bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Drug Transport System Based on Phospholipid Nanoparticles: Production Technology and Characteristics
Authors: Tikhonova Elena G. , Sanzhakov Maxim A. , Tereshkina Yulia A. , Kostryukova Lyubov V. , Khudoklinova Yulia Yu. , Orlova Nadezhda A. , Bobrova Daria V. , Ipatova Olga M.
Published: November 2022

One of the current trends in modern pharmaceuticals is the supply of drugs by transport systems. The use of delivery systems allows to increase the therapeutic efficacy, tolerability, and safety of drug therapy. Liposomes, polymer nanoparticles, carbon nanoparticles, blood cells, metal nanoparticles, oxides, etc., are used as transport systems. This work is aimed at obtaining a finished technological product based on soy phospholipids with particle size in the nanometer range and reproducible characteristics (size, charge). For this purpose, we carried out investigations to select the optimal conditions of technological process. The developed technology makes it possible to obtain phospholipid nanoparticles without the use of any solubilizers and/or surfactants, which increases its practical relevance for further work. The versatility of the technology is demonstrated by the example of incorporation of drugs of various chemical nature and pharmacotherapeutic groups.
Estrogen Receptor-α Targeting: PROTACs, SNIPERs, Peptide-PROTACs, Antibody Conjugated PROTACs and SNIPERs
Authors: Negi Arvind , Kesari Kavindra Kumar , Voisin-Chiret Anne Sophie
Published: November 2022

Targeting selective estrogen subtype receptors through typical medicinal chemistry approaches is based on occupancy-driven pharmacology. In occupancy-driven pharmacology, molecules are developed in order to inhibit the protein of interest (POI), and their popularity is based on their virtue of faster kinetics. However, such approaches have intrinsic flaws, such as pico-to-nanomolar range binding affinity and continuous dosage after a time interval for sustained inhibition of POI. These shortcomings were addressed by event-driven pharmacology-based approaches, which degrade the POI rather than inhibit it. One such example is PROTACs (Proteolysis targeting chimeras), which has become one of the highly successful strategies of event-driven pharmacology (pharmacology that does the degradation of POI and diminishes its functions). The selective targeting of estrogen receptor subtypes is always challenging for chemical biologists and medicinal chemists. Specifically, estrogen receptor α (ER-α) is expressed in nearly 70% of breast cancer and commonly overexpressed in ovarian, prostate, colon, and endometrial cancer. Therefore, conventional hormonal therapies are most prescribed to patients with ER + cancers. However, on prolonged use, resistance commonly developed against these therapies, which led to selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) becoming the first-line drug for metastatic ER + breast cancer. The SERD success shows that removing cellular ER-α is a promising approach to overcoming endocrine resistance. Depending on the mechanism of degradation of ER-α, various types of strategies of developed.
Repurposing the Antibacterial Agents Peptide 19-4LF and Peptide 19-2.5 for Treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis
Authors: El-Dirany Rima , Fernández-Rubio Celia , Peña-Guerrero José , Moreno Esther , Larrea Esther , Espuelas Socorro , Abdel-Sater Fadi , Brandenburg Klaus , Martínez-de-Tejada Guillermo , Nguewa Paul
Published: November 2022

The lack of safe and cost-effective treatments against leishmaniasis highlights the urgent need to develop improved leishmanicidal agents. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an emerging category of therapeutics exerting a wide range of biological activities such as anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic and anti-tumoral. In the present study, the approach of repurposing AMPs as antileishmanial drugs was applied. The leishmanicidal activity of two synthetic anti-lipopolysaccharide peptides (SALPs), so-called 19-2.5 and 19-4LF was characterized in Leishmania major. In vitro, both peptides were highly active against intracellular Leishmania major in mouse macrophages without exerting toxicity in host cells. Then, q-PCR-based gene profiling, revealed that this activity was related to the downregulation of several genes involved in drug resistance (yip1), virulence (gp63) and parasite proliferation (Cyclin 1 and Cyclin 6). Importantly, the treatment of BALB/c mice with any of the two AMPs caused a significant reduction in L. major infective burden. This effect was associated with an increase in Th1 cytokine levels (IL-12p35, TNF-α, and iNOS) in the skin lesion and spleen of the L. major infected mice while the Th2-associated genes were downregulated (IL-4 and IL-6). Lastly, we investigated the effect of both peptides in the gene expression profile of the P2X7 purinergic receptor, which has been reported as a therapeutic target in several diseases. The results showed significant repression of P2X7R by both peptides in the skin lesion of L. major infected mice to an extent comparable to that of a common anti-leishmanial drug, Paromomycin. Our in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that the synthetic AMPs 19-2.5 and 19-4LF are promising candidates for leishmaniasis treatment and present P2X7R as a potential therapeutic target in cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL).
Development of Oral Microemulsion Spray Containing Pentacyclic Triterpenes-Rich Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. Extract for Healing Mouth Ulcers
Authors: Sanguansajapong Vilasinee , Sakdiset Pajaree , Puttarak Panupong
Published: November 2022

Several publications have shown that Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. and its active constituents (pentacyclic triterpenes) are effective in wound healing. The pentacyclic triterpenes-rich C. asiatica extract (PRE) was prepared following a previous study by microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and fractionation with macroporous resin. This method provided the pentacyclic triterpene content in the extract up to 59.60% w/w. The PRE showed potent anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) production with an IC50 value of 20.59 ± 3.48 μg/mL and a potent fibroblast proliferative effect (165.67%) at concentrations of 10 μg/mL. The prepared microemulsion consisted of a water: oil: surfactant mixture of 2: 2: 6, using coconut oil: clove oil (1:1) as the oil phase and Tween 20: Span 20 (2:1) as the surfactant mixture and 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0% PRE. Cell proliferation, migration, and collagen production of the microemulsion base and microemulsions containing 1.0%, 2.5%, and 5.0% PRE were evaluated. The results revealed that the microemulsion containing 1% PRE had the highest proliferation effect (136.30 ± 3.93% to 152.65 ± 3.48% at concentrations of 10 μg/mL), migration activities (100.00 ± 0.0% at 24 h), and collagen production in human dermal fibroblast (HDF) and human gingival fibroblast (HGF) cells when compared with other formulations or blank. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory activity of microemulsions containing 1% PRE was slightly lower than standard indomethacin. Anti-inflammation of the microemulsion containing PRE exhibited a dose-dependent trend, while 5% PRE was more potent than the standard drug. Considering the potent wound-healing activities and the good anti-inflammatory activity of the microemulsion containing PRE, the microemulsion with 1% PRE was identified as the most suitable oral spray formulation for oral ulcer treatment.
Ganglioside GM3-Functionalized Reconstituted High-Density Lipoprotein (GM3-rHDL) as a Novel Nanocarrier Enhances Antiatherosclerotic Efficacy of Statins in apoE−/− C57BL/6 Mice
Authors: Wei Bo , Li Yuanfang , Ao Meiying , Shao Wenxiang , Wang Kun , Rong Tong , Zhou Yun , Chen Yong
Published: November 2022

Previously, we found that exogenous ganglioside GM3 had an antiatherosclerotic efficacy and that its antiatherosclerotic efficacy could be enhanced by reconstituted high-density lipoprotein (rHDL). In this study, we hypothesized that GM3-functionalized rHDL (i.e., GM3-rHDL) as a nanocarrier can promote the efficacy of traditional antiatherosclerotic drugs (e.g., statins). To test this hypothesis, lovastatin (LT) was used as a representative of statins, and LT-loaded GM3-rHDL nanoparticle (LT-GM3-rHDL or LT@GM3-rHDL; a mean size of ~142 nm) and multiple controls (e.g., GM3-rHDL without LT, LT-loaded rHDL or LT-rHDL, and other nanoparticles) were prepared. By using two different microsphere-based methods, the presences of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and/or GM3 in nanoparticles and the apoA-I-mediated macrophage-targeting ability of apoA-I/rHDL-containing nanoparticles were verified in vitro. Moreover, LT-GM3-rHDL nanoparticle had a slowly sustained LT release in vitro and the strongest inhibitory effect on the foam cell formation of macrophages (a key event of atherogenesis). After single administration of rHDL-based nanoparticles, a higher LT concentration was detected shortly in the atherosclerotic plaques of apoE−/− mice than non-rHDL-based nanoparticles, suggesting the in vivo plaque-targeting ability of apoA-I/rHDL-containing nanoparticles. Finally, among all nanoparticles LT-GM3-rHDL induced the largest decreases in the contents of blood lipids and in the areas of atherosclerotic plaques at various aortic locations in apoE−/− mice fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks, supporting that LT-GM3-rHDL has the best in vivo antiatherosclerotic efficacy among the tested nanoparticles. Our data imply that GM3-functionalized rHDL (i.e., GM3-rHDL) can be utilized as a novel nanocarrier to enhance the efficacy of traditional antiatherosclerotic drugs (e.g., statins).
Combination of Nanovectorized siRNA Directed against Survivin with Doxorubicin for Efficient Anti-Cancer Activity in HER2+ Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Eljack Sahar , Allard-Vannier Emilie , Misericordia Yoann , Hervé-Aubert Katel , Aubrey Nicolas , Chourpa Igor , Faggad Areeg , David Stephanie
Published: November 2022

According to Globocan 2020, breast cancer is considered one of the most common cancers affecting women and is one of the leading causes of death in over 100 countries. The available classical treatment options do not always give satisfactory outcomes, and some patients develop resistance to these treatments. This study aims to investigate the combination of nanovectorized siRNA directed against anti-apoptotic protein Survivin (siSurvivin) by targeted stealth magnetic siRNA nanovectors (TS-MSN), designed in our lab, with Doxorubicin (DOX), as an option for HER2+ breast cancer treatment. The hypothesis is that the pretreatment of the HER2+ breast cancer cell line SK-BR-3 with siSurvivin will induce apoptosis in the cancer cells and enhance the therapeutic efficacy of DOX, allowing a dose reduction of DOX and hence a reduction of potential side effects. TS-MSN are based on superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) covalently coupled with a fluorophore sulfocyanine-5 and polyethylene glycol 5000 (PEG5000) and functionalized with single-chain variable fragments (scFv) of an antibody targeting the HER2 membrane receptor. These covalently functionalized SPIONs are then complexed via electrostatic interactions with therapeutic siRNA and the cationic polymers, chitosan, and poly-L-arginine. TS-MSNsiSurvivin had an average size of 144 ± 30 nm, a PDI of 0.3, and a slightly positive zeta potential value of 10.56 ± 05.70 mV. The agarose gel electrophoresis assay confirmed that the siRNA is well-complexed into TS-MSN without leakage, as no free siRNA was detected. Moreover, siRNA in TS-MSN was protected from RNAse A degradation for up to 6 h at 37 °C. Formulations of TS-MSN with siSurvivin demonstrated in vitro gene knockdown up to 89% in the HER2+ breast cancer cell line SK-BR-3. Furthermore, qRT-PCR confirmed a significant Survivin mRNA relative expression inhibition (about 50%) compared to control siRNA or untreated cells. A combination protocol was evaluated between TS-MSN and Doxorubicin (DOX) for the first time. Therefore, SK-BR-3 cells were pretreated with TS-MSN formulated with siSurvivin at 50 nM for 24 h alone, before a DOX treatment at a concentration of 0.5 µM (corresponding to the IC50) was added for 48 h. The MTT cytotoxicity tests, performed after 72 h of treatment, revealed that the combination had a significant synergistic cytotoxic effect on SK-BR-3 cells compared to monotherapies or untreated cells. We confirmed that pretreatment of cells with siSurvivin potentializes the cytotoxic effect of DOX as an alternative approach for treating HER2+ breast cancer. In conclusion, a combination of anti-Survivin siRNA and DOX would be a good alternative in HER2+ breast cancer therapy.
Abduction in Art Appreciation
Authors: Abe Akinori
Published: November 2022

Individuals usually go to art museums to enjoy artworks. Generally, in order to appreciate the art in museums, a brief summary of certain information is provided as a caption. Viewers usually read these descriptions to aid their understanding. To provide broader technical support for this activity, several researchers have proposed a protocol for art appreciation. For instance, Leder et al. proposed a stage model for aesthetic processing, which combines aspects of understanding and cognitive mastering with affective and emotional processing. We have also conducted several experiments in order to determine the effect of information during art appreciation. For instance, we conducted an experiment where information about a piece of art was offered gradually and incrementally. In the experiment, the participants seemed to be able to gradually understand the artwork according to the obtained information. Our observations indicate that they tried to create stories for the artworks in order to explain the obtained information. In addition, for the abstract artworks, if they saw the title, they understood the artworks within their own explanation in the context of the title. Our research framework suggests that we can consider this observed framework as a process of abduction, where the incremental presentation of details about art helps a user form a hypothesis about the piece of art. In this paper, we will analyze artwork appreciation and understanding with this framework from the viewpoint of abduction.
Systematic Performance Analysis of Hybrid FSO/RF System over Generalized Fading Channels with Pointing Errors
Authors: Wu Yan , Jiang Mengwan , Li Gang , Kong Dejin
Published: November 2022

Hybrid free space optical (FSO)/radio frequency (RF) system has attracted extensive attention because of its advantages of both the FSO and RF links. From the viewpoint of overall system performance, this paper presents a systematic analysis method of communication performance and security performance of the hybrid FSO/RF system with the Málaga turbulence channel and the α−μ fading channel. The hybrid FSO/RF system adopts the diversity method of maximum ratio combining (MRC) to receive signals. The new expressions of communication performance parameters (i.e., the bit error rate, the outage probability, the ergodic channel capacity) of the only FSO system and the hybrid system are obtained. Then, the new expressions of the security performance parameters (i.e., the security outage probability and the strictly positive secrecy capacity) of the hybrid system with the FSO or RF links eavesdropping are derived, respectively. Our derived analytical expressions present an efficient tool to investigate the impact of system parameters on the overall performance of the hybrid system, namely modulation scheme, turbulence intensity, pointing errors, target rate, and eavesdropper output signal-to-noise ratio. The simulation results show that compared with the only FSO system, the hybrid system can significantly improve the communication performance of the system; the communication performance of the hybrid system using coherent binary phase shift keying (CBPSK) modulation is obviously better than the other two modulation technologies; with the deterioration of atmospheric environment (increasing turbulence intensity and pointing errors), the communication performance and security performance of the hybrid system will decline; both RF link eavesdropping and FSO link eavesdropping have a greater impact on the security performance of the hybrid systems; whether it is FSO link eavesdropping or RF link eavesdropping, the reduction of target rate and output signal-to-noise ratio of the eavesdropper can improve the security performance of the hybrid system.
Design and Application of Phase-Only Diffractive Optical Element Based on Non-Iterative Method
Authors: Shi Kuo , Zhang Gongjian
Published: November 2022

In this study, we devised a method for the design of continuous phase-only holographic masks that map laser light to arbitrary target illumination patterns, which have a wide range of applications. In this method, the discrete gradient of a holographic mask is obtained by combining geometric optics and the linear assignment problem (LAP) methods, and then the entire problem is transformed into an integral problem with a discrete gradient. Finally, the least squares method is used to solve the gradient integral to complete the construction of a phase holographic mask. Due to its good continuity, this mask design method can also be applied to the production of diffractive optical elements. We discussed the effectiveness of this method by constructing two holographic masks with uniform illumination. At the same time, we successfully constructed an Einstein face holographic mask with non-uniform illumination using the LAP method for the first time. It is believed that this method can be widely used in illumination mode, ion capture and other directions.
Quantum Speed Limit for a Moving Qubit inside a Leaky Cavity
Authors: Hadipour Maryam , Haseli Soroush , Dolatkhah Hazhir , Haddadi Saeed , Czerwinski Artur
Published: November 2022

The quantum speed limit (QSL) is a theoretical lower bound of the time required for a quantum system to evolve from an arbitrary initial state to its orthogonal counterpart. This figure can be used to characterize the dynamics of open quantum systems, including non-Markovian maps. In this paper, we investigate the QSL time for a model that consists of a single qubit moving inside a leaky cavity. Notably, we show that for both weak and strong coupling regimes, the QSL time increases while we boost the velocity of the qubit inside the leaky cavity. Moreover, it is observed that by increasing the qubit velocity, the speed of the evolution tends to a constant value, and the system becomes more stable. The results provide a better understanding of the dynamics of atom-photon couplings and can be used to enhance the controllability of quantum systems.
Resolving Intrinsic Modulation Spectral Lines from Electro-Optic Modulation Spectra Based on Boosted Iterative Deconvolution
Authors: Li Jian , Xu Ying , Zou Xinhai , Zhu Junfeng , Ruan Zhongtao , Zhang Yali , Zhang Zhiyao , Zhang Shangjian , Liu Yong
Published: November 2022

Optical spectrum analysis is the most direct and effective method for characterizing electro-optic modulation spectra. According to the Rayleigh criterion, the best resolution of an optical spectrum analysis is limited by the point spread function of an optical spectrum analyzer (OSA) and the relative intensity of closely spaced spectral lines. In this paper, we propose a boosted iterative deconvolution (BID) method to resolve the intrinsic modulation of spectral lines from the measured optical carrier and modulation spectra. In our scheme, the electro-optic modulation spectrum is considered the convolution of the optical carrier spectrum and the intrinsic δ-function modulation spectrum, and the BID method enables fast and accurate extraction of the δ-function spectral lines from the measured modulation spectrum. The proof-of-concept experiment demonstrates that our method can improve the resolution of OSA by 10–30 p.m. at different relative intensities, with a best resolution of 10 p.m. in the iso-intensity case and wavelength errors of less than 2 p.m., which largely improves the measurement resolution and accuracy of the modulation spectrum.
Optically Powered and Controlled Drones Using Optical Fibers for Airborne Base Stations
Authors: Shindo Natsuki , Kobatake Taiki , Masson Denis , Fafard Simon , Matsuura Motoharu
Published: November 2022

Mobile communication services are crucial during emergency disasters and temporary events, and future mobile communication systems should be able to provide such services. Airborne base stations using drones are highly effective as stand-in base stations in areas where the ground base stations are inoperable or at temporary event sites. However, it is difficult for conventional drones to provide mobile communication services without interruption due to flight time limitations caused by their limited battery capacity. Thus, a drone drive with a non-interrupted power supply is urgently needed. In this study, we developed an airborne base station that enables drones to be driven and maneuvered by optical fibers. We simultaneously transmitted radio frequency (RF) data signals for the airborne base station and control signals for the drone and evaluated the transmission performances of the RF signals and the controllability of the drone. Furthermore, we conducted a flight experiment on a medium-sized drone powered by optical fibers.
A Feasible Compatibilization Processing Technique for Improving the Mechanical and Thermal Performance of Rubbery Biopolymer/Graphene Nanocomposites
Authors: Shahdan Dalila , Rosli Noor Afizah , Chen Ruey Shan , Ahmad Sahrim
Published: November 2022

Over the last few decades, processing and compatibility have become challenging and interesting investigation areas of polymer matrix nanocomposites. This study investigated the addition of maleic anhydride (MAH) at different ratios with graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) in poly(lactic acid)/modified natural rubber/polyaniline/GnP (PLA/m-NR/PANI/GnP) nanocomposites via two processing methods: a two-step technique and a one-pot technique. The former technique involved first preparing a master batch of PLA grafted with MAH, followed by a second step involving the melt blending of the nanocomposite (T1) using MAH-g-PLA. On the other hand, the one-pot technique involved the direct mixing of MAH during the melt-blending process (T2). The mechanical, morphological and thermal properties of the prepared nanocomposites were investigated. The findings showed that adding MAH significantly improved the tensile strength and elongation at break by about 25% for PLA/m-NR/PANi/GnP nanocomposites, with an optimal ratio of 1:1 of MAH-g-PLA to GnP loading using the T1 technique. FTIR analysis confirmed the chemical interaction between MAH and PLA for T1 nanocomposites, which exhibited improved phase morphology with smoother surfaces. MAH-compatibilized nanocomposites had enhanced thermal stabilities when compared to the sample without a compatibilizer. The findings show that the compatibilized PLA nanocomposite is potentially suitable for bio-inspired materials.
Structural Characterization and Optimization of a Miconazole Oral Gel
Authors: Pintea Andrada , Vlad Robert-Alexandru , Antonoaea Paula , Rédai Emöke , Todoran Nicoleta , Barabás Enikő-Csilla , Ciurba Adriana
Published: November 2022

The development of semisolid formulations, gels in particular, has raised the attention of scientists more and more over the last decades. Because of their biocompatibility, hydrophilic nature, and capacity of absorbing large quantities of water, hydrogels are still one of the most promising pharmaceutical formulations in the pharmaceutical industry. The purpose of this study is to develop an optimal formulation capable of incorporating a water-poorly soluble active ingredient such as miconazole used in the treatment of fungal infections with Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis. A D-optimal design was applied to study the relationship between the formulation parameter and the gel characteristics. The independent parameters used in this study were the Carbopol 940 concentration (the polymer used to obtain the gel matrix), the sodium hydroxide amount, and the presence/absence of miconazole. Ten different dependent parameters (Y1–Y10) were evaluated (penetrometry, spreadability, viscosity, and tangential tension at 1 and 11 levels of speed whilst destructuring and during the reorganization of the gel matrix). The consistency of the gels ranged from 23.2 mm (GO2) to 29.6 mm (GM5). The least spreadable gel was GO7 (1384 mm2), whilst the gel that presented the best spreadability was GO1 (3525 mm2). The viscosity and the tangential stress at the selected levels (1 and 11) varied due to the different compositions of the proposed gels. The gels were also tested for drug content and antifungal activity. All determinations had satisfying results; the drug content was within limits accepted by Ph. Eur. 10 and all formulations containing miconazole exhibited antifungal activity. An optimal formulation with miconazole was attained, consisting of 0.84% Carbopol 940 and 0.32% sodium hydroxide.
Non-Isocyanate Polyurethane Bio-Foam with Inherent Heat and Fire Resistance
Authors: Smith Dallin L. , Rodriguez-Melendez Danixa , Cotton Sidney M. , Quan Yufeng , Wang Qingsheng , Grunlan Jaime C.
Published: November 2022

Polyurethanes (PUs) are versatile and widespread, particularly as flexible and rigid foams. To avoid isocyanates and other toxic reagents required for synthesis, such as phosgene, alternative synthetic routes have been utilized to produce non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs). A thermally and flame-resistant rigid NIPU was produced from environmentally benign and bio-sourced ingredients, requiring no catalyst or solvents. A foamed structure was obtained by the addition of glutaraldehyde and four different carboxylic acids: malic acid, maleic acid, citric acid, and aconitic acid. The resulting morphology, thermal degradation, and flame resistance of each foam were compared. The properties vary with each carboxylic acid used, but in each case, peak thermal degradation and peak heat release are postponed by >100 °C compared to commercial rigid PU foam. Furthermore, in a butane torch test, NIPU foams exhibit an 80% higher remaining mass and a 75% reduction in afterburn time, compared to commercial polyurethane. This bio-based polyurethane eliminates the hazards of traditional PUs, while imparting inherent thermal stability and flame resistance uncharacteristic of conventional foams.
Multi-Shaded Edible Films Based on Gelatin and Starch for the Packaging Applications
Authors: Channa Iftikhar Ahmed , Ashfaq Jaweria , Siddiqui Muhammad Ali , Chandio Ali Dad , Shar Muhammad Ali , Alhazaa Abdulaziz
Published: November 2022

Starch and gelatin are natural biopolymers that offer a variety of benefits and are available at relatively low costs. In addition to this, they are an appealing substitute for synthetic polymers for the manufacturing of packaging films. Such packaging films are not only biodegradable but are also edible. Moreover, they are environmentally friendly and remain extremely cost-effective. In lieu of this, films made from fish gelatin and cornstarch have been the subject of several experiments. The pristine gelatin films have poor performance against water diffusion but exhibit excellent flexibility. The goal of this study was to assess the performance of pristine gelatin films along with the addition of food plasticizers. For this purpose, solutions of gelatin/cornstarch were prepared and specified quantities of food colors/plasticizers were added to develop different shades. The films were produced by using a blade coating method and were characterized by means of their shaded colors, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), compositional changes via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), hardness, bendability, transparency, wettability, surface roughness, and thermal stability. It was observed that the addition of several food colors enhanced the moisture blocking effect, as a 10% reduction in WVTR was observed in the shaded films as compared to pristine films. The yellow-shaded films exhibited the lowest WVTR, i.e., around 73 g/m2·day when tested at 23 °C/65%RH. It was also observed that the films’ WVTR, moisture content, and thickness were altered when different colors were added into them, although the chemical structure remained unchanged. The mechanical properties of the shaded films were improved by a factor of two after the addition of colored plasticizers. Optical examination and AFM demonstrated that the generated films had no fractures and were homogeneous, clear, and shiny. Finally, a biscuit was packaged in the developed films and was monitored via shore hardness. It was observed that the edible packed sample’s hardness remained constant even after 5 days. This clearly suggested that the developed films have the potential to be used for packaging in various industries.
Effect of Colorants and Process Parameters on the Properties of Dope-Dyed Polylactic Acid Multifilament Yarns
Authors: Balakrishnan Naveen Kumar , Siebert Stefan , Richter Christoph , Groten Robert , Seide Gunnar
Published: November 2022

The color of textile fibers is typically imparted by submersion in a high-temperature dye bath. However, the treatment of the effluent is challenging and the textile industry is therefore a major source of water pollution. Current fashion trends favor biobased polymers such as polylactic acid (PLA) but exhaust dyeing at high temperatures causes hydrolytic degradation, reducing the crystallinity and tenacity of the yarn. To preserve the mechanical properties of PLA-based textiles, an alternative to exhaust dyeing called dope dyeing can be used, wherein colorants are incorporated into the polymer matrix during melt spinning. We evaluated this process by dope dyeing PLA with several colorants, then testing the thermal, physical, and mechanical properties of the yarn and the physical properties of circular-knitted fabrics. Although the colorants affected the crystallization behavior at lower cooling rates, during the melt-spinning process, the drawing speed had a greater effect on the crystallinity and mechanical properties of the dyed yarn. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the colorants were well dispersed in the PLA matrix. We found that the colorants did not affect the physical properties of the knitted fabric. Our results can be used to develop more environmentally beneficial dope-dyed PLA yarn with improved mechanical properties.
Impact of Particle and Crystallite Size of Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 on the Dielectric Properties of BST/P(VDF-TrFE) Composites in Fully Printed Varactors
Authors: Mach Tim P. , Ding Yingfang , Binder Joachim R.
Published: November 2022

In the field of printed electronics, electronic components such as varactors are of special interest. As ferroelectric materials, Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 (BST) and poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) are promising compounds to be used in functional inks for the fabrication of fully inkjet-printed dielectric layers. In BST/P(VDF-TrFE) composite inks, the influence of the particle and crystallite size is investigated by using different grinding media sizes and thermal treatments at varying temperatures. It was found that with an increasing particle and crystallite size, both the relative permittivity and tunability increase as well. However, the thermal treatment which impacts both the particle and crystallite size has a greater effect on the dielectric properties. An additional approach is the reduction in the dielectric layer thickness, which has a significant effect on the maximal tunability. Here, with a thickness of 0.9 µm, a tunability of 29.6% could be achieved in an external electric field of 34 V µm−1.
Poly(Glycerol Succinate) as Coating Material for 1393 Bioactive Glass Porous Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications
Authors: Nakiou Eirini A. , Lazaridou Maria , Pouroutzidou Georgia K. , Michopoulou Anna , Tsamesidis Ioannis , Liverani Liliana , Arango-Ospina Marcela , Beketova Anastasia , Boccaccini Aldo R. , Kontonasaki Eleana , Bikiaris Dimitrios N.
Published: November 2022

Background: Aliphatic polyesters are widely used for biomedical, pharmaceutical and environmental applications due to their high biodegradability and cost-effective production. Recently, star and hyperbranched polyesters based on glycerol and ω-carboxy fatty diacids have gained considerable interest. Succinic acid and bio-based diacids similar to glycerol are regarded as safe materials according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Bioactive glass scaffolds utilized in bone tissue engineering are relatively brittle materials. However, their mechanical properties can be improved by using polymer coatings that can further control their degradation rate, tailor their biocompatibility and enhance their performance. The purpose of this study is to explore a new biopolyester poly(glycerol succinate) (PGSuc) reinforced with mesoporous bioactive nanoparticles (MSNs) as a novel coating material to produce hybrid scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Methods: Bioactive glass scaffolds were coated with neat PGSuc, PGSuc loaded with dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DexSP) and PGSuc loaded with DexSP-laden MSNs. The physicochemical, mechanical and biological properties of the scaffolds were also evaluated. Results: Preliminary data are provided showing that polymer coatings with and without MSNs improved the physicochemical properties of the 1393 bioactive glass scaffolds and increased the ALP activity and alizarin red staining, suggesting osteogenic differentiation potential when cultured with adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Conclusions: PGSuc with incorporated MSNs coated onto 1393 bioactive glass scaffolds could be promising candidates in bone tissue engineering applications.
Swelling and Collapse of Cylindrical Polyelectrolyte Microgels
Authors: Portnov Ivan V. , Larina Alexandra A. , Gumerov Rustam A. , Potemkin Igor I.
Published: November 2022

In this study, we propose computer simulations of charged cylindrical microgels. The effects of cross-linking density, aspect ratio, and fraction of charged groups on the microgel swelling and collapse with a variation in the solvent quality were studied. The results were compared with those obtained for equivalent neutral cylindrical microgels. The study demonstrated that microgels’ degree of swelling strongly depends on the fraction of charged groups. Polyelectrolyte microgels under adequate solvent conditions are characterized by a larger length and thickness than their neutral analogues: the higher the fraction of charged groups, the longer their length and greater their thickness. Microgels’ collapse upon solvent quality decline is characterized by a decrease in length and non-monotonous behavior of its thickness. First, the thickness decreases due to the attraction of monomer units (beads) upon collapse. The further thickness increase is related to the surface tension, which tends to reduce the anisotropy of collapsed objects (the minimum surface energy is known to be achieved for the spherical objects). This reduction is opposed by the network elasticity. The microgels with a low cross-linking density and/or a low enough aspect ratio reveal a cylinder-to-sphere collapse. Otherwise, the cylindrical shape is preserved in the course of the collapse. Aspect ratio as a function of the solvent quality (interaction parameter) demonstrates the maximum, which is solely due to the electrostatics. Finally, we plotted radial concentration profiles for network segments, their charged groups, and counterions.
Pyrolysis of Denim Jeans Waste: Pyrolytic Product Modification by the Addition of Sodium Carbonate
Authors: Joo Junghee , Choi Heeyoung , Lin Kun-Yi Andrew , Lee Jechan
Published: November 2022

Quickly changing fashion trends generate tremendous amounts of textile waste globally. The inhomogeneity and complicated nature of textile waste make its recycling challenging. Hence, it is urgent to develop a feasible method to extract value from textile waste. Pyrolysis is an effective waste-to-energy option to processing waste feedstocks having an inhomogeneous and complicated nature. Herein, pyrolysis of denim jeans waste (DJW; a textile waste surrogate) was performed in a continuous flow pyrolyser. The effects of adding sodium carbonate (Na2CO3; feedstock/Na2CO3 = 10, weight basis) to the DJW pyrolysis on the yield and composition of pyrolysates were explored. For the DJW pyrolysis, using Na2CO3 as an additive increased the yields of gas and solid phase pyrolysates and decreased the yield of liquid phase pyrolysate. The highest yield of the gas phase pyrolysate was 34.1 wt% at 800 °C in the presence of Na2CO3. The addition of Na2CO3 could increase the contents of combustible gases such as H2 and CO in the gas phase pyrolysate in comparison with the DJW pyrolysis without Na2CO3. The maximum yield of the liquid phase pyrolysate obtained with Na2CO3 was 62.5 wt% at 400 °C. The composition of the liquid phase pyrolysate indicated that the Na2CO3 additive decreased the contents of organic acids, which potentially improve its fuel property by reducing acid value. The results indicated that Na2CO3 can be a potential additive to pyrolysis to enhance energy recovery from DJW.
Warmforming Flow Pressing Characteristics of Continuous Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites
Authors: Gröger Benjamin , Römisch David , Kraus Martin , Troschitz Juliane , Füßel René , Merklein Marion , Gude Maik
Published: November 2022

The paper presents research regarding a thermally supported multi-material clinching process (hotclinching) for metal and thermoplastic composite (TPC) sheets: an experimental approach to investigate the flow pressing phenomena during joining. Therefore, an experimental setup is developed to compress the TPC-specimens in out-of-plane direction with different initial TPC thicknesses and varying temperature levels. The deformed specimens are analyzed with computed tomography to investigate the resultant inner material structure at different compaction levels. The results are compared in terms of force-compaction-curves and occurring phenomena during compaction. The change of the material structure is characterized by sliding phenomena and crack initiation and growth.
Characterization of the Mechanical and Morphological Properties of Cow Dung Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites: A Comparative Study with Corn Stalk Fiber Composites and Sisal Fiber Composites
Authors: Wu Siyang , Guo Mingzhuo , Zhao Jiale , Wu Qian , Zhuang Jian , Jiang Xinming
Published: November 2022

Natural fibers and their composites have attracted much attention due to the growing energy crisis and environmental awareness. In this work, a natural lignocellulosic fiber was extracted from cow dung waste and its potential use as reinforcing material in resin-based polymer composites was evaluated. For this purpose, cow dung fiber-reinforced composites (CDFC) were fabricated, and their mechanical and morphological properties were systematically investigated and compared with corn stalk fiber composites (CSFC) and sisal fiber composites (SFC). The results showed that the addition of cow dung fibers reduced the density of the polymer composites, increased the water absorption, and enhanced the impact strength and shear strength. The highest impact and shear strengths were obtained at 6 wt.% and 9 wt.% of fiber loading, respectively, which increased by 23.8% and 34.6% compared to the composite without the fibers. Further comparisons revealed that at the same fiber addition level, the CDFC exhibited better mechanical properties than the CSFC; notably, the CDFC-3 (adding 3 wt.% of fiber loading) had an impact strength closer to the SFC-3. Furthermore, an SEM analysis suggested that the cow dung fibers exhibited a rough and crinkly surface with more node structures, and presented good interfacial bonding with the composite matrix. This work revealed that cow dung fibers are a promising candidate as reinforcement for resin-based polymer composites, which promotes an alternative application for cow dung waste resources in the automotive components field.
Prediction of Reservoir Fracture Parameters Based on the Multi-Layer Perceptron Machine-Learning Method: A Case Study of Ordovician and Cambrian Carbonate Rocks in Nanpu Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, China
Authors: Pei Jianya , Zhang Yunfeng
Published: November 2022

Developing a model that can accurately predict internal fractured reservoirs in the context of the ultra-low physical properties of carbonate rocks by only employing conventional mathematical methods can be very challenging. This process is challenging because the relationship between basic fracture parameters and the logging response in carbonate reservoirs has not been studied, and the traditional method lacks adaptability due to the complex relationship between basic fracture parameters and the logging response. However, data-driven approaches supplemented by machine learning algorithms based on multi-layer perceptrons (MLP) provide a more reliable solution to this challenge. In this paper, a classical fracture parameter evaluation data set is established using fracture porosity, fracture density, fracture length, and fracture width data that can be identified by resistivity and acoustic imaging logging. Another data set can be composed of different types of logs, and it can be used to identify reservoirs. Two different data sets were validated by regression task evaluation indicators in machine learning, and the correlation coefficient R2 is greater than 0.82. This means that the model accuracy of the algorithm can reach 82%. Combined with the comparison results of eight conventional machine learning algorithms, the reliability and application validity of the MLP model are verified. This method’s accuracy is also verified by oil test data, which show that the MLP machine-learning algorithm can effectively simulate the relationship between lithology and fracture development. In addition, it can be used to predict key exploration horizons before drilling. The relationship between lithology and fracture development degree is well-simulated by the MLP machine learning algorithm, which shows that the degree of fracture development is mainly affected by fractures, indicating that the method can be used to predict key exploration horizons before drilling.
Special Issue on “Modeling, Optimization and Design Method of Metal Manufacturing Processes”
Authors: Zhang Guoqing , Zhao Zejia , YIP Wai Sze
Published: November 2022

Metal manufacturing processes are essential techniques to convert raw materials into desired metal products, which contributes significantly to the growth of industry and our society [...]
Geochemistry and Sedimentology of a Minerotrophic Peat in a Western Mediterranean Mountain Wilderness Area
Authors: Goutiers Vladimir , Carcaillet Christopher
Published: November 2022

Sedimentological and biogeochemical measurements were conducted on minerotrophic peat in a wilderness area on a granitic plateau to reconstruct the local ecosystem’s history and clarify the peat’s response to local and global changes. The peat is less than 1900 years old. Its clay and iron (Fe) concentration profiles revealed an increasing atmospheric influx over time, whereas the levels of its nutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg) have increased since the 19th century. Additionally, changes in the relative abundance of amorphous aluminium indicated a gradual decrease in soil weathering. The dominant metallic trace elements were cadmium during the Roman epoch and early Middle Ages, then lead and mercury during the modern and the industrial eras. Unexpectedly, the peat proved to be sub-modern and lacks wildfire proxies, probably indicating an absence of nearby woodlands over the last 1900 years. Its concentrations of Ca and Mg indicate that airborne transport of particles released by soil erosion in lowland agricultural plains has strongly affected the peat’s composition since the 18th–19th century. The site has also been heavily influenced by metallic contamination due to regional metallurgy and agriculture, producing a peat that has been modified by social imprints over several centuries.
Intercultural Theology in the Multicultural Context of Muslim-Buddhist Relation in Malaysia: History, Identity, and Issues
Authors: Awang Jaffary , Ramli Ahmad Faizuddin , Ab Rahman Zaizul
Published: November 2022

Relationship-oriented questions have always been at the crossroads of ethnoreligious identity, religious freedom, religious conversion, religious prejudice, and religious pluralism throughout Muslim-Buddhist co-existence in the sixth century within the Malay Archipelago. Other faiths could be freely practised except for propagation towards Muslim communities with Islam being the religion of the federation. This study aimed to explore Muslim-Buddhist relation types and the issues underpinning the following themes: history, identity, and concerns. Content and thematic analysis as well discourse analysis were utilised as the study method for data collection and evaluation. The data were thematically analysed with ATLAS.ti, a qualitative analysis software. Resultantly, the Muslim-Buddhist interaction pattern in Malaysia has occurred (culturally and religiously) from the early establishment of both religious communities. This relation, which has shifted in ethnoreligious orientation at every interaction level, opens more avenues and complexities requiring holistic management.
2.5D Layered Sub-Image LIDAR Maps for Autonomous Driving in Multilevel Environments
Authors: Aldibaja Mohammad , Suganuma Naoki , Yanase Ryo
Published: November 2022

This paper proposes a reliable framework to map multilevel road structures in the 2D image domain called layered sub-image maps (LSM). The road is divided into a set of sub-areas providing IDs in the XY plane. Each sub-area is decomposed into several layered images using LIDAR intensity and elevation data to form a 2.5D map image. The layered elevation images are given IDs in the Z plane to represent the height of the contained road features in meter-order whereas the elevation pixels indicate the cm-order of the road slope in the range of 200 cm. The layered intensity images are then created to describe the road surface in conjunction with the number of the layered elevation images and the corresponding pixel distributions. A significant map retrieval strategy during autonomous driving has been designed based on the LSM implementation tactic and the IDs in the XYZ plane. The system’s reliability has been proved by a unique localization module to localize an autonomous vehicle in a challenging multilevel environment consisting of four stacked loops with an average accuracy of 5 cm in lateral, longitudinal and altitudinal directions.
Swin-Transformer-YOLOv5 for Real-Time Wine Grape Bunch Detection
Authors: Lu Shenglian , Liu Xiaoyu , He Zixuan , Zhang Xin , Liu Wenbo , Karkee Manoj
Published: November 2022

Precise canopy management is critical in vineyards for premium wine production because maximum crop load does not guarantee the best economic return for wine producers. The growers keep track of the number of grape bunches during the entire growing season for optimizing crop load per vine. Manual counting of grape bunches can be highly labor-intensive and error prone. Thus, an integrated, novel detection model, Swin-transformer-YOLOv5, was proposed for real-time wine grape bunch detection. The research was conducted on two varieties of Chardonnay and Merlot from July to September 2019. The performance of Swin-T-YOLOv5 was compared against commonly used detectors. All models were comprehensively tested under different conditions, including two weather conditions, two berry maturity stages, and three sunlight intensities. The proposed Swin-T-YOLOv5 outperformed others for grape bunch detection, with mean average precision (mAP) of up to 97% and F1-score of 0.89 on cloudy days. This mAP was ~44%, 18%, 14%, and 4% greater than Faster R-CNN, YOLOv3, YOLOv4, and YOLOv5, respectively. Swin-T-YOLOv5 achieved an R2 of 0.91 and RMSE of 2.4 (number of grape bunches) compared with the ground truth on Chardonnay. Swin-T-YOLOv5 can serve as a reliable digital tool to help growers perform precision canopy management in vineyards.