bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and Characterization of Colistin-Functionalized Silica Materials for Rapid Capture of Bacteria in Water
Authors: Qiu Jingli , Li Jianli , Du Xiaoxi , Zhou Tong , Xie Bingbing , He Limin
Published: November 2022

In this study, a new colistin-functionalized silica gel material (SiO2@NH2@COOH@CST) was synthesized after carboxylation on the surface of amino-modified silica. The main factors affecting the adsorptive properties of the material, such as the types of linkers, the linking methods, the reaction buffers and the particle sizes of carriers, were systematically investigated. The SiO2@NH2@COOH@CST was characterized by means of electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, zeta potential measurements, etc. We demonstrated that the sorbent showed good adsorption of Gram-negative bacteria. The adsorption efficiency of E. coli on SiO2@NH2@COOH@CST was 5.2 × 1011 CFU/g, which was 3.5 times higher than that on SiO2@NH2@COOH, suggesting that electrostatic interactions between SiO2@NH2@COOH@CST and E. coli played a key role. The adsorption was quick, and was reached in 5 min. Both pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models fit well with the dynamic adsorption process of SiO2@NH2@COOH@CST, indicating that physical adsorption and chemisorption might occur simultaneously during the adsorption process. SiO2@NH2@COOH@CST was successfully applied for the rapid capture of bacteria from water. The synthesized material could be used as a potential means of bacterial isolation and detection.
Local Delivery of Azithromycin Nanoformulation Attenuated Acute Lung Injury in Mice
Authors: Alrashedi Mohsen G. , Ali Ahmed Shaker , Ahmed Osama Abdelhakim , Ibrahim Ibrahim M.
Published: November 2022

Humanity has suffered from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic over the past two years, which has left behind millions of deaths. Azithromycin (AZ), an antibiotic used for the treatment of several bacterial infections, has shown antiviral activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) as well as against the dengue, Zika, Ebola, and influenza viruses. Additionally, AZ has shown beneficial effects in non-infective diseases such as cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. However, the systemic use of AZ in several diseases showed low efficacy and potential cardiac toxicity. The application of nanotechnology to formulate a lung delivery system of AZ could prove to be one of the solutions to overcome these drawbacks. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the attenuation of acute lung injury in mice via the local delivery of an AZ nanoformulation. The hot emulsification–ultrasonication method was used to prepare nanostructured lipid carrier of AZ (AZ-NLC) pulmonary delivery systems. The developed formulation was evaluated and characterized in vitro and in vivo. The efficacy of the prepared formulation was tested in the bleomycin (BLM) -mice model for acute lung injury. AZ-NLC was given by the intratracheal (IT) route for 6 days at a dose of about one-eighth oral dose of AZ suspension. Samples of lung tissues were taken at the end of the experiment for immunological and histological assessments. AZ-NLC showed an average particle size of 453 nm, polydispersity index of 0.228 ± 0.07, zeta potential of −30 ± 0.21 mV, and a sustained release pattern after the initial 50% drug release within the first 2 h. BLM successfully induced a marked increase in pro-inflammatory markers and also induced histological changes in pulmonary tissues. All these alterations were significantly reversed by the concomitant administration of AZ-NLC (IT). Pulmonary delivery of AZ-NLC offered delivery of the drug locally to lung tissues. Its attenuation of lung tissue inflammation and histological injury induced by bleomycin was likely through the downregulation of the p53 gene and the modulation of Bcl-2 expression. This novel strategy could eventually improve the effectiveness and diminish the adverse drug reactions of AZ. Lung delivery could be a promising treatment for acute lung injury regardless of its cause. However, further work is needed to explore the stability of the formulation, its pharmacokinetics, and its safety.
Neuroprotective Effects of the Psychoactive Compound Biatractylolide (BD) in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Hu Qianmei , Wang Jixiang , Irshad Maida , Mao Siyu , Chen Hongting , Song Yujiao , Xu Xuan , Feng Xing
Published: November 2022

Mitochondria play a central role in the survival or death of neuronal cells, and they are regulators of energy metabolism and cell death pathways. Many studies support the role of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Biatractylolide (BD) is a kind of internal symmetry double sesquiterpene novel ester compound isolated from the Chinese medicinal plant Baizhu, has neuroprotective effects in Alzheimer’s disease. We developed a systematic pharmacological model based on chemical pharmacokinetic and pharmacological data to identify potential compounds and targets of Baizhu. The neuroprotective effects of BD in PC12 (rat adrenal pheochromocytoma cells) and SH-SY5Y (human bone marrow neuroblastoma cells) were evaluated by in vitro experiments. Based on the predicted results, we selected 18 active compounds, which were associated with 20 potential targets and 22 signaling pathways. Compound-target, target-disease and target-pathway networks were constructed using Cytoscape 3.2.1. And verified by in vitro experiments that BD could inhibit Aβ by reducing oxidative stress and decreasing CytC release induced mPTP opening. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development of BD as an anti-Alzheimer’s disease drug.
Treatment with Glyphosate Induces Tolerance of Citrus Pathogens to Glyphosate and Fungicides but Not to 1,8-Cineole
Authors: Tahiri Nor , Saghrouchni Hamza , Hamamouch Noureddine , Khomsi Mostafa , Alzahrani Abdulhakeem , Salamatullah Ahmad , Badiaa Lyoussi , Lrhorfi Lalla
Published: November 2022

During the postharvest period, citrus fruits are exposed to Penicillium italicum, Penicillium digitatum, and Geotrichum candidum. Pesticides such as imazalil (IMZ), thiabendazole (TBZ), orthophenylphenol (OPP), and guazatine (GUA) are commonly used as antifungals. Glyphosate (GP) is also used in citrus fields to eliminate weed growth. The sensitivity of fungal pathogens of citrus fruit to these pesticides and 1,8-cineole was evaluated, and the effect of GP on the development of cross-resistance to other chemicals was monitored over a period of 3 weeks. IMZ most effectively inhibited the mycelial growth and spore germination of P. digitatum and P. italicum, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.01 and 0.05 mg/mL, respectively, followed by 1,8-cineole, GP, and TBZ. 1,8-Cineole and GP more effectively inhibited the mycelial growth and spore germination of G. candidum, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.2 and 1.0 mg/mL, respectively, than OPP or GUA. For the spore germination assay, all substances tested showed a total inhibitory effect. Subculturing the fungal strains in culture media containing increasing concentrations of GP induced fungal tolerance to GP as well as to the fungicides. In soil, experiments confirmed that GP induced the tolerance of P. digitatum to TBZ and GP and the tolerance of P. italicum to IMZ, TBZ, and GP. However, no tolerance was recorded against 1,8-cineole. In conclusion, it can be said that 1,8-cineole may be recommended as an alternative to conventional fungicides. In addition, these results indicate that caution should be taken when using GP in citrus fields.
Investigating the Function of Human Jumping Translocation Breakpoint Protein (hJTB) and Its Interacting Partners through In-Solution Proteomics of MCF7 Cells
Authors: Jayathirtha Madhuri , Whitham Danielle , Alwine Shelby , Donnelly Mary , Neagu Anca-Narcisa , Darie Costel C.
Published: November 2022

Human jumping translocation breakpoint (hJTB) gene is located on chromosome 1q21 and is involved in unbalanced translocation in many types of cancer. JTB protein is ubiquitously present in normal cells but it is found to be overexpressed or downregulated in various types of cancer cells, where this protein and its isoforms promote mitochondrial dysfunction, resistance to apoptosis, genomic instability, proliferation, invasion and metastasis. Hence, JTB could be a tumor biomarker for different types of cancer, such as breast cancer (BC), and could be used as a drug target for therapy. However, the functions of the protein or the pathways through which it increases cell proliferation and invasiveness of cancer cells are not well-known. Therefore, we aim to investigate the functions of JTB by using in-solution digestion-based cellular proteomics of control and upregulated and downregulated JTB protein in MCF7 breast cancer cell line, taking account that in-solution digestion-based proteomics experiments are complementary to the initial in-gel based ones. Proteomics analysis allows investigation of protein dysregulation patterns that indicate the function of the protein and its interacting partners, as well as the pathways and biological processes through which it functions. We concluded that JTB dysregulation increases the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) potential and cell proliferation, harnessing cytoskeleton organization, apical junctional complex, metabolic reprogramming, and cellular proteostasis. Deregulated JTB expression was found to be associated with several proteins involved in mitochondrial organization and function, oxidative stress (OS), apoptosis, and interferon alpha and gamma signaling. Consistent and complementary to our previous results emerged by using in-gel based proteomics of transfected MCF7 cells, JTB-related proteins that are overexpressed in this experiment suggest the development of a more aggressive phenotype and behavior for this luminal type A non-invasive/poor-invasive human BC cell line that does not usually migrate or invade compared with the highly metastatic MDA-MB-231 cells. This more aggressive phenotype of MCF7 cells related to JTB dysregulation and detected by both in-gel and in-solution proteomics could be promoted by synergistic upregulation of EMT, Mitotic spindle and Fatty acid metabolism pathways. However, in both JTB dysregulated conditions, several downregulated JTB-interacting proteins predominantly sustain antitumor activities, attenuating some of the aggressive phenotypical and behavioral traits promoted by the overexpressed JTB-related partners.
Post-Harvest Processing Methods Have Critical Roles in the Contents of Active Ingredients of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi
Authors: Zhang Liuwei , Zhang Xuemei , Liang Zongsuo
Published: November 2022

To find the best post-harvest processing method for Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, we explored the effects of fresh and traditional processing on the active ingredients in S. baicalensis and evaluated three drying techniques to determine the optimal post-harvest processing technique. We quantified four active ingredients (baicalin, baicalein, wogonoside, and wogonin) in 16 different processed S. baicalensis samples that were harvested from Tongchuan, Shaanxi province, by HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography). In addition, we performed a similarity analysis (SA), a hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and a principal component analysis (PCA) on the common peaks in S. baicalensis that were identified by the HPLC fingerprints. Compared to the traditional processing method, the fresh processing method could better preserve the four active ingredients in S. baicalensis, meanwhile, the similarity analysis (0.997–1.000) showed that the fresh processing was more similar to the traditional processing, and it did not change the type of 18 active ingredients in S. baicalensis. The cluster analysis results showed that the shade drying and sun drying methods results were more similar to each other, while the oven drying (60 °C) method results were clustered into one category. According to the results of the principal component analysis, S9, S7, and S8 had higher scores, and they were relatively well processed under these processing settings. Fresh processing could be an alternative to traditional processing; the moisture content was reduced to 24.38% under the sun drying condition, and it was the optimal post-harvest processing solution for S. baicalensis.
A Review of Diterpenes from Marine-Derived Fungi: 2009–2021
Authors: Qiu Peng , Xia Jinmei , Zhang Haitao , Lin Donghai , Shao Zongze
Published: November 2022

Marine-derived fungi are important sources of novel compounds and pharmacologically active metabolites. As an important class of natural products, diterpenes show various biological activities, such as antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, and cytotoxic activities. Developments of equipment for the deep-sea sample collection allow discoveries of more marine-derived fungi with increasing diversity, and much progress has been made in the identification of diterpenes with novel structures and bioactivities from marine fungi in the past decade. The present review article summarized the chemical structures, producing organisms and biological activities of 237 diterpenes which were isolated from various marine-derived fungi over the period from 2009 to 2021. This review is beneficial for the exploration of marine-derived fungi as promising sources of bioactive diterpenes.
In Silico Study and Effects of BDMC33 on TNBS-Induced BMP Gene Expressions in Zebrafish Gut Inflammation-Associated Arthritis
Authors: Mostofa Farhana , Yasid Nur Adeela , Shamsi Suhaili , Ahmad Siti Aqlima , Mohd-Yusoff Nur Fatihah , Abas Faridah , Ahmad Syahida
Published: November 2022

The bone morphogenic protein (BMP) family is a member of the TGF-beta superfamily and plays a crucial role during the onset of gut inflammation and arthritis diseases. Recent studies have reported a connection with the gut–joint axis; however, the genetic players are still less explored. Meanwhile, BDMC33 is a newly synthesized anti-inflammatory drug candidate. Therefore, in our present study, we analysed the genome-wide features of the BMP family as well as the role of BMP members in gut-associated arthritis in an inflammatory state and the ability of BDMC33 to attenuate this inflammation. Firstly, genome-wide analyses were performed on the BMP family in the zebrafish genome, employing several in silico techniques. Afterwards, the effects of curcumin analogues on BMP gene expression in zebrafish larvae induced with TNBS (0.78 mg/mL) were determined using real time-qPCR. A total of 38 identified BMP proteins were revealed to be clustered in five major clades and contain TGF beta and TGF beta pro peptide domains. Furthermore, BDMC33 suppressed the expression of four selected BMP genes in the TNBS-induced larvae, where the highest gene suppression was in the BMP2a gene (an eight-fold decrement), followed by BMP7b (four-fold decrement), BMP4 (four-fold decrement), and BMP6 (three-fold decrement). Therefore, this study reveals the role of BMPs in gut-associated arthritis and proves the ability of BDMC33 to act as a potential anti-inflammatory drug for suppressing TNBS-induced BMP genes in zebrafish larvae.
WS2 Nanosheet Loaded Silicon-Oxycarbide Electrode for Sodium and Potassium Batteries
Authors: Dey Sonjoy , Singh Gurpreet
Published: November 2022

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) such as the WS2 have been widely studied as potential electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIB) owing to TMDs’ layered morphology and reversible conversion reaction with the alkali metals between 0 to 2 V (v/s Li/Li+) potentials. However, works involving TMD materials as electrodes for sodium- (NIBs) and potassium-ion batteries (KIBs) are relatively few, mainly due to poor electrode performance arising from significant volume changes and pulverization by the larger size alkali-metal ions. Here, we show that Na+ and K+ cyclability in WS2 TMD is improved by introducing WS2 nanosheets in a chemically and mechanically robust matrix comprising precursor-derived ceramic (PDC) silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) material. The WS2/SiOC composite in fibermat morphology was achieved via electrospinning followed by thermolysis of a polymer solution consisting of a polysiloxane (precursor to SiOC) dispersed with exfoliated WS2 nanosheets. The composite electrode was successfully tested in Na-ion and K-ion half-cells as a working electrode, which rendered the first cycle charge capacity of 474.88 mAh g−1 and 218.91 mAh g−1, respectively. The synergistic effect of the composite electrode leads to higher capacity and improved coulombic efficiency compared to the neat WS2 and neat SiOC materials in these cells.
Exploring Microbial-Based Green Nanobiotechnology for Wastewater Remediation: A Sustainable Strategy
Authors: Malik Sumira , Dhasmana Archna , Preetam Subham , Mishra Yogendra Kumar , Chaudhary Vishal , Bera Sweta Parmita , Ranjan Anuj , Bora Jutishna , Kaushik Ajeet , Minkina Tatiana , Jatav Hanuman Singh , Singh Rupesh Kumar , Rajput Vishnu D.
Published: November 2022

Water scarcity due to contamination of water resources with different inorganic and organic contaminants is one of the foremost global concerns. It is due to rapid industrialization, fast urbanization, and the low efficiency of traditional wastewater treatment strategies. Conventional water treatment strategies, including chemical precipitation, membrane filtration, coagulation, ion exchange, solvent extraction, adsorption, and photolysis, are based on adopting various nanomaterials (NMs) with a high surface area, including carbon NMs, polymers, metals-based, and metal oxides. However, significant bottlenecks are toxicity, cost, secondary contamination, size and space constraints, energy efficiency, prolonged time consumption, output efficiency, and scalability. On the contrary, green NMs fabricated using microorganisms emerge as cost-effective, eco-friendly, sustainable, safe, and efficient substitutes for these traditional strategies. This review summarizes the state-of-the-art microbial-assisted green NMs and strategies including microbial cells, magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), bio-augmentation and integrated bioreactors for removing an extensive range of water contaminants addressing the challenges associated with traditional strategies. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of the efficacies of microbe-assisted green NM-based water remediation strategy with the traditional practices in light of crucial factors like reusability, regeneration, removal efficiency, and adsorption capacity has been presented. The associated challenges, their alternate solutions, and the cutting-edge prospects of microbial-assisted green nanobiotechnology with the integration of advanced tools including internet-of-nano-things, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence have been discussed. This review opens a new window to assist future research dedicated to sustainable and green nanobiotechnology-based strategies for environmental remediation applications.
High-Field (3.4 T) Electron Paramagnetic Resonance, 1H Electron-Nuclear Double Resonance, ESEEM, HYSCORE, and Relaxation Studies of Asphaltene Solubility Fractions of Bitumen for Structural Characterization of Intrinsic Carbon-Centered Radicals
Authors: Gafurov Marat , Ganeeva Yulia , Yusupova Tatyana , Murzakhanov Fadis , Mamin Georgy
Published: November 2022

Petroleum asphaltenes are considered the most irritating components of various oil systems, complicating the extraction, transportation, and processing of hydrocarbons. Despite the fact that the paramagnetic properties of asphaltenes and their aggregates have been studied since the 1950s, there is still no clear understanding of the structure of stable paramagnetic centers in petroleum systems. The paper considers the possibilities of various electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques to study petroleum asphaltenes and their solubility fractions using a carbon-centered stable free radical (FR) as an intrinsic probe. The dilution of asphaltenes with deuterated toluene made it possible to refine the change in the structure at the initial stage of asphaltene disaggregation. From the measurements of samples of bitumen, a planar circumcoronene-like model of FR structure and FR-centered asphaltenes is proposed. The results show that EPR-based approaches can serve as sensitive numerical tools to follow asphaltenes’ structure and their disaggregation.
Near Perfect Absorber for Long-Wave Infrared Based on Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance
Authors: Sun Leihao , Liu Dingquan , Su Junli , Li Xingyu , Zhou Sheng , Wang Kaixuan , Zhang Qiuyu
Published: November 2022

In recent years, broadband absorbers in the long-wave infrared (LWIR) spectrum have shown great scientific value and advantages in some areas, such as thermal imaging and radiation modulation. However, designing a broadband absorber with an ultra-high absorption rate has always been a challenge. In this paper, we design a near perfect absorber that is highly tunable, angle insensitive, and has polarization independence for LWIR. By using multi-mode localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of a surface metal structure, the absorber achieves a very high absorption average of 99.7% in wavelengths from 9.7 μm to 12.0 μm. For incident light, the meta-structure absorber exhibits excellent polarization independence. When the incident angle increases from 0° up to 60°, the absorption rate maintains over 85%. By modulating the size of the structure, the meta-structure absorber can also achieve a high absorption rate of 95.6%, covering the entire LWIR band (8–14 μm in wavelength). This meta-structure absorber has application prospects in infrared detecting, infrared camouflage, radiation cooling, and other fields.
Effect of Air Annealing on the Structural, Textural, Magnetic, Thermal and Luminescence Properties of Cerium Fluoride Nanoparticles
Authors: Ilves Vladislav , Murzakaev Aidar , Sokovnin Sergey , Sultanova Tat’yana , Svetlova Olga , Uimin Mikhail A. , Ulitko Maria , Zuev Mikhail
Published: November 2022

This paper presents the physicochemical characteristics of CeF3 nanopowder (NP) obtained via electron evaporation. The initial NP was annealed in air (200–500 °C) for 30 min. The annealed NP was evaluated using the following methods: X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), differential scanning calorimetry-thermogravimetry (DSC-TG) and luminescence/magnetic measurements. The degree of cytotoxicity of CeF3 nanoparticles (NPles) to cell cultures was determined. The cubic phase CeO2 formed in CeF3 NP after annealing (500 °C). The appearance of the CeO2 oxide phase led to an increase in the intensity of photoluminescence. Cathodoluminescence was not excited. The paramagnetic response of NPles decreased with an increase in the annealing temperature. Cerium fluoride NPles showed low cytotoxicity towards cancerous and non-cancerous cells. Annealing of the CeF3 NP at low temperatures led to an improvement in the textural parameters of the not annealed NP. Improved texture parameters indicate the prospect of using CeF3 as a biomedicine nanocontainer.
Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyase GmPAL1.1 Promotes Seed Vigor under High-Temperature and -Humidity Stress and Enhances Seed Germination under Salt and Drought Stress in Transgenic Arabidopsis
Authors: Zhang Xi , Shen Yingzi , Mu Kebing , Cai Wanhan , Zhao Yangyang , Shen Hang , Wang Xinhui , Ma Hao
Published: November 2022

Seed vigor is an important agronomic attribute, essentially associated with crop yield. High-temperature and humidity (HTH) stress directly affects seed development of plants, resulting in the decrease of seed vigor. Therefore, it is particularly important to discover HTH-tolerant genes related to seed vigor. Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL, EC 4.3.1.24) is the first rate-limiting enzyme in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway and a key enzyme involved in plant growth and development and environmental adaptation. However, the biological function of PAL in seed vigor remains unknown. Here, GmPAL1.1 was cloned from soybean, and its protein was located in the cytoplasm and cell membrane. GmPAL1.1 was significantly induced by HTH stress in developing seeds. The overexpression of GmPAL1.1 in Arabidopsis (OE) accumulated lower level of ROS in the developing seeds and in the leaves than the WT at the physiological maturity stage under HTH stress, and the activities of SOD, POD, and CAT and flavonoid contents were significantly increased, while MDA production was markedly reduced in the leaves of the OE lines than in those of the WT. The germination rate and viability of mature seeds of the OE lines harvested after HTH stress were higher than those of the WT. Compared to the control, the overexpression of GmPAL1.1 in Arabidopsis enhanced the tolerance to salt and drought stresses during germination. Our results suggested the overexpression of GmPAL1.1 in Arabidopsis promoted seed vigor at the physiological maturation period under HTH stress and increased the seeds’ tolerance to salt and drought during germination.
A View into Seed Autophagy: From Development to Environmental Responses
Authors: Iglesias-Fernández Raquel , Vicente-Carbajosa Jesús
Published: November 2022

Autophagy is a conserved cellular mechanism involved in the degradation and subsequent recycling of cytoplasmic components. It is also described as a catabolic process implicated in the specific degradation of proteins in response to several stimuli. In eukaryotes, the endoplasmic reticulum accumulates an excess of proteins in response to environmental changes, and is the major cellular organelle at the crossroads of stress responses. Return to proteostasis involves the activation of the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) and eventually autophagy as a feedback mechanism to relieve protein overaccumulation. Recent publications have focused on the relevance of autophagy in two central processes of seed biology: (i) seed storage protein accumulation upon seed maturation and (ii) reserve mobilization during seed imbibition. Although ER-protein accumulation and the subsequent activation of autophagy resemble the Seed Storage Protein (SSP) deposition during seed maturation, the molecular connection between seed development, autophagy, and seed response to abiotic stresses is still an underexplored field. This mini-review presents current advances in autophagy in seeds, highlighting its participation in the normal course of seed development from embryogenesis to germination. Finally, the function of autophagy in response to the seed environment is also considered, as is its involvement in controlling seed dormancy and germination.
Tendril Anatomy: A Tool for Correct Identification among Cucurbitaceous Taxa
Authors: Abbas Naveed , Zafar Muhammad , Ahmad Mushtaq , Althobaiti Ashwaq T. , Ramadan Mohamed Fawzy , Makhkamov Trobjon , Gafforov Yusufjon , Khaydarov Khislat , Kabir Muhammad , Sultana Shazia , Majeed Salman , Batool Tajalla
Published: November 2022

This research examined the histological micro-structure of tendril vasculature in cucurbitaceous taxa. In this research, the tendril anatomy of 17 taxa of Cucurbitaceae categorized into seven genera, including Cucumis (five species), Cucurbita and Luffa (three species each), Citrullus and Momordica (two species each) while Lagenaria and Praecitrullus (one species each), collected from different areas of the Thal desert were examined via microscopic imaging to explore its taxonomic significance. Tendril transverse sections were cut with a Shandon Microtome to prepare slides. The distinctive characteristics of taxonomic value (qualitative and quantitative) include tendril and vascular bundle shape, variation in the number of vascular bundles, tendril diameter length, layers of sclerenchyma, and shape of collenchyma and epidermal cells. Tendril shapes observed are irregular, slightly oval-shaped, slightly C shaped, angular (4-angled, 6-angled, or polygonal), and star shaped. Quantitative measurements were taken to analyze the data statistically using SPSS software. Cucurbita pepo had a maximum tendril diameter length of 656.1 µm and a minimum in Momordica balsamina of 123.05 µm. The highest number of vascular bundles (12) were noticed in Luffa acutangula var.amara. Angular type was prominent in collenchyma, and irregular shape was dominant in sclerenchyma cells. A maximum of seven to nine sclerenchyma layers were present in Lagenaria siceraria and a minimum of two or three layers in Cucumis melo subsp. agrestis, Cucumis melo var. flexuosus, and Cucumis melo var.cantalupensis. Epidermis cells also show great variations with a rectangular shape being dominant. Statistical UPGMA dendrogram clustering of tendril vasculature traits shows that histological sections studied with microscopic techniques can be used to identify species and will play a vital role in future taxonomic and phylogenic linkages.
Polysaccharide-Based Biodegradable Films: An Alternative in Food Packaging
Authors: Díaz-Montes Elsa
Published: November 2022

Packaging can mitigate the physical, chemical, and microbiological phenomena that affects food products’ quality and acceptability. However, the use of conventional packaging from non-renewable fossil sources generates environmental damage caused by the accumulation of non-biodegradable waste. Biodegradable films emerge as alternative biomaterials which are ecologically sustainable and offer protection and increase food product shelf life. This review describes the role of biodegradable films as packaging material and their importance regarding food quality. The study emphasizes polysaccharide-based biodegradable films and their use in foods with different requirements and the advances and future challenges for developing intelligent biodegradable films. In addition, the study explores the importance of the selection of the type of polysaccharide and its combination with other polymers for the generation of biodegradable films with functional characteristics. It also discusses additives that cause interactions between components and improve the mechanical and barrier properties of biodegradable films. Finally, this compilation of scientific works shows that biodegradable films are an alternative to protecting perishable foods, and studying and understanding them helps bring them closer to replacing commercial synthetic packaging.
Does Pornography Misinform Consumers? The Association between Pornography Use and Porn-Congruent Sexual Health Beliefs
Authors: Miller Dan J. , Stubbings-Laverty Rory
Published: November 2022

Pornography may contribute to sexual health illiteracy due to its often fantastical and unrealistic depictions of sex. This cross-sectional study investigated whether pornography use was associated with holding porn-congruent sexual health beliefs among a sample of 276 Australian and Singaporean university students (Mage = 23.03, SDage = 7.06, 67.9% female, 47.8% Australian). The majority of participants (95.5% of males and 58.9% of females) reported viewing pornography in the past six months. Perceived realism of pornography and prior sexual experience were tested as potential moderators of the relationship between pornography use frequency and sexual health beliefs. Pornography use frequency showed no zero-order association with sexual health beliefs in the overall sample (although a significant zero-order association was observed among female participants). However, a significant positive association between porn use and porn-congruent sexual health beliefs was found in the overall sample, after controlling for demographic variables. Neither perceived realism nor sexual experience were found to act as moderators. Interestingly, prior sexual experience showed a significant zero-order association with sexual health beliefs, such that prior sexual experience was associated with holding porn-congruent beliefs. Perceived realism was unrelated to porn-congruent sexual health beliefs. The study provides some preliminary support for pornography having a misinformation effect on the sexual health knowledge of consumers.
Non-Linearity Flux of Fractional Transport Density Equation in Traffic Flow with Solutions
Authors: Soliby Rfaat Moner , Jamaian Siti Suhana
Published: November 2022

In the present paper, we derive and solve the space-fractional traffic flow model which is considered as a generalization of the transport density equation. Based on the fundamental physical principles on finite-length highway where the number of vehicles is conserved, without entrances or exits, we construct a fractional continuity equation. As a limitation of the classical calculus, the continuity equation is constructed based on truncating after the first order of Taylor expansion, which means that the change in the number of vehicles is linear over the finite-length highway. However, in fractional calculus, we prove that nonlinear flow is a result of truncating the fractional Taylor polynomial after the second term with zero error. Therefore, the new fractional traffic flow model is free from being linear, and the space now is described by the fractional powers of coordinates, provided with a single variable measure. Further, some exact solutions of the fractional model are generated by the method of characteristics. Remarkably, these solutions have significant physical implications to help to make the proper decisions for constructing traffic signals in a smart city.
Global Research Trends on Monkeypox Virus: A Bibliometric and Visualized Study
Authors: Zeeshan Hafiz Muhammad , Rubab Aqsa , Dhlakama Hilda , Ogunsakin Ropo Ebenezer , Okpeku Moses
Published: November 2022

Monkeypox is a zoonotic viral disease that has recently emerged as another global infection disease. A double-stranded enveloped deoxyribonucleic acid virus the cause of this disease. Since monkeypox is an evolving field of study with a growing interest in public health, it is crucial to study the scientific trend and research activities. This study provides an essential insight into the research response to scientific trends of monkeypox using the bibliometric analysis technique. A literature search for published articles on LSD from 2001 to 2021 was conducted in Scopus on 24 July 2022. Visualization analysis was performed using R statistical software. The growth and trend of documents, country-level distribution of publications and collaborations, and the relationship between authors and co-authors were analyzed. Findings revealed a significant increase in the research conducted, mainly from the United States (US). The top 12 institutions published papers on the monkeypox virus, accounting for 33.09 percent of the articles. The US was the most productive nation, producing 275 documents (54.34%), or one-third of all publications in this sector worldwide. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Georgia in the United States were the organization that produced the most (365 publications). The Journal of Virology garnered the most citations, with an h-index of 18. In the last year, there has been an increase in the publication of monkeypox virus-related studies. The importance of the monkeypox virus highlights the necessity for continued research to help international health organizations identify areas that require prompt action to implement suitable solutions. This study also provides scaling-up analysis, evidence dissemination on the monkeypox virus, emerging hotspots, and perceptive remarks on the technological advances in this field.
A Novel Protocol for the Synthesis of 1,2,4-Oxadiazoles Active against Trypanosomatids and Drug-Resistant Leukemia Cell Lines
Authors: Pitasse-Santos Paulo , Salustiano Eduardo , Pena Raynná , Chaves Otávio , da Fonseca Leonardo , da Costa Kelli , Santos Carlos , Reis Jhenifer , da Costa Santos Marcos , Previato Jose , Previato Lucia , Freire-de-Lima Leonardo , Romeiro Nelilma , Pinto-da-Silva Lúcia , Freire-de-Lima Célio , Decotè-Ricardo Débora , Freire-de-Lima Marco
Published: November 2022

Cancer and parasitic diseases, such as leishmaniasis and Chagas disease, share similarities that allow the co-development of new antiproliferative agents as a strategy to quickly track the discovery of new drugs. This strategy is especially interesting regarding tropical neglected diseases, for which chemotherapeutic alternatives are extremely outdated. We designed a series of (E)-3-aryl-5-(2-aryl-vinyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazoles based on the reported antiparasitic and anticancer activities of structurally related compounds. The synthesis of such compounds led to the development of a new, fast, and efficient strategy for the construction of a 1,2,4-oxadiazole ring on a silica-supported system under microwave irradiation. One hit compound (23) was identified during the in vitro evaluation against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia cell lines (EC50 values ranging from 5.5 to 13.2 µM), Trypanosoma cruzi amastigotes (EC50 = 2.9 µM) and Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes (EC50 = 12.2 µM) and amastigotes (EC50 = 13.5 µM). In silico studies indicate a correlation between the in vitro activity and the interaction with tubulin at the colchicine binding site. Furthermore, ADMET in silico predictions indicate that the compounds possess a high druggability potential due to their physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and toxicity profiles, and for hit 23, it was identified by multiple spectroscopic approaches that this compound binds with human serum albumin (HSA) via a spontaneous ground-state association with a moderate affinity driven by entropically and enthalpically energies into subdomain IIA (site I) without significantly perturbing the secondary content of the protein.
Multi-Epitope Vaccine Design against Monkeypox Virus via Reverse Vaccinology Method Exploiting Immunoinformatic and Bioinformatic Approaches
Authors: Bhattacharya Kunal , Shamkh Israa M. , Khan Mohammad Shahbaz , Lotfy Marwa M. , Nzeyimana Jean Bosco , Abutayeh Reem Fawaz , Hamdy Nadia M. , Hamza Dalia , Chanu Nongmaithem Randhoni , Khanal Pukar , Bhattacharjee Atanu , Basalious Emad B.
Published: November 2022

(1) Background: The monkeypox virus is a zoonotic orthopox DNA virus that is closely linked to the virus. In light of the growing concern about this virus, the current research set out to use bioinformatics and immunoinformatics to develop a potential vaccine against the virus. (2) Methods: A multiepitope vaccine was constructed from the B-cell and T-cell epitopes of the MPXVgp181 strain using adjuvant and different linkers. The constructed vaccine was predicted for antigenicity, allergenicity, toxicity, and population coverage. In silico immune simulation studies were also carried out. Expression analysis and cloning of the constructed vaccine was carried out in the pET-28a(+) vector using snapgene. (3) Results: The constructed vaccine was predicted to be antigenic, non-allergenic, and non-toxic. It was predicted to have excellent global population coverage and produced satisfactory immune response. The in silico expression and cloning studies were successful in E. coli, which makes the vaccine construct suitable for mass production in the pharmaceutical industry. (4) Conclusion: The constructed vaccine is based on the B-cell and T-cell epitopes obtained from the MPXVgp181 strain. This research can be useful in developing a vaccine to combat the monkeypox virus globally after performing in-depth in vitro and in vivo studies.
Recent Advances in Cancer Vaccines: Challenges, Achievements, and Futuristic Prospects
Authors: Gupta Madhu , Wahi Abhishek , Sharma Priyanka , Nagpal Riya , Raina Neha , Kaurav Monika , Bhattacharya Jaydeep , Rodrigues Oliveira Sonia M. , Dolma Karma G. , Paul Alok K. , de Lourdes Pereira Maria , Wilairatana Polrat , Rahmatullah Mohammed , Nissapatorn Veeranoot
Published: November 2022

Cancer is a chronic disease, and it can be lethal due to limited therapeutic options. The conventional treatment options for cancer have numerous challenges, such as a low blood circulation time as well as poor solubility of anticancer drugs. Therapeutic cancer vaccines emerged to try to improve anticancer drugs’ efficiency and to deliver them to the target site. Cancer vaccines are considered a viable therapeutic technique for most solid tumors. Vaccines boost antitumor immunity by delivering tumor antigens, nucleic acids, entire cells, and peptides. Cancer vaccines are designed to induce long-term antitumor memory, causing tumor regression, eradicate minimal residual illness, and prevent non-specific or unpleasant effects. These vaccines can assist in the elimination of cancer cells from various organs or organ systems in the body, with minimal risk of tumor recurrence or metastasis. Vaccines and antigens for anticancer therapy are discussed in this review, including current vaccine adjuvants and mechanisms of action for various types of vaccines, such as DNA- or mRNA-based cancer vaccines. Potential applications of these vaccines focusing on their clinical use for better therapeutic efficacy are also discussed along with the latest research available in this field.
A Questionnaire-Based Cross-Sectional Survey of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices toward COVID-19 among Students and Staff in Asir, Saudi Arabia during the Second Wave of the Pandemic
Authors: Sheraba Norhan Saif , Orayj Khalid , Alqahtani Ali , El-sokkary Rehab H. , Khalid Mohammad
Published: November 2022

Being in a rapidly changing and dynamic environment during the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals’ perceptions change on a daily basis, and this starts to inform the status of knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) during the second wave of the pandemic. Aim: To assess the KAP on COVID-19 among students, teaching staff, and administrative staff in the Asir region for the first time. Methods: A questionnaire-based survey cross-sectional study was conducted from 10 February to 10 March 2021 using an online questionnaire. Results: In the survey of students and staff in educational institutes in the Asir region, the target population were well informed about COVID-19; in 10 out of 13 questions, more than 80% of the respondents answered correctly. The attitude of the target populations was quite positive. They were worried about the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. The target populations were concerned (94.8%) for their kith and kin not to get infected. The target populations agree with the precautionary measures that were taken by Saudi authorities. A positive association was found between knowledge and practices as well as knowledge and attitudes of the target population. A significantly positive association was observed between attitudes and practices of the educational institutes’ respondents in Asir, Saudi Arabia. Conclusion: The students and staff in educational institutes in the Asir region have a high level of knowledge about COVID-19, have a positive attitude toward it, take proper precautions against it, and are enthusiastic about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Quantitative Benefit–Risk Assessment of COVID-19 Vaccines Using the Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis
Authors: Son Kyung-Hwa , Kwon Sun-Hong , Na Hye-Jung , Baek Youngsuk , Kim Inok , Lee Eui-Kyung
Published: November 2022

In the early SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic, four major vaccines were approved despite limited efficacy and safety data through short regulatory review periods. Thus, it is necessary to assess the benefit-risk (BR) profiles of the COVID-19 vaccines. We conducted a quantitative BR assessment for four COVID-19 vaccines (mRNA-based: mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2; viral vector-based: Ad26.COV.2 and ChAdOx1-S) using multi-criteria decision analysis. Three benefit criteria and two risk criteria were considered: preventing COVID-19 infection for (1) adults aged ≥18 years; (2) seniors aged 60 years or older; and (3) severe COVID-19, adverse events (AEs), and serious AEs. Data were retrieved from clinical trials, observational studies, and county-specific AE monitoring reports. Based on the collected data, vaccines were scored for each criterion. 22 professionals weighted each criterion. The overall BR score was calculated using scores and weights. mRNA-1273 was the most preferred vaccine in pre-authorization and BNT162b2 in post-authorization. We found that the mRNA vaccine had a good balance between the benefits and risks. Using this BR assessment, the benefit-risk profile of COVID-19 vaccines can be updated with cumulated data. It will contribute to building evidence for decision making by policy makers and health professionals.
Access to the European Labor Market for Immigrant Women in the Wake of the COVID Pandemic
Authors: Hamedanian Fatemeh
Published: November 2022

Economic crises and instability during the COVID pandemic have led to a significant additional workload and uncertainty for women. The COVID virus has spread extremely rapidly, and mobility and migration are severely limited, at least in the short term. The virus has a significant impact on the health of people from those considered to be migrants and refugees and their access to the labor market. According to Eurostat, 1.4 million people who previously resided in an EU Member State migrated to another Member State, and almost half of this population are women. Migrating women are particularly exposed to a number of specific consequences of the pandemic. Migrant women are disproportionately the first to be laid off and the last to be rehired. This is due to gender discrimination and precarious working conditions, such as low wages, the greater burden of care work, and alternative employment costs, especially given the gender wage gap and the difficulty of accessing the formal economy. This study examines the challenges many migrant women experienced in accessing the Eurozone labor market during the COVID pandemic. Based on this primary objective, the theoretical perspective of this research relies on the segmented labor market theory. Within the framework of documentary research, this work has chosen the path of descriptive analysis to achieve the study’s objectives. The findings presented in an intersectional framework suggest that the impact on migrant women workers during the COVID pandemic is exacerbated by a segmented labor market rooted in a capitalist context and by gendered structures of racism in the European labor market. In a capitalist context, migrant women would be over-represented in the informal economy due to segmented labor market policies and the effects of gendered racism. As a result, they would be at the forefront of redundancies during the pandemic because of their difficulty accessing the European labor market.
Digital Literacies practices in the English language classroom
Authors: Mandarino Silva Nayara Stefanie
Published: November 2022

Globalization is an ongoing phenomenon that affects the world. From the third globalization, digital technology is being developed (KALANTZIS; COPE, 2006). One of them, the internet, is to be highlighted due to its increasing use. In this context, filter bubbles, that is, the personalization of content based on users’ previous access, emerged. They prevent users from seeing different perspectives by only showing what they already believe in and like, but living with difference is crucial in this diverse world; schools are one of the institutions responsible for teaching that. Therefore, this paper aims to discuss the work with digital literacies in English classes through the analysis of a lesson plan about filter bubbles. The bibliography underlying this study includes works of authors such as Lankshear and Knobel (2006), Santaella (2018), and Selwyn (2014). This is a qualitative and bibliographic research based on action research (BURNS, 2015; PAIVA, 2019). Finally, I conclude that training students to deal with particular social practices online does not meet the goals of the digital literacies theory; instead, teachers should encourage them to reflect and distrust, so they can do it in any context. Also, the lesson plan succeeds in showing students that they are affected by filter bubbles both in online and offline environments, but it fails at highlighting the danger of being surrounded only by people who share your ideas.