bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the Effect of Thin Film Growth Mechanisms on the Specular Reflectance of Aluminium Thin Films Deposited via Filtered Cathodic Vacuum Arc
Authors: Rincón-Llorente Gonzalo , Heras Irene , Guillén Rodríguez Elena , Schumann Erik , Krause Matthias , Escobar-Galindo Ramón
Published: September 2018

The optimisation of the specular reflectance of solar collectors is a key parameter to increase the global yield of concentrated solar power (CSP) plants. In this work, the influence of filtered cathodic vacuum arc deposition parameters, particularly working pressure and deposition time, on the specular and diffuse reflectance of aluminium thin films, was studied. Changes in specular reflectance, measured by ultraviolet–visible and near-infrared spectroscopy (UV-vis-NIR) spectrophotometry, were directly correlated with thin film elemental concentration depth profiles, obtained by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), and surface and cross-sectional morphologies as measured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and profilometry. Finally, atomic force microscopy (AFM) provided information on the roughness and growth mechanism of the films. The two contributions to the total reflectance of the films, namely diffuse and specular reflectance, were found to be deeply influenced by deposition conditions. It was proven that working pressure and deposition time directly determine the predominant factor. Specular reflectance varied from 12 to 99.8% of the total reflectance for films grown at the same working pressure of 0.1 Pa and with different deposition times. This transformation could not be attributed to an oxidation of the films as stated by RBS, but was correlated with a progressive modification of the roughness, surface, and bulk morphology of the samples over the deposition time. Hence, the evolution in the final optical properties of the films is driven by different growth mechanisms and the resulting microstructures. In addition to the originally addressed CSP applications the potential of the developed aluminium films for other application rather than CSP, such as, for example, reference material for spectroscopic diffuse reflectance measurements, is also discussed.
A Remedial Strategic Scheduling Model for Load Serving Entities Considering the Interaction between Grid-Level Energy Storage and Virtual Power Plants
Authors: Han Haiteng , Cui Hantao , Gao Shan , Shi Qingxin , Fan Anjie , Wu Chen
Published: September 2018

More renewable energy resources have been connected to the grid with the promotion of global energy strategies, which presents new opportunities for the current electricity market. However, the growing integration of renewable energy also brings more challenges, such as power system reliability and the participants’ marketable behavior. Thus, how to coordinate integrated renewable resources in the electricity market environment has gained increasing interest. In this paper, a bilevel bidding model for load serving entities (LSEs) considering grid-level energy storage (ES) and virtual power plant (VPP) is established in the day-ahead (DA) market. Then, the model is extended by considering contingencies in the intraday (ID) market. Also, according to the extended bidding model, a remedial strategic rescheduling approach for LSE’s daily profit is proposed. It provides a quantitative assessment of LSE’s loss reduction based on contingency forecasting, which can be applied to the power system dispatch to help LSEs deal with coming contingencies. Simulation results verify the correctness and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Improved Three-Phase AFD Islanding Detection Based on Digital Control and Non-Detection Zone Elimination
Authors: Zheng Xinxin , Zhang Rui , Chen Xi , Sun Nong
Published: September 2018

This paper proposes an improved active frequency drift (AFD) islanding detection method of a three-phase inverter. Different than the existing single-phase AFD method, in the three-phase system, the disturbance is added to the phase angle, which takes part in coordinate transformation calculations. Thus, the frequency drift of the three-phase reference current can be realized by the disturbance of the phase angle. It is unnecessary to add frequency drift to each phase respectively with the proposed method, which can simplify the control system. Furthermore, the non-detection zone can be eliminated by updating certain parameters; therefore, the detection method is sensitive. In this paper, the application of the proposed method in a digital control system is discussed in detail. The non-detection zone is analyzed, and an elimination method is proposed. Finally, the simulation and experimental results are given to verify the theoretical analysis.
Optimum Thermal Concentration of Solar Thermoelectric Generators (STEG) in Realistic Meteorological Condition
Authors: Karami Rad Meysam , Omid Mahmoud , Rajabipour Ali , Tajabadi Fariba , Aistrup Rosendahl Lasse , Rezaniakolaei Alireza
Published: September 2018

Global warming and air pollution concerns make renewable energies inevitable. Thermoelectric (TE) generators—solid-state devices which can convert thermal energy into electricity—are one of the candidates to capture the energy of the sun’s rays. Impact of high thermal on flat panel Solar Thermoelectric Generator (STEG) performance is known. In this research, a method to optimize thermal concentration in realistic terrestrial condition is introduced. To this end, a Simulink model of the STEG was developed, and module performance curves are determined. According to the results, Thermal concentration in realistic condition is more than double, compared to standard condition. The efficiency of the STEG was 4.5%, 6.8%, and 7.7% when the module figure of merit (ZT) was set to 0.8, 1.2, and 1.5, respectively, in locations with a higher ratio of diffused radiation (e.g., Aalborg and Denmark). These values corresponded to 70%, 106%, and 121% of the electrical power produced by parabolic troughs under the same meteorological condition. Furthermore, the possibility of controlling the ratio of heat and electricity in the cogeneration system is possible by controlling the heating flow or electric current. Heating flow can be controlled by the electrical current in STEG over 17 percent of its value in optimum condition.
Multi-Objective Optimization Design of an Electrohydrostatic Actuator Based on a Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm and an Analytic Hierarchy Process
Authors: Yu Bo , Wu Shuai , Jiao Zongxia , Shang Yaoxing
Published: September 2018

During the last few years, the concept of more-electric aircraft has been pushed ahead by industry and academics. For a more-electric actuation system, the electrohydrostatic actuator (EHA) has shown its potential for better reliability, low maintenance cost and reducing aircraft weight. Designing an EHA for aviation applications is a hard task, which should balance several inconsistent objectives simultaneously, such as weight, stiffness and power consumption. This work presents a method to obtain the optimal EHA, which combines multi-objective optimization with a synthetic decision method, that is, a multi-objective optimization design method, that can combine designers’ preferences and experiences. The evaluation model of an EHA in terms of weight, stiffness and power consumption is studied in the first section. Then, a multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) algorithm is introduced to obtain the Pareto front, and an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is applied to help find the optimal design in the Pareto front. A demo of an EHA design illustrates the feasibility of the proposed method.
Experimental Analysis on Flame Flickering of a Swirl Partially Premixed Combustion
Authors: Xi Zhongya , Fu Zhongguang , Sabir Syed , Hu Xiaotian , Jiang Yibo , Zhang Tao
Published: September 2018

An experiment was conducted to explore the flickering parameters under varying mass flow rate of fuel m ˙ F with spatial analysis and global analysis. The parameters include mean value, flickering weighted average frequency F, flickering coefficient of variation cv (firstly introduced), skewness s, and kurtosis k. From the spatial analysis, it was found that the brightest part of flame is located in its core, and the brightness gradually decreased from the inside out. The distributions of high levels of F, cv, s, and k are almost consistent, all lying in the flickering edge, which is a thin layer where the parameters sharply declined. From the global analysis, with the increment of m ˙ F, the global F decreased slightly; the global cv declined uniformly, which means the oscillation amplitude diminished and thus the flame became more stable; the global s linearly reduced; and the global k also showed a decreasing trend. The decreasing global s indicates that the number distribution gradually became symmetric, and the decreasing global k indicates that the number distribution progressively became flat. Consequently, the number distribution progressively tends to normal distribution at larger m ˙ F.
The Prospective Non-Conventional Alternate and Renewable Energy Sources in Pakistan—A Focus on Biomass Energy for Power Generation, Transportation, and Industrial Fuel
Authors: Tareen Wajahat Ullah Khan , Anjum Zuha , Yasin Nabila , Siddiqui Leenah , Farhat Ifzana , Malik Suheel Abdullah , Mekhilef Saad , Seyedmahmoudian Mehdi , Horan Ben , Darwish Mohamed , Aamir Muhammad , Chek Leong Wen
Published: September 2018

Pakistan is experiencing an undersupply of electricity, causing load shedding several hours per day due to the adherence to conventional energy resources having quantitative and environmental limitations. Fossil fuels generate more than half of the country’s total electricity, but they will ultimately run out due to their limited supply. Their combustion emits greenhouse gases, posing environmental threats. Since the world is tending toward efficient and sustainable alternative methods for harvesting energy from nature, Pakistan has also been investigating an elevated deployment of renewable energy projects. This paper presents a critical analysis of the present energy sector of Pakistan along with global scenarios. Pakistan relies on mainly thermal, hydro, and nuclear energy for power generation. National solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass resources have not been extensively explored and implemented. This paper provides an insight into the potential of these resources in Pakistan to generate electricity for the national grid on a large scale. It focuses on biomass energy, which can be harnessed from bagasse, poultry waste, and municipal waste for power production, and biomass-based fuel for industries and transportation. It concludes that biomass is the most sustainable, available, implementable, and environment-friendly resource that can be utilized to lessen the energy demand and supply gap in Pakistan.
Characterization of Saccharomyces bayanus CN1 for Fermenting Partially Dehydrated Grapes Grown in Cool Climate Winemaking Regions
Authors: Kelly Jennifer , Yang Fei , Dowling Lisa , Nurgel Canan , Beh Ailin , Di Profio Fred , Pickering Gary , Inglis Debra L.
Published: September 2018

This project aims to characterize and define an autochthonous yeast, Saccharomyces bayanus CN1, for wine production from partially dehydrated grapes. The yeast was identified via PCR and Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) analysis as Saccharomyces bayanus, and then subsequently used in fermentations using partially dehydrated or control grapes. Wine grapes were dried to 28.0°Brix from the control grapes at a regular harvest of 23.0°Brix. Both the partially dehydrated and control grapes were then vinified with each of two yeast strains, S. bayanus CN1 and S. cerevisiae EC1118, which is a common yeast used for making wine from partially dehydrated grapes. Chemical analysis gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and enzymatic) of wines at each starting sugar level showed that CN1 produced comparable ethanol levels to EC1118, while producing higher levels of glycerol, but lower levels of oxidative compounds (acetic acid, ethyl acetate, and acetaldehyde) compared to EC1118. Yeast choice impacted the wine hue; the degree of red pigment coloration and total red pigment concentration differed between yeasts. A sensory triangle test (n = 40) showed that wines made from different starting sugar concentrations and yeast strains both differed significantly. This newly identified S. bayanus strain appears to be well-suited for this style of wine production from partially dehydrated grapes by reducing the oxidative compounds in the wine, with potential commercial application for cool climate wine regions.
Resistance of Escherichia coli in Turkeys after Therapeutic or Environmental Exposition with Enrofloxacin Depending on Flooring
Authors: Chuppava Bussarakam , Keller Birgit , El-Wahab Amr Abd , Meißner Jessica , Kietzmann Manfred , Visscher Christian
Published: September 2018

Gaining knowledge about the spread of resistance against antibacterial agents is a primary challenge in livestock farming. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of double antibiotic treatment (at days 10–14 and days 26–30) with enrofloxacin or solely environmental exposition (identical times, directly into the litter) on resistance against antibacterial agents in commensal Escherichia coli in comparison with the control (without treatment), depending on different flooring. A total of 720 Big 6 turkeys participated in three trials. Four different flooring designs were examined: An entire floor pen covered with litter, a floor pen with heating, a partially slatted flooring including 50% littered area, and a fully slatted flooring with a sand bath. A total of 864 Escherichia coli isolates were obtained from cloacal swabs and poultry manure samples at days 2, 9, 15, 21, and 35. The broth microdilution method (MIC) was used to determine the resistance of isolates to enrofloxacin and ampicillin. A double antibiotic treatment with enrofloxacin reduced the proportion of susceptible Escherichia coli isolates significantly in all flooring designs. Simulation of water losses had no significant effect, nor did the flooring design. Ampicillin-resistant isolates were observed, despite not using ampicillin.
Development and Application of Novel Caregiver Hygiene Behavior Measures Relating to Food Preparation, Handwashing, and Play Environments in Rural Kenya
Authors: Wodnik Breanna K. , Freeman Matthew C. , Ellis Anna S. , Awino Ogutu Emily , Webb Girard Amy , Caruso Bethany A.
Published: September 2018

Exposure to fecal pathogens results in both acute and chronic sequalae in young children. Diarrhea causes nearly 20% of all under-five mortality, while even sub-clinical enteric infections may lead to growth shortfalls. Stunting affects nearly 165 million children globally and results in lifelong and intergenerational effects for the world’s poorest populations. Caregiver hygiene behaviors, such as those surrounding handwashing and food preparation, play a critical role in exposure to fecal pathogens; standard metrics to assess these behaviors are warranted to provide a means of quantifying the impact these behaviors have on enteric infections and to evaluate the success or failure of interventions and programs. This paper documents the development of three novel caregiver hygiene behavior measures: hygienic food preparation and storage, handwashing at key times, and provision of a safe play environment for children under two years. We developed these measures using formative qualitative work, survey creation and deployment theoretically underpinned by the COM-B model of behavior change, and exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The final measure for hygienic food preparation and storage includes 10 items across two factors; the final measure for handwashing at key times includes 15 items across three factors; and the final measure for safe play environment contains 13 items across three factors. Future researchers may employ these measures to assess caregiver behaviors in other populations, identify specific behavioral dimensions that should be the focus of interventions, and evaluate interventions and programs.
Sirtuins and Immuno-Metabolism of Sepsis
Authors: Wang Xianfeng , Buechler Nancy L. , Woodruff Alan G. , Long David L. , Zabalawi Manal , Yoza Barbara K. , McCall Charles E. , Vachharajani Vidula
Published: September 2018

Sepsis and septic shock are the leading causes of death in non-coronary intensive care units worldwide. During sepsis-associated immune dysfunction, the early/hyper-inflammatory phase transitions to a late/hypo-inflammatory phase as sepsis progresses. The majority of sepsis-related deaths occur during the hypo-inflammatory phase. There are no phase-specific therapies currently available for clinical use in sepsis. Metabolic rewiring directs the transition from hyper-inflammatory to hypo-inflammatory immune responses to protect homeostasis during sepsis inflammation, but the mechanisms underlying this immuno-metabolic network are unclear. Here, we review the roles of NAD+ sensing Sirtuin (SIRT) family members in controlling immunometabolic rewiring during the acute systemic inflammatory response associated with sepsis. We discuss individual contributions among family members SIRT 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 in regulating the metabolic switch between carbohydrate-fueled hyper-inflammation to lipid-fueled hypo-inflammation. We further highlight the role of SIRT1 and SIRT2 as potential “druggable” targets for promoting immunometabolic homeostasis and increasing sepsis survival.
Identification and Characterization of microRNAs during Retinoic Acid-Induced Regeneration of a Molluscan Central Nervous System
Authors: Walker Sarah E. , Spencer Gaynor E. , Necakov Aleksandar , Carlone Robert L.
Published: September 2018

Retinoic acid (RA) is the biologically active metabolite of vitamin A and has become a well-established factor that induces neurite outgrowth and regeneration in both vertebrates and invertebrates. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms that may mediate RA-induced neurite sprouting remain unclear. In the past decade, microRNAs have emerged as important regulators of nervous system development and regeneration, and have been shown to contribute to processes such as neurite sprouting. However, few studies have demonstrated the role of miRNAs in RA-induced neurite sprouting. By miRNA sequencing analysis, we identify 482 miRNAs in the regenerating central nervous system (CNS) of the mollusc Lymnaea stagnalis, 219 of which represent potentially novel miRNAs. Of the remaining conserved miRNAs, 38 show a statistically significant up- or downregulation in regenerating CNS as a result of RA treatment. We further characterized the expression of one neuronally-enriched miRNA upregulated by RA, miR-124. We demonstrate, for the first time, that miR-124 is expressed within the cell bodies and neurites of regenerating motorneurons. Moreover, we identify miR-124 expression within the growth cones of cultured ciliary motorneurons (pedal A), whereas expression in the growth cones of another class of respiratory motorneurons (right parietal A) was absent in vitro. These findings support our hypothesis that miRNAs are important regulators of retinoic acid-induced neuronal outgrowth and regeneration in regeneration-competent species.
Concatenation of Human Connexin26 (hCx26) and Human Connexin46 (hCx46) for the Analysis of Heteromeric Gap Junction Hemichannels and Heterotypic Gap Junction Channels
Authors: Schadzek Patrik , Hermes Doris , Stahl Yannick , Dilger Nadine , Ngezahayo Anaclet
Published: September 2018

Gap junction channels and hemichannels formed by concatenated connexins were analyzed. Monomeric (hCx26, hCx46), homodimeric (hCx46-hCx46, hCx26-hCx26), and heterodimeric (hCx26-hCx46, hCx46-hCx26) constructs, coupled to GFP, were expressed in HeLa cells. Confocal microscopy showed that the tandems formed gap junction plaques with a reduced plaque area compared to monomeric hCx26 or hCx46. Dye transfer experiments showed that concatenation allows metabolic transfer. Expressed in Xenopus oocytes, the inside-out patch-clamp configuration showed single channels with a conductance of about 46 pS and 39 pS for hemichannels composed of hCx46 and hCx26 monomers, respectively, when chloride was replaced by gluconate on both membrane sides. The conductance was reduced for hCx46-hCx46 and hCx26-hCx26 homodimers, probably due to the concatenation. Heteromerized hemichannels, depending on the connexin-order, were characterized by substates at 26 pS and 16 pS for hCx46-hCx26 and 31 pS and 20 pS for hCx26-hCx46. Because of the linker between the connexins, the properties of the formed hemichannels and gap junction channels (e.g., single channel conductance) may not represent the properties of hetero-oligomerized channels. However, should the removal of the linker be successful, this method could be used to analyze the electrical and metabolic selectivity of such channels and the physiological consequences for a tissue.
Overexpression of OsGID1 Enhances the Resistance of Rice to the Brown Planthopper Nilaparvata lugens
Authors: Chen Lin , Cao Tiantian , Zhang Jin , Lou Yonggen
Published: September 2018

Gibberellins (GAs) play pivotal roles in plant growth and development, and in defenses against pathogens. Thus far, how the GA-mediated signaling pathway regulates plant defenses against herbivores remains largely unknown. In this study, we cloned the rice GA receptor gene OsGID1, whose expression was induced by damage from the brown planthopper (BPH) Niaparvata lugens, mechanical wounding, and treatment with salicylic acid (SA), but not jasmonic acid. The overexpression of OsGID1 (oe-GID1) decreased BPH-induced levels of SA, H2O2, and three SA-pathway-related WRKY transcripts, but enhanced BPH-induced levels of ethylene. Bioassays in the laboratory revealed that gravid BPH females preferred to feed and lay eggs on wild type (WT) plants than on oe-GID1 plants. Moreover, the hatching rate of BPH eggs on oe-GID1 plants was significantly lower than that on WT plants. In the field, population densities of BPH adults and nymphs were consistently and significantly lower on oe-OsGID1 plants than on WT plants. The increased resistance in oe-GID1 plants was probably due to the increased lignin level mediated by the GA pathway, and to the decrease in the expression of the three WRKY genes. Our findings illustrated that the OsGID1-mediated GA pathway plays a positive role in mediating the resistance of rice to BPH.
Preparation and Characterization of Macroalgae Biochar Nanomaterials with Highly Efficient Adsorption and Photodegradation Ability
Authors: Zhou Yarui , Zhang Hailong , Cai Lu , Guo Jian , Wang Yaning , Ji Lili , Song Wendong
Published: September 2018

In this study, carbonized kelp biochar (AKB) modified by KOH impregnation and photocatalytic Bi2MoO6/AKB composite (BKBC) nanomaterials were the first time successfully synthesized for efficient removal of dyes in aqueous solution. BET, XRD, FT-IR, and SEM were employed to characterize as-prepared samples. UV-vis and other test results indicated that the removal efficiency of methylene blue (MB) was 61.39% and 94.12% for BKBC and AKB, respectively, which was up to 13 times and 20 times higher in comparison with pure Bi2MoO6 (PBM). In addition, the equilibrium adsorption capacity of MB could reach up to 324.1 mg/g for AKB. This high dyes adsorption performance could be likely attributed to its high specific surface area (507.177 m2/g) and its abundant presence of various functional groups such as –OH and =C–H on AKB. Particularly, the existing of amorphous carbon and transition metal oxides, such as Fe2O3 and Mn5O8, could be beneficial for the photodegradation of MB for AKB. Meanwhile, experimental data indicated that adsorption kinetics complied with the pseudo-second order model well, and all of the tests had satisfactory results in terms of the highly efficient adsorption and photodegradation activity of AKB nanomaterials, which suggested its great potential in wastewater treatment.
Photoelectrocatalytic Degradation of Paraquat by Pt Loaded TiO2 Nanotubes on Ti Anodes
Authors: Özcan Levent , Mutlu Turan , Yurdakal Sedat
Published: September 2018

Nanotube structured TiO2 on Ti surface were prepared in ethylene glycol (Ti/TiO2NTEG) medium by anodic oxidation method with different times and then the plates were calcinated at different temperatures. Non-nanotube structured Ti/TiO2, prepared by thermal oxidation method, and nanotube structured TiO2 on Ti plate in hydrogen fluoride solution were also prepared for comparison. Pt loaded Ti/TiO2NTEG photoanodes were also prepared by cyclic voltammetry method with different cycles and the optimum loaded Pt amount was determined. Photoanodes were characterized by using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy-Dispersive X-ray Analysis (SEM-EDX), and photocurrent methods. XRD analyses proved that almost all TiO2 is in anatase phase. SEM analyses show that nanotubes and Pt nanoparticles on nanotube surface are dispersed quite homogeneously. The longest nanotubes were obtained in the ethylene glycol medium and the nanotube length increased by increasing applied anodic oxidation time. In addition, a linear correlation between nanotube length and XRD peak intensity was found. Moreover, SEM-EDX and XRD analyses evidence that Pt nanoparticles on nanotube surface are metallic and in cubic structure. Photoelectrocatalytic degradation of paraquat was performed using the prepared photoanodes. Moreover, electrocatalytic and photocatalytic degradations of paraquat were also investigated for comparison, however lower activities were observed. These results evidence that the photoanodes show a significant synergy for photoelectrocatalytic activity.
Comparative Study of Two Nanoindentation Approaches for Assessing Mechanical Properties of Ion-Irradiated Stainless Steel 316
Authors: Saleh Michael , Zaidi Zain , Hurt Christopher , Ionescu Mihail , Munroe Paul , Bhattacharyya Dhriti
Published: September 2018

Nanoindentation is a commonly used method to measure the hardness of surfaces with thin layers, and is especially useful in studying the change in mechanical properties of ion irradiated materials. This research compares two different methods of nanoindentation to study the changes in hardness resulting from ion irradiation of SS316 alloy. The samples were irradiated by He2+ ions at beam energies of 1, 2, and 3 MeV, respectively. The first method involves the indentation of the irradiated surface perpendicular to it using the continuous stiffness mode (CSM), while the second applies the indents on an oblique surface, accessing an inclined cross-section of the irradiated material. Finite element modelling has been used to further illuminate the deformation processes below the indents in the two methods. The hardness profiles obtained from the two nanoindentation methods reveal the differences in the outcomes and advantages of the respective procedures, and provide a useful guideline for their applicability to various experimental conditions. It is shown through an in depth analysis of the results that the ‘top-down’ method is preferable in the case when the ion irradiation energy, or, equivalently, the irradiated depth is small, due to its greater spatial resolution. However, the oblique cross section method is more suitable when the ion irradiation energy is >1 MeV, since it allows a more faithful measurement of hardness as a function of dose, as the plastic field is much smaller and more sensitive to local hardness values.
Microstructure and Fabrication of Cu-Pb-Sn/Q235 Laminated Composite by Semi-Solid Rolling
Authors: Zhang Yubo , Liu Jiaming , Fu Ying , Jie Jinchuan , Lu Yiping , Guo Qingtao , Wang Tongmin , Li Tingju
Published: September 2018

In the present work, Cu-Pb-Sn and Q235 laminated composite were fabricated by a horizontal semisolid rolling procedure. The interfacial structure, elemental distribution, and properties of the composite were investigated. Finite-element simulation was conducted to analyze the temperature field and solidification process during the semisolid rolling. An appropriate semi-solid region was observed at a pouring temperature of 1598 K in the simulation, which would effectively kept fluidity and avoided casting defects. The experimental results showed that good interface between Cu-Pb-Sn alloy and Q235 steel was achieved by the proposed process at 1598 K, without casting defects or excessive deformation. The Cu and Fe alloys were bonded mainly by the diffusion of Fe into Cu matrix, and a handful of microscopic Pb-rich layer. Fine Pb-rich precipitates were uniformly distributed in the Cu-Pb-Sn alloy, and were considered to be advantageous to the self-lubrication property. The average tensile-shear strength of the interface was higher than 57.68 MPa at a pouring temperature of 1598 K, which fulfilled the requirements for a further extrusion process.
Novel Protein Kinase Inhibitors Related to Tau Pathology Modulate Tau Protein-Self Interaction Using a Luciferase Complementation Assay
Authors: Holzer Max , Schade Nico , Opitz Ansgar , Hilbrich Isabel , Stieler Jens , Vogel Tim , Neukel Valentina , Oberstadt Moritz , Totzke Frank , Schächtele Christoph , Sippl Wolfgang , Hilgeroth Andreas
Published: September 2018

The current number of drugs available for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is strongly limited and their benefit for therapy is given only in the early state of the disease. An effective therapy should affect those processes which mainly contribute to the neuronal decay. There have been many approaches for a reduction of toxic Aβ peptides which mostly failed to halt cognitive deterioration in patients. The formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) and its precursor tau oligomers have been suggested as main cause of neuronal degeneration because of a direct correlation of their density to the degree of dementia. Reducing of tau aggregation may be a viable approach for the treatment of AD. NFT consist of hyperphosphorylated tau protein and tau hyperphosphorylation reduces microtubule binding. Several protein kinases are discussed to be involved in tau hyperphosphorylation. We developed novel inhibitors of three protein kinases (gsk-3β, cdk5, and cdk1) and discussed their activity in relation to tau phosphorylation and on tau–tau interaction as a nucleation stage of a tau aggregation in cells. Strongest effects were observed for those inhibitors with effects on all the three kinases with emphasis on gsk-3β in nanomolar ranges.
Therapeutic Potential of Brazilian Cerrado Campomanesia Species on Metabolic Dysfunctions
Authors: Cardozo Carla Maiara Lopes , Inada Aline Carla , Marcelino Gabriela , Figueiredo Priscila Silva , Arakaki Daniela Granja , Hiane Priscila Aiko , Cardoso Claudia Andrea Lima , Guimarães Rita de Cássia Avellaneda , Freitas Karine de Cássia
Published: September 2018

Obesity, in conjunction with other metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and dyslipidemia, is a feature of metabolic syndrome which is characterized by a pro-inflammatory state and increased oxidative stress. Therefore, antioxidant foods are proposed to prevent and treat these disorders. Medicinal plants are one of the main strategies in this regard. Guavira, a Brazilian Cerrado plant, contains different bioactive compounds with a high antioxidant capacity and without clinical or reproductive toxicity effects. Though there are different varieties of guavira, the principal Brazilian Cerrado guaviras demonstrated hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, and hypocholesterolemic actions. There is also a potential antiplatelet agent in C. xanthocarpa, while C. adamantium displayed hypocholesterolemic actions in animal models and human clinical trials. On the other hand, even with a lack of studies related to C. pubescens, it demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects and an antioxidant capacity in in vitro studies. Despite the fact that most of the studies were not performed to evaluate pathological conditions specific to obese animal models or obese subjects, guavira demonstrated effects in metabolic disorders that are commonly related to the obesity context, such as cardiovascular disturbances and hyperglycemia status. This suggests that guavira is a potential therapeutic approach to obesity-induced metabolic syndrome.
The Flavonoid Kaempferol Ameliorates Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes by Suppressing Hepatic Glucose Production
Authors: Alkhalidy Hana , Moore Will , Wang Yao , Luo Jing , McMillan Ryan P. , Zhen Wei , Zhou Kequan , Liu Dongmin
Published: September 2018

In diabetes mellitus, the excessive rate of glucose production from the liver is considered a primary contributor for the development of hyperglycemia, in particular, fasting hyperglycemia. In this study, we investigated whether kaempferol, a flavonol present in several medicinal herbs and foods, can be used to ameliorate diabetes in an animal model of insulin deficiency and further explored the mechanism underlying the anti-diabetic effect of this flavonol. We demonstrate that oral administration of kaempferol (50 mg/kg/day) to streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice significantly improved hyperglycemia and reduced the incidence of overt diabetes from 100% to 77.8%. This outcome was accompanied by a reduction in hepatic glucose production and an increase in glucose oxidation in the muscle of the diabetic mice, whereas body weight, calorie intake, body composition, and plasma insulin and glucagon levels were not altered. Consistently, treatment with kaempferol restored hexokinase activity in the liver and skeletal muscle of diabetic mice while suppressed hepatic pyruvate carboxylase activity and gluconeogenesis. These results suggest that kaempferol may exert antidiabetic action via promoting glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle and inhibiting gluconeogenesis in the liver.
The Response of IL-17-Producing B Cells to ArtinM Is Independent of Its Interaction with TLR2 and CD14
Authors: Oliveira-Brito Patrícia Kellen Martins , Roque-Barreira Maria Cristina , Da Silva Thiago Aparecido
Published: September 2018

ArtinM, a d-mannose-binding lectin from Artocarpus heterophyllus, activates antigen-presenting cells by recognizing Toll-like receptor (TLR)2 and cluster of differentiation (CD)14 N-glycans, induces cytokine production, and promotes type 1 T helper (Th1) immunity, a process that plays an assisting role in the combat against fungal infections. We recently demonstrated that ArtinM stimulates CD4+ T cells to produce interleukin (IL)-17 through direct interaction with CD3. Here, we further investigated the effects of ArtinM on the production of IL-17 by B cell activation. We showed that ArtinM activates murine B cells, increasing IL-17 and IL-12p40 production. The direct effect of ArtinM was sufficient to induce IL-17 production in B cells, and we did not find differences in the levels of IL-17 between the B cells purified from the wild-type (WT) and knockout (KO) mice for TLR2 or CD14 in the presence of ArtinM. Thus, the effects of ArtinM on splenic B cells through carbohydrate recognition may contribute to Th17 immunity; however, the mechanism involved is not associated with the interaction of ArtinM with TLR2 and CD14. The current work represents a pioneering effort in the understanding of the induction of IL-17 by lectins in B cells.
New Triterpenoid from Novel Triterpenoid 15-O-Glycosylation on Ganoderic Acid A by Intestinal Bacteria of Zebrafish
Authors: Chang Te-Sheng , Chiang Chien-Min , Wang Tzi-Yuan , Lee Chun-Hsien , Lee Yu-Wen , Wu Jiumn-Yih
Published: September 2018

Functional bacteria that could biotransform triterpenoids may exist in the diverse microflora of fish intestines. Ganoderic acid A (GAA) is a major triterpenoid from the medicinal fungus Ganoderma lucidum. In studying the microbial biotransformation of GAA, dozens of intestinal bacteria were isolated from the excreta of zebrafish. The bacteria’s ability to catalyze GAA were determined using ultra-performance liquid chromatography analysis. One positive strain, GA A07, was selected for functional studies. GA A07 was confirmed as Bacillus sp., based on the DNA sequences of the 16S rRNA gene. The biotransformed metabolite was purified with the preparative high-performance liquid chromatography method and identified as GAA-15-O-β-glucoside, based on the mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectral data. The present study is the first to report the glycosylation of Ganoderma triterpenoids. Moreover, 15-O-glycosylation is a new microbial biotransformation of triterpenoids, and the biotransformed metabolite, GAA-15-O-β-glucoside, is a new compound.
QSAR Study of N-Myristoyltransferase Inhibitors of Antimalarial Agents
Authors: Santos-Garcia Letícia , De Mecenas Filho Marco Antônio , Musilek Kamil , Kuca Kamil , Ramalho Teodorico Castro , Da Cunha Elaine Fontes Ferreira
Published: September 2018

Malaria is a disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium that affects millions of people worldwide. In recent years there have been parasite resistances to several drugs, including the first-line antimalarial treatment. With the aim of proposing new drugs candidates for the treatment of disease, Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationship (QSAR) methodology was applied to 83 N-myristoyltransferase inhibitors, synthesized by Leatherbarrow et al. The QSAR models were developed using 63 compounds, the training set, and externally validated using 20 compounds, the test set. Ten different alignments for the two test sets were tested and the models were generated by the technique that combines genetic algorithms and partial least squares. The best model shows r2 = 0.757, q2adjusted = 0.634, R2pred = 0.746, R2m = 0.716, ∆R2m = 0.133, R2p = 0.609, and R2r = 0.110. This work suggested a good correlation with the experimental results and allows the design of new potent N-myristoyltransferase inhibitors.
Enhanced Photodynamic Anticancer Activities of Multifunctional Magnetic Nanoparticles (Fe3O4) Conjugated with Chlorin e6 and Folic Acid in Prostate and Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Choi Kyong-Hoon , Nam Ki Chang , Cho Guangsup , Jung Jin-Seung , Park Bong Joo
Published: September 2018

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising alternative to conventional cancer treatment methods. Nonetheless, improvement of in vivo light penetration and cancer cell-targeting efficiency remain major challenges in clinical photodynamic therapy. This study aimed to develop multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles conjugated with a photosensitizer (PS) and cancer-targeting molecules via a simple surface modification process for PDT. To selectively target cancer cells and PDT functionality, core magnetic (Fe3O4) nanoparticles were covalently bound with chlorin e6 (Ce6) as a PS and folic acid (FA). When irradiated with a 660-nm long-wavelength light source, the Fe3O4-Ce6-FA nanoparticles with good biocompatibility exerted marked anticancer effects via apoptosis, as confirmed by analyzing the translocation of the plasma membrane, nuclear fragmentation, activities of caspase-3/7 in prostate (PC-3) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cells. Ce6, used herein as a PS, is thus more useful for PDT because of its ability to produce a high singlet oxygen quantum yield, which is owed to deep penetration by virtue of its long-wavelength absorption band; however, further in vivo studies are required to verify its biological effects for clinical applications.
Recent Advance on Draw Solutes Development in Forward Osmosis
Authors: Long Qingwu , Jia Yongmei , Li Jinping , Yang Jiawei , Liu Fangmei , Zheng Jian , Yu Biao
Published: September 2018

In recent years, membrane technologies have been developed to address water shortage and energy crisis. Forward osmosis (FO), as an emerging membrane-based water treatment technology, employs an extremely concentrated draw solution (DS) to draw water pass through the semi-permeable membrane from a feed solution. DS as a critical material in FO process plays a key role in determining separation performance and energy cost. Most of existing DSs after FO still require a regeneration step making its return to initial state. Therefore, selecting suitable DS with low reverse solute, high flux, and easy regeneration is critical for improving FO energy efficiency. Numerous novel DSs with improved performance and lower regeneration cost have been developed. However, none reviews reported the categories of DS based on the energy used for recovery up to now, leading to the lack of enough awareness of energy consumption in DS regeneration. This review will give a comprehensive overview on the existing DSs based on the types of energy utilized for DS regeneration. DS categories based on different types of energy used for DS recovery, mainly including direct use based, chemical energy based, waste heat based, electric energy based, magnetic field energy based, and solar energy based are proposed. The respective benefits and detriments of the majority of DS are addressed respectively according to the current reported literatures. Finally, future directions of energy applied to DS recovery are also discussed.
Zero Deforestation Agreement Assessment at Farm Level in Colombia Using ALOS PALSAR
Authors: Pedraza Carlos , Clerici Nicola , Forero Cristian Fabián , Melo América , Navarrete Diego , Lizcano Diego , Zuluaga Andrés Felipe , Delgado Juliana , Galindo Gustavo
Published: September 2018

Due to the fast deforestation rates in the tropics, multiple international efforts have been launched to reduce deforestation and develop consistent methodologies to assess forest extension and change. Since 2010 Colombia implemented the Mainstream Sustainable Cattle Ranching project with the participation of small farmers in a payment for environmental services (PES) scheme where zero deforestation agreements are signed. To assess the fulfillment of such agreements at farm level, ALOS-1 and ALOS-2 PALSAR fine beam dual imagery for years 2010 and 2016 was processed with ad-hoc routines to estimate stable forest, deforestation, and stable nonforest extension for 2615 participant farms in five heterogeneous regions of Colombia. Landsat VNIR imagery was integrated in the processing chain to reduce classification uncertainties due to radar limitations. Farms associated with Meta Foothills regions showed zero deforestation during the period analyzed (2010–2016), while other regions showed low deforestation rates with the exception of the Cesar River Valley (75 ha). Results, suggests that topography and dry weather conditions have an effect on radar-based mapping accuracy, i.e., deforestation and forest classes showed lower user accuracy values on mountainous and dry regions revealing overestimations in these environments. Nevertheless, overall ALOS Phased Array L-band SAR (PALSAR) data provided overall accurate, relevant, and consistent information for forest change analysis for local zero deforestation agreements assessment. Improvements to preprocessing routines and integration of high dense radar time series should be further investigated to reduce classification errors from complex topography conditions.
Harmony in Diversity: Can the One Belt One Road Initiative Promote China’s Outward Foreign Direct Investment?
Authors: Kang Lili , Peng Fei , Zhu Yu , Pan An
Published: September 2018

This paper investigates the effect of the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative on China’s outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) using a dataset of all host countries for the period of 2010–2015. The employed econometric technique combines a difference-in-differences estimator with matching techniques. The results show that China’s OFDI in OBOR countries is about 40% higher than in non-OBOR countries. After the initiative, the OFDI from China increases by 46.2% in OBOR countries. However, after controlling for the heterogeneity across OBOR and non-OBOR countries using the matching approach, the significance of the increasing effect caused by the OBOR initiative disappears. We also find the OBOR initiative diminishes the resource-seeking motivation and improves the market-seeking motivation of China’s OFDI. Our results cast doubts on the infrastructure-led and institution-based strategy of the OBOR initiative, but support the boosting effect of the OBOR initiative on institutional cooperation and cultural convergence. Thus, the OBOR initiative is a sustainable continuation and development of the long tradition of economic, institutional, and cultural convergence with the OBOR countries, rather than a temporary policy shock.
Locating Multiple Size and Multiple Type of Charging Station for Battery Electricity Vehicles
Authors: Cui Shaohua , Zhao Hui , Wen Huijie , Zhang Cuiping
Published: September 2018

As environmental and energy issues have attracted more and more attention from the public, research on electric vehicles has become extensive and in-depth. As driving range limit is one of the key factors restricting the development of electric vehicles, the energy supply of electric vehicles mainly relies on the building of charging stations, battery swapping stations, and wireless charging lanes. Actually, the latter two kinds of infrastructure are seldom employed due to their immature technology, relatively large construction costs, and difficulty in standardization. Currently, charging stations are widely used since, in the real world, there are different types of charging station with various levels which could be suitable for the needs of network users. In the past, the study of the location charging stations for battery electric vehicles did not take the different sizes and different types into consideration. In fact, it is of great significance to set charging stations with multiple sizes and multiple types to meet the needs of network users. In the paper, we define the model as a location problem in a capacitated network with an agent technique using multiple sizes and multiple types and formulate the model as a 0–1 mixed integer linear program (MILP) to minimize the total trip travel time of all agents. Finally, we demonstrate the model through numerical examples on two networks and make sensitivity analyses on total budget, initial quantity, and the anxious range of agents accordingly. The results show that as the initial charge increases or the budget increases, travel time for all agents can be reduced; a reduction in range anxiety can increase travel time for all agents.
Empowerment and Tech Adoption: Introducing the Treadle Pump Triggers Farmers’ Innovation in Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Beyene Shimelis , Regassa Teshome H. , Legesse Belaineh , Mamo Martha , Tadesse Tsegaye
Published: September 2018

In 2013, thirty-eight treadle pumps (TPs) were installed as low-cost technology introduction for small-scale irrigation in eastern Ethiopia. This pilot project also trained six farmers on tube well excavation, as well as the installation and maintenance of pumps. In June 2015, researchers visited nine of the thirty-eight TP villages and found only two TPs functioning as originally installed. The rest were replaced with a new technology developed by the trained farmers. Farmers, empowered by training, gained more control in developing technology options tailored to local needs and conditions of their communities. Adopters of the new technology stated that the limited water output and high labor demand of the conventional TP did not optimally fulfil their irrigation water requirements. The new technology had spread quickly to more than one hundred households due to three key factors. First, farmers’ innovative modifications of the initial excavation technique addressed the discharge limitations of the conventional TP by excavating boreholes with wider diameter. Second, local ownership of the new technology, including skills used in well drilling and manufacturing excavation implements, made the modified irrigation technology affordable and accessible to the majority of households. Third, this innovation spread organically without any external support, confirming its sustainability.