bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bond Stress–Slip Model of BFRP Grid to ECC
Authors: Deng Langni , Li Taisheng , Zhong Mengjun , Liao Ling , Li Hua
Published: November 2022

The bonding performance between a basalt fiber-reinforced composite material (BFRP) grid and an engineering cementitious composite (ECC) is the basis that affects the synergy between the two. However, the research on the bonding behavior between the FRP grid and ECC is limited; in particular, the theoretical study on the bond–slip intrinsic relationship model and a reliable anchorage length calculation equation is lacking. To study the bond–slip relationship between the BFRP grid and ECC material, we considered the parameters of BFRP grid thickness, anchorage length, ECC substrate protective layer thickness, and grid surface treatment, and conducted center pull-out tests on eight sets of specimens. By analyzing the characteristics of the bond–slip curve of the specimen, a bond–slip constitutive model between the BFRP grid and ECC was established. Combining the principle of equivalent strain energy, the calculation formula of the basic anchorage length of the BFRP grid in the ECC matrix was derived. Research shows that the bonding performance between the BFRP grid and ECC improves with the increase in the grid anchoring length, grid thickness, and ECC layer strength. Sand sticking on the surface of the BFRP grid can enhance the bonding force between the two. The established bond–slip constitutive model curve is in good agreement with the test curve. The bond–slip relationship between the BFRP grid and ECC can be described by the first two stages in the BPE model. The derived formula for calculating the basic anchorage length of the BFRP mesh in the ECC matrix is computationally verified to be reliable in prediction.
Simultaneous Measurement of Magnetic Field and Temperature Utilizing Magnetofluid-Coated SMF-UHCF-SMF Fiber Structure
Authors: Xu Ronghui , Xue Yipu , Xue Minmin , Ke Chengran , Ye Jingfu , Chen Ming , Liu Houquan , Yuan Libo
Published: November 2022

We have proposed and experimentally demonstrated a dual-parameter optical fiber sensor for simultaneous measurement of magnetic field and temperature. The sensor is a magnetofluid-coated single-mode fiber (SMF)-U-shaped hollow-core fiber (UHCF)-single-mode fiber (SMF) (SMF-UHCF-SMF) fiber structure. Combined with the intermodal interference and the macro-bending loss of the U-shaped fiber structure, the U-shaped fiber sensor with different bend diameters was investigated. In our experiments, the transmission spectra of the sensor varied with magnetic field strength and temperature around the sensing structure, respectively. The dip wavelengths of the interference spectra of the proposed sensor exhibit red shifts with magnetic field strength and temperature, and the maximum sensitivity of magnetic field strength and temperature were 1.0898 nm/mT and 0.324 nm/°C, respectively.
Sea Cucumber Saponins Derivatives Alleviate Hepatic Lipid Accumulation Effectively in Fatty Acids-Induced HepG2 Cells and Orotic Acid-Induced Rats
Authors: Li Xiaoyue , Zeng Beibei , Wen Lu , Zhao Yingcai , Li Zhaojie , Xue Changhu , Zhang Tiantian , Wang Yuming
Published: November 2022

The sulfated echinoside A (EA) and holothurin A (HA) are two prominent saponins in sea cucumber with high hemolytic activity but also superior lipid-lowering activity. Deglycosylated derivatives EA2 and HA2 exhibit low hemolysis compared to EA and HA, but their efficacies on lipid metabolism regulation remains unknown. In this study, fatty acids-treated HepG2 cells and orotic acid-treated rats were used to investigate the lipid-lowering effects of sea cucumber saponin derivatives. Both the saponin and derivatives could effectively alleviate lipid accumulation in HepG2 model, especially EA and EA2. Moreover, though the lipid-lowering effect of EA2 was not equal with EA at the same dosage of 0.05% in diet, 0.15% dosage of EA2 significantly reduced hepatic steatosis rate, liver TC and TG contents by 76%, 41.5%, and 63.7%, respectively, compared to control and reversed liver histopathological features to normal degree according to H&E stained sections. Possible mechanisms mainly included enhancement of fatty acids β-oxidation and cholesterol catabolism through bile acids synthesis and excretion, suppression of lipogenesis and cholesterol uptake. It revealed that the efficacy of EA2 on lipid metabolism regulation was dose-dependent, and 0.15% dosage of EA2 possessed better efficacy with lower toxicity compared to 0.05% dosage of EA.
The Structural Changes in the Membranes of Staphylococcus aureus Caused by Hydrolysable Tannins Witness Their Antibacterial Activity
Authors: Olchowik-Grabarek Ewa , Sękowski Szymon , Kwiatek Agnieszka , Płaczkiewicz Jagoda , Abdulladjanova Nodira , Shlyonsky Vadim , Swiecicka Izabela , Zamaraeva Maria
Published: November 2022

Polyphenols, including tannins, are phytochemicals with pronounced antimicrobial properties. We studied the activity of two hydrolysable tannins, (i) gallotannin—1,2,3,4,5-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose (PGG) and (ii) ellagitannin—1,2-di-O-galloyl-4,6-valoneoyl-β-D-glucose (dGVG), applied alone and in combination with antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus strain 8324-4. We also evaluated the effect of these tannins on bacterial membrane integrity and fluidity and studied their interaction with membrane proteins and lipids. A correlation between the antimicrobial activity of the tannins and their membranotropic action depending on the tannin molecular structure has been demonstrated. We found that the antibacterial activity of PGG was stronger than dGVG, which can be associated with its larger flexibility, dipole moment, and hydrophobicity. In addition, we also noted the membrane effects of the tannins observed as an increase in the size of released bacterial membrane vesicles.
Dynamics of Gut Microbiota and Clinical Variables after Ketogenic and Mediterranean Diets in Drug-Naïve Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Obesity
Authors: Deledda Andrea , Palmas Vanessa , Heidrich Vitor , Fosci Michele , Lombardo Mauro , Cambarau Giulia , Lai Alessio , Melis Marietta , Loi Elisabetta , Loviselli Andrea , Manzin Aldo , Velluzzi Fernanda
Published: November 2022

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the most common form of diabetes, is a progressive chronic metabolic disease that has increasingly spread worldwide, enhancing the mortality rate, particularly from cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Lifestyle improvement through diet and physical activity is, together with drug treatment, the cornerstone of T2DM management. The Mediterranean diet (MD), which favors a prevalence of unprocessed vegetable foods and a reduction in red meats and industrial foods, without excluding any food category, is usually recommended. Recently, scientific societies have promoted a very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD), a multiphasic protocol that limits carbohydrates and then gradually re-introduces them, with a favorable outcome on body weight and metabolic parameters. Indeed, gut microbiota (GM) modifications have been linked to overweight/obesity and metabolic alterations typical of T2DM. Diet is known to affect GM largely, but only a few studies have investigated the effects of VLCKD on GM, especially in T2DM. In this study, we have compared anthropometric, biochemical, lifestyle parameters, the quality of life, and the GM of eleven patients with recently diagnosed T2DM and overweight or obesity, randomly assigned to two groups of six and five patients who followed the VLCKD (KETO) or hypocaloric MD (MEDI) respectively; parameters were recorded at baseline (T0) and after two (T2) and three months (T3). The results showed that VLCKD had more significant beneficial effects than MD on anthropometric parameters, while biochemical improvements did not statistically differ. As for the GM, despite the lack of significant results regarding the alpha and beta diversity, and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio between the two groups, in the KETO group, a significant increase in beneficial microbial taxa such as Verrucomicrobiota phylum with its members Verrucomicrobiae, Verrucomicrobiales, Akkermansiaceae, and Akkermansia, Christensenellaceae family, Eubacterium spp., and a reduction in microbial taxa previously associated with obesity (Firmicutes and Actinobacteriota) or other diseases (Alistipes) was observed both at T2 and T3. With regards to the MEDI group, variations were limited to a significant increase in Actinobacteroidota phylum at T2 and T3 and Firmicutes phylum at T3. Moreover, a metagenomic alteration linked to some metabolic pathways was found exclusively in the KETO group. In conclusion, both dietary approaches allowed patients to improve their state of health, but VLCKD has shown better results on body composition as well as on GM profile.
Interface Dynamics and the Influence of Gravity on Droplet Generation in a Y-microchannel
Authors: Bran Alexandra , Tanase Nicoleta , Balan Corneliu
Published: November 2022

The present experimental investigation is focused on the influence of gravity upon water-droplet formation in a Y-microchannel filled with oil. The flows are in the Stokes regime, with very small capillary numbers and Ohnesorge numbers less than one. The study was performed in a square-cross-section channel, with a = 1.0 mm as the characteristic dimension and a flow rate ratio κ in a range between 0.55 and 1.8. The interface dynamics in the vicinity of breakup and the transitory plug flow regime after the detachment of the droplet were analysed. The dependence of droplet length L was correlated with the channel position against the gravity and κ parameters. The results of the work prove that, for κ=1, the droplet length L is independent of channel orientation.
A New Shear Constitutive Model Characterized by the Pre-Peak Nonlinear Stage
Authors: Xie Shijie , Lin Hang , Han Zhenyu , Duan Hongyu , Chen Yifan , Li Diyuan
Published: November 2022

The pre-peak shear stress-displacement curve is an important part of the study of the shear mechanical behavior of rock joints. Underpinned by the Haldane distribution, a new semi-analytical model for the pre-peak shear deformation of rock joints was established in this paper, the validity of which was verified by laboratory and in situ experimental data. Other existing models were employed to make comparisons. The comparison results show that the model has superior adaptability and is more suitable for convex-type shear constitutive curves than existing models. Besides, only one parameter was introduced to the model, which is more convenient for application. All of these imply that the proposed model is an effective tool to evaluate the pre-peak shear constitutive curves of different rock joints. The research results can provide a reference for further understanding of the shear fracture characteristics of rock materials.
Natural Zeolite for The Purification of Saline Groundwater and Irrigation Potential Analysis
Authors: Mkilima Timoth , Devrishov Davud , Assel Kydyrbekova , Ubaidulayeva Nurbala , Tleukulov Almas , Khassenova Alissa , Yussupova Nargiza , Birimzhanova Dinara
Published: November 2022

Groundwater is one of the main sources of water for irrigation used worldwide. However, the application of the resource is threatened by the possibility of high saline levels, especially in low-lying coastal regions. Furthermore, the lack of readily accessible materials for successful treatment procedures makes the purification of such water a constant challenge. Based on the fact that natural zeolite is one of the easily accessible and relatively cheap filter materials, this study examined the potential use of high-salinity groundwater filtered by natural zeolite for irrigation. Zeolite-filled filters at two different depths (0.5 m and 1 m) were studied. The samples were collected from the low-lying areas of Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania. The study observed that when the raw groundwater samples were exposed to the 0.5 m column depth, sodium (Na+) had the lowest removal efficiency at 40.2% and calcium (Ca2+) had the highest removal efficiency at 98.9%. On the other hand, magnesium (Mg2+) had the lowest removal efficiency, at about 61.2%, whereas potassium (K+) had up to about 99.7% removal efficiency from the 1 m column depth treatment system. Additionally, from the salinity hazard potential analysis, most of the samples fell within C4 (based on the electrical conductivity), which is a “very high salinity” class, and based on the quality it means the water cannot be directly applied for irrigation purposes. From the 0.5 m column depth, most of the samples fell within C3 (the “high salinity” class), and from the 1 m column depth most of the samples fell within C1 (“low salinity” class). The findings of this study offer some valuable insight into the prospective use of natural zeolite for the filtration of saline groundwater before its application for irrigation.
Promising Oxygen- and Nitrogen-Rich Azidonitramino Ether Plasticizers for Energetic Materials
Authors: Vinogradov Dmitry B. , Bulatov Pavel V. , Petrov Evgeny Yu. , Gribov Pavel S. , Kondakova Natalia N. , Il’icheva Natalia N. , Stepanova Evgenia R. , Denisyuk Anatoly P. , Sizov Vladimir A. , Sinditskii Valery P. , Sheremetev Aleksei B.
Published: November 2022

A simple, mild and general method has been developed for the preparation of alkyl nitramines bearing a halogenoalkoxylic moiety. From these reactive halogen intermediates, a few azidoalkoxyl alkyl nitramines have been produced as energetic plasticizers. This simple protocol allows azidonitramino ether plasticizers to be obtained from available precursors in high yields, as it is safe and viable for large-scale operations. The resulting products have been fully characterized by spectral methods, and their impact sensitivity, thermal transformations and burning properties were determined, thus allowing complete comparison to the analogues including other combinations of structural units. Such characterization of these new plasticizers illustrates the extent to which the nature and position of the functional units can be used to tune the above properties of these nitramines. All azidonitramino ethers are liquid with excellent energetic performance and are promising candidates for new environmentally friendly energetic materials.
Ultrasensitive Determination of Natural Flavonoid Rutin Using an Electrochemical Sensor Based on Metal-Organic Framework CAU−1/Acidified Carbon Nanotubes Composites
Authors: Li Yuhong , Tang Jianxiong , Lin Yueli , Li Jiejun , Yang Yaqi , Zhao Pengcheng , Fei Junjie , Xie Yixi
Published: November 2022

Rutin, a natural flavonol glycoside, is widely present in plants and foods, such as black tea and wheat tea. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of flavonoids are well known. In this study, a new electrochemical rutin sensor was developed using multiwalled carbon nanotubes/aluminum-based metal–organic frameworks (MWCNT/CAU-1) (CAU−1, a type of Al-MOF) as the electrode modification material. The suspension of multiwalled carbon tubes was dropped on the surface of the GCE electrode to make MWCNT/GCEs, and CAU−1 was then attached to the electrode surface by electrodeposition. MWCNTs and CAU−1 were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Due to the synergistic effect of CAU−1 and MWCNT-COOH, the prepared sensor showed an ultrasensitive electrochemical response to rutin. Under optimized conditions, the sensor showed a linear relationship between 1.0 × 10−9~3.0 × 10−6 M with a detection limit of 6.7 × 10−10 M (S/N = 3). The sensor also showed satisfactory stability and accuracy in the detection of real samples.
Anion-Exchange Blue Perovskite Quantum Dots for Efficient Light-Emitting Devices
Authors: Hung Wei-Kuan , Tseng Yi-Hsun , Lin Chun-Cheng , Chen Sih-An , Hsu Chih-Hung , Li Chen-Feng , Chen Yen-Ju , Tseng Zong-Liang
Published: November 2022

In this study, blue perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) were prepared using didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB), which can passivate surface defects caused by the loss of surface ligands and reduce particle size distribution. After the passivation of DDAB, blue CsPbClxBr3−x PQDs dispersed in n-octane produced a more compact and uniform PQD thin film than the non-passivated ones. The resulting device showed a stabile lifetime, and an EL peak of 470 nm and a maximum EQE of 1.63% were obtained at an operating voltage of 2.6 V and a current density of 0.34 mA/cm2. This work aims to provide a simple method to prepare blue-emitting PQDs and high-performance PQD-based light-emitting devices.
Investigation of Aggregation and Disaggregation of Self-Assembling Nano-Sized Clusters Consisting of Individual Iron Oxide Nanoparticles upon Interaction with HEWL Protein Molecules
Authors: Sarimov Ruslan M. , Nagaev Egor I. , Matveyeva Tatiana A. , Binhi Vladimir N. , Burmistrov Dmitriy E. , Serov Dmitriy A. , Astashev Maxim E. , Simakin Alexander V. , Uvarov Oleg V. , Khabatova Venera V. , Akopdzhanov Arthur G. , Schimanowskii Nicolai L. , Gudkov Sergey V.
Published: November 2022

In this paper, iron oxide nanoparticles coated with trisodium citrate were obtained. Nanoparticles self-assembling stable clusters were ~10 and 50–80 nm in size, consisting of NPs 3 nm in size. The stability was controlled by using multi-angle dynamic light scattering and the zeta potential, which was −32 ± 2 mV. Clusters from TSC-IONPs can be destroyed when interacting with a hen egg-white lysozyme. After the destruction of the nanoparticles and proteins, aggregates are formed quickly, within 5–10 min. Their sizes depend on the concentration of the lysozyme and nanoparticles and can reach micron sizes. It is shown that individual protein molecules can be isolated from the formed aggregates under shaking. Such aggregation was observed by several methods: multi-angle dynamic light scattering, optical absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy, TEM, and optical microscopy. It is important to note that the concentrations of NPs at which the protein aggregation took place were also toxic to cells. There was a sharp decrease in the survival of mouse fibroblasts (Fe concentration ~75–100 μM), while the ratio of apoptotic to all dead cells increased. Additionally, at low concentrations of NPs, an increase in cell size was observed.
Carbon Nanofibers-Sheathed Graphite Rod Anode and Hydrophobic Cathode for Improved Performance Industrial Wastewater-Driven Microbial Fuel Cells
Authors: Barakat Nasser A. M. , Ali Rasha H. , Kim Hak Yong , Nassar Mamdouh M. , Fadali Olfat A. , Tolba Gehan M. K. , Moustafa Hager M. , Ali Marwa A.
Published: November 2022

Carbon nanofiber-decorated graphite rods are introduced as effective and low-cost anodes for industrial wastewater-driven microbial fuel cells. Carbon nanofiber deposition on the surface of the graphite rods could be performed by the electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile/N,N-Dimethylformamide solution using the rod as nanofiber collector, which was calcined under inert atmosphere. The experimental results indicated that at 10 min electrospinning time, the proposed graphite anode demonstrates very good performance compared to the commercial anodes. Typically, the generated power density from sugarcane industry wastewater-driven air cathode microbial fuel cells were 13 ± 0.3, 23 ± 0.7, 43 ± 1.3, and 185 ± 7.4 mW/m2 using carbon paper, carbon felt, carbon cloth, and graphite rod coated by 10-min electrospinning time carbon nanofibers anodes, respectively. The distinct performance of the proposed anode came from creating 3D carbon nanofiber layer filled with the biocatalyst. Moreover, to annihilate the internal cell resistance, a membrane-less cell was assembled by utilizing a poly(vinylidene fluoride) electrospun nanofiber layer-coated cathode. This novel strategy inspired a highly hydrophobic layer on the cathode surface, preventing water leakage to avoid utilizing the membrane. However, in both anode and cathode modifications, the electrospinning time should be optimized. The best results were obtained at 5 and 10 min for the cathode and anode, respectively.
Urinary Antibiotics and Dietary Determinants in Adults in Xinjiang, West China
Authors: Chu Lei , Wang Hexing , Su Deqi , Zhang Huanwen , Yimingniyazi Bahegu , Aili Dilihumaer , Luo Tao , Zhang Zewen , Dai Jianghong , Jiang Qingwu
Published: November 2022

The Xinjiang autonomous region, located in west China, has a unique ethnic structure and a well-developed livestock industry. People in this region have a high risk of exposure to antibiotics, but the exposure level to antibiotics in relation to dietary determinants is unknown. In this study, 18 antibiotics, including four human antibiotics (HAs), four veterinary antibiotics (VAs), and 10 preferred veterinary antibiotics (PVAs) were detected in the urine of approximately half of the 873 adults in Xinjiang, including Han Chinese (24.6%), Hui (25.1%), Uighur (24.6%), and Kazakh (25.7%). Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between antibiotic exposure levels and adult diet and water intake. The detection percentage of antibiotics in the urine of adults in Xinjiang ranged from 0.1% to 30.1%, with a total detection percentage of all antibiotics of 49.8%. HAs, VAs and PVAs were detected in 12.3%, 10.3%, and 40.5%, respectively. Fluoroquinolones were the antibiotics with the highest detection percentage (30.1%) and tetracyclines were the antibiotics with the highest detected concentration (17 ng/mL). Adults who regularly ate pork, consumed fruit daily, and did not prefer a plant-based diet were associated with thiamphenicol, norfloxacin, and fluoroquinolones, respectively. These results indicated that adults in the Xinjiang autonomous region were extensively exposed to multiple antibiotics, and some types of food were potential sources of exposure. Special attention should be paid to the health effects of antibiotic exposure in humans in the future.
Increased Plasma L-Arginine Levels and L-Arginine/ADMA Ratios after Twelve Weeks of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation in Amateur Male Endurance Runners
Authors: Jost Zbigniew , Tomczyk Maja , Chroboczek Maciej , Calder Philip C. , Fisk Helena L. , Przewłócka Katarzyna , Antosiewicz Jędrzej
Published: November 2022

It is not fully understood how supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids affects the metabolism of amino acids required for the bioavailability/synthesis of NO, i.e., L-arginine (L-arg), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), their metabolites, and the L-arg/ADMA ratio and their impact on running economy (RE) in runners. Thus, 26 male amateur endurance runners completed a twelve-week study in which they were divided into two supplemented groups: the OMEGA group (n = 14; 2234 mg and 916 mg of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid daily) or the MCT group (n = 12; 4000 mg of medium-chain triglycerides daily). At the same time, all participants followed an endurance training program. Before and after the 12-week intervention, blood was collected from participants at two time points (at rest and immediately post-exercise) to determine EPA and DHA in red blood cells (RBCs) and plasma levels of L-arg, ADMA, and their metabolites. RBC EPA and DHA significantly increased in the OMEGA group (p < 0.001), which was related to the resting increase in L-arg (p = 0.001) and in the L-arg/ADMA ratio (p = 0.005) with no changes in the MCT group. No differences were found in post-exercise amino acid levels. A total of 12 weeks of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation at a dose of 2234 mg of EPA and 916 mg of DHA daily increased levels of L-arg and the L-arg/ADMA ratio, which indirectly indicates increased bioavailability/NO synthesis. However, these changes were not associated with improved RE in male amateur endurance runners.
Synthesis of 3-Hydroxy-9H-fluorene-2-carboxylates via Michael Reaction, Robinson Annulation, and Aromatization
Authors: Wang Yu-Min , Liu Yi-Hung , Liu Shiuh-Tzung
Published: November 2022

A series of 3-hydroxy-fluorene-2-carboxylate compounds were prepared from Michael addition of acetoacetate to 2-benzylideneindan-l-one followed by Robinson annulation and aromatization. In this reaction, we were able to isolate two Robinson annulation products and characterize them. This sequential reaction could proceed without the isolation of intermediates to give the desired products directly in reasonable yields.
Modulation of Cytoskeleton, Protein Trafficking, and Signaling Pathways by Metabolites from Cucurbitaceae, Ericaceae, and Rosaceae Plant Families
Authors: Patel Ankit , Rasheed Aliyah , Reilly Isiah , Pareek Zil , Hansen Mattia , Haque Zayn , Simon-Fajardo Daniela , Davies Chloe , Tummala Akash , Reinhardt Karlyn , Bustabad Alexandria , Shaw Maxwell , Robins Jasmine , Vera Gomez Karolaent , Suphakorn Thitisuda , Camacho Gemelgo Mariana , Law Ashley , Lin Kristina , Hospedales Elizabeth , Haley Harrison , Perez Martinez Jean Pierre , Khan Saifullah , DeCanio Jessica , Padgett Malcolm , Abramov Artem , Nanjundan Meera
Published: November 2022

One promising frontier within the field of Medical Botany is the study of the bioactivity of plant metabolites on human health. Although plant metabolites are metabolic byproducts that commonly regulate ecological interactions and biochemical processes in plant species, such metabolites also elicit profound effects on the cellular processes of human and other mammalian cells. In this regard, due to their potential as therapeutic agents for a variety of human diseases and induction of toxic cellular responses, further research advances are direly needed to fully understand the molecular mechanisms induced by these agents. Herein, we focus our investigation on metabolites from the Cucurbitaceae, Ericaceae, and Rosaceae plant families, for which several plant species are found within the state of Florida in Hillsborough County. Specifically, we compare the molecular mechanisms by which metabolites and/or plant extracts from these plant families modulate the cytoskeleton, protein trafficking, and cell signaling to mediate functional outcomes, as well as a discussion of current gaps in knowledge. Our efforts to lay the molecular groundwork in this broad manner hold promise in supporting future research efforts in pharmacology and drug discovery.
Determination of Antioxidant, Cytotoxicity, and Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activities of Alkaloids Isolated from Sophora flavescens Ait. Grown in Dak Nong, Vietnam
Authors: Thang Phan Nguyen Truong , Tran Viet-Hung , Vu Tran Anh , Vinh Nguyen Ngoc , Huynh Duyen Thi My , Pham Duy Toan
Published: November 2022

Traditional/herbal medicine has gained increasing interests recently, especially in Asian countries such as Vietnam, due to its diverse therapeutic actions. In the treasure of Vietnamese medicinal plants, one of the potential herbs is the roots of Sophora flavescens Ait. (SF, “Kho sam” in Vietnamese). However, limited information has been reported on the Vietnamese SF compositions and their respective alkaloids’ anti-acetylcholinesterase action. Thus, this study investigated the extractions, isolations, identifications, and in-vitro antioxidant, cytotoxicity, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities, of the SF root extracts and their purified alkaloid compounds. To this end, four pure compounds were successfully isolated, purity-tested by HPLC, and structurally identified by spectroscopic techniques of FTIR, MS, and NMR. These compounds, confirmed to be oxysophocarpine, oxymatrine, matrine, and sophoridine, were then determined their therapeutic actions. The SF extracts and the compounds did not possess significant antioxidant activity using the DPPH and MDA assays, and cytotoxicity action using the MTT assay on the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. On the other hand, the SF total extract yielded a moderate acetylcholinesterase inhibition effect, with an IC50 of 0.1077 ± 0.0023 mg/mL. In summary, the SF extract demonstrated potential effects as an anti-acetylcholinesterase agent and could be further researched to become a pharmaceutical product for diseases related to acetylcholine deficiency, such as dementia.
Concomitant Administration of Capecitabine and Folate Supplements: Need to Encourage Medication Reconciliation
Authors: Stefanelli Berenice , Sellitto Carmine , De Bellis Emanuela , Torsiello Martina , Bertini Nicola , Pezzullo Angelo Maria , Corbi Graziamaria , Sabbatino Francesco , Pepe Stefano , Tesse Angela , Conti Valeria , Filippelli Amelia
Published: November 2022

Hand-Foot syndrome (HFS) and diarrhoea are dose-limiting Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) of capecitabine-based chemotherapy. Four polymorphisms in the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) gene, encoding the DPD enzyme responsible for the metabolism of fluoropyrimidines, such as capecitabine, are strongly associated with severe ADRs, and their screening should be performed before starting treatment. Moreover, capecitabine-related toxicity may worsen due to drug-drug and drug-supplement interactions. Here we investigated factors responsible for severe HFS and diarrhoea presented by two patients, non-carriers of the recommended DPYD single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) but carriers of other genetic variants suggested to increase the risk of capecitabine-related ADRs. Through careful therapy recognition, we demonstrated that, unbeknownst to the oncologists, the patients were taking folic acid during the treatment with capecitabine at a dosage higher than 2000 mg/m2, which is the maximum tolerated dose when folate is administered. To resolve the ADRs, the therapy had to be drastically changed. In one case, dose reduction of capecitabine and discontinuation of lipid-lowering agents were carried out. In the other case, discontinuation of capecitabine and folic acid and capecitabine re-administration were performed after a month. Genetic and environmental factors should be considered good predictors of severe capecitabine-related toxicity. Medication reconciliation should be encouraged to avoid the harmful consequences of inappropriate treatments.
The Progress of Non-Viral Materials and Methods for Gene Delivery to Skeletal Muscle
Authors: Cui Zhanpeng , Jiao Yang , Pu Linyu , Tang James Zhenggui , Wang Gang
Published: November 2022

Since Jon A. Wolff found skeletal muscle cells being able to express foreign genes and Russell J. Mumper increased the gene transfection efficiency into the myocytes by adding polymers, skeletal muscles have become a potential gene delivery and expression target. Different methods have been developing to deliver transgene into skeletal muscles. Among them, viral vectors may achieve potent gene delivery efficiency. However, the potential for triggering biosafety risks limited their clinical applications. Therefore, non-viral biomaterial-mediated methods with reliable biocompatibility are promising tools for intramuscular gene delivery in situ. In recent years, a series of advanced non-viral gene delivery materials and related methods have been reported, such as polymers, liposomes, cell penetrating peptides, as well as physical delivery methods. In this review, we summarized the research progresses and challenges in non-viral intramuscular gene delivery materials and related methods, focusing on the achievements and future directions of polymers.
Increased Expression and Activity of Brain Cortical cPLA2 Due to Chronic Lipopolysaccharide Administration in Mouse Model of Familial Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Gynther Mikko , Estrada Mariana Leal , Loppi Sanna , Korhonen Paula , Kanninen Katja M. , Malm Tarja , Koistinaho Jari , Auriola Seppo , Fricker Gert , Puris Elena
Published: November 2022

Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) is an enzyme regulating membrane phospholipid homeostasis and the release of arachidonic acid utilized in inflammatory responses. It represents an attractive target for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Previously, we showed that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced systemic inflammation caused abnormal lipid metabolism in the brain of a transgenic AD mouse model (APdE9), which might be associated with potential changes in cPLA2 activity. Here, we investigated changes in cPLA2 expression and activity, as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying these alterations due to chronic LPS administration in the cerebral cortex of female APdE9 mice as compared to saline- and LPS-treated female wild-type mice and saline-treated APdE9 mice. The study revealed the significant effects of genotype LPS treatment on cortical cPLA2 protein expression and activity in APdE9 mice. LPS treatment resulted in nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NFkB) activation in the cortex of APdE9 mice. The gene expressions of inflammation markers Il1b and Tnfa were significantly elevated in the cortex of both APdE9 groups compared to the wild-type groups. The study provides evidence of the elevated expression and activity of cPLA2 in the brain cortex of APdE9 mice after chronic LPS treatment, which could be associated with NFkB activation.
Study on the Failure Mechanism of a Modified Hydrophilic Polyurethane Material Pisha Sandstone System under Dry–Wet Cycles
Authors: Ma Wenbo , Tang Peng , Zhou Xuan , Li Guodong , Zhu Wei
Published: November 2022

Modified hydrophilic polyurethane is a new and effective material for soil and water conservation, which can form a consolidation layer with soil and has achieved more outstanding results in slope management in Pisha sandstone areas. However, the W-OH–Pisha sandstone system can be destroyed by local natural conditions, which seriously affects its consolidation effect on the soil. This paper focuses on the failure mechanism of the W-OH–Pisha sandstone system under dry–wet cycles; it establishes its failure model and provides theoretical guidance on the use of W-OH materials for slope management. Firstly, mechanical and in-situ morphological observations of W-OH solid consolidation under dry–wet cycles were carried out, and the results showed that W-OH solid consolidation at different concentrations only becomes rougher, and their cohesive failure does not occur under dry–wet cycles. Then, the adhesion model and water damage model of the W-OH–Pisha sandstone system were established based on surface energy theory. It was found that the larger the concentration of W-OH, the better the adhesion and spalling resistance performance. Additionally, we used the water stability constant to express the compatibility of W-OH with Pisha sandstones. The results showed that the greater the concentration of W-OH, the greater the water stability constant and the resistance of the W-OH–Pisha sandstone solid consolidation to the dry–wet cycles. Finally, based on the unconfined compressive strength test of the W-OH–Pisha sandstone solid consolidation, the unconfined strength ratio of the W-OH–Pisha sandstone solid consolidation was established as a function of the water stability constant; the unconfined strength ratio of the solid consolidations increases with an increase in the water stability constant. This also verifies the correctness of the W-OH–Pisha sandstone adhesion model and the water damage model.
Hydrophobically Modified Gelatin Particles for Production of Liquid Marbles
Authors: Takei Takayuki , Tomimatsu Rio , Matsumoto Takanori , Sreejith Kamalalayam Rajan , Nguyen Nam-Trung , Yoshida Masahiro
Published: November 2022

The unique properties and morphology of liquid marbles (LMs) make them potentially useful for various applications. Non-edible hydrophobic organic polymer particles are widely used to prepare LMs. It is necessary to increase the variety of LM particles to extend their use into food and pharmaceuticals. Herein, we focus on hydrophobically modified gelatin (HMG) as a base material for the particles. The surface tension of HMG decreased as the length of alkyl chains incorporated into the gelatin and the degree of substitution (DS) of the alkyl chains increased. HMG with a surface tension of less than 37.5 mN/m (determined using equations based on the Young–Dupré equation and Kaelble–Uy theory) successfully formed LMs of water. The minimum surface tension of a liquid in which it was possible to form LMs using HMG particles was approximately 53 mN/m. We also showed that the liquid-over-solid spreading coefficient SL/S is a potential new factor for predicting if particles can form LMs. The HMG particles and the new system for predicting LM formation could expand the use of LMs in food and pharmaceuticals.
Remote Sensing Extraction of Agricultural Land in Shandong Province, China, from 2016 to 2020 Based on Google Earth Engine
Authors: Liu Hui , Chen Mi , Chen Huixuan , Li Yu , Xie Chou , Tian Bangsen , Wang Chu , Ge Pengfei
Published: November 2022

Timely and effective access to agricultural land-change information is of great significance for the government when formulating agricultural policies. Due to the vast area of Shandong Province, the current research on agricultural land use in Shandong Province is very limited. The classification accuracy of the current classification methods also needs to be improved. In this paper, with the support of the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform and based on Landsat 8 time series image data, a multiple machine learning algorithm was used to obtain the spatial variation distribution information of agricultural land in Shandong Province from 2016 to 2020. Firstly, a high-quality cloud-free synthetic Landsat 8 image dataset for Shandong Province from 2016 to 2020 was obtained using GEE. Secondly, the thematic index series was calculated to obtain the phenological characteristics of agricultural land, and the time periods with significant differences in terms of water, agricultural land, artificial surface, woodland and bare land were selected for classification. Feature information, such as texture features, spectral features and terrain features, was constructed, and the random forest method was used to select and optimize the features. Thirdly, the random forest, gradient boosting tree, decision tree and ensemble learning algorithms were used for classification, and the accuracy of the four classifiers was compared. The information on agricultural land changes was extracted and the causes were analyzed. The results show the following: (1) the multi-spatial index time series method is more accurate than the single thematic index time series when obtaining phenological characteristics; (2) the ensemble learning method is more accurate than the single classifier. The overall classification accuracy of the five agricultural land-extraction results in Shandong Province obtained by the ensemble learning method was above 0.9; (3) the annual decrease in agricultural land in Shandong Province from 2016 to 2020 was related to the increase in artificial land-surface area and urbanization rate.
A Band Subset Selection Approach Based on Sparse Self-Representation and Band Grouping for Hyperspectral Image Classification
Authors: Liu Keng-Hao , Chen Yu-Kai , Chen Tsun-Yang
Published: November 2022

Band subset selection (BSS) is one of the ways to implement band selection (BS) for a hyperspectral image (HSI). Different from conventional BS methods, which select bands one by one, BSS selects a band subset each time and preserves the best one from the collection of the band subsets. This paper proposes a BSS method, called band grouping-based sparse self-representation BSS (BG-SSRBSS), for hyperspectral image classification. It formulates BS as a sparse self-representation (SSR) problem in which the entire bands can be represented by a set of informatively complementary bands. The BG-SSRBSS consists of two steps. To tackle the issue of selecting redundant bands, it first applies band grouping (BG) techniques to pre-group the entire bands to form multiple band groups, and then performs band group subset selection (BGSS) to find the optimal band group subset. The corresponding representative bands are taken as the BS result. To efficiently find the nearly global optimal subset among all possible band group subsets, sequential and successive iterative search algorithms are adopted. Land cover classification experiments conducted on three real HSI datasets show that BG-SSRBSS can improve classification accuracy by 4–20% compared to the existing BSS methods and requires less computation time.
Research of Deformation and Soil Moisture in Loess Landslide Simultaneous Retrieved with Ground-Based GNSS
Authors: Zhou Xin , Zhang Shuangcheng , Zhang Qin , Liu Qi , Ma Zhongmin , Wang Tao , Tian Jing , Li Xinrui
Published: November 2022

The Loess Plateau is one of the three most severely affected geological disaster areas in China. Water sensitivity is the most significant feature of the loess. Under the action of continuous heavy rainfall, rainwater infiltrates the loess, resulting in a rapid increase in soil saturation and changes in soil moisture. This affects the shear strength of the soil and induces shallow loess landslides. Therefore, it is significant to our country’s disaster prevention and mitigation efforts to effectively monitor the deformation and inducement of such landslides. At present, the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) is widely used in the field of landslide disaster monitoring as a technical means to directly obtain real-time three-dimensional vector deformation of the surface. At the same time, GNSS can also provide a steady stream of L-band microwave signals to obtain surface environmental information, such as soil moisture around the station. In past landslide disaster monitoring research, GNSS was only used to provide three-dimensional deformation information, and its ability to provide environmental information around the station was almost completely ignored. This study proposes a ground-based GNSS remote sensing comprehensive monitoring system integrating “three-dimensional deformation and soil moisture content” combined with a rainfall-type shallow loess landslide event in Linxia City. The ability of ground-based GNSS to comprehensively monitor shallow loess landslide disasters was analysed. Experiments show that GNSS can provide high-precision deformation time series characteristics and monitor the changes in soil moisture content around the station at the same time; the two have a certain response relationship, which can comprehensively evaluate the stability of shallow loess landslides. As heavy rainfall is a key factor affecting the change in soil water content, this study adds the atmospheric water vapour content calculated by ground-based GNSS refraction remote sensing in the discussion chapter and analyses the relationship between precipitable water vapour and rainfall in this area to give full play to ground-based GNSS remote sensing. In the role of landslide disaster monitoring, we hope to build a more comprehensive ground-based GNSS remote sensing monitoring system to better serve the monitoring of landslide disasters.
MT-GCNN: Multi-Task Learning with Gated Convolution for Multiple Transmitters Localization in Urban Scenarios
Authors: Wang Wenyu , Zhu Lei , Huang Zhen , Li Baozhu , Yu Lu , Cheng Kaixin
Published: November 2022

With the advance of the Internet of things (IoT), localization is essential in varied services. In urban scenarios, multiple transmitters localization is faced with challenges such as nonline-of-sight (NLOS) propagation and limited deployment of sensors. To this end, this paper proposes the MT-GCNN (Multi-Task Gated Convolutional Neural Network), a novel multiple transmitters localization scheme based on deep multi-task learning, to learn the NLOS propagation features and achieve the localization. The multi-task learning network decomposes the problem into a coarse localization task and a fine correction task. In particular, the MT-GCNN uses an improved gated convolution module to extract features from sparse sensing data more effectively. In the training stage, a joint loss function is proposed to optimize the two branches of tasks. In the testing stage, the well-trained MT-GCNN model predicts the classified grids and corresponding biases jointly to improve the overall performance of localization. In the urban scenarios challenged by NLOS propagation and sparse deployment of sensors, numerical simulations demonstrate that the proposed MT-GCNN framework has more accurate and robust performance than other algorithms.
Statistical Approach to Estimating Audience from MAC-Randomized WiFi Probe Requests
Authors: Yang Feifei , Ahriz Iness , Denby Bruce
Published: November 2022

In the past few years, the ability of wireless network operators to monitor audience using control frames emitted by client devices has been compromised, both by legislation treating client MAC addresses as private information and by the difficulty of distinguishing genuine client frames from those arising from the Internet of Things or from certain enhanced services. Here, a deterministic model, based on characteristics of human activity and on seasonal trends, is used to reveal underlying client statistics in raw MAC-randomized WiFi Probe Request data. The method proposes a candidate conversion factor, X, between probe request counts and the client population, which offers plausible predictions on real-world datasets.
A Ranking Recommendation Algorithm Based on Dynamic User Preference
Authors: Wei Chunting , Qin Jiwei , Ren Qiulin
Published: November 2022

In recent years, hybrid recommendation techniques based on feature fusion have gained extensive attention in the field of list ranking. Most of them fuse linear and nonlinear models to simultaneously learn the linear and nonlinear features of entities and jointly fit user-item interactions. These methods are based on implicit feedback, which can reduce the difficulty of data collection and the time of data preprocessing, but will lead to the lack of entity interaction depth information due to the lack of user satisfaction. This is equivalent to artificially reducing the entity interaction features, limiting the overall performance of the model. To address this problem, we propose a two-stage recommendation model named A-DNR, short for Attention-based Deep Neural Ranking. In the first stage, user short-term preferences are modeled through an attention mechanism network. Then the user short-term preferences and user long-term preferences are fused into dynamic user preferences. In the second stage, the high-order and low-order feature interactions are modeled by a matrix factorization (MF) model and a multi-layer perceptron (MLP) model, respectively. Then, the features are fused through a fully connected layer, and the vectors are mapped to scores. Finally, a ranking list is output through the scores. Experiments on three real-world datasets (Movielens100K, Movielens1M and Yahoo Movies) show that our proposed model achieves significant improvements compared to existing methods.