bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supporting Occupational Physicians in the Implementation of Workers’ Health Surveillance: Development of an Intervention Using the Behavior Change Wheel Framework
Authors: Los Felicia S. , van der Molen Henk F. , Hulshof Carel T. J. , de Boer Angela G. E. M.
Published: February 2021

Workers’ health surveillance (WHS) is an important preventive activity aimed at prevention of work-related diseases. However, WHS is not regularly implemented in some EU-countries. As occupational physicians (OPs) have to play an important role in implementation of WHS, this study aimed to develop an intervention to support OPs in implementation of WHS. The behavior change wheel framework (BCW) was used to develop the intervention. First, the problem was defined, and target behavior was selected by using results from a survey study among OPs. Subsequently, change objectives in target behavior were specified. Finally, appropriate intervention functions, behavior change techniques, and modes of delivery were identified to develop the intervention. Target behaviors were (1) OPs initiate WHS, and (2) OPs conduct preventive consultations with workers. OPs’ capabilities, and experienced opportunities were identified as change objectives. Intervention functions (education, training, enablement) and behavior change techniques (information about consequences, demonstration, instructions, behavioral practice, feedback on behavior, goal setting, action planning, reviewing goals) were selected to develop the intervention, delivered by face-to-face group training and e-learning. The proposed intervention consists of training and e-learning to support OPs in implementing WHS. Feasibility and effect of the intervention will be evaluated in future studies.
Community Garden Initiatives Addressing Health and Well-Being Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Infodemiology Aspects, Outcomes, and Target Populations
Authors: Gregis Anna , Ghisalberti Chiara , Sciascia Savino , Sottile Francesco , Peano Cristiana
Published: February 2021

Previous research has suggested that activities such as community gardens could offer a wide range of health benefits. The aim of the article is to systematically review the available literature to analyse the magnitude of the phenomenon, the geographical distribution, and the main characteristics in terms of health outcomes and target populations. The search addresses the question whether the activity in community gardens improves health and well-being outcomes of individuals. From the total amount of 7226, 84 selected articles showed that:(1) up to 50% are published by U.S. universities or institutions; (2) up to 44% of the studies considered “community gardens” as the main activity of the research focus; (3) one-third of the studies included adults; (4) almost 25% of the studies used “general health” as the main outcome when investigating the benefits of community gardens; (5) the percentage of studies that achieved their outcomes was heterogeneous among the different health dimensions. In conclusion, while a certain degree of heterogeneity in the used definition and outcome still exist, community gardens may be a viable strategy for well-being promotion in terms of psychological, social, and physical health and may be considered as an innovative urban strategy to promote urban public health.
Key Physical Factors in the Serve Velocity of Male Professional Wheelchair Tennis Players
Authors: Sánchez-Pay Alejandro , Martínez-Gallego Rafael , Crespo Miguel , Sanz-Rivas David
Published: February 2021

The aim of this study was to identify the physical factors related to serve speed in male professional wheelchair tennis players (WT). Nine best nationally-ranked Spanish male wheelchair tennis players (38.35 ± 11.28 years, 63.77 ± 7.01 kg) completed a neuromuscular test battery consisting of: isometric handgrip strength; serve velocity; 5, 10 and 20 m sprint (with and without racket); agility (with and without racket); medicine ball throw (serve, forehand and backhand movements); and an incremental endurance test specific to WT. Significantly higher correlations were observed in serve (r = 0.921), forehand (r = 0.810) and backhand (r = 0.791) medicine ball throws showing a positive correlation with serve velocity. A regression analysis identified a single model with the medicine ball throw serve as the main predictor of serve velocity (r2 = 0.847, p < 0.001). In conclusion, it is recommended that coaches and physical trainers include medicine ball throw workouts in the training programs of WT tennis players due to the transfer benefits to the serve speed.
Changing Dental Profession—Modern Forms and Challenges in Dental Practice
Authors: Wolf Thomas Gerhard , Campus Guglielmo
Published: February 2021

In the last two decades, an increasing trend towards new forms of dental practice was observed [...]
Risk of Postoperative Bleeding in Tonsillectomy for Peritonsillar Abscess, as Opposed to in Recurrent and Chronic Tonsillitis—A Retrospective Study
Authors: Slouka David , Čejková Štěpánka , Hanáková Jana , Hrabačka Petr , Kormunda Stanislav , Kalfeřt David , Skálová Alena , Šimánek Václav , Kucera Radek
Published: February 2021

Tonsillectomy is a routine surgery in otorhinolaryngology and the occurrence of postoperative bleeding is not a rare complication. The aim of this retrospective, observational, analytic, cohort study is to compare the incidence of this complication for the most common indications. A group of patients indicated for tonsillectomies for peritonsillar abscess (group I) was compared to a group of patients indicated for chronic and recurrent tonsillitis (group II). There are a lot of pathophysiological differences in patients indicated for acute tonsillectomy for peritonsillar abscess and in patients indicated for elective tonsillectomy for chronic or recurrent tonsillitis. No technique to minimize the risk of bleeding after tonsillectomy has been found and a large part of postoperative bleeding occurs in postoperative home-care, which makes this issue topical. In total, 2842 unilateral tonsillectomies from the years 2014–2019 were included in the study. Bleeding occurred in 10.03% and, surprisingly, despite completely different conditions in the field of surgery (oedema, acute inflammation in peritonsillar abscess), there was no statistically significant difference between incidence of postoperative bleeding in the studied groups (p = 0.9920). The highest incidence of bleeding was found in the patients of group I on the eighth postoperative day, with those aged 20–24 years (p = 0.0235) being the most at risk, and in group II, on the sixth postoperative day, with those aged 25–29 years (p = 0.0128) and 45–49 years (p = 0.0249) being the most at risk.
Self-Injurious Behavior in Community Youth
Authors: Son Yeonkyeong , Kim Sojung , Lee Jong-Sun
Published: February 2021

The rapid increase of self-injurious behavior among Korean adolescents, and its reckless spread on social media, has driven the necessity to study this behavior. The present study investigates the characteristics of self-injurious behavior among adolescents in local communities, and the psychological factors affecting such behavior. Questionnaires were administered to 516 sixth graders in elementary school and first to third graders in middle school of both genders, nationwide. They measured the prevalence and characteristics of self-injurious behavior and the relevant psychological factors, such as levels of depression, anxiety, and self-esteem. Furthermore, group differences were assessed for self-injury experience and the characteristics relevant to self-injurious behavior. In addition, this study performs logistic regression to explore the risk factors predicting self-injurious behavior. In all, 166 participants (32.2%) reported self-injury, with a higher rate of self-injury in female students than in male students. Although the study finds high rates of mild forms of self-injury, such as “biting”, “pulling hair,” and “hitting self”, it also finds relatively high reports of more risky methods, such as “cutting or carving”. The logistic regression shows a significant effect of the negative self-image sub-factor of depression (CDI) and oversensitivity and physical and sleep problems sub-factors of anxiety (RCMAS) on self-injurious behavior. The rates of self-injury were higher in female participants than in male ones, and adolescents in local communities reported higher rates of mild forms of self-injury than the moderate/severe forms. The results of this study suggest that early screenings and interventions should be conducted through evaluation of self-image and emotional stability of early adolescents to hinder the risk of self-harm.
Factors Related to Intentions to Commit Dating Violence among Taiwanese University Students: Application of the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior
Authors: Lin Chung-Ying , Tseng Ying-Hua , Lin Mei-Ling , Hou Wen-Li
Published: February 2021

Dating violence (DV) constitutes a major public health and safety issue worldwide; however, only limited research into this important subject has been conducted in Taiwan. This study examined university students’ intention to commit DV, based on the expanded theory of planned behavior (TPB), with a history of family violence and gender stereotyping also included as further factors in the original TPB model. A total random sample consisting of 450 university students from four universities in four regions in Taiwan, namely, the northern, southern, central, and eastern regions, participated. Of these participants, 365 (81.1%) completed all of the parts of the questionnaires, which included a survey of demographic data, such as any history of family violence; a gender stereotyping questionnaire; and a DV behavioral intention questionnaire. The results showed that the three main variables of the TPB—that is, subjective norms, attitudes, and perceived behavioral control—significantly related to university students’ intentions to commit DV. More specifically, university students’ attitudes and subjective norms emerged as significant related factors of their intention to commit DV behaviors. Overall, the expanded TPB explained 30.4% of the variance in DV intentions, and attitude was the most significant factors after controlling the background variables. These findings can hopefully be used to help design and implement programs for the prevention of DV behaviors among university students.
Sex-Related Differences in the Association between Metabolic Syndrome and Gallstone Disease
Authors: Baratta Francesco , Pastori Daniele , Cocomello Nicholas , Colantoni Alessandra , Ferro Domenico , Angelico Francesco , Del Ben Maria
Published: February 2021

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and gallstone disease (GD) share common risk factors. Several epidemiological studies reported that subjects with Mets are more likely to have GD than those without and that cholecystectomy (CHO) may increase the risk of MetS. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between MetS and GD in a large cohort of patients with metabolic risk factors in Italy. The study was performed in 620 consecutive outpatients referring to the University outpatients’ clinic for the management of cardiovascular risk factors. MetS were diagnosed according to the ATPIII Expert Panel modified criteria. GD was defined as gallstones documented by abdominal ultrasound (US) or previous cholecystectomy. The prevalence of GD was significantly higher in women than in men (22.3% vs. 13.1%, p = 0.003). Both prevalence of GD (17.1% vs. 8.4%, p = 0.015) and CHO (9.0% vs. 1.7%, p = 0.002) were significantly higher in males with MetS as compared to those without. By contrast, the prevalence of GD and of CHO was similar in women with and without MetS. After correction for confounders, MetS was an independent predictor of both GD (odds ratio (OR) 1.943, p = 0.048) and CHO (OR 5.075, p = 0.011) in men, but not in women. In conclusion, in this study, including western subjects with cardiometabolic risk factors, the association between GD, prior CHO and MetS were found in men, but not in women.
Cracking the Breast Cancer Glyco-Code through Glycan-Lectin Interactions: Targeting Immunosuppressive Macrophages
Authors: Lopes Nuno , Correia Viviana G. , Palma Angelina S. , Brito Catarina
Published: February 2021

The immune microenvironment of breast cancer (BC) is composed by high macrophage infiltrates, correlated with the most aggressive subtypes. Tumour-associated macrophages (TAM) within the BC microenvironment are key regulators of immune suppression and BC progression. Nevertheless, several key questions regarding TAM polarisation by BC are still not fully understood. Recently, the modulation of the immune microenvironment has been described via the recognition of abnormal glycosylation patterns at BC cell surface. These patterns rise as a resource to identify potential targets on TAM in the BC context, leading to the development of novel immunotherapies. Herein, we will summarize recent studies describing advances in identifying altered glycan structures in BC cells. We will focus on BC-specific glycosylation patterns known to modulate the phenotype and function of macrophages recruited to the tumour site, such as structures with sialylated or N-acetylgalactosamine epitopes. Moreover, the lectins present at the surface of macrophages reported to bind to such antigens, inducing tumour-prone TAM phenotypes, will also be highlighted. Finally, we will discuss and give our view on the potential and current challenges of targeting these glycan-lectin interactions to reshape the immunosuppressive landscape of BC.
Electroacupuncture at Neurogenic Spots in Referred Pain Areas Attenuates Hepatic Damages in Bile Duct-Ligated Rats
Authors: Yi Yoo Jung , Kim Do Hee , Chang Suchan , Ryu Yeonhee , Kim Sang Chan , Kim Hee Young
Published: February 2021

Visceral pain frequently produces referred pain at somatic sites due to the convergence of somatic and visceral afferents. In skin overlying the referred pain, neurogenic spots characterized by hyperalgesia, tenderness and neurogenic inflammation are found. We investigated whether neurogenic inflammatory spots function as acupoints in the rat model of bile duct ligation-induced liver injury. The majority of neurogenic spots were found in the dorsal trunk overlying the referred pain and matched with locations of acupoints. The spots, as well as acupoints, showed high electrical conductance and enhanced expression of the neuropeptides substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Electroacupuncture at neurogenic spots reduced serum hepatocellular enzyme activities and histological patterns of acute liver injury in bile duct ligation (BDL) rats. The results suggest that the neurogenic spots have therapeutic effects as acupoints on hepatic injury in bile-duct ligated rats.
Molecular Dissection of Escherichia coli CpdB: Roles of the N Domain in Catalysis and Phosphate Inhibition, and of the C Domain in Substrate Specificity and Adenosine Inhibition
Authors: López-Villamizar Iralis , Cabezas Alicia , Pinto Rosa María , Canales José , Ribeiro João Meireles , Rodrigues Joaquim Rui , Costas María Jesús , Cameselle José Carlos
Published: February 2021

CpdB is a 3′-nucleotidase/2′3′-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, active also with reasonable efficiency on cyclic dinucleotides like c-di-AMP (3′,5′-cyclic diadenosine monophosphate) and c-di-GMP (3′,5′-cyclic diadenosine monophosphate). These are regulators of bacterial physiology, but are also pathogen-associated molecular patterns recognized by STING to induce IFN-β response in infected hosts. The cpdB gene of Gram-negative and its homologs of gram-positive bacteria are virulence factors. Their protein products are extracytoplasmic enzymes (either periplasmic or cell–wall anchored) and can hydrolyze extracellular cyclic dinucleotides, thus reducing the innate immune responses of infected hosts. This makes CpdB(-like) enzymes potential targets for novel therapeutic strategies in infectious diseases, bringing about the necessity to gain insight into the molecular bases of their catalytic behavior. We have dissected the two-domain structure of Escherichia coli CpdB to study the role of its N-terminal and C-terminal domains (CpdB_Ndom and CpdB_Cdom). The specificity, kinetics and inhibitor sensitivity of point mutants of CpdB, and truncated proteins CpdB_Ndom and CpdB_Cdom were investigated. CpdB_Ndom contains the catalytic site, is inhibited by phosphate but not by adenosine, while CpdB_Cdom is inactive but contains a substrate-binding site that determines substrate specificity and adenosine inhibition of CpdB. Among CpdB substrates, 3′-AMP, cyclic dinucleotides and linear dinucleotides are strongly dependent on the CpdB_Cdom binding site for activity, as the isolated CpdB_Ndom showed much-diminished activity on them. In contrast, 2′,3′-cyclic mononucleotides and bis-4-nitrophenylphosphate were actively hydrolyzed by CpdB_Ndom, indicating that they are rather independent of the CpdB_Cdom binding site.
Cell and Molecular Biology of Thyroid Disorders 2.0
Authors: Grimm Daniela
Published: February 2021

This issue is the second volume of the previous Special Issue, “Cell and Molecular Biology of Thyroid Disorders” [...]
An Evidence-Based Systematic Review of Human Knee Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis (PTOA): Timeline of Clinical Presentation and Disease Markers, Comparison of Knee Joint PTOA Models and Early Disease Implications
Authors: Khella Christine M. , Asgarian Rojiar , Horvath Judith M. , Rolauffs Bernd , Hart Melanie L.
Published: February 2021

Understanding the causality of the post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) disease process of the knee joint is important for diagnosing early disease and developing new and effective preventions or treatments. The aim of this review was to provide detailed clinical data on inflammatory and other biomarkers obtained from patients after acute knee trauma in order to (i) present a timeline of events that occur in the acute, subacute, and chronic post-traumatic phases and in PTOA, and (ii) to identify key factors present in the synovial fluid, serum/plasma and urine, leading to PTOA of the knee in 23–50% of individuals who had acute knee trauma. In this context, we additionally discuss methods of simulating knee trauma and inflammation in in vivo, ex vivo articular cartilage explant and in vitro chondrocyte models, and answer whether these models are representative of the clinical inflammatory stages following knee trauma. Moreover, we compare the pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations used in such models and demonstrate that, compared to concentrations in the synovial fluid after knee trauma, they are exceedingly high. We then used the Bradford Hill Framework to present evidence that TNF-α and IL-6 cytokines are causal factors, while IL-1β and IL-17 are credible factors in inducing knee PTOA disease progresssion. Lastly, we discuss beneficial infrastructure for future studies to dissect the role of local vs. systemic inflammation in PTOA progression with an emphasis on early disease.
Metabolic Requirements for Spermatogonial Stem Cell Establishment and Maintenance In Vivo and In Vitro
Authors: Voigt Anna Laura , Thiageswaran Shiama , de Lima e Martins Lara Nathalia , Dobrinski Ina
Published: February 2021

The spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) is a unique adult stem cell that requires tight physiological regulation during development and adulthood. As the foundation of spermatogenesis, SSCs are a potential tool for the treatment of infertility. Understanding the factors that are necessary for lifelong maintenance of a SSC pool in vivo is essential for successful in vitro expansion and safe downstream clinical usage. This review focused on the current knowledge of prepubertal testicular development and germ cell metabolism in different species, and implications for translational medicine. The significance of metabolism for cell biology, stem cell integrity, and fate decisions is discussed in general and in the context of SSC in vivo maintenance, differentiation, and in vitro expansion.
Energy Metabolites as Biomarkers in Ischemic and Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Haas Jan , Frese Karen S. , Sedaghat-Hamedani Farbod , Kayvanpour Elham , Tappu Rewati , Nietsch Rouven , Tugrul Oguz Firat , Wisdom Michael , Dietrich Carsten , Amr Ali , Weis Tanja , Niederdränk Torsten , Murphy Michael P. , Krieg Thomas , Dörr Marcus , Völker Uwe , Fielitz Jens , Frey Norbert , Felix Stephan B. , Keller Andreas , Katus Hugo A. , Meder Benjamin
Published: February 2021

With more than 25 million people affected, heart failure (HF) is a global threat. As energy production pathways are known to play a pivotal role in HF, we sought here to identify key metabolic changes in ischemic- and non-ischemic HF by using a multi-OMICS approach. Serum metabolites and mRNAseq and epigenetic DNA methylation profiles were analyzed from blood and left ventricular heart biopsy specimens of the same individuals. In total we collected serum from n = 82 patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) and n = 51 controls in the screening stage. We identified several metabolites involved in glycolysis and citric acid cycle to be elevated up to 5.7-fold in DCM (p = 1.7 × 10−6). Interestingly, cardiac mRNA and epigenetic changes of genes encoding rate-limiting enzymes of these pathways could also be found and validated in our second stage of metabolite assessment in n = 52 DCM, n = 39 ischemic HF and n = 57 controls. In conclusion, we identified a new set of metabolomic biomarkers for HF. We were able to identify underlying biological cascades that potentially represent suitable intervention targets.
Development of a Specific Monoclonal Antibody to Detect Male Cells Expressing the RPS4Y1 Protein
Authors: Spena Silvia , Cordiglieri Chiara , Garagiola Isabella , Peyvandi Flora
Published: February 2021

Hemophilia is an X-linked recessive bleeding disorder. In pregnant women carrier of hemophilia, the fetal sex can be determined by non-invasive analysis of fetal DNA circulating in the maternal blood. However, in case of a male fetus, conventional invasive procedures are required for the diagnosis of hemophilia. Fetal cells, circulating in the maternal bloodstream, are an ideal target for a safe non-invasive prenatal diagnosis. Nevertheless, the small number of cells and the lack of specific fetal markers have been the most limiting factors for their isolation. We aimed to develop monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the ribosomal protein RPS4Y1 expressed in male cells. By Western blotting, immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence analyses performed on cell lysates from male human hepatoma (HepG2) and female human embryonic kidney (HEK293) we developed and characterized a specific monoclonal antibody against the native form of the male RPS4Y1 protein that can distinguish male from female cells. The availability of the RPS4Y1-targeting monoclonal antibody should facilitate the development of novel methods for the reliable isolation of male fetal cells from the maternal blood and their future use for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of X-linked inherited disease such as hemophilia.
Outcomes of Lower Extremity Endovascular Revascularization: Potential Predictors and Prevention Strategies
Authors: Biscetti Federico , Nardella Elisabetta , Rando Maria Margherita , Cecchini Andrea Leonardo , Gasbarrini Antonio , Massetti Massimo , Flex Andrea
Published: February 2021

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a manifestation of atherosclerosis, which may affect arteries of the lower extremities. The most dangerous PAD complication is chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). Without revascularization, CLTI often causes limb loss. However, neither open surgical revascularization nor endovascular treatment (EVT) ensure long-term success and freedom from restenosis and revascularization failure. In recent years, EVT has gained growing acceptance among all vascular specialties, becoming the primary approach of revascularization in patients with CLTI. In clinical practice, different clinical outcomes after EVT in patients with similar comorbidities undergoing the same procedure (in terms of revascularization technique and localization of the disease) cause unsolved issues that need to be addressed. Nowadays, risk management of revascularization failure is one of the major challenges in the vascular field. The aim of this literature review is to identify potential predictors for lower extremity endovascular revascularization outcomes and possible prevention strategies.
Nc886, a Novel Suppressor of the Type I Interferon Response Upon Pathogen Intrusion
Authors: Lee Yeon-Su , Bao Xiaoyong , Lee Hwi-Ho , Jang Jiyoung Joan , Saruuldalai Enkhjin , Park Gaeul , Im Wonkyun Ronny , Park Jong-Lyul , Kim Seon-Young , Shin Sooyong , Jeon Sung Ho , Kang Sangmin , Lee Hyun-Sung , Lee Ju-Seog , Zhang Ke , Park Eun Jung , Kim In-Hoo , Lee Yong Sun
Published: February 2021

Interferons (IFNs) are a crucial component in the innate immune response. Especially the IFN-β signaling operates in most cell types and plays a key role in the first line of defense upon pathogen intrusion. The induction of IFN-β should be tightly controlled, because its hyperactivation can lead to tissue damage or autoimmune diseases. Activation of the IFN-β promoter needs Interferon Regulatory Factor 3 (IRF3), together with Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and Activator Protein 1 (AP-1). Here we report that a human noncoding RNA, nc886, is a novel suppressor for the IFN-β signaling and inflammation. Upon treatment with several pathogen-associated molecular patterns and viruses, nc886 suppresses the activation of IRF3 and also inhibits NF-κB and AP-1 via inhibiting Protein Kinase R (PKR). These events lead to decreased expression of IFN-β and resultantly IFN-stimulated genes. nc886′s role might be to restrict the IFN-β signaling from hyperactivation. Since nc886 expression is regulated by epigenetic and environmental factors, nc886 might explain why innate immune responses to pathogens are variable depending on biological settings.
The Evolution of Language Models Applied to Emotion Analysis of Arabic Tweets
Authors: Al-Twairesh Nora
Published: February 2021

The field of natural language processing (NLP) has witnessed a boom in language representation models with the introduction of pretrained language models that are trained on massive textual data then used to fine-tune downstream NLP tasks. In this paper, we aim to study the evolution of language representation models by analyzing their effect on an under-researched NLP task: emotion analysis; for a low-resource language: Arabic. Most of the studies in the field of affect analysis focused on sentiment analysis, i.e., classifying text into valence (positive, negative, neutral) while few studies go further to analyze the finer grained emotional states (happiness, sadness, anger, etc.). Emotion analysis is a text classification problem that is tackled using machine learning techniques. Different language representation models have been used as features for these machine learning models to learn from. In this paper, we perform an empirical study on the evolution of language models, from the traditional term frequency–inverse document frequency (TF–IDF) to the more sophisticated word embedding word2vec, and finally the recent state-of-the-art pretrained language model, bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT). We observe and analyze how the performance increases as we change the language model. We also investigate different BERT models for Arabic. We find that the best performance is achieved with the ArabicBERT large model, which is a BERT model trained on a large dataset of Arabic text. The increase in F1-score was significant +7–21%.
Effect of Different Rotational Speeds on Graphene-Wrapped SiC Core-Shell Nanoparticles in Wet Milling Medium
Authors: Liang Dong , Yan Ling , Huang Kunkun , Li Yan , Ai Fangfang , Zhang Hongmei , Jiang Zhengyi
Published: February 2021

The effects of the wet milling rotating speed on the number of graphene layers and graphene quality, and the conversion efficiency of graphite exfoliate to graphene, were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results show that the number of few-layer graphene nanometer sheets (GNSs) (≤10 layers) gradually increases with the increase of rotational speed in the range of 160–240 rpm. The proportion of GNSs with 0–10 layers reaches more than 80% as the rotational speed is increased to 280 rpm. GNS defect types in the composite materials are marginal defects with minimal influence and almost no oxidation. In the range of 160–280 rpm, the intensity of graphite peak decreases and the conversion efficiency of graphene increases with the increase of rotational speed. This is the same as the experimental result obtained by HRTEM.
Thermal Evolutions to Glass-Ceramics Bearing Calcium Tungstate Crystals in Borate Glasses Doped with Photoluminescent Eu3+ Ions
Authors: Otsuka Takahito , Brehl Martin , Cicconi Maria Rita , de Ligny Dominique , Hayakawa Tomokatsu
Published: February 2021

Thermal evolutions of calcium-tungstate-borate glasses were investigated for the development of luminescent glass-ceramics by using Eu3+ dopant in a borate glass matrix with calcium tungstate, which was expected to have a combined character of glass and ceramics. This study revealed that single-phase precipitation of CaWO4 crystals in borate glass matrix was possible by heat-treatment at a temperature higher than glass transition temperature Tg for (100−x) (33CaO-67B2O3)−xCa3WO6 (x = 8−15 mol%). Additionally, the crystallization of CaWO4 was found by Raman spectroscopy due to the formation of W=O double bondings of WO4 tetrahedra in the pristine glass despite starting with the higher calcium content of Ca3WO6. Eu3+ ions were excluded from the CaWO4 crystals and positioned in the borate glass phase as a stable site for them, which provided local environments in higher symmetry around Eu3+ ions.
Process Design for a Production of Sustainable Materials from Post-Production Clay
Authors: Łach Michał , Gado Reda A. , Marczyk Joanna , Ziejewska Celina , Doğan-Sağlamtimur Neslihan , Mikuła Janusz , Szechyńska-Hebda Magdalena , Hebda Marek
Published: February 2021

Alkali activated cement (AAC) can be manufactured from industrial by-products to achieve goals of “zero-waste” production. We discuss in detail the AAC production process from (waste) post-production clay, which serves as the calcium-rich material. The effect of different parameters on the changes in properties of the final product, including morphology, phase formation, compressive strength, resistance to the high temperature, and long-term curing is presented. The drying and grinding of clay are required, even if both processes are energy-intensive; the reduction of particle size and the increase of specific surface area is crucial. Furthermore, calcination at 750 °C ensure approximately 20% higher compressive strength of final AAC in comparison to calcination performed at 700 °C. It resulted from the different ratio of phases: Calcite, mullite, quartz, gehlenite, and wollastonite in the final AAC. The type of activators (NaOH, NaOH:KOH mixtures, KOH) affected AAC mechanical properties, significantly. Sodium activators enabled obtaining higher values of strength. However, if KOH is required, the supplementation of initial materials with fly ash or metakaolin could improve the mechanical properties and durability of AAC, even c.a. 28%. The presented results confirm the possibility of recycling post-production clay from the Raciszyn II Jurassic limestone deposit.
Influence of Magnetic Field on the Distribution of the Ferromagnetic Component in Centrifugally Cast Ceramic-Metal Gradient Composites
Authors: Zygmuntowicz Justyna , Wachowski Marcin , Zielant Dominika , Kaszuwara Waldemar
Published: February 2021

The main aim of the investigation was to determine the impact of the content of nickel and the content of slurry on the nature of the microstructure and physical properties of the final products. In the study, six types of slurries were examined and prepared, differing in both the amounts of content of Ni metallic phase particles (5 vol.%, 10 vol.%, and 20 vol.%) and the amount of content of solid content in the prepared slurries (35 vol.%, and, 50 vol.%). The centrifugal slip casting (CSC) method in a magnetic field was used to fabricate the composites. This technique allowed the production of high-density ZrO2-Ni composites after sintering. Composites containing 50 vol.% of the solid content were characterized by a relative density equal to 99%. Applying the magnetic field allows controlling the distribution of the ferromagnetic phase (Ni) in the ceramic matrix (ZrO2). Based on the results obtained, it was found that the nature of the composites obtained is influenced by the rheological properties of the slurries, depending on their composition. The applicability of the CSC in the magnetic field technique for the production of the composite is characterized by a gradient in the distribution of components on the longitudinal section and has been proved. Based on the obtained results, a model for shaping the microstructure of composites with a longitudinal section was proposed. This work enabled a better understanding of creating microstructures in materials fabricated by centrifugal slip casting in a magnetic field.
Effect of Nano Silicon Dioxide Coating Films on the Quality Characteristics of Fresh-Cut Cantaloupe
Authors: Sami Rokayya , Almatrafi Manal , Elhakem Abeer , Alharbi Mona , Benajiba Nada , Helal Mahmoud
Published: February 2021

The prime objective of the research was to explore the coating effects of chitosan and nano-silicon dioxide with nisin as an antimicrobial agent on physicochemical properties, microbiological stability, and sensorial quality changes during the storage at 4 °C. The combination of nano-material and chitosan in addition to nisin was effective for reducing the postharvest attributes of fresh-cut cantaloupes in addition to the highest score in sensory evaluation. Chitosan coating treatment enhanced the microbiological quality 2.50 log CFU/g and 1.87 log CFU/g for aerobic counts and mold/yeasts populations, respectively. In a word, the combination of chitosan/nano-silica/nisin treatment was the best condition for fresh-cut cantaloupe shelf life extension by maintaining color, vitamin C 22.29 mg/100g, peroxidase activity 8.06 U/min.g, and other microbiological tests up to storage time of 8 days.
Influence of Agronomic Practice on Total Phenols, Carotenoids, Chlorophylls Content, and Biological Activities in Dry Herbs Water Macerates
Authors: Sikorska-Zimny Kalina , Lisiecki Paweł , Gonciarz Weronika , Szemraj Magdalena , Ambroziak Maja , Suska Olga , Turkot Oliwia , Stanowska Małgorzata , Rutkowski Krzysztof P. , Chmiela Magdalena , Mielicki Wojciech
Published: February 2021

Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) have long been known for their organoleptic properties. Both plants are widely used in cuisine worldwide in fresh and dried form and as a pharmaceutical raw material. The study aimed to assess if the type of cultivation influenced chosen chemical parameters (total polyphenols by Folin-Ciocalteu method; carotenoids and chlorophyll content by Lichtenthaler method), antimicrobial activity (with chosen reference microbial strains) and shaped cytotoxicity (with L929 mouse fibroblasts cell line) in water macerates of dry oregano and thyme. Polyphenols content and antimicrobial activity were higher in water macerates obtained from conventional cultivation (independently from herb species), unlike the pigments in a higher amount in macerates from organic herbs cultivation. Among all tested macerates stronger antimicrobial properties (effective in inhibiting the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus and Salmonella enteritidis) and higher cytotoxicity (abilities to diminish the growth of L929 fibroblasts cytotoxicity) characterized the conventionally cultivated thyme macerate.
Extracts of Digested Berries Increase the Survival of Saccharomyces cerevisiae during H2O2 Induced Oxidative Stress
Authors: Oliveira Gabriel , Radovanovic Nataša , Nunes Maria Cecilia do Nascimento , Fristedt Rikard , Alminger Marie , Andlid Thomas
Published: February 2021

Many studies suggest anthocyanins may prevent the development of several diseases. However, anthocyanin bioactivity against cellular stress is not fully understood. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of berry anthocyanins on stressed cells using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The impact of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on anthocyanin profiles was also assessed. Bilberry and blackcurrant had higher anthocyanin levels than raspberry and strawberry, but digestion reduced the detected anthocyanins by approximately 90%. Yeast cells with and without digested or nondigested anthocyanin extracts were exposed to H2O2 and examined for survival. In the presence of anthocyanins, particularly from digested strawberry, a significant increase in cell survival was observed, suggesting that the type and levels of anthocyanins are important factors, but they also need to undergo gastrointestinal (GI) structural modifications to induce cell defence. Results also showed that cells need to be exposed to anthocyanins before the stress was applied, suggesting induction of a cellular defence system by anthocyanins or their derivatives rather than by a direct antioxidative effect on H2O2. Overall, data showed that exposure of severely stressed yeast cells to digested berry extracts improved cell survival. The findings also showed the importance of considering gastrointestinal digestion when evaluating anthocyanins’ biological activity.
Germanium Nanowires as Sensing Devices: Modelization of Electrical Properties
Authors: Seravalli Luca , Ferrari Claudio , Bosi Matteo
Published: February 2021

In this paper, we model the electrical properties of germanium nanowires with a particular focus on physical mechanisms of electrical molecular sensing. We use the Tibercad software to solve the drift-diffusion equations in 3D and we validate the model against experimental data, considering a p-doped nanowire with surface traps. We simulate three different types of interactions: (1) Passivation of surface traps; (2) Additional surface charges; (3) Charge transfer from molecules to nanowires. By analyzing simulated I–V characteristics, we observe that: (i) the largest change in current occurs with negative charges on the surfaces; (ii) charge transfer provides relevant current changes only for very high values of additional doping; (iii) for certain values of additional n-doping ambipolar currents could be obtained. The results of these simulations highlight the complexity of the molecular sensing mechanism in nanowires, that depends not only on the NW parameters but also on the properties of the molecules. We expect that these findings will be valuable to extend the knowledge of molecular sensing by germanium nanowires, a fundamental step to develop novel sensors based on these nanostructures.
Conversion of Glycerol to Value Added Products in a Semi-Continuous Batch Reactor Using Noble Metals Supported on ZSM-11 Zeolite
Authors: Diguilio Eliana , Renzini María S. , Pierella Liliana B. , Domine Marcelo E.
Published: February 2021

Au, Pt, and Pd supported on ZSM-11 microporous zeolite were investigated as catalysts for glycerol (GLY) oxidation towards higher value added products. ZSM-11 was synthesized by hydrothermal treatment. Subsequently, ion exchange with NH4Cl was performed to recover acidic sites and then, Au, Pt, and Pd were incorporated onto this material by wet impregnation procedure. After thermal treatment of desorption and calcination, the corresponding Au, Pt, and Pd-ZSM-11 catalysts were obtained. These materials were characterized by different techniques, such as XRD, ICP, TEM- XEDS, and XPS, and were evaluated in the glycerol oxidation reaction by using alkaline medium and molecular oxygen as oxidizing agent. The higher conversion of GLY (66.5 mol.%) was reached for the Pt–ZSM-11 catalyst with moderate selectivity towards lactic acid (LA), while the bimetallic Au-Pt-ZSM-11 catalyst offered high selectivity to LA at moderate GLY conversion. Optimization of the main reaction parameters (i.e., temperature, reaction time and NaOH/GLY ratio) was carried out to maximize the selectivity towards the LA desired product. Thus, LA selectivity values close to 55% at GLY conversion >65% can be reached by using Pt-ZSM-11 as a catalyst under mild reaction conditions.
Non-Coding RNAs in Retinoic Acid as Differentiation and Disease Drivers
Authors: García-Padilla Carlos , Lozano-Velasco Estefanía , López-Sánchez Carmen , Garcia-Martínez Virginio , Aranega Amelia , Franco Diego
Published: February 2021

All-trans retinoic acid (RA) is the most active metabolite of vitamin A. Several studies have described a pivotal role for RA signalling in different biological processes such as cell growth and differentiation, embryonic development and organogenesis. Since RA signalling is highly dose-dependent, a fine-tuning regulatory mechanism is required. Thus, RA signalling deregulation has a major impact, both in development and disease, related in many cases to oncogenic processes. In this review, we focus on the impact of ncRNA post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms, especially those of microRNAs and lncRNAs, in RA signalling pathways during differentiation and disease.
Hybrid Polycarbosilane-Siloxane Dendrimers: Synthesis and Properties
Authors: Milenin Sergey A. , Selezneva Elizaveta V. , Tikhonov Pavel A. , Vasil’ev Viktor G. , Buzin Alexander I. , Balabaev Nikolay K. , Kurbatov Andrey O. , Petoukhov Maxim V. , Shtykova Eleonora V. , Feigin Lev A. , Tatarinova Elena A. , Kramarenko Elena Yu. , Chvalun Sergey N. , Muzafarov Aziz M.
Published: February 2021

A series of carbosilane dendrimers of the 4th, 6th, and 7th generations with a terminal trimethylsilylsiloxane layer was synthesized. Theoretical models of these dendrimers were developed, and equilibrium dendrimer conformations obtained via molecular dynamics simulations were in a good agreement with experimental small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data demonstrating molecule monodispersity and an almost spherical shape. It was confirmed that the glass transition temperature is independent of the dendrimer generation, but is greatly affected by the chemical nature of the dendrimer terminal groups. A sharp increase in the zero-shear viscosity of dendrimer melts was found between the 5th and the 7th dendrimer generations, which was qualitatively identical to that previously reported for polycarbosilane dendrimers with butyl terminal groups. The viscoelastic properties of high-generation dendrimers seem to follow some general trends with an increase in the generation number, which are determined by the regular branching structure of dendrimers.
Low-Temperature Methane Partial Oxidation over Pd Supported on CeO2: Effect of the Preparation Method and Precursors
Authors: Fazlikeshteli Shiva , Vendrell Xavier , Llorca Jordi
Published: February 2021

The catalytic production of syngas by the partial oxidation of methane (POM) was investigated over Pd supported on ceria (0.5–2 Pd wt.%) prepared by incipient wetness impregnation and by mechanochemical methods. The performance of the Pd/CeO2 catalyst prepared by milling CeO2 and Pd acetate was superior to that prepared by milling CeO2 and Pd nitrate and to Pd/CeO2 prepared by impregnation from Pd acetate. The best catalytic activity of the Pd/CeO2 catalyst prepared from CeO2 and Pd acetate was obtained by milling at 50 Hz for 5 min. Two-step combustion and reforming reaction mechanism were identified. Remarkably, methane conversion increased progressively with Pd loading for the catalysts prepared by incipient wetness impregnation, whereas low metal loading showed better conversion of methane for the catalysts prepared by ball milling using Pd acetate. This was explained in terms of an impressive dispersion of Pd species with a strong interaction with the surface of ceria, as deduced from transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy characterization, which revealed a large quantity of highly oxidized species at the surface.
Estimating the Leaf Nitrogen Content with a New Feature Extracted from the Ultra-High Spectral and Spatial Resolution Images in Wheat
Authors: Jiang Jiale , Zhu Jie , Wang Xue , Cheng Tao , Tian Yongchao , Zhu Yan , Cao Weixing , Yao Xia
Published: February 2021

Real-time and accurate monitoring of nitrogen content in crops is crucial for precision agriculture. Proximal sensing is the most common technique for monitoring crop traits, but it is often influenced by soil background and shadow effects. However, few studies have investigated the classification of different components of crop canopy, and the performance of spectral and textural indices from different components on estimating leaf nitrogen content (LNC) of wheat remains unexplored. This study aims to investigate a new feature extracted from near-ground hyperspectral imaging data to estimate precisely the LNC of wheat. In field experiments conducted over two years, we collected hyperspectral images at different rates of nitrogen and planting densities for several varieties of wheat throughout the growing season. We used traditional methods of classification (one unsupervised and one supervised method), spectral analysis (SA), textural analysis (TA), and integrated spectral and textural analysis (S-TA) to classify the images obtained as those of soil, panicles, sunlit leaves (SL), and shadowed leaves (SHL). The results show that the S-TA can provide a reasonable compromise between accuracy and efficiency (overall accuracy = 97.8%, Kappa coefficient = 0.971, and run time = 14 min), so the comparative results from S-TA were used to generate four target objects: the whole image (WI), all leaves (AL), SL, and SHL. Then, those objects were used to determine the relationships between the LNC and three types of indices: spectral indices (SIs), textural indices (TIs), and spectral and textural indices (STIs). All AL-derived indices achieved more stable relationships with the LNC than the WI-, SL-, and SHL-derived indices, and the AL-derived STI was the best index for estimating the LNC in terms of both calibration (Rc2 = 0.78, relative root mean-squared error (RRMSEc) = 13.5%) and validation (Rv2 = 0.83, RRMSEv = 10.9%). It suggests that extracting the spectral and textural features of all leaves from near-ground hyperspectral images can precisely estimate the LNC of wheat throughout the growing season. The workflow is promising for the LNC estimation of other crops and could be helpful for precision agriculture.