bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Fit for Purpose Land Administration Approach-Connecting People, Processes and Technology in Mozambique
Authors: Balas Marisa , Carrilho João , Lemmen Christiaan
Published: August 2021

Mozambique started a massive land registration program to register five million parcels and delimitate four thousand communities. The results of the first two years of this program illustrated that the conventional methods utilized for the land tenure registration were too expensive and time-consuming and faced several data quality problems. The purpose of this research was to conceptualize, develop and test a country-specific Fit For Purpose Land Administration (FFPLA) approach for Mozambique, denominated as FFPLA-MOZ, intertwining three pillars: people, processes, and technology, to solve the constraints faced in systematic registrations. Such a contextualized approach needed to be: (i) in line with legislation; (ii) appropriate to the circumstances and needs of the systematic registration; (iii) cost-effective; (iv) based on available technology; and (v) fit to establish a sound and sustainable land administration system. By connecting people, processes, and technology, the FFPLA-MOZ approach achieved several benefits, including cost and time reduction, increased community satisfaction, and improved quality of work and data. The FFPLA-MOZ approach also supported a more robust community engagement through a more participatory land registration, denominated community-based crowdsourcing. Initial observations indicated that strong leadership and commitment were of extreme importance to ensure change management, capacity development, and project delivery for the success of these initiatives. The research only focused on the registration of land under good faith and customary occupations, as well as community delimitations. The next stages should focus on other land management activities and integrate other cadastres.
Shared Molecular Mechanisms of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Its Clinical Presentations: Automated Molecular Mechanisms Extraction Approach
Authors: Glavaški Mila , Velicki Lazar
Published: August 2021

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited cardiovascular disease with a prevalence of 1 in 500 people and varying clinical presentations. Although there is much research on HCM, underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood, and research on the molecular mechanisms of its specific clinical presentations is scarce. Our aim was to explore the molecular mechanisms shared by HCM and its clinical presentations through the automated extraction of molecular mechanisms. Molecular mechanisms were congregated by a query of the INDRA database, which aggregates knowledge from pathway databases and combines it with molecular mechanisms extracted from abstracts and open-access full articles by multiple machine-reading systems. The molecular mechanisms were extracted from 230,072 articles on HCM and 19 HCM clinical presentations, and their intersections were found. Shared molecular mechanisms of HCM and its clinical presentations were represented as networks; the most important elements in the intersections’ networks were found, centrality scores for each element of each network calculated, networks with reduced level of noise generated, and cooperatively working elements detected in each intersection network. The identified shared molecular mechanisms represent possible mechanisms underlying different HCM clinical presentations. Applied methodology produced results consistent with the information in the scientific literature.
Development of a New Sr-O Parameterization to Describe the Influence of SrO on Iron-Phosphate Glass Structural Properties Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Goj Pawel , Wajda Aleksandra , Stoch Pawel
Published: August 2021

Iron-phosphate glasses, due to their properties, have many potential applications. One of the most promising seems to be nuclear waste immobilization. Radioactive 90Sr isotope is the main short-lived product of fission and, due to its high solubility, it can enter groundwater and pose a threat to the environment. On the other hand, Sr is an important element in hard tissue metabolic processes, and phosphate glasses containing Sr are considered bioactive. This study investigated the effect of SrO addition on a glass structure of nominal 30Fe2O3-70P2O5 chemical composition using classical molecular dynamics simulations. To describe the interaction between Sr-O ion pairs, new interatomic potential parameters of the Buckingham-type were developed and tested for crystalline compounds. The short-range structure of the simulated glasses is presented and is in agreement with previous experimental and theoretical studies. The simulations showed that an increase in SrO content in the glass led to phosphate network depolymerization. Analysis demonstrated that the non-network oxygen did not take part in the phosphate network depolymerization. Furthermore, strontium aggregation in the glass structure was observed to lead to the non-homogeneity of the glass network. It was demonstrated that Sr ions prefer to locate near to Fe(II), which may induce crystallization of strontium phosphates with divalent iron.
The Influence of Different Plasma Cell Discharges on the Performance Quality of Surgical Gown Samples
Authors: Asghar Atif H. , Galaly Ahmed Rida
Published: August 2021

An experimental study was performed on a low-density plasma discharge using two different configurations of the plasma cell cathode, namely, the one mesh system electrodes (OMSE) and the one mesh and three system electrodes (OMTSE), to determine the electrical characteristics of the plasma such as current–voltage characteristics, breakdown voltage (VB), Paschen curves, current density (J), cathode fall thickness (dc), and electron density of the treated sample. The influence of the electrical characteristics of the plasma fluid in the cathode fall region for different cathode configuration cells (OMSE and OMTSE) on the performance quality of a surgical gown was studied to determine surface modification, treatment efficiency, exposure time, wettability property, and mechanical properties. Over a very short exposure time, the treatment efficiency for the surgical gown surface of plasma over the mesh cathode at a distance equivalent to the cathode fall distance dc values of the OMTSE and for OMSE reached a maximum. The wettability property decreased from 90 to 40% for OMTSE over a 180 s exposure time and decreased from 90 to 10% for OMSE over a 160 s exposure time. The mechanisms of each stage of surgical gown treatment by plasma are described. In this study, the mechanical properties of the untreated and treated surgical gown samples such as the tensile strength and elongation percentage, ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, strain hardening, resilience, toughness, and fracture (breaking) point were studied. Plasma had a more positive effect on the mechanical properties of the OMSE reactor than those of the OMTSE reactor.
Analysis of the Fire Properties of Blown Insulation from Crushed Straw in the Buildings
Authors: Teslík Jiří
Published: August 2021

Sustainable development in civil engineering is the clear and necessary goal of the current generation. There are many possibilities for reducing the use of depletable resources. One of them is to use renewable and recyclable materials on a larger scale in the construction industry. One possibility is the application of natural thermal insulators. A typical example is a crushed straw, which is generated as agricultural waste in the Czech Republic. Due to its small dimensions and good thermal insulation parameters, this material can also be used as blown thermal insulation. The research aims to examine the fire resistance of crushed straw as blown insulation. The single-flame source fire test results, thermal attack by a single burning item (SBI) test and large-scale test of a perimeter wall segment are shown. The results show that blown insulation made of crushed straw meets the requirements of fire protection. In addition, crushed straw can be also used to protect load-bearing structures due to its behaviour. This article also shows the production process of crushed straw used as blown insulation in brief.
Nickel Wick by Continuous Freeze-Casting: Influences of the Particle Size on the Capillarity and Mechanical Properties
Authors: Lloreda-Jurado Pedro Javier , Chicote Laura , Chicardi Ernesto , Sepúlveda Ranier
Published: August 2021

The aim of this work was to study the effect of the particle size range, the freeze casting temperature and sintering temperature on the capillarity performance and mechanical properties of Ni wicks manufactured by freeze-casting. The use of Ni/camphene-polystyrene suspensions creates wicks with an open porosity above 80% and average pore sizes of 38 μm to 17 μm by tailoring the particle size ranges and freezing temperatures employed. The incorporation of PS and the use of a continuous freeze-casting process reduces the particle sedimentation and generates a highly interconnected pore structure with regular pore sizes across the sample. The capillarity performances exhibit a fast and complete water adsorption, especially in Ni wicks freeze-casted at 10 °C and sintered at 800 °C, but only when the smaller particle size range is used do Ni wicks achieve sufficient mechanical strength.
Design and Production of a New FeCoNiCrAlCu High-Entropy Alloy: Influence of Powder Production Method on Sintering
Authors: Reverte Eduardo , Calvo-Dahlborg Monique , Dahlborg Ulf , Campos Monica , Alvaredo Paula , Martin-Rodriguez Pablo , Gordo Elena , Cornide Juan
Published: August 2021

The structure of FeCoNiCrAl1.8Cu0.5 high-entropy alloys (HEA) obtained by two different routes has been studied. The selection of the composition has followed the Hume–Rothery approach in terms of number of itinerant electrons (e/a) and average atomic radius to control the formation of specific phases. The alloys were obtained either from a mixture of elemental powders or from gas-atomised powders, being consolidated in both cases by uniaxial pressing and vacuum sintering at temperatures of 1200 °C and 1300 °C. The characterization performed in the sintered samples from both types of powder includes scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, and density measurements. It was found that the powder production techniques give similar phases content. However, the sintering at 1300 °C destroys the achieved phase stability of the samples. The phases identified by all techniques and confirmed by Thermo-Calc calculations are the following: a major Co-Ni-Al-rich (P1) BCC phase, which stays stable after 1300 °C sintering and homogenising TT treatments; a complex Cr-Fe-rich (P2) B2 type phase, which transforms into a sigma phase after the 1300 °C sintering and homogenising TT treatments; and a very minor Al-Cu-rich (P3) FCC phase, which also transforms into Domain II and Domain III phases during the heating at 1300 °C and homogenising TT treatments.
Dealloying-Derived Nanoporous Cu6Sn5 Alloy as Stable Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhang Chi , Wang Zheng , Cui Yu , Niu Xuyao , Chen Mei , Liang Ping , Liu Junhao , Liu Runjun , Li Jingcong , He Xin
Published: August 2021

The volume expansion during Li ion insertion/extraction remains an obstacle for the application of Sn-based anode in lithium ion-batteries. Herein, the nanoporous (np) Cu6Sn5 alloy and Cu6Sn5/Sn composite were applied as a lithium-ion battery anode. The as-dealloyed np-Cu6Sn5 has an ultrafine ligament size of 40 nm and a high BET-specific area of 15.9 m2 g−1. The anode shows an initial discharge capacity as high as 1200 mA h g−1, and it remains a capacity of higher than 600 mA h g−1 for the initial five cycles at 0.1 A g−1. After 100 cycles, the anode maintains a stable capacity higher than 200 mA h g−1 for at least 350 cycles, with outstanding Coulombic efficiency. The ex situ XRD patterns reveal the reverse phase transformation between Cu6Sn5 and Li2CuSn. The Cu6Sn5/Sn composite presents a similar cycling performance with a slightly inferior rate performance compared to np-Cu6Sn5. The study demonstrates that dealloyed nanoporous Cu6Sn5 alloy could be a promising candidate for lithium-ion batteries.
Removal of Ammonium Ions from Aqueous Solutions Using Weathered Halloysite
Authors: Leszczyński Jacek
Published: August 2021

This study investigated the use of weathered halloysite as an ion exchange material for ammonium removal from water. The study was conducted under static and dynamic conditions. The influence of such parameters as the preliminary concentration of ammonium ions, dose of halloysite, and pH was examined in periodic studies. The ion exchange capacity of weathered halloysite under various regeneration conditions such as concentration, excess of regeneration solution and the pH at which the regeneration was performed was also determined. The effect of flow velocity, initial NH4+-ions concentration was studied in column tests and the weathered halloysite’s ion -exchange capacity was also determined. The best results of ammonium ion removal were obtained at pH 6. The equilibrium isotherms were described using the Langmuir and Freundlich models. The results of periodic studies show a good fit for the data of both models, with Langmuir isotherms reflecting the removal of ammonium ions better. A good match for the data (R2 > 0.99) was provided by a pseudo second-order kinetic model. The obtained results indicate that a properly prepared halloysite can be a useful mineral for the removal of dangerous substances, such as ammonium ions, present in natural waters.
In Vitro Investigations in a Biomimetic Approach to Restore One-Piece Zirconia Implants
Authors: Nueesch Reto , Märtin Sabrina , Rohr Nadja , Fischer Jens
Published: August 2021

The objective of this study was to evaluate the fracture load and retention force of different bonding systems while restoring one-piece zirconia implants with a novel cementation approach using a mesostructure. Polymer-infiltrated ceramic mesostructures (n = 112) were therefore designed as caps on the implant abutment, and a molar feldspathic ceramic crown was constructed on top of it as a suprastructure. For cementation, different bonding systems were used. Fracture load and retention force were measured immediately after storage in water at 37 °C for 24 h (n = 8) as well as after artificial aging in a chewing simulator and subsequent thermal cycling (n = 8). Combined restorations showed higher fracture load compared to monolithic restorations of polymer-infiltrated ceramic (n = 8) or feldspathic ceramic (n = 8) identical in shape. However, the fracture load of the combined restorations was significantly affected by aging, independent of the primers and cements used. Restorations cemented with primers containing methyl methacrylate and 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate exhibited the highest retention force values. Aging did not affect the retention force significantly. Similar fracture load values can be expected from combination restorations when compared with monolithic crowns.
Critical Examination Using Business Intelligence on the Gender Gap in Information Technology in Brazil
Authors: Gallindo Erica L. , Cruz Hobson A. , Moreira Mário W. L.
Published: August 2021

In the early 1990s, cyberfeminism emerged as an area of knowledge to discuss the connection between gender and technology. According to UNESCO, women are underrepresented in the field of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and less than a third of women worldwide work in scientific research and development. However, this number has grown and this reality is constantly changing. In this context, using business intelligence techniques, this study analyzes data from the computer and information and communication technology market to characterize the impact of the performance of women in these areas. It is expected to show that this performance in the highlighted fields is still a challenge in Brazil. Based on this hypothesis, results indicates that public policies must be focused on the base, i.e., to encourage young women to work in STEM areas. This study could encourage policymakers to find solutions to the challenges presented in this research.
Hyperbolastic Models from a Stochastic Differential Equation Point of View
Authors: Barrera Antonio , Román-Román Patricia , Torres-Ruiz Francisco
Published: August 2021

A joint and unified vision of stochastic diffusion models associated with the family of hyperbolastic curves is presented. The motivation behind this approach stems from the fact that all hyperbolastic curves verify a linear differential equation of the Malthusian type. By virtue of this, and by adding a multiplicative noise to said ordinary differential equation, a diffusion process may be associated with each curve whose mean function is said curve. The inference in the resulting processes is presented jointly, as well as the strategies developed to obtain the initial solutions necessary for the numerical resolution of the system of equations resulting from the application of the maximum likelihood method. The common perspective presented is especially useful for the implementation of the necessary procedures for fitting the models to real data. Some examples based on simulated data support the suitability of the development described in the present paper.
An RFM Model Customizable to Product Catalogues and Marketing Criteria Using Fuzzy Linguistic Models: Case Study of a Retail Business
Authors: Martínez Rocío G. , Carrasco Ramon A. , Sanchez-Figueroa Cristina , Gavilan Diana
Published: August 2021

In the field of strategic marketing, the recency, frequency and monetary (RFM) variables model has been applied for years to determine how solid a database is in terms of spending and customer activity. Retailers almost never obtain data related to their customers beyond their purchase history, and if they do, the information is often out of date. This work presents a new method, based on the fuzzy linguistic 2-tuple model and the definition of product hierarchies, which provides a linguistic interpretability giving business meaning and improving the precision of conventional models. The fuzzy linguistic 2-tuple RFM model, adapted by the product hierarchy thanks to the analytical hierarchical process (AHP), is revealed to be a useful tool for including business criteria, product catalogues and customer insights in the definition of commercial strategies. The result of our method is a complete customer segmentation that enriches the clusters obtained with the traditional fuzzy linguistic 2-tuple RFM model and offers a clear view of customers’ preferences and possible actions to define cross- and up-selling strategies. A real case study based on a worldwide leader in home decoration was developed to guide, step by step, other researchers and marketers. The model was built using the only information that retailers always have: customers’ purchase ticket details.
Structure and Absolute Configuration of Phenanthro-perylene Quinone Pigments from the Deep-Sea Crinoid Hypalocrinus naresianus
Authors: Vemulapalli Sahithya Phani Babu , Fuentes-Monteverde Juan Carlos , Karschin Niels , Oji Tatsuo , Griesinger Christian , Wolkenstein Klaus
Published: August 2021

Two new water-soluble phenanthroperylene quinones, gymnochrome H (2) and monosulfated gymnochrome A (3), as well as the known compounds gymnochrome A (4) and monosulfated gymnochrome D (5) were isolated from the deep-sea crinoid Hypalocrinus naresianus, which had been collected in the deep sea of Japan. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis including HRMS, 1D 1H and 13C NMR, and 2D NMR. The absolute configuration was determined by ECD spectroscopy, analysis of J-couplings and ROE contacts, and DFT calculations. The configuration of the axial chirality of all isolated phenanthroperylene quinones (2–5) was determined to be (P). For gymnochrome H (2) and monosulfated gymnochrome A (3), a (2′S,2″R) configuration was determined, whereas for monosulfated gymnochrome D (5) a (2′R,2″R), configuration was determined. Acetylated quinones are unusual among natural products from an echinoderm and gymnochrome H (2) together with the recently reported gymnochrome G (1) represent the first isolated acetylated phenanthroperylene quinones.
Numerical Simulation of a High-Speed Impact of Metal Plates Using a Three-Fluid Model
Authors: Chuprov Petr , Utkin Pavel , Fortova Svetlana
Published: August 2021

The process of wave formation at the contact boundary of colliding metal plates is a fundamental basis of explosive welding technology. In this case, the metals are in a pseudo-liquid state at the initial stages of the process, and from a mathematical point of view, a wave formation process can be described by compressible multiphase models. The work is devoted to the development of a three-fluid mathematical model based on the Baer–Nunziato system of equations and a corresponding numerical algorithm based on the HLL and HLLC methods, stiff pressure, and velocity relaxation procedures for simulation of the high-speed impact of metal plates in a one-dimensional statement. The problem of collision of a lead plate at a speed of 500 m/s with a resting steel plate was simulated using the developed model and algorithm. The problem statement corresponded to full-scale experiments, with lead, steel, and ambient air as three phases. The arrival times of shock waves at the free boundaries of the plates and rarefaction waves at the contact boundary of the plates, as well as the acceleration of the contact boundary after the passage of rarefaction waves through it, were estimated. For the case of a 3-mm-thick steel plate and a 2-mm-thick lead plate, the simulated time of the rarefaction wave arrival at the contact boundary constituted 1.05 μs, and it was in good agreement with the experimental value 1.1 μs. The developed numerical approach can be extended to the multidimensional case for modeling the instability of the contact boundary and wave formation in the oblique collision of plates in the Eulerian formalism.
Modeling of Isothermal Dissolution of Precipitates in a 6061 Aluminum Alloy Sheet during Solution Heat Treatment
Authors: Liu Yong , Fang Dongyu , Zhu Bin , Wang Yilin , Li Shiqi , Zhang Yisheng
Published: August 2021

During the solution heat treatment (SHT) process of aluminum alloys, precipitates dissolve into the matrix. To predict the dissolution time, modeling of isothermal dissolution of precipitates in 6061 aluminum alloy during SHT was conducted. A precipitate dissolution model was established, and the flowchart of the modeling was designed as well. Then the explicit finite-difference method was employed to solve the dissolution model, and the mobile nodes method was used to deal with the moving interface. The simulation was based on real precipitates in 6061, and SHT experiments were conducted to validate the numerical model. The simulation results showed that the isothermal dissolution time of precipitates in 6061-T6 aluminum alloy at 560 °C is 11.6856 s. The dissolution time in the simulation was close to the experimental results, with an error of 16.7%, indicating that the modeling in this study was fairly reasonable and accurate. The error was caused by many factors, and the model should be improved.
Excited States Symmetry Breaking and In-Plane Polarization Cause Chiral Reversal in Diastereomers
Authors: Wang Chenglong , Wang Jingang , Wang Chunyang
Published: August 2021

In this work, we investigate the electronic transitions and chirality of three isomers of huge conjugated systems: asymmetric diastereomers (MMMM) and two symmetrical diastereomers (PMPM and PPMM). The physical mechanism of flipping has been studied theoretically. The new ribbon-shaped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) molecule is formed by connecting three graphene-like systems with large conjugated π orbitals. By calculating and analyzing electromagnetic interaction decomposition over distance, it can be found that the chirality reversal of different energies is caused by the symmetrical fracture of TMDM in the Z direction. The chirality reversal at the same energy is caused by the in-plane polarization of the TMDM along the Y direction.
Detection of 4a,5-dihydropravastatin as Impurity in the Cholesterol Lowering Drug Pravastatin
Authors: van Scheppingen Wibo B. , Lankhorst Peter P. , Hans Marcus , van den Berg Marco A.
Published: August 2021

Dihydro analogues are known byproducts of the fermentative production of statins and cannot be detected with existing pharmacopoeia analysis methods. We detected dihydropravastatin in most commercial formulations of pravastatin with LC-MS, in some cases in levels requiring identification. In fermentation broth samples of the single step production of pravastatin, we detected and identified for the first time 4a,5-dihydropravastatin, and confirmed that after several recrystallization steps this impurity can be fully removed from the pravastatin powder.
The Properties of Cu Ions in Zeolites CuY Studied by IR Spectroscopy
Authors: Podobiński Jerzy , Gackowski Mariusz , Mordarski Grzegorz , Samson Katarzyna , Śliwa Michał , Rutkowska-Zbik Dorota , Datka Jerzy
Published: August 2021

The properties of both Cu2+ and Cu+ ions in zeolite CuY were followed with NO and CO as probe molecules. Cu2+ was found to be located in SII, SII*, and SIII sites, whereas Cu+ was found in SII and SII* sites. The fine analysis of the spectra of Cu2+-NO and Cu+-CO adducts suggests that both in SII and in SII* sites two kinds of Cu cations exist. They differ in the positive charge, which may be related to the varying numbers of AlO4− in close proximity. The experiments of NO and CO adsorption and desorption evidenced that both Cu2+ and Cu+ sites of highest positive charge bind probe molecules most strongly but activate them to a lesser extent than the Cu sites of lowest positive charge. The experiments of reduction with hydrogen evidenced that the Cu ions of higher positive charge are first reduced by hydrogen. On the other hand, Cu sites of the lowest positive charge are first oxidized by oxygen. The experiments with CuNaY zeolites of various Cu contents suggest that the first introduced Cu (at low Cu contents) created Cu+, which was the most neutralized by framework oxygens. Such Cu cations are the most stabilized by framework oxygens.
Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles from Iris tuberosa as Potential Preservative in Cosmetic Products
Authors: Mondéjar-López Maria , López-Jiménez Alberto José , Abad-Jordá Minerva , Rubio-Moraga Angela , Ahrazem Oussama , Gómez-Gómez Loudes , Niza Enrique
Published: August 2021

Biogenic-silver nanoparticles emerge as new nanosilver platforms that allow us to obtain silver nanoparticles via “green chemistry”. In our study, biogenic-silver nanoparticles were obtained from Iris tuberosa leaf extract. Nanoparticles were characterized by a UV-vis spectroscopy, dynamical light scattering technique. The transmission electron microscope revealed spheric and irregular nanoparticles with 5 to 50 nm in diameter. Antimicrobial properties were evaluated against typical microbial contaminants found in cosmetic products, showing high antimicrobial properties. Furthermore, natural moisturizing cream was formulated with biogenic-silver nanoparticles to evaluate the preservative efficiency through a challenge test, indicating its promising use as preservative in cosmetics.
Recent Advances in Biopolymer-Based Dye Removal Technologies
Authors: Dassanayake Rohan S. , Acharya Sanjit , Abidi Noureddine
Published: August 2021

Synthetic dyes have become an integral part of many industries such as textiles, tannin and even food and pharmaceuticals. Industrial dye effluents from various dye utilizing industries are considered harmful to the environment and human health due to their intense color, toxicity and carcinogenic nature. To mitigate environmental and public health related issues, different techniques of dye remediation have been widely investigated. However, efficient and cost-effective methods of dye removal have not been fully established yet. This paper highlights and presents a review of recent literature on the utilization of the most widely available biopolymers, specifically, cellulose, chitin and chitosan-based products for dye removal. The focus has been limited to the three most widely explored technologies: adsorption, advanced oxidation processes and membrane filtration. Due to their high efficiency in dye removal coupled with environmental benignity, scalability, low cost and non-toxicity, biopolymer-based dye removal technologies have the potential to become sustainable alternatives for the remediation of industrial dye effluents as well as contaminated water bodies.
Effect of Sample Preparation on the Detection and Quantification of Selected Nuts Allergenic Proteins by LC-MS/MS
Authors: Sagu Sorel Tchewonpi , Huschek Gerd , Homann Thomas , Rawel Harshadrai M.
Published: August 2021

The detection and quantification of nut allergens remains a major challenge. The liquid chroma-tography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is emerging as one of the most widely used methods, but sample preparation prior to the analysis is still a key issue. The objective of this work was to establish optimized protocols for extraction, tryptic digestion and LC-MS analysis of almond, cashew, hazelnut, peanut, pistachio and walnut samples. Ammonium bicar-bonate/urea extraction (Ambi/urea), SDS buffer extraction (SDS), polyvinylpolypyrroli-done (PVPP) extraction, trichloroacetic acid/acetone extraction (TCA/acetone) and chloro-form/methanol/sodium chloride precipitation (CM/NaCl) as well as the performances of con-ventional tryptic digestion and microwave-assisted breakdown were investigated. Overall, the protein extraction yields ranged from 14.9 ± 0.5 (almond extract from CM/NaCl) to 76.5 ± 1.3% (hazelnut extract from Ambi/urea). Electrophoretic profiling showed that the SDS extraction method clearly presented a high amount of extracted proteins in the range of 0–15 kDa, 15–35 kDa, 35–70 kDa and 70–250 kDa compared to the other methods. The linearity of the LC-MS methods in the range of 0 to 0.4 µg equivalent defatted nut flour was assessed and recovery of internal standards GWGG and DPLNV(d8)LKPR ranged from 80 to 120%. The identified bi-omarkers peptides were used to relatively quantifier selected allergenic protein form the inves-tigated nut samples. Considering the overall results, it can be concluded that SDS buffer allows a better protein extraction from almond, peanut and walnut samples while PVPP buffer is more appropriate for cashew, pistachio and hazelnut samples. It was also found that conventional overnight digestion is indicated for cashew, pistachio and hazelnut samples, while microwave assisted tryptic digestion is recommended for almond, hazelnut and peanut extracts.
Are Ancestral Medical Practices the Future Solution to Today’s Medical Problems?
Authors: Lupiáñez José A. , Rufino-Palomares Eva E. , Pérez-Jiménez Amalia
Published: August 2021

Our cells and organs are threatened and, in most cases, constantly subjected to the aggression of numerous situations, both endogenous, characterized by unfavorable genetics, and exogenous, by deficient or inadequate nutrition, and even by a hostile environment; in most cases, they ultimately cause a cascade of degenerative and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and infections, as well as those related to the metabolic syndrome, all of which eventually generate irreversible damage to the organism and, consequently, a significant deterioration in its survival [...]
Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics, and CO2 Efflux in the Calcareous Sandy Loam Soil Treated with Chemically Modified Organic Amendments
Authors: Mohammed-Nour Ahmed , Al-Sewailem Mohamed , El-Naggar Ahmed H. , El-Saeid Mohamed H. , Aly Anwar A. , Elfaki Jamal
Published: August 2021

In Saudi Arabia, more than 335,000 tons of cow manure is produced every year from dairy farming. However, the produced cow manure is usually added to the agricultural soils as raw or composted manure; significant nitrogen losses occur during the storage, handling, and application of the raw manure. The recovery of ammonia from cow manure through thermochemical treatments is a promising technique to obtain concentrated nitrogen fertilizer and reducing nitrogen losses from raw manure. However, the byproduct effluents from the recovery process are characterized by different chemical properties from the original raw manure; thus, its impact as soil amendments on the soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics is unknown. Therefore, a 90-day incubation experiment was conducted to study the impact of these effluents on CO2 efflux, organic C, microbial biomass C, available NH4+, and NO3− when added to agricultural soil. In addition to the two types of effluents (produced at pH 9 and pH 12), raw cow manure (CM), composted cow manure (CMC), cow manure biochar (CMB), and control were used for comparison. The application of CM resulted in a considerable increase in soil available nitrogen and CO2 efflux, compared to other treatments. Cow manure biochar showed the lowest CO2 efflux. Cumulative CO2 effluxes of cow manure effluents were lower than CM; this is possibly due to the relatively high C:N ratio of manure effluent. The content of P, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn decreased as incubation time increased. Soil microbial biomass C for soil treated with cow manure effluents (pH 12 and 7) was significantly higher than the rest of the soil amendments and control.
Prenylated Flavonoids and C-15 Isoprenoid Analogues with Antibacterial Properties from the Whole Plant of Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeusch (Gramineae)
Authors: Nago Romeo , Nayim Paul , Mbaveng Armelle , Mpetga James , Bitchagno Gabin , Garandi Badawe , Tane Pierre , Lenta Bruno , Sewald Norbert , Tene Mathieu , Kuete Victor , Ngouela Augustin
Published: August 2021

The local botanical Imperata cylindrica in Cameroon was investigated for its antibacterial potency. The methanol extract afforded a total of seven compounds, including five hitherto unreported compounds comprising three flavonoids (1–3) and two C-15 isoprenoid analogues (4 and 5) together with known derivatives (6 and 7). The novelty of the flavonoids was related to the presence of both methyl and prenyl groups. The potential origin of the methyl in the flavonoids is discussed, as well as the chemophenetic significance of our findings. Isolation was performed over repeated silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and the structures were elucidated by (NMR and MS). The crude methanol extract and isolated compounds showed considerable antibacterial potency against a panel of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial strains. The best MIC values were obtained with compound (2) against S. aureus ATCC 25923 (32 µg/mL) and MRSA1 (16 µg/mL).
Assessment of Cooking Matters Facebook Platform to Promote Healthy Eating Behaviors among Low-Income Caregivers of Young Children in the United States: A Pilot Study
Authors: Zhang Qi , Panichelli Jill , Hall Leigh Ann
Published: August 2021

How best to deliver healthy-eating education through social media among a low-income population remains understudied. To assess the impact of the Cooking Matters (CM) Facebook page on healthy eating behaviors among low-income caregivers, we conducted a pre–post survey of new CM Facebook followers in early 2020. A convenience sample was recruited at baseline from WICShopper app users and the CM Facebook page. The recruited sample included 397 low-income caregivers of a child younger than 6 who never followed CM Facebook. Among the baseline caregivers, 184 completed the follow-up survey. Paired t-test and McNemar–Bowker tests were conducted to compare the outcomes pre- and post-following CM Facebook. A binary indicator was developed to measure whether the outcomes were improved (1 = Improved; 0 = Not improved). Multi-variable logistic regressions were applied to examine the relationship between whether the outcome was improved with reference to the baseline socio-demographics. No significant differences were detected between pre and post outcomes overall (p > 0.05), except improvement in feeding healthy meals within the budget available (p < 0.05). However, improvement in select outcomes was more significant in men and single-parent households. The CM Facebook page could be an important platform to influence low-income caregivers of young children.
Improving Physical Assessment and Clinical Judgment Skills without Increasing Content in a Prelicensure Nursing Health Assessment Course
Authors: Kinyon Kathryn , D’Alton Shannon , Poston Kristen , Navarrete Sarah
Published: August 2021

One hundred twenty-six assessment skills are taught in prelicensure nursing health assessment courses, yet 30 skills are used on a routine basis in practice. New nurses struggle to apply their acquired knowledge in clinical settings. Method: A literature review was completed. Based on the results, a first semester health assessment course in a southeastern accelerated baccalaureate nursing program was redesigned. Lectures and skills labs were adjusted to focus on the most critical assessment skills. To foster critical thinking and clinical judgement, a health assessment post conference was added where students completed concept maps, system specific case studies, nursing priority setting, and patient teaching plans. Results: Outcome surveys were completed by second semester faculty. Prior to course adjustments, 33 percent of students did not meet the benchmark. Following course changes, all students met or exceeded the benchmark. Conclusion: Focusing on critical assessment skills will increase student nurses’ ability to deliver safe patient care.
Panchromatic Copper Complexes for Visible Light Photopolymerization
Authors: Mau Alexandre , Noirbent Guillaume , Dietlin Céline , Graff Bernadette , Gigmes Didier , Dumur Frédéric , Lalevée Jacques
Published: August 2021

In this work, eleven heteroleptic copper complexes were designed and studied as photoinitiators of polymerization in three-component photoinitiating systems in combination with an iodonium salt and an amine. Notably, ten of them exhibited panchromatic behavior and could be used for long wavelengths. Ferrocene-free copper complexes were capable of efficiently initiating both the radical and cationic polymerizations and exhibited similar performances to that of the benchmark G1 system. Formation of acrylate/epoxy IPNs was also successfully performed even upon irradiation at 455 nm or at 530 nm. Interestingly, all copper complexes containing the 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene ligand were not photoluminescent, evidencing that ferrocene could efficiently quench the photoluminescence properties of copper complexes. Besides, these ferrocene-based complexes were capable of efficiently initiating free radical polymerization processes. The ferrocene moiety introduced in the different copper complexes affected neither their panchromatic behaviors nor their abilities to initiate free radical polymerizations.
Molecular Genetic Characteristics of Different Scenarios of Xylogenesis on the Example of Two Forms of Silver Birch Differing in the Ratio of Structural Elements in the Xylem
Authors: Galibina Natalia A. , Tarelkina Tatiana V. , Chirva Olga V. , Moshchenskaya Yulia L. , Nikerova Kseniya M. , Ivanova Diana S. , Semenova Ludmila I. , Serkova Aleksandra A. , Novitskaya Ludmila L.
Published: August 2021

Silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) is an economically important species in Northern Europe. The current research focused on the molecular background of different xylogenesis scenarios in the birch trunks. The study objects were two forms of silver birch, silver birch trees, and Karelian birch trees; the latter form is characterized by the formation of two types of wood, non-figured (straight-grained) and figured, respectively, while it is currently not clear which factors cause this difference. We identified VND/NST/SND genes that regulate secondary cell wall biosynthesis in the birch genome and revealed differences in their expression in association with the formation of xylem with different ratios of structural elements. High expression levels of BpVND7 accompanied differentiation of the type of xylem which is characteristic of the species. At the same time, the appearance of figured wood was accompanied by the low expression levels of the VND genes and increased levels of expression of NST and SND genes. We identified BpARF5 as a crucial regulator of auxin-dependent vascular patterning and its direct target—BpHB8. A decrease in the BpARF5 level expression in differentiating xylem was a specific characteristic of both Karelian birch with figured and non-figured wood. Decreased BpARF5 level expression in non-figured trees accompanied by decreased BpHB8 and VND/NST/SND expression levels compared to figured Karelian birch trees. According to the results obtained, we suggested silver birch forms differing in wood anatomy as valuable objects in studying the regulation of xylogenesis.
RNAi Suppression of LEAFY Gives Stable Floral Sterility, and Reduced Growth Rate and Leaf Size, in Field-Grown Poplars
Authors: Klocko Amy L. , Goddard Amanda L. , Jacobson Jeremy R. , Magnuson Anna C. , Strauss Steven H.
Published: August 2021

The central floral development gene LEAFY (LFY), whose mutation leads to striking changes in flowering and often sterility, is commonly expressed in non-floral structures; however, its role in vegetative development is poorly understood. Sterility associated with suppression of LFY expression is an attractive means for mitigating gene flow by both seeds and pollen in vegetatively propagated forest trees, but the consequences of its suppression for tree form and wood production are unclear. To study the vegetative effects of RNAi suppression of LFY, we created a randomized, multiple-year field study with 30–40 trees (ramets) in each of two sterile gene insertion events, three transgenic control events, and a wild-type control population. We found that floral knock-down phenotypes were stable across years and propagation cycles, but that several leaf morphology and productivity traits were statistically and often substantially different in sterile vs. normal flowering RNAi-LFY trees. Though trees with suppressed LEAFY expression looked visibly normal, they appear to have reduced growth and altered leaf traits. LFY appears to have a significant role in vegetative meristem development, and evaluation of vegetative impacts from LFY suppression would be prudent prior to large-scale use for genetic containment.
Rice Lesion Mimic Mutants (LMM): The Current Understanding of Genetic Mutations in the Failure of ROS Scavenging during Lesion Formation
Authors: Kang Sang Gu , Lee Kyung Eun , Singh Mahendra , Kumar Pradeep , Matin Mohammad Nurul
Published: August 2021

Rice lesion mimic mutants (LMMs) form spontaneous lesions on the leaves during vegetative growth without pathogenic infections. The rice LMM group includes various mutants, including spotted leaf mutants, brown leaf mutants, white-stripe leaf mutants, and other lesion-phenotypic mutants. These LMM mutants exhibit a common phenotype of lesions on the leaves linked to chloroplast destruction caused by the eruption of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the photosynthesis process. This process instigates the hypersensitive response (HR) and programmed cell death (PCD), resulting in lesion formation. The reasons for lesion formation have been studied extensively in terms of genetics and molecular biology to understand the pathogen and stress responses. In rice, the lesion phenotypes of most rice LMMs are inherited according to the Mendelian principles of inheritance, which remain in the subsequent generations. These rice LMM genetic traits have highly developed innate self-defense mechanisms. Thus, although rice LMM plants have undesirable agronomic traits, the genetic principles of LMM phenotypes can be used to obtain high grain yields by deciphering the efficiency of photosynthesis, disease resistance, and environmental stress responses. From these ailing rice LMM plants, rice geneticists have discovered novel proteins and physiological causes of ROS in photosynthesis and defense mechanisms. This review discusses recent studies on rice LMMs for the Mendelian inheritances, molecular genetic mapping, and the genetic definition of each mutant gene.
Contrasting Dihydronaphthoquinone Patterns in Closely Related Drosera (Sundew) Species Enable Taxonomic Distinction and Identification
Authors: Schlauer Jan , Hartmeyer Siegfried R. H. , Hartmeyer Irmgard , Seppänen-Laakso Tuulikki , Rischer Heiko
Published: August 2021

Dihydronaphthoquinones are described as constituents of sundews (Drosera), Venus flytraps (Dionaea), and dewy pines (Drosophyllum) for the first time. As in the corresponding naphthoquinones, these reduced derivatives may occur in two regio-isomeric series distinguished by the relative position of a methyl group (at position 2 or 7 in the naphthalene skeleton), depending on the taxon. Species producing plumbagin (2-methyljuglone, 1) do commonly contain the corresponding dihydroplumbagin (5), while species containing ramentaceone (7-methyljuglone, 2) also contain dihydroramentaceone (7-methyl-β-dihydrojuglone, 6). So far, only few species containing plumbagin (1) and dihydroplumbagin (5) additionally form dihydroramentaceone (6) but not ramentaceone (2). Thus, subtle but constant differences in the chemism of closely related and morphologically similar species reliably define and distinguish taxa within D. sect. Arachnopus, which is taken to exemplify their chemotaxonomic utility. The joint presence of quinones and hydroquinones allows observations and predictions on the chemical structures and the reactions of these intriguing natural products.
Conductive Compartmented Capsules Encapsulating a Bitumen Rejuvenator
Authors: Tabaković Amir , Mohan Joseph , Karač Aleksandar
Published: August 2021

This paper explores the potential use of conductive alginate capsules encapsulating a bitumen rejuvenator as a new extrinsic self-healing asphalt method. The capsules combine two existing self-healing asphalt technologies: (1) rejuvenator encapsulation and (2) induction heating to create a self-healing system that will provide rapid and effective asphalt pavement repair. The work presents a proof of concept for the encapsulation process, which involves embedding the capsules into the bitumen mortar mixture and the survival rate of the capsules in the asphalt mixture. A drip capsule production process was adopted and scaled up to the production of 20l wet capsules at rate of 0.22 l/min. To prove the effectiveness and its ability to survive asphalt production process, the capsules were prepared and subjected to thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and uniaxial compression Test (UCT). The test results demonstrated that the capsules had suitable thermal characteristics and mechanical strength to survive the asphalt mixing and compaction process. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to investigate physiological properties, such as rejuvenator (oil) and iron particle distribution, within the capsules. The electrical resistance tests proved that the capsules were capable of conducting electrical current. The capsules were also tested for their conductive properties in order to determine whether they are capable of conducting and distributing the heat once subjected to induction heating. The results showed that capsules containing higher amounts of iron (alginate/iron powder in a ratio of 20:80 by weight) can efficiently conduct and distribute heat. To prove its success as an asphalt healing system, conductive alginate capsules encapsulating a bitumen rejuvenator were embedded in a bitumen mortar mix. The samples where then subjected to local damaging and healing events, and the degree of healing was quantified. The research findings indicate that conductive alginate capsules encapsulating a bitumen rejuvenator present a promising new approach for the development of an extrinsic self-healing asphalt pavement systems.