bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pedestal suppression of high-order soliton compressed optical pulse by DSF based on bistability of NOLF
Authors: Jia Xin-Hong  , Wu Zheng-Mao  , Xia Guang-Qiong  ,   (1)西南师范大学物理学院,重庆  400715; (2)西南师范大学物理学院,重庆  400715;重庆大学教育部光电技术与系统重点实验室，重庆  400044
Published: December 2020

Based on the bistability effect of nonlinear FP cavity (NOLF), a method is suggested to suppress the pedestal of ultra_short optical pulse compressed by dispersion shift fiber (DSF). The coupled mode equation is applied to analyze the chara cteristics of the pedestal suppression of NOLF. The results show that the pedest al energy ratio of transmitted pulse can be decreased to half of incident pulse through reasonably selecting the facet reflectivity of NOLF, the initial phase d etuning between the input pulse and NOLF, and the gain of Er_doped fiber amplifi er.
Raman scattering coefficients of symmetrical stretching modes of microstructural units in sodium silicate melts
Authors: Wu Yong-Quan  , Jiang Guo-Chang  , You Jing-Lin  , Hou Huai-Yu  , Chen Hui  ,   上海大学材料科学与工程学院，上海  200072
Published: December 2020

Quantitative analysis of Raman spectra of vitreous or molten silicate is always one of the key subjects in some fields, e.g. materials science, geological physi cs, etc. But there are many difficulties with this analysis, one of which is the determination of Raman scattering coefficient. Not long ago, we developed a new method for the calculation of Raman spectrum of amorphous silicate. Essentiall y, this method combines the molecular dynamics simulation with wilson's GF matri x method, electro_optical parameter method and bond polarizability model. With t his theoretical method, we have studied the Raman scattering coefficients of sym metrical stretching modes of Qi in sodium silicate melts, and concluded th at these coefficients are independent of composition. Meanwhile, the five values of the coefficients are also given as follows: S0=１, S1=0514, S2=0 242, S3=0090 and S4=0015 In order to apply these quantities to experiments, the Raman spectrum of sodium disilicate melt has been measured and its high_frequency envelope has been deconvolved into three Gaussian bands. Fina lly, the molar fractions of Qi were achieved by dividing the area fraction s of the three Gaussian bands by corresponding scattering coefficients. Addition ally, combining the results of theoretical calculation and quantitative analysis of experimental spectra, we found that the intensities of anti_symmetrical stre tching modes of Q0 and Q2 in sodium silicate melts are so strong tha t they cannot be neglected in the deconvolution process.
Respiratory tissue-associated commensal bacteria offer therapeutic potential against pneumococcal colonization
Authors: Yildiz Soner , Pereira Bonifacio Lopes João P , Bergé Matthieu , González-Ruiz Víctor , Baud Damian , Kloehn Joachim , Boal-Carvalho Inês , Schaeren Olivier P , Schotsaert Michael , Hathaway Lucy J , Rudaz Serge , Viollier Patrick H , Hapfelmeier Siegfried , Francois Patrice , Schmolke Mirco
Published: December 2020

Under eubiotic conditions commensal microbes are known to provide a competitive barrier against invading bacterial pathogens in the intestinal tract, on the skin or on the vaginal mucosa. Here, we evaluate the role of lung microbiota in Pneumococcus colonization of the lungs. In eubiosis, the lungs of mice were dominantly colonized by Lactobacillus murinus. Differential analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing or L. murinus-specific qPCR of DNA from total organ homogenates vs.broncho alveolar lavages implicated tight association of these bacteria with the host tissue. Pure L. murinus conditioned culture medium inhibited growth and reduced the extension of pneumococcal chains. Growth inhibition in vitro was likely dependent on L. murinus-produced lactic acid, since pH neutralization of the conditioned medium aborted the antibacterial effect. Finally, we demonstrate that L. murinus provides a barrier against pneumococcal colonization in a respiratory dysbiosis model after an influenza A virus infection, when added therapeutically.
FLEXIQuant-LF to quantify protein modification extent in label-free proteomics data
Authors: Schlaffner Christoph N , Kahnert Konstantin , Muntel Jan , Chauhan Ruchi , Renard Bernhard Y , Steen Judith A , Steen Hanno
Published: December 2020

Improvements in LC-MS/MS methods and technology have enabled the identification of thousands of modified peptides in a single experiment. However, protein regulation by post-translational modifications (PTMs) is not binary, making methods to quantify the modification extent crucial to understanding the role of PTMs. Here, we introduce FLEXIQuant-LF, a software tool for large-scale identification of differentially modified peptides and quantification of their modification extent without knowledge of the types of modifications involved. We developed FLEXIQuant-LF using label-free quantification of unmodified peptides and robust linear regression to quantify the modification extent of peptides. As proof of concept, we applied FLEXIQuant-LF to data-independent-acquisition (DIA) data of the anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) during mitosis. The unbiased FLEXIQuant-LF approach to assess the modification extent in quantitative proteomics data provides a better understanding of the function and regulation of PTMs. The software is available at https://github.com/SteenOmicsLab/FLEXIQuantLF.
TrpML-mediated astrocyte microdomain Ca2+ transients regulate astrocyte–tracheal interactions
Authors: Ma Zhiguo , Freeman Marc R
Published: December 2020

Astrocytes exhibit spatially-restricted near-membrane microdomain Ca2+transients in their fine processes. How these transients are generated and regulate brain function in vivo remains unclear. Here we show that Drosophila astrocytes exhibit spontaneous, activity-independent microdomain Ca2+ transients in their fine processes. Astrocyte microdomain Ca2+ transients are mediated by the TRP channel TrpML, stimulated by reactive oxygen species (ROS), and can be enhanced in frequency by the neurotransmitter tyramine via the TyrRII receptor. Interestingly, many astrocyte microdomain Ca2+ transients are closely associated with tracheal elements, which dynamically extend filopodia throughout the central nervous system (CNS) to deliver O2 and regulate gas exchange. Many astrocyte microdomain Ca2+ transients are spatio-temporally correlated with the initiation of tracheal filopodial retraction. Loss of TrpML leads to increased tracheal filopodial numbers, growth, and increased CNS ROS. We propose that local ROS production can activate astrocyte microdomain Ca2+ transients through TrpML, and that a subset of these microdomain transients promotes tracheal filopodial retraction and in turn modulate CNS gas exchange.
The The Barriers and Facilitators of Physical Activity Participation Among People Living with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Olbeci Ozge , Celik Aycan , Jone Russell
Published: December 2020

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is among the leading causes of serious mortality and health burden globally. Exercise is one of the commonly suggested preventions/ interventions for T2DM. However, many adults with T2DM are not achieving the recommended levels of physical activity. The objective of this systematic review is to investigate the barriers and facilitators to physical activity among people living with type 2 diabetes.

Methods/Design: This review will be undertaken using the Preferred Reporting Items and Meta-analysis (PRISMA). The database search will be performed in MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed, and Web of Science. Studies included will report primary data (qualitative and quantitative) on people with T2DM (18 and over years of age). The review will be limited in English published between 2009 and 2020. A study design describing reasons for barriers, facilitators or both of physical activity among people with T2DM will be included. The risk of bias will be evaluated with Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Data synthesis will be conducted with narrative synthesis for quantitative studies, and thematic synthesis for qualitative studies followed by a mix-method synthesis to combine the previous synthesis.

Discussion: This review will provide evidence for better understanding the facilitators and barriers to physical activity among people with T2DM. This information will also guide future research and support the development of the intervention to expand and increase facilitator factors determined by people with T2DM.
Mapping the Knowledge on Coping Processes in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Ristau Patrick , Oetting-Roß Claudia , Büscher Andreas
Published: December 2020

Background: Pancreatic cancer is one of the malignant diseases with the highest cancer-specific mortality. At the time of diagnosis, life expectancy is often already very limited, as it is usually discovered late and in an advanced stage. Coping with cancer is a complex process. Coping strategies of patients with pancreatic cancer probably differ from those of other malignancies. Yet to date, there exists no pancreatic cancer-specific coping model.

Objective: The objective of this scoping review is to explore and characterize the academic literature related to coping processes in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Methods/Design: The JBI's three-step search strategy, combined with the Arksey and O'Malley framework, will be used to identify articles via PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, CAMbase, CareLit, CC Med, Scopus, and PsycARTICLES (Arksey & O'Malley, 2005; Peters et al., 2017). It follows the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews (Tricco et al., 2018). Primary and secondary studies and reviews which report on coping with pancreatic cancer (adenocarcinoma) in adults in English or German language will be included in this scoping review, regardless of publication date or study design.

Discussion: This scoping review will add new insights on coping with pancreatic cancer by summarizing current knowledge, and identifying research
Ravitsejad Siberi eesti kogukondades
Authors:   Estonian Literary Museum, Estonia, Korb Anu
Published: December 2020

The article is based on manuscripts as well as sound and video recordings on folk medicine collected during fieldwork conducted by the researchers of the Estonian Folklore Archives in 1991–2013 from Estonians born and raised in different Siberian Estonian communities. The ancestors of the visited Estonians had either left their homeland in search of land in the last decades of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries or were descendants of those deported and exiled by the Russian tsarist authorities in the first half of the 19th century. Fieldwork at Siberian Estonians in the last decade of the 20th century enriched the Estonian Folklore Archives with invaluable lore material, including the material related to folk medicine. Although the advance of the state medicine system with small hospitals and first aid posts had reached Siberian villages half a century before, and the activity of healers had been banned for decades, the collectors were surprised by the number of healers in villages and the extent of the practical use of folk medicine. The folk medicine tradition was upheld mostly by older women (as was the case also with other fields of lore), which resulted, on the one hand, from the demographic situation, and, on the other hand, from women’s leading position in the preservation of communal traditions. In the older Siberian Estonian communities, which had been established by the deportees (e.g. Ülem(Upper)-Suetuk, Ryzhkovo), it was believed that healing words and skills were available and could be learned by anyone; they were often compared to God’s word. Some people thought that knowledge and skills could only be shared with those younger than yourself. In the villages established by exiles people were considerably more cautious about passing on healing words and the like. In most villages with southern Estonian background, healing charms were kept in secret, as it was believed that when sharing their knowledge, the healers would lose their abilities. It was only at their death’s door that the healers selected their successor. Not all the people who were offered to learn the healing skills were ready to accept the responsibility. The first or last child in the family was thought to have more prerequisites for becoming a good healer. In the first decade of the 21st century, the situation with passing on the healing words and skills had changed considerably in older Siberian villages. Many of the healers had passed away, and there were not enough young people who were interested in continuing the tradition. So the healing skills inevitably concentrated into the hands of a few wise women. Currently, the folk healing tradition in Siberian Estonian communities is fading away, above all, due to the fast aging and diminishing of the communities.
A deep learning-based ensemble method for helmet-wearing detection
Authors: Fan Zheming , Peng Chengbin , Dai Licun , Cao Feng , Qi Jianyu , Hua Wenyi
Published: December 2020

Recently, object detection methods have developed rapidly and have been widely used in many areas. In many scenarios, helmet wearing detection is very useful, because people are required to wear helmets to protect their safety when they work in construction sites or cycle in the streets. However, for the problem of helmet wearing detection in complex scenes such as construction sites and workshops, the detection accuracy of current approaches still needs to be improved. In this work, we analyze the mechanism and performance of several detection algorithms and identify two feasible base algorithms that have complementary advantages. We use one base algorithm to detect relatively large heads and helmets. Also, we use the other base algorithm to detect relatively small heads, and we add another convolutional neural network to detect whether there is a helmet above each head. Then, we integrate these two base algorithms with an ensemble method. In this method, we first propose an approach to merge information of heads and helmets from the base algorithms, and then propose a linear function to estimate the confidence score of the identified heads and helmets. Experiments on a benchmark data set show that, our approach increases the precision and recall for base algorithms, and the mean Average Precision of our approach is 0.93, which is better than many other approaches. With GPU acceleration, our approach can achieve real-time processing on contemporary computers, which is useful in practice.
Improving the performance of opportunistic routing using min-max range and optimum energy level for relay node selection in wireless sensor networks
Authors: Yee Por Lip , Mehmood Shahid , Almogren Ahmad , Ali Ihsan , Anisi Mohammad Hossein
Published: December 2020

Opportunistic routing is an emerging routing technology that was proposed to overcome the drawback of unreliable transmission, especially in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). Over the years, many forwarder methods were proposed to improve the performance in opportunistic routing. However, based on existing works, the findings have shown that there is still room for improvement in this domain, especially in the aspects of latency, network lifetime, and packet delivery ratio. In this work, a new relay node selection method was proposed. The proposed method used the minimum or maximum range and optimum energy level to select the best relay node to forward packets to improve the performance in opportunistic routing. OMNeT++ and MiXiM framework were used to simulate and evaluate the proposed method. The simulation settings were adopted based on the benchmark scheme. The evaluation results showed that our proposed method outperforms in the aspect of latency, network lifetime, and packet delivery ratio as compared to the benchmark scheme.
Developing a machine learning model to identify protein–protein interaction hotspots to facilitate drug discovery
Authors: Nandakumar Rohit , Dinu Valentin
Published: December 2020

Throughout the history of drug discovery, an enzymatic-based approach for identifying new drug molecules has been primarily utilized. Recently, protein–protein interfaces that can be disrupted to identify small molecules that could be viable targets for certain diseases, such as cancer and the human immunodeficiency virus, have been identified. Existing studies computationally identify hotspots on these interfaces, with most models attaining accuracies of ~70%. Many studies do not effectively integrate information relating to amino acid chains and other structural information relating to the complex. Herein, (1) a machine learning model has been created and (2) its ability to integrate multiple features, such as those associated with amino-acid chains, has been evaluated to enhance the ability to predict protein–protein interface hotspots. Virtual drug screening analysis of a set of hotspots determined on the EphB2-ephrinB2 complex has also been performed. The predictive capabilities of this model offer an AUROC of 0.842, sensitivity/recall of 0.833, and specificity of 0.850. Virtual screening of a set of hotspots identified by the machine learning model developed in this study has identified potential medications to treat diseases caused by the overexpression of the EphB2-ephrinB2 complex, including prostate, gastric, colorectal and melanoma cancers which are linked to EphB2 mutations. The efficacy of this model has been demonstrated through its successful ability to predict drug-disease associations previously identified in literature, including cimetidine, idarubicin, pralatrexate for these conditions. In addition, nadolol, a beta blocker, has also been identified in this study to bind to the EphB2-ephrinB2 complex, and the possibility of this drug treating multiple cancers is still relatively unexplored.
Recalibration of mapping quality scores in Illumina short-read alignments improves SNP detection results in low-coverage sequencing data
Authors: Cline Eliot , Wisittipanit Nuttachat , Boongoen Tossapon , Chukeatirote Ekachai , Struss Darush , Eungwanichayapant Anant
Published: December 2020

Background

Low-coverage sequencing is a cost-effective way to obtain reads spanning an entire genome. However, read depth at each locus is low, making sequencing error difficult to separate from actual variation. Prior to variant calling, sequencer reads are aligned to a reference genome, with alignments stored in Sequence Alignment/Map (SAM) files. Each alignment has a mapping quality (MAPQ) score indicating the probability a read is incorrectly aligned. This study investigated the recalibration of probability estimates used to compute MAPQ scores for improving variant calling performance in single-sample, low-coverage settings.

Materials and Methods

Simulated tomato, hot pepper and rice genomes were implanted with known variants. From these, simulated paired-end reads were generated at low coverage and aligned to the original reference genomes. Features extracted from the SAM formatted alignment files for tomato were used to train machine learning models to detect incorrectly aligned reads and output estimates of the probability of misalignment for each read in all three data sets. MAPQ scores were then re-computed from these estimates. Next, the SAM files were updated with new MAPQ scores. Finally, Variant calling was performed on the original and recalibrated alignments and the results compared.

Results

Incorrectly aligned reads comprised only 0.16% of the reads in the training set. This severe class imbalance required special consideration for model training. The F1 score for detecting misaligned reads ranged from 0.76 to 0.82. The best performing model was used to compute new MAPQ scores. Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) detection was improved after mapping score recalibration. In rice, recall for called SNPs increased by 5.2%, while for tomato and pepper it increased by 3.1% and 1.5%, respectively. For all three data sets the precision of SNP calls ranged from 0.91 to 0.95, and was largely unchanged both before and after mapping score recalibration.

Conclusion

Recalibrating MAPQ scores delivers modest improvements in single-sample variant calling results. Some variant callers operate on multiple samples simultaneously. They exploit every sample’s reads to compensate for the low read-depth of individual samples. This improves polymorphism detection and genotype inference. It may be that small improvements in single-sample settings translate to larger gains in a multi-sample experiment. A study to investigate this is ongoing.
Characterization of a profilin-like protein from Fasciola hepatica
Authors: Wilkie Jessica , Cameron Timothy C. , Beddoe Travis
Published: December 2020

Fasciola hepatica is the causative agent of fasciolosis, an important disease of humans and livestock around the world. There is an urgent requirement for novel treatments for F. hepatica due to increasing reports of drug resistance appearing around the world. The outer body covering of F. hepatica is referred to as the tegument membrane which is of crucial importance for the modulation of the host response and parasite survival; therefore, tegument proteins may represent novel drug or vaccine targets. Previous studies have identified a profilin-like protein in the tegument of F. hepatica. Profilin is a regulatory component of the actin cytoskeleton in all eukaryotic cells, and in some protozoan parasites, profilin has been shown to drive a potent IL-12 response. This study characterized the identified profilin form F. hepatica (termed FhProfilin) for the first time. Recombinant expression of FhProfilin resulted in a protein approximately 14 kDa in size which was determined to be dimeric like other profilins isolated from a range of eukaryotic organisms. FhProfilin was shown to bind poly-L-proline (pLp) and sequester actin monomers which is characteristic of the profilin family; however, there was no binding of FhProfilin to phosphatidylinositol lipids. Despite FhProfilin being a component of the tegument, it was shown not to generate an immune response in experimentally infected sheep or cattle.
Epitaph of a Buddhist Lady
Authors: Bo Bi , Sims-Williams Nicholas
Published: December 2020

The inscription edited in this paper is the third bilingual Chinese-Sogdian epitaph to be made known, following that of Wirkakk (Shijun) and Wiyusi and that of Nanai-vande and Kekan, published in 2005 and 2017 respectively. The new epitaph is that of a Sogdian lady who died in 736 CE. Apart from its linguistic interest, it is important as attesting the conversion of a Sogdian lady to the “heretical” Buddhist Sanjie or “Three levels” movement, which remained popular despite being officially suppressed under the Tang.
Sibilants in Libyco-Berber
Authors: Kossman Maarten
Published: December 2020

The second-century BCE Libyco-Berber inscriptions from Dougga (present-day Tunisia) have seven different signs for sibilants. In this article the sibilant system of these inscriptions and of the language they represent is studied in detail. It is shown that the different signs are not just graphemic variants but represent different pronunciations. It is also shown that there is a possibility that the seven signs in fact represent three or four articulations with a length contrast, even though the evidence is very weak. As Proto-Berber has been reconstructed with only three sibilants (+ length opposition), the choice of how to analyze the seven Libyco-Berber sibilant signs has important implications as to how the relationship between Libyco-Berber and Proto-Berber is to be assessed.
Chaoskampf Myth in the Biblical Tradition
Authors: Tsumura David Toshio
Published: December 2020

Three monographs published between 2012 and 2015 are considered here, in particular concerning their treatment of the so-called Chaoskampf myth in the Hebrew Bible and in the ancient Near East. The first two, by Gregory Mobley and Bernard Batto, still hold to the traditional Gunkelian approach to this subject and think that the Chaoskampf motif of Enūma elish is behind Gen. 1 and hence that creation is the result of conflict. While Mobley’s view is more ideological and theological, Batto focuses more on the literary and religious aspects of this myth, referring to it as a “Combat Myth.” However, as the title of the third monograph shows, Debra Ballentine limits herself to discussing only the conflict myth, mainly that in Ugaritic and Hebrew texts, and avoids the use of the term “chaos.” She follows David Tsumura and Rebecca Watson in accepting that there is no connection between these storm images and the creation motif, either in the ancient Near East—except for Enūma elish—or in the Bible. Focusing on the Chaoskampf mythology and its relationship with the biblical traditions, one can observe sharp differences among the three authors.
Effect of the Chromatographic Fractions of Abrus precatorius Leaf on the Histology of Uterus and Ovary of Female Wistar Rats
Authors: Ajibo N. D. , Ogbuehi I. H. , Brambaifa N.
Published: December 2020

Aim: To determine the effects of chromatographic fractions of Abrus precatorius leaf extracts on the histology of the ovary and uterus.

Study Design: Abrus precatorius plant contain woods in a twinning form and belong to the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family. It has red and black seeds. Abrus precatorius also possess a pod which is short and stout brownish in color [1]. The plant grows in bushes and farm and sometimes in hedge. Abrus precatorius are said to be taken for tuberculosis and painful swellings [2]. According to Ross [3], they can be used as laxative, expectorant and aphrodisiac medicines and are sometimes used in urticaria, eczema, stomatitis, conjunctivitis, alopecia areata, migraine, lymphomas/leukemia and dysmenorrhea. Experiment has demonstrated that the seed have the ability to retard fertility both in male and female [4]. Studies done in the past revealed that the plant Abrus precatorius can kill cells or cause cell death at the same time leading to death of tumor [5]. Extraction of the leaves of A. precatorius with methanol has shown through previous study to possess bronchodilatory effect and its use traditionally in the management of asthma [6]. Extracts obtained from the roots, has good antibacterial activity especially against Staphylococcus aureus (Prabha et al. 2015). In a study performed in Tanzania, it was confirmed that boiling the leaves of A. precatorius with water and taking it orally as three table spoonful in twice daily dosage regimen for the treatment of epilepsy is helpful [7].

Female wistar rats were treated with chromatographic fractions of A. precatorius, F1, F2, F3 and F4 (30 mg/kg, 60 mg/kg, 90 mg/kg, 120 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg) for thirty days. One hundred and ten Wistar rats were divided into twenty-two (22) groups of five rats each. All the rats were weighed   before and during the experiment. Group 1 (Control) received 0.5 mls, Phosphate Buffer Solution (PBS); Group 3-7. received 30 mg/kg, 60 mg/kg, 90 mg/kg, 120 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg of F1. Group 8-12 received 30 mg/kg, 60 mg/kg, 90 mg/kg, 120 mg/kg and 150 mg/k of F2. Group13-17 received 30 mg/kg, 60 mg/kg, 90 mg/kg, 120 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg of F3 and Group 18-22 received 30 mg/kg, 60 mg/kg, 90 mg/kg, 120 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg of F4 respectively. The fractions/drugs were administered orally. The rats were treated with chromatographic fractions of A. precatorius, F1, F2, F3 and F4 (30 mg/kg, 60 mg/kg, 90 mg/kg, 120 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg) for 30 days. The animals were sacrificed, dissected and the uterus and ovaries obtained for histology study. The study revealed histological evidence that the chromatographic fractions of Abrus precatorius leaf do not have any potential adverse effect on the ovary and uterus of the Wistar Albino rats.
Bio-Fuel Potential of Some Sweet Sorghum Genotypes [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench ssp. saccharatum]
Authors: Oktem Ayse Gulgun , Oktem Abdullah , Tas Timucin , Yucel Celal
Published: December 2020

The fossil energy sources used in the world are gradually decreasing and limited. Fossil fuels cause environmental pollution, and the unit price is constantly increasing. For this reason, demand for cheaper and renewable energy sources that do not pollute the environment is increasing day by day. The sweet sorghum plant has attracted attention in recent years with its high biomass yield, sugar content and bioethanol yield. In this study, it was aimed to determine the bio-fuel potential of some sweet sorghum genotypes in semi-arid climatic conditions. The experiment was set up in randomized complete block design with 4 replicates. Research was carried out in 2015 under Harran Plain (36o 42’ N and 38o 58’ E) second crop conditions, Sanliurfa, Turkey. In the study 49 genotypes of sweet sorghum were used. Stalk yield, juice yield, syrup yield, brix, sugar yield and theoretical ethanol yield were determined in the study. Significant differences were found between the genotypes for tested characteristics (P≤0.01). Stalk yield ranged from 7110.0 kg da-1 to 24262.5 da-1, juice yield from 2550.0 L da-1 to 12187.5 L da-1, syrup yield from 291.4 L da-1 to 2242.5 L da-1. Also, brix value varied between %7.0 and %18.87, sugar yield between 247.7 da-1 and 1906.1 da-1, Theoretical ethanol yield between 131.9 L da-1 and 1014.8 L da-1. Considering to stalk yield, juice and syrup yield, brix, sugar yield and theoretical ethanol yield; Nebraska sugar, Topper 76, Smith, M81E and Corina genotypes were found as the best. As a result of research, 21 genotypes with better performance than the others were selected for further studies.
A Novel UPLC-PDA Stability Indicating Method Development and Validation for the Simultaneous Estimation of Lamivudine and Dolutegravir in Bulk and Its Tablets
Authors: Venkatesh Poojari , Kulandaivelu Umasankar , Rao Gsn Koteswara , Chakravarthi Guntupalli , Alavala Rajasekhar Reddy , Rajesh Bandlamuri
Published: December 2020

Aim: To develop a stability indicating Rp-UPLC method for the simultaneous determination of Lamivudine, Dolutegravir and their degradants in tablets.

Methodology: The chromatographic separation was performed on BEH Shield RP18 (2.1 mmX100 mmX1.7 mm) using a isocratic mobile phase Potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate pH 3 adjusted with orthophosphoric acid: methanol (30:70,% v/v) at a flow rate of 0.5ml/min. Column was maintained at room temperature and eluents are monitored at 258 nm.

Results: Retention times of the analytes were found to be at 0.81 and 2.78 mins for Lamivudine and Dolutegravir respectively. The calibration of peak area versus concentration, which was linear from 105 to 315 µg/ml for Lamivudine and 17.5 to 52.5 µg/ml for Dolutegravir, had regression coefficient (r2) greater than 0.999. The method had the requisite accuracy, precision and robustness for simultaneous determination of Lamivudine and Dolutegravir in tablets.

Conclusion: The proposed method is simple, economical, accurate, precise and can be successfully employed in routine quality control for the simultaneous analysis of Lamivudine and Dolutegravir in pharmaceutical formulations.
Hepatoprotective and Reno-protective Effects of Artichoke Leaf Extract and Rosemary Extract against Paracetamol Induced Toxicity in Albino Rats
Authors: Fadlalla Eman Aly Sadeek , Galal Sahar Mousa
Published: December 2020

Background: Paracetamol overdose is a predominant cause of hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in both humans and experimental animals. There is an emerging focus on plant products to find a highly effective and reliable drug for the prevention of paracetamol –induced toxicity.

Objective: In this study, we investigated the Hepatoprotective and Reno-protective Effects of artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) Leaf extract and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) extract against paracetamol Induced toxicity in Albino Rats.

Materials and Methods: Rats were divided into five groups: Negative control, paracetamol (1000 mg/kg dose) PCT, artichoke leaf extract “ALE” (1.5  g/kg, orally + paracetamol for 30 d), rosemary extract “RE” (125  mg/kg + paracetamol for 30 days) and the last group was treated with PCT+ ALE+ RE for 30 days.

Results: Paracetamol caused marked liver damage as noted by significant increased activities of serum aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase and lactate dehydrogenase. Paracetamol also raised serum levels of urea, creatinine, and Cystatin-C. In addition, there was a significant decrease in serum total protein and albumin. Paracetamol caused an elevation in lipid peroxidation paralleled with significant decline in reduced glutathione (GSH) level and activities of glutathione-S- transferase (GST), glutathione (GPX) peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the liver and kidney. These results are confirmed in the histological examination of the liver and kidney.

Conclusion: Treatment with artichoke leaf extract (ALE) and rosemary extract (RE) produced a potential protection of the liver and kidney against biochemical and histological alterations and oxidative stress induced by paracetamol.
Perception, Attitude and Recommendations for Healthcare Professionals towards COVID-19 Infection: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Survey Based Study from India
Authors: Aqeel Ubada , Ali Mohammad Daud , Iqbal Zeenat , Mirza Mohd. Aamir , Aslam Mohammed
Published: December 2020

We have carried out a survey among Healthcare professionals in the perceptions and attitude towards COVID-19 and also attempted to reach a few conclusions in the form of recommendations.  A questionnaire based online survey was conducted between 1st April 2020 and 30th May 2020. 97.20% (p<0.05) participants suggested that protective mask for the patients or attendants should be made compulsory while coming to the Hospitals. 79.33% (p<0.05) think that post COVID-19 the area outside the doctor’s chamber should not be crowded and some measures should be taken in order to reduce the number. In the same line, 83.58% (p<0.05) participants favour, limiting the number of attendants with the patients and making a prior appointment compulsory, 51.97% (p<0.05) wish to switch to virtual counselling. Considering the variation in strains of the virus, different geographical conditions, demography, economic status and healthcare facilities, a uniform policy shouldn’t be implemented all across the globe or even for a country.
Thin‐Layer Chromatography for the Detection and Analysis of Bioactive Natural Products
Authors: Urbain Aurélie , Simões‐Pires Claudia Avello
Published: December 2020

Thin‐layer chromatography (TLC) is a simple and cost‐effective technique, extensively used in natural products analysis. It is suitable for chemical and biological screening of herbal products and useful in monitoring bioguided isolation of active components. When coupled with appropriate detection methods, this versatile technique can provide qualitative or semi‐quantitative information on the chemical constituents of a complex mixture. For this purpose, the main advances in TLC include the development of highly efficient and reproducible methods, as in the case of high‐performance thin‐layer chromatography (HPTLC), and the development of several hyphenated techniques, including mass spectrometry (MS), Raman spectroscopy, and densitometry. Besides, several bioassays have been developed in combination with TLC separation for the on‐plate investigation of biological activity of natural products, a procedure known as bioautography. The major advantage of this technique is the ability to locate active substances from a complex mixture before compound purification. Overall, the recent advances in TLC analysis are a major contribution in avoiding time‐consuming and tedious isolation of already‐known or inactive phytochemicals. In this chapter, a comprehensive overview of TLC with chemical and biological detection is presented, with a focus on up‐to‐date bioautographic assays, their mechanisms, pitfalls, and recent advances in the field of natural products.
Missense PDSS1 mutations in CoenzymeQ10 synthesis cause optic atrophy and sensorineural deafness
Authors: Nardecchia Francesca , De Giorgi Agnese , Palombo Flavia , Fiorini Claudio , De Negri Anna M. , Carelli Valerio , Caporali Leonardo , Leuzzi Vincenzo
Published: December 2020

CoenzymeQ10 is one of the main cellular antioxidants and an essential lipid involved in numerous cell reactions, such as energy production and apoptosis modulation. A large number of enzymes are involved in CoQ10 biosynthesis. Mutations in the genes encoding for these enzymes cause a CoQ10 deficiency, characterized by neurological and systemic symptoms. Here we describe two young sisters with sensorineural deafness followed by optic atrophy, due to a novel homozygous pathogenic variant in PDSS1. The visual system seems to be mainly involved when the first steps of CoQ10 synthesis are impaired (PDSS1, PDSS2, and COQ2 deficiency).
Viltolarsen in Japanese Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients: A phase 1/2 study
Authors: Komaki Hirofumi , Takeshima Yasuhiro , Matsumura Tsuyoshi , Ozasa Shiro , Funato Michinori , Takeshita Eri , Iwata Yasuyuki , Yajima Hiroyuki , Egawa Yoichi , Toramoto Takuya , Tajima Masaya , Takeda Shinichi
Published: December 2020

Objective

The novel morpholino antisense oligonucleotide viltolarsen targets exon 53 of the dystrophin gene, and could be an effective treatment for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). We investigated viltolarsen’s ability to induce dystrophin expression and examined its safety in DMD patients.

Methods

In this open‐label, multicenter, parallel‐group, phase 1/2, exploratory study, 16 ambulant and nonambulant males aged 5–12 years with DMD received viltolarsen 40 or 80 mg/kg/week via intravenous infusion for 24 weeks. Primary endpoints were dystrophin expression and exon 53 skipping levels.

Results

In western blot analysis, mean changes in dystrophin expression (% normal) from baseline to Weeks 12 and 24 were − 1.21 (P = 0.5136) and 1.46 (P = 0.1636), respectively, in the 40 mg/kg group, and 0.76 (P = 0.2367) and 4.81 (P = 0.0536), respectively, in the 80 mg/kg group. The increase in mean dystrophin level at Weeks 12 and 24 was significant in the 80 mg/kg group (2.78%; P = 0.0364). Patients receiving 80 mg/kg showed a higher mean exon 53 skipping level (42.4%) than those receiving 40 mg/kg (21.8%). All adverse events were judged to be mild or moderate in intensity and none led to study discontinuation.

Interpretation

Treatment with viltolarsen 40 or 80 mg/kg elicited an increasing trend in dystrophin expression and exon 53 skipping levels, and was safe and well tolerated. The decline in motor function appeared less marked in patients with higher dystrophin levels; this may warrant further investigation. This study supports the potential clinical benefit of viltolarsen.
Continuous and interval training attenuate encephalomyelitis by separate immunomodulatory mechanisms
Authors: Goldberg Yehuda , Fainstein Nina , Zaychik Yifat , Hamdi Liel , Segal Shir , Nabat Hanan , Touloumi Olga , Zoidou Sofia , Grigoriadis Nikolaos , Hoffman Jay R. , Katz Abram , Ben‐Hur Tamir , Einstein Ofira
Published: December 2020

Background

Studies have reported beneficial effects of exercise training on autoimmunity, and specifically on multiple sclerosis (MS) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). However, it is unknown whether different training paradigms affect disease course via shared or separate mechanisms.

Objective

To compare the effects and mechanism of immune modulation of high intensity continuous training (HICT) versus high intensity interval training (HIIT) on systemic autoimmunity in EAE.

Methods

We used the proteolipid protein (PLP)‐induced transfer EAE model to examine training effects on the systemic autoimmune response. Healthy mice performed HICT or HIIT by running on a treadmill. Lymph‐node (LN)‐T cells from PLP‐immunized trained‐ versus sedentary donor mice were transferred to naïve recipients and EAE clinical and pathological severity were assessed. LN cells derived from donor trained and sedentary PLP‐immunized mice were analyzed in vitro for T‐cell activation and proliferation, immune cell profiling, and cytokine mRNA levels and cytokine secretion measurements.

Results

Both HICT and HIIT attenuated the encephalitogenicity of PLP‐reactive T cells, as indicated by reduced EAE clinical severity and inflammation and tissue pathology in the central nervous system, following their transfer into recipient mice. HICT caused a marked inhibition of PLP‐induced T‐cell proliferation without affecting the T‐cell profile. In contrast, HIIT did not alter T‐cell proliferation, but rather inhibited polarization of T cells into T‐helper 1 and T‐helper 17 autoreactive populations.

Interpretation

HICT and HIIT attenuate systemic autoimmunity and T cell encephalitogenicity by distinct immunomodulatory mechanisms.
Low‐Cost Hypercrosslinked Polymers by Direct Knitting Strategy for Catalytic Applications
Authors: Gu Yanlong , Son Seung Uk , Li Tao , Tan Bien
Published: December 2020

Direct knitting of nucleophilic arene monomers in the presence of electrophilic cross‐linker, like formaldehyde dimethyl acetal, is proven to be a cost‐effective and versatile method for the synthesis of porous organic polymers. The resulting hypercrosslinked polymers (HCPs) are featured by hierarchical porous structure, high surface area, and pore volume. Coordinating functional groups can be easily installed with this method into the rigid aryl network. Direct knitting to HCPs has therefore been widely used in preparing heterogeneous solid catalysts. Wise selection of monomers with rational design of 3D structure and the synergy between the HCP support and the catalytically active species often lead to high efficiency of tailor‐made catalysts without sophisticated operations. On account of all these excellent properties, enthusiasm of researchers to use HCPs in catalysis is increasing rapidly. This review documents the necessity, feasibility, and the great contributions of using HCPs as invaluable tools for catalysis research, and summarizes state of the art of this chemistry. Similar type catalysts obtained by one‐step Scholl reaction are also included in this review.
Additive Manufacturing of Stable Energy Storage Devices Using a Multinozzle Printing System
Authors: Meng Fanbo , Zhang Mingchang , Huang Jin , Lu Wen Feng , Xue Jun Min , Wang Hao
Published: December 2020

The development of the Internet of things has prompted an exponential increase in the demand for flexible, wearable devices, thereby posing new challenges to their integration and conformalization. Additive manufacturing facilitates the fabrication of complex parts via a single integrated process. Herein, the development of a multinozzle, multimaterial printing device is reported. This device accommodates the various characteristics of printing materials, ensures high‐capacity printing, and can accommodate a wide range of material viscosities from 0 to 1000 Cp. Complete capacitors, inclusive of the current collector, electrode, and electrolyte, can be printed without repeated clamping to complete the preheating, printing, and sintering processes. This method addresses the poor stability issue associated with printed electrode materials. Furthermore, after the intercalation of LiFePO4 with Na ions, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction results reveal that the Na ions permeate the interlayer structure of LiFePO4, enhancing the ion migration channels by increasing the ion transmission rate. A current rate of 2.5 mAh ensures >2000 charge/discharge cycles, while retaining a charge/discharge efficiency of 96% and a discharge capacity of 91.3 mAh g−1. This manufacturing process can provide conformal power modules for a diverse range of portable devices with various shapes, improving space utilization.
Design of Local Atomic Environments in Single‐Atom Electrocatalysts for Renewable Energy Conversions
Authors: Sun Tao , Mitchell Sharon , Li Jing , Lyu Pin , Wu Xinbang , Pérez‐Ramírez Javier , Lu Jiong
Published: December 2020

Single‐atom electrocatalysts (SAECs) have recently attracted tremendous research interest due to their often remarkable catalytic responses, unmatched by conventional catalysts. The electrocatalytic performance of SAECs is closely related to the specific metal species and their local atomic environments, including their coordination number, the determined structure of the coordination sites, and the chemical identity of nearest and second nearest neighboring atoms. The wide range of distinct chemical bonding configurations of a single‐metal atom with its surrounding host atoms creates virtually limitless opportunities for the rational design and synthesis of SAECs with tunable local atomic environment for high‐performance electrocatalysis. In this review, the authors first identify fundamental hurdles in electrochemical conversions and highlight the relevance of SAECs. They then critically examine the role of the local atomic structures, encompassing the first and second coordination spheres of the isolated metal atoms, on the design of high‐performance SAECs. The relevance of single‐atom dopants for host activation is also discussed. Insights into the correlation between local structures of SAECs and their catalytic response are analyzed and discussed. Finally, the authors summarize major challenges to be addressed in the field of SAECs and provide some perspectives in the rational construction of superior SAECs for a wide range of electrochemical conversions.
Low‐Voltage Electrical Heater Based on One‐Step Fabrication of Conductive Cu Nanowire Networks for Application in Wearable Devices
Authors: Guo Zhiguang , Sun Chao , Zhao Jing , Cai Zaisheng , Ge Fengyan
Published: December 2020

Wearable electrical heaters have increasingly attracted much attention owing to their efficient applications in personal thermal management and thermal therapy systems. Herein, a flexible, low driving voltage, heat‐resistant, and rapid‐response Cu nanowire networks (CNNs)/clean nylon woven fabric (CNWF) wearable electrical heater is presented based on the highly conductive CNNs and fabric substrate (Nylon 66). The highly conductive and uniform CNNs are prepared by simple one‐step liquid phase reduction method without any post‐treatment. Nylon 66 fabric greatly improves the application performance of electrical heaters owing to their flexibility, good thermal stability, and high mechanical strength. The CNNs/CNWF wearable electrical heater exhibits an exceedingly low sheet resistance of 0.16 Ω sq−1. Moreover, the temperature of the CNNs/CNWF electrical heater with five layers can quickly reach to 142.2 °C within 45 s under 1.8 V. The simulation of the finite elemental analysis (ANSYS 18.2) is used to simulate the process of electrical heating. Although, there is a deviation between the simulated data and the measured data, the deviation is less than 10%. This work lays the foundation for improving the performance and energy saving of personal thermal management textiles based on Joule heating.