bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation on Corrosion Resistance and Formation Mechanism of a P–F–Zr Contained Micro-Arc Oxidation Coating on AZ31B Magnesium Alloy Using an Orthogonal Method
Authors: Zhu Yuanyuan , Chang Wenhui , Zhang Shufang , Song Yingwei , Huang Huade , Zhao Rongfang , Li Guoqiang , Zhang Rongfa , Zhang Yijia
Published: March 2019

In this study, the synergistic effects of NH4HF2, sodium phytate (Na12Phy), K2ZrF6, and treatment time on corrosion resistance of a micro-arc oxidation (MAO) treated magnesium alloy and the entrance mechanism of P, F, and Zr into anodic coatings were investigated using an orthogonal method. In addition, the roles of NH4HF2, Na12Phy, and K2ZrF6 on coating development were separately studied. The results show that NH4HF2 and Na12Phy, the corrosion inhibitors of magnesium alloys, are beneficial but K2ZrF6 is harmful to developing anodic coatings. The corrosion resistance of MAO coatings is synergistically determined by coating characteristics, though the coating thickness plays a main role. Na12Phy significantly improves but NH4HF2 decreases the corrosion resistance of MAO coatings, while excess high K2ZrF6 is harmful to the coating corrosion resistance. Treatment time can increase the coating thickness but is the least important factor in corrosion resistance. During MAO, NH4HF2, Na12Phy, and K2ZrF6 take part in coating formation, causing P, F, and Zr to compete with each other to enter into anodic coatings.
Silver-Nanoparticle-Decorated Gold Nanorod Arrays via Bioinspired Polydopamine Coating as Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) Platforms
Authors: Yilmaz Mehmet
Published: March 2019

The controlled deposition of nanoparticles onto 3-D nanostructured films is still facing challenges due to the uncontrolled aggregation of colloidal nanoparticles. In the context of this study, a simple yet effective approach is demonstrated to decorate the silver nanoparticles (AgNP) onto the 3-D and anisotropic gold nanorod arrays (GNAs) through a bioinspired polydopamine (PDOP) coating to fabricate surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) platforms. Since the Raman reporter molecules (methylene blue, MB, 10 µM) were not adsorbed directly on the surface of the plasmonic material, a remarkable decrease in SERS signals was detected for the PDOP-coated GNAs (GNA@PDOP) platforms. However, after uniform and well-controlled AgNP decoration on the GNA@PDOP (GNA@PDOP@AgNP), huge enhancement was observed in SERS signals from the resultant platform due to the synergistic action which originated from the interaction of GNAs and AgNPs. I also detected that PDOP deposition time (i.e., PDOP film thickness) is the dominant parameter that determines the SERS activity of the final system and 30 min of PDOP deposition time (i.e., 3 nm of PDOP thickness) is the optimum value to obtain the highest SERS signal. To test the reproducibility of GNA@PDOP@AgNP platforms, relative standard deviation (RSD) values for the characteristic peaks of MB were found to be less than 0.17, demonstrating the acceptable reproducibility all over the proposed platform. This report suggests that GNA@PDOP@AgNP system may be used as a robust platform for practical SERS applications.
The Evaluation on Corrosion Resistance and Dross Formation of Zn–23 wt % Al–0.3 wt % Si–x wt % Mg Alloy
Authors: Peng Wangjun , Wu Guangxin , Lu Rui , Lian Quanyong , Zhang Jieyu
Published: March 2019

A comparative study of the corrosive resistance and dross formation of 55Al–Zn–1.6Si (wt %) (55AZS) and 23Al–Zn–0.3Si–xMg (wt %) (23AZS–xMg, x = 0, 1.5, 3) alloys are performed using immersion corrosion and dross formation test, respectively. The result of immersion corrosion testing shows that corrosive rate of the 23AZS alloy is lower than that of 55AZS alloy in the latter stage of immersion and 23AZS–1.5Mg alloy shows the optimal corrosive resistance compared to other alloys relatively. The result of dross formation test shows that the number of bottom dross particle formed in 23AZS–xMg (x = 0, 1.5, 3) alloy is less than that in 55AZS alloy. Moreover, the thermodynamic calculation is performed to reveal the solubility of Fe in the alloys, the result shows the solubility of Fe reduces as a decrease of Al content in the alloy, and the number of dross particle (Fe4Al13 and τ6 (Al9Fe2Si2) phase) generated in 23AZS alloy is more than that in 55AZS alloy. In general, 23AZS–1.5Mg alloy has an advantage of less dross and a certain corrosion resistance and it is expected to be applied for the hot stamping process of coating.
Coating of Titanium Substrates with ZrO2 and ZrO2-SiO2 Composites by Sol-Gel Synthesis for Biomedical Applications: Structural Characterization, Mechanical and Corrosive Behavior
Authors: Catauro Michelina , Barrino Federico , Bononi Massimiliano , Colombini Elena , Giovanardi Roberto , Veronesi Paolo , Tranquillo Elisabetta
Published: March 2019

The use of metallic materials as implants presents some major drawbacks, such as their harmful effects on the living organism, especially those induced by corrosion. To overcome this problem, the implant surface of titanium implants can be improved using a coating of bioactive and biocompatible materials. The aim of this work is the synthesis of SiO2/ZrO2 composites with different percentages of zirconia matrix (20, 33 and 50 wt.%), by the sol-gel method to coat commercial Grade 4 titanium disks using a dip coater. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR/FTIR) spectroscopy was used to evaluate the interactions between the inorganic matrices. Furthermore, the mechanical properties and corrosive behavior of the SiO2/ZrO2 coatings were evaluated as a function of the ZrO2 content. The bioactive properties of the substrate coated with different composites were evaluated using simulated body fluid (SBF). The antibacterial activity was tested against gram-negative and gram-positive Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis, respectively, to assess the release of toxic products from the different composites and to evaluate the possibility of using them in the biomedical field.
Experimental Conditions for the Stabilization of the Lyotropic Biaxial Nematic Mesophase
Authors: Akpinar Erol , Figueiredo Neto Antônio
Published: March 2019

Nematic phases are some of the most common phases among the lyotropic liquid crystalline structures. They have been widely investigated during last decades. In early studies, two uniaxial nematic phases (discotic, ND, and calamitic, NC) were identified. After the discovery of the third one, named biaxial nematic phase (NB) in 1980, however, some controversies in the stability of biaxial nematic phases began and still continue in the literature. From the theoretical point of view, the existence of a biaxial nematic phase is well established. This review aims to bring information about the historical development of those phases considering the early studies and then summarize the recent studies on how to stabilize different nematic phases from the experimental conditions, especially, choosing the suitable constituents of lyotropic mixtures.
A Preview of a Construction of a Crystal Lattice Based on Intermolecular Interactions
Authors: Hejtmánek Vladimír , Dračínský Martin , Sýkora Jan
Published: March 2019

A general procedure of crystal packing reconstruction using a certain number of intermolecular interactions is introduced and demonstrated on the crystal structure of l-histidine·HCl·H2O. Geometric restrictions based on intermolecular interactions are used for formation of a molecular pair as a basic repetitive motif of the crystal packing. The geometric restrictions were applied gradually within a supervised procedure, narrowing the scope of possible arrangement of two adjacent molecules. Subsequently, a pair of histidine molecules was used for construction of a molecular chain. The chain formed contained translation information on histidine molecules in one dimension, which coincided with one of the cell parameters. Furthermore, the periodicity in the second and third dimensions can be accomplished by chain assembly into sheets (2D), and sheets can be arranged into the final 3D structure. For this purpose, the rest of the available intermolecular interactions could be used to control the mutual assembly of molecular chains and sheets. Complete molecular packing would enable derivation of standard crystallographic parameters that can be used for verification of the structural model obtained. However, the procedure described for construction of the whole 3D structure from molecular chains was not attempted, and is only briefly outlined here. The procedure described can be employed especially when standard crystallographic parameters are not available and traditional methods based on X-ray diffraction fail.
Effect of Crowding Agent Polyethylene Glycol on Lyotropic Chromonic Liquid Crystal Phases of Disodium Cromoglycate
Authors: Koizumi Runa , Li Bing-Xiang , Lavrentovich Oleg D.
Published: March 2019

Adding crowding agents such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) to lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals (LCLCs) formed by water dispersions of materials such as disodium cromoglicate (DSCG) leads to a phase separation of the isotropic phase and the ordered phase. This behavior resembles nanoscale condensation of DNAs but occurs at the microscale. The structure of condensed chromonic regions in crowded dispersions is not yet fully understood, in particular, it is not clear whether the condensed domains are in the nematic (N) or the columnar (C) state. In this study, we report on small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) measurements of mixtures of aqueous solutions of DSCG with PEG and compare results to measurements of aqueous solutions of pure DSCG. X-ray measurements demonstrate that addition of PEG to DSCG in the N phase triggers appearance of the C phase that coexists with the isotropic (I) phase. Within the coexisting region, the lateral distance between the columns of the chromonic aggregates decreases as the temperature is increased.
Adaptive Extended Kalman Filter with Correntropy Loss for Robust Power System State Estimation
Authors: Zhang Zhiyu , Qiu Jinzhe , Ma Wentao
Published: March 2019

Monitoring the current operation status of the power system plays an essential role in the enhancement of the power grid for future requirements. Therefore, the real-time state estimation (SE) of the power system has been of widely-held concern. The Kalman filter is an outstanding method for the SE, and the noise in the system is generally assumed to be Gaussian noise. In the actual power system however, these measurements are usually disturbed by non-Gaussian noises in practice. Furthermore, it is hard to get the statistics of the state noise and measurement noise. As a result, a novel adaptive extended Kalman filter with correntropy loss is proposed and applied for power system SE in this paper. Firstly, correntropy is used to improve the robustness of the EKF algorithm in the presence of non-Gaussian noises and outliers. In addition, an adaptive update mechanism of the covariance matrixes of the measurement and process noises is introduced into the EKF with correntropy loss to enhance the accuracy of the algorithm. Extensive simulations are carried out on IEEE 14-bus and IEEE 30-bus test systems to verify the feasibility and robustness of the proposed algorithm.
Thermodynamic Relations among Isotropic Material Properties in Conditions of Plane Shear Stress
Authors: Porporato Amilcare , Calabrese Salvatore , Hueckel Tomasz
Published: March 2019

We present new general relationships among the material properties of an isotropic material kept in homogeneous stress conditions with hydrostatic pressure and plane shear. The derivation is not limited to the proximity of the zero shear-stress and -strain condition, which allows us to identify the relationship between adiabatic and isothermal shear compliances (inverse of the moduli of rigidity) along with new links, among others, between isobaric and isochoric shear thermal expansion coefficients and heat capacities at constant stress and constant shear strain. Such relationships are important for a variety of applications, including the determination of constitutive equations, the characterization of nanomaterials, and the identification of properties related to earthquakes precursors and complex media (e.g., soil) behavior. The results may be useful to investigate the behavior of materials during phase transitions involving shear or in non-homogeneous conditions within a local thermodynamic equilibrium framework.
On the Thermodynamic Origin of Gravitational Force by Applying Spacetime Entanglement Entropy and the Unruh Effect
Authors: Liu Shujuan , Xiong Hongwei
Published: March 2019

We consider the thermodynamic origin of the gravitational force of matter by applying the spacetime entanglement entropy and the Unruh effect originating from vacuum quantum fluctuations. By analyzing both the local thermal equilibrium and quasi-static processes of a system, we may get both the magnitude and direction of Newton’s gravitational force in our theoretical model. Our work shows the possibility that the elusive Unruh effect has already shown its manifestation through gravitational force.
Indirect Inference: Which Moments to Match?
Authors: Frazier David T. , Renault Eric
Published: March 2019

The standard approach to indirect inference estimation considers that the auxiliary parameters, which carry the identifying information about the structural parameters of interest, are obtained from some recently identified vector of estimating equations. In contrast to this standard interpretation, we demonstrate that the case of overidentified auxiliary parameters is both possible, and, indeed, more commonly encountered than one may initially realize. We then revisit the “moment matching” and “parameter matching” versions of indirect inference in this context and devise efficient estimation strategies in this more general framework. Perhaps surprisingly, we demonstrate that if one were to consider the naive choice of an efficient Generalized Method of Moments (GMM)-based estimator for the auxiliary parameters, the resulting indirect inference estimators would be inefficient. In this general context, we demonstrate that efficient indirect inference estimation actually requires a two-step estimation procedure, whereby the goal of the first step is to obtain an efficient version of the auxiliary model. These two-step estimators are presented both within the context of moment matching and parameter matching.
Noise Reduction of Power Quality Measurements with Time-Frequency Depth Analysis
Authors: Mostarac Petar , Malarić Roman , Mostarac Katarina , Jurčević Marko
Published: March 2019

This paper presents the noise reduction of power quality measurement with time-frequency (T-F) depth analysis. Noise reduction is achieved with wavelet transformation by decomposition, thresholding and lossless reconstruction of signal. Three main problems with T-F noise reduction with wavelet transformation are: defining thresholding levels, level of decomposition and number of wavelet vanishing moment. In this analysis decomposition level and number of vanishing moments are defined via simulation for pure sinusoid signal, these values are used for signals with perturbations and they provide reasonable results. Analysis is conducted by simulating various change of parameters and then approved by laboratory measurement with calibrators and precision measurement equipment. The paper describes a method for noise reduction of signal without prior knowledge of noise level or signal amplitude. Proposed method is able to separate noise without adding phase shift for diverse signal conditions, harmonics, interharmonics, dips, swells and dynamic variations.
Review of Core/Shell Quantum Dots Technology Integrated into Building’s Glazing
Authors: AbouElhamd Amira R. , Al-Sallal Khaled A. , Hassan Ahmed
Published: March 2019

Skylights and windows are building openings that enhance human comfort and well-being in various ways. Recently, a massive drive is witnessed to replace traditional openings with building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems to generate power in a bid to reduce buildings’ energy. The problem with most of the BIPV glazing lies in the obstruction of occupants’ vision of the outdoor view. In order to resolve this problem, new technology has emerged that utilizes quantum dots semiconductors (QDs) in glazing systems. QDs can absorb and re-emit the incoming radiation in the desired direction with the tunable spectrum, which renders them favorable for building integration. By redirecting the radiation towards edges of the glazing, they can be categorized as luminescent solar concentrators (QD-LSCs) that can help to generate electricity while maintaining transparency in the glazing. The aim of this paper is to review the different properties of core/shell quantum dots and their potential applications in buildings. Literature from various disciplines was reviewed to establish correlations between the optical and electrical properties of different types, sizes, thicknesses, and concentration ratios of QDs when used in transparent glazing. The current article will help building designers and system integrators assess the merits of integrating QDs on windows/skylights with regards to energy production and potential impact on admitted daylighting and visual comfort.
Integration of Flow Temperatures in Unit Commitment Models of Future District Heating Systems
Authors: Boysen Cynthia , Kaldemeyer Cord , Hilpert Simon , Tuschy Ilja
Published: March 2019

The transformation of heat supply structures towards 4th generation district heating (4GDH) involves lower supply temperatures and a shift in technology. In order to assess the economic viability of the respective systems, adequate unit commitment models are needed. However, maintaining the formal requirements, while reducing the computational efforts of these models, often includes simplifications such as the assumption of constant supply temperatures. This study investigates the effect of introducing varying supply temperatures in mixed-integer linear programming models. Based on a case study of a municipal district heating system, how the temperature integration approach affects unit commitment and technology assessment for different temperature levels and scenarios is analyzed. In particular, three supply temperature levels are investigated with both variable and constant temperatures in two scenarios. Results indicate that lower flow temperature levels in the heating network tend to favor internal combustion engines, combined cycle power plants, and heat pumps; while back pressure steam turbines, peak loads, and electric boilers show declining operating hours. Furthermore, the effect of varying versus constant temperatures at the same temperature level is rather small, at least as long as technical restrictions do not come into play. Finally, it is found that the effect of changing temperature on a technology assessment is comparably small as opposed to adaptions in the regulatory framework.
A Statistical and Spatial Analysis of Portuguese Forest Fires in Summer 2016 Considering Landsat 8 and Sentinel 2A Data
Authors: Teodoro Ana , Amaral Ana
Published: March 2019

Forest areas in Portugal are often affected by fires. The objective of this work was to analyze the most fire-affected areas in Portugal in the summer of 2016 for two municipalities considering data from Landsat 8 OLI and Sentinel 2A MSI (prefire and postfire data). Different remote sensed data-derived indices, such as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR), could be used to identify burnt areas and estimate the burn severity. In this work, NDVI was used to evaluate the area burned, and NBR was used to estimate the burn severity. The results showed that the NDVI decreased considerably after the fire event (2017 images), indicating a substantial decrease in the photosynthesis activity in these areas. The results also indicate that the NDVI differences (dNDVI) assumes the highest values in the burned areas. The results achieved for both sensors regarding the area burned presented differences from the field data no higher than 13.3% (for Sentinel 2A, less than 7.8%). We conclude that the area burned estimated using the Sentinel 2A data is more accurate, which can be justified by the higher spatial resolution of this data.
Amazon Fund 10 Years Later: Lessons from the World’s Largest REDD+ Program
Authors: Correa Juliano , van der Hoff Richard , Rajão Raoni
Published: March 2019

Results-Based Funding (RBF) for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) has become an important instrument for channeling financial resources to forest conservation activities. At the same time, much literature on conservation funding is ambiguous about the effectiveness of existing RBF schemes. Many effectiveness evaluations follow a simplified version of the principal-agent model, but in practice, the relation between aid providers and funding recipients is much more complex. As a consequence, intermediary steps of conservation funding are often not accounted for in effectiveness studies. This research paper aims to provide a nuanced understanding of conservation funding by analyzing the allocation of financial resources for one of the largest RBF schemes for REDD+ in the world: the Brazilian Amazon Fund. As part of this analysis, this study has built a dataset of information, with unprecedented detail, on Amazon Fund projects, in order to accurately reconstruct the allocation of financial resources across different stakeholders (i.e., governments, NGOs, research institutions), geographies, and activities. The results show that that the distribution of resources of the Amazon Fund lack a clear strategy that could maximize the results of the fund in terms of deforestation reduction. First, there are evidences that in some cases governmental organizations lack financial additionality for their projects, which renders the growing share of funding to this type of stakeholder particularly worrisome. Second, the Amazon Fund allocations did also not systematically have privileged the municipalities that showed the recent highest deforestation rates. rom the 10 municipalities with the higher deforestation rates in 2017, only 2 are amongst the top 100 receiving per/Ha considering the 775 municipalities from Legal Amazon. Third, the allocation of the financial resources from the Amazon Fund reflects the support of different projects that adopt significantly diverging theories of change, many of which are not primarily concerned with attaining further deforestation reductions. These results reflect the current approach adopted by the Amazon Fund, that do not actively seek areas for intervention, but instead wait for project submissions from proponents. As a consequence, project owners exert much influence on to the type of activities that they support how deforestation reduction is expected to be attained. The article concludes that the Amazon Fund as well as other RBF programs, should evolve over time in order to develop a more targeted funding strategy to maximize the long-term impact in reducing emissions from deforestation.
Enrichment Increases Aggression in Zebrafish
Authors: Woodward Melanie A. , Winder Lucy A. , Watt Penelope J.
Published: March 2019

Environmental enrichment, or the enhancement of an animal’s surroundings when in captivity to maximise its wellbeing, has been increasingly applied to fish species, particularly those used commercially. Laboratory species could also benefit from enrichment, but it is not always clear what constitutes an enriched environment. The zebrafish, Danio rerio, is used widely in research and is one of the most commonly-used laboratory animals. We investigated whether changing the structural complexity of housing tanks altered the behaviour of one strain of zebrafish. Fish were kept in three treatments: (1) very enhanced (VE); (2) mildly enhanced (ME); and (3) control (CT). Level of aggression, fertilisation success, and growth were measured at regular intervals in a subset of fish in each treatment group. The VE fish were more aggressive over time than either ME or CT fish, both in the number of attacks they made against a mirror image and in their tendency to stay close to their reflection rather than avoid it. Furthermore, VE fish were shorter than CT fish by the end of the experiment, though mass was not significantly affected. There was no significant effect of treatment on fertilisation success. These findings suggest that the way in which fish are housed in the laboratory can significantly affect their behaviour, and potentially, their growth. The zebrafish is a shoaling species with a dominance hierarchy, and so may become territorial over objects placed in the tank. The enrichment of laboratory tanks should consider aspects of the species’ behaviour.
Identification of Zebrafish Calcium Toolkit Genes and Their Expression in the Brain
Authors: Wasilewska Iga , Gupta Rishikesh Kumar , Palchevska Oksana , Kuźnicki Jacek
Published: March 2019

Zebrafish are well-suited for in vivo calcium imaging because of the transparency of their larvae and the ability to express calcium probes in various cell subtypes. This model organism has been used extensively to study brain development, neuronal function, and network activity. However, only a few studies have investigated calcium homeostasis and signaling in zebrafish neurons, and little is known about the proteins that are involved in these processes. Using bioinformatics analysis and available databases, the present study identified 491 genes of the zebrafish Calcium Toolkit (CaTK). Using RNA-sequencing, we then evaluated the expression of these genes in the adult zebrafish brain and found 380 hits that belonged to the CaTK. Based on quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction arrays, we estimated the relative mRNA levels in the brain of CaTK genes at two developmental stages. In both 5 dpf larvae and adult zebrafish, the highest relative expression was observed for tmbim4, which encodes a Golgi membrane protein. The present data on CaTK genes will contribute to future applications of zebrafish as a model for in vivo and in vitro studies of Ca2+ signaling.
H3K27me3 Depletion during Differentiation Promotes Myogenic Transcription in Porcine Satellite Cells
Authors: Wang Sheng , Sun Yan , Ren Ruimin , Xie Junhui , Tian Xiaohuan , Zhao Shuhong , Li Xinyun , Cao Jianhua
Published: March 2019

Background: Porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells play important roles in myogenesis and muscle regeneration. Integrated analysis of transcriptome and histone modifications would reveal epigenomic roles in promoting myogenic differentiation in swine. Methods: Porcine satellite cells (PSCs) were isolated and in-vitro cultured from newborn piglets. RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq) and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Sequencing (ChIP-Seq) experiments were performed using proliferating cells and terminal myotubes in order to interrogate the transcriptomic profiles, as well as the distribution of histone markers—H3K4me3, H3K27me3, and H3K27ac—and RNA polymerase II. Results: The study identified 917 differentially expressed genes during cell differentiation. The landscape of epigenetic marks was displayed on a genome-wide scale, which had globally shrunken. H3K27me3 reinforcement participated in obstructing the transcription of proliferation-related genes, while its depletion was closely related to the up-regulation of myogenic genes. Furthermore, the degree of H3K27me3 modification was dramatically reduced by 50%, and 139 myogenic genes were upregulated to promote cell differentiation. Conclusions: The depletion of H3K27me3 was shown to promote porcine satellite cell differentiation through upregulating the transcription level of myogenic genes. Our findings in this study provide new insights of the epigenomic mechanisms occurring during myogenic differentiation, and shed light on chromatin states and the dynamics underlying myogenesis.
The Patchy Distribution of Restriction–Modification System Genes and the Conservation of Orphan Methyltransferases in Halobacteria
Authors: Fullmer Matthew S. , Ouellette Matthew , Louyakis Artemis S. , Papke R. Thane , Gogarten Johann Peter
Published: March 2019

Restriction–modification (RM) systems in bacteria are implicated in multiple biological roles ranging from defense against parasitic genetic elements, to selfish addiction cassettes, and barriers to gene transfer and lineage homogenization. In bacteria, DNA-methylation without cognate restriction also plays important roles in DNA replication, mismatch repair, protein expression, and in biasing DNA uptake. Little is known about archaeal RM systems and DNA methylation. To elucidate further understanding for the role of RM systems and DNA methylation in Archaea, we undertook a survey of the presence of RM system genes and related genes, including orphan DNA methylases, in the halophilic archaeal class Halobacteria. Our results reveal that some orphan DNA methyltransferase genes were highly conserved among lineages indicating an important functional constraint, whereas RM systems demonstrated patchy patterns of presence and absence. This irregular distribution is due to frequent horizontal gene transfer and gene loss, a finding suggesting that the evolution and life cycle of RM systems may be best described as that of a selfish genetic element. A putative target motif (CTAG) of one of the orphan methylases was underrepresented in all of the analyzed genomes, whereas another motif (GATC) was overrepresented in most of the haloarchaeal genomes, particularly in those that encoded the cognate orphan methylase.
Development of a DNA Barcoding-Like Approach to Detect Mustard Allergens in Wheat Flours
Authors: Frigerio Jessica , Pellesi Roberta , Mezzasalma Valerio , De Mattia Fabrizio , Galimberti Andrea , Lambertini Francesca , Suman Michele , Zanardi Sandro , Leporati Andrea , Labra Massimo
Published: March 2019

The spread of food allergens is a topic of global importance due to its impact on public health. National and International regulations ask food producers and manufacturers to declare product compositions on the label, especially in case of processed raw materials. Wheat flour (Triticum aestivum) can be contaminated by a wide range of species belonging to the Brassicaceae in the field or during grain harvests, storage, and processing. Among them, mustards (Brassica nigra, Brassica juncea and Sinapis alba) are well known allergenic species. Often, food quality laboratories adopt an ELISA approach to detect the presence of mustard species. However, this approach shows cross-reactivity with other non-allergenic species such as Brassica napus (rapeseed). In the last few years, DNA barcoding was proposed as a valid identification method, and it is now commonly used in the authentication of food products. This study aims to set up an easy and rapid DNA-based tool to detect mustard allergenic species. DNA barcoding (matK and ITS2) and chromosome markers (A6, B, C1 genome regions) were selected, and specific primers were validated on incurred reference food matrices. The developed test was proven to be able to distinguish mustard from rapeseed and wheat, overcoming cross-reactivity with Brassica napus.
Cell-Selective Regulation of CFTR Gene Expression: Relevance to Gene Editing Therapeutics
Authors: Swahn Hannah , Harris Ann
Published: March 2019

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene is an attractive target for gene editing approaches, which may yield novel therapeutic approaches for genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF). However, for gene editing to be effective, aspects of the three-dimensional (3D) structure and cis-regulatory elements governing the dynamic expression of CFTR need to be considered. In this review, we focus on the higher order chromatin organization required for normal CFTR locus function, together with the complex mechanisms controlling expression of the gene in different cell types impaired by CF pathology. Across all cells, the CFTR locus is organized into an invariant topologically associated domain (TAD) established by the architectural proteins CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) and cohesin complex. Additional insulator elements within the TAD also recruit these factors. Although the CFTR promoter is required for basal levels of expression, cis-regulatory elements (CREs) in intergenic and intronic regions are crucial for cell-specific and temporal coordination of CFTR transcription. These CREs are recruited to the promoter through chromatin looping mechanisms and enhance cell-type-specific expression. These features of the CFTR locus should be considered when designing gene-editing approaches, since failure to recognize their importance may disrupt gene expression and reduce the efficacy of therapies.
Adverse Event Circumstances and the Case of Drug Interactions
Authors: Soldatos Theodoros G. , Jackson David B.
Published: March 2019

Adverse events are a common and for the most part unavoidable consequence of therapeutic intervention. Nevertheless, available tomes of such data now provide us with an invaluable opportunity to study the relationship between human phenotype and drug-induced protein perturbations within a patient system. Deciphering the molecular basis of such adverse responses is not only paramount to the development of safer drugs but also presents a unique opportunity to dissect disease systems in search of novel response biomarkers, drug targets, and efficacious combination therapies. Inspired by the potential applications of this approach, we first examined adverse event circumstances reported in FAERS and then performed a molecular level interrogation of cancer patient adverse events to investigate the prevalence of drug-drug interactions in the context of patient responses. We discuss avoidable and/or preventable cases and how molecular analytics can help optimize therapeutic use of co-medications. While up to one out of three adverse events in this dataset might be explicable by iatrogenic, patient, and product/device related factors, almost half of the patients in FAERS received multiple drugs and one in four may have experienced effects attributable to drug interactions.
Associations between Home Foreclosure and Health Outcomes in a Spanish City
Authors: Bernal-Solano Mariola , Bolívar-Muñoz Julia , Mateo-Rodríguez Inmaculada , Robles-Ortega Humbelina , Fernández-Santaella Maria del Carmen , Mata-Martín José Luís , Vila-Castellar Jaime , Daponte-Codina Antonio
Published: March 2019

The financial crisis has caused an exponential increase of home foreclosures in Spain. Recent studies have shown the effects that foreclosures have on mental and physical health. This study explores these effects on a sample of adults in the city of Granada (Spain), in terms of socio-demographic, socio-economic and process characteristics. A cross-sectional survey was administered to obtain information on self-perceived changes in several indicators of physical and mental health, consumption of medications, health-related behaviors and use of health services. A total of 205 persons, going through a foreclosure process, participated in the study. 85.7% of the sample reported an increase of episodes of anxiety, depression, and stress; 82.6% sleep disturbances; 42.8% worsening of previous chronic conditions, and 40.8% an increase in consumption of medication. Women, married persons and persons already in the legal stage of the foreclosure process reported higher probability of worsening health according to several indicators, in comparison with men, not married, and individuals in the initial stages of the foreclosure process. The results of this study reveal a general deterioration of health associated with the foreclosure process. These results may help to identify factors to prevent poor health among populations going through a foreclosure process.
Growing Resilience through Interaction with Nature: Can Group Walks in Nature Buffer the Effects of Stressful Life Events on Mental Health?
Authors: Marselle Melissa R. , Warber Sara L. , Irvine Katherine N.
Published: March 2019

Nature-based activities have been used as therapeutic interventions for those experiencing stress and mental ill health. This study investigates whether group walks could be a nature-based intervention to foster resilience, by buffering the effects of recent stressful life events on mental health. An observational research design with propensity score-matched samples compared the mental health of individuals who did (Nature Group Walkers, n = 1081) or did not (Non-Group Walkers, n = 435) attend nature group walks. A sub-sample of Frequent Nature Group Walkers (at least once per week, n = 631) was also investigated. Data were analyzed using multiple regression with an interaction term. All analyses were controlled for age, gender, and recent physical activity. Results showed that neither nature group walking, nor doing this frequently, moderated the effects of stressful life events on mental health. Using a main effects model, the positive associations of group walks in nature were at a greater magnitude than the negative associations of stressful life events on depression, positive affect, and mental well-being, suggesting an ‘undoing’ effect of nature group walks. Group walking schemes in natural environments may be an important public health promotion intervention for mental health.
Interleukin-3 Polymorphism is Associated with Miscarriage of Fresh in Vitro Fertilization Cycles
Authors: Wu Cheng-Hsuan , Lee Tsung-Hsien , Yang Shun-Fa , Tsao Hui-Mei , Chang Yu-Jun , Chou Chia-Hsuan , Lee Maw-Sheng
Published: March 2019

The aim of this study was to examine the association between interleukin (IL) genes polymorphisms and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome. A prospective cohort analysis was performed at a Women’s Hospital IVF centre of 1015 female patients undergoing fresh non-donor IVF cycles. The effects of the following six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in five IL genes on IVF outcomes were explored: IL-1α (rs1800587 C/T), IL-3 (rs40401 C/T), IL-6 (rs1800795 C/G), IL-15 (rs3806798 A/T), IL-18 (rs187238 C/G) and IL-18 (rs1946518 G/T). The main outcome measures included clinical pregnancy, embryo implantation, abortion and live birth rates. There were no statistically significant differences in clinical pregnancy, embryo implantation and live birth rates in the analysis of 1015 patients attempting their first cycle of IVF. Infertile women with IL-3 homozygous major genotype had a higher abortion rate than those with heterozygous and homozygous minor genotype (16.5% vs. 7.9%, P = 0.025). In conclusion, our results indicated that the IL-3 rs40401 polymorphism is associated with increased risk of abortion of IVF patients. Future studies with inclusion of other ethnic populations must be conducted to confirm the findings of this study.
A Study on Noise Reduction of Gear Pumps of Wheel Loaders Based on the ICA Model
Authors: Huang Panling , Xu Liang , Luo Chuan , Zhang Jianchuan , Chi Feng , Zhang Qi , Zhou Jun
Published: March 2019

In order to reduce the noise level of wheel loaders caused by gear pumps and realize environmentally sustainable development, the noise generation mechanism of a gear pump was studied, and the influence of flow pulsation and gear impact on noise was analyzed. In order to reduce the interference of other noise sources on the noise level of the gear pump, a noise test rig was established. The mixed noise signals obtained from the rig test were separated using the ICA model. The ICA model includes the following algorithms: The fast Fourier transform (FFT), independent component analysis (ICA) and inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT). Some theories about the influence of the teeth number and teeth profile on noise were analyzed by theory and simulation. A noise reduction strategy was proposed by increasing the teeth numbers and modifying the teeth profile of the gear pump. The tests results showed that the noise values of the external and the driver’s ear of the wheel loader were reduced to 1 and 2.2 dB (A), respectively. This proves the effectiveness of the optimization scheme of gear pump noise reduction.
Instability Index Derived from a Landslide Inventory for Watershed Stability Assessment and Mapping
Authors: Liu Cheng-Chien , Ko Ming-Hsun , Wen Huei-Lin , Fu Kuei-Lin , Chang Shu-Ting
Published: March 2019

Watersheds represent natural units of social–ecological systems and affect crop productivity. Extreme weather events accelerate the natural erosion process by triggering more landslides in watersheds. To achieve the land degradation neutrality set up by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, it is necessary to assess and map spatiotemporal landslides in watersheds. This paper proposes an innovative approach to calculating the instability index by preparing an annual landslide inventory, determining the optimum sub-watershed, compensating for shadow effects on the time series of the landslide area ratio, and classifying the standard deviations to different levels of instability. Taking the Qingquan watershed as an example, the instability index calculated for 22 sub-watersheds makes it possible to identify hot spots that are prone to collapse. This new index can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of watershed management before and after completion of a specific engineering project, as well as to update the latest upriver situation to evaluate current management practices and develop strategies for future planning. Based on this new approach, the Soil and Water Conservation Bureau of Taiwan assesses the stability of 28 watersheds, and the results are made available on the Big Geospatial Information System.
A Universal Generating Algorithm of the Polyhedral Discrete Grid Based on Unit Duplication
Authors: Meng Li , Tong Xiaochong , Fan Shuaibo , Cheng Chengqi , Chen Bo , Yang Weiming , Hou Kaihua
Published: March 2019

Based on the analysis of the problems in the generation algorithm of discrete grid systems domestically and abroad, a new universal algorithm for the unit duplication of a polyhedral discrete grid is proposed, and its core is “simple unit replication + effective region restriction”. First, the grid coordinate system and the corresponding spatial rectangular coordinate system are established to determine the rectangular coordinates of any grid cell node. Then, the type of the subdivision grid system to be calculated is determined to identify the three key factors affecting the grid types, which are the position of the starting point, the length of the starting edge, and the direction of the starting edge. On this basis, the effective boundary of a multiscale grid can be determined and the grid coordinates of a multiscale grid can be obtained. A one-to-one correspondence between the multiscale grids and subdivision types can be established. Through the appropriate rotation, translation and scaling of the multiscale grid, the node coordinates of a single triangular grid system are calculated, and the relationships between the nodes of different levels are established. Finally, this paper takes a hexagonal grid as an example to carry out the experiment verifications by converting a single triangular grid system (plane) directly to a single triangular grid with a positive icosahedral surface to generate a positive icosahedral surface grid. The experimental results show that the algorithm has good universality and can generate the multiscale grid of an arbitrary grid configuration by adjusting the corresponding starting transformation parameters.
In Vitro Induction of T Helper 17 Cells by Synergistic Activation of Human Monocyte-Derived Langerhans Cell-Like Cells with Bacterial Agonists
Authors: Gramlich Robert , Aliahmadi Ehsan , Peiser Matthias
Published: March 2019

In the case of epidermal barrier disruption, pathogens encounter skin-resident Langerhans cells (LCs) and are recognized by pathogen recognition receptors such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs). As the majority of microorganisms exhibit more than one TLR ligand, the mechanisms of subsequent T cell differentiation are complex and far from clear. In this study, we investigated combinatory effects on Th cell polarization by bacterial cell wall compounds peptidoglycan (PGN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and by bacterial nucleic acid (DNA). Expression of maturation markers CD40, CD80, HLA-DR and CCR7 and the release of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-23 was strongly enhanced by simultaneous exposure to PGN, LPS and DNA in LCs. As all these factors were potential Th17 driving cytokines, we investigated the potency of combinatory TLR stimuli to induce Th17 cells via LC activation. High amounts of IL-17A and IL-22, key cytokines of Th17 cells, were detected. By intracellular costaining of IL-17+T cells, IL-22− (Th17) and IL-22+ (immature Th17) cells were identified. Interestingly, one population of LPS stimulated cells skewed into IL-9+Th cells, and LPS synergized with PGN while inducing high IL-22. In conclusion, our data indicates that when mediated by a fine-tuned signal integration via LCs, bacterial TLR agonists synergize and induce Th17 differentiation.
The Desaturase Gene Family is Crucially Required for Fatty Acid Metabolism and Survival of the Brown Planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens
Authors: Zeng Jia-mei , Ye Wen-feng , Noman Ali , Machado Ricardo A.R. , Lou Yong-gen
Published: March 2019

Desaturases are essentially required for unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) biosynthesis. We identified 10 genes encoding putative desaturases in the transcriptome database of the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens. These include eight First Desaturase family genes, one cytochrome b5 fused desaturase gene (Nlug-Cytb5r) and one Sphingolipid Desaturase gene (Nlug-ifc). Transcript level profiling revealed significant variation in the expression patterns of these genes across tissues and developmental stages, which occur in a gene-specific manner. Interestingly, their expression was also modulated by the insect food source: the mRNA levels of Nlug-desatC and Nlug-Cytb5r were down-regulated, but the expression level of Nlug-desatA1-b and Nlug-desatA1-c were elevated in the BPH fed on the resistant rice variety Babawee as compared to the non-resistant variety Taichun Native 1 (TN1). Silencing Nlug-desatA1-b, Nlug-desatA1-c, or Nlug-Ifc reduced fatty acid composition and abundance in female BPH 1-d-old-adults compared to controls. Whereas, single knockdown of all ten desaturase genes significantly increased mortality of BPH nymphs compared with controls. Of the ten desaturase genes, knockdown of Nlug-desatA1-b and Nlug-desatA2 caused the highest mortality in BPH (91% and 97%, respectively). Our findings offer a base for expression and functional characterization of newly identified desaturase genes in BPH, and may contribute to RNA interference-based pest management strategies.