bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dietary Arginine and Citrulline Supplements for Cardiovascular Health and Athletic Performance: A Narrative Review
Authors: Park Hun-Young , Kim Sung-Woo , Seo Jisoo , Jung Yanghoon P. , Kim Hyunji , Kim Ah-Jin , Kim Sonwoo , Lim Kiwon
Published: March 2023

The global market for nutritional supplements (NS) is growing rapidly, and the use of L-arginine (Arg), L-citrulline (Cit), and citrulline malate (CitMal) supplements has been shown to enhance cardiovascular health and athletic performance. Over the past decade, Arg, Cit, and CitMal supplements have received considerable attention from researchers in the field of exercise nutrition, who have investigated their potential effects on hemodynamic function, endothelial function, aerobic and anaerobic capacity, strength, power, and endurance. Previous studies were reviewed to determine the potential impact of Arg, Cit, and CitMal supplements on cardiovascular health and exercise performance. By synthesizing the existing literature, the study aimed to provide insight into the possible uses and limitations of these supplements for these purposes. The results showed that both recreational and trained athletes did not see improved physical performance or increased nitric oxide (NO) synthesis with 0.075 g or 6 g doses of Arg supplement per body weight. However, 2.4 to 6 g of Cit per day for 7 to 16 days of various NSs had a positive impact, increasing NO synthesis, enhancing athletic performance indicators, and reducing feelings of exertion. The effects of an 8 g acute dose of CitMal supplement were inconsistent, and more research is needed to determine its impact on muscle endurance performance. Based on the positive effects reported in previous studies, further testing is warranted in various populations that may benefit from nutritional supplements, including aerobic and anaerobic athletes, resistance-trained individuals, elderly people, and clinical populations, to determine the impact of different doses, timing of ingestion, and long-term and acute effects of Arg, Cit, and CitMal supplements on cardiovascular health and athletic performance.
Key Strategies for Optimizing Pediatric Perioperative Nutrition—Insight from a Multidisciplinary Expert Panel
Authors: Raval Mehul , Brockel Megan , Kolaček Sanja , Simpson Kathleen , Spoede Elizabeth , Starr Kathryn , Wulf Karyn
Published: March 2023

Adequate nutrition is an essential factor in healing and immune support in pediatric patients undergoing surgery, but its importance in this setting is not consistently recognized. Standardized institutional nutrition protocols are rarely available, and some clinicians may be unaware of the importance of assessing and optimizing nutritional status. Moreover, some clinicians may be unaware of updated recommendations that call for limited perioperative fasting. Enhanced recovery protocols have been used in adult patients undergoing surgery to ensure consistent attention to nutrition and other support strategies in adult patients before and after surgery, and these are now under evaluation for use in pediatric patients as well. To support better adoption of ideal nutrition delivery, a multidisciplinary panel of experts in the fields of pediatric anesthesiology, surgery, gastroenterology, cardiology, nutrition, and research have gathered and reviewed current evidence and best practices to support nutrition goals in this setting.
Effects of Parental Dietary Restriction on Offspring Fitness in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Lee Hye-Yeon , Lee Bora , Lee Eun-Ji , Min Kyung-Jin
Published: March 2023

Dietary restriction (DR) is a well-established strategy to increase lifespan and stress resistance in many eukaryotic species. In addition, individuals fed a restricted diet typically reduce or completely shut down reproduction compared to individuals fed a full diet. Although the parental environment can lead to changes epigenetically in offspring gene expression, little is known about the role of the parental (F0) diet on the fitness of their offspring (F1). This study investigated the lifespan, stress resistance, development, body weight, fecundity, and feeding rate in offspring from parental flies exposed to a full or restricted diet. The offspring flies of the parental DR showed increases in body weight, resistance to various stressors, and lifespan, but the development and fecundity were unaffected. Interestingly, parental DR reduced the feeding rate of their offspring. This study suggests that the effect of DR can extend beyond the exposed individual to their offspring, and it should be considered in both theoretical and empirical studies of senescence.
Association between Intra- and Extra-Cellular Water Ratio Imbalance and Natriuretic Peptides in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis
Authors: Nakayama Yui , Yamada Yosuke , Ishii Shingo , Hitaka Mai , Yamazaki Keisuke , Masai Motoyuki , Joki Nobuhiko , Sakai Ken , Ohashi Yasushi
Published: March 2023

Natriuretic peptides are associated with malnutrition and volume overload. Over-hydration cannot simply be explained by excess extracellular water in patients undergoing hemodialysis. We assessed the relationship between the extracellular and intracellular water (ECW/ICW) ratio, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP), and echocardiographic findings. Body composition was examined by segmental multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis in 368 patients undergoing maintenance dialysis (261 men and 107 women; mean age, 65 ± 12 years). Patients with higher ECW/ICW ratio quartiles tended to be older, were on dialysis longer, and had higher post-dialysis blood pressure and lower body mass index, ultrafiltration volume, serum albumin, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine levels (p < 0.05). The ECW/ICW ratio significantly increased with decreasing ICW, but not with ECW. Patients with a higher ECW/ICW ratio and lower percent fat had significantly higher natriuretic peptide levels. After adjusting for covariates, the ECW/ICW ratio remained an independent associated factor for natriuretic peptides (β = 0.34, p < 0.001 for NT-proBNP and β = 0.40, p < 0.001 for hANP) and the left ventricular mass index (β = 0.20, p = 0.002). The ICW-ECW volume imbalance regulated by decreased cell mass may explain the reserve capacity for fluid accumulation in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
Breastfeeding Is Associated with Higher Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in a Spanish Population of Preschoolers: The SENDO Project
Authors: Oliver Olid Asier , Moreno-Galarraga Laura , Moreno-Villares Jose Manuel , Bibiloni Maria del Mar , Martínez-González Miguel Ángel , de la O Víctor , Fernandez-Montero Alejandro , Martín-Calvo Nerea
Published: March 2023

Objective: To assess whether breastfeeding during the first months of life is associated with adherence to the Mediterranean dietary (MedDiet) pattern in preschool children. Design: The Seguimiento del Niño para un Desarrollo Óptimo (SENDO) project is an ongoing pediatric cohort with open recruitment, started in 2015 in Spain. Participants, recruited when they are 4 to 5 years old at their primary local health center or school, are followed annually through online questionnaires. For this study, 941 SENDO participants with full data on study variables were included. Breastfeeding history was collected retrospectively at baseline. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed with the KIDMED index (range −3 to 12). Results: After accounting for multiple sociodemographic and lifestyle confounders, including parental attitudes and knowledge about dietary recommendations for children, breastfeeding was independently associated with a higher adherence to the MedDiet. Compared with children who were never breastfed, children breastfed for ≥6 months had a one-point increase on their mean KIDMED score (Mean difference +0.93, 95%confidence interval [CI]. 0.52–1.34, p for trend <0.001). The odds ratio of high adherence to the MedDiet (KIDMED index ≥8) was 2.94 (95%CI 1.50–5.36) in children who were breastfed for at least 6 months, as compared to their peers who were never breastfeed. Children who were breastfed for less than 6 months exhibited intermediate levels of adherence (p for trend <0.01). Conclusion: Breastfeeding for 6 months or longer is associated with a higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet during the preschool years.
Delayed Macronutrients’ Target Achievement in Parenteral Nutrition Reduces the Risk of Hyperglycemia in Preterm Newborn: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Di Chiara Maria , Laccetta Gianluigi , Regoli Daniela , Dito Lucia , Spiriti Caterina , De Santis Benedetta , Travaglia Elisa , Prota Rita , Parisi Pasquale , Brunelli Roberto , Boscarino Giovanni , Terrin Gianluca
Published: March 2023

Hyperglycemia (HG) is an independent risk factor of mortality and morbidity in very low birth weight newborns (VLBW). Achievement of high nutritional intakes in the first days of life (DoL) by parenteral nutrition (PN) increases the risk of HG. We aim to assess if a delayed achievement of the PN macronutrient target dose could reduce the occurrence of HG in VLBW. We enrolled 353 VLBW neonates in a randomized controlled clinical trial comparing two PN protocols that differed in the timing of energy and amino acid target dose achievement: (1) early target dose achievement (energy within 4–5 DoL; amino acids within 3–4 DoL) vs. (2) late target dose achievement (energy within 10–12 DoL; amino acids within 5–7 DoL). The primary outcome was the occurrence of HG during the first week of life. An additional endpoint was long-term body growth. We observed a significant difference in the rate of HG between the two groups (30.7% vs. 12.2%, p = 0.003). Significant differences were observed in terms of body growth at 12 months of life between the two groups (weight Z-Score: −0.86 vs. 0.22, p = 0.025; length: −1.29 vs. 0.55, p < 0.001). Delayed achievement of energy and amino acid intake may be useful to reduce the risk of HG along with an increase of growth parameters in VLBW neonates.
Application of a New Carbohydrate Food Quality Scoring System: An Expert Panel Report
Authors: Comerford Kevin B. , Drewnowski Adam , Papanikolaou Yanni , Jones Julie Miller , Slavin Joanne , Angadi Siddhartha S. , Rodriguez Judith
Published: March 2023

Carbohydrate foods (≥40% energy from carbohydrates) are the main source of energy in the US diet. In contrast to national-level dietary guidance, many regularly consumed carbohydrate foods are low in fiber and whole grains but high in added sugar, sodium, and/or saturated fat. Given the important contribution of higher-quality carbohydrate foods to affordable healthy diets, new metrics are needed to convey the concept of carbohydrate quality to policymakers, food industry stakeholders, health professionals, and consumers. The recently developed Carbohydrate Food Quality Scoring System is well aligned with multiple key healthy messages on nutrients of public health concern from the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Two models are described in a previously published paper: one for all non-grain carbohydrate-rich foods (e.g., fruits, vegetables, legumes) known as the Carbohydrate Food Quality Score-4 (CFQS-4), and one for grain foods only known as the Carbohydrate Food Quality Score-5 (CFQS-5). These CFQS models provide a new tool that can guide policy, programs, and people towards improved carbohydrate food choices. Specifically, the CFQS models represent a way to unify and reconcile diverse ways to describe different types of carbohydrate-rich foods (e.g., refined vs. whole, starchy vs. non-starchy, dark green vs. red/orange) and make for more useful and informative messaging that better aligns with a food’s nutritional and/or health contributions. The present paper’s aims are to show that the CFQS models can inform future dietary guidelines and help support carbohydrate food recommendations with other health messages aimed at promoting foods that are nutrient-dense, fiber-rich, and low in added sugar.
Lipidomics Analysis of Multilamellar Bodies Produced by Amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii in Co-Culture with Klebsiella aerogenes
Authors: Karaś Magdalena Anna , Turska-Szewczuk Anna , Komaniecka Iwona , Łotocka Barbara
Published: March 2023

Multilamellar bodies (MLBs) are membrane-bound cytoplasmic organelles of lysosomal origin. In some protozoa, they were considered as lipid storage secretory organelles and feasible participants in cell-to-cell communication. However, for Acanthamoeba castellanii, similar vesicles were indicated only as possible transmission vectors of several pathogenic bacteria without attributing them biological roles and activities. Since amoebae belonging to the genus Acanthamoeba are not only of environmental but also of clinical significance, it is of great importance to fully understand their physiology. Thus, determination of MLB lipid composition could partly address these questions. Because MLBs are secreted by amoebae as a result of bacteria digestion, the co-culture technique with the use of “edible” Klebsiella aerogenes was used for their production. Lipids obtained from The MLB fraction, previously purified from bacterial debris, were analyzed by high-performance thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Lipidomic analysis revealed that in MLBs, a very abundant lipid class was a non-phosphorous, polar glycerolipids, diacylglyceryl-O-(N,N,N)-trimethylhomoserine (DGTS). Since DGTSs are regarded as a source of nitrogen and fatty acids, MLBs can be considered as lipid storage organelles produced in stress conditions. Further, the identification of phytoceramides and possible new betaine derivatives indicates that MLBs might have a distinct bioactive potential.
Epidemiology and Economic Cost Analysis of Microbial Keratitis from a Tertiary Referral Hospital in Australia
Authors: Daley Jason Richard , Lee Matthew Kyu , Wang Xingdi , Ly Matin , Samarawickrama Chameen
Published: March 2023

Microbial keratitis is the most common cause of infective vision loss. The causative organism varies by region, and most cases require intensive antimicrobial therapy. The purpose of this study was to analyse the causative organisms of microbial keratitis, its presentation and economic burden from a tertiary referral hospital in Australia. A retrospective review of 160 cases of microbial keratitis was performed, over a 5-year period from 2015–2020. A wide variety of costs were considered to determine the economic burden, using standardized data from the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority and the cost of personal income loss. Our study showed the most commonly occurring pathogens were Herpes Simplex (16%), Staphylococcus aureus (15.1%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14.3%). A total of 59.3% of patients were admitted, with a median length of admission of 7 days. Median cost for all presentations of microbial keratitis was AUD 8013 (USD 5447), with costs significantly increasing with admission. The total annual cost of microbial keratitis within Australia is estimated to be AUD 13.58 million (USD 9.23 million). Our findings demonstrate that microbial keratitis represents a significant economic burden for eye-related diseases and the key driving factor for the cost is the length of admission. Minimizing the duration of admission, or opting for outpatient management where appropriate, would significantly reduce the cost of treatment for microbial keratitis.
Correlation of Lymphocyte Subpopulations, Clinical Features and Inflammatory Markers during Severe COVID-19 Onset
Authors: Liontos Angelos , Asimakopoulos Alexandros-George , Markopoulos Georgios S. , Biros Dimitrios , Athanasiou Lazaros , Tsourlos Stavros , Dova Leukothea , Rapti Iro-Chrisavgi , Tsiakas Ilias , Ntzani Evangelia , Evangelou Evangelos , Tzoulaki Ioanna , Tsilidis Konstantinos , Vartholomatos George , Dounousi Evangelia , Milionis Haralampos , Christaki Eirini
Published: March 2023

Background: Dysregulation of the immune response in the course of COVID-19 has been implicated in critical outcomes. Lymphopenia is evident in severe cases and has been associated with worse outcomes since the early phases of the pandemic. In addition, cytokine storm has been associated with excessive lung injury and concomitant respiratory failure. However, it has also been hypothesized that specific lymphocyte subpopulations (CD4 and CD8 T cells, B cells, and NK cells) may serve as prognostic markers for disease severity. The aim of this study was to investigate possible associations of lymphocyte subpopulations alterations with markers of disease severity and outcomes in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Materials/Methods: A total of 42 adult hospitalized patients were included in this study, from June to July 2021. Flow-cytometry was used to calculate specific lymphocyte subpopulations on day 1 (admission) and on day 5 of hospitalization (CD45, CD3, CD3CD8, CD3CD4, CD3CD4CD8, CD19, CD16CD56, CD34RA, CD45RO). Markers of disease severity and outcomes included: burden of disease on CT (% of affected lung parenchyma injury), C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels. PO2/FiO2 ratio and differences in lymphocytes subsets between two timepoints were also calculated. Logistic and linear regressions were used for the analyses. All analyses were performed using Stata (version 13.1; Stata Corp, College Station, TX, USA). Results: Higher levels of CD16CD56 cells (Natural Killer cells) were associated with higher risk of lung injury (>50% of lung parenchyma). An increase in CD3CD4 and CD4RO cell count difference between day 5 and day 1 resulted in a decrease of CRP difference between these timepoints. On the other hand, CD45RARO difference was associated with an increase in the difference of CRP levels between the two timepoints. No other significant differences were found in the rest of the lymphocyte subpopulations. Conclusions: Despite a low patient number, this study showed that alterations in lymphocyte subpopulations are associated with COVID-19 severity markers. It was observed that an increase in lymphocytes (CD4 and transiently CD45RARO) resulted in lower CRP levels, perhaps leading to COVID-19 recovery and immune response homeostasis. However, these findings need further evaluation in larger scale trials.
Current Trends in Neoantigen-Based Cancer Vaccines
Authors: Ho Szu-Ying , Chang Che-Mai , Liao Hsin-Ni , Chou Wan-Hsuan , Guo Chin-Lin , Yen Yun , Nakamura Yusuke , Chang Wei-Chiao
Published: March 2023

Cancer immunotherapies are treatments that use drugs or cells to activate patients’ own immune systems against cancer cells. Among them, cancer vaccines have recently been rapidly developed. Based on tumor-specific antigens referred to as neoantigens, these vaccines can be in various forms such as messenger (m)RNA and synthetic peptides to activate cytotoxic T cells and act with or without dendritic cells. Growing evidence suggests that neoantigen-based cancer vaccines possess a very promising future, yet the processes of immune recognition and activation to relay identification of a neoantigen through the histocompatibility complex (MHC) and T-cell receptor (TCR) remain unclear. Here, we describe features of neoantigens and the biological process of validating neoantigens, along with a discussion of recent progress in the scientific development and clinical applications of neoantigen-based cancer vaccines.
Layer-by-Layer Hollow Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles with Tunable Degradation Profile
Authors: Grunberger Jason William , Ghandehari Hamidreza
Published: March 2023

Silica nanoparticles (SNPs) have shown promise in biomedical applications such as drug delivery and imaging due to their versatile synthetic methods, tunable physicochemical properties, and ability to load both hydrophilic and hydrophobic cargo with high efficiency. To improve the utility of these nanostructures, there is a need to control the degradation profile relative to specific microenvironments. The design of such nanostructures for controlled combination drug delivery would benefit from minimizing degradation and cargo release in circulation while increasing intracellular biodegradation. Herein, we fabricated two types of layer-by-layer hollow mesoporous SNPs (HMSNPs) containing two and three layers with variations in disulfide precursor ratios. These disulfide bonds are redox-sensitive, resulting in a controllable degradation profile relative to the number of disulfide bonds present. Particles were characterized for morphology, size and size distribution, atomic composition, pore structure, and surface area. No difference was observed between in vitro cytotoxicity profiles of the fabricated nanoparticles at 24 h in the concentration range below 100 µg mL−1. The degradation profiles of particles were evaluated in simulated body fluid in the presence of glutathione. The results demonstrate that the composition and number of layers influence degradation rates, and particles containing a higher number of disulfide bridges were more responsive to enzymatic degradation. These results indicate the potential utility of layer-by-layer HMSNPs for delivery applications where tunable degradation is desired.
Targeted Two-Step Delivery of Oncotheranostic Nano-PLGA for HER2-Positive Tumor Imaging and Therapy In Vivo: Improved Effectiveness Compared to One-Step Strategy
Authors: Shipunova Victoria O. , Komedchikova Elena N. , Kotelnikova Polina A. , Nikitin Maxim P. , Deyev Sergey M.
Published: March 2023

Therapy for aggressive metastatic breast cancer remains a great challenge for modern biomedicine. Biocompatible polymer nanoparticles have been successfully used in clinic and are seen as a potential solution. Specifically, researchers are exploring the development of chemotherapeutic nanoagents targeting the membrane-associated receptors of cancer cells, such as HER2. However, there are no targeting nanomedications that have been approved for human cancer therapy. Novel strategies are being developed to alter the architecture of agents and optimize their systemic administration. Here, we describe a combination of these approaches, namely, the design of a targeted polymer nanocarrier and a method for its systemic delivery to the tumor site. Namely, PLGA nanocapsules loaded with a diagnostic dye, Nile Blue, and a chemotherapeutic compound, doxorubicin, are used for two-step targeted delivery using the concept of tumor pre-targeting through the barnase/barstar protein “bacterial superglue”. The first pre-targeting component consists of an anti-HER2 scaffold protein, DARPin9_29 fused with barstar, Bs-DARPin9_29, and the second component comprises chemotherapeutic PLGA nanocapsules conjugated to barnase, PLGA-Bn. The efficacy of this system was evaluated in vivo. To this aim, we developed an immunocompetent BALB/c mouse tumor model with a stable expression of human HER2 oncomarkers to test the potential of two-step delivery of oncotheranostic nano-PLGA. In vitro and ex vivo studies confirmed HER2 receptor stable expression in the tumor, making it a feasible tool for HER2-targeted drug evaluation. We demonstrated that two-step delivery was more effective than one-step delivery for both imaging and tumor therapy: two-step delivery had higher imaging capabilities than one-step and a tumor growth inhibition of 94.9% in comparison to 68.4% for the one-step strategy. The barnase*barstar protein pair has been proven to possess excellent biocompatibility, as evidenced by the successful completion of biosafety tests assessing immunogenicity and hemotoxicity. This renders the protein pair a highly versatile tool for pre-targeting tumors with various molecular profiles, thereby enabling the development of personalized medicine.
Virtual Screening, Structural Analysis, and Formation Thermodynamics of Carbamazepine Cocrystals
Authors: Surov Artem O. , Ramazanova Anna G. , Voronin Alexander P. , Drozd Ksenia V. , Churakov Andrei V. , Perlovich German L.
Published: March 2023

In this study, the existing set of carbamazepine (CBZ) cocrystals was extended through the successful combination of the drug with the positional isomers of acetamidobenzoic acid. The structural and energetic features of the CBZ cocrystals with 3- and 4-acetamidobenzoic acids were elucidated via single-crystal X-ray diffraction followed by QTAIMC analysis. The ability of three fundamentally different virtual screening methods to predict the correct cocrystallization outcome for CBZ was assessed based on the new experimental results obtained in this study and data available in the literature. It was found that the hydrogen bond propensity model performed the worst in distinguishing positive and negative results of CBZ cocrystallization experiments with 87 coformers, attaining an accuracy value lower than random guessing. The method that utilizes molecular electrostatic potential maps and the machine learning approach named CCGNet exhibited comparable results in terms of prediction metrics, albeit the latter resulted in superior specificity and overall accuracy while requiring no time-consuming DFT computations. In addition, formation thermodynamic parameters for the newly obtained CBZ cocrystals with 3- and 4-acetamidobenzoic acids were evaluated using temperature dependences of the cocrystallization Gibbs energy. The cocrystallization reactions between CBZ and the selected coformers were found to be enthalpy-driven, with entropy terms being statistically different from zero. The observed difference in dissolution behavior of the cocrystals in aqueous media was thought to be caused by variations in their thermodynamic stability.
Terbinafine Nanohybrid: Proposing a Hydrogel Carrying Nanoparticles for Topical Release
Authors: Tundisi Louise Lacalendola , Ataide Janaína Artem , da Fonseca Jéssica Heline Lopes , Silvério Luiza Aparecida Luna , Lancellotti Marcelo , Paiva-Santos Ana Cláudia , d’Ávila Marcos Akira , Kohane Daniel S. , Mazzola Priscila Gava
Published: March 2023

A poloxamer 407 (P407)—Casein hydrogel was chosen to carry polycaprolactone nanoparticles carrying terbinafine (PCL-TBH-NP). In this study, terbinafine hydrochloride (TBH) was encapsulated into polycaprolactone (PCL) nanoparticles, which were further incorporated into a poloxamer-casein hydrogel in a different addition order to evaluate the effect of gel formation. Nanoparticles were prepared by the nanoprecipitation technique and characterized by evaluating their physicochemical characteristics and morphology. The nanoparticles had a mean diameter of 196.7 ± 0.7 nm, PDI of 0.07, negative ζ potential (−0.713 mV), high encapsulation efficiency (>98%), and did not show cytotoxic effects in primary human keratinocytes. PCL-NP modulated terbinafine was released in artificial sweat. Rheological properties were analyzed by temperature sweep tests at different addition orders of nanoparticles into hydrogel formation. The rheological behavior of nanohybrid hydrogels showed the influence of TBH-PCL nanoparticles addition in the mechanical properties of the hydrogel and a long-term release of the nanoparticles from it.
Hydrophilic High Drug-Loaded 3D Printed Gastroretentive System with Robust Release Kinetics
Authors: Mora-Castaño Gloria , Millán-Jiménez Mónica , Caraballo Isidoro
Published: March 2023

Three-dimensional printing (3DP) technology enables an important improvement in the design of new drug delivery systems, such as gastroretentive floating tablets. These systems show a better temporal and spatial control of the drug release and can be customized based on individual therapeutic needs. The aim of this work was to prepare 3DP gastroretentive floating tablets designed to provide a controlled release of the API. Metformin was used as a non-molten model drug and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose with null or negligible toxicity was the main carrier. High drug loads were assayed. Another objective was to maintain the release kinetics as robust as possible when varying drug doses from one patient to another. Floating tablets using 10–50% w/w drug-loaded filaments were obtained by Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) 3DP. The sealing layers of our design allowed successful buoyancy of the systems and sustained drug release for more than 8 h. Moreover, the effect of different variables on the drug release behaviour was studied. It should be highlighted that the robustness of the release kinetics was not affected by varying the internal mesh size, and therefore the drug load. This could represent a step forward in the personalization of the treatments, a key advantage of 3DP technology in the pharmaceutical field.
pH-Responsive Water-Soluble Chitosan Amphiphilic Core–Shell Nanoparticles: Radiation-Assisted Green Synthesis and Drug-Controlled Release Studies
Authors: Piroonpan Thananchai , Rimdusit Pakjira , Taechutrakul Saowaluk , Pasanphan Wanvimol
Published: March 2023

This work aims to apply water radiolysis-mediated green synthesis of amphiphilic core–shell water-soluble chitosan nanoparticles (WCS NPs) via free radical graft copolymerization in an aqueous solution using irradiation. Robust grafting poly(ethylene glycol) monomethacrylate (PEGMA) comb-like brushes were established onto WCS NPs modified with hydrophobic deoxycholic acid (DC) using two aqueous solution systems, i.e., pure water and water/ethanol. The degree of grafting (DG) of the robust grafted poly(PEGMA) segments was varied from 0 to ~250% by varying radiation-absorbed doses from 0 to 30 kGy. Using reactive WCS NPs as a water-soluble polymeric template, a high amount of DC conjugation and a high degree of poly(PEGMA) grafted segments brought about high moieties of hydrophobic DC and a high DG of the poly(PEGMA) hydrophilic functions; meanwhile, the water solubility and NP dispersion were also markedly improved. The DC-WCS-PG building block was excellently self-assembled into the core–shell nanoarchitecture. The DC-WCS-PG NPs efficiently encapsulated water-insoluble anticancer and antifungal drugs, i.e., paclitaxel (PTX) and berberine (BBR) (~360 mg/g). The DC-WCS-PG NPs met the role of controlled release with a pH-responsive function due to WCS compartments, and they showed a steady state for maintaining drugs for up to >10 days. The DC-WCS-PG NPs prolonged the inhibition capacity of BBR against the growth of S. ampelinum for 30 days. In vitro cytotoxicity results of the PTX-loaded DC-WCS-PG NPs with human breast cancer cells and human skin fibroblast cells proved the role of the DC-WCS-PG NPs as a promising nanoplatform for controlling drug release and reducing the side effects of the drugs on normal cells.
Analysis of Pharmacy Cardiac Optimization Clinic for Patients with New Onset Atrial Fibrillation Detected via Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Clinic
Authors: Schellhase Ellen , Stanko Madeline , Kinstler Natalie , Miller Monica L. , Antoniou Sotiris , Fhadil Sadeer , Patel Mital , Wright Paul
Published: March 2023

For patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), arrythmias such as atrial fibrillation (AF) can be detected and actions taken to rapidly assess and initiate treatment where appropriate. Actions include timely initiation of anticoagulation, review of blood pressure, and optimization of cholesterol/lipids to prevent unfavorable outcomes, such as stroke and other cardiovascular complications. Delays to initiating anticoagulation can have devastating consequences. We sought to implement a virtual clinic, where a pharmacist reviews patient referrals from a CIED clinic after detecting AF from the CIED. Anticoagulation choice is determined by patient-specific factors, and a shared patient–provider decision to start oral anticoagulation is made. In addition, blood pressure readings and medications are assessed with lipid-lowering therapies for optimization. A total of 315 patients have been admitted through this clinic and anticoagulated over a two-year span; in addition, 322 successful interventions were made for optimization of cardiac therapy. Rapid initiation of anticoagulation within five days of referral was likely to have reduced unfavorable outcomes, such as stroke and other cardiovascular optimizations, leading to improved patient outcomes.
Effect of Laser Cleaning Parameters on Surface Filth Removal of Porcelain Insulator
Authors: Fang Chunhua , Hu Tao , Pu Ziheng , Li Peng , Wu Tian , Jiang Jinbo , Sun Aoqi , Zhang Yao
Published: March 2023

To study the influence of the laser power, scanning speed, and cleaning water content on the laser cleaning effect and obtain the best cleaning parameters, this paper conducted a simulation analysis of the laser cleaning process and carried out a pulse laser cleaning of porcelain insulators experiment to verify. The results show that the cleaning rate gradually increases as the laser power increases from 20 W to 25 W. As the scanning speed increases from 1000 mm/s to 2500 mm/s, the laser overlapping rate gradually decreases, and the cleaning takes the lead in increasing and then decreasing. The appropriate cleaning water content is conducive to laser cleaning; when the water content is 0.115 g, the cleaning efficiency reaches the highest value of 98.20%. When the laser power is 25 W, and the scanning speed is 2000 mm/s, the cleaning efficiency can reach the highest value of 96.87%. This paper shows that the reasonable choice of cleaning parameters can effectively clean the insulator surface filth and obtain a better surface morphology.
A DIDE-FPP Composite Algorithm for Accurate Tunnel Fire Location
Authors: Jiang Hong , Zhao Yihan , Wang Chenyang , Cui Lina
Published: March 2023

We propose a DIDE-FPP composite algorithm to improve the spatial location accuracy of tunnel fires based on the distributed individuals differential evolution (DIDE) algorithm and the four-point positioning (FPP) method. Using the DIDE algorithm to solve the multimodal optimization problems in tunnel fire location can locate more peaks and improve peak finding, and the FPP method is used to process the peak points located using the DIDE and achieve the spatial location which cannot be achieved otherwise using the DIDE method only. We used 20 multimodal test functions to evaluate the performance of the DIDE-FPP algorithm in peak finding and solving MMOPs. Through experimental comparisons with 13 other existing advanced methods, the comprehensive performance of the proposed DIDE-FPP composite algorithm shows advantages to some extents. Additionally, the combined value of PR (peak ratio) and SR (success rate) on up to 20 experimental functions is relatively high. The spatial positioning accuracy of a tunnel fire warning system using this positioning method can reach the centimeter level.
LIMPID: A Lightweight Image-to-Curve MaPpIng moDel for Extremely Low-Light Image Enhancement
Authors: Wu Wanyu , Wang Wei , Yuan Xin , Xu Xin
Published: March 2023

Low-light conditions severely degrade the captured image quality with few details, while deep learning approaches are trending towards low-light image enhancement (LLIE) due to their superior performance. However, few methods face the challenges of lower dynamic range and greater noise from extremely low-light directly. Existing methods for extremely low-light enhancement are end-to-end, requiring RAW data as input. Meanwhile, they often lack the potential for real-time mobile deployment owing to the high model complexity. In this paper, we introduce the image-to-curve transformation to ELLIE for the first time and present a Lightweight Image-to-curve MaPpIng moDel for ELLIE (LIMPID). Compared with existing image-to-curve mapping methods, the proposed module is constructed for a wider dynamic range according to the light scattering model. Furthermore, we propose a new pyramid fusion strategy based on Laplacian and Gaussian. This strategy attempts to achieve dynamic fusion of multi-scale images via learnable fusion weight parameters. Specifically, LIMPID consists of a low-resolution dense CNN network stream and a full-resolution guidance stream. First, the curve generation and refinement are achieved in the low-resolution stream constructed on a light scattering model. Then, the curves are up-sampled to full resolution via bilateral grid cells. Finally, the enhanced result is obtained through dynamically adapted multi-scale pyramid fusion. Experimental results show that our method is competitive with existing state-of-the-art methods in terms of performance.
Optimally Controlled Non-Adiabatic Quantum State Transmission in the Presence of Quantum Noise
Authors: Liang Xiang-Han , Wu Lian-Ao , Wang Zhao-Ming
Published: March 2023

Pulse-controlled non-adiabatic quantum state transmission (QST) was proposed many years ago. However, in practice environmental noise inevitably damages communication quality in the proposal. In this paper, we study the optimally controlled non-adiabatic QST in the presence of quantum noise. By using the Adam algorithm, we find that the optimal pulse sequence can dramatically enhance the transmission fidelity of such an open system. In comparison with the idealized pulse sequence in a closed system, it is interesting to note that the improvement of the fidelity obtained by the Adam algorithm can even be better for a bath strongly coupled to the system. Furthermore, we find that the Adam algorithm remains powerful for different numbers of sites and different types of Lindblad operators, showing its universality in performing optimal control of quantum information processing tasks.
Protoplast Technology and Somatic Hybridisation in the Family Apiaceae
Authors: Ranaware Ankush S. , Kunchge Nandkumar S. , Lele Smita S. , Ochatt Sergio J.
Published: March 2023

Species of the family Apiaceae occupy a major market share but are hitherto dependent on open pollinated cultivars. This results in a lack of production uniformity and reduced quality that has fostered hybrid seed production. The difficulty in flower emasculation led breeders to use biotechnology approaches including somatic hybridization. We discuss the use of protoplast technology for the development of somatic hybrids, cybrids and in-vitro breeding of commercial traits such as CMS (cytoplasmic male sterility), GMS (genetic male sterility) and EGMS (environment-sensitive genic male sterility). The molecular mechanism(s) underlying CMS and its candidate genes are also discussed. Cybridization strategies based on enucleation (Gamma rays, X-rays and UV rays) and metabolically arresting protoplasts with chemicals such as iodoacetamide or iodoacetate are reviewed. Differential fluorescence staining of fused protoplast as routinely used can be replaced by new tagging approaches using non-toxic proteins. Here, we focused on the initial plant materials and tissue sources for protoplast isolation, the various digestion enzyme mixtures tested, and on the understanding of cell wall re-generation, all of which intervene in somatic hybrids regeneration. Although there are no alternatives to somatic hybridization, various approaches also discussed are emerging, viz., robotic platforms, artificial intelligence, in recent breeding programs for trait identification and selection.
The Genus Paronychia (Caryophyllaceae) in South America: Nomenclatural Review and Taxonomic Notes with the Description of a New Species from North Peru
Authors: Iamonico Duilio , Montesinos-Tubée Daniel B.
Published: March 2023

All the names in Paronychia described from South America are investigated. Five names (P. arbuscula, P. brasiliana subsp. brasiliana var. pubescens, P. coquimbensis, P. hieronymi, and P. mandoniana) are lecto- or neotypified on specimens preserved at GOET, K, LP, and P. The typification of nine names, first proposed by Chaudhri in 1968 as the “holotype” are corrected according to Art. 9.10 of ICN. Three second-step typifications (Art. 9.17 of ICN) are proposed for P. camphorosmoides, P. communis, and P. hartwegiana. The following nomenclatural changes are proposed: P. arequipensis comb. et stat. nov. (basionym: P. microphylla subsp. microphylla var. arequepensis), P. compacta nom. nov. pro P. andina (Philippi non Gray; Art. 53.1 of ICN), P. jujuyensis comb. et stat. nov. (basionym: P. hieronymi subsp. hieronymi var. jujuyensis), P. compacta subsp. boliviana comb. nov. (basionym: P. andina subsp. boliviana), and P. compacta subsp. purpurea comb. nov. (basionym: P. andina subsp. purpurea). A new species (P. glabra sp. nov.) is proposed based on our examination of live plants and herbarium specimens. P. johnstonii subsp. johnstonii var. scabrida is synonymized (syn. nov.) with P. johnstonii. Finally, P. argyrocoma subsp. argyrocoma is excluded from South America since it was based on misidentified specimens (deposited at MO) of P. andina subsp. andina. A total of 30 species (43 taxa including subspecies, varieties, subvarieties, and forms) are recognized, highlighting that for some (Paronychia chilensis, P. communis, P. setigera) we provisionally accept Chaudhri’s infraspecific classification, since the high phenotypic variability of these taxa is quite complicated and further investigations need to solve their taxonomy.
Exploring the Biocontrol Efficacy of Trichoderma spp. against Rigidoporus microporus, the Causal Agent of White Root Rot Disease in Rubber Trees (Hevea brasiliensis)
Authors: Go Wen Ze , Chin Kit Ling , H’ng Paik San , Wong Mui Yun , Lee Chuan Li , Khoo Pui San
Published: March 2023

Rigidoporus microporus, which causes white root rot disease (WRD) in Hevea brasiliensis, is a looming threat to rubber plantation in Malaysia. The current study was conducted to determine and evaluate the efficiency of fungal antagonists (Ascomycota) against R. microporus in rubber trees under laboratory and nursery conditions. A total of 35 fungal isolates established from the rubber tree rhizosphere soil were assessed for their antagonism against R. microporus by the dual culture technique. Trichoderma isolates can inhibit the radial growth of R. microporus by 75% or more in the dual culture test. Strains of T. asperellum, T. koningiopsis, T. spirale, and T. reesei were selected to assess the metabolites involved in their antifungal activity. Results indicated that T. asperellum exhibited an inhibitory effect against R. microporus in both volatile and non-volatile metabolite tests. All Trichoderma isolates were then tested for their ability in producing hydrolytic enzymes such as chitinase, cellulase and glucanase, indole acetic acid (IAA), siderophores production, and phosphate solubilization. From the positive results of the biochemical assays, T. asperellum and T. spirale were selected as the biocontrol candidates to be further tested in vivo against R. microporus. The nursery assessments revealed that rubber tree clone RRIM600 pretreated with only T. asperellum or with the combination of T. asperellum and T. spirale was able to reduce the disease severity index (DSI) and exert higher suppression of R. microporus compared to other pretreated samples, with the average DSI below 30%. Collectively, the present study demonstrates that T. asperellum represents a potential biocontrol agent that should be further explored to control R. microporus infection on rubber trees.
Organic Farming Favors phoD-Harboring Rhizospheric Bacterial Community and Alkaline Phosphatase Activity in Tropical Agroecosystem
Authors: Neha Neha , Bhardwaj Yashpal , Reddy Bhaskar , Dubey Suresh Kumar
Published: March 2023

The bacteria harboring phoD encodes alkaline phosphatase (ALP), a secretory enzyme that hydrolyzes organic phosphorous (P) to a usable form in the soil. The impact of farming practices and crop types on phoD bacterial abundance and diversity in tropical agroecosystems is largely unknown. In this research, the aim was to study the effect of farming practices (organic vs. conventional) and crop types on the phoD-harboring bacterial community. A high-throughput amplicon (phoD gene) sequencing method was employed for the assessment of bacterial diversity and qPCR for phoD gene abundance. Outcomes revealed that soils treated for organic farming have high observed OTUs, ALP activity, and phoD population than soils managed under conventional farming with the trend of maize > chickpea > mustard > soybean vegetated soils. The relative abundance of Rhizobiales exhibited dominance. Ensifer, Bradyrhizobium, Streptomyces, and Pseudomonas were observed as dominant genera in both farming practices. Overall, the study demonstrated that organic farming practice favors the ALP activity, phoD abundance, and OTU richness which varied across crop types with maize crops showing the highest OTUs followed by chickpea, mustard, and least in soybean cropping.
Overexpression of the Caragana korshinskii com58276 Gene Enhances Tolerance to Drought in Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)
Authors: Pu Yuanchun , Wang Peilin , Xu Jiangling , Yang Yejun , Zhou Ting , Zheng Kai , Pei Xinwu , Chen Quanjia , Sun Guoqing
Published: March 2023

The increasing water scarcity associated with environmental change brings significant negative impacts to the growth of cotton plants, whereby it is urgent to enhance plant tolerance to drought. Here, we overexpressed the com58276 gene isolated from the desert plant Caragana korshinskii in cotton plants. We obtained three OE plants and demonstrated that com58276 confers drought tolerance in cotton after subjecting transgenic seeds and plants to drought. RNA-seq revealed the mechanisms of the possible anti-stress response, and that the overexpression of com58276 does not affect growth and fiber content in OE cotton plants. The function of com58276 is conserved across species, improving the tolerance of cotton to salt and low temperature, and demonstrating its applicability to improve plant resistance to environmental change.
The Effects of Two Organic Soil Amendments, Biochar and Insect Frass Fertilizer, on Shoot Growth of Cereal Seedlings
Authors: Carroll Aaron , Fitzpatrick Mark , Hodge Simon
Published: March 2023

To mitigate the environmental harm associated with high-input agriculture, arable farmers are increasingly required to maintain productivity while reducing inputs of synthetic fertilizers. Thus, a diverse range of organic products are now being investigated in terms of their value as alternative fertilizers and soil amendments. This study used a series of glasshouse trials to investigate the effects of an insect frass-based fertilizer derived from black soldier fly waste [HexaFrass™, Meath, Ireland] and biochar on four cereals grown in Ireland (barley, oats, triticale, spelt) as animal feed and for human consumption. In general, the application of low quantities of HexaFrass™ resulted in significant increases in shoot growth in all four cereal species, along with increased foliage concentrations of NPK and SPAD levels (a measure of chlorophyll density). These positive effects of HexaFrass™ on shoot growth were observed, however, only when a potting mix with low basal nutrients was used. Additionally, excessive application of HexaFrass™ resulted in reduced shoot growth and, in some cases, seedling mortality. The application of finely ground or crushed biochar produced from four different feedstocks (Ulex, Juncus, woodchip, olive stone) had no consistent positive or negative effects on cereal shoot growth. Overall, our results indicate that insect frass-based fertilizers have good potential in low-input, organic, or regenerative cereal production systems. Based on our results, biochar appears to have less potential as a plant growth promoting product, but could be used as a tool for lowering whole-farm carbon budgets by providing a simplistic means of storing carbon in farm soils.