bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Circulating Plasma Gelsolin: A Predictor of Favorable Clinical Outcomes in Head and Neck Cancer and Sensitive Biomarker for Early Disease Diagnosis Combined with Soluble Fas Ligand
Authors: Chiu Chen-Tzu , Wang Pei-Wen , Asare-Werehene Meshach , Tsang Benjamin K. , Shieh Dar-Bin
Published: June 2020

Head and neck cancer (HNC) accounts for more than 330,000 cancer deaths annually worldwide. Despite late diagnosis being a major factor contributing to HNC mortality, no satisfactory biomarkers exist for early disease detection. Cytoplasmic gelsolin (cGSN) was discovered to predict disease progression in HNC and other malignancies, and circulating plasma gelsolin (pGSN) levels are significantly correlated with infectious and inflammatory disease prognoses. Here, the plasma levels of five candidate biomarkers (circulating pGSN, squamous cell carcinoma antigen, cytokeratin 19 fragment, soluble Fas, and soluble Fas ligand (sFasL)) in 202 patients with HNC and 45 healthy controls were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or Millipore cancer multiplex assay. The results demonstrated that circulating pGSN levels were significantly lower in patients with HNC than in healthy controls. Moreover, circulating pGSN outperformed other candidate biomarkers as an independent diagnostic biomarker of HNC in both sensitivity (82.7%) and specificity (95.6%). Receiver operating characteristic curves indicated that combined pGSN and sFasL levels further augmented this sensitivity (90.6%) for early disease detection. Moreover, higher pGSN levels predicted improved prognosis at both 5-year overall survival and progression-free survival. In conclusion, circulating pGSN could be an independent predictor of favorable clinical outcomes and a novel biomarker for the early HNC detection in combination with sFasL.
BRAF Mutated Colorectal Cancer: New Treatment Approaches
Authors: Molina-Cerrillo Javier , San Román María , Pozas Javier , Alonso-Gordoa Teresa , Pozas Miguel , Conde Elisa , Rosas Marta , Grande Enrique , García-Bermejo María Laura , Carrato Alfredo
Published: June 2020

Colon cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancies in adults, considering both its incidence and prevalence. Anatomically, the right colon is considered as being from the cecum to the splenic flexure, and the left colon is from the splenic flexure to the rectum. Sidedness is a surrogate of a wide spectrum of colorectal cancer (CRC) biology features (embryology, microbiome, methylation, microsatellite instability (MSI), BRAF, aging, KRAS, consensus molecular subtypes (CMS), etc.), which result in prognostic factors. Different molecular subtypes have been identified, according to genomic and transcriptomic criteria. A subgroup harboring a BRAF mutation has been described, and represents approximately 10% of the patients diagnosed with colon cancer. This subgroup has morphological, clinical, and therapeutic characteristics that differ substantially from patients who do not carry this genetic alteration. Unfortunately, there is no established standard of care for this particular cohort of patients. This manuscript aims to study the biology of this subgroup of colon cancer, to understand the current approach in clinical research.
Advances in Deubiquitinating Enzyme Inhibition and Applications in Cancer Therapeutics
Authors: Antao Ainsley Mike , Tyagi Apoorvi , Kim Kye-Seong , Ramakrishna Suresh
Published: June 2020

Since the discovery of the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS), the roles of ubiquitinating and deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) have been widely elucidated. The ubiquitination of proteins regulates many aspects of cellular functions such as protein degradation and localization, and also modifies protein-protein interactions. DUBs cleave the attached ubiquitin moieties from substrates and thereby reverse the process of ubiquitination. The dysregulation of these two paramount pathways has been implicated in numerous diseases, including cancer. Attempts are being made to identify inhibitors of ubiquitin E3 ligases and DUBs that potentially have clinical implications in cancer, making them an important target in the pharmaceutical industry. Therefore, studies in medicine are currently focused on the pharmacological disruption of DUB activity as a rationale to specifically target cancer-causing protein aberrations. Here, we briefly discuss the pathophysiological and physiological roles of DUBs in key cancer-related pathways. We also discuss the clinical applications of promising DUB inhibitors that may contribute to the development of DUBs as key therapeutic targets in the future.
Cancer and SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges
Authors: Allegra Alessandro , Pioggia Giovanni , Tonacci Alessandro , Musolino Caterina , Gangemi Sebastiano
Published: June 2020

In late December 2019, a new infectious viral disease appeared. A new betacoronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2), has been recognized as the pathogen responsible for this infection. Patients affected by tumors are more vulnerable to infection owing to poor health status, concomitant chronic diseases, and immunosuppressive conditions provoked by both the cancer and antitumor therapies. In this review, we have analyzed some lesser known aspects of the relationship between neoplasms and SARS-CoV-2 infection, starting from the different expression of the ACE2 receptor of the virus in the various neoplastic pathologies, and the roles that different cytokine patterns could have in vulnerability to infection and the appearance of complications. This review also reports the rationale for a possible use of drugs commonly employed in neoplastic therapy, such as bevacizumab, ibrutinib, selinexor, thalidomide, carfilzomib, and PD-1 inhibitors, for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Finally, we have highlighted some diagnostic challenges in the recognition of SARS-CoV-2 infection in cancer-infected patients. The combination of these two health problems—tumors and a pandemic virus—could become a catastrophe if not correctly handled. Careful and judicious management of cancer patients with SARS-Cov-2 could support a better outcome for these patients during the current pandemic.
Ubiquilin Networking in Cancers
Authors: Jantrapirom Salinee , Lo Piccolo Luca , Pruksakorn Dumnoensun , Potikanond Saranyapin , Nimlamool Wutigri
Published: June 2020

Ubiquilins or UBQLNs, members of the ubiquitin-like and ubiquitin-associated domain (UBL-UBA) protein family, serve as adaptors to coordinate the degradation of specific substrates via both proteasome and autophagy pathways. The UBQLN substrates reveal great diversity and impact a wide range of cellular functions. For decades, researchers have been attempting to uncover a puzzle and understand the role of UBQLNs in human cancers, particularly in the modulation of oncogene’s stability and nucleotide excision repair. In this review, we summarize the UBQLNs’ genetic variants that are associated with the most common cancers and also discuss their reliability as a prognostic marker. Moreover, we provide an overview of the UBQLNs networks that are relevant to cancers in different ways, including cell cycle, apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, DNA repairs and miRNAs. Finally, we include a future prospective on novel ubiquilin-based cancer therapies.
Bimetallic Catalysts for Volatile Organic Compound Oxidation
Authors: Fiorenza Roberto
Published: June 2020

In recent years, the impending necessity to improve the quality of outdoor and indoor air has produced a constant increase of investigations in the methodologies to remove and/or to decrease the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Among the various strategies for VOC elimination, catalytic oxidation and recently photocatalytic oxidation are regarded as some of the most promising technologies for VOC total oxidation from urban and industrial waste streams. This work is focused on bimetallic supported catalysts, investigating systematically the progress and developments in the design of these materials. In particular, we highlight their advantages compared to those of their monometallic counterparts in terms of catalytic performance and physicochemical properties (catalytic stability and reusability). The formation of a synergistic effect between the two metals is the key feature of these particular catalysts. This review examines the state-of-the-art of a peculiar sector (the bimetallic systems) belonging to a wide area (i.e., the several catalysts used for VOC removal) with the aim to contribute to further increase the knowledge of the catalytic materials for VOC removal, stressing the promising potential applications of the bimetallic catalysts in the air purification.
Development of Pharmaceutical VOCs Elimination by Catalytic Processes in China
Authors: Zhou Lilong , Ma Chen , Horlyck Jonathan , Liu Runjing , Yun Jimmy
Published: June 2020

As a byproduct of emerging as one of the world’s key producers of pharmaceuticals, China is now challenged by the emission of harmful pharmaceutical VOCs. In this review, the catalogue and volume of VOCs emitted by the pharmaceutical industry in China was introduced. The commonly used VOC removal processes and technologies was recommended by some typical examples. The progress of catalytic combustion, photocatalytic oxidation, non-thermal plasma, and electron beam treatment were presented, especially the development of catalysts. The advantages and shortages of these technologies in recent years were discussed and analyzed. Lastly, the development of VOCs elimination technologies and the most promising technology were discussed.
Stabilization of b-Glucuronidase by Immobilization in Magnetic-Silica Hybrid Supports
Authors: Correa Sonali , Ripoll Magdalena , Jackson Erienne , Grazú Valeria , Betancor Lorena
Published: June 2020

β-Glucuronidases are a class of enzymes that catalyze the breakdown of complex carbohydrates. They have well documented biocatalytic applications in synthesis, therapeutics, and analytics that could benefit from enzyme immobilization and stabilization. In this work, we have explored a number of immobilization strategies for Patella vulgata β-Glucuronidase that comprised a tailored combination of biomimetic silica (Si) and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). The individual effect of each material on the enzyme upon immobilization was first tested. Three different immobilization strategies for covalent attachment on MNPs and different three catalysts for the deposition of Si particles were tested. We produced nine different immobilized preparations and only two of them presented negligible activity. All the preparations were in the micro-sized range (from 1299 ± 52 nm to 2101 ± 67 nm of hydrodynamic diameter). Their values for polydispersity index varied around 0.3, indicating homogeneous populations of particles with low probability of agglomeration. Storage, thermal, and operational stability were superior for the enzyme immobilized in the composite material. At 80 °C different preparations with Si and MNPs retained 40% of their initial activity after 6 h of incubation whereas the soluble enzyme lost 90% of its initial activity within 11 min. Integration of MNPs provided the advantage of reusing the biocatalyst via magnetic separation up to six times with residual activity. The hybrid material produced herein demonstrated its versatility and robustness as a support for β-Glucuronidases immobilization.
CuZnZr-Zeolite Hybrid Grains for DME Synthesis: New Evidence on the Role of Metal-Acidic Features on the Methanol Conversion Step
Authors: Migliori Massimo , Condello Antonio , Dalena Francesco , Catizzone Enrico , Giordano Girolamo
Published: June 2020

The assessment of the catalytic performance of “hybrid” metal/zeolite catalysts (based on FER or MFI structure and CuZnZr metal complexes) in the methanol dehydration step to DME has been studied in this work. The results clearly show that there is an important effect of the interaction between metal and acid sites affecting the acid catalyst performances. Additionally, deactivation, studied by means of a Timo-on-Stream (TOS) test, was affected by the type of zeolite structure used for hybrid catalyst preparation. The decrease in DME selectivity can be attributed to the cooperation of metal and acid sites in the production of different compounds (mainly methyl formate and dimethoxy methane) converting methanol and DME. The presence of these compounds (indicating different reaction pathways active) was found to be dependent on the zeolite structure and on the type of co-precipitation medium (water or ethanol) used to prepare the hybrid catalyst.
Defective TiO2 Core-Shell Magnetic Photocatalyst Modified with Plasmonic Nanoparticles for Visible Light-Induced Photocatalytic Activity
Authors: Bielan Zuzanna , Sulowska Agnieszka , Dudziak Szymon , Siuzdak Katarzyna , Ryl Jacek , Zielińska-Jurek Anna
Published: June 2020

In the presented work, for the first time, the metal-modified defective titanium(IV) oxide nanoparticles with well-defined titanium vacancies, was successfully obtained. Introducing platinum and copper nanoparticles (NPs) as surface modifiers of defective d-TiO2 significantly increased the photocatalytic activity in both UV-Vis and Vis light ranges. Moreover, metal NPs deposition on the magnetic core allowed for the effective separation and reuse of the nanometer-sized photocatalyst from the suspension after the treatment process. The obtained Fe3O4@SiO2/d-TiO2-Pt/Cu photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and specific surface area (BET) measurements, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DR-UV/Vis), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Further, the mechanism of phenol degradation and the role of four oxidative species (h+, e−, •OH, and •O2−) in the studied photocatalytic process were investigated.
Computational Model Reveals a Stochastic Mechanism behind Germinal Center Clonal Bursts
Authors: Pélissier Aurélien , Akrout Youcef , Jahn  Katharina , Kuipers  Jack , Klein  Ulf , Beerenwinkel Niko , Rodríguez Martínez  María
Published: June 2020

Germinal centers (GCs) are specialized compartments within the secondary lymphoid organs where B cells proliferate, differentiate, and mutate their antibody genes in response to the presence of foreign antigens. Through the GC lifespan, interclonal competition between B cells leads to increased affinity of the B cell receptors for antigens accompanied by a loss of clonal diversity, although the mechanisms underlying clonal dynamics are not completely understood. We present here a multi-scale quantitative model of the GC reaction that integrates an intracellular component, accounting for the genetic events that shape B cell differentiation, and an extracellular stochastic component, which accounts for the random cellular interactions within the GC. In addition, B cell receptors are represented as sequences of nucleotides that mature and diversify through somatic hypermutations. We exploit extensive experimental characterizations of the GC dynamics to parameterize our model, and visualize affinity maturation by means of evolutionary phylogenetic trees. Our explicit modeling of B cell maturation enables us to characterise the evolutionary processes and competition at the heart of the GC dynamics, and explains the emergence of clonal dominance as a result of initially small stochastic advantages in the affinity to antigen. Interestingly, a subset of the GC undergoes massive expansion of higher-affinity B cell variants (clonal bursts), leading to a loss of clonal diversity at a significantly faster rate than in GCs that do not exhibit clonal dominance. Our work contributes towards an in silico vaccine design, and has implications for the better understanding of the mechanisms underlying autoimmune disease and GC-derived lymphomas.
Cancer Stem Cells in Soft-Tissue Sarcomas
Authors: Martínez-Delgado Paula , Lacerenza Serena , Obrador-Hevia Antonia , Lopez-Alvarez Maria , Mondaza-Hernandez José L. , Blanco-Alcaina Elena , Sanchez-Bustos Paloma , Hindi Nadia , S. Moura David , Martin-Broto Javier
Published: June 2020

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are a rare group of mesenchymal solid tumors with heterogeneous genetic profiles and clinical features. Systemic chemotherapy is the backbone treatment for advanced STS; however, STS frequently acquire resistance to standard therapies, which highlights the need to improve treatments and identify novel therapeutic targets. Increases in the knowledge of the molecular pathways that drive sarcomas have brought to light different molecular alterations that cause tumor initiation and progression. These findings have triggered a breakthrough of targeted therapies that are being assessed in clinical trials. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) exhibit mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) features and represent a subpopulation of tumor cells that play an important role in tumor progression, chemotherapy resistance, recurrence and metastasis. In fact, CSCs phenotypes have been identified in sarcomas, allied to drug resistance and tumorigenesis. Herein, we will review the published evidence of CSCs in STS, discussing the molecular characteristic of CSCs, the commonly used isolation techniques and the new possibilities of targeting CSCs as a way to improve STS treatment and consequently patient outcome.
Parkin Overexpression Attenuates Sepsis-Induced Muscle Wasting
Authors: Leduc-Gaudet Jean-Philippe , Mayaki Dominique , Reynaud Olivier , Broering Felipe E. , Chaffer Tomer J. , Hussain Sabah N. A. , Gouspillou Gilles
Published: June 2020

Sepsis elicits skeletal muscle weakness and fiber atrophy. The accumulation of injured mitochondria and depressed mitochondrial functions are considered as important triggers of sepsis-induced muscle atrophy. It is unclear whether mitochondrial dysfunctions in septic muscles are due to the inadequate activation of quality control processes. We hypothesized that overexpressing Parkin, a protein responsible for the recycling of dysfunctional mitochondria by the autophagy pathway (mitophagy), would confer protection against sepsis-induced muscle atrophy by improving mitochondrial quality and content. Parkin was overexpressed for four weeks in the limb muscles of four-week old mice using intramuscular injections of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs). The cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) procedure was used to induce sepsis. Sham operated animals were used as controls. All animals were studied for 48 h post CLP. Sepsis resulted in major body weight loss and myofiber atrophy. Parkin overexpression prevented myofiber atrophy in CLP mice. Quantitative two-dimensional transmission electron microscopy revealed that sepsis is associated with the accumulation of enlarged and complex mitochondria, an effect which was attenuated by Parkin overexpression. Parkin overexpression also prevented a sepsis-induced decrease in the content of mitochondrial subunits of NADH dehydrogenase and cytochrome C oxidase. We conclude that Parkin overexpression prevents sepsis-induced skeletal muscle atrophy, likely by improving mitochondrial quality and contents.
EDMD-Causing Emerin Mutant Myogenic Progenitors Exhibit Impaired Differentiation Using Similar Mechanisms
Authors: Iyer Ashvin , Holaska James M.
Published: June 2020

Mutations in the gene encoding emerin (EMD) cause Emery–Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD1), an inherited disorder characterized by progressive skeletal muscle wasting, irregular heart rhythms and contractures of major tendons. The skeletal muscle defects seen in EDMD are caused by failure of muscle stem cells to differentiate and regenerate the damaged muscle. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Most EDMD1 patients harbor nonsense mutations and have no detectable emerin protein. There are three EDMD-causing emerin mutants (S54F, Q133H, and Δ95–99) that localize correctly to the nuclear envelope and are expressed at wildtype levels. We hypothesized these emerin mutants would share in the disruption of key molecular pathways involved in myogenic differentiation. We generated myogenic progenitors expressing wildtype emerin and each EDMD1-causing emerin mutation (S54F, Q133H, Δ95–99) in an emerin-null (EMD−/y) background. S54F, Q133H, and Δ95–99 failed to rescue EMD−/y myogenic differentiation, while wildtype emerin efficiently rescued differentiation. RNA sequencing was done to identify pathways and networks important for emerin regulation of myogenic differentiation. This analysis significantly reduced the number of pathways implicated in EDMD1 muscle pathogenesis.
Ongoing Research on the Role of Gintonin in the Management of Neurodegenerative Disorders
Authors: Ikram Muhammad , Ullah Rahat , Khan Amjad , Kim Myeong Ok
Published: June 2020

Neurodegenerative disorders, namely Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and multiple sclerosis (MS), are increasingly major health concerns due to the increasingly aged population worldwide. These conditions often share the same underlying pathological mechanisms, including elevated oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and the aggregation of proteins. Several studies have highlighted the potential to diminish the clinical outcomes of these disorders via the administration of herbal compounds, among which gintonin, a derivative of ginseng, has shown promising results. Gintonin is a noncarbohydrate/saponin that has been characterized as a lysophosphatidic acid receptor (LPA Receptor) ligand. Gintonin may cause a significant elevation in calcium levels [Ca2+]i intracellularly, which promotes calcium-mediated cellular effects via the modulation of ion channels and cell surface receptors, regulating the inflammatory effects. Years of research have suggested that gintonin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects against different models of neurodegeneration, and these effects may be employed to tackle the neurological changes. Therefore, we collected the main scientific findings and comprehensively presented them, covering preparation, absorption, and receptor-mediated functions, including effects against Alzheimer’s disease models, Parkinson’s disease models, anxiety and depression-like models, and other neurological disorders, aiming to provide some insights for the possible usage of gintonin in the management of neurodegenerative conditions.
Ammonia Sensor Based on Vapor Phase Polymerized Polypyrrole
Authors: Ly Ahmadou , Luo Yifan , Cavaillès Gaëtan , Olivier Marie-Georges , Debliquy Marc , Lahem Driss
Published: June 2020

The detection of ammonia is an important issue for a lot of applications: leak detection in industry, agriculture, cooling systems, and medical diagnosis (breath biomarker for non-invasive diagnostic of renal disease). Among the possible sensing technologies, chemosensors based on conducting polymers show interesting characteristics. Polypyrrole (PPy) is well known for its sensitivity to ammonia. In the present work, PPy was synthesized by vapor phase polymerization (VPP) and treated with three different reductants. The ammonia sensing performance was investigated. The response of sodium sulfite Na2SO3 treated PPy was found to be much more pronounced when exposed to ammonia, it was twice as high as the grown PPy. A response of 15% at 500 ppb was obtained with an excellent selectivity towards ammonia compared to ethanol, acetone, and isopropanol. The role of chemical reduction of PPy in ammonia gas sensing was studied using different methods such as Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and ultra-violet, visible, near-infrared (UV–Vis–NIR) spectroscopy.
Reduction of Friction and Soil Adhesion of Medium Carbon Steel via Hard Coating and Surface Texture
Authors: Wang Haobin , Wan Qiang , Zhou Min , Xu Gen , Yu Jiahuan , Du Xuan , Wei Min , Meng Liang , Li ShanJun
Published: June 2020

Rapid development of mechanical cultivation demands satisfactory wear performance and lower soil adhesion on the soil-engaging components of terrain machinery. A thick 2Cr13 hard coating was used in conjunction with surface textures in this sector. The results showed that 2Cr13 coating and surface texture decreased the friction coefficient and wear rate enormously. The surface wettability of the coating was reduced by a dimpled-surface texture. The adhesion test suggested that dimples greatly decreased the adhesion force by decreasing the friction component and the decrement increased with the increase of dimple size. The adhesion force increased with the soil moisture and then decreased when exceeding the moisture content threshold.
Special Issue: “Advanced Thin Film Materials for Photovoltaic Applications”
Authors: Dharmadasa Imyhamy M.
Published: June 2020

Photovoltaic (PV) technology is rapidly entering the energy market, providing clean energy for sustainable development in society, reducing air pollution. In order to accelerate the use of PV solar energy, both an improvement in conversion efficiency and reduction in manufacturing cost should be carried out continuously in the future. This can be achieved by the use of advanced thin film materials produced by low-cost growth techniques in novel device architectures. This effort intends to provide the latest research results on thin film photovoltaic solar energy materials in one place. This Special Issue presents the growth and characterisation of several PV solar energy materials using low-cost techniques to utilise in new device structures after optimisation. This will therefore provide specialists in the field with useful references and new insights into the subject. It is hoped that this common platform will serve as a stepping-stone for further development of this highly important field.
Influence of Laser Energy Density on Interfacial Diffusion Bonding and Surface Density of Chromium Coating by Multi-Arc Ion Plating on Zirconium Alloy
Authors: Hu Liangbin , Qiu Changjun , Chen Yong , Li Huailin , Liu Hao
Published: June 2020

The chromium coating prepared by multi-arc ion plating on the surface of zirconium alloy is easy to fall off under extremely harsh conditions due to the defects of larger particles, pores and weak adhesion between the coating and the zirconium alloy substrate. Here we apply a new composite process for the fabrication of Cr coating by laser melting multi-arc ion plating technology. The numerical model of temperature field laser melting treatment was established, and based on the analysis of the above temperature field of laser melting treatment, the laser with an energy density of 9 × 104 J/cm2–18 × 104 J/cm2 was selected as the heat source. Laser energy density has a great influence on the diffusion behavior of Cr at the coating-substrate interface. When the energy density of laser is 9 × 104 J/cm2, the laser heat source cannot provide enough energy to melt the surface of the coating, however, the Cr element diffuses slightly at the membrane base interface, forming a Cr diffusion zone of about 4 μm. When the energy density of the laser increases to 13.5 × 104 J/cm2, the Zr element of the substrate diffused to the whole Cr coating, and the original Cr coating disappeared, forming a Zr-Cr diffusion and fusion zone of 30 μm. As the laser preparation process of the coating is a mixed sintering process of liquid phase sintering and solid phase sintering, the coating surface forms a dense zone and a loose zone respectively, resulting in the increase of porosity and particle rate. With the laser energy density increasing gradually, the Zr-Cr fusion zone is formed, and the coating surface particles were gradually refined and the pores were significantly reduced. With the further increase of laser energy density of 18 × 104 J/cm2, the Zr-Cr fusion zone was extended to 60 μm, and the porosity and particle rate were reduced to 0.3% and 0.4% respectively. In addition, the original stratification cracking of the film base at the fracture of the tensile specimen disappears, and the protrusion of the interface is formed. Coatings with dimple fractures were found, which indicates that the coating exhibited ductility and interfacial metallurgical bonding.
Review on Polysaccharides Used in Coatings for Food Packaging Papers
Authors: Nechita Petronela , Roman (Iana-Roman) Mirela
Published: June 2020

Paper and board show many advantages as packaging materials, but the current technologies employed to obtain adequate barrier properties for food packaging use synthetic polymers coating and lamination with plastic or aluminium foils—treatments which have a negative impact on packaging sustainability, poor recyclability and lack of biodegradability. Recently, biopolymers have attracted increased attention as paper coatings, which can provide new combinations in composite formulas to meet the requirements of food packaging. The number of studies on biopolymers for developing barrier properties of packaging materials is increasing, but only a few of them are addressed to food packaging paper. Polysaccharides are viewed as the main candidates to substitute oil-based polymers in food paper coating, due to their film forming ability, good affinity for paper substrate, appropriate barrier to gases and aroma, and positive effect on mechanical strength. Additionally, these biopolymers are biodegradable, non-toxic and act as a matrix for incorporation additives with specific functionalities for coated paper (i.e., active-antimicrobial properties). This paper presents an overview on the availability and application of polysaccharides from vegetal and marine biomass in coatings for foods packaging paper. The extraction methods, chemical modification and combination routes of these biopolymers in coatings for paper packaging are discussed.
Secondary Nucleation Kinetics of AIBN Crystallisation in Methanol: Online Imaging-Based Measurement and Modelling
Authors: Li Yang , Zhang Yang , Wang Xue Zhong
Published: June 2020

The secondary nucleation process of 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) seeded crystallisation in methanol in a stirred tank reactor was studied at varying initial supersaturation levels, temperatures, crystal seed numbers, and stirrer speeds. The average secondary nucleation rate, induction time, and agglomeration ratio were measured using on-line microscopic imaging. The initial supersaturation level, temperature, and stirrer speed were found to be positively correlated with the secondary nucleation rate. A small change in the crystal seed number, i.e., 1-20, did not substantially affect the secondary nucleation rate throughout the secondary nucleation process. An increase in the initial supersaturation level and crystal seed number decreased the induction time, and an increase in the strength of agitation promoted the initiation of secondary nucleation at a stirring rate greater than 250 revolutions per minute (rpm). Temperature exerted a complex effect on the induction time. Regarding the agglomeration ratio, the initial supersaturation level positively correlated with the agglomeration ratio, while the stirrer speed negatively correlated with this parameter. Finally, based on the measured data, the average secondary nucleation rate, induction time, and final crystal suspension density were correlated. This study provides guidance for the control of supersaturation, induction time, stirring, and other factors in the crystal seed addition process in AIBN crystallisation.
Microstructure and Properties of Ultrafine Cemented Carbides Prepared by Microwave Sintering of Nanocomposites
Authors: Qian Yanju , Zhao Zhiwei
Published: June 2020

Ultrafine cemented carbides were prepared by microwave sintering, using WC-V8C7-Cr3C2-Co nanocomposites as a raw material. The effects of sintering temperature and holding time on the microstructure and mechanical properties of cemented carbides were studied. The results show that the ultrafine cemented carbides prepared at 1300 °C for 60 min have good mechanical properties and a good microstructure. The relative density, Vickers hardness, and fracture toughness of the specimen reach the maximum values of 99.79%, 1842 kg/mm2 and 12.6 MPa·m1/2, respectively. Tungsten carbide (WC) grains are fine and uniformly distributed, with an average grain size of 300–500 nm. The combination of nanocomposites, secondary pressing, and microwave sintering can significantly reduce the sintering temperature and inhibit the growth of WC grains, thus producing superfine cemented carbides with good microstructure and mechanical properties.
Endosymbiotic Green Algae in Paramecium bursaria: A New Isolation Method and a Simple Diagnostic PCR Approach for the Identification
Authors: Spanner Christian , Darienko Tatyana , Biehler Tracy , Sonntag Bettina , Pröschold Thomas
Published: June 2020

Paramecium bursaria is a single-celled model organism for studying endosymbiosis among ciliates and green algae. Most strains of P. bursaria bear either Chlorella variabilis or Micractinium conductrix as endosymbionts. Both algal genera are unicellular green algae characterized by cup-shaped chloroplasts containing a single pyrenoid and reproduction by autospores. Due to their size and only few morphological characteristics, these green algae are very difficult to discriminate by microscopy only. Their cultivation is laborious and often unsuccessful, but we developed a three-step isolation method, which provided axenic cultures of endosymbionts. In addition to the time-consuming isolation, we developed a simple diagnostic PCR identification method using specific primers for C. variabilis and M. conductrix that provided reliable results. One advantage of this approach was that the algae do not have to be isolated from their host. For a comparative study, we investigated 19 strains of P. bursaria from all over the world (new isolates and available laboratory strains) belonging to the five known syngens (R1–R5). Six European ciliate strains belonging to syngens R1 and R2 bore M. conductrix as endosymbiont whereas C. variabilis was discovered in syngens R1–R5 having worldwide origins. Our results reveal the first evidence of C. variabilis as endosymbiont in P. bursaria in Europe.
Nourished, Exposed Beaches Exhibit Altered Sediment Structure and Meiofaunal Communities
Authors: Fegley Stephen R. , Smith Julian P. S. , Johnson Douglas , Schirmer Amelia , Jones‐Boggs Jeremiah , Edmonds Austin , Bursey Joseph
Published: June 2020

To retain recreational uses and shoreline protection, a large proportion of ocean beaches have been, and continue to be, nourished. Adding sand from subtidal and terrestrial sources to nourish beaches rarely re-creates the original sediment structure of the beach. Numerous studies have demonstrated that meiofaunal communities are altered by changes in sediment composition in low-energy substrates, therefore, we have explored whether beach nourishment has affected exposed, ocean beach meiofaunal communities. Since the early 2000s, we have conducted a series of sampling and experimental studies on meiofauna and sediments on nourished beaches in coastal North Carolina USA that had been sampled previously in the early 1970s, prior to any beach nourishment. Most of our studies consider meiofauna at the level of major taxa only. However, a few studies examine free-living flatworm (turbellarian) species in detail because of the existence of historical studies examining this group. Comparison of contemporary results to historical data and of heavily nourished versus lightly nourished beaches reveals extensive changes to beach sediment structure and meiofaunal community composition, indicating that the beaches are a more heterogeneous habitat than in the past. The effects of these substantial physical and biological changes to the production of beach ecosystem services are unlikely to be inconsequential.
Detection of Parkinson’s Disease from 3T T1 Weighted MRI Scans Using 3D Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Chakraborty Sabyasachi , Aich Satyabrata , Kim Hee-Cheol
Published: June 2020

Parkinson’s Disease is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the aging population and is caused by a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). With the onset of the disease, the patients suffer from mobility disorders such as tremors, bradykinesia, impairment of posture and balance, etc., and it progressively worsens in the due course of time. Additionally, as there is an exponential growth of the aging population in the world the number of people suffering from Parkinson’s Disease is increasing and it levies a huge economic burden on governments. However, until now no therapeutic method has been discovered for completely eradicating the disease from a person’s body after it’s onset. Therefore, the early detection of Parkinson’s Disease is of paramount importance to tackle the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in patients to serve them with a better life. In this study, 3T T1-weighted MRI scans were acquired from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) database of 406 subjects from baseline visit, where 203 were healthy and 203 were suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. Following data pre-processing, a 3D convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture was developed for learning the intricate patterns in the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans for the detection of Parkinson’s Disease. In the end, it was observed that the developed 3D CNN model performed superiorly by completely aligning with the hypothesis of the study and plotted an overall accuracy of 95.29%, average recall of 0.943, average precision of 0.927, average specificity of 0.9430, f1-score of 0.936, and Receiver Operating Characteristic—Area Under Curve (ROC-AUC) score of 0.98 for both the classes respectively.
Dry Eye in Systemic Sclerosis Patients: Novel Methods to Monitor Disease Activity
Authors: Gagliano Caterina , Visalli Elisa , Toro Mario Damiano , Amato Roberta , Panta Giovanni , Scollo Davide , Scandura Giovanni , Ficili Salvatore , Amato Giorgio , Benenati Alessia , Foti Roberta , Malaguarnera Giulia , Gagliano Giuseppe , Falsaperla Raffaele , Avitabile Teresio , Foti Rosario
Published: June 2020

Background: In systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, dry eye syndrome (DES) is the most frequent ocular feature. The aim of this study was to investigate ocular DES-related SSc patients and to establish any correlation with the severity of the disease. Methods: Retrospectively, data from 60 patients with SSc underwent ophthalmic examination, where non-invasive film tear break-up time (NIF-TBUT), tear film lipid layer thickness (LLT), anesthetic-free Schirmer test I, tear osmolarity measurement (TearLab System), and modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) data were collected. The visual analog scale (VAS) and Symptom Assessment in Dry Eye (SANDE) methods were utilized. The results were correlated with mRSS and the duration of SSc. Results: Severe DES occurred in 84% of cases, and was more severe in women. The eyelids were involved in 86.6%, secondary to meibomian gland disease (MGD). A direct correlation was found between the tear osmolarity (mean 328.51 ± 23.8 SD) and skin score (mRSS) (r = 0.79; p < 0.01). Significantly reduced NIF-TBUT, LLT, and Schirmer test I values were observed in the case of severe skin involvement. Conclusions: SSc patients show lipid tear dysfunction related to the severity and duration of the disease due to inflammation and the subsequent atrophy of the meibomian glands.
A CBCT Based Three-Dimensional Assessment of Mandibular Posterior Region for Evaluating the Possibility of Bypassing the Inferior Alveolar Nerve While Placing Dental Implants
Authors: Sghaireen Mohammed G. , Srivastava Kumar Chandan , Shrivastava Deepti , Ganji Kiran Kumar , Patil Santosh R. , Abuonq Anas , Mousa Mohammed Assayed , Dar-Odeh Najla , Sghaireen Ghazi M. , Kamal Mohammad Amjad , Alam Mohammad Khursheed
Published: June 2020

A high rate of nerve injury and related consequences are seen during implant placement in the posterior mandibular arch. An approach has been proposed to avoid nerve injury by dodging the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) while placing an implant. A prospective study with a total of 240 CBCT (cone beam computed tomography) images of patients with three dentate statuses, namely, edentulous (group I), partially edentulous (group II) and dentate (group III) were included in the study. The nerve path tracing was done on CBCT images with On-demand 3D software. The three dimensions, i.e., the linear distance from the outer buccal cortical plate to the inferior alveolar nerve (BCPN), linear distance from the outer lingual cortical plate to the inferior alveolar nerve (LCPN) and linear distance from the midpoint of the alveolar crest to the inferior alveolar nerve (ACN) were assessed. The data were presented and analyzed between variables using one-way ANOVA and independent t-test in SPSS version 21.LCPN of the right 1st premolar region (p < 0.05) was significantly different among the groups with edentulous subjects recorded with the minimum value (6.50 ± 1.20 mm). Females were found to have significantly (p < 0.05) less available bone (6.03 ± 1.46 mm) on the right side of the mandibular jaw compared to males in edentulous group of patients. On comparing age groups for partially edentulous subjects, LCPN of the right 1st premolar region had significantly (p < 0.05) less available bone (6.03 ± 0.38 mm) in subjects with age ≥54 years. The IAN follows a lingual course in the molar region and later flips to the buccal side in the premolar region. The LCPN dimension in the 1st and 2nd premolar region was found to be more than 6 mm irrespective of age, gender and side of the jaw. Thus, it can be considered as a suitable site for placing implants while bypassing the IAN with CBCT assessment remaining as the mainstay in the pre-surgical phase.
Constructal Design of Elliptical Cylinders with Heat Generating for Entropy Generation Minimization
Authors: Wang Rong , Xie Zhihui , Yin Yong , Chen Lingen
Published: June 2020

A heat dissipation model of discrete elliptical cylinders with heat generation on a thermal conduction pedestal cooled by forced convection is established. Constructal design is conducted numerically by taking the distributions of thermal conductivity and heat generating intensity as design variables, the dimensionless entropy generation rate (DEGR) as performance indicator. The optimal designs for discrete elliptical cylinders with heat generating are obtained respectively, i.e., there are optimal distributions of heat generating intensity with its fixed total amount of heat sources, and there are optimal distributions of thermal conductivity with its fixed total amount of heat sources. These optimums for minimum DEGRs are different at different Reynolds numbers of airflow. The heat generating intensity can be decreased one by one appropriately in the fluid flow direction to achieve the best effect. When the Reynolds number of airflow is smaller, the thermal conductivity of heat source can be increased one by one appropriately in the fluid flow direction to achieve the best effect; when the Reynolds number of airflow is larger, the thermal conductivity of each heat source should be equalized to achieve the best effect. The results can give thermal design guidelines for the practical heat generating devices with different materials and heat generating intensities.
Entropy Wake Law for Streamwise Velocity Profiles in Smooth Rectangular Open Channels
Authors: Mirauda Domenica , Russo Maria Grazia
Published: June 2020

In narrow open channels, the three-dimensional nature of the flow and the transport momentum from the sidewalls to the central region cause the maximum longitudinal velocity to occur below the water surface. The entropy model is unable to accurately describe the velocities near the free surface when the dip phenomenon exists. The present paper proposes a new dip-modified entropy law for steady open channel flows, which consists of three additional terms: the first one similar to Coles’ function; the second one linearly proportional to the logarithmic distance from the free surface; and the third one depending on the cubic correction near the maximum velocity. The validity of the new model was tested on a set of laboratory measurements carried out in a straight rectangular flume with smooth boundaries and for different values of water discharge, bottom slope, and aspect ratio. A detailed error analysis showed good agreement with the data measured through the present research and a more accurate prediction of the velocity-dip-position compared with the one evaluated through the original entropy model. In addition, the modified entropy wake law matched very well with other literature data collected in rectangular cross-sections with different flow conditions.
Exergy-Based Analysis and Optimization of an Integrated Solar Combined-Cycle Power Plant
Authors: Elmorsy Louay , Morosuk Tatiana , Tsatsaronis George
Published: June 2020

The transition towards higher shares of electricity generation from renewable energy sources is shown to be significantly slower in developing countries with low-cost fossil fuel resources. Integrating conventional power plants with concentrated solar power may facilitate the transition towards a more sustainable power production. In this paper, a novel natural gas-fired integrated solar combined-cycle power plant was proposed, evaluated, and optimized with exergy-based methods. The proposed system utilizes the advantages of combined-cycle power plants, direct steam generation, and linear Fresnel collectors to provide 475 MW baseload power in Aswan, Egypt. The proposed system is found to reach exergetic efficiencies of 50.7% and 58.1% for day and night operations, respectively. In economic analysis, a weighted average levelized cost of electricity of 40.0 $/MWh based on the number of day and night operation hours is identified. In exergoeconomic analysis, the costs of thermodynamic inefficiencies were identified and compared to the component cost rates. Different measures for component cost reduction and performance enhancement were identified and applied. Using iterative exergoeconomic optimization, the levelized cost of electricity is reduced to a weighted average of 39.2 $/MWh and a specific investment cost of 1088 $/kW. Finally, the proposed system is found to be competitive with existing integrated solar combined-cycle plants, while allowing a significantly higher solar share of 17% of the installed capacity.
Shannon Entropy as an Indicator for Sorting Processes in Hydrothermal Systems
Authors: van Ruitenbeek Frank J. A. , Goseling Jasper , Bakker Wim H. , Hein Kim A. A.
Published: June 2020

Hydrothermal processes modify the chemical and mineralogical composition of rock. We studied and quantified the effects of hydrothermal processes on the composition of volcanic rocks by a novel application of the Shannon entropy, which is a measure of uncertainty and commonly applied in information theory. We show here that the Shannon entropies calculated on major elemental chemical composition data and short-wave infrared (SWIR) reflectance spectra of hydrothermally altered rocks are lower than unaltered rocks with a comparable primary composition. The lowering of the Shannon entropy indicates chemical and spectral sorting during hydrothermal alteration of rocks. The hydrothermal processes described in this study present a natural mechanism for transforming energy from heat to increased order in rock. The increased order is manifest as the increased sorting of chemical elements and SWIR absorption features of the rock, and can be measured and quantified by the Shannon entropy. The results are useful for the study of hydrothermal mineral deposits, early life environments and the effects of hydrothermal processes on rocks.