bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Capillary Underfill Flow Simulation as a Design Tool for Flow-Optimized Encapsulation in Heterogenous Integration
Authors: Stencel Lisa Christin , Strogies Jörg , Müller Bernd , Knofe Rüdiger , Borwieck Carsten , Heimann Matthias
Published: October 2023

As the power electronics landscape evolves, pushing for greater vertical integration, capillary underfilling is considered a versatile encapsulation technique suited for iterative development cycles of innovative integration concepts. Since a defect-free application is critical, this study proposes a capillary two-phase flow simulation, predicting both the flow pattern and velocity with remarkable precision and efficiency. In a preliminary performance evaluation, Volume of Fluid (VOF) outperforms the Level-Set method in terms of accuracy and computation time. Strategies like HRIC blending, artificial viscosity, and implicit Multi-Stepping prove effective in optimizing the numerical VOF scheme. Digital mapping using physical experiments and virtual simulations validates transient flow predictions, achieving excellent agreement with deviations as low as 1.48–3.34%. The accuracy of flow predictions is thereby greatly influenced by non-Newtonian viscosity characteristics in the low shear range and time-dependent contact angle variations. The study further explores flow manipulation concepts, focusing on local flow speed adjustment, gap segmentation, and the use of arcuate shapes to influence interface confluence near the chip. Experimental validation corroborates the effectiveness of each design intervention. In conclusion, this research highlights the potential of predictive engineering to develop flow-optimized package designs that enhance reliability while supporting high manufacturing yields.
Active Adjustment of the Subreflector Shape for the Large Dual-Reflector Antenna
Authors: Xiang Binbin , Zheng Tianxiang , Wang Wei , Lian Peiyuan , Kazezkhan Guljaina , Zhou Jianping , Li Kai
Published: October 2023

A shape adjustment method for subreflectors based on minimizing the residual wavefront error of the large dual-reflector antenna is presented. This method is used to compensate for the antenna structural deformation caused by environment loading. The shape of the subreflector is adjusted using actuators fixed under the panels. The shape adjustment response function for the subreflector shape and the actuators’ adjustment amount is established, which is based on the inverse distance weighting function, and then the control function of the subreflector shape is obtained. The actuators’ adjustment amount can be calculated using the least squares matrix transformation with the minimum residual wavefront error. Analysis of the experiment’s results shows the residual wavefront error and primary aberration are greatly reduced under different elevation angles, and the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified.
A Survey of the Thermal Analysis of Implanted Antennas for Wireless Biomedical Devices
Authors: Alemaryeen Ala , Noghanian Sima
Published: October 2023

Wireless implantable biomedical devices (IBDs) are emerging technologies used to enhance patient treatment and monitoring. The performance of wireless IBDs mainly relies on their antennas. Concerns have emerged regarding the potential of wireless IBDs to unintentionally cause tissue heating, leading to potential harm to surrounding tissue. The previous literature examined temperature estimations and specific absorption rates (SAR) related to IBDs, mainly within the context of thermal therapy applications. Often, these studies consider system parameters such as frequency, input power, and treatment duration without isolating their individual impacts. This paper provides an extensive literature review, focusing on key antenna design parameters affecting heat distribution in IBDs. These parameters encompass antenna design, treatment settings, testing conditions, and thermal modeling. The research highlights that input power has the most significant impact on localized temperature, with operating frequency ranked as the second most influential factor. While emphasizing the importance of understanding tissue heating and optimizing antennas for improved power transfer, these studies also illuminate existing knowledge gaps. Excessive tissue heat can lead to harmful effects such as vaporization, carbonization, and irreversible tissue changes. To ensure patient safety and reduce expenses linked to clinical trials, employing simulation-driven approaches for IBD antenna design and optimization is essential.
Salt Crystallization on Crazannes Limestone in a Long-Term Storage Environment
Authors: Vazquez Patricia , Lux Jerome
Published: October 2023

This study focuses on the damage caused by salt crystallization and the associated weathering processes in Crazannes limestone during storage. The main objective was to understand the factors contributing to the limestone’s observed flaking and granular disintegration, which cannot be attributed to frequent salt crystallization cycles experienced in outdoor exposure. Porosity and chemical analyses were performed to identify the salt minerals and their distribution within the stone’s microstructure. Chemical analyses revealed the presence of gypsum on the powdery weathered residues and stone surface, while halite was consistently found throughout the samples, with higher concentrations on the surface. The storage of the blocks in a closed room led to moisture evaporation and an increase in relative humidity (RH) ranging from 60% to 75%. Under these conditions, the gypsum crust remained relatively stable. The threshold for halite crystallization decreased to 65% RH in the presence of other salts. Consequently, even slight fluctuations in RH (%) caused by seasonal variations could induce cycles of NaCl crystallization and dissolution, resulting in damage behind the gypsum crust that protects the surface. Despite gypsum and halite not being the most aggressive salts, the porous nature of Crazannes limestone made it highly susceptible to salt-induced deterioration, leading to significant damage during storage, even with a minimal number of cycles. These results highlight the importance of controlling the storage conditions when stones are contaminated by salts.
Connecting Obsidian Artifacts with Their Sources Using Multivariate Statistical Analysis of LIBS Spectral Signatures
Authors: Harmon Russell S. , Throckmorton Chandra S. , Haverstock Greg , Baron Dirk , Yohe Robert M. , Hark Richard R. , Knott Jeffrey R.
Published: October 2023

With the recent introduction of handheld instruments for field use, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is emerging as a practical technology for real-time in situ geochemical analysis in the field. LIBS is a form of optical emission spectroscopy that is simultaneously sensitive to all elements with a single laser shot so that a broadband LIBS spectrum can be considered a diagnostic geochemical fingerprint. Sets of LIBS spectra were collected for seven obsidian centers across north-central California, with data processed using multivariate statistical analysis and pattern recognition techniques. Although all obsidians exhibit similar bulk compositions, different regional obsidian sources were effectively discriminated via partial least squares discriminant analysis. Obsidian artifacts from seven archaeological sites were matched to their putative sources with a high degree of confidence.
Promotion Mechanism of Ammonium Formate in Ammonium Salt Leaching Process for Weathered Crust Elution-Deposited Rare Earth Ores
Authors: Gao Xing , Ma Yongwei , Zhou Fang , Zhang Qutian , Zhang Dandan , Yu Junxia , Chi Ruan
Published: October 2023

Weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ores (WREOs) are significant strategic mineral resources. In industry, in situ leaching technology is usually applied with ammonium chloride and ammonium sulfate as the leaching solution. However, the slow seepage velocity of the leaching solution and low rare earth leaching efficiency still need to be improved. Ammonium formate can effectively improve the WREO leaching process. In order to further explore the effects of ammonium formate on the ammonium salt leaching process for WREOs, ammonium chloride and ammonium sulfate compounded with ammonium formate were used as leaching agents to determine their effects on leaching efficiency, seepage velocity and swelling. The results show that in the presence of ammonium formate, the rare earth leaching efficiencies with ammonium chloride and ammonium sulfate are both slightly increased, the seepage velocity of ammonium chloride and ammonium sulfate is increased by 1.67 × 10−4 cm·s−1 and 1.18 × 10−4 cm·s−1, and the swelling percentage falls by 0.14% and 0.37%, respectively. The thickness of the adsorbed water layer and thermogravimetric and XRD results confirm that ammonium formate can inhibit surface hydration and thus improve the WREO leaching process.
Recent Work on the Recovery of Rare Earths Using Ionic Liquids and Deep Eutectic Solvents
Authors: Alguacil Francisco Jose , Robla Jose Ignacio
Published: October 2023

With the development of smart technologies, the use of rare-earth elements (REEs) has been widespread; thus, their importance as valuable and strategic metals has been boosted to levels never known before. Due to their scarcity in the Earth’s crust, the recovery of these elements from secondary resources has also witnessed further developments. Traditional pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processing techniques, though widely used in the recovery of these REEs, have some environmental drawbacks; thus, new recovery approaches are under development. Here, Solvometallurgy has emerged as an environmentally friendly technology, and ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents have turned out to be first-line chemicals to be used in the different unit operations employed in solvometallurgical processing, i.e., leaching, liquid–liquid extraction, ion exchange (adsorption), precipitation, and electrolysis. This manuscript reviews the most recent literature (2002–June 2023) concerning the use of ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents in the recovery of REEs from various sources.
Functional Nanomaterials for Optoelectronics and Photocatalysis
Authors: Rauwel Protima , Rauwel Erwan
Published: October 2023

The present energy crisis has encouraged the use of energy-efficient devices and green energy sources [...]
A Solar-Driven Oil–Water Separator with Fluorescence Sensing Performance
Authors: Li Xin , Lin Wei , Petrescu Florian Ion Tiberiu , Li Jia , Wang Likui , Zhu Haiyan , Wang Haijun , Shi Gang
Published: October 2023

Presently, the separation of oil and water through functional membranes inevitably entails either inefficient gravity-driven processes or energy-intensive vacuum pressure mechanisms. This study introduces an innovative photothermal evaporator that uses solar energy to drive oil–water separation while concurrently facilitating the detection of Fe3+ in wastewater. First, by alkali delignification, small holes were formed on the side wall of the large size tubular channel in the direction of wood growth. Subsequently, superhydrophilic SiO2 nanoparticles were in situ assembled onto the sidewalls of the tubular channels. Finally, carbon quantum dots were deposited by spin-coating on the surface of the evaporator, paralleling the growth direction of the wood. During the photothermal evaporation process, the tubular channels with small holes in the side wall parallel the bulk water, which not only ensures the effective water supply to the photothermal surface but also reduces the heat loss caused by water reflux on the photothermal surface. The superhydrophilic SiO2 nanoparticles confer both hydrophilic and oleophobic properties to the evaporator, preventing the accumulation of minute oil droplets within the device and achieving sustained and stable oil–water separation over extended periods. These carbon quantum dots exhibit capabilities for both photothermal conversion and fluorescence transmission. This photothermal evaporator achieves an evaporation rate as high as 2.3 kg m−2 h−1 in the oil–water separation process, and it has the ability to detect Fe3+ concentrations in wastewater as low as 10−9 M.
Vitamin D and Child Neurodevelopment—A Post Hoc Analysis
Authors: Rodgers Megan D. , Mead Molly J. , McWhorter Caroline A. , Ebeling Myla D. , Shary Judy R. , Newton Danforth A. , Baatz John E. , Gregoski Mathew J. , Hollis Bruce W. , Wagner Carol L.
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Vitamin D (VitD) has been shown to impact neurodevelopment. Studies have shown that higher 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations (the indicator of vitD status) may be associated with better neurodevelopmental outcomes, although current data are conflicting. This study examined the relationship between total circulating 25(OH)D concentrations and neurodevelopmental outcomes in 3–5-year-old (3–5 yo) children. Methods: In this study, pregnant women were randomized to receive 400 (standard dose), 2000, or 4000 IU vitD3/day. Offspring then underwent the Brigance Screen at 3–5 yo. The 25(OH)D concentration was measured at birth and 3–5 yo. Relationships between Brigance scores and 25(OH)D and Brigance scores and vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) genotype were examined. Results: Higher 25(OH)D at the time of testing was associated with better overall performance on neurodevelopmental testing as measured by the Brigance quotient (B = 0.208, p = 0.049). Scores were then broken down into sub-scores. Children born to mothers in the 2000 IU/day group scored higher on the Brigance language component of the assessment versus the standard dose group (B = 4.667, p = 0.044). The group of children who had the Gc1f-1s or Gc1f-2 genotypes scored higher on the Brigance academic component (B = 9.993, p < 0.001) and lower on the Brigance language component versus the 1f1f genotype (B = −9.313, p < 0.001). Children with the Gc1s-1s, Gc1s-2, or Gc2-2 genotypes also scored lower than the Gc1f-1f genotype (B = −6.757, p = 0.003). Conclusion: These results suggest that higher 25(OH)D concentrations early in life and higher doses of maternal vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy may have a positive association with neurodevelopmental outcomes. This study also suggests that the VDBP genotype is associated with neurodevelopment and differentially affects various fields of neurodevelopment.
Cultural Adaptation, Validation and Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of an Obstetric Violence Scale in the Spanish Context
Authors: González-de la Torre Héctor , González-Artero Paula Nikola , Muñoz de León-Ortega Daniel , Lancha-de la Cruz María Reyes , Verdú-Soriano José
Published: October 2023

Obstetric violence refers to dehumanized or derogative treatment of women in their pregnancy, childbirth or postpartum periods and may be manifested in different ways. Currently, there is no tool validated in Spain to measure women’s perception of obstetric violence. The objective of this study was to carry out the cultural adaptation and validation of an existing 14-item obstetric violence scale in the Spanish context and to evaluate its psychometric properties. The research was conducted in two phases: first, a methodological study designed to evaluate content validity, through assessments by eight experts (calculating the Aiken V coefficient) and face validity in a sample of 20 women; second, a cross-sectional study to evaluate construct validity (through confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis), divergent validity against a scale of birth satisfaction, known-groups validity and, finally, reliability. In Phase 1, Aiken V values higher than 0.71 were obtained for all items. Phase 2 was conducted on a sample of 256 women and the fit values for the unidimensional model were RMSEA: 0.070 (95% CI: 0.059–0.105) and GFI: 0.982 (95% CI: 0.823–0.990). The Rasch analysis indicated poor performance of item 2, which was removed. The Omega and Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients were 0.863 and 0.860, respectively. A final 13-item version of the Obstetric Violence Scale was produced, with a total score ranging from 0 (no obstetric violence perception) to 52 (maximum obstetric violence perception). The Obstetric Violence Scale is a reliable and useful tool to measure women’s perception of obstetric violence. This study was not registered.
Pasteurella Multocida Infection in Humans
Authors: Piorunek Marcin , Brajer-Luftmann Beata , Walkowiak Jarosław
Published: October 2023

Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida) is an immobile, anaerobic, Gram-negative coccobacillus fermenting bacterium. This pathogen is commonly prevalent in the upper airways of healthy pets, such as cats and dogs, but was also confirmed in domestic cattle, rabbits, pigs, birds, and various wild animals. Infection in humans occurs as a result of biting, scratching, or licking by animals and contact with nasopharyngeal secretions. Inflammation at the site of infection develops within the first day from the injury. It is usually confined to the skin and subcutaneous tissue but, in particular situations, may spread to other organs and manifest as a severe systemic infection. Careful history-taking and microbiological confirmation of the infection enable diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Any wound resulting from an animal bite should be disinfected. The preferred and highly effective treatment against local P. multocida infection is penicillin or its derivatives. The prognosis for P. multocida infections depends on the infected site and the patient’s comorbidities.
Navigating the Chemical Space and Chemical Multiverse of a Unified Latin American Natural Product Database: LANaPDB
Authors: Gómez-García Alejandro , Jiménez Daniel A. Acuña , Zamora William J. , Barazorda-Ccahuana Haruna L. , Chávez-Fumagalli Miguel Á. , Valli Marilia , Andricopulo Adriano D. , Bolzani Vanderlan da S. , Olmedo Dionisio A. , Solís Pablo N. , Núñez Marvin J. , Rodríguez Pérez Johny R. , Valencia Sánchez Hoover A. , Cortés Hernández Héctor F. , Medina-Franco José L.
Published: October 2023

The number of databases of natural products (NPs) has increased substantially. Latin America is extraordinarily rich in biodiversity, enabling the identification of novel NPs, which has encouraged both the development of databases and the implementation of those that are being created or are under development. In a collective effort from several Latin American countries, herein we introduce the first version of the Latin American Natural Products Database (LANaPDB), a public compound collection that gathers the chemical information of NPs contained in diverse databases from this geographical region. The current version of LANaPDB unifies the information from six countries and contains 12,959 chemical structures. The structural classification showed that the most abundant compounds are the terpenoids (63.2%), phenylpropanoids (18%) and alkaloids (11.8%). From the analysis of the distribution of properties of pharmaceutical interest, it was observed that many LANaPDB compounds satisfy some drug-like rules of thumb for physicochemical properties. The concept of the chemical multiverse was employed to generate multiple chemical spaces from two different fingerprints and two dimensionality reduction techniques. Comparing LANaPDB with FDA-approved drugs and the major open-access repository of NPs, COCONUT, it was concluded that the chemical space covered by LANaPDB completely overlaps with COCONUT and, in some regions, with FDA-approved drugs. LANaPDB will be updated, adding more compounds from each database, plus the addition of databases from other Latin American countries.
Chitosan-PEG Gels Loaded with Jatropha mollissima (Pohl) Baill. Ethanolic Extract: An Efficient and Effective Biomaterial in Hemorrhage Control
Authors: Rodrigues José F. B. , Queiroz João V. S. de A. , Medeiros Rebeca P. , Santos Rafaela O. , Fialho Djair A. , Neto João E. S. , Santos Rogério L. dos , Barbosa Rossemberg C. , Sousa Wladymyr J. B. , Torres Maria da C. de M. , Medeiros Luanna A. D. M. , Silva Suédina M. de L. , Montazerian Maziar , Fook Marcus V. L. , Amoah Solomon K. S.
Published: October 2023

A lack of control over blood loss can have catastrophic implications, including death. Although several hemostatic medications have been employed to reduce bleeding, a vast majority of them are ineffective, expensive, or pose health risks to the patient. To overcome these constraints, chitosan-polyethylene glycol (CS-PEG) hemostatic gels loaded with ethanolic extract of Jatropha mollissima sap (EES) were prepared and their hemostatic, physicochemical, and cytotoxic properties were evaluated. The gels were produced by mixing CS with PEG (an external plasticizer) and EES. The phytochemical analysis revealed a significant concentration of total polyphenols and tannins content in the extract and catechin was identified as one of the key compounds of EES. Infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed the presence of EES in the gels, as well as the chemical interaction between CS and PEG. The gels were thermally stable between 25 and 37 °C (ambient and human body temperature range), had pseudoplastic deformation behavior (rheological properties preserved after shearing), were simple to inject (compression force 30 N), and were biocompatible. In vivo experiments showed that both CS-PEG-EES gels exhibited greater hemostatic action in preventing tail hemorrhage in Wistar rats, with decreased bleeding time and blood weight compared with unloaded CS-PEG gels (control groups) and Hemostank, a commercial product. However, the gel prepared with acetic acid was more efficient in controlling bleeding. These findings reveal that CS-PEG-EES gels can reduce hemorrhages and are a potent, simple, and safe hemostatic agent.
Strategies to Enhance the Solubility and Bioavailability of Tocotrienols Using Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery System
Authors: Mohamad Nur-Vaizura
Published: October 2023

Tocotrienols have higher medicinal value, with multiple sources of evidence showing their biological properties as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and osteoprotective compounds. However, tocotrienol bioavailability presents an ongoing challenge in its translation into viable products. This is because tocotrienol oil is known to be a poorly water-soluble compound, making it difficult to be absorbed into the body and resulting in less effectiveness. With the potential and benefits of tocotrienol, new strategies to increase the bioavailability and efficacy of poorly absorbed tocotrienol are required when administered orally. One of the proposed formulation techniques was self-emulsification, which has proven its capacity to improve oral drug delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs by advancing the solubility and bioavailability of these active compounds. This review discusses the updated evidence on the bioavailability of tocotrienols formulated with self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDSs) from in vivo and human studies. In short, SEDDSs formulation enhances the solubility and passive permeability of tocotrienol, thus improving its oral bioavailability and biological actions. This increases its medicinal and commercial value. Furthermore, the self-emulsifying formulation presents a useful dosage form that is absorbed in vivo independent of dietary fats with consistent and enhanced levels of tocotrienol isomers. Therefore, a lipid-based formulation technique can provide an additional detailed understanding of the oral bioavailability of tocotrienols.
Prediction of Phytochemicals for Their Potential to Inhibit New Delhi Metallo β-Lactamase (NDM-1)
Authors: Bibi Zainab , Asghar Irfa , Ashraf Naeem Mahmood , Zeb Iftikhar , Rashid Umer , Hamid Arslan , Ali Maria Kanwal , Hatamleh Ashraf Atef , Al-Dosary Munirah Abdullah , Ahmad Raza , Ali Muhammad
Published: October 2023

The effectiveness of all antibiotics in the β-lactam group to cure bacterial infections has been impaired by the introduction of the New Delhi Metallo-β-lactamase (NDM-1) enzyme. Attempts have been made to discover a potent chemical as an inhibitor to this enzyme in order to restore the efficacy of antibiotics. However, it has been a challenging task to develop broad-spectrum inhibitors of metallo-β-lactamases. Lack of sequence homology across metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs), the rapidly evolving active site of the enzyme, and structural similarities between human enzymes and metallo-β-lactamases, are the primary causes for the difficulty in the development of these inhibitors. Therefore, it is imperative to concentrate on the discovery of an effective NDM-1 inhibitor. This study used various in silico approaches, including molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, to investigate the potential of phytochemicals to inhibit the NDM-1 enzyme. For this purpose, a library of about 59,000 phytochemicals was created from the literature and other databases, including FoodB, IMPPAT, and Phenol-Explorer. A physiochemical and pharmacokinetics analysis was performed to determine possible toxicity and mutagenicity of the ligands. Following the virtual screening, phytochemicals were assessed for their binding with NDM-1using docking scores, RMSD values, and other critical parameters. The docking score was determined by selecting the best conformation of the protein–ligand complex. Three phytochemicals, i.e., butein (polyphenol), monodemethylcurcumin (polyphenol), and rosmarinic acid (polyphenol) were identified as result of pharmacokinetics and molecular docking studies. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations were performed to determine structural stabilities of the protein–ligand complexes. Monodemethylcurcumin, butein, and rosmarinic acid were identified as potential inhibitors of NDM-1 based on their low RMSD, RMSF, hydrogen bond count, average Coulomb–Schrödinger interaction energy, and Lennard–Jones–Schrödinger interaction energy. The present investigation suggested that these phytochemicals might be promising candidates for future NDM-1 medication development to respond to antibiotic resistance.
Formulation and Characterization of Curcumin Niosomes: Antioxidant and Cytotoxicity Studies
Authors: Ghumman Shazia Akram , Ijaz Amna , Noreen Sobia , Aslam Afeefa , Kausar Rizwana , Irfan Ali , Latif Sumera , Shazly Gamal A. , Shah Pervaiz Akhtar , Rana Maria , Aslam Asma , Altaf Momina , Kotwica-Mojzych Katarzyna , Bin Jardan Yousef A.
Published: October 2023

Curcumin’s applications in the treatment of conditions including osteoarthritis, dementia, malignancies of the pancreas, and malignancies of the intestines have drawn increasing attention. It has several wonderful qualities, including being an anti-inflammatory agent, an anti-mutagenic agent, and an antioxidant, and has substantially reduced inherent cytotoxicity outcomes. Although curcumin possesses multiple known curative properties, due to its limited bioavailability, it is necessary to develop efficient strategies to overcome these hurdles. To establish an effective administration method, various niosomal formulations were optimized using the Box–Behnken design and assessed in the current investigation. To examine the curcumin niosomes, zeta sizer, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, SEM, antioxidant potential, cytotoxicity, and release studies were performed. The optimized curcumin niosomes exhibited an average particle size of 169.4 nm, a low PDI of 0.189, and high entrapment efficiency of 85.4%. The release profile showed 79.39% curcumin after 24 h and had significantly higher antioxidant potential as compared with that of free curcumin. The cytotoxicity results of curcumin niosomes presented increased mortality in human ovarian cancer A2780.
Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Cancer Treatment: Cell Responses and the Potency to Improve Radiosensitivity
Authors: Shestovskaya Maria V. , Luss Anna L. , Bezborodova Olga A. , Makarov Valentin V. , Keskinov Anton A.
Published: October 2023

The main concept of radiosensitization is making the tumor tissue more responsive to ionizing radiation, which leads to an increase in the potency of radiation therapy and allows for decreasing radiation dose and the concomitant side effects. Radiosensitization by metal oxide nanoparticles is widely discussed, but the range of mechanisms studied is not sufficiently codified and often does not reflect the ability of nanocarriers to have a specific impact on cells. This review is focused on the magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles while they occupied a special niche among the prospective radiosensitizers due to unique physicochemical characteristics and reactivity. We collected data about the possible molecular mechanisms underlying the radiosensitizing effects of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) and the main approaches to increase their therapeutic efficacy by variable modifications.
Effects on Colonization Factors and Mechanisms Involved in Antimicrobial Sonophotodynamic Inactivation Mediated by Curcumin
Authors: Alves Fernanda , Pratavieira Sebastião , Inada Natália Mayumi , Barrera Patiño Claudia Patricia , Kurachi Cristina
Published: October 2023

Photodynamic (PDI) and sonodynamic (SDI) inactivation have been successfully employed as antimicrobial treatments. Moreover, sonophotodynamic inactivation (SPDI), which is the simultaneous application of PDI and SDI, has demonstrated greater effects. This study assessed the effects of PDI (PDI group), SDI (SDI group) and SPDI (SPDI group) using curcumin as a sensitizer on the metabolism, adhesion capability, biofilm formation ability and structural effects in a Staphylococcus aureus biofilm. Moreover, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the degradation spectrum of curcumin under the irradiation sources were measured. SPDI was more effective in inactivating the biofilm than PDI and SDI. All treatments reduced the adhesion ability of the bacteria: 58 ± 2%, 58 ± 1% and 71 ± 1% of the bacterial cells adhered to the polystyrene plate after the SPDI, SDI and PDI, respectively, when compared to 79 ± 1% of the untreated cells (control group). This result is probably related to the metabolism cell reduction after treatments. The metabolism of cells from the PDI group was 89 ± 1% lower than the untreated cells, while the metabolic activity of SDI and SPDI groups were 82 ± 2% and 90 ± 1% lower, respectively. Regarding the biofilm formation ability, all treatments (SPDI, SDI and PDI) reduced the total biomass. The total biomass of the PDI, SDI and SPDI groups were 26 ± 2%, 31 ± 5% and 35 ± 6% lower than the untreated biofilm (control group), respectively. Additionally, all treatments produced ROS and caused significant structural changes, reducing cells and the extracellular matrix. The light caused a greater absorbance decay of the curcumin; however, the US did not expressively alter its spectrum. Finally, SPDI had improved antimicrobial effects, and all treatments exhibited similar effects in the colonization factors evaluated.
The Combination of Predictive Factors of Pharmacokinetic Origin Associates with Enhanced Disease Control during Treatment of Pediatric Crohn’s Disease with Infliximab
Authors: Dubinsky Marla C. , Rabizadeh Shervin , Panetta John C. , Spencer Elizabeth A. , Everts-van der Wind Annelie , Dervieux Thierry
Published: October 2023

Infliximab (IFX) concentrations are a predictive factor (PF) of pharmacokinetic (PK) origin in the treatment of Crohn’s disease (CD). We evaluated Clearance, another PF of PK origin, either alone or in combination with concentrations. They were evaluated from two cohorts, the first designed to receive standard dosing (n = 37), and the second designed to proactively target therapeutic IFX concentrations (n = 108). Concentrations were measured using homogeneous mobility shift assay. Clearance was estimated using the nonlinear mixed effects methods with Bayesian priors. C-reactive protein-based clinical remission (<3 mg/L in the absence of symptoms) was used for the disease control outcome measure. Longitudinal changes in disease control due to factors including time, IFX concentration, and Clearance were analyzed using repeated event analysis. Change in objective function value (∆OFV) was calculated to compare concentration and Clearance. The results indicated that lower baseline Clearance and proactive dosing associated with enhanced disease control during induction (p < 0.01). Higher IFX concentrations and lower Clearance measured at the second, third, and fourth infusion yielded improved disease control during maintenance (p < 0.032). During maintenance, the association with disease control was better with Clearance than with concentrations (∆OFV = −19.2; p < 0.001), and the combination of both further minimized OFV (p < 0.001) with markedly improved clinical yield in the presence of both PF of PK origin. We conclude that the combination of IFX concentration and Clearance are better predictors of therapeutic outcome compared with either one alone.
Mucoadhesive Alginate/Pectin Films Crosslinked by Calcium Carbonate as Carriers of a Model Antifungal Drug—Posaconazole
Authors: Szekalska Marta , Czajkowska-Kośnik Anna , Maciejewski Bartosz , Misztalewska-Turkowicz Iwona , Wilczewska Agnieszka Zofia , Bernatoniene Jurga , Winnicka Katarzyna
Published: October 2023

The mucosal membrane of the oral cavity, due to its unique structure and availability, constitutes an appropriate site for the delivery of drugs, both with local and systemic effects. Mucoadhesive buccal films are drug dosage forms that due to their convenience of application, flexibility and size, are characterized by patients’ compliance. Sodium alginate and pectin are natural polymers from the polysaccharides group, with mucoadhesive properties, that are widely applied to obtain buccal films. However, their hydrophilic nature and poor water resistance limit their application in sustained drug release formulations. Hence, the aim of this investigation was to design alginate/pectin buccal films by a one-step crosslinking technique—with the application of calcium carbonate. This technique was applied to prepare crosslinked alginate and alginate/pectin mucoadhesive films with a model antifungal drug—posaconazole. The obtained formulations were evaluated for the impact of crosslinking and pectin’s presence on their pharmaceutical, mucoadhesive, mechanical and physicochemical properties. Additionally, the antifungal activity of the prepared films against Candida spp. was evaluated. It was shown that pectin’s presence in the formulations improved flexibility, mucoadhesion and antifungal activity. The crosslinking process reduced mucoadhesiveness and antifungal activity but significantly enhanced the mechanical properties and stability and enabled prolonged drug release.
Acute and Sub-Chronic Intraperitoneal Toxicity Studies of the Elsholtzia ciliata Herbal Extract in Balb/c Mice
Authors: Mačianskienė Regina , Zigmantaitė Vilma , Andriulė Inga , Pangonytė Dalia , Sadauskienė Ilona , Arandarčikaitė Odeta , Stankevičius Arūnas , Grigas Juozas , Pautienius Arnoldas , Treinys Rimantas , Navalinskas Antanas , Grigalevičiūtė Ramunė , Kučinskas Audrius , Pudžiuvelytė Lauryna , Bernatonienė Jurga , Jurevičius Jonas
Published: October 2023

Elsholtzia ciliata essential oil (E. ciliata) has been reported to have an impact on the cardiovascular system. However, its toxicity remains unknown. Therefore, the objective of this investigation was to evaluate the toxicological aspects of the E. ciliata extract. Male Balb/c mice were subjected to either acute (a single dose administered for 24 h) or sub-chronic (daily dose for 60 days) intraperitoneal injections of the E. ciliata extract. The mice were assessed for blood hematological/biochemical profiles, mitochondrial functions, and histopathological changes. Additionally, in vitro cytotoxicity assessments of the E. ciliata extract were performed on immobilized primate kidney cells (MARC-145, Vero) and rat liver cells (WBF344) to evaluate cell viability. The control groups received an equivalent volume of olive oil or saline. Our results demonstrated no significant detrimental effects on hematological and biochemical parameters, mitochondrial functions, cellular cytotoxicity, or pathological alterations in vital organs following the intraperitoneal administration of the E. ciliata extract over the 60-day sub-chronic toxicity study. In general, E. ciliata displayed no indications of toxicity, suggesting that the E. ciliata extract is a safe natural product with a well-defined therapeutic and protective index (found to be 90 and 54, respectively) in Balb/c mice.
Nitrogen-Activated CLV3/ESR-Related 4 (CLE4) Regulates Shoot, Root, and Stolon Growth in Potato
Authors: Gancheva Maria S. , Lutova Lyudmila A.
Published: October 2023

In potato, high levels of nitrogen (N) can lead to excessive vegetative growth at the expense of tuber development, resulting in lower yield and poor-quality tubers. We found that Solanum tuberosum CLE4 (StCLE4) is expressed most strongly in the roots grown in N-rich media, and it positively regulates potato root growth under N-deficient conditions. We noted that StCLE4 functions as a negative regulator of normal shoot apex development similar to CLV3 in Arabidopsis. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that overexpression of StCLE4 resulted in the repression of the StIT1 gene, a regulator of potato tuber initiation. StCLE4-overexpressing stolons were converted into branches, that were similar to a mild phenotype of the it1 (identity of tuber 1) mutant. We also found that NIN-like proteins, key regulators of nitrate signaling bind to the regulatory sequence of StIT1 in a yeast one-hybrid assay. Taken together, our findings suggest that StCLE4 regulates shoot, root, and stolon growth in potato.
Study on the Tensile Behavior of Woven Non-Woven PLA/OLA/MgO Electrospun Fibers
Authors: Leonés Adrián , Peponi Laura , García-Martínez Jesús-María , Collar Emilia P.
Published: October 2023

The present work deeply studied the mechanical behavior of woven non-woven PLA/OLA/MgO electrospun fibers, efibers, by using Box–Wilson surface response methodology. This work follows up a previous one where both the diameters and the thermal response of such efibers were discussed in terms of both the different amounts of magnesium oxide nanoparticles, MgO, as well as of the oligomer (lactic acid), OLA, used as plasticizer. The results of both works, in term of diameters, degree of crystallinity, and mechanical response, can be strongly correlated to each other, as reported here. In particular, the strain mechanism of PLA/OLA/MgO efibers was studied, showing an orientation of efibers parallel to the applied stress and identifying the mechanically weakest points that yielded the start of the breakage of efibers. Moreover, we identified 1.5 wt% as the critical amount of MgO, above which the plasticizing effect of OLA was weaker as the amount of both components increased. Moreover, the minimum elastic modulus value took place at 15 wt% of OLA, in agreement with the previously reported convergence point in the evolution of the degree of crystallinity. Regarding the yield point, a concentration of OLA between 20 and 30 wt% led to a slight improvement in the yielding capability in terms of tensile strength in comparison with neat PLA efibers. Therefore, the approach presented here permits the design of tailor-made electrospun nanocomposites with specific mechanical requirements.
Biodegradation of Choline NTF2 by Pantoea agglomerans in Different Osmolarity. Characterization and Environmental Implications of the Produced Exopolysaccharide
Authors: Concepción Abrusci , Ricardo Amils , Enrique Sánchez-León
Published: October 2023

A specific microorganism, Pantoea agglomerans uam8, was isolated from the ionic liquid (IL) Choline NTF2 and identified by molecular biology. A biodegradation study was performed at osmolarity conditions (0.2, 0.6, 1.0 M). These had an important influence on the growth of the strain, exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, and biodegradation (1303 mg/L max production and 80% biodegradation at 0.6 M). These conditions also had an important influence on the morphology of the strain and its EPSs, but not in the chemical composition. The EPS (glucose, mannose and galactose (6:0.5:2)) produced at 0.6 M was further characterized using different techniques. The obtained EPSs presented important differences in the behavior of the emulsifying activity for vegetable oils (olive (86%), sunflower (56%) and coconut (90%)) and hydrocarbons (diesel (62%), hexane (60%)), and were compared with commercial emulsifiers. The EPS produced at 0.6 M had the highest emulsifying activity overall. This EPS did not show cytotoxicity against the tested cell line (<20%) and presented great advantages as an antioxidant (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical (DPPH) (85%), hydroxyl radical (OH) (99%), superoxide anion (O2−) (94%), chelator (54%), and antimicrobial product (15 mm). The osmolarity conditions directly affected the capacity of the strain to biodegrade IL and the subsequently produced EPS. Furthermore, the EPS produced at 0.6 M has potential for environmental applications, such as the removal of hazardous materials by emulsification, whilst resulting in positive health effects such as antioxidant activity and non-toxicity.
Preparation of Thermoplastic Cellulose Esters in [mTBNH][OAC] Ionic Liquid by Transesterification Reaction
Authors: Tarasova Elvira , Savale Nutan , Krasnou Illia , Kudrjašova Marina , Rjabovs Vitalijs , Reile Indrek , Vares Lauri , Kallakas Heikko , Kers Jaan , Krumme Andres
Published: October 2023

The transesterification of cellulose with vinyl esters in ionic liquid media is suggested as a prospective environmentally friendly alternative to conventional esterification. In this study, various long-chain cellulose esters (laurate, myristate, palmitate, and stearate) with a degree of substitution (DS) up to 1.8 have been synthesized in novel distillable ionic liquid, [mTBNH][OAC]. This IL has high dissolving power towards cellulose, which can improve homogeneous transesterification. Additionally, [mTBNH][OAC] has durability towards recycling and can be regenerated and re-used again for the next cycles of esterification. DMSO is used as a co-solvent because of its ability to speed up mass transport due to lower solvent viscosity. The optimization of the reaction parameters, such as co-solvent content, temperature (20–80 °C), reaction time (1–5 h), and a molar ratio of reactants (1–5 eq. AGU) is reported. It was found that within studied reaction conditions, DS increases with increasing reaction time, temperature, and added vinyl esters. Structure analysis using FTIR, 1H, and 13C NMR after acylation revealed the introduction of the alkyl chains into cellulose for all studied samples. The results also suggested that the substitution order of the OH group is C7-O6 > C7-O2 > C7-O3. Unique, complex thermal and rheological investigation of the cellulose esters shows the growth of an amorphous phase upon the degree of substitution. At the same time, the homogeneous substitution of cellulose with acyl chains increases the melt viscosity of a material. Internal plasticization in cellulose esters was found to be the mechanism for the melt processing of the material. Long-chain cellulose esters show the potential to replace commonly used externally plasticized cellulose derivatives.
Evaluation of Physicochemical Properties of a Hydroxyapatite Polymer Nanocomposite for Use in Fused Filament Fabrication
Authors: Nguyen Ngoc Mai , Kakarla Akesh Babu , Nukala Satya Guha , Kong Cin , Baji Avinash , Kong Ing
Published: October 2023

Over the last decade, there has been an increasing interest in the use of bioceramics for biomedical purposes. Bioceramics, specifically those made of calcium phosphate, are commonly used in dental and orthopaedic applications. In this context, hydroxyapatite (HA) is considered a viable option for hard tissue engineering applications given its compositional similarity to bioapatite. However, owing to their poor mechanobiology and biodegradability, traditional HA-based composites have limited utilisation possibilities in bone, cartilage and dental applications. Therefore, the efficiency of nano HA (nHA) has been explored to address these limitations. nHA has shown excellent remineralising effects on initial enamel lesions and is widely used as an additive for improving existing dental materials. Furthermore, three-dimensional printing (3DP) or fused deposition modelling that can be used for creating dental and hard tissue scaffolds tailored to each patient’s specific anatomy has attracted considerable interest. However, the materials used for producing hard tissue with 3DP are still limited. Therefore, the current study aimed to develop a hybrid polymer nanocomposite composed of nHA, nanoclay (NC) and polylactic acid (PLA) that was suitable for 3DP. The nHA polymer nanocomposites were extruded into filaments and their physiochemical properties were evaluated. The results showed that the addition of nHA and NC to the PLA matrix significantly increased the water absorption and contact angle. In addition, the hardness increased from 1.04 to 1.25 times with the incorporation of nHA. In sum, the nHA-NC-reinforced PLA could be used as 3DP filaments to generate bone and dental scaffolds, and further studies are needed on the biocompatibility of this material.
On Dreams, Human Imagination, and Technology
Authors: Škof Lenart
Published: October 2023

In this paper, I reflect on human imagination, the intention of technology, and the future of humanity in the era of the Anthropocene. I begin by presenting the environmental crisis and declare a need to protect and safeguard nature. In the first part, I offer an explanation of a dream of an airliner and link it to the Bachelardian theory of aerial imagination and oneiric flight. I show how, today, technology has entered our lives profoundly and how it has become closely intertwined with us human beings. Based on this, the second part is dedicated to Martin Heidegger and his question concerning technology. By analyzing Heidegger’s seminal essay on technology, I argue for an alternative possibility of thinking about human artefacts (such as various tools or even an airliner) beyond them being merely a standing-reserve and thus rather as a mode of unconcealement. The third and last part of this essay is dedicated to Ilia Delio’s Teilhardian cosmic vision of the future of technological progress. Technology, for Delio, is a part of this cosmic narrative and human beings represent the thinking portion of the universe. I conclude with a thought on a new elemental consciousness and imagination, in which nature, its life force, and the most advanced technology, including AI, would become a part of a new panentheistic whole.