bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vibration Energy Coupling Behavior of Rolling Mills under Double Disturbance Conditions
Authors: Wang Lidong , Wang Shen , Jia Xingdou , Wang Xiaoling , Yan Xiaoqiang
Published: February 2023

The operation of the world’s first multimode continuous casting and rolling F3 (3rd finishing mill stand) finishing mill was hampered by frequent vibrations. Mill vibrations were found to be caused by the transmission and coupling of vibration energy flow. In this study, an overall finite element model of the F3 stand is established based on the structural sound intensity method and harmonic response analysis method, and then, the intrinsic energy flow modes and energy flow harmonic response of the F3 stand are obtained. Further, the effects of the steady-state rolling force variation, preload torque variation, rolling force fluctuation, torque fluctuation, and its phase angle difference on the vibration energy flow of the mill are analyzed. Finally, the effects of the mill damping ratio, strip width, and strip modulus on the vibration energy flow under double dynamic load are discussed to reveal the inherent characteristics of the mill vibration energy flow. The results show that the vibration energy flow of the mill increases with the increase of strip modulus, rolling force, and moment fluctuation; the phase angle difference of rolling moment shows a “V” trend change on the vibration energy flow; the change of strip width has a greater effect on the vibration energy flow of the vertical system; and for the damping ratio of 0.01–0.1, the reduction of the vibration energy flow at all excitation frequencies is obvious.
Assessment of Irregular Biomass Particles Fluidization in Bubbling Fluidized Beds
Authors: Bannon David , Deza Mirka , Masoumi Masoud , Estejab Bahareh
Published: February 2023

Biomass as a clean and renewable source of energy has immense potential to aid in solving the energy crisis in the world. In order to accurately predict the fluidization behavior of biomass particles using the Eulerian–Eulerian approach and the kinetic theory for granular flows (KTGF), employing appropriate models that adapt to irregularly shaped particles and can precisely predict the interaction between particles is crucial. In this study, the effects of varying radial distribution functions (RDF), frictional viscosity models (FVM), angles of internal friction (ϕ), and stress blending functions (SBF) on the performance of two-fluid models (TFM) were investigated. Simulation predictions were compared and validated with the previous experiments in the literature on Geldart B biomass particles of walnut shells. When applying sphericity to account for size irregularities of biomass particles, the results of this study demonstrated that predictions of both the Ma–Ahmadi and the Carnahan–Starling RDFs along with the Schaeffer FVM agree with experimental data. More specifically, the bubbling behavior prediction slightly favored the use of the Ma–Ahmadi RDF for biomass particles. The results also revealed the importance of using FVM regardless of the initial void fraction. The use of the Schaeffer FVM became more important as time proceeded and particle bulk density decreased. With the change of ϕ and the application of SBF, no significant differences in the time-averaged results were observed. However, when ϕ ranges were between 30 and 40, the predictions of bubbling behavior became more greatly aligned with experimental results.
The Effects of Nanoparticles- Zerovalent Iron on Sustainable Biomethane Production through Co-Digestion of Olive Mill Wastewater and Chicken Manure
Authors: Bkoor Alrawashdeh Khalideh Al , Al-Zboon Kamel K. , Al-Tabbal Jalal A. , AL-Samrraie La’aly A. , Al Bsoul Abeer , Damseh Rebhi A. , Khasawneh Ayat , Dessouky Yasser , Tonbol Kareem , Ali Bassma M. , Youssef Elen E.
Published: February 2023

The impacts of nanoparticles-zerovalent iron (NP-ZVI) on anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD) were assessed. The production of biogas and methane (CH4), as well as the removal efficiency of volatile solids (VS) and contaminants were investigated in the AcoD of chicken manure (CM) and olive mill wastewater (OMWW) with the addition of NP-ZVI at different concentrations (10–50 mg/g VS) and different sizes resulting from various mixing volume ratios (MVR) of NaBH4:FeSO4.7H2O. The results show that NP-ZVI ≤ 30 mg/g VS at MVR-2:1, MVR-4:1, and MVR-6:1 improves the AcoD. In contrast to 40–50 mg/g VS of NP-ZVI, which caused an inhibitory impact in all of the AcoD stages, as well as a decrease in the contaminant’s removal efficiency, the concentration of 10–30 mg NP-ZVI/g VS at MVR-4:1 achieved a maximum improvement of CH4 by 21.09%, 20.32%, and 22.87%, respectively, and improved the biogas by 48.14%, 55.0%, and 80.09%, respectively, vs. the 0 additives. Supplementing AcoD with NP-ZVI at a concentration of 30 mg/g VS at MVR-4:1 resulted in maximum enhancement of the contaminant removal efficiency, with a total oxygen demand (TCOD) of up to 73.99%, turbidity up to 79.07%, color up to 53.41%, total solid (TS) up to 59.57%, and volatile solid (VS) up to 74.42%. It also improved the hydrolysis and acidification percentages by up to 86.67% and 51.3%, respectively.
Isolation, Purification, and Antitumor Activity of a Novel Active Protein from Antrodia cinnamomea Liquid Fermentation Mycelia
Authors: Li Yingying , Ge Jiaxin , Li Yanbin , Zheng Siqi , Liu Yangyang , Liang Yunxiang , Mei Yuxia
Published: February 2023

Antrodia cinnamomea, a rare medicinal fungus endemic to Taiwan, contains numerous active components and displays strong antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects. We isolated and purified a novel A. cinnamomea active protein (termed ACAP) from liquid fermentation mycelia and evaluated its antitumor activity. A homogeneous protein-eluted fraction was obtained by anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography, and ACAP was identified based on the antitumor activity screening of this fraction. An in vitro assay of three tumor cell lines (HeLa, Hep G2, and Hepa 1-6) revealed significant antiproliferative effects of ACAP at low concentrations, with IC50 values of 13.10, 10.70, and 18.69 µg/mL, respectively. Flow cytometric analysis showed that ACAP induced late apoptosis of Hep G2 cells. The apoptosis rate of 50 µg/mL ACAP-treated cells (60%) was significantly (p < 0.01) more than that of the control. A Western blotting assay of apoptotic pathway proteins showed that ACAP significantly upregulated p53 and downregulated caspase-3 expression levels. Our findings indicate that ACAP has strong antitumor activity and the potential for development as a therapeutic agent and/or functional food.
The Effect of a Glutathione (GSH)-Containing Cryo-Protectant on the Viability of Probiotic Cells Using a Freeze-Drying Process
Authors: Nguyen Trung Hau , Kim Jin-Seong , Kwon Hyuk-Ju , Kang Chang-Ho
Published: February 2023

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and probiotics promise specific health benefits to their host. However, good storage stability is a prerequisite for their functioning and industrial use. This study aimed to evaluate glutathione (GSH) as a potential protective agent for improving microbial stability deteriorated by freeze-drying, freeze-thawing, and cold treatments. In this study, the optimal concentration of glutathione (50% w/w) was 1%, showing effective protection on the viability and stability of various LAB strains (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum MG4229 and MG4296, Lactococcus lactis MG5125, Limosilactobacillus fermentum MG4295, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei MG5012, and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis MG741). Glutathione-containing protectants considerably improved the viability of all of these strains after freeze-drying compared with non-coated probiotics. Survivability in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, accelerated stability tests, and adhesion assays on intestinal epithelial cells were performed to determine whether glutathione enhances bacterial stability. Based on morphological observations, protectants containing GSH were coated onto the cell surface, resulting in effective protection against multiple external stress stimuli. The applicability of GSH as a new and effective protective agent can improve the stability and viability of various probiotics with anti-freezing and anti-thawing effects.
Vegetation Cover Type Classification Using Cartographic Data for Prediction of Wildfire Behaviour
Authors: Tavakol Sadrabadi Mohammad , Innocente Mauro Sebastián
Published: February 2023

Predicting the behaviour of wildfires can help save lives and reduce health, socioeconomic, and environmental impacts. Because wildfire behaviour is highly dependent on fuel type and distribution, their accurate estimation is paramount for accurate prediction of the fire propagation dynamics. This paper studies the effect of combining automated hyperparameter tuning with Bayesian optimisation and recursive feature elimination on the accuracy of three boosting (AdaB, XGB, CatB), two bagging (Random Forest, Extremely Randomised Trees), and three stacking ensemble models with respect to their ability to estimate the vegetation cover type from cartographic data. The models are trained on the University of California Irvine (UCI) cover type dataset using five-fold cross-validation. Feature importance scores are calculated and used in recursive feature elimination analysis to study the sensitivity of model accuracy to the different feature combinations. Our results indicate that the implemented fine-tuning procedure significantly affects the accuracy of all models investigated, with XGB achieving an overall accuracy of 97.1% slightly outperforming the others.
Differential Subordination and Superordination Results for q-Analogue of Multiplier Transformation
Authors: Alb Lupaş Alina Alb , Cătaş Adriana
Published: February 2023

The results obtained by the authors in the present paper refer to quantum calculus applications regarding the theories of differential subordination and superordination. These results are established by means of an operator defined as the q-analogue of the multiplier transformation. Interesting differential subordination and superordination results are derived by the authors involving the functions belonging to a new class of normalized analytic functions in the open unit disc U, which is defined and investigated here by using this q-operator.
Forecasting Cryptocurrency Prices Using LSTM, GRU, and Bi-Directional LSTM: A Deep Learning Approach
Authors: Seabe Phumudzo Lloyd , Moutsinga Claude Rodrigue Bambe , Pindza Edson
Published: February 2023

Highly accurate cryptocurrency price predictions are of paramount interest to investors and researchers. However, owing to the nonlinearity of the cryptocurrency market, it is difficult to assess the distinct nature of time-series data, resulting in challenges in generating appropriate price predictions. Numerous studies have been conducted on cryptocurrency price prediction using different Deep Learning (DL) based algorithms. This study proposes three types of Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs): namely, Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), and Bi-Directional LSTM (Bi-LSTM) for exchange rate predictions of three major cryptocurrencies in the world, as measured by their market capitalization—Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Litecoin (LTC). The experimental results on the three major cryptocurrencies using both Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) and the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) show that the Bi-LSTM performed better in prediction than LSTM and GRU. Therefore, it can be considered the best algorithm. Bi-LSTM presented the most accurate prediction compared to GRU and LSTM, with MAPE values of 0.036, 0.041, and 0.124 for BTC, LTC, and ETH, respectively. The paper suggests that the prediction models presented in it are accurate in predicting cryptocurrency prices and can be beneficial for investors and traders. Additionally, future research should focus on exploring other factors that may influence cryptocurrency prices, such as social media and trading volumes.
Solving and Numerical Simulations of Fractional-Order Governing Equation for Micro-Beams
Authors: Yang Aimin , Zhang Qunwei , Qu Jingguo , Cui Yuhuan , Chen Yiming
Published: February 2023

This paper applies a recently proposed numerical algorithm to discuss the deflection of viscoelastic micro-beams in the time domain with direct access. A nonlinear-fractional order model for viscoelastic micro-beams is constructed. Before solving the governing equations, the operator matrices of shifted Chebyshev polynomials are derived first. Shifted Chebyshev polynomials are used to approximate the deflection function, and the nonlinear fractional order governing equation is expressed in the form of operator matrices. Next, the collocation method is used to discretize the equations into the form of algebraic equations for solution. It simplifies the calculation. MATLAB software was used to program this algorithm to simulate the numerical solution of the deflection. The effectiveness and accuracy of the algorithm are verified by the numerical example. Finally, numerical simulations are carried out on the viscoelastic micro-beams. It is found that the viscous damping coefficient is inversely proportional to the deflection, and the length scale parameter of the micro-beam is also inversely proportional to the deflection. In addition, the stress and strain of micro-beam, the change of deflection under different simple harmonic loads, and potential energy of micro-beam are discussed. The results of the study fully demonstrated that the shifted Chebyshev polynomial algorithm is effective for the numerical simulations of viscoelastic micro-beams.
Seed Longevity Potential Predicted by Radicle Emergence (RE) Vigor Test in Watermelon Seed Cultivars
Authors: Eren Erkan , Ermis Sıtkı , Oktem Guleda , Demir Ibrahim
Published: February 2023

The study was conducted to test whether radicle emergence (RE) would correlate with the storage potential of ten seed lots of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. and Nakai) hybrid cultivars (>98% normal germination). The RE test was performed by frequent counting radicle emergence (2 mm) percentage between 34 h and 60 h after germination was set up at 25 °C in the dark. Seed longevity was hermetically determined by artificial storage of seeds (air and waterproof) at 17 ± 0.3% of seed moisture and at 35 ± 2 °C over 63 days. Twelve seed samples were taken out during aging, and seed survival curves were constructed based on normal germination percentages conducted at 25 °C for seven days in the dark. The seed longevity criterion was P50 (time for the germination to fall to 50%), which was determined through probit analysis by using survival curves. Correlation analysis showed that RE counts at 42 h during germination were highly correlated (p < 0.01) with initial seed quality, Ki (r = 0.7538), and the half-viability period, P50 (r = 0.7936). Pre-storage normal germination percentages of seed lots were not related to longevity. Results showed that the RE vigor test has the potential to predict longevity in highly germinating hybrid watermelon seed lots.
Perspectives on Antibiotic Stewardship Programs among Health Care Providers at Two University Hospitals in Egypt
Authors: Salem Marwa Rashad , Youssef Meray Rene Labib , Shalaby Silvia Farouk , Mahmoud Ahmed Taher , Ismail Mohamed , Ibrahim Sally Kamal
Published: February 2023

The perspectives of healthcare professionals on antibiotic stewardship programs (ASPs) should be explored. Any antibiotic stewardship strategy must be individualized based on patient needs, prescription habits, and local resources. The current study aimed to explore the perspectives of healthcare providers on antibiotics stewardship and their awareness of these perspectives. Furthermore, potential barriers to the application of ASPs should be identified and addressed. This exploratory cross-sectional study utilized a qualitative method to evaluate critical care physicians, pediatricians, and clinical pharmacists (n = 43). The mean age of the physicians was 32 ± 1.5 years. Among them, approximately two-thirds (66%) were women. A thematic content analysis was performed to examine the responses of the participants and to prioritize the recommendations for and barriers to the implementation of ASPs from the perspective of healthcare providers. According to the interviewees, the primary obstacles include lack of time in implementation and monitoring and lack of awareness of the need for ASPs. All respondents recommended the implementation of supervised and continuous trainings. In conclusion, the abovementioned barriers must be adequately addressed to facilitate the implementation of ASPs.
Characterization of UV Light Curable Piezoelectric 0-0-3 Composites Filled with Lead-Free Ceramics and Conductive Nanoparticles
Authors: Mitkus Rytis , Piechowiak Lena , Sinapius Michael
Published: February 2023

Lead-free piezoelectric materials are essential for our healthy future but offer lower performance than lead-based materials. Different material combinations are explored to improve the performance of lead-free materials. By filling the UV light curable photopolymer resin with 30 vol.% lead-free piezoelectric ceramics and with up to 0.4 wt.% conductive nanofillers, thin and flexible piezoelectric 0-0-3 composites are formed. Two particle sizes of Potassium Sodium Niobate (KNN) and Barium Titanate (BTO) ceramics were used with four conductive nanofillers: Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs), Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs), and two types of Graphene Oxide (GO). Resulting high viscosity suspensions are tape-cast in a mold as thin layers and subsequently exposing them to UV light, piezoelectric composite sensors are formed in 80 s. Even low nanofiller concentrations increase relative permittivities, however, they strongly reduce curing depth and increase undesirable dielectric losses. Non-homogeneous dispersion of nanofillers is observed. In total, 36 different compositions were mixed and characterized. Only six selected material compositions were investigated further by measuring mechanical, dielectric, and piezoelectric properties. Results show KNN composite performance as piezoelectric sensors is almost six times higher than BTO composite performance.
What Are the Effects of Moso Bamboo Expansion into Japanese Cedar on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: Altering the Community Composition Rather than the Diversity
Authors: Zou Guiwu , Wu Binsheng , Chen Baodong , Yang Yaying , Feng Yan , Huang Jiahui , Liu Yuanqiu , Murray Philip J. , Liu Wei
Published: February 2023

The unbridled expansion of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) occurs throughout the world and has a series of consequences. However, the effect of bamboo expansion on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is still poorly understood. We assessed the changes in the AMF community during bamboo expansion into Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) forests by analyzing AMF in three forest types—Japanese cedar (JC), bamboo-cedar mixed (BC) and moso bamboo (MB)—using 454 pyrosequencing technology. We found that the AMF community composition differed significantly among forest types. The relative abundance of Glomerales decreased from 74.0% in JC to 61.8% in BC and 42.5% in MB, whereas the relative abundance of Rhizophagus increased from 24.9% in JC to 35.9% in BC and 56.7% in MB. Further analysis showed that soil characteristics explained only 19.2% of the AMF community variation among forest types. Hence, vegetation is presumably the main driver of the alteration of the AMF community. The α diversity of AMF was similar between JC and MB, although it was higher in BC. Overall, this research sheds more light on AMF community dynamics during moso bamboo expansion. Our results highlight that the consequences of bamboo expansion in monoculture forests differ from those in mixed forests.
Growth of Venture Firms under State Capitalism with Chinese Characteristics: Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Fuzzy Set
Authors: Yun Kyung Hwan , Hu Chenguang
Published: February 2023

This study builds upon the venture growth literature and venture legitimation mechanisms and investigates how venture firms in China can acquire legitimacy and necessary resources from state stakeholders for venture growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. To offer a context-specific perspective of Chinese ventures’ legitimation strategies, we discuss that under Chinese state capitalism, these ventures need to follow lingering socialist values, such as equality and social stability, to be recognized as appropriate business operations by state audiences. Furthermore, we discuss that access to necessary resources for venture growth is limited during crises. Based on the understanding of particular contexts of Chinese state capitalism and the COVID-19 pandemic, we examine how various sets of a venture’s identity, associative, and organizational mechanisms influence venture growth during crises in China. In addition, we consider serial entrepreneurship as a contextual factor affecting the effectiveness of causal effects. This study applies the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis method to take a configurational approach and identify multiple concurrent causality of legitimacy mechanisms on venture growth. We conduct a survey and analyze data from 107 entrepreneurs of Chinese technology ventures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings show that Chinese ventures with or without repeat entrepreneurs can actively utilize various sets of legitimation mechanisms to acquire legitimacy and necessary resources from Chinese state audiences for venture growth during adversity. This study provides comprehensive understanding and practical implications on Chinese ventures’ legitimation strategies for venture growth during crises.
The Effect of Land Consolidation Projects on Carbon Footprint
Authors: Ertunç Ela
Published: February 2023

In this study, transportation-induced carbon footprint values before and after the consolidation projects in two areas with similar agricultural characteristics were calculated. The IPCC Tier 1 method recommended by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) was used to calculate the carbon footprint. Furthermore, the effects of changes in road lengths and routes in these areas after Land Consolidation (LC) on the fuel consumption of tractors and, accordingly, the carbon dioxide (CO2) emission values were also determined. As a result of the study, the carbon footprint value (GgCO2) decreased by 10% in the Fatih neighborhood and 33% in the Selimiye neighborhood after the land consolidation project. Carbon equivalent (CE) is used to measure the effects on greenhouse gas emissions and global warming and corresponds to the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. In total, 490.21 kg CO2·ha−1 of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were mitigated. In light of these results, it can be concluded that LC can be considered a useful process in greenhouse gas mitigation strategy. Based on the values obtained from the study results, it was concluded that land consolidation contributed to reducing carbon footprint and increasing agricultural production and productivity in rural areas. The reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions in rural areas will contribute to reducing the adverse effects of air pollution and climate change.
Dynamic Loading—A New Marker for Abdominal Aneurysm Growth?
Authors: Friesen John , Stein Lucas , Adili Farzin , Pelz Peter F.
Published: February 2023

The growing possibilities of non-invasive heart rate and blood pressure measurement with mobile devices allow vital data to be continuously collected and used to assess patients’ health status. When it comes to the risk assessment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), the continuous tracking of blood pressure and heart rate could enable a more patient-specific approach. The use of a load function and an energy function, with continuous blood pressure, heart rate, and aneurysm stiffness as input parameters, can quantify dynamic load on AAA. We hypothesise that these load functions correlate with aneurysm growth and outline a possible study procedure in which the hypothesis could be tested for validity. Subsequently, uncertainty quantification of input quantities and derived quantities is performed.
Rhizopus oryzae Inulinase Production and Characterization with Application in Chicory Root Saccharification
Authors: Abdella Asmaa , Al-Saman Mahmoud , Abou-Elazm Fatma I. , El-Far Shaymaa Wagdy
Published: February 2023

The objective of this study was to create a fermentation process for the production of inulinase, an important enzyme with numerous applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries, using low-cost agricultural waste as substrates for Rhizopus oryzae NRRL 3563. High titer inulinase production in chicory roots by Rhizopus oryzae in a submerged culture was accomplished using a statistical experimental design. A two-level Plackett–Burman design followed by a three-level Box–Behnken design producing a high inulinase titer of 1085.11 U/mL, 2.83-fold the maximum level, was obtained in the screening experiment. The optimal levels were as follows: chicory root, 10 g/L; NaNO3, 5 g/L; and KCl, 0.2 g/L. The produced inulinase enzyme was purified using 70% ammonium sulfate precipitation and ultra-filtration causing 3.63-fold purification with 60% activity recovery. The enzyme had a molecular weight of approximately 130 KDa. The purified enzyme showed optimum activity at 50 °C and pH 6.0. The pH stability range was three to six and the temperature stability was up 70 °C. The purified inulinase could hydrolyze inulin and sucrose, but not cellobiose or soluble starch. Km and Vmax for inulin were determined to be 0.8 mg/mL and 50,000 U/mg, respectively. The two-level Plackett–Burman design was applied followed by a Box–Behnken model for optimization of fermentation conditions. Accordingly, the optimal combination of fermentation was a reaction time of seven hours, a temperature of 60 °C, and an enzyme concentration of 40,000 U/mL, which resulted in a 58.07% saccharification yield. The characteristics of the enzyme and its kinetic parameters suggested that it was highly effective in the fermentation of inulin and inulin-containing substrates. Additionally, it raises the potential of using inulinase enzymes in pharmaceutical and food industries.
Xanthine Oxidase—A Personal History
Authors: Hille Russ
Published: February 2023

A personal perspective is provided regarding the work in several laboratories, including the author’s, that has established the reaction mechanism of xanthine oxidase and related enzymes.
Interfacial Synthesis of an Ultrathin Two-Dimensional Polymer Film via [2 + 2] Photocycloaddition
Authors: Ban Yanqi , Wang Hui , Xiao Zixuan , Sun Lishui , Pan Qingyan , Zhao Yingjie
Published: February 2023

A carbon–carbon-linked, ultrathin, two-dimensional (2D) polymer film was prepared at the air/water interface through photochemically triggered [2 + 2] cycloaddition. The preorganization of the monomers on the water surface and the subsequent photo-polymerization led to the successful preparation of the ultrathin 2D polymer film. The obtained film is continuous, free standing, and has a large area (over 50 μm2). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) give clear evidence of the ultrathin film morphology. Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicate successful photo-induced [2 + 2] polymerization.
Synthesis, Empirical and Theoretical Investigations on New Histaminium Bis(Trioxonitrate) Compound
Authors: Jmai Mahdi , Gatfaoui Sofian , Issaoui Noureddine , Roisnel Thierry , Kazachenko Aleksandr S. , Al-Dossary Omar , Marouani Houda , Kazachenko Anna S.
Published: February 2023

In this paper, a novel hybrid material, entitled histaminium bis(trioxonitrate), with the general chemical formula (C5H11N3)(NO3)2, denoted by HTN was presented. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction was used to determine the structural characteristics of this compound after it was made using a slow evaporation method at room temperature. This compound was elaborated and crystallized to the monoclinic system with space group P21/c, and the lattice parameters obtained were: a = 10.4807 (16)Å, b = 11.8747 (15)Å, c = 16.194 (2)Å, β = 95.095 (6)°, V = 2007.4 (5)Å3 and Z = 8. The title compound’s atomic structure couldbe modeled as a three-dimensional network. Organic cations and nitrate anions were connected via N–H...O and C–H...O hydrogen bonds in the HTN structure. The intermolecular interactions responsible for the formation of crystal packing were evaluated using Hirshfeld surfaces and two-dimensional fingerprint plots. The compound’s infrared spectrum, which ranged from 4000 to 400 cm−1, confirmed the presence of the principal bands attributed to the internal modes of the organic cation and nitrate anions. Additionally, spectrofluorimetry and the ultraviolet–visible spectrum was used to investigate this compound. DFT calculations were used to evaluate the composition and properties of HTN. The energy gap, chemical reactivity and crystal stability of HTN were quantified by performing HOMO-LUMO frontier orbitals analysis. Topological analysis (AIM), Reduced Density Gradient (RDG), molecular electrostatic potential surface (MEPS) and Mulliken population were processed to determine the types of non-covalent interactions, atomic charges and molecular polarity in detail.
Confusoside from Anneslea fragrans Alleviates Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury in HepG2 via PI3K-CASP3 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zhao Jing-Hao , Li Jing , Zhang Xiao-Yu , Shi Shang , Wang Lin , Yuan Ming-Long , Liu Ya-Ping , Wang Yu-Dan
Published: February 2023

Confusoside (CF), a major chemical compound in the leaves of Anneslea fragrans Wall., is a dihydrochalcone glycoside with excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the hepatoprotective effect of CF has not been described. This study aimed to explore the hepatoprotective effect of CF against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatic injury in HepG2 cells. First, the potential hepatoprotective effect mechanisms of CF were predicted by network pharmacology and were thought to involve reducing inflammation and inhibiting apoptosis. Target proteins (phosphatidylinositol3-kinase (PI3K) and caspase-3 (CASP3)) were found via molecular docking analysis. To verify the predicted results, an analysis of biological indicators was performed using commercial kits and Western blotting. The results showed that CF significantly decreased the levels of liver injury biomarkers (ALT, AST, and LDH), strongly inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and the NO level via inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, and markedly regulated the expression levels of Bcl2, Bax, and cleaved-CASP3/9 proteins by activating the PI3K-CASP3 apoptosis pathway. The results demonstrated that CF has a therapeutic effect on APAP-induced liver injury by inhibiting intracellular inflammation and cell apoptosis, indicating that CF may be used as a potential reagent for the prevention and treatment of APAP-induced liver injury.
Radioactive Wastewater Treatment Technologies: A Review
Authors: Ma Hailing , Shen Minghai , Tong Yao , Wang Xiao
Published: February 2023

With the wide application of nuclear energy, the problem of radioactive pollution has attracted worldwide attention, and the research on the treatment of radioactive wastewater is imminent. How to treat radioactive wastewater deeply and efficiently has become the most critical issue in the development of nuclear energy technology. The radioactive wastewater produced after using nuclear technology has the characteristics of many kinds, high concentration, and large quantity. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the treatment technology of radioactive wastewater in reprocessing plants. The process flow and waste liquid types of the post-treatment plant are reviewed. The commonly used evaporation concentration, adsorption, precipitation, ion exchange, biotechnology, membrane separation, and photocatalysis are summarized. The basic principles and technological characteristics of them are introduced. The advantages and disadvantages of different single and combined processes are compared, and the development trend of future processing technology is prospected.
Amphiphilic Grafted Polymers Based on Citric Acid and Aniline Used to Enhance the Antifouling and Permeability Properties of PES Membranes
Authors: Zhao Jiahui , Zhang Peng , Cao Lin , Huo Haoling , Lin Huaijun , Wang Qiwei , Vogel Florian , Li Wei , Lin Zhidan
Published: February 2023

Water treatment technology based on ultrafiltration (UF) faces the problem of severe membrane fouling due to its inherent hydrophobicity. The use of amphiphilic polymers that possess both hydrophobic and hydrophilic chain segments can be advantageous for the hydrophilic modification of UF membranes due to their excellent combination in the membrane matrix. In the present study, we examined a novel amphiphilic CA–g–AN material, constructed by grafting citric acid (CA) to aniline (AN), as a modified material to improve the hydrophilicity of a PES membrane. This material was more compatible with the polymer membrane matrix than a pure hydrophilic modified material. The polyethersulfone (PES) membranes modified by amphiphilic CA–g–AN demonstrated a higher water flux (290.13 L·m−2·h−1), which was more than eight times higher than that of the pure PES membrane. Furthermore, the flux recovery ratio (FRR) of the modified membrane could reach 83.24% and the value of the water contact angle (WCA) was 76.43°, demonstrating the enhanced hydrophilicity and antifouling ability of the modified membranes. With this study, we aimed to develop a new amphiphilic polymer to improve the antifouling property and permeability of polymer-based UF membranes to remove organic pollutants from water.
Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopic Study of Biofilms Formed by the Rhizobacterium Azospirillum baldaniorum Sp245: Aspects of Methodology and Matrix Composition
Authors: Kamnev Alexander A. , Dyatlova Yulia A. , Kenzhegulov Odissey A. , Fedonenko Yulia P. , Evstigneeva Stella S. , Tugarova Anna V.
Published: February 2023

Biofilms represent the main mode of existence of bacteria and play very significant roles in many industrial, medical and agricultural fields. Analysis of biofilms is a challenging task owing to their sophisticated composition, heterogeneity and variability. In this study, biofilms formed by the rhizobacterium Azospirillum baldaniorum (strain Sp245), isolated biofilm matrix and its macrocomponents have for the first time been studied in detail, using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, with a special emphasis on the methodology. The accompanying novel data of comparative chemical analyses of the biofilm matrix, its fractions and lipopolysaccharide isolated from the outer membrane of the cells of this strain, as well as their electrophoretic analyses (SDS-PAGE) have been found to be in good agreement with the FTIR spectroscopic results.
The Preventive Effect of Specific Collagen Peptides against Dexamethasone-Induced Muscle Atrophy in Mice
Authors: Oh Jieun , Park Sang Hee , Kim Dong Seon , Choi Wooram , Jang Jiwon , Rahmawati Laily , Jang Won Young , Lim Hyun Kyung , Hwang Ji Yeon , Gu Ga Rin , Geum Jeong-Ho , Choi Su-Young , Kim Ji Hye , Cho Jae Youl
Published: February 2023

Muscle atrophy, also known as muscle wasting, is the thinning of muscle mass due to muscle disuse, aging, or diseases such as cancer or neurological problems. Muscle atrophy is closely related to the quality of life and has high morbidity and mortality. However, therapeutic options for muscle atrophy are limited, so studies to develop therapeutic agents for muscle loss are always required. For this study, we investigated how orally administered specific collagen peptides (CP) affect muscle atrophy and elucidated its molecular mechanism using an in vivo model. We treated mice with dexamethasone (DEX) to induce a muscular atrophy phenotype and then administered CP (0.25 and 0.5 g/kg) for four weeks. In a microcomputed tomography analysis, CP (0.5 g/kg) intake significantly increased the volume of calf muscles in mice with DEX-induced muscle atrophy. In addition, the administration of CP (0.25 and 0.5 g/kg) restored the weight of the gluteus maximus and the fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) of the pectoralis major and calf muscles, which were reduced by DEX. CP significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of myostatin and the phosphorylation of Smad2, but it did not affect TGF-β, BDNF, or FNDC5 gene expression. In addition, AKT/mTOR, a central pathway for muscle protein synthesis and related to myostatin signaling, was enhanced in the groups that were administered CP. Finally, CP decreased serum albumin levels and increased TNF-α gene expression. Collectively, our in vivo results demonstrate that CP can alleviate muscle wasting through a multitude of mechanisms. Therefore, we propose CP as a supplement or treatment to prevent muscle atrophy.
CVD Growth of Hematite Thin Films for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: Effect of Precursor-Substrate Distance on Their Final Properties
Authors: Fernandez-Izquierdo Leunam , Spera Enzo Luigi , Durán Boris , Marotti Ricardo Enrique , Dalchiele Enrique Ariel , del Rio Rodrigo , Hevia Samuel A.
Published: February 2023

The development of photoelectrode materials for efficient water splitting using solar energy is a crucial research topic for green hydrogen production. These materials need to be abundant, fabricated on a large scale, and at low cost. In this context, hematite is a promising material that has been widely studied. However, it is a huge challenge to achieve high-efficiency performance as a photoelectrode in water splitting. This paper reports a study of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of hematite nanocrystalline thin films on fluorine-doped tin oxide as a photoanode for photoelectrochemical water splitting, with a particular focus on the effect of the precursor–substrate distance in the CVD system. A full morphological, structural, and optical characterization of hematite nanocrystalline thin films was performed, revealing that no change occurred in the structure of the films as a function of the previously mentioned distance. However, it was found that the thickness of the hematite film, which is a critical parameter in the photoelectrochemical performance, linearly depends on the precursor–substrate distance; however, the electrochemical response exhibits a nonmonotonic behavior. A maximum photocurrent value close to 2.5 mA/cm2 was obtained for a film with a thickness of around 220 nm under solar irradiation.
Gallium(III)- and Indium(III)-Containing Ionic Liquids as Highly Active Catalysts in Organic Synthesis
Authors: Więcławik Justyna , Chrobok Anna
Published: February 2023

The chemical industry still requires development of environmentally friendly processes. Acid-catalysed chemical processes may cause environmental problems. Urgent need to replace conventional acids has forced the search for sustainable alternatives. Metal-containing ionic liquids have drawn considerable attention from scientists for many years. These compounds may exhibit very high Lewis acidity, which is usually dependent on the composition of the ionic liquid with the particular content of metal salt. Therefore, metal-containing ionic liquids have found a lot of applications and are successfully employed as catalysts, co-catalysts or reaction media in various fields of chemistry, especially in organic chemistry. Gallium(III)- and indium(III)-containing ionic liquids help to transfer the remarkable activity of metal salts into even more active and easier-to-handle forms of ionic liquids. This review highlights the wide range of possible applications and the high potential of metal-containing ionic liquids with special focus on Ga(III) and In(III), which may help to outline the framework for further development of the presented research topic and synthesis of new representatives of this group of compounds.
Improved Strength and Heat Distortion Temperature of Emi-Aromatic Polyamide 10T-co-1012 (PA10T/1012)/GO Composites via In Situ Polymerization
Authors: Dong Yanchao , Wang Pingli , Ren Zhonglai , Liu Tianyuan , Zhen Zhichao , Lu Bo , Li Fei , Ji Junhui
Published: February 2023

In this paper, an effective method for preparing poly (p-phenylene terephthalamide) -co- poly (dodecanedioyl) decylamine (PA10T/1012)/graphene oxide (GO) composites by pre-dispersion and one-step in situ polymerization was proposed for the first time. During the process of polycondensation, the condensation between the terminal amino groups of PA10T/1012 chains and the oxygen-containing functional groups of GO allowed nylon to be grafted onto graphene sheets. The effects of polymer grafting on the thermal and mechanical properties of (PA10T/1012)/GO composites were studied in detail. Due to the interaction between PA10T/1012 grafted graphene sheets and its matrix, GO is well dispersed in the PA10T/1012 matrix and physically entangled with it, forming a cross-linked network structure of polymer bridged graphene, thus obtaining enhanced tensile strength, tensile modulus and impact strength. More importantly, benefiting from the cross-linked network structure, the heat distortion temperature (HDT) of the composite is greatly increased from 77.3 °C to 144.2 °C. This in situ polycondensation method opens a new avenue to prepare polycondensate graphene-based composites with high strength and high heat distortion temperatures.
Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles as Effective Drug Delivery Systems—A review
Authors: Jafernik Karolina , Ładniak Agata , Blicharska Eliza , Czarnek Katarzyna , Ekiert Halina , Wiącek Agnieszka E. , Szopa Agnieszka
Published: February 2023

Chitosan-based nanoparticles (chitosan-based nanocomposites; chitosan nanoparticles; ChNPs) are promising materials that are receiving a lot of attention in the last decades. ChNPs have great potential as nanocarriers. They are able to encapsulate drugs as well as active compounds and deliver them to a specific place in the body providing a controlled release. In the article, an overview has been made of the most frequently used preparation methods, and the developed applications in medicine. The presentation of the most important information concerning ChNPs, especially chitosan’s properties in drug delivery systems (DDS), as well as the method of NPs production was quoted. Additionally, the specification and classification of the NPs’ morphological features determined their application together with the methods of attaching drugs to NPs. The latest scientific reports of the DDS using ChNPs administered orally, through the eye, on the skin and transdermally were taken into account.
The Impact of Fluorination on the Design of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
Authors: Tien Anh Duong , Hai Nam Nguyen , Kircher Brigitte , Baecker Daniel
Published: February 2023

In recent years, histone deacetylases (HDACs) have emerged as promising targets in the treatment of cancer. The approach is to inhibit HDACs with drugs known as HDAC inhibitors (HDACis). Such HDACis are broadly classified according to their chemical structure, e.g., hydroxamic acids, benzamides, thiols, short-chain fatty acids, and cyclic peptides. Fluorination plays an important role in the medicinal–chemical design of new active representatives. As a result of the introduction of fluorine into the chemical structure, parameters such as potency or selectivity towards isoforms of HDACs can be increased. However, the impact of fluorination cannot always be clearly deduced. Nevertheless, a change in lipophilicity and, hence, solubility, as well as permeability, can influence the potency. The selectivity towards certain HDACs isoforms can be explained by special interactions of fluorinated compounds with the structure of the slightly different enzymes. Another aspect is that for a more detailed investigation of newly synthesized fluorine-containing active compounds, fluorination is often used for the purpose of labeling. Aside from the isotope 19F, which can be detected by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the positron emission tomography of 18F plays a major role. However, to our best knowledge, a survey of the general effects of fluorination on HDACis development is lacking in the literature to date. Therefore, the aim of this review is to highlight the introduction of fluorine in the course of chemical synthesis and the impact on biological activity, using selected examples of recently developed fluorinated HDACis.
68Ga-Labeled [Thz14]Bombesin(7–14) Analogs: Promising GRPR-Targeting Agonist PET Tracers with Low Pancreas Uptake
Authors: Wang Lei , Bratanovic Ivica Jerolim , Zhang Zhengxing , Kuo Hsiou-Ting , Merkens Helen , Zeisler Jutta , Zhang Chengcheng , Tan Ruiyan , Bénard François , Lin Kuo-Shyan
Published: February 2023

With overexpression in various cancers, the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) is a promising target for cancer imaging and therapy. However, the high pancreas uptake of reported GRPR-targeting radioligands limits their clinical application. Our goal was to develop 68Ga-labeled agonist tracers for detecting GRPR-expressing tumors with positron emission tomography (PET), and compare them with the clinically validated agonist PET tracer, [68Ga]Ga-AMBA. Ga-TacBOMB2, TacBOMB3, and TacBOMB4, derived from [Thz14]Bombesin(7–14), were confirmed to be GRPR agonists by a calcium mobilization study, and their binding affinities (Ki(GRPR)) were determined to be 7.62 ± 0.19, 6.02 ± 0.59, and 590 ± 36.5 nM, respectively, via in vitro competition binding assays. [68Ga]Ga-TacBOMB2, [68Ga]Ga-TacBOMB3, and [68Ga]Ga-AMBA clearly visualized PC-3 tumor xenografts in a PET imaging study. [68Ga]Ga-TacBOMB2 showed comparable tumor uptake but superior tumor-to-background contrast ratios when compared to [68Ga]Ga-AMBA. Moreover, [68Ga]Ga-TacBOMB2 and [68Ga]Ga-TacBOMB3 showed a much lower rate of uptake in the pancreas (1.30 ± 0.14 and 2.41 ± 0.72%ID/g, respectively) than [68Ga]Ga-AMBA (62.4 ± 4.26%ID/g). In conclusion, replacing Met14 in the GRPR-targeting sequence with Thz14 retains high GRPR-binding affinity and agonist properties. With good tumor uptake and tumor-to-background uptake ratios, [68Ga]Ga-TacBOMB2 is promising for detecting GRPR-expressing tumors. The much lower pancreas uptake of [68Ga]Ga-TacBOMB2 and [68Ga]Ga-TacBOMB3 suggests that [Thz14]Bombesin(7–14) is a promising targeting vector for the design of GRPR-targeting radiopharmaceuticals, especially for radioligand therapy application.
Integrating Siderophore Substructures in Thiol-Based Metallo-β-Lactamase Inhibitors
Authors: Rotter Marco J. , Zentgraf Sabrina , Weizel Lilia , Frank Denia , Burgers Luisa D. , Brunst Steffen , Fürst Robert , Proschak Anna , Wichelhaus Thomas A. , Proschak Ewgenij
Published: February 2023

Metallo beta lactamases (MBLs) are among the most problematic resistance mechanisms of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens due to their broad substrate spectrum and lack of approved inhibitors. In this study, we propose the integration of catechol substructures into the design of thiol-based MBL inhibitors, aiming at mimicking bacterial siderophores for the active uptake by the iron acquisition system of bacteria. We synthesised two catechol-containing MBL inhibitors, as well as their dimethoxy counterparts, and tested them for in vitro inhibitory activity against NDM-1, VIM-1, and IMP-7. We demonstrated that the most potent catechol-containing MBL inhibitor is able to bind Fe3+ ions. Finally, we could show that this compound restores the antibiotic activity of imipenem in NDM-1-expressing K. pneumoniae, while leaving HUVEC cells completely unaffected. Thus, siderophore-containing MBL inhibitors might be a valuable strategy to overcome bacterial MBL-mediated resistance to beta lactam antibiotics.