bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Desarrollos-buenos-vivires-sabrosos: Pluralismo territorial, justicia social y paz integral
Authors: González Medina Ronald Yonny
Published: September 2023

Este libro explora dos formas de planeación que se ‘articulan’ en los denominados planes de desarrollo, mediante una amplia y detallada investigación en cuatro municipios del norte del Cauca. Expone también una visión, una metodología y un método aportes del investigador, resultado del estudio, que son útiles en los procesos de con¬certación para las mal llamadas articulaciones de los planes con las comunidades indígenas. Estos aportes metodológicos superan los procesos étnicos adelantados hasta la fecha y además son viables para facilitar cualquier tipo de interrelación, negociación, concertación o diálogo entre grupos diversos. Asimismo, como resultado de la pesquisa en los territorios, se presenta un nuevo enfoque del desarrollo, como medio para que las comunidades diversas puedan asociarse y así visibilizar sus fines o expresiones ontológicas y cosmológicas. Este nuevo enfoque es una forma diferente de comprender, respetar y armonizar la complejidad de y en la diversidad, ya que propone un desarrollo asociado a fines ontológicos diversos, y se puede aplicar a cualquier conflicto social asociado a la diversidad, cuyas partes estén interesadas en un pluralismo de acción que teja unidad y paz en los territorios.
PT-symmetry breaking in dual-core phosphate-glass photonic crystal fibers
Authors: Longobucco Mattia , Le Xuan The Tai , Nguyen Viet Hung , Cimek Jarosław , Paluba Bartosz , Buczynski Ryszard , Trippenbach Marek
Published: September 2023

We investigate the properties of a soft glass dual-core photonic crystal fiber for application in multicore waveguiding with balanced gain and loss. Its base material is a phosphate glass in a P2O5-Al2O3-Yb3O3-BaO-ZnO-MgO-Na2O oxide system. The separated gain and loss channels are realized with two cores with ytterbium and copper doping of the base phosphate glass. The ytterbium-doped core supports a laser (gain) activity under excitation with a pump at 1000 nm wavelength, while the copper-doped is responsible for strong attenuation at the same wavelength. We establish conditions for an exact balance between gain and loss and investigate pulse propagation by solving a system of coupled generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equations. We predict two states of light under excitation with hyperbolic secant pulses centered at 1000 nm: 1) linear oscillation of the pulse energy between gain and loss channel (PT-symmetry state), with strong power attenuation; 2) retention of the pulse in the excited gain channel (broken PT-symmetry), with very modest attenuation. The optimal pulse energy levels were identified to be 100 pJ (first state) and 430 pJ (second state).
Epidemiological and molecular evidence of intrafamilial transmission through sexual and vertical routes in Bahia, the state with the highest prevalence of HTLV-1 in Brazil
Authors: Nunes da Silva Aidê , Araújo Thessika Hialla Almeida , Boa-Sorte Ney , Farias Giovanne , Galvão-Barroso Ana Karina , de Carvalho Antônio , Vicente Ana Carolina , Galvão-Castro Bernardo , Rios Grassi Maria Fernanda
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Familial clustering of HTLV-1 and related diseases has been reported in Brazil. However, intrafamilial transmission of HTLV-1 based on molecular analysis has been studied only in a few communities of Japanese immigrants and African-Brazilians.

Objective

To investigate the familial clustering of HTLV-1 infection and to determine the likely routes of transmission through epidemiological and genetic analyzes.

Methods

Medical records of 1,759 HTLV-1+ patients from de the Center for HTLV in Salvador, Brazil, were evaluated to identify first-degree relatives previously tested for HTLV-1. Familial clustering was assumed if more than one member of the same family was HTLV-1+. LTR regions of HTLV-1 sequences were analyzed for the presence of intrafamilial polymorphisms. Family pedigrees were constructed and analyzed to infer the likely transmission routes of HTLV-1.

Results

In 154 patients at least one other family member had tested positive for HTLV-1 (a total of 182 first-degree relatives). Of the 91 couples (182 individuals), 51.6% were breastfed, and 67.4% reported never using a condom. Of the 42 mother-child pairs, 23.8% had a child aged 13 years or younger; all mothers reported breastfeeding their babies. Pedigrees of families with 4 or more members suggests that vertical transmission is a likely mode of transmission in three families. Three families may have had both vertical and sexual transmission routes for HTLV-1. The genetic signatures of the LTR region of 8 families revealed 3 families with evidence of vertical transmission, another 3 families (spouses) with sexual transmission, and one family with both transmission routes. HTLV-1 sequences belonged to Cosmopolitan subtype HTLV-1a Transcontinental subgroup A.

Conclusion

Sexual and vertical transmission routes contribute to the intrafamilial spread of HTLV-1 in the state of Bahia.
Differential responses of Ceratitis capitata to infection by the entomopathogenic fungus Purpureocillium lilacinum
Authors: Djobbi Wafa , Msaad Guerfali Meriem , Vallier Agnès , Charaabi Kamel , Charles Hubert , Maire Justin , Parisot Nicolas , Hamden Haytham , Fadhl Salma , Heddi Abdelaziz , Cherif Ameur
Published: September 2023

The medflyCeratitis capitatais one of the most damaging fruit pests with quarantine significance due to its extremely wide host range. The use of entomopathogenic fungi constitutes a promising approach with potential applications in integrated pest management. Furthermore, developing insect control methods can involve the use of fungal machinery to cause metabolic disruption, which may increase its effectiveness by impairing insect development. Insect species, includingC.capitata, relies on reproduction potential, nutrient reserves, metabolic activities, and immune response for survival. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to investigate the impacts of the entomopathogenic fungusPurpureocillium lilacinumonC.capitatapre-mortality. The medfly V8 strain was subjected to laboratory bioassays, which consisted on determining the virulence ofP.lilacinumon the medfly.Purpureocillium lilacinumwas applied on abdominal topical of 5-day-old males and females. Following the fungal inoculation, we have confirmed (i) a significant increase in tissue sugar content, (ii) a significant decrease in carbohydrase activities, digestive glycosyl hydrolase, and proteinase activities in whole midguts of treated flies, (iii) the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) genes expression profile was significantly influenced by fly gender, fly status (virgin, mature, and mated), and time after infection, but infection itself had no discernible impact on the AMPs for the genes that were examined. This study provides the first insight into howP.lilacinumcould affectC.capitataphysiological mechanisms and provides the foundation for consideringP.lilacinumas a novel, promising biocontrol agent.
Relation between fluid intelligence and mathematics and reading comprehension achievements: The moderating role of student teacher relationships and school bonding
Authors: Semeraro Cristina , Musso Pasquale , Cassibba Rosalinda , Annese Susanna , Scurani Antonietta , Lucangeli Daniela , Taurino Alessandro , Coppola Gabrielle
Published: September 2023

Several studies have shown the relevance among students of the quality of their interpersonal relationships for their academic achievement. Nevertheless, most studies available have explored the relation between the cognitive functioning and academic achievement without taking into account the quality of the relationships experienced in the school environment. Furthermore, the studies that have begun to consider the joint role of these factors in the prediction of academic achievement are scant. Therefore, it appears of relevance to deepen the relation between cognitive functioning and quality of school relationships in order to support students’ academic achievement and the potential of youth. In this paper, we examined the moderating role of the quality of student–teacher relationships and school bonding (STR-SB) in the associations of fluid intelligence (Gf) with academic achievement among adolescents (N = 219). A multiple-group structural equation modelling analysis revealed that STR-SB quality moderated unexpectedly only the link between Gf and mathematics. The findings support the idea that the quality of student–teacher relationships may be a relevant dimension to be considered to clarify the association between cognitive functioning and academic achievement.
Drosophila melanogaster as a model for studies related to the toxicity of lavender, ginger and copaiba essential oils
Authors: Bernardes Lucas Matos Martins , Malta Serena Mares , Rodrigues Tamiris Sabrina , Covizzi Luiz Fernando , Rosa Rafael Borges , Justino Allisson Benatti , Teixeira Renata Roland , Espíndola Foued Salmen , Oliveira dos Santos Débora , Vieira Carlos Ueira , Vieira da Silva Murilo
Published: September 2023

This study addresses the current trend of essential oils in alternative medicine using the non-chordate model Drosophila melanogaster. Following the three R’s principles, it proposes non-chordate models to fill knowledge gaps on essential oil toxicity. Copaiba, lavender, and ginger essential oils are evaluated for effects on D. melanogaster lifespan, climbing ability, and brain structure, while their anti-inflammatory properties are also analyzed. Results show dose-related differences: higher concentrations (0.25% v/v) cause brain deterioration and impaired climbing, while lower concentrations (0.0625% v/v for copaiba and ginger; 0.125% for lavender) have no effect on climbing or brain structure. Lavender oil significantly extends lifespan and maintains anti-inflammatory activity when ingested, underscoring its therapeutic potential. These findings highlight the importance of D. melanogaster as a model for studying essential oil properties, potentially replacing chordate models. In addition, this research advances alternative remedies for currently incurable diseases, with lavender oil emerging as a promising candidate for drug discovery.
Validation of the Arabic Maternal postpartum quality of life questionnaire among Lebanese women: A cohort study
Authors: Nabulsi Mona , Smaili Hanan , Abou Khalil Nour
Published: September 2023

Background

The postpartum period is an important phase in a woman’s life. Yet, there is a paucity of validated instruments that assess maternal postpartum quality of life issues. The aim of this study is to describe the adaptation and validation of the Arabic version of the Maternal Postpartum Quality of Life (MAPP-QOL) questionnaire.

Methods

This instrument validation cohort study tested an adapted Arabic version of the MAPP-QOL questionnaire on a convenience sample of 485 healthy Lebanese postpartum women. The MAPP-QOL reliability and validity were investigated by conducting Exploratory Factor Analysis using Principal Component Analysis, and by correlating the participants’ MAPP-QOL scores with their scores on the Arabic Maternal Breastfeeding Evaluation Scale (MBFES-A), age, and education. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was conducted to examine how well the original factor structure of MAPP-QOL fits with our observed data using STATA 14. All other statistical analyses were done using SPSS version 23.

Results

The Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of the Arabic MAPP-QOL was 0.90. Exploratory factor analysis revealed the following five components: Functioning (11 items, Cronbach’s alpha of 0.82), Socioeconomic (9 items, Cronbach’s alpha of 0.81), Relational (9 items, Cronbach’s alpha of 0.75), Psychological (4 items, Cronbach’s alpha of 0.74), and Health (6 items, Cronbach’s alpha of 0.59). The overall Arabic MAPP-QOL score was positively but weakly correlated with the MBFES-A score (r = 0.177, p < 0.001), its Maternal Enjoyment/Role Attainment subscale score (r = 0.108, p = 0.023), and Lifestyle/Body Image subscale score (r = 0.286, p < 0.001). There was no significant association between the type of infant feeding at one month and the Arabic MAPP-QOL score (p = 0.932). Similarly, the Arabic MAPP-QOL score was not correlated with the participant’s age (r = 0.043, p = 0.362) or education (p = 0.451). After modification of indices, Confirmatory Factor Analysis revealed that the goodness of fit indices corresponding to the 5-factor model in the original questionnaire indicate a reasonable fit with RMSEA = 0.052, CFI = 0.847 and SRMR = 0.062.

Conclusions

The Arabic MAPP-QOL has good psychometric properties and may be a useful tool for clinicians and researchers interested in measuring maternal postpartum quality of life. Further replication of our findings in other Arab contexts is needed.
Efficacy of citicoline as a supplement in glaucoma patients: A systematic review
Authors: Prinz Julia , Prokosch Verena , Liu Hanhan , Walter Peter , Fuest Matthias , Migliorini Filippo
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Retinal ganglion cells (RGC), the neurons that connect the eyes to the brain, specifically die in glaucoma, leading to blindness. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only modifiable risk factor, however, many patients progress despite excellent IOP control. Thus, alternative treatment strategies to prevent glaucoma progression are an unmet need. Citicoline has demonstrated neuroprotective properties in central neurodegenerative diseases. However, conclusive evidence of the effect of citicoline on glaucoma progression is missing. This systematic review investigates first-time the therapeutic potential of citicoline in glaucoma patients.

Methods

The present study was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 statement. PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Embase were accessed in July 2023 to identify all clinical studies investigating the efficacy of citicoline on IOP, the mean deviation of the 24–2 visual field testing (MD 24–2), retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL), and the pattern electroretinogram (PERG) P50-N95 amplitude in glaucoma patients. The risk of bias was assessed using the Review Manager 5.3 software (The Nordic Cochrane Collaboration, Copenhagen) and the Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool.

Results

Ten studies were eligible for this systematic review, including 424 patients. The mean length of the follow-up was 12.1 ± 11.6 months. The overall risk of bias was low to moderate. The mean age of the patients was 56.7 years. There were no significant differences in the IOP, MD 24–2, RNFL, or PERG P50-N95 amplitude between patients receiving citicoline and the control group. There was no improvement from baseline to the last follow-up in IOP, MD 24–2, RNFL, or PERG P50-N95 amplitude.

Conclusion

There is a lack of sufficient evidence to support that citicoline slows the progression of glaucoma.
Comparing endoscopic mucosal resection with endoscopic submucosal dissection in colorectal adenoma and tumors: Meta-analysis and system review
Authors: Wang Nian , Shu Lei , Liu Song , Yang Lin , Bai Tao , Shi Zhaohong , Liu Xinghuang
Published: September 2023

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and long-term outcomes of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for treating colorectal adenomas and tumors.

Methods

A systematic literature review was conducted using databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase. Parameters such as number of patients or lesions, histological diagnosis, lesion size, surgery time, en-bloc resection, R0 resection, severe postoperative complications, and local recurrence were extracted and pooled for analysis.

Results

A total of 12 retrospective studies involving 1289 patients and 1850 lesions were included in the analysis. EMR was found to have a shorter operation time by 53.6 minutes (95% CI: 51.3, 55.9, P<0.001) and fewer incidences of severe postoperative complications such as perforation and delayed bleeding (OR = 0.40, 95%CI: 0.23, 0.71, P<0.001). On the other hand, ESD had higher rates of en-bloc resection (OR = 0.15, 95%CI: 0.07, 0.30, P<0.001) and R0 resection (OR = 0.32, 95%CI: 0.16, 0.65, P<0.001). Recurrence after EMR was found to be significantly higher than that after ESD surgery (OR = 5.88, 95%CI: 2.15, 16.07, P = 0.037).

Conclusions

The study suggests that the choice of surgical method may have a greater impact on recurrence compared to the pathological type, and that ESD may be more suitable for the treatment of malignant lesions despite its higher rates of severe postoperative complications and longer operation time.
Claims in the clinic: A qualitative group interview study on healthcare communication about unestablished side effects of the copper IUD
Authors: Wemrell Maria , Gunnarsson Lena
Published: September 2023

Background

Lay online communication about health-related issues has in recent years largely been associated with the spread of misinformation and decreased trust in healthcare. Such communication has included claims about systemic side effects of the copper IUD. In Sweden, a social media group centered on this issue now gathers around 8,700 members. This study aimed to use the case of reported yet unestablished side effects of the copper IUD to investigate experiences of and reasoning about healthcare encounters between caregivers and patients contesting established medical knowledge.

Methods

We conducted qualitative, semi-structured, digital group interviews with members of the social media group (seven groups, n = 23) and with midwives and gynecologists (six groups, n = 15). We also gathered essays written by social media group members (n = 23). The material was analyzed thematically.

Results

The participant accounts pointed towards tensions related to principles of evidence-based medicine, i.e., perceived insufficiency of research on the safety of the copper IUD and lack of clarity in routines for reporting and following up suspected side effects, and of patient-centered care, i.e., listening respectfully to patients. Tension between caregivers’ obligation to adhere to evidence-based medicine while also providing patient-centered care was noted.

Conclusion

Healthcare providers’ efforts to assess and address patient claims contesting established medical knowledge should include ensuring and communicating sufficient research, clarifying procedures for reporting suspected side effects, and improving person-centered care. This can increase the quality of care while contributing to the mitigation of distrust in healthcare and the spreading of health-related misinformation.
Role of marriage, motherhood, son preference on adolescent girls’ and young women’s empowerment: Evidence from a panel study in India
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Lakshmi , Bertozzi Stefano , Rabe-Hesketh Sophia
Published: September 2023

Background

Marriage is a key determinant of health and well-being of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in India. It is a key life event in which girls move to their marital households, often co-residing with their in-laws and begin childbearing. The change in the normative environment in conjunction with cultural norms surrounding son preference influences women’s overall life course. However, there is scant research about the association between these life transitions and changes in empowerment among AGYW in India.

Methods

Using two waves of data from prospective cohort panel dataset that followed unmarried (6,065 observations in each wave) and married AGYW (3,941 observations from each wave) over a three-year period from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, we examined how marriage, childbearing, and having a son is associated with changes in AGYW’s empowerment, especially considering whether AGYW marry into patrilocal households (household with in-laws) as an effect modifier. Empowerment indicators included freedom of movement or mobility, decision-making power, access to economic using Kabeer’s framework as our theoretical approach.

Results

Marriage was associated with lower freedom of movement with a pronounced effect on those who co-resided with their in-laws. Marriage was associated with greater decision-making power for AGYW who did not co-reside with the in-laws. Motherhood was positively correlated with greater freedom of movement, marginally higher intrahousehold decision-making power, and better access to economic resources. No statistically significant evidence that having at least one son compared to having daughters only (or no daughters) conferred additional changes in girls’ freedom of movement, intrahousehold decision-making power, and access to economic resources.

Conclusion

Findings highlight the importance of understanding the vulnerabilities of being newly married in adolescence and emphasize the need for having interventions that target newly married AGYW along with mothers-in-law to empower them.
Trends and influence factors in the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension among US adults from 1999 to 2018
Authors: Fan Zhixing , Yang Chaojun , Zhang Jing , Huang Yifan , Yang Ying , Zeng Ping , Cai Wanyin , Xiang Zujin , Wu Jingyi , Yang Jian
Published: September 2023

Objective

We aimed to describe the trends and influence factors in the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension among US Adults from 1999 to 2018.

Methods

We utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning ten survey cycles (n = 53,496). Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension were calculated using survey weights. Joinpoint regression and survey-weighted generalized linear models were used to analyze trends and influence factors, respectively.

Results

The estimated prevalence of hypertension increased significantly from 33.53% to 40.58% (AAPC = 0.896, P = 0.002) during 1999–2018 with dropping rate of newly diagnosed hypertension from 8.62% to 4.82% before 2014 (APC = -4.075, P = 0.001), and then rose to 7.51% in 2018 (APC = 12.302, P = 0.126). Despite modest improvements or stability in the awareness, treatment, and control since 1999, the latter two remained inadequate in 2018 at 59.52% and 51.71%. There was an uptrend in the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (from 24.02% to 45.71%) and angiotensin receptor blockers (from 20.22% to 38.38%), and downtrend in β-blocker (from 12.71% to 4.21%). Men were at higher risk of incidence, un-awareness, un-treatment, and un-control for hypertension. Lower income and education were associated with susceptibility to hypertension, while being married was favorable for treatment and control. Optimal health reduced the incidence of hypertension, and increased the awareness and treatment.

Conclusion

Although the rate of newly diagnosed hypertension has declined slightly since 2010 in the US, the prevalence of hypertension is increasing, and treatment and control rates remain inadequate. To manage hypertension effectively, we need to focus on screening and prevention for high-risk populations, while advocating for optimal health to improve the burden of hypertension.
Share repurchase and the cost of capital: Discussion on the nature of share repurchase of Chinese listed companies
Authors: Wang Ping , Chen Rui
Published: September 2023

Share repurchase is not only an important financial policy of the company, but also a financial policy with a very wide range of influence. A scientific and reasonable share repurchase policy has a significant financial effect in terms of an equity structure optimization, capital structure adjustment, cash holding control, and even management compensation system design. The long-standing share repurchase in the U.K. and U.S. companies and the recent practice of share repurchase by Chinese listed companies imply an important financial proposition: share repurchase is a high-quality financial policy that, when properly applied, will help reduce the cost of capital. The data in this study show that share repurchases can reduce the level of firms’ cost of capital and play an important role in enhancing their competitiveness. This study also finds that Chinese listed companies, when formulating and implementing share repurchase programs, do not subjectively view share repurchases as a policy tool to adjust cash holdings and capital structure. In addition, they do not view share repurchases as an alternative to cash dividends but use equity incentives for management as the main intention for share repurchases. This decision-making concept is not conducive to the rational use of share repurchase policies in the long run and should be a cause for concern in the business community. Finally, the leverage and the cash holding path are the main motives affecting share repurchases and are the important fundamental mechanisms in this study, while the mediating mechanism test finds that share repurchases mainly reduce the cost of capital through two information perspectives of analyst following and stock liquidity. The heterogeneity analysis shows that the role of share repurchases in reducing the cost of capital is more obvious in enterprises with fierce product market competition, high institutional investor shareholding.
An efficient machine learning framework to identify important clinical features associated with pulmonary embolism
Authors: Zou Baiming , Zou Fei , Cai Jianwen
Published: September 2023

A misdiagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) can have severe consequences such as disability or death. It’s crucial to accurately identify key clinical features of PE in clinical practice to promptly identify potential PE patients who may present asymptomatically, and to prevent misdiagnosing PE as asthma exacerbation in patients with symptoms like dyspnea or chest pain. However, reliably identifying these important features can be challenging due to many factors influencing the likelihood of PE development in complex fashions (e.g., the interactions among these factors). To address this difficulty, we presented an effective framework using the deep neural network (DNN) model and the permutation-based feature importance test (PermFIT) procedure, i.e., PermFIT-DNN. We applied the PermFIT-DNN framework to the analysis of data from a PE study for asthma exacerbation patients. Our analysis results show that the PermFIT-DNN framework can robustly identify key features for classifying PE status. The important features identified can also aid in accurately predicting the PE risk.
Photoinactivation vs repair of photosystem II as target of thermal stress in epipelic and epipsammic microphytobenthos communities
Authors: Bártolo Cláudia , Frankenbach Silja , Serôdio João
Published: September 2023

Microphytobenthos (MPB) inhabiting intertidal flats are exposed to large and sudden changes in temperature, often simultaneously with exposure to direct sunlight. These conditions are expected to negatively impact photosynthesis by exacerbating the photoinhibition under high light. This study addressed the photoinhibitory effects of short-term exposure to cold (5°C) and moderate heat (35°C) on MPB dominated by motile epipelic (EPL) and immotile epipsammic (EPM) diatom species, by evaluating the seasonal variation of photoinactivation and repair of photosystem II (PSII). The susceptibility to PSII photoinactivation and the counteracting repair capacity were measured by the constant rates kPI and kREC, respectively. The photoacclimation state was characterized by hysteresis light-response curves (HLC) of the relative electron transport rate, rETR, and of the nonphotochemical quenching index Y(NPQ). Under non-stress conditions (20°C), kREC was on average almost 10x higher than the corresponding kPI (20.4 vs 2.70 × 10−4 s−1, respectively), indicating the operation of efficient repair mechanisms. Overall, the exposure to low and high temperatures affected both PSII photoinactivation and repair but causing smaller impacts in the former than in the latter. Also, cold stress caused larger effects on repair (decrease of kREC) than on photoinactivation (increase of kPI), but heat stress affected similarly the two processes. These effects varied seasonally, suggesting a role of thermal acclimation, as heat stress had stronger effects in cold-acclimated samples and cold stress resulted in stronger effects in heat-acclimated samples. The changes in kPI and kREC occurred despite the high light-acclimated phenotype found all year round, indicating that these processes vary independently from the photoacclimation state. The results also showed that photoprotection processes, as measured by energy-dependent non-photochemical index qE, appear to have an important role, both by preventing PSII photoinactivation and by alleviating the impacts on PSII repair under acute thermal stress.
Comparative evaluation of antimicrobial activity of human granulysin, bovine and porcine NK-lysins against Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7
Authors: Biernbaum Erika N. , Dassanayake Rohana P. , Nicholson Eric M. , Kudva Indira T.
Published: September 2023

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 (O157) is a foodborne pathogen causing human disease ranging from hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome to kidney failure, while remaining harmless to cattle, its primary reservoir. The severity of the human disease associated mainly with Shiga toxin production and a global emergence of antibiotic resistant STEC highlights the need for effective non-antibiotic, pre-harvest strategies to reduce O157 in cattle, the principal source of human infection. Towards this goal three synthetic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs): human granulysin (hGRNL), bovine NK-lysin (bNK2A), and porcine NK-lysin (pNKL), were tested in vitro against O157 isolates. As expected, circular dichroism spectroscopy findings were consistent with a predominantly α-helical conformation for all three AMPs in an environment mimicking bacterial outer surface or liposaccharides. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations of hGRNL (200 μM), bNK2A (12.5 μM against strain 86–24 and 25 μM against EDL933), and pNKL (6.25 μM) were determined using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute broth microdilution method in Müeller-Hinton broth (cation-adjusted). The bNK2A and pNKL AMPs did not induce Shiga toxin expression in O157 at MIC, as there was a significant decrease or no change in toxin expression following 4- or 20 h incubation with the AMPs; bNK2A p <0.0001 (4 h) and p = 0.4831 (20 h); pNKL p <0.0001 (4 h) and p = 0.0001 (20 h). Propidium iodide uptake assay revealed faster O157 membrane damage or killing kinetics with bNK2A and pNKL compared to hGRNL. Nonetheless, transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that all three AMPs mediated damage to O157 membranes. In contrast, the three AMPs showed minimal cytotoxicity (<2%) against cattle red blood cells at tested concentrations (0.39–50 μM). Overall, our results demonstrate the potential for bNK2A and pNKL to be further developed into novel non-antibiotic agents to reduce O157 shedding in cattle.
The impact of wearing facemask on COPD patients: A protocol of a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chen Xuwen , Sani Ibrahim , Xia Xiaoli , Li Yi , Li Caiyun , Yue Feiyan , Wang Xinhua , Bao Shisan , Fan Jingchun
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common, irreversible but preventable disease characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms. The mortality rate of COPD is predicted to reach 5.4 million by the year 2060. Despite its heavy burden on healthcare expenditure worldwide, only 15% of cases are medically identified. The potential benefits of facemask-wearing for COPD patients remain a topic of debate.

Methods

We will conduct a systematic review of all randomized trials and non-randomized controlled trials to evaluate the impact of facemasks on COPD patients. Our review will be based on literature obtained through a comprehensive search strategy across multiple electronic databases, including the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, the Chinese Biomedical Database (SinoMed), and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), with no restrictions on language or date of publication. Two independent researchers will extract and assess all relevant data using pre-designed data extraction forms. The included studies will be assessed using the Cochrane RoB2 tool and the suggested risk of bias criteria proposed by the Effective Practice and Organization of Care reviews group of the Cochrane collaboration. The quality of evidence will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. We will use Review Manager 5.4 software for statistical analysis.

Discussion

In the context of COVID-19, it is important for COPD patients to wear facemasks. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive and systematic assessment of the impact of facemasks on the physiology and activity of COPD patients.

Trial registration

PROSPERO registration number CRD42022326265.
Acinetobacter type VI secretion system comprises a non-canonical membrane complex
Authors: Kandolo Ona , Cherrak Yassine , Filella-Merce Isaac , Le Guenno Hugo , Kosta Artemis , Espinosa Leon , Santucci Pierre , Verthuy Christophe , Lebrun Régine , Nilges Michael , Pellarin Riccardo , Durand Eric
Published: September 2023

A. baumannii can rapidly acquire new resistance mechanisms and persist on abiotic surface, enabling the colonization of asymptomatic human host. In Acinetobacter the type VI secretion system (T6SS) is involved in twitching, surface motility and is used for interbacterial competition allowing the bacteria to uptake DNA. A. baumannii possesses a T6SS that has been well studied for its regulation and specific activity, but little is known concerning its assembly and architecture. The T6SS nanomachine is built from three architectural sub-complexes. Unlike the baseplate (BP) and the tail-tube complex (TTC), which are inherited from bacteriophages, the membrane complex (MC) originates from bacteria. The MC is the most external part of the T6SS and, as such, is subjected to evolution and adaptation. One unanswered question on the MC is how such a gigantesque molecular edifice is inserted and crosses the bacterial cell envelope. The A. baumannii MC lacks an essential component, the TssJ lipoprotein, which anchors the MC to the outer membrane. In this work, we studied how A. baumannii compensates the absence of a TssJ. We have characterized for the first time the A. baumannii’s specific T6SS MC, its unique characteristic, its membrane localization, and assembly dynamics. We also defined its composition, demonstrating that its biogenesis employs three Acinetobacter-specific envelope-associated proteins that define an intricate network leading to the assembly of a five-proteins membrane super-complex. Our data suggest that A. baumannii has divided the function of TssJ by (1) co-opting a new protein TsmK that stabilizes the MC and by (2) evolving a new domain in TssM for homo-oligomerization, a prerequisite to build the T6SS channel. We believe that the atypical species-specific features we report in this study will have profound implication in our understanding of the assembly and evolutionary diversity of different T6SSs, that warrants future investigation.
Synthesis, Characterization, DNA Synergy and Molecular Docking Studies of Novel 1,10-Phenanthroline Derived Mixed Ligand Metal(II) Complexes
Authors: ALI FATHIMA S. SYED , SAHUL MEERAN M. MOHAMED
Published: September 2023

The effect of tumour and all its related costs, both human and commercial factor is driving the exploration for novel curative medicines.Although platinum-based anticancer drugs have shown considerable success, their use is complicated by a number of drawbacks. Therefore, this study is mainly designed for transition metal complex based chemotherapeutic agents to reduce the obstacles for platinum-based anticancer agents presently used. Herein, novel mixed ligand-metal(II) complexes derived from 9-anthraldehyde, 2-aminophenol, metal chlorides and 1,10-phenanthroline (co-ligand) were synthesized and characterized using several spectral techniques, which revealed that they possess an octahedral structure. The interaction of calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) with synthesized compounds confirmed that the compounds are binded with DNA via intercalation. The mode of interaction was affirmed by the docking simulations, where the synthesized compounds were docked with EGFR protein and 1B-DNA through intercalation. The biological screening results revealed that the synthesized complexes exhibited superior anti-pathogenic screening properties compared to ligands. The proliferation resistance against cancer cells and free radical scavenger studies of prepared compounds indicated that the presence of heterocyclic ligand is an important factor for boosting the anticancer potential and radical scavenger skill.
Synthesis, Characterization and in vitro Anticancer Activity of New Quinoline Analogues against Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: UGRAPPA S. , FULORIA N.K. , LALITHA P. , RAVICHANDRAN M. , NOOR S.N.F.M. , SOLYAPPAN M. , KHOR G.H. , SA'AD M.A. , JAIN A. , WU Y.S. , BALAKRISHNAN V. , THANGESWARAN D. , JAGADEESAN D. , FULORIA S.
Published: September 2023

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) developed from mucosal lining of oral cavity is ranked as 6th most common cancer worldwide. Adverse effects of available anticancer agents intended present work to carry out the synthesis, characterization and evaluation of new quinoline analogues (NQA) against OSCC cell lines. In present study, substituted quinoline (1) was treated with ethyl chloroacetate to offer ester derivative (2), which on treatment with hydrazine hydrate yielded hydrazide derivative (3), which was cyclized into oxadiazole derivative (4) when cyclized with 4-methoxy benzoic acid. Characterization of molecular structures of synthesized NQAs was done based on the FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectrometric data. The characterized NQAs were investigated for their anticancer potential. The anticancer studies involved antiproliferation study (IC50 determination) against OSCC cell lines (CAL-27), followed by cell cycle analysis. The results of antiproliferation study of NQAs revealed that among all, NQA 3 exhibited lowest IC50 (3.26 μg/mL). Also, the results of cell cycle analysis of all NQA revealed that all NQAs caused cancer cells arrest in ‘S’ phase. The high anticancer activity of NQA 3 and ability of all the NQAs to cause CAL-27 cells arrest in ‘s’ phase supports their potential application in OSCC treatment. However, the synthesized NQAs must be additionally investigated for the in vivo and clinical studies.
Application of Citrus maxima Burm. Essential Oil in Shower Gel Products
Authors: HIEN TRAN THIEN , TUU TRAN THI , MINH LY THI NGOC , NHAN LE THI HONG
Published: September 2023

Nowadays, the trend of cosmetics containing natural ingredients is becoming one of the most popular trends in the beauty industries. More and more people are interested and looking for cosmetic products made from natural ingredients such as herbs, essential oils, fruits, vegetables, etc. Essential oils are widely incorporated in cosmetic, perfumery and related household products due to their diverse properties but mainly due to their pleasant aroma and biological activity. Citrus maxima essential oil contains D-limonene as the main compound (85-95%) and other compounds such as α-pinene, sabinene, β-mycrene, α-phellandrene, σ-cymene, β-ocimene, γ- terpinene, β-caryophyllen, β-copaene. These compounds further diversify the applications of the added product. In this study, the factors affecting the production process of Citrus maxima essential oil shower gel including main detergents, moisturizers, emulsifiers, preservatives were investigated to propose production formulas. The results showed that the main detergent accounted for 12%, co- detergent 2.0%, emulsifier 1.5%, foaming agent 7.0%, surfactant, emulsifier 3.0%, moisturizer 2.0%, preservative management 2.0% and Citrus maxima essential oil account 1.0% in the formula. The evaluations of the basic physico-chemical properties are in the permissible range. Thus, it shows that the shower gel products from Citrus maxima essential oil can be produced and marketed.
Synthesis, Characterization, Molecular Docking and Biological Evaluation of 1,4-Bis(aryl-1H- 1,2,3-triazole-4yl)methoxy)benzaldehyde Derivatives as Potential Anticancer Agents
Authors: SRAVANTHI N. , REVANTH B. , BHARGAVI M. , RAJENDER P. SARITA
Published: September 2023

A series of novel analogues of 1,4-bis((aryl-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-yl)methoxy)benzaldehydes were synthesized efficiently by click reaction via conventional method using 2,4-dipropyloxy benzaldehyde and aryl azides characterized by spectroscopic methods including 1H NMR, 13C NMR, mass and IR spectrometry. Comparative molecular docking studies were carried out for all the synthesized compounds (4a-l) using cancer therapeutics levatinib and vandetanib targeting the VEGFR2 protein’s active region using the Glide tool in the Schrödinger suite. Among these, compounds 4b, 4f and 4h showed better drug likeness functions than current cancer inhibitors of VEGFR2 protein. Furthermore, to determine ADME and toxicity properties, the pkCSM server and the QikProp module were used. Glide scores and binding free energy analyses were used to determine the lead molecules. Compounds 4b, 4f and 4h revealed from docking exhibited potential in vitro cytotoxic activity against both MCF7 and HepG2 cell lines.
Extraction of Silica from Different Solid Wastes and Its Application as Catalyst Support for Vapour Phase Oxidation of Aromatic Hydrocarbon
Authors: SHARMA ANKIT , Meena Deepa , Parashar Kiran , Goyal Deepti , Kabra Malpani Sakshi , Rani Ashu
Published: September 2023

In present study, the research work has been divided into two sections viz. Firstly, amorphous silica was extracted from different silica rich agricultural and industrial waste materials (fly ash, perlite and rice husk ash) via sol-gel method. The extracted silica (RHA-Si, Perlite-Si, FA-Si) was characterized using BET surface area, FESEM, EDS, XRD, NMR and FTIR techniques. The surface area and particle size of extracted silica was found to be 23.06-255.5 m2/g and 61-267 nm. Secondly, fly ash silica was used as catalyst support and modified desirably by loading different molybdenum weight percentages via acid impregnation method. The presence of MoO3 on the surface of extracted silica were confirmed by different characterization techniques. The kinetic studies of the FASi/Mo-15 catalyst for the vapour phase oxidation of benzene was also investigated by employing the Mars Van Krevelen model to analyze the reaction mechanism and rate of the process. The vapour phase oxidation reaction follows zero order kinetics, with faster benzene conversion occurring at lower intake concentrations and higher reaction temperatures.
A Novel Approach to AQbD-Assisted Green and Robust UPLC Method for the Determination of Selected Aminoquinoline Antimalarial Drugs: Assessment of Green Method
Authors: CHEERLA JAYA RAJU , RAO T. BHASKARA
Published: September 2023

Greening analytical procedures have gained popularity in the area of pharmaceutical industries in order to safeguard the environment. In this study, an innovative methodology by integrating analytical quality-by-design (AQbD) along with Green Chemistry concepts with a systematic approach has been used to develop an environmentally-friendly and more robust ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) method for the determination of three selected aminoquinoline antimalarial drugs namely amodiaquine hydrochloride (AMD), chloroquine phosphate (CHQ) and piperaquine phosphate (PPQ). An environmentally benign solvent ethanol has been chosen as an alternative to the commonly used acetonitrile and methanol, which are widely used. Based on the comprehensive risk analysis, the critical method parameters (CMP’s) that affect the critical method attributes (CMA’s) have been identified and the final method parameters were further optimized with the help of a full factorial design and the design of experiments (DOE), established the “design space”(DS) and identified the “method-operable-design-region (MODR) for the developed method. Achieved the separation with the use of an Acquity- UPLC BEH Shield RP-18 (100 mm × 2.1 mm), 1.7 μm column by using an isocratic elution of mobile phase containing 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid in water, ethanol in a mixture of 90:10% v/v and maintained a flow rate of 0.2 mL min-1 and the column oven temperature was 40 ºC and the UV detection wavelength of 225 nm was employed. A statistical tool Analysis of Variance (ANNOVA) has been used to assess the model’s statistical significance and found that the model’s p-values is < 0.00005 and its lack of fi is > 0.05 respectively, which demonstrates that the selected model is the most appropriate predictive tool for the analyzed responses R1 & R2 (i.e. peak resolutions R1 & R2). The proposed method’s linearity, accuracy & precision studies has been successfully validated in compliance with USP <1225> and ICH Q2 (R1) guidelines. Further assessed the proposed method’s greenness using various green evaluation tools such as: “complex green analytical procedure index”-cGAPI, “analytical greenness”-AGREE, “analytical method green score”-AMGS and found acceptable results. This novel AQbD-assisted eco-friendly analytical method for the quantification of AMD, CHQ & PPQ in bulk drugs (APIs) or finished dosage forms is simple, rapid, precise and accurate, robust and environmentally benign.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Spectroscopic Characterization and Anti-COVID-19 Molecular Docking Investigation of 2-(2-Formylphenoxy)acetamide
Authors: GEETHA SELVARAJ , SRIBALAN RAJENDRAN , LAKSHMI SRINIVASAKANNAN
Published: September 2023

Compound 2-(2-formylphenoxy)acetamide was synthesized by adopting the slow evaporation solution growth technique. The spectroscopic techniques were studied experimentally and theoretically at DFT for the title compound. The X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed its crystal structure. The compound with the molecular formula C9H9NO3 crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system with the centrosymmetric space group P21/n. The optimized structure, stability, hardness, softness, Mulliken charge distribution and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) of the grown crystal were investigated using DFT calculations. Molecular docking studies were performed for the compound to evaluate its antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. The molecule has good binding affinity for the target protein 6NUS.