bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Utility of a Hydrolysate from Overproduced Paralichthys olivaceus for Hypertension Treatment: Correlation between Physical Properties and Potent Anti-Hypertensive Activities
Authors: Lee Hyo-Geun , Oh Jae-Young , Chung Dong-Min , Seo Min-Young , Park Shin-Jae , Jeon You-Jin , Ryu Bo-Mi
Published: May 2022

Aquacultured fish are the richest natural source of protein. However, their overproduced biomass is often discarded due to production imbalance, causing considerable losses to the fishery industry. Therefore, it is necessary to utilize surplus fish and add value to overproduced fish. We performed complex enzyme-assisted hydrolysis to determine the correlation between its physical characteristics and anti-hypertensive activity in vitro and in vivo using an SHR model. Protamex-Pepsin assisted hydrolysate from Paralichthys olivaceus (POppH) produced by complex enzyme-assisted hydrolysis contained low-molecular-weight peptides and amino acids with anti-hypertensive activity. POppH regulated blood pressure and serum angiotensin II and angiotensin-I-converting enzyme levels, and histological and ultrasound image analysis revealed substantially reduced thickness and diameter of the carotid aorta in the POppH-administered SHR group. Therefore, we propose to reduce food loss due to overproduction by utilizing the anti-hypertensive activity and physical properties of POppH; the results demonstrate its application as a therapeutic agent.
Specific MRP4 Inhibitor Ceefourin-1 Enhances Apoptosis Induced by 6-Mercaptopurine in Jurkat Leukemic Cells, but Not in Normal Lymphoblast Cell Line CRL-1991
Authors: Becerra Edgardo , Berumen Laura , Soto-Ontiveros Valeria , García-Alcocer Guadalupe
Published: May 2022

Background and objectives: The multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4) is a member of the ABC transporter, which has been extensively related to many types of cancer including leukemia. MRP4 overexpression and activity over the efflux of some chemotherapeutic drugs are the main causes of chemoresistance. 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) is a chemotherapeutic drug widely used in the consolidation and maintenance phases of leukemia treatment. However, 6-MP is a substrate of MRP4, which decreases its chemotherapeutic efficacy. Current research is focused on the development of MRP4 inhibitors to combat chemoresistance by allowing the accumulation of the drug substrates inside the cells. To date, the only specific MRP4 inhibitor that has been developed is ceefourin-1, which has been reported to inhibit MRP4 in many cancer cells and which makes it an excellent candidate to enhance the activity of 6-MP in a combined treatment in vitro of leukemic cells. Materials and methods: in the present work, we determined the enhancing activity of ceefourin-1 on the antiproliferative and apoptotic effect of 6-MP in leukemic Jurkat cells by trypan blue assay and flow cytometry. Besides, we determined the 6-MP and ceefourin-1 binding sites into MRP4 by molecular docking and molecular dynamics. Results: ceefourin-1 enhanced the apoptotic activity of 6-MP in Jurkat cells, while in CRL-1991 cells both antiproliferative and apoptotic effect were significantly lower. Ceefourin-1 additively cooperates with 6-MP to induce apoptosis in leukemic cells, but normal lymphoblast CRl-1991 showed resistance to both drugs. Conclusion: ceefourin-1 and 6-MP cooperates to trigger apoptosis in leukemic Jurkat cells, but the full mechanism needs to be elucidated in further works. In addition, our perspective is to test the cooperation between ceefourin-1 and 6-MP in samples from patients and healthy donnors.
Glycobiology of Cancer: Sugar Drives the Show
Authors: dos Reis Jhenifer Santos , Rodrigues da Costa Santos Marcos André , Mendonça Daniella Pereira , Martins do Nascimento Stefani Ingrid , Barcelos Pedro Marçal , Correia de Lima Rafaela Gomes , da Costa Kelli Monteiro , Freire-de-Lima Celio Geraldo , Morrot Alexandre , Previato Jose Osvaldo , Mendonça Previato Lucia , da Fonseca Leonardo Marques , Freire-de-Lima Leonardo
Published: May 2022

Cancer development and progression is associated with aberrant changes in cellular glycosylation. Cells expressing altered glycan-structures are recognized by cells of the immune system, favoring the induction of inhibitory immune processes which subsequently promote tumor growth and spreading. Here, we discuss about the importance of glycobiology in modern medicine, taking into account the impact of altered glycan structures expressed in cancer cells as potential glycobiomarkers of disease, as well as on cancer development and progression.
Static Recrystallization Behavior and Texture Evolution during Annealing in a Cold Rolling Beta Titanium Alloy Sheet
Authors: Zhang Shuzhi , Wang Qibin , Cheng Xing , Han Jianchao , Zhang Wanggang , Zhang Changjiang , Wu Jie
Published: May 2022

In this study, the cold rolling microstructure and static recrystallization mechanism of the high strength titanium alloy Ti-3.5Al-5Mo-6V-3Cr-2Sn-0.5Fe were systematically investigated. Results show that the cold rolling microstructure is mainly composed of the elongated deformed β grains containing micro-shear bands. After annealing at 815 °C for 2 min, the fine SRXed grains are observed, mainly concentrated in the micro-shear band, the grain boundary and the interior of the deformed grain. The sub-grain structure obtained by static recovery inside the deformed grain produces continuous SRX during the annealing treatment. Meanwhile, geometric and discontinued SRXed grains are also observed in the large deformed β grain and at the trigeminal grain boundaries, respectively. Many ultra-fine grains appear inside the micro-shear band, exhibiting a phenomenon of the micro-shear band assisting SRX. With the increase in the annealing holding time, the elongated β grains are significantly refined and the degree of recrystallization is continuously improved. In addition, the recrystallization behavior also results in a significant change in the fiber texture. With the extension of the annealing holding time, the rolling texture type evolves gradually, with the {111} <112> γ-fiber texture to weak α-fiber, γ-fiber, and Goss-fiber.
Characterizing the Flavor Precursors and Liberation Mechanisms of Various Dry-Aging Methods in Cull Beef Loins Using Metabolomics and Microbiome Approaches
Authors: Setyabrata Derico , Vierck Kelly , Sheets Tessa R. , Legako Jerrad F. , Cooper Bruce R. , Johnson Timothy A. , Kim Yuan H. Brad
Published: May 2022

The objective of this study was to characterize and compare the dry-aging flavor precursors and their liberation mechanisms in beef aged with different methods. Thirteen paired loins were collected at 5 days postmortem, divided into four sections, and randomly assigned into four aging methods (wet-aging (WA), conventional dry-aging (DA), dry-aging in a water-permeable bag (DWA), and UV-light dry-aging (UDA)). All sections were aged for 28 days at 2 °C, 65% RH, and a 0.8 m/s airflow before trimming and sample collection for chemical, metabolomics, and microbiome analyses. Higher concentrations of free amino acids and reducing sugars were observed in all dry-aging samples (p < 0.05). Similarly, metabolomics revealed greater short-chain peptides in the dry-aged beef (p < 0.05). The DWA samples had an increase in polyunsaturated free fatty acids (C18:2trans, C18:3n3, C20:2, and C20:5; p < 0.05) along with higher volatile compound concentrations compared to other aging methods (aldehyde, nonanal, octanal, octanol, and carbon disulfide; p < 0.05). Microbiome profiling identified a clear separation in beta diversity between dry and wet aging methods. The Pseudomonas spp. are the most prominent bacterial species in dry-aged meat, potentially contributing to the greater accumulation of flavor precursor concentrations in addition to the dehydration process during the dry-aging. Minor microbial species involvement, such as Bacillus spp., could potentially liberate unique and potent flavor precursors.
Exercise and Interorgan Communication: Short-Term Exercise Training Blunts Differences in Consecutive Daily Urine 1H-NMR Metabolomic Signatures between Physically Active and Inactive Individuals
Authors: Deutsch Leon , Sotiridis Alexandros , Murovec Boštjan , Plavec Janez , Mekjavic Igor , Debevec Tadej , Stres Blaž
Published: May 2022

Physical inactivity is a worldwide health problem, an important risk for global mortality and is associated with chronic noncommunicable diseases. The aim of this study was to explore the differences in systemic urine 1H-NMR metabolomes between physically active and inactive healthy young males enrolled in the X-Adapt project in response to controlled exercise (before and after the 3-day exercise testing and 10-day training protocol) in normoxic (21% O2), normobaric (~1000 hPa) and normal-temperature (23 °C) conditions at 1 h of 50% maximal pedaling power output (Wpeak) per day. Interrogation of the exercise database established from past X-Adapt results showed that significant multivariate differences existed in physiological traits between trained and untrained groups before and after training sessions and were mirrored in significant differences in urine pH, salinity, total dissolved solids and conductivity. Cholate, tartrate, cadaverine, lysine and N6-acetyllisine were the most important metabolites distinguishing trained and untrained groups. The relatively little effort of 1 h 50% Wpeak per day invested by the untrained effectively modified their resting urine metabolome into one indistinguishable from the trained group, which hence provides a good basis for the planning of future recommendations for health maintenance in adults, irrespective of the starting fitness value. Finally, the 3-day sessions of morning urine samples represent a good candidate biological matrix for future delineations of active and inactive lifestyles detecting differences unobservable by single-day sampling due to day-to-day variability.
The Radioprotective Activity of Resveratrol—Metabolomic Point of View
Authors: Gramatyka Michalina
Published: May 2022

Resveratrol, a plant-derived polyphenol, is an intensively studied compound with widely documented positive effects on health. Antioxidant activity is the property most often mentioned as responsible for its beneficial effects. Therefore, since the adverse effect of ionizing radiation is primarily related to the induction of oxidative stress, the question arises of whether the use of resveratrol could have a radioprotective effect. This paper summarizes the data on the cytoprotective activity of resveratrol and pieces of evidence for the potential interplay between response to radiation and resveratrol activity. The paper focuses on changes in the metabolic profile of cells and organisms induced by ionizing radiation and exposure to resveratrol. The comparison of metabolic changes induced by both factors provides a rationale for the potential mechanism of the radioprotective effects of resveratrol.
Optimal Design of a Leaf Flexure Compliant Mechanism Based on 2-DOF Tuned Mass Damping Stage Analysis
Authors: Chang Yung-Sheng , Kieu Vu N. D. , Huang Shyh-Chour
Published: May 2022

This study proposed an innovative design of a leaf flexural-based 2-DOF tuned mass damping stage that can be integrated into a micro-electromechanical system precision positioning stage to reduce the displacement response of the precision positioning stage excited by a specific vibration frequency and to achieve the damping effect and vibration reduction without adding viscous damping materials. A prototype that conforms to dual-axis decoupling and has 2-DOF translation capability was designed using parallel and vertical arrangements of a leaf flexure. The Taguchi design method and the finite element method were used on the relevant design parameters of the primary mass stage to determine the best size configuration for the maximum off-axial stiffness ratio and the parameters of the tuned mass damper closest to the natural frequency of the primary mass stage with the minimum deflection. In addition, an optimization module, based on a genetic algorithm (GA), was used to optimize the design of the flexure size of the tuned mass damper. Finally, experiments were conducted, the vibration displacement response of the primary mass stage was observed, and the effect with or without the addition of tuned mass damping on the system vibration response was compared. The results indicate that the tuned mass damper can effectively reduce the response amplitude of the stage, where the maximum reduction rate in the experiment was 63.0442%, and the mass of the damper was highly positively correlated with the amplitude reduction.
Study on the Material Removal Mechanism of Ultrasonic Elliptical Vibration Cutting of Medical β Titanium Alloy
Authors: Wang Zhenda , Pan Yongzhi , Zhang Yijia , Men Xiuhua , Fu Xiuli , Ren Shengfeng
Published: May 2022

For new medical β titanium implants, the surface micro texture processing technology is a difficult problem. To solve this problem, a new method of ultrasonic elliptical vibration cutting (UEVC) is adopted in this paper. The mechanism of material removal in ultrasonic elliptical vibration cutting is explored for different cutting paths. By means of simulation and experimentation, the material removal mechanism of ultrasonic elliptical vibration cutting medical β titanium alloy is revealed with respect to the aspects of cutting deformation, stress distribution, force and thermal variation, and chip formation mechanism. The results show that: (1) The cutting temperature and cutting force in the UEVC process obey the law of periodic change, and the maximum point of cutting force appears ahead of the maximum point of cutting temperature. (2) The material removal process of UEVC is a “press–shear–pull” composite cutting process. The tool squeezes the material to form the chips. Under the action of high temperature, the material is removed by adiabatic shear. (3) The difference of UEVC paths will affect the removal mode of materials and form different surface morphology. (4) For different cutting paths, compressive stress is distributed at the lowest point of the machining pit, and tensile stress is distributed at the protrusion position.
High-Performance Flexible Piezoresistive Sensor Based on Ti3C2Tx MXene with a Honeycomb-like Structure for Human Activity Monitoring
Authors: Su Yue , Ma Kainan , Yuan Fang , Tang Jun , Liu Ming , Zhang Xu
Published: May 2022

Wearable and flexible pressure sensors have sparked great interest due to their unique capacity to conformally attach to the surface of the skin and quantify human activities into recordable electric signals. As a result, more and more research efforts are being devoted to developing high-sensitivity and cost-effective flexible sensors for monitoring an individual’s state of activity. Herein, a high-performance flexible piezoresistive sensor was designed and fabricated by combing 2D transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides (MXene) with a honeycomb-like structure formed by femtosecond filamentating pulses. The sensing mechanism is attributed to the change of the connecting conductive paths between the top interdigital electrodes and the bottom microstructured films coated with MXene. The obtained sensing device demonstrates high sensitivity of 0.61 kPa−1, relatively short response time, and excellent reliability and stability. Benefiting from the aforementioned extraordinary sensing performance, the sensor can be used with success to monitor tiny physiological signals, detect large deformations during human movement, and distinguish finger gestures, thus demonstrating its broad prospects in physiological analysis systems, health monitoring systems, and human–machine interaction.
A Parametric Analysis of Capillary Height in Single-Layer, Small-Scale Microfluidic Artificial Lungs
Authors: Ma Lindsay J. , Akor Emmanuel A. , Thompson Alex J. , Potkay Joseph A.
Published: May 2022

Microfluidic artificial lungs (μALs) are being investigated for their ability to closely mimic the size scale and cellular environment of natural lungs. Researchers have developed μALs with small artificial capillary diameters (10–50 µm; to increase gas exchange efficiency) and with large capillary diameters (~100 µm; to simplify design and construction). However, no study has directly investigated the impact of capillary height on μAL properties. Here, we use Murray’s law and the Hagen-Poiseuille equation to design single-layer, small-scale μALs with capillary heights between 10 and 100 µm. Each µAL contained two blood channel types: capillaries for gas exchange; and distribution channels for delivering blood to/from capillaries. Three designs with capillary heights of 30, 60, and 100 µm were chosen for further modeling, implementation and testing with blood. Flow simulations were used to validate and ensure equal pressures. Designs were fabricated using soft lithography. Gas exchange and pressure drop were tested using whole bovine blood. All three designs exhibited similar pressure drops and gas exchange; however, the μAL with 60 µm tall capillaries had a significantly higher wall shear rate (although physiologic), smaller priming volume and smaller total blood contacting surface area than the 30 and 100 µm designs. Future μAL designs may need to consider the impact of capillary height when optimizing performance.
Ergonomic Design and Performance Evaluation of H-Suit for Human Walking
Authors: Zhang Leiyu , Jiao Zhenxing , He Yandong , Su Peng
Published: May 2022

A soft exoskeleton for the hip flexion, named H-Suit, is developed to improve the walking endurance of lower limbs, delay muscle fatigue and reduce the activation level of hip flexors. Based on the kinematics and biomechanics of the hip joints, the ergonomic design of the H-Suit system is clearly presented and the prototype was developed. The profile of the auxiliary forces is planned in the auxiliary range where the forces start at the minimum hip angle, reach the maximum (120 N) and end at 90% of each gait cycle. The desired displacements of the traction unit which consist of the natural and elastic displacements of the steel cables are obtained by the experimental method. An assistance strategy is proposed to track the profile of the auxiliary forces by dynamically adjusting the compensation displacement Lc and the hold time Δt. The influences of the variables Lc and Δt on the natural gaits and auxiliary forces have been revealed and analyzed. The real profile of the auxiliary forces can be obtained and is consistent with the theoretical one by the proposed assistance strategy. The H-Suit without the drive unit has little effect on the EMG signal of the lower limbs. In the powered condition, the H-Suit can delay the muscle fatigue of the lower limbs. The average rectified value (ARV) slope decreases and the median frequency (MNF) slope increases significantly. Wearing the H-Suit resulted in a significant reduction of the vastus lateralis effort, averaged over subjects and walking speeds, of 13.3 ± 2.1% (p = 2 × 10−5).
Elastic Impedance Simultaneous Inversion for Multiple Partial Angle Stack Seismic Data with Joint Sparse Constraint
Authors: Dai Ronghuo , Yin Cheng , Peng Da
Published: May 2022

Elastic impedance (EI) inversion for partial angle stack seismic data is a key technology in seismic reservoir prediction within the oil and gas industry. EI inversion provides a consistent framework to invert partial angle stack seismic data, just as the AI inversion does for post-stack data. The commonly used EI inversion process is angle by angle. Hence, the inverted EI for different angles may be nonconforming, especially for the seismic data with a low signal-to-noise ratio. This paper proposes to simultaneously invert multiple partial angle stack seismic data to obtain EI for different angles at once. To obtain conformable EI, we used the joint sparse constraint on the reflection coefficients for different angles. Then, the objective function for simultaneous EI inversion was constructed. Next, synthetic seismic data profiles with three different angles were used to show the superiority of the proposed EI inversion method compared to the conventional method. At last, a real seismic data line was used to test the feasibility of the proposed method in practice. The inversion results of synthetic data and real data showed that it provides an effective new alternative method to estimate EI from partial stack seismic data.
Novel Carboxylic Acid-Capped Silver Nanoparticles as Antimicrobial and Colorimetric Sensing Agents
Authors: Irfan Muhammad Imran , Amjad Fareeha , Abbas Azhar , Rehman Muhammad Fayyaz ur , Kanwal Fariha , Saeed Muhammad , Ullah Sami , Lu Changrui
Published: May 2022

The present work reports the synthesis, characterization, and antimicrobial activities of adipic acid-capped silver nanoparticles (AgNPs@AA) and their utilization for selective detection of Hg2+ ions in an aqueous solution. The AgNPs were synthesized by the reduction of Ag+ ions with NaBH4 followed by capping with adipic acid. Characterization of as-synthesized AgNPs@AA was carried out by different techniques, including UV–Visible spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and zeta potential (ZP). In the UV–Vis absorption spectrum, the characteristic absorption band for AgNPs was observed at 404 nm. The hydrodynamic size of as-synthesized AgNPs was found to be 30 ± 5.0 nm. ZP values (−35.5 ± 2.4 mV) showed that NPs possessed a negative charge due to carboxylate ions and were electrostatically stabilized. The AgNPs show potential antimicrobial activity against clinically isolated pathogens. These AgNPs were found to be selectively interacting with Hg2+ in an aqueous solution at various concentrations. A calibration curve was constructed by plotting concentration as abscissa and absorbance ratio (AControl − AHg/AControl) as ordinate. The linear range and limit of detection (LOD) of Hg2+ were 0.6–1.6 μM and 0.12 μM, respectively. A rapid response time of 4 min was found for the detection of Hg2+ by the nano-probe. The effect of pH and temperature on the detection of Hg2+ was also investigated. The nano-probe was successfully applied for the detection of Hg2+ from tap and river water
An Analysis of Variability in the Content of Phenolic Acids and Flavonoids in Camelina Seeds Depending on Weather Conditions, Functional Form, and Genotypes
Authors: Kurasiak-Popowska Danuta , Graczyk Małgorzata , Przybylska-Balcerek Anna , Stuper-Szablewska Kinga , Szwajkowska-Michałek Lidia
Published: May 2022

Camelina oil obtained from the seeds of Camelina sativa exhibits strong antioxidative properties. This study was based on four years of field experiments conducted on 63 genotypes of spring and 11 genotypes of winter camelina. The aim of the study was to determine the variability in the content of the selected bioactive compounds, depending on the weather conditions during the cultivation, the functional form, and genotype. The cultivation form of the genotypes analysed in our study did not exhibit significant differences in the quantitative profiles of the tested phenolic acids and flavonoids. Sinapic acid was the most abundant of all phenolic acids under analysis (617–668 mg/kg), while quercetin was the main flavonoid (91–161 mg/kg). Camelina has great potential not only for the food industry but also for researchers attempting to breed an oil plant with the stable biosynthesis of bioactive compounds to ensure oxidative protection of obtained fat.
Asymmetrically Substituted Phospholes as Ligands for Coinage Metal Complexes
Authors: Roesler Fabian , Bruhn Clemens , Pietschnig Rudolf
Published: May 2022

A series of coinage metal complexes asymmetrically substituted 2,5-diaryl phosphole ligands is reported. Structure, identity, and purity of all obtained complexes were corroborated with state-of-the-art techniques (multinuclear NMR, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction) in solution and solid state. All complexes obtained feature luminescence in solution as well as in the solid state. Additionally, DOSY-MW NMR estimation experiments were performed to achieve information about the aggregation behavior of the complexes in solution allowing a direct comparison with their structures observed in the solid state.
A Novel Method for Quality Evaluation of Gardeniae fructus Praeparatus during Heat Processing Based on Sensory Characteristics and Chemical Compositions
Authors: Zheng Yinghao , Wang Yun , Zhang Qing , Liu Weihong , Li Kai , Xia Mengyu , Jia Zhe , Zhang Cun
Published: May 2022

The intrinsic chemical components and sensory characteristics of Gardeniae fructus Praeparatus (GFP) directly reflect its quality and subsequently, affect its clinical curative effect. However, there is little research on the correlation between the appearance traits and chemical compositions of GFP during heat processing. In this study, the major components of five typical processed decoction pieces of GFP were determined. With the deepening of processing, the contents of geniposidic acid and 5-HMF gradually increased, while the contents of deacetyl-asperulosidic acid methyl ester, gardenoside, and two pigments declined. Moreover, the electronic eye, electronic tongue, and electronic nose were applied to quantify GFP’s sensory properties. It was found that the chroma values showed a downward trend during the processing of GFP. The results of odor showed that ammonia, alkenes, hydrogen, and aromatic compounds were the material base for aroma characteristics. Complex bitterness in GF was more obvious than that in other GFP processed products. Furthermore, one mathematical model was established to evaluate the correlation between the sensory characteristics and chemical composition of GFP during five different stages. A cluster analysis and neural network analysis contributed to recognizing the processing stage of GFP. This study provided an alternative method for the exterior and interior correlation-based quality evaluation of herbs.
Targeted Drug Delivery Biopolymers Effectively Inhibit Breast Tumor Growth and Prevent Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity
Authors: Dragojevic Sonja , Ryu Jung Su , Hall Michael E. , Raucher Drazen
Published: May 2022

The anticancer agent doxorubicin(dox) has been widely used in the treatment of a variety of hematological malignancies and solid tumors. Despite doxorubicin’s efficiency in killing tumor cells, severe damage to healthy tissues, along with cardiotoxicity, limits its clinical use. To overcome these adverse side effects, improve patient safety, and enhance therapeutic efficacy, we have designed a thermally responsive biopolymer doxorubicin carrier that can be specifically targeted to tumor tissue by locally applying mild hyperthermia (41 °C). The developed drug vehicle is composed of the following: a cell penetrating peptide (SynB1) to promote tumor and cellular uptake; thermally responsive Elastin-like polypeptide (ELP); and the (6-maleimidocaproyl) hydrazone derivative of doxorubicin (DOXO-EMCH) containing a pH-sensitive hydrazone linker that releases doxorubicin in the acidic tumor environment. We used the in vivo imaging system, IVIS, to determine biodistribution of doxorubicin-delivered ELP in MDA-MB-231 xenografts in nude mice. Tumor bearing mice were treated with a single IV injection of 10 mg/kg doxorubicin equivalent dose with free doxorubicin, thermally responsive SynB1 ELP 1-DOXO, and a thermally nonresponsive control biopolymer, SynB1 ELP 2-DOXO. Following a 2 h treatment with hyperthermia, tumors showed a 2-fold higher uptake when treated with SynB1 ELP 1-DOXO compared to free doxorubicin. Accumulation of the thermally non-responsive control SynB1 ELP2 –DOXO was comparable to free doxorubicin, indicating that an increase in dox accumulation with ELP is due to aggregation in response to thermal targeting. Higher levels of SynB1 ELP1–DOXO and SynB1 ELP2 –DOXO with respect to free doxorubicin were observed in kidneys. Fluorescence intensity from hearts of animals treated with SynB1 ELP1–DOXO show a 5-fold decrease in accumulation of doxorubicin than the same dose of free doxorubicin. SynB1-ELP1-DOXO biopolymers demonstrated a 6-fold increase in tumor/heart ratio in comparison to free doxorubicin, indicating preferential accumulation of the drug in tumors. These results demonstrate that thermally targeted polymers are a promising therapy to enhance tumor targeting and uptake of anticancer drugs and to minimize free drug toxicity in healthy tissues, representing a great potential for clinical application.
Rapid Determination of Cellulose and Hemicellulose Contents in Corn Stover Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Combined with Wavelength Selection
Authors: Wang Na , Feng Jinrui , Li Longwei , Liu Jinming , Sun Yong
Published: May 2022

The contents of cellulose and hemicellulose (C and H) in corn stover (CS) have an important influence on its biochemical transformation and utilization. To rapidly detect the C and H contents in CS by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), the characteristic wavelength selection algorithms of backward partial least squares (BIPLS), competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS), BIPLS combined with CARS, BIPLS combined with a genetic simulated annealing algorithm (GSA), and CARS combined with a GSA were used to select the wavelength variables (WVs) for C and H, and the corresponding regression correction models were established. The results showed that five wavelength selection algorithms could effectively eliminate irrelevant redundant WVs, and their modeling performance was significantly superior to that of the full spectrum. Through comparison and analysis, it was found that CARS combined with GSA had the best comprehensive performance; the predictive root mean squared errors of the C and H regression model were 0.786% and 0.893%, and the residual predictive deviations were 3.815 and 12.435, respectively. The wavelength selection algorithm could effectively improve the accuracy of the quantitative analysis of C and H contents in CS by NIRS, providing theoretical support for the research and development of related online detection equipment.
Alginate Lyases from Marine Bacteria: An Enzyme Ocean for Sustainable Future
Authors: Barzkar Noora , Sheng Ruilong , Sohail Muhammad , Jahromi Saeid Tamadoni , Babich Olga , Sukhikh Stanislav , Nahavandi Reza
Published: May 2022

The cell wall of brown algae contains alginate as a major constituent. This anionic polymer is a composite of β-d-mannuronate (M) and α-l-guluronate (G). Alginate can be degraded into oligosaccharides; both the polymer and its products exhibit antioxidative, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory activities and, hence, find many commercial applications. Alginate is attacked by various enzymes, collectively termed alginate lyases, that degrade glycosidic bonds through β-elimination. Considering the abundance of brown algae in marine ecosystems, alginate is an important source of nutrients for marine organisms, and therefore, alginate lyases play a significant role in marine carbon recycling. Various marine microorganisms, particularly those that thrive in association with brown algae, have been reported as producers of alginate lyases. Conceivably, the marine-derived alginate lyases demonstrate salt tolerance, and many are activated in the presence of salts and, therefore, find applications in the food industry. Therefore, this review summarizes the structural and biochemical features of marine bacterial alginate lyases along with their applications. This comprehensive information can aid in the expansion of future prospects of alginate lyases.
Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles as a Stress Alleviator in Plants: A Mechanistic Overview
Authors: Abasi Fozia , Raja Naveed Iqbal , Mashwani Zia Ur Rehman , Amjad Muhammad Shoaib , Ehsan Maria , Mustafa Nilofar , Haroon Muhammad , Proćków Jarosław
Published: May 2022

Currently, the growth and yield of crops are restrained due to an increase in the occurrence of ecological stresses globally. Biogenic generation of nanomaterials is an important step in the development of environmentally friendly procedures in the nanotechnology field. Silver-based nanomaterials are significant because of their physical, chemical, and biological features along with their plentiful applications. In addition to useful microbes, the green synthesized Ag nanomaterials are considered to be an ecologically friendly and environmentally biocompatible method for the enhancement of crop yield by easing stresses. In the recent decade, due to regular droughts, infrequent precipitation, salinity, and increased temperature, the climate alternation has changed certain ecological systems. As a result of these environmental changes, crop yield has decreased worldwide. The role of biogenic Ag nanomaterials in enhancing methylglyoxal detoxification, antioxidant defense mechanisms, and generating tolerance to stresses-induced ROS injury has been methodically explained in plants over the past ten years. However, certain studies regarding stress tolerance and metal-based nanomaterials have been directed, but the particulars of silver nanomaterials arbitrated stresses tolerance have not been well-reviewed. Henceforth, there is a need to have a good understanding of plant responses during stressful conditions and to practice the combined literature to enhance tolerance for crops by utilization of Ag nanoparticles. This review article illustrates the mechanistic approach that biogenic Ag nanomaterials in plants adopt to alleviate stresses. Moreover, we have appraised the most significant activities by exogenous use of Ag nanomaterials for improving plant tolerance to salt, low and high temperature, and drought stresses.
The RHIM of the Immune Adaptor Protein TRIF Forms Hybrid Amyloids with Other Necroptosis-Associated Proteins
Authors: Baker Max O. D. G. , Shanmugam Nirukshan , Pham Chi L. L. , Ball Sarah R. , Sierecki Emma , Gambin Yann , Steain Megan , Sunde Margaret
Published: May 2022

TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β (TRIF) is an innate immune protein that serves as an adaptor for multiple cellular signalling outcomes in the context of infection. TRIF is activated via ligation of Toll-like receptors 3 and 4. One outcome of TRIF-directed signalling is the activation of the programmed cell death pathway necroptosis, which is governed by interactions between proteins that contain a RIP Homotypic Interaction Motif (RHIM). TRIF contains a RHIM sequence and can interact with receptor interacting protein kinases 1 (RIPK1) and 3 (RIPK3) to initiate necroptosis. Here, we demonstrate that the RHIM of TRIF is amyloidogenic and supports the formation of homomeric TRIF-containing fibrils. We show that the core tetrad sequence within the RHIM governs the supramolecular organisation of TRIF amyloid assemblies, although the stable amyloid core of TRIF amyloid fibrils comprises a much larger region than the conserved RHIM only. We provide evidence that RHIMs of TRIF, RIPK1 and RIPK3 interact directly to form heteromeric structures and that these TRIF-containing hetero-assemblies display altered and emergent properties that likely underlie necroptosis signalling in response to Toll-like receptor activation.
Cardioprotective Effect of Rumex vesicarius Linn. Leaf Extract against Catecholamine-Induced Cardiotoxicity
Authors: Khan Imran Ahmad , Hussain Musaddique , Hussain Nadia , Alqahtani Ali M. , Alqahtani Taha
Published: May 2022

Rumex vesicarius (L.) is a folklore medicinal herb that has been used for centuries to cure cardiovascular diseases. The present work was carefully designed to ascertain the pharmacological basis for R. vesicarius’s therapeutic efficacy in cardiovascular diseases, as well as the underlying mechanism. In the ex vivo investigation, the aqueous-methanolic leaf extract of R. vesicarius was shown to have endothelium-dependent vasorelaxant effects in rabbit aorta tissue preparations, and its hypotensive responses were quantified by pressure and force transducers coupled to the Power Lab Data Acquisition System. Furthermore, when rabbits were subjected to adrenaline-induced myocardial infarction, R. vesicarius demonstrated cardioprotective characteristics. In contrast to the intoxicated group, the myocardial infarction model showed lower ALP, CK-MB, CRP, LDH, ALT, troponin, and AST levels (p > 0.005–0.000), as well as edema, necrosis, apoptosis, inflammatory cell enrolment, and necrosis. R. vesicarius exhibited significant antioxidant activity and delayed noradrenaline-induced platelet aggregation. Its cardioprotective, anticoagulant, and vasorelaxant properties in both investigations (in vivo and ex vivo) are mediated through partial endothelium-dependent, NO and calcium channel blockade mediated vasorelaxation. The minimizing of adrenaline, oxidative stress, and tissue damage demonstrate its therapeutic efficacy in cardiovascular diseases.
Relationships between X-ray Diffraction Peaks, Molecular Components, and Heat Properties of C-Type Starches from Different Sweet Potato Varieties
Authors: Li Yibo , Zhao Lingxiao , Lin Lingshang , Li Enpeng , Cao Qinghe , Wei Cunxu
Published: May 2022

C-type starches with different proportions of A- and B-type crystallinities have different intensities and crystallinities of X-ray diffraction peaks. In this study, the intensities and crystallinities of X-ray diffraction peaks, molecular components and heat properties of C-type starches were investigated in seven sweet potato varieties, and their relationships were analyzed. The intensity and crystallinity of a diffraction peak at 5.6° were significantly positively correlated to the DP6-12 branch-chains of amylopectin and significantly negatively correlated to the true amylose content (TAC) determined by concanavalin A precipitation, gelatinization temperature, gelatinization enthalpy, water solubility at 95 °C, and pasting temperature. The intensity of diffraction peaks at 15° and 23° were significantly positively correlated to the gelatinization temperature and pasting temperature and significantly negatively correlated to the pasting peak viscosity. The significantly positive relationships were detected between the crystallinity of a diffraction peak at 15° and the DP13-24 branch-chains of amylopectin, gelatinization conclusion temperature and water solubility, between the crystallinity of diffraction peak at 17–18° and the TAC, gelatinization onset temperature, water solubility and pasting temperature, between the crystallinity of a diffraction peak at 23° and the gelatinization conclusion temperature and pasting peak time, and between the total crystallinity and the TAC, gelatinization conclusion temperature, water solubility and pasting temperature. The score plot of principle component analysis showed that the molecular components and heat property parameters could differentiate the C-type starches and agreed with their characteristics of X-ray diffraction peaks. This study provides some references for the utilizations of C-type starches.
Agarwood—The Fragrant Molecules of a Wounded Tree
Authors: Shivanand Pooja , Arbie Nurul Fadhila , Krishnamoorthy Sarayu , Ahmad Norhayati
Published: May 2022

Agarwood, popularly known as oudh or gaharu, is a fragrant resinous wood of high commercial value, traded worldwide and primarily used for its distinctive fragrance in incense, perfumes, and medicine. This fragrant wood is created when Aquilaria trees are wounded and infected by fungi, producing resin as a defense mechanism. The depletion of natural agarwood caused by overharvesting amidst increasing demand has caused this fragrant defensive resin of endangered Aquilaria to become a rare and valuable commodity. Given that instances of natural infection are quite low, artificial induction, including biological inoculation, is being conducted to induce agarwood formation. A long-term investigation could unravel insights contributing toward Aquilaria being sustainably cultivated. This review will look at the different methods of induction, including physical, chemical, and biological, and compare the production, yield, and quality of such treatments with naturally formed agarwood. Pharmaceutical properties and medicinal benefits of fragrance-associated compounds such as chromones and terpenoids are also discussed.
Advances in Mixer Design and Detection Methods for Kinetics Studies of Macromolecular Folding and Binding on the Microsecond Time Scale
Authors: Mizukami Takuya , Roder Heinrich
Published: May 2022

Many important biological processes such as protein folding and ligand binding are too fast to be fully resolved using conventional stopped-flow techniques. Although advances in mixer design and detection methods have provided access to the microsecond time regime, there is room for improvement in terms of temporal resolution and sensitivity. To address this need, we developed a continuous-flow mixing instrument with a dead time of 12 to 27 µs (depending on solution viscosity) and enhanced sensitivity, sufficient for monitoring tryptophan or tyrosine fluorescence changes at fluorophore concentrations as low as 1 µM. Relying on commercially available laser microfabrication services, we obtained an integrated mixer/flow-cell assembly on a quartz chip, based on a cross-channel configuration with channel dimensions and geometry designed to minimize backpressure. By gradually increasing the width of the observation channel downstream from the mixing region, we are able to monitor a reaction progress time window ranging from ~10 µs out to ~3 ms. By combining a solid-state UV laser with a Galvano-mirror scanning strategy, we achieved highly efficient and uniform fluorescence excitation along the flow channel. Examples of applications, including refolding of acid-denatured cytochrome c triggered by a pH jump and binding of a peptide ligand to a PDZ domain, demonstrate the capability of the technique to resolve fluorescence changes down to the 10 µs time regime on modest amounts of reagents.
Cu(I)/Pd(II)-Catalyzed Intramolecular Hydroamidation and C-H Dehydrogenative Coupling of ortho-Alkynyl-N-arylbenzamides for Access to Isoindolo[2,1-a]Indol-6-Ones
Authors: Tang Baoxin , Hua Ruimao
Published: May 2022

An efficient, atom-economic and one-pot synthesis of isoindolo[2,1-a]indol-6-ones via CuI/Pd(OAc)2-catalyzed intramolecular hydroamidation of alkynyl group, and C-H dehydrogenative coupling of ortho-alkynyl-N-arylbenzamides has been developed. This transformation occurs with the use of oxygen as the oxidant, and water is the only by-product. The reaction shows a high tolerance to a variety of functional groups, and affords isoindolo[2,1-a]indol-6-ones in good to high yields.
Structural Investigation of the Interaction Mechanism between Chlorogenic Acid and AMPA Receptor via In Silico Approaches
Authors: Zhu Wei , Wu Fengming , Hu Jindie , Wang Wenjing , Zhang Jifeng , Guo Guoqing
Published: May 2022

Chlorogenic acid (CGA), an important metabolite in natural plant medicines such as honeysuckle and eucommia, has been shown to have potent antinociceptive effects. Nevertheless, the mechanism by which CGA relieves chronic pain remains unclear. α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isooxazolpropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) is a major ionotropic glutamate receptor that mediates rapid excitatory synaptic transmission and its glutamate ionotropic receptor AMPA type subunit 1 (GluA1) plays a key role in nociceptive transmission. In this study, we used Western blot, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay, and the molecular simulation technologies to investigate the mechanism of interaction between CGA and AMPAR to relieve chronic pain. Our results indicate that the protein expression level of GluA1 showed a dependent decrease as the concentration of CGA increased (0, 50, 100, and 200 μM). The SPR assay demonstrates that CGA can directly bind to GluA1 (KD = 496 μM). Furthermore, CGA forms a stable binding interaction with GluA1, which is validated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The binding free energy between CGA and GluA1 is −39.803 ± 14.772 kJ/mol, where van der Waals interaction and electrostatic interaction are the major contributors to the GluA1–CGA binding, and the key residues are identified (Val-32, Glu-33, Ala-36, Glu-37, Leu-48), which play a crucial role in the binding interaction. This study first reveals the structural basis of the stable interaction between CGA and GluA1 to form a binding complex for the relief of chronic pain. The research provides the structural basis to understand the treatment of chronic pain and is valuable to the design of novel drug molecules in the future.
Neutron Total Scattering Investigation of the Dissolution Mechanism of Trehalose in Alkali/Urea Aqueous Solution
Authors: Ma Changli , Zuo Taisen , Han Zehua , Li Yuqing , Gärtner Sabrina , Chen Huaican , Yin Wen , Han Charles C. , Cheng He
Published: May 2022

The atomic picture of cellulose dissolution in alkali/urea aqueous solution is still not clear. To reveal it, we use trehalose as the model molecule and total scattering as the main tool. Three kinds of alkali solution, i.e., LiOH, NaOH and KOH are compared. The most probable all-atom structures of the solution are thus obtained. The hydration shell of trehalose has a layered structure. The smaller alkali ions can penetrate into the glucose rings around oxygen atoms to form the first hydration layer. The larger urea molecules interact with hydroxide groups to form complexations. Then, the electronegative complexation can form the second hydration layer around alkali ions via electrostatic interaction. Therefore, the solubility of alkali aqueous solution for cellulose decreases with the alkali cation radius, i.e., LiOH > NaOH > KOH. Our findings are helpful for designing better green solvents for cellulose.
The Modulation of Arachidonic Acid Metabolism and Blood Pressure-Lowering Effect of Honokiol in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Elbarbry Fawzy , Moshirian Nicholas
Published: May 2022

Background: Cardiovascular diseases have consistently been the leading cause of death in the United States over the last two decades, with 30% of the adult American population having hypertension. The metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA) in the kidney play an important role in blood pressure regulation. The present study investigates the antihypertensive effect of honokiol (HON), a naturally occurring polyphenol, and examines its correlation to the modulation of AA metabolism. Methods: Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were randomly divided into four groups. Treatment groups were administered HON intraperitoneally at concentrations of 5, 20, and 50 mg/kg. Blood pressure was monitored at seven-day intervals. After a total of 3 weeks of treatment, the rats were euthanized and the kidney tissues were collected to examine the activity of the two major enzymes involved in AA metabolism in the kidney, namely cytochrome P450 (CYP)4A and soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). Results: Rats treated with HON did not experience the rise in blood pressure observed in the untreated SHR. High-dose HON significantly reduced blood pressure and inhibited the activity and protein expression of the CYP4A enzyme in the rat kidney. The activity of the sEH enzyme in renal cytosol was significantly inhibited by medium and high doses of HON. Conclusion: Our data demonstrate the antihypertensive effect of HON and provide a novel mechanism for its underlying cardioprotective properties.
Controlled Synthesis of Au25 Superatom Using a Dendrimer Template
Authors: Muramatsu Hisanori , Kambe Tetsuya , Tsukamoto Takamasa , Imaoka Takane , Yamamoto Kimihisa
Published: May 2022

Superatoms are promising materials for their potential in elemental substitution and as new building blocks. Thus far, various synthesis methods of thiol-protected Au clusters including an Au25 superatom have been investigated. However, previously reported methods were mainly depending on the thermodynamic stability of the aimed clusters. In this report, a synthesis method for thiol-protected Au clusters using a dendrimers template is proposed. In this method, the number of Au atoms was controlled by the stepwise complexation feature of a phenylazomethine dendrimer. Therefore, synthesis speed was increased compared with the case without the dendrimer template. Hybridization for the Au25 superatoms was also achieved using the complexation control of metals.