Top-down etd-ms provides unreliable quantitation of methionine oxidation

© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. The aim of this study was to evaluate the total phenolic and flavonoid content, and the in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, cytotoxicity, and antiprotozoal activities of the Algerian plant Cytisus villosus Pourr. (Syn. Cytisus triflorus L’Hérit.). Additionally, the radioligand displacement affinity on opioid and cannabinoid receptors was assessed for the extracts and isolated pure compounds. The hydro alcoholic extract of the aerial part of C. villosus was partitioned with chloroform (CHCl3), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butanol (n-BuOH). The phenolic content of the C. villosus extracts was evaluated using a modified Folin–Ciocalteau method. The total flavonoid content was measured spectrometrically using the aluminum chloride colorimetric assay. The known flavonoids genistein (1), chrysin (2), chrysin-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (3), and 2”-O-α-l-rhamnosylorientin (4) were isolated. The antioxidant activities of the extracts and isolated compounds were evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DDPH) and cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assays. The plant extracts showed moderate antioxidant activity. EtOAc and n-BuOH extracts showed moderate anti-inflammatory activity through the inhibition of induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) with IC50 values of 48 and 90 µg/mL, respectively. The isolated pure compounds 1 and 3 showed good inhibition of Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) with IC50 values of 9 and 20 µg/mL, respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited lower inhibition of Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) with IC50 values of 28 and 38 µg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the extracts and isolated pure compounds have been shown to exhibit low affinity for cannabinoid and opioid receptors. Finally, n-BuOH extract was a potent inhibitor of Trypanosoma brucei with IC50 value of 7.99 µg/mL and IC90 value of 12.61 µg/mL. The extracts and isolated compounds showed no antimicrobial, antimalarial nor antileishmanial activities. No cytotoxic effect was observed on cancer cell lines. The results highlight this species as a promising source of anti-inflammatory and antitrypanosomal agents

Build Our Nation international project: an innovative educational model for systems thinking in design.

Ethical decision-making models grounded in ethical frameworks comprehend elements of systems thinking such as holistic language and value-guided systems. This paper proposes an innovative educational model for systems thinking in architectural design. Academic members, students, and future users work together as an international architectural design studio team to improve specific real-world living conditions. The model of Build Our Nation aims at reconsidering the whole design process by focusing on rethinking design and rethinking construction. In response to the current global crisis in designing and building, the paper argues that more than a responsible behaviour has become necessary. Starting from the educational stage an ethic of resilience should be pursued and that represents the core of the model proposed by Build Our Nation

Cost-effective valorization of cassava fibrous waste into enantiomerically pure D-lactic acid: Process engineering and kinetic modeling approach

Cassava fibrous waste (CFW) valorization on the synthesis of D (-) lactic acid (DLA) holds enormous importance, particularly in the production of thermostable and biodegradable polymers. In this study, microbial kinetic modelling was carried out to investigate the dynamics of cassava fibrous waste enzyme hydrolysate (CFWEH) utilization towards DLA production. Designed biomass approach was attempted to evaluate the natural DLA producing organisms, capable of metabolizing CFWEH into optically pure DLA. Sporolactobacillus inulinus (NBRC 13595) was found to be the elite strain, resulting the yield of 99.43 % optically pure DLA using CFWEH-supplemented medium. Yeast extract (2 gL −1) was observed to be potential nitrogen source over other complex nitrogen sources for kinetic modelling investigation. Kinetic parameters predicted from the proposed model for DLA production showed maximum specific growth rate, - 0.36 (h−1); growth-associated product coefficient ( gg −1) and specific productivity ( gg −1h−1) respectively. Experimental data of biomass growth, substrate consumption and DLA production with initial sugar concentrations ranging from 20–180 gL −1 was found to be synchronized well with the simulated dynamic profiles. Kinetic investigation reported in this study is a novice attempt enumerating the valorization potential of CFW for the synthesis of value-added products including DLA at commercial scale in near future

Optimized Architecture for AES

This paper presents a highly optimized architecture for Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) by dividing and merging (combining) different sub operations in AES algorithm. The proposed architecture uses ten levels of pipelining to achieve higher throughput and uses Block-RAM utility to reduce slice utilization which subsequently increases the efficiency. It achieves the data stream of 57 Gbps at 451 MHz working frequency and obtains 36% improvement in efficiency to the best known similar design throughput per area (Throughput/Area) and 35% smaller in slice area. This architecture can easily be embedded with other modules because of significantly reduced slice utilization

Evaluation of Minimum Required Safe Distance between Two Consecutive Dental Chairs for Optimal Asepsis

Cross infection and self-protection, these two words are like a lurid to the health care professionals. A balance has to be maintained among those two words if not, it’s after affects areunpredictable. It is believed that even after following the code of practice, some elements such as the aerosols that are evolved during the use of high speed rotary instruments such as airotor and scaler are difficult to handle. Aerosols containing microbes from oral cavity of the patient are a risky source of infection. The best way to fight against these aerosols is to keep a distance from them. But it is not known how far these airborne microorganisms spread under various clinical environments. This article emphasizes the safe distance that has to bemaintained around each dental chair to prevent cross contamination

Effects of an Extensively Hydrolyzed Formula Supplemented with Two Human Milk Oligosaccharides on Growth, Tolerability, Safety and Infection Risk in Infants with Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy: A Randomized, Multi-Center Trial

This randomized clinical trial (Registration: NCT03085134) assessed if an extensively hydrolyzed formula (EHF) supplemented with two human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) and reduced protein content (2.20 g/100 kcal) supports normal growth in infants with cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA). Secondary outcomes were gastrointestinal tolerability, safety, and effect on infections. Nonbreastfed infants aged 0–6 months with CMPA were enrolled. Body weight, length, and head circumference were measured monthly for 4 months (primary study endpoint), after 6 months, and at the age of 12 months. Of 200 infants screened, 194 (mean age 3.2 months) were randomized. At the 4-month follow-up, daily weight gain for the test formula was noninferior to the control formula; p < 0.005. There were no significant group differences in anthropometric parameters. Both formulas were safe and well tolerated. Infants in the HMO group had a statistically significant reduction in the frequency of upper respiratory tract infections and a lower incidence of ear infections at 12 months (per protocol analysis). The relative risk of lower respiratory tract and gastrointestinal infections was reduced by 30–40%, but this was not statistically significant due to sample size limitations. In summary, the HMO-supplemented formula supports normal growth in infants with CMPA and suggests a protective effect against respiratory and ear infections in the first year of life

Assessing the symptoms of Internet Gaming Disorder among college/university students: An international validation study of a self-report

The present study evaluated the psychometric properties of a self-report scale for assessing Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) symptoms according to the DSM-5 and ICD-11 among 3270 college/university students (2095 [64.1%] females; age mean 21.6 [3.1] years) from different countries worldwide. Croatian, English, Polish, Portuguese, Serbian, Turkish, and Vietnamese versions of the scale were tested. The study showed that symptoms of IGD could be measured as a single underlying factor among college/university students. A nine item-symptom scale following DSM-5, and a short four-item scale representing the main ICD-11 symptoms, had sound internal consistency and construct validity. Three symptom-items were found non-invariant across the language samples (i.e., preoccupation with on-line gaming, loss of interests in previous hobbies and entertainment, and the use of gaming to relieve negative moods). This study provides initial evidence for assessing IGD symptoms among college/university students and will hopefully foster further research into gaming addiction in this population worldwide especially with taking into account language/cultural differences

Allocentric versus egocentric spatial memory in autism spectrum disorder

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) present difficulties in forming relations among items and context. This capacity for relational binding is also involved in spatial navigation and research on this topic in ASD is scarce and inconclusive. Using a computerised version of the Morris Water Maze task, ASD participants showed particular difficulties in performing viewpoint independent (allocentric) navigation, leaving viewpoint dependent navigation (egocentric) intact. Further analyses showed that navigation deficits were not related to poor visual short-term memory or mental rotation in the ASD group. The results further confirm the need of autistic individuals for support at retrieval and have important implications for the design of signposts and maps