bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fabrication of Adsorbed Fe(III) and Structurally Doped Fe(III) in Montmorillonite/TiO2 Composite for Photocatalytic Degradation of Phenol
Authors: Zhang Li , Chuaicham Chitiphon , Balakumar Vellaichamy , Ohtani Bunsho , Sasaki Keiko
Published: December 2021

The Fe(III)-doped montmorillonite (Mt)/TiO2 composites were fabricated by adding Fe(III) during or after the aging of TiO2/Ti(OH)4 sol–gel in Mt, named as xFe-Mt/(1 − x)Fe-TiO2 and Fe/Mt/TiO2, respectively. In the xFe-Mt/(1 − x)Fe-TiO2, Fe(III) cations were expected to be located in the structure of TiO2, in the Mt, and in the interface between them, while Fe(III) ions are physically adsorbed on the surfaces of the composites in the Fe/Mt/TiO2. The narrower energy bandgap (Eg) lower photo-luminescence intensity were observed for the composites compared with TiO2. Better photocatalytic performance for phenol degradation was observed in the Fe/Mt/TiO2. The 94.6% phenol degradation was due to greater charge generation and migration capacity, which was confirmed by photocurrent measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results of the energy-resolved distribution of electron traps (ERDT) suggested that the Fe/Mt/TiO2 possessed a larger amorphous rutile phase content in direct contact with crystal anatase than that of the xFe-Mt/(1 − x)Fe-TiO2. This component is the fraction that is mainly responsible for the photocatalytic phenol degradation by the composites. As for the xFe-Mt/(1 − x)Fe-TiO2, the active rutile phase was followed by isolated amorphous phases which had larger (Eg) and which did not act as a photocatalyst. Thus, the physically adsorbed Fe(III) enhanced light adsorption and avoided charge recombination, resulting in improved photocatalytic performance. The mechanism of the photocatalytic reaction with the Fe(III)-doped Mt/TiO2 composite was proposed.
Application of the Fine-Grained Soil Prospecting Method in Typical Covered Terrains of Northern China
Authors: Liu Hanliang , Zhang Bimin , Wang Xueqiu , Han Zhixuan , Zhang Baoyun , Yuan Guoli
Published: December 2021

In recent years, mineral resources near the surface are becoming scarce, causing focused mineral exploration on concealed deposits in covered terrains. In northern China, covered terrains are widespread and conceal bedrock sequences and mineralization. These represent geochemical challenges for mineral exploration in China. As a deep-penetrating geochemical technology that can reflect the information of deep anomalies, the fine-grained soil prospecting method has achieved ideal test results in arid Gobi Desert covered terrain, semi-arid grassland covered terrain, and alluvium soil covered terrain of northern China. The anomaly range indicated by the fine-grained soil prospecting method is very good with the known ore body location. The corresponding relationship can effectively indicate deep ore bodies and delineate anomalies in unknown areas. Overall, the fine-grained soil prospecting method can be applied to geochemical prospecting and exploration in covered terrains.
Prediction of Uniaxial Compression Strength of Limestone Based on the Point Load Strength and SVM Model
Authors: Li Shaoqian , Wang Yu , Xie Xuebin
Published: December 2021

Uniaxial compression strength (UCS) is a fundamental parameter to carry out geotechnical engineering design and construction. It is simple and efficient to predict UCS using point load strength (PLS) at engineering sites. However, the high dispersion of rock strength limits the accuracy of traditional fitting prediction methods. In order to improve the UCS prediction accuracy, 30 sets of regular cylindrical specimen tests between PLS and UCS are conducted on limestone mines. The correlation relationship between PLS and UCS is found by using four basic fitting functions. Then, a prediction model is established by using SVM algorithm. Multiple training test data are used to achieve high-precision prediction of UCS and the results show it is less different from the actual values. Especially, the R2 coefficient reached 0.98. The SVM model prediction performance is significantly better than the traditional fitting function. The constructed SVM model in this study can accurately predict the UCS using the PLS obtained in the field, which has a great significance to the rock stability judgment in the actual construction environment.
Penetration Grouting Mechanism of Time-Dependent Power-Law Fluid for Reinforcing Loose Gravel Soil
Authors: Guo Tingting , Zhang Zhiwei , Yang Zhiquan , Zhu Yingyan , Yang Yi , Guo Yanhui , Wang Renchao , Zhang Bihua , Fang Yingchao , Yu Dongliang , Mi Yapeng , Su Jiankun , Liu Hao , Zhang Jie , Guo Yongfa , Wang Honglei
Published: December 2021

The time-dependent behavior of power-law fluid has a significant influence on the grouting effects of reinforcing loose gravel soil. In this paper, based on basic rheological equations and the time-dependent behavior of rheological parameters (consistency coefficient and rheological index), rheological equations and penetration equations of time-dependent power-law fluid are proposed. Its penetration grouting diffusion mechanism for reinforcing loose gravel soil was then theoretically induced. A set of indoor experimental devices for simulating penetration grouting was designed to simulate the penetration grouting of power-law fluid with different time-dependent behaviors for reinforcing loose gravel soil. Then, relying on the COMSOL Multiphysics platform and Darcy’s law, three-dimensional numerical calculation programs for this mechanism were obtained using secondary-development programming technology. Thus, the numerical simulations of the penetration grouting process of power-law fluid with different time-dependent behaviors for reinforcing loose gravel soil were carried out. This theoretical mechanism was validated by comparing results from theoretical analyses, indoor experiments, and numerical simulations. Research results show that the three-dimensional numerical calculation programs can successfully simulate the penetration diffusion patterns of a time-dependent power-law fluid in loose gravel soil. The theoretical calculation values and numerical simulation values of the diffusion radius obtained from this mechanism are closer to indoor experimental values than those obtained from the penetration grouting diffusion theory of power-law fluid without considering time-dependent behavior. This mechanism can better reflect the penetration grouting diffusion laws of a power-law fluid in loose gravel soil than the theory, which can provide theoretical support and guidance for practical grouting construction.
The Involvement of l-Arginine-Nitric Oxide-cGMP-ATP-Sensitive K+ Channel Pathway in Antinociception of BBHC, a Novel Diarylpentanoid Analogue, in Mice Model
Authors: Ong Hui Ming , Ahmad Azmi Ahmad Farhan , Leong Sze Wei , Abas Faridah , Perimal Enoch Kumar , Farouk Ahmad Akira Omar , Israf Daud Ahmad , Sulaiman Mohd Roslan
Published: December 2021

The present study focuses on the possible involvement of l-arginine-nitric oxide-cGMP-ATP-sensitive K+ channel pathway in the antinociceptive activity of a novel diarylpentanoid analogue, 2-benzoyl-6-(3-bromo-4-hydroxybenzylidene)cyclohexen-1-ol (BBHC) via a chemical nociceptive model in mice. The antinociceptive action of BBHC (1 mg/kg, i.p.) was attenuated by the intraperitoneal pre-treatment of l-arginine (a nitric oxide synthase precursor) and glibenclamide (an ATP-sensitive K+ channel blocker) in acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction tests. Interestingly, BBHC’s antinociception was significantly enhanced by the i.p. pre-treatment of 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), a selective inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase (p < 0.05). Altogether, these findings suggest that the systemic administration of BBHC is able to establish a significant antinociceptive effect in a mice model of chemically induced pain. BBHC’s antinociception is shown to be mediated by the involvement of l-arginine-nitric oxide-cGMP-ATP-sensitive K+ channel pathway, without any potential sedative or muscle relaxant concerns.
Structural Bases for Hesperetin Derivatives: Inhibition of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B, Kinetics Mechanism and Molecular Docking Study
Authors: Ali Md Yousof , Jannat Susoma , Jung Hyun-Ah , Choi Jae-Sue
Published: December 2021

In the present study, we investigated the structure-activity relationship of naturally occurring hesperetin derivatives, as well as the effects of their glycosylation on the inhibition of diabetes-related enzyme systems, protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and α-glycosidase. Among the tested hesperetin derivatives, hesperetin 5-O-glucoside, a single-glucose-containing flavanone glycoside, significantly inhibited PTP1B with an IC50 value of 37.14 ± 0.07 µM. Hesperetin, which lacks a sugar molecule, was the weakest inhibitor compared to the reference compound, ursolic acid (IC50 = 9.65 ± 0.01 µM). The most active flavanone hesperetin 5-O-glucoside suggested that the position of a sugar moiety at the C-5-position influences the PTP1B inhibition. It was observed that the ability to inhibit PTP1B is dependent on the nature, position, and number of sugar moieties in the flavonoid structure, as well as conjugation. In the kinetic study of PTP1B enzyme inhibition, hesperetin 5-O-glucoside led to mixed-type inhibition. Molecular docking studies revealed that hesperetin 5-O-glucoside had a higher binding affinity with key amino residues, suggesting that this molecule best fits the PTP1B allosteric site cavity. The data reported here support hesperetin 5-O-glucoside as a hit for the design of more potent and selective inhibitors against PTP1B in the search for a new anti-diabetic treatment.
Benchmarking Density Functional Approximations for Excited-State Properties of Fluorescent Dyes
Authors: Grabarz Anna M. , Ośmiałowski Borys
Published: December 2021

This study presents an extensive analysis of the predictive power of time-dependent density functional theory in determining the excited-state properties of two groups of important fluorescent dyes, difluoroboranes and hydroxyphenylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives. To ensure statistically meaningful results, the data set is comprised of 85 molecules manifesting diverse photophysical properties. The vertical excitation energies and dipole moments (in the electronic ground and excited states) of the aforementioned dyes were determined using the RI-CC2 method (reference) and with 18 density functional approximations (DFA). The set encompasses DFAs with varying amounts of exact exchange energy (EEX): from 0% (e.g., SVWN, BLYP), through a medium (e.g., TPSSh, B3LYP), up to a major contribution of EEX (e.g., BMK, MN15). It also includes range-separated hybrids (CAM-B3LYP, LC-BLYP). Similar error profiles of vertical energy were obtained for both dye groups, although the errors related to hydroxyphenylimidazopiridines are significantly larger. Overall, functionals including 40–55% of EEX (SOGGA11-X, BMK, M06-2X) ensure satisfactory agreement with the reference vertical excitation energies obtained using the RI-CC2 method; however, MN15 significantly outperforms them, providing a mean absolute error of merely 0.04 eV together with a very high correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.98). Within the investigated set of functionals, there is no single functional that would equally accurately determine ground- and excited-state dipole moments of difluoroboranes and hydroxyphenylimidazopiridine derivatives. Depending on the chosen set of dyes, the most accurate μGS predictions were delivered by MN15 incorporating a major EEX contribution (difluoroboranes) and by PBE0 containing a minor EEX fraction (hydroxyphenylimidazopiridines). Reverse trends are observed for μES, i.e., for difluoroboranes the best results were obtained with functionals including a minor fraction of EEX, specifically PBE0, while in the case of hydroxyphenylimidazopiridines, much more accurate predictions were provided by functionals incorporating a major EEX contribution (BMK, MN15).
Anti-Oxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Lipopolysaccharide from Rhodobacter sphaeroides against Ethanol-Induced Liver and Kidney Toxicity in Experimental Rats
Authors: Mehanna Eman T. , Ali Al-Shimaa A. , El-Shaarawy Fatma , Mesbah Noha M. , Abo-Elmatty Dina M. , Aborehab Nora M.
Published: December 2021

This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of lipopolysaccharide from Rhodobacter sphaeroides (LPS-RS) against ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in experimental rats. The study involved an intact control group, LPS-RS group, two groups were given ethanol (3 and 5 g/kg/day) for 28 days, and two other groups (LPS-RS + 3 g/kg ethanol) and (LPS-RS + 5 g/kg ethanol) received a daily dose of LPS-RS (800 μg/kg) before ethanol. Ethanol significantly increased the expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the liver tissue and decreased anti-oxidant enzymes. Hepcidin expression was downregulated in the liver, with increased serum levels of ferritin and iron. Prior-administration of LPS-RS alleviated the increase in oxidative stress and inflammatory markers, and preserved iron homeostasis markers. In the kidney, administration of ethanol caused significant increase in the expression of NF-κB and the levels of TNF-α and kidney injury markers; whereas LPS-RS + ethanol groups had significantly lower levels of those parameters. In conclusion; this study reports anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and iron homeostasis regulatory effects of the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) antagonist LPS-RS against ethanol induced toxicity in both the liver and the kidney of experimental rats.
Polyphenols as Potential Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 RNA Dependent RNA Polymerase (RdRp)
Authors: Wu Yifei , Crich David , Pegan Scott D. , Lou Lei , Hansen Madelyn C. , Booth Carson , Desrochers Ellison , Mullininx Lauren Nicole , Starling Edward B. , Chang Kuan Y. , Xie Zhong-Ru
Published: December 2021

An increasing number of studies have demonstrated the antiviral nature of polyphenols, and many polyphenols have been proposed to inhibit SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2. Our previous study revealed the inhibitory mechanisms of polyphenols against DNA polymerase α and HIV reverse transcriptase to show that polyphenols can block DNA elongation by competing with the incoming NTPs. Here we applied computational approaches to examine if some polyphenols can also inhibit RNA polymerase (RdRp) in SARS-CoV-2, and we identified some better candidates than remdesivir, the FDA-approved drug against RdRp, in terms of estimated binding affinities. The proposed compounds will be further examined to develop new treatments for COVID-19.
Confocal Raman Spectroscopic Imaging for Evaluation of Distribution of Nano-Formulated Hydrophobic Active Cosmetic Ingredients in Hydrophilic Films
Authors: Van Gheluwe Louise , Munnier Emilie , Kichou Hichem , Kemel Kamilia , Mahut Frédéric , Vayer Marylène , Sinturel Christophe , Byrne Hugh J. , Yvergnaux Florent , Chourpa Igor , Bonnier Franck
Published: December 2021

Film-forming systems are highly relevant to the topical administration of active ingredients (AI) to the body. Enhanced contact with the skin can increase the efficacy of delivery and penetration during prolonged exposure. However, after the evaporation of volatile solvents to form a thin film, the distribution of the ingredient should remain homogenous in order to ensure the effectiveness of the formula. This is especially critical for the use of hydrophobic molecules that have poor solubility in hydrophilic films. In order to address this concern, hydroxyphenethyl esters (PHE) of Punica granatum seed oil were prepared as a nanosuspension stabilised by poloxamers (NanoPHE). NanoPHE was then added to a formulation containing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a film forming agent, Glycerol as a plasticiser and an antimicrobial agent, SepicideTM HB. Despite their reliability, reference methods such as high-performance liquid chromatography are increasingly challenged due to the need for consumables and solvents, which is contrary to current concerns about green industry in the cosmetics field. Moreover, such methods fail to provide spatially resolved chemical information. In order to investigate the distribution of ingredients in the dried film, Confocal Raman imaging (CRI) coupled to Non-negatively Constrained Least Squares (NCLS) analysis was used. The reconstructed heat maps from a range of films containing systematically varying PHE concentrations highlighted the changes in spectral contribution from each of the ingredients. First, using NCLS scores it was demonstrated that the distributions of PVA, Glycerol, SepicideTM HB and PHE were homogenous, with respective relative standard deviations (RSD) of 3.33%, 2.48%, 2.72% and 6.27%. Second, the respective relationships between ingredient concentrations in the films and their Raman responses, and the spectral abundance were established. Finally, a model for absolute quantification for PHE was be constructed using the percentage of spectral abundance. The prepared %w/w concentrations regressed against predicted %w/w concentrations, displaying high correlation (R2 = 0.995), while the Root Mean Squared Error (0.0869% w/w PHE) confirmed the precision of the analysis. The mean percent relative error of 3.75% indicates the accuracy to which the concentration in dried films could be determined, further supporting the suitability of CRI for analysis of composite solid film matrix. Ultimately, it was demonstrated that nanoformulation of hydrophobic PHE provides homogenous distribution in PVA based film-forming systems independent of the concentration of NanoPHE used in the formula.
New Solvent-Free Melting-Assisted Preparation of Energetic Compound of Nickel with Imidazole for Combustion Synthesis of Ni-Based Materials
Authors: Komova Oksana V. , Mukha Svetlana A. , Ozerova Anna M. , Bulavchenko Olga A. , Pochtar Alena A. , Ishchenko Arcady V. , Odegova Galina V. , Suknev Alexey P. , Netskina Olga V.
Published: December 2021

In this work two approaches to the synthesis of energetic complex compound Ni(Im)6(NO3)2 from imidazole and nicklel (II) nitrate were applied: a traditional synthesis from solution and a solvent-free melting-assisted method. According to infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, elemental and thermal analysis data, it was shown that the solvent-free melt synthesis is a faster, simpler and environmentally friendly method of Ni(Im)6(NO3)2 preparation. The results show that this compound is a promising precursor for the production of nanocrystalline Ni-NiO materials by air-assisted combustion method. The combustion of this complex together with inorganic supports makes it possible to synthesize supported nickel catalysts for different catalytic processes.
Structural Disorder in Layered Hybrid Halide Perovskites: Types of Stacking Faults, Influence on Optical Properties and Their Suppression by Crystallization Engineering
Authors: Tutantsev Andrei S. , Marchenko Ekaterina I. , Udalova Natalia N. , Fateev Sergey A. , Goodilin Eugene A. , Tarasov Alexey B.
Published: December 2021

Layered hybrid halide perovskites (LHHPs) are an emerging type of semiconductor with a set of unique optoelectronic properties. However, the solution processing of high-quality LHHPs films with desired optical properties and phase composition is a challenging task, possibly due to the structural disorder in the LHHP phase. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of experimental evidence and understanding of the nature of the structural disorder in LHHPs and its influence on the optical properties of the material. In the current work, using 2D perovskites (C4H9NH3)2(CH3NH3)n−1PbnI3n+1 (further BA2MAn−1PbnI3n+1) with n = 1–4 as a model system, we demonstrate that deviations in LHHPs optical properties and X-ray diffraction occur due to the presence of continuous defects—Stacking Faults (SFs). Upon analyzing the experimental data and modeled XRD patterns of a possible set of stacking faults (SFs) in the BA2MAPb2I7 phase, we uncover the most plausible type of SFs, featured by the thickness variation within one perovskite slab. We also demonstrate the successful suppression of SFs formation by simple addition of BAI excess into BA2MAn−1PbnI3n+1 solutions.
Oyster Hydrolysates Attenuate Muscle Atrophy via Regulating Protein Turnover and Mitochondria Biogenesis in C2C12 Cell and Immobilized Mice
Authors: Jeon So-Hyun , Choung Se-Young
Published: December 2021

Sarcopenia, also known as skeletal muscle atrophy, is characterized by significant loss of muscle mass and strength. Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) hydrolysates have anti-cancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammation properties. However, the anti-sarcopenic effect of oyster hydrolysates remains uninvestigated. Therefore, we prepared two different oyster hydrolysates, namely TGPN and PNY. This study aimed to determine the anti-muscle atrophy efficacy and molecular mechanisms of TGPN and PNY on both C2C12 cell lines and mice. In vitro, the TGPN and PNY recovered the dexamethasone-induced reduction in the myotube diameters. In vivo, TGPN and PNY administration not only improved grip strength and exercise endurance, but also attenuated the loss of muscle mass and muscle fiber cross-sectional area. Mechanistically, TGPN and PNY increased the expression of protein synthesis-related protein levels via phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of the rapamycin pathway, and reduced the expression of protein degradation-related protein levels via the PI3K/Akt/forkhead box O pathway. Also, TGPN and PNY stimulated NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin-1(SIRT1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α), nuclear respiratory factor 1,2, mitochondrial transcription factor A, along with mitochondrial DNA content via SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling. These findings suggest oyster hydrolysates could be used as a valuable natural material that inhibits skeletal muscle atrophy via regulating protein turnover and mitochondrial biogenesis.
Affordability of Heathy, Equitable and More Sustainable Diets in Low-Income Households in Brisbane before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Lee Amanda J. , Patay Dori , Herron Lisa-Maree , Tan Ru Chyi , Nicoll Evelyn , Fredericks Bronwyn , Lewis Meron
Published: December 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased food insecurity worldwide, yet there has been limited assessment of shifts in the cost and affordability of healthy, equitable and sustainable diets. This study explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and income supplements provided by the Australian government on diet cost and affordability for low-income households in an Australian urban area. The Healthy Diets ASAP method protocol was applied to assess the cost and cost differential of current and recommended diets before (in 2019) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (late 2020) for households with a minimum-wage and welfare-only disposable household income, by area of socioeconomic disadvantage, in Greater Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Data were collected between August and October, 2020, from 78 food outlets and compared with data collected in the same locations between May and October, 2019, in an earlier study. The price of most healthy food groups increased significantly during the pandemic—with the exception of vegetables and legumes, which decreased. Conversely, the price of discretionary foods and drinks did not increase during the pandemic. The cost of the current and recommended diets significantly increased throughout this period, but the latter continued to be less expensive than the former. Due to income supplements provided between May and September 2020, the affordability of the recommended diet improved greatly, by 27% and 42%, for households with minimum-wage and welfare-only disposable household income, respectively. This improvement in the affordability of the recommended diet highlights the need to permanently increase welfare support for low-income families to ensure food security.
Comparing Acute, High Dietary Protein and Carbohydrate Intake on Transcriptional Biomarkers, Fuel Utilisation and Exercise Performance in Trained Male Runners
Authors: Furber Matthew , Pyle Simone , Roberts Michael , Roberts Justin
Published: December 2021

Manipulating dietary macronutrient intake may modulate adaptive responses to exercise, and improve endurance performance. However, there is controversy as to the impact of short-term dietary modification on athletic performance. In a parallel-groups, repeated measures study, 16 trained endurance runners (maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2max): 64.2 ± 5.6 mL·kg−1·min−1) were randomly assigned to, and provided with, either a high-protein, reduced-carbohydrate (PRO) or a high-carbohydrate (CHO) isocaloric-matched diet. Participants maintained their training load over 21-consecutive days with dietary intake consisting of 7-days habitual intake (T1), 7-days intervention diet (T2) and 7-days return to habitual intake (T3). Following each 7-day dietary period (T1–T3), a micro-muscle biopsy was taken for assessment of gene expression, before participants underwent laboratory assessment of a 10 km treadmill run at 75% V˙O2max, followed by a 95% V˙O2max time to exhaustion (TTE) trial. The PRO diet resulted in a modest change (1.37-fold increase, p = 0.016) in AMPK expression, coupled with a significant increase in fat oxidation (0.29 ± 0.05 to 0.59 ± 0.05 g·min−1, p < 0.0001). However, a significant reduction of 23.3% (p = 0.0003) in TTE post intervention was observed; this reverted back to pre levels following a return to the habitual diet. In the CHO group, whilst no change in sub-maximal fuel utilisation occurred at T2, a significant 6.5% increase in TTE performance (p = 0.05), and a modest, but significant, increase in AMPK (p = 0.042) and PPAR (p = 0.029) mRNA expression compared to T1 were observed; with AMPK (p = 0.011) and PPAR (p = 0.044) remaining significantly elevated at T3. In conclusion, a 7-day isocaloric high protein diet significantly compromised high intensity exercise performance in trained runners with no real benefit on gene markers of training adaptation. A significant increase in fat oxidation during submaximal exercise was observed post PRO intervention, but this returned to pre levels once the habitual diet was re-introduced, suggesting that the response was driven via fuel availability rather than cellular adaptation. A short-term high protein, low carbohydrate diet in combination with endurance training is not preferential for endurance running performance.
The Dietary Intake of Carrot-Derived Rhamnogalacturonan-I Accelerates and Augments the Innate Immune and Anti-Viral Interferon Response to Rhinovirus Infection and Reduces Duration and Severity of Symptoms in Humans in a Randomized Trial
Authors: Lutter René , Teitsma-Jansen Annemarie , Floris Esther , Lone-Latif Saeeda , Ravi Abilash , Sabogal Pineros Yanaika S. , Dekker Tamara , Smids Barbara , Khurshid Ridha , Aparicio-Vergara Marcela , Ruijschop Rianne , Ravanetti Lara , Calame Wim , Kardinaal Alwine , Albers Ruud
Published: December 2021

Acute respiratory infections are an important health concern. Traditionally, polysaccharide-enriched extracts from plants, containing immunomodulatory rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-1), were used prophylactically. We established the effects of dietary supplementation with carrot-derived RG-I (cRG-I, 0–0.3–1.5 g/day) in 177 healthy individuals (18–65 years) on symptoms following infection with rhinovirus strain 16 (RV16). Primary outcomes were changes in severity and duration of symptoms, and viral load in nasal lavage. Secondary outcomes were changes in innate immune and anti-viral responses, reflected by CXCL10 and CXCL8 levels and cell differentials in nasal lavage. In a nested cohort, exploratory transcriptome analysis was conducted on nasal epithelium. Intake of cRG-I was safe, well-tolerated and accelerated local cellular and humoral innate immune responses induced by RV16 infection, with the strongest effects at 1.5 g/d. At 0.3 g/d, a faster interferon-induced response, induction of the key anti-viral gene EIF2AK2, faster viral clearance, and reduced symptom severity (−20%) and duration (−25%) were observed. Anti-viral responses, viral clearance and symptom scores at 1.5 g/d were in between those of 0 and 0.3 g/d, suggesting a negative feedback loop preventing excessive interferon responses. Dietary intake of cRG-I accelerated innate immune and antiviral responses, and reduced symptoms of an acute respiratory viral infection.
Linear-Chain Nanostructured Carbon with a Silver Film Plated on Metal Components Has a Promising Effect for the Treatment of Periprosthetic Joint Infection
Authors: Maliuchenko Leonid I. , Nikolaev Nikolay S. , Pchelova Nadezhda N. , Nikolaevich Efimov Dmitry , Preobrazhenskaia Elena V. , Emelianov Vladimir U.
Published: December 2021

Background: Due to the aging of the world population, the number of joint diseases, along with the number of arthroplasties, has increased, simultaneously increasing the amount of complications, including periprosthetic joint infection (PPI). In this study, to combat a PPI, we investigated the antimicrobial properties of the new composite cover for titanium implants, silver-doped carbyne-like carbon (S-CLC) film. Methods: The first assay investigated the antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and releasing of silver ions from S-CLC films into growth media covered with S-CLC with a thickness of 1, 2, and 4 mm. The second assay determined the direct antibacterial properties of the S-CLC film’s surface against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, or P. aeruginosa. The third assay studied the formation of microbial biofilms of S. aureus or P. aeruginosa on the S-CLC coating. Silver-doped carbyne-like carbon (S-CLC)-covered or titanium plates alone were used as controls. Results: S-CLC films, compared to controls, prevented P. aeruginosa growth on 1 mm thickness agar; had direct antimicrobial properties against S. aureus, E. faecalis, and P. aeruginosa; and could prevent P. aeruginosa biofilm formation. Conclusions: S-CLC films on the Ti surface could successfully fight the most common infectious agent in PPI, and prevented biofilm formation.
HIV Pretreatment Drug Resistance Trends in Mexico City, 2017–2020
Authors: García-Morales Claudia , Tapia-Trejo Daniela , Matías-Florentino Margarita , Quiroz-Morales Verónica Sonia , Dávila-Conn Vanessa , Beristain-Barreda Ángeles , Cárdenas-Sandoval Miroslava , Becerril-Rodríguez Manuel , Iracheta-Hernández Patricia , Macías-González Israel , García-Mendiola Rebecca , Guzmán-Carmona Alejandro , Zarza-Sánchez Eduardo , Cruz Raúl Adrián , González-Rodríguez Andrea , Reyes-Terán Gustavo , Ávila-Ríos Santiago
Published: December 2021

In response to increasing pretreatment drug resistance (PDR), Mexico changed its national antiretroviral treatment (ART) policy, recommending and procuring second-generation integrase strand-transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-based regimens as preferred first-line options since 2019. We present a four-year observational study describing PDR trends across 2017–2020 at the largest HIV diagnosis and primary care center in Mexico City. A total of 6688 baseline protease-reverse transcriptase and 6709 integrase sequences were included. PDR to any drug class was 14.4% (95% CI, 13.6–15.3%). A significant increasing trend for efavirenz/nevirapine PDR was observed (10.3 to 13.6%, p = 0.02). No increase in PDR to second-generation INSTI was observed, remaining under 0.3% across the study period. PDR was strongly associated with prior exposure to ART (aOR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.9–4.6, p < 0.0001). MSM had higher odds of PDR to efavirenz/nevirapine (aOR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.0–3.7, p = 0.04), reflecting ongoing transmission of mutations such as K103NS and E138A. ART restarters showed higher representation of cisgender women and injectable drug users, higher age, and lower education level. PDR to dolutegravir/bictegravir remained low in Mexico City, although further surveillance is warranted given the short time of ART optimization. Our study identifies demographic characteristics of groups with higher risk of PDR and lost to follow-up, which may be useful to design differentiated interventions locally.
Disruption of Metapopulation Structure Reduces Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease Spread at the Expense of Abundance and Genetic Diversity
Authors: Durrant Rowan , Hamede Rodrigo , Wells Konstans , Lurgi Miguel
Published: December 2021

Metapopulation structure plays a fundamental role in the persistence of wildlife populations. It can also drive the spread of infectious diseases and transmissible cancers such as the Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease (DFTD). While disrupting this structure can reduce disease spread, it can also impair host resilience by disrupting gene flow and colonisation dynamics. Using an individual-based metapopulation model we investigated the synergistic effects of host dispersal, disease transmission rate and inter-individual contact distance for transmission, on the spread and persistence of DFTD from local to regional scales. Disease spread, and the ensuing population declines, are synergistically determined by individuals’ dispersal, disease transmission rate and within-population mixing. Transmission rates can be magnified by high dispersal and inter-individual transmission distance. The isolation of local populations effectively reduced metapopulation-level disease prevalence but caused severe declines in metapopulation size and genetic diversity. The relative position of managed (i.e., isolated) local populations had a significant effect on disease prevalence, highlighting the importance of considering metapopulation structure when implementing metapopulation-scale disease control measures. Our findings suggest that population isolation is not an ideal management method for preventing disease spread in species inhabiting already fragmented landscapes, where genetic diversity and extinction risk are already a concern.
Passively Q-Switched and Mode-Locked Er3+-Doped Ring Fiber Laser with Pulse Width of Hundreds of Picoseconds
Authors: Wang Ji , Zhang Wenwu , Zhang Tianrun
Published: December 2021

Greatly improving the energy of a single mode-locked pulse while ensuring the acquisition of the width of short pulses will contribute to the application of mode-locked pulse in basic research, such as precision machining. This report has investigated a Q-switched and mode-locked (QML) erbium doped ring fiber laser based on the nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR) technology and a mechanical Q-switched device. Without the working of the mechanical Q-switched device, the fiber laser exported the continuous-wave mode-locked (CWML) pulse, with a width of 212.5 ps, and a repetition frequency of 81.97 MHz. For the CWML operation, the maximum output average power is 25.7 mW, and the energy is only 0.31 nJ. For the QML operation, 18.03 mW average power is achieved at the Q-switching frequency of 100 Hz. The energy of the QML pulse is increased by over 1100 times to 360.6 nJ. The width of the QML pulse is 203.1 ps measured by an autocorrelation curve, with the time-band product (TBP) being 0.598. The power instability is 0.5% (RMS) and 0.7% (RMS), respectively, for CWML and QML operation within 120 min. Furthermore, the spectral signal-to-noise ratio is about 60 dB. For the QML operation, the power instability is 0.48% (RMS) within 60 s and 0.37% (RMS) within 10 s. After frequency stabilization, the frequency fluctuation is ±100 Hz in the long-term of 1200 s, with the frequency stability (FS) calculated to be 2.44 × 10−6. It indicates that the QML fiber laser has good power stability and frequency stability.
Comparative Metabolomics of Reproductive Organs in the Genus Aesculus (Sapindaceae) Reveals That Immature Fruits Are a Key Organ of Procyanidin Accumulation and Bioactivity
Authors: Green Alison , Padilla-Gonzalez Guillermo , Phumthum Methee , Simmonds Monique , Sadgrove Nicholas
Published: December 2021

Fruit from A. hippocastanum L. are used commercially for chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). The isomeric mixture of pentacyclic triterpenoid saponins (β-aescin) exert anti-inflammatory effects. Hence, research has focused on β-aescin, yet the diversity, accumulation, and bioactivity of organ-specific secondary metabolites represent missed pharmacological opportunities. To this end, we applied an untargeted metabolomics approach by liquid chromatography—tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) to the chemical profiles of flowers, immature fruits, and pedicels from 40 specimens across 18 species of Aesculus. Principal component analysis (PCA), orthogonal partial least squares (OPLS-DA), and molecular networking revealed stronger chemical differences between plant organs, than between species. Flowers are rich in glycosylated flavonoids, pedicels in organic acids and flavonoid aglycones, and immature fruits in monomeric flavan-3-ols and procyanidins. Although a high diversity of flavonoids and procyanidins was observed, the relative amounts differed by plant organ. Fruit extracts demonstrated the strongest antifungal (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and antioxidant activity, likely from the procyanidins. Overall, secondary metabolite profiles are organ-specific, and fruits accumulate antifungal and antioxidant compounds. Due to the chemical similarity between species, similar effects may be achieved between species. This creates incentives for further exploration of the entire genus, in bioprospecting for potential therapeutic leads.
SNP-Based Analysis Reveals Authenticity and Genetic Similarity of Russian Indigenous V. vinifera Grape Cultivars
Authors: Fedosov Dmitriy Y. , Korzhenkov Aleksey A. , Petrova Kristina O. , Sapsay Alexey O. , Sharko Fedor S. , Toshchakov Stepan V. , Kolosova Adelina A. , Bakhmutova Elizaveta D. , Patrushev Maxim V.
Published: December 2021

9 Russian Vitis vinifera grape varieties and the European variety Muscat Hamburg were sequenced and genotyped using 527 SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) with high minor allele frequency for the first time. The data were coupled with previously identified genotypes of 783 varieties and subjected to parentage and population analysis. As a result, contrary to the historical and ampelographic data published in many sources from 1800 to 2012, only two of the nine Russian varieties (Pukhlyakovskiy Belyi and Sibirkovyi) were related to foreign ones and were obviously imported from Europe to the Russian Empire. The remaining seven varieties, led by Krasnostop Zolotovskiy, are not directly related either in the Caucasus or in Europe, they form separate clusters on the genetic distance-based dendrogram and the world parentage network of V. vinifera. The resulting pedigree of Muscat Hamburg and its descendants is in accordance with SSR-based (simple sequence repeats) studies and the described pedigree of this variety which confirms the use of the reduced SNP set for further studies.
Exploring the Phytochemicals of Acacia melanoxylon R. Br.
Authors: Alves Diana , Duarte Sidónio , Arsénio Pedro , Gonçalves Joana , Rodrigues Cecília M. P. , Lourenço Ana , Máximo Patrícia
Published: December 2021

Invasive species are currently a world menace to the environment, although the study of their chemistry may provide a means for their future beneficial use. From a study of Portuguese Acacia melanoxylon R. Br. five known compounds were isolated: lupeol, 3β-Z-coumaroyl lupeol, 3β-E-coumaroyl lupeol (dioslupecin A), kolavic acid 15-methyl ester and vomifoliol (blumenol A). Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, and as a result some corrections are made to their previous 13C NMR assignments. Cytotoxicity of 3β-E-coumaroyl lupeol (dioslupecin A) and kolavic acid 15-methyl ester was evaluated against HCT116 human colorectal cancer cells although biological activity was not evident.
Plastome Diversity and Phylogenomic Relationships in Asteraceae
Authors: Pascual-Díaz Joan Pere , Garcia Sònia , Vitales Daniel
Published: December 2021

Plastid genomes are in general highly conserved given their slow evolutionary rate, and thus large changes in their structure are unusual. However, when specific rearrangements are present, they are often phylogenetically informative. Asteraceae is a highly diverse family whose evolution is long driven by polyploidy (up to 48x) and hybridization, both processes usually complicating systematic inferences. In this study, we generated one of the most comprehensive plastome-based phylogenies of family Asteraceae, providing information about the structure, genetic diversity and repeat composition of these sequences. By comparing the whole-plastome sequences obtained, we confirmed the double inversion located in the long single-copy region, for most of the species analyzed (with the exception of basal tribes), a well-known feature for Asteraceae plastomes. We also showed that genome size, gene order and gene content are highly conserved along the family. However, species representative of the basal subfamily Barnadesioideae—as well as in the sister family Calyceraceae—lack the pseudogene rps19 located in one inverted repeat. The phylogenomic analysis conducted here, based on 63 protein-coding genes, 30 transfer RNA genes and 21 ribosomal RNA genes from 36 species of Asteraceae, were overall consistent with the general consensus for the family’s phylogeny while resolving the position of tribe Senecioneae and revealing some incongruences at tribe level between reconstructions based on nuclear and plastid DNA data.
Buddhist Approaches to Impermanence: Phenomenal and Naumenal
Authors: Gokhale Pradeep P.
Published: December 2021

The doctrine of impermanence can be called the most salient feature of the Buddha’s teaching. The early Buddhist doctrine of impermanence can be understood in four different but interrelated contexts: Buddha’s empiricism, the notion of conditioned/constituted objects, the idea of dependent arising, and the practical context of suffering and emancipation. While asserting the impermanence of all phenomena, the Buddha was silent on the questions of the so-called transcendent entities and truths. Moreover, though the Buddha described Nibbāṇa/Nirvāṇa as a ‘deathless state’ (‘amataṃ padam’), it does not imply eternality in a metaphysical sense. Whereas the early Buddhist approach to impermanence can be called ‘phenomenal’, the post-Buddhist approach was concerned with naumena (things in themselves). Hence, Sarvāstivāda (along with Pudgalavāda) is marked by absolutism in the form of the doctrines of substantial continuity, atomism, momentariness, and personalism. The paper also deals with the approaches to impermanence of Dharmakīrti and Nāgārjuna, which can be called naumenal rather than strictly phenomenal. For Dharmakīrti, non-eternality was in fact momentariness and it was not a matter of experience but derivable conceptually or analytically from the concept of real. Nāgārjuna stood not for impermanence, but emptiness (śūnyatā), the concept which transcended both impermanence and permanence, substantiality and non-substantiality.
Geometric-Manifold-Assisted Distributed Navigation Probabilistic Information Fusion Cooperative Positioning Algorithm
Authors: Tang Chengkai , Wang Chen , Zhang Lingling , Zhang Yi , Song Houbing
Published: December 2021

Positioning information is the cornerstone of a new generation of electronic information technology applications represented by the Internet of Things and smart city. However, due to various environmental electromagnetic interference, building shielding, and other factors, the positioning source can fail. Cooperative positioning technology can realize the sharing of positioning information and make up for the invalid positioning source. When one node in the cooperative positioning network has error, the positioning stability of all nodes in the whole cooperative network will be significantly reduced, but the positioning probability information technology can effectively reduce the impact of mutation error. Based on this idea, this paper proposes an information-geometry-assisted distributed algorithm for probabilistic cooperative fusion positioning (IG-CP) of navigation information. The position information of different types of navigation sources is utilized to establish a probability density model, which effectively reduces the influence of a single position error on the whole cooperative position network. Combined with the nonlinear fitting characteristics of the information geometric manifold, mapping and fusion of the ranging information between cooperative nodes on the geometric manifold surface are conducted to achieve cooperative positioning, which can effectively improve the stability of the positioning results. The proposed algorithm is simulated and analyzed in terms of the node positioning error, ranging error, convergence speed, and distribution of the cooperative positioning network. The simulation results show that our proposed cooperative positioning algorithm can effectively improve the positioning stability and display better positioning performance.
Joint Use of in-Scene Background Radiance Estimation and Optimal Estimation Methods for Quantifying Methane Emissions Using PRISMA Hyperspectral Satellite Data: Application to the Korpezhe Industrial Site
Authors: Nesme Nicolas , Marion Rodolphe , Lezeaux Olivier , Doz Stéphanie , Camy-Peyret Claude , Foucher Pierre-Yves
Published: December 2021

Methane (CH4) is one of the most contributing anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHGs) in terms of global warming. Industry is one of the largest anthropogenic sources of methane, which are currently only roughly estimated. New satellite hyperspectral imagers, such as PRISMA, open up daily temporal monitoring of industrial methane sources at a spatial resolution of 30 m. Here, we developed the Characterization of Effluents Leakages in Industrial Environment (CELINE) code to inverse images of the Korpezhe industrial site. In this code, the in-Scene Background Radiance (ISBR) method was combined with a standard Optimal Estimation (OE) approach. The ISBR-OE method avoids the use of a complete and time-consuming radiative transfer model. The ISBR-OEM developed here overcomes the underestimation issues of the linear method (LM) used in the literature for high concentration plumes and controls a posteriori uncertainty. For the Korpezhe site, using the ISBR-OEM instead of the LM -retrieved CH4 concentration map led to a bias correction on CH4 mass from 4 to 16% depending on the source strength. The most important CH4 source has an estimated flow rate ranging from 0.36 ± 0.3 kg·s−1 to 4 ± 1.76 kg·s−1 on nine dates. These local and variable sources contribute to the CH4 budget and can better constrain climate change models.
HyperSeed: An End-to-End Method to Process Hyperspectral Images of Seeds
Authors: Gao Tian , Chandran Anil Kumar Nalini , Paul Puneet , Walia Harkamal , Yu Hongfeng
Published: December 2021

High-throughput, nondestructive, and precise measurement of seeds is critical for the evaluation of seed quality and the improvement of agricultural productions. To this end, we have developed a novel end-to-end platform named HyperSeed to provide hyperspectral information for seeds. As a test case, the hyperspectral images of rice seeds are obtained from a high-performance line-scan image spectrograph covering the spectral range from 600 to 1700 nm. The acquired images are processed via a graphical user interface (GUI)-based open-source software for background removal and seed segmentation. The output is generated in the form of a hyperspectral cube and curve for each seed. In our experiment, we presented the visual results of seed segmentation on different seed species. Moreover, we conducted a classification of seeds raised in heat stress and control environments using both traditional machine learning models and neural network models. The results show that the proposed 3D convolutional neural network (3D CNN) model has the highest accuracy, which is 97.5% in seed-based classification and 94.21% in pixel-based classification, compared to 80.0% in seed-based classification and 85.67% in seed-based classification from the support vector machine (SVM) model. Moreover, our pipeline enables systematic analysis of spectral curves and identification of wavelengths of biological interest.