bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Photoinduced Antibacterial Activity of the Essential Oils from Eugenia brasiliensis Lam and Piper mosenii C. DC. by Blue Led Light
Authors: Macedo da Silva Rakel Olinda , Gonçalves Castro José Walber , de Menezes Dantas Junior Orlando , Justino de Araújo Ana Carolina , do Nascimento Silva Leandro Maria Karollyna , Oliveira Costa Raíra Justino , Leite Pinto Luciely , Garcia Leandro Lívia Maria , Silva Luiz E. da , do Amaral Wanderlei , Parabocz Lucas D. , Ferriani Aurea P. , Garcia Bruna , Sales Maia Beatriz H. L. N. , Esmeraldo Rocha Janaína , Fonseca Bezerra Camila , Sampaio de Freitas Thiago , Socorro Costa Maria , Ferreira Campina Fábia , Ferreira Matias Edinardo Fagner , Iriti Marcello , Coutinho Henrique Douglas Melo
Published: November 2019

The objective of this work was to evaluate the phytochemical composition and the antibacterial and antibiotic-modulating activities of the essential oils of Eugenia brasiliensis Lam (OEEb) and Piper mosenii C. DC (OEPm) singly or in association with blue LED (Light-emitting diode) light. The antibacterial and antibiotic-modulatory activities of the essential oils on the activity of aminoglycosides were evaluated to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC, μg/mL) in the presence or absence of exposure to blue LED light. The chemical analysis showed α-pinene and bicyclogermacrene as major constituents of OEPm, whereas α-muurolol was the main compound of OEEb. Both OEEb and OEPm showed MIC ≥ 512 μg/mL against the strains under study. However, the association of these oils with the blue LED light enhanced the action of the aminoglycosides amikacin and gentamicin. In conclusion, the association of aminoglycosides with the blue LED light and essential oils was effective against resistant bacteria.
Filament Extrusion and Its 3D Printing of Poly(Lactic Acid)/Poly(Styrene-co-Methyl Methacrylate) Blends
Authors: Solorio-Rodríguez Luis Enrique , Vega-Rios Alejandro
Published: November 2019

Herein, we report the melt blending of amorphous poly(lactide acid) (PLA) with poly(styrene-co-methyl methacrylate) (poly(S-co-MMA)). The PLAx/poly(S-co-MMA)y blends were made using amorphous PLA compositions from 50, 75, and 90wt.%, namely PLA50/poly(S-co-MMA)50, PLA75/poly(S-co-MMA)25, and PLA90/poly(S-co-MMA)10, respectively. The PLAx/poly(S-co-MMA)y blend pellets were extruded into filaments through a prototype extruder at 195 °C. The 3D printing was done via fused deposition modeling (FDM) at the same temperature and a 40 mm/s feed rate. Furthermore, thermogravimetric curves of the PLAx/poly(S-co-MMA)y blends showed slight thermal decomposition with less than 0.2% mass loss during filament extrusion and 3D printing. However, the thermal decomposition of the blends is lower when compared to amorphous PLA and poly(S-co-MMA). On the contrary, the PLAx/poly(S-co-MMA)y blend has a higher Young’s modulus (E) than amorphous PLA, and is closer to poly(S-co-MMA), in particular, PLA90/poly(S-co-MMA)10. The PLAx/poly(S-co-MMA)y blends proved improved properties concerning amorphous PLA through mechanical and rheological characterization.
Pseudo-Static Analysis on the Shifting-Girder Process of the Novel Rail-Cable-Shifting-Girder Technique for the Long Span Suspension Bridge
Authors: Pan Quan , Yi Zhuangpeng , Yan Donghuang , Xu Hongsheng
Published: November 2019

The rail-cable-shifting-girder (RCSG) technique is a new erecting method for the main girders of the long span suspension bridge in rural mountain areas with poor transportation and no navigable rivers for carrying large components. The pseudo-static analysis of the shifting-girder process for this girder erecting technique is performed. The global mechanical model of the double-layer cable system in the shifting-girder process is established, by analytically modeling the main-cable, rail cable, and slings according to cable’s basic assumptions. Based on the flexible cable theory, the main-cable segments are simulated as segmental catenary elements, the slings are considered as straight cable elements, the rail-cable segment that the shifting-girder trolley is moving on is simulated as multiple straight cable elements and other rail-cable segments are considered as single straight cable elements. The solving program is developed to obtain the pseudo-static responses including the forces and deflections of the shifting-girder system undergoing girder loads. Meanwhile, a global indoor reduced-scale model of shifting-girder system is designed to validate the presented theoretical results, by taking the Aizhai suspension bridge as engineering background. The results from the presented theoretical method match well with the measured experimental results of the indoor model test. The forces and deflections of the main-cable, rail-cable, and slings for the 21 working cases of erecting girder segments exhibit some specific distribution regularities. The presented theoretical method is able to correctly and effectively solve the pseudo-static responses of the RCSG system undergoing girder loads for the long span suspension bridge adopting the construction method of the RCSG technique.
Assessing Spatial Distribution of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities Associated with Surrounding Land Cover and Water Quality
Authors: Kim Dong-Kyun , Jo Hyunbin , Park Kiyun , Kwak Ihn-Sil
Published: November 2019

The study aims to assess the spatial distribution of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in response to the surrounding environmental factors related to land use and water quality. A total of 124 sites were surveyed at the Seomjin River basin in May and September 2017, respectively. We evaluated the abundance and composition of benthic macroinvertebrate communities based on nine subwatersheds. Subsequently, we compared the benthic information with the corresponding land use and water quality. To comprehensively explore the spatiotemporal distinction of benthic macroinvertebrate communities associated with those ambient conditions, we applied canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). The CCA results explicitly accounted for 61% of the explanatory variability; the first axis (45.5%) was related to land-use factors, and the second axis (15.5%) was related to water quality. As a result, the groups of benthic communities were distinctly characterized in relation to these two factors. It was found that land-use information is primarily an efficient proxy of ambient water quality conditions to determine benthic macroinvertebrates, such as Asellus spp., Gammarus spp., and Simulium spp. in a stream ecosystem. We also found that specific benthic families or genera within the same groups (Coleoptera, Diptera, Ephemeroptera, and Trichoptera) are also differentiated from ambient water quality changes as a secondary component. In particular, the latter pattern appeared to be closely associated with the impact of summer rainfall on the benthic community changes. Our study sheds light upon projecting benthic community structure in response to changes of land use and water quality. Finally, we conclude that easily accessible information, such as land-use data, aids in effectively characterizing the distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates, and thus enables us to rapidly assess stream health and integrity.
Deformations of FRP–Concrete Composite Beam: Experiment and Numerical Analysis
Authors: Gribniak Viktor , Misiūnaitė Ieva , Rimkus Arvydas , Sokolov Aleksandr , Šapalas Antanas
Published: November 2019

Advanced materials have been created for structural application during the past decades. Engineers, however, faced severe problems due to the absence of a reliable technique for ensuring the required structural properties minimising the amount of material used. A lack of constitutive models for the analysis of the structural systems also exists. Residual stiffness of flexural concrete elements subjected to short-term load is the focus of this research. Tension-stiffening models were developed to represent the deformation response of the members reinforced with internal bars. This study examines the suitability of the tension-stiffening modelling approach for simulating the deformation behaviour of the composite specimens comprising glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) pultruded profile adhesively bonded to the tensile surface of the concrete beam. The study employs a nonlinear finite element approach and analytical model to simulate the deformation behaviour of the flexural elements.
Design and Validation of a Low Cost Programmable Controlled Environment for Study and Production of Plants, Mushroom, and Insect Larvae
Authors: Padmanabha Murali , Streif Stefan
Published: November 2019

Study and optimization of biological processes involved in food production require the quantitative study of the environment’s influences on the organism and eventually the products and byproducts consumed and produced. Commercial growth chambers do not fully support such quantitative study due to the underlying limitations (cost, size, resource exchange, programmability, user interaction, etc.). This work presents a low cost programmable system designed to facilitate such studies in organisms such as plants, fungi, and insect larvae. The proposed system consists of modular units performing specific functions. A sensor cluster for measuring gas concentrations, air properties (temperature, humidity, pressure), and growing medium properties was implemented and tested. Actuators for resource exchange, air conditioning, and light spectrum adjustment are proposed. A three-tier hierarchical software framework consisting of open-source cloud platform for data aggregation and user interaction; microcontroller firmware; and an application development framework for test automation and experiment regime design is developed. Series of experiments and tests were performed using the designed hardware and software to evaluate its capabilities and limitations. This controlled environment was used to study photosynthesis in Ocimum basilicum and, in a second experiment, the evolution of the metabolic activity of Hermetia illucens larvae over its larval phase.
Effect of Mixture Design Parameters of Stone Mastic Asphalt Pavement on Its Skid Resistance
Authors: Liu Yamin , Cheng Xianpeng , Yang Zhen
Published: November 2019

Although it is well known that the stone mastic asphalt (SMA) pavement has good skid resistance, the skid resistance is not satisfactory and its durability is poor when the mixture design is unreasonable. In order to obtain excellent skid resistance for SMA pavement, this paper seeks to analyze the influence of mixture design parameters on the skid resistance of SMA pavement. The mixtures were designed with an orthogonal experiment. There were five factors, namely the percentage of aggregates passing the maximum size (PNMSA), the percentage of aggregates passing the sieve size which is only one smaller than the maximum size (PNMSA-1), the percentage of aggregates passing the control sieve size (PCS), the percentage of aggregates passing the sieve size which is only one smaller than the control sieve size (PCS-1), and asphalt content (AC), and each factor had four levels. The skid-resistance index (SI) obtained by the 3D measurement was used to evaluate skid resistance. The results show that the three parameters (PNMSA, PCS, and AC) are the key parameters to improve skid resistance. Among them, PNMSA has the greatest impact on the skid resistance, AC is the second, and the impact of PCS on skid resistance is the smallest. Moreover, the design parameters with best skid resistance are proposed.
Self-Recognition Grasping Operation with a Vision-Based Redundant Manipulator System
Authors: Li Tong , Zheng Shuaikang , Shu Xin , Wang Chunkai , Liu Chang
Published: November 2019

For unstructured environment applications, the ability of self-recognition for grasping operations should be guaranteed for manipulators. For this purpose, a grasping process, including instance segmentation, pose estimation, and pose transformation, is proposed herein to achieve autonomous object detection, location detection, and grasp planning. An inverse solution in position form is derived for pose transformation to guarantee redundant manipulator adaption. The inverse solution requires no default initial configuration and can obtain all feasible solutions for grasping. Additionally, the optimal grasp can be selected by introducing an optimal factor, such as manipulability. Besides, the process is programmed with high computational efficiency, making it a better choice for manipulators to achieve self-recognized grasping operation. Experiments are carried out herein to verify the necessity of instance segmentation, pose estimation, and pose transformation in achieving self-recognized grasping operation. The inverse solution in the position form is also proven to be efficient and adaptable for the pose transformation of redundant manipulators.
Study of Galactic Cosmic-Ray Flux Modulation by Interplanetary Plasma Structures for the Evaluation of Space Instrument Performance and Space Weather Science Investigations
Authors: Grimani Catia , Telloni Daniele , Benella Simone , Cesarini Andrea , Fabi Michele , Villani Mattia
Published: November 2019

The role of high-energy particles in limiting the performance of on-board instruments was studied for the European Space Agency (ESA) Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) Pathfinder (LPF) and ESA/National Astronautics and Space Administration Solar Orbiter missions. Particle detectors (PD) placed on board the LPF spacecraft allowed for testing the reliability of pre-launch predictions of galactic cosmic-ray (GCR) energy spectra and for studying the modulation of proton and helium overall flux above 70 MeV n − 1 on a day-by-day basis. GCR flux variations up to approximately 15% in less than a month were observed with LPF orbiting around the Lagrange point L1 between 2016 and 2017. These variations appeared barely detected or undetected in neutron monitors. In this work the LPF data and contemporaneous observations carried out with the magnetic spectrometer AMS-02 experiment are considered to show the effects of GCR flux short-term variations with respect to monthly averaged measurements. Moreover, it is shown that subsequent large-scale interplanetary structures cause a continuous modulation of GCR fluxes. As a result, small Forbush decreases cannot be considered good proxies for the transit of interplanetary coronal mass ejections and for geomagnetic storm forecasting.
Analysis of a Precipitation System that Exists above Freezing Level Using a Multi-Parameter Phased Array Weather Radar
Authors: Takahashi Nobuhiro
Published: November 2019

An X-band multi-parameter phased array weather radar (MP-PAWR) was developed in 2017. The scan concept of the MP-PAWR is electronic scanning in elevation by combining fan beam transmissions and pencil beam receptions with digital beam-forming techniques and mechanical scanning along the azimuth. The MP-PAWR realized three-dimensional (60 km in radius and 15 km in height) observations without gaps of 30 s. Although the MP-PAWR is supposed to be suitable for observations of rapidly changing convective systems, it can be advantageous for observations of stratiform rainfall because of continuous vertical pointing observations and its ability to apply the Velocity Azimuth Display (VAD) method with a constant radius for a vertical profile of dynamic parameters such as divergence and deformation. In this study, a precipitation system that existed mainly above the freezing level (in this case, it was approximately 5 km in height) observed from 14:00 to 17:00 Japan Standard Time on 6 September 2018 was analyzed using MP-PAWR data. The averaged area of the vertical profile of Z, and the Doppler velocity with fixed elevation showed a stationary structure with time. The average differential reflectivity factor (ZDR) profile with fixed elevation angles showed values that were close to zero and increased with height. Similar characteristics were shown in the average Specific Differential Phase (KDP) profile. Vertical pointing data, especially for Z, ZDR, and Doppler velocity, were utilized when the echo passed over the radar site, and the Doppler velocity showed the acceleration of fall speed below the freezing level. The vertical profile of divergence with a fixed radius was calculated using the VAD method, and the vertical velocity was calculated using the fall speed profile from the vertical pointing data and by assuming the vertical velocity at the cloud base was zero. The results indicate that the updraft region corresponds to higher ZDR and KDP regions.
Lichen Secondary Metabolite Physciosporin Decreases the Stemness Potential of Colorectal Cancer Cells
Authors: Yang Yi , Nguyen Thanh , Pereira Iris , Hur Jae-Seoun , Kim Hangun
Published: November 2019

Secondary metabolites of lichens are promising bioresources for candidate anti-cancer drugs. Accordingly, several approaches have been proposed for screening these molecules for novel anti-cancer lead compounds. In this study, we found that a non-toxic concentration of physciosporin, a compound isolated from Pseudocyphellaria granulata, significantly decreased colony formation on soft agar and spheroid formation by CSC221 cancer stem-like cells. Physciosporin also decreased spheroid formation in other colorectal cancer cell lines, including DLD1, Caco2, and HT29. Aldehyde dehydrogenase-1 (ALDH1), the most important cancer stem marker, was sharply downregulated at both the protein and mRNA level following treatment with physciosporin. Physciosporin also decreased the transcriptional activity of the glioma-associated oncogene homolog zinc finger protein (Gli), as well as the Hes1 and CSL promoters, in reporter assays. Moreover, the drug significantly suppressed spheroid formation in CSC221 cells overexpressing Gli1/2 or ΔEN1 (an S2-cleaved but membrane-tethered form of human Notch1) but did not suppress spheroid formation in cells overexpressing both Gli1/2 and ∆EN1, suggesting that physciosporin suppresses colon cancer cell stemness through the Sonic hedgehog and Notch signaling pathways. Together, these results demonstrate for the first time that physciosporin is a potent inhibitor of colorectal cancer cell stemness.
Bioprofiling TS/A Murine Mammary Cancer for a Functional Precision Experimental Model
Authors: De Giovanni Carla , Nicoletti Giordano , Landuzzi Lorena , Palladini Arianna , Lollini Pier-Luigi , Nanni Patrizia
Published: November 2019

The TS/A cell line was established in 1983 from a spontaneous mammary tumor arisen in an inbred BALB/c female mouse. Its features (heterogeneity, low immunogenicity and metastatic ability) rendered the TS/A cell line suitable as a preclinical model for studies on tumor–host interactions and for gene therapy approaches. The integrated biological profile of TS/A resulting from the review of the literature could be a path towards the description of a precision experimental model of mammary cancer.
The Emerging Role of ESR1 Mutations in Luminal Breast Cancer as a Prognostic and Predictive Biomarker of Response to Endocrine Therapy
Authors: De Santo Irene , McCartney Amelia , Migliaccio Ilenia , Di Leo Angelo , Malorni Luca
Published: November 2019

Mutations in the hotspot ligand-binding domain of the estrogen receptor (ER) gene ESR1 have recently been recognized as mechanisms of endocrine resistance in endocrine receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Accumulating data suggest these mutations develop under the selective pressure of endocrine treatments, and are infrequent in untreated ER-positive breast cancers. In vitro studies show that these mutations confer ligand-independent activity, resistance to estrogen deprivation, and relative resistance to tamoxifen and fulvestrant. Post-hoc retrospective and prospective analyses of ESR1 mutations in patients with MBC have consistently found that these mutations are markers of poor prognosis and predict resistance to aromatase inhibitors (AIs). These results warrant further investigation and prospective validation in dedicated studies. Moreover, studies are ongoing to clarify the activity of novel drugs in the context of metastatic endocrine resistant luminal breast cancer harboring ESR1 mutations. In this review, we summarize the pre-clinical and clinical findings defining the characteristics of ESR1 mutant breast cancer, and highlight the potential clinical developments in this field.
Identification of Circulating Genomic and Metabolic Biomarkers in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Winter Helen , Kaisaki Pamela J. , Harvey Joe , Giacopuzzi Edoardo , Ferla Matteo P. , Pentony Melissa M. , Knight Samantha J.L. , Sharma Ricky A. , Taylor Jenny C. , McCullagh James S.O.
Published: November 2019

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is an aggressive cancer arising from the bile ducts with a need for earlier diagnosis and a greater range of treatment options. KRAS/NRAS mutations are common in ICC tumours and 6–32% of patients also have isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (IDH1 and IDH2) gene mutations associated with metabolic changes. This feasibility study investigated sequencing circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) combined with metabolite profiling of plasma as a method for biomarker discovery in ICC patients. Plasma was collected from four ICC patients receiving radio-embolisation and healthy controls at multiple time points. ctDNA was sequenced using Ampliseq cancer hotspot panel-v2 on Ion Torrent PGM for single nucleotide variants (SNV) detection and with Illumina whole genome sequencing for copy number variants (CNV) and further targeted examination for SNVs. Untargeted analysis of metabolites from patient and control plasma was performed using liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Metabolite identification was performed using multi-parameter comparisons with analysis of authentic standards, and univariate statistical analysis was performed to identify differences in metabolite abundance between patient and control samples. Recurrent somatic SNVs and CNVs were identified in ctDNA from three out of four patients that included both NRAS and IDH1 mutations linked to ICC. Plasma metabolite analysis revealed biomarker metabolites associated with ICC and in particular 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) levels were elevated in both samples from the only patient showing a variant allele in IDH1. A reduction in the number of CNVs was observed with treatment. This study demonstrates that ctDNA and metabolite levels can be identified and correlated in ICC patient blood samples and differentiated from healthy controls. We conclude that combining genomic and metabolic analysis of plasma offers an effective approach to biomarker identification with potential for disease stratification and early detection studies.
Addendum: de Leve, S.; et al. The CD73/Ado System—A New Player in RT Induced Adverse Late Effects. Cancers 2019, 11, 1578
Authors: de Leve Simone , Wirsdörfer Florian , Jendrossek Verena
Published: November 2019

The authors would like to make an addendum to their published paper [...]
Omics-based Investigation of Diet-induced Obesity Synergized with HBx, Src, and p53 Mutation Accelerating Hepatocarcinogenesis in Zebrafish Model
Authors: Yang Wan-Yu , Rao Pei-Shu , Luo Yong-Chun , Lin Hua-Kuo , Huang Sing-Han , Yang Jinn-Moon , Yuh Chiou-Hwa
Published: November 2019

The primary type of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), has been associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, diabetes, and obesity. Previous studies have identified some genetic risk factors, such as hepatitis B virus X antigens, overexpression of SRC oncogene, and mutation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene; however, the synergism between diet and genetic risk factors is still unclear. To investigate the synergism between diet and genetic risk factors in hepatocarcinogenesis, we used zebrafish with four genetic backgrounds and overfeeding or high-fat-diet-induced obesity with an omics-based expression of genes and histopathological changes. The results show that overfeeding and high-fat diet can induce obesity and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in wild-type fish. In HBx, Src (p53-) triple transgenic zebrafish, diet-induced obesity accelerated HCC formation at five months of age and increased the cancer incidence threefold. We developed a global omics data analysis method to investigate genes, pathways, and biological systems based on microarray and next-generation sequencing (NGS, RNA-seq) omics data of zebrafish with four diet and genetic risk factors. The results show that two Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) systems, metabolism and genetic information processing, as well as the pathways of fatty acid metabolism, steroid biosynthesis, and ribosome biogenesis, are activated during hepatocarcinogenesis. This study provides a systematic view of the synergism between genetic and diet factors in the dynamic liver cancer formation process, and indicate that overfeeding or a high-fat diet and the risk genes have a synergistic effect in causing liver cancer by affecting fatty acid metabolism and ribosome biogenesis.
Extending the Hierarchy of Heterogeneous Catalysis to Substituted Derivatives of Benzimidazole Synthesis: Transition Metals Decorated CNTs
Authors: Iqbal Zahoor , Sadiq Saima , Sadiq Muhammad , Ullah Inam , Fazal Zahid , Khan Doctor , Bibi Neelam , Saeed Khalid , Khan Adnan Ali , Mabood Fazal , Ali Mumtaz
Published: November 2019

A simple and practical procedure has been adopted for one pot synthesis of benzimidazole derivatives under mild reaction conditions, starting from cinnamyl alcohol (COH) with bimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs) and supported bimetallic nanoparticles of Cu, Ti, Zn, Mn, Ag, and Co. All the catalysts were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD), Brunauer Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, and pore size analyzer. The products were identified/quantified with 1HNMR, FT-IR, and MS. 98% yield of substituted derivatives of benzimidazole was obtained with Cu–Ti supported on FMWCNTs in ethanol with excellent selectivity. Quantum chemical calculations of molecular reactivity of substituted cinnamaldehyde (CHO) and ortho phenylenediamine (OPD) have good consistency with experimental results. The returns of this work were the use of readily available catalysts, high yield, short reaction time, and simplicity of the process.
Effect of Chain Length and Functional Group of Organic Anions on the Retention Ability of MgAl- Layered Double Hydroxides for Chlorinated Organic Solvents
Authors: Dietmann Karen Maria , Linke Tobias , Trujillano Raquel , Rives Vicente
Published: November 2019

Nowadays, the contamination of groundwater and soils by chlorinated organic solvents is a severe and worldwide problem. Due to their swelling properties, Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs) are potentially excellent compounds to retain chlorinated organic solvents from aquifers. By intercalating organic anions, the polarity of the interlayer space can be changed from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, enhancing the adsorption of chloro-organic molecules onto the alkyl chains of intercalated organic anions. In this study, organically modified LDHs were synthesized and their efficiency was tested in batch experiments with three different chlorinated organic solvents, namely trichloroethylene, 1,1,2-trichloroethane and trichloromethane (chloroform), to examine the influence of the chain length and the functional group of the intercalated organic anion upon the retention ability of a LDH due to different electronic interactions and different sizes of the interlayer space. All synthesized and used samples were characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis coupled with mass spectrometry and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy; freshly synthesized materials were additionally analyzed regarding their particle size distribution and specific surface area. Results of the batch experiments showed that only LDHs with intercalated long-chain organic anions could be efficient adsorbents for the removal of chlorinated organic solvents from contaminated water. A selective efficiency towards 1,1,2-trichloroethane and trichloromethane can be proposed for these reactants.
LT-AlSb Interlayer as a Filter of Threading Dislocations in GaSb Grown on (001) GaAs Substrate Using MBE
Authors: Jasik Agata , Ratajczak Jacek , Sankowska Iwona , Wawro Andrzej , Smoczyński Dariusz , Czuba Krzysztof
Published: November 2019

We report on the role of AlSb material in the reduction of threading dislocation density (TDD) in the GaSb/AlSb/GaAs system. The AlSb layers were grown using low-temperature (LT) MBE, exploiting the interfacial misfit (IMF) dislocation array. AlSb layers with four different thicknesses in the range of 1–30 nm were investigated. The results showed the inhibiting role of LT-AlSb layers in the reduction of TDD. Values of TDD as low as 2.2 × 106 and 6.3 × 106 cm−2 for samples with thin and thick AlSb layers were obtained, respectively. The filtering role of AlSb material was proven despite the IMF-AlSb/GaAs interface’s imperfectness caused by the disturbance of a 90° dislocation periodic array by, most likely, 60° dislocations. The dislocation lines confined to the region of AlSb material were visible in HRTEM images. The highest crystal quality and smoother surface of 1.0 μm GaSb material were obtained using 9 nm thick AlSb interlayer. Unexpectedly, the comparative analysis of the results obtained for the GaSb/LT-AlSb/GaAs heterostructure and our best results for the GaSb/GaAs system showed that the latter can achieve both higher crystal quality and lower dislocation density.
Pressure-Induced Phase Transitions in Sesquioxides
Authors: Manjón Francisco , Sans Juan , Ibáñez Jordi , Pereira André
Published: November 2019

Pressure is an important thermodynamic parameter, allowing the increase of matter density by reducing interatomic distances that result in a change of interatomic interactions. In this context, the long range in which pressure can be changed (over six orders of magnitude with respect to room pressure) may induce structural changes at a much larger extent than those found by changing temperature or chemical composition. In this article, we review the pressure-induced phase transitions of most sesquioxides, i.e., A2O3 compounds. Sesquioxides constitute a big subfamily of ABO3 compounds, due to their large diversity of chemical compositions. They are very important for Earth and Materials Sciences, thanks to their presence in our planet’s crust and mantle, and their wide variety of technological applications. Recent discoveries, hot spots, controversial questions, and future directions of research are highlighted.
In Situ Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction Reciprocal Space Mapping Measurements in the RF-MBE Growth of GaInN on GaN and InN
Authors: Yamaguchi Tomohiro , Sasaki Takuo , Fujikawa Seiji , Takahasi Masamitu , Araki Tsutomu , Onuma Takeyoshi , Honda Tohru , Nanishi Yasushi
Published: November 2019

In this work, in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction reciprocal space mapping (RSM) measurements were carried out for the radio-frequency plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (RF-MBE) growth of GaInN on GaN and InN layers, which were also grown by RF-MBE on commercialized GaN/c-sapphire templates. In situ XRD RSM measurements were performed using an MBE apparatus directly coupled to an X-ray diffractometer at the beamline of the synchrotron radiation facility SPring-8. It was observed in situ that both lattice relaxation and compositional pulling occurred during the initial growth stage, reducing the strain of GaInN on GaN and InN. Different initial growth behaviors of GaInN on GaN and InN were also observed from the results of the evolution of GaInN integrated peak intensities.
One-Step Removal of Calcium, Magnesium, and Nickel in Desalination by Alcaligenes aquatilis via Biomineralization
Authors: Dong Yaohua , Guo Zhangwei , Guo Na , Liu Tao
Published: November 2019

In desalination, a high level of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) ions in seawater can cause scale deposition on the reverse osmosis membranes and water treatment systems. This process can significantly affect the efficiency of desalination. In addition, heavy metals in seawater affect human health. Therefore, Alcaligenes aquatilis from seawater was used to remove Ca, Mg, and nickel (Ni) by microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP). The purification system was then analyzed by ionic analysis and surface characterization. This study shows that the bacteria can utilize amino acids to produce carbonate and form precipitates with a high removal rate. MICP via A. aquatilis removed 91.8%, 68.5%, and 92.2% of the initial soluble Ca, Mg, and Ni, respectively. Furthermore, A. aquatilis can remove ammonium after the MICP process under oxygen-rich conditions. Therefore, we provide interesting insight into the use of Alcaligenes (in the absence of urea) to improve the seawater quality in the process of desalination.
Characterization of Genetic Diversity Conserved in the Gene Bank for Dutch Cattle Breeds
Authors: van Breukelen Anouk E. , Doekes Harmen P. , Windig Jack J. , Oldenbroek Kor
Published: November 2019

In this study, we characterized genetic diversity in the gene bank for Dutch native cattle breeds. A total of 715 bulls from seven native breeds and a sample of 165 Holstein Friesian bulls were included. Genotype data were used to calculate genetic similarities. Based on these similarities, most breeds were clearly differentiated, except for two breeds (Deep Red and Improved Red and White) that have recently been derived from the MRY breed, and for the Dutch Friesian and Dutch Friesian Red, which have frequently exchanged bulls. Optimal contribution selection (OCS) was used to construct core sets of bulls with a minimized similarity. The composition of the gene bank appeared to be partly optimized in the semen collection process, i.e., the mean similarity within breeds based on the current number of straws per bull was 0.32% to 1.49% lower than when each bull would have contributed equally. Mean similarity could be further reduced within core sets by 0.34% to 2.79% using OCS. Material not needed for the core sets can be made available for supporting in situ populations and for research. Our findings provide insight in genetic diversity in Dutch cattle breeds and help to prioritize material in gene banking.
Estimation and Simulation of the Transaction Arrival Process in Intraday Electricity Markets
Authors: Narajewski Michał , Ziel Florian
Published: November 2019

We examine the novel problem of the estimation of transaction arrival processes in the intraday electricity markets. We model the inter-arrivals using multiple time-varying parametric densities based on the generalized F distribution estimated by maximum likelihood. We analyse both the in-sample characteristics and the probabilistic forecasting performance. In a rolling window forecasting study, we simulate many trajectories to evaluate the forecasts and gain significant insights into the model fit. The prediction accuracy is evaluated by a functional version of the MAE (mean absolute error), RMSE (root mean squared error) and CRPS (continuous ranked probability score) for the simulated count processes. This paper fills the gap in the literature regarding the intensity estimation of transaction arrivals and is a major contribution to the topic, yet leaves much of the field for further development. The study presented in this paper is conducted based on the German Intraday Continuous electricity market data, but this method can be easily applied to any other continuous intraday electricity market. For the German market, a specific generalized gamma distribution setup explains the overall behaviour significantly best, especially as the tail behaviour of the process is well covered.
Transcriptome Analysis of the Cecal Tonsil of Jingxing Yellow Chickens Revealed the Mechanism of Differential Resistance to Salmonella
Authors: Wang Fei , Zhang Jin , Zhu Bo , Wang Jie , Wang Qiao , Zheng Maiqing , Wen Jie , Li Qinghe , Zhao Guiping
Published: November 2019

Salmonella is one of the most common food-borne pathogens. It can be transmitted between chickens, as well as to people by contaminated poultry products. In our study, we distinguished chickens with different resistances mainly based on bacterial loads. We compared the cecal tonsil transcriptomes between the susceptible and resistant chickens after Salmonella infection, aiming to identify the crucial genes participating in the antibacterial activity in the cecal tonsil. A total of 3214 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 2092 upregulated and 1122 downregulated genes, were identified between the two groups (fold change ≥ 2.0, padj < 0.05). Many DEGs were mainly involved in the regulation of two biological processes: crosstalk between the cecal tonsil epithelium and pathogenic bacteria, such as focal adhesion, extracellular-matrix–receptor interaction, and regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and host immune response including the cytokine–receptor interaction. In particular, the challenged resistant birds exhibited strong activation of the intestinal immune network for IgA production, which perhaps contributed to the resistance to Salmonella infection. These findings give insight into the mRNA profile of the cecal tonsil between the two groups after initial Salmonella stimulation, which may extend the known complexity of molecular mechanisms in chicken immune response to Salmonella.
Characterization and Functional Divergence of a Novel DUF668 Gene Family in Rice Based on Comprehensive Expression Patterns
Authors: Zhong Hua , Zhang Hongyu , Guo Rong , Wang Qiang , Huang Xiaoping , Liao Jianglin , Li Yangsheng , Huang Yingjin , Wang Zhaohai
Published: November 2019

The domain of unknown function (DUF) superfamily encodes proteins of unknown functions in plants. Among them, DUF668 family members in plants possess a 29 amino-acid conserved domain, and this family has not been described previously. Here, we report this plant-specific novel DUF668 gene family containing 12 OsDUF668 genes in rice (Oryza sativa) and 91 DUF668s for the other seven plant species. In our study, DUF668 genes were present in both dicot and monocot plants, indicating that DUF668 is a conserved gene family that originated by predating the dicot–monocot divergence. Based on the gene structure and motif composition, the DUF668 family consists of two distinct clades, I and II in the phylogenetic tree. Remarkably, OsDUF668 genes clustered on the chromosomes merely show close phylogenetic relationships, suggesting that gene duplications or collinearity seldom happened. Cis-elements prediction display that over 80% of DUF668s contain phytohormone and light responsiveness factors. Further comprehensive experimental analyses of the OsDUF668 family are implemented in 22 different tissues, five hormone treatments, seven environmental factor stresses, and two pathogen-defense related stresses. The OsDUF668 genes express ubiquitously in analyzed rice tissues, and seven genes show tissue-specific high expression profiles. All OsDUF668s respond to drought, and some of Avr9/Cf-9 rapidly elicited genes resist to salt, wound, and rice blast with rapidly altered expression patterns. These findings imply that OsDUF668 is essential for drought-enduring and plant defense. Together, our results bring the important role of the DUF668 gene family in rice development and fitness to the fore.
The Molecular Characteristics of the FAM13A Gene and the Role of Transcription Factors ACSL1 and ASCL2 in Its Core Promoter Region
Authors: Liang Chengcheng , Li Anning , Raza Sayed Haidar Abbas , Khan Rajwali , Wang Xiaoyu , Wang Sihu , Wang Guohua , Zhang Yu , Zan Linsen
Published: November 2019

The gene family with sequence similarity 13 member A (FAM13A) has recently been identified as a marker gene in insulin sensitivity and lipolysis. In this study, we first analyzed the expression patterns of this gene in different tissues of adult cattle and then constructed a phylogenetic tree based on the FAM13A amino acid sequence. This showed that subcutaneous adipose tissue had the highest expression in all tissues except lung tissue. Then we summarized the gene structure. The promoter region sequence of the gene was successfully amplified, and the −241/+54 region has been identified as the core promoter region. The core promoter region was determined by the unidirectional deletion of the 5’ flanking promoter region of the FAM13A gene. Based on the bioinformatics analysis, we examined the dual luciferase activity of the vector constructed by the mutation site, and the transcription factors ACSL1 and ASCL2 were found as transcriptional regulators of FAM13A. Moreover, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) further validated the regulatory role of ACSL1 and ASCL2 in the regulation of FAM13A. ACSL1 and ASCL2 were finally identified as activating transcription factors. Our results provide a basis for the function of the FAM13A gene in bovine adipocytes in order to improve the deposition of fat deposition in beef cattle muscle.
Major Depressive Syndrome (MDS) and its Association with Time of Residence among Spanish Speaking Au-Pairs Living in Germany
Authors: Espinoza-Castro Bernarda , Weinmann Tobias , Mendoza López Rossana , Radon Katja
Published: November 2019

The number of au-pairs in Germany is on the rise. In 2017, about 13,500 au-pairs were living in German families, almost half of them originating from non-European Union (EU) countries and many of them from Spanish speaking countries. Knowledge about mental health among au-pairs in Germany is limited. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of Major Depressive Syndrome (MDS) and its potential association with time of residence among Spanish speaking au-pairs living in Germany via an exploratory analysis. This study included a sample of 409 Spanish speaking au-pairs living in Germany. We classified the au-pairs into those who lived less than three weeks in Germany (newcomer au-pairs) and those who lived more than three weeks (experienced au-pairs). The participants were recruited by an online survey (Facebook and Instagram) from August 2018 to June 2019. Socio-demographic characteristics, time of residence in Germany and the level of education were assessed. MDS was assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire depression module (PHQ-9). Poisson regression models were calculated to evaluate the association between time of residence in Germany and prevalence of MDS. Most of the participants were female (91%). Almost half of them came from Colombia (48%) and were in the age range between 22–24 years (40%). Prevalence of MDS was 8% among newcomers and 19% among experienced au-pairs (p = 0.002). Differences remained statistically significant after adjustment for potential confounders (age, level of education and time of residence in Germany) (prevalence ratio 2.25; 95% confidence interval: 1.22–4.14). In conclusion, au-pairs may develop mental symptoms during their time abroad. Future prospective studies should aim at identifying potential risk factors and preventive measures.
Public Perception of Haze Weather Based on Weibo Comments
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Chen Jinshou , Liu Xueyan
Published: November 2019

In China, haze weather has become a major public concern and is frantically discussed by the public. Many people express their views, opinions, or complaints on social media. Effectively extracting this useful information may help to improve our understanding of how the public perceive and respond to haze, and could potentially contribute to environmental policy-making. In this paper, we study how the public perceive haze during haze weather and how this perception changes with seasons based on comment data from a major social media platform in China, Weibo, and using several social network methods, including perceptual keyword cloud mapping, complex network topology characteristics, and social perception analysis. The results showed that the public’s perception was focused on the causes of haze in spring, enjoyment of life and travel in summer, measures to prevent haze in autumn, and the adverse effects of haze on human health in winter.
Progress on Catastrophic Health Expenditure in China: Evidence from China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) 2010 to 2016
Authors: Ma Xiaochen , Wang Ziyue , Liu Xiaoyun
Published: November 2019

Background: To provide an updated estimate of the level and change in catastrophic health expenditure in China and examine the association between catastrophic health expenditure and family net income, we obtained data from four waves of the China Family Panel Studies conducted between 2010 and 2016. Method: We defined catastrophic health expenditure as out-of-pocket payments equaling or exceeding 40% of the household’s capacity to pay. The Poisson regression with robust variance and generalized estimated equation (Poisson-GEE) model was used to quantify the level and change of catastrophic health expenditure, as well as the association between catastrophic heath expenditure and family net income. Result: Overall, the incidence of catastrophic expenditure in China experienced a 0.70-fold change between 2010 (12.57%) and 2016 (8.94%). The incidence of catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) decreased more in the poorest income quintile than the richest income quintile (annual decrease of 1.17% vs. 0.24% in urban areas, p < 0.001; 1.64% vs. −0.02% in rural areas, p < 0.001). Every 100% increase in income was associated with a 14% relative-risk reduction in CHE (RR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.85–0.88) after adjusting for demographics, health needs, and health utilization characteristics; this association was weaker in recent years. Conclusion: Our analysis found that China made progress to reduce catastrophic health expenditure, especially for poorer groups. Income growth is strongly associated with this change.
Household Food Insecurity, Dietary Diversity, Stunting, and Anaemia among Left-Behind Children in Poor Rural Areas of China
Authors: Yang Qiping , Yuan Tong , Yang Lina , Zou Jiaojiao , Ji Meimei , Zhang Yefu , Deng Jing , Lin Qian
Published: November 2019

Left-behind children (LBC) are a newly emerged social group in China. Poor nutritional status is particularly prominent in this population. However, their food insecurity tends to attract very little attention. This study aims to investigate the relationship between food insecurity and undernutrition (stunting and anaemia) in 3 to 5-year-old LBC in rural China. Face-to-face interviews were administered to 553 LBC caregivers in 40 rural villages of Hunan Province, China. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was used to assess household food insecurity (HFI). Dietary diversity score (DDS) and food group consumption frequency were measured by 24 h-recall and food frequency questionnaires (FFQ). Hemoglobin tests and anthropometric measurements including height and weight were measured by trained health professionals. Logistic regression was constructed to assess the association between household food insecurity and dietary diversity, stunting, and anaemia. A high prevalence of household food insecurity was determined (67.6%). The weighted prevalence of stunting and anaemia were 16.6% and 26.5%, respectively. Food insecurity was positively associate with LBC stunting (severe HFI: OR = 6.50, 95% CI: 2.81, 15.00; moderate HFI: OR = 3.47, 95% CI: 1.60, 7.54), and anaemia (severe HFI: OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.02, 3.57). LBC with food insecurity had significantly lower dietary diversity than those who were food-secure (p < 0.001). The prevalence of household food insecurity among LBC in poor rural China is high and is associated with low DDS, stunting, and anaemia. Nutritional intervention programs and policies are urgently needed to reduce household food insecurity and undernutrition for this vulnerable population.