bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential Use of the Pigments from Scytalidium cuboideum and Chlorociboria aeruginosa to Prevent ‘Greying’ Decking and Other Outdoor Wood Products
Authors: Vega Gutierrez Sarath M. , Stone Derek W. , He Rui , Vega Gutierrez Patricia T. , Walsh Zielle M. , Robinson Seri C.
Published: April 2021

UV-light degradation of wood is one of the top reasons for consumer replacement of outdoor wooden structures. This type of degradation is seldom mechanical, and is instead often motivated by loss of aesthetics (graying). There are numerous commercial products available on the market that deal with this loss of color, many of which contain added pigments to ‘rejuvenate’ or ‘revitalize’ greyed wood. These pigments are almost uniformly synthetic. In contrast, pigments from wood decay fungi (spalting), which have been used in woodworking since the 1400s (intarsia), have remarkable optical (UV-light resistance) properties due to their naphthoquinonic configuration. In recent years the pigments made from these fungi have been extracted and tested across numerous substrates, from solar cells to textile dyes. In this work, researchers extracted pigments from Scytalidium cuboideum (red pigmentation) and Chlorociboria aeruginosa (blue-green pigmentation), solubilized the pigments in raw linseed oil, and tested the resulting solution on samples of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and western white pine (Pinus monticola). These mixtures were compared against a ‘stain and coat’ treatment (utilizing an aniline stain and coated with raw linseed oil), raw linseed oil, and untreated wood. The wood samples were then placed in an accelerated weathering machine (Q-UV) following the ASTM G154 standard, for 500 and 1000 h. The results showed that while no visible color change occurred to the wood when the pigmented oil was applied, the red pigment oil significantly lowered the coating degradation for both wood types at an exposure of 500 h. The results show the potential applications for fungal pigments in the wood coating industry, as it offers an increased coating service life. As there is a shift to renewable products, the pigments from wood decay fungi show potential as additives for wood coatings.
Novel Sol-Gel Synthesis of Spherical Lead Titanate Submicrometer Powders
Authors: Bel-Hadj-Tahar Radhouane , Abboud Mohamed , Shkir Mohd. , Alhanash Abdullah , M. Anqi Ali Eisa , Belhadj Tahar Noureddine , Bouzitoun Mouna , Benaissa Mhamed
Published: April 2021

In this study, a novel and simple synthetic sol-gel procedure was established to directly prepare spherical lead titanate powders without prior synthesis/usage of spherical templates such as TiO2 particles. Isotropic submicron particles with a mean diameter of 1–4 μm were prepared in this way. This synthetic process takes advantage of acetone as a stabilizing ligand and autogenous pressure generated in the autoclave during the reaction. The influence of various experimental factors (nature of the ligand, thermal treatment mode, and post-calcining temperature) as well as the formation mechanism were studied. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to explore the particle morphology. The crystalline phases were explored and identified by X-ray diffraction analysis.
Effect of the Glycine Treatment on Synthesis and Physicochemical Characteristics of Nanosized Ni-Mn Mixed Oxides
Authors: Al-Senani Ghadah M. , Abd-Elkader Omar H. , Al-Kadhi Nada S. , Deraz Nasrallah M.
Published: April 2021

Magnetic Ni-Mn mixed oxides based on nanoparticles (NPs) have been developed at 700 °C using a ceramic method and a glycine-assisted auto combustion path. The thermogravimetry–derivative thermogravimetry (TG—DTG), infrared radiation (IR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and high resolution transmittance electron micrographs (HRTEM) techniques have been used to characterize as synthesized nanomaterials by evaluating their thermal behavior, structure, distinguishing the components and establishing the morphology. A vibrating sample magnetometer has been used to estimate the magnetic properties of the materials (VSM). The analyses indicate that using a glycine-assisted auto combustion method resulted in formation of cubic spinel NiMn2O4 NPs as a single phase. The ceramic process, from the other side, led to the development of Mn2O3/NiMnO3/NiMn2O4 nanocomposite. The resulting particles being polycrystalline, including average sizes ranging from 10 to 80 nanometers. The prepared NiMn2O4 NPs showed room-temperature ferromagnetism, with an optimal saturation magnetization value of 5.0216 emu/g, according to the magnetic measurement.
Data for Interaction Diagrams of Geopolymer FRC Slender Columns with Double-Layer GFRP and Steel Reinforcement
Authors: AlHamaydeh Mohammad , Amin Fouad
Published: April 2021

This article provides data of axial load-bending moment capacities of plain and fiber-reinforced geopolymer concrete (GPC, FRGPC) columns. The columns were reinforced by double layers of longitudinal and transverse reinforcement using steel and/or glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars. The concrete fiber-reinforcing materials included steel and synthetic fibers. The columns data included different parameters like the longitudinal reinforcement ratio, the applied load eccentricity, and the columns’ slenderness ratio. The data was collected from different analysis output files then sorted and tabulated in usable formatted tables. The data can support the development of design axial load-bending moment interactions. In addition, further processing of the data can yield analytical strength curves which are useful in determining the columns stability under different structural loading configurations. Researchers and educators can make use of these data for illustrations and prospective new research suggestions.
The Use of Imaging Techniques in Chronic Kidney Disease-Mineral and Bone Disorders (CKD-MBD)—A Systematic Review
Authors: Pimentel Ana , Bover Jordi , Elder Grahame , Cohen-Solal Martine , Ureña-Torres Pablo Antonio
Published: April 2021

Although frequently silent, mineral and bone disease (MBD) is one of the most precocious complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is omnipresent in patients with CKD stage 5. Its pathophysiology is complex, but basically, disturbances in vitamin D, phosphate, and calcium metabolism lead to a diverse range of clinical manifestations with secondary hyperparathyroidism usually being the most frequent. With the decline in renal function, CKD-MBD may induce microstructural changes in bone, vascular system and soft tissues, which results in macrostructural lesions, such as low bone mineral density (BMD) resulting in skeletal fractures, vascular and soft tissue calcifications. Moreover, low BMD, fractures, and vascular calcifications are linked with increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality. Therefore, a better characterization of CKD-MBD patterns, beyond biochemical markers, is helpful to adapt therapies and monitor strategies as used in the general population. An in-depth characterization of bone health is required, which includes an evaluation of cortical and trabecular bone structure and density and the degree of bone remodeling through bone biomarkers. Standard radiological imaging is generally used for the diagnosis of fracture or pseudo-fractures, vascular calcifications and other features of CKD-MBD. However, bone fractures can also be diagnosed using computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and vertebral fracture assessment (VFA). Fracture risk can be predicted by bone densitometry using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), quantitative computed tomography (QTC) and peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQTC), quantitative ultrasound (QUS) and most recently magnetic resonance micro-imaging. Quantitative methods to assess bone consistency and strength complete the study and adjust the clinical management when integrated with clinical factors. The aim of this review is to provide a brief and comprehensive update of imaging techniques available for the diagnosis, prevention, treatment and monitoring of CKD-MBD.
The Reconstruction of Magnetic Particle Imaging: Current Approaches Based on the System Matrix
Authors: Chen Xiaojun , Jiang Zhenqi , Han Xiao , Wang Xiaolin , Tang Xiaoying
Published: April 2021

Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is a novel non-invasive molecular imaging technology that images the distribution of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). It is not affected by imaging depth, with high sensitivity, high resolution, and no radiation. The MPI reconstruction with high precision and high quality is of enormous practical importance, and many studies have been conducted to improve the reconstruction accuracy and quality. MPI reconstruction based on the system matrix (SM) is an important part of MPI reconstruction. In this review, the principle of MPI, current construction methods of SM and the theory of SM-based MPI are discussed. For SM-based approaches, MPI reconstruction mainly has the following problems: the reconstruction problem is an inverse and ill-posed problem, the complex background signals seriously affect the reconstruction results, the field of view cannot cover the entire object, and the available 3D datasets are of relatively large volume. In this review, we compared and grouped different studies on the above issues, including SM-based MPI reconstruction based on the state-of-the-art Tikhonov regularization, SM-based MPI reconstruction based on the improved methods, SM-based MPI reconstruction methods to subtract the background signal, SM-based MPI reconstruction approaches to expand the spatial coverage, and matrix transformations to accelerate SM-based MPI reconstruction. In addition, the current phantoms and performance indicators used for SM-based reconstruction are listed. Finally, certain research suggestions for MPI reconstruction are proposed, expecting that this review will provide a certain reference for researchers in MPI reconstruction and will promote the future applications of MPI in clinical medicine.
Variants of PCSK9 Gene Are Associated with Subclinical Atherosclerosis and Cardiometabolic Parameters in Mexicans. The GEA Project
Authors: Zamarrón-Licona Erasmo , Rodríguez-Pérez José Manuel , Posadas-Sánchez Rosalinda , Vargas-Alarcón Gilberto , Baños-González Manuel Alfonso , Borgonio-Cuadra Verónica Marusa , Pérez-Hernández Nonanzit
Published: April 2021

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a chronic, inflammatory, and complex disease associated with vascular risk factors. Nowadays, the coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a specific marker of the presence and extent of atherosclerosis. Additionally, CAC is a predictor of future coronary events in asymptomatic individuals diagnosed with subclinical atherosclerosis (CAC > 0). In this study, our aim is to evaluate the participation of two polymorphisms of the PCSK9 gene as genetic markers for developing subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiometabolic risk factors in asymptomatic individuals. Methods: We analyzed two PCSK9 polymorphisms (rs2479409 and rs615563) in 394 individuals with subclinical atherosclerosis and 1102 healthy controls using real time- polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Under various inheritance models adjusted for different confounding factors, the rs2479409 polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of developing subclinical atherosclerosis (OR = 1.53, P recessive = 0.041). Both polymorphisms were significantly associated with several cardiometabolic parameters. Conclusions: Our data suggest that rs2479409 polymorphism could be envisaged as a risk marker for subclinical atherosclerosis.
Improvement of the Diagnosis of Isoattenuating Pancreatic Carcinomas by Defining Their Characteristics on Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography and Endosonography with Fine-Needle Aspiration (EUS-FNA)
Authors: Psar Robert , Urban Ondrej , Cerna Marie , Rohan Tomas , Hill Martin
Published: April 2021

(1) Background. The aim was to define typical features of isoattenuating pancreatic carcinomas on computed tomography (CT) and endosonography and determine the yield of fine-needle aspiration endosonography (EUS-FNA) in their diagnosis. (2) Methods. One hundred and seventy-three patients with pancreatic carcinomas underwent multiphase contrast-enhanced CT followed by EUS-FNA at the time of diagnosis. Secondary signs on CT, size and location on EUS, and the yield of EUS-FNA in isoattenuating and hypoattenuating pancreatic cancer, were evaluated. (3) Results. Isoattenuating pancreatic carcinomas occurred in 12.1% of patients. Secondary signs of isoattenuating pancreatic carcinomas on CT were present in 95.2% cases and included dilatation of the pancreatic duct and/or the common bile duct (85.7%), interruption of the pancreatic duct (76.2%), abnormal pancreatic contour (33.3%), and atrophy of the distal parenchyma (9.5%) Compared to hypoattenuating pancreatic carcinomas, isoattenuating carcinomas were more often localized in the pancreatic head (100% vs. 59.2%; p < 0.001). In ROC (receiver operating characteristic) analysis, the optimal cut-off value for the size of isoattenuating carcinomas on EUS was ≤ 25 mm (AUC = 0.898). The sensitivity of EUS-FNA in confirmation of isoattenuating and hypoattenuating pancreatic cancer were 90.5% and 92.8% (p = 0.886). (4) Conclusions. Isoattenuating pancreatic head carcinoma can be revealed by indirect signs on CT and confirmed with high sensitivity by EUS-FNA.
Interpretation of Near-Infrared Imaging in Acute and Chronic Wound Care
Authors: Arnold Jonathan , Marmolejo Valerie L.
Published: April 2021

Vascular assessment is a critical component of wound care. Current routine noninvasive vascular studies have limitations which can give a false sense of security of the presence of adequate perfusion for healing. Near-infrared imaging modalities can serve as an additional diagnostic assessment of wounds in which adequate perfusion is a concern. Correct interpretation of near-infrared images obtained is critical as subtleties that exist in the acute and chronic wound population goes beyond the interpretation that increased signal is consistent with adequate perfusion for healing. The objective of this paper is to educate providers on the correct interpretation of this point-of-care imaging modality in day-to-day wound-care practice to guide clinical decision-making for rapid wound resolution.
MIMO Relaying UAVs Operating in Public Safety Scenarios
Authors: Viana Joseanne , Cercas Francisco , Correia Américo , Dinis Rui , Sebastião Pedro
Published: April 2021

Methods to implement communication in natural and humanmade disasters have been widely discussed in the scientific community. Scientists believe that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) relays will play a critical role in 5G public safety communications (PSC) due to their technical superiority. They have several significant advantages: a high degree of mobility, flexibility, exceptional line of sight, and real-time adaptative planning. For instance, cell edge coverage could be extended using relay UAVs. This paper summarizes the sidelink evolution in the 3GPP standardization associated with the usage of the device to device (D2D) techniques that use long term evolution (LTE) communication systems, potential extensions for 5G, and a study on the impact of circular mobility on relay UAVs using the software network simulator 3 (NS3). In this simulation, the transmitted packet percentage was evaluated where the speed of the UAV for users was changed. This paper also examines the multi-input multi-output (MIMO) communication applied to drones and proposes a new trajectory to assist users experiencing unfortunate circumstances. The overall communication is highly dependent on the drone speed and the use of MIMO and suitable antennas may influence overall transmission between users and the UAVs relay. When the UAVs relaying speed was configured at 108 km/h the total transmission rate was reduced to 55% in the group with 6 users allocated to each drone.
A Nonlinear Fingerprint-Level Radar Simulation Modeling Method for Specific Emitter Identification
Authors: Man Peng , Ding Chibiao , Ren Wenjuan , Xu Guangluan
Published: April 2021

With the development of information technology for modern military confrontations, radar emitter fingerprint identification has become a hot and difficult topic in the field of electronic warfare, especially in the field of electronic reconnaissance. Owing to the confidentiality of military systems, most of the existing studies use simulation data for radar emitter fingerprint identification experiments and analysis. However, most of the existing modeling methods focus on the mechanism analysis of the nonlinear fingerprint characteristics of a single independent component. Its main disadvantage is that it can only represent the nonlinear fingerprint characteristics of some components in the radar emitter system but cannot fully reflect the nonlinear fingerprint characteristics of the whole radar emitter system. In this paper, a nonlinear fingerprint-level radar simulation modeling method is proposed. In contrast to the previous single component modeling method, the systematic nonlinear characteristic modeling method of this model can provide individual radar signal data under different modulation modes and working parameters, and provide experimental conditions for data support and theoretical analysis of radar emitter fingerprint identification.
Modeling and Predictive Analysis of Small Internal Leakage of Hydraulic Cylinder Based on Neural Network
Authors: Guo Yuan , Xiong Ge , Zeng Liangcai , Li Qingfeng
Published: April 2021

The internal leakage of a hydraulic cylinder is an inevitable hydraulic system failure that seriously affects the working efficiency of the hydraulic system. Therefore, it is very important to accurately identify and predict leakage data in the hydraulic cylinder. In this paper, a model is proposed to simulate a small internal leakage of hydraulic cylinders, to convert the amount of leakage of hydraulic oil into strain signals through high-precision strain gauges and to train the collected strain signals using various neural networks to form a computational model and obtain prediction results from the model. The neural networks applied in this paper are convolutional neural networks, BP neural networks, T-S neural networks and Elman neural networks. The predicted results of the neural network are compared with the actual leakage amount. The results show that the prediction accuracy of the above four kinds of neural networks are all above 90%, of which the convolutional neural network is the most accurate. This research provides scientific and technical support for measuring and predicting small leaks.
A Mathematical Model for a Conceptual Design and Analyses of UAV Stabilization Systems
Authors: Kramar Vadim , Kabanov Aleksey , Dudnikov Sergey
Published: April 2021

This article considers the principle of constructing mathematical models of functionally complex multidimensional multiloop continuous–discrete UAV stabilization systems. This is based on the proposal for constructing a mathematical model based on the class of the considered complexity of the stabilization system-multidimensionality, multi-rating, and elasticity. Multiloop (multidimensional) UAV stabilization systems are often characterized by the control of several interconnected state elements and the existence of several channels for the propagation of signals and mutual connections between individual objects. This is due to the need not only to take into account the numerous disturbing factors (for example, wind) acting on the control object as well as the need to use several points of application of control actions. Additionally, an important point is the possible separation of the mutual influence of the roll and yaw channels of the UAV on its synthesis and analysis. For this purpose, a mathematical model has been constructed using a description in the form of transfer functions, and therefore, in the form of structural diagrams. The principle of obtaining transfer functions is shown to demonstrate additional dynamic constraints introduced by elastic deformations into the stabilization loop through gyroscopic devices and accelerometers. This will make it possible to formulate a methodology for analyzing the influence of aeroelastic constraints on the stabilization loop, which will allow developing approaches to formulate requirements for the effective placement of gyroscopes and accelerometers on the UAV. The proposed approach allows creating a complete system of analysis and synthesis tools for complex multidimensional continuous–discrete UAV stabilization systems.
A UHPLC-MS/MS Method for the Detection of Meat Substitution by Nine Legume Species in Emulsion-Type Sausages
Authors: Spörl Johannes , Speer Karl , Jira Wolfgang
Published: April 2021

Meat substitution by legume proteins in various types of meat products is a common practice. A reliable detection and quantification of these additives is required to control food specifications, especially regarding food fraud. Consequently, a UHPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous detection of alfalfa (Medicago sativa), broad bean (Vicia faba), chickpea (Cicer arietinum), lentil (Lens culinaris), lupine (Lupinus albus and Lupinus angustifolius), pea (Pisum sativum), peanut (Arachis hypogaea), and soy (Glycine max) proteins in meat products was developed. After protein extraction and tryptic digestion, three marker peptides for each legume species were measured by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) using an optimized extraction protocol. To the best of our knowledge, the marker peptides for alfalfa, broad bean, chickpea, and lentil have not been reported previously. Emulsion-type sausages with 0.1, 0.4, 0.7, 1.0, 1.3, 1.6, 1.9, 2.2, and 2.5% meat substitution by each legume species, representing the concentration range between inadvertently transferred cross-contaminations and the conscious use for meat substitution, were produced for matrix calibration. No false-positive results were recorded in blank samples. In the quantification of alfalfa, broad bean, chickpea, lentil, pea, peanut, and soy, 673 of 756 measuring data of the recovery rate in unknown sausages were in the accepted range of 80–120%.
Stochastic Gene Expression Revisited
Authors: Tomski Andrzej , Zakarczemny Maciej
Published: April 2021

We investigate the model of gene expression in the form of Iterated Function System (IFS), where the probability of choice of any iterated map depends on the state of the phase space. Random jump times of the process mark activation periods of the gene when pre-mRNA molecules are produced before mRNA and protein processing phases occur. The main idea is inspired by the continuous-time piecewise deterministic Markov process describing stochastic gene expression. We show that for our system there exists a unique invariant limit measure. We provide full probabilistic description of the process with a comparison of our results to those obtained for the model with continuous time.
Futurity as an Effect of Playing Horizon: Zero Dawn (2017)
Authors: Falkenhayner Nicole
Published: April 2021

Futurity denotes the quality or state of being in the future. This article explores futurity as an effect of response, as an aesthetic experience of playing a narrative video game. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the ways in which video games are engaged in ecocriticism as an aspect of cultural work invested in the future. In the presented reading of the 2017 video game Horizon: Zero Dawn, it is argued that the combination of the affect creating process of play, in combination with a posthumanist and postnatural plot, creates an experience of futurity, which challenges generic notions of linear temporal progress and of the conventional telos of dystopian fiction in a digital medium. The experience of the narrative video game Horizon Zero Dawn is presented as an example of an aesthetic experience that affords futurity as an effect of playing, interlinked with a reflection on the shape of the future in a posthumanist narrative.
Blood Platelets as an Important but Underrated Circulating Source of TGFβ
Authors: Karolczak Kamil , Watala Cezary
Published: April 2021

When treating diseases related primarily to tissue remodeling and fibrosis, it is desirable to regulate TGFβ concentration and modulate its biological effects. The highest cellular concentrations of TGFβ are found in platelets, with about 40% of all TGFβ found in peripheral blood plasma being secreted by them. Therefore, an understanding of the mechanisms of TGFβ secretion from platelets may be of key importance for medicine. Unfortunately, despite the finding that platelets are an important regulator of TGFβ levels, little research has been carried out into the development of platelet-directed therapies that might modulate the TGFβ-dependent processes. Nevertheless, there are some very encouraging reports suggesting that platelet TGFβ may be specifically involved in cardiovascular diseases, liver fibrosis, tumour metastasis, cerebral malaria and in the regulation of inflammatory cell functions. The purpose of this review is to briefly summarize these few, extremely encouraging reports to indicate the state of current knowledge in this topic. It also attempts to better characterize the influence of TGFβ on platelet activation and reactivity, and its shaping of the roles of blood platelets in haemostasis and thrombosis.
Nootkatone Is an Effective Repellent against Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus
Authors: Clarkson Taylor C. , Janich Ashley J. , Sanchez-Vargas Irma , Markle Erin D. , Gray Megan , Foster John R. , Black IV William C. , Foy Brian D. , Olson Ken E.
Published: April 2021

We tested a nootkatone product for insecticide activity against the most prominent vectors of Zika virus (ZIKV), Aedes aegypti, and Aedes albopictus. We tested the permethrin-resistant (PERM-R) Vergel strain of A. aegypti and the permethrin-susceptible (PERM-S) New Orleans strain of A. aegypti to determine if insecticide resistance affected their susceptibility to nootkatone. Bottle bioassays showed that the PERM-S strain (New Orleans) was more susceptible to nootkatone than the confirmed A. aegypti permethrin-resistant (PERM-R) strain, Vergel. The A. albopictus strain ATM-NJ95 was a known PERM-S strain and Coatzacoalcos permethrin susceptibility was unknown but proved to be similar to the ATM-NJ95 PERM-S phenotype. The A. albopictus strains (ATM-NJ95 and Coatzacoalcos) were as susceptible to nootkatone as the New Orleans strain. Bottle bioassays conducted with ZIKV-infected mosquitoes showed that the New Orleans (PERM-S) strain was as susceptible to nootkatone as the mock-infected controls, but the PERM-R strain was less susceptible to nootkatone than the mock-infected controls. Repellency/irritancy and biting inhibition bioassays (RIBB) of A. aegypti determined whether the nootkatone-treated arms of three human subjects prevented uninfected A. aegypti mosquitoes from being attracted to the test subjects and blood-feeding on them. The RIBB analyses data calculated the spatial activity index (SAI) and biting inhibition factor (BI) of A. aegypti at different nootkatone concentrations and then compared the SAI and BI of existing repellency products. We concluded that nootkatone repelled mosquitoes at a rate comparable to 7% DEET or 5% picaridin and has the potential to be an efficacious repellent against adult A. aegypti mosquitoes.
Optimization of Operating Conditions for Electrochemical Decolorization of Methylene Blue with Ti/α-PbO2/β-PbO2 Composite Electrode
Authors: Molla Md. Ashraful Islam , Yanagi Genta , Furukawa Mai , Tateishi Ikki , Katsumata Hideyuki , Kaneco Satoshi
Published: April 2021

α-PbO2 was introduced into the intermediate layer of an electrode to prevent the separation of the electrodeposited layer and maintain oxidizing power. The resulting Ti/α-PbO2/β-PbO2 composite electrode was applied to the electrochemical decolorization of methylene blue (MB) and the operating conditions for MB decolorization with the Ti/α-PbO2/β-PbO2 electrode were optimized. The morphology, structure, composition, and electrochemical performance of Ti/α-PbO2 and Ti/α-PbO2/β-PbO2 anode were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The optimum operating parameters for the electrochemical decolorization of MB at Ti/α-PbO2/β-PbO2 composites were as follows: Na2SO4 electrolyte 0.05 g L−1, initial concentration of MB 9 mg L−1, cell voltage 20 V, current density 0.05–0.10 A cm−2, and pH 6.0. MB dye could be completely decolorized with Ti/α-PbO2/β-PbO2 for the treatment time of less than one hour, and the dye decolorization efficiency with Ti/α-PbO2/β-PbO2 was about 5 times better, compared with those obtained with Ti/α-PbO2.
Modeling of Drag Finishing—Influence of Abrasive Media Shape
Authors: Malkorra Irati , Souli Hanène , Salvatore Ferdinando , Arrazola Pedro , Rech Joel , Cici Mehmet , Mathis Aude , Rolet Jason
Published: April 2021

Drag finishing is a widely used superfinishing technique in the industry to polish parts under the action of abrasive media combined with an active surrounding liquid. However, the understanding of this process is not complete. It is known that pyramidal abrasive media are more prone to rapidly improving the surface roughness compared to spherical ones. Thus, this paper aims to model how the shape of abrasive media (spherical vs. pyramidal) influences the material removal mechanisms at the interface. An Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian model of drag finishing is proposed with the purpose of estimating the mechanical loadings (normal stress, shear stress) induced by both abrasive media at the interface. The rheological behavior of both abrasive slurries (media and liquid) has been characterized by means of a Casagrande direct shear test. In parallel, experimental drag finishing tests were carried out with both media to quantify the drag forces. The correlation between the numerical and experimental drag forces highlights that the abrasive media with a pyramidal shape exhibits a higher shear resistance, and this is responsible for inducing higher mechanical loadings on the surfaces and, through this, for a faster decrease of the surface roughness.
Machining Ti-6Al-4V Alloy Using Nano-Cutting Fluids: Investigation and Analysis
Authors: Eltaggaz Abdelkrem , Nouzil Ibrahim , Deiab Ibrahim
Published: April 2021

Minimum Quantity Lubrication nanofluid (MQL-nanofluid) is a viable sustainable alternative to conventional flood cooling and provides very good cooling and lubrication in the machining of difficult to cut materials such as titanium and Inconel. The cutting action provides very difficult conditions for the coolant to access the cutting zone and the level of difficulty increases with higher cutting speeds. Furthermore, high compressive stresses, strain hardening and high chemical activity results in the formation of a ‘seizure zone’ at the tool-chip interface. In this work, the impact of MQL-nanofluid at the seizure zone and the corresponding effects on tool wear, surface finish, and power consumption during machining of Ti-6Al-4V was investigated. Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles were selected to use as nano-additives at different weight fraction concentrations (0, 2, and 4 wt.%). It was observed that under pure MQL strategy there was significant material adhesion on the rake face of the tool while the adhesion was reduced in the presence of MQL-nanofluid at the tool-chip interface, thus indicating a reduction in the tool chip contact length (TCCL) and reduced seizure effect. Furthermore, the flank wear varied from 0.162 to 0.561 mm and the average surface roughness (Ra) varied from 0.512 to 2.81 µm. The results indicate that the nanoparticle concentration and the reduction in the seizure zone positively influence the tool life and quality of surface finish.
Genetic Predictors for Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome—A Systematic Review
Authors: Waespe Nicolas , Strebel Sven , Jurkovic Mlakar Simona , Krajinovic Maja , Kuehni Claudia Elisabeth , Nava Tiago , Ansari Marc
Published: April 2021

Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) is a potentially life-threatening complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or antineoplastic treatment without HSCT. Genetic variants were investigated for their association with SOS, but the evidence is inconclusive. We performed a systematic literature review to identify genes, gene variants, and methods of association analyses of genetic markers with SOS. We identified 23 studies after HSCT and 4 studies after antineoplastic treatment without HSCT. One study (4%) performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) and replicated the analysis in an independent cohort, 26 used a candidate-gene approach. Three studies included >200 participants (11%), and six were of high quality (22%). Variants in 34 genes were tested in candidate gene studies after HSCT. Variants in GSTA1 were associated with SOS in three studies, MTHFR in two, and CPS1, CTH, CYP2B6, GSTM1, GSTP1, HFE, and HPSE in one study each. UGT2B10 and LNPK variants were identified in a WES analysis. After exposure to antineoplastic agents without HSCT, variants in six genes were tested and only GSTM1 was associated with SOS. There was a substantial heterogeneity of populations within and between studies. Future research should be based on sufficiently large homogenous samples, adjust for covariates, and replicate findings in independent cohorts.
Genetic Variants of lncRNA GAS5 Are Associated with the Clinicopathologic Development of Oral Cancer
Authors: Hsieh Ming-Hong , Lu Hsueh-Ju , Lin Chiao-Wen , Lee Chia-Yi , Yang Shang-Jung , Wu Pei-Hsuan , Chen Mu-Kuan , Yang Shun-Fa
Published: April 2021

The long noncoding RNA, Growth arrest-specific 5 (GAS5) plays a crucial role in the development of oral cancer. However, potential genetic variants in GAS5 that affect the susceptibility and progression of oral cancer have rarely been explored. In this study, two loci of GAS5 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs145204276 and rs55829688) were genotyped by using the TaqMan allelic discrimination in 1125 oral cancer patients and 1195 non-oral-cancer individuals. After statistical analyses, the distribution of both the GAS5 SNP rs145204276 and GAS5 SNP rs55829688 frequencies were similar between the study and control groups. However, the patients with GAS5 SNP rs145204276 variants (Ins/Del or Del/Del) showed a higher tendency of moderate to poor cell differentiation of oral cancer (OR: 1.454, 95% CI: 1.041–2.031, p = 0.028). Moreover, the GAS5 SNP rs145204276 variants (Ins/Del or Del/Del) in the non-alcohol-drinking population were associated with significantly advanced tumor stage (OR: 1.500, 95% CI: 1.081–2.081, p = 0.015) and larger tumor size (OR: 1.494, 95% CI: 1.076–2.074, p = 0.016). Furthermore, individuals with the GAS5 SNP rs145204276 variant were associated with a higher expression of GAS5 in the GTEx database (p = 0.002), and the higher GAS5 level was associated with poor cell differentiation, advanced tumor stage and larger tumor size in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma from the TCGA database (all p < 0.05). In conclusion, the GAS5 SNP rs145204276 variant is related to poor-differentiation cell status in oral cancer. Besides, the presence of the GAS5 SNP rs145204276 variant is associated with a worse tumor stage and tumor size in oral cancer patients without alcohol drinking.
Study of the Electrical Properties of Aluminate Cement Adhesives for Porcelain Insulators
Authors: Wan Huiwen , Hu Zhangyin , Liu Gang , Xiao Jiadong , Wang Yong
Published: April 2021

Electrical properties are one of the essential parameters of cement-based materials used in suspension porcelain insulators. This paper studied the electrical properties of aluminate cement adhesives (ACA) containing silica fume (SF), as well as their compressive strength and porosity. The results indicated that the addition of silica fume improved the resistivity of ACA under a saturated state (relative humidity is 50%). This was mainly attributed to the decrease of the ACA’s pore connectivity due to the SF’s filling effect. However, the early compressive strength of ACA was slightly reduced by the addition of SF. Under an unsaturated state, the ACA’s resistivity without the SF gradually exceeded that with the SF at the extension of drying time. The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) results indicated that the addition of SF content increased the ACA’s porosity; for the tiny pores especially, (the size less than 25 nm), this increased by 3.4%. Meanwhile, the addition of SF increased the tortuosity of the ACA’s conductive channels, which could improve its resistivity. Therefore, SF is recommended to be used in cement-based adhesives on insulators to lower the cost and improve the resistivity.
Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)—A Systemic Review and Comparison of Clinical Presentation and Symptomatology
Authors: Wong Timothy L. , Weitzer Danielle J.
Published: April 2021

Background and Objectives: Long COVID defines a series of chronic symptoms that patients may experience after resolution of acute COVID-19. Early reports from studies with patients with long COVID suggests a constellation of symptoms with similarities to another chronic medical illness—myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). A review study comparing and contrasting ME/CFS with reported symptoms of long COVID may yield mutualistic insight into the characterization and management of both conditions. Materials and Methods: A systemic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE and PsycInfo through to 31 January 2021 for studies related to long COVID symptomatology. The literature search was conducted in accordance with PRISMA methodology. Results: Twenty-one studies were included in the qualitative analysis. Long COVID symptoms reported by the included studies were compared to a list of ME/CFS symptoms compiled from multiple case definitions. Twenty-five out of 29 known ME/CFS symptoms were reported by at least one selected long COVID study. Conclusions: Early studies into long COVID symptomatology suggest many overlaps with clinical presentation of ME/CFS. The need for monitoring and treatment for patients post-COVID is evident. Advancements and standardization of long COVID research methodologies would improve the quality of future research, and may allow further investigations into the similarities and differences between long COVID and ME/CFS.
Exploring the Glucose Fluxotype of the E. coli y-ome Using High-Resolution Fluxomics
Authors: Bergès Cécilia , Cahoreau Edern , Millard Pierre , Enjalbert Brice , Dinclaux Mickael , Heuillet Maud , Kulyk Hanna , Gales Lara , Butin Noémie , Chazalviel Maxime , Palama Tony , Guionnet Matthieu , Sokol Sergueï , Peyriga Lindsay , Bellvert Floriant , Heux Stéphanie , Portais Jean-Charles
Published: April 2021

We have developed a robust workflow to measure high-resolution fluxotypes (metabolic flux phenotypes) for large strain libraries under fully controlled growth conditions. This was achieved by optimizing and automating the whole high-throughput fluxomics process and integrating all relevant software tools. This workflow allowed us to obtain highly detailed maps of carbon fluxes in the central carbon metabolism in a fully automated manner. It was applied to investigate the glucose fluxotypes of 180 Escherichia coli strains deleted for y-genes. Since the products of these y-genes potentially play a role in a variety of metabolic processes, the experiments were designed to be agnostic as to their potential metabolic impact. The obtained data highlight the robustness of E. coli’s central metabolism to y-gene deletion. For two y-genes, deletion resulted in significant changes in carbon and energy fluxes, demonstrating the involvement of the corresponding y-gene products in metabolic function or regulation. This work also introduces novel metrics to measure the actual scope and quality of high-throughput fluxomics investigations.
Montmorillonite-Based Two-Dimensional Nanocomposites: Preparation and Applications
Authors: Wang Runzhi , Li Huijie , Ge Guangxu , Dai Nan , Rao Jinsong , Ran Haodi , Zhang Yuxin
Published: April 2021

Montmorillonite (Mt) is a kind of 2:1 type layered phyllosilicate mineral with nanoscale structure, large surface area, high cation exchange capacity and excellent adsorption capacity. By virtue of such unique properties, many scholars have paid much attention to the further modification of Mt-based two-dimensional (2D) functional composite materials, such as Mt-metal hydroxides and Mt-carbon composites. In this review, we focus on two typical Mt-2D nanocomposite: Mt@layered double hydroxide (Mt@LDH) and Mt@graphene (Mt@GR) and their fabrication strategies, as well as their important applications in pollution adsorption, medical antibacterial, film thermal conduction and flame-retardant. In principle, the prospective trend of the composite preparation of Mt-2D nancomposites and promising fields are well addressed.
Simultaneous Conduction and Valence Band Regulation of Indium-Based Quantum Dots for Efficient H2 Photogeneration
Authors: Li Xiu-Ping , Huang Rong-Jin , Chen Cong , Li Tianduo , Gao Yu-Ji
Published: April 2021

Indium-based chalcogenide semiconductors have been served as the promising candidates for solar H2 evolution reaction, however, the related studies are still in its infancy and the enhancement of efficiency remains a grand challenge. Here, we report that the photocatalytic H2 evolution activity of quantized indium chalcogenide semiconductors could be dramatically aroused by the co-decoration of transition metal Zn and Cu. Different from the traditional metal ion doping strategies which only focus on narrowing bandgap for robust visible light harvesting, the conduction and valence band are coordinately regulated to realize the bandgap narrowing and the raising of thermodynamic driving force for proton reduction, simultaneously. Therefore, the as-prepared noble metal-free Cu0.4-ZnIn2S4 quantum dots (QDs) exhibits extraordinary activity for photocatalytic H2 evolution. Under optimal conditions, the Cu0.4-ZnIn2S4 QDs could produce H2 with the rate of 144.4 μmol h−1 mg−1, 480-fold and 6-fold higher than that of pristine In2S3 QDs and Cu-doped In2S3 QDs counterparts respectively, which is even comparable with the state-of-the-art cadmium chalcogenides QDs.
Highly Branched Polymers Based on Poly(amino acid)s for Biomedical Application
Authors: Thompson Marisa , Scholz Carmen
Published: April 2021

Polymers consisting of amino acid building blocks continue to receive consideration for biomedical applications. Since poly(amino acid)s are built from natural amino acids, the same building blocks proteins are made of, they are biocompatible, biodegradable and their degradation products are metabolizable. Some amino acids display a unique asymmetrical AB2 structure, which facilitates their ability to form branched structures. This review compares the three forms of highly branched polymeric structures: structurally highly organized dendrimers, dendrigrafts and the less organized, but readily synthesizable hyperbranched polymers. Their syntheses are reviewed and compared, methods of synthesis modulations are considered and variations on their traditional syntheses are shown. The potential use of highly branched polymers in the realm of biomedical applications is discussed, specifically their applications as delivery vehicles for genes and drugs and their use as antiviral compounds. Of the twenty essential amino acids, L-lysine, L-glutamic acid, and L-aspartic acid are asymmetrical AB2 molecules, but the bulk of the research into highly branched poly(amino acid)s has focused on the polycationic poly(L-lysine) with a lesser extent on poly(L-glutamic acid). Hence, the majority of potential applications lies in delivery systems for nucleic acids and this review examines and compares how these three types of highly branched polymers function as non-viral gene delivery vectors. When considering drug delivery systems, the small size of these highly branched polymers is advantageous for the delivery of inhalable drug. Even though highly branched polymers, in particular dendrimers, have been studied for more than 40 years for the delivery of genes and drugs, they have not translated in large scale into the clinic except for promising antiviral applications that have been commercialized.
Thermal Transport Evolution Due to Nanostructural Transformations in Ga-Doped Indium-Tin-Oxide Thin Films
Authors: Cocemasov Alexandr , Brinzari Vladimir , Jeong Do-Gyeom , Korotcenkov Ghenadii , Vatavu Sergiu , Lee Jong S. , Nika Denis L.
Published: April 2021

We report on a comprehensive theoretical and experimental investigation of thermal conductivity in indium-tin-oxide (ITO) thin films with various Ga concentrations (0–30 at. %) deposited by spray pyrolysis technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy have shown a structural transformation in the range 15–20 at. % Ga from the nanocrystalline to the amorphous phase. Room temperature femtosecond time domain thermoreflectance measurements showed nonlinear decrease of thermal conductivity in the range 2.0–0.5 Wm−1 K−1 depending on Ga doping level. It was found from a comparison between density functional theory calculations and XRD data that Ga atoms substitute In atoms in the ITO nanocrystals retaining Ia-3 space group symmetry. The calculated phonon dispersion relations revealed that Ga doping leads to the appearance of hybridized metal atom vibrations with avoided-crossing behavior. These hybridized vibrations possess shortened mean free paths and are the main reason behind the thermal conductivity drop in nanocrystalline phase. An evolution from propagative to diffusive phonon thermal transport in ITO:Ga with 15–20 at. % of Ga was established. The suppressed thermal conductivity of ITO:Ga thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis may be crucial for their thermoelectric applications.
Alkali-Treated Titanium Coated with a Polyurethane, Magnesium and Hydroxyapatite Composite for Bone Tissue Engineering
Authors: Agour Mahmoud , Abdal-hay Abdalla , Hassan Mohamed K. , Bartnikowski Michal , Ivanovski Sašo
Published: April 2021

The aim of this study was to form a functional layer on the surface of titanium (Ti) implants to enhance their bioactivity. Layers of polyurethane (PU), containing hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles (NPs) and magnesium (Mg) particles, were deposited on alkali-treated Ti surfaces using a cost-effective dip-coating approach. The coatings were assessed in terms of morphology, chemical composition, adhesion strength, interfacial bonding, and thermal properties. Additionally, cell response to the variably coated Ti substrates was investigated using MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells, including assessment of cell adhesion, cell proliferation, and osteogenic activity through an alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay. The results showed that the incorporation of HAp NPs enhanced the interfacial bonding between the coating and the alkali-treated Ti surface. Furthermore, the presence of Mg and HAp particles enhanced the surface charge properties as well as cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation. Our results suggest that the deposition of a bioactive composite layer containing Mg and HAp particles on Ti implants may have the potential to induce bone formation.