bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oxidative Degradation of High-Molar-Mass Hyaluronan: Effects of Some Indole Derivatives to Hyaluronan Decay
Authors: Valachová Katarína , Mach Mojmír , Šoltés Ladislav
Published: August 2020

Indole derivatives such as isatin (a natural compound), cemtirestat, stobadine, and its derivatives (synthetic compounds) are known to have numerous positive effects on human health due to regulation of oxidative status. The aim of the study was to assess radical scavenging capacities of these compounds and explore their potential protective effects against reactive oxygen species formed during Cu(II) ions and ascorbate-induced degradation of high-molar-mass hyaluronan. Based on the IC50 values determined by the ABTS assay, the most effective compound was SM1M3EC2·HCl reaching the value ≈ 11 µmol/L. The lowest IC50 value reached in the DPPH assay was reported for cemtirestat ≈ 3 µmol/L. Great potency of inhibition of hyaluronan degradation was shown by cemtirestat, followed by isatin even at low concentration 10 µmol/L. On the other hand, stobadine·2HCl had also a protective effect on hyaluronan degradation, however at greater concentrations compared to cemtirestat or isatin. SME1i-ProC2·HCl reported to be a less effective compound and SM1M3EC2·HCl can be considered almost ineffective compared to stobadine·2HCl. In conclusion, our results showed that both isatin and cemtirestat were capable of attenuating the degradation of high-molar-mass hyaluronan due to their ability to complex/sequester cupric ions.
Circulating Long Noncoding RNA LNC-EPHA6 Associates with Acute Rejection after Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Groeneweg Koen E. , Duijs Jacques M.G.J. , Florijn Barend W. , van Kooten Cees , de Fijter Johan W. , van Zonneveld Anton Jan , Reinders Marlies E.J. , Bijkerk Roel
Published: August 2020

Acute rejection (AR) of a kidney graft in renal transplant recipients is associated with microvascular injury in graft dysfunction and, ultimately, graft failure. Circulating long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) may be suitable markers for vascular injury in the context of AR. Here, we first investigated the effect of AR after kidney transplantation on local vascular integrity and demonstrated that the capillary density markedly decreased in AR kidney biopsies compared to pre-transplant biopsies. Subsequently, we assessed the circulating levels of four lncRNAs (LNC-RPS24, LNC-EPHA6, MALAT1, and LIPCAR), that were previously demonstrated to associate with vascular injury in a cohort of kidney recipients with a stable kidney transplant function (n = 32) and recipients with AR (n = 15). The latter were followed longitudinally six and 12 months after rejection. We found higher levels of circulating LNC-EPHA6 during rejection, compared with renal recipients with a stable kidney function (p = 0.017), that normalized one year after AR. In addition, LNC-RPS24, LNC-EPHA6, and LIPCAR levels correlated significantly with the vascular injury marker soluble thrombomodulin. We conclude that AR and microvascular injury are associated with higher levels of circulating LNC-EPHA6, which emphasizes the potential role of lncRNAs as biomarker in the context of AR.
Implications of a Change of Paradigm in Alpha1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Augmentation Therapy: From Biochemical to Clinical Efficacy
Authors: López-Campos José Luis , Carrasco Hernandez Laura , Caballero Eraso Candelaria
Published: August 2020

Ever since the first studies, restoring proteinase imbalance in the lung has traditionally been considered as the main goal of alpha1 antitrypsin (AAT) replacement therapy. This strategy was therefore based on ensuring biochemical efficacy, identifying a protection threshold, and evaluating different dosage regimens. Subsequently, the publication of the results of the main clinical trials showing a decrease in the progression of pulmonary emphysema has led to a debate over a possible change in the main objective of treatment, from biochemical efficacy to clinical efficacy in terms of lung densitometry deterioration prevention. This new paradigm has produced a series controversies and unanswered questions which face clinicians managing AAT deficiency. In this review, the concepts that led to the approval of AAT replacement therapy are reviewed and discussed under a new prism of achieving clinical efficacy, with the reduction of lung deterioration as the main objective. Here, we propose the use of current knowledge and clinical experience to face existing challenges in different clinical scenarios, in order to help clinicians in decision-making, increase interest in the disease, and stimulate research in this field.
First mtDNA Sequences and Body Measurements for Rattus norvegicus from the Mediterranean Island of Cyprus
Authors: Hadjisterkotis Eleftherios , Konstantinou George , Sanna Daria , Pirastru Monica , Mereu Paolo
Published: August 2020

Invasive species are the primary driver of island taxa extinctions and, among them, those belonging to the genus Rattus are considered as the most damaging. The presence of black rat (Rattus rattus) on Cyprus has long been established, while that of brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) is dubious. This study is the first to provide molecular and morphological data to document the occurrence of R. norvegicus in the island of Cyprus. A total of 223 black rats and 14 brown rats were collected. Each sample was first taxonomically attributed on the basis of body measurements and cranial observations. Four of the specimens identified as R. norvegicus and one identified as R. rattus were subjected to molecular characterization in order to corroborate species identification. The analyses of the mitochondrial control region were consistent with morphological data, supporting the taxonomic identification of the samples. At least two maternal molecular lineages for R. norvegicus were found in Cyprus. The small number of brown rats collected in the island, as well as the large number of samples of black rats retrieved in the past years might be an indication that the distribution of R. norvegicus is still limited into three out of the six districts of Cyprus.
Comparison of Data Mining Methods for the Signal Detection of Adverse Drug Events with a Hierarchical Structure in Postmarketing Surveillance
Authors: Park Goeun , Jung Heesun , Heo Seok-Jae , Jung Inkyung
Published: August 2020

There are several different proposed data mining methods for the postmarketing surveillance of drug safety. Adverse events are often classified into a hierarchical structure. Our objective was to compare the performance of several of these different data mining methods for adverse drug events data with a hierarchical structure. We generated datasets based on the World Health Organization’s Adverse Reaction Terminology (WHO-ART) hierarchical structure. We evaluated different data mining methods for signal detection, including several frequentist methods such as reporting odds ratio (ROR), proportional reporting ratio (PRR), information component (IC), the likelihood ratio test-based method (LRT), and Bayesian methods such as gamma Poisson shrinker (GPS), Bayesian confidence propagating neural network (BCPNN), the new IC method, and the simplified Bayesian method (sB), as well as the tree-based scan statistic through an extensive simulation study. We also applied the methods to real data on two diabetes drugs, voglibose and acarbose, from the Korea Adverse event reporting system. Only the tree-based scan statistic method maintained the type I error rate at the desired level. Likelihood ratio test-based methods and Bayesian methods tended to be more conservative than other methods in the simulation study and detected fewer signals in the real data example. No method was superior to the others in terms of the statistical power and sensitivity of detecting true signals. It is recommended that those conducting drug‒adverse event surveillance use not just one method, but make a decision based on several methods.
Thermal Stability of Aluminum Alloys
Authors: Czerwinski Frank
Published: August 2020

Thermal stability, determining the material ability of retaining its properties at required temperatures over extended service time, is becoming the next frontier for aluminum alloys. Its improvement would substantially expand their range of structural applications, especially in automotive and aerospace industries. This report explains the fundamentals of thermal stability; definitions, the properties involved; and the deterioration indicators during thermal/thermomechanical exposures, including an impact of accidental fire, and testing techniques. For individual classes of alloys, efforts aimed at identifying factors stabilizing their microstructure at service temperatures are described. Particular attention is paid to attempts of increasing the current upper service limit of high-temperature grades. In addition to alloying aluminum with a variety of elements to create the thermally stable microstructure, in particular, transition and rare-earth metals, parallel efforts are explored through applying novel routes of alloy processing, such as rapid solidification, powder metallurgy and additive manufacturing, engineering alloys in a liquid state prior to casting, and post-casting treatments. The goal is to overcome the present barriers and to develop novel aluminum alloys with superior properties that are stable across the temperature and time space, required by modern designs.
NiAl-Cr-Mo Medium Entropy Alloys: Microstructural Verification, Solidification Considerations, and Sliding Wear Response
Authors: Mathiou Christina , Giorspyros Konstantinos , Georgatis Emmanuel , Poulia Anthoula , Karantzalis Alexander E.
Published: August 2020

A series of NiAl-Cr-Mo systems were produced and assessed as far as their microstructure and their sliding wear resistance is concerned. The NiAl content was kept constant and seven compositions of Cr-Mo were tested, namely, 40Cr-0Mo, 30Cr-10Mo, 25Cr-15Mo, 20Cr-20Mo, 15Cr-25Mo, 10Cr-30Mo, and 0Cr-40Mo. It was observed that most of the systems contained primary phases, eutectic microconstituents, and, occasionally, intermetallic phases as the outcome of peritectic reactions. The extent and the nature of all these microstructural features was proved to be affected by the Cr/Mo relative ratio, and an attempt was conducted in order to explain the microstructural features based on solidification and other related phenomena. It was observed that the increase of the relative Mo/Cr ratio led to a significant restriction/elimination of the eutectic microconstituent. The sliding wear response of the produced system seems to diverge from the classical sliding wear laws of Archard and is based on multiple factors such as the nature of the oxide phases being formed upon sliding, the nature and the extend of the intermetallic phases being formed upon solidification, and the integrity and rigidity of the primary phases—last to solidify areas interfacial region and the factors that may influence this integrity.
Protective Geopolymer Coatings Containing Multi-Componential Precursors: Preparation and Basic Properties Characterization
Authors: Jiang Chenhui , Wang Aiying , Bao Xufan , Chen Zefeng , Ni Tongyuan , Wang Zhangfu
Published: August 2020

This paper presents an experimental investigation on geopolymer coatings (GPC) in terms of surface protection of civil structures. The GPC mixtures were prepared with a quadruple precursor simultaneously containing fly ash (FA), ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GBFS), metakaolin (MK), and Portland cement (OPC). Setting time, compressive along with adhesive strength and permeability, were tested and interpreted from a perspective of potential applications. The preferred GPC with favorable setting time (not shorter than 120 min) and desirable compressive strength (not lower than 35 MPa) was selected from 85 mixture formulations. The results indicate that balancing strength and setting behavior is viable with the aid of the multi-componential precursor and the mixture design based on total molar ratios of key oxides or chemical elements. Adhesive strength of the optimized GPC mixtures was ranged from 1.5 to 3.4 MPa. The induced charge passed based on a rapid test of coated concrete specimens with the preferred GPC was 30% lower than that of the uncoated ones. Setting time of GPC was positively correlated with η[Si/(Na+Al)]. An abrupt increase of setting time occurred when the molar ratio was greater than 1.1. Compressive strength of GPC was positively affected by mass contents of ground granulated blast furnace slag, metakaolin and ordinary Portland cement, and was negatively affected by mass content of fly ash, respectively. Sustained seawater immersion impaired the strength of GPC to a negligible extent. Overall, GPC potentially serves a double purpose of satisfying the usage requirements and achieving a cleaner future.
Evaluation of Poly Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid-Coated β-Tricalcium Phosphate Bone Substitute as a Graft Material for Ridge Preservation after Tooth Extraction in Dog Mandible: A Comparative Study with Conventional β-Tricalcium Phosphate Granules
Authors: Koga Takamitsu , Kumazawa Shinsuke , Okimura Yusuke , Zaitsu Yumi , Umeshita Kazuhiko , Asahina Izumi
Published: August 2020

This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)-coated β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) with N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) liquid activator (PLGA/β-TCP) on alveolar ridge preservation after tooth extraction in dog mandible. Thirty-two extraction sites were prepared in eight dog mandibles. A distal root of the mandibular premolar was extracted and randomly grafted with one of the following bone substitutes: (1) PLGA/β-TCP, (2) β-TCP, or (3) left empty as a control, and wounds were closed with keratinized mucosa graft. Post-operative wound healing was observed and scored to evaluate safety. After 12 and 24 weeks, the bone regeneration was evaluated with micro-computed tomography (CT) images and histomorphometric analyses. Gingival epithelization progressed over time without complication or infection. Micro-CT images and histological observation revealed that both PLGA/β-TCP and β-TCP granules supported sufficient new bone formation. Although bone formation and substrate resorption were delayed slightly with the PLGA and the NMP-containing plasticizer as compared to those treated with conventional β-TCP, it can be concluded that the PLGA and the NMP-containing plasticizer that facilitated the in situ hardening properties of the material had no negative influence on the biocompatibility of the material.
PEG Grafted Polymethacrylates Bearing Antioxidants as a New Class of Polymer Conjugates for Application in Cosmetology
Authors: Odrobińska Justyna , Neugebauer Dorota
Published: August 2020

The amphiphilic copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (MPEGMA) and alkyne functionalized 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (AlHEMA) were synthesized by controlled atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The reactions were carried out using the standard ATRP initiator ethyl α-bromoisobutyrate, (EiBBr) and the “bio”initiator bromoester derivative of 4-n-butylresorcinol (4nBREBr2). Two substances with antioxidant activity used in cosmetology, (±)-α-lipoic acid (LA) and ferulic acid (FA), were subjected to esterification reactions to introduce azide groups. The “click” reactions between the alkyne contained copolymers and functionalized acids (LA-N3, FA-N3) were performed to obtain polymer-antioxidant conjugates (P((HEMA-click-FA)-co-MPEGMA) and P((HEMA-click-LA)-co-MPEGMA)). The conjugation was performed with an efficiency of 20–75%. In vitro experiments in a phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution at neutral conditions demonstrated that the sufficient release was reached after 2.5 h for FA and 1 h for LA. The rapid release kinetics as well as the polymer carriers, which were applied to regulate the delivery of antioxidant substances, are beneficial in cosmetology.
Microstructure and Wear Behavior of In-Situ NbC Reinforced Composite Coatings
Authors: Shi Baoming , Huang Shiming , Zhu Ping , Xu Changen , Zhang Tengfei
Published: August 2020

In the present study, plasma spray welding was used to prepare an in-situ niobium carbide (NbC) reinforced Ni-based composite coating on the low carbon steel, and the phase composition and the microstructure of the composite coatings were studied. The wear resistance and the wear mechanism of the composite coatings were also researched by the wear tests. The results showed that the main phases of the composite coating were NbC, γ-Ni, Cr23C6, Ni3Si, CrB, Cr5B3, Cr7C3 and FeNi3. A number of fine in-situ NbC particles and numerous chromium carbide particles were distributed in the γ-Ni matrix. The increase in the mass fraction of Nb and NiCr-Cr3C2 could lead to the increase in NbC particles in the composite coatings. Due to the high hardness of NbC and chromium carbides, the micro-hardness and the wear resistance of the composite coatings were advanced. The composite coating with the powder mixtures of 20% (Nb + NiCr-Cr3C2) and 80% NiCrBSi had the highest micro-hardness and the best wear resistance in this study. The average micro-hardness reached the maximum value 1025HV0.5. The volume loss was 39.2 mm3, which was merely 37% of that of the NiCrBSi coating and 6% of that of the substrate under the identical conditions.
Some Inverse Source Problems of Determining a Space Dependent Source in Fractional-Dual-Phase-Lag Type Equations
Authors: Maes Frederick , Slodička Marián
Published: August 2020

The dual-phase-lag heat transfer models attract a lot of interest of researchers in the last few decades. These are used in problems arising from non-classical thermal models, which are based on a non-Fourier type law. We study uniqueness of solutions to some inverse source problems for fractional partial differential equations of the Dual-Phase-Lag type. The source term is supposed to be of the form h(t)f(x) with a known function h(t). The unknown space dependent source f(x) is determined from the final time observation. New uniqueness results are formulated in Theorem 1 (for a general fractional Jeffrey-type model). Here, the variational approach was used. Theorem 2 derives uniqueness results under weaker assumptions on h(t) (monotonically increasing character of h(t) was removed) in a case of dominant parabolic behavior. The proof technique was based on spectral analysis. Section Modified Model for τq>τT shows that an analogy of Theorem 2 for dominant hyperbolic behavior (fractional Cattaneo–Vernotte equation) is not possible.
Teaching–Learning Based Optimization (TLBO) with Variable Neighborhood Search to Retail Shelf-Space Allocation
Authors: Chen Yan-Kwang , Weng Shi-Xin , Liu Tsai-Pei
Published: August 2020

Shelf space is a scarce and expensive resource in the retail industry because a large number of products compete for limited display space. Thus, shelf-space allocation is frequently implemented in shops to increase product sales and profits. In the past few decades, numerous models and solution methods have been developed to deal with the shelf-space allocation problem (SSAP). In this paper, a novel population-oriented metaheuristic algorithm, teaching–learning-based optimization (TLBO) is applied to solve the problem and compared with existing solution methods with respect to their solution performance. Further, a hybrid algorithm that combines TLBO with variable neighborhood search (VNS) is proposed to enhance the performance of the basic TLBO. The research results show that the proposed TLBO-VNS algorithm is superior to other algorithms in terms of solution performance, in addition to using fewer control parameters. Therefore, the proposed TLBO-VNS algorithm has considerable potential in solving SSAP.
Transcriptomic Analysis of Four Cerianthid (Cnidaria, Ceriantharia) Venoms
Authors: Klompen Anna M. L. , Macrander Jason , Reitzel Adam M. , Stampar Sérgio N.
Published: August 2020

Tube anemones, or cerianthids, are a phylogenetically informative group of cnidarians with complex life histories, including a pelagic larval stage and tube-dwelling adult stage, both known to utilize venom in stinging-cell rich tentacles. Cnidarians are an entirely venomous group that utilize their proteinaceous-dominated toxins to capture prey and defend against predators, in addition to several other ecological functions, including intraspecific interactions. At present there are no studies describing the venom for any species within cerianthids. Given their unique development, ecology, and distinct phylogenetic-placement within Cnidaria, our objective is to evaluate the venom-like gene diversity of four species of cerianthids from newly collected transcriptomic data. We identified 525 venom-like genes between all four species. The venom-gene profile for each species was dominated by enzymatic protein and peptide families, which is consistent with previous findings in other cnidarian venoms. However, we found few toxins that are typical of sea anemones and corals, and furthermore, three of the four species express toxin-like genes closely related to potent pore-forming toxins in box jellyfish. Our study is the first to provide a survey of the putative venom composition of cerianthids and contributes to our general understanding of the diversity of cnidarian toxins.
Parallel-Channel Electrotaxis and Neuron Screening of Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Youssef Khaled , Archonta Daphne , Kubiseski Terrance , Tandon Anurag , Rezai Pouya
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we report a novel microfluidic method to conduct a Caenorhabditis elegans electrotaxis movement assay and neuronal imaging on up to 16 worms in parallel. C. elegans is a model organism for neurodegenerative disease and movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), and for screening chemicals that alleviate protein aggregation, neuronal death, and movement impairment in PD. Electrotaxis of C. elegans in microfluidic channels has led to the development of neurobehavioral screening platforms, but enhancing the throughput of the electrotactic behavioral assay has remained a challenge. Our device consisted of a hierarchy of tree-like channels for worm loading into 16 parallel electrotaxis screening channels with equivalent electric fields. Tapered channels at the ends of electrotaxis channels were used for worm immobilization and fluorescent imaging of neurons. Parallel electrotaxis of worms was first validated against established single-worm electrotaxis phenotypes. Then, mutant screening was demonstrated using the NL5901 strain, carrying human α-synuclein in the muscle cells, by showing the associated electrotaxis defects in the average speed, body bend frequency (BBF), and electrotaxis time index (ETI). Moreover, chemical screening of a PD worm model was shown by exposing the BZ555 strain, expressing green fluorescence protein (GFP) in the dopaminergic neurons (DNs), to 6-hydroxydopamine neurotoxin. The neurotoxin-treated worms exhibited a reduction in electrotaxis swimming speed, BBF, ETI, and DNs fluorescence intensity. We envision our technique to be used widely in C. elegans-based movement disorder assays to accelerate behavioral and cellular phenotypic investigations.
Bacteriomic Profiling of Branchial Lesions Induced by Neoparamoeba perurans Challenge Reveals Commensal Dysbiosis and an Association with Tenacibaculum dicentrarchi in AGD-Affected Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.)
Authors: Slinger Joel , Adams Mark B. , Wynne James W.
Published: August 2020

Amoebic gill disease is a parasitic condition that commonly affects marine farmed Atlantic salmon. The causative agent, Neoparamoeba perurans, induces a marked proliferation of the gill mucosa and focal superficial necrosis upon branchial lesions. The effect that amoebic branchialitis has upon gill associated commensal bacteria is unknown. A 16S rRNA sequencing approach was employed to profile changes in bacterial community composition, within amoebic gill disease (AGD)-affected and non-affected gill tissue. The bacterial diversity of biopsies with and without diseased tissue was significantly lower in the AGD-affected fish compared to uninfected fish. Furthermore, within the AGD-affected tissue, lesions appeared to contain a significantly higher abundance of the Flavobacterium, Tenacibaculum dicentrarchi compared to adjunct unaffected tissues. Quantitative PCR specific to both N. perurans and T. dicentrarchi was used to further examine the co-abundance of these known fish pathogens. A moderate positive correlation between these pathogens was observed. Taken together, the present study sheds new light on the complex interaction between the host, parasite and bacterial communities during AGD progression. The role that T. dicentrarchi may play in this complex relationship requires further investigation.
Effects of Biosurfactants on Enzymatic Saccharification and Fermentation of Pretreated Softwood
Authors: Oliva-Taravilla Alfredo , Carrasco Cristhian , Jönsson Leif J. , Martín Carlos
Published: August 2020

The enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose is inhibited by non-productive adsorption of cellulases to lignin, and that is particularly problematic with lignin-rich materials such as softwood. Although conventional surfactants alleviate non-productive adsorption, using biosurfactants in softwood hydrolysis has not been reported. In this study, the effects of four biosurfactants, namely horse-chestnut escin, Pseudomonas aeruginosa rhamnolipid, and saponins from red and white quinoa varieties, on the enzymatic saccharification of steam-pretreated spruce were investigated. The used biosurfactants improved hydrolysis, and the best-performing one was escin, which led to cellulose conversions above 90%, decreased by around two-thirds lignin inhibition of Avicel hydrolysis, and improved hydrolysis of pretreated spruce by 24%. Red quinoa saponins (RQS) addition resulted in cellulose conversions above 80%, which was around 16% higher than without biosurfactants, and it was more effective than adding rhamnolipid or white quinoa saponins. Cellulose conversion improved with the increase in RQS addition up to 6 g/100 g biomass, but no significant changes were observed above that dosage. Although saponins are known to inhibit yeast growth, no inhibition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation of hydrolysates produced with RQS addition was detected. This study shows the potential of biosurfactants for enhancing the enzymatic hydrolysis of steam-pretreated softwood.
Recent Trends in Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry
Authors: Zacharis Constantinos K. , Markopoulou Catherine K.
Published: August 2020

Modern analytical chemistry plays a vital role in pharmaceutical sciences [...]
The Study of HEMs Based on the Mechanically Activated Intermetallic Al12Mg17 Powder
Authors: Sokolov Sergei , Vorozhtsov Alexander , Arkhipov Vladimir , Zhukov Ilya
Published: August 2020

In this work, Al–Mg intermetallic powders were characterized and obtained by melting, casting into a steel chill and subsequent mechanical activation in a planetary mill. The method for producing Al12Mg17 intermetallic powder is presented. The dispersity, morphology, chemical composition, and phase composition of the obtained powder materials were investigated. Certain thermodynamic properties of high-energy materials containing the Al-Mg powder after mechanical activation of various durations were investigated. The addition of the Al-Mg powders to the high-energy composition (synthetic rubber SKDM-80 + ammonium perchlorate AP + boron B) can significantly increase the burning rate by approximately 47% and the combustion heat by approximately 23% compared with the high-energy compositions without the Al-Mg powder. The addition of the Al12Mg17 powder obtained after 6 h of mechanical activation provides an increase in the burning rate by 8% (2.5 ± 0.1 mm/s for the mechanically activated Al12Mg17 powder and 2.3 ± 0.1 mm/s for the commercially available powder) and an increase in the combustion heat by 3% (7.4 ± 0.2 MJ/kg for the mechanically activated Al-Mg powder and 7.1 ± 0.2 MJ/kg for the commercially available powder). The possibility of using the Al-Mg intermetallic powders as the main component of pyrotechnic and special compositions is shown.
Conformational Restriction of Histamine with a Rigid Bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane Scaffold Provided Selective H3 Receptor Ligands
Authors: Watanabe Mizuki , Kobayashi Takaaki , Ito Yoshihiko , Yamada Shizuo , Shuto Satoshi
Published: August 2020

We designed and synthesized conformationally rigid histamine analogues with a bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane scaffold. All the compounds were selectively bound to the H3 receptor subtype over the H4 receptor subtype. Notably, compound 7 showed potent binding affinity and over 100-fold selectivity for the H3 receptors (Ki = 5.6 nM for H3 and 602 nM for H4). These results suggest that the conformationally rigid bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane structure can be a useful scaffold for developing potent ligands selective for the target biomolecules.
Anti-Cancer Effect of 3-Hydroxy-β-Ionone Identified from Moringa oleifera Lam. Leaf on Human Squamous Cell Carcinoma 15 Cell Line
Authors: Luetragoon Thitiya , Pankla Sranujit Rungnapa , Noysang Chanai , Thongsri Yordhathai , Potup Pachuen , Suphrom Nungruthai , Nuengchamnong Nitra , Usuwanthim Kanchana
Published: August 2020

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of head and neck cancer worldwide. Radiation and chemotherapy are general treatments for patients; however, these remedies can have adverse side effects and tumours develop drug resistance. Effective treatments still require improvement for cancer patients. Here, we investigated the anti-cancer effect of Moringa oleifera (MO) Lam. leaf extracts and their fractions, 3-hydroxy-β-ionone on SCC15 cell line. SCC15 were treated with and without MO leaf extracts and their fractions. MTT assay was used to determine cell viability on SCC15. Cell cycle and apoptosis were evaluated by the Muse™ Cell Analyser. Colony formation and wound closure analysis of SCC15 were performed in 6-well plates. Apoptosis markers were evaluated by immunoblotting. We found that Moringa extracts and 3-HBI significantly inhibited proliferation of SCC15. Moreover, they induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase in SCC15 compared to the untreated control. MO extracts and 3-HBI also inhibited colony formation and cell migration of SCC15. Furthermore, we observed the upregulation of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax with downregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, indicating the induction of cancer cell apoptosis. Our results revealed that MO extracts and 3-HBI provided anti-cancer properties by inhibiting progression and inducing apoptosis of SCC15.
Analysis of Volatile Compounds and Sugar Content in Three Polish Regional Ciders with Pear Addition
Authors: Kliks Jarosław , Kawa-Rygielska Joanna , Gasiński Alan , Głowacki Adam , Szumny Antoni
Published: August 2020

Aroma plays important part in cider acceptability to the consumer. In this study, techniques such as headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME), which has been coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, have been used to assess what changes in the volatilome occur during fermentation of three apple cultivars (Cortland, Gala, Idared) with and without addition of pear (Konferencja) juice addition. Analysis of volatiles has shown that temperature of fermentation, apple variety and pear juice addition have significant influences on the volatile compositions of the acquired ciders. Ciders prepared in laboratory conditions fermented at 15 °C were characterized by a greater share of esters, such as ethyl hexanoate, ethyl decanoate and ethyl dodecanoate, in volatile profile (66.24–79.58%) than ciders fermented at 20 °C (58.81–77.22%). Ciders fermented at a higher temperature were characterized by a greater share of alcohols, such as phenylethyl alcohol and hexan-1-ol (18.34–36.7%) than ciders fermented at a lower temperature (16.07–25.35%). In the ciders prepared from pear (20% w/w) and apple (80% w/w) juice, the presence of esters, such as ethyl (2E, 4Z)-deca-2,4-dienoate, characterized by a pear aroma, could be noted.
Potent and Non-Cytotoxic Antibacterial Compounds Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Psiloxylon mauritianum, A Medicinal Plant from Reunion Island
Authors: Sorres Jonathan , André Amandine , Elslande Elsa Van , Stien Didier , Eparvier Véronique
Published: August 2020

With the occurrence of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains, identification of new anti-staphylococcal drugs has become a necessity. It has long been demonstrated that plants are a large and diverse source of antibacterial compounds. Psiloxylon mauritianum, an endemic medicinal plant from Reunion Island, was chemically investigated for its reported biological activity against S. aureus. Aspidin VB, a phloroglucinol derivative never before described, together with Aspidin BB, were first isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of P. mauritianum leaves. Their structures were elucidated from spectroscopic data. Aspidin VB exhibited strong antibacterial activity against standard and methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains, with a minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) of 0.25 μg/mL, and no cytotoxicity was observed at 10−5 M in MRC5 cells. Due to its biological activities, Aspidin VB appears to be a good natural lead in the fight against S. aureus.
A High Docosahexaenoic Acid Diet Alters the Lung Inflammatory Response to Acute Dust Exposure
Authors: Dominguez Edward C. , Heires Art J. , Pavlik Jacqueline , Larsen Tricia D. , Guardado Stephanie , Sisson Joseph H. , Baack Michelle L. , Romberger Debra J. , Nordgren Tara M.
Published: August 2020

Agricultural workers are at risk for the development of acute and chronic lung diseases due to their exposure to organic agricultural dusts. A diet intervention using the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been shown to be an effective therapeutic approach for alleviating a dust-induced inflammatory response. We thus hypothesized a high-DHA diet would alter the dust-induced inflammatory response through the increased production of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs). Mice were pre-treated with a DHA-rich diet 4 weeks before being intranasally challenged with a single dose of an extract made from dust collected from a concentrated swine feeding operation (HDE). This omega-3-fatty-acid-rich diet led to reduced arachidonic acid levels in the blood, enhanced macrophage recruitment, and increased the production of the DHA-derived SPM Resolvin D1 (RvD1) in the lung following HDE exposure. An assessment of transcript-level changes in the immune response demonstrated significant differences in immune pathway activation and alterations of numerous macrophage-associated genes among HDE-challenged mice fed a high DHA diet. Our data indicate that consuming a DHA-rich diet leads to the enhanced production of SPMs during an acute inflammatory challenge to dust, supporting a role for dietary DHA supplementation as a potential therapeutic strategy for reducing dust-induced lung inflammation.
Vascular Stents Coated with Electrospun Drug-Eluting Material: Functioning in Rabbit Iliac Artery
Authors: Kuznetsov Konstantin A. , Murashov Ivan S. , Chernonosova Vera S. , Chelobanov Boris P. , Stepanova Alena O. , Sergeevichev David S. , Karpenko Andrey A. , Laktionov Pavel P.
Published: August 2020

A stenting procedure aimed at blood flow restoration in stenosed arteries significantly improves the efficiency of vascular surgery. However, the current challenge is to prevent neointimal growth, which reduces the vessel lumen, in the stented segments in the long run. We tested in vivo drug-eluting coating applied by electrospinning to metal vascular stents to inhibit the overgrowth of neointimal cells via both the drug release and mechanical support of the vascular wall. The blend of polycaprolactone with human serum albumin and paclitaxel was used for stent coating by electrospinning. The drug-eluting stents (DESs) were placed using a balloon catheter to the rabbit common iliac artery for 1, 3, and 6 months. The blood flow rate was ultrasonically determined in vivo. After explantation, the stented arterial segment was visually and histologically examined. Any undesirable biological responses (rejection or hemodynamically significant stenosis) were unobservable in the experimental groups. DESs were less traumatic and induced weaker neointimal growth; over six months, the blood flow increased by 37% versus bare-metal stents, where it increased by at least double the rate. Thus, electrospun-coated DESs demonstrate considerable advantages over the bare-metal variants.
Classification of Urban Area Using Multispectral Indices for Urban Planning
Authors: Lynch Philip , Blesius Leonhard , Hines Ellen
Published: August 2020

An accelerating trend of global urbanization accompanying population growth makes frequently updated land use and land cover (LULC) maps critical. LULC maps have been widely created through the classification of remotely sensed imagery. Maps of urban areas have been both dichotomous (urban or non-urban) and entailing of discrete urban types. This study incorporated multispectral built-up indices, designed to enhance satellite imagery, for introducing new urban classification schemes. The indices examined are the new built-up index (NBI), the built-up area extraction index (BAEI), and the normalized difference concrete condition index (NDCCI). Landsat Level-2 data covering the city of Miami, FL, USA was leveraged with geographic data from the Florida Geospatial Data Library and Florida Department of Environmental Protection to develop and validate new methods of supervised and unsupervised classification of urban area. NBI was used to extract discrete urban features through object-oriented image analysis. BAEI was found to possess properties for visualizing and tracking urban development as a low-high gradient. NDCCI was composited with NBI and BAEI as the basis for a robust urban intensity classification scheme superior to that of the United States Geological Survey National Land Cover Database 2016. BAEI, implemented as a shadow index, was incorporated in a novel infill geosimulation of high-rise construction. The findings suggest that the proposed classification schemes are advantageous to the process of creating more detailed cartography in response to the increasing global demand.
The Effect of Water Transfer during Non-growing Season on the Wetland Ecosystem via Surface and Groundwater Interactions in Arid Northwestern China
Authors: Qiao Shufeng , Ma Rui , Sun Ziyong , Ge Mengyan , Bu Jianwei , Wang Junyou , Wang Zheng , Nie Han
Published: August 2020

The use of ecological water transfer to maintain the ecological environment in arid or semiarid regions has become an important means of human intervention to alleviate vegetation ecosystem degradation in arid and semiarid areas. The water transfer to downstream in a catchment is often carried out during the non-growing season, due to the competitive water use between the upper and middle reaches and lower reaches of rivers. However, the impacts and mechanism of artificial water transfer on vegetation and wetland ecosystem restoration have not been thoroughly investigated, especially in northwest China. Taking the Qingtu Lake wetland system in the lower reaches of the Shiyang River Catchment as the study area, this study analyzed the spatial and temporal distribution surface area of Qingtu Lake and the surrounding vegetation coverage before and after water transfer, by interpreting remote sensing data, the variation of water content in the vadose zone, and the groundwater level by obtaining field monitoring data, as well as the correlation between the water body area of Qingtu Lake and the highest vegetation coverage area in the following year. The conclusion is that there is a positive correlation between the water body area of Qingtu Lake in autumn and the vegetation coverage in each fractional vegetation coverage (FVC) interval in the next summer, especially in terms of the FVC of 30–50%. The groundwater level and soil water content increase after water transfer and remain relatively high for the following months, which suggests that transferred water from upstream can be stored as groundwater or soil water in the subsurface through surface water and subsurface water interaction. These water sources can provide water for the vegetation growth the next spring, or support plants in the summer.
Monitoring the Influence of the Mesoscale Ocean Dynamics on Phytoplanktonic Plumes around the Marquesas Islands Using Multi-Satellite Missions
Authors: Cassianides Angelina , Martinez Elodie , Maes Christophe , Carton Xavier , Gorgues Thomas
Published: August 2020

The Marquesas islands are a place of strong phytoplanktonic enhancement, whose original mechanisms have not been explained yet. Several mechanisms such as current−bathymetry interactions or island run-off can fertilize waters in the immediate vicinity or downstream of the islands, allowing phytoplankton enhancement. Here, we took the opportunity of an oceanographic cruise carried out at the end of 2018, to combine in situ and satellite observations to investigate two phytoplanktonic blooms occurring north and south of the archipelago. First, Lagrangian diagnostics show that both chlorophyll-a concentrations (Chl) plumes are advected from the islands. Second, the use of Finite-size Lyaponov Exponent and frontogenesis diagnostics reveal how the Chl plumes are shaped by the passage of a mesoscale cyclonic eddy in the south and by a converging front and finer-scale dynamic activity in the north. Our results based on these observations provide clues to the hypothesis of a fertilization from the islands themselves allowing phytoplankton to thrive. They also highlight the role of advection to disperse and shape the Chl plumes in two regions with contrasting dynamical regimes.
Machine Learning Models for Classifying Physical Activity in Free-Living Preschool Children
Authors: Ahmadi Matthew N. , Pavey Toby G. , Trost Stewart G.
Published: August 2020

Machine learning (ML) activity classification models trained on laboratory-based activity trials exhibit low accuracy under free-living conditions. Training new models on free-living accelerometer data, reducing the number of prediction windows comprised of multiple activity types by using shorter windows, including temporal features such as standard deviation in lag and lead windows, and using multiple sensors may improve the classification accuracy under free-living conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of Random Forest (RF) activity classification models for preschool-aged children trained on free-living accelerometer data. Thirty-one children (mean age = 4.0 ± 0.9 years) completed a 20 min free-play session while wearing an accelerometer on their right hip and non-dominant wrist. Video-based direct observation was used to categorize the children’s movement behaviors into five activity classes. The models were trained using prediction windows of 1, 5, 10, and 15 s, with and without temporal features. The models were evaluated using leave-one-subject-out-cross-validation. The F-scores improved as the window size increased from 1 to 15 s (62.6%–86.4%), with only minimal improvements beyond the 10 s windows. The inclusion of temporal features increased the accuracy, mainly for the wrist classification models, by an average of 6.2 percentage points. The hip and combined hip and wrist classification models provided comparable accuracy; however, both the models outperformed the models trained on wrist data by 7.9 to 8.2 percentage points. RF activity classification models trained with free-living accelerometer data provide accurate recognition of young children’s movement behaviors under real-world conditions.
2-D Joint Sparse Reconstruction and Micro-Motion Parameter Estimation for Ballistic Target Based on Compressive Sensing
Authors: Wei Jiaqi , Shao Shuai , Zhang Lei , Liu Hongwei
Published: August 2020

The sparse frequency band (SFB) signal presents a serious challenge to traditional wideband micro-motion curve extraction algorithms. This paper proposes a novel two-dimension (2-D) joint sparse reconstruction and micro-motion parameter estimation (2D-JSR-MPE) algorithm based on compressive sensing (CS) theory. In this technique, the 2D-JSR signal model and the micro-motion parameter dictionary are established based on the segmented SFB echo signal, in which the idea of piecewise effectively reduces the model complexity of ballistic target. With the accommodation of the CS theory, the 2D-JSR-MPE of the echo signal is transformed into solving a sparsity-driven optimization problem. Via an improved orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) algorithm, the high-resolution range profiles (HRRP) can be reconstructed accurately, and the precise micro-motion curves can be simultaneously extracted on phase accuracy. The employment of 2-D joint processing can effectively avoid the interference of the sparse reconstruction error caused by cascaded operation in the subsequent micro-motion parameter estimation. The proposed algorithm benefits from the anti-jamming characteristic of the SFB signal and 2-D joint processing, thus remarkably enhancing its accuracy, robustness and practicality. Extensive experimental results are provided to verify the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed algorithm.
Comparisons of the City Brand Influence of Global Cities: Word-Embedding Based Semantic Mining and Clustering Analysis on the Big Data of GDELT Global News Knowledge Graph
Authors: Zheng Chenyu
Published: August 2020

Global cities act as influential hubs in the networked world. Their city brands, which are projected by the global news media, are becoming sustainable resources in various global competitions and cooperations. This study adopts the research paradigm of computational social science to assess and compare the city brand attention, positivity, and influence of ten Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) Alpha+ global cities, along with their dimensional structures, based on combining the cognitive and affective theoretical perspectives on the frameworks of the Anholt global city brand dimension system, the big data of global news knowledge graph in Google’s Global Database of Events, Language, and Tone (GDELT), and the technologies of word-embedding semantic mining and clustering analysis. The empirical results show that the overall values and dimensional structures of city brand influence of global cities form distinct levels and clusters, respectively. Although global cities share a common structural characteristic of city brand influence of the dimensions of presence and potential being most prominent, Western and Eastern global cities differentiate in the clustering of dimensional structures of city brand attention, positivity, and influence. City brand attention is more important than city brand positivity in improving the city brand influence of global cities. The preferences of the global news media over global city brands fits the nature of global cities.