bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Visualization of Murine Vascular Remodeling and Blood Flow Dynamics by Ultra-High-Frequency Ultrasound Imaging
Authors: Sier Vincent Q. , de Jong Alwin , Quax Paul H. A. , de Vries Margreet R.
Published: November 2022

Vein grafts (VGs) are used to bypass atherosclerotic obstructions and arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) as vascular access for hemodialysis. Vascular remodeling governs post-interventional arterialization, but may also induce VG and AVF failure. Although the endpoint characteristics of vascular remodeling are known, the in vivo process and the role of blood flow dynamics has not been fully studied. Therefore, here we non-invasively quantify vascular remodeling and blood flow alterations over time in murine VG and AVF models. C57BL/6J (n = 7, chow diet) and atherosclerosis-prone ApoE3*Leiden (n = 7) mice underwent VG surgery. Ultrasound imaging was performed at 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days post-surgery. C57BL/6J mice (n = 8) received AVF surgery. Ultrasound imaging was performed at 7 and 14 days post-surgery. The luminal volume increased by 42% in the VGs of C57BL/6J and 38% in the VGs of ApoE3*Leiden mice at 28 days relative to 3 days post-surgery. Longitudinally, an 82% increase in wall volume and 76% increase in outward remodeling was found in the ApoE3*Leiden mice, with a constant wall size in C57BL/6J mice. Proximally, the pulsatility index, resistive index, and peak systolic velocity decreased longitudinally in both groups. Distally, the maximum acceleration increased with 56% in C57BL/6J VGs. Among the AVFs, 50% showed maturation after 7 days, based on a novel flow-criterium of 23 mL/min. Distinct flow patterns were observed at the anastomotic site and inflow artery of the AVFs relative to the control carotid arteries. Vascular remodeling can be quantified by ultra-high-frequency ultrasound imaging over time in complex animal models, via three-dimensional structural parameters and site-specific hemodynamic indices.
MULTI-OMICS as Invaluable Tools for the Elucidation of Host–Microbe–Microbiota Interactions
Authors: Toranzos Gary A. , Santiago-Rodriguez Tasha M.
Published: November 2022

“Omics” is becoming an increasingly recognizable term, even to the general public, as it is used more and more often in everyday scientific research [...]
Effects of the Preferential Oxidation of Phenolic Lignin Using Chlorine Dioxide on Pulp Bleaching Efficiency
Authors: Liu Yi , Deng Baojuan , Liang Jiarui , Li Jiao , Liu Baojie , Wang Fei , Qin Chengrong , Yao Shuangquan
Published: November 2022

Chlorine dioxide is widely used for pulp bleaching because of its high delignification selectivity. However, efficient and clean chlorine dioxide bleaching is limited by the complexity of the lignin structure. Herein, the oxidation reactions of phenolic (vanillyl alcohol) and non-phenolic (veratryl alcohol) lignin model species were modulated using chlorine dioxide. The effects of chlorine dioxide concentration, reaction temperature, and reaction time on the consumption rate of the model species were also investigated. The optimal consumption rate for the phenolic species was obtained at a chlorine dioxide concentration of 30 mmol·L−1, a reaction temperature of 40 °C, and a reaction time of 10 min, resulting in the consumption of 96.3% of vanillyl alcohol. Its consumption remained essentially unchanged compared with that of traditional chlorine dioxide oxidation. However, the consumption rate of veratryl alcohol was significantly reduced from 78.0% to 17.3%. Additionally, the production of chlorobenzene via the chlorine dioxide oxidation of veratryl alcohol was inhibited. The structural changes in lignin before and after different treatments were analyzed. The overall structure of lignin remained stable during the optimization of the chlorine dioxide oxidation treatment. The signal intensities of several phenolic units were reduced. The effects of the selective oxidation of lignin by chlorine dioxide on the pulp properties were analyzed. Pulp viscosity significantly increased owing to the preferential oxidation of phenolic lignin by chlorine dioxide. The pollution load of bleached effluent was considerably reduced at similar pulp brightness levels. This study provides a new approach to chlorine dioxide bleaching. An efficient and clean bleaching process of the pulp was developed.
A New Species of the Mealybug Genus Mirococcus (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) from the Cape Verde Islands, with New Records and an Updated Checklist of Scale Insect Species
Authors: Łagowska Bożena , Golan Katarzyna , Hodgson Christopher J.
Published: November 2022

In this study, a new species of mealybug from the Cape Verde Islands, Mirococcus capeverdensis Łagowska and Hodgson sp. n., collected on Campylanthus glaber Benth. (Scrophulariaceae), a native plant to these islands, is described and illustrated based on the adult female. A taxonomic key to the mealybugs from the Afrotropical Region that lack cerarii is provided. In addition, seven scale insect species, namely Aulacaspis tubercularis Newstead, Hemiberlesia cyanophylli (Signoret), Pseudaonidia trilobitiformis (Green), Icerya aegyptiaca (Douglas), Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green), Palmicultor palmarum (Ehrhorn), and Pseudococcus comstocki (Kuwana) are recorded for the first time from the Cape Verde Islands and an updated checklist of Coccomorpha species known from this region, along with their known island distributions and valid sources, is appended.
Flightless Females in the Neotropical Moth Genus Cataspilates Warren (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) †
Authors: Vargas Héctor A.
Published: November 2022

Although adults are winged and able to fly in most Lepidoptera species, they are apterous or brachypterous and unable to fly in others, such as the flightless females of some geometrid moths. Records of flightless females in the highly diverse and widespread tribe Boarmiini (Geometridae: Ennominae) are mainly restricted to some Nearctic and Palearctic genera. The aim of this study is to provide the first record of flightless females for Cataspilates Warren, 1897, a Boarmiini genus endemic to the Neotropical Region, through the description of Cataspilates marceloi sp. nov. from the arid highlands of the western slopes of the Andes of northern Chile. DNA barcodes confirmed the conspecificity of brachypterous females and winged males reared from larvae collected on the native shrub Adesmia spinosissima (Fabaceae). This contribution represents the first female description for Cataspilates and provides a new opportunity to improve the understanding of the evolution of flightlessness in geometrid moths.
Lithium Chloride Shows Effectiveness against the Poultry Red Mite (Dermanyssus gallinae)
Authors: Kolics Balázs , Kolics Éva , Solti Izabella , Bacsi Zsuzsanna , Taller János , Specziár András , Mátyás Kinga
Published: November 2022

The poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) is the main pest of poultry, causing severe problems by being a vector of several animal and human pathogens. The number of miticides is few, and their efficacy in practice implies problems of residues and resistance; therefore, the demand for a new and safe agent is constant. The present publication investigated the effectiveness of lithium chloride under in vitro conditions on poultry red mites. This chemical currently appears to be one of the most promising alternatives to study amongst potential applicants to treat varroosis, a fatal disease of honey bees. In Experiment I, the previously used experimental doses (5.52 M, 2.76 M, 1.38 M) on Varroa mites confirmed their in vitro activity on the poultry red mite. Three event times (uncontrolled movement, immobilisation and death) were recorded to base the response to treatment for each concentration. In Experiment II, the LD 50 value was calculated, i.e., the value at which 50% of the mites were killed by the treatment. This Experiment showed that the LD50 of lithium chloride = 0.265 M in the poultry red mite. It is to note that the study remained restricted to in vitro confirmation of lithium chloride’s effectiveness on the parasite. Thus, further extensive studies are needed to decide whether it has any relevance in practice against D. gallinae, and also to assess potential residue problems that could affect poultry products.
Platelet-Derived Biomarkers: Potential Role in Early Pediatric Serious Bacterial Infection and Sepsis Diagnostics
Authors: Pociute Aiste , Kottilingal Farook Muhammed Fazil , Dagys Algirdas , Kevalas Rimantas , Laucaityte Goda , Jankauskaite Lina
Published: November 2022

Fever is the most common complaint of children who are attending a pediatric emergency department (PED). Most of the fever cases are of viral origin; however, the most common markers, such as leucocyte, neutrophil count, or C-reactive protein, are not sensitive or specific enough to distinguish the etiology of fever, especially if children present at the early phase of infection. Currently, platelets have been attributed a role as important sentinels in viral and bacterial infection pathogenesis. Thus, our aim was to analyze different platelet indices, such as PNLR (platelet-to-neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio), PNR (platelet-to-neutrophil ratio) as well as specific secreted proteins, such as sP-selectin, CXCL4, CXCL7, and serotonin. We included 68 children who were referred to PED with the early onset of fever (<12 h). All children with comorbidities, older than five years, and psychiatric diseases, who refused to participate were excluded. All the participants were divided into viral, bacterial, or serious bacterial infection (SBI) groups. All the children underwent blood sampling, and an additional sample was collected for protein analysis. Our analysis revealed statistically significant differences between leucocyte, neutrophil, and CRP levels between SBI and other groups. However, leucocyte and neutrophil counts were within the age norms. A higher PNLR value was observed in a bacterial group, PNR-in viral. As we tested CXCL7 and sP-selectin, alone and together those markers were statistically significant to discriminate SBI and sepsis from other causes of infection. Together with tachypnoe and SpO2 < 94%, it improved the prediction value of sepsis as well as SBI. CXCL4 and serotonin did not differ between the groups. Concluding, CXCL7 and sP-selectin showed promising results in early SBI and sepsis diagnosis.
Management of Anesthesia and Perioperative Procedures in a Child with Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency
Authors: Cicvarić Ana , Glavaš Tahtler Josipa , Vukoja Vukušić Tea , Bekavac Ivančica , Kvolik Slavica
Published: November 2022

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is an enzyme that helps red blood cells work properly; it participates in the production of antioxidants and helps to defend cells against oxidative damage. With all this in mind, patients with G6PD deficiency may be very sensitive and vulnerable to different oxidative stressors, because they can cause some serious medical conditions of which hemolytic anemia is common in adults and severe jaundice in newborns. The most common triggers of hemolysis in G6PD deficiency are infections, medications, metabolic conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis, hypothermia, and a very important item—surgical stress. During the operative period, the anesthetic goal is to reduce stress and monitor if the hemolysis occurs, and of course, treat it if it occurs. In our case, the combination of sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia with the addition of sufentanil proved to be safe and effective in the management of a child with G6PD deficiency.
Validation Criteria for PETCO2 Kinetics during the Hyperventilation Provocation Test in the Diagnosis of Idiopathic Hyperventilation Syndrome
Authors: Pauwen Nathalie Yaël , Faoro Vitalie , Boucharessas Françoise , Colot Thierry , Guillaume Alexis , Sergysels Roger , Ninane Vincent
Published: November 2022

Background: The hyperventilation provocation test (HPTest) is a diagnostic tool for idiopathic hyperventilation syndrome (HVS), encountered in some long-COVID patients. However, interpretation of the HPTest remains unclear regarding the relevant PETCO2 values to focus on and whether subjective symptoms should be considered. This study aimed to re-evaluate objective HPTest results for diagnosing HVS by determining accurate PETCO2 kinetics in two groups of patients previously screened via the Nijmegen questionnaire (NQ). Methods: The kinetics of PETCO2 during the HPTest were mathematically modeled and compared between 37 HVS patients (NQ ≥23/64) and 37 healthy controls (NQ <23/64) matched for gender, age, and body dimensions. AUC values with sensitivity and specificity were calculated, and analysis was monitored in a validation cohort of 152 routine HPTests. Results: A threshold value of a less than 12.8 mmHg increment of PETCO2 at the 5th minute of the recovery phase of the HPTest diagnosed HVS patients with excellent sensitivity (0.92) and specificity (0.84). These results were confirmed in the validation cohort, highlighting the presence of 24% false positives/negatives when diagnosing on the basis of complaints in the NQ. Conclusions: For HVS diagnosis, we suggest considering the HPTest, which can more reliably reflect the mechanisms of CO2 homeostasis and the response of the respiratory center to a stimulus, regardless of the subjective onset of symptoms.
Selective Enhancing Blood Flow in Solid Tumor Tissue Is the Key for Achieving Satisfactory Delivery and Therapeutic Outcome of Nanodrugs via the EPR Effect
Authors: Wu Jun
Published: November 2022

The enhanced permeability and retention effect (EPR effect) is a crucial phenomenon for understanding the pathophysiological characteristics of blood vasculature and microenvironments in solid tumors. It is also an essential concept for designing anticancer drugs that can be selectively delivered into tumor tissue via the unique extravasation and retention mechanism for macromolecular drugs. As tumor vasculature is highly heterogeneous, the intensities of the EPR effect vary according to the types and locations of solid tumors in different species. However, the EPR effect is universally observed in a broad spectrum of solid tumors in human cancer as well as experimental animal tumor models. The matter is how to utilize the EPR effect for drug design and clinical application. Many hypotheses were proposed and tested to enhance the EPR effect in solid tumors in order to increase the efficacy of drug delivery. However, we should focus on increasing the blood flow in tumors so that more drugs can be perfused and accumulated inside tumor tissue and execute anticancer activities. Angiotensin II co-administration and the approach of intratumor arterial infusion should be considered to achieve selective tumor tissue perfusion for nanodrugs.
Spatial Patterns and Intensity of Land Abandonment Drive Wildfire Hazard and Likelihood in Mediterranean Agropastoral Areas
Authors: Salis Michele , Del Giudice Liliana , Jahdi Roghayeh , Alcasena-Urdiroz Fermin , Scarpa Carla , Pellizzaro Grazia , Bacciu Valentina , Schirru Matilde , Ventura Andrea , Casula Marcello , Pedes Fabrizio , Canu Annalisa , Duce Pierpaolo , Arca Bachisio
Published: November 2022

In Mediterranean agropastoral areas, land abandonment is a key driver of wildfire risk as fuel load and continuity increase. To gain insights into the potential impacts of land abandonment on wildfire risk in fire-prone areas, a fire-spread modeling approach to evaluate the variations in wildfire potential induced by different spatial patterns and percentages of land abandonment was applied. The study was carried out in a 1200 km2 agropastoral area located in north-western Sardinia (Italy) mostly covered by herbaceous fuels. We compared nine land abandonment scenarios, which consisted of the control conditions (NA) and eight scenarios obtained by combining four intensity levels (10, 20, 30, 40%) and two spatial patterns of agropastoral land abandonment. The abandonment scenarios hypothesized a variation in dead fuel load and fuel depth within abandoned polygons with respect to the control conditions. For each abandonment scenario, wildfire hazard and likelihood at the landscape scale was assessed by simulating over 17,000 wildfire seasons using the minimum travel time (MTT) fire spread algorithm. Wildfire simulations replicated the weather conditions associated with the largest fires observed in the study area and were run at 40 m resolution, consistent with the input files. Our results highlighted that growing amounts of land abandonment substantially increased burn probability, high flame length probability and fire size at the landscape level. Considering a given percentage of abandonment, the two spatial patterns of abandonment generated spatial variations in wildfire hazard and likelihood, but at the landscape scale the average values were not significantly different. The average annual area burned increased from about 2400 ha of the control conditions to about 3100 ha with 40% land abandonment. The findings of this work demonstrate that a progressive abandonment of agropastoral lands can lead to severe modifications in potential wildfire spread and behavior in Mediterranean areas, thus promoting the likelihood of large and fast-spreading events. Wildfire spread modeling approaches allow us to estimate the potential risks posed by future wildfires to rural communities, ecosystems and anthropic values in the context of land abandonment, and to adopt and optimize smart prevention and planning strategies to mitigate these threats.
Comparative Study of Tribological Properties of Modified and Non-modified Graphene-Oil Nanofluids under Heated and Non-heated Conditions
Authors: Ng Kean Pin , Liew Kia Wai , Lim Elaine
Published: November 2022

With the aim of achieving more effective friction and wear reduction in sliding bearing applications, surface-modified graphene, which exhibits better dispersion stability than non-modified graphene, was synthesized and applied in this study using various graphene allotropes, including graphene nanoplatelets (GNP), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and nanostructured graphite (NSG). Friction and wear tests of each type of graphene allotrope under modified and non-modified conditions were studied using a pin-on-ring tribo tester. In addition, the dynamic viscosity of each synthesized nanofluid sample was measured using a falling-ball viscometer. A series of modified graphene-oil nanofluids and non-modified graphene-oil nanofluids were prepared and heated before their friction and wear performance was investigated at room temperature. Friction and wear behavior, as well as the dynamic viscosity of the heated nanofluids vary insignificantly when compared to those of the non-heated nanofluids. The results showed that the best friction and wear reduction was achieved by modified GNP with friction and wear reduction of 60.5% and 99.4%, respectively.
Elevated Strain Rate Characterization of Compression Molded Direct/In-Line Compounded Carbon Fibre/Polyamide 66 Long Fibre Thermoplastic
Authors: Bondy Matthew , Mohammadkhani Pouya , Magliaro John , Altenhof William
Published: November 2022

Compression molded direct compounded carbon fibre D-LFT was evaluated at quasi-static strain rates through uniaxial tension tests (including a specimen size study) and a variation of the ISO 6603-2 puncture test. No significant size effects were observed for the modulus or strength obtained from tensile specimens with four gauge lengths (6.25 mm to 57 mm). Failure strain decreased by 27.5%/29.9%, respectively, across the gauge length range for the 0°/90° directions. Intermediate strain rate (10 s−1 to 200 s−1) characterization was completed through uniaxial tension tests on a novel apparatus and ISO 6603-2 puncture tests. Intermediate rate tensile tests showed minimal rate sensitivity for the 0°/90° directions. Initial stiffness was 50% higher for ISO 6603-2 impact tests compared to quasi-static tests. Displacement at the onset of fracture was 95% lower for impact tests compared to quasi-static loading. The peak force/displacement at peak force were reduced for impact tests (21% and 20%, respectively) compared to quasi-static testing.
Solid State Joining of a Cold Rolled Zr-Based Bulk Metallic Glass to a Wrought Aluminum Alloy by Power Ultrasonics
Authors: Becker Michael , Kuball Alexander , Ghavimi Amirhossein , Adam Bastian , Busch Ralf , Gallino Isabella , Balle Frank
Published: November 2022

Ultrasonic metal welding (UMW) enables joining in the solid state at relative low temperatures with short cycle times. This technique is of particular interest for joining metallic glasses to each other or to other materials, because crystallization of the amorphous structure can be prevented due to the low thermal loading and the rapidity of the process. In this work, UMW is applied to join one 1 mm thick sheet of a commercial wrought aluminum alloy (AA5754) and one 0.4 mm thick strip of a commercial Zr-based bulk metallic glass (AMZ4). The introduced heat of the welding process is detected with thermocouples and thermal imaging. To investigate the strength of the joint and the influence on the microstructure, mechanical tensile tests are carried out in combination with scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The results show that ultrasonic metal welding is a suitable technique to join amorphous bulk metallic glasses to crystalline aluminum alloys. The metallic glass component retains its amorphous structure in the joint, and the joint strength is higher than the strength of the Al sheet. These findings will help to develop future applications of BMG-based multi-material components, including medical tools.
Thermochemical Study of CH3NH3Pb(Cl1−xBrx)3 Solid Solutions
Authors: Mazurin Maxim , Shelestova Angelika , Tsvetkov Dmitry , Sereda Vladimir , Ivanov Ivan , Malyshkin Dmitry , Zuev Andrey
Published: November 2022

Hybrid organic–inorganic perovskite halides, and, in particular, their mixed halide solid solutions, belong to a broad class of materials which appear promising for a wide range of potential applications in various optoelectronic devices. However, these materials are notorious for their stability issues, including their sensitivity to atmospheric oxygen and moisture as well as phase separation under illumination. The thermodynamic properties, such as enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy of mixing, of perovskite halide solid solutions are strongly required to shed some light on their stability. Herein, we report the results of an experimental thermochemical study of the CH3NH3Pb(Cl1−xBrx)3 mixed halides by solution calorimetry. Combining these results with molecular dynamics simulation revealed the complex and irregular shape of the compositional dependence of the mixing enthalpy to be the result of a complex interplay between the local lattice strain, hydrogen bonds, and energetics of these solid solutions.
Screening for New Cosmeceuticals from Brown Algae Fucus vesiculosus with Antioxidant and Photo-Protecting Properties
Authors: Hermund Ditte B. , Torsteinsen Hanna , Vega Julia , Figueroa Félix L. , Jacobsen Charlotte
Published: November 2022

Phlorotannins play a role in biological functions to protect the cells against UV and oxidative damage in brown algae. We hypothesized that these compounds can function as photo-protectors and antioxidants in skin care formulations. Two types of extracts (water (FV-WE) and 67% v/v ethanol (FV-EE)) from Fucus vesiculosus were obtained with a phlorotannin content between 7−14% in dry extract. Exposure to sun light during growth was included as a factor on the phlorotannin content but did not influence the phlorotannin content. However, green colored F. vesiculosus had lower total phenolic content (TPC) (FV-WE = 6.9 g GAE 100 g−1 dw, FV-EE = 7.8 g GAE 100 g−1 dw) compared to those with a yellow/brownish color (FV-WE = 10.4–13.7 g GAE 100 g−1 dw, FV-EE = 11.2–14.0 g GAE 100 g−1 dw). UVA and UVB photo protective capabilities of the extracts through different biological effective protection factors (BEPFs) were evaluated using in vitro methods; the Mansur method for sun protection factor (SPF) and calculation of effective solar absorption radiation (%ESAR) to determine SPF and UVA protection factor (UVA-PF) of the extract and in seaweed enriched lotion. The SPF was negligible, when evaluating FV-WE in lotion (10 and 20% w/w). Moreover, %ESAR of the FV-WE showed SPF and some UVA-PF, but not enough to give sufficient SPF in lotions (10% w/w). It was concluded that the concentration of UV protecting compounds in the extracts was too low to and that further fractionation and purification of phlorotannins is needed to increase the SPF.
A Machine Learning Model to Predict Length of Stay and Mortality among Diabetes and Hypertension Inpatients
Authors: Barsasella Diana , Bah Karamo , Mishra Pratik , Uddin Mohy , Dhar Eshita , Suryani Dewi Lena , Setiadi Dedi , Masturoh Imas , Sugiarti Ida , Jonnagaddala Jitendra , Syed-Abdul Shabbir
Published: November 2022

Background and Objectives: Taiwan is among the nations with the highest rates of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and Hypertension (HTN). As more cases are reported each year, there is a rise in hospital admissions for people seeking medical attention. This creates a burden on hospitals and affects the overall management and administration of the hospitals. Hence, this study aimed to develop a machine learning (ML) model to predict the Length of Stay (LoS) and mortality among T2DM and HTN inpatients. Materials and Methods: Using Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), this cohort study consisted of 58,618 patients, where 25,868 had T2DM, 32,750 had HTN, and 6419 had both T2DM and HTN. We analyzed the data with different machine learning models for the prediction of LoS and mortality. The evaluation was done by plotting descriptive statistical graphs, feature importance, precision-recall curve, accuracy plots, and AUC. The training and testing data were set at a ratio of 8:2 before applying ML algorithms. Results: XGBoost showed the best performance in predicting LoS (R2 0.633; RMSE 0.386; MAE 0.123), and RF resulted in a slightly lower performance (R2 0.591; RMSE 0.401; MAE 0.027). Logistic Regression (LoR) performed the best in predicting mortality (CV Score 0.9779; Test Score 0.9728; Precision 0.9432; Recall 0.9786; AUC 0.97 and AUPR 0.93), closely followed by Ridge Classifier (CV Score 0.9736; Test Score 0.9692; Precision 0.9312; Recall 0.9463; AUC 0.94 and AUPR 0.89). Conclusions: We developed a robust prediction model for LoS and mortality of T2DM and HTN inpatients. Linear Regression showed the best performance for LoS, and Logistic Regression performed the best in predicting mortality. The results showed that ML algorithms can not only help healthcare professionals in data-driven decision-making but can also facilitate early intervention and resource planning.
Cellulose Nanofibers Derived Surface Coating in Enhancing the Dye Removal with Cellulosic Ultrafiltration Membrane
Authors: Soto-Salcido Luis A. , Anugwom Ikenna , Mänttäri Mika , Kallioinen-Mänttäri Mari
Published: November 2022

Commercially available ultrafiltration membranes were coated with cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) produced from softwood pulp by a two-step process: a non-derivatizing DES treatment and a simple mechanical treatment (high-speed homogenization and sonification). The CNFs coating aimed at enhancement of the removal of methylene blue (MB) from water and was investigated at different concentrations of the coating, quantified in grams of CNFs per square meter of the membrane (1.3, 6.5, 13, and 19.5 g/m2). The pure water permeability (PWP) was unaffected up to the concentration of 6.5 g/m2 but the dye retention increased approximately 2.5-fold. Even higher improvement of MB removal, about 4-fold, was observed when 19.5 g/m2 were used, however, the pure water permeability also decreased by about 30%. In addition, it was proved that the coating can be removed and created again several times which shows that the concept could be used to improve the retention of organic compounds when high permeability membranes are used.
Densification and Proton Conductivity of La1-xBaxScO3-δ Electrolyte Membranes
Authors: Lesnichyova Alyona , Belyakov Semyon , Stroeva Anna , Petrova Sofia , Kaichev Vasiliy , Kuzmin Anton
Published: November 2022

Bain La1-xBaxScO3-δ impairs sintering and leads to a decrease in its ceramic density. Two approaches have been studied for obtaining dense ceramics: using a high processing temperature and the introduction of a Co3O4 sintering additive. An addition of only 0.5 wt% of Co3O4 sintering additive, despite the positive sintering effect, causes a noticeable violation of stoichiometry, with partial decomposition of the material. This can lead to the formation of cationic vacancies, which form associates with oxygen vacancies and significantly reduce the oxygen ion and proton conductivity of the materials. There is also a partial substitution of Co for Sc in La1-xBaxScO3-δ, which reduces the stability of protons: it reduces the enthalpy of the hydration reaction, but increases the mobility of protons. Thus, the Co3O4 sintering additive causes a complex of negative effects on the conductivity of La1-xBaxScO3-δ materials. Only high-temperature (1800 °C) processing with protection against Ba loss contributes to the production of dense La1-xBaxScO3-δ ceramics. The chemical composition of such ceramics corresponds well to the specified one, which ensures high water uptake and, consequently, high proton conductivity.
Vitamin B6 Inhibits High Glucose-Induced Islet β Cell Apoptosis by Upregulating Autophagy
Authors: Zhang Yu , Zhou Xi-an , Liu Chuxin , Shen Qingwu , Wu Yanyang
Published: November 2022

Vitamin B6 may alleviate diabetes by regulating insulin secretion and increasing insulin sensitivity, but its mechanism remains to be explored. In this study, vitamin B6-mediated autophagy and high glucose-induced apoptosis were tested to investigate the mechanism by which vitamin B6 regulates insulin release. The results showed that 20 mM glucose increased the apoptosis rate from 10.39% to 22.44%. Vitamin B6 reduced the apoptosis rate of RIN-m5F cells from 22.44% to 11.31%. Our data also showed that the vitamin B6 content in processed eggs was decreased and that the hydrothermal process did not affect the bioactivity of vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 increased the number of autophagosomes and the ratio of autophagosome marker protein microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta to microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 alpha (LC3-II/LC3-I). It also decreased the amount of sequetosome 1 (SQSTM1/p62) and inhibited the phosphorylation of p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) under normal and high glucose stress. Another study showed that vitamin B6 inhibited the apoptosis rate, whereas the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) blocked the protective effect of vitamin B6 against apoptosis induced by high glucose. The hydrothermal process decreased the vitamin B6 content in eggs but had no effect on the cytoprotective function of vitamin B6 in RIN-m5f cells. In conclusion, we demonstrated that vitamin B6-mediated autophagy protected RIN-m5f cells from high glucose-induced apoptosis might via the mTOR-dependent pathway. Our data also suggest that low temperatures and short-term hydrothermal processes are beneficial for dietary eggs.
Butin Mitigates Memory Impairment in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Responses
Authors: Omer Asma B. , Dalhat Mahmood Hassan , Khan Mohammad Kaleem , Afzal Obaid , Altamimi Abdulmalik S. A. , Alzarea Sami I. , Almalki Waleed Hassan , Kazmi Imran
Published: November 2022

It has been reported from the previous literature that butin restores mitochondrial dysfunction by modulation of oxidative stress and glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in mouse hippocampus HT22 cells. Butin also possesses an anti-Huntington’s effect in rats. Considering the current background, this study was designed to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of butin against memory loss caused by streptozotocin (STZ). STZ (40 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected into rats. Three days later, diabetic rats were identified and included in the study. A total of 30 rats (12 nondiabetic and 18 diabetics) were grouped as Group A (control-non-diabetic rats) and Group B (STZ diabetic control) were treated with 1 mL of sodium CMC (0.5% w/v). Group C (STZ+ butin 25) were treated with butin 25 mg/kg. Group D (STZ+ butin 50) and Group E (butin per se) were administered with butin 50 mg/kg. Each therapy was administered orally once each day for 15-day. The Morris water maze and the Y-maze behavioural tests were run throughout the experimental programme. Animals were put to death on day 15 and their brains were removed for biochemical assays (CAT, SOD, GSH, MDA, nitrite, acetylcholinesterase (AchE), IL-1, and mitochondrial enzyme complexes). Rats with neurobehavioral impairments brought on by STZ have less spontaneous movement, learning capacity, and memory. Additionally, STZ decreased endogenous antioxidants and increased pro-inflammatory cytokines, nitrite, MDA, and AchE. Neurobehavioral deficits and metabolic markers were dramatically improved by butin.
Airline Point-of-Care System on Seat Belt for Hybrid Physiological Signal Monitoring
Authors: Ji Xiaoqiang , Rao Zhi , Zhang Wei , Liu Chang , Wang Zimo , Zhang Shuo , Zhang Butian , Hu Menglei , Servati Peyman , Xiao Xiao
Published: November 2022

With a focus on disease prevention and health promotion, a reactive and disease-centric healthcare system is revolutionized to a point-of-care model by the application of wearable devices. The convenience and low cost made it possible for long-term monitoring of health problems in long-distance traveling such as flights. While most of the existing health monitoring systems on aircrafts are limited for pilots, point-of-care systems provide choices for passengers to enjoy healthcare at the same level. Here in this paper, an airline point-of-care system containing hybrid electrocardiogram (ECG), breathing, and motion signals detection is proposed. At the same time, we propose the diagnosis of sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) on flights as an application of this system to satisfy the inevitable demands for sleeping on long-haul flights. The hardware design includes ECG electrodes, flexible piezoelectric belts, and a control box, which enables the system to detect the original data of ECG, breathing, and motion signals. By processing these data with interval extraction-based feature selection method, the signals would be characterized and then provided for the long short-term memory recurrent neural network (LSTM-RNN) to classify the SAHS. Compared with other machine learning methods, our model shows high accuracy up to 84–85% with the lowest overfit problem, which proves its potential application in other related fields.
Combining Rare Earth Element Analysis and Chemometric Method to Determine the Geographical Origin of Nephrite
Authors: Su Yue , Yang Mingxing
Published: November 2022

Nephrite is a high-valued gem material, whose geographical origin determination is a topic of interest to both consumers and producers since the geographic origin determines its price and reputation. In the present study, we suggest a two-step method for discriminating geographical origins of nephrite based on the rare earth element (REE) contents combined with chemometrics. In the first step, the REE contents of nephrite samples were determined by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), combined with previously reported data—the chondrite-normalized REE distribution pattern; the REE parameters of nephrite samples from six origins, namely Xinjiang, Qinghai, Russia, Guangxi, Guizhou, and Liaoning were then compared. In the second step, origin discriminant models were established by linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and the accuracy of the model was evaluated by leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV). The results showed that the REE contents were significantly different among the six nephrite origins with regional characteristics, which makes it possible to trace the origin. Using chondrite-normalized REE distribution patterns, the six nephrite origins can be divided into three separate groups: Xinjiang−Qinghai−Russia, Luodian−Dahua, and Xiuyan. Xiuyan nephrite can be directly distinguished from the other origins due to its unique REE distribution pattern. In the second step, the LDA discrimination models were performed on the remaining two groups. For the Luodian−Dahua group, the accuracy of the original classification and LOOCV were 97.9% and 85.4%, which indicated REE combined with LDA could effectively identify Luodian nephrite and Dahua nephrite. For the Xinjiang−Qinghai−Russia group, the accuracy of the original classification and LOOCV was 74.1% and 63.9%, respectively. Overall, this work proves that a combination of REE analysis and chemometrics has a certain feasibility and broad application prospects for geographical origin, and the same methodology can be applied to study the origin of other gem materials.
Experimental and Theoretical Studies of the Optical Properties of the Schiff Bases and Their Materials Obtained from o-Phenylenediamine
Authors: Barwiolek Magdalena , Jankowska Dominika , Kaczmarek-Kędziera Anna , Wojtulewski Slawomir , Skowroński Lukasz , Rerek Tomasz , Popielarski Paweł , Muziol Tadeusz M.
Published: November 2022

Two macrocyclic Schiff bases derived from o-phenylenediamine and 2-hydroxy-5-methylisophthalaldehyde L1 or 2-hydroxy-5-tert-butyl-1,3-benzenedicarboxaldehyde L2, respectively, were obtained and characterized by X-ray crystallography and spectroscopy (UV-vis, fluorescence and IR). X-ray crystal structure determination and DFT calculations for compounds confirmed their geometry in solution and in the solid phase. Moreover, intermolecular interactions in the crystal structure of L1 and L2 were analyzed using 3D Hirshfeld surfaces and the related 2D fingerprint plots. The 3D Hirschfeld analyses show that the most numerous interactions were found between hydrogen atoms. A considerable number of such interactions are justified by the presence of bulk tert-butyl groups in L2. The luminescence of L1 and L2 in various solvents and in the solid state was studied. In general, the quantum efficiency between 0.14 and 0.70 was noted. The increase in the quantum efficiency with the solvent polarity in the case of L1 was observed (λex = 350 nm). For L2, this trend is similar, except for the chloroform. In the solid state, emission was registered at 552 nm and 561 nm (λex = 350 nm) for L1 and L2, respectively. Thin layers of the studied compounds were deposited on Si(111) by the spin coating method or by thermal vapor deposition and studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), spectroscopic ellipsometry and fluorescence spectroscopy. The ellipsometric analysis of thin materials obtained by thermal vapor deposition showed that the band-gap energy was 3.45 ± 0.02 eV (359 ± 2 nm) and 3.29 ± 0.02 eV (377 ± 2 nm) for L1/Si and L2/Si samples, respectively. Furthermore, the materials of the L1/Si and L2/Si exhibited broad emission. This feature can allow for using these compounds in LED diodes.
Development of a Functional Cookie Formulated with Chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Mill.) I.M. Johnst) and Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus)
Authors: Avila-Nava Azalia , Alarcón-Telésforo Sayuri L. , Talamantes-Gómez José Moisés , Corona Luis , Gutiérrez-Solis Ana Ligia , Lugo Roberto , Márquez-Mota Claudia C.
Published: November 2022

Chaya and amaranth are Mexican traditional foods with a high nutritional value. Many studies have demonstrated the individual beneficial effect of each. However, there is no evidence of the use of these foods on the formulation of functional foods. This study evaluated the effect of replacing 5–20% of wheat flour with chaya and amaranth flours to generate four different formulations of cookies. Proximal analysis, total polyphenols and oxalate content, antioxidant activity, fatty acid profile, and sensory analysis were performed on the cookies. The results of the chemical composition showed that all cookies have a high protein content (9.21–10.10%), an adequate amount of fiber (5.34–6.63%), and a balanced ratio of unsaturated–saturated fatty acids (70:20), and they contain PUFAs (50.4–53.2 g/100 g of fatty acids), especially α-linolenic and oleic acids. All formulations presented antioxidant activity (2540 ± 65.9 to 4867 ± 61.7 Trolox equivalents (μmoles/100 g)) and polyphenols (328–790 mg/100 g); in particular, quercetin was identified in their composition. Results of the sensory analysis indicated that incorporation of chaya and amaranth flour in cookies does not affect the acceptability of the products. The inclusion of traditional foods, such as chaya and amaranth, in cookies enhances their nutritional value and increases the content of bioactive compounds associated with health effects.
Phytochemistry and Antioxidant Activities of the Rhizome and Radix of Millettia speciosa Based on UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS
Authors: Zhang Jianguang , Wang Junjun , Wang Yue , Chen Ming , Shi Xuemin , Zhou Xiaoping , Zhang Zhifeng
Published: November 2022

The root of Millettia speciosa Champ. (MSCP) is used in folk medicine and is popular as a soup ingredient. The root is composed of the rhizome and radix, but only the radix has been used as a food. Thus, it is very important to compare the chemical components and antioxidant activities between the rhizome and radix. The extracts were analyzed by UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS and multivariate analysis, and the antioxidant activities were evaluated by 2,20-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazo-line-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays. Ninety-one compounds were detected simultaneously and temporarily identified. Ten compounds were identified as chemical markers to distinguish the rhizome from the radix. The antioxidant activities of the radix were higher than the rhizome. Correlation analysis showed that uvaol-3-caffeate, 3-O-caffeoyloleanolic acid, and khrinone E were the main active markers for antioxidant activity, which allowed for the rapid differentiation of rhizomes and the radix. Therefore, it could be helpful for future exploration of its material base and bioactive mechanism. In addition, it would be considered to be used as a new method for the quality control of M. speciosa.
Characterization and Authentication of “Ricotta” Whey Cheeses through GC-FID Analysis of Fatty Acid Profile and Chemometrics
Authors: Biancolillo Alessandra , Reale Samantha , Foschi Martina , Bertini Emanuele , Antonelli Lavinia , D’Archivio Angelo Antonio
Published: November 2022

The fatty acid (FA) profiles of 240 samples of ricotta whey cheese made from sheep, goat, cow, or water buffalo milk were analyzed by gas-chromatography (GC). Then, sequential preprocessing through orthogonalization (SPORT) was used in order to classify samples according to the nature of the milk they were made from. This strategy achieved excellent results, correctly classifying 77 (out of 80) validation samples. Eventually, since 36 (over 114) sheep ricotta whey cheeses were PDO products, a second classification problem, finalizing the discrimination of PDO and Non-PDO dairies, was faced. In this case, two classifiers were used, SPORT and soft independent modelling by class analogy (SIMCA). Both approaches provided more than satisfying results; in fact, SPORT properly assigned 63 (of 65) test samples, whereas the SIMCA model accepted 14 PDO individuals over 15 (93.3% sensitivity) and correctly rejected all the other samples (100.0% specificity). In conclusion, all the tested approaches resulted as suitable for the two fixed purposes. Eventually, variable importance in projection (VIP) analysis was used to understand which FAs characterize the different categories of ricotta. Among the 22 analyzed compounds, about 10 are considered the most relevant for the solution of the investigated problems.
High Catalytic Efficiency of a Nanosized Copper-Based Catalyst for Automotives: A Physicochemical Characterization
Authors: Soto Beobide Amaia , Moschovi Anastasia M. , Mathioudakis Georgios N. , Kourtelesis Marios , Lada Zoi G. , Andrikopoulos Konstantinos S. , Sygellou Labrini , Dracopoulos Vassilios , Yakoumis Iakovos , Voyiatzis George A.
Published: November 2022

The global trend in restrictions on pollutant emissions requires the use of catalytic converters in the automotive industry. Noble metals belonging to the platinum group metals (PGMs, platinum, palladium, and rhodium) are currently used for autocatalysts. However, recent efforts focus on the development of new catalytic converters that combine high activity and reduced cost, attracting the interest of the automotive industry. Among them, the partial substitution of PGMs by abundant non-PGMs (transition metals such as copper) seems to be a promising alternative. The PROMETHEUS catalyst (PROM100) is a polymetallic nanosized copper-based catalyst for automotives prepared by a wet impregnation method, using as a carrier an inorganic mixed oxide (CeO2-ZrO2) exhibiting elevated oxygen storage capacity. On the other hand, catalyst deactivation or ageing is defined as the process in which the structure and state of the catalyst change, leading to the loss of the catalyst’s active sites with a subsequent decrease in the catalyst’s performance, significantly affecting the emissions of the catalyst. The main scope of this research is to investigate in detail the effect of ageing on this low-cost, effective catalyst. To that end, a detailed characterization has been performed with a train of methods, such as SEM, Raman, XRD, XRF, BET and XPS, to both ceria–zirconia mixed inorganic oxide support (CZ-fresh and -aged) and to the copper-based catalyst (PROM100-fresh and -aged), revealing the impact of ageing on catalytic efficiency. It was found that ageing affects the Ce–Zr mixed oxide structure by initiating the formation of distinct ZrO2 and CeO2 structures monitored by Raman and XRD. In addition, it crucially affects the morphology of the sample by reducing the surface area by a factor of nearly two orders of magnitude and increasing particle size as indicated by BET and SEM due to sintering. Finally, the Pd concentration was found to be considerably reduced from the material’s surface as suggested by XPS data. The above-mentioned alterations observed after ageing increased the light-off temperatures by more than 175 °C, compared to the fresh sample, without affecting the overall efficiency of the catalyst for CO and CH4 oxidation reactions. Metal particle and CeZr carrier sintering, washcoat loss as well as partial metal encapsulation by Cu and/or CeZrO4 are identified as the main causes for the deactivation after hydrothermal ageing.