bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Salinity stress on morphological and nutritional quality of Napier cultivars under hydroponic condition
Authors: Alam MK , Sarker NR , Nasiruddin KM , Shohael AM
Published: October 2017

The study was conducted to determine the effect of salinity stress on morphological and nutritional quality of Napier cultivars in terms of biomass yield, tiller numbers, leaf number, tiller height, shoot presence or absence per cutting, leaf condition, dry matter (DM) and crud protein (CP) content under hydroponic condition.  four Napier cultivars such as BLRI Napier-1, BLRI Napier-2, BLRI Napier-3 and BLRI Napier-4 were cultivated under hydroponic system developed by Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) with some modifications. All the selected cultivars were grown by using BARI standard hydroponic solution. Five salinity levels were considered as treatments such as 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 dS m-1 using different NaCl concentrations corresponding to the nutrient solution which were noted as T1 to T5 and T0 was used as control where salinity level was 2.3 dSm-1.  Four Napier cultivars were grown with 4 replications under each salinity condition and all the treatments were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block (RCB) design. Shoot presence or absence per cutting and leaf condition were determined weekly. The results revealed that the biomass yield, number of tillers, leaf numbers, tiller height, shoot presence or absence per cutting, leaf condition, and DM   and CP content among all the cultivars were decreased linearly with the increased of salinity levels. On the basis of different morphological and nutritional parameters, tolerance level of different cultivars of Napier grass to salinity stress can be rated as: BLRI Napier-4>BLRI Napier-3 > BLRI Napier-2 >BLRI Napier-1. Further study need to determine the suitability for large scale adaptation under on-farm conditions.Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2017. 46 (2): 102-108
Explaining Brexit North and South of the Border
Authors: McCrone David
Published: October 2017

The Brexit referendum in 2016 was a major turning-point in British and Scottish politics, reflected in a majority for Leave in England, but for Remain in Scotland. This article uses the British and Scottish Social Surveys for 2016 to explain Scottish-English differences, and finds that there were broad similarities in terms of social and demographic characteristics, and in terms of social values (‘authoritarians’ voting for Leave). Being ‘English’, however, was much more significant than being ‘Scottish’ in accounting for Brexit vote. The association between Brexit vote and constitutional preferences, notably voting intention in a future Scottish Independence Referendum, is far less clear-cut. Brexit promises to be a political game-changer, but in ways which are complex and unpredictable.
Releasing the Lockerbie Bomber: National Interests, Intergovernmental Relations and Para-Diplomacy
Authors: Kenealy Daniel
Published: October 2017

In his recent book The Lockerbie Bombing: The Search for Justice, Kenny MacAskill recounts his decision to release Abdelbaset Al-Megrahi, the only man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing. Eight years have passed since Al-Megrahi's release on compassionate grounds. In the book MacAskill ranges far beyond the events in which he was closely involved, recounting the bombing itself, the subsequent investigation, trial and appeals in an effort to offer a comprehensive account of the Lockerbie bombing. In this article I review the book and return to some of the key issues raised by MacAskill's decision and the broader context in which it was made. I argue that the book sheds little new light on Lockerbie and that it falls short in precisely the areas where MacAskill might have the most insight to offer. It is a rather bloodless and legalistic account that renders the complexities and the shades of grey of international politics in black and white. The case will nevertheless remain fascinating to scholars of intergovernmental relations in the UK, of para-diplomacy, and of international politics.
Scottish Fathers and Family Services
Authors: Clapton Gary
Published: October 2017

This paper traces an awakened interest in Scottish fathers and fathering alongside a UK-wide increase in awareness of the value of the positive involvement of fathers and the importance of encouraging this in family services. It contrasts cultural stereotypes with historical and contemporary realities; and discusses efforts to shift attitudes and practices in Scottish central and local government that marginalise fathers. The paper concludes with a discussion of the obstacles to furthering inclusion of fathers in family policy and services.
Election 2017: The Promise of May
Authors: Dudley Edwards Owen
Published: October 2017

This essay dissects the 2017 UK General Election and its implications for relationships within and between its constituent territories.
Incipient Fault Feature Extraction of Rolling Bearings Using Autocorrelation Function Impulse Harmonic to Noise Ratio Index Based SVD and Teager Energy Operator
Authors: Zheng Kai , Li Tianliang , Zhang Bin , Zhang Yi , Luo Jiufei , Zhou Xiangyu
Published: October 2017

The periodic impulse feature is the most typical fault signature of the vibration signal from fault rolling element bearings (REBs). However, it is easily contaminated by noise and interference harmonics. In order to extract the incipient impulse feature from the fault vibration signal, this paper presented an autocorrelation function periodic impulse harmonic to noise ratio (ACFHNR) index based on the SVD-Teager energy operator (TEO) method. Firstly, the Hankel matrix is constructed based on the raw vibration fault signal of rolling bearing, and the SVD method is used to obtain the singular components. Afterwards, the ACFHNR index is employed to measure the abundance of the periodic impulse fault feature for the singular components, and the component with the largest ACFHNR index value is extracted. Moreover, the properties of the ACFHNR index are demonstrated by simulations and the full life cycle of the experiment, showing its superiority over the traditional kurtosis and root mean square (RMS) index for extracting and detecting incipient periodic impulse features. Finally, the Teager energy operator spectrum of the extracted informative signal is gained. The simulation and experimental results indicated that the proposed ACFHNR index based method can effectively detect the incipient fault feature of the rolling bearing, and it shows better performance than the kurtosis and RMS index based methods.
Roller-Integrated Acoustic Wave Detection Technique for Rockfill Materials
Authors: Zhang Qinglong , Liu Tianyun , Li Qingbin
Published: October 2017

This paper proposes a roller-integrated acoustic wave detection technique for rockfill materials. This technique can be divided into two parts: theoretical analysis and technical implementation. Based on Lamb’s problem and an infinite baffle piston radiation acoustic field model, a relationship model between the sound compaction value (SCV) and the dry density of the natural gravel materials (NGM) was established, namely, A-model. During the modeling process, an innovative differential pulse excitation method (DPEM) was used to find the numerical solution of the vertical displacement of the soil surface under harmonic loads. In this research, a continuous compaction control acoustic wave detection system (CAWDS) was developed and utilized along with real-time kinematic global positioning systems (RTK-GPS). The SCV was adopted as a characterization index for the compaction quality of rockfill materials. A case study on a reservoir project in Luoyang, China indicated that the SCV is highly linearly correlated with the number of compaction times, dry density, and compactness of the NGM. This new technique demonstrated several advantages, such as higher accuracy, discreetness, convenience, and suitability for detecting the compactness of the NGM. This technique is an effective tool for compaction quality control of rockfill materials and has a great potential for further applications.
Database of Himalayan Plants Based on Published Floras during a Century
Authors: Rana Suresh , Rawat Gopal
Published: October 2017

The Himalaya is the largest mountain range in the world, spanning approximately ten degrees of latitude and elevation between 100 m asl to the highest mountain peak on earth. The region varies in plant species richness, being highest in the biodiversity hotspot of Eastern Himalaya and declining to the North-Western parts of the Himalaya. We examined all published floras (31 floras in 42 volumes spanning the years 1903–2014) from the Indian Himalayan region, Nepal, and Bhutan to compile a comprehensive checklist of all gymnosperms and angiosperms. A total of 10,503 species representing 240 families and 2322 genera are reported. We evaluated all the botanical names reported in the floras for their updated taxonomy and excluded >3000 synonyms. Additionally, we identified 1134 species reported in these floras that presently remain taxonomically unresolved and 160 species with missing information in the global plant database (The Plant List, 2013). This is the most comprehensive estimate of plant species diversity in the Himalaya.
Improved Load Frequency Control Using a Fast Acting Active Disturbance Rejection Controller
Authors: Rahman Md , Chowdhury A. , Hossain Md
Published: October 2017

System frequency may change from defined values while transmitting power from one area to another in an interconnected power system due to various reasons such as load changes and faults. This frequency change causes a frequency error in the system. However, the system frequency should always be maintained close to the nominal value even in the presence of model uncertainties and physical constraints. This paper proposes an Active Disturbance Rejection Controller (ADRC)-based load frequency control (LFC) of an interconnected power system. The controller incorporates effects of generator inertia and generator electrical proximity to the point of disturbances. The proposed controller reduces the magnitude error of the area control error (ACE) of an interconnected power system compared to the standard controller. The simulation results verify the effectiveness of proposed ADRC in the application of LFC of an interconnected power system.
Using the D-DANP-mV Model to Explore the Continuous System Improvement Strategy for Sustainable Development of Creative Communities
Authors: Xiong Lei , Teng Cheng-Lein , Zhu Bo-Wei , Tzeng Gwo-Hshiung , Huang Shan-Lin
Published: October 2017

With globalization, the notion of “creative city” has become a core concept of many cities in the world development policies, with real properties being upgraded or used to change, renewal is being conducted, and creative industries are emerging. This trend has reached its peak in the past decade, with different forms and scales gathering global development momentum among the creative communities to promote the development of creative economies. In recent years, however, there was still skepticism about the sustainability of the current creative communities. Many scholars have pointed out that signs of unsustainability have begun to appear in many creative communities. To overcome these obstacles, the development of rational and highly effective improvement strategy requires a dynamic thinking process. Therefore, this study employs the DEMATEL-based ANP with modified VIKOR (D-DANP-mV) model in presenting an assessment framework for the sustainability of creative communities. This system is used to assess the sustainability of current creative communities and determine how to solve their problems. Thus, continuous and systemic improvement strategies can be developed to achieve the aim of sustainable development. Two creative communities in Taiwan, Taichung Cultural and Creative Industries Park (TCCIP), and Shen-Ji New Village (SJNV), are used as case studies in this study. Based on the concept of systematic improvement from fundamental issues, the results indicate that the improvement priorities can be determined by applying the D-DANP-mV model. This approach is different from those found by a conventional method with the hypothesis of independent criteria (e.g., diversification of creative talents in TCCIP), and cannot use for performance improvement (e.g., only can be used for ranking and selection among alternatives). Considering these points, unreasonable premises, biased errors, and lack of some real application functions in the process of resource allocation could be more efficient improvement strategies generated in this proposed model.
Simplifying GPS Trajectory Data with Enhanced Spatial-Temporal Constraints
Authors: Qian Haizhong , Lu Yongmei
Published: October 2017

Raw GPS trajectory data are often very large and use up excessive storage space. The efficiency and accuracy of activity patterns analysis or individual–environment interaction modeling using such data may be compromised due to data size and computational needs. Line generalization algorithms may be used to simplify GPS trajectories. However, traditional algorithms focus on geometric characteristics of linear features. Trajectory data may record information beyond location. Examples include time and elevation, and inferred information such as speed, transportation mode, and activities. Effective trajectory simplification should preserve these characteristics in addition to location and orientation of spatial-temporal movement. This paper proposes an Enhanced Douglas–Peucker (EDP) algorithm that implements a set of Enhanced Spatial-Temporal Constraints (ESTC) when simplifying trajectory data. These constraints ensure that the essential properties of a trajectory be preserved through preserving critical points. Further, this study argues that speed profile can uniquely identify a trajectory and thus it can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of a trajectory simplification. The proposed ESTC-EDP simplification method is applied to two examples of GPS trajectory. The results of trajectory simplification are reported and compared with that from traditional DP algorithm. The effectiveness of simplification is evaluated.
Crystal Plasticity Modeling and Experimental Validation with an Orientation Distribution Function for Ti-7Al Alloy
Authors: Acar Pınar , Ramazani Ali , Sundararaghavan Veera
Published: October 2017

An orientation distribution function based model is used for micromechanical modeling of the titanium-aluminum alloys, Ti-0 wt % Al and Ti-7 wt % Al, which are in demand for many aerospace applications. This probability descriptor based modeling approach is different than crystal plasticity finite element techniques since it computes the averaged material properties using upper bound averaging. A rate-independent single-crystal plasticity model is implemented to compute the effect of macroscopic strain on the polycrystal. An optimization problem is defined for calibrating the basal, prismatic, pyramidal slip system and twin parameters using the available tension and compression experimental data. The crystal plasticity parameters of Ti-7 wt % Al are not studied extensively in literature, and therefore the optimization results for the crystal plasticity model realization produce unique data, which will be beneficial to future studies in the field. The sensitivities of the slip and twin parameters to the design objectives are also investigated to identify the most critical slip system parameters. Using the optimum design parameters, the microstructural textures, during the tension test, are predicted by the crystal plasticity finite element simulations, and compared to the available experimental texture and scanning electron microscope—digital image correlation data.
Modeling Inclusion Formation during Solidification of Steel: A Review
Authors: You Dali , Michelic Susanne K. , Presoly Peter , Liu Jianhua , Bernhard Christian
Published: October 2017

The formation of nonmetallic inclusions in the solidification process can essentially influence the properties of steels. Computational simulation provides an effective and valuable method to study the process due to the difficulty of online investigation. This paper reviews the modeling work of inclusion formation during the solidification of steel. Microsegregation and inclusion formation thermodynamics and kinetics are first introduced, which are the fundamentals to simulate the phenomenon in the solidification process. Next, the thermodynamic and kinetic models coupled with microsegregation dedicated to inclusion formation are briefly described and summarized before the development and future expectations are discussed.
Asperflavin, an Anti-Inflammatory Compound Produced by a Marine-Derived Fungus, Eurotium amstelodami
Authors: Yang Xiudong , Kang Min-Cheol , Li Yong , Kim Eun-A. , Kang Sung-Myung , Jeon You-Jin
Published: October 2017

In the present study, 16 marine-derived fungi were isolated from four types of marine materials including float, algae, animals and drift woods along with the coast of Jeju Island, Korea and evaluated for anti-inflammatory effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 24.7 cells. The broth and mycelium extracts from the 16 fungi were prepared and the broth extract (BE) of Eurotium amstelodami (015-2) inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells without cytotoxicity. By further bioassay-guided isolation, three compounds including asperflavin, neoechinulin A and preechinulin were successfully isolated from the BE of E. amstelodami. It was revealed that asperflavin showed no cytotoxicity up to 200 μM and significantly inhibited LPS-induced NO and PGE2 production in a dose-dependent manner. In the western blot results, asperflavin suppressed only inducible NOS (iNOS), but COX-2 were slightly down-regulated. Asperflavin was also observed to inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. In conclusion, this study reports a potential use of asperflavin isolated from a marine fungus, E. amstelodami as an anti-inflammatory agent via suppression of iNOS and pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as no cytotoxicity.
New 2-Phenylthiazoles as Potential Sortase A Inhibitors: Synthesis, Biological Evaluation and Molecular Docking
Authors: Oniga Smaranda , Araniciu Cătălin , Palage Mariana , Popa Marcela , Chifiriuc Mariana-Carmen , Marc Gabriel , Pirnau Adrian , Stoica Cristina , Lagoudis Ioannis , Dragoumis Theodoros , Oniga Ovidiu
Published: October 2017

Sortase A inhibition is a well establish strategy for decreasing bacterial virulence by affecting numerous key processes that control biofilm formation, host cell entry, evasion and suppression of the immune response and acquisition of essential nutrients. A meta-analysis of structures known to act as Sortase A inhibitors provided the starting point for identifying a new potential scaffold. Based on this template a series of new potential Sortase A inhibitors, that contain the 2-phenylthiazole moiety, were synthesized. The physicochemical characterisation confirmed the identity of the proposed structures. Antibacterial activity evaluation showed that the new compounds have a reduced activity against bacterial cell viability. However, the compounds prevent biofilm formation at very low concentrations, especially in the case of E. faecalis. Molecular docking studies performed estimate that this is most likely due to the inhibition of Sortase A. The new compounds could be used as add-on therapies together with known antibacterial agents in order to combat multidrug-resistance enterococcal infections.
Inhibition of Human Kallikrein 5 Protease by Triterpenoids from Natural Sources
Authors: Matsubara Yosuke , Matsumoto Takashi , Koseki Junichi , Kaneko Atsushi , Aiba Setsuya , Yamasaki Kenshi
Published: October 2017

Stratum corneum tryptic enzyme kallikrein 5 (KLK5) is a serine protease that is involved in the cell renewal and maintenance of the skin barrier function. The excessive activation of KLK5 causes an exacerbation of dermatoses, such as rosacea and atopic dermatitis. Some triterpenoids are reported to suppress the serine proteases. We aimed to investigate whether bioactive triterpenoids modulate the KLK5 protease. Nineteen triterpenoids occurring in medicinal crude drugs were evaluated using an enzymatic assay to measure the anti-KLK5 activity. The KLK5-dependent cathelicidin peptide LL-37 production in human keratinocytes was examined using immunoprecipitation and Western blotting. Screening assays for evaluating the anti-KLK5 activity revealed that ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, saikosaponin b1, tumulosic acid and pachymic acid suppressed the KLK5 protease activity, although critical molecular moieties contributing to anti-KLK5 activity were unclarified. Ursolic acid and tumulosic acid suppressed the proteolytic processing of LL-37 in keratinocytes at ≤10 μM; no cytotoxicity was observed. Both triterpenoids were detected in the plasma of rats administered orally with triterpenoid-rich crude drug Jumihaidokuto. Our study reveals that triterpenoids, such as ursolic acid and tumulosic acid, modulate the KLK5 protease activity and cathelicidin peptide production. Triterpenoids may affect the skin barrier function via the regulation of proteases.
In-Silico UHPLC Method Optimization for Aglycones in the Herbal Laxatives Aloe barbadensis Mill., Cassia angustifolia Vahl Pods, Rhamnus frangula L. Bark, Rhamnus purshianus DC. Bark, and Rheum palmatum L. Roots
Authors: Meier Nadja , Meier Beat , Peter Samuel , Wolfram Evelyn
Published: October 2017

For the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) herbal monograph draft of Cassia angustifolia Vahl. and Cassia senna L. leaves and pods, a safety limitation of aloe-emodin and rhein was proposed, due to toxicological concerns. A quantitative, analytical method of the anthraquinone aglycones in all Ph. Eur. monographed herbal laxatives is of interest. A rational method development for the aglycones aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin, chrysophanol, and physcion in five herbal drugs was realized by using 3D chromatographic modelling (temperature, solvent, and gradient time) and design of experiment (DOE) software (DryLab® 4). A methodical approach suitable for the challenging peak tracking in the chromatograms of the herbal drugs in dependence on the changes in the chromatographic conditions is described by using a combination of mass spectroscopy (MS) data (UHPLC-QDa), UV/Vis-spectra, and peak areas. The model results indicate a low robust range and showed that with the selected chromatographic system, small interferences could not be averted. The separation achieved shows a pure UV/Vis spectrum for all aglycones except for chrysophanol in Aloe barbadensis and emodin in Cassia angustifolia fruit. A gradient with the best resolution of the aglycones in all five drugs is proposed, and its suitability demonstrated for the quantification of aglycones in these herbal drugs.
Herbicidal Activities of Some Allelochemicals and Their Synergistic Behaviors toward Amaranthus tricolor L.
Authors: Chotsaeng Nawasit , Laosinwattana Chamroon , Charoenying Patchanee
Published: October 2017

Seven allelochemicals, namely R-(+)-limonene (A), vanillin (B), xanthoxyline (C), vanillic acid (D), linoleic acid (E), methyl linoleate (F), and (±)-odorine (G), were investigated for their herbicidal activities on Chinese amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L.). At 400 μM, xanthoxyline (C) showed the greatest inhibitory activity on seed germination and seedling growth of the tested plant. Both vanillic acid (D) and (±)-odorine (G) inhibited shoot growth, however, apart from xanthoxyline (C), only vanillic acid (D) could inhibit root growth. Interestingly, R-(+)-limonene (A) lightly promoted root length. Other substances had no allelopathic effect on seed germination and seedling growth of the tested plant. To better understand and optimize the inhibitory effects of these natural herbicides, 21 samples of binary mixtures of these seven compounds were tested at 400 μM using 0.25% (v/v) Tween® 80 as a control treatment. The results showed that binary mixtures of R-(+)-limonene:xanthoxyline (A:C), vanillin:xanthoxyline (B:C), and xanthoxyline:linoleic acid (C:E) exhibited strong allelopathic activities on germination and seedling growth of the tested plant, and the level of inhibition was close to the effect of xanthoxyline (C) at 400 µM and was better than the effect of xanthoxyline (C) at 200 µM. The inhibition was hypothesized to be from a synergistic interaction of each pair of alleochemicals. Mole ratios of each pair of allelochemicals ((A:C), (B:C), and (C:E)) were then evaluated, and the best ratios of the binary mixtures A:C, B:C and C:E were found to be 2:8, 2:8, and 4:6 respectively. These binary mixtures significantly inhibited germination and shoot and root growth of Chinese amaranth at low concentrations. The results reported here highlight a synergistic behavior of some allelochemicals which could be applied in the development of potential herbicides.
Thymosin α1 Interacts with Hyaluronic Acid Electrostatically by Its Terminal Sequence LKEKK
Authors: Mandaliti Walter , Nepravishta Ridvan , Pica Francesca , Vallebona Paola Sinibaldi , Garaci Enrico , Paci Maurizio
Published: October 2017

Thymosin α1 (Tα1), is a peptidic hormone, whose immune regulatory properties have been demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo and approved in different countries for treatment of several viral infections and cancers. Tα1 assumes a conformation in negative membranes upon insertion into the phosphatidylserine exposure as found in several pathologies and in apoptosis. These findings are in agreement with the pleiotropy of Tα1, which targets both normal and tumor cells, interacting with multiple cellular components, and have generated renewed interest in the topic. Hyaluronan (HA) occurs ubiquitously in the extracellular matrix and on cell surfaces and has been related to a variety of diseases, and developmental and physiological processes. Proteins binding HA, among them CD44 and the Receptor for HA-mediated motility (RHAMM) receptors, mediate its biological effects. NMR spectroscopy indicated preliminarily that an interaction of Tα1 with HA occurs specifically around lysine residues of the sequence LKEKK of Tα1 and is suggestive of a possible interference of Tα1 in the binding of HA with CD44 and RHAMM. Further studies are needed to deepen these observations because Tα1 is known to potentiate the T-cell immunity and anti-tumor effect. The binding inhibitory activity of Tα1 on HA-CD44 or HA-RHAMM interactions can suppress both T-cell reactivity and tumor progression.
Berberine Activates Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor but Suppresses CYP1A1 Induction through miR-21-3p Stimulation in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Lo Sheng-Nan , Wang Chun-Wei , Chen Yueh-Shieh , Huang Chiung-Chiao , Wu Tian-Shung , Li Lih-Ann , Lee I-Jung , Ueng Yune-Fang
Published: October 2017

Berberine and the methylenedioxy ring-opening derivatives palmatine and jatrorrhizine are active ingredients in immunomodulatory plants, such as goldenseal. This study aimed to illustrate the effects of protoberberines on aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1 in the estrogen receptor (ER)α(+) MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Among protoberberines at non-cytotoxic concentrations (≤10 μM), berberine had the most potent and statistically significant effects on AhR activation and CYP1A1/1A2/1B1 mRNA induction. The 24-h exposure to 10 μM berberine did not change CYP1A1 mRNA stability, protein level and function. Berberine significantly increased micro RNA (miR)-21-3p by 36% and the transfection of an inhibitor of miR-21-3p restored the induction of CYP1A1 protein with a 50% increase. These findings demonstrate that the ring opening of the methylenedioxyl moiety in berberine decreased AhR activation in MCF-7 cells. While CYP1A1 mRNA was elevated, berberine-induced miR-21-3p suppressed the increase of functional CYP1A1 protein expression.
Benzoic Acid Derivatives with Trypanocidal Activity: Enzymatic Analysis and Molecular Docking Studies toward Trans-Sialidase
Authors: Kashif Muhammad , Moreno-Herrera Antonio , Villalobos-Rocha Juan , Nogueda-Torres Benjamín , Pérez-Villanueva Jaime , Rodríguez-Villar Karen , Medina-Franco José , De Andrade Peterson , Carvalho Ivone , Rivera Gildardo
Published: October 2017

Chagas, or American trypanosomiasis, remains an important public health problem in developing countries. In the last decade, trans-sialidase has become a pharmacological target for new anti-Chagas drugs. In this work, the aims were to design and find a new series of benzoic acid derivatives as trans-sialidase (TS) inhibitors and anti-trypanosomal agents. Three compounds (14, 18, and 19) sharing a para-aminobenzoic acid moiety showed more potent trypanocidal activity than the commercially available drugs nifurtimox and benznidazole in both strains: the lysis concentration of 50% of the population (LC50) was <0.15 µM on the NINOA strain, and LC50 < 0.22 µM on the INC-5 strain. Additionally, compound 18 showed a moderate inhibition (47%) on the trans-sialidase enzyme and a binding model similar to DANA (pattern A).
The Role of Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) in Insulin Signaling
Authors: Yoon Mee-Sup
Published: October 2017

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that controls a wide spectrum of cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, and metabolism. mTOR forms two distinct multiprotein complexes known as mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2), which are characterized by the presence of raptor and rictor, respectively. mTOR controls insulin signaling by regulating several downstream components such as growth factor receptor-bound protein 10 (Grb10), insulin receptor substrate (IRS-1), F-box/WD repeat-containing protein 8 (Fbw8), and insulin like growth factor 1 receptor/insulin receptor (IGF-IR/IR). In addition, mTORC1 and mTORC2 regulate each other through a feedback loop to control cell growth. This review outlines the current understanding of mTOR regulation in insulin signaling in the context of whole body metabolism.
The Dietary Furocoumarin Imperatorin Increases Plasma GLP-1 Levels in Type 1-Like Diabetic Rats
Authors: Wang Lin-Yu , Cheng Kai-Chun , Li Yingxiao , Niu Chiang-Shan , Cheng Juei-Tang , Niu Ho-Shan
Published: October 2017

Imperatorin, a dietary furocoumarin, is found not only in medicinal plants, but also in popular culinary herbs, such as parsley and fennel. Recently, imperatorin has been shown to activate GPR119 in cells. Another GPR, GPR131, also called TGR5 or G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1 (GPBAR1), is known to regulate glucose metabolism. Additionally, TGR5 activation increases glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) secretion to lower blood sugar levels in animals. Therefore, the present study aims to determine whether the effects of imperatorin on GLP-1 secretion are mediated by TGR5. First, we transfected cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1 cells) with the TGR5 gene. Glucose uptake was confirmed in the transfected cells using a fluorescent indicator. Moreover, NCI-H716 cells, which secrete GLP-1, were used to investigate the changes in calcium concentrations and GLP-1 levels. In addition, streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1-like diabetic rats were used to identify the effects of imperatorin in vivo. Imperatorin dose-dependently increased glucose uptake in CHO-K1 cells expressing TGR5. In STZ diabetic rats, similar to the results in NCI-H716 cells, imperatorin induced a marked increase of GLP-1 secretion that was reduced, but not totally abolished, by a dose of triamterene that inhibited TGR5. Moreover, increases in GLP-1 secretion induced by imperatorin and GPR119 activation were shown in NCI-H716 cells. We demonstrated that imperatorin induced GLP-1 secretion via activating TGR5 and GPR119. Therefore, imperatorin shall be considered as a TGR5 and GPR119 agonist.
Electrochemical Detection of Plasma Immunoglobulin as a Biomarker for Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Garyfallou Goulielmos-Zois , Ketebu Orlando , Şahin Samet , Mukaetova-Ladinska Elizabeta , Catt Michael , Yu Eileen
Published: October 2017

The clinical diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represent a challenge to clinicians due to the variability of clinical symptomatology as well as the unavailability of reliable diagnostic tests. In this study, the development of a novel electrochemical assay and its potential to detect peripheral blood biomarkers to diagnose AD using plasma immunoglobulins is investigated. The immunosensor employs a gold electrode as the immobilizing substrate, albumin depleted plasma immunoglobulin as the biomarker, and polyclonal rabbit Anti-human immunoglobulin (against IgA, IgG, IgM) as the receptor for plasma conjugation. The assay showed good response, sensitivity and reproducibility in differentiating plasma immunoglobulin from AD and control subjects down to 10−9 dilutions of plasma immunoglobulin representing plasma content concentrations in the pg mL−1 range. The newly developed assay is highly sensitive, less time consuming, easy to handle, can be easily modified to detect other dementia-related biomarkers in blood samples, and can be easily integrated into portable devices.
DEEP-SEE: Joint Object Detection, Tracking and Recognition with Application to Visually Impaired Navigational Assistance
Authors: Tapu Ruxandra , Mocanu Bogdan , Zaharia Titus
Published: October 2017

In this paper, we introduce the so-called DEEP-SEE framework that jointly exploits computer vision algorithms and deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to detect, track and recognize in real time objects encountered during navigation in the outdoor environment. A first feature concerns an object detection technique designed to localize both static and dynamic objects without any a priori knowledge about their position, type or shape. The methodological core of the proposed approach relies on a novel object tracking method based on two convolutional neural networks trained offline. The key principle consists of alternating between tracking using motion information and predicting the object location in time based on visual similarity. The validation of the tracking technique is performed on standard benchmark VOT datasets, and shows that the proposed approach returns state-of-the-art results while minimizing the computational complexity. Then, the DEEP-SEE framework is integrated into a novel assistive device, designed to improve cognition of VI people and to increase their safety when navigating in crowded urban scenes. The validation of our assistive device is performed on a video dataset with 30 elements acquired with the help of VI users. The proposed system shows high accuracy (>90%) and robustness (>90%) scores regardless on the scene dynamics.
Fault Detection of Bearing Systems through EEMD and Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Lee Dong-Han , Ahn Jong-Hyo , Koh Bong-Hwan
Published: October 2017

This study proposes a fault detection and diagnosis method for bearing systems using ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) based feature extraction, in conjunction with particle swarm optimization (PSO), principal component analysis (PCA), and Isomap. First, a mathematical model is assumed to generate vibration signals from damaged bearing components, such as the inner-race, outer-race, and rolling elements. The process of decomposing vibration signals into intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) and extracting statistical features is introduced to develop a damage-sensitive parameter vector. Finally, PCA and Isomap algorithm are used to classify and visualize this parameter vector, to separate damage characteristics from healthy bearing components. Moreover, the PSO-based optimization algorithm improves the classification performance by selecting proper weightings for the parameter vector, to maximize the visualization effect of separating and grouping of parameter vectors in three-dimensional space.
Land Rental Market Participation and Its Impact on Fixed Investment and Household Welfare: Evidence from Chinese Apple Production Sites
Authors: Hou Jianyun , Huo Xuexi , Yin Runsheng
Published: October 2017

Using a large dataset from the specialized apple production sites of China and multiple econometric methods, we identify the main determinants of farmers’ land rental decisions and the effects from renting land in on their investment and economic welfare. It is found that having more effective cultivated land before renting in has a significantly negative effect on the land rented in, that households with rich land endowments or large areas of land rented in usually invest more in fixed assets, and that efficient provisions of credit and insurance are helpful to encourage investments in fixed assets. As a result, renting in land generates gains in terms of agricultural income, total income, and productive expenditure.
The Charlson Comorbidity Index in Registry-based Research
Authors: Lagergren Jesper , Brusselaers Nele
Published: October 2017

Background: Comorbidities may have an important impact on survival, and comorbidity scores are often implemented in studies assessing prognosis. The Charlson Comorbidity index is most widely used, yet several adaptations have been published, all using slightly different conversions of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) coding.

Objective: To evaluate which coding should be used to assess and quantify comorbidity for the Charlson Comorbidity Index for registry-based research, in particular if older ICD versions will be used.

Methods: A systematic literature search was used to identify adaptations and modifications of the ICD-coding of the Charlson Comorbidity Index for general purpose in adults, published in English. Back-translation to ICD version 8 and version 9 was conducted by means of the ICD-code converter of Statistics Sweden.

Results: In total, 16 studies were identified reporting ICD-adaptations of the Charlson Comorbidity Index. The Royal College of Surgeons in the United Kingdom combined 5 versions into an adapted and updated version which appeared appropriate for research purposes. Their ICD-10 codes were back-translated into ICD-9 and ICD-8 according to their proposed adaptations, and verified with previous versions of the Charlson Comorbidity Index.

Conclusion: Many versions of the Charlson Comorbidity Index are used in parallel, so clear reporting of the version, exact ICD- coding and weighting is necessary to obtain transparency and reproducibility in research. Yet, the version of the Royal College of Surgeons is up-to-date and easy-to-use, and therefore an acceptable co-morbidity score to be used in registry-based research especially for surgical patients.
PRIORITIZATION OF PETROLEUM SUPPLY CHAINS’ DISRUPTION MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES USING COMBINED FRAMEWORK OF BSC APPROACH, FUZZY AHP AND FUZZY CHOQUET INTEGRAL OPERATOR
Authors: GHASEMZADEH Fatemeh , PISHDAR Mahsa , ANTUCHEVIČIENĖ Jurgita
Published: October 2017

Industries in every sector have observed tangible losses from a broad range of disruptions during recent years. Factors such as globalization and outsourcing have made supply chains more sophisticated and this makes disruption management more necessary. Any disruption in each part of supply chain makes the whole supply chain face derangement and at last, ultimate customers realize the shaped disadvantages. Since avoidance of disruption occurrence is not always possible, application of different strategies with the aid of minimization of negative effects seems necessary. That is why in this paper, different strategies for disruption management in petroleum products supply chain and suitable criteria for prioritizing them are recognized via Balanced Score Card approach measures. After that, by application of fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process and intuitionistic fuzzy Choquet integral operator, their priorities are specified in order to make a guideline for managers to set proper plans and manage such disruptions more accurately.
The 2013 February 17 Sunquake in the Context of the Active Region's Magnetic Field Configuration
Authors: Green L. M. , Valori G. , Zuccarello F. P. , Zharkov S. , Matthews S. A. , Guglielmino S. L.
Published: October 2017

Sunquakes are created by the hydrodynamic response of the lower atmosphere to a sudden deposition of energy and momentum. In this study, we investigate a sunquake that occurred in NOAA active region 11675 on 2013 February 17. Observations of the corona, chromosphere, and photosphere are brought together for the first time with a nonlinear force-free model of the active region’s magnetic field in order to probe the magnetic environment in which the sunquake was initiated. We find that the sunquake was associated with the destabilization of a flux rope and an associated M-class GOES flare. Active region 11675 was in its emergence phase at the time of the sunquake and photospheric motions caused by the emergence heavily modified the flux rope and its associated quasi-separatrix layers, eventually triggering the flux rope’s instability. The flux rope was surrounded by an extended envelope of field lines rooted in a small area at the approximate position of the sunquake. We argue that the configuration of the envelope, by interacting with the expanding flux rope, created a “magnetic lens” that may have focussed energy on one particular location of the photosphere, creating the necessary conditions for the initiation of the sunquake.
Enhanced Polarized Emission from the One-parsec-scale Hotspot of 3C 84 as a Result of the Interaction with the Clumpy Ambient Medium
Authors: Nagai H. , Fujita Y. , Nakamura M. , Orienti M. , Kino M. , Asada K. , Giovannini G.
Published: October 2017

We present Very Long Baseline Array polarimetric observations of the innermost jet of 3C 84 (NGC 1275) at 43 GHz. A significant polarized emission is detected at the hotspot of the innermost restarted jet, which is located  1 pc south from the radio core. While the previous report presented a hotspot at the southern end of the western limb, the hotspot location has been moved to the southern end of the eastern limb. Faraday rotation is detected within an entire bandwidth of the 43 GHz band. The measured rotation measure (RM) is at most (6.3 ± 1.9) × 105 rad m−2 and might be slightly time variable on the timescale of a month by a factor of a few. Our measured RM and the RM previously reported by the CARMA and SMA observations cannot be consistently explained by the spherical accretion flow with a power-law profile. We propose that a clumpy/inhomogeneous ambient medium is responsible for the observed RM. Using an equipartition magnetic field, we derive the electron density of 2 × 104 cm−3. Such an electron density is consistent with the cloud of the narrow line emission region around the central engine. We also discuss the magnetic field configuration from the black hole scale to the parsec scale and the origin of low polarization.
In Search of Cool Flow Accretion onto Galaxies: Where Does the Disk Gas End?
Authors: Bland-Hawthorn Joss , Maloney Philip R. , Stephens Alex , Zovaro Anna , Popping Attila
Published: October 2017

The processes taking place in the outermost reaches of spiral disks (the “protodisk”) are intimately connected to the build-up of mass and angular momentum in galaxies. The thinness of spiral disks suggests that the activity is mostly quiescent, and presumably this region is fed by cool flows coming into the halo from the intergalactic medium. While there is abundant evidence for the presence of a circumgalactic medium around disk galaxies as traced by quasar absorption lines, it has been very difficult to connect this material to the outer gas disk. This has been a very difficult transition region to explore because baryon tracers are hard to observe. In particular, H i disks have been argued to truncate at a critical column density (

N

H

≳

10

19.5

cm−2 at 30 kpc for an

L

⋆

galaxy) where the gas is vulnerable to the external ionizing background. But new, deep observations of nearby

L

⋆

spirals (e.g., Milky Way, NGC 2997) suggest that H i disks may extend much farther than recognized to date, up to 60 kpc at

N

H

≈

10

18

cm−2. Motivated by these observations, here we show that a clumpy outer disk of dense clouds or cloudlets is potentially detectable to much larger radii and lower H i column densities than previously discussed. This extended protodisk component is likely to explain some of the Mg ii forest seen in quasar spectra as judged from absorption-line column densities and kinematics. We fully anticipate that the armada of new radio facilities and planned H i surveys coming on line will detect this extreme outer disk (scree) material. We also propose a variant on the successful “Dragonfly” technique to go after the very weak Hα signals expected in the protodisk region.
Unusual Black Hole Binary LMC X-3: A Transient High-mass X-Ray Binary That Is Almost Always On?
Authors: Torpin Trevor J. , Boyd Patricia T. , Smale Alan P. , Valencic Lynne A.
Published: October 2017

We have analyzed a rich, multimission, multiwavelength data set from the black hole X-ray binary (BHXB) LMC X-3, covering a new anomalous low state (ALS), during which the source flux falls to an unprecedentedly low and barely detectable level, and a more normal low state. Simultaneous X-ray and UV/optical monitoring data from Swift are combined with pointed observations from the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) and X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) and light curves from the Monitor of All-Sky X-ray Image (MAXI) instrument to compare the source characteristics during the ALS with those seen during the normal low state. An XMM-Newton spectrum obtained during the ALS can be modeled using an absorbed power law with

and a luminosity of

erg s−1 (0.6–5 keV). The Swift X-ray and UV light curves indicate an X-ray lag of ∼8 days as LMC X-3 abruptly exits the ALS, suggesting that changes in the mass accretion rate from the donor drive the X-ray lag. The normal low state displays an asymmetric profile in which the exit occurs more quickly than the entry, with minimum X-ray flux a factor of ∼4300 brighter than during the ALS. The UV brightness of LMC X-3 in the ALS is also fainter and less variable than during normal low states. The existence of repeated ALSs in LMC X-3, as well as a comparison with other BHXBs, implies that it is very close to the transient/persistent X-ray source dividing line. We conclude that LMC X-3 is a transient source that is almost always “on.”
Star Formation in Galaxies at z ∼ 4–5 from the SMUVS Survey: A Clear Starburst/Main-sequence Bimodality for Hα Emitters on the SFR–M* Plane
Authors: Caputi K. I. , Deshmukh S. , Ashby M. L. N. , Cowley W. I. , Bisigello L. , Fazio G. G. , Fynbo J. P. U. , Fèvre O. Le , Milvang-Jensen B. , Ilbert O.
Published: October 2017

We study a large galaxy sample from the Spitzer Matching Survey of the UltraVISTA ultra-deep Stripes (SMUVS) to search for sources with enhanced

3.6

μ
m

fluxes indicative of strong Hα emission at

z
=
3.9
–
4.9

. We find that the percentage of “Hα excess” sources reaches 37%–40% for galaxies with stellar masses

log

10

(

M

*

/

M

⊙

)
≈
9
–
10

and decreases to

<
20
%

at

log

10

(

M

*

/

M

⊙

)
∼
10.7

. At higher stellar masses, however, the trend reverses, although this is likely due to active galactic nucleus contamination. We derive star formation rates (SFR) and specific SFR (sSFR) from the inferred Hα equivalent widths of our “Hα excess” galaxies. We show, for the first time, that the “Hα excess” galaxies clearly have a bimodal distribution on the SFR–M* plane: they lie on the main sequence of star formation (with

log

10

(
sSFR

/

yr

−
1

)
<
−
8.05

) or in a starburst cloud (with

log

10

(
sSFR

/

yr

−
1

)
>
−
7.60

). The latter contains

∼
15
%

of all the objects in our sample and accounts for

>
50
%

of the cosmic SFR density at

z
=
3.9
–
4.9

, for which we derive a robust lower limit of

0.066

M

⊙

yr

−
1

Mpc

−
3

. Finally, we identify an unusual

>
50
σ

overdensity of

z
=
3.9
–
4.9

galaxies within a

0.20
×
0.20

arcmin2 region. We conclude that the SMUVS unique combination of area and depth at mid-IR wavelengths provides an unprecedented level of statistics and dynamic range that are fundamental to revealing new aspects of galaxy evolution in the young universe.