bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stencil Printing—A Novel Manufacturing Platform for Orodispersible Discs
Authors: Wickström Henrika , Koppolu Rajesh , Mäkilä Ermei , Toivakka Martti , Sandler Niklas
Published: January 2020

Stencil printing is a commonly used printing method, but it has not previously been used for production of pharmaceuticals. The aim of this study was to explore whether stencil printing of drug containing polymer inks could be used to manufacture flexible dosage forms with acceptable mass and content uniformity. Formulation development was supported by physicochemical characterization of the inks and final dosage forms. The printing of haloperidol (HAL) discs was performed using a prototype stencil printer. Ink development comprised of investigations of ink rheology in combination with printability assessment. The results show that stencil printing can be used to manufacture HAL doses in the therapeutic treatment range for 6–17 year-old children. The therapeutic HAL dose was achieved for the discs consisting of 16% of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and 1% of lactic acid (LA). The formulation pH remained above pH 4 and the results imply that the drug was amorphous. Linear dose escalation was achieved by an increase in aperture area of the print pattern, while keeping the stencil thickness fixed. Disintegration times of the orodispersible discs printed with 250 and 500 µm thick stencils were below 30 s. In conclusion, stencil printing shows potential as a manufacturing method of pharmaceuticals.
A Novel Testing Approach for Oxidative Degradation Dependent Incompatibility of Amine Moiety Containing Drugs with PEGs in Solid-State
Authors: Robnik Blaž , Naumoska Katerina , Časar Zdenko
Published: January 2020

Reactive impurities originating from excipients can cause drug stability issues, even at trace amounts. When produced during final dosage form storage, they are especially hard to control, and often, factors inducing their formation remain unidentified. Oxidative degradation dependent formation of formaldehyde and formic acid is responsible for N-methylation and N-formylation of amine-moiety-containing drug substances. A very popular combination of polyethylene glycols and iron oxides, used in more than two-thirds of FDA-approved tablet formulation drugs in 2018, was found to be responsible for increased concentrations of N-methyl impurity in the case of paroxetine hydrochloride. We propose a novel testing approach for early identification of potentially problematic combinations of excipients and drug substances. The polyethylene glycol 6000 degradation mechanism and kinetics in the presence of iron oxides is studied. The generality of the proposed stress test setup in view of the susceptibility of amine-moiety-containing drug substances to N-methylation and N-formylation is evaluated.
Hyaluronate Nanoparticles as a Delivery System to Carry Neuroglobin to the Brain after Stroke
Authors: Blanco Santos , Peralta Sebastián , Morales María Encarnación , Martínez-Lara Esther , Pedrajas José Rafael , Castán Herminia , Peinado María Ángeles , Ruiz María Adolfina
Published: January 2020

Therapies against stroke can restore the blood supply but cannot prevent the ischemic damage nor stimulate the recovery of the infarcted zone. The neuroglobin protein plays an important role in the neuro-regeneration process after stroke; however, the method for its effective systemic application has not been identified yet, as neuroglobin is unable to pass through the blood-brain barrier. Previously, we developed different types of sodium hyaluronate nanoparticles, which successfully cross the blood-brain barrier after stroke. In this work, these nanoparticles have been used to carry neuroglobin through the bloodstream to the nerve cells in rats submitted to stroke. We have biosynthesized rat-recombinant neuroglobin and determined the formulation of sodium hyaluronate nanoparticles loaded with neuroglobin, as well as its size and ζ-potential, encapsulation efficiently, in vitro release, and its kinetic of liberation. The results show that the formulation achieved is highly compatible with pharmaceutical use and may act as a delivery system to transport neuroglobin within the blood. We have found that this formulation injected intravenously immediately after stroke reached the damaged cerebral parenchyma at early stages (2 h). Neuroglobin colocalizes with its nanocarriers inside the nerve cells and remains after 24 h of reperfusion. In conclusion, the systemic administration of neuroglobin linked to nanoparticles is a potential neuroprotective drug-delivery strategy after stroke episodes.
Roots Structure and Development of Austrobaileya scandens (Austrobaileyaceae) and Implications for Their Evolution in Angiosperms
Authors: Bachelier Julien B. , Razik Imran , Schauer Maria , Seago James L.
Published: January 2020

Since the resolution of the ANA grade [Amborellales, Nymphaeales, Austrobaileyales] as sister to all other flowering plants, a few comparative studies of root structure have suggested that some of their anatomical traits could be of importance to understanding root evolutionary development and angiosperm phylogeny. However, there is still a paucity of information on root structure and apical meristems (RAMs) in these lineages and especially the sister to all other Austrobaileyales, Austrobaileya scandens. We used microtome sections and bright field, epifluorescence, laser confocal, and scanning electron microscopy to study adventitious root RAMs and tissues of A. scandens. Our results indicate that root structure is relatively simple in A. scandens. The epidermis has a thick cuticle and lacks root hairs. The stele is typically diarch, or some modification thereof, and surrounded by a cortex differentiated into a uniseriate endodermis, a middle region sometimes packed with starch, some oil cells, and colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and a multiseriate exodermis. Secondary growth produced many vessel elements in the secondary xylem and scattered sclerenchymatous fibers in secondary phloem. The absence of distinct patterning within the RAM and between the RAM and derivative differentiating tissues shows that the RAM is open and characterized by common initials. Roots structure and anatomy of A. scandens are thus essentially similar to some previously described in Amborella or Illicium in the ANA grade and many magnoliids, and suggest that the first woody flowering plants likely had an open RAM with common initials. Their functional and evolutionary significance in woody early-diverging and basal lineages of flowering plants and gymnosperms remains unclear, but they are clearly ancestral traits.
Exploring Trehalose on the Release of Levonorgestrel from Implantable PLGA Microneedles
Authors: Zhao Xiaoyu , Zhang Suohui , Yang Guozhong , Zhou Zequan , Gao Yunhua
Published: January 2020

Hydrophobic drugs wrapped in poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-based microneedles (MNs) require a long time to release completely. To obtain the desired duration, it is still necessary to modulate the release of hydrophobic drugs from MNs, while the PLGA composition is unchangeable. In this work, implantable PLGA microneedles (IPMNs) composed of PLGA arrowheads encapsulating levonorgestrel (LNG) and a water-soluble supporting array were designed. We explored trehalose used as a porogen on the release of hydrophobic LNG from PLGA-based MNs. Varying the trehalose content in PLGA arrowheads could induce different rates of drug release. The highest cumulative release of LNG was 76.2 ± 3.9% for IPMNs with 33.3% trehalose during 21 days in vitro, while the cumulative release of LNG was 60.4 ± 3.5% for IPMNs without trehalose. Pharmacokinetic results in rats showed that plasma levels of LNG were sustained for 13 days for IPMNs with 33.3% trehalose and 16 days for IPMNs without trehalose. Furthermore, the PLGA arrowheads with trehalose degraded more rapidly than those without trehalose over 21 days in rats. Consequently, using trehalose as a porogen was a feasible approach to modulate the release of a hydrophobic drug from PLGA-based MNs.
Fabrication of High-Strength and Porous Hybrid Scaffolds Based on Nano-Hydroxyapatite and Human-Like Collagen for Bone Tissue Regeneration
Authors: Liu Yannan , Gu Juan , Fan Daidi
Published: January 2020

A novel, three-dimensional, porous, human-like collagen (HLC)/nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA) scaffold cross-linked by 1,2,7,8-diepoxyoctane (DEO) was successfully fabricated, which showed excellent mechanical and superior biological properties for bone tissue regeneration in this study. The physicochemical characterizations of different n-HA/HLC/DEO (nHD) scaffolds were investigated by determining the morphology, compression stress, elastic modulus, Young’s modulus and enzymatic hydrolysis behavior in vitro. The results demonstrated that nHD-2 and nHD-3 scaffolds showed superior mechanical properties and resistance to enzymatic hydrolysis compared to nHD-1 scaffolds. The cell viability, live cell staining and cell adhesion analysis results demonstrated that nHD-2 scaffolds exhibited low cytotoxicity and excellent cytocompatibility compared with nHD-1 and nHD-3 scaffolds. Furthermore, subcutaneous injections of nHD-2 scaffolds in rabbits produced superior anti-biodegradation effects and histocompatibility compared with injections of nHD-1 and nHD-3 scaffolds after 1, 2 and 4 weeks. In addition, the repair of bone defects in rabbits demonstrated that nHD-2 scaffolds presented an improved ability for guided bone regeneration and reconstruction compared to commercially available bone scaffold composite hydroxyapatite/collagen (HC). Collectively, the results show that nHD-2 scaffolds show promise for application in bone tissue engineering due to their excellent mechanical properties, anti-biodegradation, anti-biodegradation, biocompatibility and bone repair effects.
Significantly Improved Electrical Properties of Crosslinked Polyethylene Modified by UV-Initiated Grafting MAH
Authors: Zhao Xin-Dong , Zhao Hong , Sun Wei-Feng
Published: January 2020

Direct current (DC) electrical performances of crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) have been evidently improved by developing graft modification technique with ultraviolet (UV) photon-initiation. Maleic anhydride (MAH) molecules with characteristic cyclic anhydride were successfully grafted to polyethylene molecules under UV irradiation, which can be efficiently realized in industrial cable production. The complying laws of electrical current varying with electric field and the Weibull statistics of dielectric breakdown strength at altered temperature for cable operation were analyzed to study the underlying mechanism of improving electrical insulation performances. Compared with pure XLPE, the appreciably decreased electrical conductivity and enhanced breakdown strength were achieved in XLPE-graft-MAH. The critical electric fields of the electrical conduction altering from ohm conductance to trap-limited mechanism significantly decrease with the increased testing temperature, which, however, can be remarkably raised by grafting MAH. At elevated temperatures, the dominant carrier transport mechanism of pure XLPE alters from Poole–Frenkel effect to Schottky injection, while and XLPE-graft-MAH materials persist in the electrical conductance dominated by Poole–Frenkel effect. The polar group of grafted MAH renders deep traps for charge carriers in XLPE-graft-MAH, and accordingly elevate the charge injection barrier and reduce charge mobility, resulting in the suppression of DC electrical conductance and the remarkable amelioration of insulation strength. The well agreement of experimental results with the quantum mechanics calculations suggests a prospective strategy of UV initiation for polar-molecule-grafting modification in the development of high-voltage DC cable materials.
Electrospun Bioresorbable Membrane Eluting Chlorhexidine for Dental Implants
Authors: Pouponneau Pierre , Perrey Ophélie , Brunon Céline , Grossiord Carol , Courtois Nicolas , Salles Vincent , Alves Antoine
Published: January 2020

To prevent the uncontrolled development of a pathogenic biofilm around a dental implant, an antimicrobial drug-release electrospun membrane, set up between the implant and the gingival tissue, was developed by taking several technical, industrial and regulatory specifications into account. The membrane formulation is made of a blend of poly(l-lactic–co–gycolic acid) (PLGA, 85:15) and poly(l-lactic acide–co–ɛ-caprolactone) (PLC, 70:30) copolymers with chlorhexidine diacetate (CHX) complexed with β-cyclodextrin (CD). The amount of residual solvent, the mechanical properties and the drug release kinetics were tuned by the copolymers’ ratio, between 30% and 100% of PLC, and a CHX loading up to 20% w/w. The membranes were sterilized by γ-irradiation without significant property changes. The fiber′s diameter was between 600 nm and 3 µm, depending on the membrane composition and the electrospinning parameters. CHX was released in vitro over 10 days and the bacterial inhibitory concentration, 80 µg·mL−1, was reached within eight days. The optimal membrane, PGLA/PLC/CHX-CD (60%/40%/4%), exhibited a breaking strain of 50%, allowing its safe handling. This membrane and a membrane without CHX-CD were implanted subcutaneous in a rat model. The cell penetration remained low. The next step will be to increase the porosity of the membrane to improve the dynamic cell penetration and tissue remodeling.
Variation of Ultimate Properties in Extruded iPP-Mesoporous Silica Nanocomposites by Effect of iPP Confinement within the Mesostructures
Authors: Barranco-García Rosa , Gómez-Elvira José M. , Ressia Jorge A. , Quinzani Lidia , Vallés Enrique M. , Pérez Ernesto , Cerrada María L.
Published: January 2020

Nanocomposites based on isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and mesoporous silica particles of either MCM-41 or SBA-15 were prepared by melt extrusion. The effect of the silica incorporated into an iPP matrix was firstly detected in the degradation behavior and in the rheological response of the resultant composites. Both were ascribed, in principle, to variations in the inclusion of iPP chains within these two mesostructures, with well different pore size. DSC experiments did not provide information on the existence of confinement in the iPP-MCM-41 materials, whereas a small endotherm, located at about 100 °C and attributed to the melting of confined crystallites, is clearly observed in the iPP-SBA-15 composites. Real-time variable-temperature Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) experiments with synchrotron radiation turned out to be crucial to finding the presence of iPP within MCM-41 pores. From these measurements, precise information was also deduced on the influence of the MCM-41 on iPP long spacing since overlapping does not occur between most probable iPP long spacing peak with the characteristic diffractions from the MCM-41 hexagonal nanostructure in comparison with existing superposition in SBA-15-based materials.
Highly Sensitive Graphene/Polydimethylsiloxane Composite Films near the Threshold Concentration with Biaxial Stretching
Authors: Liu Anqi , Ni Zhengji , Chen Juan , Huang Yuanshen
Published: January 2020

Uniformly dispersed graphene effectively improves the strain-sensing capability of the composite film under a low graphene load in nanocomposites prepared with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and graphene (GNP) monolayer powder. The threshold concentration of graphene was determined by loading nanocomposites at different temperatures. For different concentrations, when using traditional uniaxial stretching, the rate of resistance change of films near the threshold concentration is five times higher than the rate of films with a high concentration. Compared with traditional uniaxial stretching, the biaxial stretching we introduced can effectively improve the sensitivity of the film by an order of magnitude. The change in the resistance of the film near the threshold concentration is due to the change of the tunnel length and the cross-section of the tunnel, whereas the high concentration of the film is due to the change of the conductive path inside the film. Biaxial stretching has different effects on films with different concentrations, but the final effect of increasing sensitivity is the same. This study provides guidance for improving the strain-sensing sensitivity of GNP/PDMS composite films and the application of biaxial tension in detecting human motions.
Magnetic Template Anion Polyacrylamide–Polydopamine-Fe3O4 Combined with Ultraviolet/H2O2 for the Rapid Enrichment and Degradation of Diclofenac Sodium from Aqueous Environment
Authors: Sun Qiang , Zheng Huaili , Hu Xuebin , Li Jun , Zhao Rui , Zhao Chun , Ding Wei
Published: January 2020

In this study, a novel system was set up by preparing a magnetic flocculant combining with ultraviolet/H2O2 to realize the rapid enrichment and degradation of diclofenac sodium (DCFS). For the magnetic flocculant, template anion polyacrylamide (TAPAM) with anion micro-block structure was prepared. Thereafter, polydopamine was used to modify TAPAM, Fe3O4 nanoparticles was grafted to the modified TAPAM by chelation, named template anion polyacrylamide-polydopamine-Fe3O4 (TAPAM-PDA-Fe3O4). Furthermore, the TAPAM-PDA-Fe3O4 preparation protocol was optimized by the response surface method (RSM). In the DCFS enrichment section, the rapid separation of flocs from water was realized by an external magnetic field and it indicated that the π–π stacking effect was dominant in neutral/alkaline condition, whereas charge neutralization was favored in acidic conditions. Meanwhile, a DCFS enrichment kinetic curve was much fitted by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and DCFS enrichment isothermal curve was close to the Freundlich isothermal model, indicating the dependence of DCFS quantity enriched by TAPAM-PDA-Fe3O4 and a multilayer heterogeneous enrichment process. The degradation experiment confirmed that DCFS was effectively degraded by ultraviolet/H2O2/TAPAM-PDA-Fe3O4 and the maximum value of DCFS degradation efficiency reached 98.1%. Furthermore, the regeneration experiment showed that the enrichment and degradation efficiency of DCFS could maintain a relatively high level in the initial three recycles.
Study on MMA and BA Emulsion Copolymerization Using 2,4-Diphenyl-4-methyl-1-pentene as the Irreversible Addition–Fragmentation Chain Transfer Agent
Authors: Zhang Zuxin , Zhang Daihui , Fu Gaowei , Wang Chunpeng , Chu Fuxiang , Chen Riqing
Published: January 2020

As a chain transfer agent, 2,4-diphenyl-4-methyl-1-pentene (αMSD) was first introduced in the emulsion binary copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and butyl acrylate (BA) based on an irreversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (AFCT) mechanism. The effects of αMSD on molecular weight and its distribution, the degree of polymerization, polymerization rate, monomer conversion, particle size, and tensile properties of the formed latexes were systematically investigated. Its potential chain transfer mechanism was also explored according to the 1H NMR analysis. The results showed that the increase in the content of αMSD could lead to a decline in molecular weight, its distribution, and the degree of polymerization. The mass percentage of MMA in the synthesized polymers was also improved as the amounts of αMSD increased. The chain transfer coefficients of αMSD for MMA and BA were 0.62 and 0.47, respectively. The regulation mechanism of αMSD in the emulsion polymerization of acrylates was found to be consistent with Yasummasa’s theory. Additionally, monomer conversion decreased greatly to 47.3% when the concentration of αMSD was higher than 1 wt% due to the extremely low polymerization rate. Moreover, the polymerization rate was also decreased probably due to the desorption and lower reactivity of the regenerative radicals from αMSD. Finally, the tensile properties of the resulting polyacrylate films were significantly affected due to the presence of αMSD.
pH/Reduction Dual-Stimuli-Responsive Cross-Linked Micelles Based on Multi-Functional Amphiphilic Star Copolymer: Synthesis and Controlled Anti-Cancer Drug Release
Authors: Huang Yunwei , Yan Jingye , Peng Shiyuan , Tang Zilun , Tan Cuiying , Ling Jiabao , Lin Wenjing , Lin Xiaofeng , Zu Xihong , Yi Guobin
Published: January 2020

Novel approach has been constructed for preparing the amphiphilic star copolymer pH/reduction stimuli-responsive cross-linked micelles (SCMs) as a smart drug delivery system for the well-controlled anti-tumor drug doxorubicin (DOX) release. The SCMs had a low CMC value of 5.3 mg/L. The blank and DOX-loaded SCMs both had a spherical shape with sizes around 100–180 nm. In addition, the good stability and well pH/reduction-sensitivity of the SCMs were determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) as well. The SCMs owned a low release of DOX in bloodstream and normal tissues while it had a fast release in tumor higher glutathione (GSH) concentration and/or lower pH value conditions, which demonstrates their pH/reduction dual-responsiveness. Furthermore, we conducted the thermodynamic analysis to study the interactions between the DOX and polymer micelles in the DOX release process. The values of the thermodynamic parameters at pH 7.4 and at pH 5.0 conditions indicated that the DOX release was endothermic and controlled mainly by the forces of an electrostatic interaction. At pH 5.0 with 10 mM GSH condition, electrostatic interaction, chemical bond, and hydrophobic interactions contributed together on DOX release. With the low cytotoxicity of blank SCMs and well cytotoxicity of DOX-loaded SCMs, the results indicated that the SCMs could form a smart cancer microenvironment-responsive drug delivery system. The release kinetic and thermodynamic analysis offer a theoretical foundation for the interaction between drug molecules and polymer matrices, which helps provide a roadmap for the oriented design and control of anti-cancer drug release for cancer therapy.
Fluorinated Linear Copolyimide Physically Crosslinked with Novel Fluorinated Hyperbranched Polyimide Containing Large Space Volumes for Enhanced Mechanical Properties and UV-Shielding Application
Authors: Li Qing , Chen Ronghua , Guo Yujuan , Lei Fuhou , Xu Zushun , Zhao Hui , Liao Guangfu
Published: January 2020

Fluorinated hyperbranched polyimide (FHBPI), a spherical polymer with large space volumes, was developed to enhance fluorinated linear copolyimide (FPI) in terms of mechanical, UV-shielding, and hydrophobic properties via simple blend and thermal imidization methods. FPI possessed superior compatibility with FHBPI, and no obvious phase separation was found. The incorporation of FHBPI led to the formation of physical crosslinked network between FPI and FHBPI, which markedly improved the mechanical properties of the FPI, resulting in maximum enhancement of 83% in tensile strength from 71.7 Mpa of the pure FPI to 131.4 Mpa of the FPI/FHBPI composite film containing 15 wt % of FHBPI. The introduction of FHBPI also changed the surface properties of composites from hydrophilicity to hydrophobicity, which endowed them with outstanding dielectric stability. Meanwhile, the thin FPI/FHBPI composites kept the high transparency in the visible spectrum, simultaneously showing enhanced UV-shielding properties and lifetimes under intense UV ray. This was attributed to the newly formed charge transfer complex (CTC) between FHBPI and FPI. Moreover, the FPI/FHBPI composites possessed preeminent thermal properties. The properties, mentioned above, gave the composites enormous potential for use as UV-shielding coatings in an environment filled with high temperatures and strong ultraviolet rays.
Determination of Monitoring Parameters for Fatigue Behavior of Steel-Concrete Composite Bridge Girders with Welded Full Depth Transverse Stiffeners
Authors: Gunes Baris , Ilki Alper , Oztorun Namik Kemal
Published: January 2020

In this study, parameters that should be monitored during the service life of a bridge and the relationship between the parameters and damage are investigated in order to predict the fatigue damages in steel-concrete composite bridge girders with welded full depth transverse stiffeners. In this context, static and fatigue tests are carried out on steel-concrete composite beam specimens with welded full depth transverse stiffeners. Load-deflection behavior of specimens is determined by these monotonic tests. In the fatigue tests, the specimens are subjected to cyclic loading with various stress ranges, and stress range - number of cycles (S-N) data is obtained. Fatigue crack and fatigue fracture are observed in the first two specimens with the highest stress range applied. As expected, the fatigue crack occurred at the point where the stiffener is welded to the bottom flange. During the tests, dynamic deflection and strain measurements are performed at the critical points throughout the cyclic loading. The parameters which are more critical in terms of fatigue behavior and should be monitored are determined by examining the relationship between the obtained data from these measurements and fatigue damage. Discussions and evaluations are made on the level of safety presented in the relevant code by the comparison of the obtained results from fatigue tests with the code and the important studies in the literature. Finally, the specimens without fatigue fracture were tested under monotonic loading to determine the residual strength. Accordingly, the change in the load-deflection behavior after cyclic loading is demonstrated.
Sustainable Urban Planning Technique of Fire Disaster Prevention for Subway
Authors: Rie Dongho , Ryu Jioh
Published: January 2020

Subway infrastructure is a representative urban infrastructure for sustainable urban development as part of its policy to harmonize with economic growth. As the transportation infrastructure of large cities develops with high speed and intelligence, more attention will be paid to its safety. The main cause of death in subway fires is asphyxiation, due to the closed specificity of the underground space. Therefore, smoke exhaust facilities should be capable of minimizing the effects of smoke to ensure the safe evacuation of passengers in the event of fire. In this study, three kinds of fire locations are adopted to analyze the distribution of platform temperature, CO, and visibility in connection with the smoke exhaust system operation method. We evaluate the performance of the applicable smoke exhaust system from ASET-based untenable area analysis. Fatality evaluation by escape analysis according to the smoke exhaust system estimates the fatality based on the tenability performance evaluation. Moreover, the FED method was used to evaluate tenability performance. Therefore, the result of this study suggests a solution for sustainable subway Disaster response from the performance evaluation of the subway platform smoke exhaust system for safe evacuation of passengers, which is essential for subway construction or remodeling.
Revisiting Old Ionophore Lasalocid as a Novel Inhibitor of Multiple Toxins
Authors: Mahtal Nassim , Wu Yu , Cintrat Jean-Christophe , Barbier Julien , Lemichez Emmanuel , Gillet Daniel
Published: January 2020

The ionophore lasalocid is widely used as a veterinary drug against coccidiosis. We found recently that lasalocid protects cells from two unrelated bacterial toxins, the cytotoxic necrotizing factor-1 (CNF1) from Escherichia. coli and diphtheria toxin. We evaluated lasalocid’s capacity to protect cells against other toxins of medical interest comprising toxin B from Clostridium difficile, Shiga-like toxin 1 from enterohemorrhagic E. coli and exotoxin A from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We further characterized the impact of lasalocid on the endolysosomal and the retrograde pathways and organelle integrity, especially the Golgi apparatus. We found that lasalocid protects cells from all toxins tested and impairs the drop of vesicular pH along the trafficking pathways that are required for toxin sorting and translocation to the cytoplasm. Lasalocid also has an impact on the cellular distribution of GOLPH4 and GOLPH2 Golgi markers. Other intracellular trafficking compartments positive for EEA1 and Rab9A display a modified cellular pattern. In conclusion, lasalocid protects cells from multiple deadly bacterial toxins by corrupting vesicular trafficking and Golgi stack homeostasis.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis Virus Nsp5 Inhibits Type I Interferon Production by Cleaving NEMO at Multiple Sites
Authors: Chen Si , Tian Jin , Li Zhijie , Kang Hongtao , Zhang Jikai , Huang Jiapei , Yin Hang , Hu Xiaoliang , Qu Liandong
Published: January 2020

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), caused by virulent feline coronavirus, is the leading infectious cause of death in cats. The type I interferon (type I IFN)-mediated immune responses provide host protection from infectious diseases. Several coronaviruses have been reported to evolve diverse strategies to evade host IFN response. However, whether feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) antagonizes the type I IFN signaling remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that FIPV strain DF2 infection not only failed to induce interferon-β (IFN-β) and interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) production, but also inhibited Sendai virus (SEV) or polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C))-induced IFN-β production. Subsequently, we found that one of the non-structural proteins encoded by the FIPV genome, nsp5, interrupted type I IFN signaling in a protease-dependent manner by cleaving the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) essential modulator (NEMO) at three sites—glutamine132 (Q132), Q205, and Q231. Further investigation revealed that the cleavage products of NEMO lost the ability to activate the IFN-β promoter. Mechanistically, the nsp5-mediated NEMO cleavage disrupted the recruitment of the TRAF family member-associated NF-κB activator (TANK) to NEMO, which reduced the phosphorylation of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), leading to the inhibition of type I IFN production. Our research provides new insights into the mechanism for FIPV to counteract host innate immune response.
Cross-Species Transmission of Swine Hepatitis E Virus Genotype 3 to Rabbits
Authors: Han Sang-Hoon , Park Byung-Joo , Ahn Hee-Seop , Kim Yong-Hyun , Go Hyeon-Jeong , Lee Joong-Bok , Park Seung-Yong , Song Chang-Seon , Lee Sang-Won , Choi Yang-Kyu , Choi In-Soo
Published: January 2020

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a quasi-enveloped, positive-sense single stranded RNA virus. HEV continually expands the host ranges across animal species. In this study, the possibility of cross-species infection with swine HEV-3 was investigated using rabbits. A total of fourteen 8-week old, specific pathogen-free rabbits were divided into three experimental groups. Four rabbits were used as negative controls, four rabbits were infected with rabbit HEV as positive controls, and six rabbits were inoculated with swine HEV-3. HEV RNA were detected from serum and fecal samples after viral challenge. The levels of anti-HEV antibodies, pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-α), and liver enzymes (alanine and aspartate aminotransferases) were determined in serum samples. Histopathological lesions were examined in liver tissues. Viral RNA and anti-HEV antibodies were identified in rabbits inoculated with swine HEV-3 demonstrating positive infectivity of the virus. However, pro-inflammatory cytokine and liver enzyme levels in serum were not significantly elevated, and only mild inflammatory lesions were detected in the liver tissues of rabbits infected with swine HEV-3. These results suggest that swine HEV-3 can engage in cross-species transmission to rabbits, but causes only mild inflammation of the liver.
A 2D Real-Time Flood Forecast Framework Based on a Hybrid Historical and Synthetic Runoff Database
Authors: Crotti Giampaolo , Leandro Jorge , Bhola Punit Kumar
Published: January 2020

Operational real-time flood forecast is often done on the prediction of discharges at specific gauges using hydrological models. Hydrodynamic models, which can produce inundation maps, are computationally demanding and often cannot be used directly for that purpose. The FloodEvac framework has been developed in order to enable 2D flood inundations map to be forecasted at real-time. The framework is based on a database of pre-recorded synthetic events. In this paper, the framework is improved by generating a database based on rescaled historical river discharge events. This historical database includes a wider variety of runoff curves, including non-Gaussian and multi-peak shapes that better reflect the characteristics and the behavior of the natural streams. Hence, a hybrid approach is proposed by joining the historical and the existing synthetic database. The increased number of scenarios in the hybrid database allows reliable predictions, thus improving the robustness and applicability of real-time flood forecasts.
Double Exposures: Future Water Security across Urban Southeast Asia
Authors: Lorenzo Theresa E. , Kinzig Ann P.
Published: January 2020

Southeast Asia is one of the most dynamic regions in the world in terms of economic growth and urbanization. At the same time, the region is also prone to multiple hydro-meteorological disasters, which are projected to be intensified by climate change. This paper analyzes the combined effect of economic development and climate change on the future water security of middle-income Southeast Asian countries using the double exposure framework, focusing on the effects in urban areas. A review of the existing literature reveals unequal water security outcomes across the region as a result of combined climate, economic, and urbanization pressures. The water supply and sanitation infrastructure of upper-middle-income Southeast Asian countries are vulnerable to damage from intensified disasters, potentially decreasing both immediate and longer-term water quality. In lower-middle-income countries, the water quality will be the more important water security challenge in the short-term as opposed to water quantity, mainly due to the fast growth of industries. Lower-middle-income countries, though less vulnerable to disasters, will still have lower future water security compared to upper-middle-income countries, as they have less capacity to address water quality and quantity challenges brought about by both industrial growth and urbanization. Across the region, future water quantity and quality challenges may result in slower economic and urban growth if not planned adequately.
Influence of Rigid Emerged Vegetation in a Channel Bend on Bed Topography and Flow Velocity Field: Laboratory Experiments
Authors: Hamidifar Hossein , Keshavarzi Alireza , Rowiński Paweł M.
Published: January 2020

Trees have been used extensively by river managers for improving the river environment and ecology. The link between flow hydraulics, bed topography, habitat availability, and organic matters is influenced by vegetation. In this study, the effect of trees on the mean flow, bed topography, and bed shear stress were tested under different flow conditions. It was found that each configuration of trees produced particular flow characteristics and bed topography patterns. The SR (single row of trees) model appeared to deflect the maximum velocity downstream of the bend apex toward the inner bank, while leading the velocity to be more uniformly distributed throughout the bend. The entrainment of sediment particles occurred toward the area with higher values of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE). The results showed that both SR and DR (double rows of trees) models are effective in relieving bed erosion in sharp ingoing bends. The volume of the scoured bed was reduced up to 70.4% for tests with trees. This study shows the effectiveness of the SR model in reducing the maximum erosion depth.
Towards an International Levee Performance Database (ILPD) and Its Use for Macro-Scale Analysis of Levee Breaches and Failures
Authors: Özer Işil Ece , van Damme Myron , Jonkman Sebastiaan N.
Published: January 2020

Understanding levee failures can be significantly improved by analysing historical failures, experiments and performance observations. Individual efforts have been undertaken to document flood defence failures but no systematically gathered large scale, open access dataset is currently available for thorough scientific research. Here, we introduce an efficiently structured, global database, called International Levee Performance Database (ILPD), which aims to become a valuable knowledge platform in the field of levee safety. It comprises information on levee characteristics, failure mechanisms, geotechnical investigations and breach processes for more than 1500 cases (October 2019). We provide a macro-scale analysis of the available data, aiming to provide insights on levee behaviour based on historical records. We outline common failure mechanisms of which external erosion is identified as the most frequent for levees. As an example, we investigate flood events occurred in Germany (2002, 2013) and examine breach characteristics of hundreds of failures. It is found that initial failure mechanisms have an influence on breach characteristics and that failures due to instability and internal erosion are less frequent but lead to larger breaches. Moreover, a relation between the return period and the expected breach density during a flood event is identified. These insights could complement flood risk assessments.
Humidification–Dehumidification (HDH) Desalination System with Air-Cooling Condenser and Cellulose Evaporative Pad
Authors: Xu Li , Chen Yan-Ping , Wu Po-Hsien , Huang Bin-Juine
Published: January 2020

This paper presents a humidification–dehumidification (HDH) desalination system with an air-cooling condenser. Seawater in copper tubes is usually used in a condenser, but it has shown the drawbacks of pipe erosion, high cost of the copper material, etc. If air could be used as the cooling medium, it could not only avoid the above drawbacks but also allow much more flexible structure design of condensers, although the challenge is whether the air-cooing condenser can provide as much cooling capability as water cooling condensers. There is no previous work that uses air as cooling medium in a condenser of a HDH desalination system to the best of our knowledge. In this paper we designed a unique air-cooling condenser that was composed of closely packed hollow polycarbonate (PC) boards. The structure was designed to create large surface area of 13.5 m2 with the volume of only 0.1 m3. The 0.2 mm thin thickness of the material helped to reduce the thermal resistance between the warm humid air and cooling air. A fan was used to suck the ambient air in and out of the condenser as an open system to the environment. Results show that the air-cooling condenser could provide high cooling capability to produce fresh water efficiently. Meanwhile, cellulous pad material was used in the humidifier to enhance the evaporative process. A maximum productivity of 129 kg/day was achieved using the humidifier with a 0.0525 m3 cellulous pad with a water temperature of 49.5 °C. The maximum gained output ratio (GOR) was 0.53, and the maximum coefficient of performance (COP) was 20.7 for waste heat recovery. It was found that the system performance was compromised as the ambient temperature increased due to the increased temperature of cooling air; however, such an effect could be compensated by increasing the volume of the condenser.
Household Water Security: An Analysis of Water Affect in the Context of Hydraulic Fracturing in West Virginia, Appalachia
Authors: Turley Bethani , Caretta Martina Angela
Published: January 2020

Hydraulic fracturing has been booming in the last decade in the United States. While natural gas extraction and production has improved the national energy security, it has raised questions around the water security of those communities where extraction is taking place. Both scientists and residents are concerned about hydraulic fracturing’s impacts on surface- and groundwater, especially regarding how hydraulic fracturing impacts residents’ access to safe household well water. In the past decade, the Marcellus Shale has been developed in Northwestern West Virginia, yet the human geography dimensions of oil and gas extraction in West Virginia remain to be investigated. This article, based on 30 in-depth interviews, explores household groundwater insecurity due to hydraulic fracturing experienced by residents (i.e., mineral owners, surface owners, and concerned citizens) in Northwestern West Virginia. The concept of water affect is used to attend to the emotional and subjective dimensions of water security by unveiling the power, emotional struggles, and mental stress inherent in water testing practices and environmental regulation around hydraulic fracturing. Water testing is typically conducted by contractors hired by oil and gas companies, but it is mired in delayed test results and incorrect testing procedures, triggering residents’ negative feelings toward oil and gas companies. This article furthers the understanding of water security, commonly defined in terms of individual access to adequate water quality and quantity, by studying Appalachian residents’ anxieties about well water contamination and uncertainty around the long-term water impacts of hydraulic fracturing. By investigating the uneven power relations around groundwater in West Virginia, the emotional experiences and responses are articulated to further the notion of water affect as impacting household groundwater security.
İngilizce Öğretiminde Sanal Gezinti (Virtual Tour, Virtual World) Uygulamaları İle İlgili Yurtdışı Lisansüstü Tezlerin Değerlendirilmesi
Authors: KUMKALE Zeynep , ADIGÜZEL Abdullah
Published: January 2020

Bu
araştırmanın amacı, yurtdışında İngilizce öğretiminde sanal gezinti
uygulamaları kullanımı üzerine yapılmış lisansüstü tezleri incelemek ve bu
çalışmalardan elde edilen sonuçlar doğrultusunda İngilizce öğretiminde sanal
gezinti uygulamalarıyla ilgili çeşitli öneriler sunmaktır. Bu nedenle
araştırmada, 2008-2018 yılları arasında yurtdışında İngilizce öğretiminde sanal
gezinti uygulamaları kullanımı üzerine gerçekleştirilmiş lisansüstü tezlerin
incelenerek değerlendirilmesi yapılmıştır. Çalışmada meta-sentez ve doküman
incelemesi yöntemleri kullanılmıştır. Çalışmaların çoğunluğunda sanal gezinti
uygulamaları olarak Second Life portalının kullanıldığı görülmüştür. İngilizce
öğretimi kapsamında yapılacak olan herhangi bir meta-sentez çalışması için farklı
bilgisayar uygulamalarının da İngilizce öğretiminde kullanımının da incelenmesi
gerekir. Ayrıca, Türkiye’de de İngilizce öğretiminde sanal uygulamaların
kullanımının yaygınlaştırılması da etkili olacaktır.
İsrail-Filistin Sorunu ve Türkiye: Bir Denge Siyaseti
Authors: SARIASLAN Fatma
Published: January 2020

Ortadoğu
coğrafyasının büyük bölümüne uzunca bir süre hâkim olan Osmanlı Devleti’nin
mirası üzerine kurulan Türkiye, bölgede kronikleşmiş bir sorun olarak günümüze
dek uzanan İsrail-Filistin meselesi ile her zaman ilgilenegelmiş ve bu sorun
Türk dış politikası açısından her zaman önceliğini korumuştur. Türkiye,
İsrail-Filistin meselesinde Arap ülkelerinin tezlerini savunmakla birlikte,
sorun ekseninde ortaya çıkan olaylarda gerek Batı ile gerekse İsrail ile olan
ilişkilerine zarar vermekten kaçınmıştır. Türkiye İsrail ve Filistin arasındaki
kriz dönemlerinde Filistin’in lehine pozisyon almasına rağmen, bölgedeki tek
gayrimüslim devlet olan İsrail’le ekonomik ve sosyal etkileşimler de dâhil
olmak üzere neredeyse tüm boyutlarda ilişkilerini sürdürmüştür. Bu makalede, Türkiye’nin
İsrail-Filistin sorununa ilişkin politikasının temelde taraflar arasında bir
denge gözetilerek belirlendiği ileri sürülmektedir. Çalışmada ayrıca, yetmiş
yıldan fazla bir süredir devam eden süreçte Türkiye’nin İsrail-Filistin
sorununa ilişkin tutumunun ve bu soruna ilişkin izlediği politikaların inişli
çıkışlı seyrine paralel olarak İsrail ile ilişkilerinin gelişimine de genel bir
projeksiyon sunulmaktadır.
Analisis potensi energi matahari di Institut Teknologi Sumatera: Pertimbangan Faktor Kelembaban dan Suhu
Authors: Anrokhi Mohamad Samsul , Darmawan Mahardika Yoga , Komarudin Ali , Kananda Kiki , Puspitarum Deska Lismawening
Published: January 2020

Indonesia's electricity needs are increasing in line with increasing population and living standards. Renewable energy is an alternative in avoiding dependence on conventional PLN electricity. This research is a further study of solar energy as an alternative energy to meet the electricity needs of Institut Teknologi Sumatera (ITERA) which always increases every year with the increasing number of students and the infrastructure of lecture infrastructure. Research on the potential of solar energy at the ITERA has been carried out before using conventional methods. This study further examines the potential of solar energy by considering various factors. This study uses solar cells with 100 WP specifications and uses Arduino UNO instrumentation to facilitate the measurement of current and voltage automatically which can be stored directly in memory cards. Based on the measurement results obtained a maximum power value of 66 watts that occurs at 11:00 and 12:00 WIB.

 

Keywords: Solar cell, solar energy
Manufacturing Feasibility of Al6061and Boron Carbide Particulate Reinforcement to Cast a Metal Matrix Composite with Wettability Agent
Authors:   Associate Dean (SA), National Institute of technology Andhra Pradesh, Tadepalligudem, Andhra Pradesh, India., Kumar G B* Veeresh , Annigeri Ulhas K ,   Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering, Bengaluru, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, India., Rao T Srinivas ,   Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering, Bengaluru, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, India.
Published: January 2020

Aluminium metal matrix composite with a combination of Al6061 as base matrix and B4C as particulate up to 0 to 3% by weight in the steps of 1 wt% is manufactured by liquid metallurgy method by stir casting process. The choice of the process has been concluded from the literature survey and is tabulated. The steps involved in the processing of composite have been reported in detail. A conventional stir casting technique and the steps followed are recorded. The different process parameters controlled during the process have been reported. With the processing of the composite, the chemical stability between the particulate and the alloy matrix as known from its properties has been ascertained. The addition of wettability agent and thus its effect has been discussed. The optical microscope images of the processed composite have been presented in the paper as an indication to successful fabrication of composite. Based on the images, distribution of particulates in matrix alloy and possible reasons for this to get exhibited have been discussed. The paper aims at bridging the gap of essentials of wetting of solid particulates and the practice of casting.
Factors Influencing Student’s Choice in Selecting Management Institutes in Karnataka State
Authors:   Assistant Professor, PGDMS&RC, PESITM, Shivamogga, Karnataka, India., Mallik* D.M. Aravind , Achar Dr. Ananth Padmanabha ,   Professor and Dean- Corporate Affairs, JKSHIM, Nittie. Karnataka, India.
Published: January 2020

Since liberation impact in India, Business education spread its wings across boundaries and have excelled in enhancing quality higher education and directly responsible for fierce competition among MBA institutions and changed the landscape of how corporates viewed like never before.development of Multi-National Companies has spurned employment opportunity in Indian This factor has augmented the entryway of specialized training in the nation. Professional Degrees like Engineering Institutes at present are making a praiseworthy showing in giving down to earth and executing a commendable job and rendering education is appreciable and committing in creating ecosphere of synergy between expectations and reality on students choosing their Post-graduation is largely influenced with many factors to mention.The reason for conceptualizing paper is to analyze the key variables which impact student’s choice in selecting a Management Institutes which is in descriptive in nature and data was computed with a sample size of 684 respondents collected from final year students and Department in charge.