bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
USE OF ENZYME LYSOZYME AND ANTI BACTERIAL ALLICIN FOR FOOD PRESERVATION AND THE PREVENTION OF DAMAGE
Authors: Ataa Asaad M.A.
Published: March 2019

This study aims to identify the effectiveness of enzyme Lysozyme, which is extracted from the egg’s albumin and The Allicin antibiotic which is extracted from the garlic. It also studies their effects on some bacteria which have been obtained pure and others have been isolated in the extracts of Lysozyme and Allicin. Then we face the foods which are contaminated with such species of these bacteria and their dangers on the public health. The study was conducted in two phases, the first of which included knowing the effectiveness of extracts and their effects on some sorts of bacteria which were treated by these extracts through the tests of sensitivity screening. The second phase of this study included the treatment of some types of food which are commonly circulated and speedily damaged – the treatment was with these materials to know their impact in eliminating the microbes that are found in these foods and prevent damage for a long time. We examined three types of bacteria: (E .coli, Streptococcus, Salmonella). The results of sensitivity screening, which were done in two ways: (CD-proliferation plates and confirmation way), showed the sensitivity of these microbes with rates ranging between (100%) to (33.4%) named (garlic male). While the less ones were Allicin extracts that were extracted from the foreign garlic, the mixture of Allicin which was extracted from the local eggs and Lysozyme which was extracted from the foreign eggs with red peel. Besides, tow samples of food (milk and meat), which are commonly circulated in the governorate, were tested and treated with Allicin and Lysozyme extracts. The results showed the effectiveness of Allicin with its quality in eliminating most microbes in meat, especially E. coli and its effectiveness in eliminating all microbes in milk with no influence on Salmonella. But Lysozyme effectiveness notes varied, but it eliminated in the two samples with no influence on E.coli.
EFFECT OF BACTERIAL ENDOPHYTES ISOLATED FROM THE CITRUS ON THE PHYSICAL PARAMETER OF BITTER GOURD (Momordica charantia L.)
Authors: Mushtaq Sehrish , Shafiq Muhammad , Khan Faiza , Ashraf Tehseen , Haider Muhammad S.
Published: March 2019

Bacterial endophytes have a symbiotic relationship between different parts of the plant and could play an important role to improve plant health. The effects of endophytic bacterial communities in bitter gourd have not been studied yet in Pakistan. In the present study, ten different bacteria that belong to class Alpha, beta and gamma Proteobacteria as well as bacilli were injected into bitter gourd seedlings under glass house conditions and five weeks after physical parameters (SL, RL, leaf area, leaf number, wet and dry weight of plant, root and shoot ratio) were studied. According to results Azomonas agilis and Ensifer adhaerens give good results as compared to control for all parameters studied. These inoculants could be used as bio fertilizer for sustainable crop production system.
PERFORMANCE OF MUSAMBI SWEET ORANGE ON ROUGH LEMON AND VOLKAMERIANA ROOTSTOCKS AT SARGODHA, PAKISTAN
Authors: Ahmed Shabir , Asim Muhammad , Ashraf Tehseen , Bakhsh Allah , Haque Ehsan Ul , Hayat Akbar , Khan Muhammad N.
Published: March 2019

Musambi (Citrussinensis) is the commercial variety of the sweet oranges group well flourishing inPakistan. Formany years Musambi has beenon the way of rapid decline with reduced life span besides drastic reduction in yield and fruit quality grafted on rough lemon rootstock. To overcome this problem, Volkameriana as an alternative rootstock to rough lemon was tested with the focus to find out more compatible rootstock to prevent mentioned issues. Observations on different plant growth parameters such as plant height, stock and scion circumference, canopy volume, plant fruit yield and important quality characteristics of fruit were made. The rough lemon depicted statistically significant result in plant height, spread and canopy volume in responses recorded for 10 years consecutively from 2008 to 2017. The degree of compatibility in both rootstocks in the year 2008 to 2009 were statistically non-significant. The yield was measured in terms of average No. of fruits per plant depicted that Rough Lemon and Volkameriana rootstock produced  average 362.62 and 228.04 No. of fruits per plant respectively for the years 2012 to 2017. Moreover, results in different important quality characters i.e. fruit weight (g), Peel thickness (mm), Juice percentage, TSS and acidity were found better in the case of the plants grafted on Rough Lemon with the mean values of  176.23, 3.35, 46.56, 10.51 and 0.41respectively  for the six years consecutive  2012-2017. Results of studied rootstocks with context to given parameters remained at par; so other promising rootstocks should be taken in account for further studies
EXPLORING DIFFERENT FERTILIZER COMBINATIONS FOR POTATO GROWTH AND YIELD IN RAWALPINDI REGION OF PAKISTAN
Authors: Malik Kouser M. , Naz Shahid Y. , Mehdi Shahzada M. , Munir Asia , Khan Ahmad , Akbar Saba , Andleeb Shaista , Rehman Zia Ur
Published: March 2019

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important tuber crops produced in Pakistan. Due to its nutritive importance, it ranks as fourth after rice, wheat and maize in the world. However, production of the crop is far below the average due to poor crop stand, soil fertility and water management practices. There is a strong need for improvement in the fair yield of potato through managed production techniques and best soil nutrient combinations. To find out the best combination of fertilizer level of NPK on growth, yield and quality of the potato crop, nine field experiments on potato crop were conducted at Rawalpindi division, Punjab Pakistan for three successive Rabi seasons during 2014-2017. Treatments consisted of four levels of N (244, 300, 356 and 412 Kg N ha-1), P (163, 200, 237 and 275 kg P ha-1) and K (136, 167, 198 and 229 Kg K ha-1) laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Results showed that there was no significant difference of location in terms of yield (T ha-1). However, mean data showed that the fertilizer combinations significantly (<0.05) affected yield and yield components of the potato crop. Among the treatments, NPK level (412, 275 and 229 Kg ha-1) gave maximum (100 tuber m-2), potato yield (3.2 Kg m-2), dry matter (1.3 Kg m-2), while the least number of tuber m-2 (63), potato yield m-2 (2.02 Kg), dry matter yield m-2 (0.9 Kg) were recorded where combination NPK (244, 163and 136 Kg ha-1) were applied. From the results, it can be concluded that farming community can obtain the maximum potato yield by adopting NPK (412, 275, 229) levels of fertilizers
Hybrid Rocket Underwater Propulsion: A Preliminary Assessment
Authors: Moon Heejang , Han Seongjoo , You Youngjun , Kwon Minchan
Published: March 2019

This paper presents an attempt to use the hybrid rocket for marine applications with a 500 N class hybrid motor. A 5-port high density polyethylene (HDPE) fuel grain was used as a test-bed for the preliminary assessment of the underwater boosting device. A rupture disc preset to burst at a given pressure was attached to the nozzle exit to prevent water intrusion where a careful hot-firing sequence was unconditionally required to avoid the wet environment within the chamber. The average thrust level around 450 N was delivered by both a ground test and an underwater test using a water-proof load cell. However, it was found that instantaneous underwater thrusts were prone to vibration, which was due in part to the wake structure downstream of the nozzle exit. Distinctive ignition curves depending on the rupture disc bursting pressure and oxidizer mass flow rate were also investigated. To assess the soft-start capability of the hybrid motor, the minimum power thrust, viewed as the idle test case, was evaluated by modulating the flow controlling valve. It was found that an optimum valve angle, delivering 16.3% of the full throttle test case, sustained the minimum thrust level. This preliminary study suggests that the throttable hybrid propulsion system can be a justifiable candidate for a short-duration, high-speed marine boosting system as an alternative to the solid underwater propulsion system.
To Burn-In, or Not to Burn-In: That’s the Question
Authors: Suhir Ephraim
Published: March 2019

In this paper it is shown that the bathtub-curve (BTC) based time-derivative of the failure rate at the initial moment of time can be considered as a suitable criterion of whether burn-in testing (BIT) should or does not have to be conducted. It is also shown that the above criterion is, in effect, the variance of the random statistical failure rate (SFR) of the mass-produced components that the product manufacturer received from numerous vendors, whose commitments to reliability were unknown, and their random SFR might vary therefore in a very wide range, from zero to infinity. A formula for the non-random SFR of a product comprised of mass-produced components with random SFRs was derived, and a solution for the case of the normally distributed random SFR was obtained.
Comparison of Constrained Parameterisation Strategies for Aerodynamic Optimisation of Morphing Leading Edge Airfoil
Authors: Magrini Andrea , Benini Ernesto , Ponza Rita , Wang Chen , Khodaparast Hamed Haddad , Friswell Michael I. , Landersheim Volker , Laveuve Dominik , Contell Asins Conchin
Published: March 2019

In the context of ambitious targets for reducing environmental impact in the aviation sector, dictated by international institutions, morphing aircraft are expected to have potential for achieving the required efficiency increases. However, there are still open issues related to the design and implementation of deformable structures. In this paper, we compare three constrained parameterisation strategies for the aerodynamic design of a morphing leading edge, representing a potential substitute for traditional high-lift systems. In order to facilitate the structural design and promote the feasibility of solutions, we solve a multi-objective optimisation problem, including constraints on axial and bending strain introduced by morphing. A parameterisation method, inherently producing constant arc length curves, is employed in three variants, representing different morphing strategies which provide an increasing level of deformability, by allowing the lower edge of the flexible skin to slide and the gap formed with the fixed spar to be closed by a hatch. The results for the optimisation of a baseline airfoil show that the geometric constraints are effectively handled in the optimisation and the solutions are smooth, with a continuous variation along the Pareto frontier. The larger shape modification allowed by more flexible parameterisation variants enables an increase of the maximum lift coefficient up to 8.35%, and efficiency at 70% of stall incidence up to 4.26%.
Inoculation with Mycorrhizal Fungi and Other Microbes to Improve the Morpho-Physiological and Floral Traits of Gazania rigens (L.) Gaertn
Authors: Saini Ishan , Aggarwal Ashok , Kaushik Prashant
Published: March 2019

In the present analysis, we evaluated the effect of different microbial inoculants on growth and floral responses of Gazania rigens (L.) Gaertn. Two prevailing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) i.e., Funelliformis mosseae and Acaulospora laevis, along with Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluorescens, were examined in a pot experiment. Independent roles of these four microbes and their different combinations were used in sixteen treatments of G. rigens. The experiment was conducted in a polyhouse with five replicates per treatment in a randomized complete block design. The results of microbial inoculants were very effective for growth yield and flowering response over the control. Early flowering was noted in the combination of F. mosseae, A. laevis and P. fluorescens, which also showed the best results for flower head size, flower fresh and dry weight, total chlorophyll, carotene and phosphorus content. Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) root colonization (%) and AM spore number were also the highest for the same treatment, whereas the number of leaves, number of buds and root length were maximum in the combined treatment (F. mosseae + A. laevis + T. viride + P. fluorescens). Overall, this study proposes that growers should consider microbial inoculants for the better yield and flower quality of G. rigens.
Co-Enzyme Q10 Supplementation Rescues Cumulus Cells Dysfunction in a Maternal Aging Model
Authors: Ben-Meir Assaf , Kim Kyunga , McQuaid Rosanne , Esfandiari Navid , Bentov Yaakov , Casper Robert F. , Jurisicova Andrea
Published: March 2019

Over the past four decades, due to cultural and social changes, women in the developed world have significantly delayed childbirth. This trend is even worse for patients who attend infertility clinics. It is well-known that live birth rates in women older than 35 are significantly lower than in those younger, both naturally and with assisted reproduction. Fertility decline is, in part, due to an increase in oocyte aneuploidy that leads to a reduced embryo quality, as well as an increased incidence of miscarriages and birth defects. Here we show that aging-associated malfunction is not restricted to the oocyte, as cumulus granulosa cells also display a series of defects linked to mitochondrial activity. In, both, human and mouse model, a decline in cumulus cell function due to increased maternal age is accompanied by a decreased expression of enzymes responsible for Coenzyme Q (CoQ) production, particularly Pdss2 and CoQ6. In an aged mouse model supplementation with Coenzyme Q10—a potent stimulator of mitochondrial function—restored cumulus cell number, stimulated glucose uptake, and increased progesterone production. CoQ10 supplementation might, thus, improve oocyte and cumulus cells quantity and quality, by improving the mitochondrial metabolism in females of advanced maternal age.
Ultrafast Optical Control of Magnetic Interactions in Carrier-Density-Controlled Ferromagnetic Semiconductors
Authors: Matsubara Masakazu
Published: March 2019

Investigation of the interaction of ultrashort laser pulses with magnetically ordered materials has become a fascinating research topic in modern magnetism. Especially, the control of magnetic order by sub-ps laser pulses has become a fundamentally important topic with a high potential for future spintronics applications. This paper will review the recent success in optically controlling the magnetic interactions in carrier-density-controlled ferromagnetic semiconductor EuO doped with Gd ions. When the Gd concentration is low, the magnitude of the magnetic interaction is enhanced by the irradiation of ultrashort laser pulses, whereas it is attenuated when the Gd concentration is high. In ferromagnetic Eu1−xGdxO, we thereby demonstrate the strengthening as well as the weakening of the magnetic interaction by 10% and within 3 ps by optically controlling the magnetic exchange interaction. This principle—ultrafast optical control of magnetic interaction—can be applied to future ultrafast opto-spintronics.
In Situ SEM Observation of Structured Si/C Anodes Reactions in an Ionic-Liquid-Based Lithium-Ion Battery
Authors: Shi Huifeng , Liu Xianqiang , Wu Rui , Zheng Yijing , Li Yonghe , Cheng Xiaopeng , Pfleging Wilhelm , Zhang Yuefei
Published: March 2019

In situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) offers a good way to investigate the structural evolution during lithiation and delithiation processes. In this paper, the dynamical morphological evolution of 3D-line-structured/unstructured Si/C composite electrodes was observed by in situ SEM. The investigation revealed the microstructural origin of large charge capacity for 3D-line-structured anodes. Based on this proposed mechanism, a coarse optimization of 3D-line-structured anodes was proposed. These results shed light on the unique advantages of using an in situ SEM technique when studying realistic bulk batteries and designing 3D electrode structures.
Three-Dimensional Optical Spin Angular Momentum Flux of a Vector Beam with Radially-Variant Polarization in Near Field
Authors: Guan Ying , Zhong Li-Xin , Qian Chaoyang , Chen Rui-Pin
Published: March 2019

The near-field characteristics of a radially-variant vector beam (RVVB) are analyzed by using the vectorial angular spectrum method. The non-paraxial RVVB can be decomposed into the propagating wave and the evanescent wave in near field. The coherent superposition of the longitudinal and transverse components of the RVVB results in a three-dimensional (3D) profile of the spin angular momentum flux density (SAM-FD). The evanescent wave part dominates the near field of a highly non-paraxial RVVB. The longitudinal component has a large impact on the 3D shape of the optical SAM-FD. Therefore, the 3D SAM-FD configuration of the RVVB can be manipulated by choosing the initial states of polarization arrangement. In particular, the transverse SAM-FD with a spin axis orthogonal to the propagation direction offers a promising range of applications spanning from nanophotonics and plasmonics to biophotonics.
Precipitation of Germanium from Sulphate Solutions Containing Tin and Indium Using Tannic Acid
Authors: Drzazga Michał , Chmielarz Andrzej , Benke Grzegorz , Leszczyńska-Sejda Katarzyna , Knapik Magdalena , Kowalik Patrycja , Ciszewski Mateusz
Published: March 2019

The precipitation of tannin complex of germanium from sulfuric solutions obtained after dross leaching was investigated. The tested solutions contained mainly zinc, germanium, indium, and tin. The influence of temperature, time, amount of added tannic acid and its purity was determined. The application of pure tannic acid allowed the precipitation of >99% of germanium and decreased its concentration in a solution <0.015 g/dm3. It required ca. 11–13 g of pure tannic acid per each 1 g of dissolved germanium. The preferred process conditions for Ge precipitation using powder tannic acid were 90 °C, 90 min, whereas for 20% aq. solution—5 min. It was found that 40% to 50% of tin coprecipitated at these conditions. Therefore, a detinning operation using hydrogen peroxide was proposed. It allowed the removal of >99% Sn and reduced its concentration in the solution below 0.025 g/dm3.
An Improved Objective Function for Modal-Based Damage Identification Using Substructural Virtual Distortion Method
Authors: Hou Jilin , Wang Sijie , Zhang Qingxia , Jankowski Łukasz
Published: March 2019

Damage identification based on modal parameters is an important approach in structural health monitoring (SHM). Generally, traditional objective functions used for damage identification minimize the mismatch between measured modal parameters and the parameters obtained from the finite element (FE) model. However, during the optimization process, the repetitive calculation of structural modes is usually time-consuming and inefficient, especially for large-scale structures. In this paper, an improved objective function is proposed based on certain characteristics of the peaks of the frequency response function (FRF). Traditional objective functions contain terms that quantify modal shapes and/or natural frequencies. Here, it is proposed to replace them by the FRF of the FE model, which allows the repeated full modal analysis to be avoided and thus increases the computational efficiency. Moreover, the efficiency is further enhanced by employing the substructural virtual distortion method (SVDM), which allows the frequency response of the FE model of the damaged structure to be quickly computed without the costly re-analysis of the entire damaged structure. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified using an eight-story frame structure model under several damage cases. The damage location and extent of each substructure can be identified accurately with 5% white Gaussian noise, and the optimization efficiency is greatly improved compared with the method using a traditional objective function.
Effects of Mixing Conditions on Floc Properties in Magnesium Hydroxide Continuous Coagulation Process
Authors: Ding Yanmei , Zhao Jianhai , Wei Lei , Li Wenpu , Chi Yongzhi
Published: March 2019

Magnesium hydroxide continuous coagulation process was used for treating simulated reactive orange wastewater in this study. Effects of mixing conditions and retention time on the coagulation performance and floc properties of magnesium hydroxide were based on the floc size distribution (FSD), zeta potential, and floc morphology analysis. Floc formation and growth in different reactors were also discussed. The results showed that increasing rapid mixing speed led to a decrease in the final floc size. The floc formation process was mainly carried out in a rapid mixer; a rapid mixing speed of 300 rpm was chosen according to zeta potential and removal efficiency. Reducing retention time caused a relatively small floc size in all reactors. When influent flow was 30 L/h (retention time of 2 min in rapid mixer), the average floc size reached 8.06 μm in a rapid mixer; through breakage and re-growth, the floc size remained stable in the flocculation basin. After growth, the final floc size reached 11.21 μm in a sedimentation tank. The removal efficiency of reactive orange is 89% in the magnesium hydroxide coagulation process.
Multi-Layer Progressive Face Alignment by Integrating Global Match and Local Refinement
Authors: Gao Ning , Wang Xingyuan , Wang Xiukun
Published: March 2019

Robust and accurate face alignment remains a challenging task, especially when local noises, illumination variations and partial occlusions exist in images. The existing local search and global match methods often misalign due to local optima without global constraints or limited local representation of global appearance. To solve these problems, we propose a new multi-layer progressive face alignment method that combines global matches for a whole face with local refinement for a given region, where the errors caused by local optima are restricted by globally-matched appearance, and the local misalignments in the global method are avoided by supplementing the representation of local details. Our method consists of the following processes: Firstly, an input image is encoded as a multi-mode Local Binary Pattern (LBP) image to regress the face shape parameters. Secondly, the local multi-mode histogram of oriented gradient (HOG) features is applied to update each landmark position. Thirdly, the above two alignment shapes are weighted as the final result. The contributions of this paper are as follows: (1) Shape initialization by applying an affine transformation to the mean shape. (2) Face representation by integrating multi-mode information in a whole face or a face region. (3) Face alignment by combining handcrafted features with convolutional neural networks (CNN). Extensive experiments on public datasets show that our method demonstrates improved performance in real environments in comparison to some state-of-the-art methods which apply single scale features or single CNN networks. Applying our method to the challenging HELEN dataset, the samples with fewer than 8 mean errors reach 81.1%.
MM-Wave Phased Array Quasi-Yagi Antenna for the Upcoming 5G Cellular Communications
Authors: Ojaroudi Parchin Naser , Alibakhshikenari Mohammad , Jahanbakhsh Basherlou Haleh , A. Abd-Alhameed Raed , Rodriguez Jonathan , Limiti Ernesto
Published: March 2019

The focus of this manuscript was to propose a new phased array antenna design for the fifth generation (5G) mobile platforms. Eight elements of compact Quasi-Yagi antennas were placed on the top portion of smartphone printed circuits board (PCB) to form a beam-steerable phased array design. The −10 dB impedance-bandwidth of proposed 5G smartphone antenna spans from 25 GHz to 27 GHz providing 2 GHz bandwidth with less than −16 dB mutual coupling function. A coax-to-microstripline with a truncated crown of vias around the coaxial cable was used as a feeding mechanism for each radiation element. An Arlon Ad 350 substance with properties of ε = 3.5, δ = 0.003, and h = 0.8 mm was chosen as the antenna substrate. The proposed phased array antenna provides wide-angle scanning of 0°~75° with more than 10 dB realized gain levels. For the scanning angle of 0°~60°, the antenna array provides more than 90% (−0.5 dB) radiation and total efficiencies. In addition, the specific absorption rate (SAR) function and radiation performance of the design in the presence of the user-hand/user-hand have been studied. The results validate the feasibility of the proposed design for use in the 5G handheld devices. Furthermore, using the presented Quasi-Yagi elements, the radiation properties of 2 × 2, 4 × 4, and 8 × 8 planar arrays were studied and more than 8.3, 13.5, and 19.3 dBi directivities have been achieved for the designed planar arrays. The results show that the designed arrays (linear & planar) satisfy the general requirements for use in 5G platforms.
Thermal Properties of New Insulating Juncus Maritimus Fibrous Mortar Composites/Experimental Results and Analytical Laws
Authors: Saghrouni Zahia , Baillis Dominique , Naouar Naim , Blal Nawfal , Jemni Abdelmajid
Published: March 2019

This study aims to study the thermal properties and the microstructure of composite materials based on mortar combined with Juncus maritimus fibers. Effective thermophysical properties of the composite materials containing Juncus maritimus fibers are experimentally and theoretically investigated. To better understand the morphology of these new composites, the corresponding microstructures were characterized in 2D by scanning electron microscope and in 3D using micro computed tomography. The local thermal conductivity of the Juncus maritimus fibers was identified using theoretical models and experimental measurement of the effective thermal conductivity of packed bed of crushed fibers. The thermal conductivity of the mortar matrix at given porosity was also determined using experimental measurement data and a theoretical model. The most appropriate analytical laws to predict effective thermal conductivity of mortar composites containing fibers are deduced from experimental thermal conductivity results.
A Pulse Shaping Based Optical Transmission System of 128QAM for DWDM with N × 904 Gbps
Authors: Li Guang , Li Jianqing
Published: March 2019

In this paper, we propose an optical transmission system of 128 quadrature amplitude modulation for dense wavelength division multiplexing. In such a system, Gaussian optical filtering is used to get an appropriate photonic carrier. Theoretical analysis and simulation computation show that the modulated multi-carrier photonic signals with the wavelength spacing of 0.7 nm can transmit for over 80 km with the standard single mode fiber. Using digital signal processing algorithms to compensate the transmission impairments, the transmission rate of the single-carrier photonic signal can reach up to 904 Gbps and the spectral efficiency of the transmission can reach up to 10.33 bps/Hz. When this technology is applied to a dense wavelength division multiplexing system with N channels, the huge message capacity of N × 904 Gbps can be realized. Furthermore, we find that the bit error rate and the error vector magnitude are similarly influenced by the optical signal-to-noise ratio and the bandwidth of the Gaussian optical filter. The influence presents mostly a synchronization trend with the change of the optical signal-to-noise ratio and the bandwidth of Gaussian optical filter.
Effects of Memantine in a Mouse Model of Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction
Authors: Almahozi Ahmad , Radhi Mohamed , Alzayer Suja , Kamal Amer
Published: March 2019

Persistent impairment in cognitive functioning postoperatively is reported by clinical and animal studies, and is labeled as postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). Evidence points to an exaggerated neuroinflammatory response resulting from peripheral systemic inflammation after surgery, with subsequent cytokine-induced glutamatergic excitotoxicity and synaptic impairment. These immunological changes, among many others, are also observed in Alzheimer’s disease. Memantine is an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist commonly used to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Surprisingly, little research exists on the role of memantine in preventing POCD. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of memantine on a spectrum of cognitive functions postoperatively. Mice were divided into 3 groups and each received treatment for 4 weeks. Placebo groups received a placebo then underwent either a sham procedure or a laparotomy procedure. The memantine group received memantine hydrochloride then underwent a laparotomy procedure. Cognitive tests were performed on postoperative days (POD) 1 and 7. Compared to sham-operated mice, placebo groups that underwent a laparotomy procedure showed impaired memory in the Morris water maze test, higher anxiety-like behavior in the open field and the elevated plus maze tests, increased depression-like behavior in the tail suspension test, and lack of preference for social novelty in the three-chamber test. On the other hand, memantine-treated mice that underwent a laparotomy procedure showed enhanced memory on POD7, improved depression-like behavior on POD1 and POD7, enhanced preference for social novelty on POD1, and no improvement in anxiety-like behavior. These findings suggest a potential protective effect of memantine in mice postoperatively on memory, depression-like behavior, and preference for social novelty.
Characterization of New Sustainable Acoustic Solutions in a Reduced Sized Transmission Chamber
Authors: del Rey Romina , Alba Jesús , Rodríguez Juan C. , Bertó Laura
Published: March 2019

In order to assess the airborne sound insulation of a new material or building solution, access to standardized laboratories, large and expensive facilities, and a sample area of at least 10 m2 are required. At the research and development stages of new sustainable acoustic materials for construction, it is not easy to make large sample areas available. Moreover, the financial investment in acoustic testing of materials during the research stage in standardized laboratories is excessive. In this work, the assessment of the airborne sound insulation of multi-layer partitions designed with new sustainable materials is presented. The assessed solutions are formed by green composite fiber boards as lightweight elements and a new material designed from sheep wool as absorbent material. The results of these 100% recyclable solutions are compared with lightweight element based solutions, which are commonly used for acoustic insulation. Characterization of those new sustainable solutions for building is leveraged in a reduced sized transmission chamber. The design, construction, and validation of this kind of laboratory are provided. This laboratory enables the assessment of the airborne sound insulation of a material in its research stage.
Impact of Overdiagnosis on Long-Term Breast Cancer Survival
Authors: Fann Jean Ching-Yuan , Chang King-Jen , Hsu Chen-Yang , Yen Amy Ming-Fang , Yu Cheng-Ping , Chen Sam Li-Sheng , Kuo Wen-Hung , Tabár László , Chen Hsiu-Hsi
Published: March 2019

Elucidating whether and how long-term survival of breast cancer is mainly due to cure after early detection and effective treatment and therapy or overdiagnosis resulting from the widespread use of mammography provides a new insight into the role mammography plays in screening, surveillance, and treatment of breast cancer. Given information on detection modes, the impact of overdiagnosis due to mammography screening on long-term breast cancer survival was quantitatively assessed by applying a zero (cured or overdiagnosis)-inflated model design and analysis to a 15-year follow-up breast cancer cohort in Dalarna, Sweden. The probability for non-progressive breast cancer (the zero part) was 56.14% including the 44.34% complete cure after early detection and initial treatment and a small 11.80% overdiagnosis resulting from mammography screening program (8.94%) and high awareness (2.86%). The 15-year adjusted cumulative survival of breast cancer was dropped from 88.25% to 74.80% after correcting for the zero-inflated part of overdiagnosis. The present findings reveal that the majority of survivors among women diagnosed with breast cancer could be attributed to the cure resulting from mammography screening and accompanying effective treatment and therapy and only a small fraction of those were due to overdiagnosis.
The Position of Inhaled Chemotherapy in the Care of Patients with Lung Tumors: Clinical Feasibility and Indications According to Recent Pharmaceutical Progresses
Authors: Rosière Rémi , Berghmans Thierry , De Vuyst Paul , Amighi Karim , Wauthoz Nathalie
Published: March 2019

Despite new treatment modalities, including targeted therapies and checkpoint inhibitors, cytotoxic chemotherapy remains central in the care of patients with lung tumors. Use of the pulmonary route to deliver chemotherapy has been proved to be feasible and safe in phase I, Ib/IIa and II trials for lung tumors, with the administration of drug doses to the lungs without prior distribution in the organism. The severe systemic toxicities commonly observed with conventional systemic chemotherapy are consequently reduced. However, development has failed in phase II at best. This review first focuses on the causes of failure of inhaled chemotherapy. It then presents new promising technologies able to take up the current challenges. These technologies include the use of a dry powder inhaler or a smart nebulizer with advanced drug formulations such as controlled-release formulations and nanomedicine. Finally, the potential position of inhaled chemotherapy in patient care is discussed and some indications are proposed based on the literature.
The Stem Cell Phenotype of Aggressive Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Margaryan Naira V. , Hazard-Jenkins Hannah , Salkeni Mohamad A. , Smolkin Matthew B. , Coad James A. , Wen Sijin , Seftor Elisabeth A. , Seftor Richard E. B. , Hendrix Mary J. C.
Published: March 2019

Aggressive cancer cells are characterized by their capacity to proliferate indefinitely and to propagate a heterogeneous tumor comprised of subpopulations with varying degrees of metastatic propensity and drug resistance properties. Particularly daunting is the challenge we face in the field of oncology of effectively targeting heterogeneous tumor cells expressing a variety of markers, especially those associated with a stem cell phenotype. This dilemma is especially relevant in breast cancer, where therapy is based on traditional classification schemes, including histological criteria, differentiation status, and classical receptor markers. However, not all patients respond in a similar manner to standard-of-care therapy, thereby necessitating the need to identify and evaluate novel biomarkers associated with the difficult-to-target stem cell phenotype and drug resistance. Findings related to the convergence of embryonic and tumorigenic signaling pathways have identified the embryonic morphogen Nodal as a promising new oncofetal target that is reactivated only in aggressive cancers, but not in normal tissues. The work presented in this paper confirms previous studies demonstrating the importance of Nodal as a cancer stem cell molecule associated with aggressive breast cancer, and advances the field by providing new findings showing that Nodal is not targeted by standard-of-care therapy in breast cancer patients. Most noteworthy is the linkage found between Nodal expression and the drug resistance marker ATP-binding cassette member 1 (ABCA1), which may provide new insights into developing combinatorial approaches to overcome drug resistance and disease recurrence.
Chiral Phase-Transfer Catalysts with Hydrogen Bond: A Powerful Tool in the Asymmetric Synthesis
Authors: Wang Hongyu
Published: March 2019

Asymmetric phase-transfer catalysis has been widely applied into organic synthesis for efficiently creating chiral functional molecules. In the past decades, chiral phase-transfer catalysts with proton donating groups are emerging as an extremely significant strategy in the design of novel catalysts, and a large number of enantioselective reactions have been developed. In particular, the proton donating groups including phenol, amide, and (thio)-urea exhibited unique properties for cooperating with the phase-transfer catalysts, and great advances on this field have been made in the past few years. This review summarizes the seminal works on the design, synthesis, and applications of chiral phase-transfer catalysts with strong hydrogen bonding interactions.
Physiological Expression of Ion Channel Receptors in Human Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells
Authors: Chiricosta Luigi , Diomede Francesca , Trubiani Oriana , Bramanti Placido , Mazzon Emanuela
Published: March 2019

The etiopathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases is characterized by the death of neurons. Human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs), coming from neuronal crest, can potentially become neuronal cells because of their embryologic origin. In this study, we performed an RNA-seq analysis of hPDLSCs in order to determine whether their transcriptomic profile revealed genes encoded for ion channel receptors. Next, each found gene was enriched by the information of pathways stored in the Reactome database. Our results show that the hPDLSCs express GABBR1 and GABBR2, CHRNA1, GRINA genes, respectively associated with GABAB, NMDA and nACh receptors. In particular, the two subunits of GABAB receptor are expressed in hPDLSCs. Further, the proteic extract for GABABR1, GABABR2 and AChRα1 confirmed their expression in hPDLSCs. Our results show that hPDLSCs express physiologically genes associated with ion channel receptors maintaining multipotent features which are useful for neurogenesis.
Microbiome, Parkinson’s Disease and Molecular Mimicry
Authors: Miraglia Fabiana , Colla Emanuela
Published: March 2019

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is typically classified as a neurodegenerative disease affecting the motor system. Recent evidence, however, has uncovered the presence of Lewy bodies in locations outside the CNS, in direct contact with the external environment, including the olfactory bulbs and the enteric nervous system. This, combined with the ability of alpha-synuclein (αS) to propagate in a prion-like manner, has supported the hypothesis that the resident microbial community, commonly referred to as microbiota, might play a causative role in the development of PD. In this article, we will be reviewing current knowledge on the importance of the microbiota in PD pathology, concentrating our investigation on mechanisms of microbiota-host interactions that might become harmful and favor the onset of PD. Such processes, which include the secretion of bacterial amyloid proteins or other metabolites, may influence the aggregation propensity of αS directly or indirectly, for example by favoring a pro-inflammatory environment in the gut. Thus, while the development of PD has not yet being associated with a unique microbial species, more data will be necessary to examine potential harmful interactions between the microbiota and the host, and to understand their relevance in PD pathogenesis.
Management of Congenital Heart Disease: State of the Art; Part I—ACYANOTIC Heart Defects
Authors: Rao P. Syamasundar
Published: March 2019

Since the description of surgery for patent ductus arteriosus in late 1930s, an innumerable number of advances have taken place in the management of congenital heart defects (CHDs). In this review the current status of treatment of seven of the most common acyanotic CHDs was reviewed. The discussion included indications for, and timing of, intervention and methods of intervention. The indications are, by and large, determined by the severity of the lesion. Pressure gradients in obstructive lesions and the magnitude of the shunt in left-to-right shunt lesions are used to assess the severity of the lesion. The timing of intervention is different for each lesion and largely dependent upon when the criteria for indications for intervention were met. Appropriate medical management is necessary in most patients. Trans-catheter methods are preferable in some defects while surgery is a better option in some other defects. The currently available medical, trans-catheter, and surgical methods to treat acyanotic CHD are feasible, safe, and effective.
The Antifungal Properties of Super-Hydrophobic Nanoparticles and Essential Oils on Different Material Surfaces
Authors: Benkovičová Monika , Kisová Zuzana , Bučková Mária , Majková Eva , Šiffalovič Peter , Pangallo Domenico
Published: March 2019

This study was undertaken to determine the in vitro antifungal activities of super-hydrophobic nanoparticles (SHNPs), essential oils (EOs), and their mixtures (SHNPs/EOs). We have applied a thin layer of SHNPs in combination with various concentrations of three EOs: Arborvitae (Thuja plicata), Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), and Thyme (Thymus vulgaris). The mixtures were spread on the surface of different materials: whitewood, sandstone, and paper. The antifungal and protective properties of these SHNP and EO mixtures were evaluated. The parameter Rr (ratio of reflectivity) was determined to identify the color changes of substrates. Digital microscopy was used to measure the colonization area of molds and also their penetration in the analyzed materials. Surprisingly, the use of SHNPs alone showed a balanced compromise in order to inhibit the mold growth on assayed surfaces.
Synthesis of Iron Oxide Nanostructures via Carbothermal Reaction of Fe Microspheres Generated by Infrared Pulsed Laser Ablation
Authors: De Vero Jeffrey C. , Jasmin Alladin C. , Dasallas Lean L. , Garcia Wilson O. , Sarmago Roland V.
Published: March 2019

Iron oxide nanostructures were synthesized using the carbothermal reaction of Fe microspheres generated by infrared pulsed laser ablation. The Fe microspheres were successfully deposited on Si(100) substrates by laser ablation of the Fe metal target using Nd:YAG pulsed laser operating at λ = 1064 nm. By varying the deposition time (number of pulses), Fe microspheres can be prepared with sizes ranging from 400 nm to 10 µm. Carbothermal reaction of these microspheres at high temperatures results in the self-assembly of iron oxide nanostructures, which grow radially outward from the Fe surface. Nanoflakes appear to grow on small Fe microspheres, whereas nanowires with lengths up to 4.0 μm formed on the large Fe microspheres. Composition analyses indicate that the Fe microspheres were covered with an Fe3O4 thin layer, which converted into Fe2O3 nanowires under carbothermal reactions. The apparent radial or outward growth of Fe2O3 nanowires was attributed to the compressive stresses generated across the Fe/Fe3O4/Fe2O3 interfaces during the carbothermal heat treatment, which provides the chemical driving force for Fe diffusion. Based on these results, plausible thermodynamic and kinetic considerations of the driving force for the growth of Fe2O3 nanostructures were discussed.
Natural Language Processing in OTF Computing: Challenges and the Need for Interactive Approaches
Authors: Bäumer Frederik S. , Kersting Joschka , Geierhos Michaela
Published: March 2019

The vision of On-the-Fly (OTF) Computing is to compose and provide software services ad hoc, based on requirement descriptions in natural language. Since non-technical users write their software requirements themselves and in unrestricted natural language, deficits occur such as inaccuracy and incompleteness. These deficits are usually met by natural language processing methods, which have to face special challenges in OTF Computing because maximum automation is the goal. In this paper, we present current automatic approaches for solving inaccuracies and incompletenesses in natural language requirement descriptions and elaborate open challenges. In particular, we will discuss the necessity of domain-specific resources and show why, despite far-reaching automation, an intelligent and guided integration of end users into the compensation process is required. In this context, we present our idea of a chat bot that integrates users into the compensation process depending on the given circumstances.
Determination of Diffusion Coefficient of Copper in ZnO (001) Single Crystals at 1000 °C
Authors: López-Salazar Primavera , Juárez-Díaz Gabriel , Martínez-Juárez Javier , Luna-López José A. , Peña Sierra Ramón , Koudriavtsev Yuri , Palomino-Jiménez Carlos , Rodríguez-Victoria Angel. P.
Published: March 2019

Copper from a solid source was diffused into undoped n-type bulk ZnO (001) single crystals at 1000 °C under a nitrogen atmosphere at different diffusion times. The Cu diffusion profiles were obtained by Secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), and the fitting reveals a diffusion case from a constant concentration source. A value for the diffusion coefficient of 2.42(±0.2) × 10−12 cm2∙s−1 was obtained. Electrical measurements present an increment of carrier concentration with diffusion time, but remains n-type which indicates an increase in the donor levels produced by structural defects in ZnO. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra showed an increment of green emission intensity associated with Cu incorporation.
Molecular Magnets
Authors: Bałanda Maria , Fitta Magdalena
Published: March 2019

Molecular magnetism is an interdisciplinary research area, which deals with design, synthesis and physical characterization as well as the theoretical modeling of molecular materials showing acquired properties [...]
Noncovalent Interactions between 1,3,5-Trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene and a Series of 1,10-Phenanthroline Derivatives: A Combined Theoretical and Experimental Study
Authors: Zhang Yu , Wang Jian-Ge , Wang Weizhou
Published: March 2019

How many strong C−I⋯N halogen bonds can one 1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene molecule form in a crystal structure? To answer this question, we investigated in detail the noncovalent interactions between 1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene and a series of 1,10-phenanthroline derivatives by employing a combined theoretical and experimental method. The results of the quantum chemical calculations and crystallographic experiments clearly show that there is a structural competition between a C−I⋯N halogen bond and π⋯π stacking interaction. For example, when there are much stronger π⋯π stacking interactions between two 1,10-phenanthroline derivative molecules or between two 1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene molecules in the crystal structures, then one 1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene molecule forms only one C−I⋯N halogen bond with one 1,10-phenanthroline derivative molecule. Another example is when π⋯π stacking interactions in the crystal structures are not much stronger, one 1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene molecule can form two C−I⋯N halogen bonds with two 1,10-phenanthroline derivative molecules.
Vacant Bivalve Boreholes Increase Invertebrate Species Richness in a Physically Harsh, Low Intertidal Platform
Authors: Bagur María , Gutiérrez Jorge L. , Arribas Lorena P. , Palomo M. Gabriela
Published: March 2019

Ecosystem engineers can modulate harsh abiotic conditions, thus creating habitat for species that cannot withstand the local environment. In this study, we investigated if vacant boreholes created by the rock-boring bivalve Petricola dactylus increase species richness in the low intertidal zone of a Patagonian rocky shore characterized by intense hydrodynamic forcing and sediment scour. Invertebrate species richness was three times higher in engineered than unengineered habitats (i.e., with and without Petricola boreholes, respectively) and the increase in species richness was area-independent. The most prevalent species in unengineered areas showed strong adhesion mechanisms, whereas infaunal and vagile species were mostly restricted to boreholes. The positive influence of engineered microhabitats on species richness can largely be attributed to amelioration of physical conditions, particularly a reduction in hydrodynamic forces and sediment trapping/stabilization within boreholes. We conclude that vacant boreholes are essential microhabitats for the maintenance of biodiversity within the otherwise inhospitable low intertidal zone.