bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dual Optimized Sulfonated Polyethersulfone and Functionalized Multiwall Carbon Tube Based Composites High Fouling Resistance Membrane for Protein Separation
Authors: Irfan Muhammad , Irfan Masooma , Idris Ani , Alsubaie Abdullah Saad , Mahmoud Khaled H. , Yusof Noordin Mohd , Akhtar Naeem
Published: March 2022

Commercial grade sulfonated-Polyethersulfone (S-PES) and functionalized multiwall carbon nanotube (f-MWCNT)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanocomposites (NCs) were used to enhance and optimize the antifouling, protein resistance and protein separation properties of the S-PES ultrafiltration membranes. The polarities of sulfonic groups of S-PES, carbonyl carbon of pyrrolidone, hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of f-MWCNT in the membrane composition helped to strongly bind each other through hydrogen bonding, as shown by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). These binding forces greatly reduced the leaching of NCs and developed long finger-like projection, as confirmed by elution ratio and cross-sectional studies of the membranes via field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The contact angle was reduced up to 48% more than pristine PES. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to study the various parameters of surface roughness with 3d diagrams, while grain analysis of membrane surface provided a quantitative estimation about volume, area, perimeter, length, radius and diameter. The NCs/S-PES enhanced the flux rate with an impressive (80–84%) flux recovery ratio and (58–62%) reversible resistance (Rr) value in situ, with 60% and 54.4% lesser dynamic and static protein adsorption. The best performing membrane were reported to remove 31.8%, 66.3%, 83.6% and 99.9% for lysozyme-(14.6 kDa), trypsin-(20 kDa), pepsin-(34.6 kDa) and bovine serum albumin (BSA-66 kDa), respectively.
Lithium Salt Catalyzed Ring-Opening Polymerized Solid-State Electrolyte with Comparable Ionic Conductivity and Better Interface Compatibility for Li-Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhang Wei , Yoon Sujin , Jin Lei , Lim Hyunmin , Jeon Minhyuk , Jang Hohyoun , Ahmed Faiz , Kim Whangi
Published: March 2022

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries have drawn extensive attention owing to increasing demands in applications from portable electronic devices to energy storage systems. In situ polymerization is considered one of the most promising approaches for enabling interfacial issues and improving compatibility between electrolytes and electrodes in batteries. Herein, we observed in situ thermally induced electrolytes based on an oxetane group with LiFSI as an initiator, and investigated structural characteristics, physicochemical properties, contacting interface, and electrochemical performances of as-prepared SPEs with a variety of technologies, such as FTIR, 1H-NMR, FE-SEM, EIS, LSV, and chronoamperometry. The as-prepared SPEs exhibited good thermal stability (stable up to 210 °C), lower activation energy, and high ionic conductivity (>0.1 mS/cm) at 30 °C. Specifically, SPE-2.5 displayed a comparable ionic conductivity (1.3 mS/cm at 80 °C), better interfacial compatibility, and a high Li-ion transference number. The SPE-2.5 electrolyte had comparable coulombic efficiency with a half-cell configuration at 0.1 C for 50 cycles. Obtained results could provide the possibility of high ionic conductivity and good compatibility through in situ polymerization for the development of Li-ion batteries.
Formation of Widmanstätten Ferrite and Grain Boundary Ferrite in a Hypereutectoid Pearlitic Steel
Authors: Zhao Sixin , Min Na , Li Wei
Published: March 2022

Accompanied by the formation of pearlite, Widmanstätten ferrite (WF), grain boundary ferrite and cementite are often found to nucleate at the prior austenite grain boundary during isothermal heat treatment. A hypereutectoid pearlitic steel transformed isothermally at temperatures ranging from 607 to 707 °C was investigated to clarify the evolution of different phases. At 607 °C, WF grains, which had a Kurdjumov–Sachs orientation relationship with the remaining austenite, were found to be aligned with the grain boundary. At 707 °C, lath WF grains, which were arranged parallel to each other, were at a certain angle to the grain boundary. The formation of pearlite showed two-stage kinetics in the dilatometer curve, and the grain boundary’s abnormal structure was suppressed.
Recent Progress with BCC-Structured High-Entropy Alloys
Authors: Liu Fangfei , Liaw Peter , Zhang Yong
Published: March 2022

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) prefer to form single-phase solid solutions (body-centered cubic (BCC), face-centered cubic (FCC), or hexagonal closed-packed (HCP)) due to their high mixing entropy. In this paper, we systematically review the mechanical behaviors and properties (such as oxidation and corrosion) of BCC-structured HEAs. The mechanical properties at room temperature and high temperatures of samples prepared by different processes (including vacuum arc-melting, powder sintering and additive manufacturing) are compared, and the effect of alloying on the mechanical properties is analyzed. In addition, the effects of HEA preparation and compositional regulation on corrosion resistance, and the application of high-throughput techniques in the field of HEAs, are discussed. To conclude, alloy development for BCC-structured HEAs is summarized.
Selection of Higher Order Lamb Wave Mode for Assessment of Pipeline Corrosion
Authors: Cirtautas Donatas , Samaitis Vykintas , Mažeika Liudas , Raišutis Renaldas , Žukauskas Egidijus
Published: March 2022

Hidden corrosion defects can lead to dangerous accidents such as leakage of toxic materials causing extreme environmental and economic consequences. Ultrasonic guided waves showed good potential detecting distributed corrosion in pipeline networks at sufficiently large distances. To simplify signal analysis, traditional guided wave methods use low frequencies where only fundamental modes exist; hence, the small, localized defects are usually barely detectable. Novel techniques frequently use higher order guided wave modes that propagate around the circumference of the pipe and are more sensitive to the localized changes in the wall thickness. However current high order mode guided wave technology commonly uses either non-dispersive shear modes or higher order mode cluster (HOMC) waves that are mostly sensitive to surface defects. As the number of application cases of high order modes to corrosion detection is still limited, a huge potential is available to seek for other modes that can offer improved resolution and sensitivity to localized corrosion type defects. The objective of this work was to investigate higher order modes for corrosion detection and to determine the most promising ones in sense of excitability, leakage losses, propagation distance, and potential simplicity in the analysis. The selection of the proper mode is discussed with the support of phase and group velocity dispersion curves, out of plane and in plane distributions over the thickness and on surface of the sample, and leakage losses due to water load. The analysis led to selection of symmetric S3 mode, while the excitation of it was demonstrated through finite element simulations, taking into account the size of phased array aperture and apodization law and considering two-sided mode generation. Finally, theoretical estimations were confirmed with experiments, demonstrating the ability to generate and receive selected mode. It was shown that S3 mode is a good candidate for corrosion screening around the circumference of the pipe, as it has sufficient propagation distance, can be generated with conventional ultrasonic (UT) phased arrays, has sufficiently high group velocity to be distinguished from co-existing modes, and is sensitive to the loss of wall thickness.
Experimental and Numerical Simulation of the Dynamic Response of a Stiffened Panel Suffering the Impact of an Ice Indenter
Authors: Yu Tongqiang , Wang Jiaxia , Liu Junjie , Liu Kun
Published: March 2022

At a laboratory scale, the response of a stiffened panel subjected to the impact of an ice indenter was studied by both experimental and numerical means. The experiment was conducted using a Falling Weight Impact Tester, and the impact force and deformation data of the stiffened panel were measured and recorded. The experimental results showed that the ice indenter could cause significant indentation to the stiffened panel and experienced severe crushing and scattering itself. Finite element analysis was performed to reproduce the structural deformations in an appropriate manner, and a constitutive model with a multisurface yield criterion and a dynamic empirical failure criterion for ice material was developed. Good agreement was obtained, and the influences of various parameters in the constitutive model and the performance of other different material models are discussed. The purpose of this study is to present an experimental and numerical study on a scenario of high-energy collision between a hull structure and an ice block, the conclusions of which can be very useful for studying ship-ice collisions and guiding engineering applications.
Numerical Study on the Influence of Distributing Chamber Volume on Metallurgical Effects in Two-Strand Induction Heating Tundish
Authors: Yang Bin , Deng Anyuan , Kang Xiaolei , Duan Pengfei , Wang Engang
Published: March 2022

Reducing the volume of distributing chamber by shortening its width is one of the ways to obtain good metallurgical effects for a large two-strand induction heating tundish. A multi-field coupling numerical model was established to figure out the effect of distributing chamber volume on the flow field, temperature field of molten steel, and removal of inclusions. Three tundishes with distributing chamber widths of 1.216 m (tundish A), 0.838 m (tundish B), and 0.606 m (tundish C) were modeled. The results indicated that reducing the width of the distributing chamber from 1.216 m to 0.838 and 0.606 m could improve the fastest heating rate from 0.4 K/min to 0.6 and 0.8 K/min and reduce the energy consumption from 476 kWh to 444 and 434 kWh. The temperature fluctuation of molten steel in the distributing chamber rose with the decrease in distributing chamber volume during the continuous casting process. Besides, tundish B performs the best temperature uniformity. The flow field in the distributing chamber was no longer symmetrical, and a short-circuit flow appeared when the width was reduced to 0.606 m. As a result, the floating ratio and removal ratio of inclusions decreased and the ratio of inclusions flowing into the mold sharply increased in tundish C. When the width was reduced from 1.216 to 0.838 m, the floating ratio of inclusions had little change and the removal ratio increased slightly. The floating efficiency increased with the decrease in the volume of distributing chamber, and the removal efficiency is the highest in tundish B. Taken together, tundish B should be adopted.
Matching Drug Metabolites from Non-Targeted Metabolomics to Self-Reported Medication in the Qatar Biobank Study
Authors: Suhre Karsten , Stephan Nisha , Zaghlool Shaza , Triggle Chris R. , Robinson Richard J. , Evans Anne M. , Halama Anna
Published: March 2022

Modern metabolomics platforms are able to identify many drug-related metabolites in blood samples. Applied to population-based biobank studies, the detection of drug metabolites can then be used as a proxy for medication use or serve as a validation tool for questionnaire-based health assessments. However, it is not clear how well detection of drug metabolites in blood samples matches information on self-reported medication provided by study participants. Here, we curate free-text responses to a drug-usage questionnaire from 6000 participants of the Qatar Biobank (QBB) using standardized WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classification System codes and compare the occurrence of these ATC terms to the detection of drug-related metabolites in matching blood plasma samples from 2807 QBB participants for which we collected non-targeted metabolomics data. We found that the detection of 22 drug-related metabolites significantly associated with the self-reported use of the corresponding medication. Good agreement of self-reported medication with non-targeted metabolomics was observed, with self-reported drugs and their metabolites being detected in a same blood sample in 79.4% of the cases. On the other hand, only 29.5% of detected drug metabolites matched to self-reported medication. Possible explanations for differences include under-reporting of over-the-counter medications from the study participants, such as paracetamol, misannotation of low abundance metabolites, such as metformin, and inability of the current methods to detect them. Taken together, our study provides a broad real-world view of what to expect from large non-targeted metabolomics measurements in population-based biobank studies and indicates areas where further improvements can be made.
Machine Vision-Based Method for Measuring and Controlling the Angle of Conductive Slip Ring Brushes
Authors: Li Junye , Li Jun , Wang Xinpeng , Tian Gongqiang , Fan Jingfeng
Published: March 2022

The conductive slip ring is used for power or signal transmission between two objects rotating relative to each other. It has become an essential part of modern industrial development. In traditional automated production measurements, the typical method is to use calipers, goniometers, or angle gauges to measure a parameter of the workpiece several times and then average it. These inspection means have low measurement accuracy and slow measurement speed, and measurement data cannot be processed in a timely manner. A machine vision-based method for measuring and controlling the angle of the brushes is proposed for this problem. First, the brush angle forming device was built for the conductive slip ring brush wire, forming the principle and rebound characteristics. Then, machine vision and image processing algorithms were applied to measure the key parts of the conductive slip ring brushes. The data of the forming angle value and rebound angle value were obtained during the forming process of the brush wire angle. Finally, a pre-compensation model for the brush filament rebound was developed and validated based on the curve fitting method. The test results show that the error of the angle measurement is within 0.05°. The average error of the measured rebound angle and the calculated rebound angle of the brush filament pre-compensation model was 0.112°, which verifies the correctness of the pre-compensation model. The forming angle can be controlled more precisely, and the contact performance between the brush wire and the ring body can be improved effectively. This method has the potential to be extended to engineering applications.
Observations on Detonation Growth of Lead Azide at Microscale
Authors: Mu Yunfei , Zhang Wei , Shen Ruiqi , Ye Yinghua
Published: March 2022

Lead azide (LA) is a commonly used primary explosive, the detonation growth of which is difficult to study because it is so sensitive and usually has a small charge size in applications. We used photon Doppler velocimetry (PDV) and calibrated polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) gauges to reveal the detonation growth in LA, which was pressed in the confinements with controlled heights. The particle-velocity profiles, output pressure, unsteady detonation velocity, reaction time, and reaction-zone width were obtained and analyzed. Three phases of detonation propagation of LA microcharges are discussed. The volume reactions occur at the beginning of detonation in LA microcharges without forming complete shock profiles. Then the shock front is fast with a slow chemistry reaction zone, which is compressed continuously between the height of 0.8 mm and 2.5 mm. Finally, the steady detonation is built at a height of 2.5 mm. The stable detonation velocity and CJ pressure are 4726 ± 8 m/s and 17.12 ± 0.22 GPa. Additionally, the stable reaction zone time and width are 44 ± 7 ns and 148 ± 11 μm. The detailed detonation process has not previously been quantified in such a small geometry.
High-Resolution Genotyping Unveils Identical Ampicillin-Resistant Enterococcus faecium Strains in Different Sources and Countries: A One Health Approach
Authors: Freitas Ana R. , Tedim Ana P. , Almeida-Santos Ana C. , Duarte Bárbara , Elghaieb Houyem , Abbassi Mohamed S. , Hassen Abdennaceur , Novais Carla , Peixe Luísa
Published: March 2022

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterococcus faecium (Efm) infections continue to increase worldwide, although epidemiological studies remain scarce in lower middle-income countries. We aimed to explore which strains circulate in E. faecium causing human infections in Tunisian healthcare institutions in order to compare them with strains from non-human sources of the same country and finally to position them within the global E. faecium epidemiology by genomic analysis. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed and transfer of vancomycin-vanA and ampicillin-pbp5 resistance was performed by conjugation. WGS-Illumina was performed on Tunisian strains, and these genomes were compared with Efm genomes from other regions present in the GenBank/NCBI database (n = 10,701 Efm genomes available May 2021). A comparison of phenotypes with those predicted by the recent ResFinder 4.1-CGE webtool unveiled a concordance of 88%, with discordant cases being discussed. cgMLST revealed three clusters [ST18/CT222 (n = 13), ST17/CT948 strains (n = 6), and ST203/CT184 (n = 3)], including isolates from clinical, healthy-human, retail meat, and/or environmental sources in different countries over large time spans (10–12 years). Isolates within each cluster showed similar antibiotic resistance, bacteriocin, and virulence genetic patterns. pbp5-AmpR was transferred by VanA-AmpR-ST80 (clinical) and AmpR-ST17-Efm (bovine meat). Identical chromosomal pbp5-platforms carrying metabolic/virulence genes were identified between ST17/ST18 strains of clinical, farm animal, and retail meat sources. The overall results emphasize the role of high-resolution genotyping as provided by WGS in depicting the dispersal of MDR-Efm strains carrying relevant adaptive traits across different hosts/regions and the need of a One Health task force to curtail their spread.
Ivermectin Does Not Protect against SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the Syrian Hamster Model
Authors: Foo Caroline S. , Abdelnabi Rana , Vangeel Laura , De Jonghe Steven , Jochmans Dirk , Weynand Birgit , Neyts Johan
Published: March 2022

Ivermectin, an FDA-approved antiparasitic drug, has been reported to have in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2. Increased off-label use of ivermectin for COVID-19 has been reported. We here assessed the effect of ivermectin in Syrian hamsters infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Beta (B.1.351) variant. Infected animals received a clinically relevant dose of ivermectin (0.4 mg/kg subcutaneously dosed) once daily for four consecutive days after which the effect was quantified. Ivermectin monotherapy did not reduce lung viral load and even significantly worsened SARS-CoV-2-induced lung pathology. Additionally, it did not potentiate the activity of molnupiravir (LagevrioTM) when combined with this drug. This study contributes to the growing body of evidence that ivermectin does not result in a beneficial effect in the treatment of COVID-19. These findings are important given the increasing, dangerous off-label use of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19.
Removal of Aqueous Cu2+ by Amorphous Calcium Carbonate: Efficiency and Mechanism
Authors: Liao Zisheng , Wu Shijun , Zhang Hanxiao , Chen Fanrong
Published: March 2022

Crystalline calcium carbonate (CaCO3, such as calcite) could scavenge aqueous metals via adsorption and coprecipitation. As a precursor to crystalline CaCO3, amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) is poorly understood on metals removal. Herein, we synthesized silica-stabilized ACC and investigated its Cu2+ removal efficiency and mechanism. The results showed that the Cu2+ removal efficiency by ACC is controlled by the initial solution pH, initial Cu2+ concentration, contacting time, and ACC dosage. The maximum Cu2+ removal capacity was 543.4 mg/g at an ACC dosage of 1 g/L, an initial pH of 5.0, an initial Cu2+ concentration of 1000 mg/L, and an equilibrium time of 20 h. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope with an energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS) revealed that Cu2+ precipitated as paratacamite (Cu2(OH)3Cl, space group: R3¯) at an ACC dosage of 1 g/L, whereas botallackite (Cu2(OH)3Cl, space group: P21/m) was the Cu-bearing product for crystalline calcite using the same dosage as ACC. However, Cu2+ preferred to incorporate into calcite, which is transformed from ACC at high ACC loading (such as 4 g/L). Our results demonstrated that the crystallinity and dosage of CaCO3 could control the Cu2+ removal mechanism.
Study on the Activity of Metakaolin Produced by Traditional Rotary Kiln in China
Authors: Cao Rongchuan , Fang Zheng , Jin Man , Shang Yu
Published: March 2022

This paper analyzed the activity of coal-based metakaolin and non-coal-based metakaolin (ordinary metakaolin) commonly used in the Chinese market. The content of kaolin was detected by XPF. The phases of kaolin, metakaolin and corresponding alkali-excited reactants were detected by XRD. The contents of Al (IV), Al (V) and Al (VI) in kaolin and metakaolin were analyzed by 27Al NMR. The micromorphology of kaolin and metakaolin were observed by SEM. The water-resistance of alkali-activated metakaolin was tested by immersion experiment. The results showed that a lot of corundum and quartz were present in the coal-based metakaolin, which was caused by over calcination. Furthermore, large amounts of sillimanite, quartz and cristobalite existed in ordinary metakaolin with a low content of amorphous aluminum silicate, which was caused by excessive impurities in the raw materials and over calcination. These crystalline substances could not react in an alkali solution, and their existence reduced the activity of the two metakaolins. Both of the two metakaolin production methods need to be improved to increase the activity.
Phytochemicals of Avocado Residues as Potential Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors, Antioxidants, and Neuroprotective Agents
Authors: da Silva Geisa Gabriela , Pimenta Lúcia Pinheiro Santos , Melo Júlio Onésio Ferreira , Mendonça Henrique de Oliveira Prata , Augusti Rodinei , Takahashi Jacqueline Aparecida
Published: March 2022

Avocado (Persea americana) is a widely consumed fruit and a rich source of nutrients and phytochemicals. Its industrial processing generates peels and seeds which represent 30% of the fruit. Environmental issues related to these wastes are rapidly increasing and likely to double, according to expected avocado production. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the potential of hexane and ethanolic peel (PEL-H, PEL-ET) and seed (SED-H, SED-ET) extracts from avocado as sources of neuroprotective compounds. Minerals, total phenol (TPC), total flavonoid (TF), and lipid contents were determined by absorption spectroscopy and gas chromatography. In addition, phytochemicals were putatively identified by paper spray mass spectrometry (PSMS). The extracts were good sources of Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, ω-6 linoleic acid, and flavonoids. Moreover, fifty-five metabolites were detected in the extracts, consisting mainly of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and alkaloids. The in vitro antioxidant capacity (FRAP and DPPH), acetylcholinesterase inhibition, and in vivo neuroprotective capacity were evaluated. PEL-ET was the best acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, with no significant difference (p > 0.05) compared to the control eserine, and it showed neither preventive nor regenerative effect in the neuroprotection assay. SED-ET demonstrated a significant protective effect compared to the control, suggesting neuroprotection against rotenone-induced neurological damage.
A Helquat-like Compound as a Potent Inhibitor of Flaviviral and Coronaviral Polymerases
Authors: Konkolova Eva , Krejčová Kateřina , Eyer Luděk , Hodek Jan , Zgarbová Michala , Fořtová Andrea , Jirasek Michael , Teply Filip , Reyes-Gutierrez Paul , Růžek Daniel , Weber Jan , Boura Evzen
Published: March 2022

Positive-sense single-stranded RNA (+RNA) viruses have proven to be important pathogens that are able to threaten and deeply damage modern societies, as illustrated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, compounds active against most or many +RNA viruses are urgently needed. Here, we present PR673, a helquat-like compound that is able to inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV-2 and tick-borne encephalitis virus in cell culture. Using in vitro polymerase assays, we demonstrate that PR673 inhibits RNA synthesis by viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRps). Our results illustrate that the development of broad-spectrum non-nucleoside inhibitors of RdRps is feasible.
Natural Polyphenols for the Preservation of Meat and Dairy Products
Authors: Ullah Hammad , Hussain Yaseen , Santarcangelo Cristina , Baldi Alessandra , Di Minno Alessandro , Khan Haroon , Xiao Jianbo , Daglia Maria
Published: March 2022

Food spoilage makes foods undesirable and unacceptable for human use. The preservation of food is essential for human survival, and different techniques were initially used to limit the growth of spoiling microbes, e.g., drying, heating, salting, or fermentation. Water activity, temperature, redox potential, preservatives, and competitive microorganisms are the most important approaches used in the preservation of food products. Preservative agents are generally classified into antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-browning agents. On the other hand, artificial preservatives (sorbate, sulfite, or nitrite) may cause serious health hazards such as hypersensitivity, asthma, neurological damage, hyperactivity, and cancer. Thus, consumers prefer natural food preservatives to synthetic ones, as they are considered safer. Polyphenols have potential uses as biopreservatives in the food industry, because their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities can increase the storage life of food products. The antioxidant capacity of polyphenols is mainly due to the inhibition of free radical formation. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of plants and herbs is mainly attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds. Thus, incorporation of botanical extracts rich in polyphenols in perishable foods can be considered since no pure polyphenolic compounds are authorized as food preservatives. However, individual polyphenols can be screened in this regard. In conclusion, this review highlights the use of phenolic compounds or botanical extracts rich in polyphenols as preservative agents with special reference to meat and dairy products.
Molecular and Pharmacological Evidence for the Expression of Multiple Functional P2 Purinergic Receptors in Human Adipocytes
Authors: Rossato Marco , Favaretto Francesca , Granzotto Marnie , Crescenzi Marika , Boscaro Alessandra , Di Vincenzo Angelo , Capone Federico , Dalla Nora Edoardo , Zabeo Eva , Vettor Roberto
Published: March 2022

Extracellular ATP exerts important functions as an extracellular signaling molecule via the activation of specific P2 purinergic receptors (P2X and P2Y). We investigated the expression of the different P2 receptors and their possible functional activation in human adipocytes in primary culture. We performed molecular expression analysis of the P2 receptors in human mature adipocytes; examined their functional activation by different nucleotides evaluating [Ca2+]i modifications and IL-6 secretion, and determined the ability of adipocytes to release ATP in the extracellular medium. Human adipocytes express different P2X and P2Y receptors. Extracellular ATP elicited a rise in [Ca2+]i via the activation of P2X and P2Y receptor subtypes. Human adipocytes spontaneously released ATP in the extracellular medium and secreted IL-6 both at rest and after stimulation with ATP. This stimulatory effect of ATP on IL-6 secretion was inhibited by pre-incubation with apyrase, an ATP metabolizing enzyme. These results demonstrate that human adipocytes express different P2X and P2Y receptors that are functionally activated by extracellular nucleotides. Furthermore, human adipocytes spontaneously release ATP, which can act in an autocrine/paracrine fashion on adipocytes, possibly participating in the regulation of inflammatory cytokine release. Thus, P2 purinergic receptors could be a potential therapeutic target to contrast the inflammatory and metabolic complications characterizing obesity.
Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Cellulase Extraction from Nymphaea hybrid Flower and Biological Activities: Antioxidant Activity, Protective Effect against ROS Oxidative Damage in HaCaT Cells and Inhibition of Melanin Production in B16 Cells
Authors: Liu Hui-Min , Lei Sheng-Nan , Tang Wei , Xun Meng-Han , Zhao Zhi-Wei , Cheng Ming-Yan , Zhang Xiao-Dan , Wang Wei
Published: March 2022

In this study, ultrasonic-assisted cellulase extraction (UCE) was applied to extract flavonoids and polyphenols from the Nymphaea hybrid flower. The extraction conditions were optimized using the response surface method (RSM) coupled with a Box-Behnken design. The crude extract of Nymphaea hybrid (NHE) was further purified using AB-8 macroporous resins, and the purified extract (NHEP) was characterized by FTIR and HPLC. In vitro activity determination by chemical method showed that NHEP displayed strong free radical scavenging abilities against the DPPH and ABTS radicals, good reduction power, and hyaluronidase inhibition. The cell viability by CCK-8 assays showed that NHEP had no significant cytotoxicity for B16 and HaCaT cells when the concentration was below 100 μg/mL and 120 μg/mL, respectively. NHEP with a concentration of 20–160 μg/mL can more effectively reduce the ROS level in H2O2 damaged HaCaT cells compared with 10 μg/mL of VC. The 40 μg/mL of NHEP had similar activity against intracellular melanin production in the B16 melanoma cells compared with 20 μg/mL Kojic acid. Good activities of antioxidation, whitening and protective effect against H2O2-induced oxidative damage promote the potential for NHEP as a functional raw material in the field of cosmetics and medicine.
Thiazolidin-4-Ones as Potential Antimicrobial Agents: Experimental and In Silico Evaluation
Authors: Tratrat Christophe , Petrou Anthi , Geronikaki Athina , Ivanov Marija , Kostić Marina , Soković Marina , Vizirianakis Ioannis S. , Theodoroula Nikoleta F. , Haroun Michelyne
Published: March 2022

Herein, we report computational and experimental evaluations of the antimicrobial activity of twenty one 2,3-diaryl-thiazolidin-4-ones. All synthesized compounds exhibited an antibacterial activity against six Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria to different extents. Thus, the MIC was in the range of 0.008–0.24 mg/mL, while the MBC was 0.0016–0.48 mg/mL. The most sensitive bacterium was S. Typhimurium, whereas S. aureus was the most resistant. The best antibacterial activity was observed for compound 5 (MIC at 0.008–0.06 mg/mL). The three most active compounds 5, 8, and 15, as well as compound 6, which were evaluated against three resistant strains, MRSA, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli, were more potent against all bacterial strains used than ampicillin. The antifungal activity of some compounds exceeded or were equipotent with those of the reference antifungal agents bifonazole and ketoconazole. The best activity was expressed by compound 5. All compounds exhibited moderate to good drug-likeness scores ranging from −0.39 to 0.39. The docking studies indicated a probable involvement of E. coli Mur B inhibition in the antibacterial action, while CYP51 inhibition is likely responsible for the antifungal activity of the tested compounds. Finally, the assessment of cellular cytotoxicity of the compounds in normal human MRC-5 cells revealed that the compounds were not toxic.
The Protective Effects of Sour Orange (Citrus aurantium L.) Polymethoxyflavones on Mice Irradiation-Induced Intestinal Injury
Authors: Jiang Zixiao , Li Zhenqing , Wang Fengchao , Zhou Zhiqin
Published: March 2022

Sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.) is one of the biological sources of polymethoxyflavones (PMFs), which are often used to deal with gastrointestinal diseases. The intestine is highly sensitive to irradiation damage. However, limited certain cures have been released for irradiation-induced gastrointestinal injury, and the potentials of sour orange PMFs as radio-resistance agents have not been fully discussed yet. The present study aims to (1) investigate the PMF components in 12 sour orange cultivars, (2) determine the protective effects of PMFs on irradiation-induced intestinal injury by treating mice that received 12 Gy abdominal irradiation with different doses of PMFs and observing the changes in organ indexes and pathological sections and (3) test cytotoxicity of PMFs by CCK-8 method. The results showed that sour orange PMFs appeared to have high intraspecies similarity. Besides, PMFs protected mice from irradiation-induced injury by alleviating body weight loss, reliving organ index changing and maintaining the intestinal structure. Finally, IC50 concentrations to cell line CCD 841 CoN of PMFs and nobiletin were calculated as 42.23 μg/mL and 51.58 μg/mL, respectively. Our study uncovered PMF contents in 12 sour orange materials and determined the protective effects on irradiation-induced intestinal injuries, providing guidance for the utilization of sour orange resources.
Plasmonic Superstructure Arrays Fabricated by Laser Near-Field Reduction for Wide-Range SERS Analysis of Fluorescent Materials
Authors: Bai Shi , Hu Anming , Hu Youjin , Ma Ying , Obata Kotaro , Sugioka Koji
Published: March 2022

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) enables trace-detection for biosensing and environmental monitoring. Optimized enhancement of SERS can be achieved when the energy of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) is close to the energy of the Raman excitation wavelength. The LSPR can be tuned using a plasmonic superstructure array with controlled periods. In this paper, we develop a new technique based on laser near-field reduction to fabricate a superstructure array, which provides distinct features in the formation of periodic structures with hollow nanoclusters and flexible control of the LSPR in fewer steps than current techniques. Fabrication involves irradiation of a continuous wave laser or femtosecond laser onto a monolayer of self-assembled silica microspheres to grow silver nanoparticles along the silica microsphere surfaces by laser near-field reduction. The LSPR of superstructure array can be flexibly tuned to match the Raman excitation wavelengths from the visible to the infrared regions using different diameters of silica microspheres. The unique nanostructure formed can contribute to an increase in the sensitivity of SERS sensing. The fabricated superstructure array thus offers superior characteristics for the quantitative analysis of fluorescent perfluorooctanoic acid with a wide detection range from 11 ppb to 400 ppm.
Construction of N-CDs and Calcein-Based Ratiometric Fluorescent Sensor for Rapid Detection of Arginine and Acetaminophen
Authors: Qi Haiyan , Li Qiuying , Jing Jing , Jing Tao , Liu Chuntong , Qiu Lixin , Sami Rokayya , Helal Mahmoud , Ismail Khadiga Ahmed , Aljahani Amani H.
Published: March 2022

In our study, a unique ratiometric fluorescent sensor for the rapid detection of arginine (Arg) and acetaminophen (AP) was constructed by the integration of blue fluorescent N-CDs and yellowish-green fluorescent calcein. The N-CD/calcein ratiometric fluorescent sensor exhibited dual emission at 435 and 519 nm under the same excitation wavelength of 370 nm, and caused potential Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from N-CDs to calcein. When detecting Arg, the blue fluorescence from the N-CDs of the N-CD/calcein sensor was quenched by the interaction of N-CDs and Arg. Then, the fluorescence of our sensor was recovered with the addition of AP, possibly due to the stronger association between AP and Arg, leading to the dissociation of Arg from N-CDs. Meanwhile, we observed an obvious fluorescence change from blue to green, then back to blue, when Arg and AP were added, exhibiting the “on–off–on” pattern. Next, we determined the detection limits of the N-CD/calcein sensor to Arg and AP, which were as low as 0.08 μM and 0.02 μM, respectively. Furthermore, we discovered that the fluorescence changes of the N-CD/calcein sensor were only responsible for Arg and AP. These results suggested its high sensitivity and specificity for Arg and AP detection. In addition, we have successfully achieved its application in bovine serum samples, indicating its practicality. Lastly, the logic gate was generated by the N-CD/calcein sensor and presented its good reversibility. Overall, we have demonstrated that our N-CD/calcein sensor is a powerful sensor to detect Arg and AP and that it has potential applications in biological analysis and imaging.
Nanoparticle Aggregation and Thermophoretic Particle Deposition Process in the Flow of Micropolar Nanofluid over a Stretching Sheet
Authors: Yu Yangyang , Madhukesh Javali K. , Khan Umair , Zaib Aurang , Abdel-Aty Abdel-Haleem , Yahia Ibrahim S. , Alqahtani Mohammed S. , Wang Fuzhang , Galal Ahmed M.
Published: March 2022

The purpose of this research is to investigate the consequence of thermophoretic particle deposition (TPD) on the movement of a TiO2/water-based micropolar nanoliquid surface in the existence of a porous medium, a heat source/sink, and bioconvection. Movement, temperature, and mass transfer measurements are also performed in the attendance and nonappearance of nanoparticle aggregation. The nonlinear partial differential equations are transformed into a system of ordinary differential equations using appropriate similarity factors, and numerical research is carried out using the Runge-Kutta-Felhberg 4th/5th order and shooting technique. The obtained results show that improved values of the porous constraint will decline the velocity profile. Improvement in heat source/sink parameter directly affects the temperature profile. Thermophoretic parameter, bioconvection Peclet number, and Lewis number decrease the concentration and bioconvection profiles. Increases in the heat source/sink constraint and solid volume fraction will advance the rate of thermal dispersion. Nanoparticle with aggregation exhibits less impact in case of velocity profile, but shows a greater impact on temperature, concentration, and bioconvection profiles.
Growth and Strain Modulation of GeSn Alloys for Photonic and Electronic Applications
Authors: Kong Zhenzhen , Wang Guilei , Liang Renrong , Su Jiale , Xun Meng , Miao Yuanhao , Gu Shihai , Li Junjie , Cao Kaihua , Lin Hongxiao , Li Ben , Ren Yuhui , Li Junfeng , Xu Jun , Radamson Henry H.
Published: March 2022

GeSn materials have attracted considerable attention for their tunable band structures and high carrier mobilities, which serve well for future photonic and electronic applications. This research presents a novel method to incorporate Sn content as high as 18% into GeSn layers grown at 285–320 °C by using SnCl4 and GeH4 precursors. A series of characterizations were performed to study the material quality, strain, surface roughness, and optical properties of GeSn layers. The Sn content could be calculated using lattice mismatch parameters provided by X-ray analysis. The strain in GeSn layers was modulated from fully strained to partially strained by etching Ge buffer into Ge/GeSn heterostructures . In this study, two categories of samples were prepared when the Ge buffer was either laterally etched onto Si wafers, or vertically etched Ge/GeSnOI wafers which bonded to the oxide. In the latter case, the Ge buffer was initially etched step-by-step for the strain relaxation study. Meanwhile, the Ge/GeSn heterostructure in the first group of samples was patterned into the form of micro-disks. The Ge buffer was selectively etched by using a CF4/O2 gas mixture using a plasma etch tool. Fully or partially relaxed GeSn micro-disks showed photoluminescence (PL) at room temperature. PL results showed that red-shift was clearly observed from the GeSn micro-disk structure, indicating that the compressive strain in the as-grown GeSn material was partially released. Our results pave the path for the growth of high quality GeSn layers with high Sn content, in addition to methods for modulating the strain for lasing and detection of short-wavelength infrared at room temperature.
CoFeS2@CoS2 Nanocubes Entangled with CNT for Efficient Bifunctional Performance for Oxygen Evolution and Oxygen Reduction Reactions
Authors: Jeon Jaeeun , Park Kyoung Ryeol , Kim Kang Min , Ko Daehyeon , Han HyukSu , Oh Nuri , Yeo Sunghwan , Ahn Chisung , Mhin Sungwook
Published: March 2022

Exploring bifunctional electrocatalysts to lower the activation energy barriers for sluggish electrochemical reactions for both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are of great importance in achieving lower energy consumption and higher conversion efficiency for future energy conversion and storage system. Despite the excellent performance of precious metal-based electrocatalysts for OER and ORR, their high cost and scarcity hamper their large-scale industrial application. As alternatives to precious metal-based electrocatalysts, the development of earth-abundant and efficient catalysts with excellent electrocatalytic performance in both the OER and the ORR is urgently required. Herein, we report a core–shell CoFeS2@CoS2 heterostructure entangled with carbon nanotubes as an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for both the OER and the ORR. The CoFeS2@CoS2 nanocubes entangled with carbon nanotubes show superior electrochemical performance for both the OER and the ORR: a potential of 1.5 V (vs. RHE) at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 for the OER in alkaline medium and an onset potential of 0.976 V for the ORR. This work suggests a processing methodology for the development of the core–shell heterostructures with enhanced bifunctional performance for both the OER and the ORR.
Nutritional Profiles of Non-Dairy Plant-Based Cheese Alternatives
Authors: Craig Winston J. , Mangels A. Reed , Brothers Cecilia J.
Published: March 2022

With the growing interest in non-dairy products, there has been a surge of interest in consumers seeking plant-based cheese alternatives spurred by a desire to improve individual health and achieve a more sustainable food supply. The aim of this study was to conduct a cross-sectional survey of non-dairy cheese alternatives available in the United States and to evaluate their nutritional content. A total of 245 non-dairy plant-based cheese alternatives were analyzed using their nutritional facts labels. The various cheese alternatives were based upon coconut oil (n = 106), cashews and coconut (n = 61), cashews (n = 35), oats (n = 16), almonds (n = 7), soy (n = 6), palm fruit oil (n = 5), and other blends (n = 9). Only 3% of these cheese alternatives had 5 g or more of protein, while 19%, 14%, and 1% were fortified with calcium, vitamin B12, and vitamin D, respectively. Almost 60% had high levels of saturated fat, while 15% had low sodium levels. The products based on cashews alone more commonly had the highest protein levels and the lowest sodium and saturated fat levels. Those containing coconut oil more commonly had higher saturated fat and sodium levels and were most frequently fortified with vitamin B12. Few of these products could be considered good dietary sources of either protein or calcium.
Association between Dietary Diversity Changes and Cognitive Impairment among Older People: Findings from a Nationwide Cohort Study
Authors: Liu Dan , Zhang Wen-Ting , Wang Jia-Hui , Shen Dong , Zhang Pei-Dong , Li Zhi-Hao , Chen Pei-Liang , Zhang Xi-Ru , Huang Qing-Mei , Zhong Wen-Fang , Shi Xiao-Ming , Mao Chen
Published: March 2022

Background: Little is known about the role of dietary diversity changes in affecting cognitive function among older people. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the associations between dietary diversity scores (DDS) changes with cognitive impairment among older adults in a large prospective cohort. Methods: Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination questionnaire at baseline and follow-up. A total of 9726 participants without Parkinson’s disease, dementia, or cognitive impairment were enrolled at baseline. Nine food groups were collected using simplified FFQ at baseline and follow-up surveys. Then nine food groups change patterns and DDS change patterns (overall, plant-based and animal-based) were assessed. The associations of above DDS changes patterns with subsequent cognitive impairment were evaluated. A multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate HRs and 95%CIs. Results: We documented 2805 cognitive impairments during 52,325 person-years of follow-up. Compared to high-to-high overall DDS change patterns, the multivariable adjusted HRs (95%CI) for high-to-medium, medium-to-medium, medium-to-low, low-to-medium and low-to-low DDS change patterns were 1.33 (1.12–1.57), 1.11 (0.94–1.32), 1.61 (1.39–1.86), 2.00 (1.66–2.40), 2.30 (1.90–2.78) and 2.80 (2.23–3.53), respectively. Compared with participants with stable DDS change pattern, those who in large improvement of DDS had a 13% lower risk of cognitive impairment (HRs, 0.87; 95%CI: 0.78–0.98). The associations of plant-based DDS, animal-based DDS, or nine food groups DDS change patterns with cognitive impairment were in a similar direction to the main result. Conclusions: Protective associations between maintaining high DDS and a reduced risk of cognitive impairment were observed. In contrast, lowering or maintaining a lower DDS increases the risk of cognitive impairment.
Association between Adherence to Swedish Dietary Guidelines and Mediterranean Diet and Risk of Stroke in a Swedish Population
Authors: González-Padilla Esther , Tao Zhen , Sánchez-Villegas Almudena , Álvarez-Pérez Jacqueline , Borné Yan , Sonestedt Emily
Published: March 2022

Dietary factors associated with stroke risk are still rather unknown. The aim was to examine the association between adherence to healthy dietary patterns and incidence of stroke among 25,840 individuals from the Swedish Malmö Diet and Cancer Study cohort. Dietary data were obtained using a combination of a 7-day food record, diet questionnaire, and interview. A Swedish Dietary Guidelines Score (SDGS), including five dietary components based on the current Swedish dietary guidelines, and a modified Mediterranean diet score (mMDS), composed of ten dietary components, were constructed. Over a mean follow-up period of 19.5 years, 2579 stroke cases, of which 80% were ischaemic, were identified through national registers. Weak, non-significant associations were found between the dietary indices and the risk of stroke. However, after excluding potential misreporters and individuals with unstable food habits (35% of the population), we observed significant inverse association (p-trend < 0.05) between SDGS and mMDS and total and ischaemic stroke (HR per point for total stroke: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.92–1.00 for SDGS and 0.95; 95% CI: 0.91–0.99 for mMDS). In conclusion, high quality diet in line with the current Swedish dietary recommendations or Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of total and ischaemic stroke.