bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolomics Insights into the Differential Response of Breast Cancer Cells to the Phenolic Compounds Hydroxytyrosol and Luteolin
Authors: Garcia-Guasch Maite , Escrich Eduard , Moral Raquel , Duarte Iola F.
Published: May 2023

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two phenolic compounds found in extra virgin olive oil, hydroxytyrosol (HT) and luteolin (LUT), on the metabolism of breast cancer (BC) cells of different molecular subtypes. An untargeted metabolomics approach was used to characterize the metabolic responses of both triple-negative MDA-MB-231 cells and hormone-responsive MCF-7 cells to treatment with these phenols. Notably, while some effects were common across both cell types, others were dependent on the cell type, highlighting the importance of cellular metabolic phenotype. Common effects included stimulation of mitochondrial metabolism, acetate production, and formate overflow. On the other hand, glucose metabolism and lactate production were differentially modulated. HT and LUT appeared to inhibit glycolysis and promote the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway in MDA-MB-231 cells, while MCF-7 cells exhibited higher glycolytic flux when treated with phenolic compounds. Another significant difference was observed in lipid metabolism. Treated MDA-MB-231 cells displayed increased levels of neutral lipids (likely stored in cytosolic droplets), whereas treatment of MCF-7 cells with HT led to a decrease in triacylglycerols. Additionally, glutathione levels increased in MDA-MB-231 cells treated with HT or LUT, as well as in MCF-7 cells treated with LUT. In contrast, in HT-treated MCF-7 cells, glutathione levels decreased, indicating different modulation of cellular redox status. Overall, this work provides new insights into the metabolic impact of HT and LUT on different BC cell subtypes, paving the way for a better understanding of the nutritional relevance of these phenolic compounds in the context of BC prevention and management.
Theoretical Investigation of HER and OER Electrocatalysts Based on the 2D R-graphyne Completely Composed of Anti-Aromatic Carbon Rings
Authors: Li Cuimei , Li Tianya , Yu Guangtao , Chen Wei
Published: May 2023

Based on the DFT calculations, two-dimensional (2D) R-graphyne has been demonstrated to have high stability and good conductivity, which can be conducive to the relevant electrocatalytic activity of the material. Different from the poor graphene, R-graphyne, which is completely composed of anti-aromatic structural units, can exhibit certain HER catalytic activity. In addition, doping the TM atoms in Group VIIIB can be considered an effective strategy to enhance the HER catalytic activity of R-graphyne. Particularly, Fe@R-graphyne, Os@R-graphyne, Rh@R-graphyne and Ir@R-graphyne can exhibit higher HER catalytic activities due to the formation of more active sites. Usually, the shorter the distance between the TM and C atoms is, the better the HER activity of the C-site is. Furthermore, doping Ni and Rh atoms of Group VIIIB can significantly improve the OER catalytic performance of R-graphyne. It can be found that ΔGO* can be used as a good descriptor for the OER activities of TM@R-graphyne systems. Both Rh@R-graphyne and Ni@R-graphyne systems can exhibit bifunctional electrocatalytic activities for HER/OER. In addition, all the relevant catalytic mechanisms are analyzed in detail. This work not only provides nonprecious and highly efficient HER/OER electrocatalysts, but also provides new ideas for the design of carbon-based electrocatalysts.
Synergy, Additivity and Antagonism between Esculetin and Six Commonly Used Chemotherapeutics in Various Malignant Melanoma Cell Lines—An Isobolographic Analysis
Authors: Wróblewska-Łuczka Paula , Góralczyk Agnieszka , Łuszczki Jarogniew J.
Published: May 2023

(1) Malignant melanomas are dangerous skin cancers, and the treatment of melanomas with various cytostatic drugs often causes side effects and after their prolonged use resistance to these drugs appears. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anticancer effects of esculetin (a simple coumarin) and to assess pharmacodynamic interactions between esculetin and six commonly used cytostatic drugs (cisplatin, epirubicin, docetaxel, paclitaxel, mitoxantrone and vemurafenib) using an isobolographic analysis. (2) The experiments were carried out on four human malignant melanoma cell lines (FM55P, A375, FM55M2 and SK-MEL28). The effects of esculetin on viability, cell proliferation and cytotoxicity were verified in the range of concentrations of 2–200 μM. (3) Esculetin inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, malignant melanoma cell viability and proliferation. The IC50 for esculetin ranged from 18.20 ± 2.93 to 120.64 ± 30.39 μM depending on the melanoma cell lines used. The combinations of esculetin with epirubicin and vemurafenib showed antagonistic interactions, the combinations of esculetin with cisplatin, docetaxel and paclitaxel showed additive interactions. For the combinations of esculetin with mitoxantrone, the isobolographic analysis displayed synergy. (4) In the treatment of malignant melanoma, esculetin should not be combined with epirubicin or vemurafenib, due to the reduction of their anticancer effects, while the synergistic interactions (esculetin + mitoxantrone) deserve a preclinical recommendation as a beneficial combination during anticancer therapy.
Structural, Electric and Dynamic Properties of (Pyrrolidinium)3[Bi2I9] and (Pyrrolidinium)3[Sb2I9]: New Lead-Free, Organic–Inorganic Hybrids with Narrow Band Gaps
Authors: Rowińska Magdalena , Piecha-Bisiorek Anna , Medycki Wojciech , Durlak Piotr , Jakubas Ryszard , Gagor Anna
Published: May 2023

Hybrid organic–inorganic iodides based on Bi(III) and Sb(III) provide integrated functionalities through the combination of high dielectric constants, semiconducting properties and ferroic phases. Here, we report a pyrrolidinium-based bismuth (1) and antimony (2) iodides of (NC4H10)3[M2I9] (M: Bi(III), Sb(III)) formula which are ferroelastic at room temperature. The narrow band gaps (~2.12 eV for 1 and 2.19 eV for 2) and DOS calculations indicate the semiconducting characteristics of both materials. The crystal structure consists of discrete, face-sharing bioctahedra [M2I9]3− and disordered pyrrolidinium amines providing charge balance and acting as spacers between inorganic moieties. At room temperature, 1 and 2 accommodate orthorhombic Cmcm symmetry. 1 displays a complex temperature-induced polymorphism. It is stable up to 525 K and undergoes a sequence of low-temperature phase transitions (PTs) at 221/222 K (I ↔ II) and 189/190 K (II ↔ III) and at 131 K (IV→III), associated with the ordering of pyrrolidinium cations and resulting in Cmcm symmetry breaking. 2 undergoes only one PT at T = 215 K. The dielectric studies disclose a relaxation process in the kilohertz frequency region, assigned to the dynamics of organic cations, described well by the Cole–Cole relation. A combination of single-crystal X-ray diffraction, synchrotron powder diffraction, spin–lattice relaxation time of 1H NMR, dielectric and calorimetric studies is used to determine the structural phase diagram, cation dynamics and electric properties of (NC4H10)3[M2I9].
Effect of Drying Kinetics, Volatile Components, Flavor Changes and Final Quality Attributes of Moslae herba during the Hot Air Thin-Layer Drying Process
Authors: Xie Min , Chen Ying , Sun Yong , Gao Yarou , Wu Zhenfeng , Wu Ruiyu , Li Rui , Hong Shixi , Wang Minyan , Zou Yiping , Zhang Hua , Xiong Yaokun
Published: May 2023

Moslae herba is considered to be a functional food ingredient or nutraceutical due to its rich bioactive components. The present research was carried out to investigate the effects of different temperatures (40 °C, 50 °C and 60 °C) on the drying characteristics, textural properties, bioactive compounds, flavor changes and final quality attributes of Moslae herba during the hot air-drying process. The results showed that the Midilli model could effectively simulate the drying process of Moslae herba. The effective moisture diffusivity ranged from 3.14 × 10−5 m2/s to 7.39 × 10−5 m2/s, and the activation energy was estimated to be 37.29 kJ/mol. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of Moslae herba samples showed the shrinkage of the underlying epidermal layers and glandular trichomes. In total, 23 volatile compounds were detected in Moslae herba. Among them, the content of thymol increased from 28.29% in fresh samples to 56.75%, 55.86% and 55.62% in samples dried at temperatures of 40 °C, 50 °C and 60 °C, respectively, while the other two components, p-cymene and γ-terpinene, decreased with an increase in the temperature. Furthermore, both radar fingerprinting and principal component analysis (PCA) of the electronic nose (E-nose) showed that the flavor substances significantly altered during the drying process. Eventually, drying Moslae herba at 60 °C positively affected the retention of total phenolics, total flavonoids and the antioxidant capacity as compared with drying at 40 °C and 50 °C. The overall results elucidated that drying Moslae herba at the temperature of 60 °C efficiently enhanced the final quality by significantly reducing the drying time and maintaining the bioactive compounds.
Polarization-Dependent Metasurface Enables Near-Infrared Dual-Modal Single-Pixel Sensing
Authors: Yan Rong , Wang Wenli , Hu Yao , Hao Qun , Bian Liheng
Published: May 2023

Infrared single-pixel sensing with the two most representative modes, bright-field imaging and edge-enhanced imaging, has great application potential in biomedical diagnosis and defect inspection. Building a multifunctional and miniature optical computing device for infrared single-pixel sensing is extremely intriguing. Here, we propose and validate a dual-modal device based on a well-designed metasurface, which enables near-infrared bright-field and edge-enhanced single-pixel imaging. By changing the polarization of the incident beam, these two different modes can be switched. Simulations validate that our device can achieve high-fidelity dual-modal single-pixel sensing at 0.9 μm with certain noise robustness. We also investigate the generalization of our metasurface-based device and validate that different illumination patterns are applied to our device. Moreover, these output images by our device can be efficiently utilized for biomedical image segmentation. We envision this novel device may open a vista in dual-modal infrared single-pixel sensing.
Multilayer Graphene as an Endoreversible Otto Engine
Authors: Myers Nathan M. , Peña Francisco J. , Cortés Natalia , Vargas Patricio
Published: May 2023

We examine the performance of a finite-time, endoreversible Otto heat engine with a working medium of monolayer or multilayered graphene subjected to an external magnetic field. As the energy spectrum of multilayer graphene under an external magnetic field depends strongly on the number of layers, so too does its thermodynamic behavior. We show that this leads to a simple relationship between the engine efficiency and the number of layers of graphene in the working medium. Furthermore, we find that the efficiency at maximum power for bilayer and trilayer working mediums can exceed that of a classical endoreversible Otto cycle. Conversely, a working medium of monolayer graphene displays identical efficiency at maximum power to a classical working medium. These results demonstrate that layered graphene can be a useful material for the construction of efficient thermal machines for diverse quantum device applications.
Influence of WO3-Based Antireflection Coatings on Current Density in Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells
Authors: Lee Doowon , Chae Myoungsu , Ahmad Ibtisam , Kim Jong-Ryeol , Kim Hee-Dong
Published: May 2023

Antireflection coatings (ARCs) with an indium thin oxide (ITO) layer on silicon heterojunction solar cells (SHJ) have garnered significant attention, which is due to their potential for increasing current density (Jsc) and enhancing reliability. We propose an additional tungsten trioxide (WO3) layer on the ITO/Si structure in this paper in order to raise the Jsc and demonstrate the influence on the SHJ solar cell. First, we simulate the Jsc characteristics for the proposed WO3/ITO/Si structure in order to analyze Jsc depending on the thickness of WO3 using an OPAL 2 simulator. As a result, the OPAL 2 simulation shows an increase in Jsc of 0.65 mA/cm2 after the 19 nm WO3 deposition on ITO with a doping concentration of 6.1 × 1020/cm2. We then fabricate the proposed samples and observe an improved efficiency of 0.5% with an increased Jsc of 0.75 mA/cm2 when using a 20 nm thick WO3 layer on the SHJ solar cell. The results indicate that the WO3 layer can be a candidate to improve the efficiency of SHJ solar cells with a low fabrication cost.
Increasing the Stability of Isolated and Dense High-Aspect-Ratio Nanopillars Fabricated Using UV-Nanoimprint Lithography
Authors: Haslinger Michael J. , Maier Oliver S. , Pribyl Markus , Taus Philipp , Kopp Sonja , Wanzenboeck Heinz D. , Hingerl Kurt , Muehlberger Michael M. , Guillén Elena
Published: May 2023

Structural anti-reflective coating and bactericidal surfaces, as well as many other effects, rely on high-aspect-ratio (HAR) micro- and nanostructures, and thus, are of great interest for a wide range of applications. To date, there is no widespread fabrication of dense or isolated HAR nanopillars based on UV nanoimprint lithography (UV-NIL). In addition, little research on fabricating isolated HAR nanopillars via UV-NIL exists. In this work, we investigated the mastering and replication of HAR nanopillars with the smallest possible diameters for dense and isolated arrangements. For this purpose, a UV-based nanoimprint lithography process was developed. Stability investigations with capillary forces were performed and compared with simulations. Finally, strategies were developed in order to increase the stability of imprinted nanopillars or to convert them into nanoelectrodes. We present UV-NIL replication of pillars with aspect ratios reaching up to 15 with tip diameters down to 35 nm for the first time. We show that the stability could be increased by a factor of 58 when coating them with a 20 nm gold layer and by a factor of 164 when adding an additional 20 nm thick layer of SiN. The coating of the imprints significantly improved the stability of the nanopillars, thus making them interesting for a wide range of applications.
Low Serum Creatinine Levels in Early Pregnancy Are Associated with a Higher Incidence of Postpartum Abnormal Glucose Metabolism among Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Chen Nan , Zeng Rui , Xu Changliu , Lai Fenghua , Chen Li , Wang Chenxue , Pei Ling , Li Zhuyu , Li Yanbing , Xiao Haipeng , Cao Xiaopei
Published: May 2023

The predictive factors for the progression from gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) to type 2 diabetes remain incompletely elucidated. Our objective was to investigate the link between serum creatinine, a proxy for skeletal muscle mass, and the development of postpartum abnormal glucose metabolism (AGM). Methods: A retrospective review of the medical records of 501 women with GDM was conducted, all of whom underwent a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) between 4 and 12 weeks postpartum. Women were grouped based on quartiles of serum creatinine at the first antenatal visit to estimate the association between serum creatinine and postpartum AGM incidence. Results: Compared with the highest quartile of creatinine, lower quartiles were substantially linked to an increased incidence of postpartum AGM (adjusted odds ratios 3.37 [95% CI 1.77–6.42], 2.42 [95% CI 1.29–4.51] and 2.27 [95% CI 1.23–4.18], respectively). The generalized additive model suggested a linear relationship between serum creatinine levels and the risk of postpartum AGM below 68 µmol/L of serum creatinine levels. A decrease of 2 μmol/L in serum creatinine levels was found to be associated with a 10% increase in the odds of developing postpartum AGM. Linear regression revealed that a low serum creatinine level was linked to a higher postpartum 2-h glucose level and a decreased insulinogenic index (p = 0.007 and p = 0.027, respectively). Conclusions: An association was observed between lower serum creatinine levels in early pregnancy and an increased risk of postpartum AGM and poorer β-cell function in women with a recent history of GDM. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying our findings, as well as the role of skeletal muscle mass or nutritional status in early pregnancy on later glucose metabolism.
The Interplay between Maternal Nutrition and Oxidative Stress
Authors: Ferrazzi Enrico Maria
Published: May 2023

This Special Issue of Nutrients, “The Interplay between Maternal Nutrition and Oxidative Stress”, was designed to contribute to our understanding of “oxidative stress” in pregnancy [...]
Could Gut Microbiota Composition Be a Useful Indicator of a Long-Term Dietary Pattern?
Authors: Šik Novak Karin , Bogataj Jontez Nives , Petelin Ana , Hladnik Matjaž , Baruca Arbeiter Alenka , Bandelj Dunja , Pražnikar Jure , Kenig Saša , Mohorko Nina , Jenko Pražnikar Zala
Published: May 2023

Despite the known effects of diet on gut microbiota composition, not many studies have evaluated the relationship between distinct dietary patterns and gut microbiota. The aim of our study was to determine whether gut microbiota composition could be a useful indicator of a long-term dietary pattern. We collected data from 89 subjects adhering to omnivorous, vegetarian, vegan, and low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet that were equally distributed between groups and homogenous by age, gender, and BMI. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed with a metabarcoding approach using V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. K-means clustering of gut microbiota at the genus level was performed and the nearest neighbor classifier was applied to predict microbiota clustering classes. Our results suggest that gut microbiota composition at the genus level is not a useful indicator of a subject’s dietary pattern, with the exception of a vegan diet that is represented by a high abundance of Prevotella 9. Based on our model, a combination of 26 variables (anthropometric measurements, serum biomarkers, lifestyle factors, gastrointestinal symptoms, psychological factors, specific nutrients intake) is more important to predict an individual’s microbiota composition cluster, with 91% accuracy, than the dietary intake alone. Our findings could serve to develop strategies to educate individuals about changes of some modifiable lifestyle factors, aiming to classify them into clusters with favorable health markers, independent of their dietary pattern.
Computational Modeling of the Feasibility of Substituted [1.1.1]Propellane Formation from Anionic Bridgehead Bromide Precursors
Authors: Gates Katherine E. , Herring Caitlin , Lumpkin Andrew T. , Maraski Robert J. , Perry Elizabeth G. , Prado Madelen G. , Quigley Sarah L. , Ridlehoover Jazmine V. , Salazar Edith , Sims Kynslei , Stephenson Kaitlin R. , Stewart Emma A. , Sullivan Mackenzie E. , Tucker James R. , Breton Gary W.
Published: May 2023

[1.1.1]Propellane, a compound whose structure includes two saturated carbons in which all four bonds are directed into a single hemisphere, is of theoretical interest, but has also seen recent practical applications. Mono-, di-, and trisubstituted derivatives of this propellane (by substitution of its CH2 bridges with O, S, NH, CF2, CO, SO, and SO2) remain unknown despite several computational studies that have suggested some may be stable. In this study, we show that, in several cases, substituted propellanes are spontaneously formed upon the attempted computational optimization of the geometries of anionic bridgehead bromide precursors using the ωB97X-D/aug-cc-pVDZ DFT method. Spontaneous formation suggests that these propellanes are at lower energy relative to the precursors and, therefore, are promising synthetic targets. The success or failure to spontaneously form the propellane is considered in relation to the length and strain energy of the central bridgehead-bridgehead bond, as well as the total strain energy of each propellane.
Differential Protein Expression of Taenia crassiceps ORF Strain in the Murine Cysticercosis Model Using Resistant (C57BL/6) Mice
Authors: Jiménez Lucía , Díaz-Zaragoza Mariana , Hernández Magdalena , Navarro Luz , Hernández-Ávila Ricardo , Encarnación-Guevara Sergio , Ostoa-Saloma Pedro , Landa Abraham
Published: May 2023

A cysticercosis model of Taenia crassiceps ORF strain in susceptible BALB/c mice revealed a Th2 response after 4 weeks, allowing for the growth of the parasite, whereas resistant C57BL/6 mice developed a sustained Th1 response, limiting parasitic growth. However, little is known about how cysticerci respond to an immunological environment in resistant mice. Here, we show that the Th1 response, during infection in resistant C57BL/6 mice, lasted up to 8 weeks and kept parasitemia low. Proteomics analysis of parasites during this Th1 environment showed an average of 128 expressed proteins; we chose 15 proteins whose differential expression varied between 70 and 100%. A total of 11 proteins were identified that formed a group whose expression increased at 4 weeks and decreased at 8 weeks, and another group with proteins whose expression was high at 2 weeks and decreased at 8 weeks. These identified proteins participate in tissue repair, immunoregulation and parasite establishment. This suggests that T. crassiceps cysticerci in mice resistant under the Th1 environment express proteins that control damage and help to establish a parasite in the host. These proteins could be targets for drugs or vaccine development.
HTLV-1 Proviral Load in Vaginal Fluid Correlates with Levels in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
Authors: de Aquino Firmino Alisson , Filho Paulo Roberto Tavares Gomes , Martins Adenilda Lima Lopes , Araújo Thessika Hialla , Gois Luana Leandro , da Silva Batista Everton , Araújo Jean Paulo Lacerda , Galvão-Castro Bernardo , Grassi Maria Fernanda Rios
Published: May 2023

Background: The prevalence of human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) infection is higher in women, and sexual intercourse has been described as an important route of male-to-female transmission. The present study aimed to quantify HTLV-1 proviral load (PVL) in vaginal fluid, and to investigate correlations with PVL in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In addition, cytopathological alterations and vaginal microbiota were evaluated. Methods: HTLV-1-infected women were consecutively recruited at a multidisciplinary center for HTLV patients in Salvador, Brazil. All women underwent gynecological examinations to obtain cervicovaginal fluid and venipuncture for blood collection. PVL, as measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT–qPCR), was expressed as the number of copies of HTLV-1/106 cells in blood and vaginal fluid samples. Light microscopy was used to assess cervicovaginal cytopathology and vaginal microbiota. Results: In the 56 included women (43 asymptomatic carriers and 13 diagnosed with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis—HAM/TSP), mean age was 35.9 (SD ± 7.2) years. PVL was higher in PBMCs (median: 23,264 copies/106 cells; IQR: 6776–60,036) than in vaginal fluid (451.9 copies/106 cells; IQR: 0–2490) (p < 0.0001). PVL in PBMCs was observed to correlate directly with PVL in vaginal fluid (R = 0.37, p = 0.006). PVL was detected in the vaginal fluid of 24 of 43 (55.8%) asymptomatic women compared to 12 of 13 (92.3%) HAM/TSP patients, p = 0.02. Cytopathologic analyses revealed no differences between women with detectable or undetectable PVL. Conclusion: HTLV-1 proviral load is detectable in vaginal fluid and correlates directly with proviral load in peripheral blood. This finding suggests that sexual transmission of HTLV-1 from females to males may occur, as well as vertical transmission, particularly in the context of vaginal delivery.
Dendrimers: Advancements and Potential Applications in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment—An Overview
Authors: Crintea Andreea , Motofelea Alexandru Cătălin , Șovrea Alina Simona , Constantin Anne-Marie , Crivii Carmen-Bianca , Carpa Rahela , Duțu Alina Gabriela
Published: May 2023

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, and the main treatment methods for this condition are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. These treatment methods are invasive and can cause severe adverse reactions among organisms, so nanomaterials are increasingly used as structures for anticancer therapies. Dendrimers are a type of nanomaterial with unique properties, and their production can be controlled to obtain compounds with the desired characteristics. These polymeric molecules are used in cancer diagnosis and treatment through the targeted distribution of some pharmacological substances. Dendrimers have the ability to fulfill several objectives in anticancer therapy simultaneously, such as targeting tumor cells so that healthy tissue is not affected, controlling the release of anticancer agents in the tumor microenvironment, and combining anticancer strategies based on the administration of anticancer molecules to potentiate their effect through photothermal therapy or photodynamic therapy. The purpose of this review is to summarize and highlight the possible uses of dendrimers regarding the diagnosis and treatment of oncological conditions.
The Flavonoid Agathisflavone Directs Brain Microglia/Macrophages to a Neuroprotective Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant State via Regulation of NLRP3 Inflammasome
Authors: dos Santos Balbino Lino , dos Santos Cleonice Creusa , Soares Janaina R. P. , da Silva Karina C. , de Oliveira Juciele Valeria R. , Pereira Gabriele S. , de Araújo Fillipe M. , Costa Maria de Fátima D. , David Jorge Mauricio , da Silva Victor Diogenes A. , Butt Arthur Morgan , Costa Silvia Lima
Published: May 2023

Agathisflavone, purified from Cenostigma pyramidale (Tul.) has been shown to be neuroprotective in in vitro models of glutamate-induced excitotoxicity and inflammatory damage. However, the potential role of microglial regulation by agathisflavone in these neuroprotective effects is unclear. Here we investigated the effects of agathisflavone in microglia submitted to inflammatory stimulus in view of elucidating mechanisms of neuroprotection. Microglia isolated from cortices of newborn Wistar rats were exposed to Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 µg/mL) and treated or not with agathisflavone (1 µM). Neuronal PC12 cells were exposed to a conditioned medium from microglia (MCM) treated or not with agathisflavone. We observed that LPS induced microglia to assume an activated inflammatory state (increased CD68, more rounded/amoeboid phenotype). However, most microglia exposed to LPS and agathisflavone, presented an anti-inflammatory profile (increased CD206 and branched-phenotype), associated with the reduction in NO, GSH mRNA for NRLP3 inflammasome, IL1-β, IL-6, IL-18, TNF, CCL5, and CCL2. Molecular docking also showed that agathisflavone bound at the NLRP3 NACTH inhibitory domain. Moreover, in PC12 cell cultures exposed to the MCM previously treated with the flavonoid most cells preserved neurites and increased expression of β-tubulin III. Thus, these data reinforce the anti-inflammatory activity and the neuroprotective effect of agathisflavone, effects associated with the control of NLRP3 inflammasome, standing out it as a promising molecule for the treatment or prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.
Virtual Screening-Based Study of Novel Anti-Cancer Drugs Targeting G-Quadruplex
Authors: Ouyang Ruizhuo , Liu Jinyao , Wang Shen , Zhang Weilun , Feng Kai , Liu Conghao , Liu Baolin , Miao Yuqing , Zhou Shuang
Published: May 2023

In order to develop new anti-cancer drugs more efficiently and reduce side effects based on active drug targets, the virtual drug screening was carried out through the target of G-quadruplexes and 23 hit compounds were, thus, screened out as potential anticancer drugs. Six classical G-quadruplex complexes were introduced as query molecules, and the three-dimensional similarity of molecules was calculated by shape feature similarity (SHAFTS) method so as to reduce the range of potential compounds. Afterwards, the molecular docking technology was utilized to perform the final screening followed by the exploration of the binding between each compound and four different structures of G-quadruplex. In order to verify the anticancer activity of the selected compounds, compounds 1, 6 and 7 were chosen to treat A549 cells in vitro, the lung cancer epithelial cells, for further exploring their anticancer activity. These three compounds were found to be of good characteristics in the treatment of cancer, which revealed the great application prospect of the virtual screening method in developing new drugs.
Identification, Characterization, and Cytological Analysis of Several Unexpected Hybrids Derived from Reciprocal Crosses between Raphanobrassica and Its Diploid Parents
Authors: Yu Jie , Lei Shaolin , Fang Shiting , Tai Niufang , Yu Wei , Yang Ziwei , Gu Lei , Wang Hongcheng , Du Xuye , Zhu Bin , Cai Mengxian
Published: May 2023

Interspecific hybridization and accompanying backcross between crops and relatives have been recognized as a powerful method to broaden genetic diversity and transfer desirable adaptive traits. Crosses between radish (Raphanus sativus, RR, 2n = 18) and Brassica oleracea (CC, 2n = 18), which formed allotetraploid Raphanobrassica (RRCC, 2n = 36), initiated the construction of resynthetic allopolyploids. However, these progenies from the backcrosses between Raphanobrassica and the two diploid parents have not been well deciphered. Herein, thousands of backcrosses using both Raphanobrassica and the two diploid parents as pollen donors were employed. Several hybrids with expected (2n = 27) and unexpected chromosome numbers (2n = 26 and 2n = 36) were obtained. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis with R-genome-specific sequences as probes demonstrated that the genome structures of the two expected hybrids were RRC and CCR, and the genome structures of the three unexpected hybrids were RRRC, CCCR, and RRC’ (harbouring an incomplete C genome). The unexpected hybrids with extra R or C genomes showed similar phenotypic characteristics to their expected hybrids. FISH analysis with C-genome-specific sequences as probes demonstrated that the unexpected allotetraploid hybrids exhibited significantly more intergenomic chromosome pairings than the expected hybrids. The expected and unexpected hybrids provide not only novel germplasm resources for the breeding of radish and B. oleracea but also very important genetic material for genome dosage analysis.
Biochemical, Antioxidant Properties and Antimicrobial Activity of Epiphytic Leafy Liverwort Frullania dilatata (L.) Dumort
Authors: Simsek Ozcan , Canli Kerem , Benek Atakan , Turu Dilay , Altuner Ergin Murat
Published: May 2023

In this study, the biochemical, antioxidant properties, and antimicrobial activity of the epiphytic leafy liverwort Frullania dilatata (L.) Dumort were investigated. Due to the scarcity and difficulty in obtaining liverworts, research on their bioactivity is limited; thus, this study aimed to uncover the potential of F. dilatata. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against various microorganisms, including food isolates, clinical isolates, multidrug-resistant strains, and standard strains, using the disk diffusion method and determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values. This study represents the first antioxidant investigation on F. dilatata and an antimicrobial study using ethanol extract and the disk diffusion method. Notably, susceptibility was observed in Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Enterococcus faecium FI, Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644, Providencia rustigianii MDR, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. The antioxidant capacity was assessed using the DPPH method, emphasizing the high scavenging performance. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified the primary compounds as frullanolide (19.08%), 2,3-Dimethylanisole (15.21%), linoleic acid (11.11%), palmitic acid (9.83%), and valerenic acid (5.3%). The results demonstrated the significant antimicrobial activity of F. dilatata against the tested microorganisms and its potent antioxidant properties. These findings emphasize the potential of F. dilatata as a promising source of natural antimicrobial and antioxidant agents, underscoring the importance of further investigation into its bioactive compounds and elucidating the mechanisms of action in future studies.
Synergistic Effects of Tragacanth and Anti-ethylene Treatments on Postharvest Quality Maintenance of Mango (Mangifera indica L.)
Authors: Khedr Emad Hamdy , Al-Khayri Jameel Mohammed
Published: May 2023

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is one of the most popular tropical fruits grown in Egypt and several other countries, making it a potential export commodity. Excessive deterioration after harvest requires various treatments to maintain fruit quality. We evaluated the treatments effects of melatonin (MT) as an anti-ethylene agent and tragacanth gum (TRG) as an edible coating individually and together (MT–TRG) before storing mangoes at 12 °C for 32 days under 85–90% relative humidity. Compared with control, all treatments were significantly effective in preserving fruit quality. Fruits treated with MT–TRG showed significantly lower decay values, respiration rates, ethylene production, and weight loss than untreated fruits. MT–TRG treatment significantly enhanced fruit quality, thereby maintaining fruit appearance, flesh color, firmness, total soluble solids and phenolic contents, and pectin methyl esterase, polyphenol oxidase, and peroxidase activities during the storage period. We propose 200 µM MT + 1% TRG as a safe postharvest treatment to reduce the deterioration of mangoes and maintain fruit quality.
Influence of Seasons and Tides on the Distribution of Enteric Protozoa on the Shores of the Atlantic Ocean in Kribi (South Region of Cameroon): Health Risks Related to Bathing
Authors: Nana Paul Alain , Pahane Mbiada Majesté , Tchakonté Siméon , Moche Karine , Mouchili Palena Rodrigue Steve , Nola Moïse , Sime-Ngando Télesphore
Published: May 2023

Beaches are major sites of microbiological pollution. Assessment of the abundance of resistant forms of enteric protozoa on these recreational waters is important for the prevention and management of health risks. Based on sedimentation and flotation methods, this study found that Kribi beach waters concentrate considerable amounts of enteric protozoa, which are potentially pathogenic. They include Coccidia (Cryptosporidium sp. and Cyclospora cayetanensis), Amoebae (Endolimax nana, Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba coli) and Flagellates (Giardia intestinalis). In general, seasonal changes and tidal cycles have significantly impacted the spread of these parasites along Kribi beaches. Thus, at all sites surveyed (Mpalla, Ngoyè and Mboamanga), maximum protozoan abundances were recorded at low tide and during the rainy seasons. It should also be noted that at each sampling site, significant correlations were recorded between certain protozoa and certain physico-chemical variables (p < 0.05). At Mboamanga, for example, Cryptosporidium sp. and Endolimax nana were positively correlated during the Short Rainy Season with temperature (r = 0.601, p = 0.044 and r = 0.632, p = 0.042). At Mpalla, a positive and significant correlation was observed during the Short Rainy Season between Entamoeba coli and pH (r = 0.605, p = 0.033). The high concentration of resistant forms of these enteric protozoa at Kribi beaches is a real public health threat for bathers. Therefore, in this tourist town, it is urgent to put in place an effective plan for the collection and sustainable treatment of solid and liquid waste, which are the main sources of contamination.
Vegetation Composition in a Typical Mediterranean Setting (Gulf of Corinth, Greece) during Successive Quaternary Climatic Cycles
Authors: Kafetzidou Aikaterini , Fatourou Eugenia , Panagiotopoulos Konstantinos , Marret Fabienne , Kouli Katerina
Published: May 2023

The Gulf of Corinth is a semi-isolated basin in central Greece interrupting the Pindus Mountain Range, which nowadays is a biodiversity hotspot. Considering its key location, deep drilling was carried out within the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP; Expedition 381: Corinth Active Rift Development) aiming to improve our understanding of climatic and environmental evolution in the region. Here, we present a new long pollen record from a Mediterranean setting in the southernmost tip of the Balkan Peninsula recording the vegetation succession within the Quaternary. The Corinth pollen record shows no major shifts in arboreal pollen between glacial and interglacial intervals, while Mediterranean and mesophilous taxa remain abundant throughout the study interval. During interglacials, the most frequent reconstructed biomes are cool mixed evergreen needleleaf (CMIX) and deciduous broadleaf forests (DBWB), while graminoid with forb (GRAM) and xerophytic shrubs (XSHB) dominate within glacials. Our findings support the hypothesis that the study area was a significant refugium, providing suitable habitats for Mediterranean, mesophilous and montane trees during successive Quaternary climate cycles.
Race, Ethnicity and Family in Late Antique Judaism and Early Christianity
Authors: Vinzent Markus
Published: May 2023

Race, Ethnicity, Judaism and Christianity are problematic labels, and so is family. Recent postcolonial approaches have attempted to deconstruct them, not without facing the inherent paradox of the danger of re-essentialising them. This paper approaches these concepts retrospectively to show the complexities and to warn of their anachronistic use.
Hesed in Ruth: A Frail Moral Tool in an Inflexible Social Structure
Authors: Kugler Gili , Magori Ohad
Published: May 2023

Scholars have paid much attention to the attribute of hesed in the book of Ruth, pinpointing it as a pivotal feature and the main message of the book. However, the protagonists in the tale do not seem to exhibit hesed out of free will or as part of their natural conduct. They rather resort to such a maneuver in order to survive and extricate themselves from dire predicaments. This article argues that the virtue of hesed attributed to the protagonists in the book of Ruth reflects a mechanism for surviving in the confining communal structure of the Judean patriarchal society, which allowed limited social mobility. While the actions exhibited in the story can be argued to be an amendment of the previous generations’ perversions, the story effectively accepts and preserves the common inflexible social system.
Buddhist Spirituality and Disadvantaged Social Strata in the Films of Pema Tseden
Authors: Wang Xiaotong
Published: May 2023

Thoughts on the relationship between Buddhism and Tibetans permeate Pema Tseden’s films. His early films focused on whether the Buddhist spirit, such as feelings, dedication, and self-sacrifice, was recognized in modern Tibet. Identity is a problem that Tibetans have always faced in the process of modernization. People in economically disadvantaged positions often face difficult choices between self-survival and maintaining moral and cultural traditions. Pema Tseden’s films, however, focus more on the philosophy of Buddhism and use an ethnic internal perspective to examine the problems in ethnic modernization, which provides his stories with a strong allegorical color.
The Effects of a Combination of Medical Cannabis, Melatonin, and Oxygen–Ozone Therapy on Glioblastoma Multiforme: A Case Report
Authors: Antonini Marina , Aguzzi Cristina , Fanelli Alessandro , Frassineti Andrea , Zeppa Laura , Morelli Maria , Pastore Gabriella , Nabissi Massimo , Luongo Margherita
Published: May 2023

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive malignant tumor overall and remains an incurable neoplasm with a median survival of 15 months. Since 2005, the gold standard treatment for glioblastoma has remained unchanged, and it is a common goal of the scientific community to work towards a better prognosis and improved survival for glioblastoma patients. Herein, we report a case of glioblastoma multiforme in a patient with a poor prognosis who, following partial removal of the neoplasm, refused conventional therapy consisting of a combination of radiotherapy and temozolomide-based chemotherapy due to personal serious side effects. The patient started an unconventional therapeutic path by alternating periods of oxygen–ozone therapy with concomitant administration of legal medical cannabis products (Bedrocan and Bedrolite) and melatonin. This approach resulted in a complete and durable remission of the disease and long survival. Indeed, the patient is still alive. The exceptional result obtained here encourages us to share and carefully investigate this unconventional treatment as a possible future direction in the management of glioblastoma.
Orthorectification of Data from the AHI Aboard the Himawari-8 Geostationary Satellite
Authors: Matsuoka Masayuki , Yoshioka Hiroki
Published: May 2023

The use of geostationary meteorological satellites for land remote sensing has attracted much attention after the launch of the Himawari-8 satellite equipped with a sensor with enhanced land observation capabilities. In the context of land remote sensing, geolocation errors are often a critical issue, especially in mountainous regions, where a precise orthorectification process is required to maintain high geometric accuracy. The present work addresses the issues related to orthorectification of the new-generation geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellites by applying an algorithm known as the ray-tracing indirect method to the data acquired by the Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) aboard the Himawari-8 satellite. The orthorectified images of the AHI were compared with data from the Sentinel-2 Multispectral Instrument (MSI). The comparison shows a clear improvement of the geometric accuracy, especially in high-elevation regions located far from the subsatellite point. The results indicate that approximately 7.3% of the land pixels are shifted more than 3 pixels during the orthorectification process. Furthermore, the maximum displacement after the orthorectification is up to 7.2 pixels relative to the location in the original image, which is of the Tibetan Plateau. Moreover, serious problems caused by occlusions in the images of GEO sensors are clearly indicated. It is concluded that special caution is needed when using data from GEO satellites for land remote sensing in cases where the target is in a mountainous region and the pixels are located far from the subsatellite point.
A Method for Merging Multi-Source Daily Satellite Precipitation Datasets and Gauge Observations over Poyang Lake Basin, China
Authors: Zhao Na
Published: May 2023

Obtaining precipitation estimates with high resolution and high accuracy is critically important for regional meteorological, hydrological, and other applications. Although satellite precipitation products can provide precipitation fields at various scales, their applications are limited by the relatively coarse spatial resolution and low accuracy. In this study, we propose a multi-source merging approach for generating accurate and high-resolution precipitation fields on a daily time scale. Specifically, a random effects eigenvector spatial filtering (RESF) method was first applied to downscale satellite precipitation datasets. The RESF method, together with Kriging, was then applied to merge the downscaled satellite precipitation products with station observations. The results were compared against observations and a data fusion dataset, the Multi-Source Weighted-Ensemble Precipitation (MSWEP). It was shown that the estimates of the proposed method significantly outperformed the individual satellite precipitation product, reducing the average value of mean absolute error (MAE) by 52%, root mean square error (RMSE) by 63%, and improving the mean value of Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE) by 157%, respectively. Daily precipitation estimates exhibited similar spatial patterns to the MSWEP products, and were more accurate in almost all cases, with a 42% reduction in MAE, 46% reduction in RMSE, and 79% improvement in KGE. The proposed approach provides a promising solution to generate accurate daily precipitation fields with high spatial resolution.
Assessing the Contributions of Urban Green Space Indices and Spatial Structure in Mitigating Urban Thermal Environment
Authors: Zhang Yu , Wang Yuchen , Ding Nan , Yang Xiaoyan
Published: May 2023

Urban green space takes a dominant role in alleviating the urban heat island (UHI) effect. Most investigations into the effects of cooling factors from urban green spaces on the UHI have evaluated the correlation between each factor and land surface temperature (LST) separately, and the contribution weights of various typical cooling factors in mitigating the thermal environment have rarely been analyzed. For this research, three periods of Landsat 8 data captured between 2014 and 2018 of Xuzhou during the summer and autumn seasons were selected along with corresponding meteorological and flux measurements. The mono-window method was employed to retrieve LST. Based on the characteristics of the vegetation and spatial features of the green space, eight factors related to green space were selected and computed, consisting of three indices that measure vegetation and five metrics that evaluate landscape patterns: vegetation density (VD), evapotranspiration (ET), green space shading degree (GSSD), patch area ratio (PLAND), largest patch index (LPI), patch natural connectivity (COHESION), patch aggregation (AI), and patch mean shape index distribution (SHPAE_MN). Linear regression and bivariate spatial autocorrelation analyses between each green space factor and LST showed that there were significant negative linear and spatial correlations between all factors and LST, which proved that the eight factors were all cooling factors. In addition, LST was strongly correlated with all factors (|r| > 0.5) except for SHPAE_MN, which was moderately correlated (0.3 < |r| < 0.5). Based on this, two principal components were extracted by applying principal component analysis with all standardized green space factors as the original variables. To determine the contribution weight of each green space factor in mitigating the urban heat island (UHI) effect, we multiplied the influence coefficient matrix of the initial variables with the standardized multiple linear regression coefficients between the two principal component variables and LST. The final results indicated that the vegetation indices of green space contribute more to the alleviation of the UHI than its landscape pattern metrics, and the contribution weights are ranked as VD ≥ ET > GSSD > PLAND ≈ LPI > COHESION > AI > SHAPE_MN. Our study suggests that increasing vegetation density is preferred in urban planning to mitigate urban thermal environment, and increasing broadleaf forests with high evapotranspiration and shade levels in urban greening is also an effective way to reduce ambient temperature. For urban green space planning, a priority is to multiply the regional green space proportion or the area of largest patches. Second, improving the connectivity or aggregation among patches of green space can enhance their ability to cool the surrounding environment. Altering the green space spatial shape is likely the least significant factor to consider.