bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of ketone‐based neurosteroids by reactive low‐temperature plasma mass spectrometry
Authors: Ding Xuelu , Garikapati Vannuruswamy , Spengler Bernhard , Heiles Sven
Published: May 2018

Rationale

Neurosteroids are important signalling molecules that modulate neuronal activity. Their low concentrations and low volatility make neurosteroid detection and quantification by ambient mass spectrometry challenging. Here we develop a reactive low‐temperature plasma mass spectrometry (LTP‐MS) method and demonstrate its potential for fast screening and quantification of neurosteroids in mouse brain.

Methods

Ketone‐based neurosteroids were analysed with the LTP‐MS method. The plasma of the LTP was heated in order to improve the desorption efficiency of low‐volatility neurosteroids. Methylamine with a concentration of 500 ppbv was employed as the reactive reagent. Neurosteroids in mouse brain tissue extracts were detected in 70 s with mass errors less than ±3 ppm due to coupling of the ion source with a high‐performance mass spectrometer.

Results

Reaction between neurosteroids and methylamine, seeded into the LTP gas stream, resulted in the formation of protonated methylamine–neurosteroid adducts with 5‐ to 100‐fold abundances, compared to [M + H]+ ions detected in non‐reactive LTP‐MS. The lowest detectable concentrations of neurosteroid standards were in the range of ng/mL. Concentrations of neurosteroids in male and female mouse brain extracts as determined with reactive LTP‐MS were on the level of ng/g, comparable to results obtained with high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry.

Conclusions

The developed reactive LTP‐MS is capable of providing sensitive identification and quantification of ketone‐based neurosteroids in mouse brain extracts with minimal sample treatment, and showcases the potential of reactive LTP‐MS as a tool for fast screening of neurosteroid levels in brain.
Whey and Pea Protein Fortification of Rice Starches: Effects on Protein and Starch Digestibility and Starch Pasting Properties
Authors: Oñate Narciso Joan , Brennan Charles
Published: May 2018

Rice is rich in starch but low in protein. In countries where rice is the staple food, people are at high risk of protein deficiency. Legumes (such as pea) and milk are an important part of the diet in many developing and developed countries, respectively. For this reason, pea protein isolate (PPI) and whey protein concentrate (WPC) are incorporated into basmati (≈20–25% amylose) and glutinous (≈0–3% amylose) starches to test the effect of protein incorporation on the pasting properties of rice starch, and on starch and protein digestibility. Increasing protein incorporation reduced the peak, breakdown, and final viscosities. The effect is more pronounced for basmati mixtures compared to glutinous mixtures. For starch digestibility, basmati starch mixtures exhibited an increasing trend in the amount of glucose released over 120 min, whereas glutinous starch mixtures show a decrease in the amount of glucose released after 60 min. In addition, samples with the same % protein incorporation (PPI and WPC) shows similar trend in terms of amount of glucose released at each time point. The amylose content appears to have an effect on starch digestibility over time. For pea and whey protein digestibility, basmati starch samples exhibited lower digestion after 120 min compared with glutinous starch samples. The starch amylose content appears to have an impact on protein digestibility. This provides a way of fortifying rice starch with proteins, in which the proteins are effectively digested without significantly increasing blood glucose levels.
Physicochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Rice Flour Based Extrudates Enriched with Stabilized Rice Bran
Authors: Wang Peng , Yang Qingyu , Zheng Dongmei , Wang Qiuyu , Wang Na , Saleh Ahmed S. M. , Zhu Minpeng , Xiao Zhigang
Published: May 2018

Broken rice‐based flour is incorporated with 15, 30, and 45% w/w of stabilized rice bran and extruded by a co‐rotating twin‐screw extruder at temperatures of 90, 120, and 150 °C to produce extrudates with potential health benefits. The changes in physicochemical and antioxidant properties of the rice flour after the incorporation with SRB and extrusion are determined. The peak viscosity and thermal enthalpy (ΔHg, J g−1) of the rice flour decline as the incorporated amount of SRB and extrusion temperature increase. The incorporation of SRB improve the water absorption and reduce the water solubility of the rice flour; while both indexes enhance after extrusion at certain temperatures. The incorporation of SRB and extrusion results in extrudates with higher content of resistant starch. Furthermore, the incorporation of SRB enhance the free, bound, and total phenolic content of the rice flour. However, free and total phenolics content tend to decrease with the increase in extrusion temperature. DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP activities are found to be consistent with the phenolic content of samples. The obtained results suggest that rice flour based extrudates with potential health benefits can be produced through the incorporation of rice flour with stabilized rice bran and extrusion cooking.
Experienced teachers’ beliefs and practices toward communicative approaches in teaching English as a foreign language in rural Ukraine
Authors: Mason Andrea , Payant Caroline
Published: May 2018

Communicative language teaching (CLT) in an English as a foreign language (EFL) context is a dynamic process involving teachers’ perspectives and practices. Although CLT is a widely accepted approach to second language instruction, scholars in the field continue to have a narrow understanding of how teachers conceptualize and implement this approach in various international contexts. The present multiple case study focuses on the interrelationships between in‐service teachers’ beliefs and practices with CLT in an EFL context: rural Ukraine. Ukraine only recently adopted a national CLT curriculum, and how experienced teachers integrate this approach into their current teaching has not been closely examined. To uncover mediating factors that influence their practices, the researchers drew on the approach of language ecology to analyze three experienced teachers’ beliefs and practices. Drawing on multiple data sources (surveys, interviews, and classroom observations), they identified two primary mitigating factors: access and privilege. The study's overall rich description in an asset for the EFL or English as a second language (ESL) professional, but the authors also integrated the findings into two reflective tools to guide teachers in self‐evaluation of their own communicative‐based teaching, their teaching situation, and supplementary training opportunities to enhance their teaching practices.
Update of global Two-Higgs-Doublet model fits
Authors: Chowdhury Debtosh , Eberhardt Otto
Published: May 2018

Abstract

We perform global fits of Two-Higgs-Doublet models with a softly broken ℤ2 symmetry to recent results from the LHC detectors CMS and ATLAS, that is signal strengths and direct search limits obtained at

$$ \sqrt{s}=8 $$

s

=
8

TeV and

$$ \sqrt{s}=13 $$

s

=
13

TeV. We combine all available ATLAS and CMS constraints with the other relevant theoretical and experimental bounds and present the latest limits on the model parameters. We obtain that deviations from the so-called alignment limit β − α = π/2 cannot be larger than 0.03 in type I and have to be smaller than 0.02 in the remaining three types. For the latter we also observe lower limits on the heavy Higgs masses in the global fit. The splittings between these masses cannot exceed 200 GeV in the types I and X and 130 GeV in the types II and Y. Finally, we find that the decay widths of the heavy Higgs particles cannot be larger than 7% of their masses if they are lighter than 1.5 TeV.
Measuring properties of a Heavy Higgs boson in the $$ H\to t\overline{t}\to b{W}^{+}\overline{b}{W}^{-} $$ decay
Authors: Chang Jung , Cheung Kingman , Lee Jae Sik , Lu Chih-Ting , Park Jubin
Published: May 2018

Abstract

Suppose a heavy neutral Higgs or scalar boson H is discovered at the LHC, it is important to investigate its couplings to the standard model particles as much as possible. Here in this work we attempt to probe the CP-even and CP-odd couplings of the heavy Higgs boson to a pair of top quarks, through the decay

$$ H\to t\overline{t}\to b{W}^{+}\overline{b}{W}^{-} $$

H
→
t

t
¯

→
b

W
+

b
¯

W
−

. We use the helicity-amplitude method to write down the most general form for the angular distributions of the final-state b quarks and W bosons. We figure out that there are 6 types of angular observables and, under

$$ \mathrm{C}\mathrm{P}\tilde{\mathrm{T}} $$

C
P

T
˜

conservation, one-dimensional angular distributions can only reveal two of them. Nevertheless, the H couplings to the

$$ t\overline{t} $$

t

t
¯

pair can be fully determined by exploiting the one-dimensional angular distributions. A Higgs-boson mass of 380 GeV not too far above the

$$ t\overline{t} $$

t

t
¯

threshold is illustrated with full details. With a total of 104 events of

$$ H\to t\overline{t}\to b{W}^{+}\overline{b}{W}^{+} $$

H
→
t

t
¯

→
b

W
+

b
¯

W
+

, one can determine the couplings up to 10-20% uncertainties.
Generalised fluxes, Yang-Baxter deformations and the O(d,d) structure of non-abelian T -duality
Authors: Lüst Dieter , Osten David
Published: May 2018

Abstract

Based on the construction of Poisson-Lie T -dual σ-models from a common parent action we study a candidate for the non-abelian respectively Poisson-Lie T -duality group. This group generalises the well-known abelian T -duality group O(d, d) and we explore some of its subgroups, namely factorised dualities, B- and β-shifts. The corresponding duality transformed σ-models are constructed and interpreted as generalised (non-geometric) flux backgrounds.

We also comment on generalisations of results and techniques known from abelian T -duality. This includes the Lie algebra cohomology interpretation of the corresponding non-geometric flux backgrounds, remarks on a double field theory based on non-abelian T -duality and an application to the investigation of Yang-Baxter deformations. This will show that homogeneously Yang-Baxter deformed σ-models are exactly the non-abelian T -duality β-shifts when applied to principal chiral models.
Metabolic engineering of lipid pathways in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and staged bioprocess for enhanced lipid production and cellular physiology
Authors: Peng Huadong , He Lizhong , Haritos Victoria S
Published: May 2018

Microbially produced lipids have attracted attention for their environmental benefits and commercial value. We have combined lipid pathway engineering in Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast with bioprocess design to improve productivity and explore barriers to enhanced lipid production. Initially, individual gene expression was tested for impact on yeast growth and lipid production. Then, two base strains were prepared for enhanced lipid accumulation and stabilization steps by combining DGAT1, ΔTgl3 with or without Atclo1, which increased lipid content ~ 1.8-fold but reduced cell viability. Next, fatty acid (FA) biosynthesis genes Ald6-SEACSL641P alone or with ACC1** were co-expressed in base strains, which significantly improved lipid content (8.0% DCW, 2.6-fold than control), but severely reduced yeast growth and cell viability. Finally, a designed two-stage process convincingly ameliorated the negative effects, resulting in normal cell growth, very high lipid productivity (307 mg/L, 4.6-fold above control) and improved cell viability.
Ocular Effects of Exposure to 40, 75, and 95 GHz Millimeter Waves
Authors: Kojima Masami , Suzuki Yukihisa , Sasaki Kensuke , Taki Masao , Wake Kanako , Watanabe Soichi , Mizuno Maya , Tasaki Takafumi , Sasaki Hiroshi
Published: May 2018

The objective of this study was to develop a model of ocular damage induced by 40, 75, and 95 GHz continuous millimeter waves (MMW), thereby allowing assessment of the clinical course of ocular damage resulting from exposure to thermal damage-inducing MMW. This study also examined the dependence of ocular damage on incident power density. Pigmented rabbit eyes were exposed to 40, 75, and 95 GHz MMW from a spot-focus-type lens antenna. Slight ocular damage was observed 10 min after MMW exposure, including reduced cornea thickness and reduced transparency. Diffuse fluorescein staining around the pupillary area indicated corneal epithelial injury. Slit-lamp examination 1 day after MMW exposure revealed a round area of opacity, accompanied by fluorescence staining, in the central pupillary zone. Corneal edema, indicative of corneal stromal damage, peaked 1 day after MMW exposure, with thickness gradually subsiding to normal. Three days after exposure, ocular conditions had almost normalized, though corneal thickness was slightly greater than that before exposure. The 50% probability of ocular damage (DD50) was in the order 40 > 95 ≈ 75 GHz at the same incident power densities.
Longitudinal associations between time spent using technology and sleep duration among adolescents☆
Authors: Mazzer K. , Bauducco S. , Linton S.J. , Boersma K.
Published: May 2018

Technology use has been the focus of much concern for adolescents' sleep health. However, few studies have investigated the bidirectional association between sleep duration and time spent using technology. The aim of this study was to test whether time spent using technology predicted shorter sleep duration, and/or vice versa using cross‐lagged analyses over one year. Participants were 1620 high school students in the 8th and 9th grade at baseline from 17 public schools in three middle Sweden communities. Students completed questionnaires at school during the spring of 2015 and 2016. Time spent using technology was self‐reported and sleep duration was calculated from reported bed‐times, wake‐times and sleep onset latency. Time spent using technology significantly predicted shorter subsequent sleep duration and vice versa. Public health advocates educating others about the negative impacts of technology on sleep must also be mindful of the opposite, that many young people may turn to technological devices when experiencing difficulty sleeping.
The role of sleep in adolescents' daily stress recovery: Negative affect spillover and positive affect bounce‐back effects☆
Authors: Chue Amanda E. , Gunthert Kathleen C. , Kim Rebecca W. , Alfano Candice A. , Ruggiero Aria R.
Published: May 2018

The present study examined the role of sleep in daily affective stress recovery processes in adolescents. Eighty‐nine American adolescents recorded their emotions and stress through daily surveys and sleep with Fitbit devices for two weeks. Results show that objectively measured sleep (sleep onset latency and sleep debt) moderated negative affective responses to previous‐day stress, such that stress‐related negative affect spillover effects became more pronounced as amount of sleep decreased. Total sleep time and sleep debt moderated cross‐day positive affect “bounce‐back” effects. With more sleep, morning positive affect on days following high stress tended to bounce back to the levels that were common following low stress days. Conversely, if sleep was short following high stress days, positive affect remained low the next morning. No evidence for subjective sleep quality as a moderator of spillover/bounce‐back effects was found. This research suggests that sleep quantity could relate to overnight affective stress recovery.
Gameful Experience in Gamification: Construction and Validation of a Gameful Experience Scale [GAMEX]
Authors: Eppmann René , Bekk Magdalena , Klein Kristina
Published: May 2018

Gamification has recently become a popular topic in marketing practice. It is perceived as being a promising way to provide improved consumer experiences and to positively influence consumer behavior. An inherent characteristic of gamification is the gameful experience of consumers when using a gamified application. However, no existing measure captures the gameful experience consumers feel when they engage with gamified applications. Based on an extensive literature review and six consecutive studies, the authors develop and validate a new gameful experience scale [GAMEX] for measuring gameful experience in gamification. The results confirm that the GAMEX is a reliable and valid measure, which is useful for both, researchers and practitioners, and easy to apply in different gamification settings.
Don't Just “Like” Me, Promote Me: How Attachment and Attitude Influence Brand Related Behaviors on Social Media
Authors: VanMeter Rebecca , Syrdal Holly A. , Powell-Mantel Susan , Grisaffe Douglas B. , Nesson Erik T.
Published: May 2018

As social media marketing becomes more pervasive, questions continue to emerge regarding utilizing the medium strategically to maximize positive brand-related outcomes. Marketers are increasingly seeking guidance for targeting consumers who will interact and behave in ways that are meaningful to the brand on social media. Understanding how individual differences among consumers can influence social media behaviors linked to valuable organizational outcomes is crucial for managers seeking to justify social media marketing expenditures. This research addresses that issue by applying Attachment Theory to social media. In Study 1, we examine the roles of two individual difference factors, attitude toward social media and attachment to social media (ASM), in predicting token and meaningful behaviors on social media. We find that while attitude toward social media and ASM are both related to token behaviors, only ASM predicts meaningful behaviors. In Study 2, we investigate attachment and attitude toward the brand and social media as predictors of offline and social media brand advocacy and demonstrate that individuals who are attached to or have a positive attitude toward the brand are more likely to engage in offline advocacy. Further, ASM adds incremental explanatory power, beyond attitude and attachment to the brand, in predicting advocacy via social media. In Study 3, we examine likelihood of advocating for a brand via social media as a moderator and find that even consumers who are not likely to be offline advocates are more likely to advocate for the brand on social media if they are strongly attached to social media. In sum, the results indicate that ASM is an important predictor of meaningful social media behaviors and is a new means by which marketers can identify consumers who are more likely to perform meaningful behaviors for brands via social media.
Making cyber-security a strategic business priority
Authors: James Lee
Published: May 2018

Five years ago, cyber-security wasn't something you'd necessarily associate with daily business practice. Lines of code felt meaningless and the concept itself still seemed futuristic. Most companies were unwilling to overhaul their entire strategies to combat this potential threat, and an ‘it won't happen to me’ attitude was commonplace.

No longer can security be viewed as a prohibited silo residing outside of key boardroom discussions. An organisation's security strategy must be aligned with business strategy and integral to the senior leadership's decision-making process.

For organisations to operate safely in the contemporary threat landscape, they need to make sure they are consistently evaluating the effectiveness of their defences to be as secure as possible. At the same time they must ensure that they are utilising the most modern solutions and have the right expertise at hand, explains Lee James of Rackspace.
Defending against the malware flood
Authors: Sim Greg
Published: May 2018

The deluge of new malware specimens being launched against businesses everywhere on the planet is fast rendering traditional anti-virus (AV) cyber-security redundant.

The deluge of new malware specimens being launched against businesses everywhere on the planet is fast rendering traditional anti-virus (AV) cyber-security redundant.

Faced with highly inventive criminals creating huge volumes of new malware, organisations must innovate if they are to protect themselves. As Greg Sim of Glasswall Solutions explains, it is a question of only allowing the known good to enter an organisation and being fully confident that the main source of zero-day threats has been completely blocked.
The intelligent way to protect complex environments
Authors: Mansfield-Devine Steve
Published: May 2018

Technology is becoming ever more complex, IT environments increasingly labyrinthine and the threat landscape is expanding, seemingly exponentially. This is mirrored in the sophistication – but also complexity – of defensive systems. Information security specialists now face a deluge of information and deciding what is significant isn't easy. In this interview, Ed Bellis, CTO of Kenna Security, talks about the challenges facing organisations today and how an intelligent approach to security data can help organisations spot the genuine threats.
The future of Internet governance and cyber-security
Authors: Van Horenbeeck Maarten
Published: May 2018

It's often unclear to Internet users who it is that actually makes the decisions that make their connection work. This is because the Internet, by definition, is a complex system that is not managed by a single organisation. In order for your connection to be successful, you use hardware built by a hardware vendor, protocols developed by Internet engineers in loose technical groups such as the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), networks operated by a third party and a website operated by the organisation with which you're actually interacting. That organisation probably uses a whole set of other vendors, such as content delivery networks or cloud providers, to provide the service.

It's often unclear to Internet users who actually runs it. This is because the Internet, by definition, is a complex system that is not managed by a single organisation.

You use hardware and software from a variety of vendors, protocols developed by Internet engineers in loose technical groups and networks operated by third parties. Maarten Van Horenbeeck of the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams examines how this mish-mash of organisations and standards fits together and what makes it work.
Scientists Discover an Environment on the Cusp of Habitability
Authors: Kornei Katherine
Published: May 2018

A volcanically heated Costa Rican lake hosts only one type of organism, suggesting that its Mars-like environment is just barely capable of supporting life.
Insight into the charge transport correlation in Aux clusters and graphene quantum dots deposited on TiO2 nanotubes for photoelectrochemical oxygen evolution
Authors: Zeng Zhiping , Li Yu-Bing , Chen Shufen , Chen Peng , Xiao Fang-Xing
Published: May 2018

The intrinsic correlation of gold nanoclusters with graphene quantum dots in terms of photo-induced charge transport for photoelectrochemical water splitting was revealed.
Cobalt phosphosulfide in the tetragonal phase: a highly active and durable catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Chang Jinfa , Ouyang Yixin , Ge Junjie , Wang Jinlan , Liu Changpeng , Xing Wei
Published: May 2018

Sea urchin-like ternary cobalt phosphosulfide nanoneedles in the tetragonal phase were developed. This efficient and robust material exhibits superior hydrogen evolution reaction catalytic activity and durability in both acidic and alkaline solutions, and represents the most promising alternative to a platinum-based catalyst for use in electrochemical energy storage and conversion, and other applications.
Dual-site lysosome-targeted fluorescent probe for separate detection of endogenous biothiols and SO2 in living cells
Authors: Wu Ming-Yu , Wang Yue , Liu Yan-Hong , Yu Xiao-Qi
Published: May 2018

A novel lysosome-targeted fluorescent probe was developed for the separate detection of endogenous biothiols and SO2 in living cells.
Femtosecond laser fabricated polymer microring resonator for sensing applications
Authors: Zhang D. , Men L. , Chen Q.
Published: May 2018

A microring resonator realised by femtosecond laser two‐photon photopolymerisation in an epoxy‐based negative photoresist (SU‐8) is proposed and demonstrated, which is further proved to be capable of temperature and refractive index sensing by monitoring the shift of the resonance wavelength of the interferometric pattern. The experimental results indicate refractive index sensitivity of 12.50 nm/refractive index unit (redshift) and temperature sensitivity of −9.51 × 10−2 nm/oC (blueshift), respectively.
Balanced bandpass filter with tunable centre frequency based on substrate integrated waveguide technology
Authors: Zhang Hao , Kang Wei , Wu Wen
Published: May 2018

A mechanical tuning balanced bandpass filter based on substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) dual‐mode resonant cavity is presented. It can be accomplished by placing two metallised via‐holes with open‐loop slots on the top layer which affect the TE102 and TE201 modes of the square SIW cavity, respectively. Direct source‐load couplings have been utilised to achieve the high selectivity of the differential mode (DM) passband and improve the DM out of band rejection. A planar module of 60 × 60 mm2 has been fabricated on RO5880 substrate with a dielectric constant of 2.2 which verify the design concept.
Listwise approach based on the cross‐correntropy for learning to rank
Authors: Wu Mintao , Zhu Jihua , Wang Jun , Pang Shanmin , Li Yaochen
Published: May 2018

The problem of learning to rank is addressed and a novel listwise approach by taking document retrieval as an example is proposed. It first introduces the concept of cross‐correntropy into learning to rank and then proposes the listwise loss function based on the cross‐correntropy between the ranking list given by the label and the one predicted by training model. The use of the cross‐correntropy loss leads to the development of the listwise approach called ListCCE, which employs the gradient descent algorithm to train a neural network model. Experimental results tested on publicly available data sets show that the proposed approach performs better than some existing approaches.
Compact back‐to‐back DRA‐based four‐port MIMO antenna system with bi‐directional diversity
Authors: Das G. , Sharma A. , Gangwar R.K. , Sharawi M.S.
Published: May 2018

This Letter presents a dielectric resonator (DR)‐based multiple‐input‐multiple‐output (MIMO) antenna with bi‐directional pattern diversity. The back‐to‐back arrangement of cylindrical DR antennas DRAs (cDRAs) is one of the unique features of the proposed design. The cDRAs are placed on an FR4 substrate with a common ground plane. Each cDRA element is excited by two ports to establish a four‐port MIMO antenna system. At ports 1 and 2, the top cDRA is excited via co‐planar waveguide (CPW) fed conformal strip lines. In case of ports 3 and 4, the bottom cDRA is excited by microstrip line fed conformal strip lines. Isolation between all ports is improved (better than 18 dB) by generating orthogonal modes in the cDRAs and use of opposite excitations. Measured results confirm that the proposed four‐port MIMO antenna system is useful for the frequency ranges between 5.4 and 6.0 GHz for WLAN applications.
Parameters identification of reduced governor system model for diesel‐engine generator by using hybrid particle swarm optimisation
Authors: Lin Chien‐Hung , Wu Chi‐Jui , Yang Jun‐Zhe , Liao Ching‐Jung
Published: May 2018

This study presents an approach to build a reduced‐order model (ROM) for the governor control systems of diesel‐engine generators in an island power system. The hybrid particle swarm optimisation (PSO) is used in the parameter identification of the ROM. The reduced‐order governor system model could be a useful and feasible model in the stability analysis of the island power system by using power system simulator for engineering. The results of the ROM and a sixth‐order model have been compared. It is found that the ROM with the parameter values identified using the hybrid PSO is robust. Moreover, real‐case validation of the ROM shows that it is usable to analyse stability and contingency in the power system.
Investigation of the working mechanism and characteristics of dual‐mode doubly salient starter generator with variable winding
Authors: Xiao Dong , Shi Liwei , Guo Yingzhi , Han Zhen , Zhou Xiaoyu
Published: May 2018

A starter generator is a core technology of the more‐electric aircraft and all‐electric aircraft. The traditional switched reluctance machine (SRM) requires a high accuracy position sensor and high‐speed processor while generating power. Therefore, the cost of the controller is high and the maximum speed of the machine is limited. A dual‐mode doubly salient starter/generator is proposed in the study. In the process of starting and generating power, the machine operates based on the SRM principle and the doubly salient electromagnetic machine principle, respectively. In order to realise the transformation of the operating principle, the machine uses a winding switching device, and half of the windings are replaced as field winding that provide DC excitation in the generator mode. A suitable power converter is proposed based on introducing the structure and working principle of the machine. A winding switching device is designed, and the conversion process is explained in detail. A finite‐element method is simultaneously used to analyse the motor‐driven performance and the power‐generation performance of the machine. A 12/8‐pole prototype machine is developed. Additionally, the effectiveness of the starting, generating, and dual‐mode conversion is verified by experiments.
Experimental investigation on safety and reliability of ball‐eye under bending load in electrical systems
Authors: Xie Zhan‐Shan , Zheng Yuan , Wang An‐Ni , Tian Qian , Chen Yuan , Kan Kan , Lu Yi
Published: May 2018

In view of the frequent failure of the ball‐eye (BE) in the transmission line, the force analysis of BE in extreme weather is carried out, and a set of bending fatigue test equipment was designed. It is the first time to carry out the fatigue test of BE treated by normalising, annealing and quenching and tempering process under bending loads of 2330, 3495 and 4560 N. Meanwhile, the bending fatigue life curve is plotted. From the macro and micro point of view, the characteristics and the content of the elements of the fracture, and the influence of the internal structure on the mechanical properties of three samples of different heat treatment processes are analysed. Conclusion indicates that the mechanical properties of the BE treated by normalising process are best, whose microstructure is fine and uniform ‘ferrite + pearlite’. Comparing the life of BE withstood tension load, it is revealed that bending load is the main reason to accelerate the failure of BE.
Switching impulse discharge voltage prediction of EHV and UHV transmission lines–tower air gaps by a support vector classifier
Authors: Qiu Zhibin , Ruan Jiangjun , Jin Qi , Wang Xuezong , Huang Daochun , Shu Shengwen
Published: May 2018

Discharge voltage prediction of practical air gaps in transmission projects is a long‐sought goal and also a great challenge in high‐voltage (HV) engineering. An approach combined electric field simulation, feature extraction and machine learning algorithm is presented in this study to predict the switching impulse discharge voltages of extra‐HV (EHV) and ultra‐HV (UHV) transmission lines–tower air gaps. Some features extracted from the electrostatic field distribution are used to characterise the air‐gap configuration and taken as input parameters of a prediction model established by a support vector classifier (SVC). Three kinds of actual gap configurations in EHV and UHV transmission lines are taken as test samples to validate the validity of the SVC model. Trained by experimental data of rod–plane gaps and one of the engineering gap configurations, this model is able to predict the discharge voltages of the other two conductor‐tower gaps with acceptable accuracy. The mean absolute percentage errors of the three prediction results are 6.84, 4.19 and 3.46%. This research demonstrates the feasibility of discharge voltage prediction for complicated engineering gaps, which is useful to reduce the costly full‐scale tests and helpful to guide the external insulation design.
Colour image encryption via fractional chaotic state estimation
Authors: Montesinos‐García Juan J. , Martinez‐Guerra Rafael
Published: May 2018

This study introduces an encryption algorithm for colour RGB images and text, the encryption is based on the synchronisation of fractional chaotic systems, the synchronisation has the topology of master–slave, where the transmitter is the master system and the receiver is the slave system, this last one is designed as a new smoothed sliding modes state observer for fractional chaotic systems. The encryption algorithm provides security against common cryptographic techniques, including known and chosen plaintext attacks.
Weighted Kernel joint sparse representation for hyperspectral image classification
Authors: Hu Sixiu , Xu Chunhua , Peng Jiangtao , Xu Yan , Tian Long
Published: May 2018

Kernel joint sparse representation (KJSR) performs joint sparse representation in the feature space and has shown good performance for the hyperspectral image (HSI) classification. In order to distinguish spatial neighbouring pixels in the feature space, we propose two weighted KJSR (WKJSR) methods in this paper. The first one computes the weight directly based on the kernel similarity between neighbouring pixels. The second weighted scheme uses a nearest regularisation strategy to simultaneously optimise the weights of projected neighbouring pixels and joint sparse representation coefficients. The proposed WKJSR methods can exploit the similarities and differences among neighbouring pixels to obtain accurate weights for the joint sparse representation and classification. Experimental results on two benchmark HSI data sets demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Engineered dextranase from Streptococcus mutans enhances the production of longer isomaltooligosaccharides
Authors: Klahan Patcharapa , Okuyama Masayuki , Jinnai Kohei , Ma Min , Kikuchi Asako , Kumagai Yuya , Tagami Takayoshi , Kimura Atsuo
Published: May 2018

Herein, we investigated enzymatic properties and reaction specificities of Streptococcus mutans dextranase, which hydrolyzes α-(1→6)-glucosidic linkages in dextran to produce isomaltooligosaccharides. Reaction specificities of wild-type dextranase and its mutant derivatives were examined using dextran and a series of enzymatically prepared p-nitrophenyl α-isomaltooligosaccharides. In experiments with 4-mg·mL−1 dextran, isomaltooligosaccharides with degrees of polymerization (DP) of 3 and 4 were present at the beginning of the reaction, and glucose and isomaltose were produced by the end of the reaction. Increased concentrations of the substrate dextran (40 mg·mL−1) yielded isomaltooligosaccharides with higher DP, and the mutations T558H, W279A/T563N, and W279F/T563N at the −3 and −4 subsites affected hydrolytic activities of the enzyme, likely reflecting decreases in substrate affinity at the −4 subsite. In particular, T558H increased the proportion of isomaltooligosaccharide with DP of 5 in hydrolysates following reactions with 4-mg·mL−1 dextran.Abbreviations CI: cycloisomaltooligosaccharide; CITase: CI glucanotransferase; CITase-Bc: CITase from Bacillus circulans T-3040; DP: degree of polymerization of glucose unit; GH: glycoside hydrolase family; GTF: glucansucrase; HPAEC-PAD: high performance anion-exchange chromatography-pulsed amperometric detection; IG: isomaltooligosaccharide; IGn: IG with DP of n (n, 2‒5); PNP: p-nitrophenol; PNP-Glc: p-nitrophenyl α-glucoside; PNP-IG: p-nitrophenyl isomaltooligosaccharide; PNP-IGn: PNP-IG with DP of n (n, 2‒6); SmDex: dextranase from Streptococcus mutans; SmDexTM: S. mutans ATCC25175 SmDex bearing Gln100‒Ile732
Silkworm dropping extract ameliorate trimellitic anhydride-induced allergic contact dermatitis by regulating Th1/Th2 immune response
Authors: Choi Dae Woon , Kwon Da-Ae , Jung Sung Keun , See Hye-Jeong , Jung Sun Young , Shon Dong-Hwa , Shin Hee Soon
Published: May 2018

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is an inflammatory skin disease caused by hapten-specific immune response. Silkworm droppings are known to exert beneficial effects during the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Here, we studied whether topical treatment and oral administration of silkworm dropping extract (SDE) ameliorate trimellitic anhydride (TMA)-induced ACD. In ACD mice model, SDE treatment significantly suppressed the increase in both ear thickness and serum IgE levels. Furthermore, IL-1β and TNF-α levels were reduced by SDE. In allergic responses, SDE treatment significantly attenuated the production of the Th2-associated cytokine IL-4 in both ear tissue and draining lymph nodes. However, it increased the production of the Th1-mediated cytokine IL-12. Thus, these results showed that SDE attenuated TMA-induced ACD symptoms through regulation of Th1/Th2 immune response. Taken together, we suggest that SDE treatment might be a potential agent in the prevention or therapy of Th2-mediated inflammatory skin diseases such as ACD and atopic dermatitis.

Abbreviations: ACD: allergic contact dermatitis; AD: atopic dermatitis; APC: antigen presenting cells; CCL: chemokine (C-C motif) ligand; CCR: C-C chemokine receptor; Dex: dexamethasone; ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; IFN: interferon; Ig: immunoglobulin; IL: interleukin; OVA: ovalbumin; PS: prednisolone; SDE: silkworm dropping extract; Th: T helper; TMA: trimellitic anhydride; TNF: tumor necrosis factor
Identification and characterization of a novel bacterial β-glucosidase that is highly specific for the β-1,2-glucosidic linkage of sesaminol triglucoside
Authors: Sakurai Akinori , Hongo Shuntaro , Nair Arun , Waki Toshiyuki , Oikawa Daiki , Nishio Takuma , Shimoyama Takefumi , Takahashi Seiji , Yamashita Satoshi , Nakayama Toru
Published: May 2018

A gene (PSTG2) coding for a novel β-glucosidase belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 3 was identified in the vicinity of the previously identified β-glucosidase gene [sesaminol triglucoside (STG)-hydrolyzing β-glucosidase, PSTG1] in the genome of Paenibacillus sp. strain KB0549. Compared with PSTG1, recombinant PSTG2 more specifically acted on the β-1,2-glucosidic linkage of the STG molecule to transiently accumulate a larger amount of 6-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranosylsesaminol.
The effect of radio-frequency heating on vacuum-packed saury (Cololabis saira) in water
Authors: Kanafusa Sumiyo , Takahashi Chieko , Uemura Kunihiko
Published: May 2018

We characterized vacuum-packed whole saury (Cololabis saira) treated using radio-frequency (RF) heating and compared it with that treated using conventional retort heating. RF heating is electrical heating based on dielectric heating. In this study, the effect of RF heating on softening and collagen in backbone was analyzed. RF heating heated the center of fish faster than water. The backbone was softened to a chewable level, and the heating time was shortened to one-third. The amount of crude protein and collagen in backbone decreased with decreasing elasticity, although that heated using RF (131°C) still contained a higher amount than conventional heating. However, β and γ collagen, and then α1 and α2 collagen chain in backbone disappeared with heating; therefore, collagen was degraded to collagen peptide. Results confirmed that RF heating provided wholly eatable fish containing low-molecular collagen peptide in a short heating time.
Isoxanthohumol stimulates ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent degradation of precursor forms of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins
Authors: Inoue Jun , Miyata Shingo , Shimizu Makoto , Sato Ryuichiro
Published: May 2018

Sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) are transcription factors that regulate a wide variety of genes involved in fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis. In the present study, we identified that isoxanthohumol (IXN) suppressed SREBP activity. Low concentrations of IXN (10 and 30 μM) reduced the amount of mature forms of SREBPs, while high concentration of IXN (100 μM) reduced both precursor and mature forms of SREBPs in Huh-7 cells. The IXN-mediated decrease in the precursor forms of SREBPs in Huh-7 cells was completely abolished by culturing cells under sterol-supplemented conditions and was partly abolished by treatment with a proteasome inhibitor, MG132, but not a lysosome inhibitor, NH4Cl. Moreover, IXN accelerated the ubiquitination of the precursor forms of SREBP-1a. These results suggest that IXN suppresses SREBP activity, at least in part, via ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent degradation of the precursor forms of SREBPs.

Abbreviations: ACC1: acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1; DMEM: Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium; ER: endoplasmic reticulum; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; 25-HC: 25-hydroxycholesterol; HMGCR: HMG-CoA reductase; HMGCS: HMG-CoA synthase; Insig: insulin-induced gene; IXN: isoxanthohumol; LPDS: lipoprotein-deficient serum; SCAP: SREBP cleavage-activating protein; SCD1: stearoyl-CoA desaturase; SREBPs: sterol regulatory element-binding proteins; XN: xanthohumol
TriPoly: haplotype estimation for polyploids using sequencing data of related individuals
Authors: Motazedi Ehsan , de Ridder Dick , Finkers Richard , Baldwin Samantha , Thomson Susan , Monaghan Katrina , Maliepaard Chris
Published: May 2018

Motivation

Knowledge of haplotypes, i.e. phased and ordered marker alleles on a chromosome, is essential to answer many questions in genetics and genomics. By generating short pieces of DNA sequence, high-throughput modern sequencing technologies make estimation of haplotypes possible for single individuals. In polyploids, however, haplotype estimation methods usually require deep coverage to achieve sufficient accuracy. This often renders sequencing-based approaches too costly to be applied to large populations needed in studies of Quantitative Trait Loci.

Results

We propose a novel haplotype estimation method for polyploids, TriPoly, that combines sequencing data with Mendelian inheritance rules to infer haplotypes in parent-offspring trios. Using realistic simulations of both short and long-read sequencing data for banana (Musa acuminata) and potato (Solanum tuberosum) trios, we show that TriPoly yields more accurate progeny haplotypes at low coverages compared to existing methods that work on single individuals. We also apply TriPoly to phase Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms on chromosome 5 for a family of tetraploid potato with 2 parents and 37 offspring sequenced with an RNA capture approach. We show that TriPoly haplotype estimates differ from those of the other methods mainly in regions with imperfect sequencing or mapping difficulties, as it does not rely solely on sequence reads and aims to avoid phasings that are not likely to have been passed from the parents to the offspring.

Availability and implementation

TriPoly has been implemented in Python 3.5.2 (also compatible with Python 2.7.3 and higher) and can be freely downloaded at https://github.com/EhsanMotazedi/TriPoly.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Lower prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients with noncardiac chest pain on opiates: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Gomez Cifuentes J D , Thota P N , Lopez R
Published: May 2018

Opiates can cause heartburn and spastic esophageal dysmotility but their role in noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) is not known. Our aim was to characterize opiate effects on esophageal function using esophageal pH monitoring and high-resolution manometry (HREM) in these patients.

We performed a cross sectional study of opiate users with NCCP who underwent HREM and esophageal pH study from 2010 to 2017 using opiate nonusers as a comparison group. Demographic data, symptoms, opiate use, endoscopic findings, esophageal pH study parameters, and HREM data were abstracted.

Thirty three patients with NCCP on opiates were compared to 144 opiate non-users. Compared to opiate nonusers, opiate users had lower total acid exposure (2.3% vs. 3%, P = 0.012), lower upright acid exposure (1.2% vs. 3.1%, P = 0.032) and lower DeMeester score (6.5 vs. 12.7, P = 0.016). Opiate users also had higher lower esophageal sphincter integrated relaxation pressure (LES-IRP) (7.0 mm Hg [2.2, 11.7] vs. 3.7 mm Hg [1.1, 6.2] P = 0.011) and greater mean distal contractile integral (DCI) (2575 mm.Hg.s.cm [1134, 4466] vs. 1409 mm.Hg.s.cm [796, 3003] P = 0.03) than opiate non-users. The prevalence of hypertensive motility disorders (15.2% vs. 11.1%) and achalasia (12.1% vs. 2.1%) was higher in opiate users (P = 0.039) but did not reach significance on multivariate analysis.

In patients presenting with NCCP, opiate users had lower esophageal acid exposure compared to opiate nonusers. This might be due to higher LES pressures preventing reflux and higher DCI leading to more rapid acid esophageal clearance.
Longitudinal Relationship Between Interleukin-6 and Perceived Fatigability Among Well-Functioning Adults in Mid-to-Late Life
Authors: Wanigatunga Amal A , Varadhan Ravi , Simonsick Eleanor M , Carlson Olga D , Studenski Stephanie , Ferrucci Luigi , Schrack Jennifer A
Published: May 2018

Background

Chronically elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels contribute to fatigue and functional decline via multiple pathways that often lead to frailty. Lesser known is the contribution of IL-6 to fatigue in relation to a standardized workload (fatigability), a precursor to functional decline. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the longitudinal relationship between IL-6 and fatigability.

Methods

About 985 participants from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (mean age: 70 ± 10 years) were evaluated every 1–4 years. IL-6 was measured in fasting serum samples at each visit and log-transformed for analyses. Perceived fatigability (PF) was defined as self-reported exertion (rate of perceived exertion; RPE) after a 5-min, 0.67 m/s, 0% grade treadmill walk. Continuous and categorical associations between IL-6 (baseline and repeated measures) and PF were assessed using generalized estimating equations, adjusting for demographics, behavioral factors, and comorbid conditions.

Results

In fully adjusted continuous models, twofold higher baseline IL-6 was associated with a 0.28 higher RPE (p = .03). This relationship tended to remain constant annually (baseline log IL-6 by time interaction p = .29). To provide clinical relevance, the sample median (3.7 pg/mL) was used to examine high versus low IL-6 levels. Over time, the high group reported an average 0.25 higher RPE (p = .03) than the low group. Annual change in logged IL-6 was not associated with annual change in PF (p = .48).

Conclusion

Findings suggest that elevated IL-6 is a biomarker of physiological dysregulation associated with greater fatigability, but there is no longitudinal association between IL-6 and fatigability. Future studies should evaluate whether interventions that aim to reduce inflammation also attenuate fatigability.