bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular and Biochemical Characterization, Antimicrobial Activity, Stress Tolerance, and Plant Growth-Promoting Effect of Endophytic Bacteria Isolated from Wheat Varieties
Authors: Shah Dawood , Khan Mohammad Sayyar , Aziz Shahkaar , Ali Haidar , Pecoraro Lorenzo
Published: December 2021

Endophytic bacteria have been utilized as an alternative source to chemical fertilizers and pesticides to enhance plant productivity and defense mechanisms against biotic and abiotic stress. Five endophytic bacterial strains were isolated from the seeds of three different Pakistani wheat varieties (Ghaneemat-e-IBGE, Atta-Habib, and Siren). The isolated strains AH-1, S-5, S-7, GI-1, and GI-6 showed phylogenetic similarity with Bacillus altitudinis, B. aryabhattai, B. wiedmannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Burkholderia gladioli, respectively. All strains showed catalase activity (except AH-1) and Indole-3-acetic acid production, with the highest concentration (16.77 μg·mL−1) found for GI-6, followed by S-5 (11.5 μg·mL−1), nitrogen assimilation (except S-7), phosphorus solubilization (except S-7 and AH-1), and ability to produce siderophores, with maximum productions for GI-6 (31 ± 3.5 psu) and GI-1 (30 ± 2.9 psu). All five analyzed strains possessed antimicrobial activity, which was particularly strong in GI-6 and S-5 against Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis. Increasing salinity stress with NaCl negatively affected the bacterial growth of all isolates. However, strains GI-6 and S-5 showed salt tolerance after three days of incubation. A drought tolerance test resulted in a negative impact of poly ethylene glycol on bacterial growth, which was, however, less pronounced in GI-6 strain. The GI-6 strain revealed growth-promoting effects on inoculated wheat plants.
Examining the Osmotic Response of Acidihalobacter aeolianus after Exposure to Salt Stress
Authors: Corbett Melissa K. , Anstiss Liam , Gifford April , Graham Ross M. , Watkin Elizabeth L. J.
Published: December 2021

Acidihalobacter aeolianus is an acidophilic, halo-tolerant organism isolated from a marine environment near a hydrothermal vent, an ecosystem whereby levels of salinity and total dissolved salts are constantly fluctuating creating ongoing cellular stresses. In order to survive these continuing changes, the synthesis of compatible solutes—also known as organic osmolytes—is suspected to occur, aiding in minimising the overall impact of environmental instability. Previous studies on A. aeolianus identified genes necessary for the accumulation of proline, betaine and ectoine, which are known to act as compatible solutes in other halophilic species. In this study, the impact of increasing the osmotic stress as well as the toxic ion effect was investigated by subjecting A. aeolianus to concentrations of NaCl and MgSO4 up to 1.27 M. Exposure to high concentrations of Cl− resulted in the increase of ectC expression in log-phase cells with a corresponding accumulation of ectoine at stationary phase. Osmotic stress via MgSO4 exposure did not trigger the same up-regulation of ectC or accumulation of ectoine, indicating the transcriptionally regulated response against osmotic stress was induced by chloride toxicity. These findings have highlighted how the adaptive properties of halo-tolerant organisms in acidic environments are likely to differ and are dependent on the initial stressor.
Recovery of Catapleiite and Eudialyte from Non-Magnetic Fraction of Eudialyte ore Processing of Norra Kärr Deposit
Authors: Silin Ivan , Gürsel Devrim , Büchter Christian , Weitkämper Lars , Wotruba Hermann
Published: December 2021

Eudialyte ores from Norra Kärr (Sweden) and Kringlerne (Greenland) are considered a potential source of rare-earth elements (REE) for the development of a sustainable REE industry outside China. Magnetic separation is successfully applicated to recover eudialyte as a magnetic fraction. In the case of the Norra Kärr deposit, up to 20% of the REE and up to 40% of the Zr are lost during mineral processing in the non-magnetic fraction. Zr and REE are associated with non-magnetic minerals such as catapleiite, low- or non-magnetic eudialyte species, and both their intergrowths. Besides zirconosilicates such as catapleiite and eudialyte, the non-magnetic fraction has valuable and already-liberated minerals such as alkali feldspars and nepheline, which should not be considered as tailings. In this investigation, a possible way to recover REE bearing zirconosilicates from the non-magnetic fraction using flotation is presented. First, a low-grade eudialyte concentrate (1.8% Zr, 0.94% REE) from ground ore was obtained using magnetic separation. The non-magnetic fraction was then treated using froth flotation, and a Zr-REE bearing product (9% Zr, 1.5% REE) was obtained as froth product. For this purpose, phosphoric acid esters were used as selective collectors for zirconosilicates at a pH between 3.5 and 4.5. The reagent regime could be proposed not only to recover Zr- and REE-bearing minerals, but also simultaneously to remove Fe, Ti, and other colored impurities from the nepheline-feldspar product and to minimize the tailings volume.
Effect of Water Immersion on Raw and Expanded Ugandan Vermiculite
Authors: Marcos Celia
Published: December 2021

Effect of water immersion at different times (from 1/2 h to 24 h) on raw and expanded vermiculite from Uganda was investigated. The expansion was carried out by electrical heating at different temperatures and by irradiation with microwaves. After, the expansibility (k) and the water absorption content (WA) were obtained and the samples were characterized. The elemental and mineral composition was determined by X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction, respectively; the thermal behavior by thermal gravimetric analyses; and the textural parameters by BET. The expansibility of Ugandan vermiculite is relatively lower than the other commercial vermiculites due basically to its lower K2O content (0.36%) and higher water content (about 20%). The water absorption capacity of samples significantly increased with the increase in heating temperature. The maximum WA content, about 130 mg/g, was obtained at 900 °C for 24 h. The loss of water during the expansion process in the Ugandan vermiculite caused loss of structural order and crystallinity. Moreover, in the samples expanded and subsequently immersed in water, the structural order and crystallinity increased with increasing WA values. Specific surface area and porosity hardly vary with temperature and are practically independent of vermiculite purity. Expanded commercial vermiculites could be a suitable hygroscopic material, given its efficient water absorption. Microwave expanded commercial vermiculites, in this case, would not be recommended.
Mineralogy, Fluid Inclusions, and Oxygen Isotope Geochemistry Signature of Wolframite to Scheelite and Fe,Mn Chlorite Veins from the W, (Cu,Mo) Ore Deposit of Borralha, Portugal
Authors: Bobos Iuliu , de Sá Carlos Marques , Noronha Fernando
Published: December 2021

Scheelitization of Mn-bearing wolframite, scheelite, quartz, and Fe,Mn-chlorite veins was identified in the W, (Cu,Mo) ore deposits of Borralha, by optical microscopy, electron-microprobe analysis, and stable isotope geochemistry. Fluid inclusions derived scheelite crystallization temperature was compared with the oxygen isotope temperature estimated. Scheelite was formed mainly during stage I from a low salinity aqueous-carbonic fluid dominated by CO2, where the homogenization temperature (Th) decreased from 380 °C to 200 °C (average of 284 °C). As temperature decreased further, the aqueous-carbonic fluid became dominated by CH4 (Stage II; (average Th = 262 °C)). The final stage III corresponds to lower temperature mineralizing aqueous fluid (average Th = 218 °C). In addition, salinity gradually decreased from 4.8 wt.% to 1.12 wt.%. The δ18OFluid values calculated for quartz-water and wolframite-water fractionation fall within the calculated magmatic water range. The ∆quartz-scheelite fractionation occurred at about 350–400 °C. The ∆chlorite-water fractionation factor calculated is about +0.05‰ for 330 °C, dropping to −0.68‰ and −1.26‰ at 380 °C and 450 °C, respectively. Estimated crystallizing temperatures based on semi-empirical chlorite geothermometers range from 373 °C to 458 °C and 435 °C to 519 °C. A narrower temperature range of 375 °C to 410 °C was estimated for Fe,Mn-chlorite crystallization.
Experimental Investigation on the Energy Properties and Failure Process of Thermal Shock Treated Sandstone Subjected to Coupled Dynamic and Static Loads
Authors: Li Xiang , Huang Si , Yin Tubing , Li Xibing , Peng Kang , Fan Xiaodong
Published: December 2021

Thermal shock (TS) is known as the process where fractures are generated when rocks go through sudden temperature changes. In the field of deep rock engineering, the rock mass can be subjected to the TS process in various circumstances. To study the influence of TS on the mechanical behaviors of rock, sandstone specimens are heated at different high temperatures and three cooling methods (stove cooling, air cooling, and freezer cooling) are adopted to provide different cooling rates. The coupled dynamic and static loading tests are performed on the heated sandstone through a modified split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) system. The influence of heating level and cooling rate on the dynamic compressive strength, energy dissipations, and fracturing characteristics is investigated based on the experimental data. The development of the microcracks of the sandstone specimens after the experiment is analyzed utilizing a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The extent of the development of the microcracks serves to explain the variation pattern of the mechanical responses and energy dissipations of the specimens obtained from the loading test. The findings of this study are valuable for practices in rock engineering involving high temperature and fast cooling.
Unified Nanotechnology Format: One Way to Store Them All
Authors: Kuťák David , Poppleton Erik , Miao Haichao , Šulc Petr , Barišić Ivan
Published: December 2021

The domains of DNA and RNA nanotechnology are steadily gaining in popularity while proving their value with various successful results, including biosensing robots and drug delivery cages. Nowadays, the nanotechnology design pipeline usually relies on computer-based design (CAD) approaches to design and simulate the desired structure before the wet lab assembly. To aid with these tasks, various software tools exist and are often used in conjunction. However, their interoperability is hindered by a lack of a common file format that is fully descriptive of the many design paradigms. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a Unified Nanotechnology Format (UNF) designed specifically for the biomimetic nanotechnology field. UNF allows storage of both design and simulation data in a single file, including free-form and lattice-based DNA structures. By defining a logical and versatile format, we hope it will become a widely accepted and used file format for the nucleic acid nanotechnology community, facilitating the future work of researchers and software developers. Together with the format description and publicly available documentation, we provide a set of converters from existing file formats to simplify the transition. Finally, we present several use cases visualizing example structures stored in UNF, showcasing the various types of data UNF can handle.
Constrained Dipeptide Surrogates: 5- and 7-Hydroxy Indolizidin-2-one Amino Acid Synthesis from Iodolactonization of Dehydro-2,8-diamino Azelates
Authors: Mulamreddy Ramakotaiah , Lubell William D.
Published: December 2021

The constrained dipeptide surrogates 5- and 7-hydroxy indolizidin-2-one N-(Boc)amino acids have been synthesized from L-serine as a chiral educt. A linear precursor ∆4-unsaturated (2S,8S)-2,8-bis[N-(Boc)amino]azelic acid was prepared in five steps from L-serine. Although epoxidation and dihydroxylation pathways gave mixtures of hydroxy indolizidin-2-one diastereomers, iodolactonization of the ∆4-azelate stereoselectively delivered a lactone iodide from which separable (5S)- and (7S)-hydroxy indolizidin-2-one N-(Boc)amino esters were synthesized by sequences featuring intramolecular iodide displacement and lactam formation. X-ray analysis of the (7S)-hydroxy indolizidin-2-one N-(Boc)amino ester indicated that the backbone dihedral angles embedded in the bicyclic ring system resembled those of the central residues of an ideal type II’ β-turn indicating the potential for peptide mimicry.
HPLC-DAD Based Polyphenolic Profiling and Evaluation of Pharmacological Attributes of Putranjiva roxburghii Wall.
Authors: Nazli Adila , Irshad Khan Muhammad Zafar , Ahmed Madiha , Akhtar Nosheen , Okla Mohammad K. , Al-Hashimi Abdulrahman , Al-Qahtani Wahidah H. , Abdelgawad Hamada , Haq Ihsan-ul-
Published: December 2021

The current study was intended to explore the phytochemical profiling and therapeutic activities of Putranjiva roxburghii Wall. Crude extracts of different plant parts were subjected to the determination of antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, cytotoxic, and protein kinase inhibitory potential by using solvents of varying polarity ranges. Maximum phenolic content was notified in distilled water extracts of the stem (DW-S) and leaf (DW-L) while the highest flavonoid content was obtained in ethyl acetate leaf (EA-L) extract. HPLC-DAD analysis confirmed the presence of various polyphenols, quantified in the range of 0.02 ± 0.36 to 2.05 ± 0.18 μg/mg extract. Maximum DPPH scavenging activity was expressed by methanolic extract of the stem (MeOH-S). The highest antioxidant capacity and reducing power was shown by MeOH-S and leaf methanolic extract (MeOH-L), respectively. Proficient antibacterial activity was shown by EA-L extract against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. Remarkable α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition potential was expressed by ethyl acetate fruit (EA-F) and n-Hexane leaf (nH-L) extracts, respectively. In case of brine shrimp lethality assay, 41.67% of the extracts (LC50 < 50 µg/mL) were considered as extremely cytotoxic. The test extracts also showed mild antifungal and protein kinase inhibition activities. The present study explores the therapeutic potential of P. roxburghii and calls for subsequent studies to isolate new bioactive leads through bioactivity-guided isolation.
Attribution Markers and Data Mining in Art Authentication
Authors: Łydżba-Kopczyńska Barbara I. , Szwabiński Janusz
Published: December 2021

Today’s global art market is a billion-dollar business, attracting not only investors but also forgers. The high number of forged works requires reliable authentication procedures to mitigate the risk of investments. However, with the developments in the methodology, continuous time pressure and the threat of litigation, authenticating artwork is becoming increasingly complex. In this paper, we examined whether the decision process involved in the authenticity examination may be supported by machine learning algorithms. The idea is motivated by existing clinical decision support systems. We used a set of 55 artworks (including 12 forged ones) with determined attribution markers to train a decision tree model. From our preliminary results, it follows that it is a very promising technique able to support art experts. Decision trees are able to summarize the existing knowledge about all investigations and may also be used as a classifier for new paintings with known markers. However, larger datasets with artworks of known provenance are needed to build robust classification models. The method can also utilize the most important markers and, consequently, reduce the costs of investigations.
New Deoxycholic Acid Derived Tyrosyl-DNA Phosphodiesterase 1 Inhibitors Also Inhibit Tyrosyl-DNA Phosphodiesterase 2
Authors: Salomatina Oksana V. , Dyrkheeva Nadezhda S. , Popadyuk Irina I. , Zakharenko Alexandra L. , Ilina Ekaterina S. , Komarova Nina I. , Reynisson Jóhannes , Salakhutdinov Nariman F. , Lavrik Olga I. , Volcho Konstantin P.
Published: December 2021

A series of deoxycholic acid (DCA) amides containing benzyl ether groups on the steroid core were tested against the tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (TDP1) and 2 (TDP2) enzymes. In addition, 1,2,4- and 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives were synthesized to study the linker influence between a para-bromophenyl moiety and the steroid scaffold. The DCA derivatives demonstrated promising inhibitory activity against TDP1 with IC50 in the submicromolar range. Furthermore, the amides and the 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives inhibited the TDP2 enzyme but at substantially higher concentration. Tryptamide 5 and para-bromoanilide 8 derivatives containing benzyloxy substituent at the C-3 position and non-substituted hydroxy group at C-12 on the DCA scaffold inhibited both TDP1 and TDP2 as well as enhanced the cytotoxicity of topotecan in non-toxic concentration in vitro. According to molecular modeling, ligand 5 is anchored into the catalytic pocket of TDP1 by one hydrogen bond to the backbone of Gly458 as well as by π–π stacking between the indolyl rings of the ligand and Tyr590, resulting in excellent activity. It can therefore be concluded that these derivatives contribute to the development of specific TDP1 and TDP2 inhibitors for adjuvant therapy against cancer in combination with topoisomerase poisons.
The Donor-Dependent and Colon-Region-Dependent Metabolism of (+)-Catechin by Colonic Microbiota in the Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem
Authors: Li Qiqiong , Van Herreweghen Florence , De Mey Marjan , Goeminne Geert , Van de Wiele Tom
Published: December 2021

The intestinal absorption of dietary catechins is quite low, resulting in most of them being metabolized by gut microbiota in the colon. It has been hypothesized that microbiota-derived metabolites may be partly responsible for the association between catechin consumption and beneficial cardiometabolic effects. Given the profound differences in gut microbiota composition and microbial load between individuals and across different colon regions, this study examined how microbial (+)-catechin metabolite profiles differ between colon regions and individuals. Batch exploration of the interindividual variability in (+)-catechin microbial metabolism resulted in a stratification based on metabolic efficiency: from the 12 tested donor microbiota, we identified a fast- and a slow-converting microbiota that was subsequently inoculated to SHIME, a dynamic model of the human gut. Monitoring of microbial (+)-catechin metabolites from proximal and distal colon compartments with UHPLC-MS and UPLC-IMS-Q-TOF-MS revealed profound donor-dependent and colon-region-dependent metabolite profiles with 5-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-γ-valerolactone being the largest contributor to differences between the fast- and slow-converting microbiota and the distal colon being a more important region for (+)-catechin metabolism than the proximal colon. Our findings may contribute to further understanding the role of the gut microbiota as a determinant of interindividual variation in pharmacokinetics upon (+)-catechin ingestion.
Synthesis of Novel Thiazole Derivatives Bearing β-Amino Acid and Aromatic Moieties as Promising Scaffolds for the Development of New Antibacterial and Antifungal Candidates Targeting Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens
Authors: Malūkaitė Dovilė , Grybaitė Birutė , Vaickelionienė Rita , Vaickelionis Giedrius , Sapijanskaitė-Banevič Birutė , Kavaliauskas Povilas , Mickevičius Vytautas
Published: December 2021

Rapidly growing antimicrobial resistance among clinically important bacterial and fungal pathogens accounts for high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Therefore, it is critical to look for new small molecules targeting multidrug-resistant pathogens. Herein, in this paper we report a synthesis, ADME properties, and in vitro antimicrobial activity characterization of novel thiazole derivatives bearing β-amino acid, azole, and aromatic moieties. The in silico ADME characterization revealed that compounds 1–9 meet at least 2 Lipinski drug-like properties while cytotoxicity studies demonstrated low cytotoxicity to Vero cells. Further in vitro antimicrobial activity characterization showed the selective and potent bactericidal activity of 2a–c against Gram-positive pathogens (MIC 1–64 µg/mL) with profound activity against S. aureus (MIC 1–2 µg/mL) harboring genetically defined resistance mechanisms. Furthermore, the compounds 2a–c exhibited antifungal activity against azole resistant A. fumigatus, while only 2b and 5a showed antifungal activity against multidrug resistant yeasts including Candida auris. Collectively, these results demonstrate that thiazole derivatives 2a–c and 5a could be further explored as a promising scaffold for future development of antifungal and antibacterial agents targeting highly resistant pathogenic microorganisms.
Effects of NAC and Gallic Acid on the Proliferation Inhibition and Induced Death of Lung Cancer Cells with Different Antioxidant Capacities
Authors: Liao Chen-Yi , Wu Ting-Chien , Yang Shun-Fa , Chang Jinghua Tsai
Published: December 2021

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a recognized antioxidant in culture studies and treatments for oxidative stress-related diseases, but in some cases, NAC is a pro-oxidant. To study the effect of NAC on cell proliferation in the presence or absence of ROS stress, we used the stable ROS generator gallic acid (GA) to treat CL1-0 lung cancer cell models with different antioxidant activities. Different antioxidant activities were achieved through the ectopic expression of different PERP-428 single nucleotide polymorphisms. GA increased ROS levels in CL1-0/PERP-428C cells and caused cell death but had no effect on CL1-0/PERP-428G cells within 24 h. We found that 0.1 mM NAC eliminated GA-induced growth inhibition, but 0.5 mM NAC enhanced GA-induced CL1-0/PERP-428C cell death. However, in the absence of GA, NAC exceeding 2 mM inhibited the growth of CL1-0/PERP-428G cells more significantly than that of CL1-0/PERP-428C cells. Without GA, NAC has an antioxidant effect. Under GA-induced ROS stress, NAC may have pro-oxidant effects. Each cell type has a unique range of ROS levels for survival. The levels of ROS in the cell determines the sensitivity of the cell to an antioxidant or pro-oxidant. Cells with different antioxidant capacities were used to show that the intracellular ROS level affects NAC function and provides valuable information for the adjuvant clinical application of NAC.
Hermetic Seal of Organic Light Emitting Diode with Glass Frit
Authors: Chiu Chien-Liang , Lin Meng-Syun , Wu Yi-Chen
Published: December 2021

The components of OLED encapsulation with hermetic sealing and a 1026-day lifetime were measured by PXI-1033. The optimal characteristics were obtained when the thickness of the TPBi layer was 20 nm. This OLED obtained a maximum luminance (Lmax) of 25,849 cd/m2 at a current density of 1242 mA/cm2, an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 2.28%, a current efficiency (CE) of 7.20 cd/A, and a power efficiency (PE) of 5.28 lm/W. The efficiency was enhanced by Lmax 17.2%/EQE 0.89%/CE 42.1%/PE 41.9%. The CIE coordinates of 0.32, 0.54 were all green OLED elements with wavelengths of 532 nm. The shear strain and leakage test gave results of 16 kgf and 8.92 × 10−9 mbar/s, respectively. The reliability test showed that the standard of MIL-STD-883 was obtained.
Transgelin-2 in Multiple Myeloma: A New Marker of Renal Impairment?
Authors: Woziwodzka Karolina , Małyszko Jolanta , Koc-Żórawska Ewa , Żórawski Marcin , Dumnicka Paulina , Jurczyszyn Artur , Batko Krzysztof , Mazur Paulina , Banaszkiewicz Małgorzata , Krzanowski Marcin , Gołasa Paulina , Małyszko Jacek A. , Drożdż Ryszard , Krzanowska Katarzyna
Published: December 2021

Transgelin is a 22-kDa protein involved in cytoskeletal organization and expressed in smooth muscle tissue. According to animal studies, it is a potential mediator of kidney injury and fibrosis, and moreover, its role in tumorigenesis is emerging in a variety of cancers. The study included 126 ambulatory patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Serum transgelin-2 concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay. We evaluated associations between baseline transgelin and kidney function (serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate—eGFR, urinary markers of tubular injury: cystatin-C, neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin—NGAL monomer, cell cycle arrest biomarkers IGFBP-7 and TIMP-2) and markers of MM burden. Baseline serum transgelin was also evaluated as a predictor of kidney function after a follow-up of 27 months from the start of the study. Significant correlations were detected between serum transgelin-2 and serum creatinine (R = 0.29; p = 0.001) and eGFR (R = −0.25; p = 0.007). Transgelin significantly correlated with serum free light chains lambda (R = 0.18; p = 0.047) and serum periostin (R = −0.22; p = 0.013), after exclusion of smoldering MM patients. Patients with decreasing eGFR had higher transgelin levels (median 106.6 versus 83.9 ng/mL), although the difference was marginally significant (p = 0.05). However, baseline transgelin positively correlated with serum creatinine after the follow-up period (R = 0.37; p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with eGFR after the follow-up period (R = −0.33; p < 0.001). Moreover, higher baseline serum transgelin (beta = −0.11 ± 0.05; p = 0.032) significantly predicted lower eGFR values after the follow-up period, irrespective of baseline eGFR and follow-up duration. Our study shows for the first time that elevated serum transgelin is negatively associated with glomerular filtration in MM and predicts a decline in renal function over long-term follow-up.
Molecular Insights into the Antistress Potentials of Brazilian Green Propolis Extract and Its Constituent Artepillin C
Authors: Kaul Ashish , Kuthethur Raviprasad , Ishida Yoshiyuki , Terao Keiji , Wadhwa Renu , Kaul Sunil C.
Published: December 2021

Propolis, also known as bee-glue, is a resinous substance produced by honeybees from materials collected from plants they visit. It contains mixtures of wax and bee enzymes and is used by bees as a building material in their hives and by humans for different purposes in traditional healthcare practices. Although the composition of propolis has been shown to depend on its geographic location, climatic zone, and local flora; two largely studied types of propolis: (i) New Zealand and (ii) Brazilian green propolis have been shown to possess Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester (CAPE) and Artepillin C (ARC) as the main bioactive constituents, respectively. We have earlier reported that CAPE and ARC possess anticancer activities, mediated by abrogation of mortalin-p53 complex and reactivation of p53 tumor suppressor function. Like CAPE, Artepillin C (ARC) and the supercritical extract of green propolis (GPSE) showed potent anticancer activity. In this study, we recruited low doses of GPSE and ARC (that did not affect either cancer cell proliferation or migration) to investigate their antistress potential using in vitro cell based assays. We report that both GPSE and ARC have the capability to disaggregate metal- and heat-induced aggregated proteins. Metal-induced aggregation of GFP was reduced by fourfold in GPSE- as well as ARC-treated cells. Similarly, whereas heat-induced misfolding of luciferase protein showed 80% loss of activity, the cells treated with either GPSE or ARC showed 60–80% recovery. Furthermore, we demonstrate their pro-hypoxia (marked by the upregulation of HIF-1α) and neuro-differentiation (marked by differentiation morphology and upregulation of expression of GFAP, β-tubulin III, and MAP2). Both GPSE and ARC also offered significant protection against oxidative stress and, hence, may be useful in the treatment of old age-related brain pathologies.
Self-Compacting Alkali-Activated Materials: Progress and Perspectives
Authors: Sun Zengqing , Tang Qingyu , Fan Xiaohui , Gan Min , Chen Xuling , Ji Zhiyun , Huang Xiaoxian
Published: December 2021

Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) are considered to be alternative cementitious materials for civil infrastructures. Nowadays, efforts have been made in developing AAMs with self-compacting ability. The obtained self-compacting AAMs (SCAAMs) accomplish superior passing and filling properties as well as excellent mechanical and environmental advantages. This work critically revisits recent progresses in SCAAMs including mixture proportions, fresh properties, mechanical strength, microstructure, acid and sulfate resistance, high temperature behaviors, impact resistance and interface shear strength. To facilitate direct comparison and interpretation of data from different publications, mixture proportions were normalized in terms of the content of key reactive components from precursors and activators, and correlation with mechanical behaviors was made. Moreover, special attention was paid to current research challenges and perspectives to promote further investigation and field application of SCAAMs as advanced construction material.
Experimental Investigations of AlMg3 Components with Polyurethane and Graphene Oxide Nanosheets Composite Coatings, after Accelerated UV-Aging
Authors: Murariu Alin Constantin , Macarie Lavinia , Crisan Luminita , Pleşu Nicoleta
Published: December 2021

The use of graphene (Gr) and its derivates graphene oxide (GO) showed that these materials are good candidates to enhance the properties of polyurethane (PU) coatings, especially the anticorrosion ones since graphene absorbs most of the light and provides hydrophobicity for repelling water. An important aspect of these multifunctional materials is that all these improvements can be realized even at very low filler loadings in the polymer matrix. In this work, an ultrasound cavitation technique was used for the proper dispersion of GO nanosheets (GON) in polyurethane (PU) resin to obtain a composite coating to protect the AlMg3 substrate. The addition of GON considerably improved the physical properties of coatings, as demonstrated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis, promising improved anticorrosion performance after accelerated UV-ageing. Computational methods and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) measurements showed that GON facilitates the formation of additional bonds and stabilizes the PU structures during the ultraviolet (UV) exposure and aggressive attack of corrosive species. Limiting oxygen index (LOI) data reveal a slow burning behaviour of PU-GON coatings during UV exposure, which is better than PU alone.
SOI Waveguide Bragg Grating Photonic Sensor for Human Body Temperature Measurement Based on Photonic Integrated Interrogator
Authors: Li Hongqiang , An Zhixuan , Mao Quanhua , Zuo Shasha , Zhu Wei , Zhang Shanshan , Zhang Cheng , Li Enbang , García Juan Daniel Prades
Published: December 2021

A waveguide Bragg grating (WBG) provides a flexible way for measurement, and it could even be used to measure body temperature like e-skin. We designed and compared three structures of WBG with the grating period, etching depth, and duty cycle. The two-sided WBG was fabricated. An experimental platform based on photonic integrated interrogator was set up and the experiment on the two-sided WBG was performed. Results show that the two-sided WBG can be used to measure temperature changes over the range of 35–42 °C, with a temperature measurement error of 0.1 °C. This approach has the potential to facilitate application of such a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) WBG photonic sensor to wearable technology and realize the measurement of human temperature.
Polysaccharide Nanoparticles from Isatis indigotica Fort. Root Decoction: Diversity, Cytotoxicity, and Antiviral Activity
Authors: Gao Guanzhen , He Chuanqi , Wang Huiqin , Guo Jingke , Ke Lijing , Zhou Jianwu , Chong Pik Han , Rao Pingfan
Published: December 2021

It has been revealed that numerous nanoparticles are formed during the boiling preparation of traditional Chinese medical decoctions and culinary soups. They may possess physiological effects different from those of constituent components and are worth paying attention to but are barely noticed and investigated as of yet. In this study, six groups of nanoparticles, whose size ranged from 57 to 300 nm, were successfully isolated from the decoction of Isatis indigotica Fort. root, according to their particle size by the means of size-exclusive chromatography. All of the obtained nanoparticles have a high content of polysaccharides, which distinguishes them from the disclosed BLG protein nanoparticles. They also have high similarities in other compositions, surface charge, and stimuli responses. However, four out of these six nanoparticles (F2, F3, F4, and F5) exhibited significant antiviral activity against influenza virus H1N1, and their antiviral activities and cytotoxicity towards MDCK cells varied with their sizes. It suggested that the antiviral efficacy of BLG decoction could also be from its nanoparticles besides its well-known antiviral phytochemicals. It also implied that the biological effects of these polysaccharide nanoparticles, including cytotoxicity and antiviral activity, may be correlative with the physicochemical properties, especially the particle size.
Antibacterial Effect of Colloidal Suspensions Varying in Silver Nanoparticles and Ions Concentrations
Authors: Platania Varvara , Kaldeli-Kerou Alexandra , Karamanidou Theodora , Kouki Maria , Tsouknidas Alexander , Chatzinikolaidou Maria
Published: December 2021

A lot of effort has been dedicated recently to provide a better insight into the mechanism of the antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) colloidal suspensions and their released silver ionic counterparts. However, there is no consistency regarding whether the antibacterial effect displayed at cellular level originates from the AgNPs or their ionic constitutes. To address this issue, three colloidal suspensions exhibiting different ratios of AgNPs/silver ions were synthesized by a wet chemistry method in conjunction with tangential flow filtration, and were characterized and evaluated for their antimicrobial properties against two gram-negative, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), and two gram-positive, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis), bacterial strains. The produced samples contained 25% AgNPs and 75% Ag ions (AgNP_25), 50% AgNPs and 50% Ag ions (AgNP_50), and 100% AgNPs (AgNP_100). The sample AgNP_100 demonstrated the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 4.6 to 15.6 ppm for all four bacterial strains, while all three samples indicated minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values ranging from 16.6 ppm to 62.5 ppm against all strains. An increase in silver ions content results in higher bactericidal activity. All three samples were found to lead to a significant morphological damage by disruption of the bacterial cell membranes as analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The growth kinetics demonstrated that all three samples were able to reduce the bacterial population at a concentration of 3.1 ppm. SEM and growth kinetic data underline that S. epidermidis is the most sensitive among all strains against the investigated samples. Our results showed that all three AgNPs colloidal suspensions exhibited strong antibacterial properties and, thus, they can be applied in medical devices and antimicrobial control systems.
Improvement of Nanostructured Polythiophene Film Uniformity Using a Cruciform Electrode and Substrate Rotation in Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Polymerization
Authors: Kim Jae Young , Jang Hyo Jun , Bae Gyu Tae , Park Choon-Sang , Jung Eun Young , Tae Heung-Sik
Published: December 2021

In atmospheric pressure (AP) plasma polymerization, increasing the effective volume of the plasma medium by expanding the plasma-generating region within the plasma reactor is considered a simple method to create regular and uniform polymer films. Here, we propose a newly designed AP plasma reactor with a cruciform wire electrode that can expand the discharge volume. Based on the plasma vessel configuration, which consists of a wide tube and a substrate stand, two tungsten wires crossed at 90 degrees are used as a common powered electrode in consideration of two-dimensional spatial expansion. In the wire electrode, which is partially covered by a glass capillary, discharge occurs at the boundary where the capillary terminates, so that the discharge region is divided into fourths along the cruciform electrode and the discharge volume can successfully expand. It is confirmed that although a discharge imbalance in the four regions of the AP plasma reactor can adversely affect the uniformity of the polymerized, nanostructured polymer film, rotating the substrate using a turntable can significantly improve the film uniformity. With this AP plasma reactor, nanostructured polythiophene (PTh) films are synthesized and the morphology and chemical properties of the PTh nanostructure, as well as the PTh-film uniformity and electrical properties, are investigated in detail.
Lateral Flow Immunoassay with Quantum-Dot-Embedded Silica Nanoparticles for Prostate-Specific Antigen Detection
Authors: Bock Sungje , Kim Hyung-Mo , Kim Jaehi , An Jaehyun , Choi Yun-Sik , Pham Xuan-Hung , Jo Ahla , Ham Kyeong-min , Song Hobeom , Kim Jung-Won , Hahm Eunil , Rho Won-Yeop , Lee Sang Hun , Park Seung-min , Lee Sangchul , Jeong Dae Hong , Lee Ho-Young , Jun Bong-Hyun
Published: December 2021

Prostate cancer can be detected early by testing the presence of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. Lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) has been used because it is cost effective and easy to use and also has a rapid sample-to-answer process. Quantum dots (QDs) with very bright fluorescence have been previously used to improve the detection sensitivity of LFIAs. In the current study, a highly sensitive LFIA kit was devised using QD-embedded silica nanoparticles. In the present study, only a smartphone and a computer software program, ImageJ, were used, because the developed system had high sensitivity by using very bright nanoprobes. The limit of PSA detection of the developed LFIA system was 0.138 ng/mL. The area under the curve of this system was calculated as 0.852. The system did not show any false-negative result when 47 human serum samples were analyzed; it only detected PSA and did not detect alpha-fetoprotein and newborn calf serum in the samples. Additionally, fluorescence was maintained on the strip for 10 d after the test. With its high sensitivity and convenience, the devised LFIA kit can be used for the diagnosis of prostate cancer.
Facile In Situ Synthesis of Co(OH)2–Ni3S2 Nanowires on Ni Foam for Use in High-Energy-Density Supercapacitors
Authors: Wang Xuan Liang , Jin En Mei , Chen Jiasheng , Bandyopadhyay Parthasarathi , Jin Bo , Jeong Sang Mun
Published: December 2021

Ni3S2 nanowires were synthesized in situ using a one-pot hydrothermal reaction on Ni foam (NF) for use in supercapacitors as a positive electrode, and various contents (0.3−0.6 mmol) of Co(OH)2 shells were coated onto the surfaces of the Ni3S2 nanowire cores to improve the electrochemical properties. The Ni3S2 nanowires were uniformly formed on the smooth NF surface, and the Co(OH)2 shell was formed on the Ni3S2 nanowire surface. By direct NF participation as a reactant without adding any other Ni source, Ni3S2 was formed more closely to the NF surface, and the Co(OH)2 shell suppressed the loss of active material during charging–discharging, yielding excellent electrochemical properties. The Co(OH)2–Ni3S2/Ni electrode produced using 0.5 mmol Co(OH)2 (Co0.5–Ni3S2/Ni) exhibited a high specific capacitance of 1837 F g−1 (16.07 F cm−2) at a current density of 5 mA cm−2, and maintained a capacitance of 583 F g−1 (16.07 F cm−2) at a much higher current density of 50 mA cm−2. An asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) with Co(OH)2–Ni3S2 and active carbon displayed a high-power density of 1036 kW kg−1 at an energy density of 43 W h kg−1 with good cycling stability, indicating its suitability for use in energy storage applications. Thus, the newly developed core–shell structure, Co(OH)2–Ni3S2, was shown to be efficient at improving the electrochemical performance.
A-Site Cation Size Effect on Structure and Magnetic Properties of Sm(Eu,Gd)Cr0.2Mn0.2Fe0.2Co0.2Ni0.2O3 High-Entropy Solid Solutions
Authors: Vinnik Denis A. , Zhivulin Vladimir E. , Trofimov Evgeny A. , Gudkova Svetlana A. , Punda Alexander Yu. , Valiulina Azalia N. , Gavrilyak Maksim , Zaitseva Olga V. , Taskaev Sergey V. , Khandaker Mayeen Uddin , Alqahtani Amal , Bradley David A. , Sayyed M. I. , Turchenko Vitaliy A. , Trukhanov Alex V. , Trukhanov Sergei V.
Published: December 2021

Three high-entropy Sm(Eu,Gd)Cr0.2Mn0.2Fe0.2Co0.2Ni0.2O3 perovskite solid solutions were synthesized using the usual ceramic technology. The XRD investigation at room temperature established a single-phase perovskite product. The Rietveld refinement with the FullProf computer program in the frame of the orthorhombic Pnma (No 62) space group was realized. Along with a decrease in the V unit cell volume from ~224.33 Å3 for the Sm-based sample down to ~221.52 Å3 for the Gd-based sample, an opposite tendency was observed for the unit cell parameters as the ordinal number of the rare-earth cation increased. The average grain size was in the range of 5–8 μm. Field magnetization was measured up to 30 kOe at 50 K and 300 K. The law of approach to saturation was used to determine the Ms spontaneous magnetization that nonlinearly increased from ~1.89 emu/g (Sm) up to ~17.49 emu/g (Gd) and from ~0.59 emu/g (Sm) up to ~3.16 emu/g (Gd) at 50 K and 300 K, respectively. The Mr residual magnetization and Hc coercive force were also determined, while the SQR loop squareness, k magnetic crystallographic anisotropy coefficient, and Ha anisotropy field were calculated. Temperature magnetization was measured in a field of 30 kOe. ZFC and FC magnetization curves were fixed in a field of 100 Oe. It was discovered that the Tmo magnetic ordering temperature downward-curve decreased from ~137.98 K (Sm) down to ~133.99 K (Gd). The spin glass state with ferromagnetic nanoinclusions for all the samples was observed. The  average and Dmax maximum diameter of ferromagnetic nanoinclusions were calculated and they were in the range of 40–50 nm and 160–180 nm, respectively. The mechanism of magnetic state formation is discussed in terms of the effects of the A-site cation size and B-site poly-substitution on the indirect superexchange interactions.
Biaxial Tensile Strain-Induced Enhancement of Thermoelectric Efficiency of α-Phase Se2Te and SeTe2 Monolayers
Authors: Chen Shao-Bo , Liu Gang , Yan Wan-Jun , Hu Cui-E , Chen Xiang-Rong , Geng Hua-Yun
Published: December 2021

Thermoelectric (TE) materials can convert waste heat into electrical energy, which has attracted great interest in recent years. In this paper, the effect of biaxial-tensile strain on the electronic properties, lattice thermal conductivity, and thermoelectric performance of α-phase Se2Te and SeTe2 monolayers are calculated based on density-functional theory and the semiclassical Boltzmann theory. The calculated results show that the tensile strain reduces the bandgap because the bond length between atoms enlarges. Moreover, the tensile strain strengthens the scatting rate while it weakens the group velocity and softens the phonon model, leading to lower lattice thermal conductivity kl. Simultaneously, combined with the weakened kl, the tensile strain can also effectively modulate the electronic transport coefficients, such as the electronic conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and electronic thermal conductivity, to greatly enhance the ZT value. In particular, the maximum n-type doping ZT under 1% and 3% strain increases up to six and five times higher than the corresponding ZT without strain for the Se2Te and SeTe2 monolayers, respectively. Our calculations indicated that the tensile strain can effectively enhance the thermoelectric efficiency of Se2Te and SeTe2 monolayers and they have great potential as TE materials.
Associations of Nutritional Status with Full Immunization Coverage and Safe Hygiene Practices among Thai Children Aged 12–59 Months
Authors: Shinsugi Chisa , Mizumoto Ann
Published: December 2021

Prevailing prevention measures against morbidity, such as vaccination and safe hygiene practices, vary among local cultural contexts, and little is known about the extent to which these behaviors mitigate poor nutritional status in young children in Southeast Asia. We examined the associations between nutrition status with full immunization coverage, and water, sanitation and hygiene status among children aged 12–59 months in the 2015–2016 Thailand Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (n = 9060). When adjusted for confounding factors, children with incomplete immunization status were more likely to be stunted (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.47; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.24–1.75, p < 0.001), wasted (aOR 1.67, 95% CI: 1.31–2.12, p < 0.001), and overweight (aOR 1.24, 95% CI: 1.01–1.51, p < 0.05), whereas children who used unimproved water sources were more likely to be overweight (aOR 2.43, 95% CI: 1.27–4.64, p < 0.01). The further implementation of simple and cost-effective health promotion activities and practices at the household level may be important interventions for healthy child growth and development, particularly under restricted living conditions due to COVID-19.
Association of Household Income Level with Vitamin and Mineral Intake
Authors: Oh Haegyu , Kim Juyeon , Huh Yune , Kim Seung Hoon , Jang Sung-In
Published: December 2021

Appropriate nutrient intake is essential for maintaining health and resisting disease. The current study investigated the association between household income quintile and nutrient intake using data from KNHANES 2019. A total of 5088 South Korean adults were analyzed. The estimated average requirement cut-point method, extended to handle participants with intakes higher than the tolerable upper level, was utilized to determine the need for dietary modification. The suitability of overall vitamin, overall mineral, and individual nutrient intake was evaluated by logistic regression analysis. Subgroup analysis was performed on overall mineral intake suitability. None of the individual nutrients had an intake ratio of over 70%, with the ratio being under 30% for some nutrients. The intake of iron, phosphorus, vitamin B9, and vitamin C had a significant upward trend as household income rose. A subgroup analysis revealed sex differences in the trends of overall mineral intake. The results revealed that some nutrients are not consumed appropriately in the Korean population. Furthermore, they suggest that household income is significantly associated with the intake of overall minerals and several individual nutrients. These results suggest that nutritional assistance is required for certain vulnerable groups, and provide supplementary data for appropriate interventions or further research.