bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bee Venom Acupuncture Therapy Ameliorates Neuroinflammatory Alterations in a Pilocarpine-Induced Epilepticus Model
Authors: El-Hameed Abeer Mohamed Abd , Abuelsaad Abdelaziz S. A. , Khalil Abdelwahab 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: Bee venom (BV) is applied in different traditional medicinal therapies and is used worldwide to prevent and treat many acute and chronic diseases. Epilepsy has various neurological effects, e.g., epileptogenic insults; thus, it is considered a life-threatening condition. Seizures and their effects add to the burden of epilepsy because they can have health effects including residual disability and even premature mortality. The use of antiinflammatory drugs to treat epilepsy is controversial; therefore, the alternative nonchemical apitherapy benefits of BV were evaluated in the present study by assessing neuroinflammatory changes in a pilocarpine-induced epilepticus model. Methods: Levels of electrolytes, neurotransmitters, and mRNA expression for some gate channels were determined. Moreover, ELISA assays were conducted to detect pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, whereas RT-PCR was performed to assess mRNA expression of Foxp3 and CTLA-4.Results: BV ameliorated the interruption in electrolytes and ions through voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels, and it limited neuronal excitability via rapid repolarization of action potentials. In addition, BV inhibited the high expression of proinflammatory cytokines.Conclusions: Acupuncture with BV was effective in preventing some of the deleterious consequences of epileptogenesis associated with high levels of glutamate and DOPA in the hippocampus. BV ameliorates changes in the expression of voltage-gated channels, rebalances blood electrolytes and neurotransmitters, and modulates the levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Thus, BV could reduce the progression of epileptogenesis as a cotherapy with other antiepileptic drugs.
Preparation of Folic Acid-conjugated Albumin Nanoparticles Containing Paclitaxel using High-pressure Homogenisation Coagulation Method
Authors: Chu Yan , Chai Shuo , Pan Hong , Qian Jiayi , Han Cuiyan , Sui Xiaoyu , Liu Tingting 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
In this study, we prepared and evaluated folic acid-conjugated albumin-paclitaxel (FA-BSA-PTX) nanoparticles using a new green technique, called the high-pressure homogenisation coagulation method (HPHCM). The effect of process parameters such as BSA concentration, coagulant concentration, homogenisation time, homogenisation pressure, water/ethanol ratio, and BSA/PTX ratio was analysed to optimise nanoparticle size, albumin conversion rate, and encapsulation efficiency. BSA concentration was found to exert a great influence on albumin conversion rate and particle size. Meanwhile, the BSA/PTX ratio significantly affected the nanoparticle encapsulation efficiency. Electron microscopy showed that the freeze-dried particles mostly existed in the form of dimers and trimers with an average particle size of 300–400 nm. Infrared spectroscopy indicated that PTX was well encapsulated in BSA. Raman spectra of the synthesised nanoparticles indicated changes in the disulphide bond configuration and protein structure. In vitro drug-release analysis showed that crosslinked nanoparticles exhibited a sustained release. Furthermore, in vitro cell-uptake studies on HeLa cells showed that FA can be used as a targeting ligand for albumin carriers to enhance the active targeting effect of the nanoparticles with a high FR expression. These results suggest that HPHCM is an effective method to prepare FA-BSA-PTX drug-delivery systems.
Updating seismic hazard models for Kuwait
Authors: el-aal Abd el-aziz Khairy Abd , Mostafa Shaimaa Ismail , Al-Enezi Abdullah , Al-Jeri Farah , Al-Sayegh Ammar 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
The valuable results from this research are the first and essential step for assessing seismic risk in Kuwait. The increase in the urban development and construction of tall buildings and skyscrapers in Kuwait necessitated an estimate of the seismic risk for creating a unified seismic code for Kuwait. This research comes to make the necessarily step by assessing the seismic hazard and deaggregation in the State of Kuwait. For this purpose, the historical and instrumental seismic catalogs of Kuwait and the active Zagros Seismic Belt were primarily compiled, unifying the magnitudes, removing unnecessary earthquakes (seismicity declustering) and considering the completeness of the catalogs. Multi-seismotectonic models for Kuwait region incorporate earthquake focal mechanisms, seismicity pattern, and structural geological situation have been created to reduce epistemic uncertainty. The recurrence parameters as well as the maximum expected earthquake from each seismic source were fundamentally estimated. Appropriate ground motion attenuation relation within a logic tree formulation was mainly used in creating hazard maps. A state-of-the-art probabilistic approach is used herein to produce hazard maps at return periods of 75, 475, 975 and 2475 years (equivalent to 50%, 10%, 5% and 2%, respectively, probability of exceedance in 50 years) at periods of PGA, 0.1, 1 and 4 seconds. The computations of hazard maps were constructed using spacing grid of 0.2° × 0.2° all over the Kuwait area. Uniform hazard spectrum and deaggregation charts have been adopted for all six governorates of Kuwait. These results with vulnerability index are the main components for estimating the seismic risk of Kuwait.
Highly Transmission Efficiency of Optoelectronic Devices Using Active Hybrid Plasmonic Coupler
Authors: elbialy samar elsayed , Yousif Bedir , Samra Ahmed 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
This paper discusses modeling and optimizing the performance of hybrid plasmonic bidirectional coupler which is used as a basic building block in modeling highly transmission efficiency of optoelectronic devices such as filter, wavelength division multiplexer, logic gates and switching matrix with a help of an active material (indium tin oxide) that has an electrically-adjustable permittivity. All the proposed devices satisfied high transmission efficiencies at the desired output ports over a suitable wavelength range. The realized structures are characterized and simulated by 3D finite-difference time-domain (FDTD). The components would be useful in the optical interconnect networks, photonic integrated circuits and signal processing system.
Spontaneously Sn Doped Bi/BiOx Core–shell Nanowires Toward High-Performance CO2 Electroreduction to Formate
Authors: Zhao Yang , Liu Xunlin , Liu Zhixiao , Lin Xin , Lan Jiao , Zhang Yanlong , Lu YR , Peng Ming , Chan Ting-Shan , Tan Yongwen 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Electrochemical CO2 reduction to formate using renewable electricity provides a promising strategy to product value-added carbon-based fuels and feedstocks. However, it still remains a grand challenge to further reduce the cathodic potentials and increase current density for the large-scale practical applications of formate. Herein, we report that spontaneously Sn doped Bi/BiOx nanowires (denoted as Bi/Bi(Sn)Ox NWs) are prepared from electrochemical dealloying strategy. The Bi/Bi(Sn)Ox NWs exhibit impressive CO2 electroreduction activity to formate with a Faradaic efficiency (FE) > 92% from -0.5 to -0.9 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), and achieve a current density of 301.4 mA cm-2 at -1.0 V vs. RHE under gas diffusion cell configuration. In-situ Raman spectroscopy and theory calculations reveal that the incorporation of Sn atoms into BiOx species modulates the electron states of Bi, allowing the *OCHO intermediate to favorably adsorb onto the reconstructed Bi(Sn)Ox surface while promotes formate generation by suppressing the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction. This work provides effective in-situ construction of the metal/metal oxide hybrid composites with heteroatom doping and offers insights in promoting practical CO2 conversion technology.
Confirmation of Rpp Genes Conferring Resistance to Asian Soybean Rust and Mapping of Rpp1 Allele from PI 594723
Authors: Meira Daniela , Batti Vinícius de B. Bez , Woyann Leomar G. , Milioli Anderson Simionato , Bozi Antonio Henrique , Beche Eduardo , Panho Maiara Cecilia , Barrionuevo Fabiana , Madella Laura Alexandra , Malone Gaspar , Júnior Salvador L. Brito , Finatto Taciane , Benin Giovani 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
In this study, we aim to develop and validate KASP molecular markers in soybean populations for Asian soybean rust (ASR) resistance gene Rpp1 (PI 200492, PI 594538A, PI 587880A), identify the gene hypothetically present in PI 594723, and validate KASP markers for Rpp2 (PI 230970), Rpp3 (PI 506764), Rpp4 (PI 459025A), and Rpp5 (PI 506764, PI 200487). Ten F2 soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) populations derived from crosses between rust-susceptible (55I57RSF IPRO, 63I64RSF IPRO) x rust-resistant sources (PI 200492, PI 594738A, PI 587880A, PI 594723, PI 230970, PI 506764, PI 459025A and PI 200487) were evaluated. All F2 plants were individually evaluated in field conditions for ASR phenotypic reactions, classified according to sporulation level. SNP markers were developed according to markers associated with Rpp genes available at the SoyBase, using KASP methodology. Based on a slight difference in map position and different phenotypic disease reactions of PI 200492, the authors suggest that PI 594723 carries a resistance gene Rpp1-b. The Rpp1-b gene from PI 594723 was mapped in Chr 18 in a 12.4 cM region. The PIs carrying Rpp1-b (PI 594723, PI 587880A, and 594538A) showed strong resistance to ASR compared to the lines carrying Rpp1 (PI 200492). A total of 26 KASP markers were significantly associated (P < 0.01) with ASR. Among those, M1, M5 and M6 (Rpp1), M13 and M14 (Rpp2), M16, M17 and M20 (Rpp3), M25 and M26 (Rpp4), and M27 and M28 (Rpp5) have the potential to be used in marker-assisted selection strategies.
Interaction Between Genetic Predisposition, Smoking, and Dementia Risk: A Population-based Cohort Study
Authors: Zhang Na , Ranson Janice , Zheng Zhi-Jie , Hannon Eilis , Zhou Zhenwei , Kong Xuejun , Llewellyn David , King Daniel , Huang Jie 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study to evaluate whether the association between cigarette smoking and dementia risk is modified by genetic predisposition including apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype and polygenic risk (without APOE gene). We included 193,198 UK Biobank participants aged 60 to 73 years without dementia at baseline who were recruited from 2006 to 2010 and followed until 2018. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards model. The cohort was followed up for 1,700,886 person-years (median [interquartile range] follow-up, 9.0 [8.3-9.7] years). 1788 participants with incident dementia cases were detected. Of non-APOE-ε4 carriers, 0.89% (95% CI, 0.73%-1.08%) current smokers developed dementia compared with 0.49% (95% CI, 0.44%-0.55%) of never smokers (adjusted HR 1.78; 95% CI, 1.39-2.29). Of participants with high polygenic risk, 1.77% (95% CI, 1.35%-2.27%) current smokers developed dementia compared with 1.05% (95% CI, 0.91%-1.21%) of never smokers (adjusted HR 1.63; 95% CI, 1.16-2.28). A significant interaction was found between APOE genotype and smoking status (P = 0.002) while no significant interaction was identified between polygenic risk and smoking status on risk of dementia (P = 0.25). APOE genotype while not polygenic risk modified the effect of smoking on dementia risk.
Computational Study on Novel Natural Inhibitors Targeting c-MET
Authors: Ge Junliang , Wu Bo , Yang Wenzhuo , Zhong Sheng , Hou Yuanyuan , Ren Junan , Li Juncheng , Wang Jing , Dou Gaojing , Zhang Zhiyun , Wang Xinhui , Mou Yonggao 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Object This study was designed to select ideal lead compounds and preclinical drug candidates with inhibitory effect on c-MET from the drug library (ZINC database).Methods A battery of computer-aided virtual techniques were used to identify possible inhibitors of c-MET. LibDock is applied for structure-based screening followed by ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolic, excretion) and toxicity prediction. Molecular docking was conducted to confirm the binding affinity mechanism between the ligand and c-MET Molecular dynamics simulations were used to assess the stability of ligand-c-MET complexes.Results Two new natural compounds ZINC000005879645 and ZINC000002528509 were found to bind to c-MET in ZINC database, showing higher binding affinity. In addition, they were predicted to have lower rodent carcinogenicity, Ames mutagenicity, developmental toxicity potential, and high tolerance to cytochrome P4502D6. Molecular dynamics simulation shows that ZINC000005879645 and ZINC000002528509 have more favorable potential energies with c-MET, which could exist stably in the natural environment.Conclusion This study suggests that ZINC000005879645 and ZINC000002528509 are ideal latent inhibitors of c-MET targeting. As drug candidates, these two compounds have great security and important implications for the design and improvement of c-MET target drugs.
Production of a β-glucosidase-Rich Cocktail from Talaromyces Amestolkiae using Raw Glycerol: Its Role for Lignocellulose Wastes Valorization
Authors: Méndez-Líter Juan Antonio , de Eugenio Laura Isabel , Hakalin Neumara , Prieto Alicia A , Martínez María Jesús 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Background: As β-glucosidases represent the major bottleneck for industrial degradation of plant biomass, great efforts are being devoted both to discover novel and robust versions of these enzymes, as well as to develop efficient and inexpensive ways to produce them. In this work, raw glycerol from chemical production of biodiesel was tested as carbon source for the fungus Talaromyces amestolkiae with the aim of producing enzyme cocktails rich in this activity. Results: When using raw glycerol as sole carbon source, approximately 11 U/mL β-glucosidase were detected in these cultures, constituting the major cellulolytic activity. Besides, it was detected that the enzymatic production started when glycerol was completely depleted, which implicates that it was produced under carbon starvation stimuli. Proteomic analysis of the produced crudes revealed BGL-3 as the most abundant protein and the main b-glucosidase. This enzymatic cocktail was successfully used to supplement a basal commercial cellulolytic cocktail (Celluclast 1.5L) for saccharification of different pretreated wheat straw, and improving the yield that the commercial preparation can reach alone.Conclusions: This study corroborates that even hardly exploitable industrial wastes, such as glycerol, can be used by Talaromyces amestolkiae as carbon sources to produce very valuable enzymatic preparations for the production of biofuels and other bioproducts in a framework of circular economy.
Collective Outbreak of Severe Acute Histoplasmosis in Immunocompetent Chinese: The Clinical characteristics and Continuous Monitoring of Serum Cytokines/Chemokines
Authors: Peng Yin-yin , Guo Shu-liang , yan Xiao-feng , Zhang Lv-lang , Wang Jing , Yuan Guo-dan , Qing Gang , Xu Lu-lu , Cao Ju 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: Acute histoplasmosis is a rare fungal disease and is likely to be misdiagnosed in clinic. In this paper we attempted to find some easy potential specific diagnostic and disease severity predictors of acute histoplasmosis, on the basis of so far the biggest collective outbreak of severe acute histoplasmosis by inhaled fungi in Chinese. Methods: 10 immunocompetent Chinese were infected when they were working in Guyana, South America. Their clinic characteristics, as well as their blood samples were collected for analysis, and then Person rank correlation was employed to check the associations between the indicators and their clinic conditions. Results: At admission, their CRP, PCT, LDH and CysC were increased, CD4/CD8 was decreased (<1), and β2-MG was increased in 9 of them. For cytokines and chemokines, IL-4 was always <1.3pg/ml, and the IL-12, INF-a, TNF-a were always less than reference values. The results of Person rank correlation analysis showed that β2-MG, CysC, G-test, N/L, LDH were in positive associations to CRP, PCT, which were significantly correlated to the disease severity as well. Then IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 were in positive associations to CRP, PCT, β2-MG, CysC, G-test, N/L, and LDH, too. Conclusions: β2-MG, CysC, N/L, LDH, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 may be reasonably potential diagnostic and disease severity predictors of acute histoplasmosis, but more examinations are still needed for further verification. More relevant indicators should also be taken into account for improving the accuracy of diagnosis and differential diagnosis.
Photocatalytic Activity and Filtration Performance of Hybrid TiO2-Cellulose Acetate Nanofibers for Air Filter Applications
Authors: Kwon Miyeon , Kim Juran 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

A facile method to prepare hybrid cellulose acetate nanofibers containing TiO2 (TiO2 -CA nanofiber) by emulsion electrospinning technique was developed for denitrification and the filtration of particulate matters (PMs). This work found that hybrid TiO2-CA nanofibers mainly contain the anatase form of TiO2, attributing to the photodecomposition of NO gas under UV irradiation. TiO2-CA nanofibers also showed excellent filtration efficiency of 99.5% for PM0.5 and photocatalytic efficiency of 78.6% for NO removal. Furthermore, the results implied the morphology of TiO2-CA nanofibers, such as micro-wrinkles and protrusions, increased the surface hydrophobicity up to 140° with increased addition of TiO2 nanoparticles. The proposed TiO2-CA nanofibers, as a result, would be promising materials of highly efficient and sustainable air filters for industrial and home appliance systems.
Preparation and characterization of a novel sulfonated titanium oxide incorporated Chitosan nanocomposite membranes for fuel cell application
Authors: Ahmed Saad , Hussain Amjad , Arshad Tasleem , Khan Muhammad , Zada Amir , Hassan Muhammad , Hussain Hidayat , Hussain Javid , Imran Muhammad , Ali Iftikhar , Ahmad Ikram , Ali Maroof , Ullah Hussain 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
In this study, nano-TiO2 sulfonated (STiO2) with 1,3-propanesultone was incorporated into the chitosan matrix for the fabrication of chitosan/STiO2 (C/STiO2) nanocomposite membranes. The grafting of sulfonic acid (–SO3H) groups was confirmed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermos-gravimetric analysis and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The physicochemical properties such as water uptake, swelling ratio, thermal and mechanical stability, ion exchange capacity and proton conductivity of the as prepared membranes were measured. The proton groups on the surface of TiO2 can form continuous proton conducting pathways along the C/STiO2 interface resulting in the improvement of proton conductivity of C/STiO2 nanocomposite membranes. The nanocomposite membrane with 5 % sulfonated TiO2 showed higher proton conductivity (0.035 S·cm-1) than commercial Nafion-117 membrane (0.033 S·cm-1) due to the strong interfacial interactions between -SO3H group of acid and hydroxyl group of TiO2. Further, the –NH2 groups of chitosan restrict the mobility of chitosan chains to enhance the thermal and mechanical stability of the nanocomposite membranes. These C/STiO2 nanocomposite membranes have promising applications in proton exchange membrane fuel cells.
Impact of Climate on Tea Production: A Study of the Dooars Region in India
Authors: Mallik Piyashee , Ghosh Tuhin 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
The Dooars region of West Bengal in India is a major tea producing region that contributes around 25% of the national tea yield. Changes in weather patterns along with the increased frequency of drought, storms, flood, etc. are likely to affect the tea industry adversely as tea production is reliant on the climate of the tea-growing region. In spite of the tea industry being the primary contributor of the Dooars economy, to date, the impact of climatic variables on tea yield in Dooars region remains unexplored. Here, we have developed a panel dataset that includes monthly data of the tea gardens of Dooars region over a 10-year period and statistically analysed the effects of climatic variables including temperature, precipitation, drought intensity, magnitude of warm-wet condition and precipitation intensity on tea yield. Overall, our seasonal analysis suggested that higher temperature during summer and monsoon seasons affected tea yield. Contrastingly, higher temperature during winter months and summer and winter rainfall were found to be beneficial for the increase in tea yield. An excessive and sporadic rainfall and a combination of hotter and wetter weather condition during monsoon months had a detrimental effect on tea yield. Finally, projections using climate models under different emission scenario predicted reduction of monsoon production under extreme carbon emission. The analyses and predictions of our study will be beneficial for tea garden managers of Dooars region in particular and northern India in general in adopting strategies to prevent the tea plantations from being affected due to climate change.
Association Between Covid-19 and Heart Failure: Evidence From a Two-sample Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Wang Huachen , Guo Zheng , Zheng Yulu , Chen Bing 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: Current research observing inconsistent associations of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) with heart failure (HF) are prone to bias based on reverse causality and residual confounding factors. Our aim was to apply a two-sample Mendelian randomization method to investigate whether COVID-19 has a causal effect on HF. Methods: Twenty-nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were proposed as candidate instrumental variables (IVs). A total of 3,523 patients with COVID-19 and 36,634 control participants were included in the genome-wide meta-analysis. We analyzed the largest genome-wide association studies (GWAS) meta-analysis of heart failure in individuals of European ancestry consisting of 47,309 patients with HF and 930,014 controls. The inverse variance weighted (IVW), the Mendelian randomization-Egger (MR-Egger) regression, the simple mode (SM), weighted median, and weighted mode were utilized for the MR analysis to test the stability and a causal effect. Results: The IVW, MR-Egger regression, SM, weighted median and weighted mode demonstrated there was no association between the genetically predicted COVID-19 infection and HF risk (OR, 1.004; 95%CI, 0.994-1.014; P=0.467; OR, 1.008; 95%CI, 0.996-1.019; P=0.218; OR, 0.968; 95%CI, 0.924-1.015; P=0.186; OR, 1.001; 95%CI, 0.988-1.014; P=0.881; OR, 1.001; 95%CI, 0.989-1.014; P=0.836; respectively). Conclusion: This two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis provided no evidence to sustain the causality of COVID-19 on HF.