bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Current Situation of Agricultural Soil Pollution in Jiangsu Province: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhang Rui , Chen Tao , Pu Lijie , Qie Lu , Huang Sihua , Chen Dejing
Published: February 2023

In recent years, heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils in Jiangsu Province has attracted more and more attention. However, most studies have been characterized by their small scale, few samples, and short-term monitoring. The overall status and temporal accumulation characteristics of heavy metals have not been fully reflected. Therefore, this paper attempted to provide a comprehensive analysis of the current status of heavy metals and provide accurate information for soil pollution management in Jiangsu Province. This paper collected available data in the literature (1993–2021) on heavy metal-polluted agricultural soils in Jiangsu Province. Based on these available data, the weighted mean values of each heavy metal were obtained by meta-analysis. Then, the ecological risks in soils were evaluated and spatiotemporal variations in the accumulation of heavy metals were explored. In addition, suggestions for pollution prevention and control were made by predicting future heavy metal concentrations. The results showed that Cd and Hg were the major polluting elements in Jiangsu Province. The spatial enrichment of heavy metals followed the pattern of southern > northern > central. Heavy metal concentrations in Nanjing, Suzhou, and Xuzhou should be paid special attention. The ecological risk level of heavy metals in agricultural soils in Jiangsu Province was high, predominantly contributed by Hg and Cd. The accumulation of most heavy metals gradually decreased after 2010, while the opposite happened with Cd. Jiangsu Province should continue to take active pollution control measures in order to maintain the decreasing trend of heavy metal concentrations in farmland soils. This study could provide a scientific and theoretical basis for the development of pollution control and soil remediation measures.
Examining the Role of Phoneme Frequency in First Language Perceptual Attrition
Authors: Chang Charles B. , Ahn Sunyoung
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we follow up on previous findings concerning first language (L1) perceptual attrition to examine the role of phoneme frequency in influencing variation across L1 contrasts. We hypothesized that maintenance of L1 Korean contrasts (i.e., resistance to attrition) in L1 Korean-L2 English bilinguals would be correlated with frequency, such that better-maintained contrasts would also be more frequent in the L1. To explore this hypothesis, we collected frequency data on three Korean contrasts (/n/-/l/, /t/-/t*/, /s/-/s*/) and compared these data to perceptual attrition data from a speeded sequence recall task testing the perception and phonological encoding of the target contrasts. Results only partially supported the hypothesis. On the one hand, /n/-/l/, the best-maintained contrast, was the most frequent contrast overall. On the other hand, /n/-/l/ also evinced the greatest frequency asymmetry between the two members of the contrast (meaning that it was the least important to perceive accurately); furthermore, /s/-/s*/, which was less well maintained than /t/-/t*/, was actually more frequent than /t/-/t*/. These results suggest that disparities in perceptual attrition across contrasts cannot be attributed entirely to frequency differences. We discuss the implications of the findings for future research examining frequency effects in L1 perceptual change.
Mitochondriomics of Clarias Fishes (Siluriformes: Clariidae) with a New Assembly of Clarias camerunensis: Insights into the Genetic Characterization and Diversification
Authors: De Alwis Piyumi S. , Kundu Shantanu , Gietbong Fantong Zealous , Amin Muhammad Hilman Fu’adil , Lee Soo-Rin , Kim Hyun-Woo , Kim Ah Ran
Published: February 2023

The mitogenome of an endemic catfish Clarias camerunensis was determined from the Cameroon water. This circular mitogenome was 16,511 bp in length and comprised 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNAs, and a single AT-rich control region. The heavy strand accommodates 28 genes, whereas the light strand is constituted by ND6 and eight transfer RNA (tRNA) genes. The C. camerunensis mitochondrial genome is AT biased (56.89%), as showcased in other Clarias species. The comparative analyses revealed that most of the Clarias species have 6 overlapping and 11 intergenic spacer regions. Most of the PCGs were initiated and terminated with the ATG start codon and TAA stop codon, respectively. The tRNAs of C. camerunensis folded into the distinctive cloverleaf secondary structure, except trnS1. The placement of the conserved domains in the control region was similar in all the Clarias species with highly variable nucleotides in CSB-I. Both maximum likelihood and Bayesian-based matrilineal phylogenies distinctly separated all Clarias species into five clades on the basis of their known distributions (South China, Sundaland, Indochina, India, and Africa). The TimeTree analysis revealed that the two major clades (Indo-Africa and Asia) of Clarias species might have diverged during the Paleogene (≈28.66 MYA). Our findings revealed the separation of Indian species (C. dussumieri) and African species (C. camerunensis and Clarias gariepinus) took place during the Paleogene, as well as the South Chinese species (Clarias fuscus) and Sundaland species (Clarias batrachus) splits from the Indochinese species (Clarias macrocephalus) during the Neogene through independent colonization. This pattern of biotic relationships highlights the influence of topography and geological events in determining the evolutionary history of Clarias species. The enrichment of mitogenomic data and multiple nuclear loci from their native range or type locality will confirm the true diversification of Clarias species in African and Asian countries.
Trials and Treatments: An Update on Pharmacotherapy for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Thong Lorraine , McElduff Enda James , Henry Michael Thomas
Published: February 2023

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease that occurs predominantly in the older population. There is increasing incidence and prevalence in IPF globally. The emergence of anti-fibrotic therapies in the last decade have improved patient survival though a cure is yet to be developed. In this review article, we aim to summarize the existing and novel pharmacotherapies for the treatment of IPF (excluding treatments for acute exacerbations), focusing on the current knowledge on the pathophysiology of the disease, mechanism of action of the drugs, and clinical trials.
Silybin Showed Higher Cytotoxic, Antiproliferative, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities in the CaCo Cancer Cell Line while Retaining Viability and Proliferation in Normal Intestinal IPEC-1 Cells
Authors: Faixová Dominika , Ratvaj Marek , Maruščáková Ivana , Hrčková Gabriela , Karaffová Viera , Faixová Zita , Mudroňová Dagmar
Published: February 2023

The anticancer potential of silymarin is well known, including its anti-inflammatory as well as antiproliferative effect mediated by influencing the cell cycle, suppression of apoptosis, and inhibition of cell-survival kinases. However, less is known about silybin, the main component of the silymarin complex, where studies indicate its dual effect on the proliferation and immune response of various cell types in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, there is a lack of studies comparing the effect of silybin on the same type of healthy and tumor cells, especially intestinal ones. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the concentration-dependent effect of silybin on the normal intestinal porcine epithelial cell line-1 (IPEC-1) and the human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line (CaCo-2). The metabolic viability, cell cycle, mitochondrial membrane potential, apoptosis, and the relative gene expression for pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were monitored in cells treated with silybin. Silybin stimulates metabolic viability as well as proliferation in IPEC-1 cells, protects the mitochondrial membrane, and thus exerts a cytoprotective effect, and has only a minimal effect on the gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines but significantly increases the expression of anti-inflammatory TGF-β. In contrast, it inhibits metabolic viability in tumor intestinal CaCo-2 cells, has an antiproliferative effect accompanied by increased apoptosis, and significantly reduces the expression of genes for pro-inflammatory interleukins as well as TGF-β. The antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effect of silybin on tumor intestinal cells without a negative effect on healthy cells is a prerequisite for its potential use in the adjuvant therapy of colon cancer; however, further studies are necessary.
Designing a Multi-Agent PLM System for Threaded Connections Using the Principle of Isomorphism of Regularities of Complex Systems
Authors: Kopei Volodymyr , Onysko Oleh , Barz Cristian , Dašić Predrag , Panchuk Vitalii
Published: February 2023

The PLM concept implies the use of heterogeneous information resources at different stages of the product life cycle, the joint work of which allows the user to effectively solve the problems of product quality and various costs. According to the principle of isomorphism of complex systems’ regularities, an effective PLM system must have these regularities. Unfortunately, this principle is not often fundamental when designing PLM systems. The purpose of this paper is to develop principles, based on the general theory of systems, for the design, operation and use of PLM systems and the implementation on their basis of the educational framework of a PLM system for threaded connections with the possibility of its effective development, research and study. The multi-agent approach to the development of a PLM system provides the necessary prerequisites for the emergence of system-wide regularities in it. The parallel work of agents is implemented using the actor model and the Ray Python-package. Agents for the logical inference of knowledge base facts, CAD/FEA/CAM/SCADA agents, agents for optimization by various methods, and other agents have been developed. Open-source software was used to develop the system. Each agent has relatively simple behavior, implemented by its rule function, and can interact with other agents. The system can work in interactive mode with the user or in automatic mode according to a simple algorithm: the rule functions of all agents are executed until at least one of them returns a value other than None. Examples of the system operation are given and system-wide regularities such as emergence, historicity and self-organization are demonstrated in it.
Amplitude-Versus-Angle (AVA) Inversion for Pre-Stack Seismic Data with L0-Norm-Gradient Regularization
Authors: Dai Ronghuo , Yang Jun
Published: February 2023

Amplitude-versus-angle (AVA) inversion for pre-stack seismic data is a key technology in oil and gas reservoir prediction. Conventional AVA inversion contains two main stages. Stage one estimates the relative change rates of P-wave velocity, S-wave velocity and density, and stage two obtains the P-wave velocity, S-wave velocity and density based on their relative change rates through trace integration. An alternative way merges these two stages to estimate P-wave velocity, S-wave velocity and density directly. This way is less sensitive to noise in seismic data compared to conventional two-stage AVA inversion. However, the regularization for the direct AVA inversion is more complex. To regularize this merged inverse problem, the L0-norm-gradient of P-wave velocity, S-wave velocity and density was used. L0-norm-gradient regularization can provide inversion results with blocky features to make formation interfaces and geological edges precise. Then, L0-norm-gradient regularized AVA inversion was performed on the synthetic seismic traces. Next, a real seismic data line that contains three partial angle stack profiles was used to test the practice application. The inversion results from synthetic and real seismic data showed that L0-norm-gradient regularized AVA inversion is an effective way to estimate P-wave velocity, S-wave velocity and density.
Exponential Inequality of Marked Point Processes
Authors: Li Chen , Song Yuping
Published: February 2023

This paper presents the uniform concentration inequality for the stochastic integral of marked point processes. We developed a new chaining method to obtain the results. Our main result is presented under an entropy condition for partitioning the index set of the integrands. Our result is an improvement of the work of van de Geer on exponential inequalities for martingales in 1995. As applications of the main result, we also obtained the uniform concentration inequality of functional indexed empirical processes and the Kakutani–Hellinger distance of the maximum likelihood estimator.
Analytical Solution of the Local Fractional KdV Equation
Authors: Albalawi Kholoud Saad , Alazman Ibtehal , Prasad Jyoti Geetesh , Goswami Pranay
Published: February 2023

This research work is dedicated to solving the n-generalized Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equation in a fractional sense. The method is a combination of the Sumudu transform and the Adomian decomposition method. This method has significant advantages for solving differential equations that are both linear and nonlinear. It is easy to find the solutions to fractional-order PDEs with less computing labor.
An Adoptive Miner-Misuse Based Online Anomaly Detection Approach in the Power System: An Optimum Reinforcement Learning Method
Authors: Almalaq Abdulaziz , Albadran Saleh , Mohamed Mohamed A.
Published: February 2023

Over the past few years, the Bitcoin-based financial trading system (BFTS) has created new challenges for the power system due to the high-risk consumption of mining devices. Briefly, such a problem would be a compelling incentive for cyber-attackers who intend to inflict significant infections on a power system. Simply put, an effort to phony up the consumption data of mining devices results in the furtherance of messing up the optimal energy management within the power system. Hence, this paper introduces a new cyber-attack named miner-misuse for power systems equipped by transaction tech. To overwhelm this dispute, this article also addresses an online coefficient anomaly detection approach with reliance on the reinforcement learning (RL) concept for the power system. On account of not being sufficiently aware of the system, we fulfilled the Observable Markov Decision Process (OMDP) idea in the RL mechanism in order to barricade the miner attack. The proposed method would be enhanced in an optimal and punctual way if the setting parameters were properly established in the learning procedure. So to speak, a hybrid mechanism of the optimization approach and learning structure will not only guarantee catching in the best and most far-sighted solution but also become the high converging time. To this end, this paper proposes an Intelligent Priority Selection (IPS) algorithm merging with the suggested RL method to become more punctual and optimum in the way of detecting miner attacks. Additionally, to conjure up the proposed detection approach’s effectiveness, mathematical modeling of the energy consumption of the mining devices based on the hashing rate within BFTS is provided. The uncertain fluctuation related to the needed energy of miners makes energy management unpredictable and needs to be dealt with. Hence, the unscented transformation (UT) method can obtain a high chance of precisely modeling the uncertain parameters within the system. All in all, the F-score value and successful probability of attack inferred from results revealed that the proposed anomaly detection method has the ability to identify the miner attacks as real-time-short as possible compared to other approaches.
Intelligent Image Super-Resolution for Vehicle License Plate in Surveillance Applications
Authors: Hijji Mohammad , Khan Abbas , Alwakeel Mohammed M. , Harrabi Rafika , Aradah Fahad , Cheikh Faouzi Alaya , Sajjad Muhammad , Muhammad Khan
Published: February 2023

Vehicle license plate images are often low resolution and blurry because of the large distance and relative motion between the vision sensor and vehicle, making license plate identification arduous. The extensive use of expensive, high-quality vision sensors is uneconomical in most cases; thus, images are initially captured and then translated from low resolution to high resolution. For this purpose, several traditional techniques such as bilinear, bicubic, super-resolution convolutional neural network, and super-resolution generative adversarial network (SRGAN) have been developed over time to upgrade low-quality images. However, most studies in this area pertain to the conversion of low-resolution images to super-resolution images, and little attention has been paid to motion de-blurring. This work extends SRGAN by adding an intelligent motion-deblurring method (termed SRGAN-LP), which helps to enhance the image resolution and remove motion blur from the given images. A comprehensive and new domain-specific dataset was developed to achieve improved results. Moreover, maintaining higher quantitative and qualitative results in comparison to the ground truth images, this study upscales the provided low-resolution image four times and removes the motion blur to a reasonable extent, making it suitable for surveillance applications.
The Exponentiated Power Alpha Index Generalized Family of Distributions: Properties and Applications
Authors: Hussain Sajid , Ul Hassan Mahmood , Sajid Rashid Muhammad , Ahmed Rashid
Published: February 2023

The study of hydrological characteristics has a vital role in designing, planning, and managing water resources. The selection of appropriate probability distributions and methods of estimations are basic elements in hydrology analyses. In this article, a new family named the ‘exponentiated power alpha index generalized’ (EPAIG)-G is proposed to develop several new distributions. Using this proposed family, we developed a new model, called the EPAIG-exponential (EPAIG-E). A few structural properties of the EPAIG-G were obtained. The EPAIG-E parameters were estimated through the method of maximum likelihood (MML). The study of the Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) was produced for the EPAIG-E. The model performance is illustrated using real data.
Identification and Correction of Grammatical Errors in Ukrainian Texts Based on Machine Learning Technology
Authors: Lytvyn Vasyl , Pukach Petro , Vysotska Victoria , Vovk Myroslava , Kholodna Nataliia
Published: February 2023

A machine learning model for correcting errors in Ukrainian texts has been developed. It was established that the neural network has the ability to correct simple sentences written in Ukrainian; however, the development of a full-fledged system requires the use of spell-checking using dictionaries and the checking of rules, both simple and those based on the result of parsing dependencies or other features. In order to save computing resources, a pre-trained BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformer) type neural network was used. Such neural networks have half as many parameters as other pre-trained models and show satisfactory results in correcting grammatical and stylistic errors. Among the ready-made neural network models, the pre-trained neural network model mT5 (a multilingual variant of T5 or Text-to-Text Transfer Transformer) showed the best performance according to the BLEU (bilingual evaluation understudy) and METEOR (metric for evaluation of translation with explicit ordering) metrics.
Modern Therapeutic Strategies in Endodontics and Restorative Dentistry
Authors: Iandolo Alfredo
Published: February 2023

Modern endodontics aims to reduce or eliminate bacterial load inside root canals [...]
Design and Characterization of Mg Alloy Pedicle Screws for Atlantoaxial Fixation
Authors: Zhao Yunchuan , Cui Haipo , Guo Xudong , Bu Chaohui
Published: February 2023

To investigate the feasibility of using absorbable Mg alloy pedicle screws for atlantoaxial dislocation fixation, four types of Mg alloy pedicle screws of different thread forms were designed, and simulation analysis of the pull-out force was performed using the finite element method. Stress and displacement distributions of the atlantoaxial fixation model were obtained. Subsequently, screw samples were prepared using the WE43 Mg alloy for extraction, torsion, and immersion corrosion tests. Finite element analysis results showed that the pull-out forces of triangular, rectangular, trapezoidal, and zigzag thread screws were 552.61, 540.91, 546.4, and 542.74 N, respectively, and the stresses on the screws were 146, 185, 195, and 265 MPa, respectively, when they were pulled out. In other words, the triangular thread screw had the largest pull-out resistance and smallest stress peak. The average corrosion rate of Mg alloy screws in vitro was 0.46 mg·cm−2·day−1. Compared with that before corrosion, the extraction resistance of the corroded screws did not change significantly; however, the torsional strength decreased, but it was still greater than the torque required for screw implantation. It can be concluded that triangular thread Mg alloy pedicle screws have good extraction resistance and mechanical stability and can meet the load-bearing requirements for atlantoaxial dislocation fixation. The degradation of the Mg alloy reduced the mechanical strength of the screws, but the triangularly threaded screws can still maintain their effectiveness.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Biomedical Ti-Zr-Nb-Ta-Sn High-Entropy Alloys
Authors: Ozerov Maxim , Yurchenko Nikita , Sokolovsky Vitaly , Nozdracheva Elena , Panina Evgeniya , Nadezhdin Sergey , Stepanov Nikita , Zherebtsov Sergey
Published: February 2023

Ti(50-x)Zr38NbxTa8Sn4 high-entropy alloys with x = 0, 10, and 20 at.% were produced by vacuum arc melting in a high-purity argon atmosphere. The initial microstructures consisted of equiaxial bcc grains with sizes of 115 ± 30 µm, 250 ± 60 µm, and 280 ± 70 µm for the Ti30Nb20, Ti40Nb10, and Ti50Nb0 alloys, respectively. The Ti30Nb20 and Ti40Nb10 alloys showed untypical mechanical behavior with a short strain-hardening stage followed by a gradual decrease in flow stress after reaching the yield point. Although these two alloys had some inclination toward macroscopic strain localization, their tensile elongation was similar to that obtained in the Ti50Nb0 alloy, which had a more extended stage of uniform deformation. The differences were associated with distinct microstructures observed after deformation to fracture. The formation of dislocation bands and the activation of cross-slip at the microscale, as well as the appearance of kink bands at the mesoscale, can result in plastic instability. In contrast, a lamellar-like microstructure with parallel dislocation bands, such as the one observed in the Ti50Nb0 alloy, can ensure a more stable mechanical behavior. The developed alloys (Ti30Nb20 and Ti40Nb10) have properties that make them highly attractive for biomedical application due to a combination of very high yield strengths (1090 and 930 MPa, respectively), low Young’s moduli (~78 and ~69 GPa, respectively), reasonable ductility, and excellent biocompatibility.
Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Compounds Derived from Vitex rotundifolia
Authors: Le DucDat , Han Sanghee , Min Kyung Hyun , Lee Mina
Published: February 2023

The objective of this study is to describe the separation and identification of one new phenolic and 19 known compounds from Vitex rotundifolia. Their structures were determined based on spectroscopic (NMR, CD, and MS) data analysis or Mosher’s method, and were compared with those reported in the literature. These isolates were then evaluated for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities based on the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin (IL)-8 production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cells (RAW264.7 and HT-29) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging abilities, respectively. In the NO assay, compounds 12–14 showed strong inhibition with compounds 10 and 15 displaying significant inhibition. In the IL-8 assay, compounds 8, 9, 13, 14, 19, and 20 exhibited potential to inhibit IL-8 production and other compounds displayed moderate inhibition. An in silico docking approach also revealed strong binding affinities for protein–ligand complexes of these active compounds against IL-8 production. The docking results were correlated with the experimental data of the IL-8 assay. Thus, these active compounds should be considered as candidates for further in vivo studies. This study implies the potential of new and active chemicals isolated from V. rotundifolia and provides evidence to support the development of active fractions and constituents into functional products targeting inflammatory diseases the future.
Non-Targeted Metabolomic Profiling Identifies Metabolites with Potential Antimicrobial Activity from an Anaerobic Bacterium Closely Related to Terrisporobacter Species
Authors: Pahalagedara Amila S. N. W. , Flint Steve , Palmer Jon , Brightwell Gale , Luo Xian , Li Liang , Gupta Tanushree B.
Published: February 2023

This work focused on the metabolomic profiling of the conditioned medium (FS03CM) produced by an anaerobic bacterium closely related to Terrisporobacter spp. to identify potential antimicrobial metabolites. The metabolome of the conditioned medium was profiled by two-channel Chemical Isotope Labelling (CIL) LC-MS. The detected metabolites were identified or matched by conducting a library search using different confidence levels. Forty-eight significantly changed metabolites were identified with high confidence after the growth of isolate FS03 in cooked meat glucose starch (CMGS) medium. Some of the secondary metabolites identified with known antimicrobial activities were 4-hydroxyphenyllactate, 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, acetic acid, isobutyric acid, valeric acid, and tryptamine. Our findings revealed the presence of different secondary metabolites with previously reported antimicrobial activities and suggested the capability of producing antimicrobial metabolites by the anaerobic bacterium FS03.
High-Density Lipoprotein Alterations in Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity
Authors: Denimal Damien , Monier Serge , Bouillet Benjamin , Vergès Bruno , Duvillard Laurence
Published: February 2023

Alterations affecting high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) are one of the various abnormalities observed in dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. Kinetic studies have demonstrated that the catabolism of HDL particles is accelerated. Both the size and the lipidome and proteome of HDL particles are significantly modified, which likely contributes to some of the functional defects of HDLs. Studies on cholesterol efflux capacity have yielded heterogeneous results, ranging from a defect to an improvement. Several studies indicate that HDLs are less able to inhibit the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) proinflammatory pathway, and subsequently, the adhesion of monocytes on endothelium and their recruitment into the subendothelial space. In addition, the antioxidative function of HDL particles is diminished, thus facilitating the deleterious effects of oxidized low-density lipoproteins on vasculature. Lastly, the HDL-induced activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase is less effective in T2DM and metabolic syndrome, contributing to several HDL functional defects, such as an impaired capacity to promote vasodilatation and endothelium repair, and difficulty counteracting the production of reactive oxygen species and inflammation.
Optimization of Cyclodextrin-Assisted Extraction of Phenolics from Helichrysum italicum for Preparation of Extracts with Anti-Elastase and Anti-Collagenase Properties
Authors: Marijan Marijan , Tomić Dora , Strawa Jakub W. , Jakupović Lejsa , Inić Suzana , Jug Mario , Tomczyk Michał , Zovko Končić Marijana
Published: February 2023

Helichrysum italicum is a plant traditionally used for skin-related disorders that is becoming an increasingly popular ingredient in cosmetic products. In this work, a “green” ultrasound-assisted extraction method for H. italicum phenolics was developed using skin-friendly cyclodextrins (CDs). Extraction conditions needed for the greatest yield of target compounds (total phenolics, phenolic acids, and flavonoids) were calculated. The composition of the extracts was determined using LC-MS and spectrophotometric methods. Among the tested CDs, 2-hydroxylpropyl-beta-CD (HP-β-CD) was the best suited for extraction of target phenolics and used to prepare two optimized extracts, OPT 1 (the extract with the highest phenolic acid content) and OPT 2 (the extract with the highest total phenol and flavonoid content). The extracts were prepared at 80 °C, using 0.089 g of plant material/g solvent (0.6 mmol of HP-β-CD), with or without addition of 1.95% (w/w) lactic acid. The main metabolite in both extracts was 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid. It was found that the addition of lactic acid greatly contributes to the extraction of arzanol, a well-known anti-inflammatory agent. IC50 values of the anti-elastase (22.360 ± 0.125 μL extract/mL and 20.067 ± 0.975 for OPT-1 and OPT-2, respectively) and anti-collagenase (12.035 ± 1.029 μL extract/mL and 14.392 ± 0.705 μL extract/mL for OPT-1 and OPT-2, respectively) activities of the extracts surpassed those of the applied positive controls, namely ursolic and gallic acids. This activity deems the prepared extracts promising ingredients for natural cosmetics, appropriate for direct use in cosmetic products, removing the need for the evaporation of conventional solvents.
Acquiring Iron-Reducing Enrichment Cultures: Environments, Methods and Quality Assessments
Authors: Cardoso Aline Figueiredo , da Silva Rayara do Socorro Souza , Prado Isabelle Gonçalves de Oliveira , Bitencourt José Augusto Pires , Gastauer Markus
Published: February 2023

Lateritic duricrusts cover iron ore deposits and form spatially restricted, unique canga ecosystems endangered by mining. Iron cycling, i.e., the dissolution and subsequent precipitation of iron, is able to restitute canga duricrusts, generating new habitats for endangered biota in post-mining landscapes. As iron-reducing bacteria can accelerate this iron cycling, we aim to retrieve microbial enrichment cultures suitable to mediate the large-scale restoration of cangas. For that, we collected water and sediment samples from the Carajás National Forest and cultivated the iron-reducing microorganisms therein using a specific medium. We measured the potential to reduce iron using ferrozine assays, growth rate and metabolic activity. Six out of seven enrichment cultures effectively reduced iron, showing that different environments harbor iron-reducing bacteria. The most promising enrichment cultures were obtained from environments with repeated flooding and drying cycles, i.e., periodically inundated grasslands and a plateau of an iron mining waste pile characterized by frequent soaking. Selected enrichment cultures contained iron-reducing and fermenting bacteria, such as Serratia and Enterobacter. We found higher iron-reducing potential in enrichment cultures with a higher cell density and microorganism diversity. The obtained enrichment cultures should be tested for canga restoration to generate benefits for biodiversity and contribute to more sustainable iron mining in the region.
Antarctic Bioconstructional Bryozoans from Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea): Morphology, Skeletal Structures and Biomineralization
Authors: Lombardi Chiara , Kuklinski Piotr , Spirandelli Edoardo , Bruzzone Giorgio , Raiteri Giancarlo , Bordone Andrea , Mazzoli Claudio , López Correa Matthias , van Geldern Robert , Plasseraud Laurent , Thomas Jérôme , Marin Frédéric
Published: February 2023

Among Antarctic bryozoans, some species are able to develop calcitic bioconstructions promoting habitat complexity, but the processes leading to biomineral formation are mostly unknown. The present work investigated three Antarctic bryozoans, from morphological to skeletal features, including the organic matrix associated with the skeleton (SOM). Cellarinella nutti Rogick, 1956 and Reteporella frigida Waters, 1904 were collected in November 2018 from a shallow site (25 m) and Cellarinella njegovanae Rogick, 1956 from a deep site (110 m) at Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica). Both Cellarinella species showed 5–6 “growth check lines” (gcl) on their laminae. The morphometrical characterization conducted on the growth bands (gb) and zooids, within the band across bands, revealed a variability in length with time (C. nutti: from 4099 µm for gb1 to 1449 µm for gb6; C. njegovanae: from 1974 µm for gb 3 to 7127 µm for gb2). Zooid length varied within gb, from the proximal to the distal part of the bands, but differences also occurred across bands. The shortest zooids (~625 µm) were found at the proximal part and the longest (~ 1190 µm) in the middle part of the gb in C. nutti, whereas in C. njegovanae the shortest zooids (~ 660 µm) were found in the distal part and the longest (~1190 µm) in the proximal part of the gb. Micro-CT analyses indicated the ratio of basal zooidal walls (RbwT gcl/gb) ranged from 3.0 to 4.9 in C. nutti and from 2.3 to 5.9 in C. njegovanae, whereas Reteporella frigida did not form any gcl on either side of the colony. Preliminary characterizations of the SOM for the three species evidenced a mixture of proteins and polysaccharides with properties similar to those of better-known biominerals, in terms of quantity and electrophoretic behavior. In addition, a “lectin fingerprint” has been established for the first time in bryozoans, displaying the presence of chitin or chitin-related saccharides. Understanding the complexity of the processes regulating skeleton formation is a key aspect in comprehending the adaptation of bioconstructional ecosystems and the survival of the associated biodiversity under the future ocean.
Construction of Nanostructured Glass-Zirconia to Improve the Interface Stability of Dental Bilayer Zirconia
Authors: Zhou Ming , Zhang Xiaoyu , Zhang Yaming , Li Ding , Zhao Zhe , Wang Qing , Tang Kai , Niu Lina , Wang Fu
Published: February 2023

Bilayer zirconia restoration is one of the most commonly used restorations in dental practice, but the high frequency of the cohesive/adhesive fracture of veneered porcelain is still a problem. This paper focuses on the development of nanostructured glass-zirconia to improve the interface stability of dental zirconia substrate and veneered porcelain. A novel SiO2-Li2O-Al2O3 (SLA) glass was prepared and infiltrated into the surface of fully sintered dental zirconia to obtain nanostructured glass-zirconia structure. The prepared glass-zirconia was analyzed with scanning electron microscopes (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD). The wettability, roughness and 3D morphology of zirconia were altered, and shear bonding strength (SBS) test demonstrated almost double increase in SBS values of the nanostructured glass-zirconia structure. The failure modes and microstructure characteristics also verified the improved interfacial stability. This investigation provides a promising method for enhancing the structural stability of bilayer zirconia restorations.
Assessment of Carbon Nanotubes on Barrier Function, Ciliary Beating Frequency and Cytokine Release in In Vitro Models of the Respiratory Tract
Authors: Meindl Claudia , Absenger-Novak Markus , Jeitler Ramona , Roblegg Eva , Fröhlich Eleonore
Published: February 2023

The exposure to inhaled carbon nanotubes (CNT) may have adverse effects on workers upon chronic exposure. In order to assess the toxicity of inhaled nanoparticles in a physiologically relevant manner, an air–liquid interface culture of mono and cocultures of respiratory cells and assessment in reconstructed bronchial and alveolar tissues was used. The effect of CNT4003 reference particles applied in simulated lung fluid was studied in bronchial (Calu-3 cells, EpiAirway™ and MucilAir™ tissues) and alveolar (A549 +/−THP-1 and EpiAlveolar™ +/−THP-1) models. Cytotoxicity, transepithelial electrical resistance, interleukin 6 and 8 secretion, mucociliary clearance and ciliary beating frequency were used as readout parameters. With the exception of increased secretion of interleukin 6 in the EpiAlveolar™ tissues, no adverse effects of CNT4003 particles, applied at doses corresponding to the maximum estimated lifetime exposure of workers, in the bronchial and alveolar models were noted, suggesting no marked differences between the models. Since the doses for whole-life exposure were applied over a shorter time, it is not clear if the interleukin 6 increase in the EpiAlveolar™ tissues has physiological relevance.
Bipolar Switching Properties of the Transparent Indium Tin Oxide Thin Film Resistance Random Access Memories
Authors: Chen Kai-Huang , Cheng Chien-Min , Chen Mei-Li , Pan Yi-Yun
Published: February 2023

In this study, the bipolar switching properties and electrical conduction behaviors of the ITO thin films RRAM devices were investigated. For the transparent RRAM devices structure, indium tin oxide thin films were deposited by using the RF magnetron sputtering method on the ITO/glass substrate. For the ITO/ITOX/ITO/glass (MIM) structure, an indium tin oxide thin film top electrode was prepared to form the transparent RRAM devices. From the experimental results, the 102 On/Off memory ratio and bipolar switching cycling properties for set/reset stable states were found and discussed. All transparent RRAM devices exhibited the obvious memory window and low set voltage for the switching times of 120 cycles. The electrical transport mechanisms were dominated by the ohmic contact and space charge limit conduction (SCLC) models for set and reset states. Finally, the transmittances properties of the transparent ITO/ITOX/ITO RRAM devices for the different oxygen growth procedures were about 90% according to the UV–Vis spectrophotometer for the visible wavelength range.
Effects of Carbon Nanoparticles and Chromium Combined Exposure in Native (Ruditapes decussatus) and Invasive (Ruditapes philippinarum) Clams
Authors: Sturla Lompré Julieta , De Marchi Lucia , Pinto João , Soares Amadeu M. V. M. , Pretti Carlo , Chielini Federica , Pereira Eduarda , Freitas Rosa
Published: February 2023

Studies have described the occurrence of nanoparticles (NPs) in aquatic ecosystems, with particular attention to the widely commercialized carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Their presence in the environment raises concerns, especially regarding their toxicity when co-occurring with other pollutants such as metals. In the present study, changes to the metabolic capacity, oxidative, and neurologic status were evaluated in the presence of carboxylated multi-walled CNTs and chromium (Cr(III)) using two of the most ecologically and economically relevant filter feeder organisms: the clam species Ruditapes decussatus and R. philippinarum. Results indicated that although Cr, either alone or in combination with CNTs, was found in a similar concentration level in both species, a species-specific Cr accumulation was observed, with higher values in R. decussatus in comparison with R. philippinarum. Inhibition of antioxidant defenses and neurotoxic effects were detected only in R. philippinarum. The interaction between contaminants seems to have no effect in terms of antioxidant enzyme activities and neuro status. Nevertheless, synergistic activation of responses to both contaminants may have altered the metabolic capacity of bivalves, particularly evident in R. decussatus. While both clams are tolerant to both contaminants (alone and together), they showed a relevant accumulation capacity, which may represent a possible contaminant transfer to humans.
Dietary Supplements: A Gateway to Doping?
Authors: Mallick Moriah , Camacho Chloe Briana , Daher Jana , El Khoury Dalia
Published: February 2023

Dietary supplements are widely used among athletes, but many may be unaware of the potential for unintentional doping, especially considering that supplements can often be contaminated with prohibited substances. The reason behind the widespread use of dietary supplements among athletes is often cited as being for the purposes of enhancing health or performance. However, many athletes turn to unreliable sources of information, and often lack knowledge of dietary supplement regulations. The aim of this narrative review is to explore the current research surrounding the psychological constructs (such as norms, attitudes, and beliefs) related to dietary supplement use among athletes that may lead to inadvertent doping. This review also covers possible programme structures that may be effective at preventing inadvertent doping.
Is a Lower Dose of Rivaroxaban Required for Asians? A Systematic Review of a Population Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics Analysis of Rivaroxaban
Authors: Liu Xiao-Qin , Li Zi-Ran , Wang Chen-Yu , Chen Yue-Ting , Jiao Zheng
Published: February 2023

Rivaroxaban has been widely used to prevent and treat various thromboembolic diseases for more than a decade. However, whether a lower dose of rivaroxaban is required for Asians is still debatable. This review aimed to explore the potential ethnic difference in pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) characteristics between Asians and Caucasians. A systematic search was conducted and twenty-four studies were identified, of which 10 were conducted on Asian adults, 11 on predominantly Caucasian adults, and 3 on Caucasian pediatrics. The apparent clearance (CL/F) of rivaroxaban in Caucasian adults with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (6.45–7.64 L/h) was about 31–43% higher than that in Asians (4.46–5.98 L/h) taking 10~20 mg rivaroxaban every 24 h. Moreover, there was no obvious difference in CL/F among Japanese, Chinese, Thai, and Irani people. Regarding PK/PD relationship, prothrombin time was linked to rivaroxaban concentration in a linear or near-linear manner, and Factor Xa activity was linked with the Emax model. The exposure–response relationship was comparable between Asians and Caucasians. Renal function has a significant influence on CL/F, and no covariate was recognized for exposure–response relationship. In conclusion, a lower dose of rivaroxaban might be required for Asians, and further studies are warranted to verify this ethnic difference to facilitate optimal dosing regimens.
Effect of PEG Anchor and Serum on Lipid Nanoparticles: Development of a Nanoparticles Tracking Method
Authors: Berger Manon , Degey Manon , Leblond Chain Jeanne , Maquoi Erik , Evrard Brigitte , Lechanteur Anna , Piel Géraldine
Published: February 2023

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is used in Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) formulations to confer stealth properties and is traditionally anchored in membranes by a lipid moiety whose length significantly impacts the LNPs fate in vivo. C18 acyl chains are efficiently anchored in the membrane, while shorter C14 lipids are quickly desorbed and replaced by a protein corona responsible for the completely different fate of LNPs. In this context, a method to predict the biological behavior of LNPs depending on the lipid-PEG dissociation was developed using the Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) method in serum. Two formulations of siRNA-containing LNPs were prepared including CSL3 or SM-102 lipids and were grafted with different lipids-PEG (C18, C14 lipids-PEG, and Ceramide-PEG). The impact of the lipid-PEG on the interactions between LNPs and serum components was demonstrated by monitoring the mean particle size and the concentration over time. In vitro, these formulations demonstrated low toxicity and efficient gene knockdown on tumor MDA-MB-231 cells, but serum was found to significantly impact the efficiency of C18-PEG-based LNPs, while it did not impact the efficiency of C14-PEG-based LNPs. The NTA method demonstrated the ability to discriminate between the behaviors of LNPs according to serum proteins’ interactions. CSL3 lipid and Cer-PEG were confirmed to have promise for LNP formulation.
Liposomal Formulations of a Polyleucine–Antigen Conjugate as Therapeutic Vaccines against Cervical Cancer
Authors: Firdaus Farrhana Z. , Bartlett Stacey , Hussein Waleed M. , Lu Lantian , Wright Quentin , Huang Wenbin , Nahar Ummey J. , Yang Jieru , Khongkow Mattaka , Veitch Margaret , Koirala Prashamsa , Ruktanonchai Uracha R. , Monteiro Michael J. , Gonzalez Cruz Jazmina L. , Stephenson Rachel J. , Wells James W. , Toth Istvan , Skwarczynski Mariusz
Published: February 2023

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is responsible for all cases of cervical cancer. While prophylactic vaccines are available, the development of peptide-based vaccines as a therapeutic strategy is still under investigation. In comparison with the traditional and currently used treatment strategies of chemotherapy and surgery, vaccination against HPV is a promising therapeutic option with fewer side effects. A peptide derived from the HPV-16 E7 protein, called 8Qm, in combination with adjuvants showed promise as a therapeutic vaccine. Here, the ability of polymerized natural amino acids to act as a self-adjuvating delivery system as a therapeutic vaccine was investigated for the first time. Thus, 8Qm was conjugated to polyleucine by standard solid-phase peptide synthesis and self-assembled into nanoparticles or incorporated in liposomes. The liposome bearing the 8Qm conjugate significantly increased mice survival and decreased tumor growth after a single immunization. Further, these liposomes eradicated seven-day-old well-established tumors in mice. Dendritic cell (DC)-targeting moieties were introduced to further enhance vaccine efficacy, and the newly designed liposomal vaccine was tested in mice bearing 11-day-old tumors. Interestingly, these DCs-targeting moieties did not significantly improve vaccine efficacy, whereas the simple liposomal formulation of 8Qm-polyleucine conjugate was still effective in tumor eradication. In summary, a peptide-based anticancer vaccine was developed that stimulated strong cellular immune responses without the help of a classical adjuvant.
Development and Application of THz Gyrotrons for Advanced Spectroscopic Methods
Authors: Sabchevski Svilen , Glyavin Mikhail
Published: February 2023

Nowadays, gyrotrons are used in numerous and diverse fields of research and technology. Their most prominent application is to electron cyclotron resonance plasma heating and current drive-in reactors for controlled thermonuclear fusion. Another matured field is the thermal microwave treatment of materials in industrial-grade gyrotron-based technological systems. The unique spectral properties of gyrotron radiation, frequency tunability, and the possibility for precise control and modulation of both the output power and frequency have made the gyrotrons attractive and appropriate radiation sources for various novel advanced spectroscopic techniques. Among them are ESR (electron spin resonance), NMR-DNP (nuclear magnetic resonance with a signal enhancement through dynamic nuclear polarization), XDMR (X-ray detected magnetic resonance), acoustic molecular spectroscopy, as well as high-precision spectroscopy for measuring the SFS (super-fine splitting of the energy levels of positronium). In this review paper, we present both the current status and the most remarkable recent achievements of these methods implemented in gyrotron-based spectroscopy systems and discuss the main trends in the development of their dedicated radiation sources operating in the THz frequency range.