bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Local and Systemic IL-7 Concentration in Gastrointestinal-Tract Cancers
Authors: Bednarz-Misa Iwona , Diakowska Dorota , Krzystek-Korpacka Małgorzata
Published: June 2019

Background and objectives: Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is exploited in cancer immunotherapies although its status in solid tumors is largely unknown. We aimed to determine its systemic and local concentrations in esophageal (EC), gastric (GC), and colorectal (CRC) cancers. Materials and Methods: IL-7 was immunoenzymatically measured in paired surgical specimens of tumors and tumor-adjacent tissue (n = 48), and in the sera of 170 individuals (54 controls and 116 cancer patients). Results: IL-7 was higher in tumors as compared to noncancerous tissue in all cancers (mean difference: 29.5 pg/g). The expression ratio (tumor to normal) was 4.4-fold in GC, 2.2-fold in EC, and 1.7-fold in CRC. However, when absolute concentrations were compared, the highest IL-7 concentrations were in CRC, both when tumor and noncancerous tissue were analyzed. In CRC tumors, IL-7 was 2 and 1.5 times higher than in EC and GC tumors. In noncancerous CRC tissue, IL-7 was 2.3- and 2.8-fold higher than in EC and GC. IL-7 overexpression was more pronounced in Stage 3/4 and N1 cancers as a result of decreased cytokine expression in noncancerous tissue. Tumor location was a key factor in determining both local and systemic IL-7 concentrations. Serum IL-7 in CRC and EC was higher than in controls, GC, and patients with adenocarcinoma of gastric cardia (CC), but no significant correlation with the disease advancement could be observed. Conclusions: IL-7 protein is overexpressed in EC, GC, and CRC, but concentrations differ both in tumor and tumor-adjacent tissue with respect to tumor location. More advanced cancers have lower IL-7 concentrations in the immediate environment of the tumor. At the systemic level, IL-7 is elevated in CRC and EC, but not CC or GC. IL-7 dependence on the location of the primary tumor should be taken into account in future IL-7-based immunotherapies. Functional studies explaining a role of IL-7 in gastrointestinal cancers are needed.
Material Removal Characteristic of Laser Cladding Cobalt-Based Alloy in the Photochemical Process
Authors: Zeng Xi , Li Zhuo , Xi Fengfei , Ji Shiming , Qiu Lei , Shi Meng , Zheng Qianqian , Qiu Wenbin
Published: June 2019

Cobalt-based alloy materials, widely used for laser cladding, are difficult to process. To address this problem, and based on the analysis of the physicochemical properties of cobalt and its compounds, a method for removing cobalt-based alloy materials under photocatalytic conditions was proposed under the effect of ultraviolet photocatalysis and chemical corrosion. In this study, a material removal model under photocatalytic conditions was established, and the reaction principle of cobalt-based alloys under ultraviolet photocatalysis and chemical corrosion conditions was described. We designed a corrosion solution configuration test and established a cobalt-based alloy processing test based on a pneumatic wheel test platform. The processing test proved that the combination of ultraviolet (UV) photocatalysis and Basic Yellow 40 + TiO2 chemical corrosion pretreatment can significantly increase the mechanical material removal rate of cobalt-based alloy materials and effectively reduce surface roughness. At the same time, processing efficiency can be increased over 40%. This showed that the new method is capable of performing well in the field of mold cobalt-based alloy coating processing in the future.
Connection Status Research of the Resistance Spot Welding Joint Based on a Rectangular Terminal Electrode
Authors: Zhang Xiaoqi , Wei Lingbo , Xu Guocheng , Wang Chunsheng
Published: June 2019

Rectangular terminal electrode is adopted in this research to conduct a resistance spot welding (RSW) process on stainless steel plate. The connection status of RSW joints under different welding current, time, and pressure were studied, and revealed how the rectangular terminal electrode shape and its dimensions influence the RSW joint dimensions. The process analysis results showed that the RSW nuggets welded with rectangular terminal electrode are normally elliptical in shape, and the dimensions of the long axis direction and the short axis direction have a certain proportion. As the welding current increases, the nuggets dimensions in long direction increase first and then decrease, and the internal grain structure also varies. As the welding time increases, the nugget size in long direction increase first and then steady and rarely splash occurs. As the welding pressure increase, the nugget dimensions in long direction increase first and then decrease, and the splash easily occurs under large welding pressure. However, when the welding pressure is too small, the unique adjacent double fusion nugget formed. By adopting proper welding parameters, the nugget size and quality can be controlled. This provides an important basis for the application of rectangular terminal electrode in RSW welding process.
A Thermoelastic Stress Analysis General Model: Study of the Influence of Biaxial Residual Stress on Aluminium and Titanium
Authors: Di Carolo Francesca , De Finis Rosa , Palumbo Davide , Galietti Umberto
Published: June 2019

All the studies on the thermoelastic behaviour of materials, including the revised higher order theory on the thermoelastic effect, are based on several assumptions that limit the application of such theory to the cases of isotropic materials in the presence of uniaxial residual stresses and undergoing uniaxial applied loads. These assumptions lead to some discrepancies in the description of the real thermoelastic behaviour of materials in the presence of residual stresses. In this work, by rewriting the thermoelastic equation in a different way, it was possible to study the behaviour of homogeneous and non-isotropic materials undergoing any loading conditions and residual stresses. Firstly, the error made by the calibration procedures of thermoelastic stress analysis (TSA) data in the presence of residual stresses has been investigated. Then, a statistical analysis was carried out to determine the minimum value of residual stress which would lead to significant and measurable variations in the thermoelastic signal. The simulations involved two non-ferrous metals: AA6082 and Ti6Al4V, which exhibit a specific thermoelastic behaviour.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Medium Carbon Steel Deposits Obtained via Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing Using Metal-Cored Wire
Authors: Lin Zidong , Goulas Constantinos , Ya Wei , Hermans Marcel J.M.
Published: June 2019

Wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) is a 3D metal printing technique based on the arc welding process. WAAM is considered to be suitable to produce large-scale metallic components by combining high deposition rate and low cost. WAAM uses conventional welding consumable wires as feedstock. In some applications of steel components, one-off spare parts need to be made on demand from steel grades that do not exist as commercial welding wire. In this research, a specifically produced medium carbon steel (Grade XC-45), metal-cored wire, equivalent to a composition of XC-45 forged material, was deposited with WAAM to produce a thin wall. The specific composition was chosen because it is of particular interest for the on-demand production of heavily loaded aerospace components. The microstructure, hardness, and tensile strength of the deposited part were studied. Fractography studies were conducted on the tested specimens. Due to the multiple thermal cycles during the building process, local variations in microstructural features were evident. Nevertheless, the hardness of the part was relatively uniform from the top to the bottom of the construct. The mean yield/ultimate tensile strength was 620 MPa/817 MPa in the horizontal (deposition) direction and 580 MPa/615 MPa in the vertical (build) direction, respectively. The elongation in both directions showed a significant difference, i.e., 6.4% in the horizontal direction and 11% in the vertical direction. Finally, from the dimple-like structures observed in the fractography study, a ductile fracture mode was determined. Furthermore, a comparison of mechanical properties between WAAM and traditionally processed XC-45, such as casting, forging, and cold rolling was conducted. The results show a more uniform hardness distribution and higher tensile strength of the WAAM deposit using the designed metal-cored wires.
High-Throughput Platform for Efficient Chemical Transfection, Virus Packaging, and Transduction
Authors: Zhang Jianxiong , Hu Yawei , Wang Xiaoqing , Liu Peng , Chen Xiaofang
Published: June 2019

Intracellular gene delivery is normally required to study gene functions. A versatile platform able to perform both chemical transfection and viral transduction to achieve efficient gene modification in most cell types is needed. Here we demonstrated that high throughput chemical transfection, virus packaging, and transduction can be conducted efficiently on our previously developed superhydrophobic microwell array chip (SMAR-chip). A total of 169 chemical transfections were successfully performed on the chip in physically separated microwells through a few simple steps, contributing to the convenience of DNA delivery and media change on the SMAR-chip. Efficiencies comparable to the traditional transfection in multi-well plates (~65%) were achieved while the manual operations were largely reduced. Two transfection procedures, the dry method amenable for the long term storage of the transfection material and the wet method for higher efficiencies were developed. Multiple transfections in a scheduled manner were performed to further increase the transfection efficiencies or deliver multiple genes at different time points. In addition, high throughput virus packaging integrated with target cell transduction were also proved which resulted in a transgene expression efficiency of >70% in NIH 3T3 cells. In summary, the SMAR-chip based high throughput gene delivery is efficient and versatile, which can be used for large scale genetic modifications in a variety of cell types.
The Importance of Mineralogical Knowledge in the Sustainability of Artisanal Gold Mining: A Mid-South Peru Case
Authors: Alfonso Pura , Anticoi Hernan , Yubero Teresa , Bascompta Marc , Henao Laura , Garcia-Valles Maite , Palacios Silvia , Yáñez Juan
Published: June 2019

Mineralogy and gold processing techniques from several mining areas of the Nazca-Ocoña gold belt, Mid-South Peru, were investigated to assess the efficiency of gold extraction methods in relation to their mineralogy. The deposits from this belt are intrusion gold related to mineralization in quartz veins. Native gold occurs as micrometric grains encapsulated in pyrite and in minor amounts in other sulfides and quartz. Electrum is found mainly in fractures of pyrite and attains up to 35 wt. % Ag. In addition to these occurrences, gold tellurides also occur and they are abundant in San Luis. Gold processing is carried out by amalgamation with mercury and/or cyanidation. The comparison of the gold grade in the mineralizations and in the residual tailings indicates that a significant amount of gold is not recovered using the mercury amalgamation process and also, in the case of the gold recovery by cyanidation, except when cement was added to the cyanide solution. This was due to an increase in the pH that favours the dissolution of the gold matrix. In the cyanidation process carried out in tailings previously treated with mercury, part of the mercury retained in them is released to the atmosphere or to the cyanidation fluids.
Tectonic and Thermal Controls on the Nano-Micro Structural Characteristic in a Cambrian Organic-Rich Shale
Authors: Zhu Hongjian , Ju Yiwen , Huang Cheng , Qi Yu , Ju Liting , Yu Kun , Li Wuyang , Su Xin , Feng Hongye , Qiao Peng
Published: June 2019

Until recently, the characteristics of nano-microscale structures in the naturally deformed, overmature, marine shales were poorly known. Thermally overmature Lujiaping shales in the complex tectonic area of the northeast part of the upper Yangtze area, China have experienced strong tectonic deformation and are considered as potentially important strata for shale gas exploration. Naturally deformed samples from the main source rocks are selected from the Lower Cambrian Lujiaping Formation in the Dabashan Thrust-fold Belt to investigate nanometer- to micrometer-sized structures. A combination of scanning electron microscope (SEM), low-pressure nitrogen adsorption (LPNA), and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) suggests that the pore types are dominantly fracture-related pores with a lesser abundance of mineral-hosted pores. These two pore types account for the 90% of total pore space. Organic matter (OM)-hosted pores are rare and make up a small part of the pore systems (less than 10%) due to high thermal maturity and intensive tectonic compression. Overall, the Lujiaping deformed, overmature samples have abundant nanometer- to micrometer-sized inorganic pores. High-resolution SEM images provide direct evidence of the formation of nano- and microsized structures such as OM–clay aggregates and silica nanograins. OM–clay aggregates are commonly observed in samples, which also exhibit abundant open microfractures and interparticle pores. Quartz can occur as silica nanograins and botryoids typically 20–100 nm in size, which may influence porosity through the creation or occupying interparticle pore space.
Electrochemistry and Photoredox Catalysis: A Comparative Evaluation in Organic Synthesis
Authors: Verschueren Rik H. , De Borggraeve Wim M.
Published: June 2019

This review provides an overview of synthetic transformations that have been performed by both electro- and photoredox catalysis. Both toolboxes are evaluated and compared in their ability to enable said transformations. Analogies and distinctions are formulated to obtain a better understanding in both research areas. This knowledge can be used to conceptualize new methodological strategies for either of both approaches starting from the other. It was attempted to extract key components that can be used as guidelines to refine, complement and innovate these two disciplines of organic synthesis.
Screening of Phenanthroquinolizidine Alkaloid Derivatives for Inducing Cell Death of L1210 Leukemia Cells with Negative and Positive P-glycoprotein Expression
Authors: Kubíčková Jana , Elefantová Katarína , Pavlikova Lucia , Cagala Martin , Šereš Mário , Šafář Peter , Marchalín Štefan , Ďurišová Kamila , Boháčová Viera , Sulova Zdena , Lakatoš Boris , Breier Albert , Olejníková Petra
Published: June 2019

We describe the screening of a set of cryptopleurine derivatives, namely thienoquinolizidine derivatives and (epi-)benzo analogs with bioactive phenanthroquinolizidine alkaloids that induce cytotoxic effects in the mouse lymphocytic leukemia cell line L1210. We used three variants of L1210 cells: i) parental cells (S) negative for P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression; ii) P-glycoprotein positive cells (R), obtained by selection with vincristine; iii) P-glycoprotein positive cells (T), obtained by stable transfection with a human gene encoding P-glycoprotein. We identified the most effective derivative 11 with a median lethal concentration of ≈13 μM in all three L1210 cell variants. The analysis of the apoptosis/necrosis induced by derivative 11 revealed that cell death was the result of apoptosis with late apoptosis characteristics. Derivative 11 did not induce a strong alteration in the proportion of cells in the G1, S or G2/M phase of the cell cycle, but a strong increase in the number of S, R and T cells in the subG1 phase was detected. These findings indicated that we identified the most effective inducer of cell death, derivative 11, and this derivative effectively induced cell death in S, R and T cells at similar inhibitory concentrations independent of P-gp expression.
The Properties and Tortilla Making of Corn Flour from Enzymatic Wet-Milling
Authors: Liu Jie , Yuan Tiantian , Wang Ruijuan , Liu Yawei , Fang Guihong
Published: June 2019

Corn flour was prepared by wet-milling with the treatment of neutral protease and the gelatinization, thermal and rheological properties were analyzed. Tortilla was prepared with enzyme treated corn flour (ECF) and additives (xanthan gum and cassava starch) and the properties were analyzed. Compared with dry-milling corn flour (DCF) and wet-milling corn flour (WCF), the ECF had less average particle size (16.74 μm), higher peak viscosity and higher final viscosity of 2997 cP and 3300 cP, respectively. The thermal properties showed that ECF had higher ∆H and lower To, Tp and Tc. The G′ of ECF gel (6%, w/w) was higher than that of DCF gel and WCF gel. Dynamic viscoelastic measurement indicated that the tortillas made of ECF had lower G′ and G″ over the frequency range (0.1–100 rad/s) after adding xanthan gum and cassava starch. The gel structure of tortillas made of ECF was homogeneous in distribution of pores. The gelatinization, thermal and rheological properties of corn flour were improved by addition of neutral protease. The addition of xanthan gum and cassava starch helped to make the tortilla with porous structure and good sensory quality.
A Candidate for Multitopic Probes for Ligand Discovery in Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry
Authors: Yoneyama Keiko , Suzuki Rina , Kuramochi Yusuke , Satake Akiharu
Published: June 2019

Multifunctionalized materials are expected to be versatile probes to find specific interactions between a ligand and a target biomaterial. Thus, efficient methods to prepare possible combinations of the functionalities is desired. The concept of dynamic combinatorial chemistry (DCC) is ideal for the generation of any possible combination, as well as screening for target biomaterials. Here, we propose a new molecular design of multitopic probes for ligand discovery in DCC. We synthesized a new Gable Porphyrin, GP1, having prop-2-yne groups as a scaffold to introduce various functional groups. GP1 is a bis(imidazolylporphyrinatozinc) compound connected through a 1,3-phenylene moiety, and it gives macrocycles spontaneously and quantitatively by strong imidazole-to-zinc complementary coordination. Some different types of functional groups were introduced into GP1 in high yields. Formation of heterogeneous macrocycles composed of GP1 derivatives having different types of substituents was accomplished under equilibrium conditions. These results promise that enormous numbers of macrocycles having various functional groups can be provided when the kinds of GP components increase. These features are desirable for DCC, and the present system using GP1 is a potential candidate to provide a dynamic combinatorial library of multitopic probes to discover specific interactions between a ligand and a biomaterial.
Avocado Oil: Characteristics, Properties, and Applications
Authors: Flores Marcos , Saravia Carolina , Vergara Claudia , Avila Felipe , Valdés Hugo , Ortiz-Viedma Jaime
Published: June 2019

Avocado oil has generated growing interest among consumers due to its nutritional and technological characteristics, which is evidenced by an increase in the number of scientific articles that have been published on it. The purpose of the present research was to discuss the extraction methods, chemical composition, and various applications of avocado oil in the food and medicine industries. Our research was carried out through a systematic search in scientific databases. Even though there are no international regulations concerning the quality of avocado oil, some authors refer to the parameters used for olive oil, as stated by the Codex Alimentarius or the International Olive Oil Council. They indicate that the quality of avocado oil will depend on the quality and maturity of the fruit and the extraction technique in relation to temperature, solvents, and conservation. While the avocado fruit has been widely studied, there is a lack of knowledge about avocado oil and the potential health effects of consuming it. On the basis of the available data, avocado oil has established itself as an oil that has a very good nutritional value at low and high temperatures, with multiple technological applications that can be exploited for the benefit of its producers.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of NH2-Sulfonyl Oseltamivir Analogues as Influenza Neuraminidase Inhibitors
Authors: Hu Yaping , Chen Binfeng , Lei Zaiqiang , Zhao Hongqian , Zhu Hongxi , Quan Peng , Tian Yongshou
Published: June 2019

A series of NH2-sulfonyl oseltamivir analogues were designed, synthesized, and their inhibitory activities against neuraminidase from H5N1 subtype evaluated. The results indicated that the IC50 value of compound 4a, an oseltamivir analogue via methyl sulfonylation of C5-NH2, was 3.50 μM. Molecular docking simulations suggested that 4a retained most of the interactions formed by oseltamivir carboxylate moieties and formed an additional hydrogen bond with the methylsulfonyl group. Meanwhile, 4a showed high stability towards human liver microsomes. More importantly, 4a without basic moieties is not a zwitterion as reported on the general structure of neuraminidase inhibitors. This research will provide valuable reference for the research of new types of neuraminidase inhibitors.
Bioactive Dimeric Abietanoid Peroxides from the Bark of Cryptomeria japonica
Authors: Chang Chi-I , Chen Cheng-Chi , Chen Chiy-Rong , Wu Ming-Der , Cheng Ming-Jen , Sung Ping-Jyun , Kuo Yueh-Hsiung
Published: June 2019

Three new dimeric abietane-type diterpenoids, abieta-6,8,11,13-tetraen-12-yl 12-hydroxyabieta-8,11,13-trien-7α-yl peroxide (1), abieta-6,8,11,13-tetraen-12-yl 12-hydroxyabieta-8,11,13-trien-7β-yl peroxide (2), and 12-hydroxyabieta-8,11,13-trien-7β-yl 7-oxoabieta-5,8,11,13-tetraen-12-yl peroxide (3), together with four known abietane-type diterpenoids (4–7) were isolated from the methanol extract of the bark of Cryptomeria japonica. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and comparison of NMR data with those of known analogues. At a concentration of 50 μM, compounds 1, 2, and 3 showed 26.2%, 23.6%, and 35.7% inhibition towards xanthine oxidase enzyme, respectively. In addition, compound 3 also showed 24.9% inhibition toward angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE).
A Simple HPLC Method for the Quantitative Determination of Silybin in Rat Plasma: Application to a Comparative Pharmacokinetic Study on Commercial Silymarin Products
Authors: Ha Eun-Sol , Han Dong-Gyun , Seo Seong-Wook , Kim Ji-Min , Lee Seon-Kwang , Sim Woo-Yong , Yoon In-Soo , Kim Min-Soo
Published: June 2019

Silybin (SBN) is a major active constituent of silymarin, a mixture of flavonoids found in fruits and seeds of milk thistle. The aim of this study was to describe a simple bioanalytical method for quantifying SBN in rat plasma. A simple protein deproteinization procedure with acetonitrile (ACN) was employed for plasma sample preparation. A reversed column and gradient elution of a mobile phase (mixture of phosphate buffer (pH 5.0) and ACN) were used for chromatographic separation. The selectivity, linearity (50–5000 ng/mL), precision, accuracy, recovery, matrix effect, and stability for this method were validated as per the current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines. Our method for SBN was applied to a comparative pharmacokinetic study on four different commercial silymarin products. This in vivo rat study demonstrated that product #4 significantly enhanced the relative oral bioavailability of SBN, as compared to product #1–3. Therefore, the bioanalytical method proposed herein could serve as a promising alternative for preclinical pharmacokinetic studies on silymarin products and, by extension, clinical use after partial modification and validation.
Rubus ulmifolius Schott as a Novel Source of Food Colorant: Extraction Optimization of Coloring Pigments and Incorporation in a Bakery Product
Authors: da Silva Liliana Primo , Pereira Eliana , Prieto Miguel A. , Simal-Gandara Jesus , Pires Tânia C.S.P. , Alves Maria José , Calhelha Ricardo , Barros Lillian , Ferreira Isabel C.F.R.
Published: June 2019

(1) Background: Color has been considered to be the flashiest attribute of foodstuffs and researchers have shown a great interest in the extraction of pigmented compounds from vegetal products, with the purpose to provide alternative counterparts to the food industry; (2) Methods: This study aimed to explore Rubus ulmifolius Schott fruits as a potential source of anthocyanins, optimizing the extraction method, evaluating the bioactivity and incorporating the rich extract into a bakery food product; (3) Results: After the extraction optimization, results showed R. ulmifolius fruits to be a great source of anthocyanins, obtaining an amount of 33.58 mg AT/g E, with an extraction yield of 62.08%. The rich anthocyanin extract showed antitumor and antimicrobial potential in some tumor cell lines and strains, respectively, as well as the absence of toxicity; (4) Conclusions: The extract when incorporated in a bakery product showed a good coloring capacity, maintaining the nutritional value, revealing its use to be a great approach for replacing artificial colorants.
Graphene-Based Nanomaterials in Soil: Ecotoxicity Assessment Using Enchytraeus crypticus Reduced Full Life Cycle
Authors: Mendonça Monique C. P. , Rodrigues Natália P. , de Jesus Marcelo B. , Amorim Mónica J. B.
Published: June 2019

Graphene-based nanomaterials (GBNs) possess unique physicochemical properties, allowing a wide range of applications in physical, chemical, and biomedical fields. Although GBNs are broadly used, information about their adverse effects on ecosystem health, especially in the terrestrial environment, is limited. Therefore, this study aims to assess the toxicity of two commonly used derivatives of GBNs, graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), in the soil invertebrate Enchytraeus crypticus using a reduced full life cycle test. At higher exposure concentrations, GO induced high mortality and severe impairment in the reproduction rate, while rGO showed little adverse effect up to 1000 mg/kg. Collectively, our body of results suggests that the degree of oxidation of GO correlates with their toxic effects on E. crypticus, which argues against generalization on GBNs ecotoxicity. Identifying the key factors affecting the toxicity of GBNs, including ecotoxicity, is urgent for the design of safe GBNs for commercial purposes.
Flat-Band in Pyrochlore Oxides: A First-Principles Study
Authors: Hase Izumi , Yanagisawa Takashi , Kawashima Kenji
Published: June 2019

Using a first-principles electronic band calculation, we obtained a quasi flat-band near the Fermi level for the six pyrochlore oxides, A2B2O7. These quasi flat-bands are mostly characterized by the s-orbitals of the A-site. The band structures of these oxides are well described by the non-interacting Mielke model. Spin-polarized calculations showed that the ground state of these compounds was ferromagnetic after appropriate carrier doping, despite the absence of the magnetic element.
Prevention and Treatment of Sarcopenic Obesity in Women
Authors: Petroni Maria L. , Caletti Maria T. , Dalle Grave Riccardo , Bazzocchi Alberto , Aparisi Gómez Maria P. , Marchesini Giulio
Published: June 2019

Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is referred to as the combination of obesity with low skeletal muscle mass and function. However, its definition and diagnosis is debated. SO represents a sizable risk factor for the development of disability, possibly with a worse prognosis in women. The present narrative review summarizes the current evidence on pharmacological, nutrition and exercise strategies on the prevention and/or treatment of SO in middle-aged and older-aged women. A literature search was carried out in Medline and Google Scholar between 29th January and 14th March 2019. Only controlled intervention studies on mid-age and older women whose focus was on the prevention and/or treatment of sarcopenia associated with obesity were included. Resistance training (RT) appears effective in the prevention of all components of SO in women, resulting in significant improvements in muscular mass, strength, and functional capacity plus loss of fat mass, especially when coupled with hypocaloric diets containing at least 0.8 g/kg body weight protein. Correction of vitamin D deficit has a favorable effect on muscle mass. Treatment of SO already established is yet unsatisfactory, although intense and prolonged RT, diets with higher (1.2 g/kg body weight) protein content, and soy isoflavones all look promising. However, further confirmatory research and trials combining different approaches are required.
Allium porrum Extract Decreases Effector Cell Degranulation and Modulates Airway Epithelial Cell Function
Authors: Benedé Sara , Gradillas Ana , Villalba Mayte , Batanero Eva
Published: June 2019

Allium genus plants, such as leek (Allium porrum), are rich sources of anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant secondary metabolites; this is of interest because it demonstrates their suitability as pharmacological alternatives for inflammatory processes, including allergy treatment. The composition of methanolic leek extract (LE) was analyzed by GC–MS and LC–IT/MS, and the total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity were quantified by colorimetric methods. Its pharmacological potential was analyzed in human bronchial epithelial Calu-3 cells, human mast cells LAD2, and humanized rat basophiles RBL-2H3. LE exhibited a cytotoxic effect on Calu-3 cells and HumRBL-2H3 cells only at high concentrations and in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, LE decreased the degranulation of LAD2 and HumRBL-2H3 cells. LE treatment also significantly prevented alterations in transepithelial electrical resistance values and mRNA levels of glutathione-S-transferase (GST), c-Jun, and NFκB after treatment with H2O2 in ALI-cultured Calu-3 cells. Finally, ALI-cultured Calu-3 cells treated with LE showed lower permeability to Ole e 1 compared to untreated cells. A reduction in IL-6 secretion in ALI-cultured Calu-3 cells treated with LE was also observed. In summary, the results obtained in this work suggest that A. porrum extract may have potential anti-allergic effects due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study provides several important insights into how LE can protect against allergy.
Impact of Percent Body Fat on All-Cause Mortality among Adequate Dialysis Patients with and without Insulin Resistance: A Multi-Center Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Duong Tuyen Van , Wong Te-Chih , Chen Hsi-Hsien , Chen Tso-Hsiao , Hsu Yung-Ho , Peng Sheng-Jeng , Kuo Ko-Lin , Liu Hsiang-Chung , Lin En-Tzu , Yang Shwu-Huey
Published: June 2019

The association between body fat and mortality in hemodialysis patients remains controversial. We examined the effect of percent body fat (PBF) on all-cause mortality among adequate hemodialysis patients with and without insulin resistance (IR). A prospective cohort study was conducted on 365 adequate hemodialysis patients (equilibrated Kt/V ≥ 1.2) from seven hospitals. Patients’ characteristics and clinical and biochemical parameters were assessed at baseline between September 2013 and April 2017. Patients were followed up for all-cause mortality until April 2018. The median value of homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR) was used to classify IR. Cox proportional hazard models were utilized to examine predictors of all-cause mortality. During 1.4 (1.0–3.2) years of follow-up, 46 patients died. In patients with IR (HOMA-IR ≥ 5.18), PBF was significantly higher in the survival group than in the death group (31.3 ± 9.0 vs. 25.4 ± 8.2, p = 0.005). After controlling for confounding factors, PBF was significantly associated with lower risk for all-cause mortality in patients with IR (hazard ratio, 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.89–1.00; p = 0.033). The association was not observed in patients without IR. In conclusion, percent body fat shows a protective effect on survival in hemodialysis patients with IR.
Maternal Dietary Patterns Are Associated with Pre-Pregnancy Body Mass Index and Gestational Weight Gain: Results from the “Mamma & Bambino” Cohort
Authors: Maugeri Andrea , Barchitta Martina , Favara Giuliana , La Rosa Maria Clara , La Mastra Claudia , Magnano San Lio Roberta , Agodi Antonella
Published: June 2019

The present study investigated the association of maternal dietary patterns with pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and total gestational weight gain (GWG), using data of 232 women from the “Mamma & Bambino” cohort. Dietary patterns were derived by a food frequency questionnaire and principal component analysis. Self-reported pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG were calculated according to the World Health Organization and Institute of Medicine guidelines, respectively. The adherence to the “Western” dietary pattern—characterized by high intake of red meat, fries, dipping sauces, salty snacks and alcoholic drinks—was associated with increased GWG (β = 1.217; standard error [SE] = 0.487; p = 0.013), especially among obese women (β = 7.363; SE = 1.808; p = 0.005). In contrast, the adherence to the “prudent” dietary pattern—characterized by high intake of boiled potatoes, cooked vegetables, legumes, pizza and soup—was associated with reduced pre-pregnancy BMI (β = −0.631; SE = 0.318; p-trend = 0.038). Interestingly, the adherence to this pattern was positively associated with GWG among underweight (β = 4.127; SE = 1.722; p = 0.048), and negatively among overweight and obese individuals (β = −4.209; SE = 1.635; p = 0.016 and β = −7.356; SE = 2.304; p = 0.031, respectively). Our findings point out that the promotion of a healthy diet might represent a potential preventive strategy against inadequate weight gain, even during the periconceptional period.
A New Light on Vitamin D in Obesity: A Novel Association with Trimethylamine-N-Oxide (TMAO)
Authors: Barrea Luigi , Muscogiuri Giovanna , Annunziata Giuseppe , Laudisio Daniela , de Alteriis Giulia , Tenore Gian Carlo , Colao Annamaria , Savastano Silvia
Published: June 2019

Vitamin D deficiency and obesity are two public health problems extensively exacerbated over the last years. Among the several mechanisms proposed to account for the complex interplay between vitamin D and obesity, one that has gained particular attention is related to the emerging role of obesity-related changes in gut microbiota and gut-derived metabolites, such as Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO). Vitamin D deficiency and high circulating TMAO levels are associated with body weight and the severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Considering the link of obesity with vitamin D on the one hand and obesity with TMAO on the other hand, and the central role of the liver in both the vitamin D and TMAO metabolism, the aim of this cross-sectional observational study was first, to confirm the possible inverse association between vitamin D and TMAO across different body mass index (BMI) classes and second, to investigate if this association could be influenced by the presence of NAFLD. One hundred and four adult subjects (50 males and 54 females; 35.38 ± 7.49 years) were enrolled. The fatty liver index (FLI) was used as a proxy for the diagnosis of NAFLD. Vitamin D deficiency was found in 65 participants (62.5%), while 33 subjects (31.7%) had insufficient levels, and the remaining subjects had sufficient levels of vitamin D. Subjects with both vitamin D deficiency and FLI-NAFLD had the highest TMAO levels (p < 0.001). By stratifying the sample population according to the BMI classes, vitamin D levels decreased significantly along with the increase of plasma TMAO concentrations, with the lowest vitamin D levels and highest TMAO, respectively, in class III obesity. Vitamin D levels showed significant opposite associations with circulating levels of TMAO (r = −0.588, p < 0.001), but this association was no longer significant after the adjustment for FLI values. The highest values of TMAO were significantly associated with the severity of obesity (OR 7.92; p < 0.001), deficiency of vitamin D (OR 1.62; p < 0.001), and FLI-NAFLD (OR 3.79; p < 0.001). The most sensitive and specific cut-off for vitamin D to predict the circulating levels of TMAO was ≤19.83 ng/mL (p < 0.001). In conclusion, our study suggests that high TMAO levels are associated with vitamin D deficiency and NAFLD. Further studies are required to investigate if there is a causality link or whether all of them are simply the consequence of obesity.
Recent Developments in Peptidyl Diaryl Phoshonates as Inhibitors and Activity-Based Probes for Serine Proteases
Authors: Maślanka Marta , Mucha Artur
Published: June 2019

This review presents current achievements in peptidyl diaryl phosphonates as covalent, specific mechanism-based inhibitors of serine proteases. Along three decades diaryl phosphonates have emerged as invaluable tools in fundamental and applicative studies involving these hydrolases. Such an impact has been promoted by advantageous features that characterize the phosphonate compounds and their use. First, the synthesis is versatile and allows comprehensive structural modification and diversification. Accordingly, reactivity and specificity of these bioactive molecules can be easily controlled by appropriate adjustments of the side chains and the leaving groups. Secondly, the phosphonates target exclusively serine proteases and leave other oxygen and sulfur nucleophiles intact. Synthetic accessibility, lack of toxicity, and promising pharmacokinetic properties make them good drug candidates. In consequence, the utility of peptidyl diaryl phosphonates continuously increases and involves novel enzymatic targets and innovative aspects of application. For example, conjugation of the structures of specific inhibitors with reporter groups has become a convenient approach to construct activity-based molecular probes capable of monitoring location and distribution of serine proteases.
Fluoroquinolone Amorphous Polymeric Salts and Dispersions for Veterinary Uses
Authors: Mesallati Hanah , Umerska Anita , Tajber Lidia
Published: June 2019

Enrofloxacin (ENRO) is a poorly soluble drug used in veterinary medicine. It differs from the more widely used fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin (CIP) by the presence of an ethyl substituent on its piperazine amino group. While a number of recent studies have examined amorphous composite formulations of CIP, little research has been conducted with ENRO in this area. Therefore, the main purpose of this work was to produce amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) of ENRO. The solid-state properties of these samples were investigated and compared to those of the equivalent CIP ASDs, and their water uptake behavior, solubility, dissolution, and antibacterial activity were assessed. Like CIP, X-ray amorphous solid dispersions were obtained when ENRO was ball milled with acidic polymers, whereas the use of neutral polymers resulted in semi-crystalline products. Proton transfer from the carboxylic acids of the polymers to the tertiary amine of ENRO’s piperazine group appears to occur in the ASDs, resulting in an ionic bond between the two components. Therefore, these ASDs can be referred to as amorphous polymeric salts (APSs). The glass transition temperatures of the APSs were significantly higher than that of ENRO, and they were also resistant to crystallization when exposed to high humidity levels. Greater concentrations were achieved with the APSs than the pure drug during solubility and dissolution studies, and this enhancement was sustained for the duration of the experiments. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of ENRO was not affected by APS formation, while the minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum bactericidal concentrations obtained with the APS containing hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate grade MG (HPMCAS-MG) were significantly lower than those of the pure drug. Therefore, APS formation is one method of improving the pharmaceutical properties of this drug.
Quantum Fisher Information and Entanglement of Moving Two Two-Level Atoms under the Influence of Environmental Effects
Authors: Anwar Syed Jamal , Usman M. , Ramzan M. , Khalid Khan M.
Published: June 2019

We have investigated numerically the dynamics of quantum Fisher information (QFI) and quantum entanglement (QE) of a two moving two-level atomic systems interacting with a coherent and thermal field in the presence of intrinsic decoherence (ID) and Kerr (non-linear medium) and Stark effects. The state of the entire system interacting with coherent and thermal fields is evaluated numerically under the influence of ID and Kerr (nonlinear) and Stark effects. QFI and von Neumann entropy (VNE) decrease in the presence of ID when the atomic motion is neglected. QFI and QE show an opposite response during its time evolution in the presence of a thermal environment. QFI is found to be more susceptible to ID as compared to QE in the presence of a thermal environment. The decay of QE is further damped at greater time-scales, which confirms the fact that ID heavily influences the system’s dynamics in a thermal environment. However, a periodic behavior of entanglement is observed due to atomic motion, which becomes modest under environmental effects. It is found that a non-linear Kerr medium has a prominent effect on the VNE but not on the QFI. Furthermore, it has been observed that QFI and QE decay soon under the influence of the Stark effect in the absence of atomic motion. The periodic response of QFI and VNE is observed for both the non-linear Kerr medium and the Stark effect in the presence of atomic motion. It is observed that the Stark, Kerr, ID, and thermal environment have significant effects during the time evolution of the quantum system.
Herbicide Resistance Management: Recent Developments and Trends
Authors: Beckie Hugh J. , Ashworth Michael B. , Flower Ken C.
Published: June 2019

This review covers recent developments and trends in herbicide-resistant (HR) weed management in agronomic field crops. In countries where input-intensive agriculture is practiced, these developments and trends over the past decade include renewed efforts by the agrichemical industry in herbicide discovery, cultivation of crops with combined (stacked) HR traits, increasing reliance on preemergence vs. postemergence herbicides, breeding for weed-competitive crop cultivars, expansion of harvest weed seed control practices, and advances in site-specific or precision weed management. The unifying framework or strategy underlying these developments and trends is mitigation of viable weed seeds into the soil seed bank and maintaining low weed seed banks to minimize population proliferation, evolution of resistance to additional herbicidal sites of action, and spread. A key question going forward is: how much weed control is enough to consistently achieve the goal of low weed seed banks? The vision for future HR weed management programs must be sustained crop production and profitability with reduced herbicide (particularly glyphosate) dependency.
Solvent- and Catalyst-free Synthesis, Hybridization and Characterization of Biobased Nonisocyanate Polyurethane (NIPU)
Authors: He Xin , Xu Xiaoling , Wan Qian , Bo Guangxu , Yan Yunjun
Published: June 2019

Nonisocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) is a research hotspot in polyurethane applications because it does not use phosgene. Herein, a novel method of solvent- and catalyst-free synthesis of a hybrid nonisocyanate polyurethane (HNIPU) is proposed. First, four diamines were used to react with ethylene carbonate to obtain four bis(hydroxyethyloxycarbonylamino)alkane (BHA). Then, BHA reacted with dimer acid under condensation in the melt to prepare four nonisocynate polyurethane prepolymers. Further, the HNIPUs were obtained by crosslinking prepolymers and resin epoxy and cured with the program temperature rise. In addition, four amines and two resin epoxies were employed to study the effects and regularity of HNIPUs. According to the results from thermal and dynamic mechanical analyses, those HNIPUs showed a high degree of thermal stability, and the highest 5% weight loss reached about 350 °C. More importantly, the utilization of these green raw materials accords with the concept of sustainable development. Further, the synthetic method and HNIPUs don’t need isocyanates, catalysts, or solvents.
Gaussian Process-Based Hybrid Model for Predicting Oxygen Consumption in the Converter Steelmaking Process
Authors: Jiang Sheng-Long , Shen Xinyue , Zheng Zhong
Published: June 2019

Oxygen is one of the most important energies used in converter steelmaking processes of integrated iron and steel works. Precisely forecasting oxygen consumption before processing can benefit process control and energy optimization. This paper assumes there is a linear relationship between the oxygen consumption and input materials, and random noises are caused by other unmeasurable materials and unobserved reactions. Then, a novel hybrid prediction model integrating multiple linear regression (MLR) and Gaussian process regression (GPR) is introduced. In the hybrid model, the MLR method is developed to figure the global trend of the oxygen consumption, and the GPR method is applied to explore the local fluctuation caused by noise. Additionally, to accelerate the computational speed on the practical data set, a K-means clustering method is devised to respectively train a number of GPR models. The proposed hybrid model is validated with the actual data collected from an integrated iron and steel work in China, and compared with benchmark prediction models including MLR, artificial neural network, support vector machine and standard GPR. The forecasting results indicate that the suggested model is able to not only produce satisfactory point forecasts, but also estimate accurate probabilistic intervals.
Single-Cell Receptor Quantification of an In Vitro Coculture Angiogenesis Model Reveals VEGFR, NRP1, Tie2, and PDGFR Regulation and Endothelial Heterogeneity
Authors: Chen Si , Imoukhuede P. I.
Published: June 2019

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, is essential for both normal development and numerous pathologies. Systems biology has offered a unique approach to study angiogenesis by profiling tyrosine kinase receptors (RTKs) that regulate angiogenic processes and computationally modeling RTK signaling pathways. Historically, this systems biology approach has been applied on ex vivo angiogenesis assays, however, these assays are difficult to quantify and limited in their potential of temporal analysis. In this study, we adopted a simple two-dimensional angiogenesis assay comprised of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and examined temporal dynamics of a panel of six RTKs and cell heterogeneity up to 17 days. We observed ~2700 VEGFR1 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1) per cell on 24-h-old cocultured HDF plasma membranes, which do not express VEGFR when cultured alone. We observed 4000–8100 VEGFR2 per cell on cocultured HUVEC plasma membranes throughout endothelial tube formation. We showed steady increase of platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFRs) on cocultured HDF plasma membranes, and more interestingly, 1900–2900 PDGFRβ per plasma membrane were found on HUVECs within the first six hours of coculturing. These quantitative findings will offer us insights into molecular regulation during angiogenesis and help assess in vitro tube formation models and their physiological relevance.