bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Control of Cracking in Textile Reinforced Concrete with Unresin Carbon Fibers
Authors: Neves Rui , Felicíssimo Diogo
Published: July 2020

Textile reinforced concrete (TRC) is an emerging construction material with interesting potential concerning sustainability, providing corrosion-free and lightweight solutions. Ordinarily, fiber bundles, impregnated with resin, are used. In this research the performance of reinforcement with unresin fibers is investigated. Control of cracking is considered the key performance factor and is assessed through tensile testing. However, economic and environmental aspects are addressed as well. Then, four different mixes/matrices were considered, without the addition of special/expensive admixtures. TRC ties were subject to direct tension tests, with load and deformation monitoring to assess the influence of mechanical reinforcement ratio on the cracking, failure and toughness of these composites, as well as of the matrix properties on the maximum load. It was observed that at a macro-level TRC behaves like conventional reinforced concrete, concerning crack control. Based on the maximum loads attained at the different composites, it was found that this particular TRC is economically viable. It is suggested that matrix workability may influence the maximum load.
First-Principles Study on III-Nitride Polymorphs: AlN/GaN/InN in the Pmn21 Phase
Authors: Zhang Zheren , Chai Changchun , Zhang Wei , Song Yanxing , Kong Linchun , Yang Yintang
Published: July 2020

The structural, mechanical, and electronic properties, as well as stability, elastic anisotropy and effective mass of AlN/GaN/InN in the Pmn21 phase were determined using density functional theory (DFT). The phonon dispersion spectra and elastic constants certify the dynamic and mechanical stability at ambient pressure, and the relative enthalpies were lower than those of most proposed III-nitride polymorphs. The mechanical properties reveal that Pmn21-AlN and Pmn21-GaN possess a high Vickers hardness of 16.3 GPa and 12.8 GPa. Pmn21-AlN, Pmn21-GaN and Pmn21-InN are all direct semiconductor materials within the HSE06 hybrid functional, and their calculated energy band gaps are 5.17 eV, 2.77 eV and 0.47 eV, respectively. The calculated direct energy band gaps and mechanical properties of AlN/GaN/InN in the Pmn21 phase reveal that these three polymorphs may possess great potential for industrial applications in the future.
Qualitative and Semi-Quantitative Assessment of Processing-Related Surface Contamination of One- and Two-Piece CAD/CAM Abutments before and after Ultrasonic Cleaning
Authors: Gehrke Peter , Abazari Cyrus , Schlichter Kai , Fischer Carsten , Duddeck Dirk , Romanos Georgios E. , Weigl Paul
Published: July 2020

Manufacturing processes of custom implant abutments may contaminate their surfaces with micro wear deposits and generic pollutants. Such particulate debris, if not removed, might be detrimental and provoke inflammatory reactions in peri-implant tissues. Although regulatory guidelines for adequate cleaning, disinfection, or sterilization exist, there does not appear to be a consistent application and data on the amount and extent of such contaminants is lacking. The aim of the present in vitro study was to evaluate the quality and quantity of processing-related surface contamination of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) abutments in the state of delivery and after ultrasonic cleaning. A total of 28 CAD/CAM monotype and hybrid abutments were cleaned and disinfected applying a three-stage ultrasonic protocol (Finevo protocol). Before and after cleaning, the chemical composition and the contamination of the abutments were assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and computer-aided planimetric measurement (CAPM). In the delivery condition, monotype abutments showed a significantly higher amount of debris compared to hybrid abutments (4.86 ± 6.10% vs. 0.03 ± 0.03%, p < 0.001). The polishing process applied in the laboratory after bonding the hybrid abutment components reduces the surface roughness and thus contributes substantially to their purity. The extent of contamination caused by computer-aided manufacturing of custom abutments can be substantially minimized using a three-stage ultrasonic protocol.
The Impact of Ag Nanoparticles and CdTe Quantum Dots on Expression and Function of Receptors Involved in Amyloid-β Uptake by BV-2 Microglial Cells
Authors: Sikorska Katarzyna , Grądzka Iwona , Wasyk Iwona , Brzóska Kamil , Stępkowski Tomasz M. , Czerwińska Malwina , Kruszewski Marcin K.
Published: July 2020

Microglial cells clear the brain of pathogens and harmful debris, including amyloid-β (Aβ) deposits that are formed during Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We studied the expression of Msr1, Ager and Cd36 receptors involved in Aβ uptake and expression of Cd33 protein, which is considered a risk factor in AD. The effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) and cadmium telluride quantum dots (CdTeQD) on the expression of the above receptors and Aβ uptake by microglial cells was investigated. Absorption of Aβ and NP was confirmed by confocal microscopy. AgNP, but not CdTeQD, caused a decrease in Aβ accumulation. By using a specific inhibitor—polyinosinic acid—we demonstrated that Aβ and AgNP compete for scavenger receptors. Real-time PCR showed up-regulation of Cd33 and Cd36 gene expression after treatment with CdTeQD for 24 h. Analysis of the abundance of the receptors on the cell surface revealed that AgNP treatment significantly reduced the presence of Msr1, Cd33, Ager and Cd36 receptors (6 and 24 h), whereas CdTeQD increased the levels of Msr1 and Cd36 (24 h). To summarize, we showed that AgNP uptake competes with Aβ uptake by microglial cells and consequently can impair the removal of the aggregates. In turn, CdTeQD treatment led to the accumulation of proinflammatory Cd36 protein on the cell surface.
Baker–Campbell–Hausdorff–Dynkin Formula for the Lie Algebra of Rigid Body Displacements
Authors: Condurache Daniel , Ciureanu Ioan-Adrian
Published: July 2020

The paper proposes, for the first time, a closed form of the Baker–Campbell–Hausdorff–Dynkin (BCHD) formula in the particular case of the Lie algebra of rigid body displacements. For this purpose, the structure of the Lie group of the rigid body displacements S E ( 3 ) and the properties of its Lie algebra s e ( 3 ) are used. In addition, a new solution to this problem in dual Lie algebra of dual vectors is delivered using the isomorphism between the Lie group S E ( 3 ) and the Lie group of the orthogonal dual tensors.
Research Strategies to Develop Environmentally Friendly Marine Antifouling Coatings
Authors: Gu Yunqing , Yu Lingzhi , Mou Jiegang , Wu Denghao , Xu Maosen , Zhou Peijian , Ren Yun
Published: July 2020

There are a large number of fouling organisms in the ocean, which easily attach to the surface of ships, oil platforms and breeding facilities, corrode the surface of equipment, accelerate the aging of equipment, affect the stability and safety of marine facilities and cause serious economic losses. Antifouling coating is an effective method to prevent marine biological fouling. Traditional organic tin and copper oxide coatings are toxic and will contaminate seawater and destroy marine ecology and have been banned or restricted. Environmentally friendly antifouling coatings have become a research hotspot. Among them, the use of natural biological products with antifouling activity as antifouling agents is an important research direction. In addition, some fouling release coatings without antifoulants, biomimetic coatings, photocatalytic coatings and other novel antifouling coatings have also developed rapidly. On the basis of revealing the mechanism of marine biofouling, this paper reviews the latest research strategies to develop environmentally friendly marine antifouling coatings. The composition, antifouling characteristics, antifouling mechanism and effects of various coatings were analyzed emphatically. Finally, the development prospects and future development directions of marine antifouling coatings are forecasted.
Neuroprotective Effect of Carotenoid-Rich Enteromorpha prolifera Extract via TrkB/Akt Pathway against Oxidative Stress in Hippocampal Neuronal Cells
Authors: Baek Seung Yeon , Kim Mee Ree
Published: July 2020

In this study, we found that E. prolifera extract (EAEP) exhibits neuroprotective effects in oxidative stress-induced neuronal cells. EAEP improved cell viability as well as attenuated the formation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptotic bodies in glutamate-treated hippocampal neuronal cells (HT-22). Furthermore, EAEP improved the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and antioxidant enzymes such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H quinine oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1), and glutamate–cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) via the tropomyosin-related kinase receptor B/ protein kinase B (TrkB/Akt) signaling pathway. In contrast, the pre-incubation of K252a, a TrkB inhibitor, or MK-2206, an Akt-selective inhibitor, ameliorated the neuroprotective effects of EAEP in oxidative stress-induced neuronal cells. These results suggest that EAEP protects neuronal cells against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis by upregulating the expression of BDNF and antioxidant enzymes via the activation of the TrkB/Akt pathway. In conclusion, such an effect of EAEP, which is rich in carotenoid-derived compounds, may justify its application as a food supplement in the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
Signs of Dehydration after Hip Fracture Surgery: An Observational Descriptive Study
Authors: Ekman Louise , Johnson Peter , Hahn Robert G.
Published: July 2020

Background and Objectives: Dehydration might be an issue after hip fracture surgery, but the optimal tools to identify the dehydrated condition have not been determined. The aim of the present study was to compare the characteristics of elderly postoperative patients who were classified as dehydrated according to the methods used in the clinic. Materials and Methods: Thirty-eight patients aged between 65 and 97 (mean, 82) years were studied after being admitted to a geriatric department for rehabilitation after hip fracture surgery. Each patient underwent blood analyses, urine sampling, and clinical examinations. Results: Patients ingested a mean of 1,008 mL (standard deviation, 309 mL) of fluid during their first day at the clinic. Serum osmolality increased significantly with the plasma concentrations of sodium, creatinine, and urea. Seven patients had high serum osmolality (≥300 mosmol/kg) that correlated with the presence of tongue furrows (p < 0.04), poor skin turgor (p < 0.03), and pronounced albuminuria (p < 0.03). Eight patients had concentrated urine (urine-specific gravity ≥ 1.025) that correlated with a low intake of liquid and with a decrease in body weight during the past month of −3.0 kg (25–75 th percentiles, −5.1 to −0.9) versus +0.2 (−1.9 to +2.7) kg (p < 0.04). Conclusions: Renal fluid conservation of water, either in the form of hyperosmolality or concentrated urine, was found in 40% of the patients after hip fracture surgery. Hyperosmolality might not indicate a more severe fluid deficit than is indicated by concentrated urine but suggests an impaired ability to concentrate the urine.
Epidemiology, Staging and Management of Prostate Cancer
Authors: Barsouk Adam , Padala Sandeep Anand , Vakiti Anusha , Mohammed Azeem , Saginala Kalyan , Thandra Krishna Chaitanya , Rawla Prashanth , Barsouk Alexander
Published: July 2020

Prostate cancer is the second most common and fifth most aggressive neoplasm among men worldwide. It is particularly incident in high human development index (HDI) nations, with an estimated one in seven men in the US receiving a prostate cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. A rapid rise and then fall in prostate cancer incidence in the US and Europe corresponded to the implementation of widespread prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing in 1986 and then subsequent fall from favor due to high rates of false positives, overdiagnosis, and overtreatment (as many as 20–50% of men diagnosed could have remained asymptomatic in their lifetimes). Though few risk factors have been characterized, the best known include race (men of African descent are at higher risk), genetics (e.g., BRCA1/2 mutations), and obesity. The Gleason scoring system is used for histopathological staging and is combined with clinical staging for prognosis and treatment. National guidelines have grown more conservative over the past decades in management, recommending watchful waiting and observation in older men with low to intermediate risk disease. Among higher risk patients, prostatectomy (robotic is preferred) and/or external beam radiotherapy is the most common interventions, followed by ADT maintenance. Following progression on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) (known as castration-resistance), next generation endocrine therapies like enzalutamide, often in combination with cytotoxic agent docetaxel, are standard of care. Other promising treatments include Radium-223 for bone metastases, pembrolizumab for programmed death ligand-1 (PDL1) and microsatellite instability (MSI) high disease, and poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors for those with mutations in homologous recombination (most commonly BRCA2).
Forming Processes of Modern Metallic Materials
Authors: Trzepieciński Tomasz
Published: July 2020

The plastic working of metallic materials is one of the most efficient and important manufacturing technologies used in industry today [...]
Design and Simulation of an Integrated Centrifugal Microfluidic Device for CTCs Separation and Cell Lysis
Authors: Nasiri Rohollah , Shamloo Amir , Akbari Javad , Tebon Peyton , R. Dokmeci Mehmet , Ahadian Samad
Published: July 2020

Separation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from blood samples and subsequent DNA extraction from these cells play a crucial role in cancer research and drug discovery. Microfluidics is a versatile technology that has been applied to create niche solutions to biomedical applications, such as cell separation and mixing, droplet generation, bioprinting, and organs on a chip. Centrifugal microfluidic biochips created on compact disks show great potential in processing biological samples for point of care diagnostics. This study investigates the design and numerical simulation of an integrated microfluidic device, including a cell separation unit for isolating CTCs from a blood sample and a micromixer unit for cell lysis on a rotating disk platform. For this purpose, an inertial microfluidic device was designed for the separation of target cells by using contraction–expansion microchannel arrays. Additionally, a micromixer was incorporated to mix separated target cells with the cell lysis chemical reagent to dissolve their membranes to facilitate further assays. Our numerical simulation approach was validated for both cell separation and micromixer units and corroborates existing experimental results. In the first compartment of the proposed device (cell separation unit), several simulations were performed at different angular velocities from 500 rpm to 3000 rpm to find the optimum angular velocity for maximum separation efficiency. By using the proposed inertial separation approach, CTCs, were successfully separated from white blood cells (WBCs) with high efficiency (~90%) at an angular velocity of 2000 rpm. Furthermore, a serpentine channel with rectangular obstacles was designed to achieve a highly efficient micromixer unit with high mixing quality (~98%) for isolated CTCs lysis at 2000 rpm.
Microfluidic Formation of Honeycomb-Patterned Droplets Bounded by Interface Bilayers via Bimodal Molecular Adsorption
Authors: Fujiwara Shougo , Shoji Kan , Watanabe Chiho , Kawano Ryuji , Yanagisawa Miho
Published: July 2020

Assembled water-in-oil droplets bounded by lipid bilayers are used in synthetic biology as minimal models of cell tissue. Microfluidic devices successfully generate monodispersed droplets and assemble them via droplet interface bilayesr (DIB) formation. However, a honeycomb pattern of DIB-bounded droplets, similar to epithelial tissues, remains unrealized because the rapid DIB formation between the droplets hinders their ability to form the honeycomb pattern. In this paper, we demonstrate the microfluidic formation of a honeycomb pattern of DIB-bounded droplets using two surfactants with different adsorption rates on the droplet surface. A non-DIB forming surfactant (sorbitan monooleate, Span 80) was mixed with a lipid (1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, PC), whose adsorption rate on the droplet surface and saturated interfacial tension were lower than those of Span 80. By changing the surfactant composition, we established the conditions under which the droplets initially form a honeycomb pattern and subsequently adhere to each other via DIB formation to minimize the interfacial energy. In addition, the reconstituted membrane protein nanopores at the DIBs were able to transport molecules. This new method, using the difference in the adsorption rates of two surfactants, allows the formation of a honeycomb pattern of DIB-bounded droplets in a single step, and thus facilitates research using DIB-bounded droplet assemblies.
Can We Harness Immune Responses to Improve Drug Treatment in Leishmaniasis?
Authors: Aruleba Raphael Taiwo , Carter Katharine C. , Brombacher Frank , Hurdayal Ramona
Published: July 2020

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne parasitic disease that has been neglected in priority for control and eradication of malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. Collectively, over one seventh of the world’s population is at risk of being infected with 0.7–1.2 million new infections reported annually. Clinical manifestations range from self-healing cutaneous lesions to fatal visceral disease. The first anti-leishmanial drugs were introduced in the 1950′s and, despite several shortcomings, remain the mainstay for treatment. Regardless of this and the steady increase in infections over the years, particularly among populations of low economic status, research on leishmaniasis remains under funded. This review looks at the drugs currently in clinical use and how they interact with the host immune response. Employing chemoimmunotherapeutic approaches may be one viable alternative to improve the efficacy of novel/existing drugs and extend their lifespan in clinical use.
Biofilm Production by Enterotoxigenic Strains of Bacillus cereus in Different Materials and under Different Environmental Conditions
Authors: Adame-Gómez Roberto , Cruz-Facundo Itzel-Maralhi , García-Díaz Lilia-Lizette , Ramírez-Sandoval Yesenia , Pérez-Valdespino Abigail , Ortuño-Pineda Carlos , Santiago-Dionisio Maria-Cristina , Ramírez-Peralta Arturo
Published: July 2020

Foodborne illnesses, such as infections or food poisoning, can be caused by bacterial biofilms present in food matrices or machinery. The production of biofilms by several strains of Bacillus cereus on different materials under different culture conditions was determined, as well as the relationship of biofilms with motility, in addition to the enterotoxigenic profile and candidate genes that participate in the production of biofilms. Biofilm production of B. cereus strains was determined on five materials: glass, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride (PVC), PVC/glass; in three culture media: Phenol red broth, tryptic soy broth, and brain heart infusion broth; in two different temperatures (37 °C and 25 °C), and in two different oxygen conditions (oxygen and CO2 tension). Furthermore, the strains were molecularly characterized by end-point polymerase chain reaction. Motility was determined on semi-solid agar. The B. cereus strains in this study were mainly characterized as enterotoxigenic strains; statistically significant differences were found in the PVC material and biofilm production. Motility was positively associated with the production of biofilm in glass/PVC. The sipW and tasA genes were found in two strains. The results of this study are important in the food industry because the strains carry at least one enterotoxin gene and produce biofilms on different materials
Molecular Mechanisms Involved in the Multicellular Growth of Ustilaginomycetes
Authors: Martínez-Soto Domingo , Ortiz-Castellanos Lucila , Robledo-Briones Mariana , León-Ramírez Claudia Geraldine
Published: July 2020

Multicellularity is defined as the developmental process by which unicellular organisms became pluricellular during the evolution of complex organisms on Earth. This process requires the convergence of genetic, ecological, and environmental factors. In fungi, mycelial and pseudomycelium growth, snowflake phenotype (where daughter cells remain attached to their stem cells after mitosis), and fruiting bodies have been described as models of multicellular structures. Ustilaginomycetes are Basidiomycota fungi, many of which are pathogens of economically important plant species. These fungi usually grow unicellularly as yeasts (sporidia), but also as simple multicellular forms, such as pseudomycelium, multicellular clusters, or mycelium during plant infection and under different environmental conditions: Nitrogen starvation, nutrient starvation, acid culture media, or with fatty acids as a carbon source. Even under specific conditions, Ustilago maydis can form basidiocarps or fruiting bodies that are complex multicellular structures. These fungi conserve an important set of genes and molecular mechanisms involved in their multicellular growth. In this review, we will discuss in-depth the signaling pathways, epigenetic regulation, required polyamines, cell wall synthesis/degradation, polarized cell growth, and other cellular-genetic processes involved in the different types of Ustilaginomycetes multicellular growth. Finally, considering their short life cycle, easy handling in the laboratory and great morphological plasticity, Ustilaginomycetes can be considered as model organisms for studying fungal multicellularity.
Biological Control of Verticillium Wilt on Olive Trees by the Salt-Tolerant Strain Bacillus velezensis XT1
Authors: Castro David , Torres Marta , Sampedro Inmaculada , Martínez-Checa Fernando , Torres Borja , Béjar Victoria
Published: July 2020

Verticillium wilt, caused by the pathogen Verticillium dahliae, is extremely devastating to olive trees (Olea europea). Currently, no successful control measure is available against it. The objective of this work was to evaluate the antifungal activity of Bacillus velezensis XT1, a well-characterized salt-tolerant biocontrol strain, against the highly virulent defoliating V. dahliae V024. In vitro, strain XT1 showed to reduce fungal mycelium from 34 to 100%, depending on if the assay was conducted with the supernatant, volatile compounds, lipopeptides or whole bacterial culture. In preventive treatments, when applied directly on young olive trees, it reduced Verticillium incidence rate and percentage of severity by 54 and ~80%, respectively. It increased polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity by 395%, indicating an enhancement of disease resistance in plant tissues, and it decreased by 20.2% the number of fungal microsclerotia in soil. In adult infected trees, palliative inoculation of strain XT1 in the soil resulted in a reduction in Verticillium symptom severity by ~63%. Strain XT1 is biosafe, stable in soil and able to colonize olive roots endophytically. All the traits described above make B. velezensis XT1 a promising alternative to be used in agriculture for the management of Verticillium wilt.
β-Lactoglobulin Adsorption Layers at the Water/Air Surface: 4. Impact on the Stability of Foam Films and Foams
Authors: Gochev Georgi G. , Ulaganathan Vamseekrishna , Retzlaff Inga , Gehin-Delval Cécile , Gunes Deniz Z. , Leser Martin , Kulozik Ulrich , Miller Reinhard , Braunschweig Björn
Published: July 2020

The complexity and high sensitivity of proteins to environmental factors give rise to a multitude of variables, which affect the stabilization mechanisms in protein foams. Interfacial and foaming properties of proteins have been widely studied, but the reported unique effect of pH, which can be of great interest to applications, has been investigated to a lesser extent. In this paper, we focus on the impact of pH on the stability of black foam films and corresponding foams obtained from solutions of a model globular protein—the whey β-lactoglobulin (BLG). Foam stability was analyzed utilizing three characteristic parameters (deviation time, transition time and half-lifetime) for monitoring the foam decay, while foam film stability was measured in terms of the critical disjoining pressure of film rupture. We attempt to explain correlations between the macroscopic properties of a foam system and those of its major building blocks (foam films and interfaces), and thus, to identify structure-property relationships in foam. Good correlations were found between the stabilities of black foam films and foams, while relations to the properties of adsorption layers appeared to be intricate. That is because pH-dependent interfacial properties of proteins usually exhibit an extremum around the isoelectric point (pI), but the stability of BLG foam films increases with increasing pH (3–7), which is well reflected in the foam stability. We discuss the possible reasons behind these intriguingly different behaviors on the basis of pH-induced changes in the molecular properties of BLG, which seem to be determining the mechanism of film rupture at the critical disjoining pressure.
Cement Render and Mortar and Their Damages Due to Salt Crystallization in the Holy Trinity Church, Dominicans Monastery in Cracow, Poland
Authors: Marszałek Mariola , Dudek Krzysztof , Gaweł Adam
Published: July 2020

The investigations focused on the façade of the 17th-century Myszkowskis chapel at the 13th-century Church of the Holy Trinity in Cracow, Poland. Most of the chapel’s façade is made of rusticated limestone blocks, but its lower part is covered with cement render, and the basement consists of irregular pieces of limestone and sandstone, bound and partly replaced with cement mortar. The façade exhibited clearly visible damages: gray soiling of the surface, cracks, scaling, and efflorescence. The study presents characteristics of the cement render and mortar used for stone repair and/or substitution, as well as efflorescence from the lower part of the Myszkowskis chapel façade. The materials were analyzed with optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), Raman microspectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRPD), and mercury intrusion porosimetry. The analyses demonstrated that the render covering some of the decayed limestone blocks was prepared using Portland cement (residual clinker grains represent alite and belite) as a binding agent, mixed with crushed stone as an aggregate. The cement mortar consisted of rounded quartz grains, rock fragments, and feldspars in very fine-grained masses of calcite and gypsum, also containing relics of cement clinker (alite, belite, ferrite, and aluminate). All these components point out the use of the ordinary Portland cement. Analyses of the efflorescence allowed us to distinguish several secondary salts, among others, thenardite, aphthitalite, and darapskite. The appearance of these phases is related to the composition and physicochemical properties of the building materials, atmospheric alteration agents, air pollution, and some other anthropogenic factors.
Ti-Magnetite Crystallization in Melt Inclusions of Trachytic Rocks from the Dokdo and Ulleung Islands, South Korea: Implications for Hydrous and Oxidized Magmatism
Authors: Moon Inkyeong , Lee Hyunwoo , Kim Jonguk , Oh Jihye , Seoung Donghoon , Kim Chang Hwan , Park Chan Hong , Lee Insung
Published: July 2020

The Dokdo and Ulleung islands (Korea) are volcanic islands in the East Sea (Sea of Japan), formed in the late Cenozoic. These volcanic islands, in the back-arc basin of the Japanese archipelago, provide important information about magma characteristics in the eastern margin of the Eurasian plate. The origin of the Dokdo and Ulleung intraplate volcanism is still controversial, and the role of fluids, especially water, in the magmatism is poorly understood. Here, we comprehensively analyzed the melt inclusions (10–100 m in diameter) hosted in clinopyroxene phenocrysts of trachyte, trachyandesite, and trachybasalt. In particular, we observed Ti-magnetite and amphibole which were crystallized as daughter mineral phases within melt inclusions, suggesting that Ti-magnetite was formed in an oxidized condition due to H2O dissociation and H2 diffusion. The Ti-magnetite exhibited compositional heterogeneities of MgO (average of 8.28 wt %), Al2O3 (average of 8.68 wt %), and TiO2 (average of 8.04 wt %). The positive correlation of TiO2 with Cr2O3 is probably attributed to evolutionary Fe–Ti-rich parent magma. Correspondingly, our results suggested hydrous and oxidized magmatism for the Dokdo and Ulleung volcanic islands.
Pyrogenic and Precipitated Amorphous Silica Nanoparticles Differentially Affect Cell Responses to LPS in Human Macrophages
Authors: G. Bianchi Massimiliano , Chiu Martina , Taurino Giuseppe , Ruotolo Roberta , Marmiroli Nelson , Bergamaschi Enrico , Cubadda Francesco , Bussolati Ovidio
Published: July 2020

Previous work has demonstrated that precipitated (NM-200) and pyrogenic (NM-203) Amorphous Silica Nanoparticles (ASNPs) elicit the inflammatory activation of murine macrophages, with more pronounced effects observed with NM-203. Here, we compare the effects of low doses of NM-200 and NM-203 on human macrophage-like THP-1 cells, assessing how the pre-exposure to these nanomaterials affects the cell response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cell viability was affected by NM-203, but not by NM-200, and only in the presence of LPS. While NM-203 stimulated mTORC1, neither ASNPs activated NFκB or the transcription of its target genes PTGS2 and IL1B. NM-200 and NM-203 caused a block of the autophagic flux and inhibited the LPS-dependent increase of Glutamine Synthetase (GS) expression. Both ASNPs suppressed the activation of caspase-1, delaying the LPS-dependent secretion of IL-1β. Thus, ASNPs modulate several important pathways in human macrophages, altering their response to LPS. NM-203 had larger effects on autophagy, mTORC1 activity and GS expression than NM-200, confirming the higher biological activity of pyrogenic ASNPs when compared with precipitated ASNPs.
Nanotoxicity of ZrS3 Probed in a Bioluminescence Test on E. coli Bacteria: The Effect of Evolving H2S
Authors: Zakharova Olga V. , Gusev Alexander A. , Abourahma Jehad , Vorobeva Nataliia S. , Sokolov Dmitry V. , Muratov Dmitry S. , Kuznetsov Denis V. , Sinitskii Alexander
Published: July 2020

Materials from a large family of transition metal trichalcogenides (TMTCs) attract considerable attention because of their potential applications in electronics, optoelectronics and energy storage, but information on their toxicity is lacking. In this study, we investigated the toxicity of ZrS3, a prominent TMTC material, toward photoluminescent E. coli bacteria in a bioluminescence test. We found that freshly prepared ZrS3 suspensions in physiological saline solution with concentrations as high as 1 g/L did not exhibit any toxic effects on the bacteria. However, ZrS3 suspensions that were stored for 24 h prior to the bioluminescence tests were very toxic to the bacteria and inhibited their emission, even at concentrations down to 0.001 g/L. We explain these observations by the aqueous hydrolysis of ZrS3, which resulted in the formation of ZrOx on the surface of ZrS3 particles and the release of toxic H2S. The formation of ZrOx was confirmed by the XPS analysis, while the characteristic H2S smell was noticeable for the 24 h suspensions. This study demonstrates that while ZrS3 appears to be intrinsically nontoxic to photoluminescent E. coli bacteria, it may exhibit high toxicity in aqueous media. The results of this study can likely be extended to other transition metal chalcogenides, as their toxicity in aqueous solutions may also increase over time due to hydrolysis and the formation of H2S. The results of this study also demonstrate that since many systems involving nanomaterials are unstable and evolve over time in various ways, their toxicity may evolve as well, which should be considered for relevant toxicity tests.
Troponin Aptamer on an Atomically Flat Au Nanoplate Platform for Detection of Cardiac Troponin I
Authors: Lee Hyoban , Youn Hyungjun , Hwang Ahreum , Lee Hyunsoo , Park Jeong Young , Kim Weon , Yoo Youngdong , Ban Changill , Kang Taejoon , Kim Bongsoo
Published: July 2020

Well-ordered bioreceptors on atomically flat Au surfaces can be a high-performance biosensor. Cardiac troponin I proteins (cTnIs) have been regarded as a specific biomarker for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Here, we report the accurate detection of cTnIs using an aptamer-immobilized Au nanoplate platform. The single-crystalline and atomically flat Au nanoplate was characterized by atomic force microscopy. For the precise detection of cTnI, we immobilized an aptamer that can strongly bind to cTnI onto an atomically flat Au nanoplate. Using the aptamer-immobilized Au nanoplate, cTnIs were successfully detected at a concentration of 100 aM (2.4 fg/mL) in buffer solution. Furthermore, cTnIs in serum could be identified at a concentration of 100 fM (2.4 pg/mL). The total assay time was ~7 h. Importantly, the aptamer-immobilized Au nanoplate enabled us to diagnose AMI patients accurately, suggesting the potential of the present method in the diagnosis of AMI.
Effects of Functionalized Fullerenes on ROS Homeostasis Determine Their Cytoprotective or Cytotoxic Properties
Authors: Kostyuk Svetlana V. , Proskurnina Elena V. , Savinova Ekaterina A. , Ershova Elizaveta S. , Kraevaya Olga A. , Kameneva Larisa V. , Umryukhin Pavel E. , Dolgikh Olga A. , Kutsev Sergey I. , Troshin Pavel A. , Veiko Natalia N.
Published: July 2020

Background: Functionalized fullerenes (FF) can be considered regulators of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis; their direct oxidative damage—as well as regulation of oxidant enzymes and signaling pathways—should be considered. Methods: Uptake of two water-soluble functionalized C70 fullerenes with different types of aromatic addends (ethylphenylmalonate and thienylacetate) in human fetal lung fibroblasts, intracellular ROS visualization, superoxide scavenging potential, NOX4 expression, NRF2 expression, oxidative DNA damage, repair genes, cell proliferation and cell cycle were studied. Results & conclusion: The intracellular effects of ethylphenylmalonate C70 derivative (FF1) can be explained in terms of upregulated NOX4 activity. The intracellular effects of thienylacetate C70 derivative (FF2) can be probably resulted from its superoxide scavenging potential and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. FF1 can be considered a NOX4 upregulator and potential cytotoxicant and FF2, as a superoxide scavenger and a potential cytoprotector.
Spectroscopic Properties of Si-nc in SiOx Films Using HFCVD
Authors: Hernández Simón Zaira Jocelyn , Luna López Jose Alberto , de la Luz Alvaro David Hernández , Pérez García Sergio Alfonso , Benítez Lara Alfredo , García Salgado Godofredo , Carrillo López Jesus , Mendoza Conde Gabriel Omar , Martínez Hernández Hayde Patricia
Published: July 2020

In the present work, non-stoichiometric silicon oxide films (SiOx) deposited using a hot filament chemical vapor deposition technique at short time and simple parameters of depositions are reported. This is motivated by the numerous potential applications of SiOx films in areas such as optoelectronics. SiOx films were characterized with different spectroscopic techniques. The deposited films have interesting characteristics such as the presence of silicon nanoclusters without applying thermal annealing, in addition to a strong photoluminescence after applying thermal annealing in the vicinity of 1.5 eV, which may be attributed to the presence of small, oxidized silicon grains (less than 2 nm) or silicon nanocrystals (Si-nc). An interesting correlation was found between oxygen content, the presence of hydrogen, and the formation of defects in the material, with parameters such as the band gap and the Urbach energies. This correlation is interesting in the development of band gap engineering for this material for applications in photonic devices.
Diet Quality Is Associated with Cardiometabolic Outcomes in Survivors of Childhood Leukemia
Authors: Bérard Sophie , Morel Sophia , Teasdale Emma , Shivappa Nitin , Hebert James R. , Laverdière Caroline , Sinnett Daniel , Levy Emile , Marcil Valérie
Published: July 2020

There is little information about how diet influences the health of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (cALL) survivors. This study explores the associations between diet quality indices, cardiometabolic health indicators and inflammatory biomarkers among cALL survivors. Participants were part of the PETALE study (n = 241, median age: 21.7 years). Adherence to 6 dietary scores and caloric intake from ultra-processed foods were calculated. Multivariate logistirac regressions, Student t-tests and Mann-Whitney tests were performed. We found that 88% of adults and 46% of children adhered poorly to the Mediterranean diet, 36.9% had poor adherence to the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations and 76.3% had a diet to be improved according to the HEI-2015 score. On average, ultra-processed foods accounted for 51% of total energy intake. Low HDL-C was associated with a more inflammatory diet (E-DIITM score) and higher intake of ultra-processed foods. A greater E-DII score was associated with elevated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and consumption of ultra-processed foods was correlated with high triglycerides. Circulating levels of TNF-α, adiponectin and IL-6 were influenced by diet quality indices, while CRP and leptin were not. In conclusion, survivors of cALL have poor adherence to dietary recommendations, adversely affecting their cardiometabolic health.
Kids in a Candy Store: An Objective Analysis of Children’s Interactions with Food in Convenience Stores
Authors: McKerchar Christina , Smith Moira , Gage Ryan , Williman Jonathan , Abel Gillian , Lacey Cameron , Ni Mhurchu Cliona , Signal Louise
Published: July 2020

Increasing rates of childhood obesity worldwide has focused attention on the obesogenic food environment. This paper reports an analysis of children’s interactions with food in convenience stores. Kids’Cam was a cross-sectional study conducted from July 2014 to June 2015 in New Zealand in which 168 randomly selected children aged 11–14 years old wore a wearable camera for a 4–day period. In this ancillary study, images from children who visited a convenience store were manually coded for food and drink availability. Twenty-two percent of children (n = 37) visited convenience stores on 62 occasions during the 4-day data collection period. Noncore items dominated the food and drinks available to children at a rate of 8.3 to 1 (means were 300 noncore and 36 core, respectively). The food and drinks marketed in-store were overwhelmingly noncore and promoted using accessible placement, price offers, product packaging, and signage. Most of the 70 items purchased by children were noncore foods or drinks (94.6%), and all of the purchased food or drink subsequently consumed was noncore. This research highlights convenience stores as a key source of unhealthy food and drink for children, and policies are needed to reduce the role of convenience stores in the obesogenic food environment.
Efficacy of Dietary Supplements in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Related Autoimmune Diseases
Authors: Jadhav Priyanka , Jiang Yan , Jarr Karolin , Layton Cosima , Ashouri Judith F. , Sinha Sidhartha R.
Published: July 2020

The microbiome is an important contributor to a variety of fundamental aspects of human health, including host metabolism, infection, and the immune response. Gut dysbiosis has been identified as a contributor to the errant immune response in a variety of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and psoriatic disease (psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis). Given this, probiotics and prebiotics have been investigated as therapeutic options in these disease states. In our review, we highlight the current evidence on prebiotics and probiotics as well as other supplements (such as fish oils, vitamin D, and curcumin) as therapies for IBD. Recommendations, however, regarding the specific use of such supplements in IBD have been lacking, particularly from professional societies, often due to study limitations related to small sample sizes and design heterogeneity. Hence, we additionally examine the literature on the use of prebiotics, probiotics, and other supplements in related IMIDs, namely RA and psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis, as these diseases share many approved therapeutic options with IBD. Based on these combined findings, we offer additional evidence that may help guide clinicians in their treatment of patients with IBD (and other IMIDs) and provide recommendations on potential next steps in therapeutic research in this area.
Substance Use Disorder in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review of Vulnerabilities and Complications
Authors: Wei Yufeng , Shah Rameen
Published: July 2020

As the world endures the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the conditions of 35 million vulnerable individuals struggling with substance use disorders (SUDs) worldwide have not received sufficient attention for their special health and medical needs. Many of these individuals are complicated by underlying health conditions, such as cardiovascular and lung diseases and undermined immune systems. During the pandemic, access to the healthcare systems and support groups is greatly diminished. Current research on COVID-19 has not addressed the unique challenges facing individuals with SUDs, including the heightened vulnerability and susceptibility to the disease. In this systematic review, we will discuss the pathogenesis and pathology of COVID-19, and highlight potential risk factors and complications to these individuals. We will also provide insights and considerations for COVID-19 treatment and prevention in patients with SUDs.
Characteristics of Individuals Who Chose to Participate in a Preceptor Continuing Professional Development Program
Authors: Shah Shweta , Chojnacki Raymond , Meyer Jodi , Margolis Amanda
Published: July 2020

An online program for pharmacy preceptors to improve their clinical teaching using continuing professional development (CPD) was launched in 2017. While 491 preceptors participated in the CPD program, only 35% of potential participants completed this voluntary program. A secondary data analysis was undertaken to determine the characteristics of preceptors who completed the program and identify ways to target program advertising for those who did not complete it. Residency-trained preceptors were more likely to complete the CPD program compared with those without residency training (45% and 37%, respectively; p = 0.011). This may be due to the inclusion of CPD in residency accreditation standards. To improve completion of the CPD program by preceptors without residencies, a brief introduction to CPD, a statement of benefits, and use of a personalized plan should be included in advertisements. Preceptors teaching more experiential students were more likely to complete the CPD program (p < 0.001 for introductory and advanced experiences). To encourage preceptors with less students to participate, the CPD program should be advertised year-round to allow preceptors to complete the training when it is most relevant to their precepting schedule. Future directions include the monitoring of changes in CPD program participation rates following changes in advertisements and exploring other motivations for program completion such as collaborations with employers.
Live Streaming and Digital Stages for the Hungry Ghosts and Deities
Authors: Lim Alvin Eng Hui
Published: July 2020

Many Chinese temples in Singapore provide live streaming of getai (English: a stage for songs) during the Hungry Ghost Month as well as deities’ birthday celebrations and spirit possessions—a recent phenomenon. For instance, Sheng Hong Temple launched its own app in 2018, as part of a digital turn that culminated in a series of live streaming events during the temple’s 100-year anniversary celebrations. Deities’ visits to the temple from mainland China and Taiwan were also live-streamed, a feature that was already a part of the Taichung Mazu Festival in Taiwan. Initially streamed on RINGS.TV, an app available on Android and Apple iOS, live videos of getai performances can now be found on the more sustainable platform of Facebook Live. These videos are hosted on Facebook Pages, such as “Singapore Getai Supporter” (which is listed as a “secret” group), “Singapore Getai Fans Page”, “Lixin Fan Page”, and “LEX-S Watch Live Channel”. These pages are mainly initiated and supported by LEX(S) Entertainment Productions, one of the largest entertainment companies running and organising getai performances in Singapore. This paper critically examines this digital turn and the use of digital technology, where both deities and spirits are made available to digital transmissions, performing to the digital camera in ways that alter the performative aspects of religious festivals and processions. In direct ways, the performance stage extends to the digital platform, where getai hosts, singers, and spirit mediums have become increasingly conscious that they now have a virtual presence that exceeds the live event.
Christianity’s Last Stand: Visions of Spirituality in Post-1970 African American Women’s Literature
Authors: Harris Trudier
Published: July 2020

Christianity appealed to writers of African descent from the moment they set foot on New World soil. That attraction, perhaps as a result of the professed mission of slaveholders to “Christianize the heathen African,” held sway in African American letters well into the twentieth century. While African American male writers joined their female counterparts in expressing an attraction to Christianity, black women writers, beginning in the mid-twentieth century, consistently began to express doubts about the assumed altruistic nature of a religion that had been used as justification for enslaving their ancestors. Lorraine Hansberry’s Beneatha Younger in A Raisin in the Sun (1959) initiated a questioning mode in relation to Christianity that continues into the present day. It was especially after 1970 that black women writers turned their attention to other ways of knowing, other kinds of spirituality, other ways of being in the world. Consequently, they enable their characters to find divinity within themselves or within communities of extra-natural individuals of which they are a part, such as vampires. As this questioning and re-conceptualization of spirituality and divinity continue into the twenty-first century, African American women writers make it clear that their characters, in pushing against traditional renderings of religion and spirituality, envision worlds that their contemporary historical counterparts cannot begin to imagine.
Spiritual Well-Being and Its Role on the Sociality of Selected Catholic Religious Novices
Authors: del Castillo Fides , del Castillo Clarence Darro , Alvarez Maricris
Published: July 2020

Religion and spirituality are difficult to define and elusive to capture by standard scientific methods. Despite these challenges, the researchers aim to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on the psychology of religion by investigating the religious experience of Catholic novices and their spiritual well-being. Using the Spiritual Health and Life-Orientation Measure (SHALOM) developed by John Fisher, objective data was gathered from selected individuals going through religious formation. The aim was to determine the spiritual well-being of Catholic religious novices and its implication to their sociality. The results show that there was a significant difference in the quality of relationships of each novice with themselves, other people, the environment and God. Thus, there is dissonance between the ideals of the persons in the novitiate and their lived experience.