bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Cytotoxic Effect of Genistein, a Soybean Isoflavone, against Cultured Tribolium Cells
Authors: Kikuta Shingo
Published: April 2020

The red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum is a known pest of various grains and stored-products such as wheat flours; however, T. castaneum feeds on and infests soybean and soy products. For more than 60 years, soy flour has been suggested to be unstable food for Tribolium spp. because it causes larval development failure. However, it remains unknown whether soy flour affects adult beetles. The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of soy flour and its related isoflavones against T. castaneum using an artificial dietary intake assay. Beetles were fed gypsum (a non-digestible compound) mixed with either water (control) or soy flour. Significantly fewer beetles survived after being fed the soy flour treatment. Although the soy isoflavone genistein, a defensive agent and secondary metabolite, decreased the T. castaneum adult survival, it required a long time to have a lethal effect. Therefore, the cytotoxic effects of soy flour, i.e., the rapid biological responses following isoflavone addition, were also examined using a cultured cell line derived from T. castaneum. Both genistin and genistein significantly affected the survival of the cultured cells, although genistein had a stronger lethal effect. This study demonstrated the toxicity of genistein found in soybean against T. castaneum cultured cells within 24 h period. Genistein may be used as an oral toxin biopesticide against T. castaneum.
The Role of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) in Management of Bone Loss and Infection in Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Review
Authors: Hasandoost Leyla , Rodriguez Omar , Alhalawani Adel , Zalzal Paul , Schemitsch Emil H. , Waldman Stephen D. , Papini Marcello , Towler Mark R.
Published: April 2020

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is widely used in joint arthroplasty to secure an implant to the host bone. Complications including fracture, bone loss and infection might cause failure of total knee arthroplasty (TKA), resulting in the need for revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA). The goals of this paper are: (1) to identify the most common complications, outside of sepsis, arising from the application of PMMA following rTKA, (2) to discuss the current applications and drawbacks of employing PMMA in managing bone loss, (3) to review the role of PMMA in addressing bone infection following complications in rTKA. Papers published between 1970 to 2018 have been considered through searching in Springer, Google Scholar, IEEE Xplore, Engineering village, PubMed and weblinks. This review considers the use of PMMA as both a bone void filler and as a spacer material in two-stage revision. To manage bone loss, PMMA is widely used to fill peripheral bone defects whose depth is less than 5 mm and covers less than 50% of the bone surface. Treatment of bone infections with PMMA is mainly for two-stage rTKA where antibiotic-loaded PMMA is inserted as a spacer. This review also shows that using antibiotic-loaded PMMA might cause complications such as toxicity to surrounding tissue, incomplete antibiotic agent release from the PMMA, roughness and bacterial colonization on the surface of PMMA. Although PMMA is the only commercial bone cement used in rTKA, there are concerns associated with using PMMA following rTKA. More research and clinical studies are needed to address these complications.
Clinoenstatite/Tantalum Coating for Enhancement of Biocompatibility and Corrosion Protection of Mg Alloy
Authors: Bakhsheshi-Rad Hamid Reza , Najafinezhad Aliakbar , Hamzah Esah , Ismail Ahmad Fauzi , Berto Filippo , Chen Xiongbiao
Published: April 2020

Biodegradable Mg alloys have appeared as the most appealing metals for biomedical applications, particularly as temporary bone implants. However, issues regarding high corrosion rate and biocompatibility restrict their application. Hence, in the present work, nanostructured clinoenstatite (CLT, MgSiO3)/tantalum nitride (TaN) was deposited on the Mg-Ca-Zn alloy via electrophoretic deposition (EPD) along with physical vapor deposition (PVD) to improve the corrosion and biological characteristics of the Mg-Ca-Zn alloy. The TaN intermediate layer with bubble like morphology possessed a compact and homogenous structure with a thickness of about 950 nm while the thick CLT over-layer (~15 μm) displayed a less compact structure containing nano-porosities as well as nanoparticles with spherical morphology. The electrochemical tests demonstrated that the as prepared CLT/TaN film is able to substantially increase the anticorrosion property of Mg-Ca-Zn bare alloy. Cytocompatibility outcomes indicated that formation of CLT and TaN on the Mg bare alloy surface enhanced cell viability, proliferation and growth, implying excellent biocompatibility. Taken together, the CLT/TaN coating exhibits appropriate characteristic including anticorrosion property and biocompatibility in order to employ in biomedical files.
Sand Beach Nourishment: Experience from the Mediterranean Coast of Israel
Authors: Bitan Menashe , Zviely Dov
Published: April 2020

Beach nourishment along the Mediterranean coast of Israel represents a new approach to mitigate coastal erosion by adding suitable sand to threatened beaches. This ‘soft’ solution has become more environmentally and economically acceptable than traditional ‘hard’ solutions, such as seawalls, revetments, detached breakwaters and groins. Beach nourishment projects have been implemented on the Israeli coast north of Ashdod Port (2011), north of Ashkelon Marina (2015) and in the south of Haifa Bay (2016–2017). The performance of these projects was analyzed and compared with nourishment projects along the Mediterranean beaches of Italy, France and Spain. Despite a lack of detailed documentation on most of the European nourishment projects, they proved more durable than the Israeli projects, which were compromised when the imported sand eventually washed offshore. Key factor for the Israeli projects’ failure include the unsuitable morphology of the beaches; insufficient unit sand volume (m3/m—volume of nourished sand per meter of the beach length); and imported sand that was too fine versus native sand. The unique physical conditions of the Israeli coast specifically, its open shelf and straight coastline subject to relatively high waves with a very long fetch—also contributed to the poor durability of the nourishment. To improve durability on future projects: imported grain size should be at least 1.5–2.0 times the native sand; unit sand volume should be 400–500 m3/m; and supporting measures should be utilized as appropriate.
Long-Term Strength of Alkali-Activated Mortars with Steel Fibres Cured in Various Conditions
Authors: Dong Minhao , Elchalakani Mohamed , Karrech Ali , Yang Bo
Published: April 2020

The long-term effect of extreme conditions, such as high concentrations of CO2, a combination of chloride and air, and sulfuric acid, on the performance of steel fibre reinforced alkali-activated fly ash and slag (AAFS) mortars was investigated. The selected conditions simulated the long-term exposure to the marine environment and had an influence on both the matrix and the fibres. Four AAFS mixes were analysed alongside a control ordinary Portland cement (OPC) mix. Mechanical properties such as the compressive strength, elastic moduli and ductility indices, as well as microscopic analyses were carried out. It was found that the AAFS was stable in most of the conditions. The primary way for its reduction in strength was through the neutralisation of pore fluids and the leaching of sodium cations. The addition of the short fibres could reduce the ingress of deleterious materials by limiting the development of cracks and allowing for the efficient use of higher activator ratios. The fibres were susceptible to corrosion by chloride and acid attacks. The relatively chemically stable environment of the AAFS provided protection to the embedded fibres. Based on this study, in a very aggressive environment, a combination of 1%–2% fibre by volume, with a high activator content in the AAFS mortar, could be the most suitable.
Challenges in Description of Nonlinear Waves Due to Sampling Variability
Authors: Bitner-Gregersen Elzbieta M. , Gramstad Odin , Magnusson Anne Karin , Malila Mika
Published: April 2020

Wave description is affected by several uncertainties, with sampling variability due to limited number of observations being one of them. Ideally, temporal/spatial wave registrations should be as large as possible to eliminate this uncertainty. This is difficult to reach in nature, where stationarity of sea states is an issue, but it can in principle be obtained in laboratory tests and numerical simulations, where initial wave conditions can be kept constant and intrinsic variability can be accounted for by changing random seeds for each run. Using linear, second-order, and third-order unidirectional numerical simulations, we compare temporal and spatial statistics of selected wave parameters and show how sampling variability affects their estimators. The JONSWAP spectrum with gamma peakedness parameters γ = 1, 3.3, and 6 is used in the analysis. The third-order wave data are simulated by a numerical solver based on the higher-order spectral method which includes the leading-order nonlinear dynamical effects. Field data support the analysis. We demonstrate that the nonlinear wave field including dynamical effects is more sensitive to sampling variability than the second-order and linear ones. Furthermore, we show that the mean values of temporal and spatial wave parameters can be equal if the number of simulations is sufficiently large. Consequences for design work are discussed.
The Dynamic Influence of Olorofim (F901318) on the Cell Morphology and Organization of Living Cells of Aspergillus fumigatus
Authors: du Pré Saskia , Birch Mike , Law Derek , Beckmann Nicola , Sibley Graham E. M. , Bromley Michael J. , Read Nick D. , Oliver Jason D.
Published: April 2020

The first characterized antifungal in the orotomide class is olorofim. It targets the de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway by inhibiting dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH). The pyrimidines uracil, thymine and cytosine are the building blocks of DNA and RNA; thus, inhibition of their synthesis is likely to have multiple effects, including affecting cell cycle regulation and protein synthesis. Additionally, uridine-5′-triphosphate (UTP) is required for the formation of uridine-diphosphate glucose (UDP-glucose), which is an important precursor for several cell wall components. In this study, the dynamic effects of olorofim treatment on the morphology and organization of Aspergillus fumigatus hyphae were analyzed microscopically using confocal live-cell imaging. Treatment with olorofim led to increased chitin content in the cell wall, increased septation, enlargement of vacuoles and inhibition of mitosis. Furthermore, vesicle-like structures, which could not be stained or visualized with a range of membrane- or vacuole-selective dyes, were found in treated hyphae. A colocalization study of DHODH and MitoTracker Red FM confirmed for the first time that A. fumigatus DHODH is localized in the mitochondria. Overall, olorofim treatment was found to significantly influence the dynamic structure and organization of A. fumigatus hyphae.
Trade-Offs between Economic Benefits and Ecosystem Services Value under Three Cropland Protection Scenarios for Wuhan City in China
Authors: Wang Liye , Ke Xinli , Abu Hatab Assem
Published: April 2020

Over the past few decades urbanization and population growth have been the main trend all over the world, which brings the increase of economic benefits (EB) and the decrease of cropland. Cropland protection policies play an important role in the urbanization progress. In this study, we assess the trade-offs between EB and ecosystem services value (ESV) under three cropland protection policy scenarios using the LAND System Cellular Automata for Potential Effects (LANDSCAPE) model. The empirical results reveal that trade-offs between EB and ESV in urbanizing areas are dynamic, and that they considerably vary under different cropland protection policy scenarios. Especially, the results identify certain “turning points” for each policy scenario at which a small to moderate growth in EB would result in greater ESV losses. Among the three scenarios, we found that the cropland protection policy has the most adverse effect on trade-offs between EB and ESV and the results in the business as usual scenario have the least effect on the trade-offs. Furthermore, the results show that a strict balance between requisition and compensation of cropland is an inappropriate policy option in areas where built-up areas are increasing rapidly from the perspective of mitigating conflict between EB and ESV and the numbers of cropland protection that restrained by land use planning policy of Wuhan is a better choice.
Review of Application and Innovation of Geotextiles in Geotechnical Engineering
Authors: Wu Hao , Yao Chongkai , Li Chenghan , Miao Miao , Zhong Yujian , Lu Yuquan , Liu Tong
Published: April 2020

Most geotextiles consist of polymers of polyolefin, polyester or polyamide family, which involve environmental problems related to soil pollution. Geotextiles can be used for at least one of the following functions: Separation, reinforcement, filtration, drainage, stabilization, barrier, and erosion protection. Due to the characteristics of high strength, low cost, and easy to use, geotextiles are widely used in geotechnical engineering such as soft foundation reinforcement, slope protection, and drainage system. This paper reviews composition and function of geotextiles in geotechnical engineering. In addition, based on literatures including the most recent data, the discussion turns to recent development of geotextiles, with emphasis on green geotextiles, intelligent geotextiles, and high-performance geotextiles. The present situation of these new geotextiles and their application in geotechnical engineering are reviewed.
Effect of Soda Residue Addition and Its Chemical Composition on Physical Properties and Hydration Products of Soda Residue-Activated Slag Cementitious Materials
Authors: Lin Yonghui , Xu Dongqiang , Zhao Xianhui
Published: April 2020

Soda residue (SR), the solid waste of Na2CO3 produced by ammonia soda process, pollutes water and soil, increasing environmental pressure. SR has high alkalinity, and its main components are Ca(OH)2, NaCl, CaCl2, CaSO4, and CaCO3, which accords with the requirements of being an alkali activator. The aim of this research is to investigate the best proportion of SR addition and the contribution of individual chemical components in SR to SR- activated ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) cementitious materials. In this paper, GGBS pastes activated by SR, Ca(OH)2, Ca(OH)2 + NaCl, Ca(OH)2 + CaCl2, Ca(OH)2 + CaSO4, and Ca(OH)2 + CaCO3 were studied regarding setting time, compressive strength (1 d, 3 d, 7 d, 14 d, 28 d), hydration products, and microstructure. The results demonstrate that SR (24%)-activated GGBS pastes possess acceptable setting time and compressive strength (29.6 MPa, 28 d), and its hydration products are calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) gel, calcium aluminum silicate hydrates (CASH) gel and Friedel’s salt. CaCl2 in SR plays a main role in hydration products generation and high compressive strength of SR- activated GGBS pastes.
Effect of Cast Defects on the Corrosion Behavior and Mechanism of UNS C95810 Alloy in Artificial Seawater
Authors: Zhao Xu , Qi Yuhong , Wang Jintao , Zhang Zhanping , Zhu Jing , Quan Linlin , He Dachuan
Published: April 2020

To study the effect of cast defects on the corrosion behavior and mechanism of the UNS C95810 alloy in seawater, an investigation was conducted by weight loss determination, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electrochemical testing of the specimen with and without cast defects on the surface. The results show that the corrosion rate of the alloy with cast defects is higher than that of the alloy without cast defects, but the defects do not change the composition of the resulting corrosion products. The defects increase the complexity of the alloy microstructure and the tendency toward galvanic corrosion, which reduce the corrosion potential from −3.83 to −86.31 mV and increase the corrosion current density from 0.228 to 0.23 μA⋅cm−2.
Effects of Material Nonlinearities on Design of Composite Constructions—Elasto-Plastic Behaviour
Authors: Muc Aleksander
Published: April 2020

Usually, the design of composite structures is limited to the linear elastic analysis only. The experimental results discussed in the paper demonstrate the physical non-linear behaviour both for unidirectional and woven roving composites. It is mainly connected with the micromechanical damages in composite structures, particularly with the effects of matrix cracking modeled in the form of elastic-plastic physical relations. In the present paper, the effects of both physical and geometrical non-linearities are taken into account. Their influence on the limit states (understood in the sense of buckling or failure/damage) of composite structures is discussed. The numerical examples deal with the behaviour of composite pressure vessels components, such as a cylindrical shell and the reinforcement of the junction of shells. The optimisation method of the reinforcement thickness is also formulated and solved herein.
Iron Oxide and Iron Sulfide Films Prepared for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Tuharin Kostyantyn , Turek Zdeněk , Zanáška Michal , Kudrna Pavel , Tichý Milan
Published: April 2020

In this paper, the prospects of iron oxide films and their sulfidation for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are reviewed. Iron oxide thin films were prepared by hollow cathode plasma jet (HCPJ) sputtering, with an admixture of oxygen in the argon working gas and with an iron nozzle as the sputtering target. The discharge was powered by a constant current source in continuous mode and by a constant voltage source in pulsed mode. Plasma composition was measured by an energy-resolved mass spectrometer. Moreover, secondary electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), absorption and Raman spectra of the films are presented. Strong correlation between the color of the iron oxide film and its phase composition was revealed. Iron oxide films were sulfided at 350 °C. A relatively clean pyrite phase was obtained from the magnetite, while the marcasite with admixture of the pyrite phase was obtained from the hematite. Low influence of sulfidation on the films’ microstructure was demonstrated.
Tomography-Based Investigation on the Carbonation Behavior through the Surface-Opening Cracks of Sliced Paste Specimen
Authors: Cui Dong , Zuo Xiaobao , Zheng Keren , Talukdar Sudip
Published: April 2020

Understanding the cracking behavior during carbonation is of high importance, and the cracks can serve as a shortcut for CO2 diffusion, which can further accelerate the carbonation process itself. In this study, a sliced paste sample was taken for an accelerated carbonation test, and the cracking behavior, as well as its impact on carbonation, was investigated through a novel extended attenuation method based on X-ray (XRAM) which is performed primarily on computed tomography (CT). Surface-opening cracks at different carbonation ages were rendered, based on which a full view on the carbonation-cracking behavior was built. The results reveal that the crack paths can rapidly be occupied by CO2, and that leads to the generation of V-shaped carbonation cusps pervading the carbonation fronts. The V-shaped carbonation cusps were mostly generated at the early carbonation age (within 14 days), attesting to a less intact sample surface as compared to the inside area. Moreover, this study confirms that the carbonated area would split into two independent zones with variant carbonation degree due to the increased humidity level near the sample surface. The current work reveals the interconnection between carbonation and cracking, and the results can be used for the designing of cement-based materials with better carbonation and cracking resistance.
Tunable Release of Curcumin with an In Silico-Supported Approach from Mixtures of Highly Porous PLGA Microparticles
Authors: Di Natale Concetta , Onesto Valentina , Lagreca Elena , Vecchione Raffaele , Netti Paolo Antonio
Published: April 2020

In recent years, drug delivery systems have become some of the main topics within the biomedical field. In this scenario, polymeric microparticles (MPs) are often used as carriers to improve drug stability and drug pharmacokinetics in agreement with this kind of treatment. To avoid a mere and time-consuming empirical approach for the optimization of the pharmacokinetics of an MP-based formulation, here, we propose a simple predictive in silico-supported approach. As an example, in this study, we report the ability to predict and tune the release of curcumin (CUR), used as a model drug, from a designed combination of different poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) MPs kinds. In detail, all CUR–PLGA MPs were synthesized by double emulsion technique and their chemical–physical properties were characterized by Mastersizer and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, for all the MPs, CUR encapsulation efficiency and kinetic release were investigated through the UV–vis spectroscopy. This approach, based on the combination of in silico and experimental methods, could be a promising platform in several biomedical applications such as vaccinations, cancer-treatment, diabetes therapy and so on.
Description of a Digital Work-Flow for CBCT-Guided Construction of Micro-Implant Supported Maxillary Skeletal Expander
Authors: Lo Giudice Antonino , Quinzi Vincenzo , Ronsivalle Vincenzo , Martina Stefano , Bennici Orazio , Isola Gaetano
Published: April 2020

The introduction of miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) has widened the boundaries of orthodontic skeletal correction of maxillary transversal deficiency to late adolescence and adult patients. In this respect, Maxillary Skeletal Expander (MSE) is a particular device characterized by the engagement of four miniscrews in the palatal and nasal cortical bone layers. Thus, the availability of sufficient supporting bone and the perforation of both cortical laminas (bi-corticalism) are two mandatory parameters for mini-screw stability, especially when orthopedic forces are used. Virtual planning and construction of MSE based on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)-derived stereolithography (.stl) files have been recently described in the literature. In this manuscript we described: (a) a user-friendly digital workflow which can provide a predictable placement of maxillary skeletal expander (MSE) appliance according to the patient’s anatomical characteristics, (b) the construction of a positional template of the MSE that allows lab technician to construct the MSE appliance in a reliable and accurate position, according to the virtual project planned by the orthodontist on the patient CBCT scans. We also described a case report of an adult female patient affected by skeletal transversal maxillary deficiency treated with MSE appliance that was projected according to the described workflow.
Prediction Models for the Mechanical Properties of Self-Compacting Concrete with Recycled Rubber and Silica Fume
Authors: Bušić Robert , Benšić Mirta , Miličević Ivana , Strukar Kristina
Published: April 2020

The paper aims to investigate the influence of waste tire rubber and silica fume on the fresh and hardened properties of self-compacting concrete (SCC) and to design multivariate regression models for the prediction of the mechanical properties of self-compacting rubberized concrete (SCRC). For this purpose, 21 concrete mixtures were designed. Crumb rubber derived from end-of-life tires (grain size 0.5–3.5 mm) was replaced fine aggregate by 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% of total aggregate volume. Silica fume was replaced cement by 0%, 5%, and 10% of the total cement mass. The optimal replacement level of both materials was investigated in relation to the values of the fresh properties and mechanical properties of self-compacting concrete. Tests on fresh and hardened self-compacting concrete were performed according to the relevant European standards. Furthermore, models for predicting the values of the compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, and flexural strength of SCRC were designed and verified with the experimental results of 12 other studies. According to the obtained results, mixtures with up to 15% of recycled rubber and 5% of silica fume, with 28 days compressive strength above 30 MPa, were found to be optimal mixtures for the potential future investigation of reinforced self-compacting rubberized concrete structural elements.
Variations in the Surface Integrity of Ti-6Al-4V by Combinations of Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing Processes
Authors: Bejjani Roland , Bamford Erik , Cedergren Stefan , Archenti Andreas , Rashid Amir
Published: April 2020

Additive manufacturing (AM) has recently been accorded considerable interest by manufacturers. Many manufacturing industries, amongst others in the aerospace sector, are already using AM parts or are investing in such manufacturing methods. Important material properties, such as microstructures, residual stress, and surface topography, can be affected by AM processes. In addition, a subtractive manufacturing (SM) process, such as machining, is required for finishing certain parts when accurate tolerances are required. This finish machining will subsequently affect the surface integrity and topography of the material. In this research work, we focused on the surface integrity of Ti-6Al-4V parts manufactured using three different types of AM and finished using an SM step. The aim of this study was to gain an understanding on how each process affects the resulting surface integrity of the material. It was found that each AM process affects the materials’ properties differently and that clear differences exist compared to a reference material manufactured using conventional methods. The newly generated surface was investigated after the SM step and each combination of AM/SM resulted in differences in surface integrity. It was found that different AM processes result in different microstructures which in turn affect surface integrity after the SM process.
Measurement Method for Quality Control of Cylinders in Roll-to-Roll Printing Machines
Authors: Scaccabarozzi Diego , Magni Marianna , Saggin Bortolino , Tarabini Marco , Cioffi Carmine , Nasatti Simone
Published: April 2020

This paper describes a measurement method for the quality control of cylinders for printing machines based on roll-to-roll presses. If the surface finishing of the cylinders is not adequate, the printing is unacceptable, and the defective cylinders must be reworked. The performed quality check of the cylinder surface roughness by means of contact methods was unable to identify the cylinder defects, and acceptance of the manufactured cylinders before integration was demanded to the visual inspection performed by trained operators. In this work a contactless measurement method based on the eddy current displacement sensor was proposed and validated as a tool for quality check as an alternative to optical roughness measurements. A test bench for the characterization of printer cylinders was designed and manufactured, allowing for the validation of the proposed method on different batches of cylinders and the identification of a threshold to guide the acceptance of tested cylinders prior to mounting on the roll-to-roll press.
Global Analysis of a Reaction-Diffusion Within-Host Malaria Infection Model with Adaptive Immune Response
Authors: Elaiw Ahmed , Al Agha Afnan
Published: April 2020

Malaria is one of the most dangerous global diseases. This paper studies a reaction-diffusion model for the within-host dynamics of malaria infection with both antibody and cell-mediated immune responses. The model explores the interactions between uninfected red blood cells (erythrocytes), three types of infected red blood cells, free merozoites, CTLs and antibodies. It contains some parameters to measure the effect of antimalarial drugs and isoleucine starvation on the blood cycle of malaria infection. The basic properties of the model are discussed. All possible equilibrium points and the threshold conditions required for their existence are addressed. The global stability of all equilibria are proved by selecting suitable Lyapunov functionals and using LaSalle’s invariance principle. The characteristic equations are used to study the local instability conditions of the equilibria. Some numerical simulations are conducted to support the theoretical results. The results indicate that antimalarial drugs with high efficacy can clear the infection and take the system towards the disease-free state. Increasing the efficacy of isoleucine starvation has a similar effect as antimalarial drugs and can eliminate the disease. The presence of immune responses with low efficacy of treatments does not provide a complete protection against the disease. However, the immune responses reduce the concentrations of all types of infected cells and limit the production of malaria parasites.
Sensitivity Analysis of Mathematical Model to Study the Effect of T Cells Infusion in Treatment of CLL
Authors: Anjum Asad Ur Rehman , Chaudhry Qasim Ali , Almatroud A. Othman
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we considered a mathematical model concerned with the treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) taking into account the effect of superficially infused T cells in this particular type of tumor. The model is described thoroughly by the system of non-linear differential equations explaining the interaction of naïve, infected, cancer and immune cell population. The detailed sensitivity analysis with the application is the major part of this paper. The basic objective is to provide insight to how parameters’ behavior varies model results by elaborating the results obtained from the application of sensitivity analysis. The sensitivity of the model was evaluated not only theoretically, but also with the help of a numerical approach, producing graphs providing better imminent of results. We argue that the application of the sensitivity analysis method endows an insight into how and which parameters are of primary significance in controlling the spread of leukemia.
Taming the Natural Boundary of Centered Polygonal Lacunary Functions—Restriction to the Symmetry Angle Space
Authors: Mork Leah K. , Sullivan Keith , Ulness Darin J.
Published: April 2020

This work investigates centered polygonal lacunary functions restricted from the unit disk onto symmetry angle space which is defined by the symmetry angles of a given centered polygonal lacunary function. This restriction allows for one to consider only the p-sequences of the centered polygonal lacunary functions which are bounded, but not convergent, at the natural boundary. The periodicity of the p-sequences naturally gives rise to a convergent subsequence, which can be used as a grounds for decomposition of the restricted centered polygonal lacunary functions. A mapping of the unit disk to the sphere allows for the study of the line integrals of restricted centered polygonal that includes analytic progress towards closed form representations. Obvious closures of the domain obtained from the spherical map lead to four distinct topological spaces of the “broom topology” type.
Optimum Design of Infinite Perforated Orthotropic and Isotropic Plates
Authors: Jafari Mohammad , Hoseyni Seyed Ahmad Mahmodzade , Altenbach Holm , Craciun Eduard-Marius
Published: April 2020

In this study, an attempt was made to introduce the optimal values of effective parameters on the stress distribution around a circular/elliptical/quasi-square cutout in the perforated orthotropic plate under in-plane loadings. To achieve this goal, Lekhnitskii’s complex variable approach and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method were used. This analytical method is based on using the complex variable method in the analysis of two-dimensional problems. The Tsai–Hill criterion and Stress Concentration Factor (SCF) are taken as objective functions and the fiber angle, bluntness, aspect ratio of cutout, the rotation angle of cutout, load angle, and material properties are considered as design variables. The results show that the PSO algorithm is able to predict the optimal value of each effective parameter. In addition, these parameters have significant effects on stress distribution around the cutouts and the load-bearing capacity of structures can be increased by appropriate selection of the effective design variables. The main innovation of this study is the use of PSO algorithm to determine the optimal design variables to increase the strength of the perforated plates. Finite element method (FEM) was employed to examine the results of the present analytical solution. The results obtained by the present solution are in accordance with numerical results.
Naturally Occurring Oxazole-Containing Peptides
Authors: Mhlongo Jessica T. , Brasil Edikarlos , de la Torre Beatriz G. , Albericio Fernando
Published: April 2020

Oxazole-containing peptides are mostly of marine origin and they form an intriguing family with a broad range of biological activities. Here we classify these peptides on the basis of their chemical structure and discuss a number of representatives of each class that reflect the extraordinary potential of this family as a source of new drugs.
Cladodionen Is a Potential Quorum Sensing Inhibitor Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Wang Mengjia , Zhao Lu , Wu Hao , Zhao Chaoyue , Gong Qianhong , Yu Wengong
Published: April 2020

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen using virulence factors and biofilm regulated by quorum sensing (QS) systems to infect patients and protect itself from environmental stress and antibiotics. Interfering with QS systems is a novel approach to combat P. aeruginosa infections without killing the bacteria, meaning that it is much harder for bacteria to develop drug resistance. A marine fungus Cladosporium sp. Z148 with anti-QS activity was obtained from Jiaozhou Bay, China. Cladodionen, a novel QS inhibitor, was isolated from the extracts of this fungus. Cladodionen had a better inhibitory effect than pyocyanin on the production of elastase and rhamnolipid. It also inhibited biofilm formation and motilities. The mRNA expressions of QS-related genes, including receptor proteins (lasR, rhlR and pqsR), autoinducer synthases (lasI, rhlI and pqsA) and virulence factors (lasB and rhlA) were down-regulated by cladodionen. Molecular docking analysis showed that cladodionen had better binding affinity to LasR and PqsR than natural ligands. Moreover, the binding affinity of cladodionen to LasR was higher than to PqsR. Cladodionen exhibits potential as a QS inhibitor against P. aeruginosa, and its structure–activity relationships should be further studied to illustrate the mode of action, optimize its structure and improve anti-QS activity.
Meroterpenoids from the Brown Alga Cystoseira usneoides as Potential Anti-Inflammatory and Lung Anticancer Agents
Authors: Zbakh Hanaa , Zubía Eva , Reyes Carolina de los , Calderón-Montaño José M. , López-Lázaro Miguel , Motilva Virginia
Published: April 2020

The anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties of eight meroterpenoids isolated from the brown seaweed Cystoseira usneoides have been evaluated. The algal meroterpenoids (AMTs) 1–8 were tested for their inhibitory effects on the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in LPS-stimulated THP-1 human macrophages. The anticancer effects were assessed by cytotoxicity assays against human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells and normal lung fibroblastic MRC-5 cells, together with flow cytometry analysis of the effects of these AMTs on different phases of the cell cycle. The AMTs 1–8 significantly reduced the production of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, and suppressed the COX-2 and iNOS expression, in LPS-stimulated cells (p < 0.05). The AMTs 1–8 displayed higher cytotoxic activities against A549 cancer cells than against MRC-5 normal lung cells. Cell cycle analyses indicated that most of the AMTs caused the arrest of A549 cells at the G2/M and S phases. The AMTs 2 and 5 stand out by combining significant anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities, while 3 and 4 showed interesting selective anticancer effects. These findings suggest that the AMTs produced by C. usneoides may have therapeutic potential in inflammatory diseases and lung cancer.
The Effect of Twin Sex on Menstrual Characteristics
Authors: Kowynia Elizabeth , Jahanfar Shayesteh
Published: April 2020

Background and objectives: The purpose of this project is to evaluate the association between twin sex discordance and menstrual characteristics. We hypothesize that sharing the uterus with a male twin can change ovulation programming, hence changing the menstrual cycle characteristics during adulthood. This project could be novel in discovering new physiological mechanisms of hormone exposure and menstrual cycles. Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional study. We asked females from sex-concordant (n = 1290) and sex-discordant (n = 168) twin pairs in the Washington State Twin Registry about characteristics of menstrual cycles. Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) analysis was used to compare groups. The main outcome measures included the amount of bleeding, duration of menstruation, the timing of menstruation, length of menstruation, and a number of periods per year. Results: We found a statistically significant association between the amount of menstrual period bleeding and twin sex discordance (0.42 (95% CI 0.18–0.94)). However, twin sex discordance was not associated with period duration, length of menstrual cycle, cycle regularity, or a number of periods per year. Conclusions: Twin sex discordance is not a predictor of clinical characteristics of menstruation during adulthood except for the amount of bleeding. Future studies should focus on the impact of male hormones on the amount of bleeding during menstruation.
Treatment of Cyanide-Free Wastewater from Brass Electrodeposition with EDTA by Electrodialysis: Evaluation of Underlimiting and Overlimiting Operations
Authors: Barros Kayo Santana , Scarazzato Tatiana , Pérez-Herranz Valentín , Espinosa Denise Crocce Romano
Published: April 2020

Growing environmental concerns have led to the development of cleaner processes, such as the substitution of cyanide in electroplating industries and changes in the treatment of wastewaters. Hence, we evaluated the treatment of cyanide-free wastewater from the brass electroplating industry with EDTA as a complexing agent by electrodialysis, aimed at recovering water and concentrated solutions for reuse. The electrodialysis tests were performed in underlimiting and overlimiting conditions. The results suggested that intense water dissociation occurred at the cathodic side of the commercial anion-exchange membrane (HDX) during the overlimiting test. Consequently, the pH reduction at this membrane may have led to the reaction of protons with complexes of EDTA-metals and insoluble species. This allowed the migration of free Cu2+ and Zn2+ to the cation-exchange membrane as a result of the intense electric field and electroconvection. These overlimiting phenomena accounted for the improvement of the percent extraction and percent concentration, since in the electrodialysis stack employed herein, the concentrate compartments of cationic and anionic species were connected to the same reservoir. Chronopotentiometric studies showed that electroconvective vortices minimized fouling/scaling at both membranes. The electrodialysis in the overlimiting condition seemed to be more advantageous due to water dissociation and electroconvection.
A Single-Layer PDMS Chamber for On-Chip Bacteria Culture
Authors: Morales Navarrete Pablo , Yuan Jie
Published: April 2020

On-chip cell culture devices have been actively developed for both mammalian cells and bacteria. Most designs are based on PDMS multi-layer microfluidic valves, which require complicated fabrication and operation. In this work, single-layer PDMS microfluidic valves are introduced in the design of an on-chip culture chamber for E. coli bacteria. To enable the constant flow of culturing medium, we have developed a (semi-)always-closed single-layer microfluidic valve. As a result, the growth chamber can culture bacteria over long duration. The device is applied for the whole-cell detection of heavy metal ions with genetically modified E. coli. The platform is tested with culturing period of 3 h. It is found to achieve a limit-of-detection (LoD) of 44.8 ppb for Cadmium ions.
A GaN HEMT Amplifier Design for Phased Array Radars and 5G New Radios
Authors: Kuchta Dawid , Gryglewski Daniel , Wojtasiak Wojciech
Published: April 2020

Power amplifiers applied in modern active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars and 5G radios should have similar features, especially in terms of phase distortion, which dramatically affects the spectral regrowth and, moreover, they are difficult to be compensated by predistortion algorithms. This paper presents a GaN-based power amplifier design with a reduced level of transmittance distortions, varying in time, without significantly worsening other key features such as output power, efficiency and gain. The test amplifier with GaN-on-Si high electron mobility transistors (HEMT) NPT2018 from MACOM provides more than 17 W of output power at the 62% PAE over a 1.0 GHz to 1.1 GHz frequency range. By applying a proposed design approach, it was possible to decrease phase changes on test pulses from 0.5° to 0.2° and amplitude variation from 0.8 dB to 0.2 dB during the pulse width of 40 µs and 40% duty cycle.
Editorial for the Special Issue on SiC Based Miniaturized Devices
Authors: Saddow Stephen E. , Alquier Daniel , Wang Jing , LaVia Francesco , Fraga Mariana
Published: April 2020

The MEMS devices are found in many of today’s electronic devices and systems, from air-bag sensors in cars to smart phones, embedded systems, etc [...]
Long-Term Rewetting of Three Formerly Drained Peatlands Drives Congruent Compositional Changes in Pro- and Eukaryotic Soil Microbiomes through Environmental Filtering
Authors: Weil Micha , Wang Haitao , Bengtsson Mia , Köhn Daniel , Günther Anke , Jurasinski Gerald , Couwenberg John , Negassa Wakene , Zak Dominik , Urich Tim
Published: April 2020

Drained peatlands are significant sources of the greenhouse gas (GHG) carbon dioxide. Rewetting is a proven strategy used to protect carbon stocks; however, it can lead to increased emissions of the potent GHG methane. The response to rewetting of soil microbiomes as drivers of these processes is poorly understood, as are the biotic and abiotic factors that control community composition. We analyzed the pro- and eukaryotic microbiomes of three contrasting pairs of minerotrophic fens subject to decade-long drainage and subsequent long-term rewetting. Abiotic soil properties including moisture, dissolved organic matter, methane fluxes, and ecosystem respiration rates were also determined. The composition of the microbiomes was fen-type-specific, but all rewetted sites showed higher abundances of anaerobic taxa compared to drained sites. Based on multi-variate statistics and network analyses, we identified soil moisture as a major driver of community composition. Furthermore, salinity drove the separation between coastal and freshwater fen communities. Methanogens were more than 10-fold more abundant in rewetted than in drained sites, while their abundance was lowest in the coastal fen, likely due to competition with sulfate reducers. The microbiome compositions were reflected in methane fluxes from the sites. Our results shed light on the factors that structure fen microbiomes via environmental filtering.
Comparative Genomics and Transcriptomics Analyses Reveal a Unique Environmental Adaptability of Vibrio fujianensis
Authors: Huang Zhenzhou , Yu Keyi , Fang Yujie , Dai Hang , Cai Hongyan , Li Zhenpeng , Kan Biao , Wei Qiang , Wang Duochun
Published: April 2020

The genus Vibrio is ubiquitous in marine environments and uses numerous evolutionary characteristics and survival strategies in order to occupy its niche. Here, a newly identified species, Vibrio fujianensis, was deeply explored to reveal a unique environmental adaptability. V. fujianensis type strain FJ201301T shared 817 core genes with the Vibrio species in the population genomic analysis, but possessed unique genes of its own. In addition, V. fujianensis FJ201301T was predicated to carry 106 virulence-related factors, several of which were mostly found in other pathogenic Vibrio species. Moreover, a comparative transcriptome analysis between the low-salt (1% NaCl) and high-salt (8% NaCl) condition was conducted to identify the genes involved in salt tolerance. A total of 913 unigenes were found to be differentially expressed. In a high-salt condition, 577 genes were significantly upregulated, whereas 336 unigenes were significantly downregulated. Notably, differentially expressed genes have a significant association with ribosome structural component and ribosome metabolism, which may play a role in salt tolerance. Transcriptional changes in ribosome genes indicate that V. fujianensis may have gained a predominant advantage in order to adapt to the changing environment. In conclusion, to survive in adversity, V. fujianensis has enhanced its environmental adaptability and developed various strategies to fill its niche.
Tectonic Evolution of the West Bogeda: Evidences from Zircon U-Pb Geochronology and Geochemistry Proxies, NW China
Authors: Li Yalong , Yue Wei , Yu Xun , Huang Xiangtong , Yao Zongquan , Song Jiaze , Shan Xin , Yu Xinghe , Yang Shouye
Published: April 2020

The Bogeda Shan (Mountain) is in southern part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) and well preserved Paleozoic stratigraphy, making it an ideal region to study the tectonic evolution of the CAOB. However, there is a long-standing debate on the tectonic setting and onset uplift of the Bogeda Shan. In this study, we report detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology and whole-rock geochemistry of the Permian sandstone samples, to decipher the provenance and tectonic evolution of the West Bogeda Shan. The Lower-Middle Permian sandstone is characterized by a dominant zircon peak age at 300–400 Ma, similar to the Carboniferous samples, suggesting their provenance inheritance and from North Tian Shan (NTS) and Yili-Central Tian Shan (YCTS). While the zircon record of the Upper Permian sandstone is characterized by two major age peaks at ca. 335 Ma and ca. 455 Ma, indicating the change of provenance after the Middle Permian and indicating the uplift of Bogeda Shan. The initial uplift of Bogeda Shan was also demonstrated by structural deformations and unconformity occurring at the end of Middle Permian. The bulk elemental geochemistry of sedimentary rocks in the West Bogeda Shan suggests the Lower-Middle Permian is mostly greywacke with mafic source dominance, and tectonic setting changed from the continental rift in the Early Permian to post rift in the Middle Permian. The Upper Permian mainly consists of litharenite and sublitharenite with mafic-intermediate provenances formed in continental island arcs. The combined evidences suggest the initial uplift of the Bogeda Shan occurred in the Late Permian, and three stages of mountain building include the continental rift, post-rift extensional depression, and continental arc from the Early, Middle, to Late Permian, respectively.