bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Electrophoretic Deposition Prototype for Continuous Production of Carbon Nanotube-Modified Carbon Fiber Fabrics Used in High-Performance Multifunctional Composites
Authors: Gong Guan , Nyström Birgitha , Sandlund Erik , Eklund Daniel , Noël Maxime , Westerlund Robert , Stenberg Sofia , Pupure Liva , Pupurs Andrejs , Joffe Roberts
Published: September 2018

An electrophoretic deposition (EPD) prototype was developed aiming at the continuous production of carbon nanotube (CNT) deposited carbon fiber fabric. Such multi-scale reinforcement was used to manufacture carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. The overall objective was to improve the mechanical performance and functionalities of CFRP composites. In the current study, the design concept and practical limit of the continuous EPD prototype, as well as the flexural strength and interlaminar shear strength, were the focus. Initial mechanical tests showed that the flexural stiffness and strength of composites with the developed reinforcement were significantly reduced with respect to the composites with pristine reinforcement. However, optical microscopy study revealed that geometrical imperfections, such as waviness and misalignment, had been introduced into the reinforcement fibers and/or bundles when being pulled through the EPD bath, collected on a roll, and dried. These defects are likely to partly or completely shadow any enhancement of the mechanical properties due to the CNT deposit. In order to eliminate the effect of the discovered defects, the pristine reinforcement was subjected to the same EPD treatment, but without the addition of CNT in the EPD bath. When compared with such water-treated reinforcement, the CNT-deposited reinforcement clearly showed a positive effect on the flexural properties and interlaminar shear strength of the composites. It was also discovered that CNTs agglomerate with time under the electric field due to the change of ionic density, which is possibly due to the electrolysis of water (for carboxylated CNT aqueous suspension without surfactant) or the deposition of ionic surfactant along with CNT deposition (for non-functionalized CNT aqueous suspension with surfactant). Currently, this sets time limits for the continuous deposition.
Euchromatic Supernumerary Chromosomal Segments—Remnants of Ongoing Karyotype Restructuring in the Prospero autumnale Complex?
Authors: Jang Tae-Soo , Parker John S. , Weiss-Schneeweiss Hanna
Published: September 2018

Supernumerary chromosomal segments (SCSs) represent additional chromosomal material that, unlike B chromosomes, is attached to the standard chromosome complement. The Prospero autumnale complex (Hyacinthaceae) is polymorphic for euchromatic large terminal SCSs located on the short arm of chromosome 1 in diploid cytotypes AA and B7B7, and tetraploid AAB7B7 and B6B6B7B7, in addition to on the short arm of chromosome 4 in polyploid B7B7B7B7 and B7B7B7B7B7B7 cytotypes. The genomic composition and evolutionary relationships among these SCSs have been assessed using fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) with 5S and 35S ribosomal DNAs (rDNAs), satellite DNA PaB6, and a vertebrate-type telomeric repeat TTAGGG. Neither of the rDNA repeats were detected in SCSs, but most contained PaB6 and telomeric repeats, although these never spanned whole SCSs. Genomic in situ hybridisation (GISH) using A, B6, and B7 diploid genomic parental DNAs as probes revealed the consistently higher genomic affinity of SCSs in diploid hybrid B6B7 and allopolyploids AAB7B7 and B6B6B7B7 to genomic DNA of the B7 diploid cytotype. GISH results suggest a possible early origin of SCSs, especially that on chromosome 1, as by-products of the extensive genome restructuring within a putative ancestral P. autumnale B7 genome, predating the complex diversification at the diploid level and perhaps linked to B-chromosome evolution.
Health-Related Quality of Life among People Applying for Housing Adaptations: Associated Factors
Authors: Boström Lovisa , Chiatti Carlos , Thordardottir Björg , Ekstam Lisa , Malmgren Fänge Agneta
Published: September 2018

Housing adaptations (HA) clients are a heterogeneous group of people with disabilities experiencing restricted performance and participation in everyday life. While health-related quality of life is a common and relevant outcome in health care research, associated factors among HA clients are largely unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate which factors are associated with health-related quality of life among HA clients in Sweden. The study has a cross-sectional design, using baseline data collected among 224 participants in three municipalities in Sweden. The main outcome was health-related quality of life measured by the EQ-5D. Factors investigated as potentially associated were age, sex, living conditions, cognitive impairment, usability of the home, activities of daily living (ADL) dependence, participation, and fear of falling. The associations were explored using multiple linear regression analysis. Younger age and higher dependence in ADL were associated with lower scores on the EQ-5D. The social aspect of usability in the home had a positive association with the EQ VAS. Results suggest that certain groups of HA clients might be at risk for low health-related quality of life. Knowledge of their characteristics can potentially improve development and implementation of tailored interventions aiming at increasing their health-related quality of life.
Health and Well-Being of Cisgender, Transgender and Non-Binary Young People
Authors: Aparicio-García Marta Evelia , Díaz-Ramiro Eva María , Rubio-Valdehita Susana , López-Núñez María Inmaculada , García-Nieto Isidro
Published: September 2018

Young transgender and non-binary individuals (TNBI) are exposed to situations of discrimination and have a greater risk of violence. The purpose of this study is to analyze which protective, violence and health and well-being factors have more influence on TNBI compared to cisgender people. The sample comprised 856 youth between 14 and 25 years old. A survey including questions about sociodemographic information and protective, violence and health and well-being factors was designed ad hoc for this study. The results show the non-binary group received the least support from family and friends, higher risk of suffering cyberbullying, and many feel isolated and unhappy. TNBI have suffered more verbal attacks both inside and outside their school and physical attacks at school than cisgender young. These results are important because they may contribute to the promotion of public policies and clinical interventions that favor the integration of TNBI in our society.
Physiological Effects of Touching the Wood of Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) with the Soles of the Feet
Authors: Ikei Harumi , Song Chorong , Miyazaki Yoshifumi
Published: September 2018

We clarified the physiological effects of tactile stimulation of the soles of the feet with the wood of the Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) based on measurements of prefrontal cortex and autonomic nervous activities. Nineteen female university-attending students (age: 21.2 ± 0.3 years) were included. Oxy-hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentrations in the prefrontal cortex were determined by using near-infrared time-resolved spectroscopy. The high frequency (HF) indicating parasympathetic nervous activity and the ratio of low frequency (LF)/HF indicating sympathetic nervous activity were measured using heart rate variability. To evaluate the psychological effects caused by contact with the materials, the modified semantic differential method was used. The soles of the participants’ feet were touched to a 600 × 600-mm plate made of Hinoki, which was finished in non-coating and brushing for 90 s. A marble plate served as the control. Next, subjective evaluation tests were administered to the participants. Compared with touching marble, touching Hinoki significantly (1) decreased the oxy-Hb concentrations in the left and right prefrontal cortices, which indicates decreased prefrontal cortex activity, (2) increased ln(HF), which indicates increased parasympathetic nervous activity, (3) decreased ln(LF/HF) ratio, which indicates decreased sympathetic nervous activity. Additionally, (4) according to subjective evaluations, the participants perceived themselves as being more “comfortable,” “relaxed,” “natural,” “warm,” “uneven,” “dry,” and “soft” after touching Hinoki. Thus, our cumulative findings indicate that touching Hinoki with the soles of the feet induces physiological relaxation.
Immune Response Targeting Sjögren’s Syndrome Antigen Ro52 Suppresses Tear Production in Female Mice
Authors: Trzeciak Marta , Bagavant Harini , Papinska Joanna , Deshmukh Umesh S.
Published: September 2018

Autoantibodies reactive against Ro52 are present in 70% of Sjögren’s syndrome patients and are associated with higher disease severity. However, their role in causing aqueous deficient dry eye, a major cause for morbidity in Sjögren’s syndrome, is unclear. To investigate whether immune responses targeting Ro52 contribute towards the dry eye, male and female NZM2758 mice were immunized with recombinant Ro52. Tear production was measured by the phenol red thread test. Sera were analyzed for anti-Ro52 levels by immunoprecipitation. Lacrimal glands were evaluated for inflammatory foci and IgG deposits. Our results showed that, although all mice generated anti-Ro52 antibodies, only females developed a significant drop in tear production. None of the mice developed severe lacrimal gland inflammation, and female mice with anti-Ro52 showed higher levels of IgG deposits within their glands. Passive transfer of anti-Ro52 sera caused reduced tear production in female mice, but not in males. This study demonstrates for the first time that immune responses initiated by Ro52 induce aqueous dry eye, and this may be driven by anti-Ro52 antibodies. Furthermore, the sexual dimorphism in glandular dysfunction suggests that the lacrimal glands in females are more susceptible to autoantibody-mediated injury.
Differentially Expressed Genes Associated with the Cabbage Yellow-Green-Leaf Mutant in the ygl-1 Mapping Interval with Recombination Suppression
Authors: Liu Xiaoping , Yu Hailong , Han Fengqing , Li Zhiyuan , Fang Zhiyuan , Yang Limei , Zhuang Mu , Lv Honghao , Liu Yumei , Li Zhansheng , Li Xing , Zhang Yangyong
Published: September 2018

Although the genetics and preliminary mapping of the cabbage yellow-green-leaf mutant YL-1 has been extensively studied, transcriptome profiling associated with the yellow-green-leaf mutant of YL-1 has not been discovered. Positional mapping with two populations showed that the yellow-green-leaf gene ygl-1 is located in a recombination-suppressed genomic region. Then, a bulk segregant RNA-seq (BSR) was applied to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using an F3 population (YL-1 × 11-192) and a BC2 population (YL-1 × 01-20). Among the 37,286 unique genes, 5730 and 4118 DEGs were detected between the yellow-leaf and normal-leaf pools from the F3 and BC2 populations. BSR analysis with four pools greatly reduced the number of common DEGs from 4924 to 1112. In the ygl-1 gene mapping region with suppressed recombination, 43 common DEGs were identified. Five of the DEGs were related to chloroplasts, including the down-regulated Bo1g087310, Bo1g094360, and Bo1g098630 and the up-regulated Bo1g059170 and Bo1g098440. The Bo1g098440 and Bo1g098630 genes were excluded by qRT-PCR. Hence, we inferred that these three DEGs (Bo1g094360, Bo1g087310, and Bo1g059170) in the mapping interval may be tightly associated with the development of the yellow-green-leaf mutant phenotype.
Chemical Exposure-Induced Changes in the Expression of Neurotrophins and Their Receptors in the Main Olfactory System of Mice Lacking TRPM5-Expressing Microvillous Cells
Authors: AlMatrouk Abdullah , Lemons Kayla , Ogura Tatsuya , Luo Wangmei , Wilson Chantel , Lin Weihong
Published: September 2018

Functional maintenance of the mammalian main olfactory epithelium (MOE) is challenging because of its direct exposure to a wide spectrum of environmental chemicals. We previously reported that transient receptor potential channel M5-expressing microvillous cells (TRPM5-MCs) in the MOE play an important role in olfactory maintenance. To investigate the underpinning mechanisms, we exposed transcription factor Skn-1a knockout (Skn-1a−/−) mice lacking TRPM5-MCs, and TRPM5-GFP mice to either vehicle (water) or a mixture of odorous chemicals and chitin for two weeks and analyzed the expression of olfactory signaling proteins using immunolabeling and neurotrophin (NT) and NT receptor (NTR) gene transcripts using real-time quantitative PCR. The chemical exposure did not significantly attenuate the immunolabeling of olfactory signaling proteins. Vehicle-exposed Skn-1a−/− and TRPM5-GFP mice expressed similar levels of NT and NTR gene transcripts in the MOE and olfactory bulb. Chemical exposure significantly increased MOE expression of p75NTR in Skn-1a−/− mice, while p75NTR expression was reduced in TRPM5-GFP mice, as compared to vehicle-exposed mice. Additionally, our RNA in situ hybridization analysis and immunolabeling confirmed MOE expression of most NTs and NTRs. Together, these results indicate that TRPM5-MCs and chemical exposure influence expression of some NTs and NTRs in the MOE and olfactory bulb (OB).
Nrf1D Is the First Candidate Secretory Transcription Factor in the Blood Plasma, Its Precursor Existing as a Unique Redox-Sensitive Transmembrane CNC-bZIP Protein in Hemopoietic and Somatic Tissues
Authors: Yuan Jianxin , Wang Hongxia , Xiang Yuancai , Hu Shaofan , Li Shaojun , Wang Meng , Qiu Lu , Zhang Yiguo
Published: September 2018

Among multiple distinct isoforms, Nrf1D is synthesized from a de novo translation of an alternatively-spliced transcript of Nrf1 mRNA, as accompanied by a naturally-occurring deletion of its stop codon-flanking 1466 nucleotides. This molecular event leads to the generation of a reading frameshift mutation, which results in a constitutive substitution of the intact Nrf1’s C-terminal 72 amino acids (aa, covering the second half of the leucine zipper motif to C-terminal Neh3L domain) by an additional extended 80-aa stretch to generate a unique variant Nrf1D. The C-terminal extra 80-aa region of Nrf1D was herein identified to be folded into a redox-sensitive transmembrane domain, enabling it to be tightly integrated within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes. Notably, the salient feature of Nrf1D enables it to be distinguishable from prototypic Nrf1, such that Nrf1D is endowed with a lesser ability than wild-type Nrf1 to mediate target gene expression. Further evidence has also been presented revealing that both mRNA and protein levels of Nrf1D, together with other isoforms similar to those of Nrf1, were detected to varying extents in hemopoietic and somatic tissues. Surprisingly, we found the existence of Nrf1D-derived isoforms in blood plasma, implying that it is a candidate secretory transcription factor, albeit its precursor acts as an integral transmembrane-bound CNC-bZIP protein that entails dynamic topologies across membranes, before being unleashed from the ER to enter the blood.
Histone Deacetylases Enhance Ca2+-Activated K+ Channel KCa3.1 Expression in Murine Inflammatory CD4+ T Cells
Authors: Matsui Miki , Terasawa Kyoko , Kajikuri Junko , Kito Hiroaki , Endo Kyoko , Jaikhan Pattaporn , Suzuki Takayoshi , Ohya Susumu
Published: September 2018

The up-regulated expression of the Ca2+-activated K+ channel KCa3.1 in inflammatory CD4+ T cells has been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) through the enhanced production of inflammatory cytokines, such as interferon-γ (IFN-γ). However, the underlying mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. The objective of the present study is to clarify the involvement of histone deacetylases (HDACs) in the up-regulation of KCa3.1 in the CD4+ T cells of IBD model mice. The expression levels of KCa3.1 and its regulators, such as function-modifying molecules and transcription factors, were quantitated using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, Western blotting, and depolarization responses, which were induced by the selective KCa3.1 blocker TRAM-34 (1 μM) and were measured using a voltage-sensitive fluorescent dye imaging system. The treatment with 1 μM vorinostat, a pan-HDAC inhibitor, for 24 h repressed the transcriptional expression of KCa3.1 in the splenic CD4+ T cells of IBD model mice. Accordingly, TRAM-34-induced depolarization responses were significantly reduced. HDAC2 and HDAC3 were significantly up-regulated in the CD4+ T cells of IBD model mice. The down-regulated expression of KCa3.1 was observed following treatments with the selective inhibitors of HDAC2 and HDAC3. The KCa3.1 K+ channel regulates inflammatory cytokine production in CD4+ T cells, mediating epigenetic modifications by HDAC2 and HDAC3.
Relevance of MicroRNAs as Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Hibner Grzegorz , Kimsa-Furdzik Małgorzata , Francuz Tomasz
Published: September 2018

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is currently the third and the second most common cancer in men and in women, respectively. Every year, more than one million new CRC cases and more than half a million deaths are reported worldwide. The majority of new cases occur in developed countries. Current screening methods have significant limitations. Therefore, a lot of scientific effort is put into the development of new diagnostic biomarkers of CRC. Currently used prognostic markers are also limited in assessing the effectiveness of CRC therapy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a promising subject of research especially since single miRNA can recognize a variety of different mRNA transcripts. MiRNAs have important roles in epigenetic regulation of basic cellular processes, such as proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and migration, and may serve as potential oncogenes or tumor suppressors during cancer development. Indeed, in a large variety of human tumors, including CRC, significant distortions in miRNA expression profiles have been observed. Thus, the use of miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in cancer, particularly in CRC, appears to be an inevitable consequence of the advancement in oncology and gastroenterology. Here, we review the literature to discuss the potential usefulness of selected miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in CRC.
Metabolomic Alterations in Thyrospheres and Adherent Parental Cells in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Cell Lines: A Pilot Study
Authors: Caria Paola , Tronci Laura , Dettori Tinuccia , Murgia Federica , Santoru Maria Laura , Griffin Julian L. , Vanni Roberta , Atzori Luigi
Published: September 2018

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), is characterized by a heterogeneous group of cells, including cancer stem cells (CSCs), crucially involved in tumor initiation, progression and recurrence. CSCs appear to have a distinct metabolic phenotype, compared to non-stem cancer cells. How they adapt their metabolism to the cancer process is still unclear, and no data are yet available for PTC. We recently isolated thyrospheres, containing cancer stem-like cells, from B-CPAP and TPC-1 cell lines derived from PTC of the BRAF-like expression profile class, and stem-like cells from Nthy-ori3-1 normal thyreocyte-derived cell line. In the present study, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry metabolomic profiles of cancer thyrospheres were compared to cancer parental adherent cells and to non cancer thyrospheres profiles. A statistically significant decrease of glycolytic pathway metabolites and variations in Krebs cycle metabolites was found in thyrospheres versus parental cells. Moreover, cancer stem-like cells showed statistically significant differences in Krebs cycle intermediates, amino acids, cholesterol, and fatty acids content, compared to non-cancer stem-like cells. For the first time, data are reported on the metabolic profile of PTC cancer stem-like cells and confirm that changes in metabolic pathways can be explored as new biomarkers and targets for therapy in this tumor.
Antibacterial Activity and Mechanism of Action of Bovine Lactoferricin Derivatives with Symmetrical Amino Acid Sequences
Authors: Sun Changbao , Li Yingying , Cao Songsong , Wang Haimei , Jiang Chenggang , Pang Shiyue , Hussain Muhammad Altaf , Hou Juncai
Published: September 2018

In recent years, the overuse of antibiotics has become very serious. Many pathogenic bacteria have become resistant to them, with serious potential health consequences. Thus, it is urgent that we develop new antibiotic drugs. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are important endogenous antibacterial molecules that contribute to immunity. Most have spectral antibacterial properties and do not confer drug resistance. In this paper, an 11-residue peptide (LFcinB18–28) with a sequence of KCRRWQWRMKK was modified by amino acid substitution to form a symmetrical amino acid sequence. The antibacterial activities and mechanisms of action of engineered peptides including KW-WK (KWRRWQWRRWK), FP-PF (FPRRWQWRRPF), FW-WF (FWRRWQWRRWF), and KK-KK (KKRRWQWRRKK) were investigated. The four engineered peptides could more effectively inhibit bacteria than the original peptide, LFcinB18–28. This suggested that a symmetrical amino acid sequence might enhance the antibacterial activity of AMPs. However, only peptides KW-WK, FP-PF, and KK-KK were safe; FW-WF displayed hemolytic activity. The engineered peptides shared cationic and amphipathic characteristics that facilitated interactions with the anionic microbial membranes, leading to disruption of membrane integrity and permeabilizing microbial membranes, resulting in cell death. Therefore, a symmetrical amino acid sequence and related structural parameters offer an alternative approach to the design of AMPs. This will provide a scientific basis for the design and synthesis of new AMPs.
Quantitative Proteomics Analysis of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) Reveals Molecular Basis-Associated Auxin and Photosynthesis with Bolting Induced by High Temperature
Authors: Hao Jing-Hong , Zhang Li-Li , Li Pan-Pan , Sun Yan-Chuan , Li Jian-Ke , Qin Xiao-Xiao , Wang Lu , Qi Zheng-Yang , Xiao Shuang , Han Ying-Yan , Liu Chao-Jie , Fan Shuang-Xi
Published: September 2018

Bolting is a key process in the growth and development of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). A high temperature can induce early bolting, which decreases both the quality and production of lettuce. However, knowledge of underlying lettuce bolting is still lacking. To better understand the molecular basis of bolting, a comparative proteomics analysis was conducted on lettuce stems, during the bolting period induced by a high temperature (33 °C) and a control temperature (20 °C) using iTRAQ-based proteomics, phenotypic measures, and biological verifications using qRT-PCR and Western blot. The high temperature induced lettuce bolting, while the control temperature did not. Of the 5454 identified proteins, 619 proteins presented differential abundance induced by high-temperature relative to the control group, of which 345 had an increased abundance and 274 had a decreased abundance. Proteins with an abundance level change were mainly enriched in pathways associated with photosynthesis and tryptophan metabolism involved in auxin (IAA) biosynthesis. Moreover, among the proteins with differential abundance, proteins associated with photosynthesis and tryptophan metabolism were increased. These findings indicate that a high temperature enhances the function of photosynthesis and IAA biosynthesis to promote the process of bolting, which is in line with the physiology and transcription level of IAA metabolism. Our data provide a first comprehensive dataset for gaining novel understanding of the molecular basis underlying lettuce bolting induced by high temperature. It is potentially important for further functional analysis and genetic manipulation for molecular breeding to breed new cultivars of lettuce to restrain early bolting, which is vital for improving vegetable quality.
The Main Determinants of Diabetes Mellitus Vascular Complications: Endothelial Dysfunction and Platelet Hyperaggregation
Authors: Carrizzo Albino , Izzo Carmine , Oliveti Marco , Alfano Antonia , Virtuoso Nicola , Capunzo Mario , Di Pietro Paola , Calabrese Mariaconsiglia , De Simone Eros , Sciarretta Sebastiano , Frati Giacomo , Migliarino Serena , Damato Antonio , Ambrosio Mariateresa , De Caro Francesco , Vecchione Carmine
Published: September 2018

Diabetes mellitus is a common disease that affects 3–5% of the general population in Italy. In some countries of northern Europe or in North America, it can even affect 6–8% of the population. Of great concern is that the number of cases of diabetes is constantly increasing, probably due to the increase in obesity and the sedentary nature of the population. According to the World Health Organization, in the year 2030 there will be 360 million people with diabetes, compared to 170 million in 2000. This has important repercussions on the lives of patients and their families, and on health systems that offer assistance to patients. In this review, we try to describe in an organized way the pathophysiological continuity between diabetes mellitus, endothelial dysfunction, and platelet hyperaggregation, highlighting the main molecular mechanisms involved and the interconnections.
Inhibitory Effects of Intranasal Administration of Insulin on Fat Oxidation during Exercise Are Diminished in Young Overweight Individuals
Authors: Yokoyama Hisayo , Takeda Ryosuke , Kawai Eriko , Ota Akemi , Morita Emiko , Imai Daiki , Suzuki Yuta , Morioka Tomoaki , Emoto Masanori , Inaba Masaaki , Okazaki Kazunobu
Published: September 2018

It remains unknown whether the high insulin (INS) levels in the brain affect fat oxidation during exercise. We examined the effects of the intranasal administration of INS, which increases the INS concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid when peripheral effects are lacking, on the maximum fat oxidation rate (maxFOR) and its intensity (FATmax) during exercise in 15 young normal-weight (N group) and eight young overweight (O group) individuals. On two separate days, either INS or placebo (PL) was randomly administered intranasally before a graded exercise test. Indirect calorimetry was used to assess maxFOR and FATmax during exercise. Blood INS and glucose levels did not change after INS administration. In the N group, maxFOR and FATmax were significantly smaller in the INS trial than in the PL trial. MaxFOR was significantly smaller in the O group than in the N group and was not influenced by INS administration. Exercise-induced elevation in blood epinephrine levels tended to be reduced by INS administration only in the N group. Intranasal INS administration reduces fat oxidation during exercise without any peripheral effects, possibly by suppressing sympathetic nerve activity. This inhibitory effect is diminished in overweight subjects, suggesting that cerebral insulin effects are attenuated in this population.
Tensile Behavior of Sintered Stainless Steel Fiber Felts: Effect of Sintering Joints and Fiber Ligaments
Authors: Ma Jun , Zhang Qiancheng , Song Weidong , Wang Jianzhong , Tang Huiping , Jin Feng
Published: September 2018

To optimize the tensile properties of sintered 316L stainless steel fiber felts (SSFFs) which is important for their practical applications, the influence of sintering conditions on the microstructure (fiber ligament, sintering joint) and in turn, the tensile properties was investigated experimentally. It was shown that the tensile strength and tensile elongation of SSFFs were dominated by the tensile properties of the fiber ligaments and the bonding strength of the sintering joints. With the increase of sintering temperature versus holding time, the tensile strength of the fiber ligaments dropped significantly, while the sintering joints grew, producing a higher bonding strength between the fibers, resulting in more fibers being involved in the tensile process. These changes in sintering joints and fiber ligaments finally led to a relatively static ultimate strength of SSFFs with a significantly increased elongation, thus with a large increase in tensile fracture energy. The increase of size of the sintering joints also helped to considerably raise the tensile fatigue limit of 316L SSFFs. This research provides a basis to improve the mechanical properties of sintered 316L SSFFs in industrial production.
The Role of Glide during Creep of Copper at Low Temperatures
Authors: Hosseinzadeh Delandar Arash , Sandström Rolf , Korzhavyi Pavel
Published: September 2018

Copper canister will be used in Scandinavia for final storage of spent nuclear fuel. The copper will be exposed to temperatures of up to 100 °C. The creep mechanism at near ambient temperatures has been assumed to be glide of dislocations, but this has never been verified for copper or other materials. In particular, no feasible mechanism for glide based static recovery has been proposed. To attack this classical problem, a glide mobility based on the assumption that it is controlled by the climb of the jogs on the dislocations is derived and shown that it is in agreement with observations. With dislocation dynamics (DD) simulations taking glide but not climb into account, it is demonstrated that creep based on glide alone can reach a quasi-stationary condition. This verifies that static recovery can occur just by glide. The DD simulations also show that the internal stress during creep in the loading direction is almost identical to the applied stress also directly after a load drop, which resolves further classical issues.
Identification of Surface Processes in Individual Minerals of a Complex Ore through the Analysis of Polished Sections Using Polarization Microscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS)
Authors: Silva-Quiñones Dhamelyz , He Chuan , Jacome-Collazos Melissa , Benndorf Carsten , Teplyakov Andrew V. , Rodriguez-Reyes Juan Carlos F.
Published: September 2018

Understanding the changes of a mineral during ore processing is of capital importance for the development of strategies aimed at increasing the efficiency of metal extraction. This task is often difficult due to the variability of the ore in terms of composition, mineralogy and texture. In particular, surface processes such as metal re-adsorption (preg-robbing) on specific minerals are difficult to evaluate, even though they may be of importance as the re-adsorbed material can be blocking the valuable mineral and negatively affect the extraction process. Here, we show a simple yet powerful approach, through which surface processes in individual minerals are identified by combining polarization microscopy (MP) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Taking as an example a silver-containing polymetallic sulfide ore from the Peruvian central Andes (pyrite-based with small amounts of galena), we track the changes in the sample during the course of cyanidation. While polarization microscopy is instrumental for identifying mineralogical species, XPS provides evidence of the re-adsorption of lead on a pyrite surface, possibly as lead oxide/hydroxide. The surface of pyrite does not show significant changes after the leaching process according to the microscopic results, although forms of oxidized iron are detected together with the re-adsorption of lead by XPS. Galena, embedded in pyrite, dissolves during cyanide leaching, as evidenced by PM and by the decrease of XPS signals at the positions associated with sulfide and sulfate. At the same time, the rise of a lead peak at a different position confirms that the re-adsorbed lead species cannot be sulfides or sulfates. Interestingly, lead is not detected on covellite surfaces during leaching, which shows that lead re-adsorption is a process that depends on the nature of the mineral. The methodology shown here is a tool of significant importance for understanding complex surface processes affecting various minerals during metal extraction.
Effect of Red Wine Intake on Serum and Salivary Melatonin Levels: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Varoni Elena M. , Paroni Rita , Antognetti Jacopo , Lodi Giovanni , Sardella Andrea , Carrassi Antonio , Iriti Marcello
Published: September 2018

Melatonin (MLT) is a recently discovered phytochemical in wine, but its influence on physiological MLT levels is still unknown. This study aimed at evaluating variations, in serum and saliva, of MLT concentrations after the intake of MLT-enriched red wine. Twelve healthy volunteers were recruited to receive 125 mL of red wine naturally lacking of MLT (placebo, PLC), or the same wine enriched with MLT (MLT+). A physiological steady decline of serum MLT was observed from baseline up to 90 min, for both wines. After PLC intake, the decrease was significantly faster than the one occurring after MLT+ wine, which thus delayed the drop down of serum MLT with a plateau at 30–60 min. Salivary MLT levels slightly peaked at 45 min after MLT+ wine intake, without statistical significance. Therefore, the intake of a glass of MLT-enriched red wine changed serum levels of the indoleamine, supporting the role of wine MLT in counteracting the physiological decline of the hormone into the bloodstream.
Antiviral Mechanism of Action of Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate and Its Fatty Acid Esters
Authors: Kaihatsu Kunihiro , Yamabe Miyuki , Ebara Yasuhito
Published: September 2018

Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) is the major catechin component of green tea (Cameria sinensis), and is known to possess antiviral activities against a wide range of DNA viruses and RNA viruses. However, few studies have examined chemical modifications of EGCG in terms of enhanced antiviral efficacy. This paper discusses which steps of virus infection EGCG interferes with, citing previous reports. EGCG appears most likely to inhibits the early stage of infections, such as attachment, entry, and membrane fusion, by interfering with viral membrane proteins. According to the relationships between structure and antiviral activity of catechin derivatives, the 3-galloyl and 5′-OH group of catechin derivatives appear critical to antiviral activities. Enhancing the binding affinity of EGCG to virus particles would thus be important to increase virucidal activity. We propose a newly developed EGCG-fatty acid derivative in which the fatty acid on the phenolic hydroxyl group would be expected to increase viral and cellular membrane permeability. EGCG-fatty acid monoesters showed improved antiviral activities against different types of viruses, probably due to their increased affinity for virus and cellular membranes. Our study promotes the application of EGCG-fatty acid derivatives for the prevention and treatment of viral infections.
Glycosylation of 3-Hydroxyflavone, 3-Methoxyflavone, Quercetin and Baicalein in Fungal Cultures of the Genus Isaria
Authors: Dymarska Monika , Janeczko Tomasz , Kostrzewa-Susłow Edyta
Published: September 2018

Flavonoids are plant secondary metabolites with a broad spectrum of biological activities. In nature, they occur mainly in the form of glycosides, but their extraction is often difficult and expensive, as is chemical synthesis. We have shown that biotransformations are an excellent method for obtaining flavonoid glycosides. We are the first team to describe the use of Isaria microorganisms in biotransformations of flavonoid compounds. In the present study as biocatalysts, we used one strain of Isaria fumosorosea KCH J2 isolated from a spider carcass in green areas of Wroclaw and two strains of I. farinosa (J1.4 and J1.6) isolated from insects found in already unused mines in Lower Silesia. The substrates were 3-hydroxyflavone, 3-methoxyflavone, quercetin (3,3′,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone), and baicalein (5,6,7-trihydroxyflavone). For all the substrates that were used in this study, we obtained 4-O-methylglucopyranosides. In the case of substrates with a hydroxyl group in the third position, O-β-d-glucopyranosides were also formed. Isoquercetin that was obtained by biotransformation was used as a substrate to check the kinetics of the formation of flavonoid 4-O-methylglucopyranosides in I. fumosorosea KCH J2 culture. We did not observe the attachment of the methyl group to glucose unit in isoquercetin. Our finding suggest that the attachment of 4-O-methylglucopyranose occurs in one step.
Chemical Composition of Essential Oil of Leaves from Lippia schaueriana Mart. Collected in the Caatinga Area
Authors: De Souza Ana , Dos Santos Uiliane , De Sá Carvalho Jackson , Barbosa Bruno , Canuto Kirley , Rodrigues Tigressa
Published: September 2018

Lippia schaueriana Mart. (Verbenaceae) is an endemic species of Caatinga with a restricted distribution to the states of Bahia and Pernambuco, which presents itself as a potential source of raw material for extraction of essential oil and exploitation by the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Considering that there are no reports in the literature of research carried out with this species, this paper aimed to establish—for the first time—the chemical composition of its essential oil. The essential oil of the dry leaves at room temperature was obtained by hydrodistillation after 3 h of extraction and the phytochemical analyzes were done by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The main compounds found in the oil of leaves were piperitone oxide (51.25%), caryophyllene (17.76%), limonene (8.06%), spathulenol (6.63%), and piperitone (2.90%). The piperitone oxide is a compound described in the literature that shows antinociceptive, cardiovascular, analgesic, and relaxing activities, as well as fungicidal and insecticidal effect, which gives it an interesting potential for the alternative control of agricultural pests.
Evaluation of Highly Detectable Pesticides Sprayed in Brassica napus L.: Degradation Behavior and Risk Assessment for Honeybees
Authors: Tong Zhou , Duan Jinsheng , Wu Yancan , Liu Qiongqiong , He Qibao , Shi Yanhong , Yu Linsheng , Cao Haiqun
Published: September 2018

Honeybees are major pollinators of agricultural crops and many other plants in natural ecosystems alike. In recent years, managed honeybee colonies have decreased rapidly. The application of pesticides is hypothesized to be an important route leading to colony loss. Herein, a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method was used to determine eight highly detectable pesticides (carbendazim, prochloraz, pyrimethanil, fenpropathrin, chlorpyrifos, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and acetamiprid) in rape flowers. A field experiment was conducted at the recommended dose to evaluate the contact exposure risk posed to honeybees for 0–14 days after treatment. The initial residue deposits of neonicotinoids and fungicides among these compounds were 0.4–1.3 mg/kg and 11.7–32.3 mg/kg, respectively, and 6.4 mg/kg for fenpropathrin and 4.2 mg/kg for chlorpyrifos. The risk was quantified using the flower hazard quotient (FHQ) value. According to the data, we considered imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, chlorpyrifos, fenpropathrin, and prochloraz to pose an unacceptable risk to honeybees after spraying in fields, while fungicides (carbendazim and pyrimethanil) and acetamiprid posed moderate or acceptable risks to honeybees. Therefore, acetamiprid can be used instead of imidacloprid and thiamethoxam to protect rape from some insects in agriculture, and the application of prochloraz should be reduced.
In Situ Synthesis of a Silver-Containing Superabsorbent Polymer via a Greener Method Based on Carboxymethyl Celluloses
Authors: Shen Jie , Cui Chang , Li Jian , Wang Lijuan
Published: September 2018

An antibacterial superabsorbent polymer (SAP) was synthesized by grafting acrylic acid (AA) onto carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and mixing with silver particles, with N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide used as a crosslinker and potassium persulfate as an initiator. Silver nanoparticles were produced through the reaction between glucose and silver nitrate. The effects of the amount of silver nitrate added in the polymer on the swelling ratio were investigated and the maximum swelling ratio of the SAP loaded with silver particles in distilled water and in a 0.9 wt % NaCl solution reached 840 g/g and 71 g/g, respectively, when the silver nitrate added was 50 mg. The SAP was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Through these analysis methods, it could be seen that the acrylic acid was successfully grafted onto CMC, forming a three-dimensional network structure, with the successful production of silver nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 5 nm to 50 nm. Moreover, the antibacterial properties of the SAP loaded with silver nanoparticles against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were investigated and the results show that they became more effective with increasing silver nitrate concentration. The obtained SAP can be useful in developing new antibacterial medical and public health supplies.
Efficient Computation of Free Energy Surfaces of Diels–Alder Reactions in Explicit Solvent at Ab Initio QM/MM Level
Authors: Li Pengfei , Liu Fengjiao , Jia Xiangyu , Shao Yihan , Hu Wenxin , Zheng Jun , Mei Ye
Published: September 2018

For Diels–Alder (DA) reactions in solution, an accurate and converged free energy (FE) surface at ab initio (ai) quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) level is imperative for the understanding of reaction mechanism. However, this computation is still far too expensive. In a previous work, we proposed a new method termed MBAR+wTP, with which the computation of the ai FE profile can be accelerated by several orders of magnitude via a three-step procedure: (I) an umbrella sampling (US) using a semi-empirical (SE) QM/MM Hamiltonian is performed; (II) the FE profile is generated using the Multistate Bennett Acceptance Ratio (MBAR) analysis; and (III) a weighted Thermodynamic Perturbation (wTP) from the SE Hamiltonian to the ai Hamiltonian is performed to obtain the ai QM/MM FE profile using weight factors from the MBAR analysis. In this work, this method is extended to the calculations of two-dimensional FE surfaces of two Diels–Alder reactions of cyclopentadiene with either acrylonitrile or 1-4-naphthoquinone at ai QM/MM level. The accurate activation free energies at the ai QM/MM level, which are much closer to the experimental measurements than those calculated by other methods, indicate that this MBAR+wTP method can be applied in the studies of complex reactions in condensed phase with much-enhanced efficiency.
Induction of Trained Innate Immunity in Human Monocytes by Bovine Milk and Milk-Derived Immunoglobulin G
Authors: Van Splunter Marloes , Van Osch Thijs L. J. , Brugman Sylvia , Savelkoul Huub F. J. , Joosten Leo A. B. , Netea Mihai G. , Van Neerven R. J. Joost
Published: September 2018

Innate immune memory, also termed “trained immunity” in vertebrates, has been recently described in a large variety of plants and animals. In most cases, trained innate immunity is induced by pathogens or pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), and is associated with long-term epigenetic, metabolic, and functional reprogramming. Interestingly, recent findings indicate that food components can mimic PAMPs effects and induce trained immunity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether bovine milk or its components can induce trained immunity in human monocytes. To this aim, monocytes were exposed for 24 h to β-glucan, Toll-like receptor (TLR)-ligands, bovine milk, milk fractions, bovine lactoferrin (bLF), and bovine Immunoglobulin G (bIgG). After washing away the stimulus and a resting period of five days, the cells were re-stimulated with TLR ligands and Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-) and interleukin (IL)-6 production was measured. Training with β-glucan resulted in higher cytokine production after TLR1/2, TLR4, and TLR7/8 stimulation. When monocytes trained with raw milk were re-stimulated with TLR1/2 ligand Pam3CSK4, trained cells produced more IL-6 compared to non-trained cells. Training with bIgG resulted in higher cytokine production after TLR4 and TLR7/8 stimulation. These results show that bovine milk and bIgG can induce trained immunity in human monocytes. This confirms the hypothesis that diet components can influence the long-term responsiveness of the innate immune system.
Coupled Chiral Optical Tamm States in Cholesteric Liquid Crystals
Authors: Pyatnov Maxim V. , Timofeev Ivan V. , Vetrov Stepan Ya. , Rudakova Natalya V.
Published: September 2018

The modes formed by two coupled chiral optical Tamm states localized at the interfaces between a photonic cholesteric liquid crystal conjugated with polarization-preserving anisotropic mirrors have been analytically and numerically investigated. These modes are only excited at the diffracting polarization of incident light. As the cholesteric layer thickness decreases, the spectral splitting of the localized state frequency is predicted. The splitting value depends on the crystal layer thickness. At the nondiffracting circular polarization, the localized modes are not excited, and the system becomes similar to the Fabry–Pérot cavity containing an anisotropic helical structure.
AZO/PEDOT:PSS Polymer Frontal Interface Deposited on Flexible Substrates for a-Si:H Photovoltaic Applications
Authors: Mansurova Svetlana , Cosme Ismael , Kosarev Andrey , J. Olivares Antonio , Ospina Carlos , E. Martinez Hiram
Published: September 2018

Thin-film hybrid organic-inorganic photovoltaic structures based on hydrogenated silicon (Si:H), poly(3,4ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) polymer Al-doped ZnO (AZO) films deposited on different types of flexible substrates have been fabricated and investigated. The compatibility of the polymer and inorganic materials regimes and deposition techniques used for device fabrication has been demonstrated on flexible substrates. Morphological characteristics of transparent Al-doped ZnO (AZO) films deposited on substrates have been measured by atomic force microscopy. Electronic characteristics of the fabricated photovoltaic structures have been measured and analyzed for different thicknesses of the transparent electrodes and different substrate types. Photovoltaic hybrid structure on polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) substrate showed the best characteristics: short circuit current density Jsc = 9.79 mA/cm2, open circuit voltage Uoc = 565 mV, and PCE η = 1.3%. To analyze the mechanisms governing the device performance, short circuit current density spectral dependence of the devices fabricated on different types of flexible substrates has been measured. As demonstrated by our analysis, the structures on PEN substrates, besides better substrate transmittance, also show better junction properties.