bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unexpected Tension Pneumothorax after Double-Lumen Endotracheal Intubation in Patients with Pulmonary Edema: A Case Report
Authors: Baek Jongyoon , Park Sang Jin , Seo Myungjin , Choi Eun Kyung
Published: February 2023

Tension pneumothorax is a relatively rare complication after anesthetic induction that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. Several handling errors related to intubation procedures or equipment and vigorous positive pressure ventilation are potentially important etiologies of tension pneumothorax in patients with underlying lung disease or in mechanically ventilated patients. We describe a case of tension pneumothorax observed after double-lumen tube (DLT) insertion followed by single-lumen tube replacement using an airway exchanger catheter in a mechanically ventilated patient. An 84-year-old female on mechanical ventilation underwent minimally invasive cardiac surgery under general anesthesia. Immediately after left-sided DLT insertion using an airway exchanger catheter, oxygen saturation decreased to 89%, peak airway pressure increased to 35 cm H2O with inadequate tidal volume, and blood pressure gradually dropped to 69/41 mmHg. Breath sounds from the right hemithorax were significantly reduced. Severe collapse of the right lung, a flattened diaphragm, and compressed abdominal organs were identified on chest radiography. Therefore, a tube thoracotomy was performed based on the findings of a tension pneumothorax. Then, oxygen saturation, peak airway pressure with adequate tidal volume, and blood pressure improved, and the distended abdomen normalized. After the pneumothorax resolved, a bronchoscopy was performed. Slight redness was noted in the right bronchus, indicating that the DLT was incorrectly inserted into the right side. In conclusion, the possibility of a tension pneumothorax should be considered during DLT intubation or endotracheal tube replacement with an airway exchange catheter.
Evaluation of Artificial Intelligence-Calculated Hepatorenal Index for Diagnosing Mild and Moderate Hepatic Steatosis in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Zsombor Zita , Rónaszéki Aladár D. , Csongrády Barbara , Stollmayer Róbert , Budai Bettina K. , Folhoffer Anikó , Kalina Ildikó , Győri Gabriella , Bérczi Viktor , Maurovich-Horvat Pál , Hagymási Krisztina , Kaposi Pál Novák
Published: February 2023

Background and Objectives: This study aims to evaluate artificial intelligence-calculated hepatorenal index (AI-HRI) as a diagnostic method for hepatic steatosis. Materials and Methods: We prospectively enrolled 102 patients with clinically suspected non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). All patients had a quantitative ultrasound (QUS), including AI-HRI, ultrasound attenuation coefficient (AC,) and ultrasound backscatter-distribution coefficient (SC) measurements. The ultrasonographic fatty liver indicator (US-FLI) score was also calculated. The magnetic resonance imaging fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) was the reference to classify patients into four grades of steatosis: none < 5%, mild 5–10%, moderate 10–20%, and severe ≥ 20%. We compared AI-HRI between steatosis grades and calculated Spearman’s correlation (rs) between the methods. We determined the agreement between AI-HRI by two examiners using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 68 cases. We performed a receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis to estimate the area under the curve (AUC) for AI-HRI. Results: The mean AI-HRI was 2.27 (standard deviation, ±0.96) in the patient cohort. The AI-HRI was significantly different between groups without (1.480 ± 0.607, p < 0.003) and with mild steatosis (2.155 ± 0.776), as well as between mild and moderate steatosis (2.777 ± 0.923, p < 0.018). AI-HRI showed moderate correlation with AC (rs = 0.597), SC (rs = 0.473), US-FLI (rs = 0.5), and MRI-PDFF (rs = 0.528). The agreement in AI-HRI was good between the two examiners (ICC = 0.635, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.411–0.774, p < 0.001). The AI-HRI could detect mild steatosis (AUC = 0.758, 95% CI = 0.621–0.894) with fair and moderate/severe steatosis (AUC = 0.803, 95% CI = 0.721–0.885) with good accuracy. However, the performance of AI-HRI was not significantly different (p < 0.578) between the two diagnostic tasks. Conclusions: AI-HRI is an easy-to-use, reproducible, and accurate QUS method for diagnosing mild and moderate hepatic steatosis.
Corrosion of Titanium Alloys Anodized Using Electrochemical Techniques
Authors: Jáquez-Muñoz Jesús Manuel , Gaona-Tiburcio Citlalli , Méndez-Ramírez Ce Tochtli , Baltazar-Zamora Miguel Ángel , Estupinán-López Francisco , Bautista-Margulis Raul German , Cuevas-Rodríguez Josefina , Flores-De los Rios Juan Pablo , Almeraya-Calderón Facundo
Published: February 2023

The anodization of titanium has been an excellent option for protecting titanium and its alloys from corrosive environments such as acids and chloride systems, by generating a homogenous oxide layer. The objective of the current investigation was to evaluate the electrochemical corrosion behavior of alloys Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo and Ti-6Al-4V anodized in 1M H2SO4 and H3PO4 solutions at a current density of 2.5 × 10–3 A/cm2. The anodization’s electrochemical characterization was achieved in NaCl and H2SO4 at 3.5% wt. electrolytes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to determine the anodized thickness and morphology. Cyclic potentiodynamic polarization (CPP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), based on ASTM G61-86 and G106-15 Standards, were the electrochemical techniques mainly employed. The anodized samples presented a change in Ecorr values and a higher passivation zone. The EIS plot showed a higher resistance for samples anodized in H3PO4 and Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo.
Research on the Quality Improvement and Consumption Reduction of Iron Ore Agglomeration Based on Optimization
Authors: Zhou Mingshun , Zhao Desheng , Zhang Jiangning , Yang Guang , Hou Enjian , Liu Mingxu , Zhang Hui , Jiang Xin , Fan Kai , Shen Fengman
Published: February 2023

In order to increase agglomeration production and improve its quality while reducing energy consumption, a new intelligent blending method has been established at Ansteel to optimize its sinter blends. The statistical model of the ore blending results shows that (1) a blending ratio of 47.2% Ore A and 52.8% Ore C corresponded to the best sinter yield of 72.44%. (2) From the viewpoint of sinter reducibility, sinter basicity should not be less than 1.98 when the proportion of Ore A in the blend is more than 35%. Due to the low mixing efficiency of disc pelletizers, Ansteel has therefore gone through a massive technical transformation at Sinter Plant 3 to replace its 16 existing disc pelletizers with one drum granulator. Since the installation of the drum granulator, the standard deviation has decreased from 1.517 to 0.7332 for total Fe (T.Fe) and from 0.146 to 0.0956 for basicity. In the case of the drum granulator, the standard deviation for sinter T.Fe and basicity were 0.6926 and 0.05449, respectively, as compared to 0.8902 and 0.2033 for the disc pelletizers. In addition, a single lattice method is proposed to optimize the particle-size distribution of the coke breeze to further improve sinter quality and reduce fuel consumption. The lattice method indicated that the optimum coke breeze to achieve maximum sinter tumble strength should consist of approximately 57.20%: −1 mm, 25.63%: 1–3 mm, 11.17%: 3–5 mm, and 6.00%: >5 mm particles. Given the international trend of increasing bed depth, Ansteel has successfully achieved a bed height of 1050 mm or more under its blend conditions, which typically contain 75% concentrates. Finally, some new iron ore agglomerations research is discussed.
Numerical Investigation on the Electroslag Remelting of High Carbon Martensitic Stainless Steels
Authors: Liu Xingyu , Zhou Guotao , Shen Yangyang , Yan Wei , Li Jing
Published: February 2023

Control of solidification structure and segregation is crucial to improve the service performance of high carbon martensitic stainless steels. Design of the electroslag remelting (ESR) process based on the essential parameters of melting rate, filling ratio, and slag thickness is a precondition to achieve optimal control of solidification structure and segregation of the steels. However, there is still a lack of coupled works giving deep insight into the overall effect of the parameters on the expected control. With this background, a 2D numerical model was established to probe into the effect of process parameters. The results showed that: (1) With the increase of melting rate from 90 kg/h to 180 kg/h, the molten metal pool depth increased by about 4 cm. Meanwhile, the center LST, PDAS, and SDAS increased by about 450 s, 100 μm, and 12 μm. The segregation index of C and Cr increased by about 0.15 and 0.09. (2) As the filling ratio increased from 0.16 to 0.43, the depth of the metal pool decreased by about 4.5 cm, LST and SDAS received a slight increase of about 41 s and less than 5 μm, but PDAS had little change. The segregation index of C had an increase of about 0.03, but the segregation index of Cr demonstrated tiny changes. (3) As the slag thickness increased from 0.08 to 0.14 m, the metal pool depth presented a first increase of about 1 cm and then a slight decrease. The center LST, PDAS, and SDAS first increased by 148 s, 30 μm, and 4 μm and then decreased slightly. The changes of the segregation index of C and Cr presented a similar tendency than that of LST, but the changes are extremely small. (4) A low melting rate less than 120 kg/h, a filling ratio of about 0.23–0.33, and a slag thickness of 0.08–0.10 m were appropriate to obtain good performance for ESR of high carbon stainless steels in this study.
Effect of Bismuth and Telluride on the Inclusions of Sulfur Free-Cutting Steel
Authors: Wang Xin , Zhang Hongmei , Wang Jianling , Zhu Rui , Zhu Yuchuan , Lu Fenglin , Li Jinmeng , Jiang Zhengyi
Published: February 2023

The development of free-cutting steel is inseparable from the development of environmentally friendly alloy elements and the control of inclusions shape. Alloying elements can affect the composition, morphology, size, and distribution of inclusion, which are the main factors affecting the machinability of free-cutting steel. This study selected sulfur free-cutting steel with different chemical compositions as the research object to examine the effects of bismuth and bismuth tellurium on sulfur-containing free-cutting steel through electrolytic corrosion experiments, metallographic microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy spectrum, and electron backscattering analyzer. The results showed that the microstructures of free-cutting-steel containing sulfur, free-cutting steel containing sulfur bismuth, and free-cutting steel containing sulfur bismuth tellurium are composed of ferrite, pearlite, and inclusions. The inclusions in sulfur-containing free-cutting steel are chain, cluster, and a few dotted MnS. The inclusions in sulfur-bismuth free-cutting steel are point and a few dotted MnS. After the addition of Te, the number of dotted inclusions is reduced, while the number of chain and cluster inclusions is increased. Most of the inclusions in bismuth-containing free-cutting steel are flake inclusions, and the class II MnS change into class III MnS, which is beneficial for improving the free-cutting property of steel and to reduce anisotropy. With the addition of Te, MnS of other shapes, such as heart, water drop, butterfly, etc. of a length–width ratio of less than 4 also appeared as MnS and MnTe complex inclusions, and the fusiform manganese sulfide accounted for most of the steel. Both Bi and Te had modification effects on MnS.
Intestinal Immune Deficiency and Juvenile Hormone Signaling Mediate a Metabolic Trade-off in Adult Drosophila Females
Authors: Shianiou Gavriella , Teloni Savvas , Apidianakis Yiorgos
Published: February 2023

A trade-off hypothesis pertains to the biased allocation of limited resources between two of the most important fitness traits, reproduction and survival to infection. This quid pro quo manifests itself within animals prioritizing their energetic needs according to genetic circuits balancing metabolism, germline activity and immune response. Key evidence supporting this hypothesis includes dipteran fecundity being compromised by systemic immunity, and female systemic immunity being compromised by mating. Here, we reveal a local trade-off taking place in the female Drosophila midgut upon immune challenge. Genetic manipulation of intestinal motility, permeability, regeneration and three key midgut immune pathways provides evidence of an antagonism between specific aspects of intestinal defense and fecundity. That is, juvenile hormone (JH)-controlled egg laying, lipid droplet utilization and insulin receptor expression are specifically compromised by the immune deficiency (Imd) and the dual oxidase (Duox) signaling in the midgut epithelium. Moreover, antimicrobial peptide (AMP) expression under the control of the Imd pathway is inhibited upon mating and JH signaling in the midgut. Local JH signaling is further implicated in midgut dysplasia, inducing stem cell-like clusters and gut permeability. Thus, midgut JH signaling compromises host defense to infection by reducing Imd-controlled AMP expression and by inducing dysplasia, while midgut signaling through the Imd and Duox pathways compromises JH-guided metabolism and fecundity.
Ultraviolet-B and Heavy Metal-Induced Regulation of Secondary Metabolites in Medicinal Plants: A Review
Authors: Pandey Avantika , Agrawal Madhoolika , Agrawal Shashi Bhushan
Published: February 2023

Despite a rich history and economic importance, the potential of medicinal plants has not been fully explored under different abiotic stress conditions. Penetration of UV-B radiation and contamination of heavy metals are two important environmental stress for plants with remarkable influence on the defense-related and pharmaceutically important secondary metabolites of medicinal plants. UV-B and heavy metal contamination may become a critical issue that either positively or negatively affects the quality and quantity of secondary metabolites. Such effects may result from changes in the expression level of genes that encode the corresponding enzymes or the inactivation and/or stimulation of specific enzymes involved in the different biosynthetic pathways of the secondary metabolites. Therefore, a comprehensive study of the impact of UV-B and heavy metals individually and in combination on the biosynthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants is discussed in the present review.
Microbial Virulence Factors, Antimicrobial Resistance Genes, Metabolites, and Synthetic Chemicals in Cabins of Commercial Aircraft
Authors: Fu Xi , Zhang Mei , Yuan Yiwen , Chen Yang , Ou Zheyuan , Hashim Zailina , Hashim Jamal Hisham , Zhang Xin , Zhao Zhuohui , Norbäck Dan , Sun Yu
Published: February 2023

Passengers are at a higher risk of respiratory infections and chronic diseases due to microbial exposure in airline cabins. However, the presence of virulence factors (VFs), antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), metabolites, and chemicals are yet to be studied. To address this gap, we collected dust samples from the cabins of two airlines, one with textile seats (TSC) and one with leather seats (LSC), and analyzed the exposure using shotgun metagenomics and LC/MS. Results showed that the abundances of 17 VFs and 11 risk chemicals were significantly higher in TSC than LSC (p < 0.01). The predominant VFs in TSC were related to adherence, biofilm formation, and immune modulation, mainly derived from facultative pathogens such as Haemophilus parainfluenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae. The predominant risk chemicals in TSC included pesticides/herbicides (carbofuran, bromacil, and propazine) and detergents (triethanolamine, diethanolamine, and diethyl phthalate). The abundances of these VFs and detergents followed the trend of TSC > LSC > school classrooms (p < 0.01), potentially explaining the higher incidence of infectious and chronic inflammatory diseases in aircraft. The level of ARGs in aircraft was similar to that in school environments. This is the first multi-omic survey in commercial aircraft, highlighting that surface material choice is a potential intervention strategy for improving passenger health.
Enhanced Light Extraction Efficiency by Self-Masking Technology with Carbonized Photoresist for Light-Emitting Diodes
Authors: Zhang Xiu , Li Shuqi , Wang Baoxing , Chen Baojin , Guo Haojie , Yue Rui , Cai Yong
Published: February 2023

This work investigates a self-masking technology for roughening the surface of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The carbonized photoresist with a naturally nano/micro-textured rough surface was used as a mask layer. After growing the Si3N4 passivation layer on LEDs, the texture pattern of the mask layer was transferred to the surface of the passivation layer via reactive ion beam (RIE) dry etching, resulting in LEDs with nano-textured surfaces. This nano-textured surface achieved by self-masking technology can alleviate the total internal reflection at the top interface and enhance light scattering, thereby improving the light extraction efficiency. As a result, the wall-plug efficiency (WPE) and external quantum efficiency (EQE) of rough-surface LEDs reached 53.9% and 58.8% at 60 mA, respectively, which were improved by 10.3% and 10.5% compared to that of the flat-surface Si3N4-passivated LED. Additionally, at the same peak, both LEDs emit a wavelength of 451 nm at 350 mA. There is also almost no difference between the I–V characteristics of LEDs before and after roughening. The proposed self-masking surface roughening technology provides a strategy for LEE enhancement that is both cost-effective and compatible with conventional fabrication processes.
Design and Fabrication of a Fully-Integrated, Miniaturised Fluidic System for the Analysis of Enzyme Kinetics
Authors: Tsiamis Andreas , Buchoux Anthony , Mahon Stephen T. , Walton Anthony J. , Smith Stewart , Clarke David J. , Stokes Adam A.
Published: February 2023

The lab-on-a-chip concept, enabled by microfluidic technology, promises the integration of multiple discrete laboratory techniques into a miniaturised system. Research into microfluidics has generally focused on the development of individual elements of the total system (often with relatively limited functionality), without full consideration for integration into a complete fully optimised and miniaturised system. Typically, the operation of many of the reported lab-on-a-chip devices is dependent on the support of a laboratory framework. In this paper, a demonstrator platform for routine laboratory analysis is designed and built, which fully integrates a number of technologies into a single device with multiple domains such as fluidics, electronics, pneumatics, hydraulics, and photonics. This facilitates the delivery of breakthroughs in research, by incorporating all physical requirements into a single device. To highlight this proposed approach, this demonstrator microsystem acts as a fully integrated biochemical assay reaction system. The resulting design determines enzyme kinetics in an automated process and combines reservoirs, three-dimensional fluidic channels, optical sensing, and electronics in a low-cost, low-power and portable package.
In-Hover Aerodynamic Analysis of a Small Rotor with a Thin Circular-Arc Airfoil and a Convex Structure at Low Reynolds Number
Authors: Lei Yao , Wang Jie , Li Yazhou , Gao Qingjia
Published: February 2023

This study focused on the in-hover aerodynamics of a small rotor with a thin circular-arc airfoil and a convex structure at a low Reynolds number. The method combined computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with the blade element momentum theory (BEMT). The former was used for studying the two-dimensional parametric aerodynamics of the airfoil at a low Reynolds number and the latter was used for the prediction of the rotor’s hover performance. A novel thin circular-arc airfoil with a convex structure with a high aerodynamic performance, high structural strength, light weight and easy manufacturing process is presented in this paper. A convex curve on the upper surface was adopted to increase the thickness of the airfoil at partial chord, and a stiffener in the airfoil was installed to improve the structural strength of rotor span-wise. The aerodynamic performance of the airfoil was numerically simulated by the two-dimensional steady and incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. The in-hover performance of the rotor for small-scale vehicles was predicted by an improved version of the blade element momentum theory (BEMT). Finally, a carbon-fiber rotor with the presented airfoil was manufactured that had a diameter of 40 cm and a pitch of 6.2 inches. The analysis results were verified by experiments. It was shown that the maximum calculation errors were below 6%. The improved BEMT can be used in the analysis of in-hover micro-rotor aerodynamics at low Reynolds numbers.
Electrochemical Biosensor for Detection of the CYP2C19*2 Allele Based on Exonuclease Ⅲ
Authors: Chen Siling , Yu Rongjun , Li Ying , Wu Jiangling , Qiu Jingfu , Huang Xinyi , Xue Jianjiang
Published: February 2023

Currently, the therapeutic effect of clopidogrel differs considerably among individuals and is thought to be closely related to the genetic polymorphism of CYP2C19. The CYP2C19*2 gene can reduce the antiplatelet aggregation effect of clopidogrel, which increases the risk of major cardiovascular adverse events in patients. In this research, we report a new type of biosensor for the highly sensitive detection of the CYP2C19*2 gene based on exonuclease III assisted electric signal amplification and the use of calixarene to enrich electrical signal substances. Specifically, under the best conditions, the logarithmic concentrations of the analytes have a good linear relationship with the peak current in the range of 0.01 fM to 100 pM and the detection limit is 13.49 aM. The results have also shown that this method has good selectivity, high sensitivity, and stability, etc., and will provide a very promising application for the detection of the CYP2C19*2 gene and other biological molecules by replacing corresponding nucleic acid sequences.
Organic Light-Emitting Diodes with Electrospun Electrodes for Double-Side Emissions
Authors: Ciobotaru Iulia Corina , Enculescu Monica , Polosan Silviu , Enculescu Ionut , Ciobotaru Constantin Claudiu
Published: February 2023

Transparent conductive electrodes (TCE) obtained by the electrospinning method and gold covered were used as cathodes in the organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) to create double side-emission. The electro-active nanofibers of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with diameters in the range of several hundreds of nanometers, were prepared through the electrospinning method. The nanofibers were coated with gold by sputtering deposition, maintaining optimal transparency and conductivity to increase the electroluminescence on both electrodes. Optical, structural, and electrical measurements of the as-prepared transparent electrodes have shown good transparency and higher electrical conductivity. In this study, two types of OLEDs consisting of indium tin oxide (ITO)/ poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT-PSS)/ Ir(III) complex (8-hydroxyquinolinat bis(2-phenylpyridyl) iridium–IrQ(ppy)2 20 wt% embedded in N, N′-Dicarbazolyl-4,4′-biphenyl (CBP) sandwich structure and either gold-covered PMMA electrospun nanoweb (OLED with electrospun cathode) were fabricated together with a similar structure containing thin film gold cathodes (OLED with thin film cathode). The luminance-current-voltage characteristics, the capacitance-voltage, and the electroluminescence properties of these OLEDs were investigated.
Laser-Patterned Alumina Mask and Mask-Less Dry Etch of Si for Light Trapping with Photonic Crystal Structures
Authors: Maksimovic Jovan , Mu Haoran , Smith Daniel , Katkus Tomas , Vaičiulis Mantas , Aleksiejūnas Ramūnas , Seniutinas Gediminas , Ng Soon Hock , Juodkazis Saulius
Published: February 2023

Ultra-short 230 fs laser pulses of a 515 nm wavelength were tightly focused onto 700 nm focal spots and utilised in opening ∼0.4–1 μm holes in alumina Al2O3 etch masks with a 20–50 nm thickness. Such dielectric masks simplify the fabrication of photonic crystal (PhC) light-trapping patterns for the above-Lambertian performance of high-efficiency solar cells. The conditions of the laser ablation of transparent etch masks and the effects sub-surface Si modifications were revealed by plasma etching, numerical modelling, and minority carrier lifetime measurements. Mask-less patterning of Si is proposed using fs laser direct writing for dry plasma etching of Si.
Design and Simulated Electrical Properties of a Proposed Implanted-Epi Silicon 3D-Spherical Electrode Detector
Authors: Cai Xinyi , Li Zheng , Li Xinqing , Tan Zewen , Liu Manwen , Wang Hongfei
Published: February 2023

A new type of 3D electrode detector, named here as the Implanted-Epi Silicon 3D-Spherical Electrode Detector, is proposed in this work. Epitaxial and ion implantation processes can be used in this new detector, allowing bowl-shaped electrodes to penetrate the silicon completely. The distance between the bowl cathode and the central collection electrode is basically the same, thus the total depletion voltage of Implanted-Epi Silicon 3D-Spherical Electrode Detectors is no longer directively correlated with the thickness of the silicon wafer, but only related to the electrode spacing. In this work, we model the device physics of this new structure and use a simulation program to conduct a systematic 3D simulation of its electrical characteristics, including electric potential and electric field distributions, electron concentration profile, leakage current, and capacitance, and compare it to the traditional 3D detectors. The theoretical and simulation study found that the internal electric potential of the new detector was smooth and no potential saddle point was found. The electric field is also uniform, and there is no zero field and a low electric field area. Compared with the traditional silicon 3D electrode detectors, the full depletion voltage is greatly reduced and the charge collection efficiency is improved. As a large electrode spacing (up to 500 μm) can be realized in the Implanted-Epi Silicon 3D-Spherical Electrode Detector thanks to their advantage of a greatly reduced full depletion voltage, detectors with large pixel cells (and thus small dead volume) can be developed for applications in photon science (X-ray, among others).
Utilization of Sugar Mill Waste Ash as Pozzolanic Material in Structural Mortar
Authors: Sakib Nazmus , Hasan Rashidul , Mutalib Azrul A. , Jamil Maslina , Raman Sudharshan N. , Kaish A. B. M. A.
Published: February 2023

Bagasse is produced as a waste in the sugar production process, which is used as fuel to stoke boilers in the sugar mills. The concluding product of this burning is residual sugarcane bagasse ash (BA), which is normally dumped or used as low-quality fertilizer. The ash for this study was collected from a reputed sugar mill located in the northern region of Bangladesh. Type I Portland cement (PC) was partially replaced with that finely ground bagasse ash without any pretreatment. The ground BA was used as a replacement for Portland cement at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30% of BA, respectively, in structural mortar. In addition, chemical characterization, specific gravity, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), setting time, a strength activity index, compressive strength, water absorption, density and durability in a chloride environment of mortar were determined. The strength activity index result indicates that the used BA has the pozzolanic properties to be used as a partial cement replacement. The results showed that, at the age of 56 days, the mortar samples containing 5–15% ground bagasse ash had higher compressive strengths than the control mixture (mortar without ground bagasse ash). Mortar containing 15% ground bagasse ash had the highest mechanical and durability properties. Therefore, the substitution of 15% BA is acceptable for producing good quality structural mortar in the civil engineering construction field except in chloride environments.
Removal of Iron from Pyrite-Rich Coal Refuse by Calcination and Magnetic Separation for Hydrometallurgical Extraction of Rare Earth Elements
Authors: Gupta Tushar , Nawab Ahmad , Honaker Rick
Published: February 2023

In the metallurgical extraction of rare earth elements (REEs), the ratio of contaminant ions to REEs in the leachate dictates the cost and operational efficiency of the downstream processes. The current study investigated the potential iron contamination removal from the feed to the hydrometallurgical process by calcination followed by magnetic separation. The 2.20 specific gravity sink fraction of Baker coal seam coarse refuse was pulverized to finer than 180 μm, calcined at various temperatures, and separated into magnetic and non-magnetic fractions using a wet high-intensity magnetic separator at different field strengths. The untreated feed, calcined products, and their subsequent magnetic and non-magnetic fractions were subjected to acid leaching tests with 1.2 M sulfuric acid at 75 °C and 1% w/v solids concentration. The recovery of light and heavy rare earth elements (LREEs and HREEs, respectively) along with the concentration of common contaminant ions (Al, Ca, and Fe) were measured as output variables. The weight percent of magnetic material was maximized at approximately 29% by calcination at a temperature of 400 °C. Magnetic removal of this fraction using a field strength of 1.15 Tesla resulted in the rejection of 81% of the iron. Leaching of the magnetic fraction provided significantly higher Fe recovery relative to untreated feed material and the non-magnetic fraction. The non-magnetic fraction was subsequently calcined at 600 °C to dehydroxylate the clays and released the REE minerals in the same manner as the treatment of the original coarse refuse material. A comparison of the leachate elemental concentrations resulting from the leaching of both the calcined non-magnetic and original coarse refuse showed only a slight reduction in the iron content from the non-magnetic material. This finding combined with the REE loss in the magnetic fraction resulted in the conclusion that the magnetic removal step was unfavorable.
Coal Gangue Recognition during Coal Preparation Using an Adaptive Boosting Algorithm
Authors: Xue Guanghui , Hou Peng , Li Sanxi , Qian Xiaoling , Han Sicong , Gao Song
Published: February 2023

The recognition of coal and gangue is the premise and foundation of coal gangue intelligent sorting. Adaptive boosting (AdaBoost) algorithm-based coal gangue identification has not been studied in depth. This paper proposed a coal gangue image recognition algorithm and a strong classifier based on the AdaBoost algorithm with a genetic algorithm (GA)-optimized support vector machine (SVM). One thousand coal gangue images were collected on-site and expanded to five thousand via rotation and exposure adjustment. The 12 gray-level gradient co-occurrence matrix texture features of the images were extracted to construct a feature vector, establishing the training dataset and test dataset. Selection of the SVM kernel function, the GA optimization parameter setting, and the base classifier number was discussed. The coal gangue image recognition effects of the AdaB-GA-SVM classifier and the other strong classifiers with different base SVM classifiers were investigated. The results indicated that the recognition accuracy of GA-SVM was the best when the kernel function of SVM was RBF and the population number, crossover probability, and mutation probability were 80, 0.9, and 0.005, respectively. The AdaB-GA-SVM classifier has excellent identification and effective classification performance with the highest accuracy of 95%, a precision rate of 92.8%, recall rate of 97.3%, and KS values of 0.79.
Influence of Different Ratios of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus on Fermentation Characteristics of Yogurt
Authors: Dan Tong , Hu Haimin , Tian Jiale , He Binbin , Tai Jiahui , He Yanyan
Published: February 2023

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are industrially important bacteria that are widely used in the fermented food industry, especially in the manufacture of yogurt. The fermentation characteristics of LAB are an important factor affecting the physicochemical properties of yogurts. Here, different ratios of L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus IMAU20312 and S. thermophilus IMAU80809 were compared with a commercial starter JD (control) for their effects on viable cell counts, pH values, titratable acidity (TA), viscosity and water holding capacity (WHC) of milk during fermentation. Sensory evaluation and flavour profiles were also determined at the end of fermentation. All samples had a viable cell count above 5.59 × 107 CFU/mL at the end of fermentation, and a significant increase in TA and decrease in pH were observed. Viscosity, WHC and the sensory evaluation results of one treatment ratio (A3) were closer to the commercial starter control than the others. A total of 63 volatile flavour compounds and 10 odour-active (OAVs) compounds were detected in all treatment ratios and the control according to the results from solid-phase micro-extraction–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (SPME–GC–MS). Principal components analysis (PCA) also indicated that the flavour characteristics of the A3 treatment ratio were closer to the control. These results help us understand how the fermentation characteristics of yogurts are affected by the ratio of L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus to S. thermophilus in starter cultures; this is useful for the development of value-added fermented dairy products.
Carnivorous Plants from Nepenthaceae and Droseraceae as a Source of Secondary Metabolites
Authors: Wójciak Magdalena , Feldo Marcin , Stolarczyk Piotr , Płachno Bartosz J.
Published: February 2023

Carnivorous plants are able to attract small animals or protozoa and retain them in their specialized traps. Later, the captured organisms are killed and digested. The nutrients contained in the prey bodies are absorbed by the plants to use for growth and reproduction. These plants produce many secondary metabolites involved in the carnivorous syndrome. The main purpose of this review was to provide an overview of the secondary metabolites in the family Nepenthaceae and Droseraceae, which were studied using modern identification techniques, i.e., high-performance liquid chromatography or ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. After literature screening, there is no doubt that tissues of species from the genera Nepenthes, Drosera, and Dionaea are rich sources of secondary metabolites that can be used in pharmacy and for medical purposes. The main types of the identified compounds include phenolic acids and their derivatives (gallic, protocatechuic, chlorogenic, ferulic, p-coumaric acids, gallic, hydroxybenzoic, vanillic, syringic caffeic acids, and vanillin), flavonoids (myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol derivatives), including anthocyanins (delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, and cyanidin), naphthoquinones (e.g., plumbagin, droserone, and 5-O-methyl droserone), and volatile organic compounds. Due to the biological activity of most of these substances, the importance of the carnivorous plant as a pharmaceutical crop will increase.
BF2-Azadipyrromethene Fluorophores for Intraoperative Vital Structure Identification
Authors: Caulfield Cathal , Wu Dan , Miller Ian S. , Byrne Annette T. , Mac Aonghusa Pól , Zhuk Sergiy , Cinelli Lorenzo , Bannone Elisa , Marescaux Jacques , Gioux Sylvain , Diana Michele , March Taryn L. , Vahrmeijer Alexander L. , Cahill Ronan , O’Shea Donal F.
Published: February 2023

A series of mono- and bis-polyethylene glycol (PEG)-substituted BF2-azadipyrromethene fluorophores have been synthesized with emissions in the near-infrared region (700–800 nm) for the purpose of fluorescence guided intraoperative imaging; chiefly ureter imaging. The Bis-PEGylation of fluorophores resulted in higher aqueous fluorescence quantum yields, with PEG chain lengths of 2.9 to 4.6 kDa being optimal. Fluorescence ureter identification was possible in a rodent model with the preference for renal excretion notable through comparative fluorescence intensities from the ureters, kidneys and liver. Ureteral identification was also successfully performed in a larger animal porcine model under abdominal surgical conditions. Three tested doses of 0.5, 0.25 and 0.1 mg/kg all successfully identified fluorescent ureters within 20 min of administration which was sustained up to 120 min. 3-D emission heat map imaging allowed the spatial and temporal changes in intensity due to the distinctive peristaltic waves of urine being transferred from the kidneys to the bladder to be identified. As the emission of these fluorophores could be spectrally distinguished from the clinically-used perfusion dye indocyanine green, it is envisaged that their combined use could be a step towards intraoperative colour coding of different tissues.
Profiling of Taxoid Compounds in Plant Cell Cultures of Different Species of Yew (Taxus spp.)
Authors: Kochkin Dmitry V. , Demidova Elena V. , Globa Elena B. , Nosov Alexander M.
Published: February 2023

Plant cell cultures of various yew species are a profitable source of taxoids (taxane diterpenoids) with antitumor activity. So far, despite intensive studies, the principles of the formation of different groups of taxoids in cultured in vitro plant cells have not been fully revealed. In this study, the qualitative composition of taxoids of different structural groups was assessed in callus and suspension cell cultures of three yew species (Taxus baccata, T. canadensis, and T. wallichiana) and two T. × media hybrids. For the first time, 14-hydroxylated taxoids were isolated from the biomass of the suspension culture of T. baccata cells, and their structures were identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy as 7β-hydroxy-taxuyunnanin C, sinenxane C, taxuyunnanine C, 2α,5α,9α,10β,14β-pentaacetoxy-4(20), 11-taxadiene, and yunnanxane. UPLC–ESI-MS screening of taxoids was performed in more than 20 callus and suspension cell lines originating from different explants and grown in over 20 formulations of nutrient media. Regardless of the species, cell line origin, and conditions, most of the investigated cell cultures retained the ability to form taxane diterpenoids. Nonpolar 14-hydroxylated taxoids (in the form of polyesters) were predominant under in vitro culture conditions in all cell lines. These results, together with the literature data, suggest that dedifferentiated cell cultures of various yew species retain the ability to synthesize taxoids, but predominantly of the 14-OH taxoid group compared to the 13-OH taxoids found in plants.
Evaluation of the Defined Bacterial Consortium Efficacy in the Biodegradation of NSAIDs
Authors: Marchlewicz Ariel , Guzik Urszula , Hupert-Kocurek Katarzyna , Wojcieszyńska Danuta
Published: February 2023

Due to the increasing pollution of wastewater with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, preparations need to be developed to decompose these drugs. This work aimed to develop a bacterial consortium with a defined composition and boundary conditions for the degradation of paracetamol and selected non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen, naproxen, and diclofenac. The defined bacterial consortium consisted of Bacillus thuringiensis B1(2015b) and Pseudomonas moorei KB4 strains in a ratio of 1:2. During the tests, it was shown that the bacterial consortium worked in the pH range from 5.5 to 9 and temperatures of 15–35 °C, and its great advantage was its resistance to toxic compounds present in sewage, such as organic solvents, phenols, and metal ions. The degradation tests showed that, in the presence of the defined bacterial consortium in the sequencing batch reactor (SBR), drug degradation occurred at rates of 4.88, 10, 0.1, and 0.05 mg/day for ibuprofen, paracetamol, naproxen, and diclofenac, respectively. In addition, the presence of the tested strains was demonstrated during the experiment as well as after its completion. Therefore, the advantage of the described bacterial consortium is its resistance to the antagonistic effects of the activated sludge microbiome, which will enable it to be tested in real activated sludge conditions.
Preparation of Porous Ti/RuO2-IrO2@Pt, Ti/RuO2-TiO2@Pt and Ti/Y2O3-RuO2-TiO2@Pt Anodes for Efficient Electrocatalytic Decomposition of Tetracycline
Authors: Zhu Yunqing , Li Bingqing , Wang Yongming , Wang Tian
Published: February 2023

Electrocatalytic oxidation (ECO) has attracted attention because of its high efficiency and environmental friendliness in water treatment. The preparation of anodes with high catalytic activity and long service lifetimes is a core part of electrocatalytic oxidation technology. Here, porous Ti/RuO2-IrO2@Pt, Ti/RuO2-TiO2@Pt, and Ti/Y2O3-RuO2-TiO2@Pt anodes were fabricated by means of modified micro-emulsion and vacuum impregnation methods with high porosity titanium plates as substrates. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that RuO2-IrO2@Pt, RuO2-TiO2@Pt, and Y2O3-RuO2-TiO2@Pt nanoparticles were coated on the inner surface of the as-prepared anodes to form the active layer. Electrochemical analysis revealed that the high porosity substrate could result in a large electrochemically active area, and a long service life (60 h at 2 A cm−2 current density, 1 mol L−1 H2SO4 as the electrolyte, and 40 °C). The degradation experiments conducted on tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) showed that the porous Ti/Y2O3-RuO2-TiO2@Pt had the highest degradation efficiency for tetracycline, reaching 100% removal in 10 min with the lowest energy consumption of 167 kWh kg−1 TOC. The reaction was consistent with the pseudo-primary kinetics results with a k value of 0.5480 mol L−1 s−1, which was 16 times higher than that of the commercial Ti/RuO2-IrO2 electrode. The fluorospectrophotometry studies verified that the degradation and mineralization of tetracycline were mainly ascribed to the •OH generated in the electrocatalytic oxidation process. This study thus presents a series of alternative anodes for future industrial wastewater treatment.
Study on Chemical Constituents of Panax notoginseng Leaves
Authors: Sun Xiaojuan , Deng Hongbo , Shu Tengyun , Xu Min , Su Lihua , Li Haizhou
Published: February 2023

Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. is a genuine medicinal material in Yunnan Province. As accessories, P. notoginseng leaves mainly contain protopanaxadiol saponins. The preliminary findings have indicated that P. notoginseng leaves contribute to its significant pharmacological effects and have been administrated to tranquilize and treat cancer and nerve injury. Saponins from P. notoginseng leaves were isolated and purified by different chromatographic methods, and the structures of 1–22 were elucidated mainly through comprehensive analyses of spectroscopic data. Moreover, the SH-SY5Y cells protection bioactivities of all isolated compounds were tested by establishing L-glutamate models for nerve cell injury. As a result, twenty-two saponins, including eight dammarane saponins, namely notoginsenosides SL1-SL8 (1–8), were identified as new compounds, together with fourteen known compounds, namely notoginsenoside NL-A3 (9), ginsenoside Rc (10), gypenoside IX (11), gypenoside XVII (12), notoginsenoside Fc (13), quinquenoside L3 (14), notoginsenoside NL-B1 (15), notoginsenoside NL-C2 (16), notoginsenoside NL-H2 (17), notoginsenoside NL-H1 (18), vina-ginsenoside R13 (19), ginsenoside II (20), majoroside F4 (21), and notoginsenoside LK4 (22). Among them, notoginsenoside SL1 (1), notoginsenoside SL3 (3), notoginsenoside NL-A3 (9), and ginsenoside Rc (10) showed slight protective effects against L-glutamate-induced nerve cell injury (30 µM).
Comparison of In Vitro Estrogenic Activity of Polygoni multiflori Radix and Cynanchi wilfordii Radix via the Enhancement of ERα/β Expression in MCF7 Cells
Authors: Akter Reshmi , Yang Dong Uk , Ahn Jong Chan , Awais Muhammad , Nahar Jinnatun , Ramadhania Zelika Mega , Kim Jong Yun , Lee Gyong Jai , Kwak Gi-Young , Lee Dong Wook , Kong Byoung Man , Yang Deok Chun , Jung Seok-Kyu
Published: February 2023

Postmenopausal women experience several symptoms, including inflammation and a sharp rise in oxidative stress caused by estrogen deprivation. Although estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) is generally regarded as an effective treatment for menopause, it has been used less frequently due to some adverse effects and high costs. Therefore, there is an immediate need to develop an effective herbal-based treatment that is affordable for low-income populations. Acordingly, this study explored the estrogen-like properties of methanol extracts from Cynanchum wilfordii (CW) and Poligonum multiflorum (PM), two important medicinal plants in Republic of Korea, Japan, and China. Due to the similar names and morphologies of these two radixes, they are frequently confused in the marketplace. Our previous colleagues discriminated between these two plants. In this study, we investigated the estrogenic activity of PM and CW using several in vitro assays with their possible mechanism of action. First, their phytochemical contents, such as gallic acid, 2,3,5,4′-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-glucoside (TSG) and emodin, were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Secondly, estrogen-like activity was assessed utilizing the well-known E-screen test and gene expression analysis in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive MCF7 cells. ROS inhibition and anti-inflammatory effects were analyzed using HaCaT and Raw 264.7 cells, respectively. Our findings demonstrate that PM extracts significantly increased the expression of the estrogen-dependent genes (ERα, ERβ, pS2) and boosted MCF7 cell proliferation in comparison to CW extracts. Additionally, PM extract demonstrated a significant reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production as well as an enhanced antioxidant profile compared to the CW extract. Further, the PM extract treatment significantly reduced the generation of nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 264.7 cells, a murine macrophage cell line, demonstrating the anti-inflammatory properties of the extract. Finally, this research offers an experimental foundation for the use of PM as a phytoestrogen to minimize menopausal symptoms.