bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Australia's Experience of Combining Building Energy Standards and Disclosure Regulation
Authors: Berry Stephen , Moore Trivess , Ambrose Michael
Published: January 2022

Multiple market failures have historically delivered housing that is environmentally and economically sub-optimal. Minimum energy standards are a popular policy tool for lowering energy use and anthropogenic carbon emissions in the built environment, but evidence shows they fail to drive performance beyond that minimum. Mandating the disclosure of energy performance on sale or lease of property has been introduced in some jurisdictions to transform the building stock and encourage energy and carbon saving improvements. These policy instruments address different market failures and have the potential to act as complementary regulation, but to date there has been little evidence that the combination may deliver greater benefits than each individual policy measure. The analysis of 342,674 housing energy assessments in Australia from May 2016–June 2021 highlights the impact of complementary vs. single policy instruments. We find that the building regulatory process alone delivers certainty regarding minimum performance, but when matched with disclosure regulation, the market is pulled slightly toward higher performance outcomes than for where building regulations alone are used. While only a small improvement in performance, the data supports the power of complementary regulation for long-life housing assets, similar to the benefits found for shorter-life assets such as household appliances; in essence creating both a carrot and a stick for consumers and the wider market. The data from Australia presented in this paper suggests that the use of complementary regulation may deliver improved environmental and economic outcomes and could help jurisdictions governing a transition to more sustainable housing as part of the wider transition to sustainable cities.
Antioxidants in Hops: Bioavailability, Health Effects and Perspectives for New Products
Authors: Zugravu Corina-Aurelia , Bohiltea Roxana-Elena , Salmen Teodor , Pogurschi Elena , Otelea Marina Ruxandra
Published: January 2022

Hop plant (Humulus lupulus L.) has been used by humans for ages, presumably first as a herbal remedy, then in the manufacturing of different products, from which beer is the most largely consumed. Female hops cones have different useful chemical compounds, an important class being antioxidants, mainly polyphenols. This narrative review describes the main antioxidants in hops, their bioavailability and biological effects, and the results obtained by now in the primary and secondary prevention of several non-communicable diseases, such as the metabolic syndrome related diseases and oncology. This article presents in vitro and in vivo data in order to better understand what was accomplished in terms of knowledge and practice, and what needs to be clarified by additional studies, mainly regarding xantohumol and its derivates, as well as regarding the bitter acids of hops. The multiple protective effects found by different studies are hindered up to now by the low bioavailability of some of the main antioxidants in hops. However, there are new promising products with important health effects and perspectives of use as food supplements, in a market where consumers increasingly search for products originating directly from plants.
Application of Neural Network and Time-Domain Feature Extraction Techniques for Determining Volumetric Percentages and the Type of Two Phase Flow Regimes Independent of Scale Layer Thickness
Authors: Alanazi Abdullah K. , Alizadeh Seyed Mehdi , Nurgalieva Karina Shamilyevna , Nesic Slavko , Grimaldo Guerrero John William , Abo-Dief Hala M. , Eftekhari-Zadeh Ehsan , Nazemi Ehsan , Narozhnyy Igor M.
Published: January 2022

One of the factors that significantly affects the efficiency of oil and gas industry equipment is the scales formed in the pipelines. In this innovative, non-invasive system, the inclusion of a dual-energy gamma source and two sodium iodide detectors was investigated with the help of artificial intelligence to determine the flow pattern and volume percentage in a two-phase flow by considering the thickness of the scale in the tested pipeline. In the proposed structure, a dual-energy gamma source consisting of barium-133 and cesium-137 isotopes emit photons, one detector recorded transmitted photons and a second detector recorded the scattered photons. After simulating the mentioned structure using Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) code, time characteristics named 4th order moment, kurtosis and skewness were extracted from the recorded data of both the transmission detector (TD) and scattering detector (SD). These characteristics were considered as inputs of the multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural network. Two neural networks that were able to determine volume percentages with high accuracy, as well as classify all flow regimes correctly, were trained.
Multi-Case Analysis of Ice Particle Properties of Stratiform Clouds Using In Situ Aircraft Observations in Hebei, China
Authors: Liu Siyao , Zhao Chuanfeng , Zhou Yuquan , Wu Zhihui , Hu Zhijin
Published: January 2022

This study investigates the size distribution, the mean diameter, and the concentration of ice particles within stratiform clouds by using in situ observations from 29 flights in Hebei, China. Furthermore, it examines the empirical fitting of ice particle size distributions at different temperatures using Gamma and exponential functions. Without considering the first three bins of ice particles, the mean diameter of ice particles (size range 100–1550 µm) is found to increase with temperature from −15 to −9 °C but decrease with temperature from −9 to 0 °C. By considering the first three bins of ice particles using the empirical Gamma fitting relationship found in this study, the mean diameter of ice particles (size range 25–1550 µm) shows a similar variation trend with temperature, while the turning point changes from −9 to −10 °C. The ice particle number concentration increases from 13.37 to 50.23 L−1 with an average of 31.27 L−1 when temperature decreases from 0 to −9 °C. Differently, the ice concentration decreases from 50.23 to about 22.4 L−1 when temperature decreases from −9 to −12 °C. The largest mean diameter of ice particles at temperatures around −9 and −10 °C is most likely associated with the maximum difference of ice and water supersaturation at that temperature, making the ice particles grow the fastest. These findings provide valuable information for future physical parameterization development of ice crystals within stratiform clouds.
Human Toxicological Impacts in Life Cycle Assessment of Circular Economy of the Built Environment: A Case Study of Denmark
Authors: Egemose Caroline Wielandt , Bastien Diane , Fretté Xavier , Birkved Morten , Sohn Joshua L.
Published: January 2022

The circular economy has become an important topic in the building industry, and life cycle assessment (LCA) is often used to quantify its benefits. Through chemical analysis, this article demonstrates that the current LCA is not yet well-adapted to assess the circular economy of building materials and components. It is shown that current inventory data and models are insufficient because they do not consider the uptake and emission of chemicals during use, the migration of chemicals within the value chain across the multiple phases in the circular economy, and because current characterization models lack a large fraction of the potentially emitted chemicals from said uptake and emission identified in the tested building material samples. Thus, it is shown that impacts relevant for LCA in the circular economy of buildings remain unaddressed because they are currently either omitted in the LCA that covers a limited number of impact indicators, or are ostensibly covered in the LCA covering a full set of indicators but missed due to inadequate characterization models. To ameliorate this, a definition of embedded toxicity and its relationship to the toxicological footprint is presented and a method for measurement is proposed, illustrating how assessing embedded toxicity can yield information for facilitating safe building-material reuse. Finally, a suggestion for the improvement of life cycle impact assessment methods is proposed.
Molecular and Photosynthetic Performance in the Yellow Leaf Mutant of Torreya grandis According to Transcriptome Sequencing, Chlorophyll a Fluorescence, and Modulated 820 nm Reflection
Authors: Shen Jianshuang , Li Xueqin , Zhu Xiangtao , Ding Zhicheng , Huang Xiaoling , Chen Xia , Jin Songheng
Published: January 2022

To study the photosynthetic energy mechanism and electron transfer in yellow leaves, transcriptomics combined with physiological approaches was used to explore the mechanism of the yellow leaf mutant Torreya grandis ‘Merrillii’. The results showed that chlorophyll content, the maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm), and the parameters related to the OJ phase of fluorescence (φEo, φRo) were all decreased significantly in mutant-type T. grandis leaves. The efficiency needed for an electron to be transferred from the reduced carriers between the two photosystems to the end acceptors of the PSI (δRo) and the quantum yield of the energy dissipation (φDo) were higher in the leaves of mutant-type T. grandis compared to those in wild-type leaves. Analysis of the prompt fluorescence kinetics and modulated 820 nm reflection showed that the electron transfer of PSII was decreased, and PSI activity was increased in yellow T. grandis leaves. Transcriptome data showed that the unigenes involved in chlorophyll synthesis and the photosynthetic electron transport complex were downregulated in the leaves of mutant-type T. grandis compared to wild-type leaves, while there were no observable changes in carotenoid content and biosynthesis. These findings suggest that the downregulation of genes involved in chlorophyll synthesis leads to decreased chlorophyll content, resulting in both PSI activity and carotenoids having higher tolerance when acting as photo-protective mechanisms for coping with chlorophyll deficit and decrease in linear electron transport in PSII.
Supporting Local Authorities to Plan Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings: From Local Needs to Regional Planning
Authors: Herrando María , Gómez Antonio , Fueyo Norberto
Published: January 2022

The support offered to local authorities in this work consisted of technical and economic training on the integration of energy efficiency measures as well as the development of tools (guidelines, a decision support tool, databases and a visualization platform) that allow local authorities to prepare their building renovation plans. These tools are found very useful for local authorities, particularly in the case of Teruel province, characterised by many small municipalities whose local governments do not have the technical staff to undertake this type of planning. As a result of this work, an energy action plan was elaborated for the implementation of 96 energy efficiency measures in public buildings of Teruel province. The execution of this plan would allow energy savings of 1.3 MWh/year and 245 tonsCO2e/year of CO2 emission reduction, involving an investment of EUR 1.2 M. The close collaboration with public authorities made it possible to assess the strengths and weaknesses of using the developed tools. One of the barriers found is the availability of accurate building data (e.g., regarding envelope features) necessary for the decision support tool.
Acknowledgment to Reviewers of Endocrines in 2021
Authors:   Endocrines Editorial Office
Published: January 2022

Rigorous peer-reviews are the basis of high-quality academic publishing [...]
Thinning and Gap Harvest Effects on Soil, Tree and Stand Characteristics in Hybrid Poplar Bioenergy Buffers on Farmland
Authors: Fortier Julien , Truax Benoit , Gagnon Daniel , Lambert France
Published: January 2022

Linear bioenergy buffers planted with fast-growing trees along field edges are increasingly used to address challenges related to sustainable biomass production, climate change mitigation (i.e., carbon storage and microclimate regulation), water quality protection, and forest habitat connectivity in agricultural landscapes. This study assessed: (1) the extent to which 15 m wide hybrid poplar bioenergy buffers (1666 stems/ha) with closed canopy responded to thinning (diamond pattern of tree removal); (2) the regrowth of poplars from cut stumps following gap harvesting; (3) the effects of harvesting treatments on soil microclimate and nutrient availability; and (4) the spatiotemporal pattern of tree growth in unthinned plots. After three post-thinning years, results showed a strong growth response of seven-year-old hybrid poplar trees to thinning (12% increase in diameter and 30% increase in individual stem volume), accompanied by a slight decline in stand productivity. Gap harvesting was not an effective treatment to regenerate the stand from shoots growing from cut stumps because of the high deer browsing. Overall, thinning had marginal effects on soil nutrients and microclimate, compared with gap harvesting, which increased soil temperature, soil moisture, and the availability of several macro and micronutrients. However, harvest effects on soil nutrients were mostly observed during the first postharvest year, with the exception of soil nitrate, which was lowest in the gap treatment during the second postharvest year. Finally, the spatial pattern observed in tree growth between the buffer rows suggests that other more operational thinning patterns (row or corridor thinning) need to be evaluated in linear buffers.
Back Pain and Body Posture Evaluation Instrument for Children and Adolescents (BackPEI-CA): Expansion, Content Validation, and Reliability
Authors: da Rosa Bruna Nichele , Candotti Cláudia Tarragô , Pivotto Luiza Rampi , Noll Matias , Silva Marcelle Guimarães , Vieira Adriane , Loss Jefferson Fagundes
Published: January 2022

The Back Pain and Body Posture Evaluation Instrument (BackPEI) was created in 2013 to assess back pain and its risk factors in school children. However, it does not assess neck pain or the habits of mobile device usage, which are aspects that are often part of school children’s lives. Therefore, we aimed to update the BackPEI questionnaire to include new questions assessing aspects related to neck pain and the use of mobile devices and to test the content validity and reliability of the new questions. The updated questionnaire was named Back Pain and Body Posture Evaluation Instrument for Children and Adolescents (BackPEI-CA). The content was validated by eight experts using the content validity index (CVI). To assess reliability, the BackPEI-CA questionnaire was applied at two different times in 105 school children, and Cohen’s kappa (k) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated. All aspects assessed regarding content validity had a CVI higher than 0.8. The new questions presented moderate and good kappa values and excellent ICC values. The updated version of BackPEI-CA can be used as a clinic tool for assessing the presence, frequency, and intensity of back and neck pain and their risk factors.
Engineered Fungus Thermothelomyces thermophilus Producing Plant Storage Proteins
Authors: Balabanova Larissa , Seitkalieva Aleksandra , Yugay Yulia , Rusapetova Tatiana , Slepchenko Lubov , Podvolotskaya Anna , Yatsunskaya Margarita , Vasyutkina Elena , Son Oksana , Tekutyeva Liudmila , Shkryl Yury
Published: January 2022

An efficient Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation based on the plant binary vector pPZP-RCS2 was carried out for the multiple heterologous protein production in filamentous fungus Thermothelomyces thermophilus F-859 (formerly Myceliophthora thermophila F-859). The engineered fungus Th. thermophilus was able to produce plant storage proteins of Zea mays (α-zein Z19) and Amaranthus hypochondriacus (albumin A1) to enrich fungal biomass by valuable nutritional proteins and improved amino acid content. The mRNA levels of z19 and a1 genes were significantly dependent on their driving promoters: the promoter of tryptophan synthase (PtrpC) was more efficient to express a1, while the promoter of translation elongation factor (Ptef) provided much higher levels of z19 transcript abundance. In general, the total recombinant proteins and amino acid contents were higher in the Ptef-containing clones. This work describes a new strategy to improve mycoprotein nutritive value by overexpression of plant storage proteins.
Factors Associated with Revision Sinus Surgery in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Authors: Bayer Karina , Hamidovic Selmir , Besser Gerold , Mueller Christian A. , Liu David T.
Published: January 2022

Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is performed in patients diagnosed with Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS) refractory to primary medical therapy to achieve adequate disease control. This study aimed to assess which factors and phenotypes of CRS are associated with revision surgery in patients undergoing ESS. This retrospective, single-center study included 667 patients undergoing ESS between 2012 and 2015. We performed group comparisons to detect differences between CRS patients undergoing primary or revision surgery and computed binary logistic regression models. Logistic regression analysis revealed higher odds for revision surgery in CRS patients with older age (p-value < 0.001), male gender (p-value = 0.011), diagnosis of AERD (p-value = 0.005), and presence of asthma (p-value < 0.001) or allergies (p-value = 0.031). Confirming previous studies, we found that the factors of age, CRSwNP, AERD, allergies, and asthma are associated with revision ESS and identified surgical techniques that were predominantly used in revision cases.
Talking with a Volcano: Native American Perspectives on the Eruption of Sunset Crater, Arizona
Authors: Stoffle Richard , Van Vlack Kathleen
Published: January 2022

A new volcano erupted in the eleventh century AD in the San Francisco volcanic field, which has as many as 80 old volcanoes and 600 eruption cones all centered around Flagstaff, Arizona. This volcanic landscape has been a cultural center for Native American spiritual activities for up to 23,000 years. During that time, they have come to perceive volcanoes as earth navels and thus places where the earth is reborn. For this reason, the emergence of an active volcano, called Sunset Crater, drew pilgrims and resulted in the construction of ceremonial and support communities surrounding a place called Wupatki. This paper is partially based on a 2004 study funded by the U.S. National Park Service, which produced 80 ethnographic interviews with representatives of six Native American ethnic groups composed of 12 tribes and pueblos. The analysis is informed by a total of 23 ethnographic studies of volcanoes conducted with Native Americans by the authors. In all studies, Native American participants conveyed that they have cultural connections with volcanoes that derive from their Creation-based knowledge of the Earth as being alive and volcanoes being its rebirth. Traditional cultural information is critical to park management and compliance with various laws, regulations, executive orders, and policies so that park managers can better address tribal requests for continued access, use, and interpretation of park natural resources. Native Americans involved in our NPS ethnographic studies agreed that it is not necessary for the NPS to accept as true what Native Americans believe, but it is essential to tell in park interpretative settings both stories side by side with equal accuracy.
Predicting the Non-Deterministic Response of a Micro-Scale Mechanical Model Using Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Argilaga Albert , Zhuang Duanyang
Published: January 2022

Recent improvements in micro-scale material descriptions allow to build increasingly refined multiscale models in geomechanics. This often comes at the expense of computational cost which can eventually become prohibitive. Among other characteristics, the non-determinism of a micro-scale response makes its replacement by a surrogate particularly challenging. Machine Learning (ML) is a promising technique to substitute physics-based models, nevertheless existing ML algorithms for the prediction of material response do not integrate non-determinism in the learning process. Is it possible to use the numerical output of the latest micro-scale descriptions to train a ML algorithm that will then provide a response at a much lower computational cost? A series of ML algorithms with different levels of depth and supervision are trained using a data-driven approach. Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) and Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) are tested and the latter retained because of its superior results. A modified GANs with lower network depth showed good performance in the generation of failure probability maps, with good reproduction of the non-deterministic micro-scale response. The trained generator can be incorporated into existing multiscale models allowing to, at least partially, bypass the costly micro-scale computations.
Multidimensional Fibonacci Coding
Authors: Pooksombat Perathorn , Udomkavanich Patanee , Kositwattanarerk Wittawat
Published: January 2022

Fibonacci codes are self-synchronizing variable-length codes that are proven useful for their robustness and compression capability. Asymptotically, these codes provide better compression efficiency as the order of the underlying Fibonacci sequence increases but at the price of the increased suffix length. We propose a circumvention to this problem by introducing higher-dimensional Fibonacci codes for integer vectors. The resulting multidimensional Fibonacci coding is comparable to the classical one in terms of compression; while encoding several numbers all at once for a shared suffix generally results in a shorter codeword, the efficiency takes a backlash when terms from different orders of magnitude are encoded together. In addition, while laying the groundwork for the new encoding scheme, we provide extensive theoretical background and generalize the theorem of Zeckendorf to higher order. As such, our work unifies several variations of Zeckendorf’s theorem while also providing new grounds for its legitimacy.
Silver Nanoparticles for Conductive Inks: From Synthesis and Ink Formulation to Their Use in Printing Technologies
Authors: Zhang Junhui , Ahmadi Maziar , Fargas Gemma , Perinka Nikola , Reguera Javier , Lanceros-Méndez Senentxu , Llanes Luis , Jiménez-Piqué Emilio
Published: January 2022

Currently, silver nanoparticles have attracted large interest in the photonics, electrics, analytical, and antimicrobial/biocidal fields due to their excellent optical, electrical, biological, and antibacterial properties. The versatility in generating different sizes, shapes, and surface morphologies results in a wide range of applications of silver nanoparticles in various industrial and health-related areas. In industrial applications, silver nanoparticles are used to produce conductive inks, which allows the construction of electronic devices on low-cost and flexible substrates by using various printing techniques. In order to achieve successful printed patterns, the necessary formulation and synthesis need to be engineered to fulfil the printing technique requirements. Additional sintering processes are typically further required to remove the added polymers, which are used to produce the desired adherence, viscosity, and reliable performance. This contribution presents a review of the synthesis of silver nanoparticles via different methods (chemical, physical and biological methods) and the application of silver nanoparticles under the electrical field. Formulation of silver inks and formation of conductive patterns by using different printing techniques (inkjet printing, screen printing and aerosol jet printing) are presented. Post-printing treatments are also discussed. A summary concerning outlooks and perspectives is presented at the end of this review.
En-Garde! A Review of Fencing Blade Material Development
Authors: Jiang Haocheng , Shen Jingfang , Yao Xingyu , Van Horne Constance , Lu Xianhui , Xiong Yong , Cha Limei
Published: January 2022

Using two fencing swords manufactured in Europe and China, we investigated the typical materials used for fencing blades and compared the experimental results with the nominal compositions of a variety of steels. We found that spring steels and maraging steels were the primary metals used in fencing blades. The review then provides an overview of the chemical compositions, heat treatment processes, microstructures and associated mechanical properties of these materials. By combining the requirements for the safety of athletes, mechanical behaviors of different steels, and production costs for industry, we introduced possible directions for the heat treatments and processing methods that have the potential to enhance performance and overcome the limitations of previous materials. In addition, an ultra-strong steel, Fe-9.95Mn-0.44C-1.87Al-0.67V which could be a promising new candidate in this area, was recommended. Finally, we suggested that successful cooperation between manufacturers and researchers is necessary to reach the various requirements of fencing blades to meet the growing popularity of fencing in China.
Renewable DNA Proportional-Integral Controller with Photoresponsive Molecules
Authors: Tamba Masaaki , Murayama Keiji , Asanuma Hiroyuki , Nakakuki Takashi
Published: January 2022

A molecular robot is an intelligent molecular system. A typical control problem of molecular robots is to maintain the concentration of a specific DNA strand at the desired level, which is typically attained by a molecular feedback control mechanism. A molecular feedback system can be constructed in a bottom-up method by transforming a nonlinear chemical reaction system into a pseudo-linear system. This method enables the implementation of a molecular proportional-integral (PI) controller on a DNA reaction system. However, a DNA reaction system is driven by fuel DNA strand consumption, and without a sufficient amount of fuel strands, the molecular PI controller cannot perform normal operations as a concentration regulator. In this study, we developed a design method for a molecular PI control system to regenerate fuel strands by introducing photoresponsive reaction control. To this end, we employed a photoresponsive molecule, azobenzene, to guide the reaction direction forward or backward using light irradiation. We validated our renewable design of the PI controller by numerical simulations based on the reaction kinetics. We also confirmed the proof-of-principle of our renewable design by conducting experiments using a basic DNA circuit.
Genomic Comparison, Phylogeny and Taxonomic Reevaluation of the Ectothiorhodospiraceae and Description of Halorhodospiraceae fam. nov. and Halochlorospira gen. nov.
Authors: Imhoff Johannes F. , Kyndt John A. , Meyer Terrance E.
Published: January 2022

The Ectothiorhodospiraceae family represents purple sulfur bacteria of the Gammaproteobacteria found primarily in alkaline soda lakes of moderate to extremely high salinity. The main microscopically visible characteristic separating them from the Chromatiaceae is the excretion of the intermediate elemental sulfur formed during oxidation of sulfide prior to complete oxidation to sulfate rather than storing it in the periplasm. We present a comparative study of 38 genomes of all species of phototrophic Ectothiorhodospiraceae. We also include a comparison with those chemotrophic bacteria that have been assigned to the family previously and critically reevaluate this assignment. The data demonstrate the separation of Halorhodospira species in a major phylogenetic branch distant from other Ectothiorhodospiraceae and support their separation into a new family, for which the name Halorhodospiraceae fam. nov. is proposed. In addition, the green-colored, bacteriochlorophyll-containing species Halorhodospira halochloris and Halorhodospira abdelmalekii were transferred to the new genus Halochlorospira gen. nov. of this family. The data also enable classification of several so far unclassified isolates and support the separation of Ectothiorhodospira shaposhnikovii and Ect. vacuolata as well as Ect. mobilis and Ect. marismortui as distinct species.
The “Microbiome”: A Protagonist in COVID-19 Era
Authors: Merra Giuseppe , Capacci Annunziata , Cenname Giuseppe , Esposito Ernesto , Dri Maria , Di Renzo Laura , Marchetti Marco
Published: January 2022

Respiratory infections are among the main causes of hospitalization and mortality, particularly in elderly patients [...]
Biodiversity and Physiological Characteristics of Novel Faecalibacterium prausnitzii Strains Isolated from Human Feces
Authors: Hu Wenbing , Gao Wenyu , Liu Zongmin , Fang Zhifeng , Zhao Jianxin , Zhang Hao , Lu Wenwei , Chen Wei
Published: January 2022

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is prevalent in the human gut and is a potential candidate for next-generation probiotics (NGPs) or biotherapeutics. However, the biodiversity and physiological characteristics of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii remain unclear. This study isolated 26 novel F. prausnitzii strains from human feces using a combination of negative screening and prime-specific PCR amplification (NSPA). Based on a 16S rRNA gene analysis, F. prausnitzii strains can be classified into two main phylogroups (phylogroups I and II), which were further clustered into five subgroups (I-A, II-B, II-C, II-D, and II-E). The ultrastructure, colony morphology, growth performance, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing ability were found to be variable among these F. prausnitzii isolates. The optimal pH for the isolates growth ranged between 6.0 and 7.0, while most isolates were inhibited by 0.1% of bile salts. Antimicrobial resistance profiles showed that all F. prausnitzii isolates were susceptible to vancomycin, whereas >80% were kanamycin and gentamicin resistant. Additionally, all strains can utilize maltose, cellulose, and fructose but not xylose, sorbose, and 2′-FL. Overall, our work provides new insights into the biodiversity and physiological characteristics of F. prausnitzii, as well as the choices of strains suitable for NGPs.
Analysis of Ensifer aridi Mutants Affecting Regulation of Methionine, Trehalose, and Inositol Metabolisms Suggests a Role in Stress Adaptation and Symbiosis Development
Authors: Belfquih Meryem , Filali-Maltouf Abdelkarim , Le Quéré Antoine
Published: January 2022

Isolated from desert, the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Ensifer aridi LMR001 is capable of survival under particularly harsh environmental conditions. To obtain insights in molecular mechanisms involved in stress adaptation, a recent study using RNAseq revealed that the RpoE2-mediated general stress response was activated under mild saline stress but appeared non-essential for the bacterium to thrive under stress and develop the symbiosis. Functions associated with the stress response included the metabolisms of trehalose, methionine, and inositol. To explore the roles of these metabolisms in stress adaptation and symbiosis development, and the possible regulatory mechanisms involved, mutants were generated notably in regulators and their transcriptions were studied in various mutant backgrounds. We found that mutations in regulatory genes nesR and sahR of the methionine cycle generating S-adenosylmethionine negatively impacted symbiosis, tolerance to salt, and motility in the presence of NaCl. When both regulators were mutated, an increased tolerance to detergent, oxidative, and acid stresses was found, suggesting a modification of the cell wall components which may explain these phenotypes and support a major role of the fine-tuning methylation for symbiosis and stress adaptation of the bacterium. In contrast, we also found that mutations in the predicted trehalose transport and utilization regulator ThuR and the trehalose phosphate phosphatase OtsB-encoding genes improved symbiosis and growth in liquid medium containing 0.4 M of NaCl of LMR001ΔotsB, suggesting that trehalose metabolism control and possibly trehalose-6 phosphate cellular status may be biotechnologically engineered for improved symbiosis under stress. Finally, transcriptional fusions of gfp to promoters of selected genes and expression studies in the various mutant backgrounds suggest complex regulatory interplay between inositol, methionine, and trehalose metabolic pathways.
Quantitative Estimation of Protein in Sprouts of Vigna radiate (Mung Beans), Lens culinaris (Lentils), and Cicer arietinum (Chickpeas) by Kjeldahl and Lowry Methods
Authors: Rizvi Nayab Batool , Aleem Samina , Khan Mohammad Rizwan , Ashraf Sadia , Busquets Rosa
Published: January 2022

Protein scarcity is the most vital cause of long-lasting diseases and even untimely deaths in some developing nations. The application of protein in food is advantageous from the point of view of non-toxicity, biocompatibility, and dietary benefits. This study aimed to determine the protein contents of the sprouts of Vigna radiates (mung beans), Lens culinaris (lentils), and Cicer arietinum (chickpeas) using the Kjeldahl and Lowry methods. The results obtained from the Kjeldahl method identified protein concentrations of 2.54, 2.63, and 2.19%, whereas the Lowry method results identified protein concentrations of 2.96%, 4.10%, and 1.6% in mung beans, lentils, and chickpeas, respectively. In both the methods, lentils were found to have the highest amount of protein followed by mung beans and chickpeas. Both the Kjeldahl and Lowry methods demonstrated good protein values and low variation in the protein amount in the analyzed samples. Furthermore, the methods had greater sensitivity and comparable experimental variability. The outcomes revealed that assays can be applied for protein analysis in legumes. In the context of a lack of suitable standard procedures for evaluating legumes’ compositions, the present study is suitable for food control laboratories. In addition, the studied samples represent a significant source of protein and can be used to fulfil the daily requirements for protein intake and other food applications.
Genistein—Opportunities Related to an Interesting Molecule of Natural Origin
Authors: Garbiec Ewa , Cielecka-Piontek Judyta , Kowalówka Magdalena , Hołubiec Magdalena , Zalewski Przemysław
Published: January 2022

Nowadays, increasingly more attention is being paid to a holistic approach to health, in which diet contributes to disease prevention. There is growing interest in functional food that not only provides basic nutrition but has also been demonstrated to be an opportunity for the prevention of disorders. A promising functional food is soybean, which is the richest source of the isoflavone, genistein. Genistein may be useful in the prevention and treatment of such disorders as psoriasis, cataracts, cystic fibrosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes. However, achievable concentrations of genistein in humans are low, and the use of soybean as a functional food is not devoid of concerns, which are related to genistein’s potential side effects resulting from its estrogenic and goitrogenic effects.
Chemi-Inspired Silicon Allotropes—Experimentally Accessible Si9 Cages as Proposed Building Block for 1D Polymers, 2D Sheets, Single-Walled Nanotubes, and Nanoparticles
Authors: Jantke Laura-Alice , Karttunen Antti J. , Fässler Thomas F.
Published: January 2022

Numerous studies on silicon allotropes with three-dimensional networks or as materials of lower dimensionality have been carried out in the past. Herein, allotropes of silicon, which are based on structures of experimentally accessible [Si9]4− clusters known as stable anionic molecular species in neat solids and in solution, are predicted. Hypothetical oxidative coupling under the formation of covalent Si–Si bonds between the clusters leads to uncharged two-, one- and zero-dimensional silicon nanomaterials not suffering from dangling bonds. A large variety of structures are derived and investigated by quantum chemical calculations. Their relative energies are in the same range as experimentally known silicene, and some structures are even energetically more favorable than silicene. Significantly smaller relative energies are reached by the insertion of linkers in form of tetrahedrally connected Si atoms. A chessboard pattern built of Si9 clusters bridged by tetrahedrally connected Si atoms represents a two-dimensional silicon species with remarkably lower relative energy in comparison with silicene. We discuss the structural and electronic properties of the predicted silicon materials and their building block nido-[Si9]4– based on density functional calculations. All considered structures are semiconductors. The band structures exclusively show bands of low dispersion, as is typical for covalent polymers.
Anti-Osteoporosis Effect of Perilla frutescens Leaf Hexane Fraction through Regulating Osteoclast and Osteoblast Differentiation
Authors: Phromnoi Kanokkarn , Yodkeeree Supachai , Pintha Komsak , Mapoung Sariya , Suttajit Maitree , Saenjum Chalermpong , Dejkriengkraikul Pornngarm
Published: January 2022

Osteoporosis is the result of an imbalance in the bone-remodeling process via an increase in osteoclastic activity and a decrease in osteoblastic activity. Our previous studies have shown that Perilla frutescens seed meal has anti-osteoclastogenic activity. However, the role of perilla leaf hexane fraction (PLH) in osteoporosis has not yet been investigated and reported. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of PLH in osteoclast differentiation and osteogenic potential using cell-based experiments in vitro. From HPLC analysis, we found that PLH contained high luteolin and baicalein. PLH was shown to inhibit RANKL-induced ROS production and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multi-nucleated osteoclasts. Moreover, PLH significantly downregulated the RANKL-induced MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, leading to the attenuation of NFATc1 and MMP-9 expression. In contrast, PLH enhanced osteoblast function by regulating alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and restoring TNF-α-suppressed osteoblast proliferation and osteogenic potential. Thus, luteolin and baicalein-rich PLH inhibits osteoclast differentiation but promotes the function of osteoblasts. Collectively, our data provide new evidence that suggests that PLH may be a valuable anti-osteoporosis agent.
Material Design and Optimisation of Electrochemical Li-Ion Storage Properties of Ternary Silicon Oxycarbide/Graphite/Tin Nanocomposites
Authors: Knozowski Dominik , Vallachira Warriam Sasikumar Pradeep , Madajski Piotr , Blugan Gurdial , Gazda Maria , Kovalska Natalia , Wilamowska-Zawłocka Monika
Published: January 2022

In this work, we present the characterization and electrochemical performance of various ternary silicon oxycarbide/graphite/tin (SiOC/C/Sn) nanocomposites as anodes for lithium-ion batteries. In binary SiOC/Sn composites, tin nanoparticles may be produced in situ via carbothermal reduction of SnO2 to metallic Sn, which consumes free carbon from the SiOC ceramic phase, thereby limiting the carbon content in the final ceramic nanocomposite. Therefore, to avoid drawbacks with carbon depletion, we used graphite as a substitute during the synthesis of precursors. The ternary composites were synthesized from liquid precursors and flake graphite using the ultrasound-assisted hydrosilylation method and pyrolysis at 1000 °C in an Ar atmosphere. The role of the graphitic component is to ensure good electric conductivity and the softness of the material, which are crucial for long term stability during alloying–dealloying processes. The presented approach allows us to increase the content of the tin precursor from 40 wt.% to 60 wt.% without losing the electrochemical stability of the final material. The charge/discharge capacity (at 372 mA g−1 current rate) of the tailored SiOC/C/Sn composite is about 100 mAh g−1 higher compared with that of the binary SiOC/Sn composite. The ternary composites, however, are more sensitive to high current rates (above 372 mA g−1) compared to the binary one because of the presence of graphitic carbon.
Dietary Carotenoids in Head and Neck Cancer—Molecular and Clinical Implications
Authors: Starska-Kowarska Katarzyna
Published: January 2022

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is one of the most common cancers in the world according to GLOBCAN. In 2018, it was reported that HNC accounts for approximately 3% of all human cancers (51,540 new cases) and is the cause of nearly 1.5% of all cancer deaths (10,030 deaths). Despite great advances in treatment, HNC is indicated as a leading cause of death worldwide. In addition to having a positive impact on general health, a diet rich in carotenoids can regulate stages in the course of carcinogenesis; indeed, strong epidemiological associations exist between dietary carotenoids and HNS, and it is presumed that diets with carotenoids can even reduce cancer risk. They have also been proposed as potential chemotherapeutic agents and substances used in chemoprevention of HNC. The present review discusses the links between dietary carotenoids and HNC. It examines the prospective anticancer effect of dietary carotenoids against intracellular cell signalling and mechanisms, oxidative stress regulation, as well as their impact on apoptosis, cell cycle progression, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and chemoprevention; it also provides an overview of the limited preclinical and clinical research published in this arena. Recent epidemiological, key opinion-forming systematic reviews, cross-sectional, longitudinal, prospective, and interventional studies based on in vitro and animal models of HNC also indicate that high carotenoid content obtained from daily supplementation has positive effects on the initiation, promotion, and progression of HNC. This article presents these results according to their increasing clinical credibility.
The Effects of Nutritional Interventions on the Cognitive Development of Preschool-Age Children: A Systematic Review
Authors: Roberts Marina , Tolar-Peterson Terezie , Reynolds Abby , Wall Caitlin , Reeder Nicole , Rico Mendez Gina
Published: January 2022

The developing human brain requires all essential nutrients to form and to maintain its structure. Infant and child cognitive development is dependent on adequate nutrition. Children who do not receive sufficient nutrition are at high risk of exhibiting impaired cognitive skills. This systematic review aimed to examine the effects of nutritional interventions on cognitive outcomes of preschool-age children. PubMed, PsycInfo, Academic Search Complete, and Cochrane Library electronic databases were searched to identify Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) published after the year 2000. Studies assessing the effects of food-based, single, and multiple micronutrient interventions on the cognition of nourished and undernourished children aged 2–6 years were deemed eligible. A total of 12 trials were identified. Eight out of the twelve studies found significant positive effects on cognitive outcomes. Iron and multiple-micronutrients supplementation yield improvements in the cognitive abilities of undernourished preschool-age children. Increased fish consumption was found to have a beneficial effect in the cognitive outcomes of nourished children. On the other hand, B-vitamin, iodized salt, and guava powder interventions failed to display significant results. Findings of this review highlight the importance of adequate nutrition during preschool years, and the crucial role sufficient nutrition plays in cognitive development.
ApoE4 Is Associated with Lower Body Mass, Particularly Fat Mass, in Older Women with Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Ando Takafumi , Uchida Kazuaki , Sugimoto Taiki , Kimura Ai , Saji Naoki , Niida Shumpei , Sakurai Takashi
Published: January 2022

A lower body mass is associated with the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and the risk of mortality in patients with AD; however, evidence of genetic determinants of decreased body mass in cognitively impaired older adults is limited. We therefore investigated the genetic effect of APOE-ε4 on body composition in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early-to-moderate-stage AD. A total of 1631 outpatients (aged 65–89 years) with MCI and early-to-moderate-stage AD were evaluated for the association between body composition and APOE-ε4 status. After adjusting for covariates, including cognitive function evaluated with the Mini-Mental State Examination, the presence of the APOE-ε4 was associated with lower weight (β = −1.116 ± 0.468 kg per presence, p = 0.017), fat mass (β = −1.196 ± 0.401 kg per presence, p = 0.003), and percentage of body fat (β = −1.700 ± 0.539% per presence, p = 0.002) in women but not in men. Additionally, the impact of APOE-ε4 on measures of body composition in women was more remarkable in MCI than in AD patients. The presence of the APOE-ε4 allele was associated with lower fat mass, particularly in women with MCI, independent of cognitive decline.
Strengthening Tuberculosis Services for Children and Adolescents in Low Endemic Settings
Authors: Starke Jeffrey R. , Erkens Connie , Ritz Nicole , Kitai Ian
Published: January 2022

In low tuberculosis-burden countries, children and adolescents with the highest incidence of tuberculosis (TB) infection or disease are usually those who have immigrated from high-burden countries. It is, therefore, essential that low-burden countries provide healthcare services to immigrant and refugee families, to assure that their children can receive proper testing, evaluation, and treatment for TB. Active case-finding through contact tracing is a critical element of TB prevention in children and in finding TB disease at an early, easily treated stage. Passive case-finding by evaluating an ill child is often delayed, as other, more common infections and conditions are suspected initially. While high-quality laboratory services to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis are generally available, they are often underutilized in the diagnosis of childhood TB, further delaying diagnosis in some cases. Performing research on TB disease is difficult because of the low number of cases that are spread over many locales, but critical research on the evaluation and treatment of TB infection has been an important legacy of low-burden countries. The continued education of medical providers and the involvement of educational, professional, and non-governmental organizations is a key element of maintaining awareness of the presence of TB. This article provides the perspective from North America and Western Europe but is relevant to many low-endemic settings. TB in children and adolescents will persist in low-burden countries as long as it persists throughout the rest of the world, and these wealthy countries must increase their financial commitment to end TB everywhere.