bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ketoanalogs’ Effects on Intestinal Microbiota Modulation and Uremic Toxins Serum Levels in Chronic Kidney Disease (Medika2 Study)
Authors: Rocchetti Maria Teresa , Di Iorio Biagio Raffaele , Vacca Mirco , Cosola Carmela , Marzocco Stefania , di Bari Ighli , Calabrese Francesco Maria , Ciarcia Roberto , De Angelis Maria , Gesualdo Loreto
Published: February 2021

Nutritional therapy (NT) is a therapeutic option in the conservative treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients to delay the start of dialysis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the specific effect of ketoanalogs (KA)-supplemented diets for gut microbiota modulation. In a previous study we observed that the Mediterranean diet (MD) and a KA-supplemented very-low-protein diet (VLPD) modulated beneficially gut microbiota, reducing indoxyl- and p-cresyl-sulfate (IS, PCS) serum levels, and ameliorating the intestinal permeability in CKD patients. In the current study, we added a third diet regimen consisting of KA-supplemented MD. Forty-three patients with CKD grades 3B–4 continuing the crossover clinical trial were assigned to six months of KA-supplemented MD (MD + KA). Compared to MD, KA-supplementation in MD + KA determined (i) a decrease of Clostridiaceae, Methanobacteriaceae, Prevotellaceae, and Lactobacillaceae while Bacteroidaceae and Lachnospiraceae increased; (ii) a reduction of total and free IS and PCS compared to a free diet (FD)—more than the MD, but not as effectively as the VLPD. These results further clarify the driving role of urea levels in regulating gut integrity status and demonstrating that the reduction of azotemia produced by KA-supplemented VLPD was more effective than KA-supplemented MD in gut microbiota modulation mainly due to the effect of the drastic reduction of protein intake rather than the effect of KA.
Potential of Photodynamic Therapy Based on Sugar-Conjugated Photosensitizers
Authors: Kataoka Hiromi , Nishie Hirotada , Tanaka Mamoru , Sasaki Makiko , Nomoto Akihiro , Osaki Tomohiro , Okamoto Yoshiharu , Yano Shigenobu
Published: February 2021

In 2015, the Japanese health insurance approved the use of a second-generation photodynamic therapy (PDT) using talaporfin sodium (TS); however, its cancer cell selectivity and antitumor effects of TS PDT are not comprehensive. The Warburg effect describes the elevated rate of glycolysis in cancer cells, despite the presence of sufficient oxygen. Because cancer cells absorb considerable amounts of glucose, they are visible using positron emission tomography (PET). We developed a third-generation PDT based on the Warburg effect by synthesizing novel photosensitizers (PSs) in the form of sugar-conjugated chlorins. Glucose-conjugated (tetrafluorophenyl) chlorin (G-chlorin) PDT revealed significantly stronger antitumor effects than TS PDT and induced immunogenic cell death (ICD). ICD induced by PDT enhances cancer immunity, and a combination therapy of PDT and immune checkpoint blockers is expected to synergize antitumor effects. Mannose-conjugated (tetrafluorophenyl) chlorin (M-chlorin) PDT, which targets cancer cells and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), also shows strong antitumor effects. Finally, we synthesized a glucose-conjugated chlorin e6 (SC-N003HP) that showed 10,000–50,000 times stronger antitumor effects than TS (IC50) in vitro, and it was rapidly metabolized and excreted. In this review, we discuss the potential and the future of next-generation cancer cell-selective PDT and describe three types of sugar-conjugated PSs expected to be clinically developed in the future.
Is Urinary Netrin-1 a Good Marker of Tubular Damage in Preterm Newborns?
Authors: Kamianowska Monika , Szczepański Marek , Chomontowska Natalia , Trochim Justyna , Wasilewska Anna
Published: February 2021

There is a lack of a good marker for early kidney injury in premature newborns. In recent publications, netrin-1 seems to be a promising biomarker of kidney damage in different pathological states. The study aimed to measure the urinary level of netrin-1 depending on gestational age. A prospective study involved 88 newborns (I-60 premature newborns, II-28 healthy term newborns). Additionally, premature babies were divided for 2 groups: IA-28 babies born between 30–34 weeks of gestation and IB-32 born at 35–36 weeks. The median urinary concentration of netrin-1 was: IA-(median, Q1–Q3) 63.65 (56.57–79.92) pg/dL, IB-61.90 (58.84–67.17) pg/dL, and II-60.37 (53.77–68.75) pg/dL, respectively. However urinary netrin-1 normalized by urinary concentration of creatinine were IA-547.9 (360.2–687.5) ng/mg cr., IB-163.64 (119.15–295.96) ng/mg cr., and II-81.37 (56.84–138.58) ng/mg cr., respectively and differ significantly between the examined groups (p = 0.00). The netrin-1/creatinine ratio is increased in premature babies. Further studies examining the potential factors influencing kidney function are necessary to confirm its potential value in the diagnosis of subclinical kidney damage in premature newborns.
Reduced Awareness for Osteoporosis in Distal Radius Fracture Patients Compared to Patients with Proximal Femur Fractures
Authors: Keppler Alexander Martin , Kraus Moritz , Blaschke Matthias , Thomasser Nicole , Kammerlander Christian , Böcker Wolfgang , Neuerburg Carl , Stumpf Ulla Cordula
Published: February 2021

Purpose: The present study is aiming to evaluate patients’ awareness to participate in further diagnostics for osteoporosis and to find out if there are significant differences with regards to fracture site. Methods: Patients at risk for underlying osteoporosis (female >60 and male >70 years) undergoing surgical treatment for a distal radius fracture (DRF) or a proximal femur fracture (PFF) were asked to complete a questionnaire assessing the awareness for underlying osteoporosis. Furthermore, dual-X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans were analyzed. Results: Overall, 150 patients (w = 122/m = 28, mean age 79.9 years (±8.6)) were included, of these, 36 patients suffered a DRF and 114 patients a PFF. Of these, 68 out of the 150 patients (45.3%) considered that an examination was necessary, whereas in PFF patients the awareness was higher than in the DRF Group (41% vs. 32%). Conclusions: The patients’ willingness to undergo further diagnostics for osteoporosis was generally poor. DRFs are frequently accompanied by a lower limitation of quality of life compared to PFF, which might be causative for even poorer awareness in these patients. Especially younger patients (age 60–70 years) with a distal radius fracture seemed to underestimate osteoporosis.
Fetal Cardiac Interventions—Are They Safe for the Mothers?
Authors: Rebizant Beata , Koleśnik Adam , Grzyb Agnieszka , Chaberek Katarzyna , Sękowska Agnieszka , Witwicki Jacek , Szymkiewicz-Dangel Joanna , Dębska Marzena
Published: February 2021

The aim of fetal cardiac interventions (FCI), as other prenatal therapeutic procedures, is to bring benefit to the fetus. However, the safety of the mother is of utmost importance. The objective of our study was to evaluate the impact of FCI on maternal condition, course of pregnancy, and delivery. 113 mothers underwent intrauterine treatment of their fetuses with critical heart defects. 128 percutaneous ultrasound-guided FCI were performed and analyzed. The patients were divided into four groups according to the type of FCI: balloon aortic valvuloplasty (fBAV), balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (fBPV), interatrial stent placement (IAS), and balloon atrioseptoplasty (BAS). Various factors: maternal parameters, perioperative data, and pregnancy complications, were analyzed. There was only one major complication—procedure-related placental abruption (without need for blood products transfusion). There were no cases of: procedure-related preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (pPROM), chorioamnionitis, wound infection, and anesthesia associated complications. Tocolysis was only necessary only in two cases, and it was effective in both. None of the patients required intensive care unit admission. The procedure was effective in treating polyhydramnios associated with fetal heart failure in six out of nine cases. Deliveries occurred at term in 89%, 54% were vaginal. The results showed that FCI had a negligible impact on a further course of pregnancy and delivery.
Judo Injuries Frequency in Europe’s Top-Level Competitions in the Period 2005–2020
Authors: Błach Wiesław , Smolders Peter , Rydzik Łukasz , Bikos Georgios , Maffulli Nicola , Malliaropoulos Nikos , Jagiełło Władysław , Maćkała Krzysztof , Ambroży Tadeusz
Published: February 2021

Background: The present study assesses the frequency of injury in Europe’s top-level judokas, during top-level competitions, and defines risk factors. Methods: The members of the EJU Medical Commission collected injury data over the period of 2005 to 2020 using the EJU Injury Registration Form at Europe’s top judoka tournaments. Results: Over the 15 years of the study, 128 top-level competitions with 28,297 competitors were included; 699 injuries were registered. Of all competitors, 2.5% needed medical treatment. The knee (17.4%), shoulder (15.7%), and elbow (14.2%) were the most common anatomical locations of injury. Sprains (42.2%) were by far the most frequent injury type, followed by contusions (23.1%). Of all contestants, 0.48% suffered an injury which needed transportation to hospital. There was a statistically significant higher frequency of elbow injuries in female athletes (p < 0.01). Heavy-weight judokas suffered a remarkably low number of elbow injuries, with more knee and shoulder injuries. Light-weight judokas were more prone to elbow injuries. Conclusions: We found there was a low injury rate in top-level competitors, with a greater frequency of elbow injuries in female judokas. During the 15 years of injury collection data, an injury incidence of 2.5% was found, with a remarkable high injury rate in the women’s −52 kg category, and statistically significantly more elbow injuries in women overall.
Predictors and Early Markers of Response to Biological Therapies in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Authors: Privitera Giuseppe , Pugliese Daniela , Rapaccini Gian Ludovico , Gasbarrini Antonio , Armuzzi Alessandro , Guidi Luisa
Published: February 2021

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic conditions that primarily affect the gastrointestinal tract, with a complex pathogenesis; they are characterized by a significant heterogeneity of clinical presentations and of inflammatory pathways that sustain intestinal damage. After the introduction of the first biological therapies, the pipeline of therapies for IBD has been constantly expanding, and a significant number of new molecules is expected in the next few years. Evidence from clinical trials and real-life experiences has taught us that up to 40% of patients do not respond to a specific drug. Unfortunately, to date, clinicians lack a valid tool that can predict each patient’s response to therapies and that could help them in choosing what drug to administer. Several candidate biomarkers have been investigated so far, with conflicting results: clinical, genetic, immunological, pharmacokinetic and microbial markers have been tested, but no ideal marker has been identified so far. Based on recent evidence, multiparametric models seemingly hold the greatest potential for predicting response to therapy. In this narrative review, we aim to summarize the current knowledge on predictors and early markers of response to biological therapies in IBD.
Early Diagnostics and Early Intervention in Neurodevelopmental Disorders—Age-Dependent Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Hadders-Algra Mijna
Published: February 2021

This review discusses early diagnostics and early intervention in developmental disorders in the light of brain development. The best instruments for early detection of cerebral palsy (CP) with or without intellectual disability are neonatal magnetic resonance imaging, general movements assessment at 2–4 months and from 2–4 months onwards, the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination and Standardized Infant NeuroDevelopmental Assessment. Early detection of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is difficult; its first signs emerge at the end of the first year. Prediction with the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers and Infant Toddler Checklist is possible to some extent and improves during the second year, especially in children at familial risk of ASD. Thus, prediction improves substantially when transient brain structures have been replaced by permanent circuitries. At around 3 months the cortical subplate has dissolved in primary motor and sensory cortices; around 12 months the cortical subplate in prefrontal and parieto-temporal cortices and cerebellar external granular layer have disappeared. This review stresses that families are pivotal in early intervention. It summarizes evidence on the effectiveness of early intervention in medically fragile neonates, infants at low to moderate risk, infants with or at high risk of CP and with or at high risk of ASD.
Study on the Collapse Process of Cavitation Bubbles Including Heat Transfer by Lattice Boltzmann Method
Authors: Liu Yang , Peng Yong
Published: February 2021

In this study, an improved double distribution function based on the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is applied to simulate the evolution of non-isothermal cavitation. The density field and the velocity field are solved by pseudo-potential LBM with multiple relaxation time (MRT), while the temperature field is solved by thermal LBM-MRT. First, the proposed LBM model is verified by the Rayleigh–Plesset equation and D2 (the square of the droplet diameter) law for droplet evaporation. The results show that the simulation by the LBM model is identical to the corresponding analytical solution. Then, the proposed LBM model is applied to study the cavitation bubble growth and collapse in three typical boundaries, namely, an infinite domain, a straight wall and a convex wall. For the case of an infinite domain, the proposed model successfully reproduces the process from the expansion to compression of the cavitation bubble, and an obvious temperature gradient exists at the surface of the bubble. When the bubble collapses near a straight wall, there is no second collapse if the distance between the wall and the bubble is relatively long, and the temperature inside the bubble increases as the distance increases. When the bubble is close to the convex wall, the lower edge of the bubble evolves into a sharp corner during the shrinkage stage. Overall, the present study shows that this improved LBM model can accurately predict the cavitation bubble collapse including heat transfer. Moreover, the interaction between density and temperature fields is included in the LBM model for the first time.
Identification of Somatic Structural Variants in Solid Tumors by Optical Genome Mapping
Authors: Goldrich David Y. , LaBarge Brandon , Chartrand Scott , Zhang Lijun , Sadowski Henry B. , Zhang Yang , Pham Khoa , Way Hannah , Lai Chi-Yu Jill , Pang Andy Wing Chun , Clifford Benjamin , Hastie Alex R. , Oldakowski Mark , Goldenberg David , Broach James R.
Published: February 2021

Genomic structural variants comprise a significant fraction of somatic mutations driving cancer onset and progression. However, such variants are not readily revealed by standard next-generation sequencing. Optical genome mapping (OGM) surpasses short-read sequencing in detecting large (>500 bp) and complex structural variants (SVs) but requires isolation of ultra-high-molecular-weight DNA from the tissue of interest. We have successfully applied a protocol involving a paramagnetic nanobind disc to a wide range of solid tumors. Using as little as 6.5 mg of input tumor tissue, we show successful extraction of high-molecular-weight genomic DNA that provides a high genomic map rate and effective coverage by optical mapping. We demonstrate the system’s utility in identifying somatic SVs affecting functional and cancer-related genes for each sample. Duplicate/triplicate analysis of select samples shows intra-sample reliability but also intra-sample heterogeneity. We also demonstrate that simply filtering SVs based on a GRCh38 human control database provides high positive and negative predictive values for true somatic variants. Our results indicate that the solid tissue DNA extraction protocol, OGM and SV analysis can be applied to a wide variety of solid tumors to capture SVs across the entire genome with functional importance in cancer prognosis and treatment.
A Prospective Study: Highlights of Hippocampal Spectroscopy in Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Samoilova Julia , Matveeva Mariia , Tonkih Olga , Kudlau Dmitry , Oleynik Oxana , Kanev Aleksandr
Published: February 2021

Diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2 is associated with cognitive impairment. Previous studies have reported a relationship between changes in cerebral metabolite levels and the variability of glycemia. However, the specific risk factors that affect the metabolic changes associated with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in cognitive dysfunction remain uncertain. The aim of the study was to evaluate the specificity of hippocampal spectroscopy in type 1 and type 2 diabetes and cognitive dysfunction. Materials and methods: 65 patients with type 1 diabetes with cognitive deficits and 20 patients without, 75 patients with type 2 diabetes with cognitive deficits and 20 patients without have participated in the study. The general clinical analysis and evaluation of risk factors of cognitive impairment were carried out. Neuropsychological testing included the Montreal Scale of Cognitive Dysfunction Assessment (MoCA test). Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was performed in the hippocampal area, with the assessment of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), creatine (Cr), and phosphocreatine (PCr) levels. Statistical processing was performed using the commercially available IBM SPSS software. Results: Changes in the content of NAA, choline Cho, phosphocreatine Cr2 and their ratios were observed in type 1 diabetes. More pronounced changes in hippocampal metabolism were observed in type 2 diabetes for all of the studied metabolites. Primary risk factors of neurometabolic changes in patients with type 1 diabetes were episodes of severe hypoglycemia in the history of the disease, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), chronic hyperglycemia, and increased body mass index (BMI). In type 2 diabetes, arterial hypertension (AH), BMI, and patient’s age are of greater importance, while the level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), duration of the disease, level of education and insulin therapy are of lesser importance. Conclusion: Patients with diabetes have altered hippocampal metabolism, which may serve as an early predictive marker. The main modifiable factors have been identified, correction of which may slow down the progression of cognitive dysfunction.
Natural Resources Volatility and Economic Growth: Evidence from the Resource-Rich Region
Authors: Hayat Arshad , Tahir Muhammad
Published: February 2021

This research paper investigates the impact of natural resources volatility on economic growth. The paper focused on three resource-rich economies, namely, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. Using data from 1970 to 2016 and employing the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) cointegration approach, we found that both natural resources and their volatility matter from the perspective of growth. The study found strong evidence in favor of a positive and statistically significant relationship between natural resources and economic growth for the economies of UAE and Saudi Arabia. Similarly, for the economy of Oman, a positive but insignificant relationship is observed between natural resources and economic growth. However, we found that the volatility of natural resources has a statistically significant negative impact on the economic growth of all three economies. This study contradicts the traditional concept of the resources curse and provides evidence of the resources curse in the form of a negative impact of volatility on economic growth.
Integrating MODIS and Landsat Data for Land Cover Classification by Multilevel Decision Rule
Authors: Guan Xudong , Huang Chong , Zhang Rui
Published: February 2021

In some cloudy and rainy regions, the cloud cover is high in moderate-high resolution remote sensing images collected by satellites with a low revisit cycle, such as Landsat. This presents an obstacle for classifying land cover in cloud-covered parts of the image. A decision fusion scheme is proposed for improving land cover classification accuracy by integrating the complementary information of MODIS (Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) time series data with Landsat moderate-high spatial resolution data. The multilevel decision fusion method includes two processes. First, MODIS and Landsat data are pre-classified by fuzzy classifiers. Second, the pre-classified results are assembled according to their assessed performance. Thus, better pre-classified results are retained and worse pre-classified results are restrained. For the purpose of solving the resolution difference between MODIS and Landsat data, the proposed fusion scheme employs an object-oriented weight assignment method. A decision rule based on a compromise operator is applied to assemble pre-classified results. Three levels of data containing different types of information are combined, namely the MODIS pixel-level and object-level data, and the Landsat pixel-level data. The multilevel decision fusion scheme was tested on a site in northeast Thailand. The fusion results were compared with the single data source classification results, showing that the multilevel decision fusion results had a higher overall accuracy. The overall accuracy is improved by more than 5 percent. The method was also compared to the two-level combination results and a weighted sum decision rule-based approach. A comparison experiment showed that the multilevel decision fusion rule had a higher overall accuracy than the weighted sum decision rule-based approach and the low-level combination approach. A major limitation of the method is that the accuracy of some of the land covers, where areas are small, are not as improved as the overall accuracy.
Will Rural Collective-Owned Commercial Construction Land Marketization Impact Local Governments’ Interest Distribution? Evidence from Mainland China
Authors: Zhang Mingyu , Chen Qiuxiao , Zhang Kewei , Yang Dongye
Published: February 2021

To promote the harmonious human-land relationships and increased urban-rural interaction, rural collective-owned commercial construction land (RCOCCL) marketization reform in some pilot areas was a new attempt by the Chinese Central Government in 2015. In this areas, a novel interest distribution system was established with the land right adjustment and the corresponding local governments were likely to benefit through taxation and land appreciation adjustment fund. This study proposed the hypothesis that the RCOCCL marketization reform would improve local government revenue, and explored the actual effect based on panel census data of county-level administrative units from 2010 to 2018. We applied the difference-in-difference (DID) method to analyze the causal effect of this reform on fiscal revenue with 29 pilot areas selected as the treatment group and 1602 county-level units as the control group. The empirical results of the optimized DID robustness test models and the Heckman two-step method showed that the RCOCCL marketization reform does not have a significant impact because of lower land circulation efficiency, the transfer of land transaction costs, and the policy implementation deviations. Thus, weakening the administrative intervention of local governments in the RCOCCL marketization is essential to the land market development in China.
A Novel 89Zr-labeled DDS Device Utilizing Human IgG Variant (scFv): “Lactosome” Nanoparticle-Based Theranostics for PET Imaging and Targeted Therapy
Authors: Lim Melissa Siaw Han , Ohtsuki Takashi , Takenaka Fumiaki , Kobayashi Kazuko , Akehi Masaru , Uji Hirotaka , Kobuchi Hirotsugu , Sasaki Takanori , Ozeki Eiichi , Matsuura Eiji
Published: February 2021

“Theranostics,” a new concept of medical advances featuring a fusion of therapeutic and diagnostic systems, provides promising prospects in personalized medicine, especially cancer. The theranostics system comprises a novel 89Zr-labeled drug delivery system (DDS), derived from the novel biodegradable polymeric micelle, “Lactosome” nanoparticles conjugated with specific shortened IgG variant, and aims to successfully deliver therapeutically effective molecules, such as the apoptosis-inducing small interfering RNA (siRNA) intracellularly while offering simultaneous tumor visualization via PET imaging. A 27 kDa-human single chain variable fragment (scFv) of IgG to establish clinically applicable PET imaging and theranostics in cancer medicine was fabricated to target mesothelin (MSLN), a 40 kDa-differentiation-related cell surface glycoprotein antigen, which is frequently and highly expressed by malignant tumors. This system coupled with the cell penetrating peptide (CPP)-modified and photosensitizer (e.g., 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis (4-aminophenyl) porphyrin (TPP))-loaded Lactosome particles for photochemical internalized (PCI) driven intracellular siRNA delivery and the combination of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) photodynamic therapy (PDT) offers a promising nano-theranostic-based cancer therapy via its targeted apoptosis-inducing feature. This review focuses on the combined advances in nanotechnology and material sciences utilizing the “89Zr-labeled CPP and TPP-loaded Lactosome particles” and future directions based on important milestones and recent developments in this platform.
Highly Dispersed CeOx Hybrid Nanoparticles for Perfluorinated Sulfonic Acid Ionomer–Poly(tetrafluoethylene) Reinforced Membranes with Improved Service Life
Authors: Ahn Juhee , Ali Mobina Irshad , Lim Jun Hyun , Park Yejun , Park In Kee , Duchesne Denis , Chen Lisa , Kim Juyoung , Lee Chang Hyun
Published: February 2021

CeOx hybrid nanoparticles were synthesized and evaluated for use as radical scavengers, in place of commercially available Ce(NO3)3 and CeO2 nanoparticles, to avoid deterioration of the initial electrochemical performance and/or spontaneous aggregation/precipitation issues encountered in polymer electrolyte membranes. When CeOx hybrid nanoparticles were used for membrane formation, the resulting membranes exhibited improved proton conductivity (improvement level = 2–15% at 30–90 °C), and thereby electrochemical single cell performance, because the –OH groups on the hybrid nanoparticles acted as proton conductors. In spite of a small amount (i.e., 1.7 mg/cm3) of introduction, their antioxidant effect was sufficient enough to alleviate the radical-induced decomposition of perfluorinated sulfonic acid ionomer under a Fenton test condition and to extend the chemical durability of the resulting reinforced membranes under fuel cell operating conditions.
Comparative Study on the Kinetics of the Isothermal Reduction of Iron Ore Composite Pellets Using Coke, Charcoal, and Biomass as Reducing Agents
Authors: Yuan Xiaoli , Luo Fuming , Liu Shifeng , Zhang Mingyuan , Zhou Dongshan
Published: February 2021

The kinetics of the isothermal reduction of iron ore–coke, iron ore–charcoal, and iron ore–biomass (straw) composite pellets were studied at 900–1200 °C. Compared with the other two composite pellets, the composite pellet using biomass as a reducing agent showed a more rapid reduction rate at a relatively low temperature. With an increase in the temperature, the reduction rates of the three different composite pellets tended to be equal. The reducing reactions of the three different composite pellets were all mainly controlled by gasification diffusion. The reduction rates can be described by the interface reaction kinetic model ([1−(1−m)1/3]2=kt). The apparent activation energies of the gasification diffusion of coke, charcoal, and biomass composite pellets at 900–1200 °C were calculated using the Arrhenius equation, and they were 95.81, 71.67, and 58.69 kJ/mol, respectively. The biomass composite pellets exhibited a lower apparent activation energy than the composite pellets with other reduction agents.
Galvanic Sensor for Detecting Corrosion during Acid Cleaning of Magnetite in Steam Boilers
Authors: Al-Mayouf Abdullah M. , Al-Shalwi Matar N.
Published: February 2021

A simple galvanic sensor was developed to determine the onset of iron corrosion under conditions similar to those used for removing the iron oxide (magnetite) layer from steam boilers with a hy-drochloric acid solution. Since the potentials of magnetite and iron are different, the initiation of the dissolution of the magnetite layer without corroding the base metal can be determined by moni-toring the potential of a sensor made of magnetite layers of different thicknesses that can be placed directly on the iron surface. Moreover, the time at which the addition of corrosion inhibitors is required to protect the base metal can be specified using this sensor. It has been shown that the time required for the iron base metal to start was dependent on the magnetite layer thickness in the sensor. With this sensor, the onset of the steel corrosion during the cleaning can be detected in re-al-time which makes the oxide removal process less harmful to the base metal.
Untargeted Metabolomics Reveals Major Differences in the Plasma Metabolome between Colorectal Cancer and Colorectal Adenomas
Authors: Gumpenberger Tanja , Brezina Stefanie , Keski-Rahkonen Pekka , Baierl Andreas , Robinot Nivonirina , Leeb Gernot , Habermann Nina , Kok Dieuwertje , Scalbert Augustin , Ueland Per-Magne , Ulrich Cornelia , Gsur Andrea
Published: February 2021

Sporadic colorectal cancer is characterized by a multistep progression from normal epithelium to precancerous low-risk and high-risk adenomas to invasive cancer. Yet, the underlying molecular mechanisms of colorectal carcinogenesis are not completely understood. Within the “Metabolomic profiles throughout the continuum of colorectal cancer” (MetaboCCC) consortium we analyzed data generated by untargeted, mass spectrometry-based metabolomics using plasma from 88 colorectal cancer patients, 200 patients with high-risk adenomas and 200 patients with low-risk adenomas recruited within the “Colorectal Cancer Study of Austria” (CORSA). Univariate logistic regression models comparing colorectal cancer to adenomas resulted in 442 statistically significant molecular features. Metabolites discriminating colorectal cancer patients from those with adenomas in our dataset included acylcarnitines, caffeine, amino acids, glycerophospholipids, fatty acids, bilirubin, bile acids and bacterial metabolites of tryptophan. The data obtained discovers metabolite profiles reflecting metabolic differences between colorectal cancer and colorectal adenomas and delineates a potentially underlying biological interpretation.
Enhancement of Mixing Performance of Two-Layer Crossing Micromixer through Surrogate-Based Optimization
Authors: Hossain Shakhawat , Tayeb Nass Toufiq , Islam Farzana , Kaseem Mosab , Bui P.D.H. , Bhuiya M.M.K. , Aslam Muhammad , Kim Kwang-Yong
Published: February 2021

Optimum configuration of a micromixer with two-layer crossing microstructure was performed using mixing analysis, surrogate modeling, along with an optimization algorithm. Mixing performance was used to determine the optimum designs at Reynolds number 40. A surrogate modeling method based on a radial basis neural network (RBNN) was used to approximate the value of the objective function. The optimization study was carried out with three design variables; viz., the ratio of the main channel thickness to the pitch length (H/PI), the ratio of the thickness of the diagonal channel to the pitch length (W/PI), and the ratio of the depth of the channel to the pitch length (d/PI). Through a primary parametric study, the design space was constrained. The design points surrounded by the design constraints were chosen using a well-known technique called Latin hypercube sampling (LHS). The optimal design confirmed a 32.0% enhancement of the mixing index as compared to the reference design.
High Content Analysis of Macrophage-Targeting EhPIb-Compounds against Cutaneous and Visceral Leishmania Species
Authors: Fehling Helena , Niss Hanno , Bea Annika , Kottmayr Nadine , Brinker Christine , Hoenow Stefan , Sellau Julie , Gilberger Tim-Wolf , Ting Frederic , Landschulze Dirk , Meier Chris , Clos Joachim , Lotter Hannelore
Published: February 2021

An immunostimulatory glycolipid molecule from the intestinal protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica (Eh) and its synthetic analogs derived from its phosphatidylinositol-b-anchor (EhPIb) previously showed considerable immunotherapeutic effects against Leishmania major infection in vitro and in vivo. Here, we describe a high content screening assay, based on primary murine macrophages. Parasites detection is based on a 90 kDA heat shock protein-specific staining, enabling the detection of several Leishmania species. We validated the assay using L. major, L. braziliensis, L. donovani, and L. infantum as well as investigated the anti-leishmanial activity of six immunostimulatory EhPIb-compounds (Eh-1 to Eh-6). Macrophages infected with dermotropic species were more sensitive towards treatment with the compounds as their viability showed a stronger reduction compared to macrophages infected with viscerotropic species. Most compounds caused a significant reduction of the infection rates and the parasite burdens depending on the infecting species. Only compound Eh-6 was found to have activity against all Leishmania species. Considering the challenges in anti-leishmanial drug discovery, we developed a multi-species screening assay capable of utilizing non-recombinant parasite strains, and demonstrated its usefulness by screening macrophage-targeting EhPIb-compounds showing their potential for the treatment of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis.
Isolation and Characterization of Two Lytic Bacteriophages Infecting a Multi-Drug Resistant Salmonella Typhimurium and Their Efficacy to Combat Salmonellosis in Ready-to-Use Foods
Authors: Esmael Ahmed , Azab Ehab , Gobouri Adil A. , Nasr-Eldin Mohamed A. , Moustafa Mahmoud M. A. , Mohamed Shereen A. , Badr Omnia A. M. , Abdelatty Alzahraa M.
Published: February 2021

Foodborne salmonellosis is a global threat to public health. In the current study, we describe the isolation and characterization of two broad-spectrum, lytic Salmonella phages: SPHG1 and SPHG3 infecting a multidrug-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium EG.SmT3. Electron microscopy and whole genome analysis identified SPHG1 as a Myovirus, while SPHG3 as a new member of the genus “Kuttervirus” within the family Ackermannviridae. SPHG1 and SPHG3 had a lysis time of 60 min. with burst sizes of 104 and 138 PFU/cell, respectively. The two phages were robust at variable temperatures and pH ranges that match the corresponding values of most of the food storage and processing conditions. A phage cocktail containing the two phages was stable in the tested food articles for up to 48 h. The application of the phage cocktail at MOIs of 1000 or 100 resulted in a significant reduction in the viable count of S. Typhimurium by 4.2 log10/sample in milk, water, and on chicken breast. Additionally, the phage cocktail showed a prospective ability to eradicate and reduce the biofilm that formed by S. Typhimurium EG.SmT3. A phage cocktail of SPHG1 and SPHG3 is considered as a promising candidate as a biocontrol agent against foodborne salmonellosis due to its broad host ranges, highly lytic activities, and the absence of any virulence or lysogeny-related genes in their genomes.
Treatment with Uncaria tomentosa Promotes Apoptosis in B16-BL6 Mouse Melanoma Cells and Inhibits the Growth of B16-BL6 Tumours
Authors: Zari Ali , Alfarteesh Hajer , Buckner Carly , Lafrenie Robert
Published: February 2021

Uncaria tomentosa is a medicinal plant native to Peru that has been traditionally used in the treatment of various inflammatory disorders. In this study, the effectiveness of U. tomentosa as an anti-cancer agent was assessed using the growth and survival of B16-BL6 mouse melanoma cells. B16-BL6 cell cultures treated with both ethanol and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) extracts of U. tomentosa displayed up to 80% lower levels of growth and increased apoptosis compared to vehicle controls. Treatment with ethanolic extracts of Uncaria tomentosa were much more effective than treatment with aqueous extracts. U. tomentosa was also shown to inhibit B16-BL6 cell growth in C57/bl mice in vivo. Mice injected with both the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of U. tomentosa showed a 59 ± 13% decrease in B16-BL6 tumour weight and a 40 ± 9% decrease in tumour size. Histochemical analysis of the B16-BL6 tumours showed a strong reduction in the Ki-67 cell proliferation marker in U. tomentosa-treated mice and a small, but insignificant increase in terminal transferase dUTP nick labelling (TUNEL) staining. Furthermore, U. tomentosa extracts reduced angiogenic markers and reduced the infiltration of T cells into the tumours. Collectively, the results in this study concluded that U. tomentosa has potent anti-cancer activity that significantly inhibited cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.
Chemical Strategies towards the Synthesis of Betulinic Acid and Its More Potent Antiprotozoal Analogues
Authors: Cunha André Barreto , Batista Ronan , Castro María Ángeles , David Jorge Mauricio
Published: February 2021

Betulinic acid (BA, 3β-hydroxy-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid) is a pentacyclic triterpene acid present predominantly in Betula ssp. (Betulaceae) and is also widely spread in many species belonging to different plant families. BA presents a wide spectrum of remarkable pharmacological properties, such as cytotoxic, anti-HIV, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and antimicrobial activities, including antiprotozoal effects. The present review first describes the sources of BA and discusses the chemical strategies to produce this molecule starting from betulin, its natural precursor. Next, the antiprotozoal properties of BA are briefly discussed and the chemical strategies for the synthesis of analogues displaying antiplasmodial, antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal activities are systematically presented. The antiplasmodial activity described for BA was moderate, nevertheless, some C-3 position acylated analogues showed an improvement of this activity and the hybrid models—with artesunic acid—showed the most interesting properties. Some analogues also presented more intense antileishmanial activities compared with BA, and, in addition to these, heterocycles fused to C-2/C-3 positions and amide derivatives were the most promising analogues. Regarding the antitrypanosomal activity, some interesting antitrypanosomal derivatives were prepared by amide formation at the C-28 carboxylic group of the lupane skeleton. Considering that BA can be produced either by isolation of different plant extracts or by chemical transformation of betulin, easily obtained from Betula ssp., it could be said that BA is a molecule of great interest as a starting material for the synthesis of novel antiprotozoal agents.
Antimicrobial Metabolites against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus from the Endophytic Fungus Neofusicoccum australe
Authors: Cadelis Melissa M. , Geese Soeren , Uy Benedict B. , Mulholland Daniel R. , van de Pas Shara J. , Grey Alex , Weir Bevan S. , Copp Brent R. , Wiles Siouxsie
Published: February 2021

Antimicrobial bioassay-guided fractionation of the endophytic fungi Neofusicoccum australe led to the isolation of a new unsymmetrical naphthoquinone dimer, neofusnaphthoquinone B (1), along with four known natural products (2–5). Structure elucidation was conducted by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic methods, and the antimicrobial activity of all the natural products was investigated, revealing 1 to be moderately active towards methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 16 µg/mL.
In Silico Screening of the DrugBank Database to Search for Possible Drugs against SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Cuesta Sebastián A. , Mora José R. , Márquez Edgar A.
Published: February 2021

Coronavirus desease 2019 (COVID-19) is responsible for more than 1.80 M deaths worldwide. A Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships (QSAR) model is developed based on experimental pIC50 values reported for a structurally diverse dataset. A robust model with only five descriptors is found, with values of R2 = 0.897, Q2LOO = 0.854, and Q2ext = 0.876 and complying with all the parameters established in the validation Tropsha’s test. The analysis of the applicability domain (AD) reveals coverage of about 90% for the external test set. Docking and molecular dynamic analysis are performed on the three most relevant biological targets for SARS-CoV-2: main protease, papain-like protease, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. A screening of the DrugBank database is executed, predicting the pIC50 value of 6664 drugs, which are IN the AD of the model (coverage = 79%). Fifty-seven possible potent anti-COVID-19 candidates with pIC50 values > 6.6 are identified, and based on a pharmacophore modelling analysis, four compounds of this set can be suggested as potent candidates to be potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2. Finally, the biological activity of the compounds was related to the frontier molecular orbitals shapes.
Photoactive Titanium Dioxide Films with Embedded Gold Nanoparticles for Quantitative Determination of Mercury Traces in Humic Matter-Containing Freshwaters
Authors: Stock Vivian , Mutschler Anna , Lindén Mika , Leopold Kerstin
Published: February 2021

Mercury detection in humic matter-containing natural waters is often associated with environmental harmful substances for sample preparation. Herein we report an approach based on photoactive titanium dioxide films with embedded gold nanoparticles (AuNP@TiO2 dipstick) for chemical-free sample preparation and mercury preconcentration. For this purpose, AuNPs are immobilized onto a silicon wafer and further covered with a thin photoactive titanium dioxide layer. The AuNPs allow the preconcentration of Hg traces via amalgamation, while TiO2 acts as a protective layer and, at the same time, as a photocatalyst for UV-C radiation-based sample pretreatment. Humic matter, often present in natural waters, forms stabile complexes with Hg and so hinders its preconcentration prior to detection, causing a minor recovery. This problem is solved here by irradiation during Hg preconcentration onto the photoactive dipstick, resulting in a limit of detection as low as 0.137 ng L−1 using atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS). A 5 min preconcentration step is sufficient to obtain successful recovery of Hg traces from waters with up to 10 mg L−1 DOC. The feasibility of the approach was demonstrated by the determination of Hg traces in Danube river water. The results show no significant differences in comparison with standard cold vapor-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CV-AFS) measurements of the same sample. Hence, this new AuNP@TiO2 dipstick provides a single-step sample preparation and preconcentration approach that combines sustainability with high analytical sensitivity and accuracy.
One-Pot Hydrothermal Synthesis of Victoria Green (Ca3Cr2Si3O12) Nanoparticles in Alkaline Fluids and Its Colour Hue Characterisation
Authors: Rendón-Angeles Juan Carlos , Matamoros-Veloza Zully , Rodríguez-Galicia Jose Luis , Seong Gimyeong , Yanagisawa Kazumichi , Tamayo Aitana , Rubio Juan , Anaya-Chavira Lluvia A.
Published: February 2021

One-pot hydrothermal preparation of Ca3Cr2Si3O12 uvarovite nanoparticles under alkaline conditions was investigated for the first time. The experimental parameters selected for the study considered the concentration of the KOH solvent solution (0.01 to 5.0 M), the agitation of the autoclave (50 rpm), and the nominal content of Si4+ (2.2–3.0 mole). Fine uvarovite particles were synthesised at 200 °C after a 3 h interval in a highly concentrated 5.0 M KOH solution. The crystallisation of single-phase Ca3Cr2Si3O12 particles proceeded free of by-products via a one-pot process involving a single-step reaction. KOH solutions below 2.5 M and water hindered the crystallisation of the Ca3Cr2Si3O12 particles. The hydrothermal treatments carried out with stirring (50 rpm) and non-stirring triggered the crystallisation of irregular anhedral particles with average sizes of 8.05 and 12.25 nm, respectively. These particles spontaneously assembled into popcorn-shaped agglomerates with sizes varying from 66 to 156 nm. All the powders prepared by the present method exhibited CIE-L*a*b* values that correspond to the Victoria green colour spectral space and have a high near infrared reflectance property. The particle size and structural crystallinity are factors affecting the Victoria pigment optical properties, such as CIE-L*a*b* values, green tonality, and near-infrared reflectance.
Study of the Correlation between the Amorphous Indium-Gallium-Zinc Oxide Film Quality and the Thin-Film Transistor Performance
Authors: Hu Shiben , Lu Kuankuan , Ning Honglong , Yao Rihui , Gong Yanfen , Pan Zhangxu , Guo Chan , Wang Jiantai , Pang Chao , Gong Zheng , Peng Junbiao
Published: February 2021

In this work, we performed a systematic study of the physical properties of amorphous Indium–Gallium–Zinc Oxide (a-IGZO) films prepared under various deposition pressures, O2/(Ar+O2) flow ratios, and annealing temperatures. X-ray reflectivity (XRR) and microwave photoconductivity decay (μ-PCD) measurements were conducted to evaluate the quality of a-IGZO films. The results showed that the process conditions have a substantial impact on the film densities and defect states, which in turn affect the performance of the final thin-film transistors (TFT) device. By optimizing the IGZO film deposition conditions, high-performance TFT was able to be demonstrated, with a saturation mobility of 8.4 cm2/Vs, a threshold voltage of 0.9 V, and a subthreshold swing of 0.16 V/dec.
Biobased Carbon Dots: From Fish Scales to Photocatalysis
Authors: Campalani Carlotta , Cattaruzza Elti , Zorzi Sandro , Vomiero Alberto , You Shujie , Matthews Lauren , Capron Marie , Mondelli Claudia , Selva Maurizio , Perosa Alvise
Published: February 2021

The synthesis, characterization and photoreduction ability of a new class of carbon dots made from fish scales is here described. Fish scales are a waste material that contains mainly chitin, one of the most abundant natural biopolymers, and collagen. These components make the scales rich, not only in carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, but also in nitrogen. These self-nitrogen-doped carbonaceous nanostructured photocatalyst were synthesized from fish scales by a hydrothermal method in the absence of any other reagents. The morphology, structure and optical properties of these materials were investigated. Their photocatalytic activity was compared with the one of conventional nitrogen-doped carbon dots made from citric acid and diethylenetriamine in the photoreduction reaction of methyl viologen.