bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Taxonomic Assignment-Based Genome Reconstruction from Apical Periodontal Metagenomes to Identify Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence Factors
Authors: Kumari K. Swapna , Dixit Sangita , Gaur Mahendra , Behera Dibyajyoti Uttameswar , Dey Suchanda , Sahoo Rajesh Kumar , Dash Patitapaban , Subudhi Enketeswara
Published: January 2023

Primary apical periodontitis occurs due to various insults to the dental pulp including microbial infections, physical and iatrogenic trauma, whereas inadequate elimination of intraradicular infection during root canal treatment may lead to secondary apical periodontitis. We explored the complex intra-radicular microbial communities and their functional potential through genome reconstruction. We applied shotgun metagenomic sequencing, binning and functional profiling to identify the significant contributors to infection at the acute and chronic apical periodontal lesions. Our analysis revealed the five classified clusters representing Enterobacter, Enterococcus, Lacticaseibacillus, Pseudomonas, Streptococcus and one unclassified cluster of contigs at the genus level. Of them, the major contributors were Pseudomonas, with 90.61% abundance in acute conditions, whereas Enterobacter followed by Enterococcus with 69.88% and 15.42% abundance, respectively, in chronic conditions. Enterobacter actively participated in antibiotic target alteration following multidrug efflux-mediated resistance mechanisms, predominant in the chronic stage. The prediction of pathways involved in the destruction of the supportive tissues of the tooth in Enterobacter and Pseudomonas support their crucial role in the manifestation of respective disease conditions. This study provides information about the differential composition of the microbiome in chronic and acute apical periodontitis. It takes a step to interpret the role of a single pathogen, solely or predominantly, in establishing endodontic infection types through genome reconstruction following high throughput metagenomic DNA analysis. The resistome prediction sheds a new light on the therapeutic treatment guidelines for endodontists. However, it needs further conclusive research to support this outcome using a larger number of samples with similar etiological conditions, but different demographic origin.
Phototherapy as a Treatment for Dermatological Diseases, Cancer, Aesthetic Dermatologic Conditions and Allergenic Rhinitis in Adult and Paediatric Medicine
Authors: Kennedy Roy
Published: January 2023

The development of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) has led to an increase in the use of lighting regimes within medicine particularly as a treatment for dermatological conditions. New devices have demonstrated significant results for the treatment of medical conditions, including mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris, wound healing, psoriasis, squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen’s disease), basal cell carcinoma, actinic keratosis, and cosmetic applications. The three wavelengths of light that have demonstrated several therapeutic applications are blue (415 nm), red (633 nm), and near-infrared (830 nm). This review shows their potential for treating dermatological conditions. Phototherapy has also been shown to be an effective treatment for allergenic rhinitis in children and adults. In a double-anonymized randomized study it was found that there was 70% improvement of clinical symptoms of allergic rhinitis after intranasal illumination by low-energy narrow-band phototherapy at a wavelength of 660 nm three times a day for 14 consecutive days. Improvement of oedema in many patients with an age range of 7–17 were also observed. These light treatments can now be self-administered by sufferers using devices such as the Allergy Reliever phototherapy device. The device emits visible light (mUV/VIS) and infra-red light (660 nm and 940 nm) wavelengths directly on to the skin in the nasal cavity for a 3 min period. Several phototherapy devices emitting a range of wavelengths have recently become available for use and which give good outcomes for some dermatological conditions.
The Concept of Cancer Stem Cells: Elaborating on ALDH1B1 as an Emerging Marker of Cancer Progression
Authors: Tsochantaridis Ilias , Roupas Angelos , Mohlin Sofie , Pappa Aglaia , Voulgaridou Georgia-Persephoni
Published: January 2023

Cancer is a multifactorial, complex disease exhibiting extraordinary phenotypic plasticity and diversity. One of the greatest challenges in cancer treatment is intratumoral heterogeneity, which obstructs the efficient eradication of the tumor. Tumor heterogeneity is often associated with the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs), a cancer cell sub-population possessing a panel of stem-like properties, such as a self-renewal ability and multipotency potential. CSCs are associated with enhanced chemoresistance due to the enhanced efflux of chemotherapeutic agents and the existence of powerful antioxidant and DNA damage repair mechanisms. The distinctive characteristics of CSCs make them ideal targets for clinical therapeutic approaches, and the identification of efficient and specific CSCs biomarkers is of utmost importance. Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) comprise a wide superfamily of metabolic enzymes that, over the last years, have gained increasing attention due to their association with stem-related features in a wide panel of hematopoietic malignancies and solid cancers. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1B1 (ALDH1B1) is an isoform that has been characterized as a marker of colon cancer progression, while various studies suggest its importance in additional malignancies. Here, we review the basic concepts related to CSCs and discuss the potential role of ALDH1B1 in cancer development and its contribution to the CSC phenotype.
A Compact Imaging Platform for Conducting C. elegans Phenotypic Assays on Earth and in Spaceflight
Authors: Anupom Taslim , Vanapalli Siva A.
Published: January 2023

The model organism Caenorhabditis elegans is used in a variety of applications ranging from fundamental biological studies, to drug screening, to disease modeling, and to space-biology investigations. These applications rely on conducting whole-organism phenotypic assays involving animal behavior and locomotion. In this study, we report a 3D printed compact imaging platform (CIP) that is integrated with a smart-device camera for the whole-organism phenotyping of C. elegans. The CIP has no external optical elements and does not require mechanical focusing, simplifying the optical configuration. The small footprint of the system powered with a standard USB provides capabilities ranging from plug-and-play, to parallel operation, and to housing it in incubators for temperature control. We demonstrate on Earth the compatibility of the CIP with different C. elegans substrates, including agar plates, liquid droplets on glass slides and microfluidic chips. We validate the system with behavioral and thrashing assays and show that the phenotypic readouts are in good agreement with the literature data. We conduct a pilot study with mutants and show that the phenotypic data collected from the CIP distinguishes these mutants. Finally, we discuss how the simplicity and versatility offered by CIP makes it amenable to future C. elegans investigations on the International Space Station, where science experiments are constrained by system size, payload weight and crew time. Overall, the compactness, portability and ease-of-use makes the CIP desirable for research and educational outreach applications on Earth and in space.
Five-Axis Contour Error Control Based on Numerical Control Data
Authors: Li Jiangang , Yue Ruijie , Fei Yiming
Published: January 2023

Improving contour accuracy is one of the significant goals of industrial machining. This paper proposes a contour error estimation and compensation algorithm for five-axis computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools based on modified numerical control (NC) codes. The expected path analyzed by NC data and the actual trajectory collected by sensors are spatially mapped by the hidden Markov model (HMM). Next, an evaluation function that hybrids the tool tip position and tool orientation change trend is proposed as the index of contour error estimation. Finally, spatial iterative learning control (ILC) is used to compensate the contour error, and high-precision machining instructions are obtained after multiple iterations. Experiments with different trajectories are performed on a five-axis platform to verify the proposed algorithm’s effectiveness. The results show that the proposed algorithm without using planned trajectories, has the same good control effect as traditional methods, which must know the planning trajectory for simple trajectories. At the same time, the method proposed in this paper has better performance than existing algorithms based on tool tip position nearest principle at sharp corners. In conclusion, on the basis of not depending on the planning trajectories, this method has a better compensation effect for the overall accuracy of trajectories and is easier to implement in industrial applications.
High-Precision Leveled Homomorphic Encryption for Rational Numbers
Authors: Nie Long , Yao Shaowen , Liu Jing
Published: January 2023

In most homomorphic encryption schemes based on RLWE, native plaintexts are represented as polynomials in a ring Zt[x]/xN+1, where t is a plaintext modulus and xN+1 is a cyclotomic polynomial with a degree power of two. An encoding scheme should be used to transform some natural data types (such as integers and rational numbers) into polynomials in the ring. After homomorphic computations on the polynomial aare finished, the decoding procedure is invoked to obtain the results. We employ the Hensel code for encoding rational numbers and construct a high-precision leveled homomorphic encryption scheme with double-CRT. The advantage of our scheme is that the limitations of previous works are avoided, such as unexpected decoding results and loss of precision. Moreover, the plaintext space can be adjusted simply by changing a hyper-parameter to adapt to different computation tasks.
The Role of Quorum Sensing Molecules in Bacterial–Plant Interactions
Authors: Majdura Jan , Jankiewicz Urszula , Gałązka Agnieszka , Orzechowski Sławomir
Published: January 2023

Quorum sensing (QS) is a system of communication of bacterial cells by means of chemical signals called autoinducers, which modulate the behavior of entire populations of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Three classes of signaling molecules have been recognized, Al-1, Al-2, Al-3, whose functions are slightly different. However, the phenomenon of quorum sensing is not only concerned with the interactions between bacteria, but the whole spectrum of interspecies interactions. A growing number of research results confirm the important role of QS molecules in the growth stimulation and defense responses in plants. Although many of the details concerning the signaling metabolites of the rhizosphere microflora and plant host are still unknown, Al-1 compounds should be considered as important components of bacterial–plant interactions, leading to the stimulation of plant growth and the biological control of phytopathogens. The use of class 1 autoinducers in plants to induce beneficial activity may be a practical solution to improve plant productivity under field conditions. In addition, researchers are also interested in tools that offer the possibility of regulating the activity of autoinducers by means of degrading enzymes or specific inhibitors (QSI). Current knowledge of QS and QSI provides an excellent foundation for the application of research to biopreparations in agriculture, containing a consortia of AHL-producing bacteria and QS inhibitors and limiting the growth of phytopathogenic organisms.
Editorial for the Special Issue on Advanced Interconnect and Packaging
Authors: Zhao Wen-Sheng
Published: January 2023

Unlike transistors, the continuous downscaling of feature size in CMOS technology leads to a dramatic rise in interconnect resistivity and concomitant performance degradation [...]
Capacitive-Type Pressure Sensor for Classification of the Activities of Daily Living
Authors: Park Ji Su , Koo Sang-Mo , Kim Choong Hyun
Published: January 2023

In order to operate a gait rehabilitation device, it is necessary to accurately classify the states appearing in activities of daily living (ADLs). In the case of force sensing resistors (FSRs), which are often used as pressure sensors in gait analysis, it is desirable to replace them with other sensors because of their low durability. In the present study, capacitive-type pressure sensors, as an alternative to FSRs, were developed, and their performance was evaluated. In addition, the timed up and go test was performed to measure the ground reaction force in healthy individuals, and a machine learning technique was applied to the calculated biosignal parameters for the classification of five types of ADLs. The performance evaluation results showed that a sensor with thermoplastic polyurethane (substrate and dielectric layer material) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (conductive layer) has sufficient sensitivity and durability for use as a gait analysis pressure sensor. Moreover, when an overlapping filter was applied to the four-layer long short-term memory (LSTM) or the five-layer LSTM model developed for motion classification, the precision was greater or equal to 95%, and unstable errors did not occur. Therefore, when the pressure sensor and ADLs classification algorithm developed in this study are applied, it is expected that motion classification can be completed within a time range that does not affect the control of the gait rehabilitation device.
Covariance of Marine Nucleocytoplasmic Large DNA Viruses with Eukaryotic Plankton Communities in the Sub-Arctic Kongsfjorden Ecosystem: A Metagenomic Analysis of Marine Microbial Ecosystems
Authors: Kim Kang Eun , Joo Hyoung Min , Lee Taek-Kyun , Kim Hyun-Jung , Kim Yu Jin , Kim Bo Kyung , Ha Sun-Yong , Jung Seung Won
Published: January 2023

Nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDVs) infect various marine eukaryotes. However, little is known about NCLDV diversity and their relationships with eukaryotic hosts in marine environments, the elucidation of which will advance the current understanding of marine ecosystems. This study characterizes the interplay between NCLDVs and the eukaryotic plankton community (EPC) in the sub-Arctic area using metagenomics and metabarcoding to investigate NCLDVs and EPC, respectively, in the Kongsfjorden ecosystem of Svalbard (Norway) in April and June 2018. Gyrodinium helveticum (Dinophyceae) is the most prevalent eukaryotic taxon in the EPC in April, during which time Mimiviridae (31.8%), Poxviridae (25.1%), Phycodnaviridae (14.7%) and Pandoraviridae (13.1%) predominate. However, in June, the predominant taxon is Aureococcus anophagefferens (Pelagophyceae), and the NCLDVs, Poxviridae (32.9%), Mimiviridae (29.1%), and Phycodnaviridae (18.5%) appear in higher proportions with an increase in Pelagophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, and Chlorophyta groups. Thus, differences in NCLDVs may be caused by changes in EPC composition in response to environmental changes, such as increases in water temperature and light intensity. Taken together, these findings are particularly relevant considering the anticipated impact of NCLDV-induced EPC control mechanisms on polar regions and, therefore, improve the understanding of the Sub-Arctic Kongsfjorden ecosystem.
Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii: Biofilm-Associated Genes, Biofilm-Eradication Potential of Disinfectants, and Biofilm-Inhibitory Effects of Selenium Nanoparticles
Authors: Smitran Aleksandra , Lukovic Bojana , Bozic LJiljana , Jelic Dijana , Jovicevic Milos , Kabic Jovana , Kekic Dusan , Ranin Jovana , Opavski Natasa , Gajic Ina
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to investigate the biofilm-production ability of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), the biofilm-eradication potential of 70% ethanol and 0.5% sodium hypochlorite, the effects of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) against planktonic and biofilm-embedded CRAB, and the relationship between biofilm production and bacterial genotypes. A total of 111 CRAB isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility, biofilm formation, presence of the genes encoding carbapenemases, and biofilm-associated virulence factors. The antibiofilm effects of disinfectants and SeNPs against CRAB isolates were also tested. The vast majority of the tested isolates were biofilm producers (91.9%). The bap, ompA, and csuE genes were found in 57%, 70%, and 76% of the CRAB isolates, with the csuE being significantly more common among biofilm producers (78.6%) compared to non-biofilm-producing CRAB (25%). The tested disinfectants showed a better antibiofilm effect on moderate and strong biofilm producers than on weak producers (p < 0.01). The SeNPs showed an inhibitory effect against all tested planktonic (MIC range: 0.00015 to >1.25 mg/mL) and biofilm-embedded CRAB, with a minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration of less than 0.15 mg/mL for 90% of biofilm producers. In conclusion, SeNPs might be used as promising therapeutic and medical device coating agents, thus serving as an alternative approach for the prevention of biofilm-related infections.
The Roots of Neorautanenia mitis (A. Rich) Verdcourt: Further Evidence of Its Antidiarrhoeal Activity
Authors: Dawurung Christiana J. , Usman Joy G. , Gotep Jurbe G. , Pyne Stephen G.
Published: January 2023

Despite the current management options and therapeutics used in the treatment of diarrhoea, in Africa and Asia, diarrhoea remains a major concern, especially in children under the age of 5 years. Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used in the management of diarrhoea symptoms can be explored for their efficacy. In Nigeria, the TMPs (Traditional Medicine Practitioners) have, over the years, employed medicinal plants in the management of diarrhoea symptoms. In our current and previous studies, we aimed at validating the effectiveness of Neorautanenia mitis in the management of diarrhoea as claimed by the TMPs. Out of the 20 compounds isolated from N. mitis, the compounds neodulin, pachyrrhizine, neotenone and dolineone were the most abundant, and in this study, neodulin showed a pronounced relaxation of the rhythmic contraction of the isolated rabbit jejunum in an organ bath in a concentration-dependent manner, with a complete relaxation at 60 µg/mL. Neotenone and dolineone showed a dose-dependent inhibition of defecation of 65.07%, and 50.01%, respectively, at 20 mg/kg in a castor-oil-induced diarrhoea model. This is a strong indication that compounds from N. mitis possess antidiarrhoeal properties, thereby giving credence to its traditional usage in diarrhoea therapy, and therefore validating its antidiarrhoeal activity and its being worthy of further investigation.
First Example of Cage P4N4-Macrocycle Copper Complexes with Intracavity Location of Unusual Cu2I Fragments
Authors: Balueva Anna S. , Nikolaeva Yulia A. , Musina Elvira I. , Litvinov Igor A. , Karasik Andrey A.
Published: January 2023

In this study, 28-membered macrocyclic 1,5(1,5)-di(1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctana)-2,4,6,8(1,4)-tetrabenzenacyclooctaphane were synthesized by condensation of pyridinephosphine, paraformaldehyde, and primary diamines (bis(4-aminophenyl)methane or -sulfide. The first representatives of binuclear copper(I) complexes of P,N-containing cyclophanes with two 1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctane rings incorporated into a macrocyclic core and intracavity location of unusual, developed angle Cu2I moiety were obtained. The structure of one complex was established by X-ray diffraction analysis. The complexation led to a slight distortion of the cyclophane conformations.
Forced Mineral Carbonation of MgO Nanoparticles Synthesized by Aerosol Methods at Room Temperature
Authors: Cho Kyungil , Kang Yeryeong , Chae Sukbyung , Kim Changhyuk
Published: January 2023

Magnesium oxide (MgO) has been investigated as a wet mineral carbonation adsorbent due to its relatively low adsorption and regeneration temperatures. The carbon dioxide (CO2) capture efficiency can be enhanced by applying external force on the MgO slurry during wet carbonation. In this study, two aerosol-processed MgO nanoparticles were tested with a commercial MgO one to investigate the external force effect on the wet carbonation performance at room temperature. The MgO nano-adsorbents were carbonated and sampled every 2 h up to 12 h through forced and non-forced wet carbonations. Hydrated magnesium carbonates (nesquehonite, artinite and hydromagnesite) were formed with magnesite through both wet carbonations. The analyzed results for the time-dependent chemical compositions and physical shapes of the carbonation products consistently showed the enhancement of wet carbonation by the external force, which was at least 4 h faster than the non-forced carbonation. In addition, the CO2 adsorption was enhanced by the forced carbonation, resulting in a higher amount of CO2 being adsorbed by MgO nanoparticles than the non-forced carbonation, unless the carbonation processes were completed. The adsorbed amount of CO2 was between the maximum theoretical amounts of CO2 adsorbed by nesquehonite and hydromagnesite.
Post-Traumatic Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain after Dental Implant Surgery and the Injustice Experience Questionnaire
Authors: Tadokoro Souichirou , Takizawa Keita , Ozasa Kana , Okada-ogawa Akiko , Kaneko Yasuhide , Nakata Jumi , Noma Noboru
Published: January 2023

Painful post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathy (PTTN) is a known complication of dental implant therapy. Patients with PTTN develop sensory abnormalities in the orofacial region, which may be a psychosocial aspect, and dentists should assess somatosensory testing and psychosocial factors. The patients were assessed using quantitative sensory testing (QST). A 64-year-old female presented with allodynia of the left lower lip that occurred after a surgical implant procedure. Persistent pain started 4 months after the placement of two dental implants in the mandible. Sensory testing of these areas revealed warm hyposensitivity and mechanical hypersensitivity of the mandibular region. We also assessed PTTN-related perceived injustice using the Injustice Experience Questionnaire. The patient refused medication therapy such as pregabalin; therefore, autogenic training was adopted as an alternative management strategy. We conclude that for expensive dental procedures, such as implant placement, sufficient consensus should be obtained preoperatively before proceeding with surgery.
Trajectories of 24-Hour Physical Activity Distribution and Relationship with Dyslipidemia
Authors: Wang Xiaojing , Wang Yongjun , Xu Zechao , Guo Xiang , Mao Hongmei , Liu Tingting , Gong Weiyi , Gong Zhaolong , Zhuo Qin
Published: January 2023

The association between physical activity (PA) and dyslipidemia is well known, but the relationship between a temporal pattern of PA and dyslipidemia remain unknown. Here, we aimed to identify the intensity and temporal patterns of PA clustered by the trajectory model and their relationship with dyslipidemia. The participants were 701 adults (305 males) aged 18–60 years undergoing continuous measurement of PA with Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometers for at least 3 days. A trajectory analysis was applied based on moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) accumulated values over every period per day. The association between PA and dyslipidemia was estimated using a logistic regression model. Four distinct PA trajectory groups in the population were identified (continued low, stable and moderate, late increasing, and early increasing). Specifically, the “moderate and stable group” was associated with a decreased rate of high TG (p < 0.05) and the “moderate and stable group” and “late increasing group” were associated with decreased rates of low HDL-C (p < 0.05). In conclusion, there were four activity trajectory groups in this population and the continued low PA trajectory was associated with a high prevalent rate of an abnormal lipid profile, and continued and moderate activity or late afternoon increasing activity might have lower HDL-C distribution.
Branched-Chain Amino Acids and Di-Alanine Supplementation in Aged Mice: A Translational Study on Sarcopenia
Authors: Mantuano Paola , Boccanegra Brigida , Bianchini Gianluca , Cappellari Ornella , Tulimiero Lisamaura , Conte Elena , Cirmi Santa , Sanarica Francesca , De Bellis Michela , Mele Antonietta , Liantonio Antonella , Allegretti Marcello , Aramini Andrea , De Luca Annamaria
Published: January 2023

In age-related sarcopenia, the gradual loss of skeletal muscle mass, function and strength is underpinned by an imbalanced rate of protein synthesis/breakdown. Hence, an adequate protein intake is considered a valuable strategy to mitigate sarcopenia. Here, we investigated the effects of a 12-week oral supplementation with branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs: leucine, isoleucine, and valine) with recognized anabolic properties, in 17-month-old (AGED) C57BL/6J male mice. BCAAs (2:1:1) were formulated in drinking water, alone or plus two L-Alanine equivalents (2ALA) or dipeptide L-Alanyl-L-Alanine (Di-ALA) to boost BCAAs bioavailability. Outcomes were evaluated on in/ex vivo readouts vs. 6-month-old (ADULT) mice. In vivo hind limb plantar flexor torque was improved in AGED mice treated with BCAAs + Di-ALA or 2ALA (recovery score, R.S., towards ADULT: ≥20%), and all mixtures significantly increased hind limb volume. Ex vivo, myofiber cross-sectional areas were higher in gastrocnemius (GC) and soleus (SOL) muscles from treated mice (R.S. ≥ 69%). Contractile indices of isolated muscles were improved by the mixtures, especially in SOL muscle (R.S. ≥ 20%). The latter displayed higher mTOR protein levels in mice supplemented with 2ALA/Di-ALA-enriched mixtures (R.S. ≥ 65%). Overall, these findings support the usefulness of BCAAs-based supplements in sarcopenia, particularly as innovative formulations potentiating BCAAs bioavailability and effects.
Conformational Screening of Arbidol Solvates: Investigation via 2D NOESY
Authors: Eventova Varvara A. , Belov Konstantin V. , Efimov Sergey V. , Khodov Ilya A.
Published: January 2023

Understanding of the nucleation process’s fundamental principles in saturated solutions is an urgent task. To do this task, it is necessary to control the formation of polymorphic forms of biologically active compounds. In certain cases, a compound can exist in a single polymorphic form, but have several solvates which can appear in different crystal forms, depending on the medium and conditions of formation, and show different pharmaceutical activity. In the present paper, we report on the analysis of Arbidol conformational preferences in two solvents of different polarities—deuterated chloroform and dimethyl sulfoxide—at 25 °C, using the 2D NOESY method. The Arbidol molecule has various solvate forms depending on the molecular conformation. The method based on the nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy was shown to be efficient in the analysis of complex heterocyclic compounds possessing conformation-dependent pseudo-polymorphism. It is one of the types of polymorphism observed in compounds forming crystal solvates. Combined use of NMR methods and X-ray data allowed determining of conformer populations of Arbidol in CDCl3 and DMSO-d6 which were found to be 8/92% and 37/63%, respectively. The preferred conformation in solution is the same that appears in stable crystal solvates of Arbidol.
Curcumin-Based Nanomedicines in the Treatment of Inflammatory and Immunomodulated Diseases: An Evidence-Based Comprehensive Review
Authors: Laurindo Lucas Fornari , de Carvalho Gabriel Magno , de Oliveira Zanuso Bárbara , Figueira Maria Eduardo , Direito Rosa , de Alvares Goulart Ricardo , Buglio Daiene Santos , Barbalho Sandra Maria
Published: January 2023

Curcumin (CUR) is a polyphenol extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa that possesses potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential. Despite CUR’s numerous beneficial effects on human health, it has limitations, such as poor absorption. Nano-based drug delivery systems have recently been applied to improve CUR’s solubility and bioavailability and potentialize its health effects. This review investigated the effects of different CUR-based nanomedicines on inflammatory and immunomodulated diseases. PUBMED, EMBASE, COCHRANE, and GOOGLE SCHOLAR databases were searched, and the Scale for Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA) was used for quality assessment and PRISMA guidelines. Overall, 66 studies were included comprising atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), Huntington’s disease (HD), inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), psoriasis, liver fibrosis, epilepsy, and COVID-19. The available scientific studies show that there are many known nanoformulations with curcumin. They can be found in nanosuspensions, nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, solid lipid particles, nanocapsules, nanospheres, and liposomes. These formulations can improve CUR bioavailability and can effectively be used as adjuvants in several inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases such as atheroma plaque formation, RA, dementia, AD, PD, MS, IBD, psoriasis, epilepsy, COVID-19, and can be used as potent anti-fibrotic adjuvants in fibrotic liver disease.
An All Optical 2 × 1 Multiplexer Using a Metal-Insulator-Metal based Plasmonic Waveguide for Processing at a Rapid Pace
Authors: Charles Ipshitha , Swarnakar Sandip , Nalubolu Geetha Rani , Palacharla Venkatrao , Kumar Santosh
Published: January 2023

This study proposes, designs, and simulates a unique plasmonic Y-shaped MIM waveguide based 2 × 1 multiplexer (MUX) structure utilising opti-FDTD software. Two plasmonic Y-shaped waveguides are positioned facing one another inside a minimum wafer size of 6 µm × 3.5 µm in the 2 × 1 MUX configurations that is being described. The design parameters are adjusted until the plasmonic multiplexer performs as required under optimal conditions. Extinction ratio and insertion loss are two performance metrics that are calculated for performance analysis of the design, which indicate the potential to be applied in plasmonic integrated circuits.
Plasmonic Properties of the Metal Nanoparticles (NPs) on a Metal Mirror Separated by an Ultrathin Oxide Layer
Authors: Ebrahimzadeh Esfahani Niloofar , Kováč Jaroslav , Kováčová Soňa , Feiler Martin
Published: January 2023

The plasmonic resonance frequency of metal nanoparticles (NPs) strongly depend on the geometry, size, and separation between NPs. Here, a plasmonic structure is designed based on a film-coupled nanoparticle phenomenon and analytically investigated by a finite element method via COMSOL Multiphysics software tool. The optical behavior of the designed structure is studied and compared for two noble metals (gold and silver as a case study). Simulation results confirmed that structural elements such as dielectric layer thickness, metal film thickness, and metal nanoparticle separation distance significantly affect the plasmonic properties. Consequently, optimizing the dimensions of the mentioned structural elements results in a strong field enhancement in the dielectric gap layer. The simplicity of this structure, easy controlling of the dielectric gap layer thickness, strong field confinement in a limited area, and lack of incident light angle tunning are characteristic features of the proposed structure. Strong field enhancement in a limited volume makes this structure promising as plasmonic nanoantennas, SERS platforms, and sensing applications.
Research Trends, Biases, and Gaps in Phytochemicals as Insecticides: Literature Survey and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Collares Lara J. , Turchen Leonardo M. , Guedes Raul Narciso C.
Published: January 2023

A 76-year literature survey and meta-analyses were carried out to recognize the trends, biases, and knowledge gaps of studies focusing on major groups of compounds of botanical origin, or phytochemicals, as insecticides. The survey found that the main phytochemicals prospected as insecticides belong to the following major chemical groups: terpenoids, terpenes, and carbonyl, all of which were tested, mainly against beetles (Coleoptera), caterpillars (i.e., larvae of Lepidoptera), and mosquitoes and other flies (i.e., Diptera). These studies are burgeoning at an exponential rate, with an evident focus on mortality endpoint estimates, but they are also neglecting sublethal assessments. China and India in Asia, as well as Brazil in the Americas, were responsible for most studies. The majority of the papers used stored grain insects as experimental models, which limits the applicability and representativeness of the findings. As a result, the main modes of exposure tested were fumigation and contact, which leads to the prevalence of estimates of lethal concentration in these studies. Therefore, a broader range of insect species deserves testing, with suitable modes of exposure identifying and characterizing the main molecules responsible for the insecticidal activity, which is seldom performed. Attention to these needs will circumvent current biases and allow the recognition of the main patterns of association between the origin and structure of phytochemicals and their insecticidal effects.
History, Phylogeny, Biodiversity, and New Computer-Based Tools for Efficient Micropropagation and Conservation of Pistachio (Pistacia spp.) Germplasm
Authors: Nezami Esmaeil , Gallego Pedro P.
Published: January 2023

The word “pstk” [pistag], used in the ancient Persian language, is the linguistic root from which the current name “pistachio”, used worldwide, derives. The word pistachio is generally used to designate the plants and fruits of a single species: Pistacia vera L. Both the plant and its fruits have been used by mankind for thousands of years, specifically the consumption of its fruits by Neanderthals has been dated to about 300,000 years ago. Native to southern Central Asia (including northern Afghanistan and northeastern Iran), its domestication and cultivation occurred about 3000 years ago in this region, spreading to the rest of the Mediterranean basin during the Middle Ages and finally being exported to America and Australia at the end of the 19th century. The edible pistachio is an excellent source of unsaturated fatty acids, carbohydrates, proteins, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and bioactive phenolic compounds that help promote human health through their antioxidant capacity and biological activities. The distribution and genetic diversity of wild and domesticated pistachios have been declining due to increasing population pressure and climatic changes, which have destroyed natural pistachio habitats, and the monoculture of selected cultivars. As a result, the current world pistachio industry relies mainly on a very small number of commercial cultivars and rootstocks. In this review we discuss and summarize the current status of: etymology, origin, domestication, taxonomy and phylogeny by molecular analysis (RAPID, RFLP, AFLP, SSR, ISSR, IRAP, eSSR), main characteristics and world production, germplasm biodiversity, main cultivars and rootstocks, current conservation strategies of both conventional propagation (seeds, cutting, and grafting), and non-conventional propagation methods (cryopreservation, slow growth storage, synthetic seed techniques and micropropagation) and the application of computational tools (Design of Experiments (DoE) and Machine Learning: Artificial Neural Networks, Fuzzy logic and Genetic Algorithms) to design efficient micropropagation protocols for the genus Pistacia.
Optimal Tailoring of CNT Distribution in Functionally Graded Porous CNTRC Beams
Authors: Cho J. R. , Kim H. J.
Published: January 2023

This paper is concerned with the multi-objective optimization of thickness-wise CNT distribution in functionally graded porous CNT-reinforced composite (FG-porous CNTRC) beams. The mechanical behaviors of FG-porous CNTRC structures are strongly influenced by the thickness-wise distributions of CNTs and porosity. Nevertheless, several linear functions were simply adopted to represent the thickness-wise CNT distribution without considering the porosity distribution, so these assumed linear primitive CNT distribution patterns are not sufficient to respond to arbitrary loading and boundary conditions. In this context, this study presents the multi-objective optimization of thickness-wise CNT distribution in FG-CNTRC porous beams to simultaneously minimize the peak effective stress and the peak deflection. The multi-objective function is defined by the larger value between two normalized quantities and the design variable vector is composed of the layer-wise CNT volume fractions. The constrained multi-objective optimization problem is formulated by making use of the exterior penalty-function method and the aspiration-level adjustment. The proposed optimization method is demonstrated through the numerical experiments, and the optimization solutions are investigated with respect to the porosity distribution and the combination of aspiration levels for two single-objective functions. It is found from the numerical results that the optimum CNT distribution is significantly affected by the porosity distribution. Furthermore, the proposed method can be successfully used to seek an optimum CNT distribution within FG-porous CNTRC structures which simultaneously enhances the multi-objective functions.
Efficient Synthesis of High-Performance Anion Exchange Membranes by Applying Clickable Tetrakis(dialkylamino)phosphonium Cations
Authors: Wang Yu , Wang Yudong , Sahu Sushant , Gallo August A. , Zhou Xiao-Dong
Published: January 2023

Tetrakis(dialkylamino)phosphonium (TKDAAP) compounds exhibit extraordinary base resistance, a prerequisite feature for high-performance anion exchange membranes (AEMs). It is, however, challenging to synthesize a TKDAAP compound with reactive functionality that can be used to link the cation to a polymer backbone. In this study, two TKDAAP compounds with alkyne functionality were synthesized and incorporated into an azide-modified SBS triblock copolymer backbone via Cu(I)-catalyzed alkyne–azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) “click” chemistry. The properties of the resulting AEMs were characterized. It was found that (1) the triazole linker between the cation and the polymer backbone was stable under alkaline conditions; (2) varying the substituents of TKDAAP compounds could dramatically alter the stability; and (3) increasing the hydrophilicity of the AEM was an efficient way to enhance its ionic conductivity. Using clickable TKDAAP compounds makes it easy to combine various cations into polymer backbones with adjustable cation content, thus potentially leading to an efficient way to screen a wide variety of polyelectrolyte structures to identify the most promising candidates for high-performance AEMs.
Packaging Materials Based on Styrene-Isoprene-Styrene Triblock Copolymer Modified with Graphene
Authors: Zaharescu Traian , Banciu Cristina
Published: January 2023

This study presents the improved stabilization effects of graphene on a polymer substrate, namely a styrene-isoprene-styrene triblock copolymer (SIS) which creates opportunities for long-term applications and radiation processing. The added graphene has a remarkable activity on the protection of polymer against their oxidation due to the penetration of free macroradical fragments into the free interlayer space. The chemiluminescence procedure used for the evaluation of the progress of oxidation reveals the delaying effect of oxidative degradation by the doubling extension of oxidation induction time, when the material formulation containing graphene is oxidized at 130 °C. The pristine polymer that is thermally aged requires an activation energy of 142 kJ mol−1, while the modified material needs 148, 158 and 169 kJ mol−1, for the oxidative degradation in the presence of 1, 2 and, respectively, 3 wt% of graphene. The contribution of graphene content (1 wt%) on the stability improvement of SIS is demonstrated by the increase of onset oxidation temperature from 190 °C for neat polymer to 196 °C in the presence of graphene and to 205 °C for the polymer stabilized with graphene and rosemary extract. The addition of graphene into the polymer formulations is a successful method for enlarging durability instead of the modification of receipt with synthesis antioxidants. The presumable applications of these studied materials cover the areas of medical wear, food packaging, commodities, sealing gaskets and others that may also be included through the products for nuclear power plants.
Mapping Forest Growing Stem Volume Using Novel Feature Evaluation Criteria Based on Spectral Saturation in Planted Chinese Fir Forest
Authors: Lin Hui , Zhao Wanguo , Long Jiangping , Liu Zhaohua , Yang Peisong , Zhang Tingchen , Ye Zilin , Wang Qingyang , Matinfar Hamid Reza
Published: January 2023

Forest growing stem volume (GSV) is regarded as one of the most important parameters for the quality evaluation and dynamic monitoring of forest resources. The accuracy of mapping forest GSV is highly related to the employed models and involved remote sensing features, and the criteria of feature evaluation severely affect the performance of the employed models. However, due to the linear or nonlinear relationships between remote sensing features and GSV, widely used evaluation criteria inadequately express the complex sensitivity between forest GSV and spectral features, especially the saturation levels of features in a planted forest. In this study, novel feature evaluation criteria were constructed based on the Pearson correlations and optical saturation levels of the alternative remote sensing features extracted from two common optical remote sensing image sets (GF-1 and Sentinel-2). Initially, the spectral saturation level of each feature was quantified using the kriging spherical model and the quadratic model. Then, optimal feature sets were obtained with the proposed criteria and the linear stepwise regression model. Finally, four widely used machine learning models—support vector machine (SVM), multiple linear stepwise regression (MLR), random forest (RF) and K-neighborhood (KNN)—were employed to map forest GSV in a planted Chinese fir forest. The results showed that the proposed feature evaluation criteria could effectively improve the accuracy of estimating forest GSV and that the systematic distribution of errors between the predicted and ground measurements in the range of forest GSV was less than 300 m3/hm2. After using the proposed feature evaluation criteria, the highest accuracy of mapping GSV was obtained with the RF model for GF-1 images (R2 = 0.49, rRMSE = 28.67%) and the SVM model for Sentinel-2 images (R2 = 0.52, rRMSE = 26.65%), and the decreased rRMSE values ranged from 1.1 to 6.2 for GF-1 images (28.67% to 33.08%) and from 2.3 to 6.8 for Sentinel-2 images (26.85% to 33.28%). It was concluded that the sensitivity of the optimal feature set and the accuracy of the estimated GSV could be improved using the proposed evaluation criteria (less than 300 m3/hm2). However, these criteria were barely able to improve mapping accuracy for a forest with a high GSV (larger than 300 m3/hm2).
Tree Species Classification Using Airborne LiDAR Data Based on Individual Tree Segmentation and Shape Fitting
Authors: Qian Chen , Yao Chunjing , Ma Hongchao , Xu Junhao , Wang Jie
Published: January 2023

Individual tree species classification is of strategic importance for forest monitoring, analysis, and management, which are critical for sustainable forestry development. In this regard, the paper proposes a method based on the profile of segmented individual tree laser scanning points to identify tree species. The proposed methodology mainly takes advantage of three-dimensional geometric features of a tree crown captured by a laser point cloud to identify tree species. Firstly, the Digital Terrain Model (DTM) and Digital Surface Model (DSM) are used for Crown Height Model (CHM) generation. Then, local maximum algorithms and improved rotating profile-based delineations are used to segment individual trees from the profile CHM point data. In the next step, parallel-line shape fitting is used to fit the tree crown shape. In particular, three basic geometric shapes, namely, triangle, rectangle, and arc are used to fit the tree crown shapes of different tree species. If the crown belongs to the same crown shape or shape combination, parameter classification is used, such as the ratio of crown width and crown height or the apex angle range of the triangles. The proposed method was tested by two real datasets which were acquired from two different sites located at Tiger and Leopard National Park in Northeast China. The experimental results indicate that the average tree classification accuracy is 90.9% and the optimal classification accuracy reached 95.9%, which meets the accuracy requirements for rapid forestry surveying.
A New Method for the Rapid Determination of Fire Disturbance Events Using GEE and the VCT Algorithm—A Case Study in Southwestern and Northeastern China
Authors: Ye Junhong , Wang Nan , Sun Min , Liu Qinqin , Ding Ning , Li Mingshi
Published: January 2023

Forest fires are major disturbances in forest ecosystems. The rapid detection of the spatial and temporal characteristics of fires is essential for formulating targeted post-fire vegetation restoration measures and assessing fire-induced carbon emissions. We propose an accurate and efficient framework for extracting the spatiotemporal characteristics of fires using vegetation change tracker (VCT) products and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. The VCT was used to extract areas of persistent forest and forest disturbance patches from Landsat images of Xichang and Muli, Liangshan prefecture, Sichuan province in southwestern China and Huma, Heilongjiang province, in northeastern China. All available Landsat images in the GEE platform in a year were normalized using the VCT-derived persisting forest mask to derive three standardized vegetation indices (normalized burn ratio (NBRr), normalized difference moisture index (NDMIr), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVIr)). Historical forest disturbance events in Xichang were used to train two decision trees using the C4.5 data mining tool. The differenced NBRr, NDMIr, and NDVIr (dNBRr, dNDMIr, and dNDVIr) were obtained by calculating the difference in the index values between two temporally adjacent images. The occurrence time of disturbance events were extracted using the thresholds identified by decision tree 1. The use of all available images in GEE narrowed the disturbance occurrence time down to 16 days. This period was extended if images were not available or had cloud cover. Fire disturbances were distinguished from other disturbances by comparing the dNBRr, dNDMIr, and dNDVIr values with the thresholds identified by decision tree 2. The results showed that the proposed framework performed well in three study areas. The temporal accuracy for detecting disturbances in the three areas was 94.33%, 90.33%, and 89.67%, the classification accuracy of fire and non-fire disturbances was 85.33%, 89.67%, and 83.67%, and the Kappa coefficients were 0.71, 0.74, and 0.67, respectively. The proposed framework enables the efficient and rapid extraction of the spatiotemporal characteristics of forest fire disturbances using frequent Landsat time-series data, GEE, and VCT products. The results can be used in forest fire disturbance databases and to implement targeted post-disturbance vegetation restoration practices.
Preface: Remote Sensing Applications in Ocean Observation
Authors: Ho Chung-Ru , Liu Antony K.
Published: January 2023

The launch of Seasat, TIROS-N and Nimbus-7 satellites equipped with ocean observation sensors in 1978 opened the way for remote sensing applications in ocean observation [...]