bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phytoremediation of soil contaminated with zinc and lead by using Zea mays L.
Authors: Ahmed Abdel-Haleem Mohammed , Latif Hanan Helmy
Published: October 2018

This study was carried out to investigate the potential of Corn (Zea mays) for phytoremediation of soil contaminated with lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn). The Zea mays L. cv. Giza 2, Hordeum vulgare cv. Giza 123 and Lupinus termis cv. Giza 1 species were planted in poted soil contaminated with lead and zinc. Zea mays was also cultivated with Hordeum and Lupinus treated with lead and zinc. The results showed that growth decreased by (16.7, 48.63 and 23.56%), photosynthetic pigments decreased by (10.18, 22.38 and 10.9%) and total-N decreased by (30.0, 27.27 and 13.64%) in Zea, Hordeum and Lupinus, respectively as compared to control. Proteins profile in shoots of tested plants revealed qualitative and quantitative changes. Co-cultivated Zea with Hordeum and Lupinus treated with lead and zinc improvement all parameters. The evidences provided by this experiment indicated that Corn acts as an effective accumulator to zinc and lead.
Effects of aminoethoxyvinylglycine treatments on pre-harvest fruit drop and fruit quality of Braeburn apples
Authors: Ozturk Burhan , Yildiz Kenan , Ozkan Yakup , Kilic Kemal
Published: October 2018

This study was conducted to determine the effects of increasing aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) concentrations on pre-harvest drop and fruit quality parameters of ‘Braeburn’ apples. Results revealed that AVG treatments increased the fruit removal force and significantly decreased pre-harvest drops compared to control treatment. AVG was found to be more effective in controlling pre-harvest drops than naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). There were significant differences among AVG doses with regard to preharvest drop rates. The lowest ratio of pre-harvest drop was observed in 400 mg/l AVG treatment. All AVG doses decreased ethylene biosynthesis. Inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis was higher in 300 and 400 mg/l AVG treatments than the other AVG treatment. AVG retarded fruit ripening of ‘Braeburn’ apples. Measurements, performed at different dates of ripening process, revealed higher flesh firmness values for AVG-treated fruits than the control. Starch degradation was delayed by AVG treatments. Effects of AVG on fruit peel color varied with years. While significant effects of AVG treatments on peel color were not observed in the first year, especially higher AVG doses significantly increased L* values and hue angles in the second year. AVG treatments also significantly increased fruit mass in both years. Significant changes in fruit geometric diameters were not observed with AVG treatments, except for 300 mg/l AVG treatment of second year.
Effects of most-probable-number method and plate count method on fungal population density at different pH of assay medium
Authors: Bhowmik Subrata Nath
Published: October 2018

The most-probable-number method was adopted to evaluate population density of fungus using two fungal models in potato-dextrose media of pH 5.6 and 3.5. The results were compared with plate count methods. Concentration of propagules ranged of 6.11 - 6.55 log cfu/ml in Rhizopus), 6.01 - 6.09 log cfu/ml in Trichoderma at pH 5.6 and 6.68 - 6.75 log cfu/ml (Rhizopus), 6.10 - 6.32 log cfu/ml (Trichoderma) at pH 3.5. The order of results was - most-probable-number > spread plate> pour plate. Population density was relatively higher at pH 3.5 and no significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) among the methods recorded.
Sterol and triterpenoids from Hygrophila schulli Buch.-Ham.
Authors: Suflan Md Abu , Begum Fatema , Haque Mohammad Rashedul , Hasan Choudhury Mamood , Rashid Mohammad Abdur
Published: October 2018

The methanol extract of whole plants of Hygrophila schulli Buch.-Ham. was subjected to repeated chromatographic separation and purification processes to isolate its chemical constituents. A total of three compounds were isolated which have been characterized as stigmasterol, lupeol and lup-20(29)-ene-3β,23- diol on the basis of 1H NMR spectral evidence and confirmed by comparing with published data, as well as co-TLC in case of stigmasterol and lupeol. This is the first report of lup-20(29)-ene-3β,23-diol from this plant.
Effects of lead toxicity on growth and cell wall extensibility in rice seedlings
Authors: Hossain Mohammad Talim , Soga Kouichi , Wakabayashi Kazuyuki , Hoson Takayuki
Published: October 2018

The effect of lead (Pb) on growth and mechanical properties of cell wall was investigated in rice seedlings. Caryopses of rice were germinated and grown in various concentrations of lead nitrate for 5 days at 250C in the dark. Growth of rice seedlings was suppressed by Pb ions; significant suppression was caused by low concentration of Pb as 1 μM. Growth suppression was prominent in roots, but not clear in shoot organs, such as coleoptiles or first leaves, suggesting that roots are the primary target of Pb toxicity. The analysis of the cell wall extensibility of rice roots grown in Pb solution indicated that the cell wall extensibility was greatly decreased with increased concentration of Pb ions. These results suggest that Pb may influence the synthesis of cell wall polysaccharides, thereby decreasing the cell wall extensibility, resulting in growth suppression in rice roots.
Grain yield, dry matter remobilization and chlorophyll content in maize (Zea mays L.) as influenced by nitrogen and water deficit
Authors: Haghjoo Mahta , Bahrani Abdollah
Published: October 2018

Out of 20, 40, 60 and 80 per cent moisture depletion 20% showed significantly higher grain yields, biological yield, chlorophyll a, b than the others. However, the highest contribution of stem and leaf dry matter remobilization in grain yield were obtained in 80% moisture depletion and 300 kg N/ha and the lowest one was found in the 20% moisture depletion and 150 kg N/ha. Nitrogen application increased all traits, however there were no significant difference between 250 and 300 kg N/ha.
Evaluating the health status of Robinia pseudoacacia L. by the root exudates
Authors: Tianxing Wei , Xin Shi , Jinzhao Zhu , Qingke Zhu , Rui Yukui
Published: October 2018

The components of root exudates released from healthy and unhealthy black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) root were determined by GC-MS. The results showed that the kinds and contents of root exudates released from Black Locust are different for healthy and unhealthy plants, so it may be evaluated whether the Black Locust plants are healthy or unhealthy by the root exudates. Healthy plants can release more kinds of exudates than unhealthy plants, especially the kinds of acids, alcohol and ester. There are 46 kinds of compounds in the healthy Black Locust, but only 24 kinds in the unhealthy Black Locust. Many compounds are released from healthy plant but not from unhealthy, while many kinds of compounds are released from unhealthy plant but not from healthy one.
Multivariate analysis of environment-vegetation complex of Vehari district, Pakistan
Authors: Zereen Arif , Sardar Andleeb Anwar
Published: October 2018

Multivariate analysis using two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) and Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) were used to classify the phytosociology of the District Vehari, Pakistan. A total of 35 plant species belonging to 23 families were recorded. The first level TWINSPAN divided the vegetation of entire study area into two major communities which were subsequently separated into subcommunities. Each major and sub-community was named following the most important dominant species. CCA identified the relationship of vegetation structure to specific environmental factors. This relationship was studied by CANOCO analysis. In the CCA of all the species for Vehari, soil pH and water pH and EC were the most important variables influencing the species distribution. This survey offers key information regarding vegetation and would be helpful for the conservation of biodiversity of the area under study.
Use of antigenic composition to differentiate among Rhizoctonia solani isolates from flax
Authors: Hussein EM , Aly AA , Ghel-Hawary Ola , Mohamed Heba I , Mosa AA , Mostafa MH
Published: October 2018

Rhizoctonia solani is an plant pathogenic fungus with a wide host range and worldwide distribution. Double diffusion technique was used to differentiate among Rhizoctonia solani isolates from flax. In this technique, antisera of isolate 23 (AG-2) and isolate 24 (AG-4) reacted against antigens of 24 isolates belonging to AG-2 and Ag-4. The antiserum of isolate 23 (AG-2) was insensitive to differentiate among the isolates of AG-2, while it was highly sensitive to differentiate among some isolates of AG-4. The antiserum of isolate 24 (AG-4) was highly sensitive as a serotaxonomic tool to differentiate among AG-2 and AG-4, while it was of limited value in differentiating among isolates of within each AG.
Evaluation of field pea germplasm against rust disease caused by Uromyces viciae fabae De Bary in glass house and field conditions
Authors: Singh Deepak , Gupta Ashish Kumar , Singh Anil Kumar , Singh Ajoy Kumar , Kumar Santosh
Published: October 2018

Seventy three germplasm of field pea were tested under glasshouse and field condition against rust disease caused by Uromyces viciae fabae (Pers.) de Bary. Among screened germplasms, 30 susceptible, 40 highly susceptible and 3 belonged to moderately resistance group. The susceptible germplasm showed leaf area with symptoms (LAS) ranged from 30 to 65% with area under disease progressive curve (AUDPC) values from 77.5 to 1290 and apparent infection rate from 0.0134 to 0.1698 and highly susceptible germplasm showed LAS ranged from 60 to 95% with AUDPC values ranged from 1075 to 2179. Apparent infection rate ranged from 0.0616 to 0.6950 while moderately resistance germplasm showed LAS ranged from 20 to 24% with AUDPC values ranged from 350 to 438 and apparent infection rate ranged from 0.1180 to 0.1198 in field as well as glasshouse conditions. The moderate resistance germplasm JPF 99025, KPMR 615 and KPMR 551showed lowest LAS, AUDPC value and apparent infection rate, hence, these germplasms could be used in breeding programme.
In vitro plant regeneration of Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud. from shoot tip and leaf segment
Authors: Roy PK
Published: October 2018

An efficient protocol was developed for in vitro mass propagation of Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud. using shoot tip and leaf segment explants from field grown plant. Different concentrations and combinations of BAP, Kn, zeatin and NAA were used for multiple shoot regeneration. Among two types of explants, leaf segment produced the highest number of shoots per explant (12 ± 0.4) when they were cultured on MS supplemented with 3.0 mg/l Kn and 0.5 mg/l NAA. Addition of 10% CW to above mentioned medium increased the number of shoots (18) per culture. Shoot tip explants also produced multiple shoots in the same medium, but their performance was not good as leaf segment explants. For shoot elongation, 100 mg/l urea was more effective when added with best shoot induction medium. Shoots rooted well in halfstrength MS supplemented with 2.0 mg/l NAA, within 12 - 15 days. Regenerated plantlets were successfully acclimatized and established in poly bag containing a mixture of soil and compost in 2:1 ratio. About 90% plantlets survived under open field conditions.
Assay of xylanolytic activity of mutants of Neurospora crassa (Ema 5297) induced with ultra-violet radiation
Authors: Yesmin Nelofar , Haque Tahsina , Tima Mozmader , Mohajan Suman
Published: October 2018

Mutation was induced in Neurospora crassa (Ema 5297) with UV (having the wave length of 254 nm) irradiation. Three groups of biochemical mutants (leucine, tryptophan and arginine) were obtained. Ema and 7 leucine mutants were used to evaluate whether mutation has any considerable effect for the production of such enzyme. Enzymatic activity was expressed as International Unit (IU). It was found that N. crassa mycelia secrete xylanases to the culture supernatant. Mutant Y10 showed highest xylanase activity (1.663 IU) and wild N. crassa (Ema) showed lowest (0.416 IU) activity.
The Progress in Photoacoustic and Laser Ultrasonic Tomographic Imaging for Biomedicine and Industry: A Review
Authors: Bychkov Anton , Simonova Varvara , Zarubin Vasily , Cherepetskaya Elena , Karabutov Alexander
Published: October 2018

The current paper reviews a set of principles and applications of photoacoustic and laser ultrasonic imaging, developed in the Laser Optoacoustic Laboratories of ILIT RAS, NUST MISiS, and ILC MSU. These applications include combined photoacoustic and laser ultrasonic imaging for biological objects, and tomographic laser ultrasonic imaging of solids. Principles, algorithms, resolution of the developed methods, and related problems are discussed. The review is written in context of the current state-of-art of photoacoustic and laser ultrasonic imaging.
The Interaction Analysis between the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Systems in CHF by Using Transfer Entropy Method
Authors: Luo Daiyi , Pan Weifeng , Li Yifan , Feng Kaicheng , Liu Guanzheng
Published: October 2018

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a cardiovascular disease associated with autonomic dysfunction, where sympathovagal imbalance was reported in many studies using heart rate variability (HRV). To learn more about the dynamic interaction in the autonomic nervous system (ANS), we explored the directed interaction between the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) with the help of transfer entropy (TE). This article included 24-h RR interval signals of 54 healthy subjects (31 males and 23 females, 61.38 ± 11.63 years old) and 44 CHF subjects (8 males and 2 females, 19 subjects’ gender were unknown, 55.51 ± 11.44 years old, 4 in class I, 8 in class II and 32 in class III~IV, according to the New York Heart Association Function Classification), obtained from the PhysioNet database and then segmented into 5-min non-overlapping epochs using cubic spline interpolation. For each segment in the normal group and CHF group, frequency-domain features included low-frequency (LF) power, high-frequency (HF) power and LF/HF ratio were extracted as classical estimators of autonomic activity. In the nonlinear domain, TE between LF and HF were calculated to quantify the information exchanging between SNS and PNS. Compared with the normal group, an extreme decrease in LF/HF ratio (p = 0.000) and extreme increases in both TE(LF→HF) (p = 0.000) and TE(HF→LF) (p = 0.000) in the CHF group were observed. Moreover, both in normal and CHF groups, TE(LF→HF) was a lot greater than TE(HF→LF) (p = 0.000), revealing that TE was able to distinguish the difference in the amount of directed information transfer among ANS. Extracted features were further applied in discriminating CHF using IBM SPSS Statistics discriminant analysis. The combination of the LF/HF ratio, TE(LF→HF) and TE(HF→LF) reached the highest screening accuracy (83.7%). Our results suggested that TE could serve as a complement to traditional index LF/HF in CHF screening.
Genome-Wide Identification and Transcriptional Regulation of Aquaporin Genes in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Water Stress
Authors: Madrid-Espinoza José , Brunel-Saldias Nidia , Guerra Fernando P. , Gutiérrez Adelina , Del Pozo Alejandro
Published: October 2018

Aquaporins (AQPs) are transmembrane proteins essential for controlling the flow of water and other molecules required for development and stress tolerance in plants, including important crop species such as wheat (Triticum aestivum). In this study, we utilized a genomic approach for analyzing the information about AQPs available in public databases to characterize their structure and function. Furthermore, we validated the expression of a suite of AQP genes, at the transcriptional level, including accessions with contrasting responses to drought, different organs and water stress levels. We found 65 new AQP genes, from which 60% are copies expanded by polyploidization. Sequence analysis of the AQP genes showed that the purifying selection pressure acted on duplicate genes, which was related to a high conservation of the functions. This situation contrasted with the expression patterns observed for different organs, developmental stages or genotypes under water deficit conditions, which indicated functional divergence at transcription. Expression analyses on contrasting genotypes showed high gene transcription from Tonoplast Intrinsic Protein 1 (TIP1) and 2 (TIP2), and Plasma Membrane Intrinsic Protein 1 (PIP1) and 2 (PIP2) subfamilies in roots and from TIP1 and PIP1 subfamilies in leaves. Interestingly, during severe drought stress, 4 TIP genes analyzed in leaves of the tolerant accession reached up to 15-fold the level observed at the susceptible genotype, suggesting a positive relationship with drought tolerance. The obtained results extend our understanding of the structure and function of AQPs, particularly under water stress conditions.
Phosphate Deficiency Negatively Affects Early Steps of the Symbiosis between Common Bean and Rhizobia
Authors: Isidra-Arellano Mariel C. , Reyero-Saavedra María del Rocio , Sánchez-Correa Maria del Socorro , Pingault Lise , Sen Sidharth , Joshi Trupti , Girard Lourdes , Castro-Guerrero Norma A. , Mendoza-Cozatl David G. , Libault Marc , Valdés-López Oswaldo
Published: October 2018

Phosphate (Pi) deficiency reduces nodule formation and development in different legume species including common bean. Despite significant progress in the understanding of the genetic responses underlying the adaptation of nodules to Pi deficiency, it is still unclear whether this nutritional deficiency interferes with the molecular dialogue between legumes and rhizobia. If so, what part of the molecular dialogue is impaired? In this study, we provide evidence demonstrating that Pi deficiency negatively affects critical early molecular and physiological responses that are required for a successful symbiosis between common bean and rhizobia. We demonstrated that the infection thread formation and the expression of PvNSP2, PvNIN, and PvFLOT2, which are genes controlling the nodulation process were significantly reduced in Pi-deficient common bean seedlings. In addition, whole-genome transcriptional analysis revealed that the expression of hormones-related genes is compromised in Pi-deficient seedlings inoculated with rhizobia. Moreover, we showed that regardless of the presence or absence of rhizobia, the expression of PvRIC1 and PvRIC2, two genes participating in the autoregulation of nodule numbers, was higher in Pi-deficient seedlings compared to control seedlings. The data presented in this study provides a mechanistic model to better understand how Pi deficiency impacts the early steps of the symbiosis between common bean and rhizobia.
Sediment Facilitates Microbial Degradation of the Herbicides Endothall Monoamine Salt and Endothall Dipotassium Salt in an Aquatic Environment
Authors: Islam Md. Shahidul , Hunt Trevor D. , Liu Zhiqian , Butler Kym L. , Dugdale Tony M.
Published: October 2018

Endothall dipotassium salt and monoamine salt are herbicide formulations used for controlling submerged aquatic macrophytes and algae in aquatic ecosystems. Microbial activity is the primary degradation pathway for endothall. To better understand what influences endothall degradation, we conducted a mesocosm experiment to (1) evaluate the effects of different water and sediment sources on degradation, and (2) determine if degradation was faster in the presence of a microbial community previously exposed to endothall. Endothall residues were determined with LC-MS at intervals to 21 days after endothall application. Two endothall isomers were detected. Isomer-1 was abundant in both endothall formulations, while isomer-2 was only abundant in the monoamine endothall formulation and was more persistent. Degradation did not occur in the absence of sediment. In the presence of sediment, degradation of isomer-1 began after a lag phase of 5–11 days and was almost complete by 14 days. Onset of degradation occurred 2–4 days sooner when the microbial population was previously exposed to endothall. We provide direct evidence that the presence and characteristics of sediment are of key importance in the degradation of endothall in an aquatic environment, and that monoamine endothall has two separate isomers that have different degradation characteristics.
The Digestive Health among Participants of the Woodstock Rock Festival in Poland—A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Skonieczna-Żydecka Karolina , Stachowska Ewa , Maciejewska Dominika , Ryterska Karina , Palma Joanna , Czerwińska-Rogowska Maja , Kaczmarczyk Mariusz , Gudan Anna , Mruk Honorata , Świniarska Barbara , Kałduńska Justyna , Stachowska Zofia , Mijal Przemysław , Mazur Tomasz , Kupczyński Maciej , Marlicz Wojciech
Published: October 2018

Alterations of gut microbiota, intestinal barrier and the gut-brain axis may be involved in pathophysiology of functional gastrointestinal disorders. Our aim was to assess the prevalence of digestive tract symptoms and identify common variables potentially disrupting the gut-brain axis among participants of the Woodstock Festival Poland, 2017. In total 428 people filled in a questionnaire assessing health of their digestive tract. The investigator collected answers on an electronic device, while the study participant responded using a paper version of the same questionnaire. Liver and gallbladder related symptoms were the most prevalent among our study group (n = 266, 62%), however symptoms related to altered intestinal permeability were found to be the most intensive complaints. In females the intensity of gastrointestinal complaints was higher compared to men (p < 0.05), as well as the incidence of factors with the potential to alter gut-brain axis (p < 0.0001). Chronic psychological distress, intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics, were the most common associations with gastrointestinal symptoms, which were the most prevalent in females. Further attention should be focused on stress as one of the main factors negatively influencing public health.
Environmental Health in Perinatal and Early Childhood: Awareness, Representation, Knowledge and Practice of Southern France Perinatal Health Professionals
Authors: Sunyach Claire , Antonelli Barbara , Tardieu Sophie , Marcot Michele , Perrin Jeanne , Bretelle Florence
Published: October 2018

The exposure of adults of reproductive age as well as pregnant women and children to environmental contaminants is of particular concern, as it can impact fertility, in utero development, pregnancy outcomes and child health. Consequently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and international societies advocate including Environmental Health (EH) in perinatal care, yet perinatal health professionals (HPs) hardly put these recommendations into practice. In 2017, a cross-sectional study was performed in a large panel of perinatal HPs in south-eastern France with the aim of painting a picture of their current attitudes, representation, knowledge, and training expectations. Quantitative and qualitative information was collected via auto-questionnaire. Questionnaires were completed by 962 participants, mainly midwives (41.1%), physicians (25.6%) and nursery nurses (11%). Indoor/outdoor air quality and endocrine disruptors were the best-mastered topics, whereas electromagnetic fields and diet gave rise to unsure responses. Overall, perinatal HPs were ill-trained and -informed about the reproductive risks linked to daily environmental exposure. HPs reported scarce knowledge, fear of patient reaction and lack of solutions as the main barriers to providing information regarding EH to the public. Our findings highlight the need to set up EH training programmes focused on scientific knowledge and to provide simple messages and tips to help perinatal HPs deliver advice to populations to mitigate exposure to environmental toxicants.
De Novo Transcriptome Sequencing Analysis of Goose (Anser anser) Embryonic Skin and the Identification of Genes Related to Feather Follicle Morphogenesis at Three Stages of Development
Authors: Liu Chang , Sello Cornelius , Sun Yongfeng , Zhou Yuxuan , Lu Hongtao , Sui Yujian , Hu Jingtao , Xu Chenguang , Sun Yue , Liu Jing , Li Shengyi , Zhang Yiming , Zhang Kaiyan
Published: October 2018

The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in the goose embryo transcriptome during feather development. RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) was used to find the transcriptome profiles of feather follicles from three stages of embryonic dorsal skin at embryonic day 13, 18, and 28 (E13, E18, E28). The results showed that 3001, 6634, and 13,780 genes were differently expressed in three stages. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in E13 vs. E18 were significantly mapped into the GO term of extracellular structure organization and the pathway of extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction. In E18 vs. E28, the top significantly mapped into GO term was the single-organism developmental process; the pathway was also the ECM-receptor interaction. DEGs in E13 vs. E28 were significantly mapped into the GO term of the multicellular organismal process and the pathway of cell adhesion molecules. Subsequently, the union of DEGs was categorized by succession cluster into eight profiles, which were then grouped into four ideal profiles. Lastly, the seven genes spatio-temporal expression pattern was confirmed by real-time PCR. Our findings advocate that interleukin 20 receptor subunit alpha (IL20RA), interleukin 6 receptor (IL6R), interleukin 1 receptor type 1 (IL-1R1), Wnt family member 3A (WNT3A), insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3), bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7), and secreted-frizzled related protein 2 (SFRP2) might possibly play vital roles in skin and feather follicle development and growth processes.
Investigation of Zirconium Effect on the Corrosion Resistance of Aluminum Alloy Using Electrochemical Methods and Numerical Simulation in an Acidified Synthetic Sea Salt Solution
Authors: Kim Yong-Sang , Park Jong Gil , An Byeong-Seon , Lee Young Hee , Yang Cheol-Woong , Kim Jung-Gu
Published: October 2018

Corrosion resistance of Zr that has been added to an Al alloy (U1070) is higher than that of a commercial Al alloy (A1070). A decreasing number and size of Al3Fe intermetallic particles (IMPs) were observed by electron microprobe analysis and transmission electron microscopy. Based on the numerical corrosion simulation, it was confirmed that decreasing the number and size of IMPs was favorable for improving the corrosion resistance of the Al alloy due to the reduction of the galvanic effect. In addition, Al3Zr was found to be insignificant in promoting galvanic corrosion within the Al matrix. Thus, Zr is an advantageous alloying element for improving the corrosion resistance of the Al alloy.
Corrosion Resistance of 2060 Aluminum–Lithium Alloy LBW Welds Filled with Al-5.6Cu Wire
Authors: Liu Fencheng , Wang Xiaoguang , Zhou Baosheng , Huang Chunping , Lyu Feiyue
Published: October 2018

Alloy sheets of type 2060 aluminum–lithium were welded by laser beam welding (LBW) filled with ER2319 Al-5.6Cu wire. Microstructural observations showed the uneven distribution of columnar grains, equiaxed grains and equiaxed dendrite grains in the weld. The θ′(Al2Cu) phase and other phases precipitated in the weld. The θ′(Al2Cu) phase centrally distributed at the grain boundaries. During the immersion corrosion, the pitting corrosion first occurred and then gradually expanded and transformed to intergranular corrosion and exfoliation corrosion. The electrochemical corrosion test showed a higher corrosion tendency of the base metal and heat-affected zone for the lower corrosion potential, but the corrosion current density of the weld was relatively larger. The segregation of Cu, Mg and other elements at the grain boundary aggravated the occurrence of intergranular corrosion.
Physical and Histological Comparison of Hydroxyapatite, Carbonate Apatite, and β-Tricalcium Phosphate Bone Substitutes
Authors: Ishikawa Kunio , Miyamoto Youji , Tsuchiya Akira , Hayashi Koichiro , Tsuru Kanji , Ohe Go
Published: October 2018

Three commercially available artificial bone substitutes with different compositions, hydroxyapatite (HAp; Neobone®), carbonate apatite (CO3Ap; Cytrans®), and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP; Cerasorb®), were compared with respect to their physical properties and tissue response to bone, using hybrid dogs. Both Neobone® (HAp) and Cerasorb® (β-TCP) were porous, whereas Cytrans® (CO3Ap) was dense. Crystallite size and specific surface area (SSA) of Neobone® (HAp), Cytrans® (CO3Ap), and Cerasorb® (β-TCP) were 75.4 ± 0.9 nm, 30.8 ± 0.8 nm, and 78.5 ± 7.5 nm, and 0.06 m2/g, 18.2 m2/g, and 1.0 m2/g, respectively. These values are consistent with the fact that both Neobone® (HAp) and Cerasorb® (β-TCP) are sintered ceramics, whereas Cytrans® (CO3Ap) is fabricated in aqueous solution. Dissolution in pH 5.3 solution mimicking Howship’s lacunae was fastest in CO3Ap (Cytrans®), whereas dissolution in pH 7.3 physiological solution was fastest in β-TCP (Cerasorb®). These results indicated that CO3Ap is stable under physiological conditions and is resorbed at Howship’s lacunae. Histological evaluation using hybrid dog mandible bone defect model revealed that new bone was formed from existing bone to the center of the bone defect when reconstructed with CO3Ap (Cytrans®) at week 4. The amount of bone increased at week 12, and resorption of the CO3Ap (Cytrans®) was confirmed. β-TCP (Cerasorb®) showed limited bone formation at week 4. However, a larger amount of bone was observed at week 12. Among these three bone substitutes, CO3Ap (Cytrans®) demonstrated the highest level of new bone formation. These results indicate the possibility that bone substitutes with compositions similar to that of bone may have properties similar to those of bone.
Recent Progress on Microelectrodes in Neural Interfaces
Authors: Kim Geon Hwee , Kim Kanghyun , Lee Eunji , An Taechang , Choi WooSeok , Lim Geunbae , Shin Jung Hwal
Published: October 2018

Brain‒machine interface (BMI) is a promising technology that looks set to contribute to the development of artificial limbs and new input devices by integrating various recent technological advances, including neural electrodes, wireless communication, signal analysis, and robot control. Neural electrodes are a key technological component of BMI, as they can record the rapid and numerous signals emitted by neurons. To receive stable, consistent, and accurate signals, electrodes are designed in accordance with various templates using diverse materials. With the development of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology, electrodes have become more integrated, and their performance has gradually evolved through surface modification and advances in biotechnology. In this paper, we review the development of the extracellular/intracellular type of in vitro microelectrode array (MEA) to investigate neural interface technology and the penetrating/surface (non-penetrating) type of in vivo electrodes. We briefly examine the history and study the recently developed shapes and various uses of the electrode. Also, electrode materials and surface modification techniques are reviewed to measure high-quality neural signals that can be used in BMI.
Radiolabeling of Nucleic Acid Aptamers for Highly Sensitive Disease-Specific Molecular Imaging
Authors: Hassanzadeh Leila , Chen Suxiang , Veedu Rakesh N.
Published: October 2018

Aptamers are short single-stranded DNA or RNA oligonucleotide ligand molecules with a unique three-dimensional shape, capable of binding to a defined molecular target with high affinity and specificity. Since their discovery, aptamers have been developed for various applications, including molecular imaging, particularly nuclear imaging that holds the highest potential for the clinical translation of aptamer-based molecular imaging probes. Their easy laboratory production without any batch-to-batch variations, their high stability, their small size with no immunogenicity and toxicity, and their flexibility to incorporate various functionalities without compromising the target binding affinity and specificity make aptamers an attractive class of targeted-imaging agents. Aptamer technology has been utilized in nuclear medicine imaging techniques, such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET), as highly sensitive and accurate biomedical imaging modalities towards clinical diagnostic applications. However, for aptamer-targeted PET and SPECT imaging, conjugation of appropriate radionuclides to aptamers is crucial. This review summarizes various strategies to link the radionuclides to chemically modified aptamers to accomplish aptamer-targeted PET and SPECT imaging.
Recycled Carbon Fiber-Supported Polyaniline/Manganese Dioxide Prepared via One-Step Electrodeposition for Flexible Supercapacitor Integrated Electrodes
Authors: Wang Xiaoning , Wei Hongli , Du Wei , Sun Xueqin , Kang Litao , Zhang Yuping , Zhao Xiangjin , Jiang Fuyi
Published: October 2018

The exploration of multifunctional electrode materials has been a hotspot for the development of high-performance supercapacitors. We have used carbon fiber plates recovered from construction waste to prepare high-quality flexible carbon fiber materials by pyrolysis of epoxy resin. The as-prepared recycled carbon fiber has a diameter of 8 μm and is the perfect substrate material for flexible electrode materials. Furthermore, polyaniline and manganese dioxide are uniformly deposited on the recycled carbon fiber by one-step electrodeposition to form an active film. The recycled carbon fiber/polyaniline/MnO2 composite shows an excellent specific capacitance of 475.1 F·g−1 and capacitance retention of 86.1% after 5000 GCD cycles at 1 A·g−1 in 1 M Na2SO4 electrolyte. The composites optimized for electrodeposition time have more electroactive sites, faster ions and electron transfer, structural stability and higher conductivity, endowing the composites promising application prospect.
Synergistic Use of Radar Sentinel-1 and Optical Sentinel-2 Imagery for Crop Mapping: A Case Study for Belgium
Authors: Van Tricht Kristof , Gobin Anne , Gilliams Sven , Piccard Isabelle
Published: October 2018

A timely inventory of agricultural areas and crop types is an essential requirement for ensuring global food security and allowing early crop monitoring practices. Satellite remote sensing has proven to be an increasingly more reliable tool to identify crop types. With the Copernicus program and its Sentinel satellites, a growing source of satellite remote sensing data is publicly available at no charge. Here, we used joint Sentinel-1 radar and Sentinel-2 optical imagery to create a crop map for Belgium. To ensure homogenous radar and optical inputs across the country, Sentinel-1 12-day backscatter mosaics were created after incidence angle normalization, and Sentinel-2 normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) images were smoothed to yield 10-daily cloud-free mosaics. An optimized random forest classifier predicted the eight crop types with a maximum accuracy of 82% and a kappa coefficient of 0.77. We found that a combination of radar and optical imagery always outperformed a classification based on single-sensor inputs, and that classification performance increased throughout the season until July, when differences between crop types were largest. Furthermore, we showed that the concept of classification confidence derived from the random forest classifier provided insight into the reliability of the predicted class for each pixel, clearly showing that parcel borders have a lower classification confidence. We concluded that the synergistic use of radar and optical data for crop classification led to richer information increasing classification accuracies compared to optical-only classification. Further work should focus on object-level classification and crop monitoring to exploit the rich potential of combined radar and optical observations.
Changes of Ecosystem Services and Landscape Patterns in Mountainous Areas: A Case Study in the Mentougou District in Beijing
Authors: Yi Yang , Shi Mingchang , Liu Chunjiang , Wang Bin , Kang Hongzhang , Hu Xinli
Published: October 2018

Land use types have been strongly modified across mountainous areas. This has substantially altered the patterns and processes of ecosystems and the components of ecosystem services (ESs), and could in turn impact the sustainable development. In the mountainous Mentougou district of Beijing, we explored the changes in land use type (cropland, orchard, forested land, scrubland, grassland, bare land, water bodies, wasteland and built-up land), landscape patterns and ESs as well as their interactions during the past 30 years (1985–2014). The ESs included water yield (WY), carbon stocks (CS) and soil retention rate (SR). The results showed that 23.65% of the land use changed and the wasteland decreased by 80.87%. As for ESs, WY decreased by 47.32% since the year 2000, probably due to the increases in temperature and evapotranspiration. Although the decrease of forested land led to the decrease of CS, the increase of vegetation coverage improved SR. CS decreased by 0.99%from 1990 to 2014, and SR increased by 1.38% from 1985 to 2014. Landscape patterns became fragmented and dispersed, and MPS and CS, SHDI and SR were significantly negatively correlated. IJI and CS was positively correlated. This indicated that landscape patterns were highly correlated with ESs. In order to maintain the sustainable development of ESs, we should not only plan land use types, but also consider the rationality of landscape patterns.
Markov-Chain Simulation-Based Analysis of Human Resource Structure: How Staff Deployment and Staffing Affect Sustainable Human Resource Strategy
Authors: Bányai Tamás , Landschützer Christian , Bányai Ágota
Published: October 2018

Manufacturing and service processes are composed of several elements: Technical, financial, logistics, information and human resources. Staff deployment and staffing is an essential problem in the human resource management domain because the structure of employees would be continuously in an optimal relationship to the jobs to be performed. This paper proposes a conceptual model for the analysis of human resource deployment processes. After a systematic literature review, it was found that algorithms are important tools for the design and control of human resource problems since a wide range of models determines an optimization problem. According to that, the main focus of this research is the modelling and analysis of human resource deployment processes of manufacturing companies using Markov-chain mathematics, also taking into account the absorbing phenomena of employees’ promotion. The main contribution of this article includes the model framework of Markov-chain simulation of a human resource deployment problem; the mathematical description of different human resource deployment strategies with subdiagonal and superdiagonal promotion matrices; the computational results of the described model with different datasets and scenarios. In the case of a given human resource strategy, the Markovian human resource deployment process of a company was analyzed. The analyzed model was the HR deployment of assembly line operators in a multinational company, including six levels of promotion. The results of the scenario analysis show that promotion and recruitment rates have a great impact on the future employees’ structure.
Delta Project: Towards a Sustainable Campus
Authors: Hugo Héctor , Espinoza Felipe , Morales Ivetheyamel , Ortiz Elías , Pérez Saúl , Salcedo Galo
Published: October 2018

The University of Guayaquil, which shares the same name as the city where it is located, faces the challenge of its image transformation for the 21st century. It was deemed necessary to identify details about the urban evolution of the city over time, in relation to the changes produced by the project’s site and its direct area of influence. The goal is to integrate the main university campus within a framework which guarantees sustainability and allows innovation in the living lab. To achieve this, the action research method was applied, focused on the community participation and the logic framework. The proposal, the management model, and the integrated working groups were organized with internal users such as professors, students, and university authorities, and external actors such as residents, local business communities, Guayaquil city council, and its local mayor and governor. As result of the diagnosis, six different analysis dimensions were established which correspond to the new urban agenda for the future campus: compactness, inclusiveness, resilience, sustainability, safety, and participation. As a proposal, the urban design integrates the analysis of the dimensions whose financial support and execution are given by the municipality authorities that integrates the campus with its network of community police headquarters.
Efficiency Assessment of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Projects: The Case of Russia
Authors: Berezin Andrey , Sergi Bruno S. , Gorodnova Natalia
Published: October 2018

The most recent international experience shows that public-private partnership (PPP) is a public procurement that improves the management of public and municipal property in the construction sector. This article proposes a method for ranking countries by the probability of being successful in implementing a PPP. The new methodology is based on a system of indicators to assess the quality of the institutional environment, the experience of project implementation, the state readiness, private organizations, and the society for the effective implementation of PPP projects. We develop a new method to gauge challenging Russia’s new legislation that, although having been introduced in 2015, has already boosted a tumultuous number of new PPP projects and it is expected to enhance PPP opportunities in the country further.
Antecedent and Consequences of Psychological Capital of Entrepreneurs
Authors: Wang Yong , Tsai Cheng-Hung , Tsai Fu-Sheng , Huang Wenyi , De la Cruz Shareena Malapitan
Published: October 2018

Psychological capital is critical for entrepreneurial resilience and sustainability. The purpose of this study is to examine a comprehensive model of the relationships between the antecedents and consequences of the psychological capital of entrepreneurs. A data sample of 208 entrepreneurs from the Philippines was analyzed with Structural Equation Modeling. The results found that organizational climate, organizational justice, leader-member exchange, authentic leadership have significant and positive influences on psychological capital, while occupational stressor is significantly associated with psychological capital. Among them, authentic leadership has the strongest impact on psychological capital. Results also found that psychological capital has significant and positive influences on entrepreneurs’ job satisfaction, performance, attitude, organizational citizenship behavior, while it also has negative influences on undesirable behavior. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
A Class of Nonlinear Boundary Value Problems for an Arbitrary Fractional-Order Differential Equation with the Riemann-Stieltjes Functional Integral and Infinite-Point Boundary Conditions
Authors: Srivastava Hari M. , El-Sayed Ahmed M. A. , Gaafar Fatma M.
Published: October 2018

In this paper, we investigate the existence of an absolute continuous solution to a class of first-order nonlinear differential equation with integral boundary conditions (BCs) or with infinite-point BCs. The Liouville-Caputo fractional derivative is involved in the nonlinear function. We first consider the existence of a solution for the first-order nonlinear differential equation with m-point nonlocal BCs. The existence of solutions of our problems is investigated by applying the properties of the Riemann sum for continuous functions. Several examples are given in order to illustrate our results.
Fuzzy Normed Rings
Authors: Emniyet Aykut , Şahin Memet
Published: October 2018

In this paper, the concept of fuzzy normed ring is introduced and some basic properties related to it are established. Our definition of normed rings on fuzzy sets leads to a new structure, which we call a fuzzy normed ring. We define fuzzy normed ring homomorphism, fuzzy normed subring, fuzzy normed ideal, fuzzy normed prime ideal, and fuzzy normed maximal ideal of a normed ring, respectively. We show some algebraic properties of normed ring theory on fuzzy sets, prove theorems, and give relevant examples.
Harnack Inequality and No-Arbitrage Analysis
Authors: Tang Wanxiao , Zhou Fanchao , Zhao Peibiao
Published: October 2018

The present paper attains a Harnack inequality for the option pricing (or Kolmogorov) equation with gradient estimate arguments. We then perform a no-arbitrage analysis of a financial market.
Quasi-Lie Brackets and the Breaking of Time-Translation Symmetry for Quantum Systems Embedded in Classical Baths
Authors: Sergi Alessandro , Hanna Gabriel , Grimaudo Roberto , Messina Antonino
Published: October 2018

Many open quantum systems encountered in both natural and synthetic situations are embedded in classical-like baths. Often, the bath degrees of freedom may be represented in terms of canonically conjugate coordinates, but in some cases they may require a non-canonical or non-Hamiltonian representation. Herein, we review an approach to the dynamics and statistical mechanics of quantum subsystems embedded in either non-canonical or non-Hamiltonian classical-like baths which is based on operator-valued quasi-probability functions. These functions typically evolve through the action of quasi-Lie brackets and their associated Quantum-Classical Liouville Equations, or through quasi-Lie brackets augmented by dissipative terms. Quasi-Lie brackets possess the unique feature that, while conserving the energy (which the Noether theorem links to time-translation symmetry), they violate the time-translation symmetry of their algebra. This fact can be heuristically understood in terms of the dynamics of the open quantum subsystem. We then describe an example in which a quantum subsystem is embedded in a bath of classical spins, which are described by non-canonical coordinates. In this case, it has been shown that an off-diagonal open-bath geometric phase enters into the propagation of the quantum-classical dynamics. Next, we discuss how non-Hamiltonian dynamics may be employed to generate the constant-temperature evolution of phase space degrees of freedom coupled to the quantum subsystem. Constant-temperature dynamics may be generated by either a classical Langevin stochastic process or a Nosé–Hoover deterministic thermostat. These two approaches are not equivalent but have different advantages and drawbacks. In all cases, the calculation of the operator-valued quasi-probability function allows one to compute time-dependent statistical averages of observables. This may be accomplished in practice using a hybrid Molecular Dynamics/Monte Carlo algorithms, which we outline herein.