bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rural Population Decline, Cultivated Land Expansion, and the Role of Land Transfers in the Farming-Pastoral Ecotone: A Case Study of Taibus, China
Authors: Liu Zhen
Published: February 2022

The decline and aging of the rural population in China has been an increasingly conspicuous problem in the past few decades and has been one of the fundamental drivers of cultivated land abandonment and loss. However, although they have endured similar rural demographic changes, some regions have experienced cultivated land expansion and the farming-pastoral ecotone is a typical one. Using Taibus as a case, this study aims to reveal the phenomenon of cultivated land expansion in the context of rural population decline and explore its underlying mechanism by addressing the role of cultivated land protection and land transfer policies. This study will also reveal the possible negative impacts and risks of cultivated land expansion. We found that 64.3% of the rural population in Taibus have migrated to other regions in 2020; however, cultivated land has increased by more than 10% in the past five years. Land transfer policies have helped to solve the agricultural labor shortage problem and increase household income, which encouraged the reclamation activities by rural households. However, under China’s land protection system, the central and the local governments have not enough incentives to prevent these reclamation activities. Cultivated land expansion in the farming-pastoral ecotone may lead to a series of negative impacts or risks, especially the overuse of groundwater resources and land desertification. Thus, we suggest that governments pay more attention to the phenomenon of cultivated land expansion and re-assess the cultivated land use policies in the farming-pastoral ecotone and other regions with similar contexts.
Selective Leaching of Inert Mineral Product and the RO Phase in Steel Slag with Acetum to Improve Total Fe Content
Authors: Hou Xinkai , Shi Yiming , Wang Xiangfeng , Tang Yuyi , Wu Meng , Zhan Hua
Published: February 2022

The chemical and mineral components of the leaching residues obtained during the leaching of inert mineral product (IMP) and two samples of divalent metal oxide continuous solid solution (RO phase) by acetum at 20 °C were analyzed to reveal the selective leaching characteristics of the chemical and mineral components in steel slag, and clarify the leaching rates and differences of MgO and FeO in the RO phase. The results indicated that the content of total Fe (TFe) in the leaching residue increased, whereas the contents of CaO, SiO2, and MgO decreased during the leaching of the inert mineral product by acetum. Fe3O4 was insoluble in acetum. The leaching rates of the RO phase and metallic Fe were very low, while those of calcium silicate (C2S + C3S) and dicalcium ferrite (C2F) were quite high. MgO and FeO in the RO phase continuously leached over time, and the leaching rate of MgO reached 1.9 times that of FeO. Therefore, during the leaching of the RO phase by acetum, the FeO content increased, whereas the MgO content decreased. In conclusion, acetum leaching can effectively improve the TFe content of the RO phase and the inert mineral product.
First-Principles Study of High-Pressure Phase Stability and Electron Properties of Be-P Compounds
Authors: Liu Han , Dan Yaqian , Zhang Ao , Liu Siyuan , Yue Jincheng , Li Junda , Ma Xuejiao , Huang Yanping , Liu Yanhui , Cui Tian
Published: February 2022

New, stable stoichiometries in Be-P systems are investigated up to 100 GPa by the CALYPSO structure prediction method. Along with the BeP2-I41/amd structure, we identify two novel compounds of Be3P2-P-421m and Be3P2-C2/m. It should be noted that the Be-P compounds are predicted to be energetically unfavorable above 40 GPa. As can be seen, interesting structures may be experimentally synthesizable at modest pressure. Our results indicate that at 33.2 GPa, the most stable ambient-pressure tetragonal Be3P2-P-421m transitions to the monoclinic Be3P2-C2/m structure. Moreover, the predicted Be3P2-P-421m and Be3P2-C2/m phases are energetically favored compared with the Be3P2-Ia-3 structure synthesized experimentally. Electronic structure calculations reveal that BeP2-I41/amd, Be3P2-P-421m, and Be3P2-C2/m are all semiconductors with a narrow band gap. The present findings offer insight and guidance for exploration toward further fundamental understanding and potential applications in the semiconductor field.
A Novel Learning Based Non-Lambertian Photometric Stereo Method for Pixel-Level Normal Reconstruction of Polished Surfaces
Authors: Cao Yanlong , Wei Xiaoyao , Liu Wenyuan , Ding Binjie , Yang Jiangxin , Cao Yanpeng
Published: February 2022

High-quality reconstruction of polished surfaces is a promising yet challenging task in the industrial field. Due to its extreme reflective properties, state-of-the-art methods have not achieved a satisfying trade-off between retaining texture and removing the effects of specular outliers. In this paper, we propose a learning based pixel-level photometric stereo method to estimate the surface normal. A feature fusion convolutional neural network is used to extract the features from the normal map solved by the least square method and from the original images respectively, and combine them to regress the normal map. The proposed network outperforms the state-of-the-art methods on the DiLiGenT benchmark dataset. Meanwhile, we use the polished rail welding surface to verify the generalization of our method. To fit the complex geometry of the rails, we design a flexible photometric stereo information collection hardware with multi-angle lights and multi-view cameras, which can collect the light and shade information of the rail surface for photometric stereo. The experimental results indicate that the proposed method is able to reconstruct the normal of the polished surface at the pixel level with abundant texture information.
A Methodology for Estimating Vehicle Route Choice from Sparse Flow Measurements in a Traffic Network
Authors: Kurzhanskiy Alex A.
Published: February 2022

While traffic speed data and travel time estimates are increasingly more available from commercial vendors, they are not sufficient for proper management and performance evaluation of transportation networks. Effective traffic control and demand management requires information about volumes, which is provided by fixed location sensors, such as loop detectors or cameras, and those are sparse. This paper proposes a method for estimating route choice using sparse flow measurements and estimated speed on the road network based on compressed sensing technology widely used in image processing, where from a handful of scattered pixels, a full image is recovered. What is known includes flows at origins and at selected links of the road network, where the detection is present; speed estimates are available for all network links. We find coefficients that split origin flows among routes starting at those origins. The advantage of the proposed methodology is that it does not rely on simulation that is prone to calibration errors but only on measured data. We also show how vehicle flows can be estimated at links with no detection, which enables computing performance measures for road networks lacking complete sensor coverage. Finally, we propose a method for selecting plausible routes between origins and destinations.
On Undecidability of Finite Subsets Theory for Torsion Abelian Groups
Authors: Dudakov Sergey Mikhailovich
Published: February 2022

Let M be a commutative cancellative monoid with an element of infinite order. The binary operation can be extended to all finite subsets of M by the pointwise definition. So, we can consider the theory of finite subsets of M. Earlier, we have proved the following result: in the theory of finite subsets of M elementary arithmetic can be interpreted. In particular, this theory is undecidable. For example, the free monoid (the sets of all words with concatenation) has this property, the corresponding algebra of finite subsets is the theory of all finite languages with concatenation. Another example is an arbitrary Abelian group that is not a torsion group. But the method of proof significantly used an element of infinite order, hence, it can’t be immediately generalized to torsion groups. In this paper we prove the given theorem for Abelian torsion groups that have elements of unbounded order: for such group, the theory of finite subsets allows interpreting the elementary arithmetic.
Passive Film Properties of Martensitic Steels in Alkaline Environment: Influence of the Prior Austenite Grain Size
Authors: Yilmaz Aytac , Li Xiaolin , Pletincx Sven , Hauffman Tom , Sietsma Jilt , Gonzalez-Garcia Yaiza
Published: February 2022

The role of prior austenite grain size (PAGS) on the passive layer properties of martensitic steels is studied. Electron backscatter diffraction analysis shows that PAGS between 5 and 66 µm were obtained after applying different heat treatments. The barrier properties of passive film deteriorate with grain refinement up to 28 µm, attributed to increased donor density and a decrease in the fraction of γ-Fe2O3 in passive films. However, the further refinement of PAGS to 5 µm leads to improvement in the barrier properties due to the changes within the martensite structure. This improvement stems from the increase in γ-Fe2O3 fraction.
A Structured Approach for the Design and Manufacturing of Titanium Cranial Prostheses via Sheet Metal Forming
Authors: Palumbo Gianfranco , Ambrogio Giuseppina , Crovace Alberto , Piccininni Antonio , Cusanno Angela , Guglielmi Pasquale , De Napoli Luigi , Serratore Giuseppe
Published: February 2022

Currently, the growing need for highly customized implants has become one of the key aspects to increase the life expectancy and reduce time and costs for prolonged hospitalizations due to premature failures of implanted prostheses. According to the literature, several technological solutions are considered suitable to achieve the necessary geometrical complexity, from the conventional subtractive approaches to the more innovative additive solutions. In the case of cranial prostheses, which must guarantee a very good fitting of the region surrounding the implant in order to minimize micromotions and reduce infections, the need of a product characterized by high geometrical complexity combined with both strength and limited weight, has pushed the research towards the adoption of manufacturing processes able to improve the product’s quality but being fast and flexible enough. The attention has been thus focused in this paper on sheet metal forming processes and, namely on the Single Point Incremental Forming (SPIF) and the Superplastic Forming (SPF). In particular, the complete procedure to design and produce titanium cranial prostheses for in vivo tests is described: starting from Digital Imaging and COmmunications in Medicine (DICOM) images of the ovine animal, the design was conducted and the production process simulated to evaluate the process parameters and the production set up. The forming characteristics of the prostheses were finally evaluated in terms of thickness distributions and part’s geometry. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology has been finally assessed through the implantation of the manufactured prostheses in sheep.
Non-Targeted Metabolomic Analysis of the Kombucha Production Process
Authors: Tran Thierry , Romanet Rémy , Roullier-Gall Chloé , Verdier François , Martin Antoine , Schmitt-Kopplin Philippe , Alexandre Hervé , Grandvalet Cosette , Tourdot-Maréchal Raphaëlle
Published: February 2022

Kombucha is a traditional fermented beverage obtained from the transformation of sugared black tea by a community of yeasts and bacteria. Kombucha production recently became industrialized, but its quality standards remain poorly defined. Metabolomic analyses were applied using FT-ICR-MS to characterize the impacts of production phases and the type of tea on the non-volatile chemical composition of kombucha. Independently from tea type, the first phase of acidification in open vessel was characterized by the release of gluconate and gallate from acetic acid bacteria metabolism and probably from polymeric polyphenols, respectively. The second phase of carbonation in closed vessel induced a consumption or transformation of oleic acid that could be consecutive of oxygen limitation. The first phase had the most impact on molecular diversity, but tea type mainly influenced the global composition in polyphenol profile. Black tea polyphenols were more impacted by microbial activity compared to green tea polyphenols.
An Analysis of the Serum Metabolomic Profile for the Radiomitigative Effect of the Thrombopoietin Receptor Agonist Romiplostim in Lethally Whole-Body-Irradiated Mice
Authors: Sato Yoshiaki , Yamaguchi Masaru , Kashiwakura Ikuo
Published: February 2022

The thrombopoietin receptor agonist romiplostim (RP) was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for improving survival in patients acutely exposed to myelosuppressive doses of radiation. Our previous studies with mice have shown that RP administration after lethal irradiation not only completely rescues irradiated mice but also shows mitigative effects on their hematopoiesis and multiple organ injury, including that of the lung, bone marrow, small intestine, and liver. However, the mechanism by which RP functions as a radiomitigator remains unclear. In the present study, we applied a metabolomics approach, which has the ability to reflect the status of an organism directly and accurately, helping to elucidate the biology of treatment responses. Our results showed that the disruption of several metabolites and pathways in response to total body irradiation was partially corrected by RP administration. Notably, RP-corrected metabolites and pathways have been reported to be indicators of DNA damage and lung, bone marrow, small intestine, and liver injury. Taken together, the present findings suggested that the radiomitigative effect of RP is partially involved in the recovery of organ injury, and the identified metabolites may be a useful biomarker of the survival likelihood following radiation exposure.
Assessment of Physiological Rat Kidney Ageing—Implications for the Evaluation of Allograft Quality Prior to Renal Transplantation
Authors: Baumgartner Andreas , Reichelt-Wurm Simone , Gronwald Wolfram , Samol Claudia , Schröder Josef A. , Fellner Claudia , Holler Kathrin , Steege Andreas , Putz Franz Josef , Oefner Peter J. , Banas Bernhard , Banas Miriam C.
Published: February 2022

Due to organ shortage and rising life expectancy the age of organ donors and recipients is increasing. Reliable biomarkers of organ quality that predict successful long-term transplantation outcomes are poorly defined. The aim of this study was the identification of age-related markers of kidney function that might accurately reflect donor organ quality. Histomorphometric, biochemical and molecular parameters were measured in young (3-month-old) and old (24-month-old) male Sprague Dawley rats. In addition to conventional methods, we used urine metabolomics by NMR spectroscopy and gene expression analysis by quantitative RT-PCR to identify markers of ageing relevant to allograft survival. Beside known markers of kidney ageing like albuminuria, changes in the concentration of urine metabolites such as trimethylamine-N-oxide, trigonelline, 2-oxoglutarate, citrate, hippurate, glutamine, acetoacetate, valine and 1-methyl-histidine were identified in association with ageing. In addition, expression of several genes of the toll-like receptor (TLR) pathway, known for their implication in inflammaging, were upregulated in the kidneys of old rats. This study led to the identification of age-related markers of biological allograft age potentially relevant for allograft survival in the future. Among those, urine metabolites and markers of immunity and inflammation, which are highly relevant to immunosuppression in transplant recipients, are promising and deserve further investigation in humans.
Self-Sustained Collective Motion of Two Joint Liquid Crystal Elastomer Spring Oscillator Powered by Steady Illumination
Authors: Du Changshen , Cheng Quanbao , Li Kai , Yu Yong
Published: February 2022

For complex micro-active machines or micro-robotics, it is crucial to clarify the coupling and collective motion of their multiple self-oscillators. In this article, we construct two joint liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) spring oscillators connected by a spring and theoretically investigate their collective motion based on a well-established dynamic LCE model. The numerical calculations show that the coupled system has three steady synchronization modes: in-phase mode, anti-phase mode, and non-phase-locked mode, and the in-phase mode is more easily achieved than the anti-phase mode and the non-phase-locked mode. Meanwhile, the self-excited oscillation mechanism is elucidated by the competition between network that is achieved by the driving force and the damping dissipation. Furthermore, the phase diagram of three steady synchronization modes under different coupling stiffness and different initial states is given. The effects of several key physical quantities on the amplitude and frequency of the three synchronization modes are studied in detail, and the equivalent systems of in-phase mode and anti-phase mode are proposed. The study of the coupled LCE spring oscillators will deepen people’s understanding of collective motion and has potential applications in the fields of micro-active machines and micro-robots with multiple coupled self-oscillators.
Synapse-Neuron-Aware Training Scheme of Defect-Tolerant Neural Networks with Defective Memristor Crossbars
Authors: An Jiyong , Oh Seokjin , Nguyen Tien Van , Min Kyeong-Sik
Published: February 2022

To overcome the limitations of CMOS digital systems, emerging computing circuits such as memristor crossbars have been investigated as potential candidates for significantly increasing the speed and energy efficiency of next-generation computing systems, which are required for implementing future AI hardware. Unfortunately, manufacturing yield still remains a serious challenge in adopting memristor-based computing systems due to the limitations of immature fabrication technology. To compensate for malfunction of neural networks caused from the fabrication-related defects, a new crossbar training scheme combining the synapse-aware with the neuron-aware together is proposed in this paper, for optimizing the defect map size and the neural network’s performance simultaneously. In the proposed scheme, the memristor crossbar’s columns are divided into 3 groups, which are the severely-defective, moderately-defective, and normal columns, respectively. Here, each group is trained according to the trade-off relationship between the neural network’s performance and the hardware overhead of defect-tolerant training. As a result of this group-based training method combining the neuron-aware with the synapse-aware, in this paper, the new scheme can be successful in improving the network’s performance better than both the synapse-aware and the neuron-aware while minimizing its hardware burden. For example, when testing the defect percentage = 10% with MNIST dataset, the proposed scheme outperforms the synapse-aware and the neuron-aware by 3.8% and 3.4% for the number of crossbar’s columns trained for synapse defects = 10 and 138 among 310, respectively, while maintaining the smaller memory size than the synapse-aware. When the trained columns = 138, the normalized memory size of the synapse-neuron-aware scheme can be smaller by 3.1% than the synapse-aware.
Simvastatin Resistance of Leishmania amazonensis Induces Sterol Remodeling and Cross-Resistance to Sterol Pathway and Serine Protease Inhibitors
Authors: Fujii Thais Tenorio Soares , Gomes Pollyanna Stephanie , do Monte-Neto Rubens Lima , de Oliveira Gomes Daniel Claudio , Ouellette Marc , Torres-Santos Eduardo Caio , Andrade-Neto Valter Viana , de Matos Guedes Herbert Leonel
Published: February 2022

The sterol biosynthesis pathway of Leishmania spp. is used as a pharmacological target; however, available information about the mechanisms of the regulation and remodeling of sterol-related genes is scarce. The present study investigated compensatory mechanisms of the sterol biosynthesis pathway using an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase (simvastatin) and by developing drug-resistant parasites to evaluate the impact on sterol remodeling, cross-resistance, and gene expression. Simvastatin-resistant L. amazonensis parasites (LaSimR) underwent reprogramming of sterol metabolism manifested as an increase in cholestane- and stigmastane-based sterols and a decrease in ergostane-based sterols. The levels of the transcripts of sterol 24-C-methyltransferase (SMT), sterol C14-α-demethylase (C14DM), and protease subtilisin (SUB) were increased in LaSimR. LaSimR was cross-resistance to ketoconazole (a C14DM inhibitor) and remained sensitive to terbinafine (an inhibitor of squalene monooxygenase). Sensitivity of the LaSimR mutant to other antileishmanial drugs unrelated to the sterol biosynthesis pathway, such as trivalent antimony and pentamidine, was similar to that of the wild-type strain; however, LaSimR was cross-resistant to miltefosine, general serine protease inhibitor N-p-tosyl-l-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK), subtilisin-specific inhibitor 4-[(diethylamino)methyl]-N-[2-(2-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-N-(3R)-3-pyrrolidinyl-benzamide dihydrochloride (PF-429242), and tunicamycin. The findings on the regulation of the sterol pathway can support the development of drugs and protease inhibitors targeting this route in parasites.
Ultrahigh-Pressure Metamorphism and P-T Path of Xiaoxinzhuang Eclogites from the Southern Sulu Orogenic Belt, Eastern China, Based on Phase Equilibria Modelling
Authors: Yuan Haiqi , Wang Jian , Hattori Keiko
Published: February 2022

Three types of eclogites were identified in the Xiaoxinzhuang area in the northern Sulu ultrahigh pressure (UHP) terrene based on their petrographic, compositional characteristics and locations. They are composed of garnet, omphacite, amphibole, epidote, phengite, quartz/coesite, rutile, apatite, ilmenite and kyanite. Garnet in eclogite exhibits weak compositional zoning, which shows an increase in Xgr and a decrease in Xpy from core to mantle, and a decrease in Xgr and a slight increase in Xpy from mantle to rim. Phengite inclusions in garnet show higher Si, up to 3.424 p.f.u., than those in the matrix. Pseudosections calculated using THERMOCALC in the NCKFMASHTO system for three representative samples record three stages of metamorphism: (I) prograde stage, (II) post- Pmax decompression and heating to the Tmax stage and (III) retrograde stage. Stage-I was recorded in garnet cores with mineral assemblage of garnet + omphacite ± amphibole ± lawsonite + phengite + quartz + rutile, and the P-T condition is constrained at 23.5–26.4 kbar and 623–655 °C. The Pmax, 41.5 kbar at 801 °C, is revealed from garnet enclosed by coarse-grained garnet with the mineral assemblage of garnet + omphacite + phengite + coesite + rutile. Stage-II produced garnet rim with mineral assemblage of garnet + omphacite + amphibole + quartz + rutile + metabasite melt, which constrained the P-T conditions of 21.4–23.0 kbar and 869–924 °C. Stage-III, recorded by unzoned garnet grain with the mineral assemblage of garnet + omphacite + amphibole + ilmenite + rutile + metabasite melt, constrained P-T conditions of 13.5–16.4 kbar and 813–852 °C. The data suggest that the rocks in the Xiaoxinzhuang area were subducted to a depth of over 135 km and underwent an UHP metamorphism. The P-T-t path revealed by the Xiaoxinzhuang eclogites is different from those in other areas of the Sulu UHP terrane, suggesting that they represent different rock slices during the subduction and exhumations.
Functionalized Crystalline N-Trimethyltriindoles: Counterintuitive Influence of Peripheral Substituents on Their Semiconducting Properties
Authors: Gámez-Valenzuela Sergio , Benito-Hernández Angela , Echeverri Marcelo , Gutierrez-Puebla Enrique , Ponce Ortiz Rocío , Ruiz Delgado Maria Carmen , Gómez-Lor Berta
Published: February 2022

Three crystalline N-trimethyltriindoles endowed with different functionalities at 3, 8 and 13 positions (either unsubstituted or with three methoxy or three acetyl groups attached) are investigated, and clear correlations between the electronic nature of the substituents and their solid-state organization, electronic properties and semiconductor behavior are established. The three compounds give rise to similar columnar hexagonal crystalline structures; however, the insertion of electron-donor methoxy groups results in slightly shorter stacking distances when compared with the unsubstituted derivative, whereas the insertion of electron-withdrawing acetyl groups lowers the crystallinity of the system. Functionalization significantly affects hole mobilities with the triacetyl derivative showing the lowest mobility within the series in agreement with the lower degree of order. However, attaching three methoxy groups also results in lower hole mobility values in the OFETs (0.022 vs. 0.0014 cm2 V−1 s−1) in spite of the shorter stacking distances. This counterintuitive behavior has been explained with the help of DFT calculations performed to rationalize the interplay between the intramolecular and intermolecular properties, which point to lower transfer integrals in the trimethoxy derivative due to the HOMO wave function extension over the peripheral methoxy groups. The results of this study provide useful insights into how peripheral substituents influence the fundamental charge transport parameters of chemically modified triindole platforms of fundamental importance to design new derivatives with improved semiconducting performance.
Incorporation of the Dry Blossom Flour of Sambucus nigra L. in the Production of Sponge Cakes
Authors: Gentscheva Galia , Milkova-Tomova Iliana , Buhalova Dragomira , Pehlivanov Ivaylo , Stefanov Stefan , Nikolova Krastena , Andonova Velichka , Panova Natalina , Gavrailov Georgi , Dikova Tsanka , Goranova Zhivka
Published: February 2022

The present study aims to develop recipe compositions and technology for producing sponge cakes from wholemeal flour, partially replaced with a functional plant component dry blossom flour of Sambucus nigra L. Three designs of sponge cakes with 5, 10, and 15% content of flour of Sambucus nigra L. corrected up to 100% with whole-grain oat flour were studied. Their characteristics were compared with sponge cakes of 100% wheat flour/control. The obtained new products were characterized by reduced carbohydrates, increased content of dietary fiber, and preserved volume compared to the control. The physicochemical parameters of sponge cake and marshmallows with different concentrations of dry flowers of Sambucus nigra L. included in them differed from the control with lower water absorption, pH, and moisture, while having a higher relative mass and ash content and retaining the original size. Pathogenic microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp., and Staphylococcus aureus, and common coliforms were not detected in the control and experimental samples when determining the microbiological parameters. Therefore, the developed formulations are an excellent alternative to wheat flour, significantly improving some nutritional characteristics such as smell, taste, dietary fiber, and lower carbohydrate content.
Characterizing Key Volatile Pollutants Emitted from Adhesives by Chemical Compositions, Odor Contributions and Health Risks
Authors: Zhao Zixuan , Pei Yipu , Zhao Peng , Wu Chuandong , Qu Chen , Li Weifang , Zhao Yanjun , Liu Jiemin
Published: February 2022

As one of the major sources of volatile pollutants in indoor air, gaseous emissions from adhesives during interior decoration have attracted increasing concern. Identifying major volatile pollutants and the risk in adhesive gaseous emissions is of great significance, but remains rarely reported. In the present research, we assessed the major volatile pollutants emitted from white emulsion adhesive and silicone adhesive samples (n = 30) from three aspects: chemical composition, odor and health risk contributions. The results showed that a total of 21 volatile pollutants were detected. Significantly, xylene was the most concentrated compound from white emulsion adhesives, accounting for 45.51% of the total concentrations. Butanone oxime was the most concentrated compound in silicone adhesives, accounting for 69.86% of the total concentrations. The trends in odor concentration (evaluated by the odor activity value method) over time were well correlated with the total chemical concentrations. Xylene (58.00%) and butanone oxime (76.75%) showed the highest odor contribution, respectively. Moreover, from an integrated perspective of chemical emissions, odor and health risk contributions, xylene, ethylbenzene, ethyl acetate and benzene were identified as the key volatile pollutants emitted from the white emulsion adhesives, while butanone oxime, butanone, and ethanol were the key volatile pollutants emitted from the silicone adhesives. This study not only identified the key volatile pollutants but also provided characteristics of odor and health risks of gas emitted from adhesives.
Fluorogenic Detection of Human Serum Albumin Using Curcumin-Capped Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles
Authors: Otri Ismael , Medaglia Serena , Aznar Elena , Sancenón Félix , Martínez-Máñez Ramón
Published: February 2022

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles loaded with rhodamine B and capped with curcumin are used for the selective and sensitive fluorogenic detection of human serum albumin (HSA). The sensing mesoporous silica nanoparticles are loaded with rhodamine B, decorated with aminopropyl moieties and capped with curcumin. The nanoparticles selectively release the rhodamine B cargo in the presence of HSA. A limit of detection for HSA of 0.1 mg/mL in PBS (pH 7.4)-acetonitrile 95:5 v/v was found, and the sensing nanoparticles were used to detect HSA in spiked synthetic urine samples.
Antioxidant Potential and Enhancement of Bioactive Metabolite Production in In Vitro Cultures of Scutellaria lateriflora L. by Biotechnological Methods
Authors: Kwiecień Inga , Miceli Natalizia , D’Arrigo Manuela , Marino Andreana , Ekiert Halina
Published: February 2022

Studies carried out using three different in vitro assays and a biological setting (Escherichia coil) demonstrated the antioxidant activity of Scutellaria lateriflora microshoot extract. Moreover, the extract exhibited no toxicity in a brine shrimp lethality bioassay. These results indicated that microshoots are a rich, safe source of antioxidants, which encouraged us to enhance their production in vitro. In agar and agitated cultures, two biotechnological strategies were applied: feeding the cultures with the biogenetic precursors of the phenolics—phenylalanine and tyrosine, and eliciting them with methyl jasmonate. Specific Scutellaria flavonoids and verbascoside were analysed by HPLC. Feeding with precursors (1 g/L) in agar cultures decreased the production of the metabolites. In agitated cultures, different concentrations of precursors (1.0–2.5 g/L) and the elicitor (10; 50; 100 µM) were tested. Additionally, parallel feeding with the precursor and elicitor in a concentration of 50 µM were applied. The best strategy for total flavonoid and verbascoside production was phenylalanine feeding (1.5 g/L), max. 3765 and 475 mg/100 g DW, respectively, after 7 days. This is the first report documenting the high antioxidant production in S. lateriflora microshoots after feeding with phenylalanine. Moreover, for the first time, bioreactor cultures were successfully maintained, obtaining attractive results (max. total flavonoid content 2348 and verbascoside 485 mg/100 g DW).
Anti-Inflammatory and Immunoregulatory Action of Sesquiterpene Lactones
Authors: Paço Ana , Brás Teresa , Santos Jacqueline O. , Sampaio Paula , Gomes Andreia C. , Duarte Maria F.
Published: February 2022

Sesquiterpene lactones (SL), characterized by their high prevalence in the Asteraceae family, are one of the major groups of secondary metabolites found in plants. Researchers from distinct research fields, including pharmacology, medicine, and agriculture, are interested in their biological potential. With new SL discovered in the last years, new biological activities have been tested, different action mechanisms (synergistic and/or antagonistic effects), as well as molecular structure–activity relationships described. The review identifies the main sesquiterpene lactones with interconnections between immune responses and anti-inflammatory actions, within different cellular models as well in in vivo studies. Bioaccessibility and bioavailability, as well as molecular structure–activity relationships are addressed. Additionally, plant metabolic engineering, and the impact of sesquiterpene lactone extraction methodologies are presented, with the perspective of biological activity enhancement. Sesquiterpene lactones derivatives are also addressed. This review summarizes the current knowledge regarding the therapeutic potential of sesquiterpene lactones within immune and inflammatory activities, highlighting trends and opportunities for their pharmaceutical/clinical use.
Extrusion Cooking Effect on Carbohydrate Fraction in Novel Gluten-Free Flours Based on Chickpea and Rice
Authors: Ciudad-Mulero María , Vega Erika N. , García-Herrera Patricia , Pedrosa Mercedes M. , Arribas Claudia , Berrios José De J. , Cámara Montaña , Fernández-Ruiz Virginia , Morales Patricia
Published: February 2022

Extrusion cooking allows the development of value-added products from pulses, such as gluten-free snacks with added functional properties. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the changes induced by the extrusion process on the carbohydrate fraction (total carbohydrates, soluble sugars and oligosaccharides, dietary fiber, and arabinoxylans) of novel flour formulations based on chickpeas and rice enriched with different dietary fiber sources. Moreover, the influence of the addition of fiber-rich ingredients, such as Fibersol® and passion fruit, on the analyzed compounds was also evaluated. Sucrose was the main soluble sugar found in analyzed formulations, and raffinose was the prevalent oligosaccharide, followed by stachyose. The content of total α-galactosides tended to be higher after extrusion cooking. As a consequence of the extrusion treatment, the content of total and soluble dietary fiber was statistically increased in most of the analyzed samples. In general, no significant changes were observed in total arabinoxylan content as a consequence of the extrusion process, while the content of water-soluble arabinoxylans was significantly increased in extruded formulations. It was observed that the content of total available carbohydrates, stachyose, and water-soluble arabinoxylans were significantly influenced by the addition of passion fruit, Fibersol®, and both. The incorporation of these ingredients in gluten-free formulations based on chickpeas and rice allows one to obtain suitable functional formulations for the development of innovative, gluten-free, extruded snack-type products, which could be an interesting alternative for people with celiac disease.
Antibacterial Effects of Flavonoids and Their Structure-Activity Relationship Study: A Comparative Interpretation
Authors: Shamsudin Nur Farisya , Ahmed Qamar Uddin , Mahmood Syed , Ali Shah Syed Adnan , Khatib Alfi , Mukhtar Sayeed , Alsharif Meshari A. , Parveen Humaira , Zakaria Zainul Amiruddin
Published: February 2022

According to the latest report released by the World Health Organization, bacterial resistance to well-known and widely available antibacterial drugs has become a significant and severe global health concern and a grim challenge to tackle in order to cure infections associated with multidrug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms efficiently. Consequently, various strategies have been orchestrated to cure the severe complications related to multidrug-resistant bacteria effectively. Some approaches involved the retardation of biofilm formation and multidrug-resistance pumps in bacteria as well as the discovery of new antimicrobial agents demonstrating different mechanisms of action. In this regard, natural products namely alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, anthraquinone, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, etc., have been suggested to tackle the multidrug-resistant bacterial strains owing to their versatile pharmacological effects. Amongst these, flavonoids, also known as polyphenolic compounds, have been widely evaluated for their antibacterial property due to their tendency to retard the growth of a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms, including multidrug-resistant bacteria. The hydroxylation of C5, C7, C3′, and C4′; and geranylation or prenylation at C6 have been extensively studied to increase bacterial inhibition of flavonoids. On the other hand, methoxylation at C3′ and C5 has been reported to decrease flavonoids’ antibacterial action. Hence, the latest information on the antibacterial activity of flavonoids is summarized in this review, with particular attention to the structure–activity relationship of this broad class of natural compounds to discover safe and potent antibacterial agents as natural products.
Exploring Various Techniques for the Chemical and Biological Synthesis of Polymeric Nanoparticles
Authors: Pulingam Thiruchelvi , Foroozandeh Parisa , Chuah Jo-Ann , Sudesh Kumar
Published: February 2022

Nanoparticles (NPs) have remarkable properties for delivering therapeutic drugs to the body’s targeted cells. NPs have shown to be significantly more efficient as drug delivery carriers than micron-sized particles, which are quickly eliminated by the immune system. Biopolymer-based polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) are colloidal systems composed of either natural or synthetic polymers and can be synthesized by the direct polymerization of monomers (e.g., emulsion polymerization, surfactant-free emulsion polymerization, mini-emulsion polymerization, micro-emulsion polymerization, and microbial polymerization) or by the dispersion of preformed polymers (e.g., nanoprecipitation, emulsification solvent evaporation, emulsification solvent diffusion, and salting-out). The desired characteristics of NPs and their target applications are determining factors in the choice of method used for their production. This review article aims to shed light on the different methods employed for the production of PNPs and to discuss the effect of experimental parameters on the physicochemical properties of PNPs. Thus, this review highlights specific properties of PNPs that can be tailored to be employed as drug carriers, especially in hospitals for point-of-care diagnostics for targeted therapies.
Differential Glycemic Effects of Low- versus High-Glycemic Index Mediterranean-Style Eating Patterns in Adults at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes: The MEDGI-Carb Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Bergia Robert E. , Giacco Rosalba , Hjorth Therese , Biskup Izabela , Zhu Wenbin , Costabile Giuseppina , Vitale Marilena , Campbell Wayne W. , Landberg Rikard , Riccardi Gabriele
Published: February 2022

A Mediterranean-style healthy eating pattern (MED-HEP) supports metabolic health, but the utility of including low-glycemic index (GI) foods to minimize postprandial glucose excursions remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the relative contribution of GI towards improvements in postprandial glycemia and glycemic variability after adopting a MED-HEP. We conducted a randomized, controlled dietary intervention, comparing high- versus low-GI diets in a multi-national (Italy, Sweden, and the United States) sample of adults at risk for type 2 diabetes. For 12 weeks, participants consumed either a low-GI or high-GI MED-HEP. We assessed postprandial plasma glucose and insulin responses to high- or low-GI meals, and daily glycemic variability via continuous glucose monitoring at baseline and post-intervention. One hundred sixty adults (86 females, 74 males; aged 55 ± 11 y, BMI 31 ± 3 kg/m2, mean ± SD) with ≥two metabolic syndrome traits completed the intervention. Postprandial insulin concentrations were greater after the high-GI versus the low-GI test meals at baseline (p = 0.004), but not post-intervention (p = 0.17). Postprandial glucose after the high-GI test meal increased post-intervention, being significantly higher than that after the low-GI test meal (35%, p < 0.001). Average daily glucose concentrations decreased in both groups post-intervention. Indices of 24-h glycemic variability were reduced in the low-GI group as compared to baseline and the high-GI intervention group. These findings suggest that low-GI foods may be an important feature within a MED-HEP.
A Sample of Female Adolescent Self-Identified Vegetarians in New Zealand Consume Less Protein and Saturated Fat, but More Fiber than Their Omnivorous Peers
Authors: Peddie Meredith , Scott Tessa , Ranasinghe Chaya , Fleming Elizabeth , Webster Kirsten , Brown Rachel , Houghton Lisa , Haszard Jillian
Published: February 2022

This study aimed to describe the intake and food sources of macronutrients in vegetarian and non-vegetarian adolescent females. Cross-sectional data was collected between February and September 2019. Adolescent females, aged 15 to 18 years old, were recruited throughout New Zealand. Intakes were assessed via two 24-h diet recalls, adjusted to represent usual intake using the multiple source method. Of the 254 participants, 38 self-identified as vegetarian. Vegetarians had similar carbohydrate and fat intakes compared to non-vegetarians; however, their protein intakes were 2.1% kJ lower (95% confidence interval (CI) −3.0 to −1.1%). Vegetarians also consumed 1.1% kJ less saturated fat (95% CI –2.1 to −0.1%), 1.3% kJ (95% CI 0.7 to 1.9) more polyunsaturated fat, and 5 g/day (95% CI 1.8 to 8.0) more fiber than non-vegetarians. When consumed, bread-based dishes and discretionary foods were the highest sources of energy, fat, and carbohydrate in both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. This suggests that some adolescents, including vegetarians, were obtaining high amounts of fat and carbohydrate from food groups associated with poorer dietary quality. We recommend further research to assess how the changing food environment is influencing vegetarian eating patterns and their associations with health outcomes in the wider population.
Magnesium in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Obesity, and Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Barbagallo Mario , Veronese Nicola , Dominguez Ligia J.
Published: February 2022

Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of risk factors, including obesity, hypertension, insulin resistance, and altered lipid profile, which, if left untreated, will often progress to type 2 diabetes, which frequently complicates the syndrome [...]
Changes in Sugar Sweetened Beverage Intake Are Associated with Changes in Body Composition in Mexican Adolescents: Findings from the ELEMENT Cohort
Authors: English Lindsey , Carmona Yanelli R. , Peterson Karen E. , Jansen Erica C. , Téllez Rojo Martha María , Torres Olascoaga Libni , Cantoral Alejandra
Published: February 2022

Changes in consumption of sugar sweetened beverage (SSBs) have been associated with increased body mass index (BMI), but little work has evaluated the effect on waist circumference (WC) and body fat percentage during adolescence, a period characterized by rapid growth and change in dietary behaviors. We examined the relationship of changes in SSB intake and changes in adiposity over two years in 464 Mexican adolescents. Food frequency questionnaires were used to sum intake of regular soda, coffee with sugar, tea with sugar, sweetened water with fruit, chocolate milk, corn atole, and a sweetened probiotic milk beverage. Linear regression models were used to estimate the associations of changes in SSBs with changes in BMI, body fat percentage, and WC, adjusting for sex, socioeconomic status, screen time, physical activity, age, and change in age. Adolescents who increased their daily SSB intake by >2 serving had a −2.72% higher body fat percentage (95% CI: 0.61, 4.82); a 1–2 serving increase was associated with a 2.49 cm increase (95% CI: 0.21, 4.76) in WC compared with those with no change in intake. Within an adolescent sample, changes in SSB intake were related to concomitant changes in body fat percentage and WC, but not BMI.
Additional Resistant Starch from One Potato Side Dish per Day Alters the Gut Microbiota but Not Fecal Short-Chain Fatty Acid Concentrations
Authors: DeMartino Peter , Johnston Emily A. , Petersen Kristina S. , Kris-Etherton Penny M. , Cockburn Darrell W.
Published: February 2022

The composition of the gut microbiota and their metabolites are associated with cardiometabolic health and disease risk. Intake of dietary fibers, including resistant starch (RS), has been shown to favorably affect the health of the gut microbiome. The aim of this research was to measure changes in the gut microbiota and fecal short-chain fatty acids as part of a randomized, crossover supplemental feeding study. Fifty participants (68% female, aged 40 ± 13 years, BMI 24.5 ± 3.6 kg/m2) completed this study. Potato dishes (POT) contained more RS than refined grain dishes (REF) (POT: 1.31% wet basis (95% CI: 0.94, 1.71); REF: 0.73% wet basis (95% CI: 0.34, 1.14); p = 0.03). Overall, potato dish consumption decreased alpha diversity, but beta diversity was not impacted. Potato dish consumption was found to increase the abundance of Hungatella xylanolytica, as well as that of the butyrate producing Roseburia faecis, though fecal butyrate levels were unchanged. Intake of one potato-based side dish per day resulted in modest changes in gut microbiota composition and diversity, compared to isocaloric intake of refined grains in healthy adults. Studies examining foods naturally higher in RS are needed to understand microbiota changes in response to dietary intake of RS and associated health effects.
Development of Quality Control Ranges for Biocide Susceptibility Testing
Authors: Schug Angela R. , Scholtzek Anissa D. , Turnidge John , Meurer Marita , Schwarz Stefan , Feßler Andrea T. ,   the Biocide Susceptibility Study Group
Published: February 2022

Every laboratory test needs validation by quality controls. For biocide susceptibility testing (BST), neither quality control (QC) strains nor QC ranges applicable to these strains are currently available. As QC strains, four well-defined laboratory reference strains (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC® 6538, Enterococcus hirae ATCC® 10541, Escherichia coli ATCC® 10536 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC® 15442), which have been used previously for biocide efficacy testing, were selected. In an interlaboratory trial with eleven participating laboratories, BST QC ranges should be developed for the aforementioned four strains and the four biocides benzalkonium chloride, chlorhexidine, octenidine and polyhexanide. The performance of three different lots of tryptic soy broth was explored using the broth microdilution method and the data were subsequently evaluated using the RangeFinder software. As a result, QC ranges were defined for all reference strain–biocide combinations, except for P. aeruginosa ATCC® 15442 with the two biocides chlorhexidine and polyhexanide. The development of the latter two QC ranges was not possible, due to the limited solubility of the biocides in the test range required for P. aeruginosa ATCC® 15442. The newly developed QC ranges comprise three to five dilution steps. The establishment of QC ranges will contribute to the validation of BST in the future.