bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accounting for the effects of non-ideal minor structures on the optical properties of black carbon aerosols
Authors: Teng Shiwen , Liu Chao , Schnaiter Martin , Chakrabarty Rajan K. , Liu Fengshan
Published: November 2018

Abstract. Black carbon (BC) aerosol is the strongest sunlight-absorbing aerosol, and its optical properties are fundamental to radiative forcing estimations and retrievals of its size and concentration. During incomplete combustion, BC particles exist as aggregate structures with small monomers, which are widely represented by the idealized fractal aggregate model formed by monodisperse spherical monomers in point-contact. In reality, BC particles possess complex and non-ideal minor structures besides the overall aggregate structure, altering its optical properties in unforeseen ways. This study introduces a parameter volume variation to quantify and unify different minor structures, and develops an empirical relation to account for their effects on BC optical properties from those of ideal aggregates. Minor structures considered are the polydispersity of monomer size, irregularity and coating of individual monomer, and necking and overlapping among monomers. The discrete dipole approximation is used to calculate the optical properties of aggregates with these minor structures. Minor structures result in scattering cross section enhancement slightly more than that of absorption cross section, and their effects become weaker with the increase of wavelength. Their effects on the angular-dependent phase matrix as well as asymmetry factor are negligible. Our results suggest that a correction ratio of 1.05 is necessary to account for the mass/volume normalized absorption and scattering of non-ideal aggregates in comparison to ideal ones. In other words, minor structures tend to enhance the BC mass absorption and scattering by 5 %, which also applies to aggregates with multiple minor structures. The simulations of optical properties of non-ideal aggregates are greatly simplified, because they can be directly obtained from those of the corresponding ideal aggregates. We expect this generalized correction to find wide use for modeling realistic BC aggregates due to the simplicity involved in generating ideal fractal aggregates, and it is of great value for not only interpretation of measurements but also practical modeling that requires large amount of simulations.
Long-term measurements of ground-level ozone in Windsor, Canada – Part I. temporal variations and trends
Authors: Xu Xiaohong , Zhang Tianchu , Su Yushan
Published: November 2018

Abstract. This study investigates temporal variations and long-term (1996–2015) trends of ground-level O3 (ozone) and its precursors, NOx (nitrogen oxides) and volatile organic compounds in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. During the 20-year study period, NOx, non-methane hydrocarbon concentrations and ozone formation potential decreased significantly by 58 %, 61 %, and 73 %, respectively, while O3 concentrations increased by 33 % (20.3 ppb in 1996 vs. 27 ppb in 2015). Our analysis revealed that the increased annual O3 concentrations in Windsor were due to (1) decreased O3 titration (by 50 % between 1996 and 2015) owing to declining nitric oxide concentrations, which is suggested by a slightly decreasing trend of annual mean total O3 concentrations after the titration effect is removed, (2) reduced local photochemical production of O3, because of dwindling precursor emissions, and (3) increased background O3 level that has more impact on the low-to-median concentrations. The net effect of those factors is decreasing peak O3 levels during the smog season from May to September, but an overall increasing trend of annual means. These results indicate that the emission control measures are effective in reducing peak ozone concentrations. However, challenges in lowering annual O3 levels call for long-term collaborative efforts in the region and around the globe.
Northern Hemisphere surface freeze–thaw product from Aquarius L-band radiometers
Authors: Prince Michael , Roy Alexandre , Brucker Ludovic , Royer Alain , Kim Youngwook , Zhao Tianjie
Published: November 2018

Abstract. In the Northern Hemisphere, seasonal changes in surface freeze–thaw (FT) cycles are an important component of surface energy, hydrological and eco-biogeochemical processes that must be accurately monitored. This paper presents the weekly polar-gridded Aquarius passive L-band surface freeze–thaw product (FT-AP) distributed on the Equal-Area Scalable Earth Grid version 2.0, above the parallel 50° N, with a spatial resolution of 36 km  ×  36 km. The FT-AP classification algorithm is based on a seasonal threshold approach using the normalized polarization ratio, references for frozen and thawed conditions and optimized thresholds. To evaluate the uncertainties of the product, we compared it with another satellite FT product also derived from passive microwave observations but at higher frequency: the resampled 37 GHz FT Earth Science Data Record (FT-ESDR). The assessment was carried out during the overlapping period between 2011 and 2014. Results show that 77.1 % of their common grid cells have an agreement better than 80 %. Their differences vary with land cover type (tundra, forest and open land) and freezing and thawing periods. The best agreement is obtained during the thawing transition and over forest areas, with differences between product mean freeze or thaw onsets of under 0.4 weeks. Over tundra, FT-AP tends to detect freeze onset 2–5 weeks earlier than FT-ESDR, likely due to FT sensitivity to the different frequencies used. Analysis with mean surface air temperature time series from six in situ meteorological stations shows that the main discrepancies between FT-AP and FT-ESDR are related to false frozen retrievals in summer for some regions with FT-AP. The Aquarius product is distributed by the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) at https://nsidc.org/data/aq3_ft/versions/5 with the DOI https://doi.org/10.5067/OV4R18NL3BQR.
Regulation of Alcohol Advertising in Australia: Does the Abac Scheme Adequately Protect Young People from Marketing of Alcoholic Beverages?
Authors: Reeve Belinda
Published: November 2018

This paper examines regulation of alcohol advertising regulation in Australia. Specifically, it considers whether the alcohol industry’s code of conduct, the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code (‘ABAC’) operates as an effective form of industry-based regulation, focusing on provisions that prohibit alcohol advertising in media directed to children and young people, and advertising content or messaging that appeals to minors. The paper sets out a framework for effective self-regulation and applies it to the substantive provisions and regulatory processes established by the ABAC Scheme. The paper finds that the substantive rules found in the ABAC contain a number of significant loopholes, including a failure to adequately restrict the placement of alcohol promotions or to regulate alcohol industry sponsorship. Further, the ABAC Scheme lacks independent administration, systematic monitoring, or meaningful sanctions for responding to non-compliance. Accordingly, regulatory processes lack transparency and accountability, undermining the credibility and efficacy of the Scheme. The paper concludes by outlining a phased or responsive approach to creating a regulatory regime that protects young people more effectively from exposure to alcohol marketing.
Evaluation of erythrocyte autoantibodies with flow cytometric phagocytosis assay
Authors: Ito Shoichi , Hishinuma Tomoko , Ogiyama Yoshiko , Asano Tomomi , Kagaya Haruka , Irino Michiyo , Hasegawa Hideya , Shimizu Hiroshi , E. Nollet Kenneth , Minegishi Masayoshi , Ohto Hitoshi
Published: November 2018

Aims: Cellular assays such as the monocyte monolayer assay have been used to evaluate the clinical significance of antibodies to red blood cells (RBCs). Flow cytometry (FCM) has also been applied to antibody screening and diagnosing autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA).

Methods: RBC eluate from 131 patients with positive direct antiglobulin tests, along with three human monoclonal antibodies (two anti-D and one anti-Dib) were used to evaluate a new FCM two-color phagocytosis assay using markers that bind RBCs and monocytes. Dual-positive event percentages were compared with antibody titers and trimmed mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) from the 131 eluates and three monoclonal antibodies.

Results: Percent positive by the FCM phagocytosis assay correlated well (R2=0.755) with trimmed-MFI in serial dilutions of two human IgG1 monoclonal antibodies, anti-D and anti-Dib, and 131 clinical samples with titers ranging from 2 to 2048. IgG2 antibodies showed lower phagocytosis relative to titers and MFI associated with these antibodies.

Conclusion: The FCM phagocytosis assay can be used to evaluate AIHA-associated antibodies, with great potential to standardize immunohematology testing, especially in regard to establishing the clinical significance of RBC alloantibodies.
Shortened antibody screening interval has decreased the incidence of delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions
Authors: Takano Nozomi , Yasuda Hiroyasu , Kikuchi Masami , Kawabata Kinuyo , Takeuchi-Baba Chikako , Ono Satoshi , Ono Takako , Minakawa Keiji , Sugawara Akiko , Miura Saori , Watanabe Kazuya , Abe Maiko , Suzuki Hiroe , Watanabe Mao , Sasaki Mutsumi , Ikeda Kazuhiko , E. Nollet Kenneth , Ohto Hitoshi
Published: November 2018

Aims: To ascertain the effects of allowable sampling time prior to red cell transfusion when screening for alloantibodies, we compared antibody detection rates and frequencies of delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions (DHTRs) among patients drawn within two weeks versus patients drawn within one week of transfusion.

Methods: Alloantibody screening for 32,601 patients from January 1997 through August 2006 was done within two weeks of transfusion, and for 44,896 patients from September 2006 through March 2017 was done within one week. Among transfusion recipients, 6,234 screened within two weeks and 8,066 screened within one week were evaluated for DHTR.

Results: Alloantibodies were detected in 1.2% of cases screened within two weeks and in 1.3% of cases screened within one week, with no statistical difference. Anti-Fyb was more frequently detected (115.8 versus 39.9 per 100,000 patients) among those screened within one week (p <0.001); anti-Dia showed a similar trend, but without statistical significance (p =0.065), whereas anti-c was less frequently detected (p <0.05). The number of DHTRs observed was significantly lower among those screened within one week, with two cases (1 in 4,031) versus eight (1 in 779) among those screened within 2 weeks (p <0.05).

Conclusion: By shortening allowable sampling period for red cell alloantibody screening from within two weeks to within one week of transfusion, the detection rate of clinically significant antibodies, except for anti-c, increased, and the frequency of DHTR recipients decreased.
Synchronous cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer: A rare presentation
Authors: Venkata Sagar Puppala , Subba Rao Kanchustambam
Published: November 2018

Introduction: Synchronous biliary tree and gallbladder cancers are rarely encountered and reported in the literature. In this article, we report an extremely rare presentation of a patient with distal common hepatic duct (CHD), proximal common bile duct (CBD) and gallbladder cancer associated with anomalous pancreaticobiliary duct junction (APBDJ) as primary tumors. Case Report: A 40-year-old male referred to us with RUQ pain, fever, jaundice and pruritis since two weeks. PET-CT showed hypermetabolic polypoid mass in the fundus of gallbladder and a periportal node. ERCP was done but guide wire could not be passed beyond mid CBD. The findings were neoplastic mass in fundus of the gallbladder with pericholedochal lymphadenopathy. There was another neoplastic mass in the CBD. An extended cholecystectomy with extrahepatic CBD excision with a pancreaticoduodenectomy with radical lymphadenectomy was performed. Intra-operative ultrasonography was done to rule out other lesions in the pancreas and liver. Histopathological examination revealed well differentiated adenocarcinoma of gallbladder and adenocarcinoma of proximal CBD and distal CHD, stagging pT2 pN0 pMx. Conclusion: Synchronous extra hepatic and gallbladder tumors are extremely rare, their etiopathogenesis has not been properly understood and defined. Biliary cancers with PBM are thought to develop multicentrally, due to the effect of pancreatic juice reflux on the mucosa of the biliary tract.
Extrahepatic intraductal biliary cystadenomas: Solving the mystery of “Idiopathic biliary obstruction”? A tertiary care institute experience
Authors: Subramaniam Sugi R. V. , Chidambaranathan Sugumar , Kumar Senthil , Sathyanesan Jeswanth , Palaniappan Ravichandran
Published: November 2018

Introduction: Biliary cystadenoma is a rare benign neoplasm of the liver with less than 200 cases being reported all over the world. The greatest challenge in the management of biliary cystadenoma lies in the pre-operative diagnosis, since it is most often misdiagnosed as simple liver cyst or hydatid cyst. We report a series of 12 cases highlighting the radiological findings and problems related to its management with special focus on intrahepatic biliary cystadenomas; a very unusual benign cause of obstructive jaundice and their management. Case Series: Records of 12 patients who underwent surgery for biliary cystadenomas, between 2013 and 2016, were reviewed and analysed retrospectively. Of the 12 patients with biliary cystadenomas, three patients had features of obstructive jaundice in the absence of any other recognized cause of biliary obstruction. Majority of the patients were females. The most frequent symptom was abdominal pain (92%); with obstructive jaundice seen in three patients (25%). All patients were subjected to routine blood investigations with Liver function tests and in addition Serum CA 19-9 was done. We had three patients who had protruding mass like lesion into the biliary tract causing obstruction to bile flow. MRI with MRCP was done in all patients before subjecting them to surgical exploration; who were managed with extrication of the growth along with enucleation/ resection. There has been no recurrence during the follow-up period ranging from six months to three years. All 12 patients underwent surgical management which included enucleation in four patients and non-anatomical liver resection in eight patients and some in addition required T-tube drainage of the bile duct. Totally 25 cases of Biliary Cystadenomas have been managed in our Institute till date with only three cases of Obstructive jaundice. Conclusion: In patients with obstructive jaundice, especially middle aged women, with the background of normal CA 19-9 levels and a polypodal mass projecting into the bile duct lumen intraductal biliary cystadenomas should be considered as a possible diagnosis. If feasible limited resection of the cyst with extrication of this benign lesion with close follow up and frequent imaging of the liver is advisable to locate early recurrences if any.
Antifungal effects of phenolic extract from industrial residues of Aloe vera
Authors: Pintos Beatriz , Martín-Calvarro Luisa , Piñón Dolores , Esteban Alberto , Tello María L. , Pérez-Urria Elena , Gómez-Garay Arancha
Published: November 2018

This research is concerned with the fungicidal properties of the phenolic extract from industrial residues of Aloe vera used for antifungal treatment of various plant pathogens (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici, Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, Phaeoacremonium aleophilum, and Sporisorium scitamineum). Six phenolic compounds were identified in this extract from A. vera cortex: aloesin, α-barbaloin, chromone X, isoaloeresin D, β- barbaloin and aloeresin E. Phenolic extract was added to PDA medium at 20 concentrations from 0.32% to 10% and the growth of four different plant pathogenic fungi was tested. Fungal inhibition was calculated in order to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of phenolic extract against pathogens. Inhibition of Sporisorium scitamineum hyphal growth was observed after treatment with the phenolic extract at concentrations higher than 2.5% and a fungistatic effect with a 58.2% mycelia growth inhibition was detected at 3% extract concentration. Inhibition of P. chlamydospora and P. aleophilum hyphal growth was observed at concentrations higher than 4% and 3% respectively. A fungistatic effect with a 71.65% and a 19.87% mycelia growth inhibition was detected at 4.5% and 3.5% extract concentration respectively. About F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici, inhibition of hyphal growth was observed at concentrations higher than 2.5% and a fungistatic effect with a 32.07% mycelia growth inhibition was detected at 3% extract concentration. The results indicate that the tested extract possess antifungal activities against these pathogens at various concentration levels and could be used as a potential natural fungicide in order to control fungi pathogens providing a new use for the A. vera industrial residues.
The Lexicalization Patterns of Manner Motion Events in Vietnamese
Authors: Khuong Luu Quy , Toan Ly Ngoc
Published: November 2018

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how Vietnamese students lexicalize or express in words the idea of motion.  This study was conducted on the traditional foundation of Talmy’s (1985) lexicalization patterns. This theory involved in the way of people’s experience is rendered into languages via the semantic content of lexical items to express experiential categories. The data were derived from the analysis of the writings of fifty 12th- graders and fifty 6th- graders at Phu Rieng secondary school, Binh Phuoc province, Vietnam about the picture story “Frog where you” are by Mayer (2003). The results of the research provided insights into how Vietnamese speakers express the experience of motion in their language. These results suggest that there are considerable differences between Vietnamese and some other languages in the accounts of motion events.
Financial Environment, City Distance and International Operation of Chinese Enterprises
Authors: Lin Chuan , Luo Jingjing
Published: November 2018

This paper uses the 9741 internationally-operated Chinese companies and their matched companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen A-shares as a sample to empirically examine the relationship between financial environment, distance and international operation. First of all, the study found that there is a significant positive correlation between the financial environment and the international operation of the company. In other words, the better the financial environment in which the company is located, the more likely it is that the company will conduct international operations. Second, there is also a significant positive correlation between distances and international operations, which means that the closer the geographical location of the registered place of a company and the central city of the province, the more likely it is that the enterprises within the jurisdiction are operating internationally. Furthermore, the urban distance can produce a ‘regulatory effect’ between the financial environment and the international operation of the enterprise. That is the positive correlation between the financial environment and the international operation of the enterprise depends on the ‘city distance’. Considering the influence of ‘city distance’, the positive impact of the financial environment on international operations is even more pronounced.
Challenges to Orthopaedic Resident Education
Authors: LaPorte Dawn M. , Tornetta Paul , Marsh J. Lawrence
Published: November 2018

Orthopaedic resident educators confront many important issues. This may be the most challenging time yet for orthopaedic education. A survey of program directors and chairs aimed to identify the major challenges in orthopaedic education. Many issues were identified, and the following four major themes emerged: (1) loss of professionalism, (2) too much emphasis on procedures, (3) lack of clinical experience, and (4) challenges with external oversight. Professionalism in taking care of patients may be compromised by work-hour limitations and affected by generational differences. Limitations to progressive, graduated responsibility include internal and external factors, resulting in a lack of opportunity. Overemphasis on case volume fosters a training environment where technical skill is seen as most important and can detract from teaching the basic principles of being a doctor, including shared decision making. This paper explores these major challenges to orthopaedic resident education in 2018. Substantial changes will be required to address these challenges, but better understanding of the issues they face should help educators identify, minimize, or ideally avoid threats to optimal resident education.
Engaging ESP University Students in Flipped Classrooms for Developing Functional Writing Skills, HOTs, and Eliminating Writer’s Block
Authors: Salem Ashraf Atta M. S.
Published: November 2018

The current study aims to investigate the impact of using flipped classroom approach on improving functional writing skills of business majors. Also, it aims to enhance some Higher Order Thinking (HOTs) skills including analysis, evaluation, and creation. Additionally, the study may help in eliminating writer’s block of the study sample. A standardized functional writing skill Pre and Posttest, Higher Order Thinking (HOTs) skills test and writer’s block questionnaire have been used to assess the target gains of students at the end of the study. The Quasi-experimental research design was used to investigate progress achieved by the sample of the study which included (51) business majors; (26) business students for the experimental group and (25) for the control group. The findings revealed large gains in functional writing skills, HOTs in favor of experimental group compared with the control group with minimized writer’s block based on the T-test differences in scores. Also ANOVA statistics among the quizzes targeted individual skills during the experiment showed on-going progress in both targeted skills and reduced writer’s block. It is recommended that flipped learning approach should be used in language learning practices.
Dichloromethane-Extract of Propolis (DEP) and DEP/PLA Electrospun Fiber Membranes
Authors: Yan Taohai , Yan Taohai , Zhang Mohan , Shi Yajing , Li Yonggui
Published: November 2018

Propolis is a waxy substance produced by the honeybee that has been used as a form of traditional medicine and natural medicine since ancient times. Propolis has a wide spectrum of alleged applications, including potential anti-infection and anti-cancer effects. The following paper used a propolis extract containing 90% ethanol solution, 70% ethanol solution, ligarine, and dichloromethane as solvents that extracted the bioactive components. The highest yield of the propolis was obtained via the 70% ethanol leaching method and dichloromethane immersion stirring method. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis proved that the extracted propolis with dichloromethane had the highest methylene content and the maximum types of effective propolis components. A Propolis/PLA electrospinning solution was prepared by adding PLA powder into the supernatant of the dichloromethane-extract of propolis (DEP) directly, with there being no need for purification of the propolis extract and thus reducing the loss of active ingredients. DEP/PLA nanofibre was prepared via the electrospinning process, where it was found that with additional 4% PLA, the final electrospun fibre membrane was stabilised. tStudy of the antibacterial performance of the DEP/PLA electrospun membrane showed that the membrane affected some of the antibacterial properties. It was particularly effective when inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus, but not as effective when inhibiting Escherichia coli. This electrostatic spinning membrane could be used for food preservation, wound healing, and tissue engineering.
Study on the Rotor Spinning Technology of Cotton Stalk Bark Fibres/Cotton Fibres
Authors: Li Long , Liu Lei , Qin Caixia
Published: November 2018

The length difference and low flexibility of cotton stalk bark fibers make fiber spinning difficult. In this work, cotton stalk bark fibers that were directly from degummed cotton stalk bark were wetted, carded and softened before sliver-marking, and then they were blended with cotton fibers for carding and spinning in various blending ratios. The results showed that a reasonable open roller speed was 6000 rpm for blending ratio 50/50, 7000 rpm for blending ratio 35/65, and 8000 rpm for blending ratio 20/80. The minimum yarn linear density was 60 tex for blending ratio 50/50, 50 tex for blending ratio 35/65, and 40 tex for blending ratio 20/80.
Fatigue Life Prediction of Knitted Fabrics Made of Cotton Yarns – A Statistical Approach
Authors: Drobina Robert , Rysiński Jacek
Published: November 2018

In the present paper, an assessment of the fatigue life of knitted (or knit) fabrics made of cotton yarns is discussed. Based on experimental investigations performed, the characteristics of material deterioration and damage were determined taking into account the direction of product elongation due to applied sine wave changing forces (sinusoidal loading). Aiming for a precise and adequate description of the phenomena occurring in the materials considered, a statistical approach to modelling and outcome analyses has been utilised. In the case of all knitted fabrics analysed, fatigue lives along the columns for both cases of tested yarns considered were higher than those related to the direction of rows of the knitted fabric. Fluctuated (variable) loading has a crucial influence on the deterioration of knitted fabrics, causing their damage. Within the process of fatigue damage to knitted fabrics, it was possible to observe the zone of reinforcement of threads in plait within the range of high-cycle loadings. Within the damage final phase, displacements of threads in plait are observed, which cause their separation and finally breakage of the product. Former investigations of the authors concerned similar statistical models for smooth and fancy yarns. The present work constitutes some additional investigations and assessment of fatigue life in relation to flat textile products. It was proven that the derived statistical models of fatigue life proposed are entirely suitable for the description of phenomena which happen to flat textile products during the damage process.
Vurdering for læring – en trojansk hest i skolen?
Authors: Birkeland Nils Rune
Published: November 2018

Artikkelen undersøker hvordan gevinster ved evaluering og vurdering fremstilles i en autorativ OECD-tekst som evaluerer norsk skole. Undersøkelsen benytter kritisk diskursanalyse som metodisk utgangspunkt og trekker fram tre ulike praksiser knyttet til virksomheten i skolen i denne sammenhengen: Utdanningspolitisk forvaltningspraksis, pedagogisk praksis og forskningspraksis. Analysen viser at tekstens rekkevidde og utøvelse av autoritet går ut over den utdanningspolitiske forvaltningspraksis den er del av og også griper inn i skolens pedagogiske praksis. Dette skjer ved å skape legitimitet gjennom forskningspraksis, knyttet til fenomenet vurdering for læring. Drøftingen handler om i hvilken grad evalueringstekster mer allment bidrar til å endre handlingsrommet til aktørene i skolesystemet, og om hvilke muligheter aktørene som opererer innenfor den pedagogiske praksis har til å bevare sin autonomi under påvirkning av resultat- og målstyringstenkningen som preger New Public Management-paradigmet.   This article investigates how benefits of evaluation and assessment are portrayed in a premise providing OECD-text evaluating the Norwegian school system. The investigation employs Critical Discourse Analysis as methodological stance, emphasising three different practices associated with the operation of schooling: Educational policy-administration practice, pedagogical practice, and research practice. The analysis finds that the scope and authority of the text is expanded from its rooting in the educational policy-administration practice, interfering with pedagogical practice. This process is legitimised by research practice’s affiliation with the phenomenon assessment for learning. The final discussion deals with to which extent evaluation texts in general constrains school professionals’ vocational movement. It also investigates which possibilities actors operating inside pedagogical practise have protecting their autonomy influenced by results-based accountability and management by objectives, originating from the New Public Management-paradigm
Um algorítmo computacional para a aproximação de funções por splines cúbicos
Authors: Gazzoni Alcibíades , Gazzoni Alsimar Teresinha Ferreira , Ries Lilian Mari Kieling
Published: November 2018

This work shows the existence of a unique cubic spline S(+), which satisfies the conditions of simple interpolation within the interval [tk, tn-k-1] when σ = (tj)j=k n-k-l is a real strictly increasing sequence of points equally spaced. Next an algorithm with a compitacional model to determine the cubic spline of interpolation is presented.
Aspectos evolutivos morfológicos e fenológicos da floração em espécies de Centrosema (DC.) Benth. (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae)
Authors: Battistin Alice , Lovatto Marlene Teresinha
Published: November 2018

Flowers of five species of Centrosema (DC.) Benth. were studied in their morphlogical and fenological aspect, in order to get evolutionary information about them. The analysed parameters were: a) parts which constitute the flower of each species; b) beginning of flowering and period of duration in two different places: Piracicaba-SP and Santa Maria-RS. Standart, wing, keel, gynoecium, androecium, shape of calyx, bract and bracteole number, shape of anter, shape and arrangement of ovules, didn't show any variation in the analysed parameters. These characteres are probably being kept by directional selection, keeping, this way, similar characteristics that standardize the plants into the species which they are related. Number of lacinia of the calyx, color of flowers, shape of pollen grain and number of flowers by inflorescence kept high phenotypic plasticity, due to specific functions of each character, into each species, to keep their perpetuation and survival. The behaviour individuality of each species acording to the flowering period showed differences related to the sensibility of the genotypes to the diferente environrnent at which they were submmited.
Algas marinhas macroscópicas (Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta, Rhodophyta) da região de Tramandaí e Imbé - RS, Brasil
Authors: Prado João Fernando
Published: November 2018

A list of 21 species of macroscopic marine algae (Chlorophyta, Phaeopyta, Rhodophyta) is presented. AlI of them founded in Tramandaí and Imbé, north coast of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The cited marine algae were obteined from the substrate, by scraping method, during the years of 1983 and 1984. Sporadical collecting was effected also throughout 1985, 1986 and 1988.
Metazoan evolution of glutamate receptors reveals unreported phylogenetic groups and divergent lineage-specific events
Authors: Ramos-Vicente David , Ji Jie , Gratacòs-Batlle Esther , Gou Gemma , Reig-Viader Rita , Luís Javier , Burguera Demian , Navas-Perez Enrique , García-Fernández Jordi , Fuentes-Prior Pablo , Escriva Hector , Roher Nerea , Soto David , Bayés Àlex
Published: November 2018

Glutamate receptors are divided in two unrelated families: ionotropic (iGluR), driving synaptic transmission, and metabotropic (mGluR), which modulate synaptic strength. The present classification of GluRs is based on vertebrate proteins and has remained unchanged for over two decades. Here we report an exhaustive phylogenetic study of GluRs in metazoans. Importantly, we demonstrate that GluRs have followed different evolutionary histories in separated animal lineages. Our analysis reveals that the present organization of iGluRs into six classes does not capture the full complexity of their evolution. Instead, we propose an organization into four subfamilies and ten classes, four of which have never been previously described. Furthermore, we report a sister class to mGluR classes I-III, class IV. We show that many unreported proteins are expressed in the nervous system, and that new Epsilon receptors form functional ligand-gated ion channels. We propose an updated classification of glutamate receptors that includes our findings.
A time-stamp mechanism may provide temporal information necessary for egocentric to allocentric spatial transformations
Authors: Wallach Avner , Harvey-Girard Erik , Jun James Jaeyoon , Longtin André , Maler Len
Published: November 2018

Learning the spatial organization of the environment is essential for most animals’ survival. This requires the animal to derive allocentric spatial information from egocentric sensory and motor experience. The neural mechanisms underlying this transformation are mostly unknown. We addressed this problem in electric fish, which can precisely navigate in complete darkness and whose brain circuitry is relatively simple. We conducted the first neural recordings in the preglomerular complex, the thalamic region exclusively connecting the optic tectum with the spatial learning circuits in the dorsolateral pallium. While tectal topographic information was mostly eliminated in preglomerular neurons, the time-intervals between object encounters were precisely encoded. We show that this reliable temporal information, combined with a speed signal, can permit accurate estimation of the distance between encounters, a necessary component of path-integration that enables computing allocentric spatial relations. Our results suggest that similar mechanisms are involved in sequential spatial learning in all vertebrates.
ATRX promotes maintenance of herpes simplex virus heterochromatin during chromatin stress
Authors: Cabral Joseph M , Oh Hyung Suk , Knipe David M
Published: November 2018

The mechanisms by which mammalian cells recognize and epigenetically restrict viral DNA are not well defined. We used herpes simplex virus with bioorthogonally labeled genomes to detect host factors recruited to viral DNA shortly after its nuclear entry and found that the cellular IFI16, PML, and ATRX proteins colocalized with viral DNA by 15 min post infection. HSV-1 infection of ATRX-depleted fibroblasts resulted in elevated viral mRNA and accelerated viral DNA accumulation. Despite the early association of ATRX with vDNA, we found that initial viral heterochromatin formation is ATRX-independent. However, viral heterochromatin stability required ATRX from 4 to 8 hr post infection. Inhibition of transcription blocked viral chromatin loss in ATRX-knockout cells; thus, ATRX is uniquely required for heterochromatin maintenance during chromatin stress. These results argue that the initial formation and the subsequent maintenance of viral heterochromatin are separable mechanisms, a concept that likely extrapolates to host cell chromatin and viral latency.
A new species of karst-dwelling freshwater crab of the genus Chinapotamon Dai & Naiyanetr, 1994 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Potamidae), from Guizhou, southwest China
Authors: Zou Jie-xin , Bai Jun , Zhou Xian-min
Published: November 2018

Chinapotamon maolanense sp. n. from Maolan National Nature Reserve, Guizhou, southwest China, is described. C. maolanense sp. n. has diagnostic features of Chinapotamon, such as a slender and sinuous male first gonopod, prominently convex carapace, and one-third ratio of frons to carapace width. This new species can be distinguished from congeners by the combination of the following characters: relatively slender subterminal segment of the first gonopods, nearly oval-shaped carapace, anterolateral margin cristate of carapace and an oval-shaped gap between the fingers of the male major chela. In addition, we used a 16S rRNA gene fragment to explore the relationship between C. maolanense sp. n. and C. glabrum, C. depressum and other freshwater crabs distributed in Guizhou; the results support the new species being assigned to Chinapotamon and clearly different from other species used in the analysis.
Classification of the glioma grading using radiomics analysis
Authors: Cho Hwan-ho , Lee Seung-hak , Kim Jonghoon , Park Hyunjin
Published: November 2018

Background

Grading of gliomas is critical information related to prognosis and survival. We aimed to apply a radiomics approach using various machine learning classifiers to determine the glioma grading.

Methods

We considered 285 (high grade n = 210, low grade n = 75) cases obtained from the Brain Tumor Segmentation 2017 Challenge. Manual annotations of enhancing tumors, non-enhancing tumors, necrosis, and edema were provided by the database. Each case was multi-modal with T1-weighted, T1-contrast enhanced, T2-weighted, and FLAIR images. A five-fold cross validation was adopted to separate the training and test data. A total of 468 radiomics features were calculated for three types of regions of interest. The minimum redundancy maximum relevance algorithm was used to select features useful for classifying glioma grades in the training cohort. The selected features were used to build three classifier models of logistics, support vector machines, and random forest classifiers. The classification performance of the models was measured in the training cohort using accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve. The trained classifier models were applied to the test cohort.

Results

Five significant features were selected for the machine learning classifiers and the three classifiers showed an average AUC of 0.9400 for training cohorts and 0.9030 (logistic regression 0.9010, support vector machine 0.8866, and random forest 0.9213) for test cohorts.

Discussion

Glioma grading could be accurately determined using machine learning and feature selection techniques in conjunction with a radiomics approach. The results of our study might contribute to high-throughput computer aided diagnosis system for gliomas.
Presence of O‐glycosidically linked oligosaccharides in the cell wall mannan of Candida krusei purified with Benanomicin A
Authors: Kuraoka Takuya , Ishiyama Akito , Oyamada Hiroko , Ogawa Yukiko , Kobayashi Hidemitsu
Published: November 2018

Cell wall mannan of the pathogenic yeast Candida krusei was prepared using the antibiotic Benanomicin A, which has a lectin‐like function. The chemical structure of this molecule was found to be similar to that of mannan prepared from the same yeast by the conventional method using Fehling reagent. Only a few degradation products were detected when the mannan prepared using Fehling reagent was subjected to alkali treatment (β‐elimination), but multiple α‐1,2‐linked oligosaccharides were detected when the mannan purified with Benanomicin A was treated with alkali. These results indicate that most of the O‐linked sugar chains in mannan were lost under conventional conditions when exposed to the strongly alkaline Fehling reagent. In contrast, the O‐glycosidic bond in mannan was not cleaved and the O‐linked sugar chains were maintained and almost intact following treatment with the mild novel preparation method using Benanomicin A. Therefore, we argue that the new mannan preparation method using Benanomicin A is superior to conventional methods. In addition, our study suggests that some yeast mannans, whose overall structure has already been reported, may contain more O‐linked sugar chains than previously recognized.
Dynamic Emission Tuning of X‐ray Radioluminescent Crystalline Colloidal Arrays: Coupling the Optical Stop Band with Sequential Förster Resonance Energy Transfers
Authors: Burdette Mary K. , Bandera Yuriy P. , Gray Gary M. , Foulger Stephen H.
Published: November 2018

X‐ray radiation exhibits diminished scattering and a greater penetration depth in tissue relative to the visible spectrum and has spawned new medical imaging techniques that exploit X‐ray luminescence of nanoparticles. The majority of the nanoparticles finding applications in this field incorporate metals with high atomic numbers and pose potential toxicity effects. Here, a general strategy for the preparation of a fully organic X‐ray radioluminescent colloidal platform that can be tailored to emit anywhere in the visible spectrum through a judicious choice in donor/acceptor pairing and multiple sequential Förster resonance energy transfers (FRETs) is presented. This is demonstrated with three different types of ≈100 nm particles that are doped with anthracene as the scintillating molecule to “pump” subsequent FRET dye pairs that result in emissions from ≈400 nm out past 700 nm. The particles can be self‐assembled in crystalline colloidal arrays, and the radioluminescence of the particles can be dynamically tuned by coupling the observed rejection wavelength with the dyes' emission.
Suppressing Ambipolar Characteristics of WSe2 Field Effect Transistors Using Graphene Oxide
Authors: Oh Hye Min , Park Chulho , Bang Seungho , Yun Seok Joon , Duong Ngoc Thanh , Jeong Mun Seok
Published: November 2018

Monolayer (1L) tungsten diselenide (WSe2) is of interest for next generation ultrathin flexible electronic devices. However, typical WSe2 field effect transistors (FETs) show ambipolar characteristics that are not desirable for complementary field‐effect‐transistors and circuits. Here, significant suppression of the ambipolar characteristics of a 1L‐WSe2 FET is demonstrated by using an electron withdrawing functional group of graphene oxide (GO). The pristine 1L‐WSe2 FET shows n‐type dominant ambipolar characteristics, whereas the GO coated 1L‐WSe2 FET shows unipolar p‐type behavior with a huge decrease (1/106) of current level of the n‐channel. Also, the current level of the p‐channel increases up to ten times that of the pristine 1L‐WSe2 FET. These results are applicable for the realization of flexible nanoscale digital logic devices by using transition metal dichalcogenides.
Heat and mass transfer in three‐dimensional flow through a porous medium with periodic permeability
Authors: Ahmed Nazibuddin , Choudhury Kangkan
Published: November 2018

In this paper, a theoretical study of a three‐dimensional mixed convective mass transfer flow past a semi‐infinite vertical plate embedded in a porous medium has been presented. The novelty of the present work is to analyze the influence of periodic permeability on the flow and transport characteristics in the presence of viscous dissipation and chemical reaction. The equations governing the flow, heat, and mass transfer are solved analytically by using asymptotic series expansion method. The variations in fluid velocity, temperature, and concentration fields due to change of various physical parameters are demonstrated graphically, whereas the numerical values of skin friction and the rate of mass transfer at the plate are compiled in tabular form. It is found that fluid velocity is increased for increasing permeability. Further, it is seen that concentration level of the fluid drops due to chemical reaction.
Combined effects of variable thermal conductivity and induced magnetic field on convective Jeffrey fluid flow with nth order chemical reaction
Authors: Raju Adigoppula , Ojjela Odelu
Published: November 2018

This study addresses the impact of variable thermal conductivity and induced magnetic field on an unsteady two‐dimensional channel flow of an incompressible laminar mixed convective and chemically reacted Jeffrey fluid embedded in a non‐Darcy porous medium with an appropriate convective type boundary conditions. The suction/injection velocity distribution has been assumed to be in an exponential form. The set of transport equations is reduced into coupled ordinary differential equations by using appropriate similar variables, which are solved by shooting technique with Runge‐Kutta fourth‐order algorithm. The investigation is carried out for various emerging nondimensional parameters on the axial, radial velocities, temperature distribution, concentration, and induced magnetic fields and also with skin friction coefficient are discussed through graphs. The value of the local Sherwood and Nusselt numbers are analyzed numerically. We noticed that the effect of the induced magnetic field is increased with Strommer's number while it decreases for high magnetic Reynolds number.
Synthesis of highly potent lymphocyte function‐associated antigen‐1 antagonists labeled with carbon‐14 and with stable isotopes, part 3
Authors: Latli Bachir , Hrapchak Matt , Li Guisheng , Lorenz Jon , Horan Josh , Busacca Carl A. , Senanayake Chris H.
Published: November 2018

The drug candidates (2) and (3) are highly potent LFA‐1 inhibitors. They were efficiently prepared labeled with carbon‐14 using a palladium‐catalyzed carboxylation of an iodo‐precursor (5) and sodium formate‐14C to afford acid [14C]‐(6), which was coupled via an amide bond to chiral amines (7) and (8) in 52% and 48% overall yield, respectively, and with specific activities higher than 56 mCi/mmol and radiochemical purities of 99%. For stable isotopes synthesis, the amine [2H8]‐(7) was synthesized in three steps from 2‐cyanopyridine‐2H4 using Kulinkovich‐Szymonik aminocyclopropanation, followed by coupling to L‐alanine‐2,3,3,3‐2H4‐N‐t‐BOC, and then removal of the BOC‐protecting group. Amide bond formation with acid (6) gave [2H8]‐(2) in 36% overall yield. The amine [13C4,15N]‐(8) was obtained in two steps using L‐threonine‐14C4,15N and then coupled to acid [13C]‐(6) to give [13C5,15N]‐(3) in 56% overall yield.
Advanced Polymers for Reduced Energy Consumption in Architecture
Authors: Heifferon Katherine V. , Long Timothy E.
Published: November 2018

In an effort to slow the progress of climate change, the current scientific community has focused on the reduction of greenhouse gases in order to limit the global average temperature inflation to less than 2 °C. The improvement of thermally controlled construction materials can potentially result in lower energy homes/reduced emissions, and lowering the thermal conductivity of insulation materials improves home energy efficiency. Nanoporous insulation foams impart a drastic decrease in thermal conductivity but many polymer properties must be assessed to produce these materials. Passive phase‐change materials also represent another key energy‐saving device to control heat flux within a living space. Research into unique polymeric systems provides a novel means of encapsulation or creating polymeric cross‐linked matrices to prevent leakage and improve mechanical robustness. These two areas of polymer research in architecture represent key advancements for construction materials aimed toward energy savings and energy‐related emissions control.