bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristics and Risk of Forest Soil Heavy Metal Pollution in Western Guangdong Province, China
Authors: Kang Jian , Ding Xiaogang , Ma Hongyan , Dai Zhiming , Li Xiaochuan , Huang Jianguo
Published: June 2022

West Guangdong is an important ecological barrier in Guangdong province, so understanding the spatial patterns and sources of heavy metal pollution of forest soil in this region is of great significance for ecological protection. In this study, the concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Ni) in forest soil were determined. Geostatistics, single-factor pollution index (PI), potential ecological risk index (RI), principal component analysis (PCA), and Pearson’s correlation analysis were used to evaluate and analyze the characteristics of heavy metal pollution of forest soil. The results showed that the average concentration did not exceed the critical value. Cd, Pb, and Cu were enriched in southwest Xinxing County, while Zn and Ni were enriched in most areas of the Yunan and Yuncheng districts. Two groups of heavy metals from different sources were identified by PCA and a correlation analysis. Cd, Pb, and Cu in their respective enrichment areas were mainly from marble and cement production, whereas Zn and Ni were primarily from transportation and chemical fertilizer. Most of the study area was safe or slightly polluted while the heavy metal-enriched areas were moderately to severely polluted. The potential ecological risk was at a lower level in the study area but moderate in southwest Xinxing County. In summary, human factors impact the spatial patterns and ecological risks of heavy metals in forest soil. This study provides a scientific basis for forest soil pollution control and ecological protection.
The Potential of SoC FPAAs for Emerging Ultra-Low-Power Machine Learning
Authors: Hasler Jennifer
Published: June 2022

Large-scale field-programmable analog arrays (FPAA) have the potential to handle machine inference and learning applications with significantly low energy requirements, potentially alleviating the high cost of these processes today, even in cloud-based systems. FPAA devices enable embedded machine learning, one form of physical mixed-signal computing, enabling machine learning and inference on low-power embedded platforms, particularly edge platforms. This discussion reviews the current capabilities of large-scale field-programmable analog arrays (FPAA), as well as considering the future potential of these SoC FPAA devices, including questions that enable ubiquitous use of FPAA devices similar to FPGA devices. Today’s FPAA devices include integrated analog and digital fabric, as well as specialized processors and infrastructure, becoming a platform of mixed-signal development and analog-enabled computing. We address and show that next-generation FPAAs can handle the required load of 10,000–10,000,000,000 PMAC, required for present and future large fielded applications, at orders of magnitude of lower energy levels than those expected by current technology, motivating the need to develop these new generations of FPAA devices.
A Two-Step Data Normalization Approach for Improving Classification Accuracy in the Medical Diagnosis Domain
Authors: Izonin Ivan , Tkachenko Roman , Shakhovska Nataliya , Ilchyshyn Bohdan , Singh Krishna Kant
Published: June 2022

Data normalization is a data preprocessing task and one of the first to be performed during intellectual analysis, particularly in the case of tabular data. The importance of its implementation is determined by the need to reduce the sensitivity of the artificial intelligence model to the values of the features in the dataset to increase the studied model’s adequacy. This paper focuses on the problem of effectively preprocessing data to improve the accuracy of intellectual analysis in the case of performing medical diagnostic tasks. We developed a new two-step method for data normalization of numerical medical datasets. It is based on the possibility of considering both the interdependencies between the features of each observation from the dataset and their absolute values to improve the accuracy when performing medical data mining tasks. We describe and substantiate each step of the algorithmic implementation of the method. We also visualize the results of the proposed method. The proposed method was modeled using six different machine learning methods based on decision trees when performing binary and multiclass classification tasks. We used six real-world, freely available medical datasets with different numbers of vectors, attributes, and classes to conduct experiments. A comparison between the effectiveness of the developed method and that of five existing data normalization methods was carried out. It was experimentally established that the developed method increases the accuracy of the Decision Tree and Extra Trees Classifier by 1–5% in the case of performing the binary classification task and the accuracy of the Bagging, Decision Tree, and Extra Trees Classifier by 1–6% in the case of performing the multiclass classification task. Increasing the accuracy of these classifiers only by using the new data normalization method satisfies all the prerequisites for its application in practice when performing various medical data mining tasks.
On Polynomials Orthogonal with Respect to an Inner Product Involving Higher-Order Differences: The Meixner Case
Authors: Costas-Santos Roberto S. , Soria-Lorente Anier , Vilaire Jean-Marie
Published: June 2022

In this contribution we consider sequences of monic polynomials orthogonal with respect to the Sobolev-type inner product f,g=⟨uM,fg⟩+λTjf(α)Tjg(α), where uM is the Meixner linear operator, λ∈R+, j∈N, α≤0, and T is the forward difference operator Δ or the backward difference operator ∇. Moreover, we derive an explicit representation for these polynomials. The ladder operators associated with these polynomials are obtained, and the linear difference equation of the second order is also given. In addition, for these polynomials, we derive a (2j+3)-term recurrence relation. Finally, we find the Mehler–Heine type formula for the particular case α=0.
Physical Activity and Post-Transcriptional Regulation of Aging Decay: Modulation of Pathways in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis
Authors: Vita Federica , Gangemi Sebastiano , Pioggia Giovanni , Trimarchi Fabio , Di Mauro Debora
Published: June 2022

Background and Objectives: Bones and the skeletal muscle play a key role in human physiology as regulators of metabolism in the whole organism. Bone tissue is identified as a complex and dynamic living unit that could react to physical activity. Hormones, growth factors, signaling factors, and environmental factors control osteogenesis, and it could be regulated at a post-transcriptional level. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can interfere with mRNAs translation. Increasing data suggest that miRNAs, through different pathways, are involved in the regulation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) differentiation and physical activity-induced bone remodeling. The purpose of this narrative review is to investigate the potential protective role played by physical activity in affecting miRNAs expression in close tissues and elaborate on the complex network of interplay that could drive various metabolic responses of the bone to physical activity. Materials and Methods: A bibliographic search of the scientific literature was carried out in scientific databases to investigate the possible effect of physical activity on age-related features detected in the musculoskeletal system. Results: Several studies suggested that the musculoskeletal system interacting at a biomolecular level could establish crosstalk between bone and muscle in an endocrine or paracrine way through myokines released by muscle at the periosteal interface or in the bloodstream, such as irisin. Mechanical stimuli have a key role in bone formation and resorption, increasing osteogenesis and downregulating adipogenesis of BMSC via regulation of expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), respectively. Conclusions: Increasing data suggest that miRNAs, through different pathways, are involved in the regulation of BMSCs differentiation and physical activity-induced bone remodeling. Modulation of miRNAs following physical exercise represents an interesting field of investigation since these non-coding RNAs may be considered defenders against degenerative diseases and as well as useful prognostic markers in skeletal and muscle-skeletal diseases, such as osteoporosis.
Spider Toxin SNX-482 Gating Modifier Spontaneously Partitions in the Membrane Guided by Electrostatic Interactions
Authors: Mellado Guido , Espinoza Nicolas , Garate Jose Antonio , Neely Alan
Published: June 2022

Spider toxin SNX-482 is a cysteine-rich peptide that interferes with calcium channel activity by binding to voltage-sensing domains of the CaV2.3 subtype. Two mechanisms dominate the binding process of cysteine-rich peptides: direct binding from the aqueous phase or through lateral diffusion from the membrane, the so-called reduction in dimensionality mechanism. In this work, via coarse-grained and atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, we have systematically studied the spontaneous partitioning of SNX-482 with membranes of different anionic compositions and explored via diffusional analysis both binding mechanisms. Our simulations revealed a conserved protein patch that inserts in the membrane, a preference for binding towards partially negatively charged membranes, and that electrostatics guides membrane binding by incrementing and aligning the molecular dipole. Finally, diffusivity calculations showed that the toxin diffusion along the membrane plane is an order of magnitude slower than the aqueous phase suggesting that the critical factor in determining the SNX-482-CaV2.3 binding mechanism is the affinity between the membrane and SNX-482.
Taurine Ameliorates Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes by Modulating Hepatic Glucose Metabolism and Oxidative Stress in Mice
Authors: Murakami Shigeru , Funahashi Kohei , Tamagawa Natsuki , Ning Ma , Ito Takashi
Published: June 2022

Taurine is a sulfated amino acid derivative that plays an important role in maintaining the cell function of the living body. Although taurine has been shown to ameliorate diabetes, its mechanism of action has not yet been fully elucidated. The present study investigated the effects of taurine on diabetes focusing on glucose metabolism and oxidative stress. Type 1 diabetes was induced by the administration of streptozotocin (STZ) to male C57BL/6J mice. Taurine was dissolved in drinking water at 3% (w/v) and allowed to be freely ingested by diabetic mice. The weight and blood glucose levels were measured weekly. After nine weeks, mice were sacrificed and their serum, liver, and kidney were removed and used for biochemical and histological analyses. A microarray analysis was also performed in normal mice. Taurine alleviated STZ-induced hyperglycemia and hyperketonemia, accompanied by the suppression of the decrease in hepatic glycogen and upregulation of the mRNA expression of hepatic glucose transporter GLUT-2. Furthermore, STZ-induced elevation of oxidative stress in the liver and kidney was suppressed by taurine treatment. These results showed that taurine ameliorated diabetes and diabetic complications by improving hepatic glucose metabolism and reducing oxidative stress.
Development of a Sustainable Process for Complex Sulfide Ores Containing Anglesite: Effect of Anglesite on Sphalerite Floatability, Enhanced Depression of Sphalerite by Extracting Anglesite, and Recovery of Extracted Pb2+ as Zero-Valent Pb by Cementation Using Zero-Valent Fe
Authors: Aikawa Kosei , Ito Mayumi , Kusano Atsuhiro , Jeon Sanghee , Park Ilhwan , Hiroyoshi Naoki
Published: June 2022

The presence of anglesite (PbSO4) in complex sulfide ores negatively affects the separation of Cu-Pb sulfides and sphalerite (ZnS) due to lead activation, and PbSO4 rejected to tailings dams contaminates the surrounding environment with lead. To address these problems, this study investigated the application of ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) pretreatment extracting PbSO4 to ZnS flotation and the recovery of the extracted Pb2+ as zero-valent Pb by cementation using zero-valent iron (ZVI). The application of EDTA pretreatment could extract ~99.8% of PbSO4, thus depressing ZnS floatability from 82% to 30%. In addition, cementation using ZVI could recover ~99.7% of Pb2+ from the leachate of EDTA pretreatment.
The Calcite-Dolomite Solvus Temperature and T-X(CO2) Evolution in High-Grade Impure Marble from Thongmön Area, Central Himalaya: Implications for Carbon Cycling in Orogenic Belts
Authors: Chen Xueqian , Zhang Lifei , Zhang Guibin , Lü Zeng
Published: June 2022

Impure dolomitic marble from the Great Himalayan Sequences (GHS) in Thongmön area, central Himalaya, is first systematically reported here concerning its petrographic features, textural relations, and fluid evolution. The Thongmön impure marble is characterized by the assemblage of calcite + dolomite + forsterite + spinel + phlogopite + clinohumite ± diopside ± retrograde serpentine. Three groups of calcite and dolomite occurring both as inclusions and in the matrix were identified: group I is represented by relatively magnesium-rich calcite (Cal) (CalI:XMg = 0.10–0.15) and almost pure dolomite (Dol) (DolI:XMg = 0.47–0.48), corresponding to the Cal-Dol solvus temperatures of 707–781 °C; group II is characterized by vermicular dolomite exsolutions (DolII:XMg = 0.45–0.46) in Mg-rich calcite and Mg-poor calcite (CalII:XMg = 0.05–0.08) adjacent to DolII, and the recorded solvus temperatures are 548–625 °C; group III is represented by nearly pure calcite (CalIII:XMg = 0.003–0.02) and Ca-rich dolomite in the matrix (DolIII:XMg = 0.33–0.44). Isobaric T-X(CO2) pseudosection at a peak pressure of 15 kbar in the system K2O-CaO-MgO-Al2O3-FeO-SiO2-H2O-CO2 suggests that the peak fluid composition of the Thongmön forsterite marble is restricted to X(CO2) < 0.04 at T > 780 °C due to a potential infiltration event of H2O-rich fluid. Alternatively, the forsterite marble is a retrograde product subordinated to the GHS exhumation process, and its fluid composition is relatively CO2-rich (0.6 < X(CO2) < 0.8 at 5 kbar, 750 °C) at a nearly isothermal decompression stage. In either case, we suggest that the carbon flux contributed by metacarbonate rocks in an orogen setting to the global carbon cycling must be considered.
Uranium Retardation Capacity of Lithologies from the Negev Desert, Israel—Rock Characterization and Sorption Experiments
Authors: Dangelmayr Martin A. , Bussod Gilles Y. , Reimus Paul W. , WoldeGabriel Giday , Calvo Ran , Harris Rose J. , Stauffer Philip H. , Boukhalfa Hakim , Klein-BenDavid Ofra , Balaban Noa , Rosenzweig Ravid
Published: June 2022

A series of batch experiments were performed to assess the uranium sorption capacity of four mineralogically distinct lithologies from the Negev Desert, Israel, to evaluate the suitability of a potential site for subsurface radioactive waste disposal. The rock specimens consisted of an organic-rich phosphorite, a bituminous marl, a chalk, and a sandstone. The sorption data for each lithology were fitted using a general composite surface complexation model (GC SCM) implemented in PHREEQC. Sorption data were also fitted by a non-mechanistic Langmuir sorption isotherm, which can be used as an alternative to the GC SCM to provide a more computationally efficient method for uranium sorption. This is because all the rocks tested have high pH/alkalinity/calcium buffering capacities that restrict groundwater chemistry variations, so that the use of a GC SCM is not advantageous. The mineralogy of the rocks points to several dominant sorption phases for uranyl (UO22+), including apatite, organic carbon, clays, and iron-bearing phases. The surface complexation parameters based on literature values for the minerals identified overestimate the uranium sorption capacities, so that for our application, an empirical approach that makes direct use of the experimental data to estimate mineral-specific sorption parameters appears to be more practical for predicting uranium sorption.
Risk Assessment in Monitoring of Water Analysis of a Brazilian River
Authors: Brandão Luciene Pires , Silva Vanilson Fragoso , Bassi Marcelo , de Oliveira Elcio Cruz
Published: June 2022

This study aimed to introduce non-parametric tests and guard bands to assess the compliance of some river water properties with Brazilian environmental regulations. Due to the heterogeneity of the measurands pH, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), manganese molar concentration, and Escherichia coli, which could be wrongly treated as outliers, as well as the non-Gaussian data, robust methods were used to calculate the measurement uncertainty. Next, based on guard bands, the compliance assessment was evaluated using this previous uncertainty information. For these four measurands, partial overlaps between their uncertainties and the specification limit could generate doubts about compliance. The non-parametric approach for calculating the uncertainty connected to the guard bands concept classified pH and BOD as “conform”, with a risk to the consumer of up to 4.0% and 4.9%, respectively; in contrast, manganese molar concentration and Escherichia coli were “not conform”, with a risk to the consumer of up to 25% and 7.4%, respectively. The methodology proposed was satisfactory because it considered the natural heterogeneity of data with non-Gaussian behavior instead of wrongly excluding outliers. In an unprecedented way, two connected statistical approaches shed light on the measurement uncertainty in compliance assessment of water analysis.
One-Step, Low-Cost, Operator-Friendly, and Scalable Procedure to Synthetize Highly Pure N-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-retinamide in Quantitative Yield without Purification Work-Up
Authors: Alfei Silvana , Zuccari Guendalina
Published: June 2022

It is widely reported that N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-retinamide or fenretinide (4-HPR), which is a synthetic amide of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), inhibits in vitro several types of tumors, including cancer cell lines resistant to ATRA, at 1–10 µM concentrations. Additionally, studies in rats and mice have confirmed the potent anticancer effects of 4-HPR, without evidencing hemolytic toxicity, thus demonstrating its suitability for the development of a new chemo-preventive agent. To this end, the accurate determination of 4-HPR levels in tissues is essential for its pre-clinical training, and for the correct determination of 4-HPR and its metabolites by chromatography, N-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-retinamide (4-EPR) has been suggested as an indispensable internal standard. Unfortunately, only a consultable old patent reports the synthesis of 4-EPR, starting from dangerous and high-cost reagents and using long and tedious purification procedures. To the best of our knowledge, no article existed so far describing the specific synthesis of 4-EPR. Only two vendors worldwide supply 4-ERP, and its characterization was incomplete. Here, a scalable, operator-friendly, and one-step procedure to synthetize highly pure 4-EPR without purification work-up and in quantitative yield is reported. Additionally, a complete characterization of 4-EPR using all possible analytical techniques has been provided.
Nanoemulsions of Jasminum humile L. and Jasminum grandiflorum L. Essential Oils: An Approach to Enhance Their Cytotoxic and Antiviral Effects
Authors: Mansour Khaled Ahmed , El-Neketi Mona , Lahloub Mohamed-Farid , Elbermawi Ahmed
Published: June 2022

Unprecedented nanoemulsion formulations (NE) of Jasminum humile and Jasminum grandiflorum essential oils (EO) were prepared, and examined for their cytotoxic and antiviral activities. NE characterization and stability examination tests were performed to ensure formula stability. The antiviral activity was determined against hepatitis A (HAV) and herpes simplex type-1 (HSV-1) viruses using MTT assay, while the cytotoxic potential was determined against liver (HepG-2), breast (MCF-7), leukemia (THP-1) cancer cell lines and normal Vero cells. Statistical significance was determined in comparison with doxorubicin as cytotoxic and acyclovir as antiviral standard drugs. GC-MS analysis indicated twenty four compounds in the EO of J. humile and seventeen compounds in the EO of J. grandiflorum. Biological investigations of pure EOs revealed weak cytotoxic and antiviral effects. Nevertheless, their NE formulations exhibited high biological value as cytotoxic and antiviral agents. NE formulations also showed feasible selectivity index for the viral-infected and cancer cells (especially HepG-2) than normal Vero cells. Both nanoemulsions showed lower IC50 than standard doxorubicin against HepG-2 (26.65 and 22.58 vs. 33.96 μg/mL) and MCF-7 (36.09 and 36.19 vs. 52.73 μg/mL), respectively. The study results showed the dramatic effect of nanoemulsion preparation on the biological activity of EOs and other liposoluble phytopharmaceuticals.
Effects of Poncirin, a Citrus Flavonoid and Its Aglycone, Isosakuranetin, on the Gut Microbial Diversity and Metabolomics in Mice
Authors: Cao Xuedan , Guo Xiao , Fang Xiugui , Ru Shuijiang , Li Erhu
Published: June 2022

Poncirin (PC) and its aglycone, isosakuranetin (IR), occur naturally in citrus fruits. This study aimed to explore the pathways behind the different health benefits of PC and IR by evaluating the effect of these two bioactive flavonoids on the gut microbial diversity and metabolomics of mice. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to analyze the alteration of gut microbiota in mice after PC and IR intervention. The metabolic impact of PC and IR in mice were studied using a metabolomics approach based on LC-MS analysis. Results showed that, after 7 days intervention, PC and IR multiplied the abundance of Parabacteroides in mice’s intestinal tracts by 1.2 and 1.0 times, respectively. PC increased the abundance of Bacteroides by 2.4 times. IR reduced the Allobaculum abundance by 1.0 time and increased Alloprevotella abundance by 1.5 times. When mice were given PC, their fecal acetic acid level increased by 1.8 times, while their isobutyric and isovaleric acid content increased by 1.2 and 1.3 times, respectively. Supplementation with IR had no significant effect on the content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the feces of mice. The potential urine biomarkers of mice in the PC group were involved in the digestion and absorption of protein and carbohydrate, as well as the metabolism of amino acids, such as glycine, serine, threonine, tryptophan, D-arginine, D-ornithine, etc. IR mainly affected the amino acid metabolic pathways in mice, including taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, glutathione metabolism, histidine metabolism, D-glutamate metabolism, etc. This study provided valuable clues for future research on the health promoting mechanisms of PC and IR.
Synthesis and Luminescent Properties of s-Tetrazine Derivatives Conjugated with the 4H-1,2,4-Triazole Ring
Authors: Maj Anna , Kudelko Agnieszka , Świątkowski Marcin
Published: June 2022

New derivatives obtained by the combination of unique 1,2,4,5-tetrazine and 4H-1,2,4-triazole rings have great application potential in many fields. Therefore, two synthetic few-step methodologies, which make use of commercially available 4-cyanobenzoic acid (method A) and ethyl diazoacetate (method B), were applied to produce two groups of the aforementioned heterocyclic conjugates. In both cases, the target compounds were obtained in various combinations, by introducing electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituents into the terminal rings, together with aromatic or aliphatic substituents on the triazole nitrogen atom. Synthesis of such designed systems made it possible to analyze the influence of individual elements of the structure on the reaction course, as well as the absorption and emission properties. The structure of all products was confirmed by conventional spectroscopic methods, and their luminescent properties were also determined.
Structural Characterization and In-Vitro Antioxidant and Immunomodulatory Activities of Polysaccharide Fractions Isolated from Artemisia annua L.
Authors: Zhang Lin , Reddy Narsimha , Khoo Cheang Soo , Koyyalamudi Sundar Rao
Published: June 2022

Arimisia annua L. is an important anticancer herb used in traditional Chinese medicine. The molecular basis underpinning the anticancer activity is complex and not fully understood, but the herbal polysaccharides, broadly recognised as having immunomodulatory, antioxidant and anticancer activities, are potential key active agents. To examine the functions of polysaccharides from A. annua, their immunomodulatory and antioxidant potentials were evaluated, as well as their structural characterization. The water-soluble polysaccharides (AAPs) were fractionated using size-exclusion chromatography to obtain three dominant fractions, AAP-1, AAP-2 and AAP-3, having molecular masses centered around 1684, 455 and 5.8kDa, respectively. The antioxidant potentials of the isolated polysaccharides were evaluated by measuring radical scavenging activities against DPPH● (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical), ABTS●+ (2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid radical ion), and the OH● (hydroxyl radical). AAP-1 displayed high antioxidant activities against these radicals, which were 68%, 73% and 78%, respectively. AAP-2 displayed lower scavenging activities than the other two fractions. Immunostimulatory activities of AAPs were measured using mouse macrophages. The three polysaccharide fractions displayed significant antioxidant activities and stimulated the production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). AAP-1 showed significant immunostimulatory activity (16-fold increase in the production of IL-6 compared to the control and 13-fold increase in the production of TNF-α) with low toxicity (>60% cell viability at 125 μg/mL concentration). Preliminary structural characterization of the AAPs was carried out using gas chromatography (GC) and FTIR techniques. The results indicate that AAP-1 and AAP-2 are pyranose-containing polysaccharides with β-linkages, and AAP-3 is a β-fructofuranoside. The results suggest that these polysaccharides are potential candidates for immunotherapy and cancer treatment.
Editorial to the Special Issue: “Synthesis of Organic Ligands and Their Metal Complexes in Medicinal Chemistry”
Authors: Kostova Irena
Published: June 2022

The field of medicinal (organic, bioinorganic, and coordination) chemistry as well as the interdisciplinary studies related to medicine is a rapidly developing area of study [...]
Visible-Light-Induced Decarboxylation of Dioxazolones to Phosphinimidic Amides and Ureas
Authors: Pan Jie , Li Haocong , Sun Kai , Tang Shi , Yu Bing
Published: June 2022

A visible-light-induced external catalyst-free decarboxylation of dioxazolones was realized for the bond formation of N=P and N–C bonds to access phosphinimidic amides and ureas. Various phosphinimidic amides and ureas (47 examples) were synthesized with high yields (up to 98%) by this practical strategy in the presence of the system’s ppm Fe.
Targeted Immuno-Antiretroviral to Promote Dual Protection against HIV: A Proof-of-Concept Study
Authors: Mandal Subhra , Sunagawa Shawnalyn W. , Prathipati Pavan Kumar , Belshan Michael , Shibata Annemarie , Destache Christopher J.
Published: June 2022

The C–C motif chemokine receptor-5 (CCR5) expression on the T-cell surface is the prime barrier to HIV/AIDS eradication, as it promotes both active human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infection and latency; however, antiretrovirals (ARVs) suppress plasma viral loads to non-detectable levels. Keeping this in mind, we strategically designed a targeted ARVs-loaded nanoformulation that targets CCR5 expressing T-cells (e.g., CD4+ cells). Conceptually, CCR5-blocking and targeted ARV delivery would be a dual protection strategy to prevent HIV infection. For targeting CCR5+ T-cells, the nanoformulation was surface conjugated with anti-CCR5 monoclonal antibodies (CCR5 mAb) and loaded with dolutegravir+tenofovir alafenamide (D+T) ARVs to block HIV replication. The result demonstrated that the targeted-ARV nanoparticle’s multimeric CCR5 binding property improved its antigen-binding affinity, prolonged receptor binding, and ARV intracellular retention. Further, nanoformulation demonstrated high binding affinity to CCR5 expressing CD4+ cells, monocytes, and other CCR5+ T-cells. Finally, the short-term pre-exposure prophylaxis study demonstrated that prolonged CCR5 blockage and ARV presence further induced a “protective immune phenotype” with a boosted T-helper (Th), temporary memory (TM), and effector (E) sub-population. The proof-of-concept study that the targeted-ARV nanoformulation dual-action mechanism could provide a multifactorial solution toward achieving HIV “functional cure.”
CRISPR/CasRx-Mediated RNA Knockdown Reveals That ACE2 Is Involved in the Regulation of Oligodendroglial Cell Morphological Differentiation
Authors: Kato Yukino , Tago Kenji , Fukatsu Shoya , Okabe Miyu , Shirai Remina , Oizumi Hiroaki , Ohbuchi Katsuya , Yamamoto Masahiro , Mizoguchi Kazushige , Miyamoto Yuki , Yamauchi Junji
Published: June 2022

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) plays a role in catalyzing angiotensin II conversion to angiotensin (1–7), which often counteracts the renin-angiotensin system. ACE2 is expressed not only in the cells of peripheral tissues such as the heart and kidney, but also in those of the central nervous system (CNS). Additionally, ACE2 acts as the receptor required for the entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), whose binding leads to endocytotic recycling and possible degradation of the ACE2 proteins themselves. One of the target cells for SARS-CoV-2 in the CNS is oligodendrocytes (oligodendroglial cells), which wrap neuronal axons with their differentiated plasma membranes called myelin membranes. Here, for the first time, we describe the role of ACE2 in FBD-102b cells, which are used as the differentiation models of oligodendroglial cells. Unexpectedly, RNA knockdown of ACE2 with CasRx-mediated gRNA or the cognate siRNA promoted oligodendroglial cell morphological differentiation with increased expression or phosphorylation levels of differentiation and/or myelin marker proteins, suggesting the negative role of ACE2 in morphological differentiation. Notably, ACE2′s intracellular region preferentially interacted with the active GTP-bound form of Ras. Thus, knockdown of ACE2 relatively increased GTP-bound Ras in an affinity-precipitation assay. Indeed, inhibition of Ras resulted in decreasing both morphological differentiation and expression or phosphorylation levels of marker proteins, confirming the positive role of Ras in differentiation. These results indicate the role of ACE2 itself as a negative regulator of oligodendroglial cell morphological differentiation, newly adding ACE2 to the list of regulators of oligodendroglial morphogenesis as well as of Ras-binding proteins. These findings might help us to understand why SARS-CoV-2 causes pathological effects in the CNS.
Effects of Five Amino Acids (Serine, Alanine, Glutamate, Aspartate, and Tyrosine) on Mental Health in Healthy Office Workers: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Exploratory Trial
Authors: Umeda Kentaro , Shindo Daichi , Somekawa Shinji , Nishitani Shinobu , Sato Wataru , Toyoda Sakiko , Karakawa Sachise , Kawasaki Mika , Mine Tomoyuki , Suzuki Katsuya
Published: June 2022

Background: The importance of maintaining good mental health with overall well-being has recently drawn attention from various spheres of academics and the working population. Amino acid intake has been reported to reduce depression symptoms and other mental health problems. However, the effectiveness of amino acid intake (i.e., single or combined) remains unknown. In this study, we assessed a combination of five amino acids (serine, alanine, glutamate, aspartate, and tyrosine; SAGAT) reported to regulate mental health. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled exploratory trial was conducted. Participants, aged between 20 and 65 years with fatigue sensation, were randomized to receive either SAGAT or the placebo and ingested them for four weeks. A transient mental work was loaded at day 0 and after four weeks of intervention. As the primary outcomes, the fatigue sensation was assessed. The mood status, cognitive function, work efficiency, and blood marker were also measured as secondary outcomes. Results: The number of participants analyzed for the efficacy evaluation were 20 in SAGAT and 22 in the placebo. There were no significant differences in the primary outcomes. However, as the secondary outcomes, the SAGAT group showed a significant improvement in motivation and cognitive function in the recovery period after mental work loaded in a four-week intervention compared to the placebo. Conclusion: The current findings suggest that SAGAT contributes to maintaining proper motivation and cognitive function. Clinical Trial Registration: University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trial Registry (ID: UMIN 000041221).
A New Evidence-Based Diet Score to Capture Associations of Food Consumption and Chronic Disease Risk
Authors: Jannasch Franziska , Nickel Daniela V. , Bergmann Manuela M. , Schulze Matthias B.
Published: June 2022

Previously, the attempt to compile German dietary guidelines into a diet score was predominantly not successful with regards to preventing chronic diseases in the EPIC-Potsdam study. Current guidelines were supplemented by the latest evidence from systematic reviews and expert papers published between 2010 and 2020 on the prevention potential of food groups on chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. A diet score was developed by scoring the food groups according to a recommended low, moderate or high intake. The relative validity and reliability of the diet score, assessed by a food frequency questionnaire, was investigated. The consideration of current evidence resulted in 10 key food groups being preventive of the chronic diseases of interest. They served as components in the diet score and were scored from 0 to 1 point, depending on their recommended intake, resulting in a maximum of 10 points. Both the reliability (r = 0.53) and relative validity (r = 0.43) were deemed sufficient to consider the diet score as a stable construct in future investigations. This new diet score can be a promising tool to investigate dietary intake in etiological research by concentrating on 10 key dietary determinants with evidence-based prevention potential for chronic diseases.
Potential Roles of 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic Acid Synthase Genes in the Response of Gossypium Species to Abiotic Stress by Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis
Authors: Li Jie , Zou Xianyan , Chen Guoquan , Meng Yongming , Ma Qi , Chen Quanjia , Wang Zhi , Li Fuguang
Published: June 2022

Ethylene plays a pivotal role in plant stress resistance and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase (ACS) is the rate-limiting enzyme in ethylene biosynthesis. Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is the most important natural fiber crop, but the function of ACS in response to abiotic stress has rarely been reported in this plant. We identified 18 GaACS, 18 GrACS, and 35 GhACS genes in Gossypiumarboreum, Gossypium raimondii and Gossypiumhirsutum, respectively, that were classified as types I, II, III, or IV. Collinearity analysis showed that the GhACS genes were expanded from diploid cotton by the whole-genome-duplication. Multiple alignments showed that the C-terminals of the GhACS proteins were conserved, whereas the N-terminals of GhACS10 and GhACS12 were different from the N-terminals of AtACS10 and AtACS12, probably diverging during evolution. Most type II ACS genes were hardly expressed, whereas GhACS10/GhACS12 were expressed in many tissues and in response to abiotic stress; for example, they were highly and hardly expressed at the early stages of cold and heat exposure, respectively. The GhACS genes showed different expression profiles in response to cold, heat, drought, and salt stress by quantitative PCR analysis, which indicate the potential roles of them when encountering the various adverse conditions, and provide insights into GhACS functions in cotton’s adaptation to abiotic stress.
Effects of Tetracycline and Copper on Water Spinach Growth and Soil Bacterial Community
Authors: Tao Jiadan , Wang Jiayu , Zheng Xiongkai , Jia Aiping , Zou Mengyao , Zhang Jinlian , Tao Xueqin
Published: June 2022

The effects of tetracycline (TC) and copper (Cu) on the growth of water spinach and the bacterial community structure in soil were examined in this study. The results revealed that a single Cu treatment decreased water spinach development more severely than TC, and that the toxic effects of TC and Cu on water spinach were synergistic at low doses and antagonistic at high concentrations. The single Cu treatment had the largest influence on the activities of three antioxidant enzymes (Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Peroxidase (POD), Catalase (CAT)) and the content of Malondialdehyde (MDA) in water spinach leaves, followed by the TC and Cu composed treatment, with the single TC treatment having the least effect. The results of 16Sr RNA sequence analysis showed that the richness and diversity of soil bacterial communities were reduced by either a single TC or Cu treatment. Cu had a greater effect on the composition of the microbial community at genus level than TC. In conclusion, Cu had a greater influence on the growth of water spinach and soil microbial community composition than TC. TC and Cu exhibited synergistic effects at low concentrations and antagonistic effects at high concentrations on relevant indicators when Cu concentration was fixed.
Relationship between Some Colloidal Properties of Non-Ionic-Anionic Surfactant Mixtures
Authors: Nagy Roland , Kothencz Réka , Hartyányi Máté , Bartha László
Published: June 2022

Non-ionic surfactants are compatible with different types of materials, therefore they can be applied in various packages. Fatty-acid derivates as non-ionic surfactants and their mixtures were investigated to study their colloidal behavior. The HLB value, the particle size, the emulsification capacity and the interfacial tension of various commercial, non-ionic surfactants, and their mixtures with sodium lauryl-ether-sulfate (SLES), were determined. The surfactant mixtures were prepared in different non-ionic: anionic surfactant ratios to examine their effect on several surfactant characteristics. The interfacial tension between the oil phase and aqueous phase was measured using the spinning drop method and the average hydrodynamic diameter of surfactants in the aqueous solution was determined using the dynamic light scattering method. The relationship between various colloidal properties of surfactants was investigated. It was found that there is a significant relationship between the colloidal characteristics and the structure of surfactants that can contribute to their efficient selection method.
The Role of ISIS as a Religious Terrorist Group in the Instability of Libya in the Post-Gaddafi Era: The Case of Sirte
Authors: Elhudairi Abdelsalam Mohamed , Işıksal Hüseyin
Published: June 2022

Stability and security remain the two most important objectives in the post-Gaddafi era since no accord has established a legitimate government in Libya yet. The rivalry of the Tripoli and Tobruk governments has resulted in unabating state insecurity in Libya. This article focuses on the strategic city of Sirte where the insecurity was felt most in the post-Gaddafi era. The significance of this city also comes from its strategic location, which makes it the main target for the political actors that want to control Libya. Deriving from these points, this article analyzes the impact and threat of ISIS as the terrorist group in Sirte.
Demonic and Divine Attributions around COVID-19 Vaccines: Links with Vaccine Attitudes and Behaviors, QAnon and Conspiracy Beliefs, Anger, Spiritual Struggles, Religious and Political Variables, and Supernatural and Apocalyptic Beliefs
Authors: Exline Julie J. , Pait Kathleen C. , Wilt Joshua A. , Schutt William A.
Published: June 2022

Given the prevalence of supernatural beliefs in the United States, some people may believe that God or the devil influenced people to create or receive COVID-19 vaccines. In an Internet sample of 3196 U.S. adults (with many preregistered hypotheses), divine vaccine attributions were more common than demonic attributions. Demonic vaccine attributions were linked with more anti-vaccination attitudes and lower odds of vaccination, whereas divine attributions showed the opposite pattern. Demonic (but not divine) attributions showed consistent positive connections with conspiracy beliefs (including QAnon), anger toward people and organizations seen as pro-vaccine, and seeing one’s political opponents as enemies and as evil. Demonic attributions were also linked with more anxiety, depression, and spiritual struggle, and lower agreeableness and social desirability. Both demonic and divine attributions related positively to political conservatism, religious fundamentalism, Christian nationalism, authoritarian aggression, and traditional masculinity beliefs. Demonic (but not divine) attributions were also associated with being younger and having less education. Both demonic and divine vaccine attributions correlated positively with religiousness, belief in God and the devil, and seeing these entities as powerful, able to work through natural events, and intervening often in the world. Demonic and divine attributions also related positively to belief in heaven and hell, seeing many people as destined for hell, seeing life as a cosmic battle between good and evil, and apocalyptic or “end times” beliefs.
Estimation of Regional Ground-Level PM2.5 Concentrations Directly from Satellite Top-of-Atmosphere Reflectance Using A Hybrid Learning Model
Authors: Feng Yu , Fan Shurui , Xia Kewen , Wang Li
Published: June 2022

The accurate prediction of PM2.5 concentrations is important for environmental protection. The accuracy of the commonly used prediction methods is not high; so, this paper proposes a PM2.5 concentration prediction method based on a hybrid learning model. The Top-of-Atmosphere Reflectance (TOAR), PM2.5 data decomposed by wavelets, and meteorological data were used as input features to build an integrated prediction model using random forest and LightGBM, which was applied to PM2.5 concentration prediction in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region. The practical application showed that the proposed method using TOAR, incorporating wavelet decomposition with meteorological element data, had an improvement of 0.06 in the R2 of the model accuracy and a reduction of 2.93 and 1.14 in the root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE), respectively, over the model using Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD). Our model had a prediction accuracy of R2 of 0.91, which was better than the other models. We used this model to estimate and analyze the variation in PM2.5 concentrations in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, and the results were the same as the actual PM2.5 concentration distribution trend. Obviously, the proposed model has a high prediction accuracy and can avoid the errors caused by the limitations of the AOD inversion method.
Two-Stepwise Hierarchical Adaptive Threshold Method for Automatic Rapeseed Mapping over Jiangsu Using Harmonized Landsat/Sentinel-2
Authors: Chen Shaomei , Li Zhaofu , Ji Tingli , Zhao Haiyan , Jiang Xiaosan , Gao Xiang , Pan Jianjun , Zhang Wenmin
Published: June 2022

Rapeseed distribution mapping is a crucial issue for food and oil security, entertainment, and tourism development. Previous studies have used various remote sensing approaches to map rapeseed. However, the time-consuming and labor-intensive sample data used in these supervised classification methods greatly limit the development of large-scale mapping in rapeseed studies. Regarding threshold methods, some empirical thresholding methods still need sample data to select the optimal threshold value, and their accuracies decrease when a fixed threshold is applied in complex and diverse environments. This study first developed the Normalized Difference Rapeseed Index (NDRI), defined as the difference in green and short-wave infrared bands divided by their sum, to find a suitable feature to distinguish rapeseed from other types of crops. Next, a two-stepwise hierarchical adaptive thresholding (THAT) algorithm requiring no training data was used to automatically extract rapeseed in Xinghua. Finally, two adaptive thresholding methods of the standalone Otsu and Otsu with Canny Edge Detection (OCED) were used to extract rapeseed across Jiangsu province. The results show that (1) NDRI can separate rapeseed from other vegetation well; (2) the OCED-THAT method can accurately map rapeseed in Jiangsu with an overall accuracy (OA) of 0.9559 and a Kappa coefficient of 0.8569, and it performed better than the Otsu-THAT method; (3) the OCED-THAT method had a lower but acceptable accuracy than the Random Forest method (OA = 0.9806 and Kappa = 0.9391). This study indicates that the THAT model is a promising automatic method for mapping rapeseed.
Evaluation and Prediction of Landslide Susceptibility in Yichang Section of Yangtze River Basin Based on Integrated Deep Learning Algorithm
Authors: Chang Lili , Zhang Rui , Wang Chunsheng
Published: June 2022

Landslide susceptibility evaluation (LSE) refers to the probability of landslide occurrence in a region under a specific geological environment and trigger conditions, which is crucial to preventing and controlling landslide risk. The mainstream of the Yangtze River in Yichang City belongs to the largest basin in the Three Gorges Reservoir area and is prone to landslides. Affected by global climate change, seismic activity, and accelerated urbanization, geological disasters such as landslide collapses and debris flows in the study area have increased significantly. Therefore, it is urgent to carry out the LSE in the Yichang section of the Yangtze River Basin. The main results are as follows: (1) Based on historical landslide catalog, geological data, geographic data, hydrological data, remote sensing data, and other multi-source spatial-temporal big data, we construct the LSE index system; (2) In this paper, unsupervised Deep Embedding Clustering (DEC) algorithm and deep integration network (Capsule Neural Network based on SENet: SE-CapNet) are used for the first time to participate in non-landslide sample selection, and LSE in the study area and the accuracy of the algorithm is 96.29; (3) Based on the constructed sensitivity model and rainfall forecast data, the main driving mechanisms of landslides in the Yangtze River Basin were revealed. In this paper, the study area’s mid-long term LSE prediction and trend analysis are carried out. (4) The complete results show that the method has good performance and high precision, providing a reference for subsequent LSE, landslide susceptibility prediction (LSP), and change rule research, and providing a scientific basis for landslide disaster prevention.