bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interference with Non-Interacting Free Particles and a Special Type of Detector
Authors: Contopoulos Ioannis , Tzemos Athanasios C. , Zanias Foivos , Contopoulos George
Published: January 2023

This paper demonstrates how a classical detector that collects non-interacting individual classical massive free particles can generate a quantum interference pattern. The proposed classical picture requires that particles carry the information of a phase equal to an action integral along their trajectory. At the point of their detection, a special type of detector collects the phases from all individual particles reaching it, adds them up over time as complex numbers, and divides them by the square root of their number. The detector announces a number of detections equal to the square of the amplitude of the resulting complex number. An interference pattern is gradually built from the collection of particle phases in the detection bins of the detector after several repetitions of the experiment. We obtain perfect agreement with three solutions of the Schrödinger equation for free particles: a Gaussian wavepacket, two Gaussian wavepackets approaching each other, and a Gaussian wavepacket reflecting off a wall. The main conclusion of the present work is that the interference of quantum mechanics is basically due to the detectors that collect the particles when there are macroscopic detectors operating as proposed. Finally, a simple physical experiment with a single-photon detector is proposed that will be able to test our theory.
Patterns of ASFV Transmission in Domestic Pigs in Serbia
Authors: Glišić Dimitrije , Milićević Vesna , Veljović Ljubiša , Milovanović Bojan , Kureljušić Branislav , Đorđević Igor , Anđelković Katarina , Petković Jelena , Dačić Miroljub
Published: January 2023

The first case of African swine fever in domestic pigs in Serbia was in 2019. The following year, the disease was confirmed in wild boar. Thenceforth, ASF has been continuously reported in both wild and domestic pigs. The outbreaks in domestic pigs could not be linked directly to wild boars, even though wild boars were endemically infected, and reservoirs for ASF. This study aimed to investigate outbreaks and routes of transmission in domestic pigs in a region of central Serbia where no outbreaks in wild boar were reported. Fourteen outbreaks of ASF on backyard farms with low biosecurity were traced back, and no connection to wild boar was found. The epidemic investigation covered 2094 holdings, with 24,368 pigs, out of which 1882 were tested for ASF. In surrounding hunting grounds, field searches were conducted. Dead wild boars were found, and 138 hunted wild boars were negative for ASFV. It was concluded that outbreaks in 2021 were provoked by the illegal trade of live animals and pig products. Even though infective pressure from wild boars is assumed, no positive cases have been found, while the ASFV spreads within the domestic swine population evidenced in four recent outbreaks in 2022.
Genome Characterization and Spaciotemporal Dispersal Analysis of Bagaza Virus Detected in Portugal, 2021
Authors: Falcão Marta , Barros Margarida , Duarte Margarida D. , Santos Fábio Abade dos , Fagulha Teresa , Henriques Margarida , Ramos Fernanda , Duarte Ana , Luís Tiago , Parreira Ricardo , Barros Sílvia C.
Published: January 2023

In September 2021, Bagaza virus (BAGV), a member of the Ntaya group from the Flavivirus genus, was detected for the first time in Portugal, in the heart and the brain of a red-legged partridge found dead in a hunting ground in Serpa (Alentejo region; southern Portugal). Here we report the genomic characterization of the full-length sequence of the BAGV detected (BAGV/PT/2021), including phylogenetic reconstructions and spaciotemporal analyses. Phylogenies inferred from nucleotide sequence alignments, complemented with the analysis of amino acid alignments, indicated that the BAGV strain from Portugal is closely related to BAGV strains previously detected in Spain, suggesting a common ancestor that seems to have arrived in the Iberia Peninsula in the late 1990s to early 2000s. In addition, our findings support previous observations that BAGV and Israel turkey meningoencephalitis virus (ITV) belong to the same viral species.
West Nile Virus Infection
Authors: Llorente Francisco
Published: January 2023

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen that belongs to the Flavivirus genus (family Flaviviridae) [...]
Management of a Focal Introduction of ASF Virus in Wild Boar: The Belgian Experience
Authors: Licoppe Alain , De Waele Valérie , Malengreaux Céline , Paternostre Julien , Van Goethem Amaury , Desmecht Daniel , Herman Marc , Linden Annick
Published: January 2023

African swine fever (ASF) is a fatal disease of suids that was detected in wild boar in Belgium in September 2018. The measures implemented to stop the spread and eliminate the African swine fever virus consisted of creating restriction zones, organising efficient search and removal of carcasses, constructing wire fences, and depopulating wild boar in the area surrounding the infected zone. The ASF management zone included the infected and the white zones and covered 1106 km² from which 7077 wild boar have been removed. A total of 5338 wild boars have been qPCR-tested and 833 have been detected ASF-positive. The search effort amounted to 60,631 h with a main focus on the infected zone (88%). A total of 277 km of fences have been set up. The main cause of mortality in the infected zone was the virus itself, while hunting, trapping, and night shooting were used together to reduce the wild boar density in the surrounding white zones. After continuous dispersion of the virus until March 2019, the epidemic wave stopped, and the last fresh positive case was discovered in August 2019. Hence, Belgium was declared free of the disease in November 2020.
Unravelling the Diversity of Microorganisms in Ticks from Australian Wildlife
Authors: Ghafar Abdul , Davies Nick , Tadepalli Mythili , Breidahl Amanda , Death Clare , Haros Philip , Li Yuting , Dann Peter , Cabezas-Cruz Alejandro , Moutailler Sara , Foucault-Simonin Angélique , Gauci Charles G. , Stenos John , Hufschmid Jasmin , Jabbar Abdul
Published: January 2023

Ticks and tick-borne pathogens pose a significant threat to the health and welfare of humans and animals. Our knowledge about pathogens carried by ticks of Australian wildlife is limited. This study aimed to characterise ticks and tick-borne microorganisms from a range of wildlife species across six sites in Victoria, Australia. Following morphological and molecular characterisation (targeting 16S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase I), tick DNA extracts (n = 140) were subjected to microfluidic real-time PCR-based screening for the detection of microorganisms and Rickettsia-specific real-time qPCRs. Five species of ixodid ticks were identified, including Aponomma auruginans, Ixodes (I.) antechini, I. kohlsi, I. tasmani and I. trichosuri. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA sequences of I. tasmani revealed two subclades, indicating a potential cryptic species. The microfluidic real-time PCR detected seven different microorganisms as a single (in 13/45 ticks) or multiple infections (27/45). The most common microorganisms detected were Apicomplexa (84.4%, 38/45) followed by Rickettsia sp. (55.6%, 25/45), Theileria sp. (22.2% 10/45), Bartonella sp. (17.8%, 8/45), Coxiella-like sp. (6.7%, 3/45), Hepatozoon sp. (2.2%, 1/45), and Ehrlichia sp. (2.2%, 1/45). Phylogenetic analyses of four Rickettsia loci showed that the Rickettsia isolates detected herein potentially belonged to a novel species of Rickettsia. This study demonstrated that ticks of Australian wildlife carry a diverse array of microorganisms. Given the direct and indirect human–wildlife–livestock interactions, there is a need to adopt a One Health approach for continuous surveillance of tick-associated pathogens/microorganisms to minimise the associated threats to animal and human health.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Pediatric Reports in 2022
Authors:   Pediatric Reports Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Fighting Epilepsy with Nanomedicines—Is This the Right Weapon?
Authors: Matias Mariana , Santos Adriana O. , Silvestre Samuel , Alves Gilberto
Published: January 2023

Epilepsy is a chronic and complex condition and is one of the most common neurological diseases, affecting about 50 million people worldwide. Pharmacological therapy has been, and is likely to remain, the main treatment approach for this disease. Although a large number of new antiseizure drugs (ASDs) has been introduced into the market in the last few years, many patients suffer from uncontrolled seizures, demanding the development of more effective therapies. Nanomedicines have emerged as a promising approach to deliver drugs to the brain, potentiating their therapeutic index. Moreover, nanomedicine has applied the knowledge of nanoscience, not only in disease treatment but also in prevention and diagnosis. In the current review, the general features and therapeutic management of epilepsy will be addressed, as well as the main barriers to overcome to obtain better antiseizure therapies. Furthermore, the role of nanomedicines as a valuable tool to selectively deliver drugs will be discussed, considering the ability of nanocarriers to deal with the less favourable physical-chemical properties of some ASDs, enhance their brain penetration, reduce the adverse effects, and circumvent the concerning drug resistance.
Heteroleptic Copper(II) Complexes Containing 2′-Hydroxy-4-(Dimethylamino)Chalcone Show Strong Antiproliferative Activity
Authors: Trávníček Zdeněk , Malina Tomáš , Vančo Ján , Šebela Marek , Dvořák Zdeněk
Published: January 2023

A series of six heteroleptic copper(II) complexes with 2′-hydroxy-4-(dimethylamino)chalcone (HL) with the composition [Cu(N-N)(L)]NO3 (1–6), where N-N stands for dmbpy = 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (1), bphen = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (2), dbbpy = 4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine (3), nphen = 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline (4), bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, (5), and dpa = 2,2′-dipyridylamine (6), was prepared and thoroughly characterized. The in vitro cytotoxicity screening on eight human cancer cell lines identified complex 2, containing the bulkiest N-donor ligands (bphen) as highly cytotoxic against cancer cells, with IC50 values ranking from 1.0 to 2.3 μM, with good selectivity and low toxicity against healthy human fetal lung fibroblasts MRC-5. The cell-based assays, involving the most effective complex 2 in A2780 cancer cells, revealed its strong pro-apoptotic effects based on the effective activation of caspases 3/7, ROS overproduction, and autophagy in the A2780 cells while not impeding the cell cycle and mitochondrial membrane functions. The cellular uptake studies in A2780 and 22Rv1 cells uncovered no intracellular transport of the cationic complex 2, supporting the hypothesis that the in vitro anticancer effects of complex 2 are based on the combined extrinsic activation of apoptosis and autophagy induction.
Focal Photocoagulation as an Adjunctive Therapy to Reduce the Burden of Intravitreal Injections in Macula Edema Patients, the LyoMAC2 Study
Authors: Séjournet Lucas , Kodjikian Laurent , Elbany Sandra , Allignet Benoit , Agard Emilie , Chaperon Mayeul , Billant Jérémy , Denis Philippe , Mathis Thibaud , Burillon Carole , Dot Corinne
Published: January 2023

Aim: To assess the efficacy of focal photocoagulation of capillary macroaneurysms (CMA) to reduce the burden of intravitreal injections (IVI) in patients with macular edema (ME). Materials and Methods: Retrospective multicenter study in patients with diabetic ME or ME secondary to retinal vein occlusion (ME-RVO). CMA associated with ME were selectively photocoagulated. Patients were followed for one year after photocoagulation. Results: 93 eyes of 76 patients were included in this study. At 6 months after the laser (n = 93), there was a significant decrease in mean macular thickness (from 354 µm to 314 µm, p < 0.001) and in mean IVI number (from 2.52 to 1.52 at 6 months, p < 0.001). The mean BCVA remained stable (0.32 and 0.31 logMAR at baseline and 6 months, p = 0.95). At 12 months (n = 81/93), there was a significant decrease in mean macular thickness (from 354 µm to 314 µm, p < 0.001) and in mean IVI number (from 4.44 to 2.95 at 12 months, p < 0.001), while the mean BCVA remained stable (0.32 and 0.30 logMAR at baseline and 12 months, p = 0.16). Conclusion: Focal laser photocoagulation of CMA seems to be effective and safe for reducing the burden of IVI in patients with ME. Their screening during the follow-up should be considered closely.
Physicochemical Stability of Generic Thiotepa Concentrate and Ready-to-Administer Infusion Solutions for Conditioning Treatment
Authors: Linxweiler Helen , Thiesen Judith , Krämer Irene
Published: January 2023

The objective of this study was to determine the physicochemical in-use stability of recently approved Thiotepa Riemser concentrate in the original vial and diluted ready-to-administer (RTA) infusion solutions in prefilled glucose 5% and 0.9% NaCl polyolefin bags. Thiotepa Riemser 10 mg/mL concentrates and infusion solutions (1 mg/mL, 2 mg/mL, 3 mg/mL) were prepared in triplicate and stored at 2–8 °C or 25 °C for 14 days. Thiotepa concentrations were determined using a stability-indicating RP-HPLC assay. In parallel, pH and osmolality were measured. Sub-visible particles were counted on day 0 and 14. Thiotepa Riemser concentrate was revealed to be stable for 14 days when stored at 2–8 °C, or for 24 h when stored at 25 °C. Thiotepa concentrations in infusion solutions stored at 2–8 °C remained above 95% of the initial concentrations for at least 14 days, regardless of the type of vehicle solution. When stored at 25 °C, thiotepa infusion solutions in glucose 5% proved to be physicochemically stable for 3 days (1 mg/mL), 5 days (2 mg/mL) or 7 days (3 mg/mL). Thiotepa infusion solutions in 0.9% NaCl remained physicochemically stable for 5 days (1 mg/mL) or 7 days (2 mg/mL, 3 mg/mL). At these points in time, the specification limit of ≤0.6% monochloro-adduct was fulfilled. In parallel, an elevation of the pH values was registered. Thiotepa concentrates and infusion solutions should be stored at 2–8 °C due to temperature-dependent physicochemical stability, and for microbiological reasons. Glucose 5% infusion solution is recommended as a diluent, and stability-improving nominal 2 mg/mL to 3 mg/mL thiotepa concentrations should be obtained.
3D Printing Technologies in Personalized Medicine, Nanomedicines, and Biopharmaceuticals
Authors: Serrano Dolores R. , Kara Aytug , Yuste Iván , Luciano Francis C. , Ongoren Baris , Anaya Brayan J. , Molina Gracia , Diez Laura , Ramirez Bianca I. , Ramirez Irving O. , Sánchez-Guirales Sergio A. , Fernández-García Raquel , Bautista Liliana , Ruiz Helga K. , Lalatsa Aikaterini
Published: January 2023

3D printing technologies enable medicine customization adapted to patients’ needs. There are several 3D printing techniques available, but majority of dosage forms and medical devices are printed using nozzle-based extrusion, laser-writing systems, and powder binder jetting. 3D printing has been demonstrated for a broad range of applications in development and targeting solid, semi-solid, and locally applied or implanted medicines. 3D-printed solid dosage forms allow the combination of one or more drugs within the same solid dosage form to improve patient compliance, facilitate deglutition, tailor the release profile, or fabricate new medicines for which no dosage form is available. Sustained-release 3D-printed implants, stents, and medical devices have been used mainly for joint replacement therapies, medical prostheses, and cardiovascular applications. Locally applied medicines, such as wound dressing, microneedles, and medicated contact lenses, have also been manufactured using 3D printing techniques. The challenge is to select the 3D printing technique most suitable for each application and the type of pharmaceutical ink that should be developed that possesses the required physicochemical and biological performance. The integration of biopharmaceuticals and nanotechnology-based drugs along with 3D printing (“nanoprinting”) brings printed personalized nanomedicines within the most innovative perspectives for the coming years. Continuous manufacturing through the use of 3D-printed microfluidic chips facilitates their translation into clinical practice.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Philosophies in 2022
Authors:   Philosophies Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Foliar Symptomology, Nutrient Content, Yield, and Secondary Metabolite Variability of Cannabis Grown Hydroponically with Different Single-Element Nutrient Deficiencies
Authors: Llewellyn David , Golem Scott , Jones A. Maxwell P. , Zheng Youbin
Published: January 2023

In controlled environment production systems, Cannabis sativa (hereafter cannabis) is a commodity with high nutrient demands due to prolific growth under optimized environmental conditions. Since nutrient deficiencies can reduce yield and quality, cultivators need tools to rapidly detect and evaluate deficiency symptoms so corrective actions can be taken quickly to minimize losses. We grew cannabis plants in solution culture with different individual nutrient elements withheld from the solutions to identify deficiency symptoms. Control plants received a complete nutrient recipe, whereas the following single elements were withheld from the respective nutrient deficiency treatments: N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, and Mn. The nutrient treatments began when the photoperiod was switched to a 12/12 h (light/dark), and plants were grown to commercial maturity. Plants were monitored daily, and the development of visual deficiency symptoms were recorded. Photographs of each plant were taken weekly. Upon the onset of visual deficiency symptoms, both upper- and lower-canopy foliage were analyzed for nutrient element concentrations. At harvest, plants were evaluated for biomass partitioning, and the cannabinoid composition of inflorescence tissues. This manuscript describes the onset and progression of nutrient deficiency symptoms (with pictures), relates symptomology to foliar nutrient analyses, and contextualizes the relationships between nutrient deficiencies and cannabis growth, yield, and quality. Aboveground vegetative fresh weights were reduced by 73% in the -N treatment and 59% in the -P treatment, compared with the control. All deficiency treatments except for -Fe and -Mn had floral yields reduced by between 33% to 72%, compared with the control. Overall, deficiencies of individual nutrients can substantially reduce vegetative growth and inflorescence yield, although only minor effects were observed in secondary metabolite composition. The onset of individual deficiency symptoms did not always correspond with elemental analysis of foliar tissues. Cultivators should take an integrated approach in diagnosing nutrient deficiencies and take timely corrective actions to optimize productivity and minimize losses to yield and quality.
Advances in Receptor-like Protein Kinases in Balancing Plant Growth and Stress Responses
Authors: Zhu Qingfeng , Feng Yanzhao , Xue Jiao , Chen Pei , Zhang Aixia , Yu Yang
Published: January 2023

Accompanying the process of growth and development, plants are exposed to ever-changing environments, which consequently trigger abiotic or biotic stress responses. The large protein family known as receptor-like protein kinases (RLKs) is involved in the regulation of plant growth and development, as well as in the response to various stresses. Understanding the biological function and molecular mechanism of RLKs is helpful for crop breeding. Research on the role and mechanism of RLKs has recently received considerable attention regarding the balance between plant growth and environmental adaptability. In this paper, we systematically review the classification of RLKs, the regulatory roles of RLKs in plant development (meristem activity, leaf morphology and reproduction) and in stress responses (disease resistance and environmental adaptation). This review focuses on recent findings revealing that RLKs simultaneously regulate plant growth and stress adaptation, which may pave the way for the better understanding of their function in crop improvement. Although the exact crosstalk between growth constraint and plant adaptation remains elusive, a profound study on the adaptive mechanisms for decoupling the developmental processes would be a promising direction for the future research.
Comparative Analysis of the Response to Polyethylene Glycol-Simulated Drought Stress in Roots from Seedlings of “Modern” and “Ancient” Wheat Varieties
Authors: Licaj Ilva , Di Meo Maria Chiara , Fiorillo Anna , Samperna Simone , Marra Mauro , Rocco Mariapina
Published: January 2023

Durum wheat is widely cultivated in the Mediterranean, where it is the basis for the production of high added-value food derivatives such as pasta. In the next few years, the detrimental effects of global climate change will represent a serious challenge to crop yields. For durum wheat, the threat of climate change is worsened by the fact that cultivation relies on a few genetically uniform, elite varieties, better suited to intensive cultivation than “traditional” ones but less resistant to environmental stress. Hence, the renewed interest in “ancient” traditional varieties are expected to be more tolerant to environmental stress as a source of genetic resources to be exploited for the selection of useful agronomic traits such as drought tolerance. The aim of this study was to perform a comparative analysis of the effect and response of roots from the seedlings of two durum wheat cultivars: Svevo, a widely cultivated elite variety, and Saragolla, a traditional variety appreciated for its organoleptic characteristics, to Polyethylene glycol-simulated drought stress. The effect of water stress on root growth was analyzed and related to biochemical data such as hydrogen peroxide production, electrolyte leakage, membrane lipid peroxidation, proline synthesis, as well as to molecular data such as qRT-PCR analysis of drought responsive genes and proteomic analysis of changes in the protein repertoire of roots from the two cultivars.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Plasma in 2022
Authors:   Plasma Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
CuNi Alloy NPs Anchored on Electrospun PVDF-HFP NFs Catalyst for H2 Production from Sodium Borohydride
Authors: Abutaleb Ahmed
Published: January 2023

Non-noble CuxNi1−x (x = 0, 0.1, 0,2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1) alloy nanoparticles supported on poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene) (PVDF-HFP) nanofibers (NFs) are successfully fabricated. The fabrication process is executed through an electrospinning technique and in situ reduction in Cu2+ and Ni2+ salts. The as-synthesized catalysts are characterized using standard physiochemical techniques. They demonstrate the formation of bimetallic NiCu alloy supported on PVDF-HFP. The introduced bimetals show better catalytic activity for sodium borohydride (SBH) hydrolysis to produce H2, as compared to monometallic counterparts. The Cu0.7 Ni0.3/PVDF-HFP catalyst possesses the best catalytic performance in SBH hydrolysis as compared to the others bimetallic formulations. The kinetics studies indicate that the reaction is zero order and first order with respect to SBH concentration and catalyst amount, respectively. Furthermore, low activation energy (Ea = 27.81 kJ/mol) for the hydrolysis process of SBH solution is obtained. The excellent catalytic activity is regarded as the synergistic effects between Ni and Cu resulting from geometric effects over electronic effects and uniform distribution of bimetallic NPs. Furthermore, the catalyst displays a satisfying stability for five cycles for SBH hydrolysis. The activity has retained 93% from the initial activity. The introduced catalyst has broad prospects for commercial applications because of easy fabrication and lability.
Research on Performance Deterioration of Internally Cured Pavement Concrete under the Coupling Effect of Salt Freeze–Thaw
Authors: Xu Jieting , Qin Xiao , Lin Yongkang , Cao Chaofeng , Liu Junhong , Huang Qingjian
Published: January 2023

This paper aims at solving the material durability problem caused by spraying deicing salt on pavement concrete in the northern winter. Super absorbent polymer (SAP) was adopted as an internal curing agent to enhance the durability of pavement concrete. Curing parameters including particle size and dosage of SAP and curing condition were optimized based on mortar tests by means of the grey target decision method. The deterioration rule of durability and mechanical properties of pavement concrete internally cured by different SAP dosages after salt freeze–thaw cycles were explored through rapid freeze–thaw test. Combined with the characteristics of pore structure, hydration and microstructure, the influence mechanism of SAP on the salt freeze–thaw resistance of pavement concrete was revealed. The experimental results showed that: (i) The reduction in mass loss rate and relative dynamic modulus was significantly improved by SAP internal curing with moderate dosage; (ii) The more freeze–thaw cycles the specimen underwent, the greater the increase in strength; (iii) After 75 cycles, the chloride ion erosion depth could be decreased by approximately 23.18%. Moreover, the addition of SAP could refine the pore size, inhibit the generation of shrinkage microcracks, and promote the degree of cement hydration in the late stage, which improved the internal density of the cement concrete structure. Therefore, the deterioration of pavement under the coupling effect of salt freeze–thaw was reduced.
Dynamic Light Scattering Based Microrheology of End-Functionalised Triblock Copolymer Solutions
Authors: Liu Ren , Caciagli Alessio , Yu Jiaming , Tang Xiaoying , Ghosh Rini , Eiser Erika
Published: January 2023

Nano-sized particles functionalised with short single-stranded (ss)DNAs can act as detectors of complementary DNA strands. Here we consider tri-block-copolymer-based, self-assembling DNA-coated nanoparticles. The copolymers are chemically linked to the DNA strands via azide (N3) groups. The micelles aggregate when they are linked with complementary ssDNA. The advantage of such block-copolymer-based systems is that they are easy to make. Here we show that DNA functionalisation results in inter-micellar attraction, but that N3-groups that have not reacted with the DNA detector strands also change the phase behaviour of the tri-block polymer solution. We studied the triblock copolymer, Pluronic® F108, which forms spherical micelles in aqueous solutions upon heating. We find that the triblock chains ending with either an N3 or N3-DNA complex show a dramatic change in phase behaviour. In particular, the N3-functionalisation causes the chain ends to cluster below the critical micelle temperature (CMT) of pure F108, forming flower-micelles with the N3-groups at the core, while the PPO groups are exposed to the solvent. Above the CMT, we see an inversion with the PPO chains forming the micellar core, while the N3-groups are now aggregating on the periphery, inducing an attraction between the micelles. Our results demonstrate that, due to the two competing self-assembling mechanisms, the system can form transient hydrogels.
Study of Formulation and Process Variables for Optimization of Piroxicam Nanosuspension Using 32 Factorial Design to Improve Solubility and In Vitro Bioavailability
Authors: Alhamhoom Yahya , Honmane Sandip M. , Hani Umme , Osmani Riyaz Ali M. , Kandasamy Geetha , Vasudevan Rajalakshimi , Paramshetti Sharanya , R. Dudhal Ravindra , K. Kengar Namrata , Charde Manoj S.
Published: January 2023

Piroxicam is a Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS) Class II drug having poor aqueous solubility and a short half-life. The rationale behind the present research was to develop a Piroxicam nanosuspension to enhance the solubility and thereby the in vitro bioavailability of the drug. Piroxicam nanosuspension (PRX NS) was prepared by an anti-solvent precipitation technique and optimized using a full-factorial design. Herein, the nanosuspension was prepared using polymer polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) K30® and Poloxamer 188® as a stabilizer to improve the solubility and in vitro bioavailability of the drug. Nine formulations were prepared based on 32 full-factorial experimental designs to study the effect of the formulation variables such as concentration of poloxamer 188 (%) (X1) and stirring speed (rpm) (X2) as a process variable on the response of particle size (nm) and solubility (µg/mL). The prepared NS was characterized by phase solubility, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, and percent drug release. DSC and XRPD analysis of freeze-dried NS formulation showed conversion of PRX into a less crystalline form. NS formulations showed a reduction in the size from 443 nm to 228 nm with −22.5 to −30.5 mV zeta potential and % drug entrapment of 89.76 ± 0.76. TEM analysis confirmed the size reduction at the nano level. The solubility was increased from 44 μg/mL to 87 μg/mL by altering the independent variables. The solubility of PRX NS in water was augmented by 14- to 15-fold (87.28 μg/mL) than pure PRX (6.6 μg/mL). The optimized formulation (NS9) at drug-to-stabilizer concentration exhibited a greater drug release of approximately 96.07% after 120 min as compared to the other NS formulations and pure PRX (36.78%). Thus, all these results revealed that the prepared NS formulations have improved the solubility and in vitro dissolution compared to the pure drug. Furthermore, an increase in the drug release was observed from the NS than that of the pure PRX. All these outcomes signified that the prepared PRX NS showed an increase in solubility and in vitro dissolution behavior; which subsequently would aid in attainment of enhanced bioavailability.
Carbon Fiber Prepreg Composites Failure Mechanism Based on Electrical Resistance Method during Hight-Strain Rate Loading
Authors: Zhang Hongji , Han Yang , Ge Yuanyuan , Sun Zhiyong
Published: January 2023

In this study, a unidirectional and plain weave carbon fiber/epoxy prepreg was used as the raw material, and the prepreg tape winding process was used to prepare carbon fiber/epoxy prepreg composites with 65% and 75% carbon fiber volume content, respectively. Based on traditional damage experiments and mechanical measurements, electrical measurements are introduced to study the damage to carbon fiber prepreg composites. The damage behavior of the carbon fiber prepreg composite under a high-speed impact load was monitored using the resistance method. By arranging electrodes on the sample and tracking the change in resistance during the entire process of high-speed impact of the material, the relationship between the damage and the change in resistance parameters of the carbon fiber prepreg composite winding products under high-speed impact was determined. The stress-strain curve and the final failure mode of the sample and the microstructure mechanics of carbon fiber prepreg winding products under different strain rates were analyzed. These results indicate that, as the change in resistance over time was almost stable from 0 to 200 μs. From 200 to 250 μs, the resistance decreases sharply; from 250 to 400 μs, the resistance approximates a plateau. From 400 to 500 μs, the resistance value increases again; at this time, the resistance value decreases to 3.2% of the initial resistance value.
Titanium Dioxide/Chromium Oxide/Graphene Oxide Doped into Cellulose Acetate for Medical Applications
Authors: Almaieli Latifah Mohammed Ali , Khalaf Mai M. , Gouda Mohamed , Alhayyani Sultan , Abou Taleb Manal F. , Abd El-Lateef Hany M.
Published: January 2023

Wound dressings have been designed based on cellulose acetate encapsulated with different concentrations of chromium oxide (Cr2O3) and titanium oxide (TiO2) with/without graphene oxide (GO). This study comprises the structural, morphological, optical, thermal, and biological behavior of chromium oxide/titanium dioxide/graphene oxide-integrated cellulose acetate (CA) films. The CA-based film bond formation was introduced by functional group analysis via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The fabricated Cr2O3/TiO2/GO@CA film SEM micrographs demonstrate transition metal oxides Cr2O3 and TiO2 on a nano-scale. The TiO2@CA shows the lowest contact angle with 30°. Optically, the refractive index increases from 1.76 for CA to 2.14 for the TiO2@CA film. Moreover, normal lung cells (A138) growth examination in a function of Cr2O3/TiO2/GO@CA film concentration is conducted, introducing 93.46% with the usage of 4.9 µg/mL. The resulting data showed a promising wound-healing behavior of the CA-based films.
Influence of the Measurement Resolution on the Filtration Analysis: An Improved Test Setup According to VDI 2762 Guideline
Authors: Benz Nikolai , Lösch Philipp , Antonyuk Sergiy
Published: January 2023

Specific parameters of cake filtration, such as the filter cake and filter medium resistances, can be determined using the pressurized housing cell standardized in the guideline VDI 2762 by measuring the filtrate mass on a laboratory scale. For reproducible measurements and an exact detection of the filtration start, an improved test setup is presented and compared with a standard setup according to the guideline VDI 2762. On the basis of measurements without and with a particle system to be filtered, it is shown that the characteristic nonlinear course at the beginning of each filtration, which can be seen in the t/V-V diagram, is influenced by the used measuring equipment.
Anticancer and Antimicrobial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized from Pods of Acacia nilotica
Authors: Alduraihem Nuha Suliman , Bhat Ramesa Shafi , Al-Zahrani Sabah Ahmed , Elnagar Doaa M. , Alobaid Hussah M. , Daghestani Maha H.
Published: January 2023

Green synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been used against antibiotic-resistant bacteria and chemo-resistant cancer cells. We synthesized AgNPs from Acacia nilotica pods, evaluating their antibacterial activity against eight bacterial strains and anticancer efficiency against two colon cancer cell lines, SW620 and SW480. Expression levels of eight genes (β-catenin, APC, TP53, Beclin1, DKK3, Axin, Cyclin D1, and C-myc) were checked by a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in cancer cells before and after treatment with A. nilotica extract and A. nilotica-AgNPs. Prepared nanoparticles were characterized through ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), Zetasizer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to identify the functional group in extracts. At first, AgNPs were confirmed by a sharp peak of surface plasmon resonance at 375 nm. The Z-average size was 105.4 nm with a polydispersity index of 0.297. TEM showed particle size of 11–30 nm. The prepared AgNPs showed promising antibacterial activity against bacterial strains and cytotoxic activity against the cancer cell lines. Expression levels of all the genes were affected by extract and AgNPs treatment. Overall, this study recommended both A. nilotica pods and A. nilotica-AgNPs as attractive candidates for antibacterial and anticancer applications.
Vibration Response of the Interfaces in Multi-Layer Combined Coal and Rock Mass under Impact Load
Authors: Li Feng , Wang Guanghao , Xiang Guangyou , Tang Jia , Ren Baorui , Chen Zhibang
Published: January 2023

The stress wave generated by impact or dynamic load will produce significant reflection and transmission at the rock coal or rock interface during the propagation process. This will produce dynamic effects such as dynamic tensile, stress superposition and mutation. These dynamic effects will lead to obvious vibration at the interfaces, which is a key factor leading to dynamic damage and the failure of coal and rock mass. In the process of underground engineering excavation, the dynamic damage of a series of layered rock masses is one of the important factors causing geological disasters. Based on the two–dimensional similar material simulation experiment, the coal and rock mass combined of five layers of fine sandstone, medium sandstone, coal, coarse sandstone and mudstone was taken as the research object, and single and multi-point excitation (synchronous/step-by-step) were used to test the time–history vibration curves of rock–coal and rock–rock interfaces under impact load. It was concluded that the change of extreme value of vibration amplitude presented two stages: first increase, and then attenuation. Most of them required 2.25 cycles to reach the peak value, and the dynamic attenuation of amplitude conformed to the law of exponential. Based on Fast Fourier transform (FFT), the spectrum structures of the amplitude–frequency of interface vibration were studied, and the two predominant frequencies were 48.9~53.7 Hz and 92.4 Hz, respectively. Based on the Hilbert-Huang transform and energy equation, 5~7 vibration modes (IMF) were obtained by decomposing the time–history curves. The three modes, IMF1, IMF2, and IMF3, contained high energy and were effective vibration modes. IMF2 accounted for the highest proportion and was the main vibration mode whose predominant frequencies were concentrated in 45.6~50.2 Hz. Therefore, IMF2 played a decisive role in the whole vibration process and had an important impact on the dynamic response, damage and failure of coal and rock mass. In real conditions, the actual predominant frequencies can be converted according to the size and mechanical properties of the coal and rock mass, and the vibration response characteristics of the interfaces between coal and rock mass under impact load were preliminarily revealed. This study can provide reference for monitoring and early warning of coal and rock dynamic disasters, prevention and control of coal and gas outburst and technical development.
Acknowledgment to Reviewers of Psych in 2022
Authors:   Psych Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Reactions in 2022
Authors:   Reactions Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Iranian Islamic Revolution and the Transformation of Islamist Discourse in Southern India: 1979–1992
Authors: Thodika Shaheen Kelachan
Published: January 2023

By focusing on the publications of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) in the Malayalam language, this article argues that the 1979 Iranian Islamic Revolution (IIR) marked a rupture from the disenchantments of the 1947 partition of British India and Cold War-centered politics for the Islamists of Kerala. This rupture from the colonial past and a Western-inspired intellectual climate had resonances in the discourse on Islam in Kerala. The Iranian revolution not only imported the idea of Islamism or revolution but also a renewed interest in democracy, modernity and the idea of “Islamist political” to the southwest coast of India. In an attempt to write an intellectual history of emotions related to the IIR, this paper argues that in the case of Islamists, there was a strong tendency to break from the intellectual discourse of the nation-state and begin afresh in politics, and the moment of 1979 provided what they sought for long.
Fishery Resource Evaluation with Hydroacoustic and Remote Sensing in Yangjiang Coastal Waters in Summer
Authors: Yin Xiaoqing , Yang Dingtian , Zhao Linhong , Zhong Rong , Du Ranran
Published: January 2023

Yangjiang coastal waters provide vital spawning grounds, feeding grounds, and nursery areas for many commercial fish species. It is important to understand the spatial distribution of fish for the management, development, and protection of fishery resources. In this study, an acoustic survey was conducted from 29 July to 5 June 2021. Meanwhile, remote sensing data were collected, including sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophyll concentration (Chla), sea surface salinity (SSS), and sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA). The spatial distribution of density and biomass of fish was analyzed based on acoustic survey data using the geostatistical method. Combining with remote sensing data, we explored the relation between fish density and the environment based on the GAMs model. The results showed that fish are mainly small individuals. The horizontal distri-bution of fish density had a characteristic of high nearshore and low offshore. In the vertical direc-tion, fish are mainly distributed in surface-middle layers in shallow waters (<10 m) and in middle-bottom layers in deeper waters (>10 m), respectively. The deviance explained in the optimal GAM model was 59.2%. SST, Chla, SSS, and longitude were significant factors influencing fish density distribu-tion with a contribution of 35.3%, 11.8%, 6.5%, and 5.6%, respectively. This study can pro-vide a scientific foundation and data support for rational developing and protecting fishery re-sources in Yangjiang coastal waters.
Multi-Swin Mask Transformer for Instance Segmentation of Agricultural Field Extraction
Authors: Zhong Bo , Wei Tengfei , Luo Xiaobo , Du Bailin , Hu Longfei , Ao Kai , Yang Aixia , Wu Junjun
Published: January 2023

With the rapid development of digital intelligent agriculture, the accurate extraction of field information from remote sensing imagery to guide agricultural planning has become an important issue. In order to better extract fields, we analyze the scale characteristics of agricultural fields and incorporate the multi-scale idea into a Transformer. We subsequently propose an improved deep learning method named the Multi-Swin Mask Transformer (MSMTransformer), which is based on Mask2Former (an end-to-end instance segmentation framework). In order to prove the capability and effectiveness of our method, the iFLYTEK Challenge 2021 Cultivated Land Extraction competition dataset is used and the results are compared with Mask R-CNN, HTC, Mask2Former, etc. The experimental results show that the network has excellent performance, achieving a bbox_AP50 score of 0.749 and a segm_AP50 score of 0.758. Through comparative experiments, it is shown that the MSMTransformer network achieves the optimal values in all the COCO segmentation indexes, and can effectively alleviate the overlapping problem caused by the end-to-end instance segmentation network in dense scenes.
Guidance-Aided Triple-Adaptive Frost Filter for Speckle Suppression in the Synthetic Aperture Radar Image
Authors: Li Jiamu , Yu Wenbo , Wang Yi , Wang Zijian , Xiao Jiarong , Yu Zhongjun , Zhang Desheng
Published: January 2023

Speckle noise exists inherently in the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image. Its multiplicative property leads to lots of difficulties in SAR image processing. A novel guidance-aided triple-adaptive Frost filter is proposed in this paper, which has potential for real-time processing platforms. Firstly, a scale-adaptive sliding window sizing method is adopted to determine the neighborhood ranges for every point in the image. All the subsequent processing is based on it. Then, an adaptive calculation for the tuning factor in the Frost filter is embedded into the proposed method. Lastly, the feature information apertured from the original image is used to provide guidance for edge recovery automatically, which guarantees the satisfactory ability for feature preservation. Thus, a novel improved Frost filter is proposed with triple adaptabilities. Both the positioning accuracy and response sensitivity of the scale-adaptive sliding window sizing method are verified first. The superiority of the adaptive tuning factor combined with the scale-adaptive sliding window is confirmed by two comparison experiments. At last, the results of speckle suppression experiments on the synthetic images and two natural airborne SAR images present a better performance than other methods.
Automatic Horizon Picking Using Multiple Seismic Attributes and Markov Decision Process
Authors: Wu Chengliang , Feng Bo , Song Xiaonan , Wang Huazhong , Xu Rongwei , Sheng Shen
Published: January 2023

Picking the reflection horizon is an important step in velocity inversion and seismic interpretation. Manual picking is time-consuming and no longer suitable for current large-scale seismic data processing. Automatic algorithms using different seismic attributes such as instantaneous phase or dip attributes have been proposed. However, the computed attributes are usually inaccurate near discontinuities. The waveforms in the horizontal direction often change dramatically, which makes it difficult to track a horizon using the similarity of attributes. In this paper, we propose a novel method for automatic horizon picking using multiple seismic attributes and the Markov decision process (MDP). For the design of the MDP model, the decision time and state are defined as the horizontal and vertical spatial position on a seismic image, respectively. The reward function is defined in multi-dimensional feature attribute space. Multiple attributes can highlight different aspects of a seismic image and therefore overcome the limitations of the single-attribute MDP through the cross-constraint of multiple attributes. The optimal decision is made by searching the largest state value function in the reward function space. By considering cumulative reward, the lateral continuity of a seismic image can be effectively considered, and the impacts of abnormal waveform changes or bad traces in local areas for automatic horizon picking can be effectively avoided. An effective implementation scheme is designed for picking multiple reflection horizons. The proposed method has been successfully tested on both synthetic and field data.
Human Postures Recognition by Accelerometer Sensor and ML Architecture Integrated in Embedded Platforms: Benchmarking and Performance Evaluation
Authors: Leone Alessandro , Rescio Gabriele , Caroppo Andrea , Siciliano Pietro , Manni Andrea
Published: January 2023

Embedded hardware systems, such as wearable devices, are widely used for health status monitoring of ageing people to improve their well-being. In this context, it becomes increasingly important to develop portable, easy-to-use, compact, and energy-efficient hardware-software platforms, to enhance the level of usability and promote their deployment. With this purpose an automatic tri-axial accelerometer-based system for postural recognition has been developed, useful in detecting potential inappropriate behavioral habits for the elderly. Systems in the literature and on the market for this type of analysis mostly use personal computers with high computing resources, which are not easily portable and have high power consumption. To overcome these limitations, a real-time posture recognition Machine Learning algorithm was developed and optimized that could perform highly on platforms with low computational capacity and power consumption. The software was integrated and tested on two low-cost embedded platform (Raspberry Pi 4 and Odroid N2+). The experimentation stage was performed on various Machine Learning pre-trained classifiers using data of seven elderly users. The preliminary results showed an activity classification accuracy of about 98% for the four analyzed postures (Standing, Sitting, Bending, and Lying down), with similar accuracy and a computational load as the state-of-the-art classifiers running on personal computers.