bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immobilization of Low-Cost Alternative Vegetable Peroxidase (Raphanus sativus L. peroxidase): Choice of Support/Technique and Characterization
Authors: Barbosa Gabrielle Souza da Silva , Oliveira Maria Emanuela P. S. , dos Santos Ana Beatriz S. , Sánchez Osmar Calderón , Soares Cleide Mara Faria , Fricks Alini Tinoco
Published: August 2020

In the present work the radish (Raphanus sativus L.) was used as the low-cost alternative source of peroxidase. The enzyme was immobilized in different supports: coconut fiber (CF), calcium alginate microspheres (CAMs) and silica SBA-15/albumin hybrid (HB). Physical adsorption (PA) and covalent binding (CB) as immobilization techniques were evaluated. Immobilized biocatalysts (IBs) obtained were physicochemical and morphologically characterized by SEM, FTIR and TGA. Also, optimum pH/temperature and operational stability were determined. For all supports, the immobilization by covalent binding provided the higher immobilization efficiencies—immobilization yield (IY%) of 89.99 ± 0.38% and 77.74 ± 0.42% for HB and CF, respectively. For CAMs the activity recovery (AR) was of 11.83 ± 0.68%. All IBs showed optimum pH at 6.0. Regarding optimum temperature of the biocatalysts, HB-CB and CAM-CB maintained the original optimum temperature of the free enzyme (40 °C). HB-CB showed higher operational stability, maintaining around 65% of the initial activity after four consecutive cycles. SEM, FTIR and TGA results suggest the enzyme presence on the IBs. Radish peroxidase immobilized on HB support by covalent binding is promising in future biotechnological applications.
Sponges and Sponge-Like Materials in Sample Preparation: A Journey from Past to Present and into the Future
Authors: Chatzimitakos Theodoros G. , Stalikas Constantine D.
Published: August 2020

Even though instrumental advancements are constantly being made in analytical chemistry, sample preparation is still considered the bottleneck of analytical methods. To this end, researchers are developing new sorbent materials to improve and replace existing ones, with the ultimate goal to improve current methods and make them more efficient and effective. A few years ago, an alternative trend was started toward sample preparation: the use of sponge or sponge-like materials. These materials possess favorable characteristics, such as negligible weight, open-hole structure, high surface area, and variable surface chemistry. Although their use seemed promising, this trend soon reversed, due to either the increasing use of nanomaterials in sample preparation or the limited scope of the first materials. Currently, with the development of new materials, such as melamine sponges, along with the advancement in nanotechnology, this topic was revived, and various functionalizations were carried out on such materials. The new materials are used as sorbents in sample preparation in analytical chemistry. This review explores the development of such materials, from the past to the present and into the future, as well as their use in analytical chemistry.
Investigations into the Effects of pH on Quantitative Measurements of Lactate in Biological Media Using ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy
Authors: Baishya Nystha , Mamouei Mohammad , Budidha Karthik , Qassem Meha , Vadgama Pankaj , Kyriacou Panayiotis A.
Published: August 2020

Quantification of lactate/lactic acid in critical care environments is essential as lactate serves as an important biochemical marker for the adequacy of the haemodynamic circulation in shock and of cell respiration at the onset of sepsis/septic shock. Hence, in this study, ATR-FTIR was explored as a potential tool for lactate measurement, as the current techniques depend on sample preparation and fails to provide rapid response. Moreover, the effects of pH on PBS samples (7.4, 7, 6.5 and 6) and change in solution conditions (PBS to whole blood) on spectral features were also investigated. A total 189 spectra from five sets of lactate containing media were obtained. Results suggests that lactate could be measured with more than 90% accuracy in the wavenumber range of 1500–600 cm−1. The findings of this study further suggest that there exist no effects of change in pH or media, when estimating lactate concentration changes in this range of the Mid-IR spectral region.
Comparison of Opioid-Free Anesthesia Versus Opioid-Containing Anesthesia for Elective Laparoscopic Surgery (COFA: LAP): A Protocol Measuring Recovery Outcomes
Authors: Eidan Anthony , Ratsch Angela , Burmeister Elizabeth A. , Griffiths Geraldine
Published: August 2020

The administration of opioids is a central element in contemporary anesthetic techniques in Australia; however, opioids have a range of side effects. As an alternative, opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) is an emerging mode of anesthesia intended to avoid these side effects. This study is the first to publish the use of OFA in Australia and is conducted in a regional Queensland Health Service. The design will utilize a randomized clinical trial (RCT) to investigate the impact of OFA for patients having an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (n = 40) or tubal ligation (n = 40). Participant outcomes to be measured include: Quality of Recovery (QoR-15); Oral Morphine Equivalent Daily Dose (OMEDD) at 24-h post-operatively; time to first opioid (TTFO) dose; post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV); Post Anesthetic Care Unit length of stay (PACU-LOS); and hospital length of stay (LOS). The findings may challenge the essentiality of opioids in the peri-operative period, which in turn would influence the future intra-operative management of surgical patients. Ultimately, a reduction in anesthesia-associated opioid use will support a more general decline in opioid use.
Effect of Hematite Doping with Aliovalent Impurities on the Electrochemical Performance of α-Fe2O3@rGO-Based Anodes in Sodium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Modafferi Vincenza , Triolo Claudia , Fiore Michele , Palella Alessandra , Spadaro Lorenzo , Pianta Nicolò , Ruffo Riccardo , Patanè Salvatore , Santangelo Saveria , Musolino Maria Grazia
Published: August 2020

The effect of the type of dopant (titanium and manganese) and of the reduced graphene oxide content (rGO, 30 or 50 wt %) of the α-Fe2O3@rGO nanocomposites on their microstructural properties and electrochemical performance was investigated. Nanostructured composites were synthesized by a simple one-step solvothermal method and evaluated as anode materials for sodium ion batteries. The doping does not influence the crystalline phase and morphology of the iron oxide nanoparticles, but remarkably increases stability and Coulombic efficiency with respect to the anode based on the composite α-Fe2O3@rGO. For fixed rGO content, Ti-doping improves the rate capability at lower rates, whereas Mn-doping enhances the electrode stability at higher rates, retaining a specific capacity of 56 mAhg−1 at a rate of 2C. Nanocomposites with higher rGO content exhibit better electrochemical performance.
Gated Resonance Energy Transfer (gRET) Controlled by Programmed Death Protein Ligand 1
Authors: Grel Hubert , Ratajczak Katarzyna , Jakiela Slawomir , Stobiecka Magdalena
Published: August 2020

The resonance energy transfer (RET) between an excited fluorescent probe molecule and a plasmonic nanoparticle (AuNP) has been investigated to evaluate the effect of protein molecules on the RET efficiency. We have found that the energy transfer to a functionalized AuNP can be modulated by a sub-monolayer film of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) protein. The interactions of PD-L1 with AuNP@Cit involve incorporation of the protein in AuNP shell and formation of a submonolayer adsorption film with voids enabling gated surface plasmon resonance energy transfer (SPRET). A model of the gated-RET system based on the protein size, estimated using Fisher–Polikarpov–Craievich density approximation, has been developed and can be utilized for other proteins, with minimum data requirement, as well. The value of the equilibrium constant KL determined for the Langmuir isotherm is high: KL = 1.27 × 108 M−1, enabling highly sensitive control of the gated-RET by PD-L1. Thus, with the gated-RET technique, one can determine PD-L1 within the dynamic range, extending from 1.2 to 50 nM. Moreover, we have found that the Gibbs free energy for PD-L1 binding to AuNP@Cit is −46.26 kJ/mol (−11.05 kcal/mol), indicating a strong adsorption with supramolecular interactions. The proposed gated-RET system, with the fluorescence intensity of the fluorophore probe molecule modulated by plasmonic quenching with AuNP and shielding of energy transfer by the adsorbed PD-L1 can be further developed for determination of PD-L1 in pharmaceutical formulations for immune checkpoint control in cancer therapy.
The Interaction between Dietary Selenium Intake and Genetics in Determining Cancer Risk and Outcome
Authors: Kadkol Shrinidhi , Diamond Alan M.
Published: August 2020

There is considerable interest in the trace element selenium as a possible cancer chemopreventive dietary component, but supplementation trials have not indicated a clear benefit. Selenium is a critical component of selenium-containing proteins, or selenoproteins. Members of this protein family contain selenium in the form of selenocysteine. Selenocysteine is encoded by an in-frame UGA codon recognized as a selenocysteine codon by a regulatory element, the selenocysteine insertion sequence (SECIS), in the 3′-untranslated region of selenoprotein mRNAs. Epidemiological studies have implicated several selenoprotein genes in cancer risk or outcome based on associations between allelic variations and disease risk or mortality. These polymorphisms can be found in or near the SECIS or in the selenoprotein coding sequence. These variations both function to control protein synthesis and impact the efficiency of protein synthesis in response to the levels of available selenium. Thus, an individual’s genetic makeup and nutritional intake of selenium may interact to predispose them to acquiring cancer or affect cancer progression to lethality.
Punicalagin Regulates Apoptosis-Autophagy Switch via Modulation of Annexin A1 in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Ganesan Thanusha , Sinniah Ajantha , Chik Zamri , Alshawsh Mohammed Abdullah
Published: August 2020

Punicalagin (PU), a polyphenol extracted from pomegranate (Punica granatum) husk is proven to have anti-cancer effects on different types of cancer including colorectal cancer (CRC). Its role in modulating endogenous protein as a means of eliciting its anti-cancer effects, however, has not been explored to date. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the role of PU in modulating the interplay between apoptosis and autophagy by regulating Annexin A1 (Anx-A1) expression in HCT 116 colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. In the study, selective cytotoxicity, pro-apoptotic, autophagic and Anx-A1 downregulating properties of PU were shown which indicate therapeutic potential that this polyphenol has against CRC. Autophagy flux analysis via flow cytometry showed significant autophagosomes degradation in treated cells, proving the involvement of autophagy. Proteome profiling of 35 different proteins in the presence and absence of Anx-A1 antagonists in PU-treated cells demonstrated a complex interplay that happens between apoptosis and autophagy that suggests the possible simultaneous induction and inhibition of these two cell death mechanisms by PU. Overall, this study suggests that PU induces autophagy while maintaining basal level of apoptosis as the main mechanisms of cytotoxicity via the modulation of Anx-A1 expression in HCT 116 cells, and thus has a promising translational potential.
Ethyl Acetate Fraction of Amomum xanthioides Ameliorates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in a High-Fat Diet Mouse Model
Authors: Im Hwi-Jin , Hwang Seung-Ju , Lee Jin-Seok , Lee Sung-Bae , Kang Ji-Yun , Son Chang-Gue
Published: August 2020

The global prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is estimated to be 25% and has continued to increase; however, no drugs have yet been approved for NAFLD treatments. The ethyl acetate fraction of Amomum xanthioides (EFAX) was previously reported to have an anti-hepatic fibrosis effect, but its effects on steatosis or steatohepatitis remain unclear. This study investigated the anti-fatty liver of EFAX using a high-fat diet mouse model. High-fat diet intake for 8 weeks induced hepatic steatosis with mild inflammation and oxidative damage and increased the adipose tissue weight along with the development of dyslipidemia. EFAX treatment significantly ameliorated the steatohepatic changes, the increased weight of adipose tissues, and the altered serum lipid profiles. These observed effects were possibly due to the lipolysis-dominant activity of EFAX on multiple hepatic proteins including sterol regulatory element-binding protein (mSREBP)-1c, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α, AMP-activated protein kinase, and diglyceride acyltransferases (DGATs). Taken together, these results show that EFAX might be a potential therapeutic agent for regulating a wide spectrum of NAFLDs from steatosis to fibrosis via multiple actions on lipid metabolism-related proteins. Further studies investigating clear mechanisms and their active compounds are needed.
Effects of Resveratrol Supplementation in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease—A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Jakubczyk Karolina , Skonieczna-Żydecka Karolina , Kałduńska Justyna , Stachowska Ewa , Gutowska Izabela , Janda Katarzyna
Published: August 2020

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is regarded as one of the most common liver pathologies in many societies. Resveratrol, as a phenolic compound with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties exerting positive effects on the lipid profile and lipid accumulation and also on insulin resistance, appears to be an effective, natural, and safe complementary treatment option in NAFLD therapy. This meta-analysis was undertaken to evaluate the effects of resveratrol supplementation in NAFLD patients. To this end, scientific databases PubMed/Medline/Embase were searched up to 19 March 2020. We included seven randomized clinical trials (RCTs) with a total of 302 patients with NAFLD. In all the trials included in the analysis, resveratrol was administered daily over periods between 56 and 180 days in doses ranging from 500 mg to 3000 mg a day. The results of this meta-analysis reveal that resveratrol supplementation, irrespective of the dose or duration, did not affect the analyzed parameters (p < 0.05). The sole exception was an increase in alanine aminotransferase following the administration of resveratrol (p = 0.041). Currently available evidence is insufficient to confirm the efficacy of resveratrol in the management of NAFLD. Due to the inconsistencies between the existing scientific reports, a number of which found a positive effect on NAFLD-related parameters; further research in this area is needed.
Diet Quality and Health Service Utilization for Depression: A Prospective Investigation of Adults in Alberta’s Tomorrow Project
Authors: Marozoff Shelby , Veugelers Paul J. , Dabravolskaj Julia , Eurich Dean T. , Ye Ming , Maximova Katerina
Published: August 2020

Depression is a leading cause of disability and economic burden worldwide. Primary prevention strategies are urgently needed. We examined the association of diet quality with depression in a large provincial cohort of adults. A past year food frequency questionnaire was completed by Alberta’s Tomorrow Project (ATP) participants enrolled between 2000–2008 (n = 25,016; average age 50.4 years) and used to calculate Healthy Eating Index-Canada (HEI-C) 2015 scores. The number of physician visits for depression 2000–2015 was obtained via linkage with administrative health records. Negative binomial regression models assessed the relationship between HEI-C 2015 scores and physician visits for depression, adjusting for confounders. Every 10-unit increase in HEI-C 2015 scores was associated with 4.7% fewer physician visits for depression (rate ratio (RR): 0.95; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.92–0.98). This relationship persisted when participants with physician visits for mental illness prior to cohort enrollment were excluded. Higher quality diets were associated with a lower number of physician visits for depression. Results highlight diet may be an important prevention strategy for reducing the burden of health service utilization for depression.
Microbial Contamination of Dental Unit Waterlines and Potential Risk of Infection: A Narrative Review
Authors: Spagnolo Anna Maria , Sartini Marina , Cristina Maria Luisa
Published: August 2020

Several studies have revealed that dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) are often contaminated by large numbers of various micro-organisms (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, viruses). Microbial contamination in DUWLs may originate from the mains water piped into the dental unit, the suck-back of patients’ saliva into the line due to the lack of adequate valves, and contamination from bottled water systems. Some of the main determinants of microbial contamination in DUWLs are: a very small lumen size (0.5–2 mm) of the tubing used, high surface-to-volume ratio (6:1), low throughput and the materials of which the tubing is made, water stagnation outside of working hours. The environmental conditions present inside the conduits of the dental unit may facilitate the proliferation of micro-organisms and the consequent formation of biofilm on the interior surface of the pipes of DUWLs. During the use of handpieces, particularly high-speed rotating instruments, a spray is thrown up in the form of aerosols or spatters containing biological material (saliva, blood and dental plaque) and micro-organisms. This means that the health of both dental staff and patients could be at risk of infection. The risk of cross-infections in dental settings can be tackled by implementing combined interventions to prevent the contamination of DUWLs.
Bactericidal and In Vitro Cytotoxicity of Moringa oleifera Seed Extract and Its Elemental Analysis Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
Authors: Aldakheel Reem K. , Rehman Suriya , Almessiere Munirah A. , Khan Firdos A. , Gondal Mohammed A. , Mostafa Ahmed , Baykal Abdulhadi
Published: August 2020

In the current study, we present the correlation between the capability of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to monitor the elemental compositions of plants and their biological effects. The selected plant, Moringa oleifera, is known to harbor various minerals and vitamins useful for human health and is a potential source for pharmaceutical interventions. From this standpoint, we assessed the antibacterial and in vitro cytotoxicity of the bioactive components present in Moringa oleifera seed (MOS) extract. Detailed elemental analyses of pellets of MOSs were performed via LIBS. Furthermore, the LIBS outcome was validated using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The LIBS signal was recorded, and the presence of the essential elements (Na, Ca, Se, K, Mg, Zn, P, S, Fe and Mn) in the MOSs were examined. The bactericidal efficacy of the alcoholic MOS extract was examined against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus(S. aureus) by agar well diffusion (AWD) assays and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which depicted greater inhibition against Gram-positive bacteria. The validity and DNA nuclear morphology of human colorectal carcinoma cells (HCT-116) cells were evaluated via an MTT assay and DAPI staining. The MTT assay results manifested a profoundly inhibitory action of MOS extract on HCT116 cell growth. Additionally, MOS extracts produced inhibitory action in colon cancer cells (HCT-116), whereas no inhibitory action was seen using the same concentrations of MOS extract on HEK-293 cells (non-cancerous cells), suggesting that MOS extracts could be non-cytotoxic to normal cells. The antibacterial and anticancer potency of these MOS extracts could be due to the presence of various bioactive chemical complexes, such as ethyl ester and D-allose and hexadecenoic, oleic and palmitic acids, making them an ideal candidate for pharmaceutical research and applications.
Light-Activated Liposomes Coated with Hyaluronic Acid as a Potential Drug Delivery System
Authors: Kari Otto K. , Tavakoli Shirin , Parkkila Petteri , Baan Simone , Savolainen Roosa , Ruoslahti Teemu , Johansson Niklas G. , Ndika Joseph , Alenius Harri , Viitala Tapani , Urtti Arto , Lajunen Tatu
Published: August 2020

Light-activated liposomes permit site and time-specific drug delivery to ocular and systemic targets. We combined a light activation technology based on indocyanine green with a hyaluronic acid (HA) coating by synthesizing HA–lipid conjugates. HA is an endogenous vitreal polysaccharide and a potential targeting moiety to cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44)-expressing cells. Light-activated drug release from 100 nm HA-coated liposomes was functional in buffer, plasma, and vitreous samples. The HA-coating improved stability in plasma compared to polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated liposomes. Liposomal protein coronas on HA- and PEG-coated liposomes after dynamic exposure to undiluted human plasma and porcine vitreous samples were hydrophilic and negatively charged, thicker in plasma (~5 nm hard, ~10 nm soft coronas) than in vitreous (~2 nm hard, ~3 nm soft coronas) samples. Their compositions were dependent on liposome formulation and surface charge in plasma but not in vitreous samples. Compared to the PEG coating, the HA-coated liposomes bound more proteins in vitreous samples and enriched proteins related to collagen interactions, possibly explaining their slightly reduced vitreal mobility. The properties of the most abundant proteins did not correlate with liposome size or charge, but included proteins with surfactant and immune system functions in plasma and vitreous samples. The HA-coated light-activated liposomes are a functional and promising alternative for intravenous and ocular drug delivery.
Adeno-Associated Virus Mediated Gene Therapy for Corneal Diseases
Authors: Bastola Prabhakar , Song Liujiang , Gilger Brian C. , Hirsch Matthew L.
Published: August 2020

According to the World Health Organization, corneal diseases are the fourth leading cause of blindness worldwide accounting for 5.1% of all ocular deficiencies. Current therapies for corneal diseases, which include eye drops, oral medications, corrective surgeries, and corneal transplantation are largely inadequate, have undesirable side effects including blindness, and can require life-long applications. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) mediated gene therapy is an optimistic strategy that involves the delivery of genetic material to target human diseases through gene augmentation, gene deletion, and/or gene editing. With two therapies already approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and 200 ongoing clinical trials, recombinant AAV (rAAV) has emerged as the in vivo viral vector-of-choice to deliver genetic material to target human diseases. Likewise, the relative ease of applications through targeted delivery and its compartmental nature makes the cornea an enticing tissue for AAV mediated gene therapy applications. This current review seeks to summarize the development of AAV gene therapy, highlight preclinical efficacy studies, and discuss potential applications and challenges of this technology for targeting corneal diseases.
High pH Stress Affects Root Morphology and Nutritional Status of Hydroponically Grown Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.)
Authors: Turner Ashley J. , Arzola Camila I. , Nunez Gerardo H.
Published: August 2020

Rhododendrons (Rhododendron spp.) are ornamental plants in the family Ericaceae that thrive in acidic soils and are challenged by neutral or alkaline soils. This soil requirement limits the locations where rhododendrons can be grown and causes chlorosis, diminished growth, and low survival when rhododendrons are grown in high pH soils. While growth and survival impacts are widely documented, little is known about how high pH soils cause these symptoms in rhododendrons. We hypothesized that high pH stress impacts root form and function, leading to nutrient deficiencies that limit plant growth. We tested this hypothesis in a hydroponic experiment. “Mardi Gras” rhododendron liners were grown in a complete nutrient solution at pH 5.5 (optimum pH) or pH 6.5 (high pH) for 49 days. Biomass accumulation, nutrient uptake and concentration, and root stress were assessed. High pH nutrient solutions diminished leaf and root growth. Plants grown in high pH nutrient solutions developed clusters of short, highly branched roots. Plants grown in optimum pH did not exhibit this morphology. High pH affected the uptake and translocation of most essential nutrients. S and Mn deficiencies likely limited plant growth. High pH had a nuanced effect on root oxidative status. These results suggest that rhododendron root morphology and nutrient uptake are directly affected by high pH and that aboveground symptoms might be a consequence of impaired root function.
Molecular Mapping of QTLs Conferring Fusarium Head Blight Resistance in Chinese Wheat Cultivar Jingzhou 66
Authors: Xu Qing , Xu Fuchao , Qin Dandan , Li Meifang , Fedak George , Cao Wenguang , Yang Lijun , Dong Jing
Published: August 2020

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a destructive disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), which not only significantly reduces grain yield, but also affects end-use quality. Breeding wheat cultivars with high FHB resistance is the most effective way to control the disease. The Chinese wheat cultivar Jingzhou 66 (JZ66) shows moderately high FHB resistance; however, the genetic basis of its resistance is unknown. A doubled haploid (DH) population consisting 209 lines was developed from a cross of JZ66 and Aikang 58 (AK58), a FHB susceptible wheat cultivar, to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) that contribute to the FHB resistance. Five field experiments were established across two consecutive crop seasons (2018 and 2019) to evaluate the DH lines and parents for FHB response. The parents and DH population were genotyped with the wheat 55K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assay. Six QTLs associated with FHB resistance in JZ66 were mapped on chromosome 2DS, 3AS, 3AL, 3DL, 4DS, and 5DL, respectively. Four of the QTL (QFhb.hbaas-2DS, QFhb.hbaas-3AL, QFhb.hbaas-4DS, and QFhb.hbaas-5DL) were detected in at least two environments, and the QTL on 3AL and 5DL might be new. The QTL with major effects, QFhb.hbaas-2DS and QFhb.hbaas-4DS, explained up to 36.2% and 17.6% of the phenotypic variance, and were co-localized with the plant semi-dwarfing loci Rht8 and Rht-D1. The dwarfing Rht8 allele significantly increased spike compactness (SC) and FHB susceptibility causing a larger effect on FHB response than Rht-D1 observed in this study. PCR–based SNP markers for QFhb.hbaas-2DS, QFhb.hbaas-3AL, QFhb.hbaas-4DS, and QFhb.hbaas-5DL, were developed to facilitate their use in breeding for FHB resistance by marker-assisted selection.
Ethylene Differentially Modulates Hypoxia Responses and Tolerance across Solanum Species
Authors: Hartman Sjon , van Dongen Nienke , Renneberg Dominique M.H.J. , Welschen-Evertman Rob A.M. , Kociemba Johanna , Sasidharan Rashmi , Voesenek Laurentius A.C.J.
Published: August 2020

The increasing occurrence of floods hinders agricultural crop production and threatens global food security. The majority of vegetable crops are highly sensitive to flooding and it is unclear how these plants use flooding signals to acclimate to impending oxygen deprivation (hypoxia). Previous research has shown that the early flooding signal ethylene augments hypoxia responses and improves survival in Arabidopsis. To unravel how cultivated and wild Solanum species integrate ethylene signaling to control subsequent hypoxia acclimation, we studied the transcript levels of a selection of marker genes, whose upregulation is indicative of ethylene-mediated hypoxia acclimation in Arabidopsis. Our results suggest that ethylene-mediated hypoxia acclimation is conserved in both shoots and roots of the wild Solanum species bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara) and a waterlogging-tolerant potato (Solanum tuberosum) cultivar. However, ethylene did not enhance the transcriptional hypoxia response in roots of a waterlogging-sensitive potato cultivar, suggesting that waterlogging tolerance in potato could depend on ethylene-controlled hypoxia responses in the roots. Finally, we show that ethylene rarely enhances hypoxia-adaptive genes and does not improve hypoxia survival in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). We conclude that analyzing genes indicative of ethylene-mediated hypoxia acclimation is a promising approach to identifying key signaling cascades that confer flooding tolerance in crops.
Assessment of Mineral and Phenolic Profiles and Their Association with the Antioxidant, Cytotoxic Effect, and Antimicrobial Potential of Lycium chinense Miller
Authors: Thiruvengadam Muthu , Ghimire Bimal Kumar , Kim Seung-Hyun , Yu Chang Yeon , Oh Deog-Hwan , Chelliah Ramachandran , Kwon Chang , Kim Yun-Ju , Chung Ill Min
Published: August 2020

This study aimed at investigating the Lycium chinense Miller leaf extract mineral and phenolic compound profiles as well as antioxidant and antimicrobial potential. We determined the leaf extract mineral composition, identified its major mineral components, and quantified secondary metabolites. We also measured the leaf extract antioxidant potential and found that it varies in a concentration-dependent manner. We observed a significant and higher positive correlation between DPPH and ABTS assays compared with the total phenolic and flavonoid content. Furthermore, our assay results positively correlated with several observed acids, indicating their strong association with the L. chinense antioxidant potential. Our cytotoxic assay revealed weak toxicity at higher tested concentrations. Our MIC assay showed that the 80% methanol extract effectively inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli Castellani and Chalmers (ATCC35150). The 625-ppm leaf extract completely suppressed the growth of Staphylococcus aureus Rosenbach (ATCC13150), Bacillus cereus (ATCC 14579), and Helicobacter pylori (ATCC43504). These results allow us to understand the indigenous medicinal value of L. chinense. Our study suggests that the L. chinense leaf extract phenolic compounds possess a good antioxidant activity against free radicals and are effective antimicrobial agents. Finally, the presence and high level of diverse minerals suggest the potential of L. chinense for nutraceutical and functional food applications.
Framework Phylogeny, Evolution and Complex Diversification of Chinese Oaks
Authors: Yang Jia , Guo Yu-Fan , Chen Xiao-Dan , Zhang Xiao , Ju Miao-Miao , Bai Guo-Qing , Liu Zhan-Lin , Zhao Gui-Fang
Published: August 2020

Oaks (Quercus L.) are ideal models to assess patterns of plant diversity. We integrated the sequence data of five chloroplast and two nuclear loci from 50 Chinese oaks to explore the phylogenetic framework, evolution and diversification patterns of the Chinese oak’s lineage. The framework phylogeny strongly supports two subgenera Quercus and Cerris comprising four infrageneric sections Quercus, Cerris, Ilex and Cyclobalanopsis for the Chinese oaks. An evolutionary analysis suggests that the two subgenera probably split during the mid-Eocene, followed by intergroup divergence within the subgenus Cerris around the late Eocene. The initial diversification of sections in the subgenus Cerris was dated between the mid-Oligocene and the Oligocene–Miocene boundary, while a rapid species radiation in section Quercus started in the late Miocene. Diversification simulations indicate a potential evolutionary shift on section Quercus, while several phenotypic shifts likely occur among all sections. We found significant negative correlations between rates of the lineage diversification and phenotypic turnover, suggesting a complex interaction between the species evolution and morphological divergence in Chinese oaks. Our infrageneric phylogeny of Chinese oaks accords with the recently proposed classification of the genus Quercus. The results point to tectonic activity and climatic change during the Tertiary as possible drivers of evolution and diversification in the Chinese oak’s lineage.
Influence of the Maturity Stage on the Phytochemical Composition and the Antioxidant Activity of Four Andean Blackberry Cultivars (Rubus glaucus Benth) from Ecuador
Authors: Samaniego Iván , Brito Beatriz , Viera William , Cabrera Ana , Llerena Wilma , Kannangara Tissa , Vilcacundo Rubén , Angós Ignacio , Carrillo Wilman
Published: August 2020

Andean blackberries (Rubus glaucus Benth) are fruits rich in phytocomponents with high antioxidant activity. In this work, the changes in the total polyphenol content (TPC), the total flavonoid content (TFC), and the total anthocyanin content (TAC) of four blackberry varieties at three maturity stages (E1-25%, E2-50%, and E3-100%) were measured. The antioxidant activity (AA) was evaluated using the 2,2’azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazolin 6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods. TPC and TFC content decreased with the increase in the maturity stage. The blackberry Brazos cultivar presented TPC values of 51.26, 38.16, and 31.59 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dry weight (DW) at E1, E2, and E3, respectively. The TAC and soluble solids increased with the increase in the maturity stage of the fruits. The Andimora variety at E3 presented a high TPC content, and the Colombiana variety presented a high TFC content. The blackberry Colombiana cultivar presented TAC values of 1.40, 2.95, and 12.26 mg cy-3-glu/100g DW at E1, E2, and E3, respectively. The blackberry Colombiana cultivar presented a high AA value at 1278.63 µmol TE/g DW according to the ABTS method and 1284.55 µmol TE/g DW according to the FRAP method. The TPC and TFC showed a high correlation with the AA according to the ABTS and the FRAP methods. The Pearson correlation between the TFC and AA/ABTS has a value of r = 0.92. The TFC and AA/FRAP present a value of r = 0.94.
Risk and Opportunity of Using Plastics from Waste Collected in a Yellow Bag
Authors: Połomka Jacek , Jędrczak Andrzej , Myszograj Sylwia
Published: August 2020

The article presents the results of research aimed at analysing the share of fractions suitable for recycling and pollutants in waste collected in a yellow bag. The research was carried out in an area inhabited by 200,000 people. The amount of waste collected in the communes in yellow containers in 2016–2019 increased systematically in communes: rural by 75.8, urban–rural by 44.9 and urban by 17.8%. The collection efficiency expressed in the degree of collection was the highest and grew fastest in rural areas (from 25.1 to 35.5%). In cities, it practically did not change (14.4–15.8%). The weight of recyclable components represented on average 39.9% of the weight of yellow bag waste. Plastic bottles (PET) packaging prevailed, the share of which changed from 19.6 to 14.8%, including the share of colourless PET decreasing from 7.9 to 5.8%. At present, revenue from the sale of secondary raw materials obtained from waste collected separately to yellow bags covers only 26% of the costs related to the recycling and recovery of waste delivered to the installation. Support for separate collection of plastics through recovery organisations, i.e., entrepreneurs who are obliged to recover and recycle waste, is symbolic.
Synthesis and Characterization of Copoly(Ether Sulfone)s with Different Percentages of Diphenolic Acid Units
Authors: Scamporrino Andrea A. , Puglisi Concetto , Spina Angela , Montaudo Maurizio , Zampino Daniela C. , Cicala Gianluca , Ognibene Giulia , Mauro Chiara Di , Dattilo Sandro , Mirabella Emanuele F. , Recca Giuseppe , Samperi Filippo
Published: August 2020

New functionalized Poly(ether sulfone)s having different molar ratio (10, 20, 30, 50, 70, 100 mol%) of 4,4-bis phenoxy pentanoic acid unit (diphenolic acid; DPA) units were synthesized and characterized by (1H and 13C)-NMR, MALDI-TOF MS, FT-IR, DSC and DMA analyses. The microstructural analysis of the copolymers, obtained by 13C-NMR using an appropriate statistical model, shows a random distribution of copolymer sequences, as expected. The presence of different amount of DPA units along the polymer chains affects the chemical and physical properties of the copolymers. The Tg and the contact angle values decrease as the molar fraction of DPA units increases, whereas the hydrophilicity increases. NMR and MALDI-TOF MS analyses show that all polymer chains are almost terminated with hydroxyl and chlorine as end groups. The presence of cyclic oligomers was also observed by MALDI-TOF MS analysis.
Viscous Loss Analysis of the Flooded Electro-Hydrostatic Actuator Motor under Laminar and Turbulent Flow States
Authors: Li Yanpeng , Jiao Zongxia , Yu Tian , Shang Yaoxing
Published: August 2020

The electro-hydrostatic actuator (EHA) is one of the most prevalent types of power-by-wire (PBW) actuation systems. With the increase in EHA power density, using the pump’s leakage oil to cool the motor has been gradually adopted to solve the problem of excessive motor temperature. However, the viscous friction loss caused by the liquid viscosity will seriously affect the heat dissipation effect and dynamic performance of the motor. To calculate the motor viscosity loss accurately, a novel calculation method is proposed in this paper. Using the energy gradient theory, the relationship between the fluid flow state and the rotation speed is analyzed. In addition, the lumped parameter model of viscous loss is established by using the conservation of momentum theory and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. A test rig is designed to test the viscous friction loss for various rotation speeds, and the test results show a good agreement with the theoretical analysis. The present results demonstrate the effectiveness of the lumped parameter model and provide a better calculation method for wet motor viscosity loss calculation.
Tracing the Scientific History of Fe0-Based Environmental Remediation Prior to the Advent of Permeable Reactive Barriers
Authors: Cao Viet , Yang Huichen , Ndé-Tchoupé Arnaud Igor , Hu Rui , Gwenzi Willis , Noubactep Chicgoua
Published: August 2020

The technology of using metallic iron (Fe0) for in situ generation of iron oxides for water treatment is a very old one. The Fe0 remediation technology has been re-discovered in the framework of groundwater remediation using permeable reactive barriers (PRBs). Despite its simplicity, the improvement of Fe0 PRBs is fraught with difficulties regarding their operating modes. The literature dealing with Fe0 remediation contains ambiguities regarding its invention and its development. The present paper examines the sequence of contributions prior to the advent of Fe0 PRBs in order to clarify the seemingly complex picture. To achieve this, the current paper addresses the following questions: (i) What were the motivations of various authors in developing their respective innovations over the years?, (ii) what are the ancient achievements which can accelerate progress in knowledge for the development of Fe0 PRBs?, and (iii) was Fe0 really used for the removal of organic species for the first time in the 1970s? A careful examination of ancient works reveals that: (i) The wrong questions were asked during the past three decades, as Fe0 was premised as a reducing agent, (ii) credit for using Fe0 for water treatment belongs to no individual scientist, and (iii) credit for the use of Fe0 in filtration systems for safe drinking water provision belongs to scientists from the 1850s, while credit for the use of Fe0 for the removal of aqueous organic species does not belong to the pioneers of the Fe0 PRB technology. However, it was these pioneers who exploited Fe0 for groundwater remediation, thereby extending its potential. Complementing recent achievements with the chemistry of the Fe0/H2O system would facilitate the design of more sustainable Fe0-remediation systems.
Religious Festival Marketing: Distinguishing between Devout Believers and Tourists
Authors: Wang Kuo-Yan , Kasim Azilah , Yu Jing
Published: August 2020

Customer classification is an integral part of marketing planning activities. Researchers have struggled to classify “pilgrims” and “tourists” because these groups overlap to a large extent in terms of their identities while participating in religious activities/sightseeing. To achieve sustainable tourism development for the region with rich religious and cultural characteristics, the present article outlines a process for analyzing the motivation of participants attending religious festival of Mazu in Taiwan and then classifies religious festival participants according to their motivations. Using cluster sampling, a total of 280 responses were obtained and analyzed. The results revealed four different motivation categories: Fun traveler, devout believer, cultural enthusiast, and religious pragmatist. The study concludes that while festivalgoers are influenced by secularization to some extent, the original doctrine of the religion epitomized in the festivals fundamentally retains the essence and spirit of its religious rituals. The findings may have a significant value for the development of religious tourism marketing as it offers a foundation for future research seeking to develop regional cultural and religious sightseeing attractions sustainably.
Models and Methods for Confirmation Catechesis in Catholic Youth Ministry
Authors: Canales Arthur
Published: August 2020

This article will briefly address the origins of confirmation and the current approaches to adolescent confirmation. Moreover, the article discusses the two predominant models of confirmation in the Catholic Church in the United States and the predominant methods for adolescent confirmation in Catholic parishes and in youth ministry settings. Finally, the article delineates three proposed methods for confirmation catechesis in Catholic youth ministry. The hope is that these three methods will help Catholic youth ministers and/or confirmation coordinators in their important work of providing confirmation catechesis with teenagers.
A Real Time Localization System for Vehicles Using Terrain-Based Time Series Subsequence Matching
Authors: Zhang Hongjuan , Li Wenzhuo , Qian Chuang , Li Bijun
Published: August 2020

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs) are commonly used for positioning vehicles in open areas. Yet a GNSS frequently encounters loss of lock in urban areas. This paper presents a new real-time localization system using measurements from vehicle odometer data and data from an onboard inertial measurement unit (IMU), in the case of lacking GNSS information. A Dead Reckoning model integrates odometer data, IMU angular and velocity data to estimate the rough position of the vehicle. We then use an R-Tree structured reference road map of pitch data to boost spatial search efficiency. An optimized time series subsequence matching method matches the measured pitch data and the stored pitch data in reference road map for more accurate position estimation. The two estimated positions are fused using an extended Kalman filter model for final localization. The proposed localization system was tested for computational complexity with a median runtime of 12 ms, and for positioning accuracy with a median position error of 0.3 m.
Detecting European Aspen (Populus tremula L.) in Boreal Forests Using Airborne Hyperspectral and Airborne Laser Scanning Data
Authors: Viinikka Arto , Hurskainen Pekka , Keski-Saari Sarita , Kivinen Sonja , Tanhuanpää Topi , Mäyrä Janne , Poikolainen Laura , Vihervaara Petteri , Kumpula Timo
Published: August 2020

Sustainable forest management increasingly highlights the maintenance of biological diversity and requires up-to-date information on the occurrence and distribution of key ecological features in forest environments. European aspen (Populus tremula L.) is one key feature in boreal forests contributing significantly to the biological diversity of boreal forest landscapes. However, due to their sparse and scattered occurrence in northern Europe, the explicit spatial data on aspen remain scarce and incomprehensive, which hampers biodiversity management and conservation efforts. Our objective was to study tree-level discrimination of aspen from other common species in northern boreal forests using airborne high-resolution hyperspectral and airborne laser scanning (ALS) data. The study contained multiple spatial analyses: First, we assessed the role of different spectral wavelengths (455–2500 nm), principal component analysis, and vegetation indices (VI) in tree species classification using two machine learning classifiers—support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF). Second, we tested the effect of feature selection for best classification accuracy achievable and third, we identified the most important spectral features to discriminate aspen from the other common tree species. SVM outperformed the RF model, resulting in the highest overall accuracy (OA) of 84% and Kappa value (0.74). The used feature set affected SVM performance little, but for RF, principal component analysis was the best. The most important common VI for deciduous trees contained Conifer Index (CI), Cellulose Absorption Index (CAI), Plant Stress Index 3 (PSI3), and Vogelmann Index 1 (VOG1), whereas Green Ratio (GR), Red Edge Inflection Point (REIP), and Red Well Position (RWP) were specific for aspen. Normalized Difference Red Edge Index (NDRE) and Modified Normalized Difference Index (MND705) were important for coniferous trees. The most important wavelengths for discriminating aspen from other species included reflectance bands of red edge range (724–727 nm) and shortwave infrared (1520–1564 nm and 1684–1706 nm). The highest classification accuracy of 92% (F1-score) for aspen was achieved using the SVM model with mean reflectance values combined with VI, which provides a possibility to produce a spatially explicit map of aspen occurrence that can contribute to biodiversity management and conservation efforts in boreal forests.
SAR Sentinel 1 Imaging and Detection of Palaeo-Landscape Features in the Mediterranean Area
Authors: Elfadaly Abdelaziz , Abate Nicodemo , Masini Nicola , Lasaponara Rosa
Published: August 2020

The use of satellite radar in landscape archaeology offers great potential for manifold applications, such as the detection of ancient landscape features and anthropogenic transformations. Compared to optical data, the use and interpretation of radar imaging for archaeological investigations is more complex, due to many reasons including that: (i) ancient landscape features and anthropogenic transformations provide subtle signals, which are (ii) often covered by noise; and, (iii) only detectable in specific soil characteristics, moisture content, vegetation phenomenology, and meteorological parameters. In this paper, we assessed the capability of SAR Sentinel 1 in the imaging and detection of palaeo-landscape features in the Mediterranean area of Tavoliere delle Puglie. For the purpose of our investigations, a significant test site (larger than 200 km2) was selected in the Foggia Province (South of Italy) as this area has been characterized for millennia by human frequentation starting from (at least) the Neolithic. The results from the Sentinel 1 (S-1) data were successfully compared with independent data sets, and the comparison clearly showed an excellent match between the S-1 based outputs and ancient anthropogenic transformations and landscape features.