bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing an Interpretable Machine Learning Model to Predict in-Hospital Mortality in Sepsis Patients: A Retrospective Temporal Validation Study
Authors: Li Shuhe , Dou Ruoxu , Song Xiaodong , Lui Ka , Xu Jinghong , Guo Zilu , Hu Xiaoguang , Guan Xiangdong , Cai Changjie
Published: January 2023

Background: Risk stratification plays an essential role in the decision making for sepsis management, as existing approaches can hardly satisfy the need to assess this heterogeneous population. We aimed to develop and validate a machine learning model to predict in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients with sepsis. Methods: Adult patients fulfilling the definition of Sepsis-3 were included at a large tertiary medical center. Relevant clinical features were extracted within the first 24 h in ICU, re-classified into different genres, and utilized for model development under three strategies: “Basic + Lab”, “Basic + Intervention”, and “Whole” feature sets. Extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) was compared with logistic regression (LR) and established severity scores. Temporal validation was conducted using admissions from 2017 to 2019. Results: The final cohort included 24,272 patients, of which 4013 patients formed the test cohort for temporal validation. The trained and fine-tuned XGBoost model with the whole feature set showed the best discriminatory ability in the test cohort with AUROC as 0.85, significantly higher than the XGBoost “Basic + Lab” model (0.83), the LR “Whole” model (0.82), SOFA (0.63), SAPS-II (0.73), and LODS score (0.74). The performance in varying subgroups remained robust, and predictors, such as increased urine output and supplemental oxygen therapy, were crucially correlated with improved survival when interpretability was explored. Conclusions: We developed and validated a novel XGBoost-based model and demonstrated significantly improved performance to LR and other scores in predicting the mortality risks of sepsis patients in the hospital using features in the first 24 h.
Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in France: The 2020 Obepi-Roche Study by the “Ligue Contre l’Obésité”
Authors: Fontbonne Annick , Currie Andrew , Tounian Patrick , Picot Marie-Christine , Foulatier Olivier , Nedelcu Marius , Nocca David
Published: January 2023

Obepi-Roche 2020 by the “Ligue Contre l’Obésité” (League Against Obesity) estimated overweight and obesity prevalence in France. The adopted methodology was chosen to be as similar as possible to that of a series of quota-based surveys conducted every three years from 1997 to 2012 (Obepi-Roche studies). The 2020 survey was conducted online from 24th September to 5th October 2020 by the Odoxa polling institute on a sample of metropolitan French subjects aged 18 years or over. Participants (n = 9598) self-measured their height and weight according to detailed instructions. Prevalence estimates were produced for all categories of body mass index. The prevalence of excess weight was 47.3% (17.0% of subjects with obesity), with higher values in the north and east of France. When comparing these 2020 estimates to previous Obepi-Roche estimates in order to visualize trends since 1997, it appeared that overweight fluctuated around 30%, and obesity prevalence increased steadily at a rapid pace. The increase was even steeper in the youngest age groups and for severe and complex obesity. Given the slightly different methodologies between the 1997–2012 studies and the 2020 survey, the worrying trends in obesity prevalence since 1997 must be confirmed, calling for a reedition of the Obepi-Roche series.
Green Synthesis of Advanced Carbon Materials Used as Precursors for Adsorbents Applied in Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Predeanu Georgeta , Slăvescu Valerica , Drăgoescu Marius Florin , Bălănescu Niculina Mihaela , Fiti Alexandru , Meghea Aurelia , Samoila Petrisor , Harabagiu Valeria , Ignat Maria , Manea-Saghin Ana-Maria , Vasile Bogdan Stefan , Badea Nicoleta
Published: January 2023

Huge amounts of vegetable waste, mainly resulting from the food industry, need large areas for storage, as they could cause hazardous environmental impact, leading to soil and water pollution or to CO2 emissions during accidental incineration. This work was aimed at recycling certain lignocellulosic waste (walnut shells, kernels of peach, apricot, and olive) to design advanced carbon material precursors (ACMP) to be used for obtaining nano-powders with high applicative potential in pollution abatement. Both waste and ACMP were characterized using proximate and elemental analysis, and by optical microscopy. Complex characterization of raw materials by FTIR, TGA-DTG, and SEM analysis were carried out. The ACMP were synthetized at 600–700 °C by innovative microwave heating technology which offers the advantages of lower energy consumption using 3.3 kW equipment at laboratory level. The ACMP ash < 3% and increased carbon content of 87% enabled the development of an extended pore network depending on degassing conditions during heating. TEM analysis revealed a well-developed porous structure of the synthesized ACMP carbonaceous materials. Due to the presence of oxygen functional groups, ACMPs exhibit adsorption properties highlighted by an iodine index of max. 500 mg/g and surface area BET of 300 m2/g, which make them attractive for removal of environmental pollutants such as dyes having molecule sizes below 2 nm and ions with pore dimensions below 1 nm, widely used industrially and found in underground waters (NO3−) or waste waters (SO42−).
Corrosion Behavior of Aluminium-Coated Cans
Authors: Almoiqli Mohammed , Alharbi Khalid N. , Alnuwaiser Maha Abdallah , Yajizi Ghaidaa , Alshoshan Shoug , Baduways Wed , Albeladi Muntathir I. , Alsanea Rashed S. , Aljohani Talal A.
Published: January 2023

Hundreds of billions of aluminium-based cans are manufactured and used every year worldwide including those containing soft drinks. This study investigates and evaluates the performance and quality of two well-known energy and soft drinks brands, Green Cola and Red Bull. Recent health hazards and concerns have been associated with aluminium leakage and bisphenol A (BPA) dissociation from the can’s internal protective coating. The cans were examined under four conditions, including coated and uncoated samples, the soft drink’s main solution, and 0.1 M acetic acid solution. Electrochemical measurements such as potentiodynamic polarization and impedance spectroscopy (EIS), element analyses using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were performed. In addition, sample characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) were employed to comprehensively study and analyze the effect of corrosion on the samples. Even though the internal coating provided superior corrosion protection concerning main or acetic acid solutions, it failed to prevent aluminium from dissolving in the electrolyte. Green Cola’s primary solution appears to be extremely corrosive, as the corrosion rate increased by approximately 333% relative to the acetic acid solution. Uncoated samples resulted in increases in the percentage of oxygen, the appearance of more corrosion spots, and decreases in crystallinity. The ICP-OES test detected dangerous levels of aluminium in the Green Cola solution, which increased significantly after increasing the conductivity of the solution.
Application of Electromagnetic Braking to Minimize a Surface Wave in a Continuous Caster
Authors: Thapa Saswot , Wang Mingqian , Silaen Armin K. , Ferreira Mauro E. , Rollings Wesley , Zhou Chenn
Published: January 2023

The turbulent flow in the mold region drastically influences the quality of steel produced during continuous casting. The flow itself can lead to surface defects or slag entrainment based on the formation. A high surface wave can lead to fluctuations and the instability compromises the quality of the steel produced, as well as entrain the slag. To regulate the flow, electromagnetic forces can be applied in the mold, dampening the local turbulent flow. As the electrically conductive molten steel interacts with the induced magnetic field, it reduces the velocity of the steel jet released from the ports of the submerged entry nozzle. Utilizing Star-CCM+, a simulation-based study is conducted modeling the impact of Electromagnetic braking (EMBr) on the flow formation and surface standing wave. Specifically, a parametric study is conducted investigating the impact of submergence entry nozzle (SEN) depth and mold width with applied EMBr. Per the simulation-based study conducted increasing the EMBr strength from 2975 G to 4350 G reduced the average surface wave height by 12.5% and volume of flux rate of decrease by 4.25%. Additionally, increasing the SEN depth from 110 mm to 350 mm increased the average wave height by 19% and volume of flux rate of decrease by 2.6%. Lastly, increasing the mold width from 1.067 m to 1.50 m increased average wave height by 8.71% and volume of flux rate of decrease by 0.9%.
Strange Metallicity and Magnetic Order in the CoNi(Cr/V) Medium-Entropy Alloy System
Authors: Mustafa Faisal , Egilmez Mehmet , Abuzaid Wael , El-Khatib Sami , Nawaz Tahir , Ahmad Shahbaz , Alagoz Serhat
Published: January 2023

CoNiCr is a prototypical example of topical multi-principle element alloys with superior cryogenic and high-temperature mechanical strength, corrosion, oxidation resistance, and yet-to-be-explored magnetic and electronic functionalities. The remarkable properties of this transition metal ternary system are not only due to atomic radii, electronic configurational mismatch, and atomic volume misfit but are also dependent on the debated magnetically driven chemical short-range order. The current study focuses on the electric and magnetic properties of the single-phase face-centered cubic CoNi(Cr/V) system in which V is introduced to the system at the expense of Cr to fine-tune the volume misfit in the system. All the samples exhibited ultra-small magnetic moments due to the complex magnetic interactions of the constituent elements. The electric transport measurements revealed a strange metallicity evidenced through the observation of the linear temperature dependence of the resistivity. Our findings support the recent theoretical studies on the magnetically driven chemical short-range order of the CoNiCr system.
Hyperbranched Polyelectrolyte Copolymers as Novel Candidate Delivery Systems for Bio-Relevant Compounds
Authors: Balafouti Anastasia , Pispas Stergios
Published: January 2023

In this study, reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization is utilized in order to synthesize novel hyperbranched poly(oligoethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate-co-tert-butyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) (H-[P(OEGMA-co-tBMA-co-MAA)]) copolymers in combination with selective hydrolysis reactions. The copolymers showing amphiphilicity induced by the polar OEGMA and hydrophobic tBMA monomeric units, and polyelectrolyte character due to MAA units, combined with unique macromolecular architecture were characterized by physicochemical techniques, such as size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The hyperbranched copolymers were investigated in terms of their ability to self-assemble into nanostructures when dissolved in aqueous media. Dynamic light scattering and fluorescence spectroscopy revealed multimolecular aggregates of nanoscale dimensions with low critical aggregation concentration, the size and mass of which depend on copolymer composition and solution conditions, whereas zeta potential measurements indicated pH sensitive features. In addition, aiming to evaluate their potential use as nanocarriers, the copolymers were studied in terms of their drug encapsulation and protein complexation ability utilizing curcumin and lysozyme, as a model hydrophobic drug and a model cationic protein, respectively.
Leveraging Infrastructure BIM for Life-Cycle-Based Sustainable Road Pavement Management
Authors: Oreto Cristina , Biancardo Salvatore Antonio , Abbondati Francesco , Veropalumbo Rosa
Published: January 2023

The latest developments in the field of road asphalt materials and pavement construction/maintenance technologies, as well as the spread of life-cycle-based sustainability assessment techniques, have posed issues in the continuous and efficient management of data and relative decision-making process for the selection of appropriate road pavement design and maintenance solutions; Infrastructure Building Information Modeling (IBIM) tools may help in facing such challenges due to their data management and analysis capabilities. The present work aims to develop a road pavement life cycle sustainability assessment framework and integrate such a framework into the IBIM of a road pavement project through visual scripting to automatically provide the informatization of an appropriate pavement information model and evaluate sustainability criteria already in the design stage through life cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis methods. The application of the proposed BIM-based tool to a real case study allowed us (a) to draw considerations about the long-term environmental and economic sustainability of alternative road construction materials and (b) to draft a maintenance plan for a specific road section that represents the best compromise solution among the analyzed ones. The IBIM tool represents a practical and dynamic way to integrate environmental considerations into road pavement design, encouraging the use of digital tools in the road industry and ultimately supporting a pavement maintenance decision-making process oriented toward a circular economy.
Surface Modification of an Absorbable Bimodal Fe-Mn-Ag Alloy by Nitrogen Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation
Authors: Sotoudeh Bagha Pedram , Paternoster Carlo , Khakbiz Mehrdad , Sheibani Saeed , Gholami Navid , Mantovani Diego
Published: January 2023

Recently, Fe-Mn-based alloys have been increasingly catching the attention of the scientific community, because of their tunable and outstanding mechanical properties, and suitable degradation behavior for biomedical applications. In spite of these assets, their corrosion rate (CR) is, in general, too low to satisfy the requirements that need to be met for cardiovascular device applications, such as stents. In fact, the CR is not always the same for all of the degradation stages of the material, and in addition, a finely tuned release rate, especially during the first steps of the corrosion pattern, is often demanded. In this work, a resorbable bimodal multi-phase alloy Fe-3Mn-1Ag was designed by mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering (SPS) to accelerate the corrosion rate. The presence of several phases, for example α-Fe, α-Mn, γ-FeMn and Ag, provided the material with excellent mechanical properties (tensile strength UTS = 722 MPa, tensile strain A = 38%) and a higher corrosion rate (CR = 3.2 ± 0.2 mm/year). However, higher corrosion rates, associated with an increased release of degradation elements, could also raise toxicity concerns, especially at the beginning of the corrosion pattern. In this study, The focus of the present work was the control of the CR by surface modification, with nitrogen plasma immersion ion implantation (N-PIII) treatment that was applied to mechanically polished (MP) samples. This plasma treatment (PT) improved the corrosion resistance of the material, assessed by static degradation immersion tests (SDITs), especially during the first degradation stages. Twenty-eight days later, the degradation rate reached the same value of the MP condition. Nitrogen compounds on the surface of the substrate played an important role in the corrosion mechanism and corrosion product formation. The degradation analysis was carried out also by potentiodynamic tests in modified Hanks’ balanced salt solution (MHBSS), and Dulbecco’s phosphate buffered saline solution (DPBSS). The corrosion rate was higher in MHBSS for both conditions. However, there was no significant difference between the corrosion rate of the PT in DPBSS (CR = 1.9 ± 0.6 mm/year) and in MHBSS (CR = 2 ± 1.4 mm/year). The cell viability was assessed with human vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) via an indirect metabolic activity test (MTT assay). Due to the lower ion release of the PT condition, the cell viability increased significantly. Thus, nitrogen implantation can control the in vitro corrosion rate starting from the very first stage of the implantation, improving cell viability.
Effect of Maturity Stage on Cereal and Leguminous Seeds’ Metabolome as Analyzed Using Gas Chromatography Mass-Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Chemometric Tools
Authors: Saied Doaa B. , Ramadan Nehal S. , El-Sayed Magdy M. , Farag Mohamed A.
Published: January 2023

Cereal and leguminous seeds are considered as major generic dietary source of energy, carbohydrates as well as proteins in the Mediterranean diet and are frequently consumed in their immature form in several regions including the Middle East. Hence, the current study aimed to assess metabolites’ heterogeneity amongst five major cereal and leguminous seeds of different species, and cultivars, i.e., Triticum aestivum L. (two cultivars), Hordeum vulgare L., Vicia faba L. and Cicer arietinum L., at different maturity stages. Gas chromatography mass-spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis using multivariate data analyses was employed for nutrient profiling and sample segregation assessed using chemometric tools, respectively. A total of 70 peaks belonging to sugars, fatty acids/esters, steroids, amino acids and organic acids were identified including sucrose, melibiose, glucose and fructose as major sugars, with butyl caprylate, hydroxybutanoic acid and malic acid contributing to the discrimination between seed species at different maturity stages. The investigation of total protein content revealed comparable protein levels amongst all examined seeds with the highest level detected at 20.1% w/w in mature fava bean. Results of this study provide a novel insight on cereal and leguminous seeds’ metabolomics in the context of their maturity stages for the first time in literature.
Study on SAW Methane Sensor Based on Cryptophane-A Composite Film
Authors: Liu Xinlei , Shen Bin , Jiang Leiming , Yang Haiyang , Jin Chunbo , Zhou Tianshun
Published: January 2023

Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) methane-sensing technology is a new way to detect methane at room temperature. However, the material and structure of the sensitive film are the important factors affecting the detection performance of the sensor. In this paper—with a SAW methane sensor using graphene–nickel cavitation—a composite film is proposed, which can work at room temperature. A delay linear dual-channel differential oscillator with center frequency of 204.3 MHz and insertion loss of −5.658 dB was designed; Cryptophane-A material was prepared by the “three-step method”. The composite sensitive film was synthesized by a drop coating method, electrochemical deposition method and electroplating method. The composite film was characterized by SEM. The sensor performance test system and gas sensitivity test system were constructed to determine the response performance of the sensor at concentrations of 0~5% CH4. The results showed that the sensor had a good response recovery performance in the test concentration range, and the frequency offset was positively correlated with methane concentration. The 90% average response time and recovery times were 41.2 s and 57 s, respectively. The sensor sensitivity was 809.4 ± 6.93 Hz/(1% CH4). This study provides a good theoretical basis for the development of surface acoustic-wave methane sensors.
UnpadStat Design: Portable Potentiostat for Electrochemical Sensing Measurements Using Screen Printed Carbon Electrode
Authors: Setiyono Riyanto , Lestari Tias Febriana Hanifa , Anggraeni Anni , Hartati Yeni Wahyuni , Bahti Husein Hernadi
Published: January 2023

In this research a portable potentiostat was built for electrochemical sensing measurements with three electrodes, specifically SPCEs. The circuit uses a microcontroller as the main controller to manage all activities, starting from adjusting the input voltage for the SPCEs, setting measurement parameters, measuring the resulting current, displaying graphics on the touch screen, sending data to the computer via the USB port, and connecting to the SD card. Measurements and errors with cyclic voltammetry techniques have been compared with commercial potentiostats. The measurement results on a dummy circuit and commercial SPCEs have an accuracy of more than 90% compared to commercial potentiostats. In addition, measurement data can also be saved to an SD card in .CSV format for further purposes.
Piezoelectric Energy Harvester Response Statistics
Authors: Gaidai Oleg , Cao Yu , Xing Yihan , Wang Junlei
Published: January 2023

Safety and reliability are essential engineering concerns for energy-harvesting installations. In the case of the piezoelectric galloping energy harvester, there is a risk that excessive wake galloping may lead to instability, overload, and thus damage. With this in mind, this paper studies bivariate statistics of the extreme, experimental galloping energy harvester dynamic response under realistic environmental conditions. The bivariate statistics were extracted from experimental wind tunnel results, specifically for the voltage-force data set. Authors advocate a novel general-purpose reliability approach that may be applied to a wide range of dynamic systems, including micro-machines. Both experimental and numerically simulated dynamic responses can be used as input for the suggested structural reliability analysis. The statistical analysis proposed in this study may be used at the design stage, supplying proper characteristic values and safeguarding the dynamic system from overload, thus extending the machine’s lifetime. This work introduces a novel bivariate technique for reliability analysis instead of the more general univariate design approaches.
Transferability of Diffractive Structure in the Compression Molding of Chalcogenide Glass
Authors: Son Byeong-Rea , Kim Ji-Kwan , Choi Young-Soo , Park Changsin
Published: January 2023

This study investigates the use of Ge28Sb12Se60 chalcogenide glass for the compression molding of an infrared optical lens with a diffractive structure. Firstly, a mold core was prepared through ultra-precision grinding of tungsten carbide, and a chalcogenide glass preform was crafted through a polishing process and designed with a radius that would prevent gas isolation during the molding process. The test lens was then molded at various temperature conditions using the prepared mold core and preform. The diffractive structures of both the mold core and the resulting molded lens were analyzed using a microscope and white light interferometer. The comparison of these diffractive structures revealed that the molding temperature had an effect on the transferability of the diffractive structure during the molding of the chalcogenide glass lens. Furthermore, it was determined that, when the molding temperature was properly adjusted, the diffractive structure of the core could be fully transferred to the surface of the chalcogenide lens. Optimized chalcogenide glass-based lenses have the potential to serve as cost-effective yet high-performance IR optics.
Impact of Gait Events Identification through Wearable Inertial Sensors on Clinical Gait Analysis of Children with Idiopathic Toe Walking
Authors: Brasiliano Paolo , Mascia Guido , Di Feo Paolo , Di Stanislao Eugenio , Alvini Martina , Vannozzi Giuseppe , Camomilla Valentina
Published: January 2023

Idiopathic toe walking (ITW) is a gait deviation characterized by forefoot contact with the ground and excessive ankle plantarflexion over the entire gait cycle observed in otherwise-typical developing children. The clinical evaluation of ITW is usually performed using optoelectronic systems analyzing the sagittal component of ankle kinematics and kinetics. However, in standardized laboratory contexts, these children can adopt a typical walking pattern instead of a toe walk, thus hindering the laboratory-based clinical evaluation. With these premises, measuring gait in a more ecological environment may be crucial in this population. As a first step towards adopting wearable clinical protocols embedding magneto-inertial sensors and pressure insoles, this study analyzed the performance of three algorithms for gait events identification based on shank and/or foot sensors. Foot strike and foot off were estimated from gait measurements taken from children with ITW walking barefoot and while wearing a foot orthosis. Although no single algorithm stands out as best from all perspectives, preferable algorithms were devised for event identification, temporal parameters estimate and heel and forefoot rocker identification, depending on the barefoot/shoed condition. Errors more often led to an erroneous characterization of the heel rocker, especially in shoed condition. The ITW gait specificity may cause errors in the identification of the foot strike which, in turn, influences the characterization of the heel rocker and, therefore, of the pathologic ITW behavior.
Atomic-Resolution Imaging of Micron-Sized Samples Realized by High Magnetic Field Scanning Tunneling Microscopy
Authors: Li Weixuan , Wang Jihao , Zhang Jing , Meng Wenjie , Xie Caihong , Hou Yubin , Xia Zhigang , Lu Qingyou
Published: January 2023

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) can image material surfaces with atomic resolution, making it a useful tool in the areas of physics and materials. Many materials are synthesized at micron size, especially few-layer materials. Limited by their complex structure, very few STMs are capable of directly positioning and imaging a micron-sized sample with atomic resolution. Traditional STMs are designed to study the material behavior induced by temperature variation, while the physical properties induced by magnetic fields are rarely studied. In this paper, we present the design and construction of an atomic-resolution STM that can operate in a 9 T high magnetic field. More importantly, the homebuilt STM is capable of imaging micron-sized samples. The performance of the STM is demonstrated by high-quality atomic images obtained on a graphite surface, with low drift rates in the X–Y plane and Z direction. The atomic-resolution image obtained on a 32-μm graphite flake illustrates the new STM’s ability of positioning and imaging micron-sized samples. Finally, we present atomic resolution images at a magnetic field range from 0 T to 9 T. The above advantages make our STM a promising tool for investigating the quantum hall effect of micron-sized layered materials.
Recent Progress on Optical Biosensors Developed for Nucleic Acid Detection Related to Infectious Viral Diseases
Authors: Eksin Ece , Erdem Arzum
Published: January 2023

Optical biosensors have many advantages over traditional analytical methods. They enable the identification of several biological and chemical compounds directly, instantly, and without the need of labels. Their benefits include excellent specificity, sensitivity, compact size, and low cost. In this review, the main focus is placed on the nucleic acid-based optical biosensor technologies, including colorimetric, fluorescence, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), Evanescent-Wave Optical, Fiber optic and bioluminescent optical fibre. The fundamentals of each type of biosensor are briefly explained, and particular emphasis has been placed on the achievements which have been gained in the last decade on the field of diagnosis of infectious viral diseases. Concluding remarks concerning the perspectives of further developments are discussed.
Optimization of Functional Group Concentration of N, N-Dimethylacrylamide-based Polymeric Coatings and Probe Immobilization for DNA and Protein Microarray Applications
Authors: Sola Laura , Abdel Mallak Laura , Damin Francesco , Mussida Alessandro , Brambilla Dario , Chiari Marcella
Published: January 2023

We report here a deep investigation into the effect of the concentration of a polymeric coating’s functional groups on probe density immobilization with the aim of establishing the optimal formulation to be implemented in specific microarray applications. It is widely known that the ideal performance of a microarray strictly depends on the way probes are tethered to the surface since it influences the way they interact with the complementary target. The N, N-dimethylacrylamide-based polymeric coating introduced by our research group in 2004 has already proven to offer great flexibility for the customization of surface properties; here, we demonstrate that it also represents the perfect scaffold for the modulation of probe grafting. With this aim in mind, polymers with increasing concentrations of N-acryloyloxysuccinimide (NAS) were synthesized and the coating procedure optimized accordingly. These were then tested not only in DNA microarray assays, but also using protein probes (with different MWs) to establish which formulation improves the assay performance in specific applications. The flexibility of this polymeric platform allowed us also to investigate a different immobilization chemistry—specifically, click chemistry reactions, thanks to the insertion of azide groups into the polymer chains—and to evaluate possible differences generated by this modification.
Effects of Mask Material on Lateral Undercut of Silicon Dry Etching
Authors: Zhang Yongkang , Hou Zhongxuan , Si Chaowei , Han Guowei , Zhao Yongmei , Lu Xiaorui , Liu Jiahui , Ning Jin , Yang Fuhua
Published: January 2023

The silicon etching process is a core component of production in the semiconductor industry. Undercut is a nonideal effect in silicon dry etching. A reduced undercut is desired when preparing structures that demand a good sidewall morphology, while an enlarged undercut is conducive to the fabrication of microstructure tips. Undercut is related to not only the production parameters but also the mask materials. In this study, five mask materials—Cr, Al, ITO, SiNx, and SiO2—are chosen to compare the undercut effect caused by the isotropic etching process and the Bosch process. In the Bosch process, the SiNx mask causes the largest undercut, and the SiO2 mask causes the smallest undercut. In the isotropic process, the results are reversed. The effect of charges in the mask layer is found to produce this result, and the effect of electrons accumulating during the process is found to be negligible. The undercut effect can be enhanced or suppressed by selecting appropriate mask materials, which is helpful in the MEMS process. Finally, using an Al mask, a tapered silicon tip with a top diameter of 119.3 nm is fabricated using the isotropic etching process.
Third-Order Optical Nonlinearities of 2D Materials at Telecommunications Wavelengths
Authors: Jia Linnan , Wu Jiayang , Zhang Yuning , Qu Yang , Jia Baohua , Moss David J.
Published: January 2023

All-optical signal processing based on nonlinear optical devices is promising for ultrafast information processing in optical communication systems. Recent advances in two-dimensional (2D) layered materials with unique structures and distinctive properties have opened up new avenues for nonlinear optics and the fabrication of related devices with high performance. This paper reviews the recent advances in research on third-order optical nonlinearities of 2D materials, focusing on all-optical processing applications in the optical telecommunications band near 1550 nm. First, we provide an overview of the material properties of different 2D materials. Next, we review different methods for characterizing the third-order optical nonlinearities of 2D materials, including the Z-scan technique, third-harmonic generation (THG) measurement, and hybrid device characterization, together with a summary of the measured n2 values in the telecommunications band. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives are discussed.
The Impact of Froth Launders Design in an Industrial Flotation Bank Using Novel Metallurgical and Hydrodynamic Models
Authors: Vallejos Paulina , Yianatos Juan , Grau Rodrigo , Yáñez Alejandro
Published: January 2023

In flotation cells, especially in large flotation units, froth management is a crucial variable that should be considered during the design phase or optimized to improve the performance of existing flotation circuits. This paper presents a simulation evaluation of the effect of launder design on the metallurgical performance of an industrial flotation circuit consisting of five TankCell® e630 (630 m3) cells in a Cu rougher duty. This analysis was carried out using a new industrial simulator that includes novel metallurgical and hydrodynamic models, developed from a wide database collected from many industrial concentrators. This tool is currently incorporated into HSC Chemistry® software and allows evaluating the effect of launder design on mineral froth recovery, water recovery, entrainment, and other variables. The industrial flotation circuit was evaluated under different launder design scenarios, considering an actual flotation circuit that includes TankCell® e630 cells for calibration and as a reference (baseline). Firstly, two different designs were evaluated in the full circuit: a standard launder design and a new launder technology. It was found that the new launder technology enabled improvement of the mineral recovery along the circuit, mainly for coarse particles, due to the improvement in froth mineral recovery. Next, a partial upgrade of the launder design along the circuit was analysed. Thus, the new launder technology was evaluated in the first and the last two cells of the bank. The results showed that upgrading the launders in different cells along the circuit delivered an increase in the final recovery with respect to the baseline, with a partial impact on the concentrate grade. However, these changes are less than those when evaluating the full upgrade scenario. A partial launder upgrade either in the first or last two cells of the bank showed similar final recoveries, but the latter enabled a slightly higher concentrate grade (about 1% higher) to be achieved. Finally, the evaluation of launder design using the industrial simulator made it possible to estimate its effect on variables that are not commonly obtained from plant surveys, including superficial gas rates at the froth surface level, froth recovery per particle size, collection recovery per particle size and liberation, gangue entrainment, and bubble loading grade.
Antioxidant Properties, Bioactive Compounds Contents, and Chemical Characterization of Two Wild Edible Mushroom Species from Morocco: Paralepista flaccida (Sowerby) Vizzini and Lepista nuda (Bull.) Cooke
Authors: Erbiai El Hadi , Maouni Abdelfettah , Pinto da Silva Luís , Saidi Rabah , Legssyer Mounir , Lamrani Zouhaire , Esteves da Silva Joaquim C. G.
Published: January 2023

Mushrooms have been consumed for centuries and have recently gained more popularity as an important source of nutritional and pharmaceutical compounds. As part of the valorization of mushroom species in northern Morocco, the current study aimed to investigate the chemical compositions and antioxidant properties of two wild edible mushrooms, Paralepista flaccida and Lepista nuda. Herein, the bioactive compounds were determined using spectrophotometer methods, and results showed that the value of total phenolic content (TPC) was found to be higher in P. flaccida (32.86 ± 0.52 mg) than in L. nuda (25.52 ± 0.56 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAEs)/mg of dry methanolic extract (dme)). On the other hand, the value of total flavonoid content (TFC) was greater in L. nuda than in P. flaccida, with values of 19.02 ± 0.80 and 10.34 ± 0.60 mg of (+)-catechin equivalents (CEs)/g dme, respectively. Moreover, the ascorbic acid, tannin, and carotenoids content was moderate, with a non-significant difference between the two samples. High-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analysis allowed the identification and quantification of thirteen individual phenolic compounds in both P. flaccida and L. nuda, whereas p-Hydroxybenzoic acid was recognized as the major compound detected, with values of 138.50 ± 1.58 and 587.90 ± 4.89 µg/g of dry weight (dw), respectively. The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of methanolic extracts of P. flaccida and L. nuda revealed the presence of sixty-one and sixty-six biomolecules, respectively. These biomolecules can mainly be divided into four main groups, namely sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, and organic acids. Moreover, glycerol (12.42%) and mannitol (10.39%) were observed to be the main chemical compositions of P. flaccida, while L. nuda was predominated by linolelaidic acid (21.13%) and leucine (9.05%). L. nuda showed a strong antioxidant property, evaluated by DPPH (half maximal effective concentration (EC50) 1.18–0.98 mg/mL); β-carotene bleaching (EC50 0.22–0.39 mg/mL); and reducing power methods (EC50 0.63–0.48 mg/mL), respectively. These findings suggested that both mushrooms are potential sources of various biomolecules, many of which possess important biological activities which are interesting for the foods and pharmaceuticals industry.
Metal Oxide Gas Sensors to Study Acetone Detection Considering Their Potential in the Diagnosis of Diabetes: A Review
Authors: Ochoa-Muñoz Yasser H. , Mejía de Gutiérrez Ruby , Rodríguez-Páez Jorge E.
Published: January 2023

Metal oxide (MOx) gas sensors have attracted considerable attention from both scientific and practical standpoints. Due to their promising characteristics for detecting toxic gases and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) compared with conventional techniques, these devices are expected to play a key role in home and public security, environmental monitoring, chemical quality control, and medicine in the near future. VOCs (e.g., acetone) are blood-borne and found in exhaled human breath as a result of certain diseases or metabolic disorders. Their measurement is considered a promising tool for noninvasive medical diagnosis, for example in diabetic patients. The conventional method for the detection of acetone vapors as a potential biomarker is based on spectrometry. However, the development of MOx-type sensors has made them increasingly attractive from a medical point of view. The objectives of this review are to assess the state of the art of the main MOx-type sensors in the detection of acetone vapors to propose future perspectives and directions that should be carried out to implement this type of sensor in the field of medicine.
Discovery of Bis-Imidazoline Derivatives as New CXCR4 Ligands
Authors: Zhou Zhicheng , Staropoli Isabelle , Brelot Anne , Suzanne Peggy , Lesnard Aurélien , Fontaine Fanny , Perato Serge , Rault Sylvain , Helynck Olivier , Arenzana-Seisdedos Fernando , Sopkova-de Oliveira Santos Jana , Lagane Bernard , Munier-Lehmann Hélène , Colin Philippe
Published: January 2023

The chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its ligand CXCL12 regulate leukocyte trafficking, homeostasis and functions and are potential therapeutic targets in many diseases such as HIV-1 infection and cancers. Here, we identified new CXCR4 ligands in the CERMN chemical library using a FRET-based high-throughput screening assay. These are bis-imidazoline compounds comprising two imidazole rings linked by an alkyl chain. The molecules displace CXCL12 binding with submicromolar potencies, similarly to AMD3100, the only marketed CXCR4 ligand. They also inhibit anti-CXCR4 mAb 12G5 binding, CXCL12-mediated chemotaxis and HIV-1 infection. Further studies with newly synthesized derivatives pointed out to a role of alkyl chain length on the bis-imidazoline properties, with molecules with an even number of carbons equal to 8, 10 or 12 being the most potent. Interestingly, these differ in the functions of CXCR4 that they influence. Site-directed mutagenesis and molecular docking predict that the alkyl chain folds in such a way that the two imidazole groups become lodged in the transmembrane binding cavity of CXCR4. Results also suggest that the alkyl chain length influences how the imidazole rings positions in the cavity. These results may provide a basis for the design of new CXCR4 antagonists targeting specific functions of the receptor.
Chloroquine-Based Mitochondrial ATP Inhibitors
Authors: Wang Zhiguo , Sheaff Robert J. , Hussaini Syed R.
Published: January 2023

Mitochondria is an important drug target for ailments ranging from neoplastic to neurodegenerative diseases and metabolic diseases. Here, we describe the synthesis of chloroquine analogs and show the results of mitochondrial ATP inhibition testing. The 2,4-dinitrobenzene-based analogs showed concentration-dependent mitochondrial (mito.) ATP inhibition. The most potent mito. ATP inhibitor was found to be N-(4-((2,4-Dinitrophenyl)amino)pentyl)-N-ethylacetamide (17).
Molecular Dynamics Investigation of Wettability Alteration of Quartz Surface under Thermal Recovery Processes
Authors: Ahmadi Mohammadali , Chen Zhangxin
Published: January 2023

One of the primary methods for bitumen and heavy oil recovery is a steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) process. However, the mechanisms related to wettability alteration under the SAGD process still need to be fully understood. In this study, we used MD simulation to evaluate the wettability alteration under a steam injection process for bitumen and heavy oil recovery. Various oil droplets with different asphaltene contents were considered to determine the effect of an asphaltene content on the adsorption of the oil droplets onto quartz surfaces and wettability alteration. Based on the MD simulation outputs, the higher the asphaltene content, the higher the adsorption energy between the bitumen/heavy oil and quartz surfaces due to coulombic interactions. Additionally, the quartz surfaces became more oil-wet at temperatures well beyond the water boiling temperature; however, they were extremely water-wet at ambient conditions. The results of this work provide in-depth information regarding wettability alteration during in situ thermal processes for bitumen and heavy oil recovery. Furthermore, they provide helpful information for optimizing the in situ thermal processes for successful operations.
A Review of Gallic Acid-Mediated Fenton Processes for Degrading Emerging Pollutants and Dyes
Authors: Lima Juan Pablo Pereira , Tabelini Carlos Henrique Borges , Aguiar André
Published: January 2023

Diverse reducing mediators have often been used to increase the degradation of emerging pollutants (EPs) and dyes through the Fenton reaction (Fe2+ + H2O2 → Fe3+ + HO● + HO−). Adding reductants can minimize the accumulation of Fe3+ in a solution, leading to accelerated Fe2+ regeneration and the enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species, such as the HO● radical. The present study consisted in reviewing the effects of gallic acid (GA), a plant-extracted reductant, on the Fenton-based oxidation of several EPs and dyes. It was verified that the pro-oxidant effect of GA was not only reported for soluble iron salts as a catalyst (homogeneous Fenton), but also iron-containing solid materials (heterogeneous Fenton). The most common molar proportion verified in the studies was catalyst:oxidant:GA equal to 1:10–20:1. This shows that the required amount of both catalyst and GA is quite low in comparison with the oxidant, which is generally H2O2. Interestingly, GA has proven to be an effective mediator at pH values well above the ideal range of 2.5–3.0 for Fenton processes. This allows treatments to be carried out at the natural pH of the wastewater. The use of plant extracts or wood barks containing GA and other reductants is suggested to make GA-mediated Fenton processes easier to apply for treating real wastewater.
Neuroprotective Effect of α-Lipoic Acid against Aβ25–35-Induced Damage in BV2 Cells
Authors: Pei Xinrong , Hu Fangyan , Hu Zehui , Luo Feiya , Li Xiaoling , Xing Shuxia , Sun Lei , Long Dingxin
Published: January 2023

The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is significantly increasing due to the aging world population, and the currently available drug treatments cannot cure or even slow its progression. α-lipoic acid (LA) is a biological factor widely found in spinach and meat and can dissolve in both lipid and aqueous phases. In medicine, LA has been shown to reduce the symptoms of diabetic polyneuropathy, acute kidney injury, cancers, and some metabolism-related diseases. This study to proves that α-lipoic acid (LA) can stabilize the cognitive function of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). BV2 cells were divided into control, LA, Aβ25–35, and LA + Aβ25–35 groups. Cell growth; IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-γ, SOD, GPx, CAT, ROS, NO, and iNOS secretion; Wnt-related proteins; cell apoptosis; and cell activation were examined. Here, we found that LA could effectively repress apoptosis and changes in the morphology of microglia BV2 cells activated by Aβ25–35, accompanied by the inhibition of the inflammatory response induced by Aβ25–35. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is also involved in preventing Aβ25–35-induced cytotoxicity in microglia by LA. We found an inhibitory effect of LA on microglia toxicity induced by Aβ25–35, suggesting that a combination of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant substances may offer a promising approach to the treatment of AD.
Localized Photoactuation of Polymer Pens for Nanolithography
Authors: Huang Zhongjie , Li Shaopeng , Zhang Jiaqi , Pang Huan , Ivankin Andrey , Wang Yuhuang
Published: January 2023

Localized actuation is an important goal of nanotechnology broadly impacting applications such as programmable materials, soft robotics, and nanolithography. Despite significant recent advances, actuation with high temporal and spatial resolution remains challenging to achieve. Herein, we demonstrate strongly localized photoactuation of polymer pens made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and surface-functionalized short carbon nanotubes based on a fundamental understanding of the nanocomposite chemistry and device innovations in directing intense light with digital micromirrors to microscale domains. We show that local illumination can drive a small group of pens (3 × 3 over 170 μm × 170 μm) within a massively two-dimensional array to attain an out-of-plane motion by more than 7 μm for active molecular printing. The observed effect marks a striking three-order-of-magnitude improvement over the state of the art and suggests new opportunities for active actuation.
Pioneering Metabolomic Studies on Diaporthe eres Species Complex from Fruit Trees in the South-Eastern Poland
Authors: Abramczyk Barbara , Pecio Łukasz , Kozachok Solomiia , Kowalczyk Mariusz , Marzec-Grządziel Anna , Król Ewa , Gałązka Anna , Oleszek Wiesław
Published: January 2023

Fungi from the genus Diaporthe have been reported as plant pathogens, endophytes, and saprophytes on a wide range of host plants worldwide. Their precise identification is problematic since many Diaporthe species can colonize a single host plant, whereas the same Diaporthe species can inhabit many hosts. Recently, Diaporthe has been proven to be a rich source of bioactive secondary metabolites. In our initial study, 40 Diaporthe isolates were analyzed for their metabolite production. A total of 153 compounds were identified based on their spectroscopic properties—Ultraviolet-visible and mass spectrometry. From these, 43 fungal metabolites were recognized as potential chemotaxonomic markers, mostly belonging to the drimane sesquiterpenoid-phthalide hybrid class. This group included mainly phytotoxic compounds such as cyclopaldic acid, altiloxin A, B, and their derivatives. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the metabolomic studies on Diaporthe eres species complex from fruit trees in the South-Eastern Poland. The results from our study may provide the basis for the future research on the isolation of identified metabolites and on their bioactive potential for agricultural applications as biopesticides or biofertilizers.