bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Zn2+-Dependent Nuclease Is Involved in Nuclear Degradation during the Programmed Cell Death of Secretory Cavity Formation in Citrus grandis ‘Tomentosa’ Fruits
Authors: Liang Minjian , Bai Mei , Wu Hong
Published: November 2021

Zn2+- and Ca2+-dependent nucleases exhibit activity toward dsDNA in the four classes of cation-dependent nucleases in plants. Programmed cell death (PCD) is involved in the degradation of cells during schizolysigenous secretory cavity formation in Citrus fruits. Recently, the Ca2+-dependent DNase CgCAN was proven to play a key role in nuclear DNA degradation during the PCD of secretory cavity formation in Citrus grandis ‘Tomentosa’ fruits. However, whether Zn2+-dependent nuclease plays a role in the PCD of secretory cells remains poorly understood. Here, we identified a Zn2+-dependent nuclease gene, CgENDO1, from Citrus grandis ‘Tomentosa’, the function of which was studied using Zn2+ ions cytochemical localization, DNase activity assays, in situ hybridization, and protein immunolocalization. The full-length cDNA of CgENDO1 contains an open reading frame of 906 bp that encodes a protein 301 amino acids in length with a S1/P1-like functional domain. CgENDO1 degrades linear double-stranded DNA at acidic and neutral pH. CgENDO1 is mainly expressed in the late stage of nuclear degradation of secretory cells. Further spatiotemporal expression patterns of CgENDO1 showed that CgENDO1 is initially located on the endoplasmic reticulum and then moves into intracellular vesicles and nuclei. During the late stage of nuclear degradation, it was concentrated in the area of nuclear degradation involved in nuclear DNA degradation. Our results suggest that the Zn2+-dependent nuclease CgENDO1 plays a direct role in the late degradation stage of the nuclear DNA in the PCD of secretory cavity cells of Citrus grandis ‘Tomentosa’ fruits.
A Review of the Analytical Methods for the Determination of 4(5)-Methylimidazole in Food Matrices
Authors: Revelou Panagiota-Kyriaki , Xagoraris Marinos , Alissandrakis Eleftherios , Pappas Christos S. , Tarantilis Petros A.
Published: November 2021

4(5)-Methylimidazole (4(5)MEI) is a product of the Maillard reaction between sugars and amino acids, which occurs during the thermal processing of foods. This compound is also found in foods with caramel colorants additives. Due to its prevalence in foods and beverages and its potent carcinogenicity, 4(5)MEI has received federal and state regulatory agency attention. The aim of this review is to present the extraction procedures of 4(5)MEI from food matrices and the analytical methods for its determination. Liquid and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry are the techniques most commonly employed to detect 4(5)MEI in food matrices. However, the analysis of 4(5)MEI is challenging due to the high polarity, water solubility, and the absence of chromophores. To overcome this, specialized sample pretreatment and extraction methods have been developed, such as solid-phase extraction and derivatization procedures, increasing the cost and the preparation time of samples. Other analytical methods for the determination of 4(5)MEI, include capillary electrophoresis, paper spray mass spectrometry, micellar electrokinetic chromatography, high-performance cation exchange chromatography, fluorescence-based immunochromatographic assay, and a fluorescent probe.
The Effects of Different Exercise Modalities in the Treatment of Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Obese Adolescents with Sedentary Behavior—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Li Daxin , Chen Ping
Published: November 2021

Purpose: Obesity has become increasingly prevalent in adolescents due to unhealthy diet habits, sedentary behavior and a lack of physical activities. This study aims to assess the effects of different exercise modalities in the treatment of cardiometabolic risk factors (CRF) in obese adolescents with sedentary behavior. Methods: A systematic search was conducted using databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, Web of Science, CNKI and VIP database) from the earliest available date to August 2021. Nineteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 704 participants were included. The included studies were evaluated for methodological quality by the Cochrane bias risk assessment tool, and a statistical analysis was performed by the Review Manage 5.3 and Stata 15.1 software. Results: The results of the meta-analysis showed that exercise could significantly improve obese adolescents’ body mass index (BMI) (MD = −1.99, 95% CI: −2.81 to −1.17, p < 0.00001), low density liptein cholesterol (LDL-C) (SMD = −0.98, 95% CI: −1.58 to −0.37, p = 0.002), triglyceride (TG) (SMD = −0.93, 95% CI: −1.72 to −0.14, p = 0.02), total cholesterol (TC) (SMD = −1.00, 95% CI: −1.73 to −0.26, p = 0.008), peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) (MD = 3.27, 95% CI: 1.52 to 5.02, p = 0.0003) and homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (SMD = −2.07, 95% CI: −3.3 to −0.84, p = 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference in high-density liptein cholesterol (HDL-C) (SMD = 0.40, 95% CI: −0.28 to 1.08, p = 0.25). Conclusion: Exercise can effectively improve cardiometabolic risk factors in obese adolescents with sedentary behavior. For obese adolescents who want to lose weight and improve cardiorespiratory fitness, combined aerobic and resistance training and high-intensity interval training are optimal choices. For obese adolescents with high blood lipids, aerobic training can be regarded as a primary exercise modality to reduce the high risk of cardiovascular diseases; For obese adolescents with insulin resistance, combined aerobic and resistance training can be considered to reduce the high risk of diabetes. It is hoped that more high-quality studies will further expand the meta-analysis results and demonstrate the optimal exercise frequency and treatment intensity of cardiometabolic risk factors in obese adolescents with sedentary behavior in the future.
Inflammation and Liver Cell Death in Patients with Hepatitis C Viral Infection
Authors: Neuman Manuela G. , Cohen Lawrence B.
Published: November 2021

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced liver disease contributes to chronic hepatitis. The immune factors identified in HCV include changes in the innate and adaptive immune system. The inflammatory mediators, known as “inflammasome”, are a consequence of the metabolic products of cells and commensal or pathogenic bacteria and viruses. The only effective strategy to prevent disease progression is eradication of the viral infection. Immune cells play a pivotal role during liver inflammation, triggering fibrogenesis. The present paper discusses the potential role of markers in cell death and the inflammatory cascade leading to the severity of liver damage. We aim to present the clinical parameters and laboratory data in a cohort of 88 HCV-infected non-cirrhotic and 25 HCV cirrhotic patients, to determine the characteristic light microscopic (LM) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) changes in their liver biopsies and to present the link between the severity of liver damage and the serum levels of cytokines and caspases. A matched HCV non-infected cohort was used for the comparison of serum inflammatory markers. We compared the inflammation in HCV individuals with a control group of 280 healthy individuals. We correlated the changes in inflammatory markers in different stages of the disease and the histology. We concluded that the serum levels of cytokine, chemokine, and cleaved caspase markers reveal the inflammatory status in HCV. Based upon the information provided by the changes in biomarkers the clinician can monitor the severity of HCV-induced liver damage. New oral well-tolerated treatment regimens for chronic hepatitis C patients can achieve cure rates of over 90%. Therefore, using the noninvasive biomarkers to monitor the evolution of the liver damage is an effective personalized medicine procedure to establish the severity of liver injury and its repair.
HPLC Method for Separation of Cannabidiol Hemp Seed Oil with Skin Lipids and Tandem HRMS Technology for Characterization of a Chemical Marker
Authors: Liu Yuxin , Wang Yu , Hao Zhigang , Pan Long
Published: November 2021

Cannabidiol (CBD) hemp seed oil is a commercial raw material with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits that has been formulated into body wash and skin care products. The biggest analytical challenge is how to simultaneously quantify CBD and hemp seed oil as they deposited on the skin surface. CBD is easily separated and quantified from skin surface extracts via a HPLC-mass spectrometry methodology. However, the structural skeleton of triacylglycerides (TAGs) in hemp seed oil is same as those from the skin surface sebum. The strong hydrophobicity with subtle structural difference challenges their separation. In this project, a new reverse phase HPLC-high resolution mass spectrometry methodology was developed with a strong mobile phase normal propanol. The separated hemp seed oil TAGs in the chromatogram were identified and characterized using data-dependent acquisition (DDA) technology. Based on the daughter ion characterization, the separated peak with an ammonium adduct at 890.7226 [M + NH4]+ was confirmed as the parent ion of glycerol with three omega-3 fatty acid chains. This is the first time TAG structure with direct HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry technology has been elucidated without a hydrolysis reaction. The confirmed TAG structure with an ammonium adduct at 890.7226 ± 0.0020 can be used as a representative chemical marker for the hemp seed oil quantification.
Molecular Simulation of External Electric Fields on the Crystal State: A Perspective
Authors: English Niall J.
Published: November 2021

Unpacking the mechanistic insights into how externally applied electric fields affect the physicochemical properties of crystals represents a challenge of great importance for a plethora of natural phenomena, in addition to a broad array of industrial operations and technologies. As such, the key goals in such field effect studies centre around how thermodynamic and kinetic relaxation processes in crystals are affected, including charge carrier conduction and energy transfer processes, and this is a very recent area of fundamental scrutiny. Indeed, in recent years, there has been a steadily mounting number of reports of field-manipulated crystal-state phenomena. Taking as the background a range of natural phenomena, phenomenological theory, state-of-the-art experiments and technological observations, the present review examines the role of nonequilibrium molecular simulation in its scrutiny of intra-crystal phenomena from an atomistic viewpoint, in addition to providing a framework for a predictive molecular design philosophy by which to refine field crystal understanding.
Facile Synthesis of Stacked Ni(OH)2 Hexagonal Nanoplates in a Large Scale
Authors: Du Yunfei , Xin Zhijie , Li Guodong , Li Taotao
Published: November 2021

Using NiCl2 and NaOH as raw materials, stacked Ni(OH)2 hexagonal nanoplates with different edge lengths were prepared in a large scale by a simple hydrothermal route. The stacked Ni(OH)2 structure was composed of a certain amount of parallel Ni(OH)2 hexagonal nanoplates along the (001) direction. Each parallel Ni(OH)2 nanoplate had a single-crystal structure, and the exposed planes were (001), (00−1), and (100). The formation mechanism of the stacked Ni(OH)2 structures was discussed on the basis of the Ni(OH)2 crystal structure.
Elevational Patterns of Blowfly Parasitism in Two Hole Nesting Avian Species
Authors: Moreno-Rueda Gregorio
Published: November 2021

Climate change is predicted to cause shifts in parasite distributions, leading to encounters with new hosts. Mountains offer a natural experimental background to study how parasite distributions vary across climatic gradients. Parasite abundance is generally assumed to decrease with ascending elevation, as colder climates may preclude several parasites to complete their life cycles. The present study analyses the elevational variation in the prevalence and intensity of the blowfly Protocalliphora azurea found in the nests of two hosts—the coal tit (Periparus ater) and great tit (Parus major)—in Sierra Nevada (SE Spain). Protocalliphora azurea adults are free-living flies, while their larvae are nest-dwelling parasites that feed on nestling blood. In contrast to initial predictions, P. azurea larvae were less prevalent at lower elevations. In Mediterranean environments, the colder and damper climate of medium and high elevations might favour this parasite. Alternatively, greater anthropogenic perturbation in lowland environments may have a negative impact on the parasite. The findings also show that the two host species had similar parasite loads. As coal tits are half the size of great tits, this suggests that the coal tits were more severely parasitised. In conclusion, the generalised assumption that parasite abundance decreases with elevation does not hold true for the present case and elevational parasite patterns probably depend on specific host–parasite systems and climatic conditions in the mountains.
Primary Cutaneous Gamma-Delta T Cell Lymphomas: A Case Series and Overview of the Literature
Authors: Alberti-Violetti Silvia , Maronese Carlo Alberto , Venegoni Luigia , Merlo Valentina , Berti Emilio
Published: November 2021

Primary cutaneous gamma-delta T cell lymphomas (PCGDTCLs) are rare and aggressive cutaneous malignancies that have been diagnostically challenging for dermopathologists and clinicians since their first published descriptions in 1991. Since then, the availability of immunostaining for T cell receptors γ and δ in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples has greatly increased our knowledge of the gamma-delta phenotype by showing that it may also be present in the context of indolent entities, such as mycosis fungoides (MFs) and lymphomatoid papulosis, and this has raised questions concerning its diagnostic and prognostic implications. We here describe the histological and clinical differences between the dermo-epidermal and subcutaneous sub-groups of PCGDTCL observed in a cohort of 20 patients attending a single experienced centre, with particular focus on cases with an MF-like presentation, which are still less well defined than those of classic MF.
Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Perianal Crohn’s Disease at 1.5 and 3.0 T: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Alyami Ali , Hoad Caroline L. , Tench Christopher , Bannur Uday , Clarke Christopher , Latief Khalid , Argyriou Konstantinos , Lobo Alan , Lung Philip , Baldwin-Cleland Rachel , Sahnan Kapil , Hart Ailsa , Limdi Jimmy K. , Mclaughlin John , Atkinson David , Parker Geoffrey J. M. , O’Connor James P. B. , Little Ross A. , Gowland Penny A. , Moran Gordon W.
Published: November 2021

Perianal Crohn’s Disease (pCD) is a common manifestation of Crohn’s Disease. Absence of reliable disease measures makes disease monitoring unreliable. Qualitative MRI has been increasingly used for diagnosing and monitoring pCD and has shown potential for assessing response to treatment. Quantitative MRI sequences, such as diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE) and magnetisation transfer (MT), along with T2 relaxometry, offer opportunities to improve diagnostic capability. Quantitative MRI sequences (DWI, DCE, MT and T2) were used in a cohort of 25 pCD patients before and 12 weeks after biological therapy at two different field strengths (1.5 and 3 T). Disease activity was measured with the Perianal Crohn’s Disease Activity index (PDAI) and serum C-reactive protein (CRP). Diseased tissue areas on MRI were defined by a radiologist. A baseline model to predict outcome at 12 weeks was developed. No differences were seen in the quantitative MR measured in the diseased tissue regions from baseline to 12 weeks; however, PDAI and CRP decreased. Baseline PDAI, CRP, T2 relaxometry and surgical history were found to have a moderate ability to predict response after 12 weeks of biological treatment. Validation in larger cohorts with MRI and clinical measures are needed in order to further develop the model.
Liquid Biopsy-Based Colorectal Cancer Screening via Surface Markers of Circulating Tumor Cells
Authors: Tieng Francis Yew Fu , Abu Nadiah , Nasir Siti Nurmi , Lee Learn-Han , Ab Mutalib Nurul-Syakima
Published: November 2021

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is ranked second for cancer-related deaths worldwide with approximately half of the patients being diagnosed at the late stages. The untimely detection of CRC results in advancement to the metastatic stage and nearly 90% of cancer-related deaths. The early detection of CRC is crucial to decrease its overall incidence and mortality rates. The recent introduction of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has enabled a less invasive sampling method from liquid biopsies, besides revealing key information toward CRC metastasis. The current gold standard for CTC identification is the CellSearch® system (Veridex). This first-generation instrumentation relies on a single cell surface marker (CSM) to capture and count CTCs. Detection of CTCs allows the identification of patients at risk for metastasis, whereas CTC enumeration could improve risk assessment, monitoring of systemic therapy, and detection of therapy resistance in advanced metastatic CRC. In this review, we compared the pros and cons between single CSM-based CTC enrichment techniques and multi-marker-based systems. We also highlighted the challenges faced in the routine implementation of CSM-dependent CTC detection methods in CRC screening, prediction, prognosis, disease monitoring, and therapy selection toward precision medicine, as well as the dwelling on post-CTC analysis and characterization methods.
Quantification of Liver Fat Content after Radiofrequency Ablation for Liver Cancer: Correlation with Hepatic Perfusion Disorders
Authors: Shen Li-Shan , Li Quan-Xi , Luo Xiao-Wen , Tang Hui-Jun , Tang You-Jie , Tang Wen-Jie , Guo Ruo-Mi
Published: November 2021

Purpose: To quantitatively investigate the correlation between liver fat content and hepatic perfusion disorders (HPD) after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for liver cancer using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-determined proton density fat fraction (PDFF). Materials and methods: A total of 150 liver cancer patients underwent liver MRI examination within one month after RFA and at four months after RFA. According to the liver fat content, they were divided into non-, mild, moderate, and severe fatty liver groups. The liver fat content and hepatic perfusion disorders were determined using PDFF images and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI images. The relationship between the liver fat content and HPD was investigated. Results: At the first postoperative MRI examination, the proportion of patients in the nonfatty liver group with hyperperfused foci (11.11%) was significantly lower than that in the mild (30.00%), moderate (42.86%), and severe fatty liver (56.67%) groups (p < 0.05), whereas the proportions of patients with hypoperfused foci (6.67%, 7.5%, 5.71%, and 6.67%, respectively) were not significantly different among the four groups (p > 0.05). In the nonfatty liver group, the liver fat content was not correlated with hyperperfusion abnormalities or hypoperfusion abnormalities. By contrast, in the three fatty liver groups, the liver fat content was correlated with hyperperfusion abnormalities but was not correlated with hypoperfusion abnormalities. At the second postoperative MRI examination, six patients in the nonfatty liver group were diagnosed with fatty liver, including two patients with newly developed hyperperfusion abnormalities and one patient whose hypoperfusion abnormality remained the same as it was in the first postoperative MRI examination. Conclusion: There was a high correlation between the liver fat content and hyperperfusion abnormalities after RFA for liver cancer. The higher the liver fat content was, the higher the was risk of hyperperfusion abnormalities. However, there was little correlation between liver fat content and hypoperfusion abnormalities, and the increase in postoperative liver fat content did not induce or alter the presence of hypoperfused foci.
Implications of Glycosaminoglycans on Viral Zoonotic Diseases
Authors: Bauer Sarah , Zhang Fuming , Linhardt Robert J.
Published: November 2021

Zoonotic diseases are infectious diseases that pass from animals to humans. These include diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites and can be transmitted through close contact or through an intermediate insect vector. Many of the world’s most problematic zoonotic diseases are viral diseases originating from animal spillovers. The Spanish influenza pandemic, Ebola outbreaks in Africa, and the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic are thought to have started with humans interacting closely with infected animals. As the human population grows and encroaches on more and more natural habitats, these incidents will only increase in frequency. Because of this trend, new treatments and prevention strategies are being explored. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are complex linear polysaccharides that are ubiquitously present on the surfaces of most human and animal cells. In many infectious diseases, the interactions between GAGs and zoonotic pathogens correspond to the first contact that results in the infection of host cells. In recent years, researchers have made progress in understanding the extraordinary roles of GAGs in the pathogenesis of zoonotic diseases, suggesting potential therapeutic avenues for using GAGs in the treatment of these diseases. This review examines the role of GAGs in the progression, prevention, and treatment of different zoonotic diseases caused by viruses.
Large-Scale Reality Modeling of a University Campus Using Combined UAV and Terrestrial Photogrammetry for Historical Preservation and Practical Use
Authors: Berrett Bryce E. , Vernon Cory A. , Beckstrand Haley , Pollei Madi , Markert Kaleb , Franke Kevin W. , Hedengren John D.
Published: November 2021

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) enable detailed historical preservation of large-scale infrastructure and contribute to cultural heritage preservation, improved maintenance, public relations, and development planning. Aerial and terrestrial photo data coupled with high accuracy GPS create hyper-realistic mesh and texture models, high resolution point clouds, orthophotos, and digital elevation models (DEMs) that preserve a snapshot of history. A case study is presented of the development of a hyper-realistic 3D model that spans the complex 1.7 km2 area of the Brigham Young University campus in Provo, Utah, USA and includes over 75 significant structures. The model leverages photos obtained during the historic COVID-19 pandemic during a mandatory and rare campus closure and details a large scale modeling workflow and best practice data acquisition and processing techniques. The model utilizes 80,384 images and high accuracy GPS surveying points to create a 1.65 trillion-pixel textured structure-from-motion (SfM) model with an average ground sampling distance (GSD) near structures of 0.5 cm and maximum of 4 cm. Separate model segments (31) taken from data gathered between April and August 2020 are combined into one cohesive final model with an average absolute error of 3.3 cm and a full model absolute error of <1 cm (relative accuracies from 0.25 cm to 1.03 cm). Optimized and automated UAV techniques complement the data acquisition of the large-scale model, and opportunities are explored to archive as-is building and campus information to enable historical building preservation, facility maintenance, campus planning, public outreach, 3D-printed miniatures, and the possibility of education through virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) tours.
Hardware-in-the-Loop Assessment of a Data-Driven State of Charge Estimation Method for Lithium-Ion Batteries in Hybrid Vehicles
Authors: Luciani Sara , Feraco Stefano , Bonfitto Angelo , Tonoli Andrea
Published: November 2021

This paper presents the design and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) experimental validation of a data-driven estimation method for the state of charge (SOC) in the lithium-ion batteries used in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). The considered system features a 1.25 kWh 48 V lithium-ion battery that is numerically modeled via an RC equivalent circuit model that can also consider the environmental temperature influence. The proposed estimation technique relies on nonlinear autoregressive with exogenous input (NARX) artificial neural networks (ANNs) that are properly trained with multiple datasets. Those datasets include modeled current and voltage data, both for charge-sustaining and charge-depleting working conditions. The investigated method is then experimentally validated using a Raspberry Pi 4B card-sized board, on which the estimation algorithm is actually deployed, and real-time hardware, on which the battery model is developed, namely a Speedgoat baseline platform. These hardware platforms are used in a hardware-in-the-loop architecture via the UPD communication protocol, allowing the system to be validated in a proper testing environment. The resulting estimation algorithm can estimate the battery SOC in real-time, with 2% accuracy during real-time hardware testing.
Methodology for Quantitative Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction of Solar-Powered Wi-Fi
Authors: Temim Samah , Bensebaa Farid , Talbi Larbi
Published: November 2021

In this paper, a modeling framework to quantify the reduction of potential greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when using solar-powered Wi-Fi as an internet access point is developed and tested. This framework includes newly developed MATLAB code and the use of the ATOLL tool for energy consumption and network optimization, respectively. A practical case study is described with scenarios enabling different signal coverage on a university campus. These scenarios are based on technical requirements, including number of access points, budget link, and access duration. Four hundred tons of GHG can be reduced each year if solar Wi-Fi is deployed in solar campuses, which represents 5.5 × 10−5 percent of the total GHG produced by the telecommunications sector. A direct relationship between the number of access points and coverage signal quality on the one hand and energy consumption on the other hand is established. We use this case study to forecast the potential GHG mitigation if a wider deployment of the community Wi-Fi is achieved. This methodology could also be used to estimate GHG reductions when other wireless technologies are deployed.
A Novel Opposition-Based Arithmetic Optimization Algorithm for Parameter Extraction of PEM Fuel Cell
Authors: Sharma Abhishek , Khan Rizwan Ahamad , Sharma Abhinav , Kashyap Diwakar , Rajput Shailendra
Published: November 2021

The model-identification and parameter extraction are a well-defined method for modeling and development purposes of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) to improve the performance. This paper introduces a novel opposition-based arithmetic optimization algorithm (OBAOA) for identifying the unspecified parameters of PEMFCs. The cost function is defined as the sum of the square deviations between the experimentally measured values and the optimal achieved values from the algorithm. Ballard Mark V PEM fuel cell is employed and analyzed to demonstrate the capability of the proposed algorithm. To demonstrate system efficiency, simulation results are compared to those of other optimizers under the same conditions. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm is validated through benchmark functions. The final results revealed that the proposed opposition-based arithmetic optimization algorithm can accurately retrieve the parameters of a PEMFC model.
A High-Gain CNTFET-Based LNA Developed Using a Compact Design-Oriented Device Model
Authors: Crippa Paolo , Biagetti Giorgio , Turchetti Claudio , Falaschetti Laura , Mencarelli Davide , Deligeorgis George , Pierantoni Luca
Published: November 2021

Recently, carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (CNTFETs) have attracted wide attention as promising candidates for components in the next generation of electronic devices. In particular CNTFET-based RF devices and circuits show superior performance to those built with silicon FETs since they are able to obtain higher power-gain and cut-off frequency at lower power dissipation. The aim of this paper is to present a compact, design-oriented model of CNTFETs that is able to ease the development of a complete amplifier. As a case study, the detailed design of a high-gain CNTFET-based broadband inductorless LNA is presented.
Effects of Exogenous Ethylene and Cobalt Chloride on Root Growth of Chinese Fir Seedlings under Phosphorus-Deficient Conditions
Authors: Zhang Hui , Wang Nemin , Zheng Shanshan , Chen Min , Ma Xiangqing , Wu Pengfei
Published: November 2021

Studying the effects of different concentrations of ethephon on morphological and physiological changes in the roots of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata Lamb. Hook.) seedlings under P deficiency can reveal the internal adaptive mechanisms of these plants under nutrient stress. Herein, we investigated the effects of different ethephon and cobalt chloride concentrations under normal P supply and P deficiency. A significant effect (p < 0.05) of exogenous additive application was observed on the development of Chinese fir root length, surface area, and volume. These root development indices showed maximum values when the ethephon concentration was 0.01 g kg−1 under normal P supply and P deficiency, and they were significantly different from those under 0.04 g kg−1 ethephon treatment. Similarly, the indices showed maximum values when CoCl2 concentration was 0.01 g kg−1 under P deficiency and was significantly different (p < 0.01) from those under 0.2 g kg−1 CoCl2 treatment. Under normal P supply, an increase in ethephon concentration caused superoxide dismutase (SOD; E.C. 1.15.1.1) activity to decrease and peroxidase (POD; E.C. 1.11.1.X) activity to increase gradually. Conversely, CoCl2 addition (0.01 g kg−1) promoted SOD and POD activities under P deficiency. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in malondialdehyde content of seedlings among ethephon or CoCl2 treatments. In conclusion, ethylene plays a significant role in adaptative mechanisms underlying stress resistance in plants, prompting them to respond to P starvation and improving seedlings’ tolerance to P-deficient conditions.
Fermentation of Dairy-Relevant Sugars by Saccharomyces, Kluyveromyces, and Brettanomyces: An Exploratory Study with Implications for the Utilization of Acid Whey, Part I
Authors: Rivera Flores Viviana K. , DeMarsh Timothy A. , Gibney Patrick A. , Alcaine Samuel D.
Published: November 2021

Acid whey from Greek-style yogurt (YAW) is an underutilized byproduct and a challenge for the dairy industry. One alternative is the fermentation of YAW by yeasts such as Saccharomyces, Brettanomyces, and Kluyveromyces spp., to produce new styles of fermented beverages. Previous research in our group suggested that the sugar profiles of the dairy coproducts impacted the fermentation profiles produced by B. claussenii. The present work aims to describe the fermentation of dairy sugars by S. cerevisiae, K. marxianus, and B. claussenii, under conditions comparable to those of YAW. For this purpose, four preparations of yeast nitrogen base, each containing 40 g/L of either lactose (LAC), glucose (GLU), galactose (GAL), or a 1:1 mixture of glucose and galactose (GLU:GAL), all at pH 4.20, were used as fermentation media. The fermentation was performed independently by each organism at 25 °C under anoxic conditions, while density, pH, cell count, ethanol, and organic acids were monitored. Non-linear modeling was used to characterize density curves, and Analysis of Variance and Tukey’s Honest Significant Difference tests were used to compare fermentation products. K. marxianus and S. cerevisiae displayed rapid sugar consumption with consistent ethanol yields in all media, as opposed to B. claussenii, which showed more variable results. The latter organism exhibited what appears to be a selective glucose fermentation in GLU:GAL, which will be explored in the future. These results provide a deeper understanding of dairy sugar utilization by relevant yeasts, allowing for future work to optimize fermentations to improve value-added beverage and ingredient production from YAW.
Value-Added Products from Ethanol Fermentation—A Review
Authors: Tse Timothy J. , Wiens Daniel J. , Chicilo Farley , Purdy Sarah K. , Reaney Martin J. T.
Published: November 2021

Global demand for renewable and sustainable energy is increasing, and one of the most common biofuels is ethanol. Most ethanol is produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) fermentation of either crops rich in sucrose (e.g., sugar cane and sugar beet) or starch-rich crops (e.g., corn and starchy grains). Ethanol produced from these sources is termed a first-generation biofuel. Yeast fermentation can yield a range of additional valuable co-products that accumulate during primary fermentation (e.g., protein concentrates, water soluble metabolites, fusel alcohols, and industrial enzymes). Distillers’ solubles is a liquid co-product that can be used in animal feed or as a resource for recovery of valuable materials. In some processes it is preferred that this fraction is modified by a second fermentation with another fermentation organism (e.g., lactic acid bacteria). Such two stage fermentations can produce valuable compounds, such as 1,3-propanediol, organic acids, and bacteriocins. The use of lactic acid bacteria can also lead to the aggregation of stillage proteins and enable protein aggregation into concentrates. Once concentrated, the protein has utility as a high-protein feed ingredient. After separation of protein concentrates the remaining solution is a potential source of several known small molecules. The purpose of this review is to provide policy makers, bioethanol producers, and researchers insight into additional added-value products that can be recovered from ethanol beers. Novel products may be isolated during or after distillation. The ability to isolate and purify these compounds can provide substantial additional revenue for biofuel manufacturers through the development of marketable co-products.
MFCNet: Mining Features Context Network for RGB–IR Person Re-Identification
Authors: Mei Jing , Xu Huahu , Li Yang , Bian Minjie , Huang Yuzhe
Published: November 2021

RGB–IR cross modality person re-identification (RGB–IR Re-ID) is an important task for video surveillance in poorly illuminated or dark environments. In addition to the common challenge of Re-ID, the large cross-modality variations between RGB and IR images must be considered. The existing RGB–IR Re-ID methods use different network structures to learn the global shared features associated with multi-modalities. However, most global shared feature learning methods are sensitive to background clutter, and contextual feature relationships are not considered among the mined features. To solve these problems, this paper proposes a dual-path attention network architecture MFCNet. SGA (Spatial-Global Attention) module embedded in MFCNet includes spatial attention and global attention branches to mine discriminative features. First, the SGA module proposed in this paper focuses on the key parts of the input image to obtain robust features. Next, the module mines the contextual relationships among features to obtain discriminative features and improve network performance. Finally, extensive experiments demonstrate that the performance of the network architecture proposed in this paper is better than that of state-of-the-art methods under various settings. In the all-search mode of the SYSU and RegDB data sets, the rank-1 accuracy reaches 51.64% and 69.76%, respectively.
Determination of Levamisole and Mebendazole and Its Two Metabolite Residues in Three Poultry Species by HPLC-MS/MS
Authors: Gao Pengfei , Zhang Peiyang , Guo Yawen , He Zhaoyuan , Dong Yuhao , Tang Yayun , Guan Fanxun , Zhang Tao , Xie Kaizhou
Published: November 2021

A high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method was developed to simultaneously analyze levamisole (LMS) and mebendazole (MBZ) and its two metabolites, 5-hydroxymebendazole (HMBZ) and 2-amino-5-benzoylbenzimidazole (AMBZ), in poultry muscle (chicken, duck and goose). In the sample preparation process, basic ethyl acetate was used as the extraction agent, and the extracted samples were back-extracted with hydrochloric acid, purified by Oasis MCX solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges, and reconstituted in the initial mobile phase after being blown dry with nitrogen. Chromatographic separation was performed on an Xbridge C18 column (4.6 mm × 150 mm, 5 μm) with 0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile as the mobile phases, and gradient elution was performed at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min and a column temperature of 35 °C. In blank poultry muscle samples, the spiked concentrations of LMS, MBZ, HMBZ, and AMBZ were within the range of the limit of quantitation (LOQ) to 25 μg/kg. The peak areas of the four target drugs had a good linear relationship with the concentration, and the determination coefficient (R2) values were higher than 0.9990. The average recoveries of LMS, MBZ, HMBZ, and AMBZ were 86.77–96.94%; the intraday relative standard deviations (RSDs) were 1.75–4.99% at LOQ, 0.5 maximum residue limit (MRL), 1.0 MRL, and 2.0 MRL; the interday RSDs were 2.54–5.52%; and the LODs and LOQs were 0.04–0.30 μg/kg and 0.12–0.80 μg/kg, respectively.
Emerging Risks in Food: Probiotic Enterococci Pose a Threat to Public Health through the Food Chain
Authors: Xu Wenjiao , Fang Yuwen , Hu Qiao , Zhu Kui
Published: November 2021

Probiotics have been associated with clinical infections, toxicity, and antimicrobial resistance transfer, raising public concerns. Probiotic enterococci are emerging food risks as opportunistic pathogens, yet little attention has been paid to them. Herein, we collected 88 enterococcal isolates from probiotic products used for humans, companion animals, livestock, and aquaculture. Results showed that all 88 probiotic enterococcal isolates harbored diverse virulence genes, multiple antimicrobial resistance genes, and mobile genetic elements. Notably, 77 isolates were highly resistant to gentamicin. Representative enterococcal isolates exerted toxic activities in both in vitro and in vivo models. Collectively, our findings suggest that probiotic enterococci may be harmful to hosts and pose a potential threat to public health.
Global Food Security under COVID-19: Comparison and Enlightenment of Policy Responses in Different Countries
Authors: Jiang Xiaoyu , Chen Yangfen , Wang Jieyong
Published: November 2021

(1) Background: COVID-19 has exacerbated global food security risks, and the global food supply chain, especially in developing countries, has become more vulnerable. (2) Methods: In this paper, we discussed the current security of global food, response measures, and potential impacts, and analyzed the characteristics and evolution of food security policies in four representative countries: China, Italy, Malawi, Argentina. (3) Results: The results showed that most countries give priority to ensuring food access. Most underdeveloped countries adopt humanitarian intervention measures such as food distribution and transfer payments, while developed countries tend to implement development intervention policies such as supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises and guaranteeing employment. (4) Conclusions: Despite the ample global supply, developing countries still face long-term food security risks, highlighting the importance of strengthening global food security governance and risk management. Finally, a food security risk response policy framework was built to provide suggestions for effectively handling COVID-19 and similar public health emergencies in the future.
Pharmacokinetics and Excretion Study of Lycium barbarum Polysaccharides in Rats by FITC-Fluorescence Labeling
Authors: Xia Hui , Yang Chao , Zhou Beijia , Tang Huali , Yang Ligang , Liao Wang , Sun Guiju
Published: November 2021

A high-performance gel permeation chromatography fluorescence detection (HPGPC-FD) method combined with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labeling was established for the microanalysis of L. barbarum polysaccharides (LBP). The calibration curves linear over the range of 0.2–20 µg/mL in rat plasma, and 0.25–500 μg/mL in urine and feces samples with correlation coefficients greater than 0.99. The inter-day and intra-day precisions (RSD, %) of the method were under 15% with the relative recovery ranging from 84.6% to 104.0% and the RSD ranging from 0.47% to 7.28%. The concentration–time curve of LBP-FITC in plasma following intragastric administration at 100, 50 and 25 mg/kg well fitted to a nonlinear model. LBP-FITC slowly eliminated from plasma according to the long half-lives (t1/2 = 31.39, 38.09, and 45.76 h, respectively) and mean retention times (MRT0–t = 18.38, 19.15 and 20.07 h, respectively; AUC0–∞ = 230.49, 236.18 and 242.57 h, respectively) after administration of LBP-FITC at doses of 100, 50, and 25 mg/kg, respectively. After intragastric administration at 50 mg/kg for 72 h, the concentration of LBP-FITC in urine and feces was 0.09 ± 0.04% and 92.18 ± 3.61% respectively; the excretion rate of urine was the highest in 0–4 h period and decreased continuously in 4–24 h period. The excretion rate of feces was the highest in 4–10 h, 48.28 ± 9.349% in feces within 4–10 h, and decreased rapidly in 10–24 h. The present study showed that LBP was absorbed as its prototype and most proportion of LBP was excreted from feces, indicating a long time remaining in intestine.
Asymptotics of Karhunen–Loève Eigenvalues for Sub-Fractional Brownian Motion and Its Application
Authors: Cai Chun-Hao , Hu Jun-Qi , Wang Ying-Li
Published: November 2021

In the present paper, the Karhunen–Loève eigenvalues for a sub-fractional Brownian motion are considered. Rigorous large n asymptotics for those eigenvalues are shown, based on the functional analysis method. By virtue of these asymptotics, along with some standard large deviations results, asymptotical estimates for the small L2-ball probabilities for a sub-fractional Brownian motion are derived. Asymptotic analysis on the Karhunen–Loève eigenvalues for the corresponding “derivative” process is also established.
Genetic and Bioinformatic Strategies to Improve Diagnosis in Three Inherited Bleeding Disorders in Bogotá, Colombia
Authors: Lago Juliana , Groot Helena , Navas Diego , Lago Paula , Gamboa María , Calderón Dayana , Polanía-Villanueva Diana C.
Published: November 2021

Inherited bleeding disorders (IBDs) are the most frequent congenital diseases in the Colombian population; three of them are hemophilia A (HA), hemophilia B (HB), and von Willebrand Disease (VWD). Currently, diagnosis relies on multiple clinical laboratory assays to assign a phenotype. Due to the lack of accessibility to these tests, patients can receive an incomplete diagnosis. In these cases, genetic studies reinforce the clinical diagnosis. The present study characterized the molecular genetic basis of 11 HA, three HB, and five VWD patients by sequencing the F8, F9, or the VWF gene. Twelve variations were found in HA patients, four in HB patients, and 19 in WVD patients. From these variations a total of 25 novel variations were found. Disease-causing variations were used as positive controls for validation of the high-resolution melting (HRM) variant-scanning technique. This approach is a low-cost genetic diagnostic method proposed to be incorporated in developing countries. For the data analysis, we developed an accessible open-source code in Python that improves HRM data analysis with better sensitivity of 95% and without bias when using different HRM equipment and software. Analysis of amplicons with a length greater than 300 bp can be performed by implementing an analysis by denaturation domains.
PCNA Loaders and Unloaders—One Ring That Rules Them All
Authors: Arbel Matan , Choudhary Karan , Tfilin Ofri , Kupiec Martin
Published: November 2021

During each cell duplication, the entirety of the genomic DNA in every cell must be accurately and quickly copied. Given the short time available for the chore, the requirement of many proteins, and the daunting amount of DNA present, DNA replication poses a serious challenge to the cell. A high level of coordination between polymerases and other DNA and chromatin-interacting proteins is vital to complete this task. One of the most important proteins for maintaining such coordination is PCNA. PCNA is a multitasking protein that forms a homotrimeric ring that encircles the DNA. It serves as a processivity factor for DNA polymerases and acts as a landing platform for different proteins interacting with DNA and chromatin. Therefore, PCNA is a signaling hub that influences the rate and accuracy of DNA replication, regulates DNA damage repair, controls chromatin formation during the replication, and the proper segregation of the sister chromatids. With so many essential roles, PCNA recruitment and turnover on the chromatin is of utmost importance. Three different, conserved protein complexes are in charge of loading/unloading PCNA onto DNA. Replication factor C (RFC) is the canonical complex in charge of loading PCNA during the S-phase. The Ctf18 and Elg1 (ATAD5 in mammalian) proteins form complexes similar to RFC, with particular functions in the cell’s nucleus. Here we summarize our current knowledge about the roles of these important factors in yeast and mammals.
Circulatory Endothelin 1-Regulating RNAs Panel: Promising Biomarkers for Non-Invasive NAFLD/NASH Diagnosis and Stratification: Clinical and Molecular Pilot Study
Authors: Albadawy Reda , Agwa Sara H. A. , Khairy Eman , Saad Maha , El Touchy Naglaa , Othman Mohamed , El Kassas Mohamed , Matboli Marwa
Published: November 2021

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the major seeds of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. There is no convenient reliable non-invasive early diagnostic tool available for NAFLD/NASH diagnosis and stratification. Recently, the role of cytosolic sensor, stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway in pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has been evidenced in research. We have selected EDN1/TNF/MAPK3/EP300/hsa-miR-6888-5p/lncRNA RABGAP1L-DT-206 RNA panel from bioinformatics microarrays databases related to STING pathway and NAFLD/NASH pathogenesis. We have used reverse-transcriptase real-time polymerase chain reaction to assess the expression of the serum RNAs panel in NAFLD/NASH without suspicion of advanced fibrosis, NAFLD/with NASH patients with suspicion of advanced fibrosis and controls. Additionally, we have assessed the diagnostic performance of the Ribonucleic acid (RNA) panel. We have detected upregulation of the EDN1 regulating RNAs panel expression in NAFLD/NASH cases compared to healthy controls. We concluded that this circulatory RNA panel could enable us to discriminate NAFLD/NASH cases from controls, and also NAFLD/NASH cases (F1, F2) from advanced fibrosis stages (F3, F4).