bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How to Make Sense of Team Sport Data: From Acquisition to Data Modeling and Research Aspects
Authors: Stein Manuel , Janetzko Halldór , Seebacher Daniel , Jäger Alexander , Nagel Manuel , Hölsch Jürgen , Kosub Sven , Schreck Tobias , Keim Daniel , Grossniklaus Michael
Published: January 2017

Automatic and interactive data analysis is instrumental in making use of increasing amounts of complex data. Owing to novel sensor modalities, analysis of data generated in professional team sport leagues such as soccer, baseball, and basketball has recently become of concern, with potentially high commercial and research interest. The analysis of team ball games can serve many goals, e.g., in coaching to understand effects of strategies and tactics, or to derive insights improving performance. Also, it is often decisive to trainers and analysts to understand why a certain movement of a player or groups of players happened, and what the respective influencing factors are. We consider team sport as group movement including collaboration and competition of individuals following specific rule sets. Analyzing team sports is a challenging problem as it involves joint understanding of heterogeneous data perspectives, including high-dimensional, video, and movement data, as well as considering team behavior and rules (constraints) given in the particular team sport. We identify important components of team sport data, exemplified by the soccer case, and explain how to analyze team sport data in general. We identify challenges arising when facing these data sets and we propose a multi-facet view and analysis including pattern detection, context-aware analysis, and visual explanation. We also present applicable methods and technologies covering the heterogeneous aspects in team sport data.
Information and Self-Organization
Authors: Haken Hermann , Portugali Juval
Published: January 2017

The process of “self-organization” takes place in open and complex systems that acquire spatio-temporal or functional structures without specific ordering instructions from the outside. [...]
Perturbative Treatment of the Non-Linear q-Schrödinger and q-Klein–Gordon Equations
Authors: Zamora Javier , Rocca Mario , Plastino Angelo , Ferri Gustavo
Published: January 2017

Interesting non-linear generalization of both Schrödinger’s and Klein–Gordon’s equations have been recently advanced by Tsallis, Rego-Monteiro and Tsallis (NRT) in Nobre et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 2011, 106, 140601). There is much current activity going on in this area. The non-linearity is governed by a real parameter q. Empiric hints suggest that the ensuing non-linear q-Schrödinger and q-Klein–Gordon equations are a natural manifestations of very high energy phenomena, as verified by LHC-experiments. This happens for q − values close to unity (Plastino et al. (Nucl. Phys. A 2016, 955, 16–26, Nucl. Phys. A 2016, 948, 19–27)). It might thus be difficult for q-values close to unity to ascertain whether one is dealing with solutions to the ordinary Schrödinger equation (whose free particle solutions are exponentials and for which q = 1 ) or with its NRT non-linear q-generalizations, whose free particle solutions are q-exponentials. In this work, we provide a careful analysis of the q ∼ 1 instance via a perturbative analysis of the NRT equations.
Optimization of Reducing Sugar Production from Manihot glaziovii Starch Using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Sebayang Abdi , Hassan Masjuki , Ong Hwai , Dharma Surya , Silitonga Arridina , Kusumo Fitranto , Mahlia Teuku , Bahar Aditiya
Published: January 2017

Bioethanol is known as a viable alternative fuel to solve both energy and environmental crises. This study used response surface methodology based on the Box-Behnken experimental design to obtain the optimum conditions for and quality of bioethanol production. Enzymatic hydrolysis optimization was performed with selected hydrolysis parameters, including substrate loading, stroke speed, α-amylase concentration and amyloglucosidase concentration. From the experiment, the resulting optimum conditions are 23.88% (w/v) substrate loading, 109.43 U/g α-amylase concentration, 65.44 U/mL amyloglucosidase concentration and 74.87 rpm stroke speed, which yielded 196.23 g/L reducing sugar. The fermentation process was also carried out, with a production value of 0.45 g ethanol/g reducing sugar, which is equivalent to 88.61% of ethanol yield after fermentation by using Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae). The physical and chemical properties of the produced ethanol are within the specifications of the ASTM D4806 standard. The good quality of ethanol produced from this study indicates that Manihot glaziovii (M. glaziovii) has great potential as bioethanol feedstock.
An Indicator-Based Approach for Analyzing the Resilience of Transitions for Energy Regions. Part I: Theoretical and Conceptual Considerations
Authors: Binder Claudia , Mühlemeier Susan , Wyss Romano
Published: January 2017

The transition of our current energy system from a fossil-based system to a system based on renewables is likely to be one of the most complex and long-term societal transitions in history. The need for a fundamental system transformation raises the question of how to measure the continuing progress and the resilience of this process over time. This paper aims at developing the conceptualization and operationalization of resilience for energy systems in transition with regard to both social and technical aspects. Based on the resilience concept in social-ecological systems literature, we propose to conceptualize resilience for energy systems building on two core attributes of resilience, namely diversity and connectivity. We present an indicator set to operationalize these key attributes in social and technical systems using: (i) definitions and measurements for three fundamental diversity properties—variety, balance and disparity—and (ii) basic connectivity properties from the social network analysis literature—path length, centrality and modularity. Finally, we reflect on possibilities for an application of these indicators in the social and technical system’s spheres and discuss the added value of the approach for energy transition research.
Multi-Time Scale Control of Demand Flexibility in Smart Distribution Networks
Authors: Bhattarai Bishnu , Myers Kurt , Bak-Jensen Birgitte , Paudyal Sumit
Published: January 2017

This paper presents a multi-timescale control strategy to deploy electric vehicle (EV) demand flexibility for simultaneously providing power balancing, grid congestion management, and economic benefits to participating actors. First, an EV charging problem is investigated from consumer, aggregator, and distribution system operator’s perspectives. A hierarchical control architecture (HCA) comprising scheduling, coordinative, and adaptive layers is then designed to realize their coordinative goal. This is realized by integrating multi-time scale controls that work from a day-ahead scheduling up to real-time adaptive control. The performance of the developed method is investigated with high EV penetration in a typical residential distribution grid. The simulation results demonstrate that HCA efficiently utilizes demand flexibility stemming from EVs to solve grid unbalancing and congestions with simultaneous maximization of economic benefits to the participating actors. This is ensured by enabling EV participation in day-ahead, balancing, and regulation markets. For the given network configuration and pricing structure, HCA ensures the EV owners to get paid up to five times the cost they were paying without control.
Sensor Fault Diagnosis for Aero Engine Based on Online Sequential Extreme Learning Machine with Memory Principle
Authors: Lu Junjie , Huang Jinquan , Lu Feng
Published: January 2017

The on-board sensor fault detection and isolation (FDI) system is essential to guarantee the reliability and safety of an aero engine. In this paper, a novel online sequential extreme learning machine with memory principle (MOS-ELM) is proposed for detecting, isolating, and reconstructing the fault sensor signal of aero engines. In many practical online applications, the sequentially coming data chunk usually possesses a characteristic of timeliness, and the overdue training data may mislead the subsequent learning process. The proposed MOS-ELM can improve the training process by introducing the concept of memory principle into the online sequential extreme learning machine (OS-ELM) to tackle the timeliness of the data chunk. Simulations on some time series problems and some benchmark databases show that MOS-ELM performs better in generalization performance, stability, and prediction accuracy than OS-ELM. The experiment results of the MOS-ELM-based sensor fault diagnosis system also verify the excellent generalization performance of MOS-ELM and indicate the effectiveness and feasibility of the developed diagnosis system.
Short-Term Forecasting of Electric Loads Using Nonlinear Autoregressive Artificial Neural Networks with Exogenous Vector Inputs
Authors: Buitrago Jaime , Asfour Shihab
Published: January 2017

Short-term load forecasting is crucial for the operations planning of an electrical grid. Forecasting the next 24 h of electrical load in a grid allows operators to plan and optimize their resources. The purpose of this study is to develop a more accurate short-term load forecasting method utilizing non-linear autoregressive artificial neural networks (ANN) with exogenous multi-variable input (NARX). The proposed implementation of the network is new: the neural network is trained in open-loop using actual load and weather data, and then, the network is placed in closed-loop to generate a forecast using the predicted load as the feedback input. Unlike the existing short-term load forecasting methods using ANNs, the proposed method uses its own output as the input in order to improve the accuracy, thus effectively implementing a feedback loop for the load, making it less dependent on external data. Using the proposed framework, mean absolute percent errors in the forecast in the order of 1% have been achieved, which is a 30% improvement on the average error using feedforward ANNs, ARMAX and state space methods, which can result in large savings by avoiding commissioning of unnecessary power plants. The New England electrical load data are used to train and validate the forecast prediction.
A Novel Voltage Control Scheme for Low-Voltage DC Distribution Systems Using Multi-Agent Systems
Authors: Hai Trinh , Cho Hector , Chung Il-Yop , Kang Hyun-Koo , Cho Jintae , Kim Juyong
Published: January 2017

Low-voltage direct current (LVDC) distribution systems have been evolving into interesting ways of integrating distributed energy resources (DERs) and power electronics loads to local distribution networks. In LVDC distribution systems, voltage regulation is one of the most important issues, whereas AC systems have concerns such as frequency, power factor, reactive power, harmonic distortion and so on. This paper focuses on a voltage control method for a LVDC distribution system based on the concept of multi-agent system (MAS), which can deploy intelligence and decision-making abilities to local areas. This paper proposes a distributed power flow analysis method using local information refined by local agents and communication between agents based on MAS. This paper also proposes a voltage control method by coordinating the main AC/DC converter and multiple DERs. By using the proposed method, we can effectively maintain the line voltages in a pre-defined normal range. The performance of the proposed voltage control method is evaluated by case studies and compared to conventional methods.
Study on the Tribological Characteristics of Australian Native First Generation and Second Generation Biodiesel Fuel
Authors: Rahman Md , Rasul Mohammad , Hassan Nur
Published: January 2017

Biodiesels are a renewable energy source, and they have the potential to be used as alternatives to diesel fuel. The aim of this study is to investigate the wear and friction characteristics of Australian native first generation and second generation biodiesels using a four-ball tribo tester. The biodiesel was produced through a two-step transesterification process and characterized according to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. The tribological experiment was carried out at a constant 1800 rpm and different loads and temperatures. In addition, the surface morphology of the ball was tested by scanning electron microscope (SEM)/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis. The test results indicated that biodiesel fuels have a lower coefficient of frictions (COF) and lower wear scar diameter (WSD) up to 83.50% and 41.28%, respectively, compared to conventional diesel fuel. The worn surface area results showed that biodiesel fuel has a minimum percentage of C and O, except Fe, compared to diesel. In addition, the worn surface area for diesel was found (2.20%–27.92%) to be higher than biodiesel. The findings of this study indicated that both first and second generation biodiesel fuels have better tribological performance than diesel fuel, and between the biodiesel fuels, macadamia biodiesel showed better lubrication performance.
Coordinated Control of Superconducting Fault Current Limiter and Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage for Transient Performance Enhancement of Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Generation System
Authors: Chen Lei , Chen Hongkun , Yang Jun , Yu Yanjuan , Zhen Kaiwei , Liu Yang , Ren Li
Published: January 2017

In regard to the rapid development of renewable energy sources, more and more photovoltaic (PV) generation systems have been connected to main power networks, and it is critical to enhance their transient performance under short-circuit faults conditions. This paper proposes and studies the coordinated control of a flux-coupling-type superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) and a superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES), to improve the fault ride through (FRT) capability and smooth the power fluctuation of a grid-connected PV generation system. Theoretical analyses of the device structure, operating principle and control strategy are conducted, and a detailed simulation model of 100 kW class PV generation system is built in MATLAB/SIMULINK. During the simulations of the symmetrical and asymmetrical faults, the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control is disabled, and four different cases including without auxiliary, with SFCL, with SMES, and with SFCL-SMES, are compared. From the demonstrated results, the combination of without MPPT and with SFCL-SMES can more efficiently improve the point of common coupling (PCC) voltage sag, inhibit the DC-link overvoltage and alleviate the power fluctuation. Finally, a preliminary parameter optimization method is suggested for the SFCL and the SMES, and it is helpful to promote their future application in the real PV projects.
Improving Bread Quality with the Application of a Newly Purified Thermostable α-Amylase from Rhizopus oryzae FSIS4
Authors: Ait Kaki El-Hadef El-Okki Amel , Gagaoua Mohammed , Bourekoua Hayat , Hafid Kahina , Bennamoun Leila , Djekrif-Dakhmouche Shahrazed , El-Hadef El-Okki Mohamed , Meraihi Zahia
Published: January 2017

A new thermostable α-amylase from Rhizopus oryzae FSIS4 was purified for first time and recovered in a single step using a three-phase partitioning (TPP) system. The fungal α-amylase, at a concentration of 1.936 U per kg of flour, was used in bread-making and compared to the commercial enzyme. The results showed a significant effect of the recovered α-amylase in the prepared bread and allowed us to improve the quality of the bread. The study indicated clearly that the recovered α-amylase is a potential candidate for future applications in the bread-making industry and in other food biotechnology applications.
Physicochemical Properties and the Gelation Process of Supramolecular Hydrogels: A Review
Authors: Karoyo Abdalla , Wilson Lee
Published: January 2017

Supramolecular polysaccharide-based hydrogels have attracted considerable research interest recently due to their high structural functionality, low toxicity, and potential applications in foods, cosmetics, catalysis, drug delivery, tissue engineering and the environment. Modulation of the stability of hydrogels is of paramount importance, especially in the case of stimuli-responsive systems. This review will update the recent progress related to the rational design of supramolecular hydrogels with the objective of understanding the gelation process and improving their physical gelation properties for tailored applications. Emphasis will be given to supramolecular host–guest systems with reference to conventional gels in describing general aspects of gel formation. A brief account of the structural characterization of various supramolecular hydrogels is also provided in order to gain a better understanding of the design of such materials relevant to the nature of the intermolecular interactions, thermodynamic properties of the gelation process, and the critical concentration values of the precursors and the solvent components. This mini-review contributes to greater knowledge of the rational design of supramolecular hydrogels with tailored applications in diverse fields ranging from the environment to biomedicine.
Single-Handed Helical Polybissilsesquioxane Nanotubes and Mesoporous Nanofibers Prepared by an External Templating Approach Using Low-Molecular-Weight Gelators
Authors: Hu Jing , Yang Yonggang
Published: January 2017

Chiral low-molecular-weight gelators (LMWGs) derived from amino acids can self-assemble into helical fibers and twisted/coiled nanoribbons by H-bonding and π–π interaction. Silica nanotubes with single-handed helices have been prepared using chiral LMWGs through sol–gel transcription. Molecular-scale chirality exists at the inner surfaces. Here, we discuss single-handed helical aromatic ring-bridged polybissilsesquioxane nanotubes and mesoporous nanofibers prepared using chiral LMWGs. This review aims at describing the formation mechanisms of the helical nanostructures, the origination of optical activity, and the applications for other helical nanomaterial preparation, mainly based on our group’s results. The morphology and handedness can be controlled by changing the chirality and kinds of LMWGs and tuning the reaction conditions. The aromatic rings arrange in a partially crystalline structure. The optical activity of the polybissilsesquioxane nanotubes and mesoporous nanofibers originates from chiral defects, including stacking and twisting of aromatic groups, on the inner surfaces. They can be used as the starting materials for preparation of silica, silicon, carbonaceous, silica/carbon, and silicon carbide nanotubes.
Association between Polymorphism of Exportin-5 and Susceptibility to Lead Poisoning in a Chinese Population
Authors: Zhang Hengdong , Xu Ming , Zhao Qiuni , Sun Kai , Gong Wei , Zhang Qiaoyun , Zhu Baoli , An Yan
Published: January 2017

Lead (Pb) is one of the major contaminants in many industries, and imposes hazardous effects on multiple human organs and systems. Studies have shown that lead is able to induce the alteration of microRNA (miRNA) expression in serum and organs. In this study we investigated whether polymorphisms in miRNA-regulating genes were associated with the risk of lead exposure. We genotyped seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 113 lead-sensitive and 113 lead-resistant lead-related Chinese workers by Taqman analysis. The lead-sensitive group showed a significantly higher blood lead level (BLL) than the resistant group based on unconditional logistic regression results. One SNP in XPO5 extron (rs2257082) was significantly associated with lead-poisoning (p = 0.022, odds rate (OR) = 1.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.07–2.47 in the C allele compared to the T allele). There were no significant associations between the other six SNPs and the blood lead levels. Therefore, polymorphism rs2257082 could be used to distinguish lead-resistant and lead-susceptible populations, and to develop more specific and accurate preventions.
Combined Forecasting Method of Landslide Deformation Based on MEEMD, Approximate Entropy, and WLS-SVM
Authors: Xie Shaofeng , Liang Yueji , Zheng Zhongtian , Liu Haifeng
Published: January 2017

Given the chaotic characteristics of the time series of landslides, a new method based on modified ensemble empirical mode decomposition (MEEMD), approximate entropy and the weighted least square support vector machine (WLS-SVM) was proposed. The method mainly started from the chaotic sequence of time-frequency analysis and improved the model performance as follows: first a deformation time series was decomposed into a series of subsequences with significantly different complexity using MEEMD. Then the approximate entropy method was used to generate a new subsequence for the combination of subsequences with similar complexity, which could effectively concentrate the component feature information and reduce the computational scale. Finally the WLS-SVM prediction model was established for each new subsequence. At the same time, phase space reconstruction theory and the grid search method were used to select the input dimension and the optimal parameters of the model, and then the superposition of each predicted value was the final forecasting result. Taking the landslide deformation data of Danba as an example, the experiments were carried out and compared with wavelet neural network, support vector machine, least square support vector machine and various combination schemes. The experimental results show that the algorithm has high prediction accuracy. It can ensure a better prediction effect even in landslide deformation periods of rapid fluctuation, and it can also better control the residual value and effectively reduce the error interval.
Cancer Therapy Due to Apoptosis: Galectin-9
Authors: Fujita Koji , Iwama Hisakazu , Oura Kyoko , Tadokoro Tomoko , Samukawa Eri , Sakamoto Teppei , Nomura Takako , Tani Joji , Yoneyama Hirohito , Morishita Asahiro , Himoto Takashi , Hirashima Mitsuomi , Masaki Tsutomu
Published: January 2017

Dysregulation of apoptosis is a major hallmark in cancer biology that might equip tumors with a higher malignant potential and chemoresistance. The anti-cancer activities of lectin, defined as a carbohydrate-binding protein that is not an enzyme or antibody, have been investigated for over a century. Recently, galectin-9, which has two distinct carbohydrate recognition domains connected by a linker peptide, was noted to induce apoptosis in thymocytes and immune cells. The apoptosis of these cells contributes to the development and regulation of acquired immunity. Furthermore, human recombinant galectin-9, hG9NC (null), which lacks an entire region of the linker peptide, was designed to resist proteolysis. The hG9NC (null) has demonstrated anti-cancer activities, including inducing apoptosis in hematological, dermatological and gastrointestinal malignancies. In this review, the molecular characteristics, history and apoptosis-inducing potential of galectin-9 are described.
Functions and Epigenetic Regulation of Wwox in Bone Metastasis from Breast Carcinoma: Comparison with Primary Tumors
Authors: Maroni Paola , Matteucci Emanuela , Bendinelli Paola , Desiderio Maria
Published: January 2017

Epigenetic mechanisms influence molecular patterns important for the bone-metastatic process, and here we highlight the role of WW-domain containing oxidoreductase (Wwox). The tumor-suppressor Wwox lacks in almost all cancer types; the variable expression in osteosarcomas is related to lung-metastasis formation, and exogenous Wwox destabilizes HIF-1α (subunit of Hypoxia inducible Factor-1, HIF-1) affecting aerobic glycolysis. Our recent studies show critical functions of Wwox present in 1833-osteotropic clone, in the corresponding xenograft model, and in human bone metastasis from breast carcinoma. In hypoxic-bone metastatic cells, Wwox enhances HIF-1α stabilization, phosphorylation, and nuclear translocation. Consistently, in bone-metastasis specimens Wwox localizes in cytosolic/perinuclear area, while TAZ (transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif) and HIF-1α co-localize in nuclei, playing specific regulatory mechanisms: TAZ is a co-factor of HIF-1, and Wwox regulates HIF-1 activity by controlling HIF-1α. In vitro, DNA methylation affects Wwox-protein synthesis; hypoxia decreases Wwox-protein level; hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) phosphorylates Wwox driving its nuclear shuttle, and counteracting a Twist program important for the epithelial phenotype and metastasis colonization. In agreement, in 1833-xenograft mice under DNA-methyltransferase blockade with decitabine, Wwox increases in nuclei/cytosol counteracting bone metastasis with prolongation of the survival. However, Wwox seems relevant for the autophagic process which sustains metastasis, enhancing more Beclin-1 than p62 protein levels, and p62 accumulates under decitabine consistent with adaptability of metastasis to therapy. In conclusion, Wwox methylation as a bone-metastasis therapeutic target would depend on autophagy conditions, and epigenetic mechanisms regulating Wwox may influence the phenotype of bone metastasis.
Focal Adhesion Kinase: Insight into Molecular Roles and Functions in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Panera Nadia , Crudele Annalisa , Romito Ilaria , Gnani Daniela , Alisi Anna
Published: January 2017

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Due to the high incidence of post-operative recurrence after current treatments, the identification of new and more effective drugs is required. In previous years, new targetable genes/pathways involved in HCC pathogenesis have been discovered through the help of high-throughput sequencing technologies. Mutations in TP53 and β-catenin genes are the most frequent aberrations in HCC. However, approaches able to reverse the effect of these mutations might be unpredictable. In fact, if the reactivation of proteins, such as p53 in tumours, holds great promise as anticancer therapy, there are studies arguing that chronic activation of these types of molecules may be deleterious. Thus, recently the efforts on potential targets have focused on actionable mutations, such as those occurring in the gene encoding for focal adhesion kinase (FAK). This tyrosine kinase, localized to cellular focal contacts, is over-expressed in a variety of human tumours, including HCC. Moreover, several lines of evidence demonstrated that FAK depletion or inhibition impair in vitro and in vivo HCC growth and metastasis. Here, we provide an overview of FAK expression and activity in the context of tumour biology, discussing the current evidence of its connection with HCC development and progression.
Distal [FeS]-Cluster Coordination in [NiFe]-Hydrogenase Facilitates Intermolecular Electron Transfer
Authors: Petrenko Alexander , Stein Matthias
Published: January 2017

Biohydrogen is a versatile energy carrier for the generation of electric energy from renewable sources. Hydrogenases can be used in enzymatic fuel cells to oxidize dihydrogen. The rate of electron transfer (ET) at the anodic side between the [NiFe]-hydrogenase enzyme distal iron–sulfur cluster and the electrode surface can be described by the Marcus equation. All parameters for the Marcus equation are accessible from Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. The distal cubane FeS-cluster has a three-cysteine and one-histidine coordination [Fe4S4](His)(Cys)3 first ligation sphere. The reorganization energy (inner- and outer-sphere) is almost unchanged upon a histidine-to-cysteine substitution. Differences in rates of electron transfer between the wild-type enzyme and an all-cysteine mutant can be rationalized by a diminished electronic coupling between the donor and acceptor molecules in the [Fe4S4](Cys)4 case. The fast and efficient electron transfer from the distal iron–sulfur cluster is realized by a fine-tuned protein environment, which facilitates the flow of electrons. This study enables the design and control of electron transfer rates and pathways by protein engineering.
Unconventional Pathways of Secretion Contribute to Inflammation
Authors: Daniels Michael , Brough David
Published: January 2017

In the conventional pathway of protein secretion, leader sequence-containing proteins leave the cell following processing through the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi body. However, leaderless proteins also enter the extracellular space through mechanisms collectively known as unconventional secretion. Unconventionally secreted proteins often have vital roles in cell and organism function such as inflammation. Amongst the best-studied inflammatory unconventionally secreted proteins are interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-1α, IL-33 and high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1). In this review we discuss the current understanding of the unconventional secretion of these proteins and highlight future areas of research such as the role of nuclear localisation.
Conservation Benefits of Tropical Multifunctional Land-Uses in and Around a Forest Protected Area of Bangladesh
Authors: Mukul Sharif , Saha Narayan
Published: January 2017

Competing interests in land for agriculture and commodity production in tropical human-dominated landscapes make forests and biodiversity conservation particularly challenging. Establishment of protected areas in this regard is not functioning as expected due to exclusive ecological focus and poor recognition of local people’s traditional forest use and dependence. In recent years, multifunctional land-use systems such as agroforestry have widely been promoted as an efficient land-use in such circumstances, although their conservation effectiveness remains poorly investigated. We undertake a rapid biodiversity survey to understand the conservation value of four contrasting forms of local land-use, namely: betel leaf (Piper betle) agroforestry; lemon (Citrus limon) agroforestry; pineapple (Ananas comosus) agroforestry; and, shifting cultivation–fallow managed largely by the indigenous communities in and around a highly diverse forest protected area of Bangladesh. We measure the alpha and beta diversity of plants, birds, and mammals in these multifunctional land-uses, as well as in the old-growth secondary forest in the area. Our study finds local land-use critical in conserving biodiversity in the area, with comparable biodiversity benefits as those of the old-growth secondary forest. In Bangladesh, where population pressure and rural people’s dependence on forests are common, multifunctional land-uses in areas of high conservation priority could potentially be used to bridge the gap between conservation and commodity production, ensuring that the ecological integrity of such landscapes will be altered as little as possible.
Optically Clear and Resilient Free-Form µ-Optics 3D-Printed via Ultrafast Laser Lithography
Authors: Jonušauskas Linas , Gailevičius Darius , Mikoliūnaitė Lina , Sakalauskas Danas , Šakirzanovas Simas , Juodkazis Saulius , Malinauskas Mangirdas
Published: January 2017

We introduce optically clear and resilient free-form micro-optical components of pure (non-photosensitized) organic-inorganic SZ2080 material made by femtosecond 3D laser lithography (3DLL). This is advantageous for rapid printing of 3D micro-/nano-optics, including their integration directly onto optical fibers. A systematic study of the fabrication peculiarities and quality of resultant structures is performed. Comparison of microlens resiliency to continuous wave (CW) and femtosecond pulsed exposure is determined. Experimental results prove that pure SZ2080 is ∼20 fold more resistant to high irradiance as compared with standard lithographic material (SU8) and can sustain up to 1.91 GW/cm2 intensity. 3DLL is a promising manufacturing approach for high-intensity micro-optics for emerging ﬁelds in astro-photonics and atto-second pulse generation. Additionally, pyrolysis is employed to homogeneously shrink structures up to 40% by removing organic SZ2080 constituents. This opens a promising route towards downscaling photonic lattices and the creation of mechanically robust glass-ceramic microstructures.
Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties and Porosity of Organic Microcapsules Based Self-Healing Cementitious Composite
Authors: Wang Xianfeng , Sun Peipei , Han Ningxu , Xing Feng
Published: January 2017

Encapsulation of healing agents embedded in a material matrix has become one of the major approaches for achieving self-healing function in cementitious materials in recent years. A novel type of microcapsules based self-healing cementitious composite was developed in Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Durability for Marine Civil Engineering, Shenzhen University. In this study, both macro performance and the microstructure of the composite are investigated. The macro performance was evaluated by employing the compressive strength and the dynamic modulus, whereas the microstructure was represented by the pore structure parameters such as porosity, cumulative-pore volume, and average-pore diameter, which are significantly correlated to the pore-size distribution and the compressive strength. The results showed that both the compressive strength and the dynamic modulus, as well as the pore structure parameters such as porosity, cumulative-pore volume, and average-pore diameter of the specimen decrease to some extent with the amount of microcapsules. However, the self-healing rate and the recovery rate of the specimen performance and the pore-structure parameters increase with the amount of microcapsules. The results should confirm the self-healing function of microcapsules in the cementitious composite from macroscopic and microscopic viewpoints.
Effect of Intrinsic Stress on Structural and Optical Properties of Amorphous Si-Doped SnO2 Thin-Film
Authors: Ning Honglong , Liu Xianzhe , Zhang Hongke , Fang Zhiqiang , Cai Wei , Chen Jianqiu , Yao Rihui , Xu Miao , Wang Lei , Lan Linfeng , Peng Junbiao , Wang Xiaofeng , Zhang Zichen
Published: January 2017

The effect of intrinsic stress on the structure and physical properties of silicon-tin-oxide (STO) films have been investigated. Since a state of tensile stress is available in as-deposited films, the value of stress can be exponentially enhanced when the annealing temperature is increased. The tensile stress is able to not only suppress the crystallization and widen the optical band gap of STO films, but also reduce defects of STO films. In this report, the good electrical performance of STO thin-film transistors (TFTs) can be obtained when annealing temperature is 450 °C. This includes a value of saturation mobility that can be reached at 6.7 cm2/Vs, a ratio of Ion/Ioff as 7.34 × 107, a steep sub-threshold swing at 0.625 V/decade, and a low trap density of 7.96 × 1011 eV−1·cm−2, respectively.
Reduction of Surface Roughness by Means of Laser Processing over Additive Manufacturing Metal Parts
Authors: Alfieri Vittorio , Argenio Paolo , Caiazzo Fabrizia , Sergi Vincenzo
Published: January 2017

Optimization of processing parameters and exposure strategies is usually performed in additive manufacturing to set up the process; nevertheless, standards for roughness may not be evenly matched on a single complex part, since surface features depend on the building direction of the part. This paper aims to evaluate post processing treating via laser surface modification by means of scanning optics and beam wobbling to process metal parts resulting from selective laser melting of stainless steel in order to improve surface topography. The results are discussed in terms of roughness, geometry of the fusion zone in the cross-section, microstructural modification, and microhardness so as to assess the effects of laser post processing. The benefits of beam wobbling over linear scanning processing are shown, as heat effects in the base metal are proven to be lower.
The Role of Natural Products in Drug Discovery and Development against Neglected Tropical Diseases
Authors: Cheuka Peter , Mayoka Godfrey , Mutai Peggoty , Chibale Kelly
Published: January 2017

Endemic in 149 tropical and subtropical countries, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect more than 1 billion people annually, including 875 million children in developing economies. These diseases are also responsible for over 500,000 deaths per year and are characterized by long-term disability and severe pain. The impact of the combined NTDs closely rivals that of malaria and tuberculosis. Current treatment options are associated with various limitations including widespread drug resistance, severe adverse effects, lengthy treatment duration, unfavorable toxicity profiles, and complicated drug administration procedures. Natural products have been a valuable source of drug regimens that form the cornerstone of modern pharmaceutical care. In this review, we highlight the potential that remains untapped in natural products as drug leads for NTDs. We cover natural products from plant, marine, and microbial sources including natural-product-inspired semi-synthetic derivatives which have been evaluated against the various causative agents of NTDs. Our coverage is limited to four major NTDs which include human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis and lymphatic filariasis.
Effect of Selected Plant Phenolics on Fe2+-EDTA-H2O2 System Mediated Deoxyribose Oxidation: Molecular Structure-Derived Relationships of Anti- and Pro-Oxidant Actions
Authors: De Graft-Johnson Jeffrey , Nowak Dariusz
Published: January 2017

In the presence of transition metal ions and peroxides, polyphenols, well-known dietary antioxidants, can act as pro-oxidants. We investigated the effect of 13 polyphenols and their metabolites on oxidative degradation of deoxyribose by an •OH generating Fenton system (Fe2+-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-H2O2). The relationship between phenolics pro-oxidant/anti-oxidant effects and their molecular structure was analyzed using multivariate analysis with multiple linear regression and a backward stepwise technique. Four phenolics revealed a significant inhibitory effect on OH-induced deoxyribose degradation, ranging from 54.4% ± 28.6% (3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid) to 38.5% ± 10.4% (catechin) (n = 6), correlating with the number of –OH substitutions (r = 0.58). Seven phenolics augmented the oxidative degradation of deoxyribose with the highest enhancement at 95.0% ± 21.3% (quercetin) and 60.6% ± 12.2% (phloridzin). The pro-oxidant effect correlated (p < 0.05) with the number of –OH groups (r = 0.59), and aliphatic substitutes (r = −0.22) and weakly correlated with the occurrence of a catechol structure within the compound molecule (r = 0.17). Selective dietary supplementation with phenolics exhibiting pro-oxidant activity may increase the possibility of systemic oxidative stress in patients treated with medications containing chelating properties or those with high plasma concentrations of H2O2 and non-transferrin bound iron.
Comparison of Hydrogels Based on Commercial Chitosan and Beetosan® Containing Nanosilver
Authors: Tyliszczak Bożena , Drabczyk Anna , Kudłacik Sonia
Published: January 2017

Two series of hydrogels on the basis of commercial chitosan and chitosan derived from naturally expired honeybees are presented in this article. Sorption capacity and behavior of both kind of materials in simulated body fluids such as Ringer’s liquid or artificial saliva have been determined and compared. Presence of functional groups in synthesized materials have been determined by means of FT-IR spectroscopy. Structure and homogeneity of their surface have been defined using Scanning Electron Microscopy. Based on the conducted research, it can be stated that both chitosan and Beetosan® hydrogels have very similar characteristics. It is worth noting that synthesis of such materials is environmentally friendly and leads to obtaining polymers that can be used for biomedical applications. Tested materials are characterized by low sorption capacity and do not have a negative impact on simulated body fluids. Moreover, based on the cell lines studies, it can be stated that Beetosan® hydrogels have a negative influence on cells of cancerous origin and, what is important, significantly less adverse effects on fibroblasts.
Synthesis and Antibacterial Evaluation of New Sulfone Derivatives Containing 2-Aroxymethyl-1,3,4-Oxadiazole/Thiadiazole Moiety
Authors: Su Shihu , Zhou Xia , Liao Guoping , Qi Puying , Jin Linhong
Published: January 2017

Sulfones are one of the most important classes of agricultural fungicides. To discover new lead compounds with high antibacterial activity, a series of new sulfone derivatives were designed and synthesized by introducing the aroxymethyl moiety into the scaffold of 1,3,4-oxadiazole/thiadiazole sulfones. Antibacterial activities against three phytopathogens (Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, Ralstonia solanacearum, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri.) were assayed in vitro. As compared to the control of commercial fungicides and some reported sulfone fungicides, seven compounds 5I-1–5I-7 exerted remarkably higher activities with EC50 values ranging from 0.45–1.86 μg/mL against X. oryzae and 1.97–20.15 μg/mL against R. solanacearum. Exhilaratingly, 5I-1, 5I-2 and 5I-4 displayed significant in vivo activity against X. oryzae with protective effect of 90.4%, 77.7%, and 81.1% at 200 μg/mL, respectively, much higher than that exhibited by Bismerthiazol (25.6%) and Thiadiazole-copper (32.0%). And the differential phytotoxicity of active derivatives was preliminarily checked. The results demonstrated that derivative of 2-aroxymethyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole/thiadiazole sulfone can serve as potential alternative bactericides for the management of plant bacterial diseases.
Assignment of Absolute Configuration of a New Hepatoprotective Schiartane-Type Nortriterpenoid Using X-Ray Diffraction
Authors: Wang Xiaojuan , Fronczek Frank , Chen Jiabao , Liu Jiabao , Ferreira Daneel , Li Shuai , Hamann Mark
Published: January 2017

A new schiartane-type nortriterpenoid, micrandilactone H was isolated from Kadsura longipedunculata Finet et Gagnep. Its 2D (two dimension) structure was elucidated by NMR spectroscopic analysis, and it is similar to that of Kadnanolactones H and the absolute configuration was established through X-ray diffraction and ECD data analysis. This represents the first complete assignment of the absolute configuration of a schiartane-type nortriterpenoid by X-ray diffraction and the ECD method. Micrandilactone H showed moderate hepatoprotective activity against N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP)-induced toxicity in HepG2 cells with cell survival rates of 56.84% at 10 μM.
Preparation, Phytochemical Investigation, and Safety Evaluation of Chlorogenic Acid Products from Eupatorium adenophorum
Authors: Liu Boyan , Cao Lili , Zhang Lijun , Yuan Xiaofan , Zhao Bing
Published: January 2017

Eupatorium adenophorum is widely distributed throughout the world’s tropical and temperate regions. It has become a harmful weed of crops and natural environments. Its leaves contain bioactive compounds such as chlorogenic acid and may be used as feed additives. In this study, chlorogenic acid was extracted and separated from leaves of E. adenophorum. Three chlorogenic acid products were prepared with different purities of 6.11%, 22.17%, and 96.03%. Phytochemical analysis demonstrated that the main toxins of sesquiterpenes were almost completely removed in sample preparation procedure. The three products were evaluated for safety via in vitro and in vivo toxicological studies. All the products exhibited no cytotoxic effects at a dose of 400 μg/mL in an in vitro cell viability assay. When administered in vivo at a single dose up to 1.5 g/kg bw, all three products caused no signs or symptoms of toxicity in mice. These results encourage further exploration of extracts from E. adenophorum in feed additive application.
Grape Polyphenols’ Effects in Human Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes
Authors: Rasines-Perea Zuriñe , Teissedre Pierre-Louis
Published: January 2017

The consumption of fruits and vegetables, as well as foods enriched in bioactive compounds and nutraceuticals, has increased due to consumers’ interest in the relevance of food composition for human health. Considerable recent interest has focused on bioactive phenolic compounds in grape, as they possess many biological activities, such as antioxidant, cardioprotective, anticancer, anti-inflammation, anti-ageing and antimicrobial properties. Observational studies indicate that the intake of polyphenol-rich foods improves vascular health, thereby significantly reducing the risk of hypertension, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Other researchers have described the benefits of a grape polyphenol-rich diet for other types of maladies such as diabetes mellitus. This is a comprehensive review on the consumption of polyphenolic grape compounds, concerning their potential benefits for human health in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
Molecular Cloning, Characterization, and Functional Analysis of Acetyl-CoA C-Acetyltransferase and Mevalonate Kinase Genes Involved in Terpene Trilactone Biosynthesis from Ginkgo biloba
Authors: Chen Qiangwen , Yan Jiaping , Meng Xiangxiang , Xu Feng , Zhang Weiwei , Liao Yongling , Qu Jinwang
Published: January 2017

Ginkgolides and bilobalide, collectively termed terpene trilactones (TTLs), are terpenoids that form the main active substance of Ginkgo biloba. Terpenoids in the mevalonate (MVA) biosynthetic pathway include acetyl-CoA C-acetyltransferase (AACT) and mevalonate kinase (MVK) as core enzymes. In this study, two full-length (cDNAs) encoding AACT (GbAACT, GenBank Accession No. KX904942) and MVK (GbMVK, GenBank Accession No. KX904944) were cloned from G. biloba. The deduced GbAACT and GbMVK proteins contain 404 and 396 amino acids with the corresponding open-reading frame (ORF) sizes of 1215 bp and 1194 bp, respectively. Tissue expression pattern analysis revealed that GbAACT was highly expressed in ginkgo fruits and leaves, and GbMVK was highly expressed in leaves and roots. The functional complementation of GbAACT in AACT-deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain Δerg10 and GbMVK in MVK-deficient strain Δerg12 confirmed that GbAACT mediated the conversion of mevalonate acetyl-CoA to acetoacetyl-CoA and GbMVK mediated the conversion of mevalonate to mevalonate phosphate. This observation indicated that GbAACT and GbMVK are functional genes in the cytosolic mevalonate (MVA) biosynthesis pathway. After G. biloba seedlings were treated with methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid, the expression levels of GbAACT and GbMVK increased, and TTL production was enhanced. The cloning, characterization, expression and functional analysis of GbAACT and GbMVK will be helpful to understand more about the role of these two genes involved in TTL biosynthesis.