bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research Progress on the Mechanisms of Polysaccharides against Gastric Cancer
Authors: Chen Liping , He Chunrong , Zhou Min , Long Jiaying , Li Ling
Published: September 2022

Gastric cancer is a common type of cancer that poses a serious threat to human health. Polysaccharides are important functional phytochemicals, and research shows that polysaccharides have good anti-gastric cancer effects. We collated all relevant literature published from 2000 to 2020 and found that more than 60 natural polysaccharides demonstrate anti-gastric cancer activity. At the present, the sources of these polysaccharides include fungi, algae, tea, Astragalus membranaceus, Caulis Dendrobii, and other foods and Chinese herbal medicines. By regulating various signaling pathways, including the PI3K/AKT, MAPK, Fas/FasL, Wnt/β-catenin, IGF-IR, and TGF-β signaling pathways, polysaccharides induce gastric cancer cell apoptosis, cause cell cycle arrest, and inhibit migration and invasion. In addition, polysaccharides can enhance the immune system and killing activity of immune cells in gastric cancer patients and rats. This comprehensive review covers the extraction, purification, structural characterization, and mechanism of plant and fungal polysaccharides against gastric cancer. We hope this review is helpful for researchers to design, research, and develop plant and fungal polysaccharides.
Cold Atmospheric Plasma Suppressed MM In Vivo Engraftment by Increasing ROS and Inhibiting the Notch Signaling Pathway
Authors: Qi Miao , Zhao Xinyi , Fan Runze , Zhang Xinying , Peng Sansan , Xu Dehui , Yang Yanjie
Published: September 2022

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematologic malignancy. MM stem cells (MMSCs) are thought to be the main causes of in vivo engraftment and eventual recurrence. As a notable new technology, cold atmospheric plasmas (CAPs) show a promising anti-tumor effect, due to their production of various ROS. In this study, we found that different types of plasma could inhibit MM’s ability to form cell colonies, suppress MM in vivo engraftment, and extend survival times. We demonstrated that NAC (a ROS scavenger) could block ROS increases and reverse the inhibition of MM’s cell-colony-formation ability, which was induced by the plasma treatment. By using a stem cell signaling array, we found that the Notch pathway was inhibited by the plasma treatment; this was further confirmed by conducting real-time PCRs of three MM cell lines. Together, these results constitute the first report of plasma treatment inhibiting MM in vivo engraftment and prolonging survival time by suppressing the Notch pathway via ROS regulation.
Potential Use of Propolis in Phytocosmetic as Phytotherapeutic Constituent
Authors: Segueni Narimane , Akkal Salah , Benlabed Kadour , Nieto Gema
Published: September 2022

Phytocosmetic is an important aspect of traditional medicine in several cultures. Researchers are now focusing to find new and effective ingredients of natural origin. Propolis is a natural beehive product extensively used in traditional medicine. We aimed in the present study to investigate the potential use of propolis as an aesthetic and phytotherapeutic constituent in phytocosmetics. Propolis was extracted using 80% ethanol. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined calorimetrically. Free radical scavenging ability and reducing capacity were evaluated using four assays and expressed as IC50 values. Antibacterial activity was evaluated by the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) on 11 Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The wound healing activity of 30% ethanolic extract and propolis ointment was studied using excision wounds in the anterio-dorsal side of the rats. The phenolic acid composition of the tested propolis was investigated using UFLC/MS-MS analysis. The tested propolis was rich in phenolic and flavonoid content and demonstrated an interesting antibacterial and antioxidant activity. Wounds treated with propolis appear to display a lesser degree of inflammation. Chemical analysis led to the identification of 11 phenolics. Among them, five are considered as main compounds: Chlorogenic acid (48.79 ± 5.01 ng/mL), Gallic acid (44.25 ± 6.40 ng/mL), Rutin (21.12 ± 3.57 ng/mL), Caffeic acid (28.19 ± 4.95 ng/mL), and trans-cinnamic acid (20.10 ± 6.51 ng/mL). Our results indicated that propolis can not only be used as a cosmetic ingredient but also be used as a preventative and curative constituent, which might be used as a barrier when applied externally on infected and non-infected skin.
Sarcoconvolutums F and G: Polyoxygenated Cembrane-Type Diterpenoids from Sarcophyton convolutum, a Red Sea Soft Coral
Authors: Mohamed Tarik A. , Elshamy Abdelsamed I. , Abd El-Razek Mohamed H. , Abdel-Tawab Asmaa M. , Ali Sherin K. , Aboelmagd Mohamed , Suenaga Midori , Pare Paul W. , Umeyama Akemi , Hegazy Mohamed-Elamir F.
Published: September 2022

Natural products and chemical analogues are widely used in drug discovery, notably in cancer and infectious disease pharmacotherapy. Sarcophyton convolutum (Alcyoniidae) a Red Sea–derived soft coral has been shown to be a rich source of macrocyclic diterpenes and cyclized derivatives. Two previously undescribed polyoxygenated cembrane-type diterpenoids, sarcoconvolutums F (1) and G (2), as well as four identified analogues (3–6) together with a furan derivate (7) were isolated from a solvent extract. Compounds were identified by spectroscopic techniques, including NMR, HREIMS, and CD, together with close spectral comparisons of previously published data. Sarcoconvolutum F (1) contains a rare 1-peroxid-15-hydroxy-10-ene functionality. Isolated metabolites (1–7) were screened against lung adenocarcinoma (A549), cervical cancer (HeLa) and oral cavity carcinoma (HSC-2) lines. Compound 4 exhibited an IC50 56 µM and 55 µM against A549 and HSC-2 cells, respectively.
Synthesis and Study of Dibenzo[b, f]oxepine Combined with Fluoroazobenzenes—New Photoswitches for Application in Biological Systems
Authors: Borys Filip , Tobiasz Piotr , Sobel Jakub , Krawczyk Hanna
Published: September 2022

Dibenzo[b, f]oxepine derivatives are an important scaffold in natural, medicinal chemistry, and these derivatives occur in several medicinally relevant plants. Two dibenzo[b, f]oxepines were selected and connected with appropriate fluorine azobenzenes. In the next step, the geometry of E/Z isomers was analyzed using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Then the energies of the HOMO and LUMO orbitals were calculated for the E/Z isomers to determine the HOMO-LUMO gap. Next, modeling of the interaction between the obtained isomers of the compounds and the colchicine α and β-tubulin binding site was performed. The investigated isomers interact with the colchicine binding site in tubulin with a part of the dibenzo[b, f]oxepine or in a part of the azo switch, or both at the same time. Based on the UV-VIS spectra, it was found that in the case of compounds with an azo bond in the meta position, the absorption bands n→π* for both geometric isomers and their separation from π→π* are visible. These derivatives therefore have the potential to be used in photopharmacology.
Evaluation of the In Vitro Bioactivities’ Profiles of Brewers’ Spent Grain Protein and Hydrolysates with and without Cellulase Pretreatment
Authors: Zhang Jiao , Perez-Gavilan Ariane , Neves Adriana Cunha
Published: September 2022

Brewer’s spent grain is the residue left after the separation of wort during the beer-brewing process. Although this by-product has been reported to have a high protein content, it is normally treated as waste. This work aims to isolate bioactive hydrolysates from BSG, and then explore their bioactivities. Two groups (A and B) of BSG were subjected to protein extraction using the alkaline extraction method at pH 12, where group A was pre-treated with cellulase, while group B was not pre-treated and was directly extracted. The final isolate yielded 50.18 ± 1.22% recovery of the BSGP from group A and 66.41 ± 0.37% recovery from group B. RP-HPLC profiles showed that the extracted BSGPs are mainly hydrophilic proteins. The proteins extracted by the two methods were hydrolyzed enzymatically using Alcalase and α-chymotrypsin. The hydrolysates obtained displayed blood pressure regulation activity and antioxidant properties, when assayed with angiotensin-converting enzyme assay, 2,2-diphenyl-picryl-hydrazyl assay, and ferric antioxidant power assay. It can be concluded that it is possible to extract good quality proteins from BSG and this by-product presents potential as a source for the extraction of a variety of proteins that might be of interest to the food industries.
Adjustment of Unrealistic Weight Loss Expectations on a Mobile CBT-Based Behavior-Change Program: Prospective One-Armed Study
Authors: Behr Heather , Baldwin Matthew , Ho Annabell Suh , Blanco Paige , Mitchell Ellen Siobhan , McCallum Meaghan , May Christine N. , Michealides Andreas
Published: September 2022

Background: Moderate weight loss of 5–10% is considered a realistically achievable weight loss goal and is associated with decreased risk of obesity-related health complications. However, individuals tend to expect that they will lose as much as 20–30% of their body weight when they start a behavioral weight loss program. Current research is limited on how these expectations change over time during weight loss and the consequences of adjusting one’s expectations in a more realistic direction, particularly on a CBT-based program. Method: Therefore, this prospective cohort study evaluated whether individuals adjusted their weight loss expectations over time during real-world use of a mobile CBT-based behavior-change program (Noom Weight) and how this adjustment related to weight loss outcomes, as well as how the amount of adjustment depended on program engagement. Participants had recently signed up for Noom Weight and reported their weight, expectations for weight loss, and psychological well-being at baseline and six months. Engagement was automatically recorded by the program. Results: We found that after using Noom Weight for six months, participants’ expectations became more realistic (i.e., significantly decreased) compared to baseline (−5.77, s.e. = 0.57, p < 0.001), and this downward adjustment was associated with greater weight loss (b = 1.80, 95% CI 1.21–2.38, p < 0.001). Higher program engagement, particularly reading articles focused on CBT-based principles, was associated with greater decreases in expectations over time (b = −0.007, t = −2.22, p = 0.03). Conclusions: The results suggest that CBT-based principles may aid in adjusting weight loss expectations to more realistic levels and that such adjustment is associated with positive weight outcomes. Future research should build on these results by evaluating adjustment in weight loss expectations over time, rather than solely expectations at baseline.
Dynamics of Nano-Particles Inside an Optical Cavity in the Quantum Regime
Authors: Prada Camilo M. , Martínez Luis J.
Published: September 2022

We investigate the optomechanical effect on a single nano-particle inside an optical cavity, by deriving the optical forces acting on the nano-particle by the cavity from quantum theory. We obtain the steady state of the system and found that the force contains three terms associated with the gradient force, the back-action force resulting from the intra-cavity photon energy change, as well as the reactive force associated with the coupling between the external field and the cavity. Moreover, we solve the dynamical system for a dielectric particle in a small mode volume cavity, which is characterized by a quasi-periodic pattern. These results are important for understanding the control of various types of levitated nano-particles through optomechanical coupling.
Single Image Deblurring for Pulsed Laser Range-Gated Imaging System with Multi-Slice Integration
Authors: Lin Hongsheng , Ma Liheng , Hu Qingping , Zhang Xiaohui , Xiong Zhang , Han Hongwei
Published: September 2022

The multi-slice integration (MSI) method is one of the approachs to extend the depth of view (DOV) of the pulsed laser range-gated imaging (PLRGI) system. When the DOV is large enough and exceeds the depth of focus of the system, it may make some targets in the image clear and others blurred. In addition, forward scatter is also considered to have a blurring effect on the image. There is very little literature to solve the combined effect of forward scatter and defocus. An imaging model is built based on the model from Jaffe–McGlamery and Fourier optics. According to the imaging model, backscattered light is independent from reflected light from the target, and forward scatter has a relationship with the reflected light. Thus, backscattered light should be removed before deblurring. First, rolling ball and intensity transformation are used to remove the backscattered light and enhance the image. Then, a deep learning model based on Transformer is used to deblur the image. To enable the deep learning model to accommodate different degrees of blurred image, 16 different blur kernels are generated according to the imaging model. Sharp images from a DPDD dataset were chosen to train the model. Images of varying degrees of blur were collected from a water tank and a boat tank by the PLRGI system as test sets. Image deblurring results show that the proposed method can remove different levels of blur and can deal with images which have sharp targets and blurred targets together.
Influence of the Width of Launch Beam Distribution on the Transmission Performance of Seven-Core Polymer-Clad Silica Fibers
Authors: Savović Svetislav , Djordjevich Alexandar , Aidinis Konstantinos , Min Rui
Published: September 2022

We propose a space division multiplexing (SDM) in a newly constructed multicore polymer-clad silica fiber (PCSF) with seven cores arrayed in a hexagonal array, each carrying a centrally launched beam. This enables a higher SDM capacity at longer fiber lengths in the proposed seven-core PCSF if compared with previously proposed angular division multiplexing (ADM) in single-core (SC) PCSF. As a result, the SDM is not limited to short fiber lengths in the proposed seven-core PCSF, as it is in the case of the ADM channels due to mode coupling in the SC PCSF. In addition, the time-independent power flow equation (TI PFE) is used to analyze the effect of the width of the launch beam distribution on the equilibrium mode distribution (EMD) and steady state distribution (SSD) in each of the seven cores of the investigated PCSF. The width of the launch beam distribution has a considerable impact on the fiber length at which the EMD and SSD are attained, according to our numerical results. Thus, by decreasing the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the launch beam distribution from 20 to 2°, the length at which EMD is established increases from Lc = 1020 to 1250 m, and the length at which SSD is attained increases from zs = 2650 to 3250 m. A narrow launch beam distribution leads to higher bandwidth at small and intermediate fiber lengths. On the other hand, at shorter fiber lengths, a wider launch beam distribution induces a bandwidth change from 1/z proportional to 1/z1/2 proportional curve, e.g., a slower bandwidth reduction. When building a multicore optical fiber transmission system for SDM, such characterization of multicore PCSFs under various launch conditions should be taken into account.
The Effect of Activation on the Structure of Biochars Prepared from Wood and from Posidonia Oceanica: A Spectroscopic Study
Authors: Pizzanelli Silvia , Maisano Susanna , Pinzino Calogero , Manariti Antonella , Chiodo Vitaliano , Pitzalis Emanuela , Forte Claudia
Published: September 2022

The structure of two biochars and of their activated carbons was investigated by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance, Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopies, together with X-ray diffraction and nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherm measurements. The biochars were obtained from wood and Posidonia Oceanica by slow pyrolysis up to 600 °C, whereas the activated carbons were prepared from the biochars by impregnation with KOH, heating up to 800 °C. Two different KOH:biochar mass ratios were tested in the case of Posidonia, namely 4:1 and 2:1, while only the 4:1 ratio was used for wood. When the larger ratio was used, activation significantly increased the microporosity of the starting biochar, also creating bottle-neck pores not accessible to water molecules, and induced the formation of larger condensed aromatic networks arranged in interconnected conducting domains. In the case of Posidonia, activation using the 2:1 ratio mainly created mesopores and induced an increase in organic radical content by almost four orders of magnitude. This huge increase was related to the presence of minerals in the starting biochar.
Alfvén Wave Conversion and Reflection in the Solar Chromosphere and Transition Region
Authors: Cally Paul
Published: September 2022

Series solutions are used to explore the mode conversion of slow, Alfvén and fast magnetohydrodynamic waves injected at the base of a two-isothermal-layer stratified atmosphere with a uniform magnetic field, crudely representing the solar chromosphere and corona with intervening discontinuous transition region. This sets a baseline for understanding the ubiquitous Alfvénic waves observed in the corona, which are implicated in coronal heating and solar wind acceleration. It is found that all three injected wave types can partially transmit as coronal Alfvén waves in varying proportions dependent on frequency, magnetic field inclination, wave orientation, and distance between the Alfvén/acoustic equipartition level and the transition region. However, net Alfvénic transmission is limited for plausible parameters, and additional magnetic field structuring may be required to provide sufficient wave energy flux.
Finite-Series Approximation of the Bound States for Two Novel Potentials
Authors: Alhaidari Abdulaziz D. , Assi Ibsal A.
Published: September 2022

We obtain an analytic approximation of the bound states solution of the Schrödinger equation on the semi-infinite real line for two potential models with a rich structure as shown by their spectral phase diagrams. These potentials do not belong to the class of exactly solvable problems. The solutions are finite series (with a small number of terms) of square integrable functions written in terms of Romanovski–Jacobi polynomials.
Polysaccharide Based Implantable Drug Delivery: Development Strategies, Regulatory Requirements, and Future Perspectives
Authors: Salave Sagar , Rana Dhwani , Sharma Amit , Bharathi K. , Gupta Raghav , Khode Shubhangi , Benival Derajram , Kommineni Nagavendra
Published: September 2022

Implantable drug delivery systems advocate a wide array of potential benefits, including effective administration of drugs at lower concentrations and fewer side-effects whilst increasing patient compliance. Amongst several polymers used for fabricating implants, biopolymers such as polysaccharides are known for modulating drug delivery attributes as desired. The review describes the strategies employed for the development of polysaccharide-based implants. A comprehensive understanding of several polysaccharide polymers such as starch, cellulose, alginate, chitosan, pullulan, carrageenan, dextran, hyaluronic acid, agar, pectin, gellan gum is presented. Moreover, biomedical applications of these polysaccharide-based implantable devices along with the recent advancements carried out in the development of these systems have been mentioned. Implants for the oral cavity, nasal cavity, bone, ocular use, and antiviral therapy have been discussed in detail. The regulatory considerations with respect to implantable drug delivery has also been emphasized in the present work. This article aims to provide insights into the developmental strategies for polysaccharide-based implants.
Finite Element Analysis of Zirconia Dental Implant
Authors: Fiorillo Luca , Milone Dario , D’Andrea Danilo , Santonocito Dario , Risitano Giacomo , Cervino Gabriele , Cicciù Marco
Published: September 2022

Titanium dental implants have had new competitors in recent years, such as fixtures made of zirconia, which promise better aesthetics. The purpose of this study is to evaluate their mechanical performance in silico (Finite Element Analysis). The investigation was performed on a single tooth Patent™ Dental Implant (Zircon Medical®, Altendorf, Switzerland) in two configurations: without offset (Test I) and with offset (Test II, 1.5 mm within the cortical bone). The Patent Implant system consists of two components: the implant with integrated abutment and the fibreglass post. The components of the dental implants were tested using a compression load of 400 N along the implant axis. The results showed that the chewing load generates stress distribution on the bone, therefore, the offset configuration should be avoided.
“We Are Running Out of Time”: Temporal Orientation and Information Seeking as Explanatory Factors of Climate Anxiety among Young People
Authors: Nadarajah Kévin , David Jean-Charles , Brun Laurent , Bordel Stéphanie , Moyon Lisa , Le Foll David , Delouvée Sylvain , Somat Alain
Published: September 2022

(1) Background: Climate change is a major threat to human health and new research is highlighting its effects on physical health. However, there is still little research on the psychological effects, particularly on young people, who seem to be disproportionately affected. (2) Objectives: In this context, we conducted a study focusing on the young adult population to identify psychosocial and behavioral factors that may modulate the intensity of this anxiety. (3) Method: A cross-sectional study by questionnaire was carried out on a sample of 369 young French adults. Data were analyzed via structural equation modelling. (4) Results: The main results suggest that: (1) CFC and information seeking predict climate anxiety, which in turn predicts the emotional consequences of exposure to information about the negative consequences of climate change; (2) information seeking moderates the effects of CFC on climate anxiety. (5) Conclusions: This study highlights both the role of temporal orientation and information seeking on the climate anxiety experienced by young adults. These results provide an interesting lever for health professionals to work with this population who may be more vulnerable to climate anxiety than others.
Nudges-Based Design Method for Adaptive HMI to Improve Driving Safety
Authors: Generosi Andrea , Ceccacci Silvia , Tezçi Buse , Montanari Roberto , Mengoni Maura
Published: September 2022

This study introduces a new operational tool based on the AEIOU observational framework to support the design of adaptive human machine interfaces (HMIs) that aim to modify people’s behavior and support people’s choices, to improve safety using emotional regulation techniques, through the management of environmental characteristics (e.g., temperature and illumination), according to an approach based on the nudging concept within a design thinking process. The proposed approach focuses on research in the field of behavioral psychology that has studied the correlations between human emotions and driving behavior, pushing towards the elicitation of those emotions judged to be most suitable for safe driving. The main objective is to support the ideation of scenarios and/or design features for adaptive HMIs to implement a nudging strategy to increase driving safety. At the end, the results from a collaborative workshop, organized as a case study to collect concept ideas in the context of sports cars, will be shown and evaluated to highlight the validity of the proposed methodology, but also the limitations due to the requirement of prototypes to evaluate the actual effectiveness of the presented nudging strategies.
Industry 4.0 as a Challenge for the Skills and Competencies of the Labor Force: A Bibliometric Review and a Survey
Authors: Alhloul Abdelkarim , Kiss Eva
Published: September 2022

The latest technological development called Industry 4.0, like the previous industrial revolutions, has also brought a new challenge for people as a labor force because new technologies require new skills and competencies. By 2030 the existing generation in the labor market will have a skill gap threatening human replacement by machines. Based on bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review the main aims of this study are, on the one hand, to reveal the most related articles concerning skills, competencies, and Industry 4.0, and on the other hand, to identify the newset of skills and competencies which are essential for the future labor force. Determining the model of new skills and competencies in connection with Industry 4.0 technologies is the main novelty of the study. A survey carried out among the workers of mostly multinational organisations in Hungary has also been used to explore the level of awareness about those skills and Industry 4.0 related technologies, and this can be considered the significance of the empirical research.
Combination of Medium- and High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography for Isolation of L-tryptophan (Q-marker) from Medicago sativa Extract
Authors: Zhang Shixuan , Ma Yonggui , Ma Ronghua , Wang Qilan , Dang Jun
Published: September 2022

Medicago sativa (alfalfa) is a widely used animal feed. However, its quality has been difficult to control due to the lack of appropriate marker compounds. Therefore, it is very necessary to select an appropriate quality marker (Q-marker) to control its quality. In this study, medium-pressure liquid chromatography and high-pressure liquid chromatography were employed to effectively prepare the separation of the Q-marker (L-tryptophan) from Medicago sativa. Firstly, using MCI GEL® CHP20P as the stationary phase, 2.5 g of the target fraction Fr3 was enriched from crude Medicago sativa extract (2.9 kg) by medium-pressure liquid chromatography. Secondly, Sephadex LH-20 was used to further separate Fr3 fractions, and the Fr34 fraction (358.3 mg) was enriched after 14 repetitions. Lastly, using the ReproSil-Pur C18 AQ preparative column, 63.4 mg of L-tryptophan was obtained by high-pressure liquid chromatography, and the purity was above 95%. The results showed that medium-pressure liquid chromatography (MCI GEL® CHP20P and Sephadex LH-20) combined with high-pressure liquid chromatography (ReproSil-Pur C18 AQ) could be used to effectively prepare the Q-marker from natural products with satisfactory purity.
Speciation of Selenium in Selenium-Enriched Foods by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Luo Yue , Chen Gang , Deng Xiuqing , Cai Hanqing , Fu Xueheng , Xu Fujian , Xiao Xiaonian , Huo Yumeng , Luo Jin
Published: September 2022

Herein, a method was established for the speciation of six selenium species by high performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS/MS). The factors affecting separation were carefully investigated, including ionic strength, pH, and methanol content. Six species of selenium could be completely separated within 20 min, under the mobile phase of 25 mM citric acid in pH = 4.0 containing 2% methanol. The detection limits of selenite (Se(IV)), selenate (Se(VI)), selenomethionine (SeMet), selenocystine (SeCys2), methylselenocysteine (MeSeCys), and selenoethionine (SeEt) were 0.04, 0.02, 0.05, 0.02, 0.03, and 0.15 ng mL−1, respectively. To verify the practicality of this method, the analysis of selenium-enriched foods such as selenium-enriched spring water, selenium-enriched salts, and selenium-enriched tea were conducted, and recovery of 93.7–105% was achieved with RSD < 5%, revealing the high practical utility of the proposed method.
Comparative Elucidation of Aroma, Key Odorants, and Fatty Acid Profiles of Ivorian Shea Butter Prepared by Three Different Extraction Methods
Authors: Oussou Kouame Fulbert , Guclu Gamze , Sevindik Onur , Starowicz Małgorzata , Kelebek Hasim , Selli Serkan
Published: September 2022

In the present study, the volatile compounds, key odorants, and fatty acid profiles of Ivorian shea butter produced by cold press extraction (CPE), solvent extraction (SE) and traditional extraction (TE) methods were investigated for the first time. The aroma compounds of shea butter were extracted by the purge and trap method and analyzed by the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and olfactometry (GC-MS/O) technique. Totals of 51, 49 and 46 aroma compounds were determined in samples from CPE, SE and TE, respectively. It was observed that the volatile compounds of studied material dominated after CPE, in which alcohols (11) were the most abundant chemical group, followed by aldehydes (10) and acids (7). The application of aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA) resulted in 22, 20, and 16 key odorants in shea butter from CPE, SE and TE, respectively. 3-Hexanol with flavor dilution (FD) factors (2048 in CPS, 1024 in SE and 64 in TE) was found to be the most active aroma compound in all samples. In the fatty acid fraction obtained using the gas chromatography–flame ionization detector (GC-FID) method, 22, 24 and 19 fatty acids were detected in samples after CPE, SE and TE, respectively. The highest number of fatty acids was determined in shea butter using CPE (89.98%). Stearic and oleic acids were the most dominant fatty acids, and all samples of shea butter were rich sources of saturated fatty acids (SFAs). Moreover, the SE samples showed the highest values of DPPH (238.36 µM TEq/kg) and ABTS (534.96 µM TEq/kg), while the CPE samples had the highest total phenolic content (104.64 mg GAE/kg). Principal component analysis (PCA) clearly indicated that the extraction technique could quantitatively or qualitatively induce changes. Thus, this investigation demonstrated that extraction methods have a considerable impact on the quality and chemical composition of the presented material.
Chemical Composition of the Fixed Oil of Harconia speciosa and Modulation of the Antibiotic Activity against Non-Resistant and MDR Bacterial Strains
Authors: Sousa Erlânio O. de , Costa Maria do Socorro , Oliveira-Tintino Cícera Datiane M. , Nonato Carla de Fátima A. , Pinheiro Jacqueline C. A. , Coutinho Henrique Douglas M. , Menezes Irwin Rose A. de , Costa José Galberto M.
Published: September 2022

The species Hancornia speciosa (mangabeira) has varied potential. The bark has astringent properties, latex is used for tuberculosis, ulcers, herpes, dermatoses and warts, leaf tea is used for menstrual cramps and the root decoction to treat dislocations and hypertension. The aim of this work was to analyze the chemical composition of the fixed oil and antibacterial activities alone or in association with aminoglycosides against standard and MDR bacteria using broth microdilution assays. In the analysis of the oil by GC/MS, a high content of unsaturated fatty acids (73.46%) was identified in relation to saturated fatty acids (26.15%). Palmitic acid (22.49%) and elaidic acid (69.50%) were the main fatty acids identified. The antibacterial test results showed a more significant oil activity against Staphylococcus aureus SA–ATCC 6538 (MIC = 512 μg/mL). For other strains including standards and multidrug resistant bacteria, the oil presented MIC ≥ 1024 μg/mL. In association with antibiotics, the oil was able to improve antibacterial activity against bacterial strains. A synergic effect was observed for S. aureus SA–10, with MIC reduction of amikacin and gentamicin by 50.00 and 60.00%, respectively. The most significant association was found for Escherichia coli EC–06, with a reduction in MIC of 81.25%. The results indicate that seed oil of H. speciosa has the potential to act on bacterial resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics.
Wound Healing Potential of Commiphora gileadensis Stems Essential Oil and Chloroform Extract
Authors: Althurwi Hassan N. , Salkini Mohammad Ayman A. , Soliman Gamal A. , Ansari Mohd Nazam , Ibnouf Elmutasim O. , Abdel-Kader Maged S.
Published: September 2022

Essential oils (EOs) prepared from the fresh and dried stems of Commiphora gileadensis were compared qualitatively and quantitatively. Although the components were closely similar, the amount of oil decreased from 2.23 to 1.77% upon drying. Both samples showed equal potencies in the antimicrobial testing. The chloroform extract (CE) of the fresh stems with reported antimicrobial activity was compared with the EO sample of the fresh stems for wound healing potential. For the wound healing assay, 11 mm-diameter full-thickness skin excision wounds were made on the backs of four groups of rats (n = 6). The negative control group I was treated with the cream base. Group II was treated with 2% Fucidin cream, which served as a reference, and groups III and IV were treated with 1% EO- and 3% CE-containing creams, respectively. Treatments were applied topically one time daily. The wound healing potential was evaluated by recording the wound contraction percentages, epithelialization period, and histopathological changes of wounds. The topical application of CE significantly promoted the healing of wounds in rats. The effectiveness was demonstrated through the speed of wound contraction and the shortening of the epithelialization period in an animal treated with CE cream when compared to the NC group. Histopathological studies of the CE cream-treated group also expressed the effectiveness of CE in improving the wound healing process. These findings suggested that CE cream can enhance the process of wound healing in rats.
Language Inference Using Elman Networks with Evolutionary Training
Authors: Anastasopoulos Nikolaos , Tsoulos Ioannis G. , Dermatas Evangelos , Karvounis Evangelos
Published: September 2022

In this paper, a novel Elman-type recurrent neural network (RNN) is presented for the binary classification of arbitrary symbol sequences, and a novel training method, including both evolutionary and local search methods, is evaluated using sequence databases from a wide range of scientific areas. An efficient, publicly available, software tool is implemented in C++, accelerating significantly (more than 40 times) the RNN weights estimation process using both simd and multi-thread technology. The experimental results, in all databases, with the hybrid training method show improvements in a range of 2% to 25% compared with the standard genetic algorithm.
Citizens’ Data Privacy in China: The State of the Art of the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL)
Authors: Calzada Igor
Published: September 2022

The Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) was launched on 1 November 2021 in China. This article provides a state-of-the-art review of PIPL through a policy analysis. This paper aims to compare the three main worldwide data privacy paradigms that exist at present: (i) the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the E.U., (ii) the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the U.S., and (iii) PIPL in China. The research question is twofold: (i) how will PIPL affect the data privacy of Chinese citizens and consequently, (ii) how will PIPL influence the global digital order, particularly paralleling the existing GDPR and CCPA? In the first section, this article introduces the topic of data privacy as a global concern, followed in the second section by an in-depth policy context analysis of PIPL and a literature review on privacy that elucidates in particular the impact of the Social Credit System (SCS). In the third section, a comparative benchmarking is carried out between the GDPR, CCPA, and PIPL. Methodologically, policy documents around PIPL will be analyzed. In the fourth section, the case study of Shenzhen will be examined by undertaking a multi-stakeholder analysis following the Penta Helix framework. The article concludes by responding to the research questions, acknowledging limitations, and presenting future research avenues.
Progress of Standardization of Urban Infrastructure in Smart City
Authors: Wang Jin , Liu Chang , Zhou Liang , Xu Jiangpei , Wang Jie , Sang Ziqin
Published: September 2022

After the Smart City initiative was put forward, cities all over the world started the pilot practice of developing Smart Cities. This triggered a series of thoughts: what is a Smart City, how do we determine the scope of work of a Smart City, and how do we formulate a new strategic agenda of the Smart City to make city smarter and more sustainable? The answer lies not only in finding Smart City solutions, but also leads to the research on the definition of Smart City terminology and the determination of corresponding tasks. Stakeholders of Smart City (e.g., policy makers, municipalities, solution providers, industry, and academia) develop technical and management standards for these tasks jointly. This paper reports the standardization planning on Smart City by the international standardization development organizations (SDOs), that is, the standardization framework of Smart City. It also presents one of the important aspects, namely, the progress of standardization activities on urban infrastructure that are being carried out by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) via its Study Group 20, in supporting the adoption of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in Smart City. These standards include the classification of urban infrastructure, the interoperability between urban infrastructure and smart city platforms, and the requirements of detailed infrastructure from the perspective of ICT and the Internet of things (IoT). This paper also provides the use cases of application of some standards in global cities.
Location Selection of Charging Stations for Electric Taxis: A Bangkok Case
Authors: Keawthong Pichamon , Muangsin Veera , Gowanit Chupun
Published: September 2022

The transition from ICE to BEV taxis is one of the most important methods for reducing fossil fuel consumption and air pollution in cities such as Bangkok. To support this transition, an adequate number of charging stations to cover each area of charging demand must be established. This paper presents a data-driven process for determining suitable charging locations for BEV taxis based on their characteristic driving patterns. The location selection process employs GPS trajectory data collected from taxis and the locations of candidate sites. Suitable locations are determined based on estimated travel times and charging demands. A queueing model is used to simulate charging activities and identify an appropriate number of chargers at each station. The location selection results are validated using data from existing charging services. The validation results show that the proposed process can recommend better locations for charging stations than current practices. By using the traveling time data that take the current traffic condition into account, e.g., via Google Maps API, we can minimize the overall travel time to charging stations of the taxi fleet better than using the distance data. This process can also be applied to other cities.
The Effects of Entrepreneurs’ Perceived Risks and Perceived Barriers on Sustainable Entrepreneurship in Algeria’s SMEs: The Mediating Role of Government Support
Authors: Peng Huatao , Walid L’hocine
Published: September 2022

Sustainable entrepreneurs launch businesses to meet social and environmental needs while advancing the interests of the larger community. Sustainable entrepreneurs encounter particular difficulties when starting their businesses because of the distinction between creating and appropriating personal and social values. This study examines the effects of perceived risks and barriers on sustainable entrepreneurship through the mediating role of government support in SMEs in Algeria. This study used a quantitative research methodology that combined primary and secondary data to gather the necessary data from 230 small and medium-sized enterprise entrepreneurs through purposive sampling techniques and simple random sampling to estimate the requirements in Oran region clusters, Algeria. The proposed research model applied a structural equation model, growth path modeling analysis, correlation matrix, and analysis using the SPSS and AMOS software suites to ascertain the causal relationship between perceived risks and barriers and business performance. The main result revealed that perceived barriers impact sustainable entrepreneurship more during business startups. Likewise, perceived risk significantly affects sustainable entrepreneurship. Instead, government support has substantially mediated the relationship between perceived risk and sustainable entrepreneurship and perceived barriers. Furthermore, the diverse and complex stakeholder relationships make sustainable entrepreneurship more likely to challenge perceived risks and barriers during business startup. These results might be an essential cue for governments and private capital providers to enhance the environment for entrepreneurship.
Alternative Products Selling Sustainability? A Brazilian Case Study on Materials and Processes to Produce Plant-Based Hamburger Patties
Authors: Zuin Vânia G. , Araripe Evelyn , Zanotti Karine , Stahl Aylon M. , Gomes Caroindes J. C.
Published: September 2022

Plant-based protein-production and consumption have been booming recently, requiring novel, greener sources and processes that can make a real contribution to sustainability. Alternatives offered as patties can be found all over the world, promising less environmental and health risks compared to animal-based protein. In this context, a case study on soy-based patties from Brazil is presented, pointing out sustainable aspects of this value chain, from farm to fork, whilst presenting a theoretical discussion on consumer behavior. The implications of extensive land use for soy monoculture and aspects of the soy patty industrial processes, such as use of hexane, lack of information on labels, excess ingredients, and inconclusive data on food additives (such as methylcellulose), as well as integration of these concepts to design new undergraduate Chemistry curricula, are analyzed. Heavy processing in plants to achieve the taste, texture and appearance of meat increases the environmental footprint of vegetarian diets containing these items, disrupting the idea of sustainability that these products come with. Although meat production has a significant environmental impact, plant-based patties demonstrate that less impactful meat substitutes can also have environmental, social and health risks.
Lie Symmetry Analysis, Particular Solutions and Conservation Laws of a New Extended (3+1)-Dimensional Shallow Water Wave Equation
Authors: Huo Cailing , Li Lianzhong
Published: September 2022

In this paper, a new extended (3+1)-dimensional shallow water wave equation is discussed via Lie symmetry analysis. Making use of symmetric nodes, we obtain two kinds of symmetrically reduced ODEs. By means of power series, we obtain the two kinds of exact power series solutions. By invoking a new conservation theorem of Ibragimov, the conservation laws are constructed.
Statistical Interior Tomography via L1 Norm Dictionary Learning without Assuming an Object Support
Authors: Wu Junfeng , Wang Xiaofeng , Mou Xuanqin
Published: September 2022

Interior tomography of X-ray computed tomography (CT) has many advantages, such as a lower radiation dose and lower detector hardware cost compared to traditional CT. However, this imaging technique only uses the projection data passing through the region of interest (ROI) for imaging; accordingly, the projection data are truncated at both ends of the detector, so the traditional analytical reconstruction algorithm cannot satisfy the demand of clinical diagnosis. To solve the above limitations, in this paper we propose a high-quality statistical iterative reconstruction algorithm that uses the zeroth-order image moment as novel prior knowledge; the zeroth-order image moment can be estimated in the projection domain using the Helgason–Ludwig consistency condition. Then, the L1norm of sparse representation, in terms of dictionary learning, and the zeroth-order image moment constraints are incorporated into the statistical iterative reconstruction framework to construct an objective function. Finally, the objective function is minimized using an alternating minimization iterative algorithm. The chest CT image simulated and CT real data experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach can remove shift artifacts effectively and has superior performance in removing noise and persevering fine structures than the total variation (TV)-based approach.
Cytoreductive Surgical Treatment of Pleural Mesothelioma in a Porcine Model Using Magnetic-Resonance-Guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery (MRgFUS) and Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
Authors: Costa Marcia , Fernandes Carolina , Eames Matt , Hananel Arik , Mugler John P. , Huaromo Jhosep , Yang Jack B. , Mata Jaime
Published: September 2022

A combination of surgery and chemotherapy is the most effective treatment available for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM). However, both cause significant collateral damage and cannot eliminate residual microscopic disease. This investigation aimed to compare and determine the feasibility of utilizing Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) and Magnetic-Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery (MRgFUS) as alternative treatments for MPM. A large animal tumor model was developed in 13 Yorkshire female pigs using the MSTO211H cell line. Two pigs were initially used to determine the cyclosporine dose required for immunosuppression and tumor development. Subsequently, 11 other pigs underwent tumor development. Of these 11, 2 died during cell inoculation. Small tumor masses and adhesions were present in the other 9, indicating mesothelioma development. Five pigs then received RFA treatment, and 4 pigs received MRgFUS treatment. Tumor model development and effect of the two treatments were examined using MRI and by necropsy. RFA and MRgFUS both successfully ablated approximately the same sized area in the same treatment time. This study demonstrates that RFA and MRgFUS are feasible for tumor debulking, and while MRgFUS requires more pretreatment planning compared to RFA, MRgFUS is a completely noninvasive procedure.
A Break from Overtourism: Domestic Tourists Reclaiming Nature during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Wendt Margrét , Sæþórsdóttir Anna Dóra , Waage Edda R. H.
Published: September 2022

Natural areas are often of particular importance for residents as venues for recreation and domestic tourism. However, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, overtourism was a major challenge for many nature-based tourism destinations worldwide, and led to a perceived restriction of tourism opportunities for residents. Iceland, one of the countries most associated with the concept of overtourism, witnessed a rapid reduction in international tourist arrivals after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, domestic tourism was unrestricted and, in fact, actively encouraged. Iceland in the summer of 2020 thus presents an interesting case for studying the experience of domestic tourists at previously overcrowded nature destinations. The study took place in Landmannalaugar, a nature destination known for crowding prior to the pandemic, and is based on 33 semi-structured interviews. Its results reveal that Icelandic residents perceived the break from overtourism as a benefit of the pandemic, and considered it a unique opportunity to reclaim nature destinations from which they had been displaced due to overcrowding by international tourists. Furthermore, they welcomed the chance to engage with fellow domestic tourists. The findings stress the importance of addressing the needs and wants of residents and supporting the development of domestic tourism.