bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Afamelanotide Is Associated with Dose-Dependent Protective Effect from Liver Damage Related to Erythropoietic Protoporphyria
Authors: Minder Anna-Elisabeth , Schneider-Yin Xiaoye , Zulewski Henryk , Minder Christoph E. , Minder Elisabeth I.
Published: April 2023

In animal models, melanocyte-stimulating hormones (MSHs) protect the liver from various injuries. Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), a metabolic disorder, leads to the accumulation of protoporphyrin (PPIX). In addition to the most prominent symptom of incapacitating phototoxic skin reactions, 20% of EPP patients exhibit disturbed liver functioning and 4% experience terminal liver failure caused by the hepatobiliary elimination of excess PPIX. Skin symptoms are mitigated through the application of the controlled-release implant afamelanotide, an α-MSH analog, every sixty days. Recently, we showed that liver function tests (LFTs) improved during afamelanotide treatment when compared to before treatment. The present study investigated whether this effect is dose-dependent, as the evidence of dose dependency would support a beneficial influence of afamelanotide. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we included 2933 liver-function tests, 1186 PPIX concentrations and 1659 afamelanotide implant applications in 70 EPP patients. We investigated whether the number of days since the preceding afamelanotide dose or the number of doses during the preceding 365 days had an effect on LFTs and PPIX levels. In addition, we assessed the effect of global radiation. Results: Inter-patient differences exerted the most prominent effect on PPIX and LFTs. In addition, PPIX increased significantly with an increase in the number of days since the last afamelanotide implant (p < 0.0001). ALAT and bilirubin decreased significantly with an increasing number of afamelanotide doses in the preceding 365 days (p = 0.012, p = 0.0299, respectively). Global radiation only influenced PPIX (p = 0.0113). Conclusions: These findings suggest that afamelanotide ameliorates both PPIX concentrations and LFTs in EPP in a dose-dependent manner.
Ethyl 2-(12-Oxo-10,12-dihydroisoindolo[1,2-b] Quinazolin-10-yl) Acetate
Authors: Morlacci Valerio , Aschi Massimiliano , Chiarini Marco , Massa Antonio , Arcadi Antonio , Palombi Laura
Published: April 2023

The title compound has been synthetized using a one-pot cascade process of ethyl (E)-3-(2-aminophenyl) acrylate and 2-formylbenzonitrile in the presence of Cs2CO3 as the catalyst. The synthetic route has been rationalized as a base-catalyzed tandem addition/cyclization/rearrangement initiated by the aniline molecule, followed by sequential aza-Michael addition/dehydrogenation. A theoretical investigation also provided a rationale for its fluorescence properties.
PSO-Based Feedrate Optimization Algorithm for Five-Axis Machining with Constraint of Contour Error
Authors: Yang Jingwei , Yin Xiaolong , Sun Yuwen
Published: April 2023

Feedrate has a great influence on contour error in five-axis machining. Accordingly, it is of great significance to plan the time-optimal feedrate curve considering the contour error constraint to achieve high-accuracy and high-efficiency machining. Aiming at improving the error control accuracy of model linearization loss and optimizing the machining time, the PSO-based feedrate optimization algorithm for five-axis machining with constraint of contour error is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the relationship between parametric feedrate and contour error constraint is clarified that provides a model basis for accurately controlling contour error by optimizing the feedrate curve. Then, the feedrate optimization model, which takes the control vertices of the feedrate curve expressed by B-spline as the decision variables and minimizes the machining time as the optimization objective, is established. Subsequently, to overcome the shortcomings of low accuracy and low efficiency caused by single optimization of global control vertices, the group search particle swarm optimization (GSPSO) algorithm based on window movement is adopted to optimize the feedrate curve in segments. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed feedrate optimization algorithm is validated by three typical test toolpaths on an open double-turntable five-axis machine tool. In light of the experiment, the proposed algorithm is able to fully release the potential of the machine tools while accurately controlling the contour error of the cutter tip and cutter orientation.
A Novel Price Prediction Service for E-Commerce Categorical Data
Authors: Fathalla Ahmed , Salah Ahmad , Ali Ahmed
Published: April 2023

Most e-commerce data include items that belong to different categories, e.g., product types on Amazon and eBay. The accurate prediction of an item’s price on an e-commerce platform will facilitate the maximization of economic benefits for the seller and buyer. Consequently, the task of price prediction of e-commerce items can be seen as a multiple regression on categorical data. Performing multiple regression tasks with categorical independent variables is tricky since the observations of each product type might have different distribution shapes, whereas the distribution shape of all the data might not be representative of each group. In this vein, we propose a service for facilitating the price prediction task of e-commerce categorical products. The main novelty of the proposed service relies on two unique data transformations aiming at increasing the between-group variance and decreasing the within-group variance to improve the task of regression analysis on categorical data. The proposed data transformations are tested on four different e-commerce datasets over a set of linear, non-linear, and neural network-based regression models. Comparing the best existing regression models without applying the proposed transformation, the proposed transformation results show improvements in the range of 1.98% to 8.91% for the four evaluation metrics scores, namely, R2, MAE, RMSE, and MAPE. However, the best metrics improvement on each dataset has average values of 16.8%, 8.0%, 6.0%, and 25.0% for R2, MAE, RMSE, and MAPE, respectively.
Optimization of Drone Base Station Location for the Next-Generation Internet-of-Things Using a Pre-Trained Deep Learning Algorithm and NOMA
Authors: Alsolai Hadeel , Mtouaa Wafa , Maashi Mashael S. , Othman Mahmoud , Yaseen Ishfaq , Alneil Amani A. , Osman Azza Elneil , Alsaid Mohamed Ibrahim
Published: April 2023

Next-generation Internet-of-Things applications pose challenges for sixth-generation (6G) mobile networks, involving large bandwidth, increased network capabilities, and remarkably low latency. The possibility of using ultra-dense connectivity to address the existing problem was previously well-acknowledged. Therefore, placing base stations (BSs) is economically challenging. Drone-based stations can efficiently address Next-generation Internet-of-Things requirements while accelerating growth and expansion. Due to their versatility, they can also manage brief network development or offer on-demand connectivity in emergency scenarios. On the other hand, identifying a drone stations are a complex procedure due to the limited energy supply and rapid signal quality degradation in air-to-ground links. The proposed method uses a two-layer optimizer based on a pre-trained VGG-19 model to overcome these issues. The non-orthogonal multiple access protocol improves network performance. Initially, it uses a powerful two-layer optimizer that employs a population of micro-swarms. Next, it automatically develops a lightweight deep model with a few VGG-19 convolutional filters. Finally, non-orthogonal multiple access is used to schedule radio and power resources to devices, which improves network performance. We specifically examine how three scenarios execute when various Cuckoo Search, Grey Wolf Optimization, and Particle Swarm Optimization techniques are used. To measure the various methodologies, we also run non-parametric statistical tests, such as the Friedman and Wilcoxon tests. The proposed method also evaluates the accuracy level for network performance of DBSs using number of Devices. The proposed method achieves better performance of 98.44% compared with other methods.
On Oscillations in a Gene Network with Diffusion
Authors: Golubyatnikov Vladimir , Ayupova Natalia , Kirillova Natalia
Published: April 2023

We consider one system of partial derivative equations of the parabolic type as a model of a simple 3D gene network in the presence of diffusion of its three components. Using discretization of the phase portrait of this system, comparison theorems, and other methods of the qualitative theory of differential equations, we show uniqueness of the equilibrium solution to this system and find conditions of instability of this equilibrium. Then, we obtain sufficient conditions of existence of at least one oscillating functioning regime of this gene network. An estimate of lower and upper bounds for periods of these oscillations is given as well. In quite a similar way, these results on the existence of cycles in 3D gene networks can be extended to higher-dimensional systems of parabolic or other evolution equations in order to construct mathematical models of more complicated molecular–genetic systems.
The Heat Equation on Submanifolds in Lie Groups and Random Motions on Spheres
Authors: Al-Dayel Ibrahim , Deshmukh Sharief
Published: April 2023

We studied the random variable Vt=volS2(gtB∩B), where B is a disc on the sphere S2 centered at the north pole and (gt)t≥0 is the Brownian motion on the special orthogonal group SO(3) starting at the identity. We applied the results of the theory of compact Lie groups to evaluate the expectation of Vt for 0≤t≤τ, where τ is the first time when Vt vanishes. We obtained an integral formula using the heat equation on some Riemannian submanifold ΓB seen as the support of the function f(g)=volS2(gB∩B) immersed in SO(3). The integral formula depends on the mean curvature of ΓB and the diameter of B.
Multiplication Algorithms for Approximate Optimal Distributions with Cost Constraints
Authors: Fu Lianyan , Ma Faming , Yu Zhuoxi , Zhu Zhichuan
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we study the D- and A-optimal assignment problems for regression models with experimental cost constraints. To solve these two problems, we propose two multiplicative algorithms for obtaining optimal designs and establishing extended D-optimal (ED-optimal) and A-optimal (EA-optimal) criteria. In addition, we give proof of the convergence of the ED-optimal algorithm and draw conjectures about some properties of the EA-optimal algorithm. Compared with the classical D- and A-optimal algorithms, the ED- and EA-optimal algorithms consider not only the accuracy of parameter estimation, but also the experimental cost constraint. The proposed methods work well in the digital example.
Cervico-Dorsal Intramedullary Spinal Cord Abscess with Aspergillus fumigates following Pulmonary Infection in an Immunocompetent Patient
Authors: Mereuta Vasile Deniss , Sava Anca , Stan Cristinel Ionel , Eva Lucian , Dumitrescu Gabriela Florenta , Dobrin Nicolaie , Tudorache Cornelia , Chiriac Alexandru , Strambu Irina Ruxandra , Chiran Dragos Andrei , Dumitrescu Ana Maria
Published: April 2023

Invasive forms of aspergillosis of the nervous system are relatively rare and are usually diagnosed in immunocompromised patients. We present the case of a young female patient, treated in the last two months with corticosteroids and antifungal drug for pulmonary aspergillosis, who developed progressive paraparesis. An intramedullary abscess at the C7–D1 level was identified and the lesion was treated with a combination of surgery and antifungal therapy. Histopathologic findings of surgical specimens showed myelomalacia with Aspergillus hyphae and a peripheral rim of neutrophils. We consider that the use of multiple drugs and corticosteroids for our patient’s initial community pneumonia could be the factor that transformed her into a mildly immunocompromised individual and permitted the Aspergillus spp. to disseminate through the blood and into the spinal cord. Moreover, we highlight the fact that more attention should be paid to living and working conditions of the patients, as a simple colonization of the lung with Aspergillus spp. could develop, in a short time, into an invasive disease with a high risk of mortality.
Pituitary Tumorigenesis—Implications for Management
Authors: Vamvoukaki Rodanthi , Chrysoulaki Maria , Betsi Grigoria , Xekouki Paraskevi
Published: April 2023

Pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs), the third most common intracranial tumor, are mostly benign. However, some of them may display a more aggressive behavior, invading into the surrounding structures. While they may rarely metastasize, they may resist different treatment modalities. Several major advances in molecular biology in the past few years led to the discovery of the possible mechanisms involved in pituitary tumorigenesis with a possible therapeutic implication. The mutations in the different proteins involved in the Gsa/protein kinase A/c AMP signaling pathway are well-known and are responsible for many PitNETS, such as somatotropinomas and, in the context of syndromes, as the McCune–Albright syndrome, Carney complex, familiar isolated pituitary adenoma (FIPA), and X-linked acrogigantism (XLAG). The other pathways involved are the MAPK/ERK, PI3K/Akt, Wnt, and the most recently studied HIPPO pathways. Moreover, the mutations in several other tumor suppressor genes, such as menin and CDKN1B, are responsible for the MEN1 and MEN4 syndromes and succinate dehydrogenase (SDHx) in the context of the 3PAs syndrome. Furthermore, the pituitary stem cells and miRNAs hold an essential role in pituitary tumorigenesis and may represent new molecular targets for their diagnosis and treatment. This review aims to summarize the different cell signaling pathways and genes involved in pituitary tumorigenesis in an attempt to clarify their implications for diagnosis and management.
Impact of Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy on Liver Fibrosis Regression among People with Chronic HCV Infection: Results from a Real-Life Cohort in Patients Who Achieved Sustained Virological Response
Authors: García-Ros Alejandro , Morán Senador , Núñez Virginia , García-Ros Gonzalo , Ruiz Guadalupe , García-Solano José
Published: April 2023

Background and Objectives: The global prevalence of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is 0.8%, affecting around 58 million people worldwide. Treatment with DAAs reduces all-cause HCV mortality by 49–68%. This work aims to determine whether there is liver fibrosis regression (LFR) in patients who achieved Sustained Virological Response (SVR) after treatment with DAAs. Materials and Methods: An analytical, observational, single-center, and cohort study was carried out. The final sample consisted of 248 HCV-infected patients. All started treatment with DAAs between January 2015 and December 2017. Five measurements were performed to determine the fibrotic stage in patients (measured in kilopascals (kPa)) using transient elastography (FibroScan®, Echosens, The Netherlands). Results: Taking the baseline fibrotic stage as a reference, the distribution in subgroups was as follows: 77 F4 patients (31.0%); 55 F3 patients (22.2%); 53 F2 patients (21.4%); and 63 F0/F1 patients (25.4%). There were 40 patients (16.1%) with at least one HCV complication and 13 (5.2%) who developed hepatocellular carcinoma. The overall LFR rate was 77.8% (144 of 185 F2/F3/F4 patients, p = 0.01) at the end of the follow-up period. The highest mean FibroScan® values were observed in patients with: “male gender”; “metabolic syndrome”; “subtype 1a”; “NRP DAA”; “at least one HCV complication”; “death from HCV complications”; and “liver transplantation requirement”. Conclusions: Treatment with DAAs achieved high rates of LFR and a decrease in mean FibroScan® values in all subgroups.
A Novel Hybrid Membrane Process Coupled with Freeze Concentration for Phosphorus Recovery from Cheese Whey
Authors: Hidayat Ipan , Paredes Lidia , Binder Pablo M. , Guerra-Gorostegi Nagore , Mora Mabel , Ponsá Sergio , Oatley-Radcliffe Darren L. , Llenas Laia
Published: April 2023

The ever-increasing demand for phosphorus fertilisers for securing global food production, coupled with finite phosphate rock reserves, is one of the emerging problems in the world. Indeed, phosphate rock is listed as an EU critical raw material, triggering attention to find an alternative source to substitute the use of this limited resource. Cheese whey, characterized by a high content of organic matter and phosphorus, represents a promising feedstock for phosphorus recovery and recycling. An innovative application of a membrane system coupled with freeze concentration was assessed to recover phosphorus from cheese whey. The performances of a microfiltration membrane (0.2 µm) and an ultrafiltration (200 kDa) membrane were evaluated and optimized under different transmembrane pressures and crossflow velocities. Once the optimal operating conditions were determined, a pre-treatment including lactic acid acidification and centrifugation was applied to increase the permeate recovery. Finally, the efficiency of progressive freeze concentration for the treatment of the permeate obtained from the optimum conditions (UF 200 kDa with TMP of 3 bar, CFV of 1 m/s and lactic acid acidification) was evaluated at specific operating conditions (−5 °C and 600 rpm of stirring speed). Finally, 70% of phosphorus could be recovered from cheese whey using the coupled technology of the membrane system and freeze concentration. A phosphorus-rich product was obtained with high agronomic value, which constitutes a further step towards establishing a broader circular economy framework.
Urinary 1H NMR Metabolomic Analysis of Prenatal Maternal Stress Due to a Natural Disaster Reveals Metabolic Risk Factors for Non-Communicable Diseases: The QF2011 Queensland Flood Study
Authors: Heynen Joshua P. , McHugh Rebecca R. , Boora Naveenjyote S. , Simcock Gabrielle , Kildea Sue , Austin Marie-Paule , Laplante David P. , King Suzanne , Montina Tony , Metz Gerlinde A. S.
Published: April 2023

Prenatal stress alters fetal programming, potentially predisposing the ensuing offspring to long-term adverse health outcomes. To gain insight into environmental influences on fetal development, this QF2011 study evaluated the urinary metabolomes of 4-year-old children (n = 89) who were exposed to the 2011 Queensland flood in utero. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to analyze urinary metabolic fingerprints based on maternal levels of objective hardship and subjective distress resulting from the natural disaster. In both males and females, differences were observed between high and low levels of maternal objective hardship and maternal subjective distress groups. Greater prenatal stress exposure was associated with alterations in metabolites associated with protein synthesis, energy metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism. These alterations suggest profound changes in oxidative and antioxidative pathways that may indicate a higher risk for chronic non-communicable diseases such obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes, as well as mental illnesses, including depression and schizophrenia. Thus, prenatal stress-associated metabolic biomarkers may provide early predictors of lifetime health trajectories, and potentially serve as prognostic markers for therapeutic strategies in mitigating adverse health outcomes.
Efficient Synthesis of a Schiff Base Copper(II) Complex Using a Microfluidic Device
Authors: Kobayashi Masashi , Akitsu Takashiro , Furuya Masahiro , Sekiguchi Tetsushi , Shoji Shuichi , Tanii Takashi , Tanaka Daiki
Published: April 2023

The efficient synthesis of amino acid Schiff base copper(II) complexes using a microfluidic device was successfully achieved. Schiff bases and their complexes are remarkable compounds due to their high biological activity and catalytic function. Conventionally, products are synthesized under reaction conditions of 40 °C for 4 h using a beaker-based method. However, in this paper, we propose using a microfluidic channel to enable quasi-instantaneous synthesis at room temperature (23 °C). The products were characterized using UV–Vis, FT–IR, and MS spectroscopy. The efficient generation of compounds using microfluidic channels has the potential to significantly contribute to the efficiency of drug discovery and material development due to high reactivity.
Three Successfully Treated Cases of Lodderomyces elongisporus Fungemia: Case Reports and a Review of the Literature
Authors: Asai Nobuhiro , Shibata Yuichi , Nakamura Akiko , Suematsu Hiroyuki , Yamada Atsuko , Ohno Tomoko , Sakanashi Daisuke , Kawamoto Yuzuka , Miyazaki Narimi , Koita Isao , Kato Hideo , Hagihara Mao , Ohta Hirotoshi , Mikamo Hiroshige
Published: April 2023

Fungemia is a fatal systemic infection that can occur in immunocompromised patients. Despite that, antifungal stewardship is spreading widely, but the mortality rate is extremely high, showing 40–60%. Loderomyces elongiporus is a newly morphologically detected pathogen, first described in 1994, followed by isolation in humans in 2008. It has been misrecognized as Candida parapsilosis. Recently, fever attributable to L. elongisporus fungemia cases has been reported, and the etiology and clinical features are still unknown. Here, we present three successfully treated L. elongisporus fungemia cases by echinocandin. In total, 11 cases were reviewed, including ours. Six of the eleven cases (55%) had external devices. All cases had some immunocompromised conditions or underlying diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, lung cancer, etc. Six patients survived, and the remaining five died. Seven patients who had received echinocandin initially survived. Risk factors for L. elongiporus fungemia overlap with those of candidemia. Even though there is no breakpoint for L. elongiporus, echinocandin can be a helpful treatment regimen for L. elongiporus fungemia.
Microalga Coelastrella sp. Cultivation on Unhydrolyzed Molasses-Based Medium towards the Optimization of Conditions for Growth and Biomass Production under Mixotrophic Cultivation
Authors: Thepsuthammarat Kamolwan , Reungsang Alissara , Plangklang Pensri
Published: April 2023

Improving biomass production with the utilization of low-cost substrate is a crucial approach to overcome the hindrance of high cost in developing large-scale microalgae production. The microalga Coelastrella sp. KKU-P1 was mixotrophically cultivated using unhydrolyzed molasses as a carbon source, with the key environmental conditions being varied in order to maximize biomass production. The batch cultivation in flasks achieved the highest biomass production of 3.81 g/L, under an initial pH 5.0, a substrate to inoculum ratio of 100:3, an initial total sugar concentration of 10 g/L, and a sodium nitrate concentration of 1.5 g/L with continuous light illumination at 23.7 W/m2. The photobioreactor cultivation results indicated that CO2 supplementation did not improve biomass production. An ambient concentration of CO2 was sufficient to promote the mixotrophic growth of the microalga as indicated by the highest biomass production of 4.28 g/L with 33.91% protein, 46.71% carbohydrate, and 15.10% lipid. The results of the biochemical composition analysis suggest that the microalgal biomass obtained is promising as a source of essential amino acids and pigments as well as saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. This research highlights the potential for bioresource production via microalgal mixotrophic cultivation using untreated molasses as a low-cost raw material.
The Applications of Electrochemical Immunosensors in the Detection of Disease Biomarkers: A Review
Authors: Chen Huinan , Zhang Jialu , Huang Rong , Wang Dejia , Deng Dongmei , Zhang Qixian , Luo Liqiang
Published: April 2023

Disease-related biomarkers may serve as indicators of human disease. The clinical diagnosis of diseases may largely benefit from timely and accurate detection of biomarkers, which has been the subject of extensive investigations. Due to the specificity of antibody and antigen recognition, electrochemical immunosensors can accurately detect multiple disease biomarkers, including proteins, antigens, and enzymes. This review deals with the fundamentals and types of electrochemical immunosensors. The electrochemical immunosensors are developed using three different catalysts: redox couples, typical biological enzymes, and nanomimetic enzymes. This review also focuses on the applications of those immunosensors in the detection of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, novel coronavirus pneumonia and other diseases. Finally, the future trends in electrochemical immunosensors are addressed in terms of achieving lower detection limits, improving electrode modification capabilities and developing composite functional materials.
Controlling the Redox Catalytic Activity of a Cyclic Selenide Fused to 18-Crown-6 by the Conformational Transition Induced by Coordination to an Alkali Metal Ion
Authors: Iwaoka Michio , Oba Hajime , Ito Takeru
Published: April 2023

trans-3,4-Dihydroxyselenolane (DHS), a water-soluble cyclic selenide, exhibits selenoenzyme-like unique redox activities through reversible oxidation to the corresponding selenoxide. Previously, we demonstrated that DHS can be applied as an antioxidant against lipid peroxidation and a radioprotector by means of adequate modifications of the two hydroxy (OH) groups. Herein, we synthesized new DHS derivatives with a crown-ether ring fused to the OH groups (DHS-crown-n (n = 4 to 7), 1–4) and investigated their behaviors of complex formation with various alkali metal salts. According to the X-ray structure analysis, it was found that the two oxygen atoms of DHS change the directions from diaxial to diequatorial by complexation. The similar conformational transition was also observed in solution NMR experiments. The 1H NMR titration in CD3OD further confirmed that DHS-crown-6 (3) forms stable 1:1 complexes with KI, RbCl and CsCl, while it forms a 2:1 complex with KBPh4. The results suggested that the 1:1 complex (3·MX) exchanges the metal ion with metal-free 3 through the formation of the 2:1 complex. The redox catalytic activity of 3 was evaluated using a selenoenzyme model reaction between H2O2 and dithiothreitol. The activity was significantly reduced in the presence of KCl due to the complex formation. Thus, the redox catalytic activity of DHS could be controlled by the conformational transition induced by coordination to an alkali metal ion.
Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents for the Extraction of Triterpene Saponins from Aralia elata var. mandshurica (Rupr. & Maxim.) J. Wen
Authors: Petrochenko Alyona A. , Orlova Anastasia , Frolova Nadezhda , Serebryakov Evgeny B. , Soboleva Alena , Flisyuk Elena V. , Frolov Andrej , Shikov Alexander N.
Published: April 2023

The roots of the medicinal plant Aralia elata are rich in biologically active natural products, with triterpene saponins constituting one of their major groups. These metabolites can be efficiently extracted by methanol and ethanol. Due to their low toxicity, natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) were recently proposed as promising alternative extractants for the isolation of natural products from medicinal plants. However, although NADES-based extraction protocols are becoming common in routine phytochemical work, their application in the isolation of triterpene saponins has not yet been addressed. Therefore, here, we address the potential of NADES in the extraction of triterpene saponins from the roots of A. elata. For this purpose, the previously reported recoveries of Araliacea triterpene saponins in extraction experiments with seven different acid-based NADES were addressed by a targeted LC-MS-based quantitative approach for, to the best of our knowledge, the first time. Thereby, 20 triterpene saponins were annotated by their exact mass and characteristic fragmentation patterns in the total root material, root bark and root core of A. elata by RP-UHPLC-ESI-QqTOF-MS, with 9 of them being identified in the roots of this plant for the first time. Triterpene saponins were successfully extracted from all tested NADES, with the highest efficiency (both in terms of the numbers and recoveries of individual analytes) achieved using a 1:1 mixture of choline chloride and malic acid, as well as a 1:3 mixture of choline chloride and lactic acid. Thereby, for 13 metabolites, NADES were more efficient extractants in comparison with water and ethanol. Our results indicate that new, efficient NADES-based extraction protocols, giving access to high recoveries of triterpene saponins, might be efficiently employed in laboratory practice. Thus, our data open the prospect of replacing alcohols with NADES in the extraction of A. elata roots.
Suppressing Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Lytic Gene Expression and Replication by RNase P Ribozyme
Authors: Liu Yujun , Chen Yuan-Chuan , Yan Bin , Liu Fenyong
Published: April 2023

Kaposi’s sarcoma, an AIDS-defining illness, is caused by Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), an oncogenic virus. In this study, we engineered ribozymes derived from ribonuclease P (RNase P) catalytic RNA with targeting against the mRNA encoding KSHV immediate early replication and transcription activator (RTA), which is vital for KSHV gene expression. The functional ribozyme F-RTA efficiently sliced the RTA mRNA sequence in vitro. In cells, KSHV production was suppressed with ribozyme F-RTA expression by 250-fold, and RTA expression was suppressed by 92–94%. In contrast, expression of control ribozymes hardly affected RTA expression or viral production. Further studies revealed both overall KSHV early and late gene expression and viral growth decreased because of F-RTA-facilitated suppression of RTA expression. Our results indicate the first instance of RNase P ribozymes having potential for use in anti-KSHV therapy.
Synthesis and Peroxide Activation Mechanism of Bimetallic MOF for Water Contaminant Degradation: A Review
Authors: Fan Mengke , Yan Jingwei , Cui Quantao , Shang Run , Zuo Qiting , Gong Lin , Zhang Wei
Published: April 2023

Metal–organic framework (MOF) materials possess a large specific surface area, high porosity, and atomically dispersed metal active sites, which confer excellent catalytic performance as peroxide (peroxodisulfate (PDS), peroxomonosulfate (PMS), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)) activation catalysts. However, the limited electron transfer characteristics and chemical stability of traditional monometallic MOFs restrict their catalytic performance and large-scale application in advanced oxidation reactions. Furthermore, the single-metal active site and uniform charge density distribution of monometallic MOFs result in a fixed activation reaction path of peroxide in the Fenton-like reaction process. To address these limitations, bimetallic MOFs have been developed to improve catalytic activity, stability, and reaction controllability in peroxide activation reactions. Compared with monometallic MOFs, bimetallic MOFs enhance the active site of the material, promote internal electron transfer, and even alter the activation path through the synergistic effect of bimetals. In this review, we systematically summarize the preparation methods of bimetallic MOFs and the mechanism of activating different peroxide systems. Moreover, we discuss the reaction factors that affect the process of peroxide activation. This report aims to expand the understanding of bimetallic MOF synthesis and their catalytic mechanisms in advanced oxidation processes.
Phytoestrogens as Biomarkers of Plant Raw Materials Used for Fish Feed Production
Authors: Pavlopoulos Dionysios T. , Myrtsi Eleni D. , Tryfinopoulou Paschalitsa , Iliopoulos Vasilios , Koulocheri Sofia D. , Haroutounian Serkos A.
Published: April 2023

The intensive use of plant materials as a sustainable alternative for fish feed production, combined with their phytochemical content, which affects the growth and production characteristics of farmed fishes, necessitates their monitoring for the presence of raw materials of plant origin. This study reported herein concerns the development, validation and application of a workflow using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the quantification of 67 natural phytoestrogens in plant-derived raw materials that were used to produce fish feeds. Specifically, we verified the presence of 8 phytoestrogens in rapeseed meal samples, 20 in soybean meal samples, 12 in sunflower meal samples and only 1 in wheat meal samples in quantities enabling their efficient incorporation into clusters. Among the various constituents, the soybean phytoestrogens daidzein, genistein, daidzin, glycitin, apigenin, calycosin and coumestrol, as well as the sunflower neochlorogenic, caffeic and chlorogenic phenolic acids, displayed the highest correlations with their origin descriptions. A hierarchical cluster analysis of the studied samples, based on their phytoestrogen contents, led to the efficient clustering of raw materials. The accuracy and efficiency of this clustering were tested through the incorporation of additional samples of soybean meal, wheat meal and maize meal, which verified the utilization of the phytoestrogen content as a valuable biomarker for the discrimination of raw materials used for fish feed production.
Morphology and Properties of Polylactic Acid Composites with Butenediol Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer Formed by Melt Blending
Authors: Xing Jian , Wang Rongrong , Sun Shaoyang , Shen Ying , Liang Botao , Xu Zhenzhen
Published: April 2023

Due to its poor toughness and hydrophilicity, the application of polylactic acid (PLA) in the field of absorbent sanitary materials is restricted. A butenediol vinyl alcohol copolymer (BVOH) was used to improve PLA via melt blending. The morphology, molecular structure, crystallization, thermal stability, tensile property, and hydrophilicity of PLA/BVOH composites with different mass ratios were investigated. The results show that the PLA/BVOH composites possessed a two-phase structure with good interfacial adhesion. The BVOH could effectively blend into PLA without a chemical reaction. The addition of the BVOH promoted the crystallization of PLA, improved the perfection of the crystalline region, and increased the glass transition temperature and melting temperature of PLA in the heating process. Moreover, the thermal stability of PLA was markedly improved by adding the BVOH. The addition of the BVOH also had a significant effect on the tensile property of the PLA/BVOH composites. When the content of the BVOH was 5 wt.%, the elongation at the break of the PLA/BVOH composites could reach 9.06% (increased by 76.3%). In addition, the hydrophilicity of PLA was also significantly improved, and the water contact angles decreased with the increase in the BVOH content and time. When the content of the BVOH was 10 wt.%, the water contact angle could reach 37.3° at 60 s, suggesting good hydrophilicity.
Identification of Protein Quality Markers in Toad Venom from Bufo gargarizans
Authors: Yang Meiyun , Huan Weiwei , Zhang Guobing , Li Jie , Xia Fengyan , Durrani Rabia , Zhao Wei , Lu Jidong , Peng Xinmeng , Gao Fei
Published: April 2023

Toad venom is a traditional Chinese medicine with high medicinal value. The existing quality evaluation standards of toad venom have obvious limitations because of the lack of research on proteins. Thus, it is necessary to screen suitable quality markers and establish appropriate quality evaluation methods for toad venom proteins to guarantee their safety and efficacy in clinical applications. SDS-PAGE, HPLC, and cytotoxicity assays were used to analyze differences in protein components of toad venom from different areas. Functional proteins were screened as potential quality markers by proteomic and bioinformatic analyses. The protein components and small molecular components of toad venom were not correlated in content. Additionally, the protein component had strong cytotoxicity. Proteomics analysis showed that 13 antimicrobial proteins, four anti-inflammatory and analgesic proteins, and 20 antitumor proteins were differentially expressed extracellular proteins. A candidate list of functional proteins was coded as potential quality markers. Moreover, Lysozyme C-1, which has antimicrobial activity, and Neuropeptide B (NPB), which has anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity, were identified as potential quality markers for toad venom proteins. Quality markers can be used as the basis of quality studies of toad venom proteins and help to construct and improve safe, scientific, and comprehensive quality evaluation methods.
Experimental and Simulation Studies on Hematite Interaction with Na-Metasilicate Pentahydrate
Authors: Quezada Gonzalo R. , Toro Norman , Krishna R. S. , Mishra Subhabrata , Robles Pedro , Salazar Ivan , Mathe Enoque , Jeldres Ricardo I.
Published: April 2023

Iron ore is a fundamental pillar in construction globally, however, its process is highly polluting and deposits are becoming less concentrated, making reusing or reprocessing its sources a sustainable solution to the current industry. A rheological analysis was performed to understand the effect of sodium metasilicate on the flow curves of concentrated pulps. The study was carried out in an Anton Paar MCR 102 rheometer, showing that, in a wide range of dosages, the reagent can reduce the yield stress of the slurries, which would result in lower energy costs for transporting the pulps by pumping. To understand the behavior observed experimentally, computational simulation has been used by means of quantum calculations to represent the metasilicate molecule and the molecular dynamics to study the adsorption of metasilicate on the hematite surface. It has been possible to obtain that the adsorption is stable on the surface of hematite, where increasing the concentration of metasilicate increases its adsorption on the surface. The adsorption could be modeled by the Slips model where there is a delay in adsorption at low concentrations and then a saturated value is reached. It was found that metasilicate requires the presence of sodium ions to be adsorbed on the surface by means of a cation bridge-type interaction. It is also possible to identify that it is absorbed by means of hydrogen bridges, but to a lesser extent than the cation bridge. Finally, it is observed that the presence of metasilicate adsorbed on the surface modifies the net surface charge, increasing it and, thus, generating the effect of dispersion of hematite particles which experimentally is observed as a decrease in rheology.
Dihydropyrimidone Derivatives as Thymidine Phosphorylase Inhibitors: Inhibition Kinetics, Cytotoxicity, and Molecular Docking
Authors: Cui Tian-Meng , Altaf Muhammad , Aldarhami Abdu , Bazaid Abdulrahman S. , Saeedi Nizar H. , Alkayyal Almohanad A. , Alshabrmi Fahad M. , Ali Farman , Aladhadh Mohammed , Khan Muhammad Yasir , Alsaiari Ahad Amer , Ma Yue-Rong
Published: April 2023

Overexpression of the thymidine phosphorylase (TP) enzyme induces angiogenesis, which eventually leads to metastasis and tumor growth. The crucial role of TP in cancer development makes it an important target for anticancer drug discovery. Currently, there is only one US-FDA-approved drug, i.e., Lonsurf, a combination of trifluridine and tipiracil, for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Unfortunately, numerous adverse effects are associated with its use, such as myelosuppression, anemia, and neutropenia. Since the last few decades, the discovery of new, safe, and effective TP inhibitory agents has been rigorously pursued. In the present study, we evaluated a series of previously synthesized dihydropyrimidone derivatives 1–40 for their TP inhibitory potential. Compounds 1, 12, and 33 showed a good activity with IC50 = 314.0 ± 0.90, 303.5 ± 0.40, and 322.6 ± 1.60 µM, respectively. The results of mechanistic studies revealed that compounds 1, 12, and 33 were the non-competitive inhibitors. These compounds were also evaluated for cytotoxicity against 3T3 (mouse fibroblast) cells and were found to be non-cytotoxic. Finally, the molecular docking suggested the plausible mechanism of non-competitive inhibition of TP. The current study thus identifies some dihydropyrimidone derivatives as potential inhibitors of TP, which can be further optimized as leads for cancer treatment.
Senkyunolide I: A Review of Its Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics, and Drug-Likeness
Authors: Huang Yan , Wu Yan , Yin Hongxiang , Du Leilei , Chen Chu
Published: April 2023

Senkyunolide I (SI) is a natural phthalide that has drawn increasing interest for its potential as a cardio-cerebral vascular drug candidate. In this paper, the botanical sources, phytochemical characteristics, chemical and biological transformations, pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties, and drug-likeness of SI are reviewed through a comprehensive literature survey, in order to provide support for its further research and applications. In general, SI is mainly distributed in Umbelliferae plants, and it is relatively stable to heat, acid, and oxygen, with good blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability. Substantial studies have established reliable methods for the isolation, purification, and content determination of SI. Its pharmacological effects include analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-thrombotic, anti-tumor effects, alleviating ischemia–reperfusion injury, etc. Pharmacokinetic parameters indicate that its metabolic pathway is mainly phase Ⅱ metabolism, and it is rapidly absorbed in vivo and widely distributed in the kidneys, liver, and lungs.
A Novel Non-Metallic Photocatalyst: Phosphorus-Doped Sulfur Quantum Dots
Authors: Liu Ziyi , Shan Chuanfu , Wei Guiyu , Wen Jianfeng , Jiang Li , Hu Guanghui , Fang Zhijie , Tang Tao , Li Ming
Published: April 2023

In this paper, a novel phosphorus-doped sulfur quantum dots (P-SQDs) material was prepared using a simple hydrothermal method. P-SQDs have a narrow particle size distribution as well as an excellent electron transfer rate and optical properties. Compositing P-SQDs with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) can be used for photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes under visible light. More active sites, a narrower band gap, and stronger photocurrent are obtained after introducing P-SQDs into g-C3N4, thus promoting its photocatalytic efficiency by as much as 3.9 times. The excellent photocatalytic activity and reusability of P-SQDs/g-C3N4 are prospective signs of its photocatalytic application under visible light.
Effect of Plasmonic Ag Nanoparticles on Emission Properties of Planar GaN Nanowires
Authors: Pozina Galia , Hemmingsson Carl , Abrikossova Natalia , Girshova Elizaveta , Lähderanta Erkki , Kaliteevski Mikhail
Published: April 2023

The combination of plasmonic nanoparticles and semiconductor substrates changes the properties of hybrid structures that can be used for various applications in optoelectronics, photonics, and sensing. Structures formed by colloidal Ag nanoparticles (NPs) with a size of 60 nm and planar GaN nanowires (NWs) have been studied by optical spectroscopy. GaN NWs have been grown using selective-area metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. A modification of the emission spectra of hybrid structures has been observed. In the vicinity of the Ag NPs, a new emission line appears at 3.36 eV. To explain the experimental results, a model considering the Fröhlich resonance approximation is suggested. The effective medium approach is used to describe the enhancement of emission features near the GaN band gap.
Recent Advancements in TiO2 Nanostructures: Sustainable Synthesis and Gas Sensing
Authors: Kumarage Gayan W. C. , Hakkoum Hadjer , Comini Elisabetta
Published: April 2023

The search for sustainable technology-driven advancements in material synthesis is a new norm, which ensures a low impact on the environment, production cost, and workers’ health. In this context, non-toxic, non-hazardous, and low-cost materials and their synthesis methods are integrated to compete with existing physical and chemical methods. From this perspective, titanium oxide (TiO2) is one of the fascinating materials because of its non-toxicity, biocompatibility, and potential of growing by sustainable methods. Accordingly, TiO2 is extensively used in gas-sensing devices. Yet, many TiO2 nanostructures are still synthesized with a lack of mindfulness of environmental impact and sustainable methods, which results in a serious burden on practical commercialization. This review provides a general outline of the advantages and disadvantages of conventional and sustainable methods of TiO2 preparation. Additionally, a detailed discussion on sustainable growth methods for green synthesis is included. Furthermore, gas-sensing applications and approaches to improve the key functionality of sensors, including response time, recovery time, repeatability, and stability, are discussed in detail in the latter parts of the review. At the end, a concluding discussion is included to provide guidelines for the selection of sustainable synthesis methods and techniques to improve the gas-sensing properties of TiO2.
Targeting of Tomato Bushy Stunt Virus with a Genetically Fused C-End Rule Peptide
Authors: Marchetti Luca , Simon-Gracia Lorena , Lico Chiara , Mancuso Mariateresa , Baschieri Selene , Santi Luca , Teesalu Tambet
Published: April 2023

Homing peptides are widely used to improve the delivery of drugs, imaging agents, and nanoparticles (NPs) to their target sites. Plant virus-based particles represent an emerging class of structurally diverse nanocarriers that are biocompatible, biodegradable, safe, and cost-effective. Similar to synthetic NPs, these particles can be loaded with imaging agents and/or drugs and functionalized with affinity ligands for targeted delivery. Here we report the development of a peptide-guided Tomato Bushy Stunt Virus (TBSV)-based nanocarrier platform for affinity targeting with the C-terminal C-end rule (CendR) peptide, RPARPAR (RPAR). Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy demonstrated that the TBSV-RPAR NPs bind specifically to and internalize in cells positive for the peptide receptor neuropilin-1 (NRP-1). TBSV-RPAR particles loaded with a widely used anticancer anthracycline, doxorubicin, showed selective cytotoxicity on NRP-1-expressing cells. Following systemic administration in mice, RPAR functionalization conferred TBSV particles the ability to accumulate in the lung tissue. Collectively, these studies show the feasibility of the CendR-targeted TBSV platform for the precision delivery of payloads.
Multi-Technique Approach for Work Function Exploration of Sc2O3 Thin Films
Authors: Mezzi Alessio , Bolli Eleonora , Kaciulis Saulius , Bellucci Alessandro , Paci Barbara , Generosi Amanda , Mastellone Matteo , Serpente Valerio , Trucchi Daniele Maria
Published: April 2023

Thin films based on scandium oxide (Sc2O3) were deposited on silicon substrates to investigate the thickness effect on the reduction of work function. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray reflectivity (EDXR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) measurements were performed on the films deposited by electron-beam evaporation with different nominal thicknesses (in the range of 2–50 nm) and in multi-layered mixed structures with barium fluoride (BaF2) films. The obtained results indicate that non-continuous films are required to minimize the work function (down to 2.7 eV at room temperature), thanks to the formation of surface dipole effects between crystalline islands and substrates, even if the stoichiometry is far from the ideal one (Sc/O = 0.38). Finally, the presence of BaF2 in multi-layered films is not beneficial for a further reduction in the work function.