bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Agar on the Mechanical, Thermal, and Moisture Absorption Properties of Thermoplastic Sago Starch Composites
Authors: Taharuddin Nurul Hanan , Jumaidin Ridhwan , Ilyas Rushdan Ahmad , Kamaruddin Zatil Hazrati , Mansor Muhd Ridzuan , Md Yusof Fahmi Asyadi , Knight Victor Feizal , Norrrahim Mohd Nor Faiz
Published: December 2022

Thermoplastic starch is a material that has the potential to be environmentally friendly and biodegradable. However, it has certain drawbacks concerning its mechanical performance and is sensitive to the presence of moisture. The current study assessed agar-containing thermoplastic sago starch (TPSS) properties at various loadings. Variable proportions of agar (5%, 10%, and 15% wt%) were used to produce TPSS by the hot-pressing method. Then, the samples were subjected to characterisation using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and moisture absorption tests. The results demonstrated that adding agar to starch-based thermoplastic blends significantly improved their tensile, flexural, and impact properties. The samples’ morphology showed that the fracture had become more erratic and uneven after adding agar. FT-IR revealed that intermolecular hydrogen bonds formed between TPSS and agar. Moreover, with an increase in agar content, TPSS’s thermal stability was also increased. However, the moisture absorption values among the samples increased slightly as the amount of agar increased. Overall, the proposed TPSS/agar blend has the potential to be employed as biodegradable material due to its improved mechanical characteristics.
Wearable Inertial Sensor-Based Hand-Guiding Gestures Recognition Method Robust to Significant Changes in the Body-Alignment of Subject
Authors: Jeon Haneul , Choi Haegyeom , Noh Donghyeon , Kim Taeho , Lee Donghun
Published: December 2022

The accuracy of the wearable inertia-measurement-unit (IMU)-sensor-based gesture recognition may be significantly affected by undesired changes in the body-fixed frame and the sensor-fixed frame according to the change in the subject and the sensor attachment. In this study, we proposed a novel wearable IMU-sensor-based hand-guiding gesture recognition method robust to significant changes in the subject’s body alignment based on the floating body-fixed frame method and the bi-directional long short-term memory (bi-LSTM). Through comparative experimental studies with the other two methods, it was confirmed that aligning the sensor-fixed frame with the reference frame of the human body and updating the reference frame according to the change in the subject’s body-heading direction helped improve the generalization performance of the gesture recognition model. As a result, the proposed floating body-fixed frame method showed a 91.7% test accuracy, confirming that it was appropriate for gesture recognition under significant changes in the subject’s body alignment during gestures.
Computation of Time-Varying {2,3}- and {2,4}-Inverses through Zeroing Neural Networks
Authors: Li Xingyuan , Lin Chia-Liang , Simos Theodore , Mourtas Spyridon , Katsikis Vasilios
Published: December 2022

This paper investigates the problem of computing the time-varying {2,3}- and {2,4}-inverses through the zeroing neural network (ZNN) method, which is presently regarded as a state-of-the-art method for computing the time-varying matrix Moore–Penrose inverse. As a result, two new ZNN models, dubbed ZNN23I and ZNN24I, for the computation of the time-varying {2,3}- and {2,4}-inverses, respectively, are introduced, and the effectiveness of these models is evaluated. Numerical experiments investigate and confirm the efficiency of the proposed ZNN models for computing the time-varying {2,3}- and {2,4}-inverses.
Mathematical Approach for Mechanical Behaviour Analysis of FGM Plates on Elastic Foundation
Authors: Zaoui Fatima Zohra , Ouinas Djamel , Achour Belkacem , Touahmia Mabrouk , Boukendakdji Mustapha , Latifee Enamur R. , Al-Naghi Ahmed A. Alawi , Viña Olay Jaime Aurelio
Published: December 2022

This paper presents the flexural analysis of functionally graded plates resting on elastic foundations using new two-dimensional (2D) and quasi-three-dimensional (quasi-3D) higher order shear deformation theories. The main interesting feature of this theory is that it proposes a new displacement field with undetermined integral variables which involves only five unknown functions, unlike other shear and normal deformation theories, hence making it easier to use. A parabolic transverse shear deformation shape function satisfying the zero shear stress conditions on the plate outer surfaces is considered. The elastic foundation follows the Pasternak mathematical model. The material properties change continuously across the thickness of the FG plate using different distributions: power law, exponential, and Mori–Tanaka models. The governing equations of FG plates subjected to sinusoidal and uniformly distributed loads are established through the principle of virtual works and then solved via Navier’s procedure. In this work, a detailed discussion on the influence of material composition, geometric parameters, stretching effect, and foundation parameters on the deflection, axial displacements, and stresses is given, and the obtained results are compared with those published in previous works to demonstrate the accuracy and the simplicity of the present formulations. The different obtained results were found to be in good agreement with the available solutions of other higher-order theories. The proposed model is able to represent the cross section warping in the deformed shape and to demonstrate the validity and efficiency of the approach, the findings reported herein prove that this theory is capable of predicting displacements and stresses more accurately than other theories, as its results are closer when compared to numerical methods reported in other literatures.
A Survey on Tools and Techniques for Localizing Abnormalities in X-ray Images Using Deep Learning
Authors: Aasem Muhammad , Iqbal Muhammad Javed , Ahmad Iftikhar , Alassafi Madini O. , Alhomoud Ahmed
Published: December 2022

Deep learning is expanding and continues to evolve its capabilities toward more accuracy, speed, and cost-effectiveness. The core ingredients for getting its promising results are appropriate data, sufficient computational resources, and best use of a particular algorithm. The application of these algorithms in medical image analysis tasks has achieved outstanding results compared to classical machine learning approaches. Localizing the area-of-interest is a challenging task that has vital importance in computer aided diagnosis. Generally, radiologists interpret the radiographs based on their knowledge and experience. However, sometimes, they can overlook or misinterpret the findings due to various reasons, e.g., workload or judgmental error. This leads to the need for specialized AI tools that assist radiologists in highlighting abnormalities if exist. To develop a deep learning driven localizer, certain alternatives are available within architectures, datasets, performance metrics, and approaches. Informed decision for selection within the given alternative can lead to batter outcome within lesser resources. This paper lists the required components along-with explainable AI for developing an abnormality localizer for X-ray images in detail. Moreover, strong-supervised vs weak-supervised approaches have been majorly discussed in the light of limited annotated data availability. Likewise, other correlated challenges have been presented along-with recommendations based on a relevant literature review and similar studies. This review is helpful in streamlining the development of an AI based localizer for X-ray images while extendable for other radiological reports.
Identification of Genomic Variants of SARS-CoV-2 Using Nanopore Sequencing
Authors: Capraru Ionut Dragos , Romanescu Mirabela , Anghel Flavia Medana , Oancea Cristian , Marian Catalin , Sirbu Ioan Ovidiu , Chis Aimee Rodica , Ciordas Paula Diana
Published: December 2022

Background and Objectives: SARS-CoV-2 is the first global threat and life-changing event of the twenty-first century. Although efficient treatments and vaccines have been developed, due to the virus’s ability to mutate in key regions of the genome, whole viral genome sequencing is needed for efficient monitoring, evaluation of the spread, and even the adjustment of the molecular diagnostic assays. Materials and Methods: In this study, Nanopore and Ion Torrent sequencing technologies were used to detect the main SARS-CoV-2 circulating strains in Timis County, Romania, between February 2021 and May 2022. Results: We identified 22 virus lineages belonging to seven clades: 20A, 20I (Alpha, V1), 21B (Kappa), 21I (Delta), 21J (Delta), 21K (Omicron), and 21L (Omicron). Conclusions: Results obtained with both methods are comparable, and we confirm the utility of Nanopore sequencing in large-scale epidemiological surveillance due to the lower cost and reduced time for library preparation.
Nelfinavir: An Old Ally in the COVID-19 Fight?
Authors: Gidari Anna , Sabbatini Samuele , Pallotto Carlo , Bastianelli Sabrina , Pierucci Sara , Busti Chiara , Schiaroli Elisabetta , Francisci Daniela
Published: December 2022

After almost three years of the pandemic, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is still spreading around the world, causing notable sanitary and social issues. New antiviral therapies are constantly under investigation. However, few options have been approved for the treatment of COVID-19. Clinical trials are currently ongoing to evaluate the efficacy of nelfinavir on mild–moderate COVID-19. This study aims to investigate the activity of this compound on SARS-CoV-2 “Variants of Concern” (VOCs), comparing its effectiveness with the approved drugs remdesivir and molnupiravir. The experiments were conducted in a biosafety level 3 facility. In this study, we used a Vero-E6-cell-based infection assay to investigate the in vitro activity of nelfinavir, molnupiravir, and remdesivir. Four strains of SARS-CoV-2 were tested: 20A.EU1, B.1.1.7, P.1, and B.1.617.2. All compounds reached micromolar/submicromolar EC50, EC90, and EC99. Furthermore, the Cmax/EC50 and Cmax/EC90 ratios were >1 for all compounds and all variants tested. Our study demonstrated that nelfinavir, as molnupiravir, and remdesivir are effective in vitro on SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Bacillus velezensis BY6 Promotes Growth of Poplar and Improves Resistance Contributing to the Biocontrol of Armillaria solidipes
Authors: Zhang Ping , Xie Guangqiang , Wang Lihai , Xing Yanqiu
Published: December 2022

To improve the application of endophyte Bacillus velezensis BY6 from the xylem of poplar, the effect of BY6 on the growth of diseased Populus davidiana × Populus. alba var. pyramidalis Louche (Pdpap poplar) seedlings and the biological control effect on the pathogen Armillaria solidipes were tested using a plant split-root experiment. After applying BY6 to the roots of diseased Pdpap poplar seedlings, the results show that plant growth indicators (dry mass, fresh mass, and plant height) were significantly increased (p < 0.05), and genes related to auxin hormone signal transcription were activated. BY6 indicated a surprising control effect after the inoculation of diseased Pdpap poplar seedlings. Compared to the infected control group, the treated disease index of the diseased Pdpap poplar seedlings in the treatment group were reduced by 49.53% on the 20th day. The relative staining areas of diaminobenzidine (DAB) and Trypan blue decreased by 3.37 and 7.31 times, respectively. The physiological indicators (soluble sugar and protein) and oxidase indicators were significantly increased (p < 0.05). The expression levels of defense genes related to salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathways were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Amazingly, the results indicate that BY6 simultaneously activates induced systemic resistance (ISR) and systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in diseased Pdpap poplar seedlings and promotes growth. The results indicate that BY6 is a promising candidate for developing forest tree biofertilizers and biopesticides.
Role of the Vibriolysin VemA Secreted by the Emergent Pathogen Vibrio europaeus in the Colonization of Manila Clam Mucus
Authors: Martinez Clara , Rodriguez Sergio , Vences Ana , Barja Juan L. , Toranzo Alicia E. , Dubert Javier
Published: December 2022

Vibrio europaeus is an emergent pathogen affecting clams, oysters and scallops produced in the most important countries for bivalve aquaculture. Studies concerning virulence factors involved in the virulence of V. europaeus are very scarce despite its global significance for aquaculture. Zinc-metalloproteases have been described as a major virulence factor in some Vibrio spp., although their contribution and role in the virulence of V. europaeus is not clear. To address this, we have studied an extracellular zinc-metalloprotease (VemA) encoded by V. europaeus, which was identified as a vibriolysin, highly conserved in this species and homologous in other pathogenic and non-pathogenic species. Virulence challenge experiments demonstrated that infection processes were faster when Manila clam larvae and juveniles were infected with the wildtype rather than with a mutant defective in the vemA gene (ΔvemA). V. europaeus was able to resist the bactericidal action of mucus and displayed a chemotaxis ability favoured by VemA to colonize the body mucus of clams and form a biofilm. The overall results suggest that VemA, although it is not a major virulence factor, plays a role in the colonization of the Manila clam mucus, and thus boosts the infection process as we observed in virulence challenge experiments.
Isolation, Identification and Pollution Prevention of Bacteria and Fungi during the Tissue Culture of Dwarf Hygro (Hygrophila polysperma) Explants
Authors: Li Weijie , Cao Guanglong , Zhu Mengqian , Zhang Yilin , Zhou Rong , Zhao Zhenyang , Guo Yaning , Yang Wanli , Zheng Bo , Tan Jiabo , Sun Yanling
Published: December 2022

Microbial contamination causes serious damage in plant tissue culture, and attention is always being paid regarding how to control and prevent the unwanted pollution. Dwarf hygro (Hygrophila polysperma) is a popular ornamental aquatic plant and its tissue culture has been reported, but the microbial pollution and the cure of microbial pollution was unknown. In this study, a number of bacteria and fungi were isolated from contaminants in MS culture media. Based on the 16S rDNA and ITS sequencing, it was identified that fifteen bacteria belong to Bacillus, Enterobacter, Pantoea, Kosakonia, Ensifer and Klebsiella, and three fungi belong to Plectosphaerella, Cladosporium and Peniophora, respectively. In addition, some drugs were further tested to be free of the bacteria and fungi pollution. The results revealed that 10 μg/mL of kanamycin, 5 μg/mL of chloramphenicol, and 0.015625% potassium sorbate could be applied jointly in MS media to prevent the microbial pollution, and the survival rate of H. polysperma explants was highly improved. This study reveals the bacteria and fungi species from the culture pollution of H. polysperma and provides a practical reference for optimizing the tissue culture media for other aquatic plants.
Multiple Gene Expression in Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Systems for Reconstructing Bacteriophages and Metabolic Pathways
Authors: Purkayastha Anwesha , Iyappan Kathirvel , Kang Taek Jin
Published: December 2022

As a fast and reliable technology with applications in diverse biological studies, cell-free protein synthesis has become popular in recent decades. The cell-free protein synthesis system can be considered a complex chemical reaction system that is also open to exogenous manipulation, including that which could otherwise potentially harm the cell’s viability. On the other hand, since the technology depends on the cell lysates by which genetic information is transformed into active proteins, the whole system resembles the cell to some extent. These features make cell-free protein synthesis a valuable addition to synthetic biology technologies, expediting the design–build–test–learn cycle of synthetic biology routines. While the system has traditionally been used to synthesize one protein product from one gene addition, recent studies have employed multiple gene products in order to, for example, develop novel bacteriophages, viral particles, or synthetic metabolisms. Thus, we would like to review recent advancements in applying cell-free protein synthesis technology to synthetic biology, with an emphasis on multiple gene expressions.
Global Genomic Epidemiology of Escherichia coli (ExPEC) ST38 Lineage Revealed a Virulome Associated with Human Infections
Authors: Fonseca Erica L. , Morgado Sergio M. , Caldart Raquel V. , Vicente Ana Carolina
Published: December 2022

Background: Most of the extraintestinal human infections worldwide are caused by specific extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) lineages, which also present a zoonotic character. One of these lineages belongs to ST38, a high-risk globally disseminated ExPEC. To get insights on the aspects of the global ST38 epidemiology and evolution as a multidrug-resistant and pathogenic lineage concerning the three axes of the One Health concept (humans, animals, and natural environments), this study performed a global phylogenomic analysis on ST38 genomes. Methods: A phylogenetic reconstruction based on 376 ST38 genomes recovered from environments, humans, livestock, and wild and domestic animals in all continents throughout three decades was performed. The global information concerning the ST38 resistome and virulome was also approached by in silico analyses. Results: In general, the phylogenomic analyses corroborated the zoonotic character of the ExPEC ST38, since clonal strains were recovered from both animal and human sources distributed worldwide. Moreover, our findings revealed that, independent of host sources and geographic origin, the genomes were distributed in two major clades (Clades 1 and 2). However, the ST38 accessory genome was not strictly associated with clades and sub-clades, as found for the type 2 T3SS ETT2 that was evenly distributed throughout Clades 1 and 2. Of note was the presence of the Yersinia pestis-like high-pathogenicity island (HPI) exclusively in the major Clade 2, in which prevails most of the genomes from human origin recovered worldwide (2000 to 2020). Conclusions: This evidence corroborates the HPI association with successful E. coli ST38 establishment in human infections.
Metal–Organic Frameworks–Based Memristors: Materials, Devices, and Applications
Authors: Shu Fan , Chen Xinhui , Yu Zhe , Gao Pingqi , Liu Gang
Published: December 2022

Facing the explosive growth of data, a number of new micro-nano devices with simple structure, low power consumption, and size scalability have emerged in recent years, such as neuromorphic computing based on memristor. The selection of resistive switching layer materials is extremely important for fabricating of high performance memristors. As an organic-inorganic hybrid material, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have the advantages of both inorganic and organic materials, which makes the memristors using it as a resistive switching layer show the characteristics of fast erasing speed, outstanding cycling stability, conspicuous mechanical flexibility, good biocompatibility, etc. Herein, the recent advances of MOFs-based memristors in materials, devices, and applications are summarized, especially the potential applications of MOFs-based memristors in data storage and neuromorphic computing. There also are discussions and analyses of the challenges of the current research to provide valuable insights for the development of MOFs-based memristors.
Rapid Detection of Recurrent Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer in Urine Using ATR-FTIR Technology
Authors: El-Falouji Abdullah I. , Sabri Dalia M. , Lotfi Naira M. , Medany Doaa M. , Mohamed Samar A. , Alaa-eldin Mai , Selim Amr Mounir , El Leithy Asmaa A. , Kalil Haitham , El-Tobgy Ahmed , Mohamed Ahmed
Published: December 2022

Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) accounts for 80% of all bladder cancers. Although it is mostly low-grade tumors, its high recurrence rate necessitates three-times-monthly follow-ups and cystoscopy examinations to detect and prevent its progression. A rapid liquid biopsy-based assay is needed to improve detection and reduce complications from invasive cystoscopy. Here, we present a rapid spectroscopic method to detect the recurrence of NMIBC in urine. Urine samples from previously-diagnosed NMIBC patients (n = 62) were collected during their follow-up visits before cystoscopy examination. Cystoscopy results were recorded (41 cancer-free and 21 recurrence) and attenuated total refraction Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectra were acquired from urine samples using direct application. Spectral processing and normalization were optimized using parameter grid searching. We assessed their technical variability through multivariate analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). We assessed 35 machine learning models on a training set (70%), and the performance was evaluated on a held-out test set (30%). A Regularized Random Forests (RRF) model achieved a 0.92 area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) with 86% sensitivity and 77% specificity. In conclusion, our spectroscopic liquid biopsy approach provides a promising technique for the early identification of NMIBC with a less invasive examination.
Modified Curcumins as Potential Drug Candidates for Breast Cancer: An Overview
Authors: Flint Abigail L. , Hansen David W. , Brown LaVauria D. , Stewart Laura E. , Ortiz Eduardo , Panda Siva S.
Published: December 2022

Breast cancer (BC), the most common malignancy in women, results from significant alterations in genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that alter multiple signaling pathways in growth and malignant progression, leading to limited long-term survival. Current studies with numerous drug therapies have shown that BC is a complex disease with tumor heterogeneity, rapidity, and dynamics of the tumor microenvironment that result in resistance to existing therapy. Targeting a single cell-signaling pathway is unlikely to treat or prevent BC. Curcumin (a natural yellow pigment), the principal ingredient in the spice turmeric, is well-documented for its diverse pharmacological properties including anti-cancer activity. However, its clinical application has been limited because of its low solubility, stability, and bioavailability. To overcome the limitation of curcumin, several modified curcumin conjugates and curcumin mimics were developed and studied for their anti-cancer properties. In this review, we have focused on the application of curcumin mimics and their conjugates for breast cancer.
Chemical Composition and Antioxidant and Antibacterial Potencies of the Artemisia ordosica Aerial Parts Essential Oil during the Vegetative Period
Authors: Zhang Jize , Pan Qiang , Zhang Xiaoqing , Tana
Published: December 2022

As one of the vital shrubs growing in crusted areas in China, Artemisia ordosica (belonging to the Asteraceae family) is abundant in essential oil, and its aerial part’s essential oil has been reported to have some biological activities during the flowering and fruit set stage, and has been used in folk medicine. However, little is known about the biological activities of its aerial part’s essential oil during the vegetative period. Thus, the purpose of this work was to determine the chemical composition and evaluate the antioxidant and antibacterial potencies of the essential oil extracted from A. ordosica aerial parts during the vegetative stage. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed that spathulenol (9.93%) and α-curcumene (9.24%), both sesquiterpenes, were the most abundant of the 74 chemical constituents detected in the essential oil of A. ordosica. The antioxidant activity of the essential oil was found to be relatively moderate against 2,2-diphenylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and hydroxyl radical (OH●) radicals. The essential oil exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella abony and Escherichia coli, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 2.5, 5, and 10 μL/mL, respectively. The results indicate that the essential oil of A. ordosica possesses notable antibacterial properties as well as antioxidant capability and can thus be employed as a natural ingredient which can be used as a substitute for antibiotics in the animal feed industry. However, in vivo toxicological studies are still required to determine the safety level and beneficial outcomes of the A. ordosica essential oil for future utilization.
Quinoxalinones as A Novel Inhibitor Scaffold for EGFR (L858R/T790M/C797S) Tyrosine Kinase: Molecular Docking, Biological Evaluations, and Computational Insights
Authors: Suriya Utid , Mahalapbutr Panupong , Wimonsong Watchara , Yotphan Sirilata , Choowongkomon Kiattawee , Rungrotmongkol Thanyada
Published: December 2022

Combating acquired drug resistance of EGFR tyrosine kinase (TK) is a great challenge and an urgent necessity in the management of non-small cell lung cancers. The advanced EGFR (L858R/T790M/C797S) triple mutation has been recently reported, and there have been no specific drugs approved for this strain. Therefore, our research aimed to search for effective agents that could impede the function of EGFR (L858R/T790M/C797S) TK by the integration of in silico and in vitro approaches. Our in-house quinoxalinone-containing compounds were screened through molecular docking and their biological activity was then verified by enzyme- and cell-based assay. We found that the four quinoxalinone-containing compounds including CPD4, CPD15, CPD16, and CPD21 were promising to be novel EGFR (L858R/T790M/C797S) TK inhibitors. The IC50 values measured by the enzyme-based assay were 3.04 ± 1.24 nM; 6.50 ± 3.02 nM,10.50 ± 1.10 nM; and 3.81 ± 1.80 nM, respectively, which are at a similar level to a reference drug; osimertinib (8.93 ± 3.01 nM). Besides that, they displayed cytotoxic effects on a lung cancer cell line (H1975) with IC50 values in the range of 3.47 to 79.43 μM. In this proposed study, we found that all screened compounds could interact with M793 at the hinge regions and two mutated residues including M790 and S797; which may be the main reason supporting the inhibitory activity in vitro. The structural dynamics revealed that the screened compounds have sufficient non-native contacts with surrounding amino acids and could be well-buried in the binding site’s cleft. In addition, all predicted physicochemical parameters were favorable to be drug-like based on Lipinski’s rule of five, and no extreme violation of toxicity features was found. Altogether, this study proposes a novel EGFR (L858R/T790M/C797S) TK inhibitor scaffold and provides a detailed understanding of compounds’ recognition and susceptibility at the molecular level.
Pyridyl Methylsulfinyl Benzimidazole Derivatives as Promising Agents against Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas vaginalis
Authors: Hernández-Ochoa Beatriz , Martínez-Rosas Víctor , Morales-Luna Laura , Calderón-Jaimes Ernesto , Rocha-Ramírez Luz María , Ortega-Cuellar Daniel , Rufino-González Yadira , González-Valdez Abigail , Arreguin-Espinosa Roberto , Enríquez-Flores Sergio , Castillo-Rodríguez Rosa Angélica , Cárdenas-Rodríguez Noemí , Wong-Baeza Carlos , Baeza-Ramírez Isabel , Gómez-Manzo Saúl
Published: December 2022

Protozoan parasites, such as Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas vaginalis, cause the most prevalent infections in humans in developing countries and provoke significant morbidity and mortality in endemic countries. Despite its side-effects, metronidazole is still the drug of choice as a giardiacidal and trichomonacidal tissue-active agent. However, the emergence of metronidazole resistance and its evolved strategies of parasites to evade innate host defenses have hindered the identification and development of new therapeutic strategies against these parasites. Here, we tested five synthesized benzimidazole derivatives as possible drugs for treating giardiasis and trichomoniasis, probing the bifunctional enzyme glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase::6-phosphogluconolactone from G. lamblia (GlG6PD::6PGL) and T. vaginalis (TvG6PD::6PGL) as a drug target. The investigated benzimidazole derivatives were H-B2M1, H-B2M2, H2N-BZM6, O2N-BZM7, and O2N-BZM9. The recombinant enzymes were used in inhibition assays, and in silico computational predictions and spectroscopic studies were applied to follow the structural alteration of the enzymes and identify the possible mechanism of inhibition. We identified two potent benzimidazole compounds (O2N-BZM7 and O2N-BZM9), which are capable of inhibiting both protozoan G6PD::6PGL enzymes and in vitro assays with these parasites, showing that these compounds also affect their viability. These results demonstrate that other therapeutic targets of the compounds are the enzymes GlG6PD::6PGL and TvG6PD::6PGL, which contribute to their antiparasitic effect and their possible use in antigiardial and trichomonacidal therapies.
LC-HR/MS Analysis of Lipophilic Extracts from Calendula arvensis (Vaill.) L. Organs: An Unexplored Source in Cosmeceuticals
Authors: Gravina Claudia , Fiorentino Marika , Formato Marialuisa , Pecoraro Maria Tommasina , Piccolella Simona , Stinca Adriano , Pacifico Severina , Esposito Assunta
Published: December 2022

As part of a project aimed at promoting the use of Calendula arvensis (Vaill.) L. (field marigold, Asteraceae) phytocomplexes in cosmeceutical formulations, the chemical composition in apolar specialized metabolites is herein elucidated. Furthermore, the screening of the cytotoxicity of the apolar extracts was evaluated in order to underline their safety as functional ingredients for cosmetics. After dissection of Calendula organs (florets, fruits, leaves, bracts, stems, and roots), ultrasound-assisted maceration in n-hexane as an extracting solvent allowed us to obtain oil-like mixtures, whose chemical composition has been highlighted through a UHPLC-ESI-QqTOF-MS/MS approach. Twenty-nine metabolites were tentatively identified; different compounds, among which the well-known poly-unsaturated fatty acids, and oxylipins and phosphatides were detected for the first time in Calendula genus. The screening of the dose-response cytotoxicity of the apolar extracts of C. arvensis highlighted the concentration of 10 μg/mL as the most suitable for the formulation of cosmeceutical preparations. Sera enriched with leaf and fruit apolar extracts turned out to have the best activity, suggesting it can be used as a new source in skin care thanks to their higher content in fatty acids.
Metabolite Profiling of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis In Vitro Cultures with Different Levels of Differentiation
Authors: Krasteva Gergana , Berkov Strahil , Pavlov Atanas , Georgiev Vasil
Published: December 2022

Gardenia jasminoides Ellis is an aromatic and medicinal plant of high economic value. Much research has focused on the phytochemistry and biological activities of Gardenia fruit extracts; however, the potential of the Gardenia plant in vitro cultures used as mass production systems of valuable secondary metabolites has been understudied. This paper presents data on metabolite profiling (GC/MS and HPLC), antioxidant activities (DPPH, TEAC, FRAP, and CUPRAC), and SSR profiles of G. jasminoides plant leaves and in vitro cultures with different levels of differentiation (shoots, callus, and cell suspension). The data show strong correlations (r = 0.9777 to r = 0.9908) between antioxidant activity and the concentrations of chlorogenic acid, salicylic acid, rutin, and hesperidin. Eleven co-dominant microsatellite simple sequence repeats (SSRs) markers were used to evaluate genetic variations (average PIC = 0.738 ± 0.153). All of the investigated Gardenia in vitro cultures showed high genetic variabilities (average Na = 5.636 ± 2.157, average Ne = 3.0 ± 1.095). This is the first report on a study on metabolite profiles, antioxidant activities, and genetic variations of G. jasminoides in vitro cultures with different levels of differentiation.
UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS Profiling of Phenolic Compounds from Eriocephalus africanus: In Vitro Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, and Anti-Inflammatory Potentials
Authors: Okaiyeto Kunle , Kerebba Nasifu , Oguntibeju Oluwafemi O.
Published: December 2022

The present study investigated phenolic compounds, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and the anti-inflammatory potentials of methanolic and chloroform extracts of Eriocephalus africanus. The methanolic extract included, polyphenols (112 ± 2.81 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g), flavonols (76.12 ± 7.95 mg quercetin equivalents (QE)/g); antioxidant capacity (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) (752.64 ± 89.0 μmol of ascorbic acid equivalents (AAE) per g dry weight (µmol AAE/g), 2,2-dyphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (812.18 ± 51.12 Trolox equivalents per gram of dry mass of plant extracts (μmol TE/g), TEAC (631.63 ± 17.42 µmol TE/g)), while the chloroform extract included polyphenols (39.93 ± 1.36 mg GAE/g), flavonols (44.81 ± 3.74 mg QE/g); antioxidant capacity, DPPH (58.70 ± 5.18 µmol TE/g), TEAC (118.63 ± 3.74 µmol TE/g) and FRAP (107.10 ± 2.41 µmol AAE/g). The phytochemicals profiling performed by UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS revealed some important polyphenols, predominantly flavonoids, that could be responsible for the antioxidant capacity and biological effects. Both extracts demonstrated a dose-dependent manner of the alpha-glucosidase inhibition with an IC50 between 125 and 250 μg/mL for methanolic extract, while the chloroform extract was at 250 μg/mL. In the L6 myoblasts and C3A hepatocytes, the methanolic extract slightly increased the utilization of glucose, and both extracts exhibited a dose-dependent increase in the glucose uptake in both cell types without significantly increasing the cytotoxicity. Furthermore, both extracts exhibited an anti-inflammatory potential and the findings from the present study could serve as a baseline for further research in the development of pharmaceutical agents.
Revised Protein Sparing Diet in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Cincione Raffaele Ivan , Losavio Francesca , Cibelli Giuseppe , Messina Giovanni , Polito Rita , Casula Elias , Cincione Pamela Pia , Amatruda Marco , Limone Pierpaolo
Published: December 2022

Effective nutrition therapy is a pressing issue in obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management. As such, this research aimed to determine the performance of a revised dietary strategy built on the protein-sparing diet in obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus with regard to obtaining a rapid and stable improvement in glucometabolic control, body weight, body composition, and energy metabolism when applying the strategy in just twenty-one days. The revised protein-sparing diet differs from the traditional protein-sparing modified fast (PSMF) because it does not include foods. The daily calorie intake of this diet is exclusively derived from Isolate whey protein in addition to a formulation of Isolate whey protein enriched with essential amino acids in free form, with the addition of lipids such as extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil as a source of medium chain fatty acids, where the latter is taken for only the first four days of the diet, together with the use, for the same duration, of extended-release metformin, as the only antihyperglycemic allowed. Anthropometric measurements, bioimpedance analysis, indirect calorimetry, and blood chemistry assessments were conducted at the beginning of the study, time 0 (T0), and at the end, time 1 (T1), i.e., on the 21st day. The main outcomes of the revised protein-sparing diet after only twenty-one days were a reduction in body weight with the predominant loss of visceral atherogenic abdominal fat and, therefore, a possible contextual reduction in ectopic fat deposits together with a simultaneous reduction in insulin resistance and normalization of insulin levels, maintenance of free fat mass and basal metabolism, restoration of metabolic flexibility, and improvement of the glucometabolic and lipidic parameters. These results demonstrate the promising potential of the revised protein-sparing diet as an “etiologic tool” in the integrated nutritional treatment of metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Depressive Symptoms as Potential Mediator between Physical Activity and Bone Health—A Scoping Review
Authors: Houtenbos Sanne P. , Kuehl Linn K. , Wuertz-Kozak Karin , Wippert Pia-Maria
Published: December 2022

Depression constitutes a risk factor for osteoporosis (OP). Increasing physical activity might mitigate this risk, although intensive exercising may lead to opposing effects in depressed patients. The purpose of this scoping review was to summarize the evidence regarding the influence of exercise on bone health in depressed patients, divided into two sections: (1) Which bone markers are affected by depression? (2) How does exercise affect bone health in patients with depressive symptoms? A search of the literature was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science between August 2020–2022. Studies were included based on predetermined criteria for each sub-question. Regarding sub-question 1, eight studies revealed the following bone markers to be influenced by depression: P1NP, BAP, CTX, OC, RANKL, OPG, DPD, and PYD. Regarding sub-question 2, one study found a correlation between depression and bone health in an exercising population, and other studies detected improvements in bone health (n = 4) and depressive symptoms (n = 4) after exercise interventions. The current review shows the potential of exercise as a treatment form to improve bone health in depressed patients. Future trials are needed to assess the influence of exercise intervention on bone health in depressed patients.
Skin Health Promoting Effects of Natural Polysaccharides and Their Potential Application in the Cosmetic Industry
Authors: Yao Yueying , Xu Baojun
Published: December 2022

Skincare is one of the most profitable product categories today. Consumers’ demand for skin-friendly products has stimulated the development of natural-ingredient-based cosmeceutical preparations over synthetic chemicals. Thus, natural polysaccharides have gained much attention since the promising potent efficacy in wound healing, moisturizing, antiaging, and whitening. The challenge is to raise awareness of polysaccharides with excellent bioactivities from natural sources and consequently incorporate them in novel and safer cosmetics. This review highlights the benefits of natural polysaccharides from plants, algae, and fungi on skin health, and points out some obstacles in the application of natural polysaccharides.
Retinal OCTA Image Segmentation Based on Global Contrastive Learning
Authors: Ma Ziping , Feng Dongxiu , Wang Jingyu , Ma Hu
Published: December 2022

The automatic segmentation of retinal vessels is of great significance for the analysis and diagnosis of retinal related diseases. However, the imbalanced data in retinal vascular images remain a great challenge. Current image segmentation methods based on deep learning almost always focus on local information in a single image while ignoring the global information of the entire dataset. To solve the problem of data imbalance in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) datasets, this paper proposes a medical image segmentation method (contrastive OCTA segmentation net, COSNet) based on global contrastive learning. First, the feature extraction module extracts the features of OCTA image input and maps them to the segment head and the multilayer perceptron (MLP) head, respectively. Second, a contrastive learning module saves the pixel queue and pixel embedding of each category in the feature map into the memory bank, generates sample pairs through a mixed sampling strategy to construct a new contrastive loss function, and forces the network to learn local information and global information simultaneously. Finally, the segmented image is fine tuned to restore positional information of deep vessels. The experimental results show the proposed method can improve the accuracy (ACC), the area under the curve (AUC), and other evaluation indexes of image segmentation compared with the existing methods. This method could accomplish segmentation tasks in imbalanced data and extend to other segmentation tasks.
Multi-Parameter Predictive Model of Mobile Robot’s Battery Discharge for Intelligent Mission Planning in Multi-Robot Systems
Authors: Poskart Bartosz , Iskierka Grzegorz , Krot Kamil , Burduk Robert , Gwizdal Paweł , Gola Arkadiusz
Published: December 2022

The commercially available battery management and mission scheduling systems for fleets of autonomous mobile robots use different algorithms to calculate the current state of charge of the robot’s battery. This information alone cannot be used to predict whether it will be possible for a single robot in the fleet to execute all of the scheduled missions. This paper provides insight into how to develop a universal battery discharge model based on key mission parameters, which allows for predicting the battery usage over the course of the scheduled missions and can, in turn, be used to determine which missions to delegate to other robots in the fleet, or if more robots are needed in the fleet to accomplish the production plan. The resulting model is, therefore, necessary for mission scheduling in a flexible production system, including autonomous mobile robot transportation networks.
Modelling Potential Soil Erosion and Sediment Delivery Risk in Plantations of Sri Lanka
Authors: Karunaratne Asha S. , Wimalasiri Eranga M. , Piyathilake Udara , Gunatilake Sunethra Kanthi , Muttil Nitin , Rathnayake Upaka
Published: December 2022

The current trend in agricultural practices is expected to have a detrimental impact in terms of accelerating soil erosion. Assessment of the cumulative impact of various management strategies in a major plantation is a measure of the sustainably of soil resources. Thus, the current study aimed to develop the potential soil erosion map for a selected plantation (8734 ha in size) in tropical Sri Lanka using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR) model. The estimated mean annual soil loss rate of the selected plantation was 124.2 t ha−1 ranging from 0.1 to 6903.3 t ha−1. Out of the total extent, ~49.5% of the area belongs to the low soil erosion hazard category (0–5 t ha−1 year−1) while ~7.8% falls into very high (25–60 t ha−1 year−1) and ~1.3% into extremely high (60 < t ha−1 year−1) soil erosion hazard classes. The rainfall erosivity factor (R) for the entire study area is 364.5 ± 98.3 MJ mm ha−1 hr−1. Moreover, a relatively higher correlation was recorded between total soil loss and R factor (0.3) followed by C factor (0.2), P factor (0.2), LS factor (0.1), and K factor (<0.1). It is evident that rainfall plays a significant role in soil erosion in the study area. The findings of this study would help in formulating soil conservation measures in the plantation sector in Sri Lanka, which will contribute to the country’s meeting of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Adsorption Characteristics of Modified Bamboo Charcoal on Cu(II) and Cd(II) in Water
Authors: Wang Yizhuo , Li He , Lin Shaohua
Published: December 2022

With the development of industry in recent years, heavy metal contamination in water and substrate, which may pose a serious threat to human health if left untreated, has attracted increasing attention. Biochar is commonly used as an adsorbent/immobilizer for heavy metals in water and substrates because of its wide range of raw materials, low production cost, and good adsorption performance. In this paper, we selected abundant Moso bamboo as the raw material to make biochar (bamboo charcoal), modified bamboo charcoal using different methods to find the modified product with the best adsorption effect, assessed the adsorption performance of modified bamboo charcoal on Cu(II) and Cd(II) in solution, and investigated the effects of the solution concentration, adsorption time, pH, and temperature on the adsorption effect of KAM500-400-3 on Cu(II) and Cd(II). The effect of the solution concentration, adsorption time, pH, and temperature on the adsorption effect of KAM500-400-3 on Cu(II) and Cd(II) was investigated, and the adsorption mechanism of KAM500-400-3 on heavy metals Cu(II) and Cd(II) was analyzed by fitting the adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherms, and adsorption thermodynamics. The adsorption/fixation characteristics of modified bamboo charcoal on heavy metals Cu(II) and Cd(II) in water and substrate were investigated. This study aimed to identify an effective material for the treatment of heavy metals in water and substrates and provide a reference for their application in practical engineering.
Diagnostic Performance of Plasmodium falciparum Histidine-Rich Protein-2 Antigen-Specific Rapid Diagnostic Test in Children at the Peripheral Health Care Level in Nanoro (Burkina Faso)
Authors: Bonko Massa dit Achille , Tahita Marc Christian , Kiemde Francois , Lompo Palpouguini , Mens Petra F. , Tinto Halidou , Schallig Henk. D. F. H.
Published: December 2022

(1) Background: Malaria control has strongly benefited from the implementation of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). The malaria RDTs used in Burkina Faso, as per the recommendation of the National Malaria Control Program, are based on the detection of histidine-rich protein-2 (PfHRP2) specific to Plasmodium falciparum, which is the principal plasmodial species causing malaria in Burkina Faso. However, there is increasing concern about the diagnostic performance of these RDTs in field situations, and so constant monitoring of their accuracy is warranted. (2) Methods: A prospective study was performed in the health district of Nanoro, where 391 febrile children under 5 years with an axillary temperature ≥37.5 °C presenting at participating health facilities were subjected to testing for malaria. The HRP2-based RDT and expert microscopy were used to determine the diagnostic performance of the former. Retrospectively, the correctness of the antimalaria prescriptions was reviewed. (3) Results: Taking expert malaria microscopy as the gold standard, the sensitivity of the employed RDT was 98.5% and the specificity 40.5%, with a moderate agreement between the RDT testing and microscopy. In total, 21.7% of cases received an inappropriate antimalarial treatment based on a retrospective assessment with expert microscopy results. (4) Conclusion: Malaria remains one of the principal causes of febrile illness in Burkina Faso. Testing with HRP2-based RDTs is inaccurate, in particular, due to the low specificity, which results in an over-prescription of antimalarials, with emerging antimalarial drug resistance as an important risk and many children not being treated for potential other causes of fever.
Lorentz Gauge and Coulomb Gauge for Tetrad Field of Gravity
Authors: Zhou Tao
Published: December 2022

In general relativity, an inertial frame can only be established in a small region of spacetime, and local inertial frames are mathematically represented by a tetrad field in gravity. The tetrad field is not unique due to the freedom to perform Lorentz transformations in local inertial frames, and there exists freedom to choose the local inertial frame at each spacetime point. The local Lorentz transformations are known as non-Abelian gauge transformations for the tetrad field, and to fix the gauge freedom corresponding to the Lorentz gauge ∂μAμ=0 and the Coulomb gauge ∂iAi=0 in electrodynamics, the Lorentz gauge and Coulomb gauge for tetrad fields are proposed in the present work. Moreover, properties of the Lorentz gauge and the Coulomb gauge for tetrad fields are discussed to show their similarities to those in electromagnetic fields.