bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Vitamin D in Stroke Prevention and the Effects of Its Supplementation for Post-Stroke Rehabilitation: A Narrative Review
Authors: Marek Klaudia , Cichoń Natalia , Saluk-Bijak Joanna , Bijak Michał , Miller Elżbieta
Published: July 2022

Hypovitaminosis D is a serious public health problem, representing an independent factor in mortality among the general population. Vitamin D deficiency may affect up to one billion people worldwide. Recently, the potential association between vitamin D levels and stroke has gained increasing attention. Many studies suggest that maintaining normal serum vitamin D levels is associated with improvement of the cardiovascular system and a reduction in stroke risk. As a neurosteroid, vitamin D influences brain development and function and immunomodulation and affects brain neuroplasticity. It supports many processes that maintain homeostasis in the body. As stroke is the second most common cause of death worldwide, more studies are needed to confirm the positive effects of vitamin D supplementation, its dosage at different stages of the disease, method of determination, and effect on stroke onset and recovery. Many studies on stroke survivors indicate that serum vitamin D levels only offer insignificant benefits and are not beneficial to recovery. This review article aims to highlight recent publications that have examined the potential of vitamin D supplementation to improve rehabilitation outcomes in stroke survivors. Particular attention has been paid to stroke prevention.
Practical Validation of United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Assays for the Detection of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Pediatric Inpatients in Japan
Authors: Suwa Reiko , Kume Yohei , Kawase Miyuki , Chishiki Mina , Ono Takashi , Norito Sakurako , Sato Ko , Okamoto Michiko , Kumaki Satoru , Nagai Yukio , Hosoya Mitsuaki , Takeda Makoto , Nishimura Hidekazu , Hashimoto Koichi , Shirato Kazuya
Published: July 2022

The World Health Organization initiated a global surveillance system for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in 2015, and the pilot surveillance is ongoing. The real-time RT-PCR RSV assays (Pan-RSV and duplex assays) developed by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are applied as the standard assays. To introduce these as standard assays in Japan, their practicality was evaluated using 2261 specimens obtained from pediatric inpatients in Japan, which were collected from 2018 to 2021. Although the Pan-RSV and duplex assays had similar analytical sensitivities, they yielded 630 (27.9%) and 786 (34.8%) RSV-positive specimens, respectively (p < 0.001). Although sequencing analysis showed mismatches in the reverse primer used in the Pan-RSV assay, these mismatches did not affect its analytical sensitivity. The analysis of read numbers of RSV isolates from air–liquid interface culture of human bronchial/tracheal epithelial cells showed that the duplex assay had a greater number of reads than did the Pan-RSV assay. Therefore, the duplex assay has superior detection performance compared with the Pan-RSV assay, but the two assays have similar analytical sensitivities.
TbpBY167A-Based Vaccine Can Protect Pigs against Glässer’s Disease Triggered by Glaesserella parasuis SV7 Expressing TbpB Cluster I
Authors: Ramos Prigol Simone , Klein Rafaela , Chaudhuri Somshukla , Paraboni Frandoloso Gabriela , Guizzo João Antônio , Gutiérrez Martín César Bernardo , Schryvers Anthony Bernard , Kreutz Luiz Carlos , Frandoloso Rafael
Published: July 2022

Glaesserella parasuis is the etiological agent of Glässer’s disease (GD), one of the most important diseases afflicting pigs in the nursery phase. We analyzed the genetic and immunological properties of the TbpB protein naturally expressed by 27 different clinical isolates of G. parasuis that were typed as serovar 7 and isolated from pigs suffering from GD. All the strains were classified as virulent by LS-PCR. The phylogenetic analyses demonstrated high similarity within the amino acid sequence of TbpB from 24 clinical strains all belonging to cluster III of TbpB, as does the protective antigen TbpBY167A. Three G. parasuis isolates expressed cluster I TbpBs, indicating antigenic diversity within the SV7 group of G. parasuis. The antigenic analysis demonstrated the presence of common epitopes on all variants of the TbpB protein, which could be recognized by an in vitro analysis using pig IgG induced by a TbpBY167A-based vaccine. The proof of concept of the complete cross-protection between clusters I and III was performed in SPF pigs immunized with the TbpBY167A-based vaccine (cluster III) and challenged with G. parasuis SV7, strains LM 360.18 (cluster I). Additionally, pigs immunized with a whole-cell inactivated vaccine based on G. parasuis SV5 (Nagasaki strain) did not survive the challenge performed with SV7 (strain 360.18), demonstrating the absence of cross-protection between these two serovars. Based on these results, we propose that a properly formulated TbpBY167A-based vaccine may elicit a protective antibody response against all strains of G. parasuis SV7, despite TbpB antigenic diversity, and this might be extrapolated to other serovars. This result highlights the promising use of the TbpBY167A antigen in a future commercial vaccine for GD prevention.
Adverse Drug Reactions in Relation to Clozapine Plasma Levels: A Systematic Review
Authors: Skokou Maria , Karavia Eleni A. , Drakou Zoi , Konstantinopoulou Vassiliki , Kavakioti Christina-Anna , Gourzis Philippos , Kypreos Kyriakos E. , Andreopoulou Ourania
Published: July 2022

Clozapine is the gold standard for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Serious and even life-threatening adverse effects, mostly granulocytopenia, myocarditis, and constipation, are of great clinical concern and constitute a barrier to prescribing clozapine, thus depriving many eligible patients of a lifesaving treatment option. Interestingly, clozapine presents variable pharmacokinetics affected by numerous parameters, leading to significant inter- and intra-individual variation. Therefore, therapeutic drug monitoring of plasma clozapine levels confers a significant benefit in everyday clinical practice by increasing the confidence of the prescribing doctor to the drug and the adherence of the patient to the treatment, mainly by ensuring effective treatment and limited dose-related side effects. In the present systematic review, we aimed at identifying how a full range of adverse effects relates to plasma clozapine levels, using the Jadad grading system for assessing the quality of the available clinical evidence. Our findings indicate that EEG slowing, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, heart rate variability, hyperinsulinemia, metabolic syndrome, and constipation correlate to plasma clozapine levels, whereas QTc, myocarditis, sudden death, leucopenia, neutropenia, sialorrhea, are rather unrelated. Rapid dose escalation at the initiation of treatment might contribute to the emergence of myocarditis, or leucopenia. Strategies for managing adverse effects are different in these conditions and are discussed accordingly.
Phenolic Secondary Metabolites and Antiradical and Antibacterial Activities of Different Extracts of Usnea barbata (L.) Weber ex F.H.Wigg from Călimani Mountains, Romania
Authors: Popovici Violeta , Bucur Laura , Gîrd Cerasela Elena , Popescu Antoanela , Matei Elena , Cozaru Georgeta Camelia , Schröder Verginica , Ozon Emma Adriana , Fița Ancuța Cătălina , Lupuliasa Dumitru , Aschie Mariana , Caraiane Aureliana , Botnarciuc Mihaela , Badea Victoria
Published: July 2022

Phenolic compounds represent an essential bioactive metabolites group with numerous pharmaceutical applications. Our study aims to identify and quantify phenolic constituents of various liquid and dry extracts of Usnea barbata (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg (U. barbata) from Calimani Mountains, Romania, and investigate their bioactivities. The extracts in acetone, 96% ethanol, and water with the same dried lichen/solvent ratio (w/v) were obtained through two conventional techniques: maceration (mUBA, mUBE, and mUBW) and Soxhlet extraction (dUBA, dUBE, and dUBW). High-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) was performed for usnic acid (UA) and different polyphenols quantification. Then, the total phenolic content (TPC) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging activity (AA) were determined through spectrophotometric methods. Using the disc diffusion method (DDM), the antibacterial activity was evaluated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria known for their pathogenicity: Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Streptococcus pneumoniae (ATCC 49619), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 13883). All extracts contain phenolic compounds expressed as TPC values. Five lichen extracts display various UA contents; this significant metabolite was not detected in dUBW. Six polyphenols from the standards mixture were quantified only in ethanol and water extracts; mUBE has all individual polyphenols, while dUBE shows only two. Three polyphenols were detected in mUBW, but none was found in dUBW. All U. barbata extracts had antiradical activity; however, only ethanol and acetone extracts proved inhibitory activity against P. aeruginosa, S. pneumoniae, and S. aureus. In contrast, K. pneumoniae was strongly resistant (IZD = 0). Data analysis evidenced a high positive correlation between the phenolic constituents and bioactivities of each U. barbata extract. Associating these extracts’ properties with both conventional techniques used for their preparation revealed the extraction conditions’ significant influence on lichen extracts metabolites profiling, with a powerful impact on their pharmacological potential.
Joint Tissue Protective and Immune-Modulating miRNA Landscape of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles under Different Osteoarthritis-Mimicking Conditions
Authors: Ragni Enrico , Perucca Orfei Carlotta , Sinigaglia Federico , de Girolamo Laura
Published: July 2022

In regenerative medicine related to orthopedic conditions, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and their extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been proposed as innovative clinical options. The definition of EV-shuttled signals and their modulation under orthopedic settings, such as osteoarthritis (OA), is crucial for MSC-related research, both for basic science and for use in clinical settings, either as therapeutics or as producers of cell-free products such as EVs or secretome. The objective of this work is to compare the literature available on high-throughput EV-miRNA data obtained from adipose-derived MSCs (ASCs) in standard conditions or cultured in high levels of IFNγ, low-level inflammatory conditions mimicking OA synovial fluid (SF), and OA-SF. The first result was that both IFNγ and low-level inflammatory treatment led to an increase, whereas SF led to a reduction in EV release. Second, more than 200 EV-miRNAs were found to be shared across the different conditions. After a bioinformatics search through experimentally validated and OA-related targets, pathways and tissues, several miRNAs resulted in the restoration of cartilage and synovium stability and the homeostasis of inflammatory cells, including macrophages, promoting their switch towards an M2 anti-inflammatory phenotype. Third, IFNγ and especially SF culturing were able to modulate the overall EV-miRNA fingerprint, although the main molecular messages related to OA resulted conserved between treatments with the majority of modulations within 2-fold range. In conclusion, ASC EV-miRNAs may be modulated in their overall landscape by OA-related culturing conditions albeit resulted largely stable in their specific OA-protective signals allowing for a faster clinical translation of these new cell-free therapies for joint diseases.
Correction: Schütt et al. Simulating the Hydrodynamic Conditions of the Human Ascending Colon: A Digital Twin of the Dynamic Colon Model. Pharmaceutics 2022, 14, 184
Authors: Schütt Michael , O’Farrell Connor , Stamatopoulos Konstantinos , Hoad Caroline L. , Marciani Luca , Sulaiman Sarah , Simmons Mark J. H. , Batchelor Hannah K. , Alexiadis Alessio
Published: July 2022

In the original publication [...]
Synthesis of Aliphatic Polyanhydrides with Controllable and Reproducible Molecular Weight
Authors: Ghosh Radhakanta , Arun Yuvaraj , Siman Peter , Domb Abraham J.
Published: July 2022

Polyanhydrides have been synthesized for decades by melt-polycondensation of diacid monomers and 5 to >10 times mole excess acetic anhydride to diacid monomers to form polymers with a polydispersity ranging from 2.5 to 6 and low reproducibility. Hydrophobic segments in polyanhydrides are beneficial to hinder the characteristic hydrolytic cleavage of an anhydride bond that provides stable polyanhydrides at room temperature. The objective of this work is to synthesize aliphatic polyanhydrides with various hydrophobic segments, controllable and reproducible molecular weight, and low polydispersity that are essential for potential use as drug carriers. A series of polyanhydrides of suberic, azelaic, sebacic, and dodecanedioic acids with controlled molecular weight, reduced polydispersity, and standard deviation of molecular weights, have been synthesized. All synthesized polyanhydrides were thoroughly characterized by NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography. Molecular weights of the synthesized polyanhydrides are highly controllable, depending on the degree of activation of the dicarboxylic acid monomers, i.e., the amount of acetic anhydride used during synthesis. Polyanhydrides have been synthesized in triplicate by melt-polycondensation, using various mole ratios of acetic anhydride to diacids. The standard deviation of the molecular weights of the polyanhydrides is minute when using 1 equivalent of acetic anhydride during the activation of dicarboxylic acids, whereas if excess acetic anhydride is used, the standard deviation is very high. The effect of safe and natural inorganic catalysts, Calcium oxide, Zinc oxide, and Calcium carbonate on polymerization is also studied. As-synthesized poly(sebacic acid) can offer convenience to use in controlled drug delivery applications. In vitro drug release study using Temozolamide (TMZ), a medication used to treat brain tumors such as glioblastoma and anaplastic astrocytoma, shows 14% TMZ release after the first hour and 70% release over one day from the poly(sebacic acid) wafers.
Deformation Measurements of Helicopter Rotor Blades Using a Photogrammetric System
Authors: Zuo Chenglin , Ma Jun , Wei Chunhua , Yue Tingrui , Song Jin
Published: July 2022

As an important part of the helicopter, the rotor directly affects flight safety and flight quality. Knowledge of the rotor dynamic behaviors is significant for validating and optimizing the performance of the helicopter rotor system. In this study, a photogrammetric system, based on 3D point tracking and stereo photogrammetry technology, is presented to solve the full-field dynamic motion and deformation parameters of rotating blades by identifying the retro-reflective targets arranged on the rotor. The photogrammetric system is demonstrated in the wind tunnel tests of a 2 m-diameter model rotor, conducted at the 5.5 m × 4 m Aeroacoustic Wind Tunnel of the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center (CARDC). With the targets attached on the special hat installed directly over the rotor hub, a unified rotor coordinate system, that was stationary with respect to the rotor, could be established at any measuring instant. Therefore, by transforming the 3D coordinates of all measured targets to the rotor coordinate system, the blade displacements and deformations at different test conditions could be calculated consistently. Experimental results from current study were compared to simulation results calculated by the comprehensive analytical model of rotorcraft aerodynamics and dynamics (CAMRAD), which shows quite good agreements.
COS-OGA Applications in Organic Vineyard Manage Major Airborne Diseases and Maintain Postharvest Quality of Wine Grapes
Authors: Calderone Francesca , Vitale Alessandro , Panebianco Salvina , Lombardo Monia Federica , Cirvilleri Gabriella
Published: July 2022

In most wine-growing countries of the world the interest for organic viticulture and eco-friendly grape production processes increased significantly in the last decade. Organic viticulture is currently dependent on the availability of Cu and S compounds, but their massive use over time has led to negative effects on environment health. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of alternative and sustainable treatments against powdery mildew, gray mold and sour rot under the field conditions on Nero d’Avola and Inzolia Sicilian cultivars. In detail, the efficacy of COS-OGA, composed by a complex of oligochitosans and oligopectates, and its effects in combination with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) were evaluated to reduce airborne disease infections of grape. COS-OGA combined with AMF induced a significant reduction in powdery mildew severity both on Nero d’Avola and Inzolia with a mean percentage decrease of about 15% and 33%, respectively. Moreover, COS-OGA alone and combined with AMF gave a good protection against gray mold and sour rot with results similar to the Cu–S complex (performance in disease reduction ranging from 65 to 100%) on tested cultivars. Similarly, the COS-OGA and AMF integration provided good performances in enhancing average yield and did not negatively impact quality and microbial communities of wine grape. Overall, COS-OGA alone and in combination could be proposed as a valid and safer option for the sustainable management of the main grapevine pathogens in organic agroecosystems.
Phenoplasticity of Essential Oils from Two Species of Piper (Piperaceae): Comparing Wild Specimens and Bi-Generational Monoclonal Cultivars
Authors: Ramos Ygor , Felisberto Jéssica , Gouvêa-Silva João , de Souza Ulisses , da Costa-Oliveira Claudete , de Queiroz George , Guimarães Elsie , Sadgrove Nicholas , de Lima Moreira Davyson
Published: July 2022

This study tested the hypothesis that “clonal chemical heritability is a crucial factor for the conservation of chemical uniformity of Piper essential oils in controlled monoclonal cultivation”. We asexually propagated first and second-generation clones of two medicinal and aromatic species, Piper gaudichaudianum Kunth and Piper mollicomum Kunth (Piperaceae), for use as experimental models since they show high chemical plasticity in the wild. Leaves from wild specimens of both species, and their respective cultivated specimens, were hydrodistilled in a Clevenger-type apparatus to produce essential oils (EOs). EOs were chemically characterised by GC-MS and GC-FID. The analysis identified 63 compounds in EO of P. mollicomum, which were predominantly monoterpenes, and 59 in EO of P. gaudichaudianum, which were predominantly sesquiterpenes. Evaluation of chemical diversity and oxi-reduction indices showed a loss of chemical homology across the intergenerational cline. Chemometric analysis indicated higher chemical plasticity between wild and intergenerational specimens of P. mollicomum, than for P. gaudichaudianum. EO compounds were significantly less oxidized throughout the generations in both species. Therefore, while clonal heritability is crucial to chemical homology, significant chemical plasticity is likely to occur when cultivated from wild specimens.
Effect of Maintenance and Water–Cement Ratio on Foamed Concrete Shrinkage Cracking
Authors: Li Chunbao , Li Xiaotian , Li Shen , Guan Di , Xiao Chang , Xu Yanyan , Soloveva Valentina Y. , Dalerjon Hojiboev , Qin Pengju , Liu Xiaohui
Published: July 2022

This is a study on how to reduce shrinkage and improve crack resistance of foamed concrete. By selecting different curing temperatures and humidity, six different curing conditions were analyzed. The shrinkage deformation and maximum crack width of foamed concrete blocks with water–cement ratios of 0.4 and 0.5, under six curing conditions, were measured by a comparator and optical microscope, and the cracking time was recorded. The effects of curing temperature, humidity and water–cement ratio on the shrinkage and crack resistance of the foamed concrete were analyzed by comparing the experimental results of each group. We studied the primary and secondary order of the three factors affecting the drying shrinkage of foamed concrete. The results show that: temperature is the primary factor that changes the drying shrinkage performance of foamed concrete, followed by the water–cement ratio, and finally humidity. The interaction of these three factors is not obvious. The shrinkage of foamed concrete increases with the increase in temperature; increasing the humidity of curing can control the water loss rate of foamed concrete and reduce shrinkage. Lower humidity and higher temperature will make cracks appear earlier; with an increase in the water–cement ratio, the initial cracking time is shortened and the cracking property of foamed concrete is improved.
Chitosan Biguanidine/PVP Antibacterial Coatings for Perishable Fruits
Authors: Jiao Xiangyu , Xie Jiaxuan , Hao Mingda , Li Yiping , Wang Changtao , Zhu Zhu , Wen Yongqiang
Published: July 2022

World hunger is on the rise, yet one-third of food is wasted. It is necessary to develop an effective food preservation method to reduce food waste. This article reports a composite film based on chitosan biguanidine hydrochloride(CBg) and poly (N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)(PVP) that can be used as a conformal coating for fresh produce. Due to the strong positive charge of CBg, the film has excellent antibacterial properties. Owing to the hydrogen bonds between CBg and PVP, the film has good flexibility and mechanical properties. In addition, the coating is washable, transparent, and can reduce the evaporation of water. The above characteristics mean the film has broad application prospects in the field of food preservation.
Characterization and Antibacterial Evaluation of Biodegradable Mannose-Conjugated Fe-MIL-88NH2 Composites Containing Vancomycin against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains
Authors: Haseena  , Shah Muddaser , Rehman Khadija , Khan Adnan , Farid Arshad , Marini Carlotta , Di Cerbo Alessandro , Shah Muhammad Raza
Published: July 2022

The emergence of bacterial resistance has increased the economic burden of infectious diseases dramatically during the previous few decades. Multidrug resistance (MDR) is difficult to cure in both Gram-negative and positive bacteria and is often incurable with traditional and broad-range antibiotics. Therefore, developing techniques to increase the antibacterial activity of therapeutic drugs is essential. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are extremely versatile hybrid materials made of metal ions coupled via organic bridging ligands. They have been widely used as an excellent vehicle for drug delivery due to their low toxicity, biodegradability, and structural stability upon loading and functionalization. The present study focused on the synthesis of mannose (MNS)-coated MOFs with enhanced surface contact with S. aureus cells. The MNS coating on the surface of MOFs enhances their adherence to bacteria by binding to lectins present on the bacterial cell, resulting in improved VCM cellular penetration and activity against resistant bacteria. Various techniques, including atomic force microscopy, DLS, TGA, FT-IR, and DSC, were employed to analyze MNS-coated MOFs. They were also evaluated for their efficacy against resistant S. aureus. The results indicated that when VCM was loaded into MNS-coated MOFs, their bactericidal activity rose dramatically, resulting in the greater suppression of resistant S. aureus. AFM investigation of S. aureus strains demonstrated total morphological distortion after treatment with MNS-coated drug-loaded MOFs. The results of this work suggest that MNS-coated MOFs may be effective for reversing bacterial resistance to VCM and open new pathways for improving antibiotic therapy for diseases associated with MDR.
Shape-Tunable UV-Printed Solid Drugs for Personalized Medicine
Authors: Darmawan Bobby Aditya , Lee Sang Bong , Nan Minghui , Nguyen Van Du , Park Jong-Oh , Choi Eunpyo
Published: July 2022

Several recent advances have emerged in biotherapy and the development of personal drugs. However, studies exploring effective manufacturing methods of personal drugs remain limited. In this study, solid drugs based on poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel and doxorubicin were fabricated, and their final geometry was varied through UV-light patterning. The results suggested that the final drug concentration was affected by the geometrical volume as well as the UV-light exposure time. The analysis of PEGDA showed no effect on the surrounding cells, indicating its high biocompatibility. However, with the addition of doxorubicin, it showed an excellent therapeutic effect, indicating that drugs inside the PEGDA structure could be successfully released. This approach enables personal drugs to be fabricated in a simple, fast, and uniform manner, with perfectly tuned geometry.
The Properties of Micro Carbon Fiber Composite Modified High-Viscosity Asphalts and Mixtures
Authors: Zhao Quanman , Jing Shuo , Lu Xiaojin , Liu Yao , Wang Peng , Sun Min , Wang Li
Published: July 2022

In order to produce a high-viscosity asphalt and mixtures that can be used for ultra-thin overlays, high contents of Styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS, 5%, 6%, 7%), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR, 1%, 2%, 3%) and micro carbon fiber (MCF, 0.8%) were used to modify conventional asphalt to prepare high-viscosity modified asphalt suitable for this purpose. The performance of the modified asphalts was evaluated by conventional index, kinematic viscosity, dynamic shear rheological test (DSR), multiple stress creep recovery test (MSCR), and bending beam rheometer test (BBR). The road performance of the modified asphalt mixtures was evaluated by high-temperature rutting, low-temperature bending, freeze-thaw splitting, fatigue, speckle, anti-skid, and water seepage tests. The results show that increasing the content of SBS can improve the high-temperature deformation resistance, low-temperature failure strain, kinematic viscosity, and viscosity toughness of modified asphalt, and the optimum content of SBS was 6%. SBR can improve the high-temperature performance, kinematic viscosity, and water damage resistance of modified asphalt, and the optimum dosage was 2%. Compared with 5% SBS-modified asphalt mixture, the dynamic stability, low-temperature failure strain, and freeze-thaw splitting strength ratio of 6% SBS + 0.8% MCF composite-modified asphalt mixture were increased by 48.7%, 24.7%, and 5.2% respectively. Compared with the 5% SBS-modified asphalt, the same characteristics of the 2% SBR + 5% SBS + 0.8% MCF composite-modified asphalt increased by 127.1%, 13.5%, and 5.5%, respectively. Compared with 5% SBS-modified asphalt, the fatigue performance of 6% SBS + 0.8% MCF-modified asphalt was improved by 32.2%. The kinematic viscosity of 6% SBS + 0.8% MCF and 5% SBS + 0.8% MCF + 2% SBR modified asphalt met the performance requirements of high-viscosity asphalt and had excellent road performance. It can be applied to ultra-thin overlays to optimize its adhesion with the original pavement.
Structural Characterization of Titanium–Silica Oxide Using Synchrotron Radiation X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy
Authors: Teamsinsungvon Arpaporn , Ruksakulpiwat Chaiwat , Amonpattaratkit Penphitcha , Ruksakulpiwat Yupaporn
Published: July 2022

In this study, titania–silica oxides (TixSiy oxides) were successfully prepared via the sol–gel technique. The Ti and Si precursors were titanium (IV), isopropoxide (TTIP), and tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), respectively. In this work, the effects of pH and the Ti/Si atomic ratio of titanium–silicon binary oxide (TixSiy) on the structural characteristics of TixSiy oxide are reported. 29Si solid-state NMR and FTIR were used to validate the chemical structure of TixSiy oxide. The structural characteristics of TixSiy oxide were investigated using X-ray diffraction, XRF, Fe-SEM, diffraction particle size analysis, and nitrogen adsorption measurements. By applying X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) obtained from synchrotron light sources, the qualitative characterization of the Ti–O–Si and Ti–O–Ti bonds in Ti–Si oxides was proposed. Some Si atoms in the SiO2 network were replaced by Ti atoms, suggesting that Si–O–Ti bonds were formed as a result of the synthesis accomplished using the sol–gel technique described in this article. Upon increasing the pH to alkaline conditions (pH 9.0 and 10.0), the nanoparticles acquired a more spherical shape, and their size distribution became more uniform, resulting in an acceptable nanostructure. TixSiy oxide nanoparticles were largely spherical in shape, and agglomeration was minimized. However, the Ti50Si50 oxide particles at pH 10.0 become nano-sized and agglomerated. The presence of a significant pre-edge feature in the spectra of Ti50Si50 oxide samples implied that a higher fraction of Ti atoms occupied tetrahedral symmetry locations, as predicted in samples where Ti directly substituted Si. The proportion of Ti atoms in a tetrahedral environment agreed with the value of 1.83 given for the Ti–O bond distance in TixSiy oxides produced at pH 9.0 using extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis. Photocatalysis was improved by adding 3% wt TiO2, SiO2, and TixSiy oxide to the PLA film matrix. TiO2 was more effective than Ti50Si50 pH 9.0, Ti50Si50 pH 10.0, Ti50Si50 pH 8.0, and SiO2 in degrading methylene blue (MB). The most effective method to degrade MB was TiO2 > Ti70Si30 > Ti50Si50 > Ti40Si60 > SiO2. Under these conditions, PLA/Ti70Si30 improved the effectiveness of the photocatalytic activity of PLA.
Research on the Simulation Model of Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Composites Printing Track
Authors: Wang Yesong , Liu Jiang , Yu Yipeng , Zhang Qing , Li Hongfu , Shi Guokun
Published: July 2022

The rapid development of additive manufacturing technology (AM) is revolutionizing the traditional continuous fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) manufacturing process. The combination of FDM technology and CFRP technology gave birth to continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites (CFRTPC) 3D printing technology. Parts with complex structure and excellent performance can be fabricated by this technology. However, the current research on CFRTPC printing mainly focuses on printing equipment, materials, and the improvement of mechanical properties. In this paper, the CFRTPC 3D printing track errors are investigated during the printing process, and it is found that the polytetrafluoroetylene (PTFE) tube in the nozzle of the printer head is often blocked. Through detailed analysis, a line-following mathematical model reflecting the deviations of the CFRTPC printing track is established. According to the characteristics of the fiber and its track during actual laying, a modified line-following model, without the minimum curvature point, is further proposed. Based on this model, the actual printing track for the theoretical path is simulated, the process tests are carried out on the printing track at different corner angles, and the relevant rules between the parameters of the model and different corner angles are obtained. The mathematical model is verified by experiments, and the clogging problem of the printer head caused by the fiber track error is solved, which provides theoretical support for the rational design of the fiber track in CFRTPC printing.
Application of Water Hyacinth Biomass (Eichhornia crassipes) as an Adsorbent for Methylene Blue Dye from Aqueous Medium: Kinetic and Isothermal Study
Authors: Carneiro Marcelo T. , Barros Ana Z. B. , Morais Alan I. S. , Carvalho Melo André L. F. , Bezerra Roosevelt D. S. , Osajima Josy A. , Silva-Filho Edson C.
Published: July 2022

Water pollution has generated the need to develop technologies to remove industrial pollutants. Adsorption has been recognized as one of the most effective techniques for effluent remediation. In this study, parts (stem and leaves) of a problematic aquatic weed, the water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), were separated to produce a bioadsorbent. The objective was to evaluate the adsorption of a cationic dye, methylene blue (MB), in an aqueous solution of the biomass from different parts of the water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) plants. The materials were characterized through techniques of infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and thermogravimetric analysis, before and after the material adsorption. Water hyacinth biomasses presented adsorption capacity above 89%, and the kinetics was faster for stem biomass. The kinetic study found that the adsorption process is better described by the pseudo-second-order model, and the adjustments of the isotherm experimental data indicated that both materials are favorable for adsorption. Therefore, water hyacinth bioadsorbent represents a renewable resource with potential for effluent treatment.
Unsaturated Hydraulic Conductivity Estimation—A Case Study Modelling the Soil-Atmospheric Boundary Interaction
Authors: Karim Md Rajibul , Hughes David , Rahman Md Mizanur
Published: July 2022

Pore water pressure changes due to soil-atmospheric boundary interaction can significantly influence soil behaviour and can negatively affect the safety and stability of geotechnical structures. For example, prolonged rainfall events can lead to increased pore water pressure and lower strength; repeated cycles of pore water pressure changes can lead to degradation of strength. These effects are likely to become more severe in the future due to climate change in many parts of the world. To analyse the behaviour of soil subjected to atmospheric boundary interactions, several parameters are needed, and hydraulic conductivity is one of the more important and is difficult to determine. Hydraulic conductivity deduced from laboratory tests are often different from those from the field tests, sometimes by orders of magnitude. The problem becomes even more complicated when the soil state is unsaturated, where the hydraulic conductivity varies with the soil’s state of saturation. In this paper, a relatively simple alternative approach is presented for the estimation of the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils. The method involved a systematic re-analysis of observed pore water pressure response in the field. Using a finite element software, the soil-atmospheric boundary interaction and related saturated/unsaturated seepage of an instrumented slope have been analysed, and results are compared with field measurements. The numerical model could capture the development of suction, positive pore water pressure and changes in water content with reasonable accuracy and demonstrated the usefulness of the hydraulic conductivity estimation method discussed in this paper.
Application of a Combined Prediction Method Based on Temporal Decomposition and Convolutional Neural Networks for the Prediction of Consumption in Polysilicon Reduction Furnaces
Authors: Ma Ruihao , Zhang Lixin , Chao Xuewei , Zheng Shengtao , Xia Bo , Zhao Yongman
Published: July 2022

Countries all over the world are making their contribution to the common goal of energy saving and emission reduction. Solar energy is gaining more attention as a renewable energy source. Polysilicon is an important raw material for solar panels and the production of polysilicon is a vital part of the photovoltaic industry. Polysilicon production is a typical process industry enterprise, and its production process is continuous and highly energy intensive. Therefore, it is necessary to forecast and analyze the consumption of polysilicon production plants. To address the problem that it is difficult to predict future consumption based on historical data alone due to the time-series, massive, nonlinear, and complex nature of data in polysilicon workshops. This study proposes a combined workshop energy consumption prediction model based on Bayesian estimation of time-series decomposition and convolutional neural network (TSD-CNN). The method uses a time-series decomposition method to model the periodic and long-term trend components of the raw consumption data and uses a Bayesian estimation algorithm to optimally estimate the model parameters for each component. With the real-time collection of energy consumption data for equipment, the application of that method described above has successfully improved the accuracy of prediction, production management efficiency and safety warning capabilities in enterprises. Furthermore, it helps to provide decision support for energy conservation and consumption reduction studies. To verify the practicality and reliability of the algorithm in practical applications, experiments were conducted with the energy consumption data of the reduction furnace in the polysilicon production plant, and by comparing it with the commonly used regression methods SVM, LSTM and TSD, the results show that the combined prediction method has a greater improvement in the accuracy of energy consumption prediction.
Electroenzymatic Model System for the Determination of Catalytic Activity of Erwinia carotovora L-Asparaginase
Authors: Shumyantseva Victoria , Bulko Tatiana , Pronina Veronica , Kanashenko Sergey , Pokrovskaya Marina , Aleksandrova Svetlana , Zhdanov Dmitry
Published: July 2022

An electrochemical method for the determination of the catalytic activity of L-asparaginase (ASNase) from Erwinia carotovora was proposed. Our approach is based on the electrooxidation of amino acids from L-asparaginase polypeptide backbones. The electrochemical behavior of ASNase on electrodes obtained by screen-printing modified with single-wall carbon nanotubes (SPE/SWCNTs) as sensing elements demonstrated a broad oxidation peak at 0.5–0.6 V centered at 0.531 ± 0.010 V. We have shown that in the presence of the substrate L-asparagine, the oxidation current of the enzyme was reduced in a concentration-dependent manner. The specificity of electrochemical analysis was confirmed in experiments with glycine, an amino acid with no substrate activity on ASNase and does not reduce the oxidation peak of L-asparaginase. The addition of glycine did not significantly influence the amplitude of the oxidation current. The innovative aspects of the proposed electrochemical sensor are the direct monitoring of ASNase catalytic activity and a reagentless approach, which does not require additional reagents or labels.
Parametric Sensitivity Analysis and Performance Evaluation of High-Temperature Anion-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell
Authors: Mehrtash Mehdi
Published: July 2022

In this paper, a three-dimensional model of a high-temperature anion-exchange membrane fuel cell (HT-AEMFC) operating at 110 °C is presented. All major transport phenomena along with the electrochemical reactions that occur in the cell are modeled. Since the water is exclusively in the form of steam and there is no phase transition to deal with in the cell, the water management is greatly simplified. The cell performance under various current loads is evaluated, and the results are validated against the experimental data. The cell performance is examined across a range of operating conditions, including cell temperature, inlet flow rate, and inlet relative humidity (RH). The critical link between the local distributions of species and local current densities along the channels is identified. The distribution of reactants continuously drops in the gas flow direction along the flow channels, causing a non-uniform local current distribution that becomes more pronounced at high current loads, where the rate of water generation increases. The findings show that while a higher inlet flow rate enhances the cell performance, a lower flow rate causes it to drop because of reactant depletion in the anode. The sensitivity analysis reveals that the performance of an AEMFC is highly dependent on the humidity of the gas entering the cell. While high inlet RH on the cathode side enhances the cell performance, high inlet RH on the anode side deteriorates it.
Back to the Future: Leo Strauss, Gershom Scholem and the Restorative Messianic Utopia
Authors: Sawczyński Piotr
Published: July 2022

This article offers a critical analysis of the dispute between two prominent twentieth-century Jewish thinkers—Leo Strauss and Gershom Scholem—on the temporal nature of Jewish messianism, particularly the messianism of the Lurianic kabbalah. Whereas Strauss uses Scholem’s authority to criticize the idea of progress and claims that the messianic idea of Lurianism as interpreted by Scholem is purely restorative, Scholem actually argues for its dialectical nature: neither progressive nor regressive but seeking to synthesize the past and future in the utopian figure of “restoring” the original potentiality. The purpose of my analysis is twofold: to expose Strauss’s misreading of Scholem’s theory which has so far escaped the critical attention of scholars, and to contribute to the debate on religion and change by deconstructing the apparent opposition of progress and return (or utopia and restoration) in Jewish messianic tradition.
A Deep Learning Time Series Approach for Leaf and Wood Classification from Terrestrial LiDAR Point Clouds
Authors: Han Tao , Sánchez-Azofeifa Gerardo Arturo
Published: July 2022

The accurate separation between leaf and woody components from terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) data is vital for the estimation of leaf area index (LAI) and wood area index (WAI). Here, we present the application of deep learning time series separation of leaves and wood from TLS point clouds collected from broad-leaved trees. First, we use a multiple radius nearest neighbor approach to obtain a time series of the geometric features. Second, we compare the performance of Fully Convolutional Neural Network (FCN), Long Short-Term Memory Fully Convolutional Neural Network (LSTM-FCN), and Residual Network (ResNet) on leaf and wood classification. We also compare the effect of univariable (UTS) and multivariable (MTS) time series on classification accuracy. Finally, we explore the utilization of a class activation map (CAM) to reduce the black-box effect of deep learning. The average overall accuracy of the MTS method across the training data is 0.96, which is higher than the UTS methods (0.67 to 0.88). Meanwhile, ResNet spent much more time than FCN and LSTM-FCN in model development. When testing our method on an independent dataset, the MTS models based on FCN, LSTM-FCN, and ResNet all demonstrate similar performance. Our method indicates that the CAM can explain the black-box effect of deep learning and suggests that deep learning algorithms coupled with geometric feature time series can accurately separate leaf and woody components from point clouds. This provides a good starting point for future research into estimation of forest structure parameters.
Impacts of Land-Use Change on the Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon Storage in the Gansu Province, Northwest China
Authors: Wang Lingge , Zhu Rui , Yin Zhenliang , Chen Zexia , Fang Chunshuang , Lu Rui , Zhou Jiqiang , Feng Yonglin
Published: July 2022

Land-use change is supposed to exert significant effects on the spatio-temporal patterns of ecosystem carbon storage in arid regions, while the relative size of land-use change effect under future environmental change conditions is still less quantified. In this study, we combined a land-use change dataset with a satellite-based high-resolution biomass and soil organic carbon dataset to determine the role of land-use change in affecting ecosystem carbon storage from 1980 to 2050 in the Gansu province of China, using the MCE-CA-Markov and InVEST models. In addition, to quantify the relative size of the land-use change effect in comparison with other environmental drivers, we also considered the effects of climate change, CO2 enrichment, and cropland and forest managements in the models. The results show that the ecosystem carbon storage in the Gansu province increased by 208.9 ± 99.85 Tg C from 1980 to 2020, 12.87% of which was caused by land-use change, and the rest was caused by climate change, CO2 enrichment, and ecosystem managements. The land-use change-induced carbon sequestration was mainly associated with the land-use category conversion from farmland to grassland as well as from saline land and desert to farmland, driven by the grain-for-green projects in the Loess Plateau and oasis cultivation in the Hexi Corridor. Furthermore, it was projected that ecosystem carbon storage in the Gansu province from 2020 to 2050 will change from −14.69 ± 12.28 Tg C to 57.83 ± 53.42 Tg C (from 105.62 ± 51.83 Tg C to 177.03 ± 94.1 Tg C) for the natural development (ecological protection) scenario. By contrast, the land-use change was supposed to individually increase the carbon storage by 56.46 ± 9.82 (165.84 ± 40.06 Tg C) under the natural development (ecological protection) scenario, respectively. Our results highlight the importance of ecological protection and restoration in enhancing ecosystem carbon storage for arid regions, especially under future climate change conditions.
A Tracking Imaging Control Method for Dual-FSM 3D GISC LiDAR
Authors: Cao Yu , Su Xiuqin , Qian Xueming , Wang Haitao , Hao Wei , Xie Meilin , Feng Xubin , Han Junfeng , Chen Mingliang , Wang Chenglong
Published: July 2022

In this paper, a tracking and pointing control system with dual-FSM (fast steering mirror) composite axis is proposed. It is applied to the target-tracking accuracy control in a 3D GISC LiDAR (three-dimensional ghost imaging LiDAR via sparsity constraint) system. The tracking and pointing imaging control system of the dual-FSM 3D GISC LiDAR proposed in this paper is a staring imaging method with multiple measurements, which mainly solves the problem of high-resolution remote-sensing imaging of high-speed moving targets when the technology is transformed into practical applications. In the research of this control system, firstly, we propose a method that combines motion decoupling and sensor decoupling to solve the mechanical coupling problem caused by the noncoaxial sensor installation of the FSM. Secondly, we suppress the inherent mechanical resonance of the FSM in the control system. Thirdly, we propose the optical path design of a dual-FSM 3D GISC LiDAR tracking imaging system to solve the problem of receiving aperture constraint. Finally, after sufficient experimental verification, our method is shown to successfully reduce the coupling from 7% to 0.6%, and the precision tracking bandwidth reaches 300 Hz. Moreover, when the distance between the GISC system and the target is 2.74 km and the target flight speed is 7 m/s, the tracking accuracy of the system is improved from 15.7 μrad (σ) to 2.2 μrad (σ), and at the same time, the system recognizes the target contour clearly. Our research is valuable to put the GISC technology into practical applications.