematically analyzed the spoilage factors of baked products from physicochemical, chemical and microbiological perspectives. Functional packaging using polymeric materials can be used to preserve the quality of packaged bakery products.
Polymer Nanocomposite Containing Palladium Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Properties
Authors: Yurkov Gleb , Koksharov Yury , Fionov Alexander , Taratanov Nikolai , Kolesov Vladimir , Kirillov Vladislav , Makeev Mstislav , Mikhalev Pavel , Ryzhenko Dmitriy , Solodilov Vitaliy
Published: September 2022

Composite nanomaterials have been prepared through thermal decomposition of palladium diacetate. The composite contains palladium nanoparticles embedded in high-pressure polyethylene. The materials were studied by a number of different physico-chemical methods, such as transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, and EXAFS. The average size of the nanoparticles is 7.0 ± 0.5 nm. It is shown that with the decrease of metal content in the polymer matrix the average size of nanoparticles decreased from 7 to 6 nm, and the coordination number of palladium also decreased from 7 to 5.7. The mean size of palladium particles increases with the growing concentration of palladium content in the matrix. It is shown that the electrophysical properties of the material obtained depend on the filler concentration. The chemical composition of palladium components includes metallic palladium, palladium (III) oxide, and palladium dioxide. All samples have narrow lines (3–5 Oe) with a g factor of around two in the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra. It is shown that EPR lines have uneven boarding by saturation lines investigation. The relaxation component properties are different for spectral components. It leads to the spectrum line width depending on the magnetic field value. At first approximation, the EPR spectra can be described as a sum of two Lorentzian function graphs, corresponding to the following two paramagnetic centers: one is on the surface, and one is inside the palladium particles. Some of the experimental characteristics were measured for the first time. The data obtained indicate interesting properties of palladium-based nanocomposites, which will be useful for obtaining products based on these materials.
Preparation and Application of In-Situ Loaded Silver Nanoparticles Antibacterial Fresh-Keeping Composite Paper
Authors: Lin Guangzhi , Li Xia , Zhao Chuanshan
Published: September 2022

The freshness and safety of fruits and vegetables affect our daily life. Paper products are often used in the packaging and transportation of fruits and vegetables, and these can provide other functions besides packaging after certain modifications and additions. In this study, the AgNPs/1-MCP antibacterial fresh-keeping composite paper was prepared by in-situ loaded silver nanoparticles and spraying 1-MCP solution. Moreover, the prepared paper was used to preserve sweet cherries. It was found that the prepared AgNPs/1-MCP antibacterial fresh-keeping composite paper could effectively inhibit E. coli and S. aureus. When the addition of 1-MCP in the paper was 0.05 g, the fresh-keeping effect on cherries was the best. Under this optimal condition, the weight loss ratio of the cherries was reduced by 1.93%, the firmness was increased by 27.7%, and the soluble solid content was increased by 25%. The preservation time was extended from 4 days to 12 days, three times that of the untreated ones. The prepared fresh-keeping material is environmentally friendly, non-toxic and harmless, simple to prepare and convenient to use, and is expected to become one of the important fresh-keeping methods for fruits.
Controllable Construction of Temperature-Sensitive Supramolecular Hydrogel Based on Cellulose and Cyclodextrin
Authors: Wu Jiayin , Lu Qilin , Wang Hanchen , Lu Beili , Huang Biao
Published: September 2022

In temperature sensitive hydrogels, the swelling degree or light transmittance of the gel itself changes with variations in ambient temperature, prompting its wide application in controlled drug release, tissue engineering, and material separation. Considering the amphiphilic structure of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), a cellulose-based supramolecular hydrogel with superior temperature sensitivity was synthesized based on a combination of cellulose and β-CD as well as the host–guest interaction between β-CD and polypropylene glycol (PPG). In the one-pot tandem reaction process, chemical grafting of β-CD on cellulose and the inclusion complexation of β-CD with PPG were performed simultaneously in a NaOH/urea/water system. The obtained supramolecular hydrogel had a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of 34 °C. There existed covalent bonding between the cellulose and β-CD, host–guest complexation between the β-CD and PPG, and hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions between the components in the network structure of the supramolecular hydrogel. The combination of various covalent and non-covalent bonds endowed the resulting supramolecular hydrogel with good internal network structure stability and thermal stability, as well as sensitive temperature responsiveness within a certain range—implying its potential as a smart material in the fields of medicine, biology, and textiles. This work is expected to bring new strategies for the fabrication of cellulose-based thermosensitive materials, benefitting the high-value utilization of cellulose.
Design of Robust FEP Porous Ultrafiltration Membranes by Electrospinning-Sintered Technology
Authors: Chen Kaikai , Ling Haoyang , Liu Hailiang , Zhao Wei , Xiao Changfa
Published: September 2022

Perfluoropolymer membranes are widely used because of their good environmental adaptability. Herein, the ultrafine fibrous FEP porous membranes were fabricated with electrospinning-sintered technology. The effects of PVA content and sintering temperature on the fabricated membranes’ morphologies and properties were investigated. The results indicate that a kind of dimensionally stable network structure was formed in the obtained ultrafine fibrous FEP porous membranes after sintering the nascent ultrafine fibrous FEP/PVA membranes. The optimal sintering conditions were obtained by comparing the membranes’ performance in terms of membrane morphology, hydrophobicity, mechanical strength, and porosity. When the sintering temperature was 300 °C for 10 min, the porosity, water contact angle, and liquid entry pressure of the membrane were 62.7%, 124.2° ± 2.1°, and 0.18 MPa, respectively. Moreover, the ultrafine fibrous FEP porous membrane at the optimal sintering conditions was tested in vacuum membrane distillation with a permeate flux of 15.1 L·m−2·h−1 and a salt rejection of 97.99%. Consequently, the ultrafine fibrous FEP porous membrane might be applied in the seawater desalination field.
Controlled Release of Tea Tree Oil from a Chitosan Matrix Containing Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Matussek Frederic , Pavinatto Adriana , Knospe Peggy , Beuermann Sabine , Sanfelice Rafaela Cristina
Published: September 2022

Chitosan is a biopolymer that, due to its versatile bioactive properties, has applications in several areas, including food, medicine and pharmaceuticals. In the field of tissue engineering, chitosan can be used, for example, as a dressing to treat wounds or dermal damage, such as burns or abrasions. This work deals with the controlled release of tea tree oil from chitosan-based polymeric films and droplets containing gold nanoparticles (AuNP). AuNPs were successfully incorporated into the chitosan matrix using two different approaches. Both solutions were loaded with tea tree oil, and from these solutions, it was possible to obtain drop-cast films and droplets. The controlled release of oil in water was performed both in the films and in the droplets. The addition of AuNP in the controlled release system of melaleuca oil favored a release time of around 25 h. A series of experiments was carried out to investigate the effects of different reaction temperatures and acetic acid concentrations on the formation of AuNPs in the presence of chitosan. For this purpose, images of the AuNP films and droplets were obtained using transmission electron microscopy. In addition, UV-vis spectra were recorded to investigate the release of tea tree oil from the different samples.
Radio-Oxidation Ageing of XLPE Containing Different Additives and Filler: Principal Component Analyses of Gases Emission and Consumption
Authors: Hippolyte Lea , Amat Sandrine , Dupuy Nathalie , Ferry Muriel
Published: September 2022

In the context of lifetime extension of Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs), electric cable ageing has to be checked to evaluate their performance during normal operation. These electric cables are complex materials, with a conductor and insulating shield in the metal and insulating layer and sheath in the polymer; the most sensitive layer is commonly considered to be the insulating layer. The ageing mechanism upon irradiation under oxidative conditions has been evaluated using gas mass spectrometry and the first conclusions have been drawn. Nonetheless, the data obtained are very numerous and complex; thus, the objective of this new article regards these experimental results using mathematical tools. It allowed confirmation of all the results obtained on these materials, but using chemometrics, i.e., statistical/mathematical analyses, of the results. Using these powerful mathematical tools gives strength to the analyses realised and to the conclusions obtained.
Drug Delivery System Based on Carboxymethyl Cellulose Containing Metal-Organic Framework and Its Evaluation for Antibacterial Activity
Authors: Alsaaed Fatimah A. T. , El-Lateef Hany M. Abd , Khalaf Mai M. , Mohamed Ibrahim M. A. , Al-Omair Mohammed A. , Gouda Mohamed
Published: September 2022

A novel drug delivery system based on carboxymethyl cellulose containing copper oxide at melamine and zinc oxide at melamine framework (CMC-Cu-MEL and CMC-Zn-MEL) was prepared by the hydrothermal route. Synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by FTIR, SEM, and Raman spectroscopy. In addition, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) images were applied to confirm the particle size and diffraction pattern of the prepared nanocomposites. Furthermore, the crystallinity of the synthesized CMC, CMC-Cu-MEL, and CMC-Zn-MEL materials was studied via X-ray diffraction (XRD). Estimating the transport exponent, which discloses the solvent diffusion and chain relaxation processes, and the Ritger–Peppas kinetic model theory were used to control the TC release mechanism from CMC-Cu-MEL and CMC-Zn-MEL. Additionally, the CMC-Cu-MEL and CMC-Zn-MEL containing TC had the highest activity index percents of 99 and 106% against S. aureus and 93 and 99% against E. coli, respectively. The tailored CMC-Cu-MEL and CMC-Zn-MEL for drug delivery systems are expected to be feasible and efficient.
Special Issue on “Feature Review Papers in Section Food Processes”
Authors: Dziki Dariusz
Published: September 2022

The successive growth of the population, degradation of the natural environment, and development of civilization diseases force a continuous increase in the production of high-quality food [...]
What Stands in the Way Becomes the Way: Dual and Non-Dual Approaches to Meditation Hindrances in Buddhist Traditions and Contemplative Science
Authors: Sparby Terje
Published: September 2022

Meditation research tends to be focused on positive effects. Recent studies, however, have uncovered a range of potential negative effects, which may be more prevalent than one would expect. Several different conceptions of “negative effects” exist, and such effects are variously termed “challenging”, “unpleasant”, “adverse”, and “harmful”. Before work on a unifying conception of negative effects can begin, the notion of “meditation hindrances” needs to be clarified. Research on meditation hindrances is very scarce. Traditional Buddhist texts and more recent meditation manuals treat different kinds of meditation hindrances, defining them as reactions that impair or halt spiritual progress generally and access to absorption states specifically. Different strategies have been devised as means to renounce or counteract hindrances. However, one influential idea consists of taking a hindrance as the way to liberation, which either makes the distinction between positive and negative ambiguous or collapses it. This makes it questionable whether a unified conception of “negative effect” can be maintained at all. This article gives an overview of the concept of meditation hindrances and discusses both the problems and the potential benefits inherent in the idea of relativizing the distinction between negative and positive effects. Such an idea may be either harmful to practitioners or their greatest asset.
Turkish-Dutch Mosque Students Negotiating Identities and Belonging in The Netherlands
Authors: Sözeri Semiha , Kosar Altinyelken Hülya , Volman Monique
Published: September 2022

For Muslim communities in the West, teaching Islam to children in mosques is an important part of the intergenerational maintenance of young people’s heritage, identity, and communal ties. However, children with a migrant background benefit from fostering identification and feelings of belonging both to their heritage community and to the majority society. This study seeks to understand the negotiation of sense of belonging and self-identification as Turkish, Dutch, and Muslim, in a sample of mosque students in The Netherlands (N = 29). It is based on interviews conducted with Turkish-Dutch students (ages 6–16) during fieldwork in the mosques between March and December 2017. The study reveals that most respondents identify as Dutch-Turkish and have a stronger sense of belonging to The Netherlands than to Turkey. Nevertheless, there is also a group of mosque students who struggle with growing up between two cultures. Furthermore, the analyses of the mosque student’s perspectives show that they are negotiating a space for the possibility of identifying as Muslim and feeling a sense of belonging to The Netherlands without feeling Dutch. The study concludes by discussing a number of key issues arising from the findings, namely the role of the mosque context, the development of reactive identity, and the meaning attribution by the students.
“Casting Our Sins Away”: A Comparative Analysis of Queer Jewish Communities in Israel and in the US
Authors: Ben-Lulu Elazar
Published: September 2022

Every year, diverse Jewish communities around the world observe Tashlich (casting off), a customary atonement ritual performed the day after Rosh Hashanah. This performative ritual is conducted next to a body of water to symbolize atonement and purification of one’s sins. Based on multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork in two egalitarian Jewish congregations in Tel Aviv and in New York City, I show how Tashlich performance is constructed as a political act to empower gender and sexual identities and experiences, as well as the socio-political positionality of LGBTQ Jews in various sites. By including new blessings, the blowing of the shofar by gay female participants, and by conducting the ritual in historical and contemporary queer urban spaces, the rabbis and congregants created new interpretations of the traditional customs. They exposed their feelings toward themselves, their community, and its visibility and presence in the city. The fact that the ritual is conducted in an open urban public space creates not only differing meanings and perceptions than from the synagogue, but also exposes queer politics in the context of national and religious identities. Furthermore, this comparative analysis illuminates tensions and trajectories of Jewishness and queerness in Israel and in the US, and sheds light on postmodern tendencies in contemporary urban religious communities as a result of the inclusion of the LGBTQ community.
Tracing the Origin of Japan’s First Buddhist Temple: Japan’s Asukadera Viewed through the Lens of the Korean Paekche Kingdom Temple Site of Wanghŭng-sa
Authors: Lee Byongho
Published: September 2022

The beginning of the construction of Japan’s first large-scale Buddhist temple, Asukadera 飛鳥寺, in 588, marks an important turning point in the ancient history of Japan. The construction of a Buddhist temple was a major event through which Japanese people, who had believed in traditional indigenous religion, came to embrace Buddhism, one of the major world religions. Inscribed śarīra reliquaries were discovered from the wooden pagoda site at the Wanghŭng-sa 王興寺 in Puyŏ. According to these inscriptions, Wanghŭng-sa was built in 577, 11 years before the establishment of Asukadera in 588. Based on this data, both Korean and Japanese academics have raised the possibility that Wanghŭng-sa might have provided inspiration or even a model for Asukadera in Japan. In this paper, I briefly examine reliquaries and roof tiles that have been excavated from the wooden pagoda site within the Wanghŭng-sa site and the arrangement and characteristics of the temple’s building sites, including the sites of the main hall and corridors. Next, I discuss the similarities and differences between ancient Buddhist temples in Korea and Japan by comparing Wanghŭng-sa with ancient Japanese temples such as Asukadera.
Automated Road-Marking Segmentation via a Multiscale Attention-Based Dilated Convolutional Neural Network Using the Road Marking Dataset
Authors: Wu Junjie , Liu Wen , Maruyama Yoshihisa
Published: September 2022

Road markings, including road lanes and symbolic road markings, can convey abundant guidance information to autonomous driving cars. However, recent works have paid less attention to the recognition of symbolic road markings compared with road lanes. In this study, a road-marking-segmentation dataset named the RMD (Road Marking Dataset) is introduced to compensate for the lack of datasets and the limitations of the existing datasets. Furthermore, we propose a novel multiscale attention-based dilated convolutional neural network (MSA-DCNN) to tackle the proposed RMD. The proposed method employs multiscale attention to merge the weighting outputs of adjacent multiscale inputs, and dilated convolution to capture spatial-context information. The performance analysis shows that the proposed MSA-DCNN yields the best results by combining multiscale attention and dilated convolution. Additionally, the proposed method gains the mIoU of 74.88%, which is a significant improvement over the existing techniques.
RACDNet: Resolution- and Alignment-Aware Change Detection Network for Optical Remote Sensing Imagery
Authors: Tian Juan , Peng Daifeng , Guan Haiyan , Ding Haiyong
Published: September 2022

Change detection (CD) methods work on the basis of co-registered multi-temporal images with equivalent resolutions. Due to the limitation of sensor imaging conditions and revisit period, it is difficult to acquire the desired images, especially in emergency situations. In addition, accurate multi-temporal images co-registration is largely limited by vast object changes and matching algorithms. To this end, a resolution- and alignment-aware change detection network (RACDNet) is proposed for multi-resolution optical remote-sensing imagery CD. In the first stage, to generate high-quality bi-temporal images, a light-weighted super-resolution network is proposed by fully considering the construction difficulty of different regions, which facilitates to detailed information recovery. Adversarial loss and perceptual loss are further adopted to improve the visual quality. In the second stage, deformable convolution units are embedded in a novel Siamese–UNet architecture for bi-temporal deep features alignment; thus, robust difference features can be generated for change information extraction. We further use an atrous convolution module to enlarge the receptive field, and an attention module to bridge the semantic gap between the encoder and decoder. To verify the effectiveness of our RACDNet, a novel multi-resolution change detection dataset (MRCDD) is created by using Google Earth. The quantitative and qualitative experimental results demonstrate that our RACDNet is capable of enhancing the details of the reconstructed images significantly, and the performance of CD surpasses other state-of-the-art methods by a large margin.
Conditions Contributing to Positive and Negative Outcomes of Children’s ICT Use: Protocol for a Scoping Review
Authors: Seland Idunn , Holmarsdottir Halla B. , Hyggen Christer , Kapella Olaf , Parsanoglou Dimitris , Sisask Merike
Published: September 2022

Children and young people are often labelled the “digital generation”, naturally equipped with the skills to reap the benefits of digitised education, working life and communication through social media now and in the future. However, this age group’s use of information and communication technology (ICT) is not uniform, nor are the outcomes of their adaption to ICT. Shaped by their social environment and socioeconomic conditions, the potential benefits of children’s and young people’s ICT use may vary greatly, contributing to increased inequalities that exacerbate vulnerability for some while promoting health and well-being for others. This paper presents a protocol for conceptualising, systematically identifying and synthesising the literature on which conditions contribute to children and young people being negatively or positively impacted by their use of ICT. Here, children and young people are seen as social actors in four domains of their everyday lives illustrated through the digital ecosystem: family, leisure, education and civic participation. This protocol’s overview of the actors’ navigation within and across the different domains and potential for studying the interactions between the different spheres of the ecosystem may advance the understanding of both the risks and benefits facing children and young people in their digital lives.
Is the Role of Hepcidin and Erythroferrone in the Pathogenesis of Beta Thalassemia the Key to Developing Novel Treatment Strategies?
Authors: Au Tsz Yuen , Benjamin Shamiram , Wiśniewski Oskar Wojciech
Published: September 2022

Thalassemia is a disease of erythrocytes that varies largely on its genetic composition and associated clinical presentation. Though some patients may remain asymptomatic, those with a complicated course may experience severe anemia early in childhood, carrying into adulthood and requiring recurrent blood transfusions as a pillar of symptom management. Due to the consequences of ineffective erythropoiesis and frequent transfusions, patients with severe beta thalassemia may be subsequently susceptible to hemochromatosis. In light of the established role of hepcidin and erythroferrone in the pathogenesis of beta thalassemia, this review aims to discuss current clinical trials and studies in the field while presenting clinical implications of the HAMP gene polymorphisms and novel treatments. Research suggested incorporating erythroferrone and serum hepcidin testing as a part of routine workups for beta thalassemia, as they could be a predictive tool for early iron accumulation. Furthermore, ameliorating low hepcidin and high erythroferrone appeared to be crucial in treating beta thalassemia and its complications due to iron overload. Currently, hepcidin-like compounds, such as minihepcidins, LJPC-401, PTG-300, VIT-2763, and agents that promote hepcidin production by inhibiting TMPRSS6 expression or erythroferrone, were shown to be effective in restoring iron homeostasis in preliminary studies. Moreover, the natural bioactives astragalus polysaccharide and icariin have been recently recognized as hepcidin expression inductors.
RANCANG BANGUN SISTEM PENGELOLAAN ASET DESA BERBASIS ANDROID DI DESA POMPENGAN
Authors: Jum Jumarni , Abduh Hisma , Dani Ahmad Ali  Hakam
Published: September 2022

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk untuk membuat sebuah Rancang Bangun Sistem Pengelolaan Aset Desa Berbasis Android di Desa Pompengan. Metode pengembangan sistem yang digunakan dalam penelitian ialah metode waterfall dengan teknik pengujian sistem yaitu blackbox. Aplikasi sistem pengelolaan aset ini dalam perancangannya menggunakan metode pengembangan UML (Unified Modeling Language) yang terdiri dari use case diagram, activity diagram, sequence diagram dan class diagram. Perancangan database logic menggunakan MySQL dan interface sistem. Adapun software yang di gunakan dalam perancangan dan pengimplementasi sistem menggunakan XAMPP sebagai web server, PhpMySQL sebagai database, visual studio sebagai editor desain web dan android studio sebagai editor desain android. Rancang Bangun Sistem Pengelolaan Aset Desa Berbasis Android di Desa Pompengan meliputi halaman aset, halaman data penduduk, halaman riwayat dan halaman kritik. Aplikasi telah diujicobakan sehingga diperoleh aplikasi yang berjalan dengan baik.
Hipnóticos-z no tratamento da insônia
Authors: Testi da Silva Luiz Augusto , Cristina de Brito Guzzo Soliani Flaviane , Soncini Sanches Ana Cláudia
Published: September 2022

Introdução. A busca por um sono de qualidade tem levado ao aumento do uso de hipnóticos-sedativos. Dentre eles, destacam-se os hipnóticos-z - zolpidem, eszopiclona e zopiclona - devido aos bons resultados proporcionados e às poucas reações adversas apresentadas. Objetivo. Analisar o uso e as reações adversas de hipnóticos-z. Método. Revisão narrativa de literatura com abordagem qualitativa baseada em estudos considerados relevantes sobre hipnóticos-z. Resultados. Os estudos apontaram um aumento nas prescrições de hipnóticos-z nos últimos anos. As reações adversas mais comuns no uso destes medicamentos foram dores de cabeça, sonolência e tonturas. Mesmo sendo bem tolerados a longo prazo, os hipnóticos-z podem perder a eficácia após uso prolongado, sendo recomendado a utilização por poucas semanas. Em geral, essa classe de medicamento está pouco associada à dependência e síndrome de retirada, em comparação aos benzodiazepínicos, também utilizados para tratamento da insônia. Conclusão. Dado o aumento da incidência de insônia no mundo moderno, a busca por novos medicamentos para tratar este distúrbio é incessante. Em comparação aos benzodiazepínicos, os hipnóticos-z apresentam melhor perfil de reações adversas, ficando zolpidem e zopiclona mais restritos ao tratamento agudo da insônia, enquanto eszopiclona se mostrou segura no uso por períodos mais prolongados.
COVID-19 PANDEMİ SÜRECİNDE ÇOCUKLARA YÖNELİK UYGULANAN ŞİDDETİN DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİ
Authors: DEMİR ACAR Mukaddes , YÜZER ALSAÇ Selda
Published: September 2022

Bu çalışmada COVID-19 pandemi sürecinin çocuklara yönelik şiddete etkisi açısından değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Okulların ve işyerlerinin kapanması ve hareket kısıtlamaları, yetişkinlerin ve çocukların zamanlarını nasıl ve nerede geçirdiklerini kökten değiştirmiş ve bu durumda çocukların evde şiddete maruz kalabileceği bildirilmiştir. Çocuklara yönelik şiddetin belirli biçimlerinde bir azalma olduğu da bildirilmektedir. Fakat aynı literatürde araştırmacılar bu durumu eğitimciler ve sağlık profesyonellerinin genellikle istismar yönlendirmeleri yapan, bildiren kişiler olduğunu, sadece şiddetin etkilerine tanık olan kişilerin azalması anlamına geldiği şeklinde açıklamaktadırlar. Bu nedenle evde kalma önlemlerinin şiddetin azalması anlamına gelmeyeceği, pandeminin şiddeti gizli tutarak adeta maske etkisi oluşturduğu vurgulanmıştır. Bu yazarlar, öğretmenleri, sosyal hizmet uzmanlarını, doktorları ve hemşireleri, yalnızca çevrimiçi öğrenme veya tele sağlık formatı aracılığıyla bile olsa aile içi şiddete yönelik uyanık olmaya çağırmaktadır. COVID-19 pandemisinin çocuklara yönelik şiddet üzerine etkisini içeren araştırmaların yapılması ve bildirim konusunda çocuk ve ailelerle yakından çalışan tüm profesyonellerin farkındalık açısından dikkatli olması önerilmektedir.