bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dietary Intake of the Italian PHIME Infant Cohort: How We Are Getting Diet Wrong from as Early as Infancy
Authors: Concina Federica , Pani Paola , Carletti Claudia , Bravo Giulia , Knowles Alessandra , Parpinel Maria , Ronfani Luca , Barbone Fabio
Published: December 2021

Unhealthy dietary habits established in early infancy may lead to under or over nutrition later in life. This paper describes the energy, nutrients and food-type intake of 18-month-old infants belonging to the Italian PHIME cohort (n = 389) and evaluates adherence to the Italian dietary reference values (DRVs). Infant dietary data were collected using 7-day dietary records. Mean energy, macro and micronutrient intakes were estimated and compared with the DRVs. The percentage contribution of 19 selected food groups to total energy and macro- and micronutrient intake was determined with the aim of establishing the main food sources. Most infants’ diet shared common characteristics: poor variety, excessive intake of proteins (16.5 E% vs. 8–12 E% DRV) and saturated fatty acids (SFAs) (13.8 E% vs. <10 E% DRV), mainly derived from milk and dairy products, and low intake of total fats (33.2 E% vs. 35–40 E% DRV), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (3.1 E% vs. 5–10 E% DRV), vitamin D (1.1 vs. 15 µg/day DRV) and iron (4.5 vs. 8 mg/day DRV). The unbalanced distribution of macronutrients was reflected in energy intakes outside DRV ranges for more than half the infants. Public health interventions promoting healthy eating habits from early on, even from pregnancy, could yield significant short- and long-term health benefits.
Olive Oil Extracts and Oleic Acid Attenuate the LPS-Induced Inflammatory Response in Murine RAW264.7 Macrophages but Induce the Release of Prostaglandin E2
Authors: Müller Anke Katharina , Albrecht Franziska , Rohrer Carsten , Koeberle Andreas , Werz Oliver , Schlörmann Wiebke , Glei Michael , Lorkowski Stefan , Wallert Maria
Published: December 2021

Olive oil contains high amounts of oleic acid (OA). Although OA has been described to inhibit inflammatory processes, the effects of olive oil on cellular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Therefore, we compared the effects of major fatty acids (FA) from olive oil with those of olive oil extracts (OOE) on inflammatory mediators and alterations in the cellular phospholipid composition in murine macrophages. Upon treatment with different OOE, FA compositions of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine RAW264.7 macrophages were analyzed using gas chromatography. Olive oil extracts and OA significantly reduced the LPS-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNos), cyclooxygenase (Cox2), and interleukin-6 mRNA. In addition, a significant decrease in Cox2 and iNos protein expression was observed. The formation of nitric oxide was significantly reduced, while the formation of prostaglandin (PG) E2 from arachidonic acid significantly increased after treatment with OOE or OA. The latter was associated with a shift in the phospholipid FA composition from arachidonic acid to OA, resulting in an elevated availability of arachidonic acid. Together, OOE and OA mediate anti-inflammatory effects in vitro but increase the release of arachidonic acid and hereinafter PGE2, likely due to elongation of OA and competitive incorporation of fatty acids into membrane phospholipids.
Whole-Genome Analysis of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Enteritidis Strains Isolated from Poultry Sources in Korea
Authors: La Tae-Min , Kim Taesoo , Lee Hong-Jae , Lee Joong-Bok , Park Seung-Yong , Choi In-Soo , Lee Sang-Won
Published: December 2021

The Salmonella Enterica subsp. Enterica serovar Enteritidis is one of main serovars isolated from human patients with food poisoning and poultry without clinical signs. Consumption of poultry products contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis is a common source of human salmonellosis; 82 Salmonella spp. were isolated from 291 samples of retail chicken meat, 201 one-day-old chicks, 30 internal organs of chickens, 156 chicken eggs, 100 duck eggs, 38 straw bedding samples, 18 samples of retail duck meat, and 19 swab samples from slaughterhouses in 2019 and 2020. An antibiotic susceptibility test was performed for all isolates, revealing 33 multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. The whole genome of 33 MDR strains isolated in 2019 and 2020 and 10 strains isolated in 2011, 2012, and 2017 was sequenced using the MinION sequencing protocol. Within these 43 samples, 5 serovars were identified: S. Enteritidis, S. Agona, S. Virchow, S. Albany, and S. Bareilly. The most common serovar was S. Enteritidis (26/43), which showed the highest resistance to ampicillin (100%), followed by nalidixic acid (90%) and colistin (83%). Core genome multilocus sequence typing analysis showed that the S. Enteritidis strains isolated from different sources and in different years were clustered together. In addition, the S. Enteritidis strains isolated since 2011 consistently harbored the same antibiotic resistance patterns.
Lichen-Derived Compounds and Extracts as Biologically Active Substances with Anticancer and Neuroprotective Properties
Authors: Studzińska-Sroka Elżbieta , Majchrzak-Celińska Aleksandra , Zalewski Przemysław , Szwajgier Dominik , Baranowska-Wójcik Ewa , Kaproń Barbara , Plech Tomasz , Żarowski Marcin , Cielecka-Piontek Judyta
Published: December 2021

Lichens are a source of chemical compounds with valuable biological properties, structurally predisposed to penetration into the central nervous system (CNS). Hence, our research aimed to examine the biological potential of lipophilic extracts of Parmelia sulcata, Evernia prunastri, Cladonia uncialis, and their major secondary metabolites, in the context of searching for new therapies for CNS diseases, mainly glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The extracts selected for the study were standardized for their content of salazinic acid, evernic acid, and (−)-usnic acid, respectively. The extracts and lichen metabolites were evaluated in terms of their anti-tumor activity, i.e., cytotoxicity against A-172 and T98G cell lines and anti-IDO1, IDO2, TDO activity, their anti-inflammatory properties exerted by anti-COX-2 and anti-hyaluronidase activity, antioxidant activity, and anti-acetylcholinesterase and anti-butyrylcholinesterase activity. The results of this study indicate that lichen-derived compounds and extracts exert significant cytotoxicity against GBM cells, inhibit the kynurenine pathway enzymes, and have anti-inflammatory properties and weak antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase properties. Moreover, evernic acid and (−)-usnic acid were shown to be able to cross the blood-brain barrier. These results demonstrate that lichen-derived extracts and compounds, especially (−)-usnic acid, can be regarded as prototypes of pharmacologically active compounds within the CNS, especially suitable for the treatment of GBM.
Graphene Oxide-Gold Nanorods Nanocomposite-Porphyrin Conjugate as Promising Tool for Cancer Phototherapy Performance
Authors: Lebepe Thabang Calvin , Parani Sundararajan , Ncapayi Vuyelwa , Maluleke Rodney , Mbaz Grace It Mwad , Fanoro Olufunto Tolulope , Varghese Jose Rajendran , Komiya Atsuki , Kodama Tetsuya , Oluwafemi Oluwatobi Samuel
Published: December 2021

The cancer mortality rate has increased, and conventional cancer treatments are known for having many side effects. Therefore, it is imperative to find a new therapeutic agent or modify the existing therapeutic agents for better performance and efficiency. Herein, a synergetic phototherapeutic agent based on a combination of photothermal and photodynamic therapy is proposed. The phototherapeutic agent consists of water-soluble cationic porphyrin (5,10,15,20-tetrakis(N-methylpyridinium-3-yl)porphyrin, TMePyP), and gold nanorods (AuNRs) anchored on graphene-oxide (GO) sheet. The TMePyP was initially synthesized by Adler method, followed by methylation, while GO and AuNRs were synthesized using Hummer’s and seed-mediated methods, respectively. The structural and optical properties of TMePyP were confirmed using UV-Vis, zeta analyzer, PL, FTIR and NMR. The formation of both GO and AuNRs was confirmed by UV-Vis-NIR, FTIR, TEM and zeta analyzer. TMePyP and AuNRs were anchored on GO to form GO@AuNRs-TMePyP nanocomposite. The as-synthesized nanocomposite was stable in RPMI and PBS medium, and, on irradiation, produced high heat than the bare AuNRs, with high photothermal efficiency. In addition, the nanocomposite produced higher singlet oxygen than TMePyP with high biocompatibility in the absence of light. These results indicated that the as-synthesized nanocomposite is a promising dual photodynamic and photothermal agent for cancer therapy.
Use of Microfluidic Capillary Electrophoresis for the Determination of Multi-Component Protein Adsorption Isotherms: Application to High-Throughput Analysis for Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography
Authors: Lietta Elena , Pieri Alessandro , Innocenti Elisa , Pisano Roberto , Vanni Marco , Barresi Antonello A.
Published: December 2021

Chromatography is a widely used separation process for purification of biopharmaceuticals that is able to obtain high purities and concentrations. The phenomena that occur during separation, mass transfer and adsorption are quite complex. To better understand these phenomena and their mechanisms, multi-component adsorption isotherms must be investigated. High-throughput methodologies are a very powerful tool to determine adsorption isotherms and they waste very small amounts of sample and chemicals, but the quantification of component concentrations is a real bottleneck in multi-component isotherm determination. The behavior of bovine serum albumin, Corynebacterium diphtheriae CRM197 protein and lysozyme, selected as model proteins in binary mixtures with hydrophobic resin, is investigated here. In this work we propose a new method for determining multi-component adsorption isotherms using high-throughput experiments with filter plates, by exploiting microfluidic capillary electrophoresis. The precision and accuracy of the microfluidic capillary electrophoresis platform were evaluated in order to assess the procedure; they were both found to be high and the procedure is thus reliable in determining adsorption isotherms for binary mixtures. Multi-component adsorption isotherms were determined with a totally high-throughput procedure that turned out to be a very fast and powerful tool. The same procedure can be applied to every kind of high-throughput screening.
Drug Delivery Strategies for Curcumin and Other Natural Nrf2 Modulators of Oxidative Stress-Related Diseases
Authors: Grilc Nina Katarina , Sova Matej , Kristl Julijana
Published: December 2021

Oxidative stress is associated with a wide range of diseases characterised by oxidant-mediated disturbances of various signalling pathways and cellular damage. The only effective strategy for the prevention of cellular damage is to limit the production of oxidants and support their efficient removal. The implication of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway in the cellular redox status has spurred new interest in the use of its natural modulators (e.g., curcumin, resveratrol). Unfortunately, most natural Nrf2 modulators are poorly soluble and show extensive pre-systemic metabolism, low oral bioavailability, and rapid elimination, which necessitates formulation strategies to circumvent these limitations. This paper provides a brief introduction on the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in Nrf2 modulation and an overview of commonly studied formulations for the improvement of oral bioavailability and in vivo pharmacokinetics of Nrf2 modulators. Some formulations that have also been studied in vivo are discussed, including solid dispersions, self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems, and nanotechnology approaches, such as polymeric and solid lipid nanoparticles, nanocrystals, and micelles. Lastly, brief considerations of nano drug delivery systems for the delivery of Nrf2 modulators to the brain, are provided. The literature reviewed shows that the formulations discussed can provide various improvements to the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of natural Nrf2 modulators. This has been demonstrated in animal models and clinical studies, thereby increasing the potential for the translation of natural Nrf2 modulators into clinical practice.
Prescription Renewal Request Reviews by Student Pharmacists in a Family Medicine Clinic
Authors: Prudencio Jarred , Kim Michelle
Published: December 2021

Prescription renewal requests were reviewed by student pharmacists on advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPE) at a primary care and family medicine clinic. Student pharmacists reviewed requests and triaged them to the respective primary care provider (PCP), along with any recommendations to optimize the medication regimen. This study aims to assess the acceptance of these recommendations as well as the student’s perception of this activity as a learning tool. A total of 35 4th-year pharmacy students participated in this activity during APPE rotations from May 2019 to March 2021. A total of 184 recommendations were made, with 128 (70%) being accepted by PCPs. Based on a post-rotation anonymous survey, students reported high levels of agreeance that this activity had a positive impact on their education in a variety of ways. This prescription renewal request review process has been shown to have a positive impact on patient care and clinic workflow while also providing pharmacy students with a helpful educational activity.
‘Making New’ and ‘Attention’ in Poe’s ‘Poetic Principle’ and Olson’s ‘Projective Verse’
Authors: Hellberg Dustin
Published: December 2021

This article argues for a neural basis behind Edgar Allen Poe’s ‘Poetic Principle’ and Charles Olson’s ‘Projective Verse’ to create a more robust cross-disciplinary aesthetic model. Brian Boyd and Ellen Dissanayake show that ‘attention’ and ‘making new’ in poetry is a stable but evolving technique. This shows up in constant variation in ‘classic’ and ‘modern’ poetry and it forms a pattern for interpretation. This article will look at Poe’s and Olson’s essays in relation to this technique, steering their conclusions toward a partially naturalized conception of poetics in conjunction with more standard literary models in order to broaden aesthetic understanding.
Modelling Impact of Site and Terrain Morphological Characteristics on Biomass of Tree Species in Putorana Region
Authors: Merganič Ján , Pichler Viliam , Gömöryová Erika , Fleischer Peter , Homolák Marián , Merganičová Katarína
Published: December 2021

(1) Background: Boreal forests influence global carbon balance and fulfil multiple ecosystem services. Their vegetation growth and biomass are significantly affected by environmental conditions. In the present study we focused on one of the least accessible and least studied parts of the boreal region situated in the western part of Putorana plateau, Central Siberia (Lama and Keta lakes, Krasnoyarsk region), northern Russia. (2) Methods: We derived local height-diameter and crown radius-height models for six tree species. We used univariate correlation and multiple regression analyses to examine the relationships between tree biomass and environmental conditions. (3) Results: Total tree biomass stock (aboveground tree biomass + aboveground and buried deadwood) varied between 6.47 t/ha and 149 t/ha, while total deadwood biomass fluctuated from 0.06 to 21.45 t/ha. At Lama, biomass production decreased with elevation. At Keta, the relationship of biomass to elevation followed a U shape. Stand biomass changed with micro-terrain morphology and soil nutrient content, while the patterns were location-specific. (4) Conclusions: The majority of the derived models were significant and explained most of the variability in the relationships between tree diameter or crown radius and tree height. Micro-site environmental conditions had a substantial effect on tree biomass in the studied locations.
Herbicide Efficacy of Spot Spraying Systems in Fallow and Postharvest in the Pacific Northwest Dryland Wheat Production Region
Authors: Genna Nicholas , Gourlie Jennifer , Barroso Judit
Published: December 2021

Real-time spot spraying technology has the potential to reduce herbicide costs and slow herbicide resistance. However, few studies exist on the efficacy of this technology in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). This research compared the herbicide efficacy (reduction in weed density and cover) of WEED-IT and WeedSeeker spot spraying systems to uniform spraying in fallow and postharvest in 2019 and 2020. Weed community types included naturally occurring weeds, natural + Russian thistle (Salsola tragus L.), or natural + kochia (Bassia scoparia (L.) A. J. Scott). Herbicides included glyphosate or the pre-mix bromoxynil + pyrasulfotole. Additionally, herbicide efficacy was studied with short stubble (~10 cm), tall stubble (~25 cm), and normal stubble (~20 cm) with chaff and straw removed. In fallow, herbicide efficacy was 1.5 times higher for uniform applications than for WEED-IT or WeedSeeker in 2019 and 2020. Herbicide efficacy was also 1.9 times higher for uniform applications in postharvest in 2019 but no differences were found in 2020. The weed community impacted herbicide efficacy but herbicide efficacy did not differ between residue management treatments. Finally, WEED-IT and WeedSeeker used 53% less herbicide volume in comparison to uniform applications. This research demonstrated that spot spraying technology can be efficacious and economical for growers in the PNW.
The Role of the GSTF11 Gene in Resistance to Powdery Mildew Infection and Cold Stress
Authors: Mikhaylova Elena , Khusnutdinov Emil , Shein Michael Yu , Alekseev Valentin Yu , Nikonorov Yuri , Kuluev Bulat
Published: December 2021

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus) is an economically important crop. In a temperate climate, powdery mildew Erysiphe crucifertaum can drastically reduce its yield. Nevertheless, cultivars resistant to this fungal disease have not yet been selected. Glutathione S-transferase GSTF11 is involved in glucosinolate (GSL) biosynthesis and response to stress, including fungal deceases. However, the impact of exogenous GSTF11 gene expression on resistance to powdery mildew has not yet been confirmed and requires further investigation. Transgenic B. napus was generated for this purpose. It demonstrated increased GST activity and a higher GSH:GSSG ratio under normal conditions. Powdery mildew Erysiphe crucifertaum caused 50% mortality in wild type (WT) plants. In most of transgenic plants, mycelium growth was inhibited. The infection contributed to higher GSTF11 expression and increased levels of glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) in both transgenic and WT plants. In contrast, GSTF11 mRNA content, GST activity and GSSG level were lower only in WT plants. In transgenic plants, increased resistance to powdery mildew correlated with a lower GSH:GSSG ratio, indicating a higher content of neutralized toxic molecules. GSTF11 expression was also affected by cold stress, but not drought. At −1 °C, the expression level increased only in transgenic plants. Therefore, GSTF11 appears to be nonspecific and is able to protect plants under several types of stress. This gene could be used as a target in the production of stress tolerant cultivars.
Pre-Harvest MeJA Application Counteracts the Deleterious Impact of Al and Mn Toxicity in Highbush Blueberry Grown in Acid Soils
Authors: González-Villagra Jorge , Pino Rocio , Inostroza-Blancheteau Claudio , Cartes Paula , Ribera-Fonseca Alejandra , Reyes-Díaz Marjorie
Published: December 2021

Volcanic ash-derived soils are characterized by low pH (pH ≤ 5.5) with increased concentrations of aluminum (Al3+) and manganese (Mn2+), which decreases plant growth, fruit quality, and yield. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) improves abiotic stress tolerance. Our work aimed to evaluate the application of MeJA’s impact on the growth, antioxidant defense, and fruit quality of highbush blueberry grown under Al and Mn toxicity. A field assay was conducted with four-year-old bushes of highbush blueberry cultivar Legacy under eight treatments (Control, Al (87% of Al saturation), Mn (240 mg kg−1), and Al–Mn with and without MeJA application). Physiological, biochemical, and fruit quality parameters were measured. Growth rate significantly decreased with Al (20%), Mn (45%), and Al–Mn (40%). MeJA application recovered the growth rate. Photosynthetic parameters were not affected. Antioxidant activity increased under all treatments compared with controls, being higher with MeJA application. Total phenols (TP) were decreased in plants under Al (43%) and Mn (20%) compared with controls. MeJA application increased TP in all treatments. Fruits of bushes under Al and Mn toxicity with MeJA applications exhibited an increase in fruit firmness and weight, maintaining suitable contents of soluble solids. Our results provide insights about the beneficial effect of MeJA application on growth, antioxidant properties, and fruit quality of highbush blueberry plants grown in acid soils under Al and Mn toxicity.
Assessment of Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of the Endangered Astragalus exscapus subsp. transsilvanicus through DNA-Based Molecular Markers
Authors: Szabo Katalin , Pamfil Doru , Bădărău Alexandru Sabin , Hârţa Monica
Published: December 2021

Astragalus exscapus L. subsp. transsilvanicus (Schur) Nyár. (Fabaceae) is a rare plant endemic to the Transylvanian Plateau, represented by 24 identified populations. Limited information on the genetic variation and population structure is available, which obstructs efficient measures for conservation strategy. The present study aimed to analyze the genetic diversity and population structure of eight populations of A. exscapus subsp. transsilvanicus revealed by sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers. A total of 164 bands were amplified, 96.7% of which (159) were polymorphic. Nei’s gene diversity index (He) was estimated to be 0.228 at the population level and 0.272 at the subspecies level. The genetic differentiation among populations (Gst) was 0.165, which indicated a low proportion of total genetic diversity. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that 17% of the total variation of A. exscapus subsp. transsilvanicus is found among the populations, while 83% was found within the populations. A UPGMA dendrogram, principal coordinate analysis, and the STRUCTURE software grouped the populations into two clusters uncorrelated with the provenience of the 125 individuals, which might be attributed to fragmentation processes, insect pollination, population size, and specific environmental conditions of the habitats.
Biosafe Management of Botrytis Grey Mold of Strawberry Fruit by Novel Bioagents
Authors: Hassan Elhagag A. , Mostafa Yasser S. , Alamri Saad , Hashem Mohamed , Nafady Nivien A.
Published: December 2021

Recently, there have been urgent economic and scientific demands to decrease the use of chemical fungicides during the treatment of phytopathogens, due to their human health and environmental impacts. This study explored the biocontrol efficacy of novel and eco-friendly preen (uropygial) oil and endophytic Bacillus safensis in managing postharvest Botrytis grey mold in strawberry fruit. The preen oil (25 μL/mL) showed high antifungal activity against B. cinerea Str5 in terms of the reduction in the fungal radial growth (41.3%) and the fungal colony-forming units (28.6%) compared to the control. A new strain of Bacillus safensis B3 had a good potential to produce chitinase enzymes (3.69 ± 0.31 U/mL), hydrolytic lipase (10.65 ± 0.51 U/mL), and protease enzymes (13.28 ± 0.65 U/mL), which are responsible for the hydrolysis of the B. cinerea Str5 cell wall and, consequently, restrict fungal growth. The in vivo experiment on strawberry fruit showed that preen (uropygial) oil reduced the disease severity by 87.25%, while the endophytic bacteria B. safensis B3 reduced it by 86.52%. This study reports the efficiency of individually applied bioagents in the control of phytopathogenic fungi for the first time and, consequently, encourages their application as a new and innovative strategy for prospective agricultural technology and food safety.
Introduction of a New Interesting Walnut Cultivar “Leto”
Authors: Manthos Ioannis , Rouskas Dimos
Published: December 2021

Ιn an effort to create walnut cultivars (Juglans regia) with high productivity, fruit quality and lateral bearing, a new cultivar, named “Leto”, was created by the cross “Gustine” × “Pedro”. Its main phenological and pomological characteristics were assessed according to the criteria of IPGR (1994) and UPOV-TG/125/6 (1999), for 10 consecutive years and compared with its maternal cultivars and “Chandler”. Observations showed that “Leto” has high lateral bearing habit (90%) and presents satisfactory yield at the full production age. The tree size is smaller than that of its parents and “Chandler”, female flowers bloom from 11 to 22 of April and male from 3 to 6 of April. “Leto” nuts are harvested at the end of September, present easy hull dehiscence and high kernel percentage. Other positive nut characteristics of “Leto” are light kernel color, well kernel filling and easy removal of the kernel halves. “Leto” is a mid-early cultivar of great interest due to its high- quality nuts, suitable for dense plantings, in regions where the last spring frosts occur in late March to early April, thus, making it a promising cultivar for Greece, but also for other regions with similar geomorphological and climatic conditions.
Evaluation of Arabian Vascular Plant Barcodes (rbcL and matK): Precision of Unsupervised and Supervised Learning Methods towards Accurate Identification
Authors: Jamdade Rahul , Upadhyay Maulik , Al Shaer Khawla , Al Harthi Eman , Al Sallani Mariam , Al Jasmi Mariam , Al Ketbi Asma
Published: December 2021

Arabia is the largest peninsula in the world, with >3000 species of vascular plants. Not much effort has been made to generate a multi-locus marker barcode library to identify and discriminate the recorded plant species. This study aimed to determine the reliability of the available Arabian plant barcodes (>1500; rbcL and matK) at the public repository (NCBI GenBank) using the unsupervised and supervised methods. Comparative analysis was carried out with the standard dataset (FINBOL) to assess the methods and markers’ reliability. Our analysis suggests that from the unsupervised method, TaxonDNA’s All Species Barcode criterion (ASB) exhibits the highest accuracy for rbcL barcodes, followed by the matK barcodes using the aligned dataset (FINBOL). However, for the Arabian plant barcode dataset (GBMA), the supervised method performed better than the unsupervised method, where the Random Forest and K-Nearest Neighbor (gappy kernel) classifiers were robust enough. These classifiers successfully recognized true species from both barcode markers belonging to the aligned and alignment-free datasets, respectively. The multi-class classifier showed high species resolution following the two classifiers, though its performance declined when employed to recognize true species. Similar results were observed for the FINBOL dataset through the supervised learning approach; overall, matK marker showed higher accuracy than rbcL. However, the lower rate of species identification in matK in GBMA data could be due to the higher evolutionary rate or gaps and missing data, as observed for the ASB criterion in the FINBOL dataset. Further, a lower number of sequences and singletons could also affect the rate of species resolution, as observed in the GBMA dataset. The GBMA dataset lacks sufficient species membership. We would encourage the taxonomists from the Arabian Peninsula to join our campaign on the Arabian Barcode of Life at the Barcode of Life Data (BOLD) systems. Our efforts together could help improve the rate of species identification for the Arabian Vascular plants.
Effect of Low Nanodiamond Concentrations and Polymerization Techniques on Physical Properties and Antifungal Activities of Denture Base Resin
Authors: Fouda Shaimaa M. , Gad Mohammed M. , Ellakany Passent , Al Ghamdi Maram A. , Khan Soban Q. , Akhtar Sultan , Al Eraky Doaa M. , Al-Harbi Fahad A.
Published: December 2021

Background: Denture base resin has some drawbacks. This study investigated the impact of nanodiamonds (ND) and autoclave polymerization on the surface characteristics, translucency, and Candida albicans adherence in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) denture base resin after thermocycling. Methods: Heat-polymerized PMMA discs (15 × 2 mm) with a total sample size n = 160 were studied. Specimens were categorized into two main groups (N = 80): conventional water-bath-polymerized PMMA (CP/PMMA) and autoclave-polymerized PMMA (AP/PMMA). Each group was subdivided according to the ND concentration into four groups (n = 20): unmodified PMMA as a control, and 0.1%, 0.25%, and 0.5% ND–PMMA. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to inspect the morphology of the ND and the ND–PMMA mixtures before heat polymerization. The specimens were exposed to thermal cycling (5000 cycles at 5 and 55 °C), then surface roughness was measured with a non-contact optical interferometric profilometer, contact angle with an automated goniometer, and translucency using a spectrophotometer. Colony-forming units (CFU) were used to determine the adherence of Candida albicans cells to the specimens. ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests for pairwise comparison were utilized for the statistical analysis (α = 0.05). Results: Surface roughness was significantly reduced with ND addition to CP/PMMA (p ˂ 0.001), while the reduction was not statistically significant in AP/PMMA (p = 0.831). The addition of ND significantly reduced the contact angle, translucency, and Candida albicans count of CP/PMMA and AP/PMMA (p ˂ 0.001). The incorporation of ND in conjunction with autoclave polymerization of PMMA showed significant reduction in all tested properties (surface roughness, contact angle and Candida albicans adherence) except translucency (p = 0.726). Conclusions: ND addition to PMMA and autoclave polymerization improved the surface properties with respect to antifungal activities, while the translucency was adversely affected.
Assessing the Compressive and Impact Behavior of Plastic Safety Toe Caps through Computational Modelling
Authors: Rodrigues Pedro Veiga , Ramoa Bruno , Machado Ana Vera , Cardiff Philip , Nóbrega João Miguel
Published: December 2021

Toe caps are one of the most important components in safety footwear, but have a significant contribution to the weight of the shoe. Efforts have been made to replace steel toe caps by polymeric ones, since they are lighter, insulated and insensitive to magnetic fields. Nevertheless, polymeric solutions require larger volumes, which has a negative impact on the shoe’s aesthetics. Therefore, safety footwear manufacturers are pursuing the development of an easy, low-cost and reliable solution to optimize this component. In this work, a solid mechanics toolbox built in the open-source computational library, OpenFOAM®, was used to simulate two laboratory standard tests (15 kN compression and 200 J impact tests). To model the polymeric material behavior, a neo-Hookean hyper-elasto-plastic material law with J2 plastic criteria was employed. A commercially available plastic toe cap was characterized, and the collected data was used for assessment purposes. Close agreements, between experimental and simulated values, were achieved for both tests, with an approximate error of 5.4% and 6.8% for the displacement value in compression and impact test simulations, respectively. The results clearly demonstrate that the employed open-source finite volume computational models offer reliable results and can support the design of toe caps for the R&D footwear industry.
Polydopamine-Bi2WO6-Decorated Gauzes as Dual-Functional Membranes for Solar Steam Generation and Photocatalytic Degradation Applications
Authors: Wang Yea-Chin , Chang Chi-Jung , Huang Chih-Feng , Zhang Hao-Cheng , Kang Chun-Wen
Published: December 2021

The dual-functional Bi2WO6/polydopamine (PDA)-modified gauze membrane has been developed for applications in photocatalytic degradation and solar steam generation. Two types of membrane were prepared by changing the growth sequence of Bi2WO6 nanomaterials and PDA on gauze substrates. The spatial distribution of Bi2WO6 and polydopamine has a great influence on light absorption, photocatalytic degradation, and solar steam generation performances. Bi2WO6 photocatalysts can absorb short-wavelength light for the photocatalytic decoloration of organic dyes. The photothermal polydopamine can convert light into heat for water evaporation. Besides, the gauze substrate provides water transport channels to facilitate water evaporation. The morphology, surface chemistry, and optical properties of Bi2WO6-PDA modified gauzes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and diffuse reflectance spectra. The photothermal properties, wetting properties, and solar steam generation rates of the composite films were also studied. Degradation of 96% of indigo carmine was achieved after being irradiated for 120 min in the presence of G/PDA/BWNP. The water evaporation rates of the G/BWP/PDA sample under the irradiation of an Xe lamp (light intensity = 1000 W/m2) reached 1.94 kg·m−2·h−1.
Iron-Loaded Carbon Aerogels Derived from Bamboo Cellulose Fibers as Efficient Adsorbents for Cr(VI) Removal
Authors: Xue Xiaolin , Yuan Wei , Zheng Zhuo , Zhang Jian , Ao Chenghong , Zhao Jiangqi , Wang Qunhao , Zhang Wei , Lu Canhui
Published: December 2021

A unique iron/carbon aerogel (Fe/CA) was prepared via pyrolysis using ferric nitrate and bamboo cellulose fibers as the precursors, which could be used for high-efficiency removal of toxic Cr(VI) from wastewaters. Its composition and crystalline structures were characterized by FTIR, XPS, and XRD. In SEM images, the aerogel was highly porous with abundant interconnected pores, and its carbon-fiber skeleton was evenly covered by iron particles. Such structures greatly promoted both adsorption and redox reaction of Cr(VI) and endowed Fe/CA with a superb adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) (182 mg/g) with a fast adsorption rate (only 8 min to reach adsorption equilibrium), which outperformed many other adsorbents. Furthermore, the adsorption kinetics and isotherms were also investigated. The experiment data could be much better fitted by the pseudo-second-order kinetics model with a high correlating coefficient, suggesting that the Cr(VI) adsorption of Fe/CA was a chemical adsorption process. Meanwhile, the Langmuir model was found to better describe the isotherm curves, which implied the possible monolayer adsorption mechanism. It is noteworthy that the aerogel adsorbent as a bulk material could be easily separated from the water after adsorption, showing high potential in real-world water treatment.
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Cracking Process of Bisphenol F Epoxy Resin under High-Energy Particle Impact
Authors: Xing Yunqi , Chen Yuanyuan , Chi Jiakai , Zheng Jingquan , Zhu Wenbo , Wang Xiaoxue
Published: December 2021

The current lead insulation of high-temperature superconductivity equipment is under the combined action of large temperature gradient field and strong electric field. Compared with a uniform temperature field, its electric field distortion is more serious, and it is easy to induce surface discharge to generate high-energy particles, destroy the insulation surface structure and accelerate insulation degradation. In this paper, the degradation reaction process of bisphenol F epoxy resin under the impact of high-energy particles, such as O3−, HO–, H3O+ and NO+, is calculated based on ReaxFF simulation. According to the different types of high-energy particles under different voltage polarities, the micro-degradation mechanism, pyrolysis degree and pyrolysis products of epoxy resin are analyzed. The results show that in addition to the chemical reaction of high-energy particles with epoxy resin, their kinetic energy will also destroy the molecular structure of the material, causing the cross-linked epoxy resin to pyrolyze, and the impact of positive particles has a more obvious impact on the pyrolysis of epoxy resin.
Design of Customized TPU Lattice Structures for Additive Manufacturing: Influence on the Functional Properties in Elastic Products
Authors: de la Rosa Sergio , Mayuet Pedro F. , Méndez Salgueiro José Ramón , Rodríguez-Parada Lucía
Published: December 2021

This work focuses on evaluating and establishing the relationship of the influence of geometrical and manufacturing parameters in stiffness of additively manufactured TPU lattice structures. The contribution of this work resides in the creation of a methodology that focuses on characterizing the behavior of elastic lattice structures. Likewise, resides in the possibility of using the statistical treatment of results as a guide to find favorable possibilities within the range of parameters studied and to predict the behavior of the structures. In order to characterize their behavior, different types of specimens were designed and tested by finite element simulation of a compression process using Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) tools. The tests showed that the stiffness depends on the topology of the cells of the lattice structure. For structures with different cell topologies, it has been possible to obtain an increase in the reaction force against compression from 24.7 N to 397 N for the same manufacturing conditions. It was shown that other parameters with a defined influence on the stiffness of the structure were the temperature and the unit size of the cells, all due to the development of fusion mechanisms and the variation in the volume of material used, respectively.
Utilization of Cellulose to Its Full Potential: A Review on Cellulose Dissolution, Regeneration, and Applications
Authors: Acharya Sanjit , Liyanage Sumedha , Parajuli Prakash , Rumi Shaida Sultana , Shamshina Julia L. , Abidi Noureddine
Published: December 2021

As the most abundant natural polymer, cellulose is a prime candidate for the preparation of both sustainable and economically viable polymeric products hitherto predominantly produced from oil-based synthetic polymers. However, the utilization of cellulose to its full potential is constrained by its recalcitrance to chemical processing. Both fundamental and applied aspects of cellulose dissolution remain active areas of research and include mechanistic studies on solvent–cellulose interactions, the development of novel solvents and/or solvent systems, the optimization of dissolution conditions, and the preparation of various cellulose-based materials. In this review, we build on existing knowledge on cellulose dissolution, including the structural characteristics of the polymer that are important for dissolution (molecular weight, crystallinity, and effect of hydrophobic interactions), and evaluate widely used non-derivatizing solvents (sodium hydroxide (NaOH)-based systems, N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc)/lithium chloride (LiCl), N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO), and ionic liquids). We also cover the subsequent regeneration of cellulose solutions from these solvents into various architectures (fibers, films, membranes, beads, aerogels, and hydrogels) and review uses of these materials in specific applications, such as biomedical, sorption, and energy uses.
Biomedical PEVA Nanocomposite with Dual Clay Nanofiller: Cytotoxicity, Mechanical Properties, and Biostability
Authors: Mohammed Fitri Tuty Fareyhynn , Osman Azlin Fazlina , Alosime Eid M. , Othman Rahimah , Hashim Fatimah , Abdullah Mohd Aidil Adhha
Published: December 2021

Poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) (PEVA) nanocomposite incorporating dual clay nanofiller (DCN) of surface modified montmorillonite (S-MMT) and bentonite (Bent) was studied for biomedical applications. In order to overcome agglomeration of the DCN, the S-MMT and Bent were subjected to a physical treatment prior to being mixed with the copolymer to form nanocomposite material. The S-MMT and Bent were physically treated to become S-MMT(P) and Bent(pH-s), respectively, that could be more readily dispersed in the copolymer matrix due to increments in their basal spacing and loosening of their tactoid structure. The biocompatibility of both nanofillers was assessed through a fibroblast cell cytotoxicity assay. The mechanical properties of the neat PEVA, PEVA nanocomposites, and PEVA-DCN nanocomposites were evaluated using a tensile test for determining the best S-MMT(P):Bent(pH-s) ratio. The results were supported by morphological studies by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Biostability evaluation of the samples was conducted by comparing the ambient tensile test data with the in vitro tensile test data (after being immersed in simulated body fluid at 37 °C for 3 months). The results were supported by surface degradation analysis. Our results indicate that the cytotoxicity level of both nanofillers reduced upon the physical treatment process, making them safe to be used in low concentration as dual nanofillers in the PEVA-DCN nanocomposite. The results of tensile testing, SEM, and TEM proved that the ratio of 4:1 (S-MMT(P):Bent(pH-s)) provides a greater enhancement in the mechanical properties of the PEVA matrix. The biostability assessment indicated that the PEVA-DCN nanocomposite can achieve much better retention in tensile strength after being subjected to the simulated physiological fluid for 3 months with less surface degradation effect. These findings signify the potential of the S-MMT(P)/Bent(pH-s) as a reinforcing DCN, with simultaneous function as biostabilizing agent to the PEVA copolymer for implant application.
Fire Behavior of Wood-Based Composite Materials
Authors: Renner Juliana Sally , Mensah Rhoda Afriyie , Jiang Lin , Xu Qiang , Das Oisik , Berto Filippo
Published: December 2021

Wood-based composites such as wood plastic composites (WPC) are emerging as a sustainable and excellent performance materials consisting of wood reinforced with polymer matrix with a variety of applications in construction industries. In this context, wood-based composite materials used in construction industries have witnessed a vigorous growth, leading to a great production activity. However, the main setbacks are their high flammability during fires. To address this issue, flame retardants are utilized to improve the performance of fire properties as well as the flame retardancy of WPC material. In this review, flame retardants employed during manufacturing process with their mechanical properties designed to achieve an enhanced flame retardancy were examined. The addition of flame retardants and manufacturing techniques applied were found to be an optimum condition to improve fire resistance and mechanical properties. The review focuses on the manufacturing techniques, applications, mechanical properties and flammability studies of wood fiber/flour polymer/plastics composites materials. Various flame retardant of WPCs and summary of future prospects were also highlighted.
Mutability and Relationality: Towards an African Four-Dimensionalist Pan-Psychism
Authors: Cordeiro-Rodrigues Luis
Published: December 2021

This article challenges a certain Theist conception of God as immutable. I argue that the idea that God is immutable can be challenged on the grounds of its metaphysical groundwork. More precisely, I contend that the idea that God is immutable entails endurantism, which I demonstrate to be mistaken. This view cannot be right because it potentially involves three absurd implications: (a) a violation of the principle of the Indiscernibility of Identicals (b) the idea that God becomes a different God with any change that occurs (c) the view that only the present is real and there is no future and past. As these solutions are absurd, the endurantist view ought to be abandoned. I then suggest an alternative theory that does not meet the same problems, which I call African four-dimensionalist Pan-Psychism. This theory I advance maintains that God is the sum of His spatial and temporal parts, is mutable and has relational properties (e.g., He changes with the occurrence of evil or good in the world). I uphold that this view does not have the absurd implications of its competitors.
A History of Neonatal Uterine Bleeding and Its Significance
Authors: Benagiano Giuseppe , Habiba Marwan , Lippi Donatella , Brosens Ivo A.
Published: December 2021

Bleeding in newborns and young girls fascinated writers for more than a millennium. Initially, there was confusion between neonatal bleeding, early menstruation due to precocious puberty, and hemorrhage due to disease. During the 19th century descriptions appeared of what is referred to today as ‘neonatal menstruation’ or ‘neonatal uterine bleeding’. By the turn of the century, Halban linked bleeding to active substances present during pregnancy and hypothesized that, while the maternal uterus reacts with decidua formation, the “weaker” fetal uterus reacts only with menstrual-like changes. Despite this clear description, several alternative theories endured for decades. Bleeding was believed to be due to a ‘catarrhal’ or neoplastic state of the genital tract, pulmonary circulatory disorder, congenital heart malformations, closure of the umbilical cord or affections of the intestine. During the 1950s, progesterone response and resistance were proposed to explain the pathogenesis of bleeding and its low incidence. The fetal endometrium is resistant to the high circulating progesterone. A decidual response is infrequent and results in menstrual shedding upon progesterone withdrawal after birth. Further research linked fetal stress consequent to pregnancy complications and post-maturity to increased incidence and preterm birth to reduced incidence of neonatal uterine bleeding.
Modal Kinematic Analysis of a Parallel Kinematic Robot with Low-Stiffness Transmissions
Authors: Righettini Paolo , Strada Roberto , Cortinovis Filippo
Published: December 2021

Several industrial robotic applications that require high speed or high stiffness-to-inertia ratios use parallel kinematic robots. In the cases where the critical point of the application is the speed, the compliance of the main mechanical transmissions placed between the actuators and the parallel kinematic structure can be significantly higher than that of the parallel kinematic structure itself. This paper deals with this kind of system, where the overall performance depends on the maximum speed and on the dynamic behavior. Our research proposes a new approach for the investigation of the modes of vibration of the end-effector placed on the robot structure for a system where the transmission’s compliance is not negligible in relation to the flexibility of the parallel kinematic structure. The approach considers the kinematic and dynamic coupling due to the parallel kinematic structure, the system’s mass distribution and the transmission’s stiffness. In the literature, several papers deal with the dynamic vibration analysis of parallel robots. Some of these also consider the transmissions between the motors and the actuated joints. However, these works mainly deal with the modal analysis of the robot’s mechanical structure or the displacement analysis of the transmission’s effects on the positioning error of the end-effector. The discussion of the proposed approach takes into consideration a linear delta robot. The results show that the system’s natural frequencies and the directions of the end-effector’s modal displacements strongly depend on its position in the working space.