bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non-Destructive Detection of Moldy Walnuts Based on Hyperspectral Imaging Technology
Authors: Xu Junyan , Xu Daochun , Bai Xiaopeng , Yang Rongchao , Cao Jiale
Published: October 2022

Walnuts with their shells are a popular agricultural product in China. However, mildew from growth can sometimes be processed into foods. It is difficult to visually determine which walnuts have mildew without breaking the shells. A non-destructive method for detecting walnuts with mildew was studied by combining spectral data with image information. A total of 120 “Lüling” walnuts with shells were used for the mildew experiment. The characteristics of the spectral data from six surfaces of all samples were collected in the range of 370–1042 nm on days 0, 15, and 30. The spectrum was pretreated using SNV, and the feature bands were extracted using PCA and modeled using a support vector machine (SVM). The results show that the overall classification accuracy was 93%, with an of accuracy of 100% for INEN walnuts (normal internally and externally). The accuracy for IMEM walnuts (mildew internally and externally) reached 87.29%. There was an accuracy of 78.6% for IMEN walnuts (mildew internally and normal externally). The non-destructive detection of mildewed walnuts can be undertaken using hyperspectral imaging technology, which provides a new technique for exploring the mechanisms of walnuts with mildew.
The Hydrolysis Rate of Paraoxonase-1 Q and R Isoenzymes: An In Silico Study Based on In Vitro Data
Authors: Karabulut Sedat , Mansour Basel , Casanola-Martin Gerardo M. , Rasulev Bakhtiyor , Gauld James W.
Published: October 2022

Human serum paraoxonase-1 (PON1) is an important hydrolase-type enzyme found in numerous tissues. Notably, it can exist in two isozyme-forms, Q and R, that exhibit different activities. This study presents an in silico (QSAR, Docking, MD and QM/MM) study of a set of compounds on the activity towards the PON1 isoenzymes (QPON1 and RPON1). Different rates of reaction for the Q and R isoenzymes were analyzed by modelling the effect of Q192R mutation on active sites. It was concluded that the Q192R mutation is not even close to the active site, while it is still changing the geometry of it. Using the combined genetic algorithm with multiple linear regression (GA-MLR) technique, several QSAR models were developed and relative activity rates of the isozymes of PON1 explained. From these, two QSAR models were selected, one each for the QPON1 and RPON1. Best selected models are four-variable MLR models for both Q and R isozymes with squared correlation coefficient R2 values of 0.87 and 0.83, respectively. In addition, the applicability domain of the models was analyzed based on the Williams plot. The results were discussed in the light of the main factors that influence the hydrolysis activity of the PON1 isozymes.
Designing Highly Efficient Temperature Controller for Nanoparticles Hyperthermia
Authors: Bashir Adeel , Khan Sikandar , Bashmal Salem , Iqbal Naveed , Ullah Sami , Ali Liaqat
Published: October 2022

This paper presents various control system design techniques for temperature control of Magnetic Fluid hyperthermia. The purpose of this research is to design a cost-effective, efficient, and practically implementable temperature controller for Magnetic Fluid hyperthermia, which is presently under research as a substitute to the radiation and chemotherapy treatment of cancer. The principle of this phenomenon centers on the greater sensitivity of tumor cells to changes in temperature in comparison to healthy cells. Once the nanoparticles reach the desired tissue, it can then be placed in a varying magnetic field to dissipate the heat locally by raising the temperature to 45 °C in order to kill cancerous cells. One of the challenging tasks is to maintain the temperature strictly at desired point i.e., 45 °C. Temperature controller for magnetic fluid hyperthermia provides the tight control of temperature in order to avoid folding of proteins and save the tissues around the cancerous tissue from getting destroyed. In contrast with most of the existing research on this topic, which are based on linear control strategies or their improved versions, the novelty of this research lies in applying nonlinear control technique like Sliding Mode Control (SMC) to accurately control the temperature at desired value. A comparison of the control techniques is presented in this paper, based on reliability, robustness, precision and the ability of the controller to handle the non-linearities that are faced during the treatment of cancer. SMC showed promising results in terms of settling time and rise time. Steady state error was also reduced to zero using this technique.
Study on Ultrathin Silver Film Transparent Electrodes Based on Aluminum Seed Layers with Different Structures
Authors: Li Dong , Pan Yongqiang , Liu Huan , Zhang Yan , Zheng Zhiqi , Zhang Fengyi
Published: October 2022

Ag has the lowest electrical resistivity among all metals, and at the same time, the best optical properties in the visible and near-IR spectral range; it is therefore the most widely employed material for thin-metal-film-based transparent conductors. In this work, an ultra-thin transparent silver film electrode with aluminum as seed layer was prepared by a resistive thermal evaporation technique. Using a range of electrical, optical and surface morphology techniques, it can be noted that the presence of the thin layer of aluminum changes the growth kinetics (nucleation and evolution) of the thermal evaporation of Ag, leading to silver films with smooth surface morphology and high electrical conductivity, and the threshold thickness of the silver film is reduced. It is inferred that the aluminum layer showed a good infiltration effect on the ultra-thin silver film, by analyzing the transmittance spectrum, sheet resistance and surface morphology. Moreover, the average transmittance of silver film with 10 nm is 40% in the 400–2500 nm band, whereas the sheet resistance is 13 Ωsq −1. A series of experiments show that the introduction of Al seed layer has certain effect on improving the properties of transparent conductive silver films. Then, a new method for deposition of 1 nm Al seed layer was proposed; that is, the 1 nm aluminum infiltrated layer is divided into two or more layers, and the average transmittance of silver film with 5 nm is 60% in the 400–2500 nm band, whereas the sheet resistance does not exceed 100 Ω sq−1.
Development of New Natural Lipid-Based Nanoparticles Loaded with Aluminum-Phthalocyanine for Photodynamic Therapy against Melanoma
Authors: Mello Victor Carlos , Araújo Victor Hugo Sousa , de Paiva Karen Letycia Rodrigues , Simões Marina Mesquita , Marques Dafne Caroline , da Silva Costa Nelice Roberta , de Souza Isadora Florêncio , da Silva Patricia Bento , Santos Igor , Almeida Raquel , Magalhães Kelly Grace , da Silva Sebastião William , Santos Alexandre Silva , Veiga-Souza Fabiane , Souza Paulo Eduardo Narcizo , Raddichi Marina Arantes , Longo João Paulo Figueiró , de Araújo Jennifer Thayanne Cavalcante , Muehlmann Luis Alexandre , Chorilli Marlus , Báo Sônia Nair
Published: October 2022

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) mediated by photosensitizers loaded in nanostructures as solid lipid nanoparticles has been pinpointed as an effective and safe treatment against different skin cancers. Amazon butters have an interesting lipid composition when it comes to forming solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN). In the present report, a new third-generation photosensitizing system consisting of aluminum-phthalocyanine associated with Amazon butter-based solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN-AlPc) is described. The SLN was developed using murumuru butter, and a monodisperse population of nanodroplets with a hydrodynamic diameter of approximately 40 nm was obtained. The study of the permeation of these AlPc did not permeate the analyzed skin, but when incorporated into the system, SLN-AlPc allowed permeation of almost 100% with 8 h of contact. It must be emphasized that SLN-AlPc was efficient for carrying aluminum-phthalocyanine photosensitizers and exhibited no toxicity in the dark. Photoactivated SLN-AlPc exhibited a 50% cytotoxicity concentration (IC50) of 19.62 nM when applied to B16-F10 monolayers, and the type of death caused by the treatment was apoptosis. The exposed phospholipid phosphatidylserine was identified, and the treatment triggered a high expression of Caspase 3. A stable Amazon butter-based SLN-AlPc formulation was developed, which exhibits strong in vitro photodynamic activity on melanoma cells.
Challenges for Nanoscale CMOS Logic Based on Two-Dimensional Materials
Authors: Knobloch Theresia , Selberherr Siegfried , Grasser Tibor
Published: October 2022

For ultra-scaled technology nodes at channel lengths below 12 nm, two-dimensional (2D) materials are a potential replacement for silicon since even atomically thin 2D semiconductors can maintain sizable mobilities and provide enhanced gate control in a stacked channel nanosheet transistor geometry. While theoretical projections and available experimental prototypes indicate great potential for 2D field effect transistors (FETs), several major challenges must be solved to realize CMOS logic circuits based on 2D materials at the wafer scale. This review discusses the most critical issues and benchmarks against the targets outlined for the 0.7 nm node in the International Roadmap for Devices and Systems scheduled for 2034. These issues are grouped into four areas; device scaling, the formation of low-resistive contacts to 2D semiconductors, gate stack design, and wafer-scale process integration. Here, we summarize recent developments in these areas and identify the most important future research questions which will have to be solved to allow for industrial adaptation of the 2D technology.
An Exploration of Nanoparticle-Based Diagnostic Approaches for Coronaviruses: SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV
Authors: Al-Hindawi Ahmed , AlDallal Usama , Waly Yousef , Hussain Muhammed , Shelig Mohamed , Saleh ElMitwalli Omar , Deen G. , Henari Fryad
Published: October 2022

The wildfire-like spread of COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus-2, has resulted in a pandemic that has put unprecedented stress on the world’s healthcare systems and caused varying severities of socio-economic damage. As there are no specific treatments to combat the virus, current approaches to overcome the crisis have mainly revolved around vaccination efforts, preventing human-to-human transmission through enforcement of lockdowns and repurposing of drugs. To efficiently facilitate the measures implemented by governments, rapid and accurate diagnosis of the disease is vital. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and computed tomography have been the standard procedures to diagnose and evaluate COVID-19. However, disadvantages, including the necessity of specialized equipment and trained personnel, the high financial cost of operation and the emergence of false negatives, have hindered their application in high-demand and resource-limited sites. Nanoparticle-based methods of diagnosis have been previously reported to provide precise results within short periods of time. Such methods have been studied in previous outbreaks of coronaviruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus and middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Given the need for rapid diagnostic techniques, this review discusses nanoparticle use in detecting the aforementioned coronaviruses and the recent severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus-2 to highlight approaches that could potentially be used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Temperature Dependence of Electrical Resistance in Carbon Nanotube Composite Film during Curing Process
Authors: Xing Fei , Li Min , Wang Shaokai , Gu Yizhuo , Zhang Wei , Wang Yanjie
Published: October 2022

Carbon nanotube (CNT) film possesses excellent mechanical and piezoresistivity, which may act as a sensor for process monitoring and reinforcement of the final composite. This paper prepared CNT/epoxy composite film via the solution dipping method and investigated the electrical resistance variation (ΔR/R0) of CNT/epoxy composite film during the curing process. The temperature dependence of electrical resistance was found to be closely related to resin rheological properties, thermal expansion, and curing shrinkage. The results show that two opposing effects on electrical resistivity occur at the initial heating stage, including thermal expansion and condensation caused by the wetting tension of the liquid resin. The lower resin content causes more apparent secondary impregnation and electrical resistivity change. When the resin viscosity remains steady during the heating stage, the electrical resistance increases with an increase in temperature due to thermal expansion. Approaching gel time, the electrical resistance drops due to the crosslink shrinkage of epoxy resin. The internal stress caused by curing shrinkage at the high-temperature platform results in an increase in electrical resistance. The temperature coefficient of resistance becomes larger with an increase in resin content. At the isothermal stage, an increase in ΔR/R0 value becomes less obvious with a decrease in resin content, and ΔR/R0 even shows a decreasing tendency.
Effects of Substitution of Higher-Alcohol Products with Lower-Alcohol Products on Population-Level Alcohol Purchases: ARIMA Analyses of Spanish Household Data
Authors: Anderson Peter , Kokole Daša
Published: October 2022

In its action plan (2022–2030) to reduce the harmful use of alcohol, the WHO calls on economic operators to “substitute, whenever possible, higher-alcohol products with no-alcohol and lower-alcohol products in their overall product portfolios, with the goal of decreasing the overall levels of alcohol consumption in populations and consumer groups”. This paper investigates substitution at the level of the consumer, based on Spanish household purchase data. ARIMA modelling of market research data of 1.29 million alcohol purchases from 18,954 Spanish households is used to study the potential impact of lower-strength alcohol products and the impact of beer prices in reducing household purchases of grams of alcohol between the 2nd quarter of 2017 and 1st quarter of 2022. Reducing the alcohol strength of existing higher-strength beers and wines had a much greater associated impact on reducing the purchases of all grams of alcohol than the relatively small increases in purchases of no-alcohol beers (ABV ≤ 1.0%) and zero-alcohol wines (ABV = 0.0%). For beers, the relative price per gram of alcohol decreased with the increasing ABV of the beer. Increasing the price per gram of alcohol in beers with an ABV > 3.5%, adjusted for the ABV of the beer, was associated with much greater increases in purchases of no-alcohol beers (ABV ≤ 1.0%) and much greater decreases in purchases of all grams of alcohol than decreases in the price of no-alcohol beers or increases in the price of beers with an ABV > 3.5% unadjusted for ABV. Thus, a key to reducing purchases of grams of alcohol, which also results in increased purchases of no-alcohol beers, is to increase the price of higher strength beers (ABV > 3.5%) with the price per gram of alcohol increasing as the ABV of the product increases.
Effect of Whey Protein Supplementation in Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kuo Yao-Yi , Chang Hao-Yun , Huang Yu-Chen , Liu Che-Wei
Published: October 2022

(1) Background: Whey protein (WP) in combination with resistance training (RT) is beneficial in improving sarcopenic obesity and its damaging effects in older adults, while the difference between men and women should be considered while interpreting results. This review aims to investigate WP’s efficacy on postmenopausal women with or without RT; (2) Material and Methods: We searched electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library from inception to August 2021 for randomized controlled trials that included comparison groups to evaluate WP’s efficacy in women aged 55 years and above. The outcomes included body composition, muscular strength, functional capacity, and dietary intake. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the effect of WP. We also performed subgroup analysis with or without RT; (3) Results: We included 14 studies in the systematic review and 10 studies in the meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses showed RT was a major confounder for muscle strength, lean mass, and dietary protein intake (PI). In the RT subgroup, WP supplementation had a significant positive effect on biceps curl strength (BC) (SMD: 0.6805, 95% CI: 0.176, 1.185, I2: 0%), and lower limb lean-mass (LLLM) (SMD: 1.103, 95% CI: 0.632, 1.574, I2: 14%). In the subgroup without RT, a significant negative effect on PI (SMD: −0.4225, 95% CI: −0.774, −0.071, I2: 47%) was observed, while no significant effect on muscle strength or lean mass was revealed. WP supplementation did not show a significantly different effect on fat mass or body weight loss in both the subgroups; (4) Conclusions: In postmenopausal women, WP supplementation only in combination with RT enhances BC and LLLM compared to placebo controls. Without RT, WP has no significant benefit on muscle strength or lean mass.
Intermittent Fasting—Short- and Long-Term Quality of Life, Fatigue, and Safety in Healthy Volunteers: A Prospective, Clinical Trial
Authors: Anic Katharina , Schmidt Mona W. , Furtado Larissa , Weidenbach Lina , Battista Marco J. , Schmidt Marcus , Schwab Roxana , Brenner Walburgis , Ruckes Christian , Lotz Johannes , Lackner Karl J. , Hasenburg Annbalou , Hasenburg Annette
Published: October 2022

Background: Intermittent fasting (IF) is defined as an eating pattern without calorie restrictions, alternating between periods of fasting and eating. In the past decades IF has not only become a popular weight-reducing diet but is thought to improve Quality of Life (QoL) and fatigue. However, very little evidence exists for the general population. Thus, we aimed to assess the impact of a 16-h fasting period per day over a three-month study period on QoL and especially fatigue in healthy people. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study including healthy subjects. All participants fasted 16 h for at least five days a week while maintaining their normal lifestyle. In the study, we analysed blood samples as well as QoL through standardized questionnaires (WHO-5 questionnaire, Short Form Health 36). Furthermore, we measured the degree of fatigue with the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) as well as compliance, activity records, and weight alterations. All endpoints were evaluated at baseline, after two weeks, four weeks, and three months of IF. Results: A total of 30 participants fasted for the entire study period. The results of the WHO-5 questionnaire (15.6 ± 4.6 vs. 18 ± 3.6, p < 0.0019) demonstrated a significant increase in QoL. For long-term QoL six out of eight domains measured by the Short Form Health 36 (SF-36) significantly improved (e.g., physical health: 92.3 ± 11.6 vs. 96.5 ± 6.3, p = 0.015; mental health: 75.5 ± 12.0 vs. 81.7 ± 9.0; p < 0.001 and body pain: 74.1 ± 31.8 vs. 89.5 ± 14.9; p = 0.008) after three months. Fatigue significantly decreased from 10.3 ± 3.2 to 8.4 ± 2.5; p = 0.002 for mental fatigue and from 12.6 ± 3.8 to 10.7 ± 3.3; p = 0.002 measured by the FAS. The mean FSS-Score at baseline was 3.5 ± 1.2 compared to 2.9 ± 1.1 (scale 1–7) after three months (p < 0.001). Notably, the proliferation marker IGF-1 was significantly reduced. No clinically significant changes in laboratory parameters were observed that would have endangered a participant’s safety. Conclusions: IF according to the 16:8 regime over a fasting period of three months significantly improved several aspects of the QoL and decreased fatigue in healthy people, while maintaining a good safety profile. The practicability of this diet was also demonstrated for shift workers and people with a high percentage of active labour. Apart from the improvement in QoL and fatigue, the significant reduction in IGF-1, which can act as an accelerator of tumour development and progression, might be an indicator of the potential benefits of IF for patients with cancer.
Vitamin C Supplementation for the Treatment of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Olczak-Pruc Monika , Swieczkowski Damian , Ladny Jerzy R. , Pruc Michal , Juarez-Vela Raul , Rafique Zubaid , Peacock Frank W. , Szarpak Lukasz
Published: October 2022

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), millions of people have died, and the medical system has faced significant difficulties. Our purpose was to perform a meta-analysis to estimate the effect of vitamin C on in-hospital mortality and the ICU or hospital length of stay for patients diagnosed with COVID-19. We conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis in the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. We included studies that evaluated the effect of vitamin C supplementation, compared with standard treatment in COVID-19 patients who are ≥18 y of age. Nineteen trials were included in the meta-analysis. In-hospital mortality with and without vitamin C supplementation was 24.1% vs. 33.9% (OR = 0.59; 95%CI: 0.37 to 0.95; p = 0.03), respectively. Sub-analysis showed that, in randomized clinical trials, in-hospital mortality varied and amounted to 23.9% vs. 35.8% (OR = 0.44; 95%CI: 0.25 to 0.76; p = 0.003), respectively. In the non-randomized trials, in-hospital mortality was 24.2% vs. 33.5% (OR = 0.72; 95%CI: 0.38 to 1.39; p = 0.33), respectively. The ICU length of stay was longer in patients treated with vitamin C vs. standard therapy, 11.1 (7.3) vs. 8.3 (4.7) days (MD = 1.91; 95%CI: 0.89 to 2.93; p < 0.001), respectively. Acute kidney injury in patients treated with and without vitamin C varied and amounted to 27.8% vs. 45.0% (OR = 0.56; 95%CI: 0.40 to 0.78; p < 0.001), respectively. There were no differences in the frequency of other adverse events among patients’ treatment with and without vitamin C (all p > 0.05). The use of vitamin C reduces hospital mortality. The length of stay in the ICU is longer among patients treated with vitamin C. In terms of patient safety, vitamin C has an acceptable profile. Low doses of vitamin C are effective and safe. Despite some evidence of the usefulness of vitamin C in modifying the course of COVID-19, it is too early to modify guidelines and recommendations. Further studies, in particular randomized clinical trials, are necessary.
Enzyme-Enhanced Codelivery of Doxorubicin and Bcl-2 Inhibitor by Electrospun Nanofibers for Synergistic Inhibition of Prostate Cancer Recurrence
Authors: Liu Zheng , Luo Xing , Mo Yongxin , Zhao Pengkai , Wang Haixia , Fang Youqiang , Xu Yanteng
Published: October 2022

One of the great challenges of postoperative prostate cancer management is tumor recurrence. Although postoperative chemotherapy presents benefits to inhibit unexpected recurrence, it is still limited due to the drug resistance or intolerable complications of some patients. Electrospun nanofiber, as a promising drug carrier, demonstrating sustained drug release behavior, can be implanted into the tumor resection site during surgery and is conductive to tumor inhibition. Herein, we fabricated electrospun nanofibers loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) and ABT199 to synergistically prevent postoperative tumor recurrence. Enzymatic degradation of the biodegradable electrospun nanofibers facilitated the release of the two drugs. The primarily released DOX from the electrospun nanofibers effectively inhibited tumor recurrence. However, the sustained release of DOX led to drug resistance of the tumor cells, yielding unsatisfactory eradication of the residual tumor. Remarkably, the combined administration of DOX and ABT199, simultaneously released from the nanofibers, not only prolonged the chemotherapy by DOX but also overcame the drug resistance via inhibiting the Bcl-2 activation and thereby enhancing the apoptosis of tumor cells by ABT199. This dual-drug-loaded implant system, combining efficient chemotherapy and anti-drug resistance, offers a prospective strategy for the potent inhibition of postoperative tumor recurrence.
Rational Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novel Pyrazoline-Based Antiproliferative Agents in MCF-7 Cancer Cells
Authors: Fakhry Mariam M. , Mahmoud Kazem , Nafie Mohamed S. , Noor Ahmad O. , Hareeri Rawan H. , Salama Ismail , Kishk Safaa M.
Published: October 2022

Breast cancer is a disease in which cells in the breast divide continuously without control. There are great limitations in cancer chemotherapy. Hence, it is essential to search for new cancer therapeutics. Herein, a novel series of EGFR/HER2 dual inhibitors has been designed based on the hybridization of thiazole and pyrazoline fragments. The synthesized compounds were screened for their anti-proliferative activity against MCF-7 breast cancer cell line and MCF-10 normal breast cell line. Interestingly, synthesized compounds 6e and 6k showed very potent antiproliferative activity towards MCF-7 with IC50 values of 7.21 and 8.02 µM, respectively. Furthermore, enzymatic assay was performed against EGFR and HER2 to prove the dual inhibitory action. Compounds 6e and 6k showed potent inhibitory activity for EGFR with IC50 of 0.009 and 0.051 µM, respectively, and for HER2 with IC50 of 0.013 and 0.027 µM, respectively. Additionally, compounds 6e and 6k significantly stimulated apoptotic breast cancer cell death. Compound 6e was further explored for its anticancer activity in vivo using a Xenograft model. Moreover, computational modeling studies, ADMET studies and toxicity prediction were performed to investigate their potential drug candidates.
hUMSC vs. hUMSC–Exosome: Which One Is Better for Epilepsy?
Authors: Hastuti Sri , Idroes Rinaldi , Imran Imran , Ramli Yetty , Abas Abdul Hawil , Tallei Trina Ekawati
Published: October 2022

Epilepsy is a disorder characterized by abnormal brain cell activity that results in seizures. It causes progressive damage to neurons. Epilepsy treatment currently focuses mostly on symptoms, which also have risks of unwanted side effects. There is currently no effective treatment to prevent epileptogenesis and the resulting neural damage. Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell (hUMSC) and exosome therapy are examples of cellular therapies that may be used to treat degenerative diseases, such as epilepsy, or cell damage. However, there is still little research on the use of hUMSCs or hUMSC–exosomes for treating epilepsy. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to compare the potential and risk of hUMSCs and hUMSC–exosomes as therapies for epilepsy. This article provides a brief summary of hUMSCs and hUMSC–exosomes in multiple aspects, such as the isolation and purification method, the mechanism of action, immunological compatibility, tumorigenicity, the risk of transmitting disease, stability upon storage, the potential of new composition with other substances, and also ethical and political issues. We conclude that hUMSCs and hUMSC–exosomes have therapeutic potential for epilepsy, with hUMSC–exosomes being safer due to their reduced immunogenicity.
Special Issue on Plant and Marine-Derived Natural Product Research in Drug Discovery: Strengths and Perspective
Authors: Duarte Noélia
Published: October 2022

For centuries, nature has been an inspirational source for the discovery of traditional remedies and drugs used in modern medicine [...]
A Preclinical Study of an 125I-Labeled PSMA Ligand for Prostate-Cancer Puncture
Authors: Luan Xiaohui , Zhou Haoxi , Chen Yimin , Zhang Xiaojun , Cui Mengchao , Chen Kuang , Xu Xiaodan , Zhang Jinming , Xu Baixuan
Published: October 2022

Purpose: Prostate cancer (PCa) is characterized by high expression of prostate-specific 1membrane antigen (PSMA), a type II transmembrane protein. Prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography (PSMA PET) has high sensitivity and specificity and can therefore be potentially used to detect PCa. Exploiting the advantages of PSMA PET imaging, in this study, we aim to develop a novel radiopharmaceutical to facilitate biopsy punching of PCa. Methods: We synthesized a high-affinity radiopharmaceutical of PSMA (125I-PSMA-7). We evaluated the properties of 125I-PSMA-7, including the purity, stability, affinity, partition coefficient, and toxicity. (PSMA+) 22Rv1 and (PSMA−) PC3 cell lines were used to evaluate 125I-PSMA-7 in vitro. BALB/c nude mice bearing 22Rv1 and PC3 xenografts were used for biodistribution and imaging. The uptake of the main organs was evaluated in vivo using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Results: 125I-PSMA-7 had a purity of 99.6% and remained stable for seven days and was therefore always safe to use. 125I-PSMA-7 had a Ki of 4.037 × 10−11 and a partition coefficient of −1.80. The results of in vitro cellular experiments showed a high uptake by 22Rv1 cells (ranging from 2.88 ± 0.14 IA%/106 at 5 min to 61.98 ± 3.43 IA%/106 at 24 h, where the internalization was 46.1% at 1 h and 88.06% at 24 h). However, the uptake of PC3 cells was very low (ranging from 0.34 ± 0.08 IA%/106 at 5 min to 1.60 ± 0.15 IA%/106 at 24 h). The tumors’ uptake of 125I-PSMA-7 ranged from 9.02 ± 0.30 ID%/g at 1 h to 4.11 ± 1.04 ID%/g at 7 d and the tumor/muscle ratios and tumor/blood ratios increased over time. In addition, we used γ-counter to measure cpm per milligram of tumor and muscle on days 4 and 7. The background on day 4 is 42 cpm and the tumor is 1739 cpm/mg and the muscle is 45 cpm/mg, and the background on day 7 is 74 cpm and the tumor is 1404cpm/mg and the muscle is 32 cpm/mg. At 1 h post-injection, the high uptake of 125I-PSMA-7 resulted in clear delineation of 22Rv1-derived tumors upon imaging. By comparison, 22Rv1-blocking mice took up less 125I-PSMA-7. Conclusions: These results show that 125I-PSMA-7 is a promising radiotracer that could be used to puncture the prostate. 125I-PSMA-7 could be applied to targeted biopsy, reducing the need for saturated biopsy.
Hydrophilic Scaffolds Containing Extracts of Stryphnodendron adstringens and Abarema cochliacarpa for Wound Healing: In Vivo Proofs of Concept
Authors: Alves Maria C. M. A. , Nascimento Marismar F. , de Almeida Bernadeth M. , Alves Matheus M. A. , Lima-Verde Isabel B. , Costa Daniela S. , Araújo Daniela C. Medeiros , de Paula Mariana N. , Mello João C. P. de , Cano Amanda , Severino Patricia , Albuquerque-Júnior Ricardo L. C. de , Souto Eliana B. , Cardoso Juliana C.
Published: October 2022

The present work aimed to evaluate the healing effect of hydrophilic polymeric resorbable biomembrane scaffolds containing plant extracts obtained from two different species, both popularly known as Stryphnodendron adstringens or Barbatimão. The hydrogel-based scaffolds were characterized and submitted to biological tests using Wistar rats to evaluate their healing capacity. The wound retraction index and the evaluation of the inflammatory process and tissue collagenization were recorded. The extracts showed antioxidant activity with IC50 between 10 and 20 µg/mL (DPPH assay) and 4–6 mmol Trolox/g (FRAP assay). The extract of Stryphnodendron adstringens (SA) presented gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, and O-methylpigalocatechin, while the extract of Abarema cochliacarpa (AC) presented catechin, dimers of procyanidins, di-O-hydroxide, O-deoxyhexosi-hexoside, and epicatechin. The membranes containing SA extract (GELSA) were more rigid, with a more intense color, but less thick, with a more compact structure and few pores. The membranes containing AC extract (GELAC) presented a mechanical profile like the gelatin membrane (GEL), with greater permeability to water vapor. The GELAC and GELSA membranes showed similar thermal degradation profiles. The wounds treated with the membranes containing the extracts obtained high levels of retraction of the wounds with values around 60% and 80% in three and seven days, respectively. These data indicate that the compounds of both species have promising biological activities in the repair process, showing that the extracts accelerated the healing process due to the lower intensity of the inflammatory reaction and the presence of compounds such as catechin and epigallocatechin.
Topographical and Compositional Gradient Tubular Scaffold for Bone to Tendon Interface Regeneration
Authors: Bianchi Eleonora , Faccendini Angela , Del Favero Elena , Ricci Caterina , Caliogna Laura , Vigani Barbara , Pavesi Francesco Claudio , Perotti Cesare , Domingues Rui M. A. , Gomes Manuela E. , Rossi Silvia , Sandri Giuseppina
Published: October 2022

The enthesis is an extremely specific region, localized at the tendon–bone interface (TBI) and made of a hybrid connection of fibrocartilage with minerals. The direct type of enthesis tissue is commonly subjected to full laceration, due to the stiffness gradient between the soft tissues and hard bone, and this often reoccurs after surgical reconstruction. For this purpose, the present work aimed to design and develop a tubular scaffold based on pullulan (PU) and chitosan (CH) and intended to enhance enthesis repair. The scaffold was designed with a topographical gradient of nanofibers, from random to aligned, and hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanoparticles along the tubular length. In particular, one part of the tubular scaffold was characterized by a structure similar to bone hard tissue, with a random mineralized fiber arrangement; while the other part was characterized by aligned fibers, without HAP doping. The tubular shape of the scaffold was also designed to be extemporarily loaded with chondroitin sulfate (CS), a glycosaminoglycan effective in wound healing, before the surgery. Micro CT analysis revealed that the scaffold was characterized by a continuous gradient, without interruptions from one end to the other. The gradient of the fiber arrangement was observed using SEM analysis, and it was still possible to observe the gradient when the scaffold had been hydrated for 6 days. In vitro studies demonstrated that human adipose stem cells (hASC) were able to grow and differentiate onto the scaffold, expressing the typical ECM production for tendon in the aligned zone, or bone tissue in the random mineralized part. CS resulted in a synergistic effect, favoring cell adhesion/proliferation on the scaffold surface. These results suggest that this tubular scaffold loaded with CS could be a powerful tool to support enthesis repair upon surgery.
Development of Plant Protein Derived Tri Angular Shaped Nano Zinc Oxide Particles with Inherent Antibacterial and Neurotoxicity Properties
Authors: Hou Tianyu , Sankar Sana Siva , Li Huizhen , Wang Xin , Wang Qinqin , Boya Vijaya Kumar Naidu , Vadde Ramakrishna , Kumar Raj , Kumbhakar Divya Vishambhar , Zhang Zhijun , Mamidi Narsimha
Published: October 2022

The synthesis of nanometer-sized metallic nanoparticles utilizing bio-sources is one of the most cost-effective and ecologically friendly approaches. Nano-zinc oxide particles (N-ZnO Ps) were made using a simple green synthesis method using an aqueous zinc nitrate salt and Perilla frutescens crude protein as a protecting and reducing agent in the current work. UV-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), (energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy) EDX and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) were used to characterize the synthesized N-ZnO Ps. A distinctive UV-vis absorption peak was observed at 370 nm due to N-ZnO Ps. The SEM and HR-TEM pictures revealed N-ZnO Ps with a triangular form. The XRD pattern indicated the wurtzite structure of N-ZnO Ps. Nanoparticles exhibited a zeta potential of −11.3 mV. The antibacterial activity of N-ZnO Ps was tested against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumonia) microorganisms. The N-ZnO Ps were non-toxic to HMC-3 human normal brain microglia cells; however, they exhibited a potential cytotoxic effect on the LN-18 human brain glioblastoma cell line. These results indicate that N-ZnOPs can act as promising antibacterial and anticancer treatments in the prevention of Glioblastoma.
Mechanistic Study of Release Characteristics of Two Active Ingredients in Transdermal Patch Containing Lidocaine−Flurbiprofen Ionic Liquid
Authors: Yang Degong , Chen Xuejun , Li Ziqing , Yang Chunrong
Published: October 2022

Ionic liquids (ILs) have been proven to be an efficient technology for enhancing drug skin permeability. However, the question of whether the two components of ILs are released synchronously in transdermal preparations has remained unclear. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the release characteristics of two components of ILs and their underlying molecular mechanism. The ILs containing flurbiprofen (FLU) and lidocaine (LID) were synthesized and characterized. The four typical acrylates pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) with different functional groups were synthesized and characterized. The effects of PSAs on the release characteristics of two components of ILs were investigated by drug release tests and verified by skin permeation experiments. The action mechanisms were revealed by FTIR, Raman, dielectric spectrum, and molecular docking. The results showed that the average release amount of FLU (0.29 μmol/cm2) and LID (0.11 μmol/cm2) of ILs in the four PSAs was significantly different (p < 0.05), which illustrated that the two components did not release synchronously. The PSA−none and PSA−OH with low permittivity (7.37, 9.82) interacted with drugs mainly by dipole-dipole interactions and hydrogen bonds. The PSA−COOH and PSA−CONH2 with high permittivity (11.19, 15.32) interacted with drugs mainly by ionic bonds and ionic hydrogen bonds. Thus, this study provides scientific guidance for the application of ILs in transdermal preparations.
Therapeutic Application of an Ag-Nanoparticle-PNIPAAm-Modified Eggshell Membrane Construct for Dermal Regeneration and Reconstruction
Authors: Briggs Emily , Mensah Rosemond A. , Patel Kapil D. , Mandakhbayar Nandin-Erdene , Sharifulden Nik San , Erdogan Zalike Keskin , Silva Lady V. Barrios , Salim Kawther , Kim Hae-Won , Nguyen Linh T. B. , Chau David Y. S.
Published: October 2022

Current therapeutic treatments for the repair and/or replacement of damaged skin following disease or traumatic injury is severely limited. The chicken eggshell membrane (ESM) is a unique material: its innate physical and mechanical characteristics offer optimal barrier properties and, as a naturally derived extract, it demonstrates inherent biocompatibility/biodegradability. To further enhance its therapeutic and clinical potential, the ESM can be modified with the thermo-responsive polymer, poly(N-isopropylacrylAmide) (PNIPAAm) as well as the incorporation of (drug-loaded) silver nanoparticles (AgNP); essentially, by a simple change in temperature, the release and delivery of the NP can be targeted and controlled. In this study, ESM samples were isolated using a decellularization protocol, and the physical and mechanical characteristics were profiled using SEM, FT-IR, DSC and DMA. PNIPAAm was successfully grafted to the ESM via amidation reactions and confirmed using FT-IR, which demonstrated the distinctive peaks associated with Amide A (3275 cm−1), Amide B (2970 cm−1), Amide I (1630 cm−1), Amide II (1535 cm−1), CH2, CH3 groups, and Amide III (1250 cm−1) peaks. Confirmation of the incorporation of AgNP onto the stratified membrane was confirmed visually with SEM, qualitatively using FT-IR and also via changes in absorbance at 380 nm using UV-Vis spectrophotometry during a controlled release study for 72 h. The biocompatibility and cytotoxicity of the novel constructs were assessed using human dermal fibroblast (HDFa) and mouse dermal fibroblast (L929) cells and standard cell culture assays. Metabolic activity assessment (i.e., MTS assay), LDH-release profiles and Live/Dead staining demonstrated good attachment and spreading to the samples, and high cell viability following 3 days of culture. Interestingly, longer-term viability (>5 days), the ESM-PNIPAAm and ESM-PNIPAAm (AgNP) samples showed a greater and sustained cell viability profile. In summary, the modified and enhanced ESM constructs were successfully prepared and characterized in terms of their physical and mechanical profiles. AgNP were successfully loaded into the construct and demonstrated a desirable release profile dependent on temperature modulation. Fibroblasts cultured on the extracted ESM samples and ESM-PNIPAAm demonstrated high biocompatibility in terms of high cell attachment, spreading, viability and proliferation rates. As such, this work summarizes the development of an enhanced ESM-based construct which may be exploited as a clinical/therapeutic wound dressing as well as a possible application as a novel biomaterial scaffold for drug development.
On the Optimisation of Illumination LEDs for VLP Systems
Authors: Menéndez José Miguel , Steendam Heidi
Published: October 2022

Recent studies have explored the synergy of illumination and positioning using indoor lighting infrastructure. While these studies mainly focused on the analysis of the performance of visible light positioning, these works did not consider the illumination aspects of such combined systems. In this paper, we analyse the illumination aspects based on the main illumination characteristics defined in the European Standard EN 12464-1, i.e., the horizontal illuminance and the uniformity of illuminance. As in the standard, we distinguish between a task area, where visual activities are performed that demand higher illuminance and uniformity, and a surrounding area that borders the former. In our analysis, we derive simple rules of thumb to determine the number and placement of LEDs to satisfy the constraints on the horizontal illuminance and uniformity for a given area.
Developing an Effective and Durable Film for Marine Fouling Prevention from PDMS/SiO2 and PDMS/PU with SiO2 Composites
Authors: Chungprempree Jirasuta , Preechawong Jitima , Nithitanakul Manit
Published: October 2022

Polymer film coating with a highly hydrophobic surface property is a practical approach to prevent fouling of any structures in the marine environment without affecting marine microorganisms. The preparation of a polymer coating, from a simple and easy method of solution blending of hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane elastomer and hydrophilic polyurethane with SiO2, was carried out in this study, with the aim of improving characteristics, and the coating demonstrated economic feasibility for antifouling application. Incorporation of SiO2 particles into PDMS and PDMS/PU polymer film improved mechanical properties of the film and the support fabrication of micropatterns by means of a soft lithography process. Observations from field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) of the PDMS/SiO2 composite film revealed a homogeneous morphology and even dispersion of the SiO2 disperse phase between 1–5 wt.%. Moreover, the PDMS film with 3 wt.% loading of SiO2 considerably increased WCA to 115.7° ± 2.5° and improved mechanical properties by increasing Young’s modulus by 128%, compared with neat PDMS film. Additionally, bonding strength between barnacles and the PDMS film with 3 wt.% of SiO2 loading was 0.16 MPa, which was much lower than the bonding strength between barnacles and the reference carbon steel of 1.16 MPa. When compared to the previous study using PDMS/PU blend (95:5), the count of barnacles of PDMS with 3 wt.% SiO2 loading was lower by 77% in the two-week field tests and up to 97% in the eight-week field tests. Subsequently, when PDMS with 3 wt.% SiO2 was further blended with PU, and the surface modified by the soft lithography process, it was found that PDMS/PU (95:5) with 3 wt.% SiO2 composite film with micropatterns increased WCA to 122.1° ± 2.9° and OCA 90.8 ± 3.6°, suggesting that the PDMS/PU (95:5) with 3 wt.% SiO2 composite film with surface modified by the soft lithography process could be employed for antifouling application.
Investigation of Glyphosate Removal from Aqueous Solutions Using Fenton-like System Based on Calcium Peroxide
Authors: Li Fan , Choong Thomas Shean Yaw , Soltani Soroush , Chuah Abdullah Luqman , Md. Jamil Siti Nurul Ain , Amerhaider Nuar Nurul Nazihah
Published: October 2022

Glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)-glycine], an organophosphate broad-spectrum herbicide, is a serious environmental contaminant that poses a significant threat to humans. It can be detected as a contaminant in water; thus, effective procedures for its removal are urgently required. The present study investigated the performance of glyphosate removal from aqueous solutions using a Fenton-like system. Calcium peroxide (CaO2) was used as a source of hydroxyl free radicals with Fe2+ as a catalyst to trigger the Fenton reaction. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and potassium permanganate titration were carried out for characterization of calcium peroxide. The effect of operating parameters such as pH, the molar ratio of Ca2+:Fe2+, the initial dosage of calcium peroxide, and the initial glyphosate concentration on the removal efficiency was studied, respectively. The maximum total phosphorus (TP) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal were 94.50% and 68.60%, respectively, within 120 min under optimal conditions (pH = 3.0, initial glyphosate concentration = 50 ppm, initial CaO2 dosage = 0.5 g, molar ratio of Ca2+:Fe2+ = 6, room temperature). Experimental data were analyzed using zero-order, first-order, second-order, and Behnajady, Modirshahla, and Ghanbary (BMG) kinetics models. The degradation kinetics of glyphosate could be mostly fitted with the BMG kinetics model. This study demonstrated that calcium peroxide could be considered an effective oxidant for glyphosate wastewater treatment.
Dechlorination of Polyvinyl Chloride via Solvothermal Treatment with Glycerol
Authors: Kusakabe Katsuki , Nagai Anna , Leong Wai Hong , Yamasaka Kouki , Nakaaki Takuro , Uemura Yoshimitsu , Ikenaga Kazutoshi
Published: October 2022

Solvothermal treatment using glycerol effectively removes chlorine from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Additive-free PVC was dechlorinated by treatment with glycerol in an autoclave at 200–240 °C. Liquid glycerol was coexistent with a red powder after the reaction at 200 °C. At reaction temperatures of 220 and 240 °C, the liquid glycerol disappeared, and carbonization proceeded to form a black powder. In this reaction, the glycerol was directly converted into glycidol. Epichlorohydrin was also produced from the glycerol via 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol as an intermediate. The PVC was converted into the polyethylene oxide structure, following the generation of the polyene structure by zip-elimination. Finally, the converted PVC was resinified by an epoxidation reaction with the glycidol and epichlorohydrin. Thus, glycerol acted as a useful reaction medium for this reaction system. The analysis of the decomposition ratio and dechlorination yield showed that the PVC was converted into solid products in high yields via chlorine release, and 30% of the glycerol was solidified by resinification at 240 °C. The effects of the additives on dechlorination were investigated using commercially available PVC sheets. Elemental analysis showed that the calorific value of the solid product dechlorinated at 240 °C was found to be higher than that of standard bituminous coal.