bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Beekeeping Management Practices Are Associated with Operation Size and Beekeepers’ Philosophy towards in-Hive Chemicals
Authors: Underwood Robyn M. , Traver Brenna E. , López-Uribe Margarita M.
Published: January 2019

Management by beekeepers is of utmost importance for the health and survival of honey bee colonies. Beekeeping management practices vary from low to high intervention regarding the use of chemicals, hive manipulations, and supplemental feeding of colonies. In this study, we use quantitative data from the Bee Informed Partnership’s national survey to investigate drivers of management practices among beekeepers in the United States. This is the first study to quantitatively examine these variables to objectively describe the management practices among different groups of beekeepers in the United States. We hypothesized that management practices and goals among beekeepers are different based on the beekeeper’s philosophy (as determined by their willingness to use chemicals to control pests and pathogens) and the size of the beekeeping operation. Using a multiple factor analysis, we determined that beekeepers use a continuum of management practices. However, we found that beekeepers’ willingness to use in-hive chemicals and the number of colonies in their operation are non-randomly associated with other aspects of beekeeping management practices. Specifically, the size of the beekeeping operation was associated with beekeepers’ choices of in-hive chemicals, while beekeepers’ philosophy was most strongly associated with choices of in-hive chemicals and beekeeping goals. Our results will facilitate the development of decision-making tools for beekeepers to choose management practices that are appropriate for the size of their operations and their beekeeping philosophy.
Dietary Phytochemicals, Honey Bee Longevity and Pathogen Tolerance
Authors: Bernklau Elisa , Bjostad Louis , Hogeboom Alison , Carlisle Ashley , H. S. Arathi
Published: January 2019

Continued loss of natural habitats with native prairies and wildflower patches is eliminating diverse sources of pollen, nectar and phytochemicals therein for foraging bees. The longstanding plant-pollinator mutualism reiterates the role of phytochemicals in sustaining plant-pollinator relationship and promoting honey bee health. We studied the effects of four phytochemicals—caffeine, gallic acid, kaempferol and p-coumaric acid, on survival and pathogen tolerance in the European honey bee, Apis mellifera (L.). We recorded longevity of worker bees that were provided ad libitum access to sugar solution supplemented with different concentrations of phytochemicals. We artificially infected worker bees with the protozoan parasite, Nosema ceranae. Infected bees were provided access to the same concentrations of the phytochemicals in the sugar solution, and their longevity and spore load at mortality were determined. Bees supplemented with dietary phytochemicals survived longer and lower concentrations were generally more beneficial. Dietary phytochemicals enabled bees to combat infection as seen by reduced spore-load at mortality. Many of the phytochemicals are plant defense compounds that pollinators have evolved to tolerate and derive benefits from. Our findings support the chemical bases of co-evolutionary interactions and reiterate the importance of diversity in floral nutrition sources to sustain healthy honey bee populations by strengthening the natural mutualistic relationships.
Termite Communities along A Disturbance Gradient in a West African Savanna
Authors: Schyra Janine , Korb Judith
Published: January 2019

(1) Background: Termites are important ecosystem engineers, crucial for the maintenance of tropical biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. But they are also pests which cause billions of dollars in damage annually to humans. Currently, our understanding of the mechanisms influencing species occurrences is limited and we do not know what distinguishes pest from non-pest species. (2) Method: We analyzed how anthropogenic disturbance (agriculture) affects species occurrences. We tested the hypothesis that strong disturbance functions as a habitat filter and selects for a subset of species which are major pests of crop. Using a cross-sectional approach, we studied termite assemblage composition along a disturbance gradient from fields to 12-year-old fallows in a West African savanna. (3) Results: We reliably identified 19 species using genetic markers with a mean of about 10 species—many of them from the same feeding type—co-occurring locally. Supporting our hypothesis, disturbance was associated with environmental filtering of termites from the regional species pool, maybe via its effect on vegetation type. The most heavily disturbed sites were characterized by a subset of termite species which are well-known pests of crop. (4) Conclusion: These results are in line with the idea that strong anthropogenic disturbance selects for termite pest species.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of J in 2018
Authors:   J Editorial Office
Published: January 2019

Rigorous peer-review is the corner-stone of high-quality academic publishing [...]
Neurophysiological Mechanisms of Resilience as a Protective Factor in Patients with Internet Gaming Disorder: A Resting-State EEG Coherence Study
Authors: Lee Ji-Yoon , Choi Jung-Seok , Kwon Jun
Published: January 2019

Background: Resilience, an important protective factor against Internet gaming disorder (IGD), is the ability to recover from negative emotional experiences and constitutes a flexible adaptation to stress. Despite the importance of resilience in predicting IGD, little is known about the relationships between resilience and the neurophysiological features of IGD patients. Methods: We investigated these relationships using resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) coherence, by comparing IGD patients (n = 35) to healthy controls (n = 36). To identify the resilience-related EEG features, the IGD patients were divided into two groups based on the 50th percentile score on the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale: IGD with low resilience (n = 16) and IGD with high resilience (n = 19). We analyzed differences in EEG coherence among groups for each fast frequency band. The conditional indirect effects of resilience were examined on the relationships between IGD and resilience-related EEG features through clinical symptoms. Results: IGD patients with low resilience had higher alpha coherence in the right hemisphere. Particularly, resilience moderated the indirect effects of IGD on alpha coherence in the right hemisphere through depressive symptoms and stress level. Conclusion: These neurophysiological findings regarding the mechanisms underlying resilience may help to establish effective preventive measures against IGD.
Efficacy of Integrating a Novel 16-Gene Biomarker Panel and Intelligence Classifiers for Differential Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis
Authors: Long Nguyen Phuoc , Park Seongoh , Anh Nguyen Hoang , Min Jung Eun , Yoon Sang Jun , Kim Hyung Min , Nghi Tran Diem , Lim Dong Kyu , Park Jeong Hill , Lim Johan , Kwon Sung Won
Published: January 2019

Introducing novel biomarkers for accurately detecting and differentiating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) using clinical samples is essential. In the current study, we searched for a novel data-driven gene signature of synovial tissues to differentiate RA from OA patients. Fifty-three RA, 41 OA, and 25 normal microarray-based transcriptome samples were utilized. The area under the curve random forests (RF) variable importance measurement was applied to seek the most influential differential genes between RA and OA. Five algorithms including RF, k-nearest neighbors (kNN), support vector machines (SVM), naïve-Bayes, and a tree-based method were employed for the classification. We found a 16-gene signature that could effectively differentiate RA from OA, including TMOD1, POP7, SGCA, KLRD1, ALOX5, RAB22A, ANK3, PTPN3, GZMK, CLU, GZMB, FBXL7, TNFRSF4, IL32, MXRA7, and CD8A. The externally validated accuracy of the RF model was 0.96 (sensitivity = 1.00, specificity = 0.90). Likewise, the accuracy of kNN, SVM, naïve-Bayes, and decision tree was 0.96, 0.96, 0.96, and 0.91, respectively. Functional meta-analysis exhibited the differential pathological processes of RA and OA; suggested promising targets for further mechanistic and therapeutic studies. In conclusion, the proposed genetic signature combined with sophisticated classification methods may improve the diagnosis and management of RA patients.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of JCM in 2018
Authors:   JCM Editorial Office
Published: January 2019

Rigorous peer-review is the corner-stone of high-quality academic publishing [...]
Cyclic Performance of Steel–Concrete–Steel Sandwich Beams with Rubcrete and LECA Concrete Core
Authors: Youssf Osama , Hassanli Reza , Mills Julie E. , Ma Xing , Zhuge Yan
Published: January 2019

Due to the structural and economic features of steel–concrete–steel (SCS) structural systems compared with conventional reinforced concrete ones, they are now used for a range of structural applications. Rubcrete, in which crumbed rubber from scrap tires partially replaces mineral aggregates in concrete, can be used instead of conventional concrete. Utilizing rubber waste in concrete potentially results in a more ductile lightweight concrete that can introduce additional features to the SCS structural members. This study aimed to explore different concrete core materials in SCS beams and the appropriate shear connectors required. In this study, four SCS sandwich beams were tested experimentally under incrementally increasing flexure cyclic loading. Each beam had a length of 1000 mm, and upper and lower steel plates with 3 mm thickness sandwiched the concrete core, which had a cross-section of 150 mm × 150 mm. Two of the beams were constructed out of Rubcrete core with welded and bolted shear connectors, while the other two beams were constructed with welded shear connectors and either conventional concrete or lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) concrete cores. The performance of the SCS sandwich beams including damage pattern, failure mode, load-displacement response, and energy dissipation behavior was compared. The results showed that, while Rubcrete was able to provide similar concrete cracking behavior and strength to that of conventional concrete, LECA concrete degraded the strength properties of SCS. Using bolted shear connectors instead of welded ones caused a high number of cracks that resulted in a reduced ductility and deflection capacity of the beam before failure. The rubberized concrete specimen presented an improved ductility and deflection capacity compared with its conventional concrete counterpart.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Journal of Composites Science in 2018
Authors:   Journal of Composites Science Editorial Office
Published: January 2019

Rigorous peer-review is the corner-stone of high-quality academic publishing [...]
Development of Steps in an Automated Process Chain for Piezoceramic-Metal Compound Production
Authors: Drossel Welf-Guntram , Nestler Matthias , Hensel Sebastian
Published: January 2019

The potential of adaptronic applications has been proven in many conceptual studies. A broad use in high-efficiency branches is often hindered by the absence of an appropriate assembly method. Especially for piezoceramic foil transducers, the application on structural parts can be simplified using a semi-finished part that includes the transducer. The part is then shaped in a final forming operation. The purpose of the present study is the investigation of process limits in automated process chains for producing semi-finished parts. An adhesive is used in the process, which is only locally cured. This bi-conditioned state is achieved using cooling and heating elements. The process limits are mainly affected by the choice of temperature and curing time between adhesive application and forming operation. Several tests with a rotational rheometer were carried out to investigate the curing behavior. An appropriate process window was identified varying processing time and temperature. The results were then used to build a model of the curing behavior. A mathematical approach had to be used to find the best configuration because no sharp border exists between the two adhesive conditions of liquid and solid state. The process parameters were proven with runs inside and outside of the process limits.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Journal of Fungi in 2018
Authors:   Journal of Fungi Editorial Office
Published: January 2019

Rigorous peer-review is the corner-stone of high-quality academic publishing [...]
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Life in 2018
Authors:   Life Editorial Office
Published: January 2019

Rigorous peer-review is the corner-stone of high-quality academic publishing [...]
Unevolved De Novo Proteins Have Innate Tendencies to Bind Transition Metals
Authors: Wang Michael S. , Hoegler Kenric J. , Hecht Michael H.
Published: January 2019

Life as we know it would not exist without the ability of protein sequences to bind metal ions. Transition metals, in particular, play essential roles in a wide range of structural and catalytic functions. The ubiquitous occurrence of metalloproteins in all organisms leads one to ask whether metal binding is an evolved trait that occurred only rarely in ancestral sequences, or alternatively, whether it is an innate property of amino acid sequences, occurring frequently in unevolved sequence space. To address this question, we studied 52 proteins from a combinatorial library of novel sequences designed to fold into 4-helix bundles. Although these sequences were neither designed nor evolved to bind metals, the majority of them have innate tendencies to bind the transition metals copper, cobalt, and zinc with high nanomolar to low-micromolar affinity.
3-Chloro-5-(3-n-hexylthien-2-yl)-4H-1,2,6-thiadiazin-4-one
Authors: Kalogirou Andreas , Koutentis Panayiotis
Published: January 2019

Stille coupling of 5-chloro-4-oxo-4H-1,2,6-thiadiazin-3-yl trifluoromethanesulfonate (7) with tributyl(3-n-hexylthien-2-yl)stannane and Pd(Ph3P)2Cl2 in PhMe at ca. 20 °C, for 24 h gave 3-chloro-5-(3-n-hexylthien-2-yl)-4H-1,2,6-thiadiazin-4-one (9) with a 60% yield. The latter is a potentially useful building block for the synthesis of oligomeric and polymeric donors for organic photovoltaics.
Relationship between Dislocation Density and Antibacterial Activity of Cryo-Rolled and Cold-Rolled Copper
Authors: Parmar Vinod , Changela Kandarp , Srinivas B. , Mani Sankar Manimuthu , Mohanty Sujata , Panigrahi S. K. , Hariharan K. , Kalyanasundaram Dinesh
Published: January 2019

In the present work, cold rolling and cryo-rolling were performed on 99% commercially pure copper substrates. Both cold and cryo-rolling processes caused severe plastic deformation that led to an increase in dislocation density by 14× and 28× respectively, as compared to the pristine material. Increases in average tensile strengths, by 75% (488 MPa) and 150% (698 MPa), were observed in the two rolled materials as the result of the enhancement in dislocation density. In addition to strength, enhanced antibacterial property of cryo-rolled copper was observed in comparison to cold rolled and pristine copper. Initial adhesion and subsequent proliferation of bio-film forming Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus was reduced by 66% and 100% respectively for cryo-rolled copper. Approximately 55% protein leakage, as well as ethidium bromide (EtBr) uptake, were observed confirming rupture of cell membrane of S. aureus. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy reveals higher leaching of elemental copper in nutrient broth media from the cryo-rolled copper. Detailed investigations showed that increased dislocation led to leaching of copper ions that caused damage to the bacterial cell wall and consequently killing of bacterial cells. Cryo-rolling enhanced both strength, as well as antibacterial activity, due to the presence of dislocations.
Improved Bioactivity of 3D Printed Porous Titanium Alloy Scaffold with Chitosan/Magnesium-Calcium Silicate Composite for Orthopaedic Applications
Authors: Tsai Chun-Hao , Hung Chih-Hung , Kuo Che-Nan , Chen Cheng-Yu , Peng Yu-Ning , Shie Ming-You
Published: January 2019

Recently, cases of bone defects have been increasing incrementally. Thus, repair or replacement of bone defects is gradually becoming a huge problem for orthopaedic surgeons. Three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds have since emerged as a potential candidate for bone replacement, of which titanium (Ti) alloys are one of the most promising candidates among the metal alloys due to their low cytotoxicity and mechanical properties. However, bioactivity remains a problem for metal alloys, which can be enhanced using simple immersion techniques to coat bioactive compounds onto the surface of Ti–6Al–4V scaffolds. In our study, we fabricated magnesium-calcium silicate (Mg–CS) and chitosan (CH) compounds onto Ti–6Al–4V scaffolds. Characterization of these surface-modified scaffolds involved an assessment of physicochemical properties as well as mechanical testing. Adhesion, proliferation, and growth of human Wharton’s Jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs) were assessed in vitro. In addition, the cell attachment morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy to assess adhesion qualities. Osteogenic and mineralization assays were conducted to assess osteogenic expression. In conclusion, the Mg–CS/CH coated Ti–6Al–4V scaffolds were able to exhibit and retain pore sizes and their original morphologies and architectures, which significantly affected subsequent hard tissue regeneration. In addition, the surface was shown to be hydrophilic after modification and showed mechanical strength comparable to natural bone. Not only were our modified scaffolds able to match the mechanical properties of natural bone, it was also found that such modifications enhanced cellular behavior such as adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation, which led to enhanced osteogenesis and mineralization downstream. In vivo results indicated that Mg–CS/CH coated Ti–6Al–4V enhances the bone regeneration and ingrowth at the critical size bone defects of rabbits. These results indicated that the proposed Mg–CS/CH coated Ti–6Al–4V scaffolds exhibited a favorable, inducive micro-environment that could serve as a promising modification for future bone tissue engineering scaffolds.
Evolution of the Corrosion Product Film on Nickel-Aluminum Bronze and Its Corrosion Behavior in 3.5 wt % NaCl Solution
Authors: Ding Yang , Zhao Rong , Qin Zhenbo , Wu Zhong , Wang Liqiang , Liu Lei , Lu Weijie
Published: January 2019

The in-situ studies of the corrosion product film on nickel-aluminum bronze are significant for explaining the mechanism of its corrosion resistance. In this paper, the corrosion behavior of nickel-aluminum bronze and the formation process of the protective film in 3.5 wt % NaCl solution are systematically investigated. The results of scanning electron microscope analysis and electrochemical tests indicate that the corrosion resistance of nickel-aluminum bronze is improved due to the formation of the corrosion product film. The change of local electrochemical property on the corrosion product film during the immersion time is evaluated via in-situ scanning vibrating electrode technique, and it reveals the evolution rules of ionic flux in real time. The formation process of the protective film on different phases in nickel-aluminum bronze is observed directly by in-situ atomic force microscopy as height change measurements. The α phases at different locations present different corrosion behaviors, and the lamellar α phase within the α + κIII eutectoid structure gets more serious corrosion attack. The κ phases establish a stable and dense protective film in short time, preventing the corrosion attack effectively. The β′ phase, however, suffers the most serious corrosion damage until a protective film is formed after 150 min of immersion.
Matching Number, Independence Number, and Covering Vertex Number of Γ(Zn)
Authors: AbuHijleh Eman , Abudayah Mohammad , Alomari Omar , Al-Ezeh Hasan
Published: January 2019

Graph invariants are the properties of graphs that do not change under graph isomorphisms, the independent set decision problem, vertex covering problem, and matching number problem are known to be NP-Hard, and hence it is not believed that there are efficient algorithms for solving them. In this paper, the graph invariants matching number, vertex covering number, and independence number for the zero-divisor graph over the rings Z p k and Z p k q r are determined in terms of the sets S p i and S p i q j respectively. Accordingly, a formula in terms of p , q , k , and r, with n = p k , n = p k q r is provided.
A Few Iterative Methods by Using [1,n]-Order Padé Approximation of Function and the Improvements
Authors: Li Shengfeng , Liu Xiaobin , Zhang Xiaofang
Published: January 2019

In this paper, a few single-step iterative methods, including classical Newton’s method and Halley’s method, are suggested by applying [ 1 , n ] -order Padé approximation of function for finding the roots of nonlinear equations at first. In order to avoid the operation of high-order derivatives of function, we modify the presented methods with fourth-order convergence by using the approximants of the second derivative and third derivative, respectively. Thus, several modified two-step iterative methods are obtained for solving nonlinear equations, and the convergence of the variants is then analyzed that they are of the fourth-order convergence. Finally, numerical experiments are given to illustrate the practicability of the suggested variants. Henceforth, the variants with fourth-order convergence have been considered as the imperative improvements to find the roots of nonlinear equations.
Arithmetic Means for a Class of Functions and the Modified Bessel Functions of the First Kind
Authors: Qi Feng , Yao Shao-Wen , Guo Bai-Ni
Published: January 2019

In the paper, by virtue of the residue theorem in the theory of complex functions, the authors establish several identities between arithmetic means for a class of functions and the modified Bessel functions of the first kind, present several identities between arithmetic means for a class of functions and infinite series, and find several series expressions for the modified Bessel functions of the first kind.
An Iterative Algorithm for Solving Generalized Variational Inequalities and Fixed Points Problems
Authors: Yao Yonghong , Postolache Mihai , Yao Jen-Chih
Published: January 2019

In this paper, a generalized variational inequality and fixed points problem is presented. An iterative algorithm is introduced for finding a solution of the generalized variational inequalities and fixed point of two quasi-pseudocontractive operators under a nonlinear transformation. Strong convergence of the suggested algorithm is demonstrated.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Mathematics in 2018
Authors:   Mathematics Editorial Office
Published: January 2019

Rigorous peer-review is the corner-stone of high-quality academic publishing [...]
Immunostimulatory Effects of Chitooligosaccharides on RAW 264.7 Mouse Macrophages via Regulation of the MAPK and PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathways
Authors: Yang Yue , Xing Ronge , Liu Song , Qin Yukun , Li Kecheng , Yu Huahua , Li Pengcheng
Published: January 2019

Chitooligosaccharides (COS), the hydrolyzed products of chitin and chitosan, can be obtained by various methods. In this study, water-soluble COS were prepared from α- and β-chitosan by microwave-assisted degradation and their immunostimulatory effects were investigated in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The results indicated that α-COS were more active than β-COS in promoting the production of nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). Quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting indicated that COS also enhanced the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and TNF-α. Further analyses demonstrated that COS induced the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38, p85 and Akt, and the nuclear translocation of p65, indicating that they are able to activate the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathways dependent on nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation. In conclusion, COS activate RAW 264.7 cells via the MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways and are potential novel immune potentiators.
Comparative Analyses of Metabolomic Fingerprints and Cytotoxic Activities of Soft Corals from the Colombian Caribbean
Authors: Santacruz Liliana , Thomas Olivier , Duque Carmenza , Puyana Mónica , Tello Edisson
Published: January 2019

Soft corals (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Octocorallia) are a diverse group of marine invertebrates that inhabit various marine environments in tropical and subtropical areas. Several species are recognized as prolific sources of compounds with a wide array of biological activities. Recent advances in analytical techniques, supported by robust statistical analyses, have allowed the analysis and characterization of the metabolome present in a single living organism. In this study, a liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry metabolomic approach was applied to analyze the metabolite composition of 28 soft corals present in the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Multivariate data analysis was used to correlate the chemical fingerprints of soft corals with their cytotoxic activity against tumor cell lines for anticancer purpose. Some diterpenoids were identified as specific markers to discriminate between cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic crude extracts of soft corals against tumor cell lines. In the models generated from the comparative analysis of PLS-DA for tumor lines, A549 and SiHa, the diterpene 13-keto-1,11-dolabell-3(E),7(E),12(18)-triene yielded a high score in the variable importance in projection. These results highlight the potential of metabolomic approaches towards the identification of cytotoxic agents against cancer of marine origin. This workflow can be useful in several studies, mainly those that are time consuming, such as traditional bioprospecting of marine natural products.
Pilot Studies on Two Complementary Bath Products for Atopic Dermatitis Children: Pine-Tar and Tea
Authors: Hon Kam , Ng Wing , Kung Jeng , Leung Ping , Leung Ting
Published: January 2019

Background: Few standardized bath product clinical trials were performed for atopic dermatitis patients. Pine-tar and green tea extracts are plant-derived products that have been described as having anti-allergic effects which may reduce AD disease severity. Methods: The efficacy of two complementary bath products was studied and compared. Efficacy and acceptability of the bath products were measured by patient general acceptability of treatment (GAT: very good, good, fair or poor), disease severity (SCORAD: SCoring Atopic Dermatitis), quality of life (CDLQI: Children Dermatology Life Quality Index), and pertinent clinical parameters were measured before and after four weeks of treatment. Sample size calculations for further clinical trials were performed. In one group, nine AD patients were subjected to bathing with a pine-tar bath oil for 10–15 min daily for four weeks. In another group, 20 AD subjects bathed with a teabag containing green tea extracts for four weeks. Results: Significant improvements in clinical- and patient-orientated parameters were found in the pine-tar bathing group, but not the tea-bag bathing group. Both groups reported very good/good GAT on the studied products. Teabag bathing was considered not efficacious for further clinical trials. Conclusions: The pilot studies provided preliminary data on the efficacy of pine tar bath oil. We do not document a significant efficacy for bathing with tea extracts. Bathing with pine-tar is potentially a complementary topical treatment with good patient acceptance and adherence, but further evidence-based research for its recommendations is needed.
Effectiveness of a Two-Step Testing Algorithm for Reliable and Cost-Effective Detection of Clostridium difficile Infection in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Qutub Mohammed , Govindan Prasanth , Vattappillil Anupama
Published: January 2019

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a two-step algorithm for the detection of Clostridium difficile infection. Setting and Design: A two-step testing algorithm was evaluated for testing stool samples from patients suspected of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). A total of 103 stool specimens were tested using the C. diff Quik Chek Complete enzyme immunoassay (EIA) test and the Xpert C. difficile PCR test. A two-step algorithm was implemented, and data from 3518 patient samples tested during a two-year period after implementation were analyzed to evaluate the effectiveness. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) of the Quik Chek Complete EIA test were calculated using the Xpert C. difficile PCR test as a reference method. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of the Quik Chek Complete EIA test for C. difficile toxin were 46.7%, 100%, 100%, and 91%, respectively. The two-step algorithm, which combined the Quik Chek Complete EIA with Xpert C. difficile PCR, improved the sensitivity and also provided rapid detection. When algorithm-based testing was performed daily, there was a 66% reduction in turnaround time compared to batch testing using a lengthy ELISA procedure. Postimplementation data analysis showed that almost 89% of the samples could be reported immediately by initial screening with Quik Chek Complete EIA. Only 11% of the samples gave discrepant results and required PCR confirmation. According to our results, the two-step algorithm is an effective tool for the rapid and reliable detection of toxigenic C. difficile from stool samples.
Constitutive Analysis on High-Temperature Flow Behavior of 3Cr-1Si-1Ni Ultra-High Strength Steel for Modeling of Flow Stress
Authors: Lei Bingwang , Chen Gaoqiang , Liu Kehong , Wang Xin , Jiang Xiaomei , Pan Jiluan , Shi Qingyu
Published: January 2019

High-temperature plastic flow is the underlying process that governs the product quality in many advanced metal manufacturing technologies, such as extrusion, rolling, and welding. Data and models on the high-temperature flow behavior are generally desired in the design of these manufacturing processes. In this paper, quantitative constitutive analysis is carried out on 3Cr-1Si-1Ni ultra-high strength steel, which sheds light on the mathematic relation between the flow stress and the thermal-mechanical state variables, such as temperature, plastic strain, and strain rate. Particularly, the hyperbolic-sine equation in combination with the Zener-Hollomon parameter is shown to be successful in representing the effect of temperature and strain rate on the flow stress of the 3Cr-1Si-1Ni steel. It is found that the flow stress of the 3Cr-1Si-1Ni steel is significantly influenced by strain. The strain-dependence on flow stress is not identical at different temperatures and strain rates. In the constitutive model, the influence of strain in the constitutive analysis is successfully implemented by introducing strain-dependent constants for the constitutive equations. Fifth-order polynomial equations are employed to fit the strain-dependence of the constitutive constant. The proposed constitutive equations which considers the compensation of strain is found to accurately predict flow stress of the 3Cr-1Si-1Ni steel at the temperatures ranging from 800 °C to 1250 °C, strain rate ranging from 0.01/s to 10/s, and strain ranging from 0.05 to 0.6.
Construction of Process Window to Predict Hardness in Tailored Tool Thermomechanical Treatment and its Application
Authors: Kim Jae-Hong , Lee Seon-Bong , Kim Byung-Min
Published: January 2019

Recently, in order to improve crashworthiness and achieve weight reduction of car body, a hot stamping process has been applied to the production of the part with tailored properties using tailored tool thermomechanical treatment. In the tailored tool thermomechanical treatment process, process parameters influence the mechanical properties of final product such as strength and hardness. Therefore, the prediction of hardness for final product is very important to manufacture hot-stamped part considering various process parameters. The purpose of this study is to propose a process window, which can predict hardness for various process parameters in tailored tool thermomechanical treatment. To determine the process window, finite element (FE) simulation coupled with quench factor analysis (QFA) has been performed for combinations of various process parameters. Subsequently, the process window was constructed through the training of artificial neural network (ANN) and experiment of tailored tool thermomechanical treatment for hat-shaped part was performed to verify effectiveness of hardness prediction. Then, the process parameters were determined from process window for hot stamping of the hat-shaped part with the required distribution of hardness. Hardness predicted by process window was in good agreement with measured one within 3.1% error in additional experiment. Therefore, the suggested process window can be used efficiently for hardness prediction and determination of process parameters in tailored tool thermomechanical treatment of hot-stamping parts.
Novel Cu-Rich Nano-Precipitates Strengthening Steel with Excellent Antibacterial Performance
Authors: Fan Yanqiu , Ma Changwen , Li Shaopo , Zhang Hai
Published: January 2019

In this study, a certain amount of Cu was added into tentative steel to introduce novel Cu-rich nanoprecipitates, thus enhancing strength yet without sacrificing toughness. This type of precipitates was quite different from previous ε-Cu, and was a novel type of Cu-rich nanoprecipitates, which contained more than 50% Cu. The microstructure, mechanical properties and precipitates of the steels aged at 550 °C for different holding times and were carefully examined. The microstructure of the tested steel was mainly bainite and gradually evolved into equilibrium state after aging. Mechanical properties results showed that after being aged at 550 °C for 10 min, the steel can have an excellent mechanical property combination of strength and toughness. In addition, a large amount of tiny precipitates was uniformly distributed in the matrix of the aging steels, and their size kept at nanoscale. In particular, when the steel was aged at 550 °C for 10 min, it produced the largest number of tiny precipitates of this type. This type of Cu-rich nanoprecipitates emerging from the steel aged at 550 °C for 10 min also brought about a remarkable antibacterial property. It revealed that novel Cu-rich precipitates not only have positive effects on strength and toughness, but also played an important role in antibacterial properties.
Influence of the Shape of Copper Powder Particles on the Crystal Structure and Some Decisive Characteristics of the Metal Powders
Authors: Avramović Ljiljana , Maksimović Vesna M. , Baščarević Zvezdana , Ignjatović Nenad , Bugarin Mile , Marković Radmila , Nikolić Nebojša D.
Published: January 2019

Three different forms of Cu powder particles obtained by either galvanostatic electrolysis or a non-electrolytic method were analyzed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and particle size distribution (PSD). Electrolytic procedures were performed under different hydrogen evolution conditions, leading to the formation of either 3D branched dendrites or disperse cauliflower-like particles. The third type of particles were compact agglomerates of the Cu grains, whose structural characteristics indicated that they were formed by a non-electrolytic method. Unlike the sharp tips that characterize the usual form of Cu dendrites, the ends of both the trunk and branches were globules in the formed dendrites, indicating that a novel type of Cu dendrites was formed in this investigation. Although the macro structures of the particles were extremely varied, they had very similar micro structures because they were constructed by spherical grains. The Cu crystallites were randomly oriented in the dendrites and compact agglomerates of the Cu grains, while the disperse cauliflower-like particles showed (220) and (311) preferred orientation. This indicates that the applied current density affects not only the morphology of the particles, but also their crystal structure. The best performance, defined by the largest specific surface area and the smallest particle size, was by the galvanostatically produced powder consisting of disperse cauliflower-like particles.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Metabolites in 2018
Authors:   Metabolites Editorial Office
Published: January 2019

Rigorous peer-review is the corner-stone of high-quality academic publishing [...]
Design and Characterization of Semi-Floating-Gate Synaptic Transistor
Authors: Cho Yongbeom , Lee Jae Yoon , Yu Eunseon , Han Jae-Hee , Baek Myung-Hyun , Cho Seongjae , Park Byung-Gook
Published: January 2019

In this work, a study on a semi-floating-gate synaptic transistor (SFGST) is performed to verify its feasibility in the more energy-efficient hardware-driven neuromorphic system. To realize short- and long-term potentiation (STP/LTP) in the SFGST, a poly-Si semi-floating gate (SFG) and a SiN charge-trap layer are utilized, respectively. When an adequate number of holes are accumulated in the SFG, they are injected into the nitride charge-trap layer by the Fowler–Nordheim tunneling mechanism. Moreover, since the SFG is charged by an embedded tunneling field-effect transistor existing between the channel and the drain junction when the post-synaptic spike occurs after the pre-synaptic spike, and vice versa, the SFG is discharged by the diode when the post-synaptic spike takes place before the pre-synaptic spike. This indicates that the SFGST can attain STP/LTP and spike-timing-dependent plasticity behaviors. These characteristics of the SFGST in the highly miniaturized transistor structure can contribute to the neuromorphic chip such that the total system may operate as fast as the human brain with low power consumption and high integration density.
Lab on a Chip for the Colorimetric Determination of Nitrite in Processed Meat Products in the Jordanian Market
Authors: Khanfar Mohammad F. , Abu Eisheh Nour J. , Al-Ghussain Loiy , Al-Halhouli Ala’aldeen T.
Published: January 2019

Nitrite and Nitrate have been used extensively as additives in various meat products to enhance flavor, color, and to preserve the meat from the bacterial growth. High concentrations of nitrite can threat human health since several studies in the literature claim that nitrite is associated with cancer incidences, leukemia, and brain tumors. Therefore, it is vital to measure the nitrite concentrations in processed meat products. In this study, an in-lab miniaturized photometric detection system is fabricated to inspect the nitrite concentration in processed meat products in Jordan. The analytical performance of nitrite detection is evaluated based on three key statistical parameters; linearity, limit of detection, and limit of quantitation. Respectively, for the fabricated system, the three values are found to be equal to 0.995, 1.24 × 10−2 ppm, and 4.12 × 10−2 ppm. Adherence to Beer’s law is found over the investigated range from 2.63 ppm to 96.0 ppm. The developed system is utilized for photometric detection of nitrite in processed meat products available in the Jordanian market like pastrami, salami, and corned beef. In all of the analyzed samples, the nitrite content is found to be lower than 150 ppm, which represents the maximum allowable nitrite limit.
Numerical Study and Optimization of a Novel Piezoelectric Transducer for a Round-Window Stimulating Type Middle-Ear Implant
Authors: Liu Houguang , Wang Hehe , Rao Zhushi , Yang Jianhua , Yang Shanguo
Published: January 2019

Round window (RW) stimulation is a new application of middle ear implants for treating hearing loss, especially for those with middle ear disease. However, most reports on it are based on the use of the floating mass transducer (FMT), which was not originally designed for round window stimulation. The mismatch of the FMT’s diameter and the round window membrane’s diameter and the uncontrollable preload of the transducer, leads to a high variability in its clinical outcomes. Accordingly, a new piezoelectric transducer for the round-window-stimulating-type middle ear implant is proposed in this paper. The transducer consists of a piezoelectric stack, a flextensional amplifier, a coupling rod, a salver, a plate, a titanium housing and a supporting spring. Based on a constructed coupling finite element model of the human ear and the transducer, the influences of the transducer design parameters on its performance were analyzed. The optimal structure of the supporting spring, which determines the transducer’s resonance frequency, was ascertained. The results demonstrate that our designed transducer generates better output than the FMT, especially at low frequency. Besides this, the power consumption of the transducer was significantly decreased compared with a recently reported RW-stimulating piezoelectric transducer.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Micromachines in 2018
Authors:   Micromachines Editorial Office
Published: January 2019

Rigorous peer-review is the corner-stone of high-quality academic publishing [...]
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Microorganisms in 2018
Authors:   Microorganisms Editorial Office
Published: January 2019

Rigorous peer-review is the corner-stone of high-quality academic publishing [...]
Monitoring of Nonadiabatic Effects in Individual Chromophores by Femtosecond Double-Pump Single-Molecule Spectroscopy: A Model Study
Authors: Gelin Maxim F. , Palacino-González Elisa , Chen Lipeng , Domcke Wolfgang
Published: January 2019

We explore, by theoretical modeling and computer simulations, how nonadiabatic couplings of excited electronic states of a polyatomic chromophore manifest themselves in single-molecule signals on femtosecond timescales. The chromophore is modeled as a system with three electronic states (the ground state and two non-adiabatically coupled excited states) and a Condon-active vibrational mode which, in turn, is coupled to a harmonic oscillator heat bath. For this system, we simulate double-pump single-molecule signals with fluorescence detection for different system-field interaction strengths, from the weak-coupling regime to the strong-coupling regime. While the signals are determined by the coherence of the electronic density matrix in the weak-coupling regime, they are determined by the populations of the electronic density matrix in the strong-coupling regime. As a consequence, the signals in the strong coupling regime allow the monitoring of nonadiabatic electronic population dynamics and are robust with respect to temporal inhomogeneity of the optical gap, while signals in the weak-coupling regime are sensitive to fluctuations of the optical gap and do not contain information on the electronic population dynamics.
Novel ‘Bacteriospray’ Method Facilitates the Functional Screening of Metagenomic Libraries for Antimicrobial Activity
Authors: Brahami Anissa , Castonguay Annie , Déziel Éric
Published: January 2019

Metagenomic techniques, notably the cloning of environmental DNA (eDNA) into surrogate hosts, have given access to the genome of uncultured bacteria. However, the determination of gene functions based on DNA sequences alone remains a significant challenge. The functional screening of metagenomic libraries represents an interesting approach in the discovery of microbial metabolites. We describe here an optimized screening approach that facilitates the identification of new antimicrobials among large metagenomic libraries. Notably, we report a detailed genomic library construction protocol using Escherichia coli DH10B as a surrogate host, and demonstrate how vector/genomic DNA dephosphorylation, ligase inactivation, dialysis of the ligation product and vector/genomic DNA ratio greatly influence clone recovery. Furthermore, we describe the use of an airbrush device to screen E. coli metagenomic libraries for their antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, a method we called bacteriospray. This bacterial spraying tool greatly facilitates and improves the functional screening of large genomic libraries, as it conveniently allows the production of a thinner and more uniform layer of target bacteria compared to the commonly used overlay method, resulting in the screening of 5–10 times more clones per agar plate. Using the Burkholderia thailandensis E264 genomic DNA as a proof of concept, four clones out of 70,000 inhibited the growth of S. aureus and were found to each contain a DNA insert. Analysis of these chromosomic fragments revealed genomic regions never previously reported to be responsible for the production of antimicrobials, nor predicted by bioinformatics tools.
Preparation of Messenger RNA Nanomicelles via Non-Cytotoxic PEG-Polyamine Nanocomplex for Intracerebroventicular Delivery: A Proof-of-Concept Study in Mouse Models
Authors: Chan Long Yi , Khung Yit Lung , Lin Chin-Yu
Published: January 2019

The specific delivery of messenger RNA (mRNA) is an excellent alternative to plasmid DNA, due to the latter’s potential risk for random integration into the host genome. In this study, we propose the use of specially tailored polyplex nanomicelles for the intravenous delivery of mRNA into the brain of mice. In brief, along the backbone of a polyaspartamide polymer that is terminated with a 42k Polyethylene glycol chain (PEG), aminoethylene-repeating groups (two, three, and four units, respectively) were conjugated to side-chains to promote electrostatic interactions with mRNA. This structural configuration would ultimately condense into a polyplex nanomicelle ranging between 24 and 34 nm, as was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) while the chemistry of the synthesis was validated through NMR analysis. Subsequently, we hypothesized an important correlation pertaining to the role of hydrogen bonding between the interaction of polyamine and mRNA in due course. As a proof of concept, we encapsulated the luciferase (Luc2) mRNA as a reporter gene through in vitro transcription (IVT) and subsequently infused the polyplex nanomicelles into mouse brains via an intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection to bypass the blood–brain barriers (BBB). Data revealed that PEGylated polyplex nanomicelles possessing four repeating units of aminoethylene groups had exhibited the best Luc2 mRNA delivery efficiency with no significant immune response registered.
Integrating TiO2/SiO2 into Electrospun Carbon Nanofibers towards Superior Lithium Storage Performance
Authors: Liu Wenxing , Yao Tianhao , Xie Sanmu , She Yiyi , Wang Hongkang
Published: January 2019

In order to overcome the poor electrical conductivity of titania (TiO2) and silica (SiO2) anode materials for lithium ion batteries (LIBs), we herein report a facile preparation of integrated titania–silica–carbon (TSC) nanofibers via electrospinning and subsequent heat-treatment. Both titania and silica are successfully embedded into the conductive N-doped carbon nanofibers, and they synergistically reinforce the overall strength of the TSC nanofibers after annealing (Note that titania–carbon or silica–carbon nanofibers cannot be obtained under the same condition). When applied as an anode for LIBs, the TSC nanofiber electrode shows superior cycle stability (502 mAh/g at 100 mA/g after 300 cycles) and high rate capability (572, 518, 421, 334, and 232 mAh/g each after 10 cycles at 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 2000 mA/g, respectively). Our results demonstrate that integration of titania/silica into N-doped carbon nanofibers greatly enhances the electrode conductivity and the overall structural stability of the TSC nanofibers upon repeated lithiation/delithiation cycling.