bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Liquid Manure Application Techniques on Ammonia Emission and Winter Wheat Yield
Authors: ten Huf Martin , Reinsch Thorsten , Zutz Mareike , Essich Christoph , Ruser Reiner , Buchen-Tschiskale Caroline , Flessa Heinz , Olfs Hans-Werner
Published: February 2023

Ammonia emissions following liquid manure application impair human health and threaten natural ecosystems. In growing arable crops, where immediate soil incorporation of the applied liquid manure is not possible, best-available application techniques are required in order to decrease ammonia losses. We determined ammonia emission, crop yield and nitrogen uptake of winter wheat in eight experimental sites across Germany. Each individual experiment consisted of an unfertilized control (N0), broadcast calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) application as well as four different techniques to apply cattle slurry (CS) and biogas digestate (BD). Fertilizer was applied to growing winter wheat at a total rate of 170 kg N ha−1 split into two equal dressings. The following application techniques were tested for both liquid manure types: (i) trailing hose (TH) application using untreated and (ii) acidified (~pH 6) liquid manure (+A), as well as (iii) a combination of open slot injection (SI) for the first dressing and trailing shoe (TS) application for the second dressing without and (iv) with the addition of a nitrification inhibitor (NI) for the first dressing. The highest ammonia emissions (on average 30 kg N ha−1) occurred following TH application of BD. TH application of CS led to significantly lower emissions (on average 19 kg N ha−1). Overall, acidification reduced ammonia emissions by 64% compared to TH application without acidification for both types of liquid manures. On average, the combination of SI and TS application resulted in 23% lower NH3 emissions in comparison to TH application (25% for the first application by SI and 20% for the second application by TS). Supplementing an NI did not affect ammonia emissions. However, decreasing ammonia emissions by acidification or SI did not increase winter wheat yield and nitrogen uptake. All organically fertilized treatments led to similar crop yield (approx. 7 t ha−1 grain dry matter yield) and above-ground biomass nitrogen uptake (approx. 150 kg ha−1). Yield (8 t ha−1) and nitrogen uptake (approx. 190 kg ha−1) were significantly higher for the CAN treatment; while for the control, yield (approx. 4.5 t ha−1) and above-ground biomass nitrogen uptake (approx. 90 kg ha−1) were significantly lower. Overall, our results show that reducing NH3 emissions following liquid manure application to growing crops is possible by using different mitigation techniques. For our field trial series, acidification was the technique with the greatest NH3 mitigation potential.
Methane Uptake and Nitrous Oxide Emission in Saline Soil Showed High Sensitivity to Nitrogen Fertilization Addition
Authors: Yang Wenzhu , Hu Youlin , Yang Mingde , Wen Huiyang , Jiao Yan
Published: February 2023

Saline soils can significantly affect methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) in atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs). However, the coupling effect of nitrogen fertilization addition and saline soils on CH4 uptake and N2O emissions has rarely been examined under various salinity conditions of soil. In this study, the effects of nitrogen fertilization addition on CH4 and N2O fluxes under different salinity conditions of soil in Hetao Irrigation District, Inner Mongolia, were investigated by on-site static chamber gas chromatography. A slightly saline soil (S1) (Electrical Conductivity: 0.74 dS m−1) and a strongly saline soil (S2) (EC: 2.60 dS m−1) were treated at three levels of nitrogen fertilization: a high fertilization rate of 350 kg N ha−1 (H), a low fertilization rate of 175 kg N ha−1 (L), and no fertilizer (control treatment, referred to as CK). Nitrogen application was the important factor affecting N2O emissions and CH4 uptake in saline soil. The CK, L, and H treatments exhibited a cumulative CH4 uptake of 156.8–171.9, 119.7–142.0, and 86.7–104.8 mg m−2 in S1, 139.3–176.0, 109.6–110.6, and 68.5–75.4 mg m−2 in S2, respectively. The cumulative N2O emissions under the L and H treatments in S2 were 44.1–44.7%, and 74.1–91.1% higher than those in S1. Nitrogen fertilizer application to saline soils reduced CH4 uptake and promoted N2O emission in the Hetao Plain, Inner Mongolia. Our results indicate that mitigating soil salinity and adopting appropriated fertilizer amounts may help to cope with global climate change.
Analysis of Antimicrobials in Muscle and Drinking Water in Terms of Reducing the Need of Antimicrobial Use by Increasing the Health and Welfare of Pig and Broiler
Authors: Gajda Anna , Błądek Tomasz , Gbylik-Sikorska Małgorzata , Nowacka-Kozak Ewelina , Angastiniotis Kyriacos , Simitopoulou Maro , Kefalas George , Ferrari Paolo , Levallois Pierre , Fourichon Christine , Wolthuis-Fillerup Maaike , De Roest Kees
Published: February 2023

Antimicrobial residues may pose harmful effects on the health of consumers. At the same time, an adequate quality of drinking water for animals is one of the important element to ensure animal welfare and food without antibacterials. The presented study is aimed at estimating the residue levels of antibacterial compounds, such as penicillins, cephalosporin, macrolides, tetracyclines, quinolones, sulphonamides, aminoglycosides, diaminopirymidines, pleuromutilines and lincosamides in meat and on-farm drinking water samples using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), as a part of a surveillance system on pig and broiler farms within the project Healthy Livestock. A total of 870 samples of muscle from pig and broiler, as well as 229 water samples were analysed for antibiotic residues. Samples were collected from farms in EU countries in two steps, before and after implementation of a tailor-made health plan. In muscle samples, the detected concentrations of doxycycline in the post-intervention step (15.9–70.8 µg/kg) were lower than concentrations in the pre-intervention step (20.6–100 µg/kg). In water samples, doxycycline in an average concentration of 119 µg/L in the pre- and 23.1 µg/L in the post-intervention step, as well as enrofloxacin at concentrations of 170 µg/L in the pre- and 1.72 µg/L in the post-intervention step were quantified. Amoxicillin was only present before intervention. The obtained results confirm the effectiveness of the intervention actions. The concentrations of antibiotics in muscles and water were lower after implementation of a health plan on the farms.
Artificial Intelligence Applied to Improve Scientific Reviews: The Antibacterial Activity of Cistus Plants as Proof of Concept
Authors: Álvarez-Martínez Francisco Javier , Borrás-Rocher Fernando , Micol Vicente , Barrajón-Catalán Enrique
Published: February 2023

Reviews have traditionally been based on extensive searches of the available bibliography on the topic of interest. However, this approach is frequently influenced by the authors’ background, leading to possible selection bias. Artificial intelligence applied to natural language processing (NLP) is a powerful tool that can be used for systematic reviews by speeding up the process and providing more objective results, but its use in scientific literature reviews is still scarce. This manuscript addresses this challenge by developing a reproducible tool that can be used to develop objective reviews on almost every topic. This tool has been used to review the antibacterial activity of Cistus genus plant extracts as proof of concept, providing a comprehensive and objective state of the art on this topic based on the analysis of 1601 research manuscripts and 136 patents. Data were processed using a publicly available Jupyter Notebook in Google Collaboratory here. NLP, when applied to the study of antibacterial activity of Cistus plants, is able to recover the main scientific manuscripts and patents related to the topic, avoiding any biases. The NLP-assisted literature review reveals that C. creticus and C. monspeliensis are the first and second most studied Cistus species respectively. Leaves and fruits are the most commonly used plant parts and methanol, followed by butanol and water, the most widely used solvents to prepare plant extracts. Furthermore, Staphylococcus. aureus followed by Bacillus. cereus are the most studied bacterial species, which are also the most susceptible bacteria in all studied assays. This new tool aims to change the actual paradigm of the review of scientific literature to make the process more efficient, reliable, and reproducible, according to Open Science standards.
Usefulness of Routine Laboratory Tests for Follow up of Patients Receiving Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy Run by Infectious Diseases Fellows
Authors: Frisby Jared , Ali Naureen , Niemotka Samson , Abate Getahun
Published: February 2023

Background: The infectious disease society of America (IDSA) recommends routine laboratory tests for all patients receiving outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) to monitor for adverse events. There are no data to support how often patients should take monitoring laboratory tests. In addition, the relevance of different laboratory tests commonly used for OPAT follow up is not clearly known. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational cohort study over a 7-year study interval (1 January 2014 to 31 December 2021). Clinical data were obtained to identify the risk factors associated with abnormal laboratory tests and determine if abnormal laboratory tests led to antibiotic change or hospital readmission. Results: Two hundred and forty-six patients met the inclusion criteria for this study. In our multivariate analysis, the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) of 0–4 (aOR 0.39, 95%Cl 0.18–0.86), the use of ceftriaxone without vancomycin (aOR 0.47, 95%Cl 0.24–0.91) and an OPAT duration of 2–4 weeks (aOR 0.47, 95%Cl 0.24–0.91) were associated with a lower risk of OPAT complications. A CCI of 5 or more (aOR 2.5, 95%Cl (1.1–5.7)) and an OPAT duration of 5 or more weeks (aOR 2.7, 95% Cl 1.3–5.6) were associated with a higher risk of OPAT complications. An abnormal complete metabolic panel or vancomycin levels, but not an abnormal complete blood count, were associated with antibiotic change or readmission. Conclusion: Patients with fewer comorbidities, ceftriaxone and short OPAT durations are at lower risk for OPAT complications. These patients could be followed with less frequent laboratory monitoring.
Soil Component: A Potential Factor Affecting the Occurrence and Spread of Antibiotic Resistance Genes
Authors: Shi Hongyu , Hu Xinyi , Li Wenxuan , Zhang Jin , Hu Baolan , Lou Liping
Published: February 2023

In recent years, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in soil have become research hotspots in the fields of public health and environmental ecosystems, but the effects of soil types and soil components on the occurrence and spread of ARGs still lack systematic sorting and in-depth research. Firstly, investigational information about ARB and ARGs contamination of soil was described. Then, existing laboratory studies about the influence of the soil component on ARGs were summarized in the following aspects: the influence of soil types on the occurrence of ARGs during natural or human activities and the control of exogenously added soil components on ARGs from the macro perspectives, the effects of soil components on the HGT of ARGs in a pure bacterial system from the micro perspectives. Following that, the similarities in pathways by which soil components affect HGT were identified, and the potential mechanisms were discussed from the perspectives of intracellular responses, plasmid activity, quorum sensing, etc. In the future, related research on multi-component systems, multi-omics methods, and microbial communities should be carried out in order to further our understanding of the occurrence and spread of ARGs in soil.
Metagenomic Insights for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance in Soils with Different Land Uses in Brazil
Authors: Ordine João Vitor Wagner , de Souza Gabrielle Messias , Tamasco Gustavo , Virgilio Stela , Fernandes Ana Flávia Tonelli , Silva-Rocha Rafael , Guazzaroni María-Eugenia
Published: February 2023

Land-use conversion changes soil properties and their microbial communities, which, combined with the overuse of antibiotics in human and animal health, promotes the expansion of the soil resistome. In this context, we aimed to profile the resistome and the microbiota of soils under different land practices. We collected eight soil samples from different locations in the countryside of São Paulo (Brazil), assessed the community profiles based on 16S rRNA sequencing, and analyzed the soil metagenomes based on shotgun sequencing. We found differences in the communities’ structures and their dynamics that were correlated with land practices, such as the dominance of Staphylococcus and Bacillus genera in agriculture fields. Additionally, we surveyed the abundance and diversity of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence factors (VFs) across studied soils, observing a higher presence and homogeneity of the vanRO gene in livestock soils. Moreover, three β-lactamases were identified in orchard and urban square soils. Together, our findings reinforce the importance and urgency of AMR surveillance in the environment, especially in soils undergoing deep land-use transformations, providing an initial exploration under the One Health approach of environmental levels of resistance and profiling soil communities.
Seminal Bacterioflora of Two Rooster Lines: Characterization, Antibiotic Resistance Patterns and Possible Impact on Semen Quality
Authors: Tvrdá Eva , Petrovičová Michaela , Benko Filip , Ďuračka Michal , Kováč Ján , Slanina Tomáš , Galovičová Lucia , Žiarovská Jana , Kačániová Miroslava
Published: February 2023

This study aimed to characterize the bacterial profiles and their association with selected semen quality traits among two chicken breeds. Thirty Lohmann Brown and thirty ROSS 308 roosters were selected for semen quality estimation, including sperm motility, membrane and acrosome integrity, mitochondrial activity, and DNA fragmentation. The oxidative profile of the semen, including the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidant capacity, protein, and lipid oxidation, were assessed as well. Moreover, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukins 1 and 6 (IL-1, IL-6) and C-reactive protein, as well as the concentrations of selected antibacterial proteins (cathelicidin, β-defensin and lysozyme) in the seminal plasma were evaluated with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The prevailing bacterial genera identified by the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry were Citrobacter spp., Enterococcus spp., Escherichia spp. and Staphylococcus spp. While the bacterial load was significantly higher in the ROSS 308 line (p < 0.05), a higher number of potentially uropathogenic bacteria was found in the Lohmann Brown roosters. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests revealed a substantial resistance of randomly selected bacterial strains, particularly to ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and tobramycin. Furthermore, Lohmann Brown ejaculates containing an increased proportion of Escherichia coli presented with significantly (p < 0.05) elevated levels of TNF-α and IL-6, as well as ROS overproduction and lipid peroxidation. Inversely, significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels of β-defensin and lysozyme were found in the semen collected from the ROSS 308 roosters, which was characterized by a higher quality in comparison to the Lohmann Brown roosters. In conclusion, we emphasize the criticality of bacteriospermia in the poultry industry and highlight the need to include a more complex microbiological screening of semen samples designated for artificial insemination.
β Boswellic Acid Blocks Articular Innate Immune Responses: An In Silico and In Vitro Approach to Traditional Medicine
Authors: Franco-Trepat Eloi , Alonso-Pérez Ana , Guillán-Fresco María , López-Fagúndez Miriam , Pazos-Pérez Andrés , Crespo-Golmar Antía , Belén Bravo Susana , López-López Verónica , Jorge-Mora Alberto , Cerón-Carrasco José P. , Lois Iglesias Ana , Gómez Rodolfo
Published: February 2023

Osteoarthritis (OA) is hallmarked as a silent progressive rheumatic disease of the whole joint. The accumulation of inflammatory and catabolic factors such as IL6, TNFα, and COX2 drives the OA pathophysiology into cartilage degradation, synovia inflammation, and bone destruction. There is no clinical available OA treatment. Although traditional ayurvedic medicine has been using Boswellia serrata extracts (BSE) as an antirheumatic treatment for a millennium, none of the BSE components have been clinically approved. Recently, β boswellic acid (BBA) has been shown to reduce in vivo OA-cartilage loss through an unknown mechanism. We used computational pharmacology, proteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics to present solid evidence of BBA therapeutic properties in mouse and primary human OA joint cells. Specifically, BBA binds to the innate immune receptor Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR4) complex and inhibits both TLR4 and Interleukin 1 Receptor (IL1R) signaling in OA chondrocytes, osteoblasts, and synoviocytes. Moreover, BBA inhibition of TLR4/IL1R downregulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) synthesis and MAPK p38/NFκB, NLRP3, IFNαβ, TNF, and ECM-related pathways. Altogether, we present a solid bulk of evidence that BBA blocks OA innate immune responses and could be transferred into the clinic as an alimentary supplement or as a therapeutic tool after clinical trial evaluations.
Oxidative Stress and Natural Antioxidants in Osteoporosis: Novel Preventive and Therapeutic Approaches
Authors: Marcucci Gemma , Domazetovic Vladana , Nediani Chiara , Ruzzolini Jessica , Favre Claudio , Brandi Maria Luisa
Published: February 2023

This review reports in detail the cellular and molecular mechanisms which regulate the bone remodeling process in relation to oxidative stress (OS), inflammatory factors, and estrogen deficiency. OS is considered an important pathogenic factor of osteoporosis, inducing osteocyte apoptosis and varying levels of specific factors, such as receptor activator κB ligand (RANKL), sclerostin, and, according to recent evidence, fibroblast growth factor 23, with consequent impairment of bone remodeling and high bone resorption. Bone loss increases the risk of fragility fractures, and the most commonly used treatments are antiresorptive drugs, followed by anabolic drugs or those with a double effect. In addition, recent data show that natural antioxidants contained in the diet are efficient in preventing and reducing the negative effects of OS on bone remodeling and osteocytes through the involvement of sirtuin type 1 enzyme. Indeed, osteocytes and some of their molecular factors are considered potential biological targets on which antioxidants can act to prevent and reduce bone loss, as well as to promote bone anabolic and regenerative processes by restoring physiological bone remodeling. Several data suggest including antioxidants in novel therapeutic approaches to develop better management strategies for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and OS-related bone diseases. In particular, anthocyanins, as well as resveratrol, lycopene, oleuropein, some vitamins, and thiol antioxidants, could have protective and therapeutic anti-osteoporotic effects.
Antioxidant Potential-Rich Betel Leaves (Piper betle L.) Exert Depigmenting Action by Triggering Autophagy and Downregulating MITF/Tyrosinase In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Alam Md Badrul , Park Na Hyun , Song Bo-Rim , Lee Sang-Han
Published: February 2023

Each individual has a unique skin tone based on the types and quantities of melanin pigment, and oxidative stress is a key element in melanogenesis regulation. This research sought to understand the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant and depigmenting properties of betel leaves (Piper betle L.) extract (PBL) and the underlying mechanism. Ethyl acetate fractions of PBL (PBLA) demonstrated excellent phenolic content (342 ± 4.02 mgGAE/g) and strong DPPH, ABTS radicals, and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging activity with an IC50 value of 41.52 ± 1.02 μg/mL, 45.60 ± 0.56 μg/mL, and 51.42 ± 1.25 μg/mL, respectively. Contrarily, ethanolic extract of PBL (PBLE) showed potent mushroom, mice, and human tyrosinase inhibition activity (IC50 = 7.72 ± 0.98 μg/mL, 20.59 ± 0.83 μg/mL and 24.78 ± 0.56 μg/mL, respectively). According to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, PBL is abundant in caryophyllene, eugenol, O-eugenol, 3-Allyl-6-methoxyphenyl acetate, and chavicol. An in vitro and in vivo investigation showed that PBLE suppressed tyrosinase (Tyr), tyrosinase-related protein-1 and -2 (Trp-1 and Trp-2), and microphthalmia-associated transcription factors (MITF), decreasing the formation of melanin in contrast to the untreated control. PBLE reduced the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response to an element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation by preventing the synthesis of cAMP. Additionally, it activates c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38), destroying Tyr and MITF and avoiding melanin production. Higher levels of microtubule-associated protein-light chain 3 (LC3-II), autophagy-related protein 5 (Atg5), Beclin 1, and lower levels of p62 demonstrate that PBLE exhibits significant anti-melanogenic effects via an autophagy-induction mechanism, both in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, PBLE significantly reduced the amount of lipid peroxidation while increasing the activity of several antioxidant enzymes in vivo, such as catalase, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and thioredoxin. PBLE can therefore be employed in topical formulations as a potent skin-whitening agent.
Current Techniques of Water Solubility Improvement for Antioxidant Compounds and Their Correlation with Its Activity: Molecular Pharmaceutics
Authors: Budiman Arif , Rusdin Agus , Aulifa Diah Lia
Published: February 2023

The aqueous solubility of a drug is important in the oral formulation because the drug can be absorbed from intestinal sites after being dissolved in the gastrointestinal fluid, leading to its bioavailability. Almost 80% of active pharmaceutical ingredients are poorly water-soluble, including antioxidant compounds. This makes antioxidant activity inefficient in preventing disease, particularly for orally administered formulations. Although several investigations have been carried out to improve the solubility of antioxidant compounds, there is still limited research fully discussing the subject. Therefore, this study aimed to provide an overview and discussion of the issues related to the methods that have been used to improve the solubility and activity of antioxidant compounds. Articles were found using the keywords “antioxidant” and “water solubility improvement” in the Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases. The selected articles were published within the last five years to ensure all information was up-to-date with the same objectives. The most popular methods of the strategies employed were solid dispersion, co-amorphous, and nanoparticle drug delivery systems, which were used to enhance the solubility of antioxidant compounds. These investigations produced impressive results, with a detailed discussion of the mechanism of improvement in the solubility and antioxidant activity of the compounds developed. This review shows that the strategies used to increase the solubility of antioxidant compounds successfully improved their antioxidant activity with enhanced free radical scavenging abilities.
TRAP1 Is Expressed in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells and Is Required to Maintain their Energetic Status
Authors: Ramos Rego Inês , Silvério Daniela , Eufrásio Maria Isabel , Pinhanços Sandra Sofia , Lopes da Costa Bruna , Teixeira José , Fernandes Hugo , Kong Yang , Li Yao , Tsang Stephen H. , Oliveira Paulo J. , Fernandes Rosa , Quinn Peter M. J. , Santos Paulo Fernando , Ambrósio António Francisco , Alves Celso Henrique
Published: February 2023

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe vision loss and blindness in elderly people worldwide. The damage to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) triggered by oxidative stress plays a central role in the onset and progression of AMD and results from the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced mainly by mitochondria. Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 1 (TRAP1) is a mitochondrial molecular chaperone that contributes to the maintenance of mitochondrial integrity by decreasing the production and accumulation of ROS. The present study aimed to evaluate the presence and the role of TRAP1 in the RPE. Here, we report that TRAP1 is expressed in human adult retinal pigment epithelial cells and is located mainly in the mitochondria. Exposure of RPE cells to hydrogen peroxide decreases the levels of TRAP1. Furthermore, TRAP1 silencing increases intracellular ROS production and decreases mitochondrial respiratory capacity without affecting cell proliferation. Together, these findings offer novel insights into TRAP1 functions in RPE cells, opening possibilities to develop new treatment options for AMD.
Comprehensive Analysis of Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Properties of Morus nigra L.
Authors: Vukmirović Saša , Ilić Vladimirka , Tadić Vanja , Čapo Ivan , Pavlović Nebojša , Tomas Ana , Paut Kusturica Milica , Tomić Nataša , Maksimović Svetolik , Stilinović Nebojša
Published: February 2023

The framework of this study was a comprehensive investigation of Morus nigra L. extracts, with the aim to establish the correlation between chemical composition and antioxidant/hepatoprotective activity of a series of black mulberry extracts obtained from aerial parts of the plant. Black mulberry leaf (MLEE), bark (MBEE), juice (MJ) and fresh fruit (MFEE) extracts were obtained using the conventional Soxhlet extraction, while the supercritical CO2 extraction procedure was employed for preparation of the seed oil (MSO). Analysis of the chemical composition was performed using spectrophotometric, HPLC and GC methods. For the evaluation of antioxidant activity, in vitro FRAP and DPPH assays were applied. In Haan strain NMRI mice with streptozotocin-induced oxidative stress, in vivo antioxidant activity and liver tissue integrity were examined. The content of polyphenolic compounds was the highest in MBEE (68.3 ± 0.7 mgGAE/g) with the most abundant compounds being polyphenolic acids, followed by MLEE (23.4 ± 0.5 mgGAE/g) with the flavonoids isoquercetin and rutin being present in a significant amount. An analysis of MSO revealed a high content of γ-linoleic acid. The highest antioxidant activity in vitro (FRAP and DPPH) was observed for MLEE, MBEE and MSO. Beneficial effects were confirmed in vivo, with lower values of hepatosomatic index, potentiation of the activity of the enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase, a lower rate of lipid peroxidation and reduced positivity for the P450 enzyme in animals treated with MLEE, MBEE and MSO. Black mulberry leaf and bark extracts as well as seed oil exhibited significant antioxidant activity. Apart from the confirmed biological properties of the fruit and leaf extracts, the observed activities of black mulberry seed oil and bark extract imply its importance as a sustainable source of phytochemicals.
Shallow- and Deep-Water Ophiura Species Produce a Panel of Chlorin Compounds with Potent Photodynamic Anticancer Activities
Authors: Klimenko Antonina , Huber Robin , Marcourt Laurence , Tabakaev Dmitry , Koval Alexey , Dautov Salim Sh. , Dautova Tatyana N. , Wolfender Jean-Luc , Thew Rob , Khotimchenko Yuri , Queiroz Emerson Ferreira , Katanaev Vladimir L.
Published: February 2023

A Pacific brittle star Ophiura sarsii has previously been shown to produce a chlorin (3S,4S)-14-Ethyl-9-(hydroxymethyl)-4,8,13,18-tetramethyl-20-oxo-3-phorbinepropanoic acid (ETPA) (1) with potent phototoxic activities, making it applicable to photodynamic therapy. Using extensive LC-MS metabolite profiling, molecular network analysis, and targeted isolation with de novo NMR structure elucidation, we herein identify five additional chlorin compounds from O. sarsii and its deep-sea relative O. ooplax: 10S-Hydroxypheophorbide a (2), Pheophorbide a (3), Pyropheophorbide a (4), (3S,4S,21R)-14-Ethyl-9-(hydroxymethyl)-21-(methoxycarbonyl)-4,8,13,18-tetramethyl-20-oxo-3-phorbinepropanoic acid (5), and (3S,4S,21R)-14-Ethyl-21-hydroxy-9-(hydroxymethyl)-4,8,13,18-tetramethyl-20-oxo-3-phorbinepropanoic acid (6). Chlorins 5 and 6 have not been previously reported in natural sources. Interestingly, low amounts of chlorins 1–4 and 6 could also be identified in a distant species, the basket star Gorgonocephalus cf. eucnemis, demonstrating that chlorins are produced by a wide spectrum of marine invertebrates of the class Ophiuroidea. Following the purification of these major Ophiura chlorin metabolites, we discovered the significant singlet oxygen quantum yield upon their photoinduction and the resulting phototoxicity against triple-negative breast cancer BT-20 cells. These studies identify an arsenal of brittle star chlorins as natural photosensitizers with potential photodynamic therapy applications.
Stromal Ascorbate Peroxidase (OsAPX7) Modulates Drought Stress Tolerance in Rice (Oryza sativa)
Authors: Jardim-Messeder Douglas , Caverzan Andreia , Balbinott Natalia , Menguer Paloma K. , Paiva Ana L. S. , Lemos Moaciria , Cunha Juliana R. , Gaeta Marcos L. , Costa Miguel , Zamocky Marcel , Saibo Nelson J. M. , Silveira Joaquim A. G. , Margis Rogério , Margis-Pinheiro Márcia
Published: February 2023

Chloroplast ascorbate peroxidases exert an important role in the maintenance of hydrogen peroxide levels in chloroplasts by using ascorbate as the specific electron donor. In this work, we performed a functional study of the stromal APX in rice (OsAPX7) and demonstrated that silencing of OsAPX7 did not impact plant growth, redox state, or photosynthesis parameters. Nevertheless, when subjected to drought stress, silenced plants (APX7i) show a higher capacity to maintain stomata aperture and photosynthesis performance, resulting in a higher tolerance when compared to non-transformed plants. RNA-seq analyses indicate that the silencing of OsAPX7 did not lead to changes in the global expression of genes related to reactive oxygen species metabolism. In addition, the drought-mediated induction of several genes related to the proteasome pathway and the down-regulation of genes related to nitrogen and carotenoid metabolism was impaired in APX7i plants. During drought stress, APX7i showed an up-regulation of genes encoding flavonoid and tyrosine metabolism enzymes and a down-regulation of genes related to phytohormones signal transduction and nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism. Our results demonstrate that OsAPX7 might be involved in signaling transduction pathways related to drought stress response, contributing to the understanding of the physiological role of chloroplast APX isoforms in rice.
Sulodexide Prevents Hyperglycemia-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction and Oxidative Stress in Porcine Retinal Arterioles
Authors: Dauth Alice , Bręborowicz Andrzej , Ruan Yue , Tang Qi , Zadeh Jenia K. , Böhm Elsa W. , Pfeiffer Norbert , Khedkar Pratik H. , Patzak Andreas , Vujacic-Mirski Ksenija , Daiber Andreas , Gericke Adrian
Published: February 2023

Diabetes mellitus may cause severe damage to retinal blood vessels. The central aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that sulodexide, a mixture of glycosaminoglycans, has a protective effect against hyperglycemia-induced endothelial dysfunction in the retina. Functional studies were performed in isolated porcine retinal arterioles. Vessels were cannulated and incubated with highly concentrated glucose solution (HG, 25 mM D-glucose) +/− sulodexide (50/5/0.5 μg/mL) or normally concentrated glucose solution (NG, 5.5 mM D-glucose) +/− sulodexide for two hours. Endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilatation were measured by videomicroscopy. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were quantified by dihydroethidium (DHE) fluorescence. Using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), the intrinsic antioxidant properties of sulodexide were investigated. Quantitative PCR was used to determine mRNA expression of regulatory, inflammatory, and redox genes in retinal arterioles, some of which were subsequently quantified at the protein level by immunofluorescence microscopy. Incubation of retinal arterioles with HG caused significant impairment of endothelium-dependent vasodilation, whereas endothelium-independent responses were not affected. In the HG group, ROS formation was markedly increased in the vascular wall. Strikingly, sulodexide had a protective effect against hyperglycemia-induced ROS formation in the vascular wall and had a concentration-dependent protective effect against endothelial dysfunction. Although sulodexide itself had only negligible antioxidant properties, it prevented hyperglycemia-induced overexpression of the pro-oxidant redox enzymes, NOX4 and NOX5. The data of the present study provide evidence that sulodexide has a protective effect against hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction in porcine retinal arterioles, possibly by modulation of redox enzyme expression.
Thymus Species from Romanian Spontaneous Flora as Promising Source of Phenolic Secondary Metabolites with Health-Related Benefits
Authors: Babotă Mihai , Frumuzachi Oleg , Nicolescu Alexandru , Dias Maria Inês , Pinela José , Barros Lillian , Añibarro-Ortega Mikel , Stojković Dejan , Carević Tamara , Mocan Andrei , López Víctor , Crișan Gianina
Published: February 2023

Wild thyme aerial parts (Serpylli herba) are recognized as a valuable herbal product with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects. Although pharmacopoeial regulations allow its collection exclusively from Thymus serpyllum, substitution with other species is frequent in current practice. This study analyzed the phenolic composition, antioxidant, and enzyme-inhibitory and antimicrobial activity of the hydroethanolic extracts obtained from five Romanian wild thyme species (Thymus alpestris, T. glabrescens, T. panonicus, T. pulcherimus and T. pulegioides). The analysis of individual phenolic constituents was performed through LC-ESI-DAD/MS2, while for the in vitro evaluation of antioxidant potential, TEAC, FRAP, DPPH, TBARS and OxHLIA assays were employed. The anti-enzymatic potential was tested in vitro against tyrosinase, α-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase. High rosmarinic acid contents were quantified in all species (20.06 ± 0.32–80.49 ± 0.001 mg/g dry extract); phenolic acids derivatives (including salvianolic acids) were confirmed as the principal metabolites of T. alpestris and T. glabrescens, while eriodictyol-O-di-hexoside was found exclusively in T. alpestris. All species showed strong antioxidant potential and moderate anti-enzymatic effect against α-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase, showing no anti-tyrosinase activity. This is the first detailed report on the chemical and biological profile of T. alpestris collected from Romanian spontaneous flora.
Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties of β-Sitosterol in Copper Sulfate-Induced Inflammation in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Authors: Zhang Peng , Liu Naicheng , Xue Mingyang , Zhang Mengjie , Liu Wei , Xu Chen , Fan Yuding , Meng Yan , Zhang Qinghua , Zhou Yong
Published: February 2023

β-Sitosterol, which is used extensively in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics, has high nutritional value along with immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of β-sitosterol in zebrafish and explored the associated molecular mechanisms. In an in vivo antioxidant experiment, zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae were treated with different concentrations of β-sitosterol and then exposed to a nonlethal concentration of CuSO4 to induce oxidative stress. Treatment with β-sitosterol at 70 or 100 μg/mL significantly reduced CuSO4-induced oxidative stress in the zebrafish, demonstrating the strong antioxidant activity of β-sitosterol. Treatment with β-sitosterol protected zebrafish larvae against oxidative damage from CuSO4 by upregulating the expressions of sod and gpx4b. In a zebrafish model of inflammation, pretreatment with β-sitosterol before CuSO4 exposure inhibited neutrophil recruitment and damage to lateral line neuromasts, indicating a potent anti-inflammatory effect derived from reductions in the expressions of il-8 and myd88. The results demonstrate the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of β-sitosterol and suggest that β-sitosterol may be useful for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases.
Potential of Nano-Antioxidants and Nanomedicine for Recovery from Neurological Disorders Linked to Long COVID Syndrome
Authors: Akanchise Thelma , Angelova Angelina
Published: February 2023

Long-term neurological complications, persisting in patients who cannot fully recover several months after severe SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection, are referred to as neurological sequelae of the long COVID syndrome. Among the numerous clinical post-acute COVID-19 symptoms, neurological and psychiatric manifestations comprise prolonged fatigue, “brain fog”, memory deficits, headache, ageusia, anosmia, myalgias, cognitive impairments, anxiety, and depression lasting several months. Considering that neurons are highly vulnerable to inflammatory and oxidative stress damages following the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), neuroinflammation and oxidative stress have been suggested to dominate the pathophysiological mechanisms of the long COVID syndrome. It is emphasized that mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress damages are crucial for the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. Importantly, antioxidant therapies have the potential to slow down and prevent disease progression. However, many antioxidant compounds display low bioavailability, instability, and transport to targeted tissues, limiting their clinical applications. Various nanocarrier types, e.g., liposomes, cubosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, micelles, dendrimers, carbon-based nanostructures, nanoceria, and other inorganic nanoparticles, can be employed to enhance antioxidant bioavailability. Here, we highlight the potential of phytochemical antioxidants and other neuroprotective agents (curcumin, quercetin, vitamins C, E and D, melatonin, rosmarinic acid, N-acetylcysteine, and Ginkgo Biloba derivatives) in therapeutic strategies for neuroregeneration. A particular focus is given to the beneficial role of nanoparticle-mediated drug-delivery systems in addressing the challenges of antioxidants for managing and preventing neurological disorders as factors of long COVID sequelae.
Possibilities for the Flow of Water and Blood through a Graphene Layer in a Geometry Analogous to Human Arterioles: An Observational Study
Authors: Shankar Narayan S. , Saeed Abdulkafi M. , Fatima Nahid , Al-Duais Fuad S. , Alharbi Khalid Abdulkhaliq M. , Puneeth Venkatesh , Gorji M. R. , Kheder Nidhal Ben , Abdelmohsen Shaimaa A. M.
Published: February 2023

Atherosclerosis and aneurysm are two non-communicable diseases that affect the human arterial network. The arterioles undergo dimensional changes that prominently influence the flow of oxygen and nutrients to distal organs and organ systems. Several studies have emerged discussing the various possibilities for the circumstances surrounding the existence of these pathologies. In the present work, we analyze the flow of blood across the stenosis and the aneurysmic sac in contrast with the flow of water to explore alterations in the flow characteristics caused by introduction of the graphene layer. We investigate the blood flow past the graphene layer with varying porosity. The study is undertaken to replace usage of a stent along a blocked artery by inserting a thin layer of graphene along the flow channel in the post-pathological section of the geometry. To explain the flow, a 2D mathematical model is constructed, and the validity and exclusivity of the model’s solution are examined. When the artery wall is assumed to be inelastic, the computation of the mathematical system is evaluated using a finite element method (FEM) solver. We define a new parameter called critical porosity Cεp to explore the flow possibilities through the graphene layer. The findings indicate that the flow pattern was adversely affected by the graphene layer that was added to the flow field. The negative impact on the flow could be due to the position of the graphene layer placed. The Cεp values for the flow of blood across healthy arteriole, stenosed arteriole, and aneurysmic arteriole segments were 5.7%, 3.5%, and 3.5% respectively. The critical porosity values were achieved with precision in terms of linear errors 8.1×10−12, 7.7×10−12, and 3.9×10−12, respectively. The consequences of the present study disclose various possible ways to utilize graphene and its compounds in the medical and clinical arena, with a prior exploration of the chemical properties of the compound. The idea and the methodology applied for the present study are novel as there have been no previous research works available in this direction of the research field.
A Circularly Polarized mmWave Dielectric-Resonator-Antenna Array for Off-Body Communications
Authors: Abdou Tarek S. , Saad Rola , Khamas Salam K.
Published: February 2023

This paper presents a novel 28 GHz circularly polarized rectangular dielectric-resonator antenna (DRA) array for millimeter-wave (mmWave) off-body applications. A feed network incorporating cross slots was utilized in the rectangular DRA design to realize circular polarization (CP). In terms of the free-space wavelength, λo, the DRA dimensions were (0.48λo × 0.48λo × 0.27λo) at 28 GHz. The antenna array was simulated by incorporating dielectric layers with parameters that are equivalent to those of the human body at the desired frequency of 28 GHz for off-body communications. Moreover, the precise alignment and assembly of the DRA, which pose major difficulties at mmWave frequencies, were achieved by outlining the DRA positions on the ground plane using a three-dimensional (3D) printer. The array configuration was fabricated and measured with excellent performance, realizing a measured impedance bandwidth of 29% in conjunction with an axial-ration (AR) bandwidth of 13% and a broadside gain of 13.7 dBic at 28 GHz.
Improving Classification Performance with Statistically Weighted Dimensions and Dimensionality Reduction
Authors: Buatoom Uraiwan , Jamil Muhammad Usman
Published: February 2023

In image classification, various techniques have been developed to enhance the performance of principal component analysis (PCA) dimension reduction techniques with guiding weighting features to remove redundant and irrelevant features. This study proposes the statistically weighted dimension technique based on three distribution-related class behaviors; collection-class, inter-class, and intra-class to enhance the feature-extraction ability before using PCA for feature selection. The data from the statistics-weighted dimension spaces is utilized to reduce dimensionality by reducing the large index data into smaller index data using PCA. The new principal component from the weighted training part by an unlabeled dataset is constructed and then the image is classified efficiently. Additionally, the weighting direction investigates the pros and cons of promoting and demoting to determine the worst or best option utilizing the exponents of three proposed weighted scheme. The experiment is conducted using three datasets, MNIST, E-MNIST, and F-MNIST, along with three image classification algorithms, logistic Regression, KNN, and SVM (RBF). The results clearly demonstrate that the statistically weighted dimension feature can improve the conventional classification accuracy in lower dimensions with an appropriate combination of weighting nearly 3% for the best solution on dimensionality reduction by more than 50%.
On the Use of Deep Learning for Video Classification
Authors: ur Rehman Atiq , Belhaouari Samir Brahim , Kabir Md Alamgir , Khan Adnan
Published: February 2023

The video classification task has gained significant success in the recent years. Specifically, the topic has gained more attention after the emergence of deep learning models as a successful tool for automatically classifying videos. In recognition of the importance of the video classification task and to summarize the success of deep learning models for this task, this paper presents a very comprehensive and concise review on the topic. There are several existing reviews and survey papers related to video classification in the scientific literature. However, the existing review papers do not include the recent state-of-art works, and they also have some limitations. To provide an updated and concise review, this paper highlights the key findings based on the existing deep learning models. The key findings are also discussed in a way to provide future research directions. This review mainly focuses on the type of network architecture used, the evaluation criteria to measure the success, and the datasets used. To make the review self-contained, the emergence of deep learning methods towards automatic video classification and the state-of-art deep learning methods are well explained and summarized. Moreover, a clear insight of the newly developed deep learning architectures and the traditional approaches is provided. The critical challenges based on the benchmarks are highlighted for evaluating the technical progress of these methods. The paper also summarizes the benchmark datasets and the performance evaluation matrices for video classification. Based on the compact, complete, and concise review, the paper proposes new research directions to solve the challenging video classification problem.
Cleaning Phenolic Compounds Present in Water Using Salting-Out Effect with DCA-Based Ionic Liquids
Authors: G. Sas Olalla , Domínguez Ángeles , González Begoña
Published: February 2023

Water is an essential natural resource, and its contamination is an important issue at present. This study aimed to increase the techniques that can be used to clean and reuse industrial wastewater by studying the feasibility of an aqueous two-phase system to eliminate phenolic compounds from aqueous systems. The system was prepared using two hydrophilic ionic liquids based on dicyanamide anion, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazlium dicyanamide [EMim] [DCA], and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide [BMim][DCA], and one inorganic salt, K3PO4, at three different concentrations (20, 30, and 40%). The process was tested for the removal of phenol, o-cresol, 2-chlorophenol, and a mixture of them (PCM) at initial concentrations from 0.003 to 15 g·L−1 in water. The extraction efficiencies for all the studied systems were calculated. The influence of the structure of the cation, the concentration of salt, and the initial concentration of the extracted compounds in the extraction yields were recorded. In general, the obtained results were high for all the studied systems, with extraction efficiencies of more than 90% representing the highest removal of the 2-chlorophenol compound using [EMim] [DCA] at the highest concentration of salt.