bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiple Criteria Decision-Making in Heterogeneous Groups of Management Experts
Authors: López-Morales Virgilio
Published: November 2018

In commercial organizations operations, frequently some dynamic events occur which involve operational, managerial, and valuable information aspects. Then, in order to make a sound decision, the business professional could be supported by a Multi Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) system for taking an external course of action, as, for instance, forecasting a new market or product, up to an inner decision concerning for instance, the volume of manufacture. Thus, managers need, in a collective manner, to analyze the actual problems, to evaluate various options according to diverse criteria, and finally choose the best solution from a set of various alternatives. Throughout these processes, uncertainty and hesitancy easily arise, when it comes to define and judge criteria or alternatives. Several approaches have been introduced to allow Decision Makers (DMs) to deal with. The Interval Multiplicative Preference Relations (IMPRs) approach is a useful technique and the basis of our proposed methodology to provide reliable consistent and in consensus IMPRs. In this manner, DMs’ choices are implicitly including their uncertainty while maintaining both an acceptable individual consistency, as well as group consensus levels. The present method is based on some recent results and an optimization algorithm to derive reliable consistent and in consensus IMPRs. In order to illustrate our results and compare them with other methodologies, a few examples are addressed and solved.
3-D Printable Polymer Pelletizer Chopper for Fused Granular Fabrication-Based Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Woern Aubrey L. , Pearce Joshua M.
Published: November 2018

Although distributed additive manufacturing can provide high returns on investment, the current markup on commercial filament over base polymers limits deployment. These cost barriers can be surmounted by eliminating the entire process of fusing filament by three-dimensional (3-D) printing products directly from polymer granules. Fused granular fabrication (FGF) (or fused particle fabrication (FPF)) is being held back in part by the accessibility of low-cost pelletizers and choppers. An open-source 3-D printable invention disclosed here allows for precisely controlled pelletizing of both single thermopolymers as well as composites for 3-D printing. The system is designed, built, and tested for its ability to provide high-tolerance thermopolymer pellets with a number of sizes capable of being used in an FGF printer. In addition, the chopping pelletizer is tested for its ability to chop multi-materials simultaneously for color mixing and composite fabrication as well as precise fractional measuring back to filament. The US$185 open-source 3-D printable pelletizer chopper system was successfully fabricated and has a 0.5 kg/h throughput with one motor, and 1.0 kg/h throughput with two motors using only 0.24 kWh/kg during the chopping process. Pellets were successfully printed directly via FGF as well as indirectly after being converted into high-tolerance filament in a recyclebot.
The Experimental Effects of Acute Exercise on Long-Term Emotional Memory
Authors: Wade Breanna , Loprinzi Paul D.
Published: November 2018

Emerging work suggests that acute, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise may help to subserve episodic memory of neutral stimuli. Less investigated, however, is whether acute exercise is associated with enhanced memory recognition of emotional stimuli, which was the purpose of this experiment. A parallel-group randomized controlled experiment was employed. Participants (mean age = 20 yr) were randomized into an exercise (n = 17) or control group (n = 17). The exercise group engaged in a 15-min bout of moderate-intensity treadmill walking. Emotional memory recognition was assessed via images from the International Affective Picture System, including assessments of varying degrees of valence and arousal. Memory recognition was assessed at 1 day, 7 days, and 14 days post-memory encoding. We observed a significant main effect for time (F(2) = 104.2, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.77) and a significant main effect for valence–arousal classification (F(4) = 21.39, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.40), but there was no significant time by group interaction (F(2) = 1.09, p = 0.34, η2p = 0.03), classification by group interaction (F(4) = 0.12, p = 0.97, η2p = 0.01), time by classification interaction (F(8) = 1.78, p = 0.08, η2p = 0.05), or time by classification by group interaction (F(8) = 0.78, p = 0.62, η2p = 0.02). In conclusion, emotional memory recognition decreased over the 14-day follow-up period and this rate of memory decay was not altered by acute moderate-intensity exercise engagement. We discuss these findings in the context of exercise intensity and the temporal effects of exercise.
Impact of Nanoparticles on Brain Health: An Up to Date Overview
Authors: Teleanu Daniel Mihai , Chircov Cristina , Grumezescu Alexandru Mihai , Volceanov Adrian , Teleanu Raluca Ioana
Published: November 2018

Nanoparticles are zero-dimensional nanomaterials and, based on their nature, they can be categorized into organic, inorganic, and composites nanoparticles. Due to their unique physical and chemical properties, nanoparticles are extensively used in a variety of fields, including medicine, pharmaceutics, and food industry. Although they have the potential to improve the diagnosis and treatment of brain diseases, it is fundamentally important to develop standardized toxicological studies, which can prevent the induction of neurotoxic effects. The focus of this review is to emphasize both the beneficial and negative effects of nanoparticles on brain health.
A Short Overview of the Effects of Kinesio Taping for Postural Spine Curvature Disorders
Authors: Borzì Francesca , Szychlinska Marta Anna , Di Rosa Michelino , Musumeci Giuseppe
Published: November 2018

Spine curvature disorders are very common in the population. Several therapeutic methods have been implemented over time. Kinesio Taping (KT) is a solution that is utilized for several purposes. This narrative review aims to discuss KT methodology as a valid solution for spinal curvature disorders, especially for structured and non-structured spine deviations. The matter is poorly discussed in the current literature. Nevertheless, KT seems to indirectly influence posture and spine curvature disorders through peripheral and central nervous system stimulation, but further investigations are needed to demonstrate these unknown effects clearly. The present review provides a valuable contribution to the existing literature and may represent a starting point and a useful guide for further studies in this field of research.
Hydraulic Stability of the Armor Layer of Overtopped Breakwaters
Authors: Argente Gloria , Gómez-Martín M. Esther , Medina Josep R.
Published: November 2018

Mound breakwaters with significant overtopping rates in depth-limited conditions are common in practice due to social concern about the visual impact of coastal structures and sea level rise due to climatic change. For overtopped mound breakwaters, the highest waves pass over the crest producing armor damage, not only to the front slope, but also to the crest and the rear slope. To guarantee the breakwater stability, it is necessary to limit the armor damage in the three parts of the structure: Front slope, crest, and rear slope. This paper describes the hydraulic stability of the armor layer of medium and low-crested structures in wave breaking conditions. Small-scale physical model tests were carried out with different relative crest freeboards and three armor units: Rocks, cubes, and Cubipods. The armor damage progression in the front slope, crest, and rear slope was analyzed using the Virtual Net method to consider the heterogeneous packing and porosity evolution along the armor slope. A comparison is provided between the hydraulic stability of the different armors and their relationship with the measured overtopping volumes.
Sediment Transport Model Including Short-Lived Radioisotopes: Model Description and Idealized Test Cases
Authors: Birchler Justin J. , Harris Courtney K. , Sherwood Christopher R. , Kniskern Tara A.
Published: November 2018

Geochronologies derived from sediment cores in coastal locations are often used to infer event bed characteristics such as deposit thicknesses and accumulation rates. Such studies commonly use naturally occurring, short-lived radioisotopes, such as Beryllium-7 (7Be) and Thorium-234 (234Th), to study depositional and post-depositional processes. These radioisotope activities, however, are not generally represented in sediment transport models that characterize coastal flood and storm deposition with grain size patterns and deposit thicknesses. We modified the Community Sediment Transport Modeling System (CSTMS) to account for reactive tracers and used this capability to represent the behavior of these short-lived radioisotopes on the sediment bed. This paper describes the model and presents results from a set of idealized, one-dimensional (vertical) test cases. The model configuration represented fluvial deposition followed by periods of episodic storm resuspension. Sensitivity tests explored the influence on seabed radioisotope profiles by the intensities of bioturbation and wave resuspension and the thickness of fluvial deposits. The intensity of biodiffusion affected the persistence of fluvial event beds as evidenced by 7Be. Both resuspension and biodiffusion increased the modeled seabed inventory of 234Th. A thick fluvial deposit increased the seabed inventory of 7Be and 234Th but mixing over time greatly reduced the difference in inventory of 234Th in fluvial deposits of different thicknesses.
An Assessment of Two Models of Wave Propagation in an Estuary Protected by Breakwaters
Authors: Ilia Amin , O'Donnell James
Published: November 2018

Breakwaters influence coastal wave climate and circulation by blocking and dissipating wave energy. In a large harbor, these effects are combined with wave generation, refraction and reflection. Accurate representation of these processes is essential to the determination of coastal circulation and wave processes. MIKE21SW and SWAN are two third-generation spectral wave models which are used widely in coastal research and engineering applications. Recently improved versions of the models are able to consider the influence of breakwater structures. In this study, we used available observations to evaluate the accuracy of model simulations of waves in New Haven Harbor, Connecticut, USA, an estuary with three detached breakwaters near the mouth. The models were executed on their optimum unstructured triangular grid. The boundary conditions were derived from a bottom mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP) on the offshore side of the breakwaters. Wind forcing was applied using data from the Central Long Island Sound buoy. We found that both models were largely consistent with observations during storms. However, MIKE21SW predicted some of storm peaks slightly better. SWAN required the finer grid to achieve the optimum condition, but as it uses a fast, fully implicit algorithm, the computational times were similar. Also, the sensitivity analysis represents that wind forcing and the breakwaters have significant impact on the results.
The Effect of a Personalized Approach to Patient Education on Heart Failure Self-Management
Authors: Athar Muhammad W. , Record Janet D. , Martire Carol , Hellmann David B. , Ziegelstein Roy C.
Published: November 2018

Personalized tools relevant to an individual patient’s unique characteristics may be an important component of personalized health care. We randomized 97 patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure to receive a printout of an ultrasound image of their inferior vena cava (IVC) with an explanation of how the image is related to their fluid status (n = 50) or to receive no image and only generic heart failure information (n = 47). Adherence to medications, low-sodium diet, and daily weight measurement at baseline and 30 days after discharge were assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study Specific Adherence Scale, modified to a three-item version for heart failure (HF), (MOSSAS-3HF, maximum score = 15, indicating adherence all of the time). The baseline MOSSAS-3HF scores (mean ± standard deviation (SD)) were similar for intervention and control groups (7.4 ± 3.4 vs. 6.4 ± 3.7, p = 0.91). The MOSSAS-3HF scores improved for both groups but were not different at 30 days (11.8 ± 2.8 vs. 11.7 ± 3.0, p = 0.90). Survival without readmission or emergency department (ED) visit at 30 days was similar (82.6% vs. 84.1%, p = 0.85). A personalized HF tool did not affect rates of self-reported HF treatment adherence or survival without readmission or ED visit.
Prioritizing Suitable Locations for Green Stormwater Infrastructure Based on Social Factors in Philadelphia
Authors: Christman Zachary , Meenar Mahbubur , Mandarano Lynn , Hearing Kyle
Published: November 2018

Municipalities across the United States are prioritizing green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) projects due to their potential to concurrently optimize the social, economic, and environmental benefits of the “triple bottom line”. While placement of these features is often based on biophysical variables regarding the natural and built environments, highly urbanized areas often exhibit either limited data or minimal variability in these characteristics. Using a case study of Philadelphia and building on previous work to prioritize GSI features in disadvantaged communities, this study addresses the dual concerns of the inequitable benefits of distribution and suitable site placement of GSI using a model to evaluate and integrate social variables to support decision making regarding GSI implementation. Results of this study indicate locations both suitable and optimal for the implementation of four types of GSI features: tree trenches, pervious pavement, rain gardens, and green roofs. Considerations of block-level site placement assets and liabilities are discussed, with recommendations for use of this analysis for future GSI programs.
Temporal Dynamics and Motivations for Urban Community Food Gardens in Medium-Sized Towns of the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Authors: Roberts Sky , Shackleton Charlie
Published: November 2018

Urban agriculture is said to be increasing with global urbanization. However, there is little examination of the temporal or spatial dynamics of urban agriculture. We investigated the benefits and challenges experienced by community gardeners in four towns in South Africa, along with GIS analysis of the number, area, and location of urban food community gardens over the last three decades. Common reasons for practicing community gardening were cash poverty (37%) and the need to grow food (34%). The most common benefits reported by respondents were a healthy lifestyle (58%) and consumption of the food produced (54%). Theft of garden infrastructure or produce was a noteworthy challenge to continued motivation and engagement in urban community gardening. There were declines in the number and area of urban community gardens, and more central location over the last three decades. Only 16% of the gardens present in the 1980s were still operating in the 2000s. Clearly community gardening is temporally and spatially dynamic, which requires context-sensitive policy initiatives.
The Emergence of Landscape Urbanism: A Chronological Criticism Essay
Authors: Burley Jon Bryan
Published: November 2018

Scholars and practitioners have great interest in topics related to spatial patterns and the organization and properties of space. Landscape urbanism is one of these topics of interest. This essay, in the form of chronological criticism, presents a broad historical overview of the rise of landscape urbanism, primarily from a landscape architectural/geographical/ecological perspective, comparing the normative theories derived in the Western traditions embedded in urban design and architecture with the general values of landscape urbanism. In part, the essay employs the metaphors of Euclidean/Cartesian mathematics and fractal geometry to illustrate these differences. At the conclusion of the article, the reader should understand the historical context in which the planning and design community derived the emergence of landscape urbanism.
How do Nucleotides Adsorb Onto Clays?
Authors: Pedreira-Segade Ulysse , Hao Jihua , Razafitianamaharavo Angelina , Pelletier Manuel , Marry Virginie , Le Crom Sébastien , Michot Laurent J. , Daniel Isabelle
Published: November 2018

Adsorption of prebiotic building blocks is proposed to have played a role in the emergence of life on Earth. The experimental and theoretical study of this phenomenon should be guided by our knowledge of the geochemistry of the habitable early Earth environments, which could have spanned a large range of settings. Adsorption being an interfacial phenomenon, experiments can be built around the minerals that probably exhibited the largest specific surface areas and were the most abundant, i.e., phyllosilicates. Our current work aims at understanding how nucleotides, the building blocks of RNA and DNA, might have interacted with phyllosilicates under various physico-chemical conditions. We carried out and refined batch adsorption studies to explore parameters such as temperature, pH, salinity, etc. We built a comprehensive, generalized model of the adsorption mechanisms of nucleotides onto phyllosilicate particles, mainly governed by phosphate reactivity. More recently, we used surface chemistry and geochemistry techniques, such as vibrational spectroscopy, low pressure gas adsorption, X-ray microscopy, and theoretical simulations, in order to acquire direct data on the adsorption configurations and localization of nucleotides on mineral surfaces. Although some of these techniques proved to be challenging, questioning our ability to easily detect biosignatures, they confirmed and complemented our pre-established model.
Effect of Hygrothermal Ageing on Tribological Behaviour of PTFE-Based Composites
Authors: Homayoun Mohammad-Reza , Golchin Arash , Emami Nazanin
Published: November 2018

The present study investigates the influence of hygrothermal ageing on the tribological behaviour of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polymer composites. Three PTFE composites along with unfilled PTFE were tested in sliding contact against Inconel 625 (a Ni-based alloy) plates in both dry and water-lubricated conditions, utilising a unidirectional pin-on-disc tribometer. The tribo-tests were performed at a constant sliding speed of 0.13 m/s with a normal load of 84N providing an apparent contact pressure of 5 MPa. Hygrothermal conditioning was carried out at two different temperatures, and the water absorption evolution and kinetic parameters were estimated. Various characterisation methods were used to identify the wear mechanisms and influence of hygrothermal ageing on the degradation of the filler/matrix. The different tribological behaviour for different PTFE composites was observed within the ageing timeframe. The wear resistance of the fibre-filled samples was reduced compared to the non-aged ones over the ageing timeframe. However, the friction and wear resistance of the bronze-filled PTFE were enhanced by hygrothermal ageing.
A Novel Simple Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm for Global Optimization
Authors: Zhang Xin , Zou Dexuan , Shen Xin
Published: November 2018

In order to overcome the several shortcomings of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) e.g., premature convergence, low accuracy and poor global searching ability, a novel Simple Particle Swarm Optimization based on Random weight and Confidence term (SPSORC) is proposed in this paper. The original two improvements of the algorithm are called Simple Particle Swarm Optimization (SPSO) and Simple Particle Swarm Optimization with Confidence term (SPSOC), respectively. The former has the characteristics of more simple structure and faster convergence speed, and the latter increases particle diversity. SPSORC takes into account the advantages of both and enhances exploitation capability of algorithm. Twenty-two benchmark functions and four state-of-the-art improvement strategies are introduced so as to facilitate more fair comparison. In addition, a t-test is used to analyze the differences in large amounts of data. The stability and the search efficiency of algorithms are evaluated by comparing the success rates and the average iteration times obtained from 50-dimensional benchmark functions. The results show that the SPSO and its improved algorithms perform well comparing with several kinds of improved PSO algorithms according to both search time and computing accuracy. SPSORC, in particular, is more competent for the optimization of complex problems. In all, it has more desirable convergence, stronger stability and higher accuracy.
Variants on Andrica’s Conjecture with and without the Riemann Hypothesis
Authors: Visser Matt
Published: November 2018

The gap between what we can explicitly prove regarding the distribution of primes and what we suspect regarding the distribution of primes is enormous. It is (reasonably) well-known that the Riemann hypothesis is not sufficient to prove Andrica’s conjecture: ∀ n ≥ 1 , is p n + 1 − p n ≤ 1 ? However, can one at least get tolerably close? I shall first show that with a logarithmic modification, provided one assumes the Riemann hypothesis, one has p n + 1 / ln p n + 1 − p n / ln p n < 11 / 25 ; ( n ≥ 1 ) . Then, by considering more general m t h roots, again assuming the Riemann hypothesis, I show that p n + 1 m − p n m < 44 / ( 25 e [ m − 2 ] ) ; ( n ≥ 3 ; m > 2 ) . In counterpoint, if we limit ourselves to what we can currently prove unconditionally, then the only explicit Andrica-like results seem to be variants on the relatively weak results below: ln 2 p n + 1 − ln 2 p n < 9 ; ln 3 p n + 1 − ln 3 p n < 52 ; ln 4 p n + 1 − ln 4 p n < 991 ; ( n ≥ 1 ) . I shall also update the region on which Andrica’s conjecture is unconditionally verified.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis Associated with Thyroxine (T4) Toxicosis and Thyrotoxic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Meregildo Rodriguez Edinson Dante , Gordillo Velásquez Luis Iván , Alvarado Moreno José Gustavo
Published: November 2018

Thyrotoxicosis and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) both may present as endocrine emergencies and may have devastating consequences if not diagnosed and managed promptly and effectively. The combination of diabetes mellitus (DM) with thyrotoxicosis is well known, and one condition usually precedes the other. Furthermore, thyrotoxicosis is complicated by some degree of cardiomyopathy in at least 5% de patients; but the coexistence of DKA, thyroxin (T4) toxicosis, and acute cardiomyopathy is extremely rare. We describe a case of a man, previously diagnosed with DM but with no past history of thyroid disease, who presented with shock and severe DKA that did not improve despite optimal therapy. The patient evolved with acute pulmonary edema, elevated troponin levels, severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and clinical and laboratory evidence of thyroxin (T4) toxicosis and thyrotoxic cardiomyopathy. Subsequently, the patient evolved favorably with general support and appropriate therapy for DKA and thyrotoxicosis (hydrocortisone, methimazole, Lugol’s solution) and was discharged a few days later.
Paediatric Pain Medicine: Pain Differences, Recognition and Coping Acute Procedural Pain in Paediatric Emergency Room
Authors: Pancekauskaitė Gabija , Jankauskaitė Lina
Published: November 2018

Paediatric pain and its assessment and management are challenging for medical professionals, especially in an urgent care environment. Patients in a paediatric emergency room (PER) often undergo painful procedures which are an additional source of distress, anxiety, and pain. Paediatric procedural pain is often underestimated and neglected because of various myths, beliefs, and difficulties in its evaluation and treatment. However, it is very different from other origins of pain as it can be preventable. It is known that neonates and children can feel pain and that it has long-term effects that last through childhood into adulthood. There are a variety of pain assessment tools for children and they should be chosen according to the patient’s age, developmental stage, communication skills, and medical condition. Psychological factors such as PER environment, preprocedural preparation, and parental involvement should also be considered. There are proven methods to reduce a patient’s pain and anxiety during different procedures in PER. Distraction techniques such as music, videogames, virtual reality, or simple talk about movies, friends, or hobbies as well as cutaneous stimulation, vibration, cooling sprays, or devices are effective to alleviate procedural pain and anxiety. A choice of distraction technique should be individualized, selecting children who could benefit from nonpharmacological pain treatment methods or tools. Nonpharmacological pain management may reduce dosage of pain medication or exclude pharmacological pain management. Most nonpharmacological treatment methods are cheap, easily accessible, and safe to use on every child, so it should always be a first choice when planning a patient’s care. The aim of this review is to provide a summary of paediatric pain features, along with their physiology, assessment, management, and to highlight the importance and efficacy of nonpharmacological pain management in an urgent paediatric care setting.
An Improved Genome-Scale Metabolic Model of Arthrospira platensis C1 (iAK888) and Its Application in Glycogen Overproduction
Authors: Klanchui Amornpan , Dulsawat Sudarat , Chaloemngam Kullapat , Cheevadhanarak Supapon , Prommeenate Peerada , Meechai Asawin
Published: November 2018

Glycogen-enriched biomass of Arthrospira platensis has increasingly gained attention as a source for bioethanol production. To study the metabolic capabilities of glycogen production in A. platensis C1, a genome-scale metabolic model (GEM) could be a useful tool for predicting cellular behavior and suggesting strategies for glycogen overproduction. New experimentally validated GEM of A. platensis C1 namely iAK888, which has improved metabolic coverage and functionality was employed in this research. The iAK888 is a fully functional compartmentalized GEM consisting of 888 genes, 1,096 reactions, and 994 metabolites. This model was demonstrated to reasonably predict growth and glycogen fluxes under different growth conditions. In addition, iAK888 was further employed to predict the effect of deficiencies of NO3−, PO43−, or SO42− on the growth and glycogen production in A. platensis C1. The simulation results showed that these nutrient limitations led to a decrease in growth flux and an increase in glycogen flux. The experiment of A. platensis C1 confirmed the enhancement of glycogen fluxes after the cells being transferred from normal Zarrouk’s medium to either NO3−, PO43−, or SO42−-free Zarrouk’s media. Therefore, iAK888 could be served as a predictive model for glycogen overproduction and a valuable multidisciplinary tool for further studies of this important academic and industrial organism.
Suppressing the Initial Growth of Sidewall GaN by Modifying Micron-Sized Patterned Sapphire Substrate with H3PO4-Based Etchant
Authors: Hsu Wen-Yang , Lian Yuan-Chi , Wu Pei-Yu , Yong Wei-Min , Sheu Jinn-Kong , Lin Kun-Lin , Wu YewChung Sermon
Published: November 2018

Micron-sized patterned sapphire substrates (PSS) are used to improve the performance of GaN-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs). However, the growth of GaN is initiated not only from the bottom c-plane but also from the sidewall of the micron-sized patterns. Therefore, the coalescence of these GaN crystals creates irregular voids. In this study, two kinds of nucleation layers (NL)—ex-situ AlN NL and in-situ GaN NL—were used, and the growth of sidewall GaN was successfully suppressed in both systems by modifying the micron-sized PSS surface.
Editorial for the Special Issue on Micro-Resonators: The Quest for Superior Performance
Authors: Abdolvand Reza
Published: November 2018

Micro-resonators have reached a distinctive level of maturity due to the accumulated wealth of knowledge on their design, modeling, and manufacturing during the past few decades [...]
A Novel Fault-Tolerant Navigation and Positioning Method with Stereo-Camera/Micro Electro Mechanical Systems Inertial Measurement Unit (MEMS-IMU) in Hostile Environment
Authors: Yuan Cheng , Lai Jizhou , Lyu Pin , Shi Peng , Zhao Wei , Huang Kai
Published: November 2018

Visual odometry (VO) is a new navigation and positioning method that estimates the ego-motion of vehicles from images. However, VO with unsatisfactory performance can fail severely in hostile environment because of the less feature, fast angular motions, or illumination change. Thus, enhancing the robustness of VO in hostile environment has become a popular research topic. In this paper, a novel fault-tolerant visual-inertial odometry (VIO) navigation and positioning method framework is presented. The micro electro mechanical systems inertial measurement unit (MEMS-IMU) is used to aid the stereo-camera, for a robust pose estimation in hostile environment. In the algorithm, the MEMS-IMU pre-integration is deployed to improve the motion estimation accuracy and robustness in the cases of similar or few feature points. Besides, a dramatic change detector and an adaptive observation noise factor are introduced, tolerating and decreasing the estimation error that is caused by large angular motion or wrong matching. Experiments in hostile environment showing that the presented method can achieve better position estimation when compared with the traditional VO and VIO method.
U-Pb Ages and Hf Isotopes of Detrital Zircon Grains from the Mesoproterozoic Chuanlinggou Formation in North China Craton: Implications for the Geochronology of Sedimentary Iron Deposits and Crustal Evolution
Authors: Duan Chao , Li Yanhe , Yang Yun , Liang Yongsheng , Wei Minghui , Hou Kejun
Published: November 2018

The Chuanlinggou Formation is the lower formation of the Changchengian System, and hosts sedimentary iron deposits (marine oolitic ironstones) of the North China Craton (NCC). To determine the age of the iron deposits, and provide insight into the crustal growth of the craton, laser ablation multiple collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-MC-ICP-MS)U-Pb and in situ Hf isotope analysis were performed on detrital zircon grains. Samples were taken from the roof sand-shale of the sedimentary iron deposits at Jiangjiazhai and Pangjiapbu. Overall, 186 detrital zircon grain U-Pb ages yield three major age populations, with weighted average ages of 2450 Ma, 1848 Ma, and 1765 Ma, respectively. Four younger ages from magmatic zircon grains were obtained, ranging from 1694 to 1657 Ma. Combined with observations from published studies, the results define the lower limit for the age of the Chuanlinggou Formation, and constrain the age of the sedimentary iron deposits (marine oolitic ironstone) close to 1650 Ma. The peak ages of 1848 Ma and 2450 Ma define the major collisional events of the NCC. The age of 1765 Ma can be linked to the age range of the widespread mafic dyke swarms that represent the rifting of the NCC within the Columbia supercontinent. Detrital zircon grains from the Chuanlinggou Formation form two obvious groups, with different εHf (t) values ranging from −1 to −8 and from +1 to +8, which correspond to the U-Pb age ranges of 1.7–1.9 Ga and 2.3–2.6 Ga, respectively. They have a similar two-stage Hf model age peak at 2.65–2.85 Ga, suggesting that the source rocks for each of these events were derived from the recycling of ancient crust. The source rocks of the older group of zircon grains might be derived from juvenile crust with a short reworking period. The critical crust–mantle differentiation event might happen during the period of 2.65–2.85 Ga, marking the most significant stage of the crustal growth in the NCC.
Carbothermic Reduction of Ore-Coal Composite Pellets in a Tall Pellets Bed
Authors: Jiang Xin , Ding Guangen , Guo He , Gao Qiangjian , Shen Fengman
Published: November 2018

Recently, increasing attention has been paid to alternative ironmaking processes due to the desire for sustainable development. Aiming to develop a new direct reduction technology, the paired straight hearth (PSH) furnace process, the carbothermic reduction of ore-coal composite pellets in a tall pellets bed was investigated at the lab-scale in the present work. The experimental results show that, under the present experimental conditions, when the height of the pellets bed is 80 mm (16–18 mm each layer, and 5 layers), the optimal amount of carbon to add is C/O = 0.95. Addition of either more or less carbon does not benefit the production of high quality direct reduced iron (DRI). The longer reduction time (60 min) may result in more molten slag in the top layer of DRI, which does not benefit the actual operation. At 50 min, the metallization degree could be up to 85.24%. When the experiment was performed using 5 layers of pellets (about 80 mm in height) and at 50 min duration, the productivity of metallic iron could reach 55.41 kg-MFe/m2·h (or 75.26 kg-DRI/m2·h). Therefore, compared with a traditional shallow bed (one or two layers), the metallization degree and productivity of DRI can be effectively increased in a tall pellets bed. It should be pointed out that the pellets bed and the temperature should be increased simultaneously. The present investigation may give some guidance for the commercial development of the PSH process in the future.
Galactosylated Chitosan-Functionalized Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle Loading by Calcium Leucovorin for Colon Cancer Cell-Targeted Drug Delivery
Authors: Liu Wei , Wang Fan , Zhu Yongchao , Li Xue , Liu Xiaojing , Pang Jingjing , Pan Weisan
Published: November 2018

Targeted drug delivery to colon cancer cells can significantly improve the efficiency of treatment. We firstly synthesized carboxyl-modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN–COOH) via two-step synthesis, and then developed calcium leucovorin (LV)-loaded carboxyl-modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles based on galactosylated chitosan (GC), which are galectin receptor-mediated materials for colon-specific drug delivery systems. Both unmodified and functionalized nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), nitrogen sorption, and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Drug release properties and drug loading capacity were determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry (UV). LV@MSN–COOH/GC had a high LV loading and a drug loading of 18.07%. In vitro, its release, mainly by diffusion, was sustained release. Cell experiments showed that in SW620 cells with the galectin receptor, the LV@MSN–COOH/GC metabolized into methyl tetrahydrofolic acid (MTHF) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)@MSN–NH2/GC metabolized into FdUMP in vivo. MTHF and 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine 5′-monophosphate (FdUMP) had combined inhibition and significantly downregulated the expression of thymidylate synthase (TS). Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry experiments show that MSN–COOH/GC has tumor cell targeting, which specifically recognizes and binds to the galectin receptor in tumor cells. The results show that the nano-dosing system based on GC can increase the concentrations of LV and 5-FU tumor cells and enhance their combined effect against colon cancer.
Effect of Enzyme Modified Soymilk on Rennet Induced Gelation of Skim Milk
Authors: Li Kaixin , Yang Jianjun , Tong Qigen , Zhang Wei , Wang Fang
Published: November 2018

In this study, soymilk was hydrolyzed to different degrees with flavourzyme, and then soymilk and enzyme modified soymilk at various levels were added to skim milk respectively, to generate a mixed gel using rennet. Rheological properties, scanning electron microscopy imaging, and physical and chemical indexes were examined to reveal the effect of enzyme modified soymilk on rennet induced gelation of skim milk. Results showed that soymilk inhibited the aggregation of skim milk, led to a decrease in storage modulus (G’), significantly increased moisture content and curd yield, and the resulting network was coarse. Enzyme modified soymilk with a molecular weight below 20 kDa led to a more uniform curd distribution, which counteracted the reduction of G’ and allowed for the formation of a stronger gel. Both the moisture content and the curd yield increased with the addition of soymilk and enzyme modified soymilk, and overall the effect of adding a high degree of hydrolysis of enzyme modified soymilk was superior. Compared to untreated soymilk, the addition of a certain amount of enzyme modified soymilk resulted in a new protein structure, which would improve the texture of blend cheese.
Metabolomic Study to Determine the Mechanism Underlying the Effects of Sagittaria sagittifolia Polysaccharide on Isoniazid- and Rifampicin-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice
Authors: Ke Xiu-Hui , Wang Chun-Guo , Luo Wei-Zao , Wang Jing , Li Bing , Lv Jun-Ping , Dong Rui-Juan , Ge Dong-Yu , Han Yue , Yang Ya-Jie , Tu-Erxun Re-Yila , Liu Hong-Shuang , Wang Yi-Chen , Liao Yan
Published: November 2018

In this study, a non-targeted metabolic profiling method based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS) was used to characterize the plasma metabolic profile associated with the protective effects of the Sagittaria sagittifolia polysaccharide (SSP) on isoniazid (INH)—and rifampicin (RFP)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Fourteen potential biomarkers were identified from the plasma of SSP-treated mice. The protective effects of SSP on hepatotoxicity caused by the combination of INH and RFP (INH/RFP) were further elucidated by investigating the related metabolic pathways. INH/RFP was found to disrupt fatty acid metabolism, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, amino acid metabolism, taurine metabolism, and the ornithine cycle. The results of the metabolomics study showed that SSP provided protective effects against INH/RFP-induced liver injury by partially regulating perturbed metabolic pathways.
Cardiovascular Profile of Xanthone-Based 1,4 Dihydropyridines Bearing a Lidoflazine Pharmacophore Fragment
Authors: Bisi Alessandra , Micucci Matteo , Gobbi Silvia , Belluti Federica , Budriesi Roberta , Rampa Angela
Published: November 2018

As a follow-up to our previous studies on differently substituted 1,4-dihydropyridines endowed with a peculiar cardiac selectivity, in this paper, a small series of hybrid compounds bearing the pharmacophore fragment of lidoflazine in position 2 or 3 on a 4-(xanthen-9-one)-dihydropyridine core was reported. Lidoflazine was selected due to our promising previously reported data, and the xanthen-9-one substituent was introduced in position 4 of the dihydropyridine scaffold based on the cardiac selectivity observed in several of our studies. The new hybrid compounds were tested to assess cardiac and vascular activities, and the data were evaluated in comparison with those previously obtained for 4-(xanthen-9-one)-dihydropyridines and lidoflazine–nifedipine hybrid compounds. The functional studies indicated an interesting peculiar selectivity for the cardiac parameter inotropy, in particular when the lidoflazine fragment was introduced in position 2 of the dihydropyridine scaffold (4a–e), and thus a possible preferential binding with the Cav 1.2 isoform of l-type calcium channels, which are mainly involved in cardiac contractility.
Induction of Apoptosis and Cytotoxicity by Raphasatin in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma MCF-7 Cells
Authors: Ibrahim Muhammad Din , Kntayya Saie Brindha , Mohd Ain Nooraini , Iori Renato , Ioannides Costas , Abdull Razis Ahmad Faizal
Published: November 2018

Glucoraphasatin (GRH), a glucosinolate present abundantly in the plants of the Brassicaceae family, is hydrolyzed by myrosinase to raphasatin, which is considered responsible for its cancer chemopreventive activity; however, the underlying mechanisms of action have not been investigated, particularly in human cell lines. The aims of this study are to determine the cytotoxicity of raphasatin, and to evaluate its potential to cause apoptosis and modulate cell cycle arrest in human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells. The cytotoxicity was determined following incubation of the cells with glucoraphasatin or raphasatin (0–100 µM), for 24, 48, and 72 h. GRH displayed no cytotoxicity as exemplified by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. When myrosinase was added to the incubation system to convert GRH to raphasatin, cytotoxicity was evident. Exposure of the cells to raphasatin stimulated apoptosis, as was exemplified by cell shrinkage, membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation, and nuclear fragmentation. Moreover, using Annexin V-FITC assay, raphasatin induced apoptosis, as witnessed by changes in cellular distribution of cells, at different stages of apoptosis; in addition, raphasatin caused the arrest of the MCF-7 cells at the G2 + M phase. In conclusion, raphasatin demonstrated cancer chemopreventive potential against human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells, through induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Aurantio-Obtusin from Seed of Cassia obtusifolia L. through Modulation of the NF-κB Pathway
Authors: Hou Jingyi , Gu Yu , Zhao Shuai , Huo Mengqi , Wang Shifeng , Zhang Yanling , Qiao Yanjiang , Li Xi
Published: November 2018

Aurantio-obtusin, an anthraquinone compound, isolated from dried seeds of Cassia obtusifolia L. (syn. Senna obtusifolia; Fabaceae) and Cassia tora L. (syn. Senna tora). Although the biological activities of Semen Cassiae have been reported, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of aurantio-obtusin, its main compound, on RAW264.7 cells, remained unknown. We investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of aurantio-obtusin on lipopolysaccharide- (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells in vitro and elucidated the possible underlying molecular mechanisms. Nitric oxide production (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were measured by the Griess colorimetric method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Protein expression levels of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) were monitored by cell-based ELISA. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) synthesis were analyzed using ELISA. The mRNA expression of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), COX-2, and the critical pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. Aurantio-obtusin significantly decreased the production of NO, PGE2, and inhibited the protein expression of COX-2, TNF-α and IL-6, which were similar to those gene expression of iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α and IL-6 (p < 0.01). Consistent with the pro-inflammatory gene expression, the Aurantio-obtusin efficiently reduced the LPS-induced activation of nuclear factor-κB in RAW264.7 cells. These results suggested that aurantio-obtusin may function as a therapeutic agent and can be considered in the further development of treatments for a variety of inflammatory diseases. Further studies may provide scientific evidence for the use of aurantio-obstusin as a new therapeutic agent for inflammation-related diseases.
Synthesis of Mesoporous TiO2/Boron-Doped Diamond Photocatalyst and Its Photocatalytic Activity under Deep UV Light (λ = 222 nm) Irradiation
Authors: Suzuki Norihiro , Okazaki Akihiro , Kuriyama Haruo , Serizawa Izumi , Hara Aiga , Hirano Yuiri , Nakabayashi Yukihiro , Roy Nitish , Terashima Chiaki , Nakata Kazuya , Katsumata Ken-ichi , Kondo Takeshi , Yuasa Makoto , Fujishima Akira
Published: November 2018

There is a need for highly efficient photocatalysts, particularly for water purification. In this study, we fabricated a mesoporous TiO2 thin film on a boron-doped diamond (BDD) layer by a surfactant-assisted sol-gel method, in which self-assembled amphiphilic surfactant micelles were used as an organic template. Scanning electron microscopy revealed uniform mesopores, approximately 20 nm in diameter, that were hexagonally packed in the TiO2 thin film. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy clarified that the framework crystallized in the anatase phase. Current–voltage (I–V) measurements showed rectification features at the TiO2/BDD heterojunction, confirming that a p–n hetero-interface formed. The as-synthesized mesoporous TiO2/BDD worked well as a photocatalyst, even with a small volume of TiO2 (15 mm × 15 mm × c.a. 1.5 µm in thickness). The use of deep UV light (λ = 222 nm) as a light source was necessary to enhance photocatalytic activity, due to photo-excitation occurring in both BDD and TiO2.
Enhanced Peroxidase-Like Activity of MoS2 Quantum Dots Functionalized g-C3N4 Nanosheets towards Colorimetric Detection of H2O2
Authors: Ju Peng , He Yunhong , Wang Min , Han Xiuxun , Jiang Fenghua , Sun Chengjun , Wu Chi
Published: November 2018

MoS2 quantum dots (QDs) functionalized g-C3N4 nanosheets (MoS2@CNNS) were prepared through a protonation-assisted ion exchange method, which were developed as a highly efficient biomimetic catalyst. Structural analysis revealed that uniformly-dispersed MoS2 QDs with controllable size and different loading amount grew in-situ on the surface of CNNS, forming close-contact MoS2@CNNS nanostructures and exhibiting distinct surface properties. Compared to MoS2 QDs and CNNS, the MoS2@CNNS nanocomposites exhibited a more than four times stronger peroxidase-like catalytic activity, which could catalyze the oxidation of 3,3’,5,5’-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of H2O2 to generate a blue oxide. Among the MoS2@CNNS nanocomposites, MoS2@CNNS(30) was verified to present the best intrinsic peroxidase-like performance, which could be attributed to the more negative potential and larger specific surface area. A simple, rapid and ultrasensitive system for colorimetric detection of H2O2 was thus successfully established based on MoS2@CNNS, displaying nice selectivity, reusability, and stability. The detection limit of H2O2 could reach as low as 0.02 μM. Furthermore, the kinetic and active species trapping experiments indicated the peroxidase-like catalytic mechanism of MoS2@CNNS. This work develops a novel, rapid, and ultrasensitive approach for visual assay of H2O2, which has a potential application prospect on clinical diagnosis and biomedical analysis.
Applications of Gold Nanoparticles in Non-Optical Biosensors
Authors: Jiang Pengfei , Wang Yulin , Zhao Lan , Ji Chenyang , Chen Dongchu , Nie Libo
Published: November 2018

Due to their unique properties, such as good biocompatibility, excellent conductivity, effective catalysis, high density, and high surface-to-volume ratio, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are widely used in the field of bioassay. Mainly, AuNPs used in optical biosensors have been described in some reviews. In this review, we highlight recent advances in AuNP-based non-optical bioassays, including piezoelectric biosensor, electrochemical biosensor, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) bio-detection. Some representative examples are presented to illustrate the effect of AuNPs in non-optical bioassay and the mechanisms of AuNPs in improving detection performances are described. Finally, the review summarizes the future prospects of AuNPs in non-optical biosensors.