bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Profiling of Silk Sericin from Cocoons of Three Southern African Wild Silk Moths with a Focus on Their Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties
Authors: Manesa Kanono Comet , Kebede Temesgen Girma , Dube Simiso , Nindi Mathew Muzi
Published: December 2020

Silk sericin was extracted from the cocoons of three Southern African wild silk moth species, namely Gonometapostica, G. rufobrunnae (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), and Argema mimosae (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae); these three sericin extracts were analysed to determine the relationship that exists between their chemical structures and their functional properties. The relationship was investigated by utilising several methods that include the determination of the amino acid composition, and characterisation of the secondary structures with Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The antibacterial properties of these three sericin extracts were evaluated by an agar well diffusion assay with three Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis) as test microorganisms; and, lastly, the antioxidant properties of the three sericin extracts were determined using several scavenging methods that include the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS˙+), and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The amino acid composition in the silk sericin extracts from G. postica, G. rufobrunnea, and Argema mimosa in terms of the polar/non-polar ratio (P/NP) was found to be 65:35, 56:44, and 59:41, respectively. The FTIR spectra of these three silk sericin extracts showed distinct major bands such as amide A (3265 cm−1), amide B (3062 cm−1), amide I (1644 cm−1), amide II (1538 cm−1), and amide III (1244 cm−1). The XRD patterns of the silk sericin extracts revealed both amorphous and α-helical structures, with small crystalline regions. All three silk sericin extracts presented potent antibacterial efficacy against the three Gram-positive bacteria and were found to have excellent antioxidant activities against the tested free radicals.
Effects of Zr-Cu Alloy Powder on Microstructure and Properties of Cu Matrix Composite with Highly-Aligned Flake Graphite
Authors: Chen Cunguang , Cui Qianyue , Yu Chengwei , Li Pei , Han Weihao , Hao Junjie
Published: December 2020

Highly-aligned flake graphite (FG) reinforced Cu matrix composites with high thermal conductivity and adaptive coefficient of thermal expansion were successfully prepared via the collaborative process of tape-casting and hot-pressing sintering. To overcome the problem of fragile interface, Zr-Cu alloy powder was introduced instead of pure Zr powder to enhance the interfacial strength, ascribed to the physical-chemical bonding at the Cu-FG interface. The results indicate that the synthetic ZrC as interfacial phase affects the properties of FG/Cu composites. The thermal conductivity reaches the maximum value of 608.7 W/m∙K (52% higher than pure Cu) with 0.5 wt % Zr. Surprisingly, the negative coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) in the Z direction is acquired from −7.61 × 10−6 to −1.1 × 10−6/K with 0 to 2 wt % Zr due to the physical mechanism of strain-engineering of the thermal expansion. Moreover, the CTE in X-Y plane with Zr addition is 8~10 × 10−6/K, meeting the requirements of semiconductor materials. Furthermore, the bending strength of the FG/Cu-2 wt % Zr composite is 42% higher than the FG/Cu composite. Combining excellent thermal conductivity with ultralow thermal expansion make the FG/Cu-Zr composites be a highly promising candidate in the electronic packaging field.
Fuzzy Ranking Network DEA with General Structure
Authors: Moreno Plácido , Lozano Sebastián
Published: December 2020

This paper extends two fuzzy ranking data envelopment analysis (DEA) approaches to the case of general networks of processes. The first approach provides an efficiency score for each possibility level which requires solving one linear program for each possibility level. The second approach is even simpler and provides an overall efficiency score solving just one linear program. The proposed approaches are tested on two datasets from the literature and compared with other fuzzy network DEA approaches. The results show that the two methods provide very highly correlated efficiency estimates which are also consistent with those of other fuzzy network DEA approaches.
Computing Birational Polynomial Surface Parametrizations without Base Points
Authors: Pérez-Díaz Sonia , Sendra Juan Rafael
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we present an algorithm for reparametrizing birational surface parametrizations into birational polynomial surface parametrizations without base points, if they exist. For this purpose, we impose a transversality condition to the base points of the input parametrization.
Bioactive Molecules from Extreme Environments
Authors: Giordano Daniela
Published: December 2020

Marine organisms inhabiting extreme habitats are a promising reservoir of bioactive compounds for drug discovery. Extreme environments, i.e., polar and hot regions, deep sea, hydrothermal vents, marine areas of high pressure or high salinity, experience conditions close to the limit of life. In these marine ecosystems, “hot spots” of biodiversity, organisms have adopted a huge variety of strategies to cope with such harsh conditions, such as the production of bioactive molecules potentially valuable for biotechnological applications and for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmeceutical sectors. Many enzymes isolated from extreme environments may be of great interest in the detergent, textile, paper and food industries. Marine natural products produced by organisms evolved under hostile conditions exhibit a wide structural diversity and biological activities. In fact, they exert antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of this Special Issue “Bioactive Molecules from Extreme Environments” was to provide the most recent findings on bioactive molecules as well as enzymes isolated from extreme environments, to be used in biotechnological discovery pipelines and pharmaceutical applications, in an effort to encourage further research in these extreme habitats.
Ecological and Industrial Implications of Dynamic Seaweed-Associated Microbiota Interactions
Authors: Menaa Farid , Wijesinghe P. A. U. I. , Thiripuranathar Gobika , Uzair Bushra , Iqbal Haroon , Khan Barkat Ali , Menaa Bouzid
Published: December 2020

Seaweeds are broadly distributed and represent an important source of secondary metabolites (e.g., halogenated compounds, polyphenols) eliciting various pharmacological activities and playing a relevant ecological role in the anti-epibiosis. Importantly, host (as known as basibiont such as algae)–microbe (as known as epibiont such as bacteria) interaction (as known as halobiont) is a driving force for coevolution in the marine environment. Nevertheless, halobionts may be fundamental (harmless) or detrimental (harmful) to the functioning of the host. In addition to biotic factors, abiotic factors (e.g., pH, salinity, temperature, nutrients) regulate halobionts. Spatiotemporal and functional exploration of such dynamic interactions appear crucial. Indeed, environmental stress in a constantly changing ocean may disturb complex mutualistic relations, through mechanisms involving host chemical defense strategies (e.g., secretion of secondary metabolites and antifouling chemicals by quorum sensing). It is worth mentioning that many of bioactive compounds, such as terpenoids, previously attributed to macroalgae are in fact produced or metabolized by their associated microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites). Eventually, recent metagenomics analyses suggest that microbes may have acquired seaweed associated genes because of increased seaweed in diets. This article retrospectively reviews pertinent studies on the spatiotemporal and functional seaweed-associated microbiota interactions which can lead to the production of bioactive compounds with high antifouling, theranostic, and biotechnological potential.
Aging of Thin-Film Composite Membranes Based on Crosslinked PTMSP/PEI Loaded with Highly Porous Carbon Nanoparticles of Infrared Pyrolyzed Polyacrylonitrile
Authors: Bakhtin Danila , Bazhenov Stepan , Polevaya Victoria , Grushevenko Evgenia , Makaev Sergey , Karpacheva Galina , Volkov Vladimir , Volkov Alexey
Published: December 2020

The mitigation of the physical aging of thin-film composite (TFC) poly[1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne] (PTMSP) membranes was studied via the simultaneous application of a polymer-selective layer crosslinking and mixed-matrix membrane approach. For the first time, a recently developed highly porous activated carbon material (infrared (IR) pyrolyzed poly[acrylonitrile] (PAN) or IR-PAN-a) was investigated as an additive to a PTMSP-selective layer for the reduction of aging in TFC membranes. The total electric energy spent on the IR irradiation treatment of IR-PAN-a particles was twice lower than conventional heating. The flat-sheet porous microfiltration membrane MFFK-1 was used as a support, and the crosslinked PTMSP/PEI loaded with a porous filler was applied as a selective layer (0.8–1.8 µm thick) to the TFC membranes. The initial IR-PAN-a sample was additionally milled to obtain a milled IR-PAN-aM sample with a monomodal particle size distribution of 500–800 nm. It was shown that IR-PAN-a, as a filler material with a high surface area and pore volume (2450 m2/g and 1.06 cm3/g, respectively) and a well-developed sponge-like structure, leads to the increase of the N2, O2, and CO2 permeance of PTMSP-based hybrid membrane material and the decrease of the aging of PTMSP. The simultaneous effect of crosslinking and the addition of a highly porous filler essentially improved the aging behavior of PTMSP-based TFC membranes. The monomodal and narrow particle size distribution of highly porous activated IR-pyrolyzed PAN is a key factor for the production of TFC membranes with reduced aging. The highest stability was achieved by the addition of a milled IR-PAN-aM sample (10 wt%). TFC membrane permeance was 6300 GPU (30% of initial permeance) after 11,000 h of aging at ambient laboratory conditions.
Effect of PAC on the Behavior of Dynamic Membrane Bioreactor Filtration Layer Based on the Analysis of Mixed Liquid Properties and Model Fitting
Authors: Huang Chunyan , Liu Hongju , Meng Shujuan , Liang Dawei
Published: December 2020

Recently, dynamic membrane bioreactor (DMBR) has gradually gained the interest of researchers for the development of membrane technology. In this paper, we set up parallel experiments to investigate the effect of powder activated carbon (PAC) on organic matter removal, transmembrane pressure, and filter cake layer characterization to make an overall performance assessment of DMBR. The results showed that DMBR has a good removal effect on organic matter removal, and with a chemical oxygen demand removal rate over 85%. Protein was found to be the main membrane fouling substance. Due to the electric double-layer effect, membrane fouling tended to be alleviated when the PN/PS value was low. Using a filtration model under constant current conditions, the filtration process through the cake layer was observed to be consistent with cake-intermediate model.
Gas Permeation Model of Mixed-Matrix Membranes with Embedded Impermeable Cuboid Nanoparticles
Authors: Wu Haoyu , Zamanian Maryam , Kruczek Boguslaw , Thibault Jules
Published: December 2020

In the packaging industry, the barrier property of packaging materials is of paramount importance. The enhancement of barrier properties of materials can be achieved by adding impermeable nanoparticles into thin polymeric films, known as mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs). Three-dimensional numerical simulations were performed to study the barrier property of these MMMs and to estimate the effective membrane gas permeability. Results show that horizontally-aligned thin cuboid nanoparticles offer far superior barrier properties than spherical nanoparticles for an identical solid volume fraction. Maxwell’s model predicts very well the relative permeability of spherical and cubic nanoparticles over a wide range of the solid volume fraction. However, Maxwell’s model shows an increasingly poor prediction of the relative permeability of MMM as the aspect ratio of cuboid nanoparticles tends to zero or infinity. An artificial neural network (ANN) model was developed successfully to predict the relative permeability of MMMs as a function of the relative thickness and the relative projected area of the embedded nanoparticles. However, since an ANN model does not provide an explicit form of the relation of the relative permeability with the physical characteristics of the MMM, a new model based on multivariable regression analysis is introduced to represent the relative permeability in a MMM with impermeable cuboid nanoparticles. The new model possesses a simple explicit form and can predict, very well, the relative permeability over an extensive range of the solid volume fraction and aspect ratio, compared with many existing models.
In Vivo Comparative Evaluation of Biocompatibility and Biodegradation of Bovine and Porcine Collagen Membranes
Authors: Neto Abdu Mansur Dacache , Sartoretto Suelen Cristina , Duarte Isabelle Martins , Resende Rodrigo Figueiredo de Brito , Neves Novellino Alves Adriana Terezinha , Mourão Carlos Fernando de Almeida Barros , Calasans-Maia Jose , Montemezzi Pietro , Tristão Gilson Coutinho , Calasans-Maia Mônica Diuana
Published: December 2020

Mechanical barriers prevent the invasion of the surrounding soft tissues within the bone defects. This concept is known as Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR). The knowledge about the local tissue reaction and the time of degradation of absorbable membranes favors the correct clinical indication. This study aimed to evaluate the biocompatibility and biodegradation of a bovine collagen membrane (Lyostypt®, São Gonçalo, Brazil) and compare it to a porcine collagen membrane (Bio-Gide®) implanted in the subcutaneous tissue of mice, following ISO 10993-6:2016. Thirty Balb-C mice were randomly divided into three experimental groups, LT (Lyostypt®), BG (Bio-Gide®), and Sham (without implantation), and subdivided according to the experimental periods (7, 21, and 63 days). The BG was considered non-irritant at seven days and slight and moderate irritant at 21 and 63 days, respectively. The LT presented a small irritant reaction at seven days, a mild reaction after 21, and a reduction in the inflammatory response at 63 days. The biodegradation of the LT occurred more rapidly compared to the BG after 63 days. This study concluded that both membranes were considered biocompatible since their tissue reactions were compatible with the physiological inflammatory process; however, the Bio-Gide® was less degraded during the experimental periods, favoring the guided bone regeneration process.
Prediction of Surface Integrity Parameters in Roller Burnishing of Ti6Al4V
Authors: Rotella Giovanna , Caruso Serafino , Del Prete Antonio , Filice Luigino
Published: December 2020

Burnishing is considered a super finishing process able to drastically increase surface quality in terms of hardness and roughness of the manufactured parts. Consequently, it is considered appealing for the performance enhancement of products where the surface quality plays a crucial role. However, when burnishing grade 5 titanium alloy, a quantitative relationship between process parameters and surface integrity is still missing. This work provides a deep analysis of the burnishing parameters and their influence on the surface integrity of Ti-6Al-4V. In particular, starting from a large experimental campaign, statistical analysis of the results is performed and models able to describe the surface integrity response based on different burnishing parameters are presented. The overall results allow us to clearly define the relationship within the input and output variables identifying, by the proposed models, different operational windows for surface integrity improvement.
Effect of La Addition on Solidification Behavior and Phase Composition of Cast Al-Mg-Si Alloy
Authors: Deev Vladislav , Prusov Evgeny , Shurkin Pavel , Ri Ernst , Smetanyuk Svetlana , Chen Xizhang , Konovalov Sergey
Published: December 2020

The current study focusses on the phase composition, solidification path, and microstructure evaluation of gravity cast Al-4Mg-0.5Si-xLa aluminum alloy, where x = 0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 wt.% La. A computational CalPhaD approach implemented in Thermo-Calc software and scanning electron microscopy technique equipped with electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) was employed to assess its above-mentioned characteristics. The thermodynamic analysis showed that the equilibrium solidification path of La-containing Al-Mg-Si alloys consists of only binary phases LaSi2 and Mg2Si precipitation along with α-Al from the liquid and further solid-state transformation of this mixture into α-Al + Al11La3 + Mg2Si + Al3Mg2 composition. Scheil–Gulliver simulation showed a similar solidification pathway but was accompanied by an increase in the solidification range (from ~55 °C to 210 °C). Furthermore, microstructural observations were congruent with the calculated fraction of phases at 560 °C and related to α-Al + LaSi2 + Mg2Si three-phase region in terms of formation of La-rich phase having both eliminating effect on the eutectic Mg2Si phase. Quantitative EMPA analysis and elemental mapping revealed that the La-rich phase included Al, La, and Si and may be described as Al2LaSi2 phase. This phase shows a visible modifying effect on the eutectic Mg2Si phase, likely due to absorbing on the liquid/solid interface.
Effect of Pre-Treatment with Sodium Chloride/Sulfuric Acid on the Bornite Concentrate Leaching in Chloride Medium
Authors: Navarro Patricio , Vargas Cristian , Bahamonde Fabiana , Gómez Matías , Espinoza Daniel , Sepúlveda Rossana , Castillo Jonathan
Published: December 2020

In this work, the effect of the pre-treatment of bornite concentrate with a sodium chloride–sulfuric acid mixture prior to leaching with chloride solutions was evaluated. The influence of the dosage of NaCl and the resting time in the copper solution was evaluated. The solid residues of the pre-treatment were characterized by XRD to evaluate the changes that took place in the bornite. The experimental results show that as the sitting time and the amount of sodium chloride added are increased, the dissolution of the sulfide species also increased. The pre-treatment affects Cu preferentially because it has greater mobility than iron in the bornite crystal lattice. The pre-treatment promotes the formation of soluble Cu and Fe species. The efficiency of the pre-treatment depends largely on the formation of hydrochloric acid in the mixture at the particle level, due to the ease with which it diffuses through the bornite particles, achieving greater penetration of the pre-treatment.
Micro Defects on Diamond Tool Cutting Edge Affecting the Ductile-Mode Machining of KDP Crystal
Authors: Zhang Shuo , Zong Wenjun
Published: December 2020

As a soft-brittle material, the machined surface quality of potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) crystal is heavily affected by the edge quality of the diamond cutting tool. However, nanoscale micro defects inevitably occur on the freshly sharpened tool edge, and the machining mechanism for KDP crystal remains unclear. Therefore, in this work, three types of tool-edge micro defects are classified according to their cross-sections, including the blunt-edge, crescent-edge, and flat-edge micro defects. Moreover, the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method is employed to reveal the material removal mechanism of KDP crystal with consideration of different tool-edge micro defects, and the flat-edge micro defects are subdivided into flat edge A (similar to flank wear) and flat edge B (similar to chamfered edge) on the basis of their effects in machining. The simulation results indicate that the surfaces machined by crescent edge and flat edge A are unsmooth with large-size defects due to the disappearance of hydrostatic pressure beneath the cutting edge. As for the blunt edge and flat edge B, the machined surfaces are smooth with a favorable increment of hydrostatic pressure for processing brittle materials, which indicates that a solution to eliminate the tool-edge micro defects is necessary, e.g., the passivation method. For keeping the cutting edge as sharp as possible in removing the tool-edge micro defects completely by passivation, the effect of tool shank depression angles on the geometries of the passivated cutting edge is investigated, and a high-quality cutting edge with a micro chamfered edge is obtained after passivation at a depression angle of 60° and re-sharpening of the rake face. Finally, the tool cutting performance after passivation is validated through fly-cutting experiments of KDP crystal. The chamfered edge can produce the best defect-free surface with the minimum surface roughness.
Experimental Investigation on Laser Assisted Diamond Turning of Binderless Tungsten Carbide by In-Process Heating
Authors: You Kaiyuan , Fang Fengzhou , Yan Guangpeng , Zhang Yue
Published: December 2020

Binderless tungsten carbide (WC) finds widespread applications in precision glass molding (PGM). Grinding and polishing are the main processes to realize optical surface finish on binderless WC mold inserts. The laser assisted turning (LAT) by in-process heating is an efficient method to enhance the machinability of hard and brittle materials. In this paper, laser heating temperature was pre-calculated by the finite element analysis, and was utilized to facilitate laser power selection. The effects of rake angle, depth of cut, feed rate, and laser power are studied experimentally using the Taguchi method. The variance, range, and signal-to-noise ratio analysis methods are employed to evaluate the effects of the factors on the surface roughness. Based on the self-developed LAT system, binderless WC mold inserts with mirror finished surfaces are machined using the optimal parameters. PGM experiments of molding glass lenses for practical application are conducted to verify the machined mold inserts quality. The experiment results indicate that both the mold inserts and molded lenses with the required quality are achieved.
Geometric Understanding of Local Fluctuation Distribution of Conduction Time in Lined-Up Cardiomyocyte Network in Agarose-Microfabrication Multi-Electrode Measurement Assay
Authors: Sakamoto Kazufumi , Aoki Shota , Tanaka Yuhei , Shimoda Kenji , Hondo Yoshitsune , Yasuda Kenji
Published: December 2020

We examined characteristics of the propagation of conduction in width-controlled cardiomyocyte cell networks for understanding the contribution of the geometrical arrangement of cardiomyocytes for their local fluctuation distribution. We tracked a series of extracellular field potentials of linearly lined-up human embryonic stem (ES) cell-derived cardiomyocytes and mouse primary cardiomyocytes with 100 kHz sampling intervals of multi-electrodes signal acquisitions and an agarose microfabrication technology to localize the cardiomyocyte geometries in the lined-up cell networks with 100–300 μm wide agarose microstructures. Conduction time between two neighbor microelectrodes (300 μm) showed Gaussian distribution. However, the distributions maintained their form regardless of its propagation distances up to 1.5 mm, meaning propagation diffusion did not occur. In contrast, when Quinidine was applied, the propagation time distributions were increased as the faster firing regulation simulation predicted. The results indicate the “faster firing regulation” is not sufficient to explain the conservation of the propagation time distribution in cardiomyocyte networks but should be expanded with a kind of community effect of cell networks, such as the lower fluctuation regulation.
Scale-Up Studies for Co/Ni Separations in Intensified Reactors
Authors: Tsaoulidis Dimitrios , Mamtora Milan , Gañet Marta Mayals , Garciadiego-Ortega Eduardo , Angeli Panagiota
Published: December 2020

In this paper, the effect of the scalability of small-scale devices on the separation of Co(II) from a binary Co(II)/Ni(II) mixture in a nitric acid solution by an organic Cyanex 272/TBP/kerosene (Exxsol D80) phase is studied. In particular, circular channels with diameters of 1, 2, and 3.2 mm are considered. The results were compared against those from a confined impinging-jets (CIJ) cell with a main channel diameter of 3.2 mm. The effects of total flowrate, residence time, Cyanex 272 concentration, and flowrate ratio on the mass transfer performance were investigated. It was found that at increased channel size, the throughputs were also increased but the extraction percentages remained the same. Higher extraction percentages were obtained by using the CIJ configuration at short residence times. However, for longer residence times, the mass transfer coefficients were similar and capillary channels should be preferred over the CIJ because of the ease of separation of the two phases at the end of the unit. The overall mass transfer coefficients ranged between 0.02 and 0.14 s−1 for the capillary channels during plug flow and between 0.05 and 0.45 s−1 for the CIJ cells during dispersed flow.
Propulsion Mechanism of Flexible Microbead Swimmers in the Low Reynolds Number Regime
Authors: Li Yan-Hom , Chen Shao-Chun
Published: December 2020

A propulsion mechanism for a flexible microswimmer constructed from superparamagnetic microbeads with different diameters and subjected to an oscillating field was studied experimentally and theoretically herein. Various types of artificial swimmers with different bending patterns were fabricated to determine the flexibility and an effective waveform for a planar beating flagellum. Waveform evolutions for various swimmer configurations were studied to determine the flexible mechanism of the swimmers. A one-armed microswimmer can propel itself only if the friction of its wavelike body is anisotropic. A swimmer with a larger head and a stronger magnetic dipole moment with a flexible tail allows the bending wave to propagate from the head toward the tail to generate forward thrust. The oscillating head and tail do not simultaneously generate positive thrust all the time within a period of oscillation. To increase the propulsion for a bending swimmer, this study proposes a novel configuration for a microbead swimmer that ensures better swimming efficiency. The ratio of the oscillation amplitude of the head to the length of the swimmer (from 0.26 to 0.28) produces a faster swimmer. On the other hand, the swimmer is propelled more effectively if the ratio of the oscillation amplitude of the tail to the length of the swimmer is from 0.29 to 0.33. This study determined the optimal configuration for a flexible microbead swimmer that generates the greatest propulsion in a low Reynolds number environment.
Improving the Detection Ability of Inductive Micro-Sensor for Non-Ferromagnetic Wear Debris
Authors: Wang Man , Shi Haotian , Zhang Hongpeng , Huo Dian , Xie Yucai , Su Jun
Published: December 2020

The inductive debris sensor has been studied because of its wide application prospects in mechanical health monitoring. In order to ensure a high-precision detection performance, a comprehensive method to improve the detection sensitivity and detection ability of the inductive sensor for non-ferromagnetic metal debris is proposed. Based on the characteristics of the eddy current inside the metal, the change of the coil impedance caused by the metal debris is increased by enhancing the magnetic field strength and selecting the optimal excitation frequency. The impedance detection method involving inductance and resistance parameters is used to improve the detection limit of non-ferromagnetic metal debris. The experimental results verify that the magnetic field in the detection region can be enhanced by adding a silicon steel strip (paramagnetic material) in the central hole of the coil, thereby greatly improving the detection sensitivity of the inductive sensor, and the concentrated distribution of the magnetic field avoids the double-peak signals generated by a single particle. The characteristics of the signal amplitude of non-ferromagnetic debris with excitation frequency are studied. Higher inductance, resistance amplitudes, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) can be obtained by using a high-frequency alternating current. Compared with inductance parameter detection, resistance parameter detection can detect smaller non-ferromagnetic debris. Combining the detection results of the inductance and resistance parameters can effectively improve the sensor’s ability to detect non-ferromagnetic debris.
Plasmonic Hybrids of MoS2 and 10-nm Nanogap Arrays for Photoluminescence Enhancement
Authors: Yang Yang , Pan Ruhao , Tian Shibing , Gu Changzhi , Li Junjie
Published: December 2020

Monolayer MoS2 has attracted tremendous interest, in recent years, due to its novel physical properties and applications in optoelectronic and photonic devices. However, the nature of the atomic-thin thickness of monolayer MoS2 limits its optical absorption and emission, thereby hindering its optoelectronic applications. Hybridizing MoS2 by plasmonic nanostructures is a critical route to enhance its photoluminescence. In this work, the hybrid nanostructure has been proposed by transferring the monolayer MoS2 onto the surface of 10-nm-wide gold nanogap arrays fabricated using the shadow deposition method. By taking advantage of the localized surface plasmon resonance arising in the nanogaps, a photoluminescence enhancement of ~20-fold was achieved through adjusting the length of nanogaps. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of a giant photoluminescence enhancement for this hybrid of MoS2/10-nm nanogap arrays, promising its further applications in photodetectors, sensors, and emitters.
Filling the Void: An Optimized Polymicrobial Interkingdom Biofilm Model for Assessing Novel Antimicrobial Agents in Endodontic Infection
Authors: Abusrewil Sumaya , Brown Jason L. , Delaney Christopher D. , Butcher Mark C. , Kean Ryan , Gamal Dalia , Scott J. Alun , McLean William , Ramage Gordon
Published: December 2020

There is a growing realization that endodontic infections are often polymicrobial, and may contain Candida spp. Despite this understanding, the development of new endodontic irrigants and models of pathogenesis remains limited to mono-species biofilm models and is bacterially focused. The purpose of this study was to develop and optimize an interkingdom biofilm model of endodontic infection and use this to test suitable anti-biofilm actives. Biofilms containing Streptococcus gordonii, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Candida albicans were established from ontological analysis. Biofilms were optimized in different media and atmospheric conditions, prior to quantification and imaging, and subsequently treated with chlorhexidine, EDTA, and chitosan. These studies demonstrated that either media supplemented with serum were equally optimal for biofilm growth, which were dominated by S. gordonii, followed by C. albicans. Assessment of antimicrobial activity showed significant effectiveness of each antimicrobial, irrespective of serum. Chitosan was most effective (3 log reduction), and preferentially targeted C. albicans in both biofilm treatment and inhibition models. Chitosan was similarly effective at preventing biofilm growth on a dentine substrate. This study has shown that a reproducible and robust complex interkingdom model, which when tested with the antifungal chitosan, supports the notion of C. albicans as a key structural component.
Hymenopteran Parasitoids of Hard Ticks in Western Africa and the Russian Far East
Authors: Gaye Mapenda , Amanzougaghene Nadia , Laidoudi Younes , Niang El Hadji Amadou , Sekeyová Zuzana , Laroche Maureen , Bérenger Jean-Michel , Raoult Didier , Kazimírová Mária , Fenollar Florence , Mediannikov Oleg
Published: December 2020

Some parasitoids of the genus Ixodiphagus (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea: Encyrtidae) are well-known natural enemies of ticks. In this study, we investigate the occurrence of parasitoid wasps in adult hard ticks from Western Africa (Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal) and Far Eastern Europe (Russia) using molecular methods. The morphological identification allowed the classification of 785 collected specimens of six species of ticks: Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (41%), Ixodes persulcatus (33%), Dermacentor silvarum (11%), Haemaphysalis concinna (7%), Amblyomma variegatum (5%), and Haemaphysalis japonica (3%). The newly developed MALDI-TOF MS protocol identified tick species in spite of their different storage (dried or in 70% ethanol) conditions for a long period. Molecular screening of ticks by a new standard PCR system developed in this study revealed the presence of parasitoid wasp DNA in 3% (28/785) of analyzed ticks. Ixodiphagus hookeri was detected in 86% (24/28) of infested ticks, including 13 I. persulcatus, 9 R (B) microplus, and one H. concinna and D. silvarum. While an unidentified parasitoid wasp species from the subfamily Aphidiinae and Braconidae family was detected in the remaining 14% (4/28) infested ticks. These infested ticks were identified as I. persulcatus. Our findings highlight the need for further studies to clarify the species diversity of parasitoid infesting ticks by combining molecular and morphological features. The novel molecular and MALDI-TOF MS protocols could be effective tools for the surveillance and characterization of these potential bio-control agents of ticks.
Stress Response of Mesosutterella multiformis Mediated by Nitrate Reduction
Authors: Ikeyama Nao , Ohkuma Moriya , Sakamoto Mitsuo
Published: December 2020

Bacterial stress responses are closely associated with the survival and colonization of anaerobes in the human gut. Mesosutterella multiformis JCM 32464T is a novel member of the family Sutterellaceae, an asaccharolytic bacterium. We previously demonstrated energy generation via heme biosynthesis, which is coupled with nitrate reductase. Here, physiological and morphological changes in M. multiformis induced by exposure to nitrate were investigated. The ability of M. multiformis to reduce nitrate was determined using a colorimetric assay. A unique morphology was observed during nitrate reduction under anaerobic conditions. The association between nitrate concentration and cell size or cellular fatty acid composition was evaluated. Nitrate-induced responses of M. multiformis were compared to those of related species. An increase in cellular filamentation and the ratio of saturated: unsaturated fatty acids was mediated specifically by nitrate. This indicates a decrease in cell fluidity and low leakage. Furthermore, a similar response was not observed in other related species cultured in the presence of nitrate. Hence, the nitrate-induced stress response in new anaerobes such as M. multiformis was demonstrated. The response could also be involved in the conservation of menaquinones and the maximization of nitrate reduction.
Sorption of Cu2+ Ions by Bentonite Modified with Al Keggin Cations and Humic Acid in Solutions with pH 4.5
Authors: Izosimova Yulia , Tolpeshta Inna , Gurova Irina , Karpukhin Michail , Zakusin Sergey , Krupskaya Victoria
Published: December 2020

The sorption of Cu2+ onto bentonite modified with Al Keggin cations and humic acid from CuCl2 solutions at pH 4.5 was studied. Modification of Na-bentonite with Al Keggin cations was found to result in an increase in the basal spacing of montmorillonite from 1.29 nm for N-form to 1.85 and 1.78 nm for HAl13 and Al13 forms respectively, in a reduction of CEC (cation exchange capacity) and in the formation of additional sites with a variable charge with pHPZC 4.2. Al13-bentonite is not affected by heat. Under the conditions of the experiments at pH of 4.5 Na-bentonite adsorbs more Cu2+ from CuCl2 solutions then Al13 forms of bentonites. The main mechanism of copper sorption on Na-bentonite is the cation exchange Cu2+–Na+. The reduction of CEC of Na-bentonite after modification with Al Keggin cations leads to a decrease in the Cu2+ sorption. pH-dependent sorption sites on Al13-bentonites have a pHPZC of 4.2 and, therefore, under conditions of the experiment have positive charge which prevents Cu2+ sorption. Na-bentonite adsorbs more humic acid solution (HA) then Al13-bentonite and the proportion of adsorbed HA remains constant over the entire concentration range. Treatment of the Al13-bentonite with HA leads to the formation of the additional sorption sites. The amount of sorbed Cu2+ and the percentage of their extraction from solutions by HAAl13-bentonite is similar to those values for Na-bentonite.
Possibilities and Limitations of the Use of Seafloor Photographs for Estimating Polymetallic Nodule Resources—Case Study from IOM Area, Pacific Ocean
Authors: Wasilewska-Błaszczyk Monika , Mucha Jacek
Published: December 2020

Direct seafloor sampling using, e.g., box corers is insufficient to obtain an acceptable accuracy of nodule resource estimates in small parts of potential deposits. In order to increase the reliability of the estimates, it was rational to use the results of photographic surveys of the seafloor. However, the estimation of nodule abundance based on seafloor photographs is associated with a number of problems and limitations. The main goal of the study was a statistical analysis of the role and interrelationships of selected factors affecting the accuracy of nodule abundance assessment based on seafloor photographs from the H22 exploration block located in the Interoceanmetal Joint Organization (IOM) area in the Pacific. A statistically significant, but only moderately strong, correlation was found between the abundance of nodules and seafloor nodule coverage (quantitative variables), the nodule abundance and genetic type of nodules (ordinal variable estimated visually from photos), and between seafloor coverage with nodules and sediment coverage of nodules (ordinal variable estimated visually from photos). It was suggested that the nodule abundance could be effectively and more accurately predicted using a general linear model that includes both quantitative and ordinal variables.
Trace Elements in Apatite as Genetic Indicators of the Evate Apatite-Magnetite Deposit, NE Mozambique
Authors: Slobodník Marek , Dillingerová Veronika , Blažeková Michaela , Huraiová Monika , Hurai Vratislav
Published: December 2020

The Evate deposit is a Neoproterozoic (~590 Ma) magnetite-apatite-carbonate body emplaced parallel to foliation of the Monapo granulite complex in NE Mozambique. A complicated history of the deposit is recorded in apatite textures visualized in cathodoluminescence (CL) images. In spite of different solid and fluid inclusions, mineral assemblages, and the CL textures, electron probe microanalyses indicate relatively consistent apatite compositions corresponding to fluorapatite (XF = 0.51–0.73, XOH = 0.21–0.47, XCl = 0.02–0.06) with limited belovite- and cesanite-type substitutions. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric analyses show that apatites from unaltered magnetite-forsterite-spinel ores are depleted in Y, REE, Ba, and Sr compared to apatites from carbonate-anhydrite ores. Hydrothermally overprinted apatites with complex patchy domain CL textures are enriched in Y-REE in greenish-grey zones, Fe-U-Th in blue zones, and Mn-Sr-Ba in brown domains. Observed CL-emissions in the Evate apatites result from very subtle variations in REE, Mn, and U contents controlled by the variability of redox conditions. The decreased Th:U ratio in the hydrothermally overprinted apatites reflects the oxidation and partial removal of U4+ from the apatite structure during the interaction with oxidizing aqueous fluids capable of transporting U6+. Flat, LREE (La-Sm)-enriched chondrite-normalized patterns with Eu/Eu* = 0.7–1.4 and Ce/Ce* = 0.9–1.5, together with concentrations of diagnostic trace elements (Sr, Mn, Y, REE) are consistent with apatites from magmatic carbonatites and phoscorites. This study corroborates that the Evate deposit is a post-collisional orogenic carbonatite genetically linked with mafic plutonic rocks intruding the Monapo granulite complex after granulite-facies metamorphism, and later overprinted by intensive hydrothermalism. The Evate apatite is peculiar in retaining its pristine magmatic signature despite the extensive hydrothermal-metasomatic alteration accompanied by dissolution-reprecipitation.
A Multi-Model Ensemble Approach for Gold Mineral Prospectivity Mapping: A Case Study on the Beishan Region, Western China
Authors: Wang Kaijian , Zheng Xinqi , Wang Gongwen , Liu Dongya , Cui Ning
Published: December 2020

Mineral prospectivity mapping (MPM) needs robust predictive techniques so that the target zones of mineral deposits can be accurately delineated at a specific location. Although an individual machine learning algorithm has been successfully applied, it remains a challenge because of the complicated non-linear relations between prospecting factors and deposits. Ensemble learning methods were efficiently applied for their excellent generalization, but their potential has not been fully explored in MPM. In this study, three well-known machine learning models, namely random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt), were fused into ensembles (i.e., RF–SVM, RF–MaxEnt, SVM–MaxEnt, RF–SVM–MaxEnt) to produce a final prediction. The paper aims to investigate the potential application of stacking ensemble learning methods (SELM) for MPM. In this study, 69 hydrothermal gold deposits were split into two parts: 70% for the training model and 30% for testing the model. Then, 11 mineral prospecting factors were selected as a spatial dataset constructed for MPM. Finally, the models’ performance was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and five statistical metrics. Compared with other single methods, the SELM framework showed an improved predictive performance in the model evaluation. Therefore, this finding suggests that the SELM framework is promising and should be selected as an alternative technique for MPM.
3D Spatial Distribution of Arsenic in an Abandoned Mining Area: A Combined Geophysical and Geochemical Approach
Authors: Ruiz-Roso Jesús , García-Lorenzo Mari , Castiñeiras Pedro , Muñoz-Martín Alfonso , Crespo-Feo Elena
Published: December 2020

Abandoned mine wastes, containing high sulfide contents, are of particular concern because of the formation of acid mine drainage (AMD), becoming an active and harmful point source of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) to the environment. A detailed evaluation of the chemical and mineralogical composition of mining wastes is necessary to determine effective remediation actions. Due to the high amount of generated wastes as a result of mining and processing activities, the cost and time consumed for this characterization are limiting. Hence, efficient tools could be applied to predict the composition of these wastes and their spatial distribution. This study aims to determine the physico-chemical characterization of wastes from mining activities using geochemical and geophysical techniques. The obtained results, both geochemical and geophysical, allow us to locate areas with a high potential risk of contamination by As in an economic and simple way, and enable us to design detailed geochemical sampling campaigns. In addition, the fact that there are conductive fractures in depth suggests the possible circulation of contaminants through them as well as the preferential lines of circulation.
Modeling and Simulation of Head Trauma Utilizing White Matter Properties from Magnetic Resonance Elastography
Authors: Madhukar Amit , Ostoja-Starzewski Martin
Published: December 2020

Tissues of the brain, especially white matter, are extremely heterogeneous—with constitutive responses varying spatially. In this paper, we implement a high-resolution Finite Element (FE) head model where heterogeneities of white matter structures are introduced through Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) experiments. Displacement of white matter under shear wave excitation is captured and the material properties determined through an inversion algorithm are incorporated in the FE model via a two-term Ogden hyper-elastic material model. This approach is found to improve model predictions when compared to experimental results. In the first place, mechanical response in the cerebrum near stiff structures such as the corpus callosum and corona radiata are markedly different compared with a homogenized material model. Additionally, the heterogeneities introduce additional attenuation of the shear wave due to wave scattering within the cerebrum.
Host-Guest Complexation of Oxaliplatin and Para-Sulfonatocalix[n]Arenes for Potential Use in Cancer Therapy
Authors: Fahmy Sherif Ashraf , Ponte Fortuna , Fawzy Iten M. , Sicilia Emilia , Bakowsky Udo , Azzazy Hassan Mohamed El-Said
Published: December 2020

P-sulfonatocalix[n]arenes have demonstrated a great potential for encapsulation of therapeutic drugs via host-guest complexation to improve solubility, stability, and bioavailability of encapsulated drugs. In this work, guest-host complexes of a third-generation anticancer drug (oxaliplatin) and p-4-sulfocalix[n]arenes (n = 4 and 6; p-SC4 and p-SC6, respectively) were prepared and investigated, using 1H NMR, UV, Job’s plot analysis, and DFT calculations, for use as cancer therapeutics. The peak amplitude of the prepared host-guest complexes was linearly proportional to the concentration of oxaliplatin in the range of 1.0 × 10−5 M−1 to 2.1 × 10−4 M−1. The reaction stoichiometry between either p-SC4 or p-SC6 and oxaliplatin in the formed complexes was 1:1. The stability constants for the complexes were 5.07 × 104 M−1 and 6.3 × 104 M−1. These correspond to complexation free energy of −6.39 and −6.52 kcal/mol for p-SC4 and p-SC6, respectively. Complexation between oxaliplatin and p-SC4 or p-SC6 was found to involve hydrogen bonds. Both complexes exhibited enhanced biological and high cytotoxic activities against HT-29 colorectal cells and MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma compared to free oxaliplatin, which warrants further investigation for cancer therapy.
Biotechnological Approaches on Two High CBD and CBG Cannabis sativa L. (Cannabaceae) Varieties: In Vitro Regeneration and Phytochemical Consistency Evaluation of Micropropagated Plants Using Quantitative 1H-NMR
Authors: Ioannidis Kostas , Dadiotis Evangelos , Mitsis Vangelis , Melliou Eleni , Magiatis Prokopios
Published: December 2020

High cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG) varieties of Cannabis sativa L., a species with medicinal properties, were regenerated in vitro. Explants of nodal segments including healthy axillary bud, after sterilization, were placed in Murashige-Skoog (MS) culture medium. The shoots formed after 30 days were subcultured in full- or half-strength MS medium supplemented with several concentrations of 6-benzyl-amino-purine (BA) or thidiazuron (TDZ). The highest average number and length of shoots was achieved when both full and half-strength MS media were supplemented with 4.0 μM BA. The presence of 4.0 μM TDZ showed also comparable results. BA and TDZ at concentrations of 4.0, 8.0 μM and 2.0, 4.0 μM respectively, displayed the maximum shooting frequency. The new shoots were transferred on the same media and were either self-rooted or after being enhanced with different concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). Presence of 2.0 or 4.0 μM IBA or 4.0 μM NAA resulted to the optimum rooting rates. The maximum average number and length of roots per shoot was observed when the culture media was supplemented with 4.0 μM IBA or NAA. Approximately 92% of the plantlets were successfully established and acclimatized in field. The consistency of the chemical profile of the acclimatized in vitro propagated clones was assessed using quantitative 1H-NMR high throughput screening. In each variety, analysis of the micropropagated plant in comparison with the mother plant showed no statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in CBD+ cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and CBG+ cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) content respectively, thus indicating stability of their chemical profile.