bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stability Study and Identification of Degradation Products of Caffeoylgluconic Acid Derivatives from Fructus Euodiae
Authors: Yu Huijuan , Yang Jing , Ding Jiamin , He Ying , Jiang Zhenzuo , Chai Xin , Wang Yuefei
Published: August 2018

Caffeoylgluconic acid derivatives are characteristic constituents isolated from the aqueous extract of Fructus Euodiae. In this research focusing on caffeoylgluconic acid derivatives, trans-caffeoyl-6-O-d-gluconic acid (CGA), trans-caffeoyl-6-O-d-gluconic acid methyl ester (CGA-ME), and trans-caffeoyl-6-O-d-glucono-γ-lactone (CGA-LT), a systematic study of stability was performed under different temperatures and pH levels by ultra performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (UPLC-DAD) and ultra performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector/electrospray ionization-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-DAD/ESI-Q-TOF MS). From the concentration–time curves and sensitivity index (SeI), it was found that compared to CGA, which is inert to the variation of temperature and pH in the tested range, CGA-ME and CGA-LT were more sensitive, with stabilities more likely to be influenced by temperature. Considering the stability index (StI), the integrated stability of CGA was the best, and that of CGA-ME was the worst. In terms of the quasi-molecular and fragment ions of the tested compounds, the degradation products were identified or tentatively characterized, which could shed light on the degradation pathways. CGA-ME and CGA-LT were easily converted to CGA by hydrolytic reaction, all of which were susceptible to the formation of isomers. This study elucidated the degradation mechanism of caffeoylgluconic acid derivatives, contributing to better guidance on manufacturing and controlling the quality of drugs.
Toxin-Pathogen Synergy Reshaping Detoxification and Antioxidant Defense Mechanism of Oligonychus afrasiaticus (McGregor)
Authors: AlJabr Ahmed Mohammed , Hussain Abid , Rizwan-ul-haq Muhammad
Published: August 2018

Current study reveals the likelihood to use pathogen and toxin mutually as an effective and eco-friendly strategy for Oligonychus afrasiaticus (McGregor) management, which could reduce toxicant dose and host killing time. Therefore, phytol and Beauveria bassiana in different proportions were evaluated to determine their effectiveness. Prior to ascertaining host mortality and defense mechanisms, we have recorded in vitro action of phytol using different concentrations (0.70, 1.40, 2.10, 2.80, and 3.50 mg/mL) against B. bassiana suspension. In vitro compatibility assays revealed that growth parameters (vegetative growth, sporulation, and viability) of B. bassiana were least affected by the action of phytol at all tested concentrations. Biological Index of B. bassiana exhibited compatibility with phytol allowed us to conduct Joint toxicity bioassays in which phytol and spores mixed in different proportions in order to attain maximum treatment effect in terms of high mortality at low concentration under short time. Results revealed that joint-application exhibited both synergistic (treatments with higher proportions of phytol), and antagonistic interaction (treatments with higher proportions of spores) interactions. Biochemical mechanisms involved in host antioxidant and detoxification response were explored by quantifying their respective enzymatic activities. Lethality of different treatments induced different patterns of detoxification enzymes including glutathione S-transferase (GST) and acetylcholinesterase (AchE). Overall, the least potent treatments (20% phytol:80% spores, and 40% phytol:60% spores) established in the current study induced relatively higher GST and AchE activities. On the other hand, the most potent treatment (80% phytol:20% spores) at its maximum concentration exhibited negligible relative GST and AchE activities. Antioxidant enzyme activities of CAT and SOD measured in the current study showed moderate to complex interaction might because of toxin-pathogen remarkable synergy. This study suggested that joint application of phytol with B. bassiana spores have shown tremendous acaricidal potential and found to be promising new strategy for controlling old world date mites.
Discovery of 4,5-Dihydro-1H-thieno[2′,3′:2,3]thiepino [4,5-c]pyrazole-3-carboxamide Derivatives as the Potential Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors for Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors
Authors: Ke Jia , Lu Qi , Wang Xin , Sun Rui , Jin Zhe , Zhan Xiaoyi , Hu Jianshu , Wan David Chi-cheong , Hu Chun
Published: August 2018

The epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs), in which overexpression (known as upregulation) or overactivity have been associated with a number of cancers, has become an attractive molecular target for the treatment of selective cancers. We report here the design and synthesis of a novel series of 4,5-dihydro-1H-thieno [2′,3′:2,3]thiepino[4,5-c]pyrazole-3-carboxamide derivatives and the screening for their inhibitory activity on the EGFR high-expressing human A549 cell line using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). A Docking simulation was performed to fit compound 6g and gifitinib into the EGFR to determine the probable binding models, and the binding sites and modes conformation of 6g and gifitinib were exactly similar, the two compounds were stabilized by hydrogen bond interactions with MET769. Combining with the biological activity evaluation, compound 6g demonstrated the most potent inhibitory activity (IC50 = 9.68 ± 1.95 μmol·L–1 for A549). Conclusively, 4,5-dihydro-1H-thieno[2′,3′:2,3]thiepino[4,5-c]pyrazole-3-carboxamide derivatives as the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors were discovered, and could be used as potential lead compounds against cancer cells.
In Vivo and In Vitro Anti-Arthritic Effects of Cardenolide-Rich and Caffeoylquinic Acid-Rich Fractions of Periploca forrestii
Authors: Liu Ting , Wang Xia , He Yan-Ling , Wang Yang , Dong Li , Ma Xue , Zheng Lin , Liu Chun-Hua , Wang Guang-Cheng , Zheng Jiang , Lan Yan-Yu , Li Yong-Jun
Published: August 2018

Periploca forrestii Schltr. (P. forrestii) is a species used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) known as “Miao medicine”, and has a long history of use in the treatment of rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and joint pain. The present study aimed to evaluate the anti-arthritis effects of the cardenolide-rich and caffeoylquinic acid-rich fractions (CDLFs and CQAFs) of P. forrestii in collagen-induced arthritic (CIA) rats, and defined the mechanisms of therapeutic action in MH7A cells treated with TNF-α. Serum rheumatoid factor (RF), TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, PGE2, NO, SOD, and MDA were determined by ELISA or other commercially assay kits. Histopathological changes in ankle joint tissues were examined. The mRNA expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS in MH7A cells were measured by qRT-PCR assays. In addition, the expressions of iNOS, COX-2, and p65 proteins, and the phosphorylation of IκBα, p38, ERK1/2, and JNK proteins in MH7A cells were analyzed by Western blot. The results showed that CDLF and CQAF could suppress the paw swelling in CIA rats at different doses (125 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg, and 500 mg/kg). Histopathological examination suggests that the CDLF and CQAF significantly relieved the damage of the structure of the ankle joint in CIA rats. In addition, serum RF, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, PGE2, NO, and MDA were decreased, along with increased activity of serum SOD. Furthermore, CDLF and CQAF downregulated the expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, COX-2, iNOS, and p65, and inhibited the phosphorylation of IκBα, p38, ERK1/2, and JNK in MH7A cells treated with TNF-α. These findings demonstrated that both CDLF and CQAF exhibited anti-arthritic activity, which might be associated with their inhibitory effects on the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.
Pseudopterosin Inhibits Proliferation and 3D Invasion in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer by Agonizing Glucocorticoid Receptor Alpha
Authors: Sperlich Julia , Teusch Nicole
Published: August 2018

Pseudopterosin, produced by the sea whip of the genus Antillogorgia, possesses a variety of promising biological activities, including potent anti-inflammatory effects. However, few studies examined pseudopterosin in the treatment of cancer cells and, to our knowledge, the ability to inhibit triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) proliferation or invasion has not been explored. Thus, we evaluated the as-yet unknown mechanism of action of pseudopterosin: Pseudopterosin was able to inhibit proliferation of TNBC. Interestingly, analyzing breast cancer cell proliferation after knocking down glucocorticoid receptor α (GRα) revealed that the antiproliferative effects of pseudopterosin were significantly inhibited when GRα expression was reduced. Furthermore, pseudopterosin inhibited the invasion of MDA-MB-231 3D tumor spheroids embedded in an extracellular-like matrix. Remarkably, the knockdown of GRα in 3D tumor spheroids revealed increased ability of cells to invade the surrounding matrix. In a coculture, encompassing peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and MDA-MB-231 cells, and the production of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) significantly increased compared to a monoculture. Notably, pseudopterosin indicated to block cytokine elevation, representing key players in tumor progression in the coculture. Thus, our results reveal pseudopterosin treatment as a potential novel approach in TNBC therapy.
Phenolic Compounds and Bioactivity of Cytisus villosus Pourr.
Authors: Bouziane Amel , Bakchiche Boulanouar , Dias Maria Inês , Barros Lillian , Ferreira Isabel C.F.R. , AlSalamat Husam A. , Bardaweel Sanaa K.
Published: August 2018

The present study focuses on the chemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative activities of the ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts obtained from the aerial parts of Cytisus villosus Pourr. HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn was used to identify the phenolic compounds, being (epi)gallocatechin dimer the major compound (111 ± 5 µg/g·dw) in the aqueous extract, while myricetin-O-rhamnoside (226 ± 9 µg/g·dw) was the main molecule in the ethyl acetate extract. Both extracts exhibited good scavenging activities against DPPH radical (EC50 µg/mL of 59 ± 2 and 31 ± 2 for aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts, respectively). However, the ethyl acetate extract demonstrated more potent quenching activities than the aqueous extract. The antimicrobial activities were assessed on selected Gram-positive (Staphylococcus epidermidis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria, as well as on pathogenic fungus Candida glabrata. The extracts possessed selective and potent antimicrobial activities against the Gram-positive bacterium (IC50 of 186 ± 9 μg/mL and 92 ± 3 μg/mL for aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts, respectively). Finally, C. villosus extracts were evaluated for their antiproliferative potential on three human cancer cell lines representing breast and colon cancers. Although both extracts demonstrated sufficient growth inhibition of the three different cell lines, the ethyl acetate extract exhibited higher activity (LD50 values of 1.57 ± 0.06 mg/mL, 2.2 ± 0.1 mg/mL, and 3.2 ± 0.2 mg/mL for T47D, MCF-7, and HCT-116 cell lines). Both the extracts obtained from the aerial parts of C. villosus revealed very promising results and could be applied as functional agents in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical industries.
Surface Alloying in Silver-Cobalt through a Second Wave Solution Combustion Synthesis Technique
Authors: Ashok Anchu , Kumar Anand , Tarlochan Faris
Published: August 2018

Herein, we report the synthesis of silver-cobalt nanopowders using three different modes of solution combustion synthesis, and we present the effects of the synthesis conditions on particle morphology. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Visible spectrophotometer (UV-vis), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) to understand the structural and elemental properties. When Co is synthesized over Ag in a second wave of combustion, peak shifts observed in XRD and XPS show a change in the cell parameters and prove the existence of a strong electronic interaction between Ag and Co. Better control of mixing and alloying through the second wave combustion synthesis mode (SWCS) was evident. The sequence of combustion affects the structure and composition of the material. SWCS reduces the amount of carbon content, as compared to single-stage combustion, and the combustion of carbon is followed by a rearrangement of atoms.
Hexagonal Boron Nitride Functionalized with Au Nanoparticles—Properties and Potential Biological Applications
Authors: Jedrzejczak-Silicka Magdalena , Trukawka Martyna , Dudziak Mateusz , Piotrowska Katarzyna , Mijowska Ewa
Published: August 2018

Hexagonal boron nitride is often referred to as white graphene. This is a 2D layered material, with a structure similar to graphene. It has gained many applications in cosmetics, dental cements, ceramics etc. Hexagonal boron nitride is also used in medicine, as a drug carrier similar as graphene or graphene oxide. Here we report that this material can be exfoliated in two steps: chemical treatment (via modified Hummers method) followed by the sonication treatment. Afterwards, the surface of the obtained material can be efficiently functionalized with gold nanoparticles. The mitochondrial activity was not affected in L929 and MCF-7 cell line cultures during 24-h incubation, whereas longer incubation (for 48, and 72 h) with this nanocomposite affected the cellular metabolism. Lysosome functionality, analyzed using the NR uptake assay, was also reduced in both cell lines. Interestingly, the rate of MCF-7 cell proliferation was reduced when exposed to h-BN loaded with gold nanoparticles. It is believed that h-BN nanocomposite with gold nanoparticles is an attractive material for cancer drug delivery and photodynamic therapy in cancer killing.
Dietary Inflammatory Index and Biomarkers of Lipoprotein Metabolism, Inflammation and Glucose Homeostasis in Adults
Authors: Phillips Catherine M. , Shivappa Nitin , Hébert James R. , Perry Ivan J.
Published: August 2018

Accumulating evidence identifies diet and inflammation as potential mechanisms contributing to cardiometabolic risk. However, inconsistent reports regarding dietary inflammatory potential, biomarkers of cardiometabolic health and metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk exist. Our objective was to examine the relationships between a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ)-derived dietary inflammatory index (DII®), biomarkers of lipoprotein metabolism, inflammation and glucose homeostasis and MetS risk in a cross-sectional sample of 1992 adults. Energy-adjusted DII (E-DII) scores derived from an FFQ were calculated. Lipoprotein particle size and subclass concentrations were measured using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Serum acute-phase reactants, adipocytokines, pro-inflammatory cytokines and white blood cell (WBC) counts were determined. Insulin resistance was calculated by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Our data indicate that a more pro-inflammatory diet, reflected by higher E-DII scores, was associated with potentially pro-atherogenic lipoprotein profiles characterised by increased numbers of large very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), small dense low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) particles and less large LDL and HDL particles (all p < 0.001). Inflammatory profiling identified a range of adverse phenotypes among those with higher E-DII scores, including higher complement component C3 (C3), C-reactive protein (CRP), (both p < 0.05), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α concentrations, higher WBC counts and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and lower adiponectin levels (all p < 0.001). MetS risk was increased among those with higher E-DII scores (OR 1.37, 95% CI (1.01, 1.88), p < 0.05), after adjusting for potential confounders. In conclusion, habitual intake of a more pro-inflammatory diet is associated with unfavourable lipoprotein and inflammatory profiles and increased MetS risk.
Movement Disorders Related to Gluten Sensitivity: A Systematic Review
Authors: Vinagre-Aragón Ana , Zis Panagiotis , Grunewald Richard Adam , Hadjivassiliou Marios
Published: August 2018

Gluten related disorders (GRD) represent a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations that are triggered by the ingestion of gluten. Coeliac disease (CD) or gluten sensitive enteropathy is the most widely recognised, but extra-intestinal manifestations have also been increasingly identified and reported. Such manifestations may exist in the absence of enteropathy. Gluten sensitivity (GS) is another term that has been used to include all GRD, including those where there is serological positivity for GS related antibodies in the absence of an enteropathy. Gluten ataxia (GA) is the commonest extraintestinal neurological manifestation and it has been the subject of many publications. Other movement disorders (MDs) have also been reported in the context of GS. The aim of this review was to assess the current available medical literature concerning MDs and GS with and without enteropathy. A systematic search was performed while using PubMed database. A total of 48 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the present review. This review highlights that the phenomenology of gluten related MDs is broader than GA and demonstrates that gluten-free diet (GFD) is beneficial in a great percentage of such cases.
Gaps in the Evidence on Population Interventions to Reduce Consumption of Sugars: A Review of Reviews
Authors: Kirkpatrick Sharon I. , Raffoul Amanda , Maynard Merryn , Lee Kirsten M. , Stapleton Jackie
Published: August 2018

There is currently considerable attention directed to identifying promising interventions to reduce consumption of sugars among populations around the world. A review of systematic reviews was conducted to identify gaps in the evidence on such interventions. Medline, EMBASE CINAHL, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched to identify systematic reviews published in English from January 2005 to May 2017 and considering research on interventions to reduce sugar intake. Twelve systematic reviews that considered price changes, interventions to alter the food available within specific environments, and health promotion and education programs were examined. Each of the identified reviews focused on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). The existing literature provides some promising indications in terms of the potential of interventions to reduce SSB consumption among populations. However, a common thread is the limited scope of available evidence, combined with the heterogeneity of methods and measures used in existing studies, which limits conclusions that can be reached regarding the effectiveness of interventions. Reviewed studies typically had limited follow-up periods, making it difficult to assess the sustainability of effects. Further, there is a lack of studies that address the complex context within which interventions are implemented and evaluated, and little is known about the cost-effectiveness of interventions. Identified gaps speak to the need for a more holistic approach to sources of sugars beyond SSBs, consensus on measures and methods, attention to the implementation of interventions in relation to context, and careful monitoring to identify intended and unintended consequences.
Lactase Persistence, Milk Intake, and Adult Acne: A Mendelian Randomization Study of 20,416 Danish Adults
Authors: Juhl Christian R. , Bergholdt Helle K. M. , Miller Iben M. , Jemec Gregor B. E. , Kanters Jørgen K. , Ellervik Christina
Published: August 2018

Whether there is a causal relationship between milk intake and acne is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that genetically determined milk intake is associated with acne in adults using a Mendelian randomization design. LCT-13910 C/T (rs4988235) is associated with lactase persistence (TT/TC) in Northern Europeans. We investigated the association between milk intake, LCT-13910 C/T (rs4988235), and acne in 20,416 adults (age-range: 20–96) from The Danish General Suburban Population Study (GESUS). The adjusted observational odds ratio for acne in any milk intake vs. no milk intake was 0.93(95% confidence interval: 0.48–1.78) in females and 0.49(0.22–1.08) in males aged 20–39 years, and 1.15(95% confidence interval: 0.66–1.99) in females and 1.02(0.61–1.72) in males above 40 years. The unadjusted odds ratio for acne in TT+TC vs. CC was 0.84(0.43–1.62) in the age group 20–39 years, and 0.99(0.52–1.88) above 40 years. We did not find any observational or genetic association between milk intake and acne in our population of adults.
Food Sources of Energy and Nutrients of Public Health Concern and Nutrients to Limit with a Focus on Milk and other Dairy Foods in Children 2 to 18 Years of Age: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2014
Authors: O’Neil Carol E. , Nicklas Theresa A. , Fulgoni Victor L.
Published: August 2018

Many children are not meeting current nutrient recommendations. The objective of this study was to determine the food sources of energy, nutrients of public health concern, and nutrients to limit with a focus on dairy foods. Twenty-four-hour dietary recall data from children 2–5 (n = 1511), 6–11 (n = 2193), and 12–18 years (n = 2172) participating in NHANES 2011–2014 were analyzed. Energy, fiber, calcium, potassium, vitamin D, added sugars, saturated fatty acids (SFA), and sodium intakes were sample-weighted and ranked on percentage contribution to the diet using specific food group intake and disaggregated data for dairy foods. For children 2–5, 6–11, and 12–18 years, milk, sweet bakery products, and sweetened beverages, respectively were the top food sources of energy, respectively. For calcium, potassium, and vitamin D, milk was the top ranked food source in all age groups. For children 2–5, 6–11, and 12–18 years, milk, sweet bakery products, and pizza, respectively were the top three ranked food sources of SFA; and sugar sweetened beverages and sweet bakery products were to top two food group sources of added sugars. Cured meats/poultry, pizza, and pizza, respectively, were the top ranked food sources of sodium for the three age groups. Identification of food sources of these nutrients can help health professionals implement appropriate dietary recommendations and plan age-appropriate interventions.
Evaluating Whole Grain Intervention Study Designs and Reporting Practices Using Evidence Mapping Methodology
Authors: Sawicki Caleigh M. , Livingston Kara A. , Ross Alastair B. , Jacques Paul F. , Koecher Katie , McKeown Nicola M.
Published: August 2018

Consumption of whole grains have been associated with reduced risk of chronic diseases in many observational studies; yet, results of intervention studies are mixed. We aimed to use evidence mapping to capture the methodological and reporting variability in whole grain intervention studies that may contribute to this inconsistency. We conducted a reproducible search in OVID Medline for whole grain human intervention studies (published 1946 to February 2018). After screening based on a priori criteria, we identified 202 publications describing a total of 213 unique trials. Over half (55%) were acute trials, lasting ≤1 day, 30% were moderate duration studies (up to 6 weeks) and 15% were of longer duration (more than 6 weeks). The majority of acute trials (75%) examined measures of glycaemia and/or insulinemia, while most of the longer trials included measures of cardiometabolic health (71%), appetite/satiety (57%) and weight/adiposity (56%). Among the moderate and long duration trials, there was a wide range of how whole grains were described but only 10 publications referenced an established definition. Only 55% of trials reported the actual amount of whole grains (in grams or servings), while 36% reported the amount of food/product and 9% did not report a dose at all. Of the interventions that provided a mixture of whole grains, less than half (46%) reported the distribution of the different grain types. Reporting of subject compliance also varied and only 22% used independent biomarkers of whole grain intake. This evidence map highlights the need to standardize both study protocols and reporting practices to support effective synthesis of study results and provide a stronger foundation to better inform nutrition scientists and public health policy.
Neuroprotective Properties of Asiatic Acid against 5-Fluorouracil Chemotherapy in the Hippocampus in an Adult Rat Model
Authors: Welbat Jariya Umka , Chaisawang Pornthip , Pannangrong Wanassanun , Wigmore Peter
Published: August 2018

5-fluorouracil or 5-FU (a chemotherapeutic medication) has been revealed to induce memory deficits in many cancer patients. Asiatic acid (AA) is a triterpenoid extract from Centella asiatica. This compound can ameliorate intracellular oxidative stress caused by chemotherapy drugs. Recent studies have shown that AA is capable of inhibiting neuronal generation and memory deficit produced by 5-FU chemotherapy. This study aimed to assess the molecular mechanisms of AA related to hippocampal neurogenesis and memory in rats receiving 5-FU. Male Sprague Dawley rats were given AA (30 mg/kg) orally and given 5-FU (25 mg/kg) by i.v. injection 5 times. Some rats were given AA for 20 days before and during 15-FU treatment (preventive), some received AA for 20 days after 5-FU treatment (recovery), and some underwent treatment with AA throughout the time of the experiment (throughout) for 40 days. Treatment with 5-FU caused significant reductions in Notch1, sex determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2), nestin, doublecortin (DCX), and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) levels within the hippocampus. In addition, 5-FU significantly increased p21 positive cell number in the subgranular zone (SGZ) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the hippocampus. Administration with both AA and 5-FU in prevention and throughout was able to prevent decreases in Notch1 SOX2, nestin, DCX, and Nrf2 caused by 5-FU. Treatment with AA also led to decreases in p21 positive cells and MDA levels in the hippocampus. These findings exhibit that AA has the ability to counteract the down-regulation of neurogenesis within the hippocampus and memory deficits caused by 5-FU via inhibiting oxidative stress and increasing neuroprotective properties.
Effect of Heat-Killed Lactobacillus paracasei KW3110 Ingestion on Ocular Disorders Caused by Visual Display Terminal (VDT) Loads: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Parallel-Group Study
Authors: Morita Yuji , Jounai Kenta , Miyake Mika , Inaba Masaharu , Kanauchi Osamu
Published: August 2018

Background: Visual display terminals (VDTs) emitting blue light can cause ocular disorders including eye fatigue. Some dietary constituents have been reported to be effective in improving ocular disorders while few clinical studies have been performed. We evaluated the effects of heat-killed Lactobacillus paracasei KW 3110 on improving ocular disorders and symptoms of eye fatigue among healthy human subjects with VDT loads. Methods: In vitro, the effect of L. paracasei KW3110 on blue light-induced human retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cell damage. For clinical studies, 62 healthy Japanese volunteers of 35 to 45 years of age who had experienced eye fatigue were randomized into two groups and given a placebo or L. paracasei KW3110-containing supplements for eight weeks. The primary endpoint was changes in VDT load-induced eye fatigue as determined by critical flicker frequency four and eight weeks after the start of supplementation. Results: In vitro, blue light-induced human retinal cell death was suppressed with the culture supernatants of cells treated with L. paracasei KW3110. In clinical study, the VDT load-induced reduction of critical flicker frequency tended to be milder in the L. paracasei KW3110 group when compared with the placebo group during the fourth week. Subgroup analysis classified by the degree of eye fatigue showed that the VDT load-induced reduction of critical flicker frequency was significantly better in the high-level eye fatigue subjects from the L. paracasei KW3110 group when compared with the placebo group during the fourth week (p = 0.020). Conclusions: L. paracasei KW3110 suppressed blue light-induced retinal pigment epithelial cell death. In the clinical study, ingestion of L. paracasei KW3110 had a potential to improve eye fatigue induced by VDT loads especially high levels of eye fatigue. However, further studies should be required to show more dependable clinical efficacy of L. paracasei KW3110.
In Vitro Stimulation of Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2 Function Is Not Reproduced In Vivo in Rats
Authors: Gilibili Ravindranath Reddy , Kurawattimath Vishwanath , Murali Bokka Venkata , Lai Yurong , Mariappan T. Thanga , Shen Hong , Chatterjee Sagnik
Published: August 2018

Previously we reported that coproporphyrin-I (CP-I) is an optimal probe substrate for multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2), and stimulation of MRP2-mediated transport is probe substrate-dependent. In the present investigation, we assessed if the in vitro stimulation is physiologically relevant. Similar to human MRP2 transport, CP-I was transported by rat Mrp2 in a typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics with apparent Km and Vmax values of 15 ± 6 µM and 161 ± 20 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively. In vivo Mrp2 functions were monitored by biliary and renal secretion of CP-I and its isomer CP-III, in bile-duct cannulated rats before and after treatment with mitoxantrone, progesterone, and verapamil. These compounds stimulated Mrp2-mediated CP-I transport in vitro. No significant increase in biliary or renal clearances, as well as in the cumulative amount of CP-I or CP-III eliminated in bile, were detected following treatment with the in vitro stimulators, indicating an in vitro to in vivo disconnect. In presence of 10 µM bilirubin, the in vitro stimulation was suppressed. We concluded that the in vitro stimulation of CP-I transport mediated by Mrp2 is not translatable in vivo, and proposed that the presence of endogenous compounds such as bilirubin in the liver may contribute to the in vitro to in vivo disconnect.
The Effects of Synthetically Modified Natural Compounds on ABC Transporters
Authors: Dantzic Daniel , Noel Pawan , Merien Fabrice , Liu Dong-Xu , Lu Jun , Han Haiyong , McKeage Mark J. , Li Yan
Published: August 2018

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major hurdle which must be overcome to effectively treat cancer. ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABC transporters) play pivotal roles in drug absorption and disposition, and overexpression of ABC transporters has been shown to attenuate cellular/tissue drug accumulation and thus increase MDR across a variety of cancers. Overcoming MDR is one desired approach to improving the survival rate of patients. To date, a number of modulators have been identified which block the function and/or decrease the expression of ABC transporters, thereby restoring the efficacy of a range of anticancer drugs. However, clinical MDR reversal agents have thus far proven ineffective and/or toxic. The need for new, effective, well-tolerated and nontoxic compounds has led to the development of natural compounds and their derivatives to ameliorate MDR. This review evaluates whether synthetically modifying natural compounds is a viable strategy to generate potent, nontoxic, ABC transporter inhibitors which may potentially reverse MDR.
Triblock Copolymer Toughening of a Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Epoxy Composite for Bonded Repair
Authors: Charles Andrew , Rider Andrew
Published: August 2018

Epoxy resins are the most widely used systems for structural composite applications; however, they lack fracture toughness, impact strength and peel strength due to high cross-linking densities. Use of conventional toughening agents to combat this can lead to reductions in mechanical, thermal and processability properties desirable for bonded composite applications. In this work, an asymmetric triblock copolymer of poly(styrene)–b–poly(butadiene)–b–poly(methylmethacrylate) was used to modify an epoxy resin system, with the materials processed using both vacuum bag and positive pressure curing techniques. Interlaminar fracture toughness testing showed improvements in initiation fracture toughness of up to 88%, accompanied by a 6 °C increase in glass transition temperature and manageable reductions in gel-time. Shear testing resulted in a 121% increase in ultimate shear strain with only an 8% reduction in shear strength. Performance improvements were attributed to nano-structuring within the toughened resin system, giving rise to matrix cavitation and dissipation of crack front strain energy upon loading.
Flexural Fatigue Properties of Ultra-High Performance Engineered Cementitious Composites (UHP-ECC) Reinforced by Polymer Fibers
Authors: Sui Lili , Zhong Qianli , Yu Kequan , Xing Feng , Li Pengda , Zhou Yingwu
Published: August 2018

In recent years, the application of engineered cementitious composites (ECCs) in structures subjected to cyclic fatigue loading, such as highway bridges, has gained widespread attention. However, most existing ECCs do not have sufficient strength and ductility, which limits their applications, especially in highway bridge structures under high-stress. In this work, an ultra-high performance engineered cementitious composite (UHP-ECC) was configured, which had a compressive strength of approximately 120 MPa, a tensile strength of up to 12 MPa, and a tensile strain capacity of more than 8%. This paper presents a study of the fatigue performance of UHP-ECC at four different fatigue stress levels through the four-point bending test. The mid-span deflection of the specimen was monitored along with the crack opening displacement (COD) of the pure bending section at the bottom of the specimen, and the crack width. In addition, the dissipated energy was calculated at various stress levels. The progressive formation of cracks under static loading was monitored using the digital image correlation (DIC) technique. The fibers at the fractured surface of the specimens were observed and analyzed by environmental scanning electron microscopy, and the morphology of the fibers was obtained at different fatigue stress levels. Eventually, the fatigue life under different stress levels was obtained, and the relationship between the fatigue life and the stress level was established.
The Quality Evaluation of Postharvest Strawberries Stored in Nano-Ag Packages at Refrigeration Temperature
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Li Wenhui , Zhu Bifen , Chen Haiyan , Chi Hai , Li Lin , Qin Yuyue , Xue Jing
Published: August 2018

Different percentages (0%, 1%, 5%, and 10%) of nano-Ag particles were added to polylactic acid (PLA) to make an active nanocomposite packaging film. Strawberries were packaged by the nanocomposite films and stored at 4 ± 1 °C for 10 days. The freshness of strawberries was assessed by regularly measuring the physicochemical properties of the strawberries in each packaging film. The difference in the freshness of strawberries was evaluated by determining the following parameter changes: weight loss, hardness, soluble solids, titratable acid, color, vitamin C, total phenol, free radical scavenging activity, peroxidase activity, and sensory evaluation. The results revealed that the active nanocomposite packaging film has better preservation effect when compared with pure PLA film. Its preservation effect is mainly reflected in the more effective reduction of vitamin C loss, delaying the decline of total phenols and 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) in strawberries. It also showed better physical properties. The results showed that the PLA nanocomposite packaging film could effectively preserve freshness of strawberries.
Technology for the Remediation of Water Pollution: A Review on the Fabrication of Metal Organic Frameworks
Authors: Bian Yongning , Xiong Nana , Zhu Guocheng
Published: August 2018

The ineffective control of the release of pollutants into water has led to serious water pollution. Compared with conditions in the past, the polluting components in aquatic environments have become increasingly complex. Some emerging substances have led to a new threat to the safety of water. Therefore, developing cost-effective technologies for the remediation of water pollution is urgently needed. Adsorption has been considered the most effective operational unit in water treatment processes and thus adsorption materials have gained wide attention. Among them, metal organic frameworks (denoted as MOFs) have been rapidly developed in recent years due to their unique physicochemical performance. They are characterized by larger porosity and larger specific surface area, easier pore structure designing, and comfortable structural modification. In many fields such as adsorption, separation, storage, and transportation, MOFs show a better performance than conventional adsorption materials such as active carbon. Their performance is often dependent on their structural distribution. To optimize the use of MOFs, their fabrication should be given more attention, without being limited to conventional preparation methods. Alternative preparation methods are given in this review, such as diffusion, solvent thermal, microwave, and ion thermal synthesis. Furthermore, developing functionalized MOFs is an available option to improve the removal efficiencies of a specific contaminant through pre-synthetic modification and post-synthesis modification. Post-synthesis modification has become a recent research hotspot. The coupling of MOFs with other techniques would be another option to ameliorate the remediation of water pollution. On one hand, their intrinsic drawbacks may be reduced. On the other hand, their performance may be enhanced due to their interaction behaviors. Overall, such coupling technologies are able to enhance the performance of an individual material. Because the excellent performance of MOF materials has been widely recognized and their developments have received wide attention, especially in environmental fields, in the present work we provide a review of fabrication of MOFs so as to motivate readers to deepen their understanding of the use of MOFs.
Computational Molecular Modeling of Transport Processes in Nanoporous Membranes
Authors: Hinkle Kevin R. , Wang Xiaoyu , Gu Xuehong , Jameson Cynthia J. , Murad Sohail
Published: August 2018

In this report we have discussed the important role of molecular modeling, especially the use of the molecular dynamics method, in investigating transport processes in nanoporous materials such as membranes. With the availability of high performance computers, molecular modeling can now be used to study rather complex systems at a fraction of the cost or time requirements of experimental studies. Molecular modeling techniques have the advantage of being able to access spatial and temporal resolution which are difficult to reach in experimental studies. For example, sub-Angstrom level spatial resolution is very accessible as is sub-femtosecond temporal resolution. Due to these advantages, simulation can play two important roles: Firstly because of the increased spatial and temporal resolution, it can help understand phenomena not well understood. As an example, we discuss the study of reverse osmosis processes. Before simulations were used it was thought the separation of water from salt was purely a coulombic phenomenon. However, by applying molecular simulation techniques, it was clearly demonstrated that the solvation of ions made the separation in effect a steric separation and it was the flux which was strongly affected by the coulombic interactions between water and the membrane surface. Additionally, because of their relatively low cost and quick turnaround (by using multiple processor systems now increasingly available) simulations can be a useful screening tool to identify membranes for a potential application. To this end, we have described our studies in determining the most suitable zeolite membrane for redox flow battery applications. As computing facilities become more widely available and new computational methods are developed, we believe molecular modeling will become a key tool in the study of transport processes in nanoporous materials.
Application of Ensemble-Based Machine Learning Models to Landslide Susceptibility Mapping
Authors: Kadavi Prima Riza , Lee Chang-Wook , Lee Saro
Published: August 2018

The main purpose of this study was to produce landslide susceptibility maps using various ensemble-based machine learning models (i.e., the AdaBoost, LogitBoost, Multiclass Classifier, and Bagging models) for the Sacheon-myeon area of South Korea. A landslide inventory map including a total of 762 landslides was compiled based on reports and aerial photograph interpretations. The landslides were randomly separated into two datasets: 70% of landslides were selected for the model establishment and 30% were used for validation purposes. Additionally, 20 landslide condition factors divided into five categories (topographic factors, hydrological factors, soil map, geological map, and forest map) were considered in the landslide susceptibility mapping. The relationships among landslide occurrence and landslide conditioning factors were analyzed and the landslide susceptibility maps were calculated and drawn using the AdaBoost, LogitBoost, Multiclass Classifier, and Bagging models. Finally, the maps were validated using the area under the curve (AUC) method. The Multiclass Classifier method had higher prediction accuracy (85.9%) than the Bagging (AUC = 85.4%), LogitBoost (AUC = 84.8%), and AdaBoost (84.0%) methods.
Sequential SAR Coherence Method for the Monitoring of Buildings in Sarpole-Zahab, Iran
Authors: Karimzadeh Sadra , Matsuoka Masashi , Miyajima Masakatsu , Adriano Bruno , Fallahi Abdolhossein , Karashi Jafar
Published: August 2018

In this study, we used fifty-six synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images acquired from the Sentinel-1 C-band satellite with a regular period of 12 days (except for one image) to produce sequential phase correlation (sequential coherence) maps for the town of Sarpole-Zahab in western Iran, which experienced a magnitude 7.3 earthquake on 12 November 2017. The preseismic condition of the buildings in the town was assessed based on a long sequential SAR coherence (LSSC) method, in which we considered 55 of the 56 images to produce a coherence decay model with climatic and temporal parameters. The coseismic condition of the buildings was assessed with 3 later images and normalized RGB visualization using the short sequential SAR coherence (SSSC) method. Discriminant analysis between the completely collapsed and uncollapsed buildings was also performed for approximately 700 randomly selected buildings (for each category) by considering the heights of the buildings and the SSSC results. Finally, the area and volume of debris were calculated based on a fusion of a discriminant map and a 3D vector map of the town.
High-Dimensional Probabilistic Fingerprinting in Wireless Sensor Networks Based on a Multivariate Gaussian Mixture Model
Authors: Li Yan , Williams Simon , Moran Bill , Kealy Allison , Retscher Guenther
Published: August 2018

The extensive deployment of wireless infrastructure provides a low-cost way to track mobile users in indoor environment. This paper demonstrates a prototype model of an accurate and reliable room location awareness system in a real public environment in which three typical problems arise. Firstly, a massive number of access points (APs) can be sensed leading to a high-dimensional classification problem. Secondly, heterogeneous devices record different received signal strength (RSS) levels because of the variations in chip-set and antenna attenuation. Thirdly, APs are not necessarily visible in every scanning cycle leading to missing data issue. This paper presents a probabilistic Wi-Fi fingerprinting method in a hidden Markov model (HMM) framework for mobile user tracking. To account for spatial correlation of the signal strengths from multiple APs, a Multivariate Gaussian Mixture Model (MVGMM) was fitted to model the probability distribution of RSS measurements in each cell. Furthermore, the unseen property of invisible AP was investigated in this research, and demonstrated the efficiency as a beneficial information to differentiate between cells. The proposed system is able to achieve comparable localisation performance. Filed test results achieve a reliable 97% localisation room level accuracy of multiple mobile users in a real university campus Wi-Fi network.
Measurement and Isolation of Thermal Stress in Silicon-On-Glass MEMS Structures
Authors: Chen Zhiyong , Guo Meifeng , Zhang Rong , Zhou Bin , Wei Qi
Published: August 2018

The mechanical stress in silicon-on-glass MEMS structures and a stress isolation scheme were studied by analysis and experimentation. Double-ended tuning forks (DETFs) were used to measure the stress based on the stress-frequency conversion effect. Considering the coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) of silicon and glass and the temperature coefficient of the Young’s modulus of silicon, the sensitivity of the natural frequency to temperature change was analyzed. A stress isolation mechanism composed of annular isolators and a rigid frame is proposed to prevent the structure inside the frame from being subjected to thermal stresses. DETFs without and with one- or two-stage isolation frames with the orientations <110> and <100> were designed, the stress and natural frequency variations with temperature were simulated and measured. The experimental results show that in the temperature range of −50 °C to 85 °C, the stress varied from −18 MPa to 10 MPa in the orientation <110> and −11 MPa to 5 MPa in the orientation <100>. For the 1-stage isolated DETF of <110> orientation, the measured stress variation was only 0.082 MPa. The thermal stress can be mostly rejected by a stress isolation structure, which is applicable in the design of stress-sensitive MEMS sensors and actuators.
Design of Binary-Sequence Zone Plates in High Wavelength Domains
Authors: Fuster José Miguel , Pérez-López Sergio , Candelas Pilar , Rubio Constanza
Published: August 2018

The design of zone plates is an important topic in many areas of physics, such as optics, X-rays, microwaves or ultrasonics. In this paper, a zone plate design method, which provides high flexibility in the shaping of the focusing profile, is analyzed. This flexibility is achieved through the use of binary sequences that produce zone plates with different properties and applications. It is shown that this binary-sequence method works properly at low wavelengths, but requires a modification term to work accurately in high wavelength domains. This additional term extends this powerful design method to any wavelength. Simulation results show acoustic focusing profiles for Fresnel, Fibonacci and Cantor zone plates operating at a wavelength of 1.5 mm without any distortion.
A Sensor Image Dehazing Algorithm Based on Feature Learning
Authors: Liu Kun , He Linyuan , Ma Shiping , Gao Shan , Bi Duyan
Published: August 2018

To solve the problems of color distortion and structure blurring in images acquired by sensors during bad weather, an image dehazing algorithm based on feature learning is put forward to improve the quality of sensor images. First, we extracted the multiscale structure features of the haze images by sparse coding and the various haze-related color features simultaneously. Then, the generative adversarial network (GAN) was used for sample training to explore the mapping relationship between different features and the scene transmission. Finally, the final haze-free image was obtained according to the degradation model. Experimental results show that the method has obvious advantages in its detail recovery and color retention. In addition, it effectively improves the quality of sensor images.