bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrated Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analyses Reveal the Basis for Carotenoid Biosynthesis in Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) Storage Roots
Authors: Ren Qingming , Zhen Xiaoxi , Gao Huiyu , Liang Yinpei , Li Hongying , Zhao Juan , Yin Meiqiang , Han Yuanhuai , Zhang Bin
Published: October 2022

Carotenoids are important compounds of quality and coloration within sweet potato storage roots, but the mechanisms that govern the accumulation of these carotenoids remain poorly understood. In this study, metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses of carotenoids were performed using young storage roots (S2) and old storage roots (S4) from white-fleshed (variety S19) and yellow-fleshed (variety BS) sweet potato types. S19 storage roots exhibited significantly lower total carotenoid levels relative to BS storage roots, and different numbers of carotenoid types were detected in the BS-S2, BS-S4, S19-S2, and S19-S4 samples. β-cryptoxanthin was identified as a potential key driver of differences in root coloration between the S19 and BS types. Combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed significant co-annotation of the carotenoid and abscisic acid (ABA) metabolic pathways, PSY (phytoene synthase), CHYB (β-carotene 3-hydroxylase), ZEP (zeaxanthin epoxidase), NCED3 (9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase 3), ABA2 (xanthoxin dehydrogenase), and CYP707A (abscisic acid 8’-hydroxylase) genes were found to be closely associated with carotenoid and ABA content in these sweet potato storage roots. The expression patterns of the transcription factors OFP and FAR1 were associated with the ABA content in these two sweet potato types. Together, these results provide a valuable foundation for understanding the mechanisms governing carotenoid biosynthesis in storage roots, and offer a theoretical basis for sweet potato breeding and management.
A New Mechanism for Ginsenoside Rb1 to Promote Glucose Uptake, Regulating Riboflavin Metabolism and Redox Homeostasis
Authors: Liu Yihan , Deng Yuchan , Wang Fengyu , Liu Xiaoyi , Wang Jiaqi , Xiao Jian , Zhang Cunli , Zhang Qiang
Published: October 2022

Glucose absorption promoters perform insulin mimic functions to enhance blood glucose transport to skeletal muscle cells and accelerate glucose consumption, thereby reducing blood glucose levels. In our screening exploration of food ingredients for improving glucose transportation and metabolism, we found that the saponins in American ginseng (Panaxquinquefolius L.) showed potential activity to promote glucose uptake, which can be used for stabilizing levels of postprandial blood glucose. The aim of this study was to identify key components of American ginseng with glucose uptake-promoting activity and to elucidate their metabolic regulatory mechanisms. Bio-guided isolation using zebrafish larvae and 2-NBDG indicator identified ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) as the most potential promotor of glucose uptake. Using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS combined with RT-qPCR and phenotypic verification, we found that riboflavin metabolism is the hinge for GRb1-mediated facilitation of glucose transport. GRb1-induced restoration of redox homeostasis was mediated by targeting riboflavin transporters (SLC52A1 and SLC52A3) and riboflavin kinase (RFK).
Association of HbA1c with VO2max in Individuals with Type 1 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Eckstein Max L. , Aberer Felix , Dobler Florian J. R. , Aziz Faisal , Heise Tim , Sourij Harald , Moser Othmar
Published: October 2022

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the association between glycemic control (HbA1c) and functional capacity (VO2max) in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1DM). A systematic literature search was conducted in EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ISI Web of Knowledge for publications from January 1950 until July 2020. Randomized and observational controlled trials with a minimum number of three participants were included if cardio-pulmonary exercise tests to determine VO2max and HbA1c measurement has been performed. Pooled mean values were estimated for VO2max and HbA1c and weighted Pearson correlation and meta-regression were performed to assess the association between these parameters. We included 187 studies with a total of 3278 individuals with T1DM. The pooled mean HbA1c value was 8.1% (95%CI; 7.9–8.3%), and relative VO2max was 38.5 mL/min/kg (37.3–39.6). The pooled mean VO2max was significantly lower (36.9 vs. 40.7, p = 0.001) in studies reporting a mean HbA1c > 7.5% compared to studies with a mean HbA1c ≤ 7.5%. Weighted Pearson correlation coefficient was r = −0.19 (p < 0.001) between VO2max and HbA1c. Meta-regression adjusted for age and sex showed a significant decrease of −0.94 mL/min/kg in VO2max per HbA1c increase of 1% (p = 0.024). In conclusion, we were able to determine a statistically significant correlation between HbA1c and VO2max in individuals with T1DM. However, as the correlation was only weak, the association of HbA1c and VO2max might not be of clinical relevance in individuals with T1DM.
A High-Precision Method of Stiffness Axes Identification for Axisymmetric Resonator Gyroscopes
Authors: Xiong Junhao , Yang Kaiyong , Xia Tao , Li Jingyu , Jia Yonglei , Tao Yunfeng , Pan Yao , Luo Hui
Published: October 2022

Axisymmetric resonators are key elements of Coriolis vibratory gyroscopes (CVGs). The performance of a CVG is closely related to the stiffness and damping symmetry of its resonator. The stiffness symmetry of a resonator can be effectively improved by electrostatic tuning or mechanical trimming, both of which need an accurate knowledge of the azimuth angles of the two stiffness axes of the resonator. Considering that the motion of a non-ideal axisymmetric resonator can be decomposed as two principal oscillations with two different natural frequencies along two orthogonal stiffness axes, this paper introduces a novel high-precision method of stiffness axes identification. The method is based on measurements of the phase difference between the signals detected at two orthogonal sensing electrodes when an axisymmetric resonator is released from all the control forces of the force-to-rebalance mode and from different initial pattern angles. Except for simplicity, our method works with the eight-electrodes configuration, in no need of additional electrodes or detectors. Furthermore, the method is insensitive to the variation of natural frequencies and operates properly in the cases of either large or small frequency splits. The introduced method is tested on a resonator gyroscope, and two stiffness axes azimuth angles are obtained with a resolution better than 0.1°. A comparison of the experimental results and theoretical model simulations confirmed the validity of our method.
Origami Inspired Laser Scanner
Authors: Wu Yu-Shin , Hung Shao-Kang
Published: October 2022

Diverse origami techniques and various selections of paper open new possibilities to create micromachines. By folding paper, this article proposes an original approach to build laser scanners, which manipulate optical beams precisely and realize valuable applications, including laser marking, cutting, engraving, and displaying. A prototype has been designed, implemented, actuated, and controlled. The experimental results demonstrate that the angular stroke, repeatability, full scale settling time, and resonant frequency are 20°, 0.849 m°, 330 ms, 68 Hz, respectively. Its durability, more than 35 million cycles, shows the potential to carry out serious tasks.
Investigation of Deep Spiking Neural Networks Utilizing Gated Schottky Diode as Synaptic Devices
Authors: Lee Sung-Tae , Bae Jong-Ho
Published: October 2022

Deep learning produces a remarkable performance in various applications such as image classification and speech recognition. However, state-of-the-art deep neural networks require a large number of weights and enormous computation power, which results in a bottleneck of efficiency for edge-device applications. To resolve these problems, deep spiking neural networks (DSNNs) have been proposed, given the specialized synapse and neuron hardware. In this work, the hardware neuromorphic system of DSNNs with gated Schottky diodes was investigated. Gated Schottky diodes have a near-linear conductance response, which can easily implement quantized weights in synaptic devices. Based on modeling of synaptic devices, two-layer fully connected neural networks are trained by off-chip learning. The adaptation of a neuron’s threshold is proposed to reduce the accuracy degradation caused by the conversion from analog neural networks (ANNs) to event-driven DSNNs. Using left-justified rate coding as an input encoding method enables low-latency classification. The effect of device variation and noisy images to the classification accuracy is investigated. The time-to-first-spike (TTFS) scheme can significantly reduce power consumption by reducing the number of firing spikes compared to a max-firing scheme.
A ReRAM-Based Non-Volatile and Radiation-Hardened Latch Design
Authors: Yan Aibin , Wei Shaojie , Chen Yu , Fan Zhengzheng , Huang Zhengfeng , Cui Jie , Girard Patrick , Wen Xiaoqing
Published: October 2022

In aerospace environments, high reliability and low power consumption of chips are essential. To greatly reduce power consumption, the latches of a chip need to enter the power down operation. In this operation, employing non-volatile (NV) latches can retain circuit states. Moreover, a latch can be hit by a radiative particle in the aerospace environment, which can cause a severe soft error in the worst case. This paper presents a NV-latch based on resistive random-access memories (ReRAMs) for NV and robust applications. The proposed NV-latch is radiation-hardened with low overhead and can restore values after power down operation. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed NV-latch can completely provide radiation hardening capability against single-event upsets (SEUs) and can restore values after power down operation. The proposed NV-latch can reduce the number of transistors in the storage cells by 50% on average compared with the other similar solutions.
A Low Profile Ultra-Wideband Antenna with Reconfigurable Notch Band Characteristics for Smart Electronic Systems
Authors: Zaidi Abir , Awan Wahaj , Ghaffar Adnan , Alzaidi Mohammed , Alsharef Mohammad , Elkamchouchi Dalia , Ghoneim Sherif , Alharbi Turki
Published: October 2022

This study describes the design and implementation of a small printed ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna for smart electronic systems with on-demand adjustable notching properties. A contiguous sub-band between 3–4.1 GHz, 4.45–6.5 GHz, or for both bands concurrently, can be mitigated by the antenna. Numerous technologies and applications, including WiMAX, Wi-Fi, ISMA, WLAN, and sub-6 GHz, primarily utilize these band segments remitted by the UWB. The upper notch band is implemented by inserting an open-ended stub with the partial ground plane; the lower notch band functionality is obtained by etching a U-shaped slot from the radiating structure. The basic UWB mode is then changed to a UWB mode, with a single or dual notch band, using two diodes to achieve reconfigurability. The antenna has a physically compact size of 17 × 23 mm2 and a quasi-omnidirectional maximum gain of 4.9 dBi, along with a high efficiency of more than 80%, according to both simulation and measurement data. A significant bandwidth in the UWB region is also demonstrated by the proposed design, with a fractional bandwidth of 180% in relation to the 5.2 GHz center frequency. Regarding compactness, consistent gain, and programmable notch features, the proposed antenna outperforms the antennas described in the literature. In addition to these benefits, the antenna’s compact size makes it simple to incorporate into small electronic devices and enables producers to build many antennas without complications.
Heterogeneous CMOS Integration of InGaAs-OI nMOSFETs and Ge pMOSFETs Based on Dual-Gate Oxide Technique
Authors: Tang Xiaoyu , Hua Tao , Liu Yujie , Han Zhezhe
Published: October 2022

A compatible fabrication technology for integrating InGaAs nMOSFETs and Ge pMOSFETs is developed based on the development of the two-step gate oxide fabrication strategy. The direct wafer bonding method was utilized to obtain the InGaAs-Insulator-Ge structure, providing the heterogeneous channels for CMOS integration. Superior transistor characteristics were achieved by optimizing the InGaAs gate oxide with a self-cleaning process in atomic layer deposition, and modifying the Ge gate oxide by the ozone post oxidation (OPO) technique, in the sequential two-step gate oxide fabrication process. With the combination of the gate-first fabrication process, superior on- and off-state characteristics, i.e., on current up to 8.3 µA/μm and leakage as low as 10−6 µA/μm, have been demonstrated in the integrated MOSFETs, together with the preferable symmetric output characteristics that promises excellent CMOS performances.
Cost-Effective Design of a Miniaturized Zoom Lens for a Capsule Endoscope
Authors: Sun Wen-Shing , Tien Chuen-Lin , Chen Ping-Yi
Published: October 2022

This paper presents a miniaturized design of a 2× zoom lens for application to a one-megapixel image sensor in a capsule endoscope. The zoom lens is composed of four lenses, including three plastic aspheric lenses and one glass spherical lens, and adopts a three-lens group design. This capsule endoscope is mainly for observation of the small intestine, which has a radius of about 12.5 mm. The height of the object is thus set to 12.5 mm. The object surface is designed to be curved surface with a radius of curvature of 15 mm. The focal length of the zoom lens ranges from 1.064 mm to 2.039 mm, and the full angle of view ranges from 60° to 143°, the f-number is F/2.8–F/3.5, the zoom lens is 11.6 mm in length, and the maximum effective diameter of the zoom lens is 6 mm. The zoom lens design is divided into six segments, corresponding to the different magnifications from Zoom 1 to Zoom 6. The magnification ratios are −0.0845, −0.0984, −0.1150, −0.1317, −0.1482, and −0.1690, respectively. Comparing the positions from Zoom 1 to Zoom 6, the maximum optical distortion is −14.89% for the Zoom 1 and 1.45% for the Zoom 6. The maximum vertical video distortion is 8.19% for Zoom 1 and 1.00% for Zoom 6. At a 1.0 field of view, the minimum relative illuminance is 71.8% at a magnification of M = −0.1317. Finally, we perform the tolerance analysis and lens resolution analysis at different zooming positions. Our design can obtain high-quality images for capsule endoscope.
Miniature Autonomous Robot Based on Legged In-Plane Piezoelectric Resonators with Onboard Power and Control
Authors: Robles-Cuenca David , Ramírez-Palma Mario Rodolfo , Ruiz-Díez Víctor , Hernando-García Jorge , Sánchez-Rojas José Luis
Published: October 2022

This work reports the design, fabrication, and characterization of a centimetre-scale autonomous robot with locomotion based on in-plane piezoelectric resonators and 3D-printed inclined legs. The robot consists of a pair of cooperative piezoelectric motors, an electronic power circuit and a battery-powered microcontroller. The piezoelectric motors feature a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) plate of dimensions 20 mm × 3 mm × 0.2 mm vibrating on its first extensional resonant mode at around 70 kHz. A particular position of 3D-printed inclined legs allowed the conversion of the in-plane movement into an effective forward thrust. To enable arbitrary trajectories of the robot on a surface, two parallel piezoelectric plate motors were arranged in a differential drive scheme. The signals to excite these plates were generated by the microcontroller and adapted by a supplementary electronic circuit to increase the effective voltage supplied by the onboard battery. The fully assembled robot had a size of 27 mm × 15 mm and a weight of 7 g and reached a linear speed of approximately 15 mm/s and a rotational speed of up to 50 deg./s. Finally, the autonomous robot demonstrated the ability to follow pre-programmed paths.
An Alternative Technology to Obtain Dewatered Mine Tailings: Safe and Control Environmental Management of Filtered and Thickened Copper Mine Tailings in Chile
Authors: Cacciuttolo Carlos , Atencio Edison
Published: October 2022

An alternative process to obtain a high degree of dewatering tailings that produces a high-density product is presented in this article. This technology involves the combination of tailings particle grain size classification by hydrocyclones (HC) and tailings dewatering by horizontal vibratory screens (HVS). It makes it possible to dewater tailings to a high grade of performance. This alternative technology (HC-HVS) involves the recovery of water from the coarse fraction of tailings (sands) through two hydrocycloning stages, followed by a dewatering stage of cycloned tailings sands on horizontal vibratory screens, to reduce moisture content and turn it into a “cake”. The resulting coarse fraction tailings are easily transported to a dry stack tailings storage facility (TSF). The fine fraction of tailings (slimes) can be dewatered on thickener equipment to recover part of the process water. Finally, this article describes the main benefits of this alternative dewatered tailings technology with an emphasis on (i) dewatering technology evolution over the last 17 years; (ii) process stages features; (iii) pilot test results; (iv) tailings properties analysis (such as particle grain size distribution, fines content) and (v) lessons learned about the experience gained in the operation of Mantos Blancos case study with dry stack tailings storage facility.
Study on Spectral Characteristics and Color Origin of Scheelite from Xuebaoding, Pingwu County, Sichuan Province, P.R. China
Authors: Liu Xianyu , Yang Jiuchang , Chen Quanli
Published: October 2022

The Xuebaoding deposit, which is located 14.5 km northwest of Huya Town, Pingwu County, Mianyang City, Sichuan Province, China, produces a kind of yellow-orange-hued scheelite with ideal crystal shapes, large-grain crystals, and high market value which is favored by gem and mineral crystal collectors. In this article, five Xuebaoding scheelite samples are used as research objects. The infrared absorption in the fingerprint region (2000 to 400 cm−1) of scheelite is at 440 cm−1 and 800 to 900 cm−1, which shows the out-of-plane bending vibration and asymmetric stretching vibration attributed to the [WO4]2− tetrahedral group, respectively. The Raman shift at 911 cm−1 is assigned to the ν1 symmetric stretching vibration of [WO4]2−; the Raman spectra scattering peak at 797 cm−1 belongs to the ν3 asymmetric stretching vibration of [WO4]2−; the Raman shift at 332 cm−1 and the low-intensity Raman scattering peak near 400 cm−1 belong to the ν2 out-of-plane bending vibration of [WO4]2−. Furthermore, the low-intensity Raman shift around 211 cm−1 is caused by the transitional mode of (Ca–O). The UV-Vis-NIR absorption is attributed to the existence of “didymium”, a mixture of the rare earth elements Pr and Nd, and the absorption at 584 and 803 nm is assigned to Nd, which may be related to origin of the color of scheelite. The 3D fluorescence spectra show that the colorless and colored scheelite samples produce the same number of main fluorescence peaks with similar positions. Those 3D fluorescence peaks are located near λex235 nm/λem455 nm, λex250 nm/λem490 nm, and λex265 nm/λem523 nm. In addition to the above-mentioned main fluorescence peaks, the pale-yellow-colored samples also produced fluorescence peaks near λex250 nm/λem425 nm, which may be associated with the rare earth elements in scheelite. Combined with the test results of LA-ICP-MS, the yellow-orange hue of Xuebaoding scheelite is caused by the isomorphic rare earth elements, such as La, Ce, Pr and Nd ions that replace Ca2+.
Geological Constraints on the Genesis of Jagpura Au-Cu Deposit NW India: Implications from Magnetite-Apatite Mineral Chemistry, Fluid Inclusion and Sulfur Isotope Study
Authors: Anand Abhishek , Singh Sahendra , Gantait Arindam , Srivastava Amit , Mayachar Girish Kumar , Kumar Manoj
Published: October 2022

The Jagpura Au-Cu deposit is situated within the Aravalli craton in the northwestern part of India. In the present work, petrography, mineral chemistry, fluid inclusion and sulfur isotopic compositions were used to study the Jagpura Au-Cu deposit. The ore mineral association of the deposit is arsenopyrite, loellingite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite and pyrite, along with native gold, magnetite and apatite. The gold fineness ranges from 914–937‰ (avg. 927‰). The presence of Au-Bi-Te phases, pyrite (>1 Co/Ni ratio), magnetite (≥1 Ni/Cr ratio, <1 Co/Ni ratio) and apatite (>1 F/Cl ratio) suggest the hydrothermal origin Au-Cu mineralization. A fluid inclusion study indicates the different episodes of fluid immiscibility with the homogenization temperatures varying between 120–258 °C and salinities range within the 8.86–28.15 wt% NaCl eq. The sulfur isotopic composition of sulfides varies from 8.98 to 14.58‰ (avg. 11.16‰). It is inferred that the variation in the sulfur isotopic compositions of sulfides is due to the cooling and dilution of the metalliferous fluid of mixed origin, derived from the basement meta-sedimentary rocks and the high saline basinal fluid. The iron oxide-copper-gold-apatite associations, structural control of mineralization, pervasive hydrothermal alteration, fluid salinity and sulfur isotope compositions indicate that the Jagpura Au-Cu deposit is similar to the iron oxide-copper-gold (IOCG)-iron oxide-apatite (IOA)types of deposits. Based on the ore geochemistry and the trace elements systematic of magnetite, the deposit is further classified as an IOCG-IOA type: IOCG-Co (reduced) subtype.
Petrology of Granites of the Tommot Rare-Earth Ore Field (Verkhoyansk–Kolyma Orogenic Belt)
Authors: Trunilina Vera A. , Prokopiev Andrei V.
Published: October 2022

The article presents the results of studying the aegirine–arfvedsonite granites of the Somnitelnyi massif within the Tommot ore field located in the Verkhoyansk–Kolyma orogenic belt (NE Asia). Along with the crustal signatures, the rocks display features of mantle contamination at their origin. Their affinity for A-type granites characteristic of continental rifts and hot spots is shown. The associated Tommot REE deposit is the only one discovered in NE Russia. New data are presented for the previously studied Tommot massif within the same ore field, with a wide compositional range from alkaline-ultrabasic rocks to alkaline syenites. It is established that despite a common geochemical enrichment of both massifs’ rocks with REEs, the Somnitelnyi massif granites cannot be interpreted as the final phase of the Tommot massif emplacement. Specific REE mineralization and high crystallization temperatures (up to 1045 °C) of the Somnitelnyi granites may be explained by the existence within the study area of an undepleted mantle source (“hot spot”), whose maximum activity occurred during the granitic melt generation. The ore bodies of the Tommot deposit consist of fenitized albitites, granite gneisses, and, more rarely, the cross-cutting pegmatite veins. They are confined mostly to exocontacts of the Somnitelnyi massif, are less often in its endocontacts, and are not found in the host rocks and in the inner part of the massif away from the contacts. Principal ore minerals are chevkinite, yttrialite, gadolinite, and fergusonite. Based on the data obtained, the deposit is classified as a metasomatic complex Ce–Y–Nb–Zr deposit associated with the alkaline granites.
Insights on Aggregation of Hen Egg-White Lysozyme from Raman Spectroscopy and MD Simulations
Authors: Chalapathi Divya , Kumar Amrendra , Behera Pratik , Sathi Shijulal Nelson , Swaminathan Rajaram , Narayana Chandrabhas
Published: October 2022

Protein misfolding and aggregation play a significant role in several neurodegenerative diseases. In the present work, the spontaneous aggregation of hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL) in an alkaline pH 12.2 at an ambient temperature was studied to obtain molecular insights. The time-dependent changes in spectral peaks indicated the formation of β sheets and their effects on the backbone and amino acids during the aggregation process. Introducing iodoacetamide revealed the crucial role of intermolecular disulphide bonds amidst monomers in the aggregation process. These findings were corroborated by Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations and protein-docking studies. MD simulations helped establish and visualize the unfolding of the proteins when exposed to an alkaline pH. Protein docking revealed a preferential dimer formation between the HEWL monomers at pH 12.2 compared with the neutral pH. The combination of Raman spectroscopy and MD simulations is a powerful tool to study protein aggregation mechanisms.
Isolation, Structural Characterization, and Hypoglycemic Activities In Vitro of Polysaccharides from Pleurotus eryngii
Authors: Gong Pin , Long Hui , Guo Yuxi , Wang Siyuan , Chen Fuxin , Chen Xuefeng
Published: October 2022

Pleurotus eryngii (PE) is an edible mushroom with high nutritional value. Pleurotus eryngii polysaccharides (PEPs) are one of the main active ingredients and manifest a great variety of biological activities. This study mainly focused on the chemical characterization and biological activities of PEPs, which were separated into two fractions (named WPS and P-1). WPS is mainly dominated by β-glycosidic bonds and contains α-glycosidic bonds, and P-1 only contains α-glycosidic bonds. The molecular weights of WPS and P-1 were 4.5 × 105 Da and 2.2 × 104 Da. The result of GC indicated that two the fractions were composed of rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucose, and galactose, with a ratio of 0.35:0.24:0.45:0.24:28.78:1.10 for WPS and 0.95:0.64:0.66:1.84:60.69:0.67 for P-1. The advanced structure studies indicated that the two fractions had no triple-helical structure, where WPS had a dense structure and P-1 had a loose structure. In addition, the antioxidant activity of WPS surpassed P-1, and the two fractions also exhibited a high hypoglycemic activity via inhibiting α-glycosidase activities and promoting the expression of PI3K-AKT signaling pathway based on in vitro assay and cell experiments.
Development and Optimization of a New UPLC-UV/MS Method through DoE and MLR for Detecting Substandard Drug Products to Treat Tuberculosis
Authors: Suárez-González Javier , Cáceres-Pérez Amor R. , Oliva Alexis , Santoveña-Estévez Ana , Fariña José B.
Published: October 2022

Drug products used for treating tuberculosis are one of the most widely reported medicines to be classified as falsified or substandard in low- and middle-income countries, representing a major hazard to health. The aim of this study was, firstly, to develop an ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) method which is able to analyze fixed combination tablets with up to four active pharmaceutical ingredients, including isoniazid, pyrazinamide, rifampicin, and ethambutol. Secondly, we aimed to optimize it through the design of experiments and multi-linear regression based on a central composite design and to validate it according to the guidelines of the International Conference on Harmonization. The application of this tools enabled the identification of the influential factors (flow rate, formic acid, and temperature) and their effects on the studied responses (retention factor and percentage for each drug) as part of the quality by design approach. The method proved to be to be linear in the range from 5.0 to 15 µg/mL for isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and rifampicin, being precise (<1%) and accurate (97–101%). In addition, the method validated for ethambutol proved to be linear from 1.4 to 4.2 µg/mL, as well as precise (0.54%) and accurate (97.3%). The method was stability indicated for all the active pharmaceutical ingredients studied and was able to detect two substandard formulations sampled on the African market.
Photoinduced Processes in Rhenium(I) Terpyridine Complexes Bearing Remote Amine Groups: New Insights from Transient Absorption Spectroscopy
Authors: Palion-Gazda Joanna , Szłapa-Kula Agata , Penkala Mateusz , Erfurt Karol , Machura Barbara
Published: October 2022

Photophysical properties of two Re(I) complexes [ReCl(CO)3(R-C6H4-terpy-κ2N)] with remote amine groups, N-methyl-piperazinyl (1) and (2-cyanoethyl)methylamine (2), were investigated. The complexes show strong absorption in the visible region corresponding to metal-to-ligand charge transfer (1MLCT) and intraligand-charge-transfer (1ILCT) transitions. The energy levels of 3MLCT and 3ILCT excited-states, and thus photoluminescence properties of 1 and 2, were found to be strongly affected by the solvent polarity. Compared to the parent chromophore [ReCl(CO)3(C6H5-terpy-κ2N)] (3), both designed complexes show significantly prolonged (by 1–2 orders of magnitude) phosphorescence lifetimes in acetonitrile and dimethylformamide, contrary to their lifetimes in less polar chloroform and tetrahydrofuran, which are comparable to those for 3. The femtosecond transient absorption (fsTA) measurements confirmed the interconversion between the 3MLCT and 3ILCT excited-states in polar solvents. In contrast, the emissive state of 1 and 2 in less polar environments is of predominant 3MLCT nature.
Eco-Friendly Sustainable Synthesis of Graphene Quantum Dots from Biowaste as a Highly Selective Sensor
Authors: Abbas Aumber , Liang Qijie , Abbas Saleem , Liaqat Maryam , Rubab Shabnum , Tabish Tanveer A.
Published: October 2022

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have generated a great deal of scientific interest due to their bright fluorescence, good biocompatibility, minimal toxicity and fascinating physicochemical features. However, the ultimate issues regarding the acidic contaminations and high synthesis cost of GQDs remain open challenges for their real-world applications. Herein, we report an eco-friendly, acid-free and sustainable method for the preparation of GQDs using a cost-efficient, and renewable carbon source, ‘biomass-waste’, which simultaneously solves the risk of contamination from strong acids and high expenditure initiated by expensive precursors. The results demonstrate that GQDs possess a size range of 1–5 nm with an average size of ~3 ± 0.4 nm and a thickness of ~1 nm consisting of 1–3 layers of graphene. As-prepared GQDs demonstrate fascinating size-dependent optical properties and considerable surface grafting. Due to their intriguing optical properties, these GQDs are employed as fluorescence probes to detect ferric ions. A focused and sensitive sensor is developed with a detection limit down to 0.29 µM. This study emphasizes the need for using a reasonably green process and an inexpensive biomass precursor to create high-value GQDs that hold great potential for use in photocatalytic, bioimaging and real-world sensing applications.
Design of A-D-A-Type Organic Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Materials Based on Benzodithiophene: A DFT Study
Authors: Gong Pingping , An Lili , Tong Junfeng , Liu Xinpeng , Liang Zezhou , Li Jianfeng
Published: October 2022

The acceptor-donor-acceptor (A-D-A) type conjugated organic molecule has been widely applied in the organic optoelectronics field. A total of Nine compounds (1–9) were designed under the A-D-A framework, with the electron donor benzodithiophene as the core and dicyanomethylene as the acceptor moiety, modifying the benzodithiophene with the phenyl, naphthyl, and difluorinated phenyl groups. The conjugation length can be changed by introducing a thiophene π-conjugated bridge. The geometric structures, electronic structure, excited state properties, aromaticity, and the static- and frequency-dependent second hyperpolarizabilities were investigated by employing high-precision density functional theory (DFT) calculations with an aug-cc-pVDZ basis set. As a result, the three compounds with the longest conjugation length exhibit a smaller energy gap (Egap), larger UV-vis absorption coefficient, and response range, which are the three strongest third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) response properties in this work. This work systematically explored the connection between molecular structure and NLO response, which provides a rational design strategy for high-performance organic NLO materials.
Cooling a Rotating Mirror Coupled to a Single Laguerre–Gaussian Cavity Mode Using Parametric Interactions
Authors: Pan Qiaoyun , Lv Weiyu , Deng Li , Huang Sumei , Chen Aixi
Published: October 2022

We study the cooling of a rotating mirror coupled to a Laguerre–Gaussian (L–G) cavity mode, which is assisted by an optical parametric amplifier (OPA). It is shown that the presence of the OPA can significantly lower the temperature of the rotating mirror, which is very critical in the application of quantum physics. We also find that the increase in angular momentum has an influence on the cooling of the rotating mirror. Our results may provide a potential application in the determination of the orbital angular momentum of light fields and precision measurement.
Biomass-Derived Porous Carbon Materials for Li-Ion Battery
Authors: Nazhipkyzy Meruyert , Maltay Anar B. , Askaruly Kydyr , Assylkhanova Dana D. , Seitkazinova Aigerim R. , Mansurov Zulkhair A.
Published: October 2022

Biomass-based carbon nanofibers (CNF) were synthesized using lignin extracted from sawdust and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) (30:70) with the help of the electrospinning method and subsequent stabilization at 220 °C and carbonization at 800, 900, and 1000 °C. The synthesized CNFs were studied by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method. The temperature effect shows that CNF carbonized at 800 °C has excellent stability at different current densities and high capacitance. CNF 800 in the first test cycle at a current density of 100 mA/g shows an initial capacity of 798 mAh/g and an initial coulomb efficiency of 69.5%. The CNF 900 and 1000 show an initial capacity of 668 mAh/g and 594 mAh/g, and an initial Coulomb efficiency of 52% and 51%. With a long cycle (for 500 cycles), all three samples at a current density of 500 mA/g show stable cycling in different capacities (CNF 800 in the region of 300–400 mAh/g, CNF 900 and 1000 in the region of 100–200 mAh/g).
Threshold Voltage Adjustment by Varying Ge Content in SiGe p-Channel for Single Metal Shared Gate Complementary FET (CFET)
Authors: Sun Chong-Jhe , Wu Chen-Han , Yao Yi-Ju , Lin Shan-Wen , Yan Siao-Cheng , Lin Yi-Wen , Wu Yung-Chun
Published: October 2022

We have demonstrated the method of threshold voltage (VT) adjustment by controlling Ge content in the SiGe p-channel of N1 complementary field-effect transistor (CFET) for conquering the work function metal (WFM) filling issue on highly scaled MOSFET. Single WFM shared gate N1 CFET was used to study and emphasize the VT tunability of the proposed Ge content method. The result reveals that the Ge mole fraction influences VTP of 5 mV/Ge%, and a close result can also be obtained from the energy band configuration of Si1-xGex. Additionally, the single WFM shared gate N1 CFET inverter with VT adjusted by the Ge content method presents a well-designed voltage transfer curve, and its inverter transient response is also presented. Furthermore, the designed CFET inverter is used to construct a well-behaved 6T-SRAM with a large SNM of ~120 mV at VDD of 0.5 V.
Comment on Rauchman et al. Mild-to-Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury: A Review with Focus on the Visual System. Neurol. Int. 2022, 14, 453–470
Authors: Erdinest Nir , London Naomi
Published: October 2022

This letter is regarding the article, “Mild-to-Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury: A Review with Focus on the Visual System” [...]
Anti-Gouty Arthritis and Anti-Hyperuricemia Properties of Sanghuangporus vaninii and Inonotus hispidus in Rodent Models
Authors: Sun Zhen , Li Zhige , Tan Yunyun , Wang Xiuxiu , Wang Chunxia , Dong Mingyuan , Liu Honghan , Chen Heng , Li Yu , Li Lanzhou , Wang Di
Published: October 2022

Acute inflammation and hyperuricemia are associated with gouty arthritis. As an edible and therapeutic mushroom, Sanghuangporus vaninii (SV) has an inhibitory effect on tumorigenesis, and Inonotus hispidus (IH) exhibits anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. In this study, uric acid (UA) and xanthine oxidase (XOD) levels in hyperuricemic mice were examined to determine the regulatory effects of SV and IH. SV and IH reversed the pathogenic state of elevated UA levels in the serum and reduced levels of XOD in the serum and liver of mice with hyperuricemia. SV and IH affected the inflammatory response in rats with acute gouty arthritis. Compared to vehicle-treated rats, monosodium urate crystals (MSU) increased the swelling ratio of the right ankle joints. SV and IH administration significantly reduced swelling and inflammatory cell infiltration. SV reduced the levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and chemokine ligand-2 (CCL-2), whereas IH reduced the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), CCL-2, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), which were confirmed in articular soft tissues by immunohistochemistry. In summary, our data provide experimental evidence for the applicability of SV and IH in gouty arthritis and hyperuricemia treatment.
Does Supplementary Information Add Value to Functional Food? Evidence from a Choice Experiment in China
Authors: Tian Yixing , Zhu Hong , Chen Honghua
Published: October 2022

Establishing an effective choice architecture system enables people to improve their ability to make better food choices and encourage transformation of the food system into one that is more efficient, healthy, and sustainable. However, affecting consumer preferences by improving information supply is still a crucial issue that has not been comprehensively explored in China and many developing countries. This study aimed to identify the most effective information treatment method for increasing the likelihood of purchase and willingness to pay (WTP) for nutritionally enhanced eggs. A survey with five information treatments and a choice experiment was completed by a random sample of 2379 Chinese consumers, and the mixed logit model was subsequently applied to interpret the results. It was found that when nutritional information (NI), health benefit information (HBI), and/or market status quo information (MSQ) was presented to consumers, their utility increased. Different schemes had different effects on participants’ WTP. The HBI from scientific research institution, provided in the form of leaflets, has the most significant effect on improving WTP, increasing the WTP of consumers by 31.65%. WTP for functional eggs increased similarly in response to NI and MSQ information. However, adding NI to HBI did not significantly increase the value of functional eggs, especially when the information was presented to the interviewees in the form of short videos. This research broadens the present knowledge and application of an information communication strategy by suggesting that the combination of information content, carriers, source influence consumer preference and WTP for nutritionally enhanced eggs. The results have implications for the communication practices of food enterprises to optimize their marketing strategies and improve product innovation to add more value to the functional food.
Do Nutrients and Nutraceuticals Play a Role in Diabetic Retinopathy? A Systematic Review
Authors: Milluzzo Agostino , Barchitta Martina , Maugeri Andrea , Magnano San Lio Roberta , Favara Giuliana , Mazzone Maria Grazia , Sciacca Laura , Agodi Antonella
Published: October 2022

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a multifactorial neuro-microvascular disease, whose prevalence ranges from 25% to 60% of subjects affected by diabetes mellitus, representing the main cause of legal blindness in adults of industrialized countries. The treatment of advanced stage of DR is based on invasive and expensive therapies, while few strategies are available for the early stage or prevention. The mechanisms underlying DR involve a complex interplay between the detrimental effects of hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hypoxia, and oxidative stress, providing several pathways potentially targeted by nutrients and nutraceuticals. In this study, we conducted a systematic review of observational and interventional studies, evaluating the effect of nutrients and/or nutraceuticals on the risk of DR and their potential use for the treatment of patients with DR. The analysis of the 41 included studies (27 observational and 14 interventional studies) suggests a promising preventive role of some nutrients, in particular for vitamins B (i.e., B1 and B12), D, and E. However, further investigations are necessary to clarify the potential clinical application of nutraceuticals in the prevention and treatment of DR.
Higher Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet Is Associated with Improved Insulin Sensitivity and Selected Markers of Inflammation in Individuals Who Are Overweight and Obese without Diabetes
Authors: Sood Surbhi , Feehan Jack , Itsiopoulos Catherine , Wilson Kirsty , Plebanski Magdalena , Scott David , Hebert James R. , Shivappa Nitin , Mousa Aya , George Elena S. , Courten Barbora de
Published: October 2022

Insulin resistance (IR) and chronic low-grade inflammation are risk factors for chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to investigate two dietary indices: Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) and Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®), and their associations with direct measures of glucose metabolism and adiposity, and biochemical measures including lipids, cytokines and adipokines in overweight/obese adults. This cross-sectional study included 65 participants (males = 63%; age 31.3 ± 8.5 years). Dietary intake via 3-day food diaries was used to measure adherence to MDS (0–45 points); higher scores indicating adherence. Energy-adjusted DII (E-DII) scores were calculated with higher scores indicating a pro-inflammatory diet. IR was assessed using hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamps, insulin secretion by intravenous glucose tolerance test, adiposity by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and circulating cytokine and adipokine concentrations by multiplex assays. Higher MDS was associated with greater insulin sensitivity (β = 0.179; 95%CI: 0.39, 0.318) after adjusting for age, sex and % body fat, and lower NF-κB, higher adiponectin and adipsin in unadjusted and adjusted models. Higher E-DII score was associated with increased total cholesterol (β = 0.364; 95%CI: 0.066, 0.390) and LDL-cholesterol (β = 0.305; 95%CI: 0.019, 0.287) but not with adiposity, glucose metabolism, cytokines or adipokines. Greater MDS appears to be associated with decreased IR and inflammatory markers in overweight/obese adults.
Higher Adherence to Healthy Lifestyle Score Is Associated with Lower Odds of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Zhu Yu , Yang Hu , Liang Shaoxian , Zhang Honghua , Mo Yufeng , Rao Songxian , Zhang Yaozong , Zhang Zhuang , Wang Weiqiang , Yang Wanshui
Published: October 2022

Growing evidence supports that individual lifestyle factors contribute to the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) without considering the coexistence and synergistic effect of lifestyle factors. Our aim is to derive a healthy lifestyle score (HLS) and estimate its association with NAFLD. In this nationwide cross-sectional study, we derived a five-item HLS including dietary pattern, body mass index, physical activity, cigarette smoking, and sleep duration. NAFLD and clinically significant fibrosis (CSF) were assessed based on vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE). Liver function parameters were also tested. Multivariable logistic and linear regressions were applied to investigate the association between HLS and liver diseases. Of the 3893 participants with VCTE examination, approximately 14.1% of participants possessed zero or one healthy lifestyle, 62.5% possessed two or three healthy lifestyles, and 23.4% possessed four or five healthy lifestyles. Compared with participants with a low HLS (0–1 score), the adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for those with a high HLS (4–5 score) were 0.25 (0.19~0.33, Ptrend < 0.001) for NAFLD and 0.30 (0.18~0.50, Ptrend < 0.001) for CSF. HLS was positively associated with albumin, total protein, and total bilirubin (all Ptrend ≤ 0.001), and was inversely associated with globulin, alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transaminase (all Ptrend ≤ 0.003). Higher adherence to HLS is associated with lower odds of NAFLD and CSF and may improve liver function. Strategies for the promotion of a healthy lifestyle should be considered as part of NAFLD prevention.
Early Identification of Hearing Loss and Language Development at 32 Months of Age
Authors: Harris Anne B. , Seeliger Elizabeth , Hess Christi , Sedey Allison L. , Kristensen Kayla , Lee Yen , Chung Winnie
Published: October 2022

This study examines the relationship between the early identification of hearing loss and language outcomes for deaf/hard of hearing (D/HH) children, with bilateral or unilateral hearing loss and with or without additional disabilities. It was hypothesized that hearing loss identified by 3 months of age would be associated with better language outcomes. Using a prospective, longitudinal design, 86 families completed developmental instruments at two time points: at an average age of 14.8 months and an average age of 32.1 months. Multiple regression examined how hearing loss identified by 3 months of age contributed to later language outcomes while controlling for developmental level at the first time point. Hearing loss identified by 3 months of age was positively associated with better language outcomes for D/HH children at 32 months of age; however, D/HH children still exhibited language delays, compared to normative scores for same-aged hearing peers for reported measures. Language outcomes of children with unilateral hearing loss were not better than those of children with mild-to-moderate bilateral hearing loss. Children with additional disabilities and more severe bilateral hearing loss had lower language scores than those without.
Occurrence and Genetic Diversity of the Zoonotic Enteric Protozoans and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Père David’s Deer (Elaphurus davidianus) from Beijing, China
Authors: Zhang Peiyang , Zhang Qingxun , Han Shuyi , Yuan Guohui , Bai Jiade , He Hongxuan
Published: October 2022

Cryptosporidium spp., Blastocystis, Giardia duodenalis, Balantioides coli, Pentatrichomonas hominis, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi are enteric protozoan parasites and fungal species in humans and animals. Père David’s deer is an endangered species in China, but the prevalence of enteric protozoans in this species still needs to be further studied. Thus, we investigated the prevalence and genetic diversity of zoonotic parasites in Père David’s deer during the period of 2018–2021. Among the 286 fecal samples collected from Père David’s deer in the Nanhaizi Nature Reserve, 83 (29.0%) were positive for Blastocystis, 70 (24.5%) were positive for E. bieneusi, while other protozoan parasites were negative. Based on a phylogenetic analysis, three Blastocystis subtypes (ST10, ST14, and ST21) and ten E. bieneusi genotypes (Genotype D, MWC_d1, HLJD-V, Peru6, BEB6, BJED-I to BJED-I V) were identified. In addition, the Blastocystis subtype ST14 and the E. bieneusi genotype D and Peru6 were first detected in Père David’s deer. Our study first reports the presence of two enteric protozoans in Père David’s deer during a 4-year active surveillance and provides more information about zoonotic subtypes/genotypes of Blastocystis and E. bieneusi in deer.