bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Establishment of a Novel Baculovirus–Silkworm Expression System
Authors: Wei Junhong , Fan Youpeng , Jing Xiaoling , Fei Zhihui , Li Chunfeng , Pan Guoqing , Bao Jialing , Zhou Zeyang
Published: May 2022

The baculovirus vector expression system is a well-established tool for foreign protein production and gene delivery. In this study, we constructed a recombinant baculovirus vector system. The UAS promotor region and Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) polyhedrin coding region were ligated into a pFastBac Dual vector to obtain a BmBac-UPS recombinant bacmid. The recombinant bacmid BmBac-Gal4 was generated by the same strategy which has a Gal4 coding region controlled by the IE2 promoter. BmBac-UPS and BmBac-IGal4 were co-infected into silkworm BmN cells to confirm the ability of the UAS/Gal4 system to form polyhedrons in B. mori cells. Furthermore, the recombinant viruses were tested for infection efficiency and the ability to generate polyhedra in transgenic B. mori cell line BmE. The results showed that recombinant viruses have the ability to form polyhedrons and gain raised pathogenicity when orally infected B. mori larvae and are applied as the preferred tool for foreign gene delivery and expression
How Gut Bacterial Dysbiosis Can Promote Candida albicans Overgrowth during Colonic Inflammation
Authors: Jawhara Samir
Published: May 2022

Candida albicans is a commensal opportunistic yeast, which is capable of colonising many segments of the human digestive tract. Excessive C. albicans overgrowth in the gut is associated with multiple risk factors such as immunosuppression, antibiotic treatment associated with changes to the gut microbiota and digestive mucosa that support C. albicans translocation across the digestive intestinal barrier and haematogenous dissemination, leading to invasive fungal infections. The C. albicans cell wall contains mannoproteins, β-glucans, and chitin, which are known to trigger a wide range of host cell activities and to circulate in the blood during fungal infection. This review describes the role of C. albicans in colonic inflammation and how various receptors are involved in the immune defence against C. albicans with a special focus on the role of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and TLRs in intestinal homeostasis and C. albicans sensing. This review highlights gut microbiota dysbiosis during colonic inflammation in a dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis murine model and the effect of fungal glycan fractions, in particular β-glucans and chitin, on the modification of the gut microbiota, as well as how these glycans modulate the immuno-inflammatory response of the host.
A Comparative Study on Analysis of Ginsenosides in American Ginseng Root Residue by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS and UPLC-HRMS-MS/MS
Authors: Hsu Bo-Yang , Jen Chen-Te , Inbaraj Baskaran Stephen , Chen Bing-Huei
Published: May 2022

Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), a popular herbal and nutritional supplement consumed worldwide, has been demonstrated to possess vital biological activities, which can be attributed to the presence of ginsenosides. However, the presence of ginsenosides in ginseng root residue, a by-product obtained during processing of ginseng beverage, remains unexplored. The objectives of this study were to develop a high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection-mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS) and an ultra-high-performance-liquid-chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS-MS/MS) method for the comparison of ginsenoside analysis in ginseng root residue. Results showed that by employing a Supelco Ascentis Express C18 column (150 × 4.6 mm ID, particle size 2.7 μm) and a gradient mobile phase of deionized water and acetonitrile with a flow rate at 1 mL/min and detection at 205 nm, a total of 10 ginsenosides, including internal standard saikosaponin A, were separated within 18 min and detected by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS. Whereas with UPLC-HRMS-MS/MS, all the 10 ginsenosides were separated within six minutes by using an Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (50 × 2.1 mm ID, particle size 1.7 μm, 130 Å) and a gradient mobile phase of ammonium acetate and acetonitrile with column temperature at 50 °C, flow rate at 0.4 mL/min and detection by selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. High accuracy and precision was shown, with limit of quantitation (LOQ) ranging from 0.2–1.9 μg/g for HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS and 0.269–6.640 ng/g for UPLC-HRMS-MS/MS. The contents of nine ginsenosides in the ginseng root residue ranged from <LOQ-26.39 mg/g by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS and <LOQ-21.25 mg/g by UPLC-HRMS-MS/MS, with a total amount of 38.37 and 34.71 mg/g, respectively.
A Review on Recent Progress of Stingless Bee Honey and Its Hydrogel-Based Compound for Wound Care Management
Authors: Esa Nur Eszaty Farain , Ansari Mohamed Nainar Mohamed , Razak Saiful Izwan Abd , Ismail Norjihada Izzah , Jusoh Norhana , Zawawi Nurliyana Ahmad , Jamaludin Mohamad Ikhwan , Sagadevan Suresh , Nayan Nadirul Hasraf Mat
Published: May 2022

Stingless bee honey has a distinctive flavor and sour taste compared to Apis mellifera honey. Currently, interest in farming stingless bees is growing among rural residents to meet the high demand for raw honey and honey-based products. Several studies on stingless bee honey have revealed various therapeutic properties for wound healing applications. These include antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and moisturizing properties related to wound healing. The development of stingless bee honey for wound healing applications, such as incorporation into hydrogels, has attracted researchers worldwide. As a result, the effectiveness of stingless bee honey against wound infections can be improved in the future to optimize healing rates. This paper reviewed the physicochemical and therapeutic properties of stingless bee honey and its efficacy in treating wound infection, as well as the incorporation of stingless bee honey into hydrogels for optimized wound dressing.
Salicylic Acid Stimulates Defense Systems in Allium hirtifolium Grown under Water Deficit Stress
Authors: Yousefvand Peyman , Sohrabi Yousef , Heidari Gholamreza , Weisany Weria , Mastinu Andrea
Published: May 2022

Nowadays, the use of the growth regulator salicylic acid for improving a plant’s resistance to environmental stresses such as drought is increasing. The present study investigated the effect of salicylic acid on the physiological traits, antioxidant enzymes, yield, and quality of Allium hirtifolium (shallots) under drought conditions for three years (2016–2017, 2017–2018, and 2018–2019). The experiment was conducted as a split-plot based on a randomized complete block design with four repeats. Irrigation as the main factor in four levels of 100% (full irrigation), 75% and 50% of the plant water requirements with non-irrigation (dryland), and salicylic acid as the sub-factor in four levels of 0, 0.75, and 1 mmol, were the studied factors in this research. The combined analysis of three-year data showed that drought reduced leaf relative water content (RWC), membrane stability index (MSI), chlorophyll content, onion yield, and increased activity of antioxidant enzymes, proline content, tang, and allicin of shallots. Shallot spraying with salicylic acid improved leaf RWC, MSI, chlorophyll content, and onion yield. The highest yield of onion (1427 gr m−2) belonged to full irrigation and foliar application of 1 mmol salicylic acid. The lowest yield (419.8 gr m−2) belonged to plats with non-irrigation and non-application of salicylic acid. By improving the effective physiological traits in resistance to water deficit, salicylic acid adjusted the effects of water deficit on the yield of shallots. Foliar application of 1 mmol salicylic acid in dryland and irrigation of 50% of the plant water requirement increased onion yield by 15.12% and 29.39%, respectively, compared to the control treatment without salicylic acid.
Recent Advances in Catalytic Alkyne Transformation via Copper Carbene Intermediates
Authors: Dong Kuiyong , Liu Mengting , Xu Xinfang
Published: May 2022

As one of the abundant and inexpensive metals on the earth, copper has demonstrated broad applications in synthetic chemistry and catalysis. Among these copper-catalyzed advances, copper carbenes are versatile and reactive intermediates that can mediate a variety of transformations, which have attracted much attention in the past decades. The present review summarizes two different reaction models that take place between a copper carbene intermediate and alkyne species, including the cross-coupling reaction of copper carbene intermediate with terminal alkyne, and the addition of copper carbene intermediate onto the C–C triple bond. This article will cover the profile from 2010 to 2021 by placing emphasis on the detailed catalytic models and highlighting the synthetic applications offered by these practical and mild methods.
Controlled Synthesis of Luminescent Xanthene Dyes and Use of Ionic Liquid in Thermochromic Reaction
Authors: Potaniec Bartłomiej , Zdończyk Maria , Cybińska Joanna
Published: May 2022

In this study, we demonstrate six novel xanthene derivatives and their spectroscopic and chemical properties. The presented synthesis examination allowed us to obtain two different compounds during one step, with open and closed lactone rings substituted with different length alkyl chains. Increasing the reaction efficiency to 77% was obtained using the microwave-assisted method. Moreover, the modification of O-alkylation synthesis in an ecofriendly way using a ball mill led to achieving exclusively one opened ring product. All of the synthesized compounds showed different spectroscopic behaviors in comparison with the different organic dyes; the typical concentration quenching of luminescence was not observed. The relationship between the length of the alkyl chain and the time of luminescence decay is presented. Synthetized closed forms of dyes turned out to be promising leuco dyes. For the first time, an ionic liquid was used as a developer of synthesized xanthene derivatives (as leuco dyes), which led to obtaining an irreversible thermochromic marker.
New Chemotypes for the Inhibition of (p)ppGpp Synthesis in the Quest for New Antimicrobial Compounds
Authors: Coppa Crescenzo , Sorrentino Luca , Civera Monica , Minneci Marco , Vasile Francesca , Sattin Sara
Published: May 2022

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a serious threat to our society from both the medical and economic point of view, while the antibiotic discovery pipeline has been dwindling over the last decades. Targeting non-essential bacterial pathways, such as those leading to antibiotic persistence, a bacterial bet-hedging strategy, will lead to new molecular entities displaying low selective pressure, thereby reducing the insurgence of AMR. Here, we describe a way to target (p)ppGpp (guanosine tetra- or penta-phosphate) signaling, a non-essential pathway involved in the formation of persisters, with a structure-based approach. A superfamily of enzymes called RSH (RelA/SpoT Homolog) regulates the intracellular levels of this alarmone. We virtually screened several fragment libraries against the (p)ppGpp synthetase domain of our RSH chosen model RelSeq, selected three main chemotypes, and measured their interaction with RelSeq by thermal shift assay and STD-NMR. Most of the tested fragments are selective for the synthetase domain, allowing us to select the aminobenzoic acid scaffold as a hit for lead development.
Mimic Pork Rinds from Plant-Based Gel: The Influence of Sweet Potato Starch and Konjac Glucomannan
Authors: Zhang Qibo , Huang Lu , Li He , Zhao Di , Cao Jinnuo , Song Yao , Liu Xinqi
Published: May 2022

This study investigated the effect of sweet potato starch (SPS) and konjac glucomannan (KGM) on the textural, color, sensory, rheological properties, and microstructures of plant-based pork rinds. Plant-based gels were prepared using mixtures of soy protein isolate (SPI), soy oil, and NaHCO3 supplemented with different SPS and KGM concentrations. The texture profile analysis (TPA) results indicated that the hardness, cohesiveness, and chewiness of the samples improved significantly after appropriate SPS and KGM addition. The results obtained via a colorimeter showed no significant differences were found in lightness (L*) between the samples and natural pork rinds after adjusting the SPS and KGM concentrations. Furthermore, the rheological results showed that adding SPS and KGM increased both the storage modulus (G’) and loss modulus (G’’), indicating a firmer gel structure. The images obtained via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the SPS and KGM contributed to the formation of a more compact gel structure. A mathematical model allowed for a more objective sensory evaluation, with the 40% SPS samples and the 0.4% KGM samples being considered the most similar to natural pork rinds, which provided a comparable texture, appearance, and mouthfeel. This study proposed a possible schematic model for the gelling mechanism of plant-based pork rinds: the three-dimensional network structures of the samples may result from the interaction between SPS, SPI, and soybean oil, while the addition of KGM and NaHCO3 enabled a more stable gel structure.
Manganese Ferrite–Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposite Synthesis: Biogenic Waste Remodeling for Water Decontamination
Authors: Algethami Jari , Hassan M. , Alorabi Ali , Alhemiary Nabil , Fallatah Ahmed , Alnaam Yaser , Almusabi Saleh , Amna Touseef
Published: May 2022

Environmental pollution, especially water pollution caused by dyes, heavy metal ions and biological pathogens, is a root cause of various lethal diseases in human-beings and animals. Water purification materials and treatment methods are overpriced. Consequently, there is an imperative outlook observance for cheap materials for the purification of wastewaters. In order to fill up the projected demand for clean water, the present study aimed to make use of cost-effective and environmentally friendly methods to convert bone-waste from animals such as cows into novel composites for the decontamination of water. The bone-waste of slaughtered cows from the Najran region of Saudi Arabia was collected and used for the synthesis of hydroxyapatite based on the thermal method. The synthesized hydroxyapatite (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) was utilized to prepare a manganese ferrite/hydroxyapatite composite. The nanocomposite was categorized by diverse sophisticated procedures, for instance XRD, FE-SEM, EDX, TEM, UV, PL and FT-IR. This composite possesses outstanding photocatalytic activity against methylene blue dye, which is a common pollutant from industrial wastes. Moreover, the synthesised composite revealed exceptional bacteriostatic commotion towards E. coli and S. aureus bacteria, which are accountable for acute waterborne infections. The outcome of this study demonstrated that the integration of manganese ferrite into hydroxyapatite significantly intensified both antimicrobial and photocatalytic actions when compared to the virgin hydroxyapatite.
Systematic Investigation of Structural, Morphological, Thermal, Optoelectronic, and Magnetic Properties of High-Purity Hematite/Magnetite Nanoparticles for Optoelectronics
Authors: Qureshi Akbar Ali , Javed Sofia , Javed Hafiz Muhammad Asif , Jamshaid Muhammad , Ali Usman , Akram Muhammad Aftab
Published: May 2022

Iron oxide nanoparticles, especially hematite (α-Fe2O3) and magnetite (Fe3O4) have attained substantial research interest in various applications of green and sustainable energy harnessing owing to their exceptional opto-magneto-electrical characteristics and non-toxicity. In this study, we synthesized high-purity hematite and magnetite nanoparticles from a facile top-down approach by employing a high-energy ball mill followed by ultrasonication. A systematic investigation was then carried out to explore the structural, morphological, thermal, optoelectrical, and magnetic properties of the synthesized samples. The experimental results from scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction corroborated the formation of highly crystalline hematite and magnetite nanoparticles with average sizes of ~80 nm and ~50 nm, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed remarkable results on the thermal stability of the newly synthesized samples. The optical studies confirmed the formation of a single-phase compound with the bandgaps dependent on the size of the nanoparticles. The electrochemical studies that utilized cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques verified these iron oxide nanoparticles as electroactive species which can enhance the charge transfer process with high mobility. The hysteresis curves of the samples revealed the paramagnetic behavior of the samples with high values of coercivity. Thus, these optimized materials can be recommended for use in future optoelectronic devices and can prove to be potential candidates in the advanced research of new optoelectronic materials for improved energy devices.
The Influence of Magnetic Field and Nanoparticle Concentration on the Thin Film Colloidal Deposition Process of Magnetic Nanoparticles: The Search for High-Efficiency Hematite Photoanodes
Authors: Rodrigues Murillo Henrique de Matos , Souza Junior Joao Batista , Leite Edson R.
Published: May 2022

Hematite is considered a promising photoanode material for photoelectrochemical water splitting, and the literature has shown that the photoanode production process has an impact on the final efficiency of hydrogen generation. Among the methods used to process hematite photoanode, we can highlight the thin films from the colloidal deposition process of magnetic nanoparticles. This technique leads to the production of high-performance hematite photoanode. However, little is known about the influence of the magnetic field and heat treatment parameters on the final properties of hematite photoanodes. Here, we will evaluate those processing parameters in the morphology and photoelectrochemical properties of nanostructured hematite anodes. The analysis of thickness demonstrated a relationship between the magnetic field and nanoparticles concentration utilized to prepare the thin films, showing that the higher magnetic fields decrease the thickness. The Jabs results corroborate to influence the magnetic field since the use of a higher magnetic field decreases the deposited material amount, consequently decreasing the absorption of the thin films. The PEC measurements showed that at higher concentrations, the use of higher magnetic fields increases the JPH values, and lower magnetic fields cause a decrease in JPH when using the higher nanoparticle concentrations.
The Graphene Structure’s Effects on the Current-Voltage and Photovoltaic Characteristics of Directly Synthesized Graphene/n-Si(100) Diodes
Authors: Jankauskas Šarūnas , Gudaitis Rimantas , Vasiliauskas Andrius , Guobienė Asta , Meškinis Šarūnas
Published: May 2022

Graphene was synthesized directly on Si(100) substrates by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (MW-PECVD). The effects of the graphene structure on the electrical and photovoltaic properties of graphene/n-Si(100) were studied. The samples were investigated using Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and by measuring current–voltage (I-V) graphs. The temperature of the hydrogen plasma annealing prior to graphene synthesis was an essential parameter regarding the graphene/Si contact I-V characteristics and photovoltaic parameters. Graphene n-type self-doping was found to occur due to the native SiO2 interlayer at the graphene/Si junction. It was the prevalent cause of the significant decrease in the reverse current and short-circuit current. No photovoltaic effect dependence on the graphene roughness and work function could be observed.
Spray-Assisted Interfacial Polymerization to Form CuII/I@CMC-PANI Film: An Efficient Dip Catalyst for A3 Reaction
Authors: Xu Zhian , Xiao Liang , Fan Xuetao , Lin Dongtao , Ma Liting , Nie Guochao , Li Yiqun
Published: May 2022

A novel and interesting method for the preparation of carboxymethylcellulose–polyaniline film-supported copper catalyst (CuII/I@CMC-PANI) has been developed via spray-assisted interfacial polymerization. Using copper sulfate as an initiator, spraying technology was introduced to form a unique interface that is perfectly beneficial to the polymerization of aniline monomers onto carboxymethylcellulose macromolecule chains. To further confirm the composition and structure of the as-prepared hybrid film, it was systematically characterized by inductively coupled plasma (ICP), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. The Cu content in the fresh CuII/I@CMC-PANI film was determined to be 1.805 mmol/g, and spherical nanoparticles with an average size of ca. 10.04 nm could be observed in the hybrid film. The CuII/I@CMC-PANI hybrid film was exerted as a dip catalyst to catalyze the aldehyde–alkyne–amine (A3) coupling reactions. High yields of the products (up to 97%) were obtained in this catalytic system, and the catalyst could be easily picked up from the reaction mixture by tweezers and reused for at least six consecutive runs, without any discernible losses in its activity in the model reaction. The dip catalyst of CuII/I@CMC-PANI, with easy fabrication, convenient deployment, superior catalytic activity, and great reusability, is expected to be very useful in organic synthesis.
Strengthened Optical Nonlinearity of V2C Hybrids Inlaid with Silver Nanoparticles
Authors: Shao Yabin , He Qing , Xiang Lingling , Xu Zibin , Cai Xiaoou , Chen Chen
Published: May 2022

The investigation of nonlinear optical characteristics resulting from the light–matter interactions of two-dimensional (2D) nano materials has contributed to the extensive use of photonics. In this study, we synthesize a 2D MXene (V2C) monolayer nanosheet by the selective etching of Al from V2AlC at room temperature and use the nanosecond Z-scan technique with 532 nm to determine the nonlinear optical characters of the Ag@V2C hybrid. The z-scan experiment reveals that Ag@V2C hybrids usually exhibits saturable absorption owing to the bleaching of the ground state plasma, and the switch from saturable absorption to reverse saturable absorption takes place. The findings demonstrate that Ag@V2C has optical nonlinear characters. The quantitative data of the nonlinear absorption of Ag@V2C varies with the wavelength and the reverse saturable absorption results from the two-photon absorption, which proves that Ag@V2C hybrids have great potential for future ultrathin optoelectronic devices.
Identification of Two Exosomal miRNAs in Circulating Blood of Cancer Patients by Using Integrative Transcriptome and Network Analysis
Authors: Rincón-Riveros Andrés , Rodríguez Josefa Antonia , Villegas Victoria E. , López-Kleine Liliana
Published: May 2022

Exosomes carry molecules of great biological and clinical interest, such as miRNAs. The contents of exosomes vary between healthy controls and cancer patients. Therefore, miRNAs and other molecules transported in exosomes are considered a potential source of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in cancer. Many miRNAs have been detected in recent years. Consequently, a substantial amount of miRNA-related data comparing patients and healthy individuals is available, which contributes to a better understanding of the initiation, development, malignancy, and metastasis of cancer using non-invasive sampling procedures. However, a re-analysis of available ncRNA data is rare. This study used available data about miRNAs in exosomes comparing healthy individuals and cancer patients to identify possible global changes related to the presence of cancer. A robust transcriptomic analysis identified two common miRNAs (miR-495-3p and miR-543) deregulated in five cancer datasets. They had already been implicated in different cancers but not reported in exosomes circulating in blood. The study also examined their target genes and the implications of these genes for functional processes.
Fetomaternal Expression of Glucose Transporters (GLUTs)—Biochemical, Cellular and Clinical Aspects
Authors: Sibiak Rafal , Ozegowska Katarzyna , Wender-Ozegowska Ewa , Gutaj Pawel , Mozdziak Paul , Kempisty Bartosz
Published: May 2022

Several types of specialized glucose transporters (GLUTs) provide constant glucose transport from the maternal circulation to the developing fetus through the placental barrier from the early stages of pregnancy. GLUT1 is a prominent protein isoform that regulates placental glucose transfer via glucose-facilitated diffusion. The GLUT1 membrane protein density and permeability of the syncytial basal membrane (BM) are the main factors limiting the rate of glucose diffusion in the fetomaternal compartment in physiological conditions. Besides GLUT1, the GLUT3 and GLUT4 isoforms are widely expressed across the human placenta. Numerous medical conditions and molecules, such as hormones, adipokines, and xenobiotics, alter the GLUT’s mRNA and protein expression. Diabetes upregulates the BM GLUT’s density and promotes fetomaternal glucose transport, leading to excessive fetal growth. However, most studies have found no between-group differences in GLUTs’ placental expression in macrosomic and normal control pregnancies. The fetomaternal GLUTs expression may also be influenced by several other conditions, such as chronic hypoxia, preeclampsia, and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.
Effect of Feeding Insoluble Fiber on the Microbiota and Metabolites of the Caecum and Feces of Rabbits Recovering from Epizootic Rabbit Enteropathy Relative to Non-Infected Rabbits
Authors: Puón-Peláez Xiao-Haitzi Daniel , McEwan Neil Ross , Álvarez-Martínez Roberto Carlos , Mariscal-Landín Gerardo , Nava-Morales Gerardo Manuel , Mosqueda Juan , Olvera-Ramírez Andrea Margarita
Published: May 2022

This study aimed to investigate the effect of feeding insoluble fiber on the microbiota and metabolites of the caecum and feces of rabbits recovering from epizootic rabbit enteropathy relative to non-infected rabbits. Rabbits that had either recovered from epizootic rabbit enteropathy or ones that had never had epizootic rabbit enteropathy were fed on a diet of 32% or 36% neutral detergent fiber until they were 70 days of age. At this point, the short-chain fatty acid and ammonia levels were measured in caecotroph and fecal samples and compared using 2 × 2 ANOVA. The microbial composition of the samples was also analyzed using next-generation sequencing and compared by PERMANOVA. Caecotrophic samples from previously affected rabbits on lower fiber diets had higher short-chain fatty acid contents and higher species diversity index values for some indices (p < 0.05), although the fecal samples showed lower species diversity levels (p < 0.05). In addition, the PERMANOVA analyses demonstrated that differences were detected in the microbial composition of both fecal and caecotrophic samples, depending on the disease status at the outset of the experiment (p < 0.05). The results of this work show that, although there is some potential in the use of high-fiber diets for the treatment of rabbits that have had epizootic rabbit enteropathy, they are not able to produce the same digestive tract properties as those seen in rabbits that have never had the condition. This is true even after the rabbits have recovered from epizootic rabbit enteropathy.
Nobiletin Ameliorates Cellular Damage and Stress Response and Restores Neuronal Identity Altered by Sodium Arsenate Exposure in Human iPSCs-Derived hNPCs
Authors: Jahan Sadaf , Ansari Uzair Ahmad , Siddiqui Arif Jamal , Iqbal Danish , Khan Johra , Banawas Saeed , Alshehri Bader , Alshahrani Mohammed Merae , Alsagaby Suliman A. , Redhu Neeru Singh , Pant Aditya Bhushan
Published: May 2022

Environmental exposure to arsenic has been profoundly associated with chronic systemic disorders, such as neurodegeneration, in both experimental models and clinical studies. The neuronal cells of the brain and the nervous system have a limited regeneration capacity, thus making them more vulnerable to exposure to xenobiotics, leading to long-lasting disabilities. The functional and anatomical complexity of these cells hinders the complete understanding of the mechanisms of neurodegeneration and neuroprotection. The present investigations aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective efficacy of a herbal formulation of Nobiletin (NOB) against the toxic insult induced by sodium arsenate (NA) in human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Prior to the neuroprotective experiments, biologically safe doses of both NOB and NA were ascertained using standard endpoints of cytotoxicity. Thereafter, the hNPCs were exposed to either NOB (50 μM) or NA (50 μM) and co-exposed to biologically safe concentrations of NA (50 μM) with NOB (50 μM) for a period of up to 48 h. NOB treatment restored the morphological damage (neurite damage), the levels of stress granule G3BP1 (Ras-GTPase-activating protein (SH3 domain)-binding protein) and TIA1 (T cell-restricted intracellular antigen), and the expression of neuronal markers (Tuj1, Nestin, MAP2, and PAX6) when compared to NA-exposed cells. A substantial restoration of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial membrane potential was also witnessed in the co-exposure group (NA + NOB) in comparison to the NA-exposed group. The findings suggest that NOB possesses a significant restorative/protective potential against the NA challenge in hNPCs under experimental conditions and imply that nobiletin may impart a potential therapeutic impact if studied adequately using in vivo studies.
Safety and Tolerability of Ivermectin and Albendazole Mass Drug Administration in Lymphatic Filariasis Endemic Communities of Tanzania: A Cohort Event Monitoring Study
Authors: Fimbo Adam M. , Minzi Omary Mashiku , Mmbando Bruno P. , Gurumurthy Parthasarathi , Kamuhabwa Appolinary A. R. , Aklillu Eleni
Published: May 2022

Ivermectin and albendazole (IA) combination preventive chemotherapy to all at-risk populations is deployed to eliminate lymphatic filariasis. Although safety monitoring is imperative, data from Sub-Saharan Africa is scarce. We conducted a large-scale active safety surveillance of adverse events (AEs) following IA mass drug administration (MDA) to identify the type, incidence, and associated risk factors in Tanzania. After recording sociodemographic, clinical, and medical histories, 9640 eligible residents received single-dose IA combination preventive chemotherapy. Treatment-associated AEs were actively monitored through house-to-house visits on day 1, day 2, and day 7 of MDA. Events reported before and after MDA were cross-checked and verified to identify MDA-associated AEs. 9288 participants (96.3%) completed the seven-day safety follow-up, of whom 442 reported 719 MDA-associated AEs. The incidence of experiencing one or more type of MDA-associated AE was 4.8% (95% CI = 4.3–5.2%); this being significantly higher among those with Pre-MDA clinical events than those without (8.5% versus 4.1%, p < 0.001). AEs were mild (83.8%), moderate (15.9%), and severe (0.3%), and most resolved within 72 h. The incidence of experiencing one, two, ≥ three types of AEs were 2.8%, 1.3%, and 0.6%, respectively. The most common AEs were headache (1.23%), drowsiness (1.15%), fever (1.12%), and dizziness (1.06%). A chronic illness, or clinical manifestation of lymphatic filariasis, or being female or pre-existing clinical symptoms were independent significant predictors of AEs. IA combination preventive chemotherapy is safe and tolerable, and associated AEs are mild-to-moderate and transient, with few severe AEs. Safety monitoring during MDA campaigns in individuals with underlying clinical conditions is recommended for timely detection and management of AEs.
Particle-Assisted Dermal Penetration—A Simple Formulation Strategy to Foster the Dermal Penetration Efficacy
Authors: Wiemann Sabrina , Keck Cornelia M.
Published: May 2022

(1) Background: The study systematically investigated the influence of dispersed particles within a topical formulation on the dermal penetration efficacy of active compounds that are dissolved in the water phase of this formulation. The aim was to prove or disprove if particle-assisted dermal penetration can be used for improved dermal drug delivery. (2) Methods: Fluorescein was used as a surrogate for a hydrophilic active ingredient (AI). It was dissolved in the water phase of different formulations with and without particles. Two different types of particles (titanium dioxide and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC)) were used. The influence of particle size and number of particles and the influence of skin hydrating excipients was also investigated. (3) Results demonstrate that the addition of particles can strongly increase the dermal penetration efficacy of AI. The effect depends on the size of the particles and the number of particles in the formulation, where smaller sizes and higher numbers resulted in higher penetration parameters. Formulations with NLC that contained 20% w/w or 40% w/w particles resulted in an about 2-fold higher amount of penetrated AI and increased the penetration depth about 2.5-fold. The penetration-enhancing effect was highly significant (p < 0.001) and allowed for an efficient delivery of the AI in the viable dermis. In contrast, the penetration-enhancing effect of excipients that increase the skin hydration was found to be very limited and not significant (≤5%, p > 0.05). (4) Conclusions: Based on the results, it can be concluded that particle-assisted dermal penetration can be considered to be a simple but highly efficient and industrially feasible formulation principle for improved and tailor-made dermal drug delivery of active compounds.
The Role of the Kinase Inhibitors in Thyroid Cancers
Authors: Cuomo Francesca , Giani Claudio , Cobellis Gilda
Published: May 2022

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy, accounting for about 3% of all cancer cases each year worldwide with increasing incidence, but with the mortality remaining stable at low levels. This contradiction is due to overdiagnosis of indolent neoplasms identified by neck ultrasound screening that would remain otherwise asymptomatic. Differentiated thyroid carcinomas (DTCs) are almost curable for 95% with a good prognosis. However, 5% of these tumours worsened toward aggressive forms: large tumours with extravasal invasion, either with regional lymph node or distant metastasis, that represent a serious clinical challenge. The unveiling of the genomic landscape of these tumours shows that the most frequent mutations occur in tyrosine kinase receptors (RET), in components of the MAPK/PI3K signalling pathway (RAS and BRAF) or chromosomal rearrangements (RET/PTC and NTRK hybrids); thus, tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatments arose in the last decade as the most effective therapeutic option for these aggressive tumours to mitigate the MAPK/PI3K activation. In this review, we summarize the variants of malignant thyroid cancers, the molecular mechanisms and factors known to contribute to thyroid cell plasticity and the approved drugs in the clinical trials and those under investigation, providing an overview of available treatments toward a genome-driven oncology, the only opportunity to beat cancer eventually through tailoring the therapy to individual genetic alterations. However, radiotherapeutic and chemotherapeutic resistances to these anticancer treatments are common and, wherever possible, we discuss these issues.
Evaluation of the Anti-Histoplasma capsulatum Activity of Indole and Nitrofuran Derivatives and Their Pharmacological Safety in Three-Dimensional Cell Cultures
Authors: Vaso Carolina Orlando , Bila Níura Madalena , Pandolfi Fabiana , De Vita Daniela , Bortolami Martina , Bonatti Jean Lucas Carvalho , De Moraes Silva Rosângela Aparecida , Gonçalves Larissa Naiara Carvalho , Tudino Valeria , Costi Roberta , Di Santo Roberto , Mendes-Giannini Maria José Soares , Costa-Orlandi Caroline Barcelos , Scipione Luigi , Fusco-Almeida Ana Marisa
Published: May 2022

Histoplasma capsulatum is a fungus that causes histoplasmosis. The increased evolution of microbial resistance and the adverse effects of current antifungals help new drugs to emerge. In this work, fifty-four nitrofurans and indoles were tested against the H. capsulatum EH-315 strain. Compounds with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC90) equal to or lower than 7.81 µg/mL were selected to evaluate their MIC90 on ATCC G217-B strain and their minimum fungicide concentration (MFC) on both strains. The quantification of membrane ergosterol, cell wall integrity, the production of reactive oxygen species, and the induction of death by necrosis–apoptosis was performed to investigate the mechanism of action of compounds 7, 11, and 32. These compounds could reduce the extracted sterol and induce necrotic cell death, similarly to itraconazole. Moreover, 7 and 11 damaged the cell wall, causing flaws in the contour (11), or changing the size and shape of the fungal cell wall (7). Furthermore, 7 and 32 induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation higher than 11 and control. Finally, the cytotoxicity was measured in two models of cell culture, i.e., monolayers (cells are flat) and a three-dimensional (3D) model, where they present a spheroidal conformation. Cytotoxicity assays in the 3D model showed a lower toxicity in the compounds than those performed on cell monolayers. Overall, these results suggest that derivatives of nitrofurans and indoles are promising compounds for the treatment of histoplasmosis.
Swine as the Animal Model for Testing New Formulations of Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: Carprofen Pharmacokinetics and Bioavailability of the Intramuscular Route
Authors: Gómez-Segura Lidia , Boix-Montañes Antoni , Mallandrich Mireia , Parra-Coca Alexander , Soriano-Ruiz José L. , Calpena Ana Cristina , Gimeno Álvaro , Bellido David , Colom Helena
Published: May 2022

Carprofen (CP) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) frequently used to treat respiratory diseases in numerous small animals, but also in large species. CP is a formidable candidate for further therapeutic research of human inflammatory diseases using the pig as an animal model. However, CP administration in swine is very uncommon and respective pharmacokinetics/bioavailability studies are scarce. A simultaneous population pharmacokinetic analysis after CP intravenous and intramuscular administrations in pigs has shown high extent and rate of absorption and a similar distribution profile with respect to man and other mammals. However, clearance and half-life values found in swine suggest a slower elimination process than that observed in man and some other animal species. Although not reported in other species, liver and kidney concentrations achieved at 48 h post-intramuscular administration in pigs were ten times lower than those found in plasma. Simulations pointed to 4 mg/kg every 24 h as the best dosage regimen to achieve similar therapeutic levels to those observed in other animal species. All these findings support the use of pig as an animal model to study the anti-inflammatory effects of CP in humans.
Priming with Small Molecule-Based Biostimulants to Improve Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Hernándiz Alba E. , Aucique-Perez Carlos Eduardo , Ćavar Zeljković Sanja , Štefelová Nikola , Salcedo Sarmiento Sara , Spíchal Lukáš , De Diego Nuria
Published: May 2022

Biostimulants became a hotspot in the fight to alleviate the consequences of abiotic stresses in crops. Due to their complex nature, it is challenging to obtain stable and reproducible final products and more challenging to define their mechanism of action. As an alternative, small molecule-based biostimulants, such as polyamines have promoted plant growth and improved stress tolerance. However, profound research about their mechanisms of action is still missing. To go further, we tested the effect of putrescine (Put) and its precursor ornithine (Orn) and degradation product 1,3-diaminopropane (DAP) at two different concentrations (0.1 and 1 mM) as a seed priming on in vitro Arabidopsis seedlings grown under optimal growth conditions, osmotic or salt stress. None of the primings affected the growth of the seedlings in optimal conditions but altered the metabolism of the plants. Under stress conditions, almost all primed plants grew better and improved their greenness. Only Orn-primed plants showed different plant responses. Interestingly, the metabolic analysis revealed the implication of the N- acetylornithine and Orn and polyamine conjugation as the leading player regulating growth and development under control and stress conditions. We corroborated polyamines as very powerful small molecule-based biostimulants to alleviate the adverse abiotic stress effects.
Productive traits of calves depending on the method of their rearing
Authors:   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Samara State Agrarian University”, Russia, Samara Region, Kinel, Valitov Kh. Z. , Kornilova V. A. ,   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Samara State Agrarian University”, Russia, Samara Region, Kinel, Ershov R. O. ,   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Samara State Agrarian University”, Russia, Samara Region, Kinel, Karmatskikh Yu. A. ,   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Kurgan State Agricultural Academy named after T. S. Maltsev”, Russia, Kurgan region, Lesnikovo
Published: May 2022

The rearing of young animals is an important and fundamental stage in obtaining highly productive animals. The traditional technology of calves rearing in typical heated rooms provides for significant costs for their heating, ventilation, manure removal and feeding. The purpose of the work was to study the productive traits of calves depending on the method of their rearing. Research has been carried out to study the influence of different conditions of housing calves during the preweaning period under conditions in the farm “Ershov” (Vykhodnyi village) in the Buguruslansky area in the Orenburg region. The influence of housing methods on the dynamics of live weight, morphological and biochemical parameters of blood, conformation characteristics and body type indices of replacement heifers has been established. During the entire study period the average daily gain in calves of the experimental group was higher by 66 g or 9,4 % (P < 0,05), live weight by 7,0 kg or 6,9 % (P < 0,05). There was no significant difference in the morphological and biochemical parameters of the blood of the experimental calves. At 3 months of age the animals of the experimental group had superiority in all the measurements taken: in height at the withers by 2,0 cm or 2,2 % (P < 0,05), height in the rump bone by 0,5 cm or 0,5 %, length of the body by 2,8 cm or 3,1 %, chest width by 0,9 cm or 3,6 %, chest depth by 1,5 cm or 3,9 %, chest circumference by 2,0 cm or 1,9 %, width in hook bones by 0,4 cm or 1,8 %, hip joint width by 1,1 cm or 5,4 % (P < 0,05), rump half–circumference by 1,0 cm or 2,2 %, pastern circumference by 0,1 cm, or 0,8 %, compared with the corresponding indicators of calves of the control group.. Similarly, the calves of the experimental group had superiority over the analogues of the control group in terms of body type indices. Thus, according to the thoracic index the calves of the experimental group outperformed their herdmates by 9,2 abs.% (P < 0,01) and according to the meatness index they outperformed the herdmates of the control group by 3,5 abs.% (P < 0,05).
The influence of rearing level of replacement heifers on the formation of dairy productivity of cows
Authors:   Mordovian Scientific and Research Institute of Agriculture – a branch of Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Federal Agrarian Research Center of the North-East, Russia, Republic of Mordovia, Saransk, Velmatov A. A. , Zelentsov S. E. ,   National Research Mordovian State University named after N. P. Ogarev, Russia, Republic of Mordovia, Saransk, Neyaskin N. N. ,   National Research Mordovian State University named after N. P. Ogarev, Russia, Republic of Mordovia, Saransk, Tishkina Т. N. ,   National Research Mordovian State University named after N. P. Ogarev, Russia, Republic of Mordovia, Saransk, Velmatov А. P. ,   National Research Mordovian State University named after N. P. Ogarev, Russia, Republic of Mordovia, Saransk
Published: May 2022

The purpose of the research was to study the influence of the intensity of rearing of replacement heifers on the formation of milk productivity of cows of Red-and-White. Data on the rearing of replacement heifers at different feeding levels have been given. Heifers of all experimental groups significantly exceeded their herdmates from the control group in terms of live weight at all age periods. For example, in the 1st experimental group at the age of 3 months the superiority was 18,3 kg, at 6 months it was 41,7 kg, at 9 months it was 55,0 kg, at 12 months it was 69,3 kg, at 15 months it was 80,3 kg and at 18 months it was 74,5 kg (P ≥ 0,999). In the 2nd experimental group the difference with the control was 8,8; 24,4 (P ≥ 0,99); 38,7; 48,9; 62,9; 56,2 kg (P ≥ 0,999), respectively, in the same age periods. In the 3rd experimental group the superiority was 5,7; 10,3; 22,5 (P ≥ 0,95); 27,6 (P ≥ 0,99); 42,9; 39,2 kg (P ≥ 0,999) and the 4th experimental group outperformed herdmates from the control group by 2,1; 4,3; 12,9; 10,4; 21,0; 21,7 kg (P ≥ 0,95), respectively, according to the age periods of the studies. Intensive rearing of heifers contributes to the formation of large cows, which affects their productivity. The highest milk yield rates for 305 days of the first lactation was obtained from cows of the 1st experimental group of 7559 kg, they exceeded analogues from other experimental groups by 375, 528 and 576 kg, respectively, and cows of the control group by 951 kg (P ≥ 0,99). Differences between the groups in the content of the mass fraction of fat and protein although they took place, but in general were statistically insignificant. It was found according to the results of the experiment that for cows with a milk yield of more than 8000 kg per lactation, the dry period should be at the level of 60–65 days, it is possible to adjust its value by the organizing one-day beginning of the dry period. The results obtained indicate the expediency of early introduction of replacement heifers into the milking herd for the rapid increase in milk production.