bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Altered Colonic Microbiota Communities in Suckling Piglets
Authors: Tan Zhen , Dong Wanting , Ding Yaqun , Ding Xiangdong , Zhang Qin , Jiang Li
Published: December 2019

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) is a major gastrointestinal disease afflicting suckling pigs that causes huge industrial economic losses. In this study, we investigated microbiota from the colonic mucosa and content in healthy and PED piglets. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to identify inter-group differences. Firmicutes, Fusobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were the top four affected phyla. The proportion of Proteobacteria was higher in infected than in healthy piglets, and the opposite was observed for Bacteroidetes (more than four-fold higher in the healthy group). In the infected group, Fusobacterium accounted for 36.56% and 21.61% in the colonic mucosa and contents, respectively, while in the healthy group, they comprised 22.53% and 12.67%, respectively. The percentage of Lactobacillus in healthy colons (15.63%) was considerably higher than that in the disease group (<10%). In both the colonic mucosa and contents, functional enrichment differed significantly between healthy and diseased groups. Overall, infection with the PED virus increased the proportion of harmful bacteria and decreased the proportion of beneficial bacteria in the colons of piglets. Targeting intestinal microbiota could be a promising method for PED prevention, thus opening new avenues for future research.
Performance Investigation of Peak Shrinking and Interpolating the PAPR Reduction Technique for LTE-Advance and 5G Signals
Authors: Mohammady Somayeh , Farrell Ronan , Malone David , Dooley John
Published: December 2019

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) has become an indispensable part of waveform generation in wideband digital communication since its first appearance in digital audio broadcasting (DAB) in Europe in 1980s, and it is indeed in use. As has been seen, the OFDM based waveforms work well with time division duplex operation in new radio (NR) systems in 5G systems, supporting delay-sensitive applications, high spectral efficiency, massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO) compatibility, and ever-larger bandwidth signals, which has demonstrated successful commercial implementation for 5G downlinks and uplinks up to 256-QAM modulation schemes. However, the OFDM waveforms suffer from high peak to average power ratio (PAPR), which is not desired by system designers as they want RF power amplifiers (PAs) to operate with high efficiency. Although NR offers some options for maintaining the efficiency and spectral demand, such as cyclic prefix based (CP-OFDM), and discrete Fourier transform spread based (DFT-S-OFDM) schemes, which have limiting effects on PAPR, the PAPR is still as high as 13 dB. This value increases when the bandwidth is increased. Moreover, in LTE-Advance and 5G systems, in order to increase the bandwidth, and data-rate, carrier aggregation technology is used which increases the PAPR the same way that bandwidth increment does; therefore, it is essential to employ PAPR reduction in signal processing stage before passing the signal to PA. In this paper, we investigate the performance of an innovative peak shrinking and interpolation (PSI) technique for reducing peak to average power ratio (PAPR) in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) based signals at waveform generation stage. The main idea behind the PSI technique is to extract high peaks, scale them down, and interpolate them back into the signal. It is shown that PSI technique is a possible candidate for reducing PAPR without compromising on computational complexity, compatible for existing and future telecommunication systems such as 4G, 5G, and beyond. In this paper, the PSI technique is tested with variety of signals in terms of inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) length, type of the signal modulation, and applications. Additional work has been carried out to compare the proposed technique with other promising PAPR reduction techniques. This paper further validates the PSI technique through experimental measurement with a power amplifier (PA) test bench and achieves an adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) of less than –55 dBc. Results showed improvement in output power of PA versus given input power, and furthermore, the error vector magnitude (EVM) of less than 1 % was achieved when comparing of the signal after and before modification by the PSI technique.
Game-Based Learning in Museums—Cultural Heritage Applications
Authors: Ćosović Marijana , Brkić Belma Ramić
Published: December 2019

As traditional museums migrate to the virtual world, they offer wider access to the exhibit collections but often fail to present content of those collections in more engaging way. Game-based learning is one of the solutions to mitigate this inevitable transition and support active learning in the process. It is increasingly gaining interest from the cultural heritage scientific community for the purpose of promoting cultural heritage, raising awareness of its importance and motivating users to visit cultural institutions such as museums more often. There are numerous examples of serious games that are based on or contain heritage content. Tangible cultural heritage is more represented in the virtual worlds and mainly based on applications of 3D technology. Recently, intangible cultural heritage is gaining more visibility within cultural heritage scope as a domain in which game-based learning could assist in its preservation. This paper attempts to address pros and cons of game-based learning in general and reflect on the choices of using serious games in the museum environment.
The Clinical Outcomes Based on the Achievement of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Targets after ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Lee Wei-Chieh , Fang Chih-Yuan , Chen Chien-Jen , Yang Cheng-Hsu , Wu Chiung-Jen , Fang Hsiu-Yu
Published: December 2019

The clinical outcome of patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), with or without achievement of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets, has rarely been investigated. This study was performed to investigate the comparison of clinical outcome in STEMI patients with or without achievement LDL-C targets (below 70 mg/dL and/or ≥50% reduction). Between November 2013 and December 2016, 689 STEMI patients underwent primary PCI in our hospital. Patients who were deceased, lost to follow-up, had no follow-up lipid profile, or had no side effects after statin use were excluded. A total of 343 patients were classified into group 1 (with LDL-C target achievement) and 172 patients were classified into group 2 (without LDL-C target achievement). Between the two groups, a higher prevalence of left main coronary artery disease, smaller pre-PCI stenosis, and a larger pre-PCI minimal luminal diameter were noted in group 2. The incidence of post-MI angina (8.7% vs. 6.4%; p = 0.393), target vessel revascularization (2.3% vs. 3.5%; p = 0.566), and recurrent MI (1.5% vs. 1.2%; p = 1.000), showed similar results between the two groups during a one-year follow-up period. Initial LDL-C levels ≥130 mg/dL, left main coronary artery disease, and absence of diabetes mellitus were positively associated with non-achievement of LDL-C targets. After STEMI, 66.6% of patients could achieve LDL-C targets one year later. However, such patients did not show better clinical outcomes. Non-DM, initial LDL-C levels ≥130 mg/dL, and left main coronary artery disease were related to non-achievement of LDL-C targets.
Lipid Droplets Define a Sub-Population of Breast Cancer Stem Cells
Authors: Hershey Benjamin J. , Vazzana Roberta , Joppi Débora L. , Havas Kristina M.
Published: December 2019

Tumor recurrence is now the leading cause of breast cancer-related death. These recurrences are believed to arise from residual cancer stem cells that survive initial therapeutic intervention. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of cancer stem cell biology is needed to generate more effective therapies. Here we investigate the association between dysregulation of lipid metabolism and breast cancer stem cells. Focusing specifically on lipid droplets, we found that the lipid droplet number correlates with stemness in a panel of breast cell lines. Using a flow cytometry-based method developed for this study, we establish a means to isolate cells with augmented lipid droplet loads from total populations and show that they are enriched in cancer stem cells. Furthermore, pharmacological targeting of fatty acid metabolism reveals a metabolic addiction in a subset of cell lines. Our results highlight a key role for the lipid metabolism in the maintenance of the breast cancer stem cell pool, and as such, suggest it as a potential therapeutic target.
Why Uptake of Blended Internet-Based Interventions for Depression Is Challenging: A Qualitative Study on Therapists’ Perspectives
Authors: Mol Mayke , van Genugten Claire , Dozeman Els , van Schaik Digna J. F. , Draisma Stasja , Riper Heleen , Smit Jan H.
Published: December 2019

(1) Background: Blended cognitive behavioral therapy (bCBT; online and face-to-face sessions) seems a promising alternative alongside regular face-to-face CBT depression treatment in specialized mental health care organizations. Therapists are key in the uptake of bCBT. This study focuses on therapists’ perspectives on usability, satisfaction, and factors that promote or hinder the use of bCBT in routine practice; (2) Methods: Three focus groups (n = 8, n = 7, n = 6) and semi-structured in-depth interviews (n = 15) were held throughout the Netherlands. Beforehand, the participating therapists (n = 36) completed online questionnaires on usability and satisfaction. Interviews were analyzed by thematic analysis; (3) Results: Therapists found the usability sufficient and were generally satisfied with providing bCBT. The thematic analysis showed three main themes on promoting and hindering factors: (1) therapists’ needs regarding bCBT uptake, (2) therapists’ role in motivating patients for bCBT, and (3) therapists’ experiences with bCBT; (4) Conclusions: Overall, therapists were positive; bCBT can be offered by all CBT-trained therapists and future higher uptake is expected. Especially the pre-set structure of bCBT was found beneficial for both therapists and patients. Nevertheless, therapists did not experience promised time-savings—rather, the opposite. Besides, there are still teething problems and therapeutic shortcomings that need improvement in order to motivate therapists to use bCBT.
Clinical Applications, Pitfalls, and Uncertainties of Thrombin Generation in the Presence of Platelets
Authors: Panova-Noeva Marina , van der Meijden Paola E.J. , ten Cate Hugo
Published: December 2019

Platelet-dependent thrombin generation is a helpful tool to assess ex vivo the interaction between platelets and plasma coagulation factors in the initiation, amplification, and inhibition of thrombin generation (TG). This review article discusses the most relevant available data on the clinical applications of fluorogenic TG, the most widely used TG assay, performed in the presence of platelets, i.e., in platelet-rich plasma. With respect to prothrombotic states, arterial hypertension and obesity were the most prominent cardiovascular conditions linked to increased platelet-dependent TG. In addition, platelet-associated hypercoagulability, assessed by the TG assay, has been shown in individuals with active cancer. In terms of bleeding, platelet-dependent TG has been applied to assess bleeding risk in individuals with hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, and Glanzmann thrombasthenia as well as in subjects with other congenital or acquired coagulation factor deficiencies. In addition to risk prediction, a role of the TG assay has been suggested in monitoring antiplatelet therapy in prothrombotic conditions and replacement therapy in bleeding diathesis. Finally, for the routine clinical use and as a biomarker of disease development and progression, better standardization and clinical validation of platelet-dependent TG are still needed.
Nanosatellites for Biology in Space: In Situ Measurement of Bacillus subtilis Spore Germination and Growth after 6 Months in Low Earth Orbit on the O/OREOS Mission
Authors: Nicholson Wayne L. , Ricco Antonio J.
Published: December 2019

We report here complete 6-month results from the orbiting Space Environment Survivability of Living Organisms (SESLO) experiment. The world’s first and only long-duration live-biology cubesat experiment, SESLO was executed by one of two 10-cm cube-format payloads aboard the 5.5-kg O/OREOS (Organism/Organic Exposure to Orbital Stresses) free-flying nanosatellite, which launched to a 72°-inclination, 650-km Earth orbit in 2010. The SESLO experiment measured the long-term survival, germination, metabolic, and growth responses of Bacillus subtilis spores exposed to microgravity and ionizing radiation including heavy-ion bombardment. A pair of radiation dosimeters (RadFETs, i.e., radiation-sensitive field-effect transistors) within the SESLO payload provided an in-situ dose rate estimate of 6–7.6 mGy/day throughout the mission. Microwells containing samples of dried spores of a wild-type B. subtilis strain and a radiation-sensitive mutant deficient in Non-Homologoous End Joining (NHEJ) were rehydrated after 14, 91, and 181 days in space with nutrient medium containing with the redox dye alamarBlue (aB), which changes color upon reaction with cellular metabolites. Three-color transmitted light intensity measurements of all microwells were telemetered to Earth within days of each 24-hour growth experiment. At 14 and 91 days, spaceflight samples germinated, grew, and metabolized significantly more slowly than matching ground-control samples, as measured both by aB reduction and optical density changes; these rate differences notwithstanding, the final optical density attained was the same in both flight and ground samples. After 181 days in space, spore germination and growth appeared hindered and abnormal. We attribute the differences not to an effect of the space environment per se, as both spaceflight and ground-control samples exhibited the same behavior, but to a pair of ~15-day thermal excursions, after the 91-day measurement and before the 181-day experiment, that peaked above 46 °C in the SESLO payload. Because the payload hardware operated nominally at 181 days, the growth issues point to heat damage, most likely to component(s) of the growth medium (RPMI 1640 containing aB) or to biocompatibility issues caused by heat-accelerated outgassing or leaching of harmful compounds from components of the SESLO hardware and electronics.
Austenitic Stainless Steel Powders with Increased Nitrogen Content for Laser Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Cui Chengsong , Uhlenwinkel Volker , Schulz Alwin , Zoch Hans-Werner
Published: December 2019

Nitrogen is used as an alloying element, substituting the expensive and allergenic element nickel, in austenitic stainless steels to improve their mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. The development of austenitic stainless steel powders with increased nitrogen content for laser additive manufacturing has recently received great interest. To increase nitrogen content in the austenitic steel powders (for example AISI 316L), two measures are taken in this study: (1) melting the steel under a nitrogen atmosphere, and (2) adding manganese to increase the solubility of nitrogen in the steel. The steel melt is then atomized by means of gas atomization (with either nitrogen or argon). The resulting powders are examined and characterized with regard to nitrogen content, particle size distribution, particle shape, microstructure, and flowability. It shows that about 0.2–0.3 mass % nitrogen can be added to the austenitic stainless steel 316L by adding manganese and melting the steel under nitrogen atmosphere. The particles are spherical in shape and very few satellite particles are observed. The steel powders show good flowability and packing density, therefore they can be successfully processed by means of laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF).
Nucleotide Identification in DNA Using Dielectrophoresis Spectroscopy
Authors: Gudagunti Fleming Dackson , Velmanickam Logeeshan , Nawarathna Dharmakeerthi , Lima Ivan T.
Published: December 2019

We show that negative dielectrophoresis (DEP) spectroscopy is an effective transduction mechanism of a biosensor for the detection of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in a short DNA strand. We observed a frequency dependence of the negative DEP force applied by interdigitated electrodes to polystyrene microspheres (PM) with respect to changes in both the last and the second-to-last nucleotides of a single-strand DNA bound to the PM. The drift velocity of PM functionalized to single-strand DNA, which is proportional to the DEP force, was measured at the frequency range from 0.5 MHz to 2 MHz. The drift velocity was calculated using a custom-made automated software using real time image processing technique. This technology for SNP genotyping has the potential to be used in the diagnosis and the identification of genetic variants associated with diseases.
Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Bisphenol A Based on Self-Assembly
Authors: Luo Haoyue , Lin Xiaogang , Peng Zhijia , Song Min , Jin Lifeng
Published: December 2019

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor that may lead to reproductive disorder, heart disease, and diabetes. Infants and young children are likely to be vulnerable to the effects of BPA. At present, the detection methods of BPA are complicated to operate and require expensive instruments. Therefore, it is quite vital to develop a simple, rapid, and highly sensitive method to detect BPA in different samples. In this study, we have designed a rapid and highly sensitive biosensor based on an effective self-assembled monolayer (SAM) and alternating current (AC) electrokinetics capacitive sensing method, which successfully detected BPA at nanomolar levels with only one minute. The developed biosensor demonstrates a detection of BPA ranging from 0.028 μg/mL to 280 μg/mL with a limit of detection (LOD) down to 0.028 μg/mL in the samples. The developed biosensor exhibited great potential as a portable BPA biosensor, and further development of this biosensor may also be useful in the detection of other small biochemical molecules.
The Biosurfactant β-Aescin: A Review on the Physico-Chemical Properties and Its Interaction with Lipid Model Membranes and Langmuir Monolayers
Authors: Geisler Ramsia , Dargel Carina , Hellweg Thomas
Published: December 2019

This review discusses recent progress in physicochemical understanding of the action of the saponin β -aescin (also called β -escin), the biologically active component in the seeds of the horse chestnut tree Aesculus hippocastanum. β -Aescin is used in pharmacological and cosmetic applications showing strong surface activity. In this review, we outline the most important findings describing the behavior of β -aescin in solution (e.g., critical micelle concentration ( c m c ) and micelle shape) and special physicochemical properties of adsorbed β -aescin monolayers at the air–water and oil–water interface. Such monolayers were found to posses very special viscoelastic properties. The presentation of the experimental findings is complemented by discussing recent molecular dynamics simulations. These simulations do not only quantify the predominant interactions in adsorbed monolayers but also highlight the different behavior of neutral and ionized β -aescin molecules. The review concludes on the interaction of β -aescin with phospholipid model membranes in the form of bilayers and Langmuir monolayers. The interaction of β -aescin with lipid bilayers was found to strongly depend on its c m c . At concentrations below the c m c , membrane parameters are modified whereas above the c m c , complete solubilization of the bilayers occurs, depending on lipid phase state and concentration. In the presence of gel-phase phospholipids, discoidal bicelles form; these are tunable in size by composition. The phase behavior of β -aescin with lipid membranes can also be modified by addition of other molecules such as cholesterol or drug molecules. The lipid phase state also determines the penetration rate of β -aescin molecules into lipid monolayers. The strongest interaction was always found in the presence of gel-phase phospholipid molecules.
Ultrasound-Assisted Green Synthesis of Dialkyl Peroxides under Phase-Transfer Catalysis Conditions
Authors: Kopeć Daniel , Baj Stefan , Siewniak Agnieszka
Published: December 2019

The dialkyl peroxides, which contain a thermally unstable oxygen–oxygen bond, are an important source of radical initiators and cross-linking agents. New efficient and green methods for their synthesis are still being sought. Herein, ultrasound-assisted synthesis of dialkyl peroxides from alkyl hydroperoxides and alkyl bromides in the presence of an aqueous solution of an inorganic base was systematically studied under phase-transfer catalysis (PTC) conditions. The process run in a tri-liquid system in which polyethylene glycol as a phase-transfer catalyst formed a third liquid phase between the organic and inorganic phases. The use of ultrasound provided high yields of organic peroxides (70–99%) in significantly shorter reaction times (1.5 h) in comparison to reaction with magnetic stirring (5.0 h). In turn, conducting the reaction in the tri-liquid PTC system allowed easy separation of the catalyst and its multiple use without significant loss of activity.
Concentration-Dependent Effects of N-3 Long-Chain Fatty Acids on Na,K-ATPase Activity in Human Endothelial Cells
Authors: Cazzola Roberta , Della Porta Matteo , Castiglioni Sara , Pinotti Luciano , Maier Jeanette A.M. , Cestaro Benvenuto
Published: December 2019

N-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) seem to prevent endothelial dysfunction, a crucial step in atherogenesis, by modulating the levels of vasoactive molecules and by influencing Na,K-ATPase activity of vascular myocytes. The activity of endothelial Na,K-ATPase controls the ionic homeostasis of the neighboring cells, as well as cell function. However, controversy exists with respect to the vascular protective effect of EPA and DHA. We argue that this dispute might be due to the use of different concentrations of EPA and DHA in different studies. Therefore, this study was designed to define an optimal concentration of EPA and DHA to investigate endothelial function. For this purpose, human endothelial cells were exposed for 24 h to different concentrations of DHA or EPA (0–20 μM) to study membrane fluidity, peroxidation potential and Na,K-ATPase activity. EPA and DHA were linearly incorporated and this incorporation was mirrored by the linear increase of unsaturation index, membrane fluidity, and peroxidation potential. Na,K-ATPase activity peaked at 3.75 μM of EPA and DHA and then gradually decreased. It is noteworthy that DHA effects were always more pronounced than EPA. Concluding, low concentrations of EPA and DHA minimize peroxidation sensitivity and optimize Na,K-ATPase activity.
Secondary Metabolites from Gorgonian Corals of the Genus Eunicella: Structural Characterizations, Biological Activities, and Synthetic Approaches
Authors: Matulja Dario , Kolympadi Markovic Maria , Ambrožić Gabriela , Laclef Sylvain , Pavelić Sandra Kraljević , Marković Dean
Published: December 2019

Gorgonian corals, which belong to the genus Eunicella, are known as natural sources of diverse compounds with unique structural characteristics and interesting bioactivities both in vitro and in vivo. This review is focused primarily on the secondary metabolites isolated from various Eunicella species. The chemical structures of 64 compounds were divided into three main groups and comprehensively presented: a) terpenoids, b) sterols, and c) alkaloids and nucleosides. The observed biological activities of depicted metabolites with an impact on cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities were reviewed. The most promising biological activities of certain metabolites point to potential candidates for further development in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and other industries, and are highlighted. Total synthesis or the synthetic approaches towards the desired skeletons or natural products are also summarized.
Amphiphilic Porphyrin Aggregates: A DFT Investigation
Authors: Sabuzi Federica , Stefanelli Manuela , Monti Donato , Conte Valeria , Galloni Pierluca
Published: December 2019

Owing to the attractive potential applications of porphyrin assemblies in photocatalysis, sensors, and material science, studies presently concerning porphyrin aggregation are widely diffused. π–π stacking, H-bonding, metal coordination, hydrophobic effect, and electrostatic forces usually drive porphyrin interaction in solution. However, theoretical studies of such phenomena are still limited. Therefore, a computational examination of the different porphyrin aggregation approaches is proposed here, taking into account amphiphilic [5-{4-(3-trimethylammonium)propyloxyphenyl}-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin] chloride, whose aggregation behavior has been previously experimentally investigated. Different functionals have been adopted to investigate the porphyrin dimeric species, considering long-range interactions. Geometry optimization has been performed, showing that for the compound under analysis, H-type and cation–π dimers are the most favored structures that likely co-exist in aqueous solution. Of note, frontier orbital delocalization showed an interesting interaction between the porphyrin units in the dimer at the supramolecular level.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Radiopharmaceuticals in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Sachpekidis Christos , Goldschmidt Hartmut , Dimitrakopoulou-Strauss Antonia
Published: December 2019

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell disorder, characterized by clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow. Bone disease is the most frequent feature and an end-organ defining indicator of MM. In this context, imaging plays a pivotal role in the management of the malignancy. For several decades whole-body X-ray survey (WBXR) has been applied for the diagnosis and staging of bone disease in MM. However, the serious drawbacks of WBXR have led to its gradual replacement from novel imaging modalities, such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). PET/CT, with the tracer 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG), is now considered a powerful diagnostic tool for the detection of medullary and extramedullary disease at the time of diagnosis, a reliable predictor of survival as well as the most robust modality for treatment response evaluation in MM. On the other hand, 18F-FDG carries its own limitations as a radiopharmaceutical, including a rather poor sensitivity for the detection of diffuse bone marrow infiltration, a relatively low specificity, and the lack of widely applied, established criteria for image interpretation. This has led to the development of several alternative PET tracers, some of which with promising results regarding MM detection. The aim of this review article is to outline the major applications of PET/CT with different radiopharmaceuticals in the clinical practice of MM.
Mass Spectrometry Reveals Complexing Properties of Modified PNP-Lariat Ether Containing Benzyl Derivative of (S)–Prolinamine
Authors: Gutowska Natalia , Seliger Piotr , Romański Jarosław , Zięba Magdalena , Adamus Grazyna , Kowalczuk Marek
Published: December 2019

In the investigation presented here the synthesis of new lariat ether derivative obtained from the modification of tetrapyrrolidinyl-PNP-crown ether macrocycle is described. The polyheterotopic molecular coreceptor consisted of the replacement of chlorine atoms with an optically active (S)-(1-benzylpyrrolidin-2-yl) methanamine. The structure was confirmed by using elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, and NMR spectroscopy. This work covers results concerning the complexing properties of the new ligand towards Ag+, Cu2+, Co2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+ ions. The formation of non-covalent complexes of 1:1 stoichiometry with the Cu2+, Co2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+ ions have been confirmed by mass spectrometry. Due to the previous work and application possibilities, a large emphasis was put on the investigation of the complexation ability of lariat ether with silver (I) cation to determine stability constants by direct potentiometric method. In this case, the formation of four different forms of complexes AgL, Ag2L, Ag3L, and Ag4L has been proved. The observed unusual binding through the nitrogen atoms from the exocyclic substituents may provide the structural unit to build a new coordination polymers.
Plant-Derived Molecules α-Boswellic Acid Acetate, Praeruptorin-A, and Salvianolic Acid-B Have Age-Related Differential Effects in Young and Senescent Human Fibroblasts In Vitro
Authors: Lewinska Anna , Sodagam Lakshman , Bloniarz Dominika , Siems Karsten , Wnuk Maciej , Rattan Suresh I. S.
Published: December 2019

Testing and screening of plant-derived molecules on normal human cells in vitro is a widely used approach for discovering their eventual health beneficial effects for human ageing and longevity. As little is known about age-associated differential effects of such molecules, here we report that young (<25% replicative lifespan completed) and near-senescent (>90% replicative lifespan completed) human skin fibroblasts exposed for 1–15 days to a wide range of concentrations (0.1–100 μM) of the three selected phytochemicals, namely α-boswellic acid acetate (ABC), praeruptorin-A (PTA), and salvianolic acid-B (SAB) had age-related differential effects. The parameters studied were the metabolic activity (MTT assay), cellular morphological phenotype, one-step growth characteristics, expression of genes involved in the cell cycle regulation and cytokine network genes, protein levels of p53, cytosolic superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3), and the extent of protein carbonylation and protein aggregation as a sign of oxidative stress. All three compounds showed biphasic hormetic dose response by stimulating cell growth, survival and metabolic activity at low doses (up to 1 μM), while showing inhibitory effects at high doses (>10 μM). Furthermore, the response of early passage young cells was different from that of the late passage near-senescent cells, especially with respect to the expression of cell cycle-related and inflammation-related genes. Such studies have importance with respect to the use of low doses of such molecules as health-promoting and/or ageing-interventions through the phenomenon of hormesis.
Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Materials for Room Temperature Light-Activated Sub-ppm NO Detection
Authors: Nasriddinov Abulkosim , Rumyantseva Marina , Shatalova Tatyana , Tokarev Sergey , Yaltseva Polina , Fedorova Olga , Khmelevsky Nikolay , Gaskov Alexander
Published: December 2019

Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the main environmental pollutants and one of the biomarkers noninvasive diagnosis of respiratory diseases. Organic-inorganic hybrids based on heterocyclic Ru (II) complex and nanocrystalline semiconductor oxides SnO2 and In2O3 were studied as sensitive materials for NO detection at room temperature under periodic blue light (λmax = 470 nm) illumination. The semiconductor matrixes were obtained by chemical precipitation with subsequent thermal annealing and characterized by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and single-point BET methods. The heterocyclic Ru (II) complex was synthesized for the first time and characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. The HOMO and LUMO energies of the Ru (II) complex are calculated from cyclic voltammetry data. The thermal stability of hybrids was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)-MS analysis. The optical properties of Ru (II) complex, nanocrystalline oxides and hybrids were studied by UV-Vis spectroscopy in transmission and diffuse reflectance modes. DRIFT spectroscopy was performed to investigate the interaction between NO and the surface of the synthesized materials. Sensor measurements demonstrate that hybrid materials are able to detect NO at room temperature in the concentration range of 0.25–4.0 ppm with the detection limit of 69–88 ppb.
Lipophilized Epigallocatechin Gallate Derivative Exerts Anti-Proliferation Efficacy through Induction of Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis on DU145 Human Prostate Cancer Cells
Authors: Chen Jun , Zhang Linli , Li Changhong , Chen Ruochen , Liu Chengmei , Chen Mingshun
Published: December 2019

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the predominant tea polyphenol and it exhibits a hydrophilic character. The lipophilized EGCG derivative (LEGCG) was synthesized by enzymatic esterification of EGCG with lauric acid to enhance its bioactivity. The tetralauroyl EGCG was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and further identified as 3′, 5′, 3″, 5″-4-O-lauroyl EGCG by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance. The anti-proliferation effect of LEGCG on DU145 human prostate carcinoma cells was evaluated by MTT assay. In addition, the underlying molecular mechanism by which LEGCG exerts anti-proliferation efficacy was elucidated by flow cytometry and immunoblot analysis. Results suggested that LEGCG exhibited a dose-dependent anti-proliferation effect on DU145 cells by G0/G1 phase arrest and induction of apoptosis. LEGCG induced cell cycle arrest via p53/p21 activation, which down-regulated the cyclin D1 and CDK4 expression. In addition, LEGCG induced apoptosis by increasing the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, the cytochrome c release, and the caspases cleavage on DU145 cells. The results provide theoretical support to prevent prostate cancer with LEGCG.
School-Based Interventions Targeting Nutrition and Physical Activity, and Body Weight Status of African Children: A Systematic Review
Authors: Adom Theodosia , De Villiers Anniza , Puoane Thandi , Kengne André Pascal
Published: December 2019

Background: Overweight/obesity is an emerging health concern among African children. The aim of this study was to summarise available evidence from school-based interventions that focused on improving nutrition and physical activity knowledge, attitude, and behaviours, and weight status of children aged 6–15 years in the African context. Methods: Multiple databases were searched for studies evaluating school-based interventions of African origin that involved diet alone, physical activity alone, or multicomponent interventions, for at least 12 weeks in duration, reporting changes in either diet, physical activity, or body composition, and published between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2018. No language restrictions were applied. Relevant data from eligible studies were extracted. Narrative synthesis was used to analyse and describe the data. Results: This systematic review included nine interventions comprising 10 studies. Studies were conducted among 9957 children and adolescents in two African countries, namely South Africa and Tunisia, and were generally of low methodological quality. The sample size at baseline ranged from 28 to 4003 participants. Two interventions reported enrolling children from both urban and rural areas. The majority of the study participants were elementary or primary school children and adolescents in grades 4 to 6. Participants were between the ages of 12.4 and 13.5 years. All but one intervention targeted children of both sexes. Four studies were described as randomised control trials, while five were pre- and post-test quasi-experiments. Except for one study that involved the community as a secondary setting, all were primarily school-based studies. The duration of the interventions ranged from four months to three years. The interventions focused largely on weight-related behaviours, while a few targeted weight status. The results of the effectiveness of these interventions were inconsistent: three of five studies that evaluated weight status (body mass index (BMI), BMI z-score, overweight/obesity prevalence), three of six studies that reported physical activity outcomes (number of sports activities, and physical activity duration ≥ 30 min for at least six days/week), and four of six reporting on nutrition-related outcomes (number meeting fruit and vegetable intake ≥ 5 times/day) found beneficial effects of the interventions. Conclusion: Given the dearth of studies and the inconsistent results, definite conclusions about the overall effectiveness and evidence could not be made. Nonetheless, this study has identified research gaps in the childhood obesity literature in Africa and strengthened the need for further studies, the findings of which would contribute valuable data and inform policy.
Evaluating the Memory Enhancing Effects of Angelica gigas in Mouse Models of Mild Cognitive Impairments
Authors: Kim Minsang , Song Minah , Oh Hee-Jin , Hui Jin , Bae Woori , Shin Jihwan , Ji Sang-Dock , Koh Young Ho , Suh Joo Won , Park Hyunwoo , Maeng Sungho
Published: December 2019

(1) Background: By 2050, it is estimated that 130 million people will be diagnosed with dementia, and currently approved medicines only slow the progression. So preventive intervention is important to treat dementia. Mild cognitive impairment is a condition characterized by some deterioration in cognitive function and increased risk of progressing to dementia. Therefore, the treatment of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a possible way to prevent dementia. Angelica gigas reduces neuroinflammation, improves circulation, and inhibits cholinesterase, which can be effective in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia and the progression of mild cognitive impairment. (2) Methods: Angelica gigas (AG) extract 1 mg/kg was administered to mildly cognitive impaired mice, models based on mild traumatic brain injury and chronic mild stress. Then, spatial, working, and object recognition and fear memory were measured. (3) Result: Angelica gigas improved spatial learning, working memory, and suppressed fear memory in the mild traumatic brain injury model. It also improved spatial learning and suppressed cued fear memory in the chronic mild stress model animals. (4) Conclusions: Angelica gigas can improve cognitive symptoms in mild cognitive impairment model mice.
Tree Fern Cyathea lepifera May Survive by Its Phytotoxic Property
Authors: Ida Noriyuki , Iwasaki Arihiro , Teruya Toshiaki , Suenaga Kiyotake , Kato-Noguchi Hisashi
Published: December 2019

Cyatheaceae (tree ferns) appeared during the Jurassic period and some of the species still remain. Those species may have some morphological and/or physiological characteristics for survival. A tree fern was observed to suppress the growth of other ligneous plants in a tropical forest. It was assumed that the fern may release toxic substances into the forest floor, but those toxic substances have not yet been identified. Therefore, we investigated the phytotoxicity and phytotoxic substances of Cyathea lepifera (J. Sm. ex Hook.) Copel. An aqueous methanol extract of C. lepifera fronds inhibited the growth of roots and shoots of dicotyledonous garden cress (Lepidum sativum L.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and monocotyledonous ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), timothy (Phleum pratense L.), and barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv.). The results suggest that C. lepifera fronds may have phytotoxicity and contain some phytotoxic substances. The extract was purified through several chromatographic steps during which inhibitory activity was monitored, and p-coumaric acid and (-)-3-hydroxy-β-ionone were isolated. Those compounds showed phytotoxic activity and may contribute to the phytotoxic effects caused by the C. lepifera fronds. The fronds fall and accumulate on the forest floor through defoliation, and the compounds may be released into the forest soils through the decomposition process of the fronds. The phytotoxic activities of the compounds may be partly responsible for the fern’s survival.
Identification of Antimicrobial Compounds from Sandwithia guyanensis-Associated Endophyte Using Molecular Network Approach
Authors: Mai Phuong-Y , Levasseur Marceau , Buisson Didier , Touboul David , Eparvier Véronique
Published: December 2019

The emergence of multidrug resistant bacterial pathogens and the increase of antimicrobial resistance constitutes a major health challenge, leading to intense research efforts being focused on the discovery of novel antimicrobial compounds. In this study, endophytes were isolated from different parts of Sandwithia guyanensis plant (leaves, wood and latex) belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family and known to produce antimicrobial compounds, and chemically characterised using Molecular Network in order to discover novel antimicrobial molecules. One fungal endophyte extract obtained from S. guyanensis latex showed significant antimicrobial activity with Minimal Inhibitory Concentration on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at 16 µg/mL. The chemical investigation of this fungus (Lecanicillium genus) extract led to the isolation of 5 stephensiolides compounds, four of which demonstrated antibacterial activity. Stephensiolide I and G showed the highest antibacterial activity on MRSA with a MIC at 4 and 16 µg/mL respectively.
Measurement of the Shear Properties of Extruded Polystyrene Foam by In-Plane Shear and Asymmetric Four-Point Bending Tests
Authors: Yoshihara Hiroshi , Maruta Makoto
Published: December 2019

The shear modulus and shear strength of extruded polystyrene foam were obtained by the in-plane shear and asymmetric four-point bending tests. In addition, the test data were numerically analysed, and the effectiveness of these tests was examined. The numerical and experimental results suggest that the shear modulus and shear strength obtained from the in-plane shear test are significantly smaller than those obtained from the asymmetric four-point bending test because the influence of the stress concentration was less significant. Although the in-plane shear test is standardised in ASTM C273/C273M-11, it is considerable to adopt the asymmetric four-point bending test as another candidate for obtaining the shear properties of extruded polystyrene foam.
Spatial Non-Uniformity of Surface Temperature of the Dead Sea and Adjacent Land Areas
Authors: Kishcha Pavel , Starobinets Boris , Pinker Rachel T. , Kunin Pavel , Alpert Pinhas
Published: December 2019

Pronounced spatial non-uniformity has been obtained of daytime sea surface temperature (SST) of the Dead Sea and of land surface temperature (LST) over areas adjacent to the Dead Sea. This non-uniformity was observed in the summer months, under uniform solar radiation. Our findings are based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data (2002–2016) on board the Terra and Aqua satellites. MODIS data showed that, on average for the 15-year study period, daytime SST over the eastern part of the lake (Te) exceeded by 5 °C that over the western part (Tw). This SST non-uniformity (observed in the absence of surface heat flow from land to sea at the eastern side) was accompanied by spatial non-uniform distribution of land surface temperature (LST) over areas adjacent to the Dead Sea. Specifically, LST over areas adjacent to the eastern side exceeded by 10 °C that over areas adjacent to the western side. Our findings of spatial non-uniformity of SST/LST based on MODIS data were supported by Meteosat Second Generation LST records. Regional atmospheric warming led to a decrease in spatial non-uniformity of SST during the study period. Temperature difference between Te and Tw steadily decreased at the rate of 0.32 °C decade−1, based on MODIS/Terra data, and 0.54 °C decade−1, based on MODIS/Aqua data. Our simulations of monthly skin temperature distribution over the Dead Sea by the Weather Forecast and Research (WRF) model contradict satellite observations. The application to modeling of the observed SST/LST spatial non-uniformity will advance our knowledge of atmospheric dynamics over hypersaline lakes.
Tropical Cyclone Intensity Estimation Using Multi-Dimensional Convolutional Neural Networks from Geostationary Satellite Data
Authors: Lee Juhyun , Im Jungho , Cha Dong-Hyun , Park Haemi , Sim Seongmun
Published: December 2019

For a long time, researchers have tried to find a way to analyze tropical cyclone (TC) intensity in real-time. Since there is no standardized method for estimating TC intensity and the most widely used method is a manual algorithm using satellite-based cloud images, there is a bias that varies depending on the TC center and shape. In this study, we adopted convolutional neural networks (CNNs) which are part of a state-of-art approach that analyzes image patterns to estimate TC intensity by mimicking human cloud pattern recognition. Both two dimensional-CNN (2D-CNN) and three-dimensional-CNN (3D-CNN) were used to analyze the relationship between multi-spectral geostationary satellite images and TC intensity. Our best-optimized model produced a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 8.32 kts, resulting in better performance (~35%) than the existing model using the CNN-based approach with a single channel image. Moreover, we analyzed the characteristics of multi-spectral satellite-based TC images according to intensity using a heat map, which is one of the visualization means of CNNs. It shows that the stronger the intensity of the TC, the greater the influence of the TC center in the lower atmosphere. This is consistent with the results from the existing TC initialization method with numerical simulations based on dynamical TC models. Our study suggests the possibility that a deep learning approach can be used to interpret the behavior characteristics of TCs.
Outcomes and Key Factors of Success for ISO 14001 Certification: Evidence from an Emerging Arab Gulf Country
Authors: Waxin Marie-France , Knuteson Sandra L. , Bartholomew Aaron
Published: December 2019

The objectives of this research were: (1) To examine the outcomes and key factors of success (KFS) related to ISO 14001 certification, (2) to compare and contrast these in private organizations (PRIVOs) and public organizations (PUBOs), and (3) in the under-explored context of an Arab Gulf country with an emerging economy: The United Arab Emirates. We used an exploratory, qualitative research approach, based on semi-structured interviews with the environmental managers of 14 UAE organizations from the private and public sector. The five major outcomes of ISO 14001 certification were improved: (1) Environmental performance, (2) organizational reputation and relationships with stakeholders, (3) organizational efficiency, (4) environmental management (EM) practices, and (5) environmental awareness. These outcomes were shared by PRIVOs and PUBOs, although improved resource management, improved relations with stakeholders, and improved EM practices were more common in PUBOs, and improved organizational efficiency was more common in PRIVOs. The six KFS for implementation were: (1) Senior management’s support, (2) employees’ awareness, involvement and competence, (3) government initiatives and commitment, (4) sufficient organizational resources, (5) adoption of a continuous, integrative, and collaborative approach, and (6) the use of external consultants. These KFS were shared by PRIVOs and PUBOs, although government initiatives and commitment were more common in PUBOs, and sufficient resources were more common in PRIVOs. Our study contributes to a better understanding of environmental management system implementation in emerging countries in general, and in Arab Gulf countries particularly. Our study has implications for business leaders, policy makers, EMS professionals, and educators in the UAE and other emerging countries.