bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of different hydrocolloids and drying temperatures in the drying kinetics, modeling, color, and texture profile of murta (Ugni molinae Turcz) berry leather
Authors: Gómez‐Pérez Luis S. , Navarrete Carlos , Moraga Nelson , Rodríguez Angela , Vega‐Gálvez Antonio
Published: November 2019

The aim of this study is to describe the drying kinetics of a murta (Ugni molinae Turcz) berry purée to obtain a fruit leather through mathematical model and determine the effect of different hydrocolloids on the mass diffusion coefficient, activation energy, surface color, and texture profile at different drying temperatures. Three hydrocolloids were used: 1% gelatin, 0.2% carrageenan, and 4% starch at three process temperatures: 50, 60, and 70°C and a formulation without hydrocolloid as control. The hydrocolloids and process temperature influenced the drying time. The mass diffusion coefficient varied depending on the process temperature and hydrocolloids with values between 1.2665 × 10−10 m2 s−1 and 4.5341 × 10−10 m2 s−1. The Midilli & Kucuk model had a better fit to experimental values. A MANOVA indicated that hydrocolloids and process temperature had a significant effect on color and texture of fruit leather. The process temperature and concentration of hydrocolloids are important factors for drying process design.

Practical Applications

Fruit leather is a low humidity product and stable at room temperature. It can be made with surpluses, discards, or mixtures of fruits, being a new alternative of preservation and healthy consumption. The murta berry is a stationary fruit with antioxidant properties hardly been explored at an industrial level and fruit leathers can be a novel production alternative. Hydrocolloids have gelling and stabilizing characteristics. For this reason, they are used to improve the formation of fruit leathers, although it is necessary to know their effects on physical characteristics as color and texture of the final product. These features are important for consumers' purchasing decision. The convective drying process parameters for fruit leather production as: moisture content, diffusion coefficient, and activation energy can be determined by mathematical modeling. The knowledge of these parameters is important for drying process designs.
A novel thin‐layer model for drying of Indian dark red onion slices at high velocity
Authors: Bhong Mahesh G. , Kale Vinayak M.
Published: November 2019

Thin‐layer equations for drying have been used to estimate drying duration for numerous agricultural produces. In the present work, a novel thin‐layer model is proposed based on drying duration, velocity, and temperature. Model results are compared with experimental and 11 models to simulate drying at four high air velocity (2, 3.6, 5.7, and 7.7 m/s) for Indian dark red onion slices. The experimental effective moisture diffusivity rises with the rise in velocity and it is observed between 1.096646 × 10−11 and 1.295467 × 10−11. Predicted moisture ratio demonstrates good agreement to experimental moisture ratio with the adjusted R2 0.9916 and R2 0.9921.

Practical applications

In the Food Industry, mass production is an indispensable objective. To achieve targeted production in limited time, hot air at higher velocity plays a vital role. This paper is written to focus the results of proposed mathematical modeling of Indian dark red onion slices at high air velocity (2, 3.6, 5.7, and 7.7 m/s). The proposed mathematical model simulates drying behavior considering the combined effect of drying duration, velocity, and temperature.
A WRKY transcription factor confers aluminum tolerance via regulation of cell wall modifying genes
Authors: Li Chun Xiao , Yan Jing Ying , Ren Jiang Yuan , Sun Li , Xu Chen , Li Gui Xin , Ding Zhong Jie , Zheng Shao Jian
Published: November 2019

Modification of cell wall properties has been considered as one of the determinants that confer aluminum (Al) tolerance in plants, while how cell wall modifying processes are regulated remains elusive. Here, we present a WRKY transcription factor WRKY47 involved in Al tolerance and root growth. Lack of WRKY47 significantly reduces, while overexpression of it increases Al tolerance. We show that lack of WRKY47 substantially affects subcellular Al distribution in the root, with Al content decreased in apoplast and increased in symplast, which is attributed to the reduced cell wall Al‐binding capacity conferred by the decreased content of hemicellulose I in the wrky47‐1 mutant. Based on microarray, real time‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we further show that WRKY47 directly regulates the expression of EXTENSIN‐LIKE PROTEIN (ELP) and XYLOGLUCAN ENDOTRANSGLUCOSYLASE‐HYDROLASES17 (XTH17) responsible for cell wall modification. Increasing the expression of ELP and XTH17 rescued Al tolerance as well as root growth in wrky47‐1 mutant. In summary, our results demonstrate that WRKY47 is required for root growth under both normal and Al stress conditions via direct regulation of cell wall modification genes, and that the balance of Al distribution between root apoplast and symplast conferred by WRKY47 is important for Al tolerance.
Amelioration of hippocampal dysfunction by adipose tissue‐targeted stem cell transplantation in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes
Authors: Krishnan Balaji , Sallam Hanaa S. , Tumurbataar Batbayar , Saieva Salvatore , Baymon Da’Marcus , Tuvdendorj Demidmaa , Micci Maria‐Adelaide , Abate Nicola , Taglialatela Giulio
Published: November 2019

There is growing evidence that type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance is linked to cognitive impairment. We recently confirmed altered lipid composition, down‐regulation of insulin receptor expression and impaired basal synaptic transmission in the hippocampus of our transgenic murine model of adipocyte insulin resistance (AtENPP1‐Tg). Here we evaluated whether the correction of adipose tissue dysfunction [via the subcutaneous transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC)] can improve the hippocampal synaptic transmission in AtENPP1‐Tg mice versus their wildtype littermates. Animals were simply randomized to receive MSC, then weighed weekly for 12 weeks. At euthanasia, we assessed leptin in the collected serum and hippocampal synaptic high‐frequency stimulation long‐term potentiation (HFS‐LTP) using brain slices. MSC transplantation normalized AtENPP1‐Tg body and epididymal fat weights and was associated with increased leptin levels, a sign of adipocyte maturation. More importantly, transplantation restored the deficiency observed in AtENPP1‐Tg HFS‐LTP, the cellular readout of memory. Our results further corroborate the role of adipocyte maturation arrest in adipose tissue and highlight a role for the adipose tissue in modulating hippocampal cellular mechanisms. Further studies are warranted to explore the mechanisms for the MSC‐induced improvement of hippocampal HFS‐LTP.

image
Relational processing in the semantic domain is impaired in medial temporal lobe amnesia
Authors: Keane Margaret M. , Bousquet Kathryn , Wank Aubrey , Verfaellie Mieke
Published: November 2019

It has been argued that the hippocampus supports cognition by virtue of its role in flexibly binding together distinct elements of experience. Such ‘relational processing’ enables us to (re)construct episodic representations of real or imagined events. The present study examined whether hippocampally mediated relational processing also contributes to the construction of semantic representations. To do so, we asked amnesic individuals with medial temporal lobe (MTL) lesions including the hippocampus to generate hypothetical meanings for novel word compounds (e.g., cactus carpet), a task that requires existing concepts to be flexibly linked. The quality of definitions and number of features generated for the novel compounds were lower in patients with MTL lesions than in control participants. Whereas the subset of patients with lesions extending into lateral temporal cortex had additional difficulty generating meanings for pre‐existing compounds (e.g., bus station), patients with lesions limited to the MTL showed no such deficit, indicating that their impairment in the novel compound condition was not due to reduced access to semantic information. These findings suggest that the role of hippocampally mediated relational processing extends beyond the episodic domain to include the generation of novel semantic representations.
An accelerating treadmill and an overlooked contradiction in industrial agriculture: Climate change and nitrogen fertilizer
Authors: Houser Matthew , Stuart Diana
Published: November 2019

In this article, we explore if and why farmers are responding to the impacts of climate change with practices that increase greenhouse gas emissions. Our examination focuses on heavy rainfall events and Midwestern corn farmers' nitrogen fertilizer management. Due to climate change, the frequency and intensity of heavy rain events is increasing across the Midwest. These events increase nitrogen loss to the environment and introduces economic risks to farmers. Drawing from a theoretical framework that merges O'Connor's second contradiction of capitalism and Schnaiberg's treadmill of production, we argue farmers' responses to these events reflect the second contradiction, increasing contributions to climate change, and are shaped by treadmill‐like political‐economic pressures. We examine this using a qualitative sample of 154 farmers across Indiana, Iowa, and Michigan. Given profit imperatives, adapting farmers in our sample primarily used increased nitrogen application rates to reduce their vulnerability to heavy rains. As nitrogen rate is directly associated with nitrous oxide emissions, this adaptive strategy is effective but increases agricultural contributions to climate change. This preliminarily suggests that the political‐economic structure encourages farmers to respond to climate change in ways that accelerate the environmental contradictions of industrial agriculture.
Adolescent Intergenerational Relationship Dynamics and Leaving and Returning to the Parental Home
Authors: Gillespie Brian Joseph
Published: November 2019

Objective

Drawing on the life course perspective and theoretical models of intergenerational solidarity, this research explores how adolescent–parent relationships (i.e., parent–child closeness, parental attentiveness, family routines, and parenting styles) are associated with young adults' transitions to adulthood.

Background

The study adds to the growing literature on adolescents' leaving and returning to the parental home by focusing on parent–child relationships and variations across gendered parent–child dyads.

Method

Based on data spanning nearly 2 decades from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (N = 5,201), event history analysis was employed to assess how intergenerational family dynamics correlate with young adults' risk of leaving (n = 4,519) and returning to (n = 2,749) the parental home.

Results

The results indicate that, net of individual, household, and other contextual factors, parent–child closeness is significantly and positively associated with leaving the parental home. This suggests that close parent–child relationships can help launch children into adulthood. Looking at returns to the parental home, closeness becomes significant for daughters only and is moderated by parent gender. In addition, measures of parenting style indicate a significant and negative association between more‐passive styles and children's return to the parental home.

Conclusion

These findings highlight the need to more closely consider the impact of gender and parent–child relationship dynamics in facilitating young adults' transition to adulthood.
Long‐Term Consequences of Early Parenthood
Authors: Johansen Eva R. , Nielsen Helena S. , Verner Mette
Published: November 2019

Objective

The study examines how early parenthood affects mothers and fathers of different ages, family backgrounds, and cohabitation status.

Background

Although having children at an early age is associated with unfavorable outcomes for women, the evidence for men is sparse; moreover, having children and cohabiting early are closely related.

Method

Using Danish register data merging all childbirths to mothers and fathers, the authors examined the long‐term consequences of parenthood before age 21. Cohorts born 1968 to 1977 were included. The authors employed sibling fixed effects to investigate the link between early parenthood and educational attainment, employment, and earnings at ages 22 to 35.

Results

In general, early parenthood limited education and employment, and the relationship was only slightly weaker for men than for women. The effects were persistent across ages, and young parents were still catching up to other parents into their 30s. Around half of the young couples cohabited around childbirth, which mitigated the effect for fathers in particular. Individuals with a favorable family background seemed to be affected more than others.

Conclusion

Early parenthood had negative long‐term consequences for mothers and fathers—even in the context of a Nordic welfare state with generous support. Fathers were less affected when they remained with the mother and child.
Evaluation of the time-dependent antiproliferative activity and liver microsome stability of 3 phenyl 4-(2-oxo-3-alkylimidazolidin-1-yl)benzenesulfonates as promising CYP1A1-dependent antimicrotubule prodrugs
Authors: Zarifi Khosroshahi Mitra , Corin Chavez Alvarez Atziri , Gagné-Boulet Mathieu , C.-Gaudreault René , Gobeil Stéphane , Fortin Sébastien
Published: November 2019

Objectives

In this study, the antiproliferative activity of 3 phenyl 4-(2-oxo-3-alkylimidazolidin-1-yl)benzenesulfonates (PAIB-SOs) was assessed in a time-dependent manner together with their hepatic stability and metabolism using human, mouse and rat liver microsomes.

Methods

CEU-818, -820 and -913 were selected as promising hit compounds. Their antiproliferative activity on human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells was evaluated using escalating concentrations of drugs at 24, 36 and 48 h and the sulforhodamine B assay. Their hepatic stability was evaluated by HPLC-UV of extracts obtained from human, mouse and rat liver microsomes.

Key findings

The antiproliferative activity of PAIB-SOs is concentration and time-dependent and requires between 24 and 36 h of contact with MCF-7 cells to detect a significant antiproliferative activity. PAIB-SOs stability in microsomes usually decreases following this order: human ≈ (rat > mouse). The CEU-913 exhibits the longest half-life in rat and human liver microsomes while the CEU-820 exhibits the longest half-life in mouse liver microsomes.

Conclusions

Our in vitro results suggest that PAIB-SOs should have a minimum contact time of 24 h with the tumour to trigger significant antitumoural activity. The activity of mouse liver microsomes towards PAIB-SOs is higher than rat microsomes and tends to be higher than human liver microsomes.
Pulmonary delivery alters the disposition of raloxifene in rats
Authors: Kong Ying , Cai Hui , Xing Han , Ren Chang , Kong Dexuan , Ning Chen , Li Ning , Zhao Di , Chen Xijing , Lu Yang
Published: November 2019

Objective

Pulmonary delivery is an effective way to improve the bioavailability of drugs with extensive metabolism. This research was designed to study the different pharmacokinetic behaviours of small molecule drug after pulmonary delivery and intragastric (i.g) administration.

Methods

Raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator with low oral bioavailability (~2%), was chosen as the model drug. Studies were conducted systematically in rats, including plasma pharmacokinetics, excretion, tissue distribution and metabolism.

Key findings

Results showed that raloxifene solution dosed by intratracheal (i.t) administration exhibited relatively quick plasma elimination (t1/2 = 1.78 ± 0.14 h) and undetected absorption process, which was similar with intravenous injection. Compared with i.g administration, the bioavailability increased by 58 times, but the major route of excretion remained faecal excretion. Drug concentration on the bone and the target efficiency were improved by 49.6 times and five times, respectively. Benefited from quick elimination in the lung, chronic toxicity might be ignored.

Conclusions

Pulmonary administration improved the bioavailability of raloxifene and further increased the distribution on the target organ (bone), with no obvious impact on its excretory pattern.
Profitability improvement for brine shrimp Artemia franciscana commercial farming in coastal saltworks in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam: A bioeconomic analysis
Authors: Nguyen Phuoc Vinh , Huang Cheng Ting , Truong Khac Hieu , Hsiao Yao Jen
Published: November 2019

The live feed demands of the global aquaculture industry depend highly on Artemia production in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. However, the production and profitability of Artemia farming in the Mekong Delta have been affected by environmental and technical challenges. This study presents a cost and return analysis on Artemia franciscana farmed in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam by considering the interaction effects of farming scale and production model for improving Artemia production and profitability. The data were obtained from 94 farms, and the key factors affecting profitability were identified according to economic principles and multivariate statistical analysis. The results highlighted that the profitabilities of Artemia farms were significantly affected by farming scale, production model, and the interaction between these factors (p < .001). Farms applying a “cyst and biomass” model achieved more profit compared to those applying a “cyst” model. The greatest profitability was recorded for a small‐scale “cyst and biomass” model. In order to improve profitability, besides applying the “cyst and biomass” model and maintaining optimal stocking densities, a moderate increment of organic fertilizer and chemical inputs are essential to assure better nutrition and water environment for optimal growth of Artemia biomass and their reproductive activities. For further sustainable development, however, good collaboration between scientists and feed processing companies is suggested to commercially produce specific formulated feeds to satisfy Artemia nutritional demands and ensure environmental protection.
Incorporation of competition‐related TRIPS flexibilities in the domestic law: A case study of India
Authors: Syed Shirin
Published: November 2019

Abuse of patent rights can hit the three pillars of the competition law viz., agreements, abuse of dominant position and combination (mergers and acquisitions). In the context of the interface between competition law and patented inventions, the following acts can strike hard at the different pillars of competition law. First, the licensing agreements containing conditions, which may prevent competition, can attract the provisions of competition law to regulate agreements. Second, high prices on patented products can be treated as an abuse of dominant position. Third, refusal to license an intellectual property right may be anticompetitive under certain conditions such as refusing to license the second/dependent patent over the existing patented invention, and refusal on reasonable terms to the competitors. The TRIPS Agreement does contain flexibilities offering remedies to address the public interest aspects including the abuse of patents. This paper examines the implementation of competition law‐related flexibilities in the Indian Patents Act and the Competition Act in the context of pharmaceutical product patents. It argues that though competition law flexibilities are incorporated in both statutes, there is further scope for optimising the scope of these flexibilities.
Kelp patch size and density influence secondary productivity and diversity of epifauna
Authors: Shelamoff Victor , Layton Cayne , Tatsumi Masayuki , Cameron Matthew J. , Edgar Graham J. , Wright Jeffrey T. , Johnson Craig R.
Published: November 2019

Habitat‐forming ecosystem engineers are the foundation of many marine ecosystems where they support diverse and productive food‐webs. A reduction in their patch size or density may affect the productivity, biodiversity and stability of these ecosystems. We determined the effects of different densities and patch sizes of Ecklonia radiata (the dominant kelp in southern Australia) on the secondary productivity, species richness, diversity and community structure of understory epifaunal invertebrates and how associated environmental covariates modified by kelp affected those patterns. We assessed sub‐canopy epifauna across 28 artificial reefs with transplanted E. radiata consisting of seven different patch sizes (0.12–7.68 m2) crossed with four kelp densities (0–16 kelp m−2) over two years. Epifaunal secondary productivity associated with both natural algal and standardised rope fibre habitats decreased with patch size and was elevated when kelp was absent, however, it was also high in natural habitat when there was a high density of kelp. Epifaunal productivity was positively associated with sub‐canopy light and water flow but negatively associated with the biomass of the dominant understory alga, Ulva sp. Epifaunal diversity declined with a reduction in reef size as did richness which correlated with a loss of algal species richness. Community structure of epifauna also differed between small and large reefs, between reefs with and without kelp, between rope habitats at the centre and at the edge of reefs, and within natural habitat between reefs supporting high and low densities of kelp. Overall, these results indicate complex effects of E. radiata decline on epifaunal communities, with high secondary productivity associated with dense kelp stands, but also areas without kelp that are dominated by turf algae. While the loss of standing kelp from rocky reefs may result in declines in epifaunal biodiversity, where turf algae replaces kelp, the reefs may still support high secondary productivity.
Genome editing in wheat microspores and haploid embryos mediated by delivery of ZFN proteins and cell‐penetrating peptide complexes
Authors: Bilichak Andriy , Sastry‐Dent Lakshmi , Sriram Shreedharan , Simpson Matthew , Samuel Pon , Webb Steve , Jiang Fengying , Eudes Francois
Published: November 2019

Recent advances in genome engineering technologies based on designed endonucleases (DE) allow specific and predictable alterations in plant genomes to generate value‐added traits in crops of choice. The EXZACT Precision technology, based on zinc finger nucleases (ZFN), has been successfully used in the past for introduction of precise mutations and transgenes to generate novel and desired phenotypes in several crop species. Current methods for delivering ZFNs into plant cells are based on traditional genetic transformation methods that result in stable integration of the nuclease in the genome. Here, we describe for the first time, an alternative ZFN delivery method where plant cells are transfected with ZFN protein that eliminates the need for stable nuclease genomic integration and allows generation of edited, but not transgenic cells or tissues. For this study, we designed ZFNs targeting the wheat IPK1 locus, purified active ZFN protein from bacterial cultures, complexed with cell‐penetrating peptides (CPP) and directly transfected the complex into either wheat microspores or embryos. NGS analysis of ZFN‐treated material showed targeted edits at the IPK1 locus in independent experiments. This is the first description of plant microspore genome editing by a ZFN when delivered as a protein complexed with CPP.
Comparison of rye, triticale, durum wheat and bread wheat genotypes for Fusarium head blight resistance and deoxynivalenol contamination
Authors: Gaikpa David Sewordor , Lieberherr Bärbel , Maurer Hans Peter , Longin C. Friedrich H. , Miedaner Thomas
Published: November 2019

Small‐grain winter cereal crops can be infected with Fusarium head blight (FHB) leading to mycotoxin contamination and reduction in grain weight and quality. Although a number of studies have investigated the genetic variation of genotypes within each small‐grain cereal, a systematic comparison of the winter crops rye, triticale, durum and bread wheat for their FHB resistance, Fusarium‐damaged kernels (FDK) and deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination across species is still missing. We have therefore evaluated twelve genotypes each of four crops widely varying in their FHB resistance under artificial infection with one DON‐producing F. culmorum isolate at constant spore concentrations and additionally at crop‐specific concentrations in two environments. Rye and triticale were the most resistant crops to FHB followed by bread and durum wheat at constant and crop‐specific spore concentrations. On average, rye accumulated the lowest amount of DON (10.08 mg/kg) in the grains, followed by triticale (15.18 mg/kg) and bread wheat (16.59 mg/kg), while durum wheat had the highest amount (30.68 mg/kg). Genotypic variances within crops were significant (p ≤ .001) in most instances. These results underline the differing importance of breeding for FHB resistance in the different crops.
Plasmonic rK28 ELISA improves the diagnosis of canineLeishmaniainfection
Authors: Oliveira dos Santos Maciel Marilene , Soares Matheus Fujimura , Costa Sidnei Ferro , Bragato Jaqueline Poleto , Rebech Gabriela Torres , de Freitas Jéssica Henrique , Alves Graziella Borges , de Oliveira Talita Carolina Bragança , Bresciani Katia Denise Saraiva , de Lima Valéria Marçal Felix
Published: November 2019

In this study, we evaluated the performance of a new enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) variant known as indirect “plasmonic ELISA” (pELISA) for the detection ofLeishmaniaspp. infection. Serum samples from 170 dogs from an area where canine leishmaniosis (CanL) is endemic and from 26 healthy dogs from a nonendemic area were tested by indirect pELISA, and the results were compared to those of an indirect ELISA (both with recombinant antigen rK28) and those of an immunochromatographic test (dual‐path platform, TR‐DPP®) using real‐time PCR on blood samples or conjunctival swabs as the gold standard. The pELISA, indirect rK28 ELISA and the TR‐DPP® immunochromatographic test presented sensitivities of 94.7%, 89.5% and 79.0% and specificities of 100%, 92.7% and 91.5%, respectively. The analysis of the results revealed that the specificity of the indirect pELISA was greater than that of the method recommended by the Ministry of Health in Brazil and may increase the feasibility of diagnosis in resource‐constrained countries because it does not require sophisticated instruments to read. Thus, this method can be used as an additional tool for the detection ofLeishmaniaspp. infection in these areas.
Recent Modeling and Analytical Advances in Hospital Inpatient Flow Management
Authors: Dai Jim G. , Shi Pengyi
Published: November 2019

Inpatient flow management plays a critical role in care delivery, patient outcomes, and hospital operational and financial costs. Modeling and performance analysis of inpatient flow present unique features and challenges that differ from operations in other service industries. In this study, we review recent modeling and analytical advances in the setting of inpatient flow management, with a particular focus on service time models motivated from the observations of inpatient discharges. We first compare two new service time models developed to capture the time‐of‐day inpatient flow dynamics, and reveal interesting connections between the two models. We then review analytical methods developed to analyze systems with the new service time models. Based on one method, which is amenable to a one‐dimensional exact analysis under certain conditions, we further introduce its approximations that have explicit analytical forms and enable efficient computations in large systems. In particular, we showcase how to leverage a powerful tool, Stein’s method framework, in the hospital setting for steady‐state approximations and characterizing error bounds. We conclude this study by a literature review on other important aspects in inpatient flow management and propose future research directions, from both the modeling and analytical perspectives.
Investment opportunities and R&D investments in family and nonfamily firms
Authors: Miroshnychenko Ivan , Barontini Roberto , De Massis Alfredo
Published: November 2019

The firm’s investment opportunity set (IOS) reflects the prospective growth opportunities related to physical and human capital investments. IOSs are largely firm specific, embedded in assets‐in‐place, or generated by experience curves, learning‐by‐doing, and other similar phenomena. However, the value of an IOS can be destroyed if a firm does not exercise the option to invest. In this study, we theorize that a firm’s ability to invest in R&D is conditional on the availability of a favorable IOS. We test our theoretical propositions in the European business environment using a sample of large publicly traded firms with concentrated ownership. Our findings support the notion that the IOS is a significant determinant of corporate R&D investments, but the magnitude of this effect depends on the identity of the ultimate owner. Specifically, the sensitivity of R&D investments of family‐ and state‐owned corporations is higher to favorable IOS than that of widely held corporations, suggesting these firms are more responsive to favorable IOS than others. By introducing the IOS dimension, our results have interesting implications for both theory and practice.
Simulating Behavioral Influences on Community Flood Risk under Future Climate Scenarios
Authors: Tonn Gina , Guikema Seth , Zaitchik Benjamin
Published: November 2019

Flood risk is a function of both climate and human behavior, including individual and societal actions. For this reason, there is a need to incorporate both human and climatic components in models of flood risk. This study simulates behavioral influences on the evolution of community flood risk under different future climate scenarios using an agent‐based model (ABM). The objective is to understand better the ways, sometimes unexpected, that human behavior, stochastic floods, and community interventions interact to influence the evolution of flood risk. One historic climate scenario and three future climate scenarios are simulated using a case study location in Fargo, North Dakota. Individual agents can mitigate flood risk via household mitigation or by moving, based on decision rules that consider risk perception and coping perception. The community can mitigate or disseminate information to reduce flood risk. Results show that agent behavior and community action have a significant impact on the evolution of flood risk under different climate scenarios. In all scenarios, individual and community action generally result in a decline in damages over time. In a lower flood risk scenario, the decline is primarily due to agent mitigation, while in a high flood risk scenario, community mitigation and agent relocation are primary drivers of the decline. Adaptive behaviors offset some of the increase in flood risk associated with climate change, and under an extreme climate scenario, our model indicates that many agents relocate.
Housing markets, monetary policy, and the international co‐movement of housing bubbles
Authors: Caraiani Petre , Călin Adrian Cantemir
Published: November 2019

We analyze whether there was co‐movement in bubbles at the international level from the mid‐1990s to 2018 using a data set of developed and emerging economies. We first identify the markets that were more prone to volatility and speculation before the crisis. Second, we determine and compare the responses of bubbles in housing markets to monetary policy in a Bayesian time‐varying framework. We then study the co‐movement of bubble responses to monetary shocks before and after the crisis using a dynamic factor model. This approach allows us to disentangle a common global factor from factors specific to high/low speculative housing markets.
Systemic biomarkers of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation outcome—Brief introduction
Authors: Mrazek Frantisek
Published: November 2019

Although complex approaches in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) improved substantially in the last decades, considerable proportion of patients still suffer from life‐threatening complications including graft versus host disease (GvHD). Great effort has therefore been dedicated to identification of biomarkers of the aHSCT outcome. Recently, prognostic scores for the prediction of GvHD and non‐relapse mortality based on circulating molecules, such as tumour necrosis factor receptor‐1, IL‐33receptor (ST2) and regenerating islet‐derived 3‐alpha were proposed and evaluated in multicentre studies. Furthermore, several biomarkers, for example, ST2, represent promising targets for therapeutic intervention in severe GvHD. These results bring us closer to the clinical strategies to effectively control complications following aHSCT, and therefore to the tailored stem cell therapy with higher benefits for the patients.
Detection of an HLA‐A*30 variant, HLA‐A*30:114, in a Taiwanese individual
Authors: Yang Kuo‐Liang , Lin Py Y.
Published: November 2019

One nucleotide substitution in codon 219 of HLA‐A*30:01:01:01 results in a novel allele, HLA‐A*30:114.
In vitro antibacterial activity of the manuka essential oil from Leptospermum scoparium combined with Tris‐EDTA against Gram‐negative bacterial isolates from dogs with otitis externa
Authors: Song Soon‐Young , Hyun Jae‐Eun , Kang Jung-Hun , Hwang Cheol‐Yong
Published: November 2019

Background

The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among bacteria in dogs with otitis externa has led to a need for novel therapeutic agents.

Hypothesis/Objective

To examine the antibacterial effects of manuka oil combined with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid–tromethamine (Tris‐EDTA) against Gram‐negative bacteria isolates from dogs with otitis externa.

Methods and materials

A total of 53 clinical isolates including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae ssp. pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using disk diffusion; the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of manuka essential oil, with or without Tris‐EDTA, were investigated.

Results

A total of 44 isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic and 19 strains were multidrug‐resistant, with resistance to at least one agent in three or more antimicrobial classes. The MICs and MBCs of manuka oil alone were ≥1% (v/v) and ≥2% (v/v), respectively. There was no antimicrobial effect of Tris‐EDTA (1.125:0.3 mg/mL) without manuka oil. However, the combination of manuka oil with Tris‐EDTA significantly decreased the MICs (ranging from 0.06% to 0.5%, v/v; P < 0.001) and MBCs (ranging from 0.06% to 1%, v/v; P < 0.001). There also was no significant difference between multidrug‐resistant and nonresistant bacterial isolates in terms of the antimicrobial activity of manuka oil with Tris‐EDTA.

Conclusions and clinical importance

The study findings suggest that manuka oil, especially when combined with Tris‐EDTA, may be a promising alternative therapeutic option for Gram‐negative otic pathogens. Clinical studies are needed to assess potential for in vivo ototoxic effects and efficacy.
Optimal collecting policy for apheresis platelets in a regional blood center
Authors: Lin Shi‐Woei , Hung Ying‐Sheng , Lee Wan‐Chen , Liu Chun‐Hung
Published: November 2019

Background and objectives

Planning platelet collection and inventory must rely not only on adequate forecasts of transfusion demand but also sophisticated mathematical modeling techniques. This research aims to develop a better demand forecasting model of apheresis platelets and a mathematical programming model to determine the best target amounts of apheresis platelet collection.

Materials and methods

Time series data of apheresis platelets collected from donors and platelets supplied to hospitals daily in Taipei Blood Center from January 2014 to December 2015 was used to fit a forecasting model which combines a regression‐type model for formulating the deterministic trends and seasonal variation and an autoregressive moving average model (ARMA) for explaining remaining serial correlations. A seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) model was also used for benchmarking the prediction performance. A linear programming model was then formulated to solve for the optimal daily target collection volumes that maximize the total social benefits.

Results

The time series model achieved good predictive power with a mean absolute percentage error less than 10%. The appropriateness of the proposed target collection volumes was also verified by using a simulation model, and the proportion of the total platelets requested by hospitals that can be filled by collected apheresis platelets can increase significantly by using the new policy.

Conclusion

The methods proposed in this study can be easily implemented to enhance the management efficiency of blood collecting and supplying of a blood center, and to decrease the costs of the blood outdates and shortages.
Impact of implementing pathogen reduction technologies for platelets on reducing outdates
Authors: Gorria Carlos , Labata Gorka , Lezaun Mikel , López F. Javier , Pérez Aliaga Ana Isabel , Pérez Vaquero Miguel Ángel
Published: November 2019

Background and Objectives

Applying pathogen reduction technologies (PRT) to platelets can extend their shelf life from 5 to 7 days, but there have been few systematic studies of the repercussions of such technologies on outdate rates.

Material and Methods

The benefits in terms of outdate rates of applying PRT to platelets are studied via a mathematical simulation. Specifically, statistical methods are used to determine the daily production rate needed to meet demand while not exceeding a maximum amount set as a result of limitations on donations and while assuring a minimum daily stock.

Results

The results show that a 2‐day extension in the shelf life of platelet concentrates (PC) results in reductions in outdates ranging from 88·4% to 100% at the production centres analysed. It may be the case for budgetary reasons that only part of the PCs produced can be treated. This being so, we show that if the proportion treated per annum exceeds 25% the best option is to treat part of the output every day, otherwise, it is preferable to concentrate treatment on the last two production days of the week.

Conclusions

Extending the shelf life of PC from five to seven days and setting up suitable production logistics can drastically reduce outdates at production centres. If only a part of all PCs is treated, the best choices are to distribute PRT overall production days or, if the percentage of PCs treated is very low, to apply PRT on the days preceding the weekend break.
Human Reliability Analysis-Based Method for Manual Fire Suppression Analysis in an Integrated Probabilistic Risk Assessment
Authors: Sakurahara Tatsuya , Mohaghegh Zahra , Kee Ernie
Published: November 2019

Fire is one of the most critical initiating events that can lead to core damage in nuclear power plants (NPPs). To evaluate the potential vulnerability of plants to fire hazards, fire probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) is commonly conducted. Manual fire protection features, performed by the first responders (e.g., fire brigade), play a key role in preventing and mitigating fire-induced damage to the plant systems. In the current fire PRA methodology of NPPs, there are two main gaps in the modeling of manual fire protection features: (i) the quantification of the first responder performance is solely based on empirical data (industry-wide historical fire events), and so the plant-specific design and conditions cannot be explicitly considered; and (ii) interactions of first responders with fire propagation are not fully captured. To address these challenges, the authors develop a model-based approach, grounded on human reliability analysis (HRA) and coupled with the fire dynamics simulator (FDS), to model the first responder performance more realistically and consider the interface between the first responder performance and fire propagation more explicitly. In this paper, the HRA-based approach is implemented in an integrated PRA (I-PRA) methodological framework for fire PRA and applied to a switchgear room fire scenario of an NPP. The proposed model-based approach (a) adds more realism to fire PRA and so to risk assessment in NPPs and (b) provides opportunities for sensitivity and importance measure analyses with respect to design conditions; therefore, contributes to risk management in NPPs.
Toward Decarbonized Power Generation With Gas Turbines by Using Sequential Combustion for Burning Hydrogen
Authors: Bothien Mirko R. , Ciani Andrea , Wood John P. , Fruechtel Gerhard
Published: November 2019

Excess energy generation from renewables can be conveniently stored as hydrogen for later use as a gas turbine fuel. Also, the strategy to sequestrate CO2 from natural gas (NG) will require gas turbines to run with hydrogen-based fuels. In such scenarios, high temperature low emission combustion of hydrogen is a key requirement for the future gas turbine market. Ansaldo Energia's gas turbines featuring sequential combustion have an intrinsic advantage when it comes to fuel flexibility and in particular hydrogen-based fuels. The sequential combustion system is composed of two complementary combustion stages in series: one premix stage followed by an auto-ignited second stage overcoming the limits of traditional premix combustion systems through a highly effective extra tuning parameter, i.e., the temperature between the first and the second stage. The standard constant pressure sequential combustion (CPSC) system as applied in the GT36 engine is tested, at high pressure, demonstrating that a modified operation concept allows stable combustion with no changes in combustor hardware for the whole range of NG and hydrogen blends. It is shown that in the range from 0% to 70% (vol.) hydrogen, stable combustion is achieved at full nominal exit temperature, i.e., without any derating and thus clearly outperforming other available conventional premixed combustors. Operation between 70% and 100% is possible as well and only requires a mild reduction of the combustor exit temperature. By proving the transferability of the single-can high pressure results to the engine, this paper demonstrates the practicality of operating the Ansaldo Energia GT36 H-Class gas turbine on fuels containing unprecedented concentrations of hydrogen while maintaining excellent performance and low emissions both in terms of NOx and CO2.
Probing site-dependent decoupling of hexagonal boron nitride with molecular frontier orbitals
Authors: Mehler Alexander , Néel Nicolas , Kröger Jörg
Published: November 2019

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) was grown on Pt(111) and Ru(0001) to serve as a buffer layer for molecular adsorbates. Hydrocarbon lander molecule C64H36 does not exhibit preference for specific h-BN adsorption sites on Pt(111), while on Ru(0001), wire and pore sites of the two-dimensional mesh are favored. The spectroscopic signatures of C64H36 frontier orbitals show a strong dependence on the adsorption site. For h-BN on Pt(111), C64H36 frontier orbital energies exhibit a common shift that leaves the gap between the orbitals invariant and reflects local work function changes of the h-BN lattice the molecule is weakly coupled to. In contrast, h-BN on Ru(0001) leads to a nonuniform behavior of the frontier orbital energies, which is tentatively attributed to additional charge transfer processes between the molecule and the surface.
Role of plasma properties in controlling crystallinity and phase in oxide films grown by plasma-enhanced atomic layer epitaxy
Authors: Boris David R. , Wheeler Virginia D. , Avila Jason R. , Qadri Syed B. , Eddy Charles R. , Walton Scott G.
Published: November 2019

Plasma-enhanced atomic layer epitaxy (PEALE) is a cyclic atomic layer deposition process that incorporates plasma-generated species into one of the cycle substeps to achieve layer-by-layer crystalline growth. The addition of plasma generally provides unique gas phase chemistries and a substantially reduced growth temperature compared to thermal approaches. Indeed, when properly configured, PEALE systems can deliver high-quality crystalline films with structural characteristics that rival those grown by conventional thermal equilibrium growth processes such as molecular beam epitaxy or metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. However, the inclusion of plasma also adds a complex array of reaction pathways that can be challenging to understand and control. This work focuses on the use of plasma diagnostics to inform the choice of process conditions for PEALE. Optical emission and vacuum ultraviolet emission spectroscopy, as well as spatially resolved Langmuir probe measurements, are employed to characterize an inductively coupled plasma source used for the growth of epitaxial TiO2 and Ga2O3 films on sapphire. Under plasma conditions with large concentrations of atomic oxygen and significant ion energy (30–50 eV), highly crystalline TiO2 and Ga2O3 films were grown, indicating that both reactive neutral chemistry and ion energy are important in these processes.
A new form of pure carbon dazzles and attracts
Authors: Gibbs W. Wayt
Published: November 2019

Reflective, conductive, and magnetic, U-carbon could have many practical uses—if it's real.
‘Secret science’ plan is back, and critics say it's worse
Authors: Malakoff David
Published: November 2019

EPA proposal would allow regulators to ignore many health studies.
Drones reveal earthquake hazards hidden in the abyss
Authors: Voosen Paul
Published: November 2019

Low-cost approach enables United States to double scrutiny of seafloor creep in quake zones.
Arctic intruder
Authors: Hall Shannon ,   aboard the Polarstern in the Arctic Ocean
Published: November 2019

The
Polarstern
is enabling scientists to spend 1 year frozen in ice. Now, they must make sure the ship doesn't wreck their studies.
Microbiota-derived peptide mimics drive lethal inflammatory cardiomyopathy
Authors: Gil-Cruz Cristina , Perez-Shibayama Christian , De Martin Angelina , Ronchi Francesca , van der Borght Katrien , Niederer Rebekka , Onder Lucas , Lütge Mechthild , Novkovic Mario , Nindl Veronika , Ramos Gustavo , Arnoldini Markus , Slack Emma M.C. , Boivin-Jahns Valérie , Jahns Roland , Wyss Madeleine , Mooser Catherine , Lambrecht Bart N. , Maeder Micha T. , Rickli Hans , Flatz Lukas , Eriksson Urs , Geuking Markus B. , McCoy Kathy D. , Ludewig Burkhard
Published: November 2019

Peptide mimicry breaks the heart

Myocarditis, a prolonged chronic inflammation of heart muscle, can eventually progress to inflammatory cardiomyopathy, a serious condition associated with heart failure. Activated T helper (T
H
) cells that recognize myosin heavy chain 6–derived peptides are thought to play a central role in this pathogenesis. Using a mouse model of myocarditis, Gil-Cruz
et al.
found that cardiac myosin–reactive T
H
cells are initially primed by myosin-peptide mimics derived from commensal
Bacteroides
species in the gut (see the Perspective by Epelman). Unlike heathy controls, human myocarditis patients also showed detectable immune reactivity to both
Bacteroides
and cardiac myosin antigens. Treatment with antibiotics dampened inflammatory responses and prevented lethal heart disease.

Science
, this issue p.
881
; see also p.
806