bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparable Vδ2 Cell Functional Characteristics in Virally Suppressed People Living with HIV and Uninfected Individuals
Authors: Clohosey Matthew L. , Mann Brendan T. , Ryan Paul L. , Apanasovich Tatiyana V. , Maggirwar Sanjay B. , Pennington Daniel J. , Soriano-Sarabia Natalia
Published: December 2020

Crosstalk between innate and adaptive pathways is a critical component to developing an effective, lasting immune response. Among natural effector cells, innate-like γδ T cells promote immunity by facilitating communication between the two compartments and exerting cytotoxic effector functions. Dysregulation of γδ T cell populations is a byproduct of primary Humanimmunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This is most pronounced in the depletion and loss of function within cells expressing a Vγ9Vδ2 TCR (Vδ2 cells). Whether or not prolonged viral suppression mediated by antiretroviral therapy (ART) can reverse these effects has yet to be determined. In this study, we present evidence of similar Vδ2 cell functional responses within a cohort of people living with HIV (PLWH) that has been stably suppressed for >1 year and uninfected donors. Through the use of aminobisphosphonate drugs, we were able to generate a comprehensive comparison between ex vivo and expanded Vδ2 cells within each group. Both groups had largely similar compositions of memory and effector phenotypes, post-expansion TCR repertoire diversity, and cytotoxic capabilities. Our findings support the notion that ART promotes the recovery of Vδ2 polyfunctionality and provides insight for strategies aiming to reconstitute the full immune response after infection with HIV.
Processing and Optical Properties of Eu-Doped Chloroborate Glass-Ceramic
Authors: Secu Mihail , Secu Corina Elisabeta
Published: December 2020

An europium doped BaO–B2O3–BaCl2 chloroborate glass-ceramic containing a BaCl2 nanocrystalline phase was produced by melt-quenching followed by glass crystallization during annealing. Structural and morphological investigations using x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy have shown fvBaCl2 nanocrystals of about tens of nm size accompanied by a smaller amount of the BaB2O4 crystalline phase. Photoluminescence spectra have indicated the reduction of Eu3+ to Eu2+ during processing in air or a reducing atmosphere. The spectra analysis showed the presence of Eu3+ ions in the borate glass matrix, while the Eu2+ were incorporated in both the BaCl2 nanocrystals and glass matrix. Thermoluminescence properties were due to the recombination of F(Cl) centers and Eu2+ related hole centers produced by irradiation within the BaCl2 nanocrystals. The color impression of the samples and the photoluminescence quantum efficiency were influenced by the glass processing.
Changes to the Oligosaccharide Profile of Bovine Milk at the Onset of Lactation
Authors: Quinn Erinn M. , O’Callaghan Tom F. , Tobin John T. , Murphy John Paul , Sugrue Katie , Slattery Helen , O’Donovan Michael , Hickey Rita M.
Published: December 2020

Numerous bioactive components exist in human milk including free oligosaccharides, which represent some of the most important, and provide numerous health benefits to the neonate. Considering the demonstrated value of these compounds, much interest lies in characterising structurally similar oligosaccharides in the dairy industry. In this study, the impacts of days post-parturition and parity of the cows on the oligosaccharide and lactose profiles of their milk were evaluated. Colostrum and milk samples were obtained from 18 cows 1–5 days after parturition. Three distinct phases were identified using multivariate analysis: colostrum (day 0), transitional milk (days 1–2) and mature milk (days 3–5). LS-tetrasaccharide c, lacto-N-neotetraose, disialyllacto-N-tetraose, 3’-sial-N-acetyllactosamine, 3’-sialyllactose, lacto-N-neohexaose and disialyllactose were found to be highly affiliated with colostrum. Notably, levels of lactose were at their lowest concentration in the colostrum and substantially increased 1-day post-parturition. The cow’s parity was also shown to have a significant effect on the oligosaccharide profile, with first lactation cows containing more disialyllacto-N-tetraose, 6’-sialyllactose and LS-tetrasaccharide compared to cows in their second or third parity. Overall, this study identifies key changes in oligosaccharide and lactose content that clearly distinguish colostrum from transitional and mature milk and may facilitate the collection of specific streams with divergent biological functions.
An Improved Composite Multiscale Fuzzy Entropy for Feature Extraction of MI-EEG
Authors: Li Mingai , Wang Ruotu , Xu Dongqin
Published: December 2020

Motor Imagery Electroencephalography (MI-EEG) has shown good prospects in neurorehabilitation, and the entropy-based nonlinear dynamic methods have been successfully applied to feature extraction of MI-EEG. Especially based on Multiscale Fuzzy Entropy (MFE), the fuzzy entropies of the τ coarse-grained sequences in τ scale are calculated and averaged to develop the Composite MFE (CMFE) with more feature information. However, the coarse-grained process fails to match the nonstationary characteristic of MI-EEG by a mean filtering algorithm. In this paper, CMFE is improved by assigning the different weight factors to the different sample points in the coarse-grained process, i.e., using the weighted mean filters instead of the original mean filters, which is conductive to signal filtering and feature extraction, and the resulting personalized Weighted CMFE (WCMFE) is more suitable to represent the nonstationary MI-EEG for different subjects. All the WCMFEs of multi-channel MI-EEG are fused in serial to construct the feature vector, which is evaluated by a back-propagation neural network. Based on a public dataset, extensive experiments are conducted, yielding a relatively higher classification accuracy by WCMFE, and the statistical significance is examined by two-sample t-test. The results suggest that WCMFE is superior to the other entropy-based and traditional feature extraction methods.
Why the Mittag-Leffler Function Can Be Considered the Queen Function of the Fractional Calculus?
Authors: Mainardi Francesco
Published: December 2020

In this survey we stress the importance of the higher transcendental Mittag-Leffler function in the framework of the Fractional Calculus. We first start with the analytical properties of the classical Mittag-Leffler function as derived from being the solution of the simplest fractional differential equation governing relaxation processes. Through the sections of the text we plan to address the reader in this pathway towards the main applications of the Mittag-Leffler function that has induced us in the past to define it as the Queen Function of the Fractional Calculus. These applications concern some noteworthy stochastic processes and the time fractional diffusion-wave equation We expect that in the future this function will gain more credit in the science of complex systems. Finally, in an appendix we sketch some historical aspects related to the author’s acquaintance with this function.
A Novel Highly Linear Voltage-To-Time Converter (VTC) Circuit for Time-Based Analog-To-Digital Converters (ADC) Using Body Biasing
Authors: Elgreatly Ahmed , Dessouki Ahmed , Mostafa Hassan , Abdalla Rania , El-Rabaie El-sayed
Published: December 2020

Time-based analog-to-digital converter is considered a crucial part in the design of software-defined radio receivers for its higher performance than other analog-to-digital converters in terms of operation speed, input dynamic range and power consumption. In this paper, two novel voltage-to-time converters are proposed at which the input voltage signal is connected to the body terminal of the starving transistor rather than its gate terminal. These novel converters exhibit better linearity, which is analytically proven in this paper. The maximum linearity error is reduced to 0.4%. In addition, the input dynamic range of these converters is increased to 800 mV for a supply voltage of 1.2 V by using industrial hardware-calibrated TSMC 65 nm CMOS technology. These novel designs consist of only a single inverter stage, which results in reducing the layout area and the power consumption. The overall power consumption is 18 μW for the first proposed circuit and 15 μW for the second proposed circuit. The novel converter circuits have a resolution of 5 bits and operate at a maximum clock frequency of 500 MHz.
Deletion of Exon 1 in AMER1 in Osteopathia Striata with Cranial Sclerosis
Authors: Mi Jingyi , Parthasarathy Padmini , Halliday Benjamin J. , Morgan Tim , Dean John , Nowaczyk Malgorzata J. M. , Markie David , Robertson Stephen P. , Wade Emma M.
Published: December 2020

Osteopathia striata with cranial sclerosis (OSCS) is an X-linked dominant condition characterised by metaphyseal striations, macrocephaly, cleft palate, and developmental delay in affected females. Males have a more severe phenotype with multi-organ malformations, and rarely survive. To date, only frameshift and nonsense variants in exon 2, the single coding exon of AMER1, or whole gene deletions have been reported to cause OSCS. In this study, we describe two families with phenotypic features typical of OSCS. Exome sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) did not identify pathogenic variants in AMER1. Therefore, genome sequencing was employed which identified two deletions containing the non-coding exon 1 of AMER1 in the families. These families highlight the importance of considering variants or deletions of upstream non-coding exons in conditions such as OSCS, noting that often such exons are not captured on probe or enrichment-based platforms because of their high G/C content.
Transcriptional Differences for COVID-19 Disease Map Genes between Males and Females Indicate a Different Basal Immunophenotype Relevant to the Disease
Authors: Liu Tianyuan , Balzano-Nogueira Leandro , Lleo Ana , Conesa Ana
Published: December 2020

Worldwide COVID-19 epidemiology data indicate differences in disease incidence amongst sex and gender demographic groups. Specifically, male patients are at a higher death risk than female patients, and the older population is significantly more affected than young individuals. Whether this difference is a consequence of a pre-existing differential response to the virus, has not been studied in detail. We created DeCovid, an R shiny app that combines gene expression (GE) data of different human tissue from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project along with the COVID-19 Disease Map and COVID-19 related pathways gene collections to explore basal GE differences across healthy demographic groups. We used this app to study differential gene expression of COVID-19 associated genes in different age and sex groups. We identified that healthy women show higher expression-levels of interferon genes. Conversely, healthy men exhibit higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Additionally, young people present a stronger complement system and maintain a high level of matrix metalloproteases than older adults. Our data suggest the existence of different basal immunophenotypes amongst different demographic groups, which are relevant to COVID-19 progression and may contribute to explaining sex and age biases in disease severity. The DeCovid app is an effective and easy to use tool for exploring the GE levels relevant to COVID-19 across demographic groups and tissues.
An Inclusive View of the Disability of Secondary School Students
Authors: Méndez-Aguado Cristina , Trigueros Rubén , Aguilar-Parra José Manuel , Navarro-Gómez Noelia , Díaz-López Mª del Pilar , Fernández-Campoy Juan M. , Gázquez-Hernández Juan , Carrión José
Published: December 2020

Achieving the educational inclusion of students with special educational needs (SEN) is one of the significant challenges of the current Spanish educational system. This is a group of students with a high rate of bullying that leads to academic failure, as well as significant psychological and social consequences. Despite the fact that the behaviours and psychological characteristics of their peers seem to influence the degree of inclusion, there is no detail on this subject. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to determine the relationship between emotional intelligence, psychological flexibility, prosocial behaviour and inclusive behaviour. To carry out this study, a sample of 642 students between the ages of 12 and 19 years old participated and answered four questionnaires, one for each variable under study. The relationships established were extracted from different statistical analyses and a hypothesised predictive model. The results obtained revealed that emotional intelligence is positively related to psychological flexibility and prosocial behaviour and that these, in turn, are positively related to the development of inclusive behaviour. Therefore, the importance of considering the variables under study during the teaching–learning processes carried out in the classroom is highlighted.
Cervical Cancer Screening and Human Papillomavirus Vaccination among Korean Sexual Minority Women by Sex of Their Sexual Partners
Authors: Kim Ssirai , Lee Sun-Young , Choi-Kwon Smi
Published: December 2020

Cervical cancer-preventive behaviors in Korean sexual minority women (SMW) are underexplored. We aimed to assess the differences in cervical cancer screening uptake and completion of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among Korean SMW by sex of their sexual partners. This cross-sectional study used data from the 2017 Korean Sexual Minority Women’s Health Study; we included Korean lesbian and bisexual women aged ≥20 years. They were divided into three groups: SMW with more than one male sexual partner (male only/both), SMW with only female sexual partners (female-only), or no sexual partner (no partner). Among the 671 participants, 266 (39.6%), 294 (43.8%), and 111 (16.5%) belonged to the male-only/both, female-only, and no partner groups, respectively. Compared to the male-only/both group, the female-only group was significantly less likely to have undergone cervical cancer screening (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.15–0.37) and to have completed HPV vaccinations (AOR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.37–0.91). In conclusion, Korean SMW with only female sexual partners had lower cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination completion rates than SMW who had male sexual partners. More extensive efforts are needed to improve cervical cancer-preventive behaviors among Korean SMW.
Development of a Poisoned Bait Strategy against the Silverfish Ctenolepisma longicaudata (Escherich, 1905)
Authors: Aak Anders , Hage Morten , Lindstedt Heidi Heggen , Rukke Bjørn Arne
Published: December 2020

Pest management strives to be an efficient, yet healthy and environmentally safe control method, and the use of poisoned bait often fulfils these criteria. In the present study, we show that bait with indoxacarb as the active ingredient is highly efficient for controlling Ctenolepisma longicaudata (Escherich, 1905) and two of its relatives, Lepisma saccharina (Linnaeus, 1758) and Ctenolepisma calva (Ritter, 1910). Applying small bait droplets (size ~10 mg) along the walls of several types of buildings, at no more than 0.5 to 1.0 g bait per 100 m2, was a cost-efficient and safe strategy for the knockdown and eradication of C. longicaudata. During field experiments, the demography changed from an initial mixture of different stages to total dominance of early instars preceding the population collapse. Poisonous bait outcompeted mass-trapping with sticky-traps and conventional insect spray treatment for the efficient control of C. longicaudata in apartments. Different droplet densities (1 vs. 0.5/m2) and active ingredients (indoxacarb vs. clothianidin) did not have different effects in field experiments. These results show that poisoned bait is a highly relevant tool for managing C. longicaudata and potentially against other silverfish infestations.
Gait Indices for Characterization of Patients with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Tsitlakidis Stefanos , Schwarze Martin , Westhauser Fabian , Heubisch Korbinian , Horsch Axel , Hagmann Sébastien , Wolf Sebastian I. , Götze Marco
Published: December 2020

As cerebral palsy (CP) is a complex disorder, classification of gait pathologies is difficult. It is assumed that unclassified patients show less functional impairment and less gait deviation. The aim of this study was to assess the different subgroups and the unclassified patients with unilateral CP using different gait indices. The Gillette Gait Index (GGI), Gait Deviation Index (GDI), Gait Profile Score (GPS) and spatiotemporal parameters derived from instrumented 3D-Gait Analysis (IGA) were assessed. Subgroups were defined using morphological and functional classification systems. Regarding the different gait indices, a ranking of the different gait patterns is evident. Significant differences were found between GMFCS level I and II, Winters et al. (Winters, Gage, Hicks; WGH) type IV and type I and the WGH-unclassified. Concerning the spatiotemporal parameters significant differences were found between GMFCS level I and II concerning velocity. The unclassified patients showed mean values for the different gait indices that were comparable to those of established subgroups. Established gait patterns cause different degrees of gait deviation and functional impairment. The unclassified patients do not differ from established gait patterns but from the unimpaired gait. Further evaluation using 3D-IGA is necessary to identify the underlying gait pathologies of the unclassified patients.
Real-Time Surgical Problem Detection and Instrument Tracking in Cataract Surgery
Authors: Morita Shoji , Tabuchi Hitoshi , Masumoto Hiroki , Tanabe Hirotaka , Kamiura Naotake
Published: December 2020

Surgical skill levels of young ophthalmologists tend to be instinctively judged by ophthalmologists in practice, and hence a stable evaluation is not always made for a single ophthalmologist. Although it has been said that standardizing skill levels presents difficulty as surgical methods vary greatly, approaches based on machine learning seem to be promising for this objective. In this study, we propose a method for displaying the information necessary to quantify the surgical techniques of cataract surgery in real-time. The proposed method consists of two steps. First, we use InceptionV3, an image classification network, to extract important surgical phases and to detect surgical problems. Next, one of the segmentation networks, scSE-FC-DenseNet, is used to detect the cornea and the tip of the surgical instrument and the incisional site in the continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis, a particularly important phase in cataract surgery. The first and second steps are evaluated in terms of the area under curve (i.e., AUC) of the figure of the true positive rate versus (1—false positive rate) and the intersection over union (i.e., IoU) obtained by the ground truth and prediction associated with the region of interest. As a result, in the first step, the network was able to detect surgical problems with an AUC of 0.97. In the second step, the detection rate of the cornea was 99.7% when the IoU was 0.8 or more, and the detection rates of the tips of the forceps and the incisional site were 86.9% and 94.9% when the IoU was 0.1 or more, respectively. It was thus expected that the proposed method is one of the basic techniques to achieve the standardization of surgical skill levels.
Osteoarthritis in Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum Patients: An Explorative Imaging Study
Authors: Gielis Willem Paul , de Jong Pim A. , Bartstra Jonas W. , Foppen Wouter , Spiering Wilko , den Harder Annemarie M.
Published: December 2020

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a systemic disease affecting the skin, eyes, and cardiovascular system of patients. Cardiovascular disease is associated with osteoarthritis (OA), which is the most common cause of joint pain. There is a lack of systematic investigations on joint manifestations in PXE in the literature. In this explorative study, we aimed to investigate whether patients with PXE are more at risk for developing osseous signs of OA. Patients with PXE and hospital controls with whole-body low-dose CT examinations available were included. OA was assessed using the OsteoArthritis Computed Tomography (OACT)-score, which is a 4-point Likert scale, in the acromioclavicular (AC), glenohumeral (GH), facet, hip, knee, and ankle joints. Additionally, intervertebral disc degeneration was scored. Data were analyzed using ordinal logistic regression adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), and smoking status. In total, 106 PXE patients (age 56 (48–64), 42% males, BMI 25.3 (22.7–28.2)) and 87 hospital controls (age 55 (43–67), 46% males, BMI 26.0 (22.5–29.2)) were included. PXE patients were more likely to have a higher OA score for the AC joints (OR 2.00 (1.12–3.61)), tibiofemoral joint (OR 2.63 (1.40–5.07)), and patellofemoral joint (2.22 (1.18–4.24)). For the other joints, the prevalence and severity of OA did not differ significantly. This study suggests that patients with PXE are more likely to have structural OA of the knee and AC joints, which needs clinical confirmation in larger groups and further investigation into the mechanism.
Comparing the Effect of TGF-β Receptor Inhibition on Human Perivascular Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Derived from Endometrium, Bone Marrow and Adipose Tissues
Authors: Gurung Shanti , Ulrich Daniela , Sturm Marian , Rosamilia Anna , Werkmeister Jerome A. , Gargett Caroline E.
Published: December 2020

Rare perivascular mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) with therapeutic properties have been identified in many tissues. Their rarity necessitates extensive in vitro expansion, resulting in spontaneous differentiation, cellular senescence and apoptosis, producing therapeutic products with variable quality and decreased potency. We previously demonstrated that A83-01, a transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) receptor inhibitor, maintained clonogenicity and promoted the potency of culture-expanded premenopausal endometrial MSCs using functional assays and whole-transcriptome sequencing. Here, we compared the effects of A83-01 on MSCs derived from postmenopausal endometrium, menstrual blood, placenta decidua-basalis, bone marrow and adipose tissue. Sushi-domain-containing-2 (SUSD2+) and CD34+CD31−CD45− MSCs were isolated. Expanded MSCs were cultured with or without A83-01 for 7 days and assessed for MSC properties. SUSD2 identified perivascular cells in the placental decidua-basalis, and their maternal origin was validated. A83-01 promoted MSC proliferation from all sources except bone marrow and only increased SUSD2 expression and prevented apoptosis in MSCs from endometrial-derived tissues. A83-01 only improved the cloning efficiency of postmenopausal endometrial MSCs (eMSCs), and expanded adipose tissue MSCs (adMSCs) underwent significant senescence, which was mitigated by A83-01. MSCs derived from bone marrow (bmMSCs) were highly apoptotic, but A83-01 was without effect. A83-01 maintained the function and phenotype in MSCs cultured from endometrial, but not other, tissues. Our results also demonstrated that cellular SUSD2 expression directly correlates with the functional phenotype.
Effect of Ga on the Oxide Film Structure and Oxidation Resistance of Sn–Bi–Zn Alloys as Heat Transfer Fluids
Authors: Wang Qingmeng , Cheng Xiaomin , Liu Zhi , Lv Zean , Cheng Qianju
Published: December 2020

The effect of gallium on the oxide film structure and overall oxidation resistance of low melting point Sn–Bi–Zn alloys was investigated under air atmosphere using thermogravimetric analyses. The liquid alloys studied had a Ga content of 1–7 wt.%. The results showed that the growth rates of the surface scale formed on the Sn–Bi–Zn–Ga alloys conformed to the parabolic law. The oxidation resistance of Sn–Bi–Zn alloys was improved by Ga addition and the activation energies increased from 12.05 kJ∙mol−1 to 22.20 kJ∙mol−1. The structure and elemental distribution of the oxide film surface and cross-section were found to become more complicated and denser with Ga addition. Further, the results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction show that Ga elements accumulate on the surface of the liquid metal to form oxides, which significantly slowed the oxidation of the surface of the liquid alloy.
Investigation of Centrifugal Fractionation with Time-Dependent Process Parameters as a New Approach Contributing to the Direct Recycling of Lithium-Ion Battery Components
Authors: Sinn Tabea , Flegler Andreas , Wolf Andreas , Stübinger Thomas , Witt Wolfgang , Nirschl Hermann , Gleiß Marco
Published: December 2020

Recycling of lithium-ion batteries will become imperative in the future, but comprehensive and sustainable processes for this are still rather lacking. Direct recycling comprising separation of the black mass components as a key step is regarded as the most seminal approach. This paper contributes a novel approach for such separation, that is fractionation in a tubular centrifuge. An aqueous dispersion of cathode materials (lithium iron phosphate, also referred to as LFP, and carbon black) serves as exemplary feed to be fractionated, desirably resulting in a sediment of pure LFP. This paper provides a detailed study of the commonly time-dependent output of the tubular centrifuge and introduces an approach aiming to achieve constant output. Therefore, three different settings are assessed, constantly low, constantly high and an increase in rotational speed over time. Constant settings result in the predictable unsatisfactory time-variant output, whereas rotational speed increase proves to be able to maintain constant centrate properties. With further process development, the concept of fractionation in tubular centrifuges may mature into a promising separation technique for black mass in a direct recycling process chain.
Resting Energy Expenditure of Physically Active Boys in Southeastern Poland—The Accuracy and Validity of Predictive Equations
Authors: Łuszczki Edyta , Sokal Aneta , Jarmakiewicz-Czaja Sara , Bartosiewicz Anna , Dereń Katarzyna , Kuchciak Maciej , Jagielski Paweł , Mazur Artur
Published: December 2020

Optimization of energy intake in the diet of young athletes is of primary importance. In addition to the energy expenditure associated with their body development, the demand resulting from intensive physical activity also increases. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of formulas commonly used for resting energy expenditure (REE) calculations with values obtained from measurements using indirect calorimetry among male children and adolescents practicing football. The study was conducted among 184 boys aged 9 to 17 using a calorimeter and a device for assessing body composition by means of electrical bioimpedance using a segment analyzer. The mean error ranged from −477 kcal/d by the Maffeis formula to −182 kcal/d for the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies (IMNA) formula. A statistically significant difference was found for all formulas in the calculated value in relation to the measured REE value (p < 0.0001). Most “ready-to-use” formulas underestimate REE, which can be a risk in determining the total energy demand in a group that requires more calories, especially when due to intensive growth and development and the expenditure associated with regular training and increased physical activity.
Electro-Optical Properties of Sputtered Calcium Lead Titanate Thin Films for Pyroelectric Detection
Authors: Mafi Elham , Calvano Nicholas , Patel Jessica , Islam Md. Sherajul , Hasan Khan Md. Sakib , Rana Mukti
Published: December 2020

We report the deposition and characterization of calcium lead titanate (PCT) thin films for pyroelectric detectors. PCT films of thicknesses ranging from ~250 to 400 nm were deposited on both silicon and Si/SiN/Ti/Au substrates at 13 mTorr pressure by 200W radio frequency sputtering in an Ar + O2 environment. Substrates were kept at variable temperatures during the deposition. The PCT films were annealed at various temperatures in an O2 environment for 15 min. X-ray diffraction results confirm the polycrystalline nature of these films. Energy dispersive spectroscopy function of scanning electron microscope showed that the films are stoichiometric (Ca0.43Pb0.57) TiO3 (Ca/Ti = 0.5, Pb/Ti = 0.66). Temperature dependence of capacitance, pyroelectric current, and pyroelectric coefficient was investigated for different PCT films. Our results show that films deposited at 550 °C and 600 °C demonstrate better quality and larger values of the pyroelectric coefficient. On the other hand, the capacitance fabricated on the PCT films at 550 °C showed the highest value of pyroelectric current and pyroelectric coefficient which were 14 pA and at 30 °C was ~2 µC/m2K respectively at a higher temperature. In addition, we used density functional theory to determine the atomic and band structure, real and imaginary parts of dielectric constant and refractive index, and absorption and reflection constants with energy.
Flavonoids Regulate Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Cancer
Authors: Li Guangxing , Ding Kaiyue , Qiao Yanling , Zhang Liu , Zheng Luping , Pan Taowen , Zhang Lin
Published: December 2020

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally. Millions of persons die due to cancer each year. In the last two decades, the anticancer effects of natural flavonoids have become a hot topic in many laboratories. Meanwhile, flavonoids, of which over 8000 molecules are known to date, are potential candidates for the discovery of anticancer drugs. The current review summarizes the major flavonoid classes of anticancer efficacy and discusses the potential anti-cancer mechanisms through inflammation and oxidative stress action, which were based on database and clinical studies within the past years. The results showed that flavonoids could regulate the inflammatory response and oxidative stress of tumor through some anti-inflammatory mechanisms such as NF-κB, so as to realize the anti-tumor effect.
Adsorption Properties of Comb-Shaped Polycarboxylate Dispersant onto Different Crystal Pyraclostrobin Particle Surfaces
Authors: Wang Liying , Gao Chong , Feng Jianguo , Xu Yong , Li Danqi , Zhang Lixin
Published: December 2020

The stability of the suspension system of the two crystal forms of pyraclostrobin is evaluated using multiple light technology, and the adsorption performance of polycarboxylate dispersant on the surface of two different crystalline pyraclostrobin particles is compared in combination with XRD, FTIR, XPS, and SEM from the microscopic view. The adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics studies of 2700 on the surfaces of different crystalline forms of pyraclostrobin particles show that the adsorption process of 2700 on the surfaces of pyraclostrobin crystal forms II and IV conform to pseudo-second-order kinetic adsorption model. The Ea values for crystal forms II and IV are 12.93 and 14.39 kJ∙mol−1, respectively, which indicates that both adsorption processes are physical adsorption. The adsorption models of 2700 on the surfaces of pyraclostrobin crystal forms II and IV are in accordance with Langmuir adsorption isotherms. The ∆Gad values of crystal forms II and IV are negative and the ∆Sad values are positive at different temperatures. Therefore, the adsorption processes are spontaneous and accompanied by entropy increase. The results of this study provide an important theoretical basis for the selection of polycarboxylate dispersants in the suspension of pyraclostrobin. This study also provides a reference for the research of polycrystalline pesticide suspension concentrate.
Protective Effects of Traditional Polyherbs on Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury Cell Model by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and MAPK Signaling Pathway
Authors: Dachuri VinayKumar , Song Phil Hyun , Kim Young Woo , Ku Sae-Kwang , Song Chang-Hyun
Published: December 2020

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a disease caused by sudden renal dysfunction, which is an important risk factor for chronic renal failure. However, there is no effective treatment for renal impairment. Although some traditional polyherbs are commercially available for renal diseases, their effectiveness has not been reported. Therefore, we examined the nephroprotective effects of polyherbs and their relevant mechanisms in a cisplatin-induced cell injury model. Rat NRK-52E and human HK-2 subjected to cisplatin-induced AKI were treated with four polyherbs, Injinhotang (IJ), Ucha-Shinki-Hwan (US), Yukmijihwang-tang (YJ), and UrofenTM (Uro) similar with Yondansagan-tang, for three days. All polyherbs showed strong free radical scavenging activities, and the treatments prevented cisplatin-induced cell death in both models, especially at 1.2 mg/mL. The protective effects involved antioxidant effects by reducing reactive oxygen species and increasing the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase. The polyherbs also reduced the number of annexin V-positive apoptotic cells and the expression of cleaved caspase-3, along with inhibited expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase-related proteins. These findings provide evidence for promoting the development of herbal formulas as an alternative therapy for treating AKI.
Catalytic Performance of Spherical MCM-41 Modified with Copper and Iron as Catalysts of NH3-SCR Process
Authors: Jankowska Aleksandra , Chłopek Agata , Kowalczyk Andrzej , Rutkowska Małgorzata , Michalik Marek , Liu Shiquan , Chmielarz Lucjan
Published: December 2020

Spherical MCM-41 with various copper and iron loadings was prepared by surfactant directed co-condensation method. The obtained samples were characterized with respect to their structure (X-ray diffraction, XRD), texture (N2 sorption), morphology (scanning electron microscopy, SEM), chemical composition (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, ICP-OES), surface acidity (temperature programmed desorption of ammonia, NH3-TPD), form, and aggregation of iron and copper species (diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectroscopy, UV-Vis DRS) as well as their reducibility (temperature programmed reduction with hydrogen, H2-TPR). The spherical MCM-41 samples modified with transition metals were tested as catalysts of selective catalytic reduction of NO with ammonia (NH3-SCR). Copper containing catalysts presented high catalytic activity at low-temperature NH3-SCR with a very high selectivity to nitrogen, which is desired reaction products. Similar results were obtained for iron containing catalysts, however in this case the loadings and forms of iron incorporated into silica samples very strongly influenced catalytic performance of the studied samples. The efficiency of the NH3-SCR process at higher temperatures was significantly limited by the side reaction of direct ammonia oxidation. The reactivity of ammonia molecules chemisorbed on the catalysts surface in NO reduction (NH3-SCR) and their selective oxidation (NH3-SCO) was verified by temperature-programmed surface reactions.
Subacute Assessment of the Toxicity and Antidepressant-Like Effects of Origanum Majorana L. Polyphenols in Swiss Albino Mice
Authors: Amaghnouje Amal , Mechchate Hamza , Es-safi Imane , Boukhira Smahane , S. Aliqahtani Ali , M. Noman Omar , A. Nasr Fahd , Conte Raffaele , Calarco Anna , Bousta Dalila
Published: December 2020

Origanum majorana L. is a plant commonly used in folk medicine to treat depression and several neurological disorders. This study aims to evaluate the antidepressant-like effect of the Origanum majorana L. polyphenols (OMP) obtained from the aerial parts using two different depression model tests: The forced swimming test (FST) and the tail suspension test (TST) in Swiss albino mice. The experiments were performed on days 1, 7, 14, and 21 with daily administration of different treatments. Two different doses were chosen for this study (50 and 100 mg/kg), and paroxetine was used as a positive control. Immobility as a consequence of the depression state was significantly reduced following the treatment with OMP, indicating an antidepressant effect. A subacute toxicity study was also performed following the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines (407), showing no sign of toxicity for the studied doses. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of 12 components, all belonging to polyphenols: Arbutin, rosmarinic acid, ursolic acid, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, quercetin-7-O-glucuronic acid, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, kaempferol-3-0-glucuronic acid, Kaempferol-3-0-pentose, caffeic acid, catechin, quercetin, and rutin. These findings suggest that O. majorana has interesting antidepressant-like properties, which deserve further investigation.
L-Ascorbic Acid-g-Polyaniline Mesoporous Silica Nanocomposite for Efficient Removal of Crystal Violet: A Batch and Fixed Bed Breakthrough Studies
Authors: Hasan Imran , BinSharfan Ibtisam I. , Khan Rais Ahmad , Alsalme Ali
Published: December 2020

In the present study, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) synthesized through sol–gel process and calcined at 600 °C were further surface functionalized by a copolymer chain of L-ascorbic acid (AS) and polyaniline (PAni) by in situ free radical oxidative polymerization reaction. The surface modification of MSNs by AS-g-PAni was confirmed by using various analytical techniques, namely FTIR, XRD, SEM–EDX, TEM and AFM. The composition of AS-g-PAni@MS was found to be composed of C (52.53%), N (20.30%), O (25.69%) and Si (1.49%), with 26.42 nm as the particle size. Further, it was applied for the adsorption of crystal violet (CV) dye under batch, as well as fixed bed method. RSM–BBD was taken into consideration, to optimize the various operational parameters effecting the adsorption through batch method. To explore maximum efficiency of the material, it was further subjected to adsorption of CV under fixed bed method, using the variable bed heights of 3.7, 5.4 and 8.1 cm. Based on high value of regression coefficient (R2) and low value of RMSE given as (0.99, 0.02) for 3.7 cm, (0.99, 0.03), the breakthrough data were very well defined by the Thomas model, with optimum concurrence of stoichiometric adsorption capacity values. The external mass transfer equilibrium data were well fitted by the Langmuir model, with maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 88.42 mg g−1 at 303 K, 92.51 mg g−1 at 313 K, 107.41 mg g−1 at 313 K and 113.25 mg g−1 at 333 K. The uptake of CV by AS-g-PAni@MS was well defined by pseudo second order model with rate constant K2 = 0.003 L mg–1 min–1 for 50 and 0.003 L mg–1 min–1 for 60 mg L–1 CV. The adsorption reaction was endothermic with enthalpy (ΔH) value of 3.62 KJ mol−1 and highly efficient for treatment of CV-contaminated water for more the five consecutive cycles.
A Novel Approach for Effective Alteration of Morphological Features of Polyaniline through Interfacial Polymerization for Versatile Applications
Authors: Vaid Kalyan , Dhiman Jasmeen , Kumar Suresh , Kim Ki-Hyun , Kumar Vanish
Published: December 2020

Morphological characteristics of any nanomaterial are critical in defining its properties. In this context, a method to control morphological parameters of polyaniline (PANI) has been investigated by producing its composite with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Herein, we report for the first time the successful control on the physical/chemical properties of PANI composites synthesized via interfacial polymerization through functionalization of its AuNP composite component with citrate, ascorbate, glutathione (GSH), and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). A significant difference in the polymerization pattern, morphologies, and electrical properties was recognized in these composites according to the functionality of the modified AuNPs. The obtained composites of AuNPs/PANI exhibited highly diverse morphologies (e.g., nodule, hollow hemisphere, flake, and spider-web galaxy type) and electrical characteristics according to functionalization. Hence, this study is expected to offer better insight into control of the polymerization pattern of AuNP/PANI composites and their associated properties.
Bile Acids and GPBAR-1: Dynamic Interaction Involving Genes, Environment and Gut Microbiome
Authors: Portincasa Piero , Di Ciaula Agostino , Garruti Gabriella , Vacca Mirco , De Angelis Maria , Wang David Q.-H.
Published: December 2020

Bile acids (BA) are amphiphilic molecules synthesized in the liver from cholesterol. BA undergo continuous enterohepatic recycling through intestinal biotransformation by gut microbiome and reabsorption into the portal tract for uptake by hepatocytes. BA are detergent molecules aiding the digestion and absorption of dietary fat and fat-soluble vitamins, but also act as important signaling molecules via the nuclear receptor, farnesoid X receptor (FXR), and the membrane-associated G protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1 (GPBAR-1) in the distal intestine, liver and extra hepatic tissues. The hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance of the BA pool is finely regulated to prevent BA overload and liver injury. By contrast, hydrophilic BA can be hepatoprotective. The ultimate effects of BA-mediated activation of GPBAR-1 is poorly understood, but this receptor may play a role in protecting the remnant liver and in maintaining biliary homeostasis. In addition, GPBAR-1 acts on pathways involved in inflammation, biliary epithelial barrier permeability, BA pool hydrophobicity, and sinusoidal blood flow. Recent evidence suggests that environmental factors influence GPBAR-1 gene expression. Thus, targeting GPBAR-1 might improve liver protection, facilitating beneficial metabolic effects through primary prevention measures. Here, we discuss the complex pathways linked to BA effects, signaling properties of the GPBAR-1, mechanisms of liver damage, gene-environment interactions, and therapeutic aspects.
Hand Hygiene Behaviors in a Representative Sample of Polish Adolescents in Regions Stratified by COVID-19 Morbidity and by Confounding Variables (PLACE-19 Study): Is There Any Association?
Authors: Skolmowska Dominika , Głąbska Dominika , Guzek Dominika
Published: December 2020

The hand hygiene may possibly influence the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the multifactorial influence on hand hygiene knowledge and behaviors is proven. The aim of the study was to analyze hand hygiene behaviors in a national representative sample of Polish adolescents in regions stratified by COVID-19 morbidity, while taking socioeconomic status of the region, as well rural or urban environment, into account as possible interfering factors. The study was conducted Polish Adolescents’ COVID-19 Experience (PLACE-19) Study population (n = 2323) that was recruited based on a random sampling of schools, while the pair-matching procedure was applied within schools and age, in order to obtain adequate number of boys and girls, representative for the general Polish population (n = 1222). The participants were asked about their handwashing habits while using Handwashing Habits Questionnaire (HHQ) and about applied procedure of washing hands. The results were compared in subgroups that were stratified by region for COVID-19 morbidity, socioeconomic status of the region, and rural/urban environment. In regions of low COVID-19 morbidity, a higher share of adolescents, than in regions of high morbidity, declared washing their hands before meals (p = 0.0196), after meals (p = 0.0041), after preparing meals (p = 0.0297), before using the restroom (p = 0.0068), after using the restroom (p = 0.0014), after combing their hair (p = 0.0298), after handshaking (p = 0.0373), after touching animals (p = 0.0007), after contacting babies (p = 0.0278), after blowing nose (p = 0.0435), after touching sick people (p = 0.0351), and after cleaning home (p = 0.0234). For the assessed steps of the handwashing procedure, in regions of low COVID-19 morbidity, a higher share of adolescents included them to their daily handwashing, than in regions of high morbidity, that was stated for removing watch and bracelets (p = 0.0052), removing rings (p = 0.0318), and drying hands with towel (p = 0.0031). For the comparison in regions stratified by Gross Domestic Product, the differences were only minor and inconsistent. For the comparison in place of residence stratified by number of residents in city, there were some minor differences indicating better hand hygiene behaviors in the case of villages and small towns when compared with medium and large cities (p < 0.05). It may be concluded that, in a population-based sample of Polish adolescents, individuals from regions of low COVID-19 morbidity presented more beneficial hand hygiene habits than those from regions of high COVID-19 morbidity.
The Therapeutic Potential of MicroRNAs in Cancer: Illusion or Opportunity?
Authors: Fortunato Orazio , Iorio Marilena V.
Published: December 2020

The functional involvement of microRNAs in human neoplasia has raised in the last years an increasing interest in the scientific community toward the potential application in clinics as therapeutic tools. Indeed, the possibility to modulate their expression to re-establish a lost equilibrium and counteract tumor growth and dissemination, and/or to improve responsiveness to standard therapies, is promising and fascinating. However, several issues need to be taken into account such as factors related to miRNA stability in the blood, tissue penetration and potential off-target effects, which might affect safety, tolerability and efficacy of an miRNA-based therapy. Here we describe the most relevant challenges related to miRNA-based therapy, review the delivery strategies exploited to date and the on-going clinical trials.
Biotechnological Potential of Araucaria angustifolia Pine Nuts Extract and the Cysteine Protease Inhibitor AaCI-2S
Authors: Sallai Roberto Carlos , Salu Bruno Ramos , Silva-Lucca Rosemeire Aparecida , Alves Flávio Lopes , Napoleão Thiago Henrique , Paiva Patrícia Maria Guedes , da Silva Ferreira Rodrigo , Sampaio Misako Uemura , Vilela Oliva Maria Luiza
Published: December 2020

Protease inhibitors are involved in the regulation of endogenous cysteine proteases during seed development and play a defensive role because of their ability to inhibit exogenous proteases such as those present in the digestive tracts of insects. Araucaria angustifolia seeds, which can be used in human and animal feed, were investigated for their potential for the development of agricultural biotechnology and in the field of human health. In the pine nuts extract, which blocked the activities of cysteine proteases, it was detected potent insecticidal activity against termites (Nasutitermes corniger) belonging to the most abundant termite genus in tropical regions. The cysteine inhibitor (AaCI-2S) was purified by ion-exchange, size exclusion, and reversed-phase chromatography. Its functional and structural stability was confirmed by spectroscopic and circular dichroism studies, and by detection of inhibitory activity at different temperatures and pH values. Besides having activity on cysteine proteases from C. maculatus digestive tract, AaCI-2S inhibited papain, bromelain, ficin, and cathepsin L and impaired cell proliferation in gastric and prostate cancer cell lines. These properties qualify A. angustifolia seeds as a protein source with value properties of natural insecticide and to contain a protease inhibitor with the potential to be a bioactive molecule on different cancer cells.