bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Qualification of an Ultrasonic Instrument for Real-Time Monitoring of Size and Concentration of Nanoparticles during Liquid Phase Bottom-Up Synthesis
Authors: Van Groenestijn Gert Jan , Meulendijks Nicole , Van Ee Renz , Volker Arno , Van Neer Paul , Buskens Pascal , Julien Cédric , Verheijen Marcel
Published: June 2018

Both in design and production of nanoparticles and nanocomposites it is of vital importance to have information about their size and concentration. During the formation of nanoparticles, real-time monitoring of particle size and concentration during bottom-up synthesis in liquids allows for a detailed study of nucleation and growth. This provides valuable insights into the formation of nanoparticles that can be used for process optimization and scale up. In the production of nanoparticles, real-time monitoring enables intervention to minimize the number of off-spec batches. In this paper we will qualify an ultrasound nanoparticle sizer (UNPS) as a real-time monitor for the growth of nanoparticles (or sub-micro particles) in the 100 nm–1 µm range. Nanoparticles affect the speed and attenuation of ultrasonic waves in the dispersion. The size of the change depends, amongst other things, on the size and concentration of the nanoparticles. This dependency is used in the UNPS method. The qualification of the UNPS was undertaken in two successful experiments. The first experiment consisted of static measurements on commercially available silica particles, and the second experiment was real-time monitoring of the size and concentration during the growth of silica nanoparticles in Stöber synthesis in a water–alcohol mixture starting from the molecular precursor tetraethyl orthosilicate. The results of the UNPS were verified by measurements of a dynamic light scattering device and a transmission electron microscope.
Effect of Degassing on the Stability and Reversibility of Glycerol/ZSM-5 Zeolite System
Authors: Zhang Yafei , Luo Rui , Zhou Qulan , Chen Xi , Dou Yihua
Published: June 2018

Gaseous phase plays roles in a liquid/nanoporous system during application that adequate attention should be paid to the gaseous effects and the nanoscale gas-liquid interaction. In the present study, two glycerol/ZSM-5 zeolite systems with different amount of residual gas are compared by performing a series of experiments. Influences of loading rate, as well as system temperature on the gas-liquid interactions, are studied. Results show that vacuum degassing pretreatment is required to obtain a reversible and stable energy absorption system. Moreover, the influence of gas on a liquid/nanoporous system is found to mainly act on the liquid outflow. After the routine vacuum degassing pretreatment, the residual air that is left in the nanopores is around 0.9014 nm–3 per unit specific pore volume, as presented in the current study. During compression, the existing gas left in the nanochannel tends to gather into the gas cluster, which further promotes the liquid outflow during unloading. However, excessively dissolved gas may reduce the driving force for liquid outflow by breaking the continuity of the liquid molecular chain in nanochannel. Consequently, small bubbles as a labile factor in the system must be excluded for the steady use of the system. This work sheds some light on the effect of the amount of residual gas on the liquid/nanoporous system and gives guidance on the pretreatment of the liquid/nanoporous material mixture before encapsulating.
Lectin- and Saccharide-Functionalized Nano-Chemiresistor Arrays for Detection and Identification of Pathogenic Bacteria Infection
Authors: Saucedo Nuvia M. , Gao Yingning , Pham Tung , Mulchandani Ashok
Published: June 2018

Improvement upon, and expansion of, diagnostic tools for clinical infections have been increasing in recent years. The simplicity and rapidity of techniques are imperative for their adoption and widespread usage at point-of-care. The fabrication and evaluation of such a device is reported in this work. The use of a small bioreceptor array (based on lectin-carbohydrate binding) resulted in a unique response profile, which has the potential to be used for pathogen identification, as demonstrated by Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The performance of the chemiresistive device was tested with Escherichia coli K12, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus mutans, and Salmonella typhi. The limits of detection, based on concanavalin A (conA) lectin as the bioreceptor, are 4.7 × 103 cfu/mL, 25 cfu/mL, 7.4 × 104 cfu/mL, and 6.3 × 102 cfu/mL. This shows that the detection of pathogenic bacteria is achieved with clinically relevant concentrations. Importantly, responses measured in spiked artificial saliva showed minimal matrix interference. Furthermore, the exploitation of the distinctive outer composition of the bacteria and selectivity of lectin-carbohydrate interactions allowed for the discrimination of bacterial infections from viral infections, which is a current and urgent need for diagnosing common clinical infections.
Education and Income Predict Future Emotional Well-Being of Whites but Not Blacks: A Ten-Year Cohort
Authors: Assari Shervin , Preiser Brianna , Kelly Marisa
Published: June 2018

Background: The Minorities’ Diminished Return (MDR) theory is defined as systematically smaller effects of socioeconomic status (SES) on the health and well-being of minority groups when compared to Whites. To extend the existing literature on the MDR theory as applied to the change of mental well-being over time, we investigated Black-White differences in the effects of baseline education and income on subsequent changes in positive and negative affect over a ten-year period. Methods: The Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) is a 10-year longitudinal study of American adults. This analysis followed 3731 adults who were either Whites (n = 3596) or Blacks (n = 135) for 10 years. Education and income, as measured at baseline and 10 years later, were the independent variables. Negative and positive affect, measured at baseline and over ten years of follow up, were the dependent variables. Covariates were age, gender, and physical health (body mass index, self-rated health, and chronic medical conditions), measured at baseline. Race was the focal moderator. We ran multi-group structural equation modeling in the overall sample, with race defining the groups. Results: High education at baseline was associated with an increase in income over the 10-year follow up period for Whites but not Blacks. An increase in income during the follow up period was associated with an increase in the positive affect over time for Whites but not Blacks. Conclusion: The MDR theory is also relevant to the effects of baseline education attainment on subsequent changes in income and then in turn on positive affect over time. The relative disadvantage of Blacks in comparison to Whites in receiving mental health gains from SES may reflect structural racism and discrimination in the United States. There is a need for additional research on specific societal barriers that minimize Blacks’ mental health gains from their SES resources, such as education and income. There is also a need for policies and programs that help Blacks to leverage their SES resources.
Geocatalytic Uptake of Ozone onto Natural Mineral Dust
Authors: Wang Xianjie , Romanias Manolis N. , Thévenet Frédéric , Rousseau Antoine
Published: June 2018

Beyond tailored and synthetic catalysts sought out for ozone decomposition, mineral dusts provide naturally mixed metal oxide materials. The steady-state uptake of O3 evidenced across a wide concentration range signifies the catalytic decomposition of O3. The geocatalytic properties of such natural mineral dust open up new perspectives in atmospheric chemistry and catalytic processes.
Electronic Excitations and Radiation Damage in Macromolecular Crystallography
Authors: Brandão-Neto José , Bernasconi Leonardo
Published: June 2018

Macromolecular crystallography at cryogenic temperatures has so far provided the majority of the experimental evidence that underpins the determination of the atomic structures of proteins and other biomolecular assemblies by means of single crystal X-ray diffraction experiments. One of the core limitations of the current methods is that crystal samples degrade as they are subject to X-rays, and two broad groups of effects are observed: global and specific damage. While the currently successful approach is to operate outside the range where global damage is observed, specific damage is not well understood and may lead to poor interpretation of the chemistry and biology of the system under study. In this work, we present a phenomenological model in which specific damage is understood as the result of a single process, the steady excitation of crystal electrons caused by X-ray absorption, which acts as a trigger for the bulk effects that manifest themselves in the form of global damage and obscure the interpretation of chemical information from XFEL and synchrotron structural research.
Quasicrystalline Ordering in Thin Liquid Crystal Films
Authors: Dontabhaktuni Jayasri , Ravnik Miha , Zumer Slobodan
Published: June 2018

Quasicrystalline ordering was first observed in synthetic multi-component metallic alloys. These solid state materials exhibit quasicrystalline atomic ordering at nanometer length scales. Softmatter systems are another class of versatile materials that can exhibit quasicrystalline ordering across supra-nanometer (>10 nm) to supra-micrometer (>10 μm) length scales as recently observed in materials like-supramolecular dendritic molecules, ABC star polymers, binary nanoparticle systems and block co-polymers in condensed matter systems. The underlying mechanism in most of these soft quasicrystals seems to be the presence of two or more length scales in the system. Another class of development in self-assembled quasicrystals in softmatter is being observed in low molecular weight chiral and achiral nematic liquid crystals. Liquid crystal forms an efficient matrix for self- and directed-assemblies of colloidal structures where surface and geometry-tuning the particles in nematic liquid crystals gives rise to complex inter-particle interactions while the long-range order results in self-assembled structures of higher order rotational symmetries. Furthermore, there has also been attempts to generate colloidal quasicrystalline defect structures by directing the assemblies using multiple and single beam lasing techniques. In the present article, we will review self- and assisted-assembly of quasicrystalline structures in nematic liquid crystals (both chiral and achiral) and discuss the underlying mechanisms.
Gut Microbiome and Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Yoshida Naofumi , Yamashita Tomoya , Hirata Ken-ichi
Published: June 2018

Recent evidence has suggested that the gut microbiome is involved in human health and diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, liver cirrhosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 2 diabetes. Cardiovascular diseases, which are associated with high morbidity and mortality across the world, are no exception. Increasing evidence has suggested a strong relationship between the gut microbiome and the progression of cardiovascular diseases. We first reported such a relationship with coronary artery disease two years ago. Next-generation sequencing techniques, together with bioinformatics technology, constantly and dramatically expand our knowledge of the complex human gut bacterial ecosystem and reveal the exact role of this bacterial ecosystem in cardiovascular diseases via the functional analysis of the gut microbiome. Such knowledge may pave the way for the development of further diagnostics and therapeutics for prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the current review is to highlight the relationship between the gut microbiome and their metabolites, and the development of cardiovascular diseases by fostering an understanding of recent studies.
Understanding Student Participation in the Internationalised University: Some Issues, Challenges, and Strategies
Authors: Murray Neil
Published: June 2018

The globalisation of higher education has resulted in an increasingly culturally and linguistically diverse student demographic and, with it, a number of significant challenges as well as frequently cited benefits. This article looks specifically at the issue of student participation, highlighting, in particular, its culturally contexted nature and the need for pre- and in-service teacher training and development programmes that raise teachers’ intercultural awareness and furnish them with the skills and strategies needed to manage the effects of diversity on patterns of participation in the classroom. It offers a number of concrete proposals for dealing effectively with participation-related issues in the classroom.
Assessing the Potential for Small-Scale Aquaculture in Cambodia
Authors: Richardson Robert B. , Suvedi Murari
Published: June 2018

Fisheries in Cambodia play an important role in supporting household food security and livelihoods throughout the country. Inland fisheries production is largely dependent on numerous ecosystem services, particularly the floodwaters of the Tonle Sap Lake basin, which has been degraded from increased fishing pressure because of population growth and a rising demand for fish. To address the dual problem of food insecurity and overfishing, an integrated food security and climate change program involved the promotion of small-scale aquaculture through semi-intensive pond management. The objective of this study is to examine perceptions of small-scale aquaculture by participants in this program in order to assess the potential for aquaculture to contribute to household food security and conservation of the Tonle Sap Lake ecosystem. Focus group discussions and a household survey were conducted among current and previous fish farmers. Results demonstrate that most farmers continue to practice small-scale aquaculture as a means to supplement household food availability and income. Numerous barriers to adoption of small-scale aquaculture were identified, including access to water, prices of commercial fish feed, selling price of fish in markets and concerns about profitability. Seasonal water scarcity is the most prominent challenge in promoting aquaculture technologies, so aquaculture development should be expanded in areas where there are abundant supplies of water, or where use of water storage techniques is feasible. Aquaculture technology appears to have the potential to contribute to food security, nutrition and household income and to the conservation of the wild fisheries of the Tonle Sap Lake.
Seasonal Dynamics of Stem Radial Increment of Pinus taiwanensis Hayata and Its Response to Environmental Factors in the Lushan Mountains, Southeastern China
Authors: Liu Xinsheng , Nie Yuqin , Wen Feng
Published: June 2018

Seasonal radial-increment records can help to elucidate how tree growth responds to climate seasonality. Such knowledge is critical for understanding the complex growth-climate relationships in subtropical China. We hypothesize that under subtropical monsoon climate characterized by mild winters and hot summers, summer drought constrains stem radial increment, which generally results in growth-limiting factors switching from temperatures in spring and early summer to precipitation in summer and autumn. Here, we monitored intra-annual dynamics of stem radial increment with band dendrometers in a montane stand of Taiwan pine (Pinus taiwanensis Hayata) from Lushan Mountains for two consecutive years (2016–2017). A pronounced bimodal seasonal pattern of stem radial increment was observed in 2016. However, it was less clear in 2017 when late-summer rainfall events occurred in early August. Changing growth-climate relationships were detected throughout the two growing seasons. Stem increments were consistently positively correlated with temperatures before early July, whereas the growth-temperature dependency was gradually weakened and more variable after early July. Conversely, stem increments were significantly correlated with precipitation and soil moisture since early July, indicating that moisture variables were the main factor limiting stem increments in dry period. More precipitation was received in the dry period (July–November) of 2017 as compared with the year 2016, which favoured a wider annual increment in 2017, although growing-season temperature and precipitation was similar between years. Our study suggests a seasonal shift in growth-limiting factors in subtropical forests, which should be explicitly considered in forecasting responses of tree growth to climatic warming.
Experimental Determination of Impure CO2 Alteration of Calcite Cemented Cap-Rock, and Long Term Predictions of Cap-Rock Reactivity
Authors: Pearce Julie K. , Dawson Grant K. W.
Published: June 2018

Cap-rock integrity is an important consideration for geological storage of CO2. While CO2 bearing fluids are known to have reactivity to certain rock forming minerals, impurities including acid gases such as SOx, NOx, H2S or O2 may be present in injected industrial CO2 streams at varying concentrations, and may induce higher reactivity to cap-rock than pure CO2. Dissolution or precipitation of minerals may modify the porosity or permeability of cap-rocks and compromise or improve the seal. A calcite cemented cap-rock drill core sample (Evergreen Formation, Surat Basin) was experimentally reacted with formation water and CO2 containing SO2 and O2 at 60 °C and 120 bar. Solution pH was quickly buffered by dissolution of calcite cement, with dissolved ions including Ca, Mn, Mg, Sr, Ba, Fe and Si released to solution. Dissolved concentrations of several elements including Ca, Ba, Si and S had a decreasing trend after 200 h. Extensive calcite cement dissolution with growth of gypsum in the formed pore space, and barite precipitation on mineral surfaces were observed after reaction via SEM-EDS. A silica and aluminium rich precipitate was also observed coating grains. Kinetic geochemical modelling of the experimental data predicted mainly calcite and chlorite dissolution, with gypsum, kaolinite, goethite, smectite and barite precipitation and a slight net increase in mineral volume (decrease in porosity). To better approximate the experimental water chemistry it required the reactive surface areas of: (1) calcite cement decreased to 1 cm2/g; and, (2) chlorite increased to 7000 cm2/g. Models were then up-scaled and run for 30 or 100 years to compare the reactivity of calcite cemented, mudstone, siderite cemented or shale cap-rock sections of the Evergreen Formation in the Surat Basin, Queensland, Australia, a proposed target for future large scale CO2 storage. Calcite, siderite, chlorite and plagioclase were the main minerals dissolving. Smectite, siderite, ankerite, hematite and kaolinite were predicted to precipitate, with SO2 sequestered as anhydrite, alunite, and pyrite. Predicted net changes in porosity after reaction with CO2, CO2-SO2 or CO2-SO2-O2 were however minimal, which is favourable for cap-rock integrity. Mineral trapping of CO2 as siderite and ankerite however was only predicted in the CO2 or CO2-SO2 simulations. This indicates a limit on the injected O2 content may be needed to optimise mineral trapping of CO2, the most secure form of CO2 storage. Smectites were predicted to form in all simulations, they have relatively high CO2 sorption capacities and provide additional storage.
How Green Are the Streets Within the Sixth Ring Road of Beijing? An Analysis Based on Tencent Street View Pictures and the Green View Index
Authors: Dong Rencai , Zhang Yonglin , Zhao Jingzhu
Published: June 2018

Street greenery, an important urban landscape component, is closely related to people’s physical and mental health. This study employs the green view index (GVI) as a quantitative indicator to evaluate visual greenery from a pedestrian’s perspective and uses an image segmentation method to calculate the quantity of visual greenery from Tencent street view pictures. This article aims to quantify street greenery in the area within the sixth ring road in Beijing, analyse the relations between road parameters and the GVI, and compare the visual greenery of different road types. The authors find that (1) the average GVI value in the study area is low, with low-value clusters inside the third ring road and high-value clusters outside; (2) wider minor roads tend to have higher GVI values than motorways, major roads and provincial roads; and (3) longer roads, except expressways, tend to have higher GVI values. This case study demonstrates that the GVI can effectively represent the quantity of visual greenery along roads. The authors’ methods can be employed to compare street-level visual greenery among different areas or road types and to support urban green space planning and management.
Relevance Assessment of Crowdsourced Data (CSD) Using Semantics and Geographic Information Retrieval (GIR) Techniques
Authors: Koswatte Saman , McDougall Kevin , Liu Xiaoye
Published: June 2018

Crowdsourced data (CSD) generated by citizens is becoming more popular as its potential utilization in many applications increases due to its currency and availability. However, the quality of CSD, including its relevance, is often questioned as the data is not generated by professionals nor follows standard data-collection procedures. The quality of CSD can be assessed according to a range of characteristics including its relevance. In this paper, information relevance has been explored through using geographic information retrieval (GIR) techniques to identify the most highly relevant information from a set of crowdsourced data. This research tested a relevance assessment approach for CSD by adapting relevance assessment techniques available in the GIR domain. Thematic and geographic relevance were assessed by analyzing the frequency of selected terms which appeared in CSD reports using natural language processing techniques. The study analyzed crowdsourced reports from the 2011 Australian flood’s Crowdmap to examine a proof of concept on relevance assessment using a subset of this dataset based on a defined set of queries. The results determined that the thematic and geographic specificities of the queries were 0.44 and 0.67, respectively, which indicated the queries used were more geographically specific than thematically specific. The Spearman’s rho value of 0.62 indicated that the final ranked relevance lists showed reasonable agreement with a manually classified list and confirmed the potential of the approach for CSD relevance assessment. In particular, this research has contributed to the field of CSD relevance assessment through an integrated thematic and geographic relevance ranking process by using a user-query specificity approach to improve the final ranking.
Regulation of CYP2J2 and EET Levels in Cardiac Disease and Diabetes
Authors: Aliwarga Theresa , Evangelista Eric A. , Sotoodehnia Nona , Lemaitre Rozenn N. , Totah Rheem A.
Published: June 2018

Cytochrome P450 2J2 (CYP2J2) is a known arachidonic acid (AA) epoxygenase that mediates the formation of four bioactive regioisomers of cis-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs). Although its expression in the liver is low, CYP2J2 is mainly observed in extrahepatic tissues, including the small intestine, pancreas, lung, and heart. Changes in CYP2J2 levels or activity by xenobiotics, disease states, or polymorphisms are proposed to lead to various organ dysfunctions. Several studies have investigated the regulation of CYP2J2 and EET formation in various cell lines and have demonstrated that such regulation is tissue-dependent. In addition, studies linking CYP2J2 polymorphisms to the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) yielded contradictory results. This review will focus on the mechanisms of regulation of CYP2J2 by inducers, inhibitors, and oxidative stress modeling certain disease states in various cell lines and tissues. The implication of CYP2J2 expression, polymorphisms, activity and, as a result, EET levels in the pathophysiology of diabetes and CVD will also be discussed.
Exercise and Cancer Survivors: Lessons Learned from a Multi-Faceted Model for Exercise Prescription
Authors: Stefani Laura , Sofi Francesco , Magro Simone , Mascherini Gabriele , Petri Cristian , Galanti Giorgio
Published: June 2018

Cancer is the second leading cause of death, and the most common diagnosis among the general population is breast and colon cancer. Recently, an increasing number of new cases of invasive breast and colon cancer have been estimated, and more people die from these diseases. In addition to the genetic pattern, diet and lifestyle including smoking, alcohol consumption, and sedentary behaviour have also been identified as potential risks factors. Recent studies of cancer survivors have shown the beneficial effects of regular physical activity to reduce the prevalence of comorbidity, muscle atrophy, weight changes, reduced aerobic capacity, fatigue, depression, and reduced quality of life. Dedicated and individual programs are crucial for achieving the goals of improving quality of life and reducing comorbidities. A multidisciplinary approach is fundamental: lifestyle assessment, including estimating the level of physical activity, as well as nutritional habits, may be the first step. A periodic cardiovascular examination is crucial for detecting asymptomatic early myocardial failure. According to current ACSM guidelines, different levels of exercise (low-moderate 40% and moderate up to 60% of the maximal HR) may be prescribed, and patients enrolled may follow the exercise program if in the absence of contraindications. The current paper reports observations from our clinical practice and provides practical strategies that bridge contemporary, published guidelines into practice within a multi-disciplinary team working with cancer survivors in Italy.
Surface Nanostructuring of Parylene-C Coatings for Blood Contacting Implants
Authors: Brancato Luigi , Decrop Deborah , Lammertyn Jeroen , Puers Robert
Published: June 2018

This paper investigates the effects on the blood compatibility of surface nanostructuring of Parylene-C coating. The proposed technique, based on the consecutive use of O2 and SF6 plasma, alters the surface roughness and enhances the intrinsic hydrophobicity of Parylene-C. The degree of hydrophobicity of the prepared surface can be precisely controlled by opportunely adjusting the plasma exposure times. Static contact angle measurements, performed on treated Parylene-C, showed a maximum contact angle of 158°. The nanostructured Parylene-C retained its hydrophobicity up to 45 days, when stored in a dry environment. Storing the samples in a body-mimicking solution caused the contact angle to progressively decrease. However, at the end of the measurement, the plasma treated surfaces still exhibited a higher hydrophobicity than the untreated counterparts. The proposed treatment improved the performance of the polymer as a water diffusion barrier in a body simulating environment. Modifying the nanotopography of the polymer influences the adsorption of different blood plasma proteins. The adsorption of albumin—a platelet adhesion inhibitor—and of fibrinogen—a platelet adhesion promoter—was studied by fluorescence microscopy. The adsorption capacity increased monotonically with increasing hydrophobicity for both studied proteins. The effect on albumin adsorption was considerably higher than on fibrinogen. Study of the proteins simultaneous adsorption showed that the albumin to fibrinogen adsorbed ratio increases with substrate hydrophobicity, suggesting lower thrombogenicity of the nanostructured surfaces. Animal experiments proved that the treated surfaces did not trigger any blood clot or thrombus formation when directly exposed to the arterial blood flow. The findings above, together with the exceptional mechanical and insulation properties of Parylene-C, support its use for packaging implants chronically exposed to the blood flow.
Kinetic Diffusion Couple for Mapping Microstructural and Mechanical Data on Ti–Al–Mo Titanium Alloys
Authors: Chen Yi , Kou Hongchao , Cheng Liang , Zhang Yunlong , Yu Yun , Lu Yalin
Published: June 2018

We introduce a new strategy that extends the established diffusion couple approach for efficient mapping of microstructural and mechanical properties in bulk samples. The featured diffusion couples undergo an interdiffusion annealing followed by a thermal/mechanical treatment for creating a blended spectrum of phases and microstructures in the well-grooved continuous composition gradients, which is then further accessible to local high spatially resolving microanalysis probing. The strategy is demonstrated on two diffusion couples, Ti/Ti-7.58Al-4.97Mo and Ti-5.04Al/Ti-1.52Mo, by surveying the spectrums of microstructural and mechanical characteristics created through an appreciation of the β-to-α phase transformation with such microanalysis techniques as electron probe microanalysis, electron backscatter diffraction analysis, and nanoindentation. The examined microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties reveal the variation of phase, morphology, and microhardness based on the changes of the compositions of the overall alloys and the individual phases in these near-β Ti alloys.
Fabrication of Sputtered Ce/La, La/Ce Oxide Bilayers on AA6061 and AA7075 Aluminum Alloys for the Development of Corrosion Protective Coatings
Authors: Brachetti-Sibaja Silvia B. , Domínguez-Crespo Miguel A. , Torres-Huerta Aidé M. , Rodil-Posada Sandra E. , López-Oyama Ana B. , García-Zaleta David S. , Onofre-Bustamante Edgar
Published: June 2018

This work provides a comparative study on the corrosion protection efficiency of Ce, La films as well as Ce/La and La/Ce oxide bilayered coatings deposited onto AA7075 and AA6061 substrates by the radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering technique. The coating thickness ranged approximately from 12 to 835 nm, which changed with the deposition parameters and substrate composition. The relationship between microstructure, roughness and electrochemical performance is examined. The reactivity and crystallinity of rare earth (RE) films can be tailored by adjusting the sputtering parameters. Sputtered La films with thickness ca. 390 nm and average roughness of 66 nm showed the best corrosion protection properties in chloride medium as determined by potentiodynamic curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The method to obtain RE bilayered coatings, i.e., La/Ce or Ce/La as well as the substrate composition and applied power conditioned their inhibition properties. The RE bilayered coatings displayed better barrier properties than Ce films, which were poorer than those featured by La films.
Exeter total hip arthroplasty with matte or polished stems
Authors: Smailys Alfredas , Tarasevičius Šarūnas , Kesteris Uldis , Kalesinskas Romas , Wingstrand Hans
Published: June 2018

Objective. To compare implant survival rates after total hip arthroplasty with Exeter matte or polished stems and to determine the relationship of synovitis/joint effusion to signs of implant loosening and stem type. Material and methods. The first part of the study included retrospective revision rate analysis of 118 primary hip replacements performed during 1991–1995. Two different designs of Exeter stems were used: matte surface stems during 1991–1995 (matte surface group – 47 cases), and polished stems during 1992–1995 (polished stem group – 71 cases). During the second part of the study, 24 patients (11 in polished stem group and 13 in matte stem group) were prospectively examined with radiography and sonography. Sonography was performed in order to evaluate capsular distension, i.e. the distance between prosthetic femoral neck and anterior capsule. Capsular distension depends on synovitis and/or synovia in prosthetic hip. The relationship between capsular distension, stem type, and radiographic signs of loosening was assessed. Results. For the first part of our study, total implant survival was 78% with matte stems and 61% with polished stems 13 years postoperatively (P=0.27). Stem survival was 82% for matte stems, and 88% for polished stems (P=0.54). In the second part of study, a significant relationship between increased capsular distension and cup loosening was determined (P=0.04). We did not find significant difference in capsular distension when compared matte and polished stems. Conclusion. Implant survival rates did not differ between the groups. The relationship between capsular distension and cup loosening was statistically significant.
The diuretic effect of cornflower water extract
Authors: Klimas Rimantas , Rabišková Miloslava , Civinskienė Genuvaitė , Bernatonienė Jurga
Published: June 2018

The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the effect of cornflower water extract and hydrochlorothiazide on diuresis, Na+ and K+ excretion, and the changes in the prostaglandin E2 and kinins levels in the blood plasma.Material and methods. Male Wistar rats were used in all experiments. Animals were divided into nine groups. Diuretic activity was investigated according to the technique proposed by E. B. Berchin; urinary electrolyte contents were analyzed by flame photometry. Prostaglandin E2 content was measured by radioimmunoassay using 3H isotopes, kinins – by enzymatic methods. Results. It has been established that in male rats, receiving hydrochlorothiazide, the volume of urine excreted two and four hours after the administration of the drug was by 18% and 17%, respectively, higher as compared to the rats that were given cornflower water extract (P<0.05). The diuretic effect of cornflower water extract was noted in the animal group receiving this extract as compared to the control group: after two hours, the volume of urine excreted increased from 2.03±0.03 mL to 2.44±0.04 mL and after four hours – from 3.88±0.07 mL to 5.35±0.1 mL. Administration of hydrochlorothiazide under the load of salts and water resulted in a higher excretion of sodium and potassium as compared to the effect of cornflower water extract. The highest prostaglandin levels were found in the blood plasma of the animals receiving hydrochlorothiazide. Under the load of salts and water, a 13% and 15% increase, respectively, in the amount of prostaglandins was observed in the animals that were given cornflower water extract compared to the control animals (P<0.05). The greatest increase in the amount of kinins was found in the groups of animals that were given hydrochlorothiazide under the load of salts and water (14% and 22%, respectively). Kinin levels did not differ statistically significantly between the control group and the groups receiving cornflower water extract. Conclusion. Cornflower water extract possesses diuretic activity, but its effect was lower than that of hydrochlorothiazide.
The prevalence of type 1 diabetes mellitus among adolescents and adults in Lithuania during 1991–2004
Authors: Ostrauskas Rytas
Published: June 2018

Objective. The goal of this study was to summarize the data on the prevalence of type 1 diabetes mellitus among Lithuanian population aged more than 15 years. Material and methods. The data on patients aged more than 16 years were collected with the help of general practitioners, endocrinologists, and physicians-internists working in the diabetes care in all towns and regions of Lithuania. The data on patients aged 14 to 16 years were obtained from the National Register of Diabetes Mellitus in Childhood in Lithuania. Results. In Lithuania, on December 31, 1991, there were 2179 adolescent and adult patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus or 75.21 per 100 000 inhabitants of the same age group (95% Poisson CI 72.12–78.43), and at the end of 2004 – 3996 or 140.69 (95% Poisson CI 136.40– 145.12), respectively. During a 14-year period, the mean increase in the number of type 1 diabetic patients was 144.85±23.32 persons per year or 4.66±1.17% or 4.04±1.19 cases per 100 000 population (for males 85.54±10.82 or 5.06±1.02% or 6.81±1.57/100 000 and for females 54.23±9.05 or 3.93±0.86% or 3.56±1.05/100 000). Regression-based linear trends showed that the prevalence of type 1 diabetes mellitus among population aged more than 15 years had a tendency to increase. The prevalence rates of type 1 diabetes mellitus among adolescent and adult subjects, adjusted for Lithuanian male and female age groups, were 80.64/100 000 and 70.23/100 000 in 1991 (P<0.05) and 166.52 and 117.63 in 2004 (P<0.05), respectively. Conclusions. The prevalence of type 1 diabetes mellitus among Lithuanian females aged more than 15 years was lower than among males. The register provides the possibility of highly precise collection of the data on patients from various medical care units in Lithuania.
Meta-analysis of prophylactic parenteral antibiotic use in acute necrotizing pancreatitis
Authors: Dambrauskas Žilvinas , Gulbinas Antanas , Pundzius Juozas , Barauskas Giedrius
Published: June 2018

Background. Acute pancreatitis is a potentially serious condition. It carries an overall mortality rate of 10–15%. Infectious complications account for approximately 80% of deaths from acute pancreatitis, and the question arises whether or not prophylactic antibiotics are useful in the prevention of these complications. Therefore, we performed an evidence-based analysis to assess the effect of available prophylactic antimicrobial treatment on the development of infected necrosis and sepsis, need for surgery, and mortality. Methods. A comprehensive PubMed search was performed evaluating the value of prophylactic administration of parenteral antibiotics in patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis. Only articles published in English language between January 1990 and May 2006 were included. The search strategy initially generated 692 articles related to antibiotics in the treatment of acute pancreatitis. This number was reduced to 97 publications related to clinical trials on the same topic. Finally, 10 randomized clinical trials concerning prophylactic parenteral antibiotics in patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis were identified. We have performed a meta-analysis using the random-effects model to assess the impact of prophylactic antibiotics on development of infected pancreatic necrosis and sepsis, need for surgery, and overall mortality. Results. Patients with necrotizing acute pancreatitis should receive effective antibiotic prophylaxis (i.e., carbapenems intravenously) to decrease the risk of infected necrosis and sepsis and need of surgery. Conclusions. While providing new insights into key aspects of antibiotic prophylaxis, this evidence-based analysis highlights the need for further clinical trials regarding the indications for antibiotic prophylaxis.
Enhancement of Mechanical Properties of Hot-Forged 6082 Suspension Parts via Rapid IR Heat Treatment
Authors: Chang Yi-Ling , Hung Fei-Yi , Lui Truan-Sheng
Published: June 2018

Post-forging heat treatment is often necessary to achieve the mechanical properties required for aluminum alloy forged parts. In this study, hot-forged 6082 suspension parts are used to study the effect of rapid infrared (IR) heat treatment. The insoluble particles present in the matrix after the solutionizing process are observed. Experimental results show that using rapid IR heat treatment leads to superior solutionizing, and thus a larger critical onset strain in serrated tensile flow. The rapid IR heat treatment also had a more significant precipitation effect, which enhanced the mechanical properties of the material.
Effects of Deep Cryogenic Treatment on Wear Resistance and Structure of GB 35CrMoV Steel
Authors: Yao Yifeng , Zhou Yajun
Published: June 2018

Wear resistance of metallic materials can be effectively improved by the deep cryogenic treatment. In this study, different deep cryogenic treatment conditions were considered, with different soaking durations between quenching and tempering. The main objective is investigating the effects of deep cryogenic treatment and exploring the relationship between the mechanical properties and the microstructure of GB 35CrMoV steel. Hardness and relative wear ratios of samples were evaluated by the Vickers-hardness test and the pin-on-disk wear test, respectively. Worn surface was characterized by a non-contact optical surface profiler. Microstructures were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Significant improvements in hardness and wear resistance are observed for higher cryogenic soaking times; the root mean square deviation (RMS) parameter (Sq) was employed to evaluate the effect of deep cryogenic treatment on the worn surface roughness; the improvements were ascribed to the precipitated carbides. The mechanism can be interpreted not only as the promoted effect of deep cryogenic treatment in the decomposition kinetics of martensite, but also as the acceleration on the Ostwald ripening process.
Multi-axis Response of a Thermal Convection-based Accelerometer
Authors: Kim Jae Keon , Han Maeum , Kang Shin-Won , Kong Seong Ho , Jung Daewoong
Published: June 2018

A thermal convection-based accelerometer was fabricated, and its characteristics were analyzed in this study. To understand the thermal convection of the accelerometer, the Grashof and Prandtl number equations were analyzed. This study conducted experiments to improve not only the sensitivity, but also the frequency band. An accelerometer with a more voluminous cavity showed better sensitivity. In addition, when the accelerometer used a gas medium with a large density and small viscosity, its sensitivity also improved. On the other hand, the accelerometer with a narrow volume cavity that used a gas medium with a small density and large thermal diffusivity displayed a larger frequency band. In particular, this paper focused on a Z-axis response to extend the performance of the accelerometer.
Nature of Excitons in Bidimensional WSe2 by Hybrid Density Functional Theory Calculations
Authors: Liu Hongsheng , Lazzaroni Paolo , Di Valentin Cristiana
Published: June 2018

2D tungsten diselenide (2D-WSe2) is one of the most successful bidimensional materials for optoelectronic and photonic applications, thanks to its strong photoluminescence properties and to a characteristic large exciton binding energy. Although these optical properties are widely recognized by the scientific community, there is no general understanding of the atomistic details of the excitonic species giving rise to them. In this work, we present a density functional theory investigation of excitons in 2D-WSe2, where we compare results obtained by standard generalized gradient approximation (GGA) methods (including spin-orbit coupling) with those by hybrid density functionals. Our study provides information on the size of the self-trapped exciton, the number and type of atoms involved, the structural reorganization, the self-trapping energy, and the photoluminescence energy, whose computed value is in good agreement with experimental measurements in the literature. Moreover, based on the comparative analysis of the self-trapping energy for the exciton with that for isolated charge carriers (unbound electrons and holes), we also suggest a simplified approach for the theoretical estimation of the excitonic binding energy, which can be compared with previous estimates from different approaches or from experimental data.
Bovine Lactoferrin Modulates Dendritic Cell Differentiation and Function
Authors: Perdijk Olaf , Van Neerven R. J. Joost , Van den Brink Erik , Savelkoul Huub F. J. , Brugman Sylvia
Published: June 2018

Lactoferrin is an abundant glycoprotein in bovine milk that has immunomodulatory effects on human cells. Bovine lactoferrin (LF) binds lipopolysaccharides (LPS) with high affinity and is postulated to act via TLR4-dependent and -independent mechanisms. It has been shown that LF modulates differentiation of human monocytes into tolerogenic dendritic cells. However, in a previous study, we showed that LPS also mediates differentiation into tolerogenic dendritic cells (DC). Since LF binds LPS with high affinity, it remains to be investigated whether LF or LPS is mediating these effects. We, therefore, further investigated the LPS-independent effect of LF on differentiation of human monocytes into dendritic cells (DC). Human monocytes were isolated by magnetic cell sorting from freshly isolated PBMCs and cultured for six days in the presence of IL-4 and GM-CSF with or without LF or proteinase K treated LF to generate DC. These immature DC were stimulated for 48 h with LPS or Poly I:C + R848. Cell surface marker expression and cytokine production were measured by flow cytometry. DC differentiated in the presence of LF produced higher IL-6 and IL-8 levels during differentiation and showed a lower expression of CD1a and HLA-DR. These LFDCs showed to be hyporesponsive towards TLR ligands as shown by their semi-mature phenotype and reduced cytokine production. The effect of LF was abrogated by proteinase K treatment, showing that the functional effects of LF were not mediated by LPS contamination. Thus, LF alters DC differentiation and dampens responsiveness towards TLR ligands. This study indicates that LF can play a role in immune homeostasis in the human GI tract.
A Serological Diagnosis of Coeliac Disease Is Associated with Osteoporosis in Older Australian Adults
Authors: Potter Michael D. E. , Walker Marjorie M. , Hancock Stephen , Holliday Elizabeth , Brogan Gregory , Jones Michael , McEvoy Mark , Boyle Michael , Talley Nicholas J. , Attia John
Published: June 2018

Previously thought to be mainly a disorder of childhood and early adult life, coeliac disease (CeD) is increasingly diagnosed in older adults. This may be important given the association between CeD and osteoporosis. The primary aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of undiagnosed CeD (‘at-risk serology’) in an older Australian community and relate this to a diagnosis of osteoporosis and fractures during a follow-up period of 12 years. We included participants from the Hunter Community Study (2004–2007) aged 55–85, who had anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTG) titres, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotypes, and bone mineral density measurements at baseline. Follow-up data included subsequent diagnosis of CeD and fractures using hospital information. ‘At-risk’ serology was defined as both tTG and HLA positivity. Complete results were obtained from 2122 patients. The prevalence of ‘at-risk’ serology was 5%. At baseline, 3.4% fulfilled criteria for a diagnosis of osteoporosis. During a mean of 9.7 years of follow-up, 7.4% of the cohort suffered at least one fracture and 0.7% were subsequently diagnosed with CeD. At-risk serology was significantly associated with osteoporosis in a multivariate model (odds ratio 2.83, 95% confidence interval 1.29–6.22); there was insufficient power to look at the outcome of fractures. The results of this study demonstrate that at-risk CeD serology was significantly associated with concurrent osteoporosis but not future fractures. Most individuals with a serological diagnosis of CeD were not diagnosed with CeD during the follow-up period according to medical records. Coeliac disease likely remains under-diagnosed.