bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proposed Scheme of Pliable Gas Insulated Transmission Line and Its Comparative Appraisal Regarding Electrostatic and Dielectric Aspects
Authors: Alvi Muhammad Junaid , Izhar Tahir , Qaiser Asif Ali
Published: November 2018

Gas insulated transmission lines (GILs) are being used in electrical systems regarding power transmission and substation interconnection. However, operational complexities of conventional schemes, such as structural rigidity, corrosion protection, gas leakage in case of seismic vibrations, larger bending radius and jointing complexities which restrain their application perspectives, could be curtailed by developing a flexible GIL. In this research paper, a new pliable scheme of gas insulated transmission line is proposed. Further, COMSOL Multiphysics® (version 5.1, COMSOL Inc., Stockholm, Sweden) based electrostatic assay and practically performed high voltage tests-based dielectric analysis is performed for the proposed scheme. Electrostatic appraisal is comprised of field utilization based electrostatic stress analysis. In addition, dimensional optimization of pliable GIL regarding enclosure and pitch sizes in relation to electrostatic stresses and field utilization is also performed. Regarding dielectric perusal, experimental setup has been developed for standard lightning impulse and disruptive discharge tests in order to investigate the synergistic dielectric characteristics of proposed flexible post insulators for pliable GIL. Experimental and simulation appraisal unveil that the proposed scheme exhibits almost analogous electrostatic and dielectric behavior in comparison to the conventional GIL scheme and could simplify the operational intricacies associated with conventional scheme. The proposed modifications could eliminate the requirement of trench development, corrosion protection and acceleration dampers, along with a significant reduction in required land area at bends, due to a smaller bending radius which will ultimately result in substantial cost reduction.
Meter Placement in Power System Network—A Comprehensive Review, Analysis and Methodology
Authors: Lekshmana Ramesh , Padmanaban Sanjeevikumar , Mahajan Sagar , Ramachandaramurthy Vigna , Bo Holm-Nielsen Jens
Published: November 2018

The blackout in North India due to the failure of the central grid has led to the need for intelligent power system state estimation, where optimal location is necessary to understand. State estimation meter placement plays a major role in the smart operation of a modern distributed power system. A literature review of the different algorithms incorporated for the determination of minimal number of meters required for the measurement of real time measurements is presented for the power system and distribution system state estimation, including smart meter location.
An Accurate DDS Method Using Compound Frequency Tuning Word and Its FPGA Implementation
Authors: Hou Yuqing , Li Changlong , Tang Sheng
Published: November 2018

Because of its high resolution, low cost, small volume, low power dissipation and less conversion time consumption, the direct digital synthesizer (DDS) method has been applied more and more in the fields of frequency synthesis and signal generation. However, only a limited number of precise frequency signals can be synthesized by the traditional DDS, for the reason that its accumulator modulus is fixed, and its frequency tuning word must be integer. In this paper, a precise DDS method using compound frequency tuning word is proposed, which improves the accuracy of synthesized signals at any frequency points on the premise of guaranteeing the stability of synthesized signals. In order to verify the effectiveness of the new method, a DDS frequency synthesizer based on FPGA is designed and implemented. Taking the rubidium atomic clock PRS10 as standard frequency source, the experiments shows that the frequency stability of the synthesized signal is better than 8.0 × 10−12/s, the relative frequency error is less than 4.8 × 10−12, and that the frequency accuracy is improved by three orders of magnitude compared with the traditional DDS method.
The Effects of Using Wood Chips and Slash in Reducing Sheet Erosion on Forest Road Slopes
Authors: Turk Yilmaz
Published: November 2018

This study compared the use of wood chips and slash to reduce the loss of sediment on newly constructed forest road slopes and investigated the annual amount of sediment loss on bare forest road slopes. A runoff block (sample field) was established for each of the four designated test sites (two cutslopes and two fillslopes). Each block had three runoff plots. One of the runoff plots was left empty for the control (CNT), while wood chips (C) and slash (S), respectively, were deposited in the other two. A total of 108 water samples were taken from the test sites and the amount of their suspended sediment calculated in the laboratory. As a result of this study, it was determined that the amount of soil loss in the control plots was about 1.26 times higher than in the slash plots and 2.21 times higher than in the wood chips plots. According to the results of variance analysis on the amounts of sediment, a statistically significant difference was found between the suspended sediment quantities transported on the road slopes (p < 0.05). However, no statistically significant difference between the suspended sediment quantities transported in the plots and the other variables of aspect, gradient or road slope was revealed by the t-test (p > 0.05).
Neurologist Standard Classification of Facial Nerve Paralysis with Deep Neural Networks
Authors: Song Anping , Wu Zuoyu , Ding Xuehai , Hu Qian , Di Xinyi
Published: November 2018

Facial nerve paralysis (FNP) is the most common form of facial nerve damage, which leads to significant physical pain and abnormal function in patients. Traditional FNP detection methods are based on visual diagnosis, which relies solely on the physician’s assessment. The use of objective measurements can reduce the frequency of errors which are caused by subjective methods. Hence, a fast, accurate, and objective computer method for FNP classification is proposed that uses a single Convolutional neural network (CNN), trained end-to-end directly from images, with only pixels and disease labels as inputs. We trained the CNN using a dataset of 1049 clinical images and divided the dataset into 7 categories based on classification standards with the help of neurologists. We tested its performance against the neurologists’ ground truth, and our results matched the neurologists’ level with 97.5% accuracy.
SNPs and Somatic Mutation on Long Non-Coding RNA: New Frontier in the Cancer Studies?
Authors: Minotti Linda , Agnoletto Chiara , Baldassari Federica , Corrà Fabio , Volinia Stefano
Published: November 2018

In the last decade, it has been demonstrated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in cancer development. The great majority of studies on lncRNAs report alterations, principally on their expression profiles, in several tumor types with respect to the normal tissues of origin. Conversely, since lncRNAs constitute a relatively novel class of RNAs compared to protein-coding transcripts (mRNAs), the landscape of their mutations and variations has not yet been extensively studied. However, in recent years an ever-increasing number of articles have described mutations of lncRNAs. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that occur within the lncRNA transcripts can affect the structure and function of these RNA molecules, while the presence of a SNP in the promoter region of a lncRNA could alter its expression level. Also, somatic mutations that occur within lncRNAs have been shown to exert important effects in cancer and preliminary data are promising. Overall, the evidence suggests that SNPs and somatic mutation on lncRNAs may play a role in the pathogenesis of cancer, and indicates strong potential for further development of lncRNAs as biomarkers.
Focusing on Coal Workers’ Lung Diseases: A Comparative Analysis of China, Australia, and the United States
Authors: Han Shuai , Chen Hong , Harvey Maggie-Anne , Stemn Eric , Cliff David
Published: November 2018

China has high and increasing annual rates of occupational lung diseases such as pneumoconiosis and silicosis. In contrast, Australia and the United States of America (USA) have greatly lowered their annual rates of lung diseases since the 1970s. This paper systematically compared and analysed the multi-elements of coal dust management and health management in these three countries to provide a reference for China. Regarding coal dust management, this paper found that coal workers in China are more susceptible to lung diseases compared to workers in the USA and Australia, considering fundamental aspects such as mine type, coal rank, and geological conditions. In addition, the controllable aspects such as advanced mitigation, monitoring methods, and the personal protective equipment of coal dust were relatively inadequate in China compared to the USA and Australia. Health management in China was found to have multiple deficiencies in health examination, co-governance, and compensations for coal workers suffering from lung diseases and healthcare for retired coal workers. These deficiencies may be attributed to insufficient medical resources, the Chinese government-dominated governance, ineffective procedures for obtaining compensation, and the lack of effective and preventive healthcare programs for the retired coal workers. Based on the USA and Australia experience, some suggestions for improvement were proposed.
The Optimal Carbon Emission Reduction and Prices with Cap and Trade Mechanism and Competition
Authors: Zhang Linghong , Zhou Hao , Liu Yanyan , Lu Rui
Published: November 2018

More and more countries employ the Carbon Cap and Trade mechanism (CCT-mechanism) to stimulate the manufacturer to produce much more eco-friendly products. In this paper, we study how the CCT-mechanism affects competitive manufacturers’ product design and pricing strategies. Assume that there are two competitive manufacturers; we give the optimal closed form solutions of the carbon emission reduction rates and retail prices in the Nash game model and the Stackelberg game model with CCT-mechanism, respectively. Additionally, we also discuss the impacts of CCT-mechanism, consumer environmental awareness (CEA), and the sensitivity of switchovers toward price on the optimal carbon emission reduction rates, retail prices, and manufacturers’ profits. We find that (i) when the carbon quota is not enough, there is a trade off between investing in producing much greener product and purchasing carbon quota; when the carbon price is not high, the manufacturer tends to purchase the carbon quota; and when the carbon price is much higher, the manufacturer is more willing to increase the environmental quality of the product; (ii) manufacturer’s size affects product’s emission reduction rate and manufacturer’s optimal profit; larger manufacturer tends to produce much greener product, but it does not mean that he could obtain much more money than the small manufacturer; and (iii) the decision sequence changes manufacturer’s strategies; the optimal emission reduction rate in Nash and Stackelberg game models are almost the same, but the differences of prices and profits between Nash and Stackelberg model’s are much bigger.
Transfection of T-Box Transcription Factor BRACHYURY and SOX2 Synergistically Promote Self-Renewal and Invasive Phenotype in Oral Cancer Cells
Authors: Akimoto Naonari , Nakamura Kodai , Hijioka Hiroshi , Kume Kenichi , Matsumura Yoshiaki , Sugiura Tsuyoshi
Published: November 2018

Recent studies suggest that epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) correlates with cancer metastasis. In addition, there is growing evidence of the association of EMT with cancer stem cells (CSCs). Recently, we showed that the T-box transcription factor BRACHYURY could be a strong regulator of EMT and the CSC phenotype, which were effectively suppressed by a BRACHYURY knockdown in an adenoid cystic carcinoma cell line. In this study, we further tested whether BRACHYURY is a regulator of cancer stemness by means of forced expression of BRACHYURY in oral cancer cell lines. BRACHYURY, SOX2, or both were stably transfected into oral carcinoma cell lines. We analysed these transfectants with respect to self-renewal phenotypes using a sphere-formation assay, and we assessed the expression levels of EMT markers and stem cell markers using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cell migration and invasiveness in vitro were evaluated using a wound healing assay and a tumour cell dissemination assay, respectively. Forced expression of BRACHYURY or SOX2 slightly increased expression of EMT and stem cell markers and the self-renewal phenotype. The expression levels, however, were much lower compared to those of cancer stem cell-like cells. Forced co-expression of BRACHYURY and SOX2 strongly upregulated EMT and stem cell markers and the self-renewal phenotype. Cell migration and invasiveness in vitro were also remarkably enhanced. These synergistic effects increased expression levels of FIBRONECTIN, SNAIL, SLUG, ZEB1, and TGF-β2. In particular, the effects on FIBRONECTIN and TGF-β2 were significant. We found that BRACHYURY and SOX2 synergistically promote cancer stemness in oral cancer cells. This finding points to the importance of gene or protein networks associated with BRACHYURY and SOX2 in the development and maintenance of the CSC phenotype.
Botanical Therapeutics: Phytochemical Screening and Biological Assessment of Chamomile, Parsley and Celery Extracts against A375 Human Melanoma and Dendritic Cells
Authors: Danciu Corina , Zupko Istvan , Bor Andrea , Schwiebs Anja , Radeke Heinfried , Hancianu Monica , Cioanca Oana , Alexa Ersilia , Oprean Camelia , Bojin Florina , Soica Codruta , Paunescu Virgil , Dehelean Cristina Adriana
Published: November 2018

Chamomile, parsley, and celery represent major botanical sources of apigenin, a well-known flavone with chemopreventive properties. The aim of this study was to assess the phytochemical composition, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory potential of methanol extracts obtained from chamomile, parsley, and celery collected from Romania, as well as the biological activity against A375 human melanoma and human dendritic cells. Results have shown that all three extracts are rich in polyphenolic compounds and flavonoids, and they generate a radical scavenger capacity, iron chelation potential, as well as lipoxygenase inhibition capacity. Chamomile and celery extracts present weak antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic properties in the set experimental conditions, while parsley extract draws out significant pro-apoptotic potential against A375 human melanoma cells. Parsley and chamomile extracts affected the fibroblast-like morphology of the screened tumor cell line. On the other hand, chamomile and celery extracts abrogated the expansion of LPS-activated dendritic cells, while the metabolic activity was attenuated by stimulation with celery extract; chamomile and parsley extracts had no effect upon this parameter. Chamomile and parsley extracts incubation with naive dendritic cells did not trigger cytokine secretion (TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10), but celery extract stimulation significantly reduced the anti-inflammatory, cytokine IL-10.
Population Dynamics of Anopheles albimanus (Diptera: Culicidae) at Ipetí-Guna, a Village in a Region Targeted for Malaria Elimination in Panamá
Authors: Hurtado Lisbeth Amarilis , Rigg Chystrie A. , Calzada José E. , Dutary Sahir , Bernal Damaris , Koo Susana Isabel , Chaves Luis Fernando
Published: November 2018

Anopheles albimanus Wiedemann is a major malaria vector in Mesoamerica and the Caribbean whose population dynamics, in response to changing environments, has been relatively poorly studied. Here, we present monthly adult and larvae data collected from May 2016 to December 2017 in Ipetí-Guna, a village within an area targeted for malaria elimination in the República de Panamá. During the study period we collected a total of 1678 Anopheles spp. mosquitoes (1602 adults and 76 larvae). Over 95% of the collected Anopheles spp. mosquitoes were An. albimanus. Using time series analysis techniques, we found that population dynamics of larvae and adults were not significantly correlated with each other at any time lag, though correlations were highest at one month lag between larvae and adults and four months lag between adults and larvae. Larvae population dynamics had cycles of three months and were sensitive to changes in temperature with 5 months lag, while adult abundance was correlated with itself (1 month lag) and with the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) with three months lag. A key observation from our study is the absence of both larvae and adults of An. albimanus between January and April from environments associated with Guna population’s daily activities, which suggests this time window could be the best time to implement elimination campaigns aimed at clearing Plasmodium spp. parasites from Guna populations using, for example, mass drug administration.
Evaluation of Quantitative PCR (qPCR) Paenibacillus larvae Targeted Assays and Definition of Optimal Conditions for Its Detection/Quantification in Honey and Hive Debris
Authors: Rossi Franca , Amadoro Carmela , Ruberto Addolorato , Ricchiuti Luciano
Published: November 2018

The application of quantitative PCR (qPCR) as a routine method to detect and enumerate Paenibacillus larvae in honey and hive debris could greatly speed up the estimation of prevalence and outbreak risk of the American foulbrood (AFB) disease of Apis mellifera. However, none of the qPCR tests described so far has been officially proposed as a standard procedure for P. larvae detection and enumeration for surveillance purposes. Therefore, in this study, inclusivity, exclusivity and sensitivity of detection of P. larvae spores directly in samples of honey and hive debris were re-evaluated for the previously published qPCR methods. To this aim, recently acquired P. larvae sequence data were considered to assess inclusivity in silico and more appropriate non-target species were used to verify exclusivity experimentally. This led to the modification of a previously described method by shortening the forward primer, designing a new reverse primer and using more stringent amplification conditions. The new test allowed the detection of P. larvae spores in honey and hive debris down to 1 CFU/g. The qPCR test optimized in this study proved suitable for quantification and also for identification of field P. larvae strains and real contaminated samples. Therefore, it is proposed for reliable detection and quantification of P. larvae in honey and hive debris, thus circumventing the disadvantages of late AFB diagnosis based on clinical symptoms and possible underestimation of spore numbers that is the main drawback of culture-dependent procedures.
Androgen Receptor Splice Variant 7 Drives the Growth of Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer without Being Involved in the Efficacy of Taxane Chemotherapy
Authors: Shimizu Yasuomi , Tamada Satoshi , Kato Minoru , Hirayama Yukiyoshi , Takeyama Yuji , Iguchi Taro , Sadar Marianne D. , Nakatani Tatsuya
Published: November 2018

Expression of androgen receptor (AR) splice variant 7 (AR-V7) has been identified as the mechanism associated with the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). However, a potential link between AR-V7 expression and resistance to taxanes, such as docetaxel or cabazitaxel, has not been unequivocally demonstrated. To address this, we used LNCaP95-DR cells, which express AR-V7 and exhibit resistance to enzalutamide and docetaxel. Interestingly, LNCaP95-DR cells showed cross-resistance to cabazitaxel. Furthermore, these cells had increased levels of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and their sensitivity to both docetaxel and cabazitaxel was restored through treatment with tariquidar, a P-gp antagonist. Results generated demonstrated that P-gp mediated cross-resistance between docetaxel and cabazitaxel. Although the LNCaP95-DR cells had increased expression of AR-V7 and its target genes (UBE2C, CDC20), the knockdown of AR-V7 did not restore sensitivity to docetaxel or cabazitaxel. However, despite resistance to docetaxel and carbazitaxel, EPI-002, an antagonist of the AR amino-terminal domain (NTD), had an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of LNCaP95-DR cells, which was similar to that achieved with the parental LNCaP95 cells. On the other hand, enzalutamide had no effect on the proliferation of either cell line. In conclusion, our results suggested that EPI-002 may be an option for the treatment of AR-V7-driven CRPC, which is resistant to taxanes.
The Role of Velocity Based Training in the Strength Periodization for Modern Athletes
Authors: Guerriero Aristide , Varalda Carlo , Piacentini Maria Francesca
Published: November 2018

Resistance training (RT) is considered the most important method to improve the athlete’s strength and rate of force development (RFD). In the last decade, the importance of monitoring velocity during RT has drastically grown, because of an increased availability of linear position transducers (LPT) and inertial measurement units (IMU). The purpose of this review is to analyze the existing literature on testing techniques and performance strategies used to enhance strength and power performance of elite athletes, by monitoring the velocity of resistance training. The authors focus in particular on the level of effort of resistance training defined by velocity; how the loss of velocity correlates with the degree of fatigue and how it can be used to enhance the performance of competitive athletes; the use of LPT as part of the daily routine of the strength and conditioning programs in competitive sport. It is therefore critical for the sports scientists to have a correct understanding of the basic concepts of the velocity-based training and their application to elite sports. The ultimate goal is to give some indications on the velocity-based resistance training integration in the programs of different sports in the high performance environment.
Detailed Hydrodynamic Feasibility Assessment for Leque Island and Zis a Ba Restoration Projects
Authors: Nugraha Adi , Khangaonkar Tarang
Published: November 2018

Numerous restoration projects are underway in Puget Sound, Washington, USA with the goal of re-establishing intertidal wetlands that were historically lost due to dike construction for flood protection and agricultural development. One such effort is the restoration effort within the Stillaguamish Delta, benefitting from the cumulative effects from the Leque Island and zis a ba restoration projects. The preferred restoration design calls for the removal of perimeter dikes at the two sites and the creation of tidal channels to facilitate the drainage of tidal flows. A 3-D high-resolution unstructured-grid coastal ocean model based on FVCOM was developed to evaluate the hydrodynamic response of the estuary to restoration alternatives. A series of hydrodynamic modeling simulations were then performed to quantify the hydrodynamic response of the nearshore restoration project, such as periodic inundation, suitable currents, and desired habitat/salinity levels. Sediment impacts were also examined, including the potential for excessive erosion or sedimentation requiring maintenance. Simulation results indicate that the preferred alternative scenario provides the desired estuarine response, which is consistent with the planned design. A decrease in velocities and bed shear in the main river channels was noted for the restored condition associated with the increased inundation of tidal flat area and reduced tidal flows through the main channels. High bed shear near the restored tidal channel entrances indicates that the inlets may evolve in size until equilibrium is established.
The Cypriot Extra-Urban Sanctuary as a Central Place: the Case of Agia Irini
Authors: Papantoniou Giorgos , Bourogiannis Giorgos
Published: November 2018

This article contributes to the ongoing debate on the relationship between sanctuaries and the territoriality of the Iron Age polities of Cyprus. The sanctuary site of Agia Irini, at the locality Alonia, is used as a case-study to test hypotheses regarding the connection between extra-urban sacred space and the formation of political and cultural identities. After a short introduction to the theme, a combination of archaeological (context and iconography) and geographic data is implemented in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analyses in order to contextualise the centrality of this sanctuary within its political, economic, cultural and symbolic landscapes. The discussion proceeds with the examination of pottery evidence from the sanctuary, both published and unpublished, in order to reveal if and how site based analysis of a category of material may help to further reveal the significance of this sanctuary as a central place, albeit lying in an un-central landscape.
A Convenient and High-Efficient Laser Micro-Engraving Treatment for Controllable Preparation of Microstructure on Al Alloy
Authors: Tang Mingkai , Shi Yusheng , Zhu Wenzhi , Zhang Nan , Zhang Lichao
Published: November 2018

Surface microstructure preparation offers a promising approach for overcoming the shortcomings of Al alloy, such as poor friction resistance, low hardness and weak corrosion resistance to corrosive liquid. Though many methods for the surface microstructure preparation of Al alloy have been developed, it is difficult for most of the reported methods to regulate the as-prepared microstructure, meaning that the properties of Al alloy cannot be improved efficiently by the microstructure. Thus, the application of microstructure surface of Al alloy and microstructure preparation technology is severely limited. Aimed at this issue, a simple, convenient, high-efficient, low-cost micro-scale roughness structure construction approach that is suitable for engineering application (laser micro-engraving) was developed. The as-prepared microstructure on Al alloy surface formed by laser micro-engraving was investigated systemically. The morphology and formation mechanism of the microstructure were examined. Meanwhile, the effect of laser parameters on morphology, geometrical dimensions and composition of microstructure was investigated. The results indicate that the morphology of microstructure is affected by the overlap degree of molten pool greatly. When each molten pool does not overlap with others, successive individual pits can be constructed. When each molten pool overlaps with others for one time, successive overlapping pits will form. As the overlap degree of the molten pool further increases (overlapping with others for more than one time), the successive pits can become grooved. Because of the influence of laser beam pulse frequency and scanning speed on the diameter and distance of the molten pools, the morphology and geometrical dimensions of microstructure can vary greatly with laser parameters. As the laser beam scanning speed increases, the geometrical dimensions of as-prepared microstructure reduce significantly. In contrast, with the increase of laser beam pulse frequency, the geometrical dimensions change in a complicated manner. However, the chemical composition of microstructure is slightly affected by laser parameters. More importantly, a relationship model was successfully established, which could be used to predict and regulate the geometrical dimensions of microstructure treated by laser micro-engraving. Controllable preparation of microstructure on Al alloy is realized, leading that specific microstructure can be prepared rapidly and accurately instead of suffering from long-time experimental investigation in the future.
Fracture Statistics for Inorganically-Bound Core Materials
Authors: Lechner Philipp , Stahl Jens , Ettemeyer Florian , Himmel Benjamin , Tananau-Blumenschein Bianca , Volk Wolfram
Published: November 2018

In this article, we study the fracture characteristics of inorganically-bound foundry cores. It will be shown that the fracture stress of inorganic cores follows Weibull’s strength distribution function for brittle materials. Using three-point and four-point-bending experiments, the volume dependence of the bending fracture stress is analyzed and a Weibull model fitted. Furthermore, the fracture stress of arbitrary bending experiments can be calculated based on the Weibull parameters found.
Cellular Automata and Artificial Brain Dynamics
Authors: Fraile Alberto , Panagiotakis Emmanouil , Christakis Nicholas , Acedo Luis
Published: November 2018

Brain dynamics, neuron activity, information transfer in brains, etc., are a vast field where a large number of questions remain unsolved. Nowadays, computer simulation is playing a key role in the study of such an immense variety of problems. In this work, we explored the possibility of studying brain dynamics using cellular automata, more precisely the famous Game of Life (GoL). The model has some important features (i.e., pseudo-criticality, 1/f noise, universal computing), which represent good reasons for its use in brain dynamics modelling. We have also considered that the model maintains sufficient flexibility. For instance, the timestep is arbitrary, as are the spatial dimensions. As first steps in our study, we used the GoL to simulate the evolution of several neurons (i.e., a statistically significant set, typically a million neurons) and their interactions with the surrounding ones, as well as signal transfer in some simple scenarios. The way that signals (or life) propagate across the grid was described, along with a discussion on how this model could be compared with brain dynamics. Further work and variations of the model were also examined.
Transglutaminase 2 Up-Regulation Is Associated with Inflammatory Response in PBMC from Healthy Subjects with Hypovitaminosis D
Authors: Caccamo Daniela , Ferlazzo Nadia , Currò Monica , Ricca Sergio , Ientile Riccardo
Published: November 2018

Recent evidence indicated that transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is involved in the adaptive immune response. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) have largely been used to characterize molecular mechanisms occurring in the activation of immune response. Given that the maintenance of immune system functions requires an optimal vitamin D status, we aimed to assess the involvement of TG2/NF-κB signaling in cytokine production in PBMC isolated from adult subjects with different vitamin D status. We observed TG2 up-regulation and a significant positive correlation between TG2 expression and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α mRNA levels in PBMC of recruited patients. The mRNA levels of TG2 and TNF-α were higher in PBMC of subjects having hypovitaminosis D, namely plasma 25(OH)vitamin D3 levels lower than 50 nmol/L, than in those with normal vitamin D levels. Moreover, NF-κB up-regulation and nuclear translocation were detected, concomitantly with TG2 as well as TNF-α increased expression, in PBMC of vitamin D-deficient subjects. The present findings confirm that an increase in TG2 expression exacerbates the activation of NF-κB and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and suggest a link between vitamin D deficiency, TG2 up-regulation, and inflammation.
Finite Element Implementation of a Temperature-Dependent Cyclic Plastic Model for SA508-3 Steel
Authors: Tian Jun , Li Jian , Xie Hai , Yang Yu , Kan Qianhua
Published: November 2018

A new temperature-dependent cyclic plastic model, combining the nonlinear cyclic softening and kinematic hardening rules is established for a nuclear material of SA508-3 steel. A modified isotropic hardening rule is proposed to capture the temperature-dependent cyclic softening, and a modified kinematic hardening rule is established to improve the prediction of the ratcheting behavior by introducing an exponential function related to the accumulated plastic strain. The stress is updated by the radial return mapping algorithm based on the backward Euler integration. A new expression of consistent tangent modulus for the equilibrium iteration is derived, and then the proposed model is implemented into the finite element software ABAQUS by using the user material subroutine (UMAT) to simulate the temperature-dependent ratcheting behaviors of SA508-3 steel. Finally, the ratcheting evolutions of notched bars at elevated temperature are obtained by uniaxial stress-controlled cyclic tests, and the nonuniform strain fields on the surface of plates with a center hole is measured by using the digital image correlation (DIC) technology. Comparisons between experimental and simulated results of a material point and structural examples show that the implemented model can provide reasonable predictions for ratcheting behaviors and nonuniform strain fields of structures at different temperatures for SA508-3 steel.
Effective Gold Recovery from Near-Surface Oxide Zone Using Reductive Microwave Roasting and Magnetic Separation
Authors: Kim Bong-Ju , Cho Kang Hee , Lee Sang-Gil , Park Cheon-Young , Choi Nag-Choul , Lee Soonjae
Published: November 2018

High content of gold in near-surface oxide zones above the gold ore deposit could be recovered using cyanidation. However, restricting the use of cyanide in mines has made it difficult to recover gold within the oxide zone. In this study, we investigated an application of the reductive microwave roasting and magnetic separation (RMR-MS) process for the effective gold recovery from ores in a near-surface oxide zone. Ore samples obtained from the near-surface oxide zone in Moisan Gold Mine (Haenam, South Korea) were used in RMR-MS tests for the recovery of iron and gold. The effect of the RMR process on the recovery of iron and gold was evaluated by given various conditions of the microwave irradiation as well as the dosages of reductant and additive. The microwave roasting resulted in a chemical reduction of non-magnetic iron oxide minerals (hematite) to magnetite minerals, such as magnetite and maghemite. This mineral phase change could induce the effective separation of iron minerals from the gangue minerals by magnetic separation process. The increased iron recovery was directly proportional to the gold recovery due to the coexistence of gold with iron minerals. The RMR-MS process could be a promising method for gold recovery from the ores in near-surface oxide zones.
Phase Equilibria of the Co-Ti-Ta Ternary System
Authors: Wang Cuiping , Zhang Xianjie , Li Lingling , Pan Yunwei , Chen Yuechao , Yang Shuiyuan , Lu Yong , Han Jiajia , Liu Xingjun
Published: November 2018

The phase equilibria of the Co-Ti-Ta ternary system at 1000 °C, 1100 °C, and 1200 °C were experimentally investigated using an electron probe microanalyzer and X-ray diffraction. Experimental results show that: (1) No ternary compound exists in the studied isothermal sections; (2) the β(Ti) and β(Ta) phases form the continuous solid solution β(Ti,Ta) in the Ti-Ta side; (3) the solubility of Ta in the (αCo) is less than 5%; (4) the phases of Co2Ti(h) and γ-Co2Ta, Co2Ti(c) and β-Co2Ta form the continuous solid solutions Co2(Ta,Ti)(h) and Co2(Ta,Ti)(c), respectively.
Chemical Composition and Petrogenetic Implications of Apatite in the Khibiny Apatite-Nepheline Deposits (Kola Peninsula)
Authors: Kogarko Lia
Published: November 2018

Khibiny, one of the largest of the world’s peralkaline intrusions, hosts gigantic apatite deposits. Apatite is represented by F-apatite and it contains exceptionally high concentration of SrO. (4.5 wt % on average) and increased amounts of rare earth elements (REEs; up to 8891 ppm). Such enrichment of apatite ores in REEs defined Khibiny deposit as world-class deposit with resources reaching several millions tons REE2O3. Apatite from the Khibina alkaline complex is characterized by the significant enrichment in light REEs relative to the heavy REEs (with average Ce/Yb ratio of 682) and the absence of a negative Eu anomaly. The obtained geochemical signature of apatite suggests a residual character of the Khibiny alkaline magma and it indicates that the differentiation of the primary olivine-melanephelinitic magma developed without fractionation of plagioclase which is the main mineral-concentrator of Sr and Eu in basaltic magmatic systems. The compositional evolution of the Khibiny apatite in the vertical section of the intrusion reflects primary fractionation processes in the alkaline magma that differentiated in situ. The main mechanism for the formation of the apatite-nepheline deposits was the gravitational settling of large nepheline crystals in the lower part of the magma chamber, while very small apatite crystals were suspended in a convective magma, and, together with the melt, were concentrated in its upper part of the magmatic chamber.
Nanocarbon Reinforced Rubber Nanocomposites: Detailed Insights about Mechanical, Dynamical Mechanical Properties, Payne, and Mullin Effects
Authors: Srivastava Suneel Kumar , Mishra Yogendra Kumar
Published: November 2018

The reinforcing ability of the fillers results in significant improvements in properties of polymer matrix at extremely low filler loadings as compared to conventional fillers. In view of this, the present review article describes the different methods used in preparation of different rubber nanocomposites reinforced with nanodimensional individual carbonaceous fillers, such as graphene, expanded graphite, single walled carbon nanotubes, multiwalled carbon nanotubes and graphite oxide, graphene oxide, and hybrid fillers consisting combination of individual fillers. This is followed by review of mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation at break, Young modulus, and fracture toughness) and dynamic mechanical properties (glass transition temperature, crystallization temperature, melting point) of these rubber nanocomposites. Finally, Payne and Mullin effects have also been reviewed in rubber filled with different carbon based nanofillers.
Mouse Chow Composition Influences Immune Responses and Food Allergy Development in a Mouse Model
Authors: Weidmann Eleonore , Samadi Nazanin , Klems Martina , Heiden Denise , Seppova Klara , Ret Davide , Untersmayr Eva
Published: November 2018

Our diet is known to substantially influence the immune response not only by support of mucosal barriers but also via direct impact on immune cells. Thus, it was of great interest to compare the immunological effect of two mouse chows with substantial differences regarding micro-, macronutrient, lipid and vitamin content on the food allergic response in our previously established mouse model. As the two mouse chows of interest, we used a soy containing feed with lower fatty acid (FA) amount (soy-containing feed) and compared it to a soy free mouse chow (soy-free feed) in an established protocol of oral immunizations with Ovalbumin (OVA) under gastric acid suppression. In the animals receiving soy-containing feed, OVA-specific IgE, IgG1, IgG2a antibody levels were significantly elevated and food allergy was evidenced by a drop of body temperature after oral immunizations. In contrast, mice on soy-free diet had significantly higher levels of IL-10 and were protected from food allergy development. In conclusion, soy-containing feed was auxiliary during sensitizations, while soy-free feed supported oral tolerance development and food allergy prevention.
A Double-Blind Controlled Study to Evaluate the Effects of Yogurt Enriched with Lactococcus lactis 11/19-B1 and Bifidobacterium lactis on Serum Low-Density Lipoprotein Level and Antigen-Specific Interferon-γ Releasing Ability
Authors: Nishiyama Kyoko , Kobayashi Takahiro , Sato Yuko , Watanabe Yoshihisa , Kikuchi Riki , Kanno Ryoko , Koshizuka Tetsuo , Miyazaki Nozomu , Ishioka Ken , Suzutani Tatsuo
Published: November 2018

In order to clarify the effects of the Lactococcus lactis (L. lactis) 11/19-B1 strain, a double-blind controlled study of yogurt fermented with the strain was carried out. For the study, two kinds of yogurt, the control and test yogurt, were prepared; the control yogurt was fermented with Streptococcus thermophiles, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subspecies bulgaricus, and Lactobacillus acidophilus, and the test yogurt was enriched with L. lactis 11/19-B1 and Bifidobacterium lactis (B. lactis) BB-12 strains. Seventy-six volunteers who had not received treatment with pharmaceuticals were randomly divided into two groups with each group ingesting 80 g of either the test or control yogurt every day for 8 weeks. Before and after yogurt intake, fasting blood was taken and blood sugar, blood lipids, and anti-cytomegalovirus cellular immunity were estimated. In the test yogurt group, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was significantly decreased (159.1 ± 25.7 to 149.3 ± 24.4; p = 0.02), but this effect was not observed in the control yogurt group. When the test yogurt group was divided into two groups based on LDL levels of over or under 120 mg/dL, this effect was only observed in the high LDL group. No LDL-lowering effect of B. lactis BB-12 strain was previously reported; therefore, the hypocholesterolemic effects observed in this study are thought to be caused by the L. lactis 11/19-B1 strain alone or its combination with the B. lactis BB-12 strain.
Antioxidative Efficacy of a Pistacia Lentiscus Supplement and Its Effect on the Plasma Amino Acid Profile in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: Papada Efstathia , Forbes Alastair , Amerikanou Charalampia , Torović Ljilja , Kalogeropoulos Nick , Tzavara Chara , Triantafillidis John K. , Kaliora Andriana C.
Published: November 2018

Oxidative stress is present in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), and natural supplements with antioxidant properties have been investigated as a non-pharmacological approach. The objective of the present study was to assess the effects of a natural Pistacia lentiscus (PL) supplement on oxidative stress biomarkers and to characterise the plasma-free amino acid (AA) profiles of patients with active IBD (Crohn’s disease (CD) N = 40, ulcerative colitis (UC) N = 20). The activity was determined according to 5 ≤ Harvey Bradshaw Index ≤ 16 or 2 ≤ Partial Mayo Score ≤ 6. This is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. IBD patients (N = 60) were randomly allocated to PL (2.8 g/day) or to placebo for 3 months being under no treatment (N = 21) or under stable medical treatment (mesalamine N = 24, azathioprine N = 14, and corticosteroids N = 23) that was either single medication (N = 22) or combined medication (N = 17). Plasma oxidised, low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), total serum oxidisability, and serum uric acid were evaluated at baseline and follow-up. OxLDL/LDL and oxLDL/High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) ratios were calculated. The plasma-free AA profile was determined by applying a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. oxLDL (p = 0.031), oxLDL/HDL (p = 0.020), and oxLDL/LDL (p = 0.005) decreased significantly in the intervention group. The mean change differed significantly in CD between groups for oxLDL/LDL (p = 0.01), and, in the total sample, both oxLDL/LDL (p = 0.015) and oxLDL/HDL (p = 0.044) differed significantly. Several changes were reported in AA levels. PL ameliorated a decrease in plasma-free AAs seen in patients with UC taking placebo. In conclusion, this intervention resulted in favourable changes in oxidative stress biomarkers in active IBD.
Regulation of Adipogenesis and Thermogenesis through Mouse Olfactory Receptor 23 Stimulated by α-Cedrene in 3T3-L1 Cells
Authors: Tong Tao , Park Jinju , Moon Cheil , Park Taesun
Published: November 2018

Olfactory receptors (ORs) are G protein-coupled receptors that perform important physiological functions beyond their role as odorant detectors in the olfactory sensory neurons. In the present study, we describe a novel role for one of these ORs, mouse olfactory receptor 23 (MOR23), as a regulator of adipogenesis and thermogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. Downregulation of MOR23 by small interfering RNA in 3T3-L1 cells enhanced intracellular lipid accumulation and reduced the oxygen consumption rate. In agreement with this phenotype, MOR23 deletion significantly decreased intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels and protein amounts of adenylyl cyclase 3 (ADCY3), protein kinase A catalytic subunit (PKA Cα), phospho-5′-adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and phospho-cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB), along with upregulation of adipogenic genes and downregulation of genes involved in thermogenesis. Activation of MOR23 by α-cedrene, a novel natural ligand of MOR23, significantly reduced lipid content, increased the oxygen consumption rate, and stimulated reprogramming of the metabolic signature of 3T3-L1 cells, and these changes elicited by α-cedrene were absent in MOR23-deficient cells. These findings point to the role of MOR23 as a regulator of adipogenesis and thermogenesis in adipocytes.
Synthesis and Characterization of BaTiO3/Polypyrrole Composites with Exceptional Dielectric Behaviour
Authors: Ahmed Khalil , Kanwal Farah , Ramay Shahid , Atiq Shahid , Rehman Rabia , Ali Syed , Alzayed Nasser
Published: November 2018

Higher concentrations of ceramic fillers induce brittleness in the ceramic/polymer hybrids which restrict their applications to limited fields especially when such hybrids are prepared for their use as dielectrics. We have synthesized and characterized different BaTiO3-polypyrrole (PPy) composites by changing the concentration of BaTiO3 from 1% by weight of PPy taken to 5 wt % to explore its effect on the dielectric parameters of the final product and found that the BaTiO3-polypyrrole composite with weight ratio of 0.05:1 exhibited highest dielectric constant, lowest dielectric loss and thermally most stable. All the composites were prepared using in-situ polymerization of pyrrole in an aqueous dispersion of low content of BaTiO3 in the presence of small amount of Hydrochloric acid. These composites were characterized for their microstructure and crystallinity by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) while thermal stability by thermo gravimetric (TGA) analysis. An impedance analyser (LCR meter) was utilized to investigate the dielectric parameters. FT-IR data confirmed the presence of the two phases and their interaction, inferred from the shifting of normal PPy peaks. The data obtained from XRD confirmed the presence of crystallites of 2.8 to 5 nm with dominant crystallinity of the filler, TGA analysis (25 to 600 °C) confirmed the higher thermal stability induced on successive addition of the filler into the prepared composites as compared to that of pure PPy in a wide temperature range which is unusual for such a low % age addition of the filler. The SEM analysis together with XRD results reveal that the successive introduction of BaTiO3 particles produced crystallites of 2 to 5 nm size which bonded together and changed the hemispherical shaped larger grains of the matrix to regular shaped smaller grains. The dielectric constant of the composites was enhanced with filler contents from 178 to 522 at 1 MHz for 1 wt % and 5 wt % BaTiO3 respectively. It was concluded that the introduction of BaTiO3 into the polymer matrix with this new procedure has greatly affected the polymerization process, thermal stability, morphology and dielectric properties of the host matrix and has resulted in a novel series of the composites which may have broad applications.