bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of α/β-Hydrolase D16B with Bovine Conception Rate and Sperm Plasma Membrane Lipid Composition
Authors: Shan Shuwen , Xu Fangzheng , Bleyer Martina , Becker Svenja , Melbaum Torben , Wemheuer Wilhelm , Hirschfeld Marc , Wacker Christin , Zhao Shuhong , Schütz Ekkehard , Brenig Bertram
Published: January 2020

We have identified a Holstein sire named Tarantino who had been approved for artificial insemination that is based on normal semen characteristics (i.e., morphology, thermoresistance, motility, sperm concentration), but had no progeny after 412 first inseminations, resulting in a non-return rate (NRdev) of −29. Using whole genome association analysis and next generation sequencing, an associated nonsense variant in the α/β-hydrolase domain-containing 16B gene (ABHD16B) on bovine chromosome 13 was identified. The frequency of the mutant allele in the German Holstein population was determined to be 0.0018 in 222,645 investigated cattle specimens. The mutant allele was traced back to Whirlhill Kingpin (bornFeb. 13th, 1959) as potential founder. The expression of ABHD16B was detected by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry in testis and epididymis of control bulls. A lipidome comparison of the plasma membrane of fresh semen from carriers and controls showed significant differences in the concentration of phosphatidylcholine (PC), diacylglycerol (DAG), ceramide (Cer), sphingomyelin (SM), and phosphatidylcholine (-ether) (PC O-), indicating that ABHD16B plays a role in lipid biosynthesis. The altered lipid contents may explain the reduced fertilization ability of mutated sperms.
Potentiation of Low-Dose Doxorubicin Cytotoxicity by Affecting P-Glycoprotein through Caryophyllane Sesquiterpenes in HepG2 Cells: an in Vitro and in Silico Study
Authors: Di Sotto Antonella , Irannejad Hamid , Eufemi Margherita , Mancinelli Romina , Abete Lorena , Mammola Caterina Loredana , Altieri Fabio , Mazzanti Gabriela , Di Giacomo Silvia
Published: January 2020

Doxorubicin represents a valuable choice for different cancers, although the severe side effects occurring at the high effective dose limits its clinical use. In the present study, potential strategies to potentiate low-dose doxorubicin efficacy, including a metronomic schedule, characterized by a short and repeated exposure to the anticancer drug, and the combination with the natural chemosensitizing sesquiterpenes β-caryophyllene and β-caryophyllene oxide, were assessed in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. The involvement of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in the HepG2–chemosensitization to doxorubicin was evaluated. Also, the direct interaction of caryophyllene sesquiterpenes with P-gp was characterized by molecular docking and dynamic simulation studies. A metronomic schedule allowed us to enhance the low-dose doxorubicin cytotoxicity and the combination with caryophyllane sesquiterpenes further potentiated this effect. Also, an increased intracellular accumulation of doxorubicin and rhodamine 123 induced by caryophyllane sesquiterpenes was found, thus suggesting their interference with P-gp function. A lowered expression of P-gp induced by the combinations, with respect to doxorubicin alone, was observed too. Docking studies found that the binding site of caryophyllane sesquiterpene was next to the ATP binding domain of P-gp and that β-caryophyllene possessed the stronger binding affinity and higher inhibition potential calculated by MM-PBSA. Present findings strengthen our hypothesis about the potential chemosensitizing power of caryophyllane sesquiterpenes and suggest that combining a chemosensitizer and a metronomic schedule can represent a suitable strategy to overcome drawbacks of doxorubicin chemotherapy while exploiting its powerful activity.
Synthesis, CYP24A1-Dependent Metabolism and Antiproliferative Potential against Colorectal Cancer Cells of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D2 Derivatives Modified at the Side Chain and the A-Ring
Authors: Milczarek Magdalena , Chodyński Michał , Pietraszek Anita , Stachowicz-Suhs Martyna , Yasuda Kaori , Sakaki Toshiyuki , Wietrzyk Joanna , Kutner Andrzej
Published: January 2020

Experimental data indicate that low-calcemic vitamin D derivatives (VDDs) exhibit anticancer properties, both in vitro and in vivo. In our search for a vitamin D analog as potential anticancer agent, we investigated the influence of chirality in the side chain of the derivatives of 1,25-dihydroxyergocalciferol (1,25D2) on their activities. In this study, we synthesized modified analogs at the side chain and the A-ring, which differed from one another in their absolute configuration at C-24, namely (24S)- and (24R)-1,25-dihydroxy-19-nor-20a-homo-ergocalciferols (PRI-5105 and PRI-5106, respectively), and evaluated their activity. Unexpectedly, despite introducing double-point modifications, both analogs served as very good substrates for the vitamin D-hydroxylating enzyme. Irrespective of their absolute C-24 configuration, PRI-5105 and PRI-5106 showed relatively low resistance to CYP24A1-dependent metabolic deactivation. Additionally, both VDDs revealed a similar antiproliferative activity against HT-29 colorectal cancer cells which was higher than that of 1,25D3, the major biologically active metabolite of vitamin D. Furthermore, PRI-5105 and PRI-5106 significantly enhanced the cell growth-inhibitory activity of 5-fluorouracil on HT-29 cell line. In conclusion, although the two derivatives showed a relatively high anticancer potential, they exhibited undesired high metabolic conversion.
Multiple Cell Signalling Pathways of Human Proinsulin C-Peptide in Vasculopathy Protection
Authors: Souto Selma B. , Campos Joana R. , Fangueiro Joana F. , Silva Amélia M. , Cicero Nicola , Lucarini Massimo , Durazzo Alessandra , Santini Antonello , Souto Eliana B.
Published: January 2020

A major hallmark of diabetes is a constant high blood glucose level (hyperglycaemia), resulting in endothelial dysfunction. Transient or prolonged hyperglycemia can cause diabetic vasculopathy, a secondary systemic damage. C-Peptide is a product of cleavage of proinsulin by a serine protease that occurs within the pancreatic β-cells, being secreted in similar amounts as insulin. The biological activity of human C-peptide is instrumental in the prevention of diabetic neuropathy, nephropathy and other vascular complications. The main feature of type 1 diabetes mellitus is the lack of insulin and of C-peptide, but the progressive β-cell loss is also observed in later stage of type 2 diabetes mellitus. C-peptide has multifaceted effects in animals and diabetic patients due to the activation of multiple cell signalling pathways, highlighting p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and extracellular signal–regulated kinase ½, Akt, as well as endothelial nitric oxide production. Recent works highlight the role of C-peptide in the prevention and amelioration of diabetes and also in organ-specific complications. Benefits of C-peptide in microangiopathy and vasculopathy have been shown through conservation of vascular function, and also in the prevention of endothelial cell death, microvascular permeability, neointima formation, and in vascular inflammation. Improvement of microvascular blood flow by replacing a physiological amount of C-peptide, in several tissues of diabetic animals and humans, mainly in nerve tissue, myocardium, skeletal muscle, and kidney has been described. A review of the multiple cell signalling pathways of human proinsulin C-peptide in vasculopathy protection is proposed, where the approaches to move beyond the state of the art in the development of innovative and effective therapeutic options of diabetic neuropathy and nephropathy are discussed.
Ecotopic Expression of the Antimicrobial Peptide DmAMP1W Improves Resistance of Transgenic Wheat to Two Diseases: Sharp Eyespot and Common Root Rot
Authors: Su Qiang , Wang Ke , Zhang Zengyan
Published: January 2020

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is an important staple crop. Sharp eyespot and common root rot are destructive diseases of wheat. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small peptides with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. In this study, we synthesized the DmAMP1W gene, encoding Dahlia merckii DmAMP1, and investigated the antifungal role of DmAMP1W in vitro and in transgenic wheat. Protein electrophoresis analysis and in vitro inhibition results demonstrated that the synthesized DmAMP1W correctly translated to the expected peptide DmAMP1W, and the purified peptide inhibited growths of the fungi Rhizoctonia cerealis and Bipolaris sorokiniana, the pathogenic causes of wheat sharp eyespot and common root rot. DmAMP1W was introduced into a wheat variety Zhoumai18 via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The molecular characteristics indicated that DmAMP1W could be heritable and expressed in five transgenic wheat lines in T1–T2 generations. Average sharp eyespot infection types of these five DmAMP1W transgenic wheat lines in T1–T2 generations decreased 0.69–1.54 and 0.40–0.82 compared with non-transformed Zhoumai18, respectively. Average common root rot infection types of these transgenic lines and non-transformed Zhoumai18 were 1.23–1.48 and 2.27, respectively. These results indicated that DmAMP1W-expressing transgenic wheat lines displayed enhanced-resistance to both sharp eyespot and common root rot. This study provides new broad-spectrum antifungal resources for wheat breeding.
Analysis of Differentially Expressed Transcripts in Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür) Exposed to Different Temperature Coefficient Insecticides
Authors: An Jingjie , Liu Chang , Dou Ya’nan , Gao Zhanlin , Dang Zhihong , Yan Xiu , Pan Wenliang , Li Yaofa
Published: January 2020

The existence of a temperature effect of insecticides frustrated the control of the green plant bug Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür). Previous studies mostly focused on the application of insecticides, but the underlying mechanism remains incompletely understood. Here, we report a transcriptome profiling of A. lucorum treated by three kinds of temperature coefficient insecticides (TCIs) (positive TCI: imidacloprid, negative TCI: b-cypermethrin and non-effect TCI: phoxim) at 15 °C, 25 °C and 35 °C by using next- and third-generation RNA-Seq methods. A total of 34,739 transcripts were annotated from 277.74 Gb of clean data. There were more up-regulated transcripts than down-regulated transcripts in all three kinds of TCI treatments. Further Venn diagrams indicate the regulatory transcripts and regulatory modes were different at the three temperatures. The responses to imidacloprid involved more detox and stress response transcripts such as cytochrome P450 (CYP450), carboxylesterase (CarE) and catalase (CAT) at 35 °C, which was the case for beta-cypermethrin at 15 °C. UDP-glucuronyltransferase (UGT) and heat shock protein (HSP) transcripts were heavily involved, and thus deserve particular note in the temperature effect of insecticides. This high-confidence transcriptome atlas provides improved gene information for further study on the insecticide temperature effect related physiological and biochemical processes of A. lucorum.
Computational Fluid Simulation of Fibrinogen around Dental Implant Surfaces
Authors: Kitajima Hiroaki , Hirota Makoto , Iwai Toshinori , Hamajima Kosuke , Ozawa Ryotaro , Hayashi Yuichiro , Yajima Yasuharu , Iida Masaki , Koizumi Toshiyuki , Kioi Mitomu , Mitsudo Kenji , Ogawa Takahiro
Published: January 2020

Ultraviolet treatment of titanium implants makes their surfaces hydrophilic and enhances osseointegration. However, the mechanism is not fully understood. This study hypothesizes that the recruitment of fibrinogen, a critical molecule for blood clot formation and wound healing, is influenced by the degrees of hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of the implant surfaces. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) implant models were created for fluid flow simulation. The hydrophilicity level was expressed by the contact angle between the implant surface and blood plasma, ranging from 5° (superhydrophilic), 30° (hydrophilic) to 50° and 70° (hydrophobic), and 100° (hydrorepellent). The mass of fibrinogen flowing into the implant interfacial zone (fibrinogen infiltration) increased in a time dependent manner, with a steeper slope for surfaces with greater hydrophilicity. The mass of blood plasma absorbed into the interfacial zone (blood plasma infiltration) was also promoted by the hydrophilic surfaces but it was rapid and non-time-dependent. There was no linear correlation between the fibrinogen infiltration rate and the blood plasma infiltration rate. These results suggest that hydrophilic implant surfaces promote both fibrinogen and blood plasma infiltration to their interface. However, the infiltration of the two components were not proportional, implying a selectively enhanced recruitment of fibrinogen by hydrophilic implant surfaces.
Aggregation of Omic Data and Secretome Prediction Enable the Discovery of Candidate Plasma Biomarkers for Beef Tenderness
Authors: Boudon Sabrina , Henry-Berger Joelle , Cassar-Malek Isabelle
Published: January 2020

Beef quality is a complex phenotype that can be evaluated only after animal slaughtering. Previous research has investigated the potential of genetic markers or muscle-derived proteins to assess beef tenderness. Thus, the use of low-invasive biomarkers in living animals is an issue for the beef sector. We hypothesized that publicly available data may help us discovering candidate plasma biomarkers. Thanks to a review of the literature, we built a corpus of articles on beef tenderness. Following data collection, aggregation, and computational reconstruction of the muscle secretome, the putative plasma proteins were searched by comparison with a bovine plasma proteome atlas and submitted to mining of biological information. Of the 44 publications included in the study, 469 unique gene names were extracted for aggregation. Seventy-one proteins putatively released in the plasma were revealed. Among them 13 proteins were predicted to be secreted in plasma, 44 proteins as hypothetically secreted in plasma, and 14 additional candidate proteins were detected thanks to network analysis. Among these 71 proteins, 24 were included in tenderness quantitative trait loci. The in-silico workflow enabled the discovery of candidate plasma biomarkers for beef tenderness from reconstruction of the secretome, to be examined in the cattle plasma proteome.
Glycerol-Induced Powdery Mildew Resistance in Wheat by Regulating Plant Fatty Acid Metabolism, Plant Hormones Cross-Talk, and Pathogenesis-Related Genes
Authors: Li Yinghui , Qiu Lina , Liu Xinye , Zhang Qiang , Zhuansun Xiangxi , Fahima Tzion , Krugman Tamar , Sun Qixin , Xie Chaojie
Published: January 2020

Our previous study indicated that glycerol application induced resistance to powdery mildew (Bgt) in wheat by regulating two important signal molecules, glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) and oleic acid (OA18:1). Transcriptome analysis of wheat leaves treated by glycerol and inoculated with Bgt was performed to identify the activated immune response pathways. We identified a set of differentially expressed transcripts (e.g., TaGLI1, TaACT1, and TaSSI2) involved in glycerol and fatty acid metabolism that were upregulated in response to Bgt infection and might contribute to G3P and OA18:1 accumulation. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed GO terms induced by glycerol, such as response to jasmonic acid (JA), defense response to bacterium, lipid oxidation, and growth. In addition, glycerol application induced genes (e.g., LOX, AOS, and OPRs) involved in the metabolism pathway of linolenic and alpha-linolenic acid, which are precursor molecules of JA biosynthesis. Glycerol induced JA and salicylic acid (SA) levels, while glycerol reduced the auxin (IAA) level in wheat. Glycerol treatment also induced pathogenesis related (PR) genes, including PR-1, PR-3, PR-10, callose synthase, PRMS, RPM1, peroxidase, HSP70, HSP90, etc. These results indicate that glycerol treatment regulates fatty acid metabolism and hormones cross-talk and induces the expression of PR genes that together contribute to Bgt resistance in wheat.
Giving Teachers a Voice: A Study of Actual Game Use in the Classroom
Authors: Jesmin Triinu , Ley Tobias
Published: January 2020

The adoption of games in the classroom has been studied from different angles, such as the readiness of teachers to use games or the barriers encountered. However, actual classroom practices with regard to the use of games have not been examined on a larger scale. With this research, we gave teachers a voice to report on their actual practices. We examined the current practices of a large sample of Estonian teachers (N = 1258, which constitutes almost 9% of the total Estonian teacher population) in primary and secondary education in 2017. We found that most of the teachers use games on a regular basis. Mainly, they use the games for motivation and alternation, but they also use them to consolidate and teach new skills. While awareness and motivation are high and experimentation on using games is widespread, practices appear fragmentary and not widely sustained. As a result of this study, we suggest the creation of an evidence base and a better integration of social support structures into teacher education. This is the first large-scale study to look into Estonian teacher’s actual practices, and although Estonian teachers have relatively high autonomy and technical skills, we believe that these results and further investigations are applicable in other contexts as well.
Does the Type of Polymer and Carbon Nanotube Structure Control the Electromagnetic Shielding in Melt-Mixed Polymer Nanocomposites?
Authors: Biswas Sourav , Muzata Tanyaradzwa S. , Krause Beate , Rzeczkowski Piotr , Pötschke Petra , Bose Suryasarathi
Published: January 2020

A suitable polymer matrix and well dispersed conducting fillers forming an electrically conducting network are the prime requisites for modern age electromagnetic shield designing. An effective polymer-based shield material is designed that can attenuate 99.9% of incident electromagnetic (EM) radiation at a minimum thickness of <0.5 mm. This is accomplished by the choice of a suitable partially crystalline polymer matrix while comparing non-polar polypropylene (PP) with polar polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and a best suited filler nanomaterial by comparing different types of carbon nanotubes such as; branched, single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes, which were added in only 2 wt %. Different types of interactions (polar-polar and CH-π and donor-acceptor) make b-MWCNT more dispersible in the PVDF matrix, which together with high crystallinity resulted in the best electrical conductivity and electromagnetic shielding ability of this composite. This investigation additionally conceals the issues related to the thickness of the shield material just by stacking individual thin nanocomposite layers containing different carbon nanotube (CNT) types with 0.3 mm thickness in a simple manner and finally achieves 99.999% shielding efficiency at just 0.9 mm thickness when using a suitable order of the different PVDF based nanocomposites.
The “Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology” Journal Club Series: Utility and Advantages of the Eccentric Training through the Isoinertial System
Authors: Fisher James P. , Ravalli Silvia , Carlson Luke , Bridgeman Lee A. , Roggio Federico , Scuderi Simone , Maniaci Mario , Cortis Cristina , Fusco Andrea , Musumeci Giuseppe
Published: January 2020

We are glad to introduce the first Journal Club of volume five, the first issue. This edition is focused on relevant studies published in the last years in the field of eccentric training, chosen by our editorial board members and their colleagues. We hope to stimulate your curiosity in this field and to share with you the passion for the sport, seen also from a scientific point of view. The editorial board members wish you an inspiring lecture.
Polyesters as a Model System for Building Primitive Biologies from Non-Biological Prebiotic Chemistry
Authors: Chandru Kuhan , Mamajanov Irena , Cleaves H. James , Jia Tony Z.
Published: January 2020

A variety of organic chemicals were likely available on prebiotic Earth. These derived from diverse processes including atmospheric and geochemical synthesis and extraterrestrial input, and were delivered to environments including oceans, lakes, and subaerial hot springs. Prebiotic chemistry generates both molecules used by modern organisms, such as proteinaceous amino acids, as well as many molecule types not used in biochemistry. As prebiotic chemical diversity was likely high, and the core of biochemistry uses a rather small set of common building blocks, the majority of prebiotically available organic compounds may not have been those used in modern biochemistry. Chemical evolution was unlikely to have been able to discriminate which molecules would eventually be used in biology, and instead, interactions among compounds were governed simply by abundance and chemical reactivity. Previous work has shown that likely prebiotically available α-hydroxy acids can combinatorially polymerize into polyesters that self-assemble to create new phases which are able to compartmentalize other molecule types. The unexpectedly rich complexity of hydroxy acid chemistry and the likely enormous structural diversity of prebiotic organic chemistry suggests chemical evolution could have been heavily influenced by molecules not used in contemporary biochemistry, and that there is a considerable amount of prebiotic chemistry which remains unexplored.
Effect of Imidazoline Inhibitor on the Rehabilitation of Reinforced Concrete with Electromigration Method
Authors: Pan Chonggen , Mao Jianghong , Jin Weiliang
Published: January 2020

Steel bars embedded in reinforced concrete are vulnerable to corrosion in high chloride environments. Bidirectional electromigration rehabilitation (BIEM) is a novel method to enhance the durability of reinforced concrete by extracting chloride out of concrete and introducing an inhibitor to the surface of the steel bar under the action of an electric field. During the migration process, a higher ionization capacity of the inhibitor with a symmetrical molecular structure was introduced. A new imidazoline inhibitor was, therefore, employed in this study due to its great ionization capacity. The effect of imidazoline and triethylenetetramine inhibitor on chloride migration, corrosion potential, and strength of concrete were explored. The research results showed that the effect of chloride extraction and electrochemical chloride extraction made no significant difference on the surface of the concrete, where chloride extraction efficiency was more than 70%, and the chloride extraction efficiency was more than 90% around the location of the steel. while a dry-wet cycle test, the potential of concrete increased by about 200 mV by mixing imidazoline inhibitor. The imidazoline inhibitor was found to be effective at facilitating chloride migration and ameliorating corrosion, meanwhile, it had a negligible impact on the concrete’s strength.
Carbon Fiber and Nickel Coated Carbon Fiber–Silica Aerogel Nanocomposite as Low-Frequency Microwave Absorbing Materials
Authors: Ślosarczyk Agnieszka , Klapiszewski Łukasz , Buchwald Tomasz , Krawczyk Piotr , Kolanowski Łukasz , Lota Grzegorz
Published: January 2020

Silica aerogel-based materials exhibit a great potential for application in many industrial applications due to their unique porous structure. In the framework of this study, carbon fiber and nickel coated carbon fiber–silica aerogel nanocomposites were proposed as effective electromagnetic shielding material. Herein, the initial oxidation of the surface of carbon fibers allowed the deposition of a durable Ni metallic nanolayer. The fibers prepared in this way were then introduced into a silica aerogel structure, which resulted in obtaining two nanocomposites that differed in terms of fiber volume content (10% and 15%). In addition, analogous systems containing fibers without a metallic nanolayer were studied. The conducted research indicated that carbon fibers with a Ni nanolayer present in the silica aerogel structure negatively affected the structural properties of the composite, but were characterized by two-times higher electrical conductivity of the composite. This was because the nickel nanolayer effectively blocked the binding of the fiber surface to the silica skeleton, which resulted in an increase of the density of the composite and a reduction in the specific surface area. The thermal stability of the material also deteriorated. Nevertheless, a very high electromagnetic radiation absorption capacity between 40 and 56 dB in the frequency range from 8 to 18 GHz was obtained.
Preparation and Dielectric Properties of K1/2Na1/2NbO3 Ceramics Obtained from Mechanically Activated Powders
Authors: Szafraniak-Wiza Izabela , Dzik Jolanta , Bochenek Dariusz , Szalbot Diana , Adamczyk-Habrajska Małgorzata
Published: January 2020

Alkaline based materials have been considered as a replacement for environmentally harmful Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) electro-ceramics. In this paper, the K1/2Na1/2NbO3 (KNN) ceramics were prepared in a three stage process: first Nb2O5, Na2CO3, and K2CO3 were milled in a high energy mill (shaker type) for different periods, between 25 h and 100 h, consecutively a solid state reaction was carried out at 550 °C. Finally, the uniaxially pressed samples were sintered at 1000 °C. The reaction temperature is lower for mechanically activated powders than in the case of the conventional solid-state method. The ceramic samples, prepared from the mechanically activated powders, were investigated by dielectric spectroscopy. The influence of the duration of the mechanical activation on the properties of the ceramic materials, e.g., ceramic microstructures, phase transition temperatures, character of the temperature dependences of dielectric permittivity, are discussed.
Monitoring the Corrosion of Steel in Concrete Exposed to a Marine Environment
Authors: Gartner Nina , Kosec Tadeja , Legat Andraž
Published: January 2020

Reinforced concrete structures require continuous monitoring and maintenance to prevent corrosion of the carbon steel reinforcement. In this work, concrete columns with carbon and stainless steel reinforcements were exposed to a real marine environment. In order to monitor the corrosion processes, two types of corrosion probes were embedded in these columns at different height levels. The results from the monitoring of the probes were compared to the actual corrosion damage in the different exposure zones. Electrical resistance (ER) probes and coupled multi-electrodes (CMEs) were shown to be promising methods for long-term corrosion monitoring in concrete. Correlations between the different exposure zones and the corrosion processes of the steel in the concrete were found. Macrocell corrosion properties and the distribution of the separated anodic/cathodic places on the steel in chloride-contaminated concrete were addressed as two of the key issues for understanding the corrosion mechanisms in such environments. The specific advantages and limitations of the tested measuring techniques for long-term corrosion monitoring were also indicated. The results of the measurements and the corrosion damage evaluation clearly confirmed that the tested stainless steels (AISI 304 and AISI 304L) in a chloride-contaminated environment behave significantly better than ordinary carbon steel, with corrosion rates from 110× to 9500× lower in the most severe (tidal) exposure conditions.
An Overview of the Experimental Studies on the Electrical Conductivity of Major Minerals in the Upper Mantle and Transition Zone
Authors: Dai Lidong , Hu Haiying , Jiang Jianjun , Sun Wenqing , Li Heping , Wang Mengqi , Vallianatos Filippos , Saltas Vassilios
Published: January 2020

In this paper, we present the recent progress in the experimental studies of the electrical conductivity of dominant nominally anhydrous minerals in the upper mantle and mantle transition zone of Earth, namely, olivine, pyroxene, garnet, wadsleyite and ringwoodite. The main influence factors, such as temperature, pressure, water content, oxygen fugacity, and anisotropy are discussed in detail. The dominant conduction mechanisms of Fe-bearing silicate minerals involve the iron-related small polaron with a relatively large activation enthalpy and the hydrogen-related defect with lower activation enthalpy. Specifically, we mainly focus on the variation of oxygen fugacity on the electrical conductivity of anhydrous and hydrous mantle minerals, which exhibit clearly different charge transport processes. In representative temperature and pressure environments, the hydrogen of nominally anhydrous minerals can tremendously enhance the electrical conductivity of the upper mantle and transition zone, and the influence of trace structural water (or hydrogen) is substantial. In combination with the geophysical data of magnetotelluric surveys, the laboratory-based electrical conductivity measurements can provide significant constraints to the water distribution in Earth’s interior.
Combining Organic and Inorganic Wastes to Form Metal–Organic Frameworks
Authors: Lagae-Capelle Eléonore , Cognet Marine , Madhavi Srinivasan , Carboni Michaël , Meyer Daniel
Published: January 2020

This paper reports a simple method to recycle plastic-bottle and Li-ion-battery waste in one process by forming valuable coordination polymers (metal–organic frameworks, MOFs). Poly(ethylene terephthalate) from plastic bottles was depolymerized to produce an organic ligand source (terephthalate), and Li-ion batteries were dissolved as a source of metals. By mixing both dissolution solutions together, selective precipitation of an Al-based MOF, known as MIL-53 in the literature, was observed. This material can be recovered in large quantities from waste and presents similar properties of purity and porosity to as-synthesis MIL-53. This work illustrates the opportunity to form hybrid porous materials by combining different waste streams, laying the foundations for an achievable integrated circular economy from different waste cycle treatments (for batteries and plastics).
Facile Synthesis of Sandwich-Like rGO/CuS/Polypyrrole Nanoarchitectures for Efficient Electromagnetic Absorption
Authors: Zhang Bing , Lin Shaofeng , Zhang Jingjing , Li Xiaopeng , Sun Xiaodong
Published: January 2020

Currently, electromagnetic pollution management has gained much attention due to the various harmful effects on wildlife and human beings. Electromagnetic absorbers can convert energy from electromagnetic waves into thermal energy. Previous reports have demonstrated that reduced graphene oxide (rGO) makes progress in the electromagnetic absorption (EA) field. But the high value of permittivity of rGO always mismatches the impedance which results in more electromagnetic wave reflection on the surface. In this work, sandwich-like rGO/CuS/polypyrrole (PPy) nanoarchitectures have been synthesized by a facile two-step method. The experimental result has shown that a paraffin composite containing 10 wt.% of rGO/CuS/PPy could achieve an enhanced EA performance both in bandwidth and intensity. The minimum reflection loss (RL) value of −49.11 dB can be reached. Furthermore, the effective bandwidth can cover 4.88 GHz. The result shows that the as-prepared rGO/CuS/PPy nanoarchitectures will be a promising EA material.
Diffusion Reflection Measurements of Antibodies Conjugated to Gold Nanoparticles as a Method to Identify Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Borders
Authors: Olshinka Asaf , Ad-El Dean , Didkovski Elena , Weiss Shirel , Ankri Rinat , Goldenberg-Cohen Nitza , Fixler Dror
Published: January 2020

Diffusion reflectance spectroscopy measurements targeted with gold nanoparticles (GNPs) can identify residual cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in excision borders. Human SCC specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin to identify tumor borders, and reflected onto an unstained deparaffinized section. Diffusion reflection of three sites (normal and SCC) were measured before and after GNPs targeting. Hyperspectral imaging showed a mean of 2.5 sites with tumor per specimen and 1.2 tumor-free (p < 0.05, t-test). GNPs were detected in 25/30 tumor sites (sensitivity 83.3%, false-negative rate 16.6%) and 12/30 non-tumor sites (specificity 60%, false-positive rate 40%). This study verifies the use of nanotechnology in identifying SCC tumor margins. Diffusion reflection scanning has high sensitivity for detecting the residual tumor.
On the Compressive Response of Polymeric Cellular Materials
Authors: Del Rosso Stefano , Iannucci Lorenzo
Published: January 2020

This paper presents a series of compression tests performed on a variety of high performance lightweight cellular materials conventionally used in energy absorption applications. Compressive tests were performed over a range of strain rates with a universal testing machine and a single stage gas gun. Experimental results revealed a dependency of the mechanical properties on the polymeric precursor, density, infill topology and strain rates. The dynamic strength of the investigated materials was determined through a material parameter identification study via the finite element (FE) method. Numerical results matched well with the experimental results and revealed a substantial enhancement in the compressive strength of the tested material from quasi-static to dynamic loading regimes by as much as 87%. The strength of 3D printed polymers was superior with respect to the tested polymeric foams. On the other hand, polymeric foams showed higher efficiency and energy absorption ability.
TRIP Steels: A Multiscale Computational Simulation and Experimental Study of Heat Treatment and Mechanical Behavior
Authors: Papadioti Ioanna , Bellas Ilias , Tzini Maria-Ioanna T. , Christodoulou Peter I. , Aravas Nikolaos
Published: January 2020

A multiscale investigation of the microstructure and the mechanical behavior of TRIP steels is presented. A multi-phase field model is employed to predict the microstructure of a low-alloy TRIP700 steel during a two-stage heat treatment. The resulting stability of retained austenite is examined through the M s σ temperature. The phase field results are experimentally validated and implemented into a model for the kinetics of retained austenite during strain-induced transformation. The kinetics model is calibrated by using experimental data for the evolution of the martensite volume fraction in uniaxial tension. The transformation kinetics model is used together with homogenization methods for non-linear composites to develop a constitutive model for the mechanical behavior of the TRIP steel. A methodology for the numerical integration of the constitutive equations is developed and the model is implemented in a general-purpose finite element program (ABAQUS). Necking of a bar in uniaxial tension is simulated and “forming limit diagrams” (FLDs) for sheets made of TRIP steels are calculated. The models developed provide an integrated simulation toolkit for the computer-assisted design of TRIP steels and can be used to translate mechanical property requirements into optimised microstructural characteristics and to identify the appropriate processing routes.
Effect of Zr Content on Phase Stability, Deformation Behavior, and Young’s Modulus in Ti–Nb–Zr Alloys
Authors: Kim Kyong Min , Kim Hee Young , Miyazaki Shuichi
Published: January 2020

Ti alloys have attracted continuing research attention as promising biomaterials due to their superior corrosion resistance and biocompatibility and excellent mechanical properties. Metastable β-type Ti alloys also provide several unique properties such as low Young’s modulus, shape memory effect, and superelasticity. Such unique properties are predominantly attributed to the phase stability and reversible martensitic transformation. In this study, the effects of the Nb and Zr contents on phase constitution, transformation temperature, deformation behavior, and Young’s modulus were investigated. Ti–Nb and Ti–Nb–Zr alloys over a wide composition range, i.e., Ti–(18–40)Nb, Ti–(15–40)Nb–4Zr, Ti–(16–40)Nb–8Zr, Ti–(15–40)Nb–12Zr, Ti–(12–17)Nb–18Zr, were fabricated and their properties were characterized. The phase boundary between the β phase and the α′′ martensite phase was clarified. The lower limit content of Nb to suppress the martensitic transformation and to obtain a single β phase at room temperature decreased with increasing Zr content. The Ti–25Nb, Ti–22Nb–4Zr, Ti–19Nb–8Zr, Ti–17Nb–12Zr and Ti–14Nb–18Zr alloys exhibit the lowest Young’s modulus among Ti–Nb–Zr alloys with Zr content of 0, 4, 8, 12, and 18 at.%, respectively. Particularly, the Ti–14Nb–18Zr alloy exhibits a very low Young’s modulus less than 40 GPa. Correlation among alloy composition, phase stability, and Young’s modulus was discussed.
Complex Polysaccharide-Based Nanocomposites for Oral Insulin Delivery
Authors: Collado-González Mar , Ferreri Maria Cristina , Freitas Alessandra R. , Santos Ana Cláudia , Ferreira Nuno R. , Carissimi Guzmán , Sequeira Joana A. D. , Díaz Baños F. Guillermo , Villora Gloria , Veiga Francisco , Ribeiro Antonio
Published: January 2020

Polyelectrolyte nanocomposites rarely reach a stable state and aggregation often occurs. Here, we report the synthesis of nanocomposites for the oral delivery of insulin composed of alginate, dextran sulfate, poly-(ethylene glycol) 4000, poloxamer 188, chitosan, and bovine serum albumin. The nanocomposites were obtained by Ca2+-induced gelation of alginate followed by an electrostatic-interaction process among the polyelectrolytes. Chitosan seemed to be essential for the final size of the nanocomposites and there was an optimal content that led to the synthesis of nanocomposites of 400–600 nm hydrodynamic size. The enhanced stability of the synthesized nanocomposites was assessed with LUMiSizer after synthesis. Nanocomposite stability over time and under variations of ionic strength and pH were assessed with dynamic light scattering. The rounded shapes of nanocomposites were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. After loading with insulin, analysis by HPLC revealed complete drug release under physiologically simulated conditions.
Differential Expression of Nicotine Acetylcholine Receptors Associates with Human Breast Cancer and Mediates Antitumor Activity of αO-Conotoxin GeXIVA
Authors: Sun Zhihua , Zhangsun Manqi , Dong Shuai , Liu Yiqiao , Qian Jiang , Zhangsun Dongting , Luo Sulan
Published: January 2020

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are membrane receptors and play a major role in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Here, we have investigated the differential expression of nAChR subunits in human breast cancer cell lines and breast epithelial cell lines at mRNA and protein levels and the effects of the αO-conotoxin GeXIVA, antagonist of α9α10 nAChR, on human breast cancer cells. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) demonstrated that all nAChR subunits, except α6, were expressed in the 20 tested cell lines. Real time quantitative PCR (QRT-PCR) suggested that the mRNA of α5, α7, α9 and β4 nAChR subunits were overexpressed in all the breast cancer cell lines compared with the normal epithelial cell line HS578BST. α9 nAChR was highly expressed in almost all the breast cancer cell lines in comparison to normal cells. The different expression is prominent (p < 0.001) as determined by flow cytometry and Western blotting, except for MDA-MB-453 and HCC1395 cell lines. αO-conotoxin GeXIVA that targeted α9α10 nAChR were able to significantly inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation in vitro and merits further investigation as potential agents for targeted therapy.
Characterization of Bioactive Components in Edible Algae
Authors: Pereira Leonel
Published: January 2020

From the origin of our planet, about 4 [...]
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Medicines in 2019
Authors:   Medicines Editorial Office
Published: January 2020

The editorial team greatly appreciates the reviewers who have dedicated their considerable time and expertise to the journal’s rigorous editorial process over the past 12 months, regardless of whether the papers are finally published or not [...]
Energy Band Gap Investigation of Biomaterials: A Comprehensive Material Approach for Biocompatibility of Medical Electronic Devices
Authors: Shafiee Ashkan , Ghadiri Elham , Kassis Jareer , Williams David , Atala Anthony
Published: January 2020

Over the past ten years, tissue engineering has witnessed significant technological and scientific advancements. Progress in both stem cell science and additive manufacturing have established new horizons in research and are poised to bring improvements in healthcare closer to reality. However, more sophisticated indications such as the scale-up fabrication of biological structures (e.g., human tissues and organs) still require standardization. To that end, biocompatible electronics may be helpful in the biofabrication process. Here, we report the results of our systematic exploration to seek biocompatible/degradable functional electronic materials that could be used for electronic device fabrications. We investigated the electronic properties of various biomaterials in terms of energy diagrams, and the energy band gaps of such materials were obtained using optical absorption spectroscopy. The main component of an electronic device is manufactured with semiconductor materials (i.e., Eg between 1 to 2.5 eV). Most biomaterials showed an optical absorption edge greater than 2.5 eV. For example, fibrinogen, glycerol, and gelatin showed values of 3.54, 3.02, and 3.0 eV, respectively. Meanwhile, a few materials used in the tissue engineering field were found to be semiconductors, such as the phenol red in cell culture media (1.96 eV energy band gap). The data from this research may be used to fabricate biocompatible/degradable electronic devices for medical applications.
Development of Real-Time Measurement Platform for Stretchable and Rollable Functions of Flexible Electronics under Multiple Dynamic Loads
Authors: Lee Chang-Chun , Chuang Jui-Chang , Shih Ruei-Ci , Wang Chi-Wei
Published: January 2020

Mainstream next generation electronic devices with miniaturized structures and high levels of performance are needed to meet the characteristic requirements of electronics with flexible and stretchable capabilities. Accordingly, several applied fields of innovative electronic component techniques, such as wearable devices, foldable curtain-like displays, and flexible hybrid electronic (FHE) biosensors, are considered. This study presents a novel inspection system with multifunctions of stressing tensile and bending mechanical loads to acquire the stretchable and rollable characteristics of soft specimens. The performance of the proposed measurement platform using samples of three different geometric types is evaluated in terms of its stretchability. The results show a remarkable enhancement of mechanical reliability when the sine wave geometric structure is used. A symmetrical sine wave-shaped sample is designed to measure performance under cyclic rolling. The proposed measurement platform of flexible electronics meets the testing requirements of mechanical reliability for the development of future flexible electronic components and FHE products.
Real-Time Monitoring and Detection of Single-Cell Level Cytokine Secretion Using LSPR Technology
Authors: Zhu Chen , Luo Xi , Espulgar Wilfred Villariza , Koyama Shohei , Kumanogoh Atsushi , Saito Masato , Takamatsu Hyota , Tamiya Eiichi
Published: January 2020

Cytokine secretion researches have been a main focus of studies among the scientists in the recent decades for its outstanding contribution to clinical diagnostics. Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) technology is one of the conventional methods utilized to analyze these issues, as it could provide fast, label-free and real-time monitoring of biomolecule binding events. However, numerous LSPR-based biosensors in the past are usually utilized to monitor the average performance of cell groups rather than single cells. Meanwhile, the complicated sensor structures will lead to the fabrication and economic budget problems. Thus, in this paper, we report a simple synergistic integration of the cell trapping of microwell chip and gold-capped nanopillar-structured cyclo-olefin-polymer (COP) film for single cell level Interleukin 6 (IL-6) detection. Here, in-situ cytokine secreted from the trapped cell can be directly observed and analyzed through the peak red-shift in the transmittance spectrum. The fabricated device also shows the potential to conduct the real-time monitoring which would greatly help us identify the viability and biological variation of the tested single cell.
Magnetic Graphene Oxide Composite for the Microextraction and Determination of Benzophenones in Water Samples
Authors: Medina Alejandro , Casado-Carmona Francisco Antonio , López-Lorente Ángela I. , Cárdenas Soledad
Published: January 2020

Magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4) functionalized with graphene oxide (GO) have been synthesized through a silanization process of the magnetic nanoparticles with tetraethyl orthosilicate and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane and further coupling of GO. The synthesized nanomaterials have been characterized by several techniques, such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and infrared and Raman spectroscopy, which enabled the evaluation of the different steps of the functionalization process. The hybrid nanomaterial has been employed for the extraction of five benzophenones (benzophenone-1, benzophenone-3, 4-hydroxybenzophenone, benzophenone-6 and benzophenone-8) in aqueous samples by dispersive micro-solid phase extraction, combining the magnetic properties of magnetite nanoparticles with the excellent sorption capacity of graphene oxide via hydrophobic interactions with the analytes. The subsequent separation and quantification of the analytes was performed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection, achieving limits of detection (LODs) in the range 2.5 to 8.2 μg·L−1, with relative standard deviations ranging from 1.3–9.8% and relative recovering in the range 86 to 105%. Positive swimming pool water samples analysed following the developed method revealed the presence of benzophenones in from 14.3 to 39 μg·L−1.
Carbon Nanoparticles Functionalized with Carboxylic Acid Improved the Germination and Seedling Vigor in Upland Boreal Forest Species
Authors: Ali Md. Hossen , Sobze Jean-Marie , Pham Thu Huong , Nadeem Muhammad , Liu Chen , Galagedara Lakshman , Cheema Mumtaz , Thomas Raymond
Published: January 2020

Nanopriming has been shown to significantly improve seed germination and seedling vigor in several agricultural crops. However, this approach has not been applied to native upland boreal forest species with complex seed dormancy to improve propagation. Herein, we demonstrate the effectiveness of carbon nanoparticles functionalized with carboxylic acids in resolving seed dormancy and improved the propagation of two native upland boreal forest species. Seed priming with carbon nanoparticles functionalized with carboxylic acids followed by stratification were observed to be the most effective in improving germination to 90% in green alder (Alnus viridis L.) compared to 60% in the control. Conversely, a combination of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs), especially multiwall carbon nanoparticles functionalized with carboxylic acid (MWCNT–COOH), cold stratification, mechanical scarification and hormonal priming (gibberellic acid) was effective for buffaloberry seeds (Shepherdia canadensis L.). Both concentrations (20 µg and 40 µg) of MWCNT–COOH had a higher percent germination (90%) compared to all other treatments. Furthermore, we observed the improvement in germination, seedling vigor and resolution of both embryo and seed coat dormancy in upland boreal forest species appears to be associated with the remodeling of C18:3 enriched fatty acids in the following seed membrane lipid molecular species: PC18:1/18:3, PG16:1/18:3, PE18:3/18:2, and digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG18:3/18:3). These findings suggest that nanopriming may be a useful approach to resolve seed dormancy issues and improve the seed germination in non-resource upland boreal forest species ideally suited for forest reclamation following resource mining.