bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevention of Autogenous Shrinkage in High-Strength Mortars with Saturated Tea Waste Particles
Authors: Jakhrani Sadam Hussain , Ryou Jae Suk , Atta-ur-Rehman  , Jeon In Kyu , Woo Byeong Hun , Kim Hong Gi
Published: August 2019

The purpose of this study was to prevent early age autogenous shrinkage in high-strength mortars with saturated tea waste particles. In general, high strength and high performance concretes are made with low water/binder ratios; hence, they are susceptible to shrink at early ages. This shrinkage occurs due to self-desiccation that leads to autogenous shrinkage. To overcome self-desiccation problems in high-strength cement composites, it is necessary to keep the composites moist for a long time. Pre-saturated porous lightweight aggregates and super absorbent polymers are the most commonly used materials in high-strength cement composites to keep them moist for a long time; however, in this study, porous tea waste particles were used to keep the cement mortars moist. Pre-saturated tea waste particles were used in two different size proportions, making up as much as 3% of the volume of the binder. Moreover, commonly used lightweight aggregate (perlite) was also used to compare the outcomes of specimens made with tea waste particles. Different parameters were observed, such as, flow of fresh mortars, autogenous shrinkage, mechanical strengths and microstructure of specimens. The addition of tea waste and perlite particles in mortars made with Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) as the only binder, showed a reduction in flow, autogenous shrinkage and mechanical strengths, as compared to mixes made with partial addition of silica fume. Although, the use of silica fume improved the mechanical strength of specimens. Moreover, the use of saturated tea waste and perlite particles also improved the microstructure of specimens at an age of 28 days. The results revealed that the saturated tea waste particles have the ability to prevent autogenous shrinkage but they reduce strength of high-strength mortars at early ages.
Bitumen Recovery from Crude Bitumen Samples from Halfaya Oilfield by Single and Composite Solvents—Process, Parameters, and Mechanism
Authors: Liu Yunfeng , Qiu Zhengsong , Zhong Hanyi , Nie Zhen , Li Jia , Huang Weian , Zhao Xin
Published: August 2019

Since 2007, heterogeneous, high-viscosity active bituminous formations have often occurred during the drilling process in Yadavaran oilfield (Iran), Halfaya oilfield (Iraq), and tar sands (Canada). The formation of bitumen exhibits plastic and creep properties, and its adhesion is strong, so drilling accidents are easily caused, such as adhering vibrating screen, drill pipe sticking, lost circulation, and even well abandonment. These complex problems cause huge economic losses. Solvents used to dissolve bitumen are a feasible technology to remove bitumen effectively. In order to solve this problem, we used crude bitumen samples from Halfaya oilfield to study the relation between the bitumen component and different solvents. In this study, the temperature, crude bitumen sample to solvent ratio, stirring rate, stirring time, and ultrasound time on bitumen recovery by toluene were investigated by a single factor experiment. The optimum process parameter for bitumen recovery was obtained. Toluene, n-heptane, tetrahydrofuran, cyclohexane, cyclopentane, ethyl acetate, and n-pentane were chosen as the solvents for single solvent extraction and composite solvent extraction. The bitumen recovery increased significantly with the use of a composite solvent compared to a single solvent. The composite solvent ratio was 1:1. The highest bitumen recovery was 98.9 wt% by toluene/cyclohexane composite solvent. The SARA (saturates, aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes) components of the bitumen were analyzed. The toluene showed the highest asphaltene content, while the n-alkanes showed the lowest asphaltene content. The higher the asphaltene content, the higher the bitumen recovery. The composite solvent obtained the highest asphaltene content and bitumen recovery. The viscosity of bitumen extraction by different solvents was measured. The lower the bitumen viscosity, the higher the bitumen recovery. The element analysis indicated the solvent’s ability to extract bitumen colloids with the C/H ratio. This study provides a reliable theoretical basis for the subsequent adoption of effective anti-bitumen polluted drilling fluid additives.
Fabrication and Characteristics of Heavily Fe-Doped LiNbO3/Si Heterojunction
Authors: Li Wencan , Cui Jiao , Zheng Dahuai , Wang Weiwei , Wang Shuolin , Song Shaoqing , Liu Hongde , Kong Yongfa , Xu Jingjun
Published: August 2019

A series of heavily Fe-doped LiNbO3 (LN:Fe) crystals were grown via the Czochralski method. The dark- and photo-conductivity of the 5.0 wt.% Fe-doped LiNbO3 crystal reached 3.30 × 10−8 Ω−1 cm−1 and 1.46 × 10−7 Ω−1 cm−1 at 473 nm, which are about 7 and 5 orders of magnitude higher than that of congruent LiNbO3, respectively. Then, a p-n heterojunction was fabricated by depositing the heavily Fe-doped LiNbO3 on a p-type Si substrate using the pulsed laser deposition. The current–voltage curve of the LN:Fe/Si heterojunction presents a well-defined behavior with a turn-on voltage of 2.9 V. This LN:Fe/Si heterojunction gives an excellent prototype device for integrated optics and electro-photonics.
The Effect of Polyol Composition on the Structural and Magnetic Properties of Magnetite Nanoparticles for Magnetic Particle Hyperthermia
Authors: Kotoulas Anastasios , Dendrinou-Samara Catherine , Angelakeris Mavroeidis , Kalogirou Orestis
Published: August 2019

A study of the influence of polyols, with or without an additional reducing agent, on crystallites’ size and magnetic features in Fe3O4 nanoparticles and on their performance in magnetic particle hyperthermia is presented. Three different samples were synthesized by thermal decomposition of an iron precursor in the presence of NaBH4 in a polyol. So far, triethylene glycol (TrEG) and polyethylene glycol (PEG 1000 and PEG 8000) that exhibit different physical and chemical properties have been used in order to investigate the influence of the polyols on the composition and the size of the NPs. Additionally, the presence of a different reducing agent such as hydrazine, has been tested for comparison reasons in case of TrEG. Three more samples were prepared solvothermally by using the same polyols, which led to different crystallite sizes. The magnetic core of the nanoparticles was characterized, while the presence of the surfactant was studied qualitatively and quantitatively. Concerning the magnetic features, all samples present magnetic hysteresis including remanence and coercivity revealing that they are thermally blocked at room temperature. Finally, a study on the influence of the MNPs heating efficiency from their size and the field amplitude was accomplished. In our polyol process the main idea was to control the specific loss power (SLP) values by the nanoparticles’ size and consequently by the polyol itself.
Inhibition Effect of Triglyceride Accumulation by Large Yellow Croaker Roe DHA-PC in HepG2 Cells
Authors: Lu Xiaodan , Zhong Rongbin , Sun He , Zheng Baodong , Chen Lijiao , Miao Song , Liang Peng
Published: August 2019

The phospholipids (PLs) of large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea, P. crocea) roe contain a high level of polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which can lower blood lipid levels. In previous research, PLs of P. crocea roe were found able to regulate the accumulation of triglycerides. However, none of these involve the function of DHA-containing phosphatidylcholine (DHA-PC), which is the main component of PLs derived from P. crocea roe. The function by which DHA-PC from P. crocea roe exerts its effects has not yet been clarified. Herein, we used purified DHA-PC and oleic acid (OA) induced HepG2 cells to establish a high-fat model, and the cell activity and intracellular lipid levels were then measured. The mRNA and protein expression of Fatty Acid Synthase (FAS), Carnitine Palmitoyl Transferase 1A (CPT1A) and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor α (PPARα) in HepG2 cells were detected via RT-qPCR and western blot as well. It was found that DHA-PC can significantly regulate triglyceride accumulation in HepG2 cells, the effect of which was related to the activation of PPARα receptor activity, upregulation of CPT1A, and downregulation of FAS expression. These results can improve the understanding of the biofunction of hyperlipidemia mediated by DHA-PC from P. crocea roe, as well as provide a theoretical basis for the utilization of DHA-PC from P. crocea roe as a functional food additive.
Indole-4-carboxaldehyde Isolated from Seaweed, Sargassum thunbergii, Attenuates Methylglyoxal-Induced Hepatic Inflammation
Authors: Cha Seon-Heui , Hwang Yongha , Heo Soo-Jin , Jun Hee-Sook
Published: August 2019

Glucose degradation is aberrantly increased in hyperglycemia, which causes various harmful effects on the liver. Glyoxalase-1 (Glo-1) is a ubiquitous cellular enzyme that participates in the detoxification of methylglyoxal (MGO), a cytotoxic byproduct of glycolysis that induces protein modification (advanced glycation end-products, AGEs) and inflammation. Here, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of indole-4-carboxaldehyde (ST-I4C), which was isolated from the edible seaweed Sargassum thunbergii, on MGO-induced inflammation in HepG2 cells, a human hepatocyte cell line. ST-I4C attenuated the MGO-induced expression of inflammatory-related genes, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IFN-γ by activating nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) without toxicity in HepG2 cells. In addition, ST-I4C reduced the MGO-induced AGE formation and the expression of the receptor for AGE (RAGE). Interestingly, both the mRNA and protein expression levels of Glo-1 increased following ST-I4C treatment, and the decrease in Glo-1 mRNA expression caused by MGO exposure was rescued by ST-I4C pretreatment. These results suggest that ST-I4C shows anti-inflammatory activity against MGO-induced inflammation in human hepatocytes by preventing an increase in the pro-inflammatory gene expression and AGE formation. Therefore, it represents a potential therapeutic agent for the prevention of hepatic steatosis.
New Peptides from The Marine-Derived Fungi Aspergillus allahabadii and Aspergillus ochraceopetaliformis
Authors: Hwang Ji-Yeon , Lee Jung-Ho , Park Sung Chul , Lee Jayho , Oh Dong-Chan , Oh Ki-Bong , Shin Jongheon
Published: August 2019

Four new peptides were isolated from the culture broths of the marine-derived fungi Aspergillus allahabadii and A. ochraceopetaliformis. Based on the results of chemical and spectroscopic analyses, two compounds (1 and 2) from A. allahabadii were determined to be cyclopentapeptides, while those from A. ochraceopetaliformis were a structurally-related cyclodepsihexapeptide (3) and its linear analog (4). In addition to the presence of a D-amino acid residue, the almost reversed sequence of peptides in 3 and 4, relative to those of the 1 and 2, is notable. These new compounds exhibited moderate inhibition against the enzyme sortase A as well as a weak inhibition against isocitrate lyase (2).
Determination of Flavonoid Glycosides by UPLC-MS to Authenticate Commercial Lemonade
Authors: Xue Ying , Qing Lin-Sen , Yong Li , Xu Xian-Shun , Hu Bin , Tang Ming-Qing , Xie Jing
Published: August 2019

So far, there is no report on the quality evaluation of lemonade available in the market. In this study, a sample preparation method was developed for the determination of flavonoid glycosides by ultra-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) based on vortex-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction. First, potential flavonoids in lemonade were scanned and identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography–time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-TOF/MS). Five flavonoid glycosides were identified as eriocitrin, narirutin, hesperidin, rutin, and diosmin according to the molecular formula provided by TOF/MS and subsequent confirmation of the authentic standard. Then, an ultra-performance liquid chromatography–triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-QqQ/MS) method was developed to determine these five flavonoid glycosides in lemonade. The results showed that the content of rutin in some lemonade was unreasonably high. We suspected that many illegal manufacturers achieved the goal of low-cost counterfeiting lemonade by adding rutin. This suggested that it was necessary for relevant departments of the state to make stricter regulations on the quality standards of lemonade beverages.
Biodegradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons by Bacillus subtilis BL-27, a Strain with Weak Hydrophobicity
Authors: Wang Dan , Lin Jiahui , Lin Junzhang , Wang Weidong , Li Shuang
Published: August 2019

The biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons has many potential applications and has attracted much attention recently. The hydrocarbon-degrading bacterium BL-27 was isolated from petroleum-polluted soil and was compounded with surfactants to improve biodegradation. Its 16S rDNA and rpoD gene sequences indicated that it was a strain of Bacillus subtilis. Strain BL-27 had extensive adaptability and degradability within a broad range of temperatures (25–50 °C), pH (4.0–10.0) and salinity (0–50 g/L NaCl). Under optimal conditions (45 °C, pH 7.0, 1% NaCl), the strain was able to degrade 65% of crude oil (0.3%, w/v) within 5 days using GC-MS analysis. Notably, strain BL-27 had weak cell surface hydrophobicity. The adherence rate of BL-27 to n-hexadecane was 29.6% with sucrose as carbon source and slightly increased to 33.5% with diesel oil (0.3%, w/v) as the sole carbon source, indicating that the cell surface of BL-27 is relatively hydrophilic. The strain was tolerant to SDS, Tween 80, surfactin, and rhamnolipids at a concentration of 500 mg/L. The cell surface hydrophobicity reduced more with the addition of surfactants, while the chemical dispersants, SDS (50–100 mg/L) and Tween 80 (200–500 mg/L), significantly increased the strain’s ability to biodegrade, reaching 75–80%. These results indicated that BL-27 has the potential to be used for the bioremediation of hydrocarbon pollutants and could have promising applications in the petrochemical industry.
Using Bee Products for the Prevention and Treatment of Oral Mucositis Induced by Cancer Treatment
Authors: Münstedt Karsten , Männle Heidrun
Published: August 2019

Oral mucositis is one of the most frequent complications after chemotherapy or radiotherapy or a combination of both. There is no standard therapy for its prevention or treatment. Considering that some bee products have been found to be of value in this situation, we decided to analyze the scientific literature on the subject. Scientific publications on bee products were identified by a literature search on Pubmed, Scopus and Google Scholar. There is a lot of evidence regarding the use of honey for oral mucositis due to chemotherapy or radiotherapy or a combination of both. Unfortunately, the quality of several meta-analyses on the topic is very low. There is some evidence on propolis, a little on royal jelly and none whatsoever on pollen and other bee products like apilarnil or bee venom. Bee products such as honey, propolis and royal jelly may be well suited to be integrated into a general concept for the prevention and treatment of oral mucositis which should also include other established concepts like oral care, oral cryotherapy, topical vitamin E and low-level-laser therapy. Bee products could become an integral part in the treatment of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and radio chemotherapy. High-quality meta-analyses and further studies, especially on the combinations of various strategies, are needed.
Phytochemical Analysis, Biochemical and Mineral Composition and GC-MS Profiling of Methanolic Extract of Chinese Arrowhead Sagittaria trifolia L. from Northeast China
Authors: Ahmed Maqsood , Ji Mingshan , Sikandar Aatika , Iram Aafia , Qin Peiwen , Zhu He , Javeed Ansar , Shafi Jamil , Iqbal Zeeshan , Farid Iqbal Mazher , Sun Zhonghua
Published: August 2019

Sagittaria trifolia is a medicinal foodstuff of China and East Asia belonging to the family Alismataceae. Samples of S. trifolia tubers were collected from Meihekow, Siping, Jilin, Harbin and Wuchang from Northeast China. The current study was aimed to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative analysis, antioxidant activity, biochemical analysis and chemical composition of different populations of S. trifolia. By using Folin–Ciocalteu, aluminium chloride colourimetric and 1,1-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), total phenol and flavonoids content and antioxidant activity was analysed. Furthermore, chemical composition, biochemical analysis and mineral substances were also determined. The results showed the presence of flavonoids, phenols, saponins, tannins, glycosides and steroids except for alkaloids and terpenoids by qualitative analysis. Quantitative analysis revealed that highest total phenol, flavonoids content and antioxidant potential identified from Meihekow, i.e., 2.307 mg GAE/g, 12.263 mg QE/g and 77.373%, respectively. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry results showed the presence of 40 chemical compounds corresponding to 99.44% of total extract that might be responsible for antioxidant properties. Mineral and biochemical analysis revealed the presence of calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, iron, copper, zinc and, carbohydrate, protein, fibre and fat contents, respectively. Interestingly, all S. trifolia populations collected from different locations possess similar composition. The dietary values, phytoconstituents, antioxidant activities and nutritional and curative chemical compounds of S. trifolia are beneficial for the nutritherapy of human beings.
Sequence Identification of Bioactive Peptides from Amaranth Seed Proteins (Amaranthus hypochondriacus spp.)
Authors: Ayala-Niño Alexis , Rodríguez-Serrano Gabriela Mariana , González-Olivares Luis Guillermo , Contreras-López Elizabeth , Regal-López Patricia , Cepeda-Saez Alberto
Published: August 2019

Amaranthus hypochondriacus spp. is a commonly grown cereal in Latin America, known for its high protein content. The objective of this study was to separate and identify bioactive peptides found in amaranth seeds through enzymatically-assisted hydrolysis using alcalase and flavourzyme. Hydrolysis was carried out for each enzyme separately and compared to two-step continuous process where both enzymes were combined. The biological activity of the resulting three hydrolysates was analyzed, finding, in general, higher bioactive potential of the hydrolysate obtained in a continuous process (combined enzymes). Its fractions were separated by RP-HPLC, and their bioactivity was analyzed. In particular, two fractions showed the highest biological activity as ACE inhibitors with IC50 at 0.158 and 0.134, thrombin inhibitors with IC50 of 167 and 155, and antioxidants in ABTS assay with SC50 at 1.375 and 0.992 mg/L, respectively. Further sequence analysis of the bioactive peptides was carried out using MALDI-TOF, which identified amino acid chains that have not been reported as bioactive so far. Bibliographic survey allowed identification of similarities between peptides reported in amaranth and other proteins. In conclusion, amaranth proteins are a potential source of peptides with multifunctional activity.
The Association between Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and 25-Hydroxivitamin D and Related Analytes among Hispanic/Latino Adults: A Pilot Study
Authors: Durazo-Arvizu Ramon A. , Pacheco-Dominguez Reyna L. , Sempos Christopher T. , Kramer Holly , Hoofnagle Andrew N. , Pirzada Amber , Cooper Richard S. , Daviglus Martha L.
Published: August 2019

Although the association of vitamin D levels with cardiovascular risk profiles among Hispanics/Latinos has been studied, little is known about this association among Hispanics/Latinos with chronic conditions. This pilot study determined serum vitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels in a sample of participants from the University of Illinois at the Chicago Cohort of Patients, Family and Friends (UIC Cohort) and examined their association with traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors. From July 2012 to June 2016, the UIC Cohort study enrolled and conducted clinical examinations on men and women ages 18 years and older, who had one or more diagnosed chronic diseases/conditions (excluding cancer). This pilot study sample included 40 participants from the six main Hispanic/Latino background groups in the United States, namely Dominican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Mexican, Central American, and South American, and were grouped by Caribbean or mainland origin. No substantial differences were noted in the vitamin D-related measures by Hispanic/Latino background, but the PTH levels were somewhat higher in the Caribbean vs. mainland group (43.0 ± 4.6 vs. 38.6 ± 2.7 pg/mL). The associations between selected CVD risk factors (systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), total cholesterol, glucose) and PTH and vitamin D-related analytes were investigated using interval-censored multivariate regression models adjusted for age, sex, percent body fat, serum albumin/calcium, and Hispanic/Latino background. A negative association between total 25[OH]D and blood pressure was corroborated (SBP: β = −1.2, 95%CI = −2.0, −0.3; DBP: β = −0.7, 95% CI = −1.2, −0.1), whereas a positive association with total cholesterol was observed (β = 1.9, 95% CI = 0.02, 3.7). Levels of 1, 25[OH]2D were not associated with CVD risk factors, whereas 24, 25[OH]2D3 was associated with blood pressure (SBP: β = −13.0, 95% CI = −20.7, −5.2; DBP: β = −6.3, 95% CI = −11.6, −1.0). Estimated free 25[OH]D was inversely associated with both SBP (β = −3.5, 95% CI = −6.1, −0.9) and DBP (β = −2.1, 95% CI = −3.8, −0.3). Similarly, calculated bioavailable 25[OH]D was inversely associated with both SBP (β = −9.2, 95% CI = −15.9, −2.4) and DBP(β = −5.3, 95% CI = −9.8, −0.8). In conclusion, a negative association between 25[OH]D with BP was observed and a positive association with lipids is suggested. Due to the small sample size, most associations did not reach statistical significance.
Effect of Anthocyanin-Rich Tart Cherry Extract on Inflammatory Mediators and Adipokines Involved in Type 2 Diabetes in a High Fat Diet Induced Obesity Mouse Model
Authors: Nemes Andrea , Homoki Judit Rita , Kiss Rita , Hegedűs Csaba , Kovács Diána , Peitl Barna , Gál Ferenc , Stündl László , Szilvássy Zoltán , Remenyik Judit
Published: August 2019

Male C57BL/6J mice were used to determine the possible therapeutic effects of our previously described tart cherry extract in a chronic obesity mouse model on metabolic parameters, glucose tolerance, inflammatory mediators, and antioxidant capacity. The control group received standard mouse chow, and the high fat control group was switched to a high fat diet and tap water supplemented with 5% sucrose. The high fat + anthocyanin group received the high fat and sucrose diet, but received the anthocyanin-rich tart cherry extract dissolved in their drinking water. After six weeks, an oral glucose tolerance test was performed, and the water-soluble antioxidant capacity (ACW), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and the plasma levels of insulin, C-peptide, leptin, IL-6, MCP-1, adiponectin and resistin were measured. The high fat diet increased body weight, reduced glucose tolerance, and caused an elevation in leptin, IL-6, MCP-1, and resistin levels. Furthermore, antioxidant capacity was decreased with a significant elevation of SOD activity. Anthocyanin treatment failed to reverse the effects of the high fat diet on body weight and glucose tolerance, but significantly reduced the leptin and IL-6 levels. The tart cherry extract also made a significant enhancement in antioxidant capacity and SOD activity. Our results show that chronic anthocyanin intake has a potential to enhance redox status and alleviate inflammation associated with obesity.
Bacillus spp. Spores—A Promising Treatment Option for Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Authors: Catinean Adrian , Neag Adriana Maria , Nita Andreea , Buzea Mihaela , Buzoianu Anca Dana
Published: August 2019

Dysbiosis is a condition that can cause various clinical disorders, from gastrointestinal problems to allergies or even cancer. Resetting the microbiota using antibiotics and/or probiotics could be a possible therapy for many diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of three treatment regimens in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The regimens were short-term rifaximin treatment (10 days) followed by either a nutraceutical agent (G1) or a low- Fermentable, Oligo-, Di-, Monosaccharide and Polyol (FODMAP) diet (24 days) (G3) or treatment with MegaSporeBiotic a mixture of spores of five Bacillus spp. for medium-term (34 days) (G2). Ninety patients with IBS without constipation were enrolled and divided into three groups (G1, G2, G3). Patients in G1 and G3 were evaluated over four visits (baseline/first day (V1), 10 days (V2), 34 days (V3), 60 days (V4)), and, those in G2 over three visits (V1, V3, V4). Severity score, quality of life, and parameters from the rectal volume sensation test were determined. The results demonstrated that patients treated with MegaSporeBiotic, compared with those treated with rifaximin followed by nutraceutical or low-FODMAP diet, had similar severity scores and rectal volume sensation test results for all parameters tested and statistically significant improvement in measurements of quality of life.
Variation in the TAS2R38 Bitterness Receptor Gene Was Associated with Food Consumption and Obesity Risk in Koreans
Authors: Choi Jeong-Hwa
Published: August 2019

Bitterness-sensing protein taste receptor type-2 member 38 (TAS2R38, T2R38) mediates taste perception and various physiological responses, including energy- and adiposity-related mechanisms. This study examined whether the genetic variant rs10246939 C > T in TAS2R38 was associated with food intake and body size as well as obesity risk. Data from the Korean Multi-Rural Communities Cohort study (1338 males and 2229 females) were analyzed to obtain the intake of six food groups, alcohol consumption, smoking status and anthropometric measurements, including height, weight, waist and hip circumference, and body mass index (BMI), according to the rs10246939 genotype. Findings suggested that females with the TT genotype consumed more fruit (adjusted p = 0.025) and had significantly higher body weights (adjusted p = 0.046) and BMIs (adjusted p = 0.003) than individuals with other genotypes. Having the TT genotype also increased the risk of obesity by 1.75-fold (95% confidence interval: 1.31–2.36) in females. The genetic variation had a minimal influence on the males’ dietary intake, but tended to increase the adiposity risk. In conclusion, TAS2R38 rs10246939 variation was associated with Koreans’ dietary intake and increased their risk of obesity. Although more detailed statistical analyses in the larger cohort are required, current study suggested that, as a genetic predictive marker, TAS2R38 bitterness receptor variations may have a large implication in obesity prevention and treatment.
Enhanced Subcellular Trafficking of Resveratrol Using Mitochondriotropic Liposomes in Cancer Cells
Authors: Kang Ji Hee , Ko Young Tag
Published: August 2019

Mitochondria are membrane-enclosed organelles present in most eukaryotic cells, described as “power houses of the cell”. The mitochondria can be a target for inducing cancer cell death and for developing strategies to bypass multi drug resistance (MDR) mechanisms. 4-Carboxybutyl triphenylphosphonium bromide-polyethylene glycol-distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (TPP-DSPE-PEG) and dequalinium-polyethylene glycol-distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DQA-DSPE-PEG) were synthesized as mitochondriotropic molecules. Mitochondria-targeting liposomes carrying resveratrol were constructed by modifying the liposome’s surface with TPP-PEG or DQA-PEG, resulting in TLS (Res) and DLS (Res), respectively, with the aim to obtain longer blood circulation and enhanced permeability and retention (EPR). Both TLS (Res) and DLS (Res) showed dimensions of approximately 120 nm and a slightly positive zeta potential. The enhanced cellular uptake and selective accumulation of TLS (Res) and DLS (Res) into the mitochondria were demonstrated by behavioral observation of rhodamine-labeled TLS or DLS, using confocal microscopy, and by resveratrol quantification in the intracellular organelle, using LC–MS/MS. Furthermore, TLS (Res) and DLS (Res) induced cytotoxicity of cancer cells by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and by dissipating the mitochondrial membrane potential. Our results demonstrated that TLS (Res) and DLS (Res) could provide a potential strategy to treat cancers by mitochondrial targeting delivery of therapeutics and stimulation of the mitochondrial signaling pathway.
Yield, Antioxidant Components, Oil Content, and Composition of Onion Seeds Are Influenced by Planting Time and Density
Authors: Amalfitano Carmine , Golubkina Nadezhda A. , Del Vacchio Laura , Russo Giuseppe , Cannoniero Mario , Somma Silvano , Morano Giuseppe , Cuciniello Antonio , Caruso Gianluca
Published: August 2019

Research was carried out on onion landrace (Ramata di Montoro) for seed production in southern Italy, with the aim to evaluate the effects on yield and quality of four bulb planting times in factorial combination with four densities, using a split plot design with three replicates. The number of flower stalks per plant, their height and diameter, and the inflorescence diameter decreased with the bulb planting delay and density increase. The highest plant leaf area and LAI (leaf area index), seed yield, number, and mean weight were recorded with the earliest planting time, with the lowest bulb density eliciting the highest plant leaf area but the lowest LAI and seed yield per hectare. The ratio between seeds and inflorescence weight, and seed germinability, decreased with the planting delay and density increase. Seed oil, protein, and antioxidant content (polyphenols and selenium) were highest with the last crop cycle. The polyunsaturated fatty acids, predominant in oil, increased with planting time delay, whereas the monounsaturated fatty acids decreased. Linoleic, oleic, and palmitic acid prevailed among polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, and saturated fatty acids, respectively. Planting from 20 December to 10 January with 3.3 cold-stored bulbs per m2 was the most effective combination in terms of seed yield per hectare, whereas seed oil content and quality were the best, with the last crop cycle starting on 21 February, independent of bulb density.
Monasticism, Monotheism, and Monogamy: Past and Present Expressions of the Undivided Life
Authors: Elias Downey Martha
Published: August 2019

Monasticism first appeared in Christian tradition in the late third and early fourth centuries as a way to practice true religion. Soon after, it also became a way of eschewing the Church’s embrace of political power and the divided loyalties which accompanied that union. Contemporary expressions of monasticism in the Protestant tradition (often identified as new monasticism) have interpreted the mono (singularity) not as celibacy or living in a cloistered community, but as abandoning cultural promiscuity in order to live out a monogamous spirituality. Though each monastic community has its own distinct characteristics and context, one can identify two common markers which unite both contemporary expressions of monasticism and historical monastic communities: (1) monotheism or a singular devotion to God which is separate from political, societal, and economic ambitions, and (2) monogamy or a commitment to a particular community, neighborhood, and mission. This article explores ancient and contemporary expressions of monasticism by examining their guiding documents and looking for evidence of monotheism and monogamous spirituality. By giving fresh articulation to the mono in monasticism, we are better able to identify the heart of the undivided (monastic) life and discern its presence in reimagined forms.
Structure from Motion Point Clouds for Structural Monitoring
Authors: Mistretta Fausto , Sanna Giannina , Stochino Flavio , Vacca Giuseppina
Published: August 2019

Dense point clouds acquired from Terrestrial Laser Scanners (TLS) have proved to be effective for structural deformation assessment. In the last decade, many researchers have defined methodology and workflow in order to compare different point clouds, with respect to each other or to a known model, assessing the potentialities and limits of this technique. Currently, dense point clouds can be obtained by Close-Range Photogrammetry (CRP) based on a Structure from Motion (SfM) algorithm. This work reports on a comparison between the TLS technique and the Close-Range Photogrammetry using the Structure from Motion algorithm. The analysis of two Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams tested under four-points bending loading is presented. In order to measure displacement distributions, point clouds at different beam loading states were acquired and compared. A description of the instrumentation used and the experimental environment, along with a comprehensive report on the calculations and results obtained is reported. Two kinds of point clouds comparison were investigated: Mesh to mesh and modeling with geometric primitives. The comparison between the mesh to mesh (m2m) approach and the modeling (m) one showed that the latter leads to significantly better results for both TLS and CRP. The results obtained with the TLS for both m2m and m methodologies present a Root Mean Square (RMS) levels below 1 mm, while the CRP method yields to an RMS level of a few millimeters for m2m, and of 1 mm for m.
Precise Orbit Determination for GNSS Maneuvering Satellite with the Constraint of a Predicted Clock
Authors: Dai Xiaolei , Lou Yidong , Dai Zhiqiang , Hu Caibo , Peng Yaquan , Qiao Jing , Shi Chuang
Published: August 2019

Precise orbit products are essential and a prerequisite for global navigation satellite system (GNSS) applications, which, however, are unavailable or unusable when satellites are undertaking maneuvers. We propose a clock-constrained reverse precise point positioning (RPPP) method to generate the rather precise orbits for GNSS maneuvering satellites. In this method, the precise clock estimates generated by the dynamic precise orbit determination (POD) processing before maneuvering are modeled and predicted to the maneuvering periods and they constrain the RPPP POD during maneuvering. The prediction model is developed according to different clock types, of which the 2-h prediction error is 0.31 ns and 1.07 ns for global positioning system (GPS) Rubidium (Rb) and Cesium (Cs) clocks, and 0.45 ns and 0.60 ns for the Beidou navigation satellite system (BDS) geostationary orbit (GEO) and inclined geosynchronous orbit (IGSO)/Median Earth orbit (MEO) satellite clocks, respectively. The performance of this proposed method is first evaluated using the normal observations without maneuvers. Experiment results show that, without clock-constraint, the average root mean square (RMS) of RPPP orbit solutions in the radial, cross-track and along-track directions is 69.3 cm, 5.4 cm and 5.7 cm for GPS satellites and 153.9 cm, 12.8 cm and 10.0 cm for BDS satellites. When the constraint of predicted satellite clocks is introduced, the average RMS is dramatically reduced in the radial direction by a factor of 7–11, with the value of 9.7 cm and 13.4 cm for GPS and BDS satellites. At last, the proposed method is further tested on the actual GPS and BDS maneuver events. The clock-constrained RPPP POD solution is compared to the forward and backward integration orbits of the dynamic POD solution. The resulting orbit differences are less than 20 cm in all three directions for GPS satellite, and less than 30 cm in the radial and cross-track directions and up to 100 cm in the along-track direction for BDS satellites. From the orbit differences, the maneuver start and end time is detected, which reveals that the maneuver duration of GPS satellites is less than 2 min, and the maneuver events last from 22.5 min to 107 min for different BDS satellites.
Systematic Comparison of Power Corridor Classification Methods from ALS Point Clouds
Authors: Peng Shuwen , Xi Xiaohuan , Wang Cheng , Dong Pinliang , Wang Pu , Nie Sheng
Published: August 2019

Power corridor classification using LiDAR (light detection and ranging) point clouds is an important means for power line inspection. Many supervised classification methods have been used for classifying power corridor scenes, such as using random forest (RF) and JointBoost. However, these studies did not systematically analyze all the relevant factors that affect the classification, including the class distribution, feature selection, classifier type and neighborhood radius for classification feature extraction. In this study, we examine these factors using point clouds collected by an airborne laser scanning system (ALS). Random forest shows strong robustness to various pylon types. When classifying complex scenes, the gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) shows good generalization. Synthetically, considering performance and efficiency, RF is very suitable for power corridor classification. This study shows that balanced learning leads to poor classification performance in the current scene. Data resampling for the original unbalanced dataset may not be necessary. The sensitivity analysis shows that the optimal neighborhood radius for feature extraction of different objects may be different. Scale invariance and automatic scale selection methods should be further studied. Finally, it is suggested that RF, original unbalanced class distribution, and complete feature set should be considered for power corridor classification in most cases.
From BIM to Scan Planning and Optimization for Construction Control
Authors: Frías Ernesto , Díaz-Vilariño Lucía , Balado Jesús , Lorenzo Henrique
Published: August 2019

Scan planning of buildings under construction is a key issue for an efficient assessment of work progress. This work presents an automatic method aimed to determinate the optimal scan positions and the optimal route based on the use of Building Information Models (BIM) and considering data completeness as stopping criteria. The method is considered for a Terrestrial Laser Scanner mounted on a mobile robot following a stop & go procedure. The method starts by extracting floor plans from the BIM model according to the planned construction status, and including geometry and semantics of the building elements considered for construction control. The navigable space is defined from a binary map considering a security distance to building elements. After a grid-based and a triangulation-based distribution are implemented for generating scan position candidates, a visibility analysis is carried out to determine the optimal number and position of scans. The optimal route to visit all scan positions is addressed by using a probabilistic ant colony optimization algorithm. The method has been tested in simulated and real buildings under very dissimilar conditions and structural construction elements. The two approaches for generating scan position candidates are evaluated and results show the triangulation-based distribution as the more efficient approach in terms of processing and acquisition time, especially for large-scale buildings.
Mask Sparse Representation Based on Semantic Features for Thermal Infrared Target Tracking
Authors: Li Meihui , Peng Lingbing , Chen Yingpin , Huang Suqi , Qin Feiyi , Peng Zhenming
Published: August 2019

Thermal infrared (TIR) target tracking is a challenging task as it entails learning an effective model to identify the target in the situation of poor target visibility and clutter background. The sparse representation, as a typical appearance modeling approach, has been successfully exploited in the TIR target tracking. However, the discriminative information of the target and its surrounding background is usually neglected in the sparse coding process. To address this issue, we propose a mask sparse representation (MaskSR) model, which combines sparse coding together with high-level semantic features for TIR target tracking. We first obtain the pixel-wise labeling results of the target and its surrounding background in the last frame, and then use such results to train target-specific deep networks using a supervised manner. According to the output features of the deep networks, the high-level pixel-wise discriminative map of the target area is obtained. We introduce the binarized discriminative map as a mask template to the sparse representation and develop a novel algorithm to collaboratively represent the reliable target part and unreliable target part partitioned with the mask template, which explicitly indicates different discriminant capabilities by label 1 and 0. The proposed MaskSR model controls the superiority of the reliable target part in the reconstruction process via a weighted scheme. We solve this multi-parameter constrained problem by a customized alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) method. This model is applied to achieve TIR target tracking in the particle filter framework. To improve the sampling effectiveness and decrease the computation cost at the same time, a discriminative particle selection strategy based on kernelized correlation filter is proposed to replace the previous random sampling for searching useful candidates. Our proposed tracking method was tested on the VOT-TIR2016 benchmark. The experiment results show that the proposed method has a significant superiority compared with various state-of-the-art methods in TIR target tracking.
An Accurate Method to Correct Atmospheric Phase Delay for InSAR with the ERA5 Global Atmospheric Model
Authors: Hu Zhongbo , Mallorquí Jordi J.
Published: August 2019

Differential SAR Interferometry (DInSAR) has proven its unprecedented ability and merits of monitoring ground deformation on a large scale with centimeter to millimeter accuracy. However, atmospheric artifacts due to spatial and temporal variations of the atmospheric state often affect the reliability and accuracy of its results. The commonly-known Atmospheric Phase Screen (APS) appears in the interferograms as ghost fringes not related to either topography or deformation. Atmospheric artifact mitigation remains one of the biggest challenges to be addressed within the DInSAR community. State-of-the-art research works have revealed that atmospheric artifacts can be partially compensated with empirical models, point-wise GPS zenith path delay, and numerical weather prediction models. In this study, we implement an accurate and realistic computing strategy using atmospheric reanalysis ERA5 data to estimate atmospheric artifacts. With this approach, the Line-of-Sight (LOS) path along the satellite trajectory and the monitored points is considered, rather than estimating it from the zenith path delay. Compared with the zenith delay-based method, the key advantage is that it can avoid errors caused by any anisotropic atmospheric phenomena. The accurate method is validated with Sentinel-1 data in three different test sites: Tenerife island (Spain), Almería (Spain), and Crete island (Greece). The effectiveness and performance of the method to remove APS from interferograms is evaluated in the three test sites showing a great improvement with respect to the zenith-based approach.
Performance Evaluation of a Potential Component of an Early Flood Warning System—A Case Study of the 2012 Flood, Lower Niger River Basin, Nigeria
Authors: Idowu Dorcas , Zhou Wendy
Published: August 2019

Floods frequently occur in Nigeria. The catastrophic 2012 flood in Nigeria claimed 363 lives and affected about seven million people. A total loss of about 2.29 trillion Naira (7.2 billion US Dollars) was estimated. The effect of flooding in the country has been devastating because of sparse to no flood monitoring, and a lack of an effective early flood warning system in the country. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of using the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) terrestrial water storage anomaly (TWSA) to evaluate the hydrological conditions of the Lower Niger River Basin (LNRB) in Nigeria in terms of precipitation and antecedent terrestrial water storage prior to the 2012 flood event. Furthermore, we accessed the potential of the GRACE-based flood potential index (FPI) at correctly predicting previous floods, especially the devastating 2012 flood event. For validation, we compared the GRACE terrestrial water storage capacity (TWSC) quantitatively and qualitatively to the water budget of TWSC and Dartmouth Flood Observatory (DFO) respectively. Furthermore, we derived a water budget-based FPI using Reager’s methodology and compared it to the GRACE-derived FPI quantitatively. Generally, the GRACE TWSC estimates showed seasonal consistency with the water budget TWSC estimates with a correlation coefficient of 0.8. The comparison between the GRACE-derived FPI and water budget-derived FPI gave a correlation coefficient of 0.9 and also agreed well with the flood reported by the DFO. Also, the FPI showed a marked increase with precipitation which implies that rainfall is the main cause of flooding in the study area. Additionally, the computed GRACE-based storage deficit revealed that there was a decrease in water storage prior to the flooding month while the FPI increased. Hence, the GRACE-based FPI and storage deficit when supplemented with water budget-based FPI could suggest a potential for flood prediction and water storage monitoring respectively.
Micrometer Backstepping Control System for Linear Motion Single Axis Robot Machine Drive
Authors: Lin Chih-Hong , Chang Kuo-Tsai
Published: August 2019

In order to cut down influence on the uncertainty disturbances of a linear motion single axis robot machine, such as the external load force, the cogging force, the column friction force, the Stribeck force, and the parameters variations, the micrometer backstepping control system, using an amended recurrent Gottlieb polynomials neural network and altered ant colony optimization (AACO) with the compensated controller, is put forward for a linear motion single axis robot machine drive system mounted on the linear-optical ruler with 1 um resolution. To achieve high-precision control performance, an adaptive law of the amended recurrent Gottlieb polynomials neural network based on the Lyapunov function is proposed to estimate the lumped uncertainty. Besides this, a novel error-estimated law of the compensated controller is also proposed to compensate for the estimated error between the lumped uncertainty and the amended recurrent Gottlieb polynomials neural network with the adaptive law. Meanwhile, the AACO is used to regulate two variable learning rates in the weights of the amended recurrent Gottlieb polynomials neural network to speed up the convergent speed. The main contributions of this paper are: (1) The digital signal processor (DSP)-based current-regulation pulse width modulation (PWM) control scheme being successfully applied to control the linear motion single axis robot machine drive system; (2) the micrometer backstepping control system using an amended recurrent Gottlieb polynomials neural network with the compensated controller being successfully derived according to the Lyapunov function to diminish the lumped uncertainty effect; (3) achieving high-precision control performance, where an adaptive law of the amended recurrent Gottlieb polynomials neural network based on the Lyapunov function is successfully applied to estimate the lumped uncertainty; (4) a novel error-estimated law of the compensated controller being successfully used to compensate for the estimated error; and (5) the AACO being successfully used to regulate two variable learning rates in the weights of the amended recurrent Gottlieb polynomials neural network to speed up the convergent speed. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme is also verified by the experimental results.