bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Free and Glycosidically Bound Volatile Compounds in Okinawan Pineapple (Ananas comosus)
Authors: Asikin Yonathan , Shimoda Kazuki , Takeuchi Makoto , Maekawa Ryota , Kamiyoshihara Yusuke , Takara Kensaku , Wada Koji
Published: September 2022

Fruit plants produce various volatile compounds that emit distinct aroma characteristics and contribute to their flavor qualities. However, some of these substances, especially hydroxyl-group molecules, are in non-volatile glycosylated forms. This study aimed to determine free and glycosidically bound volatile compounds in three Okinawan pineapple cultivars (‘N67-10′, ‘Yugafu’, and ‘Yonekura’). The free volatile components of squashed pineapple juice were analyzed using solid-phase microextraction (SPME)–arrow-gas chromatography–flame ionization detection/mass spectrometry (GC-FID/MS). The glycosides were collected through solid-phase extraction, hydrolyzed by β-glucosidase, and the released volatile compounds were measured. The sugar moieties of the glycosides were confirmed using GC-MS, and their glycoside constituents were analyzed using liquid chromatography (LC)-MS. Okinawan pineapple varied in its content and composition of free volatile components, which were predominantly comprised of esters, followed by alcohols, terpenes, and ketones. Eight hydroxyl-group compounds, including chavicol, eugenol, geraniol, phenylethyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, 1-hexanol, and 3-methyl-2-butenol, were released from their glycosylated forms via enzymatic hydrolysis, wherein the amounts of most of them were greater in ‘Yonekura’ than in the other cultivars. Moreover, two glycosides, chavicol-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and eugenol-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, were identified in all the cultivars, wherein the aglycones of both glycosides could be potential odor sources of the medicinal-herbal aromas. These results provide important information regarding both volatile-aroma qualities and bounded-aroma resources in Okinawan pineapple for fresh consumption and agroindustrial processing.
Lithium Battery SOC Estimation Based on Multi-Innovation Unscented and Fractional Order Square Root Cubature Kalman Filter
Authors: Xing Likun , Wu Xianyuan , Ling Liuyi , Lu Lu , Qi Liang
Published: September 2022

Accurate state-of-charge (SOC) estimation of lithium batteries is of great significance for electric vehicles. In this paper, a combined estimation method of multi-innovation unscented Kalman filter (MIUKF) and fractional order square root cubature Kalman filter (FSRCKF) for lithium batteries is proposed. Firstly, the adaptive genetic algorithm (AGA) is applied to carry out offline parameter identification for the fractional order model (FOM) of a lithium battery under the Dynamic Stress Test (DST). Then, battery SOC is estimated by FSRCKF, while the Ohm internal resistance R0 of the fractional order battery model is estimated and updated by MIUKF in real time. The results show that MIUKF-FSRCKF is better than FSRCKF, FCKF and SRCKF in estimating the SOC of lithium batteries under the Federal Urban Driving Schedule (FUDS), Beijing Dynamic Stress Test (BJDST) and US06 Highway Driving Schedule tests, especially when R0 is inaccurate.
Task-Based Motion Planning Using Optimal Redundancy for a Minimally Actuated Robotic Arm
Authors: Gal Yanai , Zarrouk David
Published: September 2022

In planning robotic manipulations, heuristic searches are commonly considered impractical due to the high dimensionality of the problem caused by redundancy in the kinematic chain. In this paper, we present an optimal motion planning algorithm for an overly redundant minimally actuated serial robot (MASR) using the manipulator workspace as a foundation for the heuristic search. By utilizing optimized numerical probability methods, a novel sub-workspace search was developed. The sub-workspace allows the search to quickly and accurately find the minimal sub-set of joints to be actuated and ensures the existence of a path to a given target. Further on, the search result is used as a search graph for the heuristic planning problem which guarantees an optimal solution within the problem boundaries. Using this approach, optimal heuristic search can become practical for various types of manipulators, tasks, and environments. We describe our workspace minimization and heuristic search using the example of a general robotic arm and then implement the approach on a MASR model, a robotic arm with five passive joints and a single mobile actuator that is free to travel along the arm and rotate each joint separately. A series of simulations show how our minimal redundancy approach can benefit from path planning in the case of traditional hyper-redundant manipulators, and its greater effectiveness when addressing the specific design of the MASR.
Deep Interest Context Network for Click-Through Rate
Authors: Yu Mingting , Liu Tingting , Yin Jian , Chai Peilin
Published: September 2022

In recent years, the proposed Deep Interest Network (DIN), Deep Interest Evolution Network (DIEN) and Deep Session Interest Network (DSIN) have further developed click-through rate prediction models. The above three models mainly focus on the evolution and development of the user’s historical behavior sequence. To a certain extent, the influence of environmental vectors on the user’s choice of the advertisement for the item to be recommended is ignored. As a result, click-through rates cannot be predicted more accurately when items have strong environmental attributes. To solve this problem, we propose a new model based on DIN, called Deep Interest Context Network (DICN). DICN combines two local activation units. It adaptively learns the user’s interest representation from the user’s historical behavior data concerning an advertisement and the context in which the advertisement is located (i.e., environmental factors). The experimental results show that DICN significantly improves the performance and model expression ability of advertisements with strong environmental attributes.
Geometric Accuracy Evaluation Method for Subway Stations Based on 3D Laser Scanning
Authors: Wang Quankai , Qian Peng , Liu Yunping , Li Tao , Yang Lei , Yang Fan
Published: September 2022

The rapid development of three-dimensional (3D) laser scanning technology has provided a new technical means for the geometric accuracy evaluation of subway stations. With high precision and high efficiency, laser scanning technology can present the construction site condition in a panoramic way, which is essential for achieving high precision and all-round geometric accuracy evaluation. However, when the survey coordinate system of the design building information modeling (BIM) predefined in the design stage is not applied during the laser scanning data acquisition or the BIM loses the survey coordinate system during the interaction, the objects will have different coordinate positions in the point cloud and BIM, which will limit the accuracy comparison between the two data sources. Meanwhile, the existing methods mainly focus on the above overground buildings, and the accuracy evaluation of underground structures mainly focuses on the overall deformation monitoring. So far, the existing methods do not constitute a hierarchical index system to assess the geometric accuracy of various objects in the subway station. This study proposes a method to evaluate the geometric accuracy of subway stations based on laser scanning technology. A coarse-to-fine coordinate registration from point cloud to the design BIM is used to unify coordinates in different reference systems; and geometric accuracy evaluation of different structures in subway stations is achieved by developing geometric accuracy evaluation indexes and technical systems. The method is applied to the geometric accuracy monitoring of the Hongqi Road subway station, and the experimental results verify the reliability of the method.
Effect of Alkanolamines on the Early-Age Strength and Drying Shrinkage of Internal Curing of Mortars
Authors: Wan Dandan , Liu Rongjin , Gao Tianyu , Jing Daiyan , Lu Fuhua
Published: September 2022

In this study, the reduction of the early-age strength of mortar caused by the traditional super absorbent polymer (SAP) was solved. Two types of alkanolamines (Alkanolamine-A and alkanolamine-B) and calcium nitrite were compounded with traditional SAP as early-age strength components and then were added into the mortar to evaluate effects on early-age strength and drying shrinkage. Results showed that adding two types of alkanolamines could significantly improve the early-age compressive strength of mortar. The addition of alkanolamines could refine the pore of cement paste and reduce the average pore size, which can be reflected by the increased strength and improved mortar drying shrinkage. Among them, the mortar with the composite of alkanolamine-A and alkanolamine-B added showed excellent performance. Its mechanical properties increased to 129% at day 3 and 139% at day 7 compared with the reference group; compressive strength can reach up to 31.8 MPa. The average pore size of the cement paste decreased by 27.8%, and the drying shrinkage was significantly smaller compared with the reference group.
Satellite Support to Estimate Livestock Ammonia Emissions: A Case Study in Hebei, China
Authors: Liu Pu , Ding Jia , Ji Yufeng , Xu Hang , Liu Sheng , Xiao Bin , Jin Haodong , Zhong Xiaojun , Guo Zecheng , Wang Houcheng , Liu Lei
Published: September 2022

Ammonia (NH3) is an important precursor of secondary inorganic aerosols that affect air quality and human health. Livestock production is an essential source of NH3 emissions, which exceeded half of the total NH3 emissions in China. However, our understanding of the livestock point NH3 emissions is still limited, due to the lack of both monitoring and statistical data. In this study, we established a satellite-based approach to estimating livestock point NH3 emissions by combining satellite observations and digital maps of points-of-interest (POI). Taking a case study in Hebei province over China, 1267 livestock points were identified. The point livestock NH3 emissions in 2020 ranged from 16.8 to 126.6 kg N ha−1 yr−1, with an average emission of 42.0 kg N ha−1 yr−1. The livestock NH3 emissions in Hebei showed an overall increasing trend, with a growth rate of 5.8% yr−1 between 2008 and 2020. In terms of seasonal changes, high livestock NH3 emissions mainly occurred in spring and summer, while low NH3 emissions were generally in autumn and winter. Satellite-derived point livestock NH3 emissions in Hebei were 2–4 times that of bottom-up NH3 emissions (EDGAR), suggesting that current used bottom-up emissions underestimated point livestock NH3 emissions. This study proposed a framework for the satellite-based estimation of livestock NH3 emissions, which is of great significance for relevant N management and NH3 emission reduction policy formulation.
Short-Term Habituation of Auditory N1 in Spoken Word-Forms Is Modulated by Phonological Information
Authors: Yue Jinxing , Wang Peng , Li Jiayin , Li Zhipeng , Liang Xia , He Yifei
Published: September 2022

Short-term auditory habituation is typically reflected by decreased but recoverable amplitudes of the N1 component of event-related potentials to repeated stimuli. It remains less well understood whether and how N1 habituation is modulated by the human cognition. The current study aims to further test for the potential modulatory roles of phonological information carried by spoken word-forms. Two phonological variables, namely lexicality (real versus pseudoword-form) and usage frequency (high versus low frequency), are considered and combined factorially, yielding four types of monosyllabic Mandarin spoken word-forms. Each type consists of 10 items (i.e., word-forms). The stimuli were passively presented to native Mandarin speakers in trains of five (S1–S5), while their EEG was recorded. The peak amplitudes of N1 to the same type of speech stimuli were calculated for each position by averaging the trains extracted from the EEG recording. Then, the N1 habituation was quantified for the two electrodes of interest (C3 and C4) in each repetitive presentation position (S2–S5). The results showed that the N1 habituation in low-frequency pseudo word-forms was consistently greater than in low-frequency real word-forms and high-frequency pseudo word-forms, respectively, at the fourth presentation (S4). The results suggest the first evidence that different types of phonological information (i.e., lexicality and usage frequency) modulate N1 habituation, interactively. Sensory filtering is proposed as a candidate mechanism for mediating between the processing of phonological information and the short-term habituation of auditory N1.
Relation between Physical Fitness Components and the Occurrence and Subjective Intensity of Back Pain in Secondary School Adolescents
Authors: Cocca Armando , Greier Klaus , Drenowatz Clemens , Lovecchio Nicola , Baños Raúl , Wirnitzer Katharina , Ruedl Gerhard
Published: September 2022

Despite the well documented benefits of physical fitness (PF) on general health, its role in back pain (BP) is still unclear. The objective of this study was to assess the association between different PF profiles and BP in a sample of adolescents. The study assessed PF and BP in a sample of 919 youth (age = 15.5 ± 1.3 years) from North and South Tyrol. A total of 531 participants (57.8%) reported no BP, whereas 4.7% (n = 43) reported severe BP. A two-step cluster analysis detected three main groups: the “less fit”, with significantly lower scores in all PF tests (p < 0.001); the “strong sprinters”, with higher speed and muscular strength than the others (p < 0.001); and the “flexible marathoners”, with higher flexibility and cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.001). The “flexible marathoners” showed significantly better BP scores than the “less fit” (p = 0.029). Cardiorespiratory fitness and trunk flexibility are potential preventive components of BP in adolescents. Since the decline in flexibility starts very early in life, it is recommended to put a particular emphasis on this component of PF. The role of other components of PF should be further investigated in the future.
Conformational Preference of Flavonols and Its Effect on the Chemical Properties Involved in Radical Scavenging Activity
Authors: Kondo Hiroko X. , Takano Yu
Published: September 2022

Flavonols are compounds with radical-scavenging activities that can prevent the harmful effects of free radicals. Their radical-scavenging activity has attracted significant attention. Recently, quantum chemistry-based methodologies have significantly improved the understanding of the activity due to dramatic increases in computational power and software improvements. A standardized analysis method for estimating radical scavenging activity, the quantum mechanics-based test for overall free radical scavenging activity (QM-ORSA), has been proposed. An obstacle in applying the QM-ORSA protocol to flavonols is the large number of conformers and hydroxy groups for analysis. In this study, we focused on it and analyzed the conformational dependences of three flavonols (myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol) on their chemical properties: bond dissociation energy, pKa, and ionization energy. As a result, all chemical properties were insensitive to conformational differences. The conformational search should be performed separately for each in the gas phase and in aqueous solution because of the differences in the major conformer (relative population of each conformer). These results suggest that it is important to perform the conformational search separately in water and in the gas phase and to determine one representative structure for analyzing radical scavenging activity.
An AIEE Active Anthracene-Based Nanoprobe for Zn2+ and Tyrosine Detection Validated by Bioimaging Studies
Authors: Shellaiah Muthaiah , Thirumalaivasan Natesan , Aazaad Basheer , Awasthi Kamlesh , Sun Kien Wen , Wu Shu-Pao , Lin Ming-Chang , Ohta Nobuhiro
Published: September 2022

Novel anthracene-based Schiff base derivative (4-(anthracen-9-ylmethylene) amino)-5-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol; AT2) is synthesized and utilized as an aggregation-induced emission-enhancement (AIEE) active probe to detect Zn2+ and Tyrosine. Ultraviolet-visible absorption/photoluminescence (UV-vis/PL) spectroscopy studies on the AIEE property of AT2 (in ethanol) with increasing water fractions (fw: 0–97.5%) confirm the J-type aggregation. Excellent sensor selectivity of AT2 to Zn2+ and its reversibility with Tyrosine are demonstrated with PL interrogations. 2:1 and 1:1 stoichiometry and binding sites of AT2-Zn2+ and Tyrosine-Zn2+ complexes are elucidated from Job plots, HR-mass, and 1H-NMR results. Nanomolar-level detection limits (LODs) of Zn2+ (179 nM) and Tyrosine (667 nM) and association constants (Kas) of 2.28 × 10−6 M−2 (for AT2-Zn2+) and 1.39 × 10−7 M−1 (for Tyrosine-Zn2+) are determined from standard deviation and linear fittings. Nanofiber formation in AIEE and aggregated/dispersed nanoparticles in the presence of the Zn2+/Tyrosine are supported by scanning-electron microscope (SEM), transmission-electron microscope (TEM), atomic-force microscope (AFM), and dynamic-light scattering (DLS) investigations. Density-functional theory (DFT) studies confirm an “On-Off” twisted intramolecular charge transfer/photo-induced electron transfer (TICT/PET) and “On-Off-On” PET mechanisms for AIEE and sensors, respectively. B16-F10 cellular and zebrafish imaging are conducted to support the applications of AIEE and sensors.
Study on Anti-Penetration Performance of Semi-Cylindrical Ceramic Composite Armor against 12.7 mm API Projectile
Authors: Jiang Anbang , Li Yongqing , Li Dian , Hou Hailiang
Published: September 2022

To explore the anti-penetration performance of the specially shaped ceramic/metal composite armor, such an armor is designed and fabricated using a semi-cylindrical projectile resistant ceramic and metal back plate, and its anti-penetration performance for the 12.7 mm armor-piercing incendiary (API) projectile (also known as the 0.50 caliber API projectile) is investigated experimentally and numerically. The results show that due to the significant attitude deflection during projectile penetration, the penetration into the designed ceramic composite armor is quite different from that into the conventional homogeneous ceramic/metal composite armor, which can be roughly divided into the following four stages: asymmetric erosion of the projectile, ceramic cone squeezing movement, back plate failure and projectile exit. The failure mode of the back plate is mainly dishing deformation and petaling failure. When obvious attitude deflection occurs to the projectile, the breaches in the back plate are elliptical in varying degrees, and the height and size of petals are apparently different. The area of the composite armor is divided into different zones according to its anti-penetration performance. The influence of the ratio of semi-cylindrical ceramic diameter to projectile core diameter ξ on the anti-penetration performance is studied under constant areal density. The results show that the deflection effect of the composite armor is small when the ratio ξ is less than 2, and the anti-penetration performance is the strongest when ξ is close to 2. With the increase in the initial velocity of the projectile, the deflection effect of the composite armor on the projectile gradually weakened, and the erosion effect gradually increased.
CT Brain Perfusion in the Prediction of Final Infarct Volume: A Prospective Study of Different Software Settings for Acute Ischemic Core Calculation
Authors: Kremenova Karin , Lukavsky Jiri , Holesta Michal , Peisker Tomas , Lauer David , Weichet Jiri , Malikova Hana
Published: September 2022

CT perfusion (CTP) is used for the evaluation of brain tissue viability in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We studied the accuracy of three different syngo.via software (SW) settings for acute ischemic core estimation in predicting the final infarct volume (FIV). The ischemic core was defined as follows: Setting A: an area with cerebral blood flow (CBF) < 30% compared to the contralateral healthy hemisphere. Setting B: CBF < 20% compared to contralateral hemisphere. Setting C: area of cerebral blood volume (CBV) < 1.2 mL/100 mL. We studied 47 AIS patients (aged 68 ± 11.2 years) with large vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation, treated in the early time window (up to 6 h), who underwent technically successful endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). FIV was measured on MRI performed 24 ± 2 h after EVT. In general, all three settings correlated with each other; however, the absolute agreement between acute ischemic core volume on CTP and FIV on MRI was poor; intraclass correlation for all three settings was between 0.64 and 0.69, root mean square error of the individual observations was between 58.9 and 66.0. Our results suggest that using CTP syngo.via SW for prediction of FIV in AIS patients in the early time window is not appropriate.
Risk Awareness for Vietnamese’s Life Insurance on Financial Protection: The Case Study of Daklak Province, Vietnam
Authors: Lan Tran Thi
Published: September 2022

This paper aims to identify risk awareness through factors that influence the intention to buy people’s life insurance in Daklak province of Vietnam and provide implications for life insurance companies. The data resources were conducted from the survey of 250 people in Daklak Province and applied the ordinal logit model for the analysis. Remarkably, as we conducted the study during the COVID-19 pandemic period, a dummy variable of COVID-19 was included in the analysis. The results of this research have some similarities and differences with other studies. As with the references, saving motivation was the most crucial factor affecting the dependent variable. Saving motivation, financial literacy, brand name, and risk awareness have a positive impact. While age and gender were differences that have a negative effect on the intention to buy life insurance, which means that young people and women have more intention to purchase life insurance than younger men. The four factors consisting of financial literacy, brand name, risk awareness, and gender were considered the second most important factors. COVID-19 and attitude were the third critical effect on the intention to purchase life insurance. Income was the less important factor.
Journalistic Quality Criteria under the Magnifying Glass: A Content Analysis of the Winning Stories of World Press Photo Foundation’s Digital Storytelling Contest
Authors: Planer Rosanna , Godulla Alexander , Seibert Daniel , Pietsch Patrick
Published: September 2022

This study explores aspects of journalistic quality in complex digital stories. Based on a tailored overview of the potentials of online journalism and digital long form stories for journalistic quality, all available award-winning stories of the subcategory Interactive of the World Press Photo’s Digital Storytelling Contest from 2011 to 2021 (n = 31) are examined according to their structure and journalistic quality criteria using Grounded Theory. The findings add to the long and ongoing research history in journalism and communication studies on the question of what journalistic quality entails and can be used as a basis for further analyses focusing on the technological and structural nature of digital stories and high-quality journalism. The analysis revealed a differentiation between linear stories and chapter stories with linear elements. While a multimedia nature, continuous text and video content prevailed in both forms, they differed in terms of their complexity as well as certain expressions of quality criteria. Gamification and immersion emerged as new yet debatable aspects of journalistic quality in digital stories.
Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Traditional Village Distribution in China
Authors: Su Haoran , Wang Yaowu , Zhang Zhen , Dong Wen
Published: September 2022

Understanding the characteristics of the traditional village distribution contributes to the formulation of relevant protection and development strategies. We adopted a series of spatial analysis methods to investigate the characteristics of the traditional village distribution in China by using the watershed as the research unit. Moreover, we conducted quantitative and qualitative analyses of the relevant influencing factors affecting the distribution pattern using Geodetector and mathematical statistics. The findings indicate that traditional villages are distributed unevenly across watershed units. High–High clusters tend to occur at the boundaries of first-level watersheds. Traditional villages have a clear agglomeration trend in space, with a concentrated and contiguous distribution pattern based on the “core density area–ring-core expansion group–belt area”. The key factors affecting the traditional village distribution are annual precipitation, annual average temperature, and river density. The traditional village number has a clear inverted U-shaped relationship with the annual average temperature, river density, and road density. The study reveals the complex and various characteristics of the traditional village distribution and its influence mechanism and offers scientific advice for traditional villages’ future protection and development.
Serum Procalcitonin Levels in Newly Diagnosed Hodgkin Lymphoma: Correlation with Other Inflammatory Biomarkers
Authors: Piperidou Alexia , Zografos Eleftherios , Vassilakopoulos Theodoros J. , Angelopoulou Maria K. , Hillas Georgios , Pappis Vassiliki , Boutsikas George , Dimou Maria , Petevi Kyriaki , Kanellopoulos Alexandros , Kyrtsonis Marie-Christine , Panayiotidis Panayiotis , Vassilakopoulos Theodoros P.
Published: September 2022

Background and Objectives: Procalcitonin (PCT) is a useful biomarker for the diagnosis of sepsis. Inflammatory markers are elevated in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), and yet ongoing infection rarely coexists at diagnosis. PCT levels might be helpful in differentiating bacterial from disease-related inflammation. Materials and Methods: We evaluated serum PCT levels and other inflammation markers in newly diagnosed HL patients. Values < 0.50 ng/mL were considered normal (0.10–0.50 ng/mL: detectable, <0.10 ng/mL: undetectable), while values ≥ 0.50 ng/L were considered elevated. Results: Among 137 patients, 55 had B symptoms (40%), 77/130 (59%) had elevated Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) and 116 (85%) had elevated C-Reactive Protein (CRP) (median 38.1 mg/L (range; 2.97–328)). PCT levels were normal in most patients (undetectable 94/137 (68.5%) and detectable 41/137(30%)) with median value < 0.10 ng/mL (range; <0.10–15.90). Elevated PCT was recorded in only two patients (1.5%). Patients with PCT < 0.10 ng/mL had significantly lower median CRP (25.75; range (2.97–203.0)) compared to patients with PCT ≥ 0.1 ng/mL (median CRP 92.50 mg/L; range (3.34–328.0)). Almost all patients (40/41, 97.6%) with detectable PCT had elevated CRP. Conclusions: This is the first study showing that the inflammation characterizing HL is not associated with PCT elevations, although CRP levels are elevated in 85% of the patients. Normal PCT levels may rule out the possibility of occult infection, thus preventing extensive evaluation, which may delay treatment initiation.
Using TENS for Pain Control: Update on the State of the Evidence
Authors: Vance Carol G. T. , Dailey Dana L. , Chimenti Ruth L. , Van Gorp Barbara J. , Crofford Leslie J. , Sluka Kathleen A.
Published: September 2022

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-pharmacological intervention used in the treatment of acute and chronic pain conditions. The first clinical studies on TENS were published over 50 years ago, when effective parameters of stimulation were unclear and clinical trial design was in its infancy. Over the last two decades, a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying TENS efficacy has led to the development of an adequate dose and has improved outcome measure utilization. The continued uncertainty about the clinical efficacy of TENS to alleviate pain, despite years of research, is related to the quality of the clinical trials included in systematic reviews. This summary of the evidence includes only trials with pain as the primary outcome. The outcomes will be rated as positive (+), negative (−), undecided (U), or equivalent to other effective interventions (=). In comparison with our 2014 review, there appears to be improvement in adverse events and parameter reporting. Importantly, stimulation intensity has been documented as critical to therapeutic success. Examinations of the outcomes beyond resting pain, analgesic tolerance, and identification of TENS responders remain less studied areas of research. This literature review supports the conclusion that TENS may have efficacy for a variety of acute and chronic pain conditions, although the magnitude of the effect remains uncertain due to the low quality of existing literature. In order to provide information to individuals with pain and to clinicians treating those with pain, we suggest that resources for research should target larger, high-quality clinical trials including an adequate TENS dose and adequate timing of the outcome and should monitor risks of bias. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses should focus only on areas with sufficiently strong clinical trials that will result in adequate sample size.
Cutaneous Permeation of a Percutaneously Applied Glucocorticoid Using Plant-Based Anionic Phospholipids in Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Greiner Jack V. , Bhargava Hridaya N. , Glonek Thomas , Korb Donald R. , Lindsay Michael E. , Oliver Paula J.
Published: September 2022

Purpose: It is important that, when corticosteroids are used therapeutically, concentrations be reduced as much as possible to mitigate potential adverse events and side effects. This preliminary study compares the permeation for the delivery of a corticosteroid in a 1% hydrocortisone-supplemented topical cream containing anionic polar phospholipids (APP) in hydrogenated vegetable oil (triglyceride) versus a market-leading 1% hydrocortisone in a mineral hydrocarbon-based skin cream. Methods: Using the Franz diffusion cell method with cadaveric skin, the permeation of a 1% hydrocortisone-supplemented cream containing APP (test preparation) was compared with a commercially available 1% hydrocortisone cream (control preparation). The principal APP in the test preparation were phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylglycerol. Permeation was determined at 4 and 8 h time intervals. Results: The permeation values for the 1% hydrocortisone supplemental APP cream (test preparation) were comparatively very high 1180 ng/cm2 at 4 h and 2173 ng/cm2 at 8 h, in contrast to the 1% hydrocortisone cream (control preparation) values of 13 ng/cm2 at 4 h and 98 ng/cm2 at 8 h. Permeation of skin cream increased significantly from 0 to 4 and 8 h, when comparing the APP test preparation with the control preparation (p < 0.001). This translates, respectively, into the 90-fold greater and a 20-fold greater penetration of the test preparation APP cream over the 1% hydrocortisone cream at 4 h and 8 h time points. Conclusions: This preliminary study demonstrates the enhanced permeation of 1% hydrocortisone when applied topically to the skin in an APP skin cream vehicle. This enhanced permeation suggests the potential use of APP technology to deliver therapeutically effective hydrocortisone treatment to the skin at markedly reduced concentrations of steroid. As such, APP technology may offer an improved approach to the treatment of dermatoses associated with inflammatory diseases and conditions requiring prolonged topical corticosteroid therapy.
Unconventional Gas Geochemistry—An Emerging Concept after 20 Years of Shale Gas Development?
Authors: Cesar Jaime
Published: September 2022

Geochemical studies of gases from low-permeability reservoirs have raised new questions regarding the chemical and stable isotope systematics of gas hydrocarbons. For instance, the possibility of thermodynamic equilibrium is recurrently in discussion. However, it is not clear whether there is anything “unconventional” in the way these systems continue to be studied. Using molecular and stable carbon isotope data from North American unconventional and conventional reservoirs, this research has applied two parameters that well describe key transformation stages during gas generation. The δ13C of ethane and the C2/C3 ratio increase from baseline values (<1%Ro, prominent kerogen cracking) until a first inflexion at 1.5%Ro. The same inflexion leads to 13C depletion of ethane and a rapidly increasing C2/C3 ratio as hydrocarbon cracking becomes prominent. The transition between these two stages is proposed to be a crossover from equilibrium to non-equilibrium conditions. There is no evidence for these characteristics to be limited to low-permeability reservoirs. Unconventional gas geochemistry should represent an approach that acknowledges that chemical and isotope distributions are not ruled by only one mechanism but several and at specific intervals of the thermal history.
Influence of Separation Angle on the Dry Pneumatic Magnetic Separation
Authors: Li Xudong , Wang Yuhua , Lu Dongfang , Zheng Xiayu
Published: September 2022

To enhance dry magnetic separation of fine-grained materials, our research team developed the pneumatic drum magnetic separator (PDMS), an airflow-aided magnetic separator. Different positions at the separation surface of PDMS have varied separation angles, so particles at different positions may be subjected to varying composite forces, resulting in a mismatch between airflow velocity and magnetic field intensity. However, because the separation process of PDMS is continuous and the separation of particles at a certain position is instantaneous, the separation performance of PDMS at a specific separation angle cannot be investigated. To evaluate optimal operating features at different separation angles, a laboratory dry pneumatic flat magnetic separator (DPFMS) was manufactured, which also makes the airflow pass through the separation plane in the opposite direction to the magnetic force. The separation performance of PDMS was revealed by separation tests for −0.15 + 0.074 mm artificial mixed ore with 0–0.6 m/s airflow on DPFMS at various separation angles. At separation angles of 70° and 90°, the separation efficiency increases with an increase in airflow velocity from 16.68% and 33.09% to 77.72% and 76.54%, respectively; at separation angles of 110°, the separation efficiency increases initially from 89.53% to 90.69%, then decreases to 88.22% and keeps decreasing. The synergistic relationship between airflow drag, magnetic force and gravity were investigated by analyzing the composite force and the motion trajectory of a single particle. The results show that the proper airflow velocity aids in enhancing the distinctions between magnetite and quartz particles in resultant force and movement. However, throughout a wide range of air velocity, while the airflow can improve magnetite and quartz separation efficiency of at small separation angles, it may diminish the separation efficiency at large separation angles.
A Real-Time, Non-Invasive Technique for Visualizing the Effects of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) on Soybean
Authors: Li Danyang , Rajagopalan Uma Maheswari , Kadono Hirofumi , De Silva Y. Sanath K.
Published: September 2022

Acid mine drainage is a serious environmental problem faced by the mining industry globally, causing the contamination of numerous agricultural lands and crops. Against this background, this study aims to investigate the effects of AMD on soybean, one of the major crops. To monitor the effects of AMD on soybean quickly and non-destructively, we have proposed a technique called biospeckle optical coherence tomography (bOCT). Soaked soybean seeds were monitored by bOCT, once after 6 h and again after germination, i.e., 48 h, and the results were compared with conventional parameters such as enzyme activity, iron uptake, and seedling length. It was found that bOCT could detect the effects due to the AMD after just 6 h with a decrease in a parameter called bisopeckle contrast that reflects the internal activity of the seeds. On the other hand, the conventional parameters required a week for the effects to appear, and the results from bOCT after six hours were consistent with those obtained by conventional measures. Because of the non-invasive nature of bOCT, requiring only tens of seconds of measurement with an intact, it has not only the potential to screen but could also constantly monitor long-term changes, thus possibly contributing to the study of the effects of AMD on crops.
Fate of Sulfonamides and Tetracyclines in Meat during Pan Cooking: Focus on the Thermodegradation of Sulfamethoxazole
Authors: Planche Christelle , Chevolleau Sylvie , Noguer-Meireles Maria-Hélèna , Jouanin Isabelle , Mompelat Sophie , Ratel Jérémy , Verdon Eric , Engel Erwan , Debrauwer Laurent
Published: September 2022

Although antimicrobials are generally found in trace amounts in meat, the human health risk they bear cannot be ignored. With the ultimate aim of making a better assessment of consumer exposure, this study explored the effects of pan cooking on sulfonamides and tetracyclines in meat. Screening of these antimicrobials in cooked meat was first performed by the European Union Reference Laboratory on the basis of HPLC-MS/MS analyses. A proof of concept approach using radiolabeling was then carried out on the most cooking-sensitive antimicrobial—sulfamethoxazole—to assess if a thermal degradation could explain the observed cooking losses. Degradation products were detected thanks to separation by HPLC and monitoring by online radioactivity detection. HPLC-Orbitrap HRMS analyses completed by 1D and 2D NMR experiments allowed the structural characterization of these degradation compounds. This study revealed that cooking could induce significant antimicrobial losses of up to 45% for sulfamethoxazole. Six potential degradation products of 14C-sulfamethoxazole were detected in cooked meat, and a thermal degradation pattern was proposed. This study highlights the importance of considering the cooking step in chemical risk assessment procedures and its impact on the level of chemical contaminants in meat and on the formation of potentially toxic breakdown compounds.
Evaluation of the Anti-Cancer Potential of Rosa damascena Mill. Callus Extracts against the Human Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cell Line
Authors: Darwish Hadeer , Alharthi Sarah , Mehanna Radwa A. , Ibrahim Samar S. , Fawzy Mustafa A. , Alotaibi Saqer S. , Albogami Sarah M. , Albogami Bander , Hassan Sedky H. A. , Noureldeen Ahmed
Published: September 2022

Chemotherapy is an aggressive form of chemical drug therapy aiming to destroy cancer cells. Adjuvant therapy may reduce hazards of chemotherapy and help in destroying these cells when obtained from natural products, such as medical plants. In this study, the potential therapeutic effect of Rosa damascena callus crude extract produced in vitamin-enhanced media is investigated on colorectal cancer cell line Caco-2. Two elicitors, i.e., L-ascorbic acid and citric acid at a concentration of 0.5 g/L were added to the callus induction medium. Callus extraction and the GC–MS analysis of methanolic crude extracts were also determined. Cytotoxicity, clonogenicity, proliferation and migration of Caco-2 colorectal cancer cells were investigated using MTT cytotoxicity, colony-forming, Ki-67 flow cytometry proliferation and Migration Scratch assays, respectively. Our results indicated that L-ascorbic acid treatment enhanced callus growth parameters and improved secondary metabolite contents. It showed the least IC50 value of 137 ug/mL compared to 237 ug/mL and 180 ug/mL in the citric acid-treated and control group. We can conclude that R. damascena callus elicited by L-ascorbic acid improved growth and secondary metabolite contents as well as having an efficient antiproliferative, anti-clonogenic and anti-migratory effect on Caco-2 cancer cells, thus, can be used as an adjuvant anti-cancer therapy.
Pollution, Exposure and Risk of Biogenic Amines in Canned Sea Fish: Classification of Analytical Methods Based on Carbon Spheres QuEChERS Extraction Combined with HPLC
Authors: Guo Xinying , Dai Zhiying , Zhang Weibing
Published: September 2022

This study investigated the pollution characteristics, exposure levels and health risk assessments of seven kinds of biogenic amines (BAs) in eight varieties of canned sea fish products (n = 131) on the Chinese market. Carbon spheres QuEChERS mixed dispersion solid phase extraction combined with HPLC was used for the classification and analysis of batch samples. The average recovery of single BAs obtained by this method is 92.3~97.7%, and the relative standard deviation is 1.9~4.8%. Different varieties of samples have different degrees of pollution, the mass concentration of single BAs range 0.45~27.74 mg/kg, and the total concentration of ΣBAs range 18.77~368.50 mg/kg, of which the concentration of Σ4BAs range 11.53~368.50 mg/kg. The composition of four BAs is mainly putrescine, cadaverine, histamine and tyramine, which always play an important role in the exposure level and risk assessment of samples. The exposure level of BAs in the human body ranges 67.03~209.52 μg∙kg−1∙d−1. The health risk assessment shows that the gender trend of exposure risk level of BAs is male > female (young age), female > male (middle and old age), the age trend is young age > old age > middle age, and the regional trend is city > countryside. The food safety index of BAs in samples is 0.0062~0.0195, which is far less than 1, so the risk is within the controllable range.
Intersystem Crossing of 2-Methlypyrazine Studied by Femtosecond Photoelectron Imaging
Authors: Wumaierjiang Naipisai , Abulimiti Bumaliya , Ling Fengzi , Xiang Mei , Deng Xulan , Wei Jie , Zhang Bing
Published: September 2022

2-methylpyrazine was excited to the high vibrational dynamics of the S1 state with 260 nm femtosecond laser light, and the evolution of the excited state was probed with 400 nm light. Because it was unstable, the S1 state decayed via intersystem crossing to the triplet state T1, and it may have decayed to the ground state S0 via internal conversion. S1-to-T1 intersystem crossing was observed by combining time-resolved mass spectrometry and time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. The crossover time scale was 23 ps. Rydberg states were identified, and the photoelectron spectral and angular distributions indicated accidental resonances of the S1 and T1 states with the 3s and 3p Rydberg states, respectively, during ionization.
Site-Specific Radioiodination of Oligonucleotides with a Phenolic Element in a Programmable Approach
Authors: Zhao Haitao , Qin Yu , Liu Dunfang , Geng Xinyao , Wang Cheng , Ding Ding , Ding Xuan , Xia Qian , Liu Jianjun , Wang Ruowen , Tan Weihong
Published: September 2022

Radioiodination of oligonucleotides provides an extra modality for nucleic acid-based theranostics with potential applications. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a phosphoramidite embedded with a phenolic moiety and demonstrate that oligonucleotides can be readily functionalized with phenol as a precursor by general DNA synthesis. It was identified that the introduction of the precursor does not block the specificity of an aptamer, and the radioiodination is applicable to both DNA and RNA oligonucleotides in a site-specific approach with a commercial kit.
Nanocomposite-Enhanced Efficient Evaporation System for Solar-Driven Seawater Desalination—An Optimized Design for Clean Water Production
Authors: Wei Zhou , Irshad Muhammad Sultan , Arshad Naila , Noureen Laila , Ahmed Iftikhar , Mushtaq Naveed , Asghar Muhammad Sohail , Hayat Qaisar , Ghazanfar Uzma , Idrees Muhammad , Shahzad Naeem , Lu Yuzheng
Published: September 2022

Solar-driven evaporation is a promising technology for desalinating seawater and wastewater without mechanical or electrical energy. The approaches to obtaining fresh water with higher evaporation efficiency are essential to address the water-scarcity issue in remote sensing areas. Herein, we report a highly efficient solar evaporator derived from the nanocomposite of anatase TiO2/activated carbon (TiO2/AC), which was coated on washable cotton fabric using the dip-dry technique for solar water evaporation. The ultra-black fabric offers enhanced solar absorption (93.03%), hydrophilic water transport, and an efficient evaporation rate of 1.65 kg/m2h under 1 kW m−2 or one sun solar intensity. More importantly, the sideways water channels and centralized thermal insulation of the designed TiO2/AC solar evaporator accumulated photothermal heat at the liquid and air interface along with an enhanced surface temperature of 40.98 °C under one sun. The fabricated solar evaporator desalinated seawater (3.5 wt%) without affecting the evaporation rates, and the collected condensed water met the standard of drinking water set by the World Health Organization (WHO). This approach eventually enabled the engineering design groups to develop the technology pathways as well as optimum conditions for low-cost, scalable, efficient, and sustainable solar-driven steam generators to cope with global water scarcity.
Recent Advances of Transition Metal Chalcogenides as Cathode Materials for Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries
Authors: Liu Ying , Wu Xiang
Published: September 2022

In recent years, advances in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have pushed the research of other metal-ion batteries to the forefront. Aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) have attracted much attention owing to their low cost, high capacity and non-toxic characteristics. Among various cathodes, transition metal chalcogenides (TMCs) with a layered structure are considered as suitable electrode materials. The large layer spacing facilitates the intercalation/de-intercalation of Zn2+ between the layers. In this mini-review, we summarize a variety of design strategies for the modification of TMCs. Then, we specifically emphasize the zinc storage capacity of the optimized electrodes. Finally, we propose the challenges and future prospects of cathode materials for high-energy AZIBs.
Editorial for Special Issue: “Thin Films Based on Nanocomposites”
Authors: Socol Marcela , Preda Nicoleta
Published: September 2022

Nanocomposites gained great attention from both fundamental scientific research and technological application perspectives emerging as a fascinating class of advanced functional materials, that can find applications in various areas such as electronics, energy, environmental protection, healthcare, etc [...]
Fitting Procedure to Reconstruct the Size Distribution and the Concentration of Silver Colloidal Nanoparticles from UV-Vis Spectra
Authors: Car Julio , Krstulović Nikša
Published: September 2022

In this work, a complete fitting procedure of UV-Vis spectra of silver nanoparticles in colloidal solutions is reported. The fitting function, based on the Beer–Lambert law, Mie theory, and log-normal probability distribution of nanoparticles’ sizes, is developed and confirmed by 33 different independent measurements. In order to validate the accuracy of the function’s behavior on different spectra, freely accessible measurements were used, proving that the fitting function works independently of the method of their production—laser or chemical synthesis of nanoparticles. The developed fitting function is, to the best of our knowledge, novel and not based on any conventional spectral analysis approaches like the Mie–Gans procedure. Furthermore, since fitted parameters are all physical, it allows determination of the mode diameter of nanoparticles as well as the standard deviation of the log-normal distribution of sizes. It enables the reconstruction of size distribution of nanoparticles in colloidal solution. Step-by-step derivation of the fitting function is provided with a physical explanation of all parameters. The importance of Lorentzian dependence emerging at the core of Beer–Lambert law is physically discussed and linked to harmonic oscillator behavior of localized surface plasmon resonance of silver nanoparticles in a colloidal solution. Size distribution reconstruction from fitted parameters according to a log-normal distribution function is provided and a concentration calculation is presented.