bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Cold-Surge-Induced Nearshore Seawater Icing on the Eukaryotic Microalgal Community in Aoshan Bay, Qingdao
Authors: Bian Haizhen , Guo Xin , Xu Yanqiang , Hu Yubin
Published: January 2023

Climate change has led to frequent cold surges in mid-latitudes, resulting in sudden temperature drops and icing of nearshore seawater, which may be affecting the eukaryotic microalgal community. In this paper, we investigated the differences between a eukaryotic microalgal community in sea ice and in seawater during the seawater freezing, due to the cold surge in Aoshan Bay, Qingdao, China, in January 2021. The results showed that the eukaryotic microalgal community in the sea ice and in the seawater was similar in composition at the phylum and genus levels, but that its relative abundances differed. In the seawater, the eukaryotic microalgal genera were dominated by Chaetoceros, while its relative abundance was significantly lower in the sea ice, probably because the cold-surge-induced seawater icing existed only for a short period of time, and Chaetoceros had not yet adapted to the rapid environmental changes in the sea ice. The relative abundance of Bathycoccus in the sea ice was higher, and showed a significant positive correlation with nitrite and silicate, while the relative abundance of Micromonas in the sea ice was also significantly higher than in the seawater, which may be related to the elevated CO2 concentration in the sea ice. This study demonstrates that although the seawater icing due to the cold surge was short, it may have affected the seawater eukaryotic microalgal community, to a certain extent.
Intervention Strategies to Control Campylobacter at Different Stages of the Food Chain
Authors: Taha-Abdelaziz Khaled , Singh Mankerat , Sharif Shayan , Sharma Shreeya , Kulkarni Raveendra R. , Alizadeh Mohammadali , Yitbarek Alexander , Helmy Yosra A.
Published: January 2023

Campylobacter is one of the most common bacterial pathogens of food safety concern. Campylobacter jejuni infects chickens by 2–3 weeks of age and colonized chickens carry a high C. jejuni load in their gut without developing clinical disease. Contamination of meat products by gut contents is difficult to prevent because of the high numbers of C. jejuni in the gut, and the large percentage of birds infected. Therefore, effective intervention strategies to limit human infections of C. jejuni should prioritize the control of pathogen transmission along the food supply chain. To this end, there have been ongoing efforts to develop innovative ways to control foodborne pathogens in poultry to meet the growing customers’ demand for poultry meat that is free of foodborne pathogens. In this review, we discuss various approaches that are being undertaken to reduce Campylobacter load in live chickens (pre-harvest) and in carcasses (post-harvest). We also provide some insights into optimization of these approaches, which could potentially help improve the pre- and post-harvest practices for better control of Campylobacter.
Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, and DNA Damage Protection Activities of Endophytic Fungus Pestalotiopsis neglecta Isolated from Ziziphus spina-christi Medicinal Plant
Authors: Almustafa Hibah I. , Yehia Ramy S.
Published: January 2023

Fungal endophytes are friendly microorganisms that colonize plants and are important in the interactions between plants and their environment. They generate valuable secondary metabolites that are valuable to both plants and humans. Endophytic fungi with bioactivities were isolated from the leaves of the medicinal plant Ziziphus spina-christi. An efficient isolate was selected and identified as Pestalotiopsis neglecta based on nucleotide sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS 1-5.8S-ITS 2) of the 18S rRNA gene (NCBI accession number OP529850); the 564 bp had 99 to 100% similarity with P. neglecta MH860161.1, AY682935.1, KP689121.1, and MG572407.1, according to the BLASTn analysis, following preliminary phytochemical and antifungal screening. The biological activities of this fungus’ crude ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract were assessed. With an efficient radical scavenging activity against 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and an IC50 value of 36.6 µg mL−1, P. neglecta extract has shown its potential as an antioxidant. Moreover, it displayed notable cytotoxic effects against MCF-7 (breast carcinoma, IC50 = 22.4 µg mL−1), HeLa (cervical carcinoma, IC50 = 28.9 µg mL−1) and HepG-2 (liver carcinoma, IC50 = 28.9 µg mL−1). At 10 µg mL−1, EtOAc demonstrated significant DNA protection against hydroxyl radical-induced damage. Based on FT-IR and GC-MS spectral analysis, it was detected that the EtOAc of P. neglecta product contains multiple bioactive functional groups. Subsequently, this validated the features of major different potent compounds; tolycaine, 1H-pyrazol, 1,3,5-trimethyl-, eugenol, 2,5-cyclohexadiene-1,4-dione, 2,6-bis(1,1-dimethyl), and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. Since these compounds are biologically relevant in various aspects, and distinct biological activities of fungal extract were acceptable in vitro, this suggests that endophytic fungus P. neglecta may be a viable source of bioactive natural products. This could be a good starting point for pharmaceutical applications.
An Integrated Geophysics and Isotope Geochemistry to Unveil the Groundwater Paleochannel in Abydos Historical Site, Egypt
Authors: Abudeif Abdelbaset M. , Abdel Aal Gamal Z. , Abdelbaky Nessreen F. , Ali Mohamed H. , Mohammed Mohammed A.
Published: January 2023

The scientific controversy among archaeologists about the existence of paleochannels under the Abydos archaeological site, Sohag, Egypt connecting the Osirion (cenotaph of Seti I) with the Nile River has been explained in this study. This study is an attempt to address this issue using integrating a near-surface geophysical approach with stable isotopic geochemistry on this site. Particularly, the stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopes on the water samples collected from the surface and the groundwater in the study area were analyzed and interpreted. The isotopes result showed that the Osirion water is a mixture of three different types of water: Old Nile Water (ONW) before the construction of the High Dam, Recent Nile Water (RNW) after the construction of the High Dam, and Paleowater (PW) from deeper aquifers. Field observations of the Osirion and nearby water cannot explain the presence and direction of this water. Therefore, the next step in this study is determining the location and the direction of the paleochannel connecting the Osirion with the Nile River which was proven using the electric resistivity tomography (ERT) technique. By using the results of the isotope of all types of water near the Osirion and its surrounding wells and the water of the Nile River, in addition to the near-surface geophysical measurements, the results indicated that the 3D view of the ERT data revealed a prospective paleochannel in the direction of the northeast and its location, where this channel is in charge of providing groundwater from the Nile River to the Osirion location.
Internal Structures of Placer Gold as an Indicator of Endogenous and Exogenous Processes
Authors: Nikiforova Zinaida
Published: January 2023

The study of the internal structures of placer gold on the territory of the east of the Siberian platform, overlain by a thick cover of Mz-Kz deposits, where traditional methods of searching for gold deposits are not effective, allowed us to determine, for the first time, the stages of ore formation and conditions of its occurrence. The identified indicators of the internal structures of placer gold (structures of primary recrystallization, secondary recrystallization, thick high-grade shells) indicate that placer gold content is formed mainly due to the supply and repeated redeposition of native gold from ancient gold-bearing deposits of the Precambrian stage of ore formation to younger ones. The discovered coarse-, medium-grained, mono-grained, unclear-zonal, granulation and disintegration structures suggest a supply of gold from nearby ore sources of the Mesozoic stage of ore formation. In the weathering crust, a high-grade shell is formed. In the hydrodynamic environment, the internal structures of gold practically do not change and fully correspond to the internal structures of endogenous gold. In aeolian conditions, the internal structures are transformed. In ancient gold-bearing conglomerates, under the impact of lithostatic pressure, as well as in metamorphogenic conditions, when the PT conditions change, the internal structure changes. Thus, for the first time, on a huge factual material, it is proved that the internal structures contain extensive information both about the endogenous origin of gold (the stages of ore formation—Precambrian and Mesozoic) and about its transformation in various exogenous conditions. The identified indicator of the internal structures of placer gold for certain types of sources contribute to a more correct selection of methods for searching for ore and placer gold deposits in closed territories and assessing their prospects. The use of this method makes it possible to develop criteria for forecasting different sources and types of gold deposits based on internal structures.
Mineralization Process of MVT Zn-Pb Deposit Promoted by the Adsorbed Hydrocarbon: A Case Study from Mayuan Deposit on the North Margin of Sichuan Basin
Authors: Guan Guiyuan , Li Siwen , Li Rongxi
Published: January 2023

The Mayuan Zn-Pb deposit on the northern margin of the Sichuan Basin is rich in Zn-Pb deposit resources. Additionally, a large amount of bitumen is observed in outcrops, and these deposits represent a key template for exploring the migration of hydrocarbon fluids and metal elements within an ancient oil reservoir. In this study, a chemical experimental method was used to extract the adsorbed hydrocarbon from the chosen five groups of samples, and mathematical statistical methods were also used. The varied metal concentrations before and after the extraction experiments have been noticed, due to the direct carrying action of the adsorbed hydrocarbon. In addition, a strong correlation was observed between the Mayuan Zn-Pb deposit and their source rocks, as well as the same distribution trend from the rare earth element distribution curve. A moderate correlation was observed between the two groups of black shales and Mayuan Zn-Pb ores, and the rare earth partition curve showed consistent trends. The results show that organic matter exists in two forms, among which hydrocarbon organic matter is extracted due to the carrying effect of extraction experiment, and the remaining non-hydrocarbon organic matter is combined with metal elements to form a metal complex. Hydrocarbons are involved in mineralization, asphaltenes are derived from bitumen, and one of the potential sources of Pb/Zn in the Mississippi Valley type (MVT) Zn-Pb deposit is black shale rich in organic matter.
High Yield Synthesis of Curcumin and Symmetric Curcuminoids: A “Click” and “Unclick” Chemistry Approach
Authors: Obregón-Mendoza Marco A. , Meza-Morales William , Alvarez-Ricardo Yair , Estévez-Carmona M. Mirian , Enríquez Raúl G.
Published: January 2023

The worldwide known and employed spice of Asian origin, turmeric, receives significant attention due to its numerous purported medicinal properties. Herein, we report an optimized synthesis of curcumin and symmetric curcuminoids of aromatic (bisdemethoxycurcumin) and heterocyclic type, with yields going from good to excellent using the cyclic difluoro-boronate derivative of acetylacetone prepared by reaction of 2,4-pentanedione with boron trifluoride in THF (ca. 95%). The subsequent cleavage of the BF2 group is of significant importance for achieving a high overall yield in this two-step procedure. Such cleavage occurs by treatment with hydrated alumina (Al2O3) or silica (SiO2) oxides, thus allowing the target heptanoids obtained in high yields as an amorphous powder to be filtered off directly from the reaction media. Furthermore, crystallization instead of chromatographic procedures provides a straightforward purification step. The ease and efficiency with which the present methodology can be applied to synthesizing the title compounds earns the terms “click” and “unclick” applied to describe particularly straightforward, efficient reactions. Furthermore, the methodology offers a simple, versatile, fast, and economical synthetic alternative for the obtention of curcumin (85% yield), bis-demethoxycurcumin (78% yield), and the symmetrical heterocyclic curcuminoids (80–92% yield), in pure form and excellent yields.
Chemistry and Biological Activities of Naturally Occurring and Structurally Modified Podophyllotoxins
Authors: Jin Lu , Song Zhijun , Cai Fang , Ruan Lijun , Jiang Renwang
Published: January 2023

Plants containing podophyllotoxin and its analogues have been used as folk medicines for centuries. The characteristic chemical structures and strong biological activities of this class of compounds attracted attention worldwide. Currently, more than ninety natural podophyllotoxins were isolated, and structure modifications of these molecules were performed to afford a variety of derivatives, which offered optimized anti-tumor activity. This review summarized up to date reports on natural occurring podophyllotoxins and their sources, structural modification and biological activities. Special attention was paid to both structural modification and optimized antitumor activity. It was noteworthy that etoposide, a derivative of podophyllotoxin, could prevent cytokine storm caused by the recent SARS-CoV-2 viral infection.
Smart Pellets for Controlled Delivery of 5-Fluorouracil
Authors: Bayan Mohammad F. , Jaradat Abdolelah , Alyami Mohammad H. , Naser Abdallah Y.
Published: January 2023

This work aimed to develop a new one-pot and readily scaled-up formulation capable of retaining 5-fluorouracil and prolonging its release to obtain a site-specific medication delivery for the potential treatment of colorectal cancer. Six polymer-based formulations were successfully produced using a thermal bulk polymerization method and loaded with 5-fluorouracil, which is a chemotherapeutic agent used in the treatment of colorectal carcinoma. The pellets produced were characterized by measuring the glass transition temperature, tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and tensile elongation at break. Studies on in vitro swelling and release were carried out in phosphate-buffered saline to evaluate the behaviour of the developed system. The Young’s modulus, glass transition temperature, and tensile strength all increased significantly as the crosslinker concentration increased, but the fracture strain value reduced significantly. The in vitro swelling profile of the produced formulations was significantly reduced by increasing crosslinking density. Less than 27% cumulative drug release was achieved for all formulations after 5 h of starting the release study. The highest cumulative drug release reached after 24 h was 69%. The developed drug delivery system demonstrated the ability to delay the release of 5-fluorouracil in upper gastrointestinal tract-mimicking conditions, while permitting its release in a controlled way afterward, which makes it promising for the potential delivery of 5-fluorouracil to the colon.
Towards Non-Targeted Screening of Lipid Biomarkers for Improved Equine Anti-Doping
Authors: Tou Kathy , Cawley Adam , Bowen Christopher , Bishop David P. , Fu Shanlin
Published: January 2023

The current approach to equine anti-doping is focused on the targeted detection of prohibited substances. However, as new substances are rapidly being developed, the need for complimentary methods for monitoring is crucial to ensure the integrity of the racing industry is upheld. Lipidomics is a growing field involved in the characterisation of lipids, their function and metabolism in a biological system. Different lipids have various biological effects throughout the equine system including platelet aggregation and inflammation. A certain class of lipids that are being reviewed are the eicosanoids (inflammatory markers). The use of eicosanoids as a complementary method for monitoring has become increasingly popular with various studies completed to highlight their potential. Studies including various corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and cannabidiol have been reviewed to highlight the progress lipidomics has had in contributing to the equine anti-doping industry. This review has explored the techniques used to prepare and analyse samples for lipidomic investigations in addition to the statistical analysis and potential for lipidomics to be used for a longitudinal assessment in the equine anti-doping industry.
Treatment of High-Polyphenol-Content Waters Using Biotechnological Approaches: The Latest Update
Authors: Muñoz-Palazon Barbara , Gorrasi Susanna , Rosa-Masegosa Aurora , Pasqualetti Marcella , Braconcini Martina , Fenice Massimiliano
Published: January 2023

Polyphenols and their intermediate metabolites are natural compounds that are spread worldwide. Polyphenols are antioxidant agents beneficial for human health, but exposure to some of these compounds can be harmful to humans and the environment. A number of industries produce and discharge polyphenols in water effluents. These emissions pose serious environmental issues, causing the pollution of surface or groundwater (which are used to provide drinking water) or harming wildlife in the receiving ecosystems. The treatment of high-polyphenol-content waters is mandatory for many industries. Nowadays, biotechnological approaches are gaining relevance for their low footprint, high efficiency, low cost, and versatility in pollutant removal. Biotreatments exploit the diversity of microbial metabolisms in relation to the different characteristics of the polluted water, modifying the design and the operational conditions of the technologies. Microbial metabolic features have been used for full or partial polyphenol degradation since several decades ago. Nowadays, the comprehensive use of biotreatments combined with physical-chemical treatments has enhanced the removal rates to provide safe and high-quality effluents. In this review, the evolution of the biotechnological processes for treating high-polyphenol-content water is described. A particular emphasis is given to providing a general concept, indicating which bioprocess might be adopted considering the water composition and the economic/environmental requirements. The use of effective technologies for environmental phenol removal could help in reducing/avoiding the detrimental effects of these chemicals. In addition, some of them could be employed for the recovery of beneficial ones.
The Lipophilic Purine Nucleoside—Tdp1 Inhibitor—Enhances DNA Damage Induced by Topotecan In Vitro and Potentiates the Antitumor Effect of Topotecan In Vivo
Authors: Chernyshova Irina A. , Zakharenko Aleksandra L. , Kurochkin Nikolay N. , Dyrkheeva Nadezhda S. , Kornienko Tatyana E. , Popova Nelly A. , Nikolin Valeriy P. , Ilina Ekaterina S. , Zharkov Timofey D. , Kupryushkin Maxim S. , Oslovsky Vladimir E. , Drenichev Mikhail S. , Lavrik Olga I.
Published: January 2023

The use of cancer chemotherapy sensitizers is a promising approach to induce the effect of clinically used anticancer treatments. One of the interesting targets is Tyrosyl-DNA Phosphodiesterase 1 (Tdp1), a DNA-repair enzyme, that may prevent the action of clinical Topoisomerase 1 (Top1) inhibitors, such as topotecan (Tpc). Tdp1 eliminates covalent Top1-DNA (Top1c) complexes that appear under the action of topotecan and determines the cytotoxic effect of this drug. We hypothesize that Tdp1 inhibition would sensitize cells towards the effect of Tpc. Herein, we report the synthesis and study of lipophilic derivatives of purine nucleosides that efficiently suppress Tdp1 activity, with IC50 values in the 0.3–22.0 μM range. We also showed that this compound class can enhance DNA damage induced by topotecan in vitro by Comet assay on human cell lines HeLa and potentiate the antitumor effect of topotecan in vivo on a mice ascitic Krebs-2 carcinoma model. Thereby, this type of compound may be useful to develop drugs, that sensitize the effect of topotecan and reduce the required dose and, as a result, side effects.
Dynamics of Electron Transfers in Photosensitization Reactions of Zinc Porphyrin Derivatives
Authors: Kim Soohwan , Kim Taesoo , Choi Sunghan , Son Ho-Jin , Kang Sang Ook , Shin Jae Yoon
Published: January 2023

Photocatalytic systems for CO2 reduction operate via complicated multi-electron transfer (ET) processes. A complete understanding of these ET dynamics can be challenging but is key to improving the efficiency of CO2 conversion. Here, we report the ET dynamics of a series of zinc porphyrin derivatives (ZnPs) in the photosensitization reactions where sequential ET reactions of ZnPs occur with a sacrificial electron donor (SED) and then with TiO2. We employed picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and femtosecond transient absorption (TA) measurement to investigate the fast ET dynamics concealed in the steady-state or slow time-resolved measurements. As a result, Stern-Volmer analysis of fluorescence lifetimes evidenced that the reaction of photoexcited ZnPs with SED involves static and dynamic quenching. The global fits to the TA spectra identified much faster ET dynamics on a few nanosecond-time scales in the reactions of one-electron reduced species (ZnPs•–) with TiO2 compared to previously measured minute-scale quenching dynamics and even diffusion rates. We propose that these dynamics report the ET dynamics of ZnPs•– formed at adjacent TiO2 without involving diffusion. This study highlights the importance of ultrafast time-resolved spectroscopy for elucidating the detailed ET dynamics in photosensitization reactions.
Chemometric Assisted UV-Spectrophotometric Methods Using Multivariate Curve Resolution Alternating Least Squares and Partial Least Squares Regression for Determination of Beta-Antagonists in Formulated Products: Evaluation of the Ecological Impact
Authors: Mostafa Ahmed , Shaaban Heba
Published: January 2023

In this study, UV-spectrophotometry coupled with chemometrics has been utilized to enhance the sustainability of quality control analysis of beta antagonists. First, we developed and optimized two eco-friendly chemometric-assisted methods without preliminary separation utilizing (1) multivariate curve resolution alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) and (2) well-established partial least squares regression (PLSR) multivariate calibration for the resolution and quantification of the most commonly prescribed beta antagonists in active pharmaceutical ingredients or commercial pharmaceutical products. The performance of the two proposed chemometric methods was computed and compared. Second, a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the eco-friendliness of the developed methods was performed utilizing the following greenness assessment tools: Green Analytical Procedure Index (GAPI), Analytical Eco-scale assessment (AES) tool, Raynie and Driver’s assessment tool and Analytical GREEnness Metric (AGREE). The models showed satisfactory recovery with a range from 99.83% to 101.12% for MCR-ALS and from 99.66% to 101.54% for PLSR. The optimized models were employed for green analysis of the investigated beta-blockers in single or co-formulated formulations without prior separation. The predictivity of the proposed MCR-ALS and the well-established PLSR method were very comparable. Nevertheless, the MCR-ALS method has the ability to recover the pure spectra of the studied analytes and the interferences as well. The proposed chemometric methods are fast, precise and do not need any sample pretreatment. In addition, they can be used as a benign substitute for the traditional methods used for the analysis of the investigated drugs in pharmaceutical products without harmful impacts on human health and the environment. They also provide advantages in terms of low solvent usage, reduced energy consumption and short analysis time, making them a safe and sustainable approach for quality control analysis.
The Bio-Patina on a Hypogeum Wall of the Matera-Sassi Rupestrian Church “San Pietro Barisano” before and after Treatment with Glycoalkaloids
Authors: Cardellicchio Francesco , Bufo Sabino Aurelio , Mang Stefania Mirela , Camele Ippolito , Salvi Anna Maria , Scrano Laura
Published: January 2023

The investigation focused on the deterioration of the walls in the hypogeum of “San Pietro Barisano” rupestrian church, located in the Matera-Sassi (Southern Italy), one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. The study evaluated the biocide activity of a mixture of natural glycoalkaloids (GAs) extracted from the unripe fruit of Solanum nigrum and applied to clean a hypogeum wall surface in the church affected by bio-patinas. The analyzed bio-patina, collected before treatment and, at pre-established times, after treatment, showed changes in chemical composition detected by XPS, accompanied by visible discoloration and biological activity variation. The biocidal action of the glycoalkaloids mixture, directly employed on the wall surface, was effective after about four weeks for most bio-patina colonizers but not for the fungal species that can migrate and survive in the porosities of the calcarenite. Consequently, the cleaning procedure requires the integration of fungicidal actions, combined with the consolidation of the surfaces, to obtain complete bioremediation and avoid subsequent biological recolonization. SEM images and associated microanalysis of pretreated bio-patina have revealed the biocalcogenity of some autochthonous microorganisms, thus preluding to their eventual isolation and reintroduction on the wall surface to act as consolidants once the bio-cleaning phase has been completed.
Research Progress of H2S Donors Conjugate Drugs Based on ADTOH
Authors: Wen Shuai , Cao Changchang , Ge Jianwen , Yang Wenzhe , Wang Yan , Mou Yi
Published: January 2023

H2S is an endogenous gas signaling molecule and its multiple biological effects have been demonstrated. The abnormal level of H2S is closely related to the occurrence and development of many diseases, and H2S donors has important pharmacological implications. In recent years, H2S donors represented by ADTOH (5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione) are often used to synthesize new ‘conjugate’ compounds that can release H2S and parent drugs. These hybrids retain the pharmacological activity of the parent drugs and H2S and have a synergistic effect. ADTOH and parent drug hybrids have become one of the important strategies for the development of H2S donor conjugate drugs. This review summarizes molecular hybrids between ADTOH and clinical drugs to provide new ideas for the study of H2S donor drug design.
Enriched Surface Oxygen Vacancies of Fe2(MoO4)3 Catalysts for a PDS-Activated photoFenton System
Authors: Qiu Yang , Yang Chuanxi , Zhou Huimin , Zang Jinqiu , Fan Yuqi , Dang Feng , Cui Guanwei , Wang Weiliang
Published: January 2023

The environmentally benign Fe2(MoO4)3 plays a crucial role in the transformation of organic contaminants, either through catalytically decomposing oxidants or through directly oxidizing the target pollutants. Because of their dual roles and the complex surface chemical reactions, the mechanism involved in Fe2(MoO4)3-catalyzed PDS activation processes remains obscure. In this study, Fe2(MoO4)3 was prepared via the hydrothermal and calcine method, and photoFenton degradation of methyl orange (MO) was used to evaluate the catalytic performance of Fe2(MoO4)3. Fe2(MoO4)3 catalysts with abundant surface oxygen vacancies were used to construct a synergistic system involving a photocatalyst and PDS activation. The oxygen vacancies and Fe2+/Fe3+ shuttle played key roles in the novel pathways for generation of •O2−, h+, and 1O2 in the UV–Vis + PDS + FMO-6 photoFenton system. This study advances the fundamental understanding of the underlying mechanism involved in the transition metal oxide-catalyzed PDS activation processes.
Toward the Non-Targeted Detection of Adulterated Virgin Olive Oil with Edible Oils via FTIR Spectroscopy & Chemometrics: Research Methodology Trends, Gaps and Future Perspectives
Authors: Ordoudi Stella A. , Strani Lorenzo , Cocchi Marina
Published: January 2023

Fourier-Transform mid-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy offers a strong candidate screening tool for rapid, non-destructive and early detection of unauthorized virgin olive oil blends with other edible oils. Potential applications to the official anti-fraud control are supported by dozens of research articles with a “proof-of-concept” study approach through different chemometric workflows for comprehensive spectral analysis. It may also assist non-targeted authenticity testing, an emerging goal for modern food fraud inspection systems. Hence, FTIR-based methods need to be standardized and validated to be accepted by the olive industry and official regulators. Thus far, several literature reviews evaluated the competence of FTIR standalone or compared with other vibrational techniques only in view of the chemometric methodology, regardless of the inherent characteristics of the product spectra or the application scope. Regarding authenticity testing, every step of the methodology workflow, and not only the post-acquisition steps, need thorough validation. In this context, the present review investigates the progress in the research methodology on FTIR-based detection of virgin olive oil adulteration over a period of more than 25 years with the aim to capture the trends, identify gaps or misuses in the existing literature and highlight intriguing topics for future studies. An extensive search in Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar, combined with bibliometric analysis, helped to extract qualitative and quantitative information from publication sources. Our findings verified that intercomparison of literature results is often impossible; sampling design, FTIR spectral acquisition and performance evaluation are critical methodological issues that need more specific guidance and criteria for application to product authenticity testing.
Inhibition of Leishmania infantum Trypanothione Reductase by New Aminopropanone Derivatives Interacting with the NADPH Binding Site
Authors: Madia Valentina Noemi , Ialongo Davide , Patacchini Elisa , Exertier Cécile , Antonelli Lorenzo , Colotti Gianni , Messore Antonella , Tudino Valeria , Saccoliti Francesco , Scipione Luigi , Ilari Andrea , Costi Roberta , Di Santo Roberto
Published: January 2023

Background: As a result of the paucity of treatment, Leishmaniasis continues to provoke about 60,000 deaths every year worldwide. New molecules are needed, and drug discovery research is oriented toward targeting proteins crucial for parasite survival. Among them, trypanothione reductase (TR) is of remarkable interest owing to its vital role in Leishmania species protozoan parasite life. Our previously identified compound 1 is a novel chemotype endowed with a unique mode of TR inhibition thanks to its binding to a formerly unknown but druggable site at the entrance of the NADPH binding cavity, absent in human glutathione reductase (hGR). Methods: We designed and synthesized new 3-amino-1-arylpropan-1-one derivatives structurally related to compound 1 and evaluated their potential inhibition activity on TR from Leishmania infantum (LiTR). Cluster docking was performed to assess the binding poses of the compounds. Results: The newly synthesized compounds were screened at a concentration of 100 μM in in vitro assays and all of them proved to be active with residual activity percentages lower than 75%. Conclusions: Compounds 2a and 2b were the most potent inhibitors found, suggesting that an additional aromatic ring might be promising for enzymatic inhibition. Further structure–activity relationships are needed to optimize our compounds activity.
Bismuth-Based Halide Perovskites for Photocatalytic H2 Evolution Application
Authors: Tedesco Costanza , Malavasi Lorenzo
Published: January 2023

Metal halide perovskites (MHPs), in particular lead-based perovskites, have earned recognized fame in several fields for their outstanding optoelectronic properties, including direct generation of free charge carriers, optimal ambipolar charge carrier transport properties, high absorption coefficient, point-defect tolerance, and compositional versatility. Nowadays, this class of materials represents a real and promising alternative to silicon for photovoltaic technologies. This worthy success led to a growing interest in the exploration of MHPs in other hot research fields, such as solar-driven photocatalytic water splitting towards hydrogen production. Nevertheless, many of these perovskites show air and moisture instability problems that considerably hinder their practical application for photocatalytic water splitting. Moreover, if chemical instability is a problem that can be in part mitigated by the optimization of the chemical composition and crystal structure, the presence of lead represents a real problem for the practical application of MHPs in commercial devices due to environmental and healthcare issues. To successfully overcome these problems, lead-free metal halide perovskites (LFMHPs) have gained increasing interest thanks to their optoelectronic properties, comparable to lead-based materials, and their more eco-friendly nature. Among all the lead-free perovskite alternatives, this mini-review considers bismuth-based perovskites and perovskite derivatives with a specific focus on solar-driven photocatalysis application for H2 evolution. Special attention is dedicated to the structure and composition of the different materials and to the advantage of heterojunction engineering and the relative impact on the photocatalytic process.
New Series of Red-Light Phosphor Ca9−xZnxGd0.9(PO4)7:0.1Eu3+ (x = 0–1)
Authors: Dikhtyar Yury Yu. , Spassky Dmitry A. , Morozov Vladimir A. , Polyakov Sergey N. , Romanova Valerya D. , Stefanovich Sergey Yu. , Deyneko Dina V. , Baryshnikova Oksana V. , Nikiforov Ivan V. , Lazoryak Bogan I.
Published: January 2023

In this study, a new series of phosphors, Ca9−xZnxGd0.9(PO4)7:0.1Eu3+ (x = 0.00–1.00, step dx 0.05), was synthesized, consisting of centro- and non-centrosymmetric phases with β-Ca3(PO4)2-type structure. Crystal structures with space groups R3c (0.00 ≤ x < 0.35) and R3¯c (x > 0.8) were determined using X-ray powder diffraction and the method of optical second harmonic generation. In the region 0.35 ≤ x ≤ 0.75, phases R3c and R3¯c were present simultaneously. Refinement of the Ca8ZnGd(PO4)7 crystal structure with the Rietveld method showed that 71% of Gd3+ ions are in M3 sites and 29% are in M1 sites. A luminescent spectroscopy study of Ca9−xZnxGd0.9(PO4)7:0.1Eu3+ indicated the energy transfer from the crystalline host to the Gd3+ and Eu3+ luminescent centers. The maximum Eu3+ luminescence intensity corresponds to the composition with x = 1.
In Vitro and In Vivo Antibiofilm Activity of Red Onion Scales: An Agro-Food Waste
Authors: Ali Nermeen B. , El-Shiekh Riham A. , Ashour Rehab M. , El-Gayed Sabah H. , Abdel-Sattar Essam , Hassan Mariam
Published: January 2023

Red onion wastes (ROW) are valuable sources of bioactive metabolites with promising antimicrobial effects. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are a growing risk in hospitals and communities. This study aims to investigate the in vitro and in vivo antibiofilm activities of the acidified ethanolic extract of red onion scales (RO-T) and its fractions against an MRSA vaginal colonization model. The RO-T extract, as well as its anthocyanin-rich fraction (RO-P) and flavonoid-rich fraction (RO-S), recorded a promising antibacterial activity against highly virulent strains of bacteria (MRSA, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). RO-S showed the highest antibacterial activity (MBC of 0.33 ± 0.11 mg/mL) against MRSA USA300 and significantly eradicated its biofilm formation with an IC50 of 0.003. Using a rat model, in vivo assessment on all samples, which were formulated as a hydrogel, revealed a significant reduction of MRSA bacterial load recovered from an infected vagina compared to that of the negative control group (NCG). RO-T extract and vancomycin groups recorded the highest antibacterial activity with a bacterial load 2.998 and 3.358 logs lower than the NCG, respectively. The histopathological investigation confirmed our findings. RO-T and RO-S were standardized for their quercetin content. Finally, ROW offers a new potent antibiofilm agent mostly due to its high quercetin content.
Oil-in-Water Nanoemulsion Can Modulate the Fermentation, Fatty Acid Accumulation, and the Microbial Population in Rumen Batch Cultures
Authors: El-Sherbiny Mohamed , Khattab Mostafa S. A. , Abd El Tawab Ahmed M. , Elnahr Mostafa , Cieślak Adam , Szumacher-Strabel Małgorzata
Published: January 2023

In this study, three oil-in-water nanoemulsions were tested in two stages: In the first stage, three levels (on the substrate dry matter (DM)), namely 3%, 6%, and 9%, of three different oils, olive oil (OO), corn oil (CO), and linseed oil (LO), in raw and nanoemulsified (N) forms were used separately in three consecutive rumen batch cultures trials. The second stage, which was based on the first stage’s results, consisted of a batch culture trial that compared the raw and nanoemulsified (N) forms of all three oils together, provided at 3% of the DM. In the first stage, NOO, NCO, and NLO preserved higher unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) and less saturated fatty acid (SFA) compared to OO, CO, and LO, respectively; noticeably, NCO had UFA:SFA = 1.01, 1.16, and 1.34 compared to CO, which had UFA:SFA = 0.66, 0.69, and 0.72 when supplemented at 3%, 6%, 9% of DM, respectively. In the second stage, UFA:SFA = 1.04, 1.12, and 1.07 for NOO, NCO, NLO, as compared to UFA:SFA = 0.69, 0.68, and 0.72 for OO, CO, and LO supplemented at 3% of DM. In conclusion, oil-in-water nanoemulsions showed an ability to decrease the transformation of UFA to SFA in the biohydrogenation environment without affecting the rumen microorganisms.
The Effective Treatment of Purpurin on Inflammation and Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis
Authors: Zeng Weiya , Shen Caihong , Mo Suifen , Ni Chen , Lin Ying , Fang Yuan , Yang Huiling , Luo Guihua , Xiao Luhua , Zhan Ruoting , Yan Ping
Published: January 2023

Rubia cordifolia L. (Rubiaceae), one of the traditional anti-rheumatic herbal medicines in China, has been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) since ancient times. Purpurin, an active compound of Rubia cordifolia L., has been identified in previous studies and exerts antibacterial, antigenotoxic, anticancer, and antioxidant effects. However, the efficacy and the underlying mechanism of purpurin to alleviate RA are unclear. In this study, the effect of purpurin on inflammation was investigated using macrophage RAW264.7 inflammatory cells, induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rat was established to explore the effect of purpurin on joint damage and immune disorders; the network pharmacology and molecular docking were integrated to dig out the prospective target. Purpurin showed significantly anti-inflammatory effect by reducing the content of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β and increasing IL-10. Besides, purpurin obviously improved joint injury and hypotoxicity in the liver and spleen and regulated the level of FOXP3 and CD4+/CD8+. Furthermore, purpurin reduced the MMP3 content of AIA rats. Network pharmacology and molecular docking also suggested that MMP3 may be the key target of purpurin against RA. The results of this study strongly indicated that purpurin has a potential effect on anti-RA.
Release of Volatile Cyclopentanone Derivatives from Imidazolidin-4-One Profragrances in a Fabric Softener Application
Authors: Lamboley Serge , Vuichoud Basile , de Saint Laumer Jean-Yves , Herrmann Andreas
Published: January 2023

Imidazolidin-4-ones were investigated as hydrolytically cleavable profragrances to increase the long-lastingness of perfume perception in a fabric softener application. The reaction of different amino acid amides with 2-alkyl- or 2-alkenylcyclopentanones as the model fragrances to be released afforded the corresponding bi- or tricyclic imidazolidin-4-ones as mixtures of diastereoisomers, which were separated by column chromatography. In polar solution, the different stereoisomers equilibrated under thermodynamic conditions to form mixtures with constant isomeric distributions, as shown by NMR spectroscopy. Dynamic headspace analysis on dry cotton demonstrated the controlled fragrance release from the precursors in practical application. Under non-equilibrium conditions (continuous evaporation of the fragrance) and depending on the structure and stereochemistry of the profragrances, the recorded headspace concentrations of the fragrance released from the precursors increased by a factor of 2 up to 100 with respect to the unmodified reference. Prolinamide-based precursors released the highest amount of fragrance and were thus found to be particularly suitable for prolonging the evaporation of cyclopentanone-derived fragrances on a dry cotton surface.
Enhancement of Perovskite Solar Cells by TiO2-Carbon Dot Electron Transport Film Layers
Authors: Yadeta Tamasgen Fikadu , Huang Kuo-Wei , Imae Toyoko , Tung Yung-Liang
Published: January 2023

The high performance of perovskite solar cells was produced with the help of an electron transport layer (ETL) and hole transport layer. The film ETL (mesoporous (meso)-TiO2/carbon dot) boosted the efficiency of the perovskite solar cells. A perovskite cell was fabricated by a coating of carbon dot on a meso-TiO2 ETL. The fabricated meso-TiO2/carbon dot-based device has decreased the pin-holes of the perovskite film layer compared to the meso-TiO2-based device, which boosted 3% of the averaged PCE value of the devices. The UV–visible spectroscopy confirmed that the meso-TiO2/carbon dot ETL showed better absorbance, that is, absorbed more incident light than meso-TiO2 ETL to generate higher power conversion efficiency. Coating of carbon dot on meso-TiO2 reduced carrier recombination, and fadeaway of the perovskite film cracks. The X-ray diffraction spectra displayed the removal of the perovskite component after spin-coating of carbon dot to the meso-TiO2 ETL, indicating that the suppression of non-radiative recombination improves the device performance compared to meso-TiO2 ETL. The stability after four weeks on the performance of the device was improved to be 92% by depositing carbon dot on meso-TiO2 ETL compared to the meso-TiO2 ETL-based device (82%). Thus, the high-quality perovskite cell was fabricated by coating carbon dot on a meso-TiO2 ETL, because the electron transport between ETL and perovskite film layer was improved by the injection of electrons from carbon dot.
The Influence of Zn Substitution on Physical Properties of CoFe2O4 Nanoparticles
Authors: Szatmari Adam , Bortnic Rares , Souca Gabriela , Hirian Razvan , Barbu-Tudoran Lucian , Nekvapil Fran , Iacovita Cristian , Burzo Emil , Dudric Roxana , Tetean Romulus
Published: January 2023

Co1−xZnxFe2O4 nanoparticles (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) have been synthesized via a green sol–gel combustion method. The prepared samples were studied using X-ray diffraction measurements (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman, and magnetic measurements. All samples were found to be single phases and have a cubic Fd-3m structure. EDS analysis confirmed the presence of cobalt, zinc, iron, and oxygen in all studied samples. Raman spectra clearly show that Zn ions are preferentially located in T sites for low Zn concentrations. Due to their high crystallinity, the nanoparticles show high values of the magnetization, which increases with the Zn content for x < 0.5. The magnetic properties are discussed based on Raman results. Co ferrite doped with 30% of Zn produced the largest SAR values, which increase linearly from 148 to 840 W/gMNPs as the H is increased from 20 to 60 kA/m.
Enhancing the Performance of the Photonic Integrated Sensing System by Applying Frequency Interrogation
Authors: Voronkov Grigory S. , Aleksakina Yana V. , Ivanov Vladislav V. , Zakoyan Aida G. , Stepanov Ivan V. , Grakhova Elizaveta P. , Butt Muhammad A. , Kutluyarov Ruslan V.
Published: January 2023

Lab-on-a-chip systems are currently one of the most promising areas in the development of ultra-compact sensor systems, used primarily for gas and liquid analysis to determine the concentration of impurities. Integrated photonics is an ideal basis for designing “lab-on-a-chip” systems, advantageous for its compactness, energy efficiency, and low cost in mass production. This paper presents a solution for “lab-on-a-chip” device realization, consisting of a sensor and an interrogator based on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) integrated photonics platform. The sensor function is performed by an all-pass microring resonator (MRR), installed as a notch filter in the feedback circuit of an optoelectronic oscillator based on an electro-optic phase modulator. This structure realizes the frequency interrogation of the sensor with high accuracy and speed using a conventional single-mode laser source. The system sensitivity for the considered gases is 13,000 GHz/RIU. The results show that the use of frequency interrogation makes it possible to increase the intrinsic LoD by five orders. The proposed solution opens an opportunity for fully integrated implementation of a photonic “laboratory-on-a-chip” unit.
A Novel Controlled Fabrication of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Incorporated Composite Granules Using the Electrostatic Integrated Granulation Method
Authors: Nakazono Taisei , Yokoi Atsushi , Tan Wai Kian , Kawamura Go , Matsuda Atsunori , Muto Hiroyuki
Published: January 2023

Despite the availability of nano and submicron-sized additive materials, the controlled incorporation and utilization of these additives remain challenging due to their difficult handling ability and agglomeration-prone properties. The formation of composite granules exhibiting unique microstructure with desired additives distribution and good handling ability has been reported using the electrostatic integrated granulation method. This study demonstrates the feasible controlled incorporation of two-dimensional hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) sheets with alumina (Al2O3) particles, forming Al2O3–hBN core–shell composite granules. The sintered artifacts obtained using Al2O3–hBN core–shell composite granules exhibited an approximately 28% higher thermal conductivity than those obtained using homogeneously hBN-incorporated Al2O3 composite granules. The findings from this study would be beneficial for developing microstructurally controlled composite granules with the potential for scalable fabrication via powder-metallurgy inspired methods.
Advances in the Mechanistic Understanding of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles’ Radiosensitizing Properties
Authors: Ternad Indiana , Penninckx Sebastien , Lecomte Valentin , Vangijzegem Thomas , Conrard Louise , Lucas Stéphane , Heuskin Anne-Catherine , Michiels Carine , Muller Robert N. , Stanicki Dimitri , Laurent Sophie
Published: January 2023

Among the plethora of nanosystems used in the field of theranostics, iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) occupy a central place because of their biocompatibility and magnetic properties. In this study, we highlight the radiosensitizing effect of two IONPs formulations (namely 7 nm carboxylated IONPs and PEG5000-IONPs) on A549 lung carcinoma cells when exposed to 225 kV X-rays after 6 h, 24 h and 48 h incubation. The hypothesis that nanoparticles exhibit their radiosensitizing effect by weakening cells through the inhibition of detoxification enzymes was evidenced by thioredoxin reductase activity monitoring. In particular, a good correlation between the amplification effect at 2 Gy and the residual activity of thioredoxin reductase was observed, which is consistent with previous observations made for gold nanoparticles (NPs). This emphasizes that NP-induced radiosensitization does not result solely from physical phenomena but also results from biological events.