bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Comparative Analysis on the Environmental Impact of Selected Methods for Determining the Profile of Fatty Acids in Cheese
Authors: Narloch Izabela , Wejnerowska Grażyna
Published: June 2023

The fatty acid profile of cheese influences its sensory parameters, such as color, texture, or flavor. Examining the fatty acid profile also helps to assess the nutritional value of the cheese that is being tested. However, the determination of fatty acids in cheese samples is a multi-stage and time-consuming task. In addition, large amounts of toxic organic solvents are used to prepare samples for analysis purposes. This paper presents the results of a study to determine the fatty acid profile of yellow cheese samples. Six different methods of sample preparation were compared for analysis purposes. The profile of fatty acids was determined using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The study showed significant differences (p > 0.05) in the resulting fatty acid profile between the methods used. It was found that the most reliable fatty acid profile results were obtained using methods derived from the Folch method. In addition, tools such as the Analytical Eco-Scale tool and the Analytical Greenness Metric for Sample Preparation (AGREEprep) tool were used to assess the greenness of the methods used. In the case of the Analytical Eco-Scale tool, all six methods scored ‘acceptable green analysis’ with scores ranging from 61 to 73. However, an evaluation of methods using the AGREEprep metric showed that the results of the methods (0.13–0.27) did not show the “greenness” of the analytical methods.
A Review of Classification, Biosynthesis, Biological Activities and Potential Applications of Flavonoids
Authors: Chen Shen , Wang Xiaojing , Cheng Yu , Gao Hongsheng , Chen Xuehao
Published: June 2023

Flavonoids represent the main class of plant secondary metabolites and occur in the tissues and organs of various plant species. In plants, flavonoids are involved in many biological processes and in response to various environmental stresses. The consumption of flavonoids has been known to reduce the risk of many chronic diseases due to their antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties. In the present review, we summarize the classification, distribution, biosynthesis pathways, and regulatory mechanisms of flavonoids. Moreover, we investigated their biological activities and discuss their applications in food processing and cosmetics, as well as their pharmaceutical and medical uses. Current trends in flavonoid research are also briefly described, including the mining of new functional genes and metabolites through omics research and the engineering of flavonoids using nanotechnology. This review provides a reference for basic and applied research on flavonoid compounds.
Polysaccharides from Paecilomyces hepiali Prevent Acute Colitis in Association with Modulating Gut Microbiota and Treg/Th17 Immune Balance in Mice
Authors: Cui Luwen , He Ningning , Yu Shengnan , Pang Hao , Zhang Zixuan , Wang Jingyi , Hao Jianhua , Li Shangyong
Published: June 2023

Cordyceps exopolysaccharide (CEP) has shown emerging potential in adjustment of gut microbiota and immune cell function. In this study, a water-soluble CEP with a molecular weight of 58.14 kDa was extracted from the fermentation broth of Paecilomyces hepiali, an endophytic fungus of Cordyceps sinensis. Our results indicated that Paecilomyces hepiali polysaccharide (PHP) showed significantly preventive potential on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice, which can prevent colon shortening, reduce intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) destruction, suppress inflammatory cell infiltration, and regulate the balance between regulatory T (Treg) cells and T helper type 17 (Th17) cells. Meanwhile, the disturbed gut microbiota was partially restored after PHP treatment. Further Pearson correlation coefficient analyses exhibited that the alteration of the gut microbiota was significantly related to adjustment of the IEC barrier and Treg/Th17 balance. In conclusion, all findings proposed that purified PHP has the potential to develop into a promising agent for colitis prevention and adjuvant therapy via maintaining intestinal homeostasis of gut microbiota and immune system.
The Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Acute Pancreatitis
Authors: Yan Xiaxiao , Li Jianing , Wu Dong
Published: June 2023

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a digestive emergency and can develop into a systematic illness. The role of the gut in the progression and deterioration of AP has drawn much attention from researchers, and areas of interest include dysbiosis of the intestinal flora, weakened intestinal barrier function, and bacterial and endotoxin translocation. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), as one of the metabolites of gut microbiota, have been proven to be depleted in AP patients. SCFAs help restore gut homeostasis by rebuilding gut flora, stabilizing the intestinal epithelial barrier, and regulating inflammation. SCFAs can also suppress systematic inflammatory responses, improve the injured pancreas, and prevent and protect other organ dysfunctions. Based on multiple beneficial effects, increasing SCFAs is an essential idea of gut protective treatment in AP. Specific strategies include the direct use of butyrate or indirect supplementation through fiber, pre/pro/synbiotics, or fecal microbiota transplantation as a promising adjective therapy to enteral nutrition.
Comprehensive HRMS Chemical Characterization of Pomegranate-Based Antioxidant Drinks via a Newly Developed Suspect and Target Screening Workflow
Authors: Panara Anthi , Gikas Evagelos , Tzavellas Ilias , Thomaidis Nikolaos S.
Published: June 2023

Antioxidants play a significant role in human health, protecting against a variety of diseases. Therefore, the development of products with antioxidant activity is becoming increasingly prominent in the human lifestyle. New antioxidant drinks containing different percentages of pomegranate, blackberries, red grapes, and aronia have been designed, developed, and manufactured by a local industry. The comprehensive characterization of the drinks’ constituents has been deemed necessary to evaluate their bioactivity. Thus, LC-qTOFMS has been selected, due to its sensitivity and structure identification capability. Both data-dependent and -independent acquisition modes have been utilized. The data have been treated according to a novel, newly designed workflow based on MS-DIAL and MZmine for suspect, as well as target screening. The classical MS-DIAL workflow has been modified to perform suspect and target screening in an automatic way. Furthermore, a novel methodology based on a compiled bioactivity-driven suspect list was developed and expanded with combinatorial enumeration to include metabolism products of the highlighted metabolites. Compounds belonging to ontologies with possible antioxidant capacity have been identified, such as flavonoids, amino acids, and fatty acids, which could be beneficial to human health, revealing the importance of the produced drinks as well as the efficacy of the new in-house developed workflow.
Thermodynamic Characterization of Rhamnolipid, Triton X-165 and Ethanol as well as Their Mixture Behaviour at the Water-Air Interface
Authors: Zdziennicka Anna , González-Martín Maria Luisa , Rekiel Edyta , Szymczyk Katarzyna , Zdziennicki Wojciech , Jańczuk Bronisław
Published: June 2023

In many industrial fields, in medicine or pharmacy, there are used multi-component mixtures of surfactants as well as more and more often mixtures containing biosurfactants. Thus, in our study the mixtures of rhamnolipid (RL), ethanol (ET) and Triton X-165 (TX165) were applied. For these mixtures the surface tension of aqueous solutions with constant concentration and composition of ET and RL as well as the variable concentration of TX165 was measured. Based on the obtained results and the literature data, thermodynamic analyses of the adsorption process of ET, RL, TX165, binary mixtures of ET + RL, ET + TX165 and RL + TX165 as well as the ternary mixtures of RL + ET + TX165 at the water-air interface were made. This analysis allows to propose a new equation for calculation of the total ethanol concentration at the water-air interface using the Guggenheim-Adam adsorption isotherm. The constants in the Langmuir and Szyszkowski equations for each component of the studied mixtures as well as the composition of the mixed monolayer at the water-air interface were also successfully analysed based on the contribution of particular surface active compounds to the water surface tension reduction as well as based on the Frumkin isotherm of adsorption.
Multi-Residue Method for Pesticides Determination in Dried Hops by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Gruba Marcin , Jóźwik Emilia , Chmiel Mariusz , Tyśkiewicz Katarzyna , Konkol Marcin , Watros Anna , Skalicka-Woźniak Krystyna , Woźniakowski Grzegorz
Published: June 2023

In this study a multi-residue determination method for 36 pesticides in dried hops was reported. The sample preparation procedure was based on the acetate buffered QuEChERS method. A few mixtures of dispersive solid phase extraction (dSPE) sorbents consisting PSA, C18, GCB, Z-Sep and Z-Sep+ were investigated to clean-up the supernatant and minimize matrix co-extractives. The degree of clean-up was assessed by gravimetric measurements, which showed the best results for mixtures containing the Z-Sep+ sorbent. This is the first study to apply Z-Sep+ sorbent for hops material and the first to improve the method for pesticide residues determination in hops. Samples were analysed using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and the procedure was validated according to the SANTE/11813/2017 document at four concentration levels: 0.02, 0.05, 0.1 and 1 mg/kg. The limits of quantification (LOQ) were in the range of 0.02–0.1 mg/kg. For all active substances, the trueness (recovery) ranged from 70 to 120% and the precision (RSDr) value was <20%. Specificity, linearity and matrix effect were also evaluated. The validated method was applied to the analysis of 15 real dried hop samples and the relevant data on detected residues were included.
Recent Advances in β-Glucosidase Sequence and Structure Engineering: A Brief Review
Authors: Ouyang Bei , Wang Guoping , Zhang Nian , Zuo Jiali , Huang Yunhong , Zhao Xihua
Published: June 2023

β-glucosidases (BGLs) play a crucial role in the degradation of lignocellulosic biomass as well as in industrial applications such as pharmaceuticals, foods, and flavors. However, the application of BGLs has been largely hindered by issues such as low enzyme activity, product inhibition, low stability, etc. Many approaches have been developed to engineer BGLs to improve these enzymatic characteristics to facilitate industrial production. In this article, we review the recent advances in BGL engineering in the field, including the efforts from our laboratory. We summarize and discuss the BGL engineering studies according to the targeted functions as well as the specific strategies used for BGL engineering.
Mid-Air Gestural Interaction with a Large Fogscreen
Authors: Remizova Vera , Sand Antti , MacKenzie I. Scott , Špakov Oleg , Nyyssönen Katariina , Rakkolainen Ismo , Kylliäinen Anneli , Surakka Veikko , Gizatdinova Yulia
Published: June 2023

Projected walk-through fogscreens have been created, but there is little research on the evaluation of the interaction performance with fogscreens. The present study investigated mid-air hand gestures for interaction with a large fogscreen. Participants (N = 20) selected objects from a fogscreen using tapping and dwell-based gestural techniques, with and without vibrotactile/haptic feedback. In terms of Fitts’ law, the throughput was about 1.4 bps to 2.6 bps, suggesting that gestural interaction with a large fogscreen is a suitable and effective input method. Our results also suggest that tapping without haptic feedback has good performance and potential for interaction with a fogscreen, and that tactile feedback is not necessary for effective mid-air interaction. These findings have implications for the design of gestural interfaces suitable for interaction with fogscreens.
Towards All-Non-Vacuum-Processed Photovoltaic Systems: A Water-Based Screen-Printed Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Photoabsorber with a 6.6% Efficiency
Authors: Gonçalves Bruna F. , Sousa Viviana , Virtuoso José , Modin Evgeny , Lebedev Oleg I. , Botelho Gabriela , Sadewasser Sascha , Salonen Laura M. , Lanceros-Méndez Senentxu , Kolen’ko Yury V.
Published: June 2023

During the last few decades, major advances have been made in photovoltaic systems based on Cu(In,Ga)Se2 chalcopyrite. However, the most efficient photovoltaic cells are processed under high-energy-demanding vacuum conditions. To lower the costs and facilitate high-throughput production, printing/coating processes are proving to be effective solutions. This work combined printing, coating, and chemical bath deposition processes of photoabsorber, buffer, and transparent conductive layers for the development of solution-processed photovoltaic systems. Using a sustainable approach, all inks were formulated using water and ethanol as solvents. Screen printing of the photoabsorber on fluorine-doped tin-oxide-coated glass followed by selenization, chemical bath deposition of the cadmium sulfide buffer, and final sputtering of the intrinsic zinc oxide and aluminum-doped zinc oxide top conductive layers delivered a 6.6% maximum efficiency solar cell, a record for screen-printed Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells. On the other hand, the all-non-vacuum-processed device with spray-coated intrinsic zinc-oxide- and tin-doped indium oxide top conductive layers delivered a 2.2% efficiency. The given approaches represent relevant steps towards the fabrication of sustainable and efficient Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells.
Electrochemical Promotion of CO2 Hydrogenation Using a Pt/YSZ Fuel Cell Type Reactor
Authors: Lymperi Andriana , Chatzilias Christos , Xydas Fotios , Martino Eftychia , Kyriakou Georgios , Katsaounis Alexandros
Published: June 2023

The hydrogenation of CO2 is a reaction of key technological and environmental importance, as it contributes to the sustainable production of fuels while assisting in the reduction of a major greenhouse gas. The reaction has received substantial attention over the years within the catalysis and electrocatalysis communities. In this respect, the electrochemical promotion of catalysis (EPOC) has been applied successfully to the CO2 hydrogenation reaction to improve the catalytic activity and selectivity of conductive films supported on solid electrolytes. However, designing an effective electrocatalytic reactor remains a challenge due to the connections required between the electrodes and the external potentiostat/galvanostat. This drawback could be alleviated if the catalytic reaction occurs in a reactor that simultaneously operates as a power generator. In this work, the Electrochemical Promotion of the CO2 hydrogenation reaction in a low-temperature solid oxide electrolyte fuel cell (SOFC) reactor is studied using yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and a platinum (Pt) electrode catalyst. The system has been studied in two distinct operation modes: (i) when the necessary energy for the electrochemical promotion is produced through the parallel reaction of H2 oxidation (galvanic operation) and (ii) when a galvanostat/potentiostat is used to impose the necessary potential (electrolytic operation). The performance of the fuel cell declines less than 15% in the presence of the reactant mixture (CO2 and H2) while producing enough current to conduct EPOC experiments. During the electrolytic operation of the electrochemical cell, the CO production rate is significantly increased by up to 50%.
Patient-Reported Outcomes from a Pilot Plant-Based Lifestyle Medicine Program in a Safety-Net Setting
Authors: Massar Rachel E. , McMacken Michelle , Kwok Lorraine , Joshi Shivam , Shah Sapana , Boas Rebecca , Ortiz Robin , Correa Lilian , Polito-Moller Krisann , Albert Stephanie L.
Published: June 2023

Lifestyle medicine interventions that emphasize healthy behavior changes are growing in popularity in U.S. health systems. Safety-net healthcare settings that serve low-income and uninsured populations most at risk for lifestyle-related disease are ideal venues for lifestyle medicine interventions. Patient-reported outcomes are important indicators of the efficacy of lifestyle medicine interventions. Past research on patient-reported outcomes of lifestyle medicine interventions has occurred outside of traditional healthcare care settings. In this study, we aimed to assess patient-reported outcomes on nutrition knowledge, barriers to adopting a plant-based diet, food and beverage consumption, lifestyle behaviors, self-rated health, and quality-of-life of participants in a pilot plant-based lifestyle medicine program in an urban safety-net healthcare system. We surveyed participants at three time points (baseline, 3 months, 6 months) to measure change over time. After 6 months of participation in the program, nutrition knowledge increased by 7.2 percentage points, participants reported an average of 2.4 fewer barriers to adopting a plant-based diet, the score on a modified healthful plant-based diet index increased by 5.3 points, physical activity increased by 0.7 days per week while hours of media consumption declined by 0.7 h per day, and the percentage of participants who reported that their quality of sleep was “good” or “very good” increased by 12.2 percentage points. Our findings demonstrate that a lifestyle medicine intervention in a safety-net healthcare setting can achieve significant improvements in patient-reported outcomes. Key lessons for other lifestyle medicine interventions include using a multidisciplinary team; addressing all pillars of lifestyle medicine; and the ability for patients to improve knowledge, barriers, skills, and behaviors with adequate support.
Weight Change over Ten Years Predicts Biological Aging in a Random Sample of 3070 U.S. Adults
Authors: Tucker Larry A. , Brockbank Joshua A.
Published: June 2023

This investigation was designed to study the relationship between weight change over 10 years and leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in a large sample of 3070 randomly selected U.S. adults, 36–70 years old. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data were used to examine the relationship between percent weight change and LTL. Potential mediating variables were controlled using partial correlation. After adjusting for age, race, year, and housing status, the association between percent weight change over 10 years and LTL was significant in women (F = 6.9, p = 0.0138). Adjusting for the demographic and several other covariates weakened the relationship slightly (F = 4.7, p = 0.0392). With all the covariates controlled, for each one percentage point increase in weight over the previous 10 years, telomeres were, on average, 3.48 base pairs (bp) shorter in women. Given that each one-year increase in age was associated with telomeres that were 15.0 bp shorter in women, the median weight change in U.S. women over the previous 10 years (an increase of 10.4%) was predictive of LTLs that were 36 bp shorter, on average, or an increase of 2.4 years of biological aging. Percent weight change over 10 years was not associated with LTL in U.S. men. Percent weight change over 10 years is a strong predictor of biological aging in U.S. women, but not in men.
Efficacy and Safety of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Combined with Iron on Skeletal Muscle Mass Index and Physical Performance of Patients with Sarcopenia: A Multicenter, Double-Blinded, Randomized-Controlled Trial (ALADDIN Study)
Authors: Tamura Yoshifumi , Kaga Hideyoshi , Abe Yasuko , Yoshii Hidenori , Seino Hiroaki , Hiyoshi Toru , Kuribayashi Nobuichi , Inoue Ikuo , Watada Hirotaka
Published: June 2023

Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome characterized by decreased physical performance, muscle mass, and strength. Since the intake of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) with iron can increase muscle mass and mitochondria in mice and elevate physical exercise performance in humans, the beneficial effects of ALA in patients with sarcopenia are expected, but this remains unexplored in the literature. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and dose dependency of ALA combined with iron in sarcopenia by measuring skeletal muscle mass index (SMI). Subjects with sarcopenia were enrolled and randomized into the ALA and sodium ferrous citrate (SFC) intake groups (ALA50/SFC29, ALA100/SFC29, ALA150/SFC29, ALA 100/SFC57, and ALA0/SFC29 placebo) and ingested the assigned study food for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint, the change in SMI from baseline to week 12, did not differ significantly between the groups. Hand grip significantly increased or tended to increase from baseline after 12 weeks with all doses of ALA or SFC compared with the placebo group. No consistent changes were observed in the other endpoints, including calf circumference, physical function, or quality of life (QOL). Although this study suggests safe administration and the possibility of ALA improving hand grip strength in patients with sarcopenia, further investigation is required.
Associations of Maternal Serum Iodine Concentration with Obstetric Complications and Birth Outcomes—Longitudinal Analysis Based on the Huizhou Mother–Infant Cohort, South China
Authors: Liu Zhao-Min , Wu Yi , Long Huan-Huan , Chen Chao-Gang , Wang Cheng , Ye Yan-Bin , Shen Zhen-Yu , Ye Ming-Tong , Zhang Su-Juan , Li Min-Min , Pan Wen-Jing
Published: June 2023

This study aimed to explore the temporal associations between maternal serum iodine concentration (SIC) and common pregnancy outcomes in Chinese women. Eligible singleton pregnant women aged 20–34 years were selected, and their fasting blood samples were collected during early (T1, n = 1101) and mid-pregnancy (T2, n = 403) for SIC testing by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Multivariable linear regression indicated that log10SIC at T1 (β = −0.082), T2 (β = −0.198), and their % change (β = −0.131) were inversely associated with gestational weight gain (GWG, all p < 0.05). Maternal log10SIC at both T1 (β = 0.077) and T2 (β = 0.105) were positively associated with the Apgar score at 1 min (both p < 0.05). Women in the third quartile (Q3) of SIC at T1 had a lower risk of small for gestational age (SGA, OR = 0.405, 95% CI: 0.198–0.829) compared with those in Q4. Restricted cubic spline regression suggested a U-shaped association between SIC and SGA risk, and SIC above 94 μg/L at T1 was the starting point for an increased risk of SGA. The risk of premature rupture of membrane (PROM) increased by 96% (OR = 1.960, 95% CI: 1.010–3.804) in Q4 compared to that in Q1. Our longitudinal data from an iodine-replete region of China indicated that high maternal SIC could restrict GWG and improve Apgar scores at delivery, but might increase the risk of SGA and PROM.
Metabolomic Profiling in Children with Celiac Disease: Beyond the Gluten-Free Diet
Authors: Martín-Masot Rafael , Jiménez-Muñoz María , Herrador-López Marta , Navas-López Víctor Manuel , Obis Elia , Jové Mariona , Pamplona Reinald , Nestares Teresa
Published: June 2023

Celiac disease (CD) is included in the group of complex or multifactorial diseases, i.e., those caused by the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Despite a growing understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of the disease, diagnosis is still often delayed and there are no effective biomarkers for early diagnosis. The only current treatment, a gluten-free diet (GFD), can alleviate symptoms and restore intestinal villi, but its cellular effects remain poorly understood. To gain a comprehensive understanding of CD’s progression, it is crucial to advance knowledge across various scientific disciplines and explore what transpires after disease onset. Metabolomics studies hold particular significance in unravelling the complexities of multifactorial and multisystemic disorders, where environmental factors play a significant role in disease manifestation and progression. By analyzing metabolites, we can gain insights into the reasons behind CD’s occurrence, as well as better comprehend the impact of treatment initiation on patients. In this review, we present a collection of articles that showcase the latest breakthroughs in the field of metabolomics in pediatric CD, with the aim of trying to identify CD biomarkers for both early diagnosis and treatment monitoring. These advancements shed light on the potential of metabolomic analysis in enhancing our understanding of the disease and improving diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. More studies need to be designed to cover metabolic profiles in subjects at risk of developing the disease, as well as those analyzing biomarkers for follow-up treatment with a GFD.
Correction: Fang et al. In Vivo Rodent Models of Type 2 Diabetes and Their Usefulness for Evaluating Flavonoid Bioactivity. Nutrients 2019, 11, 530
Authors: Fang Jia-You , Lin Chih-Hung , Huang Tse-Hung , Chuang Shih-Yi
Published: June 2023

Missing Citation [...]
Successive Solvent Extraction of Polyphenols and Flavonoids from Cistus creticus L. Leaves
Authors: Palaiogiannis Dimitrios , Chatzimitakos Theodoros , Athanasiadis Vassilis , Bozinou Eleni , Makris Dimitris P. , Lalas Stavros I.
Published: June 2023

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of successive extraction (using solvents of increasing polarity, namely hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol, and water) of polyphenols from Cistus creticus L. The results were compared with the ones obtained from a single-solvent extraction (ethanol, water, and 50% ethanol: water). According to the results, each solvent used for extraction had a significant effect on the yield of extracted polyphenols and the antioxidant activity of the extracts. The highest extraction yield for successive extraction was achieved with ethanol (95.33 mg GAE/g), whereas a comparable amount could also be extracted with 50% ethanol: water mixture single-solvent extraction (96.51 mg GAE/g). The ethanolic and aqueous extracts had the highest antioxidant activity as indicated by their lowest IC50 values in the DPPH assay, specifically 350.99 μg/mL for ethanolic extract of successive extraction and 341.18 μg/mL for 50% ethanol: water mixture of single-solvent extraction, followed by the extract produced using acetone. However, the acetone extract contained more flavonoids than the other two extracts up to 28.03 mg QE/g. The results obtained were in line with those for the single-solvent extraction. It is concluded that using a range of solvents in succession is a more efficient way of extracting higher amounts of antioxidant compounds with varying antioxidant activity.
Design of a Synthetic Long Peptide Vaccine Targeting HPV-16 and -18 Using Immunoinformatic Methods
Authors: Tîrziu Alexandru , Avram Speranța , Mada Leonard , Crișan-Vida Mihaela , Popovici Casiana , Popovici Dan , Faur Cosmin , Duda-Seiman Corina , Păunescu Virgil , Vernic Corina
Published: June 2023

Human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 cause the majority of cervical cancers worldwide. Despite the availability of three prophylactic vaccines based on virus-like particles (VLP) of the major capsid protein (L1), these vaccines are unable to clear an existing infection. Such infected persons experience an increased risk of neoplastic transformation. To overcome this problem, this study proposes an alternative synthetic long peptide (SLP)-based vaccine for persons already infected, including those with precancerous lesions. This new vaccine was designed to stimulate both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, providing a robust and long-lasting immune response. The SLP construct includes both HLA class I- and class II-restricted epitopes, identified from IEDB or predicted using NetMHCPan and NetMHCIIPan. None of the SLPs were allergenic nor toxic, based on in silico studies. Population coverage studies provided 98.18% coverage for class I epitopes and 99.81% coverage for class II peptides in the IEDB world population’s allele set. Three-dimensional structure ab initio prediction using Rosetta provided good quality models, which were assessed using PROCHECK and QMEAN4. Molecular docking with toll-like receptor 2 identified potential intrinsic TLR2 agonist activity, while molecular dynamics studies of SLPs in water suggested good stability, with favorable thermodynamic properties.
Cholinium-Based Ionic Liquids as Promising Antimicrobial Agents in Pharmaceutical Applications: Surface Activity, Antibacterial Activity and Ecotoxicological Profile
Authors: García María Teresa , Bautista Elena , de la Fuente Ana , Pérez Lourdes
Published: June 2023

Cholinium-based ionic liquids are compounds increasingly studied in pharmaceutics and biomedicine to enhance bioavailability in drug delivery systems and as bioactive ingredients in pharmaceutical formulations. However, their potential as antimicrobial agents has scarcely been investigated. Herein, we explored the antimicrobial activity of a series of surface-active cholinium-based ionic liquids (Chol-ILs). For this purpose, Chol-ILs with alkyl chains of 10–16 carbon atoms were synthesized and their self-assembly in aqueous medium was investigated. Subsequently, their antimicrobial activity against a panel of clinically relevant bacteria and their ability to eradicate MRSA and P. aeruginosa PAO1 biofilms was evaluated. Finally, we analyzed the ecotoxicological profile of Chol-ILs in terms of susceptibility to aerobic biodegradation and acute aquatic toxicity against D. magna and V. fisheri. Our results reveal that cholinium-based ILs with alkyl chain lengths ≥12 C show a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity. Their antimicrobial efficacy depends on their hydrophobicity, with the C14–C16 homologs being the most effective compounds. These ILs exhibit antimicrobial activity similar to that of imidazolium ILs and quaternary ammonium antiseptics. Moreover, the longer alkyl chain Chol-ILs are able to eradicate established biofilms at concentrations as low as 16–32 µg/mL. The biodegradation rate of cholinium-based ILs decreases with alkyl chain elongation. Our results reinforce the suitability of Chol-ILs as promising multifunctional compounds for application in pharmaceutical and biomedical formulation.
An Overview of the Development and Preclinical Evaluation of Antibody–Drug Conjugates for Non-Oncological Applications
Authors: Pal Lal Bahadur , Bule Prajakta , Khan Wahid , Chella Naveen
Published: June 2023

Typically, antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) are made up of a humanized antibody and a small-molecule medication connected by a chemical linker. ADCs’ ability to deliver cytotoxic agents to the specific site with reduced side effects showed promising results in oncology. To date, fourteen ADCs have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, and approximately 297 ADCs are in pre-clinical/clinical stages in the oncology area. Inspired by these outcomes, a few scientists explored the potential of antibody–drug conjugates in non-oncological conditions such as arthritis, myasthenia gravis, immunological disorders, and kidney failure. However, there are limited data available on the non-oncological applications of antibody–drug conjugates. This current review focuses on the non-oncological applications of antibody–drug conjugates, their developmental studies, testing procedures, in vitro evaluations, and pre-clinical testing. Additionally, a summary of the restrictions, difficulties, and prospects for ADCs in non-oncological applications is provided.
Rheology of Complex Topical Formulations: An Analytical Quality by Design Approach to Method Optimization and Validation
Authors: Chiarentin Lucas , Cardoso Catarina , Miranda Margarida , Vitorino Carla
Published: June 2023

Analytical method validation ensures that a method provides trustworthy information about a particular sample when applied in accordance with the predefined protocol. According to regulatory standards, the rheological characteristics of topically applied semisolid formulations are one of the key elements involved in microstructure equivalence documentation. Therefore, for generic drug product manufacturers, it is a dire need to take a step forward in rheology method development and validation procedures. This paper aims to apply Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD) principles towards the development and validation of rheology methods for topical creams, as complex semisolid formulations. Risk assessment was carried out through an Ishikawa diagram and an estimate failure mode, effects, and criticality analysis (FMECA). Sample application, peltier temperature control, and sample rest time were identified as critical method variables (CMVs), and a 23 full factorial design was applied to understand their impact on rotational, creep recovery and, oscillatory measurements. The development of the method was carried out as per the ICH Q8-Q10, and Q14 guidelines and validated according to ICH Q2 (R2) guideline. The method demonstrated adequate precision (RSD < 15%), as well as selectivity. AQbD provided a comprehensive framework for developing a reliable and effective rheology method for this type of formulation.
Microfluidic-Assisted ZIF-Silk-Polydopamine Nanoparticles as Promising Drug Carriers for Breast Cancer Therapy
Authors: Gao Zijian , Mansor Muhamad Hawari , Winder Natalie , Demiral Secil , Maclnnes Jordan , Zhao Xiubo , Muthana Munitta
Published: June 2023

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are heralded as potential nanoplatforms for biomedical applications. Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8), as one of the most well known MOFs, has been widely applied as a drug delivery carrier for cancer therapy. However, the application of ZIF-8 nanoparticles as a therapeutic agent has been hindered by the challenge of how to control the release behaviour of anti-cancer zinc ions to cancer cells. In this paper, we designed microfluidic-assisted core-shell ZIF-8 nanoparticles modified with silk fibroin (SF) and polydopamine (PDA) for sustained release of zinc ions and curcumin (CUR) and tested these in vitro in various human breast cancer cells. We report that microfluidic rapid mixing is an efficient method to precisely control the proportion of ZIF-8, SF, PDA, and CUR in the nanoparticles by simply adjusting total flow rates (from 1 to 50 mL/min) and flow rate ratios. Owing to sufficient and rapid mixing during microfluidic-assisted nanoprecipitation, our designer CUR@ZIF-SF-PDA nanoparticles had a desired particle size of 170 nm with a narrow size distribution (PDI: 0.08), which is much smaller than nanoparticles produced using traditional magnetic stirrer mixing method (over 1000 nm). Moreover, a properly coated SF layer successfully enhanced the capability of ZIF-8 as a reservoir of zinc ions. Meanwhile, the self-etching reaction between ZIF-8 and PDA naturally induced a pH-responsive release of zinc ions and CUR to a therapeutic level in the MDA-MB-231, SK-BR-3, and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines, resulting in a high cellular uptake efficiency, cytotoxicity, and cell cycle arrest. More importantly, the high biocompatibility of designed CUR@ZIF-SF-PDA nanoparticles remained low in cytotoxicity on AD-293 non-cancer cells. We demonstrate the potential of prepared CUR@ZIF-SF-PDA nanoparticles as promising carriers for the controlled release of CUR and zinc ions in breast cancer therapy.
Design of All-Optical Subtractors Utilized with Plasmonic Ring Resonators for Optical Computing
Authors: Ye Yichen , Song Tingting , Xie Yiyuan , Li Chuandong
Published: June 2023

In this paper, a novel plasmonic all-optical half-subtractor and full-subtractor are designed for optical computing. The structure of plasmonic subtractors consists of a metal–insulator–metal (MIM) waveguide and rectangular ring resonators covered by a graphene layer. Due to the nonlinear optical properties of graphene, the states of the plasmonic resonators can be controlled by the pump intensity of a pump beam focused on the graphene layer. The resonators can work as all-optical switches with an ultra-fast response time to constitute optical logic devices according to the directed logic mechanism. A finite-difference time-domain method is utilized to numerically investigate the transmission of the output signals which represent the results of subtraction operations. Simulation results obtained indicate that the proposed plasmonic devices have the ability to implement half-subtraction and full-subtraction with a small feature size and fast response time, and provide a new concept and method for the design and realization of optical computing devices.
Two-Dimensional Polarization Holographic Gratings in Azopolymer Thin Films: Polarization Properties in the Presence or Absence of Surface Relief
Authors: Mateev Georgi , Nedelchev Lian , Nikolova Ludmila , Ivanov Branimir , Strijkova Velichka , Stoykova Elena , Choi Kihong , Park Joongki , Nazarova Dimana
Published: June 2023

During polarization holographic recording in azopolymer thin films, usually together with the volume anisotropic grating, a surface relief grating (SRG) is also formed. By using two consecutive exposures, it is possible to obtain a two-dimensional (2D) grating. To the best of our knowledge, the polarization properties of such gratings have not been studied yet. To determine the influence of the surface relief on the polarization selectivity of the 2D gratings, we propose two methods to suppress the SRG formation: by varying the recording conditions or varying the sample structure. In these experiments we have used the commercially available azopolymer PAZO, poly[1-4-(3-carboxy-4-hydrophenylazo) benzene sulfonamido]-1,2-ethanediyl, sodium salt] to perform the polarization holographic recording using a 442 nm He-Cd laser. As indicated by our results, when the surface relief is present, it strongly dominates the response of the 2D grating and it behaves almost as a scalar polarization insensitive grating. Conversely, when the SRG formation is suppressed, the polarization properties of the 2D grating in all four diffracted orders are very well pronounced. In this way, we demonstrate that we can easily control SRG formation and, if desired, obtain 2D grating with high surface relief modulation, or alternatively record polarization-selective 2D gratings with virtually no surface relief.
Highly Luminescent Rb-Doped Cs4PbBr6 Nanocrystals in Borogermanate Glass
Authors: Valiev Damir , Kharisova Rufina , Babkina Anastasiia , Zyryanova Ksenia , Kuzmenko Natalia , Sgibnev Yevgeniy , Shelaev Artem , Baryshev Alexander V.
Published: June 2023

For the first time, the synthesis, luminescent and structural properties of stable perovskite-type (Cs1−xRbx)4PbBr6 (R = Cs, Rb) nanocrystals are shown. In the absence of rubidium, Cs4PbBr6 and CsPbBr3 perovskite crystals precipitate in the ZnO–Na2O–B2O3–GeO2 glass matrix. With ascending rubidium content, the precipitation of (Cs,Rb)4PbBr6 nanocrystals is replaced by the Rb4PbBr6 nanocrystals nucleation. Nucleated nanocrystals exhibit an intense green luminescence. With an increase of the rubidium content, the luminescence maximum shifts to the blue region, the luminescence quantum yield increases from 28 to 51%, and the average decay time increases from 2 to 8 ns. Several assumptions have been made about the nature of the green luminescence of perovskite-like Cs4PbBr6 and (Cs,Rb)4PbBr6 crystals in glasses. It is concluded that the most probable cause is the impurity inclusions of CsPbBr3 and (Cs,Rb)PbBr3 crystals.
210-W, Quasi-Continuous Wave, Nd:YAG InnoSlab Laser at 1319 nm
Authors: Meng Xiangrui , Luo Xingwang , Ye Junzhi , Chen Xiaoming , Zhang Xuguang , Zhang Lei , Gao Qingsong , Lu Baole
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we demonstrate a high-power, quasi-continuous wave using a laser-diode dual-end-pumped Nd:YAG InnoSlab laser at 1319 nm. The maximum average output power of 210 W at a single 1319 nm wavelength is obtained with an optical-optical efficiency of 18.8% from absorbed pump power to laser output. The output pulse duration is 246 μs at the repetition of 500 Hz, and the beam quality factors of M2 are 1.37 and 1.47 in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively. This is the first report on high-power, quasi-continuous wave using Nd:YAG InnoSlab lasers at 1319 nm with good beam quality.
First Report on the Synergistic Interaction between Essential Oils against the Pinewood Nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus
Authors: Faria Jorge M. S. , Cavaco Tomás , Gonçalves Diogo , Barbosa Pedro , Teixeira Dora Martins , Moiteiro Cristina , Inácio Maria L.
Published: June 2023

Control of the pinewood nematode (PWN), the causal agent of pine wilt disease, can be achieved through the trunk injection of nematicides; however, many pesticides have been linked to environmental and human health concerns. Essential oils (EOs) are suitable alternatives due to their biodegradability and low toxicity to mammals. These complex mixtures of plant volatiles often display multiple biological activities and synergistic interactions between their compounds. The present work profiled the toxicity of eight EOs against the PWN in comparison to their 1:1 mixtures, to screen for successful synergistic interactions. Additionally, the main compounds of the most synergistic mixtures were characterized for their predicted environmental fate and toxicity to mammals in comparison to emamectin benzoate, a commercial nematicide used against PWN. The mixtures of Cymbopogon citratus with Mentha piperita and of Foeniculum vulgare with Satureja montana EOs showed the highest activities, with half-maximal effective concentrations (EC50) of 0.09 and 0.05 µL/mL, respectively. For these, complete PWN mortality was reached after only ca. 15 min or 2 h of direct contact, respectively. Their major compounds had a higher predicted affinity to air and water environmental compartments and are reported to have very low toxicity to mammals, with low acute oral and dermal toxicities. In comparison, emamectin benzoate showed lower nematicidal activity, a higher affinity to the soil and sediments environmental compartments and higher reported oral and dermal toxicity to mammals. Overall, uncovering synergistic activities in combinations of EOs from plants of different families may prove to be a source of biopesticides with optimized toxicity against PWNs.
Polysaccharides from the Sargassum and Brown Algae Genus: Extraction, Purification, and Their Potential Therapeutic Applications
Authors: Flores-Contreras Elda A. , Araújo Rafael G. , Rodríguez-Aguayo Arath A. , Guzmán-Román Muriel , García-Venegas Jesús Carlos , Nájera-Martínez Erik Francisco , Sosa-Hernández Juan Eduardo , Iqbal Hafiz M. N. , Melchor-Martínez Elda M. , Parra-Saldivar Roberto
Published: June 2023

Brown macroalgae represent one of the most proliferative groups of living organisms in aquatic environments. Due to their abundance, they often cause problems in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, resulting in health problems in humans and the death of various aquatic species. To resolve this, the application of Sargassum has been sought in different research areas, such as food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, since Sargassum is an easy target for study and simple to obtain. In addition, its high content of biocompounds, such as polysaccharides, phenols, and amino acids, among others, has attracted attention. One of the valuable components of brown macroalgae is their polysaccharides, which present interesting bioactivities, such as antiviral, antimicrobial, and antitumoral, among others. There is a wide variety of methods of extraction currently used to obtain these polysaccharides, such as supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), subcritical water extraction (SCWE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE), and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). Therefore, this work covers the most current information on the methods of extraction, as well as the purification used to obtain a polysaccharide from Sargassum that is able to be utilized as alginates, fucoidans, and laminarins. In addition, a compilation of bioactivities involving brown algae polysaccharides in in vivo and in vitro studies is also presented, along with challenges in the research and marketing of Sargassum-based products that are commercially available.
Biomass Production and Carbon Stocks in Poplar-Crop Agroforestry Chronosequence in Subtropical Central China
Authors: Wang Zhong , Yan Wende , Peng Yuanying , Wan Meng , Farooq Taimoor Hassan , Fan Wei , Lei Junjie , Yuan Chenglin , Wang Wancai , Qi Yaqin , Chen Xiaoyong
Published: June 2023

Agroforest systems have been widely recognized as an integrated approach to sustainable land use for addressing the climate change problem because of their greater potential to sequester atmospheric CO2 with multiple economic and ecological benefits. However, the nature and extent of the effects of an age-sequence of agroforestry systems on carbon (C) storage remain largely unknown. To reveal the influence of different aged poplar-crop systems on C stocks, we investigated the variation in biomass and C storage under four aged poplar-crop agroforest systems (3-, 9-, 13-, and 17-year-old) in the Henan province of China. The results showed that stand biomass increased with forest age, ranging from 26.9 to 121.6 t/ha in the corresponding four aged poplar-crop systems. The poplar tree biomass accounted for >80% of the total stand biomass in these poplar-crop agroforestry systems, except in the 3-year-old agroforestry system. The average stand productivity peaked in a 9-year-old poplar-crop system (11.8 t/ha/yr), the next was in 13- and 17-year-old agroforestry systems, and the minimum was found in 3-year-old poplar-crop stands (4.8 t/ha/yr). The total C stocks increased, with aging poplar-crop systems ranging from 99.7 to 189.2 t/ha in the studied agroforestry systems. The proportion of C stocks accounted for about 6, 25, and 69% of the total C stocks in the crop, poplar tree, and soil components in all studied agroforestry ecosystems, respectively. Our results suggested that the poplar-crop system, especially in productive and mature stages, is quite an effective agroforestry model to increase the study site’s biomass production and C stocks. This study highlighted the importance of agroforestry systems in C storage. It recommended the poplar-crop agroforest ecosystems as a viable option for sustainable production and C mitigation in the central region of China.
In Situ Tensile Testing under High-Speed Optical Recording to Determine Hierarchical Damage Kinetics in Polymer Layers of Flax Fibre Elements
Authors: Richely Emmanuelle , Beaugrand Johnny , Coret Michel , Binetruy Christophe , Ouagne Pierre , Bourmaud Alain , Guessasma Sofiane
Published: June 2023

This study aims at better understanding the damage and fracture kinetics in flax fibre elements at both the unitary and bundle scales, using an experimental setup allowing optical observation at high recording rate in the course of tensile loading. Defects and issues from flax unitary fibre extraction are quantitated using polarized light microscopy. Tensile loading is conducted according to a particular setup, adapted to fibres of 10 to 20 µm in diameter and 10 mm in length. Optical recording using a high-speed camera is performed during loading up to the failure at acquisition, with speed ranging from 108,000 to 270,000 frames per second. Crack initiation in polymer layers of fibre elements, propagation as well as damage mechanisms are captured. The results show different failure scenarios depending on the fibre element’s nature. In particular, fractured fibres underline either a fully transverse failure propagation or a combination of transverse and longitudinal cracking with different balances. Image recordings with high time resolution of down to 3.7 μs suggest an unstable system and transverse crack speed higher than 4 m/s and a slower propagation for longitudinal crack deviation. Failure propagation monitoring and fracture mechanism studies in individual natural fibre or bundles, using tensile load with optical observation, showed contrasted behaviour and the importance of the structural scale exanimated. This study can help in tailoring the eco-design of flax-based composites, in terms of toughness and mechanical performances, for both replacement of synthetic fibre materials and innovative composites with advanced properties.