bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Direct Evaluation of Mixed Mode I+II Cohesive Laws of Wood by Coupling MMB Test with DIC
Authors: Oliveira Jorge , Xavier José , Pereira Fábio , Morais José , de Moura Marcelo
Published: January 2021

Governing cohesive laws in mixed mode I+II loading of Pinus pinaster Ait. are directly identified by coupling the mixed mode bending test with full-field displacements measured at the crack tip by Digital Image Correlation (DIC). A sequence of mixed mode ratios is studied. The proposed data reduction relies on: (i) the compliance-based beam method for evaluating strain energy release rate; (ii) the local measurement of displacements to compute the crack tip opening displacement; and (iii) an uncoupled approach for the reconstruction of the cohesive laws and its mode I and mode II components. Quantitative parameters are extracted from the set of cohesive laws components in function of the global phase angle. Linear functions were adjusted to reflect the observed trends and the pure modes (I and II) fracture parameters were estimated by extrapolation. Results show that the obtained assessments agree with previous experimental measurements addressing pure modes (I and II) loadings on this wood species, which reveals the appropriateness of the proposed methodology to evaluate the cohesive law under mixed mode loading and its components.
Experimental Investigation of Integrated Circular Triple-Wire Pulse GMAW of Q960E High-Strength Steel for Construction Machinery
Authors: Yang Ke , Wang Fei , Duan Dingshan , Zhang Tianli , Luo Chuanguang , Cressault Yann , Yu Zhishui , Yang Lijun , Li Huan
Published: January 2021

Multi-wire welding has received much attention in the machinery industry due to its high efficiency. The aim of this study was to investigate a novel pulse gas metal arc welding (GMAW) that has circular triple-wire electrodes. The effect of the pulse phage angle on arc stability was particularly studied. Research showed that for typical phase angles the arc stability from low to high is 180°, 0°, and 120°, and the arcs are very stable at 120°. The triple-wire welding was used to weld a 9 mm thick Q960E steel, which is typically used for the arm of construction machinery. When the welding heat input was controlled at 1.26–1.56 kJ/mm, the weld zone was dominated by acicular ferrite, and the coarse-grained zone of the heat-affected zone was a mixed structure of lath martensite and lath bainite. The tensile strength of the welded joint reached 85% of the base metal and the impact toughness was above 62 J, which can meet the requirements of construction machinery. This indicates that the triple-wire welding has great potential to achieve efficient and high-quality welding for the construction machinery.
Overdurability and Technical Wear of Materials Used in the Construction of Old Buildings
Authors: Konior Jarosław
Published: January 2021

The technical maintenance of old tenement houses traditionally constructed is an ongoing problem, and will continue to be so in the coming years. The subject of the article includes old residential buildings from the turn of the XIX and XX centuries, which are a part of Wroclaw’s downtown district. They can be understood as an essential link in the process of shaping the cultural and social microenvironment of man. The ability of them to meet the multiple expectations of residents depends on the natural aging of tenement houses’ materials, the methods of their maintenance and use, and the influence of the many factors that cause their accelerated wear. The assumed durability is the main reference parameter of the changing age of the inspected tenement houses. The course of the theoretical and observed degree of the technical wear of these buildings was compared with their durability. For the age of these buildings, the technical wear should reach 100%. It was observed that in the first period of use of tenement houses, the phenomenon of “infradurability” occurs, and after exceeding a certain age—depending on the maintenance conditions of the building—the phenomenon of “overdurability” of the building occurs. It was shown that the durability of important elements of old buildings, as a parameter that was defined “a posteriori”, ranges from 153 to 177 years, and is greater than the corresponding literature values indicated “a priori”. The probability of reaching such an age of an element, in which the observed values of technical wear exceed the theoretical values, is much higher than the probability of an opposite event. A comparative analysis of the distribution functions of these probabilities indicates that the probabilities of theoretical wear values are higher than those observed in the case of the assumed literature durability of elements. There is also an inverse relationship for durability that corresponds to the age of the oldest examined elements of tenement houses.
The Oxidation Behavior of ZrB2-SiC Ceramic Composites Fabricated by Plasma Spray Process
Authors: Alosime Eid M. , Alsuhybani Mohammed S. , Almeataq Mohammed S.
Published: January 2021

Our goal is to develop a structural ceramic for high-temperature applications in which silicon carbide-based materials (SiCs) are used as matrix composites. The potential of SiCs to deposit a mixture of SiC and zirconium diboride (ZrB2) plasma spray coating is analyzed. To deposit thermal barrier layers containing up to 50 vol.% SiC, a high-pressure plasma spray (HPPS) process was used. Although the SiC cannot be deposited by thermal spray, a mixture of SiC and zirconium diboride (ZrB2) was deposited because these two compounds form a eutectic phase at a temperature below SiC decomposition. The preference was two different forms, 3 mm and 1 mm, of graphite substrates with different thickness values. A comparison of the morphology of SiC-ZrB2 coatings before and after thermal treatment was performed by applying heat to the surface of a gas torch and traditional furnace between 800 °C and 1200 °C. The growth of the oxide scale was calculated with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and density. The oxide scale consists of a SiO2 layer with ZrO2 groups. The findings indicate a greater potential for the studied material in protecting against high-temperature oxidation and in a wide variety of aerospace applications.
Dynamic Response of Angle Ply Laminates with Uncertainties Using MARS, ANN-PSO, GPR and ANFIS
Authors: Mishra Bharat , Kumar Ajay , Zaburko Jacek , Sadowska-Buraczewska Barbara , Barnat-Hunek Danuta
Published: January 2021

In the present work, for the first time, free vibration response of angle ply laminates with uncertainties is attempted using Multivariate Adaptive Regression Spline (MARS), Artificial Neural Network-Particle Swarm Optimization (ANN-PSO), Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), and Adaptive Network Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS). The present approach employed 2D C0 stochastic finite element (FE) model based on the Third Order Shear Deformation Theory (TSDT) in conjunction with MARS, ANN-PSO, GPR, and ANFIS. The TSDT model used eliminates the requirement of shear correction factor owing to the consideration of the actual parabolic distribution of transverse shear stress. Zero transverse shear stress at the top and bottom of the plate is enforced to compute higher-order unknowns. C0 FE model makes it commercially viable. Stochastic FE analysis done with Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) FORTRAN inhouse code, selection of design points using a random variable framework, and soft computing with MARS, ANN-PSO, GPR, and ANFIS is implemented using MATLAB in-house code. Following the random variable frame, design points were selected from the input data generated through Monte Carlo Simulation. A total of four-mode shapes are analyzed in the present study. The comparison study was done to compare present work with results in the literature and they were found in good agreement. The stochastic parameters are Young’s elastic modulus, shear modulus, and the Poisson ratio. Lognormal distribution of properties is assumed in the present work. The current soft computation models shrink the number of trials and were found computationally efficient as the MCS-based FE modelling. The paper presents a comparison of MARS, ANN-PSO, GPR, and ANFIS algorithm performance with the stochastic FE model based on TSDT.
Electrically Parallel Three-Element 980 nm VCSEL Arrays with Ternary and Binary Bottom DBR Mirror Layers
Authors: Haghighi Nasibeh , Lott James
Published: January 2021

To meet the performance goals of fifth generation (5G) and future sixth generation (6G) optical wireless communication (OWC) and sensing systems, we seek to develop low-cost, reliable, compact lasers capable of sourcing 5–20 Gb/s (ideally up to 100 Gb/s by the 2030s) infrared beams across free-space line-of-sight distances of meters to kilometers. Toward this end, we develop small arrays of electrically parallel vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) for possible future use in short-distance (tens of meters) free-space optical communication and sensing applications in, for example, homes, data centers, manufacturing spaces, and backhaul (pole-to-pole or pole-to-building) optical links. As a starting point, we design, grow by metal–organic vapor phase epitaxy, fabricate, test, and analyze 980 nm top-emitting triple VCSEL arrays. Via on-wafer high-frequency probe testing, our arrays exhibit record bandwidths of 20–25 GHz, optical output powers of 20–50 mW, and error-free data transmission at up to 40 Gb/s—all extremely well suited for the intended 5G short-reach OWC and sensing applications. We employ novel p-metal and top mesa inter-VCSEL connectors to form electrically parallel but optically uncoupled (to reduce speckle) arrays with performance exceeding that of single VCSELs with equal total emitting areas.
Quadrature Integration Techniques for Random Hyperbolic PDE Problems
Authors: Company Rafael , Egorova Vera N. , Jódar Lucas
Published: January 2021

In this paper, we consider random hyperbolic partial differential equation (PDE) problems following the mean square approach and Laplace transform technique. Randomness requires not only the computation of the approximating stochastic processes, but also its statistical moments. Hence, appropriate numerical methods should allow for the efficient computation of the expectation and variance. Here, we analyse different numerical methods around the inverse Laplace transform and its evaluation by using several integration techniques, including midpoint quadrature rule, Gauss–Laguerre quadrature and its extensions, and the Talbot algorithm. Simulations, numerical convergence, and computational process time with experiments are shown.
On Jungck–Branciari–Wardowski Type Fixed Point Results
Authors: Carić Biljana , Došenović Tatjana , George Reny , Mitrović Zoran D. , Radenović Stojan
Published: January 2021

The terms of F−integral contraction as well as (ϖ,ζ˜,F,i)−integral contraction are introduced. Fixed point and common fixed point theorems are established. For the mapping F we use only the supposition that it is strictly increasing. As a consequence of the main theorems we obtain Jungck–Wardowski, Branciari–Wardowski and Jungck–Branciari type results. Consequently, the results presented in the article enhance and complement some known results in literature.
Modeling and Analysis of Cardiac Hybrid Cellular Automata via GPU-Accelerated Monte Carlo Simulation
Authors: Treml Lilly Maria , Bartocci Ezio , Gizzi Alessio
Published: January 2021

The heart consists of a complex network of billions of cells. Under physiological conditions, cardiac cells propagate electrical signals in space, generating the heartbeat in a synchronous and coordinated manner. When such a synchronization fails, life-threatening events can arise. The inherent complexity of the underlying nonlinear dynamics and the large number of biological components involved make the modeling and the analysis of electrophysiological properties in cardiac tissue still an open challenge. We consider here a Hybrid Cellular Automata (HCA) approach modeling the cardiac cell-cell membrane resistance with a free variable. We show that the modeling approach can reproduce important and complex spatiotemporal properties paving the ground for promising future applications. We show how GPU-based technology can considerably accelerate the simulation and the analysis. Furthermore, we study the cardiac behavior within a unidimensional domain considering inhomogeneous resistance and we perform a Monte Carlo analysis to evaluate our approach.
Initial-Boundary Value Problems for Nonlinear Dispersive Equations of Higher Orders Posed on Bounded Intervals with General Boundary Conditions
Authors: Larkin Nikolai A. , Luchesi Jackson
Published: January 2021

The present article concerns general mixed problems for nonlinear dispersive equations of any odd-orders posed on bounded intervals. The results on existence, uniqueness and exponential decay of solutions are presented.
It’s Not All about Echocardiography. Open the Lung Window for the Cardiac Emergencies
Authors: Polyzogopoulou Eftihia , Boultadakis Antonios , Ikonomidis Ignatios , Parissis John
Published: January 2021

In the acute cardiac care setting, undifferentiated clinical presentations such as dyspnea, chest pain, shock, and cardiac arrest are common diagnostic challenges for the clinician. Lung ultrasonography is a well-established diagnostic tool which can be integrated in simplified decision making algorithms during the initial approach of the patient, in order to differentiate accurately cardiac from non-cardiac causes and improve the management of time-sensitive cardiovascular emergencies.
Influence of Slag Composition on the Distribution Behavior of Cu between Liquid Sulfide and Cu-Containing Multicomponent Slag via Thermodynamic and Kinetic Assessment
Authors: Shin Seung-Hwan , Kim Sun-Joong
Published: January 2021

At present, copper smelting slag is not effectively recycled and is wasted. Copper smelting slag contains FexO at more than 40 mass%. For the utilization of copper slag as a Fe resource, it is necessary to separate the Cu in the slag. For copper recycling from slag, FeS-based matte can be introduced to use sulfurization to concentrate Cu from the slag into the sulfide and finally recover the copper. In a previous paper, a kinetic model was developed to simulate the coupled reactions between the multicomponent slag and FeS-based matte by using previously reported thermodynamic data. Building on this work, we carried out equilibrium experiments to supplement the thermodynamic data used in the previously developed model. An empirical formula for the Cu2O activity coefficient of Cu2O-FeOX-CaO-MgO-SiO2-Al2O3 system slag was obtained. In addition, the effect of alumina content in the slag on the Cu2O activity coefficient in the slag was investigated. The model was also supplemented to account for MgO solubility. By the developed model and the industrial conditions, we investigated the effect of slag composition on the behavior of Cu between matte and Cu2O-FeOX-CaO-MgO-SiO2-Al2O3 system slag for the copper loss.
Beyond Proteostasis: Lipid Metabolism as a New Player in ER Homeostasis
Authors: Xu Jiaming , Taubert Stefan
Published: January 2021

Biological membranes are not only essential barriers that separate cellular and subcellular structures, but also perform other critical functions such as the initiation and propagation of intra- and intercellular signals. Each membrane-delineated organelle has a tightly regulated and custom-made membrane lipid composition that is critical for its normal function. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) consists of a dynamic membrane network that is required for the synthesis and modification of proteins and lipids. The accumulation of unfolded proteins in the ER lumen activates an adaptive stress response known as the unfolded protein response (UPR-ER). Interestingly, recent findings show that lipid perturbation is also a direct activator of the UPR-ER, independent of protein misfolding. Here, we review proteostasis-independent UPR-ER activation in the genetically tractable model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. We review the current knowledge on the membrane lipid composition of the ER, its impact on organelle function and UPR-ER activation, and its potential role in human metabolic diseases. Further, we summarize the bi-directional interplay between lipid metabolism and the UPR-ER. We discuss recent progress identifying the different respective mechanisms by which disturbed proteostasis and lipid bilayer stress activate the UPR-ER. Finally, we consider how genetic and metabolic disturbances may disrupt ER homeostasis and activate the UPR and discuss how using -omics-type analyses will lead to more comprehensive insights into these processes.
Antimicrobial Activities of Marine Sponge-Associated Bacteria
Authors: Anteneh Yitayal S. , Yang Qi , Brown Melissa H. , Franco Christopher M. M.
Published: January 2021

The misuse and overuse of antibiotics have led to the emergence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms, which decreases the chance of treating those infected with existing antibiotics. This resistance calls for the search of new antimicrobials from prolific producers of novel natural products including marine sponges. Many of the novel active compounds reported from sponges have originated from their microbial symbionts. Therefore, this study aims to screen for bioactive metabolites from bacteria isolated from sponges. Twelve sponge samples were collected from South Australian marine environments and grown on seven isolation media under four incubation conditions; a total of 1234 bacterial isolates were obtained. Of these, 169 bacteria were tested in media optimized for production of antimicrobial metabolites and screened against eleven human pathogens. Seventy bacteria were found to be active against at least one test bacterial or fungal pathogen, while 37% of the tested bacteria showed activity against Staphylococcus aureus including methicillin-resistant strains and antifungal activity was produced by 21% the isolates. A potential novel active compound was purified possessing inhibitory activity against S. aureus. Using 16S rRNA, the strain was identified as Streptomyces sp. Our study highlights that the marine sponges of South Australia are a rich source of abundant and diverse bacteria producing metabolites with antimicrobial activities against human pathogenic bacteria and fungi.
Editorial for Special Issue: Alkali Activated Materials: Advances, Innovations, Future Trends
Authors: Komnitsas Kostas A. , Bartzas Georgios
Published: January 2021

Alkali activated materials (AAMs), also named geopolymers or inorganic polymers, are materials that are produced when alkaline solutions react with precursors containing aluminosilicate phases [...]
Toxicity of Zn-Fe Layered Double Hydroxide to Different Organisms in the Aquatic Environment
Authors: Koba-Ucun Olga , Ölmez Hanci Tuğba , Arslan-Alaton Idil , Arefi-Oskoui Samira , Khataee Alireza , Kobya Mehmet , Orooji Yasin
Published: January 2021

The application of layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanomaterials as catalysts has attracted great interest due to their unique structural features. It also triggered the need to study their fate and behavior in the aquatic environment. In the present study, Zn-Fe nanolayered double hydroxides (Zn-Fe LDHs) were synthesized using a co-precipitation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption analyses. The toxicity of the home-made Zn-Fe LDHs catalyst was examined by employing a variety of aquatic organisms from different trophic levels, namely the marine photobacterium Vibrio fischeri, the freshwater microalga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, the freshwater crustacean Daphnia magna, and the duckweed Spirodela polyrhiza. From the experimental results, it was evident that the acute toxicity of the catalyst depended on the exposure time and type of selected test organism. Zn-Fe LDHs toxicity was also affected by its physical state in suspension, chemical composition, as well as interaction with the bioassay test medium.
Synthesis of 6,7-Dihydro-1H,5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazoles by Azomethine Imine-Alkyne Cycloadditions Using Immobilized Cu(II)-Catalysts
Authors: Štanfel Urša , Slapšak Dejan , Grošelj Uroš , Požgan Franc , Štefane Bogdan , Svete Jurij
Published: January 2021

A series of 12 silica gel-bound enaminones and their Cu(II) complexes were prepared and tested for their suitability as heterogeneous catalysts in azomethine imine-alkyne cycloadditions (CuAIAC). Immobilized Cu(II)–enaminone complexes showed promising catalytic activity in the CuAIAC reaction, but these new catalysts suffered from poor reusability. This was not due to the decoordination of copper ions, as the use of enaminone ligands with additional complexation sites resulted in negligible improvement. On the other hand, reusability was improved by the use of 4-aminobenzoic acid linker, attached to 3-aminopropyl silica gel via an amide bond to the enaminone over the more hydrolytically stable N-arylenamine C-N bond. The study showed that silica gel-bound Cu(II)–enaminone complexes are readily available and suitable heterogeneous catalysts for the synthesis of 6,7-dihydro-1H,5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazoles.
Phytochemical and Biological Evaluation of a Newly Designed Nutraceutical Self-Nanoemulsifying Self-Nanosuspension for Protection and Treatment of Cisplatin Induced Testicular Toxicity in Male Rats
Authors: Abdel-All Sherif R. , Shakour Zeinab T. Abdel , Abouhussein Dalia M. N. , Reda Enji , Sallam Thoraya F. , El-Hefnawy Hala M. , Abdel-Monem Azza R.
Published: January 2021

The incorporation of cisplatin (CP) as a cytotoxic antineoplastic agent in most chemotherapeutic protocols is a challenge due to its toxic effect on testicular tissues. Natural compounds present a promising trend in research, so a new nutraceutical formulation (NCF) was designed to diminish CP spermatotoxicity. A combination of three nutraceutical materials, 250 mg Spirulina platensis powder (SP), 25 mg Tribulus terrestris L. extract (TT), and 100 mg fish oil (FO) were formulated in self-nanoemulsifying self-nanosuspension (SNESNS). SP was loaded into the optimized self-nanoemulsifying system (30% FO, 50% span 80/cremophor EL and 20% isopropanol) and mixed with TT aqueous solution to form SNESNS. For the SP, phytochemical profiling revealed the presence of valuable amounts of fatty acids (FAs), amino acids, flavonoids, polyphenols, vitamins, and minerals. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and particle size analysis confirmed the formation of nanoemulsion-based nanosuspension upon dilution. Method validation of the phytochemical constituents in NCF has been developed. Furthermore, NCF was biologically evaluated on male Wistar rats and revealed the improvement of spermatozoa, histopathological features, and biochemical markers over the CP and each ingredient group. Our findings suggest the potential of NCF with SNESNS as a delivery system against CP-induced testicular toxicity in male rats.
Thermal Degradation of Linalool-Chemotype Cinnamomum osmophloeum Leaf Essential Oil and Its Stabilization by Microencapsulation with β-Cyclodextrin
Authors: Chang Hui-Ting , Lin Chun-Ya , Hsu Li-Sheng , Chang Shang-Tzen
Published: January 2021

The thermal degradation of linalool-chemotype Cinnamomum osmophloeum leaf essential oil and the stability effect of microencapsulation of leaf essential oil with β-cyclodextrin were studied. After thermal degradation of linalool-chemotype leaf essential oil, degraded compounds including β-myrcene, cis-ocimene and trans-ocimene, were formed through the dehydroxylation of linalool; and ene cyclization also occurs to linalool and its dehydroxylated products to form the compounds such as limonene, terpinolene and α-terpinene. The optimal microencapsulation conditions of leaf essential oil microcapsules were at a leaf essential oil to the β-cyclodextrin ratio of 15:85 and with a solvent ratio (ethanol to water) of 1:5. The maximum yield of leaf essential oil microencapsulated with β-cyclodextrin was 96.5%. According to results from the accelerated dry-heat aging test, β-cyclodextrin was fairly stable at 105 °C, and microencapsulation with β-cyclodextrin can efficiently slow down the emission of linalool-chemotype C. osmophloeum leaf essential oil.
New Anti-Leukemic Effect of Carvacrol and Thymol Combination through Synergistic Induction of Different Cell Death Pathways
Authors: Bouhtit Fatima , Najar Mehdi , Moussa Agha Douâa , Melki Rahma , Najimi Mustapha , Sadki Khalid , Boukhatem Noureddine , Bron Dominique , Meuleman Nathalie , Hamal Abdellah , Lagneaux Laurence , Lewalle Philippe , Merimi Makram
Published: January 2021

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the myeloid lineage of blood cells, and treatment for AML is lengthy and can be very expensive. Medicinal plants and their bioactive molecules are potential candidates for improving human health. In this work, we studied the effect of Ptychotis verticillata (PV) essential oil and its derivatives, carvacrol and thymol, in AML cell lines. We demonstrated that a combination of carvacrol and thymol induced tumor cell death with low toxicity on normal cells. Mechanistically, we highlighted that different molecular pathways, including apoptosis, oxidative, reticular stress, autophagy, and necrosis, are implicated in this potential synergistic effect. Using quantitative RT-PCR, Western blotting, and apoptosis inhibitors, we showed that cell death induced by the carvacrol and thymol combination is caspase-dependent in the HL60 cell line and caspase-independent in the other cell lines tested. Further investigations should focus on improving the manufacturing of these compounds and understanding their anti-tumoral mechanisms of action. These efforts will lead to an increase in the efficiency of the oncotherapy strategy regarding AML.
Muscari comosum L. Bulb Extracts Modulate Oxidative Stress and Redox Signaling in HepG2 Cells
Authors: Giglio Fabiana , Castiglione Morelli Maria Antonietta , Matera Ilenia , Sinisgalli Chiara , Rossano Rocco , Ostuni Angela
Published: January 2021

Muscari comosum L. bulbs are commonly used as food in South Italy and also in folk medicine. By evaluating in vitro antioxidant activity and biological activities of their aqueous and methanol extracts, we shed light on the potential role, including both the nutraceutical and health benefits, of this plant. Total polyphenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were evaluated by the Folin–Ciocalteu method and by the aluminum chloride method, respectively. Antioxidant activity was investigated by three in vitro assays and relative antioxidant capacity index (RACI) was calculated to compare results obtained by different tests. The extracts were tested to evaluate their possible involvement in redox homeostasis, using the human hepatoma (HepG2) cell line used as model. The extracts exhibited concentration/solvent dependent radical scavenging activity, as well as dysregulation of some genes involved in redox pathways by promoting Nrf2, SOD-2, GPX1, ABCC6 and ABCG2 expression. NMR metabolomics analysis suggests that HepG2 cells treated with Muscari comosum extracts experience changes in some metabolites involved in various metabolic pathways.
Four Novel Phenanthrene Derivatives with α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity from Gastrochilus bellinus
Authors: San Htoo Tint , Chatsumpun Nutputsorn , Juengwatanatrakul Thaweesak , Pornputtapong Natapol , Likhitwitayawuid Kittisak , Sritularak Boonchoo
Published: January 2021

Four new phenanthrene derivatives, gastrobellinols A-D (1–4), were isolated from the methanolic extract of Gastrochilus bellinus (Rchb.f.) Kuntze, along with eleven known phenolic compounds including agrostophyllin (5), agrostophyllidin (6), coniferyl aldehyde (7), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (8), agrostophyllone (9), gigantol (10), 4-(methoxylmethyl)phenol (11), syringaldehyde (12), 1-(4′-hydroxybenzyl)-imbricartin (13), 6-methoxycoelonin (14), and imbricatin (15). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods. Each isolate was evaluated for α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Compounds 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 13, and 15 showed higher activity than the drug acarbose. Gastrobellinol C (3) exhibited the strongest α-glucosidase inhibition with an IC50 value of 45.92 μM. A kinetic study of 3 showed competitive inhibition on the α-glucosidase enzyme. This is the first report on the phytochemical constituents and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of G. bellinus.
Addendum: da Silva, J.L.F.; et al. The Lisbon Supramolecular Green Story: Mechanochemistry towards New Forms of Pharmaceuticals. Molecules 2020, 25, 2705
Authors: da Silva João Luís Ferreira , da Piedade M. Fátima Minas , André Vânia , Domingos Sofia , Martins Inês C. B. , Duarte M. Teresa
Published: January 2021

The authors wish to add funding project UIDB/00100/2020 into the Funding section of this paper [...]
Combined In Vitro and In Vivo Approaches to Propose a Putative Adverse Outcome Pathway for Acute Lung Inflammation Induced by Nanoparticles: A Study on Carbon Dots
Authors: Weiss Maud , Fan Jiahui , Claudel Mickaël , Lebeau Luc , Pons Françoise , Ronzani Carole
Published: January 2021

With the growth of nanotechnologies, concerns raised regarding the potential adverse effects of nanoparticles (NPs), especially on the respiratory tract. Adverse outcome pathways (AOP) have become recently the subject of intensive studies in order to get a better understanding of the mechanisms of NP toxicity, and hence hopefully predict the health risks associated with NP exposure. Herein, we propose a putative AOP for the lung toxicity of NPs using emerging nanomaterials called carbon dots (CDs), and in vivo and in vitro experimental approaches. We first investigated the effect of a single administration of CDs on mouse airways. We showed that CDs induce an acute lung inflammation and identified airway macrophages as target cells of CDs. Then, we studied the cellular responses induced by CDs in an in vitro model of macrophages. We observed that CDs are internalized by these cells (molecular initial event) and induce a series of key events, including loss of lysosomal integrity and mitochondrial disruption (organelle responses), as well as oxidative stress, inflammasome activation, inflammatory cytokine upregulation and macrophage death (cellular responses). All these effects triggering lung inflammation as tissular response may lead to acute lung injury.
Changes in Optical Properties upon Dye–Clay Interaction: Experimental Evaluation and Applications
Authors: Giovannini Giorgia , Rossi René M. , Boesel Luciano F.
Published: January 2021

The development of hybrid materials with unique optical properties has been a challenge for the creation of high-performance composites. The improved photophysical and photochemical properties observed when fluorophores interact with clay minerals, as well as the accessibility and easy handling of such natural materials, make these nanocomposites attractive for designing novel optical hybrid materials. Here, we present a method of promoting this interaction by conjugating dyes with chitosan. The fluorescent properties of conjugated dye–montmorillonite (MMT) hybrids were similar to those of free dye–MMT hybrids. Moreover, we analyzed the relationship between the changes in optical properties of the dye interacting with clay and its structure and defined the physical and chemical mechanisms that take place upon dye–MMT interactions leading to the optical changes. Conjugation to chitosan additionally ensures stable adsorption on clay nanoplatelets due to the strong electrostatic interaction between chitosan and clay. This work thus provides a method to facilitate the design of solid-state hybrid nanomaterials relevant for potential applications in bioimaging, sensing and optical purposes.
Comparative Nutritional and Antioxidant Compounds of Organic and Conventional Vegetables during the Main Market Availability Period
Authors: Roumeliotis Constantinos , Siomos Anastasios S. , Gerasopoulos Dimitrios
Published: January 2021

Seven winter and five summer vegetables produced under organic and conventional systems were collected from a supermarket seven times between January and April and between July and October for winter and summer vegetables, respectively, and their ascorbic acid and total phenolic content (compounds with proven antioxidant activity) as well as total antioxidant capacity, soluble solids and nitrates were determined. The results clearly indicated that, from the three factors studied (vegetable species, cropping system and sampling time), vegetable species made the highest contribution to ascorbic acid, phenolics, antioxidant capacity, soluble solids and nitrates. Results for each vegetable species showed that most organic vegetables appear to have lower nitrate content, some have higher phenolics, antioxidant capacity and soluble solids, and only few have higher ascorbic acid compared with conventional vegetables. The significance of the differences in nutritional and antioxidant value between organic and conventional vegetables is questionable, since vegetable species and sampling time can affect their nutritional value to a great or greater extent than the cropping system.
Emergence of the New KPC-49 Variant Conferring an ESBL Phenotype with Resistance to Ceftazidime-Avibactam in the ST131-H30R1 Escherichia coli High-Risk Clone
Authors: Hernández-García Marta , Sánchez-López Javier , Martínez-García Laura , Becerra-Aparicio Federico , Morosini María Isabel , Ruiz-Garbajosa Patricia , Cantón Rafael
Published: January 2021

We report the emergence of an isolate belonging to the sequence type (ST)131-Escherichia coli high-risk clone with ceftazidime-avibactam resistance recovered from a patient with bacteremia in 2019. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined and whole genome sequencing (Illumina-NovaSeq6000) and cloning experiments were performed to investigate its resistance phenotype. A KPC-3-producing E. coli isolate susceptible to ceftazidime-avibactam (MIC = 0.5/4 mg/L) and with non-wild type MIC of meropenem (8 mg/L) was detected in a blood culture performed at hospital admission. Following 10-days of standard ceftazidime-avibactam dose treatment, a second KPC-producing E. coli isolate with a phenotype resembling an extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producer (meropenem 0.5 mg/L, piperacillin-tazobactam 16/8 mg/L) but resistant to ceftazidime-avibactam (16/4 mg/L) was recovered. Both E. coli isolates belonged to ST131, serotype O25:H4 and sublineage H30R1. Genomics analysis showed a core genome of 5,203,887 base pair with an evolutionary distance of 6 single nucleotide polymorphisms. A high content of resistance and virulence genes was detected in both isolates. The novel KPC-49 variant, an Arg-163-Ser mutant of blaKPC-3, was detected in the isolate with resistance to ceftazidime-avibactam. Cloning experiments revealed that blaKPC-49 gene increases ceftazidime-avibactam MIC and decreases carbapenem MICs when using a porin deficient Klebsiella pneumoniae strain as a host. Both blaKPC-3 and blaKPC-49 genes were located on the transposon Tn4401a as a part of an IncF [F1:A2:B20] plasmid. The emergence of novel blaKPC genes conferring decreased susceptibility to ceftazidime-avibactam and resembling ESBL production in the epidemic ST131-H30R1-E. coli high-risk clone presents a new challenge in clinical practice.
Study of Phase Transition in MOCVD Grown Ga2O3 from κ to β Phase by Ex Situ and In Situ Annealing
Authors: Lee Junhee , Kim Honghyuk , Gautam Lakshay , He Kun , Hu Xiaobing , Dravid Vinayak , Razeghi Manijeh
Published: January 2021

We report the post-growth thermal annealing and the subsequent phase transition of Ga2O3 grown on c-plane sapphire substrates by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). We demonstrated the post-growth thermal annealing at temperatures higher than 900 °C under N2 ambience, by either in situ or ex situ thermal annealing, can induce phase transition from nominally metastable κ- to thermodynamically stable β-phase. This was analyzed by structural characterizations such as high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction. The highly resistive as-grown Ga2O3 epitaxial layer becomes conductive after annealing at 1000 °C. Furthermore, we demonstrate that in situ annealing can lead to a crack-free β-Ga2O3.
Anacyclus pyrethrum var. pyrethrum (L.) and Anacyclus pyrethrum var. depressus (Ball) Maire: Correlation between Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Contents with Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Chemically Characterized Extracts
Authors: Jawhari Fatima Zahra , Moussaoui Abdelfattah E. L. , Bourhia Mohammed , Imtara Hamada , Saghrouchni Hamza , Ammor Kenza , Ouassou Hayat , Elamine Youssef , Ullah Riaz , Ezzeldin Essam , Mostafa Gamal A. E. , Bari Amina
Published: January 2021

In this work, two varieties of Anacyclus pyrethrum (L.) including Anacyclus pyrethrum var. pyrethrum (L.) and Anacyclus pyrethrum var. depressus (Ball) Maire were evaluated for their mineral and chemical compositions, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and antimicrobial and antioxidant activities using hydroalcoholic extracts from their different parts (leaves, capitula, roots, and seeds). The phytochemical and mineral compositions were carried out using standard methods. The antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazolin-6-sulfonic acid), and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) tests. The antimicrobial activity was assayed using the agar diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum bactericidal concentration methods. The results of the chemical analysis showed that both varieties contained interesting mineral and chemical compositions with potentially active compounds; among them, N-isobutyl-2,4-heptadiene-6-monoynamide and cinnamic acid were detected in the Anacyclus pyrethrum var. pyrethrum (L.) only while thiadiazolo [5,4-d] pyrimidin-7-amine and N-isobutyl-2,4-undecadiene-8,10-diynamide compounds were limited to the Anacyclus pyrethrum var. depressus (Ball) Maire. In vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the two varieties demonstrated that the different parts had prominent antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The principal component analysis (PCA) showed great similarity in the activity of the leaves, capitula, and seeds of both plants and a high difference in roots. Anacyclus pyrethrum var. pyrethrum roots were characterized by a high content in phenols and flavonoids and better antibacterial activities compared to Anacyclus pyrethrum var. depressus (Ball) Maire roots, which were characterized by better antioxidant activities. From this study, it can be concluded that the two varieties of Anacyclus pyrethrum (L.) showed promising mineral and chemical compositions with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
Cyclodextrin Polymers and Cyclodextrin-Containing Polysaccharides for Water Remediation
Authors: Cova Tânia F. , Murtinho Dina , Aguado Roberto , Pais Alberto A. C. C. , Valente Artur J. M.
Published: January 2021

Chemical pollution of water has raised great concerns among citizens, lawmakers, and nearly all manufacturing industries. As the legislation addressing liquid effluents becomes more stringent, water companies are increasingly scrutinized for their environmental performance. In this context, emergent contaminants represent a major challenge, and the remediation of water bodies and wastewater demands alternative sorbent materials. One of the most promising adsorbing materials for micropolluted water environments involves cyclodextrin (CD) polymers and cyclodextrin-containing polysaccharides. Although cyclodextrins are water-soluble and, thus, unusable as adsorbents in aqueous media, they can be feasibly polymerized by using different crosslinkers such as epichlorohydrin, polycarboxylic acids, and glutaraldehyde. Likewise, with those coupling agents or after substituting hydroxyl groups with more reactive moieties, cyclodextrin units can be covalently attached to a pre-existing polysaccharide. In this direction, the functionalization of chitosan, cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, and other carbohydrate polymers with CDs is vastly found in the literature. For the system containing CDs to be used for remediation purposes, there are benefits from a synergy that arises from (i) the ability of CD units to interact selectively with a broad spectrum of molecules, forming inclusion complexes and higher-order supramolecular assemblies, (ii) the functional groups of the crosslinker comonomers, (iii) the three-dimensional structure of the crosslinked network, and/or (iv) the intrinsic characteristics of the polysaccharide backbone. In view of the most recent contributions regarding CD-based copolymers and CD-containing polysaccharides, this review discusses their performance as adsorbents in micropolluted water environments, as well as their interaction patterns, addressing the influence of their structural and physicochemical properties and their functionalization.
Process Design and Sustainable Development—A European Perspective
Authors: Glavič Peter , Pintarič Zorka Novak , Bogataj Miloš
Published: January 2021

This paper describes the state of the art and future opportunities for process design and sustainable development. In the Introduction, the main global megatrends and the European Union’s response to two of them, the European Green Deal, are presented. The organization of professionals in the field, their conferences, and their publications support the two topics. A brief analysis of the published documents in the two most popular databases shows that the environmental dimension predominates, followed by the economic one, while the social pillar of sustainable development is undervalued. The main design tools for sustainability are described. As an important practical case, the European chemical and process industries are analyzed, and their achievements in sustainable development are highlighted; in particular, their strategies are presented in more detail. The conclusions cover the most urgent future development areas of (i) process industries and carbon capture with utilization or storage; (ii) process analysis, simulation, synthesis, and optimization tools, and (iii) zero waste, circular economy, and resource efficiency. While these developments are essential, more profound changes will be needed in the coming decades, such as shifting away from growth with changes in habits, lifestyles, and business models. Lifelong education for sustainable development will play a very important role in the growth of democracy and happiness instead of consumerism and neoliberalism.
Surface Functionalization of Biochar from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch through Hydrothermal Process
Authors: Ibrahim Izzudin , Tsubota Toshiki , Hassan Mohd Ali , Andou Yoshito
Published: January 2021

The use of biochar as an adsorbent for wastewater treatment purposes has been hindered due to its lower surface area compared to activated carbon. Current research on increasing surface functional groups on biochar surfaces to improve its adsorption performance suggests using high chemical concentration and long period of modification. This study solves these problems by focusing on improving surface functionalities of biochar via the hydrothermal functionalization process. Oil palm empty fruit bunch biochar was functionalized using autoclave with nitric acid as the functionalization agent. Functionalized biochar properties such as Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area and surface functional groups were analyzed and compared with untreated biochar. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis shows a significant increase in absorption by oxygen functional groups and is corroborated with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The process does not result in any major change in surface morphology and reduction in surface area value. Methylene blue (MB) adsorption test shows 7 times increase in adsorption performance. These results show that the simple hydrothermal functionalization process successfully functionalizes the biochar surface and improves its performance without affecting its surface area at lower concentration, and shorter time compared to previous studies. This result, with future large-scale experimentation using real-life equipment in palm oil mills, would provide a better technology that can be implemented in the industry.
Religious Freedom in Pakistan: A Case Study of Religious Minorities
Authors: Mehfooz Musferah
Published: January 2021

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a multi-racial and multi-religious nation, with Muslims being in the majority. Its 1973 Constitution guarantees religious freedom to all religious minorities, including Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs. This is mainly because Islam itself ensures religious freedom to the whole of humanity. Unfortunately, some Muslim clerics seem to be attempting to deny religious freedom to other faiths in Pakistan. Their opposition to the plurality of faith contradicts Islamic principles. This research paper identifies such Islamic principles and examines the undesirability of the mistreatment of religious minorities in Pakistan, focusing on the arguments for and against religious freedom in Pakistan on the one hand, and the religious rights and freedoms of non-Muslim minorities from an Islamic perspective on the other. The methodology applied in this discussion is critical analysis. The conclusion drawn is that both the Constitution of Pakistan and Islam guarantee religious freedom to the country’s religious minorities. Finally, this study suggests some practical mechanisms to reconcile the different religious groups in Pakistan.
Recognition to Come: Towards a Deconstructive Encounter with Iranian Identity in a Globalized World
Authors: Mesbahian Hossein
Published: January 2021

Considering the “relativization of identity”, “the positive recognition of the other”, “the mutual evaluation of cultures”, and the “creation of a normative world culture” as “four main kinds of cosmopolitan relationships” and, therefore, using the term cosmopolitanism in a “post-Western” register of meaning, I will make a case that Iranian identity in a post-Islamist condition needs a kind of struggle for recognition if it wants to locate itself at the interface of the local and the global. Taking the correlation between the discourse of post-Islamism and a deconstructive theory of identity into consideration, this paper addresses a central question in identity studies: can a downgraded identity rooted in a decent civilization—one in which both “moral” and “material” values for the globalized word have demoted—be reinvented? I argue that being accorded recognition, however, is different from self-congratulation within the boundaries of a local identity. In the former case, a nation’s identity is recognized for something it offers to the multifacetedness and multidimensionality of the contemporary world. In the latter, that identity retreats to the civilizational memory of ancestors now no longer relevant to the world issues. For a nation to reinvent its cultural identity from a universal vantage point, it is necessary to articulate its experiences in particular cultural forms which can be understood by others. It is only then that one’s self becomes known to the other, as well as to oneself. This paper will deconstruct the concept of identity and then discuss the challenges and prospects of reinventing identity in the particular context of post-Islamist Iran. Challenges refer to the crises of an identity that could prevent its revitalization such as a persistent failure to acknowledge the historical crisis of an identity in terms of both “material” and “cultural” measures. Prospects refer to the availability of internal mechanisms that could enable reinvention of an identity, e.g., the availability of internal mechanisms that would allow the reinvention of cultural identity.