bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of cavity shape on microstructural evolution of pure aluminum in electrically-assisted solidification
Authors: Choi Seung Jun , Kim DongEung , La Moonwoo , Kim Moon-Jo 
Published: March 2023

AbstractGrain refinement is a crucial issue in metallic materials. One of the emerging techniques to obtain equiaxed grains is to apply an electric current to the liquid metal during solidification. With this view, in this paper, the effect of electric current on the solidification behavior in various cavity shapes of mold was investigated. Cylinder-, cube-, and cuboid-shaped cavities designed to have similar cavity volume were used. By applying an electric current during the solidification of liquid aluminum, the grains were effectively refined with a grain size of approximately 350 µm for all three types of cavities. The circulating flow of liquid aluminum was observed to have a similar shear rate intensity in all three types of cavities, which is known to be sufficiently high (over hundreds of s−1) to induce dendrite fragmentation resulting newly generated nuclei. Dispersion of nuclei on unsolidified aluminum appeared differently according to the shape of the cavity, which influences final shape of refined zone. The area fraction of refined zone was affected by the relative relationship between the solidification completion time and the electric current application time. This study will provide insight to control of process parameters when electrically-assisted solidification is applied to a real product with a complex shape.
Composition of Guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) resin
Authors: Rousset Amandine , Ginies Christian , Chevallier Olivier , Martinez-Vazquez Mariano , Amor Ali , Dorget Michel , Chemat Farid , Perino Sandrine 
Published: March 2023

AbstractGuayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) is a semi-arid shrub, native from the Chihuahan desert. This plant produces polyisoprene and resin. Polyisoprene is the main focal point of many researches, from structure to properties. Today, some processes are used to extract polyisoprene under its dry form, using solvent extraction, to produce rubber (used in truck or airplane tires) or as an emulsion, to make latex products by dipping (used in medical gloves, condoms, etc.). This article focuses on guayule resin which has some interesting applications in adhesives, coatings, pharmaceuticals, etc. In order to better know the resin composition and to be able to perform comparisons between varieties or seasons, liquid and gas chromatographic analysis methods have been described, for the groups of molecules composing the resin (polyphenols, guayulins, free fatty acids, di and triacylglycerols, argentatins, alkanes, alkanals, sugars, organic acids). Unlike other articles, this study aims to analyze all components of the same resin; the average composition of a guayule resin is given.
Novel NF-κB reporter mouse for the non-invasive monitoring of inflammatory diseases
Authors: Park Se Yong , Kim Min Woo , Kang Ju-Hee , Jung Hyun Jin , Hwang Jung Ho , Yang Soo Jung , Woo Jong Kyu , Jeon Yoon , Lee Ho , Yoon Yeo Sung , Seong Je Kyung , Oh Seung Hyun 
Published: March 2023

AbstractBioluminescence imaging is useful for non-invasively monitoring inflammatory reactions associated with disease progression, and since NF-κB is a pivotal transcription factor that alters expressions of inflammatory genes, we generated novel NF-κB luciferase reporter (NF-κB-Luc) mice to understand the dynamics of inflammatory responses in whole body, and also in various type of cells by crossing NF-κB-Luc mice with cell-type specific Cre expressing mice (NF-κB-Luc:[Cre]). Bioluminescence intensity was significantly increased in NF-κB-Luc (NKL) mice exposed to inflammatory stimuli (PMA or LPS). Crossing NF-κB-Luc mice with Alb-cre mice or Lyz-cre mice generated NF-κB-Luc:Alb (NKLA) and NF-κB-Luc:Lyz2 (NKLL) mice, respectively. NKLA and NKLL mice showed enhanced bioluminescence in liver and macrophages, respectively. To confirm that our reporter mice could be utilized for the non-invasive monitoring of inflammation in preclinical models, we conducted a DSS-induced colitis model and a CDAHFD-induced NASH model in our reporter mice. In both models, our reporter mice reflected the development of these diseases over time. In conclusion, we believe that our novel reporter mouse can be utilized as a non-invasive monitoring platform for inflammatory diseases.
Inhaled milrinone in cardiac surgical patients: pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic exploration
Authors: Nguyen Anne Quynh-Nhu , Denault André Y. , Théoret Yves , Varin France 
Published: March 2023

AbstractMean arterial pressure to mean pulmonary arterial pressure ratio (mAP/mPAP) has been identified as a strong predictor of perioperative complications in cardiac surgery. We therefore investigated the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) relationship of inhaled milrinone in these patients using this ratio (R) as a PD marker. Following approval by the ethics and research committee and informed consent, we performed the following experiment. Before initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass in 28 pulmonary hypertensive patients scheduled for cardiac surgery, milrinone (5 mg) was nebulized, plasma concentrations measured (up to 10 h) and compartmental PK analysis carried out. Baseline (R0) and peak (Rmax) ratios as well as magnitude of peak response (∆Rmax-R0) were measured. During inhalation, individual area under effect-time (AUEC) and plasma concentration–time (AUC) curves were correlated. Potential relationships between PD markers and difficult separation from bypass (DSB) were explored. In this study, we observed that milrinone peak concentrations (41–189 ng ml−1) and ΔRmax-R0 (− 0.12–1.5) were obtained at the end of inhalation (10–30 min). Mean PK parameters agreed with intravenous milrinone published data after correction for the estimated inhaled dose. Paired comparisons yielded a statistically significant increase between R0 and Rmax (mean difference, 0.58: 95% CI 0.43–0.73; P < 0.001). Individual AUEC correlated with AUC (r = 0.3890, r2 = 0.1513; P = 0.045); significance increased after exclusion of non-responders (r = 4787, r2 = 0.2292; P = 0.024). Individual AUEC correlated with ∆Rmax-R0 (r = 5973, r2 = 0.3568; P = 0.001). Both ∆Rmax-R0 (P = 0.009) and CPB duration (P < 0.001) were identified as predictors of DSB. In conclusion, both magnitude of peak response of the mAP/mPAP ratio and CPB duration were associated with DSB.
Spectroscopic identification of Ca-bearing uranyl silicates formed in C–S–H systems
Authors: Yorkshire Antonia S. , Stennett Martin C. , Walkley Brant , Provis John L. , Townsend Luke T. , Haigh Latham T. , Hyatt Neil C. , Mottram Lucy M. , Corkhill Claire L. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractPortland cement-based grouts used for radioactive waste immobilisation contain a Ca- and Si-rich binder phase, known as calcium–silicate–hydrate (C–S–H). Depending on the blend of cement used, the Ca/Si ratio can vary considerably. A range of C–S–H minerals with Ca/Si ratios from 0.6 to 1.6 were synthesised and contacted with aqueous U(VI) at 0.5 mM and 10 mM concentrations. Solid-state 29Si MAS-NMR spectroscopy was applied to probe the Si coordination environment in U(VI)-contacted C–S–H minerals and, in conjunction with U LIII-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis, inferences of the fate of U(VI) in these systems were made. At moderate or high Ca/Si ratios, uranophane-type uranyl silicates or Ca-uranates dominated, while at the lowest Ca/Si ratios, the formation of a Ca-bearing uranyl silicate mineral, similar to haiweeite (Ca[(UO2)2Si5O12(OH)2]·3H2O) or Ca-bearing weeksite (Ca2(UO2)2Si6O15·10H2O) was identified. This study highlights the influence of Ca/Si ratio on uranyl sequestration, of interest in the development of post-closure safety models for U-bearing radioactive waste disposal.
The role of the west-dipping collision boundary fault in the Taiwan 2022 Chihshang earthquake sequence
Authors: Lee Shiann-Jong , Liu Ting-Yu , Lin Tzu-Chi 
Published: March 2023

AbstractOn 17–18 September 2022, an earthquake sequence with a moment magnitude of 6.6 foreshock and a 7.0 mainshock occurred in southeast Taiwan along the Longitudinal Valley. Several surface breaks and collapsed buildings were observed after the event and one person died. The focal mechanisms of the foreshock and mainshock both had a west-dipping fault plane, which is different from the known active east-dipping boundary fault between the Eurasian Plate and the Philippine Sea Plate. Joint source inversions were performed to better understand the rupture mechanism of this earthquake sequence. The results show that the ruptures mainly occurred on a west-dipping fault. In the mainshock, the slip originated from the hypocenter and propagated toward the north with a rupture velocity of approximately 2.5 km/s. The east-dipping Longitudinal Valley Fault also ruptured, which could be passive and dynamically triggered by the significant rupture on the west-dipping fault. Most importantly, this source rupture model together with the occurrence of large local earthquakes over the past decade strongly supports the existence of the Central Range Fault, which is a west-dipping boundary fault that lies along the north to south ends of the Longitudinal Valley suture.
Effect of tissue-grouped regulatory variants associated to type 2 diabetes in related secondary outcomes
Authors: Hemerich Daiane , Smit Roelof A. J. , Preuss Michael , Stalbow Lauren , van der Laan Sander W. , Asselbergs Folkert W. , van Setten Jessica , Tragante Vinicius 
Published: March 2023

AbstractGenome-wide association studies have identified over five hundred loci that contribute to variation in type 2 diabetes (T2D), an established risk factor for many diseases. However, the mechanisms and extent through which these loci contribute to subsequent outcomes remain elusive. We hypothesized that combinations of T2D-associated variants acting on tissue-specific regulatory elements might account for greater risk for tissue-specific outcomes, leading to diversity in T2D disease progression. We searched for T2D-associated variants acting on regulatory elements and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) in nine tissues. We used T2D tissue-grouped variant sets as genetic instruments to conduct 2-Sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) in ten related outcomes whose risk is increased by T2D using the FinnGen cohort. We performed PheWAS analysis to investigate whether the T2D tissue-grouped variant sets had specific predicted disease signatures. We identified an average of 176 variants acting in nine tissues implicated in T2D, and an average of 30 variants acting on regulatory elements that are unique to the nine tissues of interest. In 2-Sample MR analyses, all subsets of regulatory variants acting in different tissues were associated with increased risk of the ten secondary outcomes studied on similar levels. No tissue-grouped variant set was associated with an outcome significantly more than other tissue-grouped variant sets. We did not identify different disease progression profiles based on tissue-specific regulatory and transcriptome information. Bigger sample sizes and other layers of regulatory information in critical tissues may help identify subsets of T2D variants that are implicated in certain secondary outcomes, uncovering system-specific disease progression.
Green fluorometric strategy for simultaneous determination of the antihypertensive drug telmisartan (A tentative therapeutic for COVID-19) with Nebivolol in human plasma
Authors: Salim Mohamed M. , Radwan Aya saad , Hadad Ghada M. , Belal Fathalla , Elkhoudary Mahmoud M. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractTelmisartan (TEL) and Nebivolol (NEB) are frequently co-formulated in a single dosage form that is frequently prescribed for the treatment of hypertension, moreover, telmisartan is currently proposed to be used to treat COVID19-induced lung inflammation. Green rapid, simple, and sensitive synchronous spectrofluorimetric techniques for simultaneous estimation of TEL and NEB in their co-formulated pharmaceutical preparations and human plasma were developed and validated. Synchronous fluorescence intensity at 335 nm was used for TEL determination (Method I). For the mixture, the first derivative synchronous peak amplitudes (D1) at 296.3 and 320.5 nm were used for simultaneous estimation of NEB and TEL, respectively (Method II). The calibration plots were rectilinear over the concentration ranges of 30–550 ng/mL, and 50–800 ng/mL for NEB and TEL, respectively. The high sensitivity of the developed methods allowed for their analysis in human plasma samples. NEB`s Quantum yield was estimated by applying the single-point method. The greenness of the proposed approaches was evaluated using the Eco-scale, National Environmental Method Index (NEMI), and Green Analytical Procedure Index (GAPI) methods.
A clustering linear combination method for multiple phenotype association studies based on GWAS summary statistics
Authors: Wang Meida , Cao Xuewei , Zhang Shuanglin , Sha Qiuying 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThere is strong evidence showing that joint analysis of multiple phenotypes in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) can increase statistical power when detecting the association between genetic variants and human complex diseases. We previously developed the Clustering Linear Combination (CLC) method and a computationally efficient CLC (ceCLC) method to test the association between multiple phenotypes and a genetic variant, which perform very well. However, both of these methods require individual-level genotypes and phenotypes that are often not easily accessible. In this research, we develop a novel method called sCLC for association studies of multiple phenotypes and a genetic variant based on GWAS summary statistics. We use the LD score regression to estimate the correlation matrix among phenotypes. The test statistic of sCLC is constructed by GWAS summary statistics and has an approximate Cauchy distribution. We perform a variety of simulation studies and compare sCLC with other commonly used methods for multiple phenotype association studies using GWAS summary statistics. Simulation results show that sCLC can control Type I error rates well and has the highest power in most scenarios. Moreover, we apply the newly developed method to the UK Biobank GWAS summary statistics from the XIII category with 70 related musculoskeletal system and connective tissue phenotypes. The results demonstrate that sCLC detects the most number of significant SNPs, and most of these identified SNPs can be matched to genes that have been reported in the GWAS catalog to be associated with those phenotypes. Furthermore, sCLC also identifies some novel signals that were missed by standard GWAS, which provide new insight into the potential genetic factors of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue phenotypes.
In silico design of a polypeptide as a vaccine candidate against ascariasis
Authors: Evangelista Francisco M. D. , van Vliet Arnoud H. M. , Lawton Scott P. , Betson Martha 
Published: March 2023

AbstractAscariasis is the most prevalent zoonotic helminthic disease worldwide, and is responsible for nutritional deficiencies, particularly hindering the physical and neurological development of children. The appearance of anthelmintic resistance in Ascaris is a risk for the target of eliminating ascariasis as a public health problem by 2030 set by the World Health Organisation. The development of a vaccine could be key to achieving this target. Here we have applied an in silico approach to design a multi-epitope polypeptide that contains T-cell and B-cell epitopes of reported novel potential vaccination targets, alongside epitopes from established vaccination candidates. An artificial toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) adjuvant (RS09) was added to improve immunogenicity. The constructed peptide was found to be non-allergic, non-toxic, with adequate antigenic and physicochemical characteristics, such as solubility and potential expression in Escherichia coli. A tertiary structure of the polypeptide was used to predict the presence of discontinuous B-cell epitopes and to confirm the molecular binding stability with TLR2 and TLR4 molecules. Immune simulations predicted an increase in B-cell and T-cell immune response after injection. This polypeptide can now be validated experimentally and compared to other vaccine candidates to assess its possible impact in human health.
Effect of oxygen vacancy and highly dispersed MnOx on soot combustion in cerium manganese catalyst
Authors: Zhu Yi , Chen Zhen , Li Hongmei , Wang Quan , Liu Xingyu , Hu You , Su Cuimei , Duan Rui , Chen Shanhu , Lan Li 
Published: March 2023

AbstractCerium manganese bimetallic catalysts have become the focus of current research because of their excellent catalytic performance for soot combustion. Two series of cerium manganese catalysts (Na-free catalysts and Na-containing catalysts) were prepared by coprecipitation method and characterized using XRD, N2 adsorption–desorption, SEM, Raman, XPS, H2-TPR, O2-TPD, Soot-TPR-MS and in situ IR. The effects of abundant oxygen vacancies and surface highly dispersed MnOx on soot catalytic combustion of cerium manganese catalysts prepared by different precipitants were analyzed. The activity test results show that the active oxygen species released by a large number of oxygen vacancies in the cerium manganese catalyst are more favorable to the soot catalytic combustion than MnOx which is highly dispersed on the surface of the catalyst and has good redox performance at low temperature. Because the catalytic effect of MnOx on the surface of Na-free catalysts is more dependent on the contact condition between the catalyst and the soot, this phenomenon can be observed more easily under the loose contact condition than under the tight contact condition. The activity cycle test results show that these two series of catalysts show good stability and repeated use will hardly cause any deactivation of the catalysts.
Investigation of the effective atomic number dependency on kinetic energy using collision stopping powers for electrons, protons, alpha, and carbon particles
Authors: Rezaeian Peiman , Kashian Sedigheh , Mehrara Rojin 
Published: March 2023

AbstractAs an important component in medical applications, dosimetry, and radiotherapy studies, the effective atomic number of body tissue, tissue equivalent substances, and dosimetry compounds are investigated. In this research, considering the Coulomb interaction of charged particles, using the collision stopping power and the NIST library data, the effective atomic number of various materials at different energies is calculated for common radiotherapy particles such as electron, proton, alpha, and carbon ions. Taking into account the direct calculation method based on the collision stopping power, the effective atomic number for electron, proton, alpha, and carbon particles is determined for a group of dosimetry and tissue equivalent materials. Results of the calculations based on the collision stopping power showed that in low kinetic energy, the values of the effective atomic number are equal to the total number of electrons in each molecule of the compound, which is quite justified by the physics of Bethe's formulas.
Biofortification of mungbean (Vigna radiata L. (Wilczek)) with boron, zinc and iron alters its grain yield and nutrition
Authors: Dhaliwal Salwinder Singh , Sharma Vivek , Shukla Arvind Kumar , Kaur Manmeet , Kaur Janpriya , Verma Vibha , Singh Prabhjot , Barek Viliam , Gaber Ahmed , Hossain Akbar 
Published: March 2023

AbstractMungbean [Vigna radiata L. (Wilczek)] is considered as an extremely nutritious crop possessing a high level of micronutrients, but their low bioavailability in the crop leads to micronutrient malnutrition in humans. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the potential of nutrients viz. boron (B), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) biofortification on productivity, nutrient concentration and uptake as well as the economics of mungbean cultivation. In the experiment, the various combinations of RDF with ZnSO4.7H2O (0.5%), FeSO4.7H2O (0.5%) and borax (0.1%) were applied to mungbean variety ML 2056. The combined foliar application of Zn, Fe and B was highly efficient in increasing the yield of grain as well as straw in mungbean exhibiting maximum values i.e. 944 kg ha−1 and 6133 kg ha−1, respectively. Similar results for B, Zn and Fe concentration in grain (27.3 mg kg−1, 35.7 mg kg−1 and 187.1 mg kg−1, respectively) and straw (21.1 mg kg−1, 18.6 mg kg−1 and 376.1 mg kg−1, respectively) of mungbean were observed. Also, uptake of Zn and Fe by grain (31.3 g ha−1 and 164.4 g ha−1, respectively), as well as straw (113.7 g ha−1 and 2295.0 g ha−1, respectively), was maximum for the above treatment. Whereas, the B uptake was found to enhance significantly through the combined application of B, Zn and Fe, where the values 24.0 g ha−1 and 128.7 g ha−1 corresponded to grain and straw, respectively. Thus, combined use of ZnSO4.7H2O (0.5%) + FeSO4.7H2O (0.5%) and borax (0.1%) significantly improved the yield outcomes, the concentration of B, Zn and Fe, uptake and economic returns of mungbean cultivation to alleviate the B, Zn and Fe deficiency.
Structural controllability of general edge dynamics in complex network
Authors: Pang Shaopeng , Zhou Yue , Ren Xiang , Xu Fangzhou 
Published: March 2023

AbstractDynamic processes that occur on the edge of complex networks are relevant to a variety of real-world systems, where states are defined on individual edges, and nodes are active components with information processing capabilities. In traditional studies of edge controllability, all adjacent edge states are assumed to be coupled. In this paper, we release this all-to-all coupling restriction and propose a general edge dynamics model. We give a theoretical framework to study the structural controllability of the general edge dynamics and find that the set of driver nodes for edge controllability is unique and determined by the local information of nodes. Applying our framework to a large number of model and real networks, we find that there exist lower and upper bounds of edge controllability, which are determined by the coupling density, where the coupling density is the proportion of adjacent edge states that are coupled. Then we investigate the proportion of effective coupling in edge controllability and find that homogeneous and relatively sparse networks have a higher proportion, and that the proportion is mainly determined by degree distribution. Finally, we analyze the role of edges in edge controllability and find that it is largely encoded by the coupling density and degree distribution, and are influenced by in- and out-degree correlation.