bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis of Pilotis Structures Supported by Drift-Hardening Concrete Columns
Authors: Yuan Shiyu , Takeuchi Takashi , Sun Yuping
Published: September 2023

Pilotis structures consisting of upper concrete bearing-walls and a soft first story have been well used in residential and office buildings in urban areas to primarily accommodate parking lots. In this research, drift-hardening concrete (DHC) columns developed by the authors are proposed to form the pilotis story with the aims of reducing its excessive residual drift caused by stronger earthquakes than anticipated in current seismic codes, mitigating damage degree, and enhancing resilience of the pilotis story. Nonlinear dynamic analysis was conducted to investigate the dynamic response characteristics of the wall structures supported by DHC columns. To this end, two sample six-story one-bay pilotis structures were designed following the current Japanese seismic design codes and analyzed. One sample structure is supported by ductile concrete (DC) columns, while the other is supported by DHC columns, which have the same dimensions, steel amount, and concrete strength as DC columns. Three representative ground motions were adopted for the nonlinear dynamic analysis. The analytical parameter was the amplitude of peak ground acceleration (PGA), scaled by the peak ground velocity (PGV) ranging between 12.5 cm/s and 100 cm/s with an interval of 12.5 cm/s. The analytical results have revealed that the residual drift of the pilotis story composed of DHC columns could be reduced to nearly zero under selected earthquakes scaled up to PGV = 100 cm/s, owing to not only the inherent self-centering ability of DHC columns but also the shake-down effect, which implies that the use of DHC columns can greatly enhance resilience of pilotis structures under strong earthquake inputs and promote its application in the buildings located in strong earthquake-prone regions. The maximum inter-story shear forces (MISFs) along the building height of the two models are also compared.
Preparation and Use of Iron on Carbon Foam for Removal of Organic Dye from Water: Batch Studies
Authors: Khumalo Siphesihle Praise-God , Lokhat David , Sewpersad Ajay
Published: September 2023

The presence of dyes in effluents from textile industries has a detrimental effect on aquatic ecosystems as it hinders the process of photosynthesis by reducing the penetration of sunlight. The adsorption capacity of a carbon foam-based iron oxide sorbent obtained from natural sources for the removal of organic methylene blue (MB) dye from water was investigated. The adsorption capacities were examined by batch experiments, wherein the impacts of varying iron content, sorbent dosage, contact time, dye concentration, and characterization were assessed. The physical characteristics and surface morphology of the synthesized carbon foam were also investigated. The carbon precursor and iron oxide precursor were coalesced within a singular container and subjected to carbonization process. This resulted in the formation of a porous structure that is capable of effectively providing support to the iron oxide particles. The carbon foam produced is a self-assembled formation that possesses the characteristic shape and underlying network structure reminiscent of bread. As the number of nanoparticles went up, so did the number of active sites. At elevated temperatures, the interactions between the dye molecules were enhanced, resulting in a more efficient process of dye removal. The magnetite sample exhibited endothermic adsorption, and all other samples exhibited exothermic adsorption. The adsorption of MB onto iron supported by carbon foam did not exhibit intraparticle diffusion as the only rate-limiting step for all samples. The adsorption rate was governed by a multistep elementary reaction mechanism in which multiple processes occurred simultaneously. The experimental data in this study may be accurately modeled by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 > 0.96). Additionally, the Freundlich isotherm best describes the adsorption equilibrium, which is supported by the outstanding fit of data to the model (R2 > 0.999). The findings suggest that the utilization of a natural carbon foam as a support for an immobilized iron oxide sorbent demonstrates considerable effectiveness in the removal of methylene dye from industrial effluent.
Influence of Design Parameters on Mechanical Behavior of Multi-Bolt, Countersunk C/SiC Composite Joint Structure
Authors: Wang Hongcui , Guo Lijia , Li Weijie , Zhang Mengshan , Hong Yiqiang , Yang Wei , Zhang Zhongwei
Published: September 2023

Aerospace vehicle connection constructions are in urgent need of joint structures with excellent aerodynamic profiles and environmental adaptability. To address issues such as poor aerodynamic profile, material thermal expansion coefficient mismatch, and limited joint structure evaluation indexes, a multi-bolt, countersunk C/SiC composite joint structure is presented in this study. The development of a 3D Hashin progressive damage model and its dedicated solver code is presented. The validity of the model is confirmed by comparing simulation results with experimental data. Three evaluation indexes are proposed, peak load, weight increment efficiency, and bolt load distribution, to thoroughly evaluate the mechanical performance of multi-bolt, countersunk C/SiC composite joint structures. Using the proposed model and evaluation indices, we evaluate sixteen different designs of multi-bolt, countersunk C/SiC composite joint structures and analyze how design parameters affect their mechanical properties and damage patterns. The results show that the best mechanical properties of the joint structure are achieved when the ratio of bolt pitch to through hole diameter is 3, the ratio of bolt spacing between columns to through hole diameter is 4, the ratio of the distance between the free edge of the substrate to through hole diameter is 1.5, the ratio of through hole diameter to specimen thickness is 1.7, and the ratio of the distance between the edge of the substrate to through hole diameter is 1.5.
Identification of a Shewanella halifaxensis Strain with Algicidal Effects on Red Tide Dinoflagellate Prorocentrum triestinum in Culture
Authors: Cruz-Balladares Victoria , Avalos Vladimir , Vera-Villalobos Hernán , Cameron Henry , Gonzalez Leonel , Leyton Yanett , Riquelme Carlos
Published: September 2023

The dinoflagellate Prorocentrum triestinum forms high biomass blooms that discolor the water (red tides), which may pose a serious threat to marine fauna and aquaculture exploitations. In this study, the algicidal effect of a bacterial strain (0YLH) belonging to the genus Shewanella was identified and evaluated against P. triestinum. The algicidal effects on the dinoflagellate were observed when P. triestinum was exposed to cell-free supernatant (CFS) from stationary-phase cultures of the 0YLH strain. After 24 h exposure, a remarkable reduction in the photosynthetic efficiency of P. triestinum was achieved (55.9%), suggesting the presence of extracellular bioactive compounds produced by the bacteria with algicidal activity. Furthermore, the CFS exhibited stability and maintained its activity across a wide range of temperatures (20–120 °C) and pH values (3–11). These findings highlight the algicidal potential of the bacterium Shewanella halifaxensis 0YLH as a promising tool for the environmentally friendly biological control of P. triestinum blooms.
Low-Field Benchtop NMR to Discover Early-Onset Sepsis: A Proof of Concept
Authors: Stocchero Matteo , Cannet Claire , Napoli Claudia , Demetrio Elena , Baraldi Eugenio , Giordano Giuseppe
Published: September 2023

Low-field (LF) benchtop NMR is a new family of instruments available on the market, promising for fast metabolic fingerprinting and targeted quantification of specific metabolites despite a lack of sensitivity and resolution with respect to high-field (HF) instruments. In the present study, we evaluated the possibility to use the urinary metabolic fingerprint generated using a benchtop LF NMR instrument for an early detection of sepsis in preterm newborns, considering a cohort of neonates previously investigated by untargeted metabolomics based on Mass Spectrometry (MS). The classifier obtained behaved similarly to that based on MS, even if different classes of metabolites were taken into account. Indeed, investigating the regions of interest mainly related to the development of sepsis by a HF NMR instrument, we discovered a set of relevant metabolites associated to sepsis. The set included metabolites that were not detected by MS, but that were reported as relevant in other published studies. Moreover, a strong correlation between LF and HF NMR spectra was observed. The high reproducibility of the NMR spectra, the interpretability of the fingerprint in terms of metabolites and the ease of use make LF benchtop NMR instruments promising in discovering early-onset sepsis.
Exogenous Putrescine Modulates Nitrate Reductase-Dependent NO Production in Cucumber Seedlings Subjected to Salt Stress
Authors: Napieraj Natalia , Janicka Małgorzata , Augustyniak Beata , Reda Małgorzata
Published: September 2023

Polyamines (PAs) are small aliphatic compounds that participate in the plant response to abiotic stresses. They also participate in nitric oxide (NO) production in plants; however, their role in this process remains unknown. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the role of putrescine (Put) in NO production in the roots of cucumber seedlings subjected to salt stress (120 mM NaCl) for 1 and 24 h. In salinity, exogenous Put can regulate NO levels by managing NO biosynthesis pathways in a time-dependent manner. In cucumber roots exposed to 1 h of salinity, exogenous Put reduced NO level by decreasing nitrate reductase (NR)-dependent NO production and reduced nitric oxide synthase-like (NOS-like) activity. In contrast, during a 24 h salinity exposure, Put treatment boosted NO levels, counteracting the inhibitory effect of salinity on the NR and plasma membrane nitrate reductase (PM-NR) activity in cucumber roots. The role of endogenous Put in salt-induced NO generation was confirmed using Put biosynthesis inhibitors. Furthermore, the application of Put can modulate the NR activity at the genetic and post-translational levels. After 1 h of salt stress, exogenous Put upregulated CsNR1 and CsNR2 expression and downregulated CsNR3 expression. Put also decreased the NR activation state, indicating a reduction in the level of active dephosphorylated NR (dpNR) in the total enzyme pool. Conversely, in the roots of plants subjected to 24 h of salinity, exogenous Put enhanced the NR activation state, indicating an enhancement of the dpNR form in the total NR pool. These changes were accompanied by a modification of endogenous PA content. Application of exogenous Put led to an increase in the amount of Put in the roots and reduced endogenous spermine (Spm) content in cucumber roots under 24 h salinity. The regulatory role of exogenous Put on NO biosynthesis pathways may link with plant mechanisms of response to salt stress.
Modeling of Particulate Pollutants Using a Memory-Based Recurrent Neural Network Implemented on an FPGA
Authors: Ramírez-Montañez Julio Alberto , Rangel-Magdaleno Jose de Jesús , Aceves-Fernández Marco Antonio , Ramos-Arreguín Juan Manuel
Published: September 2023

The present work describes the training and subsequent implementation on an FPGA board of an LSTM neural network for the modeling and prediction of the exceedances of criteria pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5). Understanding the behavior of pollutants and assessing air quality in specific geographical regions is crucial. Overexposure to these pollutants can cause harm to both natural ecosystems and living organisms, including humans. Therefore, it is essential to develop a solution that can accurately evaluate pollution levels. One potential approach is to implement a modified LSTM neural network on an FPGA board. This implementation obtained an 11% improvement compared to the original LSTM network, demonstrating that the proposed architecture is able to maintain its functionality despite reducing the number of neurons in its initial layers. It shows the feasibility of integrating a prediction network into a limited system such as an FPGA board, but easily coupled to a different system. Importantly, this implementation does not compromise the prediction accuracy for both 24 h and 72 h time frames, highlighting an opportunity for further enhancement and refinement.
Experimental Investigation of the Machining Characteristics in Graphite-Powder-Mixed Electrochemical Discharge Machining of Microholes in Glass
Authors: Tang Weidong , Yao Jikai , Zhang Jize , Zhao Quancai , Fan Lixiang , Mao Cong , Kang Xiaoming , Li Xuyu , Chen Shuhan
Published: September 2023

The effect of graphite powder on the machining characteristics in graphite-powder-mixed electrochemical discharge machining of microholes was still not clear. How the discharge mechanism changed with the addition of graphite powder into the electrolyte, which further led to changes in the morphology of the machined holes, remained to be revealed. In this study, a series of microhole machining experiments were conducted in glass. Comparisons of the discharge energy, microhole entrance diameter, hole taper, and tool electrode morphology after machining were made when machining in the electrolytes with and without graphite powder. Experimental results revealed that there were a lot of small pulse currents distributed on the current waveform when machining with the graphite-powder-mixed electrolyte. The average discharge energy of the small pulse current was 2.8 times as much as that of the general electrochemical discharge. After introducing graphite powder into the electrolyte, the entrance diameter of the hole became larger when the hole depth was deeper than 200 μm. The HAZ width increased with increasing hole depth at the voltage of 37–41 V, while it decreased at the voltage of 43 V. A reduction in hole taper angle with a range of 0.5° to 2.3° was achieved. In addition, after machining in electrolytes with and without graphite powder, the tool electrode surfaces showed different morphologies due to different discharges.
Types and Genesis of Siderite in the Coal-Bearing Beds of the Late Permian Xuanwei Formation in Eastern Yunnan, China
Authors: Tang Hailei , Zhao Qing , Liu Bo , Tan Shucheng , Shi Kaibo
Published: September 2023

The Late Permian strata of the Xuanwei Formation in the eastern Yunnan region exhibit extensive diverse morphological features within siderite deposits. These variations in siderite deposits suggest potential differences in their formation processes. In this study, fieldwork and comprehensive indoor studies revealed four distinct forms of siderite deposits: stratiform-laminated, lens-like nodule, sandstone cementation, and fracture filling. The stratiform-laminated siderite, varying in color from bluish-grey to dark grey, is composed of uniformly sized microcrystalline to fine-grained siderite along with detrital matter, displaying precise layering and banding structures that suggest direct deposition from cyclic iron-rich seawater under reducing conditions. Lens-like-nodule siderite, which appears grey-yellow, is composed of mud microcrystalline siderite, medium to coarse-grained pseudo-ooids, and glauconite. It shows conformable distribution characteristics resulting from the diagenetic differentiation of iron-rich sediments under reducing conditions during the diagenetic and early diagenetic periods. Siderite as sandstone cementation exhibits a yellow-brown color and consists of dispersed colloidal siderite and cemented siderite clumps that fill intergranular pores of detrital particles. It precipitated under reducing conditions within those intergranular pores. Siderite filling fractures typically appear as vein-like or network-like structures intersecting bedding at large angles. They exhibit grain structures with significant variations in size. These siderite deposits exhibit exceptional purity and result from siderite dissolution during sedimentary periods, followed by reprecipitation within regional extensional fractures during the diagenetic phase. The primary occurrence of siderite deposits in the study area is within coal-bearing strata, as revealed by the integration of sedimentary profiles and sedimentary facies analysis. The coal-bearing strata, influenced by the Emeishan large igneous province, underwent iron enrichment during and after volcanic eruptions while developing a reducing environment, which was facilitated by abundant vegetation. Consequently, geological processes led to siderite layers, lens-like siderite nodules, and siderite cementation. The Yanshan orogeny induced extensive high-angle fracture development in epigenetic coal-bearing strata, facilitating fluid circulation and the redistribution of soluble siderite. This geological activity resulted in the formation of vein-like structures composed of siderite.
Precambrian Tectonic Affinity of Hainan and Its Evolution from Columbia to Rodinia
Authors: Zhang Limin , Cui Xiang , Yang Yong , Chen Si , Zhao Bin , Deng Xiguang
Published: September 2023

The assembly and break-up of supercontinents have been hot research topics in international earth sciences because they represent a breakthrough in reconstructing the history of continental evolution and deepening the theory of plate tectonics, which is of indispensable importance to the development of earth sciences. With the continuous enrichment of paleomagnetic, paleontological, chronological, and geochemical data in the last two decades, the evolution of the supercontinent from Columbia to Rodinia has gradually gained unified understanding, and the reconstruction of the major plates within the supercontinent has basically been constrained. In contrast, the reconstruction of microplates, such as South China, Tarim, and Kabul, is controversial and has now become a popular topic and frontier area of supercontinent reconstruction. Hainan lies at the southern tip of South China, and a few Proterozoic units are exposed on the island. At present, Hainan is often taken as a part of the Cathaysia Block. However, due to the lack of exposed Mesoproterozoic igneous and supercrustal rocks in Cathaysia, the reconstruction model of the Cathaysia Block and even the South China Craton based solely on Mesoproterozoic units in Hainan are distinct from those based on units in the Yangtze Block and younger Proterozoic units within the Cathaysia Block, which makes the paleoposition of the South China Craton controversial. In this paper, we provide new detrital zircon U–Pb age data for the Baoban Complex, Hainan, together with the available data to comment on the affinities between Hainan and the Yangtze and Cathaysia Blocks in the Proterozoic, and on this basis, we can reconstruct the South China Craton within the Proterozoic supercontinents.
Myrcene: A Natural Compound Showing Anticancer Activity in HeLa Cells
Authors: Pincigher Luca , Valenti Francesca , Bergamini Christian , Prata Cecilia , Fato Romana , Amorati Riccardo , Jin Zongxin , Farruggia Giovanna , Fiorentini Diana , Calonghi Natalia , Zalambani Chiara
Published: September 2023

γ-terpinene, α-terpinene, p-cymene, and myrcene are monoterpenes found in many essential oils extracted from a variety of plants and spices. Myrcene also occurs naturally in plants such as hops, cannabis, lemongrass, and verbena and is used as a flavoring agent in food and beverage manufacturing. In this research, the biological efficacy of γ-terpinene, α-terpinene, p-cymene, and myrcene was studied in human cell lines (HeLa, SH-SY5Y, and HDFa). Cytotoxicity, cell proliferation, cell migration, and morphology assays were performed to obtain detailed information on the anticancer properties. Our results show that myrcene has potential biological activity, especially in HeLa cells. In this cell line, it leads to an arrest of proliferation, a decrease in motility and morphological changes with loss of sphericity and thickness, and DNA damage. In addition, the interaction of γ-terpinene, α-terpinene, p-terpinene, and myrcene with calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) was studied by UV-visible spectrophotometry. DNA binding experiments show that only myrcene can interact with DNA with an apparent dissociation constant (Kd) of 29 × 10−6 M.
GeO2 Nanoparticles Decorated in Amorphous Carbon Nanofiber Framework as Highly Reversible Lithium Storage Anode
Authors: Xie Wenhe , Liu Congcong , Hu Chen , Ma Yuanxiao , Li Xuefeng , Wang Qian , An Zhe , Liu Shenghong , Sun Haibin , Sun Xiaolei
Published: September 2023

Germanium oxide (GeO2) is a high theoretical capacity electrode material due to its alloying and conversion reaction. However, the actual cycling capacity is rather poor on account of suffering low electron/ion conductivity, enormous volume change and agglomeration in the repeated lithiation/delithiation process, which renders quite a low reversible electrochemical lithium storage reaction. In this work, highly amorphous GeO2 particles are uniformly distributed in the carbon nanofiber framework, and the amorphous carbon nanofiber not only improves the conduction and buffers the volume changes but also prevents active material agglomeration. As a result, the present GeO2 and carbon composite electrode exhibits highly reversible alloying and conversion processes during the whole cycling process. The two reversible electrochemical reactions are verified by differential capacity curves and cyclic voltammetry measurements during the whole cycling process. The corresponding reversible capacity is 747 mAh g−1 after 300 cycles at a current density of 0.3 A g−1. The related reversible capacities are 933, 672, 487 and 302 mAh g−1 at current densities of 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 A g−1, respectively. The simple strategy for the design of amorphous GeO2/carbon composites enables potential application for high-performance LIBs.
Synthesis and Characterization of Phosphorus-Containing Sorbent for Basic Dye Removal
Authors: Wawrzkiewicz Monika , Frynas Sławomir , Podkościelna Beata
Published: September 2023

A new phosphorus-containing sorbent was prepared by copolymerizing ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and trimethylvinyl silane (TMVS) with diphenylvinylphoshine oxide (DPVO). It was characterized and applied in the removal of cationic dyes such as C.I. Basic Yellow 2 (BY2), C.I. Basic Blue 3 (BB3) and C.I. Basic Red 46 (BR46) using the batch method. Spectroscopic analysis indicated that the phosphinoyl group was introduced into the sorbent structure. Equilibrium adsorption data were fitted to the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm models. The Freundlich model is the most suitable to describe the adsorption of BB3 (the Freundlich constant kF = 32.3 mg1−1/nL1/n/g) and BY2 on the sorbent (13.8 mg1−1/nL1/n/g), while the Langmuir model is the most adequate to describe the adsorption of BR46 (the monolayer capacity Q0 = 2.7 mg/g). The kinetics of the dye adsorption follows the assumptions of the pseudo-second-order (the rate constants k2 = 0.087 ÷ 0.738 g/mg min) model rather than pseudo-first-order or intraparticle diffusion. The presence of Na2SO4 and cationic surfactant in the aqueous solutions inhibited dye retention by the DPVO–EGDMA–TMVS. Adsorbent regeneration efficiency does not exceed 60% using 1 M NaCl and 1 M HCl solutions in the presence of 50% v/v methanol.
Nonlinear Optical Properties from Engineered 2D Materials
Authors: Shi Jia , Feng Shifeng , He Peng , Fu Yulan , Zhang Xinping
Published: September 2023

Two-dimensional (2D) materials with atomic thickness, tunable light-matter interaction, and significant nonlinear susceptibility are emerging as potential candidates for new-generation optoelectronic devices. In this review, we briefly cover the recent research development of typical nonlinear optic (NLO) processes including second harmonic generation (SHG), third harmonic generation (THG), as well as two-photon photoluminescence (2PPL) of 2D materials. Nonlinear light-matter interaction in atomically thin 2D materials is important for both fundamental research and future optoelectronic devices. The NLO performance of 2D materials can be greatly modulated with methods such as carrier injection tuning, strain tuning, artificially stacking, as well as plasmonic resonant enhancement. This review will discuss various nonlinear optical processes and corresponding tuning methods and propose its potential NLO application of 2D materials.
Decomposition of SO2 on Ni(111) Surface and the Effect of Metal Doping: A First-Principles Study
Authors: Liu Lingtao , Zhang Chenxin , Wang Wenshou , Li Genghong , Zhu Bingtian
Published: September 2023

Sulfides poisoning of metallic Ni is an important issue in catalyst deactivation. SO2, similar to H2S and other sulfides, is an impurity presented in reactants or during the regeneration steps. Herein, spin-polarized density functional theory calculations were used to study the adsorption and decomposition of SO2 on a pristine and metal-doped Ni(111) surface. The adsorption energy, transition state energy, and partial density of state (PDOS) were calculated. On the pristine Ni(111) surface, ten different configurations were considered, and three typical ones were selected for transition state searching. It was found that the reaction barrier of the first S-O bond dissociation was much higher than that of the second one. Doping the top layer with a second metal could strongly change the adsorption and decomposition behavior. Doping with 3/9ML Co slightly increases the adsorption energy of SO2 for most configurations and decreases the reaction barriers of the SO2-tht-2 decomposition, while the others decrease the adsorption ability and increase the barriers. The order of adsorption energy for the most stable configurations is Co > Ni > Cu > Rh > Pd. The order of the first S-O bond dissociation reaction barriers is Pd > Rh > Cu = Ni > Co, and the order of the second bond dissociation barrier is Rh > Pd > Cu > Ni > Co.
Potential of Natural Phenolic Compounds as Antimicrobial Agents against Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Chicken Meat
Authors: Morshdy Alaa Eldin M. A. , Abdallah Karima M. E. , Abdallah Heba E. , Algahtani Fahad D. , Elabbasy Mohamed Tharwat , Atique Suleman , Ahmad Khursheed , Al-Najjar Mohammad A. A. , Abdallah Hossam M. , Mahmoud Abdallah Fikry A.
Published: September 2023

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most widespread foodborne bacteria that cause high morbidity, mortality, and economic loss, primarily if foodborne diseases are caused by pathogenic and multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of S. aureus in chicken meat in Egyptian markets. Thus, this study might be the first to assess the efficiency of different natural phenolic compounds as novel antibacterial agents against MDR S. aureus pathogens isolated from raw chicken meat in the Egyptian market. The incidence and quantification of pathogenic S. aureus were detected in retail raw chicken meat parts (breast, thigh, fillet, and giblets). In total, 73 out of 80 (91.3%) of the chicken meat parts were contaminated, with S. aureus as the only species isolated. Of the 192 identified S. aureus isolates, 143 were coagulase-positive S. aureus and 117 isolates were MDR (81.8%, 117/143). Twenty-two antibiotic resistance profile patterns were detected. One strain was randomly selected from each pattern to further analyze virulence and resistance genes. Extracted DNA was assessed for the presence of antibiotic-resistance genes, i.e., vancomycin-resistance (vanA), aminoglycosides-resistance (aacA–aphD), apramycin-resistance (apmA), and methicillin-resistance (mecA), penicillin-resistance (blaZ), and virulence genes staphylococcal enterotoxins (sea and seb), Panton–Valentine leucocidin (pvl), clumping factor A (clfA), and toxic shock syndrome toxin (tst). Clustering analyses revealed that six S. aureus strains harbored the most virulence and resistance genes. The activity of hydroquinone was significantly higher than thymol, carvacrol, eugenol, and protocatechuic acid. Therefore, phenolic compounds, particularly hydroquinone, could potentially alternate with conventional antibiotics against the pathogenic MDR S. aureus inhabiting raw chicken meat. Hence, this study indicates that urgent interventions are necessary to improve hygiene for safer meat in Egyptian markets. Moreover, hydroquinone could be a natural phenolic compound for inhibiting foodborne pathogens.
Aquatic Peptide: The Potential Anti-Cancer and Anti-Microbial Activity of GE18 Derived from Pathogenic Fungus Aphanomyces invadans
Authors: Velayutham Manikandan , Priya P. Snega , Sarkar Purabi , Murugan Raghul , Almutairi Bader O. , Arokiyaraj Selvaraj , Kari Zulhisyam Abdul , Tellez-Isaias Guillermo , Guru Ajay , Arockiaraj Jesu
Published: September 2023

Small molecules as well as peptide-based therapeutic approaches have attracted global interest due to their lower or no toxicity in nature, and their potential in addressing several health complications including immune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, osteoporosis and cancer. This study proposed a peptide, GE18 of subtilisin-like peptidase from the virulence factor of aquatic pathogenic fungus Aphanomyces invadans, which elicits anti-cancer and anti-microbial activities. To understand the potential GE18 peptide-induced biological effects, an in silico analysis, in vitro (L6 cells) and in vivo toxicity assays (using zebrafish embryo), in vitro anti-cancer assays and anti-microbial assays were performed. The outcomes of the in silico analyses demonstrated that the GE18 peptide has potent anti-cancer and anti-microbial activities. GE18 is non-toxic to in vitro non-cancerous cells and in vivo zebrafish larvae. However, the peptide showed significant anti-cancer properties against MCF-7 cells with an IC50 value of 35.34 µM, at 24 h. Besides the anti-proliferative effect on cancer cells, the peptide exposure does promote the ROS concentration, mitochondrial membrane potential and the subsequent upregulation of anti-cancer genes. On the other hand, GE18 elicits significant anti-microbial activity against P. aeruginosa, wherein GE18 significantly inhibits bacterial biofilm formation. Since the peptide has positively charged amino acid residues, it targets the cell membrane, as is evident in the FESEM analysis. Based on these outcomes, it is possible that the GE18 peptide is a significant anti-cancer and anti-microbial molecule.
Spin-Label Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Reveals Effects of Wastewater Filter Membrane Coated with Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles on Bovine Serum Albumin
Authors: Sebők-Nagy Krisztina , Kóta Zoltán , Kincses András , Fazekas Ákos Ferenc , Dér András , László Zsuzsanna , Páli Tibor
Published: September 2023

The accumulation of proteins in filter membranes limits the efficiency of filtering technologies for cleaning wastewater. Efforts are ongoing to coat commercial filters with different materials (such as titanium dioxide, TiO2) to reduce the fouling of the membrane. Beyond monitoring the desired effect of the retention of biomolecules, it is necessary to understand what the biophysical changes are in water-soluble proteins caused by their interaction with the new coated filter membranes, an aspect that has received little attention so far. Using spin-label electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), aided with native fluorescence spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS), here, we report the changes in the structure and dynamics of bovine serum albumin (BSA) exposed to TiO2 (P25) nanoparticles or passing through commercial polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes coated with the same nanoparticles. We have found that the filtering process and prolonged exposure to TiO2 nanoparticles had significant effects on different regions of BSA, and denaturation of the protein was not observed, neither with the TiO2 nanoparticles nor when passing through the TiO2-coated filter membranes.
Investigating the Influence of Diffusion on the Cohesive Zone Model of the SiC/Al Composite Interface
Authors: Tahani Masoud , Postek Eligiusz , Sadowski Tomasz
Published: September 2023

Modeling metal matrix composites in finite element software requires incorporating a cohesive zone model (CZM) to represent the interface between the constituent materials. The CZM determines the behavior of traction–separation (T–S) in this region. Specifically, when a diffusion zone is formed due to heat treatment, it becomes challenging to determine experimentally the equivalent mechanical properties of the interface. Additionally, understanding the influence of heat treatment and the creation of a diffusion zone on the T–S law is crucial. In this study, the molecular dynamics approach was employed to investigate the effect of the diffusion region formation, resulting from heat treatment, on the T–S law at the interface of a SiC/Al composite in tensile, shear, and mixed-mode loadings. It was found that the formation of a diffusion layer led to an increase in tensile and shear strengths and work of separation compared with the interfaces without heat treatment. However, the elastic and shear moduli were not significantly affected by the creation of the diffusion layer. Moreover, the numerical findings indicated that the shear strength in the diffusion region was higher when compared with the shear strength of the {111} slip plane within the fcc aluminum component of the composite material. Therefore, in the diffusion region, crack propagation did not occur in the pure shear loading case; however, shear sliding was observed at the aluminum atomic layers.
From Biological Source to Energy Harvesting Device: Surface Protective Ionic Liquid Coatings for Electrical Performance Enhancement of Wood-Based Electronics
Authors: Zharkenova Gulnur , Arkan Emre , Arkan Mesude Zeliha , Feder-Kubis Joanna , Koperski Janusz , Mussabayev Turlybek , Chorążewski Mirosław
Published: September 2023

This study explores task-specific ionic liquids (TSILs) in smart floor systems, highlighting their strong electrical rectification abilities and previously established wood preservative properties. Two types of TSILs, featuring a “sweet” anion and a terpene-based cation, were used to treat selected wood samples, allowing for a comparison of their physical and electrical performance with untreated and commercially treated counterparts. Drop shape analysis and scanning electron microscopy were employed to evaluate the surface treatment before and after coating. Near-IR was used to confirm the presence of a surface modifier, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was utilized to assess the thermal features of the treated samples. The different surface treatments resulted in varied triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) parameters, with the molecular structure and size of the side chains being the key determining factors. The best results were achieved with TSILs, with the instantaneous voltage increasing by approximately five times and the highest voltage reaching 300 V under enhanced loading. This work provides fresh insights into the potential application spectrum of TSILs and opens up new avenues for directly utilizing tested ionic compounds in construction systems.
Advances in Phytonanotechnology: A Plant-Mediated Green Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Using Phyllanthus Plant Extracts and Their Antimicrobial and Anticancer Applications
Authors: Thatyana Maxwell , Dube Nondumiso P. , Kemboi Douglas , Manicum Amanda-Lee E. , Mokgalaka-Fleischmann Ntebogeng S. , Tembu Jacqueline V.
Published: September 2023

Nanoparticles and nanotechnology developments continue to advance the livelihood of humankind. However, health challenges due to microorganisms and cancerous cells continue to threaten many people’s lives globally. Therefore, new technological interventions are of great importance. The phytochemicals present in medicinal plants are suggested as biocompatible, cost-effective, and regenerative sources that can be utilized for the green synthesis of nanoparticles. Different plant extracts with various phytochemical constituents can form nanoparticles with specific shapes, sizes, and optical properties. This review focuses on advances in green nanotechnology and provides details on reliable synthetic routes toward medically and biocompatible relevant metallic nanoparticles. We cover a wide range of applications that use phytonanoparticles with an in-depth look at what makes these materials interesting. The study also provides details of the literature on the interventions made in phytonanotechnology for the production of plant-mediated synthesis and capped metallic nanoparticles and their applications in various industries. It was observed that a variety of plants have been well studied, and detailed findings have been reported; however, the study of Phyllanthus is still in its early stages, and more needs to be uncovered.
Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) Investigation of a 3D Plasmonic Architecture Utilizing Ag Nanoparticles-Embedded Functionalized Carbon Nanowall
Authors: Kim Chulsoo , Hong Byungyou , Choi Wonseok
Published: September 2023

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a highly sensitive technique for detecting DNA, proteins, and single molecules. The design of SERS substrates plays a crucial role, with the density of hotspots being a key factor in enhancing Raman spectra. In this study, we employed carbon nanowall (CNW) as the nanostructure and embedded plasmonic nanoparticles (PNPs) to increase hotspot density, resulting in robust Raman signals. To enhance the CNW’s performance, we functionalized it via oxygen plasma and embedded silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). The authors evaluated the substrate using rhodamine 6G (R6G) as a model target molecule, ranging in concentration from 10−6 M to 10−10 M for a 4 min exposure. Our analysis confirmed a proportional increase in Raman signal intensity with an increase in concentration. The CNW’s large specific surface area and graphene domains provide dense hotspots and high charge mobility, respectively, contributing to both the electromagnetic mechanism (EM) and the chemical mechanism (CM) of SERS.
Preparation of Uniform Nano Liposomes Using Focused Ultrasonic Technology
Authors: Yun Ji-Soo , Hwangbo Seon-Ae , Jeong Young-Gyu
Published: September 2023

Liposomes are microspheres produced by placing phospholipids in aqueous solutions. Liposomes have the advantage of being able to encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic functional substances and are thus important mediators used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. It is important for liposomes to have small sizes, uniform particle size distribution, and long-term stability. Previously, liposomes have been prepared using a homo mixer, microfluidizer, and horn and bath types of sonicators. However, it is difficult to produce liposomes with small sizes and uniform particle size distribution using these methods. Therefore, we have developed a focused ultrasound method to produce nano-sized liposomes with better size control. In this study, the liposome solutions were prepared using the focused ultrasound method and conventional methods. The liposome solutions were characterized for their size distribution, stability, and morphology. Results showed that the liposome solution prepared using focused ultrasonic equipment had a uniform particle size distribution with an average size of 113.6 nm and a polydispersity index value of 0.124. Furthermore, the solution showed good stability in dynamic light scattering measurements for 4 d and Turbiscan measurements for 1 week.
The Role of Front-of-Package Nutrition Labels with and without Explanatory Videos on Parent and Child Food Choices
Authors: Graham Dan J. , Lucas-Thompson Rachel G. , Slejko Gina
Published: September 2023

The aim of this research was to determine whether parent/child pairs choosing products from a grocery aisle labeled with front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labels would make more healthful choices than pairs who viewed the same items without labels, and to determine the added value of viewing an explanatory video before choosing. In this experiment, 175 parent/child pairs chose USD 20 worth of packaged foods and beverages from a grocery aisle in a research laboratory and were randomly assigned to see products that either did or did not have 0–4-star FOP labels, with more stars indicating more healthful products. Among those participants with access to FOP labels, half were randomly assigned to view a 30 s video explaining the FOP labels before selecting foods. Participants who saw the explanatory video before selecting among products with FOP labels chose foods with significantly more stars than participants who saw the FOP-labeled products without the video; however, there was no significant difference in mean stars on selected products between the group that saw the videos and the control group that saw neither the video nor FOP labels. We conclude that explaining new FOP labels to consumers may be necessary for the labels to prompt more healthful choices.
Factors Associated with Long-Term Dietary Supplement Use among Korean Breast Cancer Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Kim Seonghye , Yeo Yohwan , Shin Jinyoung , Shin Dong Wook , Cho Belong , Song Yun-Mi
Published: September 2023

Purpose: The factors associated with the dietary supplement (DS) use of Asian breast cancer survivors in consideration of the duration of use and types of DS have not been well established. Methods: We recruited 693 Korean female breast cancer survivors at two university-affiliated hospitals and collected study data through a self-administered questionnaire and a review of medical records. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the multivariable-adjusted association between DS use and study variables. Results: The prevalence of any (≥2 weeks) and long-term (≥6 months) DS use among study participants was 48.2% and 12.0%, respectively. Education level, alcohol use, adequate physical activity (≥150 min/week), and time lapse after cancer diagnosis were positively associated with any DS use. Among DS users, as compared with short-term (≥2 weeks and <6 months) users, long-term users were more likely to have a higher cancer stage, more diverse cancer treatment modalities, a shorter time since cancer diagnosis, and lower fear of cancer recurrence. When we repeated the analysis for each DS type, time lapse after cancer diagnosis showed a consistently inverse association with long-term use of the most frequently consumed DS (multivitamins, followed by vitamin D/calcium, vitamin C, and omega-3). The number of cancer treatment modalities was positively associated with the long-term use of multivitamins and vitamin D/calcium. Alcohol consumption and low bone mineral density were positively associated with long-term vitamin D/calcium use. Conclusions: The factors associated with DS use differed by the duration of DS use and specific DS type. Long-term DS use was more frequently associated with cancer-related factors.
Zinc Deficiency and Therapeutic Value of Zinc Supplementation in Pediatric Gastrointestinal Diseases
Authors: Chao Hsun-Chin
Published: September 2023

The benefits of zinc in treating certain gastrointestinal (GI) diseases have been recognized for over two decades. This review aims to explore zinc deficiency (ZD) and the potential therapeutic value and safety of zinc supplementation in pediatric GI diseases. A systematic review of published articles on ZD and zinc as adjuvant treatments for GI diseases was conducted using various databases. Children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, and those receiving long-term proton pump inhibitor treatments are particularly susceptible to ZD. ZD in children with celiac disease and IBD is attributed to insufficient intake, reduced absorption, and increased intestinal loss as a result of the inflammatory process. Zinc plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the gastric mucosa and exerts a gastroprotective action against gastric lesions. Although considerable evidence supports the use of zinc as adjuvant therapy for certain GI diseases in adults, its use is unspecified in children except for infectious diarrhea. Current evidence suggests that zinc supplementation with well-documented dosages helps reduce the duration of diarrhea in children with acute or persistent diarrhea, while there are no specific guidelines for zinc supplementation in children with IBD and celiac disease. Zinc supplementation appears to be beneficial in peptic ulcer disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease. The available evidence highlights the need for intervention programs to enhance zinc status and reduce the morbidity of certain GI diseases in children.
Tick Activity, Host Range, and Tick-Borne Pathogen Prevalence in Mountain Habitats of the Western Carpathians, Poland
Authors: Zając Zbigniew , Kulisz Joanna , Woźniak Aneta , Bartosik Katarzyna , Foucault-Simonin Angélique , Moutailler Sara , Cabezas-Cruz Alejandro
Published: September 2023

In mountainous regions, diverse ecosystems provide a habitat for numerous species of organisms. In this study, we focused on ixodid ticks and their presence in the Western Carpathians, Poland. Our objectives were to investigate the impact of environmental factors on tick occurrence and activity, the prevalence of vectored pathogens, and tick hosts, and their role as reservoir organisms for tick-borne pathogens (TBPs). To this end, we collected ticks from the vegetation and from animals (Apodemus agrarius, A. flavicollis, Capreolus capreolus, Microtus spp., Myodes glareolus, Ovis aries). In addition, we collected blood samples from rodents. The collected material underwent molecular analysis, utilizing the high-throughput microfluidic real-time PCR technique, to detect the presence of TBPs. Our findings confirmed the occurrence of only two species of ixodid ticks in the study area: the dominant Ixodes ricinus, and Dermacentor reticulatus with very limited abundance. Temperature significantly influenced tick activity, and the number of I. ricinus nymphs varied with altitude. We also observed a circadian pattern of questing activity in I. ricinus ticks. The main hosts for juvenile tick stages were M. glareolus and A. agrarius, while adult stages were frequently found on C. capreolus. I. ricinus ticks collected from the vegetation were often infected with Rickettsia helvetica (up to 35.71%), Borrelia afzelii (up to 28.57%), and Ehrlichia spp. (up to 9.52%). In contrast, juvenile stages frequently carried Bartonella spp. (up to 10.00%), Mycoplasma spp. (up to 16.67%) and R. helvetica (up to 16.67%). Moreover, we detected genetic material of Mycoplasma spp. (up to 100.00%), Ehrlichia spp. (up to 35.71%), Bartonella spp. (up to 25.00%), and Borrelia spp. (up to 6.25%) in rodent blood samples. The obtained results indicate A. agrarius and M. glareolus as reservoir animals for TBPs in the studied region.