bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Rosmarinus officinalis in Preclinical In Vivo Models of Inflammation
Authors: Gonçalves Catarina , Fernandes Daniela , Silva Inês , Mateus Vanessa
Published: January 2022

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the potential anti-inflammatory effect of Rosmarinus officinalis in preclinical in vivo models of inflammation. A search was conducted in the databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, with related keywords. The inclusion criteria were inflammation, plant, and studies on rats or mice; while, the exclusion criteria were reviews, studies with in vitro models, and associated plants. The predominant animal models were paw edema, acute liver injury, and asthma. Rosemary was more commonly used in its entirety than in compounds, and the prevalent methods of extraction were maceration and hydrodistillation. The most common routes of administration reported were gavage, intraperitoneal, and oral, on a route-dependent dosage. Treatment took place daily, or was single-dose, on average for 21 days, and it more often started before the induction. The most evaluated biomarkers were tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, myeloperoxidase (MPO), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The best results emerged at a dose of 60 mg/kg, via IP of carnosic acid, a dose of 400 mg/kg via gavage of Rosmarinus officinalis, and a dose of 10 mg/kg via IP of rosmarinic acid. Rosmarinus officinalis L. showed anti-inflammatory activity before and after induction of treatments.
Effect of Extraction Procedures with Ultrasound and Cellulolytic Enzymes on the Structural and Functional Properties of Citrus grandis Osbeck Seed Mucilage
Authors: Yeh Yu-Cheng , Lai Lih-Shiuh
Published: January 2022

The structural and functional properties of Citrus grandis Osbeck (CGO) seed mucilage by different extraction practices, including conventional citrate buffer, ultrasonic-assisted (UAE), enzymatic-assisted extraction (EAE) with cellulase or Celluclast® 1.5 L and various ultrasonic-assisted enzymatic extraction (UAEE) procedures were investigated. It was found that CGO seed from agricultural and processing byproducts is an excellent new source of high methoxyl pectin with quite high intrinsic viscosity (about 108.64 dL/g) and molecular weight (about 1.9 × 106) as compared with other pectin sources. UAEE with Celluclast® 1.5 L enhanced the extraction yield most pronouncedly (about 2.3 times). Moreover, the monosaccharide composition of CGO seed mucilage is least affected by EAE with Celluclast® 1.5 L. In contrast, EAE with cellulase dramatically reduces the galacturonic acid (GalA) content to less than 60 molar%, and increases the glucose (Glc) content pronouncedly (to about 40 molar%), which may be considered as an adverse effect in terms of pectin purity. Though extraction procedures involved with ultrasound and cellulolytic enzymes generally show a decrease in GalA contents, weight average molar mass and intrinsic viscosity, EAE with Celluclast® 1.5 L is least affected, followed by UAE and UAEE with Celluclast® 1.5 L. These features can be leveraged in favor of diversified applications.
Synthesis, Purification, and Characterization of Carbon Dots from Non-Activated and Activated Pyrolytic Carbon Black
Authors: González-González Reyna Berenice , González Lucy Teresa , Madou Marc , Leyva-Porras César , Martinez-Chapa Sergio Omar , Mendoza Alberto
Published: January 2022

In this work, carbon dots were created from activated and non-activated pyrolytic carbon black obtained from waste tires, which were then chemically oxidized with HNO3. The effects caused to the carbon dot properties were analyzed in detail through characterization techniques such as ion chromatography; UV–visible, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy; ζ potential; transmission electron microscopy (TEM); and spectrofluorometry. The presence of functional groups on the surface of all carbon dots was revealed by UV–visible, FTIR, XPS, and Raman spectra. The higher oxidation degrees of carbon dots from activated precursors compared to those from nonactivated precursors resulted in differences in photoluminescence (PL) properties such as bathochromic shift, lower intensity, and excitation-dependent behavior. The results demonstrate that the use of an activating agent in the recovery of pyrolytic carbon black resulted in carbon dots with different PL properties. In addition, a dialysis methodology is proposed to overcome purification obstacles, finding that 360 h were required to obtain pure carbon dots synthesized by a chemical oxidation method.
A CFD Study on Heat Transfer Performance of SiO2-TiO2 Nanofluids under Turbulent Flow
Authors: Ba Thong Le , Gróf Gyula , Odhiambo Vincent Otieno , Wongwises Somchai , Szilágyi Imre Miklós
Published: January 2022

A CFD model was performed with commercial software through the adoption of the finite volume method and a SIMPLE algorithm. SiO2-P25 particles were added to water/ethylene glycol as a base fluid. The result is considered a new hybrid nanofluid (HN) for investigating heat transfer (HT). The volume concentrations were 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5%. The Reynolds number was in the range of 5000–17,000. The heat flux (HF) was 7955 W/m2, and the wall temperature was 340.15 K. The numerical experiments were performed strictly following the rules that one should follow in HT experiments. This is important because many studies related to nanofluid HT overlook these details. The empirical correlations that contain the friction factor perform better with higher Reynolds numbers than the correlations based only on Reynolds and Prandtl numbers. When temperature differences are moderate, researchers may consider using constant properties to lower computational costs, as they may give results that are similar to temperature-dependent ones. Compared with previous research, our simulation results are in agreement with the experiments in real time.
Selected Papers from the Second International Online Conference on Nanomaterials
Authors: Díez-Pascual Ana M. , Di Bartolomeo Antonio , Chen Guanying
Published: January 2022

Nanomaterials have gained eminence in technological developments due to their tunable physical, chemical, and biological properties, such as wettability, electrical and thermal conductivity, magnetism, light absorption and emission, catalytic activity, and so forth, leading to devices with improved performance compared to their microscopic counterparts [...]
Smart Magnetic Nanocarriers for Multi-Stimuli On-Demand Drug Delivery
Authors: Eslami Parisa , Albino Martin , Scavone Francesca , Chiellini Federica , Morelli Andrea , Baldi Giovanni , Cappiello Laura , Doumett Saer , Lorenzi Giada , Ravagli Costanza , Caneschi Andrea , Laurenzana Anna , Sangregorio Claudio
Published: January 2022

In this study, we report the realization of drug-loaded smart magnetic nanocarriers constituted by superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles encapsulated in a dual pH- and temperature-responsive poly (N-vinylcaprolactam-co-acrylic acid) copolymer to achieve highly controlled drug release and localized magnetic hyperthermia. The magnetic core was constituted by flower-like magnetite nanoparticles with a size of 16.4 nm prepared by the polyol approach, with good saturation magnetization and a high specific absorption rate. The core was encapsulated in poly (N-vinylcaprolactam-co-acrylic acid) obtaining magnetic nanocarriers that revealed reversible hydration/dehydration transition at the acidic condition and/or at temperatures above physiological body temperature, which can be triggered by magnetic hyperthermia. The efficacy of the system was proved by loading doxorubicin with very high encapsulation efficiency (>96.0%) at neutral pH. The double pH- and temperature-responsive nature of the magnetic nanocarriers facilitated a burst, almost complete release of the drug at acidic pH under hyperthermia conditions, while a negligible amount of doxorubicin was released at physiological body temperature at neutral pH, confirming that in addition to pH variation, drug release can be improved by hyperthermia treatment. These results suggest this multi-stimuli-sensitive nanoplatform is a promising candidate for remote-controlled drug release in combination with magnetic hyperthermia for cancer treatment.
Artificial Neurons and Synapses Based on Al/a-SiNxOy:H/P+-Si Device with Tunable Resistive Switching from Threshold to Memory
Authors: Leng Kangmin , Zhu Xu , Ma Zhongyuan , Yu Xinyue , Xu Jun , Xu Ling , Li Wei , Chen Kunji
Published: January 2022

As the building block of brain-inspired computing, resistive switching memory devices have recently attracted great interest due to their biological function to mimic synapses and neurons, which displays the memory switching or threshold switching characteristic. To make it possible for the Si-based artificial neurons and synapse to be integrated with the neuromorphic chip, the tunable threshold and memory switching characteristic is highly in demand for their perfect compatibility with the mature CMOS technology. We first report artificial neurons and synapses based on the Al/a-SiNxOy:H/P+-Si device with the tunable switching from threshold to memory can be realized by controlling the compliance current. It is found that volatile TS from Al/a-SiNxOy:H/P+-Si device under the lower compliance current is induced by the weak Si dangling bond conductive pathway, which originates from the broken Si-H bonds. While stable nonvolatile MS under the higher compliance current is attributed to the strong Si dangling bond conductive pathway, which is formed by the broken Si-H and Si-O bonds. Theoretical calculation reveals that the conduction mechanism of TS and MS agree with P-F model, space charge limited current model and Ohm’s law, respectively. The tunable TS and MS characteristic of Al/a-SiNxOy:H/P+-Si device can be successfully employed to mimic the biological behavior of neurons and synapse including the integrate-and-fire function, paired-pulse facilitation, long-term potentiation and long-term depression as well as spike-timing-dependent plasticity. Our discovery supplies an effective way to construct the neuromorphic devices for brain-inspired computing in the AI period.
Ultrasonic-Assisted Synthesis of N-Doped, Multicolor Carbon Dots toward Fluorescent Inks, Fluorescence Sensors, and Logic Gate Operations
Authors: Xu Jiali , Cui Kai , Gong Tianyu , Zhang Jinyang , Zhai Zhirou , Hou Linrui , Zaman Fakhr uz , Yuan Changzhou
Published: January 2022

Over past decades, the multicolor carbon dots (M-CDs) have attracted enormous attentions due to their tunable photoluminescence and versatile applications. Herein, the nitrogen-doped (N-doped) M-CDs including green, chartreuse, and pink emissive CDs are successfully synthesized by ultrasonic treatment of kiwifruit juice with different additive reagents such as ethanol, ethylenediamine, and acetone. Owing to their strong fluorescence upon irradiation with 365 nm UV light, the highly water-soluble M-CDs present great potential in the anticounterfeit field as fluorescent inks. Particularly, the resulting green emission CDs (G-CDs) with excellent fluorescence and stability are applied as a label-free probe model for “on–off” detection of Fe3+. The fluorescence of G-CDs is significantly quenched by Fe3+ through static quenching. The nanoprobe demonstrates good selectivity and sensitivity toward Fe3+ with a detection limit of ~0.11 μM. Besides, the quenched fluorescence of G-CDs by Fe3+ can be recovered by the addition of PO43− or ascorbic acid (AA) into the CDs/Fe3+ system to realize the “off–on” fluorescent process. Furthermore, NOT and IMPLICATION logic gates are constructed based on the selection of Fe3+ and PO43− or AA as the inputs, which makes the G-CD-based sensors utilized as various logic gates at molecular level. Therefore, the N-doped M-CDs hold promising prospects as competitive candidates in monitoring the trace species, applications in food chemistry, anticounterfeit uses, and beyond.
Particles Emission from an Industrial Spray Coating Process Using Nano-Materials
Authors: Del Secco Benedetta , Trabucco Sara , Ravegnani Fabrizio , Koivisto Antti Joonas , Zanoni Ilaria , Blosi Magda , Ortelli Simona , Altin Marko , Bartolini Gianni , Costa Anna Luisa , Belosi Franco
Published: January 2022

Industrial spray coating processes are known to produce excellent coatings on large surfaces and are thus often used for in-line production. However, they could be one of the most critical sources of worker exposure to ultrafine particles (UFPs). A monitoring campaign at the Witek s.r.l. (Florence, Italy) was deployed to characterize the release of TiO2 NPs doped with nitrogen (TiO2-N) and Ag capped with hydroxyethyl cellulose (AgHEC) during automatic industrial spray-coating of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polyester. Aerosol particles were characterized inside the spray chamber at near field (NF) and far field (FF) locations using on-line and off-line instruments. Results showed that TiO2-N suspension produced higher particle number concentrations than AgHEC in the size range 0.3–1 µm (on average 1.9 102 p/cm3 and 2.5 101 p/cm3, respectively) after background removing. At FF, especially at worst case scenario (4 nozzles, 800 mL/min flow rate) for TiO2-N, the spray spikes were correlated with NF, with an observed time lag of 1 minute corresponding to a diffusion speed of 0.1 m/s. The averaged ratio between particles mass concentrations in the NF position and inside the spray chamber was 1.7% and 1.5% for TiO2-N and for AgHEC suspensions, respectively. The released particles’ number concentration of TiO2-N in the size particles range 0.3–1 µm was comparable for both PMMA and polyester substrates, about 1.5 and 1.6 102 p/cm3. In the size range 0.01–30 µm, the aerosol number concentration at NF for both suspensions was lower than the nano reference values (NRVs) of 16·103 p/cm-3.
Erratum: Sharp et al. Phytoplankton Supplementation Lowers Muscle Damage and Sustains Performance across Repeated Exercise Bouts in Humans and Improves Antioxidant Capacity in a Mechanistic Animal. Nutrients 2020, 12, 1990
Authors: Sharp Matthew , Sahin Kazim , Stefan Matthew , Orhan Cemal , Gheith Raad , Reber Dallen , Sahin Nurhan , Tuzcu Mehmet , Lowery Ryan , Durkee Shane , Wilson Jacob
Published: January 2022

Modifications to the Main Text [...]
Short-Term Therapeutic Adherence of Hospitalized Older Patients with Oropharyngeal Dysphagia after an Education Intervention: Analysis of Compliance Rates, Risk Factors and Associated Complications
Authors: Mateos-Nozal Jesús , Sánchez García Elisabeth , Montero-Errasquín Beatriz , Romero Rodríguez Estela , Cruz-Jentoft Alfonso J.
Published: January 2022

Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) is associated with adverse outcomes that require a multidisciplinary approach with different strategies. Our aim was to assess the adherence of older patients to dysphagia management recommendations during hospitalization, after a specific nurse guided dysphagia education intervention and to identify short term complications of OD and their relationship with short-term adherence. We carried out a prospective observational study in an acute and an orthogeriatric unit of a university hospital over ten months with a one-month follow-up. Four hundred and forty-seven patients (mean age 92 years, 70.7% women) were diagnosed with dysphagia using Volume-Viscosity Swallow Test (V-VST). Compensatory measures and individualized recommendations were explained in detail by trained nurse. Therapeutic adherence was directly observed during hospital admission, after an education intervention, and self-reported after one-month. We also recorded the following reported complications at one month, including respiratory infection, use of antibiotics, weight loss, transfers to the emergency department, or hospitalization). Postural measures and liquid volume were advised to all patients, followed by modified texture food (95.5%), fluid thickeners (32.7%), and delivery method (12.5%). The in-hospital compliance rate with all recommendations was 37.1% and one-month after hospital discharge was 76.4%. Both compliance rates were interrelated and were lower in patients with dementia, malnutrition, and safety signs. Higher compliance rates were observed for sitting feeding and food texture, and an increase in adherence after discharge in the liquid volume and use of thickeners. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that adherence to recommendations during the month after discharge was associated with lower short-term mortality and complications (i.e., respiratory infection, use of antibiotics, weight loss, transfers to the emergency department, or hospitalization). One-third of our participants followed recommendations during hospitalization and three-quarters one month after admission, with higher compliance for posture and food texture. Compliance should be routinely assessed and fostered in older patients with dysphagia.
Effectiveness of “Moro” Blood Orange Citrus sinensis Osbeck (Rutaceae) Standardized Extract on Weight Loss in Overweight but Otherwise Healthy Men and Women—A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study
Authors: Briskey David , Malfa Giuseppe Antonio , Rao Amanda
Published: January 2022

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a blood orange Citrus sinensis standardized extract from “Moro” cultivar, on weight loss in overweight but otherwise healthy individuals. Anthocyanins and particularly cyanidin 3-glucoside, found in a large variety of fruits including Sicilian blood oranges, can help to counteract weight gain and to reduce body fat accumulation through the modulation of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and metabolic pathways. In this randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study, all participants (overweight adults aged 20–65 years old) were randomized to receive either Moro blood orange standardized extract or a placebo daily for 6-months. The primary outcome measure was change in body mass and body composition at the end of the study. After 6-months, body mass (4.2% vs. 2.2%, p = 0.015), body mass index (p = 0.019), hip (3.4 cm vs. 2.0 cm, p = 0.049) and waist (3.9 cm vs. 1.7 cm, p = 0.017) circumferences, fat mass (p = 0.012) and fat distribution (visceral and subcutaneous fat p = 0.018 and 0.006, respectively) were all significantly better in the extract supplemented group compared to the placebo (p < 0.05). In addition, all safety markers of liver toxicity were within the normal range throughout the study for both analyzed groups. Concluding, the present study demonstrates that Moro blood orange standardized extract may be a safe and effective option for helping with weight loss when used in conjunction with diet and exercise.
Association of a Single-Nucleotide Variant rs11100494 of the NPY5R Gene with Antipsychotic-Induced Metabolic Disorders
Authors: Dobrodeeva Vera S. , Shnayder Natalia A. , Novitsky Maxim A. , Asadullin Azat R. , Vaiman Elena E. , Petrova Marina M. , Limankin Oleg V. , Neznanov Nikolay G. , Garganeeva Natalia P. , Nasyrova Regina F.
Published: January 2022

Background: The usage of antipsychotics (APs) is the most robust and scientifically based approach in the treatment of schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs). The efficiency of APs is based on a range of target receptors of the central nervous system (CNS): serotoninergic, dopaminergic, adrenergic, histaminergic and cholinergic. Metabolic disorders are the most severe adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and lead to cardiovascular diseases with a high rate of mortality in patients with SSDs. Neuropeptide Y receptor Y5 (NPY5R) is known in the chain of interaction to target receptors for APs, agouti-related peptide receptors and proopiomelanocortin receptors. We studied the association of the single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) rs11100494 and rs6837793 of the NPY5R gene, and rs16147, rs5573, rs5574 of the NPY gene, with metabolic disorders in Russian patients with SSDs. Methods: We examined 99 patients with SSDs (mean age—24.56 years old). The mean duration of APs monotherapy was 8 weeks. The biochemical blood test included levels of glucose, cholesterol, lipoproteins, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total protein and albumin. Anthropometry included weight, height, waist circumference and hip circumference. We used real-time PCR to study the carriage of major and minor alleles of the SNV rs11100494 (1164C>A) of the NPY5R gene (chromosome localization—4q32.2). Group 1 comprised 25 patients with SSDs taking APs with a change in body weight of more than 6% since the start of APs therapy. Group 2 comprised 74 patients with SSDs taking APs with a change in body weight of less than 6% since the start of APs therapy. Results: We show the significance of genetic risk factors (carriage of major allele C of SNV rs11100494 of the NPY5R gene) for the development of AP-induced weight gain in Russian patients with SSDs. The allele C predisposes to AP-induced weight gain (OR = 33.48 [95% CI: 12.62; 88.82], p-value < 0.001). Additionally, the results of our study demonstrate that first-generation APs (FGAs) are more likely to cause an increase in serum transaminase levels but are less likely to increase body weight. Second-generation APs (SGAs) are more likely to cause weight gain and changes in serum glucose levels. Conclusion: Our study shows the predictive role of the allele C of SNV rs11100494 of the NPY5R gene in the development of AP-induced weight gain. However, we did not find a significant association between biochemical markers and this SNV in Russian patients with SSDs.
Vital Signs Monitoring Based on Interferometric Fiber Optic Sensors
Authors: Lyu Weimin , Chen Shuyang , Tan Fengze , Yu Changyuan
Published: January 2022

Due to the improvement of living standards, people’s attention to health has gradually increased. More and more people are willing to spend money and time on health management. This article reviews work on the vital signs monitoring system based on fiber optic interferometers, including the design of sensor structures, signal demodulation methods and data analysis. After a large number of trials, the system can achieve long-term stable heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR) and body temperature monitoring, and the collected data can be used for health analysis. Due to the high sensitivity, low cost, and light weight of the interferometric fiber optic sensor, it can be integrated under a mattress or a cushion, which is very suitable for daily use. The system has great application prospects in the field of healthcare.
The Process of Soil Desiccation under Haloxylon ammodendron Plantations: A Case Study of the Alxa Legue Desert, China
Authors: Zhou Dongmeng , Si Jianhua , He Xiaohui , Jia Bing , Zhao Chunyan , Wang Chunlin , Qin Jie , Zhu Xinglin
Published: January 2022

Haloxylon ammodendron is a desert shrub widely used as a windbreak and for sand fixation, and it has achieved remarkable results in China. However, in desert areas, large-scale afforestation increases soil water consumption and forms a dried soil layer (DSL), the development of which seriously threatens the sustainable development of the ecosystem. In this study, soil moisture in the 0–400 cm soil profile was measured in selected 5-, 11-, 22-, 34-, and 46-year-old plantations of Haloxylon ammodendron plantations in Alxa Legue, China, and three soil desiccation evaluation indices were calculated—the soil desiccation index (SDI), DSL thickness (DSLT), and DSL soil water content (DSL-SWC)—to analyze the change pattern of the soil water content for different stand ages. The results showed that the shallow water layer (0–200 cm) was depleted sharply in the first five years of Haloxylon ammodendron plantation growth, but no DSL developed; the inflection point of soil water content change appeared after 10 years of growth, after which the shallow soil water was depleted and the drying process of the deep soil water content was significantly faster than that in the early growth period. The deep soil layer (200–400 cm) was depleted seriously after 22 years of afforestation, the soil drying phenomenon was obvious, and the DSL developed from the 172 cm soil layer. After 46 years of afforestation, the DSL was fully developed and the DSL-SWC was only 0.034 cm3 cm−3. Priority should thus be given to the use of less water-consuming shrub species; alternatively, after 5 years of growth of Haloxylon ammodendron plantations, certain water control measures should be taken to maintain the soil water balance.
Improvement of High-Throughput Experimentation Using Synthesis Robots by the Implementation of Tailor-Made Sensors
Authors: Schuett Timo , Wejner Manuel , Kimmig Julian , Zechel Stefan , Wilke Timm , Schubert Ulrich S.
Published: January 2022

A small, low-cost, self-produced photometer is implemented into a synthesis robot and combined with a modified UV chamber to enable automated sampling and online characterization. In order to show the usability of the new approach, two different reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymers were irradiated with UV light. Automated sampling and subsequent characterization revealed different reaction kinetics depending on polymer type. Thus, a long initiation time (20 min) is required for the end-group degradation of poly(ethylene glycol) ether methyl methacrylate (poly(PEGMEMA)), whereas poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is immediately converted. Lastly, all photometric samples are characterized via size-exclusion chromatography using UV and RI detectors to prove the results of the self-produced sensor and to investigate the molar mass shift during the reaction.
Improved Performance of Solid Polymer Electrolyte for Lithium-Metal Batteries via Hot Press Rolling
Authors: Yadav Poonam , Beheshti Seyed Hamidreza , Kathribail Anish Raj , Ivanchenko Pavlo , Mierlo Joeri Van , Berecibar Maitane
Published: January 2022

Solid-state batteries (SSBs) are gaining attention as they promise to provide better safety and a higher energy density than conventional liquid electrolyte batteries. Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are promising candidates due to their flexibility providing better interfacial contact between electrodes and the electrolyte. However, SPEs exhibit very low ionic conductivity at ambient temperatures, which prevents their practical use in batteries. Herein, a simple and effective technique of hot press rolling is demonstrated to improve ionic conductivity and, hence, the performance of polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP)-based solid polymer electrolyte. Applying hot press rolling to the electrolyte membrane induced structural changes in the grain boundaries, which resulted in a reduction in the crystallinity of the material and, hence, an increase in the amorphous phase of the material, which eased the movement of the lithium ions within the material. This technique also improved the surface of the membrane, making it homogeneous and smoother, which resulted in better interfacial contact between the electrodes and electrolyte. Electrochemical tests were carried out on electrolyte membranes treated with and without hot press rolling to evaluate the effect of the treatment. The hot pressed electrolyte membrane showed significant improvements in its ionic conductivity and transference number. The cycling performance of the LFP/Li batteries using a hot press rolled electrolyte was also evaluated, which gave a specific discharge capacity of 134 mAh/g at 0.1 C. These results demonstrate that hot press rolling can have a significant effect on the electrochemical performance of solid polymer electrolytes.
Water Sorption, Water Solubility, and Rheological Properties of Resin-Based Dental Composites Incorporating Immobilizable Eugenol-Derivative Monomer
Authors: Alrahlah Ali , Al-Odayni Abdel-Basit , Saeed Waseem Sharaf , Al-Kahtani Abdullah , Alkhtani Fahad M. , Al-Maflehi Nassr S.
Published: January 2022

The present study aimed to evaluate the properties of new dental formulations incorporating a new polymerizable-derivative of eugenol (EgGMA). The experimental composites were prepared (by weight) with 35% resin-based matrix (1:1, bisphenol A-glycidyl methacrylate/triethylene glycol dimethacrylate) and 65% reinforcing materials (4:3, hydroxyapatite/zirconium oxide). A portion of 0.0, 2.5, and 5.0% of the resins with respect to the total composite was replaced by EgGMA monomer to obtain TBEg0, TBEg2.5, and TBEg5, respectively. The complex viscosity (at 25 and 37 °C), degree of conversion (DC), and water sorption (WSP) and water solubility (WSL) (3 cycles of sorption-desorption process) were investigated. Data were statistically analyzed using one-way and Tukey post-hoc tests. The results revealed a viscosity reduction with shear-thinning behavior as the EgGMA amount and temperature increased. The average complex viscosities at a lower frequency (ω = 1.0 rad/s) and at 25 °C were 234.7 ± 13.4, 86.4 ± 16.5, and 57.3 ± 17.1 (kPa·s) for TBEg0, TBEg2.5, and TBEg5, respectively. The inclusion of EgGMA led to a lower DC and WSP but higher WSL, compared to those of the reference (TBEg0). However, no significant differences between TBEg2.5 and control were detected (p > 0.05). Therefore, the incorporation of EgGMA in a low quantity, e.g., up to 8.45 mol% of resins, within the matrix may enhance the composite’s performance, including handling and solubility properties without any apparent effect on DC and water sorption, making it a promising monomeric biomaterial for various applications including restorative dentistry.
Cognitive Behavioral Model of an Operation Crew in the Main Control Room of a Nuclear Power Plant Based on a State-Oriented Procedure
Authors: Qing Tao , Liu Zhaopeng , Zhang Li , Tang Yaqin , Hu Hong , Chen Shuai
Published: January 2022

The team’s cognitive behavior plays a crucial role in dealing with accidents at nuclear power plants. Herein, the main behaviors of reactor operators and coordinators in performing accident management were analyzed in executing a state-oriented procedure. According to these cognitive behavioral characteristics, we established cognitive behavioral models of accident management procedures. After that, a cognitive behavioral model was established for the team in the main control room of the nuclear power plant based on the two models, which is expected to provide support to the optimization of a corresponding Human Reliability Analysis model.
Phytochemical Screening, Nutritional Value, Anti-Diabetic, Anti-Cancer, and Anti-Bacterial Assessment of Aqueous Extract from Abelmoschus esculentus Pods
Authors: Khan Salman , Rafi Zeeshan , Baker Abu , Shoaib Ambreen , Alkhathami Ali , Asiri Mohammed , Alshahrani Mohammad , Ahmad Irfan , Alraey Yasser , Hakamy Ali , Saeed Mohd , Mansoor Shazia
Published: January 2022

Known for its high nutritional and medicinal value, okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is commonly used for replacing plasma and expanding blood volume in humans. It is a major economic crop cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The present study aimed to investigate and evaluate the nutritional properties and prospective applications of the consumable parts of okra. The total ash content (mineral content), carbohydrate, crude fiber, fat, protein, and moisture fractions of okra pod aqueous extract were determined. The results show that okra aqueous extract contained 84.670–87.650% moisture, 1.514–1.197% ash, 7.857–8.261% carbohydrate, 2.367–3.410% crude protein, and 6.781–8.314% crude fiber. Okra was determined to have high nutritional value, with γ-tocopherol and α-tocopherol contents about 2.67 mg/100 g and 1.62 mg/100 g, respectively. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was performed to determine the sugars present in okra aqueous extract. The water-soluble polysaccharide content was 10.22–16.45 g/100 g. The tested aqueous extract was a rich source of total phenolic compounds in gallic acid equivalents (288.2–3426.2 mg/100 g), chlorophyll a (3.53 mg/100), chlorophyll b (2.43 mg/100), and carotenoids (1.3 mg/100 g). The detected minerals were Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe, K, Na, and Mn. Atomic absorption spectrometry analysis of these ashed minerals was performed. In addition to the nutritional benefits, okra pods exhibited antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. The aqueous extract was found to be potentially active against bacterial strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MIC value = 21.8 mg/mL), Escherichia coli (MIC value = 18.7 mg/mL), Bacillus cereus (MIC value = 20.7 mg/mL), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (MIC value = 20.2 mg/mL). Okra aqueous extract exhibited inhibitory activity against α-amylase (IC50 = 120 µg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC50 = 115 µg/mL). The okra extract exhibited high anticancer activity, concentration-dependent and with an IC50 value of about 158.3 mg/mL. The results indicated that okra pods have nutritional and medicinal properties and, hence, can be used as a functional food and broad-spectrum nutraceutical supplement.
An Investigation of Rotary Cup Burner Assembly with Three Vehicle-Mounted Cooking Stoves by Numerical Evaluation Method
Authors: Sheng Yijian , Liu He , He Limo , Xiang Jun
Published: January 2022

The adaptability of vehicle-mounted heating systems that include burner and stove remarkably influences the system efficiency, heat flux uniformity, and pollutants emission. In this work, the performance of a rotary cup burner assembly with three different cooking stoves was investigated using ANSYS Fluent software based on five factors of thermal efficiency, heat transfer intensity, heating uniformity, CO emissions, and flue gas outlet temperature. The Eulerian-Lagrangian method was used to perform the diesel spray, and the shear stress transfer k-ω turbulence model and the probability density function model were employed to simulate the turbulent combustion. Based on the simulation results, the performance pentagon of the above five factors was constructed to evaluate the comprehensive performance of the new rotary cup burner system. The rotary cup burner had a good performance when it is used in two staple food stoves and a subsidiary food stove. In staple food stove A, its higher furnace increased the heat exchange area of the vessel, while the higher fireboard of staple food stove B caused a higher heat transfer intensity at the bottom of the vessel. However, the higher fireboard also led to higher CO emissions. In consideration of these two factors, the thermal efficiency of stove A was about 7% higher than that of stove B. Different from the staple food stove, the furnace of subsidiary food stove C had better wrapping to the bottom of the boiler so that it had the highest heat transfer intensity. The obtained performance pentagon shows that the comprehensive adaptability performance of stove A was the best and that of stove B was the worst, which is mainly caused by the height of the fireboard and the shape of the vessel. This research guides the optimization of the heating system and promotes the application of the rotary cup burner.
Advancements in the Conversion of Lipid-Rich Biowastes and Lignocellulosic Residues into High-Quality Road and Jet Biofuels Using Nanomaterials as Catalysts
Authors: Romero Max , Duca Daniele , Toscano Giuseppe
Published: January 2022

At present, the majority of available road and jet biofuels are produced from oleochemical feedstocks that include vegetable oils and biowastes such as waste cooking oils and animal fats. Additionally, one of the most promising ways to achieve long-term environmental goals is to sustainably use lignocellulosic residues. These resources must be treated through a deoxygenation process and subsequent upgrading processes to obtain high-quality road and jet biofuels. Accordingly, in this review, we explore recent advancements in the deoxygenation of oleochemical and lignocellulosic feedstocks in the absence of hydrogen to produce high-quality road and jet biofuels, mainly focusing on the use of nanomaterials as catalysts and the valorization of lipid-rich biowastes and lignocellulosic residues. As a result, we found that regardless of the catalyst particle size, the coexistence of basic sites and weak/medium acid sites is highly important in catalytic systems. Basic sites can enhance the removal of oxygenates via decarboxylation and decarbonylation reactions and inhibit coke formation, while weak/medium acid sites can enhance the cracking reaction. Additionally, the extraction of value-added derivatives from lignocellulosic residues and their subsequent upgrade require the use of advanced methods such as the lignin-first approach and condensation reactions.
Physicochemical Characterization of Santa Barbara Amorphous-15 (SBA-15) and Its Functionalization with Polyaniline for Phenol Adsorption
Authors: Cárdenas Lady Johana , Giraldo Liliana , Moreno-Piraján Juan Carlos
Published: January 2022

The chemical surface of Santa Barbara Amorphous-15 (SBA-15) was functionalized with polyaniline (SBA-15/PA) and was prepared using aniline and ammonium persulfate as the modifying agent and oxidant. The samples were characterized by N2 physical adsorption at 77 K. SBA-15’s surface area was 654.5 m2 g−1, changing to 254.6 m2 g−1. The total acidity and basicity were determined using a modified Boehm’s method, and the point of zero charge pH (pHpzc) was determined. Immersion calorimetry in water, benzene, and NaOH, HCl, and phenol (100 mg L−1) solutions was performed, producing values ranging from −15.1 to −174.1 J g−1 related to the chemical surface, pHpzc, and acid and base group values. Finally, the phenol adsorption capacity was found to be higher for the modified polyaniline silica, at 138 mg g−1.
Modern Sensor Tools and Techniques for Monitoring, Controlling, and Improving Cell Culture Processes
Authors: Reyes Sebastian Juan , Durocher Yves , Pham Phuong Lan , Henry Olivier
Published: January 2022

The growing biopharmaceutical industry has reached a level of maturity that allows for the monitoring of numerous key variables for both process characterization and outcome predictions. Sensors were historically used in order to maintain an optimal environment within the reactor to optimize process performance. However, technological innovation has pushed towards on-line in situ continuous monitoring of quality attributes that could previously only be estimated off-line. These new sensing technologies when coupled with software models have shown promise for unique fingerprinting, smart process control, outcome improvement, and prediction. All this can be done without requiring invasive sampling or intervention on the system. In this paper, the state-of-the-art sensing technologies and their applications in the context of cell culture monitoring are reviewed with emphasis on the coming push towards industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing within the biopharmaceutical sector. Additionally, perspectives as to how this can be leveraged to improve both understanding and outcomes of cell culture processes are discussed.
Character Indelebilis and the Iconic Dimension of Ritual Actions
Authors: Rego Juan
Published: January 2022

This paper focuses on one specific theological tool regarding some Christian ritual practices, i.e., the character indelebilis or indelible mark. Though the notion existed in some patristic sources, the theologoumenon was reframed in early scholasticism. Theologians of the 12th–13th century used the restricted code of Aristotelian psychology in order to better control theological predication and moved from baptismal theology to the theology of priesthood. Since Thomas Aquinas is the main theological reference in the development of the theologoumenon, special attention will be paid to his proposal. Revisiting the metaphorical nature of some of his statements and the iconic value he assigns to the indelible mark may contribute to a better understanding of the current theological debate.
Features of Sacred Music in the Context of the Ukrainian Baroque
Authors: Kovalchuk Natalia , Zosim Olga , Ovsiankina Liudmyla , Lomachinska Irina , Rykhlitska Oksana
Published: January 2022

The main goal of this article is the research of different genres of spiritual music in the Ukrainian baroque era. This music is decisive for an understanding of Ukrainian culture. In order to achieve this, research following methods was used: comparative-historical, sociocultural, structural, genre-stylistic. Baroque appears as an intermediate between the Renaissance and Age of Enlightenment. Features of the broader character of the Ukrainian civilization explain its cruising between different cultures, correlating between Western culture and Eastern Orthodox culture. The cultural dimension of Ukraine was crossed by different religions: Orthodox, Catholic, Greek-Catholic, and different paths of Protestantism. This fact specified a music of this age. Two basic directions feature specific of spiritual singing of the Ukrainian baroque: partsong (“High baroque”) and spiritual song (“Middle baroque”). Partsong is represented by liturgical and paraliturgical (concerts) genres. This direction was unique because it was a synthesis of Eastern-Christian and Western-Christian tradition (mostly by Catholic musical tradition as multi-chorus composition, musical rhetoric). At the same time, partsong of the orthodox tradition was formed by liturgical tradition. A large influence on the Greek-Catholic church was a catholic music tradition, in which polyphony is not performed “acapella”, but with instrumental accompaniment. Spiritual song was more linked with the catholic tradition and less with the protestant one. It did not have any canonical orthodox genres, but was borrowed by text–music forms formed in Europe in the Age of late Renaissance and early Baroque period. Greek-Catholic tradition was more linked with catholic one. Therefore, this music had a sacred character, becoming a genre of liturgical music. Palimpsest in its confessional dimension became a distinctive feature of the Ukrainian Baroque and created a unique face of the Ukrainian liturgical music.
Healing the Collective Grief: A Story of a Marshallese Pastor from Okinawa
Authors: Matsumoto Ikuko Takagi
Published: January 2022

World War II and the Cold War never ended in the Marshall Islands. A seamless continuum of colonialism, wars and nuclear testing destroyed their ancestral islands, traditions, as well as the physical and spiritual wellbeing of the people; it caused them profound personal and collective grief. This article considers the grieving of the Marshallese people, through the lens of a life story of a migrant to the Marshall Islands from Okinawa, Chutaro Gushi (1911–1977). The examination uses the concepts provided by grief studies, such as personal grief and collective grief, and applies the theoretical and conceptual framework presented by the social constructionists, such as meaning making, social validation, and moral injury, to frame the understanding of their grieving, coping and healing processes. The life story of pastor Chutaro revealed an intricate reflexive interface between his personal grief and collective grief in the Marshall Islands. His personal grieving and healing process was also closely linked with the healing of the collective grief that was also an element of his personal grief. In this process, Christian churches played crucial roles to bridge the two levels of grief. They facilitated the transformation of Chutaro’s profound personal grief and moral injury into a powerful public mission to give voices to the victims of the nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands.
Between Text and Context: Understanding Ḥadīth through Asbab al Wurud
Authors: Ramle Muhamad Rozaimi , Huda Miftachul
Published: January 2022

A comprehensive understanding of Ḥadīth, with their narrative background in Islamic tradition, would require the application of the principle of asbāb al-wurūd (discerning the specific circumstances for the reason or purpose of revealing Ḥadīth), an approach which gives detailed information about narrated Ḥadīth. Having such a comprehension about the essence of the message of Ḥadīth could enhance the understanding of Muslim audiences and followers. This situation will indirectly provide a stepping stone to comprehensive information to prevent misunderstanding the message of Islamic religion. Taking due cognizance of these circumstances could potentially result in preventing actions of religious radicalism, which might result from obtaining religious messages through a solely textual approach. In this situation, the sufficient application of asbāb al-wurūd plays a significant role in leading an order to achieve the contextual comprehension of the religious message of Ḥadīth. This paper aims to examine the significance of asbāb al-wurūd in understanding the contextual meaning of Ḥadīth beyond a textual basis. The findings reveal that the contextual elaboration of the message of Ḥadīth could be adapted in a proper way, in which its textual comprehension could be elaborated on clearly through detailing its asbāb al-wurūd, one method of which is to refer to Muslim scholars together with schools of thought in order to clearly attain the message of Islamic religion. Furthermore, this article attempts to address such a way of bringing about textual understanding to the context to assist in adapting the contextual significance of a clear and detailed comprehension of Ḥadīth. The significance of this study is to contribute to providing a detailed explanation on both text and context in seeking for clarity on the Ḥadīths’ information and message with a clear basis as a safeguard against extremist interpretations of Islam.
Exploring the Intrinsic Probability Distribution for Hyperspectral Anomaly Detection
Authors: Yu Shaoqi , Li Xiaorun , Chen Shuhan , Zhao Liaoying
Published: January 2022

In recent years, neural network-based anomaly detection methods have attracted considerable attention in the hyperspectral remote sensing domain due to their powerful reconstruction ability compared with traditional methods. However, actual probability distribution statistics hidden in the latent space are not discovered by exploiting the reconstruction error because the probability distribution of anomalies is not explicitly modeled. To address the issue, we propose a novel probability distribution representation detector (PDRD) that explores the intrinsic distribution of both the background and the anomalies for hyperspectral anomaly detection in this paper. First, we represent the hyperspectral data with multivariate Gaussian distributions from a probabilistic perspective. Then, we combine the local statistics with the obtained distributions to leverage the spatial information. Finally, the difference between the test pixel and the average expectation of the pixels in the Chebyshev neighborhood is measured by computing the modified Wasserstein distance to acquire the detection map. We conduct the experiments on three real data sets to evaluate the performance of our proposed method. The experimental results demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of our proposed method compared to the state-of-the-art detection methods.