bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Effects of Microgravity on Activated Primary Human Hepatic Stellate Cells
Authors: Fujisawa Koichi , Nishimura Yuto , Sakuragi Akino , Duponselle Jolien , Matsumoto Toshihiko , Yamamoto Naoki , Murata Tomoaki , Sakaida Isao , Takami Taro
Published: July 2022

In recent years, research has been conducted to develop new medical treatments by simulating environments existing in space, such as zero-gravity. In this study, we evaluated the cell proliferation and gene expression of activated primary human hepatic stellate cells (HHSteCs) under simulated microgravity (SMG). Under SMG, cell proliferation was slower than in 1 G, and the evaluation of gene expression changes on day 1 of SMG by serial analysis of gene expression revealed the presence of Sirtuin, EIF2 signaling, hippo signaling, and epithelial adherence junction signaling. Moreover, reactive oxygen species were upregulated under SMG, and when N-acetyl-cystein was added, no difference in proliferation between SMG and 1 G was observed, suggesting that the oxidative stress generated by mitochondrial dysfunction caused a decrease in proliferation. Upstream regulators such as smad3, NFkB, and FN were activated, and cell-permeable inhibitors such as Ly294002 and U0126 were inhibited. Immunohistochemistry performed to evaluate cytoskeletal changes showed that more β-actin was localized in the cortical layer under SMG.
The Contribution of the Minimal Promoter Element to the Activity of Synthetic Promoters Mediating CAR Expression in the Tumor Microenvironment
Authors: Greenshpan Yariv , Sharabi Omri , Yegodayev Ksenia M. , Novoplansky Ofra , Elkabets Moshe , Gazit Roi , Porgador Angel
Published: July 2022

Harnessing immune effector cells to benefit cancer patients is becoming more and more prevalent in recent years. However, the increasing number of different therapeutic approaches, such as chimeric antigen receptors and armored chimeric antigen receptors, requires constant adjustments of the transgene expression levels. We have previously demonstrated it is possible to achieve spatial and temporal control of transgene expression as well as tailoring the inducing agents using the Chimeric Antigen Receptor Tumor Induced Vector (CARTIV) platform. Here we describe the next level of customization in our promoter platform. We have tested the functionality of three different minimal promoters, representing three different promoters’ strengths, leading to varying levels of CAR expression and primary T cell function. This strategy shows yet another level of CARTIV gene regulation that can be easily integrated into existing CAR T systems.
Furcellaran Surface Deposition and Its Potential in Biomedical Applications
Authors: Štěpánková Kateřina , Ozaltin Kadir , Pelková Jana , Pištěková Hana , Karakurt Ilkay , Káčerová Simona , Lehocky Marian , Humpolicek Petr , Vesel Alenka , Mozetic Miran
Published: July 2022

Surface coatings of materials by polysaccharide polymers are an acknowledged strategy to modulate interfacial biocompatibility. Polysaccharides from various algal species represent an attractive source of structurally diverse compounds that have found application in the biomedical field. Furcellaran obtained from the red algae Furcellaria lumbricalis is a potential candidate for biomedical applications due to its gelation properties and mechanical strength. In the present study, immobilization of furcellaran onto polyethylene terephthalate surfaces by a multistep approach was studied. In this approach, N-allylmethylamine was grafted onto a functionalized polyethylene terephthalate (PET) surface via air plasma treatment. Furcellaran, as a bioactive agent, was anchored on such substrates. Surface characteristics were measured by means of contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Subsequently, samples were subjected to selected cell interaction assays, such as antibacterial activity, anticoagulant activity, fibroblasts and stem cell cytocompatibility, to investigate the Furcellaran potential in biomedical applications. Based on these results, furcellaran-coated PET films showed significantly improved embryonic stem cell (ESC) proliferation compared to the initial untreated material.
Codon Usage Provides Insights into the Adaptive Evolution of Mycoviruses in Their Associated Fungi Host
Authors: Wang Qianqian , Lyu Xueliang , Cheng Jiasen , Fu Yanping , Lin Yang , Abdoulaye Assane Hamidou , Jiang Daohong , Xie Jiatao
Published: July 2022

Codon usage bias (CUB) could reflect co-evolutionary changes between viruses and hosts in contrast to plant and animal viruses, and the systematic analysis of codon usage among the mycoviruses that infect plant pathogenic fungi is limited. We performed an extensive analysis of codon usage patterns among 98 characterized RNA mycoviruses from eight phytopathogenic fungi. The GC and GC3s contents of mycoviruses have a wide variation from 29.35% to 64.62% and 24.32% to 97.13%, respectively. Mycoviral CUB is weak, and natural selection plays a major role in the formation of mycoviral codon usage pattern. In this study, we demonstrated that the codon usage of mycoviruses is similar to that of some host genes, especially those involved in RNA biosynthetic process and transcription, suggesting that CUB is a potential evolutionary mechanism that mycoviruses adapt to in their hosts.
Overexpression of UBA5 in Cells Mimics the Phenotype of Cells Lacking UBA5
Authors: Kumari Sujata , Banerjee Sayanika , Kumar Manoj , Hayashi Arata , Solaimuthu Balakrishnan , Cohen-Kfir Einav , Shaul Yoav D. , Rouvinski Alexander , Wiener Reuven
Published: July 2022

Ufmylation is a posttranslational modification in which the modifier UFM1 is attached to target proteins. This conjugation requires the concerted work of three enzymes named UBA5, UFC1, and UFL1. Initially, UBA5 activates UFM1 in a process that ends with UFM1 attached to UBA5’s active site Cys. Then, in a trans-thiolation reaction, UFM1 is transferred from UBA5 to UFC1, forming a thioester bond with the latter. Finally, with the help of UFL1, UFM1 is transferred to the final destination—a lysine residue on a target protein. Therefore, not surprisingly, deletion of one of these enzymes abrogates the conjugation process. However, how overexpression of these enzymes affects this process is not yet clear. Here we found, unexpectedly, that overexpression of UBA5, but not UFC1, damages the ability of cells to migrate, in a similar way to cells lacking UBA5 or UFC1. At the mechanistic level, we found that overexpression of UBA5 reverses the trans-thiolation reaction, thereby leading to a back transfer of UFM1 from UFC1 to UBA5. This, as seen in cells lacking UBA5, reduces the level of charged UFC1 and therefore harms the conjugation process. In contrast, co-expression of UBA5 with UFM1 abolishes this effect, suggesting that the reverse transfer of UFM1 from UFC1 to UBA5 depends on the level of free UFM1. Overall, our results propose that the cellular expression level of the UFM1 conjugation enzymes has to be tightly regulated to ensure the proper directionality of UFM1 transfer.
The First Approved COVID-19 Vaccines: The Road to Cancer Vaccines
Authors: Saldanha Leonor , Vale Nuno
Published: July 2022

In the past decade, mRNA vaccines have been highly discussed as a promising therapy for cancer. With the pandemic of COVID-19, some researchers redirected their studies to the development of a new vaccine for COVID-19 due to the urgent need. With the pandemic’s deceleration due to the vaccines’ success, the research and development of mRNA vaccines have turned to cancer again. Considering the new evidence and results generated by the vaccination of millions of people with mRNA vaccines, this article intends to provide a perspective on how the results from COVID-19 vaccination could now provide new insights for the development of an mRNA cancer vaccine. Many lessons were learned, and new evidence is available to re-focus and enhance the potential of the mRNA technology to cancer. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna’s mRNA technologies, and their significant advancements, allowed mRNA to overcome many of the challenges and blockers related to this platform in the past, now providing a new breadth of hope on using the mRNA technology to treat many diseases, namely cancer. This study also reports a better understanding of how it was possible to boost an accelerated development process of COVID-19 vaccines from a regulatory point of view. It is also relevant to consider other synergies and factors that contributed to gathering all the conditions ensuring the development of these vaccines in such a short period. Suppose the same efforts from all stakeholders could be applied to the development of new cancer vaccines, aligned now with the new scientific evidence generated from the current mRNA vaccines for COVID-19. In that case, mRNA cancer vaccines are near, and a new era for cancer treatment is about to begin.
Autopsy and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Image Case of Bevacizumab-Related Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Hashimoto Naoki , Kitano Daisuke , Tamaki Takehiro , Koyama Yutaka , Yamada Akimasa , Hatakeyama Kinta , Hao Hiroyuki , Okumura Yasuo
Published: July 2022

We report an autopsy case of a 69-year-old female with cervical cancer. She was given bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy for 4 months. After two years of chemotherapy, she developed congestive heart failure (CHF) with left ventricular dysfunction. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging revealed late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) of linear mid-wall delayed enhancement located in the basal to the mid-septal wall, suggesting bevacizumab-related cardiotoxicity. Although she was treated with cardioprotective medications and discharged, she eventually died from worsening CHF a year later, and we conducted an autopsy. Histopathological examination revealed diffuse fibrosis in the myocardium, and the area where LGE was present on CMR showed thinning and wavy changes in cardiomyocytes with diffuse interstitial fibrosis and edema.
Neonatal Deletion of Hand1 and Hand2 within Murine Cardiac Conduction System Reveals a Novel Role for HAND2 in Rhythm Homeostasis
Authors: George Rajani M. , Guo Shuai , Firulli Beth A. , Rubart Michael , Firulli Anthony B.
Published: July 2022

The cardiac conduction system, a network of specialized cells, is required for the functioning of the heart. The basic helix loop helix factors Hand1 and Hand2 are required for cardiac morphogenesis and have been implicated in cardiac conduction system development and maintenance. Here we use embryonic and post-natal specific Cre lines to interrogate the role of Hand1 and Hand2 in the function of the murine cardiac conduction system. Results demonstrate that loss of HAND1 in the post-natal conduction system does not result in any change in electrocardiogram parameters or within the ventricular conduction system as determined by optical voltage mapping. Deletion of Hand2 within the post-natal conduction system results in sex-dependent reduction in PR interval duration in these mice, suggesting a novel role for HAND2 in regulating the atrioventricular conduction. Surprisingly, results show that loss of both HAND factors within the post-natal conduction system does not cause any consistent changes in cardiac conduction system function. Deletion of Hand2 in the embryonic left ventricle results in inconsistent prolongation of PR interval and susceptibility to atrial arrhythmias. Thus, these results suggest a novel role for HAND2 in homeostasis of the murine cardiac conduction system and that HAND1 loss potentially rescues the shortened HAND2 PR phenotype.
Understanding System Complexity in the Non-Destructive Testing of Advanced Composite Products
Authors: Gandhi Nikita , Rose Rob , Croxford Anthony J. , Ward Carwyn
Published: July 2022

Non-destructive testing (NDT) is a quality control measure designed to ensure the safety of products according to established variability thresholds. With the development of advanced technologies and a lack of formalised knowledge of the state-of-the-art, the National Composites Centre, Bristol, has identified that the increasing complexity of composite products will lead to some severe inspection challenges. To address the apparent knowledge gap and understand system complexity, a formulaic approach to introduce intelligence and improve the robustness of NDT operations is presented. The systemic development of a high-fidelity knowledge base (KB) involves the establishment of a capability matrix that maps material, component, and defect configuration to the capabilities and limitations of selected detection methods. Population and validation are demonstrated through the experimental testing of reference standards and evaluated against an assessment criteria. System complexity in ultrasonic testing operations focusses on capturing the inherent risks in inspection and the designation of evidence-based path plans for automation platforms. Anticipated deployment of the validated applicability data within the KB will allow for road-mapping of the inspection technique development and will provide opportunities for knowledge-based decision making. Moreover, the KB highlights the need for Design for Inspection, providing measurable data that the methodology should not be ignored.
Modeling, Control and Experiments of a Novel Underwater Vehicle with Dual Operating Modes for Oceanographic Observation
Authors: Cao Junjun , Lin Rui , Yao Baoheng , Liu Chunhu , Zhang Xiaochao , Lian Lian
Published: July 2022

Multifarious and continuous oceanographic observation data is of considerable significance to oceanographic research and military application. In this paper, a novel oceanographic observation method with dual-modal underwater vehicle able to switch between the Argo and Glider modes is proposed and is studied experimentally in the South China Sea. Using the Newton–Euler formulation, a complete dynamic model considering the variation in gravity/buoyancy due to mode switching is thus established. Then, based on Lyapunov stability criterion, a nonlinear adaptive inverse controller with multiple inputs and multiple outputs is developed which enables the observation platform to freely switch between various modes. By analyzing the numerical and experimental data of a single mode, the results demonstrate that the proposed method can supplement the observation data and improve the accuracy of oceanographic data. Finally, based on experimental data acquired by the dual-modal underwater vehicle in the South China Sea, three-dimensional regional oceanic temperature and salinity fields are constructed with the spatio-temporal Kriging method, and feature surfaces are extracted from the oceanic fields. Furthermore, the proposed method can be applied in other stirring dynamic regions, such as ocean eddies, ocean fronts, filaments, etc.
Phylogenetic Analysis of Trichoderma Species Associated with Green Mold Disease on Mushrooms and Two New Pathogens on Ganoderma sichuanense
Authors: An Xiao-Ya , Cheng Guo-Hui , Gao Han-Xing , Li Xue-Fei , Yang Yang , Li Dan , Li Yu
Published: July 2022

Edible and medicinal mushrooms are extensively cultivated and commercially consumed around the world. However, green mold disease (causal agent, Trichoderma spp.) has resulted in severe crop losses on mushroom farms worldwide in recent years and has become an obstacle to the development of the Ganoderma industry in China. In this study, a new species and a new fungal pathogen on Ganoderma sichuanense fruitbodies were identified based on the morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of two genes, the translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1) and the second-largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2) genes. The new species, Trichoderma ganodermatigerum sp. nov., belongs to the Harzianum clade, and the new fungal pathogen was identified as Trichoderma koningiopsis. Furthermore, in order to better understand the interaction between Trichoderma and mushrooms, as well as the potential biocontrol value of pathogenic Trichoderma, we summarized the Trichoderma species and their mushroom hosts as best as possible, and the phylogenetic relationships within mushroom pathogenic Trichoderma species were discussed.
Electronic Surveillance in Court Proceedings and in the Execution of Criminal Penalties: Legislative and Logistical Steps Regarding Operationalising the Electronic Monitoring Information System (EMIS) in Romania
Authors: Bostan Ionel
Published: July 2022

The latest innovations in the field of electronics and telecommunications have revolutionised and brought new dimensions to human activities. As well as in other sectors, we observe that a wide range of electronic means have also shown their utility in criminal justice. Undergoing continuous development, these means ensure efficient monitoring of subjects and contribute to higher efficiency of judiciary systems, and provide “more humane” conditions compared with traditional incarceration for offenders when they execute criminal penalties. In this context, this study discussed the main challenges faced by Romania in implementing electronic monitoring (EM) devices in court proceedings and in the execution of criminal penalties. These have been researched from different perspectives, including those related to the current legal framework, opportunities provided by today’s developments in electronics, and in terms of financial public resources allocated for such purposes. Our study is among the few articles published on this topic and it brings to light both the advantages of introducing the Electronic Monitoring Information System (EMIS) in Romania, as well as the limitations, and overviews the international experience in this area by assessing the measures that have been taken so far worldwide to implement EMIS effectively. The final part of the paper presents the study conclusions, its limitations, and future lines of research.
Prospective Role of Bioactive Molecules and Exosomes in the Therapeutic Potential of Camel Milk against Human Diseases: An Updated Perspective
Authors: Khan Farheen Badrealam , Ansari Mohammad Azam , Uddin Shahab , Palakott Abdul Rasheed , Anwar Irfa , Almatroudi Ahmad , Alomary Mohammad N. , Alrumaihi Faris , Aba Alkhayl Faris F. , Alghamdi Saad , Muhammad Khalid , Huang Chih-Yang , Daddam Jayasimha Rayalu , Khan Haroon , Maqsood Sajid , Ayoub Mohammed Akli
Published: July 2022

Camel milk (CM) constitutes an important dietary source in the hot and arid regions of the world. CM is a colloidal mixture of nutritional components (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, and minerals) and non-nutritional components (hormones, growth factors, cytokines, immunoglobulins, and exosomes). Although the majority of previous research has been focused on the nutritional components of CM; there has been immense interest in the non-nutritional components in the recent past. Reckoning with these, in this review, we have provided a glimpse of the recent trends in CM research endeavors and attempted to provide our perspective on the therapeutic efficacy of the nutritional and non-nutritional components of CM. Interestingly, with concerted efforts from the research fraternities, convincing evidence for the better understanding of the claimed traditional health benefits of CM can be foreseen with great enthusiasm and is indeed eagerly anticipated.
2,4-Diamino-5-(5-amino-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-5H-chromeno[2,3-b]pyridine-3-carbonitrile
Authors: Ryzhkova Yuliya E. , Elinson Michail N.
Published: July 2022

The one-pot synthesis methodology has become the leading atom-economical approach for various chemical transformations in a single pot, without purifying intermediate compounds. Chromeno[2,3-b]pyridines are an important class of heterocyclic compounds with versatile biological profiles and other different applications The 5-aminopyrazole system represents a significant heterocyclic template that has gained considerable interest because of its long history of use in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. In this communication, the one-pot transformation of salicylaldehyde, malononitrile dimer, and 2-cyanoacetohydrazide in an ethanol/pyridine mixture was investigated to provide 2,4-diamino-5-(5-amino-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-5H-chromeno[2,3-b]pyridine-3-carbonitrile in good yield. The structure of the novel compound was confirmed by means of elemental analysis, mass-, nuclear magnetic resonance, and infrared spectroscopy.
Cobalt Oxide Synthesis via Flame Spray Pyrolysis as Anode Electrocatalyst for Alkaline Membrane Water Electrolyzer
Authors: Pozio Alfonso , Bozza Francesco , Lisi Nicola , Chierchia Rosa , Migliorini Francesca , Dondè Roberto , De Iuliis Silvana
Published: July 2022

Nanostructured cobalt oxide powders as electro catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in an alkaline membrane electrolysis cell (AME) were prepared by flame spray synthesis (FS); an AME’s anode was then produced by depositing the FS prepared cobalt oxide powders on an AISI-316 sintered metal fiber by the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method. FS powders and the composite electrode were characterized by SEM, XRD, and XPS analysis. The electrode showed an increase in the OER catalytic activity in a KOH 0.5 M solution with respect to commercial materials commonly applied in alkaline electrolysis, demonstrating that the flame spray synthesis of nanoparticles combined with the electrophoretic deposition technique represent an effective methodology for producing an anodic catalyst for alkaline membrane electrolyzers.
Static Analysis of Skew Functionally Graded Plate Using Novel Shear Deformation Theory
Authors: Singh Jitendra , Kumar Ajay , Szafraniec Małgorzata , Barnat-Hunek Danuta , Sadowska-Buraczewska Barbara
Published: July 2022

In this article, the static response of a functionally graded material (FGM) plate is studied via hybrid higher-order shear deformation theory which uses hyperbolic and polynomial shape functions and includes the effect of thickness stretching. The composition of the plate comprises metallic and ceramic phases. The ceramic volume fraction varies gradually along with the thickness following the power law. The mechanical properties of the FGM plate are determined by the rule of mixtures and the Mori–Tanaka homogenization scheme. The displacement fields are defined to satisfy the requirement of traction-free boundary conditions at the bottom and top surfaces of the plate surface removing the need for determination of shear correction factor. A C0 continuity FE model is developed for the present mathematical model. Nine-node isoparametric elements with eight nodal unknowns at each node are developed. The present model comparison with existing literature is completed and found to be coherent. Inhouse MATLAB code is developed for the present work. Sinusoidal and uniformly distributed loading is analyzed in the present work. The parametric study is undertaken to explore the effect of the side-to-thickness ratio, aspect ratio, thickness, and volume fraction index on stresses and transverse displacements.
Single Dense Layer of PEO Coating on Aluminum Fabricated by “Chain-like” Discharges
Authors: Zhu Liye , Zhang Wei , Liu Haitao , Liu Lei , Wang Fuhui , Qiao Ziping
Published: July 2022

Reducing the loose-layer-to-dense-layer ratio in PEO coatings on aluminum and its alloys is the key to improving their corrosion resistance and expanding their applications in the aerospace industry and other fields. In this paper, we describe the discharge evolution during the PEO process in exhaustive detail and report the appearance of a novel “chain-like” discharge for the first time. We investigated the microstructure and composition of PEO coatings using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and an X-ray diffractometer (XRD). The results reflected that the coating composition changed from amorphous Al2O3 to crystalline γ-Al2O3 and α-Al2O3 phases with the evolution of the plasma spark discharge state. We evaluated the electrochemical behavior of the coatings using a potentiodynamic polarization curve and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. Under “chain-like” discharge, the icorr of the coating on Al was 8.564 × 10–9 A∙cm−2, which was five orders of magnitude lower than that of the sample without the PEO coating. Moreover, we evaluated the adhesion strength of the coatings at different stages using a pull-off test. The adhesion strength of the PEO coatings at stage V reached 70 MPa. Furthermore, the high content of α-Al2O3 increased the hardness of the coating to 2000 HV. Therefore, the “chain-like” discharge promoted the formation of a single dense layer with 2.8% porosity and that demonstrated excellent properties. We also propose a mechanism to explain the influence of the plasma spark discharge state on the microstructure and composition of the PEO coatings.
Pressure-Induced Superconductivity of the Quasi-One-Dimensional Organic Conductor (TMTTF)2TaF6
Authors: Itoi Miho , Nakamura Toshikazu , Uwatoko Yoshiya
Published: July 2022

We investigated the superconductivity of (TMTTF)2TaF6 (TMTTF: tetramethyl-tetrathiafulvalene) by conducting resistivity measurements under high pressure up to 8 GPa. A cubic anvil cell (CAC) pressure generator, which can produce hydrostatic high-pressure, was used for this study. Since the generalized temperature-pressure (T-P) diagram of (TMTCF)2X (C = Se, S, X: monovalent anion) based on (TMTTF)2PF6 (TCO = 70 K and spin-Peierls: SP, TSP = 15 K) was proposed by Jérome, exploring superconductivity states using high-pressure measurement beyond 4 GPa has been required to confirm the universality of the electron-correlation variation under pressure in (TMTTF)2X (TMTTF)2TaF6, which has the largest octahedral-symmetry counter anion TaF6 in the (TMTTF)2X series, possesses the highest charge-ordering (CO) transition temperature (TCO = 175 K) in (TMTTF)2X and demonstrates an anti-ferromagnetic transition (TAF = 9 K) at ambient pressure. A superconducting state in (TMTTF)2TaF6 emerged after a metal-insulator transition was suppressed with increasing external pressure. We discovered a superconducting state in 5 ≤ P ≤ 6 GPa from Tc = 2.1 K to 2.8 K, whose pressure range is one-third narrower than that of X = SbF6 (5.4 ≤ P ≤ 9 GPa). In addition, when the pressures with maximum SC temperatures are compared between the PF6 and the TaF6 salts, we found that (TMTTF)2TaF6 has a 0.75 GPa on the negative pressure side in the T-P phase diagram of (TMTTF)2PF6.
Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Coated by Water Soluble Chitosan and Its Potency as Non-Alcoholic Hand Sanitizer Formulation
Authors: Wulandari Ika O. , Pebriatin Baiq E. , Valiana Vita , Hadisaputra Saprizal , Ananto Agus D. , Sabarudin Akhmad
Published: July 2022

The synthesis of silver nanoparticles using plant extracts, widely known as a green synthesis method, has been extensively studied. Nanoparticles produced through this method have applications as antibacterial agents. Bacterial and viral infection can be prevented by use of antibacterial agents such as soap, disinfectants, and hand sanitizer. Silver nanoparticles represent promising hand sanitizer ingredients due to their antibacterial activity and can enable reduced use of alcohol and triclosan. This study employed silver nanoparticles synthesized using Kepok banana peel extract (Musa paradisiaca L.). Nanoparticle effectiveness as a hand sanitizer can be enhanced by coating with a biocompatible polymer such as chitosan. The characterization of silver nanoparticles was conducted using UV-Vis, with an obtained peak at 434.5 nm. SEM-EDX analysis indicated nanoparticles with a spherical morphology. Silver nanoparticles coated with chitosan were characterized through FTIR to verify the attached functional groups. Gel hand sanitizers were produced using silver nanoparticles coated with different chitosan concentrations. Several tests were undertaken to determine the gel characteristics, including pH, syneresis, and antibacterial activity. Syneresis leads to unstable gels, but was found to be inhibited by adding chitosan at a concentration of 2%. Antibacterial activity was found to increase with increase in chitosan concentration.
Modelling the Condensation Process of Low-Pressure Refrigerants in Mini-Channels
Authors: Sikora Małgorzata , Bohdal Tadeusz
Published: July 2022

The measure of the energy efficiency of the non-adiabatic two-phase condensation process of refrigerants in mini-channels is both the value of the heat transfer coefficient α and the flow resistance expressing the external energy input required to realize the flow. The modelling of this very complex process is effective if the condensation mechanism in mini-channels is correctly identified. It has been proven that the effects of changes in the condensation mechanism are the different structures of the two-phase flow resulting from process interactions both in the channel cross-section and along the flow path. The research aimed to connect the value of the heat transfer coefficient with the flow structures occurring during condensation. Thermal and visualization studies of the condensation process of low-pressure refrigerants were carried out: Novec649, HFE7100 and HFE7000 in tubular mini-channels with diameters dh = 0.5; 0.8; 1.2; 2.0 mm. Based on visualization studies, flow structures were proposed to be divided into 3 main groups: dispersive, stratified and intermittent. Based on this, a computational correlation was derived for determining the heat transfer coefficient and frictional resistance depending on the type of flow structure. The research shows that the highest values of the heat transfer coefficient occur during the mist flow and the lowest during the bubble flow.
Mn-Containing Bioactive Glass-Ceramics: BMP-2-Mimetic Peptide Covalent Grafting Boosts Human-Osteoblast Proliferation and Mineral Deposition
Authors: Cassari Leonardo , Brun Paola , Di Foggia Michele , Taddei Paola , Zamuner Annj , Pasquato Antonella , De Stefanis Adriana , Valentini Veronica , Saceleanu Vicentiu Mircea , Rau Julietta V. , Dettin Monica
Published: July 2022

The addition of Mn in bioceramic formulation is gaining interest in the field of bone implants. Mn activates human osteoblast (h-osteoblast) integrins, enhancing cell proliferation with a dose-dependent effect, whereas Mn-enriched glasses induce inhibition of Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. In an effort to further optimize Mn-containing scaffolds’ beneficial interaction with h-osteoblasts, a selective and specific covalent functionalization with a bioactive peptide was carried out. The anchoring of a peptide, mapped on the BMP-2 wrist epitope, to the scaffold was performed by a reaction between an aldehyde group of the peptide and the aminic groups of silanized Mn-containing bioceramic. SEM-EDX, FT-IR, and Raman studies confirmed the presence of the peptide grafted onto the scaffold. In in vitro assays, a significant improvement in h-osteoblast proliferation, gene expression, and calcium salt deposition after 7 days was detected in the functionalized Mn-containing bioceramic compared to the controls.
Dielectric Function and Magnetic Moment of Silicon Carbide Containing Silicon Vacancies
Authors: Kukushkin Sergey A. , Osipov Andrey V.
Published: July 2022

In this work, silicon carbide layers containing silicon vacancies are grown by the Method of Coordinated Substitution of Atoms (MCSA). The main idea of this fundamentally new method is that silicon vacancies are first created in silicon, which is much simpler, and only then is silicon converted into silicon carbide by chemical reaction with carbon monoxide. The dielectric function of silicon carbide containing silicon vacancies, grown on both n- and p-type silicon substrates, is measured for the first time. The density functional method in the spin-polarized approximation is used to calculate the dielectric function of silicon carbide containing silicon vacancies. It is shown that the influence of the magnetic moment of vacancies on the dielectric function is decisive. Qualitative correspondence of the computational model to the obtained experimental data is demonstrated. It is discovered that silicon vacancies make silicon carbide much less transparent. It is shown that the imaginary part of the dielectric function is described as a sum of oscillatory peaks in the form of the Gaussian functions. Vacancies lead, as a rule, to one or two additional peaks. According to the amplitude and position of the additional peaks, it is possible to qualitatively estimate the concentration of vacancies and their charge.
Silver Nanostructured Substrates in LDI-MS of Low Molecular Weight Compounds
Authors: Sagandykova Gulyaim , Piszczek Piotr , Radtke Aleksandra , Mametov Radik , Pryshchepa Oleksandra , Gabryś Dorota , Kolankowski Mateusz , Pomastowski Paweł
Published: July 2022

Mass spectrometric techniques can provide data on the composition of a studied sample, utilizing both targeted and untargeted approaches to solve various research problems. Analysis of compounds in the low mass range has practical implications in many areas of research and industry. Laser desorption ionization techniques are utilized for the analysis of molecules in a low mass region using low sample volume, providing high sensitivity with low chemical background. The fabrication of substrates based on nanostructures to assist ionization with well-controlled morphology may improve LDI-MS efficiency for silver nanoparticles with plasmonic properties. In this work, we report an approach for the preparation of silver nanostructured substrates applied as laser desorption ionization (LDI) plates, using the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique. Depending on the mass of used CVD precursor, the approach allowed the synthesis of LDI plates with tunable sensitivity for various low molecular weight compounds in both ion-positive and ion-negative modes. Reduced chemical background and sensitivity to small biomolecules of various classes (fatty acids, amino acids and water-soluble metabolites) at nanomolar and picomolar detection levels for lipids such as triacylglycerols, phosphatidylethanolamines and lyso-phosphatidylcholines represent an emerging perspective for applications of LDI-MS plates for the collection of molecular profiles and targeted analysis of low molecular weight compounds for various purposes.
Fractal Permeability Model of Newtonian Fluids in Rough Fractured Dual Porous Media
Authors: Yang Shanshan , Wang Mengying , Zheng Sheng , Zeng Shuguang , Gao Ling
Published: July 2022

Based on the statistical self-similar fractal characteristics of the microstructure of porous media, the total flow rate and permeability of Newtonian fluids in the rough fracture network and rough matrix pores are derived, respectively. According to the connection structure between fractures and pores, the permeability analysis model of fluids in a matrix-embedded fracture network is established. The comparison between the predicted values of the model and the experimental data shows that the predicted values of the permeability of the rough fracture network and the rough matrix pores decrease with the increase in the relative roughness of the fractures and matrix pores, and are lower than the experimental data. Meanwhile, the predicted total flow rate of a rough fractured dual porous media is lower than that of a smooth fractal model and experimental data. In addition, it is also found that the larger the average inclination angle and the relative roughness of the fracture network, the smaller the permeability of the fractured dual porous media, and the relative roughness of the fracture network has a far greater influence on fluid permeability in the fractured dual porous media than the relative roughness of the matrix pores.
Mechanism of Bonding Reactive Dyes with Copolymer (chloromethyl)oxirane-1H-imidazole cationised Cellulose
Authors: Pruś Stanisław , Kulpiński Piotr , Matyjas-Zgondek Edyta , Wojciechowski Krzysztof
Published: July 2022

Introducing the cellulose chain cationic groups in the modification process completely changes the charge on the cotton surface from negative to partially or totally positive. That allows the electrostatic attraction and simultaneous exhaustion and fixation of reactive dyes. This reaction can be carried out without salt and alkali at room temperature. Similarly, the reaction between reactive dye and an alone copolymer ([IME]+Cl−) with TLC chromatography was confirmed. The analysis with the use of particle optimisation with MM+ molecular mechanics and quantum-chemical calculations PM3 by the method of all valence orbitals confirmed the experimental results of the high activity of the nucleophile formed on the hydroxyl group in the chain of a modifier. It was found and experimentally confirmed that the reactive dyes during the dyeing process of the cotton cationised with copolymer (chloromethyl)oxirane -1H-imidazole ([IME]+Cl−) create covalent bonds due to a reaction with the hydroxyl group located in the modification agent instead of with the hydroxyl group in the glucopiranose ring. Although the dyeing takes place in very mild conditions, a high degree of setting is achieved, comparable to conventional methods.
Assessment of Pozzolanic Activity of Ground Scoria Rocks under Low- and High-Pressure (Autoclave) Steam Curing
Authors: Fares Galal , Alhozaimy Abdulrahman M.
Published: July 2022

Two sources of natural scoria rocks were procured and ground for use in concrete as natural pozzolans (NP1 and NP2). The evaluation of their pozzolanic reactivity is carried out using different techniques and approaches. The primary goal of employing these techniques is to monitor the amount of portlandite (CH=Ca(OH)2) consumed during steam curing at low or high pressure. The pozzolanicity of NP powders is determined either directly by monitoring CH variation or indirectly by compressive strength and microstructure development. Autoclave curing is known to stimulate the pozzolanicity of the inert siliceous and aluminosiliceous materials under its high-pressure steam conditions. Both steam-curing conditions were applied in this investigation. In this study, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, thermogravimetric, Fourier transform infrared, and isothermal analyzers were used. It is concluded that the nature and types of minerals in SR determine their pozzolanic reactivity as either low-pressure steam-reactive or high-pressure steam-reactive cementitious materials. Due to the nature of their silicate structures, notably single-chain or 3D-framework structures, plagioclase feldspars (albite-anorthite) minerals are high-pressure steam-reactive minerals, whereas pyroxene (enstatite and diopside) minerals are low-pressure steam-reactive minerals. Using high-pressure steam curing, varied replacement levels of up to 60% were achieved in NP1, with a consistent strength activity index (SAI) of 99%, while an SAI of 79% was obtained with NP2. During low-pressure steam curing, NP1 and NP2 consumed around 72 and 80% of portlandite, respectively, demonstrating their relative pozzolanic reactivity. When compared to the control concrete mix, the strength activity indices of NP1, NP2, and class F fly ash in their normal concrete mixes reached 74.3, 82, and 73.7%, respectively, after 56 days of normal curing conditions.
Evaluation of the Shear Bond Strength of Four Bioceramic Materials with Different Restorative Materials and Timings
Authors: Alqahtani Abeer S. , Sulimany Ayman M. , Alayad Abdullah S. , Alqahtani Abdulaziz S. , Bawazir Omar A.
Published: July 2022

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the shear bond strength (SBS) of a resin composite (RC) and a resin-modified glass ionomer (RMGI) to four different bioceramic materials and to compare the effects of the immediate vs. delayed placement of restoration on the SBS. A total of 160 Teflon blocks and 40 blocks/material, were randomly filled with one of the bioceramic materials (NeoPUTTY®, NeoMTA2®, TotalFill® BC RRM™ Fast Set Putty, and ProRoot® MTA). The restoration was performed immediately or in a delayed time frame (after 7 days) using a Filtek™ Z350 XT Flowable composite (bonded to the bioceramic materials using Single bond universal 3M) or GC Fuji II LC® RMGI. The SBS test was performed at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min, and the failure mode was evaluated under a digital microscope by one blinded examiner. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the Games–Howell post hoc test was used to compare the mean SBS between the groups. The mean SBS of the bioceramic materials to RC was significantly higher than to RMGI except for ProRoot MTA (p-value 0.65). The SBS values to RC were as follows: ProRoot MTA (7.64 MPa); NeoMTA2 (8.57 MPa) which was significantly higher than both NeoPUTTY (4.04 MPa) and TotalFill® BC RRM™ Fast Set Putty (4.38 MPa). For RMGI groups, ProRoot MTA showed the highest SBS (7.18 MPa), followed by NeoMTA2 (4.15 MPa), NeoPUTTY (1.62 MPa), and TotalFill® BC RRM™ Fast Set Putty (1.54 MPa). The delayed timing restoration showed a significantly higher SBS than the immediate, except for the immediate RMGI restoration with MTA. To conclude, the SBS of RC to the bioceramic materials was significantly higher than RMGI, except for ProRoot MTA. Both restorative materials had a significantly higher SBS to the MTA groups in comparison to premixed bioceramics. Delayed RC restoration had a higher SBS than immediate restoration. Similarly, delayed RMGI restoration had a higher SBS than immediate restoration with premixed bioceramic but not with MTA.
Hardness Prediction of Laser Powder Bed Fusion Product Based on Melt Pool Radiation Intensity
Authors: Zhang Ting , Zhou Xin , Zhang Peiyu , Duan Yucong , Cheng Xing , Wang Xuede , Ding Guoquan
Published: July 2022

The quality stability and batch consistency of laser powder bed fusion products are key issues that must be solved in additive manufacturing. The melt pool radiation intensity data of laser powder bed fusion contain a significant amount of forming process information, and studies have shown that the analysis of melt pool radiation intensity using data-driven methods can achieve online quality judgment; however, there are still speed and accuracy problems. In this study, we propose a data-driven model for hardness predictions of laser powder bed fusion products based on process parameters fused with power spectrum features of melt pool intensity data, which quickly and accurately predicts the microhardness of laser powder bed fusion specimens and can make constructive guidance for closed-loop feedback quality regulation in practical production. The effects of three integrated learning models, Random Forest, XGBoost and LightGBM, are also compared. The results indicate that random forest has the highest prediction accuracy in this dataset; however, it has the limitation of slow training and prediction speeds. The LightGBM algorithm has the fastest training and prediction speeds, about 1.4% and 4.4% of the random forest, respectively; however, the prediction accuracy is lower than that of random forest and XGBoost. XGBoost has the best overall comparative performance with adequate training and prediction speeds, about 23.7% and 37.9% of the random forest, respectively, while ensuring a specified prediction accuracy, which is suitable for application in engineering practices.
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Intact, Defective and Repaired Countersunk Composite Joints under Tensile Loading
Authors: Huang Yongjie , Guan Zhidong , Yi Xian , Ni Zhangsong , Ouyang Tian , Li Zengshan
Published: July 2022

Bolted joints are commonly used for assembling carbon fiber/resin composite structures. Since drilling may generate defects at hole edges which affect mechanical properties, it is of great engineering significance to develop proper repair methods to restore the mechanical properties of the defective parts. However, there are few studies on hole edge defects and their repair methods. Therefore, a novelty short fiber filling repair method was proposed to repair defective holes in this study. The mechanical properties of intact, defective and repaired countersunk composite joints were compared and investigated. Experimental tensile tests showed that defective joints had lower initial stiffness and failure loads compared to intact joints, while the mechanical properties were effectively restored after repair. Three-dimensional finite element models were also established to analyze the damage process of the joints. Results of numerical modelling were consistent with the experimental results. The simulations showed that changes in contact behaviors and local deformations caused by hole edge defects led to the low initial stiffness and stiffness transition point of the joint, while this phenomenon was reduced after repair. Additionally, despite different joint types, laminate failure mainly occurred around the hole and countersink.
Do We Need a Specific Corpus and Multiple High-Performance GPUs for Training the BERT Model? An Experiment on COVID-19 Dataset
Authors: Nuntachit Nontakan , Sugunnasil Prompong
Published: July 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted daily lives around the globe. Since 2019, the amount of literature focusing on COVID-19 has risen exponentially. However, it is almost impossible for humans to read all of the studies and classify them. This article proposes a method of making an unsupervised model called a zero-shot classification model, based on the pre-trained BERT model. We used the CORD-19 dataset in conjunction with the LitCovid database to construct new vocabulary and prepare the test dataset. For NLI downstream task, we used three corpora: SNLI, MultiNLI, and MedNLI. We significantly reduced the training time by 98.2639% to build a task-specific machine learning model, using only one Nvidia Tesla V100. The final model can run faster and use fewer resources than its comparators. It has an accuracy of 27.84%, which is lower than the best-achieved accuracy by 6.73%, but it is comparable. Finally, we identified that the tokenizer and vocabulary more specific to COVID-19 could not outperform the generalized ones. Additionally, it was found that BART architecture affects the classification results.
Antioxidant Efficacy of a Spirulina Liquid Extract on Oxidative Stress Status and Metabolic Disturbances in Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Koite N’Deye Lallah Nina , Sanogo N’gouro Issa , Lépine Olivier , Bard Jean-Marie , Ouguerram Khadija
Published: July 2022

Lipid peroxidation is associated with the development of some pathologies, such as cardiovascular diseases. Reduction in oxidative stress by antioxidants, such as Arthrospira (formely Spirulina), helps improving this redox imbalance. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the Arthrospira liquid extract “Spirulysat®” on oxidative markers—in particular, oxidized LDL (oxLDL)/total LDL cholesterol—and isoprostanes and to investigate its impact on lipid and glucose metabolism in the metabolic syndrome subject. A controlled, randomised, double-blind design was conducted in 40 subjects aged 18 to 65 years with metabolic syndrome after a daily intake of Spirulysat® or placebo for twelve weeks. Blood and urinary samples were collected at three visits (V1, V2, V3) in the two groups for parameters determination. Although the Spirulysat® group showed a decrease at all visits of the oxLDL/total cholesterol ratio, there was no significant difference compared to the placebo (p = 0.36). The urinary isoprostanes concentration in the Spirulysat® group was reduced (p = 0.014) at V3. Plasma triglycerides decreased at V3 (p = 0.003) and HDL-cholesterol increased (p = 0.031) at all visits with Spirulysat®. In conclusion, Spirulysat® did not change the oxidized LDL (oxLDL)/LDL ratio but decreased the urinary isoprostanes, plasma triglycerides and increased HDL cholesterol, suggesting a beneficial effect on metabolic syndrome.