bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Simulation and Experimental Comparison of Joule‐Heating Effect in Carbon‐Based Epoxy Resin
Authors: Spinelli Giovanni , Guarini Rosella , Vertuccio Luigi , Guadagno Liberata , Romano Vittorio 
Published: August 2024

AbstractIn light of the ever‐increasing demand for lightweight materials suitable for heat transport applications, many efforts are devoted to enhancing the thermal properties of polymer‐based nanocomposites via nanofillers. In the present study, nanocomposites based on epoxy resin, including 3 wt% of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), are prepared and then thermally characterized. More in detail, it is investigated the temperature increase over time, due to the Joule heating effect, when different voltage values (70, 80, and 90 V) are applied to the specimens. These experimental measures validate a simulation study performed with commercial software (COMSOL Multiphysics®), which allows the investigation of several thermal aspects of the Joule heating. A perfect agreement between experimental and modeling data is found. This means that, in support of experimental activities, modern computational methods can add knowledge in materials science to discover new advanced materials or investigate the existing ones in depth. The present case study examines the potential use of nano‐reinforced polymeric materials for thermal applications involving the Joule effect.
Solvolysis Process for Recycling Carbon Fibers from Epoxy‐Based Composites
Authors: Tortorici Daniele , Clemente Roberto , Laurenzi Susanna 
Published: August 2024

AbstractFiber reinforced polymers boast exceptional mechanical performance coupled with low material density. Over recent decades, their usage has been steadily increasing and is poised to accelerate in the future. These materials typically have a lifespan of around 25–30 years, so at present time lots of tons of polymer composites are next to their end of life and this volume continues to grow. Currently, a significant portion of these materials is either incinerated or landfilled, resulting in substantial environmental impacts. Numerous studies have aimed to identify optimal recycling approaches, one of which involves solvolysis: the chemical dissolution of the polymer matrix. In this study, a solvolysis method has been devised and refined to effectively recover carbon fibers from composites while minimizing property degradation. The process begins with the identification of a suitable solvolysis fluid, specifically an aqueous sulfuric acid solution. Subsequently, key solvolysis parameters including solution concentration, temperature, residence time, and fluid agitation are meticulously optimized. The chemical and morphological impacts of this process are thoroughly examined using Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy analysis and scanning electron microscope observations.
Colloidal Stability of Chitosan/DNA Polyelectrolyte Complexes in Presence of Biological Polyanions
Authors: Nando Rodríguez Jesrael Luz Elena , Figueroa Ochoa Edgar Benjamín , Renteria Urquiza Maite , Bravo‐Anaya Lourdes Mónica 
Published: August 2024

AbstractNatural or synthetic polycations are used in nucleic acid‐based therapies as complexing agents which interact electrostatically with nucleic acids, condense them into nanoparticles, protect them and control their entry into cells. However, although the literature on the formation of nanoparticles known as complexes is well documented, fewer studies have focused on the physical chemistry behind their disassembly, especially under physicochemical conditions found in an intracellular environment. There are several theories of the disassembly of these complexes, one of them consisting in the exchange between the polycations of these particles with biological polyanions. This project is focused on the study of the complexation mechanism of chitosan and calf‐thymus DNA, as well as the stability of the obtained complexes in presence of biological polyanions, i.e., glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). In the presence of polyelectrolyte complexes, GAGs that are present in cells are expected to compete with nucleic acids and dissociate the complex if polycation–GAG association is thermodynamically favored. It is found that chitosan/DNA complexes colloidal stability depends on its [N+]/[P−] charge ratio (R). Furthermore, it is determined that the aggregation onset of the complexes, generated by the addition of different GAGs, depends on the structure and the charge density of the GAGs.
Effect of DNA's Molecular Weight on their Solution Viscosity, Critical Concentrations, and Liquid Crystals Formation
Authors: Álvarez Scarlett ElizabethLópez , González Guillermo Toriz , Martínez José Félix Armando Soltero , Ochoa Edgar Benjamín Figueroa , Gómez Gabriel Landazuri , Saint‐Jalmes Arnaud , Bravo‐Anaya Lourdes Mónica 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe study of the dynamics of nucleic acids in solution, their flow properties, and viscoelasticity is of great importance for understanding their biological functions. Many important properties of nucleic acids, such as DNA, depend on polymer concentration, CDNA, molecular weight (MW), rigidity, and external salt content, the latter parameter affecting electrostatic interactions. Furthermore, DNA molecular chains can organize, in vitro, into liquid crystalline phases at high CDNA. In this work, three DNA samples with different MW were studied in solution in a broad concentration range (CDNA from 0.025 to 200 mg mL−1, depending on DNA MW). Firstly, the intrinsic viscosities and MW for all DNA samples were determined through capillary and rheological measurements. Then, the overlap concentrations, C*, were estimated from the relation C* ≈ [η]−1. DNA chain characteristics were then analyzed in terms of the influence of DNA MW on the solution viscosities and on the overlap parameter, CDNA[η]. Flow birefringence appearance was identified by screening a wide CDNA range through visual observations with crossed polarizers. Finally, crossed‐light polarized microscopy was used to identify the appearance of liquid crystals at rest, confirming that higher CDNA are needed to obtain liquid crystals for low MW DNA samples.
Flexible Screen‐Printed Thermoelectric Materials Based on PEDOT:PSS/DWCNT Composites
Authors: Mauro Anna De Girolamo Del , Imparato Antonio , Miscioscia Riccardo , Tassini Paolo 
Published: August 2024

AbstractScreen printing technology is employed to prepare poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/double‐walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNT) films as active p‐type material for flexible thermoelectric generators (TEGs). Performance of the PEDOT:PSS/CNT composites have been optimized by changing the formulation inks to make them suitable for screen printing, by varying the CNT concentrations and by treating the printed polymeric films in ethylene glycol (EG). The purpose of this work is finding the processing conditions that optimize conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and the power factor of the fully printed material. From experimental data, the composite with 10% by weight of DWCNT chemically treated in EG maximizes conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and power factor of the material.
Current developments of gene therapy in human diseases
Authors: Liu Fanfei , Li Ruiting , Zhu Zilin , Yang Yang , Lu Fang 
Published: August 2024

AbstractGene therapy has witnessed substantial advancements in recent years, becoming a constructive tactic for treating various human diseases. This review presents a comprehensive overview of these developments, with a focus on their diverse applications in different disease contexts. It explores the evolution of gene delivery systems, encompassing viral (like adeno‐associated virus; AAV) and nonviral approaches, and evaluates their inherent strengths and limitations. Moreover, the review delves into the progress made in targeting specific tissues and cell types, spanning the eye, liver, muscles, and central nervous system, among others, using these gene technologies. This targeted approach is crucial in addressing a broad spectrum of genetic disorders, such as inherited lysosomal storage diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. Recent clinical trials and successful outcomes in gene therapy, particularly those involving AAV and the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)–CRISPR‐associated proteins, are highlighted, illuminating the transformative potentials of this approach in disease treatment. The review summarizes the current status of gene therapy, its prospects, and its capacity to significantly ameliorate patient outcomes and quality of life. By offering comprehensive analysis, this review provides invaluable insights for researchers, clinicians, and stakeholders, enriching the ongoing discourse on the trajectory of disease treatment.
Role of hydrogen sulfide in health and disease
Authors: Jin Yu‐Qing , Yuan Hang , Liu Ya‐Fang , Zhu Yi‐Wen , Wang Yan , Liang Xiao‐Yi , Gao Wei , Ren Zhi‐Guang , Ji Xin‐Ying , Wu Dong‐Dong 
Published: August 2024

AbstractIn the past, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) was recognized as a toxic and dangerous gas; in recent years, with increased research, we have discovered that H2S can act as an endogenous regulatory transmitter. In mammals, H2S‐catalyzing enzymes, such as cystathionine‐β‐synthase, cystathionine‐γ‐lyase, and 3‐mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase, are differentially expressed in a variety of tissues and affect a variety of biological functions, such as transcriptional and posttranslational modification of genes, activation of signaling pathways in the cell, and metabolic processes in tissues, by producing H2S. Various preclinical studies have shown that H2S affects physiological and pathological processes in the body. However, a detailed systematic summary of these roles in health and disease is lacking. Therefore, this review provides a thorough overview of the physiological roles of H2S in different systems and the diseases associated with disorders of H2S metabolism, such as ischemia–reperfusion injury, hypertension, neurodegenerative diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer. Meanwhile, this paper also introduces H2S donors and novel release modes, as well as the latest preclinical experimental results, aiming to provide researchers with new ideas to discover new diagnostic targets and therapeutic options.
XBB.1.16‐RBD‐based trimeric protein vaccine can effectively inhibit XBB.1.16‐included XBB subvariant infection
Authors: Peng Dandan , He Cai , Chen Zimin , Lei Hong , Huang Xiya , Ye Chunjun , Wang Binhan , Hao Ying , Du Xinyi , Lu Shuaiyao , Hu Hongbo , Cheng Wei , Dong Haohao , Lei Jian , Zhou Xikun , Song Xiangrong , Lu Guangwen , Wei Xiawei 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe newly identified XBB.1.16‐containing sublineages, including XBB.1.5, have become the prevailing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) variant in circulation. Unlike previous Omicron XBB variants (e.g., XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.9) harboring the F486P substitution, XBB.1.16 also carries a T478R substitution in the receptor‐binding domain (RBD). Numerous researchers have delved into the high transmissibility and immune evasion of XBB.1.16 subvariant. Therefore, developing a new vaccine targeting XBB.1.16, including variants of concern (VOCs), is paramount. In our study, we engineered a recombinant protein by directly linking the S‐RBD sequence of the XBB.1.16 strain of SARS‐CoV‐2 to the sequences of two heptad repeat sequences (HR1 and HR2) from the SARS‐CoV‐2 S2 subunit. Named the recombinant RBDXBB.1.16‐HR/trimeric protein, this fusion protein autonomously assembles into a trimer. Combined with an MF59‐like adjuvant, the RBDXBB.1.16‐HR vaccine induces a robust humoral immune response characterized by high titers of neutralizing antibodies against variant pseudovirus and authentic VOCs and cellular immune responses. Additionally, a fourth heterologous RBDXBB.1.16‐HR vaccine enhances both humoral and cellular immune response elicited by three‐dose mRNA vaccines. These findings demonstrate that the recombinant RBDXBB.1.16‐HR protein, featuring the new T478R mutation, effectively induces solid neutralizing antibodies to combat newly emerged XBB variants.
Targeting tumor microenvironment with photodynamic nanomedicine
Authors: Modi Suraj Kumar , Mohapatra Pragyan , Bhatt Priya , Singh Aishleen , Parmar Avanish Singh , Roy Aniruddha , Joshi Vibhuti , Singh Manu Smriti 
Published: August 2024

AbstractPhotodynamic therapy (PDT) is approved for the treatment of certain cancers and precancer lesions. While early Photosensitizers (PS) have found their way to the clinic, research in the last two decades has led to the development of third‐generation PS, including photodynamic nanomedicine for improved tumor delivery and minimal systemic or phototoxicity. In terms of nanoparticle design for PDT, we are witnessing a shift from passive to active delivery for improved outcomes with reduced PS dosage. Tumor microenvironment (TME) comprises of a complex and dynamic landscape with myriad potential targets for photodynamic nanocarriers that are surface‐modified with ligands. Herein, we review ways to improvise PDT by actively targeting nanoparticles (NPs) to intracellular organelles such as mitochondria or lysosomes and so forth, overcoming the limitations caused by PDT‐induced hypoxia, disrupting the blood vascular networks in tumor tissues—vascular targeted PDT (VTP) and targeting immune cells for photoimmunotherapy. We propose that a synergistic outlook will help to address challenges such as deep‐seated tumors, metastasis, or relapse and would lead to robust PDT response in patients.
Natural and synthetic 5‐(3′‐indolyl)oxazoles: Biological activity, chemical synthesis and advanced molecules
Authors: Liu Jing‐Rui , Jiang En‐Yu , Sukhbaatar Otgonpurev , Zhang Wei‐Hua , Zhang Ming‐Zhi , Yang Guang‐Fu , Gu Yu‐Cheng 
Published: August 2024

Abstract5‐(3′‐Indolyl)oxazole moiety is a privileged heterocyclic scaffold, embedded in many biologically interesting natural products and potential therapeutic agents. Compounds containing this scaffold, whether from natural sources or synthesized, have demonstrated a wide array of biological activities. This has piqued the interest of synthetic chemists, leading to a large number of reported synthetic approaches to 5‐(3′‐indolyl)oxazole scaffold in recent years. In this review, we comprehensively overviewed the different biological activities and chemical synthetic methods for the 5‐(3′‐indolyl)oxazole scaffold reported in the literatures from 1963 to 2024. The focus of this study is to highlight the significance of 5‐(3′‐indolyl)oxazole derivatives as the lead compounds for the lead discovery of anticancer, pesticidal, antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory agents, to summarize the synthetic methods for the 5‐(3′‐indolyl)oxazole scaffold. In addition, the reported mechanism of action of 5‐(3′‐indolyl)oxazoles and advanced molecules studied in animal models are also reviewed. Furthermore, this review offers perspectives on how 5‐(3′‐indolyl)oxazole scaffold as a privileged structure might be exploited in the future.
A novel BP algorithm‐based UWB MIMO ground‐penetrating imaging system
Authors: Xu Huaqiang , Li Xiaoshuang , Fan Yucheng , Yu Xinchang , Wang Yumeng , Zhao Yuefeng , Wang Jingjing 
Published: August 2024

AbstractUltra‐wideband (UWB) multiple input multiple output (MIMO) radar has been widely used in detection systems due to its advantages, such as low cost and high data acquisition capability. The detection system is applied in various ground‐penetrating applications, including mine detection and earthquake rescue. In this paper, a novel UWB MIMO radar system based on step‐frequency continuous wave is designed for underground target detection. To improve the penetration depth and high‐range resolution, a new miniature Vivaldi antenna with a bandwidth of 1–3 GHz is designed and integrated into the ground‐penetrating imaging system. Furthermore, a multiscale weighted time‐domain back projection (BP) algorithm is proposed to suppress artifacts and reduce the computational complexity of the BP algorithm. The designed system is tested by detecting stationary targets. The experimental results agree well with the simulation. The reconstructed images show that the designed MIMO radar system can successfully image underground targets.
A parameter extraction method for InP HBT small‐signal model considering emitter–collector laminated capacitance effect
Authors: Su Xiang , Mao Shuman , Wang Yutong , Tang Min , Yan Bo , Xu Yuehang 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe extraction of small‐signal parameters is of great importance for the modeling of InP heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs). This letter proposes an improved small‐signal parameter extraction method that considers both the emitter–collector capacitance effect and the current crowding effect. The corresponding parameter extraction procedure based on closed‐form equations is outlined. Furthermore, the model parameter extraction method is validated using two different‐sized InP HBT devices with multibias S‐parameters. The results demonstrate that the established small‐signal model exhibits greater than 90% accuracy across the frequency range of 1–110 GHz. In particular, in the high‐frequency band (above 50 GHz), the proposed model exhibits an improvement in accuracy of 7.4% after considering the emitter–collector capacitance and current crowding effects. This method can contribute to accurate modeling of the noise and large‐signal performance of InP HBT.
Design and validation of a novel 2.5‐D miniaturized FSS with angular and superior polarization stability for mobile technology
Authors: Li Yan , Wang Pei , Xu Shaojie , Yu Guoliang , Qiu Yang , Zhu Mingmin , Zhou Haomiao , Li Erping 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThis paper presents a novel 2.5D miniaturized frequency‐selective surface (FSS) measuring 6.1 mm × 6.1 mm, designed to effectively shield smartphones and tablets from unwanted electromagnetic radiation. The FSS is notable for its stable attenuation peaks in the high‐frequency stopband under transverse magnetic (TM) polarization, offering dual‐frequency response and exceptional angular stability in both transverse electric and TM modes. An equivalent circuit analysis, prototype fabrication, and empirical evaluation confirmed its effectiveness. The prototype exhibits superior polarization stability and minimal peak attenuation reduction of just 1.9 dB (10%) across a 0°–60° incidence angle, outperforming similar studies.
LET‐based approximation of the microdosimetric kinetic model for proton radiotherapy
Authors: Parisi Alessio , Furutani Keith M. , Sato Tatsuhiko , Beltran Chris J. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBackgroundPhenomenological relative biological effectiveness (RBE) models for proton therapy, based on the dose‐averaged linear energy transfer (LET), have been developed to address the apparent RBE increase towards the end of the proton range. The results of these phenomenological models substantially differ due to varying empirical assumptions and fitting functions. In contrast, more theory‐based approaches are used in carbon ion radiotherapy, such as the microdosimetric kinetic model (MKM). However, implementing microdosimetry‐based models in LET‐based proton therapy treatment planning systems poses challenges.PurposeThis work presents a LET‐based version of the MKM that is practical for clinical use in proton radiotherapy.MethodsAt first, we derived an approximation of the Mayo Clinic Florida (MCF) MKM for relatively‐sparsely ionizing radiation such as protons. The mathematical formalism of the proposed model is equivalent to the original MKM, but it maintains some key features of the MCF MKM, such as the determination of model parameters from measurable cell characteristics. Subsequently, we carried out Monte Carlo calculations with PHITS in different simulated scenarios to establish a heuristic correlation between microdosimetric quantities and the dose averaged LET of protons.ResultsA simple allometric function was found able to describe the relationship between the dose‐averaged LET of protons and the dose‐mean lineal energy, which includes the contributions of secondary particles. The LET‐based MKM was used to model the in vitro clonogenic survival RBE of five human and rodent cell lines (A549, AG01522, CHO, T98G, and U87) exposed to pristine and spread‐out Bragg peak (SOBP) proton beams. The results of the LET‐based MKM agree well with the biological data in a comparable or better way with respect to the other models included in the study. A sensitivity analysis on the model results was also performed.ConclusionsThe LET‐based MKM integrates the predictive theoretical framework of the MCF MKM with a straightforward mathematical description of the RBE based on the dose‐averaged LET, a physical quantity readily available in modern treatment planning systems for proton therapy.
Characterizing devices for validation of dose, dose rate, and LET in ultra high dose rate proton irradiations
Authors: Harrison Nathan , Charyyev Serdar , Oancea Cristina , Stanforth Alexander , Gelover Edgar , Zhou Shuang , Dynan William S , Zhang Tiezhi , Biegalski Steven , Lin Liyong 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBackgroundUltra high dose rate (UHDR) radiotherapy using ridge filter is a new treatment modality known as conformal FLASH that, when optimized for dose, dose rate (DR), and linear energy transfer (LET), has the potential to reduce damage to healthy tissue without sacrificing tumor killing efficacy via the FLASH effect.PurposeClinical implementation of conformal FLASH proton therapy has been limited by quality assurance (QA) challenges, which include direct measurement of UHDR and LET. Voxel DR distributions and LET spectra at planning target margins are paramount to the DR/LET‐related sparing of organs at risk. We hereby present a methodology to achieve experimental validation of these parameters.MethodsDose, DR, and LET were measured for a conformal FLASH treatment plan involving a 250‐MeV proton beam and a 3D‐printed ridge filter designed to uniformly irradiate a spherical target. We measured dose and DR simultaneously using a 4D multi‐layer strip ionization chamber (MLSIC) under UHDR conditions. Additionally, we developed an “under‐sample and recover (USRe)” technique for a high‐resolution pixelated semiconductor detector, Timepix3, to avoid event pile‐up and to correct measured LET at high‐proton‐flux locations without undesirable beam modifications. Confirmation of these measurements was done using a MatriXX PT detector and by Monte Carlo (MC) simulations.ResultsMC conformal FLASH computed doses had gamma passing rates of >95% (3 mm/3% criteria) when compared to MatriXX PT and MLSIC data. At the lateral margin, DR showed average agreement values within 0.3% of simulation at 100 Gy/s and fluctuations ∼10% at 15 Gy/s. LET spectra in the proximal, lateral, and distal margins had Bhattacharyya distances of <1.3%.ConclusionOur measurements with the MLSIC and Timepix3 detectors shown that the DR distributions for UHDR scenarios and LET spectra using USRe are in agreement with simulations. These results demonstrate that the methodology presented here can be used effectively for the experimental validation and QA of FLASH treatment plans.