bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Primary Thromboprophylaxis in Pancreatic Cancer Patients: Why Clinical Practice Guidelines Should Be Implemented
Authors: Farge Dominique , Bournet Barbara , Conroy Thierry , Vicaut Eric , Rak Janusz , Zogoulous George , Barkun Jefferey , Ouaissi Mehdi , Buscail Louis , Frere Corinne
Published: March 2020

Exocrine pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, simply referred to as pancreatic cancer (PC) has the worst prognosis of any malignancy. Despite recent advances in the use of adjuvant chemotherapy in PC, the prognosis remains poor, with fewer than 8% of patients being alive at 5 years after diagnosis. The prevalence of PC has steadily increased over the past decades, and it is projected to become the second-leading cause of cancer-related death by 2030. In this context, optimizing and integrating supportive care is important to improve quality of life and survival. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common but preventable complication in PC patients. VTE occurs in one out of five PC patients and is associated with significantly reduced progression-free survival and overall survival. The appropriate use of primary thromboprophylaxis can drastically and safely reduce the rates of VTE in PC patients as shown from subgroup analysis of non-PC targeted placebo-controlled randomized trials of cancer patients and from two dedicated controlled randomized trials in locally advanced PC patients receiving chemotherapy. Therefore, primary thromboprophylaxis with a Grade 1B evidence level is recommended in locally advanced PC patients receiving chemotherapy by the International Initiative on Cancer and Thrombosis clinical practice guidelines since 2013. However, its use and potential significant clinical benefit continues to be underrecognized worldwide. This narrative review aims to summarize the main recent advances in the field including on the use of individualized risk assessment models to stratify the risk of VTE in each patient with individual available treatment options.
RNA Immune Signatures from Pan-Cancer Analysis Are Prognostic for High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer and Other Female Cancers
Authors: Jones Wendell D. , Michener Chad M. , Biscotti Charles , Braicu Iona , Sehouli Jalid , Ganapathi Mahrukh K. , Ganapathi Ram N.
Published: March 2020

Immune cell infiltrates within the tumor microenvironment can influence treatment response and outcome in several cancers. In this study, we developed RNA-based immune signatures from pan-cancer analysis that could serve as potential markers across tumor types and tested them for association with outcome in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) and other female cancers. Pan-cancer RNA-Seq cluster analysis of immune-related gene expression profiles in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) from 29 different solid tumors (4446 specimens) identified distinct but concordant gene signatures. Among these immune signatures, Cytotoxic Lymphocyte Immune Signature (CLIS), T-cell trafficking (TCT), and the TCT to M2 tumor-associated macrophage (M2TAM) ratio (TCT:M2TAM) were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with overall survival (OS), using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models, in a discovery cohort and two independent validation cohorts of HGSOC patients. Notably, the TCT:M2TAM ratio was highly significant (p ≤ 0.000001) in two HGSOC cohorts. Immune signatures were also significant (p < 0.05) in the presence of tumor cytoreduction, BRCA1/2 mutation, and COL2A1 expression. Importantly, the CLIS and TCT signatures were also validated for prognostic significance (p < 0.05) in TCGA cohorts for endometrial and high tumor mutational burden (Hi-TMB) breast cancer. These immune signatures also have the potential for being predictive in other cancers and for patients following different treatment strategies.
Bacillus subtilis Lipase A—Lipase or Esterase?
Authors: Bracco Paula , van Midden Nelleke , Arango Epifanía , Torrelo Guzman , Ferrario Valerio , Gardossi Lucia , Hanefeld Ulf
Published: March 2020

The question of how to distinguish between lipases and esterases is about as old as the definition of the subclassification is. Many different criteria have been proposed to this end, all indicative but not decisive. Here, the activity of lipases in dry organic solvents as a criterion is probed on a minimal α/β hydrolase fold enzyme, the Bacillus subtilis lipase A (BSLA), and compared to Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB), a proven lipase. Both hydrolases show activity in dry solvents and this proves BSLA to be a lipase. Overall, this demonstrates the value of this additional parameter to distinguish between lipases and esterases. Lipases tend to be active in dry organic solvents, while esterases are not active under these circumstances.
The Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor α- Agonist Gemfibrozil Promotes Defense Against Mycobacterium abscessus Infections
Authors: Kim Yi Sak , Kim Jin Kyung , Hanh Bui Thi Bich , Kim Soo Yeon , Kim Hyeon Ji , Kim Young Jae , Jeon Sang Min , Park Cho Rong , Oh Goo Taeg , Park June-Woo , Kim Jin-Man , Jang Jichan , Jo Eun-Kyeong
Published: March 2020

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) shows promising potential to enhance host defenses against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Herein we evaluated the protective effect of PPARα against nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections. Using a rapidly growing NTM species, Mycobacterium abscessus (Mabc), we found that the intracellular bacterial load and histopathological damage were increased in PPARα-null mice in vivo. In addition, PPARα deficiency led to excessive production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines after infection of the lung and macrophages. Notably, administration of gemfibrozil (GEM), a PPARα activator, significantly reduced the in vivo Mabc load and inflammatory response in mice. Transcription factor EB was required for the antimicrobial response against Mabc infection. Collectively, these results suggest that manipulation of PPARα activation has promising potential as a therapeutic strategy for NTM disease.
Wnt-3a Induces Epigenetic Remodeling in Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells
Authors: Uribe-Etxebarria Verónica , García-Gallastegui Patricia , Pérez-Garrastachu Miguel , Casado-Andrés María , Irastorza Igor , Unda Fernando , Ibarretxe Gaskon , Subirán Nerea
Published: March 2020

Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) from adult teeth show the expression of a very complete repertoire of stem pluripotency core factors and a high plasticity for cell reprogramming. Canonical Wnt and Notch signaling pathways regulate stemness and the expression of pluripotency core factors in DPSCs, and even very short-term (48 h) activations of the Wnt pathway induce a profound remodeling of DPSCs at the physiologic and metabolic levels. In this work, DPSC cultures were exposed to treatments modulating Notch and Wnt signaling, and also induced to differentiate to osteo/adipocytes. DNA methylation, histone acetylation, histone methylation, and core factor expression levels where assessed by mass spectroscopy, Western blot, and qPCR. A short-term activation of Wnt signaling by WNT-3A induced a genomic DNA demethylation, and increased histone acetylation and histone methylation in DPSCs. The efficiency of cell reprogramming methods relies on the ability to surpass the epigenetic barrier, which determines cell lineage specificity. This study brings important information about the regulation of the epigenetic barrier by Wnt signaling in DPSCs, which could contribute to the development of safer and less aggressive reprogramming methodologies with a view to cell therapy.
Cross Interaction between M2 Muscarinic Receptor and Notch1/EGFR Pathway in Human Glioblastoma Cancer Stem Cells: Effects on Cell Cycle Progression and Survival
Authors: Cristofaro Ilaria , Alessandrini Francesco , Spinello Zaira , Guerriero Claudia , Fiore Mario , Caffarelli Elisa , Laneve Pietro , Dini Luciana , Conti Luciano , Tata Ada Maria
Published: March 2020

Glioblastomas (GBM) are the most aggressive form of primary brain tumors in humans. A key feature of malignant gliomas is their cellular heterogeneity. In particular, the presence of an undifferentiated cell population of defined Glioblastoma Stem cells (GSCs) was reported. Increased expression of anti-apoptotic and chemo-resistance genes in GCSs subpopulation favors their high resistance to a broad spectrum of drugs. Our previous studies showed the ability of M2 muscarinic receptors to negatively modulate the cell growth in GBM cell lines and in the GSCs. The aim of this study was to better characterize the inhibitory effects of M2 receptors on cell proliferation and survival in GSCs and investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the M2-mediated cell proliferation arrest and decreased survival. Moreover, we also evaluated the ability of M2 receptors to interfere with Notch1 and EGFR pathways, whose activation promotes GSCs proliferation. Our data demonstrate that M2 receptors activation impairs cell cycle progression and survival in the primary GSC lines analyzed (GB7 and GB8). Moreover, we also demonstrated the ability of M2 receptor to inhibit Notch1 and EGFR expression, highlighting a molecular interaction between M2 receptor and the Notch-1/EGFR pathways also in GSCs.
circRNAs Signature as Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker for Diabetes Mellitus and Related Cardiovascular Complications
Authors: Zaiou Mohamed
Published: March 2020

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) belong to the ever-growing class of naturally occurring noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) molecules. Unlike linear RNA, circRNAs are covalently closed transcripts mostly generated from precursor-mRNA by a non-canonical event called back-splicing. They are highly stable, evolutionarily conserved, and widely distributed in eukaryotes. Some circRNAs are believed to fulfill a variety of functions inside the cell mainly by acting as microRNAs (miRNAs) or RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) sponges. Furthermore, mounting evidence suggests that the misregulation of circRNAs is among the first alterations in various metabolic disorders including obesity, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. More recent research has revealed that circRNAs also play a substantial role in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus (DM) and related vascular complications. These findings have added a new layer of complexity to our understanding of DM and underscored the need to reexamine the molecular pathways that lead to this disorder in the context of epigenetics and circRNA regulatory mechanisms. Here, I review current knowledge about circRNAs dysregulation in diabetes and describe their potential role as innovative biomarkers to predict diabetes-related cardiovascular (CV) events. Finally, I discuss some of the actual limitations to the promise of these RNA transcripts as emerging therapeutics and provide recommendations for future research on circRNA-based medicine.
On Instability Analysis of Linear Feedback Systems
Authors: Rehman Mutti-Ur , Alzabut Jehad
Published: March 2020

The numerical approximation of the μ -value is key towards the measurement of instability, stability analysis, robustness, and the performance of linear feedback systems in system theory. The MATLAB function mussv available in MATLAB Control Toolbox efficiently computes both lower and upper bounds of the μ -value. This article deals with the numerical approximations of the lower bounds of μ -values by means of low-rank ordinary differential equation (ODE)-based techniques. The numerical simulation shows that approximated lower bounds of μ -values are much tighter when compared to those obtained by the MATLAB function mussv.
The Influence of Thyroid Pathology on Osteoporosis and Fracture Risk: A Review
Authors: Apostu Dragos , Lucaciu Ondine , Oltean-Dan Daniel , Mureșan Alexandru-Dorin , Moisescu-Pop Cristina , Maxim Andrei , Benea Horea
Published: March 2020

Thyroid hormones are important factors that regulate metabolism and cell differentiation throughout the human body. A complication of thyroid pathology is represented by an alteration of the bone metabolism which can lead to osteoporosis and fragility fractures, known to have a high mortality rate. Although there is a consensus on the negative impact of hyperthyroidism on bone metabolism, when referring to hypothyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism, or subclinical hyperthyroidism, there is no general agreement. The aim of our review was to update clinicians and researchers about the current data regarding the bone health in hypothyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism, and subclinical hyperthyroidism patients. Thyroid disorders have an important impact on bone metabolism and fracture risk, such that hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and subclinical hyperthyroidism are associated with a decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and increased risk of fracture. Subclinical hypothyroidism, on the other hand, is not associated with osteoporosis or fragility fractures, and subclinical hyperthyroidism treatment with radioiodine could improve bone health.
Efficient Opportunistic Routing Protocol for Sensor Network in Emergency Applications
Authors: Al-kahtani Mohammed , Karim Lutful , Khan Nargis
Published: March 2020

Routing or forwarding information, such as the location of incidents and victims in a disaster, is significantly important for quick and accurate incident response. However, forwarding such information in disaster areas has been a challenging task for the Wireless Sensor Network as existing networks are affected (destroyed or overused) the disaster. Opportunistic information forwarding can play a vital role in such circumstances. Existing opportunistic routing protocols require huge message transmissions for cluster restoration, which is not energy efficient and results in packet loss. Hence, this paper introduces an energy efficient and reliable opportunistic density cluster-based routing protocol that opportunistically transmits data using a density-clustering protocol for emergency and disaster situations. Simulation results show that the proposed protocol outperforms some existing and well-known routing protocols in terms of network energy consumption, throughput and successful data transmissions.
Effect of Temperature, Light, and Storage Time on the Seed Germination of Pinus bungeana Zucc. ex Endl.: The Role of Seed-Covering Layers and Abscisic Acid Changes
Authors: Guo Congcong , Shen Yongbao , Shi Fenghou
Published: March 2020

Pinus bungeana Zucc. ex Endl. is an endemic conifer tree species in China with high ornamental value. In order to investigate favorable conditions for seed germination and explore the germination inhibition mechanism of this species at high temperatures, the effects of temperature, light, and storage on the mean germination time (MGT), speed of germination (SG), and total germination percentage (TGP) are evaluated here. Seeds that have either been kept still or entered into a state of dormancy at high temperature are assessed here by a recovery experiment. Furthermore, the contribution of covering layers on thermo-inhibition is analyzed here, including the way they work. This has been realized by the structural observation and via the determination of the abscisic acid (ABA) content. The results show that seeds germinate to a high percentage (approximately 90%) at temperatures of 15 or 20 °C, with or without light, whereas higher temperatures of 25 or 30 °C impeded radicle protrusion and resulted in the germination percentage decreasing sharply (within 5%). Inhibition at high temperatures was thoroughly reversed (bringing about approximately 80% germination) by placing the ungerminated seeds in favorable temperatures and incubating them for an additional 30 days. Dry cold storage did little to reduce the temperature request for germination. Embryo coverings, especially the nucellar membrane, and ABA levels both had a dominant role in seed germination regulation in response to temperature. Under favorable temperature conditions, the levels of ABA significantly decreased. Germination occurred when the levels dropped to a threshold of 15 ng/g (FW (Fresh Weight)). Incubation at a high temperature (25 °C) greatly increased ABA levels and caused the inhibition of radicle protrusion.
Suitability of the Lebanese “Ace Spur” Apple Variety for Cider Production Using Hanseniaspora sp. Yeast
Authors: Al Daccache Marina , Koubaa Mohamed , Maroun Richard G. , Salameh Dominique , Louka Nicolas , Vorobiev Eugène
Published: March 2020

In the present research work, the physicochemical and fermentative properties of the “Ace spur” apple variety, obtained from a Lebanese farm, and the “Kermerrien” variety, obtained from a French cider industry, were investigated. The pomological properties were first determined for both varieties showing significant differences in the shapes and sizes. Sugar content, titratable acidity, soluble solids, and pH values were then determined. The potential of the “Ace spur” apple juice was then evaluated using the yeast strain Hanseniaspora sp., a major yeast found during the spontaneous fermentation of apples. “Ace spur” apples contained more sugars while the “Kermerrien” cultivar had a highest malic acid and polyphenol concentrations. After 100 h of fermentation, the ethanol percentage (v/v) was around 4% in both ciders. Results obtained in this work revealed the chemical potential of the Lebanese apple juice to produce cider.
Making Smart Cities Resilient to Climate Change by Mitigating Natural Hazard Impacts
Authors: Ragia Lemonia , Antoniou Varvara
Published: March 2020

Climate change is undoubtedly a big issue due to its devastating consequences. The enhanced resilience to natural hazards due to climate change belongs to the concept of smart cities. This Editorial proposes different uses of Geographic Information Systems to handle and disseminate data for natural disasters. Data are gathered from various data sources and are processed and visualized in maps using apps. These apps are available through the Internet or mobile devices and can be used to inform and train the stakeholders of disaster-prone areas in order to mitigate the impacts of disasters.
A Ranking-Based Hashing Algorithm Based on the Distributed Spark Platform
Authors: Yang Anbang , Qian Jiangbo , Chen Huahui , Dong Yihong
Published: March 2020

With the rapid development of modern society, generated data has increased exponentially. Finding required data from this huge data pool is an urgent problem that needs to be solved. Hashing technology is widely used in similarity searches of large-scale data. Among them, the ranking-based hashing algorithm has been widely studied due to its accuracy and speed regarding the search results. At present, most ranking-based hashing algorithms construct loss functions by comparing the rank consistency of data in Euclidean and Hamming spaces. However, most of them have high time complexity and long training times, meaning they cannot meet requirements. In order to solve these problems, this paper introduces a distributed Spark framework and implements the ranking-based hashing algorithm in a parallel environment on multiple machines. The experimental results show that the Spark-RLSH (Ranking Listwise Supervision Hashing) can greatly reduce the training time and improve the training efficiency compared with other ranking-based hashing algorithms.
Cuffless Single-Site Photoplethysmography for Blood Pressure Monitoring
Authors: Hosanee Manish , Chan Gabriel , Welykholowa Kaylie , Cooper Rachel , Kyriacou Panayiotis A. , Zheng Dingchang , Allen John , Abbott Derek , Menon Carlo , Lovell Nigel H. , Howard Newton , Chan Wee-Shian , Lim Kenneth , Fletcher Richard , Ward Rabab , Elgendi Mohamed
Published: March 2020

One in three adults worldwide has hypertension, which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Consequently, there is a global demand for continuous and non-invasive blood pressure (BP) measurements that are convenient, easy to use, and more accurate than the currently available methods for detecting hypertension. This could easily be achieved through the integration of single-site photoplethysmography (PPG) readings into wearable devices, although improved reliability and an understanding of BP estimation accuracy are essential. This review paper focuses on understanding the features of PPG associated with BP and examines the development of this technology over the 2010–2019 period in terms of validation, sample size, diversity of subjects, and datasets used. Challenges and opportunities to move single-site PPG forward are also discussed.
Hip Morphology in Mucolipidosis Type II
Authors: Ammer Luise Sophie , Oussoren Esmeralda , Muschol Nicole Maria , Pohl Sandra , Rubio-Gozalbo Maria Estela , Santer René , Stuecker Ralf , Vettorazzi Eik , Breyer Sandra Rafaela
Published: March 2020

Mucolipidosis type II (MLII) is a rare lysosomal storage disorder caused by defective trafficking of lysosomal enzymes. Severe skeletal manifestations are a hallmark of the disease including hip dysplasia. This study aims to describe hip morphology and the natural course of hip pathologies in MLII by systematic evaluation of plain radiographs, ultrasounds and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An international two-centered study was performed by retrospective chart review. All MLII patients with at least one pelvic radiograph were included. A total of 16 patients were followed over a mean of 3.5 years (range 0.2–10.7 years). Typical age-dependent radiographic signs identified were femoral cloaking (7/16), rickets/hyperparathyroidism-like changes (6/16) and constrictions of the supra-acetabular part of the os ilium (16/16) and the femoral neck (7/16). The course of acetabular and migration indexes (AI, MI) significantly increased in female patients. However, in the overall group, there was no relevant progression of acetabular dysplasia with a mean AI of 23.0 (range 5°–41°) and 23.7° (range 5°–40°) at the first and last assessments, respectively. Better knowledge on hip morphology in MLII could lead to earlier diagnosis, improved clinical management and enables assessment of effects of upcoming therapies on the skeletal system.
8-Fluoro-N-2-isobutyryl-2′-deoxyguanosine: Synthesis and Reactivity
Authors: Solodinin Andrei , Helmkay James , Ollivier Samuel , Yan Hongbin
Published: March 2020

3′,5′-O-Bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-8-fluoro-N-2-isobutyryl-2′-deoxyguanosine was synthesized from 3′,5′-O-bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-N-2-isobutyryl-2′-deoxyguanosine by the treatment with N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide. A similar fluorination reaction with 3′,5′-O-bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-N-2-(N,N-dimethylformamidine)-2′-deoxyguanosine, however, failed to give the corresponding fluorinated product. It was found that 8-fluoro-N-2-isobutyryl-2′-deoxyguanosine is labile under acidic conditions, but sufficiently stable in dichloroacetic acid used in solid phase synthesis. Incorporation of 8-fluoro-N-2-isobutyryl-2′-deoxyguanosine into oligonucleotides through the phosphoramidite chemistry-based solid phase synthesis failed to give the desired products. Furthermore, treatment of 8-fluoro-N-2-isobutyryl-2′-deoxyguanosine with aqueous ammonium hydroxide did not give 8-fluoro-2′-deoxyguanosine, but led to the formation of a mixture consisting of 8-amino-N-2-isobutyryl-2′-deoxyguanosine and C8:5′-O-cyclo-2′-deoxyguanosine. Taken together, an alternative N-protecting group and possibly modified solid phase synthetic cycle conditions will be required for the incorporation of 8-fluoro-2′-deoxyguanosine into oligonucleotides through the phosphoramidite chemistry-based solid phase synthesis.
Using Fatigue Characteristics to Analyse Test Results for 16Mo3 Steel under Tension-Compression and Oscillatory Bending Conditions
Authors: Kurek Andrzej
Published: March 2020

In this study, 16Mo3 steel was analysed for fatigue tests under tension-compression and oscillatory bending conditions. The analysis involved a comparison of fatigue test results obtained using the Manson-Coffin-Basquin, Langer and Kandil models and the models proposed by Kurek-Łagoda. It was observed that it is possible to substitute the basic tension-compression test performed in large testing machines with oscillatory bending tests carried out on a simple, modern test stand. The tests were performed under oscillatory bending on a prototype machine. The testing of 16Mo3 steel proved that the best-known Mason-Coffin-Basquin fatigue characteristic describes the results of all of the experimental tests very well, but the model can only be used when it is possible to divide strains into elastic and plastic components. It should be emphasised here that there is no such possibility in the case of tests performed under oscillatory bending conditions. It was proven that the proposed test method can substitute the tension-compression test very well and be a much more cost efficient way to obtain LCF material fatigue properties.
Addendum: Ullah, I., et al. A Novel Provable Secured Signcryption Scheme PSSS: A Hyper-Elliptic Curve-Based Approach. Mathematics 2019, 7, 686
Authors: Ullah Insaf , Amin Noor Ul , Khan Junaid , Rehan Muhammad , Naeem Muhammad , Khattak Hizbullah , Khattak Shah Jahan , Ali Haseen
Published: March 2020

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]
On Porous Matrices with Three Delay Times: A Study in Linear Thermoelasticity
Authors: Carini Manuela , Zampoli Vittorio
Published: March 2020

Through the present work, we want to lay the foundation of the well-posedness question for a linear model of thermoelasticity here proposed, in which the presence of voids into the elastic matrix is taken into account following the Cowin–Nunziato theory, and whose thermal response obeys a three-phase lag time-differential heat transfer law. By virtue of the linearity of the model investigated, the basic initial-boundary value problem is conveniently modified into an auxiliary one; attention is paid to the uniqueness question, which is addressed through two alternative paths, i.e., the Lagrange identity and the logarithmic convexity methods, as well as to the continuous dependence issue. The results are achieved under very weak assumptions involving constitutive coefficients and delay times, at most coincident with those able to guarantee the thermodynamic consistency of the model.
Electrospinning: A Powerful Tool to Improve the Corrosion Resistance of Metallic Surfaces Using Nanofibrous Coatings
Authors: Rivero Pedro J. , Redin Deyo Maeztu , Rodríguez Rafael J.
Published: March 2020

The use of surface engineering techniques to tune-up the composition of nanostructured thin-films for developing functional coatings with advanced properties is a hot topic within the scientific community. The control of the coating structure at the nanoscale level allows improving the intrinsic properties of the surface compared to bulk materials. A nanodeposition technique with increasing popularity in the field of nanotechnology is electrospinning. This technique permits the fabrication of long and continuous fibres on the micro-nano scale. The good control over fibre morphology combined with its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, easy exploitability and scalability make electrospinning a very interesting tool for technological applications. This review is focused on the use of the electrospinning technique to protect metallic surfaces against corrosion. Polymeric precursors, from natural or biodegradable to synthetic polymers and copolymers can be electrospun with an adequate control of the operational deposition parameters (applied voltage, flow rate, distance tip to collector) and the intrinsic properties of the polymeric precursor (concentration, viscosity, solvent). The electrospun fibres can be used as an efficient alternative to encapsulate corrosion inhibitors of different nature (inorganic or organic) as well as self-healing agents which can be released to reduce the corrosion rate in the metallic surfaces.
Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolomic Analysis of Wagyu and Holstein Beef
Authors: Yamada Tomoya , Kamiya Mituru , Higuchi Mikito
Published: March 2020

Japanese Black cattle (Wagyu) beef is characterized by high intramuscular fat content and has a characteristic sweet taste. However, the chemical components for characterizing the sweet taste of Wagyu beef have been unclear. In this experiment, we conducted a metabolomic analysis of the longissimus muscle (sirloin) in Wagyu and Holstein cattle to determine the key components associated with beef taste using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Holstein sirloin beef was characterized by the abundance of components such as glutamine, ribose-5-phosphate, uric acid, inosine monophosphate, 5-oxoproline, and glycine. In contrast, Wagyu sirloin beef was characterized by the abundance of sugar components (maltose and xylitol). Dietary fat is known to increase the intensity of sweet taste. These results suggest that the sweet taste of Wagyu beef is due to the synergetic effects of higher sugar components and intramuscular fat.
Fitness Cost of blaNDM-5-Carrying p3R-IncX3 Plasmids in Wild-Type NDM-Free Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Ma Tengfei , Fu Jiani , Xie Ning , Ma Shizhen , Lei Lei , Zhai Weishuai , Shen Yingbo , Sun Chengtao , Wang Shaolin , Shen Zhangqi , Wang Yang , Walsh Timothy R. , Shen Jianzhong
Published: March 2020

The wide dissemination of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase genes (blaNDM) has resulted in the treatment failure of most available β-lactam antibiotics, with IncX3-type blaNDM-5-carrying plasmids recognised as having spread worldwide. In China, bacteria carrying these plasmids are increasingly being detected from diverse samples, including hospitals, communities, livestock and poultry, and the environment, suggesting that IncX3 plasmids are becoming a vital vehicle for blaNDM dissemination. To elucidate the fitness cost of these plasmids on the bacterial host, we collected blaNDM-negative strains from different sources and tested their ability to acquire the blaNDM-5-harboring p3R-IncX3 plasmid. We then measured changes in antimicrobial susceptibility, growth kinetics, and biofilm formation following plasmid acquisition. Overall, 70.7% (29/41) of our Enterobacteriaceae recipients successfully acquired the blaNDM-5-harboring p3R-IncX3 plasmid. Contrary to previous plasmid burden theory, 75.9% (22/29) of the transconjugates showed little fitness cost as a result of plasmid acquisition, with 6.9% (2/29) of strains exhibiting enhanced growth compared with their respective wild-type strains. Following plasmid acquisition, all transconjugates demonstrated resistance to most β-lactams, while several strains showed enhanced biofilm formation, further complicating treatment and prevention measures. Moreover, the highly virulent Escherichia coli sequence type 131 strain that already harbored mcr-1 also demonstrated the ability to acquire the blaNDM-5-carrying p3R-IncX3 plasmid, resulting in further limited therapeutic options. This low fitness cost may partly explain the rapid global dissemination of blaNDM-5-harboring IncX3 plasmids. Our study highlights the growing threat of IncX3 plasmids in spreading blaNDM-5.
Gut Microbial Protein Expression in Response to Dietary Patterns in a Controlled Feeding Study: A Metaproteomic Approach
Authors: Pan Sheng , Hullar Meredith A. J. , Lai Lisa A. , Peng Hong , May Damon H. , Noble William S. , Raftery Daniel , Navarro Sandi L. , Neuhouser Marian L. , Lampe Paul D. , Lampe Johanna W. , Chen Ru
Published: March 2020

Although the gut microbiome has been associated with dietary patterns linked to health, microbial metabolism is not well characterized. This ancillary study was a proof of principle analysis for a novel application of metaproteomics to study microbial protein expression in a controlled dietary intervention. We measured the response of the microbiome to diet in a randomized crossover dietary intervention of a whole-grain, low glycemic load diet (WG) and a refined-grain, high glycemic load diet (RG). Total proteins in stools from 9 participants at the end of each diet period (n = 18) were analyzed by LC MS/MS and proteins were identified using the Human Microbiome Project (HMP) human gut microbiome database and UniProt human protein databases. T-tests, controlling for false discovery rate (FDR) <10%, were used to compare the Gene Ontology (GO) biological processes and bacterial enzymes between the two interventions. Using shotgun proteomics, more than 53,000 unique peptides were identified including microbial (89%) and human peptides (11%). Forty-eight bacterial enzymes were statistically different between the diets, including those implicated in SCFA production and degradation of fatty acids. Enzymes associated with degradation of human mucin were significantly enriched in the RG diet. These results illustrate that the metaproteomic approach is a valuable tool to study the microbial metabolism of diets that may influence host health.
Crystal Chemistry of the Microporous Zirconosilicate Na6Zr3[Si9O27], a Product of High-Temperature Transformation of Catapleiite, and Its Ag-Exchanged Form
Authors: Zubkova Natalia V. , Ksenofontov Dmitry A. , Chukanov Nikita V. , Pekov Igor V. , Artamonova Anna A. , Koshlyakova Natalia N. , Bychkov Andrey Yu. , Pushcharovsky Dmitry Yu.
Published: March 2020

The crystal structure of the Ag-exchanged form of the zirconosilicate with the simplified formula (Na6-2xCax▯x)Zr3[Si9O27] with x < 1 (the idealized formula Na6Zr3[Si9O27]), a product of thermal transformation of catapleiite, ideally Na2Zr[Si3O9]·2H2O, was studied using single crystal X-ray diffraction data. The crystal structure of Na6Zr3[Si9O27] is based on a heteropolyhedral framework built by nine-membered tetrahedral rings [Si9O27] and isolated [ZrO6] octahedra. This zirconosilicate demonstrates high exchange capacity to Ag (experiment with 1 M AgNO3 aqueous solution, 250 °C, 30 days). Its Ag-exchanged form with the simplified formula (Ag5Ca0.5)Zr3[Si9O27] is characterized by a significant distortion of the heteropolyhedral framework and strongly disordered arrangement of extra-framework cations (Ag) which results in the doubling of a parameter of the hexagonal unit cell [a = 23.3462(3), c = 10.10640(10) Å, V = 4770.45(13) Å3] and space group P63cm. Ag+ cations preferably occupy the sites that are close to the Na sites in Na6Zr3[Si9O27].
Eliopoulosite, V7S8, A New Sulfide from the Podiform Chromitite of the Othrys Ophiolite, Greece
Authors: Bindi Luca , Zaccarini Federica , Bonazzi Paola , Grammatikopoulos Tassos , Tsikouras Basilios , Stanley Chris , Garuti Giorgio
Published: March 2020

The new mineral species, eliopoulosite, V7S8, was discovered in the abandoned chromium mine of Agios Stefanos of the Othrys ophiolite, located in central Greece. The investigated samples consist of massive chromitite hosted in a strongly altered mantle tectonite, and are associated with nickelphosphide, awaruite, tsikourasite, and grammatikopoulosite. Eliopoulosite is brittle and has a metallic luster. In plane-reflected polarized light, it is grayish-brown and shows no internal reflections, bireflectance, and pleochroism. It is weakly anisotropic, with colors varying from light to dark greenish. Reflectance values of mineral in air (Ro, Re’ in %) are: 34.8–35.7 at 470 nm, 38–39 at 546 nm, 40–41.3 at 589 nm, and 42.5–44.2 at 650 nm. Electron-microprobe analyses yielded a mean composition (wt.%) of: S 41.78, V 54.11, Ni 1.71, Fe 1.1, Co 0.67, and Mo 0.66, totali 100.03. On the basis of Σatoms = 15 apfu and taking into account the structural data, the empirical formula of eliopoulosite is (V6.55Ni0.19Fe0.12Co0.07Mo0.04)Σ = 6.97S8.03. The simplified formula is (V, Ni, Fe)7S8 and the ideal formula is V7S8, which corresponds to V 58.16%, S 41.84%, total 100 wt.%. The density, based on the empirical formula and unit-cell volume refined form single-crystal structure XRD data, is 4.545 g·cm−3. The mineral is trigonal, space group P3221, with a = 6.689(3) Å, c = 17.403(6) Å, V = 674.4(5) Å3, Z = 3, and exhibits a twelve-fold superstructure (2a × 2a × 3c) of the NiAs-type subcell with V-atoms octahedrally coordinated by S atoms. The distribution of vacancies is discussed in relation to other pyrrhotite-like compounds. The mineral name is for Dr. Demetrios Eliopoulos (1947–2019), a geoscientist at the Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration (IGME) of Greece and his widow, Prof. Maria Eliopoulos (nee Economou, 1947), University of Athens, Greece, for their contributions to the knowledge of ore deposits of Greece and to the mineralogical, petrographic, and geochemical studies of ophiolites, including the Othrys complex. The mineral and its name have been approved by the Commission of New Minerals, Nomenclature, and Classification of the International Mineralogical Association (No. 2019-96).
Deciphering Pathways for Carotenogenesis in Haloarchaea
Authors: Giani Micaela , Miralles-Robledillo Jose María , Peiró Gloria , Pire Carmen , Martínez-Espinosa Rosa María
Published: March 2020

Bacterioruberin and its derivatives have been described as the major carotenoids produced by haloarchaea (halophilic microbes belonging to the Archaea domain). Recently, different works have revealed that some haloarchaea synthetize other carotenoids at very low concentrations, like lycopene, lycopersene, cis- and trans-phytoene, cis- and trans-phytofluene, neo-β-carotene, and neo-α-carotene. However, there is still controversy about the nature of the pathways for carotenogenesis in haloarchaea. During the last decade, the number of haloarchaeal genomes fully sequenced and assembled has increased significantly. Although some of these genomes are not fully annotated, and many others are drafts, this information provides a new approach to exploring the capability of haloarchaea to produce carotenoids. This work conducts a deeply bioinformatic analysis to establish a hypothetical metabolic map connecting all the potential pathways involved in carotenogenesis in haloarchaea. Special interest has been focused on the synthesis of bacterioruberin in members of the Haloferax genus. The main finding is that in almost all the genus analyzed, a functioning alternative mevalonic acid (MVA) pathway provides isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) in haloarchaea. Then, the main branch to synthesized carotenoids proceeds up to lycopene from which β-carotene or bacterioruberin (and its precursors: monoanhydrobacterioriberin, bisanhydrobacterioruberin, dihydrobisanhydrobacteriuberin, isopentenyldehydrorhodopsin, and dihydroisopenthenyldehydrorhodopsin) can be made.
Nanocomposite Films of Chitosan-Grafted Carbon Nano-Onions for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Grande Tovar Carlos David , Castro Jorge Iván , Valencia Carlos Humberto , Navia Porras Diana Paola , Herminsul Mina Hernandez José , Valencia Zapata Mayra Eliana , Chaur Manuel N.
Published: March 2020

The design of scaffolding from biocompatible and resistant materials such as carbon nanomaterials and biopolymers has become very important, given the high rate of injured patients. Graphene and carbon nanotubes, for example, have been used to improve the physical, mechanical, and biological properties of different materials and devices. In this work, we report the grafting of carbon nano-onions with chitosan (CS-g-CNO) through an amide-type bond. These compounds were blended with chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol composites to produce films for subdermal implantation in Wistar rats. Films with physical mixture between chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol, and carbon nano-onions were also prepared for comparison purposes. Film characterization was performed with Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Tensile strength, X-ray Diffraction Spectroscopy (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The degradation of films into simulated body fluid (SBF) showed losses between 14% and 16% of the initial weight after 25 days of treatment. Still, a faster degradation (weight loss and pH changes) was obtained with composites of CS-g-CNO due to a higher SBF interaction by hydrogen bonding. On the other hand, in vivo evaluation of nanocomposites during 30 days in Wistar rats, subdermal tissue demonstrated normal resorption of the materials with lower inflammation processes as compared with the physical blends of ox-CNO formulations. SBF hydrolytic results agreed with the in vivo degradation for all samples, demonstrating that with a higher ox-CNO content increased the stability of the material and decreased its degradation capacity; however, we observed greater reabsorption with the formulations including CS-g-CNO. With this research, we demonstrated the future impact of CS/PVA/CS-g-CNO nanocomposite films for biomedical applications.
Comparison of Sample Preparation and Determination of 60 Veterinary Drug Residues in Flatfish Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Kim Joohye , Park Hyunjin , Kang Hui-Seung , Cho Byung-Hoon , Oh Jae-Ho
Published: March 2020

This study was performed to optimize the analytical method for multi-residues of 60 compounds in flatfish samples. Three sample preparation methods were tested to identify the optimal recovery conditions for target analytes. As a result, 10 mL of water/acetonitrile (1:4, v/v) was used to extract analytes from fish samples. For purification, C18 and 10 mL of acetonitrile saturated hexane were used to treat the samples. After evaporation and reconstitution, the fish samples were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The proposed method was validated according to the CODEX guidelines (CAC/GL-71). Our results showed the recoveries of 73.2%–115% and coefficients of variation of 1.6%–22.1%. The limit of quantification was 0.0005–0.005 mg/kg in the fishery products. In analysis of real samples, no samples exceeded the limit of quantification. This analytical method can be used for multi-residue screening and confirmation of the residues of veterinary drugs in fishery products.
Physico-Chemically Distinct Nanomaterials Synthesized from Derivates of a Poly(Anhydride) Diversify the Spectrum of Loadable Antibiotics
Authors: Mira Amalia , Sainz-Urruela Carlos , Codina Helena , Jenkins Stuart I. , Rodriguez-Diaz Juan Carlos , Mallavia Ricardo , Falco Alberto
Published: March 2020

Recent advances in the field of nanotechnology such as nanoencapsulation offer new biomedical applications, potentially increasing the scope and efficacy of therapeutic drug delivery. In addition, the discovery and development of novel biocompatible polymers increases the versatility of these encapsulating nanostructures, enabling chemical properties of the cargo and vehicle to be adapted to specific physiological requirements. Here, we evaluate the capacity of various polymeric nanostructures to encapsulate various antibiotics of different classes, with differing chemical structure. Polymers were sourced from two separate derivatives of poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride) (PMVE/MA): an acid (PMVE/MA-Ac) and a monoethyl ester (PMVE/MA-Es). Nanoencapsulation of antibiotics was attempted through electrospinning, and nanoparticle synthesis through solvent displacement, for both polymers. Solvent incompatibilities prevented the nanoencapsulation of amikacin, neomycin and ciprofloxacin in PMVE/MA-Es nanofibers. However, all compounds were successfully loaded into PMVE/MA-Es nanoparticles. Encapsulation efficiencies in nanofibers reached approximately 100% in all compatible systems; however, efficiencies varied substantially in nanoparticles systems, depending on the tested compound (14%–69%). Finally, it was confirmed that both these encapsulation processes did not alter the antimicrobial activity of any tested antibiotic against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, supporting the viability of these approaches for nanoscale delivery of antibiotics.
Controllable Synthesis of Three-Dimensional β-NiS Nanostructured Assembly for Hybrid-Type Asymmetric Supercapacitors
Authors: Zhang Yao , Zhang Jia , Ding Daqian , Gao Yanfang
Published: March 2020

The process of energy storage in supercapacitors via the surface reaction of the electrode can lead to a significant perfecting of the electrochemical performance of supercapacitors, for developing the morphologies of materials and increasing the specific surface areas of the electrodes. Three-dimensional nickel sulfide (NiS) superstructures with nanomorphologies, viz. coral-like, urchin-like, flake-like, and flower-like, are synthesized through simple solvothermal methods, without any template. The nanostructured flower-like β-NiS demonstrates, not only a remarkable specific capacitance of 2425.89 F·g−1 at the current densities of 1 A·g−1, but also an excellent cycling stability of approximately 100% (at the current density of 10 A·g−1 over 5000 cycles). Moreover, the hybrid-type asymmetric supercapacitor, constructed from the flower-like β-NiS positive electrode and active carbon negative electrode, exhibits an energy density of 42.12 Wh·kg−1 at a power density of 28.8 kW·kg−1.
A Perfect Absorber Based on Similar Fabry-Perot Four-Band in the Visible Range
Authors: Wu Pinghui , Zhang Congfen , Tang Yijun , Liu Bin , Lv Li
Published: March 2020

A simple metamaterial absorber is proposed to achieve near-perfect absorption in visible and near-infrared wavelengths. The absorber is composed of metal-dielectric-metal (MIM) three-layer structure. The materials of these three-layer structures are Au, SiO2, and Au. The top metal structure of the absorber is composed of hollow three-dimensional metal rings regularly arranged periodically. The results show that the high absorption efficiency at a specific wavelength is mainly due to the resonance of the Fabry–Perot effect (FP) in the intermediate layer of the dielectric medium, resulting in the resonance light being trapped in the middle layer, thus improving the absorption efficiency. The almost perfect multiband absorption, which is independent of polarization angle and insensitivity of incident angle, lends the absorber great application prospects for filtering and optoelectronics.
Ordered Mesoporous Carbon with Chitosan for Disinfection of Water via Capacitive Deionization
Authors: Cao Cuihui , Wu Xiaofeng , Zheng Yuming , Zhang Donghai , Chen Jianhua , Chen Yunfa
Published: March 2020

Capacitive deionization (CDI) with water disinfection materials is a potential method to produce fresh water from aqueous solutions. Therefore, an ordered mesoporous carbon with chitosan (OMC-CS) was coated on the active carbon (AC) electrode as a capacitive deionization disinfection (CDI) electrode. Comparing with OMC-CS-4,6,8 as CDI electrodes, it was found that OMC-CS-6 as a CDI electrode had an excellent disinfection efficiency, killing about 99.99% Escherichia coli (E. coli) in the CDI process at an applied 1.2 V. The OMC-CS material was did not pollute the water and will not contaminate to the environment in comparison with other chemical antibacterial agents. This CDI electrode could play a huge role in biocontaminated water in the future.