bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Four weeks of exercise early in life reprograms adult skeletal muscle insulin resistance caused by a paternal high‐fat diet
Authors: Falcão‐Tebas Filippe , Kuang Jujiao , Arceri Chelsea , Kerris Jarrod P. , Andrikopoulos Sofianos , Marin Evelyn C. , McConell Glenn K.
Published: November 2018

Key points

A paternal high‐fat diet/obesity before mating can negatively influence the metabolism of offspring.

Exercise only early in life has a remarkable effect with respect to reprogramming adult rat offspring exposed to detrimental insults before conception.

Exercise only early in life normalized adult whole body and muscle insulin resistance as a result of having a high‐fat fed/obese father.

Unlike the effects on the muscle, early exercise did not normalize the reduced adult pancreatic beta cell mass as a result of having a high‐fat fed/obese father.

Early‐life exercise training may be able to reprogram an individual whose father was obese, inducing long‐lasting beneficial effects on health.

A paternal high‐fat diet (HFD) impairs female rat offspring glucose tolerance, pancreatic morphology and insulin secretion. We examined whether only 4 weeks of exercise early in life could reprogram these negative effects. Male Sprague–Dawley rats consumed a HFD for 10 weeks before mating with chow‐fed dams. Female offspring remained sedentary or performed moderate intensity treadmill exercise (5 days week−1, 60 min day−1, 20 m min−1) from 5 to 9 weeks of age. Paternal HFD impaired (P < 0.05) adult offspring whole body insulin sensitivity (i.p. insulin sensitivity test), as well as skeletal muscle ex vivo insulin sensitivity and TBC1D4 phosphorylation. It also lowered β‐cell mass and reduced in vivo insulin secretion in response to an i.p. glucose tolerance test. Early‐life exercise in offspring reprogrammed the negative effects of a paternal HFD on whole body insulin sensitivity, skeletal muscle ex vivo insulin‐stimulated glucose uptake and TBC1D4 phosphorylation and also increased glucose transporter 4 protein. However, early exercise did not normalize the reduced pancreatic β‐cell mass or insulin secretion. In conclusion, only 4 weeks of exercise early in life in female rat offspring reprograms reductions in insulin sensitivity in adulthood caused by a paternal HFD without affecting pancreatic β‐cell mass or insulin secretion.
Polydimethylsiloxane: Optical properties from 191 to 1688 nm (0.735–6.491 eV) of the liquid material by spectroscopic ellipsometry
Authors: Roychowdhury Tuhin , Cushman Cody V. , Synowicki R. A. , Linford Matthew R.
Published: November 2018

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is an important polymer with numerous applications. Herein, the authors report the optical function(s) of PDMS from 191 to 1688 nm as determined from reflection spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) and transmission ultraviolet-visible data. Two commercial samples of liquid PDMS (PDMS700 and PDMS2000) with molecular weights of 700–1500 g/mol and 2000–3500 g/mol, respectively, were analyzed. Both samples were linear polymers terminated with silanol groups. The optical functions determined from the two materials were essentially identical. Both the reflection and transmission measurements obtained from these materials required special experimental considerations. For the reflection SE measurements, these included roughening (frosting) the inside of the vessel that held PDMS and the need to level the instrument instead of the samples. The transmission measurements were obtained via a dual cuvette approach that eliminated the effects of the cuvettes and their interfaces. In addition to analyzing the data from the individual samples, the SE data from the samples were considered together in a multisample analysis (MSA). Because both samples of PDMS were transparent over the measured wavelength range, and because of the relatively wide wavelength range considered, the optical functions here were fit with Sellmeier models. This produced a good fit for the MSA with a mean squared error value of 1.68. The optical functions obtained in this work agreed well with previously reported values. For example, for the MSA, the authors obtained the following nx values, where x is the wavelength in nanometers: n300 = 1.443, n500 = 1.407, and n1000 = 1.393.
Controllable functionalization of hydroxyl-terminated self-assembled monolayers via catalytic oxa-Michael reaction
Authors: Cheng Fang , Li Mingyang , Zhao Xuguang , Wang Hanqi , He Wei , Hua Xin , Wang Qing , Qu Jingping
Published: November 2018

Traditional strategies for the functionalization of materials displaying hydroxyl groups either require active esterification reagents or involve the nucleophilic attack of the hydroxyl group toward electrophilic groups. The former tends to hydrolyze in aqueous solutions while the latter occurs under harsh conditions. Herein, the authors reported a new method for the functionalization of hydroxyl groups on the surface via catalytic oxa-Michael addition with vinyl sulfones. Using hydroxyl group terminated self-assembled monolayers as a model surface, a series of organocatalysts were screened and triphenylphosphine stood out for the best catalytic activity. The catalytic reaction on the surface was characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The information of reaction kinetics was obtained using static water contact angle measurements. Once conjugated with ligands onto the functionalized surfaces, the multivalence binding of proteins was investigated by quartz crystal microbalance experiments. By varying the reaction conditions, e.g., catalyst types and reaction times, ligands can be anchored with a controllable density, which would be helpful to establish the relationships between ligand density and bioactivity.
Phase transition during film blowing of LDPE. Part I: From viscoelastic melt to Neo-Hookean solid
Authors: Dietz Wolfgang
Published: November 2018

The continuous phase transition during film blowing of low-density polyethylene from melt to semicrystalline solid is analyzed in this study. The rise of stresses in the melt is described with a multimode Phan Thien–Tanner model and compared with the results obtained with a multimode Giesekus model. The stresses of the shear flow in the annular gap of the extrusion die serve as a starting condition for the simulation model. The temperature drop is calculated taking into account the temperature profile within the film and the dependence of the material parameters on temperature and crystallinity. The selected form of the crystallization equation allows the precise fitting of the experimentally observed temperature plateau. A modified Hookean model is used for the stresses in the growing semicrystalline solid phase. The stresses in the solid phase increase and in the melt phase decrease during the affine deformation of the two phases. The results for temperature drop, radius growth, and velocity increase are in excellent agreement with experimental data. The deformation rates predicted with the Giesekus and the Phan Thien-Tanner model reveal a characteristic difference between both the models.
“Core Stability”: Should There Be a Bigger Focus on Foundational Skills in the Kinesiology Curriculum?
Authors: Braun Barry , Williams Nancy I. , Garber Carol Ewing , Hickey Matthew
Published: November 2018

As the discipline of kinesiology ponders what should compose a kinesiology curriculum, it is worth considering the broad context. What is our responsibility to imbue students with values, viewpoint, and a vocabulary that facilitates their success in a context greater than our discipline? How do we decide what those things are (e.g., professional integrity, analytical thinking, cultural understanding, social responsibility, problem solving, leadership and engaged citizenship, effective communication, working collaboratively, preparation for lifelong learning)? How do we create a curriculum that provides sufficient understanding of disciplinary knowledge and critically important foundational skills? The purpose of this paper is to provide a jumping-off point for deeper discussion of what our students need most and how we can deliver it.
Expanding Learning Opportunities in Kinesiology Through the Use of Flipped Instruction
Authors: Killian Chad M. , Woods Amelia Mays
Published: November 2018

Millennial college students are typically digital natives who prefer experiential and active learning. This preference is in contrast to the traditional lecture method of teaching in higher education. Flipped instruction provides instructors with a means to integrate technology into their courses and expand active-learning opportunities. In flipped courses, students engage with technology-assisted learning opportunities outside the classroom. Corresponding in-class active-learning opportunities encourage students to apply foundational knowledge. This article summarizes research and provides an authentic case example to illustrate the way in which flipped instruction was applied in a physical education teacher education course to expand learning opportunities in the field.
The genetic prehistory of the Andean highlands 7000 years BP though European contact
Authors: Lindo John , Haas Randall , Hofman Courtney , Apata Mario , Moraga Mauricio , Verdugo Ricardo A. , Watson James T. , Viviano Llave Carlos , Witonsky David , Beall Cynthia , Warinner Christina , Novembre John , Aldenderfer Mark , Di Rienzo Anna
Published: November 2018

Ancient DNA from the Andes reveals a complex picture of human adaptation from early settlement to the colonial period.
World poised to adopt new metric units
Authors: Cho Adrian
Published: November 2018

Kilogram and other units will be derived from fixed constants of nature.
Early Mongolians ate dairy, but lacked the gene to digest it
Authors: Curry Andrew
Published: November 2018

Ancient DNA and protein help solve evolutionary riddle.
Perivascular dendritic cells elicit anaphylaxis by relaying allergens to mast cells via microvesicles
Authors: Choi Hae Woong , Suwanpradid Jutamas , Kim Il Hwan , Staats Herman F. , Haniffa Muzlifah , MacLeod Amanda S. , Abraham Soman N.
Published: November 2018

Dendritic cells give mast cells a nudge

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction triggered after antigen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies bind to target allergens. These antibodies then cross-link IgE-specific Fc receptors on the surface of mast cells. The mast cells rapidly release inflammatory mediators, including histamine, resulting in smooth muscle contraction, vasodilation, and blood vessel leakage. Because mast cells are usually found in the perivascular abluminal surface of blood vessels, it has been unclear how blood-borne allergens can interact with them. Choi
et al.
used live intravital imaging of the mouse vasculature to show that a specialized subset of dendritic cells sample blood-borne antigens and relay them to mast cells on the surface of microvesicles (see the Perspective by Levi-Schaffer and Scheffel). IgE-bound mast cells then vigorously degranulate after contact with these microvesicles.

Science
, this issue p.
eaao0666
; see also p.
640
Formyl-methionine as an N-degron of a eukaryotic N-end rule pathway
Authors: Kim Jeong-Mok , Seok Ok-Hee , Ju Shinyeong , Heo Ji-Eun , Yeom Jeonghun , Kim Da-Som , Yoo Joo-Yeon , Varshavsky Alexander , Lee Cheolju , Hwang Cheol-Sang
Published: November 2018

Another N-end rule to add

Proteins that emerge from a ribosome bear the N-terminal methionine (Met) residue. In bacteria, Met is formylated before translation starts, whereas in eukaryotes, most nascent proteins seemed to start with unmodified Met. Working in yeast, Kim
et al.
found that the N-terminal formylation of eukaryotic proteins is detectable even under normal conditions and is greatly increased upon specific stresses, which cause some Fmt1 formyltransferase to be retained in the cytoplasm. The retention of this normally mitochondrial protein was found to require the Gcn2 kinase. In addition, the Psh1 ubiquitin ligase was shown to target N-terminally formylated eukaryotic proteins for proteasome-dependent degradation by the so-called fMet/N-end rule pathway.

Science
, this issue p.
eaat0174
Neonicotinoid exposure disrupts bumblebee nest behavior, social networks, and thermoregulation
Authors: Crall James D. , Switzer Callin M. , Oppenheimer Robert L. , Ford Versypt Ashlee N. , Dey Biswadip , Brown Andrea , Eyster Mackay , Guérin Claire , Pierce Naomi E. , Combes Stacey A. , de Bivort Benjamin L.
Published: November 2018

Trouble at the hive

Neonicotinoid pesticides cause mortality and decline in insect pollinators. One repeatedly noted effect is a reduction in bee colony size. However, the mechanism behind this reduction is unclear. Crall
et al.
performed complex real-time monitoring of bumblebee behavior within their nests (see the Perspective by Raine). Neonicotinoid exposure reduced nurse and caretaking behaviors, which affected productivity and harmed colony thermoregulation. These changes in behavior acted together to decrease colony viability, even when exposure was nonlethal.

Science
, this issue p.
683
; see also p.
643
Nested sequences of hippocampal assemblies during behavior support subsequent sleep replay
Authors: Drieu Céline , Todorova Ralitsa , Zugaro Michaël
Published: November 2018

Theta rhythm protects sleep replay

Hippocampal replay of place cell sequences during sleep is critical for memory consolidation in target cortical areas. How is the sequential organization of place cell assemblies maintained across different time scales? Drieu
et al.
compared periods when a rat either sat passively on a moving train or ran actively on a treadmill on the same train. During the passive movement, the slow behavioral sequence of place cells was still present, but the rapid generation of theta sequences was lost. Active running on the treadmill, however, maintained the theta rhythm. After passive transport, sequence replay during sleep was destroyed, whereas active running protected replay.

Science
, this issue p.
675
Suppressing corrosion in primary aluminum–air batteries via oil displacement
Authors: Hopkins Brandon J. , Shao-Horn Yang , Hart Douglas P.
Published: November 2018

Oil when not in use

For primary or nonrechargeable batteries, the overall energy density will be limited by any discharge or open-circuit corrosion that occurs during storage. For batteries based on aluminum and air, this longstanding problem has prevented their widespread use and has been challenging to overcome. Hopkins
et al.
used commercially available components to construct aluminum-air batteries. During standby periods, the electrolyte in the batteries was replaced with oil to protect the electrodes from corrosion, thus preventing energy loss.

Science
, this issue p.
658
De novo design of self-assembling helical protein filaments
Authors: Shen Hao , Fallas Jorge A. , Lynch Eric , Sheffler William , Parry Bradley , Jannetty Nicholas , Decarreau Justin , Wagenbach Michael , Vicente Juan Jesus , Chen Jiajun , Wang Lei , Dowling Quinton , Oberdorfer Gustav , Stewart Lance , Wordeman Linda , De Yoreo James , Jacobs-Wagner Christine , Kollman Justin , Baker David
Published: November 2018

Built to be reversible

There has been some success in designing stable peptide filaments; however, mimicking the reversible assembly of many natural protein filaments is challenging. Dynamic filaments usually comprise independently folded and asymmetric proteins and using such building blocks requires the design of multiple intermonomer interfaces. Shen
et al.
report the design of self-assembling helical filaments based on previously designed stable repeat proteins. The filaments are micron scale, and their diameter can be tuned by varying the number of repeats in the monomer. Anchor and capping units, built from monomers that lack an interaction interface, can be used to control assembly and disassembly.

Science
, this issue p.
705
Quantifying reputation and success in art
Authors: Fraiberger Samuel P. , Sinatra Roberta , Resch Magnus , Riedl Christoph , Barabási Albert-László
Published: November 2018

The science of art advancement

Art appreciation is highly subjective. Fraiberger
et al.
used an extensive record of exhibition and auction data to study and model the career trajectory of individual artists relative to a network of galleries and museums. They observed a lock-in effect among highly reputed artists who started their career in high-prestige institutions and a long struggle for access to elite institutions among those who started their career at the network periphery.

Science
, this issue p.
825
Dangerous liaisons in anaphylaxis
Authors: Levi-Schaffer Francesca , Scheffel Jörg
Published: November 2018

Dendritic cells deliver allergens to mast cells in the skin via microvesicles
Facing hatred
Authors: Sahel José-Alain
Published: November 2018

I came to the United States in 2016—from Paris to Pittsburgh—in the aftermath of a horrific series of terrorist attacks in France that targeted everyone. As a clinician-scientist, I wanted to continue focusing my efforts on therapies to restore vision rather than constantly check the news. As a Jew, I wanted to live according to ethical principles nurtured by my identity in an open society that does not consider deviation from secularism as questionable. As a father, I wanted my children and grandchildren to grow within a humanistic perspective and at the same time to honor their dual heritage. In 2012, the very mild reaction to the killing of soldiers and Jews, especially of children in a Jewish school, in Toulouse, was saddening, and there was great uncertainty about how a society infected by anger, fear, and intolerance would evolve. Two weeks ago, the mass killing at a Pittsburgh synagogue proved what I knew but wanted to forget—that no place on Earth is “safe” from hatred. But regardless of where any one of us lives and works, we are faced with the same, immense challenge: The quest for facts, enlightenment, and care versus ignorance and hatred matters more than ever.
Validation and Implementation of a Diagnostic Algorithm for DNA Detection of Bordetella pertussis, B. parapertussis, and B. holmesii in a Pediatric Referral Hospital in Barcelona, Spain
Authors: Valero-Rello Ana , Henares Desiree , Acosta Lesly , Jane Mireia , Jordan Iolanda , Godoy Pere , Muñoz-Almagro Carmen
Published: November 2018

This study aimed to validate a comprehensive diagnostic protocol based on real-time PCR for the rapid detection and identification of
Bordetella pertussis
,
Bordetella parapertussis
, and
Bordetella holmesii
, as well as its implementation in the diagnostic routine of a reference children’s hospital. The new algorithm included a triplex quantitative PCR (qPCR) targeting IS
481
gene (in
B. pertussis
,
B. holmesii
, and some
Bordetella bronchiseptica
strains), pIS
1001
(
B. parapertussis
-specific) and
rnase
P as the human internal control.
Reactivation of Simian Varicella Virus in Rhesus Macaques after CD4 T Cell Depletion
Authors: Traina-Dorge Vicki , Palmer Brent E. , Coleman Colin , Hunter Meredith , Frieman Amy , Gilmore Anah , Altrock Karen , Doyle-Meyers Lara , Nagel Maria A. , Mahalingam Ravi
Published: November 2018

Reactivation of latent VZV in humans can result in serious neurological complications. VZV-specific cell-mediated immunity is critical for the maintenance of latency. Similar to VZV in humans, SVV causes varicella in monkeys, establishes latency in ganglia, and reactivates to produce shingles. Here, we show that depletion of CD4 T cells in rhesus macaques results in SVV reactivation, with virus antigens found in zoster rash and SVV DNA and antigens found in lungs, lymph nodes, and ganglia. These results suggest the critical role of CD4 T cell immunity in controlling varicella virus latency.
FoxO1 Suppresses Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Lytic Replication and Controls Viral Latency
Authors: Gao Ruoyun , Li Tingting , Tan Brandon , Ramos da Silva Suzane , Jung Jae U. , Feng Pinghui , Gao Shou-Jiang
Published: November 2018

Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is associated with several cancers, including Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS). Both the KSHV latent and lytic replication phases are important for the development of KS. Identification of factors regulating the KSHV latent phase-to-lytic phase switch can provide insights into the pathogenesis of KSHV-induced malignancies. In this study, we show that the antioxidant defense factor forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1) maintains KSHV latency by suppressing viral lytic replication. Inhibition of FoxO1 disrupts KSHV latency and induces viral lytic replication by increasing the intracellular ROS level. Significantly, treatment with an oxygen free radical scavenger,
N
-acetyl-
l
-cysteine (NAC), attenuated the FoxO1 inhibition-induced intracellular ROS level and KSHV lytic replication. Our works reveal a critical role of FoxO1 in suppressing KSHV lytic replication, which could be targeted for antiviral therapy.
Cellular mechanisms promoting cachexia and how they are opposed by sirtuins
Authors: Samant Sadhana A. , Pillai Vinodkumar B. , Gupta Mahesh P.
Published: November 2018

Many chronic diseases are associated with unintentional loss of body weight, which is termed “cachexia”. Cachexia is a complex multifactorial syndrome associated with the underlying primary disease, and characterized by loss of skeletal muscle with or without loss of fat tissue. Patients with cachexia face dire symptoms like dyspnea, fatigue, edema, exercise intolerance, and low responsiveness to medical therapy, which worsen quality of life. Because cachexia is not a stand-alone disorder, treating primary disease — such as cancer — takes precedence for the physician, and it remains mostly a neglected illness. Existing clinical trials have demonstrated limited success mostly because of their monotherapeutic approach and late detection of the syndrome. To conquer cachexia, it is essential to identify as many molecular targets as possible using the latest technologies we have at our disposal. In this review, we have discussed different aspects of cachexia, which include various disease settings, active molecular pathways, and recent novel advances made in this field to understand consequences of this illness. We also discuss roles of the sirtuins, the NAD+-dependent lysine deacetylases, microRNAs, certain dietary options, and epigenetic drugs as potential approaches, which can be used to tackle cachexia as early as possible in its course.
The role of feeding strategy in the tolerance of a terrestrial salamander (Plethodon cinereus) to biogeochemical changes in northern hardwood forests
Authors: Bondi C.A. , Beier C.M. , Fierke M.K. , Ducey P.K.
Published: November 2018

We investigated whether the trophic ecology of an apex predator is influenced by ecosystem-level nutrient depletion. The feeding behavior and nutrient assimilation of a terrestrial salamander, Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus (Green, 1818)), was surveyed along a gradient of forest biogeochemistry. Recent studies have documented populations of these salamanders in forests with low-pH soils that were long thought to be fatal. One mechanism that may enable P. cinereus to tolerate acid-impaired habitats is its generalist life history. We sampled diet, invertebrate prey abundance, and tissue composition of P. cinereus from sites that range in calcium availability and soil pH in northern forests of North America. We found that P. cinereus consistently exhibited a generalist feeding strategy, having diverse diets closely representing resource availability. Prey abundances were unrelated to the biogeochemical gradient (excluding gastropods), indicating relatively intact food webs. Although P. cinereus at the two most acid-impaired sites consumed more prey, overall trophic strategies were consistent across the gradient. Salamander tissue composition was unrelated to variation in forest biogeochemistry, although manganese levels were elevated in the most acid-impaired forests. We suggest that a generalist feeding strategy, combined with diverse and compositionally stable food webs, facilitates tolerance by this abundant predator of the challenges imposed by acid-impaired habitats.
Online EMD-Wavelet Method for Flutter Test Excited by Atmospheric Turbulence
Authors: Zheng Hua , Liu Junhao , Duan Shiqiang
Published: November 2018

Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) and Wavelet method have been widely used in the vibration signal analysis, mainly because of the powerful ability of blind modal separation. In the flutter test, modal identification and modal trajectories tracking online can help to ensure the test safety. However, traditional EMD method is only suitable for offline data batching, which limits its applications to the real-time or near real-time signal analysis. For this reason, according to the online processing requirements of flutter test under the turbulent excitation conditions, combining with wavelet spectrum analysis, an online EMD method based on a sliding window for structural modal identification and flutter boundary prediction (FBP) is proposed in this paper. The corresponding mathematical principles and implementation algorithms are given as well, which decompose the measured signal into the Intrinsic Mode Function (IMF) firstly, and then estimate the modal parameters by using the wavelet power spectrum method. The FBP result is typically obtained online during the test process by using curve fitting and extrapolation of the modal damping. The numerical simulations and test data from a low-speed wind tunnel flutter test are used to verify the effectiveness and engineering feasibility of the proposed method.
Simulation techniques for modified gravity
Authors: Llinares Claudio
Published: November 2018

The standard paradigm of cosmology assumes General Relativity (GR) is a valid theory for gravity at scales in which it has not been properly tested. Developing novel tests of GR and its alternatives is crucial if we want to give strength to the model or find departures from GR in the data. Since alternatives to GR are usually defined through nonlinear equations, designing new tests for these theories implies a jump in complexity and thus, a need for refining the simulation techniques. We summarize existing techniques for dealing with modified gravity (MG) in the context of cosmological simulations. [Formula: see text]-body codes for MG are usually based on standard gravity codes. We describe the required extensions, classifying the models not according to their original motivation, but by the numerical challenges that must be faced by numericists. MG models usually give rise to elliptic equations, for which multigrid techniques are well suited. Thus, we devote a large fraction of this review to describing this particular technique. Contrary to other reviews on multigrid methods, we focus on the specific techniques that are required to solve MG equations and describe useful tricks. Finally, we describe extensions for going beyond the static approximation and dealing with baryons.
Maximum turnaround radius in f(R) gravity
Authors: Capozziello Salvatore , Dialektopoulos Konstantinos F. , Luongo Orlando
Published: November 2018

The accelerating behavior of cosmic fluid opposes gravitational attraction at present epoch, whereas standard gravity is dominant at small scales. As a consequence, there exists a point where the effects are counterbalanced, dubbed turnaround radius, [Formula: see text]. By construction, it provides a bound on maximum structure sizes of the observed universe. Once an upper bound on [Formula: see text] is provided, i.e. [Formula: see text], one can check whether cosmological models guarantee structure formation. Here, we focus on [Formula: see text] gravity, without imposing a priori the form of [Formula: see text]. We thus provide an analytic expression for the turnaround radius in the framework of [Formula: see text] models. To figure this out, we compute the turnaround radius in two distinct cases: (1) under the hypothesis of static and spherically symmetric spacetime, and (2) by using the cosmological perturbation theory. We thus find a criterion to enable large scale structures to be stable in [Formula: see text] models, circumscribing the class of [Formula: see text] theories as suitable alternative to dark energy. In particular, we get that for constant curvature, the viability condition becomes [Formula: see text], with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively, the observed cosmological constant and the Ricci curvature. This prescription rules out models which do not pass the aforementioned [Formula: see text] limit.
BIOCOMPATIBILITY STUDY OF α-Fe2O3NANOPARTICLES PREPARED BY HYDROTHERMAL METHOD
Authors: LAFTA SADEQ H. , TAHA ALI ABDULRAHMAN , FARHAN MUHAMMAD M. , ABDULFATTAH SHAIMA Y.
Published: November 2018

Nanoparticles of alpha ferric oxide ([Formula: see text]-Fe2O3) were prepared by the hydrothermal method. Structural properties of [Formula: see text]-Fe2O3were determined by XRD, SEM and AFM measurements. The particles had a good matching with standard pattern. Average particle size was about 90[Formula: see text]nm and the distribution extended from about 20[Formula: see text]nm to 120[Formula: see text]nm. Biocompatibility study of ferric oxide nanoparticles against bacteria, parasites, tumor cell line and normal cells was determined. No antibacterial activity was observed for the concentration, of ferric oxide nanoparticles in distilled water, up to 1.5[Formula: see text]mg/ml vs. E. coli and S. aureus. Moreover, MTT assay was used to determine the cytotoxicity against parasites and cells. Intermediate cytotoxicity (53.30%) of 1.5[Formula: see text]mg/ml of prepared nanoparticles was noted against L. tropica, while weak cytotoxicity of 5.20% was observed against L. donovani at the same concentration of ferric oxide nanoparticles. On the other hand, the prepared nanoparticles revealed low cytotoxicity (47.28%) against SR tumor cell line, while no cytotoxicity was shown against lymphocytes, as a model of normal cells.
Cylindrical Bending Vibration of Multiple Graphene Sheet Systems Embedded in an Elastic Medium
Authors: Wu Chih-Ping , Chen Yen-Jung
Published: November 2018

Based on the Eringen nonlocal elasticity theory and multiple time scale method, an asymptotic nonlocal elasticity theory is developed for cylindrical bending vibration analysis of simply-supported, [Formula: see text]-layered, and uniformly or nonuniformly-spaced, graphene sheet (GS) systems embedded in an elastic medium. Both the interactions between the top and bottom GSs and their surrounding medium and the interactions between each pair of adjacent GSs are modeled as one-parameter Winkler models with different stiffness coefficients. In the formulation, the small length scale effect is introduced to the nonlocal constitutive equations by using a nonlocal parameter. The nondimensionalization, asymptotic expansion, and successive integration mathematical processes are performed for a typical GS. After assembling the motion equations for each individual GS to form those of the multiple GS system, recurrent sets of motion equations can be obtained for various order problems. Nonlocal multiple classical plate theory (CPT) is derived as a first-order approximation of the current nonlocal plane strain problem, and the motion equations for higher-order problems retain the same differential operators as those of nonlocal multiple CPT, although with different nonhomogeneous terms. Some nonlocal plane strain solutions for the natural frequency parameters of the multiple GS system with and without being embedded in the elastic medium and their corresponding mode shapes are presented to demonstrate the performance of the asymptotic nonlocal elasticity theory.
Knowledge Management Systems and Work Improvements: The Moderating Effects of Work Characteristics
Authors: Gressgård Leif Jarle , Nesheim Torstein
Published: November 2018

Knowledge is regarded as an important source of competitive advantage in modern organisations, and the use of knowledge exchange systems to facilitate the storage, transfer, and reuse of existing knowledge has become common. Solutions beyond the technology are, however, important for the efficiency of such systems, and thus their ability to improve work performance. Based on the survey data collected from a large petroleum operator company and eight of its main contractors, this paper examines how work characteristics and job design affect the extent to which the use of knowledge exchange systems leads to work performance improvements. We find that behaviour formalisation, work autonomy, and changing/new work demands are significant moderators of this relationship. The study contributes to the theory and practice of knowledge management in general, and the use of knowledge exchange systems specifically.
Big Data Capabilities and Firm’s Performance: A Mediating Role of Competitive Advantage
Authors: Anwar Muhammad , Khan Sher Zaman , Shah Syed Zulfiqar Ali
Published: November 2018

Big data (BD) capabilities have now grabbed the attention of strategic management researchers because of their significant role in firm’s performance and success. Nonetheless, very little empirical evidence has so far been put forward about the contribution of BD capabilities towards a firm performance and Competitive Advantage (CA). This research examines the impact of Big Data Technological Capabilities (BDTC) and Big Data Personal Capabilities (BDPC) on firms’ performance with a mediating role of CA among the firms operating in the world’s top emerging economy such as China. Data were collected through structured questionnaires using a sample size of 312 firms. The hypotheses were tested in AMOS.21 using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results indicate that BDTC and BDPC have significant positive impact on firm performance and CA and there is also significant positive relationship between CA and firm performance. The study highlights that CA partially mediates the relationship between BDTC and firm performance as well as between BDPC and firm performance. Hence, BD-oriented firms achieve CA which in turn leads to superior performance in dynamic markets. This study discussed implications for managerial practices.
Intellectual Capital Management and University Research Group Performance: Mediating Effects of Machiavellianism and Organisational Narcissism
Authors: Posada-Arias Orfa , Avendaño-Ramírez Jesenia , Arias-Pérez Jose
Published: November 2018

The purpose of the present study is to analyse the mediating effects of organisational Machiavellianism and narcissism on the relationship between intellectual capital management (ICM) and university research group performance (URGP). The hypothesis model is tested with a sample of 288 research groups from Colombian public and private universities, since these groups are responsible for producing knowledge in the country. For the data analysis, structural equations by the partial least squares method are used. The study results show that only organisational narcissism has a mediating effect, which is partial. In conclusion, the research group must adopt narcissistic behaviours and practices, which improve the perceptions it has of its members and of its own knowledge and capacities. In this way, the group will achieve greater presence in its knowledge area and academic spaces, which leads to a better exploitation of knowledge assets and to improvements in research group performance (RGP).
Solving nonmonotone affine variational inequalities problem by DC programming and DCA
Authors: Kebaili Zahira , Achache Mohamed
Published: November 2018

In this paper, we consider an optimization model for solving the nonmonotone affine variational inequalities problem (AVI). It is formulated as a DC (Difference of Convex functions) program for which DCA (DC Algorithms) are applied. The resulting DCA are simple: it consists of solving successive convex quadratic program. Numerical experiments on several test problems illustrate the efficiency of the proposed approach in terms of the quality of the obtained solutions and the speed of convergence.
First-Principles Calculations of the Structure and Magnetic Phases of FeAs2 Compound under Pressure
Authors: Sebaa O. , Zaoui Y. , Obodo K. O. , Bendaoud H. , Beldi L. , Bouhafs B.
Published: November 2018

Understanding of different magnetic configurations for the FeAs2 iron pnictide compound is carried out using first-principles studies based on spin density functional theory (DFT) within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA), including the spin–orbit coupling (SOC). The calculated stable phase is in the marcasite (Pnnm) with nonmagnetic spin-ordering. We find that the FeAs2 compound in the nonmagnetic (NM) marcasite phase undergoes pressure-induced phase transition to the antiferromagnetic (AFM1) marcasite phase at 12[Formula: see text]GPa, then to the AFM CuAl2 ([Formula: see text]4/mcm) phase at 63[Formula: see text]GPa. The phase transition is also accompanied by semiconducting (marcasite phase) to metallic (CuAl2 phase) transition. The calculated electronic density of states profile shows the hybridization of the Fe-3[Formula: see text] and As-4[Formula: see text] orbitals plays an important role in determining the electronic and magnetic characters of this compound. The associated phase transition results in increased Fe-3d orbitals around the Fermi energy level.
Qualitative Properties of Nonnegative Solutions for a Doubly Nonlinear Problem with Variable Exponents
Authors: Chaouai Zakariya , El Hachimi Abderrahmane
Published: November 2018

We consider the Dirichlet initial boundary value problem ∂tum(x)-div⁡∇upx,t-2∇u=ax,tuq(x,t), where the exponents p(x,t)>1, q(x,t)>0, and m(x)>0 are given functions. We assume that a(x,t) is a bounded function. The aim of this paper is to deal with some qualitative properties of the solutions. Firstly, we prove that if ess⁡sup⁡p(x,t)-1<ess⁡inf⁡m(x), then any weak solution will be extinct in finite time when the initial data is small enough. Otherwise, when ess⁡sup⁡m(x)<ess⁡inf⁡p(x,t)-1, we get the positivity of solutions for large t. In the second part, we investigate the property of propagation from the initial data. For this purpose, we give a precise estimation of the support of the solution under the conditions that ess⁡sup⁡m(x)0, in the case where a(x,t)<a1<0 a.e. and ess⁡sup⁡qx,t<ess⁡inf⁡p(x,t)-1.
Randomized and Efficient Time Synchronization in Dynamic Wireless Sensor Networks: A Gossip‐Consensus‐Based Approach
Authors: Xiong Nan , Fei Minrui , Yang Taicheng , Tian Yu-Chu
Published: November 2018

This paper proposes novel randomized gossip‐consensus‐based sync (RGCS) algorithms to realize efficient time calibration in dynamic wireless sensor networks (WSNs). First, the unreliable links are described by stochastic connections, reflecting the characteristic of changing connectivity gleaned from dynamic WSNs. Secondly, based on the mutual drift estimation, each pair of activated nodes fully adjusts clock rate and offset to achieve network‐wide time synchronization by drawing upon the gossip consensus approach. The converge‐to‐max criterion is introduced to achieve a much faster convergence speed. The theoretical results on the probabilistic synchronization performance of the RGCS are presented. Thirdly, a Revised‐RGCS is developed to counteract the negative impact of bounded delays, because the uncertain delays are always present in practice and would lead to a large deterioration of algorithm performances. Finally, extensive simulations are performed on the MATLAB and OMNeT++ platform for performance evaluation. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithms are not only efficient for synchronization issues required for dynamic topology changes but also give a better performance in terms of converging speed, collision rate, and the robustness of resisting delay, and outperform other existing protocols.
The Occurrence of Putative Nitric Oxide Dismutase (Nod) in an Alpine Wetland with a New Dominant Subcluster and the Potential Ability for a Methane Sink
Authors: Zhang Yanfen , Ma Anzhou , Liu Wenzong , Bai Zhihui , Zhuang Xuliang , Zhuang Guoqiang
Published: November 2018

Recently, a new oxygenic pathway has been proposed based on the disproportionation of NO with putative NO dismutase (Nod). In addition to a new process in nitrogen cycling, this process provides ecological advantages for the degradation of substrates in anaerobic conditions, which is of great significance for wastewater treatment. However, the Nod distribution in aquatic environments is rarely investigated. In this study, we obtained the nod genes with an abundance of 2.38 ± 0.96 × 105 copies per gram of dry soil from the Zoige wetland and aligned the molecular characteristics in the corresponding Nod sequences. These Nod sequences were not only found existing in NC10 bacteria, but were also found forming some other clusters with Nod sequences from a WWTP reactor or contaminated aquifers. Moreover, a new subcluster in the aquifer-similar cluster was even dominant in the Zoige wetland and was named the Z-aquifer subcluster. Additionally, soils from the Zoige wetland showed a high potential rate (10.97 ± 1.42 nmol of CO2 per gram of dry soil per day) for nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (N-DAMO) with low abundance of NC10 bacteria, which may suggest a potential activity of Nod in other clusters when considering the dominance of the Z-aquifer subcluster Nod. In conclusion, we verified the occurrence of Nod in an alpine wetland for the first time and found a new subcluster to be dominant in the Zoige wetland. Moreover, this new subcluster of Nod may even be active in the N-DAMO process in this alpine wetland, which needs further study to confirm.
RIG-I Signaling via MAVS Is Dispensable for Survival in Lethal Influenza Infection In Vivo
Authors: Wu Wenxin , Wang Xiaoqiu , Zhang Wei , Tian Lili , Booth J. Leland , Duggan Elizabeth S. , More Sunil , Liu Lin , Dozmorov Mikhail , Metcalf Jordan P.
Published: November 2018

Retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) is an important regulator of virus-induced antiviral interferons (IFNs) and proinflammatory cytokines. It requires interaction with an adaptor molecule, mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS), to activate downstream signaling pathways. To elucidate the mechanism(s) by which RIG-I-dependent recognition of IAV infection in vivo triggers innate immune responses, we infected mutant mice lacking RIG-I or MAVS with influenza A virus (IAV) and measured their innate immune responses. As has previously been demonstrated with isolated deletion of the virus recognition receptors TLR3, TLR7, and NOD2, RIG-I or MAVS knockout (KO) did not result in higher mortality and did not reduce IAV-induced cytokine responses in mice. Infected RIG-I KO animals displayed similar lung inflammation profiles as did WT mice, in terms of the protein concentration, total cell count, and inflammatory cell composition in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. RNA-Seq results demonstrated that all types of mice exhibited equivalent antiviral and inflammatory gene responses following IAV infection. Together, the results indicated that although RIG-I is important in innate cytokine responses in vitro, individual deletion of the genes encoding RIG-I or MAVS did not change survival or innate responses in vivo after IAV infection in mice.
Boundary Robust Adaptive Control of a Flexible Timoshenko Manipulator
Authors: Zhang Jianing , Ma Ge , Li Zhifu
Published: November 2018

In this study, we aim to construct the boundary robust adaptive control for weakening the vibration of the flexible Timoshenko manipulator in the presence of unknown disturbances. By Lyapunov’s direct method, the adaptive controllers and disturbance observers are exploited to achieve the angle tracking and handle the external disturbances. With the suggested adaptive laws and disturbance observers, the controlled system with both parametric and disturbance uncertainties is guaranteed to be uniformly bounded. Finally, simulation results are provided to illustrate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed control.
HPTLC Analysis of Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad. and Wendl., a Siddha Medicinal Herb
Authors: Preet Raman , Gupta Raghbir Chand
Published: November 2018

In the present study, HPTLC is used to detect the presence and amount of triterpenoids and phytosterols in different plant parts (fruit, stem, leaf, and root) of Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad. and Wendl.; such analysis is done for the first time. Each plant part has its own medicinal value and is used as Siddha medicinal herb. The employed statistical analysis ensures that the developed method is reproducible and selective. The results show that the fruit samples contain highest amount of tested phytochemicals. This method can be used as an important tool to ensure the therapeutic dose in herbal formulations, standardization, and quality control of bulk drugs.
Cognitive Deficit-Related Interhemispheric Asynchrony within the Medial Hub of the Default Mode Network Aids in Classifying the Hyperthyroid Patients
Authors: Zhi Mengmeng , Hou Zhenghua , Zhang Yuqun , Yue Yingying , Li Ling , Yuan Yonggui
Published: November 2018

Background and Purpose. Recent studies suggest that abnormal structure and function in the brain network were related to cognitive and emotional impairment in hyperthyroid patients (HPs). The association between altered voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) and neuropsychological impairment in HPs remains unclear. This study is aimed at investigating the association between the disrupted functional coordination and psychological dysfunction in hyperthyroidism. Method. Thirty-three hyperthyroid patients and thirty-three matched healthy controls (HCs) were recruited, and they received resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans and neuropsychological evaluation. The VMHC value was computed to reveal the functional coordination between homotopic regions in both groups. The neurobehavioral relevancy method was employed to explore the relationship between the altered VMHC and emotional, cognition measures. Further receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was adopted to examine the power of changed regional VMHC in classifying the patients with hyperthyroidism. Results. Compared with the HCs, the HPs exhibited significantly declined VMHC values in the bilateral medial frontal gyrus (MeFG). The interhemispheric asynchrony in the MeFG was positively correlated with Z scores of episodic memory. The ROC analysis further determined that abnormal VMHC in the MeFG could efficiently distinguish the HPs from the HCs (area under the curve AUC=0.808, P<0.001). Conclusion. The altered interhemispheric coordination in the hub of the default mode network may implicated in the modulation of episodic memory in HPs patients and the distinct feature of the interhemispheric asynchrony may be treated as a potential target for the early recognition and intervention for the HPs with cognitive impairments. Clinical Trial Registration. This is a study of the neurological basis for dysfunction of mood and cognition in hyperthyroid patients: a resting-state fMRI study (registration number: ChiCTR-OOC-16008607).
Maximizing the Coverage of Roadmap Graph for Optimal Motion Planning
Authors: Park Jae-Han , Yoon Tae-Woong
Published: November 2018

Automated motion‐planning technologies for industrial robots are critical for their application to Industry 4.0. Various sampling‐based methods have been studied to generate the collision‐free motion of articulated industrial robots. Such sampling‐based methods provide efficient solutions to complex planning problems, but their limitations hinder the attainment of optimal results. This paper considers a method to obtain the optimal results in the roadmap algorithm that is representative of the sampling‐based method. We define the coverage of a graph as a performance index of its optimality as constructed by a sampling‐based algorithm and propose an optimization algorithm that can maximize graph coverage in the configuration space. The proposed method was applied to the model of an industrial robot, and the results of the simulation confirm that the roadmap graph obtained by the proposed algorithm can generate results of satisfactory quality in path‐finding tests under various conditions.