bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Equal Opportunities for Stroke Survivors’ Rehabilitation: A Study on the Validity of the Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale Translated and Adapted into Romanian
Authors: Roman Nadinne , Miclaus Roxana , Repanovici Angela , Nicolau Cristina
Published: August 2020

Background and objectives: The Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment (UEFMA) is one of the most recommended and used methods of clinical evaluation not only for post-stroke motor function disability conditions but also for physiotherapy goal-setting. Up to the present, an official Romanian version has not been officially available. This study aims to carry out a translation, adaptation, and validation of UEFMA in Romanian, thus giving both patients and medical practitioners the equal opportunity of benefiting from its proficiency. Material and methods: The English version of the motor component of UEFMA was back and forth translated in the assent of best practice translation guidelines. The research was performed on a group of 64 post-stroke in-patients regarding psychometric properties for content validation and an exploratory and confirmatory factorial analysis was performed using the Bayesian model. To assess internal consistency and test–retest reliability, we used the Cronbach Alpha index and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). We used Pearson correlation with the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) to determine concurrent validation. Standardized response mean (SRM) was applied to determine the responsiveness of the instrument used. Results: After performing the exploratory factor analysis, a single factor was extracted, with an Eigenvalue of 19.363, which explained 64.543% of the variation. The model was confirmed by Bayesian exploration, with Root Mean Square Residual (RMR) 0.051, Goodness-of-fit Index (GFI) 0.980, Normed-Fit Index (NFI) 0.978 and Relative Fit Index (RFI) 0.977. The Cronbach Alpha value was 0.981, the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) index for average measures was 0.992, the Pearson correlation with FIM 0.789, and MRS −0.787, while the SRM was 1.117. Conclusions: The Romanian version of the UEFMA scale is a reliable, responsive and valid tool which can be used as a standardized assessment in post-stroke patients across Romania.
Antimicrobial Susceptibilities and Laboratory Profiles of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis Isolates as Agents of Urinary Tract Infection in Lebanon: Paving the Way for Better Diagnostics
Authors: Sokhn Elie S. , Salami Ali , El Roz Ali , Salloum Lamis , Bahmad Hisham F. , Ghssein Ghassan
Published: August 2020

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are major healthcare problems that are usually treated empirically. However, antimicrobial resistance has been increasing across many settings. This study aims to elucidate the antibiotic resistance profiles of three common uropathogens, Escherichia coli (E. coli), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), and Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis) and compare between extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and non-ESBL strains among Lebanese patients. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at multiple tertiary healthcare centers in South Lebanon, between January and September 2017, including 551 patients of all age groups. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data of patients were collected and analyzed statistically. Results: The prevalence of UTI in Lebanon was highest in adults between 19 and 64 years (44%). E. coli was the predominant uropathogenic organism (67.1%) followed by K. pneumoniae (10%) and P. mirabilis (3.7%). ESBL represented 32.9% of the UTI agents. The three common uropathogens studied were found to be most susceptible to imipenem (100%) and meropenem (100%). Interestingly, 115 (25.1%) out of the 458 E. coli isolates were resistant to more than eight antibiotics while 107 (23.4%) were susceptible to all antibiotics studied. Conclusions: Our study underlined the importance of adequate antimicrobial prescription for UTIs in Lebanon to avoid multidrug resistance.
Effect of Aging Treatment on Microstructure and Properties of the Fe55(CoCrNi)10(MoV)5C5 Medium-Entropy Alloy
Authors: Hong Da , Wang Hebin , Hou Longgang , Ou Ping , Wang Yiqi , Zhao Hongjin
Published: August 2020

In this study; the effect of aging treatment for 4 h at 600–1000 °C on the microstructure and properties of a Fe55(CoCrNi)10(MoV)5C5 medium-entropy alloy (MEA) was investigated. After the alloy was aged at 800 °C, a large number of granular and rod-shaped particles are formed throughout the face-centered cubic (FCC) matrix. The average particle diameter was measured to be approximately 46 nm, and the result of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis verified that these secondary precipitates are VC carbides, which plays an important role for pinning dislocations and hindering dislocation movement. Therefore, the hardness and ultimate tensile strength of the alloy at this state increased from 253 HV, 322 MPa in cast condition to 326 HV, 626 MPa, respectively, while remaining relatively good elongation (6.2%). As the aging temperature increases, the volume fraction of the VC carbides decreased while its sizes increased; thus, the dispersion strengthening effect was reduced, resulting in the decrease in the hardness and strength.
The Oxidation Behaviors of Indefinite Chill Roll and High Speed Steel Materials
Authors: Hao Liang , Li Tuanjie , Xie Zhongliang , Duan Qingjuan , Zhang Guoyuan
Published: August 2020

Indefinite chill (IC) roll and high speed steel (HSS) materials have been widely employed to manufacture work rolls as latter and former stands in hot rolling mills. The oxidation of work rolls is of importance for the surface quality of the rolled workpieces. The isothermal oxidation of the IC and HSS materials was conducted at 650 °C and 700 °C in both dry air and humid air. The isothermal oxidation curves indicate that HSS shows faster kinetics than the IC materials in dry air, whereas the opposite occurred in humid air. The oxide scales of the IC materials after the oxidation in both dry air and humid air are made up of two oxide phases. Two oxide phases were found when the HSS oxidized in the dry air and three oxide phases were found when oxidized in the humid air.
Transport Oligonucleotides—A Novel System for Intracellular Delivery of Antisense Therapeutics
Authors: Markov Oleg V. , Filatov Anton V. , Kupryushkin Maxim S. , Chernikov Ivan V. , Patutina Olga A. , Strunov Anton A. , Chernolovskaya Elena L. , Vlassov Valentin V. , Pyshnyi Dmitrii V. , Zenkova Marina A.
Published: August 2020

Biological activity of antisense oligonucleotides (asON), especially those with a neutral backbone, is often attenuated by poor cellular accumulation. In the present proof-of-concept study, we propose a novel delivery system for asONs which implies the delivery of modified antisense oligonucleotides by so-called transport oligonucleotides (tON), which are oligodeoxyribonucleotides complementary to asON conjugated with hydrophobic dodecyl moieties. Two types of tONs, bearing at the 5′-end up to three dodecyl residues attached through non-nucleotide inserts (TD series) or anchored directly to internucleotidic phosphate (TP series), were synthesized. tONs with three dodecyl residues efficiently delivered asON to cells without any signs of cytotoxicity and provided a transfection efficacy comparable to that achieved using Lipofectamine 2000. We found that, in the case of tON with three dodecyl residues, some tON/asON duplexes were excreted from the cells within extracellular vesicles at late stages of transfection. We confirmed the high efficacy of the novel and demonstrated that MDR1 mRNA targeted asON delivered by tON with three dodecyl residues significantly reduced the level of P-glycoprotein and increased the sensitivity of KB-8-5 human carcinoma cells to vinblastine. The obtained results demonstrate the efficacy of lipophilic oligonucleotide carriers and shows they are potentially capable of intracellular delivery of any kind of antisense oligonucleotides.
Biodegradation of Phenol by Rhodococcus sp. Strain SKC: Characterization and Kinetics Study
Authors: Wen Yujuan , Li Chaofan , Song Xiaoming , Yang Yuesuo
Published: August 2020

This study focuses on the kinetics of a pure strain of bacterium Rhodococcus sp. SKC, isolated from phenol-contaminated soil, for the biodegradation of phenol as its sole carbon and energy source in aqueous medium. The kinetics of phenol biodegradation including the lag phase, the maximum phenol degradation rate, maximum growth rate (Rm) and maximum yield coefficient (Y) for each Si (initial phenol concentration, mg/L) were fitted using the Gompertz and Haldane models of substrate inhibition (R2 > 0.9904, RMSE < 0.00925). The values of these parameters at optimum conditions were μmax = 0.30 h−1, Ks = 36.40 mg/L, and Ki = 418.79 mg/L, and that means the inhibition concentration of phenol was 418.79 mg/L. By comparing with other strains of bacteria, Rhodococcus sp. SKC exhibited a high yield factor and tolerance towards phenol. This study demonstrates the potential application of Rhodococcus sp. SKC for the bioremediation of phenol contaminate.
Improved Water-Tree Resistances of SEBS/PP Semi-Crystalline Composites under Crystallization Modifications
Authors: Chen Jun-Qi , Wang Xuan , Sun Wei-Feng , Zhao Hong
Published: August 2020

Water-tree resistances of styrene block copolymer/polypropylene (SEBS/PP) composites are investigated by characterizing crystallization structures in correlation with the dynamic mechanical properties to elucidate the micro-structure mechanism of improving insulation performances, in which the accelerated aging experiments of water trees are performed with water-knife electrodes. The water-tree morphology in spherulites, melt-crystallization characteristics and lamella structures of the composite materials are observed and analyzed by polarizing microscopy (PLM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. Dynamic relaxation and stress-strain characteristics are specifically studied by means of a dynamic thermomechanical analyzer (DMA) and electronic tension machine, respectively. No water-tree aging occurs in both the highly crystalline PP and the noncrystalline SEBS elastomer, while the water trees arising in SEBS/PP composites still has a significantly lower size than that in low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Compared with LDPE, the PP matrix of the SEBS/PP composite represent a higher crystallinity with a larger crystallization size in consistence with its higher mechanical strength and lower dynamic relaxation loss. SEBS molecules agglomerate as a “island” phase, and PP molecules crystallize into thin and short lamellae in composites, leading to the blurred spherulite boundary and the appreciable slips between lamellae under external force. The high crystallinity of the PP matrix and the strong resistance to slips between lamellae in the SEBS/PP composite essentially account for the remarkable inhibition on water-tree growth.
Glycation and Oxidative Stress Increase Autoantibodies in the Elderly
Authors: Khan Mohd W.A. , Al Otaibi Ahmed , Sherwani Subuhi , Khan Wahid A. , Alshammari Eida M. , Al-Zahrani Salma A. , Saleem Mohd , Khan Shahper N. , Alouffi Sultan
Published: August 2020

Aging causes gradual changes in free radicals, antioxidants, and immune-imbalance in the elderly. This study aims to understand links among aging, gluco-oxidative stress, and autoantibodies in asymptomatic individuals. In vitro glycation of human serum albumin (Gly-HSA) induces appreciable biochemical changes. Significant inhibition of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation was achieved using garlic extract (53.75%) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate from green tea (72.5%). Increased amounts of serum carbonyl content (2.42 ± 0.5) and pentosidine (0.0321 ± 0.0029) were detected in IV-S (S represent smokers) vs. IV group individuals. Direct binding ELISA results exhibited significantly high autoantibodies against Gly-HSA in group IV-S (0.55 ± 0.054; p < 0.001) and III-S (0.40 ± 0.044; p < 0.01) individuals as compared to the age matched subjects who were non-smokers (group IV and III). Moreover, high average percent inhibition (51.3 ± 4.1%) was obtained against Gly-HSA in IV-S group individuals. Apparent association constant was found to be high for serum immunoglobulin-G (IgG) from group IV-S (1.18 × 10−6 M) vs. serum IgG from IV group (3.32 × 10−7 M). Aging induced gluco-oxidative stress and AGEs formation may generate neo-epitopes on blood-proteins, contributing to production of autoantibodies in the elderly, especially smokers. Use of anti-glycation natural products may reduce age-related pathophysiological changes.
Platinum (IV) Recovery from Waste Solutions by Adsorption onto Dibenzo-30-crown-10 Ether Immobilized on Amberlite XAD7 Resin–Factorial Design Analysis
Authors: Buriac Oana , Ciopec Mihaela , Duţeanu Narcis , Negrea Adina , Negrea Petru , Grozav Ioan
Published: August 2020

Platinum is a precious metal with many applications, such as: catalytic converters, laboratory equipment, electrical contacts and electrodes, digital thermometers, dentistry, and jewellery. Due to its broad usage, it is essential to recover it from waste solutions resulted out of different technological processes in which it is used. Over the years, several recovery techniques were developed, adsorption being one of the simplest, effective and economical method used for platinum recovery. In the present paper a new adsorbent material (XAD7-DB30C10) for Pt (IV) recovery was used. Produced adsorbent material was characterized by X-ray dispersion (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis. Adsorption isotherms, kinetic models, thermodynamic parameters and adsorption mechanism are presented in this paper. Experimental data were fitted using three non-linear adsorption isotherms: Langmuir, Freundlich and Sips, being better fitted by Sips adsorption isotherm. Obtained kinetic data were correlated well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, indicating that the chemical sorption was the rate-limiting step. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔG°, ΔH°, ΔS°) showed that the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous. After adsorption, metallic platinum was recovered from the exhausted adsorbent material by thermal treatment. Adsorption process optimisation by design of experiments was also performed, using as input obtained experimental data, and taking into account that initial platinum concentration and contact time have a significant effect on the adsorption capacity. From the optimisation process, it has been found that the maximum adsorption capacity is obtained at the maximum variation domains of the factors. By optimizing the process, a maximum adsorption capacity of 15.03 mg g−1 was achieved at a contact time of 190 min, initial concentration of 141.06 mg L−1 and the temperature of 45 °C.
Influence of Size and Shape Anisotropy on Optical Properties of CdSe Quantum Dots
Authors: Kim Sung Hun , Man Minh Tan , Lee Joong Wook , Park Kyoung-Duck , Lee Hong Seok
Published: August 2020

We used low-temperature reactions to synthesize different-sized CdSe quantum dots (QDs) capped with fatty-acid and phosphine ligands. From the correlation of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses of the synthesized QDs, we observed size-dependent shape anisotropy. In addition, the recorded XRD patterns revealed mixed crystal facets with zinc blende and wurtzite structures in small-sized QDs. Furthermore, from differential absorption (DA) spectra, we extracted the electronic transition energies for different-sized QDs, which were found to be similar to the calculated values of the quantum size levels associated with band mixing of CdSe QDs with a moderate bandgap. We found that the excitonic absorption peaks are increasingly “hidden” with decreasing QD size because of the crystal structure and crystalline quality. The results show good agreement with the obtained diffraction patterns and the estimation errors obtained from the DA spectra.
Potential of TiO2 with Various Au Nanoparticles for Catalyzing Mesotrione Removal from Wastewaters under Sunlight
Authors: Šojić Merkulov Daniela , Lazarević Marina , Djordjevic Aleksandar , Náfrádi Máté , Alapi Tünde , Putnik Predrag , Rakočević Zlatko , Novaković Mirjana , Miljević Bojan , Bognár Szabolcs , Abramović Biljana
Published: August 2020

Nowadays, great focus is given to the contamination of surface and groundwater because of the extensive usage of pesticides in agriculture. The improvements of commercial catalyst TiO2 activity using different Au nanoparticles were investigated for mesotrione photocatalytic degradation under simulated sunlight. The selected system was 2.43 × 10−3% Au–S–CH2–CH2–OH/TiO2 (0.5 g/L) that was studied by transmission electron microscopy and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. It was found that TiO2 particles size was ~20 nm and ~50 nm, respectively. The Au nanoparticles were below 10 nm and were well distributed within the framework of TiO2. For 2.43 × 10−3% Au–S–CH2–CH2–OH/TiO2 (0.5 g/L), band gap energy was 2.45 eV. In comparison to the pure TiO2, addition of Au nanoparticles generally enhanced photocatalytic removal of mesotrione. By examining the degree of mineralization, it was found that 2.43 × 10−3% Au–S–CH2–CH2–OH/TiO2 (0.5 g/L) system was the most efficient for the removal of the mesotrione and intermediates. The effect of tert-butanol, NaF and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt on the transformation rate suggested that the relative contribution of various reactive species changed in following order: h+ > ●OHads > ●OHbulk. Finally, several intermediates that were formed during the photocatalytic treatment of mesotrione were identified.
Postnatal Overnutrition Induces Changes in Synaptic Transmission to Leptin Receptor-Expressing Neurons in the Arcuate Nucleus of Female Mice
Authors: Zampieri Thais Tessari , Bohlen Tabata Mariz , Silveira Marina Augusto , Lana Larissa Campista , de Paula Daniella G. , Donato Jose , Frazao Renata
Published: August 2020

The adipocyte-derived hormone leptin is a potent neurotrophic factor that contributes to the neural plasticity and development of feeding circuitry, particularly in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARH). Postnatal overnutrition affects leptin secretion and sensitivity, but whether postnatal overnutrition produces changes in the development of the synaptic transmission to ARH neurons is currently unknown. We evaluated the excitatory and inhibitory currents to ARH leptin receptor (LepR)-expressing neurons in prepubertal, pubertal and adult female mice. The effects of postnatal overnutrition in the expression of genes that code ion channels subunits in the ARH were also evaluated. We observed that the transition from prepubertal to pubertal stage is characterized by a rise in both excitatory and inhibitory transmission to ARH LepR-expressing neurons in control mice. Postnatal overnutrition induces a further increase in the excitatory synaptic transmission in pubertal and adult animals, whereas the amplitude of inhibitory currents to ARH LepR-expressing cells was reduced. Postnatal overnutrition also contributes to the modulation of gene expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate, GABAB and ATP-sensitive potassium channel subunits in ARH. In summary, the synaptic transmission to ARH cells is profoundly influenced by postnatal overnutrition. Thus, increased adiposity during early postnatal period induces long-lasting effects on ARH cellular excitability.
Iron Content of Commercially Available Infant and Toddler Foods in the United States, 2015
Authors: Bates Marlana , Gupta Priya , Cogswell Mary , Hamner Heather , Perrine Cria
Published: August 2020

Objectives: To describe the iron content of commercially available infant and toddler foods. Methods: Nutrition Facts label data were used from a 2015 database of 1037 commercial infant and toddler food and drink products. Products were grouped into food categories on the basis of name, ingredients, target age, and reference amounts customarily consumed (RACC). Mean and median iron content per 100 g and per RACC were calculated. The proportion of products considered good and excellent sources of iron were determined on the basis of percent daily value (% DV) thresholds. Results: Among products marketed for infants (aged 4–12 months), infant cereals had the highest mean (6.19 mg iron per RACC; 41.25 iron mg per 100 g) iron content. Among products marketed for toddlers (aged 12–36 months), vegetable-based mixtures or meals contained the highest mean iron in mg per RACC (mean: 2.97 mg) and dry, grain-based desserts had the highest mean iron in mg per 100 g (mean: 6.45 mg). Juice and drink products had the lowest mean iron contents in both infant and toddler products. Conclusions: Most commercially available infant cereals are considered to be an excellent source of iron, likely from fortification, but wide variability was observed in iron content by food category. Products that are considered good or excellent sources of iron (≥10% DV) can help consumers identify products with higher iron content, such as infant cereals or toddler vegetable-based mixtures/meals.
The CMV-Specific CD8+ T Cell Response Is Dominated by Supra-Public Clonotypes with High Generation Probabilities
Authors: Schober Kilian , Fuchs Pim , Mir Jonas , Hammel Monika , Fanchi Lorenzo , Flossdorf Michael , Busch Dirk H.
Published: August 2020

Evolutionary processes govern the selection of T cell clonotypes that are optimally suited to mediate efficient antigen-specific immune responses against pathogens and tumors. While the theoretical diversity of T cell receptor (TCR) sequences is vast, the antigen-specific TCR repertoire is restricted by its peptide epitope and the presenting major histocompatibility complex (pMHC). It remains unclear how many TCR sequences are recruited into an antigen-specific T cell response, both within and across different organisms, and which factors shape both of these distributions. Infection of mice with ovalbumin-expressing cytomegalovirus (IE2-OVA-mCMV) represents a well-studied model system to investigate T cell responses given their size and longevity. Here we investigated > 180,000 H2kb/SIINFEKL-recognizing TCR CDR3α or CDR3β sequences from 25 individual mice spanning seven different time points during acute infection and memory inflation. In-depth repertoire analysis revealed that from a pool of highly diverse, but overall limited sequences, T cell responses were dominated by public clonotypes, partly with unexpectedly extreme degrees of sharedness between individual mice (“supra-public clonotypes”). Public clonotypes were found exclusively in a fraction of TCRs with a high generation probability. Generation probability and degree of sharedness select for highly functional TCRs, possibly mediated through elevating intraindividual precursor frequencies of clonotypes.
Comparison of Coxiella burnetii Excretion between Sheep and Goats Naturally Infected with One Cattle-Associated Genotype
Authors: Bauer Benjamin , Prüfer Louise , Walter Mathias , Ganter Isabel , Frangoulidis Dimitrios , Runge Martin , Ganter Martin
Published: August 2020

The main reservoir of Coxiella (C.) burnetii are ruminants. They shed the pathogen through birth products, vaginal mucus, faeces and milk. A direct comparison of C. burnetii excretions between naturally infected sheep and goats was performed on the same farm to investigate species-specific differences. The animals were vaccinated with an inactivated C. burnetii phase I vaccine at the beginning of the study period for public health reasons. Vaginal and rectal swabs along with milk specimens were taken monthly during the lambing period and once again at the next lambing season. To estimate the environmental contamination of the animals’ housings, nasal swabs from every animal were taken simultaneously. Moreover, dust samples from the windowsills and straw beddings were collected. All samples were examined by qPCR targeting the IS1111 gene and the MLVA/VNTR typing method was performed. Whole genome sequencing was applied to determine the number of IS1111 copies followed by a calculation of C. burnetii genome equivalents of each sample. The cattle-associated genotype C7 was detected containing 29 IS1111 copies. Overall, goats seem to shed more C. burnetii through vaginal mucus and in particular shed more and for longer via the rectal route than sheep. This is supported by the larger quantities of C. burnetii DNA detected in caprine nasal swabs and environmental samples compared to the ovine ones. Transmission of C. burnetii from cattle to small ruminants must also be considered.
Cyclopropenium Nanoparticles and Gene Transfection in Cells
Authors: Steinman Noam Y. , Campos Luis M. , Feng Yakai , Domb Abraham J. , Hosseinkhani Hossein
Published: August 2020

Non-viral vectors for the transfection of genetic material are at the frontier of medical science. In this article, we introduce for the first time, cyclopropenium-containing nanoparticles as a cationic carrier for gene transfection, as an alternative to the common quaternary ammonium transfection agents. Cyclopropenium-based cationic nanoparticles were prepared by crosslinking poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) with tetrachlorocyclopropene. These nanoparticles were electrostatically complexed with plasmid DNA into nanoparticles (~50 nm). Their cellular uptake into F929 mouse fibroblast cells, and their eventual expression in vitro have been described. Transfection is enhanced relative to PEI with minimal toxicity. These cyclopropenium nanoparticles possess efficient gene transfection capabilities with minimal cytotoxicity, which makes them novel and promising candidates for gene therapy.
Identification of Three Monofunctional Diterpene Synthases with Specific Enzyme Activities Expressed during Heartwood Formation in Western Redcedar (Thuja plicata) Trees
Authors: Tasnim Sifat , Gries Regine , Mattsson Jim
Published: August 2020

Upon harvest, Western redcedar (WRC; Thuja plicata) trees have a high incidence and extent of heartwood rot. While monoterpenoids and lignans have been linked to rot resistance in this species, other specialized metabolites, such as diterpenes, are likely to contribute to rot resistance. Here we report the cloning and functional assessment of three putative diterpene synthase (TpdiTPS) genes expressed during heartwood formation in WRC. The predicted proteins of the three genes lack either of the two catalytically independent active sites typical of most diTPS, indicating monofunctional rather than bifunctional activity. To identify potential catalytic activities of these proteins, we expressed them in genetically engineered Escherichia coli strains that produce four potential substrates, geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGDP), ent, syn, and normal stereoisomers of copalyl diphosphate (CDP). We found that TpdiTPS3 used GGDP to produce CDP. TpdiTPS2 used normal CDP to produce levopimaradiene. TpdiTPS1 showed stereoselectivity as it used normal CDP to produce sandaracopimaradiene and syn-CDP to produce syn-stemod-13(17)-ene. These genes and protein enzymatic activities have not been previously reported in WRC and provide an opportunity to assess their potential roles in heartwood rot resistance in this economically important species.
Comparative Study of the Effects of Salinity on Growth, Gas Exchange, N Accumulation and Stable Isotope Signatures of Forage Oat (Avena sativa L.) Genotypes
Authors: Sadaqat Shah Syed , Li Zhijian , Yan Hong , Shi Lianxuan , Zhou Bangwei
Published: August 2020

Identifying suitable salt stress-tolerant phenotypes based on their agronomic and physiological traits remains a herculean task in forage-type oat (Avena sativa L.) breeding. This study examined the responses of six forage-type oat cultivars under four levels of saline stress over the vegetative growth cycle. Crop growth, water status-related traits and nitrogen status-related traits were analyzed in different plant parts to evaluate effective approaches for identifying salt tolerance. Plant biomass, height, tiller number and culm thickness changed substantially during salinity, but they were not precise enough for use in estimating genotypic salinity tolerance during long-term stress. Genotypes bearing larger numbers of tillers showed greater sensitivity to salinity due to its effects on biomass loss. Tolerant genotypes exhibited higher relative shoot biomass together with higher water use efficiency. The concentrations of Na+, K+ and their ratio, combined with the δ13C in shoots and roots were effective indicators for estimating tolerant genotypes through better water maintenance. N concentrations of shoots were the most efficient for evaluating genotypic tolerance. Low nitrate reductase (NR) and glutamine synthetase (GS) activity might be key factors limiting N accumulation. Chlorophyll (Chl) content and net photosynthetic rate, as well as stomatal conductance and evaporation, were useful for identifying salinity tolerance physiological mechanisms, but the effectiveness was low for genotypic tolerance testing for forage type oats due to the interaction between genotypes and salinity levels. The selection of high salinity-tolerant genotypes should focus on genotypes with photosynthetic resilience to salt, followed by high N metabolism (higher NR and GS activities) to ensure accumulation of more N in the shoot dry matter.
Screening for Resistance in Farmer-Preferred Cassava Cultivars from Ghana to a Mixed Infection of CBSV and UCBSV
Authors: Elegba Wilfred , Gruissem Wilhelm , Vanderschuren Hervé
Published: August 2020

Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) caused by the Cassava brown streak virus (CBSV) and Ugandan cassava brown streak virus (UCBSV) is a threat to cassava production in Africa. The potential spread of CBSD into West Africa is a cause for concern, therefore screening for resistance in farmer-preferred genotypes is crucial for effective control and management. We multiplied a selection of eleven cassava cultivars grown by farmers in Ghana to test their response to a mixed infection of CBSV (TAZ-DES-01) and UCBSV (TAZ-DES-02) isolates using a stringent top-cleft graft inoculation method. Virus titers were quantified in the inoculated scions and cuttings propagated from the inoculated scions to assess virus accumulation and recovery. All cultivars were susceptible to the mixed infection although their response and symptom development varied. In the propagated infected scions, CBSV accumulated at higher titers in leaves of eight of the eleven cultivars. Visual scoring of storage roots from six-month-old virus-inoculated plants revealed the absence of CBSD-associated necrosis symptoms and detectable titers of CBSVs in the cultivar, IFAD. Although all eleven cultivars supported the replication of CBSV and UCBSV in their leaves, the absence of virus replication and CBSD-associated symptoms in the roots of some cultivars could be used as criteria to rapidly advance durable CBSD tolerance using breeding and genetic engineering approaches.
Genome-Wide Identification of the ABA Receptors Genes and Their Response to Abiotic Stress in Apple
Authors: Hou Hongmin , Lv Lingling , Huo Heqiang , Dai Hongyi , Zhang Yugang
Published: August 2020

The pyrabactin resistance (PYR)/PYR1-like (PYL)/regulatory components of ABA receptor (RCAR) (known as PYLs for short) have been identified and characterized as the ABA receptors in some plants. However, little is known about the details regarding PYL family genes in the apple (Malusdomestica). In this study, we identified 13 apple PYLs, termed MdPYL1-13, which could be classified into four groups according to structural features of the amino acid sequence. The gene structures and conserved motifs analysis found that the majority of MdPYLs had a similar number of exons and similar conserved motif profile in the same group. In addition, 11 gene pairs were identified to exhibit synteny by synteny analysis between the apple and Arabidopsis. Furthermore, we investigated MdPYLs transcript level in various organs of the red-fleshed apple (Malussieversii f. Neidzwetzkyana (Dieck) Langenf) ‘Xinjiang No.1’. The results suggested all MdPYLs within group I were expressed at relatively higher levels in all of the organs tested. However, the genes of group IV had little or no variation. Additionally, we found various hormone and stress-related cis-elements in the promoters of MdPYLs by analyzing cis-elements. Therefore, the expression levels of all MdPYLs were further detected under ABA, PEG, salt, and cold stresses in ‘Xinjiang No.1’ seedlings. We found that all MdPYLs except for MdPYL11 were upregulated by ABA treatment, 10 genes were upregulated by PEG treatment, 12 genes were upregulated by NaCl treatment, and six genes were upregulated by cold treatment (4 °C) while seven genes were downregulated. Thus, these MdPYLs might be involved in the defense against abiotic stresses. In addition, the interaction between 13 MdPYLs and two 2C protein phosphatases in the apple (MdPP2C65 and MdPP2C72) was investigated in yeast two-hybrid assays. These results suggested that MdPYLs may bind to MdPP2C65 and MdPP2C72 in different manners and with different intensity. Our studies provide useful information for further investigating and researching the regulatory mechanisms of PYL family genes in response to abiotic stresses in the apple.
Quality Prediction for Injection Molding by Using a Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network
Authors: Ke Kun-Cheng , Huang Ming-Shyan
Published: August 2020

Injection molding has been widely used in the mass production of high-precision products. The finished products obtained through injection molding must have a high quality. Machine parameters do not accurately reflect the molding conditions of the polymer melt; thus, the use of machine parameters leads to erroneous quality judgments. Moreover, the cost of mass inspections of finished products has led to strict restrictions on comprehensive quality testing. Therefore, an automatic quality inspection that provides effective and accurate quality judgment for each injection-molded part is required. This study proposes a multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural network model combined with quality indices for performing fast and automatic prediction of the geometry of finished products. The pressure curves detected by the in-mold pressure sensor, which reflect the flow state of the melt, changes in various indicators and molding quality, were considered in this study. Furthermore, the quality indices extracted from pressure curves with a strong correlation with the part quality were input into the MLP model for learning and prediction. The results indicate that the training and testing of the first-stage holding pressure index, pressure integral index, residual pressure drop index and peak pressure index with respect to the geometric widths were accurate (accuracy rate exceeded 92%), which demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed method.
Near-Linear Responsive and Wide-Range Pressure and Stretch Sensor Based on Hierarchical Graphene-Based Structures via Solvent-Free Preparation
Authors: Wang Jian , Suzuki Ryuki , Ogata Kentaro , Nakamura Takuto , Dong Aixue , Weng Wei
Published: August 2020

Flexible and wearable electronics have huge potential applications in human motion detection, human–computer interaction, and context identification, which have promoted the rapid development of flexible sensors. So far the sensor manufacturing techniques are complex and require a large number of organic solvents, which are harmful not only to human health but also to the environment. Here, we propose a facile solvent-free preparation toward a flexible pressure and stretch sensor based on a hierarchical layer of graphene nanoplates. The resulting sensor exhibits many merits, including near-linear response, low strain detection limits to 0.1%, large strain gauge factor up to 36.2, and excellent cyclic stability withstanding more than 1000 cycles. Besides, the sensor has an extraordinary pressure range as large as 700 kPa. Compared to most of the reported graphene-based sensors, this work uses a completely environmental-friendly method that does not contain any organic solvents. Moreover, the sensor can practically realize the delicate detection of human body activity, speech recognition, and handwriting recognition, demonstrating a huge potential for wearable sensors.
Antibacterial Activity of Non-Cytotoxic, Amino Acid-Modified Polycationic Dendrimers against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Other Non-Fermenting Gram-Negative Bacteria
Authors: Schito Anna Maria , Alfei Silvana
Published: August 2020

Due to the rapid increase of antimicrobial resistance with ensuring therapeutic failures, the purpose of this study was to identify novel synthetic molecules as alternatives to conventional available, but presently ineffective antibiotics. Variously structured cationic dendrimers previously reported have provided promising outcomes. However, the problem of their cytotoxicity towards eukaryotic cells has not been completely overcome. We have now investigated the antibacterial activities of three not cytotoxic cationic dendrimers (G5Ds: G5H, G5K, and G5HK) against several multidrug-resistant (MDR) clinical strains. All G5Ds displayed remarkable activity against MDR non-fermenting Gram-negative species such as P. aeruginosa, S. maltophilia, and A. baumannii (MICs = 0.5–33.2 µM). In particular, very low MIC values (0.5–2.1 µM) were observed for G5K, which proved to be more active than the potent colistin (2.1 versus 3.19 µM) against P. aeruginosa. Concerning its mechanism of action, in time-killing and turbidimetric studies, G5K displayed a rapid non-lytic bactericidal activity. Considering the absence of cytotoxicity of these new compounds and their potency, comparable or even higher than that provided by the dendrimers previously reported, G5Ds may be proposed as promising novel antibacterial agents capable of overcoming the alarming resistance rates of several nosocomial non-fermenting Gram-negative pathogens.
Bulk-Surface Modification of Nanoparticles for Developing Highly-Crosslinked Polymer Nanocomposites
Authors: Jouyandeh Maryam , Ganjali Mohammad Reza , Aghazadeh Mustafa , Habibzadeh Sajjad , Formela Krzysztof , Saeb Mohammad Reza
Published: August 2020

Surface modification of nanoparticles with functional molecules has become a routine method to compensate for diffusion-controlled crosslinking of thermoset polymer composites at late stages of crosslinking, while bulk modification has not carefully been discussed. In this work, a highly-crosslinked model polymer nanocomposite based on epoxy and surface-bulk functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) was developed. MNPs were synthesized electrochemically, and then polyethylene glycol (PEG) surface-functionalized (PEG-MNPs) and PEG-functionalized cobalt-doped (Co-PEG-MNPs) particles were developed and used in nanocomposite preparation. Various analyses including field-emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) were employed in characterization of surface and bulk of PEG-MNPs and Co-PEG-MNPs. Epoxy nanocomposites including the aforementioned MNPs were prepared and analyzed by nonisothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to study their curing potential in epoxy/amine system. Analyses based on Cure Index revealed that incorporation of 0.1 wt.% of Co-PEG-MNPs into epoxy led to Excellent cure at all heating rates, which uncovered the assistance of bulk modification of nanoparticles to the crosslinking of model epoxy nanocomposites. Isoconversional methods revealed higher activation energy for the completely crosslinked epoxy/Co-PEG-MNPs nanocomposite compared to the neat epoxy. The kinetic model based on isoconversional methods was verified by the experimental rate of cure reaction.
Reduction of Postharvest Quality Loss and Microbiological Decay of Tomato “Chonto” (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Using Chitosan-E Essential Oil-Based Edible Coatings under Low-Temperature Storage
Authors: Peralta-Ruiz Yeimmy , Tovar Carlos David Grande , Sinning-Mangonez Angie , Coronell Edgar A. , Marino Marcos F. , Chaves-Lopez Clemencia
Published: August 2020

The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the many essential vegetables around the world due to its nutritive content and attractive flavor. However, its short shelf-life and postharvest losses affect its marketing. In this study, the effects of chitosan-Ruta graveolens (CS + RGEO) essential oil coatings on the postharvest quality of Tomato var. “chonto” stored at low temperature (4 °C) for 12 days are reported. The film-forming dispersions (FFD) were eco-friendly synthesized and presented low viscosities (between 0.126 and 0.029 Pa s), small particle sizes (between 1.29 and 1.56 μm), and low densities. The mature index (12.65% for uncoated fruits and 10.21% for F4 coated tomatoes), weight loss (29.8% for F1 and 16.7% for F5 coated tomatoes), and decay index (3.0 for uncoated and 1.0 for F5 coated tomatoes) were significantly different, indicating a preservative effect on the quality of the tomato. Moreover, aerobic mesophilic bacteria were significantly reduced (in five Log CFU/g compared to control) by using 15 μL/mL of RGEO. The coatings, including 10 and 15 μL/mL of RGEO, completely inhibited the mold and yeast growth on tomato surfaces without negatively affecting the consumer acceptation, as the sensorial analysis demonstrated. The results presented in this study show that CS + RGEO coatings are promising in the postharvest treatment of tomato var. “chonto”.
Preparation of Curcumin Nanosuspension with Gum Arabic as a Natural Stabilizer: Process Optimization and Product Characterization
Authors: Duong Bao Hoang , Truong Hoai Nam , Phan Nguyen Quynh Anh , Nguyen Phu Thuong Nhan , Hong Nhan Le Thi
Published: August 2020

Low aqueous solubility and poor bioavailability of curcumin have limited its application in various fields. One approach to address this issue is to formulate a nanosuspension that incorporates curcumin, which has been previously shown to exhibit remarkably improved solubility in comparison with that of a bare compound. In this study, the preparation process of curcumin nanosuspension was optimized with a median particle size as the outcome. Gum arabic was used as a natural polymeric surfactant and the suspension was formulated using high speed homogenization. Optimization results, realized via a response surface methodology, showed that a minimum median particle size (8.524 µm) could be attained under the following conditions: curcumin:gum arabic ratio of 1:6 g/g; homogenization speed of 8300 rpm and homogenization time of 40 min. Under these conditions, the particle size of obtained suspension was shown to be consistent for around seven days without major aggregation. The homogenization process could be scaled up to five times in terms of suspension volume. TEM also showed that curcumin nanoparticles had a nearly spherical shape and homogeneous structure with a size range of 40–80 nm.
Comparison of Two Different Designs of a Scraped Surface Crystallizer for Desalination Effect and Hydraulic and Thermodynamic Numbers
Authors: Erlbeck Lars , Wössner Dirk , Kunz Thomas , Methner Frank-Jürgen , Rädle Matthias
Published: August 2020

The design of a desalination plant is most important if the desired product purity has to be as high as possible. This is also true for freeze crystallization plants. A correct solid-to-liquid ratio has to be ensured when pressing is used as a post-treatment. Thus, the dependence of the overall plant design on the achieved ice quality but also on different hydraulic and thermodynamic numbers is important. In this research, a scraped screw crystallizer plant is presented and examined for two different screw designs. Experiments with a low initial concentration, as for the usage to desalinate groundwater to gain it as process water, were conducted. Furthermore, solutions with high initial concentrations simulating seawater to produce potable water were used as another set of test solutions. The findings showed that neither of the screw designs is more favorable than the other, but it is important to have a plant design fitting the existing parameters on site.
Prediction Model of Suspension Density in the Dense Medium Separation System Based on LSTM
Authors: Zheng Cheng , Deng Jianjun , Hong Zhixin , Wang Guanghui
Published: August 2020

In the dense medium separation system of coal preparation plant, the fluctuation of raw coal ash and lag of suspension density adjustment often causes the instability of product quality. To solve this problem, this study established a suspension density prediction model for the dense medium separation system based on Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM). First, the historical data in the dense medium separation system of a coal preparation plant were collected and preprocessed. Moving average and cubic exponential smoothing methods were used to replace abnormal data and to fill in the missing data, respectively. Second, a LSTM network was used to construct the density prediction model, and the optimal number of time steps, hidden layers, and nodes was determined. Finally, the model was employed on a testing set for prediction, and a Back-Propagation (BP) network without a time series was used for comparison. Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) were the minimum when the number of the hidden layers, nodes, and time steps was 6, 12, and 5, respectively. In this case, the RMSE and Mean Absolute Percent Error (MAPE) of the LSTM method were 0.009 and 0.007, respectively, while those of the BP method were 0.019 and 0.015, respectively. Therefore, the model established using LSTM can be used to accurately predict the suspension density of the dense medium separation system.
Residue Char Derived from Microwave-Assisted Pyrolysis of Sludge as Adsorbent for the Removal of Methylene Blue from Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Cheng Gong , Li Yazhuo , Sun Liming , Luo Siyi , Kyzas George Z. , Fu Jie
Published: August 2020

Residue char is the main by-product of the microwave-assisted pyrolysis of activated sludge and it has a high content of fixed carbon and porous structure, but little is known about its character as an absorbent. In this study, residue char of activated sludge with microwave-assisted pyrolysis was used as an adsorbent to absorb methylene blue. The effects of pyrolysis temperature, pyrolysis holding time, contact time, and adsorption temperature on the adsorption ability of residue char were investigated. Kinetics, isotherm, and thermodynamic models were also included to study the adsorption behavior. The results showed that the optimal pyrolysis condition was 15 min and 603 °C, and the adsorption capacity reached up to 80.01 mg/g. The kinetics analyses indicated the adsorption behavior followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics model and the adsorption process was mainly due to chemical interaction. The adsorption isotherm was described by Freundlich model and thus, its process was multimolecular layer adsorption. Furthermore, the thermodynamics parameters (ΔG0, ΔH0, and ΔS0) at different temperatures indicated that the nature of the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous.