bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tribological Properties and Corrosion Resistance of Multilayer a-C:H:Ti Films at Different Target Currents
Authors: Huang Yaqi , Li Jia , Wang Xuhui , Liu Xiaohong , Li Hongxuan , Ren Pengwei , Sun Chufeng
Published: July 2023

To meet the requirements of friction and corrosion resistance performance of helicopter transmission bearings under harsh environments, Ti/TiN/Ti-DLC multilayer composite films were prepared on a 40Cr15Mo2VN substrate by a non-equilibrium magnetron sputtering technique. The effects of different titanium currents on the structure, mechanical properties, and friction properties of the films were investigated by SEM, Raman spectroscopy, and nanoindentation. Moreover, the tribological and corrosion resistance of developed films under acidic conditions were investigated. The results show that the sp3-C/sp2-C ratio in the films gradually decreases with increasing Ti current from 0 A to 2 A, leading to decreased hardness and elastic modulus. The bonding force of the DLC films also gradually increases with increasing Ti current and reaches the maximum value of 41.69 N at 2 A; the friction coefficient of the films gradually decreases under a load of 20 N. In summary, the best performance of thin film at Ti-2 A was compared with the corrosion and wear performance of thin film and substrate in acetic acid solution and aqueous solution at Ti-2 A. The wear amount of thin film and substrate in aqueous solution is significantly lower than in acetic acid solution, and the corrosion potential of thin film is higher than that of substrate in both solutions, which can play a protective role against the substrate.
Development of High-Entropy Shape-Memory Alloys: A Review
Authors: Fu Guoqiang , Liu Xinnuo , Yi Xiaoyang , Zhang Shangzhou , Cao Xinjian , Meng Xianglong , Gao Zhiyong , Wang Haizhen
Published: July 2023

High-entropy shape-memory alloys (HESMAs) exhibit unique properties, including high yield strength, a wide temperature range of phase transformation, and excellent thermal cycling stability, among others. Hence, they have broad prospects for research and application. Currently, various new high-entropy shape-memory alloys have been developed based on TiNi, Fe-based, Ti-based, and NiMn-based alloys. This article focuses on summarizing and analyzing the research status of various types of high-entropy shape-memory alloys, including their microstructure characteristics, martensitic phase transformation, and functional properties. The advantages and disadvantages of high-entropy shape-memory alloys compared to traditional shape-memory alloys are briefly discussed. Finally, based on the analysis of existing problems, future research prospects are proposed, hoping to provide assistance for the development and application of high-entropy shape-memory alloys in the future.
Wide Dual-Band Circularly Polarized Diecletric Resonator: Innovative Integration of a Single Hybrid Feed and Thin Grounded Metasurface
Authors: Kiyani Arslan , Asadnia Mohsen , Abbas Syed Muzahir , Esselle Karu P. , Mahmoud Abdelhady
Published: July 2023

This article presents an application of a grounded substrate-based metasurface for hosting dielectric resonators (DRs), enabling a wide dual-band circularly polarized (CP) operation. The antenna structure comprises centrally positioned rectangular DRs, one above the other, along with a 7 × 7 square-slotted metasurface. The metasurface and DRs are hosted above a grounded substrate, which is fed through a single coaxial feed placed at a specific angle, employing a modified upper probe of the coaxial feed. The proposed hybrid technique utilizes the combined benefits of the feed angle and a well-matched metasurface, resulting in performance improvement. Notably, a measured impedance bandwidth of 88.1% for |S11| is achieved within the frequency range of 4.0 GHz to 10.3 GHz. Furthermore, the antenna design exhibits two overlapping measured 3-dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidths: 23.62% from 4.25 GHz to 5.4 GHz and 5.12% from 7.6 GHz to 8 GHz. The peak gain of the antenna is measured at 8.4 dBic. Consequently, this innovative single-feed antenna design, characterized by its compact profile, holds significant potential for realizing multi-band operations. Furthermore, the developed antenna is well-suited for deployment in indoor radio links and INSAT applications.
Maternal Diet May Modulate Breast Milk Microbiota—A Case Study in a Group of Colombian Women
Authors: Londoño-Sierra Diana C. , Mesa Victoria , Guzmán Nathalia Correa , Bolívar Parra Laura , Montoya-Campuzano Olga I. , Restrepo-Mesa Sandra L.
Published: July 2023

There is increasing evidence that the diet and nutritional status of women during pregnancy and lactation can modulate the microbiota of their milk and, therefore, the microbiota of the infant. An observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was carried out in a group of lactating women. Dietary intake during gestation and the first trimester of lactation was evaluated, and the microbiota was analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing using the Illumina platform. Globally, Streptococcus spp. (32%), Staphylococcus spp. (17.3%), Corynebacterium spp. (5.1%) and Veillonella spp. (3.1%) were the predominant bacterial genera. The consumption of simple carbohydrates in gestation (rho = 0.55, p ≤ 0.01) and lactation (rho = 0.50, p ≤ 0.01) were positively correlated with Enterobacter spp. In lactation, a negative correlation was observed between the intake of simple carbohydrates and the genus Bifidobacterium spp. (rho = −0.51 p ≤ 0.01); furthermore, a positive correlation was identified between the intake of folic acid and Akkermansia spp. (rho = 0.47, p ≤ 0.01). Amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) associated with the delivery mode, employment relationship, the baby’s gender, birth weight, the Body Mass Index (BMI) of the breastfeeding woman, and gestational weight gain were recovered as covariates in a linear mixed model. The results of this research showed that the maternal nutritional status and diet of women during gestation and lactation could modulate the microbiota of breast milk.
Monocyte Activation and Ageing Biomarkers in the Development of Cardiovascular Ischaemic Events or Diabetes in People with HIV
Authors: Bernardino Jose I. , Alejos Belen , Rodriguez-Centeno Javier , Esteban-Cantos Andrés , Mora-Rojas Beatriz , Montejano Rocío , De Miguel Rosa , Montero-Alonso Marta , Ayerdi Oskar , Hernández-Gutierrez Cristina , Curran Adriá , Arribas Jose R. , Rodés Berta
Published: July 2023

We investigated whether blood telomere length (TL), epigenetic age acceleration (EAA), and soluble inflammatory monocyte cytokines are associated with cardiovascular events or diabetes (DM) in people living with HIV (PLHIV). This was a case–control study nested in the Spanish HIV/AIDS Cohort (CoRIS). Cases with myocardial infarction, stroke, sudden death, or diabetes after starting antiretroviral therapy were included with the available samples and controls matched for sex, age, tobacco use, pre-ART CD4 cell count, viral load, and sample time-point. TL (T/S ratio) was analysed by quantitative PCR and EAA with DNA methylation changes by next-generation sequencing using the Weidner formula. Conditional logistic regression was used to explore the association with cardiometabolic events. In total, 180 participants (94 cases (22 myocardial infarction/sudden death, 12 strokes, and 60 DM) and 94 controls) were included. Of these, 84% were male, median (IQR) age 46 years (40–56), 53% were current smokers, and 22% had CD4 count ≤ 200 cells/mm3 and a median (IQR) log viral load of 4.52 (3.77–5.09). TL and EAA were similar in the cases and controls. There were no significant associations between TL, EAA, and monocyte cytokines with cardiometabolic events. TL and EAA were mildly negatively correlated with sCD14 (rho = −0.23; p = 0.01) and CCL2/MCP-1 (rho = −0.17; p = 0.02). We found no associations between TL, EAA, and monocyte cytokines with cardiovascular events or diabetes. Further studies are needed to elucidate the clinical value of epigenetic biomarkers and TL in PLHIV.
Characterization of Growth-Promoting Activities of Consortia of Chlorpyrifos Mineralizing Endophytic Bacteria Naturally Harboring in Rice Plants—A Potential Bio-Stimulant to Develop a Safe and Sustainable Agriculture
Authors: Prodhan Md. Yeasin , Rahman Md. Bokhtiar , Rahman Aminur , Akbor Md. Ahedul , Ghosh Sibdas , Nahar Mst. Nur-E-Nazmun , Simo  , Shamsuzzoha Md. , Cho Kye Man , Haque Md. Azizul
Published: July 2023

Eighteen pesticide-degrading endophytic bacteria were isolated from the roots, stems, and leaves of healthy rice plants and identified through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Furthermore, biochemical properties, including enzyme production, dye degradation, anti-bacterial activities, plant-growth-promoting traits, including N-fixation, P-solubilization, auxin production, and ACC-deaminase activities of these naturally occurring endophytic bacteria along with their four consortia, were characterized. Enterobacter cloacae HSTU-ABk39 and Enterobacter sp. HSTU-ABk36 displayed inhibition zones of 41.5 ± 1.5 mm, and 29 ± 09 mm against multidrug-resistant human pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, respectively. FT-IR analysis revealed that all eighteen isolates were able to degrade chlorpyrifos pesticide. Our study confirms that pesticide-degrading endophytic bacteria from rice plants play a key role in enhancing plant growth. Notably, rice plants grown in pots containing reduced urea (30%) mixed with either endophytic bacterial consortium-1, consortium-2, consortium-3, or consortia-4 demonstrated an increase of 17.3%, 38.6%, 18.2%, and 39.1% yields, respectively, compared to the control plants grown in pots containing 100% fertilizer. GC–MS/MS analysis confirmed that consortia treatment caused the degradation of chlorpyrifos into different non-toxic metabolites, including 2-Hydroxy-3,5,6 trichloropyridine, Diethyl methane phosphonate, Phorate sulfoxide, and Carbonochloridic. Thus, these isolates could be deployed as bio-stimulants to improve crop production by creating a sustainable biological system.
Structural Modification and Biological Activity of Polysaccharides
Authors: Zhao Ting , Yang Min , Ma Lina , Liu Xinglong , Ding Qiteng , Chai Guodong , Lu Yang , Wei Hewei , Zhang Shuai , Ding Chuanbo
Published: July 2023

Natural polysaccharides are macromolecular substances with a wide range of biological activities. The structural modification of polysaccharides by chemical means can enhance their biological activity. This paper reviews the latest research reports on the chemical modification of natural polysaccharides. At present, the modification methods of polysaccharides mainly include sulfation, phosphorylation, carboxymethylation, socialization, methylation and acetylation. The chemical and physical structures of the modified polysaccharides were detected via ultraviolet spectroscopy, FT-IR, high-performance liquid chromatography, ultraviolet spectroscopy, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance and scanning electron microscopy. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that the modified polysaccharide has various biological activities, such as antioxidant, antitumor, immune regulation, antiviral, antibacterial and anticoagulant functions in vitro. This review provides fresh ideas for the research and application of polysaccharide structure modification.
Spiro-Flavonoids in Nature: A Critical Review of Structural Diversity and Bioactivity
Authors: Pecio Łukasz , Pecio Solomiia , Mroczek Tomasz , Oleszek Wiesław
Published: July 2023

Based on the literature data from 1973 to 2022, this work summarizes reports on spiro-flavonoids with a spiro-carbon at the center of their structure and how this affects their isolation methods, stereochemistry, and biological activity. The review collects 65 unique structures, including spiro-biflavonoids, spiro-triflavonoids, spiro-tetraflavonoids, spiro-flavostilbenoids, and scillascillin-type homoisoflavonoids. Scillascillin-type homoisoflavonoids comprise spiro[bicyclo[4.2.0]octane-7,3′-chromane]-1(6),2,4-trien-4′-one, while the other spiro-flavonoids contain either 2H,2′H-3,3′-spirobi[benzofuran]-2-one or 2′H,3H-2,3′-spirobi[benzofuran]-3-one in the core of their structures. Spiro-flavonoids have been described in more than 40 species of eight families, including Asparagaceae, Cistaceae, Cupressaceae, Fabaceae, Pentaphylacaceae, Pinaceae, Thymelaeaceae, and Vitaceae. The possible biosynthetic pathways for each group of spiro-flavonoids are summarized in detail. Anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities are the most important biological activities of spiro-flavonoids, both in vitro and in vivo. Our work identifies the most promising natural sources, the existing challenges in assigning the stereochemistry of these compounds, and future research perspectives.
Phytochemical Profiling, Antioxidant Activity, and Protective Effect against H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress of Carlina vulgaris Extract
Authors: Sowa Ireneusz , Mołdoch Jarosław , Dresler Sławomir , Kubrak Tomasz , Soluch Agata , Szczepanek Dariusz , Strzemski Maciej , Paduch Roman , Wójciak Magdalena
Published: July 2023

Carlina vulgaris is a little-understood plant with unexplored biological potential, and the papers regarding its chemical composition are scarce. In our study, for the first time, the phytochemical profile of the plant, focusing on polar metabolites, was established using modern chromatographic techniques including LC-HRMS-QTOF-CAD, UHPLC-PDA-MS. Phytochemical analysis revealed that the species is a rich source of polyphenolic components, with the most abundant being chlorogenic acid and C-glycosides of luteolin, including carlinoside, orientin, isoorientin, and C-glycosides of apigenin, schaftoside, isoschaftoside, and vitexin. Furthermore, we assessed the impact of the polyphenolic-rich fraction of C. vulgaris extracts on human skin fibroblasts using the MTT and NR assays. It was found that the extract was non-toxic and exhibited potent antioxidant activity in the cells subjected to induced oxidative stress. Additionally, it effectively protected the cells against H2O2-induced cytotoxicity. Our study contributes to the general trend of searching for new phytotherapeutics with potential applications in pharmacy and medicine. The results indicate that further exploration of C. vulgaris species is worthwhile, as they can serve as valuable plant material for cosmetic use.
Fungistatic Effect of Phthalide Lactones on Rhodotorula mucilaginosa
Authors: Gach Joanna , Olejniczak Teresa , Pannek Jakub , Boratyński Filip
Published: July 2023

Currently, there is an increasing number of cases of fungal infections caused by opportunistic strains of the yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, mainly in immunocompromised patients during hospitalization. The excessive use of antibiotics and azole compounds increases the risk of resistance to microorganisms. A new alternative to these drugs may be synthetic phthalide lactones with a structure identical to or similar to the natural ones found in celery plants, which show low toxicity and relatively high fungistatic activity. In the present study, the fungistatic activity of seven phthalide lactones was determined against R. mucilaginosa IHEM 18459. We showed that 3-n-butylidenephthalide, the most potent compound selected in the microdilution test, caused a dose-dependent decrease in dry yeast biomass. Phthalide accumulated in yeast cells and contributed to an increase in reactive oxygen species content. The synergistic effect of fluconazole resulted in a reduction in the azole concentration required for yeast inhibition. We observed changes in the color of the yeast cultures; thus, we conducted experiments to prove that the carotenoid profile was altered. The addition of lactones also triggered a decline in fatty acid methyl esters.
Biomedical Applications of Zirconia-Based Nanomaterials: Challenges and Future Perspectives
Authors: Bannunah Azzah M.
Published: July 2023

ZrO2 nanoparticles have received substantially increased attention in every field of life owing to their wide range of applications. Zirconium oxide is a commercially economical, non-hazardous, and sustainable metal oxide having diversified potential applications. ZrO2 NPs play a vast role in the domain of medicine and pharmacy such as anticancer, antibacterial, and antioxidant agents and tissue engineering owing to their reliable curative biomedical applications. In this review article, we address all of the medical and biomedical applications of ZrO2 NPs prepared through various approaches in a critical way. ZrO2 is a bio-ceramic substance that has received increased attention in biomimetic scaffolds owing to its high mechanical strength, excellent biocompatibility, and high chemical stability. ZrO2 NPs have demonstrated potential anticancer activity against various cancer cells. ZrO2-based nanomaterials have exhibited potential antibacterial activity against various bacterial strains and have also demonstrated excellent antioxidant activity. The ZrO2 nanocomposite also exhibits highly sensitive biosensing activity toward the sensing of glucose and other biological species.
The Enhancement of CO2 and CH4 Capture on Activated Carbon with Different Degrees of Burn-Off and Surface Chemistry
Authors: Inthawong Supawan , Wongkoblap Atichat , Intomya Worapot , Tangsathitkulchai Chaiyot
Published: July 2023

Activated carbon derived from longan seeds in our laboratory and commercial activated carbon are used to investigate the adsorption of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2). The adsorption capacity for activated carbon from longan seeds is greater than commercial activated carbon due to the greater BET area and micropore volume. Increasing the degree of burn-off can enhance the adsorption of CO2 at 273 K from 4 mmol/g to 4.2 and 4.8 mmol/g at 1000 mbar without burn-off, to 19 and 26% with burn-off, respectively. This is because an increase in the degree of burn-off increases the surface chemistry or concentration of functional groups. In the investigation of the effect of the hydroxyl group on the adsorption of CO2 and CH4 at 273 K, it is found that the maximum adsorption capacity of CO2 at 5000 mbar is about 6.4 and 8 mmol/g for cases without and with hydroxyl groups contained on the carbon surfaces. The opposite behavior can be observed in the case of methane, this is due to the stronger electrostatic interaction between the hydroxyl group and carbon dioxide. The simulation results obtained from a Monte Carlo simulation method can be used to support the mechanism in this investigation. Iron oxide is added on carbon surfaces with different concentrations to reveal the effects of ferric compounds on the adsorption of CO2. Iron at a concentration of about 1% on the surface can improve the adsorption capacity. However, excessive amounts of iron led to a limited adsorption capacity. The simulation result shows similar findings to the experimental data. The findings of this study will contribute to the progress of gas separation technologies, paving the way for long-term solutions to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.
Degradation and Extraction of Organochlorine Pollutants from Environmental Solids under Subcritical Water Conditions
Authors: Jones Aaryn D. , Morehead Andrew T. , Yang Yu
Published: July 2023

A subcritical water degradation and extraction method was developed to remediate environmental soils contaminated by highly recalcitrant organochlorine pollutants. Hydrogen peroxide was used to effectively decompose organochlorine pollutants under subcritical water conditions. As a method optimization study, the static wet oxidation of chlorophenols was first performed in subcritical water with and without added hydrogen peroxide. Complete oxidation was achieved using an added oxidant, and thus, the oxidation and extraction of chlorophenols from a sand matrix was then attempted. Complete oxidation and extraction with added oxidant were achieved within 30 min at 100 °C. We then investigated the subcritical water degradation and extraction of dieldrin, mirex, and p,p′-DDD. These organochlorine pesticides were not as easily oxidized as the chlorophenols, and the benefit of adding hydrogen peroxide was only clearly observed at 200 °C. Approximately a 20% increase in degradation was noted for each pesticide and insecticide at this temperature. Unfortunately, this difference was not observed with an increase in temperature to 250 °C, except in some cases, where the amount of degradation byproducts was reduced. Dieldrin and p,p′-DDD were essentially destroyed at 250 °C, while all the pesticides and the insecticides were completely removed from the sand at this temperature. The proposed method was then used to remediate a soil sample highly contaminated with DDT. The soil was obtained from the grounds of an old DDT mixing facility in Virginia and has been aging for several decades. Not only was 100% removal of DDT from this soil achieved using the proposed method at 250 °C, but also, the extracted DDT was completely destroyed during the process. The proposed remediation method, therefore, demonstrates a high potential as an efficient and environmentally sound technique for the detoxification of soils.
Clinical Advances in Neuromuscular Diseases: Neurometabolic Disorders
Authors: Angelini Corrado , Tavian Daniela
Published: July 2023

Metabolic myopathies are characterized by the dysfunction of several metabolic pathways that results in a deficiency of fuels required to generate energy for muscle contractions [...]
Competitive Effects of Oxidation and Quantum Confinement on Modulation of the Photophysical Properties of Metallic-Phase Tungsten Dichalcogenide Quantum Dots
Authors: Kim Bo-Hyun , Yang Jun Yong , Park Kwang Hyun , Lee DongJu , Song Sung Ho
Published: July 2023

Metallic-phase transition metal dichalcogenide quantum dots (TMDs-mQDs) have been reported in recent years. However, a dominant mechanism for modulating their intrinsic exciton behaviors has not been determined yet as their size is close to the Bohr radius. Herein, we demonstrate that the oxidation effect prevails over quantum confinement on metallic-phase tungsten dichalcogenide QDs (WX2-mQDs; X = S, Se) when the QD size becomes larger than the exciton Bohr radius. WX2-mQDs with a diameter of ~12 nm show an obvious change in their photophysical properties when the pH of the solution changes from 2 to 11 compared to changing the size from ~3 nm. Meanwhile, we found that quantum confinement is the dominant function for the optical spectroscopic results in the WX2-mQDs with a size of ~3 nm. This is because the oxidation of the larger WX2-mQDs induces sub-energy states, thus enabling excitons to migrate into the lower defect energy states, whereas in WX2-mQDs with a size comparable to the exciton Bohr radius, protonation enhances the quantum confinement.
Association of Dietary Inflammatory Index and Dietary Oxidative Balance Score with All-Cause and Disease-Specific Mortality: Findings of 2003–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Wang Xuanyang , Hu Jinxia , Liu Lin , Zhang Yuntao , Dang Keke , Cheng Licheng , Zhang Jia , Xu Xiaoqing , Li Ying
Published: July 2023

To clarify the effects of dietary inflammatory and pro-oxidative potential, we investigated the impact of the Dietary Inflammation Index (DII) and the Dietary Oxidative Balance Score (DOBS) on all-cause and disease-specific mortality. For DII and DOBS, 17,550 and 24,527 participants were included. Twenty-six and seventeen dietary factors were selected for scoring. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used. DII and DOBS were significantly associated with all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality in this nationally representative sample of American adults. Compared with the lowest DII, the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) of all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality for the highest were 1.49 (1.23–1.80), 1.58 (1.08–2.33), and 1.56 (1.07–2.25). The highest quartile of DOBS was associated with the risk of all-cause death (HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.59–0.86). Pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidative diets were associated with increased risk for all-cause (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.28–1.97), and CVD (HR 2.29, 95% CI 1.33–3.94) death compared to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant diets. Similar results were observed among the stratification analyses. Inflammation-reducing and oxidative-balancing diets are linked to lower all-cause and CVD mortality. Diets impact health by regulating inflammation and oxidative stress.
Association between Dietary Indices and Dietary Patterns and Mortality and Cancer Recurrence among Cancer Survivors: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies
Authors: Trauchburg Angela , Schwingshackl Lukas , Hoffmann Georg
Published: July 2023

The number of cancer survivors is growing rapidly; however, specific lifestyle recommendations for these patients are still sparse, including dietary approaches. Thus, the aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the associations between adherence to diet-quality indices and dietary patterns on overall mortality, cancer-specific mortality, and cancer recurrence among cancer survivors. The literature search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science between 18 May 2016 and 22 May 2022 with no language restrictions. Thirty-nine studies were included for quantitative analysis, providing data from 77,412 participants. Adherence to both diet-quality indices and a healthy/prudent dietary pattern was inversely associated with overall mortality (RR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.77–0.86; RR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.70–0.92, respectively) and with cancer-specific mortality (RR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.79–0.94; RR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.64–0.97, respectively). These associations could be observed following assessment of dietary patterns either pre- and/or postdiagnosis. For unhealthy/western dietary patterns, high adherence was associated with overall mortality (RR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.08–1.47). Although the certainty of evidence was rated as low, we conclude that there are no reservations against high adherence to healthy dietary patterns or indices in cancer survivors.
Mental Health during the Interpregnancy Period and the Association with Pre-Pregnancy Body Mass Index and Body Composition: Data from the INTER-ACT Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Van Uytsel Hanne , Ameye Lieveke , Devlieger Roland , Jacquemyn Yves , Van Holsbeke Caroline , Schreurs Annick , Bogaerts Annick
Published: July 2023

Mental health problems and obesity are two common complications during pregnancy and postpartum. The preconception period is considered an appropriate period for prevention. Therefore, insights into interpregnancy mental health and the impact on weight and body composition are of interest to developing effective weight management strategies. The primary aim of this study is to assess the difference in women’s mental health during the interpregnancy period and the association with pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and body composition. The secondary aim is to study whether this association is affected by socio-demographic factors, interpregnancy interval and sleep. The study is a secondary analysis of the INTER-ACT e-health-supported lifestyle trial. Women were eligible if they had a subsequent pregnancy and mental health measurements at 6 weeks after childbirth and at the start of the next pregnancy (n = 276). We used univariate analyses to assess differences in mental health and performed regression analysis to assess their association with pre-pregnancy BMI and body composition at the start of the next pregnancy. Our results show a statistically significant increase in anxiety and depressive symptoms between 6 weeks after childbirth and the start of the next pregnancy (sSTAI-6 ≥ 40: +13%, p =≤ 0.001; GMDS ≥ 13: +9%, p = 0.01). Of the women who were not anxious at 6 weeks after childbirth (sSTAI < 40), more than one-third (39%) developed anxiety at the start of the next pregnancy (p =≤ 0.001). Regression analysis showed that sense of coherence (SOC-13) at the start of the next pregnancy was independently associated with women’s pre-pregnancy BMI and fat percentage. We believe that the development of preconception lifestyle interventions that focus on both weight reduction and support in understanding, managing and giving meaning to stressful events (sense of coherence) may be of added value in optimizing women’s preconception health.
Phosphate Control in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: Issues, Solutions, and Open Questions
Authors: Cernaro Valeria , Calderone Michela , Gembillo Guido , Calabrese Vincenzo , Casuscelli Chiara , Lo Re Claudia , Longhitano Elisa , Santoro Domenico
Published: July 2023

Hyperphosphatemia is a common complication in advanced chronic kidney disease and contributes to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The present narrative review focuses on the management of phosphatemia in uremic patients receiving peritoneal dialysis. These patients frequently develop hyperphosphatemia since phosphate anion behaves as a middle-size molecule despite its low molecular weight. Accordingly, patient transporter characteristics and peritoneal dialysis modalities and prescriptions remarkably influence serum phosphate control. Given that phosphate peritoneal removal is often insufficient, especially in lower transporters, patients are often prescribed phosphate binders whose use in peritoneal dialysis is primarily based on clinical trials conducted in hemodialysis because very few studies have been performed solely in peritoneal dialysis populations. A crucial role in phosphate control among peritoneal dialysis patients is played by diet, which must help in reducing phosphorous intake while preventing malnutrition. Moreover, residual renal function, which is preserved in most peritoneal dialysis patients, significantly contributes to maintaining phosphate balance. The inadequate serum phosphate control observed in many patients on peritoneal dialysis highlights the need for large and well-designed clinical trials including exclusively peritoneal dialysis patients to evaluate the effects of a multiple therapeutic approach on serum phosphate control and on hard clinical outcomes in this high-risk population.
Neglected Zoonotic Diseases: Advances in the Development of Cell-Penetrating and Antimicrobial Peptides against Leishmaniosis and Chagas Disease
Authors: Robledo Sara M. , Pérez-Silanes Silvia , Fernández-Rubio Celia , Poveda Ana , Monzote Lianet , González Víctor M. , Alonso-Collado Paloma , Carrión Javier
Published: July 2023

In 2020, the WHO established the road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030, which aims to control and eradicate 20 diseases, including leishmaniosis and Chagas disease. In addition, since 2015, the WHO has been developing a Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance. In this context, the achievement of innovative strategies as an alternative to replace conventional therapies is a first-order socio-sanitary priority, especially regarding endemic zoonoses in poor regions, such as those caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. infections. In this scenario, it is worth highlighting a group of natural peptide molecules (AMPs and CPPs) that are promising strategies for improving therapeutic efficacy against these neglected zoonoses, as they avoid the development of toxicity and resistance of conventional treatments. This review presents the novelties of these peptide molecules and their ability to cross a whole system of cell membranes as well as stimulate host immune defenses or even serve as vectors of molecules. The efforts of the biotechnological sector will make it possible to overcome the limitations of antimicrobial peptides through encapsulation and functionalization methods to obtain approval for these treatments to be used in clinical programs for the eradication of leishmaniosis and Chagas disease.
Effect of Gravity on Bacterial Adhesion to Heterogeneous Surfaces
Authors: Hogan Kayla , Paul Sai , Lin Guanyou , Fuerte-Stone Jay , Sokurenko Evgeni V. , Thomas Wendy E.
Published: July 2023

Bacterial adhesion is the first step in the formation of surface biofilms. The number of bacteria that bind to a surface from the solution depends on how many bacteria can reach the surface (bacterial transport) and the strength of interactions between bacterial adhesins and surface receptors (adhesivity). By using microfluidic channels and video microscopy as well as computational simulations, we investigated how the interplay between bacterial transport and adhesivity affects the number of the common human pathogen Escherichia coli that bind to heterogeneous surfaces with different receptor densities. We determined that gravitational sedimentation causes bacteria to concentrate at the lower surface over time as fluid moves over a non-adhesive region, so bacteria preferentially adhere to adhesive regions on the lower, inflow-proximal areas that are downstream of non-adhesive regions within the entered compartments. Also, initial bacterial attachment to an adhesive region of a heterogeneous lower surface may be inhibited by shear due to mass transport effects alone rather than shear forces per se, because higher shear washes out the sedimented bacteria. We also provide a conceptual framework and theory that predict the impact of sedimentation on adhesion between and within adhesive regions in flow, where bacteria would likely bind both in vitro and in vivo, and how to normalize the bacterial binding level under experimental set-ups based on the flow compartment configuration.
Diversity of the Bacterial and Viral Communities in the Tropical Horse Tick, Dermacentor nitens, in Colombia
Authors: Holguin-Rocha Andres F. , Calle-Tobon Arley , Vásquez Gissella M. , Astete Helvio , Fisher Michael L. , Tobon-Castano Alberto , Velez-Tobon Gabriel , Maldonado-Ruiz L. Paulina , Silver Kristopher , Park Yoonseong , Londono-Renteria Berlin
Published: July 2023

Ticks are obligatory hematophagous ectoparasites that transmit pathogens among various vertebrates, including humans. The microbial and viral communities of ticks, including pathogenic microorganisms, are known to be highly diverse. However, the factors driving this diversity are not well understood. The tropical horse tick, Dermacentor nitens, is distributed throughout the Americas and it is recognized as a natural vector of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi, the causal agents of equine piroplasmosis. In this study, we characterized the bacterial and viral communities associated with partially fed Dermacentor nitens females collected using a passive survey on horses from field sites representing three distinct geographical areas in the country of Colombia (Bolivar, Antioquia, and Cordoba). RNA-seq and sequencing of the V3 and V4 hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene were performed using the Illumina-Miseq platform (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA). A total of 356 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified, in which the presumed endosymbiont, Francisellaceae/Francisella spp., was predominantly found. Nine contigs corresponding to six different viruses were identified in three viral families: Chuviridae, Rhabdoviridae, and Flaviviridae. Differences in the relative abundance of the microbial composition among the geographical regions were found to be independent of the presence of Francisella-like endosymbiont (FLE). The most prevalent bacteria found in each region were Corynebacterium in Bolivar, Staphylococcus in Antioquia, and Pseudomonas in Cordoba. Rickettsia-like endosymbionts, mainly recognized as the etiological agent of rickettsioses in Colombia, were detected in the Cordoba samples. Metatranscriptomics revealed 13 contigs containing FLE genes, suggesting a trend of regional differences. These findings suggest regional distinctions among the ticks and their bacterial compositions.
Dalbavancin in Bone and Joint Infections: A Systematic Review
Authors: Lovatti Sofia , Tiecco Giorgio , Mulé Alice , Rossi Luca , Sforza Anita , Salvi Martina , Signorini Liana , Castelli Francesco , Quiros-Roldan Eugenia
Published: July 2023

Background: Approved for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, dalbavancin (DBV) has gradually acquired over the years a role as an off-label treatment for several infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria even in other anatomical sites. Osteoarticular (OA) infections are one of the most difficult-to-treat infections and, since the absence of recommendations, clinicians use different and heterogenic DBV dosing schedule regimens for the off-label treatment of osteomyelitis, spondylodiscitis, and septic arthritis. Our aim is to systematically review the current literature to describe DBV administration schedules and their outcome in OA infections. Methods: According to the 2020 updated PRISMA guidelines, all peer-reviewed articles regarding the use of DBV in OA infections were included. We conducted a literature search on PubMed and Cochrane Controlled Trials. Results: A total of 23 studies and 450 patients were included, prevalently male (144/195, 73.8%) and diabetic (53/163, 32.5%). Overall, 280 (280/388, 72.2%) osteomyelitis, 79 (79/388, 20.4%) spondylodiscitis, and 29 (29/388, 7.5%) septic arthritis were considered. Staphylococcus aureus (164/243, 67.5%) was the most common pathogen isolated. A previous treatment failure (45/96, 46.9%) was the main reason for a switch to a long-acting antibiotic. Most patients were successfully cured with DBV (318/401, 79.3%). A source control was performed in most patients with a favourable outcome (80.4%), while MRSA was prevalently isolated in people with an unfavourable outcome (57%). While a higher percentage of success was found in people who received three doses of DBV 1 week apart (92.3%), a higher rate of treatment failure was recorded in cases of when the DBV cycle was composed of less than two or more than four doses (27.8%). Conclusions: DBV has shown to be effective as a treatment for OA infections. The most favourable outcome was found in patients receiving three doses of DBV and with an adequate surgical management prior to antibiotic treatment. Although a rigorous administration schedule does not exist, DBV is a viable treatment option in the management of OA infections.
D-Pinitol Content and Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Activities of Five Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. Cultivars
Authors: Abo-Elghiet Fatma , Ahmed Amal H. , Aly Hanan F. , Younis Eman A. , Rabeh Mohamed A. , Alshehri Saad Ali , Alshahrani Khalid S. A. , Mohamed Shaza A.
Published: July 2023

Diabetes mellitus is a major challenge for global health, and Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. (B. spectabilis) is a widely used herbal remedy with diverse cultivars traditionally used for diabetes treatment. However, the comparative efficacy of these cultivars remains ambiguous. This study aimed to evaluate the D-pinitol content and DPPH radical-scavenging activity of methanolic leaves extracts of five B. spectabilis cultivars. Furthermore, the effects of these cultivars on various parameters, including blood glucose levels, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, lipid profiles, liver enzymes, renal function markers, and histopathological changes, were assessed in STZ-induced diabetic rats after one month of oral daily treatment. All tested cultivars demonstrated significant improvements in the measured parameters, albeit to varying extents. Notably, the LOE cultivar, distinguished by its orange bracts, exhibited the highest efficacy, surpassing the effectiveness of glibenclamide, an antidiabetic medication, and displayed the highest concentration of D-pinitol. These findings underscore the importance of carefully selecting the appropriate B. spectabilis cultivar to maximize the antidiabetic efficacy, with a particular emphasis on the correlation between antidiabetic activity and D-pinitol concentrations.
Editorial for Special Issue: Advanced Technologies for Developing the State-of-the-Art Nanomedicines
Authors: Hu Yi , Chen Jun
Published: July 2023

This Special Issue aims to introduce advanced technologies that promote the development of nanomedicines [...]
Impact of Peptide Structure on Colonic Stability and Tissue Permeability
Authors: Taherali Farhan , Chouhan Nerisha , Wang Fanjin , Lavielle Sebastien , Baran Maryana , McCoubrey Laura E. , Basit Abdul W. , Yadav Vipul
Published: July 2023

Most marketed peptide drugs are administered parenterally due to their inherent gastrointestinal (GI) instability and poor permeability across the GI epithelium. Several molecular design techniques, such as cyclisation and D-amino acid (D-AA) substitution, have been proposed to improve oral peptide drug bioavailability. However, very few of these techniques have been translated to the clinic. In addition, little is known about how synthetic peptide design may improve stability and permeability in the colon, a key site for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. In this study, we investigated the impact of various cyclisation modifications and D-AA substitutions on the enzymatic stability and colonic tissue permeability of native oxytocin and 11 oxytocin-based peptides. Results showed that the disulfide bond cyclisation present in native oxytocin provided an improved stability in a human colon model compared to a linear oxytocin derivative. Chloroacetyl cyclisation increased native oxytocin stability in the colonic model at 1.5 h by 30.0%, whereas thioether and N-terminal acetylated cyclisations offered no additional protection at 1.5 h. The site and number of D-AA substitutions were found to be critical for stability, with three D-AAs at Tyr, Ile and Leu, improving native oxytocin stability at 1.5 h in both linear and cyclic structures by 58.2% and 79.1%, respectively. Substitution of three D-AAs into native cyclic oxytocin significantly increased peptide permeability across rat colonic tissue; this may be because D-AA substitution favourably altered the peptide’s secondary structure. This study is the first to show how the strategic design of peptide therapeutics could enable their delivery to the colon via the oral route.
Enhancing Skin Delivery and Stability of Vanillic and Ferulic Acids in Aqueous Enzymatically Extracted Glutinous Rice Husk by Nanostructured Lipid Carriers
Authors: Jiamphun Sudarat , Chaiyana Wantida
Published: July 2023

The present study aimed to develop nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) and evaluate their effectiveness in enhancing the delivery and stability of vanillic and ferulic acid in the aqueous enzymatic extract of glutinous rice husk using a 0.5% w/w cellulase solution (CE0.5). NLCs were developed using a high-pressure homogenization technique and characterized for their particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential. The entrapment efficiency, physical and chemical stability, release profile, skin permeation, and skin retention of the NLCs loaded with CE0.5 were evaluated. It was observed that NLCs with high entrapment efficiencies efficiently encapsulate and protect both vanillic and ferulic acid, in contrast to a solution. The controlled and sustained release profile of vanillic acid and ferulic acid from NLCs suggests their potential for prolonged and targeted delivery. The findings also demonstrate the superior skin retention capabilities of NLCs without permeation compared to the solution. Notably, NLC2 exhibited the highest delivery into the skin layer, which can be attributed to its smaller particle size (107.3 ± 1.3 nm), enabling enhanced skin penetration. This research highlights the promising application of NLCs in enhancing the delivery and stability of bioactive compounds in cosmetic formulations and related fields.
Application of SVR-Mediated GWAS for Identification of Durable Genetic Regions Associated with Soybean Seed Quality Traits
Authors: Yoosefzadeh-Najafabadi Mohsen , Torabi Sepideh , Tulpan Dan , Rajcan Istvan , Eskandari Milad
Published: July 2023

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is an important food-grade strategic crop worldwide because of its high seed protein and oil contents. Due to the negative correlation between seed protein and oil percentage, there is a dire need to detect reliable quantitative trait loci (QTL) underlying these traits in order to be used in marker-assisted selection (MAS) programs. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) is one of the most common genetic approaches that is regularly used for detecting QTL associated with quantitative traits. However, the current approaches are mainly focused on estimating the main effects of QTL, and, therefore, a substantial statistical improvement in GWAS is required to detect associated QTL considering their interactions with other QTL as well. This study aimed to compare the support vector regression (SVR) algorithm as a common machine learning method to fixed and random model circulating probability unification (FarmCPU), a common conventional GWAS method in detecting relevant QTL associated with soybean seed quality traits such as protein, oil, and 100-seed weight using 227 soybean genotypes. The results showed a significant negative correlation between soybean seed protein and oil concentrations, with heritability values of 0.69 and 0.67, respectively. In addition, SVR-mediated GWAS was able to identify more relevant QTL underlying the target traits than the FarmCPU method. Our findings demonstrate the potential use of machine learning algorithms in GWAS to detect durable QTL associated with soybean seed quality traits suitable for genomic-based breeding approaches. This study provides new insights into improving the accuracy and efficiency of GWAS and highlights the significance of using advanced computational methods in crop breeding research.
Measuring Bee Effects on Seed Traits of Hybrid Sunflower
Authors: Brewer Gary J. , Miwa Kentaro , Hanford Kathryn
Published: July 2023

In hybrid sunflower, bee pollination can improve productivity, but the contribution of bees to productivity may be over or underestimated. To estimate bee effects (seed trait gains from exposure to bees during anthesis), single capitula are commonly covered with a porous material to exclude bees. However, depending on the exclosure porosity, estimates of the magnitude of bee effects will vary. In two studies, porosity size and bee effect gains in two sunflower types were tested. In the exclosure study, Delnet exclosures severely reduced seed set and exclosures with larger porosities and had smaller and similar effects. However, since a few small bees penetrated the largest porosity size tested, exclosures with porosity sizes < 7 mm are recommended. With an exclosure porosity of 5 X 5 mm, the estimated bee effect contribution to the yield was 323 kg per hectare. Effects of exclosures on seed traits were similar in the oilseed and confectionary hybrids tested. Insecticide use did not affect seed traits but did lower insect damage to seeds. Bees from three families, mostly Apidae, were collected while foraging on sunflower. In summary, we recommend the use of exclosures with porosities of about 3 to 5 mm to avoid over or underestimating bee effects. And we recommend holistic insect management for sunflower cropping systems that balances the benefits of bee effects on seed traits with management of pest insects.