bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PELAKSANAAN PENYIDIKAN TERHADAP PELAKU TINDAK PIDANA NARKOTIKA DI SATUAN NARKOTIKA POLRES BUKITTINGGI
Authors: Alin Failin
Published: April 2020

Drugs, on one hand are materials used in the field of medicine, health service and the development of science that on the other hand can also affects a detrimental dependency if misused or used without control and supervision. After the enactment of Law Number 35 Year 2009 Concerning Narcotics, all actions that export, import, produce, plant, store, distribute and / or use narcotics and their sanctions are regulated therein which aims to tackle and eradicate these criminal acts. The use of narcotics without strict and thorough control and supervision is very detrimental and constitutes a huge danger to the lives of people, the community, the nation, and the State as well as Indonesia's national security. When seen in Bukittinggi Police Station from year to year the number of narcotics offenders increased and overall the case documents already complete (P21). The investigation of narcotics crime in Bukittinggi Police has been running according to the rules, which is based on the Criminal Procedural Law, however the implementation has not been effective because there are remain obstacles in the implementation of investigation.
Specialpedagogisk matematikundervisning med fokus på grundläggande addition
Authors: Samuelsson Joakim
Published: April 2020

Vill du lyckas i matematik? Se till att du behärskar tabellerna med flyt. Forskning visar ett starkt samband mellan automatisering av talkombinationer inom talområdet 0–12 och elevernas förmåga att beräkna tvåsiffriga additioner och subtraktioner samt med problemlösning.
A Scoping Review: The Impact of Housing Systems and Environmental Features on Beef Cattle Welfare
Authors: Park Rachel M. , Foster Margaret , Daigle Courtney L.
Published: April 2020

Housing systems and environmental features can influence beef cattle welfare. To date, little information has been synthesized on this topic. The aim of this scoping review was to examine the relationship between housing and welfare status, so that beef cattle producers and animal scientists can make informed decisions regarding how their housing choices could impact beef cattle welfare. Housing features were categorized by floor type, space allowance and shade availability, as well as the inclusion of enrichment devices or ventilation features. Evaluation of space allowances across feedlot environments determined behavioral and production benefits when cattle were housed between 2.5 m2 to 3.0 m2 per animal. Over 19 different flooring types were investigated and across flooring types; straw flooring was viewed most favorably from a behavioral, production and hygiene standpoint. Veal calves experience enhanced welfare (e.g., improved behavioral, physiological, and performance metrics) when group housed. There is evidence that the implementation of progressive housing modifications (e.g., shade, environmental enrichment) could promote the behavioral welfare of feedlot cattle. This review presents the advantages and disadvantages of specific housing features on the welfare of beef cattle.
The Beneficial Effect of Eco-Friendly Green Nanoparticles Using Garcinia mangostana Peel Extract against Pathogenicity of Listeria monocytogenes in Female BALB/c Mice
Authors: Alkhuriji Afrah F. , Majrashi Nada A. , Alomar Suliman , El-Khadragy Manal F. , Awad Manal A. , Khatab Alaa R. , Yehia Hany M.
Published: April 2020

Listeria monocytogenes is a psychrophilic bacterium, which causes widespread zoonosis in the natural environment, and mainly affects goat, sheep, and cattle herds. Recently, we predicted that it can be transmitted through food. It causes listeriosis, a severe infectious disease, which occurs with food contaminated with the pathogenic bacterium. Anti-inflammatory factors are important to treat the dangers of chronic inflammation associated with chronic diseases. Natural foodstuffs have made and are continuing to make vital contributions to the search for new antilisterial agents. The use of natural products in association with silver nanoparticles has drawn attention because of its easy, nonpathogenic, eco-friendly, and economical protocol. Hence, we aimed to biosynthesize silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) using Garcinia mangostana peel extract, which was found to be a good source for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles, their formation being confirmed by color change and stability in solution, and investigated the antilisterial activity of these nanoparticles in a murine model of L. monocytogenes infection. A total of 28 mice were divided into four groups—healthy control, infected, infected mice treated with green Ag-NPs biosynthesized with G. mangostana (5 mg/mL), and infected mice pretreated with Ag-NPs. From our results, oral treatment with Ag-NPs biosynthesized with G. mangostana peel extract resulted in a significant reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA), enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, and increased the levels of the antiapoptotic protein, compared with the untreated mice. These results indicate that G. mangostana may provide therapeutic value against L. monocytogenes-induced oxidative stress and histopathological alterations, and that these effects may be related to antiapoptotic and antioxidant activities.
Effects of Olfactory and Auditory Enrichment on the Behaviour of Shelter Dogs
Authors: Amaya Veronica , Paterson Mandy B.A. , Phillips Clive J.C.
Published: April 2020

Shelter environments are stressful for dogs, as they must cope with many stimuli over which they have little control. This can lead to behavioural changes, negatively affect their welfare and downgrade the human‐animal bond, affecting re-homing success. Arousal is evident in their behaviour, particularly increased activity and frequent vocalisation. Environmental enrichment plays an important role in reducing arousal behaviour, either through direct physiological effects or by masking stressful stimuli. The present study focused on sensory environmental enrichment, using olfactory and auditory stimuli under shelter conditions. Sixty dogs were allocated to one of four treatments: three types of enrichment, Lavender, Dog appeasing pheromone (DAP) and Music, and a Control group. Stimuli were applied for 3 h/d on five consecutive days. Dogs exposed to DAP lay down more, and those exposed to Music lay down more with their head down, compared to the Control. Those in the Control stood more on their hind legs with their front legs on the exit door, compared to those exposed to Music and DAP, particularly if they had only been in the shelter for a short time. They also panted and vocalised much more than dogs in the three enrichment treatments, which tended to persist during the 4 h period post treatment, and in the case of vocalisation into the subsequent night. The study suggests that all three enrichments had some positive benefits for dogs in shelters, as well as being non-invasive and easy to apply in the shelter environment.
Female-Male and Female-Female Social Interactions of Captive Kept Capercaillie (Tetrao Urogallus) and Its Consequences in Planning Breeding Programs
Authors: Rosenberger Joanna , Kowalczyk Artur , Łukaszewicz Ewa , Strzała Tomasz
Published: April 2020

Capercaillie behavior, both in the wild and in captivity, is poorly known due to this species’ secretive way of life. Female-male and female–female social organization and interactions are especially poorly documented. The research was conducted in Capercaillie Breeding Center in Wisła Forestry District where a breeding flock is kept throughout the year. Thanks to video monitoring, we were able to observe mate choice, and then later, female–female interactions during laying and incubation period. Male individual variation in tooting latency and duration were recorded. Females’ interest in males was related to males’ tooting activity, but when males became too insistent and started to chase the females, the females avoided contact with them. There was a significant relationship between calendar date and when tooting starts, and between the tooting duration the female spent with a male. Two incidents of female-male aggression caused by competition for food were observed. Female intruder presence and competition for nesting place was observed in 66.67% nests. Most female–female interactions were limited to threat posturing, but fights and attempts to push out the intruder from the nest occurred as well. Such interactions may lead to nest abandonment and egg destruction, lowering the breeding success.
Yield Performance, Laying Behaviour Traits and Egg Quality of Purebred and Hybrid Hens Reared under Outdoor Conditions
Authors: Rizzi Chiara
Published: April 2020

This study compared the yield performance, laying behavioural traits and egg quality of purebred and hybrid hens (from 28 until 44 weeks of age, considering four periods) reared under outdoor conditions. The four genotypes were reared on the same trial station, on four areas (one genotype/area), and under the same environmental conditions from hatching until the end of the trial. Italian dual-purpose purebred (Ermellinata di Rovigo—ER and Robusta maculata—RM) and hybrid (Hy-Line Brown—HB and Hy-Line White 36—HW) hens (flock size: 70 birds/genotype) were allowed outdoors (4 m2/bird, good pasture during the growing period and poor pasture throughout the laying period, according to the season) and indoors (0.20 m2/bird, five birds/individual nest) and fed commercial feed. Significant (p < 0.01) differences among genotypes were found. The hybrids showed a higher laying rate and hen-day edible egg mass, and a lower body weight than the purebreds. Broken and out-of-nest egg% were higher in RM and HW than ER and HB, respectively. Double-yolk egg% was higher in hybrids than in purebreds. The eggshell colour varied among brown eggshell ER, RM, and HB. The ER showed the lowest shape index. With aging, the yolk to albumen ratio linearly increased in all groups, eggshell% changed in ER, HW, RM (cubic) and in HB (linear). The purebreds showed meat spots% higher than blood spots; HW showed the lowest total inclusion%. In conclusion, according to an egg scoring evaluation (egg weight = medium-large size, yolk to albumen ratio = 0.5, total inclusions = none), HW showed a higher quality than HB and RM, and ER was intermediate. The RM hens showed the highest% of defective eggs, especially for overcrowding at nest, HB showed the lowest. Under outdoor conditions the laying behaviour of the purebred hens and the nest management are important factors for the saleable egg rate.
Total Eclipse of the Zoo: Animal Behavior during a Total Solar Eclipse
Authors: Hartstone-Rose Adam , Dickinson Edwin , Paciulli Lisa M. , Deutsch Ashley R. , Tran Leon , Jones Grace , Leonard Kaitlyn C.
Published: April 2020

The infrequency of a total solar eclipse renders the event novel to those animals that experience its effects and, consequently, may induce anomalous behavioral responses. However, historical information on the responses of animals to eclipses is scant and often conflicting. In this study, we qualitatively document the responses of 17 vertebrate taxa (including mammals, birds, and reptiles) to the 2017 total solar eclipse as it passed over Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, South Carolina. In the days leading up to the eclipse, several focal teams, each consisting of researchers, animal keepers, and student/zoo volunteers conducted baseline observations using a combination of continuous ad libitum and scan sampling of each animal during closely matched seasonal conditions. These same focal teams used the same protocol to observe the animals in the hours preceding, during, and immediately following the eclipse. Additionally, for one species—siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus)—live video/audio capture was also employed throughout observations to capture behavior during vocalizations for subsequent quantitative analysis. Behavioral responses were classified into one or more of four overarching behavioral categories: normal (baseline), evening, apparent anxiety, and novel. Thirteen of seventeen observed taxa exhibited behaviors during the eclipse that differed from all other observation times, with the majority (8) of these animals engaging in behaviors associated with their evening or nighttime routines. The second predominant behavior was apparent anxiety, documented in five genera: baboons (Papio hamadryas), gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), giraffes (Giraffa cf. camelopardalis), flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber), and lorikeets (Trichoglossus moluccanus and Trichoglossus haematodus). Novel behaviors characterized by an increase in otherwise nearly sedentary activity were observed only in the reptiles, the Galapagos tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra) and the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis). While the anthropogenic influences on animal behaviors—particularly those relating to anxiety—cannot be discounted, these observations provide novel insight into the observed responses of a diverse vertebrate sample during a unique meteorological stimulus, insights that supplement the rare observations of behavior during this phenomenon for contextualizing future studies.
Effect of Feeding Hazelnut Skin on Animal Performance, Milk Quality, and Rumen Fatty Acids in Lactating Ewes
Authors: Campione Adriana , Natalello Antonio , Valenti Bernardo , Luciano Giuseppe , Rufino-Moya Pablo J. , Avondo Marcella , Morbidini Luciano , Pomente Camilla , Krol Barbara , Wilk Martyna , Migdal Pawel , Pauselli Mariano
Published: April 2020

The hazelnut skin is waste biomass rich in bioactive compounds that may affect lipid rumen metabolism, ruminant performance, and products’ quality. Therefore, we investigated the effect of dietary hazelnut skin on milk production and composition and on rumen fatty acids in ewes. During 28 days, 20 Comisana lactating ewes received alfalfa hay ad libitum plus 800 g/head/day of pelleted concentrate containing 36% dried beet pulp (CTRL group; n = 10) or 36% hazelnut skin (HS group; n = 10). The protein percentage was lower in HS milk. Milk fatty acids (FA) partially reflected those of rumen content. Total saturated FA (SFA), odd and branched-chain FA, and n-3 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) were greater in CTRL milk. Total monounsaturated FA (MUFA) and 18:1 trans were greater in HS milk; moreover, HS milk showed a double percentage of oleic acid than the CTRL group. Individual SFA were greater in CTRL milk except for 18:0. Differing from the rumen content, total PUFA, n-6 PUFA, and 18:2 n-6 were comparable between groups. Vaccenic and rumenic acid were greater in HS milk. To conclude, dietary HS slightly reduced milk protein percentage but improved atherogenic index and healthy FA in milk. The content of the somatic cells suggested a healthier udder in the HS group.
Minimally Invasive Markers of Stress and Production Parameters in Dairy Cows before and after the Installation of a Voluntary Milking System
Authors: Jerram Lucy J. , Van Winden Steven , Fowkes Robert C.
Published: April 2020

Automatic milking systems (AMS) are a low-labour alternative to conventional parlours, with previous studies demonstrating that cows vary in their ability to cope with the change to AMS. Cortisol expression can be combined with other measures to assess stress: saliva and hair have the advantage of requiring minimally invasive sampling. No work has investigated the long-term impact of introduction of AMS. The aims of the study were to assess short-term and chronic stress associated with a change in milking system by measuring salivary and hair cortisol levels and to assess the impact on health and production parameters. Cows from one farm changing their milking system were recruited to the study and sampled for saliva (n = 10) and hair (n = 12) before and after installation. Cortisol levels were measured using a salivary cortisol enzyme immunoassay kit. Body condition, lameness and milk parameters of the whole herd were regularly assessed. Salivary cortisol showed no diurnal pattern but was affected by lameness and gestation. Non-lame cows showed a reduction in salivary cortisol after AMS introduction (p < 0.001). Hair cortisol levels increased after AMS, but it was unclear if this change was seasonal. Milk yield increased by 13% and somatic cell count reduced by 28%. Body condition score was consistently good, but lameness remained high throughout the study. Production values alone do not represent high welfare. The high lameness and associated cortisol levels suggest that cow stress requires consideration when changing milking systems.
Potential Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibitory Effects of Nanoliposomal Formulation Prepared from Salvia aramiensis Rech. f. Extract
Authors: Karatoprak Gökçe Şeker , Yücel Çiğdem , Göger Fatih , Sobarzo-Sánchez Eduardo , Küpeli Akkol Esra
Published: April 2020

Salvia aramiensis Rech. f. is a species that grows only in Hatay, Turkey and is used as a traditional stomachic tea. Neither the chemical composition nor the potential bioactivity of the plant has been investigated before. Antioxidant activity (1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl Radical (DPPH●) and 2,2’-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS+●) radical scavenging and β-carotene/linoleic acid co-oxidation) of 70% methanol, 70% ethanol extracts, and 2% infusion obtained from S. aramiensis aerial parts were determined. The effect of 70% methanol extract on collagenase and elastase enzyme inhibition and its chemical composition via chromatographic methods (LC-MS/MS and HPLC) were analyzed. Nanoliposomes were developed with 70% methanol extract, were characterized, and were evaluated. The key parameters for the most active 70% methanol extract included the following DPPH•EC50: 28.4 µg/mL, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC)/ABTS: 1.77 ± 0.09 mmol/L/Trolox. Furthermore 70% methanol extract showed more than 50% inhibition on collagenase and elastase enzymes at all the concentrations. The main component of the extract, rich in phenolic compounds, has been identified as rosmarinic acid; 83.7 µg/mL extract was released from the nanoliposomal formulation. The extract and its formulation are found to be nontoxic on the L929 fibroblast cell line. This study successfully developed a long-term antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory formulation containing S. aramiensis, which has been used safely among the public for years.
Impact of Tea and Coffee Consumption on Cognitive Performance: An fNIRS and EDA Study
Authors: Sargent Amanda , Watson Jan , Topoglu Yigit , Ye Hongjun , Suri Rajneesh , Ayaz Hasan
Published: April 2020

Coffee and tea are two of the most popular beverages in the world and have been consumed for more than a thousand years. They have become an integral part of the day for many consumers and may aid not only increased social interactions but also productivity. However, there is no conclusive evidence of their comparative effect on cognitive ability. This study investigated the impact of tea and coffee products on cognitive performance in typical office work-related tasks using brain, body, and behavioral measures. In a controlled multi-day study, we explored the effects of both traditional and cognition-enhancing hot beverages through task performance and self-reported measures. A total of 120 participants completed three work-related tasks from different cognitive domains and consumed either a traditional or cognition-enhancing hot beverage. During the study, we measured brain activity in the prefrontal cortex using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) as well as arousal from skin conductance through electrodermal activity (EDA) while participants completed cognitive tasks and consumed the beverages. Neural efficiency was used to evaluate cognitive performance in the tasks. Neural efficiency was calculated from a composite score of behavioral efficiency and cognitive effort, and emotional arousal was estimated from EDA activity. Results indicated that for different cognitive domains, the enhanced hot beverages showed improved neural efficiency over that of a traditional hot beverage. This is the first study to assess the impact of both traditional and cognition-enhancing drinks using a multimodal approach for workplace-related assignments.
Go Wider: An Efficient Neural Network for Point Cloud Analysis via Group Convolutions
Authors: Chen Can , Zanotti Fragonara Luca , Tsourdos Antonios
Published: April 2020

In order to achieve a better performance for point cloud analysis, many researchers apply deep neural networks using stacked Multi-Layer-Perceptron (MLP) convolutions over an irregular point cloud. However, applying these dense MLP convolutions over a large amount of points (e.g., autonomous driving application) leads to limitations due to the computation and memory capabilities. To achieve higher performances but decrease the computational complexity, we propose a deep-wide neural network, named ShufflePointNet, which can exploit fine-grained local features, but also reduce redundancies using group convolution and channel shuffle operation. Unlike conventional operations that directly apply MLPs on the high-dimensional features of a point cloud, our model goes “wider” by splitting features into groups with smaller depth in advance, having the respective MLP computations applied only to a single group, which can significantly reduce complexity and computation. At the same time, we allow communication between groups by shuffling the feature channel to capture fine-grained features. We further discuss the multi-branch method for wider neural networks being also beneficial to feature extraction for point clouds. We present extensive experiments for shape classification tasks on a ModelNet40 dataset and semantic segmentation task on large scale datasets ShapeNet part, S3DIS and KITTI. Finally, we carry out an ablation study and compare our model to other state-of-the-art algorithms to show its efficiency in terms of complexity and accuracy.
Object Investigation of Industrial Heritage: The Forging and Metallurgy Shop in Taipei Railway Workshop
Authors: Chen Yu-Hsun , Chen Guan-Chen , Wu Ching-Tai , Lee Chi-Lin , Chen You-Rou , Huang Jun-Fu , Hsiao Kuo-Hung , Lin Jong-I
Published: April 2020

As a special plant for train maintenance in northern Taiwan, the Taipei Railway Workshop was founded in 1885 and moved in 2011, reflecting the changes in Taiwan’s history, transportation, and industrial technology. Now, it is planned to change the maintenance plant into a railway museum in the form of an in situ site. This study briefly introduces the historical background and present situation of the Taipei Railway Workshop and takes its forging workshop as the object for investigation and exhibition planning. According to the preservation and maintenance methods of the cultural heritage of the museum, the investigation process proposed includes four steps: Site exploration, object registration, object research, and exhibition planning. The work area in the plant is divided into shaping and forging areas, as based on the categories of the machines on the site of the forging workshop. In this study, a total of 85 industrial relics in the forging workshop are registered for systematic research. The working conditions, including machine parts for train maintenance, manufacturing processes of parts, and the relationship between in-line on-site machines and tools, of the forging workshop before closing are restored, as based on the principles of machine manufacturing, literature, and retired workers’ oral histories. Finally, an in situ exhibition plan of the forging workshop is put forward based on the results of the object research.
Mesophilic and Thermophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Organic Fraction Separated during Mechanical Heat Treatment of Municipal Waste
Authors: Kasinski Slawomir
Published: April 2020

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of process temperature on semi-continuous anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction separated during autoclaving of municipal waste. Tests were carried out in reactors with full mixing. Biogas production was higher in thermophilic conditions than in mesophilic conditions (0.92 L/g volatile solids at 55 °C vs. 0.42 L/g volatile solids at 37 °C, respectively). The resulting methane yields were 0.25-0.32 L CH4/g VS and 0.56–0.70 L CH4/g VS in mesophilic and thermophilic conditions, respectively. In both variants, the methane share was over 70% v/v. This work also discusses the potential impact of Maillard compounds on the efficiency of the fermentation process, which were probably produced during the process of autoclaving of municipal waste. These results indicate that, after autoclaving, the organic fraction of municipal waste can be an effective substrate for anaerobic digestion in thermophilic conditions.
A Hybrid Ion-Exchange Fabric/Ceramic Membrane System to Remove As(V), Zn(II), and Turbidity from Wastewater
Authors: Choi Nag-Choul , Cho Kang-Hee , Kim Min-Sung , Park Seong-Jik , Lee Chang-Gu
Published: April 2020

Ceramic membranes and ion exchangers are effective at removing turbidity and ionic contaminants from water, respectively. In this study, we demonstrate the performance of a hybrid ion-exchange fabric/ceramic membrane system to treat metal ions and turbidity at the same time in synthetic wastewater. The removal rate of As(V) and Zn(II) by the ceramic membrane increased with solution pH, while turbidity was completely removed regardless of the solution pH. The main reaction of As(V) removal was adsorption at solution pH 6 and precipitation at solution pH 8, whereas phase-change was the predominant reaction for Zn(II) removal at both solution pH values. The removal efficiency of the ion-exchange fabric was affected by the solution pH, with the maximum removal capacity of As(V) occurring at solution pH 4. The As(V) adsorption capacity of the ion-exchange fabric reached equilibrium within 120 min. The ion-exchange capacity of the ion-exchange fabric was compared with commercial ion-exchange fibers. The regeneration efficiency of the ion-exchange fabric using 0.1 M NaCl solution was around 95% on average and decreased slightly as the number of regeneration cycles was increased. Over 80% of As(V) and Zn(II) were steadily removed at solution pH 6 by the hybrid ion-exchange fabric/ceramic membrane system. Reduced flow rate and removal capacity were recovered through a backwashing process during continuous treatment with the hybrid ion-exchange fabric/ceramic membrane system.
Micro-Raman Spectroscopy of Dental Implants Subjected to Different Surface Treatments
Authors: Lupi Saturnino Marco , Galinetto Pietro , Albini Benedetta , Di Ronza Elisa , Rizzo Silvana , Rodriguez y Baena Ruggero
Published: April 2020

The aim of the study was to qualitatively investigate the structure of the surface layer of TiO2 on dental implants made of Ti-6Al-4V subjected to different manufacturing treatments. M (machined), B (Al2O3-blasted), E (HNO3\HF-etched), B + E and A (B + E + anodized) implants and a further group receiving the same treatments as the first group with the addition of a final decontamination with cold plasma were included in the study. Examination was performed using micro-Raman spectroscopy. The surface treatments evaluated did not achieve the formation of crystalline TiO2. The increase in the complexity of surface treatment produced a proportional increase in the thickness of amorphous TiO2 oxide. In the B + E group, the plasma treatment enhanced the amorphous oxide thickness of TiO2. The other surfaces treated by plasma decontamination did not show a difference to the respective untreated ones. The investigated surface treatments did not change the crystalline cage of TiO2 in Ti-6Al-4V implants but affected the thickness of the oxide layer. The biological response could be influenced by different oxide thicknesses. Additional information on superficial TiO2 structural organization can be obtained by micro-Raman evaluation of dental implants. Dental implants with B + E + plasma and A superficial treatments allowed the maximum formation of the amorphous oxide thickness.
Optimal Control Approach to Lambert’s Problem and Gibbs’ Method
Authors: Kim Minjeong , Park Sungsu
Published: April 2020

This paper presents the optimal control approach to solve both Lambert’s problem and Gibbs’ method, which are commonly used for preliminary orbit determination. Lambert’s problem is reinterpreted with Hamilton’s principle and is converted to an optimal control problem. Various extended Lambert’s problems are formulated by modifying the weighting and constraint settings within the optimal control framework. Furthermore, Gibbs’ method is also converted to an extended Lambert’s problem with two position vectors and one orbit energy with the help of the proposed orbital energy computation algorithm. The proposed extended Lambert’s problem and Gibbs’ method are numerically solved with the Lobatto pseudospectral method, and their accuracies are verified by numerical simulations.
Identification and Validation of VEGFR2 Kinase as a Target of Voacangine by a Systematic Combination of DARTS and MSI
Authors: Kim Yonghyo , Sugihara Yutaka , Kim Tae Young , Cho Sung Min , Kim Jin Young , Lee Ju Yeon , Yoo Jong Shin , Song Doona , Han Gyoonhee , Rezeli Melinda , Welinder Charlotte , Appelqvist Roger , Marko-Varga György , Kwon Ho Jeong
Published: April 2020

Although natural products are an important source of drugs and drug leads, identification and validation of their target proteins have proven difficult. Here, we report the development of a systematic strategy for target identification and validation employing drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) and mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) without modifying or labeling natural compounds. Through a validation step using curcumin, which targets aminopeptidase N (APN), we successfully standardized the systematic strategy. Using label-free voacangine, an antiangiogenic alkaloid molecule as the model natural compound, DARTS analysis revealed vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) as a target protein. Voacangine inhibits VEGFR2 kinase activity and its downstream signaling by binding to the kinase domain of VEGFR2, as was revealed by docking simulation. Through cell culture assays, voacangine was found to inhibit the growth of glioblastoma cells expressing high levels of VEGFR2. Specific localization of voacangine to tumor compartments in a glioblastoma xenograft mouse was revealed by MSI analysis. The overlap of histological images with the MSI signals for voacangine was intense in the tumor regions and showed colocalization of voacangine and VEGFR2 in the tumor tissues by immunofluorescence analysis of VEGFR2. The strategy employing DARTS and MSI to identify and validate the targets of a natural compound as demonstrated for voacangine in this study is expected to streamline the general approach of drug discovery and validation using other biomolecules including natural products.
Glycofullerenes Inhibit Particulate Matter Induced Inflammation and Loss of Barrier Proteins in HaCaT Human Keratinocytes
Authors: Lee Chiang-Wen , Su Yu-Han , Chiang Yao-Chang , Lee I-Ta , Li Sin-Yu , Lee Hui-Chun , Hsu Lee-Fen , Yan Yi-Ling , Li Hsing-Yen , Chen Ming-Chun , Peng Kuo-Ti , Lai Chian-Hui
Published: April 2020

Exposure to particulate matter (PM) has been linked to pulmonary and cardiovascular dysfunctions, as well as skin diseases, etc. PM impairs the skin barrier functions and is also involved in the initiation or exacerbation of skin inflammation, which is linked to the activation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathways. Fullerene is a single C60 molecule which has been reported to act as a good radical scavenger. However, its poor water solubility limits its biological applications. The glyco-modification of fullerenes increases their water solubility and anti-bacterial and anti-virus functions. However, it is still unclear whether it affects their anti-inflammatory function against PM-induced skin diseases. Hence, glycofullerenes were synthesized to investigate their effects on PM-exposed HaCaT human keratinocytes. Our results showed that glycofullerenes could reduce the rate of PM-induced apoptosis and ROS production, as well as decrease the expression of downstream mitogen-activated protein kinase and Akt pathways. Moreover, PM-induced increases in inflammatory-related signals, such as cyclooxygenase-2, heme oxygenase-1, and prostaglandin E2, were also suppressed by glycofullerenes. Notably, our results suggested that PM-induced impairment of skin barrier proteins, such as filaggrin, involucrin, repetin, and loricrin, could be reduced by pre-treatment with glycofullerenes. The results of this study indicate that glycofullerenes could be potential candidates for treatments against PM-induced skin diseases and that they exert their protective effects via ROS scavenging, anti-inflammation, and maintenance of the expression of barrier proteins.
Evaluation of Pharmacological and Phytochemical Profiles of Piptadeniastrum africanum (Hook.f.) Brenan Stem Bark Extracts
Authors: Sinan Kouadio Ibrahime , Chiavaroli Annalisa , Orlando Giustino , Bene Kouadio , Zengin Gokhan , Cziáky Zoltán , Jekő József , Fawzi Mahomoodally Mohamad , Picot-Allain Marie Carene Nancy , Menghini Luigi , Recinella Lucia , Brunetti Luigi , Leone Sheila , Ciferri Maria Chiara , Di Simone Simonetta , Ferrante Claudio
Published: April 2020

The stem bark (SB) of Piptadeniastrum africanum (PA) has been extensively used in African traditional medicinal systems. However, there is a dearth of scientific information regarding its possible activity in the management of type II diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and skin hyperpigmentation disorders. This study therefore attempted to elucidate the in vitro inhibitory action of ethyl acetate, methanol, and water extracts of P. africanum stem bark (PA-SB) on α-amylase, α-glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, and tyrosinase. Cell viability, catecholamine, and 3-hydroxykynurenine levels of hypothalamic HypoE22 cells exposed to PA-SB extracts were also investigated. The phytochemical profiles of the extracts were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and antioxidant properties were investigated. Saponin (867.42 mg quillaja equivalent/g) and tannin (33.81 mg catechin equivalent/g) contents were higher in the methanol extract. Multiple dihydroxy-trimethoxy(iso)flavone isomers, loliolide, eriodictyol, naringenin, luteolin, chrysoeriol, apigenin, and liquiritigenin, were characterized from PA-SB extracts using HPLC. The methanol extract of PA-SB showed highest inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (4.88 mg galantamine equivalent (GALAE)/g extract), butyrylcholinesterase (5.37 mg GALAE/g extract), and tyrosinase (154.86 mg kojic acid equivalent/g extract) while α-glucosidase was effectively inhibited by the ethyl acetate extract (15.22 mmol acarbose equivalent/g extract). The methanol extract of PA-SB also showed potent antioxidant properties (493.87, 818.12, 953.07, and 732.19 mg Trolox equivalent/g extract, for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, respectively). PA-SB extracts exhibited antioxidant activity and promising inhibition against key enzymes related to type II diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and skin hyperpigmentation disorders. Additionally, all extracts were able to contrast hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress, in HypoE22 cells, thus restoring basal catecholamine and 3-hydroxykinurenine levels, whereas only methanol and water extracts stimulated basal dopamine release. Overall, data from the present study contribute to the biological assessment of P. africanum that appears to be a promising source of natural compounds with protective and neuromodulatory effects.
Temporal Dynamics of High-Density Lipoprotein Proteome in Diet-Controlled Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Kheniser Karim G. , Osme Abdullah , Kim Chunki , Ilchenko Serguei , Kasumov Takhar , Kashyap Sangeeta R.
Published: April 2020

We examined the effect of mild hyperglycemia on high-density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism and kinetics in diet-controlled subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D). 2H2O-labeling coupled with mass spectrometry was applied to quantify HDL cholesterol turnover and HDL proteome dynamics in subjects with T2D (n = 9) and age- and BMI-matched healthy controls (n = 8). The activities of lecithin–cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP), and the proinflammatory index of HDL were quantified. Plasma adiponectin levels were reduced in subjects with T2D, which was directly associated with suppressed ABCA1-dependent cholesterol efflux capacity of HDL. The fractional catabolic rates of HDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-II (ApoA-II), ApoJ, ApoA-IV, transthyretin, complement C3, and vitamin D-binding protein (all p < 0.05) were increased in subjects with T2D. Despite increased HDL flux of acute-phase HDL proteins, there was no change in the proinflammatory index of HDL. Although LCAT and CETP activities were not affected in subjects with T2D, LCAT was inversely associated with blood glucose and CETP was inversely associated with plasma adiponectin. The degradation rates of ApoA-II and ApoA-IV were correlated with hemoglobin A1c. In conclusion, there were in vivo impairments in HDL proteome dynamics and HDL metabolism in diet-controlled patients with T2D.
Effects of Light Quality and Phytochrome Form on Melatonin Biosynthesis in Rice
Authors: Hwang Ok Jin , Kang Kiyoon , Back Kyoungwhan
Published: April 2020

Light is an important factor influencing melatonin synthesis in response to cadmium treatment in rice. However, the effects of light quality on, and the involvement of phytochrome light receptors in, melatonin production have not been explored. In this study, we used light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to investigate the effect of light wavelength on melatonin synthesis, and the role of phytochromes in light-dependent melatonin induction in rice. Upon cadmium treatment, peak melatonin production was observed under combined red and blue (R + B) light, followed by red (R) and blue light (B). However, both far-red (FR) LED light and dark treatment (D) failed to induce melatonin production. Similarly, rice seedlings grown under the R + B treatment showed the highest melatonin synthesis, followed by those grown under B and R. These findings were consistent with the results of our cadmium treatment experiment. To further confirm the effects of light quality on melatonin synthesis, we employed rice photoreceptor mutants lacking functional phytochrome genes. Melatonin induction was most inhibited in the phytochrome A mutant (phyA) followed by the phyB mutant under R + B treatment, whereas phyB produced the least amount of melatonin under R treatment. These results indicate that PhyB is an R light receptor. Expression analyses of genes involved in melatonin biosynthesis clearly demonstrated that tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC) played a key role in phytochrome-mediated melatonin induction when rice seedlings were challenged with cadmium.
Alexithymia as a Predictor of Arousal and Affect Dysregulations when Batterers with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Cope with Acute Stress
Authors: Romero-Martínez Ángel , Lila Marisol , Moya-Albiol Luis
Published: April 2020

Empirical research has stated that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) might underlie intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) perpetration. Even though there is a clear relationship between these two variables, it is still unknown how ADHD facilitates violence proneness. In this regard, psychophysiological variables such as skin conductance levels (SCL) might offer information about emotional regulation when individuals cope with stress. Furthermore, alexithymia traits might be a strong candidate in explaining the above-mentioned emotional dysregulations. Hence, we compared the SCL response to acute cognitive stress in IPVAW perpetrators with and without ADHD symptoms to that of controls (non-violent and unaffected), and we also assessed the presence of alexithymia traits and their role in emotional regulation. Our data point out that ADHD IPVAW perpetrators presented higher SCL and negative affect than controls, particularly during the recovery period. Moreover, ADHD IPVAW perpetrators showed higher self-reported alexithymia, and this variable was a good predictor of autonomic and psychological state dysregulations, even after controlling for the effects of alcohol and drug misuse. Therefore, our study reinforces the need to consider psychophysiological measurements when screening the therapeutic needs of IPVAW perpetrators, due to their relatively low cost and the significant contents of their results. Finally, we also highlight the key role of alexithymia in this violent population, which should be considered when designing cognitive intervention training coadjutant to current psychotherapies for IPVAW perpetrators.
xCT Inhibition Increases Sensitivity to Vorinostat in a ROS-Dependent Manner
Authors: Miyamoto Keiko , Watanabe Motoki , Boku Shogen , Sukeno Mamiko , Morita Mie , Kondo Haruhito , Sakaguchi Koichi , Taguchi Tetsuya , Sakai Toshiyuki
Published: April 2020

As histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) have limited efficacy against solid tumors, we investigated whether and how oxidative stress is involved in sensitivity to HDACIs to develop a novel therapeutic option of HDACIs treatment. We first tested whether a reduction of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) by glutamine deprivation affects sensitivity to a commercially available HDACI vorinostat and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Next we investigated the relationship between a glutamate-cystine transporter xCT and the efficacy of vorinostat using siRNA of xCT and bioinformatic analyses. Finally, we verified the combinatory effects of vorinostat and the xCT inhibitor salazosulfapyridine (SASP) on ROS accumulation, cell death induction, and colony formation. Glutamine deprivation increased vorinostat-mediated cell death with ROS accumulation. Genetic ablation of xCT improved the efficacy of vorinostat, consistent with the results of public data analyses demonstrating that xCT expressions positively correlate with insensitivity to HDACIs in many types of cancer cell lines. Vorinostat caused ROS accumulation when combined with SASP, possibly resulting in synergistic ferroptosis. Our study provides a novel mechanistic insight into the mechanism underlying sensitivity to HDACIs involving xCT, suggesting xCT to be a promising predictive marker of HDACIs and rationalizing combinatory therapy of HDACIs with xCT inhibitors to induce ferroptosis.
Novel Micro-Mesoporous Composite ZSM-5 Catalyst for Aromatics Production by Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis of Lignin Residues
Authors: Wang Wenbo , Luo Zhongyang , Li Simin , Xue Shuang , Sun Haoran
Published: April 2020

The industrial utilization of lignocellulosic biomass is often accompanied by lots of lignin residues. Catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) is a high-throughput method to convert lignin to aromatics and phenolics. In order to optimize catalytic performance, conventional zeolite catalysts often need to have mesostructural modification. Here, based on hierarchical zeolite (HZ), a novel micro-mesoporous composite zeolite was obtained by redeposition under mild conditions. The conversion of two industrial lignin residues, Kraft Lignin (KL) and Pyrolytic Lignin (PL), was investigated. Interestingly, the hierarchical sample was more suitable for the case of higher concentration of primary pyrolysis products such as CFP of PL, with aromatics yield of 12.7 wt % and a monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs) to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) mass ratio of 4.86. The mesoporous composite zeolite possessed a better PAHs suppression capability as M/P reached 6.06, and was suitable for low reactants’ concentration and high oxygen content, such as KL CFP, with a higher aromatics yield of 3.3 wt % and M/P of 5.12. These results were compared with poplar sawdust as actual biomass, and mesoporous samples were both highly efficient catalysts with MAHs yield over 10 wt % and M/P around 5.
Effect of Pressure on Na0.5La0.5Ni0.3Al0.7O2.5 Perovskite Catalyst for Dry Reforming of CH4
Authors: Fakeeha Anis Hamza , Al-Fatesh Ahmed Sadeq , Abu-Dahrieh Jehad K. , Ibrahim Ahmed Aidid , Kasim Samsudeen Olajide , Abasaeed Ahmed Elhag
Published: April 2020

In this paper, a comprehensive study was carried out on the application of perovskite catalyst in dry reforming of CH4. The perovskite catalyst was prepared using a sol–gel method. The prepared samples were characterized by N2 adsorption/desorption, TPR, XRD, CO2-TPD, TGA, TPO, Raman, and SEM techniques. In addition, the effect of operating pressure, namely, 1 bar, 3 bar, 5 bar, and 7 bar, temperature (500–800 °C) was evaluated. The characterization results indicated that catalysts operated at 1 bar, gas hourly space velocity of 84000 (mL/g/h) gave the best catalytic performance. CH4 and CO2 conversions of 77 and 80% were obtained at 1 bar and at 700 °C reaction temperature. The increase of reaction temperatures from 500 °C to 800 °C increased the reaction rate and hence the methane and carbon dioxide conversions were increased. A unity ratio of H2/CO was obtained at 1 bar for temperatures 600 °C and above. Similarly, the time on stream tests, obtained at a 700 °C reaction temperature, showed that the best ratio in terms of the closeness of unity and the stable profile could be attained when the pressure was set to 1 bar. The TGA analysis showed the drop of mass due to oxidation of carbon deposits, which started at 500 °C. The catalyst operated at 1 bar produced the least amount of carbon, equivalent to 35% weight loss, while the 3 and 5 bar operated catalysts generated carbon formation, equivalent to 65% weight loss. However, the 7 bar operated catalyst resulted the highest accumulation of carbon formation, equivalent to 83% weight reduction. Hence, the TGA profile indicated the relative carbon deposition on the catalyst, which was dependent of the operated pressure and hence confirmed the suitability operation pressure of 1 bar. The characterizations of the Raman, EDX, TGA, and TPO all presented the formation of carbon.
A Bifunctional Electroactive Ti4O7-Based Membrane System for Highly Efficient Ammonia Decontamination
Authors: Zhao Wenchang , Mei Jiancheng , Liu Yanbiao , Yang Bo , Li Fang , Fang Xiaofeng , Huang Manhong , Sand Wolfgang
Published: April 2020

Herein, an electroactive filtration system, consisting of a Ti4O7 anode and a Pd-Cu co-modified nickel foam cathode, was developed and applied for the decontamination of ammonia from water. When assisted with an external electrical field, ClO• was generated on the surface of the Ti4O7 anode, which then reacted selectively with ammonia to generate N2. The anodic byproduct, NO3−, could also be reduced efficiently at the functional cathode to produce N2 as well. Electron paramagnetic resonance technique and radical scavenging tests synergistically verified the essential role of ClO• during the highly efficient ammonia conversion process. Relative to conventional batch systems, the developed flow-through design demonstrated enhanced ammonia conversion kinetics, thanks to the convection-enhanced mass transport. The proposed technology also showed desirable stability across a wide environmental matrix. This work provides new insights for the development of advanced and affordable continuous-flow systems towards effective decontamination of ammonia.