bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Economic Evaluation of Clinical, Nutritional and Rehabilitation Interventions on Oropharyngeal Dysphagia after Stroke: A Systematic Review
Authors: Marin Sergio , Ortega Omar , Serra-Prat Mateu , Valls Ester , Pérez-Cordón Laia , Clavé Pere
Published: March 2023

Background: Post-stroke oropharyngeal dysphagia (PS-OD) and its complications increase healthcare costs, suggesting that its appropriate management is cost-effective. We aimed to assess the efficiency of healthcare interventions in PS-OD management. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA recommendations. Four databases were searched from inception through 30 June 2021. Outcome measures were cost-effectiveness and cost-savings of healthcare interventions. English and Spanish literature were included. Narrative and tables were used to present and synthesise evidence. Quality was evaluated using the CHEERS Statement. Results: A total of 244 studies were identified, and 10 were included. Screening and diagnosis of PS-OD studies found: (1) adjusted reduction in hospitalisation costs when assessed during the first admission day; (2) non-significant reduction in hospitalisation costs with OD management after thrombolysis; and (3) videofluoroscopy as the most cost-effective screening method (compared to bedside evaluation and a combination of both). Two studies showed cost-effective rehabilitation programmes, including OD management. Pelczarska et al. showed an incremental cost–utility ratio of texture-modified diets using a gum-based thickener of 20,977 PLN (4660€) following a dynamic model, and Kotecki et al. commercially prepared thickened fluids that were 44% to 59% less expensive than in situ prepared fluids. Elia et al. showed home enteral nutrition was cost-effective (£12,817/QALY), and Beavan et al. showed higher nutrient intake and low increase in hospitalisation costs using looped-nasogastric tubes (£5.20 for every 1% increase). Heterogeneity between studies precluded a quantitative synthesis. Conclusions: Included studies suggest that healthcare interventions aiming to prevent OD complications are cost-effective. However, studies assessing novel strategies are needed.
Nutritional Effects of Removing a Serving of Meat or Poultry from Healthy Dietary Patterns—A Dietary Modeling Study
Authors: Agarwal Sanjiv , McCullough Kathryn , Fulgoni Victor
Published: March 2023

Meat and poultry are nutrient-dense sources of protein and typically are recommended as part of an overall healthy diet. The objective was to assess the nutritional impact of removing a serving of meat/poultry in Healthy Dietary Patterns (HDPs) using a similar approach to that used by the USDA for Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Composites of minimally processed and further processed meat and poultry were developed and their nutrient profiles were used to accomplish modeling by removing nutrients of each meat and poultry composite from the HDPs. The removal of a 3 oz (85 g) serving of meat or poultry resulted in decreases (10% or more from baseline) in protein and several key micronutrients including iron, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, selenium, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and choline as well as cholesterol and sodium in the HDPs, and the decreases were consistent for most nutrients with the removal of either minimally processed (fresh) or further processed meat or poultry and even after adjusting for changes in calories. In conclusion, the results of this dietary modeling study show that the removal of a meat and poultry serving from HDPs resulted in decreases in protein and several key nutrients.
The Relationship between Maternal Ideation and Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice among Saudi Nursing Mothers: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Elgzar Wafaa T. , Al-Thubaity DaifAllah D. , Alshahrani Mohammed A. , Essa Rasha M. , Ibrahim Heba A.
Published: March 2023

All mortality risk factors are higher in non-breastfed infants compared to infants under five months of age who receive Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF). Examining the predicting role of maternal ideation in EBF practices can help to direct and strengthen the cooperation between multidisciplinary healthcare providers to formulate multidisciplinary breastfeeding enhancement strategies. Methods: This correlational cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between maternal ideation and EBF practice among Saudi nursing mothers at Maternal and Children’s Hospital (MCH) in Najran, Saudi Arabia. The study incorporated 403 Saudi nursing mothers aged 6–12 months with healthy infants. The data collected using a questionnaire comprises demographic characteristics and obstetric history, the EBF Practice scale, and a maternal ideation scale. The data was collected from the beginning of November 2022 to the end of January 2023 and analyzed using I.B.M. version 22. Results: Breastfeeding initiation within one hour occurred among 85.1% of women, while 39.2% fed their newborn only colostrum during the first three days. EBF until six months was practiced by 40.9% of the participants day and night and on-demand (38.7%). Furthermore, 60.8% of the study participants had satisfactory overall EBF practices. The cognitive part of maternal ideation shows that 68.2% of the participants had adequate knowledge and 63.5% had positive beliefs regarding EBF practice. The maternal psychological ideation dimensions show that 81.4% had high EBF self-efficacy. The maternal social ideation dimensions showed that high injunctive and descriptive norms were present among 40.9% and 37.5%, respectively. In addition, healthcare providers (39.2%) had the most significant social influence, followed by husbands (30.5%). Binary logistic regression shows that the mother’s age, occupation, and education are the significant demographic predictors of satisfactory EBF practices (p < 0.05). All maternal ideation constructs were positive predictors of satisfactory EBF practices (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Maternal ideation constructs are positive predictors of satisfactory EBF practice and can be used to predict high-risk groups and plan for further intervention.
Different Effects of Cyclical Ketogenic vs. Nutritionally Balanced Reduction Diet on Serum Concentrations of Myokines in Healthy Young Males Undergoing Combined Resistance/Aerobic Training
Authors: Kysel Pavel , Haluzíková Denisa , Pleyerová Iveta , Řezníčková Kateřina , Laňková Ivana , Lacinová Zdeňka , Havrlantová Tereza , Mráz Miloš , Kasperová Barbora Judita , Kovářová Viktorie , Thieme Lenka , Trnovská Jaroslava , Svoboda Petr , Hubáčková Soňa Štemberková , Vilikus Zdeněk , Haluzík Martin
Published: March 2023

Myokines represent important regulators of muscle metabolism. Our study aimed to explore the effects of a cyclical ketogenic reduction diet (CKD) vs. a nutritionally balanced reduction diet (RD) combined with regular resistance/aerobic training in healthy young males on serum concentrations of myokines and their potential role in changes in physical fitness. Twenty-five subjects undergoing regular resistance/aerobic training were randomized to the CKD (n = 13) or RD (n = 12) groups. Anthropometric and spiroergometric parameters, muscle strength, biochemical parameters, and serum concentrations of myokines and cytokines were assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention. Both diets reduced body weight, body fat, and BMI. Muscle strength and endurance performance were improved only by RD. Increased musclin (32.9 pg/mL vs. 74.5 pg/mL, p = 0.028) and decreased osteonectin levels (562 pg/mL vs. 511 pg/mL, p = 0.023) were observed in RD but not in the CKD group. In contrast, decreased levels of FGF21 (181 pg/mL vs. 86.4 pg/mL, p = 0.003) were found in the CKD group only. Other tested myokines and cytokines were not significantly affected by the intervention. Our data suggest that changes in systemic osteonectin and musclin levels could contribute to improved muscle strength and endurance performance and partially explain the differential effects of CKD and RD on physical fitness.
A Central Asian Food Dataset for Personalized Dietary Interventions
Authors: Karabay Aknur , Bolatov Arman , Varol Huseyin , Chan Mei-Yen
Published: March 2023

Nowadays, it is common for people to take photographs of every beverage, snack, or meal they eat and then post these photographs on social media platforms. Leveraging these social trends, real-time food recognition and reliable classification of these captured food images can potentially help replace some of the tedious recording and coding of food diaries to enable personalized dietary interventions. Although Central Asian cuisine is culturally and historically distinct, there has been little published data on the food and dietary habits of people in this region. To fill this gap, we aim to create a reliable dataset of regional foods that is easily accessible to both public consumers and researchers. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work on the creation of a Central Asian Food Dataset (CAFD). The final dataset contains 42 food categories and over 16,000 images of national dishes unique to this region. We achieved a classification accuracy of 88.70% (42 classes) on the CAFD using the ResNet152 neural network model. The food recognition models trained on the CAFD demonstrate the effectiveness and high accuracy of computer vision for dietary assessment.
Development of Medicines for Rare Pediatric Diseases
Authors: Marimpietri Danilo , Zuccari Guendalina
Published: March 2023

To date, approximately 7000 rare diseases exist, affecting between 6% and 8% of the global population and >30 million people in the European Union [...]
Role of Fenugreek, Cinnamon, Curcuma longa, Berberine and Momordica charantia in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Treatment: A Review
Authors: Cortez-Navarrete Marisol , Pérez-Rubio Karina G. , Escobedo-Gutiérrez Miriam de J.
Published: March 2023

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex disease that has become a major global health concern. Given the efficacy of antidiabetic drugs, pharmacological therapy is considered the first-line treatment of T2DM; however, due to their potential side effects and high costs, new and cost-effective treatments with minimal side effects are needed. Medicinal plants have been used for centuries as part of traditional medicine to treat T2DM. Among these, fenugreek, cinnamon, Curcuma longa, berberine, and Momordica charantia have demonstrated different degrees of hypoglycemic activity in clinical studies and animal models. Therefore, the aim of this review is to synthesize the mechanisms of action of five medicinal plants, as well as the experimental and clinical evidence of their hypoglycemic activity from the published literature.
Targeting Protein-Protein Interactions to Inhibit Cyclin-Dependent Kinases
Authors: Klein Mark
Published: March 2023

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) play diverse and critical roles in normal cells and may be exploited as targets in cancer therapeutic strategies. CDK4 inhibitors are currently approved for treatment in advanced breast cancer. This success has led to continued pursuit of targeting other CDKs. One challenge has been in the development of inhibitors that are highly selective for individual CDKs as the ATP-binding site is highly conserved across this family of proteins. Protein-protein interactions (PPI) tend to have less conservation amongst different proteins, even within protein families, making targeting PPI an attractive approach to improving drug selectivity. However, PPI can be challenging to target due to structural and physicochemical features of these interactions. A review of the literature specific to studies focused on targeting PPI involving CDKs 2, 4, 5, and 9 was conducted and is presented here. Promising lead molecules to target select CDKs have been discovered. None of the lead molecules discovered have led to FDA approval; however, the studies covered in this review lay the foundation for further discovery and develop of PPI inhibitors for CDKs.
Progesterone and Its Metabolites Play a Beneficial Role in Affect Regulation in the Female Brain
Authors: Stefaniak Małgorzata , Dmoch-Gajzlerska Ewa , Jankowska Katarzyna , Rogowski Artur , Kajdy Anna , Maksym Radosław B.
Published: March 2023

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a female affective disorder that is defined by mood symptoms. The condition is linked to unstable progesterone concentrations. Progestin supplementation is given in cases of threatened or recurrent miscarriage and for luteal phase support. Progesterone is essential for implantation, immune tolerance, and modulation of uterine contractility. For a long time, the administration of progestins was associated with an unfavorable impact on mood, leading to negative affect, and, therefore, was contraindicated in existing mood disorders. Establishing the role of the natural progesterone derivative allopregnanolone in advances in the treatment of postpartum depression has shed new light on the general pathophysiology of mood disorders. Allopregnanolone directly interacts with gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA-A) receptors even at nanomolar concentrations and induces significant anti-depressant, anti-stress, sedative, and anxiolytic effects. Postpartum depression is caused by a rapid drop in hormones and can be instantly reversed by the administration of allopregnanolone. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder can also be considered to result from insufficient neuroactive steroid action due to low progesterone derivative concentration, unstable hormone levels, or decreased receptor sensitivity. The decrease in progesterone levels in perimenopause is also associated with affective symptoms and an exacerbation of some psychosomatic syndromes. Bioidentical progesterone supplementation encounters several obstacles, including limited absorption, first-pass effect, and rapid metabolism. Hence, non-bioidentical progestins with better bioavailability were widely applied. The paradoxical, unfavorable effect of progestins on mood can be explained by the fact that progestins suppress ovulation and disturb the endocrine function of the ovary in the luteal phase. Moreover, their distinct chemical structure prevents their metabolism to neuroactive, mood-improving derivatives. A new understanding of progesterone-related mood disorders can translate the study results from case series and observational studies to cohort studies, clinical trials, and novel, effective treatment protocols being developed.
Head-to-Head Comparison between [68Ga]Ga-DOTA.SA.FAPi and [18F]F-FDG PET/CT Imaging in Patients with Breast Cancer
Authors: Ballal Sanjana , Yadav Madhav P. , Roesch Frank , Wakade Nicky , Raju Shobhana , Sheokand Parvind , Mishra Prashant , Moon Euy Sung , Tripathi Madhavi , Martin Marcel , Bal Chandrasekhar
Published: March 2023

This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA.SA.FAPi with that of [18F]F-FDG PET/CT in detecting primary and metastatic lesions of breast cancer. [18F]F-FDG and [68Ga]Ga-DOTA.SA.FAPi PET/CT scans of histologically proven breast cancer patients were compared according to patient-based and lesion-based analysis. Forty-seven patients with a mean age of 44.8 ± 9.9 years (range: 31–66 years) were evaluated. A total of 85% of patients had invasive ductal carcinoma, and 15% had invasive lobular carcinoma. The tracer uptake [SULpeak, SULavg, and the median tumor-to-background ratio (TBR)] was significantly higher in [68Ga]Ga-DOTA.SA.FAPi than with [18F]F-FDG PET/CT for lymph nodes, pleural metastases, and liver lesions (p < 0.05). However, for brain metastasis, only the median TBR was significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared to [18F]F-FDG. In patient-based analysis the sensitivity of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA.SA.FAPi PET/CT was higher, but not significant than that of [18F]F-FDG PET/CT in the detection of both primary tumors and metastatic lesions. According to lesion-based analysis, on diagnostic CT, 47 patients had 44 primary tumors, 248 lymph nodes, 15 pleural, 88 liver, and 42 brain metastases. [68Ga]Ga-DOTA.SA.FAPi scan identified more abnormal lesions than [18F]F-FDG in all the primary and metastatic sites with a maximum marked difference in the primary site [88.6% vs. 81.8%; p-0.001], lymph nodes [89.1% vs. 83.8%; p-0.0001], pleural metastases [93.3% vs. 73%; p-0.096] and brain metastasis [100% vs. 59.5%; p-0.0001]. [68Ga]Ga-DOTA.SA.FAPi PET/CT was superior to [18F]F-FDG PET/CT in the imaging of breast cancers.
HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors Suppress Monosodium Urate-Induced NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation through Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ Activation in THP-1 Cells
Authors: Kim Seong-Kyu , Choe Jung-Yoon , Kim Ji-Won , Park Ki-Yeun
Published: March 2023

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) is thought to negatively regulate NLRP3 inflammasome activation. The aim of this study was to identify the inhibitory effect of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) on monosodium urate (MSU) crystal-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation through the regulation of PPAR-γ in THP-1 cells. The expression of PPAR-γ, NLRP3, caspase-1, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in human monocytic THP-1 cells transfected with PPAR-γ siRNA or not and stimulated with MSU crystals was assessed using quantitative a real time-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. The expression of those markers in THP-1 cells pretreated with statins (atorvastatin, simvastatin, and mevastatin) was also evaluated. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured using H2DCF-DA and flow cytometry analyses. THP-1 cells treated with MSU crystals (0.3 mg/mL) inhibited PARR-γ and increased NLRP3, caspase-1, and IL-1β mRNA and protein expression, and all those changes were significantly reversed by treatment with atorvastatin, simvastatin, or mevastatin. PPAR-γ activity revealed that MSU crystals suppressed PPAR-γ activity, which was markedly augmented by atorvastatin, simvastatin, and mevastatin. Transfecting cells with PPAR-γ siRNA attenuated the inhibitory effect of statins on MSU crystal-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Statins also significantly reduced the intracellular ROS generation caused by stimulation with MSU crystals. The inhibitory effects of atorvastatin and simvastatin on intracellular ROS generation were reduced in THP-1 cells transfected with PPAR-γ siRNA. This study demonstrates that PPAR-γ is responsible for suppressing MSU-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation. The inhibitory effect of statins on MSU-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation depends on PPAR-γ activity and production and the inhibition of ROS generation.
A Real-Life Study on the Use of Tildrakizumab in Psoriatic Patients
Authors: Campione Elena , Lambiase Sara , Gaeta Shumak Ruslana , Galluzzo Marco , Lanna Caterina , Costanza Gaetana , Borselli Cristiana , Artosi Fabio , Cosio Terenzio , Tofani Lorenzo , Dattola Annunziata , Di Daniele Francesca , Bianchi Luca
Published: March 2023

Tildrakizumab is a humanized IgG1κ monoclonal antibody that selectively targets the p19 subunit of interleukin IL-23, thereby inhibiting the IL-23/IL-17 axis, which is primarily implicated in the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis. Tildrakizumab is approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque-type psoriasis in adults based on the evidence of two randomized and controlled phase-III clinical trials (reSURFACE 1 and reSURFACE 2). Here, we report our real-life experience treating 53 psoriatic patients (19 female and 34 male) who were administered tildrakizumab every 12 weeks and received follow-ups over 52 weeks. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed, in particular the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and, if applicable, the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI) and Palmoplantar Psoriasis Physician Global Assessment (PPPGA). These were assessed at baseline and after different timepoints (weeks) during the follow-up period. We described and evaluated demographical and epidemiological characteristics in our cohort group, focusing on comorbidities. In this group, 35.9% of patients were female and 64.1% were male, with 47.1% being smokers and with a mean age of 51.2 years. A total of 37.7% of these patients was affected by scalp psoriasis; regarding comorbidities, hypertension was the most frequent (32.5%), followed by psoriatic arthritis (PsA) (18.60%) and diabetes (13.9%). At week 52, 93%, 90.2% and 77% of patients achieved a PASI reduction ≥75% (PASI 75), PASI 90 and PASI 100, respectively. In addition, NAPSI, PPPGA and DLQI scores were significantly reduced by week 52. In our cohort of complex psoriasis patients, disease remission began at the end of the fourth week of treatment and remained constant from week 16 to week 52.
Dendrimer-Mediated Delivery of DNA and RNA Vaccines
Authors: Kisakova Lyubov A. , Apartsin Evgeny K. , Nizolenko Lily F. , Karpenko Larisa I.
Published: March 2023

DNA and RNA vaccines (nucleic acid-based vaccines) are a promising platform for vaccine development. The first mRNA vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech) were approved in 2020, and a DNA vaccine (Zydus Cadila, India), in 2021. They display unique benefits in the current COVID-19 pandemic. Nucleic acid-based vaccines have a number of advantages, such as safety, efficacy, and low cost. They are potentially faster to develop, cheaper to produce, and easier to store and transport. A crucial step in the technology of DNA or RNA vaccines is choosing an efficient delivery method. Nucleic acid delivery using liposomes is the most popular approach today, but this method has certain disadvantages. Therefore, studies are actively underway to develop various alternative delivery methods, among which synthetic cationic polymers such as dendrimers are very attractive. Dendrimers are three-dimensional nanostructures with a high degree of molecular homogeneity, adjustable size, multivalence, high surface functionality, and high aqueous solubility. The biosafety of some dendrimers has been evaluated in several clinical trials presented in this review. Due to these important and attractive properties, dendrimers are already being used to deliver a number of drugs and are being explored as promising carriers for nucleic acid-based vaccines. This review summarizes the literature data on the development of dendrimer-based delivery systems for DNA and mRNA vaccines.
Friends against the Foe: Synergistic Photothermal and Photodynamic Therapy against Bacterial Infections
Authors: Naskar Atanu , Kim Kwang-sun
Published: March 2023

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are rapidly emerging, coupled with the failure of current antibiotic therapy; thus, new alternatives for effectively treating infections caused by MDR bacteria are required. Hyperthermia-mediated photothermal therapy (PTT) and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) have attracted extensive attention as antibacterial therapies owing to advantages such as low invasiveness, low toxicity, and low likelihood of causing bacterial resistance. However, both strategies have notable drawbacks, including the high temperature requirements of PTT and the weak ability of PDT-derived ROS to penetrate target cells. To overcome these limitations, a combination of PTT and PDT has been used against MDR bacteria. In this review, we discuss the unique benefits and limitations of PTT and PDT against MDR bacteria. The mechanisms underlying the synergistic effects of the PTT–PDT combination are also discussed. Furthermore, we introduced advancements in antibacterial methods using nano-based PTT and PDT agents to treat infections caused by MDR bacteria. Finally, we highlight the existing challenges and future perspectives of synergistic PTT–PDT combination therapy against infections caused by MDR bacteria. We believe that this review will encourage synergistic PTT- and PDT-based antibacterial research and can be referenced for future clinical applications.
Natural Products as New Approaches for Treating Bladder Cancer: From Traditional Medicine to Novel Drug Discovery
Authors: Kang Yoo , Park Chelin , Lee Heemin , Kang Sojin , Cheon Chunhoo , Kim Bonglee
Published: March 2023

Bladder cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease that a tumor develops in the bladder lining and in some cases, the bladder muscle. Chemotherapy and immunotherapy are commonly used to treat bladder cancer. However, chemotherapy can cause burning and irritation in the bladder while BCG immunotherapy, which is the main type of intravesical immunotherapy for bladder cancer, can also cause burning in the bladder and flu-like symptoms. Thus, drugs originating from natural products have attracted much attention due to the reports that they have anti-cancer properties with low adverse effects. In this study, eighty-seven papers that dealt with natural products preventing or treating bladder cancer were reviewed. The studies were classified into the following mechanism: 71 papers on cell death, 5 papers on anti-metastasis, 3 papers on anti-angiogenesis, 1 paper on anti-resistance, and 7 papers on clinical trials. Most of the natural products that induced apoptosis up-regulated proteins such as caspase-3 and caspase-9. Regarding anti-metastasis, MMP-2 and MMP-9 are regulated frequently. Regarding anti-angiogenesis, HIF-1α and VEGF-A are down-regulated frequently. Nevertheless, the number of papers regarding anti-resistance and clinical trial are too few, so more studies are needed. In conclusion, this database will be useful for future in vivo studies of the anti-bladder cancer effect of natural products, in the process of selecting materials used for the experiment.
BlockmiR AONs as Site-Specific Therapeutic MBNL Modulation in Myotonic Dystrophy 2D and 3D Muscle Cells and HSALR Mice
Authors: Overby Sarah J. , Cerro-Herreros Estefanía , Espinosa-Espinosa Jorge , González-Martínez Irene , Moreno Nerea , Fernández-Costa Juan M. , Balaguer-Trias Jordina , Ramón-Azcón Javier , Pérez-Alonso Manuel , Møller Thorleif , Llamusí Beatriz , Artero Rubén
Published: March 2023

The symptoms of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1) are multi-systemic and life-threatening. The neuromuscular disorder is rooted in a non-coding CTG microsatellite expansion in the DM1 protein kinase (DMPK) gene that, upon transcription, physically sequesters the Muscleblind-like (MBNL) family of splicing regulator proteins. The high-affinity binding occurring between the proteins and the repetitions disallow MBNL proteins from performing their post-transcriptional splicing regulation leading to downstream molecular effects directly related to disease symptoms such as myotonia and muscle weakness. In this study, we build on previously demonstrated evidence showing that the silencing of miRNA-23b and miRNA-218 can increase MBNL1 protein in DM1 cells and mice. Here, we use blockmiR antisense technology in DM1 muscle cells, 3D mouse-derived muscle tissue, and in vivo mice to block the binding sites of these microRNAs in order to increase MBNL translation into protein without binding to microRNAs. The blockmiRs show therapeutic effects with the rescue of mis-splicing, MBNL subcellular localization, and highly specific transcriptomic expression. The blockmiRs are well tolerated in 3D mouse skeletal tissue inducing no immune response. In vivo, a candidate blockmiR also increases Mbnl1/2 protein and rescues grip strength, splicing, and histological phenotypes.
Study on Properties and Micro-Mechanism of RHB-SBS Composite-Modified Asphalt
Authors: Yi Youqiu , Chen Yifan , Shi Shuo , Zhao Yao , Wang Daming , Lei Tao , Duan Pengpeng , Cao Weiwei , Wang Qiang , Li Haitao
Published: March 2023

Rice husk biochar (RHB) is a renewable agricultural waste, and its fixation on pavements helps develop environmentally friendly, economical, and sustainable asphalt pavements. This paper used RHB to replace part of styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) for the composite modification study of matrix asphalt. The high- and low-temperature properties and microscopic mechanisms of the composite-modified asphalt were studied through a series of tests. The results showed that, compared with SBS-modified asphalt, the softening point, viscosity, complex shear modulus, stiffness modulus, and rutting factors of RHB-SBS composite-modified asphalt were improved. In contrast, the ductility and creep rate were slightly decreased, indicating an improvement in the high-temperature performance of composite-modified asphalt, but a slight decrease in its low-temperature performance. The process of RHB and SBS composite modification was mainly physical blending, with only a small number of chemical reactions, and no new functional groups were generated. The porous structure of RHB enables it to adhere better to the network crosslinked continuous phase system formed by SBS and matrix asphalt. This results in composite-modified asphalt with good high-temperature storage stability and rheological properties. Therefore, RHB-SBS composite-modified asphalt can be applied to high-temperature areas and rice-producing areas, and the optimal content of RHB is suggested to be 15%.
Prediction of Mechanical Properties for Carbon fiber/PLA Composite Lattice Structures Using Mathematical and ANFIS Models
Authors: Saleh Mustafa , Anwar Saqib , Al-Ahmari Abdulrahman M , AlFaify Abdullah Yahia
Published: March 2023

This study investigates the influence of design, relative density (RD), and carbon fiber (CF) incorporation parameters on mechanical characteristics, including compressive modulus (E), strength, and specific energy absorption (SEA) of triply periodic minimum surface (TPMS) lattice structures. The TPMS lattices were 3D-printed by fused filament fabrication (FFF) using polylactic acid (PLA) and carbon fiber-reinforced PLA(CFRPLA). The mechanical properties of the TPMS lattice structures were evaluated under uniaxial compression testing based on the design of experiments (DOE) approach, namely, full factorial design. Prediction modeling was conducted and compared using mathematical and intelligent modeling, namely, adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS). ANFIS modeling allowed the 3D printing imperfections (e.g., RD variations) to be taken into account by considering the actual RDs instead of the designed ones, as in the case of mathematical modeling. In this regard, this was the first time the ANFIS modeling utilized the actual RDs. The desirability approach was applied for multi-objective optimization. The mechanical properties were found to be significantly influenced by cell type, cell size, CF incorporation, and RD, as well as their combination. The findings demonstrated a variation in the E (0.144 GPa to 0.549 GPa), compressive strength (4.583 MPa to 15.768 MPa), and SEA (3.759 J/g to 15.591 J/g) due to the effect of the studied variables. The ANFIS models outperformed mathematical models in predicting all mechanical characteristics, including E, strength, and SEA. For instance, the maximum absolute percent deviation was 7.61% for ANFIS prediction, while it was 21.11% for mathematical prediction. The accuracy of mathematical predictions is highly influenced by the degree of RD deviation: a higher deviation in RD indicates a lower accuracy of predictions. The findings of this study provide a prior prediction of the mechanical behavior of PLA and CFRPLA TPMS structures, as well as a better understanding of their potential and limitations.
Comparison of the Low-Velocity Impact Responses and Compressive Residual Strengths of GLARE and a 3DFML
Authors: Wang Ke , Taheri Farid
Published: March 2023

The impact performance and compression after impact characteristics of 2D and 3D fiber metal laminates (FMLs) are investigated both experimentally and numerically. Commercial-grade GLARE3A-3/2-0.3, and a recently developed FML, which incorporates a unique 3D glass fabric, are used in the study. Both FMLs have similar areal densities. The specimens are subjected to impact loading at three energy levels—low, intermediate, and high. The test results indicate that GLARE is slightly more resilient under impact compared to the 3DFML. However, since GLARE is much thinner than the 3DFML, the two-material systems exhibit very different failure modes. GLARE and 3DFML lost up to 62.6% and 41.5% of their original compressive load-bearing capacity, respectively. Robust and accurate finite element models are developed that can predict the damage evolution and failure modes of both FMLs. Knowing the level of reduction in the residual load-bearing capacity of a material resulting from an impact is of practical importance when assessing the service life of materials. However, further exploration would be required to determine how the information obtained through testing relatively small-sized specimens in a laboratory environment can be extrapolated to larger real-life structural components.
Doped Electrospinned Material-Guides High Efficiency Regional Bone Regeneration
Authors: Toledano Manuel , Vallecillo Cristina , Serrera-Figallo María-Angeles , Vallecillo-Rivas Marta , Gutierrez-Corrales Aida , Lynch Christopher D. , Toledano-Osorio Manuel
Published: March 2023

The main target of bone tissue engineering is to design biomaterials that support bone regeneration and vascularization. Nanostructured membranes of (MMA)1-co-(HEMA)1/(MA)3-co-(HEA)2 loaded with 5% wt of SiO2-nanoparticles (Si-M) were doped with zinc (Zn-Si-M) or doxycycline (Dox-Si-M). Critical bone defects were effectuated on six New Zealand-bred rabbit skulls and then they were covered with the membranes. After six weeks, a histological analysis (toluidine blue technique) was employed to determine bone cell population as osteoblasts, osteoclasts, osteocytes, M1 and M2 macrophages and vasculature. Membranes covering the bone defect determined a higher count of bone cells and blood vessels than in the sham group at the top regions of the defect. Pro-inflammatory M1 appeared in a higher number in the top regions than in the bottom regions, when Si-M and Dox-Si-M were used. Samples treated with Dox-Si-M showed a higher amount of anti-inflammatory and pro-regenerative M2 macrophages. The M1/M2 ratio obtained its lowest value in the absence of membranes. On the top regions, osteoblasts were more abundant when using Si-M and Zn-Si-M. Osteoclasts were equally distributed at the central and lateral regions. The sham group and samples treated with Zn-Si-M attained a higher number of osteocytes at the top regions. A preferential osteoconductive, osteoinductive and angiogenic clinical environment was created in the vicinity of the membrane placed on critical bone defects.
Preparation of Aloe-Emodin Microcapsules and Its Effect on Antibacterial and Optical Properties of Water-Based Coating
Authors: Huang Nan , Yan Xiaoxing
Published: March 2023

With the development of science and technology, the function of waterborne coatings has been advanced to a higher standard, which requires researchers to innovate and expand the research on them. Aloe-emodin is a natural material with antibacterial properties. Applying its antibacterial effect to the coating can enrich its function and meet the diversified needs of consumers. In this study, the urea-formaldehyde resin was used as the wall material and the aloe-emodin as the core material to prepare the microcapsules. The coating rate, yield, and morphology of the microcapsules were characterized. Through an orthogonal experiment and a single factor experiment, the optimization scheme of microcapsule preparation was explored. The results indicated that the optimum preparation process of aloe-emodin microcapsules was as follows: the mass ratio of core material to wall material was 1:15, the molar ratio of urea to formaldehyde was 1:1.2, the temperature of microencapsulation was 50 °C, and the stirring speed of microencapsulation was 600 rpm. On this basis, the aloe-emodin microcapsules with 0%, 1.0%, 3.0%, 6.0%, 9.0%, and 12.0% contents were added to the waterborne coating to prepare the paint films, and their influence on the antibacterial and optical properties of the waterborne paint films was explored. The results demonstrated that the aloe-emodin microcapsules had antibacterial activity. When the content was 6.0%, the comprehensive performance of the film was better. The antibacterial rate of the film against Escherichia coli was 68.1%, and against Staphylococcus aureus it was 60.7%. The color difference of the film was 59.93, and the glossiness at 60° was 7.8%. In this study, the microcapsules that can improve the antibacterial performance of water-based coatings were prepared, which can expand the application of water-based coatings and provide a reference for the study of the functionalization of water-based coatings.
Mechanism of Heterogeneous Alkaline Deacetylation of Chitin: A Review
Authors: Novikov Vitaly Yu. , Derkach Svetlana R. , Konovalova Irina N. , Dolgopyatova Natalya V. , Kuchina Yulya A.
Published: March 2023

This review provides an analysis of experimental results on the study of alkaline heterogeneous deacetylation of chitin obtained by the authors and also published in the literature. A detailed analysis of the reaction kinetics was carried out considering the influence of numerous factors: reaction reversibility, crystallinity and porosity of chitin, changes in chitin morphology during washing, alkali concentration, diffusion of hydroxide ions, and hydration of reacting particles. A mechanism for the chitin deacetylation reaction is proposed, taking into account its kinetic features in which the decisive role is assigned to the effects of hydration. It has been shown that the rate of chitin deacetylation increases with a decrease in the degree of hydration of hydroxide ions in a concentrated alkali solution. When the alkali concentration is less than the limit of complete hydration, the reaction practically does not occur. Hypotheses have been put forward to explain the decrease in the rate of the reaction in the second flat portion of the kinetic curve. The first hypothesis is the formation of “free” water, leading to the hydration of chitin molecules and a decrease in the reaction rate. The second hypothesis postulates the formation of a stable amide anion of chitosan, which prevents the nucleophilic attack of the chitin macromolecule by hydroxide ions.
H2O2 Solution Steaming Combined Method to Cellulose Skeleton for Transparent Wood Infiltrated with Cellulose Acetate
Authors: Zhang Jun , Ying Yongling , Yi Xiaoyang , Han Wenbo , Yin Lu , Zheng Yongjun , Zheng Rongbo
Published: March 2023

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) steaming, a green and highly efficient delignification method, has been demonstrated to provide a wood skeleton with a very low content of residual lignin in the manufacturing of transparent wood. It usually requires a long reaction time and a large amount of H2O2 because the piece of wood is treated using steaming equipment. Herein, a H2O2 solution steaming method was developed for the highly efficient removal of lignin from wood. Specifically, several wood samples were simultaneously immersed in a hot H2O2 solution to obtain delignified wood with a relatively high content of residual lignin, which provided a high strength and preserved the cellulose skeleton. Subsequently, the delignified wood with a relatively high content of residual lignin was further treated with H2O2 steam to obtain a very low lignin delignified wood. Compared with the previous H2O2 steaming method, the reaction time and used H2O2 volume of the H2O2 solution steaming method was reduced by 37.3% and 52.7%, respectively. All-biomass transparent wood could be obtained by infiltrating the delignified wood with cellulose acetate, which showed both a high transmittance of 83.0% and a low thermal conductivity of 0.30 Wm−1K−1.
Dual-Function Smart Windows Using Polymer Stabilized Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Driven with Interdigitated Electrodes
Authors: Jin Xiaoyu , Hao Yuning , Su Zhuo , Li Ming , Zhou Guofu , Hu Xiaowen
Published: March 2023

In this study, we present an electrically switchable window that can dynamically transmit both visible light and infrared (IR) light. The window is based on polymer stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals (PSCLCs), which are placed between a top plate electrode substrate and a bottom interdigitated electrode substrate. By applying a vertical alternating current electric field between the top and bottom substrates, the transmittance of the entire visible light can be adjusted. The cholesteric liquid crystals (CLC) texture will switch to a scattering focal conic state. The corresponding transmittance decreases from 90% to less than 15% in the whole visible region. The reflection bandwidth in the IR region can be tuned by applying an in-plane interdigital direct current (DC) electric field. The non-uniform distribution of the in-plane electric field will lead to helix pitch distortion of the CLC, resulting in a broadband reflection. The IR reflection bandwidth can be dynamically adjusted from 158 to 478 nm. The electric field strength can be varied to regulate both the transmittance in the visible range and the IR reflection bandwidth. After removing the electric field, both features can be restored to their initial states. This appealing feature of the window enables on-demand indoor light and heat management, making it a promising addition to the current smart windows available. This technology has considerable potential for practical applications in green buildings and automobiles.
The Impact of Yeast Encapsulation in Wort Fermentation and Beer Flavor Profile
Authors: Bolanos-Barbosa Angie D. , Rodríguez Cristian F. , Acuña Olga L. , Cruz Juan C. , Reyes Luis H.
Published: March 2023

The food and beverage industry is constantly evolving, and consumers are increasingly searching for premium products that not only offer health benefits but a pleasant taste. A viable strategy to accomplish this is through the altering of sensory profiles through encapsulation of compounds with unique flavors. We used this approach here to examine how brewing in the presence of yeast cells encapsulated in alginate affected the sensory profile of beer wort. Initial tests were conducted for various combinations of sodium alginate and calcium chloride concentrations. Mechanical properties (i.e., breaking force and elasticity) and stability of the encapsulates were then considered to select the most reliable encapsulating formulation to conduct the corresponding alcoholic fermentations. Yeast cells were then encapsulated using 3% (w/v) alginate and 0.1 M calcium chloride as a reticulating agent. Fourteen-day fermentations with this encapsulating formulation involved a Pilsen malt-based wort and four S. cerevisiae strains, three commercially available and one locally isolated. The obtained beer was aged in an amber glass container for two weeks at 4 °C. The color, turbidity, taste, and flavor profile were measured and compared to similar commercially available products. Cell growth was monitored concurrently with fermentation, and the concentrations of ethanol, sugars, and organic acids in the samples were determined via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It was observed that encapsulation caused significant differences in the sensory profile between strains, as evidenced by marked changes in the astringency, geraniol, and capric acid aroma production. Three repeated batch experiments under the same conditions revealed that cell viability and mechanical properties decreased substantially, which might limit the reusability of encapsulates. In terms of ethanol production and substrate consumption, it was also observed that encapsulation improved the performance of the locally isolated strain.
Hybrid Thermoplastic Composites from Basalt- and Kevlar-Woven Fabrics: Comparative Analysis of Mechanical and Thermomechanical Performance
Authors: Jamshaid Hafsa , Mishra Rajesh Kumar , Chandan Vijay , Nazari Shabnam , Shoaib Muhammad , Bizet Laurent , Jirku Petr , Muller Miroslav , Choteborsky Rostislav
Published: March 2023

Current research deals with thermoplastic polyamide (PA6)-based composites reinforced with basalt and Kevlar fabrics. Hybrid composites were developed by altering the stacking sequence of basalt and two kinds of Kevlar fabrics. Pure-basalt- and pure-Kevlar-based samples were also developed for comparison purposes. The developed samples were evaluated with respect to mechanical and thermomechanical properties. Mechanical tests, e.g., tensile, flexural, and impact strength, were conducted along with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to ascertain the load-bearing and high-temperature stability of the hybrid composite samples vis-à-vis pure-basalt- and Kevlar-based samples. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was carried out to study the nature of fracture and failure of the composite samples. The pure-basalt-based PA6 thermoplastic composites exhibited the best mechanical performance. Hybridization with basalt proved to be beneficial for improving the mechanical performance of the composites using Kevlar fabrics. However, a proper stacking sequence and density of Kevlar fabric has to be selected. The thermogravimetric analysis showed minimal weight loss for basalt-based composites. Furthermore, the thermal stability of the composites using Kevlar fabric was improved by hybridization with basalt fabric. The thermomechanical characteristics of hybrid composites may be altered by changing the stacking order of the reinforcements. Differential scanning calorimetry further established that the hybrid composites with alternate layers of basalt and Kevlar can improve the heat flow rate and enable survivability at extreme temperatures. Such novel hybrid composites can be used for high-load-bearing and high-temperature applications, e.g., defense, aerospace, automotives, and energy applications.
Water-Resistant Thermoelectric Ionogel Enables Underwater Heat Harvesting
Authors: Li Long , Li Huijing , Wei Junjie , Li Rui , Sun Jiale , Zhao Chuanzhuang , Chen Tao
Published: March 2023

The energy crisis is one of the most critical and urgent problems in modern society; thus, harvesting energy from ubiquitous low-grade heat energy with thermoelectric (TE) materials has become an available strategy in sustainable development. Recently, emerging ionic TE materials have been widely used to harvest low-grade heat energy, owing to their excellent performance in high ionic Seebeck coefficient, low thermal conductivity, and mechanical flexibility. However, the instability of ionic conductive materials in the underwater environment seriously suppresses underwater energy-harvesting, resulting in a waste of underwater low-grade heat energy. Herein, we developed a water-resistant TE ionogel (TEIG) with excellent long-term underwater stability utilizing a hydrophobic structure. Due to the hydrophobic polymer network and hydrophobic ionic liquid (IL), the TEIG exhibits high hydrophobicity and antiswelling capacity, which meets the requirement of environment stability for underwater thermoelectric application. Furthermore, the water resistance endows the TEIG with great thermoelectric performances in the underwater environment, including satisfactory ionic Seebeck coefficient, outstanding durability, and superior salt tolerance. Therefore, this investigation provides a promising strategy to design water-resistant TE materials, enabling a remarkable potential in harvesting low-grade heat energy under water.