bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supplementary Far-Red and Blue Lights Influence the Biomass and Phytochemical Profiles of Two Lettuce Cultivars in Plant Factory
Authors: Li Yamin , Wu Linyuan , Jiang Haozhao , He Rui , Song Shiwei , Su Wei , Liu Houcheng
Published: December 2021

Three different LED spectra (W: White light; WFR: W + far-red light; WB: W + blue light) with similar photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) were designed to explore the effects of supplementary far-red and blue lights on leaf color, biomass and phytochemicals of two cultivars of red-leaf lettuce (“Yanzhi” and “Red Butter”) in an artificial lighting plant factory. Lettuce plants under WB had redder leaf color and significantly higher contents of pigments, such as chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, chlorophyll (a + b) and anthocyanins. The accumulation of health-promoting compounds, such as vitamin C, vitamin A, total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids and anthocyanins in the two lettuce cultivars were obviously enhanced by WB. Lettuce under WFR showed remarkable increase in fresh weight and dry weight; meanwhile, significant decreases of pigments, total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids and vitamin C were found. Thus, in the plant factory system, the application of WB can improve the coloration and quality of red leaf lettuce while WFR was encouraged for the purpose of elevating the yield of lettuce.
Exploiting the Chiral Ligands of Bis(imidazolinyl)- and Bis(oxazolinyl)thiophenes—Synthesis and Application in Cu-Catalyzed Friedel–Crafts Asymmetric Alkylation
Authors: Islam Mohammad Shahidul , Alammari Abdullah Saleh , Barakat Assem , Alshahrani Saeed , Haukka Matti , Al-Majid Abdullah Mohammed
Published: December 2021

Five new C2-symmetric chiral ligands of 2,5-bis(imidazolinyl)thiophene (L1–L3) and 2,5-bis(oxazolinyl)thiophene (L4 and L5) were synthesized from thiophene-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (1) with enantiopure amino alcohols (4a–c) in excellent optical purity and chemical yield. The utility of these new chiral ligands for Friedel–Crafts asymmetric alkylation was explored. Subsequently, the optimized tridentate ligand L5 and Cu(OTf)2 catalyst (15 mol%) in toluene for 48 h promoted Friedel–Crafts asymmetric alkylation in moderate to good yields (up to 76%) and with good enantioselectivity (up to 81% ee). The bis(oxazolinyl)thiophene ligands were more potent than bis(imidazolinyl)thiophene analogues for the asymmetric induction of the Friedel–Crafts asymmetric alkylation.
Optimization of SPME-Arrow-GC/MS Method for Determination of Free and Bound Volatile Organic Compounds from Grape Skins
Authors: Šikuten Iva , Štambuk Petra , Karoglan Kontić Jasminka , Maletić Edi , Tomaz Ivana , Preiner Darko
Published: December 2021

(1) Background: Solid phase microextraction (SPME)-Arrow is a new extraction technology recently employed in the analysis of volatiles in food materials. Grape volatile organic compounds (VOC) have a crucial role in the winemaking industry due to their sensory characteristics of wine.; (2) Methods: Box–Behnken experimental design and response surface methodology were used to optimise SPME-Arrow conditions (extraction temperature, incubation time, exposure time, desorption time). Analyzed VOCs were free VOCs directly from grape skins and bound VOCs released from grape skins by acid hydrolysis.; (3) Results: The most significant factors were extraction temperature and exposure time for both free and bound VOCs. For both factors, an increase in their values positively affected the extraction efficiency for almost all classes of VOCs. For free VOCs, the optimum extraction conditions are: extraction temperature 60 °C, incubation time 20 min, exposure time 49 min, and desorption time 7 min, while for the bound VOCs are: extraction temperature 60 °C, incubation time 20 min, exposure time 60 min, desorption time 7 min.; (4) Conclusions: Application of the optimized method provides a powerful tool in the analysis of major classes of volatile organic compounds from grape skins, which can be applied to a large number of samples.
The Development of BTK Inhibitors: A Five-Year Update
Authors: Tasso Bruno , Spallarossa Andrea , Russo Eleonora , Brullo Chiara
Published: December 2021

Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) represented, in the past ten years, an important target for the development of new therapeutic agents that could be useful for cancer and autoimmune disorders. To date, five compounds, able to block BTK in an irreversible manner, have been launched in the market, whereas many reversible BTK inhibitors (BTKIs), with reduced side effects that are more useful for long-term administration in autoimmune disorders, are under clinical investigation. Despite the presence in the literature of many articles and reviews, studies on BTK function and BTKIs are of great interest for pharmaceutical companies as well as academia. This review is focused on compounds that have appeared in the literature from 2017 that are able to block BTK in an irreversible or reversible manner; also, new promising tunable irreversible inhibitors, as well as PROTAC molecules, have been reported. This summary could improve the knowledge of the chemical diversity of BTKIs and provide information for future studies, particularly from the medicinal chemistry point of view. Data reported here are collected from different databases (Scifinder, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Pubmed) using “BTK” and “BTK inhibitors” as keywords.
Surface Pretreatments of AA5083 Aluminum Alloy with Enhanced Corrosion Protection for Cerium-Based Conversion Coatings Application: Combined Experimental and Computational Analysis
Authors: Shishesaz Mohammad Reza , Ghobadi Moslem , Asadi Najmeh , Zarezadeh Alireza , Saebnoori Ehsan , Amraei Hamed , Schubert Jan , Chocholaty Ondrej
Published: December 2021

The effects of surface pretreatments on the cerium-based conversion coating applied on an AA5083 aluminum alloy were investigated using a combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), polarization testing, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Two steps of pretreatments containing acidic or alkaline solutions were applied to the surface to study the effects of surface pretreatments. Among the pretreated samples, the sample prepared by the pretreatment of the alkaline solution then acid washing presented higher corrosion protection (~3 orders of magnitude higher than the sample without pretreatment). This pretreatment provided a more active surface for the deposition of the cerium layer and provided a more suitable substrate for film formation, and made a more uniform film. The surface morphology of samples confirmed that the best surface coverage was presented by alkaline solution then acid washing pretreatment. The presence of cerium in the (EDS) analysis demonstrated that pretreatment with the alkaline solution then acid washing resulted in a higher deposition of the cerium layer on the aluminum surface. After selecting the best surface pretreatment, various deposition times of cerium baths were investigated. The best deposition time was achieved at 10 min, and after this critical time, a cracked film formed on the surface that could not be protective. The corrosion resistance of cerium-based conversion coatings obtained by electrochemical tests were used for training three computational techniques (artificial neural network (ANN), adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), and support vector machine regression (SVMR)) based on Pretreatment-1 (acidic or alkaline cleaning: pH (1)), Pretreatment-2 (acidic or alkaline cleaning: pH (2)), and deposition time in the cerium bath as an input. Various statistical criteria showed that the ANFIS model (R2 = 0.99, MSE = 48.83, and MAE = 3.49) could forecast the corrosion behavior of a cerium-based conversion coating more accurately than other models. Finally, due to the robust performance of ANFIS in modeling, the effect of each parameter was studied.
Set-Theoretic Formalism for Treating Ligand-Target Datasets
Authors: Maggiora Gerald , Vogt Martin
Published: December 2021

Data on ligand–target (LT) interactions has played a growing role in drug research for several decades. Even though the amount of data has grown significantly in size and coverage during this period, most datasets remain difficult to analyze because of their extreme sparsity, as there is no activity data whatsoever for many LT pairs. Even within clusters of data there tends to be a lack of data completeness, making the analysis of LT datasets problematic. The current effort extends earlier works on the development of set-theoretic formalisms for treating thresholded LT datasets. Unlike many approaches that do not address pairs of unknown interaction, the current work specifically takes account of their presence in addition to that of active and inactive pairs. Because a given LT pair can be in any one of three states, the binary logic of classical set-theoretic methods does not strictly apply. The current work develops a formalism, based on ternary set-theoretic relations, for treating thresholded LT datasets. It also describes an extension of the concept of data completeness, which is typically applied to sets of ligands and targets, to the local data completeness of individual ligands and targets. The set-theoretic formalism is applied to the analysis of simple and joint polypharmacologies based on LT activity profiles, and it is shown that null pairs provide a means for determining bounds to these values. The methodology is applied to a dataset of protein kinase inhibitors as an illustration of the method. Although not dealt with here, work is currently underway on a more refined treatment of activity values that is based on increasing the number of activity classes.
Current Progress in the Development of Hepatitis B Virus Capsid Assembly Modulators: Chemical Structure, Mode-of-Action and Efficacy
Authors: Kim Hyejin , Ko Chunkyu , Lee Joo-Youn , Kim Meehyein
Published: December 2021

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major causative agent of human hepatitis. Its viral genome comprises partially double-stranded DNA, which is complexed with viral polymerase within an icosahedral capsid consisting of a dimeric core protein. Here, we describe the effects of capsid assembly modulators (CAMs) on the geometric or kinetic disruption of capsid construction and the virus life cycle. We highlight classical, early-generation CAMs such as heteroaryldihydropyrimidines, phenylpropenamides or sulfamoylbenzamides, and focus on the chemical structure and antiviral efficacy of recently identified non-classical CAMs, which consist of carboxamides, aryl ureas, bithiazoles, hydrazones, benzylpyridazinones, pyrimidines, quinolines, dyes, and antimicrobial compounds. We summarize the therapeutic efficacy of four representative classical compounds with data from clinical phase 1 studies in chronic HBV patients. Most of these compounds are in phase 2 trials, either as monotherapy or in combination with approved nucleos(t)ides drugs or other immunostimulatory molecules. As followers of the early CAMs, the therapeutic efficacy of several non-classical CAMs has been evaluated in humanized mouse models of HBV infection. It is expected that these next-generation HBV CAMs will be promising candidates for a series of extended human clinical trials.
Boron Hydrogen Compounds: Hydrogen Storage and Battery Applications
Authors: Hagemann Hans
Published: December 2021

About 25 years ago, Bogdanovic and Schwickardi (B. Bogdanovic, M. Schwickardi: J. Alloys Compd. 1–9, 253 (1997) discovered the catalyzed release of hydrogen from NaAlH4. This discovery stimulated a vast research effort on light hydrides as hydrogen storage materials, in particular boron hydrogen compounds. Mg(BH4)2, with a hydrogen content of 14.9 wt %, has been extensively studied, and recent results shed new light on intermediate species formed during dehydrogenation. The chemistry of B3H8−, which is an important intermediate between BH4− and B12H122−, is presented in detail. The discovery of high ionic conductivity in the high-temperature phases of LiBH4 and Na2B12H12 opened a new research direction. The high chemical and electrochemical stability of closo-hydroborates has stimulated new research for their applications in batteries. Very recently, an all-solid-state 4 V Na battery prototype using a Na4(CB11H12)2(B12H12) solid electrolyte has been demonstrated. In this review, we present the current knowledge of possible reaction pathways involved in the successive hydrogen release reactions from BH4− to B12H122−, and a discussion of relevant necessary properties for high-ionic-conduction materials.
Imaging-Guided Delivery of a Hydrophilic Drug to Eukaryotic Cells Based on Its Hydrophobic Ion Pairing with Poly(hexamethylene guanidine) in a Maleated Chitosan Carrier
Authors: Zakharenkova Sofia A. , Lebedeva Marina I. , Lebedeva Alexandra N. , Doroshenko Irina A. , Vlasova Ksenya Yu , Bartoshevich Anastasiya A. , Senyavin Vladimir M. , Abramchuk Sergey S. , Krivtsov George G. , Ezhov Alexander A. , Podrugina Tatyana A. , Klyachko Natalia L. , Beklemishev Mikhail K.
Published: December 2021

Imaging-guided delivery is developed for hydrophobic drugs, and to a much lesser extent, hydrophilic ones. In this work we have designed a novel strategy for real-time monitoring of hydrophilic drug delivery. Traditionally, the drug and the dye are covalently attached to a nanocarrier or are electrostatically adsorbed. Recently, we found an efficient way to bind the drug by ion-paring with an appropriate counter-ion to form the aggregate that embeds a hydrophobic dye with a considerable fluorescence enhancement. We synthesized a series of carbocyanine dyes of hydrophobicity sufficient for solubilization in hydrophobic ion pairs, which restores their emission in the near-infrared (NIR) region upon the formation of the ternary aggregates. To avoid using toxic surfactants, we applied an amphiphilic polymer-oligomer poly(hexamethylene guanidine) (PHMG) as a counter-ion. Сeftriaxone was used as a model hydrophilic drug ensuring the highest fluorescent signal. The so-formed drug–counter-ion–dye aggregates were encapsulated into a cross-linked maleated chitosan carrier. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) studies have demonstrated internalization of the encapsulated model drug by breast adenocarcinoma cells at 40 min after treatment. These results suggest the potential application of hydrophobic ion pairs containing an NIR dye in imaging-guided delivery of hydrophilic compounds.
Comparison and Validation of Ichthyoplankton DNA Extraction Methods
Authors: Lamia Diouri , Théophile Uwiringiyeyezu , Hinde Abdelouahab , Mohamed Malki , Tarik Baibai , Abdelaziz Soukri
Published: December 2021

Ichthyoplankton is the cluster of planktonic organisms that consists of fish eggs and larvae. These planktonic stages belong to the temporary zooplankton, representing future exploitable stocks. The study of the early ontogenesis of fish plays a key role in the understanding and evaluation of these populations through the study of their abundance and their spatio-temporal distribution. To better understand and protect these fisheries resources, it is essential to identify the different stages of fish embryonic development. This identification is usually performed using the classical method, based on morphological criteria under a binocular magnifying glass; however, this methodology is not always sufficient and is time consuming and, therefore, it is necessary to rely increasingly on molecular tools. The major problem with these tools is the yield and quality of the nucleic acids extracted from ichthyoplankton, especially in the case of eggs, which are small. Several methods have been used for DNA extraction from ichthyoplankton, either automated or manual, but very often from larvae or adults. In the present work, five fish egg DNA extraction protocols were compared based on their DNA yield and extraction quality, verified by agarose gel electrophoresis and quantitative PCR amplification. The results showed that extraction by our heat-protocol for direct PCR (Hp-dPCR) presents the simplest and cheapest protocol of all the kits used in this study, providing a sufficient quantity and quality of nucleic acids to be used for PCR amplification, and being within the reach of third world laboratories that often do not have sufficiently large budgets to obtain automated kits.
Nanomaterials 2021 Best Paper Awards: Announcement and Interview with the Winner
Authors:   Nanomaterials Editorial Office
Published: December 2021

After an extensive voting period, we are proud to present the Best Paper Award to “Carbon Dots and Graphene Quantum Dots in Electrochemical Biosensing [...]
Equations for the Electron Density of the Two-Dimensional Electron Gas in Realistic AlGaN/GaN Heterostructures
Authors: Rathore Saad Ullah , Dimitrijev Sima , Amini Moghadam Hamid , Mohd-Yasin Faisal
Published: December 2021

This paper presents equations for the electron density of the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in AlGaN/GaN heterostructures in three realistic scenarios: (1) AlGaN/GaN heterostructure with surface exposed to ambient with mobile ions, (2) metal gate deposited on the AlGaN surface, and (3) a thick dielectric passivation layer on the AlGaN surface. To derive the equations, we analyzed these scenarios by applying Gauss’s law. In contrast to the idealistic models, our analysis shows that the 2DEG charge density is proportional to the difference between spontaneous polarization of AlGaN and GaN, whereas surprisingly, it is independent of the piezoelectric polarization.
Clinical Onset and Multiple Sclerosis Relapse after SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Pignolo Antonia , Aprile Maria , Gagliardo Cesare , Giammanco Giovanni Maurizio , D’Amelio Marco , Aridon Paolo , La Tona Giuseppe , Salemi Giuseppe , Ragonese Paolo
Published: December 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has been associated with several neurological disorders including headache, facial palsy, encephalitis, stroke, demyelinating disorders. The present report will discuss cases of multiple sclerosis (MS) onset and relapse both beginning early after SARS-CoV-2 infection. In both cases, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed widespread bilateral subcortical and periventricular active lesions. Serum IgG against SARS-CoV-2 Spike antigens confirmed seroconversion with titers that are considered not definitely protective against possible reinfection. We hypothesize that SARS-CoV-2 infection, as previously reported for other viruses, could drive an active inflammatory response that can contribute either to the onset of MS or its relapse. The presented data further support the importance of vaccination in individuals with MS.
Prescribing-Assessment Tools for Long-Term Care Pharmacy Practice: Reaching Consensus through a Modified RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method
Authors: Gonçalves João R. , Sleath Betsy L. , Lopes Manuel J. , Cavaco Afonso M.
Published: December 2021

Medicines are the most used health technology in Long-Term Care. The prevalence of potentially inappropriate medicines amongst Long-Term Care patients is high. Pharmacists, assisted by prescribing-assessment tools, can play an important role in optimizing medication use at this level of care. Through a modified RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method, 13 long-term care and hospital pharmacists assessed as ‘appropriate’, ‘uncertain’, or ‘inappropriate’ a collection of commonly used prescribing-assessment tools as to its suitability in assisting pharmacy practice in institutional long-term care settings. A qualitative analysis of written or transcribed comments of participants was pursued to identify relevant characteristics of prescribing-assessment tools and potential hinders in their use. From 24 different tools, pharmacists classified 9 as ‘appropriate’ for pharmacy practice targeted to long-term care patients, while 3 were classified as ‘inappropriate’. The tools feature most appreciated by study participants was the indication of alternatives to potentially inappropriate medication. Lack of time and/or pharmacists and limited access to clinical information seems to be the most relevant hinders for prescribing-assessment tools used in daily practice.
Impact of a Regional Campus on the Placements of Students at Rural Pharmacy Experiential Sites
Authors: Kiser Stephanie , Ramsaur Elizabeth , Williams Charlene R.
Published: December 2021

Pharmacist shortages in rural communities underscore the need to focus on increasing the pipeline of pharmacists practicing rurally. Experiential placement in rural communities is one method to approach this challenge. Regional pharmacy campuses may facilitate rural experiential placements. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of a regional campus on the number of rural experiential placements. This retrospective analysis compared experiential student placements in the five-year periods before and after the addition of a regional school of pharmacy campus. Experiential placements in the designated time periods were compared with respect to numbers of overall pharmacy practice experiences, experiences in rural locations, and rural counties with rotation sites. The average distance to rural sites was also compared. Differences in rural experiential placements were not statistically different. The number of rural counties with pharmacy experiential placements grew from eight to twelve, and driving distance increased. While institution of a regional campus contributed to an increase in the number of rural counties with experiential placements, overall rural experiential placements did not statistically differ versus suburban placements. Additional inquiry into factors that affect rural placement is needed to influence strategies to develop and maintain rural experiential sites and consistently place students at those sites.
Climate Change Inaction and Meaning
Authors: Wilson Philip J.
Published: December 2021

Continuing growth, insofar as it increases human environmental impact, is in conflict with the environment. ‘Green growth’, if it increases the absolute size of the economy, is an oxymoron. Environmental limits are discountenanced, a pretence made possible because they are difficult to specify in advance. The consequent weakness in public discourse, both moral and intellectual, has worsened into contradiction as it has become ever more studiously unadmitted. It is obscured with language that is misleading or self-contradictory, and even issues from institutions that exist (and are relied upon) to respect correctness. At its most conforming it gives rise to overshoot, by which statements meant to sound authoritative are in fact open to ridicule. Such untruthfulness perpetuates climate change inaction, and in a kind of direct action those using such language, contrary to their public or professional duty, could be asked to justify themselves in plain English.
Photodynamic Effect of 5,10,15,20-Tetrakis[4-(3-N,N-dimethylaminopropoxy)phenyl]chlorin towards the Human Pathogen Candida albicans under Different Culture Conditions
Authors: Cordero Paula V. , Ferreyra Darío D. , Pérez María E. , Alvarez María G. , Durantini Edgardo N.
Published: December 2021

Photocytotoxic activity sensitized by 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[4-(3-N,N-dimethylaminopropoxy)phenyl]chlorin (TAPC) was investigated in Candida albicans under different culture conditions. Planktonic cells incubated with 2.5 μM TAPC were eradicated after 5 min irradiation with white light. Studies in the presence of reactive oxygen species scavengers indicated the involvement of mainly a type II mechanism. Furthermore, cell growth of C. albicans was suppressed in the presence of 5 μM TAPC. A decrease in pseudohyphae survival of 5 log was found after 30 min irradiation. However, the photokilling of this virulence factor reached a 1.5 log reduction in human serum. The uptake of TAPC by pseudohyphae decreased in serum due to the interaction of TAPC with albumin. The binding constant of the TAPC-albumin complex was ~104 M−1, while the bimolecular quenching rate constant was ~1012 s−1 M−1, indicating that this process occurred through a static process. Thus, the photoinactivation of C. albicans was considerably decreased in the presence of albumin. A reduction of 2 log in cell survival was observed using 4.5% albumin and 30 min irradiation. The results allow optimizing the best conditions to inactivate C. albicans under different culture conditions.
Acid-Catalyzed Esterification of Betaines: Theoretical Exploration of the Impact of the Carbon Chain Length on the Reaction Mechanism
Authors: Moulandou-Koumba Richail Dubien , Guégan Frédéric , Ouamba Jean-Maurille , N’Sikabaka Samuel , Frapper Gilles
Published: December 2021

Betaine derivatives, especially esters, are compounds of interest for the development of a more sustainable fine chemistry, as they are widely available from biomass and currently produced as side-products from various industries (among which, sugar production). In this publication, we studied the impact of carbon chain length on three considered reaction mechanisms for the esterification of (CH3)3N(CH2)nCO2 betaine (n = 1, 2, 3) with glycerol under acid catalysis. DFT calculations show that the mechanism proposed by Bachmann–Frapper et al. may also be active here, but it can interestingly be seen as an avatar of the former proposition by Watson. Conversely, Ingold’s proposition is in this case too energetically prevented. Overall, lower activation barriers and higher reaction exergonicity are reported, suggesting esterification of longer carbon-chain based betaines is more readily achieved.
Potential Application of Algae in Biodegradation of Phenol: A Review and Bibliometric Study
Authors: Radziff Syahirah Batrisyia Mohamed , Ahmad Siti Aqlima , Shaharuddin Noor Azmi , Merican Faradina , Kok Yih-Yih , Zulkharnain Azham , Gomez-Fuentes Claudio , Wong Chiew-Yen
Published: December 2021

One of the most severe environmental issues affecting the sustainable growth of human society is water pollution. Phenolic compounds are toxic, hazardous and carcinogenic to humans and animals even at low concentrations. Thus, it is compulsory to remove the compounds from polluted wastewater before being discharged into the ecosystem. Biotechnology has been coping with environmental problems using a broad spectrum of microorganisms and biocatalysts to establish innovative techniques for biodegradation. Biological treatment is preferable as it is cost-effective in removing organic pollutants, including phenol. The advantages and the enzymes involved in the metabolic degradation of phenol render the efficiency of microalgae in the degradation process. The focus of this review is to explore the trends in publication (within the year of 2000–2020) through bibliometric analysis and the mechanisms involved in algae phenol degradation. Current studies and publications on the use of algae in bioremediation have been observed to expand due to environmental problems and the versatility of microalgae. VOSviewer and SciMAT software were used in this review to further analyse the links and interaction of the selected keywords. It was noted that publication is advancing, with China, Spain and the United States dominating the studies with total publications of 36, 28 and 22, respectively. Hence, this review will provide an insight into the trends and potential use of algae in degradation.
Evaluation of Cadmium Bioaccumulation-Related Physiological Effects in Salvinia biloba: An Insight towards Its Use as Pollutant Bioindicator in Water Reservoirs
Authors: Emiliani Julia , Oyarce Wendi G. Llatance , Salvatierra Lucas M. , Novo Luís A. B. , Pérez Leonardo M.
Published: December 2021

Free-living macrophytes play an important role in the health of aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, the use of aquatic plants as metal biomonitors may be a suitable tool for the management of freshwater reservoirs. Hence, in this study, we assessed the effects of cadmium (Cd) in Salvinia biloba specimens collected from the Middle Paraná River during a 10-day experiment employing artificially contaminated water (100 μM Cd). S. biloba demonstrated a great ability for Cd bioaccumulation in both the root-like modified fronds (named “roots”) and the aerial leaf-like fronds (named “leaves”) of the plants. Additionally, Cd toxicity was determined by the quantification of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls a and b, and carotenoids), flavonoids, and soluble carbohydrate contents in S. biloba over time (1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 days). In general, deterioration was more pronounced in leaves than in roots, suggesting a greater implication of the former in long-term Cd sequestration in S. biloba. Deleterious effects in the appraised parameters were well correlated with the total amount of Cd accumulated in the leaves, and with the qualitative changes observed in the plants’ phenotype during the 10-day metal exposure assay. The flavonoids and carotenoids in leaves were highly affected by low Cd levels followed by root carbohydrates. In contrast, chlorophylls and root flavonoids were the least impacted physiological parameters. Therefore, our results demonstrate that S. biloba displays dissimilar organ-linked physiological responses to counteract Cd phytotoxicity and that these responses are also time-dependent. Though further research is needed, our work suggests that easy-handled physiological data obtained from autochthonous free-floating S. biloba specimens may be used as a valuable tool for metal-polluted water biomonitoring.
Response of Chlorophyll Fluorescence Characteristics and Dissolved Organic Matter for Marine Diatom Skeletonema dohrnii under Stress from Penicillin and Zn2+
Authors: Liu Yang , Liu Xiaofang , Sun Jun
Published: December 2021

Skeletonema dohrnii is a good model diatom for studying environmental stress and has promising applications and prospects in various fields. Antibiotics and heavy metals are commonly exceeded in the nearshore marine habitats. In this work, we investigated the effects of an antibiotic (penicillin, 2 µg/L) and a heavy metal ion (Zn2+, 10 µmol/L) stress on marine diatom S. dohrnii, mainly using excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) fluorescence methods and OJIP test. Results indicated that algal cells grown with the antibiotic showed higher biomass, specific growth rate, doubling time, chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll fluorescence variables. Moreover, excess zinc had negative effects on S. dohrnii. We found that zinc not only inhibited the relative photosynthetic electron transfer efficiency but also reduced the Chl a content, which ultimately affected algal growth and organic matter production. In addition, the combined effect of penicillin and Zn2+ further affected the physiological state of S. dohrnii. The dissolved organic matter (DOM) characteristics of the four cultures were also different, including fluorescence indices (fluorescence index, biological index, β/α, and humification index) and fluorescence peaks (peaks A, C, M and T). In brief, characterization of chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics and DOM-related variables are important for understanding the effects of environmental stress on microalgae.
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Dynamic Cultivar-Dependent Patterns of Gene Expression in Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid-Infected Pepper
Authors: Hadjieva Nikol , Apostolova Elena , Baev Vesselin , Yahubyan Galina , Gozmanova Mariyana
Published: December 2021

Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) infects various plants. PSTVd pathogenesis is associated with interference with the cellular metabolism and defense signaling pathways via direct interaction with host factors or via the transcriptional or post-transcriptional modulation of gene expression. To better understand host defense mechanisms to PSTVd infection, we analyzed the gene expression in two pepper cultivars, Capsicum annuum Kurtovska kapia (KK) and Djulunska shipka (DS), which exhibit mild symptoms of PSTVd infection. Deep sequencing-based transcriptome analysis revealed differential gene expression upon infection, with some genes displaying contrasting expression patterns in KK and DS plants. More genes were downregulated in DS plants upon infection than in KK plants, which could underlie the more severe symptoms seen in DS plants. Gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed that most of the downregulated differentially expressed genes in both cultivars were enriched in the gene ontology term photosynthesis. The genes upregulated in DS plants fell in the biological process of gene ontology term defense response. We validated the expression of six overlapping differentially expressed genes that are involved in photosynthesis, plant hormone signaling, and defense pathways by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The observed differences in the responses of the two cultivars to PSTVd infection expand the understanding of the fine-tuning of plant gene expression that is needed to overcome the infection.
Efficient Removal of Azlocillin Sodium from Water by Polystyrene Anion Exchange Resin Supported MIL-53
Authors: Qian Yi , Fu Haoyan , Li Long , Su Wenyuan , Li Jiayin , Zhang Yihao
Published: December 2021

Due to the widespread use of antibiotics in medical treatment, animal husbandry and aquaculture, a large number of antibiotics are discharged into the environment as metabolites or in their original state, causing pollution to water bodies, which is a serious issue. In this study, a novel nanocomposite adsorbent MIL-53/D201 was successfully prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. This approach overcomes the disadvantage of easy dissociation of MOF material in the water phase and realizes the efficient removal of antibiotic azlocillin sodium in water. The crystal morphology and basic structure of the composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy scattering spectroscopy (EDS), and specific surface area and porosity analyzer (BET). The results showed that MIL-53 was successfully synthesized in situ in D201. The results of adsorption experiments show that the maximum saturated adsorption capacity of the composite is 122.3 mg/g when the dosage of the composite is 1.0 g/L. Compared with pure MIL-53 material, the composite material exhibits greater stability and efficient adsorption performance for target pollutants at different pH values. The adsorption process accords with the quasi-second-order kinetic adsorption model and Langmuir adsorption isothermal model. After five cycles of adsorption and desorption, the removal rate of MIL-53/D201 to azlocillin sodium was still above 87%.
Circulating Tumor DNA in Oncology
Authors: Sakaeda Saeko , Naito Yoichi
Published: December 2021

When somatic cells in the human body undergo apoptosis or necrosis, the released DNA enters the bloodstream. This type of DNA is called cell-free DNA (cfDNA). In patients with cancer, DNA released from tumor cells is called circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), which carries genetic alterations specific to tumor cells. In recent years, ctDNA has attracted particular attention in terms of the concept of liquid biopsy in cancer care. Conventionally, tissue biopsy is required for the definitive diagnosis of cancer, and imaging examinations, such as CT, are performed for evaluating recurrence and residual lesions. Although the treatment burden on cancer patients is being slightly reduced due to advances in medicine, invasive examinations and medical exposure are still unavoidable. In addition, the prognosis of cancer varies considerably depending on the degree of progression at the time of detection. Therefore, the early detection of cancer is of utmost importance. With the increase in health consciousness, more people undergo regular health checkups, and it becomes necessary to diagnose cancer in a larger number of patients at an earlier stage. Although the accuracy of early detection has been improved by new imaging tests and examination techniques, each organ must be examined separately, and some organs are more difficult to examine than others in a regular health checkup. The process of cancer screening, diagnosis, and detection of recurrence after treatment is extensive. It can also be expensive, and some of the examinations may be invasive. If all of these processes can be replaced by the analysis of ctDNA in liquid biopsy, only a single blood sample is required. Under these circumstances, various studies are currently in progress on the use of ctDNA in clinical practice as an approach that may greatly reduce such burden. We present an overview of the current situation of ctDNA, as well as its future issues and prospects.
Expression of Selected microRNAs in Migraine: A New Class of Possible Biomarkers of Disease?
Authors: Ahmad Lara , Demartini Chiara , Corrado Michele , Vaghi Gloria , Piella Elisa Maria , Allena Marta , Zanaboni Anna Maria , Greco Rosaria , Tassorelli Cristina , De Icco Roberto
Published: December 2021

Preliminary but convergent findings suggest a role for microRNAs (miRNAs) in the generation and maintenance of chronic pain and migraine. Initial observations showed that serum levels of miR-382-5p and miR-34a-5p expression were increased in serum during the migraine attack, with miR-382-5p increasing in the interictal phase as well. By contrast, miR-30a-5p levels were lower in migraine patients compared to healthy controls. Of note, antimigraine treatments proved to be capable of influencing the expression of these miRNAs. Altogether, these observations suggest that miRNAs may represent migraine biomarkers, but several points are yet to be elucidated. A major concern is that these miRNAs are altered in a broad spectrum of painful and non-painful conditions, and thus it is not possible to consider them as truly “migraine-specific” biomarkers. We feel that these miRNAs may represent useful tools to uncover and define different phenotypes across the migraine spectrum with different treatment susceptibilities and clinical features, although further studies are needed to confirm our hypothesis. In this narrative review we provide an update and a critical analysis of available data on miRNAs and migraines in order to propose possible interpretations. Our main objective is to stimulate research in an area that holds promise when it comes to providing reliable biomarkers for theoretical and practical scientific advances.
Experimental Investigation on Turbulent Flow Deviation in a Gas-Particle Corner-Injected Flow
Authors: Sun Wenjing , Zhong Wenqi , Zhang Jingzhou
Published: December 2021

An experimental model of a corner-injected flow is built to investigate the turbulent flow behavior by employing the PIV technique. The influences of the ideal tangential circle, the additive particles and the initial gas mass flux on the corner-injected flow are analyzed systematically. To be specific, the flow deviation, the velocity profile, the vortex evolution and the turbulent flow development are discussed quantitatively. The influences of the increasing ideal tangential circle on the turbulent jet deviation are shortened gradually, and the impinging circles are obviously narrowed with the injection of particles. The gas-particle corner-injected flow can obtain a good rotation when the ideal tangential circle is 0.25 times the width of the impinging chamber. The momentum decay of the corner-injected flow diminishes with the increasing ideal tangential circle and the decreasing initial gas velocity. The rotation strength of the vortex is more affected by the injection of laden particles, while the angular distortion enhances when increasing the ideal tangential circle. The increasing initial gas mass flux plays a dominant role in the development of the corner-injected flow, secondly the increasing ideal tangential circle, and last the injection of particles. All these findings can provide theoretical support in the design of a corner-fired furnace.
Exchange Rate Forecasting Based on Combined Fuzzification Strategy and Advanced Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Yin Jie , Zhang He , Zahra Aqeela , Tayyab Muhammad , Dong Xiaohua , Ahmad Ijaz , Ahmad Nisar
Published: December 2021

Exchange rate forecasting is a crucial but challenging task due to the uncertainty and fuzziness of the associated data caused by complex influence factors. However, most traditional forecasting methods ignore the ambiguity of the data itself. Thus, in this paper, a novel fuzzy time series forecasting system based on a combined fuzzification strategy and an advanced optimization algorithm was proposed for use in exchange rate forecasting, and was proven to have an excellent ability to deal with the uncertainties and ambiguities in data. Concretely, the data “decomposition and ensemble” strategy was applied to carry out the data preprocessing process. The combined fuzzification strategy was used in the fuzzification of the observed data, and the advanced optimization algorithm was developed to determine the optimal parameters in the models. The analysis of this experiment verified the effectiveness of the proposed forecasting system, which will benefit future research and decision-making related to investments.
Understanding the Impacts of Healing Agents on the Properties of Fresh and Hardened Self-Healing Concrete: A Review
Authors: Hermawan Harry , Minne Peter , Serna Pedro , Gruyaert Elke
Published: December 2021

Self-healing concrete has emerged as one of the prospective materials to be used in future constructions, substituting conventional concrete with the view of extending the service life of the structures. As a proof of concept, over the last several years, many studies have been executed on the effectiveness of the addition of self-healing agents on crack sealing and healing in mortar, while studies on the concrete level are still rather limited. In most cases, mix designs were not optimized regarding the properties of the fresh concrete mixture, properties of the hardened concrete and self-healing efficiency, meaning that the healing agent was just added on top of the normal mix (no adaptations of the concrete mix design for the introduction of healing agents). A comprehensive review has been conducted on the concrete mix design and the impact of healing agents (e.g., crystalline admixtures, bacteria, polymers and minerals, of which some are encapsulated in microcapsules or macrocapsules) on the properties of fresh and hardened concrete. Eventually, the remaining research gaps in knowledge are identified.
Decrease of Hospitalizations and Length of Hospital Stay in Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders or Bipolar Disorder Treated in a Mobile Mental Health Service in Insular Greece
Authors: Garbi Aikaterini , Tiniakos Ioannis , Mikelatou Zacharenia , Drakatos Ioannis
Published: December 2021

In recent years serious mental health issues, such as schizophrenia spectrum disorders and bipolar disorder, have been treated in the community by community-based mental health services. In the present study our goal was to estimate the modification in the number of hospitalizations and duration of admissions in either psychotic patients or patients with bipolar disorder, treated by a Mobile Mental Health Unit in the islands of Kefalonia, Zakynthos and Ithaca (MMHU-KZI). Data were collected from a total of 108 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and bipolar disorder. For each patient comparison was made for the same time interval prior and after engagement to treatment with the MMHU-KZI and not for the total hospitalizations that patients had in their history. There was a statistically significant reduction (45.9%) in hospitalizations after treatment engagement with the MMHU-KZI, as the Wilcoxon signed ranks test indicated. Furthermore, a major decrease (54.5%) of hospitalization days was noted after treatment engagement with the unit. This pattern of mental health provision may be beneficial for the reduction of the number and duration of psychiatric hospitalizations. Despite the beneficial contribution of community-based mental health units, hospital based treatment should always be available, since severe relapses are better treated in inpatient setting.
From Siliciclastic to Bioclastic Deposits in the Gulf of Naples: New Highlights from Offshore Ischia and Procida–Pozzuoli Based on Sedimentological and Seismo-Stratigraphic Data
Authors: Aiello Gemma , Caccavale Mauro
Published: December 2021

This study discusses the siliciclastic to bioclastic deposits (in particular, the rhodolith deposits) in the Gulf of Naples based on sedimentological and seismo-stratigraphic data. The selected areas are offshore Ischia Island (offshore Casamicciola, Ischia Channel), where a dense network of sea-bottom samples has been collected, coupled with Sparker Multi-tip seismic lines, and offshore Procida–Pozzuoli (Procida Channel), where sea-bottom samples are available, in addition to Sparker seismic profiles. The basic methods applied in this research include sedimentological analysis, processing sedimentological data, and assessing seismo-stratigraphic criteria and techniques. In the Gulf of Naples, and particularly offshore Ischia, bioclastic sedimentation has been controlled by seafloor topography coupled with the oceanographic setting. Wide seismo-stratigraphic units include the bioclastic deposits in their uppermost part. Offshore Procida–Pozzuoli, siliciclastic deposits appear to prevail, coupled with pyroclastic units, and no significant bioclastic or rhodolith deposits have been outlined based on sedimentological and seismo-stratigraphic data. The occurrence of mixed siliciclastic–carbonate depositional systems is highlighted in this section of the Gulf of Naples based on the obtained results, which can be compared with similar systems recognized in the central Tyrrhenian Sea (Pontine Islands).
A Review of Glass Fibre Recycling Technology Using Chemical and Mechanical Separation of Surface Sizing Agents
Authors: Chang Jih-Hsing , Tsai Ya-Shiuan , Yang Pei-Yu
Published: December 2021

Glass fiber is widely used in various modern industrial applications because it has the advantages of good electrical insulation performance and good process ability. Inevitably, some flawed glass fiber generated during manufacturing processes becomes waste and, in recent years, the treatment or recycling of glass fiber waste has become an environmental concern. Since glass fiber is brittle, non-wearing, and can easily generate static electricity after friction, the surface of glass fiber must be coated with a wetting agent (i.e., surface sizing agent) to overcome these disadvantages. However, glass fiber waste cannot be directly recycled as glass raw materials due to the presence of the surface sizing agent and the high content of sodium element. Therefore, there is a need to develop a feasible technology for removal of surface sizing agent in order to recycle glass fiber waste. In this study, two methods were used to remove surface sizing agent from glass fiber waste. After removing the surface sizing agent, the treated glass fiber waste can replace sand particles for manufacturing controlled low-strength material (CLSM). The first method for removing surface sizing agent used different organic solvents such as ethyl acetate to dissolve the surface coating (i.e., surface sizing agent). Then, an optical microscope was used to observe the surface changes before and after such removal treatments. The second method involved grinding glass fiber waste into a fine powder and heating it to a high temperature. An X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) were used to analyze the surface characteristics of the glass fiber waste. The experimental results showed that different organic solvents could not effectively remove the surface sizing agent, even if the glass fiber waste was processed by ultrasonic vibration for 5 h. In contrast, after high heating at 800 °C for 2 h, the surface sizing agent could be removed, and glass fiber waste transformed to cristobalite. The CLSM concrete produced by mixing cristobalite with cement in an appropriate proportion can meet the CLSM specification standard in Taiwan.