bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘Fading Crimean Flowers’: SpasmodicSonnets on the War
Authors: Willett Mischa
Published: June 2018

In their refusal to aestheticise Crimean warfare, as most of their fellow poets and newspapermen had done, Sydney Dobell and Alexander Smith, in the co-authored Sonnets on the War (1855) present a harrowing picture of the conflict from myriad viewpoints, all of which deny the patriotism and hawkishness implicit in glamorising armed conflict. This poly-vocalic collection pushes more boundaries than has previously been noticed. The choice of form, itself a commentary – this is not a war fit for epic – the emphasis on women's roles, and the anonymous and ventriloquised voicing announce departures from conventions of martial verse, and also from what we have heretofore understood about these poets’ careers.
An Outpost of Modernism: The Diplomatic Design of Cosmopolis
Authors: Van Dam Frederik
Published: June 2018

Although certain works published in the fin-de-siècle journal Cosmopolis: An International Review (1896–8) would have a lasting impact on twentieth-century literature, the principles behind its design have escaped critical attention. This article posits that Cosmopolis anticipated a form of modernism that Walter Benjamin would later conceptualise in his ‘Critique of Violence’ (1921) and ‘The Task of the Translator’ (1923). The interplay between Benjamin's two essays suggests that translation allows one to reach a nonviolent resolution of conflict through language: a translation's mediation between an original work and pure language presents a nonviolent form of coexistence. The editors and writers of Cosmopolis had already put this idea into practice: a significant number of contributors wrote in a language that was not their own, while those who did write in their own language addressed a non-native audience. The geopolitical implications of this multilingual approach come to the fore most emphatically in a case of pseudo-translation that deals with the case of Alsace-Lorraine. More subtly, the periodical creates echoes and reverberations between articles on international politics and works of literature. Through these translational practices, Cosmopolis was designed to foster a ‘diplomatic’ form of cosmopolitanism, a fact highlighted by the diplomatic credentials of a number of contributors, including the main editor, and thematised in short stories by Joseph Conrad and Henry James.
Autonomous Door and Corridor Traversal with a 20-Gram Flapping Wing MAV by Onboard Stereo Vision
Authors: Tijmons Sjoerd , De Wagter Christophe , Remes Bart , De Croon Guido
Published: June 2018

Autonomous flight of Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicles (FWMAVs) is a major challenge in the field of robotics, due to their light weight and their flapping-induced body motions. An FWMAV is presented weighing a mere 20 g while all its sensors and processing for autonomous flight are onboard. The navigation is based on a 4-g stereo vision camera with onboard processing. Three basic navigational tasks are demonstrated, namely obstacle avoidance, door traversing and corridor following. The presented combination of sensors and control routines is shown to allow flight in common unprepared environments like corridors and offices. The algorithms do not depend on prior classification or learning of the environment or control logic and work in any unprepared environment with vertical texture. While some failure cases remain, this work forms an important step towards very small autonomous indoor MAV.
An Investigation into Cascading Failure in Large-Scale Electric Grids: A Load-Redistribution Approach
Authors: Zhang Guidong , Yu Samson Shenglong , Zou Siyuan , Iu Herbert Ho-Ching , Fernando Tyrone , Zhang Yun
Published: June 2018

In this study, we propose a load-redistribution-based practical cascading failure model that analyses the dynamic behaviour of a power system upon the occurrence of node failures. The proposed model pays particular attention to the load model and its role in modelling the cascade. Both naturally-induced and deliberate man-made node failures are incorporated in the proposed model for three typical network topologies—scale-free, small-world and Erdös–Rényi random networks—to demonstrate the validity of the proposed model and the extent of cascading failure. The load-based cascading failure model is validated using the data obtained from a real-world power grid, and the robustness and vulnerability when subjected to node failures are analysed and presented.
A Hexapod Robot with Non-Collocated Actuators
Authors: Hwang Min-Chan , Huang Chiou-Jye , Liu Feifei
Published: June 2018

The primary issue in developing hexapod robots is generating legged motion without tumbling. However, when the hexapod is designed with collocated actuators, where each joint is directly mounted with an actuator, the number of actuators is usually high. The adverse effects of using a great number of actuators include the rise in the challenge of algorithms to control legged motion, the decline in loading capacity, and the increase in the cost of construction. In order to alleviate these problems, we propose a hexapod robot design with non-collocated actuators which is achieved through mechanisms. This hexapod robot is reliable and robust which, because of its mechanism-generated (as opposed to computer-generated) tripod gaits, is always is statically stable, even if running out of battery or due to electronic failure.
Reelin Haploinsufficiency and Late-Adolescent Corticosterone Treatment Induce Long-Lasting and Female-Specific Molecular Changes in the Dorsal Hippocampus
Authors: Schroeder Anna , Van den Buuse Maarten , Hill Rachel A.
Published: June 2018

Reelin depletion and stress seem to affect similar pathways including GABAergic and glutamatergic signaling and both are implicated in psychiatric disorders in late adolescence/early adulthood. The interaction between reelin depletion and stress, however, remains unclear. To investigate this, male and female heterozygous reelin mice (HRM) and wildtype (WT) controls were treated with the stress hormone, corticosterone (CORT), during late adolescence to simulate chronic stress. Glucocorticoid receptors (GR), N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAr) subunits, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD67) and parvalbumin (PV) were measured in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in adulthood. While no changes were seen in male mice, female HRM showed a significant reduction in GR expression in the dorsal hippocampus. In addition, CORT reduced GR levels as well as GluN2B and GluN2C subunits of NMDAr in the dorsal hippocampus in female mice only. CORT furthermore reduced GluN1 levels in the PFC of female mice. The combined effect of HRM and CORT treatment appeared to be additive in terms of GR expression in the dorsal hippocampus. Female-specific CORT-induced changes were associated with overall higher circulating CORT levels in female compared to male mice. This study shows differential effects of reelin depletion and CORT treatment on GR and NMDAr protein expression in male and female mice, suggesting that females are more susceptible to reelin haploinsufficiency as well as late-adolescent stress. These findings shed more light on female-specific vulnerability to stress and have implications for stress-associated mental illnesses with a female bias including anxiety and major depression.
DBD Plasma-ZrO2 Catalytic Decomposition of CO2 at Low Temperatures
Authors: Zhou Amin , Chen Dong , Ma Cunhua , Yu Feng , Dai Bin
Published: June 2018

This study describes the decomposition of CO2 using Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) plasma technology combined with the packing materials. A self-cooling coaxial cylinder DBD reactor that packed ZrO2 pellets or glass beads with a grain size of 1–2 mm was designed to decompose CO2. The control of the temperature of the reactor was achieved via passing the condensate water through the shell of the DBD reactor. Key factors, for instance discharge length, packing materials, beads size and discharge power, were investigated to evaluate the efficiency of CO2 decomposition. The results indicated that packing materials exhibited a prominent effect on CO2 decomposition, especially in the presence of ZrO2 pellets. Most encouragingly, a maximum decomposition rate of 49.1% (2-mm particle sizes) and 52.1% (1-mm particle sizes) was obtained with packing ZrO2 pellets and a 32.3% (2-mm particle sizes) and a 33.5% (1-mm particle sizes) decomposing rate with packing glass beads. In the meantime, CO selectivity was up to 95%. Furthermore, the energy efficiency was increased from 3.3%–7% before and after packing ZrO2 pellets into the DBD reactor. It was concluded that the packing ZrO2 simultaneously increases the key values, decomposition rate and energy efficiency, by a factor of two, which makes it very promising. The improved decomposition rate and energy efficiency can be attributed mainly to the stronger electric field and electron energy and the lower reaction temperature.
The Role of Executive Functioning and Academic Achievement in the Academic Self-Concept of Children and Adolescents Referred for Neuropsychological Assessment
Authors: Bailey Brittany A. , Andrzejewski Sophia K. , Greif Sarah M. , Svingos Adrian M. , Heaton Shelley C.
Published: June 2018

The current study evaluated a model of youth academic self-concept which incorporates practical executive functioning behaviors and academic achievement. Though greater academic achievement has been linked to both positive self-concept and better executive functioning, these constructs have not been examined simultaneously. It was hypothesized that academic achievement would mediate the association between problems with executive functioning and academic self-concept such that youth with more problems with executive functioning would have lower academic achievement and, in turn, lower academic self-concept. Clinical data was analyzed from a diagnostically heterogeneous sample of youth (n = 122) who underwent neuropsychological evaluation. Problems with executive functioning were assessed using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function. Academic achievement was assessed using the Woodcock–Johnson Tests of Achievement or Wechsler Individual Achievement Test. Academic self-concept was assessed using the youth-report version of the Behavioral Assessment System for Children. Surprisingly, findings indicate that academic achievement is not significantly associated with problems with executive functioning or academic self-concept. However, greater problems with executive functioning are associated with decreased academic self-concept. The overall model included several covariates and accounted for 10% of the variance in academic self-concept. Findings suggest that executive skills may be essential for aligning academic achievement with classroom performance. Though various child characteristic covariates were included, the model accounted for a small amount of variance suggesting that future studies should examine contributing contextual factors.
Aerodynamic Design of Low-Speed Axial-Flow Fans: A Historical Overview
Authors: Castegnaro Stefano
Published: June 2018

The paper presents a historical overview of the developments of aerodynamic design methods for low-speed axial-flow fans. This historical overview starts from the first fan applications, dating back to the 16th century, and arrives to the modern times of computer-based design techniques, passing through the pioneering times of aerodynamic theories and the times of designing before computers. The overview shows that the major achievements in the axial fan design discipline have actually been related to other technological fields, such as marine and aeronautical propulsion, as well as to the development of wind tunnels. At the end of the paper, the reader will have acquired a complete panorama of how the historical developments of the discipline have brought us to the current state of the art.
Design and Calibration of a 3D-Printed Cup-Vane Wireless Sensor Node
Authors: Kang’iri Samuel , Gradl Christian , Byiringiro Jean , Ngetha Harrison
Published: June 2018

There has been constant growth in the wind energy market. A study conducted in January 2018 by Global Market Insights Inc. predicted that the global wind energy market will surpass USD 170 billion by 2024. Before installation of a wind turbine, wind data must be collected from a prospective site for a minimum of one year. This has compelled the high demand for instruments used for collecting wind data. Various commercial cup anemometers and wind vanes have been manufactured for sale, some of which lack proper calibration or are not affordable for small-scale wind farmers, especially in developing countries. Wind data are a big data affair and call for instruments that handle them as such, unlike most commercial wind data collection instruments. This paper presents the design and calibration of a wireless 3D-printed cup-vane instrument for collecting wind data. This instrument represents a Wireless Sensor Node (WSN) in the Internet of Things (IoT). This study gave rise to an instrument system that was able to acquire wind data within a mean fitting deviation of ±0.063398 m/s, store them and present them wirelessly to an IEEE 802.15.4 protocol sink node. This was verified in the lab using 1 m/s to 16 m/s wind speeds at the Armfield™ wind tunnel and outside in an open field with 1 m/s to 5 m/s wind speeds.
Introduction to Special Issue on Gender and Leadership and a Future Research Agenda
Authors: O’Connor Pat
Published: June 2018

Despite the feminisation of universities in terms of their student intake [1,2], formal positions of academic leadership in higher education remain concentrated in male hands[…]
A Novel Electromagnetic Coupling Reactor Based Passive Power Filter with Dynamic Tunable Function
Authors: Wang Yifei , Yuan Youxin , Chen Jing
Published: June 2018

Along with massive applications of power electronic equipment and non-linear loads, harmonic pollutions are becoming more serious than ever. This paper describes a novel electromagnetic coupling reactor based passive power filter with dynamic tuning to quickly eliminate harmony. Firstly, the structure and mathematic model of electromagnetic coupling reactor are presented; secondly, the employed parameters, including electromagnetic coupling reactance converter, primary winding coil, and secondary winding coil are designed based on a stable structure of data; then, the test plat of passive dynamic tunable filter is introduced, as well as the performance test. According to the experimental results, the newly designed electromagnetic coupling reactor can effectively eliminate the harmonies generated by the nonlinear load, greatly reducing the harm caused by harmonics on the grid. By fine-tuning the electromagnetic coupling reactor, the dissonance caused by the change of capacitance and other issues can be effectively solved. Finally, the detailed discussion of this paper is presented, and challenges and new future research are discussed.
Study on EV Charging Peak Reduction with V2G Utilizing Idle Charging Stations: The Jeju Island Case
Authors: Han Hye-Seung , Oh Eunsung , Son Sung-Yong
Published: June 2018

Electric vehicles (EVs), one of the biggest innovations in the automobile industry, are considered as a demand source as well as a supply source for power grids. Studies have been conducted on the effect of EV charging and utilization of EVs to control grid peak or to solve the intermittency problem of renewable generators. However, most of these studies focus on only one aspect of EVs. In this work, we demonstrate that the increased demand resulting from EV charging can be alleviated by utilizing idle EV charging stations as a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) service. The work is performed based on data from Jeju Island, Korea. The EV demand pattern in 2030 is modeled and forecasted using EV charging patterns from historical data and the EV and charging station deployment plan of Jeju Island’s local government. Then, using a Monte Carlo simulation, charging and V2G scenarios are generated, and the effect of V2G on peak time is analyzed. In addition, a sensitivity analysis is performed for EV and charging station deployment. The results show that the EV charging demand increase can be resolved within the EV ecosystem.
Biomass Production and Nutrient Removal by Chlorella vulgaris from Anaerobic Digestion Effluents
Authors: Dębowski Marcin , Rusanowska Paulina , Zieliński Marcin , Dudek Magda , Romanowska-Duda Zdzisława
Published: June 2018

One of the most important factors determining the profitability of microalgae biomass production is the use of inexpensive and available source of nutrients. The aim of the study was to determine the possibility of using anaerobic digestion effluents (ADE) from the fermentation of distillery stillage, maize silage and bovine slurry as a nutrient in the production of microalgae Chlorella vulgaris biomass. The highest biomass production of 2319 mg TS/dm3 was obtained during the cultivation of microalgae in the medium consisting of the effluents originating from the fermentation with a high share of bovine slurry. Significantly lower Chlorella vulgaris biomass growth was noted during cultivation in the medium composed of effluents obtained after dewatering of anaerobic sludge from the methane fermentation reactor fed with distillery stillage. In these series, an increase of the initial concentration of N-NH4 in the medium to a level of 160 mg/dm3 significantly reduced microalgae growth. The high efficiency of P-PO4 removal from 87–100% was noted. The study proved that anaerobic digestion effluents might be used as a nutrient source for efficient biomass production of Chlorella vulgaris after optimization of ammonium nitrogen dose.
Quality Testing of Short Rotation Coppice Willow Cuttings
Authors: Heinsoo Katrin , Tali Kadri
Published: June 2018

The production and feasibility of Short Rotation Coppice depend on cutting early performance. The shoot and root biomass production of Salix cuttings in hydroponic conditions was studied. The amount of sprouted biomass after four weeks of growth depended on cutting the diameter, but the original position of the cutting along the rod or number of visible buds was not in correlation with biomass produced. Application of mineral fertilizer or soil originating from the willow plantation did not increase the total production. On the contrary, the addition of soil tended to decrease biomass production and we assumed this was a result of a shortage of light. Under the influence of fertilization, plants allocated greater biomass to roots. Comparison of different clones revealed that those with S. dasyclados genes tended to allocate less biomass to roots and the poorest-performing clone in our experiment, also had the lowest wood production in the plantation. The number of visible buds on the cutting was also clone-specific.
Correction: Oniciuc, E. A.; et al. The Present and Future of Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and Whole Metagenome Sequencing (WMS) for Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistant Microorganisms and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes across the Food Chain. Genes 2018, 9, 268.
Authors: Oniciuc Elena , Likotrafiti Eleni , Alvarez-Molina Adrián , Prieto Miguel , Santos Jesús , Alvarez-Ordóñez Avelino
Published: June 2018

The authors wish to make the following changes to their paper [1]. Due to an undetected mistake in the references management, certain errors appeared in the reference list and a reference was duplicated in Table 1[...]
Post-War Ecosophic Intuition: About the (Im)Possibility of Ecological Coexistence in Marcovaldo, or The Seasons in the City by Italo Calvino
Authors: Cantarin Márcio Matiassi , Marino Mariana Cristina
Published: June 2018

Taking in consideration, alongside Cheryll Glotfelty, that “ecocriticism seeks to evaluate text ideas in terms of their coherence and usefulness in the responses to environmental crisis” (Glotfelty and Fromm 1996, p. 5), and that crisis refers not only to the ecology of the environment but also to that of social relations and the psyche, as proposed by Félix Guattari (1990), understanding that there is a lack of equilibrium among the three registries that provoke the crisis lived by the contemporary individual, in a broad spectrum, this work intends to understand how the character Marcovaldo, from Italo Calvino’s Marcovaldo, or The Seasons in the City (1963), articulates modes of being, dwelling and surviving in a great metropolis, through the adoption of postures coherent with what we would call, later, ecosophy. In addition to the two aforementioned theorists, the ideas of Garrard (2006) and Serres (1991) will be used. Also, we intend to show how much the stories in the collection hold great potential for ecocritical reading and, therefore, for a response to the level of awareness about the ecological crisis.
An Environmental Management Maturity Model of Construction Programs Using the AHP-Entropy Approach
Authors: Bai Libiao , Wang Hailing , Huang Ning , Du Qiang , Huang Youdan
Published: June 2018

The accelerating process of urbanization in China has led to considerable opportunities for the development of construction projects, however, environmental issues have become an important constraint on the implementation of these projects. To quantitatively describe the environmental management capabilities of such projects, this paper proposes a 2-dimensional Environmental Management Maturity Model of Construction Program (EMMMCP) based on an analysis of existing projects, group management theory and a management maturity model. In this model, a synergetic process was included to compensate for the lack of consideration of synergies in previous studies, and it was involved in the construction of the first dimension, i.e., the environmental management index system. The second dimension, i.e., the maturity level of environment management, was then constructed by redefining the hierarchical characteristics of construction program (CP) environmental management maturity. Additionally, a mathematical solution to this proposed model was derived via the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)-entropy approach. To verify the effectiveness and feasibility of this proposed model, a computational experiment was conducted, and the results show that this approach could not only measure the individual levels of different processes, but also achieve the most important objective of providing a reference for stakeholders when making decisions on the environmental management of construction program, which reflects this model is reasonable for evaluating the level of environmental management maturity in CP. To our knowledge, this paper is the first study to evaluate the environmental management maturity levels of CP, which would fill the gap between project program management and environmental management and provide a reference for relevant management personnel to enhance their environmental management capabilities.
Social Risk Factors of Transportation PPP Projects in China: A Sustainable Development Perspective
Authors: Yuan Jingfeng , Li Wei , Guo Jiyue , Zhao Xianbo , Skibniewski Mirosław J.
Published: June 2018

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have become increasingly important in improving the sustainability of society in China, with transportation being the largest investment area. However, the Social Risk Factors (SRFs) of transportation PPPs in China, which serve as a useful tool for distinguishing strengths and weaknesses for effective social risk management (SRM), have not been clearly identified. A conceptual model including 3 risk dimensions and 15 SRFs was proposed to mitigate social risks and improve the social sustainability of transportation PPP projects. A questionnaire survey conducted to investigate stakeholders’ opinions on the proposed SRFs demonstrated that all the SRFs were important. The SRFs can be used to evaluate social risks from economic, environmental, and social dimensions. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) verified the classification of the SRFs and indicated that all the risk dimensions contributed to social risks. The social and environmental impacts on social sustainability may contribute more to the generation of social risks. Furthermore, the concept of people-first PPPs was proposed to reduce social risks from the perspective of different stakeholders, with the interactions among different stakeholders being prioritized. The identified SRFs and their relationships can improve our understanding of SRM in the delivery of social sustainability and improve social resilience.
Ventilation and Air Quality in Student Dormitories in China: A Case Study during Summer in Nanjing
Authors: Yang Zhe , Shen Jialei , Gao Zhi
Published: June 2018

The Air quality in student dormitories can have a major impact on the health of millions of students in China. This study aims to investigate the ventilation and air quality in student dormitories. Questionnaire survey was conducted in eight dormitory buildings and field measurements were conducted in one dormitory during the summer in Nanjing. The survey result reveals that most students thought the indoor and outdoor air quality was neutral and the correlation between indoor and outdoor perceived air quality is statistically significant. There are few indoor PM2.5 and ozone sources in dormitories and natural ventilation is the most common form of ventilation. However, there is no statistically significant correlation between window opening behaviors and the perceptions of indoor and outdoor air quality. The field measurement result shows the measured I/O ratios of PM2.5 and ozone over 37 days are in the range of 0.42–0.79 and 0.21–1.00, respectively. The I/O ratios for PM2.5 and ozone are 0.49 ± 0.05 and 0.26 ± 0.05 in the case of the window being closed, and the I/O ratios for PM2.5 and ozone are 0.65 ± 0.08 and 0.50 ± 0.15 in the case of the window being open. The outdoor and indoor ozone concentrations show pronounced diurnal periodic variations, while the PM2.5 concentrations do not. Finally, recommended open/close window strategies are discussed to reduce indoor pollutant levels. Understanding the indoor/outdoor PM2.5 and ozone concentrations in different window patterns can be a guidance to preventing high indoor PM2.5 and ozone exposure in student dormitories.
Effect of Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria on the Mobility of Insoluble Cadmium and Metabolic Analysis
Authors: Yang Ping , Zhou Xue-Fang , Wang Li-Li , Li Qu-Sheng , Zhou Ting , Chen Yu-Kun , Zhao Zi-Yi , He Bao-Yan
Published: June 2018

Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) can promote plant growth by dissolving insoluble phosphate. Therefore, PSB may have the potential to improve the mobility of heavy metals in soils and enhance phytoextraction. This study isolated a few PSB strains that could dissolve CdCO3 and solid Cd in soil. Two typical PSB, namely, high- and low-Cd-mobilizing PSB (Pseudomonas fluorescens gim-3 and Bacillus cereus qh-35, respectively), were selected to analyze the metabolic profiles, metabolic pathways, and mechanisms of mobilization of insoluble Cd. A total of 34 metabolites secreted by the two PSB strains were identified. Gluconic acid was the main contributor to Cd dissolution (42.4%) in high-Cd-mobilizing PSB. By contrast, gluconic acid was not secreted in low-Cd-mobilizing PSB. Metabolic pathway analysis showed that gluconic acid was produced by the peripheral direct oxidation pathway. Hence, PSB with peripheral direct oxidation pathway were likely to have high-Cd-mobilizing capacity.
Correction: Yu, H.; et al. Molecular Mechanisms of Floral Boundary Formation in Arabidopsis. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2016, 17, 317
Authors: Yu Hongyang , Huang Tengbo
Published: June 2018

The authors wish to make the following correction to their paper [1].[...]
Boron: Functions and Approaches to Enhance Its Availability in Plants for Sustainable Agriculture
Authors: Shireen Fareeha , Nawaz Muhammad Azher , Chen Chen , Zhang Qikai , Zheng Zuhua , Sohail Hamza , Sun Jingyu , Cao Haishun , Huang Yuan , Bie Zhilong
Published: June 2018

Boron (B) is an essential trace element required for the physiological functioning of higher plants. B deficiency is considered as a nutritional disorder that adversely affects the metabolism and growth of plants. B is involved in the structural and functional integrity of the cell wall and membranes, ion fluxes (H+, K+, PO43−, Rb+, Ca2+) across the membranes, cell division and elongation, nitrogen and carbohydrate metabolism, sugar transport, cytoskeletal proteins, and plasmalemma-bound enzymes, nucleic acid, indoleacetic acid, polyamines, ascorbic acid, and phenol metabolism and transport. This review critically examines the functions of B in plants, deficiency symptoms, and the mechanism of B uptake and transport under limited B conditions. B deficiency can be mitigated by inorganic fertilizer supplementation, but the deleterious impact of frequent fertilizer application disrupts soil fertility and creates environmental pollution. Considering this, we have summarized the available information regarding alternative approaches, such as root structural modification, grafting, application of biostimulators (mycorrhizal fungi (MF) and rhizobacteria), and nanotechnology, that can be effectively utilized for B acquisition, leading to resource conservation. Additionally, we have discussed several new aspects, such as the combination of grafting or MF with nanotechnology, combined inoculation of arbuscular MF and rhizobacteria, melatonin application, and the use of natural and synthetic chelators, that possibly play a role in B uptake and translocation under B stress conditions.
Relationship between Inflammatory and Biological Markers and Lung Cancer
Authors: Şahin Füsun , Aslan Ayşe Feyza
Published: June 2018

We seek to define inflammatory markers, lipid and protein profiles that may aid in distinguishing lung cancer cases from those who are healthy and to determine the relationships between these levels and cancer stage and cell type. Lung cancer patients (n = 140, Group 1) and healthy cases (n = 50, Group 2) were enrolled. We retrieved platelet, platelet-associated markers (plateletcrit (PCT), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW)), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio-NLR, platelet/lymphocyte ratio-PLR, lipids (total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), triglycerides), proteins (total protein (TP) and albumin), and C-reactive protein (CRP) from electronic records and compared the data from lung cancer patients with those from healthy controls. Platelet, PCT, neutrophil, NLR, PLR, triglycerides, VLDL, and CRP levels were significantly higher in Group 1 compared with Group 2. MPV, lymphocyte, albumin, and HDL levels were significantly lower in Group 1 compared with Group 2. No significant relationship was evident between histopathological types and the level of any marker. Compared to those with early-stage cancer, changes in marker levels in those with advanced-stage cancer were statistically significant. CRP and NLR were significantly higher; albumin and HDL were lower in metastatic patients. We found that platelet, PCT, NLR and PLR, albumin, HDL, and CRP levels aided in lung cancer diagnosis and the detection of late-stage disease. Furthermore, these inflammatory and biological markers are thought to be particularly useful in following the severity of lung cancer.
Healing of Ischemic Colon Anastomosis in Rats Could Be Provided by Administering Dexpanthenol or Coenzyme Q10
Authors: Pehlivanlı Faruk , Aydin Oktay , Karaca Gökhan , Aydin Gülçin , Devrim Tuba , Bulut Huri , Bakar Bülent , Daphan Çağatay
Published: June 2018

Background: In this study, the effectiveness of dexpanthenol and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on the healing of ischemic colon anastomosis was investigated. Methods: Forty eight male Wistar Albino rats were divided into four equal groups (Sham-S, Sham-I, DXP, Q10). Following full layer colon resection, single layer colon anastomosis, without creating ischemia, was performed on the Sham-S group. The same experimental model was performed on remaining groups after ischemia was created. Intraperitoneal dexpanthenol and CoQ10 was administered to the DXP and Q10 groups once a day for three days. Ten days later, all colon anastomoses were investigated histopathologically and biochemically, as well as their burst pressure values, in all sacrificed rats. Results: The highest burst pressure value was observed in the Sham-S group, decreasing from high to low in the DXP, Q10, and Sham-I groups, respectively (p = 0.008). Furthermore, tissue hydroxyproline (p = 0.001) level values were significantly different among the groups. Additionally, histopathological analysis revealed a significant difference among groups regarding reepithelization (p = 0.027) and polymorphonuclear leukocyte density (p = 0.022). Conclusions: This preliminary study has shown that ischemia-reperfusion injury may impair the healing of colon anastomosis and it has been concluded that dexpanthenol and CoQ10 may have positive effects on the healing of ischemic colon anastomosis in rat, although re-epithelization may be adversely affected using CoQ10.
Genipin-Enhanced Fibrin Hydrogel and Novel Silk for Intervertebral Disc Repair in a Loaded Bovine Organ Culture Model
Authors: Frauchiger Daniela , May Rahel , Bakirci Ezgi , Tekari Adel , Chan Samantha , Wöltje Michael , Benneker Lorin , Gantenbein Benjamin
Published: June 2018

(1) Background: Intervertebral disc (IVD) repair represents a major challenge. Using functionalised biomaterials such as silk combined with enforced hydrogels might be a promising approach for disc repair. We aimed to test an IVD repair approach by combining a genipin-enhanced fibrin hydrogel with an engineered silk scaffold under complex load, after inducing an injury in a bovine whole organ IVD culture; (2) Methods: Bovine coccygeal IVDs were isolated from ~1-year-old animals within four hours post-mortem. Then, an injury in the annulus fibrosus was induced by a 2 mm biopsy punch. The repair approach consisted of genipin-enhanced fibrin hydrogel that was used to fill up the cavity. To seal the injury, a Good Manufacturing Practise (GMP)-compliant engineered silk fleece-membrane composite was applied and secured by the cross-linked hydrogel. Then, IVDs were exposed to one of three loading conditions: no load, static load and complex load in a two-degree-of-freedom bioreactor for 14 days. Followed by assessing DNA and matrix content, qPCR and histology, the injured discs were compared to an uninjured control IVD that underwent the same loading profiles. In addition, the genipin-enhanced fibrin hydrogel was further investigated with respect to cytotoxicity on human stem cells, annulus fibrosus, and nucleus pulposus cells; (3) Results: The repair was successful as no herniation could be detected for any of the three loading conditions. Disc height was not recovered by the repair DNA and matrix contents were comparable to a healthy, untreated control disc. Genipin resulted being cytotoxic in the in vitro test but did not show adverse effects when used for the organ culture model; (4) Conclusions: The current study indicated that the combination of the two biomaterials, i.e., genipin-enhanced fibrin hydrogel and an engineered silk scaffold, was a promising approach for IVD repair. Furthermore, genipin-enhanced fibrin hydrogel was not suitable for cell cultures; however, it was highly applicable as a filler material.
Estimated Burden of Serious Fungal Diseases in Serbia
Authors: Arsenijević Valentina , Denning David
Published: June 2018

For the first time, we aimed to estimate the burden of serious fungal infections or diseases (SFD) and highlight national epidemiological features in Serbia. Data on population and underlining conditions were extracted from the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, World Bank, the Institute of Public Health of Serbia, the World Health Organization, National reference laboratory for medical mycology, the national registries of Serbian professional societies, and relevant publications. The population structure/inhabitants in 2016 (not including the autonomous region Kosovo & Metohija) was 7,058,322; with 6,041,743 adults (85.6%). The populations at risk (total cases per year) were: HIV infected 2441; acute myeloid leukemia 212; stem cell transplantation 151; solid organ transplants 59; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 250,302; adult asthmatics 311,806; adult cystic fibrosis 65; pulmonary tuberculosis 898; lung cancer 7260; intensive care unit admissions 19,821; and renal support 520. Annual fungal disease cases estimated are: candidemia 518; invasive aspergillosis 619; Candida peritonitis 187; Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia 62; cryptococcosis 5; mucormycosis or fusariosis 23; severe asthma with fungal sensitization 10,393; allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis 9094; chronic pulmonary aspergillosis 448, recurrent Candida vaginitis 135,303; oral candidiasis 208,489; esophageal candidiasis 173, fungal keratitis 70; tinea capitis 300; and onychomycosis 342,721. We expect that 156,825 people suffer from serious SFD each year (2221/100,000), and 409 dies annually. Additionally, the prevalence of superficial infections exceeds 1,008,995 cases (14,295/100,000). The first Rhinosporidium outbreak in Europe was associated with Serbian Silver Lake. The plant pathogen Fusarium seems to be emerging in Serbian pediatric haematooncology settings. Candida auris and endemic mycoses have not been observed to date. These general estimates provide a primer for further efforts to study fungal epidemiology in Serbia.
The Preservation of Bone Cell Viability in a Human Femoral Head through a Perfusion Bioreactor
Authors: Swarup Aparna , Weidner Hilary , Duncan Randall , Nohe Anja
Published: June 2018

Current methods for drug development and discovery involve pre-clinical analyses that are extremely expensive and time consuming. Animal models are not the best precedent to use, when comparing to human models as they are not synonymous with the human response, thus, alternative methods for drug development are needed. One of which could be the use of an ex vivo human organ where drugs could be tested and the effects of those drugs could be observed. Finding a viable human organ to use in these preliminary ex vivo studies is difficult due to the availability, cost, and viability. Bone tissue and marrow contain a plethora of both bone and stem cells, however, these cells need constant perfusion to be viable over a longer time range. Here we maintain bone cell sustainability in an ex vivo model, through the use of human femoral heads in a novel bioreactor. This bioreactor was designed to directly perfuse cell culture media (DMEM) through the vasculature of a femoral head, providing ideal nutrients and conditions required for maintaining organ viability. We show, for the first time, that cells within a femoral head can stay alive up to 12 h. Further development could be used to determine the effects of drugs on a human organ system and could aid in the understanding of the progression of bone diseases and pathologies.
The Design and Positioning Method of a Flexible Zoom Artificial Compound Eye
Authors: Li Lun , Hao Yongping , Xu Jiulong , Liu Fengli , Lu Jiang
Published: June 2018

The focal lengths of the sub-eyes in a single-layer uniform curved compound eye are all the same, resulting in poor imaging quality for the compound eye. A non-uniform curved compound eye can effectively solve the problem of poor edge-imaging quality, however, it suffers from a large spherical aberration, and is unable to achieve zoom imaging. To solve these problems, a new type of aspherical artificial compound eye structure with variable focal length is proposed in this paper. The structure divides the surface compound eye into three fan-shaped areas with different focal lengths of the microlens in different areas, which allow the artificial compound eye to zoom in a certain range. The focal length and size of the microlens is determined by the area and the location of the microlens. The aspherical optimization of the microlens is calculated, and spherical aberration in each area is reduced to one percent of the initial value. Through simulation analysis, the designed artificial compound eye structure realizes focal length adjustment and effectively reduces the problem of the poor imaging quality of the curved compound eye edge. As a result, an aspherical artificial compound eye sample—where the number of sub-eyes is n = 61, and the diameter of the base is Φ = 8.66 mm—was prepared by using a molding method. Additionally, the mutual relationship between the eyes of the child was calibrated, and hence, a mathematical model for the simultaneous identification of multiple sub-eyes was established. This study set up an experimental artificial compound eye positioning system, and through a number of microlens capture target point settlement coordinates, achieved an error value of less than 10%.
Metal Sources of World-Class Polymetallic W–Sn Skarns in the Nanling Range, South China: Granites versus Sedimentary Rocks?
Authors: Jiang Weicheng , Li Huan , Evans Noreen , Wu Jinghua , Cao Jingya
Published: June 2018

Widespread, large-scale polymetallic W–Sn mineralization occurs throughout the Nanling Range (South China) dated 160–150 Ma, and related to widely developed coeval granitic magmatism. Although intense research has been carried out on these deposits, the relative contribution of ore-forming elements either from granites or from surrounding strata is still debated. In addition, the factors controlling the primary metallogenic element in any given skarn deposit (e.g., W-dominated or Sn-dominated) are still unclear. Here, we select three of the most significant skarn-deposits (i.e., Huangshaping W–Mo–Sn, Shizhuyuan W–Sn–Mo–Bi and Xianghualing Sn), and compare their whole-rock geochemistry with the composition of associated granites and strata. The contents of Si, Al and most trace elements in skarns are controlled by the parent granite, whereas their Fe, Ca, Mg, Mn, Ti, Sr and REE patterns are strongly influenced by the wall rock. Samples from the Huangshaping skarn vary substantially in elemental composition, probably indicating their varied protoliths. Strata at the Shizhuyuan deposit exerted a strong control during metasomatism, whereas this occurred to a lesser degree at Huangshaping and Xianghualing. This correlates with increasing magma differentiation and increasing reduction state of granitic magmas, which along with the degree of stratigraphic fluid circulation, exert the primary control on dominant metallogenic species. We propose that wall rock sediments played an important role in the formation of W–Sn polymetallic mineralization in South China.
Synthesis, Structure, Chemical Stability, and In Vitro Cytotoxic Properties of Novel Quinoline-3-Carbaldehyde Hydrazones Bearing a 1,2,4-Triazole or Benzotriazole Moiety
Authors: Korcz Martyna , Sączewski Franciszek , Bednarski Patrick J. , Kornicka Anita
Published: June 2018

A small library of novel quinoline-3-carbaldehyde hydrazones (Series 1), acylhydrazones (Series 2), and arylsulfonylhydrazones (Series 3) bearing either a 1,2,4-triazole or benzotriazole ring at position 2 was prepared, characterized by elemental analyses and IR, NMR, and MS spectra, and then subjected to in vitro cytotoxicity studies on three human tumor cell lines: DAN-G, LCLC-103H, and SISO. In general, compounds 4, 6, and 8 substituted with a 1,2,4-triazole ring proved to be inactive, whereas the benzotriazole-containing quinolines 5, 7, and 9 elicited pronounced cancer cell growth inhibitory effects with IC50 values in the range of 1.23–7.39 µM. The most potent 2-(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)-3-[2-(pyridin-2-yl)hydrazonomethyl]quinoline (5e) showed a cytostatic effect on the cancer cell lines, whereas N′-[(2-(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)quinolin-3-yl)methylene]-benzohydrazide (7a) and N′-[(2-1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)quinolin-3-yl)methylene]-naphthalene-2-sulfonohydrazide (9h) exhibited selective activity against the pancreas cancer DAN-G and cervical cancer SISO cell lines. Based on the determined IC50 values, the compound 5e seems to be leading compound for further development as anticancer agent.
Rapid Detection of Six Glucocorticoids Added Illegally to Dietary Supplements by Combining TLC with Spot-Concentrated Raman Scattering
Authors: Li Li , Liang Xin , Xu Tao , Xu Feng , Dong Wei
Published: June 2018

The objective of this study was to establish a novel method for rapid detection of six glucocorticoids (prednisone, prednisone acetate, prednisolone, hydrocortisone, hydrocortisone acetate, and dexamethasone) added illegally in dietary supplements simultaneously by combining thin layer chromatography (TLC) with spot-concentrated Raman scattering (SCRS). The doping ingredients were separated by TLC, and viewed and located with UV light (254 nm), enriched by chromatography, then Raman spectra were directly detected by a Raman Imagine microscope with 780 nm laser source. This method had complementary advantages of TLC and Raman spectroscopy, which enhanced the specificity of the test results. The limit of detection (LOD) of the reference substances were 4 μg, 4 μg, 4 μg, 6 μg, 6 μg, and 4 μg, respectively. The method was used to study the six glucocorticoids added illegally in five dietary supplements. Fake drugs had been detected. The study showed that the TLC-SCRS method is simple, rapid, specific, sensitive, and reliable. The method could be used for effective separation and detection of six chemical components used in dietary supplement products, and would have good prospects for on-site qualitative screening of dietary supplement products for adulterants.
Predicting the Dielectric Properties of Nanocellulose-Modified Presspaper Based on the Multivariate Analysis Method
Authors: Zhou Yuanxiang , Huang Xin , Huang Jianwen , Zhang Ling , Zhou Zhongliu
Published: June 2018

Nanocellulose-modified presspaper is a promising solution to achieve cellulose insulation with better performance, reducing the risk of electrical insulation failures of a converter transformer. Predicting the dielectric properties will help to further design and improvement of presspaper. In this paper, a multivariable method was adopted to determine the effect of softwood fiber on the macroscopic performance of presspaper. Based on the parameters selected using the optimum subset method, a multiple linear regression was built to model the relationship between the fiber properties and insulating performance of presspaper. The results show that the fiber width and crystallinity had an obvious influence on the mechanical properties of presspaper, and fiber length, fines, lignin, and nanocellulose had a significant impact on the breakdown properties. The proposed models exhibit a prediction accuracy of higher than 90% when verified with the experimental results. Finally, the effect of nanocellulose on the breakdown strength of presspaper was taken into account and new models were derived.
Applications of Ruthenium Complexes Covalently Linked to Nucleic Acid Derivatives
Authors: Flamme Marie , Clarke Emma , Gasser Gilles , Hollenstein Marcel
Published: June 2018

Oligonucleotides are biopolymers that can be easily modified at various locations. Thereby, the attachment of metal complexes to nucleic acid derivatives has emerged as a common pathway to improve the understanding of biological processes or to steer oligonucleotides towards novel applications such as electron transfer or the construction of nanomaterials. Among the different metal complexes coupled to oligonucleotides, ruthenium complexes, have been extensively studied due to their remarkable properties. The resulting DNA-ruthenium bioconjugates have already demonstrated their potency in numerous applications. Consequently, this review focuses on the recent synthetic methods developed for the preparation of ruthenium complexes covalently linked to oligonucleotides. In addition, the usefulness of such conjugates will be highlighted and their applications from nanotechnologies to therapeutic purposes will be discussed.