bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digital Payments, the Cashless Economy, and Financial Inclusion in the United Arab Emirates: Why Is Everyone Still Transacting in Cash?
Authors: Srouji Jeremy
Published: October 2020

Since the oil price downturn of 2015, the United Arab Emirates and fellow Gulf Cooperation Council countries have worked hard to expand digital payments in the interest of improved tax and revenue collection, transparency, and security. Yet despite a deep transformation and diversification of their payment eco-systems and the formalization of plans to become “cashless economies” modelled on South Korea and Sweden, cash continues to dominate payments in both countries. While industry players typically attribute the prevalence of cash in the region to questions of infrastructure readiness, transaction costs, and cyber-security, this paper finds that plans to expand digital payments at the expense of cash may not be well-adapted to countries with high levels of socio-economic inequality. It proposes a link between socio-economic inequality and use of cash in emerging economies, and concludes that it may be better to not view the relationship between cash and digital payments in binary zero-sum terms, until there is a better understanding of the socio-economic, technological, and policy context in which countries like South Korea and Sweden have managed to reduce their reliance on cash in favor of a diversified digital payments eco-system.
The Effectiveness and Retention Rate of Iguratimod in Japanese Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with/without Methotrexate in Daily Medical Care
Authors: Inoue Asuka , Nozaki Yuji , Hirooka Yasuaki , Kinoshita Koji , Chiba Yasutaka , Funauchi Masanori , Matsumura Itaru
Published: October 2020

(1) Background: We evaluated the clinical response of iguratimod (IGU) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) being treated with or without methotrexate (MTX) over 54 weeks. (2) Methods: 106 patients with RA undergoing IGU were retrospectively observed. RA patients were divided into those treated with MTX+IGU (n = 35) and those treated with IGU (n = 71). The primary endpoint was the clinical response of the Disease Activity Score assessing 28 joints with C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) differences in the changes from baseline to 54 weeks between MTX+IGU and IGU groups. Secondary endpoints, such as the clinical response, retention rate, and safety, were evaluated. (3) Results: The DAS28-CRP difference in the changes between the two groups were −0.2. DAS28-CRP were significantly reduced from the baseline in the MTX+IGU and IGU groups (−1.43 and −1.20 from baseline, respectively). The retention rates were 71.4% in the MTX+IGU groups and 59.2% in the IGU groups (p = 0.16). Adverse events were observed in a total of 6 (17.1%) MTX+IGU patients and 20 (28.2%) IGU patients (p = 0.21). (4) Conclusions: IGU therapy may be a useful treatment option for patients who cannot be treated with MTX.
Tuberculosis IRIS: Pathogenesis, Presentation, and Management across the Spectrum of Disease
Authors: Quinn Carson M. , Poplin Victoria , Kasibante John , Yuquimpo Kyle , Gakuru Jane , Cresswell Fiona V. , Bahr Nathan C.
Published: October 2020

Antiretroviral therapy (ART), while essential in combatting tuberculosis (TB) and HIV coinfection, is often complicated by the TB-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (TB-IRIS). Depending on the TB disease site and treatment status at ART initiation, this immune-mediated worsening of TB pathology can take the form of paradoxical TB-IRIS, unmasking TB-IRIS, or CNS TB-IRIS. Each form of TB-IRIS has unique implications for diagnosis and treatment. Recently published studies have emphasized the importance of neutrophils and T cell subtypes in TB-IRIS pathogenesis, alongside the recognized role of CD4 T cells and macrophages. Research has also refined our prognostic understanding, revealing how the disease can impact lung function. While corticosteroids remain the only trial-supported therapy for prevention and management of TB-IRIS, increasing interest has been given to biologic therapies directly targeting the immune pathology. TB-IRIS, especially its unmasking form, remains incompletely described and more data is needed to validate biomarkers for diagnosis. Management strategies remain suboptimal, especially in the highly morbid central nervous system (CNS) form of the disease, and further trials are necessary to refine treatment. In this review we will summarize the current understanding of the immunopathogenesis, the presentation of TB-IRIS and the evidence for management recommendations.
Steatite Powder Additives in Wood-Cement Drywall Particleboards
Authors: Vu Viet-Anh , Cloutier Alain , Bissonnette Benoît , Blanchet Pierre , Dagenais Christian
Published: October 2020

The objective of this study was to develop a new drywall wood-based particleboard as an alternative to gypsum board. Various development iterations have led to the use of wood particles, steatite powder and Portland cement. The resulting outcome shows that screw withdrawal resistance was improved by 37% and bending properties by 69% compared to gypsum board of a similar density (0.68–0.70). The raw surface of the boards is of good quality and comparable to the paper-faced surface of gypsum board. Furthermore, the reaction to fire was evaluated through bench-scale test with a cone calorimeter. The investigated particleboard did not reveal visual signs of combustion after 20 min when exposed to a radiant heat of 50 kW/m2, while burning of the overlay paper of gypsum board occurred at about 57 s, suggesting that wood-cement-steatite powder particleboard could be classified as a quasi non-combustible material.
Effect of Noble Metal Addition on the Disorder Dynamics of Ni3Al by Means of Monte Carlo Simulation
Authors: Ramos-Hernandez J.J. , Arrieta-Gonzalez C.D. , Chacon-Nava J.G. , Porcayo-Palafox E. , Sanchez-Carrillo M. , Flores-De los Rios J.P. , Pedraza-Basulto G.K. , Diaz-Mendez S.E. , Porcayo-Calderon J.
Published: October 2020

In this work, the effect of the addition of noble metals on the order–order disorder process of the L12 structure corresponding to the intermetallic Ni3Al is analyzed. Stoichiometric, nonstoichiometric, and quasi-binary compositions doped with noble metals such as Ag, Au, Pd, and Pt (1 at%) were analyzed. It was observed that depending on the composition, there is a modification in the activation energies calculated from the two time constants that characterize the disorder process. The statistic of atomic jumps was typified based on the configuration of the window to be crossed and, with this, it was identified that the origin of the negative activation energy of the long disorder process is due to an increase in the corresponding energy of the AlAl-Ni jump through unnatural windows.
Mitigating Scatter in Mechanical Properties in AISI 410 Fabricated via Arc-Based Additive Manufacturing Process
Authors: Roy Sougata , Shassere Benjamin , Yoder Jake , Nycz Andrzej , Noakes Mark , Narayanan Badri K. , Meyer Luke , Paul Jonathan , Sridharan Niyanth
Published: October 2020

Wire-based metal additive manufacturing utilizes the ability of additive manufacturing to fabricate complex geometries with high deposition rates (above 7 kg/h), thus finding applications in the fabrication of large-scale components, such as stamping dies. Traditionally, the workhorse materials for stamping dies have been martensitic steels. However, the complex thermal gyrations induced during additive manufacturing can cause the evolution of an inhomogeneous microstructure, which leads to a significant scatter in the mechanical properties, especially the toughness. Therefore, to understand these phenomena, arc-based additive AISI 410 samples were fabricated using robotic gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and were subjected to a detailed characterization campaign. The results show significant scatter in the tensile properties as well as Charpy V-notch impact toughness data, which was then correlated to the microstructural heterogeneity and delta (δ) ferrite formation. Post-processing (austenitizing and tempering) treatments were developed and an ~70% reduction in the scatter of tensile data and a four-times improvement in the toughness were obtained. The changes in mechanical properties were rationalized based on the microstructure evolution during additive manufacturing. Based on these, an outline to tailor the composition of “printable” steels for tooling with isotropic and uniform mechanical properties is presented and discussed.
Privacy Preservation in Edge Consumer Electronics by Combining Anomaly Detection with Dynamic Attribute-Based Re-Encryption
Authors: Yang Eunmok , Parvathy Velmurugan Subbiah , Selvi P. Pandi , Shankar K. , Seo Changho , Joshi Gyanendra Prasad , Yi Okyeon
Published: October 2020

The expanding utilization of edge consumer electronic (ECE) components and other innovations allows medical devices to communicate with one another to distribute sensitive clinical information. This information is used by health care authorities, specialists and emergency clinics to offer enhanced medication and help. The security of client data is a major concern, since modification of data by hackers can be life-threatening. Therefore, we have developed a privacy preservation approach to protect the wearable sensor data gathered from wearable medical devices by means of an anomaly detection strategy using artificial intelligence combined with a novel dynamic attribute-based re-encryption (DABRE) method. Anomaly detection is accomplished through a modified artificial neural network (MANN) based on a gray wolf optimization (GWO) technique, where the training speed and classification accuracy are improved. Once the anomaly data are removed, the data are stored in the cloud, secured through the proposed DABRE approach for future use by doctors. Furthermore, in the proposed DABRE method, the biometric attributes, chosen dynamically, are considered for encryption. Moreover, if the user wishes, the data can be modified to be unrecoverable by re-encryption with the true attributes in the cloud. A detailed experimental analysis takes place to verify the superior performance of the proposed method. From the experimental results, it is evident that the proposed GWO–MANN model attained a maximum average detection rate (DR) of 95.818% and an accuracy of 95.092%. In addition, the DABRE method required a minimum average encryption time of 95.63 s and a decryption time of 108.7 s, respectively.
Nonlinear Observability Algorithms with Known and Unknown Inputs: Analysis and Implementation
Authors: Martínez Nerea , Villaverde Alejandro F.
Published: October 2020

The observability of a dynamical system is affected by the presence of external inputs, either known (such as control actions) or unknown (disturbances). Inputs of unknown magnitude are especially detrimental for observability, and they also complicate its analysis. Hence, the availability of computational tools capable of analysing the observability of nonlinear systems with unknown inputs has been limited until lately. Two symbolic algorithms based on differential geometry, ORC-DF and FISPO, have been recently proposed for this task, but their critical analysis and comparison is still lacking. Here we perform an analytical comparison of both algorithms and evaluate their performance on a set of problems, while discussing their strengths and limitations. Additionally, we use these analyses to provide insights about certain aspects of the relationship between inputs and observability. We found that, while ORC-DF and FISPO follow a similar approach, they differ in key aspects that can have a substantial influence on their applicability and computational cost. The FISPO algorithm is more generally applicable, since it can analyse any nonlinear ODE model. The ORC-DF algorithm analyses models that are affine in the inputs, and if those models have known inputs it is sometimes more efficient. Thus, the optimal choice of a method depends on the characteristics of the problem under consideration. To facilitate the use of both algorithms, we implemented the ORC-DF condition in a new version of STRIKE-GOLDD, a MATLAB toolbox for structural identifiability and observability analysis. Since this software tool already had an implementation of the FISPO algorithm, the new release allows modellers and model users the convenience of choosing between different algorithms in a single tool, without changing the coding of their model.
Mathematical Modeling of Linear Fractional Oscillators
Authors: Parovik Roman
Published: October 2020

In this work, based on Newton’s second law, taking into account heredity, an equation is derived for a linear hereditary oscillator (LHO). Then, by choosing a power-law memory function, the transition to a model equation with Gerasimov–Caputo fractional derivatives is carried out. For the resulting model equation, local initial conditions are set (the Cauchy problem). Numerical methods for solving the Cauchy problem using an explicit non-local finite-difference scheme (ENFDS) and the Adams–Bashforth–Moulton (ABM) method are considered. An analysis of the errors of the methods is carried out on specific test examples. It is shown that the ABM method is more accurate and converges faster to an exact solution than the ENFDS method. Forced oscillations of linear fractional oscillators (LFO) are investigated. Using the ABM method, the amplitude–frequency characteristics (AFC) were constructed, which were compared with the AFC obtained by the analytical formula. The Q-factor of the LFO is investigated. It is shown that the orders of fractional derivatives are responsible for the intensity of energy dissipation in fractional vibrational systems. Specific mathematical models of LFOs are considered: a fractional analogue of the harmonic oscillator, fractional oscillators of Mathieu and Airy. Oscillograms and phase trajectories were constructed using the ABM method for various values of the parameters included in the model equation. The interpretation of the simulation results is carried out.
Recent Advances in Molecular Docking for the Research and Discovery of Potential Marine Drugs
Authors: Chen Guilin , Seukep Armel Jackson , Guo Mingquan
Published: October 2020

Marine drugs have long been used and exhibit unique advantages in clinical practices. Among the marine drugs that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the protein–ligand interactions, such as cytarabine–DNA polymerase, vidarabine–adenylyl cyclase, and eribulin–tubulin complexes, are the important mechanisms of action for their efficacy. However, the complex and multi-targeted components in marine medicinal resources, their bio-active chemical basis, and mechanisms of action have posed huge challenges in the discovery and development of marine drugs so far, which need to be systematically investigated in-depth. Molecular docking could effectively predict the binding mode and binding energy of the protein–ligand complexes and has become a major method of computer-aided drug design (CADD), hence this powerful tool has been widely used in many aspects of the research on marine drugs. This review introduces the basic principles and software of the molecular docking and further summarizes the applications of this method in marine drug discovery and design, including the early virtual screening in the drug discovery stage, drug target discovery, potential mechanisms of action, and the prediction of drug metabolism. In addition, this review would also discuss and prospect the problems of molecular docking, in order to provide more theoretical basis for clinical practices and new marine drug research and development.
Microfluidics Used as a Tool to Understand and Optimize Membrane Filtration Processes
Authors: Bouhid de Aguiar Izabella , Schroën Karin
Published: October 2020

Membrane filtration processes are best known for their application in the water, oil, and gas sectors, but also in food production they play an eminent role. Filtration processes are known to suffer from a decrease in efficiency in time due to e.g., particle deposition, also known as fouling and pore blocking. Although these processes are not very well understood at a small scale, smart engineering approaches have been used to keep membrane processes running. Microfluidic devices have been increasingly applied to study membrane filtration processes and accommodate observation and understanding of the filtration process at different scales, from nanometer to millimeter and more. In combination with microscopes and high-speed imaging, microfluidic devices allow real time observation of filtration processes. In this review we will give a general introduction on microfluidic devices used to study membrane filtration behavior, followed by a discussion of how microfluidic devices can be used to understand current challenges. We will then discuss how increased knowledge on fundamental aspects of membrane filtration can help optimize existing processes, before wrapping up with an outlook on future prospects on the use of microfluidics within the field of membrane separation.
Influence of Plasma Heating on the Metallurgical Effects of a Continuous Casting Tundish
Authors: Ye Maolin , Zhao Mengjing , Chen Sai , Yang Shufeng , Li Jingshe
Published: October 2020

Steel products have experienced long-standing problems such as unstable product quality and low product homogeneity. In the continuous casting process, realizing constant-temperature pouring is an effective way to improve product homogeneity. Plasma heating can compensate for the temperature drop during casting with a tundish and maintain a stable degree of superheating of the molten steel in the tundish. Plasma heating has a certain impact on the cleanliness of the molten steel and on the tundish covering flux in the tundish while compensating for the temperature drop. This paper uses SEM-EDS, XRD and FactSage to analyze the cleanliness of molten steel and the characteristics of the tundish covering flux before and after plasma heating. The results show that the number density of inclusions in the tundish is significantly lower after heating, improving the floating removal of small-sized inclusions; after heating, the surface morphology of the tundish covering flux sample appears transparent and glassy, with uniform morphology. XRD results show that the tundish covering flux after plasma heating exhibits no crystal precipitation and is amorphous and that there is a certain regularity before and after heating; there are no obvious changes in the composition of the tundish covering flux in the liquid phase area.
Research Status and Prospect of Laser Impact Welding
Authors: Wang Kangnian , Wang Huimin , Zhou Hongyu , Zheng Wenyue , Xu Aijun
Published: October 2020

The demands for the connection between thin dissimilar and similar materials in the fields of microelectronics and medical devices has promoted the development of laser impact welding. It is a new solid-state metallurgical bonding technology developed in recent years. This paper reviews the research progress of the laser impact welding in many aspects, including welding principle, welding process, weld interface microstructure and performance. The theoretical welding principle is the atomic force between materials. However, the metallurgical combination of two materials in the solid state by atomic force but almost no diffusion has not been confirmed by microstructure observation. The main theories used to explain the wave formation in impact welding were compared to conclude that caved mechanism and the Helmholz instability mechanism were accepted by researchers. The rebound of the flyer is still a critical problem for its application. With proper control of the welding parameters, the weld failure occurs on the base materials, indicating that the weld strength is higher than that of the base materials. Laser impact welding has been successfully applied in joining many dissimilar materials. There are issues still remained unresolved, such as surface damage of the flyer. The problems faced by laser impact welding were summaried, and its future applications were proposed. This review will provide a reference for the studies in laser impact welding, aiming process optimization and industrial application.
Effects of the Power Supply Mode and Loading Parameters on the Characteristics of Micro-Arc Oxidation Coatings on Magnesium Alloy
Authors: Yao Jian-tao , Wang Sheng , Zhou Yong , Dong Hui
Published: October 2020

Micro-arc Oxidation (MAO) is a technology for non-ferrous metal surface treatment through growth ceramic coating in situ. To determine the influence of the power supply mode and the loading parameters on the film forming of magnesium alloy micro-arc oxidation processing, the different power supply modes of pulsed direct current DC, pulsed bipolar current (BC) and the pulsed with a discharge loop current (DLC) was used with MAO technology on the AZ91D magnesium alloy. The power load parameters were optimized. The average energy consumption was calculated. Results showed that the role of the negative voltage in the bipolar pulse power supply is to restrain the large arc tendency. Under the pulse power supply with a discharge loop, the current and energy consumption decreases with the increase of the discharge resistance at the same pulse parameters. The big arc phenomenon can be effectively avoided and the impact of load capacitance could be effectively avoided by using the pulse power supply with a discharge loop. Moreover, the processing of the micro-arc oxidation is stable, the arc point is uniform, the surface of the film is smooth, the hole is uniform and the coating is dense, and the film efficiency is improved effectively.
Herd Protection against Meningococcal Disease through Vaccination
Authors: Clark Stephen A. , Borrow Ray
Published: October 2020

Reduction in the transmission of Neisseria meningitidis within a population results in fewer invasive disease cases. Vaccination with meningococcal vaccines composed of high weight capsular polysaccharide without carrier proteins has minimal effect against carriage or the acquisition of carriage. Conjugate vaccines, however, elicit an enhanced immune response which serves to reduce carriage acquisition and hinder onwards transmission. Since the 1990s, several meningococcal conjugate vaccines have been developed and, when used in age groups associated with higher carriage, they have been shown to provide indirect protection to unvaccinated cohorts. This herd protective effect is important in enhancing the efficiency and impact of vaccination. Studies are ongoing to assess the effect of protein-based group B vaccines on carriage; however, current data cast doubt on their ability to reduce transmission.
Solvent-Free Desulfurization System to Produce Low-Sulfur Diesel Using Hybrid Monovacant Keggin-Type Catalyst
Authors: Mirante Fátima , de Castro Baltazar , M. Granadeiro Carlos , S. Balula Salete
Published: October 2020

Two quaternary ammonium catalysts based on the monovacant polyoxotungstate ([PW11O39]7−, abbreviated as PW11) were prepared and characterized. The desulfurization performances of the PW11-based hybrids (of tetrabutylammonium and trimethyloctadecylammonium, abbreviated as TBA[PW11] and ODA[PW11], respectively), the corresponding potassium salt (K7PW11O39, abbreviated as KPW11) and the peroxo-compound (TBA-PO4[WO(O2)2], abbreviated as TBA[PW4]) were compared as catalysts for the oxidative desulfurization of a multicomponent model diesel (2000 ppm S). The oxidative desulfurization studies (ODS) were performed using solvent-free systems and aqueous H2O2 as oxidant. The nature of the cation in the PW11 catalyst showed to have an important influence on the catalytic performance. In fact, the PW11-hybrid catalysts showed higher catalytic efficiency than the peroxo-compound TBA[PW4], known as Venturello compound. TBA[PW11] revealed a remarkable desulfurization performance with 96.5% of sulfur compounds removed in the first 130 min. The reusability and stability of the catalyst were also investigated for ten consecutive ODS cycles without loss of activity. A treated clean diesel could be recovered without sulfur compounds by performing a final liquid/liquid extraction diesel/EtOH:H2O mixture (1:1) after the catalytic oxidative step.
Novel Pathway of Adenosine Generation in the Lungs from NAD+: Relevance to Allergic Airway Disease
Authors: Graeff Richard , Guedes Alonso , Quintana Ruth , Wendt-Hornickle Erin , Baldo Caroline , Walseth Timothy , O’Grady Scott , Kannan Mathur
Published: October 2020

Adenosine and uric acid (UA) play a pivotal role in lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In the present experiments, we measured adenosine synthesis from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) in membranes prepared from wild type (WT) and CD38 knockout (CD38KO) mouse lungs, from cultured airway smooth muscle and epithelial cells, and in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after airway challenge with epidemiologically relevant allergens. Adenosine was determined using an enzymatically coupled assay that produces ATP and is detected by luminescence. Uric acid was determined by ELISA. Exposure of cultured airway epithelial cells to Alternaria alternata extract caused significant nucleotide (NAD+ and ATP) release in the culture media. The addition of NAD+ to membranes prepared from WT mice resulted in faster generation of adenosine compared to membranes from CD38KO mice. Formation of adenosine from NAD+ affected UA and ATP concentrations, its main downstream molecules. Furthermore, NAD+ and adenosine concentrations in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid decreased significantly following airway challenge with house-dust mite extract in WT but not in CD38KO mice. Thus, NAD+ is a significant source of adenosine and UA in the airways in mouse models of allergic airway disease, and the capacity for their generation from NAD+ is augmented by CD38, a major NADase with high affinity for NAD+. This novel non-canonical NAD+-adenosine-UA pathway that is triggered by allergens has not been previously described in the airways.
Structure–Activity Relationship of Aloperine Derivatives as New Anti–Liver Fibrogenic Agents
Authors: Wang Kun , Guo Zhihao , Bao Yunyang , Pang Yudong , Li Yinghong , He Hongwei , Song Danqing
Published: October 2020

Twenty-seven novel 12N-substituted aloperine derivatives were synthesized and investigated for their inhibitory effects on collagen α1 (I) (COL1A1) promotor in human hepatic stellate LX-2 cells, taking aloperine (1) as the hit. A structure-activity relationship (SAR) study disclosed that the introduction of suitable substituents on the 12N atom might enhance the activity. Compound 4p exhibited a good promise on down-regulating COL1A1 expression with the IC50 value of 16.5 μM. Its inhibitory activity against COL1A1 was further confirmed on both mRNA and protein levels. Meanwhile, it effectively inhibited the expression of other fibrogenic proteins, such as transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). It also exhibited good in vivo safety profile with the oral LD50 value of 400 mg kg−1 in mice. The results initiated the anti-liver fibrogenic study of aloperine derivatives, and the key compound 4p was selected as a novel lead for further investigation against liver fibrogenesis.
Insight to Functional Conformation and Noncovalent Interactions of Protein-Protein Assembly Using MALDI Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Giampà Marco , Sgobba Elvira
Published: October 2020

Noncovalent interactions are the keys to the structural organization of biomolecule e.g., proteins, glycans, lipids in the process of molecular recognition processes e.g., enzyme-substrate, antigen-antibody. Protein interactions lead to conformational changes, which dictate the functionality of that protein-protein complex. Besides biophysics techniques, noncovalent interaction and conformational dynamics, can be studied via mass spectrometry (MS), which represents a powerful tool, due to its low sample consumption, high sensitivity, and label-free sample. In this review, the focus will be placed on Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and its role in the analysis of protein-protein noncovalent assemblies exploring the relationship within noncovalent interaction, conformation, and biological function.
Systematic Development of a Simultaneous Determination of Plastic Particle Identity and Adsorbed Organic Compounds by Thermodesorption–Pyrolysis GC/MS (TD-Pyr-GC/MS)
Authors: Reichel Julia , Graßmann Johanna , Letzel Thomas , Drewes Jörg E.
Published: October 2020

Micro-, submicro- and nanoplastic particles are increasingly regarded as vectors for trace organic chemicals. In order to determine adsorbed trace organic chemicals on polymers, it has usually been necessary to carry out complex extraction steps. With the help of a newly designed thermal desorption pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TD-Pyr-GC/MS) method, it is possible to identify adsorbed trace organic chemicals on micro-, submicro- and nanoparticles as well as the particle short chain polymers in one analytical setup without any transfers. This ensures a high sample throughput for the qualitative analysis of trace substances and polymer type. Since the measuring time per sample is only 2 h, a high sample throughput is possible. It is one of the few analytical methods which can be used also for the investigation of nanoplastic particles. Initially adsorbed substances are desorbed from the particle by thermal desorption (TD); subsequently, the polymer is fragmented by pyrolysis (PYR). Both particle treatment techniques are directly coupled with the same GC-MS system analyzing desorbed molecules and pyrolysis products, respectively. In this study, we developed a systematic and optimized method for this application. For method development, the trace organic chemicals phenanthrene, α-cypermethrin and triclosan were tested on reference polymers polystyrene (PS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polyethylene (PE). Well-defined particle fractions were used, including polystyrene (sub)micro- (41 and 40 µm) and nanoparticles (78 nm) as well as 48-µm sized PE and PMMA particles, respectively. The sorption of phenanthrene (PMMA << PS 40 µm < 41 µm < PE < PS 78 nm) and α-cypermethrin (PS 41 µm < PS 40 µm < PE < PMMA < PS 78 nm) to the particles was strongly polymer-dependent. Triclosan adsorbed only on PE and on the nanoparticles of PS (PE < PS78).
Fostering Lavender as a Source for Valuable Bioactives for Food and Pharmaceutical Applications through Extraction and Microencapsulation
Authors: (Lupoae) Simona Daniela Radu , Mihalcea Liliana , Aprodu Iuliana , Socaci Sonia A. , Cotârleț Mihaela , Enachi Elena , Crăciunescu Oana , Barbu Vasilica , Oancea Anca , Dulf Francisc Vasile , Alexe Petru , Bahrim Gabriela Elena , Râpeanu Gabriela , Stănciuc Nicoleta
Published: October 2020

Lavender flowers were used in this study as a source of phytochemicals as naturally occurring antioxidants. Two different extraction techniques were applied, such as ultrasound-assisted (UAE) and supercritical fluids (SCE) methods. The comparative evaluation of the phytochemicals profile evidenced a higher content of chlorophyll a and b of 5.22 ± 0.12 mg/g dry weight (D.W.) and 2.95 ± 0.16 mg/g D.W, whereas the carotenoids content was 18.24 ± 0.04 mg/g D.W. in the SCE extract. Seven main compounds were found in both extracts: β-linalool, eucalyptol, linalool acetate, β-trans-ocimene, and limonene in SCE and linalool acetate, β-linalool, 6-methyl-2-(2-oxiranyl)-5-hepten-2-ol, linalool oxide, lavandulyl acetate and camphor in UAE. The (n-3) acids had a higher contribution in SCE. The extracts were microencapsulated in different combinations of wall materials based on polysaccharides and milk proteins. The four variants showed different phytochemical and morphological profiles, with a better encapsulating efficiency for proteins (up to 98%), but with a higher content of encapsulated carotenoids for polysaccharides, the latter showing remarkable antimicrobial activity against selected microorganisms. Carboxymethyl cellulose and whey proteins led to a double encapsulation of lipophilic compounds. The powders were tested in two food matrices as ingredients, with multiple targeted functions, such as flavoring, antimicrobial, antioxidant activity that can successfully replace synthetic additives.
Pyrazole Incorporated New Thiosemicarbazones: Design, Synthesis and Investigation of DPP-4 Inhibitory Effects
Authors: Sever Belgin , Soybir Hasan , Görgülü Şennur , Cantürk Zerrin , Altıntop Mehlika Dilek
Published: October 2020

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibition has been recognized as a promising approach to develop safe and potent antidiabetic agents for the management of type 2 diabetes. In this context, new thiosemicarbazones (2a–o) were prepared efficiently by the reaction of aromatic aldehydes with 4-[4-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)phenyl]thiosemicarbazide (1), which was obtained via the reaction of 4-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)phenyl isothiocyanate with hydrazine hydrate. Compounds 2a–o were evaluated for their DPP-4 inhibitory effects based on a convenient fluorescence-based assay. 4-[4-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)phenyl]-1-(4-bromobenzylidene)thiosemicarbazide (2f) was identified as the most effective DPP-4 inhibitor in this series with an IC50 value of 1.266 ± 0.264 nM when compared with sitagliptin (IC50 = 4.380 ± 0.319 nM). MTT test was carried out to assess the cytotoxic effects of compounds 2a–o on NIH/3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblast (normal) cell line. According to cytotoxicity assay, compound 2f showed cytotoxicity towards NIH/3T3 cell line with an IC50 value higher than 500 µM pointing out its favourable safety profile. Molecular docking studies indicated that compound 2f presented π-π interactions with Arg358 and Tyr666 via pyrazole scaffold and 4-bromophenyl substituent, respectively. Overall, in vitro and in silico studies put emphasis on that compound 2f attracts a great notice as a drug-like DPP-4 inhibitor for further antidiabetic research.
Induction of Apoptosis, Autophagy and Ferroptosis by Thymus vulgaris and Arctium lappa Extract in Leukemia and Multiple Myeloma Cell Lines
Authors: N. Adham Aveen , F. Hegazy Mohamed Elamir , Naqishbandi Alaadin M. , Efferth Thomas
Published: October 2020

Thymus vulgaris and Arctium lappa have been used as a folk remedy in the Iraqi Kurdistan region to deal with different health problems. The aim of the current study is to investigate the cytotoxicity of T. vulgaris and A. lappa in leukemia and multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines and determine the mode of cell death triggered by the most potent cytotoxic fractions of both plants in MM. Resazurin assay was used to evaluate cytotoxic and ferroptosis activity, apoptosis, and modulation in the cell cycle phase were investigated via Annexin V-FITC/PI dual stain and cell-cycle arrest assays. Furthermore, we used western blotting assay for the determination of autophagy cell death. n-Hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and butanol fractions of T. vulgaris and A. lappa exhibited cytotoxicity in CCRF-CEM and CEM/ADR 5000 cell lines at concentration range 0.001–100 μg/mL with potential activity revealed by chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions. NCI-H929 displayed pronounced sensitivity towards T. vulgaris (TCF) and A. lappa (ACF) chloroform fractions with IC50 values of 6.49 ± 1.48 and 21.9 ± 0.69 μg/mL, respectively. TCF induced apoptosis in NCI-H929 cells with a higher ratio (71%), compared to ACF (50%) at 4 × IC50. ACF demonstrated more potent autophagy activity than TCF. TCF and ACF induced cell cycle arrest and ferroptosis. Apigenin and nobiletin were identified in TCF, while nobiletin, ursolic acid, and lupeol were the main compounds identified in ACF. T. vulgaris and A. lappa could be considered as potential herbal drug candidates, which arrest cancer cell proliferation by induction of apoptosis, autophagic, and ferroptosis.
Antiviral and Immunomodulatory Effects of Phytochemicals from Honey against COVID-19: Potential Mechanisms of Action and Future Directions
Authors: Al-Hatamleh Mohammad A. I. , Hatmal Ma’mon M. , Sattar Kamran , Ahmad Suhana , Mustafa Mohd Zulkifli , Bittencourt Marcelo De Carvalho , Mohamud Rohimah
Published: October 2020

The new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has recently put the world under stress, resulting in a global pandemic. Currently, there are no approved treatments or vaccines, and this severe respiratory illness has cost many lives. Despite the established antimicrobial and immune-boosting potency described for honey, to date there is still a lack of evidence about its potential role amid COVID-19 outbreak. Based on the previously explored antiviral effects and phytochemical components of honey, we review here evidence for its role as a potentially effective natural product against COVID-19. Although some bioactive compounds in honey have shown potential antiviral effects (i.e., methylglyoxal, chrysin, caffeic acid, galangin and hesperidinin) or enhancing antiviral immune responses (i.e., levan and ascorbic acid), the mechanisms of action for these compounds are still ambiguous. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work exclusively summarizing all these bioactive compounds with their probable mechanisms of action as antiviral agents, specifically against SARS-CoV-2.
X-ray Fluorescence Techniques in Determining the Habitat Preferences of Species—Ulva pilifera (Ulvales, Chlorophyta) from Montenegro Case Study
Authors: Czerwik-Marcinkowska Joanna , Piwowarczyk Renata , Uher Bohuslav , Tomal Ewa , Wojciechowska Anna
Published: October 2020

The paper presents four new sites where bright green Ulva thalli were found inhabiting freshwater (a river, a ditch, the Milet Canal) and marine (on the rocky shore of the Adriatic Sea) habitats in Montenegro. The aims of this study were to determine, for the first time, whether specimens of Ulva pilifera collected in Montenegro are phylogenetically and morphologically the same species as the one occurring in Europe. Using total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) and wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) techniques it assessed the elemental composition of their thalli and its influence to colonise new habitats. Elements: Al, As, Ba, Br, Ca, Cl, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hf, I, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Si, Sr, Ti, V, and Zn were determined. The highest elemental concentrations were found for Ca = 16.3% (using WDXRF) and for Sr = 292 ppm (using TXRF) in the Ulva thalli. Ulva pilifera analysed from Montenegro, based on classical morphological methods and molecular techniques, are closely related to the same species from inland and coastal waters throughout Europe. The analysis of trace elements showed that the metal content in Ulva thalli is correlated with the trace elements in water and sediments. Ulva pilifera fits numerous features that make it one of the bioindicators of marine pollution, thanks to its worldwide distribution and capacity to accumulate trace elements.
Preparation and Characterisation of Activated Carbon from Palm Mixed Waste Treated with Trona Ore
Authors: Ukanwa Kalu Samuel , Patchigolla Kumar , Sakrabani Ruben , Anthony Edward
Published: October 2020

This study explores the use of a novel activating agent and demonstrates the production and characterisation of activated carbon (AC) from a combine palm waste (CPW) in 3:2:1 proportion by weight of empty fruit bunch, mesocarp fibre and palm kernel shell. The resulting biomass was processed by a microwave-assisted method using trona and compared with material produced by conventional routes. These results demonstrate the potential of trona ore as an activating agent and the effectiveness of using a combined palm waste for a single stream activation process. It also assesses the effectiveness of trona ore in the elimination of alcohol, acids and aldehydes; with a focus on increasing the hydrophilicity of the resultant AC. The optimum results for the conventional production technique at 800 °C yielded a material with SBET 920 m2/g, Vtotal 0.840 cm3/g, a mean pore diameter of 2.2 nm and an AC yield 40%. The optimum outcome of the microwave assisted technique for CPW was achieved at 600 W, SBET is 980 m2/g; Vtotal 0.865 cm3/g; a mean pore diameter 2.2 nm and an AC yield of 42%. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry analyses showed that palm waste can be combined to produce AC and that trona ore has the capacity to significantly enhance biomass activation.
Study of Partial Oxidation of Methane by Ni/Al2O3 Catalyst: Effect of Support Oxides of Mg, Mo, Ti and Y as Promoters
Authors: Ibrahim Ahmed A. , Khan Wasim U. , Al-Mubaddel Fahad , Al-Fatesh Ahmed S. , Kasim Samsudeen O. , Mahmud Sofiu L. , Al-Zahrani Ateyah A. , Siddiqui M. Rafiq H. , Fakeeha Anis H.
Published: October 2020

Catalysts of 10% Ni, supported on promoted alumina, were used to accomplish the partial oxidation of methane. The alumina support was doped with oxides of Mo, Mg, Ti and Y. An incipient wetness impregnation technique was used to synthesize the catalysts. The physicochemical properties of the catalysts were described by XRD, H2-TPR (temperature programmed reduction), BET, TGA, CO2-TPD (temperature-programmed desorption) and Raman. The characterization results denoted that Ni has a strong interaction with the support. The TGA investigation of spent catalysts displayed the anticoking enhancement of the promoters. The impact of the support promoters on the catalyst stability, methane conversion and H2 yield was inspected. Stability tests were done for 460 min. The H2 yields were 76 and 60% and the CH4 conversions were 67 and 92%, respectively, over Ni/Al2O3+Mg, when the reaction temperatures were 550 and 650 °C, respectively. The performance of the present work was compared to relevant findings in the literature.
Association between Breastfeeding and DNA Methylation over the Life Course: Findings from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)
Authors: Hartwig Fernando Pires , Davey Smith George , Simpkin Andrew J. , Victora Cesar Gomes , Relton Caroline L. , Caramaschi Doretta
Published: October 2020

Background: Breastfeeding is associated with short and long-term health benefits. Long-term effects might be mediated by epigenetic mechanisms, yet the literature on this topic is scarce. We performed the first epigenome-wide association study of infant feeding, comparing breastfed vs non-breastfed children. We measured DNA methylation in children from peripheral blood collected in childhood (age 7 years, N = 640) and adolescence (age 15–17 years, N = 709) within the Accessible Resource for Integrated Epigenomic Studies (ARIES) project, part of the larger Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort. Cord blood methylation (N = 702) was used as a negative control for potential pre-natal residual confounding. Results: Two differentially-methylated sites presented directionally-consistent associations with breastfeeding at ages 7 and 15–17 years, but not at birth. Twelve differentially-methylated regions in relation to breastfeeding were identified, and for three of them there was evidence of directional concordance between ages 7 and 15–17 years, but not between birth and age 7 years. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that DNA methylation in childhood and adolescence may be predicted by breastfeeding, but further studies with sufficiently large samples for replication are required to identify robust associations.
Prognostic Effect of a Novel Simply Calculated Nutritional Index in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure
Authors: Ishiwata Sayaki , Yatsu Shoichiro , Kasai Takatoshi , Sato Akihiro , Matsumoto Hiroki , Shitara Jun , Shimizu Megumi , Murata Azusa , Kato Takao , Suda Shoko , Doi Shinichiro , Hiki Masaru , Matsue Yuya , Naito Ryo , Iwata Hiroshi , Takagi Atsutoshi , Daida Hiroyuki
Published: October 2020

The TCB index (triglycerides × total cholesterol × body weight), a novel simply calculated nutritional index based on serum triglycerides (TGs), serum total cholesterol (TC), and body weight (BW), was recently reported to be a useful prognostic indicator in patients with coronary artery disease. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between TCBI and long-term mortality in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) patients. Patients with a diagnosis of ADHF who were consecutively admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit in our institution from 2007 to 2011 were targeted. TCBI was calculated using the formula TG (mg/dL) × TC (mg/dL) × BW (kg)/1000. Patients were divided into two groups according to the median TCBI value. An association between admission TCBI and mortality was assessed using univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard analyses. Overall, 417 eligible patients were enrolled, and 94 (22.5%) patients died during a median follow-up period of 2.2 years. The cumulative survival rate with respect to all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer-related mortalities was worse in patients with low TCBI than in those with high TCBI. In the multivariable analysis, although TCBI was not associated with cardiovascular and cancer mortalities, the association between TCBI and reduced all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 0.64, 95% confidence interval: 0.44–0.94, p = 0.024) was observed. We computed net reclassification improvement (NRI) when TCBI or Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) was added on established predictors such as hemoglobin, serum sodium level, and both. TCBI improved discrimination for all-cause mortality (NRI: 0.42, p < 0.001; when added on hemoglobin and serum sodium level). GNRI can improve discrimination for cancer mortality (NRI: 0.96, p = 0.002; when added on hemoglobin and serum sodium level). TCBI, a novel and simply calculated nutritional index, can be useful to stratify patients with ADHF who were at risk for worse long-term overall mortality.
Validity and Reproducibility of a Culture-Specific Food Frequency Questionnaire in Lebanon
Authors: El Sayed Ahmad Raeda , Baroudi Mariam , Shatila Hibeh , Nasreddine Lara , Chokor Fatima Al Zahraa , Chehab Rana F. , Forman Michele R. , Naja Farah
Published: October 2020

This study aims to assess the validity and reproducibility of a culture-specific semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for Lebanese adults. The 94-item FFQ captures intake of traditional Mediterranean dishes and Western food, reflective of current Lebanese nutrition transition. Among 107 participants (18–65 years), the FFQ was administered at baseline (FFQ-1) and one year thereafter (FFQ-2); 2–3 24-h recalls (24-HRs)/season were collected for a total of 8–12 over four seasons. A subset (n = 67) provided a fasting blood sample in the fall. Spearman-correlation coefficients, Bland–Altman plots, joint-classification and (ICC) were calculated. Mean intakes from FFQ-2 were higher than from the total 24-HRs. Correlations for diet from FFQ-2 and 24-HRs ranged from 0.17 for α-carotene to 0.65 for energy. Joint classification in the same/adjacent quartile ranged from 74.8% to 95%. FFQ-2-plasma carotenoid correlations ranged from 0.18 for lutein/zeaxanthin to 0.59 for β-carotene. Intra-class correlations for FFQ-1 and FFQ-2 ranged from 0.36 for β-cryptoxanthin to 0.85 for energy. 24-HRs carotenoid intake varied by season; combining season-specific 24-HRs proximal to biospecimen collection to the FFQ-2 improved diet-biochemical correlations. By applying dietary data from two tools with biomarkers taking into consideration seasonal variation, we report a valid, reproducible Lebanese FFQ for use in diet-disease research.