bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of Abnormal Iron Status with the Occurrence and Prognosis of Peritoneal Dialysis-Related Peritonitis: A Longitudinal Data-Based 10-Year Retrospective Study
Authors: Diao Xiangwen , Zheng Zhiwei , Yi Chunyan , Cao Peiyi , Ye Hongjian , Liu Ruihua , Lin Jianxiong , Chen Wei , Mao Haiping , Huang Fengxian , Yang Xiao
Published: April 2022

This retrospective study investigated the effect of iron status on peritonitis by analyzing longitudinal iron parameters in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Patients who received PD at our center from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2015 were included and followed up until 31 December 2017. According to the joint quartiles of baseline transferrin saturation and ferritin, iron status was categorized as reference iron status (RIS), absolute iron deficiency (AID), functional iron deficiency (FID), and high iron status (HIS). Generalized estimating equations and Cox regression models with time-dependent covariates were used. A total of 1258 PD patients were included; 752 (59.8%) were male, with a mean (±standard deviation) age of 47.4 (±14.9) years. During a median follow-up period of 35.5 (interquartile range, 18.4–60.0) months, 450 (34.3%) patients had 650 episodes of peritonitis. By analyzing longitudinal data, patients with AID were independently positively associated with the occurrence (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.45) and treatment failure of peritonitis (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) = 1.85). Patients with HIS were positively associated with the treatment failure of peritonitis (AHR = 2.70). Longitudinal AID and HIS were associated with the episodes and poor prognosis of peritonitis. Active clinical monitoring and correction of iron imbalance in patients with PD are needed.
Total 25(OH)D Concentration Moderates the Association between Caffeine Consumption and the Alkaline Phosphatase Level in Pregnant Women
Authors: Tung Keith T. S. , Wong Rosa S. , Cheung Calvin K. M. , Ko Jennifer K. Y. , Chan Bianca N. K. , Lee Albert , So Hung-Kwan , Wong Wilfred H. S. , Leung Wing-Cheong , Ip Patrick
Published: April 2022

The evidence as to whether caffeine consumption is beneficial or harmful to human health has been mixed. This study aimed to examine the effect of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration on the association between caffeine consumption and mineral metabolism in pregnant women. This is a cross-sectional study involving pregnant women at their 25th to 35th gestational week recruited at antenatal clinics in the period of July 2019 to December 2020. Peripheral blood samples were collected to determine their total 25(OH)D, albumin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), calcium, phosphate, and ferritin level in serum. Questionnaires on demographics and dietary intake were also administered. Among 181 pregnant women recruited (Average age = 32.9 years), 50 (27.6%) of them were found to be vitamin D insufficient (25(OH)D concentration < 75 nmol/L), and 131 (72.4%) were vitamin D sufficient (25(OH)D concentration ≥ 75 nmol/L). Adjusted regression models identified an association between higher caffeine intake and lower ALP level only among vitamin D-sufficient pregnant women (β = −0.24, p = 0.006), but not in those with insufficient vitamin D (β = −0.02, p = 0.912). The findings provide new insights into 25(OH)D concentration as a potential modifier of the health effects of caffeine consumption during pregnancy.
Dietary Protein Patterns during Pregnancy Are Associated with Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Chinese Pregnant Women
Authors: Wu Weijia , Tang Nu , Zeng Jingjing , Jing Jin , Cai Li
Published: April 2022

Controversies around the association between dietary protein intake and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) persist. To the best of our knowledge, this association has not previously been reported from the perspective of dietary protein patterns. We aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary protein patterns and GDM risk in pregnant women, and 1014 pregnant women (20–28 weeks of gestation) were recruited in Guangzhou, China, during 2017–2018. Maternal dietary information was collected by a validated food frequency questionnaire, which covered the most common foods consumed in Guangzhou, China. GDM was identified by a 75g oral glucose tolerance test. A K-means cluster analysis was conducted to aggregate individuals into three groups, which were determined by the major sources of protein. Logistic regression was employed to explore the relationship between dietary protein patterns and the risk of GDM. Among the 1014 participants, 191 (18.84%) were diagnosed with GDM. In the total population, when comparing the highest quartile with the lowest, we found that total protein and animal protein intake increased the risk of GDM with the adjusted odds ratios (95%CI) being 6.27, 5.43 (1.71–23.03, 1.71–17.22), respectively. Pregnant women were further divided into three dietary protein patterns, namely, white meat, plant–dairy–eggs, and red meat protein patterns. Compared to women with the plant–dairy–eggs protein pattern, those with the red meat protein pattern (OR: 1.80; 95%CI: 1.06–3.07) or white meat protein pattern (OR: 1.83; 95%CI: 1.04–3.24) had an increased risk of GDM. Higher dietary intakes of total or animal protein during mid-pregnancy were related to an increased risk of GDM. Furthermore, we first found that, compared to women with the plant–dairy–eggs protein pattern, women with the red meat or white meat protein patterns had a higher risk of GDM.
The Involvement of Thiamine Uptake in the Virulence of Edwardsiella piscicida
Authors: Liu Xin , Wang Xinhui , Sun Boguang , Sun Li
Published: April 2022

Edwardsiella piscicida is a pathogenic bacterium, which can infect a number of fish species and cause a disease termed edwardsiellosis, threatening global fish farming with high prevalence and mortality. Thiamine (Vitamin B1), functioning in the form of thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), is essential for almost all organisms. Bacteria acquire TPP by biosynthesis or by transportation of exogenous thiamine. TPP availability has been associated with bacterial pathogenicity, but the underlying mechanisms remain to be discovered. The role of thiamine in the pathogenicity of E. piscicida is unknown. In this study, we characterized a thiamine transporter (TT) operon in E. piscicida. The deletion of the TT operon resulted in an intracellular TPP lacking situation, which led to attenuated overall pathogenicity, impaired abilities associated with motility and host cell adhesion, as well as decreased expression of certain flagellar and adhesion genes. Moreover, TPP starvation led to intracellular c-di-GMP reduction, and introducing into the TPP-suppressed mutant strain an exogenous diguanylate cyclase for c-di-GMP synthesis restored the virulence loss. Taken together, this work reveals the involvement of thiamine uptake in the virulence regulation of E. piscicida, with c-di-GMP implicated in the process. These finding could be employed to explore potential drug targets against E. piscicida.
Antiplasmodial Activity of Vachellia xanthophloea (Benth.) P.J.H. Hurter (African Fever Tree) and Its Constituents
Authors: Tajuddeen Nasir , Swart Tarryn , Hoppe Heinrich C. , van Heerden Fanie R.
Published: April 2022

Vachellia xanthophloea is used in Zulu traditional medicine as an antimalarial remedy. A moderate antiplasmodial activity was previously reported for extracts of the plant against D10 Plasmodium falciparum. This study aimed to identify the phytochemicals responsible for the antiplasmodial activity of the leaf extract. The compounds were isolated by chromatography and their structures were determined using spectroscopic and spectrometric methods. The antiplasmodial activity was evaluated using a parasite lactate dehydrogenase assay and cytotoxicity was determined using a resazurin assay. The ethyl acetate fraction inhibited P. falciparum with IC50 = 10.6 µg/mL and showed minimal cytotoxicity (98% cell viability at 33 µg/mL). The chromatographic purification of this fraction afforded sixteen compounds, including two new flavonoids. A 1:1 mixture of phytol and lupeol was also isolated from the hexane fraction. All the compounds were reported from V. xanthophloea for the first time. Among the isolated metabolites, methyl gallate displayed the best activity against P. falciparum (IC50 = 1.2 µg/mL), with a 68% viability of HeLa cells at 10 µg/mL. Therefore, methyl gallate was responsible for the antiplasmodial activity of the V. xanthophloea leaf extract and its presence in the leaf extract might account for the folkloric use of the plant as an antimalarial remedy.
C16 Peptide and Ang-1 Improve Functional Disability and Pathological Changes in an Alzheimer’s Disease Model Associated with Vascular Dysfunction
Authors: Fu Xiaoxiao , Wang Jing , Cai Huaying , Jiang Hong , Han Shu
Published: April 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurological disorder characterized by neuronal cell death, tau pathology, and excessive inflammatory responses. Several vascular risk factors contribute to damage of the blood–brain barrier (BBB), secondary leak-out of blood vessels, and infiltration of inflammatory cells, which aggravate the functional disability and pathological changes in AD. Growth factor angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) can stabilize the endothelium and reduce endothelial permeability by binding to receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (Tie2). C16 peptide (KAFDITYVRLKF) selectively binds to integrin ανβ3 and competitively inhibits leukocyte transmigration into the central nervous system by interfering with leukocyte ligands. In the present study, 45 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups: vehicle group, C16 peptide + Ang1 (C + A) group, and sham control group. The vehicle and C + A groups were subjected to two-vessel occlusion (2-VO) with artery ligation followed by Aβ1-42 injection into the hippocampus. The sham control group underwent sham surgery and injection with an equal amount of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) instead of Aβ1-42. The C + A group was administered 1 mL of drug containing 2 mg of C16 and 400 µg of Ang-1 daily for 2 weeks. The sham control and vehicle groups were administered 1 mL of PBS for 2 weeks. Our results showed that treatment with Ang-1 plus C16 improved functional disability and reduced neuronal death by inhibiting inflammatory cell infiltration, protecting vascular endothelial cells, and maintaining BBB permeability. The results suggest that these compounds may be potential therapeutic agents for AD and warrant further investigation.
Delivery of Molecules Using Nanoscale Systems for Cancer Treatment and/or Diagnosis
Authors: Franco Marina Santiago , Youn Yu Seok
Published: April 2022

Since clinical approval of the first liposomal formulation encapsulating a chemotherapeutic agent, nanoscale delivery systems have been a rapidly developing science [...]
Dual Responsive poly(vinyl caprolactam)-Based Nanogels for Tunable Intracellular Doxorubicin Delivery in Cancer Cells
Authors: Rao Kummara Madhusudana , Suneetha Maduru , Kumar Dachuru Vinay , Kim Hyeon Jin , Seok Yong Joo , Han Sung Soo
Published: April 2022

In this work, doxorubicin (Dox)-encapsulated poly(vinyl caprolactam) (PVCL)-based three-dimensional nanogel networks were developed and were crosslinked with disulfide linkages. The nanogels degrade rapidly to low molecular weight chains in the presence of the typical intracellular concentration of glutathione. Doxorubicin (Dox) was successfully encapsulated into these nanogels. The nanogels have a high drug loading of 49% and can be tailored to 182 nm to deliver themselves to the targeted cells and release Dox under dual stimuli conditions, such as redox and temperature. By evaluating cell viability in the HepG2 cell line, we observed that Dox-loaded nanogels effectively killed the cancer cell. Fluorescence microscopy results show that the nanogels could easily be internalized with HepG2 cells. The results confirm that the nanogels destabilized in intracellular cytosol via degradation of disulfide bonds in nanogels networks and release of the Dox nearby the nucleus. These carriers could be promising for cancer drug delivery.
Insect Cells for High-Yield Production of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein: Building a Virosome-Based COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate
Authors: Fernandes Bárbara , Castro Rute , Bhoelan Farien , Bemelman Denzel , Gomes Ricardo A. , Costa Júlia , Gomes-Alves Patrícia , Stegmann Toon , Amacker Mario , Alves Paula M. , Fleury Sylvain , Roldão António
Published: April 2022

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) homotrimeric spike (S) protein is responsible for mediating host cell entry by binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, thus being a key viral antigen to target in a coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) vaccine. Despite the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, low vaccine coverage as well as unvaccinated and immune compromised subjects are contributing to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. Therefore, continued development of novel and/or updated vaccines is essential for protecting against such new variants. In this study, we developed a scalable bioprocess using the insect cells-baculovirus expression vector system (IC-BEVS) to produce high-quality S protein, stabilized in its pre-fusion conformation, for inclusion in a virosome-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate. By exploring different bioprocess engineering strategies (i.e., signal peptides, baculovirus transfer vectors, cell lines, infection strategies and formulation buffers), we were able to obtain ~4 mg/L of purified S protein, which, to the best of our knowledge, is the highest value achieved to date using insect cells. In addition, the insect cell-derived S protein exhibited glycan processing similar to mammalian cells and mid-term stability upon storage (up to 90 days at −80 and 4 °C or after 5 freeze-thaw cycles). Noteworthy, antigenicity of S protein, either as single antigen or displayed on the surface of virosomes, was confirmed by ELISA, with binding of ACE2 receptor, pan-SARS antibody CR3022 and neutralizing antibodies to the various epitope clusters on the S protein. Binding capacity was also maintained on virosomes-S stored at 4 °C for 1 month. This work demonstrates the potential of using IC-BEVS to produce the highly glycosylated and complex S protein, without compromising its integrity and antigenicity, to be included in a virosome-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate.
Fluid-Phase Endocytosis and Lysosomal Degradation of Bovine Lactoferrin in Lung Cells
Authors: Sayers Edward John , Palmer Iwan , Hope Lucy , Hope Paul , Watson Peter , Jones Arwyn Tomos
Published: April 2022

The iron-binding protein lactoferrin and the cell-penetrating peptides derived from its sequence utilise endocytosis to enter different cell types. The full-length protein has been extensively investigated as a potential therapeutic against a range of pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. As a respiratory antiviral agent, several activity mechanisms have been demonstrated for lactoferrin, at the extracellular and plasma membrane levels, but as a protein that enters cells it may also have intracellular antiviral activity. Characterisation of lactoferrin’s binding, endocytic traffic to lysosomes, or recycling endosomes for exocytosis is lacking, especially in lung cell models. Here, we use confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, and degradation assays to evaluate binding, internalisation, endocytic trafficking, and the intracellular fate of bovine lactoferrin in human lung A549 cells. In comparative studies with endocytic probes transferrin and dextran, we show that lactoferrin binds to negative charges on the cell surface and actively enters cells via fluid-phase endocytosis, in a receptor-independent manner. Once inside the cell, we show that it is trafficked to lysosomes where it undergoes degradation within two hours. These findings provide opportunities for investigating both lactoferrin and derived cell-penetrating peptides activities of targeting intracellular pathogens.
Puzzle out Machine Learning Model-Explaining Disintegration Process in ODTs
Authors: Szlęk Jakub , Khalid Mohammad Hassan , Pacławski Adam , Czub Natalia , Mendyk Aleksander
Published: April 2022

Tablets are the most common dosage form of pharmaceutical products. While tablets represent the majority of marketed pharmaceutical products, there remain a significant number of patients who find it difficult to swallow conventional tablets. Such difficulties lead to reduced patient compliance. Orally disintegrating tablets (ODT), sometimes called oral dispersible tablets, are the dosage form of choice for patients with swallowing difficulties. ODTs are defined as a solid dosage form for rapid disintegration prior to swallowing. The disintegration time, therefore, is one of the most important and optimizable critical quality attributes (CQAs) for ODTs. Current strategies to optimize ODT disintegration times are based on a conventional trial-and-error method whereby a small number of samples are used as proxies for the compliance of whole batches. We present an alternative machine learning approach to optimize the disintegration time based on a wide variety of machine learning (ML) models through the H2O AutoML platform. ML models are presented with inputs from a database originally presented by Han et al., which was enhanced and curated to include chemical descriptors representing active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) characteristics. A deep learning model with a 10-fold cross-validation NRMSE of 8.1% and an R2 of 0.84 was obtained. The critical parameters influencing the disintegration of the directly compressed ODTs were ascertained using the SHAP method to explain ML model predictions. A reusable, open-source tool, the ODT calculator, is now available at Heroku platform.
Pharmacokinetics of Tildipirosin in Plasma, Milk, and Somatic Cells Following Intravenous, Intramuscular, and Subcutaneous Administration in Dairy Goats
Authors: Galecio Juan Sebastián , Marín Pedro , Hernandis Verónica , Botía María , Escudero Elisa
Published: April 2022

Tildipirosin is a macrolide currently authorized for treating respiratory diseases in cattle and swine. The disposition kinetics of tildipirosin in plasma, milk, and somatic cells were investigated in dairy goats. Tildipirosin was administered at a single dose of 2 mg/kg by intravenous (IV) and 4 mg/kg by intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous (SC) routes. Concentrations of tildipirosin were determined by an HPLC method with UV detection. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by non-compartmental analysis. Muscle damage, cardiotoxicity, and inflammation were evaluated. After IV administration, the apparent volume of distribution in the steady state was 7.2 L/kg and clearance 0.64 L/h/kg. Plasma and milk half-lives were 6.2 and 58.3 h, respectively, indicating nine times longer persistence of tildipirosin in milk than in plasma. Moreover, if somatic cells are considered, persistence and exposure measured by the area under concentration–time curve (AUC) significantly exceeded those obtained in plasma. Similarly, longer half-lives in whole milk and somatic cells compared to plasma were observed after IM and SC administration. No adverse effects were observed. In brief, tildipirosin should be reserved for cases where other suitable antibiotics have been unsuccessful, discarding milk production of treated animals for at least 45 days or treating goats at the dry-off period.
Bioaugmentation Improves Phytoprotection in Halimione portulacoides Exposed to Mild Salt Stress: Perspectives for Salinity Tolerance Improvement
Authors: Carreiras João , Caçador Isabel , Duarte Bernardo
Published: April 2022

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can promote plant growth through mechanisms such as mineral phosphates solubilization, biological N2 fixation and siderophores and phytohormones production. The present work aims to evaluate the physiological fitness improvement by PGPR in Halimione portulacoides under mild and severe salt stress. PGPR-inoculated plants showed improved energy use efficiencies, namely in terms of the trapped and electron transport energy fluxes, and reduced energy dissipation. Allied to this, under mild stress, inoculated plants exhibited a significant reduction of the Na and Cl root concentrations, accompanied by a significant increase in K and Ca leaf content. This ion profile reshaping was intrinsically connected with an increased leaf proline content in inoculated plants. Moreover, bioaugmented plants showed an increased photoprotection ability, through lutein and zeaxanthin leaf concentration increase, allowing plants to cope with potentially photoinhibition conditions. Reduced Na leaf uptake in inoculated plants, apparently reduced the oxidative stress degree as observed by the superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activity reduction. Additionally, a reduced lipid peroxidation degree was observed in inoculated plants, while compared to their non-inoculated counterparts. These results, point out an important role of bioaugmentation in promoting plant fitness and improving salt tolerance, with a great potential for applications in biosaline agriculture and salinized soil restoration.
Differential Hydraulic Properties and Primary Metabolism in Fine Root of Avocado Trees Rootstocks
Authors: Beyer Clemens P. , Barrientos-Sanhueza Cesar , Ponce Excequel , Pedreschi Romina , Cuneo Italo F. , Alvaro Juan E.
Published: April 2022

Avocados (Persea americana Mill.) are one of the crops with the highest water footprints in Chile and the production is at risk due to severe and frequent droughts. The current production is mostly based on sexually (seed) propagated rootstocks, while clonally propagated rootstocks are on the rise. In a recent study, we found differences in aerial, root growth and water use efficiency between trees grown on these two different rootstocks under controlled continuous fertigation and environmental conditions. In this study, we further describe possible mechanisms which drive the differences. Avocado cv. “Hass” grafted on “Dusa” (D, clonally propagated) and “Mexicola” (M, sexually propagated) rootstocks and different root segments (3, 5 and 8 cm from root tip) were investigated using a combination of hydraulic measurements and polar metabolite (GC-MS) techniques. The results show significant differences in root hydraulic properties, indicating that “Mexicola” fine roots have higher water uptake capacity. The polar metabolites analysis revealed 13 compounds significantly different between rootstocks while nine were found significantly different among root segments. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed differences between rootstocks and root segments. The data presented here highlight the importance of considering key physiological knowledge in avocado rootstocks breeding programs to be better prepared for future challenging environmental conditions.
Occurrence and Genetic Characterization of Grapevine Pinot Gris Virus in Russia
Authors: Shvets Darya , Vinogradova Svetlana
Published: April 2022

Grapevine Pinot gris virus (GPGV) is a widespread grapevine pathogen associated with symptoms of leaf mottling and deformation. In order to study the distribution and genetic diversity of GPGV in Russia, we tested 1347 grapevine samples from 3 regions of Russia–the Krasnodar Krai, Stavropol Krai, and Republic of Crimea—using duplex real-time RT-PCR. GPGV was detected in 993 grapevines, both symptomatic and asymptomatic. In 119 isolates, we sequenced complete movement protein (MP) and coat protein (CP) genes of the GPGV genome. The percentage of identity of the obtained nucleotide MP/CP sequences with the closest isolates from the GenBank was 97.75–99.56%. A phylogenetic analysis showed that these Russian GPGV isolates are mainly grouped with previously described representative asymptomatic isolates. New post-translational modifications of the MP and CP at the positions of polymorphisms in the genomes of Russian isolates were predicted. The present work is the first study on the distribution and genetic diversity of GPGV in Russia.
Comparative Analysis of Heat-Tolerant and Heat-Susceptible Rice Highlights the Role of OsNCED1 Gene in Heat Stress Tolerance
Authors: Zhou Huang , Wang Yingfeng , Zhang Yijin , Xiao Yunhua , Liu Xiong , Deng Huabing , Lu Xuedan , Tang Wenbang , Zhang Guilian
Published: April 2022

To elucidate the mechanism underlying the response of rice to heat stress (HS), the transcriptome profile of panicles was comparatively analyzed between the heat-tolerant line 252 (HTL252) and heat-susceptible line 082 (HSL082), two rice recombinant inbred lines (RILs). Our differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis revealed that the DEGs are mainly associated with protein binding, catalysis, stress response, and cellular process. The MapMan analysis demonstrated that the heat-responsive (HR) genes for heat shock proteins, transcription factors, development, and phytohormones are specifically induced in HTL252 under HS. Based on the DEG analysis, the key gene OsNCED1 (Os02g0704000), which was induced under HS, was selected for further functional validation. Moreover, 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) is a key rate-limiting enzyme in the ABA biosynthetic pathway. Overexpression of OsNCED1 improved the HS tolerance of rice at the heading and flowering stage. OsNCED1-overexpression plants exhibited significant increases in pollen viability, seed setting rate, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities, while significantly lower electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) content relative to the wild type (WT). These results suggested that OsNCED1 overexpression can improve the heat tolerance of rice by enhancing the antioxidant capacity. Overall, this study lays a foundation for revealing the molecular regulatory mechanism underlying the response of rice to prolonged HS.
Invasive Stages within Alien Species and Hutchinson’s Duality: An Example Using Invasive Plants of the Family Fabaceae in Central Chile
Authors: Bustamante Ramiro O. , Quiñones Daniela , Duarte Milen , Goncalves Estefany , Cavieres Lohengrin A.
Published: April 2022

To understand the factors that limit invasive expansion in alien species, it is critical to predict potential zones of colonization. Climatic niche can be an important way to predict the potential distribution of alien species. This correlation between niche and geographic distribution is called Hutchinson’s duality. A combination of global and regional niches allows four invasive stages to be identified: quasi-equilibrium, local adaptation, colonization and sink stage. We studied the invasive stages of six alien leguminous species either in the niche or the geographical space. In five of the six species, a higher proportion of populations were in the quasi-equilibrium stage. Notably, Acacia species had the highest proportion of populations in local adaptation. This picture changed dramatically when we projected the climatic niche in the geographic space: in all species the colonization stage had the highest proportional projected area, ranging from 50 to 90%. Our results are consistent with Hutchinson’s duality, which predicts that small areas in the niche space can be translated onto large areas of the geographic space. Although the colonization stage accounted for a low proportion of occurrences, in all species, the models predicted the largest areas for this stage. This study complements invasive stages, projecting them in geographic space.
Diverse in Local, Overlapping in Official Medical Botany: Critical Analysis of Medicinal Plant Records from the Historic Regions of Livonia and Courland in Northeast Europe, 1829–1895
Authors: Prakofjewa Julia , Anegg Martin , Kalle Raivo , Simanova Andra , Prūse Baiba , Pieroni Andrea , Sõukand Renata
Published: April 2022

Works on historical ethnobotany can help shed light on past plant uses and humankind’s relationships with the environment. We analyzed medicinal plant uses from the historical regions of Livonia and Courland in Northeast Europe based on three studies published within the 19th century by medical doctors researching local ethnomedicine. The sources were manually searched, and information extracted and entered into a database. In total, there were 603 detailed reports of medicinal plant use, which refer to 219 taxa belonging to 69 families and one unidentified local taxon. Dominant families were Asteraceae (14%), Solanaceae (7%), Rosaceae (6%), and Apiaceae (5%). The majority of use reports were attributed to the treatment of four disease categories: digestive (24%), skin (22%), respiratory (11%), and general (11%). The small overlapping portion (14 taxa mentioned by all three authors and another 27 taxa named by two authors) contained a high proportion of taxa (46%) mentioned in Dioscorides, which were widespread during that period in scholarly practice. Despite the shared flora, geographical vicinity, and culturally similar backgrounds, the medicinal use of plants in historical Courland and Livonia showed high biocultural diversity and reliance on wild taxa. We encourage researchers to study and re-evaluate the historical ethnobotanical literature and provide some suggestions on how to do this effectively.
In Vitro Propagation of Humulus lupulus through the Induction of Axillary Bud Development
Authors: Hirakawa Takeshi , Tanno Seia
Published: April 2022

Humulus lupulus (hop) is a necessary material for beer brewing. Improved breeding cultivars of hops with enhanced tolerance to environmental stresses, such as drought and heat stress, accompanying climate change have been developed. However, a propagation system, which is needed for the proliferation of new cultivars, is not currently available for hops. In this study, we found that treatment of stem explants with 0.01–0.05 ppm gibberellic acid (GA3) induced the development of axillary buds in the hop cultivar Kirin-2, resulting in the proliferation of shoot branching. Additionally, 0.01 ppm benzyl adenine (BA) enhanced the development of axillary buds formed in response to 0.05 ppm GA3 in various hop cultivars, particularly Nugget. The development of axillary buds was strongly repressed by the application of 0.05 ppm BA at a concentration equal to the 0.05 ppm GA3 concentration, which showed the possibility that a high concentration of cytokinin preferentially prevents the effect of GA3 on the development of axillary buds in hops. These results indicated that combined treatment of stem explants with GA3 and cytokinin at appropriate concentrations is effective for the propagation of proliferated hop cultivars through shoot branching.
Optimization of the Transformation Protocol for Increased Efficiency of Genetic Transformation in Hevea brasiliensis
Authors: Udayabhanu Jinu , Huang Tiandai , Xin Shichao , Cheng Jing , Hua Yuwei , Huang Huasun
Published: April 2022

The recurring growth of bacterium in newly developed resistant cells and a minimal level of bacterial infection rate are the main limiting factors of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation experiments in Hevea brasiliensis. The current study aimed to optimize crucial factors of the transformation protocol in order to obtain an efficient transformation experimental model for Hevea using cotyledonary somatic embryos as explants. Transformation conditions such as antibiotic concentration, preculture duration, Agrobacterium concentration, sonication and cocultivation conditions were analyzed using the binary vector pCAMBIA2301. Transient transformation was confirmed by GUS histochemical staining. The best transformation efficiency was observed when the explants were not cultured on a preculture medium that contained acetosyringone at a level of 100 μM. The best results were obtained using a bacterial density of 0.45 at OD 600 nm, 50 s of sonication of explants in a bacterial liquid culture and a total incubation time of 18 min in the same bacterial suspension. Transmission electron microscopical analysis confirmed the impacts of sonication on bacterial infection efficiency. Cocultivation conditions of 22 °C and 84 h of darkness were optimal for the transfer of T-DNA. Agrobacterium was eliminated with 500 mg/L of timentin, and the selection of transformants was performed using 100 mg/L of kanamycin in the selection medium. The presence of transgene was confirmed in the resistant embryos by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The improved method of genetic transformation established in the present study will be useful for the introduction of foreign genes of interest into the Hevea genome for the breeding of this economically important plant species in the future.
Effect of Thiophene Insertion on X-Shaped Anthracene-Based Hole-Transporting Materials in Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Chandrasekaran Dharuman , Chiu Wei-Hao , Lee Kun-Mu , Liao Jian-Ming , Chou Hsien-Hsin , Yen Yung-Sheng
Published: April 2022

In this work, two novel tetra-substituted X-shaped molecules X1 and X2 that were constructed with anthracene as the central core and arylamine as the donor groups have been synthesized. The HTMs X1 and X2 were synthesized in two steps from industrially accessible and moderately reasonable beginning reagents. These new HTMs are described in terms of utilization of light absorption, energy level, thermal properties, hole mobility (µh), and film-forming property. The photovoltaic performances of these HTMs were effectively assessed in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The devices based on these HTMs accomplished an overall efficiency of 16.10% for X1 and 10.25% for X2 under standard conditions (AM 1.5 G and 100 mW cm−2). This precise investigation provides another perspective on the use of HTMs in PSCs with various device configurations.
Functionality of Yeast β-Glucan Recovered from Kluyveromyces marxianus by Alkaline and Enzymatic Processes
Authors: Vaithanomsat Pilanee , Boonlum Nutthamon , Trakunjae Chanaporn , Apiwatanapiwat Waraporn , Janchai Phornphimon , Boondaeng Antika , Phalinphattharakit Kanokwan , Nimitkeatkai Hataitip , Jarerat Amnat
Published: April 2022

β-Glucan (BG), one of the most abundant polysaccharides containing glucose monomers linked by β-glycosidic linkages, is prevalent in yeast biomass that needs to be recovered to obtain this valuable polymer. This study aimed to apply alkaline and enzymatic processes for the recovery of BG from the yeast strain Kluyveromyces marxianus TISTR 5925. For this purpose, the yeast was cultivated to produce the maximum yield of raw material (yeast cells). The effective recovery of BG was then established using either an alkaline or an enzymatic process. BG recovery of 35.45% was obtained by using 1 M NaOH at 90 °C for 1 h, and of 81.15% from 1% (w/v) hydrolytic protease enzyme at 55 °C for 5 h. However, BG recovered by the alkaline process was purer than that obtained by the enzymatic process. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy confirmed the purity, the functional groups, and the linkages of BG obtained from different recovery systems and different raw materials. The results of this study suggest that an alkaline process could be an effective approach for the solubilization and recovery of considerable purity of BG from the yeast cells. In addition, the obtained BG had comparable functional properties with commercially available BG. This study reveals the effectiveness of both chemical and biological recovery of BG obtained from yeast as a potential polymeric material.
Design and Characterization of a Bioinspired Polyvinyl Alcohol Matrix with Structural Foam-Wall Microarchitectures for Potential Tissue Engineering Applications
Authors: Huang Ching-Cheng
Published: April 2022

Traditional medical soft matrix used in a surgical treatment or in wound management was not good enough in both the structural support and interconnectivity to be applied in tissue engineering as a scaffold. Avian skeleton and feather rachises might be good reference objects to mimic in designing a scaffold material with good structural support and high interconnectivity because of its structural foam-wall microarchitectures and structural pneumaticity. In this study, a biomimetic airstream pore-foaming process was built up and the corresponding new medical soft matrix derived from polyvinyl alcohol matrix (PVAM) with air cavities inspired by avian skeleton and feather rachises was prepared. Furthermore, the resulting medical soft matrix and bovine Achilles tendon type I collagen could be employed to prepare a new collagen-containing composite matrix. Characterization, thermal stability and cell morphology of the bioinspired PVA matrix and the corresponding collagen-modified PVA composite matrix with open-cell foam-wall microarchitectures were studied for evaluation of potential tissue engineering applications. TGA, DTG, DSC, SEM and FTIR results of new bioinspired PVA matrix were employed to build up the effective system identification approach for biomimetic structure, stability, purity, and safety of target soft matrix. The bioinspired PVA matrix and the corresponding collagen-modified PVA composite matrix would be conductive to human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cell proliferation, migration, and expression which might serve as a promising liver cell culture carrier to be used in the biological artificial liver reactor.
Multi-Parameter Optimization of 3D Printing Condition for Enhanced Quality and Strength
Authors: Jackson Brandon , Fouladi Kamran , Eslami Babak
Published: April 2022

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing is the most common type of additive manufacturing available in both research and the industry. Due to the rapid development of 3D printing, there is now a significant need to fabricate parts with higher quality with respect to cosmetics, precision, and strength of the final products. This work is focused on finding the optimal printing condition for a commercially available 3D printer and filament material (i.e., Polylactic acid (PLA)). In this work, we focus on finding the combined effect of retraction speed, deposition angle, and number of walls on both the visual quality and strength of 3D-printed parts. It is found that the number of walls does not play a major role in the strength of the parts. On the other hand, the retraction speed plays a significant role in defining the ultimate tensile strength of the parts. For parts printed at higher retraction speeds, there is a 10–15% improvement in the ultimate tensile strength.
Amphiphilic PTB7-Based Rod-Coil Block Copolymer for Water-Processable Nanoparticles as an Active Layer for Sustainable Organic Photovoltaic: A Case Study
Authors: Diterlizzi Marianna , Ferretti Anna Maria , Scavia Guido , Sorrentino Roberto , Luzzati Silvia , Boccia Antonella Caterina , Scamporrino Andrea A. , Po’ Riccardo , Quadrivi Eleonora , Zappia Stefania , Destri Silvia
Published: April 2022

We synthetized a new rod-coil block copolymer (BCP) based on the semiconducting polymerpoly({4,8-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl}{3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl)carbonyl]thieno[3,4-b]thiophenediyl}) (PTB7) and poly-4-vinylpyridine (P4VP), tailored to produce water-processable nanoparticles (WPNPs) in blend with phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM). The copolymer PTB7-b-P4VP was completely characterized by means of two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D-NMR), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS), size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to confirm the molecular structure. The WPNPs were prepared through an adapted miniemulsion approach without any surfactants. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images reveal the nano-segregation of two active materials inside the WPNPs. The nanostructures appear spherical with a Janus-like inner morphology. PTB7 segregated to one side of the nanoparticle, while PC71BM segregated to the other side. This morphology was consistent with the value of the surface energy obtained for the two active materials PTB7-b-P4VP and PC71BM. The WPNPs obtained were deposited as an active layer of organic solar cells (OSCs). The films obtained were characterized by UV-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-vis), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD). J-V characteristics of the WPNP-based devices were measured by obtaining a power conversion efficiency of 0.85%. Noticeably, the efficiency of the WPNP-based devices was higher than that achieved for the devices fabricated with the PTB7-based BCP dissolved in chlorinated organic solvent.
Analysis of the Fungi Community Variation during Rice Storage through High Throughput Sequencing
Authors: Li Wanting , Cui Jie , Li Jiafeng , Guo Jian , Huang Tao , Zhang Jiaojiao , Hu Hao , Liu Xingquan
Published: April 2022

Rice storage conditions include location, granary depth, storage time, temperature and atmosphere. The fungi community varies during storage, but how these communities change remains unexplored so far. This study collected rice samples from granaries in different horizontal and vertical directions and storage time over two years. High-throughput ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) sequencing analysis revealed that Ascomycota (73.81%), Basidiomycota (6.56%) and Mucoromycota (9.42%) were the main Eumycota present during rice storage. The main fungi communities were Aspergillus sp., Fusarium sp., Rhizopus sp., Gibberella sp., Tilletia sp. and Penicillium sp. The contribution of storage time, horizontal orientation and vertical depth effect on fungi community relative abundance were 17.18%, 5.98% and 0.11%, respectively. Aspergillus sp. was the predominant Eubacterium during this process. The horizontal A was mainly occupied by Paraconiothyrium sp. and the location S, had Clavispora sp. Both of these varied dramatically during storage. Furthermore, Aspergillus sp., as a main mycotoxin producer, was the dominant fungi at vertical L1. This study comprehensively analyzed fungi community variation in horizontal and vertical directions to elucidate fungi community variation on rice during storage and to find the detrimental fungi. Therefore, it is important to improve granary ventilation systems and to ensure a uniform atmosphere to control fungi growth.
Flexibility of Epichlorohydrin Production—Increasing Profitability by Demand Response for Electricity and Balancing Market
Authors: Lahrsen Inga-Marie , Hofmann Mathias , Müller Robert
Published: April 2022

The increasing share of variable renewable energies in the power grid is an incentive to explore demand response strategies. Chlor-alkali processes are high potential candidates, according to previous publications. Within Germany’s chemical industry, chlorine production accounts for approximately 20% of electricity use and could play a significant role in power grid stabilisation on the consumer end. This study focuses on the feasibility of load flexibilisation in epichlorohydrin plants, with the second biggest estimated demand response potential for chlorine-based products in Germany. A plant model with allyl chloride storage was created based on real data and literature values. Results from this model, spot market and balancing power prices, and future electricity market scenarios were used in a mixed-integer linear optimisation. We find that benefits from demand response can be generated as soon as additional power and storage volume is provided. The composition of provided types of balancing power bids follows the price trend on the market. Additionally, the computation time could be lowered significantly by running the scenarios in parallel. The results encourage a practical validation of the flexibility of epichlorohydrin production.
A Journey toward Connection and Belonging: Autoethnography of a Jewish Student in Christian Higher Education
Authors: Dreistadt Jessica R.
Published: April 2022

Despite the progress that has been made over the past 60 years, relationships between members of different faith communities can be tenuous. The purpose of this study is to explore how challenging circumstances related to Jewish–Christian relations can be opportunities for spiritual transformation. Using autoethnography, the author reflects upon and interprets her experiences as a Jewish student in Christian higher education through the lens of her spirituality. There are three significant findings: (1) being a Jew who converted from Christianity and had prior interactions with Christian institutions prepared the author to engage with difference; (2) context, openness to dialogue, and empathy can influence the interpretation of interfaith interactions; and (3) spiritual growth can develop through adverse experiences. The results demonstrate that searching for belonging and connection are spiritual practices, illustrate that spiritual meaning can be revealed over time as adverse experiences are contemplated, and suggest opportunities for practicing spiritual leadership.
RETRACTED: A Database for the Extraction, Trade, and Use of Sand and Gravel
Authors: Morley John , Myers Rupert , Plancherel Yves , Brito-Parada Pablo
Published: April 2022

Increasing demand for sand and gravel globally is leading to social, environmental, and political issues that are becoming more widely recognised. Lack of data and poor accessibility of the few available data contribute to exacerbating these issues and impair evidence-based management efforts. This article presents a database framework designed to describe stocks and flows data for sand and gravel from different sources. The classification system underlying the database builds on the Universal Materials Information System (UMIS) nomenclature, which is used to construct hierarchical order in the data. The common classification system is used to structure sand and gravel data records into a database formatted in the same manner as the Yale Stocks and Flow Database (YSTAFDB), a common data format. To illustrate how the database is built and used, a case study using UK data is presented. The UK is chosen owing to its relatively better access to data compared to other locations. Quantitative analyses of the UK data highlight possible risks in the supply chain of these materials for the UK. Results show that indigenous extraction only contributes 11% to UK sand and gravel production, with trade accounting for the rest of the inputs, of which 50% is reliant on only one nation.
A Review on Machine Learning for Asset Management
Authors: Mirete-Ferrer Pedro M. , Garcia-Garcia Alberto , Baixauli-Soler Juan Samuel , Prats Maria A.
Published: April 2022

This paper provides a review on machine learning methods applied to the asset management discipline. Firstly, we describe the theoretical background of both machine learning and finance that will be needed to understand the reviewed methods. Next, the main datasets and sources of data are exposed to help researchers decide which are the best ones to suit their targets. After that, the existing methods are reviewed, highlighting their contribution and significance in the analyzed financial disciplines. Furthermore, we also describe the most common performance criteria that are applied to compare such methods quantitatively. Finally, we carry out a critical analysis to discuss the current state-of-the-art and lay down a set of future research directions.