bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In-Situ Monitoring the SERS Spectra of para-Aminothiophenol Adsorbed on Plasmon-Tunable Au@Ag Core–Shell Nanostars
Authors: Ke Yan , Chen Bin , Hu Mengen , Zhou Ningning , Huang Zhulin , Meng Guowen
Published: April 2022

Plasmon-induced photocatalysis on noble metal surfaces has attracted broad attention due to its application in sunlight energy conversion, while the selectivity of plasmonic platforms remains unclear. Herein, we present the controlled plasmon-mediated oxidation of para-aminothiophenol (p-ATP) by employing Au@Ag core–shell nanostars with tunable tip plasmons in visible–near-infrared range as reactors. In-situ Raman measurements indicate that Au@Ag core–shell nanostars essentially promote the conversion of p-ATP to 4,4′-dimercaptoazobenzene (DMAB) due to hot carriers excited by localized surface plasmon resonance. Au@Ag nanostars with plasmon modes under resonant light excitation suggested higher catalytic efficiency, as evidenced by the larger intensity ratios between 1440 cm−1 (N=N stretching of DMAB) and 1080 cm−1 shifts (C–S stretching of p-ATP). Importantly, the time-dependent surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectra showed that the conversion efficiency of p-ATP was mainly dictated by the resonance condition between the tip plasmon mode of Au@Ag core–shell nanostars and the excitation light, as well as the choice of excitation wavelength. These results show that plasmon bands of metal nanostructures play an important role in the efficiency of plasmon-driven photocatalysis.
Role of MicroRNAs in Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer
Authors: Sreekumar Amritha , Saini Sharanjot
Published: March 2022

Therapy-induced neuroendocrine prostate cancer (t-NEPC/NEPC) is an aggressive variant of prostate cancer (PCa) that frequently emerges in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) under the selective pressure of androgen receptor (AR)-targeted therapies. This variant is extremely aggressive, metastasizes to visceral organs, tissues, and bones despite low serum PSA, and is associated with poor survival rates. It arises via a reversible trans-differentiation process, referred to as ‘neuroendocrine differentiation’ (NED), wherein PCa cells undergo a lineage switch and exhibit neuroendocrine features, characterized by the expression of neuronal markers such as enolase 2 (ENO2), chromogranin A (CHGA), and synaptophysin (SYP). The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying NED in PCa are complex and not clearly understood, which contributes to a lack of effective molecular biomarkers for diagnosis and therapy of this variant. NEPC is thought to derive from prostate adenocarcinomas by clonal evolution. A characteristic set of genetic alterations, such as dual loss of retinoblastoma (RB1) and tumor protein (TP53) tumor suppressor genes and amplifications of Aurora kinase A (AURKA), NMYC, and EZH2, has been reported to drive NEPC. Recent evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) are important epigenetic players in driving NED in advanced PCa. In this review, we highlight the role of miRNAs in NEPC. These studies emphasize the diverse role that miRNAs play as oncogenes and tumor suppressors in driving NEPC. These studies have unveiled the important role of cellular processes such as the EMT and cancer stemness in determining NED in PCa. Furthermore, miRNAs are involved in intercellular communication between tumor cells and stromal cells via extracellular vesicles/exosomes that contribute to lineage switching. Recent studies support the promising potential of miRNAs as novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for NEPC.
Is Bitterness Only a Taste? The Expanding Area of Health Benefits of Brassica Vegetables and Potential for Bitter Taste Receptors to Support Health Benefits
Authors: Zhao Anqi , Jeffery Elizabeth H. , Miller Michael J.
Published: March 2022

The list of known health benefits from inclusion of brassica vegetables in the diet is long and growing. Once limited to cancer prevention, a role for brassica in prevention of oxidative stress and anti-inflammation has aided in our understanding that brassica provide far broader benefits. These include prevention and treatment of chronic diseases of aging such as diabetes, neurological deterioration, and heart disease. Although animal and cell culture studies are consistent, clinical studies often show too great a variation to confirm these benefits in humans. In this review, we discuss causes of variation in clinical studies, focusing on the impact of the wide variation across humans in commensal bacterial composition, which potentially result in variations in microbial metabolism of glucosinolates. In addition, as research into host–microbiome interactions develops, a role for bitter-tasting receptors, termed T2Rs, in the gastrointestinal tract and their role in entero-endocrine hormone regulation is developing. Here, we summarize the growing literature on mechanisms of health benefits by brassica-derived isothiocyanates and the potential for extra-oral T2Rs as a novel mechanism that may in part describe the variability in response to brassica among free-living humans, not seen in research animal and cell culture studies.
Nutrition Intervention and Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Adorni Maria Pia , Ferri Nicola
Published: March 2022

Dietary factors influence the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) either directly or through their action on traditional risk factors, such as plasma lipids, blood pressure, inflammation, or glucose levels [...]
Nutrition Management for Critically Ill Adult Patients Requiring Non-Invasive Ventilation: A Scoping Review
Authors: Viner Smith Elizabeth , Ridley Emma J. , Rayner Christopher K. , Chapple Lee-anne S.
Published: March 2022

Nutrition management is a core component of intensive care medicine. Despite the increased use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) for the critically ill, a paucity of evidence on nutrition management precludes recommendations for clinical practice. A scope of the available literature is required to guide future research on this topic. Database searches of MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were conducted to identify original research articles and available grey literature in English from 1 January 1990 to 17 November 2021 that included adult patients (≥16 years) receiving NIV within an Intensive Care Unit. Data were extracted on: study design, aim, population, nutrition concept, context (ICU type, NIV: use, duration, interface), and outcomes. Of 1730 articles, 16 met eligibility criteria. Articles primarily included single-centre, prospective, observational studies with only 3 randomised controlled trials. Key concepts included route of nutrition (n = 7), nutrition intake (n = 4), energy expenditure (n = 2), nutrition status (n = 1), and nutrition screening (n = 1); 1 unpublished thesis incorporated multiple concepts. Few randomised clinical trials that quantify aspects of nutrition management for critically ill patients requiring NIV have been conducted. Further studies, particularly those focusing on the impact of nutrition during NIV on clinical outcomes, are required to inform clinical practice.
Sweetness of Chilean Infants’ Diets: Methodology and Description
Authors: González Carmen Gloria , Corvalán Camila , Reyes Marcela
Published: March 2022

Sugars and other sweeteners contribute to the sweet taste of foods; exposure to this taste could alter appetite regulation and preferences for sweet products. Despite this, there is no widely accepted methodology for estimating overall diet sweetness. The objective of this study was to develop a methodology to estimate diet sweetness and describe diet sweetness in a cohort of Chilean infants. In order to estimate diet sweetness density, the sweetness intensity of foods was obtained from existing databases and from sensory evaluations in products with no available information and then linked to 24-h dietary recalls of infants at 12 and 36 months of age. Diet sweetness density was significantly and positively associated with total sugars and non-nutritive sweeteners intakes. The main food sources of sweetness at 12 months were fruits (27%) and beverages (19%). Sweetness density increased 40% between 12 and 36 months (from 1196 to 1673, p < 0.01), and sweetness density at both ages was significantly associated. At 36 months, beverages and dairy products were the main sources of sweetness (representing 32.2% and 28.6%, respectively). The methodology presented here to estimate the sweetness density of the diet could be useful for other studies to help elucidate different effects of exposure to high sweetness.
Silymarin from Milk Thistle Fruits Counteracts Selected Pathological Changes in the Lenses of Type 1 Diabetic Rats
Authors: Borymska Weronika , Zych Maria , Dudek Sławomir , Kaczmarczyk-Sedlak Ilona
Published: March 2022

Diabetes is a metabolic disease affecting many tissues and organs. The main etiological factor for diabetic complications is hyperglycemia and subsequent pathologies, such as oxidative stress. One of the organs susceptible to the development of diabetic complications is the eye with all of its elements, including the lens. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of silymarin, an extract obtained from milk thistle fruit husks, on the oxidative stress markers in the lenses of type 1 diabetic rats. The study was performed on male rats in which type 1 diabetes was induced with 60 mg/kg streptozotocin injection. Diabetic animals were treated via an intragastric tube with silymarin at 50 and 100 mg/kg doses for four weeks. Multiple oxidative stress and polyol pathway-related parameters were measured in the lenses, and auxiliary biochemical tests in the serum were conducted. Diabetes induced severe pathological changes both in the lenses and the serum, and silymarin counteracted several of them. Nevertheless, the qualitative analyses encompassing all tested parameters indicate that silymarin slightly improved the overall state of diabetic animals. Upon the obtained results, it can be concluded that silymarin reveals a faint positive effect on the lenses in type 1 diabetic rats.
Fluoride Status and Cardiometabolic Health: Findings from a Representative Survey among Children and Adolescents
Authors: Ballantyne Jessica A. , Coyle Gemma , Sarwar Sneha , Kühn Tilman
Published: April 2022

There is preliminary evidence to suggest a positive association between fluoride exposure and higher blood pressure among children, but population-based biomarker studies are lacking. Thus, data from the 2013/2014 and 2015/2016 cycles of the US-based National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analysed to evaluate the association between plasma fluoride concentrations and blood pressure among children and adolescents aged 8 to 19 years. Secondary analyses were carried out on fluoride status in relation to further markers of cardio-metabolic health, i.e., anthropometric indices, biomarkers of lipid and sugar metabolism, and C-reactive protein levels. There was a positive correlation between water fluoride content and plasma fluoride concentrations (Spearman’s r = 0.41, p < 0.01). However, multivariable linear regression models did not show significant differences in adjusted mean values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure across increasing quartiles of fluoride concentrations. Further markers of cardio-metabolic health were not associated with fluoride status, with the exception of a weak inverse association between plasma fluoride and HbA1c levels. Higher plasma fluoride may not be a risk factor for increased blood pressure or impaired cardio-metabolic health among children in the USA, a non-fluoride endemic country, with wide-spread water fluoridation.
Effectiveness of the Modification of Sewers to Reduce the Reproduction of Culex pipiens and Aedes albopictus in Barcelona, Spain
Authors: Montalvo Tomas , Higueros Agustin , Valsecchi Andrea , Realp Elisenda , Vila Cristina , Ortiz Alejandro , Peracho Víctor , Figuerola Jordi
Published: April 2022

Mosquitoes breeding in urban sewage infrastructure are both a source of nuisance to the local population and a public health risk, given that biting mosquitoes can transmit pathogenic organisms to humans. The increasing presence of the invasive mosquito species Aedes albopictus in European cities has further exacerbated the problems already caused by native Culex pipiens. We tested the effectiveness of modifications to sewage structures as an alternative to the use of biocides to prevent mosquito breeding. The placing of a layer of concrete at the bottom of sand sewers to prevent water accumulation completely eliminated mosquito reproduction, and so eliminates the need for biocides in modified structures. Sewer modification is thus a valid low-cost alternative for mosquito control.
The Intake of Coffee Increases the Absorption of Aspirin in Mice by Modifying Gut Microbiome
Authors: Kim Jeon-Kyung , Choi Min Sun , Yoo Hye Hyun , Kim Dong-Hyun
Published: March 2022

The absorption of orally administered aspirin into the blood was affected by gastrointestinal environmental factors such as gut pH, digestive enzymes, and microbiota. The intake of coffee affects the pharmacological effects of aspirin. Therefore, we examined the gut microbiota-mediated effect of coffee bean extract (CBE) intake on the pharmacokinetics of aspirin in mice. The intake of CBE modified the gut microbiota composition and their α- and β-diversities: It decreased the Proteobacteria, Helicobacteriaceae, and Bacteroidaceae populations in the fecal microbiota composition, while the S24-7_f (Muribaculaceae) and Lactobacillaceae populations increased. The fecal aspirin-hydrolyzing activities of humans and mice to salicylic acid were 0.045 ± 0.036 μmole/h/g and 0.032 ± 0.003 μmole/h/g, respectively. However, CBE treatment significantly suppressed the aspirin-hydrolyzing activity in mice. Furthermore, the area under the serum concentration–time curves (AUCs) of aspirin and salicylic acid were 0.265 ± 0.050 µg·h/mL and 16.224 ± 5.578 µg·h/mL in CBE-treated mice, respectively, and 0.248 ± 0.042 µg·h/mL and 10.756 ± 2.071 µg·h/mL in control mice, respectively. Moreover, CBE treatment suppressed the multidrug resistance protein 4 (Mrp4) expression in the intestines of mice, while the P-glycoprotein (P-gp), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) expression was not affected. Furthermore, the CBE-treated mouse fecal lysate suppressed Mrp4 expression in Caco-2 cells compared to that of vehicle-treated mice, while CBE treatment did not affect Mrp4 expression. Oral gavage of caffeine also suppressed the Mrp4 expression in the intestines of mice. These findings suggest that intake of coffee can increase the absorption of aspirin by modifying the gut microbiome.
Bee-Derived Products: Chemical Composition and Applications in Skin Tissue Engineering
Authors: Dumitru Corina Dana , Neacsu Ionela Andreea , Grumezescu Alexandru Mihai , Andronescu Ecaterina
Published: March 2022

Skin tissue regeneration is one of the population’s most common problems, and the complications that may appear in the healing process can have detrimental consequences. An alternative to conventional treatments could be represented by sustainable materials based on natural products, such as honey and its derivates (propolis, royal jelly, bee pollen, beeswax, and bee venom). They exhibit significant inhibitory activities against bacteria and have great potential in dermal tissue regeneration. Research in the pharmaceutical field demonstrates that conventional medication combined with bee products can deliver better results. The advantages include minimizing side effects and maintaining the same effectiveness by using low concentrations of antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, or chemotherapy drugs. Several studies suggested that bee products can replace the antimicrobial activity and efficiency of antibiotics, but further investigation is needed to establish a topical mixture’s potential, including honey, royal jelly, and propolis. Bee products seem to complete each other’s deficiencies, and their mixture may have a better impact on the wound healing process. The topic addressed in this paper highlights the usefulness of honey, propolis, royal jelly, bee pollen, beeswax, and bee venom in the re-epithelization process and against most common bacterial infections.
Polymeric Microneedles for Transdermal Delivery of Rivastigmine: Design and Application in Skin Mimetic Model
Authors: Guimarães Tânia M. T. , Moniz Tânia , Nunes Cláudia , Zaharieva Maya Margaritova , Kaleva Mila , Yoncheva Krassimira , Najdenski Hristo , Costa Lima Sofia A. , Reis Salette
Published: March 2022

In the last years, microneedles (MNs) have been considered a valuable, painless, and minimally invasive approach for controlled transdermal drug delivery (TDD). Rivastigmine (RV), a drug administered to patients suffering from dementia, is currently delivered by oral or transdermal routes; however, both present limitations, mainly gastrointestinal adverse symptoms or local skin irritation and drug losses, respectively, for each route. Given this, the objective of the present work was to develop and evaluate the potential of polymeric MNs for RV transdermal delivery in a controlled manner. Polymeric MNs with two needle heights and different compositions were developed with calcein as a fluorescent model molecule. Morphology and mechanical characterisation were accessed. Skin permeation experiments showed the ability of the devices to deliver calcein and confirmed that the arrays were able to efficiently pierce the skin. To obtain a new TDD anti-dementia therapeutic solution, RV was loaded in 800 µm polymeric MNs of alginate and alginate/k-carrageenan MNs. In the presence of RV, the MN’s morphology was maintained; however, the presence of RV influenced the compression force. Skin permeation studies revealed that RV-loaded MNs allowed a more efficient controlled release of the drug than the commercial patch. In vivo, skin irritation tests in rabbits revealed that the developed MNs were innocuous upon removal, in contrast with the evidence found for Exelon®, the commercial patch, which caused slight mechanical damage to the skin. The herein-produced MNs demonstrated a more controlled release of the drug, being the more suitable option for the transdermal delivery of RV.
Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Vanillin Protects the Stomach against Ulcer Formation
Authors: Ciciliato Murilo Piologo , de Souza Matheus Chiaradia , Tarran Carolina Mendes , de Castilho Ana Laura Tironi , Vieira Ana Júlia , Rozza Ariane Leite
Published: March 2022

Gastric ulcer is one of the most frequent gastrointestinal disorders, and there is an increasing search for natural products that can heal ulcers and avoid their recurrence. We aimed to evaluate the gastroprotective activity of vanillin, including the investigation of anti-inflammatory activity and the modulation of gene expression. Wistar rats were orally treated with vehicle, carbenoxolone, or vanillin (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg) and orally received absolute ethanol to develop gastric ulcers. We analyzed the ulcer area, conducted histological analysis, and measured the levels of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and IFN-γ, and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 by ELISA. We analyzed mRNA expression for NF-κB, TNF-α, and Il-10. We measured NOx levels using the Griess reaction. Our results showed similar gastroprotection for the three doses. Vanillin increased mucus production and preserved gastric mucosa integrity. The gastroprotective effect was linked to anti-inflammatory activity as a result of decreasing the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and IFN-γ and increasing IL-10 levels. Vanillin downregulated the mRNA expression of NF-κB and TNF-α, upregulated the mRNA expression of Il-10, and increased NOx levels in the stomach. The gastroprotective activity of vanillin is related to the maintenance of gastric mucus and the local inflammatory response modulation.
Intranasal Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles Ameliorate Cognitive Function in Rats with Alzheimer’s via Anti-Oxidative Pathway
Authors: Danish Syed Mohammad , Gupta Anshul , Khan Urooj Ahmad , Hasan Nazeer , Ahmad Farhan Jalees , Warsi Musarrat Husain , Ali Ahmed M. Abdelhaleem , Zafar Ameeduzzafar , Jain Gaurav Kumar
Published: March 2022

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNPs), owing to their antioxidant property, have recently emerged as therapeutic candidate for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, intravenous CNPs are limited due to their poor physicochemical properties, rapid blood clearance and poor blood–brain penetration. Thus, we developed intranasal CNPs and evaluated its potential in experimental AD. CNPs were synthesized using homogenous precipitation method and optimized through Box–Behnken Design. The formation of CNPs was confirmed by UV spectroscopy and FTIR. The optimized CNP were spherical, small (134.0 ± 3.35 nm), uniform (PDI, 0.158 ± 0.0019) and stable (ZP, −21.8 ± 4.94 mV). The presence of Ce in CNPs was confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. Further, the X-ray diffraction spectra revealed that the CNPs were nano-crystalline. The DPPH assay showed that at concentration of 50 µg/mL, the percentage radical scavenging was 95.40 ± 0.006%. Results of the in vivo behavioral studies in the scopolamine-induced Alzheimer rat model showed that intranasal CNPs dose dependently reversed cognitive ability. At dose of 6 mg/kg the morris water maze results (escape latency, path length and dwell time) and passive avoidance results (retention latency) were significantly different from untreated group but not significantly different from positive control group (rivastigmine patch, 13.3 mg/24 h). Further, biochemical estimation showed that intranasal CNP upregulated the levels of SOD and GSH in brain. In conclusion, intranasal CNPs, through its antioxidant effect, could be a prospective therapeutics for the treatment of cognitive impairment in AD.
Crosstalk between Selenium and Sulfur Is Associated with Changes in Primary Metabolism in Lettuce Plants Grown under Se and S Enrichment
Authors: Abdalla Muna Ali , Lentz Christine , Mühling Karl H.
Published: March 2022

This study investigated the beneficial effects of selenium (Se) and sulfur (S) enrichment on the primary metabolism in butterhead lettuce. The plants were treated with three levels of Se via foliar application in the presence of two S levels in the nutrient solution under greenhouse conditions. The lettuce plants that were exposed to the lower selenate level (1.3 μM) in combination with the adequate and high S supplies (1 and 2 mM, respectively) accumulated 38.25 ± 0.38 µg Se g−1 DM and 47.98 ± 0.68 µg Se g−1 DM, respectively. However, a dramatic increase in the Se concentration (122.38 ± 5.07 µg Se g−1 DM, and 146.71 ± 5.43 µg Se g−1 DM, respectively) was observed in the lettuce heads that were exposed to the higher selenate foliar application (3.8 μM) in response to the varied sulfate concentrations (S1 and S2, respectively). Under higher Se and S supplies in the lettuce plants, the levels of organic acids, including malic acid and citric acid, decreased therein to 25.7 ± 0.5 and 3.9 ± 0.3 mg g−1 DM, respectively, whereas, in the plants that were subjected to adequate S and lower Se fertilization, the malic acid, and citric acid levels significantly increased to 47.3 ± 0.4 and 11.8 ± 0.4 mg g−1 DM, respectively. The two Se levels (1.3 and 3.8 μM) under the S1 conditions also showed higher concentrations of water-soluble sugars, including glucose and fructose (70.8.4 ± 1.1 and 115.0 ± 2.1 mg g−1 DM; and 109.4 ± 2.1 and 161.1 ± 1.0 mg g−1 DM, respectively), compared to the control. As with the glucose and fructose, the amino acids (Asn, Glu, and Gln) exhibited strikingly higher levels (48.7 ± 1.1 μmol g−1 DM) under higher S and Se conditions. The results presented in this report reveal that the “crosstalk” between Se and S exhibited a unique synergistic effect on the responses to the amino acids and the soluble sugar biosynthesis under Se and S enrichment. Additionally, the Se-and-S crosstalk could have an important implication on the final nutritional value and quality of lettuce plants.
RNA-Seq Reveals Waterlogging-Triggered Root Plasticity in Mungbean Associated with Ethylene and Jasmonic Acid Signal Integrators for Root Regeneration
Authors: Sreeratree Jaruwan , Butsayawarapat Pimprapai , Chaisan Tanapon , Somta Prakit , Juntawong Piyada
Published: March 2022

Global climate changes increase the frequency and intensity of heavy precipitation events, which result in flooding or soil waterlogging. One way to overcome these low-oxygen stresses is via modifying the plant root system to improve internal aeration. Here, we used a comparative RNA-seq based transcriptomic approach to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of waterlogging-triggered root plasticity in mungbean (Vigna radiata), a major grain legume cultivated in Asia. Two mungbean varieties with contrasting waterlogging tolerance due to the plasticity of the root system architecture were subjected to short-term and long-term waterlogging. Then, RNA-seq was performed. Genes highly expressed in both genotypes under short-term waterlogging are related to glycolysis and fermentation. Under long-term waterlogging, the expression of these genes was less induced in the tolerant variety, suggesting it had effectively adapted to waterlogging via enhancing root plasticity. Remarkably, under short-term waterlogging, the expression of several transcription factors that serve as integrators for ethylene and jasmonic acid signals controlling root stem cell development was highly upregulated only in the tolerant variety. Sequentially, root development-related genes were more expressed in the tolerant variety under long-term waterlogging. Our findings suggest that ethylene and jasmonic acids may contribute to waterlogging-triggered root plasticity by relaying environmental signals to reprogram root regeneration. This research provides the basis for the breeding and genetic engineering of waterlogging-tolerant crops in the future.
Comparative Analysis of the NDVI and NGBVI as Indicators of the Protective Effect of Beneficial Bacteria in Conditions of Biotic Stress
Authors: Solano-Alvarez Nallely , Valencia-Hernández Juan Antonio , Vergara-Pineda Santiago , Millán-Almaraz Jesús Roberto , Torres-Pacheco Irineo , Guevara-González Ramón Gerardo
Published: March 2022

Precision agriculture has the objective of improving agricultural yields and minimizing costs by assisting management with the use of sensors, remote sensing, and information technologies. There are several approaches to improving crop yields where remote sensing has proven to be an important methodology to determine agricultural maps to show surface differences which may be associated with many phenomena. Remote sensing utilizes a wide variety of image sensors that range from common RGB cameras to sophisticated, hyper-spectral image cameras which acquire images from outside the visible electromagnetic spectrum. The NDVI and NGBVI are computer vision vegetation index algorithms that perform operations from color masks such as red, green, and blue from RGB cameras and hyper-spectral masks such as near-infrared (NIR) to highlight surface differences in the image to detect crop anomalies. The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship of NDVI and NGBVI as plant health indicators in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) treated with the beneficial bacteria Bacillus cereus-Amazcala (B. c-A) as a protective agent to cope with Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm) infections. The results showed that in the presence of B. c-A after infection with Cmm, NDVI and NGBVI can be used as markers of plant weight and the activation of the enzymatic activities related to plant defense induction.
Variations in Total Phenolic, Total Flavonoid Contents, and Free Radicals’ Scavenging Potential of Onion Varieties Planted under Diverse Environmental Conditions
Authors: Bibi Nusrat , Shah Munir H. , Khan Nadeem , Al-Hashimi Abdulrahman , Elshikh Mohamed Soliman , Iqbal Akhtar , Ahmad Shakeel , Abbasi Arshad Mehmood
Published: April 2022

Genetic diversity and Agro-climatic conditions contribute significantly to the agronomic and morphological features of the food plant species, and their nutraceutical potential. The present study was intended to evaluate the impact of growing conditions on total phenolic and total flavonoid contents, and in vitro antioxidant potential in the bulbs and leaves of onion varieties planted under diverse environmental conditions. Standard analytical methods were used to quantify total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and free radicals’ scavenging/antioxidant capacity. The impact of climatic and soil conditions was assessed using statistical tools. In general, onion varieties cultivated at three different locations viz. Kalar Kahar, Lahore and Swabi exhibited significant variations in TPC and TFC, and antioxidant activities. The bulbs and leaves of Mustang (V1) variety planted at Lahore and Swabi had significantly (p < 0.05), high levels of TPC (659.5 ± 6.59, and 631.1 ± 8.58 mg GAE/100 g, respectively). However, leaves of Red Orb (V2) and bulbs of Mustang (V1), and Golden Orb (V6), harvested from Kalar Kahar depicted the highest concentration of TFC (432.5 ± 10.3, 303.0 ± 6.67, and 303.0 ± 2.52 mg QE/100 g DW, respectively). Likewise, bulbs of V1 planted at Kalar Kahar, Lahore and Swabi exhibited maximum inhibition of DPPH, ABTS, and H2O2 radicals (79.01 ± 1.49, 65.38 ± 0.99, and 59.76 ± 0.90%, respectively). Golden Orb (V6) harvested from Lahore had the highest scavenging of OH radical (67.40 ± 0.09%). Likewise, bulbs of V1 variety planted at KalarKahar and Swabi had significant capacity to scavenge ferric ions (415.1 ± 10.6 mg GAE/100 g DW), and molybdate ions (213.7 ± 0.00 mg AAE/100 g DW). Conversely, leaves of Amazon (V8), planted at Lahore and Swabi depicted significant levels of DPPH, ABTS, H2O2 radical scavenging (90.69 ± 0.26, 63.55 ± 1.06, 51.86 ± 0.43%, respectively), and reduction of ferric ions (184.2 ± 6.75 mg GAE/100 g DW). V6 leaves harvested from Lahore and that of Super Sarhad (V3) from Swabi showed the highest inhibition of OH radical (61.21 ± 0.79%), and molybdate ions (623.6 ± 0.12 mg AAE/100 g DW), respectively. Pearson correlation and principal component analysis revealed strong relationships of climatic conditions, soil properties and elevation with TPC, TFC and free radicals’ scavenging potential in the bulbs and leaves of onion varieties. The variations in the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant potential of different varieties, and their associations with climatic and soil factors revealed the complexity of the growing conditions and genetic makeup that imposed significant impacts on the synthesis of secondary metabolites and nutraceutical potential of food and medicinal plant species.
Chemical Profile and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oils of Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench. and Helichrysum italicum (Roth.) G. Don
Authors: Zheljazkov Valtcho D. , Semerdjieva Ivanka , Yankova-Tsvetkova Elina , Astatkie Tess , Stanev Stanko , Dincheva Ivayla , Kačániová Miroslava
Published: April 2022

This study compared the essential oils (EO) composition of Helichrysum arenarium (Bulgarian populations) with that of the cultivated species H. italicum. The EO composition of H. arenarium and H. italicum were analyzed via gas chromatography. In general, 75 components were identified in H. arenarium EO and 79 in H. italicum EO. The predominant constituents in H. arenarium EO were α-pinene (34.64–44.35%) and sabinene (10.63–11.1%), which affirmed the examined population as a new chemical type. Overall, the main EO constituents of H. italicum originating in France, Bosnia and Corsica were neryl acetate (4.04–14.87%) and β-himachalene (9.9–10.99%). However, the EOs profile of H. italicum introduced from the above three countries differed to some extent. D-limonene (5.23%), italicene, α-guaiene and neryl acetate (14.87%) predominated in the H. italicum introduced from France, while α-pinene (13.74%), δ-cadinene (5.51%), α-cadinene (3.3%), β-caryophyllene (3.65%) and α-calacorene (1.63%) predominated in plants introduced from Bosnia. The EOs of the plants introduced from France and Corsica had similar chemical composition and antimicrobiological activity.
Bending Strength Design Method of Phyllostachys edulis Bamboo Based on Classification
Authors: Liu Pengcheng , Zhou Qishi , Fu Feiyang , Li Wei
Published: March 2022

Phyllostachys edulis (P. edulis) bamboo is the most widely distributed and used bamboo species, and it is an ideal building material. With the in-depth implementation of the sustainable development strategy, modern bamboo structures have broad application prospects in green buildings. In order to promote the efficient utilization of bamboo resources and facilitate the design and application of bamboo structures, the bending strength test and classification of P. edulis bamboo were carried out, the factors affecting the reliability were analyzed, and the design values of the bending strength of P. edulis bamboo were proposed based on the reliability analysis. The research results show that dividing P. edulis bamboo into three levels (grade I, grade II, and grade III) can achieve efficient use of P. edulis bamboo resources; 75% fitting data points and normal distribution were used to analyze the reliability of the bending strength of P. edulis bamboo. The analysis of factors affecting reliability makes the calculation of strength design values more reliable. The reliability increases with the increase of the load ratio and the partial factor for resistance. Under the same load ratio and reliability, the partial factor for resistance of the combination of constant load and snow load is the largest, and the partial factor for resistance of the combination of constant load and office building load is the smallest. Under the same load combination and reliability, the partial factor for resistance decreases as the load ratio increases. Under the same load ratio and load combination, the partial factor for resistance of grade III is the largest, and grade I is the smallest. The bending strength design values of grade I, grade II, and grade III are 29.54 MPa, 29.62 MPa, and 30.63 MPa, respectively. This paper innovatively proposed the design values of bending strength of P. edulis bamboo based on classification. The P. edulis bamboo grading method established in this paper and the bending strength design values of P. edulis bamboo proposed can provide references for the design and engineering application of bamboo structures.
Study on the Domain of Parameters in the Stochastic Reconstruction Method
Authors: Zhao Guangyao , Yang Minglei , Qian Feng
Published: March 2022

In the stochastic reconstruction of petroleum fractions, the domain configuration for parameters is of great significance to the performance of the model in terms of accuracy and convergence. Based on the stochastic reconstruction model of gas oils, this work investigates the influence of different domains on the simulating accuracy, the convergence rate and the ability to predict detailed composition. In this paper, the parameters to be optimized in the model include histogram distributions and gamma distributions, which are used to represent the structural attributes. In each histogram distribution, the parameters are real numbers between zero and one that should increase progressively. The mean and shape parameters are used as the tuning parameters for gamma distribution. As for the mean, the lower and upper boundaries are configured as fixed values that depend on the predefined values of the structural attributes. For the shape parameter, multiple cases are considered for its upper boundary, which is set to 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100, respectively. The lower boundary is set to 0 or 1, depending on the structural attribute. The results indicate that the simulating accuracy of the stochastic reconstruction model improves with the increase of the upper boundary for the shape parameter. When the upper boundary of each shape parameter is 20, the simulating accuracy is better than that when the upper boundary is 5 and 10, and close to that when the upper boundary is 50 and 100. The detailed group-type analysis is involved in the model to predict the distributions of mass fraction in chemical families against the carbon number. The results show that the predicted distributions in normal paraffins, isoparaffins, naphthenes, and aromatics are closest to the experimental distributions when the upper boundary is 20 and 50. When the upper boundary is 5 and 10, the predicted distributions in normal paraffins and isoparaffins are lower and broader than the experimental distributions. On the contrary, the predicted distributions in normal paraffins and isoparaffins are higher when the upper boundary is 100. By studying the effects of different domains on the results of the stochastic reconstruction model, a better molecular characterization of petroleum fractions can be achieved.
A Cloud-Based System for the Optical Monitoring of Tool Conditions during Milling through the Detection of Chip Surface Size and Identification of Cutting Force Trends
Authors: Župerl Uroš , Stepien Krzysztof , Munđar Goran , Kovačič Miha
Published: March 2022

This article presents a cloud-based system for the on-line monitoring of tool conditions in end milling. The novelty of this research is the developed system that connects the IoT (Internet of Things) platform for the monitoring of tool conditions in the cloud to the machine tool and optical system for the detection of cutting chip size. The optical system takes care of the acquisition and transfer of signals regarding chip size to the IoT application, where they are used as an indicator for the determination of tool conditions. In addition, the novelty of the presented approach is in the artificial intelligence integrated into the platform, which monitors a tool’s condition through identification of the current cutting force trend and protects the tool against excessive loading by correcting process parameters. The practical significance of the research is that it is a new system for fast tool condition monitoring, which ensures savings, reduces investment costs due to the use of a more cost-effective sensor, improves machining efficiency and allows remote process monitoring on mobile devices. A machining test was performed to verify the feasibility of the monitoring system. The results show that the developed system with an ANN (artificial neural network) for the recognition of cutting force patterns successfully detects tool damage and stops the process within 35 ms. This article reports a classification accuracy of 85.3% using an ANN with no error in the identification of tool breakage, which verifies the effectiveness and practicality of the approach.
Bearing Fault Feature Extraction Based on Adaptive OMP and Improved K-SVD
Authors: Wang Lijun , Li Xiangyang , Xu Da , Ai Shijuan , Wang Chaoge , Chen Changxin
Published: March 2022

The condition of the bearing is closely related to the condition and remaining life of the rotating machine. Targeting the problem of the large number of harmonic signals and noise signals during the operation of rolling bearings, and given that it is difficult to identify the fault in time, an adaptive orthogonal matching pursuit algorithm (OMP) and an improved K-singular value decomposition (K-SVD) for bearing fault feature extraction are proposed. An adaptive OMP algorithm is applied, which uses the Fourier dictionary to improve the solution method of the OMP algorithm so that it can separate the harmonic components in the signal faster and more accurately. At the same time, the stopping criterion of the adaptive sparsity is improved in dictionary learning. There is no need to manually set the sparsity in the algorithm initialization process, which avoids the problem of algorithm performance degradation due to improper sparsity settings, and improves the efficiency of the K-SVD algorithm. As shown by theoretical verification, algorithm comparison, and experimental comparisons, the algorithm has certain advantages in fault feature extraction during rolling bearing operation, and the algorithm still has considerable practical value in long-duration and strong noise environments.
Efficient Synthesis of Biobased Furoic Acid from Corncob via Chemoenzymatic Approach
Authors: He Wei , He Yucai , Ye Jianren
Published: March 2022

Valorization of lignocellulosic materials into value-added biobased chemicals is attracting increasing attention in the sustainable chemical industry. As an important building block, furoic acid has been commonly utilized to manufacture polymers, flavors, perfumes, bactericides, fungicides, etc. It is generally produced through the selective oxidation of furfural. In this study, we provide the results of the conversion of biomass-based xylose to furoic acid in a chemoenzymatic cascade reaction with the use of a heterogeneous chemocatalyst and a dehydrogenase biocatalyst. For this purpose, NaOH-treated waste shrimp shell was used as a biobased carrier to prepare high activity and thermostability of biobased solid acid catalysts (Sn-DAT-SS) for the dehydration of corncob-valorized xylose into furfural at 170 °C in 30 min. Subsequently, xylose-derived furfural and its derivative furfuryl alcohol were wholly oxidized into furoic acid with whole cells of E. coli HMFOMUT at 30 °C and pH 7.0. The productivity of furoic acid was 0.35 g furoic acid/(g xylan in corncob). This established chemoenzymatic process could be utilized to efficiently valorize biomass into value-added furoic acid.
Frequency Sweep Modeling Method for the Rotor-Bearing System in Time Domain Based on Data-Driven Model
Authors: Jin Long , Zhu Zhimin , Li Yuqi , Wen Chuanmei , Yang Dayong
Published: March 2022

In practice, the modeling and analysis of nonlinear rotor-bearing systems are difficult due to the nonlinearity and complexity. In the previous studies, finite element simulation and mathematical modeling methods are mostly adopted to conduct the analysis. However, due to the time-consuming problem in finite element simulation and the lack of sufficient prior knowledge in mathematical modeling, the traditional method is difficult to establish the representation model. In order to overcome this issue, in this study, a data-driven model referred to as the NARX (Nonlinear Auto-Regressive with exogenous inputs) model is introduced to conduct the modeling and analysis of the rotor-bearing system. The identification of the NARX model requires random excitation as the system input, while the input signal of the rotor system is harmonics. Therefore, a time-domain frequency sweep modeling method is proposed in this paper by introducing the rotating speed into the coefficients function expression of the NARX model, the system output can be predicted according to the given speed. Moreover, the representation model of the rotor-bearing system obtained by using the proposed method is validated under different rotating speeds, the results show the applicability of the proposed modeling approach. Finally, an experimental case of the rotor-bearing test rig is demonstrated to show the application in practice. Both the numerical and experimental studies illustrate the applicability of the proposed modeling method, which provides a reliable model for dynamic analysis and fault diagnosis of the rotor-bearing system.
Biochar-Based Compost Affects Bacterial Community Structure and Induces a Priming Effect on Soil Organic Carbon Mineralization
Authors: Shiu Jia-Ho , Huang Yi-Chan , Lu Zi-Ting , Jien Shih-Hao , Wu Meng-Ling , Wu Yu-Ting
Published: April 2022

Urban forests are key to mitigating the Urban Heat Island Effect, which contributes to temperature increases in urban areas. However, the trees in these forests are usually under stress because urban soil is typically degraded. Biochar/compost amendments help with soil management by improving the physiochemical properties and bacterial communities of soil. Here, we compared the physiochemical properties and bacterial communities before and after (1) biochar-only and (2) biochar-based compost amendments. Our results suggested that biochar-only application did not improve soil properties after 1 year of treatment, whereas in the biochar-based compost treatment, the soil properties and bacterial communities changed after just four months. The increase in potassium and decrease in organic material, calcium, and available phosphorus in the soil of the former treatment indicated that the nutrient uptake of its trees had improved. Although there was no significant variation in the soil’s total nitrogen, the higher abundance of potential nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the biochar-based treatment suggested that the soil contained a supplement to nitrogen. Our results show that biochar-based compost amendment improves soil quality and associated bacterial communities in urban forest management.
In-Depth Quantitative Proteomics Characterization of In Vitro Selected Miltefosine Resistance in Leishmania infantum
Authors: Saboia-Vahia Leonardo , Cuervo Patricia , Wiśniewski Jacek R. , Dias-Lopes Geovane , Pinho Nathalia , Padrón Gabriel , de Pilla Varotti Fernando , Murta Silvane Maria Fonseca
Published: April 2022

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected disease caused by Leishmania parasites. Although significant morbidity and mortality in tropical and subtropical regions of the world are associated with VL, the low investment for developing new treatment measures is chronic. Moreover, resistance and treatment failure are increasing for the main medications, but the emergence of resistance phenotypes is poorly understood at the protein level. Here, we analyzed the development of resistance to miltefosine upon experimental selection in a L. infantum strain. Time to miltefosine resistance emergence was ~six months and label-free quantitative mass-spectrometry-based proteomics analyses revealed that this process involves a remodeling of components of the membrane and mitochondrion, with significant increase in oxidative phosphorylation complexes, particularly on complex IV and ATP synthase, accompanied by increased energy metabolism mainly dependent on β-oxidation of fatty acids. Proteins canonically involved in ROS detoxification did not contribute to the resistant process whereas sterol biosynthesis enzymes could have a role in this development. Furthermore, changes in the abundance of proteins known to be involved in miltefosine resistance such as ABC transporters and phospholipid transport ATPase were detected. Together, our data show a more complete picture of the elements that make up the miltefosine resistance phenotype in L. infantum.
Korean Buddhism Abroad: A Critical Examination of Overseas Propagation Strategies of Jogye Order’s Hanmaum Seon Center
Authors: Park Cheonghwan , Kim Kyungrae
Published: March 2022

In the decades following the Korean War (1950–1953), support from Korea’s Jogye Order, the largest of Korea’s Buddhist sects, was instrumental for establishing Korean Buddhism overseas. However, in recent decades, Korean Buddhism has been facing a growing domestic crisis and the number of the Jogye Order’s annual monastic recruits has been declining steadily. This domestic membership crisis has affected Korean Buddhism abroad, as the order has lost over half its foreign temples over the last decade. Nevertheless, despite these downward trends, the nine international branches of the Hanmaum Seon Center, founded by the Jogye Order’s Seon Master Daehaeng, have remained strong. Given the successful example of the Hanmaum Seon Center’s international branches, the Jogye Order’s future efforts abroad might find success by focusing on lay-oriented modes of practice, while balancing their involvement both with local Korean émigré communities and with outreach to local non-Koreans.