bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Peripheral Nerve Denervation in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats Is Reduced by Cilostazol
Authors: Tseng Kuang-Yi , Wang Hung-Chen , Wang Yi-Hsuan , Su Miao-Pei , Cheng Kai-Feng , Cheng Kuang-I , Chang Lin-Li
Published: March 2023

Background and Objective: Our previous study demonstrated that consistent treatment of oral cilostazol was effective in reducing levels of painful peripheral neuropathy in streptozotocin-induced type I diabetic rats. As diabetic neuropathy is characterized by hyperglycemia-induced nerve damage in the periphery, this study aims to examine the neuropathology as well as the effects of cilostazol treatments on the integrity of peripheral small nerve fibers in type I diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: A total of ninety adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following groups: (1) naïve (control) group; (2) diabetic rats (DM) group for 8 weeks; DM rats receiving either (3) 10 mg/kg oral cilostazol (Cilo10), (4) 30 mg/kg oral cilostazol (Cilo30), or (5) 100 mg/kg oral cilostazol (Cilo100) for 6 weeks. Pain tolerance thresholds of hind paws toward thermal and mechanical stimuli were assessed. Expressions of PGP9.5, P2X3, CGRP, and TRPV-1 targeting afferent nerve fibers in hind paw skin and glial cells in the spinal dorsal horn were examined via immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Results: Oral cilostazol ameliorated the symptoms of mechanical allodynia but not thermal analgesia in DM rats. Significant reductions in PGP9.5-, P2X3-, CGRP, and TRPV-1-labeled penetrating nerve fibers in the epidermal layer indicated denervation of sensory nerves in the hind paw epidermis of DM rats. Denervation significantly improved in groups that received Cilo30 and Cilo100 in a dose-dependent manner. Cilostazol administration also suppressed microglial hyperactivation and increased astrocyte expressions in spinal dorsal horns. Conclusions: Oral cilostazol ameliorated hyperglycemia-induced peripheral small nerve fiber damage in the periphery of diabetic rats and effectively mitigated diabetic neuropathic pain via a central sensitization mechanism. Our findings present cilostazol not only as an effective option for managing symptoms of neuropathy but also for deterring the development of diabetic neuropathy in the early phase of type I diabetes.
Clinical Application of Intravitreal Aflibercept Injection for Diabetic Macular Edema Comparing Two Loading Regimens
Authors: Chung Yoo-Ri , Lee Kyung Ho , Lee Kihwang
Published: March 2023

Background and Objectives: We investigated and compared the efficacy of three and five monthly loading regimens of an intravitreal aflibercept injection (IVA) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study that included patients diagnosed with DME and treated with an either three or five monthly aflibercept loading regimen from July 2018 to March 2022. Information on clinical characteristics and changes in the central retinal thickness (CRT) were obtained from medical records. Results: In total, 44 eyes of 44 patients with DME treated with IVA were included in this study, with 30 eyes treated with 3-monthly loadings (three-loading group) and 14 eyes with 5-monthly loadings (five-loading group). The mean CRT significantly decreased from the baseline one month after loading in both the three-loading and five-loading groups (p < 0.001). Four cases were refractory to treatment in the three-loading group, while there were no cases of refractory DME in the five-loading group. The stability rate was significantly higher in the five-loading group at three months after loading (p = 0.033). Conclusions: Five-monthly loading regimens of IVA might be favorable for DME considering the rate of refractory cases, stable duration, and the importance of early responsiveness to IVA in DME.
Intertrochanteric Femoral Fractures: A Comparison of Clinical and Radiographic Results with the Proximal Femoral Intramedullary Nail (PROFIN), the Anti-Rotation Proximal Femoral Nail (A-PFN), and the InterTAN Nail
Authors: Yalın Mustafa , Golgelioglu Fatih , Key Sefa
Published: March 2023

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the radiological and functional outcomes of closed reduction and internal fixation for intertrochanteric femoral fractures (IFF) using three different proximal femoral nails (PFN). Materials and Methods: In total, 309 individuals (143 males and 166 females) who underwent surgery for IFF using a PFN between January 2018 and January 2021 were included in the study. Our surgical team conducted osteosynthesis using the A-PFN® (TST, Istanbul, Turkey) nail, the PROFIN® (TST, Istanbul, Turkey), and the Trigen InterTAN (Smith & Nephew, Memphis, TN, USA) nail. The PFNs were compared based on age, gender, body mass index (BMI), length of stay (LOS) in intensive care, whether to be admitted to intensive care, mortality in the first year, amount of transfusion, preoperative time to surgery, hospitalisation time, duration of surgery and fluoroscopy, fracture type and reduction quality, complication ratio, and clinical and radiological outcomes. The patients’ function was measured with the Harris Hip Score (HHS) and the Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Results: Pain in the hip and thigh is the most common complication, followed by the V-effect. The Z-effect was seen in 5.7% of PROFIN patients. A-PFN was shown to have longer surgical and fluoroscopy durations, lower HHS values, and much lower Katz ADL Index values compared to the other two PFNs. The V-effect occurrence was significantly higher in the A-PFN group (36.7%) than in the InterTAN group. The V-effect was seen in 33.1% of 31A2-type fractures but in none of the 31A3-type fractures. Conclusions: InterTAN nails are the best choice for IFFs because they have high clinical scores after surgery, there is no chance of Z-effect, and the rate of V-effect is low.
Resistance of Ion Exchange Membranes in Aqueous Mixtures of Monovalent and Divalent Ions and the Effect on Reverse Electrodialysis
Authors: Veerman Joost , Gómez-Coma Lucía , Ortiz Alfredo , Ortiz Inmaculada
Published: March 2023

Salinity gradient energy has gained attention in recent years as a renewable energy source, especially employing reverse electrodialysis technology (RED), which is based on the role of ion exchange membranes. In this context, many efforts have been developed by researchers from all over the world to advance the knowledge of this green source of energy. However, the influence of divalent ions on the performance of the technology has not been deeply studied. Basically, divalent ions are responsible for an increased membrane resistance and, therefore, for a decrease in voltage. This work focuses on the estimation of the resistance of the RED membrane working with water flows containing divalent ions, both theoretically by combining the one-thread model with the Donnan exclusion theory for the gel phase, as well as the experimental evaluation with Fumatech membranes FAS-50, FKS-50, FAS-PET-75, and FKS-PET-75. Furthermore, simulated results have been compared to data recently reported with different membranes. Besides, the influence of membrane resistance on the overall performance of reverse electrodialysis technology is evaluated to understand the impact of divalent ions in energy generation. Results reflect a minor effect of sulfate on the gross power in comparison to the effect of calcium and magnesium ions. Thus, this work takes a step forward in the knowledge of reverse electrodialysis technology and the extraction of salinity gradient energy by advancing the influence of divalent ions on energy recovery.
Evolution of Poisson’s Ratio in the Tension Process of Low-Carbon Hot-Rolled Steel with Discontinuous Yielding
Authors: Qiu Hai , Inoue Tadanobu
Published: March 2023

Low-carbon hot-rolled steel generally undergoes a deformation process composed of four phases, i.e., elastic deformation, discontinuous yielding, work hardening, and macroscopic plastic-strain localization in a tension test. The evolution of the Poisson’s ratio in terms of the average Poisson’s ratio and the local Poisson’s ratio in the deformation process from the non-load state to the onset point of specimen necking was investigated. The main results are as follows: (1) the average Poisson’s ratio cannot accurately represent the local Poisson’s ratio in the discontinuous-yielding phase; (2) the Poisson’s ratio varied significantly within a plastic band in the discontinuous-yielding phase, and the maximum Poisson’s ratio was reached within the plastic band; and (3) the strain rate greatly increased the Poisson’s ratio.
Research on the Cause and Control Method of Edge Warping Defect during Hot Finishing Rolling
Authors: Liu Chao , Yuan Ye , He Anrui , Wang Fenjia , Sun Wenquan , Shao Jian , Liu Hongyan , Miao Ruilin , Zhou Xuegang , Ma Bo
Published: March 2023

Different from the cross-section profile defects caused by uneven roll wear or external forces during hot finishing rolling, the edge warping defect often occurs and has special local characteristics. However, the cause and control method of edge warping are still unclear. By superposition calculating the roll shape, it is found that the high-order comprehensive roll gap contour formed by the superposition of the bathtub-shaped roll thermal contour and parabolic original roll shape is the main cause of strip edge warping. To ensure that the comprehensive roll gap contour is parabolic rather than the original roll shape, the target curve of the comprehensive roll contour in the form of a parabola is determined according to the amplitude of the middle position of the comprehensive roll contour of the last strip in a standard rolling unit, and then subtract the thermal contour curve of the last strip to obtain the desired curve of the antithermal original roll shape. In theory and application, the optimization of the original roll shape can effectively avoid the occurrence of edge warping defect.
Stress Corrosion Cracking Mechanisms of UNS S32205 Duplex Stainless Steel in Carbonated Solution Induced by Chlorides
Authors: Martin Ulises , Bastidas David M.
Published: March 2023

Herein, the chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking (SCC) mechanisms of UNS S32205 duplex stainless steel (DSS) reinforcing bars in alkaline and carbonated solutions are studied. Electrochemical monitoring and mechanical properties were tested using linear polarization resistance and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, coupled with the slow strain rate tensile test (SSRT) to evaluate the SCC behavior and unravel the pit-to-crack mechanisms. Pit initiation and crack morphology were identified by fractographic analysis, which revealed the transgranular (TG) SCC mechanism. HCO3− acidification enhanced the anodic dissolution kinetics, thus promoting a premature pit-to-crack transition, seen by the decrease in the maximum phase angle in the Bode plot at low frequencies (≈ 1 Hz) for the carbonated solution. The crack propagation rate for the carbonated solution increased by over 100% compared to the alkaline solution, coinciding with the lower phase angle from the Bode plots, as well as with the lower charge transfer resistance. Pit initiation was found at the TiN nonmetallic inclusion inside the ferrite phase cleavage facet, which developed TG-SCC.
Investigation of Structure and Mechanical Characteristics of a High Manganese Steel via SolidCast Simulation Method
Authors: Alrobei Hussein , Malik Rizwan Ahmed , Amjad Farhan , AlBaijan Ibrahim
Published: March 2023

Casting is a fabrication method used to create various industrial parts with different shapes. Flaws such as shrinkage, porosity, and short metal filling can result in casting rejection. These flaws are heavily reliant on casting parameter design (gating and riser system design) and can be reduced by optimizing the casting parameter design. The development of materials with new or improved properties has long been the primary objective of materials scientists. The designing of metallic alloys for structural purposes must take strength, toughness, and formability into account to achieve the desired performance. The unique convergence of these essential characteristics that characterize high manganese steels fascinate scientists worldwide. The current work systematically investigated a gating system and riser design effect for high Manganese steel samples (bushes) to develop an understanding of the structure–property relationship. The first conventional manual calculation was performed to design the gating and riser system. Subsequently, a sophisticated simulation software called SolidCast was used to design, validate, and improve the casting parameters of the specimen. To back up the findings, confirmatory experiments were carried out. Both designs were used to make castings in order to check for flaws. The microstructural and mechanical characteristics of these materials were investigated. Visual inspection of the manually-designed castings revealed considerable shrinkage, whereas software-designed castings seemed in good shape, without the shrinkage, macroporosity, and microporosity. The microstructure of the specimens was also studied by applying optical microscopy and SEM analysis. By improving the gating and riser system with the SolidCast software, sound casting was achieved. This improved the quality of casting results with a considerable enhancement of yield strength (~32 percent), hardness (~34 percent), and tensile strength (~27 percent), which may lead to significant cost savings.
Viscosity Estimation of TiO2-Bearing Blast Furnace Slag with High Al2O3 at 1500 °C
Authors: Zheng Haiyan , Zhou Shifa , Zhang Shen , Li Yang , Zhang Baozhi , Shen Fengman , Wang Zhonghua , Han Tao
Published: March 2023

Slag compositions are significant for the viscosity of blast furnace slag. An improved Urbain model (IUM) was proposed by introducing R5 ((X(CaO) + X(MgO) + 2X(TiO2))/(2X(SiO2) + 3X(Al2O3))) and N (X(MgO)/3X(Al2O3)) as the model parameters. By comparing IUM with other models, the model parameters of R5 and N are more reasonable and suitable for TiO2-bearing blast furnace slag, and IUM for predicting viscosity has a higher precision, and its relative error is only 10%. The viscosity isolines of the CaO–SiO2–15%Al2O3–MgO–2.5% TiO2 system were plotted, and the results show that the viscosity center of the slag is between Rw2 (w(CaO)/w(SiO2)) = 0.77–1.39 and Nw (w(MgO)/w(Al2O3)) = 0–1.37, the value of the viscosity center is 0.3 Pa·s, the viscosity increases gradually from the center to the outside, and the viscosity of the slag gradually decreases with the increase in Nw and Rw2. Furthermore, FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) analysis was carried out in order to understand the mechanism between the slag structure and viscosity. With the increase in Nw and Rw2, the peak values of the symmetrical stretching vibration of non-bridging oxygen in the Si–O tetrahedral structure of slag decrease, and the slag structures depolymerize, which leads to the decrease in the viscosity of the slag.
Study on Optimization of Nozzle Angle for Oxygen-Rich Side-Blown Lead Melting Furnace
Authors: Jiang Zhiwei , Wang Xu , Qin Qingwei , Yi Zhengming , Chen Rongsheng , Tang Haibo
Published: March 2023

Taking an oxygen-rich side-blown lead melting furnace made by a company as the research object, the three-dimensional design software Solidworks was used to construct a model at an equal scale, and established a physical model which is in line with the actual system. Based on the determination of the physical properties of the slag phase and metal phase in the furnace, the VOF multiphase flow model and standard turbulence model in FLUENT were used to simulate the gas–liquid multiphase flow. By adjusting the different inclination angles of the spray gun, we analyzed the distribution changes of key indicators, such as the flow field, average turbulent kinetic energy and gas content in the furnace. At the same time, it was found that the turbulent kinetic energy in the middle of the furnace was large, which could strengthen the winding effect of the material and the best arrangement. The gas content of the upper part of the oxygen gun was high, and the gas content in the middle of the furnace was higher than that in the wall area on both sides and showed a gradual downward trend. If the inclination angle of the spray gun is too small, the agitation of the lower melting area is not strong enough, On the contrary, if the inclination angle is too large, the local flow rate of the sedimentation area increases and the gas content is low. The optimal tilt angle of the spray gun is between 10° and 15°.
Primary Treatment Effects for High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma Evaluated by Changes in Serum Metabolites and Lipoproteins
Authors: Torkildsen Cecilie , Austdal Marie , Iversen Ann-Charlotte , Bathen Tone , Giskeødegård Guro , Nilsen Elisabeth , Iversen Grete , Sande Ragnar , Bjørge Line , Thomsen Liv
Published: March 2023

High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is the most common and deadliest ovarian cancer subtype. Despite advances in treatment, the overall prognosis remains poor. Regardless of efforts to develop biomarkers to predict surgical outcome and recurrence risk and resistance, reproducible indicators are scarce. Exploring the complex tumor heterogeneity, serum profiling of metabolites and lipoprotein subfractions that reflect both systemic and local biological processes were utilized. Furthermore, the overall impact on the patient from the tumor and the treatment was investigated. The aim was to characterize the systemic metabolic effects of primary treatment in patients with advanced HGSOC. In total 28 metabolites and 112 lipoproteins were analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in longitudinal serum samples (n = 112) from patients with advanced HGSOC (n = 24) from the IMPACT trial with linear mixed effect models and repeated measures ANOVA simultaneous component analysis. The serum profiling revealed treatment-induced changes in both lipoprotein subfractions and circulating metabolites. The development of a more atherogenic lipid profile throughout the treatment, which was more evident in patients with short time to recurrence, indicates an enhanced systemic inflammation and increased risk of cardiovascular disease after treatment. The findings suggest that treatment-induced changes in the metabolome reflect mechanisms behind the diversity in disease-related outcomes.
The Impact of Nutrient Intake and Metabolic Wastes during Pregnancy on Offspring Hypertension: Challenges and Future Opportunities
Authors: Tain You-Lin , Hsu Chien-Ning
Published: March 2023

Hypertension can have its origin in early life. During pregnancy, many metabolic alterations occur in the mother that have a crucial role in fetal development. In response to maternal insults, fetal programming may occur after metabolic disturbance, resulting in programmed hypertension later in life. Maternal dietary nutrients act as metabolic substrates for various metabolic processes via nutrient-sensing signals. Different nutrient-sensing pathways that detect levels of sugars, amino acids, lipids and energy are integrated during pregnancy, while disturbed nutrient-sensing signals have a role in the developmental programming of hypertension. Metabolism-modulated metabolites and nutrient-sensing signals are promising targets for new drug discovery due to their pathogenic link to hypertension programming. Hence, in this review, we pay particular attention to the maternal nutritional insults and metabolic wastes affecting fetal programming. We then discuss the role of nutrient-sensing signals linking the disturbed metabolism to hypertension programming. This review also summarizes current evidence to give directions for future studies regarding how to prevent hypertension via reprogramming strategies, such as nutritional intervention, targeting nutrient-sensing signals, and reduction of metabolic wastes. Better prevention for hypertension may be possible with the help of novel early-life interventions that target altered metabolism.
Blackberry-Loaded AgNPs Attenuate Hepatic Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury via PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway
Authors: Fathi Ahmed M. , Waz Shaimaa , Alaaeldin Eman , Toni Nisreen D. M. , El-Sheikh Azza A. K. , Sayed Ahmed M. , Abdelmohsen Usama Ramadan , Nazmy Maiiada H.
Published: March 2023

Liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a pathophysiological insult that often occurs during liver surgery. Blackberry leaves are known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Aims: To achieve site-specific delivery of blackberry leaves extract (BBE) loaded AgNPs to the hepatocyte in IRI and to verify possible molecular mechanisms. Methods: IRI was induced in male Wister rats. Liver injury, hepatic histology, oxidative stress markers, hepatic expression of apoptosis-related proteins were evaluated. Non-targeted metabolomics for chemical characterization of blackberry leaves extract was performed. Key findings: Pre-treatment with BBE protected against the deterioration caused by I/R, depicted by a significant improvement of liver functions and structure, as well as reduction of oxidative stress with a concomitant increase in antioxidants. Additionally, BBE promoted phosphorylation of antiapoptotic proteins; PI3K, Akt and mTOR, while apoptotic proteins; Bax, Casp-9 and cleaved Casp-3 expressions were decreased. LC-HRMS-based metabolomics identified a range of metabolites, mainly flavonoids and anthocyanins. Upon comprehensive virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulation, the major annotated anthocyanins, cyanidin and pelargonidin glucosides, were suggested to act as PLA2 inhibitors. Significance: BBE can ameliorate hepatic IRI augmented by BBE-AgNPs nano-formulation via suppressing, oxidative stress and apoptosis as well as stimulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.
Eat like a Pig to Combat Obesity
Authors: van Kempen Theo A. T. G. , Zijlstra Ruurd T.
Published: March 2023

Obesity and related metabolic health issues are a growing human threat, with many theories regarding its causes. In swine, physiologically alike to humans, considerable knowledge on obesity mechanisms has been accumulated. Calorie counting is the basis for managing swine diets and applied with great accuracy. Epigenetic programing predisposes pigs to insulin insensitivity, but pigs seem to sense this insensitivity and consequently eat less, preventing obesity. Pigs naturally prefer to eat small breakfasts and large dinners. Deviating from this eating pattern or providing diets with a high glycemic burden can trigger obesity; however, pigs will restrict food intake to prevent serious obesity. Interestingly, in practice, problems with obesity are rarely seen, even when pigs are fed poorly timed diets similar to junk food, likely because swine diets are balanced for every nutrient. Indeed, feeding pigs diets deficient in micronutrients does trigger obesity. For humans, several micronutrient requirements have not been set officially, and diets optimized for all micronutrients are rarely provided. In conclusion, various obesity triggers are being debated for humans, which have been proven in swine. Obesity problems in pigs are nevertheless less excessive, likely because pigs recognize unhealthy eating practices and consequently reduce food intake to avoid serious complications. Finally, swine diets are normally balanced for all nutrients, which may be an important practice to prevent obesity, from which human health could greatly benefit.
The Oral Microbiome as Mediator between Oral Hygiene and Its Impact on Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Authors: Liu Qiao-Yun , Liao Ying , Wu Yan-Xia , Diao Hua , Du Yan , Chen Yi-Wei , Xie Jin-Ru , Xue Wen-Qiong , He Yong-Qiao , Wang Tong-Min , Zheng Xiao-Hui , Jia Wei-Hua
Published: March 2023

Oral hygiene and the alteration of the oral microbiome have been linked to nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). This study aimed to investigate whether the oral microbiome plays a mediating role in the relationship between oral hygiene and NPC, and identify differential microbial taxonomies that potentially mediated this association. We conducted a case–control study that involved 218 NPC patients and 192 healthy controls. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the V4 region was performed to evaluate the composition of the oral microbiome. Mediation analysis was applied to explore the relationship among oral hygiene, the oral microbiome and NPC. We found that dental fillings and poor oral hygiene score were associated with increased risks of NPC (OR = 2.51 (1.52–4.25) and OR = 1.54 (1.02–2.33)). Mediation analysis indicated that dental fillings increased the risk of NPC by altering the abundance of Erysipelotrichales, Erysipelotrichaceae, Solobacterium and Leptotrichia wadei. In addition, Leptotrichia wadei also mediated the association between oral hygiene score and the risk of NPC. Our study confirmed that poor oral hygiene increased the risk of NPC, which was partly mediated by the oral microbiome. These findings might help us to understand the potential mechanism of oral hygiene influencing the risk of NPC via the microbiome.
Nanofungicides with Selenium and Silicon Can Boost the Growth and Yield of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and Control Alternaria Leaf Spot Disease
Authors: Taha Naglaa A. , Hamden Salem , Bayoumi Yousry A. , Elsakhawy Tamer , El-Ramady Hassan , Solberg Svein Ø.
Published: March 2023

There is an urgent need to reduce the intensive use of chemical fungicides due to their potential damage to human health and the environment. The current study investigated whether nano-selenium (nano-Se) and nano-silica (nano-SiO2) could be used against the leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria alternata in a common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The engineered Se and SiO2 nanoparticles were compared to a traditional fungicide and a negative control with no treatment, and experiments were repeated during two successive seasons in fields and in vitro. The in vitro study showed that 100 ppm nano-Se had an efficacy rate of 85.1% on A. alternata mycelial growth, followed by the combined applications (Se + SiO2 at half doses) with an efficacy rate of 77.8%. The field study showed that nano-Se and the combined application of nano-Se and nano-SiO2 significantly decreased the disease severity of A. alternata. There were no significant differences among nano-Se, the combined application, and the fungicide treatment (positive control). As compared to the negative control (no treatment), leaf weight increased by 38.3%, the number of leaves per plant by 25.7%, chlorophyll A by 24%, chlorophyll B by 17.5%, and total dry seed yield by 30%. In addition, nano-Se significantly increased the enzymatic capacity (i.e., CAT, POX, PPO) and antioxidant activity in the leaves. Our current study is the first to report that the selected nano-minerals are real alternatives to chemical fungicides for controlling A. alternata in common beans. This work suggests the potential of nanoparticles as alternatives to fungicides. Further studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms and how different nano-materials could be used against phytopathogens.
Synthesis of Carvacrol-Loaded Invasomes Nanoparticles Improved Acaricide Efficacy, Cuticle Invasion and Inhibition of Acetylcholinestrase against Hard Ticks
Authors: Gamal Amr , Aboelhadid Shawky M. , Abo El-Ela Fatma I. , Abdel-Baki Abdel-Azeem S. , Ibrahium Samar M. , EL-Mallah Almahy M. , Al-Quraishy Saleh , Hassan Ahmed O. , Gadelhaq Sahar M.
Published: March 2023

Carvacrol is a monoterpenoid phenol found in many essential oils that has antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic activities. Drug loaded-invasome systems are used to deliver drugs utilizing nanoparticles to improve bioavailability, efficacy, and drug release duration. As a result, the present study developed carvacrol-loaded invasomes and evaluated their acaricidal effect against Rhipicephalus annulatus (cattle tick) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (dog tick). Carvacrol loaded-invasome (CLI) was prepared and characterized using UV/Vis spectrophotometer, zeta potential measurements, Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry Analysis. CLI (5%) induced significant mortality (100%) in R. annulatus adult ticks with LC50 of 2.60%, whereas the LC50 of pure carvacrol was 4.30%. Carvacrol and CLI were shown to have a significant larvicidal action on both tick species, with LC50s of 0.24 and 0.21% against R. annulatus and 0.27 and 0.23% against R. sanguineus, respectively. Carvacrol and CLI (5%) induced significant repellent activities for 24 h against R. annulatus and R. sanguineus, as evidenced by the rod method and the petri-dish selective area choice method, respectively. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) demonstrated that the CLI form had 3.86 times the permeability of pure carvacrol. Moreover, carvacrol and CLI inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity and decreased glutathione and malonedealdehyde levels in the treated ticks. In conclusion, invasomes significantly improved adulticidal and repellency activities of carvacrol against both tick species.
Mechanical Properties and Hydration Mechanism of Coal Flotation Tailing Cemented Filling Materials
Authors: Li Dehao , Fan Yuping , Dong Xianshu , Ma Xiaomin , Liu Pei
Published: March 2023

Large-scale application of filled coal mining technology has long been limited by conditions such as the cost of filling. Compared to traditional filling materials, coal flotation tailing filling materials (CFTFM) offers advantages such as low cost and excellent performance. The Box–Behnken response surface method was used to investigate the influence of flotation tailing properties on the mechanical properties and hydration mechanisms of the filling material. Ash content, blending, and calcination temperature of the flotation tailings were used as the investigating factors, and uniaxial compressive strength (7d and 28d), slump, and the slurry water secretion rate of the filling material as the evaluation indicators. The results showed that the influence of the flotation tailings on the uniaxial compressive strength (28d) of CFTFM followed the order ash > calcination temperature > doping, with the interaction of ash and calcination temperature having a greater influence on the uniaxial compressive strength. The optimized pre-treatment conditions for the flotation tailings were 59% ash, 30% doping, a calcination temperature of 765 °C, and optimum uniaxial compressive strength of 7.02 MPa. The effect of flotation tailings on the exotherm of CFTFM hydration was determined using a TAM Air isothermal microcalorimeter, mainly in the induction and acceleration phases. Combined with SEM electron microscopy and IR FT-IR analysis of the hydration products, a descriptive model of the CFTFM hydration mechanism was established. CFTFM hydration can be described in three phases: diffusion, hydration, and hardening. The CFTFM prepared in this study is applicable to the integrated mining and charging synergistic mining technology, which can effectively reduce gangue lifting energy consumption and washing process waste, reduce the cost of filling, and can effectively achieve harmless, resourceful, and large-scale disposal of coal-based solid waste.
Experimental Study on the Size of Rock Fragments Ejected from Boreholes Drilled in Coal Mine Roadway Floors
Authors: Fu Mengxiong , Huang Shuaishuai , Liu Shaowei , Jia Housheng
Published: March 2023

Borehole drilling is required if floor heave in underground mines is to be controlled using bolts through the floor. How well the bolt is anchored depends, in part, on the borehole’s quality. A major factor that can reduce borehole quality is the difficulty of discharging rock fragments from a small-diameter borehole drilled at a downward angle. Therefore, a fuller understanding of the sizes of the rock fragments will aid attempts to achieve smooth fragment discharge. In this study, drilling experiments in the laboratory and SEM imaging were carried out to determine the size and shape of the fragments generated when drilling boreholes in three sedimentary rocks typically found in roadway floors. The results show that the size distribution of the rock fragments conformed to the three-parameter generalized extreme value distribution. The mean fragment size increased with rock density and the mean size of the fragments larger than 1.5 mm increased with the rock’s uniaxial compressive strength. The fractal dimension of the cracks in the fragments was lower for high-density rocks and the mean fragment size was larger for rocks whose cracks had a lower fractal dimension. When a drill rod drills through very dense or high-strength rock, the mean size of the fragments will increase and the discharge power should be increased to prevent fragment discharge blockages. This paper may provide a theoretical basis and a data reference for discharge power settings and discharge channel optimization.
Numerical Study of Gas Breakthrough in Preferential Rocks for Underground Nuclear Waste Repositories
Authors: Zhang Xiang , Yin Hang , Yu Wenjie , Lei Zhen , Qu Juntong
Published: March 2023

During the long-term storage of radioactive waste, the continuous generation of gas in the disposal area may influence the integrity of host rock. Thus, the investigation of gas migration and breakthrough in low-permeability rock is indispensable for the stability assessment. In this work, the pore space models of four potential host rocks (Boom clay, COx argillite, Opalinus clay, and Beishan granite) were generated via the binarization of the Gaussian random field. This method provides a randomly formed pore network that does rely on an initial definition of pore shape. The constructed models were analyzed and validated by using the mathematical morphology. A numerical calculation scenario of gas breakthrough on the basis of the Young–Laplace equation was proposed and applied. Results show that the gas breakthrough pressures are 2.62–4.11 MPa in Boom clay and 3.72–4.27 MPa in COx argillite. It enhances the idea that the capillary-induced gas breakthrough is possible at pressures lower than the fracture threshold. For Opalinus clay and Beishan granite, no connected pathway exists, and the breakthrough is more likely to occur through pathway dilation or fractures. The presented method has the advantage of experimental reproducibility and brings a new idea for the investigation of fluid migration in low-permeability rocks.
Uncorking Haloanisoles in Wine
Authors: Keng Abigail , Botezatu Andreea
Published: March 2023

Haloanisoles in wine have devastating effects on the aroma and quality of the wine. 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) was discovered and coined as “cork taint” in 1982. However, we now understand that there are many more haloanisoles that contribute to these musty odors, including 2,4,6-Tribromoanisiole (TBA), 2,3,4,6-tetrachloroanisole (TeCA), and pentachloroanisole (PCA). While TCA, TeCA, and PCA can all be traced back to the cork, TBA’s phenol precursor is ubiquitous in building material as a fire retardant, making it a much larger vector. All haloanisoles have the ability to aerosolize and resettle onto surfaces in the winery, making this a very difficult problem to eliminate. This literature review will cover the multiple haloanisoles found in wine, their sensory impacts, their effect on wine quality, and current methodologies with regard to their analysis.
In Situ Fabrication of High Dielectric Constant Composite Films with Good Mechanical and Thermal Properties by Controlled Reduction
Authors: Hu Zhaoyu , Chen Lian , Zhu Yongmei , Zhang Chunmei , Jiang Shaohua , Hou Haoqing
Published: March 2023

As a common two-dimensional carbon material, graphene has been widely doped into polymers to prepare high-performance dielectric materials. However, the shortcomings of graphene, such as large specific surface area and poor dispersion, limit its further application. Therefore, in this work, to solve the problem regarding the uniform dispersion of graphene in the matrix, in situ polymerization was used to prepare graphene/polyimide films, in which 1,4-diiodobutane was used as a reduction agent to prevent the aggregation of graphene oxide (GO) during imidization. High dielectric constant composite films were obtained by adjusting the ratio of 1,4-diiodobutane in GO. The results show that the resulting graphene/polyimide composite film possessed a dielectric constant of up to 197.5, which was more than 58 times higher than that of the polyimide (PI) film. Furthermore, compared to the pure PI film, the composite films showed better thermal stability and mechanical properties. Thermal performance tests showed that the 1,4-diiodobutane added during the preparation of the composite film was thermally decomposed, and there was no residue. We believe our preparation method can be extended to other high dielectric composite films, which will facilitate their further development and application in high power density energy storage materials.
Quantification of the Quercetin Nanoemulsion Technique Using Various Parameters
Authors: Sah Manish Kumar , Gautam Bibaran , Pokhrel Krishna Prasad , Ghani Lubna , Bhattarai Ajaya
Published: March 2023

Natural antioxidant polyphenolic compounds obtained from different plants are considered antioxidants for curing various chronic pathological diseases such as cardiovascular disorders and cancer. Quercetin (a polyphenolic flavonol) has attracted much attention from dietitians and medicinal chemists due to its wide variety of pharmacological activities, including anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, anti-carcinogenic, anti-asthmatic, anti-viral, and antioxidant activities. Furthermore, structurally, it is well suited to stabilize emulsions. The present review depicts the important role of the quercetin nanoemulsion technique, used to enhance the solubility of target materials both in vivo and in vitro as well as to decrease the risk of degradation and metabolism of drugs. Researchers have used cryo-TEM to study the morphology of quercetin nanoemulsions. The effects of various parameters such as pH, salts, and solvent concentration on quercetin nanoemulsion have been investigated for quercetin nanoemulsion. Many studies have used UV–Vis spectroscopy and HPLC for the characterization of these particles such as solubility, stability, and encapsulating efficiency.
Co-Encapsulation of Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate and Vitamin B12 in Zein Microstructures by Electrospinning/Electrospraying Technique
Authors: Couto Ana F. , Favretto Maéna , Paquis Raphael , Estevinho Berta N.
Published: March 2023

EGCG is a catechin known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics. Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin found in animal-derived products, and its deficiency may cause serious health problems such as anemia. The effectiveness of both catechin and vitamin B12 depends on their stability and bioavailability, which can be lost during industrial processes due to degradation when exposed to external factors. A potential solution to this issue is the microencapsulation, which protects the compounds from external agents. The current study aims to microencapsulate EGCG and vitamin B12 in a polymer matrix of biological origin, zein. Microencapsulation was performed using an electrospinning technique, and different concentrations of zein (1–30% w/v) and active compound (0.5–5% w/w) were tested, resulting in the production of micro/nanoparticles, fibers, or the mixture of both. The microstructures were analyzed and characterized in terms of morphology, release profile and kinetics, and encapsulation efficiency. High encapsulation efficiencies were obtained, and the highest were found in the samples with 1% w/w of active substance and 30% w/v of zein. Controlled release studies were conducted in deionized water and in an ethanolic solution, and five kinetic models were applied to the release profiles. The results indicated that the Weibull model was the best fit for the majority of results.
Combining Zeolites with Early-Maturing Annual Legume Cover Crops in Rainfed Orchards: Effects on Yield, Fatty Acid Composition and Polyphenolic Profile of Olives and Olive Oil
Authors: Martins Sandra , Silva Ermelinda , Brito Cátia , Pinto Luís , Martins-Gomes Carlos , Gonçalves Alexandre , Arrobas Margarida , Rodrigues Manuel Ângelo , Correia Carlos M. , Nunes Fernando M.
Published: March 2023

Under climate change threats, there is a growing need to adapt the conventional agronomic practices used in rainfed olive orchards by sustainable practices, in order to ensure adequate crop yield and olive oil quality and to preserve soil health. Therefore, for two years, the effects of conventional tillage practice (T) and two sustainable soil management strategies, a leguminous cover crop (LC) and its combination with natural zeolites (ZL), on the yield, fatty acid composition, polyphenolic profile and quality indices of olive fruits and oil were evaluated. Crop yield was significantly increased by LC and ZL in the first year. Although in the second year no significant differences were verified, the cumulative yield increased significantly by 31.6% and 35.5% in LC and ZL trees, respectively. LC enhanced the moisture and size of olives, while ZL increased, in general, the concentrations of oleuropein, verbascoside, caffeic acid and epicatechin, as well the oleic/linoleic ratio in fruits and the levels of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol, tyrosol, verbascoside and caffeic acid in olive oil. Despite the higher concentration of total phenols in the fruits and oil from T trees in the warmer and dryer year, the quality of the oil decreased, mainly when compared with ZL, as evidenced by the peroxide value and K232 and K270 coefficients. In short, both sustainable soil management strategies appear to be promising practices to implement in olive orchards under rainfed conditions, but the innovative strategy of combining zeolites with legume cover crops, first reported in the present study, confers advantages from a nutritional and technological point of view. Nevertheless, studies subjected to the long-term use of these practices should be conducted to ensure the sustainability of the crop yield and olive oil quality.
Nitrile Oxide, Alkenes, Dipolar Cycloaddition, Isomerization and Metathesis Involved in the Syntheses of 2-Isoxazolines
Authors: Krompiec Stanisław , Lodowski Piotr , Kurpanik-Wójcik Aneta , Gołek Bogumiła , Mieszczanin Angelika , Fijołek Aleksandra , Matussek Marek , Kaszuba Klaudia
Published: March 2023

The involvement of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (1,3-DP), double bond migration, metathesis, and nitrile oxide (including in situ-generated nitrile oxide) as dipoles, together with the C=C bond containing dipolarophiles, in the syntheses of 2-isoxazolines is presented. Methods for synthesizing isoxazolines (other than 1,3-DP cycloaddition) were also presented briefly. Various methods of nitrile oxide preparation, especially in situ-generated procedures, are presented. Special attention was paid to the application of various combinations of 1,3-DP cycloaddition with double bond migration (DBM) and with alkene metathesis (AM) in the syntheses of trisubstituted isoxazolines. Allyl compounds of the type QCH2CH=CH2 (Q = ArO, ArS, Ar, and others) play the role of dipolarophile precursors in the combinations of DPC mentioned, DBM and AM. Mechanistic aspects of cycloadditions, i.e., concerted or stepwise reaction mechanism and their regio- and stereoselectivity are also discussed from experimental and theoretical points of view. Side reactions accompanying cycloaddition, especially nitrile oxide dimerization, are considered. 2-Isoxazoline applications in organic synthesis and their biological activity, broad utility in medicine, agriculture, and other fields were also raised. Some remaining challenges in the field of 1,3-DP cycloaddition in the syntheses of isoxazolines are finally discussed.
Study on Pharmacokinetics and Metabolic Profiles of Novel Potential PLK-1 Inhibitors by UHPLC-MS/MS Combined with UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap/HRMS
Authors: Wang Lin , Lei Hui , Lu Jing , Wang Wenyan , Liu Chunjiao , Wang Yunjie , Yang Yifei , Tian Jingwei , Zhang Jianzhao
Published: March 2023

PLK-1 (Polo-like kinase-1) plays an essential role in cytokinesis, and its aberrant expression is considered to be keenly associated with a wide range of cancers. It has been selected as an appealing target and small-molecule inhibitors have been developed and studied in clinical trials. Unfortunately, most have been declared as failures due to the poor therapeutic response and off-target toxicity. In the present study, a novel potent PLK-1 inhibitor, compound 7a, was designed and synthetized. 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 19F NMR and mass spectrum were comprehensively used for the compound characterization. The compound exhibited higher potency against PLK-1 kinase, HCT-116 and NCI-H2030 cell lines than the positive control. Molecular docking indicated that the binding mode that the ATP binding site of PLK-1 was occupied by the compound. Then, a UHPLC-MS/MS method was established and validated to explore the pharmacokinetic behavior of the drug candidate. The method had good selectivity, high sensitivity and wide linearity. The exposure increased linearly with the dose, but the oral bioavailability was not satisfactory enough. Then, the metabolism was studied using liver microsomes by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap/HRMS. Our research first studied the pharmacokinetic metabolic characteristics of 7a and may serve as a novel lead compound for the development of PLK-1 inhibitors.
Removal of 241Am from Aqueous Solutions by Adsorption on Sponge Gourd Biochar
Authors: Philippou Maria , Pashalidis Ioannis , Kalderis Dimitrios
Published: March 2023

Luffa cylindrica biomass was converted to biochar and the removal of 241Am by pristine and oxidized biochar fibers was investigated in laboratory and environmental water samples. This species has the added advantage of a unique microsponge structure that is beneficial for the production of porous adsorbents. The main purpose of this study was to valorize this biomass to produce an efficient adsorbent and investigate its performance in radionuclide-contaminated waters. Following the preparation of Am3+ solutions at a concentration of 10−12 mol/L, the adsorption efficiency (Kd) was determined as a function of pH, adsorbent mass, ionic strength, temperature, and type of aqueous solution by batch experiments. At the optimum adsorbent dose of 0.1 g and pH value of 4, a log10Kd value of 4.2 was achieved by the oxidized biochar sample. The effect of temperature and ionic strength indicated that adsorption is an endothermic and entropy-driven process (ΔH° = −512 kJ mol−1 and ΔS° = −1.2 J K−1 mol−1) leading to the formation of inner-sphere complexes. The adsorption kinetics were relatively slow (24 h equilibrium time) due to the slow diffusion of the radionuclide to the biochar surface and fitted well to the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. Oxidized biochar performed better compared to the unmodified sample and overall appears to be an efficient adsorbent for the treatment of 241Am-contaminated waters, even at ultra-trace concentrations.
Metal Sulfide Nanoparticles for Imaging and Phototherapeutic Applications
Authors: Shetty Aishwarya , Lang Heinrich , Chandra Sudeshna
Published: March 2023

The intriguing properties of metal sulfide nanoparticles (=MxSy-NPs), particularly transition metal dichalcogenides, are discussed for their use in diverse biological applications. Herein, recent advances in MxSy-NPs-based imaging (MRI, CT, optical and photoacoustic) and phototherapy (photothermal and photodynamic) are presented. Also, recent made progress in the use of immuno-phototherapy combinatorial approaches in vitro and in vivo are reported. Furthermore, challenges in nanomaterials-based therapies and future research directions by applying MxSy-NPs in combinatorial therapies are envisaged.