bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biochemical Evolution of a Potent Target of Mosquito Larvicide, 3-Hydroxykynurenine Transaminase
Authors: Chen Huaqing , Bhowmick Biswajit , Tang Yu , Lozano-Fernandez Jesus , Han Qian
Published: August 2022

A specific mosquito enzyme, 3-hydroxykynurenine transaminase (HKT), is involved in the processing of toxic metabolic intermediates of the tryptophan metabolic pathway. The HKT enzymatic product, xanthurenic acid, is required for Plasmodium spp. development in the mosquito vectors. Therefore, an inhibitor of HKT may not only be a mosquitocide but also a malaria-transmission blocker. In this work, we present a study investigating the evolution of HKT, which is a lineage-specific duplication of an alanine glyoxylate aminotransferases (AGT) in mosquitoes. Synteny analyses, together with the phylogenetic history of the AGT family, suggests that HKT and the mosquito AGTs are paralogous that were formed via a duplication event in their common ancestor. Furthermore, 41 amino acid sites with significant evidence of positive selection were identified, which could be responsible for biochemical and functional evolution and the stability of conformational stabilization. To get a deeper understanding of the evolution of ligands’ capacity and the ligand-binding mechanism of HKT, the sequence and the 3D homology model of the common ancestor of HKT and AGT in mosquitoes, ancestral mosquito AGT (AncMosqAGT), were inferred and built. The homology model along with 3-hydroxykynurenine, kynurenine, and alanine were used in docking experiments to predict the binding capacity and ligand-binding mode of the new substrates related to toxic metabolites detoxification. Our study provides evidence for the dramatic biochemical evolution of the key detoxifying enzyme and provides potential sites that could hinder the detoxification function, which may be used in mosquito larvicide and design.
Polymeric Carriers for Delivery of RNA Cancer Therapeutics
Authors: Mirón-Barroso Sofía , Correia Joana , Frampton Adam , Lythgoe Mark , Clark James , Tookman Laura , Ottaviani Silvia , Castellano Leandro , Porter Alexandra , Georgiou Theoni , Krell Jonathan
Published: August 2022

As research uncovers the underpinnings of cancer biology, new targeted therapies have been developed. Many of these therapies are small molecules, such as kinase inhibitors, that target specific proteins; however, only 1% of the genome encodes for proteins and only a subset of these proteins has ‘druggable’ active binding sites. In recent decades, RNA therapeutics have gained popularity due to their ability to affect targets that small molecules cannot. Additionally, they can be manufactured more rapidly and cost-effectively than small molecules or recombinant proteins. RNA therapeutics can be synthesised chemically and altered quickly, which can enable a more personalised approach to cancer treatment. Even though a wide range of RNA therapeutics are being developed for various indications in the oncology setting, none has reached the clinic to date. One of the main reasons for this is attributed to the lack of safe and effective delivery systems for this type of therapeutic. This review focuses on current strategies to overcome these challenges and enable the clinical utility of these novel therapeutic agents in the cancer clinic.
Elucidation of Anti-Hypertensive Mechanism by a Novel Lactobacillus rhamnosus AC1 Fermented Soymilk in the Deoxycorticosterone Acetate-Salt Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Wu Haicui , Jiang Lilong , Shum Tim-Fat , Chiou Jiachi
Published: August 2022

Dietary intake of fermented soymilk is associated with hypotensive effects, but the mechanisms involved have not been fully elucidated. We investigated the anti-hypertensive effects of soymilk fermented by L. rhamnosus AC1 on DOCA-salt hypertension from the point of view of oxidative stress, inflammatory response and alteration of the gut microbiome. The antioxidant assays in vitro indicated the ethanol extract (EE) of L. rhamnosus AC1 fermented soymilk showed better antioxidative effects than the water extract (WE). Those extracts displayed a hypotensive effect using a tail-cuff approach to measuring blood pressure and improved nitric oxide (NO), angiotensin II (Ang II), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin factor-6 (IL-6) on DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. Furthermore, cardiac and renal fibrosis were attenuated by those extracts. The gut microbiota analysis revealed that they significantly reduced the abundance of phylum Proteobacteria, its family Enterobacteriaceae and genus Escherichia-Shigella. Moreover, metabolomic profiling revealed several potential gut microbiota-related metabolites which appeared to involve in the development and recovery of hypertension. In conclusion, fermented soymilk is a promising nutritional intervention strategy to improve hypertension via reducing inflammation and reverting dysbiotic microbiota.
Glycochenodeoxycholate Affects Iron Homeostasis via Up-Regulating Hepcidin Expression
Authors: Wang Long-jiao , Zhao Guo-ping , Wang Xi-fan , Liu Xiao-xue , Li Yi-xuan , Qiu Li-li , Wang Xiao-yu , Ren Fa-zheng
Published: August 2022

Increasing hepcidin expression is a vital factor in iron homeostasis imbalance among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Recent studies have elucidated that abnormal serum steroid levels might cause the elevation of hepcidin. Glycochenodeoxycholate (GCDCA), a steroid, is significantly elevated in patients with CKD. However, the correlation between GCDCA and hepcidin has not been elucidated. Decreased serum iron levels and increased hepcidin levels were both detected in patients with CKD in this study. Additionally, the concentrations of GCDCA in nephropathy patients were found to be higher than those in healthy subjects. HepG2 cells were used to investigate the effect of GCDCA on hepcidin in vitro. The results showed that hepcidin expression increased by nearly two-fold against control under 200 μM GCDCA treatment. The phosphorylation of SMAD1/5/8 increased remarkably, while STAT3 and CREBH remained unchanged. GCDCA triggered the expression of farnesoid X receptor (FXR), followed with the transcription and expression of both BMP6 and ALK3 (upward regulators of SMAD1/5/8). Thus, GCDCA is a potential regulator for hepcidin, which possibly acts by triggering FXR and the BMP6/ALK3-SMAD signaling pathway. Furthermore, 40 C57/BL6 mice were treated with 100 mg/kg/d, 200 mg/kg/d, and 300 mg/kg/d GCDCA to investigate its effect on hepcidin in vivo. The serum level of hepcidin increased in mice treated with 200 mg/kg/d and 300 mg/kg/d GCDCA, while hemoglobin and serum iron levels decreased. Similarly, the FXR-mediated SMAD signaling pathway was also responsible for activating hepcidin in liver. Overall, it was concluded that GCDCA could induce the expression of hepcidin and reduce serum iron level, in which FXR activation-related SMAD signaling was the main target for GCDCA. Thus, abnormal GCDCA level indicates a potential risk of iron homeostasis imbalance.
Christmas and New Year “Dietary Titbits” and Perspectives from Chronobiology
Authors: Erren Thomas C. , Wild Ursula , Lewis Philip
Published: August 2022

A historical Christmas card connecting two pioneers of modern chronobiology (Colin Pittendrigh and Jürgen Aschoff) brings together key evolutionary facets of the field at Christmas time. The importance of the field to physiology and medicine is conveyed by the Nobel Prize award in 2017 for discoveries of how body clocks facilitate the temporal organization of physiology across days and nights. Temporal organization can have relevance for dietary Christmas excesses and dietary New Year resolutions. Herein, we examine how diet around Christmas and New Year has been targeted in human health research and we examine published opinion on dietary practice concerning Christmas and New Year using a systematized literature review approach. Thereafter, via a selective literature synthesis regarding time-restricted eating, we explore the chronobiological notion that “when” we eat and drink may make differences in terms of whether we experience weight gain and adverse health effects during and after the festive days. Overall, current Christmas eating is typically detrimental to health in terms of “how much” we consume of “what”. Regarding New Year’s goal-setting, chronobiology-based advice could be considered insofar as “when” we eat may be a healthier and more sustainable nutritional habit alternative. While we need further studies in humans, individual and public health may benefit during and after Christmas by adhering to plausible principles of chrononutrition. That detrimental nutritional excesses over Christmas may encourage individuals to tackle their eating habits should not be left untapped.
Body Fat Moderates the Association of Olfactory Dysfunction with Dietary Intake in U.S. Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of NHANES 2013–2014
Authors: Bhutani Surabhi , McClain Amanda C.
Published: August 2022

Background: Obesity relates to impaired olfactory function. Abnormal olfactory function is also associated with poor diet; however, whether obesity-related markers shape this relationship is unknown. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis (n = 1415, age > 40 years) of NHANES 2013–2014 examined body fat percent (BF%) and waist circumference (WC) as moderators of the relationship between olfactory function and diet. The olfactory function test identified adults with olfactory dysfunction (OD) or normal olfaction (NO). Validated 24 h recall captured nutrient intake and Healthy Eating Index-2010 scores. BF% and WC were measured. We tested adjusted linear regression models, with an interaction term between olfactory function and BF%/WC, for each nutrient or HEI score, and reported coefficients (β), standard errors (SE), and p-values for significant interaction terms. Results: In OD (9.5%; mean age 50.9 years, 95% CI 49.6, 52.2) compared with NO (mean age 49.3 years, 95% CI 48.8, 49.9), higher BF% was associated with higher intake of saturated fat (β (SE): 0.2 (0.1) g; p = 0.06) and percent of total calories from total fat (0.2 (0.1); p = 0.07), saturated (0.1 (0.004); p = 0.02), and monounsaturated fat (0.1 (0.1); p = 0.08); lower percent of total calories from carbohydrates (−0.2 (0.1); p = 0.09) and mg of sodium (−17.8 (09.6); p = 0.08); and a higher (healthier) refined grain score (0.1 (0.1); p = 0.04). Higher WC was associated with higher refined grain scores (0.01 (0.02); p = 0.01) in OD. Conclusion: BF% may shape dietary intake and quality in OD. Longitudinal studies are needed to elucidate the directionality of these relationships and develop strategies to improve dietary intake among OD.
Analysis and Modeling of Sunscreen Ingredients’ Behavior in an Aquatic Environment
Authors: Ruiz-Gutiérrez Gema , Rodríguez-Romero Araceli , Tovar-Sánchez Antonio , Viguri Fuente Javier R.
Published: August 2022

Sunscreens have become a product based on increasingly complex formulations that include, among many ingredients, a mixture of UV filters to provide optimal sun ultraviolet radiation protection. A significant group of scientific works deals with the impact of UV filters in aquatic media. However, the knowledge of the mechanism and kinetics of the compound’s direct release, fate, and its transformation and interaction with living organisms is necessary to assess its environmental occurrence and behavior and to predict potential and real impacts on the aquatic environment. This review outlines the existing analysis and modeling of the release and behavior of sunscreen’s ingredients in the marine environment, including aquatic organisms. The physical-chemical properties, photodegradation, and release kinetics of particles and chemicals into the water are studied by hydrodynamic and kinetic models. Direct photolysis of chemicals is modeled as pseudo-first-order kinetics, while the indirect pathway by the reaction of sunscreen with reactive oxygen species is described as second-order kinetics. The interaction of UV filters with marine biota is studied mainly by toxicokinetic models, which predict their bio-accumulation in the organisms’ tissues. These models consider the chemicals’ uptake and excretion, as well as their transfer between different internal animal organs, as a first-order kinetic process. The studies analyzed in the present work represent a driver of change for the beauty and personal care industry, in order to seek new ecological alternatives through the application of R&D tactics.
Efficacy of Dry Heat Treatment against Clostridioides difficile Spores and Mycobacterium tuberculosis on Filtering Facepiece Respirators
Authors: Soni Aswathi , Parlane Natalie A. , Khan Farina , Derraik José G. B. , Wild Cervantée E. K. , Anderson Yvonne C. , Brightwell Gale
Published: August 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has required novel solutions, including heat disinfection of personal protective equipment (PPE) for potential reuse to ensure availability for healthcare and other frontline workers. Understanding the efficacy of such methods on pathogens other than SARS-CoV-2 that may be present on PPE in healthcare settings is key to worker safety, as some pathogenic bacteria are more heat resistant than SARS-CoV-2. We assessed the efficacy of dry heat treatment against Clostridioides difficile spores and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) on filtering facepiece respirator (FFR) coupons in two inoculums. Soil load (mimicking respiratory secretions) and deionized water was used for C. difficile, whereas, soil load and PBS and Tween mixture was used for M. tb. Dry heat treatment at 85 °C for 240 min resulted in a reduction equivalent to 6.0-log10 CFU and 7.3-log10 CFU in C. difficile spores inoculated in soil load and deionized water, respectively. Conversely, treatment at 75 °C for 240 min led to 4.6-log10 CFU reductions in both soil load and deionized water. C. difficile inactivation was higher by >1.5-log10 CFU in deionized water as compared to soil load (p < 0.0001), indicating the latter has a protective effect on bacterial spore inactivation at 85 °C. For M. tb, heat treatment at 75 °C for 90 min and 85 °C for 30 min led to 8-log10 reduction with or without soil load. Heat treatment near the estimated maximal operating temperatures of FFR materials (which would readily eliminate SARS-CoV-2) did not achieve complete inactivation of C. difficile spores but was successful against M. tb. The clinical relevance of surviving C. difficile spores when subjected to heat treatment remains unclear. Given this, any disinfection method of PPE for potential reuse must ensure the discarding of any PPE, potentially contaminated with C. difficile spores, to ensure the safety of healthcare workers.
Development and Validation of [3H]OF-NB1 for Preclinical Assessment of GluN1/2B Candidate Drugs
Authors: Ahmed Hazem , Gisler Livio , Elghazawy Nehal H. , Keller Claudia , Sippl Wolfgang , Liang Steven H. , Haider Ahmed , Ametamey Simon M.
Published: August 2022

GluN2B-enriched N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are implicated in several neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease. No clinically valid GluN1/2B therapeutic exists due to a lack of selective GluN2B imaging tools, and the state-of-the-art [3H]ifenprodil shows poor selectivity in drug screening. To this end, we developed a tritium-labeled form of OF-NB1, a recently reported selective GluN1/2B positron emission tomography imaging (PET) agent, with a molar activity of 1.79 GBq/µmol. The performance of [3H]OF-NB1 and [3H]ifenprodil was compared through head-to-head competitive binding experiments, using the GluN1/2B ligand CP-101,606 and the sigma-1 receptor (σ1R) ligand SA-4503. Contrary to [3H]ifenprodil, the usage of [3H]OF-NB1 differentiated between GluN1/2B and σ1R binding components. These results were corroborated by observations from PET imaging experiments in Wistar rats using the σ1R radioligand [18F]fluspidine. To unravel the binding modes of OF-NB1 and ifenprodil in GluN1/2B and σ1Rs, we performed a retrospective in silico study using a molecular operating environment. OF-NB1 maintained similar interactions to GluN1/2B as ifenprodil, but only ifenprodil successfully fitted in the σ1R pocket, thereby explaining the high GluN1/2B selectivity of OF-NB1 compared to ifenprodil. We successfully showed in a proof-of-concept study the superiority of [3H]OF-NB1 over the gold standard [3H]ifenprodil in the screening of potential GluN1/2B drug candidates.
Modelling of Nanoparticle Distribution in a Spherical Tumour during and Following Local Injection
Authors: Caddy George , Stebbing Justin , Wakefield Gareth , Xu Xiao Yun
Published: August 2022

Radio-sensitizing nanoparticles are a potential method to increase the damage caused to cancerous cells during the course of radiotherapy. The distribution of these particles in a given targeted tumour is a relevant factor in determining the efficacy of nanoparticle-enhanced treatment. In this study, a three-part mathematical model is shown to predict the distribution of nanoparticles after direct injection into a tumour. In contrast with previous studies, here, a higher value of diffusivity for charged particles was used and the concentration profile of deposited particles was studied. Simulation results for particle concentrations both in the interstitial fluid and deposited onto cells are compared for different values of particle surface charges during and after injection. Our results show that particles with a negative surface charge can spread farther from the injection location as compared to uncharged particles with charged particles occupying 100% of the tumour volume compared to 8.8% for uncharged particles. This has implications for the future development of radiosensitizers and any associated trials.
Naturalising Mathematics? A Wittgensteinian Perspective
Authors: Stam Jan , Stokhof Martin , Van Lambalgen Michiel
Published: August 2022

There is a noticeable gap between results of cognitive neuroscientific research into basic mathematical abilities and philosophical and empirical investigations of mathematics as a distinct intellectual activity. The paper explores the relevance of a Wittgensteinian framework for dealing with this discrepancy.
Influence of Radiative and Non-Radiative Recombination Lifetimes and Feedback Strength on the States and Relative Intensity Noise of Laser Diode
Authors: Abdulrhmann Salah , Altowyan Abeer S. , Hakami Jabir
Published: August 2022

A systematic treatment of the influence of the optical feedback (OFB) and the ratio of the radiative and the non-radiative recombination lifetime (τr/τnr) on the relative intensity noise (RIN) and the system dynamics of a semiconductor laser (SL) is presented. We found that the ratio τr/τnr causes a significant change in the intensity of noise, states, and route to chaos of such a system. Laser transit from a continuous wave (CW) to a periodic oscillation (PO) becomes faster in terms of the OFB strength by increasing the ratio τr/τnr. The route to chaos was identified in three distinct operating regions, namely, PO, period doubling (PD), and sub-harmonics (SH), which are dependent on the ratio τr/τnr, and injection current. In the route to chaos regime, the ratio τr/τnr triggers a slight shift in the frequency with reference to the frequency of the solitary laser. At upmost levels of the current, the highest value of the ratio τr/τnr stabilizes the laser and stimulates it to operate in CW or PO. In the strong OFB region, when the ratio τr/τnr increases, the chaotic operation changed to CW or PO operation and RIN is suppressed close to the quantum noise level.
Jean Cleymans, Stringy Thermal Model, Tsallis Quantum Statistics
Authors: Biró Tamás S.
Published: August 2022

My memories on Jean Cleymans and a brief advocation of the stringy thermal model, describing massless constituents with the energy-per-particle and temperature relation, E/N=6T=1 GeV, are presented. Another topic, the Kubo–Martin–Schwinger (KMS) relation applied to the Tsallis distribution in quantum statistics is also sketched, which was triggered by our discussions with Jean.
Extraction Methods, Quantitative and Qualitative Phytochemical Screening of Medicinal Plants for Antimicrobial Textiles: A Review
Authors: Nortjie Elvino , Basitere Moses , Moyo Doice , Nyamukamba Pardon
Published: August 2022

Medicinal plants are the product of natural drug discoveries and have gained traction due to their pharmacological activities. Pathogens are everywhere, and they thrive in ideal conditions depending on the nutrients, moisture, temperature, and pH that increase the growth of harmful pathogens on surfaces and textiles. Thus, antimicrobial agents and finishes may be the solution to the destruction of pathogens. This review article presents an analysis of various aspects of producing antimicrobial finishings, the microorganisms, their mechanism of attachment to natural and synthetic fibre, the effect of microbial growth, and the principle and mechanism of the microbial activity of the medicinal plants. Furthermore, the extraction methods, qualitative and quantitative phytochemical evaluations of antimicrobial efficacy, and developments of antimicrobial treated textiles using various agents are covered in this review.
Insecticidal Activity of Four Essential Oils Extracted from Chilean Patagonian Plants as Potential Organic Pesticides
Authors: Giordani Cristiano , Spinozzi Eleonora , Baldassarri Cecilia , Ferrati Marta , Cappellacci Loredana , Santibañez Nieto Daniela , Pavela Roman , Ricciardi Renato , Benelli Giovanni , Petrelli Riccardo , Maggi Filippo
Published: August 2022

Patagonia is a geographical area characterized by a wide plant biodiversity. Several native plant species are traditionally used in medicine by the local population and demonstrated to be sources of biologically active compounds. Due to the massive need for green and sustainable pesticides, this study was conducted to evaluate the insecticidal activity of essential oils (EOs) from understudied plants growing in this propitious area. Ciprés (Pilgerodendron uviferum), tepa (Laureliopsis philippiana), canelo (Drimys winteri), and paramela (Adesmia boronioides) EOs were extracted through steam distillation, and their compositions were analyzed through GC–MS analysis. EO contact toxicity against Musca domestica L., Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.), and Culex quinquefasciatus Say was then evaluated. As a general trend, EOs performed better on housefly males over females. Ciprés EO showed the highest insecticidal efficacy. The LD50(90) values were 68.6 (183.7) and 11.3 (75.1) µg adult−1 on housefly females and males, respectively. All EOs were effective against S. littoralis larvae; LD50 values were 33.2–66.7 µg larva−1, and tepa EO was the most effective in terms of LD90 (i.e., <100 µg larva−1). Canelo, tepa, and paramela EOs were highly effective on C. quinquefasciatus larvae, with LC50 values < 100 µL L−1. Again, tepa EO achieved LD90 < 100 µL L−1. This EO was characterized by safrole (43.1%), linalool (27.9%), and methyl eugenol (6.9%) as major constituents. Overall, Patagonian native plant EOs can represent a valid resource for local stakeholders, to develop effective insecticides for pest and vector management, pending a proper focus on their formulation and nontarget effects.
High-Throughput Phenotypic Characterization and Diversity Analysis of Soybean Roots (Glycine max L.)
Authors: Kim Seong-Hoon , Subramanian Parthiban , Hahn Bum-Soo , Ha Bo-Keun
Published: August 2022

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is a crop native to Northeast Asia, including China, Korea, and Japan, but currently cultivated all over the world. The National Agrobiodiversity Center in Korea at the Rural Development Administration (RDA) conserves approximately 26,000 accessions and conducts characterizations of its accessions, to accumulate new information. Roots are essential organs of a plant, providing mechanical support, as well as aiding water and nutrient acquisition. Currently, not much information is available in international gene banks regarding root characterization. We studied the root phenotype of 374 soybean accessions, using a high-throughput method. Eight root morphological traits (RMT) were studied and we observed that the surface area (SA), number of forks (NF), and number of tips (NT) had a positive correlation with total length (LENGTH), and that link average length (LAL) and other traits all had a negative correlation. Additionally, the correlation between seed traits (height, width, and 100-seed weight) and root traits was confirmed for the first time in this experiment. The germplasms were divided into three clusters by k-means clustering, and orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was used to compare clusters. The most distinctive characteristics between clusters were total lateral average length (LAD) and total lateral average length (DIAM). Cluster 3 had the highest LENGTH, SA, NF, and NF, whereas cluster 1 had the smallest LENGTH, SA, and NF. We selected the top 10 accessions for each RMT, and IT208321, IT216313, and IT216137 were nominated as the best germplasms. These accessions can be recommended to breeders as materials for breeding programs. This is a preliminary report on the characterization of the root phenotype at an international gene bank and will open up the possibility of improving the available information on accessions in gene banks worldwide.
Thermal Aging Evaluation of XLPE Power Cable by Using Multidimensional Characteristic Analysis of Leakage Current
Authors: Liu Yong , Wang Hao , Zhang Han , Du Boxue
Published: August 2022

Thermal aging is a common form of cable deterioration. In this paper, the effect of thermal aging on cables is evaluated by analyzing the harmonic characteristics in cable leakage currents. Cable samples were first fabricated and subjected to accelerated thermal aging tests at 120 °C. The experimental circuits were built to test the dielectric loss factor and the AC leakage current of the cable at different aging times. Then, the improved variational modal decomposition (VMD) algorithm was used for the time–frequency analysis of the leakage current, and the relationship between thermal aging and leakage current harmonics was investigated. Thermal aging was discovered to increase the capacitance and dielectric loss factor of the cable as well as generate harmonics in the leakage current, with harmonics at 150, 450, and 650 Hz being particularly sensitive to thermal aging. The multidimensional characteristic parameters such as the time-domain, frequency-domain, and relative energy and the sample entropy of the leakage current harmonics were calculated. The results demonstrated thermal aging increased the relative energy and power spectrum energy of the harmonics and increased the disorder of the harmonic sequence.
Immobilization Systems of Antimicrobial Peptide Ib−M1 in Polymeric Nanoparticles Based on Alginate and Chitosan
Authors: Osorio-Alvarado Carlos Enrique , Ropero-Vega Jose Luis , Farfán-García Ana Elvira , Flórez-Castillo Johanna Marcela
Published: August 2022

The development of new strategies to reduce the use of traditional antibiotics has been a topic of global interest due to the resistance generated by multiresistant microorganisms, including Escherichia coli, as etiological agents of various diseases. Antimicrobial peptides are presented as an alternative for the treatment of infectious diseases caused by this type of microorganism. The Ib−M1 peptide meets the requirements to be used as an antimicrobial compound. However, it is necessary to use strategies that generate protection and resist the conditions encountered in a biological system. Therefore, in this study, we synthesized alginate and chitosan nanoparticles (Alg−Chi NPs) using the ionic gelation technique, which allows for the crosslinking of polymeric chains arranged in nanostructures by intermolecular interactions that can be either covalent or non-covalent. Such interactions can be achieved through the use of crosslinking agents that facilitate this binding. This technique allows for immobilization of the Ib−M1 peptide to form an Ib−M1/Alg−Chi bioconjugate. SEM, DLS, and FT-IR were used to determine the structural features of the nanoparticles. We evaluated the biological activity against E. coli ATCC 25922 and Vero mammalian cells, as well as the stability at various temperatures, pH, and proteases, of Ib−M1 and Ib−M1/Alg-Chi. The results showed agglomerates of nanoparticles with average sizes of 150 nm; an MIC of 12.5 µM, which was maintained in the bioconjugate; and cytotoxicity values close to 40%. Stability was maintained against pH and temperature; in proteases, it was only evidenced against pepsin in Ib−M1/Alg-Chi. The results are promising with respect to the use of Ib−M1 and Ib−M1/Alg−Chi as possible antimicrobial agents.
Spatiotemporal Temperature Distribution of NIR Irradiated Polypyrrole Nanoparticles and Effects of pH
Authors: Peñuñuri-Miranda Omar , Olivas-Martinez Miguel , Ibarra-Espinoza José Alberto , Rodríguez-Córdova Rosalva Josefina , Hernández-Giottonini Karol Yesenia , Fernández-Quiroz Daniel , Zavala-Rivera Paul , Lucero-Acuña Armando
Published: August 2022

The spatiotemporal temperature distributions of NIR irradiated polypyrrole nanoparticles (PPN) were evaluated by varying PPN concentrations and the pH of suspensions. The PPN were synthesized by oxidative chemical polymerization, resulting in a hydrodynamic diameter of 98 ± 2 nm, which is maintained in the pH range of 4.2–10; while the zeta potential is significantly affected, decreasing from 20 ± 2 mV to −5 ± 1 mV at the same pH range. The temperature profiles of PPN suspensions were obtained using a NIR laser beam (1.5 W centered at 808 nm). These results were analyzed with a three-dimensional predictive unsteady-state heat transfer model that considers heat conduction, photothermal heating from laser irradiation, and heat generation due to the water absorption. The temperature profiles of PPN under laser irradiation are concentration-dependent, while the pH increase only induces a slight reduction in the temperature profiles. The model predicts a value of photothermal transduction efficiency (η) of 0.68 for the PPN. Furthermore, a linear dependency was found for the overall heat transfer coefficient (U) and η with the suspension temperature and pH, respectively. Finally, the model developed in this work could help identify the exposure time and concentration doses for different tissues and cells (pH-dependent) in photothermal applications.
PA-12-Zirconia-Alumina-Cenospheres 3D Printed Composites: Accelerated Ageing and Role of the Sterilisation Process for Physicochemical Properties
Authors: Nakonieczny Damian S. , Antonowicz Magdalena , SimhaMartynkova Gražyna , Kern Frank , Pazourková Lenka , Erfurt Karol , Hüpsch Michał
Published: August 2022

The aim of this study was to conduct artificial ageing tests on polymer-ceramic composites prepared from polyamide PA-12 polymer matrix for medical applications and three different variants of ceramic fillers: zirconia, alumina and cenospheres. Before ageing, the samples were subjected to ethyl oxide sterilization. The composite variants were prepared for 3D printing using the fused deposition modeling method. The control group consisted of unsterilized samples. Samples were subjected to artificial ageing in a high-pressure autoclave. Ageing conditions were calculated from the modified Hammerlich Arrhenius kinetic equation. Ageing was carried out in artificial saliva. After ageing the composites were subjected to mechanical (tensile strength, hardness, surface roughness) testing, chemical and structural (MS, FTIR) analysis, electron microscopy observations (SEM/EDS) and absorbability measurements.
Experimental Study on Phenol-Formaldehyde Resin Aggregates as In-Depth Conformance Control Agents Stabilized by Polymer
Authors: Meng Xianxing , Zhang Guiqing , Wu Jian , Zhao Xiong , Wang Lin , Zhang Fang
Published: August 2022

To improve the dispersion stability of phenol-formaldehyde resin (PFR) particles in simulated oilfield injection water and their propagation ability in petroleum reservoir, a hydrophobically associating polymer (HAP) was employed as a stabilizer in this paper. The dispersion stability of PFR in the injection water was studied by measuring turbidity as a function of time. In addition, the migration property of the PFR/HAP dispersion was evaluated by both cellulose membrane filtration and sand packs-flooding experiments. The results show that HAP can stabilize the PFR dispersion prepared with the simulated injection water by forming PFR/HAP complex molecular aggregates. These aggregates can migrate in sand packs with strong flow resistance due to deformation or disaggregation of the aggregates when passing through the pore throat. Oil recovery was improved by up to 21.1% on the basis of water flooding, and the higher the concentration of PFR/HAP dispersion system, the better the oil recovery effect. Moreover, the cycle of log-jamming/dispersion of the aggregates leads to their penetrations through the bigger pores in the sand packs with a higher flow resistance than water. This process can improve the conformance of water in high permeability sand packs on a micro/macro scale and thus divert more water into low permeability sand packs. Therefore, more oil could be recovered from the low permeability sand packs. Moreover, the bigger the sand pack’s permeability ratio, the lower the oil recovery rate by waterflood, and the more the incremental oil can be recovered by the PFR/HAP flood.
Transmission Bender as an Analyzer Device for MIEZE
Authors: Jochum Johanna K. , Cooper Jos F. K. , Vogl Lukas M. , Link Peter , Soltwedel Olaf , Böni Peter , Pfleiderer Christian , Franz Christian
Published: August 2022

MIEZE (Modulation of IntEnsity with Zero Effort) spectroscopy is a high-resolution spin echo technique optimized for the study of magnetic samples and samples under depolarizing conditions. It requires a polarization analyzer in between spin flippers and the sample position. For this, the device needs to be compact and insensitive to stray fields from large magnetic fields at the sample position. For MIEZE, in small angle scattering geometry, it is further essential that the analyzer does not affect the beam profile, divergence, or trajectory. Here, we compare different polarization analyzers for MIEZE and show the performance of the final design, a transmission bender, which we compare to McStas simulations. Commissioning experiments have uncovered spurious scattering in the scattering profile of the bender, which most likely originates from double Bragg scattering in bent silicon.
A Database for the Stocks and Flows of Sand and Gravel
Authors: Morley John D. , Myers Rupert J. , Plancherel Yves , Brito-Parada Pablo R.
Published: August 2022

Increasing demand for sand and gravel globally is leading to social, environmental, and political issues that are becoming more widely recognised. Lack of data and poor accessibility of the few available data contribute to exacerbating these issues and impair evidence-based management efforts. This paper presents a database to store stocks and flows data for sand and gravel from different sources. The classification system underlying within it builds on the Universal Materials Information System (UMIS) nomenclature, which is used to construct hierarchical order in the data and in the same manner as the Yale Stocks and Flow Database (YSTAFDB), a common data format. To illustrate how the database is built and used, a case study using UK data is presented. The UK is chosen owing to relatively better access to data compared to other locations. Quantitative analyses of the data show the supply chain of these materials to be currently stable for the UK as indigenous extraction contributes 95.6% to UK sand and gravel production, with imports accounting for the rest of the inputs, of which 50% is reliant on only one nation.
Probability Density of Lognormal Fractional SABR Model
Authors: Akahori Jiro , Song Xiaoming , Wang Tai-Ho
Published: August 2022

Instantaneous volatility of logarithmic return in the lognormal fractional SABR model is driven by the exponentiation of a correlated fractional Brownian motion. Due to the mixed nature of driving Brownian and fractional Brownian motions, probability density for such a model is less studied in the literature. We show in this paper a bridge representation for the joint density of the lognormal fractional SABR model in a Fourier space. Evaluating the bridge representation along a properly chosen deterministic path yields a small time asymptotic expansion to the leading order for the probability density of the fractional SABR model. A direct generalization of the representation of joint density often leads to a heuristic derivation of the large deviations principle for joint density in a small time. Approximation of implied volatility is readily obtained by applying the Laplace asymptotic formula to the call or put prices and comparing coefficients.
Constructing High-Resolution (10 km) Daily Diffuse Solar Radiation Dataset across China during 1982–2020 through Ensemble Model
Authors: Wu Jinyang , Fang Hejin , Qin Wenmin , Wang Lunche , Song Yan , Su Xin , Zhang Yujie
Published: August 2022

Diffuse solar radiation is an essential component of surface solar radiation that contributes to carbon sequestration, photovoltaic power generation, and renewable energy production in terrestrial ecosystems. We constructed a 39-year (1982–2020) daily diffuse solar radiation dataset (CHSSDR), using ERA5 and MERRA_2 reanalysis data, with a spatial resolution of 10 km through a developed ensemble model (generalized additive models, GAM). The validation results, with ground-based measurements, showed that GAM had a high and stable performance with the correlation coefficient (R), root-mean-square error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE) for the sample-based cross-validations of 0.88, 19.54 Wm−2, and 14.87 Wm−2, respectively. CHSSDR had the highest consistency with ground-based measurements among the four diffuse solar radiation products (CERES, ERA5, JiEA, and CHSSDR), with the least deviation (MAE = 15.06 Wm−2 and RMSE = 20.22 Wm−2) and highest R value (0.87). The diffuse solar radiation values in China range from 59.13 to 104.65 Wm−2, with a multi-year average value of 79.39 Wm−2 from 1982 to 2020. Generally, low latitude and low altitude regions have larger diffuse solar radiation than high latitude and high altitude regions, and eastern China has less diffuse solar radiation than western China. This dataset would be valuable for analyzing regional climate change, photovoltaic applications, and solar energy resources. The dataset is freely available from figshare.
Analysis and Performance Evaluation of BDS-3 Code Ranging Accuracy Based on Raw IF Data from a Zero-Baseline Experiment
Authors: Liu Yu , Gao Fan , Li Junxiang , He Yunqiao , Ning Baojiao , Liu Yang , Chen Sijia , Qiu Yanqing
Published: August 2022

China’s BDS-3 global navigation satellite system has been built and is providing official open Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) service with full operational capability (FOC) since July 2020. The main new civil B1C and B2a ranging code signals are broadcasted on the two carriers with central frequencies of 1575.42 MHz and 1176.45 MHz, which were shared by other GNSSs. Compared with traditional signals, such as GPS L1 C/A and BDS B1I, the new civil signals have better modulation and wider bandwidth to be expected to achieve a better range performance. In order to evaluate code ranging accuracies directly, a zero-baseline experiment using a geodetic GNSS antenna and a four-channel intermediate frequency (IF) signal recorder was conducted. Two channels were used to receive the signals with a central frequency of 1575.42 MHz at a 62 MHz sampling rate, and the other two channels are for 1176.45 MHz. The raw IF data were post-processed using a software-defined receiver (SDR) to compute the code signal path differences between two channels with the same frequencies. Compared with the traditional hardware receiver, SDR has the characteristics of flexible use and good operability, but its running speed is slow. The root-mean-square (RMS) and bias values of the path differences from BDS B1C, BDS B2a, and GPS L5C were used to evaluate their accuracies. The results show that there is a weak negative correlation between the satellite elevation and the ranging accuracy when the satellite elevation ranges from 30° to 90°. The ranging accuracy of the B1C signal is lower than that of B2a, which may be caused by different code rates, bandwidth, and signal structure. The GPS L5C is used for precision analysis as a comparison. It shows that the code signal path differences accuracy of L5C is close to the B2a.
Dual-Polarization Radar Fingerprints of Precipitation Physics: A Review
Authors: Kumjian Matthew R. , Prat Olivier P. , Reimel Karly J. , van Lier-Walqui Marcus , Morrison Hughbert C.
Published: August 2022

This article reviews how precipitation microphysics processes are observed in dual-polarization radar observations. These so-called “fingerprints” of precipitation processes are observed as vertical gradients in radar observables. Fingerprints of rain processes are first reviewed, followed by processes involving snow and ice. Then, emerging research is introduced, which includes more quantitative analysis of these dual-polarization radar fingerprints to obtain microphysics model parameters and microphysical process rates. New results based on a detailed rain shaft bin microphysical model are presented, and we conclude with an outlook of potentially fruitful future research directions.
A Data-Driven Approach to State of Health Estimation and Prediction for a Lithium-Ion Battery Pack of Electric Buses Based on Real-World Data
Authors: Xu Nan , Xie Yu , Liu Qiao , Yue Fenglai , Zhao Di
Published: August 2022

In the era of big data, using big data to realize the online estimation of battery SOH has become possible. Traditional solutions based on theoretical models cannot take into account driving behavior and complicated environmental factors. In this paper, an approximate SOH degradation model based on real operating data and environmental temperature data of electric vehicles (EVs) collected with a big data platform is proposed. Firstly, the health indicators are extracted from the historical operating data, and the equivalent capacity at 25 °C is obtained based on the capacity–temperature empirical formula and the capacity offset. Then, the attenuation rate during each charging and discharging process is calculated by combining the operating data and the environmental temperature. Finally, the long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network is used to learn the degradation trend of the battery and predict the future decline trend. The test results show that the proposed method has better performance.
Low-Temperature Soldering of Surface Mount Devices on Screen-Printed Silver Tracks on Fabrics for Flexible Textile Hybrid Electronics
Authors: Silvestre Rocío , Llinares Llopis Raúl , Contat Rodrigo Laura , Serrano Martínez Víctor , Ferri Josué , Garcia-Breijo Eduardo
Published: August 2022

The combination of flexible-printed substrates and conventional electronics leads to flexible hybrid electronics. When fabrics are used as flexible substrates, two kinds of problems arise. The first type is related to the printing of the tracks of the corresponding circuit. The second one concerns the incorporation of conventional electronic devices, such as integrated circuits, on the textile substrate. Regarding the printing of tracks, this work studies the optimal design parameters of screen-printed silver tracks on textiles focused on printing an electronic circuit on a textile substrate. Several patterns of different widths and gaps between tracks were tested in order to find the best design parameters for some footprint configurations. With respect to the incorporation of devices on textile substrates, the paper analyzes the soldering of surface mount devices on fabric substrates. Due to the substrate’s nature, low soldering temperatures must be used to avoid deformations or damage to the substrate caused by the higher temperatures used in conventional soldering. Several solder pastes used for low-temperature soldering are analyzed in terms of joint resistance and shear force application. The results obtained are satisfactory, demonstrating the viability of using flexible hybrid electronics with fabrics. As a practical result, a simple single-layer circuit was implemented to check the results of the research.
Low CP Overhead Waveform Design for Multi-Path Channels with Timing Synchronization Error
Authors: Chen Jing , Wang Baobing , Guo Jianzhong , Shan Xin , Kong Dejin
Published: August 2022

In classical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems, inserting the cyclic prefix (CP) is necessary before each symbol to overcome the multi-path effect, which, however, occupies numerous time-frequency radio resources, resulting in hampered spectrum efficiency. To address this issue, in this paper, symbol repetition aware OFDM (SR-OFDM) is developed to lower the overhead of CP. In the proposed SR-OFDM, multiple symbols share the same CP with which we examine that the multi-path channels can also be overcome by a simple single-tap equalization without causing any interference. Moreover, after the discrete Fourier transform at the receiver, different symbols are proved to be separated in the time domain, which is beneficial for lowering the demodulation complexity. Furthermore, it is revealed that the above conclusions still hold even under timing synchronization errors, which makes the proposed SR-OFDM favorable in real systems. Extensive simulations validate the efficacy of our proposed SR-OFDM system under the multi-path channels with or without timing synchronization errors.
Dual-Biometric Human Identification Using Radar Deep Transfer Learning
Authors: Alkasimi Ahmad , Shepard Tyler , Wagner Samuel , Pancrazio Stephen , Pham Anh-Vu , Gardner Christopher , Funsten Brad
Published: August 2022

Accurate human identification using radar has a variety of potential applications, such as surveillance, access control and security checkpoints. Nevertheless, radar-based human identification has been limited to a few motion-based biometrics that are solely reliant on micro-Doppler signatures. This paper proposes for the first time the use of combined radar-based heart sound and gait signals as biometrics for human identification. The proposed methodology starts by converting the extracted biometric signatures collected from 18 subjects to images, and then an image augmentation technique is applied and the deep transfer learning is used to classify each subject. A validation accuracy of 58.7% and 96% is reported for the heart sound and gait biometrics, respectively. Next, the identification results of the two biometrics are combined using the joint probability mass function (PMF) method to report a 98% identification accuracy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest reported in the literature to date. Lastly, the trained networks are tested in an actual scenario while being used in an office access control platform to identify different human subjects. We report an accuracy of 76.25%.