bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on Air Pollutant Concentrations across China: A Google Earth Engine-Based Analysis
Authors: Wang Siyu , Chu Haijiao , Gong Changyu , Wang Ping , Wu Fei , Zhao Chunhong
Published: December 2022

To overcome the spread of the severe COVID-19 outbreak, various lockdown measures have been taken worldwide. China imposed the strictest home-quarantine measures during the COVID-19 outbreak in the year 2020. This provides a valuable opportunity to study the impact of anthropogenic emission reductions on air quality. Based on the GEE platform and satellite imagery, this study analyzed the changes in the concentrations of NO2, O3, CO, and SO2 in the same season (1 February–1 May) before and after the epidemic control (2019–2021) for 16 typical representative cities of China. The results showed that NO2 concentrations significantly decreased by around 20–24% for different types of metropolises, whereas O3 increased for most of the studied metropolises, including approximately 7% in megacities and other major cities. Additionally, the concentrations of CO and SO2 showed no statistically significant changes during the study intervals. The study also indicated strong variations in air pollutants among different geographic regions. In addition to the methods in this study, it is essential to include the differences in meteorological impact factors in the study to identify future references for air pollution reduction measures.
AMF Inoculum Enhances Crop Yields of Zea mays L. ‘Chenghai No. 618’ and Glycine max L. ‘Zhonghuang No. 17’ without Disturbing Native Fugal Communities in Coal Mine Dump
Authors: Wang Kun , Bi Yinli , Zhang Jiayu , Ma Shaopeng
Published: December 2022

For the agricultural development of dumps, increase in land use efficiency and protection of food security, to verify the safety, efficacy and sustainability of field-applied arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculum, and to exclude the risk of potential biological invasion, in this study, we determined the effect of AMF inoculation and intercropping patterns (maize–soybean) on the temporal dynamics of soil parameters, native AMF communities and crop yields. AMF communities were analyzed using Illumina MiSeq. A total of 448 AMF operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to six genera and nine families were identified. AMF inoculation treatment significantly improved the yield of intercropping maize and increased the content of available phosphorus. AMF diversity was significantly influenced by cropping pattern and growth stage, but not by the inoculation treatment. Inoculation altered the AMF community composition in the early growth stage and facilitated a more complex AMF network in the early and late growth stages. These results indicate that AMF inoculation affects native AMF only in the early stage, and its impact on yield may be the consequence of cumulative effects due to the advantages of plant growth and nutrient uptake in the early stage.
Soil Quality Assessment of Different Land Use Types Based on TOPSIS Method in Hilly Sandy Area of Loess Plateau, Northern China
Authors: An Yida , Zhang Lei , Wang Qing , Han Yunwei
Published: December 2022

In order to combat land desertification and to evaluate the soil quality of different cover land types, and thereby determine the best land use strategy for vegetation restoration, this research comprehensively analyzed the soil quality of different land use/cover types in the hilly sandy area of the Loess Plateau by using the Kruskal–Wallis test (K–W test) and principal component analysis (PCA) technique for order preference by the similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), and the potential ecological risk index (RI). The result indicated that the cropland abandonment over a period of time could improve the soil quality to a certain extent; however, the process of natural restoration was very slow compared with that of the planted mixed shrubs. The soil quality of all land use/cover types in the hilly sandy area of Youyu County clearly improved after 10–25 years of revegetation, but the degree of improvement varied greatly with the different planted species and their combinations. The low levels of soil organic matter, total nitrogen and available phosphorus were the major limiting factors affecting soil quality improvement under different land use/cover types, not metal toxicity. Pioneer species of H. rhamnoide, C. korshinskii and Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica, etc. are vital to vegetation restoration of the study area. Revegetation using these species is therefore recommended to combat future desertification in this area.
Spatiotemporal Analysis of Black Carbon Sources: Case of Santiago, Chile, under SARS-CoV-2 Lockdowns
Authors: Adasme Carla , Villalobos Ana María , Jorquera Héctor
Published: December 2022

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has temporarily decreased black carbon emissions worldwide. The use of multi-wavelength aethalometers provides a quantitative apportionment of black carbon (BC) from fossil fuels (BCff) and wood-burning sources (BCwb). However, this apportionment is aggregated: local and non-local BC sources are lumped together in the aethalometer results. Methods: We propose a spatiotemporal analysis of BC results along with meteorological data, using a fuzzy clustering approach, to resolve local and non-local BC contributions. We apply this methodology to BC measurements taken at an urban site in Santiago, Chile, from March through December 2020, including lockdown periods of different intensities. Results: BCff accounts for 85% of total BC; there was up to an 80% reduction in total BC during the most restrictive lockdowns (April–June); the reduction was 40–50% in periods with less restrictive lockdowns. The new methodology can apportion BCff and BCwb into local and non-local contributions; local traffic (wood burning) sources account for 66% (86%) of BCff (BCwb). Conclusions: The intensive lockdowns brought down ambient BC across the city. The proposed fuzzy clustering methodology can resolve local and non-local contributions to BC in urban zones.
Analysis of Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Psychophysiological Variables in Basketball Athletes
Authors: Battaglini Marina Pavão , Pessôa Filho Dalton Müller , Calais Sandra Leal , Miyazaki Maria Cristina Oliveira Santos , Neiva Cassiano Merussi , Espada Mário C. , de Moraes Mayra Grava , Verardi Carlos Eduardo Lopes
Published: December 2022

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a progressive muscle relaxation program on psychological (stress levels, anxiety, and mood states) and physiological (blood pressure and heart rate) variables in basketball athletes. Fifty-nine basketball players, aged 14 to 19 years, and members of Bauru Basket team, were recruited for this study and grouped into control group (CG, n = 30) and intervention group (IG, n = 29). The participants were evaluated, before and after the intervention, by the following means: Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2), to measure the pre-competitive anxiety state, i.e., how anxious each athlete felt just before the competition; Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS), an instrument for early detection of overtraining syndrome; Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport), to identify the extent to which each athlete was physically or mentally stressed and the athlete’s current capability for recovery; Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ), specifically developed for athletes. The IG athletes participated in 12 progressive muscle relaxation sessions, a practice for tensing or tightening a specific muscle until an ideal state of relaxation is reached. Each participant had blood pressure and heart rate measured before and after every session. The CG athletes were evaluated similarly to those in the IG but without relaxation. The results showed statistically significant differences in cognitive anxiety (p = 0.039) and specific stress (p = 0.016) between CG and IG before the intervention; in addition, a significant heart rate decrease (p < 0.01) between IG and CG was noted.
Effect of Whole-Body Vibration Training on Selected Intrinsic Risk Factors in Women Aged 60+ at Fall Risk: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Nawrat-Szołtysik Agnieszka , Sieradzka Marta , Nowacka-Chmielewska Marta , Piejko Laura , Duda Julia , Brachman Anna , Polak Anna
Published: December 2022

The aim of the study was to determine whether Whole Body Vibration Training (WBVT) affects intrinsic risk factors for falls in women aged 60+ at fall risk. Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial. Blinding was applied to the persons in charge of evaluating the intervention’s clinical results and statistical analysis. Methods: Forty-two women over 60 years old were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG—12-week WBVT; n = 22) and a control group (CG—no additional physical activities; n = 20). Fear of falling was measured by the FES-I questionnaire, gait and dynamic balance using the Time-Up and Go test (TUG), aerobic endurance with the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and the functional strength of the lower body muscles with the 30-s Chair Stand Test (30SCST) at baseline and post-intervention. Additionally assayed were participants’ blood concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6). Results: The 12-week WBVT improves gait and balance (TUG, p = 0.009), exercise tolerance (6MWT, p = 0.001), and functional strength (30SCST; p = 0.027) but does not reduce the intensity of fear of falling (FES-I, p = 0.655) and the IL-6 serum concentration (p = 0.377). Conclusions: WBVT affects selected fall risk factors in women aged 60+ at fall risk.
Influences of Climate Change and Land Use Change on the Habitat Suitability of Bharal in the Sanjiangyuan District, China
Authors: Bao Shengwang , Yang Fan
Published: December 2022

One of the biggest dangers to the degradation of biodiversity worldwide is climate change. Its oscillations in the future could result in potential alterations to species populations and habitat structure. With Sanjiangyuan District as the study site, an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) was utilized to investigate the number and location of the bharal (Pseudois nayaur). The Maximum Entropy model and the Minimum Cumulative Resistance model (MaxEnt-MCR) were coupled to simulate the distribution of wildlife. On this basis, the future geographical distribution of bharal under different climate scenarios was simulated, and the ecological corridor and habitat centroid of bharal were revealed. The results showed that the suitable area of the bharal habitat was 4669 km2, which was mainly concentrated in the Maduo, Qumalai, and Gonghe counties. The potential distribution of the species under different future climate scenarios had a decreasing trend. Under the SSP-245 scenario, the habitat area of bharal in 2030 and 2050 decreased by 25.68 and 44.61% compared with the present situation and cumulatively decreased by 1199 and 2083 km2, respectively. Under the SSP-585 scenario, the habitat area of bharal in 2030 and 2050 decreased by 27.5 and 48.44%, with a total reduction of 1284 and 2262 km2, respectively. Furthermore, a complete loss of habitat was predicted in Gonghe County by 2050. In addition, it was observed that the landscape structure in Sanjiangyuan District would be more fragmented and complex. The continued climate change will seriously affect the habitat distribution of this species. Therefore, preventive measures, such as protecting habitat areas and establishing ecological corridors for bharal, should be implemented in the Sanjiangyuan District. Such measures should not focus solely on the potential degradation but should also be extended to include potential distribution areas for future migration.
Isolation and Degradation Characteristics of PBAT Film Degrading Bacteria
Authors: Wufuer Rehemanjiang , Li Wenfeng , Wang Shuzhi , Duo Jia
Published: December 2022

In recent years, PBAT (polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate) mulch has become one of the most commonly used biodegradable mulching films. In this paper, five potential strains of PBAT film degrading bacteria were screened from the soil sample using PBAT film as the sole carbon source. A highly efficient PBAT degrading strain JZ1 was isolated by comparing the degradation performance of PBAT mulching film identified as Peribacillus frigoritolerans S2313 by 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The capacity of the strain to degrade PBAT film was optimized by adjusting the cultivation conditions such as nitrogen source, pH, and inoculum volume. After 8 weeks of cultivation, the actual degradation rate of the strain to PBAT mulch film reached 12.45%. SEM (scanning electron microscopy) coupled with EDX (energy dispersive spectroscopy) analysis showed that microbial degradation is an oxidation process and is mainly due to the amorphous regions of the PBAT film. The biodegradation of PBAT film by Peribacillus frigoritolerans may provide a promising method for regulating the degradation progress of PBAT film in the farmlands.
Withdrawing Antipsychotics for Challenging Behaviours in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: Experiences and Views of Prescribers
Authors: de Kuijper Gerda , de Haan Joke , Deb Shoumitro , Shankar Rohit
Published: December 2022

International current best practice recommends the discontinuation of antipsychotics for challenging behaviours in people with intellectual disabilities (ID), due to lack of evidence of efficacy and risks of harmful side-effects. In clinical practice, discontinuation may be difficult. The aim of this study was to gain insight into prescribers’ practice by investigating their experiences with the discontinuation of long-term antipsychotics for challenging behaviour. From professionals’ associations thirty-four registered ID physicians, psychiatrists and specialist mental healthcare nurses were recruited who completed an online questionnaire in this survey–study. Almost all participants had attempted to deprescribe antipsychotics for their patients with ID. Sixty-five percent of participants achieved complete discontinuation in 0–25% of their patients, but none in over 50%. Barriers were a lack of non-pharmaceutical treatments for challenging behaviours and caregivers’ and/or family concern. Seventy percent of participants indicated that their institutions had encouraged implementing their discontinuation policies in line with the new Dutch Act on Involuntary care and a new Dutch multidisciplinary guideline on problem behaviour in adults with ID. Support and facilitation of clinicians from institutions’ managers and political and professional bodies may be helpful in further implementation of best practice in the treatment of challenging behaviour in people with ID.
Macrophage-Colony-Stimulating Factor Receptor Enhances Prostate Cancer Cell Growth and Aggressiveness In Vitro and In Vivo and Increases Osteopontin Expression
Authors: Mougel Alexandra , Adriaenssens Eric , Guyot Boris , Tian Lu , Gobert Stéphanie , Chassat Thierry , Persoons Philippe , Hannebique David , Bauderlique-Le Roy Hélène , Vicogne Jérôme , Le Bourhis Xuefen , Bourette Roland P.
Published: December 2022

Prostate cancer is a major public health concern and one of the most prevalent forms of cancer worldwide. The definition of altered signaling pathways implicated in this complex disease is thus essential. In this context, abnormal expression of the receptor of Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor-1 (M-CSF or CSF-1) has been described in prostate cancer cells. Yet, outcomes of this expression remain unknown. Using mouse and human prostate cancer cell lines, this study has investigated the functionality of the wild-type CSF-1 receptor in prostate tumor cells and identified molecular mechanisms underlying its ligand-induced activation. Here, we showed that upon CSF-1 binding, the receptor autophosphorylates and activates multiple signaling pathways in prostate tumor cells. Biological experiments demonstrated that the CSF-1R/CSF-1 axis conferred significant advantages in cell growth and cell invasion in vitro. Mouse xenograft experiments showed that CSF-1R expression promoted the aggressiveness of prostate tumor cells. In particular, we demonstrated that the ligand-activated CSF-1R increased the expression of spp1 transcript encoding for osteopontin, a key player in cancer development and metastasis. Therefore, this study highlights that the CSF-1 receptor is fully functional in a prostate cancer cell and may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of prostate cancer.
A Novel 3-O-rhamnoside: 2″-O-xylosyltransferase Responsible for Terminal Modification of Prenylflavonol Glycosides in Epimedium pubescens Maxim.
Authors: Yao Yu , Gu Jiajun , Luo Yanjiao , Zhang Yixin , Wang Yuanyue , Pang Yongzhen , Jia Shangang , Xu Chaoqun , Li Doudou , Suo Fengmei , Shen Guoan , Guo Baolin
Published: December 2022

Prenylated flavonol glycosides in Epimedium plants, as key medicinal components, are known to have great pharmaceutical activities for human health. Among the main prenylated flavonol glycosides, the modification mechanism of different sugar moieties is still not well understood. In the current study, a novel prenylated flavonol rhamnoside xylosyltransferase gene (EpF3R2″XylT) was cloned from E. pubescens, and the enzymatic activity of its decoding proteins was examined in vitro with different prenylated flavonol rhamnoside substrates and different 3-O-monosaccharide moieties. Furthermore, the functional and structural domains of EpF3R2″XylT were analyzed by bioinformatic approaches and 3-D protein structure remodeling. In summary, EpF3R2″XylT was shown to cluster with GGT (glycosyltransferase that glycosylates sugar moieties of glycosides) through phylogenetic analysis. In enzymatic analysis, EpF3R2″XylT was proven to transfer xylose moiety from UDP-xylose to prenylated flavonol rhamnoside at the 2″-OH position of rhamnose. The analysis of enzymatic kinetics showed that EpF3R2″XylT had the highest substrate affinity toward icariin with the lowest Km value of 75.96 ± 11.91 mM. Transient expression of EpF3R2″XylT in tobacco leaf showed functional production of EpF3R2″XylT proteins in planta. EpF3R2″XylT was preferably expressed in the leaves of E. pubescens, which is consistent with the accumulation levels of major prenylflavonol 3-O-triglycoside. The discovery of EpF3R2″XylT will provide an economical and efficient alternative way to produce prenylated flavonol trisaccharides through the biosynthetic approach.
Immobilization of Alcalase on Silica Supports Modified with Carbosilane and PAMAM Dendrimers
Authors: Sánchez-Milla María , Hernández-Corroto Ester , Sánchez-Nieves Javier , Gómez Rafael , Marina María Luisa , García María Concepción , de la Mata F. Javier
Published: December 2022

Enzyme immobilization is a powerful strategy for enzyme stabilization and recyclability. Materials covered with multipoint molecules are very attractive for this goal, since the number of active moieties to attach the enzyme increases with respect to monofunctional linkers. This work evaluates different dendrimers supported on silica to immobilize a protease enzyme, Alcalase. Five different dendrimers were employed: two carbosilane (CBS) dendrimers of different generations (SiO2-G0Si-NH2 and SiO2-G1Si-NH2), a CBS dendrimer with a polyphenoxo core (SiO2-G1O3-NH2), and two commercial polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers of different generations (SiO2-G0PAMAM-NH2 and SiO2-G1PAMAM-NH2). The results were compared with a silica support modified with a monofunctional molecule (2-aminoethanethiol). The effect of the dendrimer generation, the immobilization conditions (immobilization time, Alcalase/SiO2 ratio, and presence of Ca2+ ions), and the digestion conditions (temperature, time, amount of support, and stirring speed) on Alcalase activity has been evaluated. Enzyme immobilization and its activity were highly affected by the kind of dendrimer and its generation, observing the most favorable behavior with SiO2-G0PAMAM-NH2. The enzyme immobilized on this support was used in two consecutive digestions and, unlike CBS supports, it did not retain peptides released in the digestion.
Urine Molecular Biomarkers for Detection and Follow-Up of Small Renal Masses
Authors: Žalimas Algirdas , Kubiliūtė Raimonda , Žukauskaitė Kristina , Sabaliauskaitė Rasa , Trakymas Mantas , Letautienė Simona , Kaubrienė Edita Mišeikytė , Ušinskienė Jurgita , Ulys Albertas , Jarmalaitė Sonata
Published: December 2022

Active surveillance (AS) is the best strategy for small renal masses (SRMs) management; however, reliable methods for early detection and disease aggressiveness prediction are urgently needed. The aim of the present study was to validate DNA methylation biomarkers for non-invasive SRM detection and prognosis. The levels of methylated genes TFAP2B, TAC1, PCDH8, ZNF677, FLRT2, and FBN2 were evaluated in 165 serial urine samples prospectively collected from 39 patients diagnosed with SRM, specifically renal cell carcinoma (RCC), before and during the AS via quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. Voided urine samples from 92 asymptomatic volunteers were used as the control. Significantly higher methylated TFAP2B, TAC1, PCDH8, ZNF677, and FLRT2 levels and/or frequencies were detected in SRM patients’ urine samples as compared to the control. The highest diagnostic power (AUC = 0.74) was observed for the four biomarkers panel with 92% sensitivity and 52% specificity. Methylated PCDH8 level positively correlated with SRM size at diagnosis, while TFAP2B had the opposite effect and was related to SRM progression. To sum up, SRMs contribute significantly to the amount of methylated DNA detectable in urine, which might be used for very early RCC detection. Moreover, PCDH8 and TFAP2B methylation have the potential to be prognostic biomarkers for SRMs.
Protective Effects of Atractylodis lancea Rhizoma on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury via TLR4/NF-κB and Keap1/Nrf2 Signaling Pathways In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Shi Kun , Xiao Yangxin , Dong Yan , Wang Dongpeng , Xie Ying , Tu Jiyuan , Xu Kang , Zhou Zhongshi , Cao Guosheng , Liu Yanju
Published: December 2022

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a syndrome caused by an excessive inflammatory response characterized by intractable hypoxemia both inside and outside the lung, for which effective therapeutic drugs are lacking. Atractylodis rhizoma, a traditional Chinese medicine, has excellent anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties in addition to protecting the integrity of the cellular barrier. However, few studies of Atractylodis rhizoma for the treatment of ALI have been published, and its mechanism of action remains unclear. In the present study, the chemical composition of the ethanolic extract of Atractylodis rhizoma (EEAR) was initially clarified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), after which it was studied in vivo using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI rat model. Treatment with EEAR significantly reduced the lung wet/dry (W/D) ratio, neutrophil infiltration, and malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) formation, and enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) depletion in rats with ALI, thereby improving lung barrier function and effectively reducing lung injury. In addition, EEAR significantly reduced histopathological changes, decreased the expression of inflammatory factors (such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), inducible nitric oxide synthase (INOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)), and inhibited the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, thus reducing inflammation. In addition, EEAR was found to also reduce oxidative stress in ALI by upregulating the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream proteins heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NADPH quinone acceptor oxidoreductase 1 (NQO-1). EEAR also reduced LPS-induced inflammatory factor expression in THP-1 cells in vitro by inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway, and reduced damage from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative stress in THP-1 cells by promoting the expression of Nrf2 and its downstream targets HO-1 and NQO-1, the molecular mechanism of which was consistent with in vivo observations. Therefore, we conclude that EEAR attenuates oxidative stress and inflammatory responses via TLR4/NF-κB and Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathways to alleviate LPS-induced ALI, suggesting that Atractylodis rhizoma is a potential drug candidate for the treatment of ALI.
Challenging Cellular Homeostasis: Spatial and Temporal Regulation of miRNAs
Authors: van Wijk Naomi , Zohar Keren , Linial Michal
Published: December 2022

Mature microRNAs (miRNAs) are single-stranded non-coding RNA (ncRNA) molecules that act in post-transcriptional regulation in animals and plants. A mature miRNA is the end product of consecutive, highly regulated processing steps of the primary miRNA transcript. Following base-paring of the mature miRNA with its mRNA target, translation is inhibited, and the targeted mRNA is degraded. There are hundreds of miRNAs in each cell that work together to regulate cellular key processes, including development, differentiation, cell cycle, apoptosis, inflammation, viral infection, and more. In this review, we present an overlooked layer of cellular regulation that addresses cell dynamics affecting miRNA accessibility. We discuss the regulation of miRNA local storage and translocation among cell compartments. The local amounts of the miRNAs and their targets dictate their actual availability, which determines the ability to fine-tune cell responses to abrupt or chronic changes. We emphasize that changes in miRNA storage and compactization occur under induced stress and changing conditions. Furthermore, we demonstrate shared principles on cell physiology, governed by miRNA under oxidative stress, tumorigenesis, viral infection, or synaptic plasticity. The evidence presented in this review article highlights the importance of spatial and temporal miRNA regulation for cell physiology. We argue that limiting the research to mature miRNAs within the cytosol undermines our understanding of the efficacy of miRNAs to regulate cell fate under stress conditions.
Ranolazine Attenuates Brain Inflammation in a Rat Model of Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Cassano Velia , Tallarico Martina , Armentaro Giuseppe , De Sarro Caterina , Iannone Michelangelo , Leo Antonio , Citraro Rita , Russo Emilio , De Sarro Giovambattista , Hribal Marta Letizia , Sciacqua Angela
Published: December 2022

Recent studies suggest a pathogenetic association between metabolic disturbances, including type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and cognitive decline and indicate that T2DM may represent a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). There are a number of experimental studies presenting evidence that ranolazine, an antianginal drug, acts as a neuroprotective drug. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of ranolazine on hippocampal neurodegeneration and astrocytes activation in a T2DM rat model. Diabetes was induced by a high fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ) injection. Animals were divided into the following groups: HFD/STZ + Ranolazine, HFD/STZ + Metformin, HFD/STZ + Vehicle, NCD + Vehicle, NCD + Ranolazine and NCD + Metformin. The presence of neurodegeneration was evaluated in the hippocampal cornus ammonis 1 (CA1) region by cresyl violet staining histological methods, while astrocyte activation was assessed by western blot analysis. Staining with cresyl violet highlighted a decrease in neuronal density and cell volume in the hippocampal CA1 area in diabetic HFD/STZ + Vehicle rats, while ranolazine and metformin both improved T2DM-induced neuronal loss and neuronal damage. Moreover, there was an increased expression of GFAP in the HFD/STZ + Vehicle group compared to the treated diabetic groups. In conclusion, in the present study, we obtained additional evidence supporting the potential use of ranolazine to counteract T2DM-associated cognitive decline.
Genotype–Phenotype Association in ABCC2 Exon 18 Missense Mutation Leading to Dubin–Johnson Syndrome: A Case Report
Authors: Kim Ji-Hoon , Kang Min-Woo , Kim Sangmi , Han Ji Won , Jang Jeong Won , Choi Jong Young , Yoon Seung Kew , Sung Pil Soo
Published: December 2022

We report a case of a patient with Dubin–Johnson syndrome confirmed by a genetic study. A 50-year-old woman who had symptoms of intermittent right upper quadrant abdominal pain was diagnosed with calculous cholecystitis at another institute and was presented to our hospital for a cholecystectomy. She had no history of liver disease, and her physical examination was normal. Abdominal computed tomography showed a gallbladder stone with chronic cholecystitis. During a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholecystitis, a smooth, black-colored liver was noted, and a liver biopsy was performed. The biopsy specimen showed coarse, dark brown granules in centrilobular hepatocytes via hematoxylin and eosin staining. We performed a genetic study using the blood samples of the patient. In the adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette subfamily C member 2 (ABCC2) mutation study, a missense mutation in exon 18 was noted. Based on the black-colored liver without nodularity, conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, the liver biopsy results of the coarse pigment in centrilobular hepatocytes, and the ABCC2 mutation, Dubin–Johnson syndrome was diagnosed. The patient was managed with conservative care using hepatotonics. One month after follow-up, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin remained in a similar range. Another follow-up was planned a month later, and the patient maintained her use of hepatotonics.
Growth of GaN Thin Films Using Plasma Enhanced Atomic Layer Deposition: Effect of Ammonia-Containing Plasma Power on Residual Oxygen Capture
Authors: Jiang Shicong , Wu Wan-Yu , Ren Fangbin , Hsu Chia-Hsun , Zhang Xiaoying , Gao Peng , Wuu Dong-Sing , Huang Chien-Jung , Lien Shui-Yang , Zhu Wenzhang
Published: December 2022

In recent years, the application of (In, Al, Ga)N materials in photovoltaic devices has attracted much attention. Like InGaN, it is a direct band gap material with high absorption at the band edge, suitable for high efficiency photovoltaic devices. Nonetheless, it is important to deposit high-quality GaN material as a foundation. Plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) combines the advantages of the ALD process with the use of plasma and is often used to deposit thin films with different needs. However, residual oxygen during growth has always been an unavoidable issue affecting the quality of the resulting film, especially in growing gallium nitride (GaN) films. In this study, the NH3-containing plasma was used to capture the oxygen absorbed on the growing surface to improve the quality of GaN films. By diagnosing the plasma, NH2, NH, and H radicals controlled by the plasma power has a strong influence not only on the oxygen content in growing GaN films but also on the growth rate, crystallinity, and surface roughness. The NH and NH2 radicals contribute to the growth of GaN films while the H radicals selectively dissociate Ga-OH bonds on the film surface and etch the grown films. At high plasma power, the GaN film with the lowest Ga-O bond ratio has a saturated growth rate, a better crystallinity, a rougher surface, and a lower bandgap. In addition, the deposition mechanism of GaN thin films prepared with a trimethylgallium metal source and NH3/Ar plasma PEALD involving oxygen participation or not is also discussed in the study.
Efficacy and Safety of Brazilian Green Propolis in Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer after Radical Prostatectomy: A Single-Arm Phase II Study
Authors: Goto Takayuki , Kimura Hiroko , Yoshino Takayuki , Sawada Atsuro , Akamatsu Shusuke , Kobayashi Takashi , Yamasaki Toshinari , Tazawa Shigemi , Fujimoto Masakazu , Hidaka Yu , Uozumi Ryuji , Morita Satoshi , Ogawa Osamu , Inoue Takahiro
Published: December 2022

Background: Radiation or hormonal therapy is considered for prostate cancer patients with biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy (RP). However, these therapies have their own complications. To delay the start of these therapies, we investigated the efficacy and safety of Brazilian green propolis for the treatment for BCR after RP. Materials and Methods: This single-center, single-arm open trial included 22 patients who experienced BCR after RP between 2016 and 2019. The patients received nine softgels of Brazilian green propolis (containing 40 mg propolis per capsule) daily for 6 months. The primary outcome was the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response rate. The secondary outcomes included progression-free time, PSA slope (1/PSA doubling time) response rate, quality of life, and safety profile. Results: The PSA response rate was 0%. The mean PSA slopes before and after baseline were 0.12 month−1 and 0.08 month−1, respectively. Fifteen patients (68%) showed a decreased PSA slope after treatment. There were no negative effects on quality of life or serious adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation. Conclusion: There was no significant anticancer response in patients who received Brazilian green propolis. However, the PSA slope was decreased after propolis administration. Further, Brazilian green propolis may be safely consumed by patients.
Potential of Polymer/Fullerene Nanocomposites for Anticorrosion Applications in the Biomedical Field
Authors: Kausar Ayesha
Published: December 2022

Initially, this review presents the fundamentals of corrosion-resistant polymer/fullerene nanocomposites. Then, the potential of polymer/fullerene nanocomposites for corrosion resistance in biomedical applications is presented. In particular, anticorrosion biomedical applications of fullerene-based nanomaterials are proposed for antimicrobial applications, drug delivery, bioimaging, etc. According to the literature, due to the low conductivity/anticorrosion features of pristine thermoplastic polymers, conjugated polymers (polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophene, etc.) with high corrosion resistance performance were used. Subsequently, thermoplastic/thermosetting polymers were filled with nanoparticles to enhance their anticorrosion properties relative to those of neat polymers. Accordingly, fullerene-derived nanocomposites were found to be effective for corrosion protection. Polymer/fullerene nanocomposites with a fine dispersion and interactions revealed superior anticorrosion performance. The formation of a percolation network in the polymers/fullerenes facilitated their electron conductivity and, thus, corrosion resistance behavior. Consequently, the anticorrosion polymer/fullerene nanocomposites were applied in the biomedical field. However, this field needs to be further explored to see the full biomedical potential of anticorrosion polymer/fullerene nanocomposites.
Optimization of Electrical Intensity for Electrochemical Anodic Oxidation to Modify the Surface of Carbon Fibers and Preparation of Carbon Nanotubes/Carbon Fiber Multi-Scale Reinforcements
Authors: Li Mengfan , Wang Yanxiang , Cui Bowen , Wang Chengjuan , Tan Hongxue , Jiang Haotian , Xu Zhenhao , Wang Chengguo , Zhuang Guangshan
Published: December 2022

Carbon fiber (CF) reinforced composites are widely used due to their excellent properties. However, the smooth surface and few functional groups of CFs can lead to fiber fractures and pullout, which reduce the service life of the composites. The overall performance of composites can be improved by growing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the CF surface. Before this, CF surface should be modified to enhance the loading amount of catalyst particles and thus make the CNTs more uniform. In this paper, CNTs were grown on a CF surface by one-step chemical vapor deposition to prepare multi-scale CNTs/CF reinforcements, and the effects of different methods on the CF surface modification were explored. After setting four intensities of electrochemical anodic oxidation, i.e., 50 C/g, 100 C/g, 150 C/g and 200 C/g, it was found that the distribution and quantity of CNTs were improved under both the 100 C/g and 150 C/g conditions. Considering the influence of electrical intensity on the (002) interplanar spacing of CFs, which affects the mechanical properties of the samples, 100 C/g was finally selected as the optimal electrochemical treatment intensity. This finding provides a reference for continuous and large-scale modification of CF surfaces to prepare CNTs/CF multi-scale reinforcements.
Investigating the Properties of ABS-Based Plastic Composites Manufactured by Composite Plastic Manufacturing
Authors: Bhaskar Raghunath , Butt Javaid , Shirvani Hassan
Published: December 2022

Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies have revolutionized the manufacturing sector due to their benefits, such as design flexibility, ease of operation, and wide material selection. The use of AM in composites production has also become quite popular to leverage these benefits and produce products with customized properties. In this context, thermoplastic materials are widely used in the development of plastic-based composites due to their affordability and availability. In this work, composite plastic manufacturing (CPM) has been used to manufacture plastic-based composites with bespoke properties in a cost- and time-effective manner. Various plastic-based composites have been manufactured using CPM by interlacing acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) with thermally activated materials. Three different thermally activated materials (graphene–carbon hybrid paste, heat cure epoxy, and graphene epoxy paste) have been used in this work to produce plastic-based composites. Thermally activated materials that are commercially available include graphene–carbon hybrid paste and heat cure epoxy. The graphene epoxy paste was a concoction made by incorporating three different weight percentages of graphene nanoplatelets (0.2 wt.%, 0.4 wt.%, and 0.6 wt.%) with heat cure epoxy. The composites were manufactured with multiple layers of thermally activated materials at different intervals to investigate their effect. The parts were manufactured and tested according to British and international standards. Experimental tests of mass, dimensions, ultrasonics, tensile strength, hardness, and flexural strength were conducted to evaluate the properties of composites manufactured by CPM. The parts manufactured by CPM showed superior mechanical properties compared to commercially available ABS. The increase was shown to be in the range of 8.1% to 33% for tensile strength, 17.8% to 30.2% for hardness, and 6.2% to 24.4% for flexural strength, based on the composite configurations. The results demonstrate that the CPM process can produce high-quality plastic composites and can be used to create products with customized properties in a time-effective manner.
Overview of STEM Science as Process, Method, Material, and Data Named Entities
Authors: D’Souza Jennifer
Published: December 2022

We are faced with an unprecedented production in scholarly publications worldwide. Stakeholders in the digital libraries posit that the document-based publishing paradigm has reached the limits of adequacy. Instead, structured, machine-interpretable, fine-grained scholarly knowledge publishing as Knowledge Graphs (KG) is strongly advocated. In this work, we develop and analyze a large-scale structured dataset of STEM articles across 10 different disciplines, viz. Agriculture, Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Science, Engineering, Material Science, Mathematics, and Medicine. Our analysis is defined over a large-scale corpus comprising 60K abstracts structured as four scientific entities process, method, material, and data. Thus, our study presents, for the first time, an analysis of a large-scale multidisciplinary corpus under the construct of four named entity labels that are specifically defined and selected to be domain-independent as opposed to domain-specific. The work is then inadvertently a feasibility test of characterizing multidisciplinary science with domain-independent concepts. Further, to summarize the distinct facets of scientific knowledge per concept per discipline, a set of word cloud visualizations are offered. The STEM-NER-60k corpus, created in this work, comprises over 1 M extracted entities from 60k STEM articles obtained from a major publishing platform and is publicly released.
Comparative Study on the Behavior of Keyhole in Analogy Welding and Real Deep Penetration Laser Welding
Authors: Hao Zhongjia , Chen Huiyang , Jin Xiangzhong , Liu Zuguo
Published: December 2022

In deep penetration laser welding, the behavior of the keyhole has an important influence on the welding quality. As it is difficult to directly observe the keyhole and detect the pressure inside the keyhole during metal laser welding, theoretical analysis and numerical simulation methods are commonly used methods in studying keyhole behavior. However, these methods cannot provide direct real information on keyhole behavior. In this paper, a method of analogy welding is proposed, in which high speed gas is used to blow the liquid to generate the keyhole. Relevant process experiments were conducted to explore keyhole behavior in analogy welding and real deep penetration laser welding. The pressure balance of the keyhole, both in analogy welding and real deep penetration laser welding, were analyzed. The laws obtained in analogy welding and real deep penetration laser welding are similar, which indicates that studying keyhole formation and the maintenance principle using the analogy welding method proposed in this paper may be helpful for deep understanding of the keyhole formation and maintenance mechanisms in real deep penetration laser welding.
Soil Properties and Maize Yield Improvement with Biochar-Enriched Poultry Litter-Based Fertilizer
Authors: Holatko Jiri , Hammerschmiedt Tereza , Kucerik Jiri , Baltazar Tivadar , Radziemska Maja , Havlicek Zdenek , Kintl Antonin , Jaskulska Iwona , Malicek Ondrej , Brtnicky Martin
Published: December 2022

Conversion of poultry litter into fertilizer presents an environmentally friendly way for its disposal. The amendment of stabilizing sorption materials (e.g., biochar) to broiler chicken rearing seems promising, as it protects produced litter from nutrient losses and improves fertilizing efficacy. Thus, a pot experiment was carried out with maize and organic fertilizers produced from biochar-amended chicken bedding. The properties of three types of poultry-matured litter, amended with biochar at 0%, 10% and 20% dose, were analyzed. These matured litters were added to soil and physicochemical, biological properties and dry aboveground crop biomass yield were determined. Both biochar doses improved matured litter dry matter (+29%, +68% compared to unamended litter) and organic carbon (+5%, +9%). All three fertilizers significantly increased dry plant aboveground biomass yield (+3% and +42% compared to control litter-treated variant) and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase activity (+51%, +57%) compared to unamended control soil. The 20% biochar poultry-matured litter derived the highest dry plant aboveground biomass, highest respiration induced by D-glucose (+53%) and D-mannose (+35%, compared to control litter-treated variant), and decreased pH (−6% compared to unamended control). Biochar-derived modification of poultry litter maturation process led to organic fertilizer which enhanced degradation of soil organic matter in the subsequently amended soil. Furthermore, this type of fertilizer, compared to conventional unamended litter-based type, increased microbial activity, nutrient availability, and biomass yield of maize in selected biochar doses, even under conditions of significant soil acidification.
Thermal Treatment Impact on the Mechanical Properties of Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 Nanoscrolls
Authors: Krasilin Andrei , Khalisov Maksim , Khrapova Ekaterina , Ugolkov Valery , Enyashin Andrey , Ankudinov Alexander
Published: December 2022

A group of phyllosilicate nanoscrolls conjoins several hydrosilicate layered compounds with a size mismatch between octahedral and tetrahedral sheets. Among them, synthetic Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 chrysotile nanoscrolls (obtained via the hydrothermal method) possess high thermal stability and mechanical properties, making them prospective composite materials fillers. However, accurate determination of these nano-objects with Young’s modulus remains challenging. Here, we report on a study of the mechanical properties evolution of individual synthetic phyllosilicate nanoscrolls after a series of heat treatments, observed with an atomic force microscopy and calculated using the density functional theory. It appears that the Young’s modulus, as well as shear deformation’s contribution to the nanoscrolls mechanical behavior, can be controlled by heat treatment. The main reason for this is the heat-induced formation of covalent bonding between the adjacent layers, which complicate the shear deformation.
3D Fabrication and Characterisation of Electrically Receptive PCL-Graphene Scaffolds for Bioengineered In Vitro Tissue Models
Authors: McIvor Mary Josephine , Ó Maolmhuaidh Fionn , Meenagh Aidan , Hussain Shahzad , Bhattacharya Gourav , Fishlock Sam , Ward Joanna , McFerran Aoife , Acheson Jonathan G. , Cahill Paul A. , Forster Robert , McEneaney David J. , Boyd Adrian R. , Meenan Brian J.
Published: December 2022

Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a well-established biomaterial, offering extensive mechanical attributes along with low cost, biocompatibility, and biodegradability; however, it lacks hydrophilicity, bioactivity, and electrical conductivity. Advances in 3D fabrication technologies allow for these sought-after attributes to be incorporated into the scaffolds during fabrication. In this study, solvent-free Fused Deposition Modelling was employed to fabricate 3D scaffolds from PCL with increasing amounts of graphene (G), in the concentrations of 0.75, 1.5, 3, and 6% (w/w). The PCL+G scaffolds created were characterised physico-chemically, electrically, and biologically. Raman spectroscopy demonstrated that the scaffold outer surface contained both PCL and G, with the G component relatively uniformly distributed. Water contact angle measurement demonstrated that as the amount of G in the scaffold increases (0.75–6% w/w), hydrophobicity decreases; mean contact angle for pure PCL was recorded as 107.22 ± 9.39°, and that with 6% G (PCL+6G) as 77.56 ± 6.75°. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy demonstrated a marked increase in electroactivity potential with increasing G concentration. Cell viability results indicated that even the smallest addition of G (0.75%) resulted in a significant improvement in electroactivity potential and bioactivity compared with that for pure PCL, with 1.5 and 3% exhibiting the highest statistically significant increases in cell proliferation.
Laser Additive Manufacturing of TC4/AlSi12 Bimetallic Structure via Nb Interlayer
Authors: Jing Zhicheng , Liu Xiangyu , Wang Wenbo , Xu Nuo , Xu Guojian , Xing Fei
Published: December 2022

The TC4/AlSi12 bimetallic structures (BS) with Nb interlayer transition were fabricated by laser additive manufacturing (LAM). The results showed that the TC4/AlSi12 BS with Nb interlayer prepared with optimized process parameters can be divided into three regions (the TC4 region, Nb region and the AlSi12 region) and two interfaces (the TC4/Nb interface and the Nb/AlSi12 interface). The high melting point (Ti, Nb) solid solution formed in the Nb region acted as a diffusion barrier between the TC4 alloy and the AlSi12 alloy, thereby effectively inhibiting the formation of Ti-Al intermetallic compounds (IMCs). With the decrease of the laser output power for AlSi12 deposition, the NbAl3 IMC changed from layered to dispersed distribution, while γ-TiAl and Ti5Si3 IMC disappeared, thus significantly reducing the crack susceptibility of the BS deposited layer. The tensile strength of TC4/AlSi12 BS with Nb interlayer was about 128MPa, and the fracture was located near the Nb/AlSi12 interface.