bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
College Students’ Views on Functional, Interactive and Critical Nutrition Literacy: A Qualitative Study
Authors: McNamara Jade , Mena Noereem Z. , Neptune Leigh , Parsons Kayla
Published: January 2021

This research aimed to uncover how the nutrition literacy domains (functional, interactive, critical) influence the dietary decisions of young adults in college. For this qualitative study, undergraduate college students aged 18–24 years old (n = 24) were recruited to participate in focus groups. The focus group transcripts were independently coded for primary and secondary themes using a grounded theory approach and a basic thematic analysis. Four focus groups with 5–7 participants per group were conducted. The three domains of nutrition literacy emerged in the focus groups with two themes per domain. Themes within functional nutrition literacy included ‘food enhances or inhibits good health’ and ‘components of a healthy diet’; themes within interactive nutrition literacy included ‘navigating the college food environment’ and ‘awareness of food marketing on dietary behavior’; themes within critical nutrition literacy included ‘critical appraisal of nutrition information’ and ‘awareness of societal barriers to good health’. Understanding how the different nutrition literacy domains relate to college students’ food choices can inform future researchers on how to appropriately assess nutrition literacy and design programs aimed at improving dietary behaviors of college students.
Anti-Parallel β-Hairpin Structure in Soluble Aβ Oligomers of Aβ40-Dutch and Aβ40-Iowa
Authors: Fu Ziao , Van Nostrand William E. , Smith Steven O.
Published: January 2021

The amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides are associated with two prominent diseases in the brain, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Aβ42 is the dominant component of cored parenchymal plaques associated with AD, while Aβ40 is the predominant component of vascular amyloid associated with CAA. There are familial CAA mutations at positions Glu22 and Asp23 that lead to aggressive Aβ aggregation, drive vascular amyloid deposition and result in degradation of vascular membranes. In this study, we compared the transition of the monomeric Aβ40-WT peptide into soluble oligomers and fibrils with the corresponding transitions of the Aβ40-Dutch (E22Q), Aβ40-Iowa (D23N) and Aβ40-Dutch, Iowa (E22Q, D23N) mutants. FTIR measurements show that in a fashion similar to Aβ40-WT, the familial CAA mutants form transient intermediates with anti-parallel β-structure. This structure appears before the formation of cross-β-sheet fibrils as determined by thioflavin T fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy and occurs when AFM images reveal the presence of soluble oligomers and protofibrils. Although the anti-parallel β-hairpin is a common intermediate on the pathway to Aβ fibrils for the four peptides studied, the rate of conversion to cross-β-sheet fibril structure differs for each.
Post-Translational Modifications of the Energy Guardian AMP-Activated Protein Kinase
Authors: Ovens Ashley J. , Scott John W. , Langendorf Christopher G. , Kemp Bruce E. , Oakhill Jonathan S. , Smiles William J.
Published: January 2021

Physical exercise elicits physiological metabolic perturbations such as energetic and oxidative stress; however, a diverse range of cellular processes are stimulated in response to combat these challenges and maintain cellular energy homeostasis. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a highly conserved enzyme that acts as a metabolic fuel sensor and is central to this adaptive response to exercise. The complexity of AMPK’s role in modulating a range of cellular signalling cascades is well documented, yet aside from its well-characterised regulation by activation loop phosphorylation, AMPK is further subject to a multitude of additional regulatory stimuli. Therefore, in this review we comprehensively outline current knowledge around the post-translational modifications of AMPK, including novel phosphorylation sites, as well as underappreciated roles for ubiquitination, sumoylation, acetylation, methylation and oxidation. We provide insight into the physiological ramifications of these AMPK modifications, which not only affect its activity, but also subcellular localisation, nutrient interactions and protein stability. Lastly, we highlight the current knowledge gaps in this area of AMPK research and provide perspectives on how the field can apply greater rigour to the characterisation of novel AMPK regulatory modifications.
Intestinal SIRT1 Deficiency-Related Intestinal Inflammation and Dysbiosis Aggravate TNFα-Mediated Renal Dysfunction in Cirrhotic Ascitic Mice
Authors: Chou Yu-Te , Liu Tze-Tze , Yang Ueng-Cheng , Huang Chia-Chang , Liu Chih-Wei , Huang Shiang-Fen , Li Tzu-Hao , Liu Hsuan-Miao , Lin Ming-Wei , Yang Ying-Ying , Lee Tzung-Yan , Huang Yi-Hsiang , Hou Ming-Chih , Lin Han-Chieh
Published: January 2021

In advanced cirrhosis, the TNFα-mediated intestinal inflammation and bacteria dysbiosis are involved in the development of inflammation and vasoconstriction-related renal dysfunction. In colitis and acute kidney injury models, activation of SIRT1 attenuates the TNFα-mediated intestinal and renal abnormalities. This study explores the impacts of intestinal SIRT1 deficiency and TNFα-mediated intestinal abnormalities on the development of cirrhosis-related renal dysfunction. Systemic and renal hemodynamics, intestinal dysbiosis [cirrhosis dysbiosis ratio (CDR) as marker of dysbiosis], and direct renal vasoconstrictive response (renal vascular resistance (RVR) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR)) to cumulative doses of TNFα were measured in bile duct ligated (BDL)-cirrhotic ascitic mice. In SIRT1IEC-KO-BDL-ascitic mice, the worsening of intestinal dysbiosis exacerbates intestinal inflammation/barrier dysfunction, the upregulation of the expressions of intestinal/renal TNFα-related pathogenic signals, higher TNFα-induced increase in RVR, and decrease in GFR in perfused kidney. In intestinal SIRT1 knockout groups, the positive correlations were identified between intestinal SIRT1 activity and CDR. Particularly, the negative correlations were identified between CDR and RVR, with the positive correlation between CDR and GFR. In mice with advanced cirrhosis, the expression of intestinal SIRT1 is involved in the linkage between intestinal dysbiosis and vasoconstriction/hypoperfusion-related renal dysfunction through the crosstalk between intestinal/renal TNFα-related pathogenic inflammatory signals.
Potential Uses of Olive Oil Secoiridoids for the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer: A Narrative Review of Preclinical Studies
Authors: Emma Maria Rita , Augello Giuseppa , Di Stefano Vita , Azzolina Antonina , Giannitrapani Lydia , Montalto Giuseppe , Cervello Melchiorre , Cusimano Antonella
Published: January 2021

The Mediterranean diet (MD) is a combination of foods mainly rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients that have been shown to have many health-enhancing effects. Extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) is an important component of the MD. The importance of EVOO can be attributed to phenolic compounds, represented by phenolic alcohols, hydroxytyrosol, and tyrosol, and to secoiridoids, which include oleocanthal, oleacein, oleuropein, and ligstroside (along with the aglycone and glycosidic derivatives of the latter two). Each secoiridoid has been studied and characterized, and their effects on human health have been documented by several studies. Secoiridoids have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proliferative properties and, therefore, exhibit anti-cancer activity. This review summarizes the most recent findings regarding the pharmacological properties, molecular targets, and action mechanisms of secoiridoids, focusing attention on their preventive and anti-cancer activities. It provides a critical analysis of preclinical, in vitro and in vivo, studies of these natural bioactive compounds used as agents against various human cancers. The prospects for their possible use in human cancer prevention and treatment is also discussed.
Plant Mitophagy in Comparison to Mammals: What Is Still Missing?
Authors: Ren Kaike , Feng Lanlan , Sun Shuangli , Zhuang Xiaohong
Published: January 2021

Mitochondrial homeostasis refers to the balance of mitochondrial number and quality in a cell. It is maintained by mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial fusion/fission, and the clearance of unwanted/damaged mitochondria. Mitophagy represents a selective form of autophagy by sequestration of the potentially harmful mitochondrial materials into a double-membrane autophagosome, thus preventing the release of death inducers, which can trigger programmed cell death (PCD). Recent advances have also unveiled a close interconnection between mitophagy and mitochondrial dynamics, as well as PCD in both mammalian and plant cells. In this review, we will summarize and discuss recent findings on the interplay between mitophagy and mitochondrial dynamics, with a focus on the molecular evidence for mitophagy crosstalk with mitochondrial dynamics and PCD.
LncRNA H19-Derived miR-675-5p Accelerates the Invasion of Extravillous Trophoblast Cells by Inhibiting GATA2 and Subsequently Activating Matrix Metalloproteinases
Authors: Ogoyama Manabu , Ohkuchi Akihide , Takahashi Hironori , Zhao Dongwei , Matsubara Shigeki , Takizawa Toshihiro
Published: January 2021

The invasion of extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cells into the maternal decidua, which plays a crucial role in the establishment of a successful pregnancy, is highly orchestrated by a complex array of regulatory mechanisms. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that fine-tune gene expression at epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional levels are involved in the regulatory mechanisms of EVT cell invasion. However, little is known about the characteristic features of EVT-associated ncRNAs. To elucidate the gene expression profiles of both coding and non-coding transcripts (i.e., mRNAs, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and microRNAs (miRNAs)) expressed in EVT cells, we performed RNA sequencing analysis of EVT cells isolated from first-trimester placentae. RNA sequencing analysis demonstrated that the lncRNA H19 and its derived miRNA miR-675-5p were enriched in EVT cells. Although miR-675-5p acts as a placental/trophoblast growth suppressor, there is little information on the involvement of miR-675-5p in trophoblast cell invasion. Next, we evaluated a possible role of miR-675-5p in EVT cell invasion using the EVT cell lines HTR-8/SVneo and HChEpC1b; overexpression of miR-675-5p significantly promoted the invasion of both EVT cell lines. The transcription factor gene GATA2 was shown to be a target of miR-675-5p; moreover, small interfering RNA-mediated GATA2 knockdown significantly promoted cell invasion. Furthermore, we identified MMP13 and MMP14 as downstream effectors of miR-675-5p/GATA2-dependent EVT cell invasion. These findings suggest that miR-675-5p-mediated GATA2 inhibition accelerates EVT cell invasion by upregulating matrix metalloproteinases.
Low Protein Expression of both ATRX and ZNRF3 as Novel Negative Prognostic Markers of Adult Adrenocortical Carcinoma
Authors: Brondani Vania Balderrama , Lacombe Amanda Meneses Ferreira , Mariani Beatriz Marinho de Paula , Montenegro Luciana , Soares Iberê Cauduro , Bezerra-Neto João Evangelista , Tanno Fabio Yoshiaki , Srougi Victor , Chambo José Luis , Mendonca Berenice Bilharinho , Almeida Madson Q. , Zerbini Maria Claudia Nogueira , Fragoso Maria Candida Barisson Villares
Published: January 2021

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy that is associated with a dismal prognosis. Pan-genomic studies have demonstrated the involvement of ATRX and ZNRF3 genes in adrenocortical tumorigenesis. Our aims were to evaluate the protein expression of ATRX and ZNRF3 in a cohort of 82 adults with ACC and to establish their prognostic value. Two pathologists analyzed immuno-stained slides of a tissue microarray. The low protein expression of ATRX and ZNRF3 was associated with a decrease in overall survival (OS) (p = 0.045, p = 0.012, respectively). The Cox regression for ATRX protein expression of >1.5 showed a hazard ratio (HR) for OS of 0.521 (95% CI 0.273–0.997; p = 0.049) when compared with ≤1.5; for ZNRF3 expression >2, the HR for OS was 0.441 (95% CI, 0.229–0.852; p = 0.015) when compared with ≤2. High ATRX and ZNRF3 protein expressions were associated with optimistic recurrence-free survival (RFS) (p = 0.027 and p = 0.005, respectively). The Cox regression of RFS showed an HR of 0.332 (95%CI, 0.111–0.932) for ATRX expression >2.7 (p = 0.037), and an HR of 0.333 (95%CI, 0.140–0.790) for ZNRF3 expression >2 (p = 0.013). In conclusion, low protein expression of ATRX and ZNRF3 are negative prognostic markers of ACC; however, different cohorts should be evaluated to validate these findings.
Effect of Cilastatin on Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Patients Undergoing Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy
Authors: Zaballos Matilde , Power Mercedes , Canal-Alonso María Iluminada , González-Nicolás María Ángeles , Vasquez-Jimenez Wenceslao , Lozano-Lominchar Pablo , Cabrerizo-Torrente Pilar , Palencia-García Natividad , Gago-Quiroga Susana , Ginel-Feito María Dolores , Jiménez Consuelo , Lázaro Alberto , González-Bayón Luis
Published: January 2021

Cisplatin is one of the most widely used chemotherapeutic agents in oncology, although its nephrotoxicity limits application and dosage. We present the results of a clinical study on prophylaxis of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis undergoing cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal intraoperative chemotherapy (HIPEC-cisplatin). Prophylaxis was with imipenem/cilastatin. Cilastatin is a selective inhibitor of renal dehydropeptidase I in the proximal renal tubule cells that can reduce the nephrotoxicity of cisplatin. Unfortunately, cilastatin is not currently marketed alone, and can only be administered in combination with imipenem. The study has a retrospective part that serves as a control (n = 99 patients receiving standard surgical prophylaxis) and a prospective part with imipenem/cilastatin prophylaxis corresponding to the study group (n = 85 patients). In both groups, we collected specific data on preoperative risk factors of renal damage, fluid management, hemodynamic control, and urine volume during surgery (including the hyperthermic chemotherapy perfusion), as well as data on hemodynamic and renal function during the first seven days after surgery. The main finding of the study is that cilastatin may exert a nephroprotective effect in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis undergoing cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal cisplatin perfusion. Creatinine values remained lower than in the control group (ANOVA test, p = 0.037). This translates into easier management of these patients in the postoperative period, with significantly shorter intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay.
Potassium Channels and Their Potential Roles in Substance Use Disorders
Authors: McCoy Michael T. , Jayanthi Subramaniam , Cadet Jean Lud
Published: January 2021

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are ubiquitous throughout the world. However, much remains to be done to develop pharmacotherapies that are very efficacious because the focus has been mostly on using dopaminergic agents or opioid agonists. Herein we discuss the potential of using potassium channel activators in SUD treatment because evidence has accumulated to support a role of these channels in the effects of rewarding drugs. Potassium channels regulate neuronal action potential via effects on threshold, burst firing, and firing frequency. They are located in brain regions identified as important for the behavioral responses to rewarding drugs. In addition, their expression profiles are influenced by administration of rewarding substances. Genetic studies have also implicated variants in genes that encode potassium channels. Importantly, administration of potassium agonists have been shown to reduce alcohol intake and to augment the behavioral effects of opioid drugs. Potassium channel expression is also increased in animals with reduced intake of methamphetamine. Together, these results support the idea of further investing in studies that focus on elucidating the role of potassium channels as targets for therapeutic interventions against SUDs.
CD1d-Dependent iNKT Cells Control DSS-Induced Colitis in a Mouse Model of IFNγ-Mediated Hyperinflammation by Increasing IL22-Secreting ILC3 Cells
Authors: Park Hyun Jung , Lee Sung Won , Van Kaer Luc , Hong Seokmann
Published: January 2021

We have previously shown that CD1d-restricted iNKT cells suppress dysregulated IFNγ expression and intestinal inflammation in Yeti mice on the C57BL/6 background. Since type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) protect against intestinal inflammation in a CD1d-associated manner, we investigated whether crosstalk between iNKT cells and MLN ILC3s controls IFNγ-mediated intestinal inflammation in Yeti mice. We found that Yeti mice display increased levels of ILC3s and that iNKT cell deficiency in Yeti/CD1d KO mice decreases levels of IL22-producing ILC3s during DSS-induced colitis. This finding indicates that iNKT cells and ILC3s cooperate to regulate intestinal inflammation in Yeti mice. Yeti iNKT cells displayed a pronounced anti-inflammatory (IL4- or IL9-producing) phenotype during colitis. Their adoptive transfer to iNKT cell-deficient animals induced a significant increase in IL22 production by ILC3s, indicating that crosstalk between iNKT cells and ILC3s plays a critical role in modulating colitis in Yeti mice. Moreover, we showed that the IL9-producing subset of iNKT cells potently enhances IL22-producing ILC3s in vivo. Taken together, our results identify a central role of the iNKT cell-ILC3 axis in ameliorating IFNγ-mediated intestinal inflammation.
From Prions to Stress Granules: Defining the Compositional Features of Prion-Like Domains That Promote Different Types of Assemblies
Authors: Fomicheva Anastasia , Ross Eric D.
Published: January 2021

Stress granules are ribonucleoprotein assemblies that form in response to cellular stress. Many of the RNA-binding proteins found in stress granule proteomes contain prion-like domains (PrLDs), which are low-complexity sequences that compositionally resemble yeast prion domains. Mutations in some of these PrLDs have been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia, and are associated with persistent stress granule accumulation. While both stress granules and prions are macromolecular assemblies, they differ in both their physical properties and complexity. Prion aggregates are highly stable homopolymeric solids, while stress granules are complex dynamic biomolecular condensates driven by multivalent homotypic and heterotypic interactions. Here, we use stress granules and yeast prions as a paradigm to examine how distinct sequence and compositional features of PrLDs contribute to different types of PrLD-containing assemblies.
Gene Expression Responses to Sequential Nutrient Deficiency Stresses in Soybean
Authors: O’Rourke Jamie A. , Graham Michelle A.
Published: January 2021

Throughout the growing season, crops experience a multitude of short periods of various abiotic stresses. These stress events have long-term impacts on plant performance and yield. It is imperative to improve our understanding of the genes and biological processes underlying plant stress tolerance to mitigate end of season yield loss. The majority of studies examining transcriptional changes induced by stress focus on single stress events. Few studies have been performed in model or crop species to examine transcriptional responses of plants exposed to repeated or sequential stress exposure, which better reflect field conditions. In this study, we examine the transcriptional profile of soybean plants exposed to iron deficiency stress followed by phosphate deficiency stress (-Fe-Pi). Comparing this response to previous studies, we identified a core suite of genes conserved across all repeated stress exposures (-Fe-Pi, -Fe-Fe, -Pi-Pi). Additionally, we determined transcriptional response to sequential stress exposure (-Fe-Pi) involves genes usually associated with reproduction, not stress responses. These findings highlight the plasticity of the plant transcriptome and the complexity of unraveling stress response pathways.
Recent Advancements in Studies on Chemosensory Mechanisms Underlying Detection of Semiochemicals in Dacini Fruit Flies of Economic Importance (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Authors: Ono Hajime , Hee Alvin Kah-Wei , Jiang Hongbo
Published: January 2021

Dacini fruit flies mainly contain two genera, Bactrocera and Zeugodacus, and include many important pests of fruits and vegetables. Their life cycle is affected by various environmental cues. Among them, multiple characteristic semiochemicals have remarkable effects on their reproductive and host-finding behaviors. Notably, floral fragrances released from so-called fruit fly orchids strongly attract males of several Dacini fruit fly species. Focusing on the strong attraction of male flies to particular chemicals, natural and synthetic lures have been used for pest management. Thus, the perception of semiochemicals is important to understand environmental adaptation in Dacini fruit flies. Since next-generation sequencers are available, a large number of chemosensory-related genes have been identified in Dacini fruit flies, as well as other insects. Furthermore, recent studies have succeeded in the functional analyses of olfactory receptors in response to semiochemicals. Thus, characterization of molecular components required for chemoreception is under way. However, the mechanisms underlying chemoreception remain largely unknown. This paper reviews recent findings on peripheral mechanisms in the perception of odors in Dacini fruit flies, describing related studies in other dipteran species, mainly the model insect Drosophilamelanogaster. Based on the review, important themes for future research have also been discussed.
A Binary Trust Game for the Internet of Things
Authors: Marche Claudio , Nitti Michele
Published: January 2021

The IoT is transforming the ordinary physical objects around us into an ecosystem of information that will enrich our lives. The key to this ecosystem is the cooperation among the devices, where things look for other things to provide composite services for the benefit of human beings. However, cooperation among nodes can only arise when nodes trust the information received by any other peer in the system. Previous efforts on trust were concentrated on proposing models and algorithms to manage the level of trustworthiness. In this paper, we focus on modelling the interaction between trustor and trustee in the IoT and on proposing guidelines to efficiently design trust management models. Simulations show the impacts of the proposed guidelines on a simple trust model.
Reflections on Rotational Osteotomies around the Patellofemoral Joint
Authors: Biedert Roland M.
Published: January 2021

Torsional abnormalities of the femur represent a significant risk factor for patellar instability or patellofemoral complaints. Although their clinical implication has been demonstrated, there is still a debate going on about different aspects. These include, especially, the various methods of measurements with a wide range of physiologic values, the indication or clear recommendation for surgical correction, and the site of the rotational osteotomy. Nevertheless, good subjective and objective functional results were reported after femoral rotational osteotomies. This is mostly not a review of the literature, but a collection of personal thoughts and observations.
Investigation of Effect on Environmental Performance of Using LNG as Fuel for Engines in Seaport Tugboats
Authors: Lebedevas Sergejus , Norkevičius Lukas , Zhou Peilin
Published: January 2021

Decarbonization of ship power plants and reduction of harmful emissions has become a priority in the technological development of maritime transport, including ships operating in seaports. Engines fueled by diesel without using secondary emission reduction technologies cannot meet MARPOL 73/78 Tier III regulations. The MEPC.203 (62) EEDI directive of the IMO also stipulates a standard for CO2 emissions. This study presents the results of research on ecological parameters when a CAT 3516C diesel engine is replaced by a dual-fuel (diesel-liquefied natural gas) powered Wartsila 9L20DF engine on an existing seaport tugboat. CO2, SO2 and NOx emission reductions were estimated using data from the actual engine load cycle, the fuel consumption of the KLASCO-3 tugboat, and engine-prototype experimental data. Emission analysis was performed to verify the efficiency of the dual-fuel engine in reducing CO2, SO2 and NOx emissions of seaport tugboats. The study found that replacing a diesel engine with a dual-fuel-powered engine led to a reduction in annual emissions of 10% for CO2, 91% for SO2, and 65% for NOx. Based on today’s fuel price market data an economic impact assessment was conducted based on the estimated annual fuel consumption of the existing KLASCO-3 seaport tugboat when a diesel-powered engine is replaced by a dual-fuel (diesel-natural gas)-powered engine. The study showed that a 33% fuel costs savings can be achieved each year. Based on the approved methodology, an ecological impact assessment was conducted for the entire fleet of tugboats operating in the Baltic Sea ports if the fuel type was changed from diesel to natural gas. The results of the assessment showed that replacing diesel fuel with natural gas achieved 78% environmental impact in terms of NOx emissions according to MARPOL 73/78 Tier III regulations. The research concludes that new-generation engines on the market powered by environmentally friendly fuels such as LNG can modernise a large number of existing seaport tugboats, significantly reducing their emissions in ECA regions such as the Baltic Sea.
Microbubbles as Proxies for Oil Spill Delineation in Field Tests
Authors: Wang Yaomei , Thanyamanta Worakanok , Bulger Craig , Bose Neil , Hwang Jimin
Published: January 2021

To overcome the environmental impacts of releasing oil into the ocean for testing acoustic methods in field experiments using autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), environmentally friendly gas bubble plumes with low rise velocities are proposed in this research to be used as proxies for oil. An experiment was conducted to test the performance of a centrifugal-type microbubble generator in generating microbubble plumes and their practicability to be used in field experiments. Sizes of bubbles were measured with a Laser In-Situ Scattering and Transmissometry sensor. Residence time of bubble plumes was estimated by using a Ping360 sonar. Results from the experiment showed that a larger number of small bubbles were found in deeper water as larger bubbles rose quickly to the surface without staying in the water column. The residence time of the generated bubble plumes at the depth of 0.5 m was estimated to be over 5 min. The microbubble generator is planned to be applied in future field experiments, as it is effective in producing relatively long-endurance plumes that can be used as potential proxies for oil plumes in field trials of AUVs for delineating oil spills.
Selective Inhibition of Human Monoamine Oxidase B by 5-hydroxy-2-methyl-chroman-4-one Isolated from an Endogenous Lichen Fungus Daldinia fissa
Authors: Jeong Geum-Seok , Kang Myung-Gyun , Han Sang-Ah , Noh Ji-In , Park Jong-Eun , Nam Sang-Jip , Park Daeui , Yee Sung-Tae , Kim Hoon
Published: January 2021

Inhibitory activities against monoamine oxidases (MAOs) and cholinesterases (ChEs) and antioxidant activity were evaluated for 195 extracts from Ukraine-derived endogenous lichen fungi (ELF). Among them, an ELF13 (identified as Daldinia fissa) extract showed the highest inhibitory activity against MAO-B, and 5-hydroxy-2-methyl-chroman-4-one (HMC) was isolated as a ~ 4-fold selective inhibitor of MAO-B (IC50 = 3.23 µM) compared to MAO-A (IC50 = 13.97 µM). HMC is a reversible competitive inhibitor with a Ki value of 0.896 µM. No cytotoxicity was observed in normal and cancer cells at 50 µM of HMC. HMC showed blood–brain barrier permeability and high gastrointestinal absorption in silico pharmacokinetics. The docking simulation results showed that the binding affinity of HMC for MAO-B (−7.3 kcal/mol) was higher than that of MAO-A (−6.1 kcal/mol) and that HMC formed a hydrogen bond interaction with Cys172 of MAO-B (distance: 3.656 Å), whereas no hydrogen bonding was predicted with MAO-A. These results suggest that HMC can be considered a candidate for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
The Identification of Genetic Determinants of Methanol Tolerance in Yeast Suggests Differences in Methanol and Ethanol Toxicity Mechanisms and Candidates for Improved Methanol Tolerance Engineering
Authors: Mota Marta N. , Martins Luís C. , Sá-Correia Isabel
Published: January 2021

Methanol is a promising feedstock for metabolically competent yeast strains-based biorefineries. However, methanol toxicity can limit the productivity of these bioprocesses. Therefore, the identification of genes whose expression is required for maximum methanol tolerance is important for mechanistic insights and rational genomic manipulation to obtain more robust methylotrophic yeast strains. The present chemogenomic analysis was performed with this objective based on the screening of the Euroscarf Saccharomyces cerevisiae haploid deletion mutant collection to search for susceptibility phenotypes in YPD medium supplemented with 8% (v/v) methanol, at 35 °C, compared with an equivalent ethanol concentration (5.5% (v/v)). Around 400 methanol tolerance determinants were identified, 81 showing a marked phenotype. The clustering of the identified tolerance genes indicates an enrichment of functional categories in the methanol dataset not enriched in the ethanol dataset, such as chromatin remodeling, DNA repair and fatty acid biosynthesis. Several genes involved in DNA repair (eight RAD genes), identified as specific for methanol toxicity, were previously reported as tolerance determinants for formaldehyde, a methanol detoxification pathway intermediate. This study provides new valuable information on genes and potential regulatory networks involved in overcoming methanol toxicity. This knowledge is an important starting point for the improvement of methanol tolerance in yeasts capable of catabolizing and copying with methanol concentrations present in promising bioeconomy feedstocks, including industrial residues.
Identifying Barriers and Facilitators to Diet and Physical Activity Behaviour Change in Type 2 Diabetes Using a Design Probe Methodology
Authors: Cradock Kevin A. , Quinlan Leo R. , Finucane Francis M. , Gainforth Heather L. , Martin Ginis Kathleen A. , Barros Ana Correia de , Sanders Elizabeth B. N. , ÓLaighin Gearóid
Published: January 2021

Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) typically involves pharmacological methods and adjunct behavioural modifications, focused on changing diet and physical activity (PA) behaviours. Changing diet and physical activity behaviours is complex and any behavioural intervention in T2D, to be successful, must use an appropriate suite of behaviour change techniques (BCTs). In this study, we sought to understand the perceived barriers and facilitators to diet and PA behaviour change in persons with T2D, with a view to creating artefacts to facilitate the required behaviour changes. The Design Probe was chosen as the most appropriate design research instrument to capture the required data, as it enabled participants to reflect and self-document, over an extended period of time, on their daily lived experiences and, following this reflection, to identify their barriers and facilitators to diet and PA behaviour change. Design Probes were sent to 21 participants and 13 were fully completed. A reflective thematic analysis was carried out on the data, which identified themes of food environment, mental health, work schedule, planning, social support, cravings, economic circumstances and energy associated with diet behaviour. Similar themes were identified for PA as well as themes of physical health, weather, motivation and the physical environment.
Small Molecule-Based Enzyme Inhibitors in the Treatment of Primary Hyperoxalurias
Authors: Moya-Garzon Maria Dolores , Gomez-Vidal Jose Antonio , Alejo-Armijo Alfonso , Altarejos Joaquin , Rodriguez-Madoz Juan Roberto , Fernandes Miguel Xavier , Salido Eduardo , Salido Sofia , Diaz-Gavilan Monica
Published: January 2021

Primary hyperoxalurias (PHs) are a group of inherited alterations of the hepatic glyoxylate metabolism. PHs classification based on gene mutations parallel a variety of enzymatic defects, and all involve the harmful accumulation of calcium oxalate crystals that produce systemic damage. These geographically widespread rare diseases have a deep impact in the life quality of the patients. Until recently, treatments were limited to palliative measures and kidney/liver transplants in the most severe forms. Efforts made to develop pharmacological treatments succeeded with the biotechnological agent lumasiran, a siRNA product against glycolate oxidase, which has become the first effective therapy to treat PH1. However, small molecule drugs have classically been preferred since they benefit from experience and have better pharmacological properties. The development of small molecule inhibitors designed against key enzymes of glyoxylate metabolism is on the focus of research. Enzyme inhibitors are successful and widely used in several diseases and their pharmacokinetic advantages are well known. In PHs, effective enzymatic targets have been determined and characterized for drug design and interesting inhibitory activities have been achieved both in vitro and in vivo. This review describes the most recent advances towards the development of small molecule enzyme inhibitors in the treatment of PHs, introducing the multi-target approach as a more effective and safe therapeutic option.
Inconsistent Definitions of Money and Currency in Financial Legislation as a Threat to Innovation and Sustainability
Authors: Bindewald Leander
Published: January 2021

External shocks, like the climate catastrophe or the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as intrinsic fallacies like the securitization of bad debt leading up to the financial crisis in 2008, point to the need for updating our monetary and financial systems. Ensuring their adequacy and resilience is an important factor for sustainability at large. This paper examines the definitions of “money” and “currency” in financial legislation as a foundational factor in achieving systemic resilience by allowing or hampering monetary innovation and diversity. From the unencumbered vantage point that the practice of complementary currencies offers, definitions of the terms “money” and “currency” are here traced through the laws and regulations of the United States of America, from the beginnings of modern banking to the recent rulings on crypto-currencies. They are both found to be used and defined in contradictory ways that are inapt even in regard to conventional modern banking practices, let alone when applied to novelty in payment, issuance and valuation. Consequently, this paper argues that basic legal definitions need to be reviewed and consolidated to enable the innovation and diversification in monetary systems needed for long term macro-economic stability. With this in mind, a terminology that is consistent with monetary practice—current, past and future—as well as the procedural difficulties of reforming laws and regulations is proposed.
Investigating the Impact of Competition and Incentive Design on Performance of Crowdfunding Projects: A Case of Independent Movies
Authors: Chen Li
Published: January 2021

Recently, crowdfunding has become a popular e-commerce model based on web 2.0 platforms for fundraisers to collect funding from a large group of supporters using the Internet. However, many projects failed to reach their funding targets. Despite the growing interest of academic researchers and e-commerce professionals in identifying drivers of crowdfunding success, important factors like competition and incentive design have not received much attention in prior research. In this study we aim to fill this gap by investigating the impact of competition and incentive design on the performance of crowdfunding projects. Drawing upon literature of entrepreneurship, we develop a research model involving key factors such as competition intensity and the number of reward levels. Using real data of 209 independent movie projects of an online crowdfunding platform, we test the proposed hypotheses of the impact of competition and incentive design on crowdfunding success. Our results show that competition plays a significant role in crowdfunding performance. The higher competition pressure is, the lower performance of crowdfunding projects will be. We also find that factors such as the number of reward levels and the plan of attending movie festivals are essential to the success of crowdfunding projects, but the funding level of getting the top reward does not exert a significant impact. Our study contributes to the e-commerce literature by further exploring the mechanism of crowdfunding success with theoretical explanation and empirical evidence. Researchers and professionals can apply our theoretical findings regarding competition and incentive design in other e-commerce platforms. Furthermore, our results provide useful managerial insights and operational policies for project founders and managers of crowdfunding platforms.
Phycocyanin from Arthrospira platensis as Potential Anti-Cancer Drug: Review of In Vitro and In Vivo Studies
Authors: Braune Steffen , Krüger-Genge Anne , Kammerer Sarah , Jung Friedrich , Küpper Jan-Heiner
Published: January 2021

The application of cytostatic drugs or natural substances to inhibit cancer growth and progression is an important and evolving subject of cancer research. There has been a surge of interest in marine bioresources, particularly algae, as well as cyanobacteria and their bioactive ingredients. Dried biomass products of Arthrospira and Chlorella have been categorized as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Of particular importance is an ingredient of Arthrospira: phycocyanin, a blue-red fluorescent, water-soluble and non-toxic biliprotein pigment. It is reported to be the main active ingredient of Arthrospira and was shown to have therapeutic properties, including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune-modulatory and anti-cancer activities. In the present review, in vitro and in vivo data on the effects of phycocyanin on various tumor cells and on cells from healthy tissues are summarized. The existing knowledge of underlying molecular mechanisms, and strategies to improve the efficiency of potential phycocyanin-based anti-cancer therapies are discussed.
Experimental Methodology for the Separation Materials in the Recycling Process of Silicon Photovoltaic Panels
Authors: Riech Ines , Castro-Montalvo Carlos , Wittersheim Loïs , Giácoman-Vallejos Germán , González-Sánchez Avel , Gamboa-Loira Cinthia , Acosta Milenis , Méndez-Gamboa José
Published: January 2021

As the use of photovoltaic installations becomes extensive, it is necessary to look for recycling processes that mitigate the environmental impact of damaged or end-of-life photovoltaic panels. There is no single path for recycling silicon panels, some works focus on recovering the reusable silicon wafers, others recover the silicon and metals contained in the panel. In the last few years, silicon solar cells are thinner, and it becomes more difficult to separate them from the glass, so the trend is towards the recovery of silicon. In this paper, we investigate the experimental conditions to delaminate and recovery silicon in the recycling process, using a combination of mechanical, thermal, and chemical methods. The conditions of thermal treatment to remove the ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) layer were optimized to 30 min at 650 °C in the furnace. To separate silicon and metals, the composition of HF/HNO3 solution and the immersion time were adjusted considering environmental aspects and cost. Under the selected conditions, panels from different manufacturers were tested, obtaining similar yields of recovered silicon but differences in the metal concentrations.
Medical Plaster Enhancement by Coating with Cistus L. Extracts within a Chitosan Matrix: From Natural Complexity to Health Care Simplicity
Authors: Haponska Monika , Modrakowska Paulina , Balik Karolina , Bajek Anna , Coloigner Anne , Tylkowski Bartosz , Giamberini Marta
Published: January 2021

Our investigation was focused on the preparation and characterization of novel plasters based on Carboxymethyl Chitosan derivative (CMC), to be used for the treatment of radiation dermatitis with Biologic Active Compounds (BACs) in a moist wound-healing environment. After performing the extraction and characterization of BACs from Cistus L., we optimized the BACs/CMC solution for subsequent plaster preparation. Then, plasters were prepared by dip-coating with a different number of layers, and we characterized them by Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM), Contact Angle (CA) and release tests in water for 24 h. Taking into account the flexibility of the plasters and the amount of released BACs after 24 h, the sample obtained after two dip-coating steps (2La) appeared promising in regard to comfortable mechanical properties and active principles administration. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test performed on keratinocytes cultured in standard medium shows that cells treated with released extract from 2La start to proliferate, extend cellular viability and form colonies typical for epidermal cells.
Dynamic Disintegration of Explosively-Driven Metal Cylinder with Internal V-Grooves
Authors: Zhou Mingxue , Wu Cheng , An Fengjiang , Liao Shasha , Xue Dongyu , Liu Jian
Published: January 2021

Machining V-shaped grooves to the internal surface of cylindrical shells is one of the most common technologies of controlled fragmentation for improving warhead lethality against targets. The fracture strain of grooved shells is a significant concern in warhead design. However, there is as yet no reasonable theory for predicting the fracture strain of a specific grooved shell; existing approaches are only able to predict this physical regularity of non-grooved shells. In this paper, through theoretical analysis and numerical simulations, a new model was established to study the fracture strain of explosively driven cylindrical shells with internal longitudinal V-grooves. The model was built based on an energy conservation equation in which the energy consumed to create a new fracture surface in non-grooved shells was provided by the elastic deformation energy stored in shells. We modified the energy approach so that it can be applicable to grooved shells by adding the elastic energy liberated for crack penetration and reducing the required fracture energy. Cylinders with different groove geometric parameters were explosively expanded to the point of disintegration to verify the proposed model. Theoretical predictions of fracture strain showed good agreement with experimental results, indicating that the model is suitable for predicting the fracture strain of explosively driven metal cylinders with internal V-grooves. In addition, this study provides an insight into the mechanism whereby geometric defects promote fracturing.
Particle-Bed Binding by Selective Paste Intrusion—Strength and Durability of Printed Fine-Grain Concrete Members
Authors: Weger Daniel , Gehlen Christoph
Published: January 2021

The selective paste intrusion (SPI) describes a selective binding, additive manufacturing method. SPI bonds thin layers of aggregate by cement paste locally. Currently, SPI can achieve higher compressive strength, durability, and easier unpacking behavior compared to other selective binding methods suitable for the production of concrete structures. Particle-bed based methods not only achieve much higher surface resolutions than depositing (extrusion)-based additive manufacturing methods but also have no restrictions in freedom of form. However, the mechanical performance of SPI components strongly depends on the void content between the individual layers and thus the penetration behavior of the cement paste. This paper presents direction-dependent measurements of the strength and durability of SPI-printed components compared to casted specimens with the same mixing composition. The results show compressive strength values between 70 and 78 MPa after 7 d, flexural strength of 1/10 without reinforcement, a high freeze–thaw resistance, no detectable carbonation after 182 days of exposure under ambient CO2–conditions, and after 28 days under increased CO2 content of 2 vol % as well as low chloride penetration resistances. All tests showed in almost all cases no dependency on the layer orientation.
Delamination Fracture Behavior of Unidirectional Carbon Reinforced Composites Applied to Wind Turbine Blades
Authors: Boyano Ana , Lopez-Guede Jose Manuel , Torre-Tojal Leyre , Fernandez-Gamiz Unai , Zulueta Ekaitz , Mujika Faustino
Published: January 2021

One of the materials that is used widely for wind turbine blade manufacturing are fiber-reinforced composites. Although glass fiber reinforcement is the most used in wind turbine blades, the use of carbon fiber allows larger blades to be manufactured due to their better mechanical characteristics. Some turbine manufacturers are using carbon fiber in the most critical parts of the blade design. The larger rotors are exposed to complex loading conditions in service. One of the most relevant structures on a wind turbine blade is the spar cap. It is usually manufactured by means of unidirectional laminates, and one of its major failures is the delamination. The determination of material features that influence delamination initiation and advance by appropriate testing is a fundamental topic for the study of composite delamination. The fracture behavior is studied across coupons of carbon fiber reinforcement epoxy laminates. Fifteen different test conditions have been analyzed. Fracture surfaces for different mode ratios have been explored using optical microscope and scanning electron microscope. Experimental results shown in the paper for critical fracture parameters agree with the theoretically expected values. Therefore, this experimental procedure is suitable for wind turbine blade material characterizing at the initial coupon-scale research level.
Acknowledgment to Reviewers of MAKE in 2020
Authors:   MAKE Editorial Office
Published: January 2021

Peer review is the driving force of journal development, and reviewers are gatekeepers who ensure that MAKE maintains its standards for the high quality of its published papers [...]