bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ANALISIS EKUIVALENSI TINGKAT KEMANISAN GULA DI INDONESIA
Authors: Kurniawati Maya
Published: April 2018

Gula pasir adalah komoditi penting di Indonesia karena banyaknya pangan olahan yang menggunakan gula sebagai bahan pembuatannya. Gula pasir yang umum beredar yaitu gula pasir curah dan gula pasir bermerk terafinasi. Gula bermerk berasal dari olahan pabrik yang memiliki warna lebih putih dibandingkan dengan gula pasir curah.  Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mendapatkan perbandingan ekuivalensi kemanisan antara gula curah, gula rafinasi bermerk, dan pemanis buatan aspartam.  Analisis ekuivalensi tingkat kemanisan menggunakan metode analisis deskriptif magnitude estimation. Analisis deskriptif merupakan analisis sensori untuk mendapatkan deskripsi sensori produk pangan. Metode ini merupakan metode kuantitatif subjektif langsung dengan menggunakan reference dalam pengujiannya Hasil ekuivalensi kemanisan pada gula bermerk dan gula curah memberikan hasil bahwa kadar kemanisan gula bermerk lebih baik dari gula curah. Kadar kemanisan gula bermerk 1,04 kali , gula curah 1,02 kali, aspartam 31 kali dari sukrosa 9%.
PENGGUNAAN BAHAN PENSTABIL PADA MUTU VELVA ROSELA (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) DENGAN PEMANIS MADU
Authors: Safitri Armita Dwi
Published: April 2018

Bunga rosela memiliki kandungan penting yang terdapat pada bunga rosela yaitu pigmen antosianin. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendapatkan formula velva. Serta Mengetahui tahapan pembuatan dengan ditambahkan madu dan penstabil. Penelitian pendahuluan ini dibuat tiga konsentrasi pemanis madu. Hasil memperlihatkan bahwa velva rosela terpilih berdasarkan distribusi frekuensi adalah konsentrasi pemanis madu 35%. Velva rosela terpilih mempunyai nilai yang lebih besar pada distribusi frekuensi dan lebih ekonomis harganya. Penelitian utama ini dibuat empat konsentrasi bahan penstabil. Penelitian Utama velva rosela terpilih berdasarkan parameter butiran kristal adalah penstabil menggunakan gum arab 3% sebesar 4.05%. Velva rosela terpilih berdasarkan parameter overrun adalah penstabil CMC 3% sebesar 5.59%. Velva rosela terpilih berdasarkan parameter persen leleh adalah penstabil menggunakan gum arab 3% sebesar 28.18%. Analisis sifat fisik menunjukkan bahwa velva rosela memiliki aktifitas antioksidan 52.191 ppm.
Alloying Factors and Parameter of Alloying Elements for Carbon and Nitrogen Uptake during Carbonitriding as Basis for Simulation
Authors: Skalecki M. G. , Klümper-Westkamp H. , Steinbacher M. , Zoch H.-W.
Published: April 2018

Carbonitriding serves to increase the strength and wear properties of steel components. The carbon and nitrogen concentration and the depth distribution decisively determine the resulting properties. Optimal profiles create an ideal microstructure of martensite, residual austenite, finely distributed nitrides, carbonitrides and inherent compressive stress in the surface zone. The reliability of carbonitriding heat treatment process is strongly dependent on the possibilities of process control. Previous investigations aimed at measuring the nitrogen potential of the atmosphere by means of an ammonia sensor in the exhaust gas as well as by a wire sensor. Carbon potential is conventionally controlled using an oxygen probe. In order to further increase the process reliability of carbonitriding, simulation of the carbon and nitrogen profiles and of any precipitation of carbides and nitrides are necessary. The first step is the determination of interdependent alloying influences on the carbon and nitrogen contents. The carbon and nitrogen activities in the atmosphere and the alloy surface are near equilibrium after long-time carbonitriding. Depending on the composition of the material, significantly different effects can be described. These influences must be considered. In addition to the reached equilibrium content, the diffusion, the position of phase boundaries in the phase diagrams and the formation of precipitation with influence of carbon and nitrogen as well as interactions with other alloying elements are to be worked out in order to further develop controlled carbonitriding for the reliable adjustment of the heat treatment results.
New Insights into Carbon Distribution in Bainitic Ferrite*
Authors: Rementeria R. , Garcia-Mateo C. , Caballero F. G.
Published: April 2018

A number of studies on bainite transformation at low temperature have revealed that bainitic ferrite formed super-saturated in carbon. The most sensible explanation to this is the increased solubility of a tetragonal ferrite lattice, by virtue of synchrotron radiation and X-ray diffraction results, as well as ab-initio calculations. The question is if this increased tetragonality in bainitic ferrite is the result of a disordered distribution of carbon atoms in ferrite or the result of local carbon clustering (ordering) in association with a locally increased tetragonality. This development of carbon-enriched and carbon-depleted zones that leads gradually to the formation of a modulated structure was reported in the early stages of decomposition of martensite. In the present work, new experimental and theoretical results on the distribution of carbon in bainitic ferrite will be shown trying to shed new light on the nature of bainite transformation.
Application of Elastic Wave Velocity for Estimation of Soil Depth
Authors: Choo Hyunwook , Jun Hwandon , Yoon Hyung-Koo
Published: April 2018

Because soil depth is a crucial factor for predicting the stability at landslide and debris flow sites, various techniques have been developed to determine soil depth. The objective of this study is to suggest the graphical bilinear method to estimate soil depth through seismic wave velocity. Seismic wave velocity rapidly changes at the interface of two different layers due to the change in material type, packing type, and contact force of particles and thus, it is possible to pick the soil depth based on seismic wave velocity. An area, which is susceptible to debris flow, was selected, and an aerial survey was performed to obtain a topographic map and digital elevation model. In addition, a seismic survey and a dynamic cone penetration test were performed in this study. The comparison between the soil depth based on dynamic cone tests and the graphical bilinear method shows good agreement, indicating that the newly suggested soil depth estimating method may be usefully applied to predict soil depth.
Exploring Behavioral Correlates of Afferent Inhibition
Authors: Turco Claudia , Locke Mitchell , El-Sayes Jenin , Tommerdahl Mark , Nelson Aimee
Published: April 2018

(1) Background: Afferent inhibition is the attenuation of the muscle response evoked from transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) by a prior conditioning electrical stimulus to a peripheral nerve. It is unclear whether the magnitude of afferent inhibition relates to sensation and movement; (2) Methods: 24 healthy, young adults were tested. Short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI) and long-latency afferent inhibition (LAI) were obtained following median and digital nerve stimulation. Temporal tactile acuity was assessed with a temporal order judgement (TOJ) task, spatial tactile acuity was assessed using a grating orientation task (GOT), and fine manual dexterity was assessed with the Pegboard task; (3) Results: Correlation analyses revealed no association between the magnitude of SAI or LAI with performance on the TOJ, GOT, or Pegboard tasks; (4) Conclusion: The magnitude of SAI and LAI does not relate to performance on the sensory and motor tasks tested. Future studies are needed to better understand whether the afferent inhibition phenomenon relates to human behavior.
The Deoxygenation Pathways of Palmitic Acid into Hydrocarbons on Silica-Supported Ni12P5 and Ni2P Catalysts
Authors: Zhou Wenjun , Xin Hui , Yang Huiru , Du Xiangze , Yang Rui , Li Dan , Hu Changwei
Published: April 2018

Pure Ni12P5/SiO2 and pure Ni2P/SiO2 catalysts were obtained by adjusting the Ni and P molar ratios, while Ni/SiO2 catalyst was prepared as a reference against which the deoxygenation pathways of palmitic acid were investigated. The catalysts were characterized by N2 adsorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission election microscopy (TEM), infrared spectroscopy of pyridine adsorption (Py-IR), H2-adsorption and temperature-programmed desorption of hydrogen (H2-TPD). The crystallographic planes of Ni(111), Ni12P5(400), Ni2P(111) were found mainly exposed on the above three catalysts, respectively. It was found that the deoxygenation pathway of palmitic acid mainly proceeded via direct decarboxylation (DCO2) to form C15 on Ni/SiO2. In contrast, on the Ni12P5/SiO2 catalyst, there were two main competitive pathways producing C15 and C16, one of which mainly proceeded via the decarbonylation (DCO) to form C15 accompanying water formation, and the other pathway produced C16 via the dehydration of hexadecanol intermediate, and the yield of C15 was approximately twofold that of C16. Over the Ni2P/SiO2 catalyst, two main deoxygenation pathways formed C15, one of which was mainly the DCO pathway and the other was dehydration accompanying the hexadecanal intermediate and then direct decarbonylation without water formation. The turn over frequency (TOF) followed the order: Ni12P5/SiO2 > Ni/SiO2 > Ni2P/SiO2.
Application of High-Order Compact Difference Scheme in the Computation of Incompressible Wall-Bounded Turbulent Flows
Authors: Hu Ruifeng , Wang Limin , Wang Ping , Wang Yan , Zheng Xiaojing
Published: April 2018

In the present work, a highly efficient incompressible flow solver with a semi-implicit time advancement on a fully staggered grid using a high-order compact difference scheme is developed firstly in the framework of approximate factorization. The fourth-order compact difference scheme is adopted for approximations of derivatives and interpolations in the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. The pressure Poisson equation is efficiently solved by the fast Fourier transform (FFT). The framework of approximate factorization significantly simplifies the implementation of the semi-implicit time advancing with a high-order compact scheme. Benchmark tests demonstrate the high accuracy of the proposed numerical method. Secondly, by applying the proposed numerical method, we compute turbulent channel flows at low and moderate Reynolds numbers by direct numerical simulation (DNS) and large eddy simulation (LES). It is found that the predictions of turbulence statistics and especially energy spectra can be obviously improved by adopting the high-order scheme rather than the traditional second-order central difference scheme.
Nash Bargaining Game-Theoretic Framework for Power Control in Distributed Multiple-Radar Architecture Underlying Wireless Communication System
Authors: Shi Chenguang , Wang Fei , Salous Sana , Zhou Jianjiang , Hu Zhentao
Published: April 2018

This paper presents a novel Nash bargaining solution (NBS)-based cooperative game-theoretic framework for power control in a distributed multiple-radar architecture underlying a wireless communication system. Our primary objective is to minimize the total power consumption of the distributed multiple-radar system (DMRS) with the protection of wireless communication user’s transmission, while guaranteeing each radar’s target detection requirement. A unified cooperative game-theoretic framework is proposed for the optimization problem, where interference power constraints (IPCs) are imposed to protect the communication user’s transmission, and a minimum signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) requirement is employed to provide reliable target detection for each radar. The existence, uniqueness and fairness of the NBS to this cooperative game are proven. An iterative Nash bargaining power control algorithm with low computational complexity and fast convergence is developed and is shown to converge to a Pareto-optimal equilibrium for the cooperative game model. Numerical simulations and analyses are further presented to highlight the advantages and testify to the efficiency of our proposed cooperative game algorithm. It is demonstrated that the distributed algorithm is effective for power control and could protect the communication system with limited implementation overhead.
Non-Hermitian Operator Modelling of Basic Cancer Cell Dynamics
Authors: Bagarello Fabio , Gargano Francesco
Published: April 2018

We propose a dynamical system of tumor cells proliferation based on operatorial methods. The approach we propose is quantum-like: we use ladder and number operators to describe healthy and tumor cells birth and death, and the evolution is ruled by a non-hermitian Hamiltonian which includes, in a non reversible way, the basic biological mechanisms we consider for the system. We show that this approach is rather efficient in describing some processes of the cells. We further add some medical treatment, described by adding a suitable term in the Hamiltonian, which controls and limits the growth of tumor cells, and we propose an optimal approach to stop, and reverse, this growth.
BROJA-2PID: A Robust Estimator for Bivariate Partial Information Decomposition
Authors: Makkeh Abdullah , Theis Dirk , Vicente Raul
Published: April 2018

Makkeh, Theis, and Vicente found that Cone Programming model is the most robust to compute the Bertschinger et al. partial information decomposition (BROJA PID) measure. We developed a production-quality robust software that computes the BROJA PID measure based on the Cone Programming model. In this paper, we prove the important property of strong duality for the Cone Program and prove an equivalence between the Cone Program and the original Convex problem. Then, we describe in detail our software, explain how to use it, and perform some experiments comparing it to other estimators. Finally, we show that the software can be extended to compute some quantities of a trivaraite PID measure.
Boundary Detection and Enhancement Strategy for Power System Bus Bar Stabilization—Investigation under Fault Conditions for Islanding Operation
Authors: Pouryekta Aref , Ramachandaramurthy Vigna , Padmanaban Sanjeevikumar , Blaabjerg Frede , Guerrero Josep
Published: April 2018

Distribution systems can form islands when faults occur. Each island represents a subsection with variable boundaries subject to the location of fault(s) in the system. A subsection with variable boundaries is referred to as an island in this paper. For operation in autonomous mode, it is imperative to detect the island configurations and stabilize these subsections. This paper presents a novel scheme for the detection of island boundaries and stabilizing the system during autonomous operation. In the first stage, a boundary detection method is proposed to detect the configuration of the island. In the second stage, a dynamic voltage sensitivity factor (DVSF) is proposed to assess the dynamic performance of the system. In the third stage, a wide area load shedding program is adopted based on DVSF to shed the load in weak bus-bars and stabilize the system. The proposed scheme is validated and tested on a generic 18-bus system using a combination of EMTDC/PSCAD and MATLAB software’s.
A Thermoelectric Performance Study of Layered Bi2TeI Weak Topological Insulator Materials
Authors: Tu Kaihua , Wei Ping , Zhou Hongyu , Mu Xin , Zhu Wanting , Nie Xiaolei , Zhao Wenyu
Published: April 2018

Topological insulators have been considered as promising thermoelectric materials because of their high electrical transport properties and low thermal conductivity. In this work, the crystal structure, chemical composition, and thermoelectric transport properties of a weak topological insulator, Bi2TeI, were studied. Bi2TeI possesses the lowest lattice thermal conductivity compared with the analogously layered compounds Bi2Te3 and BiTeI. Cu and Zn were used as dopants with the aim of optimizing the thermoelectric performance. It was found that doping Bi2TeI with Cu led to decreased carrier concentration and power factor while doping with Zn resulted in increased carrier concentration and improved power factor. Accompanied with reduced lattice thermal conductivity, Zn-doped samples showed a largely improved dimensionless figure of merit, ZT. The largest ZT was 0.077 for Zn0.01Bi2TeI, increased by 70% as compared with the undoped Bi2TeI.
A Three-Dimensional Radiation Transfer Model to Evaluate Performance of Compound Parabolic Concentrator-Based Photovoltaic Systems
Authors: Tang Jingjing , Yu Yamei , Tang Runsheng
Published: April 2018

In the past, two-dimensional radiation transfer models (2-D models) were widely used to investigate the optical performance of linear compound parabolic concentrators (CPCs), in which the radiation transfer on the cross-section of CPC troughs is considered. However, the photovoltaic efficiency of solar cells depends on the real incidence angle instead of the projection incidence angle, thus 2-D models can’t reasonably evaluate the photovoltaic performance of CPC-based photovoltaic systems (CPVs). In this work, three-dimensional radiation transfer (3-D model) within CPC-θa/θe, the CPC with a maximum exit angle θe for radiation within its acceptance angle (θa), is investigated by means of vector algebra, solar geometry and imaging principle of plane mirror, and effects of geometry of CPV-θa/θe on its annual electricity generation are studied. Analysis shows that, as compared to similar photovoltaic (PV) panels, the use of CPCs makes the incident angle of solar rays on solar cells increase thus lowers the photovoltaic conversion efficiency of solar cells. Calculations show that, 2-D models can reasonably predict the optical performance of CPVs, but such models always overestimate the photovoltaic performance of CPVs, and even can’t predict the variation trend of annual power output of CPV-θa/θe with θe. Results show that, for full CPV-θa/θe with a given θa, the annual power output increases with θe first and then comes to a halt as θe > 83°, whereas for truncated CPV-θa/θe with a given geometric concentration (Ct), the annual power output decreases with θe.
Evaluation of a Compact Coaxial Underground Coal Gasification System Inside an Artificial Coal Seam
Authors: Su Fa-qiang , Hamanaka Akihiro , Itakura Ken-ichi , Deguchi Gota , Zhang Wenyan , Nan Hua
Published: April 2018

The Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) system is a clean technology for obtaining energy from coal. The coaxial UCG system is supposed to be compact and flexible in order to adapt to complicated geological conditions caused by the existence of faults and folds in the ground. In this study, the application of a coaxial UCG system with a horizontal well is discussed, by means of an ex situ model UCG experiment in a large-scale simulated coal seam with dimensions of 550 × 600 × 2740 mm. A horizontal well with a 45-mm diameter and a 2600-mm length was used as an injection/production well. During the experiment, changes in temperature field and product gas compositions were observed when changing the outlet position of the injection pipe. It was found that the UCG reactor is unstable and expands continuously due to fracturing activity caused by coal crack initiation and extension under the influence of thermal stress. Therefore, acoustic emission (AE) is considered an effective tool to monitor fracturing activities and visualize the gasification zone of coal. The results gathered from monitoring of AEs agree with the measured data of temperatures; the source location of AE was detected around the region where temperature increased. The average calorific value of the produced gas was 6.85 MJ/Nm3, and the gasification efficiency, defined as the conversion efficiency of the gasified coal to syngas, was 65.43%, in the whole experimental process. The study results suggest that the recovered coal energy from a coaxial UCG system is comparable to that of a conventional UCG system. Therefore, a coaxial UCG system may be a feasible option to utilize abandoned underground coal resources without mining.
Two-Phase Flow Modeling of Solid Dissolution in Liquid for Nutrient Mixing Improvement in Algal Raceway Ponds
Authors: Ali Haider , Zhang Dongda , Wagner Jonathan , Park Cheol
Published: April 2018

Achieving optimal nutrient concentrations is essential to increasing the biomass productivity of algal raceway ponds. Nutrient mixing or distribution in raceway ponds is significantly affected by hydrodynamic and geometric properties. The nutrient mixing in algal raceway ponds under the influence of hydrodynamic and geometric properties of ponds is yet to be explored. Such a study is required to ensure optimal nutrient concentrations in algal raceway ponds. A novel computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model based on the Euler–Euler numerical scheme was developed to investigate nutrient mixing in raceway ponds under the effects of hydrodynamic and geometric properties. Nutrient mixing was investigated by estimating the dissolution of nutrients in raceway pond water. Experimental and CFD results were compared and verified using solid–liquid mass transfer coefficient and nutrient concentrations. Solid–liquid mass transfer coefficient, solid holdup, and nutrient concentrations in algal pond were estimated with the effects of pond aspect ratios, water depths, paddle wheel speeds, and particle sizes of nutrients. From the results, it was found that the proposed CFD model effectively simulated nutrient mixing in raceway ponds. Nutrient mixing increased in narrow and shallow raceway ponds due to effective solid–liquid mass transfer. High paddle wheel speeds increased the dissolution rate of nutrients in raceway ponds.
Determinants and the Moderating Effect of Perceived Policy Effectiveness on Residents’ Separation Intention for Rural Household Solid Waste
Authors: Liao Chuanhui , Zhao Dingtao , Zhang Shuang , Chen Lanfang
Published: April 2018

Currently, villages “besieged with garbage” have become a serious problem in rural areas of China. Separation of rural residential solid waste (RRSW) is one of the main strategies for waste reduction. Although previous studies have analyzed the social and psychological motivations of residents’ separation intention for municipal solid waste (MSW), little attention has been paid to the situation in rural areas. This paper investigates key factors influencing rural residents’ separation intention, as well as analyzing the moderating effects of perceived policy effectiveness on the relationship between the determinants and the intention, using survey data of 538 rural residents in the province of Sichuan in China. The results show that all the proposed key factors influence the separation intention significantly. Furthermore, the policies were divided into two types and the moderating effects were tested for each type. The results show that the perceived effectiveness of both the inducement policy and the capacity building policy moderated the relationship between attitude and separation intention positively, while the perceived effectiveness of the inducement policy moderated the relationship between subjective norms and intention negatively. The findings provide insightful information for policymakers to design effective RRSW separation policies.
Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide Mitigates 6-OHDA-Induced Behavioral Impairments in Parkinsonian Rats
Authors: Yu Yu-Wen , Hsueh Shih-Chang , Lai Jing-Huei , Chen Yen-Hua , Kang Shuo-Jhen , Chen Kai-Yun , Hsieh Tsung-Hsun , Hoffer Barry , Li Yazhou , Greig Nigel , Chiang Yung-Hsiao
Published: April 2018

In the present study, the effectiveness of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) was evaluated by behavioral tests in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) hemi-parkinsonian (PD) rats. Pharmacokinetic measurements of GIP were carried out at the same dose studied behaviorally, as well as at a lower dose used previously. GIP was delivered by subcutaneous administration (s.c.) using implanted ALZET micro-osmotic pumps. After two days of pre-treatment, male Sprague Dawley rats received a single unilateral injection of 6-OHDA into the medial forebrain bundle (MFB). The neuroprotective effects of GIP were evaluated by apomorphine-induced contralateral rotations, as well as by locomotor and anxiety-like behaviors in open-field tests. Concentrations of human active and total GIP were measured in plasma during a five-day treatment period by ELISA and were found to be within a clinically translatable range. GIP pretreatment reduced behavioral abnormalities induced by the unilateral nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) lesion produced by 6-OHDA, and thus may be a novel target for PD therapeutic development.
Age-Dependent Developmental Response to Temperature: An Examination of the Rarely Tested Phenomenon in Two Species (Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) and Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata))
Authors: Gray David
Published: April 2018

The pervading paradigm in insect phenology models is that the response to a given temperature does not vary within a life stage. The developmental rate functions that have been developed for general use, or for specific insects, have for the most part been temperature-dependent but not age-dependent, except where age is an ordinal variable designating the larval instar. Age dependence, where age is a continuous variable, is not often reported (or investigated), and is rarely included in phenology models. I provide a short review of the seldom-investigated phenomenon of age dependence in developmental response to temperature, and compare the derivation of the winter moth egg phenology model by Salis et al. to the derivation of another egg phenology model with age-dependent responses to temperature I discuss some probable reasons for the discrepancies (acknowledged by Salis et al.) between modelled and observed developmental rates of the winter moth, and discuss the contribution that geographically robust phenology models can make to estimates of species distributions.
Effects of Calcination Holding Time on Properties of Wide Band Gap Willemite Semiconductor Nanoparticles by the Polymer Thermal Treatment Method
Authors: Alibe Ibrahim , Matori Khamirul , Sidek Hj , Yaakob Yazid , Rashid Umer , Alibe Ali , Mohd Zaid Mohd , Ahmad Khiri Mohammad
Published: April 2018

Willemite is a wide band gap semiconductor used in modern day technology for optoelectronics application. In this study, a new simple technique with less energy consumption is proposed. Willemite nanoparticles (NPs) were produced via a water–based solution consisting of a metallic precursor, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and underwent a calcination process at 900 °C for several holding times between 1–4 h. The FT–IR and Raman spectra indicated the presence of metal oxide bands as well as the effective removal of PVP. The degree of the crystallization and formation of the NPs were determined by XRD. The mean crystallite size of the NPs was between 18.23–27.40 nm. The morphology, particle shape and size distribution were viewed with HR-TEM and FESEM analysis. The willemite NPs aggregate from the smaller to larger particles with an increase in calcination holding time from 1–4 h with the sizes ranging between 19.74–29.71 nm. The energy values obtained from the experimental band gap decreased with increasing the holding time over the range of 5.39 eV at 1 h to at 5.27 at 4 h. These values match well with band gap obtained from the Mott and Davis model for direct transition. The findings in this study are very promising and can justify the use of these novel materials as a potential candidate for green luminescent optoelectronic applications.
An Overview of Novel Dietary Supplements and Food Ingredients in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Silva Figueiredo Priscila , Inada Aline , Ribeiro Fernandes Melina , Granja Arakaki Daniela , Freitas Karine , Avellaneda Guimarães Rita , Aragão do Nascimento Valter , Aiko Hiane Priscila
Published: April 2018

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by interconnected factors related to metabolic disturbances, and is directly related to the occurrence of some diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. MetS is described as one or both of insulin resistance and visceral adiposity, considered the initial causes of abnormalities that include hyperglycemia, elevated blood pressure, dyslipidemia, elevated inflammatory markers, and prothrombotic state, as well as polycystic ovarian syndrome in women. Other than in MetS, visceral adiposity and the pro-inflammatory state are also key in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is the most prevalent chronic liver disease in modern society. Both MetS and NAFLD are related to diet and lifestyle, and their treatment may be influenced by dietary pattern changes and the use of certain dietary supplements. This study aimed to review the role of food ingredients and supplements in the management of MetS and NAFLD specifically in human clinical trials. Moreover, bioactive compounds and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may be used as strategies for preventing the onset of and treatment of metabolic disorders, such as MetS and NAFLD, improving the inflammatory state and other comorbidities, such as obesity, dyslipidemias, and cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
Furan- and Thiophene-2-Carbonyl Amino Acid Derivatives Activate Hypoxia-Inducible Factor via Inhibition of Factor Inhibiting Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1
Authors: Kawaguchi Shin-ichi , Gonda Yuhei , Yamamoto Takuya , Sato Yuki , Shinohara Hiroyuki , Kobiki Yohsuke , Ichimura Atsuhiko , Dan Takashi , Sonoda Motohiro , Miyata Toshio , Ogawa Akiya , Tsujita Tadayuki
Published: April 2018

Induction of a series of anti-hypoxic proteins protects cells during exposure to hypoxic conditions. Hypoxia-inducible factor-α (HIF-α) is a major transcription factor that orchestrates this protective effect. To activate HIF exogenously, without exposing cells to hypoxic conditions, many small-molecule inhibitors targeting prolyl hydroxylase domain-containing protein have been developed. In addition, suppression of factor inhibiting HIF-1 (FIH-1) has also been shown to have the potential to activate HIF-α. However, few small-molecule inhibitors of FIH-1 have been developed. In this study, we synthesized a series of furan- and thiophene-2-carbonyl amino acid derivatives having the potential to inhibit FIH-1. The inhibitory activities of these compounds were evaluated in SK-N-BE(2)c cells by measuring HIF response element (HRE) promoter activity. Several furan- and thiophene-2-carbonyl amino acid derivatives inhibited FIH-1 based on correlations among the docking score of the FIH-1 active site, the chemical structure of the compounds, and biological HIF-α/HRE transcriptional activity.
Flaming Chalice of Hope: A Case Study of Suicide Prevention in a Faith Community
Authors: Spencer-Thomas Sally
Published: April 2018

The integration of spiritual and emotional health is key for the development of a comprehensive public health approach to suicide prevention. Faith communities play a unique and powerful role in shaping this integration. This case study investigated one United States-based, predominantly White Unitarian Universalist faith community’s efforts in the development of promising practices for “upstream, midstream, and downstream” approaches to suicide prevention. Through a series of in-depth interviews with stakeholders (leadership, volunteers, family members with lived experience), response patterns were used to identify key strategies to promote mental health and prevent suicide. These key strategies include developing healthy social connectedness across one’s life, finding ways to make meaning by connecting with something larger than oneself, and cultivating a community that is compassionate and knowledgeable when assisting its members through emotional crises.
Khyentse Norbu’s Film Travelers and Magicians: Experiencing Impermanence, No Self, and Emptiness
Authors: Benton Catherine
Published: April 2018

This article examines the filmmaking of writer and director Khyentse Norbu (Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche), a Tibetan-Bhutanese lama with major responsibilities as a senior Vajrayana teacher, and recognized as the third incarnation of the founder of the non-sectarian Khyentse lineage. Focusing particularly on his film Travelers and Magicians (2003), the article explores how Khyentse Norbu creates an experience of Buddhist seeing: an experience of impermanence [anitya], no self [anātma], dependent arising [pratītyasamutpāda], and emptiness [śūnyatā]. The filmmaker draws the audience into worlds that appear to exist and not exist, shaped as they are by these interrelated Buddhist realities. Moving back and forth between a frame story and its embedded narratives, the film invites the viewer to experience the emotional turmoil of two protagonists as emotions shape and re-shape their behavior and influence the actions of those around them. Identifying with the protagonists in Travelers and Magicians, the audience experiences the Buddhist perception that life is a myriad of mutually dependent realities: the powerful reality of illusion and the illusory nature of reality.
A Method of Retrieving BRDF from Surface-Reflected Radiance Using Decoupling of Atmospheric Radiative Transfer and Surface Reflection
Authors: Radkevich Alexander
Published: April 2018

Bi-directional reflection distribution function (BRDF) defines anisotropy of the surface reflection. It is required to specify the boundary condition for radiative transfer (RT) modeling used in aerosol retrievals, cloud retrievals, atmospheric modeling, and other applications. Ground based measurements of reflected radiance draw increasing attention as a source of information about anisotropy of surface reflection. Derivation of BRDF from surface radiance requires atmospheric correction. This study develops a new method of retrieving BRDF on its whole domain, making it immediately suitable for further atmospheric RT modeling applications. The method is based on the integral equation relating surface-reflected radiance, BRDF, and solutions of two auxiliary atmosphere-only RT problems. The method requires kernel-based BRDF. The weights of the kernels are obtained with a quickly converging iterative procedure. RT modeling has to be done only one time before the start of iterative process.
Edge-Aware Unidirectional Total Variation Model for Stripe Non-Uniformity Correction
Authors: Boutemedjet Ayoub , Deng Chenwei , Zhao Baojun
Published: April 2018

The problem of stripe non-uniformity in array-based infrared imaging systems has been the focus of many research studies. Among the proposed correction techniques, total variation models have been proven to significantly reduce the effect of this type of noise on the captured image. However, they also cause the loss of some image details and textures due to over-smoothing effect. In this paper, a correction scheme is proposed based on unidirectional variation model to exploit the direction characteristic of the stripe noise, in which an edge-aware weighting is incorporated to convey image structure retaining ability to the overall algorithm. Moreover, a statistical-based regularization is also introduced to further enhance correction performance around strong edges. The proposed approach is thoroughly scrutinized and compared to the state-of-the-art de-striping techniques using real stripe non-uniform images. Results demonstrate a significant improvement in edge preservation with better correction performance.
Phase-Shifted Eccentric Core Fiber Bragg Grating Fabricated by Electric Arc Discharge for Directional Bending Measurement
Authors: Ouyang Yang , Liu Jianxia , Xu Xiaofeng , Zhao Yujia , Zhou Ai
Published: April 2018

A phase-shifted eccentric core fiber Bragg grating (PS-ECFBG) fabricated by electric arc discharge (EAD) is presented and demonstrated. It is composed of a fraction of eccentric core fiber fusion spliced in between two pieces of commercial single mode fibers, where a PS-FBG was written. The EAD in this work could flexibly change the amount of phase-shift by changing the discharge number or discharge duration. Because of the offset location of the eccentric core and the ultra-narrow resonant peak of the PS-ECFBG, it has a higher accuracy for measuring the directional bend. The elongation and compression of the eccentric core keep the magnitude of phase shift still unchanged during the bending process. The bending sensitivities of the PS-ECFBG at two opposite most sensitive directions are 57.4 pm/m−1 and −51.5 pm/m−1, respectively. Besides, the PS-ECFBG has the potential to be a tunable narrow bandpass filter, which has a wider bi-directional adjustable range because of the bending responses. The strain and temperature sensitivities of the PS-ECFBG are experimentally measured as well, which are 0.70 pm/με and 8.85 pm/°C, respectively.
A Comparison of the Solubility Products of Layered Me(II)–Al(III) Hydroxides Based on Sorption Studies with Ni(II), Zn(II), Co(II), Fe(II), and Mn(II)
Authors: Bhattacharya Lasita , Elzinga Evert
Published: April 2018

The precipitation of mixed metal–aluminum-layered double hydroxides (Me(II)–Al(III)-LDH)) may be an important control of the solubility of Mn(II), Fe(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), and Co(II) in soils, but assessment of this process is hindered by a lack of thermodynamic data. Here, we determined the solubility products (Ksp) of the Me(II)–Al(III)-LDHs formed by these metals based on long-term Me(II)–γAl2O3 sorption studies complemented with X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) measurements. The LDH phases had the chemical formula Me(II)2/3Al1/3(OH)2Cl1/3. Solubility products were derived as Ksp = (Me2+)aq2/3(Al3+)aq1/3(OH−)aq2(Cl−)aq1/3, where brackets represent aqueous activity values determined from the equilibrium solution chemistry of the sorption samples. The Ksps are metal-dependent, with values increasing by two orders of magnitude in the order Ni(II) < Zn(II) < Co(II) < Fe(II) < Mn(II). Comparison to the solubility of β-Me(OH)2 suggests considerable thermodynamic preference of Me(II)–Al(III)-LDH over β-Me(OH)2 in soil environments and reveals a linear relation between the log-transformed Ksp values of Me(II)–Al(III)-LDH and β-Me(OH)2. Solubility plots suggest that Ni(II)–, Zn(II)–, and Co(II)–Al(III)-LDH may form in metal-polluted soils. Fe(II)–Al(III)-LDH may occur in riparian soils undergoing reduction, but precipitation of Mn(II)–Al(III)-LDH appears unlikely as it requires [Mn2+]aq much higher than commonly encountered in reducing soils. Additional thermodynamic and field studies are needed to further assess the importance of Me(II)–Al(III)-LDHs in soils and related geochemical systems.
EAF Slag Aggregate in Roller-Compacted Concrete Pavement: Effects of Delay in Compaction
Authors: Lam My , Jaritngam Saravut , Le Duc-Hien
Published: April 2018

This study investigates the effect of delay in compaction on the optimum moisture content and the mechanical propertie s (i.e., compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, splitting tensile strength, and modulus of elasticity) of roller-compacted concrete pavement (RCCP) made of electric arc furnace (EAF) slag aggregate. EAF slag with size in the range of 4.75–19 mm was used to replace natural coarse aggregate in RCCP mixtures. A new mixing method was proposed for RCCP using EAF slag aggregate. The optimum moisture content of RCCP mixtures in this study was determined by a soil compaction method. The Proctor test assessed the optimum moisture content of mixtures at various time after mixing completion (i.e., 0, 15, 30, 60, and 90 min). Then, the effect of delay in compaction on the mechanical properties of RCCP mixtures at 28 days of age containing EAF slag aggregate was studied. The results presented that the negative effect on water content in the mixture caused by the higher water absorption characteristic of EAF slag was mitigated by the new mixing method. The optimum water content and maximum dry density of RCCP experience almost no effect from the delay in compaction. The compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of RCCP using EAF slag aggregate fulfilled the strength requirements for pavement with 90 min of delay in compaction.
Baculovirus PTP2 Functions as a Pro-Apoptotic Protein
Authors: Han Yue , Van Houte Stineke , Van Oers Monique , Ros Vera
Published: April 2018

The family Baculoviridae encompasses a large number of invertebrate viruses, mainly infecting caterpillars of the order Lepidoptera. The baculovirus Spodoptera exigua multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeMNPV) induces physiological and behavioral changes in its host Spodoptera exigua, as well as immunological responses, which may affect virus transmission. Here we show that the SeMNPV-encoded protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (PTP2) induces mild apoptosis in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf) 21 cells upon transient expression. Transient expression of a catalytic-site mutant of ptp2 did not lead to apoptosis, indicating that the phosphatase activity of PTP2 is needed to induce apoptosis. We also found that the caspase level (indicator of apoptosis) was higher in cells transfected with the ptp2 gene than in cells transfected with the catalytic mutant. Adding a caspase inhibitor reduced the level of ptp2-induced apoptosis. Moreover, deletion of the ptp2 gene from the viral genome prevented the induction of apoptosis in S. exigua hemocytes. The virus titer and virulence indices (the viral infectivity and the time to death) were not affected by deletion of the ptp2 gene. However, the viral occlusion body yield from S. exigua larvae infected with the mutant virus lacking the ptp2 gene was much lower than the yield from larvae infected with the wild-type (WT) virus. We hypothesize that the observed pro-apoptotic effects of PTP2 are the result of PTP2-mediated immune suppression in larvae, which consequently leads to higher viral occlusion body yields.
Treatment of Source-Separated Blackwater: A Decentralized Strategy for Nutrient Recovery towards a Circular Economy
Authors: Eshetu Moges Melesse , Todt Daniel , Heistad Arve
Published: April 2018

Using a filter medium for organic matter removal and nutrient recovery from blackwater treatment is a novel concept and has not been investigated sufficiently to date. This paper demonstrates a combined blackwater treatment and nutrient-recovery strategy and establishes mechanisms for a more dependable source of plant nutrients aiming at a circular economy. Source-separated blackwater from a student dormitory was used as feedstock for a sludge blanket anaerobic-baffled reactor. The effluent from the reactor, with 710 mg L−1 NH4–N and 63 mg L−1 PO4–P, was treated in a sequence of upflow and downflow filtration columns using granular activated carbon, Cocos char and polonite as filter media at a flow rate of 600 L m−2 day−1 and organic loading rate of 430 g chemical oxygen demand (COD) m−2 day−1. Filtration treatment of the anaerobic effluent with carbon adsorbents removed 80% of the residual organic matter, more than 90% of suspended solids, and turbidity while releasing more than 76% NH4–N and 85% of PO4–P in the liquid phase. The treatment train also removed total coliform bacteria and E. coli in the effluent, achieving concentrations below detection limit after the integration of ultraviolet (UV) light. These integrated technological pathways ensure simultaneous nutrient recovery as a nutrient solution, pathogen inactivation, and reduction of active organic substances. The treated nutrient-rich water can be applied as a source of value creation for various end-use options.
Crystal structure of the inclusion complex of cholesterol in β-cyclodextrin and molecular dynamics studies
Authors: Christoforides Elias , Papaioannou Andreas , Bethanis Kostas
Published: April 2018

The role of beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) in cholesterol removal primarily from mammalian cells and secondly from dairy products has been studied thoroughly in recent years. Although the physicochemical characterization of the inclusion compound of cholesterol in β-CD has been achieved by various methods, no crystal structure has been determined so far. We report here the crystal structure of the inclusion compound of cholesterol in β-CD. The inclusion complex crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 forming head-to-head dimers which are stacked along the c-axis. One well-defined cholesterol molecule ‘axially’ encapsulated inside the β-CD dimer and 22 water molecules that stabilize the complexes in the crystalline state comprise the asymmetric unit of the structure. The dimers are arranged in an intermediate (IM) channel packing mode in the crystal. Moreover, MD simulations, at 300 and 340 K, based on the crystallographically determined coordinates of the complex show that the formed cholesterol/β-CD inclusion compound remains very stable in aqueous solution at both temperatures.
Chromospheric Heating due to Cancellation of Quiet Sun Internetwork Fields
Authors: Gošić M. , Rodríguez J. de la Cruz , Pontieu B. De , Rubio L. R. Bellot , Carlsson M. , Pozuelo S. Esteban , Ortiz A. , Polito V.
Published: April 2018

The heating of the solar chromosphere remains one of the most important questions in solar physics. Our current understanding is that small-scale internetwork (IN) magnetic fields play an important role as a heating agent. Indeed, cancellations of IN magnetic elements in the photosphere can produce transient brightenings in the chromosphere and transition region. These bright structures might be the signature of energy release and plasma heating, probably driven by the magnetic reconnection of IN field lines. Although single events are not expected to release large amounts of energy, their global contribution to the chromosphere may be significant due to their ubiquitous presence in quiet Sun regions. In this paper, we study cancellations of IN elements and analyze their impact on the energetics and dynamics of the quiet Sun atmosphere. We use high-resolution, multiwavelength, coordinated observations obtained with the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph and the Swedish 1 m Solar Telescope (SST) to identify cancellations of IN magnetic flux patches and follow their evolution. We find that, on average, these events live for ∼3 minutes in the photosphere and ∼12 minutes in the chromosphere and/or transition region. Employing multi-line inversions of the Mg ii
h and k lines, we show that cancellations produce clear signatures of heating in the upper atmospheric layers. However, at the resolution and sensitivity accessible to the SST, their number density still seems to be one order of magnitude too low to explain the global chromospheric heating.
Where Are All of the Gas-bearing Local Dwarf Galaxies? Quantifying Possible Impacts of Reionization
Authors: Tollerud Erik J. , Peek J. E. G.
Published: April 2018

We present an approach for comparing the detections and non-detections of Local Group (LG) dwarf galaxies in large H i surveys to the predictions of a suite of n-body simulations of the LG. This approach depends primarily on a set of empirical scaling relations to connect the simulations to the observations, rather than making strong theoretical assumptions. We then apply this methodology to the Galactic Arecibo L-band Feed Array Hi (GALFA-HI) Compact Cloud Catalog (CCC), and compare it to the suite Exploring the Local Volume In Simulations (ELVIS) of simulations. This approach reveals a strong tension between the naïve results of the model and the observations: while there are no LG dwarfs in the GALFA-HI CCC, the simulations predict ∼10. Applying a simple model of reionization can resolve this tension by preventing low-mass halos from forming gas. However, and if this effect operates as expected, the observations provide a constraint on the mass scale of the dwarf galaxy that reionization impacts. Combined with the observed properties of Leo T, the halo virial mass scale at which reionization impacts dwarf galaxy gas content is constrained to be

, independent of any assumptions about star formation.