bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Environmental Enrichment Methods in Three Zoo-Housed Varanidae Lizard Species
Authors: Waterman James O. , McNally Rachel , Harrold Daniel , Cook Matthew , Garcia Gerardo , Fidgett Andrea L. , Holmes Lisa
Published: December 2021

Environmental enrichment has been shown to enhance the behavioural repertoire and reduce the occurrence of abnormal behaviours, particularly in zoo-housed mammals. However, evidence of its effectiveness in reptiles is lacking. Previously, it was believed that reptiles lacked the cognitive sophistication to benefit from enrichment provision, but studies have demonstrated instances of improved longevity, physical condition and problem-solving behaviour as a result of enhancing husbandry routines. In this study, we evaluate the effectiveness of food- and scent-based enrichment for three varanid species (Komodo dragon, emerald tree monitor lizard and crocodile monitor). Scent piles, scent trails and hanging feeders resulted in a significant increase in exploratory behaviour, with engagement diminishing ≤330 min post provision. The provision of food- versus scent-based enrichment did not result in differences in enrichment engagement across the three species, suggesting that scent is just as effective in increasing natural behaviours. Enhancing the environment in which zoo animals reside is important for their health and wellbeing and also provides visitors with the opportunity to observe naturalistic behaviours. For little known and understudied species such as varanids, evidence of successful (and even unsuccessful) husbandry and management practice is vital for advancing best practice in the zoo industry.
The Influence of Density on the Value of Young’s Modulus for Dry Ice
Authors: Biszczanik Aleksandra , Wałęsa Krzysztof , Kukla Mateusz , Górecki Jan
Published: December 2021

The efficiency of material consumption is an important consideration for production processes; this is particularly true for processes that use waste materials. Dry ice extrusion serves as a good example. An examination of the literature on this subject leads to an observation that the commercially available machines for dry ice compression are characterized by a high value of working force. Consequently, the effectiveness of the source consumption, electric energy and carbon dioxide, is very low. The subject of the experimental research presented in the article is the influence of the density of dry ice on the value of Young’s modulus. The first part of the article presents the test methodology and the special test stand that was developed to accommodate the unique characteristics of solid-state carbon dioxide. The test results present the characteristics of compaction and relaxation used as the basis for determining the value of Young’s modulus. Based on the test results obtained for various material density values, the characteristics of Young’s modulus are developed and graphed as a function of the density. The presented results are important for furthering the research on the development of extrusion and compaction processes; for example, using the Drucker–Prager/Cap model for the purpose of optimizing the geometrical characteristics of the work assembly components.
Effect of Water Condensate on Corrosion of Wires in Ungrouted Ducts
Authors: Ponechal Radoslav , Koteš Peter , Michálková Daniela , Kraľovanec Jakub , Bahleda František
Published: December 2021

In the case of existing prestressed concrete structures, information about the actual state of prestressing is an important basis for determining their load-carrying capacity, as well as remaining service lifetime. This is even more important in the case of existing prestressed concrete bridges, which are exposed to a more aggressive environment than the other prestressed concrete structures. The level of prestressing is affected and reduced by prestress losses at a given time. In calculating the internal forces and stresses, required for the assessment of the Ultimate Limit State and the Serviceability Limit State, it is necessary to know not only the prestressing level but also the cross-sectional area of the prestressing steel (wire, strand or cable), which can change in time due to corrosion. In practice, in the case of the pre-tensioned concrete members, it has often happened in the past that cable ducts have been grouted only partially, or not at all, due to poor grouting technology. Experts did not realize what this could cause in the future—the penetration of water with aggressive agents directly into the cable duct and consequently corrosion of the prestressing steel, which means not increased protection of the steel, but rather acceleration of degradation. On the other hand, in many cases, corrosion also occurs in ducts that are not grouted and no water has entered them. This paper deals with this phenomenon—the formation of corrosion of prestressing steel in cable ducts in ungrouted ducts due to moisture. This problem was investigated experimentally and numerically in the simulation program ESP-r. Experimental measurements and numerical simulations have shown that the water vapor condenses in the cable ducts, which can subsequently cause corrosion of the prestressing steel.
The Precipitated Particle Refinement in High-Cr ODS Steels by Microalloying Element Addition
Authors: Li Yingying , Zhang Liye , Long Dijun , Yu Liming , Li Huijun
Published: December 2021

Two oxide-dispersion-strengthened (ODS) steels with different compositions (14Cr-ODS and 14Cr-Zr-ODS) were investigated to reveal the influences of microalloying element addition on the microstructure and to clarify the refining mechanism of precipitated particles. TEM and HRTEM results indicated that precipitated particles in the Zr-containing ODS steel had finer sizes and dispersed more homogeneously within the grains. It was found that rhombohedral Y4Zr3O12 particles with complex lattice structures were formed and could pin the migration of the grain boundaries during heat treatment due to their high thermal stability. In addition, the Zr-containing ODS steel exhibited a finer and more uniform grain morphology. Tensile tests showed that microalloying element addition could significantly improve the comprehensive mechanical properties of 14Cr ODS steels at room temperature.
Potential Loss of Toxic Elements from Slope Arable Soil Erosion into Watershed in Southwest China: Effect of Spatial Distribution and Land-Uses
Authors: Gao Ya , Li Feipeng , Mao Lingchen , Gu Bihan , Peng Changkang , Yang Qiuning , Lu Longchi , Chen Xilin , Zhang Daofang , Tao Hong
Published: December 2021

The watershed-scale distribution and loss of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) through soil erosion from slope lands to a watershed has not yet been systematically studied, especially in small mountain watersheds with high geological background PTEs in Southwest China. In this study, the spatial distribution, loss intensities and ecological risks of 12 PTEs were investigated in 101 soil samples from four types of land use in a typical watershed, Guizhou Province. Moreover, in order to avoid over- or underestimation of the contamination level in such specific geologies with significant variability in natural PTE distribution, the local background values (local BVs) were calculated by statistical methods. The dry arable land had the highest loss intensity of PTEs and was the largest contributor of PTEs (more than 80%) in the watershed, even though it covers a much smaller area compared to the forest land. The loss of Cd, As, Sb, and Hg from slope arable lands into the watershed leads to a relatively high potential ecological risk. The study suggested that both PTEs content with different types of land-uses and intensities of soil loss are of great importance for PTEs’ risk assessment in the small watershed within a high geological background region. Furthermore, in order to reduce the loss of PTEs in soil, the management of agricultural activities in arable land, especially the slope arable land, is necessary.
An Interactive Information System That Supports an Augmented Reality Game in the Context of Game-Based Learning
Authors: Costa Maria Cristina , Santos Paulo , Patrício João Manuel , Manso António
Published: December 2021

Mobile augmented reality applications are gaining prominence in education, but there is a need to design appropriate and enjoyable games to be used in educational contexts such as classrooms. This paper presents an interactive information system designed to support the implementation of an augmented reality application in the context of game-based learning. PlanetarySystemGO includes a location-based mobile augmented reality game designed to promote learning about the celestial bodies and planetary systems of the Universe, and a web application that interacts with the mobile device application. Besides face-to-face classes, this resource can also be used in online classes, which is very useful in social isolation situations as the ones caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, it is the inclusion of the web application, with a back-office, in the information system that makes it possible to include curricula contents according to the grade level of students. Moreover, it is intended that teachers use the information system to include the contents they find appropriate to the grade level they teach. Therefore, it is crucial to provide their professional development to be able to use this resource. In this regard, a pilot study was conducted with teachers who participated in a STEM professional development programme in order to assess if the system is appropriate to be used by them. It is concluded that teachers found this resource relevant to motivate students to learn, and also acknowledged that the web application facilitated the introduction of appropriate curricula contents and also was useful to assess student performance during the game. Teachers need support, however, to implement these types of technologies which are not familiar to them. The necessary support can be provided through collaboration among the researchers and teachers in their schools. Besides engaging students to learn about celestial bodies, it is concluded that the information system can be used by teachers to introduce appropriate curricula contents and to be implemented in class.
Neuroprotective and Anti-Microglial Activation Effects of Tocotrienols in Brains of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Model Mice
Authors: Okuyama Satoshi , Matsuda Masafumi , Okusako Yuna , Miyauchi Sanae , Omasa Toshiki , Ozawa Akiho , Abe Masato , Yaeno Takashi , Araki Takuya , Sawamoto Atsushi , Nakajima Mitsunari , Furukawa Yoshiko
Published: December 2021

Inflammation is the cause and/or result of many diseases in peripheral tissues and the central nervous system. Recent findings suggested that inflammation in peripheral tissue induces an inflammatory response in the brain that activates glial cells, which, in turn, induce neuronal cell dysfunction. Therefore, anti-inflammatory compounds are important for the suppression of chronic inflammation and prevention of disease. The present study revealed microglial activation in the hippocampus of the brain two days after the peripheral administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Furthermore, the expression of the synaptic vesicle membrane protein, synaptophysin, in the CA3 stratum lucidum of the hippocampus was down-regulated 7 days after the LPS injection. The administration of tocotrienols, a type of vitamin E, significantly attenuated these changes in the hippocampus. Collectively, the present results demonstrated the spread of peripheral inflammatory responses to the brain, in which glial activation and neuronal dysfunction were induced, while tocotrienols exerted anti-inflammatory effects and protected neurons from damage.
The Association between Treatment Modality, Lipid Profile, Metabolic Control in Children with Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease—Data from the International Sweet Registry
Authors: Marino Monica , Eckert Alexander J. , Tell Shoshana , Krnic Nevena , Deja Grazyna , Faber Rasmussen Vinni , Coelho Raquel , Todorovic Sladjana , Jefferies Craig A. , Sherif Eman , Martinez Mateu Carolina , Elena Lionetti Maria
Published: December 2021

Background and Aims: A higher frequency of dyslipidemia is reported in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and celiac disease (CD). Recently, continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) has been associated with better lipid profiles in patients with T1D. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between treatment modality and lipid profile, metabolic control, and body mass index (BMI)-SDS in children with both T1D and CD. Methods: Cross-sectional study in children registered in the international SWEET database in November 2020. Inclusion criteria were children (2–18 years) with T1D and CD with available data on treatment modality (CSII and injections therapy, IT), triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, dyslipidemia, HbA1c, and BMI-SDS. Overweight/obesity was defined as > +1 BMI-SDS for age. Data were analyzed by linear and logistical regression models with adjustment for age, gender, and diabetes duration. Results: In total 1009 children with T1D and CD (female 54%, CSII 54%, age 13.9 years ±3.6, diabetes duration 7.2 years ±4.1, HbA1c 7.9% ±1.4) were included. Significant differences between children treated with CSII vs. IT were respectively found; HDL 60.0 mg/dL vs. 57.8 mg/dL, LDL 89.4 mg/dL vs. 94.2 mg/dL, HbA1c 7.7 vs. 8.1%, BMI-SDS 0.4 vs. 0.6, overweight and obesity 17% vs. 26% (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: CSII is associated with higher HDL and lower LDL, HbA1c, BMI-SDS, and percentage of overweight and obesity compared with IT in this study. Further prospective studies are required to determine whether CSII improves lipid profile, metabolic control and normalize body weight in children with both T1D and CD.
Rhus chinensis Mill. Fruits Ameliorate Hepatic Glycolipid Metabolism Disorder in Rats Induced by High Fat/High Sugar Diet
Authors: Wu Zihuan , Ma Qingqing , Cai Shengbao , Sun Yilin , Zhang Yuanyue , Yi Junjie
Published: December 2021

Hepatic glycolipid metabolism disorder is considered as one of the key factors in the pathogenesis of many chronic diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effect and underlying mechanisms of Rhus chinensis Mill. fruits against hepatic glycolipid metabolic disorders in rats induced by a high fat/high sugar diet. Results showed that ethanol extract, especially at a dose of 600 mg/kg b.w., could effectively ameliorate glycolipid metabolic disorders in rats. The biochemical indexes, including CAT, GSH and HOMA-IR, were significantly improved by the administration of ethanol extract. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis revealed that ethanol extract up-regulated the expression levels of PI3K/AKT, PPAR-α, and the phosphorylation of IRS1 and AMPK proteins, and down-regulated the expressions of SREBP-1 and FAS proteins in the liver, which are closely related to hepatic glycolipid metabolism. Those findings suggested that R. chinensis Mill. fruits could be developed as functional foods and/or nutraceuticals for preventing or controlling some chronic diseases related to hepatic glycolipid metabolism disorder.
Temporal Eating Patterns and Eating Windows among Adults with Overweight or Obesity
Authors: Popp Collin J. , Curran Margaret , Wang Chan , Prasad Malini , Fine Keenan , Gee Allen , Nair Nandini , Perdomo Katherine , Chen Shirley , Hu Lu , St-Jules David E. , Manoogian Emily N. C. , Panda Satchidananda , Sevick Mary Ann , Laferrère Blandine
Published: December 2021

We aim to describe temporal eating patterns in a population of adults with overweight or obesity. In this cross-sectional analysis, data were combined from two separate pilot studies during which participants entered the timing of all eating occasions (>0 kcals) for 10–14 days. Data were aggregated to determine total eating occasions, local time of the first and last eating occasions, eating window, eating midpoint, and within-person variability of eating patterns. Eating patterns were compared between sexes, as well as between weekday and weekends. Participants (n = 85) had a median age of 56 ± 19 years, were mostly female (>70%), white (56.5%), and had a BMI of 31.8 ± 8.0 kg/m2. The median eating window was 14 h 04 min [12 h 57 min–15 h 21 min], which was significantly shorter on the weekend compared to weekdays (p < 0.0001). Only 13.1% of participants had an eating window <12 h/d. Additionally, there was greater irregularity with the first eating occasion during the week when compared to the weekend (p = 0.0002). In conclusion, adults with overweight or obesity have prolonged eating windows (>14 h/d). Future trials should examine the contribution of a prolonged eating window on adiposity independent of energy intake.
Impact of a Virtual Culinary Medicine Curriculum on Biometric Outcomes, Dietary Habits, and Related Psychosocial Factors among Patients with Diabetes Participating in a Food Prescription Program
Authors: Sharma Shreela V. , McWhorter John W. , Chow Joanne , Danho Melisa P. , Weston Shannon R. , Chavez Fatima , Moore Laura S. , Almohamad Maha , Gonzalez Jennifer , Liew Esther , LaRue Denise M. , Galvan Esperanza , Hoelscher Deanna M. , Tseng Karen C.
Published: December 2021

Culinary medicine is an evidence-based approach that blends the art of cooking with the science of medicine to inculcate a healthy dietary pattern. Food prescription programs are gaining popularity in the Unites States, as a means to improve access to healthy foods among patient populations. The purpose of this paper is to describe the implementation and preliminary impact of A Prescription for Healthy Living (APHL) culinary medicine curriculum on biometric and diet-related behavioral and psychosocial outcomes among patients with diabetes participating in a clinic-led food prescription (food Rx) program. We used a quasi-experimental design to assess APHL program impact on patient biometric outcome data obtained from electronic health records, including glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), body mass index (BMI), and blood pressure (n = 33 patients in the APHL group, n = 75 patients in the food Rx-only group). Pre-post surveys were administered among those in the APHL group to monitor program impact on psychosocial and behavioral outcomes. Results of the outcome analysis showed significant pre-to-post reduction in HbA1c levels among participants within the APHL group (estimated mean difference = −0.96% (−1.82, −0.10), p = 0.028). Between-group changes showed a greater decrease in HbA1c among those participating in APHL as compared to food Rx-only, albeit these differences were not statistically significant. Participation in APHL demonstrated significant increases in the consumption of fruits and vegetables, fewer participants reported that cooking healthy food is difficult, increased frequency of cooking from scratch, and increased self-efficacy in meal planning and cooking (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the results of our pilot study suggest the potential positive impact of a virtually-implemented culinary medicine approach in improving health outcomes among low-income patients with type 2 diabetes, albeit studies with a larger sample size and a rigorous study design are needed.
The Antidiabetic Effect of Grape Pomace Polysaccharide-Polyphenol Complexes
Authors: Campos Filipa , Peixoto Andreia F. , Fernandes Pedro A. R. , Coimbra Manuel A. , Mateus Nuno , de Freitas Victor , Fernandes Iva , Fernandes Ana
Published: December 2021

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most prevalent chronic metabolic diseases of the 21st century. Nevertheless, its prevalence might be attenuated by taking advantage of bioactive compounds commonly found in fruits and vegetables. This work is focused on the recovery of polyphenols and polysaccharide–polyphenol conjugates from grape pomace for T2DM management and prevention. Bioactives were extracted by solid–liquid extraction and by pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE). Polyphenolic fraction recovered by PHWE showed the highest value for total phenolic content (427 μg GAE.mg−1), mainly anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, and higher antioxidant activity compared to the fraction recovered by solid–liquid extraction. Polysaccharide–polyphenol conjugates comprehended pectic polysaccharides to which approximately 108 μg GAE of phenolic compounds (per mg fraction) were estimated to be bound. Polyphenols and polysaccharide–polyphenol conjugates exhibited distinct antidiabetic effects, depending on the extraction methodologies employed. Extracts were particularly relevant in the inhibition of a-glucosidase activity, with free polyphenols showing an IC50 of 0.47 μg.mL−1 while conjugates showed an IC50 of 2.7, 4.0 and 5.2 μg.mL−1 (solid–liquid extraction, PHWE at 95 and 120 °C, respectively). Antiglycation effect was more pronounced for free polyphenols recovered by PHWE, while the attenuation of glucose uptake by Caco-2 monolayers was more efficient for conjugates obtained by PHWE. The antidiabetic effect of grape pomace bioactives opens new opportunities for the exploitation of these agri-food wastes in food nutrition, the next step towards reaching a circular economy in grape products.
Development of an Icariin-Loaded Bilosome-Melittin Formulation with Improved Anticancer Activity against Cancerous Pancreatic Cells
Authors: Alhakamy Nabil A. , Badr-Eldin Shaimaa M. , Alharbi Waleed S. , Alfaleh Mohamed A. , Al-hejaili Omar D. , Aldawsari Hibah M. , Eid Basma G. , Bakhaidar Rana , Drago Filippo , Caraci Filippo , Caruso Giuseppe
Published: December 2021

Pancreatic cancer currently represents a severe issue for the entire world. Therefore, much effort has been made to develop an effective treatment against it. Emerging evidence has shown that icariin, a flavonoid glycoside, is an effective anti-pancreatic cancer drug. Melittin, as a natural active biomolecule, has also shown to possess anticancer activities. In the present study, with the aim to increase its effectiveness against cancerous cells, icariin-loaded bilosome-melittin (ICA-BM) was developed. For the selection of an optimized ICA-BM, an experimental design was implemented, which provided an optimized formulation with a particle size equal to 158.4 nm. After estimation of the release pattern, the anti-pancreatic cancer efficacy of this new formulation was evaluated. The MTT assay was employed for the determination of half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50), providing smaller IC50 for ICA-BM (2.79 ± 0.2 µM) compared to blank-BM and ICA-Raw (free drug) against PNAC1, a human pancreatic cancer cell line isolated from a pancreatic carcinoma of ductal cell origin. Additionally, cell cycle analysis for ICA-BM demonstrated cell arrest at the S-phase and pre-G1 phase, which indicated a pro-apoptotic behavior of the new developed formulation. The pro-apoptotic and anti-proliferative activity of the optimized ICA-BM against PNAC1 cells was also demonstrated through annexin V staining as well as estimation of caspase-3 and p53 protein levels. It can be concluded that the optimized ICA-BM formulation significantly improved the efficacy of icariin against cancerous pancreatic cells.
Mulberry Leaf Polyphenol Extract and Rutin Induces Autophagy Regulated by p53 in Human Hepatoma HepG2 Cells
Authors: Yu Meng-Hsun , Tsai Ming-Chang , Wang Chi-Chih , Wu Sheng-Wen , Chang Ya-Ju , Wu Cheng-Hsun , Wang Chau-Jong
Published: December 2021

The edible leaves of the mulberry (Morus alba L.) plant are used worldwide. They contain abundant polyphenolic compounds with strong anticancer properties. We previously revealed that apoptosis was mediated in p53-negative Hep3B cells, and mulberry leaf polyphenol extract (MLPE) induced autophagy in p53-transfected Hep3B cells. However, how this autophagy is induced by p53 in human hepatoma HepG2 (p53 wild type) cells remains unclear. In the current study, MLPE induced autophagy, as demonstrated by enhanced acidic vesicular organelle staining, by upregulating beclin-1, increasing LC3-II conversion, and phosphorylating AMPK. In HepG2 cells, these processes were associated with p53. Western blot also revealed phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K), p-AKT, and fatty acid synthase (FASN) suppression in MLPE-treated cells. Moreover, treatment with the p53 inhibitor pifithrin-α (PFT-α) inhibited autophagy and increased apoptotic response in MLPE-treated HepG2 cells. PFT-α treatment also reversed MLPE-induced PI3K, p-AKT, and FASN suppression. Thus, co-treatment with MLPE and PFT-α significantly increased caspase-3, caspase-8, and cytochrome c release, indicating that p53 deficiency caused the apoptosis. In addition, rutin, a bioactive polyphenol in MLPE, may affect autophagy in HepG2 cells. This study demonstrates that MLPE is a potential anticancer agent targeting autophagy and apoptosis in cells with p53 status. Moreover, this work provides insight into the mechanism of p53 action in MLPE-induced cytotoxicity in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Expanding the Diversity at the C-4 Position of Pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7(8H)-ones to Achieve Biological Activity against ZAP-70
Authors: Masip Victor , Lirio Ángel , Sánchez-López Albert , Cuenca Ana B. , Puig de la Bellacasa Raimon , Abrisqueta Pau , Teixidó Jordi , Borrell José I. , Gibert Albert , Estrada-Tejedor Roger
Published: December 2021

Pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7(8H)-ones have attracted widespread interest due to their similarity with nitrogenous bases found in DNA and RNA and their potential applicability as tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Such structures, presenting up to five diversity centers, have allowed the synthesis of a wide range of differently substituted compounds; however, the diversity at the C4 position has mostly been limited to a few substituents. In this paper, a general synthetic methodology for the synthesis of 4-substituted-2-(phenylamino)-5,6-dihydropyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7(8H)-ones is described. By using cross-coupling reactions, such as Ullmann, Buchwald–Hartwig, Suzuki–Miyaura, or Sonogashira reactions, catalyzed by Cu or Pd, we were able to describe new potential biologically active compounds. The resulting pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7(8H)-ones include N-alkyl, N-aryl, O-aryl, S-aryl, aryl, and arylethynyl substituents at C4, which have never been explored in connection with the biological activity of such heterocycles as tyrosine kinase inhibitors, in particular as ZAP-70 inhibitors.
Identification of Phytoconstituents as Potent Inhibitors of Casein Kinase-1 Alpha Using Virtual Screening and Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Shafie Alaa , Khan Shama , Zehra  , Mohammad Taj , Anjum Farah , Hasan Gulam Mustafa , Yadav Dharmendra Kumar , Hassan Md. Imtaiyaz
Published: December 2021

Casein kinase-1 alpha (CK1α) is a multifunctional protein kinase that belongs to the serine/threonine kinases of the CK1α family. It is involved in various signaling pathways associated with chromosome segregation, cell metabolism, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, autophagy, etc. It has been known to involve in the progression of many diseases, including cancer, neurodegeneration, obesity, and behavioral disorders. The elevated expression of CK1α in diseased conditions facilitates its selective targeting for therapeutic management. Here, we have performed virtual screening of phytoconstituents from the IMPPAT database seeking potential inhibitors of CK1α. First, a cluster of compounds was retrieved based on physicochemical parameters following Lipinski’s rules and PAINS filter. Further, high-affinity hits against CK1α were obtained based on their binding affinity score. Furthermore, the ADMET, PAINS, and PASS evaluation was carried out to select more potent hits. Finally, following the interaction analysis, we elucidated three phytoconstituents, Semiglabrinol, Curcusone_A, and Liriodenine, posturing considerable affinity and specificity towards the CK1α binding pocket. The result was further evaluated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, dynamical cross-correlation matrix (DCCM), and principal components analysis (PCA), which revealed that binding of the selected compounds, especially Semiglabrinol, stabilizes CK1α and leads to fewer conformational fluctuations. The MM-PBSA analysis suggested an appreciable binding affinity of all three compounds toward CK1α.
Gibberellic Acid and Jasmonic Acid Improve Salt Tolerance in Summer Squash by Modulating Some Physiological Parameters Symptomatic for Oxidative Stress and Mineral Nutrition
Authors: Al-harthi Mashael M. , Bafeel Sameera O. , El-Zohri Manal
Published: December 2021

Gibberellic acid (GA) and jasmonic acid (JA) are considered to be endogenous regulators that play a vital role in regulating plant responses to stress conditions. This study investigated the ameliorative role of GA, JA, and the GA + JA mixture in mitigating the detrimental effect of salinity on the summer squash plant. In order to explore the physiological mechanisms of salt stress alleviation carried out by exogenous GA and JA, seed priming with 1.5 mM GA, 0.005 mM JA, and their mixture was performed; then the germinated summer squash seedlings were exposed to 50 mM NaCl. The results showed that a 50 mM NaCl treatment significantly reduced shoot and root fresh and dry weight, water content (%), the concentration of carotenoid (Car), nucleic acids, K+, and Mg++, the K+/Na+ ratio, and the activity of catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), while it increased the concentration of proline, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), Na+, and Cl− in summer squash plants, when compared with the control. However, seed priming with GA, JA and the GA + JA mixture significantly improved summer squash salt tolerance by reducing the concentration of Na+ and Cl−, TBARS, and the Chl a/b ratio and by increasing the activity of superoxide dismutase, CAT, and APX, the quantities of K+ and Mg++, the K+/Na+ ratio, and the quantities of RNA, DNA, chlorophyll b, and Car, which, in turn, ameliorated the growth of salinized plants. These findings suggest that GA and JA are able to efficiently defend summer squash plants from salinity destruction by adjusting nutrient uptake and increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes in order to decrease reactive oxygen species accumulation due to salinity stress; these findings offer a practical intervention for summer squash cultivation in salt-affected soils. Synergistic effects of the GA and JA combination were not clearly observed, and JA alleviated most of the studied traits associated with salinity stress induced in summer squash more efficiently than GA or the GA + JA mixture.
Structural and Functional Insights into the Role of Guard Cell Ion Channels in Abiotic Stress-Induced Stomatal Closure
Authors: Kashtoh Hamdy , Baek Kwang-Hyun
Published: December 2021

A stomatal pore is formed by a pair of specialized guard cells and serves as a major gateway for water transpiration and atmospheric CO2 influx for photosynthesis in plants. These pores must be tightly controlled, as inadequate CO2 intake and excessive water loss are devastating for plants. When the plants are exposed to extreme weather conditions such as high CO2 levels, O3, low air humidity, and drought, the turgor pressure of the guard cells exhibits an appropriate response against these stresses, which leads to stomatal closure. This phenomenon involves a complex network of ion channels and their regulation. It is well-established that the turgor pressure of guard cells is regulated by ions transportation across the membrane, such as anions and potassium ions. In this review, the guard cell ion channels are discussed, highlighting the structure and functions of key ion channels; the SLAC1 anion channel and KAT1 potassium channel, and their regulatory components, emphasizing their significance in guard cell response to various stimuli.
Three-Dimensional Porous Scaffolds Derived from Bovine Cancellous Bone Matrix Promote Osteoinduction, Osteoconduction, and Osteogenesis
Authors: Malagón-Escandón Alda , Hautefeuille Mathieu , Jimenez-Díaz Edgar , Arenas-Alatorre Jesus , Saniger José Manuel , Badillo-Ramírez Isidro , Vazquez Nadia , Piñón-Zarate Gabriela , Castell-Rodríguez Andrés
Published: December 2021

The use of three-dimensional porous scaffolds derived from decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) is increasing for functional repair and regeneration of injured bone tissue. Because these scaffolds retain their native structures and bioactive molecules, in addition to showing low immunogenicity and good biodegradability, they can promote tissue repair and regeneration. Nonetheless, imitating these features in synthetic materials represents a challenging task. Furthermore, due to the complexity of bone tissue, different processes are necessary to maintain these characteristics. We present a novel approach using decellularized ECM material derived from bovine cancellous bone by demineralization, decellularization, and hydrolysis of collagen to obtain a three-dimensional porous scaffold. This study demonstrates that the three-dimensional porous scaffold obtained from bovine bone retained its osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties and presented osteogenic potential when seeded with human Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stromal cells (hWJ-MSCs). Based on its characteristics, the scaffold described in this work potentially represents a therapeutic strategy for bone repair.
Lab-Scale Twin-Screw Micro-Compounders as a New Rubber-Mixing Tool: ‘A Comparison on EPDM/Carbon Black and EPDM/Silica Composites’
Authors: Yazıcı Nazlı , Kodal Mehmet , Özkoç Güralp
Published: December 2021

The research and development (R&D) in rubber formulation development require reproducible, repeatable, fast, accurate, and efficient sample preparation. The lab-scale formulation development is conventionally carried out using small-scale internal mixers and two-roll mills. However, high torque laboratory twin-screw micro-compounder, which have been serving the plastic industry for more than 30 years, can be used to formulate new rubber compounds for fast and accurate sample preparation that on top can contribute to the economics of R&D. In this study, we investigated the possibility of using lab-scale 15 mL high torque twin-screw micro-compounder as a tool for new rubber compound development. For this purpose, we formulated EPDM/carbon black and EPDM/silica recipes through conventional way using a Banbury mixer followed by a two-roll mill, and through the possible way using a lab-scale 15 mL twin-screw micro-compounder. We crosslinked both systems via hot press at a predefined temperature and time. The rheological and mechanical properties of the compounds were investigated. Moreover, the dispersion of carbon black and silica in the EPDM matrix was judged by DisperGrader and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The conventional way of sample preparation was compared with a possible sample preparation method based on materials’ parameters and ease of operation.
Application of Nanotechnology to Improve the Performance of Biodegradable Biopolymer-Based Packaging Materials
Authors: Khezerlou Arezou , Tavassoli Milad , Alizadeh Sani Mahmood , Mohammadi Keyhan , Ehsani Ali , McClements David Julian
Published: December 2021

There is great interest in developing biodegradable biopolymer-based packaging materials whose functional performance is enhanced by incorporating active compounds into them, such as light blockers, plasticizers, crosslinkers, diffusion blockers, antimicrobials, antioxidants, and sensors. However, many of these compounds are volatile, chemically unstable, water-insoluble, matrix incompatible, or have adverse effects on film properties, which makes them difficult to directly incorporate into the packaging materials. These challenges can often be overcome by encapsulating the active compounds within food-grade nanoparticles, which are then introduced into the packaging materials. The presence of these nanoencapsulated active compounds in biopolymer-based coatings or films can greatly improve their functional performance. For example, anthocyanins can be used as light-blockers to retard oxidation reactions, or they can be used as pH/gas/temperature sensors to produce smart indicators to monitor the freshness of packaged foods. Encapsulated botanical extracts (like essential oils) can be used to increase the shelf life of foods due to their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. The resistance of packaging materials to external factors can be improved by incorporating plasticizers (glycerol, sorbitol), crosslinkers (glutaraldehyde, tannic acid), and fillers (nanoparticles or nanofibers). Nanoenabled delivery systems can also be designed to control the release of active ingredients (such as antimicrobials or antioxidants) into the packaged food over time, which may extend their efficacy. This article reviews the different kinds of nanocarriers available for loading active compounds into these types of packaging materials and then discusses their impact on the optical, mechanical, thermal, barrier, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of the packaging materials. Furthermore, it highlights the different kinds of bioactive compounds that can be incorporated into biopolymer-based packaging.
Future-Oriented Experimental Characterization of 3D Printed and Conventional Elastomers Based on Their Swelling Behavior
Authors: Loos Klara , Bruère Vivianne Marie , Demmel Benedikt , Ilmberger Yvonne , Lion Alexander , Johlitz Michael
Published: December 2021

The present study investigates different elastomers with regard to their behavior towards liquids such as moisture, fuels, or fuel components. First, four additively manufactured materials are examined in detail with respect to their swelling in the fuel component toluene as well as in water. The chemical nature of the materials is elucidated by means of infrared spectroscopy. The experimentally derived absorption curves of the materials in the liquids are described mathematically using Fick’s diffusion law. The mechanical behavior is determined by uniaxial tensile tests, which are evaluated on the basis of stress and strain at break. The results of the study allow for deriving valuable recommendations regarding the printing process and postprocessing. Second, this article investigates the swelling behavior of new as well as thermo-oxidatively aged elastomers in synthetic fuels. For this purpose, an analysis routine is presented using sorption experiments combined with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry and is thus capable of analyzing the swelling behavior multifacetted. The transition of elastomer constituents into the surrounding fuel at different aging and sorption times is determined precisely. The change in mechanical properties is quantified using density measurements, micro Shore A hardness measurements, and the parameters stress and strain at break from uniaxial tensile tests.
Water-Activated Semiquinone Formation and Carboxylic Acid Dissociation in Melanin Revealed by Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Bedran Zakhar V. , Zhukov Sergey S. , Abramov Pavel A. , Tyurenkov Ilya O. , Gorshunov Boris P. , Mostert A. Bernardus , Motovilov Konstantin A.
Published: December 2021

Eumelanin is a widespread biomacromolecule pigment in the biosphere and has been widely investigated for numerous bioelectronics and energetic applications. Many of these applications depend on eumelanin’s ability to conduct proton current at various levels of hydration. The origin of this behavior is connected to a comproportionation reaction between oxidized and reduced monomer moieties and water. A hydration-dependent FTIR spectroscopic study on eumelanin is presented herein, which allows for the first time tracking the comproportionation reaction via the gradual increase of the overall aromaticity of melanin monomers in the course of hydration. We identified spectral features associated with the presence of specific “one and a half” C𝌁O bonds, typical for o-semiquinones. Signatures of semiquinone monomers with internal hydrogen bonds and that carboxylic groups, in contrast to semiquinones, begin to dissociate at the very beginning of melanin hydration were indicated. As such, we suggest a modification to the common hydration-dependent conductivity mechanism and propose that the conductivity at low hydration is dominated by carboxylic acid protons, whereas higher hydration levels manifest semiquinone protons.
Automated Essay Scoring Using Transformer Models
Authors: Ludwig Sabrina , Mayer Christian , Hansen Christopher , Eilers Kerstin , Brandt Steffen
Published: December 2021

Automated essay scoring (AES) is gaining increasing attention in the education sector as it significantly reduces the burden of manual scoring and allows ad hoc feedback for learners. Natural language processing based on machine learning has been shown to be particularly suitable for text classification and AES. While many machine-learning approaches for AES still rely on a bag of words (BOW) approach, we consider a transformer-based approach in this paper, compare its performance to a logistic regression model based on the BOW approach, and discuss their differences. The analysis is based on 2088 email responses to a problem-solving task that were manually labeled in terms of politeness. Both transformer models considered in the analysis outperformed without any hyperparameter tuning of the regression-based model. We argue that, for AES tasks such as politeness classification, the transformer-based approach has significant advantages, while a BOW approach suffers from not taking word order into account and reducing the words to their stem. Further, we show how such models can help increase the accuracy of human raters, and we provide a detailed instruction on how to implement transformer-based models for one’s own purposes.
Global Change of Land-Sparing and Land-Sharing Patterns over the Past 30 Years: Evidence from Remote Sensing and Statistics
Authors: Zhao Jianqiao , Cao Yue , Yu Le
Published: December 2021

Agricultural expansion, driven by the increasing demand on crops, poses a severe threat to the global environment and to human welfare. Regarded as an effective landscape pattern for balancing biodiversity and food security, land sparing bears high expectations from ecologists. To reflect the spatial-temporal pattern change of land sparing, we calculate a land sparing/sharing (LSS) index on the basis of a remote sensing dataset. The land-sparing pattern has shown an apparent increasing trend globally, especially in hotspots, including the eastern United States, central South America, northern Europe, Kazakhstan, southeastern China, and the Korean Peninsula. Meanwhile, the land-sharing pattern has been increasing in some other regions, including in the southeast of South America, western Europe, central Europe, southern Europe, and northwestern China. However, according to statistical datasets, contrary to the overall increasing trend of land sparing, passive land sparing, incentivized by lower food prices due to increased yields, is decreasing, especially in countries with high levels of development. Our results reveal the global trends in land sparing and passive land sparing, providing support for balancing biodiversity conservation and food security among countries and ecoregions.
Three Dual-Frequency Precise Point Positioning Models for the Ionospheric Modeling and Satellite Pseudorange Observable-Specific Signal Bias Estimation
Authors: Su Ke , Jin Shuanggen
Published: December 2021

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Precise Point Positioning (PPP) enables the estimation the ionospheric vertical total electron content (VTEC) as well as the by-product of the satellite Pseudorange observable-specific signal bias (OSB). The single-frequency PPP models, with the ionosphere-float and ionosphere-free approaches in ionospheric studies, have recently been discussed by the authors. However, the multi-frequency observations can improve the performances of the ionospheric research compared with the single-frequency approaches. This paper presents three dual-frequency PPP approaches using the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) B1I/B3I observations to investigate ionospheric activities. Datasets collected from the globally distributed stations are used to evaluate the performance of the ionospheric modeling with the ionospheric single- and multi-layer mapping functions (MFs), respectively. The characteristics of the estimated ionospheric VTEC and BDS satellite pseudorange OSB are both analyzed. The results indicated that the three dual-frequency PPP models could all be applied to the ionospheric studies, among which the dual-frequency ionosphere-float PPP model exhibits the best performance. The three dual-frequency PPP models all possess the capacity for ionospheric applications in the GNSS community.
How Well Do We Know Europa’s Topography? An Evaluation of the Variability in Digital Terrain Models of Europa
Authors: Bland Michael T. , Kirk Randolph L. , Galuszka Donna M. , Mayer David P. , Beyer Ross A. , Fergason Robin L.
Published: December 2021

Jupiter’s moon Europa harbors one of the most likely environments for extant extraterrestrial life. Determining whether Europa is truly habitable requires understanding the structure and thickness of its ice shell, including the existence of perched water or brines. Stereo-derived topography from images acquired by NASA Galileo’s Solid State Imager (SSI) of Europa are often used as a constraint on ice shell structure and heat flow, but the uncertainty in such topography has, to date, not been rigorously assessed. To evaluate the current uncertainty in Europa’s topography we generated and compared digital terrain models (DTMs) of Europa from SSI images using both the open-source Ames Stereo Pipeline (ASP) software and the commercial SOCET SET® software. After first describing the criteria for assessing stereo quality in detail, we qualitatively and quantitatively describe both the horizontal resolution and vertical precision of the DTMs. We find that the horizontal resolution of the SOCET SET® DTMs is typically 8–11× the root mean square (RMS) pixel scale of the images, whereas the resolution of the ASP DTMs is 9–13× the maximum pixel scale of the images. We calculate the RMS difference between the ASP and SOCET SET® DTMs as a proxy for the expected vertical precision (EP), which is a function of the matching accuracy and stereo geometry. We consistently find that the matching accuracy is ~0.5 pixels, which is larger than well-established “rules of thumb” that state that the matching accuracy is 0.2–0.3 pixels. The true EP is therefore ~1.7× larger than might otherwise be assumed. In most cases, DTM errors are approximately normally distributed, and errors that are several times the derived EP occur as expected. However, in two DTMs, larger errors (differences) occur and correlate with real topography. These differences primarily result from manual editing of the SOCET SET® DTMs. The product of the DTM error and the resolution is typically 4–8 pixel2 if calculated using the RMS image scale for SOCET SET® DTMs and the maximum images scale for the ASP DTMs, which is consistent with recent work using martian data sets and suggests that the relationship applies more broadly. We evaluate how ASP parameters affect DTM quality and find that using a smaller subpixel refinement kernel results in DTMs with smaller (better) resolution but, in some cases, larger gaps, which are sometimes reduced by increasing the size of the correlation kernel. We conclude that users of ASP should always systematically evaluate the choice of parameters for a given dataset.
Correction: Huang et al. Deep-Learning Based Label-Free Classification of Activated and Inactivated Neutrophils for Rapid Immune State Monitoring. Sensors 2021, 21, 512
Authors: Huang Xiwei , Jeon Hyungkook , Liu Jixuan , Yao Jiangfan , Wei Maoyu , Han Wentao , Chen Jin , Sun Lingling , Han Jongyoon
Published: December 2021

The authors wish to make the following correction to their paper [...]