ACE Value Research Articles

Design and synthesis of novel tetrahydronephthalene-1-amine based analogues as cholinesterase inhibitors

Inhibiting cholinesterase (ChE) such as AChE and BChE is thought to be one of the most effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia. In the present work, a new facile method for (1S,4S)-4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-n-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-amine based analogues 4 (a–p) in good yield (66–93 %) were synthesized by refluxing demethylsertraline (2) with different aldehydes and ketones 3 (a–p). The newly synthesized analogues 4 (a–p) were characterized by physical and spectroscopic techniques for instance FTIR, LR-MS and HR-MS. The synthesized demethylsertraline based analogues 4 (a–p) were examined for their biological activities against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). In case of AChE activity, electron donating substituents have shown more inhibition as 4–hydroxyphenyl– (4b, IC50, 0.98 ± 0.99 µM) and 3,4–dimethoxyyphenyl– (4c, IC50, 1.0 ± 0.98 µM) and exhibited excellent binding affinity. In case of BChE activity, 4e consisting of electron withdrawing substituent has shown potent inhibition (1.26 ± 0.34 µM). Similarly, 4i and 4n depicted good inhibition with IC50 values 1.66 ± 0.78 µM and 1.66 ± 0.98 µM respectively as they possess weakly donating substituents. The structure activity relationship of BChE inhibition has shown opposite trend than AChE inhibition. It has been scrutinized that strong electron donating substituent decrease the BChE inhibitory activities whereas electron withdrawing groups greatly enhance the enzyme inhibition activity. In silico study of the synthesized compounds 4 (a–p) of the series was carried out. Compound 4b demonstrated excellent interaction with AChE compare with Eserine (standard) with a score of 6228 and an ACE value of –101.33 kcal/mol. Compound 4e demonstrated potent interaction with BChE compare with Eserine (standard) with a score of 6028 and ACE value of –258.53 kcal/mol. Compound 4b has the potential to serve as a lead molecule in medication development for Alzheimer’s disease treatment.

Pharmacological investigation of genistein for its therapeutic potential against nitroglycerin-induced migraine headache.

Migraine, typically occurs on one side of the head, lasts for hours to days. Trigemino-vascular system (TVS) plays a vital role in pain generation, with neurogenic inflammation and oxidative stress playing key roles in its pathophysiology. This study aimed to investigate genistein's potential as anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant agent in mitigating migraine pain. Genistein (20 and 50mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally (IP) to nitroglycerin (NTG; 10mg/kg)-induced migraine model in rats. Behavioral analysis, antioxidant assay, immunohistochemistry (IHC), histopathological examination, ELISA, and RT-PCR were conducted to evaluate the antimigraine potential of genistein. In-silico analysis showed genestien's ACE values of -4.8 to -9.2 Kcal/mol against selected protein targets. Genistein significantly reversed mechanical and thermal nociception, light phobicity, and head scratching; increased the intensities of GST, GSH, catalase; and down regulated lipid peroxidase (LPO) in cortex and trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC). It also reduced Nrf2, NF-kB, and IL6 expression, analyzed through IHC, improved histopathological features, and increased COX-2 and decreased PPAR-γ expressions, while RT-PCR analysis revealed increased PPAR-γ expressions in genistein-treated rats. Genistein exhibited potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in migraine treatment, acting through multifactorial mechanisms by modulating the expression of numerous proteins in the region cortex and TNC.

Effects of single-anastomosis duodenal-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy on gut microbiota and glucose metabolism in rats with type 2 diabetes.

Bariatric and metabolic surgery often leads to significant changes in gut microbiota composition, indicating that changes in gut microbiota after bariatric and metabolic surgery might play a role in ameliorating type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the effects of single-anastomosis duodenal-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S) on gut microbiota in T2D remain unclear. To investigate the effects of SADI-S on gut microbiota and glucose metabolism in T2D rats. Nineteen T2D rats were randomly divided into the SADI-S group (n = 10) and the sham operation with pair-feeding group (sham-PF, n = 9). Fecal samples were collected to analyze the gut microbiota composition with 16S ribosomal DNA gene sequencing. The fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin were measured to evaluate the effects of SADI-S on glucose metabolism. The Chao and ACE index results indicated the richness of the gut microbial community. The ACE and Chao index values were significantly lower in the SADI-S group than in the sham-PF group, indicating that indicating that species richness was significantly lower in the SADI-S group than in the sham-PF group (p < 0.05). Shannon and Simpson indices were used to estimate the species diversity of the gut microbiota. Compared with the sham-PF group, the SADI-S group showed significantly lower Shannon index and higher Simpson index values, indicating that the species diversity was significantly lower in the SADI-S group than in the sham-PF group (p < 0.05). At the genus level, SADI-S significantly changed the abundances of 33 bacteria, including the increased anti-inflammatory bacteria (Akkermansia and Bifidobacterium) and decreased pro-inflammatory bacteria (Bacteroides). SADI-S significantly decreased the fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels. The blood glucose level of rats was positively correlated with the relative abundances of 12 bacteria, including Bacteroides, and negatively correlated with the relative abundances of seven bacteria, including Bifidobacterium. SADI-S significantly altered the gut microbiota composition of T2D rats, including the increased anti-inflammatory bacteria (Akkermansia and Bifidobacterium) and decreased pro-inflammatory bacteria (Bacteroides). The blood glucose level of rats was positively correlated with the abundances of 12 bacteria, including Bacteroides, but negatively correlated with the relative abundance of 7 bacteria, including Bifidobacterium. These alternations in gut microbiota may be the mechanism through which SADI-S improved T2D. More studies should be performed in the future to validate these effects.

Phase Fraction Estimation in Multicomponent Alloy from EDS Measurement Data.

To perform quality assessments of both metal alloys and many other engineering materials, measurements of the volume fractions of phases or microstructure components are utilized. For this purpose, quantitative analysis of the evaluated components' distribution on metallographic specimens is often employed. Phases or components of the microstructure are identified based on the variation in signal received in the band of light seen. Problems with the correct identification of measurement results in this spectral band can be caused by the inhomogeneity of the etching when the alloy components are segregated. Additional uncertainty arises when the analyzed image pixel contains a boundary between grains of different phases. This article attempts to use the results of local chemical composition measurements as a source signal for quantitative evaluation of phase composition. For this purpose, quantitative maps of elemental concentration distributions, obtained with a Tescan Mira GMU high-resolution scanning electron microscope in QuantMap mode, were used as input data for the phase composition evaluation of an EN AC 46000 alloy sample. The X-ray microanalysis signal generation area may contain grains of more than one phase. Therefore, evaluation of the phase fractions in areas of individual measurements were calculated by looking for the minimum of the objective function, calculated as the sum of the squares of the deviations of the results of measurements of the concentration of individual elements from the weighted average values of solubilities of these elements in the phases.

Synthesis, antibacterial, antibiofilm, and docking studies of chalcones against multidrug resistance pathogens

The escalating threat of drug-resistant microbes underscores the urgent need for novel antimicrobial agents. In response, considerable research effort has been directed towards developing innovative frameworks and strategies to address this challenge. Chalcones, known for their broad-spectrum biological activities, have emerged as promising candidates for combating drug resistance. In this study, a series of 2′-Hydroxychalcones (5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d) with varying electron withdrawing and donating groups were synthesized via Claisen Schmidt condensation. FT-IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR analyses were employed to confirm the structure of the synthesized compounds. Subsequent evaluation of the synthesized compounds revealed their potential as antibacterial and antibiofilm agents. Notably, compounds 5a and 5d exhibited potent antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria E. coli, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and S. aureus, surpassing the reference drug Ciprofloxacin (30 μg/mL) and other synthesized compounds. Compound 5d showed a notable 19.5 mm zone of inhibition against K. pneumoniae. Furthermore, 5a (at a concentration of 30 μg) and 5d (at a concentration of 50 μg) exhibited statistically significant (P > 0.05) biofilm inhibition efficacy compared to Ciprofloxacin (30 μg/mL). The synthesized chalcones 5a-5d were also docked via PachDock molecular docking software for Glucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN-6-P) synthase inhibition and showed that ligand 5a exhibited outstanding results with score 4238 and ACE value −160.89 kcal/mol, consistent with the observed antibacterial activity. These findings underscore the potential of chalcones, particularly 5a and 5d, as promising candidates for the development of new antimicrobial agents targeting drug-resistant microbes and biofilm formation.

Modeling and Practical Evaluation of AC–DC Solid-State Transformer With Electric Spring Functions

Modeling and Practical Evaluation of AC–DC Solid-State Transformer With Electric Spring Functions

Adhesive capsulitis: Utility of magnetic resonance imaging as a primary diagnostic tool and clinical management support

ObjectiveAdhesive capsulitis (AC) has traditionally been a clinical diagnosis characterized by progressive shoulder pain and decreased range of motion. Our aim is to examine the role of shoulder MRI in making the diagnosis of AC, and to identify the frequency of cases where MRI was the primary method in diagnosing AC amongst medical providers. MethodsThis was an anonymized retrospective analysis. Patients with positive MRI features suggestive for AC from 2015 to 2018 were included. Pre and post MRI clinical notes were assessed in order to ascertain the clinical suspicion of AC. A total of 117 cases were included for this study. ResultsOur results demonstrated the number of patients whose management were influenced by shoulder MRI. When all of the imaging parameters by MRI are taken into account by aggregate, there is a statistically significant difference (p-value < 0.01) with regards to orthopedists having their working diagnosis of AC confirmed by the MRI results as compared to the primary care physicians. ConclusionThis study supports the role of shoulder MRI in the evaluation of AC. Not only does shoulder MRI assist ordering clinicians with providing additional evidence to support a suspected diagnosis of AC, but also plays a primary role in making the diagnosis of AC in cases in which it was not initially suspected, ultimately impacting management.

Evaluation of the antimicrobial ac- tivity of the extracts of oregano and marsh cinquefoil against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria

One of the most critical problems in animal husbandry and public health is antibiotic resistance, associated with the widespread use of antibiotic drugs. As a result, pathogenic microorganisms develop antibiotic resistance, which creates the need to either increase their dosage or replace them with other medications. Phytobiotics are a promising alternative to antibiotic drugs. Phytobiotics are active substances of medicinal plants that exhibit antimicrobial properties against pathogenic microorganisms. The primary sources of antimicrobial activity of phytobiotics are phenolic and polyphenolic compounds. The research aimed to study the antimicrobial activity of oregano (O) extracts and marsh cinquefoil (MC). Alcohol extracts (AE) were prepared from dry raw materials by water-alcohol extraction, and then alcohol-free extracts (AFE) were obtained using vacuum distillation. The content of polyphenolic compounds was studied in the obtained extracts, and the hole method against pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica evaluated their antimicrobial properties. The results showed that in O AFE, the content of polyphenolic compounds was 1.487 mg/ml, in O AE 1.166 mg/ml, in MC AFE 1.349 mg/ml, and MC AE 1.074 mg/ml. All studied extracts showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The most significant zones of suppression (1.86 cm) were formed around the wells with O AFE, which were significantly (P&lt;0.01) larger than in the samples with O AE. About gram-negative cultures, zones of suppression were found only in alcoholic extracts, which is most likely a demonstration of the antibacterial activity of ethanol.

Effect of pretreatment with alkali on the anaerobic digestion characteristics of kitchen waste and analysis of microbial diversity

Abstract Kitchen waste contains high contents of organic matter and moisture, and it is prone to biodegrade and decompose to give odors. If not collected and transported promptly or treated improperly, it is highly likely to pollute the environment and spread diseases. Because the lipid content in kitchen waste is high and a portion of organic matter is not subject to hydrolysis, the development of anaerobic digestion technology has been greatly limited. Kitchen waste was pretreated with NaOH, KOH, and Ca(OH)2 with different concentrations, and 50 days sequencing batch mesophilic anaerobic digestion experiments were conducted. This study sheds light on the pollution reduction and energy generation of kitchen waste. The results are as follows: (1) The lipid content of kitchen waste could be reduced, and the concentration of dissolved organic matter could be increased by pretreating with alkali. The degradation rate of kitchen waste lipid reached a maximum of 50.51%, if 3% NaOH was added, and the soluble chemical oxygen demand concentration was increased by 235.3%. (2) The cumulative methane (CH4) output and biogas production efficiency were improved in the anaerobic digestion process with kitchen waste pretreated with alkali. The maximum daily gas output of kitchen waste pretreated with NaOH and KOH took place on the 11th to 12th day, with the biogas production efficiency of 40.4 and 45.2 mL·g·VS−1. The cumulative CH4 output was increased from 370.2 mL·g·VS−1 (untreated) to 393.1 and 434.1 mL·g·VS−1, respectively. In addition, the concentration of CH4 in biogas was increased from 54.8% (untreated) to 59.1% and 61.7%, respectively. (3) The Chao1 and Ace values of bacteria were increased first and then decreased. On the 10th day, the diversity of bacteria reached the highest value, and on the 20th day, the diversity of archaea reached its maximum. Therefore, it was verified that the improvement in the hydrolysis acidification efficiency and degree was crucial for the rapid and complete anaerobic digestion reactions.

Impact of Parthenium hysterophorus L. invasion on soil fungal communities in the Yellow River Delta

PurposeAs an invasive plant, Parthenium hysterophorus severely impacts the ecological environment of the Yellow River Delta and reduces biodiversity in the invaded areas. The effects of P. hysterophorus invasion on the local environment became increasingly critical, while few information was available for the effects of P. hysterophorus invasion on soil bacteria. The present study aimed to reveal the impacts of hysterophorus on the fungal communities in the Yellow River Delta.MethodsSixteen soil samples including four groups (ROOT group, YRR group, YNR group, and GBS group) were collected. High-throughput methods were used to explore the fungal composition of the P. hysterophorus-invaded surrounding environment and native plant-growed environment.ResultsOur results showed that the ACE (351.97) and Chao1 (351.95) values of the rhizosphere soils of P. hysterophorus (YRR group) were the highest among the four groups, whereas the non-rhizosphere soil samples of P. hysterophorus (YNR group) had the highest Shannon (7.188) and Simpson (0.984) values. The total number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) obtained from the four groups was 1965, with 161 common OTUs among different groups. At the phylum level, both Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the dominant fungi, with Ascomycota having the highest abundance. At the genus level, except for the endophytic fungi of P. hysterophorus roots (ROOT group), Fusarium, Mortierella, Comoclathris, and Cladosporium were the dominant fungi in three groups. The fungal communities within the roots of P. hysterophorus were distant from other groups, indicating that the composition of the fungal communities within the roots had a low degree of similarity to the other three groups. LEfSe analysis showed that Ascomycota at the phylum level and Cladosporium, Curvularia, and Alternaria at the genus level play essential roles in the ROOT group, and Comoclathris plays a vital role in the YNR group.ConclusionsThis study explored the effects of P. hysterophorus invasion on the local soil fungal communities by analyzing the fungal communities in P. hysterophorus roots, rhizosphere soil, non-rhizosphere soil, and rhizosphere soil of native plants. Generally, P. hysterophorus rhizosphere fungi specifically affect the surrounding environment.

Numerical investigation of indoor thermal comfort and air quality for an office equipped with corner impinging jet ventilation

ABSTRACT This study investigates the feasibility of using only corner impinging jet ventilation (CIJV) for heating and cooling a medium-sized office space with two occupants while maintaining adequate indoor thermal comfort and air quality compared to traditional mixing ventilation systems. This study examines what impact various outdoor temperatures, ranging from −15°C to 25°C, have on an office environment in terms of indoor thermal comfort and air quality. Three different workspace positions were evaluated. The results show that the CIJV system meets the ASHRAE thermal comfort standards for all three positions. In terms of indoor air quality, CIJV performs better than traditional mixing systems, with improved mean age of air and ACE values. This study concludes that CIJV can be used both close and far away from the supply inlets and still provide adequate indoor thermal comfort and air quality during both cooling and heating season.

Effect of tofacitinib on clinical and laboratory findings in severe and resistant patients with COVID-19.

The efficacy and safety of a strong Janus kinase inhibitor, tofacitinib, in individuals suffering from severe coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pneumonia are not definite well. In this non-randomized and non-blinded trial, a total of 52 Iranian patients with severe COVID-19 associated with decreased oxygen saturation, elevated C-reactive protein, and/or persistent fever were included. A total of 52 patients were included in this study. Tofacitinib was administered to 29 patients (55.8%) in addition to the standard care treatments, whereas 23 patients (44.2%) were treated with the standard of care alone (mostly antiviral agents and corticosteroids). Tofacitinib was administered at a dose of 5mg twice daily for up to 10days. The primary outcomes were mortality rate, oxygen saturation level, CT findings, rate of breath, heart rate, and level of consciousness. Inflammatory cytokines and blood biomarkers were considered as the secondary outcomes. Death from any cause through day 14 occurred in 51.7% of the tofacitinib group and 65.2% of the control group. There was no significant difference in lung radiographic findings between the intervention and control groups at the first day of the study and after the study period. However, a significant decrease was observed in the extent of lung tissue involvement in the intervention group after administration of tofacitinib. Regarding cell and blood biomarkers, a significant decrease in the CPK levels in the intervention group and Hct and ACE levels in the control group was observed after fourteen days of the study. Moreover, a significant increase in SGOT and ferritin values was detected in the control group 14days after the beginning tofacitinib administration. Comparing control and intervention groups, there was a significant difference in hemoglobin, SGOT, LDH, ferritin, and ACE values between groups before the intervention, while after fourteen days of the study, no significant difference was found. In case of DHEAS and TSH levels, a significant decrease was seen in the intervention group compared to the control after the study period. No other significant improvement was detected in other outcomes of the tofacitinib group compared to the control. The administration of tofacitinib combined with corticosteroids, is not effective enough to treat severe COVID-19 patients and the use of this medication should be considered before the disease deterioration.

Comparative evaluation of AC and DC TIG-welded 5083 aluminium plates of different thickness

Comparative evaluation of AC and DC TIG-welded 5083 aluminium plates of different thickness

Effects of diets with different amino acid release characteristics on the gut microbiota and barrier function of weaned pigs

BackgroundThe absorption and utilization of proteins by animals is affected by the amino acid (AA) release characteristics of their diets. In the present study, we aimed to determine the effects of diets with various amino acid release characteristics on the intestinal barrier function and diversity of gut microbiota of weaned pigs.ResultsForty-eight pigs (7.45 ± 0.58 kg) were fed with diets having different amino acid release characteristics during a period of 28 days. We used a 2 × 3 full-factor (two protein levels and three protein sources with differing amino acid release characteristics) experimental design, with normal (standard terminal ileal digestibility of 17.5%) or low (standard terminal ileal digestibility of 14.9%) protein levels as the first factor. Casein (CAS), corn gluten meal (CGM) and a MIX diet were used as protein sources. Due to the more balanced release of amino acids, the diamine oxidase (DAO) concentrations in the CAS and MIX groups were significantly lower than those in the CGM group (P < 0.05); Reducing the dietary protein content from 17.5% to 14.9% had no significant effects on the levels of serum DAO or D-lactic acid. By contrast, it increased the microbial diversity (chao1 and ACE values) and the number of Lactobacillus in the jejunum (P < 0.05). The CAS-containing diet and the MIX diet resulted in significantly higher microbial diversity (Simpson and Shannon) than the CGM-containing diet in the jejunum.ConclusionThe balanced release of amino acids in CAS and MIX diets maintained intestinal barrier function and increased gut microbiota diversity. These findings could potentially provide a scientific reference for the rational preparation of piglet feed.

Effects of submerged macrophytes (Elodea nuttallii) on water quality and microbial communities of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) ponds.

Traditional aquaculture ponds are one of the most vulnerable ecosystems; thus, ecological aquaculture is increasingly valued for its beneficial ecological properties and ecosystem services. However, little is known about ecological aquaculture of largemouth bass with submerged vegetation. Here, we designed three ecological ponds of cultured largemouth bass with submerged macrophytes (the EM group) and three ponds with traditional aquaculture (the M group) to reveal the response of water quality, and phytoplankton and bacterial communities, to submerged macrophyte bioremediation during a 90-day culture period. We observed that Cyanobacterial outbreak occurred in the M group ponds from day 7 to the end of the experiment; however, there were no Cyanobacterial blooms in the EM group ponds throughout the culture period. Compared with the M group ponds, the EM group ponds, which had submerged hydrophytes, had significantly decreased concentrations of TP, TN, and CODMn, but significantly increased DO concentrations throughout the experimental period. Moreover, ecological aquaculture with submerged macrophytes showed strong effects on the phytoplankton and bacterial community compositions. In particular, the M group ponds had higher phytoplankton density and mainly included Cyanobacteria, whereas the EM group had lower phytoplankton density and mainly included Chlorophyta. Moreover, higher alpha diversity, as determined by Ace and Simpson index values, was detected for bacterial communities in the EM group ponds. Furthermore, PCoA clearly grouped the bacterial communities according to the two culture modes throughout the culture period. These results indicate that ecological aquaculture with submerged macrophytes can improve water quality, control Cyanobacterial blooms, and affect the diversity and composition of bacterial communities. These valuable effects seem to be beneficial and consistent to maintaining aquaculture ecosystem stability.

Operational Reliability Evaluation of an MTDC-Based Hybrid AC–DC Power System Considering Conditional-Dependent Faults

The ever-growing applications of the multiterminal direct current (MTDC) systems have introduced interdependence in terms of operation conditions between ac and dc systems. When considering such a conditional dependence, the outage probabilities are affected by the previous fault events in hybrid ac–dc power systems and thus no longer independent, rendering the results from conventional reliability evaluation techniques to be inaccurate. This article provides a method to evaluate the operational reliability of the MTDC-based hybrid ac–dc power systems considering the conditional dependence between the ac and MTDC systems. First, a conditional-dependent fault analysis model is developed to describe the entire temporal fault process. In the proposed model, dynamic state models for components are built considering system parameters that affect their outage probabilities. A redispatch model for the hybrid ac–dc power system is then established to characterize the variation of operation status between different periods. After that, a framework to evaluate the operational reliability of a hybrid ac–dc power system considering conditional-dependent faults is formulated by combining the conditional fault analysis model and the Monte Carlo simulation technique. The impacts of conditional dependence on the reliability of hybrid ac–dc power systems are quantified by the modified reliability indices. Finally, the proposed method is validated by modified IEEE-RTS systems with different MTDC topologies and ac–dc coupling levels to demonstrate the impact of conditional-dependent faults.

Molecular exposition of broad-spectrum antibacterial efficacy by p-coumaric acid from an edible mushroom Termitomyces heimii: in vitro and in silico approach

P-Coumaric acid was previously reported to contain antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet, antiulcer and anticancer activities. Along with these, the present work has been conducted to study the antibacterial activity of p-coumaric acid. It could be used to control broad-spectrum microbiome-based inflammation or in cancer control. HPLC analysis of methanolic extract from the mushroom Termitomyces heimii has exhibited a rich fraction of p-coumaric acid (p-CA), which in the pure form showed significant bactericidal potentials. To predict the molecular interactions associated with the bactericidal mechanism of p-CA, the transmembrane protein sequences of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were retrieved from the IMG–JGI database, screened and then aligned using Clustal X2 and PHYLIP 3.69 softwares. The common sequences were subjected to tertiary structure prediction using Phyre2 server, followed by quality assessment through the Ramachandran plot. Next, the 3D molecular structure of p-CA was downloaded from PubChem and docked with the selected tertiary structures using Patchdock and showed higher affinity towards 12 common transmembrane protein structures, amongst which CDP-diacylglycerol–glycerol-3-phosphate 3-phosphatidyl transferase (PgsA) exhibited best docking with p-CA on the basis of ACE value (– 249 kcal/mol). This fact revealed that p-CA can block the normal functioning of membrane-bound enzyme PgsA, consequently leading to the interruption in the synthesis and recycling of an essential membrane component phosphatidylglycerol (PG), resulting in membrane disruption followed by cell lysis. Here, for the first time we reported the molecular insights and fundamental biochemical events underlying the bactericidal action by p-CA, to explore new perspective to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria.

An environmentally friendly and efficient method to improve the acoustic vibration performance of bamboo for musical instruments: Nitrogen-protected heat treatment

The traditional drying process is very important to the acoustical quality of bamboo musical instruments, such as Jinghu. However, this technique has inherent challenges such as a complicated process, long cycle times, and ineffective quality control. In this study, heat treatment under nitrogen protection was used to determine the effects of different temperatures (160 °C, 190 °C, and 220 °C) and durations (0.5 h, 1.5 h, 2.5 h, and 3.5 h) on the acoustic vibration performance of bamboo. The measured and calculated variables included specific dynamic elastic modulus E ’ / ρ , loss tangent tan δ , and acoustical converting efficiency ACE. With respect to microstructure and physical properties, the mechanism of how heat treatment affects the acoustic vibration properties of bamboo was determined. Results showed that (1) appropriate heat treatment under nitrogen protection can significantly improve the acoustic vibration properties of bamboo. Within the scope of this study, the optimal heat treatment conditions were heating at 160 °C for 3.5 h under nitrogen protection (type I). Compared to the control group, the E ’ / ρ and ACE values of type I heat-treated bamboo increased by 2.0% and 37.0%, respectively, and the tan δ decreased by 30.4%. (2) In terms of physical properties, the porosity of type I heat-treated bamboo increased from 31.6% to 35.2%, which increased the permeability along the longitudinal vibration of the bamboo. (3) In terms of chemical components, the concentration of the starchy substance in the parenchyma cell lumen of type I heat-treated bamboo was significantly less as it was degraded and volatilized. The content of hygroscopic hemicellulose was reduced from 25% to 21% due to pyrolysis, while the cellulose and lignin maintained their structural stability, thereby improving the bamboo’s ability to resist ambient humidity changes. (4) On the molecular scale, the microfibril angle (MFA) of type I heat-treated bamboo was reduced from 12.54° to 10.54°, and the crystallinity increased from 34.8% to 36.5%. Type I heat treatment improved the orientation degree of the bamboo cell wall fibrils and adjusted the distance between cellulose molecular chains. • Through heat treatment, the chemical composition, physical structure, and surface quality of bamboo have been changed. • The optimal heat treatment conditions for acoustic vibration performance improvement are 160 °C for 3.5 h under nitrogen protection. • The main mechanism of improvement include formation of porous pathways and increase of orientation cellulose microfibrils.

Exposure to particulate matter 2.5 leading to lung microbiome disorder and the alleviation effect of Auricularia auricular-judae polysaccharide.

The aim of the paper is to explore the role of lung microbiome disorder in lung tissue injury induced by exposure to particulate matter with a maximum diameter of 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and the alleviation effect of Auricularia auricular-judae polysaccharide (AAP). Sprague Dawley rats were given PM2.5 suspension at a dose of 20 mg/l twice a week for 8 weeks. Then, 100 mg/kg or 200 mg/kg of AAP was administered to the rats after PM2.5 exposure. The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue samples were collected at the end of the experiment. The BALF was meant to detect changes in lung microbiome by 16S sequences and cluster analysis, with the application of the principal component analysis and the partial least squares discriminant analysis. The levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and interleukin (IL)-4, IL-8, and IL-10 in lung tissue were detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The pathological changes in lung tissue were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. After PM2.5 exposure, the alveolar septum was widened, and the structures of alveolar walls were destroyed. There was inflammatory cells infiltration in the alveolar space and the interstitial space. Alpha diversity in BALF showed that the Chao1, ACE, Simpson, and Shannon values were increased, and the lung microbiome analysis revealed that the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Clostridium increased, while the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Akkermansia decreased. The contents of IFN-γ and IL-8 in lung tissue increased while the content of IL-10 decreased. After the administration of AAP, the alveolar structure damage was alleviated, and the interstitial hemorrhage, edema, and inflammatory cells infiltration were reduced. The Chao1 and ACE values decreased, and the taxonomic abundance values of Akkermansia were much higher. Simultaneously, the contents of IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-8 decreased, and the content of IL-10 increased. It was found that PM2.5 resulted in lung microbiome disorder, which might lead to the inflammation of lung tissue. It was also revealed that AAP could alleviate the inflammatory damage of lung tissue induced by PM2.5. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2022;35(6):651-64.

Retraction Note to: Performance evaluation of half bridge AC–AC resonant converter by using various load in domestic purpose of induction heating application

Retraction Note to: Performance evaluation of half bridge AC–AC resonant converter by using various load in domestic purpose of induction heating application