bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
4-Nitrophenol-Loaded Magnetic Mesoporous Silica Hybrid Materials for Spectrometric Aptasensing of Carcinoembryonic Antigen
Authors: Zhang Jin , Tang Dianping
Published: September 2021

Aptamer- or antibody-based sensing protocols have been reported for detecting carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), but most exhibit complicated procedures or multiple reactions. In this work, we developed a one-step aptasensing protocol for the spectrometric determination of CEA based on 4-nitrophenol (4-NP)-loaded magnetic mesoporous silica nanohybrids (MMSNs) for bioresponsive controlled-release applications. To fabricate such a responsive–controlled sensing system, single-stranded complementary oligonucleotides relative to the CEA-specific aptamer were first modified on the aminated MMSN. Thereafter, 4-NP molecules blocked the pores with the assistance of the aptamers via a hybridization reaction. The introduced target CEA specifically reacted with the hybridized aptamer, thus detaching from the MMSN to open the gate. The loaded 4-NP molecules were released from the pores, as determined using ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) absorption spectroscopy after magnetic separation. Under optimum conditions, the absorbance increased with an increase in the target CEA in the sample and exhibited a good linear relationship within the dynamic range of 0.1–100 ng mL−1, with a detection limit of 46 pg mL−1. Moreover, this system also displayed high specificity, good reproducibility, and acceptable accuracy for analyzing human serum specimens, in comparison with a commercialized human CEA-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.
Bile-Acid-Appended Triazolyl Aryl Ketones: Design, Synthesis, In Vitro Anticancer Activity and Pharmacokinetics in Rats
Authors: Agarwal Devesh S. , Mazumdar Samrat , Italiya Kishan S. , Chitkara Deepak , Sakhuja Rajeev
Published: September 2021

A library of bile-acid-appended triazolyl aryl ketones was synthesized and characterized by detailed spectroscopic techniques such as 1H and 13C NMR, HRMS and HPLC. All the synthesized conjugates were evaluated for their cytotoxicity at 10 µM against MCF-7 (human breast adenocarcinoma) and 4T1 (mouse mammary carcinoma) cells. In vitro cytotoxicity studies on the synthesized conjugates against MCF-7 and 4T1 cells indicated one of the conjugate 6cf to be most active against both cancer cell lines, with IC50 values of 5.71 µM and 8.71 µM, respectively, as compared to the reference drug docetaxel, possessing IC50 values of 9.46 µM and 13.85 µM, respectively. Interestingly, another compound 6af (IC50 = 2.61 µM) was found to possess pronounced anticancer activity as compared to the reference drug docetaxel (IC50 = 9.46 µM) against MCF-7. In addition, the potent compounds (6cf and 6af) were found to be non-toxic to normal human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK 293), as evident from their cell viability of greater than 86%. Compound 6cf induces higher apoptosis in comparison to 6af (46.09% vs. 33.89%) in MCF-7 cells, while similar apoptotic potential was observed for 6cf and 6af in 4T1 cells. The pharmacokinetics of 6cf in Wistar rats showed an MRT of 8.47 h with a half-life of 5.63 h. Clearly, these results suggest 6cf to be a potential candidate for the development of anticancer agents.
Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry Quantification of 1,1-Dimethylhydrazine Transformation Products in Aqueous Solutions: Accelerated Water Sample Preparation
Authors: Popov Mark S. , Ul’yanovskii Nikolay V. , Kosyakov Dmitry S.
Published: September 2021

The use of highly toxic rocket fuel based on 1,1-dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) in many types of carrier rockets poses a threat to environment and human health associated with an ingress of UDMH into wastewater and natural reservoirs and its transformation with the formation of numerous toxic nitrogen-containing products. Their GC-MS quantification in aqueous samples requires matrix change and is challenging due to high polarity of analytes. To overcome this problem, accelerated water sample preparation (AWASP) based on the complete removal of water with anhydrous sodium sulfate and transferring analytes into dichloromethane was used. Twenty-nine UDMH transformation products including both the acyclic and heterocyclic compounds of various classes were chosen as target analytes. AWASP ensured attaining near quantitative extraction of 23 compounds with sample preparation procedure duration of no more than 5 min. Combination of AWASP with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and using pyridine-d5 as an internal standard allowed for developing the rapid, simple, and low-cost method for simultaneous quantification of UDMH transformation products with detection limits of 1–5 μg L−1 and linear concentration range covering 4 orders of magnitude. The method has been validated and successfully tested in the analysis of aqueous solutions of rocket fuel subjected to oxidation with atmospheric oxygen, as well as pyrolytic gasification in supercritical water modelling wastewater from carrier rockets launch sites.
A Simple Minimized System Based on Moving Drops for Antioxidant Analysis Using a Smartphone
Authors: Apichai Sutasinee , Thajee Kajorngai , Pattananandecha Thanawat , Saenjum Chalermpong , Grudpan Kate
Published: September 2021

In this paper, a novel antioxidant analysis is proposed using a simple minimized device based on moving drops as solution handling and a smartphone as a detector. This approach is based on the colorimetric determination of the scavenging activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH•), expressed as the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50), vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity (VCEAC), and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC). A small drop of the positive control or the samples moves by eluting an ethanol drop down by the force of gravity to react with a DPPH• drop in the detection zone. The color change of DPPH• is monitored by a smartphone camera, and the color signals are processed using Adobe Photoshop software. The magenta-to-yellow ratio was successfully applied to evaluate the percentage of DPPH• inhibition with no significant difference compared with the reference spectrophotometric method at a confidence level of 95%. The total phenolic content (TPC) was measured using the Folin–Ciocalteu assay. An application to Miang (fermented tea leaf extract) showed the consonant relationship between the scavenging activity of DPPH• and TPC.
Synthesis and Characterisation of Novel Tricyclic and Tetracyclic Furoindoles: Biological Evaluation as SAHA Enhancer against Neuroblastoma and Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Bingul Murat , Arndt Greg M. , Marshall Glenn M. , Black David StC. , Cheung Belamy B. , Kumar Naresh
Published: September 2021

The dihydropyranoindole structures were previously identified as promising scaffolds for improving the anti-cancer activity of histone deacetylase inhibitors. This work describes the synthesis of related furoindoles and their ability to synergize with suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) against neuroblastoma and breast cancer cells. The nucleophilic substitution of hydroxyindole methyl esters with α-haloketones yielded the corresponding arylether ketones, which were subsequently cyclized to tricyclic and tetracyclic furoindoles. The furoindoles showed promising individual cytotoxic efficiency against breast cancer cells, as well as decent SAHA enhancement against cancer cells in select cases. Interestingly, the best IC50 value was obtained with the non-cyclized intermediate.
Intermolecular Forces Driving Hexamethylenetetramine Co-Crystal Formation, a DFT and XRD Analysis
Authors: Bella Giovanni , Nicolò Francesco , Bruno Giuseppe , Santoro Antonio
Published: September 2021

Interest in co-crystals formation has been constantly growing since their discovery, almost a century ago. Such success is due to the ability to tune the physical-chemical properties of the components in solid state by avoiding a change in their molecular structure. The properties influenced by the co-crystals formation range from an improvement of mechanical features and chemical stability to different solubility. In the scientific research area, the pharmacological field is undoubtedly one of those in which an expansion of the co-crystal knowledge can offer wide benefits. In this work, we described the crystalline structure of hexamethylenetetramine co-crystallized with the isophthalic acid, and we compared it with another co-crystal, showing the same components but different stoichiometry. To give a wider overview on the nature of the interactions behind the observed crystal packing and to rationalize the reasons of its formation, a computational analysis on such structures was carried out.
Development of CE-C4D Method for Determination Tropane Alkaloids
Authors: Gołąb Małgorzata , Przybyłowska Martyna , Kubáň Petr , Itterheimová Petra , Woźniakiewicz Michał
Published: September 2021

A fast method for the determination of tropane alkaloids, using a portable CE instrument with a capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detector (CE-C4D) was developed and validated for determination of atropine and scopolamine in seeds from Solanaceae family plants. Separation was obtained within 5 min, using an optimized background electrolyte consisting of 0.5 M acetic acid with 0.25% (w/v) β-CD. The limit of detection and quantification was 0.5 µg/mL and 1.5 µg/mL, respectively, for both atropine and scopolamine. The developed method was validated with the following parameters—precision (CV): 1.07–2.08%, accuracy of the assay (recovery, RE): 101.0–102.7% and matrix effect (ME): 92.99–94.23%. Moreover, the optimized CE-C4D method was applied to the analysis of plant extracts and pharmaceuticals, proving its applicability and accuracy.
Preparation and Characterization of Sludge-Based Magnetic Biochar by Pyrolysis for Methylene Blue Removal
Authors: Zeng Huiping , Qi Wei , Zhai Longxue , Wang Fanshuo , Zhang Jie , Li Dong
Published: September 2021

The development of low-cost adsorbent is an urgent need in the field of wastewater treatment. In this study, sludge-based magnetic biochar (SMB) was prepared by pyrolysis of sewage sludge and backwashing iron mud without any chemical agents. The samples were characterized by TGA, XRD, ICP, Organic element analysis, SEM, TEM, VSM and BET. Characterization analysis indicated that the magnetic substance in SMB was Fe3O4, and the saturation magnetization was 25.60 emu·g−1, after the adsorption experiment, SMB could be separated from the solution by a magnet. The batch adsorption experiment of methylene blue (MB) adsorption showed that the adsorption capacities of SMB at 298 K, 308 K and 318 K were 47.44 mg·L−1, 39.35 mg·L−1, and 25.85 mg·L−1, respectively. After one regeneration with hydrochloric acid, the maximum adsorption capacity of the product reached 296.52 mg·g−1. Besides, the adsorption kinetic described well by the pseudo-second order model revealed that the intraparticle diffusion was not just the only rate controlling step in adsorption process. This study gives a reasonable reference for the treatment of sewage sludge and backwashing iron mud. The product could be used as a low-cost adsorbent for MB removal.
Recent Advances of Upconversion Nanomaterials in the Biological Field
Authors: Gao Cunjin , Zheng Pengrui , Liu Quanxiao , Han Shuang , Li Dongli , Luo Shiyong , Temple Hunter , Xing Christina , Wang Jigang , Wei Yanling , Jiang Tao , Chen Wei
Published: September 2021

Rare Earth Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are a type of material that emits high-energy photons by absorbing two or more low-energy photons caused by the anti-stokes process. It can emit ultraviolet (UV) visible light or near-infrared (NIR) luminescence upon NIR light excitation. Due to its excellent physical and chemical properties, including exceptional optical stability, narrow emission band, enormous Anti-Stokes spectral shift, high light penetration in biological tissues, long luminescent lifetime, and a high signal-to-noise ratio, it shows a prodigious application potential for bio-imaging and photodynamic therapy. This paper will briefly introduce the physical mechanism of upconversion luminescence (UCL) and focus on their research progress and achievements in bio-imaging, bio-detection, and photodynamic therapy.
The Influence of Alkanethiols on the Production of Hydrophobic Gold Nanoparticles via Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquids
Authors: Trout Cory J. , Kumpf Paul , Sipps Karli , Griepenburg Julianne C. , O’Malley Sean M.
Published: September 2021

The ability to suspend plasmonic metal nanoparticles in apolar environments is an important feat towards harnessing their optical properties for use in amphiphilic biological environments. Pulsed laser Ablation in Liquids (PLAL) is a well-established method for the production of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in aqueous environments; however, ablation in organic liquids for the synthesis of hydrophobic AuNPs still has many unknowns, such as the relationship between colloidal stability and the ligand shell. In this study, hydrophobic AuNPs were produced by PLAL of gold in a 1-alkanethiol/n-decane solution and treated with laser fragmentation. Results demonstrate that longer chain length ATs produced particles with a smaller average size; however, there was no strong correlation between alkanethiol (AT) concentration and particle size. Stability was investigated by monitoring the temporal evolution of the extinction spectra which revealed that lower concentrations of AT stabilize the colloids while higher concentrations tend to result in quicker particle aggregation. Furthermore, longer chain length ATs demonstrated improved stability. Additionally, vibrational spectroscopy was employed to examine the AuNP surface chemistry, which pointed to the presence of oxidized carbon species and graphitic carbon.
Increased Adiposity Appraised with CUN-BAE Is Highly Predictive of Incident Hypertension. The SUN Project
Authors: Dominguez Ligia J. , Sayón-Orea Carmen , Gea Alfredo , Toledo Estefania , Barbagallo Mario , Martínez-González Miguel A.
Published: September 2021

Overweight and obesity are growing worldwide and strongly associated with hypertension. The Clínica Universidad de Navarra-Body Adiposity Estimator (CUN-BAE) index is proposed as an optimal indicator of body fatness. We aimed to investigate the association of body fat as captured by the CUN-BAE index with incident hypertension in a Mediterranean population. We assessed 15,950 participants of the SUN (Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra) prospective cohort (63.7% women) initially free of hypertension. Participants completed follow-up questionnaires biennially. A validated 136-item food-frequency questionnaire was administered at baseline. We used Cox models adjusted for multiple confounders. Among 12.3 years of median follow-up (interquartile range: 8.3, 15.0 years), 2160 participants reported having received a diagnosis of hypertension. We observed a strong direct association between progressively higher the CUN-BAE index at baseline and incident hypertension during follow-up in multivariable-adjusted models for men and women, even after further adjustment for BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, showing a significant association also in non-obese participants. For each 2-unit increase in the CUN-BAE index, hypertension risk increased by 27% and 29% in men and women, respectively. The results remained significant when considering longitudinal repeated measures of changes in body fat assessed with the CUN-BAE index among the different biennial follow-up questionnaires. Our results emphasize the importance of reducing and maintaining a low body fat to prevent hypertension.
Infant Formula Based on Milk Fat Affects Immune Development in Both Normal Birthweight and Fetal Growth Restricted Neonatal Piglets
Authors: Bæk Ole , Skadborg Karina , Muk Tik , Amdi Charlotte , Heegaard Peter M. H. , Thymann Thomas , Nguyen Duc Ninh
Published: September 2021

Infant formulas offer an alternative to breast milk for both normal birth weight (NBW) and immunocompromised intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) infants. Although the lipid fraction in formulas is often derived from vegetable oils, it is unclear if this alters immunological outcomes relative to milk fats or whether these effects differ between IUGR and NBW infants. We hypothesized that replacing vegetable oil with bovine milk fat in infant formula would improve immune development in IUGR and NBW neonates. Two-day old piglets were selected (NBW, n = 18, IUGR, n = 18) and each group of animals were fed formula based on either vegetable oil (VEG) or bovine milk fat (MILK). Animals were reared until day 23/24 and systemic immune parameters were evaluated. Milk-fat feeding decreased blood neutrophil counts and improved neutrophil function while transiently reducing leucocytes’ expression of genes related to adaptive and innate immunity as well as energy metabolism, following in vitro stimulation by live Staphylococcus epidermidis (whole blood, 2 h). However, there were only a few interactions between milk-fat type and birthweight status. Thus, piglets fed milk-fat-based formula had improved neutrophil maturation and suppressed pro-inflammatory responses, compared to those fed vegetable-oil-based formula.
Activity of New Synthetic (2-Chloroethylthio)-1,4-naphthoquinones in Prostate Cancer Cells
Authors: Dyshlovoy Sergey A. , Pelageev Dmitry N. , Jakob Lea S. , Borisova Ksenia L. , Hauschild Jessica , Busenbender Tobias , Kaune Moritz , Khmelevskaya Ekaterina A. , Graefen Markus , Bokemeyer Carsten , Anufriev Victor Ph. , von Amsberg Gunhild
Published: September 2021

Development of resistance to currently available standard therapies in advanced prostate cancer (PCa) emphasizes the need for novel therapeutic options. Here, we report the synthesis of new hybrid molecules consisting of 2-chloroethylthio and 1,4-naphthoquinone pharmacophores and describe their activity in PCa. In screening analyses, the introduction of one 2-chloroethylthio group improved the anticancer properties of 1,4-naphthoquinones, whereas the introduction of a second 2-chloroethylthio moiety rather decreased activity. Two most promising of the synthesized compounds, 30 and 32, were highly active in different human PCa cell lines harboring varying resistance profiles at nanomolar concentrations. The generated data suggest that the compounds are capable of mitochondria targeting, cytotoxic ROS induction, and DNA damage, which resulted in apoptosis presumably executed in a caspase-dependent manner. The substances synergized with the clinically approved PARP inhibitor olaparib and resensitized AR-V7-expressing PCa cells to antiandrogen enzalutamide, as well as to a combination of enzalutamide and an AKT inhibitor. This was at least in part exerted via down-regulation of AR-V7 expression and inhibition of AR signaling. Mild antagonism was observed in combination with platinum- or taxane-based chemotherapy, which was putatively related to treatment-induced activation of p38, JNK1/2, ERK1/2, MEK1/2, and AKT, functioning as potential pro-survival factors. Thus, the synthesized (2-chloroethylthio)-1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives exhibit promising anticancer properties in vitro, suggesting their further development as potential therapeutics for the treatment of castration-resistant PCa.
Interaction of Energy Drinks with Prescription Medication and Drugs of Abuse
Authors: Hladun Olga , Papaseit Esther , Martín Soraya , Barriocanal Ana Maria , Poyatos Lourdes , Farré Magí , Pérez-Mañá Clara
Published: September 2021

In recent years, the consumption of energy drinks (EDs) has become increasingly popular, especially among adolescents. Caffeine, a psychostimulant, is the main compound of EDs which also contain other substances with pharmacological effects. This review aims to compile current evidence concerning the potential interactions between EDs, medicines, and drugs of abuse as they are frequently consumed in combination. The substances involved are mainly substrates, inductors or inhibitors of CYP1A2, psychostimulants, alcohol and other depressant drugs. Furthermore, intoxications reported with EDs and other substances have also been screened to describe acute toxicity. The results of our review show that the consumption of both EDs alone and in combination is not as safe as previously thought. Health professionals and consumers need to be aware of the potential interactions of these drinks as well as the absence of long-term safety data.
Modified Desolvation Method Enables Simple One-Step Synthesis of Gelatin Nanoparticles from Different Gelatin Types with Any Bloom Values
Authors: Khramtsov Pavel , Burdina Oksana , Lazarev Sergey , Novokshonova Anastasia , Bochkova Maria , Timganova Valeria , Kiselkov Dmitriy , Minin Artem , Zamorina Svetlana , Rayev Mikhail
Published: September 2021

Gelatin nanoparticles found numerous applications in drug delivery, bioimaging, immunotherapy, and vaccine development as well as in biotechnology and food science. Synthesis of gelatin nanoparticles is usually made by a two-step desolvation method, which, despite providing stable and homogeneous nanoparticles, has many limitations, namely complex procedure, low yields, and poor reproducibility of the first desolvation step. Herein, we present a modified one-step desolvation method, which enables the quick, simple, and reproducible synthesis of gelatin nanoparticles. Using the proposed method one can prepare gelatin nanoparticles from any type of gelatin with any bloom number, even with the lowest ones, which remains unattainable for the traditional two-step technique. The method relies on quick one-time addition of poor solvent (preferably isopropyl alcohol) to gelatin solution in the absence of stirring. We applied the modified desolvation method to synthesize nanoparticles from porcine, bovine, and fish gelatin with bloom values from 62 to 225 on the hundreds-of-milligram scale. Synthesized nanoparticles had average diameters between 130 and 190 nm and narrow size distribution. Yields of synthesis were 62–82% and can be further increased. Gelatin nanoparticles have good colloidal stability and withstand autoclaving. Moreover, they were non-toxic to human immune cells.
Developing Actively Targeted Nanoparticles to Fight Cancer: Focus on Italian Research
Authors: Argenziano Monica , Arpicco Silvia , Brusa Paola , Cavalli Roberta , Chirio Daniela , Dosio Franco , Gallarate Marina , Peira Elena , Stella Barbara , Ugazio Elena
Published: September 2021

Active targeting is a valuable and promising approach with which to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of nanodelivery systems, and the development of tumor-targeted nanoparticles has therefore attracted much research attention. In this field, the research carried out in Italian Pharmaceutical Technology academic groups has been focused on the development of actively targeted nanosystems using a multidisciplinary approach. To highlight these efforts, this review reports a thorough description of the last 10 years of Italian research results on the development of actively targeted nanoparticles to direct drugs towards different receptors that are overexpressed on cancer cells or in the tumor microenvironment. In particular, the review discusses polymeric nanocarriers, liposomes, lipoplexes, niosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, squalene nanoassemblies and nanobubbles. For each nanocarrier, the main ligands, conjugation strategies and target receptors are described. The literature indicates that polymeric nanoparticles and liposomes stand out as key tools for improving specific drug delivery to the site of action. In addition, solid lipid nanoparticles, squalene nanoparticles and nanobubbles have also been successfully proposed. Taken together, these strategies all offer many platforms for the design of nanocarriers that are suitable for future clinical translation.
Description of Nonlinear Vortical Flows of Incompressible Fluid in Terms of a Quasi-Potential
Authors: Ermakov Andrei , Stepanyants Yury
Published: September 2021

As it was shown earlier, a wide class of nonlinear 3-dimensional (3D) fluid flows of incompressible viscous fluid can be described by only one scalar function dubbed the quasi-potential. This class of fluid flows is characterized by a three-component velocity field having a two-component vorticity field. Both these fields may, in general, depend on all three spatial variables and time. In this paper, the governing equations for the quasi-potential are derived and simple illustrative examples of 3D flows in the Cartesian coordinates are presented. The generalisation of the developed approach to the fluid flows in the cylindrical and spherical coordinate frames represents a nontrivial problem that has not been solved yet. In this paper, this gap is filled and the concept of a quasi-potential to the cylindrical and spherical coordinate frames is further developed. A few illustrative examples are presented which can be of interest for practical applications.
Non-Deep Simple Morphophysiological Dormancy and Germination Characteristics of Gentiana triflora var. japonica (Kusn.) H. Hara (Gentianaceae), a Rare Perennial Herb in Korea
Authors: Kim Hyeon-Min , Kim Jun-Hyeok , Lee Da-Hyun , Jung Young-Ho , Park Chung-Youl , Lee Mi-Hyun , Kim Kyeong-Min , Lee Jae-Hyeon , Na Chae-Sun
Published: September 2021

This study investigated the kind of seed dormancy and seed germination of Gentiana triflora var. japonica (Kusn.) H. Hara for developing a seed propagation method. The seeds were collected in October 2020 from plants at Mt. Sobaeksan, Korea. In a water imbibition experiment, seed weights increased by >101.9% of their initial masses over 12 h. Effects of incubation temperature (5, 15, 20, 25, 15/6, or 25/15 °C), cold stratification period (5 °C; 0, 4, 8, or 12 weeks), and gibberellic acid (GA3; 0, 10, 100, or 1000 mg∙L−1) and potassium nitrate treatment (KNO3; 0, 1000, 2000, or 4000 mg∙L−1) on seed germination were investigated to characterize seed dormancy. These seeds exhibited underdeveloped embryos during seed dispersal. The seeds failed to reach the final germination of 15.0% after treatment at 5, 15, 20, 25, 15/6, or 25/15 °C. After cold stratification for 8 weeks, the germination increased dramatically by >90.0% compared to that at 0 weeks. After the GA3 treatment, the germination reached >80.0% within 5 days. The final germination was 90.0% in the 100 mg∙L−1 GA3 treatment group. However, the KNO3 treatment had no effect on seed germination. Therefore, the G. triflora var. japonica seeds exhibited non-deep simple morphophysiological dormancy.
Foliar Application of Salicylic Acid at Different Phenological Stages of Peach Fruit CV. ‘Flordaking’ Improves Harvest Quality and Reduces Chilling Injury during Low Temperature Storage
Authors: Ali Irfan , Wang Xiukang , Tareen Mohammad Javed , Wattoo Fahad Masoud , Qayyum Abdul , Hassan Mahmood Ul , Shafique Muhammad , Liaquat Mehwish , Asghar Sana , Hussain Tanveer , Fiaz Sajid , Ahmed Waseem
Published: September 2021

Peaches are well-liked amongst the stone fruits in Pakistan. The peach industry faces significant losses, from harvesting to marketing. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of foliar sprays of salicylic acid (SA) on the fruit quality of peaches (cv. ‘Flordaking’) at the harvest and postharvest life or stages. Different concentrations of SA (control, 1, 2 and 3 mM) were sprayed on the plants at three growth stages of fruit, i.e., the cell division, cell enlargement and pit-hardening stages. In general, all the SA treatments improved the fruit quality at harvest and maintained higher levels of flesh firmness, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid during storage. However, fruit weight loss, soluble solid contents, membrane leakage, chilling injury, color development, disease and decay incidence and the climacteric peak of ethylene were lowered by SA treatment after six weeks of low-temperature storage. SA at a 3-mM concentration was proven to be the most effective in maintaining the quality for a longer period of time during low-temperature storage. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the application of SA at fruit development stages can improve the harvest quality and storability of ‘Flordaking’ peaches.
Characterization of 3D Printing on Jute Fabrics
Authors: Franco-Urquiza Edgar Adrián , Escamilla Yael Ramírez , Alcántara Llanas Perla Itzel
Published: September 2021

This work evaluates the feasibility to manufacture polylactic acid (PLA) composites using jute fiber fabrics. For characterization, PLA-fused filament was successfully deposed onto jute fabrics to print dog-bone tensile specimens (Type I specimen from ASTM D638). The jute fabrics were chemically modified, treated with flame retardant additives, and sprayed with aerosol adhesive to improve the mechanical properties of PLA/Jute fabric composites. The elastic modulus and the strength of PLA were higher than PLA composites, and the plastic deformation of the PLA composites was slightly lower than PLA. Tomography scans revealed the fabrics were well oriented and some adherence between jute fabrics and PLA. Viscoelastic properties of PLA composites resulted in the reduction in storage modulus and the reduction in intensity in the damping factor attributed to segmental motions with no variations in the glass transition temperature. Flame retardant and spray adhesive on jute fabrics promoted better response to time of burning than PLA and PLA with modified fibers. The results presented in this work lead to the need for a more detailed investigation of the effect of plant fiber fabrics as reinforcement of 3D printed objects for industrial applications.
Identification and Evaluation of Hazardous Pyrolysates in Bio-Based Rigid Polyurethane-Polyisocyanurate Foam Smoke
Authors: Reinerte Sanita , Jurkjane Vilhelmine , Cabulis Ugis , Viksna Arturs
Published: September 2021

In this study, rigid polyurethane (PU) and polyisocyanurate (PIR) foam samples made from renewable material (tall oil fatty acid) based polyols were analyzed by pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) to obtain information about the full relative smoke content, with a focus on substance identification by their functional groups and hazardousness. The relative content of gaseous products produced during the thermal degradation was evaluated between the two samples, differenced by their assigned isocyanate (NCO) index value—150 and 300. The main thermal degradation components of the rigid PU-PIR foam were found to originate from the decomposition of isocyanate, primarily forming 4,4′-methylenedianiline, 3,3′-diaminodiphenylmethane, N-methylaniline, aniline, 4-benzylaniline and phenyl isocyanate. Hazard analysis revealed that the most common hazards were the hazards related to health: H315 (36%), H319 (28%), H335 (25%), and H302 (23%). The chemical compound with the highest relative content value—4,4′-methylenedianiline (45.3% for PU and 52.4% for PIR)—was identified to be a suspected carcinogen and mutagen. The focus of the study was identifying and evaluating the relative quantities of the produced gaseous products, examine their hazardousness, and provide information on the released thermal degradation products to form a renewable-source based rigid PU and PIR foam.
Hygromorphic Response Dynamics of 3D-Printed Wood-PLA Composite Bilayer Actuators
Authors: Krapež Tomec Daša , Straže Aleš , Haider Andreas , Kariž Mirko
Published: September 2021

The use of wood particles in wood-plastic composites (WPC) is well known and similar use could occur in materials for fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing. Wood particles could be one of the possible solutions in the search for natural-based materials to minimize the use of synthetic-origin materials in additive manufacturing. Wood particles for 3D printing filaments can be made from wood waste and could serve as a cheap filler or as a value-added reinforcing component, depending on their properties and incorporation. The disadvantages of wood (dimensional changes due to water adsorption and desorption) could be used as functions when dimensional change is desirable, such as in shape-changing 4D printing materials. In this research, FDM printing materials made of polylactic acid (PLA), with different amounts of wood particles, were used to design moisture-induced shape-changing bilayer actuators, which could serve as a principle for active façade or ventilation valves. The initial research shows that the wood content in the WPC causes dimensional changes and thus shape changes of the designed actuators under changing climates. The shape change depends on the ratio of the materials in the two-layered actuator and the wood content in the wood-PLA composite used, and thus on sorption. The rate of the shape change behaves in the same way: the higher the wood content, the greater the change observed. The dynamics of the hygromorphism of bimaterial composites is greater with a small amount of added hygromechanically active material.
Fabrication and Characterization of Paclitaxel and Resveratrol Loaded Soluplus Polymeric Nanoparticles for Improved BBB Penetration for Glioma Management
Authors: Hussain Talib , Paranthaman Sathishbabu , Rizvi Syed Mohd Danish , Moin Afrasim , Gowda Devegowda Vishakante , Subaiea Gehad Muhammed , Ansari Mukhtar , Alanazi Abulrahman Sattam
Published: September 2021

Gliomas are one of the prominent cancers of the central nervous system with limited therapeutic modalities. The present investigation evaluated the synergistic effect of paclitaxel (PAX) and resveratrol (RESV)-loaded Soluplus polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) against glioma cell lines along with in vivo pharmacokinetics and brain distribution study. PAX-RESV-loaded PNPs were prepared by the thin film hydration technique and optimized for different dependent and independent variables by using DoE (Design-Expert) software. The in vitro physiochemical characterization of prepared PAX-RESV-loaded PNPs exhibited appropriate particle size, PDI and % encapsulation efficiency. Cytotoxicity assay revealed that PTX-RESV loaded PNPs had a synergistic antitumor efficacy against C6 glioma cells compared with single and combined pure drugs. Finally, the pharmacokinetic and brain distribution studies in mice demonstrated that the PNPs significantly enhanced the bioavailability of PTX-RESV PNPs than pure PAX and RESV. Thus, the study concluded that PAX-RESV PNPs combination could significantly enhance anti-glioma activity, and this could be developed into a potential glioma treatment strategy.
Calcium-Silicate-Incorporated Gellan-Chitosan Induced Osteogenic Differentiation in Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
Authors: Genasan Krishnamurithy , Mehrali Mohammad , Veerappan Tarini , Talebian Sepehr , Malliga Raman Murali , Singh Simmrat , Swamiappan Sasikumar , Mehrali Mehdi , Kamarul Tunku , Balaji Raghavendran Hanumantha Rao
Published: September 2021

Gellan-chitosan (GC) incorporated with CS: 0% (GC-0 CS), 10% (GC-10 CS), 20% (GC-20 CS) or 40% (GC-40 CS) w/w was prepared using freeze-drying method to investigate its physicochemical, biocompatible, and osteoinductive properties in human bone-marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (hBMSCs). The composition of different groups was reflected in physicochemical analyses performed using BET, FTIR, and XRD. The SEM micrographs revealed excellent hBMSCs attachment in GC-40 CS. The Alamar Blue assay indicated an increased proliferation and viability of seeded hBMSCs in all groups on day 21 as compared with day 0. The hBMSCs seeded in GC-40 CS indicated osteogenic differentiation based on an amplified alkaline-phosphatase release on day 7 and 14 as compared with day 0. These cells supported bone mineralization on GC-40 CS based on Alizarin-Red assay on day 21 as compared with day 7 and increased their osteogenic gene expression (RUNX2, ALP, BGLAP, BMP, and Osteonectin) on day 21. The GC-40 CS–seeded hBMSCs initiated their osteogenic differentiation on day 7 as compared with counterparts based on an increased expression of type-1 collagen and BMP2 in immunocytochemistry analysis. In conclusion, the incorporation of 40% (w/w) calcium silicate in gellan-chitosan showed osteoinduction potential in hBMSCs, making it a potential biomaterial to treat critical bone defects.
Influence of Tire Rubber Particles Addition in Different Branching Degrees Polyethylene Matrix Composites on Physical and Structural Behavior
Authors: Marín-Genescà Marc , Mujal Rosas Ramon , García Amorós Jordi , Massagues Vidal Lluis , Colom Fajula Xavier
Published: September 2021

Waste from pneumatic wheels is one of the major environmental problems, and the scientific community is looking for methods to recycle this type of waste. In this paper, ground tire rubber particles (GTR) from disused tires have been mixed with samples of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and morphological tests have been performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), as well as the dynamic electric analysis (DEA) dielectric characterization technique using impedance spectroscopy. From this experience, how GTR reinforcement influences polyethylene and what influence GTR particles have on the branched polyethylene has been detected. For pure LDPE samples, a Debye-type dielectric behavior is observed with an imperfect semicircle, which depends on the temperature, as it shows differences for the samples at 30 °C and 120 °C, unlike the HDPE samples, which do not show such a trend. The behavior in samples with Debye behavior is like an almost perfect dipole and is due to the crystalline behavior of polyethylene at high temperature and without any reinforcement. These have been obtained evidence that for branched PE (LPDE) the Maxwell Wagner Sillars (MWS) effect is highly remarkable and that this happens due to the intrachain polarization effect combined with MWS. This means that the permittivity and conductivity at LDPE/50%GTR are high than LDPE/70%GTR. However, it does not always occur that way with HDPE composites in which HDPE/70%GTR has the highest values of permittivity and conductivity, due to the presence of conductive fraction (Carbon Black-30%) in the GTR particles and their dielectric behavior.
Institutional Religion and Religious Experience
Authors: Rodríguez Lidia , de León Juan Luis , Uriarte Luzio , Basterretxea Iziar
Published: September 2021

A number of empirical studies have shown the continuous lack of adherence and the growing autonomy of the population regarding religious institutions. This article reflects on the kind of relationship between deinstitutionalisation and religious experience based on the following hypothesis: the evident decline in religious institutions does not necessarily lead to the disappearance or the weakening of religious experience; rather, it runs simultaneously with a process of individualisation. Our aim is to provide empirical evidence of such transformations; therefore, we do not get involved in speculations, but take into account the contributions of scholars concerning three key terms integrated in the conceptual framework of “religious experience’’: “experience of God”, “God image”, and “institutional belonging”. We analysed 39 in-depth interviews with a qualitative approach; interviews were conducted during the years 2016–2018 amongst Evangelical and Catholic populations in three Latin American cities (Córdoba, Montevideo, and Lima) and in the city of Bilbao (Spain). These interviews clearly indicate a growing autonomy from the religious institution, while evidencing a rich range of experiences of God and a great diversity of God representations. In both cases, they point to processes of individualisation of believers who elaborate their own religious experience in a personal and complex way.
Spatio-Temporal Changes of Land Surface Temperature and the Influencing Factors in the Tarim Basin, Northwest China
Authors: Abbas Alim , He Qing , Jin Lili , Li Jinglong , Salam Akida , Lu Bo , Yasheng Yierpanjiang
Published: September 2021

Land surface temperature (LST) is an important parameter that affects the water cycle, environmental changes, and energy balance at global and regional scales. Herein, a time series analysis was conducted to estimate the monthly, seasonal, and interannual variations in LST during 2001–2019 in the Tarim Basin, China. Based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) LST, air temperature, air pressure, relative humidity, wind speed, precipitation, elevation, and land-cover type data, we analyzed the spatio-temporal change characteristics of LST and the influencing factors. High LSTs occurred in the desert and plains and low LSTs occurred in surrounding mountain regions. The highest LST was recorded in July (25.1 °C) and the lowest was in January (−9.5 °C). On a seasonal scale, LST decreased in the order: summer > spring > autumn > winter. Annual LST showed an increasing trend of 0.2 °C/10 a in the desert and mountain areas, while the plains indicated a decreasing trend. In spring and autumn, western regions were dominated by a downward trend, whereas in winter a downward trend occurred in eastern regions. In summer, areas covered by vegetation were dominated by a downward trend, and desert and bare lands were dominated by an upward trend. Random forest (RF) model analysis showed that elevation was the most significant influencing factor (22.1%), followed by mean air temperature (20.1%). Correlation analysis showed that the main climatic factors air temperature, relative humidity, and elevation have a good correlation with the LST. Land-cover type also affected LST; during February–December the lowest LST was observed for permanent glacier snow and the highest was observed in the desert. El Nino and La Nina greatly influenced the LST variations. The North Atlantic Oscillation and Pacific Decadal Oscillation indices were consistent with the mean LST anomaly, indicating their considerable influence on LST variations.
Kinematic ZTD Estimation from Train-Borne Single-Frequency GNSS: Validation and Assimilation
Authors: Aichinger-Rosenberger Matthias , Weber Robert , Hanna Natalia
Published: September 2021

Water vapour is one of the most important parameters utilized for the description of state and evolution of the Earth’s atmosphere. It is the most effective greenhouse gas and shows high variability, both in space and time. Thus, detailed knowledge of its distribution is of immense importance for weather forecasting, and therefore high resolution observations are crucial for accurate precipitation forecasts, especially for the short-term prediction of severe weather. Although not intentionally built for this purpose, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) have proven to meet those requirements. The derivation of water vapour content from GNSS observations is based on the fact that electromagnetic signals are delayed when travelling through the atmosphere. The most prominent parameterization of this delay is the Zenith Total Delay (ZTD), which has been studied extensively as a major error term in GNSS positioning. On the other hand, the ZTD has also been proven to provide substantial benefits for atmospheric research and especially Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) model performance. Based on these facts, the scientific area of GNSS Meteorology has emerged. The present study goes beyond the current status of GNSS Meteorology, showing how reasonable estimates of ZTD can be derived from highly-kinematic, single-frequency (SF) GNSS data. This data was gathered from trains of the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) and processed using the Precise Point Positioning (PPP) technique. The special nature of the observations yields a number of additional challenges, ranging from appropriate pre-processing and parameter settings in PPP to more sophisticated validation and assimilation methodologies . The treatment of the ionosphere for SF-GNSS data represents one of the major challenges of this study. Two test cases (train travels) were processed using different strategies and validated using ZTD calculated from ERA5 reanalysis data. The validation results indicate a good overall agreement between the GNSS-ZTD solutions and ERA5-derived ZTD, although substantial variability between solutions was still observed for specific sections of the test tracks. The bias and standard deviation values ranged between 1 mm and 8 cm, heavily depending on the utilized processing strategy and investigated train route. Finally, initial experiments for the assimilation of GNSS-ZTD estimates into a NWP model were conducted, and the results showed observation acceptance rates of 30–100% largely depending on the test case and processing strategy.
Reconstructing Ocean Heat Content for Revisiting Global Ocean Warming from Remote Sensing Perspectives
Authors: Su Hua , Qin Tian , Wang An , Lu Wenfang
Published: September 2021

Global ocean heat content (OHC) is generally estimated using gridded, model and reanalysis data; its change is crucial to understanding climate anomalies and ocean warming phenomena. However, Argo gridded data have short temporal coverage (from 2005 to the present), inhibiting understanding of long-term OHC variabilities at decadal to multidecadal scales. In this study, we utilized multisource remote sensing and Argo gridded data based on the long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network method, which considers long temporal dependence to reconstruct a new long time-series OHC dataset (1993–2020) and fill the pre-Argo data gaps. Moreover, we adopted a new machine learning method, i.e., the Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), and applied the well-known Random Forests (RFs) method for comparison. The model performance was measured using determination coefficients (R2) and root-mean-square error (RMSE). The results showed that LSTM can effectively improve the OHC prediction accuracy compared with the LightGBM and RFs methods, especially in long-term and deep-sea predictions. The LSTM-estimated result also outperformed the Ocean Projection and Extension neural Network (OPEN) dataset, with an R2 of 0.9590 and an RMSE of 4.45 × 1019 in general in the upper 2000 m for 28 years (1993–2020). The new reconstructed dataset (named OPEN-LSTM) correlated reasonably well with other validated products, showing consistency with similar time-series trends and spatial patterns. The spatiotemporal error distribution between the OPEN-LSTM and IAP datasets was smaller on the global scale, especially in the Atlantic, Southern and Pacific Oceans. The relative error for OPEN-LSTM was the smallest for all ocean basins compared with Argo gridded data. The average global warming trends are 3.26 × 108 J/m2/decade for the pre-Argo (1993–2004) period and 2.67 × 108 J/m2/decade for the time-series (1993–2020) period. This study demonstrates the advantages of LSTM in the time-series reconstruction of OHC, and provides a new dataset for a deeper understanding of ocean and climate events.
Plant Wearable Sensors Based on FBG Technology for Growth and Microclimate Monitoring
Authors: Lo Presti Daniela , Cimini Sara , Massaroni Carlo , D’Amato Rosaria , Caponero Michele Arturo , De Gara Laura , Schena Emiliano
Published: September 2021

Plants are primary resources for oxygen and foods whose production is fundamental for our life. However, diseases and pests may interfere with plant growth and cause a significant reduction of both the quality and quantity of agriculture products. Increasing agricultural productivity is crucial for poverty reduction and food security improvements. For this reason, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development gives a central role to agriculture by promoting a strong technological innovation for advancing sustainable practices at the plant level. To accomplish this aim, recently, wearable sensors and flexible electronics have been extended from humans to plants for measuring elongation, microclimate, and stressing factors that may affect the plant’s healthy growth. Unexpectedly, fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs), which are very popular in health monitoring applications ranging from civil infrastructures to the human body, are still overlooked for the agriculture sector. In this work, for the first time, plant wearables based on FBG technology are proposed for the continuous and simultaneous monitoring of plant growth and environmental parameters (i.e., temperature and humidity) in real settings. The promising results demonstrated the feasibility of FBG-based sensors to work in real situations by holding the promise to advance continuous and accurate plant health growth monitoring techniques.