bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance, Correlation and Kinetic Profile of Circulating Serum Fungal Biomarkers of Invasive Aspergillosis in High-Risk Patients with Hematologic Malignancies
Authors: Siopi Maria , Karakatsanis Stamatis , Roumpakis Christoforos , Korantanis Konstantinos , Eldeik Elina , Sambatakou Helen , Sipsas Nikolaos V. , Tsirigotis Panagiotis , Pagoni Maria , Meletiadis Joseph
Published: March 2021

As conventional microbiological documentation of invasive aspergillosis (IA) is difficult to obtain, serum fungal biomarkers are important adjunctive diagnostic tools. Positivity rates and the kinetic profiles of galactomannan (GM), 1,3-β-D-glucan (BDG) and Aspergillus DNA (PCR) were studied in high-risk patients with hematologic malignancies. GM, BDG and PCR data from serial serum specimens (n = 240) from 93 adult hematology patients with probable (n = 8), possible (n = 25) and no (n = 60) IA were retrospectively analyzed. Positivity rates and sensitivity/specificity/positive/negative predictive values (NPV) of each fungal biomarker alone and in combination were estimated. The three markers were compared head-to-head and correlated with various biochemical, demographic and patient characteristics. The positivity rates for patients with probable/possible/no IA were 88%/8%/0% for GM (X2 = 55, p < 0.001), 62%/46%/35% for BDG (X2 = 2.5, p = 0.29), 62%/33%/27% for PCR (X2 = 3.9, p = 0.15), 50%/4%/0% for GM + BDG and GM + PCR (X2 = 31, p < 0.001), 50%/8%/22% for BDG + PCR (X2 = 6.5, p = 0.038) and 38%/4%/0% for GM + BDG + PCR (X2 = 21, p < 0.001). Higher agreement (76%) and negative correlation (rs = −0.47, p = 0.0017) was found between GM index and PCR Ct values. The sensitivity and NPV was 45–55% and 90–92% when biomarkers assessed alone and increased to 75–90% and 93–97%, respectively when combined. Weak significant correlations were found between GM, PCR and BDG results with renal/liver function markers (r = 0.11–0.57) with most GM+ and PCR+ samples found in the first and second week of clinical assessment, respectively and BDG later on. Different positivity rates, time profiles and performances were found for the three biomarkers advocating the combination of GM with PCR for the early diagnosis of IA, whereas the high NPV of combined biomarkerscould help excluding IA.
Do IFRS Promote Transparency? Evidence from the Bankruptcy Prediction of Privately Held Swedish and Norwegian Companies
Authors: Kainth Akarsh , Wahlstrøm Ranik Raaen
Published: March 2021

The purpose of our paper is to investigate whether any differences between International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and local Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) impact the transparency of financial reporting of non-listed companies through bankruptcy prediction. This contributes to extant research that has focused on the effects of IFRS adoption in the context of listed companies. For our investigation, we used logistic regression, well-established accounting-based predictors, and a sample of financial statements from privately held Swedish companies using IFRS, and Norwegian companies using Norwegian GAAP. The results indicate that financial statements made under IFRS may be better suited for bankruptcy prediction than those made under Norwegian GAAP. Our findings suggest that the use of IFRS could aid in increasing the informativeness of financial reports by promoting transparency and prevent managers of firms facing insolvency from engaging in creative accounting practices. Our results should, however, be applied with caution, as they may be due to the differences in characteristics across firms that are not captured by our research design. We leave this issue open to future research.
Classification of the Biogenicity of Complex Organic Mixtures for the Detection of Extraterrestrial Life
Authors: Guttenberg Nicholas , Chen Huan , Mochizuki Tomohiro , Cleaves H.
Published: March 2021

Searching for life in the Universe depends on unambiguously distinguishing biological features from background signals, which could take the form of chemical, morphological, or spectral signatures. The discovery and direct measurement of organic compounds unambiguously indicative of extraterrestrial (ET) life is a major goal of Solar System exploration. Biology processes matter and energy differently from abiological systems, and materials produced by biological systems may become enriched in planetary environments where biology is operative. However, ET biology might be composed of different components than terrestrial life. As ET sample return is difficult, in situ methods for identifying biology will be useful. Mass spectrometry (MS) is a potentially versatile life detection technique, which will be used to analyze numerous Solar System environments in the near future. We show here that simple algorithmic analysis of MS data from abiotic synthesis (natural and synthetic), microbial cells, and thermally processed biological materials (lab-grown organisms and petroleum) easily identifies relational organic compound distributions that distinguish pristine and aged biological and abiological materials, which likely can be attributed to the types of compounds these processes produce, as well as how they are formed and decompose. This method is independent of the detection of particular masses or molecular species samples may contain. This suggests a general method to agnostically detect evidence of biology using MS given a sufficiently strong signal in which the majority of the material in a sample has either a biological or abiological origin. Such metrics are also likely to be useful for studies of possible emergent living phenomena, and paleobiological samples.
Impact of Fast High-Intensity versus Conventional Light-Curing Protocol on Selected Properties of Dental Composites
Authors: Garoushi Sufyan , Lassila Lippo , Vallittu Pekka K.
Published: March 2021

To study the influence of fast high-intensity (3-s) and conventional (20-s) light curing protocols on certain physical properties including light-transmission and surface wear of two nano-hybrid composite resins (Tetric PowerFill and Essentia U) specifically designed for both curing protocols. According to ISO standards, the following properties were investigated: flexural properties, fracture toughness and water sorption/solubility. FTIR-spectrometry was used to calculate the double bond conversion (DC%). A wear test using a chewing simulator was performed with 15,000 chewing cycles. A tensilometer was used to measure the shrinkage stress. Light transmission through various thicknesses (1, 2, 3 and 4 mm) of composite resins was quantified. The Vickers indenter was utilized for evaluating surface microhardness (VH) at the top and the bottom sides. Scanning electron microscopy was utilized to investigate the microstructure of each composite resin. The light curing protocol did not show a significant (p > 0.05) effect on the mechanical properties of tested composite resins and differences were material-dependent. Shrinkage stress, DC% and VH of both composite resins significantly increased with the conventional 20 s light curing protocol (p < 0.05). Light curing conventional composite resin with the fast high-intensity (3-s) curing protocol resulted in inferior results for some important material properties.
Design and Optimization of a Centrifugal Pump for Slurry Transport Using the Response Surface Method
Authors: Alawadhi Khaled , Alzuwayer Bashar , Mohammad Tareq Ali , Buhemdi Mohammad H.
Published: March 2021

Since centrifugal pumps consume a mammoth amount of energy in various industrial applications, their design and optimization are highly relevant to saving maximum energy and increasing the system’s efficiency. In the current investigation, a centrifugal pump has been designed and optimized. The study has been carried out for the specific application of transportation of slurry at a flow rate of 120 m3/hr to a head of 20 m. For the optimization process, a multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) and response surface methodology (RSM) have been employed. The process is based on the mean line design of the pump. It utilizes six geometric parameters as design variables, i.e., number of vanes, inlet beta shroud, exit beta shroud, hub inlet blade draft, Rake angle, and the impeller’s rotational speed. The objective functions employed are pump power, hydraulic efficiency, volumetric efficiency, and pump efficiency. In this reference, five different software packages, i.e., ANSYS Vista, ANSYS DesignModeler, response surface optimization software, and ANSYS CFX, were coupled to achieve the optimized design of the pump geometry. Characteristic maps were generated using simulations conducted for 45 points. Additionally, erosion rate was predicted using 3-D numerical simulations under various conditions. Finally, the transient behavior of the pump, being the highlight of the study, was evaluated. Results suggest that the maximum fluctuation in the local pressure and stresses on the cases correspond to a phase angle of 0°–30° of the casing that in turn corresponds to the maximum erosion rates in the region.
Fractal Stochastic Processes on Thin Cantor-Like Sets
Authors: Golmankhaneh Alireza Khalili , Sibatov Renat Timergalievich
Published: March 2021

We review the basics of fractal calculus, define fractal Fourier transformation on thin Cantor-like sets and introduce fractal versions of Brownian motion and fractional Brownian motion. Fractional Brownian motion on thin Cantor-like sets is defined with the use of non-local fractal derivatives. The fractal Hurst exponent is suggested, and its relation with the order of non-local fractal derivatives is established. We relate the Gangal fractal derivative defined on a one-dimensional stochastic fractal to the fractional derivative after an averaging procedure over the ensemble of random realizations. That means the fractal derivative is the progenitor of the fractional derivative, which arises if we deal with a certain stochastic fractal.
Nonlocal Sequential Boundary Value Problems for Hilfer Type Fractional Integro-Differential Equations and Inclusions
Authors: Phuangthong Nawapol , Ntouyas Sotiris K. , Tariboon Jessada , Nonlaopon Kamsing
Published: March 2021

In the present research, we study boundary value problems for fractional integro-differential equations and inclusions involving the Hilfer fractional derivative. Existence and uniqueness results are obtained by using the classical fixed point theorems of Banach, Krasnosel’skiĭ, and Leray–Schauder in the single-valued case, while Martelli’s fixed point theorem, a nonlinear alternative for multivalued maps, and the Covitz–Nadler fixed point theorem are used in the inclusion case. Examples are presented to illustrate our results.
Axiomatic Results for Weighted Allocation Rules under Multiattribute Situations
Authors: Liao Yu-Hsien
Published: March 2021

In many interactive environments, operators may have to deal with different work objectives at the same time. In a realistic context, such as differences in the target type to be addressed, or changes in the behavior of other operators, operators may therefore have to cope with by adopting different work levels (strategies) at any given time. On the other hand, the importance or influence brought by operators may vary depending on many subjective and objective factors, such as the size of the constituency represented by a congressman, and the bargaining power of a business personnel which may vary. Therefore, it is reasonable that weights are apportioned to operators and arbitrary usability should be distributed according to these weights under various working levels and multiattribute situations. In pre-existing results for allocation rules, weights might be always apportioned to the “operators” or the “levels” to modify the differences among the operators or its working levels respectively. By applying weights to the operators and its working levels (strategies) simultaneously, we adopt the maximal marginal variations among working level (strategy) vectors to propose an allocation rule under multiattribute situations. Furthermore, we introduce some axiomatic outcomes to display the rationality for this weighted allocation rule. By replacing weights to be maximal marginal variations, a generalized index is also introduced.
Short-Term Exuberance and Long-Term Stability: A Simultaneous Optimization of Stock Return Predictions for Short and Long Horizons
Authors: Kyriakou Ioannis , Mousavi Parastoo , Nielsen Jens Perch , Scholz Michael
Published: March 2021

The fundamental interest of investors in econometric modeling for excess stock returns usually focuses either on short- or long-term predictions to individually reduce the investment risk. In this paper, we present a new and simple model that contemporaneously accounts for short- and long-term predictions. By combining the different horizons, we exploit the lower long-term variance to further reduce the short-term variance, which is susceptible to speculative exuberance. As a consequence, the long-term pension-saver avoids an over-conservative portfolio with implied potential upside reductions given their optimal risk appetite. Different combinations of short and long horizons as well as definitions of excess returns, for example, concerning the traditional short-term interest rate but also the inflation, are easily accommodated in our model.
Structural-Based Optimizations of the Marine-Originated Meridianin C as Glucose Uptake Agents by Inhibiting GSK-3β
Authors: Han Shuwen , Zhuang Chunlin , Zhou Wei , Chen Fener
Published: March 2021

Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) is a widely investigated molecular target for numerous diseases, and inhibition of GSK-3β activity has become an attractive approach for the treatment of diabetes. Meridianin C, an indole-based natural product isolated from marine Aplidium meridianum, has been reported as a potent GSK-3β inhibitor. In the present study, applying the structural-based optimization strategy, the pyrimidine group of meridianin C was modified by introducing different substituents based on the 2-aminopyrimidines-substituted pyrazolo pyridazine scaffold. Among them, compounds B29 and B30 showed a much higher glucose uptake than meridianin C (<5%) and the positive compound 4-benzyl-2-methyl-1,2,4-thiadiazolidine-3,5-dione (TDZD-8, 16%), with no significant toxicity against HepG2 cells at the same time. Furthermore, they displayed good GSK-3β inhibitory activities (IC50 = 5.85; 24.4 μM). These results suggest that these meridianin C analogues represent novel lead compounds with therapeutic potential for diabetes.
Dieckol Ameliorates Aβ Production via PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β Regulated APP Processing in SweAPP N2a Cell
Authors: Yoon Jeong-Hyun , Lee Nayoung , Youn Kumju , Jo Mi Ra , Kim Hyeung-Rak , Lee Dong-Seok , Ho Chi-Tang , Jun Mira
Published: March 2021

The proteolytic processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β-secretase (BACE1) and γ-secretase releases amyloid-β peptide (Aβ), which deposits in amyloid plaques and contributes to the initial causative events of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In the present study, the regulatory mechanism of APP processing of three phlorotannins was elucidated in Swedish mutant APP overexpressed N2a (SweAPP N2a) cells. Among the tested compounds, dieckol exhibited the highest inhibitory effect on both intra- and extracellular Aβ accumulation. In addition, dieckol regulated the APP processing enzymes, such as α-secretase (ADAM10), β-secretase, and γ-secretase, presenilin-1 (PS1), and their proteolytic products, sAPPα and sAPPβ, implying that the compound acts on both the amyloidogenic and non-amyloidogenic pathways. In addition, dieckol increased the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) at Ser473 and GSK-3β at Ser9, suggesting dieckol induced the activation of Akt, which phosphorylated GSK-3β. The specific phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 triggered GSK-3β activation and Aβ expression. In addition, co-treatment with LY294002 noticeably blocked the effect of dieckol on Aβ production, demonstrating that dieckol promoted the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, which in turn inactivated GSK-3β, resulting in the reduction in Aβ levels.
Preventive Analgesia, Hemodynamic Stability, and Pain in Vitreoretinal Surgery
Authors: Stasiowski Michał Jan , Pluta Aleksandra , Lyssek-Boroń Anita , Kawka Magdalena , Krawczyk Lech , Niewiadomska Ewa , Dobrowolski Dariusz , Rejdak Robert , Król Seweryn , Żak Jakub , Szumera Izabela , Missir Anna , Jałowiecki Przemysław , Grabarek Beniamin Oskar
Published: March 2021

Background and Objectives: Although vitreoretinal surgery (VRS) is most commonly performed under regional anaesthesia (RA), in patients who might be unable to cooperate during prolonged procedures, general anaesthesia (GA) with intraprocedural use of opioid analgesics (OA) might be worth considering. It seems that the surgical pleth index (SPI) can be used to optimise the intraprocedural titration of OA, which improves haemodynamic stability. Preventive analgesia (PA) is combined with GA to minimise intraprocedural OA administration. Materials and Methods: We evaluated the benefit of PA combined with GA using SPI-guided fentanyl (FNT) administration on the incidences of PIPP (postprocedural intolerable pain perception) and haemodynamic instability in patients undergoing VRS (p < 0.05). We randomly assigned 176 patients undergoing VRS to receive GA with SPI-guided FNT administration alone (GA group) or with preventive topical 2% proparacaine (topical anaesthesia (TA) group), a preprocedural peribulbar block (PBB) using 0.5% bupivacaine with 2% lidocaine (PBB group), or a preprocedural intravenous infusion of 1.0 g of metamizole (M group) or 1.0 g of paracetamol (P group). Results: Preventive PBB reduced the intraprocedural FNT requirement without influencing periprocedural outcomes (p < 0.05). Intraprocedural SPI-guided FNT administration during GA resulted in PIPP in 13.5% of patients undergoing VRS and blunted the periprocedural effects of preventive intravenous and regional analgesia with respect to PIPP and haemodynamic instability. Conclusions: SPI-guided FNT administration during GA eliminated the benefits of preventive analgesia in the PBB, TA, M, and P groups following VRS.
Bell’s Palsy—Retroauricular Pain Threshold
Authors: Kopitović Aleksandar , Katanić Filip , Kalember Sandro , Simić Svetlana , Vico Nina , Sekulić Slobodan
Published: March 2021

Background and objectives: Non-motor symptoms in the form of increased sensitivity are often associated with the onset of idiopathic Bell’s palsy (IBP). The aims were to determine whether the pain threshold in the retroauricular regions (RAR) in IBP patients and the time of its occurrence is related to IBP severity. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among 220 respondents (142 IBP patients, 78 healthy subjects (HS)). The degree of IBP was graded using the House–Brackmann and Sunnybrook Grading Scales (II—mild dysfunction, VI—total paralysis), whereas the pain thresholds were measured using the digital pressure algometer. Results: We found no difference in the degree of the pain threshold between the right and left RAR in the HS group. IBP patients belonging to groups II, III, IV, and V had lower pain thresholds in both RARs than HS and IBP patients belonging to group VI. There was no difference in the degree of pain threshold in RAR between the affected and unaffected side in IBP patients. The incidence of retroauricular pain that precedes paralysis and ceases after its occurrence in groups II and III of IBP patients is noticeably lower and the incidence of retroauricular pain that occurred only after the onset of paralysis is more frequent. Also, we found that the incidence of retroauricular pain that precedes paralysis and ceases after its occurrence in groups V and VI of IBP patients was more frequent. Conclusions: The degree of pain threshold lowering in RAR (bilaterally) is inversely related to the severity of IBP. We suggest that the occurrence of retroauricular pain before the onset of facial weakness is associated with higher severity of IBP while the occurrence after the onset is associated with lower severity of IBP.
A Voxel-Wise Meta-Analysis on the Cerebellum in Essential Tremor
Authors: Mavroudis Ioannis , Petrides Foivos , Karantali Eleni , Chatzikonstantinou Symela , McKenna Jack , Ciobica Alin , Iordache Alin-Constantin , Dobrin Romeo , Trus Constantin , Kazis Dimitrios
Published: March 2021

Background and Objectives: Essential tremor is a chronic progressive neurological condition. The clinical presentation of essential tremor is heterogeneous and includes involuntary tremor on hands or arms and progressively on head, jaw, and voice. More extensive and complex symptoms may also be noticed in several patients. Many studies have been carried out to identify biomarkers to help the diagnosis, however, all the efforts have not shown any substantial results yet. Materials and Methods: Here, we aimed to perform a voxel-based meta-analysis using a dedicated cerebellar mask to clarify whether the results from the previous studies are robust and have any clinical significance. We included studies with a total of 377 essential tremor patients and 338 healthy control individuals. Results: A significant regional decrease in the volume of the gray matter was detected in the right cerebellar hemispheric lobule IV/V, and in the cerebellar vermic lobule IV/V. Conclusions: This is the first study focused on the cerebellum and using a specific cerebellar mask, which increases the sensitivity. It showed regional statistically significant changes that could not be seen in the whole-brain analysis.
Role of Clinical-Demographic Data in Survival Rates of Advanced Laryngeal Cancer
Authors: Allegra Eugenia , Bianco Maria Rita , Ralli Massimo , Greco Antonio , Angeletti Diletta , de Vincentiis Marco
Published: March 2021

Background and Objectives: Laryngeal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the upper aerodigestive tract, and tobacco and alcohol habits are the most relevant risk factors. The role of these risk factors in the incidence of laryngeal carcinomas is well known, yet only a few studies have been conducted on their role as risk factors of prognosis. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of clinical–demographic data on overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and disease-specific survival (DSS) in patients with advanced-stage laryngeal cancer (Stage III–IV) who underwent total laryngectomy. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was carried out on patients with Stage III–IV laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated with total laryngectomy between 2004 and 2014. For each patient, clinical and anamnestic data were collected and collated in a database, including alcohol and smoking habits. Results: Considering the variable age, family history, alcohol, grading, subsite, stage, pT stage, pN stage, and adjuvant therapy, no statistical significance was found for five-year OS. Smoking was the only variable that was statistically significant (p = 0.0043). A relevant difference was noted in the five-year DFS between pN-negative and pN-positive tumors (74.3% vs. 55.26%, respectively; p = 0.056), and a statistically significant difference was found between non- and ≤20 cigarettes/day smokers and heavy smokers (77.78% vs. 53.66%, respectively; p = 0.021). The five-year disease-specific survival rate was 68.83%, and a significant difference was detected for the smoking and pN stage variables. Heavy smokers (43.90% died vs. 16.67% of the non- and ≤20 cigarettes/day smokers; p = 0.0057) and pN-positive (42.1% died vs. 20.51% of the pN-negative patients; p = 0.042) patients had a worse prognosis. Conclusion: Smoking in our study was found to be an important independent risk factor for worse OS and DSS in patients with advanced laryngeal cancer.
Substrate-Independent, Regenerable Anti-Biofouling Coating for Polymeric Membranes
Authors: Zhang Juan , Wang Guang , Zhang Jianhua , Xu Zhiguang , Zhao Yan , Wang Yichao , She Fenghua , Gray Stephen , Kong Lingxue
Published: March 2021

Biofouling is a common but significant issue in the membrane process as it reduces permeate flux, increases energy costs, and shortens the life span of membranes. As an effective antibacterial agent, a small amount of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) immobilized on membrane surfaces will alleviate the membrane from biofouling. However, loading AgNPs on the membrane surface remains a challenge due to the low loading efficiency or the lack of bonding stability between AgNPs and the membrane surface. In this study, a substrate-independent method is reported to immobilize silver nanoparticles on polymeric membrane surfaces by firstly modifying the membrane surface with functional groups and then forming silver nanoparticles in situ. The obtained membranes had good anti-biofouling properties as demonstrated from disk diffusion and anti-biofouling tests. The silver nanoparticles were stably immobilized on the membrane surfaces and easily regenerated. This method is applicable to various polymeric micro-, ultra-, nano-filtration and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes.
Enhanced Extracellular Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles by Soluble Extracts from Escherichia coli Transformed with Rhizobium tropici Phytochelatin Synthase Gene
Authors: Yuan Qunying , Bomma Manjula , Xiao Zhigang
Published: March 2021

Phytochelatins, the enzymatic products of phytochelatin synthase, play a principal role in protecting the plants from heavy metal and metalloid toxicity due to their ability to scavenge metal ions. In the present study, we investigated the capacity of soluble intracellular extracts from E. coli cells expressing R. tropici phytochelatin synthase to synthesize gold nanoparticle. We discovered that the reaction mediated by soluble extracts from the recombinant E. coli cells had a higher yield of gold nanoparticles, compared to that from the control cells. The compositional and morphological properties of the gold nanoparticles synthesized by the intracellular extracts from recombinant cells and control cells were similar. In addition, this extracellular nanoparticle synthesis method produced purer gold nanoparticles, avoiding the isolation of nanoparticles from cellular debris when whole cells are used to synthesize nanoparticles. Our results suggested that phytochelatins can improve the efficiency of gold nanoparticle synthesis mediated by bacterial soluble intracellular extracts, and the potential of extracellular nanoparticle synthesis platform for the production of nanoparticles in large quantity and pure form is worth further investigation.
Studying the Thermally Activated Processes Operating during Deformation of hcp and bcc Mg–Li Metal-Matrix Composites
Authors: Trojanová Zuzanka , Drozd Zdeněk , Lukáč Pavel , Džugan Ján
Published: March 2021

Stress-relaxation tests were performed during plastic deformation at room temperature of three magnesium Mg–Li alloys reinforced with 10 vol% of short Saffil fibers. For comparison, the composite with the Mg matrix was studied. The time dependencies of the stress decrease were analyzed with the aim to determine the activation volume and the main types of thermally activated processes occurring during plastic flow. The Mg4Li matrix alloy exhibited the hcp structure, while the composite with the Mg12Li matrix alloy had the bcc structure. The third alloy, Mg8Li, combined both phases, hcp and bcc. The stress acting in the matrix was divided into two components: the internal stress and the effective stress. Activation volume and stress-sensitivity parameters were determined as a function of effective stress and strain. While the values of the activation volume depending on the effective stress lay on one “master” curve, the strain dependence was different for all materials. The main thermally activated process in the hcp structure was the dislocation motion in the noncompact planes, while in the bcc structure, massive recovery processes connected with an increase in dislocations were identified.
Cross-Species Comparison of Metabolomics to Decipher the Metabolic Diversity in Ten Fruits
Authors: Qi Jinwei , Li Kang , Shi Yunxia , Li Yufei , Dong Long , Liu Ling , Li Mingyang , Ren Hui , Liu Xianqing , Fang Chuanying , Luo Jie
Published: March 2021

Fruits provide humans with multiple kinds of nutrients and protect humans against worldwide nutritional deficiency. Therefore, it is essential to understand the nutrient composition of various fruits in depth. In this study, we performed LC-MS-based non-targeted metabolomic analyses with ten kinds of fruit, including passion fruit, mango, starfruit, mangosteen, guava, mandarin orange, grape, apple, blueberry, and strawberry. In total, we detected over 2500 compounds and identified more than 300 nutrients. Although the ten fruits shared 909 common-detected compounds, each species accumulated a variety of species-specific metabolites. Additionally, metabolic profiling analyses revealed a constant variation in each metabolite’s content across the ten fruits. Moreover, we constructed a neighbor-joining tree using metabolomic data, which resembles the single-copy protein-based phylogenetic tree. This indicates that metabolome data could reflect the genetic relationship between different species. In conclusion, our work enriches knowledge on the metabolomics of fruits, and provides metabolic evidence for the genetic relationships among these fruits.
Inhibition of Ganglioside Synthesis Suppressed Liver Cancer Cell Proliferation through Targeting Kinetochore Metaphase Signaling
Authors: Su Ting , Qin Xian-Yang , Dohmae Naoshi , Wei Feifei , Furutani Yutaka , Kojima Soichi , Yu Wenkui
Published: March 2021

The incidence and mortality of liver cancer, mostly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), have increased during the last two decades, partly due to persistent inflammation in the lipid-rich microenvironment associated with lifestyle diseases, such as obesity. Gangliosides are sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids known to be important in the organization of the membrane and membrane protein-mediated signal transduction. Ganglioside synthesis is increased in several types of cancers and has been proposed as a promising target for cancer therapy. Here, we provide evidence that ganglioside synthesis was increased in the livers of an animal model recapitulating the features of activation and expansion of liver progenitor-like cells and liver cancer (stem) cells. Chemical inhibition of ganglioside synthesis functionally suppressed proliferation and sphere growth of liver cancer cells, but had no impact on apoptotic and necrotic cell death. Proteome-based mechanistic analysis revealed that inhibition of ganglioside synthesis downregulated the expression of AURKA, AURKB, TTK, and NDC80 involved in the regulation of kinetochore metaphase signaling, which is essential for chromosome segregation and mitotic progression and probably under the control of activation of TP53-dependent cell cycle arrest. These data suggest that targeting ganglioside synthesis holds promise for the development of novel preventive/therapeutic strategies for HCC treatment.
Modeling of a Rope-Driven Piezoelectric Vibration Energy Harvester for Low-Frequency and Wideband Energy Harvesting
Authors: Zhang Jinhui , Lin Maoyu , Zhou Wei , Luo Tao , Qin Lifeng
Published: March 2021

In this work, a mechanical model of a rope-driven piezoelectric vibration energy harvester (PVEH) for low-frequency and wideband energy harvesting was presented. The rope-driven PVEH consisting of one low-frequency driving beam (LFDB) and one high-frequency generating beam (HFGB) connected with a rope was modeled as two mass-spring-damper suspension systems and a massless spring, which can be used to predict the dynamic motion of the LFDB and HFGB. Using this model, the effects of multiple parameters including excitation acceleration, rope margin and rope stiffness in the performance of the PVEH have been investigated systematically by numerical simulation and experiments. The results show a reasonable agreement between the simulation and experimental study, which demonstrates the validity of the proposed model of rope-driven PVEH. It was also found that the performance of the PVEH can be adjusted conveniently by only changing rope margin or stiffness. The dynamic mechanical model of the rope-driven PVEH built in this paper can be used to the further device design or optimization.
Assessing the Biofilm Formation Capacity of the Wine Spoilage Yeast Brettanomyces bruxellensis through FTIR Spectroscopy
Authors: Dimopoulou Maria , Kefalloniti Vasiliki , Tsakanikas Panagiotis , Papanikolaou Seraphim , Nychas George-John E.
Published: March 2021

Brettanomyces bruxellensis is a wine spoilage yeast known to colonize and persist in production cellars. However, knowledge on the biofilm formation capacity of B. bruxellensis remains limited. The present study investigated the biofilm formation of 11 B. bruxellensis strains on stainless steel coupons after 3 h of incubation in an aqueous solution. FTIR analysis was performed for both planktonic and attached cells, while comparison of the obtained spectra revealed chemical groups implicated in the biofilm formation process. The increased region corresponding to polysaccharides and lipids clearly discriminated the obtained spectra, while the absorption peaks at the specific wavenumbers possibly reveal the presence of β-glucans, mannas and ergosterol. Unsupervised clustering and supervised classification were employed to identify the important wavenumbers of the whole spectra. The fact that all the metabolic fingerprints of the attached versus the planktonic cells were similar within the same cell phenotype class and different between the two phenotypes, implies a clear separation of the cell phenotype; supported by the results of the developed classification model. This study represents the first to succeed at applying a non-invasive technique to reveal the metabolic fingerprint implicated in the biofilm formation capacity of B. bruxellensis, underlying the homogenous mechanism within the yeast species.
Metagenomic Snapshots of Viral Components in Guinean Bats
Authors: Hermida Lorenzo Roberto J. , Cadar Dániel , Koundouno Fara Raymond , Juste Javier , Bialonski Alexandra , Baum Heike , García-Mudarra Juan Luis , Hakamaki Henry , Bencsik András , Nelson Emily V. , Carroll Miles W. , Magassouba N’Faly , Günther Stephan , Schmidt-Chanasit Jonas , Muñoz Fontela César , Escudero-Pérez Beatriz
Published: March 2021

To prevent the emergence of zoonotic infectious diseases and reduce their epidemic potential, we need to understand their origins in nature. Bats in the order Chiroptera are widely distributed worldwide and are natural reservoirs of prominent zoonotic viruses, including Nipah virus, Marburg virus, and possibly SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we applied unbiased metagenomic and metatranscriptomic approaches to decipher the virosphere of frugivorous and insectivorous bat species captured in Guéckédou, Guinea, the epicenter of the West African Ebola virus disease epidemic in 2013–2016. Our study provides a snapshot of the viral diversity present in these bat species, with several novel viruses reported for the first time in bats, as well as some bat viruses closely related to known human or animal pathogens. In addition, analysis of Mops condylurus genomic DNA samples revealed the presence of an Ebola virus nucleoprotein (NP)-derived pseudogene inserted in its genome. These findings provide insight into the evolutionary traits of several virus families in bats and add evidence that nonretroviral integrated RNA viruses (NIRVs) derived from filoviruses may be common in bat genomes.
Effects of the Inclusion of Fermented Mulberry Leaves and Branches in the Gestational Diet on the Performance and Gut Microbiota of Sows and Their Offspring
Authors: Zhang Yuping , Yin Chang , Schroyen Martine , Everaert Nadia , Ma Teng , Zhang Hongfu
Published: March 2021

Fermented feed mulberry (FFM), being rich in dietary fiber, has not been fully evaluated to be used in sow’s diet. In this study, we investigated the effects of 25.5% FFM supplemented in gestation diets on the performance and gut microbiota of sows and their offspring. Results showed that the serum concentration of glucose, progesterone, and estradiol were not affected by the dietary treatment, while the level of serum insulin and fecal short chain fatty acid were both reduced in FFM group on gestation day 60 (G60, p < 0.05). Additionally, FFM increased both voluntary feed intake and weaning litter weight (p < 0.05), while decreased the losses of both Backfat thickness and bodyweight throughout lactation (p < 0.05). 16S rRNA sequencing showed FFM supplementation significantly increased the diversity and relative abundance of sows’ fecal microbiota on G60 (p < 0.05). The differential microbiota for sows from FFM group was that Bacteroidetes was increased on G60 while Firmicutes were decreased on Lactation day 7 (L7, p < 0.05), and which for the FFM piglets was that both unclassified_f_Lachnospiraceae on L0 and norank_f_Ruminococcaceae on L7 were increased (p < 0.05). In short, FFM can be recognized as a potential feed ingredient used in sow’s diet.
Editorial for Special Issue “Critical Metals in Hydrothermal Ores: Resources, Recovery, and Challenges”
Authors: Zhou Lingli , Fan Hongrui , Ulrich Thomas
Published: March 2021

The consumption of resources has rapidly increased over the last few decades, driven by the continuous growth of the global population and technological innovations [...]
Subcritical Water Extraction of Salvia miltiorrhiza
Authors: Kapalavavi Brahmam , Doctor Ninad , Zhang Baohong , Yang Yu
Published: March 2021

In this work, a green extraction technique, subcritical water extraction (SBWE), was employed to extract active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) from an important Chinese medicinal herb, Salvia miltiorrhiza (danshen), at various temperatures. The APIs included tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA, protocatechualdehyde, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid. Traditional herbal decoction (THD) of Salvia miltiorrhiza was also carried out for comparison purposes. Reproduction assay of herbal extracts obtained by both SBWE and THD were then conducted on Caenorhabditis elegans so that SBWE conditions could be optimized for the purpose of developing efficacious herbal medicine from Salvia miltiorrhiza. The extraction efficiency was mostly enhanced with increasing extraction temperature. The quantity of tanshinone I in the herbal extract obtained by SBWE at 150 °C was 370-fold higher than that achieved by THD extraction. Reproduction evaluation revealed that the worm reproduction rate decreased and the reproduction inhibition rate increased with elevated SBWE temperatures. Most importantly, the reproduction inhibition rate of the SBWE herbal extracts obtained at all four temperatures investigated was higher than that of traditional herbal decoction extracts. The results of this work show that there are several benefits of subcritical water extraction of medicinal herbs over other existing herbal medicine preparation techniques. Compared to THD, the thousand-year-old and yet still popular herbal preparation method used in herbal medicine, subcritical water extraction is conducted in a closed system where no loss of volatile active pharmaceutical ingredients occurs, although analyte degradation may happen at higher temperatures. Temperature optimization in SBWE makes it possible to be more efficient in extracting APIs from medicinal herbs than the THD method. Compared to other industrial processes of producing herbal medicine, subcritical water extraction eliminates toxic organic solvents. Thus, subcritical water extraction is not only environmentally friendly but also produces safer herbal medicine for patients.
Skin-Inspired Pressure Sensor with MXene/P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) as Active Layer for Wearable Electronics
Authors: Shen Xiao-Quan , Li Ming-Ding , Ma Jun-Peng , Shen Qun-Dong
Published: March 2021

Multi-functional electronic skin is of paramount significance for wearable electronics in health monitoring, medical analysis, and human-machine interfacing systems. In order to achieve the function of natural skin, mechanical sensing with high sensitivity is an important feature of electronic skin. Inspired by the spinosum structure under the skin, herein, we fabricate a new capacitive pressure sensor with two-dimensional transition-metal carbides and nitrides (MXene) and ferroelectric polymer (P(VDF-TrFE-CFE)) as an active layer and micropatterned Cr-Au deposited on polydimethylsiloxane as flexible electrodes. Such a method is facile, effective, easily operated, and low-cost. The device design provides great capacitive change as a consequence of large deformation under pressure. Benefiting from the randomly distributed microstructure and high dielectric constant of the active layer, the device demonstrates high sensitivity with great linearity (16.0 kPa−1 for less than 10 kPa), that is, a low detection limit of 8.9 Pa, and quick response. A series of dynamic physiological signals, including typing, knuckle motion, and voice recognition can be facilely detected, making it a competitive candidate in the field of wearable electronics.
Degradation Mechanism of Porous Metal-Organic Frameworks by In Situ Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Christodoulou Ioanna , Bourguignon Tom , Li Xue , Patriarche Gilles , Serre Christian , Marlière Christian , Gref Ruxandra
Published: March 2021

In recent years, Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have attracted a growing interest for biomedical applications. The design of MOFs should take into consideration the subtle balance between stability and biodegradability. However, only few studies have focused on the MOFs’ stability in physiological media and their degradation mechanism. Here, we investigate the degradation of mesoporous iron (III) carboxylate MOFs, which are among the most employed MOFs for drug delivery, by a set of complementary methods. In situ AFM allowed monitoring with nanoscale resolution the morphological, dimensional, and mechanical properties of a series of MOFs in phosphate buffer saline and in real time. Depending on the synthetic route, the external surface presented either well-defined crystalline planes or initial defects, which influenced the degradation mechanism of the particles. Moreover, MOF stability was investigated under different pH conditions, from acidic to neutral. Interestingly, despite pronounced erosion, especially at neutral pH, the dimensions of the crystals were unchanged. It was revealed that the external surfaces of MOF crystals rapidly respond to in situ changes of the composition of the media they are in contact with. These observations are of a crucial importance for the design of nanosized MOFs for drug delivery applications.
Cellular SPION Uptake and Toxicity in Various Head and Neck Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Balk Matthias , Haus Theresa , Band Julia , Unterweger Harald , Schreiber Eveline , Friedrich Ralf P. , Alexiou Christoph , Gostian Antoniu-Oreste
Published: March 2021

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) feature distinct magnetic properties that make them useful and effective tools for various diagnostic, therapeutic and theranostic applications. In particular, their use in magnetic drug targeting (MDT) promises to be an effective approach for the treatment of various diseases such as cancer. At the cellular level, SPION uptake, along with SPION-mediated toxicity, represents the most important prerequisite for successful application. Thus, the present study determines SPION uptake, toxicity and biocompatibility in human head and neck tumor cell lines of the tongue, pharynx and salivary gland. Using magnetic susceptibility measurements, microscopy, atomic emission spectroscopy, flow cytometry, and plasma coagulation, we analyzed the magnetic properties, cellular uptake and biocompatibility of two different SPION types in the presence and absence of external magnetic fields. Incubation of cells with lauric acid and human serum albumin-coated nanoparticles (SPIONLA-HSA) resulted in substantial particle uptake with low cytotoxicity. In contrast, uptake of lauric acid-coated nanoparticles (SPIONLA) was substantially increased but accompanied by higher toxicity. The presence of an external magnetic field significantly increased cellular uptake of both particles, although cytotoxicity was not significantly increased in any of the cell lines. SPIONs coated with lauric acid and/or human serum albumin show different patterns of uptake and toxicity in response to an external magnetic field. Consequently, the results indicate the potential use of SPIONs as vehicles for MDT in head and neck cancer.
Real Time Observation of Lithium Insertion into Pre-Cycled Conversion-Type Materials
Authors: Hwang Sooyeon , Su Dong
Published: March 2021

Conversion-type electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries experience significant structural changes during the first discharge–charge cycle, where a single particle is taken apart into a number of nanoparticles. This structural evolution may affect the following lithium insertion reactions; however, how lithiation occurs in pre-cycled electrode materials is elusive. In this work, in situ transmission electron microscopy was employed to see the lithium-induced structural and chemical evolutions in pre-cycled nickel oxide as a model system. The introduction of lithium ions induced the evolution of metallic nickel, with volume expansion as a result of a conversion reaction. After pre-cycling, the phase evolutions occurred in two separate areas almost at the same time. This is different from the first lithiation, where the phase change takes place successively, with a boundary dividing the reacted and unreacted areas. Structural changes were restricted at the areas having large amount of fluorine, implying the residuals from the decomposition of electrolytes may have hindered the electrochemical reactions. This work provides insights into phase and chemical evolutions in pre-cycled conversion-type materials, which govern electrochemical properties during operation.
HKUST-1@IL-Li Solid-state Electrolyte with 3D Ionic Channels and Enhanced Fast Li+ Transport for Lithium Metal Batteries at High Temperature
Authors: Li Man , Chen Tao , Song Seunghyun , Li Yang , Bae Joonho
Published: March 2021

The challenge of safety problems in lithium batteries caused by conventional electrolytes at high temperatures is addressed in this study. A novel solid electrolyte (HKUST-1@IL-Li) was fabricated by immobilizing ionic liquid ([EMIM][TFSI]) in the nanopores of a HKUST-1 metal–organic framework. 3D angstrom-level ionic channels of the metal–organic framework (MOF) host were used to restrict electrolyte anions and acted as “highways” for fast Li+ transport. In addition, lower interfacial resistance between HKUST-1@IL-Li and electrodes was achieved by a wetted contact through open tunnels at the atomic scale. Excellent high thermal stability up to 300 °C and electrochemical properties are observed, including ionic conductivities and Li+ transference numbers of 0.68 × 10−4 S·cm−1 and 0.46, respectively, at 25 °C, and 6.85 × 10−4 S·cm−1 and 0.68, respectively, at 100 °C. A stable Li metal plating/stripping process was observed at 100 °C, suggesting an effectively suppressed growth of Li dendrites. The as-fabricated LiFePO4/HKUST-1@IL-Li/Li solid-state battery exhibits remarkable performance at high temperature with an initial discharge capacity of 144 mAh·g−1 at 0.5 C and a high capacity retention of 92% after 100 cycles. Thus, the solid electrolyte in this study demonstrates promising applicability in lithium metal batteries with high performance under extreme thermal environmental conditions.