bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Single-Step Synthesis of Nanocrystalline Fe-Ni/Fe-Co-Ni Magnetic Alloy Coating via Directional Plasma Spray
Authors: Shi Bo , Li Chen , Han Ruoyu , Li Qifan , Li Pengfei , Chen Xi
Published: March 2023

Fe-Ni-based nanocrystalline coatings with unique magnetic properties are widely used as soft magnetic materials and usually act as the core component in electronic devices. Nanocrystallized particles and thin films have become a popular contemporary research direction. Electrical explosion, characterized by an ultrafast atomization and quenching rate (dT/dt ~ 109–1011 K/s) for the material, is a unique approach for the rapid “single-step” synthesis of nanomaterials and coatings. In this study, experiments were carried out with intertwined wire under a directional spraying device in atmospheric Ar ambience. Two load systems of Fe-Ni and Fe-Ni-Co were considered in this work. Electrical parameters and high-speed camera images were obtained to reveal the physical mechanism and dynamic process of explosive spraying. The morphologic and crystallographic results were characterized by SEM and XRD. The magnetic properties were measured via VSM equipment, and the parameters of saturation magnetization Ms, residual magnetization Mr, and coercivity Hc were emphasized in the hysteresis loop pattern. The experimental results indicate that a dense coating was prepared with extremely low porosity, and the morphology of the coating surface shows different regions characterized by solidified chunks and loose particles. XRD patterns showed that crystalline structures were discrepant under two load systems with different Ni weight proportions. Magnetic measurements gave a thin and narrow hysteresis loop, which represents loops with good soft magnetic properties. Quantitatively, coercivity Hc decreased from 59.3 to 52.6 and from 121.0 to 49.9 for the coatings not containing and containing Co under parallel and perpendicular fields, respectively.
Finite Element Analysis of Different Osseocartilaginous Reconstruction Techniques in Animal Model Knees
Authors: Cosma Cosmin , Apostu Dragos , Vilau Cristian , Popan Alexandru , Oltean-Dan Daniel , Balc Nicolae , Tomoaie Gheorghe , Benea Horea
Published: March 2023

Lesions of the articular cartilage are frequent in all age populations and lead to functional impairment. Multiple surgical techniques have failed to provide an effective method for cartilage repair. The aim of our research was to evaluate the effect of two different compression forces on three types of cartilage repair using finite element analysis (FEA). Initially, an in vivo study was performed on sheep. The in vivo study was prepared as following: Case 0—control group, without cartilage lesion; Case 1—cartilage lesion treated with macro-porous collagen implants; Case 2—cartilage lesion treated with collagen implants impregnated with bone marrow concentrate (BMC); Case 3—cartilage lesion treated with collagen implants impregnated with adipose-derived stem cells (ASC). Using the computed tomography (CT) data, virtual femur-cartilage-tibia joints were created for each Case. The study showed better results in bone changes when using porous collagen implants impregnated with BMC or ASC stem cells for the treatment of osseocartilaginous defects compared with untreated macro-porous implant. After 7 months postoperative, the presence of un-resorbed collagen influences the von Mises stress distribution, total deformation, and displacement on the Z axis. The BMC treatment was superior to ASC cells in bone tissue morphology, resembling the biomechanics of the control group in all FEA simulations.
Research on the Application of BRBs in Seismic Resistance of Bridge
Authors: Li Xiaoli , Zou Jina , Zhao Yuemin , Wang Dongsheng
Published: March 2023

The beneficial effects of buckling-restrained braces (BRBs) in bridge engineering have attracted widespread attention in recent years. Firstly, this paper introduces the basic working mechanism of traditional BRBs, and the new forms and new materials of BRBs are also being studied. Secondly, the responses and performances of BRBs applied to (piers) girder bridges, cable-stayed bridges, and arch bridges are systematically studied. Besides, studies on the connection nodes between BRBs and structures have been paid more and more attention. By comparing and analyzing the damping effect of BRBs alone and that of BRBs with other seismic isolation devices on a bridge, it is determined that a reasonable BRB layout can effectively improve the seismic performance of the bridge with better energy dissipation capacity and load-carrying capacity than other components, but they are less used in practice and do not have mature specifications to be applied on different bridges. Finally, the following trends in BRB development in bridge research are discussed: the diversity of BRB forms, applications of BRB, node connection security, and combined damping measures. These areas should be explored through in-depth theoretical and experimental research.
The Effects of Friction and Temperature in the Chemical–Mechanical Planarization Process
Authors: Ilie Filip , Minea Ileana-Liliana , Cotici Constantin Daniel , Hristache Andrei-Florin
Published: March 2023

Chemical–mechanical planarization (CMP) represents the preferred technology in which both chemical and mechanical interactions are combined to achieve global planarization/polishing of wafer surfaces (wafer patterns from metal with a selective layer, in this paper). CMP is a complex process of material removal process by friction, which interferes with numerous mechanical and chemical parameters. Compared with chemical parameters, mechanical parameters have a greater influence on the material removal rate (MRR). The mechanical parameters manifest by friction force (Ff) and heat generated by friction in the CMP process. The Ff can be estimated by its monitoring in the CMP process, and process temperature is obtained with help of an infrared rays (IR) sensor. Both the Ff and the MRR increase by introducing colloidal silica (SiO2) as an abrasive into the selective layer CMP slurry. The calculated wafer non-uniformity (WNU) was correlated with the friction coefficient (COF). The control of Ff and of the slurry stability is important to maintain a good quality of planarization with optimal results, because Ff participates in mechanical abrasion, and large Ff may generate defects on the wafer surface. Additionally, the temperature generated by the Ff increases as the SiO2 concentration increases. The MRR of the selective layer into the CMP slurry showed a non-linear (Prestonian) behavior, useful not only to improve the planarization level but to improve its non-uniformity due to the various pressure distributions. The evaluation of the Ff allowed the calculation of the friction energy (Ef) to highlight the chemical contribution in selective-layer CMP, from which it derived an empirical model for the material removal amount (MRA) and validated by the CMP results. With the addition of abrasive nanoparticles into the CMP slurry, their concentration increased and the MRA of the selective layer improved; Ff and MRR can be increased due to the number of chemisorbed active abrasive nanoparticles by the selective layer. Therefore, a single abrasive was considered to better understand the effect of SiO2 concentration as an abrasive and of the MRR features depending on abrasive nanoparticle concentration. This paper highlights the correlation between friction and temperature of the SiO2 slurry with CMP results, useful to examine the temperature distribution. All the MRRs depending on Ef after planarization with various SiO2 concentrations had a non-linear characteristic. The obtained results can help in developing a CMP process more effectively.
Material-Inherent Noise Sources in Quantum Information Architecture
Authors: Yang HeeBong , Kim Na Young
Published: March 2023

NISQ is a representative keyword at present as an acronym for “noisy intermediate-scale quantum”, which identifies the current era of quantum information processing (QIP) technologies. QIP science and technologies aim to accomplish unprecedented performance in computation, communications, simulations, and sensing by exploiting the infinite capacity of parallelism, coherence, and entanglement as governing quantum mechanical principles. For the last several decades, quantum computing has reached to the technology readiness level 5, where components are integrated to build mid-sized commercial products. While this is a celebrated and triumphant achievement, we are still a great distance away from quantum-superior, fault-tolerant architecture. To reach this goal, we need to harness technologies that recognize undesirable factors to lower fidelity and induce errors from various sources of noise with controllable correction capabilities. This review surveys noisy processes arising from materials upon which several quantum architectures have been constructed, and it summarizes leading research activities in searching for origins of noise and noise reduction methods to build advanced, large-scale quantum technologies in the near future.
A One-Dimensional Convolutional Neural Network-Based Method for Diagnosis of Tooth Root Cracks in Asymmetric Spur Gear Pairs
Authors: Kalay Onur Can , Karpat Esin , Dirik Ahmet Emir , Karpat Fatih
Published: March 2023

Gears are fundamental components used to transmit power and motion in modern industry. Their health condition monitoring is crucial to ensure reliable operations, prevent unscheduled shutdowns, and minimize human casualties. From this standpoint, the present study proposed a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1-D CNN) model to diagnose tooth root cracks for standard and asymmetric involute spur gears. A 6-degrees-of-freedom dynamic model of a one-stage spur gear transmission was established to achieve this end and simulate vibration responses of healthy and cracked (25%–50%–75%–100%) standard (20°/20°) and asymmetric (20°/25° and 20°/30°) spur gear pairs. Three levels of signal-to-noise ratios were added to the vibration data to complicate the early fault diagnosis task. The primary consideration of the present study is to investigate the asymmetric gears’ dynamic characteristics and whether tooth asymmetry would yield an advantage in detecting tooth cracks easier to add to the improvements it affords in terms of impact resistance, bending strength, and fatigue life. The findings indicated that the developed 1-D CNN model’s classification accuracy could be improved by up to 12.8% by using an asymmetric (20°/30°) tooth profile instead of a standard (20°/20°) design.
Experimental Design for Progressive Type I Interval Censoring on the Lifetime Performance Index of Chen Lifetime Distribution
Authors: Wu Shu-Fei , Song Meng-Zong
Published: March 2023

The lifetime performance index is commonly utilized to assess the lifetime performance of products. Based on the testing procedure for the lifetime of products following Chen distribution, an experimental design for progressive type I interval censoring is determined to achieve the desired power level while minimizing total experimental cost. For fixed inspection interval lengths and an unfixed number of inspection intervals, the required number of inspection intervals and sample sizes to achieve the minimum experimental costs are computed and presented in a table format. For unfixed termination times, the required number of inspection intervals, minimum sample sizes, and equal interval lengths are obtained and presented in a table format, while the minimum experimental costs are achieved. Finally, a practical example is presented to demonstrate the utilization of this experimental design for collecting samples and conducting a testing procedure to evaluate the lifetime performance of products.
Multi-Objective Discrete Brainstorming Optimizer to Solve the Stochastic Multiple-Product Robotic Disassembly Line Balancing Problem Subject to Disassembly Failures
Authors: Xu Gongdan , Zhang Zhiwei , Li Zhiwu , Guo Xiwang , Qi Liang , Liu Xianzhao
Published: March 2023

Robots are now widely used in product disassembly lines, which significantly improves end-of-life (EOL) product disassembly efficiency. Most of the current research on disassembly line balancing problems focuses on decomposing one product. More than one product can be disassembled concurrently, which can further improve the efficiency. Moreover, uncertainty such as the depreciation of EOL products, may result in disassembly failure. In this research, a stochastic multi-product robotic disassembly line balancing model is established using an AND/OR graph. It takes the precedence relationship, cycle constraint, and disassembly failure into consideration to maximize the profit and minimize the energy consumption for disassembling multiple products. A Pareto-improved multi-objective brainstorming optimization algorithm combined with stochastic simulation is proposed to solve the problem. Furthermore, by conducting experiments on some real cases and comparing with four state-of-the-art multi-objective optimization algorithms, i.e., the multi-objective discrete gray wolf optimizer, artificial bee colony algorithm, nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II, and multi-objective evolutionary algorithm based on decomposition, this paper validates its excellent performance in solving the concerned problem.
Comparison of Conventional and Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery Regarding Macula Behavior and Thickness
Authors: Slezak Filip , Thumann Gabriele , Kropp Martina , Cvejic Zeljka , De Clerck Eline Elodie Barbara , Bravetti Giorgio Enrico , Guber Ivo , Pajic Bojan
Published: March 2023

Background: The aim of the study was to compare macular thickness behavior and clinical outcomes after femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) versus phacoemulsification conventional surgery (PCS). Methods: Macular Optical Coherence Tomography OCT was analyzed in 42 patients preoperatively, 1 day, 12 days, 4 weeks and 6 weeks postoperatively according to the 9-field Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) grid. Clinical findings were collected in both the FLACS group and the PCS group. Results: There was no significant difference in macular thickness between the FLACS and PCS groups (p > 0.05). However, from postoperative day 12 onwards, there was a significant increase in macular thickness observed in both groups (p < 0.001). In the FLACS group, a significant increase in visual acuity was observed on the first postoperative day, as compared to the PCS group (p = 0.006). Conclusions: The use of a low-energy high-frequency femtosecond laser has potentially no effect on postoperative macular thickness. In the FLACS group, visual rehabilitation was significantly faster as compared to the PCS group. No complications occurred intraoperatively in either group.
Microbial and Host Metabolites at the Backstage of Fever: Current Knowledge about the Co-Ordinate Action of Receptors and Molecules Underlying Pathophysiology and Clinical Implications
Authors: Santacroce Luigi , Colella Marica , Charitos Ioannis Alexandros , Di Domenico Marina , Palmirotta Raffaele , Jirillo Emilio
Published: March 2023

Fever represents an elevation of body temperature, that exerts a protective effect against pathogens. Innate immune cells and neurons are implicated in the regulation of body temperature. Pathogen-associated molecular patterns, i.e., lipopolysaccharides from Gram-negative bacteria and peptidoglycan and lipoteichoic acid from Gram-positive bacteria are exogenous pyrogens, that bind to Toll-like receptors on immune and non-immune cells. The subsequent release of pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6 and Tumor necrosis factor-alpha] and their passage through the brain trigger the febrile response. In fact, neurons of the pre-optic area produce prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), that, in turn, bind to the PGE2 receptors; thus, generating fever. Apart from classical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, i.e., aspirin and acetaminophen, various botanicals are currently used as antipyretic agents and, therefore, their mechanisms of action will be elucidated.
GC/EI/MS and 1H NMR Metabolomics Reveal the Effect of an Olive Tree Endophytic Bacillus sp. Lipopeptide Extract on the Metabolism of Colletotrichum acutatum
Authors: Papadopoulou Evgenia-Anna , Angelis Apostolis , Skaltsounis Alexios-Leandros , Aliferis Konstantinos A.
Published: March 2023

The transition to the Green Deal era requires the discovery of alternative sources of bioactivity and an in-depth understanding of their toxicity to target and non-target organisms. Endophytes have recently emerged as a source of bioactivity of high potential for applications in plant protection, used either per se as biological control agents or their metabolites as bioactive compounds. The olive tree endophytic isolate Bacillus sp. PTA13 produces an array of bioactive lipopeptides (LPs), which additionally exhibit reduced phytotoxicity, features that make them candidates for further research focusing on olive tree plant protection. Here, GC/EI/MS and 1H NMR metabolomics were employed to study the toxicity of a Bacillus sp. PTA13 LP extract on the olive tree pathogen Colletotrichum acutatum, which causes the devastating disease olive anthracnose. The discovery of resistant isolates of the pathogen to the applied fungicides makes the research on the development of improved sources of bioactivity of paramount importance. Analyses revealed that the applied extract affects the metabolism of the fungus by interfering with the biosynthesis of various metabolites and its energy production. LPs had a great impact on the aromatic amino acid metabolism, the energy equilibrium of the fungus and its fatty acid content. Additionally, the applied LPs affected the levels of pathogenesis-related metabolites, a finding that supports their potential for further research as plant protection agents.
Multi-Modal Portable Respiratory Rate Monitoring Device for Childhood Pneumonia Detection
Authors: Khan Sadeque Reza , Wang Xiaohan , Jiang Tiantao , Ju Wei , Radacsi Norbert , Kadir Muhammad Abdul , Rabbani Khondkar Siddique-e , Cunningham Steve , Mitra Srinjoy
Published: March 2023

Accurate assessment of Respiratory Rate (RR) is the most important mechanism in detecting pneumonia in low-resource settings. Pneumonia is a disease with one of the highest mortality rates among young children under five. However, the diagnosis of pneumonia for infants remains challenging, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). In such situations, RR is most often measured manually with visual inspection. Accurate RR measurement requires the child to remain calm without any stress for a few minutes. The difficulty in achieving this with a sick child in a clinical environment can result in errors and misdiagnosis, even more so when the child is crying and non-cooperating around unfamiliar adults. Therefore, we propose an automated novel RR monitoring device built with textile glove and dry electrodes which can make use of the relaxed posture when the child is resting on the carer’s lap. This portable system is non-invasive and made with affordable instrumentation integrated on customized textile glove. The glove has multi-modal automated RR detection mechanism that simultaneously uses bio-impedance and accelerometer data. This novel textile glove with dry electrodes can easily be worn by a parent/carer and is washable. The real-time display on a mobile app shows the raw data and the RR value, allowing a healthcare professional to monitor the results from afar. The prototype device has been tested on 10 volunteers with age variation of 3 years to 33 years, including male and female. The maximum variation of measured RR with the proposed system is ±2 compared to the traditional manual counting method. It does not create any discomfort for either the child or the carer and can be used up to 60 to 70 sessions/day before recharging.
Recent Progress and Perspectives on Neural Chip Platforms Integrating PDMS-Based Microfluidic Devices and Microelectrode Arrays
Authors: Xu Shihong , Liu Yaoyao , Yang Yan , Zhang Kui , Liang Wei , Xu Zhaojie , Wu Yirong , Luo Jinping , Zhuang Chengyu , Cai Xinxia
Published: March 2023

Recent years have witnessed a spurt of progress in the application of the encoding and decoding of neural activities to drug screening, diseases diagnosis, and brain–computer interactions. To overcome the constraints of the complexity of the brain and the ethical considerations of in vivo research, neural chip platforms integrating microfluidic devices and microelectrode arrays have been raised, which can not only customize growth paths for neurons in vitro but also monitor and modulate the specialized neural networks grown on chips. Therefore, this article reviews the developmental history of chip platforms integrating microfluidic devices and microelectrode arrays. First, we review the design and application of advanced microelectrode arrays and microfluidic devices. After, we introduce the fabrication process of neural chip platforms. Finally, we highlight the recent progress on this type of chip platform as a research tool in the field of brain science and neuroscience, focusing on neuropharmacology, neurological diseases, and simplified brain models. This is a detailed and comprehensive review of neural chip platforms. This work aims to fulfill the following three goals: (1) summarize the latest design patterns and fabrication schemes of such platforms, providing a reference for the development of other new platforms; (2) generalize several important applications of chip platforms in the field of neurology, which will attract the attention of scientists in the field; and (3) propose the developmental direction of neural chip platforms integrating microfluidic devices and microelectrode arrays.
Design of Wearable Finger Sensors for Rehabilitation Applications
Authors: Bozali Beyza , Ghodrat Sepideh , Jansen Kaspar M. B.
Published: March 2023

As an emerging technology, smart textiles have attracted attention for rehabilitation purposes or to monitor heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, body posture, as well as limb movements. Traditional rigid sensors do not always provide the desired level of comfort, flexibility, and adaptability. To improve this, recent research focuses on the development of textile-based sensors. In this study, knitted strain sensors that are linear up to 40% strain with a sensitivity of 1.19 and a low hysteresis characteristic were integrated into different versions of wearable finger sensors for rehabilitation purposes. The results showed that the different finger sensor versions have accurate responses to different angles of the index finger at relaxation, 45° and 90°. Additionally, the effect of spacer layer thickness between the finger and sensor was investigated.
Biocontrol of Soft Rot Dickeya and Pectobacterium Pathogens by Broad-Spectrum Antagonistic Bacteria within Paenibacillus polymyxa Complex
Authors: Hossain Afsana , Ali Md. Arshad , Lin Li , Luo Jinyan , You Yuxin , Masum Md. Mahidul Islam , Jiang Yugen , Wang Yanli , Li Bin , An Qianli
Published: March 2023

Polymyxin-producing bacteria within the Paenibacillus polymyxa complex have broad-spectrum activities against fungi and bacteria. Their antibacterial activities against soft rot Dickeya and Pectobacterium phytopathogens containing multiple polymyxin-resistant genes were not clear. Here, we selected nine strains within the P. polymyxa complex having broad-spectrum antagonistic activities against phytopathogenic fungi and a polymyxin-resistant D. dadantii strain causing stem and root rot disease of sweet potato and did antagonistic assays on nutrient agar and sweet potato tuber slices. These strains within the P. polymyxa complex showed clear antagonistic activities against D. dadantii in vitro and in vivo. The most effective antagonistic strain P. polymyxa ShX301 showed broad-spectrum antagonistic activities against all the test Dickeya and Pectobacterium strains, completely eliminated D. dadantii from sweet potato seed tubers, and promoted the growth of sweet potato seedlings. Cell-free culture filtrate of P. polymyxa ShX301 inhibited D. dadantii growth, swimming motility, and biofilm formation and disrupted D. dadantii plasma membranes, releasing nucleic acids and proteins. Multiple lipopeptides produced by P. polymyxa ShX301 may play a major role in the bactericidal and bacteriostatic actions. This study clarifies that the antimicrobial spectrum of polymyxin-producing bacteria within the P. polymyxa complex includes the polymyxin-resistant Dickeya and Pectobacterium phytopathogens and strengthens the fact that bacteria within the P. polymyxa complex have high probability of being effective biocontrol agents and plant growth promoters.
Some Nanocarrier’s Properties and Chemical Interaction Mechanisms with Flavones
Authors: Espíndola Cecilia
Published: March 2023

Flavones such as 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (tropoflavin), 5,6,7-trihydroxyflavone (baicalein), 3′,4′,5,6-tetrahydroxyflavone (luteolin), 3,3′,4′,5,5′,7-hexahydroxyflavone (myricetin), 4′,5,7-trihydroxyflavone (apigenin), and 5,7-dihydroxyflavone (chrysin) are important both for their presence in natural products and for their pharmacological applications. However, due to their chemical characteristics and their metabolic processes, they have low solubility and low bioavailability. Knowledge about the physicochemical properties of nanocarriers and the possible mechanisms of covalent and non-covalent interaction between nanoparticles (NPs) and drugs is essential for the design of nanocarriers to improve the bioavailability of molecules with pharmacological potential, such as tropoflavin, baicalein, luteolin, myricetin, apigenin, and chrysin. The parameters of characterization of some NPs of these flavones, such as size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency (EE), and % release/time, utilized in biomedical applications and the covalent and non-covalent interactions existing between the polymeric NPs and the drug were analyzed. Similarly, the presence of functional groups in the functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs), as well as the effect of pH on the % adsorption of flavonoids on functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-COOH), were analyzed. Non-covalent interaction mechanisms between polymeric NPs and flavones, and covalent interaction mechanisms that could exist between the NPs and the amino and hydroxyl functional groups, are proposed.
Development of AMBER Parameters for Molecular Simulations of Selected Boron-Based Covalent Ligands
Authors: Chiacchio Maria Assunta , Legnani Laura , Fassi Enrico Mario Alessandro , Roda Gabriella , Grazioso Giovanni
Published: March 2023

Boron containing compounds (BCCs) aroused increasing interest in the scientific community due to their wide application as drugs in various fields. In order to design new compounds hopefully endowed with pharmacological activity and also investigate their conformational behavior, the support of computational studies is crucial. Nevertheless, the suitable molecular mechanics parameterization and the force fields needed to perform these simulations are not completely available for this class of molecules. In this paper, Amber force field parameters for phenyl-, benzyl-, benzylamino-, and methylamino-boronates, a group of boron-containing compounds involved in different branches of the medicinal chemistry, were created. The robustness of the obtained data was confirmed through molecular dynamics simulations on ligand/-lactamases covalent complexes. The ligand torsional angles, populated over the trajectory frames, were confirmed by values found in the ligand geometries, located through optimizations at the DFT/B3LYP/6-31g(d) level, using water as a solvent. In summary, this study successfully provided a library of parameters, opening the possibility to perform molecular dynamics simulations of this class of boron-containing compounds.
A Stable Fe-Zn Modified Sludge-Derived Biochar for Diuron Removal: Kinetics, Isotherms, Mechanism, and Practical Research
Authors: Liu Yucan , Ji Xianguo , Wang Ying , Zhang Yan , Zhang Yanxiang , Li Wei , Yuan Jiang , Ma Dong , Sun Hongwei , Duan Jinming
Published: March 2023

To remove typical herbicide diuron effectively, a novel sludge-derived modified biochar (SDMBC600) was prepared using sludge-derived biochar (SDBC600) as raw material and Fe-Zn as an activator and modifier in this study. The physico-chemical properties of SDMBC600 and the adsorption behavior of diuron on the SDMBC600 were studied systematically. The adsorption mechanisms as well as practical applications of SDMBC600 were also investigated and examined. The results showed that the SDMBC600 was chemically loaded with Fe-Zn and SDMBC600 had a larger specific surface area (204 m2/g) and pore volume (0.0985 cm3/g). The adsorption of diuron on SDMBC600 followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Langmuir isotherm model, with a maximum diuron adsorption capacity of 17.7 mg/g. The biochar could maintain a good adsorption performance (8.88–12.9 mg/g) under wide water quality conditions, in the pH of 2–10 and with the presence of humic acid and six typical metallic ions of 0–20 mg/L. The adsorption mechanisms of SDMBC600 for diuron were found to include surface complexation, π–π binding, hydrogen bonding, as well as pore filling. Additionally, the SDMBC600 was tested to be very stable with very low Fe and Zn leaching concentration ≤0.203 mg/L in the wide pH range. In addition, the SDMBC600 could maintain a high adsorption capacity (99.6%) after four times of regeneration and therefore, SDMBC600 could have a promising application for diuron removal in water treatment.
A Porous π-Stacked Self-Assembly of Cup-Shaped Palladium Complex for Iodine Capture
Authors: Li Lin-Lin , Huang Min , Chen Ting , Xu Xiao-Feng , Zhuo Zhu , Wang Wei , Huang You-Gui
Published: March 2023

Acquiring adsorbents capable of effective radioiodine capture is important for nuclear waste treatment; however, it remains a challenge to develop porous materials with high and reversible iodine capture. Herein, we report a porous self-assembly constructed by a cup-shaped PdII complex through intermolecular π···π interactions. This self-assembly features a cubic structure with channels along all three Cartesian coordinates, which enables it to efficiently capture iodine with an adsorption capacity of 0.60 g g−1 for dissolved iodine and 1.81 g g−1 for iodine vapor. Furthermore, the iodine adsorbed within the channels can be readily released upon immersing the bound solid in CH2Cl2, which allows the recycling of the adsorbent. This work develops a new porous molecular material promising for practical iodine adsorption.
Design and Synthesis of Functional Silane-Based Silicone Resin and Application in Low-Temperature Curing Silver Conductive Inks
Authors: Tang Zhiqiang , Liu Yanxia , Zhang Yagang , Sun Zicai , Huang Weidong , Chen Zhikai , Jiang Xiaoli , Zhao Lin
Published: March 2023

In the field of flexible electronics manufacturing, inkjet printing technology is a research hotspot, and it is key to developing low-temperature curing conductive inks that meet printing requirements and have suitable functions. Herein, methylphenylamino silicon oil (N75) and epoxy-modified silicon oil (SE35) were successfully synthesized through functional silicon monomers, and they were used to prepare silicone resin 1030H with nano SiO2. 1030H silicone resin was used as the resin binder for silver conductive ink. The silver conductive ink we prepared with 1030H has good dispersion performance with a particle size of 50–100 nm, as well as good storage stability and excellent adhesion. Additionally, the printing performance and conductivity of the silver conductive ink prepared with n,n-dimethylformamide (DMF): proprylene glycol monomethyl ether (PM) (1:1) as solvent are better than those of the silver conductive ink prepared by DMF and PM solvent. Cured at a low temperature of 160 °C, the resistivity of 1030H-Ag-82%-3 conductive ink is 6.87 × 10−6 Ω·m, and that of 1030H-Ag-92%-3 conductive ink is 0.564 × 10−6 Ω·m, so the low-temperature curing silver conductive ink has high conductivity. The low-temperature curing silver conductive ink we prepared meets the printing requirements and has potential for practical applications.
Editorial for Special Issue “Nano-Bioremediation Approaches for Degraded Soils and Sustainable Crop Production”
Authors: Rajput Vishnu D. , Minkina Tatiana
Published: March 2023

In recent decades, the global population has rapidly increased, resulting in an increasing demand for food [...]
Synergistic Effects of Magnetic Z-Scheme g-C3N4/CoFe2O4 Nanofibres with Controllable Morphology on Photocatalytic Activity
Authors: Chen Yelin , Li Ru , Yang Lei , Wang Rongxu , Li Zhi , Li Tong , Liu Meijie , Ramakrishna Seeram , Long Yunze
Published: March 2023

The rational design of interfacial contacts plays a decisive role in improving interfacial carrier transfer and separation in heterojunction photocatalysts. In Z-scheme photocatalysts, the recombination of photogenerated electron–hole pairs is prevented so that the redox capacity is maintained. Here, one-dimensional graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)/CoFe2O4 fibres were synthesised as a new type of magnetic Z-scheme visible-light photocatalyst. Compared with pure g-C3N4 and CoFe2O4, the prepared composite photocatalysts showed considerably improved performance for the photooxidative degradation of tetracycline and methylene blue. In particular, the photodegradation efficiency of the g-C3N4/CoFe2O4 fibres for methylene blue was approximately two and seven times those of g-C3N4 and CoFe2O4, respectively. The formation mechanism of the Z-scheme heterojunctions in the g-C3N4/CoFe2O4 fibres was investigated using photocurrent spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. We proposed that one of the reasons for the improved photodegradation performance is that the charge transport path in one-dimensional materials enables efficient photoelectron and hole transfer. Furthermore, the internal electric field of the prepared Z-scheme photocatalyst enhanced visible-light absorption, which provided a barrier for photoelectron–hole pair recombination.
Crosstalk between Gut Microbiota and Epigenetic Markers in Obesity Development: Relationship between Ruminococcus, BMI, and MACROD2/SEL1L2 Methylation
Authors: Salas-Perez Francisca , Assmann Taís , Ramos-Lopez Omar , Martínez J. , Riezu-Boj Jose , Milagro Fermín
Published: March 2023

Changes in gut microbiota composition and in epigenetic mechanisms have been proposed to play important roles in energy homeostasis, and the onset and development of obesity. However, the crosstalk between epigenetic markers and the gut microbiome in obesity remains unclear. The main objective of this study was to establish a link between the gut microbiota and DNA methylation patterns in subjects with obesity by identifying differentially methylated DNA regions (DMRs) that could be potentially regulated by the gut microbiota. DNA methylation and bacterial DNA sequencing analysis were performed on 342 subjects with a BMI between 18 and 40 kg/m2. DNA methylation analyses identified a total of 2648 DMRs associated with BMI, while ten bacterial genera were associated with BMI. Interestingly, only the abundance of Ruminococcus was associated with one BMI-related DMR, which is located between the MACROD2/SEL1L2 genes. The Ruminococcus abundance negatively correlated with BMI, while the hypermethylated DMR was associated with reduced MACROD2 protein levels in serum. Additionally, the mediation test showed that 19% of the effect of Ruminococcus abundance on BMI is mediated by the methylation of the MACROD2/SEL1L2 DMR. These findings support the hypothesis that a crosstalk between gut microbiota and epigenetic markers may be contributing to obesity development.
Effects of Protein Supplementation Combined with Resistance Exercise Training on Walking Speed Recovery in Older Adults with Knee Osteoarthritis and Sarcopenia
Authors: Liao Chun-De , Huang Shih-Wei , Chen Hung-Chou , Huang Yu-Yun , Liou Tsan-Hon , Lin Che-Li
Published: March 2023

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is closely associated with sarcopenia, sharing the common characteristics of muscle weakness and low physical performance. Resistance exercise training (RET), protein supplementation (PS), and PS+RET have promise as treatments for both sarcopenia and KOA. However, whether PS+RET exerts any effect on time to recovery to normal walking speed (WS) in older adults with sarcopenia and KOA remains unclear. This study investigated the treatment efficiency of PS+RET on WS recovery among individuals with KOA and sarcopenia. A total of 108 older adults aged ≥ 60 years who had a diagnosis of radiographic KOA and sarcopenia were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Sarcopenia was defined on the basis of the cutoff values of the appendicular skeletal muscle mass index for Asian people and a slow WS less than 1.0 m/s. The patients were equally distributed to three groups: PS+RET, RET alone, and usual care. The weekly assessment was performed during a 12-week intervention and a subsequent 36-week follow-up period. A cutoff of 1.0 m/s was used to identify successful recovery to normal WS. Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed to measure the survival time to normal WS among the study groups. Multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression (CPHR) models were established to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) of successful WS recovery and determine its potential moderators. After the 3-month intervention, PS+RET as well as RET obtained greater changes in WS by an adjusted mean difference of 0.18 m/s (p < 0.0001) and 0.08 (p < 0.05) m/s, respectively, compared to usual care. Kaplan–Meier analysis results showed both RET and PS+RET interventions yielded high probabilities of achieving normal WS over the 12-month follow-up period. Multivariate CPHR results revealed that PS+RET (adjusted HR = 5.48; p < 0.001), as well as RET (adjusted HR = 2.21; p < 0.05), independently exerted significant effects on WS recovery. PS+RET may accelerate normal WS recovery by approximately 3 months compared with RET. Sex and initial WS may influence the treatment efficiency. For patients with KOA who suffer sarcopenia, 12-week RET alone exerts significant effects on WS recovery, whereas additional PS further augments the treatment effects of RET by speeding up the recovery time of WS toward a level ≥ 1.0 m/s, which facilitates the patients to diminish the disease severity or even free from sarcopenia.
Elevated Maternal Folate Status and Changes in Maternal Prolactin, Placental Lactogen and Placental Growth Hormone Following Folic Acid Food Fortification: Evidence from Two Prospective Pregnancy Cohorts
Authors: Jankovic-Karasoulos Tanja , Smith Melanie D. , Leemaqz Shalem , Williamson Jessica , McCullough Dylan , Arthurs Anya L. , Jones Lauren A. , Bogias Konstantinos Justin , Mol Ben W. , Dalton Julia , Dekker Gustaaf A. , Roberts Claire T.
Published: March 2023

Folic acid (FA) food fortification in Australia has resulted in a higher-than-expected intake of FA during pregnancy. High FA intake is associated with increased insulin resistance and gestational diabetes. We aimed to establish whether maternal one-carbon metabolism and hormones that regulate glucose homeostasis change in healthy pregnancies post-FA food fortification. Circulating folate, B12, homocysteine, prolactin (PRL), human placental lactogen (hPL) and placental growth hormone (GH2) were measured in early pregnancy maternal blood in women with uncomplicated pregnancies prior to (SCOPE: N = 604) and post (STOP: N = 711)-FA food fortification. FA food fortification resulted in 63% higher maternal folate. STOP women had lower hPL (33%) and GH2 (43%) after 10 weeks of gestation, but they had higher PRL (29%) and hPL (28%) after 16 weeks. FA supplementation during pregnancy increased maternal folate and reduced homocysteine but only in the SCOPE group, and it was associated with 54% higher PRL in SCOPE but 28% lower PRL in STOP. FA food fortification increased maternal folate status, but supplements no longer had an effect, thereby calling into question their utility. An altered secretion of hormones that regulate glucose homeostasis in pregnancy could place women post-fortification at an increased risk of insulin resistance and gestational diabetes, particularly for older women and those with obesity.
Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) Score as a Potential Prognostic Indicator of In-Hospital Mortality, Sepsis and Length of Stay in an Internal Medicine Department
Authors: Miano Nicoletta , Di Marco Maurizio , Alaimo Salvatore , Coppolino Giuseppe , L’Episcopo Giuseppe , Leggio Stefano , Scicali Roberto , Piro Salvatore , Purrello Francesco , Di Pino Antonino
Published: March 2023

The controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score represents poor nutritional status and has been identified as an indicator of adverse outcomes. Our aim was to evaluate the prognostic role of the CONUT score on in-hospital outcomes in an Internal Medicine Department. This is a retrospective study analyzing data from 369 patients, divided into four groups based on the CONUT score: normal (0–1), mild–high (2–4), moderate–high (5–8), and marked high (9–12). In-hospital all-cause mortality increased from normal to marked high CONUT score group (2.2% vs. 3.6% vs. 13.4% vs. 15.3%, p < 0.009). Furthermore, a higher CONUT score was linked to a longer length of hospital stay (LOS) (9.48 ± 6.22 vs. 11.09 ± 7.11 vs. 12.45 ± 7.88 vs. 13.10 ± 8.12, p < 0.013) and an increased prevalence of sepsis. The excess risk of a high CONUT score relative to a low CONUT score remained significant after adjusting for confounders (all-cause mortality: OR: 3.3, 95% CI: 1.1–9.7, p < 0.02; sepsis: OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.5–4.9, p < 0.01; LOS: OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.2–3.9, p < 0.007). The present study demonstrated that an increased CONUT score is related to a higher risk of short-term in-hospital death and complications.
HnRNPA2B1 Aggravates Inflammation by Promoting M1 Macrophage Polarization
Authors: Meng Meiyao , Cao Yuxiang , Zhang Yankang , Liu Shuang , Zhong Yinzhao , Wang Dongmei , Li Dali , Xu Lingyan , Ma Xinran
Published: March 2023

Macrophages have critical contributions to both acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, for example, bowel disease and obesity, respectively. However, little is known about the post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms in macrophage-mediated inflammatory diseases. hnRNPA2B1 (A2B1) is an RNA binding protein for mRNA fate determination. We showed that hnRNPA2B1 mRNA levels were increased in colon in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mice and in epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) and spleen of high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Consistently, mice with haploinsufficiency of A2B1 (A2B1 HET) are protected against DSS-induced acute colitis and HFD-induced obesity, with decreased M1 macrophages polarization in colon, eWAT and spleen. Mechanistically, A2B1 mRNA and protein levels were increased in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, and A2B1 enhanced RNA stability of pro-inflammatory genes Tnfα, Il-6 and Il-1β for the regulation of macrophages polarization. Interestingly, A2B1 HET mice exhibited reduced white fat expansion, which was influenced by macrophages, since conditioned medium from macrophages with A2B1 manipulation significantly changed preadipocyte proliferation. Our data demonstrate that A2B1 plays a vital role in macrophage-mediated inflammation via regulating mRNA stability, suggesting that A2B1 may be served as a promising target for the intervention of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases.
Acute Administration of Ojeok-san Ameliorates Pain-like Behaviors in Pre-Clinical Models of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Authors: Patton Emma A. , Cunningham Patrice , Noneman Matthew , Helms Henry P. , Martinez-Muniz Gustavo , Sumal Aman S. , Dhameja Milan K. , Unger Christian A. , Alahdami Ahmed K. , Enos Reilly T. , Chatzistamou Ioulia , Velázquez Kandy T.
Published: March 2023

(1) Background: Gastrointestinal pain and fatigue are the most reported concerns of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Commonly prescribed drugs focus on decreasing excessive inflammation. However, up to 20% of IBD patients in an “inactive” state experience abdominal pain. The medicinal herb Ojeok-san (OJS) has shown promise in the amelioration of visceral pain. However, no research on OJS has been conducted in preclinical models of IBD. The mechanism by which OJS promotes analgesia is still elusive, and it is unclear if OJS possesses addictive properties. (2) Aims: In this study, we examined the potential of OJS to promote analgesic effects and rewarding behavior. Additionally, we investigated if tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) from macrophages is a primary culprit of IBD-induced nociception. (3) Methods: Multiple animal models of IBD were used to determine if OJS can reduce visceral nociception. TNFα-macrophage deficient mice were used to investigate the mechanism of action by which OJS reduces nociceptive behavior. Mechanical sensitivity and operant conditioning tests were used to determine the analgesic and rewarding effects of OJS. Body weight, colon length/weight, blood in stool, colonic inflammation, and complete blood count were assessed to determine disease progression. (4) Results: OJS reduced the evoked mechanical nociception in the dextran sulphate sodium model of colitis and IL-10 knockout (KO) mice and delayed aversion to colorectal distension in C57BL/6 mice. No rewarding behavior was observed in OJS-treated IL-10 KO and mdr1a KO mice. The analgesic effects of OJS are independent of macrophage TNFα levels and IBD progression. (5) Conclusions: OJS ameliorated elicited mechanical and visceral nociception without producing rewarding effects. The analgesic effects of OJS are not mediated by macrophage TNFα.
False-Positive Serology for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Long Island, New York, during 2011–2021
Authors: Sajib Monirul I. , Lamba Pooja , Spitzer Eric D. , Marcos Luis A.
Published: March 2023

Cases of rocky mountain spotted fever (RMSF) are increasingly reported every year in Long Island, New York. In clinical practice, an uncommonly high number of referrals with a positive RMSF IgG test result have been seen in our tick-borne disease clinic. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical–epidemiological characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized patients with positive serologies for RMSF in our academic center in Long Island, NY. We found that out of twenty-four patients with a positive serology for RMSF, only one case met the case definition per CDC criteria, two had suspected RMSF, and the other twenty-one did not have a clinical picture consistent with RMSF. A high number of false-positive RMSF serology may be due to other spotted fever rickettsioses in Long Island. Further studies are needed to investigate the presence of another Rickettsia spp. (such as Rickettsia amblyommatis) in this area that may affect humans.