bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In Silico Analysis of Tetrodotoxin Binding in Voltage-Gated Sodium Ion Channels from Toxin-Resistant Animal Lineages
Authors: Geffeney Shana L. , Cordingley Jennie Ann , Mitchell Kenyon , Hanifin Charles T.
Published: November 2022

Multiple animal species have evolved resistance to the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin (TTX) through changes in voltage-gated sodium ion channels (VGSCs). Amino acid substitutions in TTX-resistant lineages appear to be positionally convergent with changes in homologous residues associated with reductions in TTX block. We used homology modeling coupled with docking simulations to test whether positionally convergent substitutions generate functional convergence at the level of TTX–channel interactions. We found little evidence that amino acids at convergent positions generated similar patterns among TTX-resistant animal lineages across several metrics, including number of polar contacts, polar contact position, and estimates of binding energy. Though binding energy values calculated for TTX docking were reduced for some TTX-resistant channels, not all TTX-resistant channels and not all of our analyses returned reduced binding energy values for TTX-resistant channels. Our results do not support a simple model of toxin resistance where a reduced number of bonds between TTX and the channel protein prevents blocking. Rather models that incorporate flexibility and movement of the protein overall may better describe how homologous substitutions in the channel cause changes in TTX block.
Carbon Peeling Laser Treatment to Improve Skin Texture, Pores and Acne Lesions: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Conforti Claudio , Guida Stefania , Dianzani Caterina , Turco Piergiorgio , Cazzato Vito , Zalaudek Iris , Piccolo Domenico
Published: November 2022

Carbon peel laser treatment has been described for the improvement of skin texture, with pore reduction and acne lesion treatment. The technique consists of applying a carbon mask to the face for about ten minutes followed by laser irradiation with a Q-switched 1064 nm laser. This mechanism of action seems to be related to small carbon molecules binding both the corneocytes and serum within the hair follicles; the effect of the laser eliminates carbon bound to skin particles and the high temperature generated reduces sebum production by sebaceous glands and inhibits Cutibacterium acnes replication. Although this method was described 20 years ago, scientific data supporting its efficacy and safety have only recently been reported in small case series. For this reason, we performed a retrospective study including patients treated from January to May 2022 in the context of a private practice. Even if this study is limited by the low number of patients and its retrospective nature, this is the first research to show that carbon peel laser, performed with a standardized technique, is an effective and safe treatment for patients with acne lesions, showing pores and wrinkles, and is able to improve the overall skin aspect.
The Usage of Concomitant Beta-Blockers with Vasopressors and Inotropes in Cardiogenic Shock
Authors: Ryu Rachel , Hauschild Christopher , Bahjri Khaled , Tran Huyentran
Published: November 2022

Vasopressors and inotropes (Vs/Is) are widely used in the treatment of cardiogenic shock (CS). Despite improvements in hemodynamic variables and end-organ perfusion, these agents have been associated with an increase in mortality, potentially due to the increased risk of tachyarrhythmias—which we hypothesize may be mitigated by beta-blockers (BBs). We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients who received a V/I (dobutamine, milrinone, dopamine, and norepinephrine) for CS. The primary objective was to assess the effect of BB in patients receiving Vs/Is for CS. In our final analysis of 227 patients, those in the BB group were younger, were more likely to have acute coronary syndrome as the reason for admission, had more reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, were more likely to have coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation as pre-existing co-morbidities, and had a lower rate of in-hospital mortality. Nevertheless, in our multivariable logistic regression analysis, concurrent BB usage with a V/I was not associated with a reduction in in-hospital mortality. Our present study sheds light on the importance and urgency of large, carefully designed clinical studies to optimize inpatient medical therapy, particularly evaluating the combination of V/I and BB, in this high-risk patient population.
5-Aza-2′-Deoxycytidine Regulates White Adipocyte Browning by Modulating miRNA-133a/Prdm16
Authors: Liang Jia , Jia Ying , Yu Huixin , Yan Haijing , Shen Qingyu , Xu Yong , Li Yana , Yang Meizi
Published: November 2022

The conversion of white adipocytes into brown adipocytes improves their thermogenesis and promotes energy consumption. Epigenetic modifications affect related genes and interfere with energy metabolism, and these are the basis of new ideas for obesity treatment. Neonatal mice show high levels of DNA hypermethylation in white adipose tissue early in life and low levels in brown adipose tissue. Thus, we considered that the regulation of DNA methylation may play a role in the conversion of white adipose to brown. We observed growth indicators, lipid droplets of adipocytes, brown fat specific protein, and miRNA-133a after treatment with 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine. The expression of Prdm16 and Ucp-1 in adipocytes was detected after inhibiting miRNA-133a. The results showed a decrease in total lipid droplet formation and an increased expression of the brown fat specific proteins Prdm16 and Ucp-1. This study indicated that 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine promotes white adipocyte browning following DNA demethylation, possibly via the modulation of miR-133a and Prdm16.
Palmitic Acid Promotes Lung Metastasis of Melanomas via the TLR4/TRIF-Peli1-pNF-κB Pathway
Authors: Zhang Xuedan , Li Xiaoyu , Xiong Guohang , Yun Fang , Feng Yu , Ni Qinxuan , Wu Na , Yang Lijuan , Yi Zihan , Zhang Qiao , Yang Zhe , Kuang Yingmin , Sai Buqing , Zhu Yuechun
Published: November 2022

A high-fat diet plays an important role in aggravating cancers. Palmitic acid (PA) is one of the components of saturated fatty acids; it has been reported to promote tumor proliferation in melanomas, but the signal transduction pathway mediated by palmitic acid remains unclear. This study showed that palmitic acid can promote the lung metastasis of melanomas. Moreover, the interaction between palmitic acid and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) was predicted by molecular docking. The experimental results proved that palmitic acid could promote the TLR4 and Toll/IL-1 receptor domain-containing adaptor-inducing IFN-β (TRIF) expression. The expression of Pellino1 (Peli1) and the phosphorylation of NF-kappa B (pNF-κB) were downregulated after the suppression of TLR4 and the silencing of Peli1 also inhibited the phosphorylation of NF-κB. Therefore, we concluded that palmitic acid promoted the lung metastasis of melanomas through the TLR4/TRIF-Peli1-pNF-κB pathway.
Genetic and Physiological Characterization of Soybean-Nodule-Derived Isolates from Bangladeshi Soils Revealed Diverse Array of Bacteria with Potential Bradyrhizobia for Biofertilizers
Authors: Mortuza Md Firoz , Djedidi Salem , Ito Takehiro , Agake Shin-ichiro , Sekimoto Hitoshi , Yokoyama Tadashi , Okazaki Shin , Ohkama-Ohtsu Naoko
Published: November 2022

Genetic and physiological characterization of bacteria derived from nodules of leguminous plants in the exploration of biofertilizer is of paramount importance from agricultural and environmental perspectives. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of 84 isolates derived from Bangladeshi soils revealed an unpredictably diverse array of nodule-forming and endosymbiotic bacteria—mostly belonging to the genus Bradyrhizobium. A sequence analysis of the symbiotic genes (nifH and nodD1) revealed similarities with the 16S rRNA gene tree, with few discrepancies. A phylogenetic analysis of the partial rrn operon (16S-ITS-23S) and multi-locus sequence analysis of atpD, glnII, and gyrB identified that the Bradyrhizobium isolates belonged to Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens, Bradyrhizobium elkanii, Bradyrhizobium liaoningense and Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense species. In the pot experiment, several isolates showed better activity than B. diazoefficiens USDA110, and the Bho-P2-B2-S1-51 isolate of B. liaoningense showed significantly higher acetylene reduction activity in both Glycine max cv. Enrei and Binasoybean-3 varieties and biomass production increased by 9% in the Binasoybean-3 variety. Tha-P2-B1-S1-68 isolate of B. diazoefficiens significantly enhanced shoot length and induced 10% biomass production in Binasoybean-3. These isolates grew at 1–4% NaCl concentration and pH 4.5–10 and survived at 45 °C, making the isolates potential candidates for eco-friendly soybean biofertilizers in salty and tropical regions.
Characterization of Genomic Diversity among Carbapenem-Resistant Escherichia coli Clinical Isolates and Antibacterial Efficacy of Silver Nanoparticles from Pakistan
Authors: Gondal Aamir Jamal , Choudhry Nakhshab , Bukhari Hina , Rizvi Zainab , Yasmin Nighat
Published: November 2022

The emergence of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) is considered an important threat to public health resulting in resistance accumulation due to antibiotics misuse and selection pressure. This warrants periodic efforts to investigate and develop strategies for infection control. A total of 184 carbapenem-resistant clinical strains of E. coli were characterized for resistance pattern, resistance genes, plasmids, sequence types and in vitro efficacy of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Carbapenem resistance was prevalent in E. coli isolated from female patients (64.7%), urine samples (40.8%) and surgical wards (32.1%). Polymyxin-B showed higher susceptibility. ESBLs and carbapenemases were produced in 179 and 119 isolates, respectively. Carbapenemase-encoding genes were observed among 104 strains with blaNDM-1 (45.1%), blaOXA-48 (27%), blaNDM-7 (3.8%), blaNDM-1/blaOXA-48 (15.4%), blaNDM-7/blaOXA-48 (2.9%), blaOXA-48/blaVIM (3.8%) and blaNDM-1/blaVIM (2%). ESBL resistance genes were detected in 147 isolates, namely blaSHV (24.9%), blaCTX-M (17.7%), blaTEM (4.8%), blaSHV/blaCTX-M (29.2%), blaSHV/blaTEM (15%) and blaCTX-M/blaTEM (8.8%). ST405 (44.4%) and ST131 (29.2%) were more frequent sequence types with ST101 (9.7%), ST10 (9.7%) and ST648 (7%). The replicon types IncFII, IncFIIK, IncA/C, IncN and IncL/M were detected. The combination of MEM/AgNPs remained effective against carbapenemase-positive E. coli. We reported genetically diverse E. coli strains coharboring carbapenemases/ESBLs from Pakistan. Moreover, this study highlights the enhanced antibacterial activity of MEM/AgNPs and may be used to manage bacterial infections.
Seroepidemiology of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. among German National Cohort (NAKO) Participants, Hanover
Authors: Hassenstein Max , Janzen Irina , Krause Gérard , Harries Manuela , Melhorn Vanessa , Kerrinnes Tobias , Kemmling Yvonne , Castell Stefanie
Published: November 2022

Lyme borreliosis is the leading tick-related illness in Europe, caused by Borrelia Burgdorferi s.l. Lower Saxony, Germany, including its capital, Hanover, has a higher proportion of infected ticks than central European countries, justifying a research focus on the potential human consequences. The current knowledge gap on human incident infections, particularly in Western Germany, demands serological insights, especially regarding a potentially changing climate-related tick abundance and activity. We determined the immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) serostatuses for 8009 German National Cohort (NAKO) participants from Hanover, examined in 2014–2018. We used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as the screening and a line immunoblot as confirmation for the Borrelia Burgdorferi s.l. antibodies. We weighted the seropositivity proportions to estimate general population seropositivity and estimated the force of infection (FOI). Using logistic regression, we investigated risk factors for seropositivity. Seropositivity was 3.0% (IgG) and 0.9% (IgM). The FOI varied with age, sharply increasing in participants aged ≥40 years. We confirmed advancing age and male sex as risk factors. We reported reduced odds for seropositivity with increasing body mass index and depressive symptomatology, respectively, pointing to an impact of lifestyle-related behaviors. The local proportion of seropositive individuals is comparable to previous estimates for northern Germany, indicating a steady seroprevalence.
The Spouses of Stroke Patients Have a Similar Oral Microbiome to Their Partners with an Elevated Risk of Stroke
Authors: Wang Huidi , Yang Mengjia , Cheng Sanping , Ren Yueran , Deng Yiting , Liang Jingru , Lin Xiaofei , Li Jie , Yin Jia , Wu Qiheng
Published: November 2022

Spousal members who share no genetic relatedness show similar oral microbiomes. Whether a shared microbiome increases the risk of cerebrovascular disease is challenging to investigate. The aim of this study was to compare the oral microbiota composition of poststroke patients, their partners, and controls and to compare the risk of stroke between partners of poststroke patients and controls. Forty-seven pairs of spouses and 34 control subjects were recruited for the study. Alcohol use, smoking, metabolic disease history, clinical test results, and oral health were documented. Oral microbiome samples were measured by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The risk of stroke was measured by risk factor assessment (RFA) and the Framingham Stroke Profile (FSP). Poststroke patients and their partners exhibited higher alpha diversity than controls. Principal-coordinate analysis (PCoA) showed that poststroke patients share a more similar microbiota composition with their partners than controls. The differentially abundant microbial taxa among the 3 groups were identified by linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis. The risk factor assessment indicated that partners of poststroke patients had a higher risk of stroke than controls. Spearman correlation analysis showed that Prevotellaceae was negatively associated with RFA. Lactobacillales was negatively associated with FSP, while Campilobacterota and [Eubacterium]_nodatum_group were positively associated with FSP. These results suggest that stroke risk may be transmissible between spouses through the oral microbiome, in which several bacteria might be involved in the pathogenesis of stroke.
Probiotics in Periodontal and Peri-Implant Health Management: Biofilm Control, Dysbiosis Reversal, and Host Modulation
Authors: Amato Massimo , Di Spirito Federica , D’Ambrosio Francesco , Boccia Giovanni , Moccia Giuseppina , De Caro Francesco
Published: November 2022

Periodontitis and peri-implantitis are microbially associated diseases of the tissues supporting the teeth and dental implants that are mediated by host inflammation and eventually lead to tooth and dental implant loss. Given the probiotics’ role in biofilm control, dysbiosis reversal, and host modulation, their potential beneficial effects on the improvement of periodontitis and peri-implantitis have been recently investigated. Moreover, probiotics use has also been proposed in periodontal health management in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic therapy. Therefore, the present study aimed to review, considering the periodontal microbiome composition around teeth and dental implants in healthy and pathological conditions, the putative favorable effects of probiotics on gingivitis, periodontitis, and peri-implantitis. The secondary aim of the present narrative review was to synthesize the supporting evidence and proposed protocols for probiotics use as adjuncts in periodontitis and peri-implantitis treatment and the periodontal health management of orthodontic patients with fixed appliances. Contrasting findings from the literature may be due to the different methods, posology, and duration of probiotics prescriptions and due to the heterogeneous biological and clinical measurement methods employed. Thus, no definitive conclusions could be drawn about the effectiveness of probiotics in periodontal management, both in healthy and pathological conditions. Further studies are needed to validate probiotics for periodontal management and provide recommended protocols.
Bioactive Compounds from Red Microalgae with Therapeutic and Nutritional Value
Authors: Tsvetanova Flora , Yankov Dragomir
Published: November 2022

Red microalgae represent a natural reservoir of beneficial substances with applications in different industrial sectors. They are rich in natural biomolecules known for their antihypertensive, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and anticoagulant activities. Many red microalgae are a source of vitamins, minerals, photochemicals, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and a wide spectrum of polysaccharides. The content of their valuable compounds and their activities have turned red microalgae into cellular factories of special interest in food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. Like all microalgae, the red ones are superior to traditional crops for the aims of biotechnology as they are renewable sources widely available in great quantities and are easy to culture. Moreover, some of the most studied red microalgae are generally recognized as safe. This review summarizes the valuable biochemicals from red microalgae and highlights their health and nutritional benefits.
Probiotic Therapy with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Results in Infarct Size Limitation in Rats with Obesity and Chemically Induced Colitis
Authors: Borshchev Yury Y. , Burovenko Inessa Y. , Karaseva Alena B. , Minasian Sarkis M. , Protsak Egor S. , Borshchev Victor Y. , Semenova Natalia Y. , Borshcheva Olga V. , Suvorov Alexander N. , Galagudza Michael M.
Published: November 2022

In this study, we investigated the effect of three different probiotics, namely, a combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA–5) and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (BB–12), Saccharomyces boulardii, and Enterococcus faecium L3 on myocardial infarct size in rats with diet-induced obesity (DIO) and chemically-induced colitis (CIC). Potential associations between the effects of probiotics on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and gut microbiome patterns as well as the serum levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, lipopolysaccharide, and short chain fatty acids were also studied. Intragastric administration of lyophilized Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis at a dose of 1.2 × 108 CFU/mL for 15 days resulted in myocardial infarct size reduction in rats with DIO, CIC, and antibiotic-induced dysbiosis. This cardioprotective effect was associated with specific changes in cytokine concentrations, namely reduced levels of IL–1β, TNF–α, IL–2, and IL–8. At the same time, the use of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis was accompanied by a significant reduction in lipopolysaccharide level, suggesting normalization of intestinal epithelial barrier permeability. However, the cardioprotective effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis is not secondary to improved healing of the intestinal mucosa in CIC, as evidenced by the lack of difference in histopathological scores.
Mathematical Modeling of Electrical Circuits and Practical Works of Increasing Difficulty with Classical Spreadsheet Software
Authors: Sauvey Christophe
Published: November 2022

This paper presents a modeling practical works project of electrical engineering, proposed to the first-year students of the University Institute of Technology in France, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this paper is twofold. The first objective is to present to the students the opportunities of modeling and calculation development of a spreadsheet software in their professional lives. The second objective is to create a file that automatically calculates all the current and voltage values at each point of any alternative electrical circuit. The aim of this paper, geared toward students, is to bring them to build their own numerical remote lab, autonomously. Therefore, pedagogical keys are given along the reading of this document to help them to progress, both on electrical circuits conceptual understanding with series and parallel RLC circuits and on their computation in a spreadsheet software. As a conclusion, this paper can be used as a base to develop remote modeling practical works of many and different devices, as well as a database starting point of such analytical models.
Understanding the Role of the Lateral Dimensional Property of Graphene Oxide on Its Interactions with Renal Cells
Authors: Chen Wei , Wang Bing , Liang Shanshan , Wang Meng , Zheng Lingna , Xu Si , Wang Jiali , Fang Hao , Yang Pu , Feng Weiyue
Published: November 2022

Renal excretion is expected to be the major route for the elimination of biomedically applied nanoparticles from the body. Hence, understanding the nanomedicine–kidney interaction is crucially required, but it is still far from being understood. Herein, we explored the lateral dimension- (~70 nm and ~300 nm), dose- (1, 5, and 15 mg/kg in vivo and 0.1~250 μg/mL in vitro), and time-dependent (48 h and 7 d in vivo) deposition and injury of PEGylated graphene oxide sheets (GOs) in the kidney after i.v. injection in mice. We specially investigated the cytotoxic effects on three typical kidney cell types with which GO renal excretion is related: human renal glomerular endothelial cells (HRGECs) and human podocytes, and human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2). By using in vivo fluorescence imaging and in situ Raman imaging and spectroscopic analysis, we revealed that GOs could gradually be eliminated from the kidneys, where the glomeruli and renal tubules are their target deposition sites, but only the high dose of GO injection induced obvious renal histological and ultrastructural changes. We showed that the high-dose GO-induced cytotoxicity included a cell viability decrease and cellular apoptosis increase. GO uptake by renal cells triggered cellular membrane damage (intracellular LDH release) and increased levels of oxidative stress (ROS level elevation and a decrease in the balance of the GSH/GSSG ratio) accompanied by a mitochondrial membrane potential decrease and up-regulation of the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-18, resulting in cellular apoptosis. GO treatments activated Keap1/Nrf2 signaling; however, the antioxidant function of Nrf2 could be inhibited by apoptotic engagement. GO-induced cytotoxicity was demonstrated to be associated with oxidative stress and an inflammation reaction. Generally, the l-GOs presented more pronounced cytotoxicity and more severe cellular injury than s-GOs did, demonstrating lateral size-dependent toxicity to the renal cells. More importantly, GO-induced cytotoxicity was independent of renal cell type. The results suggest that the dosage of GOs in biomedical applications should be considered and that more attention should be paid to the ability of a high dose of GO to cause renal deposition and potential nephrotoxicity.
1-Tetradecanol, Diethyl Phthalate and Tween 80 Assist in the Formation of Thermo-Responsive Azoxystrobin Nanoparticles
Authors: Lin Guan , Gao Juntao , Shang Shenghua , Zhang Huanbo , Luo Qiangke , Wu Yutong , Liu Yong , Chen Xingjiang , Sun Yan
Published: November 2022

The occurrence of crop fungal diseases is closely related to warm environmental conditions. In order to control the release of fungicides in response to warm conditions, and enhance the efficacy, a series of thermo-responsive fungicide-loaded nanoparticles were developed. The fungicide azoxystrobin, solvent DEP, emulsifier Tween 80 and thermo-responsive component TDA were combined to create thermal-response oil phases, conditions for emulsification were then optimized. LDLS, zeta potential, FTIR, DSC, TGA, XRD, SEM and antifungal efficacy assays were carried out to investigate the characteristics and forming mechanism. The results indicated that the formula with 5 g azoxystrobin, 10 mL DEP, 6 mL Tween 80 and 2.5 g TDA constructed the proposed oil phase with the ability to transform from solid at 20 °C to softerned at 31.5 °C. Both DEP and TDA played key roles in interfering with the crystallization of azoxystrobin. The optimal T3t-c12 nanoparticles had a mean particle size of 162.1 nm, thermo-responsive morphological transformation between 20 °C and 30 °C, AZO crystal reforming after drying, the ability to attach to fungal spores and satisfied antifungal efficacy against P. nicotiana PNgz07 and A. niger A1513 at 30 °C. This report provides referable technical support for the construction of smart-release nanoparticles of other agrochemicals.
A New Therapeutic Trend: Natural Medicine for Ameliorating Ischemic Stroke via PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway
Authors: Liu Xian , Xiao Xinyu , Han Xue , Yao Lan , Lan Wei
Published: November 2022

Ischemic stroke (IS) is an acute cerebrovascular disease caused by sudden arterial occlusion, which is characterized by a high morbidity, mortality, and disability rate. It is one of the most important causes of nervous system morbidity and mortality in the world. In recent years, the search for new medicine for the treatment of IS has become an attractive research focus. Due to the extremely limited time window of traditional medicine treatment, some side effects may occur, and accompanied by the occurrence of adverse reactions, the frequency of exploration with natural medicine is significantly increased. Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/Protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway is a classical pathway for cell metabolism, growth, apoptosis, and other physiological activities. There is considerable research on medicine that treats various diseases through this pathway. This review focuses on how natural medicines (including herbs and insects) regulate important pathophysiological processes such as inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and autophagy through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, and the role it plays in improving IS. We found that many kinds of herbal medicine and insect medicine can alleviate the damage caused by IS through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Moreover, the prescription after their combination can also achieve certain results. Therefore, this review provides a new candidate category for medicine development in the treatment of IS.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Cytotoxicity Studies of N-(4-Methoxybenzyl) Thiosemicarbazone Derivatives and Their Ruthenium(II)-p-cymene Complexes
Authors: Martínez-Estévez Mónica , García-Fontán Soledad , Argibay-Otero Saray , Prieto Inmaculada , Vázquez-López Ezequiel M.
Published: November 2022

The reaction of [Ru2Cl2(μ-Cl)2(η6-p-cymene)2] with two thiosemicarbazones obtained by the condensation of N-(4-methoxybenzyl) thiosemicarbazide and 1,4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)ethan-1-one (HL1) or 2-fluoro-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (HL2) was studied. The cationic complexes of formula [RuCl(η6-p-cymene)(HL)]+ were isolated as solid chloride and trifluoromethylsulfate (TfO) salts. A study of the solid state and NMR spectra suggests the presence in the material of two isomers that differ in the configuration in the iminic bond, C2=N3, of the coordinated thiosemicarbazone in the triflate salts and only the E isomer in the chloride. An X-ray study of single crystals of the complexes supports this hypothesis. The thiosemicarbazone ligand coordinates with the ruthenium center through the iminic and sulfur atoms to form a five-membered chelate ring. Furthermore, the isolation of single crystals containing the thiosemicarbazonate complex [Ru2(μ-L2)2(η6-p-cymene)2]2+ suggests the easy labilization of the coordinated chloride in the complex. The redox behavior of the ligands and complexes was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry. It seems to be more difficult to oxidize the complex derived from HL1 than HL2. The ability of the complexes to inhibit cell growth against the NCI-H460, A549 and MDA-MB-231 lines was evaluated. The complexes did not show greater potency than cisplatin, although they did have greater efficacy, especially for the complex derived from HL1.
Stereoselective Synthesis of 2-Deoxythiosugars from Glycals
Authors: You Xueying , Cai Yifei , Xiao Chenyu , Ma Lijuan , Wei Yong , Xie Tianpeng , Chen Lei , Yao Hui
Published: November 2022

2-deoxythiosugars are more stable than 2-deoxysugars occurring broadly in bioactive natural products and pharmaceutical agents. An effective and direct methodology to stereoselectively synthesize α-2-deoxythioglycosides catalyzed by AgOTf has been developed. Various alkyl thiols and thiophenols were explored and the desired products were formed in good yields with excellent α-selectivity. This method was further applied to the syntheses of S-linked disaccharides and late-stage 2-deoxyglycosylation of estrogen, L-menthol, and zingerone thiols successfully.
Adsorption of Toxic Tetracycline, Thiamphenicol and Sulfamethoxazole by a Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) under Different Conditions
Authors: Li Risheng , Sun Wen , Xia Longfei , U Zia , Sun Xubo , Wang Zhao , Wang Yujie , Deng Xu
Published: November 2022

Activated carbon can be applied to the treatment of wastewater loading with different types of pollutants. In this paper, a kind of activated carbon in granular form (GAC) was utilized to eliminate antibiotics from an aqueous solution, in which Tetracycline (TC), Thiamphenicol (THI), and Sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) were selected as the testing pollutants. The specific surface area, total pore volume, and micropore volume of GAC were 1059.011 m2/g, 0.625 cm3/g, and 0.488 cm3/g, respectively. The sorption capacity of GAC towards TC, THI, and SMZ was evaluated based on the adsorption kinetics and isotherm. It was found that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model described the sorption of TC, THI, and SMZ on GAC better than the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. According to the Langmuir isotherm model, the maximum adsorption capacity of GAC towards TC, THI, and SMZ was calculated to be 17.02, 30.40, and 26.77 mg/g, respectively. Thermodynamic parameters of ΔG0, ΔS0, and ΔH0 were obtained, indicating that all the sorptions were spontaneous and exothermic in nature. These results provided a knowledge base on using activated carbon to remove TC, THI, and SMZ from water.
Tricyano-Methylene-Pyridine Based High-Performance Aggregation-Induced Emission Photosensitizer for Imaging and Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Wu Xupeng , Zhu Zhirong , Liu Zhenxing , Li Xiangyu , Zhou Tijian , Zhao Xiaolei , Wang Yuwei , Shi Yiqi , Yu Qianqian , Zhu Wei-Hong , Wang Qi
Published: November 2022

Photosensitizers equipped with high reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation capability and bright emission are essential for accurate tumor imaging and precise photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, traditional aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) photosensitizers cannot simultaneously produce desirable ROS and bright fluorescence, resulting in poor image-guided therapy effect. Herein, we report an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) photosensitizer TCM-Ph with a strong donor–π–acceptor (D–π–A) structure, which greatly separates the HOMO–LUMO distribution and reduces the ΔEST, thereby increasing the number of triplet excitons and producing more ROS. The AIE photosensitizer TCM-Ph has bright near-infrared emission, as well as a higher ROS generation capacity than the commercial photosensitizers Bengal Rose (RB) and Chlorine e6 (Ce6), and can effectively eliminate cancer cells under image guidance. Therefore, the AIE photosensitizer TCM-Ph has great potential to replace the commercial photosensitizers.
Callus Culture of Scorzonera radiata as a New, Highly Productive and Stable Source of Caffeoylquinic Acids
Authors: Grishchenko Olga V. , Grigorchuk Valeria P. , Tchernoded Galina K. , Koren Olga G. , Bulgakov Victor P.
Published: November 2022

During our ongoing efforts to investigate biotechnological sources of caffeoylquinic acid (CQA) metabolites, we discovered the plant Scorzonera radiata Fisch. (Asteraceae), which is able to produce callus cultures with high yield and extremely high stability. An actively growing callus line, designated as Sr-L1, retained the ability to produce 11 CQAs during long-term cultivation (more than 20 years). A total of 29 polyphenolic compounds were identified in the leaves and Sr-L1 callus culture of S. radiata, including CQAs, lignol derivatives, flavonoids, and dihydrostilbenes. The composition of CQAs in the Sr-L1 culture was identical to that in the S. radiata leaves. Sr-L1 calli did not produce flavonoids and dihydrostilbenes, but produced lignol derivatives, which were absent in leaves. The HPLC-UV-HRMS determination showed the presence of monoacyl derivatives of CQAs such as 5-CQA, 4-CQA, cis-5-CQA, and 5-O-p-coumaroylquinic acid in the Sr-L1 culture. Among diacyl derivatives, 3,4-diCQA, 3,5-diCQA, cis-3,5-diCQA, 4,5-diCQA, 3-O-p-coumaroyl-5-O-CQA, and 3-O-caffeoyl-5-O-p-coumaroylquinic acid were found. The content of 5-CQA reached 7.54 mg/g dry weight and the content of 3,5-diCQA was as high as 18.52 mg/g dry weight. 3,5-diCQA has been reported to be of high nutritional and pharmacological value, as it alleviates inflammatory pain, reverses memory impairment by preventing neuronal apoptosis, and counteracts excessive adipose tissue expansion, serving as an attractive treatment option for obesity. The high content of 3,5-diCQA and the exceptional stability of biosynthesis make callus cultures of S. radiata a promising source for the development of drugs and nutraceuticals.
A Review on Generation and Reactivity of the N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Bound Alkynyl Acyl Azolium Intermediates
Authors: Dong Ziyang , Jiang Chengming , Zhao Changgui
Published: November 2022

N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) has been widely used as an organocatalyst for both umpolung and non-umpolung chemistry. Previous works mainly focus on species including Breslow intermediate, azolium enolate intermediate, homoenolate intermediate, alkenyl acyl azolium intermediate, etc. Notably, the NHC-bound alkynyl acyl azolium has emerged as an effective intermediate to access functionalized cyclic molecular skeleton until very recently. In this review, we summarized the generation and reactivity of the NHC-bound alkynyl acyl azolium intermediates, which covers the efforts and advances in the synthesis of achiral and axially chiral cyclic scaffolds via the NHC-bound alkynyl acyl azolium intermediates. In particular, the mechanism related to this intermediate is discussed in detail.
Prospective Role of Indigenous Leafy Vegetables as Functional Food Ingredients
Authors: Mungofa Nyarai , Sibanyoni July Johannes , Mashau Mpho Edward , Beswa Daniso
Published: November 2022

Indigenous leafy vegetables (ILVs) play a pivotal role in sustaining the lives of many people of low socio-economic status who reside in rural areas of most developing countries. Such ILVs contribute to food security since they withstand harsher weather and soil conditions than their commercial counterparts and supply important nutrients such as dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals. Furthermore, ILVs contain bioactive components such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, dietary fibre, carotene content and vitamin C that confer health benefits on consumers. Several studies have demonstrated that regular and adequate consumption of vegetables reduces risks of chronic conditions such as diabetes, cancer, metabolic disorders such as obesity in children and adults, as well as cardiovascular disease. However, consumption of ILVs is very low globally as they are associated with unbalanced and poor diets, with being food for the poor and with possibly containing toxic heavy metals. Therefore, this paper reviews the role of ILVs as food security crops, the biodiversity of ILVs, the effects of processing on the bioactivity of ILVs, consumer acceptability of food derived from ILVs, potential toxicity of some ILVs and the potential role ILVs play in the future of eating.
Characterisation of Bee Pollen from the Marche Region (Italy) According to the Botanical and Geographical Origin with Analysis of Antioxidant Activity and Colour, Using a Chemometric Approach
Authors: Castiglioni Sara , Stefano Mariassunta , Astolfi Paola , Pisani Michela , Carloni Patricia
Published: November 2022

Attempts have often been made to isolate and characterise monofloral pollens to correlate nutritional with botanical properties. Nevertheless, pollen harvested in a particular area that can have a high biodiversity could have healthier properties. In addition, the analysis of the pollen’s botanical composition can be important for characterising the typical flora of a specific geographical area. On this basis, various pollens collected in different locations of the Marche region (Italy) and in different harvesting periods were analyzed for botanical composition and antioxidant (total phenolic content, ABTS, DPPH and ORAC tests), granulometry and colour (CIE L*a*b*) properties to evaluate the biodiversity of pollen sources within a particular geographical area and to correlate this to the nutraceutical characteristics. Antioxidant activity results showed values generally higher than those of monofloral pollens harvested in the same areas but manually separated according to colour, shape and size. This suggests that even the floral species present in low percentages may have an influence on the nutraceutical properties of these products. The multivariate statistical elaboration of the obtained results permitted the separation of samples containing a prevalent botanical species and the grouping of all the samples into separate clusters corresponding to different areas of Marche.
Anxiolytic-like Effect of Inhaled Cinnamon Essential Oil and Its Main Component Cinnamaldehyde in Animal Models
Authors: Nguyen Ly Thi Huong , Nguyen Nhi Phuc Khanh , Tran Khoa Nguyen , Shin Heung-Mook , Yang In-Jun
Published: November 2022

Aromatherapy is one of the most common safer alternative treatments for psychiatric disorders with fewer side effects than conventional drugs. Here, we investigated the effects of cinnamon essential oil (CIEO) inhalation on mouse behaviors by performing different behavioral tests. CIEO inhalation showed anxiolytic effects in the elevated plus maze test, as inferred from increased time spent in open arms and decreased time spent in closed arms. Moreover, the CIEO treatment enhanced social behavior by increasing the total contact number, time spent in the center, distance traveled in the center, and total distance in the social interaction test. However, CIEO inhalation did not have any effect on performance in the open field test, tail suspension test, forced swimming test, and Y maze tests. The microarray analysis indicated that the CIEO treatment downregulated 17 genes and upregulated 15 genes in the hippocampus. Among them, Dcc, Egr2, and Fos are the most crucial genes that are involved in anxiety-related biological processes and pathways, including the regulation of neuronal death and neuroinflammation. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis revealed that cinnamaldehyde is the main component of CIEO. Cinnamaldehyde recovered MK-801-induced anxiety-related changes in the electroencephalogram power spectrum in zebrafish. Taken together, our findings suggest that CIEO and its main component cinnamaldehyde have an anxiolytic effect through the regulation of the expression of genes related to neuroinflammatory response and neuronal death.
Molecular Characterization of an Isoflavone 2′-Hydroxylase Gene Revealed Positive Insights into Flavonoid Accumulation and Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Safflower
Authors: Liu Jianyu , Ahmad Naveed , Hong Yingqi , Zhu Meihua , Zaman Shah , Wang Nan , Yao Na , Liu Xiuming
Published: November 2022

Flavonoids with significant therapeutic properties play an essential role in plant growth, development, and adaptation to various environments. The biosynthetic pathway of flavonoids has long been studied in plants; however, its regulatory mechanism in safflower largely remains unclear. Here, we carried out comprehensive genome-wide identification and functional characterization of a putative cytochrome P45081E8 gene encoding an isoflavone 2′-hydroxylase from safflower. A total of 15 CtCYP81E genes were identified from the safflower genome. Phylogenetic classification and conserved topology of CtCYP81E gene structures, protein motifs, and cis-elements elucidated crucial insights into plant growth, development, and stress responses. The diverse expression pattern of CtCYP81E genes in four different flowering stages suggested important clues into the regulation of secondary metabolites. Similarly, the variable expression of CtCYP81E8 during multiple flowering stages further highlighted a strong relationship with metabolite accumulation. Furthermore, the orchestrated link between transcriptional regulation of CtCYP81E8 and flavonoid accumulation was further validated in the yellow- and red-type safflower. The spatiotemporal expression of CtCYP81E8 under methyl jasmonate, polyethylene glycol, light, and dark conditions further highlighted its likely significance in abiotic stress adaption. Moreover, the over-expressed transgenic Arabidopsis lines showed enhanced transcript abundance in OE-13 line with approximately eight-fold increased expression. The upregulation of AtCHS, AtF3′H, and AtDFR genes and the detection of several types of flavonoids in the OE-13 transgenic line also provides crucial insights into the potential role of CtCYP81E8 during flavonoid accumulation. Together, our findings shed light on the fundamental role of CtCYP81E8 encoding a putative isoflavone 2′-hydroxylase via constitutive expression during flavonoid biosynthesis.
Text Spotting towards Perceptually Aliased Urban Place Recognition
Authors: Hettiarachchi Dulmini , Tian Ye , Yu Han , Kamijo Shunsuke
Published: November 2022

Recognizing places of interest (POIs) can be challenging for humans, especially in foreign environments. In this study, we leverage smartphone sensors (i.e., camera, GPS) and deep learning algorithms to propose an intelligent solution to recognize POIs in an urban environment. Recent studies have approached landmark recognition as an image retrieval problem. However, visual similarity alone is not robust against challenging conditions such as extreme appearance variance and perceptual aliasing in urban environments. To this end, we propose to fuse visual, textual, and positioning information. Our contributions are as follows. Firstly, we propose VPR through text reading pipeline (VPRText) that uses off-the-shelf text spotting algorithms for word spotting followed by layout analysis and text similarity search modules. Secondly, we propose a hierarchical architecture that combines VPRText and image retrieval. Thirdly, we perform a comprehensive empirical study on the applicability of state-of-the-art text spotting methods for the VPR task. Additionally, we introduce a challenging purpose-built urban dataset for VPR evaluation. The proposed VPR architecture achieves a superior performance overall, especially in challenging conditions (i.e., perceptually aliased and illuminated environments).
Formation, Possible Detection and Consequences of Highly Magnetized Compact Stars
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Banibrata , Bhattacharya Mukul
Published: November 2022

Over the past several years, there has been enormous interest in massive neutron stars and white dwarfs due to either their direct or indirect evidence. The recent detection of gravitational wave event GW190814 has confirmed the existence of compact stars with masses as high as ∼2.5–2.67 M⊙ within the so-called mass gap, indicating the existence of highly massive neutron stars. One of the primary goals to invoke massive compact objects was to explain the recent detections of over a dozen Type Ia supernovae, whose peculiarity lies with their unusual light curve, in particular the high luminosity and low ejecta velocity. In a series of recent papers, our group has proposed that highly magnetised white dwarfs with super-Chandrasekhar masses can be promising candidates for the progenitors of these peculiar supernovae. The mass-radius relations of these magnetised stars are significantly different from those of their non-magnetised counterparts, which leads to a revised super-Chandrasekhar mass-limit. These compact stars have wider ranging implications, including those for soft gamma-ray repeaters, anomalous X-ray pulsars, white dwarf pulsars and gravitational radiation. Here we review the development of the subject over the last decade or so, describing the overall state of the art of the subject as it stands now. We mainly touch upon the possible formation channels of these intriguing stars as well as the effectiveness of direct detection methods. These magnetised stars can have many interesting consequences, including reconsideration of them as possible standard candles.
Antiviral Properties of Pennisetum purpureum Extract against Coronaviruses and Enteroviruses
Authors: Chen Yi-Ning , Kao Wenny Mei-Wen , Lee Shu-Chi , Wu Jaw-Min , Ho Yi-Sheng , Hsieh Ming-Kun
Published: November 2022

Many severe epidemics are caused by enteroviruses (EVs) and coronaviruses (CoVs), including feline coronavirus (FCoV) in cats, epidemic diarrhea disease virus (PEDV) in pigs, infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in chickens, and EV71 in human. Vaccines and antiviral drugs are used to prevent and treat the infection of EVs and CoVs, but the effectiveness is affected due to rapidly changing RNA viruses. Many plant extracts have been proven to have antiviral properties despite the continuous mutations of viruses. Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) has high phenolic content and has been used as healthy food materials, livestock feed, biofuels, and more. This study tested the antiviral properties of P. purpureum extract against FCoV, PEDV, IBV, and EV71 by in vitro cytotoxicity assay, TCID50 virus infection assay, and chicken embryo infection assay. The findings showed that P. purpureum extract has the potential of being disinfectant to limit the spread of CoVs and EVs because the extract can inhibit the infection of EV71, FCoV, and PEDV in cells, and significantly reduce the severity of symptoms caused by IBV in chicken embryos.