bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phytochemical Profiling, Antioxidant and Tyrosinase Regulatory Activities of Extracts from Herb, Leaf and In Vitro Culture of Achillea millefolium (Yarrow)
Authors: Czech Karolina , Gaweł-Bęben Katarzyna , Szopa Agnieszka , Kukula-Koch Wirginia , Jakschitz Thomas , Bonn Günther , Hussain Shah , Kubica Paweł , Ekiert Halina , Głowniak Kazimierz
Published: June 2023

Achillea millefolium L. is one of the most known medicinal plants with a broad spectrum of applications in the treatment of inflammation, pain, microbial infections and gastrointestinal disorders. In recent years, the extracts from A. millefolium have also been applied in cosmetics with cleansing, moisturizing, shooting, conditioning and skin-lightening properties. The growing demand for naturally derived active substances, worsening environmental pollution and excessive use of natural resources are causing increased interest in the development of alternative methods for the production of plant-based ingredients. In vitro plant cultures are an eco-friendly tool for continuous production of desired plant metabolites, with increasing applicability in cosmetics and dietary supplements. The purpose of the study was to compare phytochemical composition and antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory properties of aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts from A. millefolium obtained from field conditions (AmL and AmH extracts) and in vitro cultures (AmIV extracts). In vitro microshoot cultures of A. millefolium were obtained directly from seeds and harvested following 3 weeks of culture. Extracts prepared in water, 50% ethanol and 96% ethanol were compared for the total polyphenolic content, phytochemical content using the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-hr-qTOF/MS), antioxidant activity by DPPH scavenging assay and the influence on the activity of mushroom and murine tyrosinases. The phytochemical content of AmIV extracts was significantly different from AmL and AmH extracts. Most of the polyphenolic compounds identified in AmL and AmH extracts were present in AmIV extracts only in trace amounts and the major constituents presented in AmIV extracts were fatty acids. The total content of polyphenols in AmIV exceeded 0.25 mg GAE/g of dried extract, whereas AmL and AmH extracts contained from 0.46 ± 0.01 to 2.63 ± 0.11 mg GAE/g of dried extract, depending on the solvent used. The low content of polyphenols was most likely responsible for the low antioxidant activity of AmIV extracts (IC50 values in DPPH scavenging assay >400 µg/mL) and the lack of tyrosinase inhibitory properties. AmIV extracts increased the activity of mushroom tyrosinase and tyrosinase present in B16F10 murine melanoma cells, whereas AmL and AmH extracts showed significant inhibitory potential. The presented data indicated that microshoot cultures of A. millefolium require further experimental research before they can be implemented as a valuable raw material for the cosmetics industry.
Effect of the Synthetic Parameters over ZnO in the CO2 Photoreduction
Authors: Zanardo Danny , Forghieri Giulia , Ghedini Elena , Menegazzo Federica , Giordana Alessia , Cerrato Giuseppina , Cattaruzza Elti , Di Michele Alessandro , Cruciani Giuseppe , Signoretto Michela
Published: June 2023

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is an attractive semiconductor material for photocatalytic applications, owing to its opto-electronic properties. Its performances are, however, strongly affected by the surface and opto-electronic properties (i.e., surface composition, facets and defects), in turn related to the synthesis conditions. The knowledge on how these properties can be tuned and how they are reflected on the photocatalytic performances (activity and stability) is thus essential to achieve an active and stable material. In this work, we studied how the annealing temperature (400 °C vs. 600 °C) and the addition of a promoter (titanium dioxide, TiO2) can affect the physico-chemical properties of ZnO materials, in particular surface and opto-electronic ones, prepared through a wet-chemistry method. Then, we explored the application of ZnO as a photocatalyst in CO2 photoreduction, an appealing light-to-fuel conversion process, with the aim to understand how the above-mentioned properties can affect the photocatalytic activity and selectivity. We eventually assessed the capability of ZnO to act as both photocatalyst and CO2 adsorber, thus allowing the exploitation of diluted CO2 sources as a carbon source.
L-Proline Prevents Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Microglial Cells Exposed to L-azetidine-2-carboxylic Acid
Authors: Piper Jordan Allan , Al Hammouri Nour , Jansen Margo Iris , Rodgers Kenneth J. , Musumeci Giuseppe , Dhungana Amolika , Ghorbanpour Sahar Masoumeh , Bradfield Laura A. , Castorina Alessandro
Published: June 2023

L-Azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (AZE) is a non-protein amino acid that shares structural similarities with its proteogenic L-proline amino acid counterpart. For this reason, AZE can be misincorporated in place of L-proline, contributing to AZE toxicity. In previous work, we have shown that AZE induces both polarization and apoptosis in BV2 microglial cells. However, it is still unknown if these detrimental effects involve endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and whether L-proline co-administration prevents AZE-induced damage to microglia. Here, we investigated the gene expression of ER stress markers in BV2 microglial cells treated with AZE alone (1000 µM), or co-treated with L-proline (50 µM), for 6 or 24 h. AZE reduced cell viability, nitric oxide (NO) secretion and caused a robust activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) genes (ATF4, ATF6, ERN1, PERK, XBP1, DDIT3, GADD34). These results were confirmed by immunofluorescence in BV2 and primary microglial cultures. AZE also altered the expression of microglial M1 phenotypic markers (increased IL-6, decreased CD206 and TREM2 expression). These effects were almost completely prevented upon L-proline co-administration. Finally, triple/quadrupole mass spectrometry demonstrated a robust increase in AZE-bound proteins after AZE treatment, which was reduced by 84% upon L-proline co-supplementation. This study identified ER stress as a pathogenic mechanism for AZE-induced microglial activation and death, which is reversed by co-administration of L-proline.
Regioselective Synthesis of New Family of 2-Substituted 1,2,3-Triazoles and Study of Their Fluorescent Properties
Authors: Muzalevskiy Vasiliy M. , Sizova Zoia A. , Nenajdenko Valentine G.
Published: June 2023

Modification of 5-aryl-4-trifluoroacetyltriazoles at the NH-moiety was investigated. Screening of the alkylation conditions revealed that using Na2CO3 as a base and DMF as a solvent of 2-substituted triazoles can be preferentially prepared in up to 86% yield. In the best cases, the amount of minor 1-alkyl isomer was less than 6%. SNAr reaction of the 5-aryl-4-trifluoroacetyltriazoles with aryl halides having electron-withdrawing groups led to regiospecific formation of 2-aryltriazoles isolated in good-to-high yields. Chan–Lam reaction of the 5-aryl-4-trifluoroacetyltriazoles with boronic acids afforded 2-aryltriazoles as single isomers in up to 89% yield. The subsequent reaction of the prepared 2-aryltriazoles with primary and secondary amines gave a set of amides of 4-(2,5-diaryltriazolyl)carboxylic acid. The fluorescent properties of the prepared 2-substituted derivatives of triazoles were investigated to demonstrate their utility as new efficient luminophores having more than 60% quantum yields.
Multifunctional Biomimetic Composite Coating with Antireflection, Self-Cleaning and Mechanical Stability
Authors: Jiao Zhibin , Wang Ze , Wang Zhaozhi , Han Zhiwu
Published: June 2023

Antireflective and self-cleaning coatings have attracted increasing attention in the last few years due to their promising and wider applications such as stealth, display devices, sensing, and other fields. However, existing antireflective and self-cleaning functional material are facing problems such as difficult performance optimization, poor mechanical stability, and poor environmental adaptability. Limitations in design strategies have severely restricted coatings’ further development and application. Fabrication of high-performance antireflection and self-cleaning coatings with satisfactory mechanical stability remain a key challenge. Inspired by the self-cleaning performance of nano-/micro-composite structure on natural lotus leaves, SiO2/PDMS/matte polyurethane biomimetic composite coating (BCC) was prepared by nano-polymerization spraying technology. The BCC reduced the average reflectivity of the aluminum alloy substrate surface from 60% to 10%, and the water contact angle (CA) was 156.32 ± 0.58°, illustrating the antireflective and self-cleaning performance of the surface was significantly improved. At the same time, the coating was able to withstand 44 abrasion tests, 230 tape stripping tests, and 210 scraping tests. After the test, the coating still showed satisfactory antireflective and self-cleaning properties, indicating its remarkable mechanical stability. In addition, the coating also displayed excellent acid resistance, which has important value in aerospace, optoelectronics, industrial anti-corrosion, etc.
Sulforaphane Combined with Vitamin D Induces Cytotoxicity Mediated by Oxidative Stress, DNA Damage, Autophagy, and JNK/MAPK Pathway Modulation in Human Prostate Tumor Cells
Authors: Tuttis Katiuska , Machado Ana Rita Thomazela , Santos Patrick Wellington da Silva , Antunes Lusânia Maria Greggi
Published: June 2023

Prostate cancer ranks second in incidence worldwide. To date, there are no available therapies to effectively treat advanced and metastatic prostate cancer. Sulforaphane and vitamin D alone are promising anticancer agents in vitro and in vivo, but their low bioavailability has limited their effects in clinical trials. The present study examined whether sulforaphane combined with vitamin D at clinically relevant concentrations improved the cytotoxicity of the compounds alone towards DU145 and PC-3 human prostate tumor cells. To assess the anticancer activity of this combination, we analyzed cell viability (MTT assay), oxidative stress (CM-H2DCFDA), autophagy (fluorescence), DNA damage (comet assay), and protein expression (Western blot). The sulforaphane–vitamin D combination (i) decreased cell viability, induced oxidative stress, DNA damage, and autophagy, upregulated BAX, CASP8, CASP3, JNK, and NRF2 expression, and downregulated BCL2 expression in DU145 cells; and (ii) decreased cell viability, increased autophagy and oxidative stress, upregulated BAX and NRF2 expression, and downregulated JNK, CASP8, and BCL2 expression in PC-3 cells. Therefore, sulforaphane and vitamin D in combination have a potential application in prostate cancer therapy, and act to modulate the JNK/MAPK signaling pathway.
Mexican Native Black Bean Anthocyanin-Rich Extracts Modulate Biological Markers Associated with Inflammation
Authors: Contreras Jonhatan , Alcázar-Valle Montserrat , Lugo-Cervantes Eugenia , Luna-Vital Diego A. , Mojica Luis
Published: June 2023

This work aimed to obtain and characterize anthocyanin-rich extracts (ARE) from native black beans and evaluate their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. The initial extract was obtained by supercritical fluids (RE) and purified using Amberlite® XAD-7 resin (PE). RE and PE were fractionated using countercurrent chromatography, and four fractions were obtained (REF1 and REF2 from RE, PEF1, and PEF2 from PE). ARE and fractions were characterized, and the biological potential was evaluated. ABTS IC50 values ranged from 7.9 to 139.2 (mg C3GE/L), DPPH IC50 ranged from 9.2 to 117.2 (mg C3GE/L), and NO IC50 ranged from 0.6 to143.8 (mg C3GE/L) (p < 0.05). COX-1 IC50 ranged from 0.1 to 0.9 (mg C3GE/L), COX-2 IC50 ranged from 0.01 to 0.7 (mg C3GE/L), and iNOS IC50 ranged from 0.9 to 5.6 (mg C3GE/L) (p < 0.05). The theoretical binding energy for phenolic compounds ranged from −8.45 to −1.4 kcal/mol for COX-1, from −8.5 to −1.8 kcal/mol for COX-2, and from −7.2 to −1.6 kcal/mol for iNOS. RE and REF2 presented the highest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. Countercurrent chromatography effectively isolates and purifies bioactive compounds while maintaining their biological potential. Native black beans present an attractive phytochemical profile and could be used as ingredients in nutraceuticals and functional foods.
Lignin–Cobalt Nano-Enabled Poly(pseudo)rotaxane Supramolecular Hydrogel for Treating Chronic Wounds
Authors: Crivello Giulia , Orlandini Giuliana , Morena Angela Gala , Torchio Alessandro , Mattu Clara , Boffito Monica , Tzanov Tzanko , Ciardelli Gianluca
Published: June 2023

Chronic wounds (CWs) are a growing issue for the health care system. Their treatment requires a synergic approach to reduce both inflammation and the bacterial burden. In this work, a promising system for treating CWs was developed, comprising cobalt-lignin nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in a supramolecular (SM) hydrogel. First, NPs were obtained through cobalt reduction with phenolated lignin, and their antibacterial properties were tested against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive strains. The anti-inflammatory capacity of the NPs was proven through their ability to inhibit myeloperoxidase (MPO) and matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), which are enzymes involved in the inflammatory process and wound chronicity. Then, the NPs were loaded in an SM hydrogel based on a blend of α-cyclodextrin and custom-made poly(ether urethane)s. The nano-enabled hydrogel showed injectability, self-healing properties, and linear release of the loaded cargo. Moreover, the SM hydrogel’s characteristics were optimized to absorb proteins when in contact with liquid, suggesting its capacity to uptake harmful enzymes from the wound exudate. These results render the developed multifunctional SM material an interesting candidate for the management of CWs.
Deficit Irrigation Applied to Lemon Trees Grafted on Two Rootstocks and Irrigated with Desalinated Seawater
Authors: Navarro Josefa M. , Antolinos Vera , Botía Pablo , Robles Juan M.
Published: June 2023

The use of desalinated seawater (DSW) for irrigation in semi-arid regions is taking hold. Citrus tolerance to ions that predominate in DSW and water stress depends on the rootstock. Deficit irrigation was applied to DSW-irrigated lemon trees and grafted on rootstocks with different tolerance (Citrus macrophylla (CM) and sour orange (SO)). Plants were irrigated with DSW or Control treatment (distilled water), and, 140 days later, irrigation treatments were started: full irrigation (FI) or DI (50% of the volume applied to FI). After 75 days, differences between CM and SO plants irrigated with DSW and under DI were found. The higher concentrations of Cl− and Na+ in CM and B in SO were the main causes of shoot growth reduction. The osmotic adjustment of CM plants was made possible by the accumulation of Na+, Cl−, and proline, but SO failed to adjust osmotically. In CM and SO plants, photosynthesis reduction was due to lower chlorophyll levels, but also to stomatal factors (CM plants) or alterations of the photochemical machinery (SO plants). Finally, unlike CM, SO had a good antioxidant system. In the future, knowing the different responses of CM and SO under these stressful conditions could be useful in citrus-growing areas.
Nutrient Composition, Physicobiochemical Analyses, Oxidative Stability and Antinutritional Assessment of Abundant Tropical Seaweeds from the Arabian Sea
Authors: Choudhary Babita , Khandwal Deepesh , Gupta Nirmala Kumari , Patel Jaykumar , Mishra Avinash
Published: June 2023

Foods enriched with nutritional compounds and biological activities, especially antioxidants, are considered healthier for human and/or animal consumption. Seaweeds are rich sources of biologically active metabolites and are used as functional foods. In this study, proximate compositions, physicobiochemical characteristics and oil oxidative stability were analyzed for 15 abundant tropical seaweeds (four green—Acrosiphonia orientalis, Caulerpa scalpelliformis, Ulva fasciata, Ulva lactuca; six brown—Iyengaria stellata, Lobophora variegate, Padina boergesenii, Sargassum linearifolium, Spatoglossum asperum, Stoechospermum marginatum; and five red—Amphiroa anceps, Grateloupia indica, Halymenia porphyriformis, Scinaia carnosa, Solieria chordalis). All seaweeds were analyzed for the proximate composition, including moisture content, ash content, total sugar content, total proteins, total lipids, crude fiber, carotenoid content, total chlorophyll content, proline, iodine content, nitrogen-free extract, total phenolic content and total flavonoid content. Green seaweeds showed higher nutritional proximate composition, followed by brown and red seaweeds. Among the different seaweeds, Ulva, Caulerpa, Sargassum, Spatoglossum and Amphiroa showed high nutritional proximate composition compared to other seaweeds. High cation scavenging, free radical scavenging and total reducing activities were observed for Acrosiphonia, Caulerpa, Ulva, Sargassum, Spatoglossum and Iyengaria. It was also observed that 15 tropical seaweeds contained negligible amounts of antinutritional compounds, including tannic acid, phytic acid, saponins, alkaloids and terpenoids. Nutritionally, green and brown seaweeds provided higher sources of energy (150–300 calories per 100 g) compared to red seaweeds (80–165 calories per 100 g). Additionally, this study also confirmed that tropical seaweeds improved the oxidative stability of food oils and, therefore, might be recommended as natural antioxidant additives. The overall results confirm that tropical seaweeds are potential sources of nutrition and antioxidants and may be explored as functional food, dietary supplementation or animal feed. Additionally, they may also be explored as food supplements for fortifying food products, as food toppings or for garnishing and seasoning foods. However, a human or animal toxicity analysis is required before any conclusive recommendation for daily food or feed intake can be made.
Novel Milk Substitute Based on Pea, Bean and Sunflower Seeds with Natural Bioactive Stabilisers
Authors: Kulczyk Ewa , Drozłowska-Sobieraj Emilia , Bartkowiak Artur
Published: June 2023

The aim of this research was to create a plant-based beverage based on seeds of sunflower (Helianthus annuus), pea (Pisum sativum) and runner bean (Phaseolus multiflorus). The selection of the ingredients was based on the main objective to obtain the nutritional value and sensory characteristics of a formed product similar to cow’s milk. The ingredient proportions were created by comparing the protein, fat and carbohydrate content of seeds versus cow’s milk. Due to the observed low long-term stability of plant-seed-based drinks, a water binding guar gum, a thickener in the form of locust bean gum and gelling citrus amidated pectin containing dextrose were added and evaluated as functional stabilisers. All of the designed and created systems were subjected to selected methods of characterisation of the most important final product properties, such as rheology, colour, emulsion and turbidimetric stability. Rheological analysis confirmed the highest stability of the variant supplemented with 0.5% guar gum. Both stability and colour measurements indicated the positive characteristics of the system supplemented with 0.4% pectin. Finally, the product with 0.5% guar gum was identified as the most distinctive and similar vegetable drink to cow’s milk.
Differential RNA-Seq Analysis Predicts Genes Related to Terpene Tailoring in Caryopteris × clandonensis
Authors: Ritz Manfred , Ahmad Nadim , Brueck Thomas , Mehlmer Norbert
Published: June 2023

Enzymatic terpene functionalization is an essential part of plant secondary metabolite diversity. Within this, multiple terpene-modifying enzymes are required to enable the chemical diversity of volatile compounds essential in plant communication and defense. This work sheds light on the differentially transcribed genes within Caryopteris × clandonensis that are capable of functionalizing cyclic terpene scaffolds, which are the product of terpene cyclase action. The available genomic reference was subjected to further improvements to provide a comprehensive basis, where the number of contigs was minimized. RNA-Seq data of six cultivars, Dark Knight, Grand Bleu, Good as Gold, Hint of Gold, Pink Perfection, and Sunny Blue, were mapped on the reference, and their distinct transcription profile investigated. Within this data resource, we detected interesting variations and additionally genes with high and low transcript abundancies in leaves of Caryopteris × clandonensis related to terpene functionalization. As previously described, different cultivars vary in their modification of monoterpenes, especially limonene, resulting in different limonene-derived molecules. This study focuses on predicting the cytochrome p450 enzymes underlying this varied transcription pattern between investigated samples. Thus, making them a reasonable explanation for terpenoid differences between these plants. Furthermore, these data provide the basis for functional assays and the verification of putative enzyme activities.
Enhancing Crop Resilience to Drought Stress through CRISPR-Cas9 Genome Editing
Authors: Rai Gyanendra Kumar , Khanday Danish Mushtaq , Kumar Pradeep , Magotra Isha , Choudhary Sadiya M. , Kosser Rafia , Kalunke Raviraj , Giordano Maria , Corrado Giandomenico , Rouphael Youssef , Pandey Sudhakar
Published: June 2023

With increasing frequency and severity of droughts in various parts of the world, agricultural productivity may suffer major setbacks. Among all the abiotic factors, drought is likely to have one of the most detrimental effects on soil organisms and plants. Drought is a major problem for crops because it limits the availability of water, and consequently nutrients which are crucial for plant growth and survival. This results in reduced crop yields, stunted growth, and even plant death, according to the severity and duration of the drought, the plant’s developmental stage, and the plant’s genetic background. The ability to withstand drought is a highly complex characteristic that is controlled by multiple genes, making it one of the most challenging attributes to study, classify, and improve. Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat (CRISPR) technology has opened a new frontier in crop enhancement, revolutionizing plant molecular breeding. The current review provides a general understanding of principles as well as optimization of CRISPR system, and presents applications on genetic enhancement of crops, specifically in terms of drought resistance and yield. Moreover, we discuss how innovative genome editing techniques can aid in the identification and modification of genes conferring drought tolerance.
Comparison of Various Drought Resistance Traits in Soybean (Glycine max L.) Based on Image Analysis for Precision Agriculture
Authors: Kim JaeYoung , Lee Chaewon , Park JiEun , Kim Nyunhee , Kim Song-Lim , Baek JeongHo , Chung Yong-Suk , Kim Kyunghwan
Published: June 2023

Drought is being annually exacerbated by recent global warming, leading to crucial damage of crop growth and final yields. Soybean, one of the most consumed crops worldwide, has also been affected in the process. The development of a resistant cultivar is required to solve this problem, which is considered the most efficient method for crop producers. To accelerate breeding cycles, genetic engineering and high-throughput phenotyping technologies have replaced conventional breeding methods. However, the current novel phenotyping method still needs to be optimized by species and varieties. Therefore, we aimed to assess the most appropriate and effective phenotypes for evaluating drought stress by applying a high-throughput image-based method on the nested association mapping (NAM) population of soybeans. The acquired image-based traits from the phenotyping platform were divided into three large categories—area, boundary, and color—and demonstrated an aspect for each characteristic. Analysis on categorized traits interpreted stress responses in morphological and physiological changes. The evaluation of drought stress regardless of varieties was possible by combining various image-based traits. We might suggest that a combination of image-based traits obtained using computer vision can be more efficient than using only one trait for the precision agriculture.
Long-Term Tillage and Crop Rotation Regimes Reshape Soil-Borne Oomycete Communities in Soybean, Corn, and Wheat Production Systems
Authors: Gahagan Alison Claire , Shi Yichao , Radford Devon , Morrison Malcolm J. , Gregorich Edward , Aris-Brosou Stéphane , Chen Wen
Published: June 2023

Soil-borne oomycetes include devastating plant pathogens that cause substantial losses in the agricultural sector. To better manage this important group of pathogens, it is critical to understand how they respond to common agricultural practices, such as tillage and crop rotation. Here, a long-term field experiment was established using a split-plot design with tillage as the main plot factor (conventional tillage (CT) vs. no till (NT), two levels) and rotation as the subplot factor (monocultures of soybean, corn, or wheat, and corn–soybean–wheat rotation, four levels). Post-harvest soil oomycete communities were characterized over three consecutive years (2016–2018) by metabarcoding the Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS1) region. The community contained 292 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) and was dominated by Globisporangium spp. (85.1% in abundance, 203 ASV) and Pythium spp. (10.4%, 51 ASV). NT decreased diversity and community compositional structure heterogeneity, while crop rotation only affected the community structure under CT. The interaction effects of tillage and rotation on most oomycetes species accentuated the complexity of managing these pathogens. Soil and crop health represented by soybean seedling vitality was lowest in soils under CT cultivating soybean or corn, while the grain yield of the three crops responded differently to tillage and crop rotation regimes.
A Study on the Thermal Degradation of an Acrylamide and 2-Acrylamido-2-Methylpropanesulfonic Acid Copolymer at High Temperatures
Authors: Zhang Guicai , Ran Yunling , Jiang Ping , Pei Haihua
Published: June 2023

As a temperature-resistant and salt-resistant polymer, acrylamide and 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (abbreviated as AM-AMPS) copolymer is currently widely used in drilling, water control and oil production stabilization, enhanced oil recovery and other fields, but its stability under high temperature has been less studied. The degradation process of the AM-AMPS copolymer solution was studied by measuring viscosity, the degree of hydrolysis, and weight-average molecular weight at different temperatures and aging time. During the high-temperature aging process, the viscosity of the AM-AMPS copolymer saline solution first increases and then decreases. The combined action of the hydrolysis reaction and the oxidative thermal degradation leads to the change of the viscosity of the AM-AMPS copolymer saline solution. The hydrolysis reaction of the AM-AMPS copolymer mainly affects the structural viscosity of its saline solution through intramolecular and intermolecular electrostatic interactions, while the oxidative thermal degradation mainly reduces its molecular weight by breaking the main chain of the copolymer molecules, reducing the viscosity of the AM-AMPS copolymer saline solution. The content of AM and AMPS groups in the AM-AMPS copolymer solution at various temperatures and aging time was analyzed using liquid nuclear magnetic resonance carbon spectroscopy, demonstrating that the hydrolysis reaction rate constant of AM groups was significantly higher than that of AMPS groups. The contribution values of hydrolysis reaction and oxidative thermal degradation of the AM-AMPS copolymer at different aging time to viscosity were quantitatively calculated at temperatures ranging from 104.5 °C to 140 °C. It was determined that the higher the heat treatment temperature, the smaller the contribution of hydrolysis reaction to viscosity, while the bigger the contribution of oxidative thermal degradation to the viscosity of the AM-AMPS copolymer solution.
Polyethersulfone (PES) Filters Improve the Recovery of Legionella spp. and Enhance Selectivity against Interfering Microorganisms in Water Samples
Authors: Casino Pablo , López Asunción , Peiró Sara , Rios Santiago , Porta Aldous , Agustí Gemma , Terlevich Daniela , Asensio Daniel , Marqués Ana María , Piqué Núria
Published: June 2023

In the analysis of water samples, the type of filtration membrane material can influence the recovery of Legionella species, although this issue has been poorly investigated. Filtration membranes (0.45 µm) from different materials and manufacturers (numbered as 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) were compared: mixed cellulose esters (MCEs), nitrocellulose (NC), and polyethersulfone (PES). After membrane filtration of samples, filters were placed directly onto GVPC agar and incubated at 36 ± 2 °C. The highest mean counts of colony-forming units and colony sizes for Legionella pneumophila and Legionella anisa were obtained with PES filters (p < 0.001). All membranes placed on GVPC agar totally inhibited Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 19443 and ATCC 29212, whereas only the PES filter from manufacturer 3 (3-PES) totally inhibited Pseudomonas aeruginosa. PES membrane performance also differed according to the manufacturer, with 3-PES providing the best productivity and selectivity. In real water samples, 3-PES also produced a higher Legionella recovery and better inhibition of interfering microorganisms. These results support the use of PES membranes in methods where the filter is placed directly on the culture media and not only in procedures where membrane filtration is followed by a washing step (according to ISO 11731:2017).
Biodegradation of Plastics Induced by Marine Organisms: Future Perspectives for Bioremediation Approaches
Authors: Viel Thomas , Manfra Loredana , Zupo Valerio , Libralato Giovanni , Cocca Mariacristina , Costantini Maria
Published: June 2023

Plastic pollution is a distinctive element of the globalized world. In fact, since the 1970s the expansion and use of plastics, particularly in the consumer and commercial sectors, has given this material a permanent place in our lives. The increasing use of plastic products and the wrong management of end-of-life plastic products have contributed to increasing environmental pollution, with negative impacts on our ecosystems and the ecological functions of natural habitats. Nowadays, plastic pollution is pervasive in all environmental compartments. As aquatic environments are the dumping points for poorly managed plastics, biofouling and biodegradation have been proposed as promising approaches for plastic bioremediation. Known for the high stability of plastics in the marine environment, this represents a very important issue to preserve marine biodiversity. In this review, we have summarized the main cases reported in the literature on the degradation of plastics by bacteria, fungi, and microalgae and the degradation mechanisms involved, to highlight the potential of bioremediation approaches to reduce macro and microplastic pollution.
Analysis of the Shear Stresses in a Filling Line of Parenteral Products: The Role of Fittings
Authors: Moino Camilla , Scutellà Bernadette , Bellini Marco , Bourlès Erwan , Boccardo Gianluca , Pisano Roberto
Published: June 2023

Fill-finish of parenteral formulations represents a crucial step in the pharmaceutical industry that necessitates careful monitoring of product stability down the line. Shear stress and interfacial stress are two elements that threaten product stability, the respective contributions of which are still up for debate. This article focuses on the analysis of shear stress in the sampling phase of the filling line. Specifically, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were employed to determine the shear stress distribution experienced by a protein-based parenteral drug as it passes through sampling fittings of various shapes under laminar and turbulent regime conditions. Rather than seeking the specific mechanism triggering the destabilization of a product, an attempt was made to analyze the fluid dynamics within these fittings and offer further understanding of the resulting shear stress. In addition, information was collected on the product path within the fittings, which allowed the identification of equations suitable for describing the shear stress distribution. The proposed approaches made it possible to consider the actual flowrate subjected to a given shear stress at a given time. Finally, a comparison was drawn with respect to the fluid dynamics within classical straight tubing to outline differences. This study revealed that the shear stress experienced within the fittings was higher than that in the tubing. Moreover, significant differences were reported in the T-fitting case under turbulent conditions.
Exploring the Potential of Aerated Concrete and Clay Bricks from Construction and Demolition Waste as Adsorbents for Pb(II) Removal from Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Yuan Yaru , Han Hongpei , Xie Ruifeng , Zhu Lin , Ma Xianfa , Liu Xuesheng
Published: June 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the potential of utilizing aerated concrete (AC) and clay bricks (CB) sourced from construction and demotion waste (CDW) as low-cost adsorbents for the removal of Pb2+ from aqueous solutions. The effects of various parameters, including particle size, solution pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, and initial Pb2+ concentration, were analyzed through batch experiments. The results indicated that AC performed more efficiently in removing lead ions than CB under all the tested conditions. The highest removal efficiency of Pb2+ with AC was 99.0%, which was achieved at a pH of 5.0, contact time of 1 h, an adsorbent dosage of 5 g/L, and an initial Pb2+ concentration of 100 mg/L. The maximum adsorption capacities of AC and CB were 201.6 mg/g and 56.3 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption isotherm data of the adsorbents were successfully modeled using both the Langmuir and Freundlich models. The removal of lead ions from aqueous solutions by both adsorbents is primarily achieved through adsorption and microprecipitation. Compared to CB, AC exhibited superior performance, attributed to its larger specific surface area, pore volume, and alkalinity. The cost-effectiveness and availability of AC make it a promising candidate for treating of Pb-contaminated wastewater, providing a new way for resource utilization of CDW.
Research on State Evaluation of Petrochemical Plants Based on Improved TOPSIS Method and Combined Weight
Authors: Lin Yang , Yuan Zhuang , Gou Chengdong , Xu Wei , Wang Chunli , Li Chuankun
Published: June 2023

Due to the involvement of hazardous materials and the potential serious accidents that may occur in petrochemical plants, it is of great significance to develop real-time state evaluation methods offering high performance. Data-driven methods have received widespread attention following the development of advanced condition-monitoring systems. However, scarce training samples evaluated under multiple operating conditions are available because of the high stability and reliability requirements of petrochemical plants. In this paper, a real-time state evaluation method based on the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) is proposed, which circumvents dependence on data samples. First, the positive and negative ideal solutions of TOPSIS are determined using expert experience and the process index control limits of process cards. Then, fixed-value and fixed-interval indices are proposed to address the interval-optimal parameters. Subsequently, a new combined weight is established using the entropy method and the subjective weight coefficient. Finally, the above steps are integrated into an improved TOPSIS for the state evaluation of petrochemical plants. Experiments conducted on a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit show that the proposed method can quantify the real-time operating status of a petrochemical plant. Furthermore, compared with the equal weight method, the evaluation result of combined weights is more aligned with the actual operating status.
A Method for Predicting Surface Finish of Polylactic Acid Parts Printed Using Fused Deposition Modeling
Authors: Huang Meifa , Jin Shangkun , Tang Zhemin , Chen Yuanqing , Qin Yuchu
Published: June 2023

Accurately predicting the surface finish of fused deposition modeling (FDM) parts is an important task for the engineering application of FDM technology. So far, many prediction models have been proposed by establishing a mapping relationship between printing parameters and surface roughness. Each model can work well in its specific context; however, existing prediction models cannot meet the requirements of multi-factor and multi-category prediction of surface finish and cope with imbalanced data. Aiming at these issues, a prediction method based on a combination of the adaptive particle swarm optimization and K-nearest neighbor (APSO-KNN) algorithms is proposed in this paper. Seven input variables, including nozzle diameter, layer thickness, number of perimeters, flow rate, print speed, nozzle temperature, and build orientation, are considered. The printing values of each specimen are determined using an L27 Taguchi experimental design. A total of 27 specimens are printed and experimental data for the 27 specimens are used for model training and validation. The results indicate that the proposed method can achieve a minimum classification error of 0.01 after two iterations, with a maximum accuracy of 99.0%, and high model training efficiency. It can meet the requirements of predicting surface finish for FDM parts with multiple factors and categories and can handle imbalanced data. In addition, the high accuracy demonstrates the potential of this method for predicting surface finish, and its application in actual industrial manufacturing.
A Study of the Effect of Freeze–Thawing by Liquid Nitrogen on the Mechanical and Seepage Characteristics of Coal with Different Moisture Content Values
Authors: Qi Xiaohan , Hou Shuangrong , Ma Heng , Wang Pin , Liu Yang , Wang Xiaoqi
Published: June 2023

In order to study the effect of freezing and thawing of liquid nitrogen on the mechanical and seepage characteristics of coal rock with different water content values, conventional triaxial loading tests on freeze–thawed coal samples with different water content values were carried out using non-contact digital image processing technology. The research results showed that with the same water content, the peak strength of a liquid nitrogen freeze–thawed coal sample was smaller than that of a non-freeze–thawed coal sample, and the Poisson’s ratio was larger than that of the non-freeze–thawed coal sample; compared with the non-freeze–thawed coal sample, the strain fluctuation and concentration in the stages of compression density, elasticity, yield, and damage were weakened after freeze–thawing by liquid nitrogen, but the local stress concentration was more obvious; the non-freeze–thawed coal sample mainly showed single shear damage, and the damage fissures were inclined fissures with small openings. The higher the water content, the more obvious the tensile damage; with the increase in water content, the permeability of non-freeze–thawed coal samples showed a linear decreasing trend, and the permeability of coal samples was 0.03 × 10–3 μm2 when the water content reached 9%. The permeability of freeze–thawed coal samples showed a non-linear increasing trend, and the higher the water content under the effect of expansion, the faster the permeability growth rate; the permeability of coal samples could reach 6.30 × 10–3 μm2 when the water content was 9%. The results of the study can provide a theoretical guidance for gas permeation enhancement in deep low-permeability coal seams.
An Efficient and Improved Coronavirus Herd Immunity Algorithm Using Knowledge-Driven Variable Neighborhood Search for Flexible Job-Shop Scheduling Problems
Authors: Ma Xunde , Bi Li , Jiao Xiaogang , Wang Junjie
Published: June 2023

By addressing the flexible job shop scheduling problem (FJSP), this paper proposes a new type of algorithm for the FJSP. We named it the hybrid coronavirus population immunity optimization algorithm. Based on the characteristics of the problem, firstly, this paper redefined the discretized two-stage individual encoding and decoding scheme. Secondly, in order to realize the multi-scale search of the solution space, a multi-population update mechanism is designed, and a collaborative learning method is proposed to ensure the diversity of the population. Then, an adaptive mutation operation is introduced to enrich the diversity of the population, relying on the adaptive adjustment of the mutation operator to balance global search and local search capabilities. In order to realize a directional and efficient neighborhood search, this algorithm proposed a knowledge-driven variable neighborhood search strategy. Finally, the algorithm’s performance comparison experiment is carried out. The minimum makespans on the MK06 medium-scale case and MK10 large-scale case are 58 and 201, respectively. The experimental results verify the effectiveness of the hybrid algorithm.
Investigation on Water Invasion Mode and Remaining Oil Utilization Rules of Fractured-Vuggy Reservoirs: A Case Study of the Intersection Region of S99 Unit in Tahe Oilfield
Authors: Cheng Hong , Yuan Feiyu , Zhang Shiliang , Li Lu , Luo Xianping , Chen Bo
Published: June 2023

Fractured-vuggy reservoirs are a new target in carbonate oil and gas exploration and development. Because of well-developed reservoir bodies, including fractures and caverns, bottom water invasion can be observed in oilfield development, with low utilization efficiency of crude oil in the reservoir. Accordingly, this study focused on the intersection region of the S99 unit of the Tahe fractured-vuggy reservoirs. Based on seismic data, the reservoir bodies can be divided into three types—caverns, fractures, and broken solution pores. Using the same location condition assignment algorithm, four single-type models are fused into a multi-scale discrete three-dimensional geological model of fractured and cavernous reservoirs, and the corresponding fractured-vuggy reservoir model was established for numerical simulation. The single-well historical fitting precision exceeded 85%. Furthermore, the development can be divided into four stages—initial stage of production, peak production stage, liquid control and oil stabilization stage, and scale gas injection stable. Streamlining sweep analysis determined the utilization and distribution characteristics of the remaining oil in the reservoir. It can be concluded that structure, caverns, and fractures were the main controlling factors affecting the remaining oil distribution in the fractured-vuggy reservoir. The fluid exchange among single-well reserve zones was calculated using streamline-based quantitative sweep analysis and interwell flow quantitative analysis method. Through source-sink quantitative analysis, interwell flow relations were derived, and three water breakthrough modes were further concluded: violent flooding, slow ascending of water cut, and low cut or intermittent water production.
Effects of Bio-Coal Briquette for Residential Combustion on Brown Carbon Emission Reduction
Authors: Qi Juan , Wu Jianjun
Published: June 2023

Biomass burning is an important source of brown carbon (BrC) which poses high-risk threats to human health and the environment. In this study, bio-coal briquette (coal mixed with biomass), a promising solid fuel for residential combustion, is proven to be a clean fuel which can effectively reduce BrC emission. First of all, an orthogonal experiment with three factors and three levels on the physical property of bio-briquette was carried out to identify the optimal preparation conditions including the ratio of biomass to anthracite, particle size and molding pressure. Then a combustion experiment of the bio-coal briquetted was implemented in a simulated residential combustion system. BrC emission factors (EFs) were calculated based on the detected black carbon (BC) concentration by an aethalometer, and other optical characteristics for organic components of extract samplers, such as mass absorption efficiency (MAE) and absorption angstrom index (AAE), were also explored. Lastly, composition analysis of BrC by a gas chromatography (GC) tandem mass spectrometer (MS) and direct visible images by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were investigated to provide more detail information on BrC EFs and property change. It was shown that bio-coal briquette had such low BrC EFs that 70–81% BrC was reduced in comparison with an interpolation value of 100% biomass and 100% coal. Furthermore, the composition of BrC from bio-coal briquette burning was different, which consisted of more substances with strong wavelength dependence. Consequently, although MAE declined by 60% at a 540 nm wavelength, the AAE value of bio-coal briquette only decreased slightly compared with interpolation values. To be more specific, tar balls, the main existing form of BrC, were distributed much more sparsely in the SEM image of bio-coal briquette. To sum up, a positive reduction effect on BrC was discovered in bio-coal briquette. It is evident that bio-coal briquette can serve as an alternative solid fuel for residential combustion, which is beneficial for both human health and the atmosphere.
Online Feet Potential Fields for Quadruped Robots Navigation in Harsh Terrains
Authors: Morlando Viviana , Cacace Jonathan , Ruggiero Fabio
Published: June 2023

Quadruped robots have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their ability to navigate through challenging terrains. Among the various environments, agriculture fields are particularly difficult for legged robots, given the variability of soil types and conditions. To address this issue, this study proposes a novel navigation strategy that utilizes ground reaction forces to calculate online artificial potential fields, which are then applied to the robot’s feet to avoid low-traversability regions. The strategy also incorporates the net vector of the attractive potential field towards the goal and the repulsive field to avoid slippery regions, which dynamically adjusts the quadruped’s gait. A realistic simulation environment validates the proposed navigation framework with case studies on randomly generated terrains. A comprehensive comparison with baseline navigation methods is conducted to assess the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Spaceborne Relative Radiometer: Instrument Design and Pre-Flight Test
Authors: Wu Duo , Fang Wei , Wang Kai , Ye Xin , Jia Ruidong , Yang Dongjun , Song Baoqi , Luo Zhitao , Wang Yuwei , Xia Zhiwei , Zhu Ping , Ruymbeke Michel van
Published: June 2023

In order to simultaneously determine the values of total solar irradiance (TSI) and the Earth’s radiation at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) on board the Fengyun-3F satellite, a spaceborne relative radiometer (SRR) was developed. It adopts a dual-channel structure, including a solar radiometer channel (SR) with an unobstructed field of view (FOV) of 1.5° and an Earth radiometer channel (ER) with a wide field of view (WFOV) of 95.3° and a diameter of about 1900 km on the ground. Before the launch, both the SR and ER were calibrated. The SR, installed on the inner frame of the solar tracker of the SIM-II (solar irradiance monitor-II), is used to observe rapid changes in solar radiance with the SIAR (solar irradiance absolute radiometer), an electrical-substitution radiometer, on orbit. The ER is mounted on the U-shaped frame of the solar tracker, directly pointing in the nadir direction. Additionally, a dark space observation mode is used to determine the on-orbit background noise and lunar observation mode for on-orbit calibration. In this article, the instrument design and working principle of the SRR is first introduced, and an analysis of the measurement model of the ER, the WFOV channel of the SRR, is focused on. Finally, ground test results of the SRR are introduced.