bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vitexin Regulates Heat Shock Protein Expression by Modulating ROS Levels Thereby Protecting against Heat-Stress-Induced Apoptosis
Authors: Wu Tong , Sheng Yanan , Tian Yu , Wang Changyuan
Published: November 2023

Heat stress due to high temperatures can cause heat stroke, pyrexia, heat cramps, heart disease, and respiratory diseases, which seriously affect human health. Vitexin has been shown to alleviate heat stress; however, its mechanism of action remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, we used Caco-2 cells to establish a heat stress model and vitamin C as a positive control to investigate the regulatory effects of vitexin on heat-stress-induced apoptosis and the related mechanisms using Cell Counting Kit-8, flow cytometry, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot. The results showed that the mRNA expressions of Hsp27, Hsp70, and Hsp90 induced by heat stress could be effectively inhibited at vitexin concentrations as low as 30 μM. After heat stress prevention and heat stress amelioration in model cells based on this concentration, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and the mRNA level and the protein expression of heat shock proteins (Hsp70 and Hsp90) and apoptotic proteins were reduced. In addition, compared with the heat stress amelioration group, the expression of BCL2 mRNA and its protein (anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2) increased in the heat stress prevention group, while the expression of BAX, CYCS, CASP3, and PARP1 mRNAs and their proteins (apoptotic proteins Bax, Cytochrome C, cle-Caspase-3, and cle-PARP1) were decreased. In summary, the heat-stress-preventive effect of vitexin was slightly better than its heat-stress-ameliorating effect, and its mechanism may be through the inhibition of intracellular ROS levels and thus the modulation of the expressions of Hsp70 and Hsp90, which in turn protects against heat-stress-induced apoptosis. This study provides a theoretical basis for the prevention and amelioration of heat stress using vitexin.
Identification of Sanguinarine Metabolites in Rats Using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS
Authors: Liu Mengting , Liu Zhiqin , Dong Zhuang , Zou Xianglin , Zeng Jianguo , Yang Zihui
Published: November 2023

Sanguinarine (SAN), as the main active component of a traditional Chinese veterinary medicine, has been widely used in the animal husbandry and breeding industry. However, the metabolites of SA are still uncertain. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the metabolites of SA based on rats in vivo. The blood, feces, and urine of rats were collected after the oral administration of 40 mg/kg SAN. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) was employed to identify the metabolites of SAN. The elemental composition of sanguinarine metabolites was inferred by analyzing their exact molecular weight, and the structures of the metabolites were predicted based on their fragment ions and cleavage pathways. A total of 12 metabolites were identified, including three metabolites in the plasma, four in the urine, and nine in the feces. According to the possible metabolic pathways deduced in this study, SAN was mainly metabolized through reduction, oxidation, demethylation, hydroxylation, and glucuronidation. This present research has summarized the metabolism of SAN in rats, which is helpful for further studying the metabolic mechanism of SAN in vivo and in vitro.
Advances in the Application of Direct Injection Mass Spectrometry Techniques to the Analysis of Grape, Wine and Other Alcoholic Beverages
Authors: Romano Andrea , Capozzi Vittorio , Khomenko Iuliia , Biasioli Franco
Published: November 2023

Direct injection mass spectrometry (DIMS) entails the direct introduction of a gaseous sample into a mass analyser without prior treatment or separation. DIMS techniques offer the opportunity to monitor processes in time, with limits of detection as low as 0.5 parts per trillion in volume (for a 1 s measurement time) while providing results with high informational content. This review provides insight into current and promising future developments of DIMS in the analysis of grape, wine and other alcoholic beverages. Thanks to its unique characteristics, DIMS allows the online monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by grapes during fermentative bioprocesses or by wine directly from the glass headspace or during drinking. A DIMS-based approach can also be adopted to perform quality control and high-throughput analysis, allowing us to characterise the volatile profile of large sample sets rapidly and in a comprehensive fashion. Furthermore, DIMS presents several characteristic elements of green analytical chemistry approaches, catalysing an interest linked to the development of sustainable paths in research and development activities in the field of viticulture and oenology.
Benchmark Study of the Electronic States of the LiRb Molecule: Ab Initio Calculations with the Fock Space Coupled Cluster Approach
Authors: Skrzyński Grzegorz , Musial Monika
Published: November 2023

Accurate potential energy curves (PECs) are determined for the twenty-two electronic states of LiRb. In contrast to previous studies, the applied approach relies on the first principle calculations involving correlation among all electrons. The current methodology is founded on the multireference coupled cluster (CC) scheme constructed within the Fock space (FS) formalism, specifically for the (2,0) sector. The FS methodology is established within the framework of the intermediate Hamiltonian formalism and offers an intruder-free, efficient computational scheme. This method has a distinctive feature that, when applied to the doubly ionized system, provides the characteristics of the neutral case. This proves especially beneficial when investigating PECs in situations where a closed-shell molecule dissociates into open-shell fragments, yet its double positive ion forms closed-shell species. In every instance, we successfully computed continuous PECs spanning the entire range of interatomic distances, from the equilibrium to the dissociation limit. Moreover, the spectroscopic characteristic of various electronic states is presented, including relativistic effects. Relativistic corrections included at the third-order Douglas-Kroll level have a non-negligible effect on the accuracy of the determined spectroscopic constants.
A Carbon Nanocomposite Material Used in the Physical Modelling of the Overburden Subsidence Process
Authors: Xie Jianlin , Ning Shan , Qu Qingdong , Zhu Weibing , Zhao Bozhi , Xu Jialin
Published: November 2023

Carbon nanomaterial is widely used in structural health monitoring due to the advantage of sensitivity and good mechanical properties. This study presents a novel approach employing carbon nanocomposite materials (CNMs) to characterize deformation and damage evolution in physical modelling. As the primary measurement method, the CNM is used to investigate the deformation characteristics of a 200–400 m thick sandstone bed at a 1 km deep longwall mine. The sandstone unit is identified as an ultra-thick key stratum (UTKS), with its thicknesses varying across different mining panels of the UTKS. The results of CNM monitoring show that the UTKS remains stable even after a consecutive excavation of 900 m in width. This stability impedes the upward propagation of overlying strata failure, leading to minimal surface subsidence. The study demonstrates the huge potential of CNM in the mining area, which can be useful for investigating material damage in physical modelling studies. The findings suggest that the cumulative extraction width in individual mining areas of the mine should be controlled to avoid a sudden collapse of the UTKS, and that special attention should be paid to where the UTKS’s thickness changes substantially. The substantial variation in UTKS thickness significantly impacts the pattern of overburden subsidence.
Elaboration of Nanostructured Levan-Based Colloid System as a Biological Alternative with Antimicrobial Activity for Applications in the Management of Pathogenic Microorganisms
Authors: Radenkovs Vitalijs , Valdovska Anda , Galina Daiga , Cairns Stefan , Jakovlevs Dmitrijs , Gaidukovs Sergejs , Cinkmanis Ingmars , Juhnevica-Radenkova Karina
Published: November 2023

Considering the documented health benefits of bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPSs), specifically of bacterial levan (BL), including its intrinsic antimicrobial activity against certain pathogenic species, the current study concentrated on the development of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in the form of colloid systems (CoSs) containing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) employing in-house biosynthesized BL as a reducing and capping agent. The established protocol of fermentation conditions implicating two species of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), i.e., Streptococcus salivarius K12 and Leuconostoc mesenteroides DSM 20343, ensured a yield of up to 25.7 and 13.7 g L−1 of BL within 72 h, respectively. An analytical approach accomplished by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy allowed for the verification of structural features attributed to biosynthesized BL. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the crystalline morphology of biosynthesized BL with a smooth and glossy surface and highly porous structure. Molecular weight (Mw) estimated by multi-detector size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) indicated that BL biosynthesized using S. salivarius K12 has an impressively high Mw, corresponding to 15.435 × 104 kilodaltons (kDa). In turn, BL isolated from L. mesenteroides DSM 20343 was found to have an Mw of only 26.6 kDa. Polydispersity index estimation (PD = Mw/Mn) of produced BL displayed a monodispersed molecule isolated from S. salivarius K12, corresponding to 1.08, while this was 2.17 for L. mesenteroides DSM 20343 isolate. The presence of fructose as the main backbone and, to a lesser extent, glucose and galactose as side chain molecules in EPS hydrolysates was supported by HPLC-RID detection. In producing CoS-BL@AgNPs within green biosynthesis, the presence of nanostructured objects with a size distribution from 12.67 ± 5.56 nm to 46.97 ± 20.23 was confirmed by SEM and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The prominent inhibitory potency of elaborated CoS-BL@AgNPs against both reference test cultures, i.e., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus and those of clinical origin with multi-drug resistance (MDR), was confirmed by disc and well diffusion tests and supported by the values of the minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations. CoS-BL@AgNPs can be treated as APIs suitable for designing new antimicrobial agents and modifying therapies in controlling MDR pathogens.
Ethanol- and PARP-Mediated Regulation of Ribosome-Associated Long Non-Coding RNA (lncRNA) in Pyramidal Neurons
Authors: Rizavi Hooriyah S. , Gavin Hannah E. , Krishnan Harish R. , Gavin David P. , Sharma Rajiv P.
Published: November 2023

Although, by definition, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are not translated, they are sometimes associated with ribosomes. In fact, some estimates suggest the existence of more than 50 K lncRNA molecules that could encode for small peptides. We examined the effects of an ethanol and Poly-ADP Ribose Polymerase (PARP) inhibitor (ABT-888) on ribosome-bound lncRNAs. Mice were administered via intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) either normal saline (CTL) or ethanol (EtOH) twice a day for four consecutive days. On the fourth day, a sub-group of mice administered with ethanol also received ABT-888 (EtOH+ABT). Ribosome-bound lncRNAs in CaMKIIα-expressing pyramidal neurons were measured using the Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification (TRAP) technique. Our findings show that EtOH altered the attachment of 107 lncRNA transcripts, while EtOH+ABT altered 60 lncRNAs. Among these 60 lncRNAs, 49 were altered by both conditions, while EtOH+ABT uniquely altered the attachment of 11 lncRNA transcripts that EtOH alone did not affect. To validate these results, we selected eight lncRNAs (Mir124-2hg, 5430416N02Rik, Snhg17, Snhg12, Snhg1, Mir9-3hg, Gas5, and 1110038B12Rik) for qRT-PCR analysis. The current study demonstrates that ethanol-induced changes in lncRNA attachment to ribosomes can be mitigated by the addition of the PARP inhibitor ABT-888.
Chronic Thermogenic Dietary Supplement Consumption: Effects on Body Composition, Anthropometrics, and Metabolism
Authors: Siedler Madelin R. , Rodriguez Christian , White Sarah J. , Tinoco Ethan , DeHaven Brielle , Brojanac Alexandra , LaValle Christian , Rasco Jaylynn , Taylor Lem W. , Tinsley Grant M.
Published: November 2023

Multi-ingredient thermogenic supplements can acutely increase resting energy expenditure (REE) and subjective energy. However, less is understood about the effects of chronic consumption on body composition, metabolism, and subjective variables such as mood, sleep quality, and eating behaviors. Fifty-two healthy, exercise-trained participants (50% female; mean ± SD age: 23.5 ± 3.0 years; body fat percentage: 27.3 ± 8.0%) were randomized 2:2:1 to take a whey protein supplement alone (PRO; n = 20), in combination with a thermogenic supplement (PRO + FB; n = 19), or no supplement at all (CON; n = 13) for four weeks. Body composition, anthropometric, metabolic, hemodynamic, and subjective outcomes were collected before and after the intervention. Greater changes in REE occurred in PRO + FB as compared to CON (111.2 kcal/d, 95% CI 2.4 to 219.9 kcal/d, p = 0.04), without significant differences between PRO and CON (42.7 kcal/d, 95% CI −65.0 to 150.3 kcal/d, p = 0.61) or between PRO + FB and PRO (68.5 kcal/d, 95% CI −28.3, 165.3, p = 0.21). No changes in hemodynamic outcomes (blood pressure and heart rate) were observed. In exercising adults, four weeks of supplementation with protein and a multi-ingredient thermogenic product maintained fasted REE as compared to no supplementation, for which a decrease in REE was observed, without differential effects on body composition, anthropometrics, or subjective variables.
High Fat Diet-Induced Obesity Dysregulates Splenic B Cell Mitochondrial Activity
Authors: Pal Anandita , Lin Chien-Te , Boykov Ilya , Benson Emily , Kidd Grahame , Fisher-Wellman Kelsey H. , Neufer P. Darrell , Shaikh Saame Raza
Published: November 2023

Diet-induced obesity impairs mitochondrial respiratory responses in tissues that are highly metabolically active, such as the heart. However, less is known about the impact of obesity on the respiratory activity of specific cell types, such as splenic B cells. B cells are of relevance, as they play functional roles in obesity-induced insulin resistance, inflammation, and responses to infection. Here, we tested the hypothesis that high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced obesity could impair the mitochondrial respiration of intact and permeabilized splenic CD19+ B cells isolated from C57BL/6J mice and activated ex vivo with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). High-resolution respirometry was used with intact and permeabilized cells. To reveal potential mechanistic targets by which HFD-induced obesity dysregulates B cell mitochondria, we conducted proteomic analyses and 3D serial block face scanning electron microscopy (SBFEM). High-resolution respirometry revealed that intact LPS-stimulated B cells of obese mice, relative to controls, displayed lower ATP-linked, as well as maximal uncoupled, respiration. To directly investigate mitochondrial function, we used permeabilized LPS-stimulated B cells, which displayed increased H2O2 emission and production with obesity. We also examined oxidative phosphorylation efficiency simultaneously, which revealed that oxygen consumption and ATP production were decreased in LPS-stimulated B cells with obesity relative to controls. Despite minimal changes in total respiratory complex abundance, in LPS-stimulated B cells of obese mice, three of the top ten most downregulated proteins were all accessory subunits of respiratory complex I. SBFEM showed that B cells of obese mice, compared to controls, underwent no change in mitochondrial cristae integrity but displayed increased mitochondrial volume that was linked to bioenergetic function. Collectively, these results establish a proof of concept that HFD-induced obesity dysregulates the mitochondrial bioenergetic metabolism of activated splenic B cells.
Effects of an Unripe Avocado Extract on Glycaemic Control in Individuals with Obesity: A Double-Blinded, Parallel, Randomised Clinical Trial
Authors: Zhao Lijun , Ingram Donald K. , Gumpricht Eric , De Paoli Trent , Teong Xiao Tong , Liu Bo , Mori Trevor A. , Heilbronn Leonie K. , Roth George S.
Published: November 2023

Background: Unripe avocados (Persea americana) are naturally enriched in mannoheptulose (MH), which is a candidate caloric restriction mimetic. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of a diet supplement made from unripe avocado on glucose tolerance, and cardiometabolic risk factors in free-living nondiabetic adults with obesity. Methods: In a double-blinded, randomised controlled trial, 60 adults (female n = 47, age 48 ± 13 years, BMI 34.0 ± 2.6 kg/m2) were stratified by sex and randomised to avocado extract (AvX, 10 g finely ground, freeze-dried unripe avocado) or placebo (10 g finely ground cornmeal plus 5% spinach powder) daily, for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was a change in glucose area under the curve (AUC) in response to a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. A post-hoc analysis was subsequently performed in a subgroup with insulin AUC above the median of baseline values after removal of participants >2 SD from the mean. Results: There were no between-group differences in glucose AUC (p = 0.678), insulin AUC (p = 0.091), or cardiovascular outcomes. In the subgroup analysis, insulin AUC was lower in AxV versus placebo (p = 0.024). Conclusions: Daily consumption of unripe avocado extract enriched in MH did not alter glucose tolerance or insulin sensitivity in nondiabetic adults with obesity, but the data provided preliminary evidence for a benefit in insulin AUC in a subgroup of participants with elevated baseline postprandial insulin levels.
Causal Effect of Relative Carbohydrate Intake on Hypertension through Psychological Well-Being and Adiposity: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Ye Chaojie , Kong Lijie , Wang Yiying , Dou Chun , Xu Min , Zheng Jie , Zheng Ruizhi , Xu Yu , Li Mian , Zhao Zhiyun , Lu Jieli , Chen Yuhong , Wang Weiqing , Bi Yufang , Wang Tiange , Ning Guang
Published: November 2023

Observations of the association between carbohydrate intake and hypertension are inconsistent, with mediating pathways unclear. We aimed to investigate the causal effect of relative carbohydrate intake on hypertension and the mediating roles of psychological well-being and adiposity. Using summary-level statistics of genome-wide association studies of European ancestry, we conducted univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) to estimate the bidirectional causal association between relative carbohydrate intake (total energy-adjusted, mean: 42–51%) and hypertension (FinnGen: 42,857 cases/162,837 controls; UK Biobank: 77,723 cases/330,366 controls) and two-step MR to assess the mediating effects of psychological well-being indicators and adiposity traits on the association. MR estimates of hypertension from FinnGen and UK Biobank were meta-analyzed using the fixed-effect model given no heterogeneity. Meta-analyses of multivariable MR estimates from FinnGen and UK Biobank indicated that each one-SD higher relative carbohydrate intake was associated with 71% (odds ratio: 0.29; 95% confidence interval: 0.11–0.79) lower risk of hypertension, independently of other dietary macronutrients. Hypertension showed no reverse effect on carbohydrate intake. Five psychological well-being indicators and four adiposity traits causally mediated the association between relative carbohydrate intake and hypertension, including body mass index (mediation proportion: 51.37%), waist circumference (40.54%), waist-to-hip ratio (35.00%), hip circumference (24.77%), major depressive disorder (23.37%), positive affect (17.08%), depressive symptoms (16.52%), life satisfaction (16.05%), and neuroticism (11.22%). Higher relative carbohydrate intake was causally associated with lower hypertension risk, substantially mediated by better psychological well-being and less adiposity. Our findings inform causal targets and pathways for the prevention and intervention of hypertension.
Upscaling Customer Access Network Using Spectrum Conversion–Slicing–Duplication Technique
Authors: Ab-Rahman Mohammad Syuhaimi , Rahman Juwairiyyah Abdul , Arifin Nurul Farhana Mohd , Kaharudin Iszan Hana , Hwang I-Shyan
Published: November 2023

The purpose of this study is to increase the number of access users without having to install a new optical cable. With the proposed solution, the cost of installation work can be reduced and the number of users can be increased. Several parameters were observed to ensure that the modified network not only improved the scalability but also met the standard parameters. Among the parameters observed are the Q factor, bit error rate (BER), eye diagram and number of users. The study was continued using the spectrum conversion, slicing and duplication technique, where the signals would be duplicated in arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) and sliced using a demultiplexer WDM (WDM Demux). Simulations were performed using the latest-version Optisystem 18.0 software by setting the transmitter frequency value of 1491 nm, transmitter power of 0 dBm and loss of 0 dB. The result shows the total user access achieved is 196,608 users. Meanwhile, the common FTTH network is allowed 256 users only. The criterion is set based on the calculation of the Q factor, which is greater than 6, while the BER is less than 1 × 10−9. The Q factor for 196,608 users is 6.43617 and the BER is 4.52 × 10−11. The number of users is increased without compromising the quality of data offered to the customer. Our solution is the first reported to date.
Research on Tip Characterization Techniques Based on Two-Dimensional Self-Traceable Nano-Gratings
Authors: Xiong Yingfan , Gou Jinming , Tang Zhaohui , Xiao Guangxu , Lei Lihua , Song Song , Deng Xiao , Cheng Xinbin
Published: November 2023

The characterization of scanning tip morphology is crucial for accurate linewidth measurements. Conventional rectangular characterizers are affected by lateral distortion caused by the nonlinearities in AFM scanning, leading to errors between the actual characterization results and the true values. In this study, we innovatively developed self-traceable two-dimensional nano-gratings using chromium atomic deposition technology and extreme ultraviolet interference lithography. We used this structure as a characterizer for conducting scanning tip characterizations.This paper analyzed the periodic stability of the grating sample during scanning and corrected the lateral distortion of atomic force microscopy (AFM) at scan scales of 0.5 µm and 1 µm based on its self-traceable characteristics. Additionally, we extracted the angle information of the scanning tip in the X direction and Y direction within a scan scale of 0.5 µm. The results demonstrate that the two-dimensional grating sample exhibited excellent periodic stability during scanning. The characterization errors for the tip’s X direction and Y direction angles are within ±2°, showing high consistency. This study highlights that self-traceable two-dimensional grating samples have the capability for in situ bidirectional characterization of tip information, providing a creative solution for the development of new-style tip characterizers.
Advances in Visible Light Communication
Authors: He Cuiwei , Ali Wajahat
Published: November 2023

Visible light communications (VLC) have been a highly popular area of research in recent years [...]
Untapped Sources of Dual Resistance to Hessian Fly and Greenbug in Synthetic Hexaploid Wheats
Authors: Subramanyam Subhashree , Bockelman Harold E. , Sardesai Nagesh
Published: November 2023

The Hessian fly (Hf) and greenbugs (Gb) are major pests of wheat, causing severe economic losses globally. Deploying resistant wheat is the most effective strategy for managing these destructive insects. However, the resistance is not effective against all Hf or Gb biotypes and can impose selection pressure on insects, resulting in the development of virulent biotypes. These challenges must be met through the discovery of new and novel sources of resistance to these pests. Synthetic Hexaploid Wheat (SHW)-developed cultivars are a rich source of resistance against a diverse array of pathogens and pests. In this study, 80 SHW lines were evaluated for their resistance to Hf and Gb under controlled environmental conditions. Of these, a total of 36 SHW lines showed resistance independently to Hf biotype L and Gb biotype E, while 27 lines showed combined resistance to both Hf and Gb. Further, a subset of 10 SHW lines showed resistance to additional Hf biotypes, Great Plains and vH13. The identification of SHW lines resistant to multiple insects and biotypes offers an invaluable resource to breeders who are looking to stack resistance traits to develop elite cultivars as a strategy to alleviate economic impacts upon global wheat production.
Plant Invasion Ecology
Authors: Sukhorukov Alexander P.
Published: November 2023

This article belongs to the Special Issue “Plant Invasion Ecology” [...]
A Review of the Role of an Anthocyanin, Cyanidin-3-O-β-glucoside in Obesity-Related Complications
Authors: Deepa Ponnuvel , Hong Minji , Sowndhararajan Kandhasamy , Kim Songmun
Published: November 2023

Obesity has become a major health issue worldwide and obese individuals possess higher levels of adipose tissue when compared with healthy individuals. Obesity is highly associated with the development of different chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, cancers, etc. Previous studies established that anthocyanin compounds play an important role in attenuating obesity-related consequences. Among various anthocyanin compounds, cyanidin-3-O-β-glucoside (C3G) is the most important component and is widely distributed in various colored edible plant materials, especially berries, cherries, black rice, purple corn, etc. In recent decades, several studies have reported the therapeutical properties of C3G. C3G has various biological properties and health benefits, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, neuroprotective, anticancer, etc. In this review, we summarized the in vitro and in vivo studies in relation to the role of C3G in obesity-related complications. Several mechanistic studies demonstrated that C3G maintains the metabolism of glucose, fatty acids, and lipids by regulating different genes and signaling pathways. It could be concluded that the consumption of C3G protects healthy individuals from obesity-related issues by maintaining body weight and regulating their metabolism and energy balance. This review provides some important signaling pathways/targets of C3G to facilitate the prevention and treatment of obesity, leading to the development of important food supplements.
Corrosion Degree Evaluation of Polymer Anti-Corrosive Oil Well Cement under an Acidic Geological Environment Using an Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Zhao Jun , Chen Rongyao , Liu Shikang , Zhou Shanshan , Xu Mingbiao , Dai Feixu
Published: November 2023

Oil well cement is prone to corrosion and damage in carbon dioxide (CO2) acidic gas wells. In order to improve the anti-corrosion ability of oil well cement, polymer resin was used as the anti-corrosion material. The effect of polymer resin on the mechanical and corrosion properties of oil well cement was studied. The corrosion law of polymer anti-corrosion cement in an acidic gas environment was studied. The long-term corrosion degree of polymer anti-corrosion cement was evaluated using an improved neural network model. The cluster particle algorithm (PSO) was used to improve the accuracy of the neural network model. The results indicate that in acidic gas environments, the compressive strength of polymer anti-corrosion cement was reduced under the effect of CO2, and the corrosion depth was increased. The R2 of the prediction model PSO-BPNN3 is 0.9970, and the test error is 0.0136. When corroded for 365 days at 50 °C and 25 MPa pressure of CO2, the corrosion degree of the polymer anti-corrosion cement was 43.6%. The corrosion depth of uncorroded cement stone is 76.69%, which is relatively reduced by 33.09%. The corrosion resistance of cement can be effectively improved by using polymer resin. Using the PSO-BP neural network to evaluate the long-term corrosion changes of polymer anti-corrosion cement under complex acidic gas conditions guides the evaluation of its corrosion resistance.
Developing Mixed Matrix Membranes with Good CO2 Separation Performance Based on PEG-Modified UiO-66 MOF and 6FDA-Durene Polyimide
Authors: Adot Veetil Kavya , Husna Asmaul , Kabir Md. Homayun , Jeong Insu , Choi Ook , Hossain Iqubal , Kim Tae-Hyun
Published: November 2023

The use of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) comprising metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) for the separation of CO2 from flue gas has gained recognition as an effective strategy for enhancing gas separation efficiency. When incorporating porous materials like MOFs into a polymeric matrix to create MMMs, the combined characteristics of each constituent typically manifest. Nevertheless, the inadequate dispersion of an inorganic MOF filler within an organic polymer matrix can compromise the compatibility between the filler and matrix. In this context, the aspiration is to develop an MMM that not only exhibits optimal interfacial compatibility between the polymer and filler but also delivers superior gas separation performance, specifically in the efficient extraction of CO2 from flue gas. In this study, we introduce a modification technique involving the grafting of poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDE) onto a UiO-66-NH2 MOF filler (referred to as PEG-MOF), aimed at enhancing its compatibility with the 6FDA-durene matrix. Moreover, the inherent CO2-philic nature of PEGDE is anticipated to enhance the selectivity of CO2 over N2 and CH4. The resultant MMM, incorporating 10 wt% of PEG-MOF loading, exhibits a CO2 permeability of 1671.00 Barrer and a CO2/CH4 selectivity of 22.40. Notably, these values surpass the upper bound reported by Robeson in 2008.
Vinyl-Addition Homopolymeization of Norbornenes with Bromoalkyl Groups
Authors: Lunin Artyom O. , Andreyanov Fedor A. , Makarov Igor S. , Bermeshev Maxim V.
Published: November 2023

Vinyl-addition polynorbornenes are of great interest as versatile templates for the targeted design of polymer materials with desired properties. These polymers possess rigid and saturated backbones, which provide them with high thermal and chemical stability as well as high glass transition temperatures. Vinyl-addition polymers from norbornenes with bromoalkyl groups are widely used as precursors of anion exchange membranes; however, high-molecular-weight homopolymers from such monomers are often difficult to prepare. Herein, we report the systematic study of vinyl-addition polymerization of norbornenes with various bromoalkyl groups on Pd-catalysts bearing N-heterocyclic carbene ligands ((NHC)Pd-systems). Norbornenes with different lengths of hydrocarbon linker (one, two, and four CH2 groups) between the bicyclic norbornene moiety and the bromine atom were used as model monomers, while single- and three-component (NHC)Pd-systems were applied as catalysts. In vinyl-addition polymerization, the reactivity of the investigated monomers varied substantially. The relative reactivity of these monomers was assessed in copolymerization experiments, which showed that the closer the bromine is to the norbornene double-bond, the lower the monomer’s reactivity. The most reactive monomer was the norbornene derivative with the largest substituent (with the longest linker). Tuning the catalyst’s nature and the conditions of polymerization, we succeeded in synthesizing high-molecular-weight homopolymers from norbornenes with bromoalkyl groups (Mn up to 1.4 × 106). The basic physico-chemical properties of the prepared polymers were studied and considered together with the results of vinyl-addition polymerization.
Performance and Degradation of Nonwoven Mulches Made of Natural Fibres and PLA Polymer—Open Field Study
Authors: Marasović Paula , Kopitar Dragana , Brunšek Ružica , Schwarz Ivana
Published: November 2023

The need for sustainable alternatives to conventional plastic mulches in agriculture has led to the development of various types of biodegradable mulches made from natural fibres and biopolymers to reduce environmental pollution and mitigate soil pollution caused by conventional plastic mulch usage. Degradation, impact on soil temperature and humidity, and weed suppression properties of needle-punched nonwoven mulches of different mass per unit area, made of jute, hemp, viscose, and PLA biopolymer, are investigated. Their biodegradation is determined by changes in the mulch properties (mass per unit area, thickness, air permeability, tensile properties, microscopic images, and FTIR analyses) during 300 days of exposure to the environmental conditions in the period from May 2022 to February 2023. The change in mass per unit area, thickness, air permeability, and tensile properties of nonwoven mulches did not show a tendency to degrade during exposure to environmental conditions. The microscopic and FTIR analysis showed the degradation of the fibres from the mulches during the exposure time to a certain extent. The environmental conditions influence the change in the dimensions of the mulches (shrinkage and expansion)—which impact periodically tested mass results per unit area—as well as their thickness and air permeability. The nonwoven mulches provide higher temperatures compared to bare soil, though not as high as those observed beneath traditional agricultural foil. When comparing the humidity in bare soil and soil covered by mulches during the plant growth period (June to October), it was found that soil humidity was higher beneath all mulches. The nonwoven mulches provide superior soil moisture retention compared to conventionally used agrofoil. Almost all nonwoven mulches effectively suppressed weed growth, except hemp mulches. The newly produced mulches have the potential to replace traditional agrofoil, offering improved conditions for plant growth, effective weed control, and faster degradation without causing harm to the environment.
Application of Polyethylene Glycol-Based Flame-Retardant Phase Change Materials in the Thermal Management of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Gong Yan , Zhang Jiaxin , Chen Yin , Ouyang Dongxu , Chen Mingyi
Published: November 2023

Composite phase change materials commonly exhibit drawbacks, such as low thermal conductivity, flammability, and potential leakage. This study focuses on the development of a novel flame-retardant phase change material (RPCM). The material’s characteristics and its application in the thermal management of lithium-ion batteries are investigated. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) serves as the medium for phase change; expanded graphite (EG) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) are incorporated. Moreover, an intumescent flame retardant (IFR) system based on ammonium polyphosphate (APP) is constructed, aided by the inclusion of bio-based flame-retardant chitosan (CS) and barium phytate (PA-Ba), which can improve the flame retardancy of the material. Experimental results demonstrate that the RPCM, containing 15% IFR content, exhibits outstanding flame retardancy, achieving a V-0 flame retardant rating in vertical combustion tests. Moreover, the material exhibits excellent thermomechanical properties and thermal stability. Notably, the material’s thermal conductivity is 558% higher than that of pure PEG. After 2C and 3C high-rate discharge cycles, the highest temperature reached by the battery module cooled with RPCM is 18.71 °C lower than that of natural air-cooling; the material significantly reduces the temperature difference within the module by 62.7%, which achieves efficient and safe thermal management.
Experimental Study on the Control Mechanism of Non-Equilibrium Retrograde Condensation in Buried Hill Fractured Condensate Gas Reservoirs
Authors: Liu Yang , Pan Yi , Sun Yang , Liang Bin
Published: November 2023

During the depletion development of condensate gas reservoirs, when the formation pressure drops below the dew point pressure, the condensate oil and natural gas systems are in the non-equilibrium state of foggy retrograde condensation. The rational use of the non-equilibrium phase characteristics of the foggy retrograde condensation phenomenon during the development process will be beneficial to the recovery of condensate oil and natural gas. In order to clarify the retrograde condensation control mechanism during the non-equilibrium depletion development of condensate gas reservoirs, the phase characteristics of a condensate oil and gas system were studied by constant composition expansion and constant volume depletion experiments. Then, on the basis of a long core depletion experiment and chromatographic analysis experiment, the influence of different pressure drop speeds, fluid properties, and reservoir physical properties on the control effect of non-equilibrium retrograde condensation after the coupling of the fluid retrograde condensation and reservoir core is analyzed. The results show that during the pressure decline process, the condensate oil and gas system will produce a strong foggy retrograde condensation phenomenon, with the saturation of the retrograde condensate increasing and then decreasing. The cumulative recovery of the condensate oil and natural gas, as well as the mass fraction of the heavy components in the condensate oil, increase with the increase in the depletion rate. Different fluid properties and reservoir physical properties have a great influence on the cumulative recovery degree of the condensate oil, and have little influence on the recovery degree of the natural gas. This work has a certain guiding role for the stable production and enhanced recovery of fractured condensate gas reservoirs in subsurface structures of metamorphic rocks.
Experimental Study on the Coefficient of Internal Frictional Resistance in the Annular Gap during the Plunger Gas Lift Process
Authors: Shi Haowen , Chen Zhong , Liao Ruiquan , Liu Jie , Li Junliang , Jin Shan
Published: November 2023

Plunger gas lift process technology is an economical solution to the problem of gas well liquid buildup. However, in-house simulation experiments revealed that the high-speed movement of the plunger may lead to fluid leakage and generate annular gap frictional resistance. To address this issue, a detailed experimental study was conducted to comparatively analyze five existing frictional-resistance models, which were found to have significant deviations. Therefore, we propose a new model of annular gap frictional resistance and validate it with experimental data, and the results show that the new model is more accurate and reliable. We also conducted a comparative analysis of production-site examples by using VB programming and found that when considering the annular gap frictional resistance, the upward travel time of the plunger was delayed, the difference between the upper and lower end face pressures was significant, and the difference in speed was 1.73 m/s. This indicates that the annular gap frictional resistance cannot be ignored and is crucial for optimizing plunger gas lift process technology and improving the drainage efficiency of gas wells.
Hepatitis E Virus Infection Caused Elevation of Alanine Aminotransferase Levels in a Patient with Chronic Hepatitis B and Choledocholithiasis
Authors: Hirano Rei , Kanda Tatsuo , Honda Masayuki , Arima Shuhei , Totsuka Mai , Masuzaki Ryota , Kanezawa Shini , Sasaki-Tanaka Reina , Matsumoto Naoki , Yamagami Hiroaki , Ishii Tomotaka , Ogawa Masahiro , Nomura Shuzo , Fujisawa Mariko , Saito Kei , Takahashi Masaharu , Okamoto Hiroaki , Kogure Hirofumi
Published: November 2023

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotypes 3 and 4 are zoonotic strains that are primarily transmitted through the consumption of undercooked pork or game meat. They also cause asymptomatic infections, acute hepatitis, acute-on-chronic liver failure, chronic hepatitis, and extrahepatic manifestations. Here, we report a man in his 80s who had chronic hepatitis B, took entecavir for it, and presented with higher levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and jaundice. An abdominal computed tomography scan revealed choledocholithiasis with cholecystolithiasis. Although endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation was performed for the removal of a common bile duct stone, the abnormal liver function tests, including jaundice, were prolonged. After other viral hepatitis and other causes of the liver injury were ruled out, as his serum was positive for immunoglobulin A anti-HEV and HEV genotype 3b RNA, we diagnosed him as having acute hepatitis E. In this case, with chronic hepatitis B and a common bile duct stone, the prolonged abnormal results for the liver function tests seemed to be caused by HEV infection. In conclusion, in cases with high ALT levels after removing choledocholithiasis, other factors, including HEV infection, should be considered to determine the cause of abnormal liver function test results. The further examination of hepatitis D virus infection and high ALT levels may be needed in HBV-infected individuals.
MonoGhost: Lightweight Monocular GhostNet 3D Object Properties Estimation for Autonomous Driving
Authors: El-Dawy Ahmed , El-Zawawi Amr , El-Habrouk Mohamed
Published: November 2023

Effective environmental perception is critical for autonomous driving; thus, the perception system requires collecting 3D information of the surrounding objects, such as their dimensions, locations, and orientation in space. Recently, deep learning has been widely used in perception systems that convert image features from a camera into semantic information. This paper presents the MonoGhost network, a lightweight Monocular GhostNet deep learning technique for full 3D object properties estimation from a single frame monocular image. Unlike other techniques, the proposed MonoGhost network first estimates relatively reliable 3D object properties depending on efficient feature extractor. The proposed MonoGhost network estimates the orientation of the 3D object as well as the 3D dimensions of that object, resulting in reasonably small errors in the dimensions estimations versus other networks. These estimations, combined with the translation projection constraints imposed by the 2D detection coordinates, allow for the prediction of a robust and dependable Bird’s Eye View bounding box. The experimental outcomes prove that the proposed MonoGhost network performs better than other state-of-the-art networks in the Bird’s Eye View of the KITTI dataset benchmark by scoring 16.73% on the moderate class and 15.01% on the hard class while preserving real-time requirements.
Assessment of Ocean Circulation Characteristics off the West Coast of Ireland Using HF Radar
Authors: Ren Lei , Pan Guangwei , Yang Lingna , Wang Yaqi , Zheng Gang , Yao Peng , Zhu Qin , Zhu Zhenchang , Hartnett Michael
Published: November 2023

Research on coastal ocean circulation patterns over long time periods is significant for various marine endeavors: environmental protection, coastal engineering construction, and marine renewable energy extraction. Based on sea surface current data remotely observed using a shore-based high frequency radar (HFR) system for one year (2016), spatiotemporal characteristics of surface flow fields of sea surface flow fields along the west coast of Ireland are studied using harmonic analysis, rotary spectral analysis and representative flow fields over different seasons and the whole year. Coastal surface currents in the study area are strongly affected by tidal dynamics of the M2 constituent, showing significant characteristics of regular semidiurnal tide, such as M2 and S2. The energy spectrum distribution indicates that the tidal constituents M2 and S2 are the dominant periodic energy constituents in a counterclockwise spectrum, which mainly presents rotating flow; the representative diurnal tidal constituents is the constituent K1, and its energy spectrum distribution is mainly clockwise. A comparison between probable maximum current velocity (PMCV) and measured maximum current velocity (MMCV) is presented. It shows that although tidal current characteristics in the study area are significant, the main driving force of the currents at the time of the maximum currents is wind energy. These results provide new insights into a region of huge societal potential at early stages of sustainable economic exploitation where few data currently exist.
Assessing the Hazard of Deep-Seated Rock Slope Instability through the Description of Potential Failure Scenarios, Cross-Validated Using Several Remote Sensing and Monitoring Techniques
Authors: Wolff Charlotte , Jaboyedoff Michel , Fei Li , Pedrazzini Andrea , Derron Marc-Henri , Rivolta Carlo , Merrien-Soukatchoff Véronique
Published: November 2023

Foreseeing the failure of important unstable volumes is a major concern in the Alps, especially due to the presence of people and infrastructures in the valleys. The use of monitoring and remote sensing techniques is aimed at detecting potential instabilities and the combination of several techniques permits the cross-validation of the detected movements. Supplemented with field mapping and structural analysis, it is possible to define possible scenarios of rupture in terms of volume, mechanisms of failure and susceptibility. A combined observation strategy was applied to the study of major instability located in the Ticinese Alps (Switzerland), Cima del Simano, where the monitoring started in 2006 with the measurement of opened cracks with extensometers. Since 2021, the monitoring has been completed by LiDAR, satellite and GB-InSAR observations and structural analysis. Here, slow but constant movements of about 7 mm/yr were detected along with rockfall activities near the Simano summit. Eight failure scenarios of various sizes ranging from 2.3 × 105 m3 to 51 × 106 m3, various mechanisms (toppling, planar, wedge and circular sliding) and various occurrence probabilities were defined based on the topography and the monitoring results and by applying a Slope Local Base Level (SLBL) algorithm. Weather acquisition campaigns by means of thermologgers were also conducted to suggest possible causes that lead to the observed movements and to suggest the evolution of the instabilities with actual and future climate changes.