bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alleviating Ultrafiltration Membrane Fouling Caused by Effluent Organic Matter Using Pre-Ozonation: A Perspective of EEM and Molecular Weight Distribution
Authors: Gao Kuo , Yang Hong , Liu Haichen , Dong Bingzhi
Published: April 2023

Wastewater reclamation has gradually become an important way to cope with the global water crisis. Ultrafiltration plays an imperative part as a safeguard for the aim but is often limited by membrane fouling. Effluent organic matter (EfOM) has been known to be a major foulant during ultrafiltration. Hence, the primary aim of this study was to investigate the effects of pre-ozonation on the membrane fouling caused by EfOM in secondary wastewater effluents. In addition, the physicochemical property changes of EfOM during pre-ozonation and the subsequent influence on membrane fouling were systemically investigated. The combined fouling model and the morphology of fouled membrane were adopted to scrutinize the fouling alleviation mechanism by pre-ozonation. It was found that membrane fouling by EfOM was dominated by hydraulically reversible fouling. In addition, an obvious fouling reduction was achieved by pre-ozonation with 1.0 mg O3/mg DOC. The resistance results showed that the normalized hydraulically reversible resistance was reduced by ~60%. The water quality analysis indicated that ozone degraded high molecular weight organics such as microbial metabolites and aromatic protein and medium molecular weight organics (humic acid-like) into smaller fractions and formed a looser fouling layer on the membrane surface. Furthermore, pre-ozonation made the cake layer foul towards pore blocking, thereby reducing fouling. In addition, there was a little degradation in the pollutant removal performance with pre-ozonation. The DOC removal rate decreased by more than 18%, while UV254 decreased by more than 20%.
Design of Glass Fiber-Doped High-Resistivity Hot-Pressed Permanent Magnets for Reducing Eddy Current Loss
Authors: Guo Yingjian , Zhu Minggang , Wang Ziliang , Sun Qisong , Wang Yu , Li Zhengxiao
Published: April 2023

The Nd-Fe-B hot-deformation magnet with high resistivity was successfully prepared by hot-pressing and hot-deformation of Nd-Fe-B fast-quenched powder with amorphous glass fiber. After the process optimization, the resistivity of the magnet was increased from 0.383 mΩ·cm to 7.2 mΩ·cm. Therefore, the eddy current loss of magnets can be greatly reduced. The microstructure shows that the granular glass fiber forms a continuous isolation layer during hot deformation. At the same time, the boundary of Nd-Fe-B quick-quenched the flake and glass fiber from the transition layer, which improves the binding of the two, and which can effectively prevent the spalling of the isolation layer. In addition, adding glass fiber improves the orientation of the hot deformation magnet to a certain extent. The novel design concept of insulation materials provides new insights into the development and application of rare earth permanent magnet materials.
Digital-Twin-Based Coordinated Optimal Control for Steel Continuous Casting Process
Authors: Yang Jian , Ji Zhenping , Liu Wenhong , Xie Zhi
Published: April 2023

A digital-twin-model-based optimal control system is presented for the steel continuous casting process. The system is designed for the coordinated optimization and dynamic control of secondary cooling and final electromagnetic stirring (FEMS), and involves three related parts. Firstly, a three dimensional real-time heat transfer model is established as the digital twin of the heat transfer process of continuous casting; for high accuracy, it is calibrated offline and calibrated online using measurements of the surface temperatures and shell thicknesses (only offline). Secondly, according to metallurgical rules, cooling and stirring are optimized coordinatively, based on the established digital-twin model and chaos particle swarm optimization algorithm. Thirdly, cooling and stirring are further dynamically controlled for quality stability. Finally, the system is applied in a bloom caster with model errors ≤ ±10 °C and control errors ≤ ±4 °C, which reduces the macro-segregation over grade 1.5 from 11% to 3.3%.
Research on Configuration Design Optimization and Trajectory Planning of Manipulators for Precision Machining and Inspection of Large-Curvature and Large-Area Curved Surfaces
Authors: Sun Xiangyang , He Shuai , Xu Zhenbang , Zhang Enyang , Li Yanhui
Published: April 2023

In recent years, high-quality surfaces with large areas and curvatures have been increasingly used in engineering, but the precision machining and inspection of such surfaces is a particular challenge. Surface machining equipment needs to have a large working space, high flexibility, and motion accuracy to meet the demands of micron-scale precision machining. However, meeting these requirements may result in extremely large equipment sizes. To solve this problem, an eight-degree-of-freedom redundant manipulator with one linear and seven rotational joints is designed to assist in the machining described in this paper. The configuration parameters of the manipulator are optimized by an improved multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm to ensure that the working space of the manipulator completely covers the working surface and that the size of the manipulator is small. In order to improve the smoothness and accuracy of manipulator motion on large surface areas, an improved trajectory planning strategy for a redundant manipulator is proposed. The idea of the improved strategy is to pre-process the motion path first and then use a combination of the clamping weighted least-norm method and the gradient projection method to plan the trajectory, while adding a reverse planning step to solve the singularity problem. The resulting trajectories are smoother than those planned by the general method. The feasibility and practicality of the trajectory planning strategy are verified through simulation.
Simulation and Experimental Study of a Piezoelectric Stack Energy Harvester for Railway Track Vibrations
Authors: Min Zhaowei , Hou Chengwei , Sui Guangdong , Shan Xiaobiao , Xie Tao
Published: April 2023

As one of the most important modes of transportation, the safety of running trains and railway tracks is significant. It is essential to power sensors that detect and track health in remote areas. The vibration energy of the track structure is enormous, stable, and not limited by weather factors such as the sun and wind. A new type of arch beam piezoelectric stack energy harvester for railway systems is studied in this paper. Through simulation analyses and experimental verification of the energy harvester, the influences of external resistance, load, pre-stress, and load frequency on the energy harvesting performance of the piezoelectric energy harvester are discussed. When the frequency is less than 6 Hz, the energy capture efficiency is greatly affected by the frequency. When the frequency exceeds 6 Hz, the frequency has little effect and the load dramatically affects the energy capture efficiency. The pre-stress has little effect on the energy capture efficiency, but there is an optimal value at 4.5 kN. The energy harvester has an output power of 193 mW, a weight of 912 g, and the energy density can reach 211.8 μW/g. These results can provide a reference for subsequent experiments in the actual environment.
Structural Analysis of Bacillus subtilis Sigma Factors
Authors: Collins Katherine M. , Evans Nicola J. , Torpey James H. , Harris Jonathon M. , Haynes Bethany A. , Camp Amy H. , Isaacson Rivka L.
Published: April 2023

Bacteria use an array of sigma factors to regulate gene expression during different stages of their life cycles. Full-length, atomic-level structures of sigma factors have been challenging to obtain experimentally as a result of their many regions of intrinsic disorder. AlphaFold has now supplied plausible full-length models for most sigma factors. Here we discuss the current understanding of the structures and functions of sigma factors in the model organism, Bacillus subtilis, and present an X-ray crystal structure of a region of B. subtilis SigE, a sigma factor that plays a critical role in the developmental process of spore formation.
In Silico Analysis of Changes in Predicted Metabolic Capabilities of Intestinal Microbiota after Fecal Microbial Transplantation for Treatment of Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection
Authors: Dahiya Monica , Jovel Juan , Monaghan Tanya , Wong Karen , Elhenawy Wael , Chui Linda , McAlister Finlay , Kao Dina
Published: April 2023

Importance: Although highly effective in treating recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (RCDI), the mechanisms of action of fecal microbial transplantation (FMT) are not fully understood. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore microbially derived products or pathways that could contribute to the therapeutic efficacy of FMT. Methods: Stool shotgun metagenomic sequencing data from 18 FMT-treated RCDI patients at 4 points in time were used for the taxonomic and functional profiling of their gut microbiome. The abundance of the KEGG orthology (KO) groups was subjected to univariate linear mixed models to assess the significance of the observed differences between 0 (pre-FMT), 1, 4, and 12 weeks after FMT. Results: Of the 59,987 KO groups identified by shotgun metagenomic sequencing, 27 demonstrated a statistically significant change after FMT. These KO groups are involved in many cellular processes, including iron homeostasis, glycerol metabolism, and arginine regulation, all of which have been implicated to play important roles in bacterial growth and virulence in addition to modulating the intestinal microbial composition. Conclusion: Our findings suggest potential changes in key KO groups post-FMT, which may contribute to FMT efficacy beyond the restored microbial composition/diversity and metabolism of bile acids and short-chain fatty acids. Future larger studies that include a fecal metabolomics analysis combined with animal model validation work are required to further elucidate the molecular mechanisms.
Isolation and Cultivation of Human Gut Microorganisms: A Review
Authors: Wan Xuchun , Yang Qianqian , Wang Xiangfeng , Bai Yun , Liu Zhi
Published: April 2023

Microbial resources from the human gut may find use in various applications, such as empirical research on the microbiome, the development of probiotic products, and bacteriotherapy. Due to the development of “culturomics”, the number of pure bacterial cultures obtained from the human gut has significantly increased since 2012. However, there is still a considerable number of human gut microbes to be isolated and cultured. Thus, to improve the efficiency of obtaining microbial resources from the human gut, some constraints of the current methods, such as labor burden, culture condition, and microbial targetability, still need to be optimized. Here, we overview the general knowledge and recent development of culturomics for human gut microorganisms. Furthermore, we discuss the optimization of several parts of culturomics including sample collection, sample processing, isolation, and cultivation, which may improve the current strategies.
Impact of Growth Conditions on the Viability of Trichoderma asperellum during Storage
Authors: Rimkus Alina , Namina Agne , Dzierkale Marija Tereze , Grigs Oskars , Senkovs Maris , Larsson Simona
Published: April 2023

As excellent biocontrol agents and plant growth promoters, Trichoderma species are agriculturally important. Trichoderma spp. cultures can be produced using solid-state or submerged cultivation, the latter being much less labor intensive and easier to control and automate. The aim of the study was to investigate the ability to increase the shelf-life of T. asperellum cells by optimizing cultivation media and upscaling the submerged cultivation process. Four different cultivation media were used with or without the addition of Tween 80 and stored with or without incorporation into peat, and viability, expressed as CFU/g, was assessed during one year of storage in an industrial warehouse. The addition of Tween 80 had a positive effect on the biomass yield. The culture medium played a major role in the ability of the mycelium to produce spores, which in turn influenced the amount of CFU. This effect was less pronounced when the biomass was mixed with peat prior to storage. A procedure that increases the number of CFU in a peat-based product formulation is recommended, namely, incubation of the mixture at 30 °C for 10 days prior to storage at 15 °C over an extended period of time.
Screening for Multifarious Plant Growth Promoting and Biocontrol Attributes in Bacillus Strains Isolated from Indo Gangetic Soil for Enhancing Growth of Rice Crops
Authors: Devi Shikha , Sharma Shivesh , Tiwari Ashish , Bhatt Arvind Kumar , Singh Nand Kumar , Singh Monika , Kaushalendra  , Kumar Ajay
Published: April 2023

Multifarious plant growth-promoting Bacillus strains recovered from rhizospheric soils of the Indo Gangetic plains (IGPs) were identified as Bacillus licheniformis MNNITSR2 and Bacillus velezensis MNNITSR18 based on their biochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA gene analysis. Both strains exhibited the ability to produce IAA, siderophores, ammonia, lytic enzymes, HCN production, and phosphate solubilization capability and strongly inhibited the growth of phytopathogens such as Rhizoctonia solani and Fusariun oxysporum in vitro. In addition, these strains are also able to grow at a high temperature of 50 °C and tolerate up to 10–15% NaCl and 25% PEG 6000. The results of the pot experiment showed that individual seed inoculation and the coinoculation of multifarious plant growth promoting (PGP) Bacillus strains (SR2 and SR18) in rice fields significantly enhanced plant height, root length volume, tiller numbers, dry weight, and yield compared to the untreated control. This indicates that these strains are potential candidates for use as PGP inoculants/biofertilizers to increase rice productivity under field conditions for IGPs in Uttar Pradesh, India.
Human Milk Microbiota Profile Affected by Prematurity in Argentinian Lactating Women
Authors: Oddi Sofía , Mantziari Anastasia , Huber Paula , Binetti Ana , Salminen Seppo , Collado Maria Carmen , Vinderola Gabriel
Published: April 2023

To study (16S rRNA-sequencing) the impact of gestational and corrected ages on the microbiota profile of human milk (HM) of mothers that delivered full-term and pre-term children, HM samples were obtained and classified according to the gestational age as group T (full-term births ≥37 weeks), and group P (pre-term births <37 weeks). Group P was longitudinally followed, and the samples were collected at the full-term corrected gestational age: when the chronological age plus the gestational age were ≥37 weeks (PT group). The HM microbiota composition differed depending on the gestational age (T vs. P). Group T had lower levels of Staphylococcus and higher levels of Rothia and Streptococcus, as compared to group P. The alpha Simpson diversity value was higher in group T than in P, whereas no differences were found between groups T and PT, suggesting a microbial evolution of the composition of group P towards group T over chronological age. Full-term delivery was associated with a greater diversity of microbes in HM. The microbial composition of pre-term HM, at the corrected age, did not show significant differences, as compared to the samples obtained from the full-term group, suggesting that it would be appropriate to consider the corrected age in terms of the composition and the diversity of the milk in future studies.
Development of Activity Rules and Chemical Fragment Design for In Silico Discovery of AChE and BACE1 Dual Inhibitors against Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Bao Le-Quang , Baecker Daniel , Mai Dung Do Thi , Phuong Nhung Nguyen , Thi Thuan Nguyen , Nguyen Phuong Linh , Phuong Dung Phan Thi , Huong Tran Thi Lan , Rasulev Bakhtiyor , Casanola-Martin Gerardo M. , Nam Nguyen-Hai , Pham-The Hai
Published: April 2023

Multi-target drug development has become an attractive strategy in the discovery of drugs to treat of Alzheimer’s disease (AzD). In this study, for the first time, a rule-based machine learning (ML) approach with classification trees (CT) was applied for the rational design of novel dual-target acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and β-site amyloid-protein precursor cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) inhibitors. Updated data from 3524 compounds with AChE and BACE1 measurements were curated from the ChEMBL database. The best global accuracies of training/external validation for AChE and BACE1 were 0.85/0.80 and 0.83/0.81, respectively. The rules were then applied to screen dual inhibitors from the original databases. Based on the best rules obtained from each classification tree, a set of potential AChE and BACE1 inhibitors were identified, and active fragments were extracted using Murcko-type decomposition analysis. More than 250 novel inhibitors were designed in silico based on active fragments and predicted AChE and BACE1 inhibitory activity using consensus QSAR models and docking validations. The rule-based and ML approach applied in this study may be useful for the in silico design and screening of new AChE and BACE1 dual inhibitors against AzD.
Detection Techniques for Lead Ions in Water: A Review
Authors: Wu Dan , Hu Yinglu , Cheng Huan , Ye Xingqian
Published: April 2023

Lead pollution has increasingly become the focus of environmental pollution, which is a great harm to the ecological environment and human health. Strict control of the emission of lead pollutants and accurate monitoring of lead are very important. The lead ion detection technologies are introduced here, including spectrophotometry, electrochemical method, atomic absorption spectrometry, and other detection methods, and the methods’ applicability, the advantages, and disadvantages are discussed. The detection limits of voltammetry and atomic absorption spectrometry are as low as 0.1 μg/L, and those of atomic absorption spectrometry are as low as 2 μg/L. The detection limit of photometry is higher (0.01 mg/L), but this method can be achieved in most laboratories. The application of different extraction pretreatment technologies in lead ion detection is introduced. The new technologies develop at home and abroad, such as precious metal nanogold technology, paper microfluidic technology, fluorescence molecular probe technology, spectroscopy, and other emerging technologies in recent years, are reviewed, and the principle and application of various technologies are expounded.
Functionalization of Framboidal Phenylboronic Acid-Containing Nanoparticles via Aqueous Suzuki–Miyaura Coupling Reactions
Authors: van der Vlies André J. , Hasegawa Urara
Published: April 2023

Polymeric nanoparticles with reactive functional groups are an attractive platform for drug carriers that can be conjugated with drugs through a cleavable covalent linkage. Since the required functional groups vary depending on the drug molecule, there is a need for development of a novel post-modification method to introduce different functional groups to polymeric nanoparticles. We recently reported phenylboronic acid (PBA)-containing nanoparticles (BNP) with a unique framboidal morphology created via one-step aqueous dispersion polymerization. Since BNPs have high surface area due to their framboidal morphology and contain a high density of PBA groups, these particles can be used as nanocarriers for drugs that can bind to PBA groups such as curcumin and a catechol-bearing carbon monoxide donor. To further explore the potential of BNPs, in this article we report a novel strategy to introduce different functional groups to BNPs via the palladium-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction between the PBA groups and iodo- and bromo-coupling partners. We developed a new catalytic system that efficiently catalyzes Suzuki–Miyaura reactions in water without the need for an organic solvent, as confirmed by NMR. Using this catalyst system, we show that BNPs can be functionalized with carboxylic acids, aldehyde, and hydrazide groups while keeping their original framboidal morphology as confirmed via IR, alizarin red assay, and TEM. Furthermore, the potential of the functionalized BNP in drug delivery applications was demonstrated by conjugating the hydrogen sulfide (H2S)-releasing compound anethole dithiolone to carboxylic acid-functionalized BNPs and show their H2S-releasing capability in cell lysate.
Surface Modification of Bi2O3 Nanoparticles with Biotinylated β-Cyclodextrin as a Biocompatible Therapeutic Agent for Anticancer and Antimicrobial Applications
Authors: Alex Jogy , Mathew Thomas V.
Published: April 2023

Bismuth oxide nanoparticles with appropriate surface chemistry exhibit many interesting properties that can be utilized in a variety of applications. This paper describes a new route to the surface modification of bismuth oxide nanoparticles (Bi2O3 NPs) using functionalized beta-Cyclodextrin (β-CD) as a biocompatible system. The synthesis of Bi2O3 NP was done using PVA (poly vinyl alcohol) as the reductant and the Steglich esterification procedure for the functionalization of β-CD with biotin. Ultimately, the Bi2O3 NPs are modified using this functionalized β-CD system. The particle size of the synthesized Bi2O3 NPs is found to be in the range of 12–16 nm. The modified biocompatible systems were characterized using different characterization techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Differential Scanning Calorimetric analysis (DSC). Additionally, the antibacterial and anticancerous effects of the surface-modified Bi2O3 NP system were also investigated.
Cation Charge as a Tool to Change Dimensionality in Organic–Inorganic Hybrids Based on Copper Thiocyanate Templated by 1,4-Diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane
Authors: Goreshnik Evgeny , Petrusenko Svitlana
Published: April 2023

The first three compounds based on a {copper–thiocyanate–dabco} combination, namely, (Hdabco)[Cu2(NCS)3] (1), (H2dabco)[Cu(NCS)3] (2), and [Cu(Hdabco)2(NCS)4]∙2dmso (3), where dabco = 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane were synthesized and characterized by single-crystal XRD, elemental analysis, Raman, and partial IR spectroscopy. In copper(I) derivatives, the influence of the charge of the organic cation on the dimensionality of the crystal structure is observed. Thus, in the case of 1, monoprotonated Hdabco+ cations provide the template for the formation of a polymeric anionic 3D framework {[Cu2(NCS)3]−}n, while in the case of 2, diprotonated H2dabco2+ cations together with discrete [Cu(SCN)3]2− anions generate a simple ionic 0D structure with an island-like crystal lattice. The anionic {[Cu2(SCN)3]−}n framework has infinite square channels of 10 × 10 Å size running along the 001 crystallographic direction. In 3, both the Hdabco+ and thiocyanato units behave as terminal monodentate ligands attached to copper(II) centers via N-donor atoms, forming neutral molecular complexes with an elongated (4+2) octahedral environment. The crystallization molecules of dmso are hydrogen bonded to the protonated parts of the coordinated dabco molecules. A series of by-products Cu(SCN)2(dmso)2 (4), (Hdabco)SCN (5), (H2dabco)(SCN)2 (6), and (H2dabco)(SCN)2∙H2O (7) were identified and characterized.
The Research Progress of Extraction, Purification and Analysis Methods of Phenolic Compounds from Blueberry: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Bai Xinyu , Zhou Lin , Zhou Li , Cang Song , Liu Yuhan , Liu Rui , Liu Jie , Feng Xun , Fan Ronghua
Published: April 2023

Blueberry is the source of a variety of bioactive substances, including phenolic compounds, such as anthocyanins, pterostilbene, phenolic acids, etc. Several studies have revealed that polyphenols in blueberry have important bioactivities in maintaining health, such as antioxidant and anti-tumor activities, immune regulation, the prevention of chronic diseases, etc. Therefore, these phenolic compounds in blueberries have been widely used in the field of healthcare, and the extraction, isolation, and purification of phenolic compounds are the prerequisites for their utilization. It is imperative to systematically review the research progress and prospects of phenolic compounds present in blueberries. Herein, the latest progress in the extraction, purification, and analysis of phenolic compounds from blueberries is reviewed, which can in turn provide a foundation for further research and usage of blueberries.
Monocyte Differentiation on Atomic Layer-Deposited (ALD) Hydroxyapatite Coating on Titanium Substrate
Authors: Kylmäoja Elina , Abushahba Faleh , Holopainen Jani , Ritala Mikko , Tuukkanen Juha
Published: April 2023

Hydroxyapatite (HA; Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) coating of bone implants has many beneficial properties as it improves osseointegration and eventually becomes degraded and replaced with new bone. We prepared HA coating on a titanium substrate with atomic layer deposition (ALD) and compared monocyte differentiation and material resorption between ALD-HA and bone. After stimulation with macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), human peripheral blood monocytes differentiated into resorbing osteoclasts on bovine bone, but non-resorbing foreign body cells were observed on ALD-HA. The analysis of the topography of ALD-HA and bone showed no differences in wettability (water contact angle on ALD-HA 86.2° vs. 86.7° on the bone), but the surface roughness of ALD-HA (Ra 0.713 µm) was significantly lower compared to bone (Ra 2.30 µm). The cellular reaction observed on ALD-HA might be a consequence of the topographical properties of the coating. The absence of resorptive osteoclasts on ALD-HA might indicate inhibition of their differentiation or the need to modify the coating to induce osteoclast differentiation.
The Antibacterial Activity of Rhazya stricta Extracts against Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolated from Some Soil Invertebrates at High Altitudes
Authors: Hassan Mohamed M. , Albogami Bander , Mwabvu Tarombera , Awad Mohamed F. , Kadi Roqayah H. , Mohamed Alaa A. , Al-Orabi Jamal A. , Hassan Montaser M. , Elsharkawy Mohsen Mohamed
Published: April 2023

Klebsiella is a common dangerous pathogen for humans and animals and is widely present in the digestive system. The genus Klebsiella is ubiquitous, as it is endemic to surface water, soil, and sewage. In this study, 70 samples were obtained from soil-dwelling invertebrates from September 2021 to March 2022 from Taif and Shafa in different altitudinal regions of Saudi Arabia. Fifteen of these samples were identified as Klebsiella spp. The Klebsiella isolates were genetically identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae using rDNA sequencing. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the Klebsiella isolates was determined. Amplification of virulence genes was performed using PCR. In this study, 16S rDNA sequencing showed a similarity from 98% to 100% with related K. pneumonia from the NCBI database, and the sequences were deposited in the NCBI GenBank under accession numbers ON077036 to ON077050. The growth inhibition properties of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of the medicinal plant Rhazya stricta’s leaves against K. pneumoniae strains using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method and disc diffusion were evaluated. In addition, the biofilm inhibitory potential of these extracts was investigated using crystal violet. HPLC analysis identified 19 components divided into 6 flavonoids, 11 phenolic acids, stilbene (resveratrol), and quinol, and revealed variations in the number of components and their quantities between extracts. Both extracts demonstrated interesting antibacterial properties against K. pneumoniae isolates. The 2 extracts also showed strong biofilm inhibitory activities, with percentages of inhibition extending from 81.5% to 98.7% and from 35.1% to 85.8% for the ethanolic and methanolic extracts, respectively. Rhazya stricta leaf extract revealed powerful antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against K. pneumoniae isolates and could be a good candidate for the treatment or prevention of K. pneumonia-related infections.
A Novel Strategy of Combined Pulsed Electro-Oxidation and Electrolysis for Degradation of Sulfadiazine
Authors: Ma Dong , Zhang Bo , Hu Xiaomin
Published: April 2023

A combination of the peroxymonosulfate (PMS) electro-activation process and the electro-oxidation process driven by a pulsed electric field (PEF) was used to degrade sulfadiazine (SND) wastewater. Mass transfer is the limiting step of electrochemical processes. The PEF could enhance mass transfer efficiency by reducing the polarization effect and increasing the instantaneous limiting current compared with the constant electric field (CEF), which could benefit the electro-generation of active radicals. The degradation rate of SND after 2 h was 73.08%. The experiments investigated the effects of operating parameters of pulsed power supply, PMS dosage, pH value and electrode inter distance on the degradation rate of SND. The predicted response value of single-factor performance experiments was obtained as 72.26% after 2 h, which was basically consistent with the experimental value. According to the quenching experiments and EPR tests, both SO4•− and •OH were present in the electrochemical processes. The generation of active species were significantly greater in the PEF system than that in the CEF system. Moreover, four kinds of intermediate products were detected during the degradation by LC-MS. This paper presents a new aspect for electrochemical degradation of sulfonamide antibiotics.
Designing Electron-Deficient Diketone Unit Based Non-Fused Ring Acceptors with Amplified Optoelectronic Features for Highly Efficient Organic Solar Cells: A DFT Study
Authors: Khan Muhammad Usman , Shafiq Faiza , Al Abbad Sanaa S. , Yaqoob Junaid , Hussain Riaz , Alsunaidi Zainab H. A. , Mustafa Ghulam , Hussain Shabbir
Published: April 2023

Organic solar cells (OSCs) made of electron-acceptor and electron-donor materials have significantly developed in the last decade, demonstrating their enormous potential in cutting-edge optoelectronic applications. Consequently, we designed seven novel non-fused ring electron acceptors (NFREAs) (BTIC-U1 to BTIC-U7) using synthesized electron-deficient diketone units and reported end-capped acceptors, a viable route for augmented optoelectronic properties. The DFT and TDDFT approaches were used to measure the power conversion efficiency (PCE), open circuit voltage (Voc), reorganization energies (λh, λe), fill factor (FF), light harvesting efficiency (LHE) and to evaluate the potential usage of proposed compounds in solar cell applications. The findings confirmed that the photovoltaic, photophysical, and electronic properties of the designed molecules BTIC-U1 to BTIC-U7 are superior to those of reference BTIC-R. The TDM analysis demonstrates a smooth flow of charge from the core to the acceptor groups. Charge transfer analysis of the BTIC-U1:PTB7-Th blend revealed orbital superposition and successful charge transfer from HOMO (PTB7-Th) to LUMO (BTIC-U1). The BTIC-U5 and BTIC-U7 outperformed the reference BTIC-R and other developed molecules in terms of PCE (23.29% and 21.18%), FF (0.901 and 0.894), normalized Voc (48.674 and 44.597), and Voc (1.261 eV and 1.155 eV). The proposed compounds enclose high electron and hole transfer mobilities, making them the ideal candidate for use with PTB7-Th film. As a result, future SM-OSC design should prioritize using these constructed molecules, which exhibit excellent optoelectronic properties, as superior scaffolds.
Salvianolic Acid A Improves Rat Kidney Injury by Regulating MAPKs and TGF-β1/Smads Signaling Pathways
Authors: Diao Hai-Yang , Zhu Wei , Liu Jie , Yin Sheng , Wang Jin-Hui , Li Chun-Li
Published: April 2023

Salvianolic acid A (SAA) is one of the major components in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge., with various pharmacological activities, and is likely to be a promising agent for the treatment of kidney diseases. The purpose of this study was to explore the protective effect and mechanisms of SAA on kidney disease. In this study, the improvement effects of SAA (10, 20, 40 mg/kg, i.g.) on kidney injury rats were investigated by detecting the levels of KIM-1, NGAL in serum and UP in the urine of AKI model rats established with gentamicin, as well as the levels of SCr and UREA in serum and IL-6, IL-12, MDA and T-SOD in the kidneys of CKD model rats established with 5/6 nephrectomy. HE and Masson staining were used to observe the histopathological changes in the kidney. Network pharmacology and Western blotting were used to explore the mechanism of SAA in improving kidney injury. The results showed that SAA improved kidney function in kidney injury rats by reducing the kidney index and pathological injury by HE and Masson staining, reducing the levels of KIM-1, NGAL and UP in AKI rats and UREA, SCr and UP in CKD rats, as well as exerting anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress effects by inhibiting the release of IL-6 and IL-12, reducing MDA and increasing T-SOD. Western blotting results showed that SAA significantly reduced the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2, p38, JNK and smad2/3, and the expression of TLR-4 and smad7. In conclusion, SAA plays a significant role in improving kidney injury in rats and the mechanism may be achieved by regulating the MAPKs and TGF-β1/smads signaling pathways.
Microbial Synthesis of Heme b: Biosynthetic Pathways, Current Strategies, Detection, and Future Prospects
Authors: Yang Qiuyu , Zhao Juntao , Zheng Yangyang , Chen Tao , Wang Zhiwen
Published: April 2023

Heme b, which is characterized by a ferrous ion and a porphyrin macrocycle, acts as a prosthetic group for many enzymes and contributes to various physiological processes. Consequently, it has wide applications in medicine, food, chemical production, and other burgeoning fields. Due to the shortcomings of chemical syntheses and bio-extraction techniques, alternative biotechnological methods have drawn increasing attention. In this review, we provide the first systematic summary of the progress in the microbial synthesis of heme b. Three different pathways are described in detail, and the metabolic engineering strategies for the biosynthesis of heme b via the protoporphyrin-dependent and coproporphyrin-dependent pathways are highlighted. The UV spectrophotometric detection of heme b is gradually being replaced by newly developed detection methods, such as HPLC and biosensors, and for the first time, this review summarizes the methods used in recent years. Finally, we discuss the future prospects, with an emphasis on the potential strategies for improving the biosynthesis of heme b and understanding the regulatory mechanisms for building efficient microbial cell factories.
Rapid Assembly of Pyrrole-Ligated 1,3,4-Oxadiazoles and Excellent Antibacterial Activity of Iodophenol Substituents
Authors: Kim Hyein , Gu Lina , Yeo Huisu , Choi Umji , Lee Chang-Ro , Yu Haiyang , Koo Sangho
Published: April 2023

Pyrrole-ligated 1,3,4-oxadiazole is a very important pharmacophore which exhibits broad therapeutic effects such as anti-tuberculosis, anti-epileptic, anti-HIV, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities. A one-pot Maillard reaction between D-Ribose and an L-amino methyl ester in DMSO with oxalic acid at 2.5 atm and 80 °C expeditiously produced pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde platform chemicals in reasonable yields, which were utilized for the synthesis of pyrrole-ligated 1,3,4-oxadiazoles. Benzohydrazide reacted with the formyl group of the pyrrole platforms to provide the corresponding imine intermediates, which underwent I2-mediated oxidative cyclization to the pyrrole-ligated 1,3,4-oxadiazole skeleton. The structure and activity relationship (SAR) of the target compounds with varying alkyl or aryl substituents of the amino acids and electron-withdrawing or electron-donating substituents on the phenyl ring of benzohydrazide were evaluated for antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Acinetobacter baumannii as representative Gram(–) and Gram(+) bacteria. Branched alkyl groups from the amino acid showed better antibacterial activities. Absolutely superior activities were observed for 5f-1 with an iodophenol substituent against A. baumannii (MIC < 2 μg/mL), a bacterial pathogen that displays a high resistance to commonly used antibiotics.
Biological Potential of Carnivorous Plants from Nepenthales
Authors: Wójciak Magdalena , Feldo Marcin , Stolarczyk Piotr , Płachno Bartosz J.
Published: April 2023

Since Charles Darwin and his book carnivorous plants have aroused interest and heated debate. In addition, there is growing interest in this group of plants as a source of secondary metabolites and in the application of their biological activity. The aim of this study was to trace the recent literature in search of the application of extracts obtained from families Droseraceae, Nepenthaceae, and Drosophyllaceae to show their biological potential. The data collected in the review clearly indicate that the studied Nepenthales species have great biological potential in terms of antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer use. We proposed that further investigations should include: (i) bioactivity-guided investigations of crude plant extract to connect a particular type of action with a specific compound or a group of metabolites; (ii) a search for new bioactive properties of carnivorous plants; (iii) establishment of molecular mechanisms associated with specific activity. Furthermore, further research should be extended to include less explored species, i.e., Drosophyllum lusitanicum and especially Aldrovanda vesiculosa.
Independent and Joined Association between Socioeconomic Indicators and Pediatric Obesity in Spain: The PASOS Study
Authors: Homs Clara , Berruezo Paula , Arcarons Albert , Wärnberg Julia , Osés Maddi , González-Gross Marcela , Gusi Narcis , Aznar Susana , Marín-Cascales Elena , González-Valeiro Miguel Ángel , Serra-Majem Lluis , Terrados Nicolás , Tur Josep A. , Segú Marta , Fitó Montserrat , Benavente-Marín Juan Carlos , Labayen Idoia , Zapico Augusto G. , Sánchez-Gómez Jesús , Jiménez-Zazo Fabio , Alcaraz Pedro E. , Sevilla-Sanchez Marta , Herrera-Ramos Estefanía , Pulgar-Muñoz Susana , Bouzas Cristina , Milà Raimon , Schröder Helmut , Gómez Santiago F.
Published: April 2023

Childhood obesity is a public health problem worldwide. An important determinant of child and adolescent obesity is socioeconomic status (SES). However, the magnitude of the impact of different SES indicators on pediatric obesity on the Spanish population scale is unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the association between three SES indicators and obesity in a nationwide, representative sample of Spanish children and adolescents. A total of 2791 boys and girls aged 8 to 16 years old were included. Their weight, height, and waist circumference were measured. SES was assessed using two parent/legal guardian self-reported indicators (educational level -University/non-University- and labor market status -Employed/Unemployed-). As a third SES indicator, the annual mean income per person was obtained from the census section where the participating schools were located (≥12.731€/<12.731€). The prevalence of obesity, severe obesity, and abdominal obesity was 11.5%, 1.4%, and 22.3%, respectively. Logistic regression models showed an inverse association of both education and labor market status with obesity, severe obesity, and abdominal obesity (all p < 0.001). Income was also inversely associated with obesity (p < 0.01) and abdominal obesity (p < 0.001). Finally, the highest composite SES category (University/Employed/≥12.731€ n = 517) showed a robust and inverse association with obesity (OR = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.16–0.48), severe obesity (OR = 0.20; 95% CI: 0.05–0.81), and abdominal obesity (OR = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.23–0.54) in comparison with the lowest composite SES category (Less than University/Unemployed/<12.731€; n = 164). No significant interaction between composite SES categories and age and gender was found. SES is strongly associated with pediatric obesity in Spain.
Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Alleviates Liver Oxidative Damage Caused by Iron Overload in Mice through Inhibiting Ferroptosis
Authors: Yang Chunjing , Wu Aimin , Tan Liqiang , Tang Dandan , Chen Wei , Lai Xin , Gu Ke , Chen Junzhou , Chen Daiwen , Tang Qian
Published: April 2023

Ferroptosis, a form of regulated cell death, has been widely explored as a novel target for the treatment of diseases. The failure of the antioxidant system can induce ferroptosis. Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG) is a natural antioxidant in tea; however, whether EGCG can regulate ferroptosis in the treatment of liver oxidative damage, as well as the exact molecular mechanism, is unknown. Here, we discovered that iron overload disturbed iron homeostasis in mice, leading to oxidative stress and damage in the liver by activating ferroptosis. However, EGCG supplementation alleviated the liver oxidative damage caused by iron overload by inhibiting ferroptosis. EGCG addition increased NRF2 and GPX4 expression and elevated antioxidant capacity in iron overload mice. EGCG administration attenuates iron metabolism disorders by upregulating FTH/L expression. Through these two mechanisms, EGCG can effectively inhibit iron overload-induced ferroptosis. Taken together, these findings suggest that EGCG is a potential ferroptosis suppressor, and may be a promising therapeutic agent for iron overload-induced liver disease.
Exercise Programs Combined with Diet Supplementation Improve Body Composition and Physical Function in Older Adults with Sarcopenia: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hernández-Lepe Marco Antonio , Miranda-Gil Michelle Itzel , Valbuena-Gregorio Edith , Olivas-Aguirre Francisco Javier
Published: April 2023

Sarcopenia is a progressive and frequent syndrome among older adults highly related to physical inactivity and malnutrition. Nowadays, it is considered a pathology that triggers multiple health complications associated with the loss of muscle mass, strength, autonomy, and quality of life. The objective of the present systematic review was to evaluate the effect of exercise programs combined with dietary supplementation on body composition as the primary outcome. This systematic review was carried out in accordance with the elements considered for planning a systematic review by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), and the search was performed in the Scopus, EBSCO, and PubMed databases for the last 10 years. A total of 16 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. Regular resistance exercise together with daily essential amino acids or whey protein and vitamin D supplementation improve the maintenance or gains in appendiceal/skeletal muscle mass and total lean mass in sarcopenic older adults. The data suggest a synergistic effect not only on the primary outcome, but also on other variables such as strength, speed, stability, and other indicators of quality of life. This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO, ID: CRD42022344284.
Neuroangiostrongyliasis: Updated Provisional Guidelines for Diagnosis and Case Definitions
Authors: Graeff-Teixeira Carlos , Sawanyawisuth Kittisak , Lv Shan , Sears William , Rodríguez Zhaily González , Álvarez Hilda Hernández , Arias Pedro Casanova , Schultz Leticia Karolini Walger , Rojas Alicia , Jacob John , Jarvi Susan , Kramer Kenton
Published: April 2023

Angiostrongylus cantonensis is the main causative agent for eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in humans. Larvae are rarely found in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). Consequently, serology and DNA detection represent important diagnostic tools. However, interpretation of the results obtained from these tools requires that more extensive accuracy studies be conducted. The aim of the present study is to update guidelines for diagnosis and case definitions of neuroangiostrongyliasis (NA) as provided by a working group of a recently established International Network on Angiostrongyliasis. A literature review, a discussion regarding criteria and diagnostic categories, recommendations issued by health authorities in China and an expert panel in Hawaii (USA), and the experience of Thailand were considered. Classification of NA cases and corresponding criteria are proposed as follows: minor (exposure history, positive serology, and blood eosinophilia); major (headache or other neurological signs or symptoms, CSF eosinophilia); and confirmatory (parasite detection in tissues, ocular chambers, or CSF, or DNA detection by PCR and sequencing). In addition, diagnostic categories or suspected, probable, and confirmatory are proposed. Updated guidelines should improve clinical study design, epidemiological surveillance, and the proper characterization of biological samples. Moreover, the latter will further facilitate accuracy studies of diagnostic tools for NA to provide better detection and treatment.
Proliferative and Osteogenic Supportive Effect of VEGF-Loaded Collagen-Chitosan Hydrogel System in Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Elango Jeevithan
Published: April 2023

The use of hydrogel (HG) in regenerative medicine is an emerging field and thus several approaches have been proposed recently to find an appropriate hydrogel system. In this sense, this study developed a novel HG system using collagen, chitosan, and VEGF composites for culturing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and investigated their ability for osteogenic differentiation and mineral deposition. Our results showed that the HG loaded with 100 ng/mL VEGF (HG-100) significantly supported the proliferation of undifferentiated MSCs, the fibrillary filament structure (HE stain), mineralization (alizarin red S and von Kossa stain), alkaline phosphatase, and the osteogenesis of differentiated MSCs compared to other hydrogels (loaded with 25 and 50 ng/mL VEGF) and control (without hydrogel). HG-100 showed a higher VEGF releasing rate from day 3 to day 7 than other HGs, which substantially supports the proliferative and osteogenic properties of HG-100. However, the HGs did not increase the cell growth in differentiated MSCs on days 14 and 21 due to the confluence state (reach stationary phase) and cell loading ability, regardless of the VEGF content. Similarly, the HGs alone did not stimulate the osteogenesis of MSCs; however, they increased the osteogenic ability of MSCs in presence of osteogenic supplements. Accordingly, a fabricated HG with VEGF could be used as an appropriate system to culture stem cells for bone and dental regeneration.
Microfluidic Liver-on-a-Chip for Preclinical Drug Discovery
Authors: Fu Jingyu , Qiu Hailong , Tan Cherie S.
Published: April 2023

Drug discovery is an expensive, long, and complex process, usually with a high degree of uncertainty. In order to improve the efficiency of drug development, effective methods are demanded to screen lead molecules and eliminate toxic compounds in the preclinical pipeline. Drug metabolism is crucial in determining the efficacy and potential side effects, mainly in the liver. Recently, the liver-on-a-chip (LoC) platform based on microfluidic technology has attracted widespread attention. LoC systems can be applied to predict drug metabolism and hepatotoxicity or to investigate PK/PD (pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics) performance when combined with other artificial organ-on-chips. This review discusses the liver physiological microenvironment simulated by LoC, especially the cell compositions and roles. We summarize the current methods of constructing LoC and the pharmacological and toxicological application of LoC in preclinical research. In conclusion, we also discussed the limitations of LoC in drug discovery and proposed a direction for improvement, which may provide an agenda for further research.