bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determining the Arrhenius Kinetics of Avocado Oil: Oxidative Stability under Rancimat Test Conditions
Authors: Aktar Tugba , Adal Eda
Published: July 2019

Avocado is a highly potential functional fruit with significant health benefits which has high demand for consumption with a preferable taste. The fruit is one of the oil sources that still needs further examination on its probable kinetic behavior and oxidative stability as well as some characteristic behavior to commercialize and increase the market demand as functional oil. Hence, this study was motivated primarily for obtaining the Arrhenius kinetic information about avocado oil to evaluate the oxidative stability and provide predictive information about the shelf life by using the Rancimat method which is an accelerated shelf life test. Specifically, this research paper presents the study of the physical, physicochemical, chemical, and oxidative stability tests with the shelf life expectancy and kinetic property of avocado oil. According to the analyses, avocado oil has 210 days of predicted shelf life at 25 °C. This gives it a greater chance to be considered a good alternative to other oils as well as its antioxidant and phenolic content. According to the findings presented in this study, avocado oil has a very similar profile to olive oil and can be used as an alternative functional oil source.
Estimation of Minced Pork Microbiological Spoilage through Fourier Transform Infrared and Visible Spectroscopy and Multispectral Vision Technology
Authors: Fengou Lemonia-Christina , Spyrelli Evgenia , Lianou Alexandra , Tsakanikas Panagiotis , Panagou Efstathios Z. , Nychas George-John E.
Published: July 2019

Spectroscopic and imaging methods coupled with multivariate data analysis have been increasingly studied for the assessment of food quality. The objective of this work was the estimation of microbiological quality of minced pork using non-invasive spectroscopy-based sensors. For this purpose, minced pork patties were stored aerobically at different isothermal (4, 8, and 12 °C) and dynamic temperature conditions, and at regular time intervals duplicate samples were subjected to (i) microbiological analyses, (ii) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and visible (VIS) spectroscopy measurements, and (iii) multispectral image (MSI) acquisition. Partial-least squares regression models were trained and externally validated using the microbiological/spectral data collected at the isothermal and dynamic temperature storage conditions, respectively. The root mean squared error (RMSE, log CFU/g) for the prediction of the test (external validation) dataset for the FTIR, MSI, and VIS models was 0.915, 1.173, and 1.034, respectively, while the corresponding values of the coefficient of determination (R2) were 0.834, 0.727, and 0.788. Overall, all three tested sensors exhibited a considerable potential for the prediction of the microbiological quality of minced pork.
Dark Antibacterial Activity of Rose Bengal
Authors: Nakonechny Faina , Barel Margarita , David Arad , Koretz Simor , Litvak Boris , Ragozin Elena , Etinger Ariel , Livne Oz , Pinhasi Yosef , Gellerman Gary , Nisnevitch Marina
Published: July 2019

The global spread of bacterial resistance to antibiotics promotes a search for alternative approaches to eradication of pathogenic bacteria. One alternative is using photosensitizers for inhibition of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria under illumination. Due to low penetration of visible light into tissues, applications of photosensitizers are currently limited to treatment of superficial local infections. Excitation of photosensitizers in the dark can be applied to overcome this problem. In the present work, dark antibacterial activity of the photosensitizer Rose Bengal alone and in combination with antibiotics was studied. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) value of Rose Bengal against S. aureus dropped in the presence of sub-MIC concentrations of ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, methicillin, and gentamicin. Free Rose Bengal at sub-MIC concentrations can be excited in the dark by ultrasound at 38 kHz. Rose Bengal immobilized onto silicon showed good antibacterial activity in the dark under ultrasonic activation, probably because of Rose Bengal leaching from the polymer during the treatment. Exposure of bacteria to Rose Bengal in the dark under irradiation by electromagnetic radio frequency waves in the 9 to 12 GHz range caused a decrease in the bacterial concentration, presumably due to resonant absorption of electromagnetic energy, its transformation into heat and subsequent excitation of Rose Bengal.
Eligibility of BPMN Models for Business Process Redesign
Authors: Tsakalidis George , Vergidis Kostas , Kougka Georgia , Gounaris Anastasios
Published: July 2019

Business process redesign (BPR) is an organizational initiative for achieving competitive multi-faceted advantages regarding business processes, in terms of cycle time, quality, cost, customer satisfaction and other critical performance metrics. In spite of the fact that BPR tools and methodologies are increasingly being adopted, process innovation efforts have proven ineffective in delivering the expected outcome. This paper investigates the eligibility of BPMN process models towards the application of redesign methods inspired by data-flow communities. In previous work, the transformation of a business process model to a directed acyclic graph (DAG) has yielded notable optimization results for determining average performance of process executions consisting of ad-hoc processes. Still, the utilization encountered drawbacks due to a lack of input specification, complexity assessment and normalization of the BPMN model and application to more generic business process cases. This paper presents an assessment mechanism that measures the eligibility of a BPMN model and its capability to be effectively transformed to a DAG and be further subjected to data-centric workflow optimization methods. The proposed mechanism evaluates the model type, complexity metrics, normalization and optimization capability of candidate process models, while at the same time allowing users to set their desired complexity thresholds. An indicative example is used to demonstrate the assessment phases and to illustrate the usability of the proposed mechanism towards the advancement and facilitation of the optimization phase. Finally, the authors review BPMN models from both an SOA-based business process design (BPD) repository and relevant literature and assess their eligibility.
Clinical Characteristics of Diagnosis for Internet Gaming Disorder: Comparison of DSM-5 IGD and ICD-11 GD Diagnosis
Authors: Jo Yeong Seon , Bhang Soo Young , Choi Jung Seok , Lee Hae Kook , Lee Seung Yup , Kweon Yong-Sil
Published: July 2019

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) included internet game disorder (IGD) in section III of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition (DSM-5) on the condition that it guaranteed more clinical research and experience. The World Health Organization (WHO) also included Game Disorder (GD) in the 11th final revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) and recently recognized it as a diagnosis code. This study aims to compare clinical characteristics and gaming behavior patterns between the IGD diagnosis criteria proposed by the DSM-5 and the GD diagnosis criteria proposed by the ICD-11 based on clinical cohort data (c-CURE: clinic-Cohort for Understanding of internet addiction Rescue factors in Early life) obtained in the Republic of Korea. Psychologists and psychiatrists conducted semi-structured interviews with children/adolescents and their caregivers to identify IGD (Diagnostic Interview for Internet, Game, SNS, etc. Addiction, DIA), and comorbid psychiatric disorders (Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version-Korean version, K-SADS-PL). The cohort was divided into three IGD diagnosis groups (Normal, DSM5, DSM5 + ICD11) based on DSM-5 and ICD-11 diagnosis criteria. Internet usage pattern and addiction characteristics and psychiatric comorbidities were compared among the three IGD diagnosis groups. The Normal group consisted of 115 subjects, the DSM5 group contained 61 subjects, and the DSM5 + ICD11 group amounted to 12 subjects. The DSM5 + ICD11 group had a lower age of starting use of Internet/games/smartphones than other groups and the average time of Internet/game/smartphone use during weekdays/weekends was the highest. Also, in the eight items scored, excluding ‘deceiving’ and ‘craving’, the rate of threshold was highest in the DSM5 + ICD11 group, followed by the DSM5 group and the Normal group. On the other hand, ‘deceiving’ and ‘craving’ were the highest in DSM5, followed by DSM5 + ICD11 and Normal. The DSM5 + ICD11 group had significantly higher rates of depressive disorder, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD) compared to other groups. This study provides implications for the clinical characteristics of IGD diagnosis in the field by comparing the DSM-5 IGD diagnosis criteria with the ICD-11 GD diagnosis criteria. Furthermore, this study provides empirical evidence that ICD-11 GD emphasizes serious symptoms such as functional impairment caused by excessive Internet/game/smartphone use over a long time, and it supports the validity of the ICD-11 GD diagnosis.
Findings from a Feasibility Study of an Adapted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Group Intervention to Reduce Depression among LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer) Young People
Authors: Hall William , Ruiz Rosado Benjamin , Chapman Mimi
Published: July 2019

Depression disproportionately affects LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer) adolescents and young adults. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment approach; however, there has been limited work to adapt and evaluate CBT with LGBTQ young people. This study examined the feasibility of an intervention called Being Out With Strength (BOWS), which is an 8-session, small-group, CBT-based intervention to reduce depression among LGBTQ young people. We used a descriptive cross-sectional mixed-methods feasibility study design to evaluate the feasibility of BOWS. Survey data were collected from 79 LGBTQ young adults, and interview data were collected from nine mental health professionals. Almost half of the young adults had clinically significant depressive symptoms. All providers indicated depression as a problem facing this population and a need for BOWS. Two-thirds of young people were interested in participating in BOWS. Providers believed that BOWS would be acceptable for LGBTQ-identified individuals, those in late adolescence or early/young adulthood, and those with mild or moderate depression. Youth and providers also made implementation recommendations concerning settings to implement BOWS, times of day for BOWS sessions, number of sessions, group size, and facilitator composition. There is a demand for BOWS, and it is likely acceptable for the target population. Study findings can be used in the future to successfully implement BOWS and evaluate preliminary efficacy.
Metabolic Obesity Phenotypes and Risk of Cellulitis: A Cohort Study
Authors: Cheong Hae Suk , Chang Yoosoo , Joo Eun-Jung , Cho Ara , Ryu Seungho
Published: July 2019

No cohort studies have evaluated the effect of obesity on the risk of cellulitis according to metabolic health status. We investigated an association of BMI and metabolic health status with the development of cellulitis. We conducted a cohort study of 171,322 Korean adults who underwent a health checkup examination and were followed from 2011 to 2016 for cellulitis and hospital admission related to cellulitis, which were ascertained through the linkage to the Health Insurance and Review Agency database. Being metabolically healthy was defined as not having any metabolic syndrome component and having a homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance <2.5. During 638,240.4 person-years of follow-up, 14,672 cases of incident cellulitis were identified with 225 cases of cellulitis-related admission. After adjustment for possible confounders, the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) for incident cellulitis comparing BMIs 23–24.9, 25–29.9, and ≥30 with a BMI of 18.5–22.9 kg/m2 as the reference were 1.07 (1.02–1.11), 1.09 (1.04-1.13), and 1.19 (1.08–1.31), respectively, whereas the corresponding multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) for cellulitis-related admission were 1.55 (1.05–2.3), 2.47 (1.73–3.53), and 4.8 (2.86–8.05), respectively. These associations were consistently observed in both metabolically healthy and unhealthy individuals with no significant interaction. In a large cohort of apparently healthy adults, increased BMI was associated with an increased risk of cellulitis and hospitalization for cellulitis in both metabolically healthy and unhealthy individuals. Obesity appears to be an independent risk factor for cellulitis regardless of metabolic phenotype.
Cross-Border Venture Capital Investments: What Is the Role of Public Policy?
Authors: Bradley Wendy A. , Duruflé Gilles , Hellmann Thomas F. , Wilson Karen E.
Published: July 2019

(1) Background: Cross-border venture capital (VC) investments play an important role in the scaling up of high-growth companies. However, policymakers worry that foreign VC investments transfer the majority of economic activity to the investor country. On the one hand, start-ups welcome the foreign capital, expertise, and networks that accompany cross-border investments. On the other hand, policymakers are concerned that cross-border investments predominantly benefit foreign economies and fail to develop the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. This paper describes a framework for how policymakers can develop a set of policies toward cross-border VC investments. (2) Methods: The paper examines available data and trends about the role of cross-border investing, focusing on Europe, Israel, and Canada. Then, the paper explains the underlying economic challenges and develops a policy framework. (3) Results: The analysis shows that in addition to policies that aim to attract foreign investors, there are also important policies for the development of the domestic VC market. The analysis encompasses policies that are both financial and non-financial in nature. (4) Conclusions: A core insight for policymakers is to retain a balance of initiatives, attracting foreign investors while simultaneously making sure to strengthen the country’s domestic VC industry and innovation ecosystem. The mix of policies will adjust as the domestic ecosystem matures.
Chronic Pruritus Responding to Dupilumab—A Case Series
Authors: Zhai Lisa L. , Savage Kevin T. , Qiu Connie C. , Jin Annie , Valdes-Rodriguez Rodrigo , Mollanazar Nicholas K.
Published: July 2019

Background: Chronic pruritus is defined as itch lasting for greater than six weeks. Pruritus is a burdensome manifestation of several internal and external disease states with a significant impact on quality of life. Dupilumab has shown promise in treating a number of conditions including atopic dermatitis (AD) and asthma. Its success in reducing pruritus in AD has generated interest regarding its potential application in other pruritic conditions, such as chronic pruritus of unknown origin, uremic pruritus, and pruigo nodularis. Methods: In this retrospective analysis, we present a series of 20 recalcitrant pruritus patients seen at a tertiary center treated with off-label dupilumab at standard AD dosing. Results: Dupilumab was successful at reducing itch in all treated patients, leading to complete resolution in 12/20 patients and an overall mean NRSi reduction of 7.55. Dupilumab was well tolerated with no significant adverse effects. Conclusions: Our case series suggests dupilumab may be a safe and efficacious therapeutic option in several pruritic conditions and demonstrates the need for further studies to better ascertain its place in the pruritus treatment armamentarium.
Purification of Pharmaceutical Solvents by Pervaporation through Hybrid Silica Membranes
Authors: La Rocca Thomas , Carretier Emilie , Dhaler Didier , Louradour Eric , Truong Thien , Moulin Philippe
Published: July 2019

Solvents purification mainly used in pharmaceutical field such as acetone and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) were performed through hybrid silica membranes and from binary and multi-components mixtures. Two hybrid silica membranes—zirconia doped bis(triethoxysilyl)methane and bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane (BTESE)—were studied. Flux, permeance, and separation factor were evaluated depending on temperature, composition, and number of organic compounds in the feed. Dehydration tests of acetone were operated at 30 and 45 °C following by acetone and MEK purification at 50 °C from multi-components hydro-organic mixtures where hydrophilic compounds (water, methanol) but also hydrophobic (dichloromethane (DCM) and/or toluene) were present. Results showed that the presence of Zr nanoparticles affected flux and improved selectivity in the case of dehydration. Experiments related to acetone and MEK purification, revealed a mass transfer alteration and a decrease of performance, from 99 to 97 wt% and from 98 to 95 wt% respectively, when the number of compounds in the initial feed grown up and more precisely, in the presence of DCM and toluene thus highlighting a possible coupling effect.
The Effect of Ion Irradiation Induced Defects on Mechanical Properties of Graphene/Copper Layered Nanocomposites
Authors: Yao Wenjuan , Fan Lei
Published: July 2019

One of the miraculous functions of graphene is to use its defects to alter the material properties of graphene composites and, thereby, expand the application of graphene in other fields. In this paper, various defects have been created in graphene by using ion irradiation. Defective graphene is sandwiched between two copper layers. A numerical model of Graphene/Copper layered composites after irradiation damage was established by the molecular dynamics method. The effects of ion irradiation and temperature coupling on defective graphene/copper composites were studied. The results show that there are a lot of empty defects in graphene after irradiation injury, which will produce more incomplete bonding. Although the bonds between carbon atoms can be weakened, defective graphene still enhances the mechanical properties of pure copper. At the same time, the location and arrangement of defects have a great influence on the mechanical stability of graphene/copper composites, and the arrangement of empty defects has different effects on deformation behavior and the stress transfer mechanism. It can be concluded that the defects formed by radiation have an effect on the physical properties of two-dimensional materials. Therefore, irradiation technology can be used to artificially control the formation of defects, and then make appropriate adjustments to their properties. This can not only optimize the radiation resistance and mechanical properties of nuclear materials, but also expand the application of graphene in electronic devices and other fields.
Hydrogen Trapping Behavior in Vanadium Microalloyed TRIP-Assisted Annealed Martensitic Steel
Authors: Yang Xiongfei , Yu Hao , Song Chenghao , Li Lili
Published: July 2019

Transformation induced plasticity (TRIP)-assisted annealed martensitic (TAM) steel combines higher tensile strength and elogangtion, and has been increasingly used but appears to bemore prone to hydrogen embrittlement (HE). In this paper, the hydrogen trapping behavior and HE of TRIP-assisted annealed martensitic steels with different vanadium additions had been investigated by means of hydrogen charging and slow strain rate tensile tests (SSRT), microstructral observartion, and thermal desorption mass spectroscope (TDS). Hydrogen charging test results indicates that apparent hydrogen diffusive index Da is 1.94 × 10−7/cm2·s−1 for 0.21 wt.% vanadium steel, while the value is 8.05 × 10−7/cm2·s−1 for V-free steel. SSRT results show that the hydrogen induced ductility loss ID is 76.2% for 0.21 wt.%V steel, compared with 86.5% for V-free steel. The trapping mechanism of the steel containing different V contents is analyzed by means of TDS and Transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations. It is found out that the steel containing 0.21 wt.%V can create much more traps for hydrogen trapping compared with lower V steel, which is due to vanadium carbide (VC) precipitates acting as traps capturing hydrogen atoms.The relationship between hydrogen diffusion and hydrogentrapping mechanism is discussed in details.
The Composition-Dependent Photoluminescence Properties of Non-Stoichiometric ZnxAgyInS1.5+x+0.5y Nanocrystals
Authors: Feng Jian , Yang Xiaosheng , Li Rong , Yang Xianjiong , Feng Guangwei
Published: July 2019

A facile hot injection approach to synthesize high-quality non-stoichiometric ZnxAgyInS1.5+x+0.5y nanocrystals (NCs) in the size range of 2.8–3.1 nm was presented. The fluorescence spectra had single band gap features, and indicated the formation of alloy states rather than simple composite structures. The chemical compositions, photoluminescence (PL) emission wavelengths, and quantum yields of ZnxAgyInS1.5+x+0.5y nanocrystals were significantly influenced by the concentration of an organic capping agent. The appropriate proportion of 1-dodecanthiol in the precursor prevented the precipitation, increased the fluorescence quantum yield, and improved their optical properties. The proper ratio of capping agent allowed Zn, Ag, and In to form a better crystallinity and compositional homogeneity of ZnxAgyInS1.5+x+0.5y nanocrystals. The photoluminescence was tunable from blue to red in the range of 450–700 nm as the Ag content changed independently. The PL and absorption spectra of ZnxAgyInS1.5+x+0.5y nanocrystals showed a significant blue shift with the decrease of Ag content in the precursor. As there were no obvious differences on the average particle sizes of ZnxAgyInS1.5+x+0.5y samples, these results fully revealed the composition-dependent photoluminescence properties of ZnxAgyInS1.5+x+0.5y nanocrystals. The relative quantum yield reached 35%. The fluorescence lifetimes (τ1=115–148 ns and τ2=455–483 ns) were analogous to those of AgInS2 and (AgIn)xZn2(1−x)S2.
Long-Term Effect of Ultraviolet Irradiation on Poly(vinyl chloride) Films Containing Naproxen Diorganotin(IV) Complexes
Authors: Hadi Angham G. , Yousif Emad , El-Hiti Gamal A. , Ahmed Dina S. , Jawad Khudheyer , Alotaibi Mohammad Hayal , Hashim Hassan
Published: July 2019

As poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) photodegrades with long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation, it is desirable to develop methods that enhance the photostability of PVC. In this study, new aromatic-rich diorganotin(IV) complexes were tested as photostabilizers in PVC films. The diorganotin(IV) complexes were synthesized in 79–86% yields by reacting excess naproxen with tin(IV) chlorides. PVC films containing 0.5 wt % diorganotin(IV) complexes were irradiated with ultraviolet light for up to 300 h, and changes within the films were monitored using the weight loss and the formation of specific functional groups (hydroxyl, carbonyl, and polyene). In addition, changes in the surface morphologies of the films were investigated. The diorganotin(IV) complexes enhanced the photostability of PVC, as the weight loss and surface roughness were much lower in the films with additives than in the blank film. Notably, the dimethyltin(IV) complex was the most efficient photostabilizer. The polymeric film containing this complex exhibited a morphology of regularly distributed hexagonal pores, with a honeycomb-like structure—possibly due to cross-linking and interactions between the additive and the polymeric chains. Various mechanisms, including direct absorption of ultraviolet irradiation, radical or hydrogen chloride scavenging, and polymer chain coordination, could explain how the diorganotin(IV) complexes stabilize PVC against photodegradation.
Synthesis of Fucosyl-Oligosaccharides Using α-l-Fucosidase from Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG
Authors: Escamilla-Lozano Yolanda , Guzmán-Rodríguez Francisco , Alatorre-Santamaría Sergio , García-Garibay Mariano , Gómez-Ruiz Lorena , Rodríguez-Serrano Gabriela , Cruz-Guerrero Alma
Published: July 2019

Fucosyl-oligosaccharides are natural prebiotics that promote the growth of probiotics in human gut and stimulate the innate immune system. In this work, the release of α-lfucosidase by Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, and the use of this enzyme for the synthesis of fucosyl-oligosaccharides were investigated. Since α-lfucosidase is a membrane-bound enzyme, its release from the cells was induced by addition of 4-nitrophenyl-α-l-fucopyranoside (pNP-Fuc). Enzyme activity associated with the cell was recovered at 78% of its total activity. Fucosyl-oligosaccharides where synthesized using α-l-fucosidase extract and pNP-Fuc as donor substrate, and D-lactose or D-lactulose as acceptor substrates, reaching a yield up to 25%. Fucosyllactose was obtained as a reaction product with D-lactose, and its composition was confirmed by mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). It is possible that the fucosyl-oligosaccharide synthesized in this study has biological functions similar to human milk oligosaccharides.
Identification and Characterization of trans-Isopentenyl Diphosphate Synthases Involved in Herbivory-Induced Volatile Terpene Formation in Populus trichocarpa
Authors: Lackus Nathalie D. , Petersen Nora P. , Nagel Raimund , Schmidt Axel , Irmisch Sandra , Gershenzon Jonathan , Köllner Tobias G.
Published: July 2019

In response to insect herbivory, poplar releases a blend of volatiles that plays important roles in plant defense. Although the volatile bouquet is highly complex and comprises several classes of compounds, it is dominated by mono- and sesquiterpenes. The most common precursors for mono- and sesquiterpenes, geranyl diphosphate (GPP) and (E,E)-farnesyl diphosphate (FPP), respectively, are in general produced by homodimeric or heterodimeric trans-isopentenyl diphosphate synthases (trans-IDSs) that belong to the family of prenyltransferases. To understand the molecular basis of herbivory-induced terpene formation in poplar, we investigated the trans-IDS gene family in the western balsam poplar Populus trichocarpa. Sequence comparisons suggested that this species possesses a single FPP synthase gene (PtFPPS1) and four genes encoding two large subunits (PtGPPS1.LSU and PtGPPS2.LSU) and two small subunits (PtGPPS.SSU1 and PtGPPS.SSU2) of GPP synthases. Transcript accumulation of PtGPPS1.LSU and PtGPPS.SSU1 was significantly upregulated upon leaf herbivory, while the expression of PtFPPS1, PtGPPS2.LSU, and PtGPPS.SSU2 was not influenced by the herbivore treatment. Heterologous expression and biochemical characterization of recombinant PtFPPS1, PtGPPS1.LSU, and PtGPPS2.LSU confirmed their respective IDS activities. Recombinant PtGPPS.SSU1 and PtGPPS.SSU2, however, had no enzymatic activity on their own, but PtGPPS.SSU1 enhanced the GPP synthase activities of PtGPPS1.LSU and PtGPPS2.LSU in vitro. Altogether, our data suggest that PtGPPS1.LSU and PtGPPS2.LSU in combination with PtGPPS.SSU1 may provide the substrate for herbivory-induced monoterpene formation in P. trichocarpa. The sole FPP synthase PtFPPS1 likely produces FPP for both primary and specialized metabolism in this plant species.
Laboratory Evaluation of Natural and Synthetic Aromatic Compounds as Potential Attractants for Male Mediterranean fruit Fly, Ceratitis capitata
Authors: Tabanca Nurhayat , Masi Marco , Epsky Nancy D. , Nocera Paola , Cimmino Alessio , Kendra Paul E. , Niogret Jerome , Evidente Antonio
Published: July 2019

Ceratitis capitata, the Mediterranean fruit fly, is one of the most serious agricultural pests worldwide responsible for significant reduction in fruit and vegetable yields. Eradication is expensive and often not feasible. Current control methods include the application of conventional insecticides, leading to pesticide resistance and unwanted environmental effects. The aim of this study was to identify potential new attractants for incorporation into more environmentally sound management programs for C. capitata. In initial binary choice bioassays against control, a series of naturally occurring plant and fungal aromatic compounds and their related analogs were screened, identifying phenyllactic acid (7), estragole (24), o-eugenol (21), and 2-allylphenol (23) as promising attractants for male C. capitata. Subsequent binary choice tests evaluated five semisynthetic derivatives prepared from 2-allylphenol, but none of these were as attractive as 2-allylphenol. In binary choice bioassays with the four most attractive compounds, males were more attracted to o-eugenol (21) than to estragole (24), 2-allylphenol (23), or phenyllactic acid (7). In addition, electroantennography (EAG) was used to quantify antennal olfactory responses to the individual compounds (1–29), and the strongest EAG responses were elicited by 1-allyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzene (11), estragole (24), 4-allyltoluene (14), trans-anethole (9), o-eugenol (21), and 2-allylphenol (23). The compounds evaluated in the current investigation provide insight into chemical structure–function relationships and help direct future efforts in the development of improved attractants for the detection and control of invasive C. capitata.
A Ligand-Based Virtual Screening Method Using Direct Quantification of Generalization Ability
Authors: Dai Weixing , Guo Dianjing
Published: July 2019

Machine learning plays an important role in ligand-based virtual screening. However, conventional machine learning approaches tend to be inefficient when dealing with such problems where the data are imbalanced and features describing the chemical characteristic of ligands are high-dimensional. We here describe a machine learning algorithm LBS (local beta screening) for ligand-based virtual screening. The unique characteristic of LBS is that it quantifies the generalization ability of screening directly by a refined loss function, and thus can assess the risk of over-fitting accurately and efficiently for imbalanced and high-dimensional data in ligand-based virtual screening without the help of resampling methods such as cross validation. The robustness of LBS was demonstrated by a simulation study and tests on real datasets, in which LBS outperformed conventional algorithms in terms of screening accuracy and model interpretation. LBS was then used for screening potential activators of HIV-1 integrase multimerization in an independent compound library, and the virtual screening result was experimentally validated. Of the 25 compounds tested, six were proved to be active. The most potent compound in experimental validation showed an EC50 value of 0.71 µM.
G-Quadruplex-Based Fluorescent Turn-On Ligands and Aptamers: From Development to Applications
Authors: Umar Mubarak I. , Ji Danyang , Chan Chun-Yin , Kwok Chun Kit
Published: July 2019

Guanine (G)-quadruplexes (G4s) are unique nucleic acid structures that are formed by stacked G-tetrads in G-rich DNA or RNA sequences. G4s have been reported to play significant roles in various cellular events in both macro- and micro-organisms. The identification and characterization of G4s can help to understand their different biological roles and potential applications in diagnosis and therapy. In addition to biophysical and biochemical methods to interrogate G4 formation, G4 fluorescent turn-on ligands can be used to target and visualize G4 formation both in vitro and in cells. Here, we review several representative classes of G4 fluorescent turn-on ligands in terms of their interaction mechanism and application perspectives. Interestingly, G4 structures are commonly identified in DNA and RNA aptamers against targets that include proteins and small molecules, which can be utilized as G4 tools for diverse applications. We therefore also summarize the recent development of G4-containing aptamers and highlight their applications in biosensing, bioimaging, and therapy. Moreover, we discuss the current challenges and future perspectives of G4 fluorescent turn-on ligands and G4-containing aptamers.
Hydrated Zinc Borates and Their Industrial Use
Authors: Schubert David M.
Published: July 2019

Zinc borates are important chemical products having industrial applications as functional additives in polymers, bio-composites, paints and ceramics. Of the thirteen well documented hydrated binary zinc borates, Zn[B3O4(OH)3] (2ZnO∙3B2O3∙3H2O) is manufactured in the largest quantity and is known as an article of commerce as 2ZnO∙3B2O3∙3.5H2O. Other hydrated zinc borates in commercial use include 4ZnO∙B2O3∙H2O, 3ZnO∙3B2O3∙5H2O and 2ZnO∙3B2O3∙7H2O. The history, chemistry, and applications of these and other hydrated zinc borate phases are briefly reviewed, and outstanding problems in the field are highlighted.
Emissive Enhancement of the Singlet Oxygen Chemiluminescence Probe after Binding to Bovine Serum Albumin
Authors: Miranda-Apodaca Jon , Hananya Nir , Velázquez-Campoy Adrián , Shabat Doron , Arellano Juan B.
Published: July 2019

A chemiluminescence probe for singlet oxygen 1O2 (SOCL) was investigated in phosphate buffer saline (PBS), either in the absence of proteins or containing bovine serum albumin (BSA). In the protein-free PBS, the reactivity of SOCL for methylene blue (MB)-photosensitized 1O2 was found to be moderate or low. The reaction yield increased with temperature and/or concentration of dissolved molecular oxygen. Unexpectedly, the presence of BSA boosted both the emissive nature and the thermal stability of the phenoxy-dioxetane intermediate formed in the chemiexcitation pathway. Isothermal titration calorimetry showed that SOCL has a moderate binding affinity for BSA and that entropy forces drive the formation of the SOCL-BSA complex. A model with two identical and independent binding sites was used to fit the binding isotherm data. Co-operative binding was observed when MB was present. Local viscosity factors and/or conformational restrictions of the BSA-bound SOCL phenoxy-dioxetane were proposed to contribute to the formation of the highly emissive benzoate ester during the chemically initiated electron exchange luminescence (CIEEL) process. These results led us to conclude that hydrophobic interactions of the SOCL with proteins can modify the emissive nature of its phenoxy-dioxetane, which should be taken into account when using SOCL or its cell-penetrating peptide derivative in living cells.
A Review of THz Modulators with Dynamic Tunable Metasurfaces
Authors: Wang Lan , Zhang Yaxin , Guo Xiaoqing , Chen Ting , Liang Huajie , Hao Xiaolin , Hou Xu , Kou Wei , Zhao Yuncheng , Zhou Tianchi , Liang Shixiong , Yang Ziqiang
Published: July 2019

Terahertz (THz) radiation has received much attention during the past few decades for its potential applications in various fields, such as spectroscopy, imaging, and wireless communications. To use terahertz waves for data transmission in different application systems, the efficient and rapid modulation of terahertz waves is required and has become an in-depth research topic. Since the turn of the century, research on metasurfaces has rapidly developed, and the scope of novel functions and operating frequency ranges has been substantially expanded, especially in the terahertz range. The combination of metasurfaces and semiconductors has facilitated both new opportunities for the development of dynamic THz functional devices and significant achievements in THz modulators. This paper provides an overview of THz modulators based on different kinds of dynamic tunable metasurfaces combined with semiconductors, two-dimensional electron gas heterostructures, superconductors, phase-transition materials, graphene, and other 2D material. Based on the overview, a brief discussion with perspectives will be presented. We hope that this review will help more researchers learn about the recent developments and challenges of THz modulators and contribute to this field.
Effects of Transition Metal Substituents on Interfacial and Electronic Structure of CH3NH3PbI3/TiO2 Interface: A First-Principles Comparative Study
Authors: Guo Yao , Xue Yuanbin , Li Xianchang , Li Chengbo , Song Haixiang , Niu Yongsheng , Liu Hu , Mai Xianmin , Zhang Jiaoxia , Guo Zhanhu
Published: July 2019

To evaluate the influence of transition metal substituents on the characteristics of CH3NH3PbI3/TiO2, we investigated the geometrical and electronic properties of transition metal-substituted CH3NH3PbI3/TiO2 by first-principles calculations. The results suggested that the substitution of Ti4+ at the five-fold coordinated (Ti5c) sites by transition metals is energetically favored. The substituted interface has enhanced visible light sensitivity and photoelectrocatalytic activity by reducing the transition energies. The transition metal substitution can effectively tune the band gap of the interface, which significantly improves the photo-reactivity. The substituted systems are expected to be more efficient in separating the photo-generated electrons-holes and active in the visible spectrum.
Use of Online Dietary Recalls among Older UK Adults: A Feasibility Study of an Online Dietary Assessment Tool
Authors: Ward Heather , McLellan Heather , Udeh-Momoh Chi , Giannakopoulou Parthenia , Robb Catherine , Wark Petra , Middleton Lefkos
Published: July 2019

This study examined the feasibility of including myfood24, an online 24-hour dietary recall tool, in a cohort studies of older adults. Participants (n = 319) were recruited during follow-up visits for the CHARIOT-Pro Sub-study, a prospective study of cognitively healthy adults aged 60–85 years at baseline. Email invitations were sent over three consecutive months, with weekly reminders. Multivariable regression models were applied to examine the number of recalls completed in relation to technology readiness (TR) scores and demographic characteristics. Ninety-four percent of people agreed to participate. Among participants, 67% completed at least one recall, and 48% completed two or more. Participants who completed multiple recalls reported higher self-confidence with technology and received a higher TR score than those who did not complete any recalls. A one-point higher TR score was associated with higher odds of completing three recalls compared to zero recalls (OR 1.70, 95% CI 0.96–3.01); this association was further attenuated after adjustment for demographic and other TR-related covariates (OR 1.35, 95% CI 0.63–2.88). This study demonstrates reasonable participation rates for a single myfood24 recall among older adults participating in a cohort study but suggests that further support may be required to obtain multiple recalls in this population.
Vitamin D and Obesity: Two Interacting Players in the Field of Infertility
Authors: Bosdou Julia , Konstantinidou Eirini , Anagnostis Panagiotis , Kolibianakis Efstratios , Goulis Dimitrios
Published: July 2019

Obesity plays an important role in human fertility in both genders. The same is true for vitamin D, for which accumulating evidence from observational human studies suggests a key role for both male and female fertility. In the latter case, however, robust data from relevant interventional studies are currently lacking. It is also not clear whether obesity and vitamin D deficiency, besides their independent effect on human infertility, act in synergy. Several pathogenetic mechanisms may be proposed as a linkage between vitamin D deficiency and obesity, with respect to infertility. In any case, the independent contribution of vitamin D deficiency in obese infertile states needs to be proven in interventional studies focusing on either vitamin D supplementation in obese or weight loss strategies in vitamin D-deficient infertile patients.
Osmolality of Commercially Available Oral Rehydration Solutions: Impact of Brand, Storage Time, and Temperature
Authors: Sollanek Kurt J. , Kenefick Robert W. , Cheuvront Samuel N.
Published: July 2019

Oral rehydration solutions (ORS) are specifically formulated with an osmolality to optimize fluid absorption. However, it is unclear how many ORS products comply with current World Health Organization (WHO) osmolality guidelines and the osmotic shelf-life stability is not known. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to examine the within and between ORS product osmolality variation in both pre-mixed and reconstituted powders. Additionally, the osmotic stability was examined over time. The osmolality of five different pre-mixed solutions and six powdered ORS products were measured. Pre-mixed solutions were stored at room temperatures and elevated temperatures (31 °C) for two months to examine osmotic shelf stability. Results demonstrated that only one pre-mixed ORS product was in compliance with the current guidelines both before and after the prolonged storage. Five of the six powdered ORS products were in compliance with minimal inter-packet variation observed within the given formulations. This investigation demonstrates that many commercially available pre-mixed ORS products do not currently adhere to the WHO recommended osmolality guidelines. Additionally, due to the presence of particular sugars and possibly other ingredients, the shelf-life stability of osmolality for certain ORS products may be questioned. These findings should be carefully considered in the design of future ORS products.
Higher Diet Quality is Associated with Lower Odds of Low Hand Grip Strength in the Korean Elderly Population
Authors: Kim Hyesook , Kwon Oran
Published: July 2019

Single nutrients or food groups have been associated with physical performance. However, little is known about the association of overall diet quality with hand grip strength (HGS), a predictive parameter in the prognosis of chronic disease morbidity and mortality, or quality of life. This study examined the association between HGS and three indices—the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI), the Alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMED), and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH)—using data obtained on Korean elderly persons aged ≥65 years (n = 3675) from a nationally representative database. The cross-sectional data was collected as part of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2014–2016). Dietary intake data from the 24-h recall method were used to calculate diet quality scores. The cutoff value for low HGS was defined as the value corresponding to the lowest 20th percentile of HGS of the study population (men, 28.6 kg; women, 16.5 kg). Higher index scores for diet quality were associated with 32%–53% lower odds of low HGS. Better overall diet quality may be associated with higher HGS in the elderly Korean population.
Preconception Health Attitudes and Behaviours of Women: A Qualitative Investigation
Authors: Khan Nadia N. , Boyle Jacqueline A. , Lang Adina Y. , Harrison Cheryce L.
Published: July 2019

The preconception period is a critical window in which maternal health can profoundly affect both individual and intergenerational health. Despite its importance, little information about women’s preconception health attitudes, behaviours and information preferences exists, yet these details are vital to inform targeted health communication. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore women’s attitudes to preconception health (areas of importance, support sources, enablers and barriers), behaviours (information seeking and health actions taken) and information preferences. Interviews were transcribed, coded and thematically analysed. Fifteen women participated (n = 7 preconception, n = 7 pregnant and n = 1 postpartum). Women perceived optimising lifestyle behaviours including a healthy diet, regular physical activity, reducing alcohol intake and pre-pregnancy vitamin supplementation as important preconception health actions to adopt. Few women acknowledged the importance of formal preconception health checks and screening with health professionals. Barriers to achieving health behaviour change included anxiety, stress and challenges obtaining reputable information. Participants reported a lack of preconception information about supplementation requirements, safe foods and exercise recommendations. Information preferences included the internet or their general practitioner. Whilst women predominantly prioritised optimising diet and physical activity prior to pregnancy, there appeared to be limited awareness of preconception health checks and screening, highlighting a need for broader awareness of overall preconception health and wellbeing.
Nutrient Intake Prior to Exercise Is Necessary for Increased Osteogenic Marker Response in Diabetic Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Borer Katarina T. , Zheng Qingyun , Jafari Akram , Javadi Saba , Kernozek Thomas
Published: July 2019

Type 2 diabetes increases bone fracture risk in postmenopausal women. Usual treatment with anti-resorptive bisphosphonate drugs has some undesirable side effects, which justified our interest in the osteogenic potential of nutrition and exercise. Since meal eating reduces bone resorption, downhill locomotion increases mechanical stress, and brief osteogenic responsiveness to mechanical stress is followed by several hours of refractoriness, we designed a study where 40-min of mechanical stress was manipulated by treadmill walking uphill or downhill. Exercise preceded or followed two daily meals by one hour, and the meals and exercise bouts were 7 hours apart. Fifteen subjects each performed two of five trials: No exercise (SED), uphill exercise before (UBM) or after meals (UAM), and downhill exercise before (DBM) or after meals (DAM). Relative to SED trial, osteogenic response, defined as the ratio of osteogenic C-terminal propeptide of type I collagen (CICP) over bone-resorptive C-terminal telopeptide of type-I collagen (CTX) markers, increased in exercise-after-meal trials, but not in exercise-before-meal trials. CICP/CTX response rose significantly after the first exercise-after-meal bout in DAM, and after the second one in UAM, due to a greater CICP rise, and not a decline in CTX. Post-meal exercise, but not the pre-meal exercise, also significantly lowered serum insulin response and homeostatic model (HOMA-IR) assessment of insulin resistance.
Asthma-Targeted MURs: How Confident are Community Pharmacists in Delivering Different Interventions?
Authors: Kayyali Reem , Ali Ifrah , Al-Hindawi Asma’a , Hesso Iman , Royle Finlay
Published: July 2019

This study aimed to identify and determine the confidence level of community pharmacists in providing different interventions during asthma-targeted medicine use reviews (MURs). A self-administered questionnaire was posted to 487 pharmacies accredited to provide the service, across Greater London, Southampton, Cornwall, Sheffield and Norwich. A total of 122 responses were obtained, giving a response rate of 25% (122/487). Around half of the community pharmacists (51.6%) were providing more than 60 asthma-targeted MURs annually with inhaler technique being the most offered intervention and stepping up/down therapy being the least. The majority of community pharmacists (94.3%) were confident in providing inhaler technique advice, followed by smoking cessation (91%). However, confidence was less with relevant vaccination (61.5%) and stepping up/down patients’ therapy (56.6%). Confidence level can vary between community pharmacists regarding different interventions provided during respiratory MURs. The results stress the need to promote community pharmacists’ confidence in providing interventions such as stepping up/down therapy during asthma-targeted MURs. Additional research in this field is highly recommended in order to evaluate community pharmacists’ confidence level on a national scale and to determine the factors influencing it. The study also suggests that provision of different interventions during respiratory MURs can be related to how community pharmacists perceive their role.