bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mitochondrial Proteins Unveil the Mechanism by Which Physical Exercise Ameliorates Memory, Learning and Motor Activity in Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Rat Model
Authors: Gendi Fred , Pei Feifei , Wang Yuan , Li Haoye , Fu Jia , Chang Cheng
Published: April 2022

Background: Physical exercise has been shown to improve cognitive and motor functions, promoting neurogenesis and demonstrating therapeutic benefits in neurodegenerative disorders. Nonetheless, it is crucial to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which this occurs. The study aimed to investigate and evaluate the effect of swimming exercise on the changes of mitochondrial proteins in the brains of rats with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Methods: the vertical pole and Morris water maze tests were used to assess the animals’ motor and cognitive functions, and western blot and immunofluorescence of brain tissue were used to assess the biomarkers of mitochondrial apoptosis and cristae stability in response to exercise training. Four groups of rats were used: (1) sham sedentary group (SHAM, NT), (2) sham exercise training group (SHAM, T) (3) hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy sedentary group (HIE, NT), and (4) hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy exercise training group (HIE, T). Results: animals with HIE showed motor and cognitive deficits, as well as increased apoptotic protein expression. Exercise, on the other hand, improved motor and cognitive functions while also suppressing the expression of apoptotic proteins. Conclusions: By stabilizing the mitochondrial cristae and suppressing the apoptotic cascade, physical exercise provided neuroprotection in hypoxic ischemia-induced brain injury.
Drug Delivery through the Psoriatic Epidermal Barrier—A “Skin-On-A-Chip” Permeability Study and Ex Vivo Optical Imaging
Authors: Kocsis Dorottya , Horváth Szabina , Kemény Ágnes , Varga-Medveczky Zsófia , Pongor Csaba , Molnár Rózsa , Mihály Anna , Farkas Dániel , Naszlady Bese Márton , Fülöp András , Horváth András , Rózsa Balázs , Pintér Erika , Gyulai Rolland , Erdő Franciska
Published: April 2022

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease with unmet medical needs. To clarify potential therapeutic targets, different animal models have been developed. In the current study, imiquimod-induced psoriasiform dermatitis was used for monitoring the changes in skin thickness, transepidermal water loss, body weight, blood perfusion and drug permeability for a topical cream formulation of caffeine, both in wild type and in knock out mice. Morphological characterization of control and diseased tissues was performed by scanning electron microscopy and two-photon microscopy. The chemically induced psoriatic group showed increased skin permeability for the model drug during disease progression. In wild type and TRPA1 KO mice, however, enhanced skin thickness and hyperkeratosis blocked further increase of drug penetration at the late phase (96 h). These results indicate that topical drug therapy can be more effective in early phases of plaque development, when skin thickness is lower. Although paracellular connections (tight junctions) are looser in the advanced phase, hyperkeratosis blocks drug delivery through the transappendageal routes. Novel drug formulations may have the potency for effective drug delivery across the epidermal barrier even in the advanced phase. For development of more effective topical drugs, further research is proposed to explore drug penetration both in healthy and diseased conditions.
The Research Trend of Security and Privacy in Digital Payment
Authors: Sahi Alaa Mahdi , Khalid Haliyana , Abbas Alhamzah F. , Zedan Khaled , Khatib Saleh F. A. , Al Amosh Hamzeh
Published: April 2022

The aim of this study is to synthesize the rapidly increasing literature on privacy and security risk of digital payment. By reviewing 591 studies, the literature on this topic was evaluated using a bibliographical approach to highlight the intellectual development of the field and recommend potential research directions in this still-emerging field. According to our assessment, academics have continued to focus on perceived privacy and security, while more multigroup analyses based on subdimensions of risk are needed. In addition, the vast majority of studies have not considered the inter-relationship between risk attributes. We analyse the potential causes of the lack of research diversity and provide additional suggestions to improve digital payment research in the future. This study will be valuable for academics, analysts, regulators, practitioners, and investors.
Identification of a Cordyceps fumosorosea Fungus Isolate and Its Pathogenicity against Asian Citrus Psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae)
Authors: Luo Yaru , Wu Shujie , He Xinyu , Wang Desen , He Yurong , Nian Xiaoge
Published: April 2022

Diaphorina citri is the mainly transmitting vector of the citrus huanglongbing pathogen, which causes severe losses in in the citrus industry. In this study, we isolated a new entomopathogenic fungus, identified as member of Cordyceps fumosorosea based on morphology and ITS sequence analysis. We named C. fumosorosea SCAU-CFDC01 and evaluated its pathogenicity against D. citri nymphs and adults by immersion under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Results showed that SCAU-CFDC01 was most pathogenic to young nymphs, followed by old nymphs and adults. The LC50 values of the fungus on nymphs and adults showed a declining trend over a 2–7-day period after inoculation. The LT50 (lethal time for a certain concentration to cause 50% mortality) values also presented a decreasing trend along with increasing conidia concentrations. For the results on greenhouse experiments, when 3rd and 5th instar nymphs were inoculated with 1 × 105 conidia mL−1, the survival rate of nymphs were lower, and the emergence rate of adults and female longevity was significantly reduced compared with the control. However, there were no significant effects on sex ratio of adults and male longevity. Our results showed SCAU-CFDC01 was highly pathogenic to D. citri, and may promote mycoparasite development for biological control of D. citri.
Enhanced Fluctuations in Facial Pore Size, Redness, and TEWL Caused by Mask Usage Are Normalized by the Application of a Moisturizer
Authors: Miyamoto Kukizo , Munakata Yoko , Yan Xianghong , Tsuji Gaku , Furue Masutaka
Published: April 2022

Mask wearing is described as one of the main public health measures against COVID-19. Mask wearing induces various types of subjective and objective facial skin damage, such as hair pore dilatation and redness. Facial pore size and redness show morning-to-evening intra-day fluctuations. It remains unknown whether mask usage affects fluctuations in pore size and redness. We measured facial skin hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), pore size, and redness four times a day for 6 weeks in 20 healthy young women. After a 2-week no-mask-usage period (baseline period), all subjects wore unwoven masks for 2 weeks; then, for the following 2 weeks, they applied masks after the topical application of a moisturizer containing a Galactomyces ferment filtrate (GFF) skin care formula (Pitera™). We demonstrated that mask wearing significantly increased the intra-day fluctuations of pore size, redness, and TEWL. In addition, significant correlations were evident among these three parameters. Notably, these mask-induced skin changes were significantly improved, achieving a return to baseline levels, by the application of a GFF-containing moisturizer. In conclusion, mask wearing aggravates intra-day fluctuations in pore size and redness. Appropriate moisturization can minimize this mask-related skin damage, most likely by normalizing the elevated TEWL.
Axial Loading during MRI Induces Lumbar Foraminal Area Changes and Has the Potential to Improve Diagnostics of Nerve Root Compromise
Authors: Hebelka Hanna , Rydberg Niklas , Hutchins John , Lagerstrand Kerstin , Brisby Helena
Published: April 2022

Lumbar foraminal stenosis is a common cause of lumbar radiculopathy and conventionally assessed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in supine-positioned patients. An MRI acquired during spine loading may unmask pathology not otherwise revealed in a relaxed position. Therefore, we investigated how spine loading during MRI affects lumbar foramina. In 89 low-back pain patients’ lumbar, MRIs were performed in a relaxed supine position and during axial loading using a Dynawell® compression device. The smallest area of all intervertebral foramina at levels L3/L4–L5/S1 (534 foramina) was determined using a freehand polygonal tool in parasagittal T2-weighted sequences. The grading system described by Lee et al. was also used to qualitatively assess foraminal stenosis. Overall, a mean reduction of 2.2% (mean −0.89 cm2 and −0.87 cm2, respectively) was observed (p = 0.002), however for individual foramina large variations, with up to about 50% increase or decrease, were seen. Stratified for lumbar level, an area reduction was found for L3/L4 and L4/L5 foramina (mean change −0.03 cm2; p = 0.036; and −0.03 cm2; p = 0.004, respectively) but not for L5/S1. When comparing the measured area changes to qualitative foraminal grading, 22% of the foramina with a measured area decrease were evaluated with a higher grading. Thus, detailed information on foraminal appearance and nerve root affection can be obtained using this method.
Example-Based Multispectral Photometric Stereo for Multi-Colored Surfaces
Authors: Miyazaki Daisuke , Uegomori Kazuya
Published: April 2022

A photometric stereo needs three images taken under three different light directions lit one by one, while a color photometric stereo needs only one image taken under three different lights lit at the same time with different light directions and different colors. As a result, a color photometric stereo can obtain the surface normal of a dynamically moving object from a single image. However, the conventional color photometric stereo cannot estimate a multicolored object due to the colored illumination. This paper uses an example-based photometric stereo to solve the problem of the color photometric stereo. The example-based photometric stereo searches the surface normal from the database of the images of known shapes. Color photometric stereos suffer from mathematical difficulty, and they add many assumptions and constraints; however, the example-based photometric stereo is free from such mathematical problems. The process of our method is pixelwise; thus, the estimated surface normal is not oversmoothed, unlike existing methods that use smoothness constraints. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this study, a measurement device that can realize the multispectral photometric stereo method with sixteen colors is employed instead of the classic color photometric stereo method with three colors.
Measuring Organization of Large Surficial Clasts in Heterogeneous Gravel Beach Sediments
Authors: Lees Dennis , Hein Christopher , FitzGerald Duncan
Published: April 2022

The natural stratification and interlocking “organization” of armored sediments in heterogeneous, coarse-grained, beaches provides protection and enhances habitat for borrowing sedentary megafauna and macrofauna such as hard-shelled clams. Here, we develop a novel metric for quantifying sediment organization of large surficial beach clasts through sedimentologic and photogrammetric analyses of 37 lower intertidal heterogeneous gravel beaches in western Prince William Sound, Alaska (USA). Grain size, photogrammetric, and Wolman Pebble Count clast-size data from 64, ~1-m2 study plots are combined into a clast-size-independent “Organization Metric” to quantify the degree of organization in the meshed arrangement of larger surficial sediments. This metric was validated through field manipulation experiments and comparisons of adjacent plots characterized by different clast sizes. Application of this metric to subsets of Prince William Sound beaches that underwent differential treatment following the Exxon Valdez oil spill reveals persistent physical effects of artificial beach disturbance even 21 years after the cleanup. This has important implications for beach management (e.g., cleaning or dredging) and for the diverse and productive sedentary megafaunal assemblages that live within these sediments. Overall, this study provides a new approach for quantifying organization of heterogenous coarse sediments in diverse natural settings; in particular, heterogenous gravel beaches.
Assessment of Sea Level and Morphological Changes along the Eastern Coast of Bangladesh
Authors: Anwar Md. Shibly , Rahman Kalimur , Bhuiyan Md Abul Ehsan , Saha Rupayan
Published: April 2022

Bangladesh is one of the climate risk-prone countries in South Asia facing tremendous challenges to combat sea-level rise and its associated coastal morphological changes. This study aimed to determine the interaction of the sea-level rise and morphological changes, particularly at Cox’s Bazar and Kutubdia Island along the eastern coast of Bangladesh. Available hourly tide gauge data, daily temperature, daily rainfall data, and 15 LANDSAT satellite images for the period of 1983–2016 were analyzed to examine the sea level shore morphological change and associated climate change phenomenon. First, we identified the historical nonlinear sea-level trend using Hilbert-Huang Transformation (HHT) based on the complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition (CEEMD) technique. We divided the study period into three distinct sea-level change periods of 1983–1993, 1993–2003, and 2003–2014 based on nonlinear sea-level trend analysis. The study revealed that the sea level on the east coast of Bangladesh had a moderate rising trend during 1983–1993, slight decrease during 1993–2003, and steep rising trend during 2003–2014. We also observed that a sea-level change within a particular period impacted the shore morphological change after approximately two years, such that the average sea-level change during the period of 1993–2003 might have affected the shore morphology for 1996–2005. Alarming shore erosion was found for the period of 2005–2016 compared to the previous periods of 1989–1996 and 1996–2005 for both Cox’s Bazar and Kutubdia Island. The shore morphology of some segments was also substantially affected due to the geometric shape of the land, significant waves, and shore protection works. This study encourages policymakers to minimize the threats of sea-level rise and ensure sustainable coastal management strategies are introduced to sustain the vital eastern coast of Bangladesh.
Predicting the Need for Therapeutic Intervention and Mortality in Acute Pancreatitis: A Two-Center International Study Using Machine Learning
Authors: Shi Na , Lan Lan , Luo Jiawei , Zhu Ping , Ward Thomas R. W. , Szatmary Peter , Sutton Robert , Huang Wei , Windsor John A. , Zhou Xiaobo , Xia Qing
Published: April 2022

Background: Current approaches to predicting intervention needs and mortality have reached 65–85% accuracy, which falls below clinical decision-making requirements in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). We aimed to accurately predict therapeutic intervention needs and mortality on admission, in AP patients, using machine learning (ML). Methods: Data were obtained from three databases of patients admitted with AP: one retrospective (Chengdu) and two prospective (Liverpool and Chengdu) databases. Intervention and mortality differences, as well as potential predictors, were investigated. Univariate analysis was conducted, followed by a random forest ML algorithm used in multivariate analysis, to identify predictors. The ML performance matrix was applied to evaluate the model’s performance. Results: Three datasets of 2846 patients included 25 potential clinical predictors in the univariate analysis. The top ten identified predictors were obtained by ML models, for predicting interventions and mortality, from the training dataset. The prediction of interventions includes death in non-intervention patients, validated with high accuracy (96%/98%), the area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve (0.90/0.98), and positive likelihood ratios (22.3/69.8), respectively. The post-test probabilities in the test set were 55.4% and 71.6%, respectively, which were considerably superior to existing prognostic scores. The ML model, for predicting mortality in intervention patients, performed better or equally with prognostic scores. Conclusions: ML, using admission clinical predictors, can accurately predict therapeutic interventions and mortality in patients with AP.
Tourism Activity as an Engine of Growth: Lessons Learned from the European Union
Authors: Matzana Velisaria , Oikonomou Aikaterina , Polemis Michael
Published: April 2022

In this study, the linkage between tourism activity and economic development in 21 European countries is analyzed. The data are collected on an annual basis and cover the years from 1995 to 2017. The main purpose is to investigate empirically if there is a long-run connection between tourism activity and the development of the economy by applying a multivariate model. For this purpose, generalized method of moments (GMM) and Granger causality tests are applied within a panel data framework. The results reveal that tourism contributes significantly to European countries’ economic growth. Furthermore, Granger causality analysis shows a unidirectional relationship between tourism and economic development, leading to sufficient evidence for the validity of the tourism-led-growth hypothesis. Therefore, for these European countries, the tourism–led growth hypothesis is supported (meeting our expectations).
System Design for Detecting Real Estate Speculation Abusing Inside Information: For the Fair Reallocation of Land
Authors: Sim Yeon-Jin , Kim Jeongmin , Choi Jaehyeon , Huh Jun-Ho
Published: April 2022

In March 2021, a case of speculation that abused private internal information came to light, which involved a group of public officials from the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), and has since been labeled the ‘LH Scandal’. In this scandal, land was misappropriated as a means of creating fraudulent values, instead of returning it to marginalized people in real need of residential space. As a result of this, preventive measures for similar cases have become warranted. Consequently, related laws have been passed, but this is only expected to show its effect as a follow-up response, therefore requiring a preemptive response plan. In this paper, we will propose a conceptual framework that can detect speculation that abuses private internal information, enabling a preemptive response, utilizing outlier detection and Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) methods. The system is designed to create a database (DB) with private inside real estate information, which is linked to another DB with a list of outlier-detected areas that can potentially indicate speculation, and then the system confirms any speculation by comparing the two DBs accordingly. Once a speculation case is confirmed, the system automatically reports the case to the investigative agency. By using this system, we expect to detect hidden speculation cases already committed, as well as speculation cases in real-time. Ultimately, we hope to protect the original purpose of redevelopment and the construction of new towns (housing/retail mixed-use zones), redistributing available land on behalf of marginalized people, who are lacking in residential space, by raising the utility of land.
The Dysfunctional Rental Market in Portugal: A Policy Review
Authors: Mendes Luís
Published: April 2022

In Portugal, due to the rental market’s inability to respond to the constant mismatch between supply and demand over the course of decades, things have become increasingly residual and dysfunctional within the scope of the homeownership market. Through analysis of various laws and legislative changes over the last century, as well as the participant observation acquired by the author’s two-and-a-half years of experience as a stakeholder in the sector, this paper aims to review rental policies in Portugal and the multiple impacts they have had on reproducing various weaknesses in the rental market. The paper concludes with some policy recommendations that advocate how government action is decisive in shaping housing and rental policy, establishing a legal and regulatory framework able to transmit credibility, stability and security to the contractual forms between supply and demand, in keeping with an effective right to housing through affordable renting.
Portevin-Le Châtelier Effect in a Powder Metallurgy Co-Ni-Based Superalloy
Authors: Li Chao , Teng Jianwei , Yang Biaobiao , Ye Xianjue , Huang Lan , Liu Yong , Li Yunping
Published: April 2022

The Portevin-Le Châtelier (PLC) effect in a powder metallurgy (PM) Co-Ni-based superalloy was systematically investigated via the tensile tests at temperatures ranging from 200 to 600 °C and strain rates at 1.0 × 10−4 to 1.0 × 10−2. Both normal and inverse PLC effects were observed in the PLC regime, and the former appeared in the A and B types at a low temperature, whilst the latter appeared in the C type at an elevated temperature. Both positive and negative strain rate sensitivities (SRS) were shown in PLC regime, and SRS should be derived from same types of serrations. Based on the calculated activation energy, the substitutional atom Mo is considered to take primary responsibility for the PLC effect in present alloy.
Estimating Scattering Potentials in Inverse Problems with a Non-Causal Volterra Model
Authors: Balassa Gábor
Published: April 2022

In this paper, a finite memory, non-causal Volterra model is proposed to estimate the potential functions in various inverse quantum mechanical problems, where the bound or scattered wave functions are used as inputs of the Volterra system, while the potential is the desired output. Two simple examples are given to show the model capabilities, where in both cases, a really good match is achieved for a very wide range of potential functions. The first example is a simple one-dimensional bound state problem, where the wave function of the first bound state is used as input to determine the model potential. The second example is a one-dimensional scattering problem, where the scattered wave is used as the system input. In both cases, a higher order, non-causal description is needed to be able to give a good estimation to the solution of the inverse problem. The model sensitivity to input perturbations is also examined, showing that the Volterra representation is capable of giving a robust estimate to the underlying dynamical system. The model could be useful in real-life situations, where the scattering potential should be found from measured data, where the precise equations that govern the dynamics of the system are not known.
Parallel Meta-Heuristics for Solving Dynamic Offloading in Fog Computing
Authors: AlShathri Samah Ibrahim , Chelloug Samia Allaoua , Hassan Dina S. M.
Published: April 2022

The internet of things (IoT) concept has been extremely investigated in many modern smart applications, which enable a set of sensors to either process the collected data locally or send them to the cloud for remote processing. Unfortunately, cloud datacenters are located far away from IoT devices, and consequently, the transmission of IoT data may be delayed. In this paper, we investigate fog computing, which is a new paradigm that overcomes many issues of cloud computing. More importantly, dynamic task offloading in fog computing is a challenging problem that requires an optimal decision for processing the tasks that are generated in each time slot. Thus, exact optimization methods based on Lyapunov function have been widely used for solving dynamic offloading which represents an NP hard problem. To overcome the scalability issue of exact optimization techniques, we have explored famous population based meta-heuristics for optimizing the offloading process of a set of dynamic tasks using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) communication. Hence, a parallel multi-threading framework is proposed for generating the optimal offloading solution while selecting the best sub-carrier for each offloaded task. More importantly, our contribution associates a thread for each IoT device and generates a population of random solutions. Next, each population is updated and evaluated according to the proposed fitness function that considers a tradeoff between the delay and energy consumption. Upon the arrival of new tasks at each time slot, an evaluation is performed for maintaining some individuals of the previous population while generating new individuals based on some criteria. Our results have been compared to the results achieved using Lyapunov optimization. They demonstrate the convergence of the fitness function, the scalability of the parallel Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) approach, and the performance in terms of the offline error and the execution cost.
Effects of Ni and Co on the Corrosion Resistance of Al-Si-Cu-Zn-Fe Alloys in NaCl Solution
Authors: Xavier Marcella G. C. , Freitas Brenda J. M. , Koga Guilherme Y. , Spinelli José E.
Published: April 2022

The corrosion behavior of Fe-containing directionally solidified (DS) and centrifugally cast (CC) Al-Si-Cu-Zn alloys with either Co or Ni additions has been investigated. Electrochemical and immersion corrosion methods were used to investigate the corrosion behavior in 0.6 M NaCl after short (1-h) and long (30-day) exposure periods. The employed solidification methods allowed the production of samples with a wide range of secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) while preserving Si and Fe-containing phases. The 0.5 wt.% Ni and Co additions led to the growth of the AlFeSi(Ni) and AlFeSi(Co) phases, but no binary AlNi nor AlCo intermetallic particles have been generated. Potentiodynamic polarization studies at early exposure revealed an increase in the corrosion potential as the Ni was added for either fast or slow solidified samples. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy at early exposure demonstrated that the Ni-modified alloy, on the other hand, was associated with smaller charge transfer resistances, indicating a reduction in the corrosion resistance after a short elapsed time into the electrolyte. However, the 30-day immersion tests revealed much lower corrosion rate of the Ni-modified alloy than the other alloys, while the corrosion rates of the Co-modified and non-modified alloys were similar. In the Ni-containing alloy, a decreased corrosion rate under a long-term corrosion process was attributed to the formation of a thick and dense alumina layer, effectively protecting the surface under such conditions. This work contributes to better knowledge of the corrosion behavior of Ni- and Co-corrected Al industrial scrap compositions.
Analysis and Investigation of Trilateral Spinning Based on the Concentric Circle Trajectory
Authors: Ou Xibin , Zhu Xianyong , Gu Peng , Wang Baichao , Liu Jinsong , Yang Song
Published: April 2022

Several researchers have developed various spinning methods to produce non-circular hollow parts. In this paper, an approach that the rollers revolve around the roller principal axis was used to generate a concentric circular trajectory to the spinning trilateral workpiece. The spinning simulation was performed in ABAQUS 2016/Explicit software. The trajectory of the roller is derived, and the distributions of the equivalent von Mises stress, equivalent strain, wall thickness of the workpiece in typical section and spinning force are obtained. The simulation experiment proves the feasibility of using the proposed spinning method to produce workpieces with trilateral cross-section. The results demonstrated that after seven passes, in the area where the roller unloads the workpiece and the area where the roller starts the forward pass, local wrinkling may be generated; the most vulnerable area of the workpiece is also located at the area where the roller starts the forward pass, while the overall thinning rate of the workpiece is below 21%. Compared with other existent non-circular spinning methods, this novel method could process non-circular parts with a high rotational velocity, while ensuring the roller processing trajectory with high accuracy. The application of this method will improve the efficiency of the process by more than 200% in theory, while ensuring workpiece quality
Influence of Different Addition Ratios of Fly Ash on Mechanical Properties of ADC10 Aluminum Matrix Composites
Authors: Juang Shueiwan Henry , Li Ching-Feng
Published: April 2022

Aluminum-fly ash composites are formed by the chemical reaction between fly ash and the high-temperature aluminum-based alloy, which melts to form aluminum oxide as a reinforcing phase, which belongs to a composite of in situ synthetic reinforcing phases. Compared to aluminum-based alloys, composites have superior strength, rigidity, damping capacity, and wear resistance, but lower ductility and toughness. In this study, different fly ash addition ratios (0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 wt%) were added to the ADC10-2Mg alloy melt via stir casting to form the aluminum-fly ash composite under the chemical reaction at 800 °C for 30 h. Subsequently, microstructure observation, density and porosity measurements, and hardness and tensile tests were conducted to analyze the influence of different fly ash weight percentages on the mechanical properties of aluminum-fly ash composites. According to the results, an aluminum-fly ash composite with good dispersibility of fly ash debris can be prepared by stir casting, and the fly ash particles gradually decomposed small debris as they reacted with the aluminum-based alloy at high temperatures during a long-term reaction process. The density of the aluminum–fly ash composite was reduced by adding fly ash, and its hardness and tensile strength were improved as well. However, the porosity increased with the amount of fly ash and the ductility was diminished. For the aluminum-fly ash composite with 6 wt% of fly ash, its density decreased by approximately 2%, the hardness and tensile strength increased by 7% and 49%, respectively, and the ductility decreased by 35%, as compared to those of the ADC10 alloy.
Inactivation of Bacillus subtilis by Curcumin-Mediated Photodynamic Technology through Inducing Oxidative Stress Response
Authors: Dong Li , Qin Jianran , Tai Luyang , Mou Kangyi , Liao Xiaojun , Chen Fang , Hu Xiaosong
Published: April 2022

Photodynamic sterilization technology (PDT) is widely used in disease therapy, but its application in the food industry is still at the research stage because of the limitations of food-grade photosensitizers. Curcumin exhibits photosensitivity and is widely used as a food additive for its natural color. This study aimed to determine the effect of curcumin-mediated photodynamic technology (Cur-PDT) on Bacillus subtilis and to elucidate the anti-bacterial mechanism involved. First, the effects of curcumin concentration, duration of light irradiation, light intensity, and incubation time on the inactivation of B. subtilis were analyzed. It was found that Cur-PDT inactivated 100% planktonic cells with 50 μmol/L curcumin in 15 min (120 W). Then, the cell morphology, oxidation state and the expression of membrane structure- and DNA damage-related genes of B. subtilis vegetative cells were investigated under different treatment conditions. The membrane permeability of cells was enhanced and the cell membrane structure was damaged upon treatment with Cur-PDT, which were exacerbated with increases of treatment time and curcumin concentration. Meanwhile, the production of reactive oxygen species increased and the activities of the antioxidant enzymes SOD, GPX, and CAT decreased inside the cells. Furthermore, the Cur-PDT treatment significantly downregulated the mRNA of the membrane protein TasA and upregulated the DNA damage recognition protein UvrA and repair protein RecA of B. subtilis. These results suggested that curcumin-mediated PDT could effectively inactivate B. subtilis by inducing cell redox state imbalance, damaging DNA, and disrupting membrane structures.
Hydrochemical Characterization of an Acid Mine Effluent from Concepcion Mine Using Classical Statistic and Fuzzy Logic Techniques
Authors: Santisteban María , Luís Ana Teresa , Grande José Antonio , Aroba Javier , Dávila José Miguel , Sarmiento Aguasanta Miguel , Fortes Juan Carlos , Cordoba Francisco , Rodriguez-Pérez Ángel Mariano
Published: April 2022

This work focuses on the physical-chemical characterization of a mining effluent affected by acid mine drainage (AMD) from its source to the confluence in the Odiel river, one of the most polluted rivers by AMD worldwide, in order to understand the reactions involved in the modifications in the chemical characteristics of water and precipitates resulting from water–rock–atmosphere interaction in an environment highly affected by mining activity without corrective measures. The channel starts in an open pit lake through one of the Concepción Mine main galleries, located in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, about 10 km northwest of Rio Tinto mining complex (southwest Spain). This gallery intercepts one of the largest and oldest underground mining work locations called “gallery Carmen”, allowing the exit of AMD affected waters. This channel is the first AMD polluting source in the Odiel basin. Thus, at the end of the rainy season, we conducted water sampling along this channel, from its source to its mouth, to further analyse its characterization and interpret the cause–effect relationships through the application of Fuzzy Logic and classical statistics tools. The interdependent relationship between the measured physicochemical parameters are set in order to propose a model, capable of describing the evolution of contaminants in response to the processes and reactions taking place within the affected channel and the Odiel river. The present work concluded the existence of natural attenuation processes for the mining channel, despite the entrances of other drainages in the AMD channel with different hydrochemical characteristics imposing modifications on it. This indicates that these media have a high vulnerability to external stimuli.
Lithofacies and Source Rock Quality of Organic-Rich Shales in the Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation, Songliao Basin, NE China
Authors: Cai Yi , Zhu Rukai , Luo Zhong , Wu Songtao , Zhang Tianshu , Liu Chang , Zhang Jingya , Wang Yongchao , Meng Siwei , Wang Huajian , Zhang Qian
Published: April 2022

The organic-rich shale of the Qingshankou Formation (K2qn) is the most important target in the Songliao Basin. The relationship between lithofacies and source rock quality, however, is still controversial. Core observation, thin section identification, X-ray diffraction, organic geochemistry, and other analytical methods were adopted to investigate the petrology and its effects on hydrocarbon potential of the Qingshankou shale. Based on the differences in minerals, bioclastic, and fabric of laminae, four main lithofacies were defined as: (i) felsic shale (FS), (ii) clay shale (CS), (iii) bio-bearing shale (BS), and (iv) mixed shale (MS). The clay minerals content in the CS (average: 46.72 wt%) and MS (average: 41.11 wt%) was higher than that in FS (average: 39.97 wt%) and BS (average: 35.48 wt%). This classification allows the following comparative quantification of total organic carbon (TOC) content to be differentiated: CS > BS > MS > FS. Geochemical analysis indicated that the oil generation potential of the CS was the best, and the hydrocarbons generated from CS might migrate and accumulate in other lithofacies. All this knowledge could shed light on the lithofacies classification in shale systems with high clay mineral content, and may provide references for sweet spotting of the Qingshankou Formation in the Songliao Basin.
Discovery of a Novel Inhibitor Structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Isocitrate Lyase
Authors: Duan Changyuan , Jiang Qihua , Jiang Xue , Zeng Hongwei , Wu Qiaomin , Yu Yang , Yang Xiaolan
Published: April 2022

Tuberculosis remains a global threat to public health, and dormant Mycobacterium tuberculosis leads to long-term medication that is harmful to the human body. M. tuberculosis isocitrate lyase (MtICL), which is absent in host cells, is a key rate-limiting enzyme of the glyoxylic acid cycle and is essential for the survival of dormant M. tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate natural compounds as potential MtICL inhibitors through docking and experimental verification. Screening of the TCMSP database library was done using Discovery Studio 2019 for molecular docking and interaction analysis, with the putative inhibitors of MtICL, 3-BP, and IA as reference ligands. Daphnetin (MOL005118), with a docking score of 94.8 and -CDOCKER interaction energy of 56 kcal/mol, was selected and verified on MtICL in vitro and M. smegmatis; daphnetin gave an IC50 of 4.34 μg/mL for the MtICL enzyme and an MIC value of 128 μg/mL against M. smegmatis, showing enhanced potential in comparison with 3-BP and IA. The interactions and essential amino acid residues of the protein were analyzed. In summary, natural daphnetin may be a promising new skeleton for the design of inhibitors of MtICL to combat dormant M. tuberculosis.
A BODIPY-Based Probe Enables Fluorogenicity via Thiol-Dependent Modulation of Fluorophore Aggregation
Authors: Chio Tak Ian , Grimaldi Akiva J. , Radford Thomas I. , Bane Susan L.
Published: April 2022

Given the popular usage of BODIPY fluorophores in biological research, their propensity to aggregate in aqueous solution and impact their spectroscopic properties arguably warrants more attention. The probe under study herein serves as a case in point. A para-maleimide-substituted meso-phenyl BODIPY (p-MB) had previously been characterized in organic media, where its inherently high fluorescence ruled out its fluorogenic potential. Here, we have found that in aqueous solution, p-MB behaves differently, exhibiting a much-reduced fluorescence as a result of aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ). Additionally, p-MB is capable of responding to complementarily reactive substrates, including thiols and TCEP, to generate a substantial turn-on signal. The fluorescence restoration is largest when it reacts with those containing adjacent ionizable groups. By being part of a polar conjugate, p-MB assumes a disaggregated form, circumventing ACQ and unleashing up to ~1000-fold fluorescence enhancement through apparent disaggregation-induced emission (DIE). While our results support DIE as the turn-on mechanism, we found that the reactivity of the probe is much lower when it is given time to form stable aggregates. Therefore, contrary to the conventional depiction that a DIE probe works by dispersing from preformed aggregates to react with the target, our results suggest that it functions via a target-mediated inhibition of probe aggregation. Altogether, our work highlights the aggregation issue often faced by BODIPY-based probes and demonstrates how that can be exploited for turn-on sensing application. Furthermore, it reconstructs a different pathway for the DIE mechanism.
A Fluorescence-Polarization-Based Lipopolysaccharide–Caspase-4 Interaction Assay for the Development of Inhibitors
Authors: An Jinsu , Kim So Yeon , Yang Eun Gyeong , Chung Hak Suk
Published: April 2022

Recognition of intracellular lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by Caspase-4 (Casp-4) is critical for host defense against Gram-negative pathogens. LPS binds to the N-terminal caspase activation and recruitment domain (CARD) of procaspase-4, leading to auto-proteolytic activation followed by pro-inflammatory cytokine release and pyroptotic cell death. Aberrant hyper-activation of Casp-4 leads to amplification of the inflammatory response linked to sepsis. While the active site of a caspase has been targeted with peptide inhibitors, inhibition of LPS–Casp-4 interaction is an emerging strategy for the development of selective inhibitors with a new mode of action for treating infectious diseases and sepsis induced by LPS. In this study, a high-throughput screening (HTS) system based on fluorescence polarization (FP) was devised to identify inhibitors of the LPS and Casp-4 interaction. Using HTS and IC50 determination and subsequently showing inhibited Casp-4 activity, we demonstrated that the LPS–Casp-4 interaction is a druggable target for Casp-4 inhibition and possibly a non-canonical inflammatory pathway.
Comparative Evaluation of Juices from Red-Fleshed Apples after Production with Different Dejuicing Systems and Subsequent Storage
Authors: Wagner Annette , Dussling Stefan , Scansani Stefano , Bach Peter , Ludwig Michael , Steingass Christof B. , Will Frank , Schweiggert Ralf
Published: April 2022

In this work, two vintages (2019 and 2020) of red-fleshed ‘Weirouge’ apples were processed with the innovative spiral filter press technology to investigate juice production in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere. After pressing, a more brilliant red color and appreciably higher amounts of oxidation-sensitive constituents (ascorbic acid, anthocyanins, and colorless (poly)phenols) were seen in spiral filter pressed juices compared to those produced with conventional systems (horizontal filter press and decanter). In a subsequent stability study (24 weeks storage at 4, 20, and 37 °C), the color and phenolic compounds were monitored and differences in the juices produced with the different pressing-systems were widely maintained during the storage period. The analyses of the anthocyanins and colorless (poly)phenols were conducted by UHPLC-DAD-ESI-QTOF-HR-MS/MS and UHPLC-DAD. The spiral filter press emerged as a promising technology for the production of juices with a more attractive color and a better retention of oxidation-sensitive constituents during processing and storage compared to conventional juices.
The Stability of Refined Rapeseed Oil Fortified by Cold-Pressed and Essential Black Cumin Oils under a Heating Treatment
Authors: Fedko Monika , Kmiecik Dominik , Siger Aleksander , Majcher Małgorzata
Published: April 2022

Polar compounds and polymers are regarded as the most reliable indicators of oil degradation during heating, and it is desirable to find methods to reduce these undesirable changes. The aim of this study was (1) to determine the effect of enrichment with black cumin cold-pressed oil (CP) or essential oil obtained from black cumin cold-pressed oil in an equivalent amount (ES) on limiting the polar compounds and polymers content in blends based on refined rapeseed oil during high-temperature heating in a thin layer; (2) to determine tocochromanol losses and their effect on the change content of the polar compounds and polymers. Four fortified oils were made from refined rapeseed oil and one of the four additives (10% CP, 20% CP, 0.1% ES, and 0.2% ES). All fortified oils and refined rapeseed oil as a control sample were heated at 170 and 200 °C on the pan in a thin layer and evaluated regarding loss of individual tocochromanol homologs by HPLC-FL, polar compounds content, oxidized triacylglycerols (TAG), and polymers content by HPSEC-ELSD. Additionally, the fatty acid profile in nonheated oil was investigated. Tocochromanol analysis showed loss in all the samples. At 170 °C polymers were not detected; no difference was noted for polar compounds and oxidized TAG content; only the 20% CP sample showed a higher level. At 200 °C the 10% CP sample exhibited a significant protective effect with the lowest content of polar compounds, oxidized TAG, and dimers.
Phenolic Acids and Flavonoids in Acetonic Extract from Quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.): Nutraceuticals with Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Potential
Authors: Herrera-Rocha Karen Marlenne , Rocha-Guzmán Nuria Elizabeth , Gallegos-Infante José Alberto , González-Laredo Rubén Francisco , Larrosa-Pérez Mar , Moreno-Jiménez Martha Rocío
Published: April 2022

Quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) is a potential source of polyphenolic compounds related with beneficial biological processes. In this study polyphenols from quince fruit were extracted with aqueous acetone at different ratios. A polyphenol profile was identified and quantified by LC-ESI-QqQ. The antioxidant capacity (ORAC and DPPH) and anti-inflammatory effect (inhibition of COX-2 cyclooxygenase) were evaluated in vitro. The results indicated an effect of the aqueous acetone ratio on the extraction of polyphenolic compounds. The higher extraction yields of polyphenolic compounds were attained with 60–75% aqueous acetone. However, extracts obtained with 85% aqueous acetone promoted higher antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Optimal scaling analysis indicated that hydroxycinnamic acids (quinic and chlorogenic), hydroxybenzoic acids (vanillic and syringic), flavonoids (quercetin and kaempferol), dihydrochalcones (neohesperidin) and flavones (acacetin) are related to the antioxidant activity of quince. While phenolic acids, flavonols (kaempferol-3-O-glucoside and rutin) and flavanols (epicatechin) generated the anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting 52.3% of the COX-2 enzyme. Therefore, a selective extraction of phenolic mix can reduce oxidative stress or inflammatory processes. This suggests the use of quince as a natural source with significant nutraceutical potential.
Environmentally Friendly g-C3N4/Sepiolite Fiber for Enhanced Degradation of Dye under Visible Light
Authors: Sun Jiayue , Wang Lianying , Lu Simei , Wang Zhuoyuan , Chen Menglin , Liang Weixia , Lin Xiu , Lin Xiangfeng
Published: April 2022

Herein, novel visible light active graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)/sepiolite fiber (CN/SS) composites were fabricated via a facile calcination route, exploiting melamine and thiourea as precursors, and sepiolite fiber as support, for efficient degradation of organic dye methylene blue (MB). The as-prepared CN/SS composites were characterized by various characterization techniques based on structural and microstructural analyses. The effects of CN loading amount, catalyst dosage and initial concentration of dye on the removal rate of dye under visible light were systematically studied. The removal rate of MB was as high as 99.5%, 99.6% and 99.6% over the composites when the CN loading amount, catalyst dosage and initial concentration of dye were 20% (mass percent), 0.1 g, and 15 mg/L in 120 min, respectively. The active species scavenging experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurement indicated that the holes (h+), hydroxyl radical (·OH) and superoxide radicals (·O2−) were the main active species. This study provides for the design of low-cost, environmentally friendly and highly efficient catalysts for the removal of organic dye.
The Regulation of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Cancer: Special Focuses on Luteolin Patents
Authors: Mohi-ud-din Roohi , Mir Reyaz Hassan , Wani Taha Umair , Alsharif Khalaf F. , Alam Waqas , Albrakati Ashraf , Saso Luciano , Khan Haroon
Published: April 2022

Cancer is a major health problem across the globe, and is expeditiously growing at a faster rate worldwide. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a membranous cell organelle having inextricable links in cellular homeostasis. Altering ER homeostasis initiates various signaling events known as the unfolded protein response (UPR). The basic purpose of the UPR is to reinstate the homeostasis; however, a continuous UPR can stimulate pathways of cell death, such as apoptosis. As a result, there is great perturbation to target particular signaling pathways of ER stress. Flavonoids have gained significant interest as a potential anticancer agent because of their considerable role in causing cytotoxicity of the cancerous cells. Luteolin, a flavonoid isolated from natural products, is a promising phytochemical used in the treatment of cancer. The current study is designed to review the different endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways involved in the cancer, mechanistic insights of luteolin as an anticancer agent in modulating ER stress, and the available luteolin patent formulations were also highlighted. The patents were selected on the basis of pre-clinical and/or clinical trials, and established antitumor effects using patent databases of FPO IP and Espacenet. The patented formulation of luteolin studied so far has shown promising anticancer potential against different cancer cell lines. However, further research is still required to determine the molecular targets of such bioactive molecules so that they can be used as anticancer drugs.