bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Methods for Constructing Complex Solutions of Nonlinear PDEs Using Simpler Solutions
Authors: Aksenov Alexander V. , Polyanin Andrei D.
Published: February 2021

This paper describes a number of simple but quite effective methods for constructing exact solutions of nonlinear partial differential equations that involve a relatively small amount of intermediate calculations. The methods employ two main ideas: (i) simple exact solutions can serve to construct more complex solutions of the equations under consideration and (ii) exact solutions of some equations can serve to construct solutions of other, more complex equations. In particular, we propose a method for constructing complex solutions from simple solutions using translation and scaling. We show that in some cases, rather complex solutions can be obtained by adding one or more terms to simpler solutions. There are situations where nonlinear superposition allows us to construct a complex composite solution using similar simple solutions. We also propose a few methods for constructing complex exact solutions to linear and nonlinear PDEs by introducing complex-valued parameters into simpler solutions. The effectiveness of the methods is illustrated by a large number of specific examples (over 30 in total). These include nonlinear heat equations, reaction–diffusion equations, wave type equations, Klein–Gordon type equations, equations of motion through porous media, hydrodynamic boundary layer equations, equations of motion of a liquid film, equations of gas dynamics, Navier–Stokes equations, and some other PDEs. Apart from exact solutions to ‘ordinary’ partial differential equations, we also describe some exact solutions to more complex nonlinear delay PDEs. Along with the unknown function at the current time, u=u(x,t), these equations contain the same function at a past time, w=u(x,t−τ), where τ>0 is the delay time. Furthermore, we look at nonlinear partial functional-differential equations of the pantograph type, which, in addition to the unknown u=u(x,t), also contain the same functions with dilated or contracted arguments, w=u(px,qt), where p and q are scaling parameters. We propose an efficient approach to construct exact solutions to such functional-differential equations. Some new exact solutions of nonlinear pantograph-type PDEs are presented. The methods and examples in this paper are presented according to the principle “from simple to complex”.
Walsh–Hadamard Transform Based Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) and Interference Rejection Combining in Next-Generation HetNets
Authors: Usman M. Rehan , Usman M. Arslan , Shin Soo Young , Satrya Gandeva Bayu , Naqvi Rizwan A. , Martini Maria G. , Politis Christos
Published: February 2021

In heterogeneous networks (HetNets), non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has recently been proposed for hybrid-access small-cells, promising a manifold network capacity compared to OMA. One of the major issues with the installation of a hybrid-access mechanism in small-cells is the cross-tier interference (intercell interference (ICI)) caused by the macrocell users (MUs) that are unable to establish a connection to the small-cell base station (SBS). In this paper, a joint strategy is proposed for hybrid-access small-cells using the Walsh–Hadamard transform (WHT) with NOMA and interference rejection combining (IRC) to achieve high performance gains and mitigate intercell interference (ICI), respectively. WHT is applied mathematically as an orthogonal variable spreading factor (OVSF) to achieve diversity in communication systems. When applied jointly with NOMA, it ensures better performance gains than the conventional NOMA. It reduces the bit error rate (BER) and enhances subsequent throughput performance of the system. IRC is used at the receiver side for managing the cross-tier interference caused by MUs that are unable to connect to the small-cell base station (SBS) for hybrid-access. The work considers both ideal and nonideal successive interference cancellation (SIC) conditions for NOMA. Mathematical modeling is provided for the proposed joint strategy for HetNets and the results validate it in terms of BER and subsequent user throughput performance, compared to the conventional NOMA approach.
Comparison between a Modern-Day Multiplication Method and Two Historical Ones by Trainee Teachers
Authors: Madrid María José , Maz-Machado Alexander , Almaraz-Menéndez Fernando , León-Mantero Carmen
Published: February 2021

Different studies consider the possibility of including history of mathematics in the classroom. However, its inclusion in the teaching and learning of mathematics depends on the conceptions of it that teachers have, among other factors. This study displays a comparative analysis between the opinions of primary education teachers-to-be and the opinions of mathematics teachers-to-be at secondary school and A-levels after the realization of an activity related to two historical or unusual multiplication methods. These trainee teachers were asked to identify the differences between these methods and the multiplication algorithm usually used in Spain. We collected these data and conducted an exploratory, descriptive and qualitative study. In order to analyse the information obtained, we used the technique content analysis. The answers given by these trainee teachers show their lack of knowledge about other multiplication methods and the various differences which they observed. These differences are mainly related to the structure of each method, the procedure and application of these methods and the mathematical processes carried out for each method. The comparison between the opinions of the teachers-to-be at different levels shows similarities but also some differences, probably due to the different mathematical knowledge they have.
Tedaniophorbasins A and B—Novel Fluorescent Pteridine Alkaloids Incorporating a Thiomorpholine from the Sponge Tedaniophorbas ceratosis
Authors: Hiranrat Asadhawut , Holland Darren C. , Mahabusarakam Wilawan , Hooper John N. A. , Avery Vicky M. , Carroll Anthony R.
Published: February 2021

Two new fluorescent pteridine alkaloids, tedaniophorbasins A (1) and B (2), together with the known alkaloid N-methyltryptamine, were isolated, through application of mass directed purification, from the sponge Tedaniophorbas ceratosis collected from northern New South Wales, Australia. The structures of tedaniophorbasins A and B were deduced from the analysis of 1D/2D NMR and MS data and through application of 13C NMR DFT calculations. Tedaniophorbasin A possesses a novel 2-imino-1,3-dimethyl-2,3,7,8-tetrahydro-1H-[1,4]thiazino[3,2-g]pteridin-4(6H)-one skeleton, while tedaniophorbasin B is its 2-oxo derivative. The compounds show significant Stokes shifts (~14,000 cm−1) between excitation and emission wavelengths in their fluorescence spectra. The new compounds were tested for bioactivity against chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant strains of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, breast and pancreatic cancer cell lines, and the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei brucei but were inactive against all targets at 40 µM.
New Prenylated Indole Homodimeric and Pteridine Alkaloids from the Marine-Derived Fungus Aspergillus austroafricanus Y32-2
Authors: Li Peihai , Zhang Mengqi , Li Haonan , Wang Rongchun , Hou Hairong , Li Xiaobin , Liu Kechun , Chen Hao
Published: February 2021

Chemical investigation of secondary metabolites from the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus austroafricanus Y32-2 resulted in the isolation of two new prenylated indole alkaloid homodimers, di-6-hydroxydeoxybrevianamide E (1) and dinotoamide J (2), one new pteridine alkaloid asperpteridinate A (3), with eleven known compounds (4–14). Their structures were elucidated by various spectroscopic methods including HRESIMS and NMR, while their absolute configurations were determined by ECD calculations. Each compound was evaluated for pro-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory effects in zebrafish models and cytotoxicity for HepG2 human liver carcinoma cells. As a result, compounds 2, 4, 5, 7, 10 exhibited pro-angiogenic activity in a PTK787-induced vascular injury zebrafish model in a dose-dependent manner, compounds 7, 8, 10, 11 displayed anti-inflammatory activity in a CuSO4-induced zebrafish inflammation model, and compound 6 showed significant cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells with an IC50 value of 30 µg/mL.
Lipophilic Toxins in Wild Bivalves from the Southern Gulf of California, Mexico
Authors: Leyva-Valencia Ignacio , Hernández-Castro Jesús , Band-Schmidt Christine , Turner Andrew , O’Neill Alison , Núñez-Vázquez Erick , López-Cortés David , Bustillos-Guzmán José , Hernández-Sandoval Francisco
Published: February 2021

Most of the shellfish fisheries of Mexico occur in the Gulf of California. In this region, known for its high primary productivity, blooms of diatoms and dinoflagellates are common, occurring mainly during upwelling events. Dinoflagellates that produce lipophilic toxins are present, where some outbreaks related to okadaic acid and dinophisystoxins have been recorded. From January 2015 to November 2017 samples of three species of wild bivalve mollusks were collected monthly in five sites in the southern region of Bahía de La Paz. Pooled tissue extracts were analyzed using LC-MS/MS to detect lipophilic toxins. Eighteen analogs of seven toxin groups, including cyclic imines were identified, fortunately individual toxins did not exceed regulatory levels and also the total toxin concentration for each bivalve species was lower than the maximum permitted level for human consumption. Interspecific differences in toxin number and concentration were observed in three species of bivalves even when the samples were collected at the same site. Okadaic acid was detected in low concentrations, while yessotoxins and gymnodimines had the highest concentrations in bivalve tissues. Although in low quantities, the presence of cyclic imines and other lipophilic toxins in bivalves from the southern Gulf of California was constant.
Prognostic Significance of Cytoplasmic SPNS2 Expression in Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Lu Jeng-Wei , Tseng Yen-Shuo , Lo Yu-Sheng , Lin Yueh-Min , Yeh Chung-Min , Lin Shu-Hui
Published: February 2021

Background and Objectives: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a malignant disease with a particularly high incidence in Taiwan. Our objective in this study was to elucidate the involvement of sphingolipid transporter 2 (SPNS2) expression and SPNS2 protein expression in the clinicopathological indexes and the clinical outcomes of OSCC patients. Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemistry analysis was performed for SPNS2 protein expression in samples from 264 cases of OSCC. Correlations of SPNS2 expression with clinicopathological variables and patient survival were analyzed. Results: Our results revealed that the cytoplasmic protein expression of SPNS2 in OSCC tissue specimens was lower than in normal tissue specimens. Negative cytoplasmic protein expression of SPNS2 was significantly correlated with T status and stage. Kaplan–Meier survival curve analysis revealed that negative cytoplasmic SPNS2 expression was predictive of poorer overall survival of OSCC patients in stage III/IV. We also determined that low SPNS2 expression was an independent prognostic factor related to overall survival among OSCC patients in stage III/IV from univariate Cox proportional hazard models. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models revealed that cytoplasmic SPNS2 expression, T status, lymph node metastasis, and histological grade were independent prognostic factors for survival. Conclusions: Overall, this study determined that SPNS2 protein may be a useful prognostic marker for OSCC patients and potential therapeutic target for OSCC treatment.
Use of Acellular Umbilical Cord-Derived Tissues in Corneal and Ocular Surface Diseases
Authors: Tovar Arianna A. , White Ian A. , Sabater Alfonso L.
Published: February 2021

Blood derived products have become a valuable source of tissue for the treatment of ocular surface diseases that are refractory to conventional treatments. These can be obtained from autologous or allogeneic sources (patient’s own blood or from healthy adult donors/umbilical cord blood, respectively). Allogeneic cord blood demonstrates practical advantages over alternatives and these advantages will be discussed herein. Umbilical cord blood (UCB) can be divided, generally speaking, into two distinct products: first, mononuclear cells, which can be used in regenerative ophthalmology, and second, the plasma/serum (an acellular fraction), which may be used in the form of eyedrops administered directly to the damaged ocular surface. The rationale for using umbilical cord serum (UCS) to treat ocular surface diseases such as severe dry eye syndrome (DES), persistent epithelial defects (PED), recurrent epithelial erosions, ocular chemical burns, graft versus host disease (GVHD), among others, is the considerably high concentration of growth factors and cytokines, mimicking the natural healing properties of human tears. Allogeneic serum also offers the opportunity for therapeutic treatment to patients who, due to poor heath, cannot provide autologous serum. The mechanism of action involves the stimulation of endogenous cellular proliferation, differentiation and maturation, which is highly efficient in promoting and enhancing corneal epithelial healing where other therapies have previously failed.
Modeling of H2 Permeation through Electroless Pore-Plated Composite Pd Membranes Using Computational Fluid Dynamics
Authors: Fernández Alberto , Casado Cintia , Alique David , Calles José Antonio , Marugán Javier
Published: February 2021

This work focused on the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling of H2/N2 separation in a membrane permeator module containing a supported dense Pd-based membrane that was prepared using electroless pore-plating (ELP-PP). An easy-to-implement model was developed based on a source–sink pair formulation of the species transport and continuity equations. The model also included the Darcy–Forcheimer formulation for modeling the porous stainless steel (PSS) membrane support and Sieverts’ law for computing the H2 permeation flow through the dense palladium film. Two different reactor configurations were studied, which involved varying the hydrogen flow permeation direction (in–out or out–in). A wide range of experimental data was simulated by considering the impact of the operating conditions on the H2 separation, such as the feed pressure and the H2 concentration in the inlet stream. Simulations of the membrane permeator device showed an excellent agreement between the predicted and experimental data (measured as permeate and retentate flows and H2 separation). Molar fraction profiles inside the permeator device for both configurations showed that concentration polarization near the membrane surface was not a limit for the hydrogen permeation but could be useful information for membrane reactor design, as it showed the optimal length of the reactor.
Modelling of Technological Parameters of Aluminium Melt Refining in the Ladle by Blowing of Inert Gas through the Rotating Impeller
Authors: Walek Josef , Michalek Karel , Tkadlečková Markéta , Saternus Mariola
Published: February 2021

The presented paper deals with the use of physical modelling to study the degassing process of aluminium melts in the refining ladle by blowing inert gas through a rotating impeller. For the purposes of physical modelling, a plexiglass model in a scale of 1:1 is used for the operating ladle. Part of the physical model is a hollow shaft used for gas supply that is equipped with an impeller and two baffles. The degassing process of aluminium melt by blowing of inert gas is simulated at physical modelling by a decrease of dissolved oxygen in the model liquid (water). This paper is aimed at the evaluation of laboratory experiments that were obtained by the method of physical modelling. Attention is focused on the assessment of relevant parameters for the degassing process—rotary impeller speeds, volume flow rate of inert gas, the distance of the impeller from the bottom of the refining ladle, and impeller variant. The preliminary results of physical modelling show that the optimal results of the refining process are achieved by using the F2A 190 impeller.
Hardness Prediction in Quenched and Tempered Nodular Cast Iron Using the Hollomon-Jaffe Parameter
Authors: Salas Vicente Fidel , Carcel Carrasco Javier , Fernández Antoni Raquel , Ferrero Taberner Juan Carlos , Pascual Guillamón Manuel
Published: February 2021

The Hollomon-Jaffe parameter is usually used to stablish a equivalence between time and temperature in a tempering treatment, but not to predict the harness of the alloy after the treatment. In this paper this last possibility has been studied. A group of cast iron samples was annealed and cooled at different rates in order to obtain samples with three different hardness values. These samples were tempered using different times and temperatures. The Hollomon-Jaffe parameter was calculated for each case and a relationship based on a logistic function between that parameter and the final hardness was stablished. This relationship was found to depend on the initial hardness and the lowest hardness achievable.
Future Trends on Displacive Stress and Strain Induced Transformations in Steels
Authors: Eres-Castellanos Adriana , Garcia-Mateo Carlos , Caballero Francisca G.
Published: February 2021

Displacive stress and strain induced transformations are those transformations that occur when the formation of martensite or bainitic ferrite is promoted by the application of stress or strain. These transformations have been shown to be one of the mechanisms by which the mechanical properties of a microstructure can be improved, as they lead to a better ductility and strength by the transformation induced plasticity effect. This review aims to summarize the fundamental knowledge about them, both in fully austenitic or in multiphase structures, pointing out the issues that—according to the authors’ opinion—need further research. Knowing the mechanisms that govern the stress and strain induced transformation could enable to optimize the thermomechanical treatments and improve the final microstructure properties.
Microstructure, Hardness, and Tensile Properties of Vacuum Carburizing Gear Steel
Authors: Chen Wu , He Xiaofei , Yu Wenchao , Wang Maoqiu , Yao Kefu
Published: February 2021

We investigated the effects of the austenitizing temperature on the microstructure, hardness, and tensile properties of case-carburized steel after vacuum carburization at 930 °C and then re-austenitization at 820–900 °C followed by oil quenching and tempering. The results show that fractures occurred early with the increase in the austenitizing temperature, although all the carburized specimens showed a similar case hardness of 800 HV0.2 and case depth of 1.2 mm. The highest fracture stress of 1919 MPa was obtained for the experimental steel when the austenitizing temperature was 840 °C due to its fine microstructure and relatively high percentage of retained austenite transformed into martensite during the tensile tests. We also found that the stress–strain behavior of case-carburized specimens could be described by the area-weighted curves of the carburized case and the core in combination. The strain hardening exponent was about 0.4 and did not vary with the increase in the austenitizing temperature. We concluded that the optimum austenitizing temperature was around 840 °C for the experimental steel.
Analysis of Deformation Behavior and Microstructure Changes for α/β Titanium Alloy at Elevated Temperature
Authors: Yang Wenhua , Ji Wei , Zhou Zhaohui , Hao Aiguo , Qing Linxin , Hao Hualei , Xu Jianwei
Published: February 2021

In this paper, the isothermal compressive behavior of Ti-6.5Al-3.5Mo-1.5Zr-0.3Si titanium alloy was investigated on a Gleeble-3500 simulator in the temperature range from 1073 to 1373 K at an interval of 50 K (while the phase transus temperature is approximately 1273 K) and the strain rate range of 0.001–10 s−1. Microstructure evolution and deformation behavior were investigated. The typical flow softening behavior during deformation is observed, which can be explained by the deformation heating effect and microstructure changes. The deformation heating effect is influenced by strain rate and deformation temperature, and it increases with the increasing strain rate and decreasing deformation temperature. In the α + β phase field, the fractions of the primary α phase decrease with the increase of deformation temperature and strain rate. In this case, dynamic recovery may be the main mechanism for microstructure evolution based on the electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis. The fully phase transformation occurs above the β transus temperature, which is governed by Burgers orientation relations. The Zener–Hollomon parameter with an exponent-type equation was used to intuitively describe the effects of the deformation temperatures and strain rates on the flow stress behaviors. Furthermore, the influence of strain was incorporated in the constitutive analysis. A fourth-order polynomial was ideally matched to represent the influence of strain. In consequence, the constitutive equation of Ti-6.5Al-3.5Mo-1.5Zr-0.3Si titanium alloy including the phase transus and compensation of the strain was developed based on the experimental results throughout the deformation process. The results indicated that the correlation coefficient (R), root mean square error (RMSE), and the average absolute relative error (AARE) were calculated to be 0.987, 3.585 MPa, and 9.62% in the single-phase region and 0.979, 18.78 MPa, and 9.16% in the duplex-phase region, respectively. Hence, the constitutive model proposed in this research can provide accurate and precise theoretical prediction for the flow stress behavior of Ti-6.5Al-3.5Mo-1.5Zr-0.3Si titanium alloy.
Effect of Cr Addition on Magnetic Properties and Corrosion Resistance of Optimized Co and Fe-Based Amorphous Alloys
Authors: Han Jonghee , Hong Jihyun , Kwon Seoyeon , Choi-Yim Haein
Published: February 2021

In the Fe-Co alloy system, the addition of Cr improves the glass-forming ability (GFA) with superior soft magnetic properties such as high saturation magnetization (Ms) and low coercivity (Hc). In addition, Cr is considered to be an important factor for improving the corrosion resistance of Fe-based amorphous alloy. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the GFA, soft magnetic properties, and corrosion resistance of the as-spun ribbons in [Co0.075Fe0.675B0.2Si0.05]100−xCrx (x = 0–8) alloy system. The ribbons were produced using the melt-spinning technique and were characterized by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermomechanical analysis, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The Co-Fe-B-Si-Cr alloys exhibited high thermal stability and a high Ms of 0.93–1.53 T. Corrosion properties were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry. The addition of Cr improved the corrosion resistance of the alloys. The alloys with a higher Cr content exhibited a higher corrosion resistance. The optimum combination with soft magnetic properties and corrosion resistance of Fe-co based amorphous alloys can be utilized for extensive fields of application through a variation of Cr contents.
Numerical and Experimental Investigation on the Optical Manipulation from an Axicon Lensed Fiber
Authors: Zhang Wu , Lin Yanxiao , Gao Yusong , Guo Zekai , Li Xiangling , Hu Yuhong , Dong Pengcai , Zhang Qifan , Fang Xiaohui , Zhang Meng
Published: February 2021

Here we numerically and experimentally studied the optical trapping on a microsphere from an axicon lensed fiber (ALF). The optical force from the fiber with different tapered lengths and by incident light at different wavelengths is calculated. Numerically, the microsphere can be trapped by the fiber with tapered outline y=±x/0.5 and y=±x at a short incident wavelength of 900 nm. While for the fiber with tapered outline y=±x/2, the microsphere can be trapped by the light with longer wavelength of 1100 nm, 1300 nm, or 1500 nm. The optical trapping to a polystyrene microsphere is experimentally demonstrated in a microfluidic channel and the corresponding optical force is derived according to the fluid flow speed. This study can provide a guidance for future tapered fibre design for optical trapping to microspheres.
Clinical Applications of Laser Technology: Laser Balloon Ablation in the Management of Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Skeete Jamario R. , Du-Fay-de-Lavallaz Jeanne M. , Kenigsberg David , Macias Carlos , Winterfield Jeffrey R. , Sharma Parikshit S. , Trohman Richard G. , Huang Henry D.
Published: February 2021

Catheter-based ablation techniques have a well-established role in atrial fibrillation (AF) management. The prevalence and impact of AF is increasing globally, thus mandating an emphasis on improving ablation techniques through innovation. One key area of ongoing evolution in this field is the use of laser energy to perform pulmonary vein isolation during AF catheter ablation. While laser use is not as widespread as other ablation techniques, such as radiofrequency ablation and cryoballoon ablation, advancements in product design and procedural protocols have demonstrated laser balloon ablation to be equally safe and effective compared to these other modalities. Additionally, strategies to improve procedural efficiency and decrease radiation exposure through low fluoroscopy protocols make this technology an increasingly promising and exciting option.
The Effect of Edge Mode on Mass Sensing for Strained Graphene Resonators
Authors: Xiao Xing , Fan Shang-Chun , Li Cheng
Published: February 2021

Edge mode could disturb the ultra-subtle mass detection for graphene resonators. Herein, classical molecular dynamics simulations are performed to investigate the effect of edge mode on mass sensing for a doubly clamped strained graphene resonator. Compared with the fundamental mode, the localized vibration of edge mode shows a lower frequency with a constant frequency gap of 32.6 GHz, despite the mutable inner stress ranging from 10 to 50 GPa. Furthermore, the resonant frequency of edge mode is found to be insensitive to centrally located adsorbed mass, while the frequency of the fundamental mode decreases linearly with increasing adsorbates. Thus, a mass determination method using the difference of these two modes is proposed to reduce interferences for robust mass measurement. Moreover, molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that a stronger prestress or a higher width–length ratio of about 0.8 could increase the low-quality factor induced by edge mode, thus improving the performance in mass sensing for graphene resonators.
Modulation of OMV Production by the Lysis Module of the DLP12 Defective Prophage of Escherichia coli K12
Authors: Pasqua Martina , Zennaro Alessandro , Trirocco Rita , Fanelli Giulia , Micheli Gioacchino , Grossi Milena , Colonna Bianca , Prosseda Gianni
Published: February 2021

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are nanostructures mostly produced by blebbing of the outer membrane in Gram negative bacteria. They contain biologically active proteins and perform a variety of processes. OMV production is also a typical response to events inducing stress in the bacterial envelope. In these cases, hypervesiculation is regarded as a strategy to avoid the dangerous accumulation of undesired products within the periplasm. Several housekeeping genes influence the biogenesis of OMVs, including those correlated with peptidoglycan and cell wall dynamics. In this work, we have investigated the relationship between OMV production and the lysis module of the E. coli DLP12 cryptic prophage. This module is an operon encoding a holin, an endolysin and two spannins, and is known to be involved in cell wall maintenance. We find that deleting the lysis module increases OMV production, suggesting that during evolution this operon has been domesticated to regulate vesiculation, likely through the elimination of non-recyclable peptidoglycan fragments. We also show that the expression of the lysis module is negatively regulated by environmental stress stimuli as high osmolarity, low pH and low temperature. Our data further highlight how defective prophages finely contribute to bacterial host fitness.
Longitudinal Microbiome Analysis in a Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis Mouse Model
Authors: Park Hyunjoon , Yeo Soyoung , Kang Seokwon , Huh Chul Sung
Published: February 2021

The role of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been in focus for decades. Although metagenomic observations in patients/animal colitis models have been attempted, the microbiome results were still indefinite and broad taxonomic presumptions were made due to the cross-sectional studies. Herein, we conducted a longitudinal microbiome analysis in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model with a two-factor design based on serial DSS dose (0, 1, 2, and 3%) and duration for 12 days, and four mice from each group were sacrificed at two-day intervals. During the colitis development, a transition of the cecal microbial diversity from the normal state to dysbiosis and dynamic changes of the populations were observed. We identified genera that significantly induced or depleted depending on DSS exposure, and confirmed the correlations of the individual taxa to the colitis severity indicated by inflammatory biomarkers (intestinal bleeding and neutrophil-derived indicators). Of note, each taxonomic population showed its own susceptibility to the changing colitis status. Our findings suggest that an understanding of the individual susceptibility to colitis conditions may contribute to identifying the role of the gut microbes in the pathogenesis of IBD.
Serological Evidence of Natural Exposure to Tick-Borne Pathogens in Horses, Romania
Authors: Bogdan Andreea Monica , Ionita Mariana , Mitrea Ioan Liviu
Published: February 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of selected tick-borne-pathogens (TBPs) among Romanian horses. For this, a total of 223 animals originating from north, central, and southeast Romania, including horses from stud farms (n = 118) and working horses (n = 105), were tested using a commercial rapid ELISA-based test. Overall, 10.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 6.7–15.1%) of the tested horses were seropositive for antibodies (Ab) against Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Additionally, 18.8% (95% CI: 13.9–24.6%) and 0.5% (95% CI: 0.01–2.5%) of horses were seropositive for Ab against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Ehrlichia spp., respectively. Among the tested horses, 3.1% were seroreactive to two or three pathogens. These findings show the natural exposure of Romanian horses to zoonotic tick-borne pathogens and emphasize the need for further studies to better understand the epidemiology of equine tick-borne diseases in Romania.
First-Principles Density Functional Theory Characterisation of the Adsorption Complexes of H3AsO3 on Cobalt Ferrite (Fe2CoO4) Surfaces
Authors: Lewis Eloise C. , Dzade Nelson Y.
Published: February 2021

The mobility of arsenic in aqueous systems can be controlled by its adsorption onto the surfaces of iron oxide minerals such as cobalt ferrite (Fe2CoO4). In this work, the adsorption energies, geometries, and vibrational properties of the most common form of As(III), arsenous acid (H3AsO3), onto the low-index (001), (110), and (111) surfaces of Fe2CoO4 have been investigated under dry and aqueous conditions using periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The dry and hydroxylated surfaces of Fe2CoO4 steadily followed an order of increasing surface energy, and thus decreasing stability, of (001) < (111) < (110). Consequently, the favourability of H3AsO3 adsorption increased in the same order, favouring the least stable (110) surface. However, by analysis of the equilibrium crystal morphologies, this surface is unlikely to occur naturally. The surfaces were demonstrated to be further stabilised by the introduction of H2O/OH species, which coordinate the surface cations, providing a closer match to the bulk coordination of the surface species. The adsorption complexes of H3AsO3 on the hydroxylated Fe2CoO4 surfaces with the inclusion of explicit solvation molecules are found to be generally more stable than on the dry surfaces, demonstrating the importance of hydrogen-bonded interactions. Inner-sphere complexes involving bonds between the surface cations and molecular O atoms were strongly favoured over outer-sphere complexes. On the dry surfaces, deprotonated bidentate binuclear configurations were most thermodynamically favoured, whereas monodentate mononuclear configurations were typically more prevalent on the hydroxylated surfaces. Vibrational frequencies were analysed to ascertain the stabilities of the different adsorption complexes and to assign the As-O and O-H stretching modes of the adsorbed arsenic species. Our results highlight the importance of cobalt as a potential adsorbent for arsenic contaminated water treatment.
Degradation of Fatty Acid Phase-Change Materials (PCM): New Approach for Its Characterization
Authors: Majó Marc , Sánchez Ricard , Barcelona Pol , García Jordi , Fernández Ana Inés , Barreneche Camila
Published: February 2021

The use of adequate thermal energy storage (TES) systems is an efficient way to achieve thermal comfort in buildings reducing the cooling and heating demand. Besides, deploy phase change materials (PCM) to meet and enhance the TES needs is highly effective and widely studied. In this paper, a study of the degradation of two fatty acids is presented, capric and myristic acids, in order to evaluate whether their thermo-physical properties are affected throughout time during service. This was carried out by means of two different types of thermal treatments: degradation at constant temperature (thermal stability test), 60 °C during 100 h and 500 h, and degradation with heating and cooling cycling (thermal cycling stability), between a temperature range from 15 °C to 70 °C with 0.5 °C/min ramp during 500 and 1000 cycles. Despite no significant changes were measured for myristic acid, experimental results revealed a decrease of melting enthalpy of 6.6% in capric acid thermally treated for 500 h. Evidences of chemical degradation were found that might explain the decrease in thermophysical properties during use.
Sweet-Tasting Ionic Conjugates of Local Anesthetics and Vasoconstrictors
Authors: Neubert John K. , Oliferenko Alexander A. , Oliferenko Polina V. , Emets Sergey V. , Ostrov David A. , Altschuler Gary I. , Calkins Joe , Wickersham Jay , Hromas Robert , Lebedyeva Iryna O.
Published: February 2021

Local anesthetics are widely utilized in dentistry, cosmetology, and medicine. Local anesthesia is essential to providing a pain-free experience during dental and local surgeries as well as cosmetic procedures. However, the injection itself may produce discomfort and be a source of aversion. A novel approach toward the taste modulation of local anesthetics is proposed, in which the anesthetics of the “-caine” family serve as cations and are coupled with anionic sweeteners such as saccharinate and acesulfamate. Ionic conjugates of vasoconstrictor epinephrine such as epinephrine saccharinate and epinephrine acesulfamate have also been synthesized. Novel ionic conjugates were developed using anion exchange techniques. Reported compounds are sweet-tasting and are safe to use both topically and as injections.
Hydrophobic Epoxy Caged Silsesquioxane Film (EP-POSS): Synthesis and Performance Characterization
Authors: Fang Yanhong , Wang Ping , Sun Lifang , Wang Linhong
Published: February 2021

Hydrophobic films are widely used in aerospace, military weapons, high-rise building exterior glass, and non-destructive pipeline transportation due to their antifouling and self-cleaning properties. This paper details the successful preparation of hydrophobic epoxy caged sesquioxane (EP-POSS) via two steps of simple organic synthesis, along with studies on the effects of viscosity and reaction time on the reaction. Interestingly, the EP-POSS presented a large contact angle of 125°, indicating its excellent hydrophobicity. The surface micromorphology was observed via FE-SEM (field emission scanning electron microscopy), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the structural composition and elemental contents were analyzed via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tests showed that EP-POSS had excellent thermal properties, and the first degradation reaction occurred at 354 °C. The mechanical performance and abrasion resistance results demonstrated that EP-POSS could be used in solar panels.
Sulfated Lactosyl Archaeol Archaeosomes Synergize with Poly(I:C) to Enhance the Immunogenicity and Efficacy of a Synthetic Long Peptide-Based Vaccine in a Melanoma Tumor Model
Authors: Akache Bassel , Agbayani Gerard , Stark Felicity C. , Jia Yimei , Dudani Renu , Harrison Blair A. , Deschatelets Lise , Chandan Vandana , Lam Edmond , Hemraz Usha D. , Régnier Sophie , Krishnan Lakshmi , McCluskie Michael J.
Published: February 2021

Cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. While novel treatments have improved survival outcomes for some patients, new treatment modalities/platforms are needed to combat a wider variety of tumor types. Cancer vaccines harness the power of the immune system to generate targeted tumor-specific immune responses. Liposomes composed of glycolipids derived from archaea (i.e., archaeosomes) have been shown to be potent adjuvants, inducing robust, long-lasting humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to a variety of antigens. Herein, we evaluated the ability of archaeosomes composed of sulfated lactosyl archaeol (SLA), a semi-synthetic archaeal glycolipid, to enhance the immunogenicity of a synthetic long peptide-based vaccine formulation containing the dominant CD8+ T cell epitope, SIINFEKL, from the weakly immunogenic model antigen ovalbumin. One advantage of immunizing with long peptides is the ability to include multiple epitopes, for example, the long peptide antigen was also designed to include the immediately adjacent CD4+ epitope, TEWTSSNVMEER. SLA archaeosomes were tested alone or in combination with the toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) agonist Poly(I:C). Overall, SLA archaeosomes synergized strongly with Poly(I:C) to induce robust antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses, which were highly functional in an in vivo cytolytic assay. Furthermore, immunization with this vaccine formulation suppressed tumor growth and extended mouse survival in a mouse melanoma tumor model. Overall, the combination of SLA archaeosomes and Poly(I:C) appears to be a promising adjuvant system when used along with long peptide-based antigens targeting cancer.
Enhancing Multi-Distance Phase Retrieval via Unequal Interval Measurements
Authors: Xu Cheng , Yuan Wei , Cao Axiu , Xue Li , Deng Qiling , Pang Hui , Fu Yongqi
Published: February 2021

In the conventional methods of multi-distance phase retrieval, the diffraction intensity patterns are recorded at equal intervals, which can induce slow convergence or stagnation in the subsequent reconstruction process. To solve this problem, a measurement method with unequal intervals is proposed in this paper. The interval spacings between adjacent measurement planes are decreased gradually. A large gap accelerates retrieval progress, and a short span helps to recover detailed information. The proposed approach makes full use of the available measured dataset and simultaneously generates variations in diversity amplitude, which is a crucial issue for the techniques of multi-image phase retrieval. Both computational simulations and experiments are performed. The results demonstrate that this method can improve the convergence speed by 2 to 3 times and enhance the quality of reconstruction results in comparison to that of the conventional methods.
COVID-19 Crisis: How Can Plant Biotechnology Help?
Authors: Shohag Md. Jahidul Islam , Khan Farhana Zerin , Tang Lin , Wei Yanyan , He Zhenli , Yang Xiaoe
Published: February 2021

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant public health crisis all over the world. The rapid spreading nature and high mortality rate of COVID-19 places a huge pressure on scientists to develop effective diagnostics and therapeutics to control the pandemic. Some scientists working on plant biotechnology together with commercial enterprises for the emergency manufacturing of diagnostics and therapeutics have aimed to fulfill the rapid demand for SARS-CoV-2 protein antigen and antibody through a rapid, scalable technology known as transient/stable expression in plants. Plant biotechnology using transient/stable expression offers a rapid solution to address this crisis through the production of low-cost diagnostics, antiviral drugs, immunotherapy, and vaccines. Transient/stable expression technology for manufacturing plant-based biopharmaceuticals is already established at commercial scale. Here, current opinions regarding how plant biotechnology can help fight against COVID-19 through the production of low-cost diagnostics and therapeutics are discussed.
Influence of Light Spectra from LEDs and Scion × Rootstock Genotype Combinations on the Quality of Grafted Watermelon Seedlings
Authors: Bantis Filippos , Dangitsis Christodoulos , Koukounaras Athanasios
Published: February 2021

Grafting is the main means of propagation for watermelon crops. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether light quality during graft healing variably affects different scion × rootstock genotype combinations. Two watermelon hybrid scions (Sunny Florida F1 and Celine F1) and two interspecific squash rootstocks (Radik and TZ-148) were used, and four scion × rootstock genotype combinations derived. After grafting, we tested seven light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which provided narrow-band red (R) and blue (B); R-B with 36% (36B), 24% (24B), and 12% (12B) blue; 12B with additional far-red (12B+FR); and white (W), in a healing chamber. In three genotype combinations, shoot length, leaf area, and shoot biomass were mainly enhanced under red-blue LEDs, while stem diameter was greater under R. In contrast, dry weight of roots, Dickson’s quality index, and ratio of shoot dry weight/length were variably affected in each genotype combination. From the results, it is concluded that light treatments differentially affected each genotype combination, but some parameters involving biomass production show genotypic dependency.
Recent Developments in Nanocellulose-Reinforced Rubber Matrix Composites: A Review
Authors: Low Darren Yi Sern , Supramaniam Janarthanan , Soottitantawat Apinan , Charinpanitkul Tawatchai , Tanthapanichakoon Wiwut , Tan Khang Wei , Tang Siah Ying
Published: February 2021

Research and development of nanocellulose and nanocellulose-reinforced composite materials have garnered substantial interest in recent years. This is greatly attributed to its unique functionalities and properties, such as being renewable, sustainable, possessing high mechanical strengths, having low weight and cost. This review aims to highlight recent developments in incorporating nanocellulose into rubber matrices as a reinforcing filler material. It encompasses an introduction to natural and synthetic rubbers as a commodity at large and conventional fillers used today in rubber processing, such as carbon black and silica. Subsequently, different types of nanocellulose would be addressed, including its common sources, dimensions, and mechanical properties, followed by recent isolation techniques of nanocellulose from its resource and application in rubber reinforcement. The review also gathers recent studies and qualitative findings on the incorporation of a myriad of nanocellulose variants into various types of rubber matrices with the main goal of enhancing its mechanical integrity and potentially phasing out conventional rubber fillers. The mechanism of reinforcement and mechanical behaviors of these nanocomposites are highlighted. This article concludes with potential industrial applications of nanocellulose-reinforced rubber composites and the way forward with this technology.
Thermal Stability of Ionic Liquids: Current Status and Prospects for Future Development
Authors: Xu Chenqian , Cheng Zhenmin
Published: February 2021

Ionic liquids (ILs) are the safest solvent in various high-temperature applications due to their non-flammable properties. In order to obtain their thermal stability properties, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is extensively used to analyze the kinetics of the thermal decomposition process. This review summarizes the different kinetics analysis methods and finds the isoconversional methods are superior to the Arrhenius methods in calculating the activation energy, and two tools—the compensation effect and master plots—are suggested for the calculation of the pre-exponential factor. With both parameters, the maximum operating temperature (MOT) can be calculated to predict the thermal stability in long-term runnings. The collection of thermal stability data of ILs with divergent cations and anions shows the structure of cations such as alkyl side chains, functional groups, and alkyl substituents will affect the thermal stability, but their influence is less than that of anions. To develop ILs with superior thermal stability, dicationic ILs (DILs) are recommended, and typically, [C4(MIM)2][NTf2]2 has a decomposition temperature as high as 468.1 °C. For the convenience of application, thermal stability on the decomposition temperature and thermal decomposition activation energy of 130 ILs are summarized at the end of this manuscript.
Multiscale Characterization of Isotropic Pyrolytic Carbon Used for Mechanical Heart Valve Production
Authors: Serino Gianpaolo , Gusmini Mattia , Audenino Alberto Luigi , Bergamasco Giovanni , Ieropoli Ornella , Bignardi Cristina
Published: February 2021

Usage of pyrolytic carbon (PyC) to produce mechanical heart valves (MHVs) has led to heart valve replacement being a very successful procedure. Thus, the mechanical properties of employed materials for MHV production are fundamental to obtain the required characteristics of biocompatibility and wear resistance. In this study, two deposition methods of PyC were compared through a multiscale approach, performing three-point bending tests and nanoindentation tests. Adopted deposition processes produced materials that were slightly different. Significant differences were found at the characteristic scale lengths of the deposited layers. Setting changes of the deposition process permitted obtaining PyC characterized by a more uniform microstructure, conferring to the bulk material superior mechanical properties.
Indian Ocean Crossing Swells: New Insights from “Fireworks” Perspective Using Envisat Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar
Authors: Wang He , Mouche Alexis , Husson Romain , Chapron Bertrand
Published: February 2021

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) in wave mode is a powerful sensor for monitoring the swells propagating across ocean basins. Here, we investigate crossing swells in the Indian Ocean using 10-years Envisat SAR wave mode archive spanning from December 2003 to April 2012. Taking the benefit of the unique “fireworks” analysis on SAR observations, we reconstruct the origins and propagating routes that are associated with crossing swell pools in the Indian Ocean. Besides, three different crossing swell mechanisms are discriminated from space by the comparative analysis between results from “fireworks” and original SAR data: (1) in the mid-ocean basin of the Indian Ocean, two remote southern swells form the crossing swell; (2) wave-current interaction; and, (3) co-existence of remote Southern swell and shamal swell contribute to the crossing swells in the Agulhas Current region and the Arabian Sea.