bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Amylase Levels Are Useful for Diagnosing Omphalomesenteric Cysts: A Case Report
Authors: Yoshizawa Hiroko , Terui Keita , Nakata Mitsuyuki , Mitsunaga Tetsuya , Komatsu Shugo , Saito Takeshi , Hishiki Tomoro
Published: March 2022

Omphalomesenteric cysts are an exceedingly rare type of embryologic remnant of the omphalomesenteric duct. Owing to its rarity and unspecific imaging findings, it is occasionally difficult to diagnose preoperatively. Herein, we report the case of a 15-month-old female with an omphalomesenteric cyst that presented as a painful abdominal mass. Imaging showed a 4 cm cystic lesion just beneath the umbilicus, which also contained a 1 cm enhanced lesion. On the immediate right side of this cyst, a 7 cm hematoma was found within the abdominal wall. Aspiration revealed bloody fluid with an amylase level of 38,250 U/L. She was then diagnosed with an omphalomesenteric cyst, with aberrant pancreas and associated hematoma of the abdominal wall. These findings were confirmed with laparotomy and subsequent pathological examinations. The high level of amylase in the cyst led us to speculate the existence of ectopic pancreatic tissue. Thus, amylase measurement may be considered for the diagnosis of an omphalomesenteric cyst.
Quality by Design Assisted Optimization of a Chiral Capillary Electrokinetic Chromatographic Method for the Separation of Amlodipine Enantiomers Using Maltodextrin as Chiral Selector
Authors: Ratih Ratih , Wätzig Hermann , Stein Matthias Oliver , El Deeb Sami
Published: March 2022

Analytical-method development based on design of experiment has been applied for optimizing the enantioseparation of amlodipine by chiral capillary electrokinetic chromatography using maltodextrin as the chiral selector. The effect of different factors on the enantioresolution quality was screened. Three separation factors, namely maltodextrin concentration, pH of the background electrolyte and applied voltage were selected as independent variables. The number of experiments was reduced while maximizing the information content using design of experiment. Based on a full-quadratic design that included three variables on three levels, the total design space could be reduced to fifteen factor combinations using a D-optimal algorithm. The aim of the experiment was to find the optimal factor combinations with respect to resolution. The maltodextrin concentration (7.5–10% w/v) demonstrated the strongest effect on the resolution followed by pH (2–4) of the background electrolyte and the applied voltage (15–20 kV). An increase in the maltodextrin concentration was found to result in a greater stereoselectivity, represented by the higher resolution values (Rs ≥ 1.5). The separation conditions in the proposed method were feasible to be adjusted within the applied range with an acceptable resolution.
α/β-Peptides as Nanomolar Triggers of Lipid Raft-Mediated Endocytosis through GM1 Ganglioside Recognition
Authors: Hetényi Anasztázia , Szabó Enikő , Imre Norbert , Bhaumik Kaushik Nath , Tököli Attila , Füzesi Tamás , Hollandi Réka , Horvath Peter , Czibula Ágnes , Monostori Éva , Deli Mária A. , Martinek Tamás A.
Published: March 2022

Cell delivery of therapeutic macromolecules and nanoparticles is a critical drug development challenge. Translocation through lipid raft-mediated endocytic mechanisms is being sought, as it can avoid rapid lysosomal degradation. Here, we present a set of short α/β-peptide tags with high affinity to the lipid raft-associated ganglioside GM1. These sequences induce effective internalization of the attached immunoglobulin cargo. The structural requirements of the GM1-peptide interaction are presented, and the importance of the membrane components are shown. The results contribute to the development of a receptor-based cell delivery platform.
Nanomaterials Aiming to Tackle Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
Authors: Munir Muhammad Usman , Ahmad Muhammad Masood
Published: March 2022

The global health of humans is seriously affected by the dramatic increases in the resistance patterns of antimicrobials against virulent bacteria. From the statements released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the world entering a post-antibiotic era, and forecasts about human mortality due to bacterial infection being increased compared to cancer, the current body of literature indicates that emerging tools such as nanoparticles can be used against lethal infections caused by bacteria. Furthermore, a different concept of nanomaterial-based methods can cope with the hindrance faced by common antimicrobials, such as resistance to antibiotics. The current review focuses on different approaches to inhibiting bacterial infection using nanoparticles and aiding in the fabrication of antimicrobial nanotherapeutics by emphasizing the functionality of nanomaterial surface design and fabrication for antimicrobial cargo.
Glycosylated Ang-(1-7) MasR Agonist Peptide Poly Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid (PLGA) Nanoparticles and Microparticles in Cognitive Impairment: Design, Particle Preparation, Physicochemical Characterization, and In Vitro Release
Authors: Encinas-Basurto David , Konhilas John P. , Polt Robin , Hay Meredith , Mansour Heidi M.
Published: March 2022

Heart failure (HF) causes decreased brain perfusion in older adults, and increased brain and systemic inflammation increases the risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Glycosylated Ang-(1-7) MasR agonists (PNA5) has shown improved bioavailability, stability, and brain penetration compared to Ang-(1-7) native peptide. Despite promising results and numerous potential applications, clinical applications of PNA5 glycopeptide are limited by its short half-life, and frequent injections are required to ensure adequate treatment for cognitive impairment. Therefore, sustained-release injectable formulations of PNA5 glycopeptide are needed to improve its bioavailability, protect the peptide from degradation, and provide sustained drug release over a prolonged time to reduce injection administration frequency. Two types of poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) were used in the synthesis to produce nanoparticles (≈0.769–0.35 µm) and microparticles (≈3.7–2.4 µm) loaded with PNA5 (ester and acid-end capped). Comprehensive physicochemical characterization including scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis, molecular fingerprinting spectroscopy, particle sizing, drug loading, encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro drug release were conducted. The data shows that despite the differences in the size of the particles, sustained release of PNA5 was successfully achieved using PLGA R503H polymer with high drug loading (% DL) and high encapsulation efficiency (% EE) of >8% and >40%, respectively. While using the ester-end PLGA, NPs showed poor sustained release as after 72 h, nearly 100% of the peptide was released. Also, lower % EE and % DL values were observed (10.8 and 3.4, respectively). This is the first systematic and comprehensive study to report on the successful design, particle synthesis, physicochemical characterization, and in vitro glycopeptide drug release of PNA5 in PLGA nanoparticles and microparticles.
Strategies to Improve Drug Strength in Nasal Preparations for Brain Delivery of Low Aqueous Solubility Drugs
Authors: Pires Patrícia C. , Rodrigues Márcio , Alves Gilberto , Santos Adriana O.
Published: March 2022

Intranasal administration is a promising route for brain drug delivery. However, it can be difficult to formulate drugs that have low water solubility into high strength intranasal solutions. Hence, the purpose of this work was to review the strategies that have been used to increase drug strength in intranasal liquid formulations. Three main groups of strategies are: the use of solubilizers (change in pH, complexation and the use cosolvents/surfactants); incorporation of the drugs into a carrier nanosystem; modifications of the molecules themselves (use of salts or hydrophilic prodrugs). The use of high amounts of cosolvents and/or surfactants and pH decrease below 4 usually lead to local adverse effects, such as nasal and upper respiratory tract irritation. Cyclodextrins and (many) different carrier nanosystems, on the other hand, could be safer for intranasal administration at reasonably high concentrations, depending on selected excipients and their dose. While added attributes such as enhanced permeation, sustained delivery, or increased direct brain transport could be achieved, a great effort of optimization will be required. On the other hand, hydrophilic prodrugs, whether co-administered with a converting enzyme or not, can be used at very high concentrations, and have resulted in a fast prodrug to parent drug conversion and led to high brain drug levels. Nevertheless, the choice of which strategy to use will always depend on the characteristics of the drug and must be a case-by-case approach.
The PIK3CA H1047R Mutation Confers Resistance to BRAF and MEK Inhibitors in A375 Melanoma Cells through the Cross-Activation of MAPK and PI3K–Akt Pathways
Authors: Candido Saverio , Salemi Rossella , Piccinin Sara , Falzone Luca , Libra Massimo
Published: March 2022

The targeting of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway in melanoma improves the prognosis of patients harbouring the V-Raf Murine Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homolog B1 (BRAF) mutation. However, a fraction of these patients may experience tumour progression due to resistance to targeted therapy. Mutations affecting the Phosphoinositol-3-Kinase (PI3K)–Akt pathway may favour the onset of drug resistance, suggesting the existence of a crosstalk between the MAPK and PI3K–Akt pathways. We hypothesized that the inhibition of both pathways may be a therapeutic option in resistant melanoma. However, conflicting data have been generated in this context. In this study, three different A375 cell melanoma models either overexpressing or not expressing the wild-type or mutated form of the PhosphatidylInositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-Kinase Catalytic Subunit Alpha (PIK3CA) gene were used to clarify the therapeutic response of melanoma to BRAF, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase 1 (MEK), and PI3K inhibitors in the presence of the PIK3CA H1047R mutation. Our data strongly support the notion that the crosstalk between the MAPK and PI3K–Akt pathways is one of the main mechanisms associated with melanoma development and progression and that the combination of MAPK and PI3K inhibitors may sensitize melanoma cells to therapy.
Prevalence and Severity of Potential Drug–Drug Interactions in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis with and without Polypharmacy
Authors: Bachmann Paula , Frahm Niklas , Debus Jane Louisa , Mashhadiakbar Pegah , Langhorst Silvan Elias , Streckenbach Barbara , Baldt Julia , Heidler Felicita , Hecker Michael , Zettl Uwe Klaus
Published: March 2022

Polypharmacy (PP) is a common problem in modern medicine, especially known to affect patients with chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). With an increasing number of drugs taken, the risk of potential drug–drug interactions (pDDIs) is rising. This study aims to assess the prevalence and clinical relevance of polypharmacy and pDDIs in patients with MS. Pharmacological data of 627 patients with MS were entered into two drug–drug-interaction databases to determine the number and severity of pDDIs for each patient. The patients were divided into those with and without PP (total PP and prescription medication PP (Rx PP)). Of the 627 patients included, 53.3% and 38.6% had total PP and Rx PP, respectively. On average, every patient took 5.3 drugs. Of all patients, 63.8% had at least one pDDI with a mean of 4.6 pDDIs per patient. Less than 4% of all pDDIs were moderately severe or severe. Medication schedules should be checked for inappropriate medication and for possible interacting drugs to prevent pDDIs. Physicians as well as pharmacists should be more sensitive towards the relevance of pDDIs and know how they can be detected and avoided.
Adaptability and Stability of Safflower Genotypes for Oil Production
Authors: de Oliveira Neto Sebastião Soares , Zeffa Douglas Mariani , Freiria Gustavo Henrique , Zoz Tiago , da Silva Carlos Jorge , Zanotto Maurício Dutra , Sobrinho Renato Lustosa , Alamri Saud A. , Okla Mohammad K. , AbdElgawad Hamada
Published: March 2022

The study aimed to analyze the agronomic performance of 11 safflower genotypes using adaptability and stability methods, while identifying safflower genotypes with stable behavior and a high grain yield in different environments of the Brazilian Cerrado. Ten lines and a cultivar of safflower were evaluated in four environments in the Brazilian conditions. Our results revealed the genotypes P30, P35, P9, P11, and P31 to be superior for grain yield and P43, P7, P11, and P31 to be superior for oil content. The lowest Wricke index, an indication of genotype stability, was observed for P9 (0.41%), which is considered the most stable genotype, followed by P35 (1.29%) and P31 (1.98%). For the predictability of the behavior of genotypes in the environments, P7 (80.85%), P35 (86.10%), P31 (85.90%), and P9 (97.42%) were considered predictable genotypes. The genotypes P11 (1045.6 kg ha−1 and 19.7%) and P21 (952.7 kg ha−1 and 20.6%) are recommended for cultivation in this region, considering both their grain yield and oil content. Safflower is viable to use out of season in the Brazilian Cerrado. The crop can generate profits for farmers and be used for oil production in periods of uncertain corn production.
Phosphorylation of CAD1, PLDdelta, NDT1, RPM1 Proteins Induce Resistance in Tomatoes Infected by Ralstonia solanacearum
Authors: Nounurai Prachumporn , Afifah Anis , Kittisenachai Suthathip , Roytrakul Sittiruk
Published: March 2022

Ralstonia solanacaerum is one of the most devastating bacteria causing bacterial wilt disease in more than 200 species of plants, especially those belonging to the family Solanaceae. To cope with this pathogen, plants have evolved different resistance mechanisms depending on signal transduction after perception. Phosphorylation is the central regulatory component of the signal transduction pathway. We investigated a comparative phosphoproteomics analysis of the stems of resistant and susceptible tomatoes at 15 min and 30 min after inoculation with Ralstonia solanacearum to determine the phosphorylated proteins involved in induced resistance. Phosphoprotein profiling analyses led to the identification of 969 phosphoproteins classified into 10 functional categories. Among these, six phosphoproteins were uniquely identified in resistant plants including cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase 1 (CAD1), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 18 (MAPKKK18), phospholipase D delta (PLDDELTA), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide transporter 1 (NDT1), B3 domain-containing transcription factor VRN1, and disease resistance protein RPM1 (RPM1). These proteins are typically involved in defense mechanisms across different plant species. qRT-PCR analyses were performed to evaluate the level of expression of these genes in resistant and susceptible tomatoes. This study provides useful data, leading to an understanding of the early defense mechanisms of tomatoes against R. solanacearum.
Thermal Properties and Dynamic Characteristics of Electrospun Polylactide/Natural Rubber Fibers during Disintegration in Soil
Authors: Tertyshnaya Yulia V. , Karpova Svetlana G. , Podzorova Maria V. , Khvatov Anatoliy V. , Moskovskiy Maksim N.
Published: March 2022

In this work, PLA/NR electrospun fibers were used as substrates for growing basil. Thermal characteristics of initial samples and after 60 and 220 days of degradation were determined using differential scanning calorimetry. In the process of disintegration, the melting and glass transition temperatures in PLA/NR composites decreased, and in PLA fibers these values increased slightly. TGA analysis in an argon environment confirmed the effect of NR on the thermal degradation of PLA/NR fibers. After exposure to the soil for 220 days, the beginning of degradation shifted to the low-temperature region. The dynamic characteristics of the fibers were determined by the EPR method. A decrease in the correlation time of the probe-radical in comparison with the initial samples was shown. FTIR spectroscopy was used to analyze the chemical structure before and after degradation in soil. In PLA/NR fibrous substrates, there was a decrease in the intensity of the bands corresponding to the PLA matrix and the appearance of N-H C-N groups due to biodegradation by soil microorganisms.
Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Perovskite Halide Materials for Photovoltaics towards Their Commercialization
Authors: Jonathan Luke , Diguna Lina Jaya , Samy Omnia , Muqoyyanah Muqoyyanah , Abu Bakar Suriani , Birowosuto Muhammad Danang , El Moutaouakil Amine
Published: March 2022

Hybrid organic–inorganic perovskite (HOIP) photovoltaics have emerged as a promising new technology for the next generation of photovoltaics since their first development 10 years ago, and show a high-power conversion efficiency (PCE) of about 29.3%. The power-conversion efficiency of these perovskite photovoltaics depends on the base materials used in their development, and methylammonium lead iodide is generally used as the main component. Perovskite materials have been further explored to increase their efficiency, as they are cheaper and easier to fabricate than silicon photovoltaics, which will lead to better commercialization. Even with these advantages, perovskite photovoltaics have a few drawbacks, such as their stability when in contact with heat and humidity, which pales in comparison to the 25-year stability of silicon, even with improvements are made when exploring new materials. To expand the benefits and address the drawbacks of perovskite photovoltaics, perovskite–silicon tandem photovoltaics have been suggested as a solution in the commercialization of perovskite photovoltaics. This tandem photovoltaic results in an increased PCE value by presenting a better total absorption wavelength for both perovskite and silicon photovoltaics. In this work, we summarized the advances in HOIP photovoltaics in the contact of new material developments, enhanced device fabrication, and innovative approaches to the commercialization of large-scale devices.
Adulterant Detection in Peppermint Oil by Means of Holographic Photopolymers Based on Composite Materials with Liquid Crystal
Authors: Miloua Wafaa , Ortuño Manuel , Navarro-Fuster Víctor , Beléndez Augusto , Pascual Inmaculada
Published: March 2022

Diffraction gratings are recorded in a holographic photopolymer containing nematic liquid crystal and peppermint oil. The presence of the oil modifies the polymerization and the holographic response. The composite containing oil adulterated with triethyl citrate obtains a diffraction efficiency related to the oil’s purity. The results obtained suggest the possibility of developing a holographic chemical analysis method for quality control of raw materials.
Compression Performance and Deformation Behavior of 3D-Printed PLA-Based Lattice Structures
Authors: Qin Dongxue , Sang Lin , Zhang Zihui , Lai Shengyuan , Zhao Yiping
Published: March 2022

The aim of this study is to fabricate biodegradable PLA-based composite filaments for 3D printing to manufacture bear-loading lattice structures. First, CaCO3 and TCP as inorganic fillers were incorporated into a PLA matrix to fabricate a series of composite filaments. The material compositions, mechanical properties, and rheology behavior of the PLA/CaCO3 and PLA/TCP filaments were evaluated. Then, two lattice structures, cubic and Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces-Diamond (TPMS-D), were geometrically designed and 3D-printed into fine samples. The axial compression results indicated that the addition of CaCO3 and TCP effectively enhances the compressive modulus and strength of lattice structures. In particular, the TPMS-D structure showed superior load-carrying capacity and specific energy absorption compared to those of its cubic counterparts. Furthermore, the deformation behavior of these two lattice structures was examined by image recording during compression and computed tomography (CT) scanning of samples after compression. It was observed that pore structure could be well held in TPMS-D, while that in cubic structure was destroyed due to the fracture of vertical struts. Therefore, this paper highlights promising 3D-printed biodegradable lattice structures with excellent energy-absorption capacity and high structural stability.
Konjac Glucomannan Induced Retarding Effects on the Early Hydration of Cement
Authors: Chen Yushan , Tang Pengfei , Zhong Chen , Liu Laibao , Zhang Yunsheng , Tang Youhong , Zhang Hongping
Published: March 2022

Customarily, retarders serve as the setting time regulators of cement-based composites to meet the demands of various construction environments. However, the limited ability to adjust the setting time restricts the application of polysaccharides in special environments. In this study, we reported a naturally high-efficiency retarder, konjac glucomannan (KGM), and studied the mechanism of its effect on the hydration of ordinary Portland cement. Incorporating KGM could significantly prolong cement hydration without strength damage. Furthermore, the active hydroxyl group (−OH, rich in KGM) could chelate with Ca2+ (released from cement hydration) to form a cross-linking network, which is adsorbed on the surface of cement clinker, thereby being conducive to delaying the process of cement hydration and reducing the heat of hydration. The findings of this study are critical to the ongoing efforts to develop polysaccharide-cement-based composite materials for application in various special environments.
Correction: Siddika et al. Waste Glass in Cement and Geopolymer Concretes: A Review on Durability and Challenges. Polymers 2021, 13, 2071
Authors: Siddika Ayesha , Hajimohammadi Ailar , Mamun Md. Abdullah Al , Alyousef Rayed , Ferdous Wahid
Published: March 2022

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]
Advanced Manufacturing in the Fabrication of a Lifelike Brain Glioblastoma Simulator for the Training of Neurosurgeons
Authors: Chen Pin-Chuan , Yang Yu-Wen , Lin Jang-Chun , Liu Wei-Hsiu
Published: March 2022

Neurosurgeons require considerable expertise and practical experience to deal with the critical situations commonly encountered in complex surgical operations such as cerebral cancer; however, trainees in neurosurgery seldom have the opportunity to develop these skills in the operating room. Physical simulators can give trainees the experience they require. In this study, we adopted advanced molding and replication techniques in the fabrication of a physical simulator for use in practicing the removal of cerebral tumors. Our combination of additive manufacturing and molding technology with elastic material casting made it possible to create a simulator that realistically mimics the skull, brain stem, soft brain lobes, and cerebral cancer with cerebral tumors located precisely where they are likely to appear. Multiple and systematic experiments were conducted to prove that the elastic material used herein was appropriated for building professional medical physical simulator. One neurosurgical trainee reported that under the guidance of a senior neurosurgeon, the physical simulator helped to elucidate the overall process of cerebral cancer removal and provided a realistic impression of the tactile feelings involved in craniotomy. The trainee also learned how to make decisions when facing the infiltration of a cerebral tumor into normal brain lobes. Our results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed physical simulator in preparing trainees for the rigors involved in performing highly delicate surgical operations.
Numerical Simulation on the Acoustic Streaming Driven Mixing in Ultrasonic Plasticizing of Thermoplastic Polymers
Authors: Wu Wangqing , Zou Yang , Wei Guomeng , Jiang Bingyan
Published: March 2022

The acoustic melt stream velocity field, total force, and trajectory of fluorescent particles in the plasticizing chamber were analyzed using finite element simulation to investigate the acoustic streaming and mixing characteristics in ultrasonic plasticization micro-injection molding (UPMIM). The fluorescence intensity of ultrasonic plasticized samples containing thermoplastic polymer powders and fluorescent particles was used to determine the correlation between UPMIM process parameters and melt mixing characteristics. The results confirm that the acoustic streaming driven mixing occurs in ultrasonic plasticization and could provide similar shear stirring performance as the screw in traditional extrusion/injection molding. It was found that ultrasonic vibrations can cause several melt vortices to develop in the plasticizing chamber, with the melt rotating around the center of the vortex. With increasing ultrasonic amplitude, the melt stream velocity was shown to increase while retaining the trace, which could be altered by modulating other parameters. The fluorescent particles are subjected to a two-order-of-magnitude stronger Stokes drag force than the acoustic radiation force. The average fluorescence intensity was found to be adversely related to the distance from the sonotrodes’ end surface, and fluorescence particles were more equally distributed at higher parameter levels.
Application of Soft Computing Techniques to Predict the Strength of Geopolymer Composites
Authors: Wang Qichen , Ahmad Waqas , Ahmad Ayaz , Aslam Fahid , Mohamed Abdullah , Vatin Nikolai Ivanovich
Published: March 2022

Geopolymers may be the best alternative to ordinary Portland cement because they are manufactured using waste materials enriched in aluminosilicate. Research on geopolymer composites is accelerating. However, considerable work, expense, and time are needed to cast, cure, and test specimens. The application of computational methods to the stated objective is critical for speedy and cost-effective research. In this study, supervised machine learning approaches were employed to predict the compressive strength of geopolymer composites. One individual machine learning approach, decision tree, and two ensembled machine learning approaches, AdaBoost and random forest, were used. The coefficient correlation (R2), statistical tests, and k-fold analysis were used to determine the validity and comparison of all models. It was discovered that ensembled machine learning techniques outperformed individual machine learning techniques in forecasting the compressive strength of geopolymer composites. However, the outcomes of the individual machine learning model were also within the acceptable limit. R2 values of 0.90, 0.90, and 0.83 were obtained for AdaBoost, random forest, and decision models, respectively. The models’ decreased error values, such as mean absolute error, mean absolute percentage error, and root-mean-square errors, further confirmed the ensembled machine learning techniques’ increased precision. Machine learning approaches will aid the building industry by providing quick and cost-effective methods for evaluating material properties.
Recent Developments in Blood-Compatible Superhydrophobic Surfaces
Authors: Wang Zhiqian , Paul Sumona , Stein Louis H. , Salemi Arash , Mitra Somenath
Published: March 2022

Superhydrophobic surfaces, as indicated in the name, are highly hydrophobic and readily repel water. With contact angles greater than 150° and sliding angles less than 10°, water droplets flow easily and hardly wet these surfaces. Superhydrophobic materials and coatings have been drawing increasing attention in medical fields, especially on account of their promising applications in blood-contacting devices. Superhydrophobicity controls the interactions of cells with the surfaces and facilitates the flowing of blood or plasma without damaging blood cells. The antibiofouling effect of superhydrophobic surfaces resists adhesion of organic substances, including blood components and microorganisms. These attributes are critical to medical applications such as filter membranes, prosthetic heart valves, extracorporeal circuit tubing, and indwelling catheters. Researchers have developed various methods to fabricate blood-compatible or biocompatible superhydrophobic surfaces using different materials. In addition to being hydrophobic, these surfaces can also be antihemolytic, antithrombotic, antibacterial, and antibiofouling, making them ideal for clinical applications. In this review, the authors summarize recent developments of blood-compatible superhydrophobic surfaces, with a focus on methods and materials. The expectation of this review is that it will support the biomedical research field by providing current trends as well as future directions.
Bacterial Cellulose and Its Applications
Authors: Choi Soon Mo , Rao Kummara Madhusudana , Zo Sun Mi , Shin Eun Joo , Han Sung Soo
Published: March 2022

The sharp increase in the use of cellulose seems to be in increasing demand in wood; much more research related to sustainable or alternative materials is necessary as a lot of the arable land and natural resources use is unsustainable. In accordance, attention has focused on bacterial cellulose as a new functional material. It possesses a three-dimensional, gelatinous structure consisting of cellulose with mechanical and thermal properties. Moreover, while a plant-originated cellulose is composed of cellulose, hemi-cellulose, and lignin, bacterial cellulose attributable to the composition of a pure cellulose nanofiber mesh spun is not necessary in the elimination of other components. Moreover, due to its hydrophilic nature caused by binding water, consequently being a hydrogel as well as biocompatibility, it has only not only used in medical fields including artificial skin, cartilage, vessel, and wound dressing, but also in delivery; some products have even been commercialized. In addition, it is widely used in various technologies including food, paper, textile, electronic and electrical applications, and is being considered as a highly versatile green material with tremendous potential. However, many efforts have been conducted for the evolution of novel and sophisticated materials with environmental affinity, which accompany the empowerment and enhancement of specific properties. In this review article, we summarized only industry and research status regarding BC and contemplated its potential in the use of BC.
Exquisite Energy Savings at Cold Metal Forming of Threads through the Application of Polymers
Authors: Píška Miroslav , Sliwková Petra , Vnuková Zuzana , Petrenec Martin , Sedláková-Valášková Eva
Published: March 2022

One of the global problems today is energy—its production and distribution. As the human population grows, the consumption of energy rises simultaneously. However, the natural sources are limited, and so the focus on power savings becomes more and more important. One of the ways to reduce consumption is the use of effective lubricants and tribological fluids in industry, especially in processes with high demands on energy but high quality of products as well. Forming is a typical example of such technology, and the application of polymers seems to be a very important challenge, because the application of straight oils or lubricant with extreme pressure additives seems to be prevailing in that field. Nevertheless, the polymer lubricant should fulfill all European standards as well as the environmental and ecological limitations with respect to health and the natural environment and its recycling and disposal. This paper is focused on the forming technology of threads and the application of selected polymers to the forming process. The measured and quantified criteria are torque and force loadings, energy consumption, and quality of the produced surfaces. Kistler dynamometers, scanning electron microscopy, and advanced surface topography with the use of Alicona IF-G5 were applied to assess all aspects of the tribological and energy aspects of six modern process fluids, three lubricating pastes, and two fluid modifications. The results show that the polymer synthetic lubricant (at volume concentration 20% in water) can reduce the total energy consumption by up to 40% per forming cycle (in mean values) at average surface roughness below 0.8 μm.
Synthesis of Microporosity Dominant Wood-Based Activated Carbon Fiber for Removal of Copper Ions
Authors: Jin Zhi , Zeng Zhen , Hu Shenghui , Tang Lina , Fu Yuejin , Zhao Guangjie
Published: March 2022

Steam activation treatments were introduced in the preparation of activated carbon fiber from liquefied wood (LWACF), to enlarge its specific surface area and develop the pore size distribution. With increasing activation time, the average fiber diameter of LWACF decreased from 27.2 µm to 13.2 µm, while the specific surface area increased from 1025 to 2478 m2/g. Steam activation predominantly enhanced the development of microporosity, without significant pore widening. Prolonging the steam activation time exponentially increased the removal efficiency of Cu2+ at a constant adsorbent dose, as a result of an increase in the number of micropores and acidic-oxygenated groups. Moreover, for LWACF activated for 220 min at 800 °C, the removal efficiency of Cu2+ increased from 55.2% to 99.4%, when the porous carbon fiber dose went from 0.1 to 0.5 g/L. The synthesized LWACF was proven to be a highly efficient adsorbent for the treatment of Cu2+ ion-contaminated wastewater.
Towards Circular Economy by the Valorization of Different Waste Subproducts through Their Incorporation in Composite Materials: Ground Tire Rubber and Chicken Feathers
Authors: Colom Xavier , Cañavate Javier , Carrillo-Navarrete Fernando
Published: March 2022

Incorporation of residua into polymeric composites can be a successful approach to creating materials suitable for specific applications promoting a circular economy approach. Elastomeric (Ground Tire Rubber or GTR) and biogenic (chicken feathers or CFs) wastes were used to prepare polymeric composites in order to evaluate the tensile, acoustic and structural differences between both reinforcements. High-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) polymeric matrices were used. EVA matrix defines better compatibility with both reinforcement materials (GTR and CFs) than polyolefin matrices (HDPE and PP) as it has been corroborated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), termogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, composites reinforced with GTR showed better acoustic properties than composites reinforced with CFs, due to the morphology of the reinforcing particles.
The Political Funeral of Isabella the Catholic in Rome (1505): Liturgical Hybridity and Succession Tension in a Celebration Misere a la Italiana et Ceremoniose a la Spagnola
Authors: Fernández de Córdova Álvaro
Published: March 2022

Based on the interest aroused by royal funerals at the end of the Middle Ages, this paper analyses the obsequies held in the Eternal City on the occasion of the death of Isabella the Catholic (1474–1504)—Queen of Castile and Aragon—in a context of international tension and succession unrest. The papal diaries, diplomatic documentation and Ludovico Bruno’s sermo funebris allow us to reconstruct the liturgical, scenographic and rhetorical display of a ceremony that seduced with its solemnity and elegance, the fruit of a hybridism that combined Spanish and Italian funerary traditions in the Rome of Julius II. The creativity of the Spanish community is thus evident in its ability to convert the Isabelline funeral ceremony into an expression of dynastic power in the context of Spanish–French competition and incipient tensions between the Habsburg and Fernandine courts over the Castilian succession. Only by starting from this intertwining of the political and the liturgical will we be able to understand the transformations undergone by the funeral ceremonial in its passage—still little explored—from late medieval customs to modern scenographies.
The Road to Reconciliation—Insights from Christian Public Theology
Authors: Schliesser Christine
Published: March 2022

Once primarily situated within religious contexts, reconciliation has since become an established concept in peace and conflict studies. The exact meaning of this concept remains disputed. This contribution takes the sometimes heated debates one step back as it seeks to return to the roots of the religious dimensions of reconciliation in order to shed light on its meaning and use for peace and conflict studies today. Using Christian Public Theology as a framework, the author delineates several hallmarks on the road to reconciliation. While the metaphoric “road to reconciliation” must not be misunderstood as a linear progression with a predictable result, it does indicate that certain milestones are likely to be encountered on this path. These include remembrance, repentance, confession of guilt, forgiveness and justice. As the author draws out the religious dimensions of these concepts, a deeper understanding of the meaning of reconciliation emerges.
A Case of Recent Liver Injury Induced by Benzbromarone
Authors: Ishii Tomotaka , Hoshino Keijiro , Honda Masayuki , Yamana Yoichiro , Sasaki-Tanaka Reina , Kumagawa Mariko , Kanezawa Shini , Mizutani Taku , Matsumoto Naoki , Masuzaki Ryota , Nirei Kazushige , Yamagami Hiroaki , Moriyama Mitsuhiko , Kanda Tatsuo
Published: March 2022

A 39-year-old male had a stomachache for 10 days before abnormal liver function tests were detected by a local doctor. Then, he was referred to us and admitted to our hospital for examination and treatment of elevated transaminases. He had taken benzbromarone to treat his hyperuricemia for seven months, and we diagnosed him with benzbromarone-induced liver injury. After the termination of benzbromarone, he finally recovered from his illness. There are several reports about benzbromarone-induced liver injury. In conclusion, as periodic liver function tests seem not to be completely performed, clinicians should regularly monitor liver function tests in patients taking benzbromarone.
Advances in Lightning Monitoring and Location Technology Research in China
Authors: Zhang Yijun , Zhang Yang , Zou Mengjin , Wang Jingxuan , Li Yurui , Tan Yadan , Feng Yuwen , Zhang Huiyi , Zhu Shunxing
Published: March 2022

Monitoring lightning and its location is important for understanding thunderstorm activity and revealing lightning discharge mechanisms. This is often realized based on very low-frequency/low-frequency (VLF/LF) signals, very high-frequency (VHF) signals, and optical radiation signals generated during the lightning discharge process. The development of lightning monitoring and location technology worldwide has largely evolved from a single station to multiple stations, from the return strokes (RSs) of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flashes to total lightning flashes, from total lightning flashes to lightning discharge channels, and from ground-based lightning observations to satellite-based lightning observations, all of which have aided our understanding of atmospheric electricity. Lightning monitoring and positioning technology in China has kept up with international advances. In terms of lightning monitoring based on VLF/LF signals, single-station positioning technology has been developed, and a nationwide CG lightning detection network has been built since the end of the twentieth century. Research on total lightning flash positioning technology began at the beginning of the 21st century, and precision total lightning flash positioning technology has improved significantly over the last 10 years. In terms of positioning technology based on VHF signals, narrowband interferometers and wideband interferometers have been developed, and long-baseline radiation source positioning technology and continuous interferometers have been developed over the last ten years, significantly improving the channel characterization ability of lightning locations. In terms of lightning monitoring based on optical signals, China has for the first time developed lightning mapping imagers loaded by geosynchronous satellites, providing an important means for large-scale and all-weather lightning monitoring.
Time-Lag Effect of Vegetation Response to Volumetric Soil Water Content: A Case Study of Guangdong Province, Southern China
Authors: Li Weijiao , Wang Yunpeng , Yang Jingxue , Deng Yujiao
Published: March 2022

The content of soil water affects the physiological activities of vegetation, and the type of vegetation also affects the soil water balance. It is of great significance to study the response of vegetation to soil moisture change, which is helpful for understanding the vulnerability of vegetation for regional and environmental protections. The response of vegetation to soil moisture in Guangdong Province from mid-October 2015 to the end of March 2017 was studied by using cloudy region drought index (CRDI) as the drought index and volumetric soil water content (VSWC) as the soil moisture index to measure the level of water stress on vegetation. Taking the peak and valley positions of CRDI and VSWC as characteristic points, the lag time of vegetation to volumetric soil water content was obtained by judging the difference between the peak and valley positions of the two indexes. The results indicate that the response of vegetation to volumetric soil water content in Guangdong lagged 3.33 periods (9–35 days) on average. When VSWC is sufficient, there is no obvious difference in time-lag between different types of vegetation. However, when VSWC is relatively insufficient, grass shows the fastest response to the change of volumetric soil water content. Both longitude and soil moisture affect the lag time of vegetation. Under the same conditions, the higher the soil humidity is, the longer the lag time is, and the longer the delay time is with the greater longitude. CRDI can reflect the time-lag effect between vegetation and VSWC in Guangdong, indicating it is a sensitive and applicable index for characterizing the time-lag phenomena of vegetation to soil moisture.
Data-Driven Artificial Intelligence Model of Meteorological Elements Influence on Vegetation Coverage in North China
Authors: Bai Huimin , Gong Zhiqiang , Sun Guiquan , Li Li
Published: March 2022

Based on remote sensing data of vegetation coverage, observation data of basic meteorological elements, and support vector machine (SVM) method, this study develops an analysis model of meteorological elements influence on vegetation coverage (MEVC). The variations for the vegetation coverage changes are identified utilizing five meteorological elements (temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, sunshine hour, and ground temperature) in the SVM model. The performance of the SVM model is also evaluated on simulating vegetation coverage anomaly change by comparing with statistical model multiple linear regression (MLR) and partial least squares (PLS)-based models. The symbol agreement rates (SAR) of simulations produced by MLR, PLS, and SVM models are 55%, 57%, and 66%, respectively. The SVM model shows obviously better performance than PLS and MLR models in simulating meteorological elements-related interannual variation of vegetation coverage in North China. Therefore, the introduction of the intelligent analysis method in term of SVM in model development has certain advantages in studying the internal impact of meteorological elements on regional vegetation coverage. It can also be further applied to predict the future vegetation anomaly change.
Uncertainty-Guided Depth Fusion from Multi-View Satellite Images to Improve the Accuracy in Large-Scale DSM Generation
Authors: Qin Rongjun , Ling Xiao , Farella Elisa Mariarosaria , Remondino Fabio
Published: March 2022

The generation of digital surface models (DSMs) from multi-view high-resolution (VHR) satellite imagery has recently received a great attention due to the increasing availability of such space-based datasets. Existing production-level pipelines primarily adopt a multi-view stereo (MVS) paradigm, which exploit the statistical depth fusion of multiple DSMs generated from individual stereo pairs. To make this process scalable, these depth fusion methods often adopt simple approaches such as the median filter or its variants, which are efficient in computation but lack the flexibility to adapt to heterogenous information of individual pixels. These simple fusion approaches generally discard ancillary information produced by MVS algorithms (such as measurement confidence/uncertainty) that is otherwise extremely useful to enable adaptive fusion. To make use of such information, this paper proposes an efficient and scalable approach that incorporates the matching uncertainty to adaptively guide the fusion process. This seemingly straightforward idea has a higher-level advantage: first, the uncertainty information is obtained from global/semiglobal matching methods, which inherently populate global information of the scene, making the fusion process nonlocal. Secondly, these globally determined uncertainties are operated locally to achieve efficiency for processing large-sized images, making the method extremely practical to implement. The proposed method can exploit results from stereo pairs with small intersection angles to recover details for areas where dense buildings and narrow streets exist, but also to benefit from highly accurate 3D points generated in flat regions under large intersection angles. The proposed method was applied to DSMs generated from Worldview, GeoEye, and Pleiades stereo pairs covering a large area (400 km2). Experiments showed that we achieved an RMSE (root-mean-squared error) improvement of approximately 0.1–0.2 m over a typical Median Filter approach for fusion (equivalent to 5–10% of relative accuracy improvement).
Exploring Ecosystem Functioning in Spain with Gross and Net Primary Production Time Series
Authors: Martínez Beatriz , Sánchez-Ruiz Sergio , Campos-Taberner Manuel , García-Haro F. Javier , Gilabert M. Amparo
Published: March 2022

The main objective of this study is to analyze the spatial and temporal variability of gross and net primary production (GPP and NPP) in Peninsular Spain across 15 years (2004–2018) and determine the relationship of those carbon fluxes with precipitation and air temperature. A time series study of daily GPP, NPP, mean air temperature, and monthly standardized precipitation index (SPI) at 1 km spatial resolution is conducted to analyze the ecosystem status and adaptation to changing environmental conditions. Spatial variability is analyzed for vegetation and specific forest types. Temporal dynamics are examined from a multiresolution analysis based on the wavelet transform (MRA-WT). The Mann–Kendall nonparametric test and the Theil–Sen slope are applied to quantify the magnitude and direction of trends (increasing or decreasing) within the time series. The use of MRA-WT to extract the annual component from daily series increased the number of statistically significant pixels. At pixel level, larger significant GPP and NPP negative changes (p-value < 0.1) are observed, especially in southeastern Spain, eastern Mediterranean coastland, and central Spain. At annual temporal scale, forests and irrigated crops are estimated to have twice the GPP of rainfed crops, shrublands, grasslands, and sparse vegetation. Within forest types, deciduous broadleaved trees exhibited the greatest annual NPP, followed by evergreen broadleaved and evergreen needle-leaved tree species. Carbon fluxes trends were correlated with precipitation. The temporal analysis based on daily TS demonstrated an increase of accuracy in the trend estimates since more significant pixels were obtained as compared to annual resolution studies (72% as to only 17%).