bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Morphological Peculiarities of the Pelvic Autonomic Nervous System and Their Impact on Clinical Interventions in the Lesser Pelvic Region
Authors: Kuruc Roman , Szórádová Andrea , Kristová Jarmila , Solárová Martina , Šidlo Jozef , Matejčík Viktor
Published: December 2022

Background: The aim of the work is to define the morphological peculiarities of the pelvic autonomic nervous system (ANS) and their importance in the clinical and surgical interventions in the lesser pelvis. Material and methods: Anatomical variations in the formation of the pelvic ANS were observed in 20 cadavers. The study included 17 men (85%), aged 18 to 84, and 3 women, aged 27 to 86. The average age was 53.8 years. The subjects most often died by violent death in car accidents, by asphyxia, or by sudden death. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Health Care Surveillance Authority, Bratislava, Slovakia. We studied cadavers without congenital or detected anomalies, cancer, deformities of the body, or spinal or abdominal surgeries within 24 h of death. We observed a relationship between the dimensions and the number of ganglia, as well as the number and course of nerve branches and anastomoses. In the pelvic area, we observed the hypogastric plexus superior, hypogastric plexus inferior, and the truncus sympathicus. In all cadavers, we clarified the lumbosacral plexuses after evisceration. In the lumbosacral region, the roots were defined based on their participation in the formation of the plexuses. To show the intimate relationship between both systems, we also focused on the details of the structure (rami communicantes) related to the connections of the ANS with the spinal nervous system. Results: Anatomical variations in the formation of the pelvic ANS were observed in all cases. We included cases with more than two truncus sympathicus ganglia as the segmental type. The segmental form occurred in 14 (70%) cases, and was concentrated in 6 (30%) cases. Rami communicantes provided anastomoses to the spinal nerves. Small ganglia were observed on the rami communicantes. With the concentrated type, we observed the division of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. With the segmental and concentrated forms, symptoms of the “diffuse form” may occur, which we observed in all cases. We observed significant right-left asymmetry and differences in the formation of ganglia and anastomoses. Conclusions: This study allowed us to identify and describe the morphological peculiarities of the pelvic ANS and their possible influence on the clinical picture. Asymmetry and dependence of their occurrence on the type of ANS was observed. The variations were frequent. Their preoperative diagnosis is difficult to impossible. The absence or lack of intraoperative vigilance can lead to the damage of pelvic ANS during operations and blockades of the pelvic plexus. The acquired knowledge can be helpful in clarifying clinical signs and symptoms of these conditions.
Evaluation of Membrane Fouling Control for Brackish Water Treatment Using a Modified Polyamide Composite Nanofiltration Membrane
Authors: Guo Xuebai , Liu Cuixia , Feng Bin , Hao Yuanfeng
Published: December 2022

In northwest China, the limited amount of water resources are classified mostly as brackish water. Nanofiltration is a widely applied desalination technology used for brackish water treatment; however, membrane fouling restricts its application. Herein, we modified the membrane with triethanolamine (TEOA) and optimized the operating conditions (transmembrane pressure, temperature, and crossflow velocity) to control the nanofiltration membrane fouling by brackish water. Based on the physiochemical characteristics and desalination performance of the prepared membranes, the membrane modified with 2% TEOA (MPCM2) was identified as the optimal membrane, and 0.5 MPa, 25 °C, and 7 cm/s were identified as the optimal operating conditions through a series of nanofiltration experiments. Moreover, the membrane cleaning procedure for fouled MPCM2 was further determined, and a two-step cleaning procedure using ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid disodium followed by HCl with a permeance recovery rate of 98.77% was identified as the optimal cleaning procedure. Furthermore, the characterizations of the fouled and cleaned MPCM2 showed that the optimized cleaning procedure could recover the properties of MPCM2 to near virgin. This study is of great significance for the long-term stable operation of nanofiltration processes in brackish water treatment to ensure the supply of healthy water in the water-deficient areas of northwest China.
Delayed Solvent–Nonsolvent Demixing Preparation and Performance of a Highly Permeable Polyethersulfone Ultrafiltration Membrane
Authors: Tshindane Pfano , Mamba Bhekie B. , Motsa Machawe M. , Nkambule Thabo T. I.
Published: December 2022

Membrane performance optimization is a critical preparation step that ensures optimum separation and fouling resistance. Several studies have employed additives such as carbon and inorganic nanomaterials to optimize membrane performance. These particles provide excellent results but are rather costly, unstable and toxic to several biological organs. This study demonstrated that performance enhancement can also be achieved through delayed solvent–nonsolvent demixing during phase inversion membrane preparation. The rate of solvent–nonsolvent demixing was delayed by increasing the concentration of the solvent in the coagulation bath. This study employed synthetic and real water samples and several analytical techniques to compare optimized performances and properties of membranes prepared in this study with that of nanoparticle-embedded membranes in the literature. Pure water flux and BSA rejection of the membranes prepared in this study were comparable to those of nanoparticle embedded membranes. This study also shows the influence of delayed solvent–nonsolvent demixing on membrane properties such as morphology, wettability, surface roughness and porosity, thereby showing the suitability of the technique in membrane optimization. Furthermore, fouling studies showed that membranes prepared in this study have high flux recovery when fouled by humic acid feed water (>95%) and above 50% flux recovery with real water samples.
Separation Mechanisms and Anti-Fouling Properties of a Microporous Polyvinylidene Fluoride–Polyacrylic Acid–Graphene Oxide (PVDF-PAA-GO) Composite Membrane with Salt and Protein Solutions
Authors: Wang Li-Ting , Chen Yu-Han , Chang Wei-Ting , Kumar Selvaraj Rajesh , Chen Chien-Chang , Lue Shingjiang Jessie
Published: December 2022

This research demonstrates the preparation of composite membranes containing graphene oxide (GO) and investigates the separation mechanisms of various salts and bovine serum albumin (BSA) solutions. A microporous polyvinylidene fluoride–polyacrylic acid–GO (PVDF-PAA-GO) separation layer was fabricated on non-woven support. The GO-incorporating composite resulted in enlarged pore size (0.16 μm) compared with the control membrane (0.12 μm). The zeta potential of the GO composite was reduced to –31 from –19 mV. The resulting membranes with and without GO were examined for water permeability and rejection efficiency with single salt and BSA solutions. Using the non-woven/PVDF-PAA composite, the permeance values were 88–190 kg/m2hMPa, and the salt rejection coefficients were 9–28% for Na2SO4, MgCl2, MgSO4, and NaCl solutions. These salt removals were based on the Donnan exclusion mechanism considering the ion radii and membrane pore size. Incorporating GO into the separation layer exhibited limited impacts on the filtration of salt solutions, but significantly reduced BSA membrane adhesion and increased permeance. The negatively charged protein reached almost complete removal (98.4%) from the highly negatively charged GO-containing membrane. The GO additive improved the anti-fouling property of the composite membrane and enhanced BSA separation from the salt solution.
Membrane Systems for Biomedical Engineering
Authors: Granicka Ludomira H. , Piątkiewicz Wojciech
Published: December 2022

The thematic scope concerning membrane systems for biomedical engineering is very wide; it concerns new methods of designing membrane systems for biomedical and biomedical-related environmental processes [...]
The Role of Inorganic Phosphate Transporters in Highly Proliferative Cells: From Protozoan Parasites to Cancer Cells
Authors: Lacerda-Abreu Marco Antonio , Dick Claudia Fernanda , Meyer-Fernandes José Roberto
Published: December 2022

In addition to their standard inorganic phosphate (Pi) nutritional function, Pi transporters have additional roles in several cells, including Pi sensing (the so-called transceptor) and a crucial role in Pi metabolism, where they control several phenotypes, such as virulence in pathogens and tumour aggressiveness in cancer cells. Thus, intracellular Pi concentration should be tightly regulated by the fine control of intake and storage in organelles. Pi transporters are classified into two groups: the Pi transporter (PiT) family, also known as the Pi:Na+ symporter family; and the Pi:H+ symporter (PHS) family. Highly proliferative cells, such as protozoan parasites and cancer cells, rely on aerobic glycolysis to support the rapid generation of biomass, which is equated with the well-known Warburg effect in cancer cells. In protozoan parasite cells, Pi transporters are strongly associated with cell proliferation, possibly through their action as intracellular Pi suppliers for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) activity. Similarly, the growth rate hypothesis (GRH) proposes that the high Pi demands of tumours when achieving accelerated proliferation are mainly due to increased allocation to P-rich nucleic acids. The purpose of this review was to highlight recent advances in understanding the role of Pi transporters in unicellular eukaryotes and tumorigenic cells, correlating these roles with metabolism in these cells.
Erosion-Corrosion of Gathering Pipeline Steel in Oil-Water-Sand Multiphase Flow
Authors: Li Qiang , Liu Bingcheng
Published: December 2022

This work studies a series of factors influencing erosion-corrosion in oilfield gathering pipelines steel using the home-made testing pipe flow loop. Results showed that steel was corroded in oil-water flow. The corrosion rate increased with the flow velocity on the whole, and the addition of solid particles would intensify the localized corrosion. For the erosion-corrosion test added with 2 wt% quartz sand at the velocity of 2 m/s, the portion of pure corrosion and pure erosion accounted for 47.50% and 70.83%, respectively. The erosion-enhanced corrosion was 16.67% of the total weight loss, while the corrosion inhibiting the damage from erosion accounted for 35.00%, so negative synergistic effects appeared in the oil-water-sand multiphase flow conditions.
Surface Modification Techniques for Metallic Biomedical Alloys: A Concise Review
Authors: Omarov Salikh , Nauryz Nurlan , Talamona Didier , Perveen Asma
Published: December 2022

Developing biomaterials with appropriate physiochemical and mechanical properties as per the requirements set by biomedical applications remains a challenge. This challenge has pushed research in the direction of biomaterials development and the surface modification of existing materials that could be useful for biomedical applications. Keeping this demand in focus, this paper intends to conduct an in-depth review, which includes, first, the requirements of biomedical surfaces associated with the growth of cells on biomedical alloys, such as the bone formation, adhesion, increased wear resistance and biofilm formation; second, possible biomaterials candidates for such applications; and third, possible surface modification techniques. Both subtractive and additive methods of surface modification are discussed, along with their pros and cons. Hence, this study gives an excellent compendium of scientific works conducted on surface modification techniques and the development of biocompatible surface alloys, along with research trends.
Regeneration of Pancreatic β-Cells for Diabetes Therapeutics by Natural DYRK1A Inhibitors
Authors: Guo Yichuan , Li Lingqiao , Yao Yuanfa , Li Hanbing
Published: December 2022

The pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus is characterized by insulin resistance and islet β-cell dysfunction. Up to now, the focus of diabetes treatment has been to control blood glucose to prevent diabetic complications. There is an urgent need to develop a therapeutic approach to restore the mass and function of β-cells. Although exogenous islet cell transplantation has been used to help patients control blood glucose, it is costly and has very narrow application scenario. So far, small molecules have been reported to stimulate β-cell proliferation and expand β-cell mass, increasing insulin secretion. Dual-specificity tyrosine-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) inhibitors can induce human β-cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo, and show great potential in the field of diabetes therapeutics. From this perspective, we elaborated on the mechanism by which DYRK1A inhibitors regulate the proliferation of pancreatic β-cells, and summarized several effective natural DYRK1A inhibitors, hoping to provide clues for subsequent structural optimization and drug development in the future.
High-Frequency Rheological and Piezo-Voltage Waveform Characterization of Inkjet-Printed Polymer-Based Dopant-Source Inks
Authors: Hussain Zulkifl , Kiaee Zohreh , Nazarzadeh Milad , Reichel Christian , Tepner Sebastian , Tuladhar Tri , Jahn Mike , Keding Roman
Published: December 2022

This work focuses on developing an understanding of the rheological properties of polymer-based dopant-source inks at the timescales relevant to inkjet printing and their corresponding roles in determining the production of defect-free droplets. Ink-specific optimization of printing processes for phosphorus and boron dopant-source inks with different compositions is demonstrated. Rheological flow curves measured by a piezo axial vibrator (PAV) were used to study the changes in complex viscosity (η*) and in the elastic (G′) and viscous (G″) components of the shear modulus (G*) with respect to changes in frequency (from fmin = 1 kHz to fmax = 10 kHz) to obtain an insight into the high-frequency behaviour of inks, as well as the effects of temperature (25 °C and 45 °C) and the natural aging time of the inks. Inks demonstrating complex viscosity η*min ≥ 2 mPas to η*max ≤ 20 mPas and an elastic modulus G′ ≤ 20 Pa, produced droplets with negligible defects. Of the three rheological parameters (η*, G′ and G″), the elastic component (G′) of the shear modulus was observed to have the greatest significance in determining the stability and homogeneity of ink droplets, thus dictating the quality of the printed structures. The reliability and stability of droplet formation were further investigated through voltage waveform simulation using an oscilloscope.
Heat-Killed Tobacco Mosaic Virus Mitigates Plant Abiotic Stress Symptoms
Authors: Augustine Sruthy Maria , Tzigos Stavros , Snowdon Rod
Published: December 2022

Since the discovery of the tobacco mosaic virus in the 1890s, awareness has grown in regard to how viruses affect the environment. Viral infections are now known to cause various effects besides pathogenicity, with some viruses in fact having a beneficial impact on plants. Although research has focused on disease-causing viruses that can infect plants, many wild plants are also infected with non-pathogenic viral agents. Traditionally, abiotic, and biotic stresses have been studied as isolated stimuli that trigger signaling pathways within the plant. However, both biotic and abiotic stress can trigger complex molecular interactions within plants, which in turn drive interconnected response pathways. Here, we demonstrate that heat-killed tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) can increase abiotic stress tolerance in plants, an effect that could potentially be implemented in challenging growth environments. To our knowledge, this is the first report of plant abiotic stress tolerance following treatment with heat-killed viral particles.
The Influence of Hydrodynamic Conditions in a Laboratory-Scale Bioreactor on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Metabolite Production
Authors: Konopacki Maciej , Jabłońska Joanna , Dubrowska Kamila , Augustyniak Adrian , Grygorcewicz Bartłomiej , Gliźniewicz Marta , Wróblewski Emil , Kordas Marian , Dołęgowska Barbara , Rakoczy Rafał
Published: December 2022

Hydrodynamic conditions are critical in bioprocessing because they influence oxygen availability for cultured cells. Processes in typical laboratory bioreactors need optimization of these conditions using mixing and aeration control to obtain high production of the desired bioproduct. It could be done by experiments supported by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling. In this work, we characterized parameters such as mixing time, power consumption and mass transfer in a 2 L bioreactor. Based on the obtained results, we chose a set of nine process parameters to test the hydrodynamic impact on a selected bioprocess (mixing in the range of 0–160 rpm and aeration in the range of 0–250 ccm). Therefore, we conducted experiments with P. aeruginosa culture and assessed how various hydrodynamic conditions influenced biomass, pyocyanin and rhamnolipid production. We found that a relatively high mass transfer of oxygen (kLa = 0.0013 s−1) connected with intensive mixing (160 rpm) leads to the highest output of pyocyanin production. In contrast, rhamnolipid production reached maximal efficiency under moderate oxygen mass transfer (kLa = 0.0005 s−1) and less intense mixing (in the range of 0–60 rpm). The results indicate that manipulating hydrodynamics inside the bioreactor allows control of the process and may lead to a change in the metabolites produced by bacterial cells.
Copper-Bearing Mineralisation in the Upper Devonian Limestones: A Case Study from the Historical Teresa Adit in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, Poland
Authors: Ciurej Agnieszka , Struska Monika , Wolska Anna , Szczerba Marek , Olszak Janusz
Published: December 2022

The studied copper ore deposit is located in Miedzianka Mountain (Świętokrzyskie Mountains, central Poland). This deposit was exploited from the 13th century to the 1950s; therefore numerous historical adits are currently present. One of these is Teresa adit (established in 1805), consisting of underground mining corridors and natural cave developed in the Upper Devonian limestones, partially transformed by mining works. Samples of copper- and rock-forming minerals in limestones collected at seven sites within the richest copper-bearing mineralisation in this adit were studied with petrographic investigation of thin sections, micro-area chemical analysis (EDS), and XRD. This study shows the presence of various minerals: (a) Cu-Fe sulphides (relics of chalcopyrite) and Cu sulphides (covellite, chalcocite), (b) Cu-Fe oxides (cuprite and hematite), (c) Ca and Cu carbonates (calcite, azurite, and malachite), (d) clay minerals (Fe-Mg illite), and (e) micro-crystalline silica (quartz). For the first time in the studied deposit, we described chalcopyrite relics in cuprite pseudomorphosis, hematite with admixture of vanadium in pinkish-creme veins in limestones, and the presence of an admixture of Fe-Mg illite and microcystaline silica within cracks of limestones. In addition, for the first time, unit cell parameters of malachite and azurite from Miedzianka Mountain were determined, indicating very low substitutions of atoms other than Cu in their structures. We suppose that the minerals studied were formed during three types of copper mineralisation processes: (a) hydrothermal (relics of chalcopyrite), (b) secondary weathering (chalcocite, covellite, cuprite, hematite), and (c) adsorptive mineralisation (azurite, malachite). The latter stage is related to residuum, which consists of a mixture of Fe-Mg illite and micro-crystalline quartz, which was formed during the dissolution of limestones in karst processes in some crevices. We proposed a model of the formation of copper carbonates in the adsorption stage of the copper-bearing mineralisation in Miedzianka Mountain deposits. Two generations of calcite veins (older—red calcite and younger—crème-pinkish calcite) were also detected. Mineralogical–petrographical studies of samples revealed a high scientific and educational value. Due to the fact that the Teresa adit is planned to be made available to geotourists, this work is worth presenting to the public either in the adit and/or in a local museum in Miedzianka village.
Environmental Impact Assessment of the Subsurface in a Former W-Sn Mine: Integration of Geophysical Methodologies
Authors: Almeida Hender , Gomes Marques Maria , Sant’Ovaia Helena , Moura Rui , Espinha Marques Jorge
Published: December 2022

Associated with the exploitation of metallic minerals in Europe during the 20th century, several mining areas were abandoned without adequate environmental intervention. Furthermore, these areas lack studies to characterize the impact of pollution on the hydrogeological system. The area surrounding the tungsten mine of Regoufe, in northern Portugal, is one such area exploited during the Second World War. The accumulation of sulfide-rich tailings may have caused an acid mine drainage (AMD), where the leaching processes caused by seepage water led to soil contamination, evidenced by its acid character and anomalous concentrations of some Potentially Toxic Elements (PTE) reported in previous studies. The present research proposes an innovative approach that seeks the integration of different geophysical techniques to characterize the impact of mining activity on the subsurface. Electrical resistivity (ER) and electromagnetic (EM) were used to measure subsurface electrical properties. In addition, seismic refraction and Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) were performed to characterize the geometry, depth, and geomechanical behavior of the soil and rock bodies. The integration of these techniques allowed the interpretation of hydrogeological sections and a 3D resistivity volume to gain insight into the distribution of potentially contaminating fluids and tailings material present in the mining valley.
Embedding Group VIII Elements into a 2D Rigid pc-C3N2 Monolayer to Achieve Single-Atom Catalysts with Excellent OER Activity: A DFT Theoretical Study
Authors: Wang Qingxian , Yang E , Liu Ran , Lv Mingyue , Zhang Wei , Yu Guangtao , Chen Wei
Published: December 2022

Under DFT calculations, a systematic investigation is carried out to explore the structures and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalytic activities of a series of 2D single-atom catalyst (SAC) systems, which are constructed by doping the transition metal (TM) atoms in group VIII into the cavities of rigid phthalocyanine carbide (pc-C3N2). We can find that when Co, Rh, Ir and Ru atoms are doped in the small or large cavities of a pc-C3N2 monolayer, they can be used as high-activity centers of OER. All these four new TM@C3N2 nanostructures can exhibit very low overpotential values in the range of 0.33~0.48 V, even smaller than the state-of-the-art IrO2 (0.56 V), which indicates considerably high OER catalytic activity. In particular, the Rh@C3N2 system can show the best OER performance, given that doped Rh atoms can uniformly serve as high-OER-active centers, regardless of the size of cavity. In addition, a detailed mechanism analysis was carried out. It is found that in these doped pc-C3N2 systems, the number of outer electrons, the periodic number of doped TM atoms and the size of the embedded cavity can be considered the key factors affecting the OER catalytic activity, and excellent OER catalytic performance can be achieved through their effective cooperation. These fascinating findings can be advantageous for realizing low-cost and high-performance SAC catalysts for OER in the near future.
Isolation of Various Flavonoids with TRAIL Resistance-Overcoming Activity from Blumea lacera
Authors: Manome Teruhisa , Hara Yasumasa , Ishibashi Masami
Published: December 2022

Eighteen compounds, including fourteen flavonoids (1–14), one steroid (15), two fatty acids (16,17), and one nitrogen-containing compound (18), were isolated from the methanol extract of the whole Blumea lacera plant collected in Thailand. Compounds 1–11 and 15–17 exhibited tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) resistance-overcoming activity. Among them, bonanzin (2) and cirsilineol (7) had particularly strong TRAIL resistance-overcoming activity, where the IC50 values against the human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line AGS in the presence of TRAIL (100 ng/mL) were 10.7 μM and 5.9 μM, respectively.
Dimerization/Elimination of β-Styrylmalonates under Action of TiCl4
Authors: Borisov D. D. , Chermashentsev G. R. , Potapov K. V. , Novikov R. A. , Tomilov Yu. V.
Published: December 2022

A new type of dimerization of dimethyl (β-styryl)malonates in the presence of TiCl4 accompanied by elimination of a methanol molecule was discovered. Selective methods for the synthesis of substituted trimethyl 4-hydroxy-[1,1′-biaryl]-3,3,5(2H)-tricarboxylates and trimethyl 7-hydroxy-9,10-dihydro-5,9-methanobenzo[8]annulene-6,8,8(5H)-tricarboxylates were developed. The regularities of the occurring processes were determined and a similar reaction of β-styrylmalonate with benzylidenemalonate in the presence of TiCl4 was performed in the scope of the suggested mechanism.
Sustainable Preparation of Graphene Quantum Dots for Metal Ion Sensing Application
Authors: Saud Asif , Saleem Haleema , Munira Nazmin , Shahab Arqam Azad , Rahman Siddiqui Hammadur , Zaidi Syed Javaid
Published: December 2022

Over the past several years, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have been extensively studied in water treatment and sensing applications because of their exceptional structure-related properties, intrinsic inert carbon property, eco-friendly nature, etc. This work reported on the preparation of GQDs from the ethanolic extracts of eucalyptus tree leaves by a hydrothermal treatment technique. Different heat treatment times and temperatures were used during the hydrothermal treatment technique. The optical, morphological, and compositional analyses of the green-synthesized GQDs were carried out. It can be noted that the product yield of GQDs showed the maximum yield at a reaction temperature of 300 °C. Further, it was noted that at a treatment period of 480 min, the greatest product yield of about 44.34% was attained. The quantum yields of prepared GQDs obtained after 480 min of treatment at 300 °C (named as GQD/300) were noted to be 0.069. Moreover, the D/G ratio of GQD/300 was noted to be 0.532 and this suggested that the GQD/300 developed has a nano-crystalline graphite structure. The TEM images demonstrated the development of GQD/300 with sizes between 2.0 to 5.0 nm. Furthermore, it was noted that the GQD/300 can detect Fe3+ in a very selective manner, and hence the developed GQD/300 was successfully used for the metal ion sensing application.
The Cytotoxic Effectiveness of Thiourea-Reduced Graphene Oxide on Human Lung Cancer Cells and Fungi
Authors: Vimalanathan Babu , Vijaya J. Judith , Mary B. Carmel Jeeva , Mary Ruby Nirmala , Km Mohamed , Jayavel Ramasamy , Abumousa Rasha A. , Bououdina Mohamed
Published: December 2022

This study demonstrated the effective reduction of graphene oxide (GO) by employing thiourea as a reducing and stabilizing agent. Two fungi (Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus) were used for anti-fungal assay. Cell viability, cell cycle analysis, DNA fragmentation, and cell morphology were assessed to determine the toxicity of thiourea-reduced graphene oxide (T-rGO) on human lung cancer cells. The results revealed that GO and T-rGO were hazardous to cells in a dose-dependent trend. The viability of both A. fumigatus and A. flavus was affected by GO and T-rGO. The reactive oxygen species produced by T-rGO caused the death of A. flavus and A. fumigatus cells. This study highlighted the effectiveness of T-rGO as an antifungal agent. In addition, T-rGO was found to be more harmful to cancer cells than GO. Thus, T-rGO manifested great potential in biological and biomedical applications.
Poly(caffeic acid) Redox Couple Decorated on Electrochemically Reduced Graphene Oxide for Electrocatalytic Sensing Free Chlorine in Drinking Water
Authors: Kesavan Srinivasan , Kumar Deivasigamani Ranjith , Dhakal Ganesh , Kim Woo Kyoung , Lee Yong Rok , Shim Jae-Jin
Published: December 2022

Regular water quality measurements are essential to the public water supply. Moreover, selective free chlorine (disinfectant) level monitoring without an interfering agent is necessary. The present work aimed to fabricate poly(caffeic acid) (p-CFA) coated on an electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) surface for the selective detection of free chlorine. Electron microscopy and various spectroscopic techniques confirmed the p-CFA@ERGO/glassy carbon (GC) electrode. The p-CFA@ERGO/GC coated probe surface coverage was calculated to be 4.75 × 10−11 mol cm−2. The p-CFA@ERGO/GC showed superior catechol/o-quinone oxidation/reduction peaks for electrocatalytic free chlorine determination. The performance of the developed sensor electrode was outstanding, with an extensive range of free chlorine detection (20 μM to 20 mM), high sensitivity (0.0361 µA µM−1), and low detection limit (0.03 µM). The p-CFA@ERGO/GC capability of the realist water samples, such as the tested commercial and tap water, yielded a good range of recovery (from 98.5% to 99.9%). These values align with the standard N,N′-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine reagent method results.
Chronic Low or High Nutrient Intake and Myokine Levels
Authors: Sierra Ana Paula Renno , Fontes-Junior Antônio Alves , Paz Inês Assis , de Sousa Cesar Augustus Zocoler , Manoel Leticia Aparecida da Silva , Menezes Duane Cardoso de , Rocha Vinicius Alves , Barbeiro Hermes Vieira , Souza Heraldo Possolo de , Cury-Boaventura Maria Fernanda
Published: December 2022

Inadequate nutrient availability has been demonstrated to be one of the main factors related to endocrine and metabolic dysfunction. We investigated the role of inadequate nutrient intakes in the myokine levels of runners. Sixty-one amateur runners participated in this study. The myokine levels were determined using the Human Magnetic Bead Panel from plasma samples collected before and after the marathon. Dietary intake was determined using a prospective method of three food records. The runners with lower carbohydrate and calcium intakes had higher percentages of fat mass (p < 0.01). The runners with a sucrose intake comprising above 10% of their energy intake and an adequate sodium intake had higher levels of BDNF (p = 0.027 and p = 0.031). After the race and in the recovery period, the runners with adequate carbohydrate intakes (g/kg) (>5 g/kg/day) had higher levels of myostatin and musclin (p < 0.05). The runners with less than 45% of carbohydrate of EI had lower levels of IL-15 (p = 0.015) and BNDF (p = 0.013). The runners with higher cholesterol intakes had lower levels of irisin (p = 0.011) and apelin (p = 0.020), and those with a low fiber intake had lower levels of irisin (p = 0.005) and BDNF (p = 0.049). The inadequate intake influenced myokine levels, which promoted cardiometabolic tissue repair and adaptations to exercise.
Compliance with the Zero Suicide Initiative by Mental Health Clinicians at a Regional Mental Health Service: Development and Testing of a Clinical Audit Tool
Authors: Porter Joanne E. , Dabkowski Elissa , Connolly Owen , Prokopiv Valerie
Published: December 2022

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the compliance of mental health clinicians in applying the Zero Suicide (ZS) approach to their clinical practice in a rural and regional health community setting. Methods: A retrospective clinical audit of six mental health teams was undertaken at a single site. A clinical audit tool was developed and validated using a six-step approach. The data was extracted and analysed via descriptive and inferential statistics and compared to a specialised mental health team, experienced with the ZS approach. Results: A total of 334 clinical records were extracted for January, April, August, November 2019 and June 2020. The clinical audit and analysis confirmed that the mental health teams are not consistently using the assessments from their training and are therefore not implementing all of these elements into their practice. This could have implications for the risk formulation and treatment for people at risk of suicide. Conclusions: The use of a validated clinical audit tool can be beneficial to establish compliance with the mental health clinicians and to determine any areas requiring further improvement. Further education and reinforcement may be required to ensure consistency with incorporating the elements of ZS into everyday clinical practice.
Evaluation of the Chagas VirClia® and Chagas TESA VirClia® for the Diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection
Authors: García-Bermejo Isabel , Arana David Molina , Zaragoza Vargas Gloria , Carrasco Fernández Blanca , García Emilia , Nieto Javier , Flores-Chávez Maria Delmans
Published: December 2022

Chagas disease (CD), caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is an important problem of public health even in regions where it is not endemic. Spain ranks second worldwide in terms of imported cases of T. cruzi infection in the chronic phase. The diagnosis in this stage is made via the detection of antibodies against T. cruzi. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of two fully automated chemiluminescence immunoassays, Chagas VirClia® (CHR), which uses a mixture of recombinant antigens, and Chagas TESA VirClia® (TESA), the first chemiluminescence assay based on excretion-secretion antigens of trypomastigotes, both designed in monotest format. A retrospective case–control study was performed using 105 well-characterized samples: 49 from patients with CD, 22 from uninfected individuals, and 32 from patients with other pathologies. Sensitivity was 98% for CHR and 92% for TESA. In contrast, the specificity in both was 100%. Cross-reactivity was observed in leishmaniasis (2/10). CHR meets the criteria to become a tool for serological screening, while TESA has the potential for confirmation and cross-reaction discrimination. The monotest format allows its application in laboratories with a small number of samples. The high specificity of both assays is useful in areas where leishmaniasis is endemic.
Design, Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Molecular Dynamics Studies of Novel Lapatinib Derivatives
Authors: Elkamhawy Ahmed , Son Seohyun , Lee Hwa Young , El-Maghrabey Mahmoud H. , Hamd Mohamed A. El , Alshammari Saud O. , Abdelhameed Abeer A. , Alshammari Qamar A. , Abdeen Ahmed , Ibrahim Samah F. , Mahdi Wael A. , Alshehri Sultan , Alnajjar Radwan , Choi Won Jun , Al-Karmalawy Ahmed A. , Lee Kyeong
Published: December 2022

Co-expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR, also known as ErbB1) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) has been identified as a diagnostic or prognostic sign in various tumors. Despite the fact that lapatinib (EGFR/HER2 dual inhibitor) has shown to be successful, many patients do not respond to it or develop resistance for a variety of reasons that are still unclear. As a result, new approaches and inhibitory small molecules are still needed for EGFR/HER2 inhibition. Herein, novel lapatinib derivatives possessing 4-anilinoquinazoline and imidazole scaffolds (6a–l) were developed and screened as EGFR/HER2 dual inhibitors. In vitro and in silico investigations revealed that compound 6j has a high affinity for the ATP-binding regions of EGFR and HER2. All of the designed candidates were predicted to not penetrate the BBB, raising the expectation for the absence of CNS side effects. At 10 µM, derivatives possessing 3-chloro-4-(pyridin-2-ylmethoxy)aniline moiety (6i–l) demonstrated outstanding ranges of percentage inhibition against EGFR (97.65–99.03%) and HER2 (87.16–96.73%). Compound 6j showed nanomolar IC50 values over both kinases (1.8 nM over EGFR and 87.8 nM over HER2). Over EGFR, compound 6j was found to be 50-fold more potent than staurosporine and 6-fold more potent than lapatinib. A kinase selectivity panel of compound 6j showed poor to weak inhibitory activity over CDK2/cyclin A, c-MET, FGFR1, KDR/VEGFR2, and P38a/MAPK14, respectively. Structure–activity relationship (SAR) that were obtained with different substitutions were justified. Additionally, molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies revealed insights into the binding mode of the target compounds. Thus, compound 6j was identified as a highly effective and dual EGFR/HER2 inhibitor worthy of further investigation.
Prevalence of Diabetes and Its Association with Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia: An Analysis from the Hellenic Familial Hypercholesterolemia Registry (HELLAS-FH)
Authors: Boutari Chrysoula , Rizos Christos V. , Doumas Michalis , Liamis George , Skoumas Ioannis , Rallidis Loukianos , Garoufi Anastasia , Kolovou Genovefa , Tziomalos Konstantinos , Skalidis Emmanouil , Kotsis Vasileios , Sfikas George , Lambadiari Vaia , Anagnostis Panagiotis , Bilianou Eleni , Anastasiou Georgia , Koutagiar Iosif , Kiouri Estela , Attilakos Achilleas , Kolovou Vana , Zacharis Evangelos , Antza Christina , Liberopoulos Evangelos
Published: December 2022

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are both associated with a high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Little is known about the prevalence of T2DM and its association with ASCVD risk in FH patients. This was a cross-sectional analysis from the Hellenic Familial Hypercholesterolemia Registry (HELLAS-FH) including adults with FH (n = 1719, mean age 51.3 ± 14.6 years). Of FH patients, 7.2% had a diagnosis of T2DM. The prevalence of ASCVD, coronary artery disease (CAD), and stroke was higher among subjects with T2DM compared with those without (55.3% vs. 23.3%, 48.8% vs. 20.7%, 8.3% vs. 2.7%, respectively, p < 0.001). When adjusted for age, systolic blood pressure, smoking, body mass index, hypertension, waist circumference, triglyceride levels, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and gender, T2DM was significantly associated with prevalent ASCVD [OR 2.0 (95% CI 1.2–3.3), p = 0.004]. FH patients with T2DM were more likely to have undergone coronary revascularization than those without (14.2% vs. 4.5% for coronary artery bypass graft, and 23.9% vs. 11.5% for percutaneous coronary intervention, p < 0.001). T2DM is associated with an increased risk for prevalent ASCVD in subjects with FH. This may have implications for risk stratification and treatment intensity in these patients.
Protein-Targeted Degradation Agents Based on Natural Products
Authors: Li Yan , Jia Yi , Wang Xiaolin , Shang Hai , Tian Yu
Published: December 2022

Natural products are an important source of drug lead compounds, and natural products with significant biological activity are constantly being discovered and used in clinical practice. At present, natural products play an important role in the targeted therapy of cancer, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, nervous system diseases, and autoimmune diseases. Meanwhile, in recent years, the rise of protein-targeted degradation technologies, such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) and molecular glues, has provided a new solution for drug resistance caused by clinical molecular-targeting drugs. It is noteworthy that natural products and their derivatives, as important components of PROTACs and molecular glues, play an important role in the development of protein-targeting drugs. Hence, this review summarized the protein-targeted degradation agents based on natural products, such as PROTACs and molecular glues. More natural products with the potential to be used in the development of PROTACs and molecular glues as targeted protein degradation agents are still being investigated.
Targeting EGFR and Monitoring Tumorigenesis of Human Lung Cancer Cells In Vitro and In Vivo Using Nanodiamond-Conjugated Specific EGFR Antibody
Authors: Lin Yu-Wei , Su Hung-Cheng , Raj Emmanuel Naveen , Liu Kuang-Kai , Chang Chien-Jen , Hsu Tzu-Chia , Cheng Po-Yun , Wang Rou-Hsin , Lai Yen-Her , Chen Chien-Hung , Lin Yen-Cheng , Chao Jui-I
Published: December 2022

Nanoprobes provide advantages for real-time monitoring of tumor markers and tumorigenesis during cancer progression and development. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a key protein that plays crucial roles for tumorigenesis and cancer therapy of lung cancers. Here, we show a carbon-based nanoprobe, nanodiamond (ND), which can be applied for targeting EGFR and monitoring tumorigenesis of human lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The optimal fluorescent intensities of ND particles were observed in the human lung cancer cells and nude mice under in vivo imaging system. The fluorescence signal of ND particles can be real-time detected in the xenografted human lung tumor formation of nude mice. Moreover, the ND-conjugated specific EGFR antibody cetuximab (Cet) can track the location and distribution of EGFR proteins of lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. ND-Cet treatment increased cellular uptake ability of nanocomposites in the EGFR-expressed cells but not in the EGFR-negative lung cancer cells. Interestingly, single ND-Cet complex can be directly observed on the protein G bead by immunoprecipitation and confocal microscopy. Besides, the EGFR proteins were transported to lysosomes for degradation. Together, this study demonstrates that ND-conjugated Cet can apply for targeting EGFR and monitoring tumorigenesis during lung cancer progression and therapy.
Intra-Cavity Raman Laser Operating at 1193 nm Based on Graded-Index Fiber
Authors: Hu Chunhua , Sun Ping
Published: December 2022

Nonlinear Raman frequency conversion is an important technical scheme to obtain special optical band lasers based on conventional ion-doped lasers. In our work, we designed an intra-cavity Raman fiber laser based on graded index fiber (GRIF) as the Raman gain medium. Based on the fundamental-frequency 1080-nanometer laser, efficient first-order and second-order Stokes Raman lasers were obtained, respectively. When the power of the fundamental-frequency 1080-nanometer laser was 33.4 W, the output power of the second-order 1193-nanometer laser was 11.39 W. The corresponding conversion efficiency was 34.1%. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a second-order Raman output based on a GRIF and intra-cavity structure. In the experiment, the spectrum-purification process with the increase in power was also observed. Our experimental results prove that the intracavity Raman-laser system based on graded index fiber with a high optical conversion efficiency has important application potential for obtaining new special-application bands.
A Microwave Photonics True-Time-Delay System Using Carrier Compensation Technique Based on Wavelength Division Multiplexing
Authors: Zhao Yiru , Wang Chaoquan , Zhao Zeping , Zhang Weijie , Liu Jianguo
Published: December 2022

A novel microwave photonic true-time-delay (TTD) system using carrier compensation technology is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Wavelength division multiplexing combines ten lasers into a single beam. We separate one channel from the laser as a compensating carrier, and the compensation carrier is combined with the time-delayed optical signals to be detected. Meanwhile, sideband signals are amplified effectively thanks to carrier-suppressed double-sideband (CS-DSB) modulation. Therefore, the power of both the central optical carriers and sidebands is guaranteed, which produces a better beat frequency result than the TTD system without carrier compensation. The simulation results confirm that the signal amplitude has an order of magnitude improvement due to the compensation. With employing the delay fibers based on multiple-fiber Bragg gratings (MFBGs), the experimental delay and response time reach 90.160 μs and 160.80 ns. The proposed technique can find applications in time-delay beamforming of phased array antennas (PAAs).
Image-Rejected Multi-Band Frequency Down-Conversion Based on Photonic Sampling
Authors: Xu Liuzhu , Peng Di , Qin Yuwen , Li Jianping , Xiang Meng , Xu Ou , Fu Songnian
Published: December 2022

An image-rejected multi-band frequency down-conversion scheme is proposed and experimentally demonstrated based on photonic sampling. The multi-band radio-frequency (RF) signals to be processed are copied into two replicas in quadrature, which are then sampled by an ultra-short optical pulse train via a polarization-multiplexed modulator. After polarization demultiplexing and detection using a pair of low-speed photodetectors, the multi-band RF signals are simultaneously down-converted to the intermediate frequency (IF) band. The image components can be suppressed by quadrature coupling the two generated IF signals via an electrical 90° hybrid coupler (HC). In the experiment, multi-band RF signals in the frequency range of 6 GHz to 39 GHz are down-converted to the IF band below 4 GHz using a local oscillator (LO) signal at 8 GHz to generate the ultra-short optical pulse train. Image rejection is achieved in the digital domain using digital signal processing to compensate for the amplitude and phase mismatch between the two IF signals and to implement quadrature coupling. In addition, through using an electrical phase shifter, an electrical attenuator, and an electrical 90° HC to achieve quadrature coupling of the two IF signals, image-rejected multi-band frequency down-conversion is also verified in the analog domain.
Potential Distribution of Cedrela odorata L. in Mexico according to Its Optimal Thermal Range for Seed Germination under Different Climate Change Scenarios
Authors: Sampayo-Maldonado Salvador , Ordoñez-Salanueva Cesar A. , Mattana Efisio , Way Michael , Castillo-Lorenzo Elena , Dávila-Aranda Patricia D. , Lira-Saade Rafael , Téllez-Valdés Oswaldo , Rodríguez-Arévalo Norma I. , Flores-Ortiz Cesar M. , Ulian Tiziana
Published: December 2022

Cedrela odorata is a native tree of economic importance, as its wood is highly demanded in the international market. In this work, the current and future distributions of C. odorata in Mexico under climate change scenarios were analyzed according to their optimal temperature ranges for seed germination. For the present distribution, 256 localities of the species’ presence were obtained from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) database and modelled with MaxEnt. For the potential distribution, the National Center for Atmospheric Research model (CCSM4) was used under conservative and drastic scenarios (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 Watts/m2, respectively) for the intermediate future (2050) and far future (2070). Potential distribution models were built from occurrence data within the optimum germination temperature range of the species. The potential distribution expanded by 5 and 7.8% in the intermediate and far future, respectively, compared with the current distribution. With the increase in temperature, adequate environmental conditions for the species distribution should be met in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato. The states of Chihuahua, Mexico, Morelos, Guerrero, and Durango presented a negative trend in potential distribution. Additionally, in the far future, the state of Chihuahua it is likely to not have adequate conditions for the presence of the species. For the prediction of the models, the precipitation variable during the driest month presented the greatest contribution. When the humidity is not limiting, the thermal climatic variables are the most important ones. Models based on its thermal niche for seed germination allowed for the identification of areas where temperature will positively affect seed germination, which will help maximize the establishment of plant populations and adaptation to different climate change scenarios.