bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distribution of Uranium and Molybdenum in River Sediment near Molybdenite Mining Region: A Case Study in SW China
Authors: Zhang Hang , Wang Xinyu , Wang Hangjia , Yin Jinfan , Wang Ruilin , Shi Zeming , Ni Shijun
Published: November 2023

This work aims to understand the distribution and migration mechanisms of U and Mo between surface sediment and water in acid mine drainage (AMD) regions near a molybdenum mining region. A series of river sediment and water samples near the Jinduicheng mining area, one of the largest deposits of molybdenite ore in Asia, were collected and analyzed. Our results indicate that: (1) The pH value of river water samples increases with distance from upstream to downstream, while the pH has poor correlation with Mo and U; (2) The content of Mo and U in the sediment are significantly higher than the background value, which suggests potential pollution; (3) The content of Mo and U in the water and sediments in the lower reaches of the Wenyu river is significantly linearly related with the distance from the mining area, suggesting that AMD is a potential source; (4) BCR analysis shows that Mo in river sediments mainly existed as the residual, while U mainly existed as the non-residual; (5) The distribution coefficient Kd(Mo) exceeds Kd(U), indicating that Mo is enriched in sediments while U is more prone to porewater.
Tiliroside Attenuates NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in Macrophages and Protects against Acute Lung Injury in Mice
Authors: Zhong Chao , Yang Jing , Deng Keke , Lang Xiaoya , Zhang Jiangtao , Li Min , Qiu Liang , Zhong Guoyue , Yu Jun
Published: November 2023

The Nod-like receptor family PYRIN domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a multiprotein signaling complex that plays a pivotal role in innate immunity, and the dysregulated NLRP3 inflammasome activation is implicated in various diseases. Tiliroside is a natural flavonoid in multiple medicinal and dietary plants with known anti-inflammatory activities. However, its role in regulating NLRP3 inflammasome activation and NLRP3-related disease has not been evaluated. Herein, it was demonstrated that tiliroside is inhibitory in activating the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages. Mechanistically, tiliroside promotes AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation, thereby leading to ameliorated mitochondrial damage as evidenced by the reduction of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the improvement of mitochondrial membrane potential, which is accompanied by attenuated NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages. Notably, tiliroside potently attenuated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury in mice, which has been known to be NLRP3 inflammasome dependent. For the first time, this study identified that tiliroside is an NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor and may represent a potential therapeutic agent for managing NLRP3-mediated inflammatory disease.
Evaluating Phytochemical Profiles, Cytotoxicity, Antiviral Activity, Antioxidant Potential, and Enzyme Inhibition of Vepris boiviniana Extracts
Authors: Bakar Kassim , Nilofar  , Mohamed Andilyat , Świątek Łukasz , Hryć Benita , Sieniawska Elwira , Rajtar Barbara , Ferrante Claudio , Menghini Luigi , Zengin Gokhan , Polz-Dacewicz Małgorzata
Published: November 2023

In the present study, we performed comprehensive LC-MS chemical profiling and biological tests of Vepris boiviniana leaves and stem bark extracts of different polarities. In total, 60 bioactive compounds were tentatively identified in all extracts. The 80% ethanolic stem bark extract exhibited the highest activity in the ABTS assay, equal to 551.82 mg TE/g. The infusion extract of stem bark consistently demonstrated elevated antioxidant activity in all assays, with values ranging from 137.39 mg TE/g to 218.46 mg TE/g. Regarding the enzyme inhibitory assay, aqueous extracts from both bark and leaves exhibited substantial inhibition of AChE, with EC50 values of 2.41 mg GALAE/g and 2.25 mg GALAE/g, respectively. The 80% ethanolic leaf extract exhibited the lowest cytotoxicity in VERO cells (CC50: 613.27 µg/mL) and demonstrated selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells, particularly against H1HeLa cells, indicating potential therapeutic specificity. The 80% ethanolic bark extract exhibited elevated toxicity in VERO cells but had reduced anticancer selectivity. The n-hexane extracts, notably the leaves’ n-hexane extract, displayed the highest toxicity towards non-cancerous cells with selectivity towards H1HeLa and RKO cells. In viral load assessment, all extracts reduced HHV-1 load by 0.14–0.54 log and HRV-14 viral load by 0.13–0.72 log, indicating limited antiviral activity. In conclusion, our research underscores the diverse bioactive properties of Vepris boiviniana extracts, exhibiting potent antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, and cytotoxicity potential against cancer cells.
Identification and Pharmacological Characterization of a Low-Liability Antinociceptive Bifunctional MOR/DOR Cyclic Peptide
Authors: Li Yangmei , Eans Shainnel O. , Ganno-Sherwood Michelle , Eliasof Abbe , Houghten Richard A. , McLaughlin Jay P.
Published: November 2023

Peptide-based opioid ligands are important candidates for the development of novel, safer, and more effective analgesics to treat pain. To develop peptide-based safer analgesics, we synthesized a mixture-based cyclic pentapeptide library containing a total of 24,624 pentapeptides and screened the mixture-based library samples using a 55 °C warm water tail-withdrawal assay. Using this phenotypic screening approach, we deconvoluted the mixture-based samples to identify a novel cyclic peptide Tyr-[D-Lys-Dap(Ant)-Thr-Gly] (CycloAnt), which produced dose- and time-dependent antinociception with an ED50 (and 95% confidence interval) of 0.70 (0.52–0.97) mg/kg i.p. mediated by the mu-opioid receptor (MOR). Additionally, higher doses (≥3 mg/kg, i.p.) of CycloAnt antagonized delta-opioid receptors (DOR) for at least 3 h. Pharmacological characterization of CycloAnt showed the cyclic peptide did not reduce breathing rate in mice at doses up to 15 times the analgesic ED50 value, and produced dramatically less hyperlocomotion than the MOR agonist, morphine. While chronic administration of CycloAnt resulted in antinociceptive tolerance, it was without opioid-induced hyperalgesia and with significantly reduced signs of naloxone-precipitated withdrawal, which suggested reduced physical dependence compared to morphine. Collectively, the results suggest this dual MOR/DOR multifunctional ligand is an excellent lead for the development of peptide-based safer analgesics.
Increased Range of Catalytic Activities of Immobilized Compared to Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Boukoufi Célia , Boudier Ariane , Clarot Igor
Published: November 2023

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can be described as nanozymes, species that are able to mimic the catalytic activities of several enzymes, such as oxidase/peroxidase, reductase, or catalase. Most studies in the literature focus on the colloidal suspension of AuNPs, and it is obvious that their immobilization could open the doors to new applications thanks to their increased stability in this state. This work aimed to investigate the behavior of surfaces covered by immobilized AuNPs (iAuNPs). Citrate-stabilized AuNPs (AuNPs-cit) were synthesized and immobilized on glass slides using a simple dip coating method. The resulting iAuNPs were characterized (surface plasmon resonance, microscopy, quantification of immobilized AuNPs), and their multi-enzymatic-like activities (oxidase-, peroxidase-, and catalase-like activity) were evaluated. The comparison of their activities versus AuNPs-cit highlighted their added value, especially the preservation of their activity in some reaction media, and their ease of reuse. The huge potential of iAuNPs for heterogeneous catalysis was then applied to the degradation of two model molecules of hospital pollutants: metronidazole and methylene blue.
CNT-PUFs: Highly Robust and Heat-Tolerant Carbon-Nanotube-Based Physical Unclonable Functions
Authors: Frank Florian , Böttger Simon , Mexis Nico , Anagnostopoulos Nikolaos Athanasios , Mohamed Ali , Hartmann Martin , Kuhn Harald , Helke Christian , Arul Tolga , Katzenbeisser Stefan , Hermann Sascha
Published: November 2023

In this work, we explored a highly robust and unique Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) based on the stochastic assembly of single-walled Carbon NanoTubes (CNTs) integrated within a wafer-level technology. Our work demonstrated that the proposed CNT-based PUFs are exceptionally robust with an average fractional intra-device Hamming distance well below 0.01 both at room temperature and under varying temperatures in the range from 23 ∘C to 120 ∘C. We attributed the excellent heat tolerance to comparatively low activation energies of less than 40 meV extracted from an Arrhenius plot. As the number of unstable bits in the examined implementation is extremely low, our devices allow for a lightweight and simple error correction, just by selecting stable cells, thereby diminishing the need for complex error correction. Through a significant number of tests, we demonstrated the capability of novel nanomaterial devices to serve as highly efficient hardware security primitives.
Electrosprayed Nanoparticles Containing Mangiferin-Rich Extract from Mango Leaves for Cosmeceutical Application
Authors: Sirirungsee Vissuta , Samutrtai Pawitrabhorn , Sangthong Padchanee , Papan Phakorn , Leelapornpisid Pimporn , Saenjum Chalermpong , Sirithunyalug Busaban
Published: November 2023

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is one of the most economically important fruits in Thailand. Mango has been used as a traditional medicine because it possesses many biological activities, such as antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory properties, microorganism-growth inhibition, etc. Among its natural pharmacologically active compounds, mangiferin is the main active component found in mango leaves. Mangiferin has the potential to treat a variety of diseases due to its multifunctional activities. This study aims to prepare a mangiferin-rich extract (MRE) from mango leaves and develop nanoparticles containing the MRE using an electrospraying technique to apply it in a cosmeceutical formulation. The potential cosmeceutical mechanisms of the MRE were investigated using proteomic analysis. The MRE is involved in actin-filament organization, the positive regulation of cytoskeleton organization, etc. Moreover, the related mechanism to its cosmeceutical activity is metalloenzyme-activity regulation. Nanoparticles were prepared from 0.8% w/v MRE and 2% w/v Eudragit® L100 solution using an electrospraying process. The mean size of the MRE-loaded nanoparticles (MNPs) received was 247.8 nm, with a PDI 0.271. The MRE entrapment by the process was quantified as 84.9%, indicating a high encapsulation efficiency. For the skin-retention study, the mangiferin content in the MNP-containing emulsion-gel membranes was examined and found to be greater than in the membranes of the MRE solution, illustrating that the MNPs produced by the electrospraying technique help transdermal delivery for cosmetic applications.
Effects of Cationic and Anionic Surfaces on the Perpendicular and Lateral Forces and Binding of Aspergillus niger Conidia
Authors: Whitehead Kathryn A. , Lynch Stephen , Amin Mohsin , Deisenroth Ted , Liauw Christopher M. , Verran Joanna
Published: November 2023

The binding of conidia to surfaces is a prerequisite for biofouling by fungal species. In this study, Aspergillus niger subtypes 1957 and 1988 were used which produced differently shaped conidia (round or spikey respectively). Test surfaces were characterised for their surface topography, wettability, and hardness. Conidial assays included perpendicular and lateral force measurements, as well as attachment, adhesion and retention assays. Anionic surfaces were less rough (Ra 2.4 nm), less wettable (54°) and harder (0.72 GPa) than cationic surfaces (Ra 5.4 nm, 36° and 0.5 GPa, respectively). Perpendicular and lateral force assays demonstrated that both types of conidia adhered with more force to the anionic surfaces and were influenced by surface wettability. Following the binding assays, fewer A. niger 1957 and A. niger 1988 conidia bound to the anionic surface. However, surface wettability affected the density and dispersion of the conidia on the coatings, whilst clustering was affected by their spore shapes. This work demonstrated that anionic surfaces were more repulsive to A. niger 1998 spores than cationic surfaces were, but once attached, the conidia bound more firmly to the anionic surfaces. This work informs on the importance of understanding how conidia become tightly bound to surfaces, which can be used to prevent biofouling.
Dissolution Reaction and Surface Modification of UICC Amosite in Mimicked Gamble’s Solution: A Step towards Filling the Gap between Asbestos Toxicity and Its Crystal Chemical Features
Authors: Pacella Alessandro , Ballirano Paolo , Di Carlo Maria Cristina , Fantauzzi Marzia , Rossi Antonella , Nardi Elisa , Viti Cecilia , Arrizza Lorenzo , Campopiano Antonella , Cannizzaro Annapaola , Bloise Andrea , Montereali Maria Rita
Published: November 2023

This study focuses on the dissolution process and surface characterization of amosite fibres following interaction with a mimicked Gamble’s solution at a pH of 4.5 and T = 37 °C, up to 720 h. To achieve this, a multi-analytical approach was adopted, and the results were compared to those previously obtained on a sample of asbestos tremolite and UICC crocidolite, which were investigated under the same experimental conditions. Combining surface chemical data obtained by XPS with cation release quantified by ICP-OES, an incongruent behaviour of the fibre dissolution was highlighted for amosite fibres, similarly to asbestos tremolite and UICC crocidolite. In particular, a preferential release of Mg and Ca from the amphibole structure was observed, in agreement with their Madelung site energies. Notably, no Fe release from amosite fibres was detected in our experimental conditions (pH of 4.5 and atmospheric pO2), despite the occurrence of Fe(II) at the M(4) site of the amphibole structure, where cations are expected to be rapidly leached out during mineral dissolution. Moreover, the oxidation of both the Fe centres initially present on the fibre surface and those promoted from the bulk, because of the erosion of the outmost layers, was observed. Since biodurability (i.e., the resistance to dissolution) is one of the most important toxicity parameters, the knowledge of the surface alteration of asbestos possibly occurring in vivo may help to understand the mechanisms at the basis of its long-term toxicity.
Solvent-Free Synthesis of Multifunctional Block Copolymer and Formation of DNA and Drug Nanocarriers
Authors: Kalinova Radostina , Mladenova Kirilka , Petrova Svetla , Doumanov Jordan , Dimitrov Ivaylo
Published: November 2023

The synthesis of well-defined multifunctional polymers is of great importance for the development of complex materials for biomedical applications. In the current work, novel and multi-amino-functional diblock copolymer for potential gene and drug delivery applications was successfully synthesized. A highly efficient one-step and quantitative modification of an alkyne-functional polycarbonate-based precursor was performed, yielding double hydrophilic block copolymer with densely grafted primary amine side groups. The obtained positively charged block copolymer co-associated with DNA, forming stable and biocompatible nanosized polyplexes. Furthermore, polyion complex (PIC) micelles with tunable surface charge and decorated with cell targeting moieties were obtained as a result of direct mixing in aqueous media of the multi-amino-functional block copolymer and a previously synthesized oppositely charged block copolymer bearing disaccharide end-group. The obtained well-defined nanosized PIC–micelles were loaded with the hydrophobic drug curcumin. Both types of nanoaggregates (polyplexes and PIC–micelles) were physico-chemically characterized. Moreover, initial in vitro evaluations were performed to assess the nanocarriers’ potential for biomedical applications.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Exploring Variations in Copper Levels between Individuals with Malaria and Uninfected Controls
Authors: Kotepui Kwuntida Uthaisar , Mahittikorn Aongart , Wilairatana Polrat , Masangkay Frederick Ramirez , Kotepui Manas
Published: November 2023

Micronutrient insufficiency has been implicated in malaria pathogenesis. However, the role of copper in malaria remains inconclusive. This study aimed to investigate the association between copper levels and malaria pathogenesis, providing a deeper understanding of copper’s role in the disease. A systematic review was conducted following the registered protocol in PROSPERO (CRD42023439732). Multiple databases, including Embase, MEDLINE, Ovid, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, were searched for relevant studies reporting blood copper levels in patients with malaria. The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist was used for assessing methodological quality. Qualitative and quantitative syntheses were employed, organizing, and summarizing the findings of the included studies. To calculate the standardized mean difference (Hedge’s g) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), a random-effects model was used. After screening the databases, 16 studies were included. Most studies (52.9%) reported that individuals with malaria had significantly higher copper levels than uninfected controls. The meta-analysis, based on 16 studies, showed no significant difference in copper levels between patients with malaria and uninfected controls overall (p = 0.39; Hedges’ g, 0.38; 95% CI, −0.48 to 1.25; I2, 98.73%). Subgroup analysis showed a significant difference in copper levels between patients with malaria and uninfected controls among studies conducted in Asia (p < 0.01; Hedges’ g, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.04 to 2.44; I2, 90.88%; five studies) and studies employing plasma blood samples (p < 0.01; Hedges’ g, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.60 to 2.07; I2, 93.11%; four studies). The qualitative synthesis of the reviewed studies suggests a complex relationship between copper levels and malaria. The meta-analysis results showed no significant difference in copper levels between patients with malaria and uninfected controls overall. However, subgroup analyses based on various factors, including continent and blood sample type, showed copper level variations. These findings highlight the need for further research to better understand the role of copper in malaria pathogenesis by considering geographical factors and the blood sample type used for copper level measurement.
Choline and Betaine Levels in Plasma Mirror Choline Intake in Very Preterm Infants
Authors: Minarski Michaela , Maas Christoph , Heinrich Christine , Böckmann Katrin A. , Bernhard Wolfgang , Shunova Anna , Poets Christian F. , Franz Axel R.
Published: November 2023

Choline is essential for cell membrane formation and methyl transfer reactions, impacting parenchymal and neurological development. It is therefore enriched via placental transfer, and fetal plasma concentrations are high. In spite of the greater needs of very low birth weight infants (VLBWI), choline content of breast milk after preterm delivery is lower (median (p25–75): 158 mg/L (61–360 mg/L) compared to term delivery (258 mg/L (142–343 mg/L)). Even preterm formula or fortified breast milk currently provide insufficient choline to achieve physiological plasma concentrations. This secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial comparing growth of VLBWI with different levels of enteral protein supply aimed to investigate whether increased enteral choline intake results in increased plasma choline, betaine and phosphatidylcholine concentrations. We measured total choline content of breast milk from 33 mothers of 34 VLBWI. Enteral choline intake from administered breast milk, formula and fortifier was related to the respective plasma choline, betaine and phosphatidylcholine concentrations. Plasma choline and betaine levels in VLBWI correlated directly with enteral choline intake, but administered choline was insufficient to achieve physiological (fetus-like) concentrations. Hence, optimizing maternal choline status, and the choline content of milk and fortifiers, is suggested to increase plasma concentrations of choline, ameliorate the choline deficit and improve growth and long-term development of VLBWI.
Unraveling the Connection between Fatty Liver Severity with Gender, Lifestyle, and Health Risks among Workers
Authors: Tang Feng-Cheng , Li Ren-Hau , Huang Jui-Hua
Published: November 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between the severity of fatty liver and factors such as gender, lifestyle, and the risks of metabolic abnormalities, inflammation, and liver dysfunction in the working population. This cross-sectional study included 2936 workers aged 21–64 years. The severity of fatty liver was assessed using ultrasound. A self-administered survey was used to evaluate lifestyle habits. Data on anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, blood tests, and biochemical evaluations was collected. The 45.5% of workers had fatty liver. Males had a higher prevalence of fatty liver and health risks and several unhealthy lifestyle habits compared to females. The health behavior score related to exercise showed notable declines as the severity of fatty liver increased (p < 0.001). Percentages of current alcohol drinkers differed among different levels of fatty liver, with rates of 43.1, 48.4, 44.8, and 63.4% (p = 0.005) observed in the absence, mild, moderate, and severe fatty liver, respectively. Workers with fatty liver showed increased risks related to metabolic anomalies, especially in severe cases. The risk of inflammation and liver dysfunction also significantly increased with elevated fatty liver severity. Overall, fatty liver presents significant health risks, with nearly half of the workers diagnosed with the condition. To improve liver health, it is crucial to have customized strategies for promoting health, taking into account the different levels of severity in fatty liver.
Nuclear Receptor PPARα as a Therapeutic Target in Diseases Associated with Lipid Metabolism Disorders
Authors: Hu Ping , Li Kaiqi , Peng Xiaoxu , Kan Yufei , Li Hao , Zhu Yanli , Wang Ziyu , Li Zhaojian , Liu Hao-Yu , Cai Demin
Published: November 2023

Lipid metabolic diseases have substantial morbidity and mortality rates, posing a significant threat to human health. PPARα, a member of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), plays a crucial role in lipid metabolism and immune regulation. Recent studies have increasingly recognized the pivotal involvement of PPARα in diverse pathological conditions. This comprehensive review aims to elucidate the multifaceted role of PPARα in metabolic diseases including liver diseases, diabetes-related diseases, age-related diseases, and cancers, shedding light on the underlying molecular mechanisms and some regulatory effects of natural/synthetic ligands of PPARα. By summarizing the latest research findings on PPARα, we aim to provide a foundation for the possible therapeutic exploitation of PPARα in lipid metabolic diseases.
(L)-Monomethyl Tyrosine (Mmt): New Synthetic Strategy via Bulky ‘Forced-Traceless’ Regioselective Pd-Catalyzed C(sp2)–H Activation
Authors: Illuminati Davide , Trapella Claudio , Zanirato Vinicio , Guerrini Remo , Albanese Valentina , Sturaro Chiara , Stragapede Simona , Malfacini Davide , Compagnin Greta , Catani Martina , Fantinati Anna
Published: November 2023

The enormous influence in terms of bioactivity, affinity, and selectivity represented by the replacement of (L)-2,6-dimethyl tyrosine (Dmt) instead of Phenylalanine (Phe) into Nociceptin/orphanin (N/OFQ) neuropeptide analogues has been well documented in the literature. More recently, the non-natural amino acid (L)-2-methyl tyrosine (Mmt), with steric hindrance included between Tyr and Dmt, has been studied because of the modulation of steric effects in opioid peptide chains. Here, we report a new synthetic strategy to obtain Mmt based on the well-known Pd-catalyzed ortho-C(sp2)–H activation approach, because there is a paucity of other synthetic routes in the literature to achieve it. The aim of this work was to force only the mono-ortho-methylation process over the double ortho-methylation one. In this regard, we are pleased to report that the introduction of the dibenzylamine moiety on a Tyr aromatic nucleus is a convenient and traceless solution to achieve such a goal. Interestingly, our method provided the aimed Mmt either as N-Boc or N-Fmoc derivatives ready to be inserted into peptide chains through solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). Importantly, the introduction of Mmt in place of Phe1 in the sequence of N/OFQ(1-13)-NH2 was very well tolerated in terms of pharmacological profile and bioactivity.
Repurposing Synthetic Congeners of a Natural Product Aurone Unveils a Lead Antitumor Agent Inhibiting Folded P-Loop Conformation of MET Receptor Tyrosine Kinase
Authors: Hassan Ahmed H. E. , Wang Cai Yi , Lee Cheol Jung , Jeon Hye Rim , Choi Yeonwoo , Moon Suyeon , Lee Chae Hyeon , Kim Yeon Ju , Cho Soo Bin , Mahmoud Kazem , El-Sayed Selwan M. , Lee Sang Kook , Lee Yong Sup
Published: November 2023

A library of 24 congeners of the natural product sulfuretin were evaluated against nine panels representing nine cancer diseases. While sulfuretin elicited very weak activities at 10 µM concentration, congener 1t was identified as a potential compound triggering growth inhibition of diverse cell lines. Mechanistic studies in HCT116 colon cancer cells revealed that congener 1t dose-dependently increased levels of cleaved-caspases 8 and 9 and cleaved-PARP, while it concentration-dependently decreased levels of CDK4, CDK6, Cdc25A, and Cyclin D and E resulting in induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in colon cancer HCT116 cells. Mechanistic study also presented MET receptor tyrosine kinase as the molecular target mediating the anticancer activity of compound 1t in HCT116 cells. In silico study predicted folded p-loop conformation as the form of MET receptor tyrosine kinase responsible for binding of compound 1t. Together, the current study presents compound 1t as an interesting anticancer lead for further development.
Camellia sinensis Aqueous Extract: A Promising Candidate for Hepatic Eimeriosis Treatment in Rabbits
Authors: Baghdadi Hanadi B. A. , Rizk Mohamed Abdo
Published: November 2023

Eimeria stiedae (E. stiedae) is a common coccidian species that infects the liver and causes economic losses for the rabbit industry. This study aimed to determine the efficiency of green tea aqueous extract (GTE) as a natural treatment for eimeriosis caused by E. stiedae. Male rabbits Cuniculus L. (Oryctolagus) of the New Zealand White rabbit strain (4–4.5 months) were used, as they are suitable for research and conducting experiments. Thirty rabbits were allocated into six groups, with five rabbits in each group; the G1 group (non-infected untreated) served as a negative control group; the G2 group was not infected and treated with 250 mg GTE; the G3 group was not infected and treated with 500 mg GTE; the G4 group was untreated and was infected with 3 × 104 Sporulated E. stiedae oocysts, which served as a positive control group; the G5 group was infected and treated with 250 mg GTE; and the G6 group was infected and treated with 500 mg GTE. The hematological and biochemical analyses of each group of rabbit sera were carried out. Phytochemical analysis was performed to evaluate the active components in GTE leaves using the following methods: IR spectroscopy, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and scanning electron microscopy. The infected rabbit groups treated with GTE at both doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg exhibited a significant decrease in the extent of E. stiedae oocyst shedding compared with the infected untreated group at 14, 21, and 28 days post-infection. Also, treatment with green tea showed improvement in liver weight compared with the enlarged livers of infected, untreated rabbits. The disturbance in serum liver enzymes’ gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST/GOT) levels, as well as serum glucose, potassium, uric acid, cholesterol, and urea levels, were improved after the treatment of infected rabbit groups with green tea compared with the infected untreated group. Moreover, in this study, the images of the egg stages of the parasite were taken using a fluorescence microscope at 25 µm and 26 µm magnifications. This study provides promising results for the effective cell absorption of the aqueous extract of green tea, which was confirmed in the analyzed images using a scanning electron microscope at 5 µm and 20 µm magnifications.
A Retrospective Review of COVID-19 Medicines Information Queries in a Quaternary Hospital with Unique COVID-19 Border Controls
Authors: Misko Jeanie , Rawlins Matthew D. M.
Published: November 2023

Background: Medicines information (MI) is a specialist area of pharmacy that provides evidence-based answers to often complex medication queries, utilising resources such as textbooks and databases. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a need to change the way COVID-19-related queries were answered due to the rapid evolution of information on vaccination, treatment and prevention. Methods: Medicines information queries were retrospectively reviewed utilising the centre’s medicines information database from January 2020 through December 2022 using the COVID-19 keyword to retrieve relevant queries. Information was collected on the enquirer’s role, query category, time taken to complete the query, relevant keywords and references accessed. Keywords and references were analysed further to determine the types of queries asked and which references were helpful. Results: The centre received 214 COVID-19-related queries, predominantly in 2022. Most queries were from pharmacy staff (95.8%) and related to vaccination (n = 95, 44.4%) or treatment (n = 87, 40.7%). Government and specialist organisation websites were used most commonly as reference sources (24.6% and 16.5%, respectively) for their currency with COVID-19-specific resources (such as national guidelines, COVID-19 treatment interaction checkers) and textbooks/databases used less commonly. Conclusions: MI pharmacists have demonstrated their ability to obtain reliable COVID-19-related information, utilising and interpreting information from less traditional sources.
Carob Extract (Ceratonia siliqua L.): Effects on Dyslipidemia and Obesity in a High-Fat Diet-Fed Rat Model
Authors: Rašković Aleksandar , Martić Nikola , Tomas Ana , Andrejić-Višnjić Bojana , Bosanac Milana , Atanasković Marko , Nemet Marko , Popović Radmila , Krstić Marko , Vukmirović Saša , Stilinović Nebojša
Published: November 2023

Dyslipidemia and obesity are recognized as two of the major global health issues and main risk factors for coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. In recent years, carob has shown certain antioxidant and anti-dyslipidemic potential. In this study, Wistar rats were fed with a standard and cholesterol-enriched diet and treated orally with carob extract and simvastatin for four weeks. After sacrifice, blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis, and liver tissue was taken for histological and immunohistochemical assessment. Weight gain was significantly higher in groups fed with cholesterol-fortified granules; total cholesterol was found to be significantly lower in the hypercholesterolemic groups treated with simvastatin and simvastatin/carob combined regimens compared with hypercholesterolemic animals treated with saline (p < 0.05). The same was true for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the LDL/HDL ratio (p < 0.05). Adiponectin was remarkably higher in animals treated with simvastatin compared to all other groups (p < 0.05). Leptin was significantly lower in groups treated with carob and simvastatin compared to the hypercholesterolemic group treated with saline (p < 0.05). Carob/simvastatin co-administration reduced hepatocyte damage and improved liver morphology. A study confirmed the anti-dyslipidemic, anti-obesity, and hepatoprotective potential of carob pulp alone or in combination with simvastatin in the treatment of high-fat diet-fed rats.
Effect of E. cava and C. indicum Complex Extract on Phorbol 12-Myristate 13-Acetate (PMA)-Stimulated Inflammatory Response in Human Pulmonary Epithelial Cells and Particulate Matter (PM)2.5-Induced Pulmonary Inflammation in Mice
Authors: Lee Sung-Gyu , Park Chan-Hwi , Kang Hyun
Published: November 2023

This study explores the potential of a natural composite formulation known as ED, consisting of Ecklonia cava (E. cava, family: Lessoniaceae) and Chrysanthemum indicum Linne (C. indicum, family: Asteraceae), in alleviating lung inflammation induced by fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Initial assessments confirmed that neither ED nor one of its components, dieckol, exhibited cytotoxic effects on A549 cells. Subsequently, the impact of ED and dieckol on MUC5AC gene expression in A549 cells stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was investigated, revealing promising results that demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of MUC5AC gene expression. The study also delves into the underlying mechanisms, demonstrating that ED and dieckol effectively suppressed the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including JNK, ERK, and p38, which are known to be involved in the regulation of MUC5AC gene expression. In in vivo experiments using a PM2.5-induced pulmonary inflammation mouse model, the research findings showed that ED mitigated cellular accumulation in the airways, leading to a significant reduction in the total cell count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Moreover, ED exhibited protective effects against PM2.5-induced pulmonary damage, characterized by reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and decreased mucus secretion in pulmonary tissues. Additionally, ED’s anti-inflammatory properties were evident in its ability to decrease the levels of key inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IL-6, both in the serum and lung tissue of the PM2.5-induced pulmonary inflammation mouse model. These findings suggest the potential of ED as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory respiratory diseases.
Development of New Hybrid Composites for High-Temperature Applications
Authors: Seoane-Rivero Rubén , Germán Lorena , Santos Fernando , Gondra Koldo
Published: November 2023

Nowadays, in the automation and aircraft industries, there is a challenge in minimizing the weight of components of vehicles without losing the original properties. In this study, we fabricate hybrid composites based on fiber metal laminates; these materials could be promising composites for high-performance applications. This work is focused on analyzing the effect of high temperature (175 °C) on the mechanical properties of these kind of materials, by introducing NaOH and silane adhesion treatments between metal and prepreg layers and by using vacuum molding processes. Fabricated FML (NaOH treatment) shows a significant improvement in tensile strength in comparison with the ARALL and GLARE reported by ESA. Moreover, developed FMLs at 175 °C kept more than 70% of their tensile strength and modulus and kept 4% of tensile strain at room temperature. The prominent conclusion achieved in this work has been that excellent candidates have been obtained for a wide range of applications, including but not limited to space and aerospace applications.
Development of Poly(acrylamide)-Based Hydrogel Composites with Powdered Activated Carbon for Controlled Sorption of PFOA and PFOS in Aqueous Systems
Authors: Klaus Maria Victoria X. , Gutierrez Angela M. , Hilt J. Zach
Published: November 2023

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are anthropogenic compounds developed for various applications; some are connected to adverse health impacts including immunosuppression and higher susceptibility to some cancers. Current PFAS remediation treatments from aqueous sources include granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption, membrane separation, and anion-exchange resin (AER) removal. Each has specific disadvantages, hence the need for a new and efficient technology. Herein, acrylamide-based hydrogel composites were synthesized with powdered activated carbon (PAC) and characterized to determine their affinity for PFAS. Physicochemical characterization included Fourier-Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify chemical composition, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to confirm PAC loading percentage, and aqueous swelling studies to measure the effect of crosslinking density. FTIR showed successful conversion of carbonyl and amine groups, and TGA analysis confirmed the presence of PAC within the network. Surface characterization also confirmed carbon-rich areas within composite networks, and the swelling ratio decreased with increasing crosslinking density. Finally, sorption of PFAS was detected via liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), with removal efficiencies of up to 98% for perfluorooctanoic sulfonic acid (PFOS) and 96% for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The developed hydrogel composites exhibited great potential as advanced materials with tunable levers that can increase affinity towards specific compounds in water.
Imaginative Ecumenism—Rethinking the Paradigm from an Anglican Perspective
Authors: Morris Jeremy
Published: November 2023

This article reviews the history of the ecumenical movement from an English Anglican perspective, exploring its successes and limitations. It suggests that ecumenical aspirations risk being bogged down in incremental ecumenism, the pursuit of small steps in inter-church relations. A worked example is the Porvoo agreement, which depended on a new paradigm of the Anglican understanding of order, yet which has not been applied equivalently elsewhere. The necessity of unity is reasserted, and a call for a more imaginative, eschatological paradigm of unity is made. Some implications for Anglican ecumenism are briefly explored.
From Name to Myth (Based on Russian Cultural and Literary Tradition)
Authors: Surikova Olesia D. , Berezovich Elena L.
Published: November 2023

This paper analyzes the cases wherein a previously unknown and unique mythological character (with his/her specific behavior, “personal” traits, appearance, origin, etc.) is generated by a cultural linguistic sign or a fragment of text. This research is based on the Russian cultural and linguistic tradition, mainly in its dialectal version (the language of Russian peasants). Its sources include data published in the late 19th–early 21st century in dictionaries of Russian dialects and, primarily, the unpublished field materials of the Ural Federal University Toponymic Expedition, covering data from the Russian North, the Urals, and the Volga region. According to their nature or origin, the names of characters studied in this paper derive from two types of linguistic signs: (1) Names based on usual forms of standard vocabulary that can be both proper and common nouns; the former may refer to various categories, such as toponyms (names of geographical objects), chrononyms (names of calendar dates), hagionyms (names of saints), names of icons, etc. (2) Names originating from a text, usually folkloric; these are word combinations or phrases that only act as a single unit within their “parent” text. Sometimes, but less often, these consist of one word that is of key importance in the source text. Such a phrase or word can migrate outside the “parent” text or genre, expanding their lexical combinability and changing their syntactic regime to become a name of a mythological character. It takes two sources of motivation for a new character to emerge—a linguistic (a word that seeks a new context) and a cultural one (a semiotically intense context, such as a situation associated with danger, prohibition, omens, aggression, or magical practices). The combination of these incentives is not uncommon, so the stock of mythology used for names is being constantly renewed.
Is There Any Evidence for Hell in the Ifá Literary Corpus?
Authors: Ofuasia Emmanuel
Published: November 2023

Recent scholarship on Yorùbá theology that has tried to model it after the Abrahamic monotheisms as the distinction between Ọ̀run rere (Heaven) and Ọ̀run àpáàdì (Hell) is now replete but has not, before now, commanded critical scrutiny. Specifically, the works of Ogunnade, Odebolu, Shittu and Odeyemi have argued for a Yorùbá notion of Hell even when there is no evidence for such in the theology and traditional practices of the peoples. The aim of this research, then, is to correct this unreliable and uncharitable misrepresentation of Yorùbá theology. To achieve this aim, this research employs the Kawaida methodology, which thrives on reason and tradition. In reinforcing its stance, this study relies on the sacred ritual archive of the Yorùbá, which is the Ifá corpus, to establish the absence of any form of Ọ̀run àpáàdì, as a place of eternal anguish and suffering for evil doers among the Yorùbá.
Optimization of the Vertical Wavenumber for PolInSAR Inversion Performance Based on Numerical CRLB Analysis
Authors: Wang Xiao , Li Hong
Published: November 2023

A number of advanced SAR missions have been planned to launch, which can operate in fully polarimetric SAR interferometry mode to acquire structural parameters of global forests. Before the PolInSAR mission, the system configuration of vertical wavenumber kz must be carefully designed because it has a significant impact on the inversion performance. To minimize the estimation error of forest height caused by the system error from the future PolInSAR campaigns, it is valuable for us to optimize the vertical wavenumber. To quantitatively investigate the impact of kz on PolInSAR inversion performance, this paper proposes the optimization of kz based on the Cramér–Rao Lower Bound (CRLB) analysis. Extensive numerical CRLB simulations have been conducted to analyze the impact of several parameters, including extinction level, incident angle, and system decorrelation, etc., on the optimum kz. Finally, by minimizing the simulated CRLB, the numerical optimum kz maps are provided for the system engineers to easily design the system parameters.
MeshNet-SP: A Semantic Urban 3D Mesh Segmentation Network with Sparse Prior
Authors: Zhang Guangyun , Zhang Rongting
Published: November 2023

A textured urban 3D mesh is an important part of 3D real scene technology. Semantically segmenting an urban 3D mesh is a key task in the photogrammetry and remote sensing field. However, due to the irregular structure of a 3D mesh and redundant texture information, it is a challenging issue to obtain high and robust semantic segmentation results for an urban 3D mesh. To address this issue, we propose a semantic urban 3D mesh segmentation network (MeshNet) with sparse prior (SP), named MeshNet-SP. MeshNet-SP consists of a differentiable sparse coding (DSC) subnetwork and a semantic feature extraction (SFE) subnetwork. The DSC subnetwork learns low-intrinsic-dimensional features from raw texture information, which increases the effectiveness and robustness of semantic urban 3D mesh segmentation. The SFE subnetwork produces high-level semantic features from the combination of features containing the geometric features of a mesh and the low-intrinsic-dimensional features of texture information. The proposed method is evaluated on the SUM dataset. The results of ablation experiments demonstrate that the low-intrinsic-dimensional feature is the key to achieving high and robust semantic segmentation results. The comparison results show that the proposed method can achieve competitive accuracies, and the maximum increase can reach 34.5%, 35.4%, and 31.8% in mR, mF1, and mIoU, respectively.
A Generative Adversarial and Spatiotemporal Differential Fusion Method in Radar Echo Extrapolation
Authors: Niu Xianghua , Zhang Lixia , Wang Chunlin , Shen Kailing , Tian Wei , Liao Bin
Published: November 2023

As an important part of remote sensing data, weather radar plays an important role in convective weather forecasts to reduce extreme precipitation disasters. The existing radar echo extrapolation methods do not utilize the local natural characteristics of the radar echo effectively but only roughly extract the whole characteristics of the radar echo. To address these challenges, we design a spatiotemporal difference and generative adversarial fusion model (STDGAN). Specifically, a spatiotemporal difference module (STD) is designed to extract local weather patterns and model them in detail. In our model, spatiotemporal difference information and spatiotemporal features captured by the model itself are fused together. In addition, our model is trained in a generative adversarial network (GAN) framework; it helps to generate a clearer map of future radar echoes at the image level. The discriminator consists of multi-scale feature extractors, which can simulate weather models of various scales more completely. Finally, extrapolation experiments were conducted using actual radar echo data from Shijiazhuang and Nanjing. The experiments have shown that our model has a more accurate prediction performance for predicting local weather patterns and overall echo change trajectories compared with previous research models. Our model achieved MSE, PSNE, and SSIM values of 132.22, 37.87, and 0.796, respectively, on the Shijiazhuang radar echo dataset. In addition, our model also showed better performance results on the Nanjing radar echo dataset. The results show that the MSE was 49.570, the PSNR was 0.714, and the SSIM was 30.633. The CC value was 0.855.
Sensing Human Activity of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area by Ambient Seismic Noise
Authors: Chen Lihui , Xia Shaohong
Published: November 2023

Effective monitoring of human activity in urban areas is essential for social stability and urban development. Traditional monitoring methods include wearable devices, survey sensor networks, and satellite remote sensing, which may be affected by privacy and weather conditions. Ambient seismic noise recorded by seismometers contains rich information about human activity and exhibits significant temporal and spatial variations, which provides valuable insights into social mobility. In this study, we investigated the correlation between human activity and ambient seismic noise in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) using the data recorded by 138 seismometers. Our results indicate that ambient seismic noise produced by human activity in the GBA is mainly concentrated between 2 and 20 Hz. The spatial distribution of ambient seismic noise exhibits a strong correlation with population and economy. Our results show that the analysis of ambient seismic noise can reveal the spatial and temporal impacts of different factors on human activity in the GBA, such as day and night, holidays, weather changes, national policies, and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Furthermore, the analysis of 12-year-long ambient seismic noise at the Hong Kong seismic station shows a close connection between long-term changes in ambient seismic noise and local social development. This study suggests that the analysis of ambient seismic noise represents a novel method to gather critical information about human activity. Seismometers, which are widely deployed worldwide, have great potential as innovative tools for sensing human activity.