bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Removal of cadmium (II) from aqueous solution using fermented grape marc as a new adsorbent
Authors: Grudic Veselinka , Scepanovic Jelena , Boskovic Ivana
Published: June 2015

Biosorption of cadmium from aqueous solutions using fermented grape marc is
investigated in this paper as well as influence of the most important
factors, such as: contact time, granulation of biosorbent and the initial
concentration of metal ions, is investigated in this paper. The equilibrium
sorption of cadmium ions is achieved after 15-20 min., depending on the
initial concentration of metal ions. Such a short time needed to achieve the
equilibrium indicates that mass sorption is dominate process. Langmuir,
Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm were used to describe the
equilibrium sorption process, while Langmuir model was found to be the most
conveniente. Maximum of sorption capacity is 20 mg g1. EDS spectrum analysis
showed that the process of ion exchange is one of the main sorption
mechanism. Minor changes observed in the FTIR spectrum of grape marc after
the sorption of Cd(II) ions indicate forming a band between metal ions and
partially ionized carboxyl and phenol groups from the biomass. The results of
this study confirmed that the fermented grape marc, due to the porous
structure and characteristic chemical composition, is good sorption material.
Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of gold(III) chloride complexes with formic acid
Authors: Pacławski K. , Sak T.
Published: June 2015

In this work, the results of kinetic studies of the redox reaction of
gold(III) chloride complexes ([AuCl4]-) with formic acid, are presented.
Obtained data suggest the complex character of the reaction which leads to
the [AuCl2]- and [AuCl3(COOH)]- ions formation as intermediates. In the pH
range over 2.5, the final product of the reaction is metallic gold. From the
analysis of kinetic data, the rate limiting step is found to be the gold
metallic phase formation. The stage of Au(III) reduction is relatively fast
with the second-order rate constant equal to 61.8 M-1s-1 at temperature 50?C.
The rate of the studied reaction depends on the temperature, reactants
concentration and chloride ions concentration. As a result of the data
analysis, the scheme of the reaction path has been suggested. Also, the
values of enthalpy and entropy of activation for the reaction have been
determined.
Amelioration of salinity stress on transplant Aman rice through green manure and gypsum
Authors: Siam MZ , Hossain SS , Hassan AK , Kader MA
Published: June 2015

An experiment was conducted at the net house of Department of Agronomy, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh from July to December 2012to investigate the ameliorative effect of green manure and gypsum application on the yield of transplant Aman rice variety BRRI dhan40 under various levels salinity stress. Sodium chloride induced salinity was imposed at tillering stage of plant development. The levels of salinity were 0, 25 and 50 mM NaCl. Green manure @ 0, 5 and 10 t ha gypsum @ 0 and 1 g kg-1 and 1 soil were applied to ameliorate the salinity stress effect. 1 g kg-1 soil were applied to ameliorate the salinity stress effect. Results revealed that the different levels of salinity had significant adverse effect on plant height, number of tillers hill-1, number of effective tillers hill-1, number of ineffective tillers hill-1, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, biological yield and harvest index (HI). All the plants were affected badly when they were exposed to salinity level of 50 mM NaCl. Application of green manure and gypsum helped them ameiorate salinity either individually or in combination at all salinity levels. Grain yield reduction at 50 mM salinity level was 38.64% compared to control which was minimized to 19.04% by the application of green manure @ 10 t ha-1. Grain yield reduction was also minimized from 37.08% to 27% at the same level of salinity by the application of gypsum@ 1 g kg-1soil. Similar amelioration effect was also observed in case of straw yield. The amelioration was improved further when both green manure and gypsum were applied. Without any salinity stress grain yield was 4.49 t ha-1, which was reduced to 2.61 t ha-1 (41.87% reduction) when the crop was stressed with 50 mM salinity. Application of green manure @ 10 t ha-1 and gypsum @ 1 g kg-1 soil improved grain yield to 4.00 t ha-1, where yield reduction was just 10.91%. Similar improvement was also found in straw yield. The results of the study conclude that salinity stress in transplant Aman rice var. BRRI dhan40 could successfully be ameliorated through application of green manure@ 10 t ha-1 and gypsum@ 1 g kg-1 soil.Bangladesh Agron. J. 2014, 17(1): 1-10
Effect of planting arrangements on productivity of cotton + mungbean intercropping systems
Authors: Tabib MF AI , Karim MA , Haque MM , Khaliq QA , Solaiman ARM
Published: June 2015

An experiment was conducted at the Cotton Research Farm, Sreepur, Gazipur during 2009-10 growing season to maximize the benefit of cotton + mungbean intercropping system through appropriate planting arrangement of component crops in the system. Performance of eight different planting arrangements, such as 1, 2, 3 and 4 rows of mungbean in between single row of cotton and 4, 5, 6 and 7 rows of mungbean in between paired row cotton ware compared against their sole cropping. Intercropping and mungbean density reduced individual yield of cotton and mungbean compared to their sole cropping but increased equivalent yield of both cotton and mungbean. The highest seed cotton (2951 kg ha-1) and mungbean (3373 kg ha-1) equivalent yield was recorded from the paired row cotton +4-row mungbean. The land equivalent ratio of the same combination indicated 31% yield advantage over sole cropping. The same plating arrangement also recorded the highest gross return (Tk. 118039 ha-1), gross margin (Tk. 60220 ha-1) and BCR (2.04). Thus, the panting arrangement of paired row cotton and 4 rows of mungbean could be grown for higher productivity and economic return in the system.Bangladesh Agron. J. 2014, 17(1): 11-22
Long-term bed planting effect on stabilizing productivity of rice and wheat in a drought prone area of Bangladesh
Authors: Hossain M Ilias , Hossain MI , Mondal MRI , Sultan MK , Gathala M , Tiwary TP
Published: June 2015

The systems productivity, soil fertility and N use efficiency were evaluated in a drought area of Rajshahi under five N fertilizer levels (0, 40, 80, 100 and 120 % N of the recommended dose, two straw retention (SR) (0 and 30%) and two tillage options [raised bed and conventional tillage (CT)] in a long term bed planting experiment with Rice-Wheat (RW) systems. The findings revealed that the permanent raised beds (PRB) with 30% straw retention had the highest productivity for all the three crops in the sequence. Within each N rate the total system (rice-wheat-mungbean) productivity was higher with 30% SR on PRB and the least in CT with 0 % SR. At 80 % of recommended fertilizer N rate, mean annual system productivity was 12.8 t ha-1 for PRB with 30% SR, 11.2 t ha-1 with PRB on 0% SR and 10.3 t ha-1 with CT without straw. N uptake and use efficiency increased with increasing N levels with bed planting up to 120% N application (120 kg N ha-1) in wheat, both 100% (80 kg N ha-1) in rice and (20 kgN ha-1 ) in mungbean for all the years. System productivity in N unfertilized plots increased when straw was retained. The results suggest that N fertilizer rates can be reduced when straw is retained. Soil organic matter in surface soil layers of the PRB had increased by 0.72% after eight years (8 rice-wheat-mungbean crop cycles) with 30% SR. It may be inferred that straw retention is an important component of soil management and may have long term positive impacts on soil quality compared with conventional tillage with 0 % SR. The combination of PRB with nutrients and residues retained appeared to be a very promising technology for sustainable intensification of RW systems in the drought prone area of Bangladesh.Bangladesh Agron. J. 2014, 17(1): 23-32
Effect of spacing on P and Zn uptake of local T. Aman rice varieties in Khulna area
Authors: Parvin S , Islam MM , Mondal MK , Quddus KG , Mahmud AM
Published: June 2015

A field experiment was conducted at the Agronomy field of Khulna University, Khulna during T. Aman season to evaluate the effects of spacing on nutrient content and total uptake of phosphorus and zinc by grain and straw of traditional rice of Khulna region. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with three replications assigning three varieties viz., Jotai, Bashfulbalam, Ranisalute and three spacings viz., 30 cm x 30 cm, 40 cm x 40 cm and 50 cm x 50 cm. The variety was assigned in main plot and spacing in sub plot. The plot was fertilized with 40-50-35-5 kg of Urea-TSP-MOP and ZnS04 ha-1 respectively. The results indicated that the single effect of variety and spacing on P and Zn content in grain and straw varied significantly while the straw P content was found insignificant. The interaction effect of variety and spacing on P and Zn content was found significant in all the treatments. The highest P and Zn content of grain was found from the variety Ranisalute at 50 cm x 50 cm (V3S1) but in straw from Ranisalute x 40 cm×40 cm (V3S2) and Bashfulbalam x 30 cm × 30cm (V2S1), respectively. The total uptake of P and Zn was found the highest from Jotai variety at 30 cm x 30 cm spacing. From the interaction it showed that the highest P and Zn uptake was found from Jotai x 30 cm × 30 cm (V1S1) and the lowest from Ranisalute x 50 cm x 50 cm (V3S3). The study indicated that though wider spacings of 40 cm x 40 cm and 50 cm x 50 cm increased the number of tillers hill-1 and nutrient uptake but it cannot increase the nutrient uptake and grain yield ha-1. So, 30 cm x 30 cm spacing showed positive relationship on nutrient uptake than 40 cm x 40 cm and 50 cm x 50 cm spacing.Bangladesh Agron. J. 2014, 17(1): 81-88
Exile Drama: The Translation of Ernst Toller's Pastor Hall (1939)
Authors: Alix-Nicolaï Florian
Published: June 2015

Ernst Toller's Pastor Hall, one of the first plays to depict life in a concentration camp, counts among the few anti-Nazi dramas translated into English before World War Two. The process by which it came to the British stage reveals the impact of censorship on authors and translators of anti-Fascist plays. It also reveals conflicting aesthetic strategies to tackle fascism. While Toller relied on straightforward documentary realism, one of his translators, W. H. Auden, championed anti-illusionism and distrusted propaganda art. In the cultural fight to reclaim Germany's heritage from the Nazis, German writers in exile viewed translations as urgent messages demanding prompt action, whereas British writers tended to see them as an archive for future generations.
An Optimal Eighth-Order Derivative-Free Family of Potra-Pták’s Method
Authors: Kansal Munish , Kanwar Vinay , Bhatia Saurabh
Published: June 2015

In this paper, we present a new three-step derivative-free family based on Potra-Pták’s method for solving nonlinear equations numerically. In terms of computational cost, each member of the proposed family requires only four functional evaluations per full iteration to achieve optimal eighth-order convergence. Further, computational results demonstrate that the proposed methods are highly efficient as compared with many well-known methods.
Shock Wave Attenuation Using Foam Obstacles: Does Geometry Matter?
Authors: Jeon Hongjoo , Gross Jonathan , Estabrook Sarah , Koumlis Stylianos , Wan Qian , Khanolkar Gauri , Tao Xingtian , Mensching David , Lesnick Edward , Eliasson Veronica
Published: June 2015

A shock wave impact study on open and closed cell foam obstacles was completed to assess attenuation effects with respect to different front face geometries of the foam obstacles. Five different types of geometries were investigated, while keeping the mass of the foam obstacle constant. The front face, i.e., the side where the incident shock wave impacts, were cut in geometries with one, two, three or four convergent shapes, and the results were compared to a foam block with a flat front face. Results were obtained by pressure sensors located upstream and downstream of the foam obstacle, in addition to high-speed schlieren photography. Results from the experiments show no significant difference between the five geometries, nor the two types of foam.
Two-Dimensional Algal Collection and Assembly by Combining AC-Dielectrophoresis with Fluorescence Detection for Contaminant-Induced Oxidative Stress Sensing
Authors: Siebman Coralie , Velev Orlin , Slaveykova Vera
Published: June 2015

An alternative current (AC) dielectrophoretic lab-on-chip setup was evaluated as a rapid tool of capture and assembly of microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in two-dimensional (2D) close-packed arrays. An electric field of 100 V·cm−1, 100 Hz applied for 30 min was found optimal to collect and assemble the algae into single-layer structures of closely packed cells without inducing cellular oxidative stress. Combined with oxidative stress specific staining and fluorescence microscopy detection, the capability of using the 2D whole-cell assembly on-chip to follow the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and oxidative stress during short-term exposure to several environmental contaminants, including mercury, methylmercury, copper, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs), and diuron was explored. The results showed significant increase of the cellular ROS when C. reinhardtii was exposed to high concentrations of methylmercury, CuO-NPs, and 10−5 M Cu. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of combining AC-dielectrophoretically assembled two-dimensional algal structures with cell metabolic analysis using fluorescence staining, as a rapid analytical tool for probing the effect of contaminants in highly impacted environment.
Involvement of 14-3-3 Proteins in Regulating Tumor Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Wu Yi-Ju , Jan Yee-Jee , Ko Bor-Sheng , Liang Shu-Man , Liou Jun-Yang
Published: June 2015

There are seven mammalian isoforms of the 14-3-3 protein, which regulate multiple cellular functions via interactions with phosphorylated partners. Increased expression of 14-3-3 proteins contributes to tumor progression of various malignancies. Several isoforms of 14-3-3 are overexpressed and associate with higher metastatic risks and poorer survival rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). 14-3-3β and 14-3-3ζ regulate HCC cell proliferation, tumor growth and chemosensitivity via modulating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 signal pathways. Moreover, 14-3-3ε suppresses E-cadherin and induces focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression, thereby enhancing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and HCC cell migration. 14-3-3ζ forms complexes with αB-crystallin, which induces EMT and is the cause of sorafenib resistance in HCC. Finally, a recent study has indicated that 14-3-3σ induces heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expression, which increases HCC cell migration. These results suggest that selective 14-3-3 isoforms contribute to cell proliferation, EMT and cell migration of HCC by regulating distinct targets and signal pathways. Targeting 14-3-3 proteins together with specific downstream effectors therefore has potential to be therapeutic and prognostic factors of HCC. In this article, we will overview 14-3-3's regulation of its downstream factors and contributions to HCC EMT, cell migration and proliferation.
Exploring the Mechanisms of Gastrointestinal Cancer Development Using Deep Sequencing Analysis
Authors: Matsumoto Tomonori , Shimizu Takahiro , Takai Atsushi , Marusawa Hiroyuki
Published: June 2015

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have revolutionized cancer genomics due to their high throughput sequencing capacity. Reports of the gene mutation profiles of various cancers by many researchers, including international cancer genome research consortia, have increased over recent years. In addition to detecting somatic mutations in tumor cells, NGS technologies enable us to approach the subject of carcinogenic mechanisms from new perspectives. Deep sequencing, a method of optimizing the high throughput capacity of NGS technologies, allows for the detection of genetic aberrations in small subsets of premalignant and/or tumor cells in noncancerous chronically inflamed tissues. Genome-wide NGS data also make it possible to clarify the mutational signatures of each cancer tissue by identifying the precise pattern of nucleotide alterations in the cancer genome, providing new information regarding the mechanisms of tumorigenesis. In this review, we highlight these new methods taking advantage of NGS technologies, and discuss our current understanding of carcinogenic mechanisms elucidated from such approaches.
Challenges in Treating Low Blood Pressure in Preterm Infants
Authors: Dempsey Eugene
Published: June 2015

Whilst the prevalence of low blood pressure in preterm infants seems to have fallen over the last number of years, the problem is still frequently encountered in the neonatal intensive care unit and many babies continue to receive intervention. Great variability in practice persists, with a significant number of extremely low gestational age newborns in some institutions receiving some form of intervention, and in other units substantially less. A great degree of this variability relates to the actual criteria used to define hypotension, with some using blood pressure values alone to direct therapy and others using a combination of clinical, biochemical and echocardiography findings. The choice of intervention remains unresolved with the majority of centres continuing to administer volume followed by dopamine as a first line inotrope/vasopressor agent. Despite over 40 years of use there is little evidence that dopamine is of benefit both in the short term and long-term. Long-term follow up is available in only two randomised trials, which included a total of 99 babies. An under recognized problem relates to the administration of inotrope infusions in very preterm infants. There are no pediatric specific inotrope formulations available and so risks of errors in preparation and administration remain. This manuscript outlines these challenges and proposes some potential solutions.
Diversity Best Paper Awards for 2015
Authors: Wink Michael
Published: June 2015

Diversity is instituting annual awards to recognize the most outstanding papers in the areas of biological, genetical, chemical or environmental diversity published in Diversity. [...]
The Non-Equilibrium Statistical Distribution Function for Electrons and Holes in Semiconductor Heterostructures in Steady-State Conditions
Authors: Jόzwikowska Krzysztof , Jόzwikowska Alina , Nietopiel Michał
Published: June 2015

The main goal of this work is to determine a statistical non-equilibrium distribution function for the electron and holes in semiconductor heterostructures in steady-state conditions. Based on the postulates of local equilibrium, as well as on the integral form of the weighted Gyarmati’s variational principle in the force representation, using an alternative method, we have derived general expressions, which have the form of the Fermi–Dirac distribution function with four additional components. The physical interpretation of these components has been carried out in this paper. Some numerical results of a non-equilibrium distribution function for an electron in HgCdTe structures are also presented.
Use of Three-Level Power Converters in Wind-Driven Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Generators with Unbalanced Loads
Authors: Chen Ming-Hung
Published: June 2015

This paper describes the design and implementation of three-level power converters for wind-driven permanent-magnet synchronous generators with unbalanced loads. To increase voltage stress and reduce current harmonics in the electrical power generated by a wind generator, a three-phase, three-level rectifier is used. Because a synchronous rotating frame is used on the AC-input side, the use of a neutral-point-clamped controller is proposed to increase the power factor to unity and reduce current harmonics. Furthermore, a novel six-leg inverter is proposed for transferring energy from the DC voltage to a three-phase, four-wire AC source with a constant voltage and a constant frequency. The power converters also contain output transformers and filters for power buffering and filtering, respectively. All three output phase voltages are fed back to control the inverter output during load variations. A digital signal processor is used as the core control device for implementing a 1.5 kV, 75 kW drive system. Experimental data show that the power factor is successfully increased to unity and the total current harmonic distortion is 3.2% on the AC-input side. The entire system can attain an efficiency of 91%, and the voltage error between the upper and lower capacitors is approximately zero. Experimental results that confirm the high performance of the proposed system are presented.
Performance Analysis of a MCFC/MGT Hybrid Power System Bi-Fueled by City Gas and Biogas
Authors: Huang Hongyu , Li Jun , He Zhaohong , Zeng Tao , Kobayashi Noriyuki , Kubota Mitsuhiro
Published: June 2015

This study evaluates the performance of a molten carbonate fuel cell and micro gas turbine (MCFC/MGT) hybrid power system bi-fueled by city gas and biogas. The performance of the MCFC/MGT hybrid power system and MFCF/MGT hybrid power system response have been investigated experimentally and numerically. Results show that the MCFC, steam reformer, and catalytic combustor models are in agreement with the experimental results of the system fueled by city gas only and the system bi-fueled by city gas and biogas. The MFCF/MGT hybrid power system can have manifest operation with the addition of biogas at a flow rate of up to 150.0 Nm3·h−1, which is about 50% of the overall input heat value. In addition, the MCFC and MGT outputs decrease with the increase in the flow rate of added biogas, with an overall power generation efficiency ranging from 39.0% to 42.0%. Furthermore, the MCFC/MGT hybrid power system can be operated stably both at low amplitude with slow current change and large amplitude with rapid power conditions. Finally, the MCFC/MGT hybrid system bi-fueled by city gas and biogas may be applicable to the energy supply of the micro–grid network.
Emergence of Seaweed and Seaweed-Containing Foods in the UK: Focus on Labeling, Iodine Content, Toxicity and Nutrition
Authors: Bouga Maria , Combet Emilie
Published: June 2015

Seaweed (edible algae) is not a staple food in the Western diet, despite occasional use as a traditional ingredient in coastal areas. High nutritional value, combined with the expansion of the health-food industry, has led to a resurgence of seaweed in the British diet. While seaweed could be useful in tackling dietary iodine insufficiency, consumption of some species and sources of seaweed has also been associated with risks, such as toxicity from high iodine levels, or accumulation of arsenic, heavy metals and contaminants. The current retail level of seaweed and edible algae in the UK market, either as whole foods or ingredients, was evaluated with particular focus on labelling and iodine content. Seaweed-containing products (n = 224) were identified. Only 22 products (10%) stated information regarding iodine content and another 40 (18%) provided information sufficient to estimate the iodine content. For these products, the median iodine content was 110 μg/g (IQR 21–503) and 585 μg per estimated serving (IQR 105–2520). While calculations for iodine exposure per serving relied on assumptions, 26 products could potentially lead to an iodine intake above the (European) tolerable adult upper level of 600 μg/day. In the context of the data presented, there is scope to improve product labelling (species, source, processing, content).
Enzymatic Polymerization on DNA Modified Gold Nanowire for Label-Free Detection of Pathogen DNA
Authors: Jeong Jaepil , Kim Hyejin , Lee Jong
Published: June 2015

This paper presents a label-free biosensor for the detection of single-stranded pathogen DNA through the target-enhanced gelation between gold nanowires (AuNW) and the primer DNAs branched on AuNW. The target DNA enables circularization of the linear DNA template, and the primer DNA is elongated continuously via rolling circle amplification. As a result, in the presence of the target DNA, a macroscopic hydrogel was fabricated by the entanglement of the elongated DNA with AuNWs as a scaffold fiber for effective gelation. In contrast, very small separate particles were generated in the absence of the target DNA. This label-free biosensor might be a promising tool for the detection of pathogen DNAs without any devices for further analysis. Moreover, the biosensor based on the weaving of AuNW and DNAs suggests a novel direction for the applications of AuNWs in biological engineering.
Untargeted Metabolomics Reveals Predominant Alterations in Lipid Metabolism Following Light Exposure in Broccoli Sprouts
Authors: Maldini Mariateresa , Natella Fausta , Baima Simona , Morelli Giorgio , Scaccini Cristina , Langridge James , Astarita Giuseppe
Published: June 2015

The consumption of vegetables belonging to the family Brassicaceae (e.g., broccoli and cauliflower) is linked to a reduced incidence of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The molecular composition of such plants is strongly affected by growing conditions. Here we developed an unbiased metabolomics approach to investigate the effect of light and dark exposure on the metabolome of broccoli sprouts and we applied such an approach to provide a bird’s-eye view of the overall metabolic response after light exposure. Broccoli seeds were germinated and grown hydroponically for five days in total darkness or with a light/dark photoperiod (16 h light/8 h dark cycle). We used an ultra-performance liquid-chromatography system coupled to an ion-mobility, time-of-flight mass spectrometer to profile the large array of metabolites present in the sprouts. Differences at the metabolite level between groups were analyzed using multivariate statistical analyses, including principal component analysis and correlation analysis. Altered metabolites were identified by searching publicly available and in-house databases. Metabolite pathway analyses were used to support the identification of subtle but significant changes among groups of related metabolites that may have gone unnoticed with conventional approaches. Besides the chlorophyll pathway, light exposure activated the biosynthesis and metabolism of sterol lipids, prenol lipids, and polyunsaturated lipids, which are essential for the photosynthetic machinery. Our results also revealed that light exposure increased the levels of polyketides, including flavonoids, and oxylipins, which play essential roles in the plant’s developmental processes and defense mechanism against herbivores. This study highlights the significant contribution of light exposure to the ultimate metabolic phenotype, which might affect the cellular physiology and nutritional value of broccoli sprouts. Furthermore, this study highlights the potential of an unbiased omics approach for the comprehensive study of the metabolism.
Enzymatic Synthesis of Galactosylated Serine/Threonine Derivatives by β-Galactosidase from Escherichia coli
Authors: Seo Sooyoun , Rebehmed Joseph , De Brevern Alexandre , Karboune Salwa
Published: June 2015

The transgalactosylations of serine/threonine derivatives were investigated using β-galactosidase from Escherichia coli as biocatalyst. Using ortho-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactoside as donor, the highest bioconversion yield of transgalactosylated N-carboxy benzyl L-serine benzyl ester (23.2%) was achieved in heptane:buffer medium (70:30), whereas with the lactose, the highest bioconversion yield (3.94%) was obtained in the buffer reaction system. The structures of most abundant galactosylated serine products were characterized by MS/MS. The molecular docking simulation revealed that the binding of serine/threonine derivatives to the enzyme’s active site was stronger (−4.6~−7.9 kcal/mol) than that of the natural acceptor, glucose, and mainly occurred through interactions with aromatic residues. For N-tert-butoxycarbonyl serine methyl ester (6.8%) and N-carboxybenzyl serine benzyl ester (3.4%), their binding affinities and the distances between their hydroxyl side chain and the 1′-OH group of galactose moiety were in good accordance with the quantified bioconversion yields. Despite its lower predicted bioconversion yield, the high experimental bioconversion yield obtained with N-carboxybenzyl serine methyl ester (23.2%) demonstrated the importance of the thermodynamically-driven nature of the transgalactosylation reaction.
Effective Summation and Interpolation of Series by Self-Similar Root Approximants
Authors: Gluzman Simon , Yukalov Vyacheslav
Published: June 2015

We describe a simple analytical method for effective summation of series, including divergent series. The method is based on self-similar approximation theory resulting in self-similar root approximants. The method is shown to be general and applicable to different problems, as is illustrated by a number of examples. The accuracy of the method is not worse, and in many cases better, than that of Padé approximants, when the latter can be defined.
A New Meroditerpene and a New Tryptoquivaline Analog from the Algicolous Fungus Neosartorya takakii KUFC 7898
Authors: Zin War , Buttachon Suradet , Buaruang Jamrearn , Gales Luís , Pereira José , Pinto Madalena , Silva Artur , Kijjoa Anake
Published: June 2015

A new meroditerpene sartorenol (1), a new natural product takakiamide (2) and a new tryptoquivaline analog (3) were isolated, together with nine known compounds, including aszonapyrone A, chevalone B, aszonalenin, acetylaszonalenin, 3′-(4-oxoquinazolin-3-yl) spiro[1H-indole-3,5′-oxolane]-2,2′-dione, tryptoquivalines L, F and H, and the isocoumarin derivative, 6-hydroxymellein, from the ethyl acetate extract of the culture of the algicolous fungus Neosartorya takakii KUFC 7898. The structures of the new compounds were established based on 1D and 2D NMR spectral analysis, and, in the case of sartorenol (1) and tryptoquivaline U (3), X-ray analysis was used to confirm their structures and to determine the absolute configuration of their stereogenic carbons. Compounds 1, 2 and 3 were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and multidrug-resistant isolates from the environment; however, none exhibited antibacterial activity (MIC ˃ 256 mg/mL). The three new compounds did not show any quorum sensing inhibition in the screening protocol based on the pigment production by Chromobacterium violaceum (ATCC 31532).
Reciprocal Estimation of Pedestrian Location and Motion State toward a Smartphone Geo-Context Computing Solution
Authors: Liu Jingbin , Zhu Lingli , Wang Yunsheng , Liang Xinlian , Hyyppä Juha , Chu Tianxing , Liu Keqiang , Chen Ruizhi
Published: June 2015

The rapid advance in mobile communications has made information and services ubiquitously accessible. Location and context information have become essential for the effectiveness of services in the era of mobility. This paper proposes the concept of geo-context that is defined as an integral synthesis of geographical location, human motion state and mobility context. A geo-context computing solution consists of a positioning engine, a motion state recognition engine, and a context inference component. In the geo-context concept, the human motion states and mobility context are associated with the geographical location where they occur. A hybrid geo-context computing solution is implemented that runs on a smartphone, and it utilizes measurements of multiple sensors and signals of opportunity that are available within a smartphone. Pedestrian location and motion states are estimated jointly under the framework of hidden Markov models, and they are used in a reciprocal manner to improve their estimation performance of one another. It is demonstrated that pedestrian location estimation has better accuracy when its motion state is known, and in turn, the performance of motion state recognition can be improved with increasing reliability when the location is given. The geo-context inference is implemented simply with the expert system principle, and more sophisticated approaches will be developed.
In Vivo Nanodetoxication for Acute Uranium Exposure
Authors: Guzmán Luis , Durán-Lara Esteban , Donoso Wendy , Nachtigall Fabiane , Santos Leonardo
Published: June 2015

Accidental exposure to uranium is a matter of concern, as U(VI) is nephrotoxic in both human and animal models, and its toxicity is associated to chemical toxicity instead of radioactivity. We synthesized different PAMAM G4 and G5 derivatives in order to prove their interaction with uranium and their effect on the viability of red blood cells in vitro. Furthermore, we prove the effectiveness of the selected dendrimers in an animal model of acute uranium intoxication. The dendrimer PAMAM G4-Lys-Fmoc-Cbz demonstrated the ability to chelate the uranyl ion in vivo, improving the biochemical and histopathologic features caused by acute intoxication with uranium.
Association of Canonical Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway and Type 2 Diabetes: Genetic Epidemiological Study in Han Chinese
Authors: Wang Jinjin , Zhao Jingzhi , Zhang Jianfeng , Luo Xinping , Gao Kaiping , Zhang Ming , Li Linlin , Wang Chongjian , Hu Dongsheng
Published: June 2015

We aimed to investigate the associations of polymorphisms in Canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway (WNT) signaling genes (including low-density lipoprotein-related protein 5 [LRP5] and transcription factor 7-like 2 [TCF7L2] gene) and the downstream gene glucagon (GCG) and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a Han Chinese population. We genotyped the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for LRP5, TCF7L2 and GCG gene were genotyped in 1842 patients with T2DM and 7777 normal glucose-tolerant healthy subjects. We used multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) and multiplicative logistic regression adjusting for sex, age, anthropometric measurements and lipid levels to investigate the gene-gene interactions for the risk of T2DM. Among the five SNPs in LRP5, the recessive model of rs7102273 and the haplotype GCTCC were associated with T2DM risk; the haplotype GCTTC was associated with decreased risk. For TCF7L2, the rs11196218 genotype GA and the haplotype CCG, TTG, TTA were associated with T2DM risk; whereas, the haplotype CTG and TCG were associated with decreased risk. Both MDR and multiplicative logistic regression revealed potential gene–gene interactions among LRP5, TCF7L2, and GCG associated with T2DM. The WNT signaling pathway may play a significant role in risk of T2DM in Han Chinese people.
Associations between Vitamin D Status, Supplementation, Outdoor Work and Risk of Parkinson’s Disease: A Meta-Analysis Assessment
Authors: Shen Liang , Ji Hong-Fang
Published: June 2015

The present study aimed to quantitatively assess the associations between vitamin D and Parkinson’s Disease (PD) risks, which include: (i) risk of PD in subjects with deficient and insufficient vitamin D levels; (ii) association between vitamin D supplementation and risk of PD; and (iii) association between outdoor work and PD risk, through meta-analyzing available data. An electronic literature search supplemented by hand searching up to March 2015 identified seven eligible studies comprising 5690 PD patients and 21251 matched controls. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of PD risk were assessed through pooling the collected data from eligible studies using Stata software. Pooled data showed that subjects with deficient and insufficient vitamin D levels had increased PD risks compared with matched-controls according to the corresponding OR: 2.08, 95% CI: 1.63 to 2.65, and 1.29, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.51. Vitamin D supplementation was associated with significantly reduced risk of PD (OR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.35 to 0.90). Outdoor work was also related to reduced risk of PD (OR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.63 to 0.81). The findings may stimulate larger, well-designed studies to further verify the associations between vitamin D and PD risk.
Addendum: Fayet-Moore F., Pearson, S. Interpreting the Australian Dietary Guideline to “Limit” into Practical and Personalised Advice. Nutrients 2015, 7, 2026–2043
Authors: Fayet-Moore Flavia , Pearson Suzanne
Published: June 2015

The published article’s Acknowledgement Section was incomplete [1].[...]
Protective Effect of the Total Saponins from Rosa laevigata Michx Fruit against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Rats
Authors: Dong Deshi , Yin Lianhong , Qi Yan , Xu Lina , Peng Jinyong
Published: June 2015

In this study, the protective effect of the total saponins from Rosa laevigata Michx (RLTS) against liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats was evaluated. The results showed that RLTS significantly rehabilitated the levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, malondialdehyde, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, hydroxyproline, α-smooth muscle actin, collagen I, collagen III and fibronectin, which were confirmed using H&E, Sirius Red and Masson histopathological assays. Further research indicated that RLTS markedly reduced cytochrome P450 2E1 activity, attenuated oxidative stress, and suppressed inflammation. In addition, RLTS facilitated matrix degradation through down-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase2, matrix metalloproteinase 9 and metalloproteinases1, and exerted the anti-fibrotic effects through affecting transforming growth factor β/Smad, focal adhesion kinase/phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/amino kinase terminal/70-kDa ribosomal S6 Kinase (FAK-PI3K-Akt-p70S6K) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Taken together, our data indicate that RLTS can be applied as one effective candidate for the treatment of liver fibrosis in the future.
Responses by White Christians to Recent Latino Immigration in the Rural U.S. Midwest
Authors: Rehwaldt Jeremy
Published: June 2015

Over the last twenty-five years, the rural U.S. Midwest has undergone dramatic demographic changes as the population of white people decreased in many areas and the number of Latinos surged. These shifts are especially noteworthy in areas that had stable, relatively homogeneous populations over at least the last half-century. Many Christian churches, both Protestant and Catholic, are responding by reaching out to new residents. Such efforts have sometimes led to tension as Anglo Christians seek to reconcile the moral claims of their faith communities with the prejudices and fears they have of Latino immigrants. This article describes how Anglo-majority mainline Protestant congregations and Catholic parishes are responding to these demographic changes, notes key differences between the two groups’ responses, and then sketches several possible explanations for the differences, including the underlying theology of their efforts, the prior religious affiliation of Latino newcomers, the organizational structure of church bodies, and varying impetuses for action. The paper concludes with observations about the future of Christian communities in the rural Midwest.
Novel Spectrum Sensing Algorithms for OFDM Cognitive Radio Networks
Authors: Shi Zhenguo , Wu Zhilu , Yin Zhendong , Cheng Qingqing
Published: June 2015

Spectrum sensing technology plays an increasingly important role in cognitive radio networks. Consequently, several spectrum sensing algorithms have been proposed in the literature. In this paper, we present a new spectrum sensing algorithm “Differential Characteristics-Based OFDM (DC-OFDM)” for detecting OFDM signal on account of differential characteristics. We put the primary value on channel gain Ɵ around zero to detect the presence of primary user. Furthermore, utilizing the same method of differential operation, we improve two traditional OFDM sensing algorithms (cyclic prefix and pilot tones detecting algorithms), and propose a “Differential Characteristics-Based Cyclic Prefix (DC-CP)” detector and a “Differential Characteristics-Based Pilot Tones (DC-PT)” detector, respectively. DC-CP detector is based on auto-correlation vector to sense the spectrum, while the DC-PT detector takes the frequency-domain cross-correlation of PT as the test statistic to detect the primary user. Moreover, the distributions of the test statistics of the three proposed methods have been derived. Simulation results illustrate that all of the three proposed methods can achieve good performance under low signal to noise ratio (SNR) with the presence of timing delay. Specifically, the DC-OFDM detector gets the best performance among the presented detectors. Moreover, both of the DC-CP and DC-PT detector achieve significant improvements compared with their corresponding original detectors.
On Designing Thermal-Aware Localized QoS Routing Protocol for in-vivo Sensor Nodes in Wireless Body Area Networks
Authors: Monowar Muhammad , Bajaber Fuad
Published: June 2015

In this paper, we address the thermal rise and Quality-of-Service (QoS) provisioning issue for an intra-body Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) having in-vivo sensor nodes. We propose a thermal-aware QoS routing protocol, called TLQoS, that facilitates the system in achieving desired QoS in terms of delay and reliability for diverse traffic types, as well as avoids the formation of highly heated nodes known as hotspot(s), and keeps the temperature rise along the network to an acceptable level. TLQoS exploits modular architecture wherein different modules perform integrated operations in providing multiple QoS service with lower temperature rise. To address the challenges of highly dynamic wireless environment inside the human body. TLQoS implements potential-based localized routing that requires only local neighborhood information. TLQoS avoids routing loop formation as well as reduces the number of hop traversal exploiting hybrid potential, and tuning a configurable parameter. We perform extensive simulations of TLQoS, and the results show that TLQoS has significant performance improvements over state-of-the-art approaches.
Estimation of Prestress Force Distribution in the Multi-Strand System of Prestressed Concrete Structures
Authors: Cho Keunhee , Park Sung , Cho Jeong-Rae , Kim Sung , Park Young-Hwan
Published: June 2015

Prestressed concrete (PSC) is one of the most reliable, durable and widely used construction materials, which overcomes the weakness of concrete in tension by the introduction of a prestress force. Smart strands enabling measurement of the prestress force have recently been developed to maintain PSC structures throughout their lifetime. However, the smart strand cannot give a representative indication of the whole prestress force when used in multi-strand systems since each strand sustains a different prestress force. In this paper, the actual distribution of the prestress force in a multi-strand system is examined using elastomagnetic (EM) sensors to develop a method for tracking representative indicators of the prestress force using smart strands.
A High Performance Banknote Recognition System Based on a One-Dimensional Visible Light Line Sensor
Authors: Park Young , Kwon Seung , Pham Tuyen , Park Kang , Jeong Dae , Yoon Sungsoo
Published: June 2015

An algorithm for recognizing banknotes is required in many fields, such as banknote-counting machines and automatic teller machines (ATM). Due to the size and cost limitations of banknote-counting machines and ATMs, the banknote image is usually captured by a one-dimensional (line) sensor instead of a conventional two-dimensional (area) sensor. Because the banknote image is captured by the line sensor while it is moved at fast speed through the rollers inside the banknote-counting machine or ATM, misalignment, geometric distortion, and non-uniform illumination of the captured images frequently occur, which degrades the banknote recognition accuracy. To overcome these problems, we propose a new method for recognizing banknotes. The experimental results using two-fold cross-validation for 61,240 United States dollar (USD) images show that the pre-classification error rate is 0%, and the average error rate for the final recognition of the USD banknotes is 0.114%.
Hydraulic Behavior and Chemical Characterization of Lapilli as Material for Natural Filtering of Slurry
Authors: Falcón-Cardona Nereida , Mendoza-Grimón Vanessa , Fernández-Vera Juan , Hernández-Brito Idaira , Hernández-Moreno Jose , Báez Sebastian , Ritter Axel , Palacios-Díaz María
Published: June 2015

Livestock effluents are a beneficial nutrient supply for crops, whereby their use is critical to ensure the sustainability of the farms global management. However, they can cause serious ecological problems if misused, polluting soils and groundwater. Combining “soft technology” and local materials is a low cost solution in terms of finance and energy. The REAGUA project (REuso AGUA, Water reuse in Spanish) analyzes the possibility of using “picon” (lapilli) as a material for the treatment of liquid manure from ruminants, for later use in subsurface drip irrigation system to produce forage and biofuels, in which the soil acts as a subsequent advanced treatment. A three-phase system, in which the effluent was poured with a vertical subsurface flow in an unsaturated medium, is designed. In order to determine the management conditions that optimize the filter, it was necessary to characterize the hydraulic behavior of lapilli and its ability to remove substances. Using three lapilli-filled columns, unsaturated flux, and a ruminant effluent, the reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand after 5 days (BOD5) and ammonia, phosphorus and suspension solids (SS) obtained was over 80%, 90%, and 95% respectively, assumable values for irrigation.
Quantitative Impacts of Climate Change and Human Activities on Water-Surface Area Variations from the 1990s to 2013 in Honghu Lake, China
Authors: Chang Bianrong , Li Rendong , Zhu Chuandong , Liu Kequn
Published: June 2015

The water-surface areas of the lakes in the mid-lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China, have undergone significant changes under the combined impacts of global climate change and local anthropogenic stress. As a typical lake in this region, the Honghu Lake features water-surface area variations that are documented in this study based on high–resolution remote sensing images from the 1990s to 2013. The impact of human activities is analyzed by a novel method based on land use data. The relative impacts of each driving force are further distinguished by the statistical analysis method. Results show that the water-surface area has significant inter-annual and seasonal variabilities, and the minimum of which generally occurs in spring. The degree to which climate factors and land use structure affect the water-surface area varies between different stages. In the April-May period, the sum of the water demands of paddies and aquaculture has a negative effect that is greater than the positive effect of the difference between the monthly precipitation and monthly evaporation. In the June–October period, the precipitation features a positive impact that is greater than the negative effect of the water demand of agriculture. Meanwhile, climate factors and human activities have no influence on the lake area in the November–March period. With the land use being altered when annual precipitations are close in value, paddy field areas decrease, ponds areas increase, and the water demand of agriculture rises in both flood and drought years. These findings provide scientific foundation for understanding the causes of water-surface area variations and for effectively maintaining the stability of the Honghu Lake area through adjustments in land use structure.