bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Valorization of American Barrel-Shoot Wastes: Effect of Post Fermentative Addition and Readdition on Phenolic Composition and Chromatic Quality of Syrah Red Wines
Authors: Baca-Bocanegra Berta , Nogales-Bueno Julio , Hernández-Hierro José Miguel , Heredia Francisco José
Published: February 2020

The influence of post fermentative addition of American barrel-shoot wastes on phenolic composition and chromatic quality of Syrah red wines has been evaluated as an environmentally sustainable alternative to the conventional winemaking for avoiding the common color loss of red wines elaborated in warm climates. American oak wood byproducts added were previously classified by hyperspectral image analysis according to the amount of phenolic compounds transferred to the extraction media. After that, wines were elaborated under different maceration conditions by applying only one proportion of wood (12 g L−1) and two different maceration procedures (simple and double addition) and were compared with a traditionally macerated Syrah red wine (CW, no wood addition). Results proved the effectiveness of the moderate postfermentative addition of oak wood byproducts to stabilize the color of wines and to provoke lower color modification along the time, producing color wines chromatically more stable for a better aging. In the case of double addition, the adsorption of the pigments during the maceration presents a stronger effect on the color than copigmentation and polymerization by cause of the copigments extracted from the wood.
The Dissipation of Cyazofamid and Its Main Metabolite CCIM during Wine-Making Process
Authors: Yang Qingxi , Wei Shiwei , Liu Na , Gu Zumin
Published: February 2020

Few studies have focused on the residues of cyazofamid and its main metabolite CCIM (4-chloro-5-p-tolylimidazole-2-carbonitrile) in the wine making process, which is crucial to evaluate the potential food risk of cyazofamid and CCIM. In this work, detailed study has been conducted on the evaluation of the fate of cyazofamid and its main metabolite CCIM during the wine-making process. The targeted compounds cyazofamid and CCIM were separated and determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) and processing procedure including washing, peeling, fermentation, and clarification. Results showed that residues of cyazofamid and CCIM decreased significantly in wine processing. The dissipation of cyazofamid in the fermentation process followed the first-order of kinetics, and the half-life of cyazofamid was 46.2–63.0 h, whereas, the residues of CCIM, in the three treatments, decreased with time elapse. The processing factors (PFs) were all less than one in different processing processes, and the PFs ranges of cyazofamid and CCIM were 0.003–0.025 and 0.039–0.067 in three treatments in the overall process. The outcome indicated that the whole process could significantly reduce the residues of cyazofamid and CCIM in red and white wines. The results might provide more precise risk assessments of cyazofamid in the wine-making process.
Adsorption and Desorption Properties of Total Flavonoids from Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) Mature Leaf on Macroporous Adsorption Resins
Authors: Che Zain Mohamad Shazeli , Lee Soo Yee , Teo Chian Ying , Shaari Khozirah
Published: February 2020

Three different macroporous resins (XAD7HP, DAX-8, and XAD4) were evaluated for their adsorption and desorption properties in preparing flavonoid-enriched oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) leaf extract. The influences of initial concentration, solution pH, contact time, and desorption solvent (ethanol) concentration were determined by static sorption/desorption methods. The optimal condition for adsorption of flavonoids was achieved when the solution of the extract was adjusted to pH 7, reaching equilibrium after 1440 min at 298 K. The adsorption process was well described by a pseudo-second-order kinetics model, while the adsorption isotherm data fitted well with a Freundlich model. The adsorption by each resin was via an exothermic and physical adsorption process. Based on the static experiment results, XAD7HP was found to be the most appropriate adsorbent, while 80% ethanol was the best solvent for desorbent. Further evaluation of its dynamic adsorption and desorption characteristics on a packed glass column showed that XAD7HP could enrich the OPL total flavonoid content by a 3.57-fold increment. Moreover, UHPLC–UV/PDA and UHPLC–MS/MS analysis revealed that apigenin and luteolin derivatives were selectively adsorbed by XAD7HP. Additionally, both the crude OPL extract and the flavonoid-enriched fraction have good DPPH and NO free radical scavenging activities. Multiple interactions between the flavonoids and cross-linked polymeric XAD7HP resin through van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding described the sorption processes. Therefore, by utilizing this method, the flavonoid-enriched fraction from crude OPL extract could be used as a potential bioactive ingredient in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications at minimum cost with optimum efficiency.
Rapid Evaluation and Optimization of Medium Components Governing Tryptophan Production by Pediococcus acidilactici TP-6 Isolated from Malaysian Food via Statistical Approaches
Authors: Lim Ye Heng , Foo Hooi Ling , Loh Teck Chwen , Mohamad Rosfarizan , Abdul Rahim Raha
Published: February 2020

Tryptophan is one of the most extensively used amino acids in livestock industry owing to its effectiveness in enhancing the growth performance of animals. Conventionally, the production of tryptophan relies heavily on genetically modified Escherichia coli but its pathogenicity is a great concern. Our recent study demonstrated that a lactic acid bacterium (LAB), Pediococcus acidilactici TP-6 that isolated from Malaysian food was a promising tryptophan producer. However, the tryptophan production must enhance further for viable industrial application. Hence, the current study evaluated the effects of medium components and optimized the medium composition for tryptophan production by P. acidilactici TP-6 statistically using Plackett-Burman Design, and Central Composite Design. The optimized medium containing molasses (14.06 g/L), meat extract (23.68 g/L), urea (5.56 g/L) and FeSO4 (0.024 g/L) significantly enhanced the tryptophan production by 150% as compared to the control de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe medium. The findings obtained in this study revealed that rapid evaluation and effective optimization of medium composition governing tryptophan production by P. acidilactici TP-6 were feasible via statistical approaches. Additionally, the current findings reveal the potential of utilizing LAB as a safer alternative tryptophan producer and provides insight for future exploitation of various amino acid productions by LAB.
A Fast and Accurate Method to Identify and Quantify Enzymes in Brush-Border Membranes: In Situ Hydrolysis Followed by Nano LC-MS/MS
Authors: Brun Antonio , Magallanes Melisa E. , Martínez del Rio Carlos , Barrett-Wilt Gregory A. , Karasov William H. , Caviedes-Vidal Enrique
Published: February 2020

A simple method for the identification of brush-border membrane α-glucosidases is described. The proteins were first solubilized and separated in a gel under native, non-denaturing, conditions. The gel was then incubated in substrate solutions (maltose or sucrose), and the product (glucose) exposed in situ by the oxidation of o-dianisidine, which yields a brown-orange color. Nano-liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry analyses of proteins (nano LC-MS/MS) present in the colored bands excised from the gels, was used to confirm the presence of the enzymes. The stain is inexpensive and the procedure permits testing several substrates in the same gel. Once enzymes are identified, their abundance, relative to that of other proteins in the brush border, can be semi-quantified using nano LC-MS/MS.
Sol-Gel Processed TiO2 Nanotube Photoelectrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with Enhanced Photovoltaic Performance
Authors: Tsvetkov Nikolai , Larina Liudmila , Ku Kang Jeung , Shevaleevskiy Oleg
Published: February 2020

The performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) critically depends on the efficiency of electron transport within the TiO2-dye-electrolyte interface. To improve the efficiency of the electron transfer the conventional structure of the working electrode (WE) based on TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) was replaced with TiO2 nanotubes (NTs). Sol-gel method was used to prepare undoped and Nb-doped TiO2 NPs and TiO2 NTs. The crystallinity and morphology of the WEs were characterized using XRD, SEM and TEM techniques. XPS and PL measurements revealed a higher concentration of oxygen-related defects at the surface of NPs-based electrodes compared to that based on NTs. Replacement of the conventional NPs-based TiO2 WE with alternative led to a 15% increase in power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the DSCs. The effect is attributed to the more efficient transfer of charge carriers in the NTs-based electrodes due to lower defect concentration. The suggestion was confirmed experimentally by electrical impedance spectroscopy measurements when we observed the higher recombination resistance at the TiO2 NTs-electrolyte interface compared to that at the TiO2 NPs-electrolyte interface. Moreover, Nb-doping of the TiO2 structures yields an additional 14% PCE increase. The application of Nb-doped TiO2 NTs as photo-electrode enables the fabrication of a DSC with an efficiency of 8.1%, which is 35% higher than that of a cell using a TiO2 NPs. Finally, NTs-based DSCs have demonstrated a 65% increase in the PCE value, when light intensity was decreased from 1000 to 10 W/m2 making such kind device be promising alternative indoor PV applications when the intensity of incident light is low.
Multifunctional, CD44v6-Targeted ORMOSIL Nanoparticles Enhance Drugs Toxicity in Cancer Cells
Authors: Morillas-Becerril Lucía , Peta Elektra , Gabrielli Luca , Russo Venera , Lubian Elisa , Nodari Luca , Ferlin Maria Grazia , Scrimin Paolo , Palù Giorgio , Barzon Luisa , Castagliuolo Ignazio , Mancin Fabrizio , Trevisan Marta
Published: February 2020

Drug-loaded, PEGylated, organic-modified silica (ORMOSIL) nanoparticles prepared by microemulsion condensation of vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) were investigated as potential nanovectors for cancer therapy. To target cancer stem cells, anti-CD44v6 antibody and hyaluronic acid (HA) were conjugated to amine-functionalized PEGylated ORMOSIL nanoparticles through thiol-maleimide and amide coupling chemistries, respectively. Specific binding and uptake of conjugated nanoparticles were studied on cells overexpressing the CD44v6 receptor. Cytotoxicity was subsequently evaluated in the same cells after the uptake of the nanoparticles. Internalization of nanocarriers loaded with the anticancer drug 3N-cyclopropylmethyl-7-phenyl-pyrrolo- quinolinone (MG2477) into cells resulted in a substantial increase of the cytotoxicity with respect to the free formulation. Targeting with anti-CD44v6 antibodies or HA yielded nanoparticles with similar effectiveness, in their optimized formulation.
Fabrication and Deposition of Copper and Copper Oxide Nanoparticles by Laser Ablation in Open Air
Authors: Fernández-Arias Mónica , Boutinguiza Mohamed , del Val Jesús , Riveiro Antonio , Rodríguez Daniel , Arias-González Felipe , Gil Javier , Pou Juan
Published: February 2020

The proximity of the “post-antibiotic era”, where infections and minor injuries could be a cause of death, there are urges to seek an alternative for the cure of infectious diseases. Copper nanoparticles and their huge potential as a bactericidal agent could be a solution. In this work, Cu and Cu oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by laser ablation in open air and in argon atmosphere using 532 and 1064 nm radiation generated by nanosecond and picosecond Nd:YVO4 lasers, respectively, to be directly deposited onto Ti substrates. Size, morphology, composition and the crystalline structure of the produced nanoparticles have been studied by the means of field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), the energy dispersive spectroscopy of X-rays (EDS), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The UV-VIS absorbance of the thin layer of nanoparticles was also measured, and the antibacterial capacity of the obtained deposits tested against Staphylococcus aureus. The obtained deposits consisted of porous coatings composed of copper and copper oxide nanoparticles interconnected to form chain-like aggregates. The use of the argon atmosphere contributed to reduce significantly the formation of Cu oxide species. The synthesized and deposited nanoparticles exhibited an inhibitory effect upon S. aureus.
Evaluation of Acetaminophen Release from Biodegradable Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) (PVA) and Nanocellulose Films Using a Multiphase Release Mechanism
Authors: O’Donnell Kelsey L. , Oporto-Velásquez Gloria S. , Comolli Noelle
Published: February 2020

Biodegradable polymers hold great therapeutic value, especially through the addition of additives for controlled drug release. Nanocellulose has shown promise in drug delivery, yet usually requires chemical crosslinking with harsh acids and solvents. Nanocellulose fibrils (NFCs) and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO)-mediated oxidized nanocellulose fibrils (TNFCs) with poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) could be aqueously formulated to control the release of model drug acetaminophen over 144 h. The release was evaluated with a multiphase release mechanism to determine which mechanism(s) contribute to the overall release and to what degree. Doing so indicated that the TNFCs in PVA control the release of acetaminophen more than NFCs in PVA. Modeling showed that this release was mostly due to burst release—drug coming off the immediate surface, rather than diffusing out of the matrix.
Cu2Se Nanoparticles Encapsulated by Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanofibers for Efficient Sodium Storage
Authors: Hu Le , Shang Chaoqun , Akinoglu Eser Metin , Wang Xin , Zhou Guofu
Published: February 2020

Cu2Se with high theoretical capacity and good electronic conductivity have attracted particular attention as anode materials for sodium ion batteries (SIBs). However, during electrochemical reactions, the large volume change of Cu2Se results in poor rate performance and cycling stability. To solve this issue, nanosized-Cu2Se is encapsulated in 1D nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers (Cu2Se-NC) so that the unique structure of 1D carbon fiber network ensures a high contact area between the electrolyte and Cu2Se with a short Na+ diffusion path and provides a protective matrix to accommodate the volume variation. The kinetic analysis and DNa+ calculation indicates that the dominant contribution to the capacity is surface pseudocapacitance with fast Na+ migration, which guarantees the favorable rate performance of Cu2Se-NC for SIBs.
Antimicrobial Locks in Patients Receiving Home Parenteral Nutrition
Authors: Daoud Dane Christina , Wanten Geert , Joly Francisca
Published: February 2020

Catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) is one of the most common and potentially fatal complications in patients receiving home parenteral nutrition (HPN). In order to prevent permanent venous access loss, catheter locking with an antimicrobial solution has received significant interest and is often a favored approach as part of the treatment of CRBSI, but mainly for its prevention. Several agents have been used for treating and preventing CRBSI, for instance antibiotics, antiseptics (ethanol, taurolidine) and, historically, anticoagulants such as heparin. Nonetheless, current guidelines do not provide clear guidance on the use of catheter locks. Therefore, this review aims to provide a better understanding of the current use of antimicrobial locking in patients on HPN as well as reviewing the available data on novel compounds. Despite the fact that our current knowledge on catheter locking is still hampered by several gaps, taurolidine and ethanol solutions seem promising for prevention and potentially, but not proven, treatment of CRBSI. Additional studies are warranted to further characterize the efficacy and safety of these agents.
Eating Habits in Older Adults: Compliance with the Recommended Daily Intakes and Its Relationship with Sociodemographic Characteristics, Clinical Conditions, and Lifestyles
Authors: Zaragoza-Martí Ana , Ruiz-Robledillo Nicolás , Sánchez-SanSegundo Miriam , Albaladejo-Blázquez Natalia , Hurtado-Sánchez Jose Antonio , Ferrer-Cascales Rosario
Published: February 2020

Background: Older people have different nutritional requirements from those of the general population; in particular, they need a lower energy intake, higher protein content to preserve muscle mass, and a greater supply of vitamins and minerals to maintain good bone health. The objective of this study is to evaluate the degree of compliance with nutritional recommendations, and its relationship with sociodemographic characteristics, clinical conditions, and lifestyles in older people residing in the Spanish Mediterranean. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 341 people over 60 years old. Participants were selected using a snowball strategy. A validated food intake frequency questionnaire for older populations was used to determine the daily food intake. This evaluation was carried out at two time points from which the average nutrient intake was obtained. Sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle variables were obtained from an ad hoc elaborated questionnaire. Results: Compliance with dietary intakes was low, by deficiency, such as in vitamin D, where none of the participating subjects met the requirements, and iodine, where the compliance rate did not exceed 20%, or by excess, such as with monounsaturated fatty acids, fiber, iron, B vitamins, vitamin E, and vitamin C. People with better blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels observed a higher degree of compliance with the recommended intakes. Living in rural areas, being divorced, or being illiterate negatively influence meeting the recommended intakes of certain nutrients. Increased physical activity was associated with an increased compliance with Kcal recommendations, cholesterol, and vitamin B2 intake. Conclusion: this study highlights the importance of accurately knowing the dietary intakes in the older population, and what factors, such as lifestyles or sociodemographic characteristics, may predispose to better or worse compliance with the recommendations.
Whether AICAR in Pregnancy or Lactation Prevents Hypertension Programmed by High Saturated Fat Diet: A Pilot Study
Authors: Tsai Wan-Long , Hsu Chien-Ning , Tain You-Lin
Published: February 2020

High consumption of saturated fats links to the development of hypertension. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a nutrient-sensing signal, is involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension. We examined whether early intervention with a direct AMPK activator 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide riboside (AICAR) during pregnancy or lactation can protect adult male offspring against hypertension programmed by high saturated fat consumption via regulation of nutrient sensing signals, nitric oxide (NO) pathway, and oxidative stress. Pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats received regular chow or high saturated fat diet (HFD) throughout pregnancy and lactation. AICAR treatment was introduced by intraperitoneal injection at 50 mg/kg twice a day for 3 weeks throughout the pregnancy period (AICAR/P) or lactation period (AICAR/L). Male offspring (n = 7–8/group) were assigned to five groups: control, HFD, AICAR/P, HFD + AICAR/L, and HFD + AICAR/P. Male offspring were killed at 16 weeks of age. HFD caused hypertension and obesity in male adult offspring, which could be prevented by AICAR therapy used either during pregnancy or lactation. As a result, we demonstrated that HFD downregulated AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α pathway in offspring kidneys. In contrast, AICAR therapy in pregnancy and, to a greater extent, in lactation activated AMPK signaling pathway. The beneficial effects of AICAR therapy in pregnancy is related to restoration of NO pathway. While AICAR uses in pregnancy and lactation both diminished oxidative stress induced by HFD. Our results highlighted that pharmacological AMPK activation might be a promising strategy to prevent hypertension programmed by excessive consumption of high-fat food.
Intake of a Mixture of Sake Cake and Rice Malt Increases Mucin Levels and Changes in Intestinal Microbiota in Mice
Authors: Kawakami Shinpei , Ito Ryouichi , Maruki-Uchida Hiroko , Kamei Asuka , Yasuoka Akihito , Toyoda Tsudoi , Ishijima Tomoko , Nishimura Eisaku , Morita Minoru , Sai Masahiko , Abe Keiko , Okada Shinji
Published: February 2020

Amazake is a traditional Japanese beverage. Its main ingredients are sake cake and rice malt. In this study, we examined the effect of sake cake and rice malt on the intestinal barrier function and gut microbiota. BALB/c mice were fed a control diet or a diet containing a mixture of sake cake and rice malt powder (SRP) for four weeks. Fecal IgA values did not change between groups, but the fecal mucin level was significantly greater in the SRP-fed group. Gene expression analysis in the ileum by real-time PCR demonstrated Muc2 expression did not change, while the Muc3 expression was upregulated in the SRP-fed group. Furthermore, microbiota analysis demonstrated a change by SRP intake at the family level, and the proportion of Lactobacillaceae significantly increased in the SRP-fed group. At the genus level, the proportion of Lactobacillus also significantly increased in the SRP-fed group. These results suggest that the intake of a mixture of sake cake and rice malt improves intestinal barrier function by increasing mucin levels and inducing changes in intestinal microbiota.
Resting Energy Expenditure Relationship with Macronutrients and Gestational Weight Gain: A Pilot Study
Authors: Vander Wyst Kiley B. , Buman Matthew P. , Shaibi Gabriel Q. , Petrov Megan E. , Reifsnider Elizabeth , Whisner Corrie M.
Published: February 2020

Resting energy expenditure (REE) comprises 60% of total energy expenditure and variations may be associated with gestational weight gain (GWG) or maternal diet. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of metabolic tracking on GWG and the association with maternal macronutrients. Pregnant women aged 29.8 ± 4.9 years (78.6% non-Hispanic, White) with gestational age (GA) < 17 week were randomized to Breezing™ (n = 16) or control (n = 12) groups for 13 weeks. REE by Breezing™ indirect calorimetry, anthropometrics and dietary intake were collected every two weeks. Early (14–21 weeks), late (21–28 weeks), and overall (14–28 weeks) changes in macronutrients and GWG were calculated. The Breezing™ group had a significantly greater rate of GWG [F (1,23) = 6.8, p = 0.02] in the latter half of the second trimester. Late (−155.3 ± 309.2 vs. 207.1 ± 416.5 kcal, p = 0.01) and overall (−143.8 ± 339.2 vs. 191.8 ± 422.2 kcal, p = 0.03) changes in energy consumption were significantly different between Breezing™ and control groups, respectively. Early changes in REE were positively correlated with overall changes in carbohydrates (r = 0.58, p = 0.02). Regular metabolism tracking alone did not have an impact on GWG. Early shifts in REE might impact GWG later in pregnancy. Investigation in a larger population from preconception through postpartum is needed.
Development of an In Vitro System to Study the Interactions of Aerosolized Drugs with Pulmonary Mucus
Authors: Alqahtani Safar , Roberts Clive J. , Stolnik Snjezana , Bosquillon Cynthia
Published: February 2020

Mucus is the first biological component inhaled drugs encounter on their journey towards their pharmacological target in the upper airways. Yet, how mucus may influence drug disposition and efficacy in the lungs has been essentially overlooked. In this study, a simple in vitro system was developed to investigate the factors promoting drug interactions with airway mucus in physiologically relevant conditions. Thin layers of porcine tracheal mucus were prepared in Transwell® inserts and initially, the diffusion of various fluorescent dyes across those layers was monitored over time. A deposition system featuring a MicroSprayer® aerosolizer was optimized to reproducibly deliver liquid aerosols to multiple air-facing layers and then exploited to compare the impact of airway mucus on the transport of inhaled bronchodilators. Both the dyes and drugs tested were distinctly hindered by mucus with high logP compounds being the most affected. The diffusion rate of the bronchodilators across the layers was in the order: ipratropium ≈ glycopyronnium > formoterol > salbutamol > indacaterol, suggesting hydrophobicity plays an important role in their binding to mucus but is not the unique parameter involved. Testing of larger series of compounds would nevertheless be necessary to better understand the interactions of inhaled drugs with airway mucus.
Label-Free Multi-Microfluidic Immunoassays with Liquid Crystals on Polydimethylsiloxane Biosensing Chips
Authors: Fan Yu-Jui , Chen Fu-Lun , Liou Jian-Chiun , Huang Yu-Wen , Chen Chun-Han , Hong Zi-Yin , Lin Jia-De , Hsiao Yu-Cheng
Published: February 2020

We developed a new format for liquid crystal (LC)-based multi-microfluidic immunoassays, hosted on a polydimethylsiloxane substrate. In this design, the orientations of the LCs were strongly affected by the interface between the four microchannel walls and surrounding LCs. When the alignment layer was coated inside a microchannel, the LCs oriented homeotropically and appeared dark under crossed polarizers. After antigens bound to the immobilized antibodies on the alignment layer were coated onto the channel walls, the light intensity of the LC molecules changed from dark to bright because of disruption of the LCs. By employing pressure-driven flow, binding of the antigen/antibody could be detected by optical signals in a sequential order. The multi-microfluidic LC biosensor was tested by detecting bovine serum albumin (BSA) and an immunocomplex of BSA antigen/antibody pairs, a protein standard commonly used in labs. We show that this multi-microfluidic immunoassay was able to detect BSA and antigen/antibody BSA pairs with a naked-eye detection limitation of −0.01 µg/mL. Based on this new immunoassay design, a simple and robust device for LC-based label-free microfluidic immunodetection was demonstrated.
Production and Characterization of Controlled Release Urea Using Biopolymer and Geopolymer as Coating Materials
Authors: Azeem Babar , KuShaari Kuzilati , Naqvi Muhammad , Kok Keong Lau , Almesfer Mohammed Khaloofah , Al-Qodah Zakaria , Naqvi Salman Raza , Elboughdiri Noureddine
Published: February 2020

Synthetic polymers-based controlled release urea (CRU) leaves non-biodegradable coating shells when applied in soil. Several alternative green materials are used to produce CRU, but most of these studies have issues pertaining to nitrogen release longevity, process viability, and the ease of application of the finished product. In this study, we utilized tapioca starch, modified by polyvinyl alcohol and citric acid, as coating material to produce controlled release coated urea granules in a rotary fluidized bed equipment. Response surface methodology is employed for studying the interactive effect of process parameters on urea release characteristics. Statistical analysis indicates that the fluidizing air temperature and spray rate are the most influential among all five process parameters studied. The optimum values of fluidizing air temperature (80 °C), spray rate (0.13 mL/s), atomizing pressure (3.98 bar), process time (110 min), and spray temperature (70 °C) were evaluated by multi-objective optimization while using genetic algorithms in MATLAB®. Urea coated by modified-starch was double coated by a geopolymer to enhance the controlled release characteristics that produced promising results with respect to the longevity of nitrogen release from the final product. This study provides leads for the design of a fluidized bed for the scaled-up production of CRU.
Influence of Thermally-Accelerated Aging on the Dynamic Mechanical Properties of HTPB Coating and Crosslinking Density-Modified Model for the Payne Effect
Authors: Du Yongqiang , Zheng Jian , Yu Guibo
Published: February 2020

Hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) coating is widely used in a solid rocket motor, but an aging phenomenon exists during long-term storage, which causes irreversible damage to the performance of this HTPB coating. In order to study the effect of aging on the dynamic mechanical properties of the HTPB coating, the thermally-accelerated aging test was carried out. The variation of maximum elongation and crosslinking density with aging time was obtained, and a good linear relationship between maximum elongation and crosslinking density was found by correlation analysis. The changing regularity of dynamic mechanical properties with aging time was analyzed. It was found that with the increase of aging time, Tg of HTPB coating increased, Tα, tan β and tan α decreased, and the functional relationships between the loss factor parameters and crosslinking density were constructed. The storage modulus and loss modulus of HTPB coating increased with the increase of aging time, and decreased with the increase of pre-strain. The aging enhanced the Payne effect of HTPB coating, while the pre-strain had a weakening effect. In view of the Payne effect of HTPB coating, the crosslinking density was introduced into Kraus model as aging evaluation parameter, and the crosslinking density modified models with and without pre-strain were established. The proposed models can effectively solve the problem that the Kraus model has a poor fitting effect under the condition of small strain (generally less than 1%) and on the loss modulus, which have improved the correlations between the fitting results and the test results.
Calculation of the Electrical Conductivity of Polymer Nanocomposites Assuming the Interphase Layer Surrounding Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Zare Yasser , Rhee Kyong Yop
Published: February 2020

The interphase layer surrounding nanoparticles can reflect the tunneling effect as the main mechanism of charge transferring in polymer/carbon nanotube (CNT) nanocomposites (PCNT). In this paper, the percolation threshold, effective volume fraction of CNT, and the portion of percolated filler after percolation are expressed by interphase and CNT waviness. Moreover, the developed terms are used to suggest the influences of CNT dimensions, interphase thickness, and waviness on the electrical conductivity of PCNT by conventional and developed models. Thin and long CNT, thick interphase, and low waviness obtain a high fraction of percolated CNT. However, the highest level of effective filler fraction is only calculated by the thinnest CNT and the thickest interphase. Furthermore, both models show that the thinnest and the longest CNT as well as the thickest interphase and the least CNT waviness cause the highest conductivity in PCNT, because they positively contribute to the formation and properties of the conductive network.
Superior Ionic Transferring Polymer with Silicon Dioxide Composite Membrane via Phase Inversion Method Designed for High Performance Sodium-Ion Battery
Authors: Arjunan Ponnaiah , Kouthaman Mathiyalagan , Subadevi Rengapillai , Diwakar Karuppiah , Liu Wei-Ren , Huang Chia-Hung , Sivakumar Marimuthu
Published: February 2020

Superior sodium-ion-conducting polymer poly(vinyledene fluoride)–silicon dioxide (PVdF-SiO2) composite separator membrane was prepared via simple phase inversion method, which is a suitable alternative conventional polypropylene membrane. Basically, PVdF is the promising for use as high porous polymer electrolyte membrane due to its high dielectric constant (ε = 8.4). In this work, we prepared a composite membrane using PVdF-SiO2 via phase inversion method. This work was systematically studied towards the morphology, porosity, and electrochemical properties of as prepared membrane. The electrolyte uptake capability of separator membrane tested with 1 M NaPF6 electrolyte solution and temperature-dependent ionic conduction test were performed at various temperatures. This membrane exhibits higher ionic conductivity of 4.7 × 10−2 S cm−1 at room temperature. The physical properties were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, FT-IR, and FE-SEM micrographs analyses. The electrochemical performances with impedance analysis carried for prepared membrane with the as-prepared sodium P2-type cathode material. The material showed an initial discharge capacity of 178 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C between 2 and 4 V with 98% columbic efficiency and 81% capacity retention after 50 cycles upon using the as-prepared PVdF-SiO2 composite separator membrane.
Polyurethane Composite Scaffolds Modified with the Mixture of Gelatin and Hydroxyapatite Characterized by Improved Calcium Deposition
Authors: Carayon Iga , Szarlej Paweł , Łapiński Marcin , Kucińska-Lipka Justyna
Published: February 2020

The skeleton is a crucial element of the motion system in the human body, whose main function is to support and protect the soft tissues. Furthermore, the elements of the skeleton act as a storage place for minerals and participate in the production of red blood cells. The bone tissue includes the craniomaxillofacial bones, ribs, and spine. There are abundant reports in the literature indicating that the amount of treatments related to bone fractures increases year by year. Nowadays, the regeneration of the bone tissue is performed by using autografts or allografts, but this treatment method possesses a few disadvantages. Therefore, new and promising methods of bone tissue regeneration are constantly being sought. They often include the implantation of tissue scaffolds, which exhibit proper mechanical and osteoconductive properties. In this paper, the preparation of polyurethane (PUR) scaffolds modified by gelatin as the reinforcing factor and hydroxyapatite as the bioactive agent was described. The unmodified and modified scaffolds were tested for their mechanical properties; morphological assessments using optical microscopy were also conducted, as was the ability for calcification using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Moreover, each type of scaffold was subjected to a degradation process in 5M NaOH and 2M HCl aqueous solutions. It was noticed that the best properties promoting the calcium phosphate deposition were obtained for scaffolds modified with 2% gelatin solution containing 5% of hydroxyapatite.
Optimization of Serial Modular Continuous Mixing Process Parameters for Natural Rubber Composites Reinforced by Silica/Carbon Black
Authors: Zhu Lin , Tian Xiaolong , Pan Yiren , Chang Tianhao , Wang Kongshuo , Niu Guangzhi , Zhang Luqi , Wang Chuansheng , Han Wenwen
Published: February 2020

In the tire industry, the combination of carbon black and silica is commonly utilized to improve the comprehensive performance of natural rubber so as to realize the best performance and cost-effectiveness. The corresponding mixing is divided into three processes (initial mixing, delivery, reactive mixing) by the serial modular continuous mixing method, thus achieving more accurate control of the mixing process, higher production efficiency and better performance. Moreover, the optimization of serial modular continuous mixing process parameters can not only improve the performance of composite materials, but help people understand the physical and chemical changes and the reinforcing mechanism of fillers in the mixing process. In this paper, the relationship among the parameters of eight processes and filler network structure, tensile strength, chemical reinforcing effect and tear resistance was explored through experiments. The deep causes of performance changes caused by parameters were analyzed. Consequently, the best process condition and the ranking of the influencing factors for a certain performance was obtained. Furthermore, the best preparation process of natural rubber (NR)/carbon black/silica composite was achieved through comprehensive analysis.
Study on the Effect of Oxygen Concentration on the Properties of TiO2/Ti Composite Membranes Prepared by In Situ Oxidation
Authors: Zhang Dongqiang , Su Na , Ma Yingwen , Yang Ping , Li Hongwei
Published: February 2020

TiO2 membranes were prepared on porous Ti supports through the in situ oxidation method. The effects of oxygen concentration, oxidation temperature, and oxidation time on the thickness, pore size, and microstructure of the prepared TiO2 membrane were investigated. The results showed that with increasing oxygen concentration, oxidation temperature, and oxidation time, the thickness of the prepared TiO2 membrane gradually increased, and the pore diameter gradually decreased. The optimum preparation conditions were—oxygen concentration was N2:O2 = 2:1, oxidation temperature was 800 ℃, and oxidation time was 60 min. The prepared TiO2/Ti composite membranes had a flat and smooth surface, uniform thickness, and only a rutile TiO2 characteristic peak formed on the surface of the membrane. The prepared TiO2/Ti composite membrane had a narrow pore size distribution, and the average pore size was about 0.312 μm. In addition, the prepared TiO2/Ti composite membranes showed an excellent stability.
Implant-Supported Prosthesis for Edentulous Patient Rehabilitation. From Temporary Prosthesis to Definitive with a New Protocol: A Single Case Report
Authors: Scrascia Roberto , Fiorillo Luca , Gaita Valeria , Secondo Luigi , Nicita Fabiana , Cervino Gabriele
Published: February 2020

This case study concerns a patient who had lost all of his teeth, needing a rehabilitation with total prosthesis, who went to the dentist looking for help to overcome psycho-physical trauma and to overcome functional and social problems related to being a prosthesis wearer. Tooth loss occurs most in old age, even if it is not a direct consequence of aging. The rehabilitation of oral functions allows the patient to speak, chew, smile and feel confident in his own aesthetics and therefore improve, even a lot, his well-being in social relations. It is very important in oral rehabilitations to evaluate their type and therapeutic timing. This study stems from the idealization of a new protocol to simplify the supported oral rehabilitations. In this manuscript, a patient was considered and shown according to a complete photographical documentation all the phases. Rehabilitation included the use of Osstem (Osstem, Seoul, Korea) and equator type abutments (Rhein83, Bologna, Italy). This manuscript claims to represent the first of a whole series of cases demonstrating the utility of this protocol.
‘Non-Religion’ as Part of the ‘Religion’ Category in International Human Rights
Authors: Nixon Alan G.
Published: February 2020

‘Religion’ still occupies and maintains a position of formal and informal privilege in many current societies. It retains these privileges despite the increasing numbers of people who label themselves ‘non-religious’. There is also evidence that overtly non-religious people are being persecuted due to the continuation of these privileges. This paper will examine such treatment of the non-religious in the context of human rights instruments and laws. It lays out the international law case for the rights of the non-religious. It also discusses the extent to which state actors have or have not ignored human rights standards in their persecution or deprivileging of non-religious people. This paper will proceed through a three-step analysis. Step 1 is to examine the aspirational Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in relation to the non-religious. The relevant sections of the UDHR and interpretations that they have received will be discussed. Step 2 is to do the same with the binding International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Finally, Step 3 is to give examples of lower-level and local laws, where I shall examine the extent to which individual countries’ laws and practices toward non-religious people support or contradict the treaty commitments that those countries have made. The continuation in coercion/persecution cases suggests that something is amiss with human rights protections being provided to the non-religious. If we are to create social structures that are more inclusive of the non-religious and to advocate for non-religious rights, it is necessary to examine the societal power and privilege still held by ‘religion’. It is hoped that this article can inform and encourage further similar engagements among sociologists, religious studies scholars, activists and lay-people interested in the treatment of non-religious peoples.
Language, Sex, and Luther: Feminist Observations
Authors: Streufert Mary J.
Published: February 2020

Reading Luther from a feminist perspective reveals paradoxes and ambiguities in Luther’s writings related to language and sex, but we cannot make sense of Luther without important historical information, particularly the history of the meaning of sex; it affords a fresh reading of Luther. Even while Luther reinforces male-identified language and symbolism, he begins to shift it, and his work offers clues relevant to theological dialogue on the androcentrism of the Christian tradition 500 years into the ongoing reformation of Christianity. Because of the power dynamics infused in Western accounts of sex, gender, and sexuality for humans, Christians cannot in good faith cling to a primary gender or sex identity for God. More careful English translations demonstrate Luther is a resource in this work because he begins to shift an androcentric view of God and humanity even while paradoxically repeating it. Previous English translations of Luther have obscured his shifts in language and imagery and thus have led English readers to misunderstand Luther’s subtle but powerful views.
Enhanced Delaunay Triangulation Sea Ice Tracking Algorithm with Combining Feature Tracking and Pattern Matching
Authors: Zhang Ming , An Jubai , Zhang Jie , Yu Dahua , Wang Junkai , Lv Xiaoqi
Published: February 2020

Sea ice drift detection has the key role of global climate analysis and waterway planning. The ability to detect sea ice drift in real-time also contributes to the safe navigation of ships and the prevention of offshore oil platform accidents. In this paper, an Enhanced Delaunay Triangulation (EDT) algorithm for sea ice tracking was proposed for dual-polarization sequential Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images, which was implemented by combining feature tracking with pattern matching based on integrating HH and HV polarization feature information. A sea ice retrieval algorithm for feature detection, matching, fusion, and outlier detection was specifically developed to increase the system’s accuracy and robustness. In comparison with several state-of-the-art sea ice drift retrieval algorithms, including Speeded Up Robust Features (SURF) and the Oriented FAST and Rotated BRIEF (ORB) method, the results of the experiment provided compelling evidence that our algorithm had a higher accuracy than the SURF and ORB method. Furthermore, the results of our method were compared with the drift vector and direction of buoys data. The drift direction is consistent with buoys, and the velocity deviation was about 10 m. It was proved that this method can be applied effectively to the retrieval of sea ice drift.
A New Individual Tree Crown Delineation Method for High Resolution Multispectral Imagery
Authors: Qiu Lin , Jing Linhai , Hu Baoxin , Li Hui , Tang Yunwei
Published: February 2020

In current individual tree crown (ITC) delineation methods for high-resolution multispectral imagery, either a spectral band or a brightness component of the multispectral image is employed in delineation with reference to edges or shapes of crowns, whereas spectra of tree crowns are seldom taken into account. Such methods normally perform well in coniferous forests with obvious between-crown shadows, but fail in dense deciduous or mixed forests, in which tree crowns are close to each other, between-crown shadows and boundaries are unobvious, whereas adjacent tree crowns may be of distinguishable spectra. In order to effectively delineate crowns in dense deciduous or mixed forests, a new ITC delineation method using both brightness and spectra of the image is proposed in this study. In this method, a morphological gradient map of the image is first generated, treetops of multi-scale crowns are extracted from the gradient map and refined regarding the spectral differences between neighboring crowns, the gradient map is segmented using a watershed approach with treetops as markers, and the resulting segmentation map is refined to yield a crown map. Evaluated on images of a rainforest and a deciduous forest, the proposed method more accurately delineated adjacent broad-leaved tree crowns with similar brightness but different spectra than the other two typical ITC delineation algorithms, achieving a delineation accuracy of up to 76% in the rainforest and 63% in the deciduous forest.
Deep Learning-Based Drivers Emotion Classification System in Time Series Data for Remote Applications
Authors: Naqvi Rizwan Ali , Arsalan Muhammad , Rehman Abdul , Rehman Ateeq Ur , Loh Woong-Kee , Paul Anand
Published: February 2020

Aggressive driving emotions is indeed one of the major causes for traffic accidents throughout the world. Real-time classification in time series data of abnormal and normal driving is a keystone to avoiding road accidents. Existing work on driving behaviors in time series data have some limitations and discomforts for the users that need to be addressed. We proposed a multimodal based method to remotely detect driver aggressiveness in order to deal these issues. The proposed method is based on change in gaze and facial emotions of drivers while driving using near-infrared (NIR) camera sensors and an illuminator installed in vehicle. Driver’s aggressive and normal time series data are collected while playing car racing and truck driving computer games, respectively, while using driving game simulator. Dlib program is used to obtain driver’s image data to extract face, left and right eye images for finding change in gaze based on convolutional neural network (CNN). Similarly, facial emotions that are based on CNN are also obtained through lips, left and right eye images extracted from Dlib program. Finally, the score level fusion is applied to scores that were obtained from change in gaze and facial emotions to classify aggressive and normal driving. The proposed method accuracy is measured through experiments while using a self-constructed large-scale testing database that shows the classification accuracy of the driver’s change in gaze and facial emotions for aggressive and normal driving is high, and the performance is superior to that of previous methods.