bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Surface Texture on the Sliding Pair Lubrication Efficiency
Authors: Antoszewski Bogdan , Kurp Piotr
Published: May 2022

The paper presents certain problems related to the lubrication of textured surfaces. It was noted that for a specific load, the lubrication effectiveness will depend on the shape, size and mutual distribution of the texture’s elements. Proposals for determining the lubrication irregularity parameters were presented for textures with a rectangular mesh and round recesses. The experimental part presents the laser texturing methodology, tribological testing methodology and preliminary test results where the significant role of the relationship between the trajectory of motion and the texture mesh was demonstrated.
Wear Resistance and Biocompatibility of Co-Cr Dental Alloys Fabricated with CAST and SLM Techniques
Authors: Fu Wenqi , Liu Shuang , Jiao Jun , Xie Zhiwen , Huang Xinfang , Lu Yun , Liu Huiying , Hu Shuhai , Zuo Enjun , Kou Ni , Ma Guowu
Published: May 2022

Cobalt–chromium (Co-Cr) alloys have been widely used as dental-restoration materials for many years. This study sought to investigate whether selective laser melting (SLM) is a more appropriate process than traditional casting (CAST) for fabricating dental Co-Cr alloys. Metallurgical microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Vickers hardness and nanoindentation tests, and friction and wear tests were used to evaluate the microstructure, surface compositions, mechanical properties, and wear resistance, respectively. Additionally, the biocompatibilities and cell adhesion of the alloys were evaluated with L-929 fibroblasts via CCK-8 assay, Live/Dead staining, flow cytometric analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) assay. The XPS results showed that the two alloys were all mainly comprised of Co, Cr, and O. The hardness in the CAST group equaled 7.15 ± 0.48 GPa, while in the SLM group, it equaled 9.06 ± 0.49 GPa. The friction coefficient of SLM alloys remained at approximately 0.46, but the CAST specimens fluctuated significantly. SLM alloys exhibited shallower wear scars and less wear debris compared with CAST alloys, simultaneously. Additionally, there were higher survival and expression of cell-adhesion-related genes on SLM alloys of L-929 cells, which meant that the deleterious effect on L-929 cells was significantly reduced compared with that for the CAST alloys. Overall, the wear resistances and biocompatibilities of the Co-Cr dental alloys were dramatically affected by the fabrication technique. The SLM technique is advantageous over the CAST technique for fabricating Co-Cr dental alloys.
Effects of the Interlayer Toughening Agent Structure on the Flow Behavior during the z-RTM Process
Authors: Li Weidong , Liu Gang , Bao Jianwen , Dong Shuhua , Hu Xiaolan , Yi Xiaosu , Lin Zhitao
Published: May 2022

In this paper, interlayer toughening composites were prepared by the z-directional injection RTM process (z-RTM), which has the advantage of increasing the interlaminar toughness and shortening the filling time and completely impregnating the fibers. The nonwoven fabrics and dot matrix structure material were used as ex situ interlayer toughening agents. The effect of the interlayer toughening agent structure on the resin flow behavior during the z-RTM process was investigated. The macro-flowing and micro-infiltration behaviors of the resin inside the preforms were deduced. The permeability of the fabric preforms with different toughening agents was investigated. The results show that the introduction of the nonwoven structure toughening agent makes the macro flow slow, and the flow front more uniform. The toughening agent with a dot matrix structure promotes the resin macro flow in the preforms, and shortens the injection time. The z-directional permeability of the preform with a dot matrix structural toughening agent is one order of magnitude lower than that of the non-toughened preform, while being higher than the preform toughened by the nonwoven fabric preforms, which is helpful for the further applicability of the z-RTM process. Furthermore, the mode II interlaminar fracture toughness of composites was evaluated.
Effect of Chlorides Content on the Structure and Properties of Porous Glass Ceramics Obtained from Siliceous Rock
Authors: Rodin Alexander , Ermakov Anatoly , Erofeeva Irina , Erofeev Vladimir
Published: May 2022

Porous glass-ceramic materials are used in the construction engineering and repair of various objects. The article investigates the method for obtaining porous glass ceramics from siliceous rock with a high calcite content. To obtain samples with an even fine porous structure, a small amount (≤0.386%) of chloride (NaCl, KCl, MgCl2·6H2O, CaCl2) was added to the charge mixture. At the first stage, mechanochemical activation of raw materials was carried out. Siliceous rock, Na2CO3 and additives (chlorides) were grinded together in a planetary ball mill. The resulting charge was annealed at a temperature of 850 °C. The influence of the type and amount of chloride on the properties of the charge mixture and glass ceramics has been defined by thermal analysis (TA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), etc. The chlorides in the charge mixture decreased the calcite’s decarbonization temperature and had an effect on the macro- and microstructure of the material. As a result, samples of glass ceramics with an even finely porous structure in the form of blocks were obtained. The samples consist of quartz, wollastonite, devitrite, anorthoclase and an amorphous phase. On average, 89–90% of the resulting material consists of with small pores. The apparent density of the samples is in the range of 245–267 kg/m3. Bending and compressive strength reaches 1.75 MPa and 3.8 MPa, respectively. The minimum thermal conductivity of the modified samples is 0.065 W/(m∙°C). The limiting operating temperature is 860 °C, and the minimum thermal shock resistance is 170 °C. The material has a high chemical stability. They can be used as thermal insulation for some types of industrial and civil facilities.
Dynamic Parameters Identification Method of 6-DOF Industrial Robot Based on Quaternion
Authors: Cheng Jun , Bi Shusheng , Yuan Chang
Published: May 2022

Identifying accurate dynamic parameters is of great significance to improving the control accuracy of industrial robots, but this area is relatively unexplored in the research. In this paper, a new algorithm for accurately identifying the dynamic parameters of a 6-degrees-of-freedom (DOF) robot is proposed by establishing a dynamic model. First, a multibody dynamic model of the robot is established, which can decouple the dynamic parameters of the rigid bodies that make up the robot. Decoupling is the basis of parameters identification. In order to ensure that the model is suitable for large-angle range motion and has good real-time performance, quaternion is used as the angle coordinate, and the model established thereby eliminates the singularity and improves the calculation efficiency. Second, the dynamic model is rewritten, and the dynamic parameters are separated as the parameters to be identified; thus, the parameters identification model is obtained. Furthermore, an identification algorithm based on the least-squares method is proposed, which can realize the accurate identification of dynamic parameters. The algorithm is verified by a simulation example. The results show that the value of the maximum absolute error of the identified parameters is −0.0264, and the maximum relative error is 0.031%, which proves the correctness and accuracy of the algorithm.
Thermal Conductivity and Thermophoretic Impacts of Micropolar Fluid Flow by a Horizontal Absorbent Isothermal Porous Wall with Heat Source/Sink
Authors: Nabwey Hossam A. , Rashad Ahmed M. , Mahdy Abd El Nasser , Shaaban Shaaban M.
Published: May 2022

Boundary layer analysis is invoked to clarify the aspects of variable thermal conductivity and thermophoretic forces on a steady state of MHD micropolar fluid flow in the existence of a uniform transverse magnetic field along an isothermal horizontal plate. The micropolar pattern permits the rotational freedom degrees that lead to couple stresses and a non symmetric stress tensor. The initiated PDEs governing the case pattern are mutated into a non-dimensional system due to proper transformations. The transformed mathematical governing equations are solved by implementing a very potent computer algebra software MATLAB code. The plotted graphs analyzed the attitude of multiple physical aspects involving factors on the flow attitude of micropolar velocity and angular velocity and temperature. Through the involved factors, the couple stress, skin friction and Nusselt number are manifested and interpreted amply. A new outcome for drag force and heat gradient experienced by the key factors is portrayed. Augmentation in Ω results in the thermophoretic forces that encapsulate the mass transmission. The local Nusselt number strengthened as the thermal conductivity, heat absorption factors or wall suction velocity were improved, and weakened due to the existence of viscous dissipation or heat generation impacts. As a particular case, the governing field equations of a classical Newtonian liquid are given by dropping the micropolar parameter impacts.
Influences of Boundary Temperature and Angular Velocity on Thermo-Elastic Characteristics of a Functionally Graded Circular Disk Subjected to Contact Forces
Authors: Go Jaegwi
Published: May 2022

The behaviors of functionally graded (FG) engineering structures are influenced by various parameters, such as the boundary temperature, the angular velocity, variations in the thickness, the weight of the structure, and the loading state. The thermo-elastic characteristics of FG rotating circular disks under the loading of contact forces were investigated. Hooke’s law in plane stress problems was applied to derive a pair of partial differential equations and a finite volume method was developed due to the complexity of the governing equations. The thermo-elastic characteristics of the FG rotating disks were investigated according to the variations in their outer boundary temperature and angular velocity. The increase in the outer boundary temperature caused crack generation at the inner surface of the circular disk and on the opposite side to the loading point. The increase in the angular velocity caused unstable thermo-elastic behaviors near the area of the outer boundary surface, especially at 0.7<(r−a)/(b−a) < 0.9, and may have led to crack generation at the outer surface of the rotating disk. These results may be applied to the design of functionally graded circular cutters or grinding disks undergoing contact forces to produce proper and reliable thermo-elastic characteristics for practical applications.
Stability of Solutions to Systems of Nonlinear Differential Equations with Discontinuous Right-Hand Sides: Applications to Hopfield Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Boykov Ilya , Roudnev Vladimir , Boykova Alla
Published: May 2022

In this paper, we study the stability of solutions to systems of differential equations with discontinuous right-hand sides. We have investigated nonlinear and linear equations. Stability sufficient conditions for linear equations are expressed as a logarithmic norm for coefficients of systems of equations. Stability sufficient conditions for nonlinear equations are expressed as the logarithmic norm of the Jacobian of the right-hand side of the system of equations. Sufficient conditions for the stability of solutions of systems of differential equations expressed in terms of logarithmic norms of the right-hand sides of equations (for systems of linear equations) and the Jacobian of right-hand sides (for nonlinear equations) have the following advantages: (1) in investigating stability in different metrics from the same standpoints, we have obtained a set of sufficient conditions; (2) sufficient conditions are easily expressed; (3) robustness areas of systems are easily determined with respect to the variation of their parameters; (4) in case of impulse action, information on moments of impact distribution is not required; (5) a method to obtain sufficient conditions of stability is extended to other definitions of stability (in particular, to p-moment stability). The obtained sufficient conditions are used to study Hopfield neural networks with discontinuous synapses and discontinuous activation functions.
Biodegradation and Prospect of Polysaccharide from Crustaceans
Authors: Qiu Shuting , Zhou Shipeng , Tan Yue , Feng Jiayao , Bai Yan , He Jincan , Cao Hua , Che Qishi , Guo Jiao , Su Zhengquan
Published: May 2022

Marine crustacean waste has not been fully utilized and is a rich source of chitin. Enzymatic degradation has attracted the wide attention of researchers due to its unique biocatalytic ability to protect the environment. Chitosan (CTS) and its derivative chitosan oligosaccharides (COSs) with various biological activities can be obtained by the enzymatic degradation of chitin. Many studies have shown that chitosan and its derivatives, chitosan oligosaccharides (COSs), have beneficial properties, including lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities, and have important application value in the medical treatment field, the food industry and agriculture. In this review, we describe the classification, biochemical characteristics and catalytic mechanisms of the major degrading enzymes: chitinases, chitin deacetylases (CDAs) and chitosanases. We also introduced the technology for enzymatic design and modification and proposed the current problems and development trends of enzymatic degradation of chitin polysaccharides. The discussion on the characteristics and catalytic mechanism of chitosan-degrading enzymes will help to develop new types of hydrolases by various biotechnology methods and promote their application in chitosan.
Compute-in-Memory for Numerical Computations
Authors: Zhao Dongyan , Wang Yubo , Shao Jin , Chen Yanning , Guo Zhiwang , Pan Cheng , Dong Guangzhi , Zhou Min , Wu Fengxia , Wang Wenhe , Zhou Keji , Xue Xiaoyong
Published: May 2022

In recent years, compute-in-memory (CIM) has been extensively studied to improve the energy efficiency of computing by reducing data movement. At present, CIM is frequently used in data-intensive computing. Data-intensive computing applications, such as all kinds of neural networks (NNs) in machine learning (ML), are regarded as ‘soft’ computing tasks. The ‘soft’ computing tasks are computations that can tolerate low computing precision with little accuracy degradation. However, ‘hard’ tasks aimed at numerical computations require high-precision computing and are also accompanied by energy efficiency problems. Numerical computations exist in lots of applications, including partial differential equations (PDEs) and large-scale matrix multiplication. Therefore, it is necessary to study CIM for numerical computations. This article reviews the recent developments of CIM for numerical computations. The different kinds of numerical methods solving partial differential equations and the transformation of matrixes are deduced in detail. This paper also discusses the iterative computation of a large-scale matrix, which tremendously affects the efficiency of numerical computations. The working procedure of the ReRAM-based partial differential equation solver is emphatically introduced. Moreover, other PDEs solvers, and other research about CIM for numerical computations, are also summarized. Finally, prospects and the future of CIM for numerical computations with high accuracy are discussed.
Is the Pendulum of Antimicrobial Drug Resistance Swinging Back after COVID-19?
Authors: Serapide Francesca , Quirino Angela , Scaglione Vincenzo , Morrone Helen Linda , Longhini Federico , Bruni Andrea , Garofalo Eugenio , Matera Giovanni , Marascio Nadia , Scarlata Giuseppe Guido Maria , Cicino Claudia , Russo Alessandro , Trecarichi Enrico Maria , Torti Carlo
Published: May 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic may have had an effect on antimicrobial resistance. We compared the prevalence of ESKAPE multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections in COVID-19 affected/unaffected patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) or infectious disease units at the “Mater Domini” University Hospital of Catanzaro between 1 March 2020 and 31 July 2021. Moreover, an analysis of MDR rates in ICU comparing the pre-pandemic period with the pandemic period was performed, and the possible consequence on in-hospital mortality was explored. One hundred and eighty-four ESKAPE isolates were analyzed from 362 SARS-CoV-2 positive and 199 negative patients. In total, 116 out of 171 Gram-negative isolates were classified as MDR, and a higher frequency was observed in COVID-19 compared with non-COVID-19 patients (74.2% vs. 60.3%; p = 0.052). A higher rate of MDR ESKAPE bacteria was observed in COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU compared with COVID-19 unaffected patients admitted to the same ward in 2019 (88% vs. 80.4%; p = 0.186). Acinetobacter baumannii was the main pathogen in COVID-19 patients (58.7%), where it was the most frequent cause of bloodstream infection with the highest mortality rate (68.7%). Increase in MDR appeared to be associated with COVID-19 but only in the ICU setting. Acinetobacter baumannii was associated with the risk of death, indicating the importance of implementing infection control measures urgently.
The Application of Mixed Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers Drives Soil Nutrient and Bacterial Community Changes in Teak Plantations
Authors: Zhang Qingqing , Zhao Weiwei , Zhou Zaizhi , Huang Guihua , Wang Xianbang , Han Qiang , Liu Gaofeng
Published: May 2022

Appropriate fertilization can enhance forest productivity by maintaining soil fertility and improving the structure of the bacterial community. However, there is still uncertainty surrounding the effects of combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil nutrient status and bacterial community structure. A fertilization experiment was set up in an eight-year-old teak plantation with five treatments involved: mixed organic and NPK compound fertilizers (OCF), mixed organic and phosphorus fertilizers (OPF), mixed organic, NPK and phosphorus fertilizers (OCPF), mixed NPK and phosphorus fertilizers (CPF) and no fertilization (CK). Soil chemical properties and bacterial communities were investigated, and the co-occurrence pattern of the bacterial community under different fertilization treatments was compared. The results showed that the contents of soil organic matter and nitrate nitrogen, and the soil pH values were the highest after OCPF treatment, which were 20.39%, 90.91% and 8.16% higher than CK, respectively. The richness and diversity of bacteria underwent no obvious changes, but the structure of the soil’s bacterial community was significantly altered by fertilization. Of the dominant bacteria taxa, the relative abundance increased for Gemmatimonadetes, Myxococcota, ADurb.Bin063-13 and Candidatus_Koribacter, and decreased for Chloroflexi, Proteobacteria, JG30-KF-AS9 and Acidothermus under OCPF treatment in comparison to CK. The number of nodes and edges, the average degree and the network density of bacterial community co-occurrence networks were the greatest in OCPF treatment, indicating that application of OCPF could make the network structure of soil bacteria more stable and complex. Moreover, soil pH and organic matter were significantly correlated with bacterial community structure and were considered the main influencing factors. These findings highlight that the combined application of organic, NPK and phosphorus fertilizers is highly beneficial for improving soil quality and optimizing bacterial community structure in teak plantations.
Magmatic and Inherited Zircon Ages from a Diorite Xenolith of the Popes Harbour Dyke, Nova Scotia: Implications for Late Ediacaran Arc Magmatism in the Avalon Terrane of the Northern Appalachians
Authors: Shellnutt J. Gregory , Dostal Jaroslav
Published: May 2022

The Meguma terrane is a unique unit of the Northern Appalachians as it is only identified in Nova Scotia. It was thrust over the Avalon terrane during the Early Devonian Acadian Orogeny. The Avalon and Meguma terranes are exotic to North America and likely originated along the margin of Gondwana. The precise relationship between the terranes is uncertain and very little is known about the basement rocks of each terrane. Hosted within the Late Devonian lamprophyric Popes Harbour dyke of the Meguma terrane are xenoliths of meta-sedimentary and meta-igneous rocks that are from the basement of the Avalon terrane. The xenoliths offer a glimpse into the nature of the lower crust of the Northern Appalachians. In this study, we present in situ zircon U-Pb age dates from a rare dioritic xenolith in order to assess its origin. The results show that the majority of zircons ages are between ~580 Ma and ~616 Ma with smaller groups at 750–630 Ma, ~2100 Ma, and <570 Ma. The zircon 206Pb/238U weighted-mean age of the rock is 603 ± 5.3 Ma and contemporaneous, with granitic intrusions of the Avalon terrane located within the Antigonish and Cobequid highlands of Nova Scotia. The diorite is compositionally similar to granitoids from an active continental margin. The discovery of Early Paleoproterozoic (~2100 Ma) zircons and the absence of Late Paleoproterozoic (1900–1700 Ma) and Mesoproterozoic (1600–1000 Ma) zircons suggests that the parental magma either encounters only Early Paleoproterozoic and Late Neoproterozoic rocks during emplacement or is derived by the melting of Paleoproterozoic rocks and/or the melting and mixing of Paleoproterozoic and Late Neoproterozoic rocks. Therefore, it is possible that Paleoproterozoic rocks may exist within the basement of the Avalon terrane.
Coconut Oil Alleviates the Oxidative Stress-Mediated Inflammatory Response via Regulating the MAPK Pathway in Particulate Matter-Stimulated Alveolar Macrophages
Authors: Chen Xinyu , Kim Dong Im , Moon Hi-Gyu , Chu Minchul , Lee Kyuhong
Published: May 2022

Exposure to particulate matter (PM) is related to various respiratory diseases, and this affects the respiratory immune system. Alveolar macrophages (AMs), which are defenders against pathogens, play a key role in respiratory inflammation through cytokine production and cellular interactions. Coconut oil demonstrates antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and it is consumed worldwide for improved health. However, reports on the protective effects of coconut oil on the PM-induced respiratory immune system, especially in AMs, are limited. In this study, we generated artificial PM (APM) with a diameter approximately of 30 nm by controlling the temperature, and compared its cytotoxicity with diesel exhaust particles (DEP). We also investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of coconut oil in APM– and DEP–stimulated AMs, and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Our results showed that APM and DEP had high cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner in AMs. In particular, APM or DEP at 100 μg/mL significantly decreased cell viability (p < 0.05) and significantly increased oxidative stress markers such as reactive oxygen species (p < 0.01); the GSSH/GSH ratio (p < 0.01); and cytokine production, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (p < 0.001), interleukin (IL)-1β (p < 0.001), and IL-6 (p < 0.001). The expression of the genes for chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand-1 (p < 0.05) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (p < 0.001); and the proteins toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 (p < 0.01), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (p < 0.001), p38 (p < 0.001); and extracellular receptor-activated kinase (p < 0.001), were also upregulated by PM. These parameters were reversed upon treatment with coconut oil in APM– or DEP–stimulated AMs. In conclusion, coconut oil can reduce APM– or DEP–induced inflammation by regulating the TLR4/MAPK pathway in AMs, and it may protect against adverse respiratory effects caused by PM exposure.
Hydrogels: Properties and Applications in Biomedicine
Authors: Ho Tzu-Chuan , Chang Chin-Chuan , Chan Hung-Pin , Chung Tze-Wen , Shu Chih-Wen , Chuang Kuo-Pin , Duh Tsai-Hui , Yang Ming-Hui , Tyan Yu-Chang
Published: May 2022

Hydrogels are crosslinked polymer chains with three-dimensional (3D) network structures, which can absorb relatively large amounts of fluid. Because of the high water content, soft structure, and porosity of hydrogels, they closely resemble living tissues. Research in recent years shows that hydrogels have been applied in various fields, such as agriculture, biomaterials, the food industry, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. Along with the underlying technology improvements of hydrogel development, hydrogels can be expected to be applied in more fields. Although not all hydrogels have good biodegradability and biocompatibility, such as synthetic hydrogels (polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide, polyethylene glycol hydrogels, etc.), their biodegradability and biocompatibility can be adjusted by modification of their functional group or incorporation of natural polymers. Hence, scientists are still interested in the biomedical applications of hydrogels due to their creative adjustability for different uses. In this review, we first introduce the basic information of hydrogels, such as structure, classification, and synthesis. Then, we further describe the recent applications of hydrogels in 3D cell cultures, drug delivery, wound dressing, and tissue engineering.
The Pathophysiology of Long COVID throughout the Renin-Angiotensin System
Authors: Khazaal Shaymaa , Harb Julien , Rima Mohamad , Annweiler Cédric , Wu Yingliang , Cao Zhijian , Abi Khattar Ziad , Legros Christian , Kovacic Hervé , Fajloun Ziad , Sabatier Jean-Marc
Published: May 2022

COVID-19 has expanded across the world since its discovery in Wuhan (China) and has had a significant impact on people’s lives and health. Long COVID is a term coined by the World Health Organization (WHO) to describe a variety of persistent symptoms after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Long COVID has been demonstrated to affect various SARS-CoV-2-infected persons, independently of the acute disease severity. The symptoms of long COVID, like acute COVID-19, consist in the set of damage to various organs and systems such as the respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, endocrine, urinary, and immune systems. Fatigue, dyspnea, cardiac abnormalities, cognitive and attention impairments, sleep disturbances, post-traumatic stress disorder, muscle pain, concentration problems, and headache were all reported as symptoms of long COVID. At the molecular level, the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is heavily involved in the pathogenesis of this illness, much as it is in the acute phase of the viral infection. In this review, we summarize the impact of long COVID on several organs and tissues, with a special focus on the significance of the RAS in the disease pathogenesis. Long COVID risk factors and potential therapy approaches are also explored.
Bioactive Based Nanocarriers for the Treatment of Viral Infections and SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Goyal Ravi , Bala Rajni , Sindhu Rakesh K. , Zehravi Mehrukh , Madaan Reecha , Ramproshad Sarker , Mondal Banani , Dey Abhijit , Rahman Md. Habibur , Cavalu Simona
Published: May 2022

Since ancient times, plants have been used for their medicinal properties. They provide us with many phytomolecules, which serve a synergistic function for human well-being. Along with anti-microbial, plants also possess anti-viral activities. In Western nations, about 50% of medicines were extracted from plants or their constituents. The spread and pandemic of viral diseases are becoming a major threat to public health and a burden on the financial prosperity of communities worldwide. In recent years, SARS-CoV-2 has made a dramatic lifestyle change. This has promoted scientists not to use synthetic anti-virals, such as protease inhibitors, nucleic acid analogs, and other anti-virals, but to study less toxic anti-viral phytomolecules. An emerging approach includes searching for eco-friendly therapeutic molecules to develop phytopharmaceuticals. This article briefly discusses numerous bioactive molecules that possess anti-viral properties, their mode of action, and possible applications in treating viral diseases, with a special focus on coronavirus and various nano-formulations used as a carrier for the delivery of phytoconstituents for improved bioavailability.
Improved TEA Sensitivity and Selectivity of In2O3 Porous Nanospheres by Modification with Ag Nanoparticles
Authors: Li Dengke , Li Yanwei , Wang Xiaohua , Sun Guang , Cao Jianliang , Wang Yan
Published: May 2022

A highly sensitive and selective detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by using gas sensors based on metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) has attracted increasing interest, but still remains a challenge in gas sensitivity and selectivity. In order to improve the sensitivity and selectivity of In2O3 to triethylamine (TEA), herein, a silver (Ag)-modification strategy is proposed. Ag nanoparticles with a size around 25–30 nm were modified on pre-synthesized In2O3 PNSs via a simple room-temperature chemical reduction method by using NaBH4 as a reductant. The results of gas sensing tests indicate that after functionalization with Ag, the gas sensing performance of In2O3 PNSs for VOCs, especially for TEA, was remarkably improved. At a lower optimal working temperature (OWT) of 300 °C (bare In2O3 sensor: 320 °C), the best Ag/In2O3-2 sensor (Ag/In2O3 PNSs with an optimized Ag content of 2.90 wt%) shows a sensitivity of 116.86/ppm to 1–50 ppm TEA, about 170 times higher than that of bare In2O3 sensor (0.69/ppm). Significantly, the Ag/In2O3-2 sensor can provide a response (Ra/Rg) as high as 5697 to 50 ppm TEA, which is superior to most previous TEA sensors. Besides lower OWT and higher sensitivity, the Ag/In2O3-2 sensor also shows a remarkably improved selectivity to TEA, whose selectivity coefficient (STEA/Sethanol) is as high as 5.30, about 3.3 times higher than that of bare In2O3 (1.59). The sensitization mechanism of Ag on In2O3 is discussed in detail.
Comparative Study of Aluminum-Doped Zinc Oxide, Gallium-Doped Zinc Oxide and Indium-Doped Tin Oxide Thin Films Deposited by Radio Frequency Magnetron Sputtering
Authors: Khan Shadab , Stamate Eugen
Published: May 2022

A timely replacement of the rather expensive indium-doped tin oxide with aluminum-doped zinc oxide is hindered by the poor uniformity of electronic properties when deposited by magnetron sputtering. Recent results demonstrated the ability to improve the uniformity and to decrease the resistivity of aluminum-doped zinc oxide thin films by decreasing the energy of the oxygen-negative ions assisting in thin film growth by using a tuning electrode. In this context, a comparative study was designed to elucidate if the same phenomenology holds for gallium-doped zinc oxide and indium-doped tin oxide as well. The metal oxide thin films have been deposited in the same setup for similar discharge parameters, and their properties were measured with high spatial resolution and correlated with the erosion track on the target’s surface. Furthermore, the films were also subject to post annealing and degradation tests by wet etching. While the tuning electrode was able to reduce the self-bias for all three materials, only the doped zinc oxide films exhibited properties correlating with the erosion track.
Age-Related Changes in Water and Nitrogen Utilization in Crop Trees and Understory Vegetation in a Hinoki Cypress Plantation Forest in Kochi City, Southern Japan
Authors: Inagaki Yoshiyuki , Miyamoto Kazuki , Sakai Atsushi
Published: May 2022

Age-related changes in water and nitrogen utilization of crop and understory vegetation in a hinoki cypress plantation forest were investigated from the age of 21 to 46 years in Kochi City, southern Japan. Nitrogen concentration in the leaf litter of hinoki cypress showed a decreasing trend with forest age. The leaf δ15N of hinoki cypress was related to a quadratic function and increased from the age of 21 to 26 years and then decreased to the age of 46 years. These results suggest that older hinoki cypress trees utilize soil nitrogen sources with lower δ15N values, and the competition for soil nitrogen with understory vegetation should be stronger. Carbon isotope discrimination (Δ13C) of hinoki cypress decreased from the age of 21 to 30 years and then increased to the age of 46 years. In contrast, the intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) of hinoki cypress increased from the age of 21 to 36 years and then decreased to the age of 46 years. These findings suggest that hinoki cypress trees in the earlier time increased their iWUE by reducing stomatal opening. In the earlier time, the stomatal opening of understory vegetation increased due to higher soil water availability with decreasing stand density of crop trees. In the later time, the iWUE of hinoki cypress decreased due to lower photosynthetic capacity with nitrogen limitation. These results suggest that the increase in the iWUE of hinoki cypress in response to elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide levels should be smaller in the later time because of stronger competition with understory vegetation for soil nitrogen resources.
25(OH)Vitamin D Deficiency and Calcifediol Treatment in Pediatrics
Authors: Castano Luis , Madariaga Leire , Grau Gema , García-Castaño Alejandro
Published: May 2022

Vitamin D is essential for the normal mineralization of bones during childhood. Although diet and adequate sun exposure should provide enough of this nutrient, there is a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency rickets worldwide. Children with certain conditions that lead to decreased vitamin D production and/or absorption are at the greatest risk of nutritional rickets. In addition, several rare genetic alterations are also associated with severe forms of vitamin-D-resistant or -dependent rickets. Although vitamin D3 is the threshold nutrient for the vitamin D endocrine system (VDES), direct measurement of circulating vitamin D3 itself is not a good marker of the nutritional status of the system. Calcifediol (or 25(OH)D) serum levels are used to assess VDES status. While there is no clear consensus among the different scientific associations on calcifediol status, many clinical trials have demonstrated the benefit of ensuring normal 25(OH)D serum levels and calcium intake for the prevention or treatment of nutritional rickets in childhood. Therefore, during the first year of life, infants should receive vitamin D treatment with at least 400 IU/day. In addition, a diet should ensure a normal calcium intake. Healthy lifestyle habits to prevent vitamin D deficiency should be encouraged during childhood. In children who develop clinical signs of rickets, adequate treatment with vitamin D and calcium should be guaranteed. Children with additional risk factors for 25(OH)D deficiency and nutritional rickets should be assessed periodically and treated promptly to prevent further bone damage.
Positive Effects of a Lecithin-Based Delivery Form of Boswellia serrata Extract in Acute Diarrhea of Adult Subjects
Authors: Giacosa Attilio , Riva Antonella , Petrangolini Giovanna , Allegrini Pietro , Fazia Teresa , Bernardinelli Luisa , Peroni Gabriella , Rondanelli Mariangela
Published: May 2022

Acute diarrhea is a frequent problem worldwide, mostly due to gastrointestinal infections or food poisoning. Boswellia serrata could be active in the treatment of acute diarrhea due to its anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and antimicrobial activity. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study, 49 adults with acute diarrhea were randomly allocated to receive 250 mg of a lecithin-based delivery form of Boswellia serrata (CASP) or placebo for 5 days. The time it took to become healthy with stoppage of diarrhea (primary end point) was significantly shorter in the intervention group (3.08 vs. 4.44 days: p-value < 0.0001). The probability of subjects treated with CASP to recover sooner was equal to 80.2%. A significantly lower number of stools was observed in the CASP group over time (β = −0.17, p-value < 0.0001). A significant difference was observed between the two groups for abdominal pain, nausea, and GAE (global assessment of efficacy). In conclusion, the lecithin-based delivery form of Boswellia serrata extract could be a useful addition to the treatment of acute diarrhea in adults. CASP is safe and reduces the time it takes to become healthy, the frequency of stools, the abdominal pain and nausea of subjects with acute diarrhea. Further studies are needed to confirm these promising results.
Intestinal Barrier Permeability in Allergic Diseases
Authors: Niewiem Monika , Grzybowska-Chlebowczyk Urszula
Published: May 2022

The role of intestinal permeability (IP) markers among children and adults with food allergies is not fully understood, and the identification of biological indicators/markers that predict growth retardation in children with allergic diseases and atopy has not been well explained. Studies have shown that patients with atopic diseases respond abnormally to food allergens. Accordingly, differences in the types of immune complexes formed in response to antigen challenges are significant, which seems to underlie the systemic signs of the food allergy. Increased intestinal permeability over the course of a food allergy allows allergens to penetrate through the intestinal barrier and stimulate the submucosal immune system. Additionally, the release of cytokines and inflammatory mediators enhances the degradation of the epithelial barrier and leads to an improper cycle, resulting in increased intestinal permeability. Several studies have also demonstrated increased permeability of the epithelial cells in those afflicted with atopic eczema and bronchial asthma. Ongoing research is aimed at finding various indicators to assess IP in patients with atopic diseases.
Fucoxanthin Attenuates the Reprogramming of Energy Metabolism during the Activation of Hepatic Stellate Cells
Authors: Bae Minkyung , Kim Mi-Bo , Lee Ji-Young
Published: May 2022

Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) play a major role in developing liver fibrosis. Upon activation during liver injury, activated HSC (aHSC) increase cell proliferation, fibrogenesis, contractility, chemotaxis, and cytokine release. We previously showed that aHSC have increased mitochondrial respiration but decreased glycolysis compared to quiescent HSC (qHSC). We also demonstrated that fucoxanthin (FCX), a xanthophyll carotenoid, has an anti-fibrogenic effect in HSC. The objective of this study was to investigate whether FCX attenuates metabolic reprogramming occurring during HSC activation. Mouse primary HSC were activated in the presence or absence of FCX for seven days. aHSC displayed significantly decreased glycolysis and increased mitochondrial respiration compared to qHSC, which was ameliorated by FCX present during activation. In addition, FCX partially attenuated the changes in the expression of genes involved in glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration, including hexokinase 1 (Hk1), Hk2, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1β, and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 3. Our data suggest that FCX may prevent HSC activation by modulating the expression of genes crucial for metabolic reprogramming in HSC.
Dynamics of Theileria equi Infection in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus during the Parasitic Phase in a Chronically Infected Horse
Authors: Peckle Maristela , Santos Huarrisson , Pires Marcus , Silva Claudia , Costa Renata , Vitari Gabriela , Camilo Tays , Meireles Nelson , Paulino Patrícia , Massard Carlos
Published: May 2022

Experimental studies have demonstrated that Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus transmits Theileria equi to horses. However, the degree and dynamics of this protozoan infection in the vector’s organism have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the infection rate and parasitic load of T. equi in R. (B.) microplus, the infection dynamics in this arthropod during experimental infestation in a horse chronically infected with T. equi, and to evaluate the trans-stadial and intrastadial transmission competence of T. equi by R. (B.) microplus. The experimental infestation period of R. (B.) microplus on the horse was 33 days, but males were found on the animal up to 60 days post-infestation. After the fifth day post-infestation, ticks and equine blood were collected every two days. Whole ticks from the same developmental stage collected in the same day were pooled. Adult ticks were dissected to extract salivary glands and gut. DNA extraction was performed for all the samples, and they were then submitted to qPCRs for T. equi diagnosis. Freshly molted nymphs collected as larvae in the horse and freshly molted males and females collected as nymphs in the horse showed equal to or greater than 75% positivity for T. equi, indicating a strong possibility of trans-stadial transmission. The longest permanence of the male ticks on the horse associated with the high positivity rate of this type of sample for T. equi indicate that the male may play a role in the intrastadial transmission of T. equi to infection-free horses. The salivary glands displayed 77.78% positivity for T. equi and presented a higher infection rate at the end of the experimental period (100% from 29 to 33 days post-infection). This study shows that R. (B.) microplus has high T. equi infection rates and that the infection rate and parasitic load increased over the experimental period. These findings confirm the importance of chronically infected horses with T. equi as a source of infection for R. (B.) microplus.
Epidemiological, Clinical, and Microbiological Characteristics in a Large Series of Patients Affected by Dermacentor-Borne-Necrosis-Erythema-Lymphadenopathy from a Unique Centre from Spain
Authors: Santibáñez Sonia , Portillo Aránzazu , Ibarra Valvanera , Santibáñez Paula , Metola Luís , García-García Concepción , Palomar Ana M. , Cervera-Acedo Cristina , Alba Jorge , Blanco José R. , Oteo José A.
Published: May 2022

During recent decades, a tick-borne rickettsial syndrome, characterized by eschar and painful lymphadenopathy after Dermacentor marginatus-bite, has been described as an emerging rickettsiosis in Europe. Our group named it DEBONEL (Dermacentor-borne-necrosis-erythema-lymphadenopathy), regarding the vector and the main infection signs. Other groups called it TIBOLA (tick-borne-lymphadenophathy) and, later, SENLAT (scalp-eschar-and-neck-lymphadenopathy-after-tick-bite), expanding, in the latter, the etiological spectrum to other pathogens. Objective: To investigate the etiology of DEBONEL agents in our area, and to compare their epidemiological/clinical/microbiological characteristics. During 2001–2020, 216 patients clinically diagnosed of DEBONEL (the largest series from one center) in La Rioja (northern Spain) were examined. Rickettsia spp. were amplified in 14/104 (13.46%) blood samples, 69/142 (48.59%) eschar swabs, 7/7 (100%) biopsies, and 71/71 (100%) D. marginatus from patients. For samples in which Rickettsia was undetected, no other microorganisms were found. ‘Candidatus Rickettsia rioja’, Rickettsia slovaca, Rickettsia raoultii, and Rickettsia DmS1 genotype were detected in 91, 66, 4, and 3 patients, respectively. DEBONEL should be considered in patients with clinical manifestations herein described in areas associated to Dermacentor. The most frequently involved agent in our environment is ‘Ca. R. rioja’. The finding of Rickettsia sp. DmS1 in ticks attached to DEBONEL patients suggests the implication of other rickettsia genotypes.
Role of Diversity and Recombination in the Emergence of Chilli Leaf Curl Virus
Authors: Mishra Megha , Verma Rakesh Kumar , Pandey Vineeta , Srivastava Aarshi , Sharma Pradeep , Gaur Rajarshi , Ali Akhtar
Published: May 2022

Chilli leaf curl virus (ChiLCV), (Genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae) and associated satellites pose a serious threat to chilli production, worldwide. This study highlights the factors accountable for genetic diversity, recombination, and evolution of ChiLCV, and associated chilli leaf curl alphasatellite (ChiLCA) and chilli leaf curl betasatellite (ChiLCB). Phylogenetic analysis of complete genome (DNA-A) sequences of 132 ChiLCV isolates from five countries downloaded from NCBI database clustered into three major clades and showed high population diversity. The dN/dS ratio and Tajima D value of all viral DNA-A and associated betasatellite showed selective control on evolutionary relationships. Negative values of neutrality tests indicated purified selection and an excess of low-frequency polymorphism. Nucleotide diversity (π) for C4 and Rep genes was higher than other genes of ChiLCV with an average value of π = 18.37 × 10−2 and π = 17.52 × 10−2 respectively. A high number of mutations were detected in TrAP and Rep genes, while ChiLCB has a greater number of mutations than ChiLCA. In addition, significant recombination breakpoints were detected in all regions of ChiLCV genome, ChiLCB and, ChiLCA. Our findings indicate that ChiLCV has the potential for rapid evolution and adaptation to a range of geographic conditions and could be adopted to infect a wide range of crops, including diverse chilli cultivars.
Microarray Profiling and Co-Expression Network Analysis of LncRNAs and mRNAs in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Mouse Model
Authors: Wu Xiaoling , Ma Chenjie , Ma Qinmei , Zhuang Peipei , Deng Guangcun
Published: May 2022

Background: Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) play critical roles in many respiratory diseases. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a destructive clinical syndrome of respiratory diseases. However, the potential mechanism of LncRNAs on ARDS remains largely unknown. Methods: To identify the profiles of LncRNAs and mRNAs in the LPS-induced ARDS mouse model, the microarray analyses were hired to detect the expression of LncRNAs and mRNAs in present study. Subsequently, microarray data were verified by quantitative qRT-PCR. Functional annotation on DE mRNAs and LncRNAs were carried out by bioinformatics analysis. Furthermore, the role of selected DE LncRNAs on correlated genes was confirmed by si-RNA and Western blot. Results: The expression of 2110 LncRNAs and 2690 mRNAs were significantly changed, which were further confirmed by qRT-PCR. GO and KEGG analysis indicated that the up-regulated mRNAs were mainly related to a defense response and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway, respectively. LncRNA-mRNA co-expression analyses showed that LncRNAs NR_003508, ENSMUST00000131638, ENSMUST00000119467, and ENSMUST00000124853 may correlate to MLKL, RIPK3, RIPK1, Caspase1, and NLRP3, respectively, or cooperatively, which were highly involved in the cell necroptosis process. Furthermore, siRNA for NR_003508 confirmed the co-expression analyses results. Conclusion: To summarize, this study implied that the DE LncRNAs could be potent regulators and target genes of ARDS and will provide a novel insight into the regulation of the pathogenesis of ARDS.