bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reproducibility of assessing fecal microbiota in chronic constipation
Authors: Parthasarathy G. , Chen J. , Chia N. , O'Connor H. M. , Gaskins H. R. , Bharucha A. E.
Published: July 2017

Background

While limited data suggest that the fecal microbiota in healthy people is stable over time, the intraindividual variability of the fecal microbiota in constipated patients is unknown.

Methods

This study evaluated the intraindividual reproducibility of fecal microbiota analyzed with 16S rRNA gene sequencing in two stool samples collected without and after a laxative, respectively, in 25 healthy people and 25 constipated women. Participants completed a food record for 3 d before the stool collection. Colonic transit was measured with scintigraphy.

Key Results

The constipated patients were older (48±15 vs 39±10 y, P=.02) than healthy participants but had a similar BMI. The total daily caloric intake was less (P=.005) in constipated (1265±350 kcal) than healthy participants (1597±402 kcal). Fourteen patients but only two controls (P<.005), had delayed colonic transit. For most measures of alpha (eg, Observed OTU number, Shannon index) and beta diversity (eg, Bray‐Curtis dissimilarity, UniFrac, phyla level abundance), the ICCs between two stool samples were high, indicating moderate or strong agreement, and similar in healthy people and constipated patients. The ICC for the weighted UniFrac distance, which is weighted by abundance, was lower than its unweighted counterpart, indicating that the unweighted measure is more robust and reproducible.

Conclusions and Inferences

The intraindividual reproducibility of fecal microbiota in constipated patients is high and comparable to healthy participants. For most purposes, evaluating the fecal microbiota in a single stool sample should generally suffice in adequately powered studies of healthy and constipated patients.
Axiological Absolutism and Risk1
Authors: Lazar Seth , Lee‐Stronach Chad
Published: July 2017

Consider the following claim: given the choice between saving a life and preventing any number of people from temporarily experiencing a mild headache, you should always save the life. Many moral theorists accept this claim. In doing so, they commit themselves to some form of ‘moral absolutism’: the view that there are some moral considerations (like being able to save a life) that cannot be outweighed by any number of lesser moral considerations (like being able to avert a mild headache). In contexts of certainty, it is clear what moral absolutism requires of you. However, what does it require of you when deciding under risk? What ought you to do when there is a chance that, say, you will not succeed in saving the life? In recent years, various critics have argued that moral absolutism cannot satisfactorily deal with risk and should, therefore, be abandoned. In this paper, we show that moral absolutism can answer its critics by drawing on—of all things—orthodox expected utility theory.
Biphasic influence of Staphylococcus aureus on human epidermal tight junctions
Authors: Bäsler Katja , Galliano Marie‐Florence , Bergmann Sophia , Rohde Holger , Wladykowski Ewa , Vidal‐y‐Sy Sabine , Guiraud Beatrice , Houdek Pia , Schüring Germar , Volksdorf Thomas , Caruana Antony , Bessou‐Touya Sandrine , Schneider Stefan W. , Duplan Hélène , Brandner Johanna M.
Published: July 2017

Bacterial infections (e.g., with Staphylococcus aureus) are serious problems in skin with a compromised barrier, such as in patients with atopic dermatitis. Previously, it was shown that tight junction (TJ) proteins are influenced by staphylococcal infection, and TJ function is impaired after infection of the keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. However, functional studies in cells or models more similar to human skin are missing. Therefore, we investigated bacterial colonialization and infection with live S. aureus in primary human keratinocytes and reconstructed human epidermis (RHE). We show that short‐term inoculation results in increased TJ barrier function—which could not be seen in HaCaT cells—hinting at an early protective effect. This is accompanied by occludin phosphorylation and sustained localization of occludin and claudin‐4 at cell membranes. Long‐term incubation resulted in decreased presence of claudin‐1 and claudin‐4 at cell membranes and decreased TJ barrier function. The agr regulon of S. aureus plays a role in the increasing but not in the decreasing effect. Proinflammatory cytokines, which are produced as a result of S. aureus inoculation, influence both phases. In summary, we show here that S. aureus can have short‐term promoting effects on the TJ barrier, while in the long term it results in disturbance of TJs.
Yours emotionally: How emotional intelligence infuses public service motivation and affects the job outcomes of public personnel
Authors: Levitats Zehavit , Vigoda‐Gadot Eran
Published: July 2017

We investigate the role of emotions in the public sector and their relation with work outcomes typical of public arenas. We focus on the emotional intelligence of public healthcare staff and its potential impact on public service motivation, job satisfaction, affective commitment and the quality of service to citizens. Using data from 200 nurses in a large Israeli public hospital, we examine a mixed model of direct and indirect relationships. The findings support direct positive relationships between emotional intelligence, public service motivation and job outcomes, and several indirect relationships: (1) the mediating effect of public service motivation in the relationship between emotional intelligence and affective commitment, and (2) the moderating role of emotional intelligence in the relationship between public service motivation and service quality. The impact of public service motivation on self‐reported service quality is stronger for public employees with more emotional intelligence.
Choice predicts the feedback negativity
Authors: McGill Stuart , Buckley Jude , Elliffe Douglas , Corballis Paul M.
Published: July 2017

Choosing the appropriate response given the circumstance is integral to all aspects of human behavior. One way of elucidating the mechanisms of choice is to relate behavior to neural correlates. Electrophysiological evidence implicates the ERP feedback‐negativity (FN) and the P300 as promising neural correlates of reward processing, an integral component of learning. However, prior research has not adequately addressed how the development of a preference to select one option over another (choice preference) relates to the FN and the P300. We assessed whether variation in choice preference predicted the FN and P300 amplitude within subjects. We used a discrete‐trials two‐alternative choice procedure, where the reinforcer rate for each option was dependently scheduled by a concurrent variable interval. The reinforcer ratio for selecting each option was varied between sessions. Choice was quantified using both the generalized matching law sensitivity and the log odds of staying on the same versus switching to the other alternative (stay preference). The relationship between stay preference, FN, and P300 amplitudes was assessed using the innovative application of hierarchical Bayesian linear regression. The results demonstrate that stay preference was controlled by the reinforcer ratios and credibly predicted the FN amplitude but not P300 amplitude. The findings are consistent with the view that reinforcers may guide behavior by what they signal about future reinforcement, with the FN related to such a process.
Salient‐but‐irrelevant stimuli cause attentional capture in difficult, but attentional suppression in easy visual search
Authors: Barras Caroline , Kerzel Dirk
Published: July 2017

Search for a shape target is difficult when its shape is similar to the shape of the surrounding nontargets and easy when it is dissimilar. We asked whether interference from a salient but irrelevant color singleton depended on search difficulty as manipulated by target‐nontarget similarity. We found that interference was strong in difficult searches, and the occurrence of an electrophysiological index of attentional selectivity (the N2pc component) confirmed that attention was captured by the distractor. In contrast, interference from the distractor was weak with easy searches, and the occurrence of the PD component confirmed that saliency signals from the distractor were suppressed. The results suggest that attentional suppression of salient but irrelevant distractors is only possible when search is efficient (i.e., with low target‐nontarget similarity), otherwise, attentional capture occurs. Further, we analyzed the Ppc component, a positivity occurring between 100 and 200 ms after stimulus onset contralateral to a salient feature discontinuity. It has been suggested that the Ppc reflects bottom‐up saliency signals, but we found the Ppc to occur only when the salient stimulus was unlikely to be selected, as in efficient searches. Thus, attentional requirements modulate the Ppc component.
Disease reduction in aquaculture with genetic and genomic technology: current and future approaches
Authors: Elaswad Ahmed , Dunham Rex
Published: July 2017

Reduction in the occurrence and severity of disease in aquaculture would improve the productivity, profitability, efficiency and welfare of aquacultural fish. Genetic approaches that have been successfully implemented in aquaculture to enhance disease resistance and reduce disease incidence include classical selection, genetic marker‐assisted selection, intraspecific crossbreeding, interspecific hybridization and transgenesis. The rate and speed of improvement in disease resistance varies from one genetic enhancement programme to another. Genome editing with zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator‐like effector nucleases (TALENs) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs)‐CRISPR‐associated protein 9 (Cas9) opens avenues for targeted genome modifications. This technology can be applied in aquaculture to manipulate disease‐resistance genes by means of gene knock‐in, gene knockout and regulation of gene expression. The maximum rate of improvement can be achieved by combining different genetic enhancement programmes. Here, we present a review for the current and future prospect of disease reduction in aquaculture with genetic and genomic technologies.
How to Make Model‐free Feature Screening Approaches for Full Data Applicable to the Case of Missing Response?
Authors: Wang Qihua , Li Yongjin
Published: July 2017

It is quite a challenge to develop model‐free feature screening approaches for missing response problems because the existing standard missing data analysis methods cannot be applied directly to high dimensional case. This paper develops some novel methods by borrowing information of missingness indicators such that any feature screening procedures for ultrahigh‐dimensional covariates with full data can be applied to missing response case. The first method is the so‐called missing indicator imputation screening, which is developed by proving that the set of the active predictors of interest for the response is a subset of the active predictors for the product of the response and missingness indicator under some mild conditions. As an alternative, another method called Venn diagram‐based approach is also developed. The sure screening property is proven for both methods. It is shown that the complete case analysis can also keep the sure screening property of any feature screening approach with sure screening property.
Clinicopathologic features of lingual canine T‐zone lymphoma
Authors: Harris L. J. , Rout E. D. , Hughes K. L. , Labadie J. D. , Boostrom B. , Yoshimoto J. A. , Cannon C. M. , Avery P. R. , Ehrhart E.J. , Avery A. C.
Published: July 2017

Canine T‐zone lymphoma (TZL) is a subtype of T‐cell lymphoma characterized by unique histologic pattern and cytomorphology, immunophenotypic loss of CD45 expression, and an indolent clinical behaviour. Dogs with TZL typically present with 1 or more enlarged lymph nodes and/or lymphocytosis. We describe a novel extranodal presentation of TZL involving the tongue. Twelve dogs with tongue masses were diagnosed with lingual TZL based on a variable combination of immunophenotyping via flow cytometry, cytology, histopathology, immunohistochemistry and/or PCR for antigen receptor rearrangement (PARR) assay. Eleven dogs exhibited concurrent lymphocytosis and/or lymph node enlargement. Three cases were initially diagnosed as plasma cell tumours based on histology alone, thereby revealing a potential diagnostic challenge. Seven dogs achieved clinical remission and 4 achieved stable disease following variable treatment, consistent with the indolent nature of typical TZL involving the lymph nodes and peripheral blood. In 1 case the TZL resulted in progressive disease and failure to respond to treatment. In this case, the TZL exhibited histologic features of a higher grade neoplasm. This case series highlights a unique presentation of TZL and identifies a new differential diagnosis for lingual neoplasia. In this study, we characterize the clinical presentation, diagnostic features and patient outcomes of 12 dogs with lingual TZL.
Reviewer Acknowledgements
Authors: Walter Andrew
Published: July 2017

Studies in Engineering and Technology (SET) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether SET publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 4, Number 1Alexander Medvedev, Transport and Telecommunication Institute (TTI), LatviaHala Abd El Megeed, National Institute for Standards, EgyptHossam Zaqoot, Ministry of Environmental Affairs, GazaKai-Long Hsiao, Taiwan Shoufu University, TaiwanLoc Nguyen, Sunflower Soft Company, VietnamMarco A Ruano, Economics Department Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, SpainMohammad Reza Barati, Flinders University, AustraliaPau Redon, Fundación Hospital General de Valencia, SpainSaminda Dharmarathna, University of Connecticut, USAShahab Bahrami, University of British Columbia, CanadaTangming Yuan, University of York, UKWael Salah, Multimedia University, MalaysiaYao Liu, University Malaysia Pahang, Malaysia    Andrew WalterEditorial AssistantStudies in Engineering and Technology-------------------------------------------Redfame Publishing9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416Beaverton, OR 97008, USATel: 1-503-828-0536 ext. 504Fax: 1-503-828-0537E-mail: set@redfame.comURL: http://set.redfame.com
A Single Formulation for Uncertainty Propagation in Turbomachinery: SAMBA PC
Authors: Ahlfeld Richard , Montomoli Francesco
Published: July 2017

This work newly proposes an uncertainty quantification (UQ) method named sparse approximation of moment-based arbitrary polynomial chaos (SAMBA PC) that offers a single solution to many current problems in turbomachinery applications. At the moment, every specific case is characterized by a variety of different input types such as histograms (from experimental data), normal probability density functions (PDFs) (design rules) or fat tailed PDFs (for rare events). Thus, the application of UQ requires the adaptation of ad hoc methods for each individual case. A second problem is that parametric PDFs have to be determined for all inputs. This is difficult if only few samples are available. In gas turbines, however, the collection of statistical information is difficult, expensive, and having scarce information is the norm. A third critical limitation is that if using nonintrusive polynomial chaos (NIPC) methods, the number of required simulations grows exponentially with increasing numbers of input uncertainties: the so-called “curse of dimensionality.” It is shown that the fitting of parametric PDFs to small data sets can lead to large bias and the direct use of the available data is more accurate. This is done by propagating uncertainty through several test functions and the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of a diffuser, highlighting the impact of different PDF fittings on the output. From the results, it is concluded that the direct propagation of the experimental data set is preferable to the fit of parametric distributions if data is scarce. Thus, the suggested method offers an alternative to the maximum entropy theorem to handle scarce data. SAMBA simplifies the mathematical procedure for many different input types by basing the polynomial expansion on moments. Its moment-based expansion automatically takes care of arbitrary combinations of different input data. It is also numerically efficient compared to other UQ implementations. The relationship between the number of random variables and number of simulation is linear (only 21 simulations for ten input random variables are required). It is shown in this paper that SAMBA's algorithm can propagate a high number of input distributions through a set of nonlinear analytic test functions. Doing this, the code needs a very small number of simulations and preserve a 5% error margin. SAMBA's flexibility to handle different forms of input distributions and a high number of input variables is shown on a low-pressure turbine (LPT) blade-based on H2 profile. The relative importance of manufacturing errors in different location of the blade is analyzed.
Experimental Research on Catalytic Combustion Characteristics of Inferior Coal and Sludge Mixture
Authors: Yan Yunfei , Feng Shuai , Zhang Li , Li Lixian , Zhang Lei , Yang Zhongqing
Published: July 2017

Catalytic effects of metal oxides on combustion characteristics of inferior coal, sludge, and their mixture were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. Combustion and thermal dynamic characteristics including ignition temperatures, apparent activation energy, and frequency factors of inferior coal, sludge, and their mixture were observed. The catalytic effects and mechanism of combustion were discussed. Results showed that thermal gravity analysis (TG) and derivative thermogravimetric analysis (DTG) curves of coal and sludge shifted to lower temperature side, the weight losses increased, and the ignition performance was improved with the addition of metal oxides CaO, Al2O3, and K2O. The combustion dynamics analysis showed that the apparent activation energy of cocombustion of coal blending sludge decreased by 11–20% and the frequency factors increased by 20–30%. The minimum apparent activation energy and the maximum frequency factors were obtained in the presence of K2O, indicating that the catalytic effect of K2O was most significant.
Dynamic Dispersion Coefficient of Solutes Flowing in a Circular Tube and a Tube-Bundle Model
Authors: Meng Xiaoyan , Yang Daoyong
Published: July 2017

Mathematical formulations have been proposed and verified to determine dynamic dispersion coefficients for solutes flowing in a circular tube with fully developed laminar flow under different source conditions. Both the moment analysis method and the Green's function are used to derive mathematical formulations, while the three-dimensional (3D) random walk particle tracking (RWPT) algorithm in a Cartesian coordinate system has been modified to describe solute flow behavior. The newly proposed formulations have been verified to determine dynamic dispersion coefficients of solutes by achieving excellent agreements with both the RWPT results and analytical solutions. The differences among transverse average concentration using the Taylor model with and without dynamic dispersion coefficient and center-of-mass velocity are significant at early times but indistinguishable when dimensionless time (tD) approaches 0.5. Furthermore, compared to solutes flowing in a 3D circular tube, dispersion coefficients of solutes flowing in a two-dimensional (2D) parallel-plate fracture are always larger for a uniform planar source; however, this is not always true for a point source. Solute dispersion in porous media represented by the tube-bundle model is greatly affected by pore-size distribution and increases as standard deviation of pore-size distribution (σ) increases across the full-time scale.
Theoretical Prediction of the Effect of Blending JP-8 With Syngas on the Ignition Delay Time and Laminar Burning Speed
Authors: Yu Guangying , Askari Omid , Metghalchi Hameed
Published: July 2017

A numerical study has been carried out to investigate the impact of adding syngas into JP-8 fuel. A new chemical mechanism has been assembled from existing mechanism of JP-8 and syngas and has been examined by comparing with the experimental data from literatures. The mechanism was then applied to Cantera zero-dimension constant internal energy and constant volume model and one-dimensional (1D) freely propagating flame model to calculate the ignition delay time and laminar burning speed, respectively. The simulations were carried out over a large range of temperature (700–1000 K), blending ratio (0–20% syngas), and H2/CO ratio (10/90 to 50/50). Simulation results showed that the blending syngas with JP-8 will slightly increase the ignition delay time and laminar burning speed.
A Comprehensive Modeling of Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems Using Multiphase Converter Based on Reliability Concepts
Authors: Piri Marzieh , Niroomand Mehdi , Hooshmand Rahmat-Allah
Published: July 2017

This paper proposes a new method based on a Markov model to calculate the reliability of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems. This system is a grid-connected PV system consisting of PV modules, a multiphase DC–DC converter, an inverter, an inverter controller, and an maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller at University of Isfahan. This system is considered repairable. Also, different levels of operation are considered for the system equipment. Reliability of the PV modules, the multiphase DC–DC converter, and the inverter has been calculated by the Markov model. Finally, the reliability of the entire PV system is calculated by the Markov model. The proposed algorithm is applied to the PV system positioned at University of Isfahan. Simulation results show the applicability of this method for calculating the reliability of grid-connected PV systems.
Aerodynamic Analysis of an Airfoil With Leading Edge Pitting Erosion
Authors: Wang Yan , Hu Ruifeng , Zheng Xiaojing
Published: July 2017

Leading edge erosion is a considerable threat to wind turbine performance and blade maintenance, and it is very imperative to accurately predict the influence of various degrees of erosion on wind turbine performance. In the present study, an attempt to investigate the effects of leading edge erosion on the aerodynamics of wind turbine airfoil is undertaken by using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. A new pitting erosion model is proposed and semicircle cavities were used to represent the erosion pits in the simulation. Two-dimensional incompressible Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equation and shear stress transport (SST) k–ω turbulence model are adopted to compute the aerodynamics of a S809 airfoil with leading edge pitting erosions, where the influences of pits depth, densities, distribution area, and locations are considered. The results indicate that pitting erosion has remarkably undesirable influences on the aerodynamic performance of the airfoil, and the critical pits depth, density, and distribution area degrade the airfoil aerodynamic performance mostly were obtained. In addition, the dominant parameters are determined by the correlation coefficient path analysis method, results showed that all parameters have non-negligible effects on the aerodynamics of S809 airfoil, and the Reynolds number is of the most important, followed by pits density, pits depth, and pits distribution area. Meanwhile, the direct and indirect effects of these factors are analyzed, and it is found that the indirect effects are very small and the parameters can be considered to be independent with each other.
Thermodynamic Optimization of Supercritical CO2 Brayton Power Cycles Coupled to Line-Focusing Solar Fields
Authors: Enríquez Luis Coco , Muñoz-Antón Javier , Peñalosa José María Martínez-Val
Published: July 2017

An opportunity for increasing the parabolic solar power plant efficiency is substituting the actual subcritical Rankine power cycles with the innovative s-CO2 Brayton cycles. In this paper, three configurations are assessed: the recompression cycle (RC), the partial cooling with recompression cycle (PCRC), and the recompression with main compression intercooling cycle (RCMCI), with one reheating stage. The thermodynamic parameters are optimized with three algorithms: SUBPLEX, UOBYQA, and NEWUOA, and the results validated with thermoflow Software. The parabolic troughs and linear Fresnel solar collectors are studied with different heat transfer fluids (HTFs): Solar Salt, HITEC XL, Therminol-VP1, Syltherm 800, and Therminol 75. The dual-loop solar field (SF), combining thermal oil and molten salt (MS) in the same solar plant, is also analyzed. The plant power output and plant energy efficiency are translated into SF aperture area and cost at design point. From the point of view of the plant efficiency and SF cost, the PTC and LF solar collector with Solar Salt as HTF coupled to a s-CO2 Brayton RCMCI cycle is selected as the optimum design solution and compared with the actual PTC Rankine solar plant performance at design point. The total recuperator conductance (UA) plays an important role in optimizing the plant performance, limited by the minimum heat exchangers (HX) pinch point. The UA increment could compensate the HX pressure drop and the compressor inlet temperature (CIT) increment, both impacting very negatively in the s-CO2 plant performance.
A Comparative Investigation of Two Types of MHPA Flat-Plate Solar Air Collector Based on Exergy Analysis
Authors: Zhu T. T. , Diao Y. H. , Zhao Y. H. , Ma C. , Wang T. Y. , Liu J.
Published: July 2017

In this study, a comparative investigation of two types of microheat pipe array (MHPA) flat-plate solar air collectors (FPSAC) based on exergy analysis has been conducted. The thermal performance of MHPA-type solar air collectors (SACs) with two different shaped fins is experimentally evaluated. A detailed parametric study is also conducted to examine the effects of various fins, operation parameters, and inlet air temperature at different mass flow rates on thermal and exergy efficiencies. Results indicated that using V-shaped slotted fins at the specified range of mass flow rates can enhance exergy efficiency. Exergy efficiency can be considered as the main criterion to evaluate the performance of MHPA FPSACs. Attaching V-shaped slotted fins on the condenser section of MHPA is more effective than attaching rectangular fins at high mass flow rates. By contrast, the latter is more effective than the former at low mass flow rates.
Free Vibration of Thin Spherical Shells
Authors: Bryan April
Published: July 2017

This research introduces a new approach to analytically derive the differential equations of motion of a thin spherical shell. The approach presented is used to obtain an expression for the relationship between the transverse and surface displacements of the shell. This relationship, which is more explicit than the one that can be obtained through use of the Airy stress function, is used to uncouple the surface and normal displacements in the spatial differential equation for transverse motion. The associated Legendre polynomials are utilized to obtain analytical solutions for the resulting spatial differential equation. The spatial solutions are found to exactly satisfy the boundary conditions for the simply supported and the clamped hemispherical shell. The results to the equations of motion indicate that the eigenfrequencies of the thin spherical shell are independent of the azimuthal coordinate. As a result, there are several mode shapes for each eigenfrequency. The results also indicate that the effects of midsurface tensions are more significant than bending at low mode numbers but become negligible as the mode number increases.
An Experimental Investigation on Heat Transfer Characteristics of Hot Surface by Using CuO–Water Nanofluids in Circular Jet Impingement Cooling
Authors: Modak Mayank , Chougule Sandesh S. , Sahu Santosh K.
Published: July 2017

In the present study, an experimental investigation has been carried out to analyze the heat transfer characteristics of CuO–water nanofluids jet on a hot surface. A rectangular stainless steel foil (AISI-304, 0.15 mm thick) used as the test surface is electrically heated to obtain the required initial temperature (500 °C). The distribution of surface heat flux on the target surface is evaluated from the recorded thermal images during transient cooling. The effect of nanoparticle concentration and Reynolds number of the nanofluids on the heat transfer characteristics is studied. Tests are performed for varied range of Reynolds number (5000 ≤ Re ≤ 12,000), two different CuO–water nanofluids concentration (Ф = 0.15%, 0.6%) and two different nozzle to plate distance (l/d = 6, 12). The enhancement in Nusselt number for CuO–water nanofluids was found to be 14% and 90%, for nanofluids concentration of Ф = 0.15% and Ф = 0.60%, respectively, compared to pure water. The test surface characteristics after nanofluids jet impingement are studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Based on the investigation, a correlation among various parameters, namely, Reynolds number (Re), Prandtl number (Pr), nozzle to plate distance (l/d), and Nusselt number (Nu), is presented.
Hydrodynamic Effects on Particle Deposition in Microchannel Flows at Elevated Temperatures
Authors: Yan Zhibin , Huang Xiaoyang , Yang Chun
Published: July 2017

Particulate fouling and particle deposition at elevated temperature are crucial issues in microchannel heat exchangers. In this work, a microfluidic system was designed to examine the hydrodynamic effects on the deposition of microparticles in a microchannel flow, which simulate particle deposits in microscale heat exchangers. The deposition rates of microparticles were measured in two typical types of flow, a steady flow and a pulsatile flow. Under a given elevated solution temperature and electrolyte concentration of the particle dispersion in the tested flow rate range, the dimensionless particle deposition rate (Sherwood number) was found to decrease with the Reynolds number of the steady flow and reach a plateau for the Reynolds number beyond 0.091. Based on the Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (DLVO) theory, a mass transport model was developed with considering temperature dependence of the particle deposition at elevated temperatures. The modeling results can reasonably capture our experimental observations. Moreover, the experimental results of the pulsatile flow revealed that the particle deposition rate in the microchannel can be mitigated by increasing the frequency of pulsation within a low-frequency region. Our findings are expected to provide a better understanding of thermally driven particulate fouling as well as to provide useful information for design and operation of microchannel heat exchangers.
Experimental Study on the Enhancement of Mass Transfer Utilizing Fe3O4 Nanofluids
Authors: Zhang Lianying , Liu Yuanyuan , Wang Yuan , Jin Liwen , Zhang Qunli , Hu Wenju
Published: July 2017

The absorption air-conditioning system is a low-power-consumption and low-noise system and is also good at balancing the electricity peak-valley system. It can be driven by low-grade energy, such as solar energy and industrial exhaust heat. The nanofluids, which possess the superior thermophysical properties, exhibit a great potential in enhancing heat and mass transfer. In this paper, nanofluids of H2O/LiBr with Fe3O4 nanoparticles were introduced into absorption air conditioning system. The effects of critical parameters, such as the flow rate of H2O/LiBr nanofluids, nanoparticle size and mass fraction, on the falling film absorption were investigated. The H2O/LiBr nanofluids with Fe3O4 nanoparticle mass fractions of 0.01 wt %, 0.05 wt % and 0.1 wt %, and nanoparticle sizes of 20 nm, 50 nm and 100 nm were tested. The results imply that the vapor absorption rate could be improved by adding the nanoparticles to H2O/LiBr solution. The smaller the nanoparticle size, the greater the enhancement of the heat and mass transfer. The absorption enhancement ratio increases sharply at first by increasing the nanoparticle mass fraction within a range of relatively low mass fraction and then exhibits a slow growing even reducing trends with increasing the mass fraction further. For Fe3O4 nanoparticle mass fraction of 0.05 wt % and nanoparticle size of 20 nm, the maximum mass transfer enhancement ratio is achieved about 2.28 at the flow rate of 100 L h−1. Meanwhile, a fitting formula of mass transfer enhancement ratio for Fe3O4 nanofluids has been improved.
Strain-Level Dependent Nonequilibrium Anisotropic Viscoelasticity: Application to the Abdominal Muscle
Authors: Latorre Marcos , Montáns Francisco J.
Published: July 2017

Soft connective tissues sustain large strains of viscoelastic nature. The rate-independent component is frequently modeled by means of anisotropic hyperelastic models. The rate-dependent component is usually modeled through linear rheological models or quasi-linear viscoelastic (QLV) models. These viscoelastic models are unable, in general, to capture the strain-level dependency of the viscoelastic properties present in many viscoelastic tissues. In linear viscoelastic models, strain-level dependency is frequently accounted for by including the dependence of multipliers of Prony series on strains through additional evolution laws, but the determination of the material parameters is a difficult task and the obtained accuracy is usually not sufficient. In this work, we introduce a model for fully nonlinear viscoelasticity in which the instantaneous and quasi-static behaviors are exactly captured and the relaxation curves are predicted to a high accuracy. The model is based on a fully nonlinear standard rheological model and does not necessitate optimization algorithms to obtain material parameters. Furthermore, in contrast to most models used in modeling the viscoelastic behavior of soft tissues, it is valid for the large deviations from thermodynamic equilibrium typically observed in soft tissues.
Localized Deformation in Plastic Liquids on Elastomers
Authors: Morelle Xavier P. , Bai Ruobing , Suo Zhigang
Published: July 2017

A plastic liquid such as toothpaste and butter deforms like an elastic solid under a small stress and like a plastic solid under a large stress. Recently, plastic liquids have been used as compliant electrodes for elastomeric transducers. Here, we study the deformation of a plastic liquid adherent on an elastomer when the elastomer is stretched monotonically. We observe that deformation in the plastic liquid localized into shear bands and necks. We further observe that the plastic liquid slips near the interface between the plastic liquid and the elastomer. Each pulling edge of the plastic liquid develops a shear tail, a thin layer of the plastic liquid adherent to the elastomer. As the elastomer is stretched, the tail conforms to the deformation of the elastomer, and the plastic liquid above the tail slips. Finite element simulations confirm that localization occurs even for a relatively simple elastic–plastic model, but require a boundary condition that allows the near-interface slip.
Effects of O2 plasma and UV-O3 assisted surface activation on high sensitivity metal oxide functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube CH4 sensors
Authors: Humayun Md Tanim , Sainato Michela , Divan Ralu , Rosenberg Richard A. , Sahagun Alvaro , Gundel Lara , Solomon Paul A. , Paprotny Igor
Published: July 2017

The authors present a comparative analysis of ultraviolet-O3 (UVO) and O2 plasma-based surface activation processes of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), enabling highly effective functionalization with metal oxide nanocrystals (MONCs). Experimental results from transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy show that by forming COOH (carboxyl), C-OH (hydroxyl), and C=O (carbonyl) groups on the MWCNT surface that act as active nucleation sites, O2 plasma and UVO-based dry pretreatment techniques greatly enhance the affinity between the MWCNT surface and the functionalizing MONCs. MONCs, such as ZnO and SnO2, deposited by the atomic layer deposition technique, were implemented as the functionalizing material following UVO and O2 plasma activation of MWCNTs. A comparative study on the relative resistance changes of O2 plasma and UVO activated MWCNT functionalized with MONC in the presence of 10 ppm methane (CH4) in air is presented as well.
Nanodiamond-chymotrypsin and nanodiamond-papain conjugates, their synthesis and activity and visualization of their interaction with cells using optical and electron microscopy
Authors: Golyshev Sergey A. , Berkovich Anna K. , Yakovlev Ruslan Yu. , Bystrov Dmitry M. , Ivanov Nikita M. , Balandina Galina N. , Rudenskaya Galina N.
Published: July 2017

Two novel conjugates of detonation nanodiamonds (dNDs) with the proteolytic enzymes chymotrypsin and papain were synthesized. The synthesis was performed via functionalization of the dNDs' surface with acidic/alkali treatment followed by carbodiimide-mediated protein binding. Covalent binding of the enzymes was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectrographic analysis and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) amino acid analysis. HPLC also proved the preservation of the enzymes' composition during synthesis. The same assay was used to determine the binding ratios. The ratios were 12% (mass to mass) for chymotrypsin and 7.4% for papain. The enzymatic activity of the conjugates was measured using chromogenic substrates and appeared to be approximately 40% of that of the native enzymes. The optimum pH values and stability under various conditions were determined. The sizes of resulting particles were measured using dynamic light scattering and direct electron microscopic observation. The enzyme conjugates were shown to be prone to aggregation, resulting in micrometer-sized particles. The ζ-potentials were measured and found to be positive for the conjugates. The conjugated enzymes were tested for biological activity using an in vitro model of cultured transformed human epithelial cells (HeLa cell line). It was shown that dND-conjugated enzymes effectively bind to the surface of the cells and that enzymes attack exposed proteins on the plasma membrane, including cell adhesion molecules. Incubation with conjugated enzymes results in morphological changes of the cells but does not affect cell viability, as judged by monitoring the cell division index and conducting ultrastructural studies. dNDs are internalized by the cells via endocytosis, being enclosed in forming coated vesicles by chance, and they accumulate in single membrane-bound vacuoles, presumably late endosomes/phagosomes, along with multimembranous onionlike structures. The authors propose a model of a stepwise conjugate binding to the cell membrane and gradual release of the enzymes.
Analysis of an RNA-seq Strand-Specific Library Sample Reveals a Complete Genome of
Hardenbergia mosaic virus
from Native Wisteria, an Indigenous Virus from Southwest Australia
Authors: Maina Solomon , Jones Roger A. C.
Published: July 2017

Analysis of an RNA-seq strand-specific library revealed a complete genome of
Hardenbergia mosaic virus
(HarMV) from RNA extracted from a native wisteria (
Hardenbergia comptoniana
) plant from southwest Australia. We compared it with eight other complete HarMV genomes. It most resembled (85.8% nucleotide identity) the genome of HarMV isolate MD4-D.
Complete Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas viridiflava CFBP 1590, Isolated from Diseased Cherry in France
Authors: Ruinelli Michela , Blom Jochen , Pothier Joël F.
Published: July 2017

Pseudomonas viridiflava
causes foliar and stem necrosis, as well as stem and root rot on a wide range of plants. We report here the first complete genome of a
P. viridiflava
strain, isolated from diseased tissue of a cherry tree.
Genome Sequence of
Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola
, an Emerging Fungal Pathogen of Snakes
Authors: Ohkura Mana , Fitak Robert R. , Wisecaver Jennifer H. , DeBlasio Dan , Niazi Faheem , Egholm Michael , Rounsley Steven D. , Kodira Chinnappa D. , Orbach Marc J.
Published: July 2017

Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola
, which belongs to the order
Onygenales
, is an emerging fungal pathogen of snakes in the United States. This study reports the 21.9-Mb genome sequence of an isolate of this reptilian pathogen obtained from a black racer snake in Pennsylvania.
Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas syringae PDD-32b-74, a Model Strain for Ice-Nucleation Studies in the Atmosphere
Authors: Besaury L. , Amato P. , Sancelme M. , Delort A. M.
Published: July 2017

We report here the whole genome sequence of
Pseudomonas syringae
PDD-32b-74, a gammaproteobacterium isolated from cloud water. This microorganism is equipped with ice-nucleation protein and biosurfactant genes that could potentially be involved in physicochemical processes in the atmosphere and clouds.
Effects of Electroacupuncture Stimulation at Different Spinal Segmental Levels in a Rat Model of Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Tian Huan-huan , Cao Bing-Yan , Li Rui , Ma Yan-jia , Hu Xiao-gang , Jia Ning , Wang Yue-ying
Published: July 2017

Background

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with high morbidity, mortality and economic cost. Studies have shown that acupuncture can improve many symptoms of DM.

Objectives

To examine for differences in effects of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation at Weiwanxiashu, BL15 and BL23 in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DM rat model, to help guide clinical selection of acupuncture points.

Methods

90 male rats weighing 160Â±5 g were used. 12 rats were control fed (Normal group) and 78 were fed a high-fat high-sugar diet for 8 weeks and underwent intraperitoneal STZ injection to model DM. 60 animals that met modelling criteria were randomly divided into an untreated DM group and four groups receiving EA at Weiwanxiashu (DM+WWX group), BL15 (DM+BL15 group), BL23 (DM+BL23 group) or a non-traditional acupuncture point on the tail (DM+Tail group). Fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and insulin levels were determined and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) performed.

Results

EA at Weiwanxiashu had a glucose-lowering effect on the 21st and 28th days, decreased TC, TG and LDL-C levels, increase insulin levels and improved glucose tolerance. EA at BL15 had a glucose-lowering effect on the7th, 14th and 21st days of intervention but did not impact lipids, insulin or OGTT parameters. EA at BL23 or on the tail had no significant effects.

Conclusion

EA at Weiwanxiashu and BL15 had differential effects on metabolic markers in the STZ-induced rat model of DM. These effects may be explained neuroanatomically by variations in the segmental innervation of the tissues at these locations.
A perforated caecal volvulus in the foramen of Winslow
Authors: Patel Jugal , Tare Priti
Published: July 2017

The aim of this report is to discuss with high-quality images, a case of a caecal volvulus herniating through the foramen of Winslow with signs of perforation.
Reversible Holmes' tremor due to spontaneous intracranial hypotension
Authors: Iyer Rajesh Shankar , Wattamwar Pandurang , Thomas Bejoy
Published: July 2017

Holmes’ tremor is a low-frequency hand tremor and has varying amplitude at different phases of motion. It is usually unilateral and does not respond satisfactorily to drugs and thus considered irreversible. Structural lesions in the thalamus and brainstem or cerebellum are usually responsible for Holmes’ tremor. We present a 23-year-old woman who presented with unilateral Holmes’ tremor. She also had hypersomnolence and headache in the sitting posture. Her brain imaging showed brain sagging and deep brain swelling due to spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). She was managed conservatively and had a total clinical and radiological recovery. The brain sagging with the consequent distortion of the midbrain and diencephalon was responsible for this clinical presentation. SIH may be considered as one of the reversible causes of Holmes’ tremor.
Postnatal gestational age estimation using newborn screening blood spots: a proposed validation protocol
Authors: Murphy Malia S Q , Hawken Steven , Atkinson Katherine M , Milburn Jennifer , Pervin Jesmin , Gravett Courtney , Stringer Jeffrey S A , Rahman Anisur , Lackritz Eve , Chakraborty Pranesh , Wilson Kumanan
Published: July 2017

Background

Knowledge of gestational age (GA) is critical for guiding neonatal care and quantifying regional burdens of preterm birth. In settings where access to ultrasound dating is limited, postnatal estimates are frequently used despite the issues of accuracy associated with postnatal approaches. Newborn metabolic profiles are known to vary by severity of preterm birth. Recent work by our group and others has highlighted the accuracy of postnatal GA estimation algorithms derived from routinely collected newborn screening profiles. This protocol outlines the validation of a GA model originally developed in a North American cohort among international newborn cohorts.

Methods

Our primary objective is to use blood spot samples collected from infants born in Zambia and Bangladesh to evaluate our algorithm’s capacity to correctly classify GA within 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks. Secondary objectives are to 1) determine the algorithm's accuracy in small-for-gestational-age and large-for-gestational-age infants, 2) determine its ability to correctly discriminate GA of newborns across dichotomous thresholds of preterm birth (≤34 weeks, <37 weeks GA) and 3) compare the relative performance of algorithms derived from newborn screening panels including all available analytes and those restricted to analyte subsets. The study population will consist of infants born to mothers already enrolled in one of two preterm birth cohorts in Lusaka, Zambia, and Matlab, Bangladesh. Dried blood spot samples will be collected and sent for analysis in Ontario, Canada, for model validation.

Discussion

This study will determine the validity of a GA estimation algorithm across ethnically diverse infant populations and assess population specific variations in newborn metabolic profiles.