bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early Vitamin C, Hydrocortisone, and Thiamine Treatment for Septic Cardiomyopathy: A Propensity Score Analysis
Authors: Lee Min-Taek , Jung Sun-Young , Baek Moon Seong , Shin Jungho , Kim Won-Young
Published: June 2021

This study investigated the effectiveness of early vitamin C, hydrocortisone, and thiamine among patients with septic cardiomyopathy. In total, 91 patients with septic cardiomyopathy received a vitamin C protocol in September 2018–February 2020. These patients were compared to 75 patients with septic cardiomyopathy who did not receive a vitamin C protocol in September 2016–February 2018. Relative to the control patients, the treated patients were older and more likely to require mechanical ventilation. The vitamin C protocol was associated with a lower risk of intensive care unit mortality in the propensity score (PS)-matched cohort (aHR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.30–0.99) and inverse probability of treatment weighting-matched cohort (aHR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.45–1.00). In the PS-matched cohort (59 patients per group), the vitamin C protocol was associated with decreased values for vasopressor dosage, C-reactive protein concentration, and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score during the 4-day treatment period. Patients who started the vitamin C protocol within 2 h after diagnosis (vs. 2–8 h or ≥8 h) had the highest vasopressor weaning rate and the lowest mortality rate. These results suggest that early treatment using a vitamin C protocol might improve organ dysfunction and reduce mortality among patients with septic cardiomyopathy.
Targeted Sequencing of Taiwanese Breast Cancer with Risk Stratification by the Concurrent Genes Signature: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Huang Ching-Shui , Liu Chih-Yi , Lu Tzu-Pin , Huang Chi-Jung , Chiu Jen-Hwey , Tseng Ling-Ming , Huang Chi-Cheng
Published: June 2021

Breast cancer is the most common female malignancy in Taiwan, while conventional clinical and pathological factors fail to provide full explanation for prognostic heterogeneity. The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of targeted sequencing combined with concurrent genes signature to identify somatic mutations with clinical significance. The extended concurrent genes signature was based on the coherent patterns between genomic and transcriptional alterations. Targeted sequencing of 61 Taiwanese breast cancers revealed 1036 variants, including 76 pathogenic and 545 likely pathogenic variants based on the ACMG classification. The most frequently mutated genes were NOTCH, BRCA1, AR, ERBB2, FANCA, ATM, and BRCA2 and the most common pathogenic deletions were FGFR1, ATM, and WT1, while BRCA1 (rs1799965), FGFR2 (missense), and BRCA1 (rs1799949) were recurrent pathogenic SNPs. In addition, 38 breast cancers were predicted into 12 high-risk and 26 low-risk cases based on the extended concurrent genes signature, while the pathogenic PIK3CA variant (rs121913279) was significantly mutated between groups. Two deleterious SH3GLB2 mutations were further revealed by multivariate Cox’s regression (hazard ratios: 29.4 and 16.1). In addition, we identified several significantly mutated or pathogenic variants associated with differentially expressed signature genes. The feasibility of targeted sequencing in combination with concurrent genes risk stratification was ascertained. Future study to validate clinical applicability and evaluate potential actionability for Taiwanese breast cancers should be initiated.
A Double-Level Model Checking Approach for an Agent-Based Autonomous Vehicle and Road Junction Regulations
Authors: Alves Gleifer Vaz , Dennis Louise , Fisher Michael
Published: June 2021

Usually, the design of an Autonomous Vehicle (AV) does not take into account traffic rules and so the adoption of these rules can bring some challenges, e.g., how to come up with a Digital Highway Code which captures the proper behaviour of an AV against the traffic rules and at the same time minimises changes to the existing Highway Code? Here, we formally model and implement three Road Junction rules (from the UK Highway Code). We use timed automata to model the system and the MCAPL (Model Checking Agent Programming Language) framework to implement an agent and its environment. We also assess the behaviour of our agent according to the Road Junction rules using a double-level Model Checking technique, i.e., UPPAAL at the design level and AJPF (Agent Java PathFinder) at the development level. We have formally verified 30 properties (18 with UPPAAL and 12 with AJPF), where these properties describe the agent’s behaviour against the three Road Junction rules using a simulated traffic scenario, including artefacts like traffic signs and road users. In addition, our approach aims to extract the best from the double-level verification, i.e., using time constraints in UPPAAL timed automata to determine thresholds for the AVs actions and tracing the agent’s behaviour by using MCAPL, in a way that one can tell when and how a given Road Junction rule was selected by the agent. This work provides a proof-of-concept for the formal verification of AV behaviour with respect to traffic rules.
DNA Damage as a Potential Non-Invasive Indicator of Welfare: A Preliminary Study in Zoo-Housed Grizzly Bears (Ursus arctos horribilis)
Authors: Fuller Grace , Hamilton Jennifer , Allard Stephanie
Published: June 2021

Measures of oxidative stress have potential for integrating positive and negative life experiences into comprehensive cellular indicators of animal welfare. We explored this possibility when three adult grizzly bear brothers at the Detroit Zoo were temporarily moved to a smaller habitat while their primary home was expanded. We expected that the spatial compression and construction activity might be sources of stress. We observed increased social play and other affiliative behavior in the smaller habitat, and we used daily fecal samples (17 to 24 per bear) to examine whether concentrations of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG, a by-product of DNA damage) were correlated with social behavior. Our overall aim was to explore 8-OHdG as a potential indicator of welfare based on the prediction that 8-OHdG would be lower when more positive social interactions occurred. Concentrations of fecal 8-OHdG increased significantly with higher FGM concentrations, supporting a potential relationship between adrenal activity and rates of DNA damage. However, we found that on days when they engaged in higher rates of affiliative interactions, there were trends for 8-OHdG concentrations to increase for one bear and decrease for another, and no relationship for the third bear. These preliminary results should be interpreted with caution, but suggest a potential relationship between social behavior and 8-OHdG that is modulated by health, personality, or other individual factors. Further validation research is needed, but 8-OHdG may have promise as a non-invasive, cumulative indicator of animal welfare.
Investigation of Environmentally Dependent Movement of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
Authors: Zhang Zining , Zhang Ding , Gabaldon Joaquin , Goodbar Kari , West Nicole , Barton Kira , Shorter Kenneth Alex
Published: June 2021

How environmental features (e.g., people, enrichment, or other animals) affect movement is an important element for the study of animal behavior, biomechanics, and welfare. Here we present a stationary overhead camera-based persistent monitoring framework for the investigation of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) response to environmental stimuli. Mask R-CNN, a convolutional neural network architecture, was trained to automatically detect 3 object types in the environment: dolphins, people, and enrichment floats that were introduced to stimulate and engage the animals. Detected objects within each video frame were linked together to create track segments across frames. The animals’ tracks were used to parameterize their response to the presence of environmental stimuli. We collected and analyzed data from 24 sessions from bottlenose dolphins in a managed lagoon environment. The seasons had an average duration of 1 h and around half of them had enrichment (42%) while the rest (58%) did not. People were visible in the environment for 18.8% of the total time (∼4.5 h), more often when enrichment was present (∼3 h) than without (∼1.5 h). When neither enrichment nor people were present, the animals swam at an average speed of 1.2 m/s. When enrichment was added to the lagoon, average swimming speed decreased to 1.0 m/s and the animals spent more time moving at slow speeds around the enrichment. Animals’ engagement with the enrichment also decreased over time. These results indicate that the presence of enrichment and people in, or around, the environment attracts the animals, influencing habitat use and movement patterns as a result. This work demonstrates the ability of the proposed framework for the quantification and persistent monitoring of bottlenose dolphins’ movement, and will enable new studies to investigate individual and group animal locomotion and behavior.
The Impact of Seasonality and Land Cover on the Consistency of Relationship between Air Temperature and LST Derived from Landsat 7 and MODIS at a Local Scale: A Case Study in Southern Ontario
Authors: Burnett Michael , Chen Dongmei
Published: June 2021

Land surface temperature (LST) and air temperature (Tair) have been commonly used to analyze urban heat island (UHI) effects throughout the world, with noted variations based on vegetation distribution. This research has compared time series LST data acquired from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) platforms, Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) and Tair from weather stations in the Southern Ontario area. The influence of the spatial resolution, land cover, vegetated surfaces, and seasonality on the relationship between LST and in situ Tair were examined. The objective is to identify spatial and seasonal differences amongst these different spatial resolution LST products and Tair, along with the causes for variations at a localized scale. Results show that MODIS LST from Terra had stronger relationships with Landsat 7 LST than those from Aqua. Tair demonstrated weaker correlations with Landsat LST than with MODIS LST in sparsely vegetated and urban areas during the summer. Due to the winter’s ability to smooth heterogenous surfaces, both LST and Tair showed stronger relationships in winter than summer over every land cover, except with coarse spatial resolutions on forested surfaces.
An Easy Mixed-Method Analysis Tool to Support Rural Development Strategy Decision-Making for Beekeeping
Authors: Novelli Silvia , Vercelli Monica , Ferracini Chiara
Published: June 2021

The EU has long-recognised the functions and contributions of beekeeping in sustainable rural area development. In 2018, the EU adopted the Pollinator Initiative to strengthen its pollinator conservation policies. To support the design of effective rural development actions, this work describes and tests an easy-to-apply, mixed-method tool for use with SWOT analysis. A two-step methodology was trialled with beekeepers in Piedmont Region (NW Italy). In step one, two independent groups of beekeepers operating in separate protected and intensive agricultural areas completed a SWOT matrix. In step two, three expert panels (beekeeper association leaders, honey market organisation leaders, and entomologists) prioritised the effects of the SWOT items with a quantitative weighting and rating process. Results suggest that the sector needs better-targeted incentives and that ‘soft’ policies on extension, advisory, and institutional measures could play a relevant role. The method was also confirmed as suitable for use with non-expert evaluators, such as policy officers and practitioners.
Evolving Mechanisms in the Pathophysiology of Pemphigus Vulgaris: A Review Emphasizing the Role of Desmoglein 3 in Regulating p53 and the Yes-Associated Protein
Authors: Rehman Ambreen , Huang Yunying , Wan Hong
Published: June 2021

The immunobullous condition Pemphigus Vulgaris (PV) is caused by autoantibodies targeting the adhesion proteins of desmosomes, leading to blistering in the skin and mucosal membrane. There is still no cure to the disease apart from the use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents. Despite numerous investigations, the pathological mechanisms of PV are still incompletely understood, though the etiology is thought to be multifactorial. Thus, further understanding of the molecular basis underlying this disease process is vital to develop targeted therapies. Ample studies have highlighted the role of Desmoglein-3 (DSG3) in the initiation of disease as DSG3 serves as a primary target of PV autoantibodies. DSG3 is a pivotal player in mediating outside-in signaling involved in cell junction remodeling, cell proliferation, differentiation, migration or apoptosis, thus validating its biological function in tissue integrity and homeostasis beyond desmosome adhesion. Recent studies have uncovered new activities of DSG3 in regulating p53 and the yes-associated protein (YAP), with the evidence of dysregulation of these pathways demonstrated in PV. The purpose of this review is to summarize the earlier and recent advances highlighting our recent findings related to PV pathogenesis that may pave the way for future research to develop novel specific therapies in curing this disease.
Experimental and Numerical Analysis of High-Temperature Superconducting Tapes Modified by Composite Thermal Stabilization Subjected to Thermomechanical Loading
Authors: Cuninková Eva , Pekarčíková Marcela , Skarba Michal , Krajčovič Jozef , Pašák Matej
Published: June 2021

The strain behavior of SiC/Stycast 2850 FT composites under thermomechanical loading using a finite element analysis (FEA) was studied. These composites can serve as thermal stabilizers of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tapes during limitation event in resistive superconducting fault current limiter (R-SCFCL) applications. For this purpose, the thermomechanical properties of four composite systems with different filler content were studied experimentally. The FEA was calculated using an ANSYS software and it delivered useful information about the strain distribution in the composite coating, as well as in particular layers of the modified HTS tapes. The tapes were subjected to bending over a 25 cm core, cooled in a liquid nitrogen (LN2) bath, and finally, quenched from this temperature to various temperatures up to 150 °C for a very short time, simulating real limitation conditions. The outputs from simulations were also correlated with the experiments. The most promising of all investigated systems was SB11-SiC20 composite in form of 100 µm thick coating, withstanding a temperature change from LN2 up to 120 °C.
Construction of a Three-Dimensional BaTiO3 Network for Enhanced Permittivity and Energy Storage of PVDF Composites
Authors: Bi Xueqing , Yang Lujia , Wang Zhen , Zhan Yanhu , Wang Shuangshuang , Zhang Chunmei , Li Yuchao , Miao Yinggang , Zha Junwei
Published: June 2021

Three-dimensional BaTiO3 (3D BT)/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composite dielectrics were fabricated by inversely introducing PVDF solution into a continuous 3D BT network, which was simply constructed via the sol-gel method using a cleanroom wiper as a template. The effect of the 3D BT microstructure and content on the dielectric and energy storage properties of the composites were explored. The results showed that 3D BT with a well-connected continuous network and moderate grain sizes could be easily obtained by calcining a barium source containing a wiper template at 1100 °C for 3 h. The as-fabricated 3D BT/PVDF composites with 21.1 wt% content of 3D BT (3DBT–2) exhibited the best comprehensive dielectric and energy storage performances. An enhanced dielectric constant of 25.3 at 100 Hz, which was 2.8 times higher than that of pure PVDF and 1.4 times superior to the conventional nano–BT/PVDF 25 wt% system, was achieved in addition with a low dielectric loss of 0.057 and a moderate dielectric breakdown strength of 73.8 kV·mm−1. In addition, the composite of 3DBT–2 exhibited the highest discharge energy density of 1.6 × 10−3 J·cm−3 under 3 kV·mm−1, which was nearly 4.5 times higher than that of neat PVDF.
Investigation of Coatings, Corrosion and Wear Characteristics of Machined Biomaterials through Hydroxyapatite Mixed-EDM Process: A Review
Authors: Al-Amin Md , Abdul-Rani Ahmad Majdi , Danish Mohd , Rubaiee Saeed , Mahfouz Abdullah bin , Thompson Harvey M. , Ali Sadaqat , Unune Deepak Rajendra , Sulaiman Mohd Hafis
Published: June 2021

Together, 316L steel, magnesium-alloy, Ni-Ti, titanium-alloy, and cobalt-alloy are commonly employed biomaterials for biomedical applications due to their excellent mechanical characteristics and resistance to corrosion, even though at times they can be incompatible with the body. This is attributed to their poor biofunction, whereby they tend to release contaminants from their attenuated surfaces. Coating of the surface is therefore required to mitigate the release of contaminants. The coating of biomaterials can be achieved through either physical or chemical deposition techniques. However, a newly developed manufacturing process, known as powder mixed-electro discharge machining (PM-EDM), is enabling these biomaterials to be concurrently machined and coated. Thermoelectrical processes allow the migration and removal of the materials from the machined surface caused by melting and chemical reactions during the machining. Hydroxyapatite powder (HAp), yielding Ca, P, and O, is widely used to form biocompatible coatings. The HAp added-EDM process has been reported to significantly improve the coating properties, corrosion, and wear resistance, and biofunctions of biomaterials. This article extensively explores the current development of bio-coatings and the wear and corrosion characteristics of biomaterials through the HAp mixed-EDM process, including the importance of these for biomaterial performance. This review presents a comparative analysis of machined surface properties using the existing deposition methods and the EDM technique employing HAp. The dominance of the process factors over the performance is discussed thoroughly. This study also discusses challenges and areas for future research.
Comparative Study of the Efficiency of Different Noble Metals Supported on Hydroxyapatite in the Catalytic Lean Methane Oxidation under Realistic Conditions
Authors: Boukha Zouhair , de Rivas Beatriz , González-Velasco Juan R. , Gutiérrez-Ortiz José I. , López-Fonseca Rubén
Published: June 2021

The combustion of lean methane was studied over palladium, rhodium, platinum, and ruthenium catalysts supported on hydroxyapatite (HAP). The samples were prepared by wetness impregnation and thoroughly characterized by BET, XRD, UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy, H2-TPR, OSC, CO chemisorption, and TEM techniques. It was found that the Pd/HAP and Rh/HAP catalysts exhibited a higher activity compared with Pt/HAP and Ru/HAP samples. Thus, the degree of oxidation of the supported metal under the reaction mixture notably influenced its catalytic performance. Although Pd and Rh catalysts could be easily re-oxidized, the re-oxidation of Pt and Ru samples appeared to be a slow process, resulting in small amounts of metal oxide active sites. Feeding water and CO2 was found to have a negative effect, which was more pronounced in the presence of water, on the activity of Pd and Rh catalysts. However, the inhibiting effect of CO2 and H2O decreased by increasing the reaction temperature.
Cognitive–Evaluative Dimension of Pain in Neuropathic Pain Relapse in Sciatica: A Case Report
Authors: Kawasaki Tsubasa , Yada Takuya , Ohira Masahiro
Published: June 2021

The cognitive–evaluative (C–E) dimension of pain is commonly observed in patients with a relatively long duration of pain. However, little is known about the effects of pain relapse on the C–E dimension of pain. Moreover, the improvement process of the C–E dimension of pain following treatment is unknown. The objective of this case report was to (a) demonstrate that the C–E dimension was affected in the acute phase of neuropathic pain in cases of pain relapse, and (b) demonstrate the improvement process of the C–E dimension of pain. A woman was diagnosed with low back pain (LBP) and sciatica. The patient had previously experienced symptoms of LBP and sciatica; thus, this episode was a case of pain relapse. At the beginning of rehabilitation, the C–E dimension of pain was present in addition to the sensory–discriminative (S–D) dimension of pain. It was observed that improvement of the C–E dimension of pain was delayed in comparison with that of the S–D dimension of pain. The C–E dimension of pain was observed with pain relapse even though it was in the acute phase of pain. This case provides a novel insight into the C–E dimension of pain. Moreover, the delay in improving the C–E dimension of pain indicates a difference in the improvement process for each pain dimension.
Trends of Stomach Cancer in Central Serbia
Authors: Stojanovic Miodrag M. , Rancic Natasa K. , Andjelkovic Apostolovic Marija R. , Ignjatovic Aleksandra M. , Ilic Mirko V.
Published: June 2021

Background and Objectives: Somach cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The objective of the paper was to analyze the incidence and mortality trends of stomach cancer in Central Serbia in the period between 1999–2017. Materials and Methods: trends and annual percentage change (APC) of the incidence and mortality rate with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by joinpoint regression analyses. The optimal number of Joinpoints was identified using the Monte Carlo permutation method. The trend was considered to be significantly increasing (positive change) or decreasing (negative change) when the p-value was below 0.05 (p < 0.05). Results: the total number of new cases was 16,914 (10,873 males and 6041 females) and the total number of mortality cases was 14,790 (9348 in and 5442 in females). Almost one third (30.8%) of new cases were registered in the 60–69-year age group, and new cases were significantly more frequent in males than in females (30.8% vs. 29.02%, p < 0.001). Joinpoint regression analysis showed a significant decrease of incidence trend in females during the 2000–2015 period with APC of −2.13% (95% CI: −3.8 to −0.5, p < 0.001). An insignificant decrease in incidence trend was in males with APC of −0.72% (95% CI: −2.3 to 0.9, p = 0.30). According to the joinpoint analysis, a significant decrease of mortality trends both in males during 2000–2015 with APC of −2.21% (95% CI: −1.6 to −7.5, p ≤ 0.001 and in females, during the same period, with APC of −1.75% (95% CI: −2.9 to −0.6, p < 0.001) was registered. From 2015 to 2017, a significant increase of mortality was registered with APC of 44.5% (95% CI: from 24.2 to −68.1, p ≤ 0.001) in females and in males with APC of 53.15% (95% CI: 13.5 to −106.6, p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: a significant decrease of stomach cancer incidence trend in females and insignificant decrease of incidence trend in males were determined in Central Serbia. Based on presented results, the mortality trend decreased significantly both in males and in females during 2000–2015, and from 2015 to 2017 we recorded a significant increase in mortality in both sexes. We found significantly more new cases in women than in men in the age group of 40–49, and the mortality of stomach cancer was significantly more frequent among females compared to males in the age groups 30–39, as well as in the 50–59 age group. There is a need for improving recording and registration of new cases of stomach cancer, especially in females. Urgent primary and secondary preventive measures are needed—introducing stomach cancer screening and early detection of premalignant changes. Urgent primary and secondary preventive measures are needed.
Advances about the Roles of Membranes in Cotton Fiber Development
Authors: Xu Fan , Chen Qian , Huang Li , Luo Ming
Published: June 2021

Cotton fiber is an extremely elongated single cell derived from the ovule epidermis and is an ideal model for studying cell development. The plasma membrane is tremendously expanded and accompanied by the coordination of various physiological and biochemical activities on the membrane, one of the three major systems of a eukaryotic cell. This review compiles the recent progress and advances for the roles of the membrane in cotton fiber development: the functions of membrane lipids, especially the fatty acids, sphingolipids, and phytosterols; membrane channels, including aquaporins, the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, vacuolar invertase, and plasmodesmata; and the regulation mechanism of membrane proteins, such as membrane binding enzymes, annexins, and receptor-like kinases.
Experimental Performance of a Membrane Desorber Operating under Simulated Warm Weather Condensation Temperatures
Authors: Ibarra-Bahena Jonathan , Rivera Wilfrido , Nanco-Mejía Sandra Daniela , Romero Rosenberg J. , Venegas-Reyes Eduardo , Dehesa-Carrasco Ulises
Published: June 2021

In absorption systems using the aqueous lithium bromide mixture, the Coefficient of Performance is affected by the desorber. The main function of this component is to separate the refrigerant fluid from the working mixture. In conventional boiling desorbers, constant heat flux and vacuum pressure conditions are necessary to carry out the desorption process, and usually, the absorbers are heavy and bulky; thus, they are not suitable in compact systems. In this study, a membrane desorber was evaluated, operating at atmospheric pressure conditions with a water/lithium bromide solution with a concentration of 49.6% w/w. The effects of the solution temperature, solution mass flow, and condensation temperature on the desorption rate were analyzed. The maximum desorption rate value was 6.1 kg/m2h with the following operation conditions: the solution temperature at 95.2 °C, the solution mass flow at 4.00 × 10−2 kg/s, and the cooling water temperature at 30.1 °C. On the other hand, the minimum value was 1.1 kg/m2h with the solution temperature at 80.2 °C, the solution mass flow at 2.50 × 10−2 kg/s, and the cooling water temperature at 45.1 °C. The thermal energy efficiency, defined as the ratio between the thermal energy used to evaporate the refrigerant fluid with respect to the total thermal energy entering the membrane desorber, varied from 0.08 to 0.30. According to the results, a high solution mass flow, a high solution temperature, and a low condensation temperature lead to an increase in the desorption rate; however, a low solution mass flow enhanced the thermal energy efficiency. The proposed membrane desorber could replace a conventional boiling desorber, especially in absorption cooling systems that operate at high condensation temperatures as in warm weather regions.
Novel Thin Film Nanocomposite Forward Osmosis Membranes Prepared by Organic Phase Controlled Interfacial Polymerization with Functional Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Zhang Xu , Zheng Jiuhan , Xu Lusheng , Yin Ming , Zhang Guoliang , Zhao Wenqian , Zhang Zeyu , Shen Chong , Meng Qin
Published: June 2021

Novel high-quality thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes for enhanced forward osmosis (FO) were first synthesized through organic phase controlled interfacial polymerization by utilizing functional multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). As 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) grafted MWCNTs via an amidation reaction significantly promoted the dispersion in organic solution, MWCNTs-APTES with better compatibility effectively restricted the penetration of trimesoyl chloride (TMC), thus adjusting the morphology and characters of TFN membranes. Various techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), sessile droplet analysis and FO experiments and reverse osmosis (RO) operation were taken to characterize and evaluate the performance of nanocomposites and membranes. The prepared TFN FO membranes exhibited good hydrophilicity and separation efficiency, in which water flux was about twice those of thin film composite (TFC) membranes without MWCNTs-APTES in both AL-DS and AL-FS modes. Compared with the original TFC membrane, the membrane structural parameter of the novel TFN FO membrane sharply was cut down to 60.7%. Based on the large number of low mass-transfer resistance channels provided by functional nanocomposites, the progresses may provide a facile approach to fabricate novel TFN FO membranes with advanced selectivity and permeability.
SARS-CoV-2 Portrayed against HIV: Contrary Viral Strategies in Similar Disguise
Authors: Duerr Ralf , Crosse Keaton M. , Valero-Jimenez Ana M. , Dittmann Meike
Published: June 2021

SARS-CoV-2 and HIV are zoonotic viruses that rapidly reached pandemic scale, causing global losses and fear. The COVID-19 and AIDS pandemics ignited massive efforts worldwide to develop antiviral strategies and characterize viral architectures, biological and immunological properties, and clinical outcomes. Although both viruses have a comparable appearance as enveloped viruses with positive-stranded RNA and envelope spikes mediating cellular entry, the entry process, downstream biological and immunological pathways, clinical outcomes, and disease courses are strikingly different. This review provides a systemic comparison of both viruses’ structural and functional characteristics, delineating their distinct strategies for efficient spread.
Mineralogical and Chemical Tracing of Dust Variation in an Underground Historic Salt Mine
Authors: Puławska Aleksandra , Manecki Maciej , Flasza Michał
Published: June 2021

The aim of this study was to investigate the causes of the evolution of atmospheric dust composition in an open-to-public subterranean site (UNESCO-recognized historic mine) at increasing distances from the air intake. The role of the components imported with atmospheric air from the surface was compared with natural and anthropogenic sources of dust from inside the mine. Samples of deposited dust were directly collected from flat surfaces at 11 carefully selected sites. The morphological, mineralogical, and chemical characteristics were obtained using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy (ICP). The study showed that the air in the underground salt mine was free of pollutants present in the ambient air on the surface. Most of the components sucked into the mine by the ventilation system from the surface (regular dust, particulate matter, gaseous pollutants, biogenic particles, etc.) underwent quick and instantaneous sedimentation in the close vicinity of the air inlet to the mine. The dust settled in the mine interior primarily consisted of natural geogenic particles, locally derived from the weathering of the host rock (halite, anhydrite, and aluminosilicates). This was confirmed by low values of enrichment factors (EF) calculated for minor and trace elements. Only one site, due to the tourist railroad and the associated local intensive tourist traffic, represented the anthropogenic sources of elevated concentrations of ferruginous particles and accompanied metals (P, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, As, Mo, Cd, Sn, Sb, Pb, and W). The gravitational deposition of pollutants from these sources limits the effects of the emissions to the local range. The used methodology and the results are universal and might also apply to other mines, caves, or underground installations used for museums, tourists, or speleotherapeutic purposes.
Calle Horno del Vidrio—Preliminary Study of Glass Production Remains Found in Granada, Spain, Dated to the 16th and 17th Centuries
Authors: Coutinho Inês , Cambil Campaña Isabel , Cerqueira Alves Luís , Medici Teresa
Published: June 2021

A set of 14 glass fragments and production remains dated to the 16th and 17th centuries was collected during rescue archaeological works conducted in Granada, Spain, and was characterised by µ-PIXE. This preliminary study constitutes the first analytical approach to glass manufacturing remains from a Spanish production dated to the early-modern period. µ-PIXE allowed for the quantification of major, minor and some trace elements of the glass fragments. It also allowed mapping the elemental distribution on the fragments that were identified as an interface of crucible/glass. This analysis constitutes an evaluation of the ionic exchange between glass and crucible. The glass colours vary from the natural green and blue hues to completely colourless samples. The results show that the majority of the glass samples are of soda-lime-silicate composition, and only one proved to be of a potassium-rich composition. From this, one can hypothesise that glass rich in sodium (following the Mediterranean tradition) and potassium-rich glass (following a central and north European tradition) were both locally produced. Since this location was known as la Calle Horno del Vidrio (Glass Furnace Street) and several production evidences were found, it is highly probable that an artisanal glass production existed in this area.
Extending the Life Cycle of Cement Binders by Partially Replacing Portland Cement with Different Types Fluidized Bed Combustion Fly Ash
Authors: Łagosz Artur , Tracz Tomasz , Mróz Radosław
Published: June 2021

A significant reduction in the CO2 emission associated with cement production is obtained by partially replacing Portland cement with supplementary cementing materials (SCM’s): e.g., siliceous fly ash or granulated blast furnace slag. In the near future, the limited availability of these materials will do more attractive to use ashes from combustion in fluidized bed boilers, which currently are mainly deposited in various landfills. Paper identifies the effect of Fluidized Bed Combustion (FBC) fly ash from both hard and brown coal combustion on the durability of mortars exposed to sodium and magnesium sulfate solution at different curing temperature: 20 and 5 °C. The evaluation was based on the results of long-term linear changes of mortar samples made with Portland cement and different amounts of FBC fly ash addition stored in a corrosive environment, as well as the evaluation of the type of formed corrosion products using XRD and microstructural studies (SEM/EDS). It has been shown that amount of FBC fly ashes used in binders significantly determines sulfate resistance of prepared cements as well as its chemical composition. By using fluidized ashes, the sulfate resistance of cement binders can be achieved with their content even of 15%.
Chromite Paleoplacer in the Permian Sediments at the East Edge of the East European Platform: Composition and Potential Sources
Authors: Rakhimov Ildar , Pushkarev Evgenii , Gottman Irina
Published: June 2021

A chromite occurrence called the Sabantuy paleoplacer was discovered in the Southern Pre-Ural region, at the east edge of the East-European Platform in the transitional zone to the Ural Foredeep. A ca. 1 m-thick chromite-bearing horizon is traced at a depth of 0.7–1.5 m from the earth’s surface for the area of ca. 15,000 m2. The chromspinel content in sandstones reaches 30–35%, maximum values of Cr2O3 are 16–17 wt.%. The grain size of detrital chromspinel ranges from 0.15 to 0.25 mm. Subangular octahedral crystals dominate; rounded grains and debris are rare. The composition of detrital chromspinel varies widely and is constrained by the substitution of Al3+ and Cr3+, Fe2+ and Mg2+ cations. Chemically, low-Al (Al2O3 = 12 wt.%) and high-Cr (Cr2O3 = 52–56 wt.%) chromspinel prevail. The compositional analysis using discrimination diagrams showed that most chromites correspond to mantle peridotites of subduction settings. Volcanic rocks could be an additional source for detrital chromites. It is confirmed by compositions of monomineralic, polymineralic and melt inclusions in chromspinels. The presented data indicates that ophiolite peridotites and related chromite ore associated with oceanic and island-arc volcanic rocks, widespread in the Ural orogen, could be the main sources of the detrital chromspinel of the Sabantuy paleoplacer.
Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Provenance of Coastal Sands from Greece: New Insights on the REE Content of Black Coastal Sands from Aggelochori Area, N.-Greece
Authors: Papadopoulos Argyrios , Lazaridis Stylianos , Kipourou-Panagiotou Afroditi , Kantiranis Nikolaos , Koroneos Antonios , Almpanakis Konstantinos
Published: June 2021

Beach sands from Aggelochori coast line are investigated for their geochemistry and REE content, mineralogy and their provenance. These fluvial sands bear heavy minerals enriched horizons (containing minerals such as magnetite, zircon, ilmenite, hematite, rutile and titanite) that can be distinguished due to their black color and are formed usually due to the action of sea waves that deposit the heavy minerals and remove the lighter ones. After a suitable processing (washing, sieving, drying and magnetic separation) of the samples, the mineral constituents and their presence (wt.%) were estimated by XRD. Among the samples, the one being simultaneously the more fine grained and the more zircon-enriched (as suggested by XRPD data and optical microscopy analysis) has been selected for further geochemical analyses. The major and trace elements contents were compared to previously studied REE enriched beach sands from Kavala and Sithonia. Beach sands from Aggelochori area appear to have relatively low REE contents. Considering the provenance of these sediments, we suggest that these sands, are a product of the erosion of multi-sources, including the near-by Monopigado granite, as well as metamorphic rocks, as indicated by the presence of rutile and both ilmenite and magnetite in some samples. Therefore, there are indications of a complex flow pattern that existed at the paleo-catchment area of the deposition.
A Spectroscopic Validation of the Improved Lennard–Jones Model
Authors: de Oliveira Rhuiago Mendes , Machado de Macedo Luiz Guilherme , da Cunha Thiago Ferreira , Pirani Fernando , Gargano Ricardo
Published: June 2021

The Lennard–Jones (LJ) and Improved Lennard–Jones (ILJ) potential models have been deeply tested on the most accurate CCSD(T)/CBS electronic energies calculated for some weakly bound prototype systems. These results are important to plan the correct application of such models to systems at increasing complexity. CCSD(T)/CBS ground state electronic energies were determined for 21 diatomic systems composed by the combination of the noble gas atoms. These potentials were employed to calculate the rovibrational spectroscopic constants, and the results show that for 20 of the 21 pairs the ILJ predictions agree more effectively with the experimental data than those of the LJ model. The CCSD(T)/CBS energies were also used to determine the β parameter of the ILJ form, related to the softness/hardness of the interacting partners and controlling the shape of the potential well. This information supports the experimental finding that suggests the adoption of β≈9 for most of the systems involving noble gas atoms. The He-Ne and He-Ar molecules have a lifetime of less than 1ps in the 200–500 K temperature range, indicating that they are not considered stable under thermal conditions of gaseous bulks. Furthermore, the controversy concerning the presence of a “virtual” or a “real” vibrational state in the He2 molecule is discussed.
Structural Characterization and Assessment of Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Tyrosinase Activities of Polyphenols from Melastoma normale
Authors: He Rui-Jie , Li Jun , Huang Yong-Lin , Wang Ya-Feng , Yang Bing-Yuan , Liu Zhang-Bin , Ge Li , Yang Ke-Di , Li Dian-Peng
Published: June 2021

Polyphenols, widely distributed in the genus Melastoma plants, possess extensive cellular protective effects such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tyrosinase, and anti-obesity, which makes it a potential anti-inflammatory drug or enzyme inhibitor. Therefore, the aim of this study is to screen for the anti-inflammatory and enzyme inhibitory activities of compounds from title plant. Using silica gel, MCI, ODS C18, and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, as well as semipreparative HPLC, the extract of Melastoma normale roots was separated. Four new ellagitannins, Whiskey tannin C (1), 1-O-(4-methoxygalloyl)-6-O-galloyl-2,3-O-(S)-hexahydroxydiphenoyl-β-d-glucose (2), 1-O-galloyl-6-O-(3-methoxygalloyl)-2,3-O-(S)-hexahydroxydiphenoyl-β-d-glucose (3), and 1-O-galloyl-6-O-vanilloyl-2,3-O-(S)-hexahydroxydiphenoyl-β-d-glucose (4), along with eight known polyphenols were firstly obtained from this plant. The structures of all isolates were elucidated by HRMS, NMR, and CD analyses. Using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW2 64.7 cells, we investigated the anti-inflammatory activities of compounds 1–4, unfortunately, none of them exhibit inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production, their IC50 values are all > 50 μM. Anti-tyrosinase activity assays was done by tyrosinase inhibition activity screening model. Compound 1 showed weak tyrosinase inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 426.02 ± 11.31 μM. Compounds 2–4 displayed moderate tyrosinase inhibitory activities with IC50 values in the range of 124.74 ± 3.12–241.41 ± 6.23 μM. The structure–activity relationships indicate that hydroxylation at C-3′, C-4′, and C-3 in the flavones were key to their anti-tyrosinase activities. The successful isolation and structure identification of ellagitannin provide materials for the screening of anti-inflammatory drugs and enzyme inhibitors, and also contribute to the development and utilization of M. normale.
Active Ester Functionalized Azobenzenes as Versatile Building Blocks
Authors: Schultzke Sven , Walther Melanie , Staubitz Anne
Published: June 2021

Azobenzenes are important molecular switches that can still be difficult to functionalize selectively. A high yielding Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling method under mild conditions for the introduction of NHS esters to azobenzenes and diazocines has been established. Yields were consistently high with very few exceptions. The NHS functionalized azobenzenes react with primary amines quantitatively. These amines are ubiquitous in biological systems and in material science.
Hairy Roots of Scutellaria spp. (Lamiaceae) as Promising Producers of Antiviral Flavones
Authors: Stepanova Anna Yurievna , Solov’eva Aleksandra Ivanovna , Malunova Maria Victorovna , Salamaikina Svetlana Andreevna , Panov Yury Mikhailovich , Lelishentsev Andrey Aleksandrovich
Published: June 2021

We measured and studied the growth parameters and the qualitative and quantitative composition of the flavones of hairy roots of the Scutellaria genus: S. lateriflora, S. przewalskii and S. pycnoclada. Hairy roots were obtained using wild-type Agrobacterium rhizogenes A4 by co-cultivation of explants (cotyledons) in a suspension of Agrobacterium. The presence of the rol-genes was confirmed by PCR analysis. The hairy roots of the most studied plant from the Scutellaria genus, S. baicalensis, were obtained earlier and used as a reference sample. HPLC-MS showed the predominance of four main flavones (baicalin, baicalein, wogonin and wogonoside) in the methanol extracts of the studied hairy roots. In addition to the four main flavones, the other substances which are typical to the aerial part of plants were found in all the extracts: apigenin, apigetrin, scutellarin and chrysin-7-O-β-d-glucuronide. According to the total content of flavones, the hairy roots of the studied skullcaps form the following series: S. przewalskii (33 mg/g dry weight) > S. baicalensis (17.04 mg/g dry weight) > S. pycnoclada (12.9 mg/g dry weight) > S. lateriflora (4.57 mg/g dry weight). Therefore, the most promising producer of anti-coronavirus flavones is S. przewalskii.
Degradation Investigation of Electrocatalyst in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell at a High Energy Efficiency
Authors: Song Jie , Ye Qing , Wang Kun , Guo Zhiyuan , Dou Meiling
Published: June 2021

The development of high efficient stacks is critical for the wide spread application of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) in transportation and stationary power plant. Currently, the favorable operation conditions of PEMFCs are with single cell voltage between 0.65 and 0.7 V, corresponding to energy efficiency lower than 57%. For the long term, PEMFCs need to be operated at higher voltage to increase the energy efficiency and thus promote the fuel economy for transportation and stationary applications. Herein, PEMFC single cell was investigated to demonstrate its capability to working with voltage and energy efficiency higher than 0.8 V and 65%, respectively. It was demonstrated that the PEMFC encountered a significant performance degradation after the 64 h operation. The cell voltage declined by more than 13% at the current density of 1000 mA cm−2, due to the electrode de-activation. The high operation potential of the cathode leads to the corrosion of carbon support and then causes the detachment of Pt nanoparticles, resulting in significant Pt agglomeration. The catalytic surface area of cathode Pt is thus reduced for oxygen reduction and the cell performance decreased. Therefore, electrochemically stable Pt catalyst is highly desirable for efficient PEMFCs operated under cell voltage higher than 0.8 V.
Freeze vs. Spray Drying for Dry Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.) Extract Formulations: The Impact of Gelatin as a Coating Material
Authors: Jovanović Aleksandra A. , Lević Steva M. , Pavlović Vladimir B. , Marković Smilja B. , Pjanović Rada V. , Đorđević Verica B. , Nedović Viktor , Bugarski Branko M.
Published: June 2021

Freeze drying was compared with spray drying regarding feasibility to process wild thyme drugs in order to obtain dry formulations at laboratory scale starting from liquid extracts produced by different extraction methods: maceration and heat-, ultrasound-, and microwave-assisted extractions. Higher total powder yield (based on the dry weight prior to extraction) was achieved by freeze than spray drying and lower loss of total polyphenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) due to the drying process. Gelatin as a coating agent (5% w/w) provided better TPC recovery by 70% in case of lyophilization and higher total powder yield in case of spray drying by diminishing material deposition on the wall of the drying chamber. The resulting gelatin-free and gelatin-containing powders carried polyphenols in amount ~190 and 53–75 mg gallic acid equivalents GAE/g of powder, respectively. Microwave-assisted extract formulation was distinguished from the others by a higher content of polyphenols, proteins and sugars, higher bulk density and lower solubility. The type of the drying process mainly affected the position of the gelatin-derived -OH and amide bands in FTIR spectra. Spray-dried formulations compared to freeze-dried expressed higher thermal stability as confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry analysis and a higher diffusion coefficient; the last feature can be associated with the lower specific surface area of irregularly shaped freeze-dried particles (151–223 µm) compared to small microspheres (~8 µm) in spray-dried powder.