bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protective Effects of PollenAid Plus Soft Gel Capsules’ Hydroalcoholic Extract in Isolated Prostates and Ovaries Exposed to Lipopolysaccharide
Authors: Chiavaroli Annalisa , Di Simone Simonetta Cristina , Acquaviva Alessandra , Libero Maria Loreta , Campana Claudia , Recinella Lucia , Leone Sheila , Brunetti Luigi , Orlando Giustino , Nilofar Nilofar , Vitale Irene , Cesa Stefania , Zengin Gokhan , Menghini Luigi , Ferrante Claudio
Published: September 2022

Pollen extract represents an innovative approach for the management of the clinical symptoms related to prostatitis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). In this context, the aims of the present work were to analyze the phenolic composition of a hydroalcoholic extract of PollenAid Plus soft gel capsules, and to evaluate the extract’s cytotoxic effects, in human prostate cancer PC3 cells and human ovary cancer OVCAR-3 cells. Additionally, protective effects were investigated in isolated prostate and ovary specimens exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The phytochemical investigation identified catechin, chlorogenic acid, gentisic acid, and 3-hydroxytyrosol as the prominent phenolics. The extract did not exert a relevant cytotoxic effect on PC3 and OVCAR-3 cells. However, the extract showed a dose-dependent inhibition of pro-inflammatory IL-6 and TNF-α gene expression in prostate and ovary specimens, and the extract was effective in preventing the LPS-induced upregulation of CAT and SOD gene expression, which are deeply involved in tissue antioxidant defense systems. Finally, a docking approach suggested the capability of catechin and chlorogenic acid to interact with the TRPV1 receptor, playing a master role in prostate inflammation. Overall, the present findings demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of this formulation; thus, suggesting its capability in the management of the clinical symptoms related to prostatitis and PID.
Sodium β-Diketonate Glyme Adducts as Precursors for Fluoride Phases: Synthesis, Characterization and Functional Validation
Authors: Peddagopu Nishant , Pellegrino Anna L. , Bonaccorso Carmela , Rossi Patrizia , Paoli Paola , Malandrino Graziella
Published: September 2022

Very few sodium complexes are available as precursors for the syntheses of sodium-based nanostructured materials. Herein, the diglyme, triglyme, and tetraglyme (CH3O(CH2CH2O)nCH3, n = 2–4) adducts of sodium hexafluoroacetylacetonate were synthesized in a single-step reaction and characterized by IR spectroscopy, 1H, and 13C NMR. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies provide evidence of the formation of the ionic oligomeric structure [Na4(hfa)6]2−•2[Na(diglyme2]+ when the diglyme is coordinated, while a mononuclear seven-coordinated complex Na(hfa)•tetraglyme is formed with the tetraglyme. Reaction with the monoglyme (CH3OCH2CH2OCH3) does not occur, and the unadducted polymeric structure [Na(hfa)]n forms, while the triglyme gives rise to a liquid adduct, Na(hfa)•triglyme•H2O. Thermal analysis data reveal great potentialities for their applications as precursors in metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) and sol-gel processes. As a proof-of-concept, the Na(hfa)•tetraglyme adduct was successfully applied to both the low-pressure MOCVD and the sol-gel/spin-coating synthesis of NaF films.
Phenanthraquinone-Doped Polymethyl Methacrylate Photopolymer for Holographic Recording
Authors: Li Jinhong , Hu Po , Zeng Zeyi , Jin Junchao , Wu Junhui , Chen Xi , Liu Jie , Li Qingdong , Chen Mingyong , Zhang Zuoyu , Zhang Yuanying , Lin Xiao , Tan Xiaodi
Published: September 2022

Phenanthraquinone-doped polymethyl methacrylate (PQ/PMMA) photopolymers are considered to be the most promising holographic storage media due to their unique properties, such as high stability, a simple preparation process, low price, and volumetric shrinkage. This paper reviews the development process of PQ/PMMA photopolymers from inception to the present, summarizes the process, and looks at the development potential of PQ/PMMA in practical applications.
Self-Assembly of Supramolecular Architectures Driven by σ-Hole Interactions: A Halogen-Bonded 2D Network Based on a Diiminedibromido Gold(III) Complex and Tribromide Building Blocks
Authors: Aragoni M. Carla , Cherchi M. Francesca , Lippolis Vito , Pintus Anna , Podda Enrico , Slawin Alexandra M. Z. , Woollins J. Derek , Arca Massimiliano
Published: September 2022

The reaction of the complex [Au(phen)Br2](PF6) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) with molecular dibromine afforded {[Au(phen)Br2](Br3)}∞ (1). Single crystal diffraction analysis showed that the [Au(phen)Br2]+ complex cations were bridged by asymmetric tribromide anions to form infinite zig-zag chains featuring the motif ···Au–Br···Br–Br–Br···Au–Br···Br–Br–Br···. The complex cation played an unprecedented halogen bonding (XB) donor role engaging type-I and type-II XB noncovalent interactions of comparable strength with symmetry related [Br3]− anions. A network of hydrogen bonds connects parallel chains in an infinite 2D network, contributing to the layered supramolecular architecture. DFT calculations allowed clarification of the nature of the XB interactions, showing the interplay between orbital mixing, analyzed at the NBO level, and electrostatic contribution, explored based on the molecular potential energy (MEP) maps of the interacting synthons.
Electrocatalytic Depolymerization of Self-Immolative Poly(Dithiothreitol) Derivatives
Authors: Hansen-Felby Magnus , Pedersen Steen U. , Daasbjerg Kim
Published: September 2022

We report the use of electrogenerated anthraquinone radical anion (AQ•−) to trigger fast catalytic depolymerization of polymers derived from poly(dithiothreitol) (pDTT)—a self-immolative polymer (SIP) with a backbone of dithiothreitols connected with disulfide bonds and end-capped via disulfide bonds to pyridyl groups. The pDTT derivatives studied include polymers with simple thiohexyl end-caps or modified with AQ or methyl groups by Steglich esterification. All polymers were shown to be depolymerized using catalytic amounts of electrons delivered by AQ•−. For pDTT, as little as 0.2 electrons per polymer chain was needed to achieve complete depolymerization. We hypothesize that the reaction proceeds with AQ•− as an electron carrier (either molecularly or as a pendant group), which transfers an electron to a disulfide bond in the polymer in a dissociative manner, generating a thiyl radical and a thiolate. The rapid and catalytic depolymerization is driven by thiyl radicals attacking other disulfide bonds internally or between pDTT chains in a chain reaction. Electrochemical triggering works as a general method for initiating depolymerization of pDTT derivatives and may likely also be used for depolymerization of other disulfide polymers.
Essential Oil Variability in Iranian Populations of Heracleum persicum Desf. ex Fischer: A Rich Source of Hexyl Butyrate and Octyl Acetate
Authors: Mustafavi Seyed Hamid , Abbasi Amin , Morshedloo Mohammad Reza , Pateiro Mirian , Lorenzo Jose M.
Published: September 2022

Heracleum persicum Desf. ex Fischer seeds are a rich source of essential oils (EOs) with high antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. In order to determine the phytochemical variability in various Iranian H. persicum populations, seed samples were collected from 10 different climatic locations. The current study indicated that hexyl butyrate (20.9–44.7%), octyl acetate (11.2–20.3%), hexyl-2-methylbutyrate (4.81–8.64%), and octyl 2-methyl butyrate (3.41–8.91%) were the major components of the EOs. The maximum (44.7%) and the minimum (20.9%) content of hexyl butyrate were obtained from Kaleibar and Sari populations, respectively. Moreover, the octyl acetate content ranged from 2% (in Mahdasht) to 20.3% in Torghabeh population. The CA and PCA analysis divided the 10 Iranian H. persicum populations into three major groups. Populations from Khanghah, Kaleibar, Shebeilo, Showt, Mahdasht, and Amin Abbad showed a distinct separation in comparison with the other populations, having high contents of hexyl butyrate (39.8%) and low contents of octyl acetate (13.5%) (Chemotype II). According to correlation analysis, the highest correlation coefficient was among habitat elevation and hexyl butyrate content. In addition, the mean annual precipitation was negatively correlated with the content of hexyl butyrate. Although octyl acetate content showed high correlation with soil EC and mean annual temperature, it was not statistically significant. In general, in order to have plants with a high content of hexyl butyrate, it is recommended to harvest these plants from regions with high altitude and low rainfall such as Kaleibar.
An Azo-Group-Functionalized Porous Aromatic Framework for Achieving Highly Efficient Capture of Iodine
Authors: Yan Zhuojun , Qiao Yimin , Wang Jiale , Xie Jialin , Cui Bo , Fu Yu , Lu Jiawei , Yang Yajie , Bu Naishun , Yuan Ye , Xia Lixin
Published: September 2022

The strong radioactivity of iodine compounds derived from nuclear power plant wastes has motivated the development of highly efficient adsorbents. Porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs) have attracted much attention due to their low density and diverse structure. In this work, an azo group containing PAF solid, denoted as LNU-58, was prepared through Suzuki polymerization of tris-(4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-phenyl)-amine and 3,5-dibromoazobenzene building monomers. Based on the specific polarity properities of the azo groups, the electron-rich aromatic fragments in the hierarchical architecture efficiently capture iodine molecules with an adsorption capacity of 3533.11 mg g−1 (353 wt%) for gaseous iodine and 903.6 mg g−1 (90 wt%) for dissolved iodine. The iodine uptake per specific surface area up to 8.55 wt% m−2 g−1 achieves the highest level among all porous adsorbents. This work illustrates the successful preparation of a new type of porous adsorbent that is expected to be applied in the field of practical iodine adsorption.
Comparison of ATR–FTIR and O-PTIR Imaging Techniques for the Characterisation of Zinc-Type Degradation Products in a Paint Cross-Section
Authors: Chua Lynn , Banas Agnieszka , Banas Krzysztof
Published: September 2022

ATR–FTIR (attenuated total reflection–Fourier-transform infrared) microscopy with imaging is widely used in the heritage field to characterise complex compositions of paint cross-sections. However, some limitations include the need for ATR crystal contact with the sample and the inability to resolve particle size below the IR diffraction limit. Recently, a novel O-PTIR (optical-photothermal infrared) spectroscopy technique claimed to open a new avenue for non-invasive, efficient, and reliable analysis at sub-micron resolution. O-PTIR produces transmission-like FTIR spectra for interpretation, without the need to touch the sample, which are highly favourable attributes for analysing heritage samples. This paper reports the comparison of O-PTIR and ATR–FTIR techniques applied to a cross-section embedding a thin paint fragment that delaminated from a late 19th to early 20th-century oil portrait. The hazy paint fragment consisted of zinc soaps (both crystalline and amorphous), gordaite (NaZn4Cl(OH)6SO4·6H2O), and zinc lactate, that could not all be well-resolved with ATR–FTIR imaging. With O-PTIR analysis, the degradation compounds could be resolved at sub-micron resolution with an equivalent or better signal-to-noise ratio. This case study shows how the two techniques can be used to obtain comprehensive information at a broad level with ATR–FTIR and a detailed level with O-PTIR.
Design of Novel IRAK4 Inhibitors Using Molecular Docking, Dynamics Simulation and 3D-QSAR Studies
Authors: Bhujbal Swapnil P. , He Weijie , Hah Jung-Mi
Published: September 2022

Treatment of several autoimmune diseases and types of cancer has been an intense area of research over the past two decades. Many signaling pathways that regulate innate and/or adaptive immunity, as well as those that induce overexpression or mutation of protein kinases, have been targeted for drug discovery. One of the serine/threonine kinases, Interleukin-1 Receptor Associated Kinase 4 (IRAK4) regulates signaling through various Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and interleukin-1 receptor (IL1R). It controls diverse cellular processes including inflammation, apoptosis, and cellular differentiation. MyD88 gain-of-function mutations or overexpression of IRAK4 has been implicated in various types of malignancies such as Waldenström macroglobulinemia, B cell lymphoma, colorectal cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, breast cancer, etc. Moreover, over activation of IRAK4 is also associated with several autoimmune diseases. The significant role of IRAK4 makes it an interesting target for the discovery and development of potent small molecule inhibitors. A few potent IRAK4 inhibitors such as PF-06650833, RA9 and BAY1834845 have recently entered phase I/II clinical trial studies. Nevertheless, there is still a need of selective inhibitors for the treatment of cancer and various autoimmune diseases. A great need for the same intrigued us to perform molecular modeling studies on 4,6-diaminonicotinamide derivatives as IRAK4 inhibitors. We performed molecular docking and dynamics simulation of 50 ns for one of the most active compounds of the dataset. We also carried out MM-PBSA binding free energy calculation to identify the active site residues, interactions of which are contributing to the total binding energy. The final 50 ns conformation of the most active compound was selected to perform dataset alignment in a 3D-QSAR study. Generated RF-CoMFA (q2 = 0.751, ONC = 4, r2 = 0.911) model revealed reasonable statistical results. Overall results of molecular dynamics simulation, MM-PBSA binding free energy calculation and RF-CoMFA model revealed important active site residues of IRAK4 and necessary structural properties of ligand to design more potent IRAK4 inhibitors. We designed few IRAK4 inhibitors based on these results, which possessed higher activity (predicted pIC50) than the most active compounds of the dataset selected for this study. Moreover, ADMET properties of these inhibitors revealed promising results and need to be validated using experimental studies.
β-Glucan as a Techno-Functional Ingredient in Dairy and Milk-Based Products—A Review
Authors: Mykhalevych Artur , Polishchuk Galyna , Nassar Khaled , Osmak Tetiana , Buniowska-Olejnik Magdalena
Published: September 2022

The article systematizes information about the sources of β-glucan, its technological functions and practical aspects of its use in dairy and milk-based products. According to the analysis of scientific information, the main characteristics of β-glucan classifications were considered: the source of origin, chemical structure, and methods of obtention. It has been established that the most popular in the food technology of dairy products are β-glucans from oat and barley cereal, which exhibit pronounced technological functions in the composition of dairy products (gel formation, high moisture-binding capacity, increased yield of finished products, formation of texture, and original sensory indicators). The expediency of using β-glucan from yeast and mushrooms as a source of biologically active substances that ensure the functional orientation of the finished product has been revealed. For the first time, information on the use of β-glucan of various origins in the most common groups of dairy and milk-based products has been systematized. The analytical review has scientific and practical significance for scientists and specialists in the field of food production, in particular dairy products of increased nutritional value.
New Insights into Dietary Pterostilbene: Sources, Metabolism, and Health Promotion Effects
Authors: Nagarajan Sanjushree , Mohandas Sundhar , Ganesan Kumar , Xu Baojun , Ramkumar Kunka Mohanram
Published: September 2022

Pterostilbene (PTS), a compound most abundantly found in blueberries, is a natural analog of resveratrol. Several plant species, such as peanuts and grapes, produce PTS. While resveratrol has been extensively studied for its antioxidant properties, recent evidence also points out the diverse therapeutic potential of PTS. Several studies have identified the robust pharmacodynamic features of PTS, including better intestinal absorption and elevated hepatic stability than resveratrol. Indeed, due to its higher bioavailability paired with reduced toxicity compared to other stilbenes, PTS has become an attractive drug candidate for the treatment of several disease conditions, including diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and aging. This review article provides an extensive summary of the nutraceutical potential of PTS in various disease conditions while discussing the crucial mechanistic pathways implicated. In particular, we share insights from our studies about the Nrf2-mediated effect of PTS in diabetes and associated complications. Moreover, we elucidate the important sources of PTS and discuss in detail its pharmacokinetics and the range of formulations and routes of administration used across experimental studies and human clinical trials. Furthermore, this review also summarizes the strategies successfully used to improve dietary availability and the bio-accessibility of PTS.
Canavalia gladiata Pod Extract Mitigates Ovalbumin-Induced Asthma Onset in Male BALB/c Mice via Suppression of MAPK
Authors: Huang Wen Yan , Lee Sang Hoon , Oh Seong Ju , Yoon Hyeock , Pan Jeong Hoon , Jeong Inhye , Kim Mi Jeong , Han Bok Kyung , Kim Jae Kyeom , Shin Eui-Cheol , Kim Young Jun
Published: September 2022

Asthma is one of the most common inflammatory diseases of the lung worldwide. There has been considerable progress in recent studies to treat and prevent allergic asthma, however, various side effects are still observed in clinical practice. Six-week-old male BALB/c mice were orally administered with either sword bean pod extracts (SBP; 100 or 300 mg/kg) or dexamethasone (DEX; 5 mg/kg) once daily over 3 weeks, followed by ovalbumin sensitization (OVA/Alum.; intraperitoneal administration, 50 μg/2 mg/per mouse). Scoring of lung inflammation was performed to observe pathological changes in response to SBP treatment compared to OVA/Alum.-induced lung injury. Additionally, inflammatory cytokines were quantified in serum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and lung tissue using ELISA and Western blot analyses. SBP treatment significantly reduced the infiltration of inflammatory cells, and release of histamine, immunoglobulin E, and leukotriene in serum and BALF. Moreover, the therapeutic effect of SBP was also assessed to analyze the inflammatory changes in the lung tissues. SBP markedly suppressed the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway and the expression of key inflammatory proteins (e.g., TNF-α) and Th2 type cytokines (IL-5 and IL-13). SBP was effective in ameliorating the allergic inflammation against OVA/Alum.-induced asthma by suppressing pulmonary inflammation.
Thermodynamic and Computational (DFT) Study of Non-Covalent Interaction Mechanisms of Charge Transfer Complex of Linagliptin with 2,3-Dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) and Chloranilic acid (CHA)
Authors: Bakheit Ahmed H. , Al-Salahi Rashad , Al-Majed Abdulrahman A.
Published: September 2022

This study describes the non-covalent interactions of the charge transfer complex (CT), which was responsible for the synthesis of Linagliptin (LNG) with 2,3-Dichloro-5,6-Dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ), or with Chloranilic acid (CHA) complexes in acetonitrile (MeCN) at temperatures of (25 ± 2 °C). Then, a UV–Vis spectrophotometer was utilized to identify Linagliptin (LNG) from these complexes. For the quantitative measurement of Linagliptin in bulk form, UV–Vis techniques have been developed and validated in accordance with ICH criteria for several aspects, including selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, LOD, LOQ, and robustness. The optimization of the complex synthesis was based on solvent polarization; the ratio of molecules in complexes; the association constant; and Gibbs energy (ΔG°). The experimental work is supported by the computational investigation of the complexes utilizing density functional theory as well as (QTAIM); (NCI) index; and (RDG). According to the optimized conditions, Beer’s law was observed between 2.5–100 and 5–100 µM with correlation coefficients of 1.9997 and 1.9998 for LGN-DDQ and LGN-CHA complexes, respectively. For LGN-DDQ and LGN-CHA complexes, the LOD and LOQ were (1.0844 and 1.4406 μM) and (3.2861 and 4.3655 μM), respectively. The approach was successfully used to measure LGN in its bulk form with high precision and accuracy.
Rationale and Protocol of the Multimodality Evaluation of Antibody-Mediated Injury in Heart Transplantation (LEONE-HT) Observational Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Nuche Jorge , de la Cruz Bertolo Javier , Marco Clement Irene , Sánchez Violeta Sánchez , Sarnago Cebada Fernando , Mancebo Esther , Enguita Ana Belén , Alonso-Riaño Marina , Ruiz-Hurtado Gema , López-Azor Juan Carlos , Hernández-Pérez Francisco José , Castrodeza Javier , Sánchez González Javier , Arribas Ynsaurriaga Fernando , García-Cosío Carmena María Dolores , Delgado Juan F.
Published: September 2022

Introduction: Heart transplant (HT) survival has barely improved in the last decades, which is unsatisfactory for many HT recipients. The development of anti-human leukocyte antigen (anti-HLA) antibodies in HT patients is associated with a cardiac allograft dysfunction. The mechanisms leading to this damage are unclear. The Multimodality Evaluation Of Antibody-Mediated Injury In Heart Transplantation (LEONE-HT) study aimed to thoroughly describe the damage inflicted on the myocardium by anti-HLA antibodies. Methods and analysis: The LEONE-HT study is a cohort study with a cross-sectional approach in which HT patients with positive anti-HLA antibodies are compared with coetaneous HT patients with negative anti-HLA antibodies. All patients will undergo a state-of-the-art multimodal assessment, including imaging techniques, coronary anatomy and physiology evaluations and histological and immunological analyses. The individual and combined primary outcomes of structural graft injuries and longitudinal secondary outcomes are to be compared between the exposed and non-exposed groups with univariate and multivariable descriptive analyses. Ethics and dissemination: The LEONE-HT study is carried out in accordance with the principles set out in the Declaration of Helsinki and the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines for good clinical practice and following national laws and regulations. The study design, objectives and participant centers have been communicated to clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05184426). The LEONE-HT study counts on the support of patient associations to disseminate the objectives and results of the research. This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Spanish Society of Cardiology.
Circulating Levels of Short-Chain Fatty Acids during Pregnancy and Infant Neurodevelopment
Authors: Hernández-Martínez Carmen , Canals Josefa , Voltas Núria , Martín-Luján Francisco , Arija Victoria
Published: September 2022

Background: Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) play a key role in the gut microbiota–brain crosstalk regulating the main neurodevelopmental processes during pregnancy. The aim of this study is to investigate the longitudinal relationship between prenatal levels of the main SCFAs in maternal serum and infant cognitive development and temperament on day 40 postpartum after adjusting for several pre-, peri- and post-natal confounders. Methods: A sample of 357 healthy mother–infant pairs were followed from the beginning of pregnancy to 40 days after birth. Serum SCFA concentrations were assessed in the first and third trimester of pregnancy by LC-MS/MS; and socio-demographic, nutritional, and psychological variables were collected. At 40 days, the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III and the Early Infancy Temperament Questionnaire were administered. Results: Lower serum levels of acetic, butyric and isobutyric acid, mainly during the first trimester, were related to better language and psychomotor development and, in the case of butyric acid, better intensity behavior in infants. Medium levels of propionic acid were related to better scores for development, mood and temperament. Conclusions: These findings suggest that in a community sample of healthy pregnant women from a Mediterranean region of northern Spain, lower serum levels of SCFAs, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy, seem to be related to better infant neurodevelopment
Exploring Active Ingredients, Beneficial Effects, and Potential Mechanism of Allium tenuissimum L. Flower for Treating T2DM Mice Based on Network Pharmacology and Gut Microbiota
Authors: Zhang Shan-Shan , Hou Yu-Fei , Liu Shao-Jing , Guo Sen , Ho Chi-Tang , Bai Nai-Sheng
Published: September 2022

Forty compounds were isolated and characterized from A. tenuissimum flower. Among them, twelve flavonoids showed higher α−glucosidase inhibition activities in vitro than acarbose, especially kaempferol. The molecular docking results showed that the binding of kaempferol to α−glucosidase (GAA) could reduce the hydrolysis of substrates by GAA and reduce the glucose produced by hydrolysis, thus exhibiting α−glucosidase inhibition activities. The in vivo experiment results showed that flavonoids−rich A. tenuissimum flower could decrease blood glucose and reduce lipid accumulation. The protein expression levels of RAC−alpha serine/threonine−protein kinase (AKT1), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARG), and prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 (PTGS2) in liver tissue were increased. In addition, the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio was increased, the level of gut probiotics Bifidobacterium was increased, and the levels of Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcus were decreased. The carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, and other pathways related to type 2 diabetes mellitus were activated. This study indicating flavonoids−rich A. tenuissimum flower could improve glycolipid metabolic disorders and inflammation in diabetic mice by modulating the protein expression and gut microbiota.
Accumulation of Advanced Glycation End-Products in the Body and Dietary Habits
Authors: Zawada Agnieszka , Machowiak Alicja , Rychter Anna Maria , Ratajczak Alicja Ewa , Szymczak-Tomczak Aleksandra , Dobrowolska Agnieszka , Krela-Kaźmierczak Iwona
Published: September 2022

The formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGE) in tissues is a physiological process; however, excessive production and storage are pathological and lead to inflammation. A sedentary lifestyle, hypercaloric and high-fructose diet and increased intake of processed food elements contribute to excessive production of compounds, which are created in the non-enzymatic multi-stage glycation process. The AGE’s sources can be endogenous and exogenous, mainly due to processing food at high temperatures and low moisture, including grilling, roasting, and frying. Accumulation of AGE increases oxidative stress and initiates various disorders, leading to the progression of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and their complications. Inborn defensive mechanisms, recovery systems, and exogenous antioxidants (including polyphenols) protect from excessive AGE accumulation. Additionally, numerous products have anti-glycation properties, occurring mainly in fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. It confirms the role of diet in the prevention of civilization diseases.
The Obesity-Related Dietary Pattern Is Associated with Higher Risk of Sleep Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study from NHANES
Authors: Wang Shanze , Fan Chaonan , Zhu Yingying , Tang Xijia , Ling Li
Published: September 2022

Evidence on the association between dietary patterns and sleep disorders is limited and controversial. In addition, studies evaluating the effect of dietary patterns on sleep disorders have seldom considered the critical role of obesity. We aimed to explore obesity-related dietary patterns and evaluate their impact on sleep disorders using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2014. In total, 19,892 participants aged over 20 years with two-day dietary recalls were enrolled. Obesity-related dietary patterns explaining most variance in waist circumference and BMI simultaneously were extracted from twenty-six food groups by the using partial least squares method. Sleep disorder and sleep duration, which were defined by self-reported questions, were the primary and the secondary outcome, respectively. Generalized linear models were performed to estimate the association of sleep disorders and sleep duration with dietary patterns. Two types of dietary patterns were identified. The “high fats, refined grains, and meat” pattern was characterized by high intakes of solid fats, cured meat, potatoes, refined grains, meat, cheese, and added sugars. The “low whole grains, vegetables, and fruits” pattern was characterized by low intakes of oils, whole grains, nuts and seeds, milk, fruits, and several vegetables. Participants with the highest adherence to the “high fats, refined grains, and meat” pattern had a higher risk for sleep disorders (OR (95%CI): 1.43 (1.12, 1.84)) and shorter sleep duration (β (95%CI): −0.17 (−0.26, −0.08)) compared to those with the lowest adherence. The corresponding associations for the “low whole grains, vegetables, and fruits” pattern were only significant for sleep duration (β (95%CI): −0.26 (−0.37, −0.15)). Our results found that the dietary pattern characterized by high solid fats, cured meat, potatoes, refined grains, meat, cheese, and added sugars, was associated with a higher risk for sleep disorders and shorter sleep duration.
Plant Seed Mucilage—Great Potential for Sticky Matter
Authors: Kučka Matúš , Ražná Katarína , Harenčár Ľubomír , Kolarovičová Terézia
Published: September 2022

Some seeds of flowering plants can differentiate their seed coat epidermis into the specialized cell layer producing a hydrophilic mucilage with several ecological functions, such as seed hydration, protection, spatial fixation, stimulation of metabolic activity and development of seed. Due to the species- and genotype-dependent variabilities in the chemical composition of mucilage, mucilage does not display the same functional properties and its role depends on the respective species and environment. Mucilaginous substances, depending on their composition, exhibit many preventive and curative effects for human and animal health, which has significant potential in the agricultural, food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. This paper summarizes the ecological, biological, and functional properties of mucilaginous plant substances and highlights their significant nutritional potential in terms of the development of functional foods, and nutraceuticals and dietary supplements. A paragraph describing the gene regulation of seed mucilage synthesis is included, and some recommendations for the direction of further research on mucilaginous substances are outlined.
Immunomodulatory Effect of Polysaccharides from the Mushroom-Forming Basidiomycete Gymnopilus imperialis (Agaricomycetes, Basidiomycota)
Authors: Caldas Lhaís A. , Santos Patricia D. , Carbonero Elaine R. , Ionta Marisa , Miyazawa Marta , Caixeta Ester S. , Fregnan Antonio M. , Nóbrega Bianca Barros , Di Medeiros Maria Carolina B. , Menolli Nelson , Soares Douglas M. M. , Stevani Cassius V. , Sartorelli Patricia
Published: September 2022

Gymnopilus consists of a widely distributed genus of basidiomycetes, especially in tropical regions of the world, such as Japan, Australia, Paraguay, and Brazil. This genus biosynthesizes interesting bioactive compounds, such as sesquiterpenoids, oligoisoprenoids, styrylpyrones, and lectins. In the present study, the aqueous extract of the basidiomata of Gymnopilus imperialis (Basidiomycota, Agaricomycetes, Agaricales, Hymenogastraceae) was obtained by using the accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) technique, followed by the precipitation of polysaccharide fraction with ethanol. Further purification by freeze-thawing processes, Fehling solution precipitation, and membrane dialysis with different pore sizes yield three main polysaccharide fractions (Gi-MRSW, Gi-PFME, and Gi-SFME). According to monosaccharide composition and 13C-NMR data, the Gi-MRSW and Gi-SFME fractions showed to be composed mainly of β-glucans and Gi-PFME by a heterogalactan. Moreover, the immunomodulatory potential of Gi-MRSW was evaluated using RAW 264.7 murine macrophage as a study model. The nitric oxide production was significantly increased in treated samples, and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) showed that the fraction Gi-MRSW from G. imperialis induces the M1 polarization phenotype.
A Need for Benzodiazepine Deprescribing in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cohort Study
Authors: Bužančić Iva , Pejaković Tajana Iva , Hadžiabdić Maja Ortner
Published: September 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on patients’ mental health. The aim of this study was to explore whether the pandemic influenced the use and prescription of benzodiazepines and increased the need for community pharmacist involvement in counselling on deprescribing. Electronic prescription-related data from one pharmacy in Croatia were retrospectively collected for the COVID-19 period (April 2020 to March 2021) and compared with pre-COVID-19 (April 2019 to March 2020) data. Data were collected for patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders who filled out more than one prescription for benzodiazepines, and included age, sex, number of medicines, benzodiazepines, and comorbidities. A total of 1290 benzodiazepine users were identified; of these, 32.87% started using benzodiazepines during the COVID-19 period, while 35.2% continued with benzodiazepine use. More than half of all benzodiazepine users were identified as potential deprescribing candidates (dispensed more than three prescriptions). Women, older patients, multimorbid individuals, and patients with polypharmacy were more likely to use benzodiazepines for a prolonged period. The results show a negative trend of benzodiazepine usage among community-dwelling patients during the pandemic. Community pharmacists can identify potential candidates for deprescribing and initiate a process that ensures more rational use of benzodiazepines and increases the safety of treatment.
Fundamental Studies on Electron Dynamics in Exact Paraxial Beams with Angular Momentum
Authors: Pastor Ignacio , Álvarez-Estrada Ramón F. , Roso Luis , Castejón Francisco
Published: September 2022

Classical electromagnetic radiation with orbital angular momentum (OAM), described by nonvanishing vector and scalar potentials (namely, Lorentz gauge) and under Lorentz condition, is considered. They are employed to describe paraxial laser beams, thereby including non-vanishing longitudinal components of electric and magnetic fields. The relevance of the latter on electron dynamics is investigated in the reported numerical experiments. The lowest corrections to the paraxial approximation appear to have a negligeable influence in the regimes treated here. Incoherent Thomson scattering (TS) from a sample of free electrons moving subject to the paraxial fields is studied and investigated as a beam diagnosis tool. Numerical computations elucidate the nature and conditions for the so called trapped solutions (electron motions bounded in the transverse plane of the laser and drifting along the propagation direction) in long quasi-steady laser beams. The influence of laser parameters, in particular, the laser beam size and the non-vanishing longitudinal field components, essential for the paraxial approximation to hold, are studied. When the initial conditions of the electrons are sufficiently close to the origin, a simplified model Hamiltonian to the full relativistic one is introduced. It yields results comparing quite well quantitatively with the observed amplitudes, phase relationships and frequencies of oscillation of trapped solutions (at least for wide laser beam sizes). Genuine pulsed paraxial fields with OAM and their features, modeling true ultra-short pulses are also studied for two cases, one of wide laser beam spot (100 μm) and other with narrow beam size of 6.4 μm. To this regard, the asymptotic distribution of the kinetic energy of the electrons as a function of their initial position over the transverse section is analyzed. The relative importance of the transverse structure effects and the role of longitudinal fields is addressed. By including the full paraxial fields, the asymptotic distribution of kinetic energy of an electron population distributed across the laser beam section, has a nontrivial and unexpected rotational symmetry along the optical propagation axis.
Analysis of the Electromagnetic Coupling Characteristics of Dual-Load Wireless Power Transmission Channels
Authors: Xue Ming , Hou Hu , Li Longnv , Guo Jianwu , Zhang Pengcheng , Zhu Gaojia
Published: September 2022

This paper studies the characteristics of four dual-load systems, coaxial different sides, coaxial same side, different axis same side, and coplanar coaxial, based on the principle of near-field resonance wireless power transmission. Firstly, a dual-load cooperative coupling equivalent circuit model is established, the mathematical expression of system energy efficiency is derived, and the influence of the cross-coupling of the receiving coils in the system on the performance of the system is compared and analyzed in four coupling situations. Secondly, the magnetic field distribution characteristics and the influence of transmission distance and load impedance on the transmission characteristics are studied by electromagnetic field simulation software. Finally, the experimental results show that the maximum efficiency of the dual-load wireless power transmission system is only 0.43 in the case of coaxial and coplanar coupling, which is not suitable for power transmission. In the case of coaxial coupling on the same side, the received power of dual loads has a large difference, which is suitable for electrical equipment with different power requirements. When the coupling distance between the transmitting and receiving coils changes synchronously in the case of coaxial opposite-side and different axis same-side coupling, the efficiency of the former persisting declination and the efficiency of the latter rise first and then drop.
Erosion Risk Assessment for Prioritization of Conservation Measures in the Watershed of Genale Dawa-3 Hydropower Dam, Ethiopia
Authors: Dechasa Ashenafi , Aga Alemu O. , Dufera Takele
Published: September 2022

Sedimentation is a leading global problem that affects the environment and dams by reducing the live storage capacity of reservoirs and the life expectance of dams. Hence, prioritizing watersheds according to the risk of soil loss is crucial for extending the useful life of dams and reservoirs. The objectives of this study were to assess sediment flow in the Genale Dawa-3 reservoir, identify subbasins that are prone to soil erosion, and evaluate the impact of different management practices on minimizing sediment yields by using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The SWAT model was calibrated and validated by observed streamflow and sediment data based on the SUFI-2 algorithm by SWAT-CUP, and its performance was assessed. The model simulated the average annual sediment yield; the input to the reservoir was 16.83 ton/ha/yr for the period of 1990–2015. From a total of 31 subbasins, 12 were categorized from high to very severe (11–60 ton/ha/yr) sediment-yielding subbasins and selected for sediment management. The simulated scenarios showed that the average annual sediment reductions at critical erosion hot spots in subbasins after the application of filter strips, soil/stone bund, terracing, and contour farming were 35.03%, 66.54%, 80.88%, and 53.11%, respectively. Therefore, this study concluded that reducing sediment yield by implementing terracing in critical areas at risk of soil erosion was more effective than other soil conservation measures. Overall, this research can help planners and decision-makers to implement appropriate soil conservation measures in the most erosive subwatersheds in order to extend the useful life of the Genale Dawa-3 hydropower dam and reservoir.
Statistical Characteristics of Warm Season Raindrop Size Distribution in the Beibu Gulf, South China
Authors: Li Xiaoyu , Chen Sheng , Li Zhi , Huang Chaoying , Hu Junjun
Published: September 2022

Raindrop size distribution (DSD) can be used to improve the accuracy of radar quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) and further understand the microphysical process of precipitation; however, its spatio-temporal characteristics vary with different climates, rain types, and geographical locations. Due to the lack of observations, the DSD characteristics in the Beibu Gulf, especially at the rainfall center of Guangxi in South China, is poorly understood. In this paper, these regional DSD characteristics were analyzed during the warm season with an upgraded version of the OTT Particle Size Velocity (Parsivel) (OTT2) disdrometer. The DSD datasets from June to October 2020 and March to May 2021 were grouped into convective and stratiform precipitation by rain rate (R). The rainfall parameters were calculated from DSDs to further understand the rain characteristics. The results showed that: (1) the regional DSDs feature the lowest concentration of largest-sized drops when compared with the statistical results for other areas such as Zhuhai in South China, Nanjing in East China, Hubei province in Central China and Beijing in North China; (2) the raindrop spectra have an excellent fit with the three-parameter gamma distribution, particularly in regard to the medium-size raindrops; (3) the μ–Λ relation is closer to the coastal regions than the inland area of South China; (4) the localized Z−R relations differ greatly for convective rainfall (Z = 202.542 R1.553) and stratiform rainfall (Z = 328.793 R1.363). This study is the first study on DSDs in the Beibu Gulf region. The above findings will provide a better understanding of the microphysical nature of surface precipitation for different rain types along the Beibu Gulf in southern China, which may improve precipitation retrievals from remote sensing observations.
Occlusion and Deformation Handling Visual Tracking for UAV via Attention-Based Mask Generative Network
Authors: Bai Yashuo , Song Yong , Zhao Yufei , Zhou Ya , Wu Xiyan , He Yuxin , Zhang Zishuo , Yang Xin , Hao Qun
Published: September 2022

Although the performance of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) tracking has benefited from the successful application of discriminative correlation filters (DCF) and convolutional neural networks (CNNs), UAV tracking under occlusion and deformation remains a challenge. The main dilemma is that challenging scenes, such as occlusion or deformation, are very complex and changeable, making it difficult to obtain training data covering all situations, resulting in trained networks that may be confused by new contexts that differ from historical information. Data-driven strategies are the main direction of current solutions, but gathering large-scale datasets with object instances under various occlusion and deformation conditions is difficult and lacks diversity. This paper proposes an attention-based mask generation network (AMGN) for UAV-specific tracking, which combines the attention mechanism and adversarial learning to improve the tracker’s ability to handle occlusion and deformation. After the base CNN extracts the deep features of the candidate region, a series of masks are determined by the spatial attention module and sent to the generator, and the generator discards some features according to these masks to simulate the occlusion and deformation of the object, producing more hard positive samples. The discriminator seeks to distinguish these hard positive samples while guiding mask generation. Such adversarial learning can effectively complement occluded and deformable positive samples in the feature space, allowing to capture more robust features to distinguish objects from backgrounds. Comparative experiments show that our AMGN-based tracker achieves the highest area under curve (AUC) of 0.490 and 0.349, and the highest precision scores of 0.742 and 0.662, on the UAV123 tracking benchmark with partial and full occlusion attributes, respectively. It also achieves the highest AUC of 0.555 and the highest precision score of 0.797 on the DTB70 tracking benchmark with the deformation attribute. On the UAVDT tracking benchmark with the large occlusion attribute, it achieves the highest AUC of 0.407 and the highest precision score of 0.582.
Forest Carbon Flux Simulation Using Multi-Source Data and Incorporation of Remotely Sensed Model with Process-Based Model
Authors: Su Yong , Zhang Wangfei , Liu Bingjie , Tian Xin , Chen Shuxin , Wang Haiyi , Mao Yingwu
Published: September 2022

Forest carbon flux is critical to climate change, and the accurate modeling of forest carbon flux is an extremely challenging task. The remote sensing model (the MODIS MOD_17 gross primary productivity (GPP) model (MOD_17)) has strong practicability and is widely used around the world. The ecological process (the Biome-BioGeochemical Cycles Multilayer Soil Module model (Biome-BGCMuSo)) model can describe most of the vegetation’s environmental and physiological processes on fine time scales. Nevertheless, complex parameters and calibrations pose challenges to the application and development of models. In this study, we optimized all the input parameters of the MOD_17 model for the calibration of the Biome-BGCMuSo model to obtain GPP with continuous spatiality. To determine the contribution of input parameters to the GPP of different forest types, an Extended Fourier Amplitude Sensitivity Test (EFAST) was performed on the Biome-BGCMuSo model firstly. Then, we selected the sample points of each forest type and its different ecological gradients (30 for each type), using the GPP simulation value of the optimized MOD_17 model corresponding to the time and space scale to calibrate the Biome-BGCMuSo model, to drive the calibrated Biome-BGCMuSo, and we simulated the different forest types’ net primary productivity (NPP). According to dendrochronological measurements, the NPP simulation results were verified on the whole regional scale. The results showed that the GPP values of different forest types were highly sensitive to C:Nleaf (C:N of leaf), SLA1 (canopy average specific leaf area in phenological phase 1), and FLNR (fraction of leaf N in Rubisco). The coefficient of determination (R2) between the simulated forest NPP and the measured NPP was 0.64, and the root-mean-square (RMSE) was 26.55 g/C/m2/year. Our study aims to reduce uncertainty in forest carbon fluxes simulated by the Biome-BGCMuSo model, providing feedback for understanding forest ecosystem carbon cycling, vegetation productivity, and climate change.