bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Isolable Anion Radicals of Nitrosoarenes
Authors: Wang Dongyang , Tamizmani Masilamani , Leng Xuebing , Deng Liang
Published: December 2019

Summary of main observation and conclusion

The rich redox chemistry of nitrosoarenes has rendered these reactive molecules very useful in modern synthetic and material chemistry. Electrochemical studies have revealed the capability of nitrosoarenes to undergo one‐electron oxidation or reduction reaction for a long time. However, the isolation and structural characterization of nitrosoarene radical compounds deviating the stabilization of transition‐metal have not been achieved. Investigation on the reduction reaction of nitrosoarenes bearing steric demanding substituents has now revealed that the interaction of 2,6‐dimesityl‐1‐nitroso‐benzene (DmpNO) or 2,4,6‐tri(tert‐butyl)‐1‐nitroso‐benzene (TtpNO) with KC8 and crypt‐2,2,2 can produce the corresponding anion radical compound [K(crypt‐2,2,2)][DmpNO] (1) or [K(crypt‐2,2,2)][TtpNO] (2) in good isolated yield. Compounds 1 and 2 represent the first examples of isolable nitrosoarene radical compounds deviating the stabilization of transition‐metal, and have been characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction study, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. Theoretical study in collaboration with the characterization data revealed that the unpaired spin in [DmpNO]•– and [TtpNO]•– delocalizes on the nitroso and the central phenyl groups.
Forecasting Air Quality Indicators for 33 Cities in China
Authors: Wu Lifeng , Zhao Hongying
Published: December 2019

The Jing‐Jin‐Ji (Beijing‐Tianjin‐Hebei) and the surrounding Jin‐Lu‐Yu (Shanxi‐Shandong‐Henan) regions are experiencing severe problems with air pollution. To measure the change in pollutant concentrations over the next few years, the fractional order accumulation grey model is used to forecast the air quality indicators.
The results show that the concentrations of fine particulate matter, particulate matter 10, and sulfur dioxide show a downward trend, and 8‐h O3 (annual) and 8‐h O3 (spring and summer) show an upward trend in these areas. There is a slight increase in nitrogen dioxide concentration in Shanxi, but its concentration in other areas shows a slight decline. The results obtained can provide a clear direction for air quality management decisions.
Design, Synthesis and Discovery of N,N’‐Carbazoyl‐aryl‐urea Inhibitors of Zika NS5 Methyltransferase and Virus Replication
Authors: Spizzichino Sharon , Mattedi Giulio , Lauder Kate , Valle Coralie , Aouadi Wahiba , Canard Bruno , Decroly Etienne , Kaptein Suzanne J. F. , Neyts Johan , Graham Carl , Sule Zakary , Barlow David J. , Silvestri Romano , Castagnolo Daniele
Published: December 2019

The recent outbreaks of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection worldwide make the discovery of novel antivirals against flaviviruses a research priority. This work describes the identification of novel inhibitors of ZIKV through a structure‐based virtual screening approach using the ZIKV NS5‐MTase. A novel series of molecules with a carbazoyl‐aryl‐urea structure has been discovered and a library of analogues has been synthesized. The new compounds inhibit ZIKV MTase with IC50 between 23–48 μM. In addition, carbazoyl‐aryl‐ureas also proved to inhibit ZIKV replication activity at micromolar concentration.
Does interior color contrast enhance spatial memory?
Authors: Min Young Hee , Lee Soyeon
Published: December 2019

This study investigated the effect of contrast in neutral‐, warm‐, and cool‐colored spaces on spatial memory. Spatial memory was measured in terms of architectural scale and recollection of architectural elements and furniture. Participants (N = 114) viewed a short virtual simulation video of a residential studio and were asked to sketch a map of the architectural elements on distributed grid paper. Spatial memory was measured in terms of scale, and item recall rate. Contrast and hue had no significant effect on the memorization of proportional scale. However, high‐contrast schemes allowed for a significantly higher recollection of architectural elements than low‐contrast schemes. In comparing the effect of hues, a significant difference was seen in recalling detailed furniture and lighting items. Participants reported significantly better spatial memory of neutral and warm color schemes than of cool color schemes. There was no interaction effect between contrast and hue in the color combinations. These results can be applied in the design of color schemes for architectural spaces requiring enhanced spatial cognition and memory.
A comprehensive research on exponential smoothing methods in modeling and forecasting cellular traffic
Authors: Tran Quang Thanh , Hao Li , Trinh Quang Khai
Published: December 2019

Traffic prediction based on time series analysis methods that are low‐cost and low computational complexity can offer more efficient resource management and better QoS. Although exponential smoothing is such a kind of method, there is a lack of application in cellular networks and data traffic research, especially with the robust development of mobile Internet applications nowadays. Therefore, this study provides a comprehensive research on cellular network traffic prediction using exponential smoothing methods. More cases of traffic including voice and data in different time granularities as well as different domains compared with other studies are considered. Besides, more exponential smoothing methods are simultaneously investigated for different cases of traffic. Our multiple case study approach leads to a more convincing result of choosing the best fit model. Data collected from real commercial cellular networks is used for experiments to make the results more practical and persuasively. In our experiment method, the model has the lowest RMSE value is chosen among three types of method. The experiment results show that exponential smoothing methods outperform multiplicative seasonal ARIMA, which is slower and more complex in computation in all cases, so they should be recommended for traffic prediction.
MFDC‐net: Multifeature‐based deep convolutional neural network for single image haze removal
Authors: Li Bin , Zhao Jingjuan , Fu Hui
Published: December 2019

When it comes to the dehazing method based on the ambient light scattering model, there are ill‐conditioning problems of great concern. Therefore, the inaccurate estimation of the global atmospheric light and transmittance can bring about hue error phenomena, halo artifacts, and image noises. In this paper, we present an effective and efficient approach to solve above problems. Firstly, we adopt single‐threshold segmentation method and quad‐tree algorithms, which can break through the limitation that the dark channel prior theory (DCP) is not suitable for sky region, to quickly and accurately locate and estimate the global atmospheric light. Secondly, we design a new deep convolutional network architecture, which can effectively suppress the halo effect of image edges and restrain image noises, to optimize transmittance. Numerous of outdoor and synthesis haze image test results indicate that the optimized approach could shorten the processing time greatly. Besides, with more accurate global atmospheric light value and transmittance, the image noise and the halo artifact can be effectively suppressed and removed respectively, the hue error phenomenon improved, and the image contrast significantly enhanced in the dehazing results.
Deuteron Quadrupolar Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (Q‐CEST) Solid‐State NMR for Static Powder Samples: Approach and Applications to Amyloid‐β Fibrils
Authors: Vugmeyster Liliya , Ostrovsky Dmitry , Fu Riqiang
Published: December 2019

We provide an experimental and computational framework for 2H quadrupolar chemical exchange saturation transfer NMR experiments (Q‐CEST) under static solid‐state conditions for the quantification of dynamics on μs‐ms timescales. Simulations using simple 2‐site exchange models provide insights into the relation between spin dynamics and motions. Biological applications focus on two sites of amyloid‐β fibrils in the 3‐fold symmetric polymorph. The first site, the methyl group of A2 of the disordered N‐terminal domain, undergoes diffusive motions and conformational exchange due to transient interactions. Earlier 2H rotating frame relaxation and quadrupolar CPMG measurements are combined with the Q‐CEST approach to characterize the multiple conformational states of the domain. The second site, the methyl group of M35, spans the water‐accessible cavity inside the fibrils’ core and undergoes extensive rotameric exchange. Q‐CEST permits us to refine the rotameric exchange model for this site and allows the more precise determination of populations and rotameric exchange rate constants than line shape analysis.
Tuning the Competition between Hydrogen and Tetrel Bonds by a Magnesium Bond
Authors: Hou Mingchang , Zhu Yifan , Li Qingzhong , Scheiner Steve
Published: December 2019

A computational study of the complexes formed by TF3OH (T=C, Si, Ge) with three nitrogen‐containing bases NCH, NH3, and imidazole (IM) is carried out at the MP2/aug‐cc‐pVTZ level. TF3OH can participate in two different types of noncovalent interactions: a hydrogen bond (HB) involving the hydroxyl proton and a tetrel bond (TB) with the tetel atom T. The strength of the HB is largely unaffected by the identity of T while the TB is enhanced as T grows larger. The HB is preferred over the TB for most systems, with the exception of GeF3OH with either NH3or IM. MgCl2engages in a Mg⋅⋅⋅O Magnesium bond (Mg‐bond) with the TF3OH O atom, which cooperatively enhances both the HB and TB. The HB strengthening is particularly large for the NH3or IM bases, and especially for CF3OH, but is slowly reduced as the T atom grows larger. The TB enhancement, on the other hand, behaves in the opposite fashion, accelerating for the larger T atoms. As a bottom line, the Mg‐bond generally reinforces and accentuates the preference for the HB or TB that is already present in the dimer. The Mg‐bond is also responsible for a proton transfer in the HB configurations with NH3and IM.
Polarization‐Dependent Photoluminescence of a Highly (100)‐Oriented Perovskite Film
Authors: Yun Sangeun , Kim Taehee , Choi Yung Ji , Lee Sang Hyeon , Kim Hae‐Jin , Kim Dongho
Published: December 2019

Lead halide perovskite is one of the attractive functional materials owing to its outstanding opto‐electronic properties, which have been addressed in numerous studies. This study aims to clarify the link between the growth pattern and the charge carrier related properties for the highly oriented perovskite film along the [100] direction. For this purpose, a CH3NH3PbI3 thin film mainly grown along the [100] direction was fabricated and subjected to spectroscopic analysis to understand the basic optoelectronic features of the oriented film. A perovskite film with random growth was also fabricated for comparison. In particular, results from excitation polarization photoluminescence spectroscopy (ExPPS) revealed that the orientation of transition dipole moment, which is relevant to the anisotropic property of the film, is attributed to the growth direction of the perovskite film. This study suggests that the absorption anisotropy can affect the anisotropy in properties of the perovskite device. Furthermore, photodetectors with the perovskite films were fabricated to investigate the effect of growth direction on the photodetector performances, revealing that a photodetector with the oriented perovskite film showed larger photoresponses. In order to provide an explanation for such result, we performed a PL lifetime imaging study of the oriented and randomly grown perovskite films.
Overexpression of JAG2 is related to poor outcomes in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Hatano Kiichi , Saigo Chiemi , Kito Yusuke , Shibata Toshiyuki , Takeuchi Tamotsu
Published: December 2019

Objectives

JAG2 is one of Notch ligands, which recently appear to exert various carcinogenesis. In the present study, we aimed to unveil the relation of JAG2 expression and clinicopathological features in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Materials and Methods

We examined JAG2 expression in OSCC plus adjacent nontumorous epithelia in eight patients. Ninety‐one OSCC tissue specimens were immunohistochemically stained with specific antibodies to JAG2. The immunoreactivities of JAG2 were correlated with clinicopathological factors, including the prognosis of patients. Chi‐square test, Kaplan–Meier survival, and Cox proportional hazard analysis were used to determine the statistical value of JAG2 expression in OSCC.

Results

JAG2 mRNA expression was much expressed in OSCC tissues compared with adjacent tissue specimens in five of eight patients. JAG2 immunoreactivity was found at invasion front in 31 of 91 OSCC. JAG2 immunoreactivity was significantly associated with age, less than 50 years old of patients (P = .048). Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated that the patients with JAG2 immunoreactvty have a short overall survival. With the Cox proportional hazard regression mode, the independent factors predictive of poor overall survival included JAG2 immunoreactivity (P < .05).

Conclusions

The present findings suggest that JAG2 overexpression, especially at the cancer invasion front, has potential prognostic value.
Optimal spectrum utilisation in cognitive radio networks based on processor sharing techniques
Authors: Tsimba Hilary , Maharaj Bodhaswar T. , Alfa Attahiru
Published: December 2019

Cognitive radio networks have achieved higher efficiency in terms of spectrum usage; however they do not readily solve any competition for access among secondary users. Optimisation is applied to an underlay network to obtain the optimal solution for at least two secondary users operating simultaneously on the same channel. Performance measures are used as the target for optimisation. However, the objective function is difficult to obtain in closed form. For the performance measures, queueing theory, particularly weighted processor sharing techniques are employed to model the system dynamics and behaviour. Transmission power and the interference temperature limit are used to allocate weights to the secondary users. Queue length and waiting time functions obtained from the queuing models are used for optimisation. After establishing that the objective function can be considered to be pseudo‐convex, convex programming is then deployed to obtain the optimised solution. The results suggest that there is indeed an improvement in network performance after optimisation. The immediate benefits of such a system are firstly improved spectrum utilisation through adding multiple secondary users and secondly, through optimisation, higher performance that can be achieved by the secondary users.
Detailed estimation method of heat generation during charge/discharge in lithium‐ion battery using equivalent circuit
Authors: Inui Yoshitaka , Hirayama Satoshi , Tanaka Tadashi
Published: December 2019

Lithium‐ion batteries are becoming practically used for high power applications such as electric vehicles. For this purpose, some estimation technique of battery heat generation is inevitable. The authors, therefore, have already proposed a simple estimation method of the heat generation in lithium‐ion batteries during their charge/discharge using internal equivalent resistance and confirmed validity of the method for constant current discharge patterns. The merit of this method is its simplicity but it has already been made clear that its versatility for various current patterns is not enough. Considering these facts, in this study, the authors newly proposed a detailed estimation method of the heat generation in lithium‐ion batteries during their charge/discharge using equivalent circuit. The authors compared the estimation results of the heat generation in lithium‐ion battery for various constant or pulse current charge/discharge patterns through the newly proposed detailed estimation method with the estimation results through the conventional simple estimation method and measured results through a calorimeter for the corresponding current patterns. The versatility of the newly proposed detailed estimation method was successfully confirmed through these comparisons, indicating the validity and necessity of the proposed method.
Moose effects on soil temperatures, tree canopies, and understory vegetation: a path analysis
Authors: Kolstad Anders Lorentzen , Austrheim Gunnar , Graae Bente J. , Solberg Erling J. , Strimbeck G. Richard , Speed James D. M.
Published: December 2019

Large vertebrate herbivores are ubiquitous and increasingly numerous in boreal forests where they are known to influence ecosystems in many ways. However, separating the direct effects of herbivores from their indirect effects on plant communities via forest structural changes and microclimate remains unexplored, limiting the predictability of herbivore impacts. We used an exploratory path analysis approach to investigate potential mechanistic pathways between herbivore removal, forest canopy cover, soil temperature, and understory vegetation dynamics. Moose (Alces alces) were excluded from 15 recently clear‐cut boreal forest sites in Norway using 20 × 20 m fences with paired open un‐fenced plots. Soil temperatures and vegetation data were recorded after eight years (total n = 98). Moose exclusion reduced summer soil temperatures but not winter soil temperatures, leading to no net effect over 344 d. Path analysis showed a strong positive effect of moose exclusion on canopy cover and subsequently reduced summer soil temperatures. There was some support for an increase in the dominant grass species Avenella flexuosa with increasing summer soil temperatures, but neither temperature, canopy cover, nor A. flexuosa had clear links to plant species densities. Moose exclusion directly increased herb biomass and shifted understory species composition toward less shrub‐dominated communities, resulting in increased species densities of vascular plants and bryophytes. Our results indicate that in early‐successional boreal forests, direct effects of large herbivores on plant communities are clearly visible, and indirect effects are detectable but much weaker.
Rare‐Earth Amido and Borohydrido Complexes Supported by Tetradentate Amidinate Ligands: Synthesis, Structure, and Catalytic Activity in Polymerization of Cyclic Esters
Authors: Skvortsov Grigorii G. , Shavyrin Andrei S. , Kovylina Tatyana A. , Cherkasov Anton V. , Trifonov Alexander A.
Published: December 2019

Amido [ButC(NC6H4‐2‐OMe)2]2LnN(SiMe3)2 (Ln = Y (3), Nd (4)) and borohydrido complexes [ButC(NC6H4‐2‐OMe)2]2LnBH4 (Ln = Y (5), Nd (6)) coordinated by new amidinate ligand bearing two pendant anisolyl groups are synthesized. According to X‐ray analysis in complexes 3 and 4 one amidinate ligand is coordinated to the Ln3+ cation in a bidentate fashion (κ2‐NN), while the second one is tetradentate (κ4‐NNOO). At the same time in borohydrido neodymium complex 6 the amidinate ligands demonstrate κ4‐NNOO and κ3‐NNO coordination modes. Complexes 3–6 proved to be efficient initiators for ring‐opening polymerization of rac‐lactide and allow for achieving quantitative conversion of 500 equivalents of monomer into polymer in 0.3–4.5 h at 25 °C. The polymerization of ε‐caprolactone initiated by 3–6 proceeds much faster under similar conditions.
Toward a Spatiotemporal Model of Oxidation in Lipid Dispersions: A Hypothesis‐Driven Review
Authors: Laguerre Mickaël , Tenon Mathieu , Bily Antoine , Birtić Simona
Published: December 2019

Unsaturated lipids are prone to get oxidized through a sequence of reactions known as lipid oxidation. From a phenomenon considered at the beginning as a mere chemical process and described by the triptych of initiation, propagation, and termination, the vision of lipid oxidation has progressively evolved to further integrate the physical dimension of the phenomenon. Despite tremendous research efforts, however, this sequence of reactions is not yet well understood, especially in lipid dispersions where many facts are still inexplicable and unpredictable under the current paradigm. Here, the aim is to suggest that the main reason why a better understanding has not already been achieved is that the reactional network is not yet organized in a coherent spatiotemporal framework. The novel concepts and hypotheses proposed in this article may help redirecting a significant part of research efforts toward the establishment of a spatially and temporally resolved model of oxidation in dispersed lipids.

Practical Application: Predicting how oxidation spreads in lipid dispersions represents a goal of crucial importance for academia but also for industry. Such prediction models would indeed greatly help food manufacturers prevent oxidation by using the most adapted antioxidative strategies for their specific products. To achieve such an objective, it is proposed that the first thing to do is to go beyond the extremely reductive and narrow framework in which this chemical process has been locked in. Indeed, while lipid dispersions are composed of a multitude of lipid colloids, researchers usually consider oxidation at the sole level of an individual droplet or membrane. Instead, lipid oxidation is advocated as a dynamic trafficking of chemical species within large communities of different colloidal objects such as droplets, membranes, or micelles dispersed in water—a system that dubbed “colloidal ecosystem”. This might represent a scale complementary to the scales of individual colloids or molecules that were the sole consideration so far to try to
represent lipid oxidation. Only then can one hope to effectively apply modeling and “omics” approaches, as is explained in more details in this article.
Diastereoselective Cyclopropanation through Michael Addition‐Initiated Ring Closure between α,α‐Dibromoketones and α,β‐Unsaturated Fischer Carbene Complexes
Authors: Tobrman Tomáš , Krupička Martin , Polák Peter , Dvořáková Hana , Čubiňák Marek , Babor Martin , Dvořák Dalimil
Published: December 2019

The diastereoselective synthesis of tetrasubstituted cyclopropanes is described. The two‐step procedure is based on the 3‐exo‐tet Michael addition‐initiated ring closure. In the first step, the enolates derived from α,α‐dibromoketones react with the α,β‐unsaturated Fischer alkoxycarbene complexes to obtain tetrasubstituted cyclopropanes, which are then treated with ceric‐ammonium nitrate to yield the final products. The methodology tolerates diverse functional groups, and high diastereoselectivity (dr ≥ 98:2) is observed in all cases.
A Novel Fluorescent Probe Based on Perylene Derivative for Hg2+ Ions and Biological Thiols and its Application in Live Cell Imaging and Theoretical Calculations
Authors: Karuk Elmas Şükriye Nihan , Berk Gunay Ibrahim , Karagoz Abdurrahman , Bostanci Aykut , Sadi Gökhan , Yilmaz Ibrahim
Published: December 2019

The selective and sensitive detection of biothiols; cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy) and glutathione (GSH) in aqueous solutions is of considerable importance because of their pivotal roles in maintaining the reducing environment in the cells. This study describes a strategy for the determination of biothiols based on the PDI/Met‐Hg2+complex platform. We designed and fabricated methionine modified perylene diimide molecule as a selective sensing probe for Hg2+ ions in aqueous solutions (PDI/Met‐Hg2+). The complex between perylene bisimide derivative (PDI/Met) and Hg2+ was investigated and it demonstrated turn‐on fluorescence response for the detection of the biological thiols. Besides, PDI/Met displayed fluorescence quenching response in the presence of mercury ions and the emission intensity of PDI/Met‐Hg2+ was recovered after transferring biothiols (Cys, Hcy, and GSH). Thus, PDI/Met could be utilized as a fluorescent chemosensor for the sequential recognition of mercury ions and biological thiols.
Pressure‐Induced Synthesis of Homogeneously Dispersed Sn/SnO2/C Nanocomposites as Advanced Anodes for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Han Meisheng , Mu Yongbiao , Yu Jie
Published: December 2019

SnOx attracts considerable attention as an anode of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) because of its high theoretical capacity. However, SnOx suffers from poor cyclability and rate capability caused by large volume change upon cycling and low conductivity, which severely limits its application for LIBs. Herein, a nanocomposite of Sn/SnO2/C is synthesized for the first time under an elevated pressure originated from the pyrolysis of dimethyltin oxide in a sealed vessel. The Sn/SnO2/C nanocomposite consists of a homogeneous dispersion of Sn and SnO2 nanocrystals (<10 nm) into the carbon matrix, which endows it with an enhanced lithium storage performance. The Sn/SnO2/C nanocomposite delivers an excellent cyclability (0.025% capacity loss per cycle during 1000 cycles at 1 A g−1) with an improved rate performance (243.8 mAh g−1 at 5 A g−1).
Building a prediction model for iron deficiency anemia among infants in Shanghai, China
Authors: Zhang Jiali , Tang Weiming
Published: December 2019

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common micronutrient deficiency worldwide in infants. Iron deficiency anemia, during infancy, can have long‐lasting detrimental effects on the immune and neural systems; the damage is irreversible. This study aimed to build a prediction model to predict the potential risk of IDA among infants. To collect relevant information for model building, we recruited 528 infants from Fenglin Community Health Service Center in Shanghai, China, and collected the information of infants and their parents by using a structured questionnaire. We also got the blood routine examination results of the infants. Then, we used a multilayer perceptron model (MLP) of the neural network model in IBM SPSS Modeler 18.0 to construct the prediction model. Of the 528 included infants, 80 (15.2%) of them had lower hemoglobin values (<110 g/L) and were finally diagnosed with IDA. Based on the accuracy of different models, the model with the highest accuracy rate (97.3%) was chosen, and all the preselected 26 variables were included in the model. After the modeling, the results indicated that the number of months of exclusive breastfeeding was the most important predictive variable, followed by the mother having anemia during pregnancy, and then the number of months of feeding the infant with iron‐fortified rice flour. The model has good sensitivity (100%) and specificity (100%). By using this model, we can predict the potential risk of an infant having IDA and can take the initiative to prevent iron deficiency through the improvement of feeding methods.
Lactobacillus plantarum KSFY06 on d‐galactose‐induced oxidation and aging in Kunming mice
Authors: Li Fang , Huang Guangbin , Tan Fang , Yi Ruokun , Zhou Xianrong , Mu Jianfei , Zhao Xin
Published: December 2019

Yogurt from Xinjiang, China, is a traditional Chinese fermented food rich in beneficial microorganisms, such as Lactobacillus plantarum KSFY06. In this study, the effect of KSFY06 on oxidative aging was investigated using live animal experiments. Molecular biological methods were used to analyze the serum and tissues of mice with oxidative aging induced by d‐galactose, which showed that KSFY06 can inhibit the decline of heart, liver, spleen, and kidney caused by aging. The KSFY06 strain increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) in serum and liver of aging mice, while the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) is reduced. Pathological observation showed that KSFY06 alleviated damage to the liver, spleen, and skin of oxidative aging mice. qPCR showed that, at high dose (2 × 109 cfu/kg per day), KSFY06 upregulates copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1), manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), catalase (CAT) mRNA expression, and its downstream inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression in liver and spleen tissues induced by d‐gal. To a certain extent, these findings indicate that L. plantarum KSFY06 is able to protect against oxidative stress in the d‐gal‐induced aging model. In conclusion, L. plantarum KSFY06 may provide a potential research value in the prevention or alleviation of related diseases caused by oxidative stress.
Camellia (Camellia oleifera Abel.) seed oil promotes milk fat and protein synthesis‐related gene expression in bovine mammary epithelial cells
Authors: Zhong Wanqi , Shen Jinglin , Liao Xiandong , Liu Xinlu , Zhang Jing , Zhou Changhai , Jin Yongcheng
Published: December 2019

Camellia (Camellia oleifera Abel.) seed oil is a commonly used edible oil of China. In ancient Chinese literature, it is mentioned to be helpful for postpartum repair and lactation in women. Research on camellia seed oil (CO) as a feed additive for dairy cattle is less. We investigated the effect of CO on the expression of milk fat and protein syntheses‐related genes in differentiated bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC‐T) using soybean oil (SO) as the control. The results showed that CO increased the expression of genes related to de novo synthesis of fatty acids including sterol regulatory element‐binding protein 1 (SREBP1), acetyl‐CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FASN), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and stearoyl‐CoA desaturase (SCD) (p < .05). Among the milk protein genes analyzed, CO increased β‐casein mRNA expression (p < .05) and decreased αS1‐casein mRNA expression (p < .05) in MAC‐T cells. CO upregulated the pathways related to milk protein synthesis with increased mRNA levels of phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K), RAC‐alpha serine/threonine‐protein kinase (AKT1), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) (p < .05) in MAC‐T cells. Ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta‐1 (S6K1) gene was upregulated, and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) gene (p < .05) was downregulated with CO treatment. The mRNA expression levels of janus kinase 2 (JAK2), activator of transcription 5‐β (STAT5‐β), and E74‐like factor 5 (ELF5) were elevated in MAC‐T cells treated with CO (p < .05). Meanwhile, the protein expression levels of S6K1, STAT5‐β, phosphorylated mTOR (p‐mTOR), p‐S6K1, and p‐STAT5‐β increased in MAC‐T cells treated with CO (p < .05). In summary, CO promoted β‐casein synthesis by regulating PI3K‐mTOR‐S6K1 and JAK2‐STAT5 signaling pathways and influenced fatty acid synthesis by regulating SREBP1‐related genes in MAC‐T cells. We need to further confirm the function of CO using in vivo models.
Corrosion Resistant Al‐Cr‐Mo Alloy Coating on Type 316L Stainless Steel Bipolar Plates for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Applications
Authors: Ingle A. V. , Raja V. S. , Rangarajan J. , Mishra P.
Published: December 2019

The most important issues that plague wider use of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are insufficient corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity and wettability of metallic bipolar plates (BPPs). To address these issues, an amorphous Al‐Cr‐Mo ternary alloy coating is applied on type 316L stainless steel using direct current magnetron sputtering. The electrochemical corrosion behavior of bare and alloy coated specimens has been investigated by polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques under simulated fuel cell working environment consisting of 0.5M H2SO4 at 70 ± 2 °C. The results indicate that the corrosion current density of the alloy coated specimen is approximately 0.2 µA cm−2 showing a reduction of two orders of magnitude. The polarization resistance increased by an order of magnitude and the interfacial contact resistance (ICR) is reduced significantly (45 and 48 mΩ cm2 in the simulated anode and cathode environments, respectively) due to the application of the coating. The chromium and molybdenum enrichment on the surface of coated specimen, as revealed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, is proposed to be responsible for the improved corrosion resistance. Further, the coating is expected to show significantly better water management due to high hydrophobicity than the bare stainless steel.
Effect of Deccan lava flows on the sedimentological evolution of Gurmatkal intertrappeans Karnataka, Southern India
Authors: Jalal Poonam , Pandey Jyoti Bora , Ahmad Syed Masood , Dutt Som , Shukla Uma Kant , Maddodi Balakrishna
Published: December 2019

Intertrappeans from the vicinity of Gurmatkal, northern Karnataka preserves its depositional and post depositional history during the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary (KPg) interval. The deposits consist of chertified limestone and limestone successions. The carbonates are rhythmic and fossiliferous. The isotopic δ13C and δ18O values for carbonates are highly negative, which also show a strong correlation among them. The fossil assemblage includes bivalves, ostracodes, gastropods, insects, filamentous algae, and some plant twigs and leaves. The present studies signify fresh water, alkaline, closed basin lake in a terrestrial region. Marginal areas with minor fluctuations of shallow well‐oxygenated lacustrine–palustrine settings are revealed from the sedimentological characteristics. Pre‐, syn‐, and post‐sedimentation volcanic activity was prevalent in the area. The increased anaerobic conditions lead to rapid changes in the system. The presence of lateralized zone, red bole morphology, and pedogenized calcretes/silcretes, imply hiatuses between the sedimentation and the overlying lava flows.
Your evidence? Machine learning algorithms for medical diagnosis and prediction
Authors: Heinrichs Bert , Eickhoff Simon B.
Published: December 2019

Computer systems for medical diagnosis based on machine learning are not mere science fiction. Despite undisputed potential benefits, such systems may also raise problems. Two (interconnected) issues are particularly significant from an ethical point of view: The first issue is that epistemic opacity is at odds with a common desire for understanding and potentially undermines information rights. The second (related) issue concerns the assignment of responsibility in cases of failure. The core of the two issues seems to be that understanding and responsibility are concepts that are intrinsically tied to the discursive practice of giving and asking for reasons. The challenge is to find ways to make the outcomes of machine learning algorithms compatible with our discursive practice. This comes down to the claim that we should try to integrate discursive elements into machine learning algorithms. Under the title of “explainable AI” initiatives heading in this direction are already under way. Extensive research in this field is needed for finding adequate solutions.
Pharyngeal swallowing mechanics associated with upper esophageal sphincter pressure wave
Authors: May Nelson H. , Davidson Kate W. , Pearson William G. , O'Rourke Ashli K.
Published: December 2019

Background

Opening of the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) is a critical element of swallowing. Understanding the functional pharyngeal anatomy during UES opening would be clinically useful for dysphagia evaluation and treatment.

Methods

Simultaneous high‐resolution pharyngeal manometry and videofluoroscopy (VFS) videos for 18 nondysphagic subjects were evaluated. UES pressure readings were segmented into six pressure phases, including a poorly understood pre‐relaxation contraction. Anatomic landmarks were tracked in VFS imaging and evaluated morphometrically to determine the movement of key swallowing structures within each UES pressure phase.

Results

There were significant differences in pharyngeal mechanics by UES pressure stage (range of D‐values = 1.7‐2.2, P < .0001). The soft palate maximally elevates during the pre‐relaxation contraction of the UES. Early during UES relaxation, the hyolaryngeal complex and pharyngeal structures maximally elevate and pharyngeal structures constrict around the bolus.

Conclusion

The mechanics underlying the UES pressure wave suggest generation of a sealed pharyngeal cavity, possibly integral to pharyngeal pressure generation and bolus propulsion.
Calling for confirmation, reassurance, and direction: Investigating patient compliance after accessing a telephone triage advice service
Authors: Siddiqui Nazlee , Greenfield David , Lawler Anthony
Published: December 2019

Understanding the influence of a telephone triage advice service (TTAS) on patients seeking care is critical to realize enhancements in patient care, functioning of emergency departments (EDs), and effectiveness of the health system. This study addresses the question: what influence does a TTAS have on a patient's attendance at an ED and the wider health system? Records from 2016 to 2017 of 12,741 calls from a national TTAS were linked to 72,577 ED presentations to a hospital in regional Australia, retrospectively. Matching criteria included patient within the hospital's statistical local area code, age, gender, and ED attendance within 8 hours of TTAS call. Five statistical analyses of the data were conducted. There were 2857 matches. TTAS patients accessing the ED had a slightly higher proportion of women and a greater proportion of children under 4 years than usual. When TTAS confirmed callers' inclination for ED care, however only up to 69% subsequently attended the ED. When TTAS redirected others initially less inclined to more urgent care, up to 62% attended the ED. TTAS empowers vulnerable patients to access appropriate and timely services and promotes clinical and functional integration of care. Improvements of TTAS can come through investigation of callers' compliance factors.
Deep learning of diffraction image patterns for accurate classification of five cell types
Authors: Jin Jiahong , Lu Jun Q. , Wen Yuhua , Tian Peng , Hu Xin‐Hua
Published: December 2019

Development of label‐free methods for accurate classification of cells with high throughput can yield powerful tools for biological research and clinical applications. We have developed a deep neural network of DINet for extracting features from cross‐polarized diffraction image (p‐DI) pairs on multiple pixel scales to accurately classify cells in five types. A total of 6185 cells were measured by a polarization diffraction imaging flow cytometry (p‐DIFC) method followed by cell classification with DINet on p‐DI data. The averaged value and SD of classification accuracy were found to be 98.9% ± 1.00% on test data sets for 5‐fold training and test. The invariance of DINet to image translation, rotation, and blurring has been verified with an expanded p‐DI data set. To study feature‐based classification by DINet, two sets of correctly and incorrectly classified cells were selected and compared for each of two prostate cell types. It has been found that the signature features of large dissimilarities between p‐DI data of correctly and incorrectly classified cell sets increase markedly from convolutional layers 1 and 2 to layers 3 and 4. These results clearly demonstrate the importance of high‐order correlations extracted at the deep layers for accurate cell classification.
Renewal of fear and avoidance in humans to escalating threat: Implications for translational research on anxiety disorders
Authors: Schlund Michael W , Ludlum Madonna , Magee Sandy K , Tone Erin B , Brewer Adam , Richman David M , Dymond Simon
Published: December 2019

Exposure‐based treatment for threat avoidance in anxiety disorders often results in fear renewal. However, little is known about renewal of avoidance. This multimodal laboratory‐based treatment study used an ABA renewal design and an approach–avoidance (AP–AV) task to examine renewal of fear/threat and avoidance in twenty adults. In Context A, 9 visual cues paired with increases in probabilistic money loss (escalating threats) produced increases in ratings of feeling threatened and loss expectancies and skin‐conductance responses (SCR). During the AP–AV task, a monetary reinforcer was available concurrently with threats. Approach produced the reinforcer or probabilistic loss, while avoidance prevented loss and forfeited reinforcement. Escalating threat produced increasing avoidance and ratings. In Context B with Pavlovian extinction, threats signaled no money loss and SCR declined. During the AP–AV task, avoidance and ratings also declined. In a return to Context A with Pavlovian threat extinction in effect during the AP–AV task, renewal was observed. Escalating threat was associated with increasing ratings and avoidance in most participants. SCR did not show renewal. These are the first translational findings to highlight renewal of avoidance in humans. Further research should identify individual difference variables and altered neural mechanisms that may confer increased risk of avoidance renewal.
In vitro test methods for seating and fretting corrosion behavior of modular metal‐on‐metal acetabular tapers
Authors: Shenoy Aarti A. , Gilbert Jeremy L.
Published: December 2019

Retrieval studies show that metal‐on‐metal acetabular shell‐liner tapers are susceptible to corrosion, which is hypothesized to arise from mechanically‐assisted crevice corrosion (MACC). The role of materials on MACC of acetabular tapers has not been previously studied. In vitro tests of seating, pushout, and fretting corrosion performance of acetabular tapers are presented to assess the role of material combinations (Ti–6Al–4V shells, HC CoCrMo, LC CoCrMo, and 316L SS liners). The acetabular tapers were wet‐assembled to a seating load of 1,000 N. The liner load–displacement seating mechanics were measured. Fretting corrosion currents were evaluated using a uniaxial incremental cyclic compression test up to 4,000 N, with the load applied at a 55° angle to the taper interface. Fretting currents, fretting onset loads, taper disengagement strength were measured and load–displacement plots were obtained. Pushout tests were also performed pre‐ and post‐fretting corrosion. The average liner seating displacements varied from 134 to 226 μm across groups. Fretting currents at 3,600 N cyclic load were low and ranged between 0.05 and 0.27 μA and were independent of material combination (p > 0.05), reflecting small amounts of fretting. Fretting corrosion onset loads were between 1,800 and 2,100 N, and did not differ across groups (p > 0.05). Pushout loads were 27–43% of the maximum load applied. Fretting corrosion levels were very low for all material combinations and not different from one another. The seating and pushout responses were also not material dependent. The low fretting currents measured imply that MACC may not be a major cause for acetabular taper corrosion. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 38:00‐111089, 2020
Effects of dietary α‐linolenic acid/linoleic acid ratio on growth performance, tissue fatty acid profile, serum metabolites and Δ6 fad and elovl5 gene expression in silver barb (Puntius gonionotus)
Authors: Nayak Madhusmita , Giri Shiba Shankar , Pradhan Avinash , Samanta Mrinal , Saha Ashis
Published: December 2019

BACKGROUND

Silver barb (Puntius gonionotus) is a medium‐sized carp that is promising for freshwater aquaculture in Asia. This study's aim was to investigate the ideal dietary α‐linolenic acid (ALA): linoleic acid (LA) ratio for maximizing long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC‐PUFA) synthesis and their deposition in the muscle of silver barb, as that of fish oil based control diet.

RESULT

Fish (with an initial body weight of 11.07 ± 0.12 g) were fed for 60 days with five experimental iso‐proteinous, iso‐lipidic, and iso‐caloric diets, supplemented with linseed oil and peanut oil at varying levels to obtain ALA:LA ratios of 0.35, 0.51, 0.91, 2.04, 2.66. A control diet was prepared by supplementing fish oil. The dietary ALA:LA ratio did not influence the growth performance of fish. With increased dietary ALA:LA ratios, LA content decreased and ALA content increased in the muscle and liver of silver barb. The n‐3 LC‐PUFA level in muscle and liver was not influenced by feeding different ratios of ALA:LA, whereas n‐6 LC‐PUFA was decreased in the muscle and increased in the liver with increased dietary ALA:LA ratios. Increasing dietary ALA:LA ratio increased the Δ6fad and elovl5mRNA expression in the liver, muscle, brain, and intestinal tissues of silver barbs.

CONCLUSION

Silver barb possess the ability to elongate and desaturate ALA and LA to their end products EPA and DHA. The highest level expression of Δ6 fad and elovl5 mRNA at the dietary ALA:LA ratio of 2.66 suggests greater affinity of these enzymes towards ALA than LA in silver barb. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Strategies for reducing Ostwald ripening phenomenon in nanoemulsions based on thyme essential oil
Authors: Trujillo‐Cayado Luis A , Santos Jenifer , Calero Nuria , Alfaro‐Rodríguez María‐Carmen , Muñoz José
Published: December 2019

BACKGROUND

White thyme essential oil, which can be incorporated in clean‐label and food emulsion‐based products, is a natural antimicrobial agent. However, emulsions containing essential oils commonly undergo Ostwald ripening as the main destabilization process. The main objective of this work was to evaluate various strategies for the inhibition of Ostwald ripening so as to develop stable nanoemulsions containing white thyme essential oil as food preservative and Kolliphor EL as surfactant.

RESULTS

In a first approach, the influence of the surfactant/dispersed phase ratio and the number of cycles through a microfluidizer on droplet size distribution was evaluated. Unfortunately, these emulsions underwent Ostwald ripening, which was demonstrated by the application of the Lifshitz–Slyozov–Wagner theory. In order to reduce this destabilization mechanism, two different techniques based on the modification of the formulation (addition of rosin gum or Aerosil COK84) were analysed using laser diffraction and multiple light scattering techniques. The addition of rosin gum inhibited the Ostwald ripening mechanism, but only partially. Conversely, the incorporation of Aerosil COK84 to the continuous phase led to a gel‐like rheological behaviour which seemed to practically avoid Ostwald ripening.

CONCLUSIONS

Aerosil particles cover the droplets and form a three‐dimensional network suggesting a Pickering stabilization, which was confirmed using transmission electronic microscopy. The results confirmed the role of Aerosil COK84, not only as a thickener or gelling agent, but also as an Ostwald ripening inhibitor. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Development of a whey protein spread enriched with β‐glucan: an alternative for whey valorization
Authors: Zanon Emely Osti , Pimentel Tatiana Colombo , Gomez Raul Jorge Hernan Castro , Fagnani Rafael
Published: December 2019

BACKGROUND

Innovative approaches to combine whey with other ingredients and the use of new techniques in product development should be explored to meet consumers' needs and expectations. However, the question arises here of whether whey protein could be used as a suitable food matrix for supplementation with β‐glucan, an attractive glucose polymer and a physiologically functional component. The present study addresses the challenge associated with the design and characterization of whey protein spread as a substrate for β‐glucan delivery. The results are discussed on the basis of physical–chemical and microbiological characteristics, which are subsequently linked to its sensorial profile.

RESULTS

A whey protein spread can be developed without the addition of NaCl, with physicochemical characteristics (pH, viscosity), microbiological counts, and sensory acceptance (color, aroma, overall impression) similar to the product with NaCl. This spread can be refrigerated for 28 days. The whey protein spread presented high whey protein content (18.67–19.17 g 100 g−1) and could be a good source of carbohydrates (8.30–8.68 g 100 g−1), with low levels of fat (0.2 g 100 g−1) and lactose (1.56–1.61 g 100 g−1). The sensorial results showed that women would prefer a product with lower salt content.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to evaluate the development of a whey protein spread enriched with β‐glucan, providing results that are of interest for the dairy sector. The combination of whey and β‐glucan can be explored industrially as a whey protein spread, with satisfactory results for physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory acceptance. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry