bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving Composite Tensile Properties during Resin Infusion Based on a Computer Vision Flow-Control Approach
Authors: Almazán-Lázaro Juan-Antonio , López-Alba Elías , Díaz-Garrido Francisco-Alberto
Published: December 2018

Liquid composite manufacturing techniques, mainly applied in the transport industry, have been studied and optimized for decades while defect analysis and its minimization have been a goal to increase reliability and mechanical performance. Researchers have found that many process parameters have a strong influence on the mechanical behavior of composite structures where the flow front velocity, closely related to voids, plays a considerable role. In this work, the optimal flow front velocity was evaluated and controlled using a computer vision system for different laminates improving the mechanical tensile properties and void content. Enhanced mechanical tensile properties were found using a feedback flow-controller vision system which was able to keep the optimal flow front velocity constant to reduce the air traps among tows and fibers. Tensile strength was enhanced up to 18% for fiber orientation at 0° and 3.3% at 90°, whereas tensile modulus was increased up to 18.4% for fibers at 0° and 8.7% at 90°. A novel methodology is presented through this work, aiming to improve the robustness of resin film infusion (RFI) processes while ensuring the quality of the composite material.
Development of Compact High-Voltage Power Supply for Stimulation to Promote Fruiting Body Formation in Mushroom Cultivation
Authors: Takahashi Katsuyuki , Miyamoto Kai , Takaki Koichi , Takahashi Kyusuke
Published: December 2018

The compact high-voltage power supply is developed for stimulation to promote fruiting body formation in cultivating L. edodes and Lyophyllum deeastes Sing. mushrooms. A Cockcroft-Walton (C-W) circuit is employed to generate DC high-voltage from AC 100 V plug power for the compact, easy handling and high safety use in the hilly and mountainous area. The C-W circuit is connected to high-voltage coaxial cable which works for high-voltage transmission and for charging up as energy storage capacitor. The output voltage is around 50 kV with several microseconds pulse width. The dimension and weight of the developed power supply are 0.4 × 0.47 × 1 m3 and 8.1 kg, respectively. The effect of the high-voltage stimulation on enhancement of fruiting body formation is evaluated in cultivating L. edodes and Lyophyllum deeastes Sing. mushrooms using the developed compact high-voltage power supply. The conventional Marx generator is also used for comparison in effect of high-voltage stimulation for fruiting body formation. L. edodes is cultivated with hosting to natural logs and the pulsed high voltage is applied to the cultivated natural logs. The substrate for Lyophyllum deeastes Sing. cultivation consists of sawdust. The results show that the fruiting body formation of mushrooms of L. edodes for four cultivation seasons and that of Lyophyllum deeastes Sing. for two seasons both increase approximately 1.3 times higher than control group in terms of the total weight. Although the input energy per a pulse is difference with the generators, the improvement of the fruit body yield mainly depends on the total input energy into the log. The effect for promotion on fruiting body formation by the developed compact high-voltage power supply is almost same that by the conventional Marx generator.
Low-Velocity Impact Behavior of Interlayer/Intralayer Hybrid Composites Based on Carbon and Glass Non-Crimp Fabric
Authors: Zhang Chen , Rao Yunfei , Li Zhe , Li Wei
Published: December 2018

Composites have gained wide use in structural applications; however, they are sensitive to impact damage. The use of hybrid composites is an effective way to overcome this deficiency. The effects of various hybrid structures of interlayer and intralayer warp-knitted fabrics with carbon and glass fibers on the low-velocity impact behavior of composite laminates were studied. Drop-weight impact tests were conducted on two types of interlayer, sandwich and intralayer hybrid composite laminates, which were compared with homogenous composite laminates. During low-velocity impact tests, the time histories of impact forces and absorbed energy by laminate were recorded. The failure modes were analyzed using the micro-CT (computed tomography) and C-scan techniques. The results revealed that the hybrid structure played an important role in peak force and the absorbed energy, and that the hybrid interface had an influence on damage modes, whereas the intralayer hybrid composite laminate damage was affected by the impact location. The intralayer hybrid laminate with C:G = 1:1 exhibited better impact resistance compared to the other hybrid structures.
Tuning the Surface Plasmon Resonance of Lanthanum Hexaboride to Absorb Solar Heat: A Review
Authors: Mattox Tracy M. , Urban Jeffrey J.
Published: December 2018

While traditional noble metal (Ag, Au, and Cu) nanoparticles are well known for their plasmonic properties, they typically only absorb in the ultraviolet and visible regions. The study of metal hexaborides, lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) in particular, expands the available absorbance range of these metals well into the near-infrared. As a result, LaB6 has become a material of interest for its energy and heat absorption properties, most notably to those trying to absorb solar heat. Given the growing popularity of LaB6, this review focuses on the advances made in the past decade with respect to controlling the plasmonic properties of LaB6 nanoparticles. This review discusses the fundamental structure of LaB6 and explains how decreasing the nanoparticle size changes the atomic vibrations on the surface and thus the plasmonic absorbance band. We explain how doping LaB6 nanoparticles with lanthanide metals (Y, Sm, and Eu) red-shifts the absorbance band and describe research focusing on the correlation between size dependent and morphological effects on the surface plasmon resonance. This work also describes successes that have been made in dispersing LaB6 nanoparticles for various optical applications, highlighting the most difficult challenges encountered in this field of study.
Reliability and Validity of the Lithuanian Version of CASP-19: A Quality of Life Questionnaire for the Elderly
Authors: Černovas Andrejus , Alekna Vidmantas , Tamulaitienė Marija , Stukas Rimantas
Published: December 2018

Introduction: Ageing is associated with several physical, psychological, and behavioral changes. These changes are closely related with general health problems and quality of life in old age. The CASP-19 multidimensional instrument was specially designed to measure quality of life in the elderly. The different language versions of this scale have been used in more than 20 countries. However, Lithuanian translation was not available. The objective of our study was to test psychometric properties of the Lithuanian version of the CASP-19 questionnaire. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was performed with ambulatory men and women aged 60 and older, living in a community in Vilnius, Lithuania. Exclusion criteria were current acute illness, malignant tumor, and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score < 25 points. Psychometric properties of CASP-19 were tested using reliability and validity methods. Results: The study sample consisted of 132 participants, 28 (21.8%) of them were men and 103 (78.2%) women. Analysis of psychometric properties of the Lithuanian version of CASP-19 showed high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha 0.85), good agreement between test-retest measures with an ICC of 0.82 (95% CI 0.79–0.85) and good convergent and divergent construct validity. Conclusions: The psychometric properties indicated that the Lithuanian version of CASP-19 was reliable and valid. As such, it might be used to evaluate quality of life in elderly people.
Comparison of the Body Composition of Caucasian Young Normal Body Mass Women, Measured in the Follicular Phase, Depending on the Carbohydrate Diet Level
Authors: Głąbska Dominika , Cackowska Karolina , Guzek Dominika
Published: December 2018

Background and objectives: Some publications indicate the possibility of the influence of meal nutritional value on results of bioelectrical impedance, and of the relation between the long-term carbohydrate intake and body composition. The aim of the presented study was to evaluate the influence of long-term intake of carbohydrates on body composition results assessed using the bioelectrical impedance of Caucasian young women with normal body mass, who were in the follicular phase of their menstrual cycle. Materials and Methods: Body composition was assessed in 100 women (18–30 years), according to strict rules, to minimize the influence of disturbing factors and by using two types of bioelectrical impedance device of the same operator to eliminate the influence of measurement (BIA 101/SC and BIA 101/ASE by Akern Srl, Firenze, Italy with the Bodygram 1.31 software and its equations by Akern Srl, Firenze, Italy). The analysis included validation of reproducibility of body composition assessment (fat, fat-free, body cell and muscle mass, water, extracellular water, and intracellular water content), and comparison of body composition for groups characterized by carbohydrate content <50% (n = 55) and >50% of the energy value of the diet (n = 45). Results: Analysis conducted using Bland–Altman method, analysis of correlation, analysis of quartile distribution, and weighted κ statistic revealed a positively validated reproducibility, but extracellular water associations were the weakest. Depending on the device, participants characterized by higher carbohydrate intake had significantly higher intracellular water content (p = 0.0448), or close to significantly higher (p = 0.0851) than those characterized by lower carbohydrate intake, whose extracellular water content was close to significantly lower (p = 0.0638) or did not differ. Conclusions: The long-term, moderately reduced, carbohydrate intake may cause the shift of intracellular water to the extracellular space and, as a result, influence the body composition results.
Mechanical Properties and Very High Cycle Fatigue Behavior of Peak-Aged AA7021 Alloy
Authors: Lee Byung-Hoon , Park Sung-Woo , Hyun Soong-Keun , Cho In-Sik , Kim Kyung-Taek
Published: December 2018

The effect of heat treatment condition on non-Cu AA7021 alloy was investigated with respect to mechanical properties and very high cycle fatigue behavior. With a focus on the influence of heat treatment, AA7021 alloy was solution heat-treated at 470 °C for 4 h and aged at 124 °C. Comparing the results of solution-treated and peak-aged AA7021 alloy shows a significant increase in Vickers hardness and tensile strength. The hardness of AA7021 alloy was increased by 65% after aging treatment, and both tensile strength and yield strength were increased by 50~80 MPa in each case. In particular, this paper investigated the very high cycle fatigue behavior of AA7021 alloy with the ultrasonic fatigue testing method using a resonance frequency of 20 kHz. The fatigue results showed that the stress amplitude of peak-aged AA7021 alloy was about 50 MPa higher than the solution-treated alloy at the same fatigue cycles. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the size of the crack initiation site was larger after peak aging than after solution treatment.
Automated Acid Rock Drainage Indexing from Drill Core Imagery
Authors: Cracknell Matthew J. , Parbhakar-Fox Anita , Jackson Laura , Savinova Ekaterina
Published: December 2018

The automated classification of acid rock drainage (ARD) potential developed in this study is based on a manual ARD Index (ARDI) logging code. Several components of the ARDI require accurate identification of sulfide minerals that hyperspectral drill core scanning technologies cannot yet report. To overcome this, a new methodology was developed that uses red–green–blue (RGB) true color images generated by Corescan® to determine the presence or absence of sulfides using supervised classification. The output images were then recombined with Corescan® visible to near infrared-shortwave infrared (VNIR-SWIR) mineral classifications to obtain information that allowed an automated ARDI (A-ARDI) assessment to be performed. To test this, A-ARDI estimations and the resulting acid-forming potential classifications for 22 drill core samples obtained from a porphyry Cu–Au deposit were compared to ARDI classifications made from manual observations and geochemical and mineralogical analyses. Results indicated overall agreement between automated and manual ARD potential classifications and those from geochemical and mineralogical analyses. Major differences between manual and automated ARDI results were a function of differences in estimates of sulfide and neutralizer mineral concentrations, likely due to the subjective nature of manual estimates of mineral content and automated classification image resolution limitations. The automated approach presented here for the classification of ARD potential offers rapid and repeatable outcomes that complement manual and analyses derived classifications. Methods for automated ARD classification from digital drill core data represent a step-change for geoenvironmental management practices in the mining industry.
Selenium-Rich Ag–Au Mineralization at the Kremnica Au–Ag Epithermal Deposit, Slovak Republic
Authors: Števko Martin , Sejkora Jiří , Dolníček Zdeněk , Škácha Pavel
Published: December 2018

Selenium-rich Au–Ag mineralization has been discovered in the Kremnica ore district, central Slovakia. The mineralization is hosted by a single quartz–dolomite vein hosted by Neogene propyllitized andesites of the Kremnica stratovolcano. Ore mineralogy and crystal chemistry of individual ore minerals have been studied here. The early base-metal ore mineralization composed of pyrite, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite lacks selenium, whereas the superimposed Au–Ag paragenesis is Se-enriched. The Au–Ag alloys, uytenbogaardtite, minerals of the galena–clausthalite series, acanthite–naumannite series, diaphorite, miargyrite, pyrargyrite–proustite, polybasite group, minerals of the tetrahedrite group and andorite branch (andorite IV, andorite VI, Ag-excess fizélyite), freieslebenite, and rare Pb–Sb sulphosalts (scaiinite, robinsonite, plagionite) have been identified here. Besides selenides, the most Se-enriched phases are miargyrite, proustite–pyrargyrite, and polybasite–pearceite, whose Se contents are among the highest reported worldwide. In addition, one new phase has been found, corresponding to a Se-analogue of pearceite containing 2.08–3.54 apfu Se. The style of mineralization, paragenetic situation, and chemical trends observed in individual minerals are comparable to those of Au–Ag low-sulphidation epithermal Au–Ag mineralizations of the Kremnica and neighboring Štiavnica and Hodruša-Hámre ore districts. However, the pronounced enrichment in selenium is a specific feature of the studied vein only.
Evaluation of Antioxidant Capacity, Protective Effect on Human Erythrocytes and Phenolic Compound Identification in Two Varieties of Plum Fruit (Spondias spp.) by UPLC-MS
Authors: Hernández-Ruiz Karen L. , Ruiz-Cruz Saul , Cira-Chávez Luis A. , Gassos-Ortega Laura E. , Ornelas-Paz José de Jesús , Del-Toro-Sánchez Carmen L. , Márquez-Ríos Enrique , López-Mata Marco A. , Rodríguez-Félix Francisco
Published: December 2018

Plum edible part was used to obtained extracts by during a 4 h maceration process using three different solvents (ethanol, methanol and water) for the determination of total phenols and flavonoids, antioxidant capacity by (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hemolysis inhibition in human blood assays. Subsequently, phenolic compounds were identified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC-MS). The results indicated that the ethanolic extract of plum fruit being a good source of phenolic (12–18 mg GAE/g FW) and flavonoids (2.3–2.5 mg QE/g FW) content in both varieties of plum. Also, the fruits proved a good source of antioxidants as measured by DPPH and ABTS; likewise, plum aqueous extracts showed the highest protective effect on human erythrocytes with 74.34 and 64.62% for yellow and red plum, respectively. A total of 23 bioactive compounds were identified by UPLC-MS, including gallic acid, rutin, resorcinol, chlorogenic acid, catechin, and ellagic acid, and the antioxidant capacity can be attributed to these species. The edible part of plum contains compounds of biological interest, suggesting that this fruit has antioxidant potential that can be exploited for various technologies.
A Litopenaeus vannamei Hemocyanin-Derived Antimicrobial Peptide (Peptide B11) Attenuates Cancer Cells’ Proliferation
Authors: Liu Shangjie , Aweya Jude Juventus , Zheng Liyuan , Wang Fan , Zheng Zhou , Zhong Mingqi , Lun Jingsheng , Zhang Yueling
Published: December 2018

Antimicrobial peptides play important roles in the immune response to pathogens and tumor cells; for this reason, they are being exploited for therapeutic use. In this study, we describe a Litopenaeus vannamei hemocyanin-derived peptide, denoted B11, which shares similar features with other anticancer peptides and attenuates the proliferation of cancer cells. Cell viability assay revealed that B11 significantly inhibited the proliferation of human cervical (HeLa), human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2), and human esophageal cancer (EC109) cancer cell lines, but not normal liver cell lines (T-antigen-immortalized human liver epithelial (THLE) cells or THLE-3), by inducing morphological changes, nuclear condensation, and margination, features which are indicative of apoptosis. Besides, peptide B11-induced apoptosis was confirmed by isothiocyanate-labeled Annexin V/propidium iodide (Annexin V-FITC/PI) double staining of HeLa cells. Moreover, cell uptake studies, confocal microscopy, and Western blot analysis revealed that rhodamine-labeled B11 permeated HeLa cells and localized to the mitochondria, causing mitochondria dysfunction through lost mitochondrial membrane potential, which consequently triggered the induction of apoptosis. Increased expression levels of caspase-9, caspase-3, and Bax (Bcl-2-associated X) proteins, coupled with a decrease in Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma 2) protein, confirmed that peptide B11 induced apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway. Thus, the hemocyanin-derived peptide, B11, inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells by causing mitochondrial dysfunction and inducing apoptotic cell death, for which reason it could be explored as an anticancer peptide.
Function and Interactions of ERCC1-XPF in DNA Damage Response
Authors: Faridounnia Maryam , Folkers Gert E. , Boelens Rolf
Published: December 2018

Numerous proteins are involved in the multiple pathways of the DNA damage response network and play a key role to protect the genome from the wide variety of damages that can occur to DNA. An example of this is the structure-specific endonuclease ERCC1-XPF. This heterodimeric complex is in particular involved in nucleotide excision repair (NER), but also in double strand break repair and interstrand cross-link repair pathways. Here we review the function of ERCC1-XPF in various DNA repair pathways and discuss human disorders associated with ERCC1-XPF deficiency. We also overview our molecular and structural understanding of XPF-ERCC1.
Aquaporin 11-Dependent Inhibition of Proliferation by Deuterium Oxide in Activated Hepatic Stellate Cells
Authors: Lee Phil Jun , Park Hye-Jin , Cho Namki , Kim Hong Pyo
Published: December 2018

Deuterium oxide (D2O) has been reported to be active toward various in vitro cell lines in combination with phytochemicals. Our objective was to describe, for the first time, the effect of D2O on the proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). After D2O treatment, the p53-cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) pathway was stimulated, leading to inhibition of the proliferation of HSCs and an increase in the [ATP]/[ADP] ratio. We also evaluated the role of aquaporin (AQP) 11 in activated HSCs. We found that D2O treatment decreased AQP11 expression levels. Of note, AQP11 levels elevated by a genetic approach counteracted the D2O-mediated inhibition of proliferation. In addition, the expression levels of AQP11 negatively correlated with those of p53. On the other hand, cells transfected with an AQP11-targeted small interfering RNA (siRNA) showed enhanced inhibition of proliferation. These findings suggest that the inhibition of cell proliferation by D2O in activated HSCs could be AQP11 dependent. Our previous studies have documented that bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) induces apoptosis by regulating heme oxygenase (HO)-1 protein expression in activated HSCs. In the current study, we tested whether cotreatment with BDMC and D2O can modulate the AQP11-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation effectively. We observed that D2O cotreatment with BDMC significantly decreased cell proliferation compared to treatment with D2O alone, and this effect was accompanied by downregulation of HO-1 and an increase in p53 levels.
Synthesis, Biological Evaluation and Low-Toxic Formulation Development of Glycosylated Paclitaxel Prodrugs
Authors: Mao Yukang , Zhang Yili , Luo Zheng , Zhan Ruoting , Xu Hui , Chen Weiwen , Huang Huicai
Published: December 2018

Paclitaxel (PTX) is a famous anti-cancer drug with poor aqueous solubility. In clinical practices, Cremophor EL (polyethoxylated castor oil), a toxic surfactant, is used for dissolution of PTX, which accounts for serious side effects. In the present study, a single glucose-conjugated PTX prodrug (SG-PTX) and a double glucose-conjugated PTX prodrug (DG-PTX) were synthesized with a glycosylated strategy via succinate linkers. Both of the two prodrugs presented significant solubility improvement and drug-like lipophilicities. Compared to DG-PTX, SG-PTX manifested more promising release of the parent drug in serum. A high percentage of PTX released from SG-PTX could be detected after enzymatic hydrolysis of β-glucuronidase. Besides, both of the two prodrugs exhibited effective cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells and ovarian cancer cells, but presented reduced cytotoxicity against normal breast cells. Moreover, SG-PTX manifested impressive solubility in a low toxic formulation (without ethanol) with a different percentage of Cremophor EL. These results indicated that glycosylation is a promising strategy for PTX modification and SG-PTX may be a feasible and potential type of PTX prodrug. In addition, ethanol-free formulation with a low percentage of Cremophor EL might have the potential to develop a safer formulation for further studies of glycosylated PTX prodrugs.
Hydroxytyrosol Exerts Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Oxidant Activities in a Mouse Model of Systemic Inflammation
Authors: Fuccelli Raffaela , Fabiani Roberto , Rosignoli Patrizia
Published: December 2018

Hydroxytyrosol (3,4-dihydroxyphenil-ethanol, HT), the major phenol derived from olive oil consumption, has shown different anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities in vitro which may explain the chronic-degenerative diseases preventive properties of olive oil. The aim of this study was to examine the ability of HT reduce inflammatory markers, Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) and Tumour Necrosis Factor alfa (TNF-α and oxidative stress in vivo on a mouse model of systemic inflammation. Balb/c mice were pre-treated with HT (40 and 80 mg/Kg b.w.) and then stimulated by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Blood was collected to measure COX2 gene expression by qPCR and TNF-α level by ELISA kit in plasma. In addition, the total anti-oxidant power of plasma and the DNA damage were measured by FRAP test and COMET assay, respectively. LPS increased the COX2 expression, the TNF-α production and the DNA damage. HT administration prevented all LPS-induced effects and improved the anti-oxidant power of plasma. HT demonstrated in vivo anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant abilities. The results may explain the health effects of olive oil in Mediterranean diet. HT represents an interesting molecule for the development of new nutraceuticals and functional food useful in chronic diseases prevention.
Modulation of Gut Microbiota by Lonicera caerulea L. Berry Polyphenols in a Mouse Model of Fatty Liver Induced by High Fat Diet
Authors: Wu Shusong , Hu Ruizhi , Nakano Hironobu , Chen Keyu , Liu Ming , He Xi , Zhang Hongfu , He Jianhua , Hou De-Xing
Published: December 2018

Polyphenols from the Lonicera caerulea L. berry have shown protective effects on experimental non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in our previous studies. As endotoxins from gut bacteria are considered to be the major trigger of inflammation in NAFLD, this study aims to clarify the regulatory effects of L. caerulea L. berry polyphenols (LCBP) on gut microbiota in a high fat diet (HFD)-induced mouse model. C57BL/6N mice were fed with a normal diet, HFD, or HFD containing 0.5–1% of LCBP for 45 days. The results revealed that supplementation with LCBP decreased significantly the levels of IL-2, IL-6, MCP-1, and TNF-α in serum, as well as endotoxin levels in both serum and liver in HFD-fed mice. Fecal microbiota characterization by high throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that a HFD increased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, and LCBP reduced this ratio by increasing the relative abundance of Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, and another two undefined bacterial genera belonging to the order of Bacteroidales and family of Rikenellaceae, and also by decreasing the relative abundance of six bacterial genera belonging to the phylum Firmicutes, including Staphylococcus, Lactobacillus, Ruminococcus, and Oscillospira. These data demonstrated that LCBP potentially attenuated inflammation in NAFLD through modulation of gut microbiota, especially the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes.
Tailor-Made Deep Eutectic Solvents for Simultaneous Extraction of Five Aromatic Acids from Ginkgo biloba Leaves
Authors: Cao Jun , Wang Huimin , Zhang Wei , Cao Fuliang , Ma Geli , Su Erzheng
Published: December 2018

Ginkgo biloba leaves have various health benefits due to the presence of bioactive compounds such as polyprenyl acetates, flavonoids, and terpene trilactones. However, there is little literature reported on the aromatic acids in Ginkgo biloba leaves. In this work, five aromatic acids including shikimic acid (SA), 6-hydroxykynurenic acid (6-HKA), protocatechuic acid (PA), gallic acid (GAA), and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA) were simultaneously extracted from Ginkgo biloba leaves by employing the green deep eutectic solvents (DESs). A DES tailor-made from xylitol, glycolic acid and 1,5-pentanedioic acid at a molar ratio of 1:3:1 with 50% (w/w) water addition, named as NGG50, gave higher extraction yields for the five aromatic acids. Main factors affecting the extraction process were further optimized. The highest extraction yields of SA, GAA, 6-HKA, PA, and PHBA were 94.15 ± 0.96 mg/g, 332.69 ± 5.19 μg/g, 25.90 ± 0.61 μg/g, 429.89 ± 11.47 μg/g and 67.94 ± 0.37 μg/g, respectively. The NGG50-based extraction process developed here was a successful attempt of simultaneously extracting five aromatic acids from Ginkgo biloba leaves for the first time, which could provide a new exploitation direction of Ginkgo biloba leaves.
Determination of Tranquilizers in Swine Urine by Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Wang Yingyu , Li Xiaowei , Ke Yuebin , Wang Chengfei , Zhang Yuan , Ye Dongyang , Hu Xue , Zhou Lan , Xia Xi
Published: December 2018

A rapid, reliable, and sensitive method was developed for the determination of ten tranquilizers in swine urine. Sample preparation was based on solid-phase extraction, which combined isolation of the compounds and sample cleanup in a single step. Separation was performed on a reversed phase C18 column by gradient elution with a chromatographic run time of seven minutes, consisting of 0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile as the mobile phase. Multiple reaction monitoring in positive mode was applied for data acquisition. Matrix-matched calibration was used for quantification and good linearity was obtained with coefficients of determination higher than 0.99. The average recoveries of fortified samples at concentrations between 0.05 and 10 µg/L ranged from 85% to 106% with interday relative standard deviations of less than 13% in all cases. The limits of detection and limits of quantification obtained for tranquilizers in the urine were in the ranges of 0.03–0.1 µg/L and 0.05–0.25 µg/L, respectively. The applicability of the proposed method was demonstrated by analyzing real samples; diazepam was detected at concentrations between 0.3 and 0.6 μg/L.
Demethoxycurcumin-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticle Downregulates DNA Repair Pathway to Improve Cisplatin-Induced Apoptosis in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Chen Ying-Yi , Lin Yu-Jung , Huang Wei-Ting , Hung Chin-Chuan , Lin Hui-Yi , Tu Yu-Chen , Liu Dean-Mo , Lan Shou-Jen , Sheu Ming-Jyh
Published: December 2018

Demethoxycurcumin (DMC), through a self-assembled amphiphilic carbomethyl-hexanoyl chitosan (CHC) nanomatrix has been successfully developed and used as a therapeutic approach to inhibit cisplatin-induced drug resistance by suppressing excision repair cross-complementary 1 (ERCC1) in non-small cell lung carcinoma cells (NSCLC). Previously, DMC significantly inhibited on-target cisplatin resistance protein, ERCC1, via PI3K-Akt-snail pathways in NSCLC. However, low water solubility and bioavailability of DMC causes systemic elimination and prevents its clinical application. To increase its bioavailability and targeting capacity toward cancer cells, a DMC-polyvinylpyrrolidone core phase was prepared, followed by encapsulating in a CHC shell to form a DMC-loaded core-shell hydrogel nanoparticles (DMC-CHC NPs). We aimed to understand whether DMC-CHC NPs efficiently potentiate cisplatin-induced apoptosis through downregulation of ERCC1 in NSCLC. DMC-CHC NPs displayed good cellular uptake efficiency. Dissolved in water, DMC-CHC NPs showed comparable cytotoxic potency with free DMC (dissolved in DMSO). A sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay indicated that DMC-CHC NPs significantly increased cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity by highly efficient intracellular delivery of the encapsulated DMC. A combination of DMC-CHC NPs and cisplatin significantly inhibited on-target cisplatin resistance protein, ERCC1, via the PI3K-Akt pathway. Also, this combination treatment markedly increased the post-target cisplatin resistance pathway including bax, and cytochrome c expressions. Thymidine phosphorylase (TP), a main role of the pyrimidine salvage pathway, was also highly inhibited by the combination treatment. The results suggested that enhancement of the cytotoxicity to cisplatin via administration of DMC-CHC NPs was mediated by down-regulation of the expression of TP, and ERCC1, regulated via the PI3K-Akt pathway.
Mollicellins O–R, Four New Depsidones Isolated from the Endophytic Fungus Chaetomium sp. Eef-10
Authors: Ouyang Jinkui , Mao Ziling , Guo Hui , Xie Yunying , Cui Zehua , Sun Jian , Wu Huixiong , Wen Xiujun , Wang Jun , Shan Tijiang
Published: December 2018

Four new depsidones, mollicellins O–R (compounds 1–4), along with three known compounds 5–7, were isolated from cultures of the fungus Chaetomium sp. Eef-10, an endophyte isolated from Eucalyptus exserta. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by analysis of the 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS spectra. The known compounds were identified by comparison of their spectral data with published values. Compounds 1–7 were evaluated for antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus (sensitive and resistant strains), Escherichia coli, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas lachrymans, Ralstonia solanacearum, Xanthomonas vesicatoria and cytotoxic activities against two human cancer cell lines (HepG2 and Hela). Mollicellin H (6) displayed best antibacterial activity, with IC50 values of 5.14 µg/mL against S. aureus ATCC29213 and 6.21 µg/mL against S. aureus N50, MRSA, respectively. Mollicellin O (1) and mollicellin I (7) also exhibited antibacterial activities against S. aureus ATCC29213 and S. aureus N50. Mollicellin G (5) was active against both two human cancer cell lines, with IC50 values of 19.64 and 13.97 µg/mL while compounds 6 and 7 only showed cytotoxic activity against one cell line. In addition, mollicellin O (1) showed antioxidant activity based on DPPH radical scavenging, with an IC50 value of 71.92 µg/mL.
Evaluation of Three Morphologically Distinct Virus-Like Particles as Nanocarriers for Convection-Enhanced Drug Delivery to Glioblastoma
Authors: Finbloom Joel A. , Aanei Ioana L. , Bernard Jenna M. , Klass Sarah H. , Elledge Susanna K. , Han Kenneth , Ozawa Tomoko , Nicolaides Theodore P. , Berger Mitchel S. , Francis Matthew B.
Published: December 2018

Glioblastoma is a particularly challenging cancer, as there are currently limited options for treatment. New delivery routes are being explored, including direct intratumoral injection via convection-enhanced delivery (CED). While promising, convection-enhanced delivery of traditional chemotherapeutics such as doxorubicin (DOX) has seen limited success. Several studies have demonstrated that attaching a drug to polymeric nanoscale materials can improve drug delivery efficacy via CED. We therefore set out to evaluate a panel of morphologically distinct protein nanoparticles for their potential as CED drug delivery vehicles for glioblastoma treatment. The panel consisted of three different virus-like particles (VLPs), MS2 spheres, tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) disks and nanophage filamentous rods modified with DOX. While all three VLPs displayed adequate drug delivery and cell uptake in vitro, increased survival rates were only observed for glioma-bearing mice that were treated via CED with TMV disks and MS2 spheres conjugated to doxorubicin, with TMV-treated mice showing the best response. Importantly, these improved survival rates were observed after only a single VLP–DOX CED injection several orders of magnitude smaller than traditional IV doses. Overall, this study underscores the potential of nanoscale chemotherapeutic CED using virus-like particles and illustrates the need for further studies into how the overall morphology of VLPs influences their drug delivery properties.
Antimicrobial Effects of Biogenic Nanoparticles
Authors: Singh Priyanka , Garg Abhroop , Pandit Santosh , Mokkapati V. R. S. S. , Mijakovic Ivan
Published: December 2018

Infectious diseases pose one of the greatest health challenges in the medical world. Though numerous antimicrobial drugs are commercially available, they often lack effectiveness against recently developed multidrug resistant (MDR) microorganisms. This results in high antibiotic dose administration and a need to develop new antibiotics, which in turn requires time, money, and labor investments. Recently, biogenic metallic nanoparticles have proven their effectiveness against MDR microorganisms, individually and in synergy with the current/conventional antibiotics. Importantly, biogenic nanoparticles are easy to produce, facile, biocompatible, and environmentally friendly in nature. In addition, biogenic nanoparticles are surrounded by capping layers, which provide them with biocompatibility and long-term stability. Moreover, these capping layers provide an active surface for interaction with biological components, facilitated by free active surface functional groups. These groups are available for modification, such as conjugation with antimicrobial drugs, genes, and peptides, in order to enhance their efficacy and delivery. This review summarizes the conventional antibiotic treatments and highlights the benefits of using nanoparticles in combating infectious diseases.
Preparation and Characterization of Polyvinylpyrrolidone/Cellulose Nanocrystals Composites
Authors: Voronova Marina , Rubleva Natalia , Kochkina Nataliya , Afineevskii Andrei , Zakharov Anatoly , Surov Oleg
Published: December 2018

Composite films and aerogels of polyvinylpyrrolidone/cellulose nanocrystals (PVP/CNC) were prepared by solution casting and freeze-drying, respectively. Investigations into the PVP/CNC composite films and aerogels over a wide composition range were conducted. Thermal stability, morphology, and the resulting reinforcing effect on the PVP matrix were explored. FTIR, TGA, DSC, X-ray diffraction, SEM, and tensile testing were used to examine the properties of the composites. It was revealed PVP-assisted CNC self-assembly that produces uniform CNC aggregates with a high aspect ratio (length/width). A possible model of the PVP-assisted CNC self-assembly has been considered. Dispersibility of the composite aerogels in water and some organic solvents was studied. It was shown that dispersing the composite aerogels in water resulted in stable colloidal suspensions. CNC particles size in the redispersed aqueous suspensions was near similar to the CNC particles size in never-dried CNC aqueous suspensions.
Spatially-Controllable Hot Spots for Plasmon-Enhanced Second-Harmonic Generation in AgNP-ZnO Nanocavity Arrays
Authors: Shen Shaoxin , Gao Min , Ban Rongcheng , Chen Huiyu , Wang Xiangjie , Qian Lihua , Li Jing , Yang Zhilin
Published: December 2018

Plasmon-enhanced second-harmonic generation (PESHG) based on hybrid metal-dielectric nanostructures have extraordinary importance for developing efficient nanoscale nonlinear sources, which pave the way for new applications in photonic circuitry, quantum optics, and biosensors. However, the relatively high loss of excitation energies and the low spatial overlapping between the locally enhanced electromagnetic field and nonlinear materials still limit the promotion of nonlinear conversion performances in such hybrid systems. Here, we design and fabricate an array of silver nanoparticle-ZnO (AgNP-ZnO) nanocavities to serve as an efficient PESHG platform. The geometry of AgNP-ZnO nanocavity arrays provides a way to flexibly modulate hot spots in three-dimensional space, and to achieve a good mutual overlap of hot spots and ZnO material layers for realizing efficient SH photon generation originating from ZnO nanocavities. Compared to bare ZnO nanocavity arrays, the resulting hybrid AgNP-ZnO design of nanocavities reaches the maximum PESHG enhancement by a factor of approximately 31. Validated by simulations, we can further interpret the relative contribution of fundamental and harmonic modes to Ag-NP dependent PESHG performances, and reveal that the enhancement stems from the co-cooperation effect of plasmon-resonant enhancements both for fundamental and harmonic frequencies. Our findings offer a previously unreported method for designing efficient PESHG systems and pave a way for further understanding of a surface plasmon-coupled second-order emission mechanism for the enhancement of hybrid systems.
Contrasting Effects of Short-Term Mediterranean and Vegan Diets on Microvascular Function and Cholesterol in Younger Adults: A Comparative Pilot Study
Authors: Rogerson David , Maçãs Diana , Milner Marianne , Liu Yingshan , Klonizakis Markos
Published: December 2018

The Mediterranean diet has been shown to improve cardiovascular health. Vegan diets have demonstrated similar benefits, albeit in fewer studies. In a comparative pilot study, we compared the effects of a short-term Mediterranean Diet (MD) and Vegan Diet (VD) on microvascular function and cholesterol levels in a healthy population. Twenty-four young (aged 18 to 35 years) healthy volunteers followed a four-week intervention (MD = 12; VD = 12) ad libitum. Pre and post-intervention anthropometrics, microvascular function (assessed via LDF and expressed as raw CVC and %CVC MAX), dietary-analysis data (Calories, Protein, Carbohydrates, Total Fat, Saturated Fat, Fibre), Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP), Blood Pressure, Total Cholesterol (TC), High Density Lipoprotein (HDL-C) and TC:HDL-C were compared. MD participants reduced Total Fat intake (p = 0.05). Saturated Fat decreased (MD: p = < 0.001; VD: p = 0.004) and Fibre increased (MD: p = 0.02; VD: p = < 0.001) in both groups. Dietary changes reflected improvements in plateau raw CVC in the MD group (p = 0.005), and a reduction in TC (p = 0.045) and weight loss (p = 0.047) in the VD group. The MD led to improvements in microvascular function; the VD led to reduced TC and weight loss. Although both diets might offer CVD risk-reduction benefits, evidence for the MD appeared to be stronger due to changes in vasodilatory ability and NO bioavailability.
Supplementation of Juçara Berry (Euterpe edulis Mart.) Modulates Epigenetic Markers in Monocytes from Obese Adults: A Double-Blind Randomized Trial
Authors: Santamarina Aline Boveto , Jamar Giovana , Mennitti Laís Vales , De Cássia César Helena , De Rosso Verdiana Vera , Vasconcelos José Ronnie , Oyama Lila Missae , Pisani Luciana Pellegrini
Published: December 2018

Nutrigenomics is an emerging field in obesity since epigenetic markers can be modified by environmental factors including diet. Considering juçara composition—rich in anthocyanins, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and fibers—it has the potential for epigenetic modulation. We evaluated the juçara supplementation modulating the serum fatty acids profile and epigenetic markers in monocytes of adult obese humans. It was a randomized double-blind, controlled trial with 27 obese (Body mass index between 30.0 and 39.9 kg/m2) participants of both genders aged from 31 to 59 years, divided into juçara group (5 g juçara freeze-dried pulp) or placebo group (5 g of maltodextrin) for 6 weeks. Before and after supplementation, blood samples were collected. The serum and monocytes cells obtained were cultured and stimulated with lipopolysaccharides as proinflammatory stimulus. After 24 h of incubation, the cells and supernatants were collected and analyzed. Juçara improved the serum fatty acids profile on unsaturated fatty acids levels. The epigenetic markers evaluated were improved post-treatment. Also, the methylated DNA level was increased after treatment. We find that juçara supplementation is a predictor of methyl CpG binding proteins 2 (MeCP2) in monocytes. Concluding, juçara supplementation improved the serum fatty acids profile, modulating the epigenetic markers in monocytes from obese individuals.
The Effectiveness of Nutrition Education for Overweight/Obese Mother with Stunted Children (NEO-MOM) in Reducing the Double Burden of Malnutrition
Authors: Mahmudiono Trias , Mamun Abdullah Al , Nindya Triska Susila , Andrias Dini Ririn , Megatsari Hario , Rosenkranz Richard R.
Published: December 2018

(1) Background: In households experiencing the double burden of malnutrition, stunted children are in a better position for growth improvement when parents are able to direct their resources to support nutrition requirements. This study assesses the effectiveness of maternal nutrition education to reduce child stunting. (2) Methods: This was a Randomized Controlled Trial involving pairs of overweight/obese mothers with stunted children aged 2 to 5 years old in urban Indonesia. Methods: Seventy-one mother-child pairs were randomly assigned to receive either a 12-week nutrition education or printed educational materials. Mixed factorial ANOVA was used to test for between-group differences over time in relation to child’s height, weight, maternal self-efficacy, outcome expectation, and caloric intake. (3) Results: Across groups, there was a significant effect of time on child height and weight but no significant differences were observed between-groups. Maternal self-efficacy, outcome expectations in providing animal protein for the children (p-value = 0.025) and mother’s total caloric intake (p-value = 0.017) favored the intervention group over the comparison group. (4) Conclusions: The behavioral intervention produced strong improvement in maternal self-efficacy to engage in physical activity, eat fruits and vegetables and to provide children with growth-promoting animal protein, but did not significantly influence child height gain.
A Metabolomics Approach to the Identification of Urinary Biomarkers of Pea Intake
Authors: S.C. Sri Harsha Pedapati , Abdul Wahab Roshaida , Cuparencu Catalina , Dragsted Lars Ove , Brennan Lorraine
Published: December 2018

A significant body of evidence demonstrates that isoflavone metabolites are good markers of soy intake, while research is lacking on specific markers of other leguminous sources such as peas. In this context, the objective of our current study was to identify biomarkers of pea intake using an untargeted metabolomics approach. A randomized cross-over acute intervention study was conducted on eleven participants who consumed peas and couscous (control food) in random order. The urine samples were collected in fasting state and postprandially at regular intervals and were further analysed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS). Multivariate statistical analysis resulted in robust Partial least squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) models obtained for comparison of fasting against the postprandial time points (0 h vs. 4 h, (R2X = 0.41, Q2 = 0.4); 0 h vs. 6 h, ((R2X = 0.517, Q2 = 0.495)). Variables with variable importance of projection (VIP) scores ≥1.5 obtained from the PLS-DA plot were considered discriminant between the two time points. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to identify features with a significant time effect. Assessment of the time course profile revealed that ten features displayed a differential time course following peas consumption compared to the control food. The interesting features were tentatively identified using accurate mass data and confirmed by tandem mass spectrometry (MS using commercial spectral databases and authentic standards. 2-Isopropylmalic acid, asparaginyl valine and N-carbamoyl-2-amino-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl) acetic acid were identified as markers reflecting pea intake. The three markers also increased in a dose-dependent manner in a randomized intervention study and were further confirmed in an independent intervention study. Overall, key validation criteria were met for the successfully identified pea biomarkers. Future work will examine their use in nutritional epidemiology studies.
Effects of Millimolar Steady-State Hydrogen Peroxide Exposure on Inflammatory and Redox Gene Expression in Immune Cells from Humans with Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Busquets-Cortés Carla , Capó Xavier , Argelich Emma , Ferrer Miguel , Mateos David , Bouzas Cristina , Abbate Manuela , Tur Josep , Sureda Antoni , Pons Antoni
Published: December 2018

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) can exert opposed effects depending on the dosage: low levels can be involved in signalling and adaptive processes, while higher levels can exert deleterious effects in cells and tissues. Our aim was to emulate a chronic ex vivo oxidative stress situation through a 2 h exposure of immune cells to sustained H2O2 produced by glucose oxidase (GOX), at high or low production rate, in order to determine dissimilar responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and neutrophils on ROS and cytokine production, and mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins, pro/anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant gene expression. Immune cells were obtained from subjects with metabolic syndrome. H2O2 at low concentrations can trigger a transient anti-inflammatory adiponectin secretion and reduced gene expression of toll-like receptors (TLRs) in PBMCs but may act as a stimulator of proinflammatory genes (IL6, IL8) and mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins (Mtf2, NRF2, Tfam). H2O2 at a high concentration enhances the expression of pro-inflammatory genes (TLR2 and IL1β) and diminishes the expression of mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins (Mtf1, Tfam) and antioxidant enzymes (Cu/Zn SOD) in PBMCs. The GOX treatments produce dissimilar changes in immune cells: Neutrophils were more resistant to H2O2 effects and exhibited a more constant response in terms of gene expression than PBMCs. We observe emerging roles of H2O2 in mitochondrial dynamics and redox and inflammation processes in immune cells.