bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Road Rutting Measurement Using Mobile LiDAR Systems Point Cloud
Authors: Gézero Luis , Antunes Carlos
Published: September 2019

Road rutting caused by vehicle loading in the wheel path is a major form of asphalt pavement distress. Hydroplaning and loss of skid resistance are directly related to high road rutting severity. Periodical measurements of rut depth are crucial to maintenance and rehabilitation planning. In this study, we explored the feasibility of using point clouds gathered by Mobile LiDAR systems to measure the rut depth. These point clouds that are collected along roads are usually used for other purposes, namely asset inventory or topographic survey. Taking advantage of available clouds to identify rutting severity in critical pavement areas can result in considerable economic and time saving and thus, added value, when compared with specific expensive rut measuring systems. Four different strategies of cloud points aggregation are presented to create the cross-section of points. Such strategies were established to improve the precision of individual sensor measurements. Despite the 5 mm precision of the used system, it was possible to estimate rut depth values that were slightly inferior. The rut depth values obtained from each cross-section strategy were compared with the manual field measured values. The cross-sections based on averaged cloud points sensor profile aggregation was revealed to be the most suitable strategy to measure rut depth. Despite the fact that the study was specifically conducted to measure rut depth, the evaluation results show that the methodology can also be useful for other mobile LiDAR point clouds cross-sections applications.
Second Generation mTOR Inhibitors as a Double-Edged Sword in Malignant Glioma Treatment
Authors: Heinzen Dennis , Divé Iris , Lorenz Nadja I. , Luger Anna-Luisa , Steinbach Joachim P. , Ronellenfitsch Michael W.
Published: September 2019

Glioblastomas (GBs) frequently display activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). mTOR exists as part of two multiprotein complexes, mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and 2 (mTORC2). In GBs, mTORC1 inhibitors such as rapamycin have performed poorly in clinical trials, and in vitro protect GB cells from nutrient and oxygen deprivation. Next generation ATP-competitive mTOR inhibitors with affinity for both mTOR complexes have been developed, but data exploring their effects on GB metabolism are scarce. In this study, we compared the ATP-competitive mTORC1/2 inhibitors torin2, INK-128 and NVP-Bez235 to the allosteric mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin under conditions that mimic the glioma microenvironment. In addition to inhibiting mTORC2 signaling, INK-128 and NVP-Bez235 more effectively blocked mTORC1 signaling and prompted a stronger cell growth inhibition, partly by inducing cell cycle arrest. However, under hypoxic and nutrient-poor conditions mTORC1/2 inhibitors displayed even stronger cytoprotective effects than rapamycin by reducing oxygen and glucose consumption. Thus, therapies that arrest proliferation and inhibit anabolic metabolism must be expected to improve energy homeostasis of tumor cells. These results mandate caution when treating physiologically or therapeutically induced hypoxic GBs with mTOR inhibitors.
Butyric Acid from Probiotic Staphylococcus epidermidis in the Skin Microbiome Down-Regulates the Ultraviolet-Induced Pro-Inflammatory IL-6 Cytokine via Short-Chain Fatty Acid Receptor
Authors: Keshari Sunita , Balasubramaniam Arun , Myagmardoloonjin Binderiya , Herr Deron Raymond , Negari Indira Putri , Huang Chun-Ming
Published: September 2019

The glycerol fermentation of probiotic Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) in the skin microbiome produced butyric acid in vitro at concentrations in the millimolar range. The exposure of dorsal skin of mice to ultraviolet B (UVB) light provoked a significant increased production of pro-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-6 cytokine. Topical application of butyric acid alone or S. epidermidis with glycerol remarkably ameliorated the UVB-induced IL-6 production. In vivo knockdown of short-chain fatty acid receptor 2 (FFAR2) in mouse skin considerably blocked the probiotic effect of S. epidermidis on suppression of UVB-induced IL-6 production. These results demonstrate that butyric acid in the metabolites of fermenting skin probiotic bacteria mediates FFAR2 to modulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by UVB.
Exogenous Promoter Triggers APETALA3 Silencing through RNA-Directed DNA Methylation Pathway in Arabidopsis
Authors: Wang Benqi , Liu Jie , Chu Lei , Jing Xue , Wang Huadong , Guo Jian , Yi Bin
Published: September 2019

The development of floral organs plays a vital role in plant reproduction. In our research, the APETALA3 (AP3) promoter-transgenic lines showed abnormal developmental phenotypes in stamens and petals. The aim of this study is to understand the molecular mechanisms of the morphological defects in transgenic plants. By performing transgenic analysis, it was found that the AP3-promoted genes and the vector had no relation to the morphological defects. Then, we performed the expression analysis of the class A, B, and C genes. A dramatic reduction of transcript levels of class B genes (AP3 and PISTILLATA) was observed. Additionally, we also analyzed the methylation of the promoters of class B genes and found that the promoter of AP3 was hypermethylated. Furthermore, combining mutations in rdr2-2, drm1/2, and nrpd1b-11 with the AP3-silencing lines rescued the abnormal development of stamens and petals. The expression of AP3 was reactivated and the methylation level of AP3 promoter was also reduced in RdDM-defective AP3-silencing lines. Our results showed that the RdDM pathway contributed to the transcriptional silencing in the transgenic AP3-silencing lines. Moreover, the results revealed that fact that the exogenous fragment of a promoter could trigger the methylation of homologous endogenous sequences, which may be ubiquitous in transgenic plants.
Fucoxanthin-Rich Brown Algae Extract Improves Male Reproductive Function on Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide-Induced Diabetic Rat Model
Authors: Kong Zwe-Ling , Sudirman Sabri , Hsu Yu-Chun , Su Chieh-Yu , Kuo Hsiang-Ping
Published: September 2019

Hypogonadism and oxidative stress are occurring commonly in men with diabetes and associated male infertility. This study aimed to investigate the capability of anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of fucoxanthin as well as to evaluate its protective effects on male reproduction in diabetic rats. The RAW 264.7 macrophage cells were used to evaluate the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activity. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were induced by streptozotocin-nicotinamide for a diabetes model and fed either with three different doses of fucoxanthin (13, 26, and 65 mg/kg) or rosiglitazone (0.571 mg/kg) for four weeks. The fucoxanthin significantly inhibited nitric oxide production and reduced reactive oxygen species level in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 cells. In the animal study, fucoxanthin administration improved insulin resistance, restored sperm motility, decreased abnormal sperm number, and inhibited lipid peroxidation. Moreover, it restored GPR54 and SOCS-3 mRNA expression in the hypothalamus and recovered luteinizing hormone level, as well as the testosterone level. In conclusion, fucoxanthin not only possessed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties but also decreased the diabetes signs and symptoms as well as improved spermatogenesis and male reproductive function.
Cooperativity and Steep Voltage Dependence in a Bacterial Channel
Authors: Lin Shang H. , Chang Kai-Ti , Cherian Nuval , Wu Benjamin , Phee Hyo , Cho Christy , Colombini Marco
Published: September 2019

This paper reports on the discovery of a novel three-membrane channel unit exhibiting very steep voltage dependence and strong cooperative behavior. It was reconstituted into planar phospholipid membranes formed by the monolayer method and studied under voltage-clamp conditions. The behavior of the novel channel-former, isolated from Escherichia coli, is consistent with a linearly organized three-channel unit displaying steep voltage-gating (a minimum of 14 charges in the voltage sensor) that rivals that of channels in mammalian excitable membranes. The channels also display strong cooperativity in that closure of the first channel permits the second to close and closure of the second channel permits closure of the third. All three have virtually the same conductance and selectivity, and yet the first and third close at positive potentials whereas the second closes at negative potentials. Thus, is it likely that the second channel-former is oriented in the membrane in a direction opposite to that of the other two. This novel structure is named “triplin.” The extraordinary behavior of triplin indicates that it must have important and as yet undefined physiological roles.
A Novel Approach to Component Assembly Inspection Based on Mask R-CNN and Support Vector Machines
Authors: Huang Haisong , Wei Zhongyu , Yao Liguo
Published: September 2019

Assembly is a very important manufacturing process in the age of Industry 4.0. Aimed at the problems of part identification and assembly inspection in industrial production, this paper proposes a method of assembly inspection based on machine vision and a deep neural network. First, the image acquisition platform is built to collect the part and assembly images. We use the Mask R-CNN model to identify and segment the shape from each part image, and to obtain the part category and position coordinates in the image. Then, according to the image segmentation results, the area, perimeter, circularity, and Hu invariant moment of the contour are extracted to form the feature vector. Finally, the SVM classification model is constructed to identify the assembly defects, with a classification accuracy rate of over 86.5%. The accuracy of the method is verified by constructing an experimental platform. The results show that the method effectively completes the identification of missing and misaligned parts in the assembly, and has good robustness.
Creating the Urban Farmer’s Almanac with Citizen Science Data
Authors: Prudic Kathleen L. , Wilson J. Keaton , Toshack Michelle C. , Gerst Katharine L. , Rosemartin Alyssa , Crimmins Theresa M. , Oliver Jeffrey C.
Published: September 2019

Agriculture has long been a part of the urban landscape, from gardens to small scale farms. In recent decades, interest in producing food in cities has grown dramatically, with an estimated 30% of the global urban population engaged in some form of food production. Identifying and managing the insect biodiversity found on city farms is a complex task often requiring years of study and specialization, especially in urban landscapes which have a complicated tapestry of fragmentation, diversity, pollution, and introduced species. Supporting urban growers with relevant data informs insect management decision-making for both growers and their neighbors, yet this information can be difficult to come by. In this study, we introduced several web-based citizen science programs that can connect growers with useful data products and people to help with the who, what, where, and when of urban insects. Combining the power of citizen science volunteers with the efforts of urban farmers can result in a clearer picture of the diversity and ecosystem services in play, limited insecticide use, and enhanced non-chemical alternatives. Connecting urban farming practices with citizen science programs also demonstrates the ecosystem value of urban agriculture and engages more citizens with the topics of food production, security, and justice in their communities.
Surgical Outcomes for Upper Lumbar Disc Herniation: Decompression Alone versus Fusion Surgery
Authors: Lin Tung-Yi , Wang Ying-Chih , Chang Chia-Wei , Wong Chak-Bor , Cheng You-Hung , Fu Tsai-Sheng
Published: September 2019

Upper lumbar herniated intervertebral disc (HIVD), defined as L1-2 and L2-3 levels, presents with a lower incidence and more unfavorable surgical outcomes than lower lumbar levels. There are very few reports onthe appropriate surgical interventions for treating upper lumbar HIVD. This study aimed to evaluate the surgical outcome of decompression alone, when compared with spinal fusion surgery. A retrospective study involving a total of 7592 patients who underwent surgery due to HIVD in our institution was conducted. A total of 49 patients were included in this study: 33 patients who underwent decompression-only surgery and 16 patients who underwent fusion surgery. Demographic data, perioperative information, and functional outcomes were recorded. The visual analog scale (VAS) scores showed improvement in both groups postoperatively. The three-month postoperative Oswestry Disability Index score was significantly better in the fusion group. Additionally, 10 patients (76.9%) in the decompression group and 5 patients (83.3%) in the fusion group reported improvement in preoperative motor weakness. The final “satisfactory” rate was 66.7% in the decompression group and 93.8% in the fusion group (p = 0.034). The overall surgical outcomes of patients with upper lumbar HIVD were satisfactory in this study without any major complications. More reliable satisfactory rates and better functional scores at the three-month postoperative follow-up were reported in the fusion group.
Serum Secretogranin III Concentrations Were Increased in Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome and Independently Associated with Fasting Plasma Glucose Levels
Authors: Lin Chun-Chung , Cheng Kai-Pi , Hung Hao-Chang , Li Chung-Hao , Lin Ching-Han , Chang Chih-Jen , Hu Che-Yuan , Wu Hung-Tsung , Ou Horng-Yih
Published: September 2019

Secretogranin III (SCG3) plays a crucial role in the biogenesis of secretory granules in endocrine cells, and thus affects glucose homeostasis by regulating insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells. Insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinemia are hallmarks of metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, the role of SCG3 in MetS remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between serum SCG3 levels and metabolic parameters in subjects with and without MetS. This was a case control study, and 295 subjects were recruited. Serum SCG3 concentrations were compared between groups. Associations between SCG3 levels and clinico-metabolic parameters were also examined. We found serum SCG3 levels were higher in the MetS group than non-MetS group (122.6 ± 79.2 vs. 90.6 ± 58.5 nmol/L, p = 0.009). Specifically, elevated SCG3 levels were found in subjects with high fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, central obesity, or hypertriglyceridemia. Additionally, MetS was an independent factor of serum SCG3 levels in multivariate linear regression analyses. Moreover, FPG, free fatty acids, and waist circumference were positively associated with serum SCG3 concentrations after adjusting for insulin levels, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and cardiovascular risk factors. In conclusion, serum SCG3 concentrations were higher in subjects with MetS and were independently associated with FPG levels.
FLAMSA-RIC for Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndromes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Owattanapanich Weerapat , Ungprasert Patompong , Wais Verena , Kungwankiattichai Smith , Bunjes Donald , Kuchenbauer Florian
Published: September 2019

Reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimens are established options for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). However, the efficacy of RIC regimens for patients with high-risk disease is limited. The addition of a fludarabine, amsacrine, and cytarabine (FLAMSA)-sequential conditioning regimen was introduced for patients with high-risk MDS and AML to combine a high anti-leukemic activity with the advantages of RIC. The current systematic literature review and meta-analysis was conducted with the aim of identifying all cohort studies of patients with AML and/or MDS who received FLAMSA-RIC to determine its efficacy and toxicity. Out of 3044 retrieved articles, 12 published studies with 2395 overall patients (18.1–76.0 years; 96.8% AML and 3.2% MDS; follow-up duration of 0.7–145 months; 50.3% had active AML disease before HSCT) met the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. In the pooled analysis, the 1- and 3-year overall survival (OS) rates were 59.6% (95% confidence interval (CI), 47.9–70.2%) and 40.2% (95% CI, 28.0–53.7%), respectively. The pooled 3-year OS rate of the patients who achieved CR1 or CR2 prior to HSCT was 60.1% (95% CI, 55.1–64.8%) and the percentage of those with relapse or refractory disease was 27.8% (95% CI, 23.3–32.8%). The pooled 3-year leukemia-free survival (LFS) rate was 39.3% (95% CI, 26.4–53.9%). Approximately 29% of the patients suffered from grades 2–4 acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), while 35.6% had chronic GVHD. The pooled 1- and 3-year non-relapse mortality (NRM) rates were 17.9% (95% CI, 16.1–19.8%) and 21.1% (95% CI, 18.8–23.7%), respectively. Our data indicates that the FLAMSA-RIC regimen is an effective and well-tolerated regimen for HSCT in patients with high-risk AML and MDS.
Dry Eye Disease: Emerging Approaches to Disease Analysis and Therapy
Authors: Heidari Mostafa , Noorizadeh Farsad , Wu Kevin , Inomata Takenori , Mashaghi Alireza
Published: September 2019

Dry eye disease (DED) is among the most common ocular disorders affecting tens of millions of individuals worldwide; however, the condition remains incompletely understood and treated. Valuable insights have emerged from multidisciplinary approaches, including immunometabolic analyses, microbiome analyses, and bioengineering. Furthermore, we have seen new developments in clinical assessment approaches and treatment strategies in the recent past. Here, we review the emerging frontiers in the pathobiology and clinical management of DED.
Risk Model Assessment in Early-Onset and Adult-Onset Schizophrenia Using Neurological Soft Signs
Authors: Chen Bao-Yu , Tsai I-Ning , Lin Jin-Jia , Lu Ming-Kun , Tan Hung-Pin , Jang Fong-Lin , Gan Shu-Ting , Lin Sheng-Hsiang
Published: September 2019

Age at onset is one of the most important clinical features of schizophrenia that could indicate greater genetic loadings. Neurological soft signs (NSS) are considered as a potential endophenotype for schizophrenia. However, the association between NSS and different age-onset schizophrenia still remains unclear. We aimed to compare risk model in patients with early-onset schizophrenia (EOS) and adult-onset schizophrenia (AOS) with NSS. This study included 262 schizophrenia patients, 177 unaffected first-degree relatives and 243 healthy controls. We estimated the discriminant abilities of NSS models for early-onset schizophrenia (onset age < 20) and adult-onset schizophrenia (onset age ≥ 20) using three data mining methods: artificial neural networks (ANN), decision trees (DT) and logistic regression (LR). We then assessed the magnitude of NSS performance in EOS and AOS families. For the four NSS subscales, the NSS performance were greater in EOS and AOS families compared with healthy individuals. More interestingly, there were significant differences found between patients’ families and control group in the four subscales of NSS. These findings support the potential for neurodevelopmental markers to be used as schizophrenia vulnerability indicators. The NSS models had higher discriminant abilities for EOS than for AOS. NSS were more accurate in distinguishing EOS patients from healthy controls compared to AOS patients. Our results support the neurodevelopmental hypothesis that EOS has poorer performance of NSS than AOS. Hence, poorer NSS performance may be imply trait-related NSS feature in EOS.
Low Alanine Aminotransferase Cut-Off for Predicting Liver Outcomes; A Nationwide Population-Based Longitudinal Cohort Study
Authors: Park Jin Hwa , Choi Jun , Jun Dae Won , Han Sung Won , Yeo Yee Hui , Nguyen Mindie H.
Published: September 2019

Background and aim: Recent practice guidelines suggest healthy normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels should be less than 30 U/L for males and 19 U/L for females. We tried to validate the prediction power of the “low cut off” for liver related outcomes in the general population. Methods: A total of 426,013 subjects were followed up for 10 years using the National Health Screening Cohort database. Prediction ability of long term mortality and liver related outcomes between conventional (<40 U/L in men and women) and low (<30 U/L in men and <19 U/L in women) ALT cut-off values were compared. Results: Both conventional and low ALT cut-offs predicted liver related unfavorable outcomes in Kaplan-Meier analysis. Following adjustment for age, body mass index, smoking, exercise, alcohol consumption, fasting blood glucose, and cholesterol via multivariate Cox regression, abnormal ALT using new ‘low ALT cut off’ was a significant independent predictor for liver-related mortality, HCC, and decompensated liver events. When the low cut-off criteria were added to the prediction model, the ability to predetect liver-related hard outcomes significantly increased in both men and women (p-values < 0.0001). The C-index values for predicting liver-related adverse events were the same in both ALT cut-offs, after adjusting confounding factors (C index value: 0.73~0.88). Conclusions: New low ALT cut-off showed good prediction power for liver related unfavorable outcomes.
Aiding the Diagnosis of Diabetic and Hypertensive Retinopathy Using Artificial Intelligence-Based Semantic Segmentation
Authors: Arsalan Muhammad , Owais Muhammad , Mahmood Tahir , Cho Se Woon , Park Kang Ryoung
Published: September 2019

Automatic segmentation of retinal images is an important task in computer-assisted medical image analysis for the diagnosis of diseases such as hypertension, diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy, and arteriosclerosis. Among the diseases, diabetic retinopathy, which is the leading cause of vision detachment, can be diagnosed early through the detection of retinal vessels. The manual detection of these retinal vessels is a time-consuming process that can be automated with the help of artificial intelligence with deep learning. The detection of vessels is difficult due to intensity variation and noise from non-ideal imaging. Although there are deep learning approaches for vessel segmentation, these methods require many trainable parameters, which increase the network complexity. To address these issues, this paper presents a dual-residual-stream-based vessel segmentation network (Vess-Net), which is not as deep as conventional semantic segmentation networks, but provides good segmentation with few trainable parameters and layers. The method takes advantage of artificial intelligence for semantic segmentation to aid the diagnosis of retinopathy. To evaluate the proposed Vess-Net method, experiments were conducted with three publicly available datasets for vessel segmentation: digital retinal images for vessel extraction (DRIVE), the Child Heart Health Study in England (CHASE-DB1), and structured analysis of retina (STARE). Experimental results show that Vess-Net achieved superior performance for all datasets with sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), area under the curve (AUC), and accuracy (Acc) of 80.22%, 98.1%, 98.2%, and 96.55% for DRVIE; 82.06%, 98.41%, 98.0%, and 97.26% for CHASE-DB1; and 85.26%, 97.91%, 98.83%, and 96.97% for STARE dataset.
Bone Regeneration Potential of Uncalcined and Unsintered Hydroxyapatite/Poly l-lactide Bioactive/Osteoconductive Sheet Used for Maxillofacial Reconstructive Surgery: An In Vivo Study
Authors: Dong Quang Ngoc , Kanno Takahiro , Bai Yunpeng , Sha Jingjing , Hideshima Katsumi
Published: September 2019

Uncalcined and unsintered hydroxyapatite/poly l-lactide (u-HA/PLLA) material has osteoconductive characteristics and is available for use as a maxillofacial osteosynthetic reconstruction device. However, its bone regeneration ability in the maxillofacial region has not been fully investigated. This study is the first to assess the bone regenerative potential of osteoconductive u-HA/PLLA material when it is used for repairing maxillofacial bone defects. A total of 21 Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into three groups—the u-HA/PLLA, PLLA, or sham control groups. A critical size defect of 4 mm was created in the mandible of each rat. Then, the defect was covered with either a u-HA/PLLA or PLLA sheet on the buccal side. The rats in each group were sacrificed at 2, 4, or 8 weeks. The rats’ mandibles were sampled for histological analysis with hematoxylin and eosin staining, histomorphometry, and immunohistochemistry with Runx2 and osteocalcin (OCN) antibody. The amount of newly formed bone in the u-HA/PLLA group was significantly higher than that of the PLLA group. The expression of Runx2 and OCN in the u-HA/PLLA group was also significantly higher. These results demonstrate that the u-HA/PLLA material has excellent bone regenerative ability and confirm its applicability as a reconstructive device in maxillofacial surgery.
Correlations of Equilibrium Properties and Electronic Structure of Pure Metals
Authors: Dai Jianhong , He Dongye , Song Yan
Published: September 2019

First principles calculations were carried out to study the equilibrium properties of metals, including the electrons at bonding critical point; ebcp; cohesive energy; Ecoh; bulk modulus; B; and, atomic volume; V. 44 pure metals, including the s valence (alkali), p valence (groups III to V), and d valence (transition) metals were selected. In the present work, the electronic structure parameter ebcp has been considered to be a bridge connecting with the equilibrium properties of metals, and relationships between ebcp and equilibrium properties (V; Ecoh; and B) are established. It is easy to estimate the equilibrium properties (Ecoh; V, and B) of pure metals through proposed formulas. The relationships that were derived in the present work might provide a method to study the intrinsic mechanisms of the equilibrium properties of alloys and to develop new alloys.
Fabrication and Biocompatibility Evaluation of Nanodiamonds-Gelatin Electrospun Materials Designed for Prospective Tissue Regeneration Applications
Authors: Şelaru Aida , Drăgușin Diana-Maria , Olăreț Elena , Serafim Andrada , Steinmüller-Nethl Doris , Vasile Eugeniu , Iovu Horia , Stancu Izabela-Cristina , Costache Marieta , Dinescu Sorina
Published: September 2019

Due to the reduced ability of most harmed tissues to self-regenerate, new strategies are being developed in order to promote self-repair assisted or not by biomaterials, among these tissue engineering (TE). Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hASCs) currently represent a promising tool for tissue reconstruction, due to their low immunogenicity, high differentiation potential to multiple cell types and easy harvesting. Gelatin is a natural biocompatible polymer used for regenerative applications, while nanodiamond particles (NDs) are used as reinforcing nanomaterial that might modulate cell behavior, namely cell adhesion, viability, and proliferation. The development of electrospun microfibers loaded with NDs is expected to allow nanomechanical sensing due to local modifications of both nanostructure and stiffness. Two aqueous suspensions with 0.5 and 1% w/v NDs in gelatin from cold water fish skin (FG) were used to generate electrospun meshes. Advanced morpho- and micro-structural characterization revealed homogeneous microfibers. Nanoindentation tests confirmed the reinforcing effect of NDs. Biocompatibility assays showed an increased viability and proliferation profile of hASCs in contact with FG_NDs, correlated with very low cytotoxic effects of the materials. Moreover, hASCs developed an elongated cytoskeleton, suggesting that NDs addition to FG materials encouraged cell adhesion. This study showed the FG_NDs fibrous scaffolds potential for advanced TE applications.
Effects of Cr, W, and Mo on the High Temperature Oxidation of Ni-Based Superalloys
Authors: Park Si-Jun , Seo Seong-Moon , Yoo Young-Soo , Jeong Hi-Won , Jang HeeJin
Published: September 2019

The oxidation behavior of Ni–9.5Co–(8~12)Cr–(2.5~5.5)Mo–(4~8)W–3Al–5Ti–3Ta–0.1C–0.01B alloys was investigated at 850 °C and 1000 °C The mass change, the phase of oxides, and the cross-sectional structure of specimens were analyzed after cyclic oxidation tests. The oxide scale was composed mainly of Cr2O3 and NiCr2O4, but NiO, TiO2, and CrTaO4 were also found. Al2O3 was formed beneath the Cr oxide layer. The Cr oxide layer and internal Al oxide acted as barriers to oxidation at 850 °C, while Al oxide was predominantly protective at 1000 °C. Cr increased the mass gain after oxidation test at both temperatures. Mo increased the oxidation rate at 850 °C but decreased the oxidation rate at 1000 °C. W slightly increased the mass gain at 850 °C but did not produce a significant effect at 1000 °C. The effects of Cr, Mo, W, and the temperature were discussed as well as the volatilization of oxides, the valence number of elements, and diffusion retardation.
Electronic Transport Properties of Silicane Determined from First Principles
Authors: Khatami Mohammad , Gaddemane Gautam , Van de Put Maarten , Fischetti Massimo , Moravvej-Farshi Mohammad , Pourfath Mahdi , Vandenberghe William
Published: September 2019

Silicane, a hydrogenated monolayer of hexagonal silicon, is a candidate material for future complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology. We determined the phonon-limited mobility and the velocity-field characteristics for electrons and holes in silicane from first principles, relying on density functional theory. Transport calculations were performed using a full-band Monte Carlo scheme. Scattering rates were determined from interpolated electron–phonon matrix elements determined from density functional perturbation theory. We found that the main source of scattering for electrons and holes was the ZA phonons. Different cut-off wavelengths ranging from 0.58 nm to 16 nm were used to study the possible suppression of the out-of-plane acoustic (ZA) phonons. The low-field mobility of electrons (holes) was obtained as 5 (10) cm2/(Vs) with a long wavelength ZA phonon cut-off of 16 nm. We showed that higher electron (hole) mobilities of 24 (101) cm2/(Vs) can be achieved with a cut-off wavelength of 4 nm, while completely suppressing ZA phonons results in an even higher electron (hole) mobility of 53 (109) cm2/(Vs). Velocity-field characteristics showed velocity saturation at 3 × 105 V/cm, and negative differential mobility was observed at larger fields. The silicane mobility was competitive with other two-dimensional materials, such as transition-metal dichalcogenides or phosphorene, predicted using similar full-band Monte Carlo calculations. Therefore, silicon in its most extremely scaled form remains a competitive material for future nanoscale transistor technology, provided scattering with out-of-plane acoustic phonons could be suppressed.
Properties of Cracking Patterns of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced Cement Matrix
Authors: Szeląg Maciej
Published: September 2019

The research presented in this paper presents a quantitative analysis of cracking patterns on the surface of cement paste, which has been modified by the addition of the multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The cracking patterns analyzed were created as a result of increased temperature load. MWCNTs were used as an aqueous dispersion in the presence of a surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Four series of the cement paste were tested, and the samples differed in the water/cement (w/c) ratio, cement class, and the presence of MWCNTs. Image analysis tools were used to quantify the cracking patterns and it was proposed to measure parameters, such as the average cluster area, average cluster perimeter, average crack width, and crack density. In order to facilitate the image analysis process, the sample surface was subjected to preparation and using statistical analysis tools it was assessed whether the method of surface preparation affects the way the sample is cracked. The paper also presents the analysis of the relationships that occur between parameters describing the cracking patterns, and also with the physico-mechanical properties of the cement pastes. It was attempted to explain the dependencies using elements of fractal theory and the theory of dispersion systems.
Erosion Behavior of a Cu-Ti3AlC2 Cathode by Multi-Electric Arc
Authors: Huang Xiaochen , Feng Yi , Li Liang , Li Zongqun
Published: September 2019

A Cu-Ti3AlC2 cathode was eroded by arc discharging at 10 kV. The cross-sectional and horizontal morphologies of the eroded surface were recorded by a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and Raman spectrometry were carried out to analyze the compositions. The color-eroded surface was obtained by a three-dimensional laser scanning confocal microscope (3D LSCM). After 100 times of arc erosion, the Cu-Ti3AlC2 melted and resolidified. An eroded layer about 10 μm thick was formed, covered with pits, protrusions, and pores. The breakdown current was kept between 37 to 43 A. Under the action of a high temperature arc, Cu-Ti3AlC2 was oxidized to CuO and TiO2, accompanying the evaporation of the Al element.
Advances of Italian Machine Design
Authors: Ceccarelli Marco , Carbone Giuseppe
Published: September 2019

This Special Issue is aimed to promote and circulate recent developments and achievements in the field of Mechanism and Machine Science coming from the Italian community with international collaborations and ranging from theoretical contributions to experimental and practical applications [...]
Arthroscopic Latarjet for Recurrent Shoulder Instability
Authors: Castricini Roberto , Longo Umile Giuseppe , Petrillo Stefano , Candela Vincenzo , De Benedetto Massimo , Maffulli Nicola , Denaro Vincenzo
Published: September 2019

Background and Objectives: The all-arthroscopic Latarjet (aL) procedure was introduced to manage recurrent shoulder instability. Our study aimed to report the outcomes of aL procedures with the Rowe, University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA), simple shoulder test (SST) scores, and range of motion (ROM) in external rotation at a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Material and Methods: A total of 44 patients presenting recurrent shoulder instability were managed with aL procedure. Clinical outcomes were assessed at a mean follow-up of 29.6 ± 6.9 months. The postoperative active ROM was measured and compared with the contralateral shoulder. The Rowe, UCLA, and SST scores were administered preoperatively and postoperatively. Results: No patients experienced infections or neuro-vascular injuries. Seven (15%) patients required revision surgery. After surgery, the external rotation was statistically lower compared to the contralateral shoulder, but it improved; clinical outcomes also improved in a statistically significant fashion. Conclusions: The aL produced good results in the management of recurrent shoulder instability, but the complication rate was still high even in the hands of expert arthroscopist.
Development of Novel AlSi10Mg Based Nanocomposites: Microstructure, Thermal and Mechanical Properties
Authors: Moheimani Seyed Kiomars , Dadkhah Mehran , Saboori Abdollah
Published: September 2019

Al matrix nanocomposites are interestingly employed in the automotive, military, aerospace and electronics packaging industries. In this study, Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs) reinforced AlSi10Mg nanocomposites were produced via powder metallurgy. The effect of GNPs content on density, microstructure and mechanical characteristics of the AlSi10Mg/GNPs nanocomposites was investigated systematically. To this aim, AlSi10Mg/GNPs nanocomposites reinforced with 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 wt.% of GNPs were produced by wet mixing method following by hot compaction at 600 °C. To evaluate the effect of GNPs on mechanical properties of the as-fabricated nanocomposite, Vickers hardness and tensile properties of composites analyzed at room temperature. According to the results, it was found that the fabrication of AlSi10Mg/GNPs nanocomposites is faced with several challenges such as agglomeration and non-uniform dispersion of GNPs that should be addressed to achieve the desirable thermal and mechanical properties. For instance, surprisingly, it is revealed that the mechanical and thermal properties of nanocomposites were deteriorated in the presence of a high quantity of GNPs (>1.0 wt.%), which can be attributed to the GNPs agglomeration and accordingly introduction of internal porosity in the nanocomposite. The relatively low fraction of GNPs can uniformly be dispersed in the matrix and improve the performance of the nanocomposite.
Microstructure and Mechanical Performance of the DD98M-DD98M Single Crystal Superalloy Joints Brazed Using a Pd-Si Composite Filler
Authors: Qin Chunjie , Xu Haitao , Zhou Zhengqiang , He Yanming , Lu Chuanyang , Gao Ke , Zheng Wenjian , Yang Jianguo , Wang Donghong , Sun Yuan , Gao Zengliang
Published: September 2019

In this work, the DD98M single crystal superalloys were brazed to themselves using a Pd-Si composite filler. The effect of brazing temperature and soaking time on the microstructure and mechanical behavior of the joints was studied. The microstructure and phase constitution in the joint were identified by the SEM and EDS analysis. The results indicated that the joint obtained was constituted by DD98M/zone 2/zone 1/zone 2/DD98M. The zone 1 was primarily made up of the Ni (Pd, Cr, Co) (s.s), Pd4Si, Pd (Ni, Ti, Al) (s.s) and Pd-rich Ni (Pd, Cr, Co) (s.s), while the zone 2 consisted of the Ni (Pd, Cr, Co) (s.s) and Al2Pd5. During the brazing process, increasing the brazing temperature strengthened the fluidity of the liquid filler, which was favorable to eliminating the solidified pores in the brazing seam. Furthermore, a higher brazing temperature would cause the phases in the zones 1 and 2 to be coarsened remarkably. When setting the brazing temperature to 1060 °C, extending the soaking time made the amount of Pd (Ni, Ti, Al) (s.s) decrease, whereas the amount of Pd4Si increased, because the peritectic reaction between the Pd (Ni, Ti, Al) (s.s) and remnant liquid filler was enhanced. Among the brazing process parameters under investigation, the maximum joint average shear strength obtained reached 338 MPa when the joint was brazed at 1060 °C for 30 min. A ductile fracture mode happened during the shear tests under a joining condition. The work performed can provide valuable data to design the single crystal superalloy brazed joint.
Antibody Response to Toscana Virus and Sandfly Fever Sicilian Virus in Cats Naturally Exposed to Phlebotomine Sand Fly Bites in Portugal
Authors: Pereira André , Ayhan Nazli , Cristóvão José Manuel , Vilhena Hugo , Martins Ângela , Cachola Patrícia , Henriques Joaquim , Coimbra Mónica , Catarino Ana , Lestinova Tereza , Spitzova Tatiana , Volf Petr , Campino Lenea , Charrel Remi , Maia Carla
Published: September 2019

Phlebotomine sand fly-borne pathogens such as Leishmania spp. and phleboviruses are emerging threats to humans and animals worldwide. The aim of this work was to evaluate the exposure of cats from Portugal to Toscana virus (TOSV) and Sandfly Fever Sicilian virus (SFSV) and assess the associated risk factors. The possible association between exposure to Phlebotomus perniciosus saliva with TOSV and SFSV was also investigated. Out of 369 cats tested, 18 (4.9%, n = 365) were seropositive for TOSV, and eight (2.2%, n = 367) were seropositive for SFSV. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that cats presenting clinical signs that were compatible with leishmaniosis and antibodies to TOSV had a significantly higher risk of being SFSV seropositive. The presence of antibodies to sand fly-borne viruses in cats indicate that these animals are frequently exposed to sand flies and transmitted pathogens. Data suggest that cats can be used to qualitatively monitor human exposure to TOSV and SFSV in endemic areas. The clinical impact of SFSV in cats’ health should be investigated. The identification of the sand fly species responsible for the circulation of TOSV and SFSV in nature and the evaluation of the vectorial competence of P. perniciosus to SFSV should also be addressed.
DNA- and RNA- Derived Fungal Communities in Subsurface Aquifers Only Partly Overlap but React Similarly to Environmental Factors
Authors: Nawaz Ali , Purahong Witoon , Herrmann Martina , Küsel Kirsten , Buscot François , Wubet Tesfaye
Published: September 2019

Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies have revolutionized our understanding of microbial diversity and composition in relation to their environment. HTS-based characterization of metabolically active (RNA-derived) and total (DNA-derived) fungal communities in different terrestrial habitats has revealed profound differences in both richness and community compositions. However, such DNA- and RNA-based HTS comparisons are widely missing for fungal communities of groundwater aquifers in the terrestrial biogeosphere. Therefore, in this study, we extracted DNA and RNA from groundwater samples of two pristine aquifers in the Hainich CZE and employed paired-end Illumina sequencing of the fungal nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region to comprehensively test difference/similarities in the “total” and “active” fungal communities. We found no significant differences in the species richness between the DNA- and RNA-derived fungal communities, but the relative abundances of various fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) appeared to differ. We also found the same set of environmental parameters to shape the “total” and “active” fungal communities in the targeted aquifers. Furthermore, our comparison also underlined that about 30%–40% of the fungal OTUs were only detected in RNA-derived communities. This implies that the active fungal communities analyzed by HTS methods in the subsurface aquifers are actually not a subset of supposedly total fungal communities. In general, our study highlights the importance of differentiating the potential (DNA-derived) and expressed (RNA-derived) members of the fungal communities in aquatic ecosystems.
Micropore Structural Heterogeneity of Siliceous Shale Reservoir of the Longmaxi Formation in the Southern Sichuan Basin, China
Authors: Li Hu , Tang Hongming , Zheng Majia
Published: September 2019

In recent years, the shale gas in the southern Sichuan Basin has achieved great commercial development, and the Silurian Longmaxi Formation is the main development stratum. In order to solve the problems of great difference production and inaccurate gas content of the Longmaxi Formation shale gas field in the southern Sichuan Basin, based on thin section identification, argon ion polishing-field emission scanning electron microscopy, high pressure mercury injection, low temperature nitrogen adsorption and the fractal method, the micropore structural heterogeneity of the siliceous shale reservoir of the Longmaxi Formation has been studied. The results show the following: The pores of siliceous shale are mainly intergranular pores and organic pores. Image analysis shows that there are obvious differences in size and distribution of shale pores among different types. The micropore structural heterogeneity is as follows: intragranular pore > intergranular pore > organic pore. In the paper, the combination of low temperature nitrogen adsorption method and high-pressure mercury injection method is proposed to characterize the micropore size distribution and fractal dimension, which ensures the credibility of pore heterogeneity. The shale pores are mainly composed of mesopores (2–20 nm), followed by macropores (100–300 nm). For different pore sizes, the fractal dimension from large to small is mesopore, micropore and macropore. Shale pore structure and fractal dimension are correlated with mineral composition and total organic carbon (TOC) content, but the correlation is significantly different in different areas, being mainly controlled by the sedimentary environment and diagenesis.
Anti-Haemophilus Activity of Selected Essential Oils Detected by TLC-Direct Bioautography and Biofilm Inhibition
Authors: Balázs Viktória Lilla , Horváth Barbara , Kerekes Erika , Ács Kamilla , Kocsis Béla , Varga Adorján , Böszörményi Andrea , Nagy Dávid U. , Krisch Judit , Széchenyi Aleksandar , Horváth Györgyi
Published: September 2019

Essential oils (EOs) are becoming increasingly popular in medical applications because of their antimicrobial effect. Direct bioautography (DB) combined with thin layer chromatography (TLC) is a screening method for the detection of antimicrobial compounds in plant extracts, for example, in EOs. Due to their lipophilic character, the common microbiological assays (etc. disk diffusion) could not provide reliable results. The aim of this study was the evaluation of antibacterial and anti-biofilm properties of the EO of cinnamon bark, clove, peppermint, thyme, and their main components against Haemophilus influenzae and H. parainfluenzae. Oil in water (O/W) type Pickering nano-emulsions stabilized with silica nanoparticles from each oil were prepared to increase their water-solubility. Samples with Tween80 surfactant and absolute ethanol were also used. Results showed that H. influenzae was more sensitive to the EOs than H. parainfluenzae (except for cinnamon bark oil). In thin layer chromatography-direct bioautography (TLC-DB) the ethanolic solutions of thyme oil presented the best activity against H. influenzae, while cinnamon oil was the most active against H. parainfluenzae. Pickering nano-emulsion of cinnamon oil inhibited the biofilm formation of H. parainfluenzae (76.35%) more efficiently than samples with Tween80 surfactant or absolute ethanol. In conclusion, Pickering nano-emulsion of EOs could inhibit the biofilm production effectively.
Catalpol in Diabetes and its Complications: A Review of Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics, and Safety
Authors: Bai Ying , Zhu Ruyuan , Tian Yimiao , Li Rui , Chen Beibei , Zhang Hao , Xia Bingke , Zhao Dandan , Mo Fangfang , Zhang Dongwei , Gao Sihua
Published: September 2019

This review aimed to provide a general view of catalpol in protection against diabetes and diabetic complications, as well as its pharmacokinetics and safety concerns. The following databases were consulted with the retrieval of more than 100 publications through June 2019: PubMed, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, and web of science. Catalpol exerts an anti-diabetic effect in different animal models with an oral dosage ranging from 2.5 to 200 mg/kg in rats and 10 to 200 mg/kg in mice. Besides, catalpol may prevent the development of diabetic complications in kidney, heart, central nervous system, and bone. The underlying mechanism may be associated with an inhibition of inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis through modulation of various cellular signaling, such as AMPK/PI3K/Akt, PPAR/ACC, JNK/NF-κB, and AGE/RAGE/NOX4 signaling pathways, as well as PKCγ and Cav-1 expression. The pharmacokinetic profile reveals that catalpol could pass the blood-brain barrier and has a potential to be orally administrated. Taken together, catalpol is a well-tolerated natural compound with promising pharmacological actions in protection against diabetes and diabetic complications via multi-targets, offering a novel scaffold for the development of anti-diabetic drug candidate. Further prospective and well-designed clinical trials will shed light on the potential of clinical usage of catalpol.