bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The ABA-LANCL1/2 Hormone-Receptors System Protects H9c2 Cardiomyocytes from Hypoxia-Induced Mitochondrial Injury via an AMPK- and NO-Mediated Mechanism
Authors: Spinelli Sonia , Guida Lucrezia , Vigliarolo Tiziana , Passalacqua Mario , Begani Giulia , Magnone Mirko , Sturla Laura , Benzi Andrea , Ameri Pietro , Lazzarini Edoardo , Bearzi Claudia , Rizzi Roberto , Zocchi Elena
Published: September 2022

Abscisic acid (ABA) regulates plant responses to stress, partly via NO. In mammals, ABA stimulates NO production by innate immune cells and keratinocytes, glucose uptake and mitochondrial respiration by skeletal myocytes and improves blood glucose homeostasis through its receptors LANCL1 and LANCL2. We hypothesized a role for the ABA-LANCL1/2 system in cardiomyocyte protection from hypoxia via NO. The effect of ABA and of the silencing or overexpression of LANCL1 and LANCL2 were investigated in H9c2 rat cardiomyoblasts under normoxia or hypoxia/reoxygenation. In H9c2, hypoxia induced ABA release, and ABA stimulated NO production. ABA increased the survival of H9c2 to hypoxia, and L-NAME, an inhibitor of NO synthase (NOS), abrogated this effect. ABA also increased glucose uptake and NADPH levels and increased phosphorylation of Akt, AMPK and eNOS. Overexpression or silencing of LANCL1/2 significantly increased or decreased, respectively, transcription, expression and phosphorylation of AMPK, Akt and eNOS; transcription of NAMPT, Sirt1 and the arginine transporter. The mitochondrial proton gradient and cell vitality increased in LANCL1/2-overexpressing vs. -silenced cells after hypoxia/reoxygenation, and L-NAME abrogated this difference. These results implicate the ABA-LANCL1/2 hormone-receptor system in NO-mediated cardiomyocyte protection against hypoxia.
Systemic Administration of Pegylated Arginase-1 Attenuates the Progression of Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Abdelrahman Ammar A. , Bunch Katharine L. , Sandow Porsche V. , Cheng Paul N-M , Caldwell Ruth B. , Caldwell R. William
Published: September 2022

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a serious complication of diabetes that results from sustained hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and oxidative stress. Under these conditions, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression is upregulated in the macrophages (MΦ) and microglia, resulting in increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory cytokines, which contribute to disease progression. Arginase 1 (Arg1) is a ureohydrolase that competes with iNOS for their common substrate, L-arginine. We hypothesized that the administration of a stable form of Arg1 would deplete L-arginine’s availability for iNOS, thus decreasing inflammation and oxidative stress in the retina. Using an obese Type 2 diabetic (T2DM) db/db mouse, this study characterized DR in this model and determined if systemic treatment with pegylated Arg1 (PEG-Arg1) altered the progression of DR. PEG-Arg1 treatment of db/db mice thrice weekly for two weeks improved visual function compared with untreated db/db controls. Retinal expression of inflammatory factors (iNOS, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6) was significantly increased in the untreated db/db mice compared with the lean littermate controls. The increased retinal inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in db/db mice were suppressed with PEG-Arg1 treatment. Additionally, PEG-Arg1 treatment restored the blood–retinal barrier (BRB) function, as evidenced by the decreased tissue albumin extravasation and an improved endothelial ZO-1 tight junction integrity compared with untreated db/db mice.
Modelling the Mechanical Properties of Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds Produced by Digital Light Processing-Based Vat Photopolymerization
Authors: Baino Francesco , Schwentenwein Martin , Verné Enrica
Published: September 2022

Porosity is a key feature in dictating the overall performance of biomedical scaffolds, with special relevance to mechanical properties. Usually, compressive strength and elastic modulus are the main parameters used to determine the potential mechanical suitability of porous scaffolds for bone repair. However, their assessment may not be so easy from an experimental viewpoint and, especially if the porosity is high, so reliable for brittle bioceramic foams. Hence, assessing the relationship between porosity and mechanical properties based only on the constitutive parameters of the solid material is a challenging and important task to predict the scaffold performance for optimization during design. In this work, a set of equations was used to predict the compressive strength and elastic modulus of bone-like hydroxyapatite scaffolds produced by digital light processing-based vat photopolymerization (total porosity about 80 vol.%). The compressive strength was found to depend on total porosity, following a power-law approximation. The relationship between porosity and elastic modulus was well fitted by second-order power law, with relative density and computational models obtained by numerical simulations.
Emotions in Hospital School Professionals: An Approach from Cognitive Linguistics
Authors: González Concha Álvaro Javier , Gajardo Rodríguez Ana Andrea , Gallardo Gómez Macarena del Pilar
Published: September 2022

The question that frames this work is: What evidence of the emotional impact of working in hospital schools is found in the metaphorical language used by the professionals who work there? The purpose of this research is to contribute to the understanding of the emotions of professionals working in these schools. The methodology used is based on a qualitative approach and is framed within the descriptive paradigm, approached from linguistics and cognitive metaphor The metaphorical expressions analyzed were extracted from the presentations and dialogue tables (of professionals from 12 countries) held during the I International Seminar on Hospital Pedagogy organized by the Universidad del Bío-Bío (Chile) in May 2021. A total of 24 metaphors were analyzed and 13 are presented in this article. The metaphors found allowed us to identify conceptual domains of origin such as: “war”, “trip”, “heat”, “field” (among others), which allowed us to understand the emotional effects that work in hospital schools has on professionals. The results obtained allow us to provide inputs to focus in a more pertinent way on the preparation of these professionals in the control of their emotions for multidisciplinary work relationships and with children and their families.
Clinico-Immunological Effects of a Single-Agent CDK4/6 Inhibitor in Advanced HR+/HER2− Breast Cancer Based on a Window of Opportunity Study
Authors: D’Angelo Alberto , Giudici Fabiola , Chapman Robert , Darlow Jacob , Kilili Huseyin , Sobhani Navid , Cinelli Mattia , Cappelletti Maria Rosa , Strina Carla , Milani Manuela , Generali Daniele
Published: September 2022

Background: Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6 i), abemaciclib, palbociclib, and ribociclib, have been FDA-approved for the treatment of hormone receptor-positive (HR+), HER2−negative (HER2−) advanced breast cancer (aBC). This targeted therapy has revived hope in those aBC patients who did not respond to standard therapies. Interestingly, when administered as a single agent, CDK4/6 modulated several peripheral blood cells after a short-course treatment of 28 days. However, the impact of these immune effects has yet to be thoroughly investigated. Methods: We administered abemaciclib, palbociclib, and ribociclib monotherapy to 23 patients with HR+/HER2− metastatic breast cancer. The aim is to investigate the impact of on-treatment modifications on peripheral blood cells and their composite scores in patients after a 28-day course of CDK4/6 i alone. Results: In the current study, we observed a significant decrease in neutrophils (p-value < 0.001) for patients treated with abemaciclib, palbociclib, and ribociclib. An overall decrease of Tregs was observed and potentially linked to palbociclib treatment. The neutrophile to lymphocyte (N/L) ratio was also decreased overall and potentially linked to abemaciclib and palbociclib treatment. Platelets were decreased in patients administered with abemaciclib. Notably, the radiometabolic response was available only for those patients treated with ribociclib and abemaciclib, and only those lesions treated with ribociclib reached statistical relevance. Conclusions: Our study strongly supports the notion that CDK4/6 inhibitors induce tumour immune modulation. N/L ratio and platelet levels decreased due to treatment. Future studies should test whether patients would benefit from immunomodulators in association with CDK4/6 agents in a larger clinical trial. Moreover, the CDK4/6-induced immune modulation could also be considered a potential predictive clinical factor in HR+/HER2− advanced breast cancer.
PADI4 Haplotypes Contribute to mRNA Expression, the Enzymatic Activity of Peptidyl Arginine Deaminase and Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk in Patients from Western Mexico
Authors: Matuz-Flores Mónica Guadalupe , Rosas-Rodríguez Jesús Alfredo , Tortoledo-Ortiz Orlando , Muñoz-Barrios Salvador , Martínez-Bonilla Gloria Esther , Hernández-Bello Jorge , Baños-Hernández Christian Johana , Pacheco-Tena Cesar , Sánchez-Zuno Gabriela Athziri , Panduro-Espinoza Beatriz , Muñoz-Valle José Francisco
Published: September 2022

Citrullination is catalyzed by the peptidyl arginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) enzyme, encoded by the PADI4 gene. Increased PAD4 activity promotes the onset and progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to evaluate the association of PADI4 haplotypes with RA risk, mRNA expression, and the PAD4 activity in patients with RA from Mexico. Methodology: 100 RA patients and 100 control subjects (CS) were included. Genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP method, PADI4 mRNA expression was quantified by real-time PCR, the contribution of PADI4 alleles (PADI4_89 G>A, PADI4_90 T>C, and PADI4_92 G>C) to mRNA expression by the ASTQ method, and PAD4 activity by HPLC. Also, the anti-CCP and anti-PADI4 antibodies were quantified by ELISA. Results: The three PADI4 polymorphisms were associated with RA susceptibility (OR = 1.72, p = 0.005; OR = 1.62; p = 0.014; OR = 1.69; p = 0.009; respectively). The 89G, 90T, and 92G alleles have a higher relative contribution to PADI4 mRNA expression from RA patients than 89A, 90C, and 92C alleles in RA patients. Moreover, the GTG/GTG haplotype was associated with RA susceptibility (OR = 2.86; p = 0.024). The GTG haplotype was associated with higher PADI4 mRNA expression (p = 0.04) and higher PAD4 enzymatic activity (p = 0.007) in RA patients. Conclusions: The evaluated polymorphisms contribute to PADI4 mRNA expression and the enzymatic activity of PAD4 in leukocytes. Therefore, the GTG haplotype is a genetic risk factor for RA in western Mexico, and is associated with increased PADI4 mRNA expression and higher PAD4 activity in these patients.
Drone Deployment Algorithms for Effective Communication Establishment in Disaster Affected Areas
Authors: Varghese Bivin Varkey , Kannan Paravurumbel Sreedharan , Jayanth Ravilal Soni , Thomas Johns , Shibu Kumar Kavum Muriyil Balachandran
Published: September 2022

Communication establishment is crucial for rescue operations in disaster affected areas. A standard tool for communication is the use of cell phones. However, they can be useless in situations where the cellular network’s base stations are damaged in a disaster. A contemporary approach to re-establishing a communication network is by hosting base stations in drones. However, low battery life and difficulty in calculating the number of drones needed in different terrains are limitations of the above approach. This paper introduces a novel terrain-aware algorithm that calculates the minimum number of drones needed to cover an area with no voids in the network coverage. Our method ensures that the drones are deployed at optimal heights to maximize the average leftover energy in the network. We apply the algorithm for an actual location in Pettimudi, India and find the optimal number and positions of the drones to cover the area effectively without voids. In addition, we provide a simulation of the the communication establishment using above drones, and our experiments yield an average network efficiency of 98%, showing the effectiveness of our method.
Measurement of Stress Relief during Scented Cosmetic Product Application Using a Mood Questionnaire, Stress Hormone Levels and Brain Activation
Authors: Springer Arielle , Höckmeier Laura , Schicker Doris , Hettwer Stefan , Freiherr Jessica
Published: September 2022

Nowadays, consumers’ well-being plays a decisive role in the purchase of cosmetic products. Although factors influencing consumers’ well-being are very subjective, companies strive to develop their products in such a way that a positive effect is likely. Therefore, methods are required to objectively explore and scientifically prove the product’s performance on humans. In this placebo-controlled study, a method was developed to evaluate relaxation or stress relief associated with one olfactory ingredient of a cosmetic product (face cream). Our experimental protocol included product testing in 25 healthy females, while an emotion questionnaire, analysis of saliva samples regarding the concentration of the hormones cortisol and α-amylase and mobile EEG measurement for quantification of the alpha brain waves before and after stress induction were conducted. It was shown that with this experimental design, the sample with the ingredient produced significant stress relief, as evidenced by significantly less negative emotion, significantly lowered cortisol levels and showed a trend towards a significant increase in alpha activity compared to placebo application. Our data provide evidence that this method is suitable for analyzing the differences between the two samples. In the future, this method can be utilized in the current or a further optimized form to evaluate the psychophysiological effects of cosmetic products on humans.
Diversity of Coral-Associated Fauna: An Urgent Call for Research
Authors: Montano Simone
Published: September 2022

Tropical coral reefs are considered the “rainforest of the sea” and are among the marine ecosystems with the highest biodiversity [...]
Evaluating Thermal and Color Sensors for Automating Detection of Penguins and Pinnipeds in Images Collected with an Unoccupied Aerial System
Authors: Hinke Jefferson T. , Giuseffi Louise M. , Hermanson Victoria R. , Woodman Samuel M. , Krause Douglas J.
Published: September 2022

Estimating seabird and pinniped abundance is central to wildlife management and ecosystem monitoring in Antarctica. Unoccupied aerial systems (UAS) can collect images to support monitoring, but manual image analysis is often impractical. Automating target detection using deep learning techniques may improve data acquisition, but different image sensors may affect target detectability and model performance. We compared the performance of automated detection models based on infrared (IR) or color (RGB) images and tested whether IR images, or training data that included annotations of non-target features, improved model performance. For this assessment, we collected paired IR and RGB images of nesting penguins (Pygoscelis spp.) and aggregations of Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) with a small UAS at Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island (60.79 °W, 62.46 °S). We trained seven independent classification models using the Video and Image Analytics for Marine Environments (VIAME) software and created an open-access R tool, vvipr, to standardize the assessment of VIAME-based model performance. We found that the IR images and the addition of non-target annotations had no clear benefits for model performance given the available data. Nonetheless, the generally high performance of the penguin models provided encouraging results for further improving automated image analysis from UAS surveys.
Fidelity Mechanics: Analogues of the Four Thermodynamic Laws and Landauer’s Principle
Authors: Zhou Huan-Qiang , Shi Qian-Qian , Dai Yan-Wei
Published: September 2022

Fidelity mechanics is formalized as a framework for investigating critical phenomena in quantum many-body systems. Fidelity temperature is introduced for quantifying quantum fluctuations, which, together with fidelity entropy and fidelity internal energy, constitute three basic state functions in fidelity mechanics, thus enabling us to formulate analogues of the four thermodynamic laws and Landauer’s principle at zero temperature. Fidelity flows, which are irreversible, are defined and may be interpreted as an alternative form of renormalization group flows. Thus, fidelity mechanics offers a means to characterize both stable and unstable fixed points: divergent fidelity temperature for unstable fixed points and zero-fidelity temperature and (locally) maximal fidelity entropy for stable fixed points. In addition, fidelity entropy behaves differently at an unstable fixed point for topological phase transitions and at a stable fixed point for topological quantum states of matter. A detailed analysis of fidelity mechanical-state functions is presented for six fundamental models—the quantum spin-1/2 XY model, the transverse-field quantum Ising model in a longitudinal field, the quantum spin-1/2 XYZ model, the quantum spin-1/2 XXZ model in a magnetic field, the quantum spin-1 XYZ model, and the spin-1/2 Kitaev model on a honeycomb lattice for illustrative purposes. We also present an argument to justify why the thermodynamic, psychological/computational, and cosmological arrows of time should align with each other, with the psychological/computational arrow of time being singled out as a master arrow of time.
The Spatial Spillover Effects of Fiscal Expenditures and Household Characteristics on Household Consumption Spending: Evidence from Taiwan
Authors: Huang Hao-Chen , Yuan Chen-Lin , Liao Ting-Hsiu
Published: September 2022

The main purpose of this study is to explore the determinants of average household consumption spending in counties and cities from the two aspects of government fiscal expenditure and household characteristics. A spatial econometric model, the spatial Durbin model, was used to analyze Taiwan’s county-level and municipal panel data from 2000 to 2020. Global spatial autocorrelation and local spatial autocorrelation were applied to examine the overall degree of spatial agglomeration of average household consumption spending in Taiwan and the agglomeration status of specific counties and cities. The empirical results show that the average consumption spending per household of all counties and cities in Taiwan presents spatial autocorrelation, and the agglomeration of specific counties and cities is affected by different ruling parties of the central government. In terms of direct effects, the average consumption spending per household in local counties and cities is influenced by household characteristics, including average disposable income per household, average number of employees per household, and average living area per capita. In terms of the spatial spillover effect, the average consumption spending per household in local counties and cities is influenced by household characteristics of the neighboring counties and cities, including the average disposable income per household and the average living area per capita. Surprisingly, local economic development expenditure and local expenditure on education, science, and culture have no significant impact on the average consumption spending per household in counties and cities. The results of this study can be taken as a reference for government policymaking.
Positioning Algorithm of MEMS Pipeline Inertial Locator Based on Dead Reckoning and Information Multiplexing
Authors: Wei Xiaofeng , Fan Shiwei , Zhang Ya , Chang Longkang , Wang Guochen , Shen Feng
Published: September 2022

High-precision mapping and positioning of urban underground pipelines are the basic requirements of urban digital construction. Aiming at the above problems, a dead reckoning algorithm based on the starting point and ending point correction and forward and reverse solution information reuse is proposed. This paper firstly establishes a dead reckoning system model consisting of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) inertial measurement unit (IMU) and an odometer and analyzes the propagation mechanism of dead reckoning errors. The algorithm constructs the trajectory correction matrix by using the position information of the starting point and the ending point of the short-distance underground pipeline and then uses the trajectory correction matrix to correct the trajectory position information obtained by forward and reverse dead reckoning. Finally, the corrected forward and reverse trajectory position information is fused and averaged to achieve high-precision mapping and positioning of underground pipelines. The simulation results of the 100 m pipeline show that the maximum positioning error of the proposed algorithm for straight pipelines is within 5 cm, and the maximum positioning error for 90° curved pipelines is within 20 cm. The algorithm effectively solves the problem of a rapid accumulation of errors over time in the process of dead reckoning, which greatly improves the positioning accuracy.
A Risk-Based Analysis Approach to Sustainable Construction by Environmental Impacts
Authors: Erdenekhuu Nasanjargal , Kocsi Balázs , Máté Domicián
Published: September 2022

Sustainable construction is a comprehensive process of balancing the natural and built environment by applying sustainable development concepts. The golden triangle in the construction of time, cost, and quality should also assess risks from a sustainable perspective and investigate the environmental dimensions of the project. However, proper risk assessment for green sustainability is challenging, resulting in project management conducted under uncertain conditions. This study proposes a procedure based on Monte Carlo Simulations to improve the assessment of critical risk factors associated with construction activities. The AHP method was applied to rank environmental impact indicators, and the EMV approach was used to calculate the effects of the expected outcomes. The current study shows that air, water, and land pollution, water consumption, and solid waste are the most critical indicators. The results indicate that the equipment breakdown significantly impacted the duration of (and increase in) environmental issues. The evidence suggests that attention should be paid to sustainability risk factors during construction activities, e.g., the unavailability of materials had the most significant impact on the cost of the construction phase. The results suggest that the inadequate control of sustainability risk factors can lead to poor performance and tough decisions in a construction project.
Valuation of the Extension Option in Time Charter Contracts in the LNG Market
Authors: Lim Sangseop , Lee Chang-hee , Lee Won-Ju , Choi Junghwan , Jung Dongho , Jeon Younghun
Published: September 2022

A rapid transition toward a decarbonized economy is underway, following the Paris Agreement and the International Maritime Organization 2030 decarbonization goals. However, due to the high cost of the rapid transition to eco-friendly energy and the geopolitical conflict in eastern Europe, liquefied natural gas (LNG), which emits less carbon than other fossil fuels, is gaining popularity. As the spot market grows due to increased LNG demand, the usage of period extension options in time charter (T/C) contracts is increasing; however, these options are generally provided free of charge in practice, without economic evaluation; this is because some shipowners want to make their time charter contracts more attractive to the more credible charterers. Essentially, the reason for why this option has not been evaluated is because there is no reliable evaluation model currently used in practice. That is, research on the evaluation model for the T/C extension option has been insufficient. Therefore, this study evaluates the economic value of the extended period option in LNG time charter contracts using machine learning models, such as artificial neural networks, support vector machines, and random forest, and then compares them with the Black–Scholes model that is used for option valuations in financial markets. The results indicate superior valuation performance of the random forest model compared with the other models; particularly, its performance was significantly better than the Black–Scholes model. Since T/C extension options involve significant sums in the balance sheets of both shipowners and charterers, the fair value of these options should be assessed. In this regard, this paper has meaning in proposing valid machine models to efficiently reflect the fair value of period extension options that are provided at no charge in the LNG market.
Heat Transfer Characteristics of an Aeroengine Turbine Casing Based on CFD and the Surrogate Model
Authors: Lian Wenlei , Jiang Yunfei , Chen Hao , Li Yi , Liu Xianglei
Published: September 2022

A good turbine casing cooling design should control the thermal stress and maintain a reasonable tip clearance between the turbine blade and the casing. Since the turbine inlet temperature has been increased yearly, the influence of thermal radiation on the temperature of a turbine casing has become more significant. Therefore, the heat transfer characteristics of a turbine casing considering the radiation effect need to be precisely predicted. In this study, a theoretical model is established for describing the heat transfer characteristics of a turbofan casing, and the model’s effectiveness is verified by comparing the numerical and experimental results. Based on the validated model, the effects of single changes of the wall temperature, cooling air temperature, Reynolds number, and surface emissivity on the heat transfer of the casing are discussed. The results show that the increment of cooling air temperature and surface emissivity leads to the enhancement of the average radiative Nusselt number, and the average convective Nusselt number increases as the Reynolds number increases. The emissivity can improve the temperature distribution uniformity of the turbine casing. Finally, a Kriging surrogate model is fitted with 20 sample points to predict the joint effect of multiple parameters on the casing surface Nusselt number. It is found that the Reynolds number has a more significant influence on the average Nusselt number compared with the emissivity and the temperature ratio.
Network-Analysis-Supported Design Aspects and Performance Optimization of Floating Water Wheels
Authors: Sebestyén Viktor , Horváth Mátyás , Somogyi Viola , Domokos Endre , Koch Róbert
Published: September 2022

Among the numerous renewable energy resources, the main advantage of water energy is that it utilizes the current of the streams and rivers regardless of the given time of the day or season. The main purpose of this study was to create a low capacity, floating hydropower plant that is suitable for shallow and even narrow water bodies. The device was designed to create electric energy while floating on the water’s surface; therefore, it can be used not only in natural streams but also in drainage channels and wastewater treatment plants. The prototype was tested under real circumstances to identify the impacts of various settings on the energy efficiency. Measurements were conducted in Veszprém, Hungary on the Brook Séd. The average depth of the riverbed was 36 cm. Based on the field measurements, optimal efficiency was achieved by using six paddles. On the other hand, much lower efficiency was achieved when low (two or three) or high numbers (12 or 15) of paddles were used. A design framework was elaborated that can facilitate the construction of a floating water wheel for any watercourse. The sensitivity analysis of the sizing variables used in the estimation of performance is supported by network analysis techniques.
A New Framework for Assessment of Offshore Wind Farm Location
Authors: Xu Jing , Zhang Ren , Wang Yangjun , Yan Hengqian , Liu Quanhong , Guo Yutong , Ren Yongcun
Published: September 2022

Offshore wind energy has become a hot spot in new-energy development due to its abundant reserves, long power generation time, high unit capacity and low land occupation. In response to the current situation whereby wind energy, and natural and human factors have not been taken into account in the selection of sites for offshore wind-energy-resource development in the traditional “21st Century Maritime Silk Road” region, this paper intends to establish a new risk assessment framework that comprehensively considers the influence of wind resources, the natural environment, and the geopolitical and humanistic environment. The rationality of the new index system and weight determination methods are separately investigated. Some interesting results are obtained by comparing the new framework with traditional frameworks. The results show that the Persian Gulf, the Timor Sea in northern Australia, and the northern part of Sri Lanka in southern India are rich in wind-energy resources and have a low overall risk, making them recommended sites. In addition, unlike the results of previous studies, this paper does not recommend the Somali Sea as a priority area for wind-energy siting due to its high geographic humanity risks.
Metal-Ion Batteries
Authors: Liu Yi , Holze Rudolf
Published: September 2022

Metal-ion batteries are systems for electrochemical energy conversion and storage with only one kind of ion shuttling between the negative and the positive electrode during discharge and charge. This concept also known as rocking-chair battery has been made highly popular with the lithium-ion battery as its most popular example. The principle can also be applied with other cations both mono- and multivalent. This might have implications and advantages in terms of increased safety, lower expenses, and utilizing materials, in particular metals, not being subject to resource limitations.
Nucleus-Acoustic Solitary Waves in Warm Degenerate Magneto-Rotating Quantum Plasmas
Authors: Akter Jhorna , Mamun A A
Published: September 2022

A warm degenerate magneto-rotating quantum plasma (WDMRQP) model consisting of a static heavy nucleus, inertial non-degenerate light nucleus, and warm non-relativistic or ultra-relativistic electrons has been considered to observe the generation of nucleus-acoustic (NA) solitary waves (NASWs). A Korteweg–de-Vries-type equation is derived by using the reductive perturbation method to describe the characteristics of the NASWs. It has been observed that the temperature of warm degenerate species, rotational speed of the plasma system, and the presence of heavy nucleus species modify the basic features (height and width) of NASWs in the WDMRQP system and support the existence of positive NA wave potential only. The applications of the present investigation have been briefly discussed.
NMR Metabolite Profiling in the Quality and Authentication Assessment of Greek Honey—Exploitation of STOCSY for Markers Identification
Authors: Lemus Ringele Gabriela Belén , Beteinakis Stavros , Papachristodoulou Anastasia , Axiotis Evangelos , Mikros Emmanuel , Halabalaki Maria
Published: September 2022

Honey is a natural, healthy commodity and is probably among the most complex foods produced by nature. It is the oldest recorded and certainly the only natural sweetener that can be used by humans without any further processing. Nowadays, the increase in honey’s value, along with its growing list of healthy attributes, has made the present raw material a prime target for adulteration. In the current study, NMR-based metabolite profiling in combination with chemometrics was applied in the quality control of Greek honeys from northeastern Aegean islands. Moreover, statistical total correlation spectroscopy (STOCSY) was employed for the first time as a dereplication and structural elucidation tool in the honey biomarker identification process. A total of 10 compounds were successfully identified in honey total extracts via 1H NMR spectroscopy. Compounds such as 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural, methyl syringate, a mono-substituted glycerol derivative and 3-hydroxy-4-phenyl-2-butanone, among others, were identified as potential biomarkers related to the botanical and geographical origin of the samples. High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS) was used as an additional verification tool on the identified compounds.
Enhancing the Dispersion Stability and Sustained Release of S/O/W Emulsions by Encapsulation of CaCO3 Droplets in Sodium Caseinate/Xanthan Gum Microparticles
Authors: Zhang Jie , Li Gongwei , Xu Duoxia , Cao Yanping
Published: September 2022

In this study, solid/oil/water (S/O/W) emulsions were prepared by sodium caseinate (NaCas) and Xanthan gum (XG) binary composite to improve the dispersion stability of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and achieve a targeted slow-release effect. CaCO3 S/O/W emulsions were determined by particle size, Zeta potential, physical stability, and microstructure. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to characterize the molecular interactions among components. Molecular docking technology was used to predict the possible binding mode between NaCas-XG. The percentage of free Ca2+ released in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) model was also studied. It was found that when the concentration of XG was 0.5 wt% and pH was 7, the particle size was smaller, the distribution was uniform, and the physical stability was improved. The microstructure results showed that the embedding effect of S/O/W emulsions was better, the particle size distribution was more uniform when XG concentration increased and formed a filament-like connector with a relatively more stereoscopic structure. XRD results confirmed that the CaCO3 was partially covered due to physical embedding. Infrared and Raman analysis and molecular docking results showed electrostatic and hydrophobic interaction between NaCas and XG. In the GIT digestion model, S/O/W emulsion released Ca2+ slowly in the gastric digestion stage, which proved the targeted slow-release effect of the S/O/W emulsions delivery vector. The results showed that the S/O/W emulsions delivery system is an effective way to promote the application of CaCO3.
Prosopis alba Seed as a Functional Food Waste for Food Formulation Enrichment
Authors: Correa Uriburu Florencia M. , Cattaneo Florencia , Maldonado Luis M. , Zampini Iris C. , Alberto María R. , Isla María I.
Published: September 2022

The present study describes how flour and phenolic enriched extracts (PEE) are obtained from seed (food waste) of 10 different P. alba (algarrobo blanco) clones and their characterization to be used as non-conventional sources of potential functional ingredients. Seed flour and PEE obtained from Argentinian P. alba cultivars were chemically characterized. The antioxidant capacity was also determined. The results showed variability in macronutrient composition of seed flour obtained from different clones. Among them, seed flour obtained from P4, P5, P6, P10, P12, and P13 clones showed a higher protein and fiber content than the other clones. On the other hand, PEE obtained from P6, P7, and P10 clones showed the highest content of phenolic component (7.32–8.58 mg GAE/g flour). The extracts obtained from them also showed high antioxidant activity (scavenging activity on ABTS•+, HO•, and H2O2). C-glycosyl flavones, including vicenin II, isoschaftoside, schaftoside, vitexin, and isovitexin were the major components extracted in all clones. These compounds have remarkable properties for disease prevention linked to oxidative stress. Therefore, the P. alba seed could be considered as functional food waste with a great potential to be used as a novel renewable and sustainable material for the production of bioactive food formulations.
Application of Pinhole Plasma Jet Activated Water against Escherichia coli, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and Decontamination of Pesticide Residues on Chili (Capsicum annuum L.)
Authors: Sawangrat Choncharoen , Phimolsiripol Yuthana , Leksakul Komgrit , Thanapornpoonpong Sa-nguansak , Sojithamporn Phanumas , Lavilla Maria , Castagnini Juan Manuel , Barba Francisco J. , Boonyawan Dheerawan
Published: September 2022

Plasma activated water (PAW) generated from pinhole plasma jet using gas mixtures of argon (Ar) and 2% oxygen (O2) was evaluated for pesticide degradation and microorganism decontamination (i.e., Escherichia coli and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) in chili (Capsicum annuum L.). A flow rate of 10 L/min produced the highest concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at 369 mg/L. Results showed that PAW treatment for 30 min and 60 min effectively degrades carbendazim and chlorpyrifos by about 57% and 54% in solution, respectively. In chili, carbendazim and chlorpyrifos were also decreased, to a major extent, by 80% and 65% after PAW treatment for 30 min and 60 min, respectively. E. coli populations were reduced by 1.18 Log CFU/mL and 2.8 Log CFU/g with PAW treatment for 60 min in suspension and chili, respectively. Moreover, 100% of inhibition of fungal spore germination was achieved with PAW treatment. Additionally, PAW treatment demonstrated significantly higher efficiency (p < 0.05) in controlling Anthracnose in chili by about 83% compared to other treatments.
Prolonged On-Vine vs. Cold of Actinidia eriantha: Differences in Fruit Quality and Aroma Substances during Soft Ripening Stage
Authors: Lv Zhengxin , Ye Bin , Li Xishi , He Yanqun , Liu Qing , Huang Chunhui , Jia Dongfeng , Xu Xiaobiao
Published: September 2022

In order to find an efficient, economical and feasible method for soft ripening storage of kiwifruit, two softening methods (on-vine, cold) were utilized for the ‘Ganlv-2’ kiwifruit (Actinidia. eriantha) cultivar. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted on the quality changes in ‘Ganlv-2’ under different methods after fruit ripening by principal component analysis and mathematical modeling. Compared to kiwifruit under cold softening, kiwifruit treated with on-vine soft ripening had slightly greater sugar-acid ratios and flesh firmness and higher contents of dry matter, soluble solids, and soluble sugar. The titratable acid content was slightly lower in the on-vine group than in the cold group. The sensory evaluation results manifested little difference in fruit flavor between the two groups. However, at the end of the trial, the overripe taste of the on-vine group was lighter and the taste was sweeter than those of the cold group. More aromatic substances were emitted from the kiwifruit in the on-vine group. According to the mathematic model, there was no significant difference in fruit quality and flavor between the on-vine and traditional cold groups. The fruit in the on-vine group had a stronger flavor and lighter overripe flavor when they reached the edible state. This paper provided a novel storage method of A. eriantha, it can reduce the cost of traditional cold storage and reduce the pressure on centralized harvesting, and the feasibility of this method was verified from the fruit quality.
Dynamic Changes in Volatile Flavor Compounds, Amino Acids, Organic Acids, and Soluble Sugars in Lemon Juice Vesicles during Freeze-Drying and Hot-Air Drying
Authors: Xie Huanxiong , Zhao Ru , Liu Chunju , Wu Yulong , Duan Xiaojie , Hu Jiaqi , Yang Feifei , Wang Haiou
Published: September 2022

Lemon juice vesicles have abundant flavor components that can undergo complex changes during drying. Three drying methods, including integrated freeze-drying (IFD), conventional freeze-drying (CFD), and hot-air drying (AD), were studied to determine their effects on the dynamic changes in the flavor compounds in lemon juice vesicles. Compared with the fresh samples, the final dried samples that underwent IFD, CFD, and AD lost seven, seven, and six volatile flavor compounds and three, four, and five amino acids, respectively; the order of the loss ratios with respect to the volatile compound content was: 82.73% in CFD > 71.22% in IFD > 28.78% in AD. AD resulted in the highest total amino acid content (10.83 ± 0.20 mg/g), which was 1.39 and 5.54 mg/g higher than that of IFD and CFD, respectively; CFD resulted in the highest total organic acid content (45.94 ± 0.34 mg/g), which was 8.01 and 7.87 mg/g higher than that of IFD and AD, respectively; and AD contributed to the highest total soluble sugars (17.12 ± 0.20 mg/g), which was 1.24 and 1.49 mg/g higher than that of IFD and CFD, respectively. A correlation analysis demonstrated that most of the amino acids and the soluble sugars were closely related to the profiles of the volatile compounds in the lemon juice vesicles during drying.
Health Benefits and Side Effects of Short-Chain Fatty Acids
Authors: Xiong Ruo-Gu , Zhou Dan-Dan , Wu Si-Xia , Huang Si-Yu , Saimaiti Adila , Yang Zhi-Jun , Shang Ao , Zhao Cai-Ning , Gan Ren-You , Li Hua-Bin
Published: September 2022

The gut microbiota and their metabolites could play an important role in health and diseases of human beings. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are mainly produced by gut microbiome fermentation of dietary fiber and could also be produced by bacteria of the skin and vagina. Acetate, propionate, and butyrate are three major SCFAs, and their bioactivities have been widely studied. The SCFAs have many health benefits, such as anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, anti-obesity, anti-diabetes, anticancer, cardiovascular protective, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective activities. This paper summarizes health benefits and side effects of SCFAs with a special attention paid to the mechanisms of action. This paper provides better support for people eating dietary fiber as well as ways for dietary fiber to be developed into functional food to prevent diseases.
Characterization and Preliminary Application of a Novel Lipoxygenase from Enterovibrio norvegicus
Authors: Zhang Bingjie , Chen Meirong , Xia Bingjie , Lu Zhaoxin , Khoo Kuan Shiong , Show Pau Loke , Lu Fengxia
Published: September 2022

Lipoxygenases have proven to be a potential biocatalyst for various industrial applications. However, low catalytic activity, low thermostability, and narrow range of pH stability largely limit its application. Here, a lipoxygenase (LOX) gene from Enterovibrio norvegicus DSM 15893 (EnLOX) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). EnLOX showed the catalytic activity of 40.34 U mg−1 at 50 °C, pH 8.0. Notably, the enzyme showed superior thermostability, and wide pH range stability. EnLOX remained above 50% of its initial activity after heat treatment below 50 °C for 6 h, and its melting point temperature reached 78.7 °C. More than 70% of its activity was maintained after incubation at pH 5.0–9.5 and 4 °C for 10 h. In addition, EnLOX exhibited high substrate specificity towards linoleic acid, and its kinetic parameters of Vmax, Km, and Kcat values were 12.42 mmol min−1 mg−1, 3.49 μmol L−1, and 16.86 s−1, respectively. LC-MS/MS analysis indicated that EnLOX can be classified as 13-LOX, due to its ability to catalyze C18 polyunsaturated fatty acid to form 13-hydroxy fatty acid. Additionally, EnLOX could improve the farinograph characteristics and rheological properties of wheat dough. These results reveal the potential applications of EnLOX in the food industry.
Mucoadhesive Polymers and Their Applications in Drug Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Bladder Cancer
Authors: de Lima Caroline S. A. , Varca Justine P. R. O. , Alves Victória M. , Nogueira Kamila M. , Cruz Cassia P. C. , Rial-Hermida M. Isabel , Kadłubowski Sławomir S. , Varca Gustavo H. C. , Lugão Ademar B.
Published: September 2022

Bladder cancer (BC) is the tenth most common type of cancer worldwide, affecting up to four times more men than women. Depending on the stage of the tumor, different therapy protocols are applied. Non-muscle-invasive cancer englobes around 70% of the cases and is usually treated using the transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBIT) followed by the instillation of chemotherapy or immunotherapy. However, due to bladder anatomy and physiology, current intravesical therapies present limitations concerning permeation and time of residence. Furthermore, they require several frequent catheter insertions with a reduced interval between doses, which is highly demotivating for the patient. This scenario has encouraged several pieces of research focusing on the development of drug delivery systems (DDS) to improve drug time residence, permeation capacity, and target release. In this review, the current situation of BC is described concerning the disease and available treatments, followed by a report on the main DDS developed in the past few years, focusing on those based on mucoadhesive polymers as a strategy. A brief review of methods to evaluate mucoadhesion properties is also presented; lastly, different polymers suitable for this application are discussed.
Responsive Hyaluronic Acid–Ethylacrylamide Microgels Fabricated Using Microfluidics Technique
Authors: Wanselius Marcus , Rodler Agnes , Searle Sean S. , Abrahmsén-Alami Susanna , Hansson Per
Published: September 2022

Volume changes of responsive microgels can probe interactions between polyelectrolytes and species of opposite charges such as peptides and proteins. We have investigated a microfluidics method to synthesize highly responsive, covalently crosslinked, hyaluronic acid microgels for such purposes. Sodium hyaluronate (HA), pre-modified with ethylacrylamide functionalities, was crosslinked in aqueous droplets created with a microfluidic technique. We varied the microgel properties by changing the degree of modification and concentration of HA in the reaction mixture. The degree of modification was determined by 1H NMR. Light microscopy was used to investigate the responsiveness of the microgels to osmotic stress in aqueous saline solutions by simultaneously monitoring individual microgel species in hydrodynamic traps. The permeability of the microgels to FITC-dextrans of molecular weights between 4 and 250 kDa was investigated using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The results show that the microgels were spherical with diameters between 100 and 500 µm and the responsivity tunable by changing the degree of modification and the HA concentration. Microgels were fully permeable to all investigated FITC-dextran probes. The partitioning to the microgel from an aqueous solution decreased with the increasing molecular weight of the probe, which is in qualitative agreement with theories of homogeneous gel networks.
Data-Driven Modeling of Peak Rotation and Tipping-Over Stability of Rocking Shallow Foundations Using Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Gajan Sivapalan
Published: September 2022

The objective of this study is to develop data-driven predictive models for peak rotation and factor of safety for tipping-over failure of rocking shallow foundations during earthquake loading using multiple nonlinear machine learning (ML) algorithms and a supervised learning technique. Centrifuge and shaking table experimental results on rocking foundations have been used for the development of k-nearest neighbors regression (KNN), support vector regression (SVR), and random forest regression (RFR) models. The input features to ML models include critical contact area ratio of foundation; slenderness ratio and rocking coefficient of rocking system; peak ground acceleration and Arias intensity of earthquake motion; and a categorical binary feature that separates sandy soil foundations from clayey soil foundations. Based on repeated k-fold cross validation tests of models, we found that the overall average mean absolute percentage errors (MAPE) in predictions of all three nonlinear ML models varied between 0.46 and 0.60, outperforming a baseline multivariate linear regression ML model with corresponding MAPE of 0.68 to 0.75. The input feature importance analysis reveals that the peak rotation and tipping-over stability of rocking foundations are more sensitive to ground motion demand parameters than to rocking foundation capacity parameters or type of soil.