bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Nanosilica and Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes on the Mechanical and Impact Performance of Unidirectional Kevlar/Epoxy Based Composites
Authors: Sharma Bhumi , Sachithanandam Sunita , Taahir Mohamed , Gaur Piyush , Muthukumar Chandrasekar , Singh Dalbir , Kumar Ravi Ranjan 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
The introduction of numerous nanoparticles into nanotechnology in recent years has opened the door for the incorporation of nanoparticles into polymeric-based composite materials for mechanical improvement. Composite materials are becoming a promising substitute material in the fabrication of numerous components due to their high weight-to-strength ratio and mechanical characteristics such as tensile Strength, flexural Strength, interlaminar shear strength, and impact strength. This research aims to determine the effect of a combined mixture of silica and multiwalled carbon nanotube particles (MWCNT) on the mechanical and impact properties of unidirectional Kevlar (UD)/epoxy composites for use in defence and aerospace applications. The addition of these Nanofillers results in high-performance reinforcement and the formation of hybrid composites with improved properties due to their use. The addition of specific nanomaterials can further enhance these characteristics, dependent on the concentration at which they are introduced into the solution. The most challenging aspects of incorporating nanomaterials into matrix materials are ensuring uniform mixing of the nanomaterials with the matrix material and increasing the viscosity of the matrix material when the nanomaterials are introduced into the matrix. Using different weight percentages, it is possible to determine the optimal ratio of nanofiller for predicting the enhanced mechanical properties of nano-composites. Preparation of the composite with different weight percentages (1 percent and 3 percent) of Nano SiO2 particles mixed with 0.25 percent MWCNT and 6 layers of the UD Kevlar fibre was accomplished using an ultrasonic vibration-assisted hand layup process. Tensile tests, Charpy impact tests, and interlaminar shear strength tests evaluated the material's mechanical properties. Experimental results revealed that tensile strength and impact strength increased by up to 80 percent and 50 percent, respectively, compared to the neat specimens. The ILSS test demonstrates a 271 percent improvement in shear strength at 3 percent and 0.25 MWCNT. The overall results determined that the combination of 3 percent SiO2 and 0.25 percent MWCNT provided the most enhanced mechanical properties while also being the most optimized. This study's findings indicate that applying a nano-silica and MWCNT mixture of Nanofillers to Kevlar fabrics is a promising method for improving a Kevlar-based hybrid composite's mechanical and impact energy absorption laminate.
A comparative study on the effect of nano seashell, multiwall carbon nanotubes and nano alumina on mechanical and impact properties of bidirectional Kevlar/epoxy composite
Authors: Dodkey Soumitra M , Karandikar Rishi S , Srinidhi S , Gaur Piyush , Managuli Vishwanath , Muthukumar Chandrasekar , Singh Dalbir , Kumar Ravi Ranjan , Suresh C 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
The use of composite materials is becoming more widespread by the day. Composite materials are used in a variety of vital applications including aerospace, defense and marine. As a result, it is critical to investigate the mechanical and impact properties of these material-based components. Testing of these materials can provide information such as Ultimate Tensile Strength, Impact Strength, and modulus of elastic allowing their application to be better understood. It has been observed that symmetric laminates produce better results. Because of the presence of stiff filler material, the infusion of nanofillers changed the material failure behavior from ductile to brittle. In this comparative study, an attempt has been made in investigating the improvements in the material behavior of neat Kevlar along with the infusion of nano additives like alumina, seashell and MWCNT in varying proportions. Based on the obtained experimental values, graphs were plotted to demonstrate the variation of properties when these infusions were made. There is a significant improvement in the modulus values of the material, Ultimate tensile strength and Impact strength after the incorporation of the nano additives. The Ultimate Tensile Strength was improved by 0.32% in Alumina 1% + 0.25% wt. MWCNT, 21% improvement was found in Alumina 3% + 0.25% wt. MWCNT and 28.86% improvement in alumina 6 % + 0.25% wt. MWCNT compared to neat aramid fiber composite specimen. For the combination of seashell + MWCNT, it is also found that Ultimate Tensile Strength is considerably improved. It was observed that, that there is a 15.96% improvement in Seashell 1% + 0.25% wt. MWCN, 21% improvement in Seashell 3% + 0.25% wt. MWCNT and 29.78% improvement in Seashell 7% + 0.25% wt. MWCNT compared to neat aramid fiber composite specimen. The impact strength was evaluated by performing Charpy Impact Test (ASTMD 256). It was found that there is a 12% improvement in Seashell 1% + 0.25% wt. MWCNT, for Seashell 2% + 0.25% wt. MWCNT, there is a 50% increment in the Impact Strength value. It is also seen that impact properties have significantly improved when the combination of Alumina + MWCNT was infused. There is a 23.072% rise in Alumina 1% + 0.25% wt. MWCNT and 56.83% improvement in Alumina 3% + 0.25% wt. MWCNT compared to its neat aramid fiber composite specimen.
Obesity Indexes Are Positively Correlated With Blood Pressure Variability in Patients With Essential Hypertension
Authors: Liu Jin-ping , Dang Wei , Zhang Jing 
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Background
To analyze the relationship between obesity indexes, types of obesity, and blood pressure (BP) variability (BPV) in patients with hypertension.

Methods
A total of 284 patients (147 males, 137 females) with essential hypertension (EH) aged 70.7 ± 14.2 years were enrolled. Patients were grouped by body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and obesity types. According to BMI, patients were divided control (BMI 18.5 to &lt;24.0), overweight (BMI 24.0 to &lt;28.0), and obesity (BMI ≥28.0 kg/m2) groups. According to waist circumference, patients were divided into control (&lt;90 for male and &lt;85 cm for female) and the obesity (≥90 for male and ≥85 cm for female) groups. According to obesity type, patients were divided into control (normal BMI and waist circumference), simple abdominal obesity (normal BMI and increased waist circumference), simple overweight (BMI ≥24.0 and normal waist circumference), and combined obesity (BMI ≥24.0 kg/m2 and increased waist circumference) groups. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory BP was recorded.

Results
When divided by BMI, daytime systolic BP standard deviation (dSBPSD), nighttime diastolic BP standard deviation (nDBPSD), daytime systolic BP variation coefficient (dSBPCV), and nighttime systolic BP standard deviation (nSBPSD) were higher in obesity group compared with control and overweight groups (P &lt; 0.05). When divided by waist circumference, dSBPSD, daytime diastolic BP standard deviation (dDBPSD), and dSBPCV in the abdominal obesity group were higher than the control group (all P &lt; 0.05). When divided by obesity type, simple abdominal obesity, simple overweight obesity, and combined obesity groups had higher 24-hour diastolic BP (24hDBP) and nighttime diastolic BP (nDBP) than the control group (P &lt; 0.05), and the combined obesity group had higher daytime systolic BP (dSBP) and dSBPSD (P &lt; 0.05). BMI was positively correlated with dSBPSD, nSBPSD, and nDBPSD (r = 0.160, 0.136, 0.163). Body fat percentage (BF%) was positively correlated with nSBPSD, nDBPSD, and nighttime systolic BP coefficient of variation (nSBPCV) (r = 0.175, 0.128, 0.153). Waist circumference was positively correlated with dSBPSD (r = 0.138, P &lt; 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that dSBPSD was positively correlated with BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio, while nSBPSD, nDBPSD were positively correlated with BMI and BF% (P &lt; 0.05), and nSBPCV was positively correlated with BF% (P &lt; 0.05).

Conclusions
Obesity indexes are positively correlated with BPV in EH patients.
Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status: Italian Normative Data for Older Adults
Authors: Chipi Elena , Fruttini Daniela , Salvadori Nicola , Montanucci Chiara , Siena Elisa , Menculini Giulia , Mazzeschi Claudia , Parnetti Lucilla 
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Objective
The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), widely used for detecting cognitive impairment in different neuropsychiatric conditions, is increasingly applied for measuring cognitive functioning in older individuals. Available normative data for RBANS Italian version suffer from under-representation of the older ages (&gt;60 years) and are not corrected for education. Moreover, normative data are provided only for Indexes and Total scores. We thus administered RBANS Italian version in a larger sample of older adults, taking into account the effect of age, education and gender on all scores.

Method
We used a regression-based model to assess the effect of age, education, and gender on RBANS Subtests, Indexes and Total scores in a consecutive series of healthy cognitively normal volunteers aged 60–79 years (N = 158). The obtained norms were compared with the Italian original normative data by means of Wilcoxon rank-sum test.

Results
Multiple linear regression analyses showed that age and educational level significantly influence performances on most RBANS scores. A free-to-use Excel to calculate subject’s percentiles for any single score was developed. When compared with original normative values, our percentiles distribution of Indexes and Total scores did not reveal significant differences (p &gt; .05).

Conclusion
The obtained normative data show good concordance with previous norms. The instrument seems not significantly affected by educational level. The possibility to correct for any single score could make RBANS a more precise measure for capturing subtle cognitive deficits in prevention studies.
Effectiveness and Safety of Ustekinumab in Elderly Patients with Crohn’s Disease: Real World Evidence From the ENEIDA Registry
Authors: Casas-Deza Diego , Lamuela-Calvo Luis Javier , Gomollón Fernando , Arbonés-Mainar José Miguel , Caballol Berta , Gisbert Javier P , Rivero Montserrat , Sánchez-Rodríguez Eugenia , Arias García Lara , Gutiérrez Casbas Ana , Merino Olga , Márquez Lucía , Laredo Viviana , Martín-Arranz María Dolores , López Serrano Pilar , Riestra Menéndez Sabino , González-Muñoza Carlos , de Castro Parga Luisa , Calvo Moya Marta , Fuentes-Valenzuela Esteban , Esteve Maria , Iborra Marisa , Dura Gil Miguel , Barreiro-De Acosta Manuel , Lorente-Poyatos Rufo Humberto , Manceñido Noemí , Calafat Margalida , Rodríguez-Lago Iago , Guardiola Capo Jordi , Payeras Maria Antonia , Morales Alvarado Víctor Jair , Tardillo Carlos , Bujanda Luis , Muñoz-Nuñez José Fernando , Ber Nieto Yolanda , Bermejo Fernando , Almela Pedro , Navarro-Llavat Mercè , Martínez Montiel Pilar , Rodríguez Gutiérrez Cristina , Van Domselaar Manuel , Sesé Eva , Martínez Pérez Teresa , Ricart Elena , Chaparro María , García María José , López-Sanromán Antonio , Sicilia Beatriz , Orts Beatriz , López-García Alicia , Martín-Arranz Eduardo , Pérez-Calle José Lázaro , de Francisco Ruth , García-Planella Esther , Domènech Eugeni , García-López y Santiago 
Published: August 2022

AbstractBackground and AimsClinical trials and real-life studies with ustekinumab in Crohn’s disease [CD] have revealed a good efficacy and safety profile. However, these data are scarcely available in elderly patients. Therefore, we aim to assess the effectiveness and safety of ustekinumab in elderly patients with CD.MethodsElderly patients [&gt;60 years old] from the prospectively maintained ENEIDA registry treated with ustekinumab due to CD were included. Every patient was matched with two controls under 60 years of age, according to anti-tumour necrosis factor use and smoking habit. Values for the Harvey–Bradshaw Index [HBI], endoscopic activity, C-reactive protein [CRP] and faecal calprotectin [FC] were recorded at baseline and at weeks 16, 32 and 54.ResultsIn total, 648 patients were included, 212 of whom were elderly. Effectiveness was similar between young and elderly patients during the follow-up. Steroid-free remission was similar at week 16 [54.6 vs 51.4%, p = 0.20], 32 [53.0% vs 54.5%, p = 0.26] and 54 [57.8% vs 51.1%, p = 0.21]. Persistence of ustekinumab as maintenance therapy was similar in both age groups [log-rank test; p = 0.91]. There was no difference in the rate of adverse effects [14.2% vs 11.2%, p = 0.350], including severe infections [7.1% vs 7.3%, p = 1.00], except for the occurrence of de novo neoplasms, which was higher in older patients [0.7% vs 4.3%, p = 0.003].ConclusionsUstekinumab is as effective in elderly patients with CD as it is in non-elderly patients. The safety profile also seems to be similar except for a higher rate of de novo neoplasms, probably related to the age of the elderly patients.
Mitral valve disease in ankylosing spondylitis: an autoimmune disease manifestation? A case report
Authors: El Mathari Sulayman , van der Wal Allard , Raterman Hennie , Kluin Jolanda 
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Background
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of primarily the joints of the spine. In the literature, AS is known to have cardiac manifestations. Most frequently, this is aortic regurgitation. However, in rare cases also mitral valve (MV) disease is observed in AS patients. The extent and mechanism of this involvement are still unclear. We aim to describe a histologically validated case report to add understanding on this topic.

Case summary
We show the case of a 51-year-old male who suffered since his youth from back pain and uveitis, which was later diagnosed as AS. After a first presentation with combined heart valve disease, the patient recovered on cardiac medical therapy and biologic treatment for AS. Four years later, cardiac complaints worsened mainly due to severe MV stenosis. Surgical treatment was performed with histopathologic analysis of the excised MV validating involvement of AS.

Discussion
Histopathologic analysis showed chronic fibro inflammatory thickening of the MV leaflets and subvalvular apparatus. These pathological features could fit with the inflammatory nature of AS. Since this is a rare case, the recognition of fibro inflammatory thickening leading to commissural fusion and stenosis may contribute to better understanding of heart valve disease in AS to create a base for better cardiac management in this specific patient group.
Tandem mass tag labeling to assess proteome differences between intermediate and very tender beef steaks
Authors: Dang David S , Zhai Chaoyu , Nair Mahesh N , Thornton Kara J , Sawalhah Mohammed N , Matarneh Sulaiman K 
Published: August 2022

AbstractTenderness is considered as one of the most important quality attributes dictating consumers’ overall satisfaction and future purchasing decisions of fresh beef. However, the ability to predict and manage tenderness has proven very challenging due to the numerous factors that contribute to variation in end-product tenderness. Proteomic profiling allows for global examination of differentially abundant proteins in the meat and can provide new insight into biological mechanisms related to meat tenderness. Hence, the objective of this study was to examine proteomic profiles of beef longissimus lumborum (LL) steaks varying in tenderness, with the intention to identify potential biomarkers related to tenderness. For this purpose, beef LL muscle samples were collected from 99 carcasses at 0 and 384 h postmortem. Based on Warner–Bratzler shear force values at 384 h, 16 samples with the highest (intermediate tender, IT) and lowest (very tender, VT) values were selected to be used for proteomic analysis in this study (n = 8 per category). Using tandem mass tag-based proteomics, a total of 876 proteins were identified, of which 51 proteins were differentially abundant (P &lt; 0.05) between the tenderness categories and aging periods. The differentially identified proteins encompassed a wide array of biological processes related to muscle contraction, calcium signaling, metabolism, extracellular matrix organization, chaperone, and apoptosis. A greater (P &lt; 0.05) relative abundance of proteins associated with carbohydrate metabolism and apoptosis, and a lower (P &lt; 0.05) relative abundance of proteins involved in muscle contraction was observed in the VT steaks after aging compared with the IT steaks, suggesting that more proteolysis occurred in the VT steaks. This may be explained by the greater (P &lt; 0.05) abundance of chaperonin and calcium-binding proteins in the IT steaks, which could have limited the extent of postmortem proteolysis in these steaks. In addition, a greater (P &lt; 0.05) abundance of connective tissue proteins was also observed in the IT steaks, which likely contributed to the difference in tenderness due to added background toughness. The established proteomic database obtained in this study may provide a reference for future research regarding potential protein biomarkers that are associated with meat tenderness.
Poor maternal diet during gestation alters offspring muscle proteome in sheep
Authors: Reed Sarah A , Balsbaugh Jeremy , Li Xiaomeng , Moore Timothy E , Jones Amanda K , Pillai Sambhu M , Hoffman Maria L , Govoni Kristen E , Zinn Steven A 
Published: August 2022

AbstractPoor maternal nutrition during gestation can result in reduced offspring muscle growth and altered muscle metabolism. We hypothesized that over- or restricted-nutrition during gestation would alter the longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) proteome of offspring. Pregnant ewes were fed 60% (restricted), 100% (control), or 140% (over) of National Research Council requirements for total digestible nutrients from day 30 of gestation until parturition. Fetal (RES, CON, OVER) LM were collected at days 90 and 135 of gestation, or from offspring within 24 h of birth. Sarcoplasmic proteins were isolated, trypsin digested, and subjected to multiplexed, label-based quantitative mass spectrometry analysis integrating tandem mass tag technology. Differential expression of proteins was identified by ANOVA followed by Tukey’s HSD post hoc tests, and regularized regression via the elastic net. Significance was set at P &lt; 0.05. Over-represented pathways containing differentially expressed proteins were identified by Reactome and included metabolism of proteins, immune system, cellular response to stress/external stimuli, developmental biology, and infectious disease. As a result of maternal diet, a total of 312 proteins were differentially expressed (day 90 = 89 proteins; day 135 = 115 proteins; birth = 131 proteins). Expression of eukaryotic initiation factor (EIF) 2S3, EIF3L, and EIF4G2 was lower in OVER fetuses at day 90 of gestation (P &lt; 0.05). Calcineurin A and mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 were greater in RES fetuses at day 90 (P &lt; 0.04). At day 135 of gestation, pyruvate kinase and lactate dehydrogenase A expression were greater in OVER fetuses than CON (P &lt; 0.04). Thioredoxin expression was greater in RES fetuses relative to CON at day 135 (P = 0.05). At birth, proteins of the COP9 signalosome complex were greater in RES offspring relative to OVER (P &lt; 0.05). Together, these data indicate that protein degradation and synthesis, metabolism, and oxidative stress are altered in a time and diet-specific manner, which may contribute to the phenotypic and metabolic changes observed during fetal development and postnatal growth.
Elevated dietary selenium rescues mitochondrial capacity impairment induced by decreased vitamin E intake in young exercising horses
Authors: Owen Randi N , Semanchik Pier L , Latham Christine M , Brennan Kristen M , White-Springer Sarah H 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Maintenance of mitochondrial health, which is supported in part by dietary antioxidants such as selenium (Se) and vitamin E (vitE), is pertinent to optimizing athletic performance. Deficiencies in Se and vitE negatively impact muscle health but mitochondrial adaptations to various levels of dietary Se and vitE are poorly understood. Young Quarter Horses (mean ± SD: 17.6 ± 0.9 mo) undergoing submaximal exercise training were used to test the hypothesis that a proprietary antioxidant blend containing elevated Se yeast (EconomasE, Alltech, Inc., Nicholasville, KY) would improve mitochondrial characteristics compared to Se at current requirements, even with reduced vitE intake. Horses were balanced by age, sex, body weight (BW), and farm of origin and randomly assigned to one of three custom-formulated concentrates fed at 1% BW (dry matter, DM basis) for 12 wk: 1) 100 IU vitE/kg DM and 0.1 mg Se/kg DM (CON, n = 6); 2) no added vitE plus EconomasE to provide 0.1 mg Se/kg DM (ESe1, n = 6); or 3) no added vitE plus EconomasE to provide 0.3 mg Se/kg DM (ESe3, n = 6). Samples collected at week 0 and 12 were analyzed for serum Se and middle gluteal glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and mitochondrial enzyme activities by kinetic colorimetry and mitochondrial capacities by high-resolution respirometry. Data were analyzed using mixed linear models in SAS v9.4 with repeated measures (time) and fixed effects of time, diet, and time × diet; horse(diet) served as a random effect. Serum Se tended to increase in all horses by week 12 (P = 0.08) but was unaffected by diet. Muscle GPx activity remained similar among all horses throughout the duration of the study. Mitochondrial volume density (citrate synthase [CS] activity), integrative function (cytochrome c oxidase [CCO] activity per mg protein), and integrative (per mg tissue) oxidative (P) and electron transfer (E) capacities increased from week 0 to 12 in all horses (P ≤ 0.01). Intrinsic (relative to CS) CCO activity decreased in all horses (P = 0.001), while intrinsic P and E capacities decreased only in ESe1 horses from week 0 to 12 (P ≤ 0.002). These results suggest that feeding EconomasE to provide 0.3 mg Se/kg DM may prevent adverse effects of removing 100 IU dietary vitE/kg DM on mitochondria in young horses. More research is needed to determine optimal dietary Se and vitE levels in performance horses to maximize mitochondrial energy production.