bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Clay Nanosheets on the Photostability of Cationic Porphyrin
Authors: Tahara Yoshinori , Hirade Yugo , Arakawa Kyosuke , Shimada Tetsuya , Ishida Tamao , Tachibana Hiroshi , Takagi Shinsuke
Published: August 2024

The photodecomposition behavior of cationic porphyrin ZnTMAP4+ (zinc tetrakis-(N,N,N-trimethylanilinium-4-yl) porphyrin) in water and complexed with clay nanosheets was investigated by light irradiation to the Soret band of ZnTMAP4+. The decomposition of ZnTMAP4+ was observed by UV–visible absorption spectroscopy. While the decomposition quantum yield (ϕdec) was 3.4 × 10−4 in water, that was 9.4 × 10−7 on the exfoliated clay nanosheets. It was revealed that the photostability of ZnTMAP4+ was stabilized by the complex formation with clay. When ZnTMAP4+ was intercalated between the stacked clay nanosheets, ϕdec was further decreased to 4.9 × 10−7. The photostability increased by 361 times and 693 times for the exfoliated and stacked state, respectively. These results indicate that the flat clay surface has the potential to control intra- and intermolecular photochemical reactions.
Trimetallic FeCoNi Metal–Organic Framework with Enhanced Peroxidase-like Activity for the Construction of a Colorimetric Sensor for Rapid Detection of Thiophenol in Water Samples
Authors: Deng Zehui , Cao Jiaqing , Zhao Lei , Zhang Zhao , Yuan Jianwei
Published: August 2024

In recent years, nanozymes have attracted particular interest and attention as catalysts because of their high catalytic efficiency and stability compared with natural enzymes, whereas how to use simple methods to further improve the catalytic activity of nanozymes is still challenging. In this work, we report a trimetallic metal–organic framework (MOF) based on Fe, Co and Ni, which was prepared by replacing partial original Fe nodes of the Fe-MOF with Co and Ni nodes. The obtained FeCoNi-MOF shows both oxidase-like activity and peroxidase-like activity. FeCoNi-MOF can not only oxidize the chromogenic substrate 3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to its blue oxidation product oxTMB directly, but also catalyze the activation of H2O2 to oxidize the TMB. Compared with corresponding monometallic/bimetallic MOFs, the FeCoNi-MOF with equimolar metals hereby prepared exhibited higher peroxidase-like activity, faster colorimetric reaction speed (1.26–2.57 folds), shorter reaction time (20 min) and stronger affinity with TMB (2.50–5.89 folds) and H2O2 (1.73–3.94 folds), owing to the splendid synergistic electron transfer effect between Fe, Co and Ni. Considering its outstanding advantages, a promising FeCoNi-MOF-based sensing platform has been designated for the colorimetric detection of the biomarker H2O2 and environmental pollutant TP, and lower limits of detection (LODs) (1.75 μM for H2O2 and 0.045 μM for TP) and wider linear ranges (6–800 μM for H2O2 and 0.5–80 μM for TP) were obtained. In addition, the newly constructed colorimetric platform for TP has been applied successfully for the determination of TP in real water samples with average recoveries ranging from 94.6% to 112.1%. Finally, the colorimetric sensing platform based on FeCoNi-MOF is converted to a cost-effective paper strip sensor, which renders the detection of TP more rapid and convenient.
Influence of Ca3(PO4)2 on the Surface Morphology and Properties of a CaO-Al2O3-SiO2-Fe2O3-Based High Temperature Phase Reconstructed Complex
Authors: Yang Huanyin , Guo Hongli , Sun Hongjuan , Peng Tongjiang
Published: August 2024

In this study, a glaze slurry was prepared with different contents of tricalcium phosphate. It was then applied to a fly ash microcrystalline ceramic billet and sintered at 1180 °C for 30 min to prepare the complex. The aim was to obtain a high value-added application of fly ash in order to reduce environmental pollution. The study systematically investigated the influence of the Ca3(PO4)2 content on the crystal phase evolution, physical-mechanical properties, and micro-morphology of the complex. The results showed that products sintered at 1180 °C with 8 wt% Ca3(PO4)2 demonstrated better performance, with a water absorption of 0.03% and a Vickers microhardness of 6.5 GPa. Additionally, the study observed a strong correlation between the Ca3(PO4)2 content and the opacity effect. A feasible opacity mechanism was also proposed to explain the variation of glaze colors and patterns with different contents of Ca3(PO4)2.
Evolution of Oxygen Content of Graphene Oxide for Humidity Sensing
Authors: Zhang Xue , Zhang Guocheng , Wang FuKe , Chi Hong
Published: August 2024

Graphene oxide (GO) has shown significant potential in humidity sensing. It is well accepted that the oxygen-containing functional groups in GO significantly influence its humidity sensing performance. However, the relationship between the content of these groups and the humidity sensing capability of GO-based sensors remains unclear. In the present work, we investigate the role of oxygen-containing functional groups in the humidity sensing performance by oxidizing graphite with mesh numbers 80–120, 325, and 8000 using the Hummers method, resulting in GO-80, GO-325, and GO-8000. Infrared spectroscopy (IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to identify the types and quantification of oxygen-containing functional groups. Molecular dynamics simulation is used to simulate the adsorption energy, intercalation dynamics, and hydrogen bonding of water molecules. Electrochemical tests were used to compare the adsorption/desorption time and response sensitivity of graphene oxide to humidity. It is proposed that hydroxyl and carboxyl groups are the main contributing groups to humidity sensing. GO-8000 shows a relatively fast response time, but the large number of carboxyl groups will hinder intercalation of water molecules, thus exhibiting lower sensitivity. This research provides a reference for the future development of graphene-based sensors, catalysts, and environmental materials.
Gamma-Irradiation-Induced Electrical Characteristic Variations in MoS2 Field-Effect Transistors with Buried Local Back-Gate Structure
Authors: Kim Su Jin , Hwang Seungkwon , Kwon Jung-Dae , Yoon Jongwon , Park Jeong Min , Lee Yongsu , Kim Yonghun , Kang Chang Goo
Published: August 2024

The impact of radiation on MoS2-based devices is an important factor in the utilization of two-dimensional semiconductor-based technology in radiation-sensitive environments. In this study, the effects of gamma irradiation on the electrical variations in MoS2 field-effect transistors with buried local back-gate structures were investigated, and their related effects on Al2O3 gate dielectrics and MoS2/Al2O3 interfaces were also analyzed. The transfer and output characteristics were analyzed before and after irradiation. The current levels decreased by 15.7% under an exposure of 3 kGy. Additionally, positive shifts in the threshold voltages of 0.50, 0.99, and 1.15 V were observed under irradiations of 1, 2, and 3 kGy, respectively, compared to the non-irradiated devices. This behavior is attributable to the comprehensive effects of hole accumulation in the Al2O3 dielectric interface near the MoS2 side and the formation of electron trapping sites at the interface, which increased the electron tunneling at the MoS2 channel/dielectric interface.
RETRACTED: Vorotilo et al. Manufacturing of Conductive, Wear-Resistant Nanoreinforced Cu-Ti Alloys Using Partially Oxidized Electrolytic Copper Powder. Nanomaterials 2020, 10, 1261
Authors: Vorotilo Stepan , Loginov Pavel Alexandrovich , Churyumov Alexandr Yuryevich , Prosviryakov Alexey Sergeevich , Bychkova Marina Yakovlevna , Rupasov Sergey Ivanovich , Orekhov Anton Sergeevich , Kiryukhantsev-Korneev Philipp Vladimirovich , Levashov Evgeny Alexandrovich
Published: August 2024

The Nanomaterials Editorial Office retracts the article, “Manufacturing of Conductive, Wear-Resistant Nanoreinforced Cu-Ti Alloys Using Partially Oxidized Electrolytic Copper Powder” [...]
Core–Shell Interface Engineering Strategies for Modulating Energy Transfer in Rare Earth-Doped Nanoparticles
Authors: Zhou Zhaoxi , Liu Yuan , Guo Lichao , Wang Tian , Yan Xinrong , Wei Shijiong , Qiu Dehui , Chen Desheng , Zhang Xiaobo , Ju Huangxian
Published: August 2024

Rare earth-doped nanoparticles (RENPs) are promising biomaterials with substantial potential in biomedical applications. Their multilayered core–shell structure design allows for more diverse uses, such as orthogonal excitation. However, the typical synthesis strategies—one-pot successive layer-by-layer (LBL) method and seed-assisted (SA) method—for creating multilayered RENPs show notable differences in spectral performance. To clarify this issue, a thorough comparative analysis of the elemental distribution and spectral characteristics of RENPs synthesized by these two strategies was conducted. The SA strategy, which avoids the partial mixing stage of shell and core precursors inherent in the LBL strategy, produces RENPs with a distinct interface in elemental distribution. This unique elemental distribution reduces unnecessary energy loss via energy transfer between heterogeneous elements in different shell layers. Consequently, the synthesis method choice can effectively modulate the spectral properties of RENPs. This discovery has been applied to the design of orthogonal RENP biomedical probes with appropriate dimensions, where the SA strategy introduces a refined inert interface to prevent unnecessary energy loss. Notably, this strategy has exhibited a 4.3-fold enhancement in NIR-II in vivo imaging and a 2.1-fold increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related photodynamic therapy (PDT) orthogonal applications.
Hepatic Steatosis Can Be Partly Generated by the Gut Microbiota–Mitochondria Axis via 2-Oleoyl Glycerol and Reversed by a Combination of Soy Protein, Chia Oil, Curcumin and Nopal
Authors: Sánchez-Tapia Mónica , Tobón-Cornejo Sandra , Noriega Lilia G. , Vázquez-Manjarrez Natalia , Coutiño-Hernández Diana , Granados-Portillo Omar , Román-Calleja Berenice M. , Ruíz-Margáin Astrid , Macías-Rodríguez Ricardo U. , Tovar Armando R. , Torres Nimbe
Published: August 2024

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a serious health problem, and recent evidence indicates that gut microbiota plays a key role in its development. It is known that 2-oleoyl glycerol (2-OG) produced by the gut microbiota is associated with hepatic fibrosis, but it is not known whether this metabolite is involved in the development of hepatic steatosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate how a high-fat–sucrose diet (HFS) increases 2-OG production through gut microbiota dysbiosis and to identify whether this metabolite modifies hepatic lipogenesis and mitochondrial activity for the development of hepatic steatosis as well as whether a combination of functional foods can reverse this process. Wistar rats were fed the HFS diet for 7 months. At the end of the study, body composition, biochemical parameters, gut microbiota, protein abundance, lipogenic and antioxidant enzymes, hepatic 2-OG measurement, and mitochondrial function of the rats were evaluated. Also, the effect of the consumption of functional food with an HFS diet was assessed. In humans with MASLD, we analyzed gut microbiota and serum 2-OG. Consumption of the HFS diet in Wistar rats caused oxidative stress, hepatic steatosis, and gut microbiota dysbiosis, decreasing α-diversity and increased Blautia producta abundance, which increased 2-OG. This metabolite increased de novo lipogenesis through ChREBP and SREBP-1. 2-OG significantly increased mitochondrial dysfunction. The addition of functional foods to the diet modified the gut microbiota, reducing Blautia producta and 2-OG levels, leading to a decrease in body weight gain, body fat mass, serum glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, fatty liver formation, and increased mitochondrial function. To use 2-OG as a biomarker, this metabolite was measured in healthy subjects or with MASLD, and it was observed that subjects with hepatic steatosis II and III had significantly higher 2-OG than healthy subjects, suggesting that the abundance of this circulating metabolite could be a predictor marker of hepatic steatosis.
Nutritional Management for Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Sila Sara , Hojsak Iva
Published: August 2024

Diet has been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and, more specifically, Crohn’s disease (CD), for a long time [...]
Assessment of Salt, Potassium, and Iodine Intake in the Croatian Adult Population Using 24 h Urinary Collection: The EH-UH 2 Study
Authors: Marinović Glavić Mihaela , Bilajac Lovorka , Bolješić Marta , Bubaš Marija , Capak Krunoslav , Domislović Marija , Džakula Aleksandar , Fuček Mirjana , Gellineo Lana , Jelaković Ana , Josipović Josipa , Jukić Tomislav , Juraga Denis , Pećin Ivan , Prelević Vladimir , Radunović Danilo , Reiner Željko , Rukavina Tomislav , Šušnjara Petar , Vasiljev Vanja , Vidranski Valentina , Jelaković Bojan
Published: August 2024

Cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of death in Croatia, are linked to the high prevalence of hypertension. Both are associated with high salt intake, which was determined almost two decades ago when Croatian Action on Salt and Health (CRASH) was launched. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate salt, potassium, and iodine intake using a single 24 h urine sample in a random sample of the adult Croatian population and to analyse trends in salt consumption after the CRASH was intensively started. Methods: In this study, we analysed data on 1067 adult participants (mean age 57.12 (SD 13.9), men 35%). Results: Mean salt and potassium intakes were 8.6 g/day (IQR 6.2–11.2) and 2.8 g/day (IQR 2.1–3.5), respectively, with a sodium-to-potassium ratio of 2.6 (IQR 1.8–3.3). We detected a decrease of 17.6% (2 g/day less) in salt consumption compared with our previous salt-mapping study. However, only 13.7% and 8.9% met the WHO salt and potassium recommended targets of 5 g/day and 3.5 g/day, respectively. Salt intake was higher, and potassium ingestion was lower, in rural vs. urban regions and in continental vs. Mediterranean parts of Croatia. Moderate to severe iodine insufficiency was determined in only 3% of the adult participants. Conclusion: In the last fifteen years, salt consumption has been significantly reduced in the Croatian adult population because of the intensive and broad CRASH program. However, salt intake is still too high, and potassium ingestion is too low. Salt reduction programs are the most cost-effective methods of cardiovascular disease prevention and merit greater consideration by the government and health policy makers.
Integrated Multi-Biomarker Responses of Juvenile Zebra Seabream (Diplodus cervinus) to Warming and Acidification Conditions
Authors: Dias Marta , Pousão-Ferreira Pedro , Diniz Mário S. , Marques António , Rosa Rui , Anacleto Patrícia , Maulvault Ana L.
Published: August 2024

The impacts of climate change-related stressors are becoming more noticeable in the ocean, particularly in coastal marine ecosystems. Yet limited information still exists on the physiological state and ecological resilience of marine fish species, especially during their early life stages (i.e., larvae and juveniles). The present study investigated the effects of chronic exposure to seawater warming (OW; ΔT = +4 °C) and acidification (OA; ΔpH = −0.3 pH units, equivalent to pCO2~1000 µatm), acting alone or combined (OWA), on juvenile zebra seabream (Diplodus cervinus) physiological resilience, considering distinct levels of biological organization (i.e., biochemical, cell, organ and individual levels). After 60 days of exposure, both stressors, in isolation or combination, significantly decreased specific growth rate (−11% in OW, −42% in OA and −49% in OWA) and leukocyte counts (from −29% in OA and OWA up to −37% in OW) in relation to the control treatment. In addition, a decreased Fulton’s condition index (K) was observed under warming and acidification in combination (−35% in OWA). At the cell level, OW, OA and OWA triggered different biomarker responses in D. cervinus (i.e., up-regulation, down-regulation, or absence of significant effect). In general, the results are suggestive of an antagonistic effect when warming and acidification are combined. OWA yielded the highest integrated biomarker response (IBR) index value in the whole organism, muscle, brain and gills of D. cervinus juveniles, therefore suggesting that the effects of these stressors are more severe when they act together. The distinct patterns observed in each stress scenario highlight the importance of carrying out further studies adjusted to the specificities of different regions, i.e., accounting not only for the type and degree of severity of environmental stressors already felt and/or projected for that specific area, but also the physiological plasticity of species that inhabit a particular ecosystem. The gathered knowledge will allow one to determine the vulnerability of particular marine species and geographic areas and, most importantly, to draw up effective and tailor-made conservation strategies to overcome climate change impacts.
Gefitinib-Induced Severe Dermatological Adverse Reactions: A Case Report and Pharmacogenetic Profile
Authors: Morau Mariana Vieira , Seguin Cecilia Souto , Perroud Junior Mauricio Wesley , Dagli-Hernandez Carolina , Pincinato Eder de Carvalho , Moriel Patricia
Published: August 2024

Gefitinib is a selective inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor that is used to treat advanced and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Dermatological adverse reactions are most commonly associated with gefitinib treatment. The cause of adverse reactions in individuals is multifactorial. Pharmacogenetics is an effective tool to detect such adverse reactions. This case report describes a female patient with NSCLC who was administered gefitinib at a dose of 250 mg/day. However, due to severe adverse dermatological reactions, the treatment was interrupted for 15 d and antibiotic therapy was administered to manage the skin rashes, maculopapular rashes, and hyperpigmentation. Treatment adherence was adequate, and no drug interactions were detected. A pharmacogenetic analysis revealed homozygosity in the ATP-binding cassette (ABC)-B1 rs1128503 (c.1236A>G), heterozygosity in ABCG2 rs2231142 (c.421G>T) and rs2622604 (c.-20+614T>C), and a non-functional variant of the cytochrome P450 family 3, subfamily A, member 5 (CYP3A5). The relationship between altered genetic variants and the presence of adverse reactions induced by gefitinib is still controversial. Overall, this case report highlights the importance of continuing to study pharmacogenetics as predictors of adverse drug reactions.
Superhydrophobicity Effects on Spheroid Formation and Polarization of Macrophages
Authors: del Carmen Morán María , Cirisano Francesca , Ferrari Michele
Published: August 2024

The interaction of biomaterials with the immune system is ruled by the action of macrophages. The surface features of these biomaterials, like wettability, which is an expression of chemical composition, texture, and geometry, can affect macrophages response. Such surface parameters can be then efficiently exploited to improve biocompatibility by lowering undesired immunological reactions and at the same time creating the substrate for positive interactions. In this work, the preparation and physicochemical characterization of highly water-repellent surfaces to develop and characterize 3D spheroids derived from monocyte-macrophages (RAW 264.7 cell line) has been carried out. As a measure of cell viability over time, the obtained aggregates have been transferred under standard 2D cell culture conditions. Significant changes on the morphology-associated polarization of the derived cellular entities have been evaluated at the nanoscale through 3D profilometry. The results suggested that the spheroid formation using highly repellent substrates induced the activation of M2-type cells. This simple and cost-effective approach can be used for preparing M2-based macrophages for regenerative purposes.
Dopamine and Citicoline-Co-Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles as Multifunctional Nanomedicines for Parkinson’s Disease Treatment by Intranasal Administration
Authors: Castellani Stefano , Iaconisi Giorgia Natalia , Tripaldi Francesca , Porcelli Vito , Trapani Adriana , Messina Eugenia , Guerra Lorenzo , Di Franco Cinzia , Maruccio Giuseppe , Monteduro Anna Grazia , Corbo Filomena , Di Gioia Sante , Trapani Giuseppe , Conese Massimo
Published: August 2024

This work aimed to evaluate the potential of the nanosystems constituted by dopamine (DA) and the antioxidant Citicoline (CIT) co-loaded in solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) for intranasal administration in the treatment of Parkinson disease (PD). Such nanosystems, denoted as DA-CIT-SLNs, were designed according to the concept of multifunctional nanomedicine where multiple biological roles are combined into a single nanocarrier and prepared by the melt emulsification method employing the self-emulsifying Gelucire® 50/13 as lipid matrix. The resulting DA-CIT-SLNs were characterized regarding particle size, surface charge, encapsulation efficiency, morphology, and physical stability. Differential scanning calorimetry, FT-IR, and X ray diffraction studies were carried out to gain information on solid-state features, and in vitro release tests in simulated nasal fluid (SNF) were performed. Monitoring the particle size at two temperatures (4 °C and 37 °C), the size enlargement observed over the time at 37 °C was lower than that observed at 4 °C, even though at higher temperature, color changes occurred, indicative of possible neurotransmitter decomposition. Solid-state studies indicated a reduction in the crystallinity when DA and CIT are co-encapsulated in DA-CIT-SLNs. Interestingly, in vitro release studies in SNF indicated a sustained release of DA. Furthermore, DA-CIT SLNs displayed high cytocompatibility with both human nasal RPMI 2650 and neuronal SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, OxyBlot assay demonstrated considerable potential to assess the protective effect of antioxidant agents against oxidative cellular damage. Thus, such protective effect was shown by DA-CIT-SLNs, which constitute a promising formulation for PD application.
The Rapid Detection of Paclitaxel-Induced Changes in Cervical Cancer Cells Using an Ultrasensitive Biosensor
Authors: Zhang Liwen , Chen Gan , Hao Yating , Peng Yan
Published: August 2024

Background: Paclitaxel is a widely used cancer treatment drug that has a significant inhibitory effect on cervical cancer cells (HeLa cells). This study aims to investigate the effects of paclitaxel on HeLa cells and evaluate the application of terahertz (THz) spectroscopy and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors in this process. Methods: We utilized an SPR biosensor in conjunction with THz spectroscopy to measure the terahertz absorbance spectra of HeLa cells exposed to various concentrations of paclitaxel. The minimum number of cells used for detection was 15.25 × 105. At the same time, cell proliferation levels were assessed through proliferation assays and compared with the terahertz spectroscopy data. Results: The experimental results indicated that with the increasing concentration of paclitaxel, the terahertz absorbance spectra of HeLa cells exhibited a blue shift, and cell proliferation was significantly inhibited. The results of the proliferation assays were consistent with the terahertz spectroscopy data, validating the effectiveness of this method. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the combination of THz spectroscopy and SPR biosensors is a promising technology that can provide a simple, rapid, and low-cost method for studying chemistry–biology relationships, especially in the field of drug evaluation.
Modeling of High-Power Graded-Index Fiber Amplifiers
Authors: Lara Anuj P. , Roy Samudra , Agrawal Govind P.
Published: August 2024

Graded-index fibers have been used in recent years to make high-power fiber lasers and amplifiers. Such fibers exhibit self-imaging, a phenomenon in which any optical beam periodically reproduces its original shape in undoped fibers (no gain). In this work, we employed analytic and numerical techniques to study how self-imaging affects the evolution of a signal beam inside a nonlinear graded-index fiber amplifier, doped with a rare-earth element and pumped optically to provide gain all along its length. We also exploited the variational technique to reduce the computing time and to provide physical insights into the amplification process. We compared the variational and fully numerical results for the two pumping schemes (clad pumping and edge pumping) commonly used for high-power fiber amplifiers and show that the variational results are reliable in most cases of practical interest. The stability of the signal beam undergoing amplification is examined numerically by launching a noisy Gaussian beam at the input end of the amplifier. Our results show that the quality of the amplified beam should improve in the case of edge pumping when a narrower pump beam provides an optical gain that varies considerably in the radial direction of the fiber. Such an improvement does not occur for the clad pumping scheme, for which the use of a relatively wide pump beam results in a nearly uniform gain all along the fiber.
Effect of Phosphate-Bridged Monomer on Thermal Oxidative Behavior of Phthalonitrile Thermosets
Authors: Lobanova Marina Sergeevna , Babkin Alexandr Vladimirovich , Kepman Alexey Valeryevich , Avdeev Victor Vasil’evich , Morozov Oleg Sergeevich , Bulgakov Boris Anatol’evich
Published: August 2024

Phthalonitrile thermosets are known for their excellent mechanical, physico-chemical, and fire-retardant properties, making them attractive for aerospace and mechanical engineering applications. When producing and applying phthalonitrile-based structural parts, it is essential to consider aspects such as processability and the long-term stability of the material’s properties at high temperatures. In our previous studies, we demonstrated that resins containing phosphate-bridged bisphthalonitrile monomers are easily processable due to their low melting temperature and wide processing window. In this study, we investigated the impact of bis(3-(3,4-dicyanophenoxy)phenyl)phenyl phosphate (PPhPN) monomer content on physico-chemical and mechanical properties, thermal stability, and thermal oxidative stability. This research highlights the importance of conducting long-term thermal oxidative aging studies in addition to thermogravimetric analysis to properly assess the stability of thermosets. The findings indicate that adding less than 15% of PPhPN results in the formation of a crystalline phase, which impairs the resin’s processability. Conversely, a high PPhPN content reduces the material’s thermal oxidative stability. Therefore, based on mechanical and physico-chemical tests after thermal oxidative aging, it can be concluded that a 10–15% concentration of the phosphate-containing monomer enables easy processability of the phthalonitrile resin and provides excellent long-term thermal oxidative stability at temperatures up to 300 °C, while maintaining a flexural strength exceeding 120 MPa and an elasticity modulus of 4.3 GPa.
Influence of Build Orientation and Part Thickness on Tensile Properties of Polyamide 12 Parts Manufactured by Selective Laser Sintering
Authors: Slager Jonathan J. , Earp Brian C. , Ibrahim Ahmed M.
Published: August 2024

The use of additive manufacturing to rapidly test and evaluate solutions to engineering problems has been demonstrated. Selective laser sintering (SLS) is a subset of additive manufacturing that is particularly well suited to producing structural thin wall models and end use parts which can improve the ability to prototype and manufacture certain designs at a substantially lower cost and time compared to current methods. However, a more comprehensive understanding of the material properties of these parts is warranted. The presented research investigates the influence of print orientation and sample thickness on the material properties of printed SLS parts. This novel work involves holding a hatch pattern constant across SLS prints using polyamide 12 material to isolate the anisotropic effects of orientation and thickness. An evaluation of ultimate tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, strain at failure, yield strength, and Poisson’s ratio, and scanning electron microscope fractography are conducted. Transverse strain and Poisson’s ratio are a key aspect that provide insight into the feasibility of building numerical orthotropic models. These data are used to calculate the degree of anisotropy due to both thickness and orientation. The results support the future use of SLS printing and modeling of thin-walled structures, such as scaled structural ship modeling. The presented data provide guidance on the impact of print orientation and thickness that will aid in manufacturing structural parts with intentionally tuned material properties.
Impacts of Excreta Exposure and Age on Ileal Microbial Communities, Intestinal Permeability, and Corticosterone in Hens Housed in Enriched Colonies and Cage-Free Housing Systems
Authors: Altendorf Benjamin J. , Anderson Chiron J. , von Seggern Isabella , Wiersema Maddison L. , Schmitz-Esser Stephan , Koltes Dawn A.
Published: August 2024

To tease apart differences between conventional cage (CC) and cage-free (CF) housing systems, this study focuses on the effects of excreta exposure and age by comparing microbial communities, intestinal permeability, and corticosterone in hens in enriched colonies (EC) and CF housing systems during early- and late-lay. Hens were randomly selected from two rooms of CF (n = 20) and EC (n = 20) at 35 and 76 weeks of age. One hour following an oral gavage of fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-D), hens were euthanized, and ileal contents and blood were collected. Serum FITC-D using a fluorescent spectrophotometer and corticosterone using a commercial competitive ELISA kit were analyzed. Following DNA isolation from the ileum contents, the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced. Sequence data were filtered in Mothur v1.43.0, followed by de novo operational taxonomic unit (OTU) clustering and classifying with the SILVA SSU v138 reference database. Serum FITC-D was altered by housing type, age of hens, and the interaction between housing type and age of hens (p < 0.001), with 76-week-old hens housed in EC having the highest FITC-D. Corticosterone increased with age (p = 0.023). Microbial community diversity measurements favored hens housed in the CF housing system as ileal contents tended to have increased species evenness (p = 0.008) and greater alpha diversity (p = 0.006). The majority of the over-representation of OTUs were associated with peak lay.
Promoting Mental Health in Adolescents: “Teens Mental+”, a Nursing Intervention Program Based in the Positive Mental Health Model
Authors: García-Sastre María Montserrat , González-Alegre Patricia , Luengo-González Raquel , Cuesta-Lozano Daniel , Rodríguez-Rojo Inmaculada Concepción , Lluch-Canut Teresa , Peñacoba-Puente Cecilia
Published: August 2024

Adolescence is a life stage characterized by significant physical and emotional changes in which the opportunity to enhance protective mental health factors is crucial. Evidence shows that psychoemotional well-being at this stage has worsened in recent years, being a time of special vulnerability for mental health problems. Positive mental health (PMH) is understood as the mental health of healthy individuals built on optimizing overall well-being through the acquisition of psychosocial competences. In this sense, it seemed timely to develop an original program to promote PMH in adolescents, since there are no structured and validated programs in this area focused on this population. This article presents a nursing intervention protocol aimed at promoting PMH in adolescents based on Lluch’s multifactorial model. The program addresses its six factors: Personal Satisfaction; Prosocial Attitude; Self-Control; Autonomy; Problem Solving and Interpersonal Relationship Skills. The PMH Program arises as a response to the need to implement the mental health promotion in adolescents through an integrated model in three sessions, which can be systematically dynamized by health providers, through standardized procedures and adjusted to the adolescent’s needs. Interventions in educational centers have proven to be the ideal setting for these interventions.
How Confucius Seeks to Convince Others: Contrasting an One-World Analects with Two-World Theories
Authors: D’Ambrosio Paul J.
Published: August 2024

Western thinkers have often seen Confucianism as unique in that it does not fit well into standard categories of either religion or philosophy. In terms of how this difficulty is reflected in academia, it seems that Confucianism is simultaneously both a religion and a philosophy, and neither. This paper attempts to begin a discussion of a related issue, which has been relatively underappreciated; namely, how does Confucianism attempt to convince people to be Confucian? Restricting our discussion to the Analects, we can find appeals to a belief which seem almost religious, rational arguments which seem philosophical, and a host of other methodologies that may help to convince readers to follow the Confucian way. The discussion of the Analects is cursory here, and only a few passages will be discussed in a general manner. We will contrast this with a general outline of approaches to convincing people found in two-world theories, which can help to illuminate the uniqueness of the Analects, especially when it is read as a one-world perspective.
Overcoming the Patronage System: Propaganda Fide and Its Portuguese Patronage Documents on China in the Early Modern Period
Authors: Zhang Rui
Published: August 2024

From its foundation in 1622, the Congregation de Propaganda Fide held supreme jurisdiction over all missionary activities of the Catholic Church at the global level, with authority coming directly from the pope. Its main goals were the expansion of the Catholic faith, the reaffirmation of papal spiritual primacy, and the promotion of Indigenous clergy throughout the world, which put Propaganda Fide in direct competition with secular rulers who also wanted to control missionary activities in their overseas territories. This article will examine one such conflict, namely that regarding Portugal and its royal patronage system in China. The Historical Archive of Propaganda Fide in the Vatican City holds extensive material concerning Portuguese patronage and China, which has remained relatively unknown and understudied. Through an examination of several of the most significant documents, such as the formal terms sent by the Portuguese court to the Holy See, the response of Propaganda Fide, and the final declaration of the Holy See, which would become the cornerstone for all future decisions over the patronage system, it is suggested that these negotiations about China are in fact central to a wider shift in global Catholic policy and politics in the field of missionary activity.
Spatial Models of Solar and Terrestrial Radiation Budgets and Machine Learning: A Review
Authors: García Pedreros Julián Guillermo , Lagüela López Susana , Rodríguez Martín Manuel
Published: August 2024

Currently, spatial modeling is of particular relevance as it enables the understanding of the patterns and spatial variability of an event, the monitoring and prediction of the spatial behavior of a variable, the optimization of resources, and the evaluation of the impacts of a phenomenon of interest. Research carried out recently on variables related to solar energy budgets has been of special relevance due to its applications and developments in machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL). These algorithms are crucial to improve the efficiency, precision, and applicability of remote sensing, allowing greater decision making with more reliable and timely data. Thus, this work proposes a systematic and rigorous methodology for searching research articles about the latest advances and contributions related to the modeling of radiative energy budgets using novel techniques and algorithms in some of the most relevant international scientific databases (Scopus, ScienceDirect, ResearchGate). Search parameters were applied using tracking methods through various filters, specific classifiers, and Boolean operators. The results allowed for an analysis of search trends and citations in the last 5 years related to the topic of interest and the number of most relevant articles for this research, analyzed through specialized metrics and graphs. Additionally, this methodology was classified into four categories of importance for refined and articulated searches in this evaluation: (i) according to the applied interpolation methods, (ii) according to the remote sensors used, (iii) according to the applications in different fields of knowledge. As a relevant fact and with an essentially prospective purpose, a subchapter of this review was dedicated to the latest advances and developments applied to (iv) spatial modeling of terrestrial radiation through ML, this method being a tool that opens multiple alternatives for data processing and analysis in the development and achievement of objectives in the field of geotechnologies. A quantitative comparison was conducted on the predictive performance results between the classification/regression algorithms found in the studies explored in this review. The evaluation confirmed the existence of a persistent shortage of studies in recent years within the geotechnologies field, particularly concerning the comparison of spatial distribution modeling techniques developed and implemented through ML for incident solar and terrestrial radiation. Therefore, this work provides a synthesis and analysis of the most used and novel techniques in the modeling of solar energy budgets, their limitations, and biggest challenges.
Research on the Method for Recognizing Bulk Grain-Loading Status Based on LiDAR
Authors: Hu Jiazun , Wen Xin , Liu Yunbo , Hu Haonan , Zhang Hui
Published: August 2024

Grain is a common bulk cargo. To ensure optimal utilization of transportation space and prevent overflow accidents, it is necessary to observe the grain’s shape and determine the loading status during the loading process. Traditional methods often rely on manual judgment, which results in high labor intensity, poor safety, and low loading efficiency. Therefore, this paper proposes a method for recognizing the bulk grain-loading status based on Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR). This method uses LiDAR to obtain point cloud data and constructs a deep learning network to perform target recognition and component segmentation on loading vehicles, extract vehicle positions and grain shapes, and recognize and make known the bulk grain-loading status. Based on the measured point cloud data of bulk grain loading, in the point cloud-classification task, the overall accuracy is 97.9% and the mean accuracy is 98.1%. In the vehicle component-segmentation task, the overall accuracy is 99.1% and the Mean Intersection over Union is 96.6%. The results indicate that the method has reliable performance in the research tasks of extracting vehicle positions, detecting grain shapes, and recognizing loading status.
Grape Maturity Estimation Using Time-of-Flight and LiDAR Depth Cameras
Authors: Legg Mathew , Parr Baden , Pascual Genevieve , Alam Fakhrul
Published: August 2024

This article investigates the potential for using low-cost depth cameras to estimate the maturity of green table grapes after they have been harvested. Time-of-flight (Kinect Azure) and LiDAR (Intel L515) depth cameras were used to capture depth scans of green table grape berries over time. The depth scans of the grapes are distorted due to the diffused scattering of the light emitted from the cameras within the berries. This causes a distance bias where a grape berry appears to be further from the camera than it is. As the grape aged, the shape of the peak corresponding to the grape became increasingly flattened in shape, resulting in an increased distance bias over time. The distance bias variation with time was able to be fitted with an R2 value of 0.969 for the Kinect Azure and an average of 0.904 for the Intel L515. This work shows that there is potential to use time-of-flight and LIDAR cameras for estimating grape maturity postharvest in a non-contact and nondestructive manner.
Complex Residual Attention U-Net for Fast Ultrasound Imaging from a Single Plane-Wave Equivalent to Diverging Wave Imaging
Authors: Bentaleb Ahmed , Sintes Christophe , Conze Pierre-Henri , Rousseau François , Guezou-Philippe Aziliz , Hamitouche Chafiaa
Published: August 2024

Plane wave imaging persists as a focal point of research due to its high frame rate and low complexity. However, in spite of these advantages, its performance can be compromised by several factors such as noise, speckle, and artifacts that affect the image quality and resolution. In this paper, we propose an attention-based complex convolutional residual U-Net to reconstruct improved in-phase/quadrature complex data from a single insonification acquisition that matches diverging wave imaging. Our approach introduces an attention mechanism to the complex domain in conjunction with complex convolution to incorporate phase information and improve the image quality matching images obtained using coherent compounding imaging. To validate the effectiveness of this method, we trained our network on a simulated phased array dataset and evaluated it using in vitro and in vivo data. The experimental results show that our approach improved the ultrasound image quality by focusing the network’s attention on critical aspects of the complex data to identify and separate different regions of interest from background noise.
A Validated Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Oxytocin and Cortisol in Human Saliva
Authors: Polledri Elisa , Mercadante Rosa , Campo Laura , Fustinoni Silvia
Published: August 2024

Oxytocin and cortisol (OXY and CORT) are hormones related to stress, cognitive, and social behaviors. Their detection is relevant to epidemiological studies aimed at investigating the effects of stressor factors on human life. The aim of this study was to develop and validate an assay for the measurement of OXY and CORT in saliva samples using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in the presence of deuterated analogs. A 500 mL aliquot of oral fluid, obtained by the centrifugation of a chewed swab, was purified by solid-phase extraction. Analytes were then separated using C18 reversed-phase chromatography, subjected to positive electrospray ionization, and then quantified using a triple-quadrupole mass detector in multiple-reaction monitoring mode. The limits of quantification and the linear dynamic ranges were 2.0 × 10−3 and 0.5 nmol/L, and up to 1.0 × 10−1 and 20 nmol/L for OXY and CORT, respectively. Inter- and intra-run precision, expressed as relative standard deviation, was <7%, and accuracy was within 93–104% of the theoretical concentrations. The evaluation of matrix effects showed that the use of internal standards controlled sources of bias. The high sensitivity of the method allowed the quantification of OXY and CORT in the salivary samples of both adults and children: levels of CORT ranged from 0.6 to 18.5 nmol/L, while OXY levels were two orders of magnitude lower (from 1.7 × 10−3 to 1.1 × 10−2 nmol/L). To our knowledge, this is the first method that can analyze, in the same chromatographic run, both hormones in saliva samples.
Assessing the Sustainable Development Level of the Tourism Eco-Security System in the Chengdu-Chongqing Urban Agglomeration: A Comprehensive Analysis of Dynamic Evolution Characteristics and Driving Factors
Authors: Li Hongyan , Weng Gangmin , Wang Dapeng
Published: August 2024

Based on the DPSIR framework, this study constructed an evaluation index system to assess the sustainable development levels of the tourism eco-security system (TESS-SDL) present in the Chengdu-–Chongqing urban agglomeration and synthesized multi-dimensional analysis methods to explore its spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and driving factors to provide an important theoretical and practical basis for promoting the sustainable development of the regional tourism eco-security system. The results showed the following: (1) From 2011 to 2021, the regional TESS-SDL was generally at a medium level and showed a trend of steady growth. Although the gap between cities was widening year by year, the speed of the TESS-SDL exceeded the speed of the widening gap, promoting the coordinated development of the regional TESS-SDL. (2) The spatial spillover effect of the regional TESS-SDL was obvious; however, the siphoning effects of Chongqing and Chengdu were strong, and the demonstration effect was insufficient. (3) The dynamic evolution process of the TESS-SDL shows a strong self-locking effect. The risk of downward development (lower sustainability) is greater than the potential for upward development (higher sustainability) and is significantly influenced by neighboring cities. (4) In terms for assessing the driving factors, open-door and green-development policies show positive facilitating effects, while the positive influencing capacities of information technology, economic development, and tourism are moving toward having negative effects; the influencing effect of technological innovation has transitioned from positive to negative.
Stakeholder Perceptions of Sustainable Tourism Development: A Case Study in Haikou, China
Authors: Gao Jiaying , Sakcharoen Thammananya , Suwanteep Kultip , Niyommaneerat Wilailuk
Published: August 2024

The development of sustainable tourism has various stakeholders such as local residents, businesses, governments, visitors, travel agencies, and tourism companies. Tourism destinations need to be protected not only to ensure a better travel experience but also to ensure that they can be enjoyed in the future. This study explored the degree of influence of key stakeholders such as the government, travel agencies, local residents, and tourists on the development of sustainable tourism in Haikou, the capital city of the island province Hainan, China. This city is rich in tropical natural resources and offers unique opportunities for the development of tourism. In 2018, Haikou was selected as one of the first “International Wetland Cities” by the 13th United Nations Ramsar Convention. However, the high dependence on tourism and centralized consumption have caused several ecological and environmental problems in Haikou. An online questionnaire survey of 419 stakeholders was conducted, and factor analysis was used to identify five dimensions. The structural equation modeling method was used to explore the degree of influence of different relationships on sustainable tourism development in Haikou. The results indicated that key stakeholders are most concerned about tourism awareness, ecological protection, and sociocultural development. Therefore, further efforts to promote and develop tourism must focus on ecological and environmental protection. Creating positive travel experiences and managing tourism wisely can meet the demands of today without compromising the future.
Correction: Grabušić, S.; Barić, D. A Systematic Review of Railway Trespassing: Problems and Prevention Measures. Sustainability 2023, 15, 13878
Authors: Grabušić Silvestar , Barić Danijela
Published: August 2024

The authors would like to make the following corrections to the published paper [...]