bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neuroprotective Effects of Platonin, a Therapeutic Immunomodulating Medicine, on Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice after Controlled Cortical Impact
Authors: Yen Ting-Lin , Chang Chao-Chien , Chung Chi-Li , Ko Wen-Chin , Yang Chih-Hao , Hsieh Cheng-Ying
Published: April 2018

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide and leads to persistent cognitive, sensory, motor dysfunction, and emotional disorders. TBI-caused primary injury results in structural damage to brain tissues. Following the primary injury, secondary injuries which are accompanied by neuroinflammation, microglial activation, and additional cell death subsequently occur. Platonin, a cyanine photosensitizing dye, has been used to treat trauma, ulcers, and some types of acute inflammation. In the present study, the neuroprotective effects of platonin against TBI were explored in a controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury model in mice. Treatment with platonin (200 µg/kg) significantly reduced the neurological severity score, general locomotor activity, and anxiety-related behavior, and improved the rotarod performance of CCI-injured mice. In addition, platonin reduced lesion volumes, the expression of cleaved caspase-3, and microglial activation in TBI-insulted brains. Platonin also suppressed messenger (m)RNA levels of caspase-3, caspase-1, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β. On the other hand, free radical production after TBI was obviously attenuated in platonin-treated mice. Treatment with platonin exhibited prominent neuroprotective properties against TBI in a CCI mouse model through its anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and anti-free radical capabilities. This evidence collectively indicates that platonin may be a potential therapeutic medicine for use with TBIs.
The Recombinant Inhibitor of DNA Binding Id2 Forms Multimeric Structures via the Helix-Loop-Helix Domain and the Nuclear Export Signal
Authors: Roschger Cornelia , Schubert Mario , Regl Christof , Andosch Ancuela , Marquez Augusto , Berger Thomas , Huber Christian , Lütz-Meindl Ursula , Cabrele Chiara
Published: April 2018

The inhibitor of DNA binding and cell differentiation 2 (Id2) is a helix-loop-helix (HLH) protein that acts as negative dominant regulator of basic-HLH transcription factors during development and in cancer. The structural properties of Id2 have been investigated so far by using synthetic or recombinant fragments reproducing single domains (N-terminus, HLH, C-terminus): the HLH domain tends to dimerize into a four-helix bundle, whereas the flanking regions are flexible. In this work, the intact protein was expressed in E. coli, solubilized from inclusion bodies with urea, purified and dissolved in water at pH~4. Under these conditions, Id2 was obtained with both cysteine residues disulfide-bonded to β-mercaptoethanol that was present during the solubilization process. Moreover, it existed in a self-assembled state, in which the N-terminus remained highly flexible, while the HLH domain and, surprisingly, part of the C-terminus, which corresponds to the nuclear export signal (NES), both were involved in slowly tumbling, rigid structures. The protein oligomers also formed twisted fibrils that were several micrometers long and up to 80 nm thick. These results show that self-assembly decreases the backbone flexibility of those two protein regions (HLH and NES) that are important for interaction with basic-HLH transcription factors or for nucleocytoplasmic shuttling.
Sesamol Inhibited Melanogenesis by Regulating Melanin-Related Signal Transduction in B16F10 Cells
Authors: Wu Po-Yuan , You Ya-Jhen , Liu Yi-Jung , Hou Chien-Wei , Wu Chin-Sheng , Wen Kuo-Ching , Lin Chien-Yih , Chiang Hsiu-Mei
Published: April 2018

Melanin is synthesized through a series of interactions catalyzed by melanogenic enzymes such as tyrosinase, dopachrome tautomerase (tyrosinase-related protein-2; TRP-2), and tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1). Tyrosinase plays a key role in catalysing the initial and limiting steps of melanogenesis. The melanin that results from melanogenesis has the protective effect of absorbing ultraviolet radiation. However, overproduction of melanin, in addition to altering the appearance of skin, may lead to skin disorders such as melasma, solar lentigo, and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. Previous studies have revealed that sesamol is a strong antioxidant and a free radical scavenger. In this study, we investigated the effects of sesamol on the regulation of melanogenesis and related mechanisms in B16F10 cells. The results indicated that sesamol inhibited tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis induced by α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) in B16F10 melanoma cells. Sesamol decreased the protein level of melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, and TRP-1 by downregulating cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) pathways that had been activated by α-MSH. Sesamol increased glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β), protein kinase B (AKT), and extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) phosphorylation, thus inhibiting the transcription of MITF. Sesamol also inhibited melanin synthesis and tyrosinase expression by modulating ERK, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT, p38, and c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) signalling pathways. These results indicate that sesamol acted as a potent depigmenting agent.
Melatonin Protects against Lung Fibrosis by Regulating the Hippo/YAP Pathway
Authors: Zhao Xiaoguang , Sun Jian , Su Wei , Shan Huitong , Zhang Bowen , Wang Yining , Shabanova Azaliia , Shan Hongli , Liang Haihai
Published: April 2018

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, fibrotic interstitial pneumonia with high mortality. Melatonin, a hormone predominantly secreted by the pineal gland, has been reported to participate in the process of IPF. However, the mechanisms underlying the effect of melatonin in pulmonary fibrosis have not been elucidated to date. This study was designed to evaluate the anti-fibrotic role of melatonin in pulmonary fibrosis and to elucidate the potential mechanisms. We observed that melatonin markedly attenuated bleomycin (BLM)-induced experimental lung fibrosis in mice and inhibited TGF-β1-induced fibrogenesis in lung fibroblasts. Additionally, we determined that luzindole, a melatonin receptor inhibitor, reduced the anti-fibrotic effect of melatonin. Further studies showed that melatonin alleviated the translocation of YAP1 from cytoplasm to nucleus, a key downstream effector of the Hippo pathway, in vivo and in vitro by interacting with its receptor. Taken together, our results suggest that melatonin prevents lung fibrosis by inhibiting YAP1 and indicate that melatonin replacement could be a novel strategy for the treatment of lung fibrosis.
Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Diverse Cauliflower Cultivars under Mild and Severe Drought. Impaired Coordination of Selected Transcript and Proteomic Responses, and Regulation of Various Multifunctional Proteins
Authors: Rurek Michał , Czołpińska Magdalena , Pawłowski Tomasz , Staszak Aleksandra , Nowak Witold , Krzesiński Włodzimierz , Spiżewski Tomasz
Published: April 2018

Mitochondrial responses under drought within Brassica genus are poorly understood. The main goal of this study was to investigate mitochondrial biogenesis of three cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) cultivars with varying drought tolerance. Diverse quantitative changes (decreases in abundance mostly) in the mitochondrial proteome were assessed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D PAGE) coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Respiratory (e.g., complex II, IV (CII, CIV) and ATP synthase subunits), transporter (including diverse porin isoforms) and matrix multifunctional proteins (e.g., components of RNA editing machinery) were diversely affected in their abundance under two drought levels. Western immunoassays showed additional cultivar-specific responses of selected mitochondrial proteins. Dehydrin-related tryptic peptides (found in several 2D spots) immunopositive with dehydrin-specific antisera highlighted the relevance of mitochondrial dehydrin-like proteins for the drought response. The abundance of selected mRNAs participating in drought response was also determined. We conclude that mitochondrial biogenesis was strongly, but diversely affected in various cauliflower cultivars, and associated with drought tolerance at the proteomic and functional levels. However, discussed alternative oxidase (AOX) regulation at the RNA and protein level were largely uncoordinated due to the altered availability of transcripts for translation, mRNA/ribosome interactions, and/or miRNA impact on transcript abundance and translation.
Aging and Intermittent Fasting Impact on Transcriptional Regulation and Physiological Responses of Adult Drosophila Neuronal and Muscle Tissues
Authors: Zhang Sharon , Ratliff Eric , Molina Brandon , El-Mecharrafie Nadja , Mastroianni Jessica , Kotzebue Roxanne , Achal Madhulika , Mauntz Ruth , Gonzalez Arysa , Barekat Ayeh , Bray William , Macias Andrew , Daugherty Daniel , Harris Greg , Edwards Robert , Finley Kim
Published: April 2018

The progressive decline of the nervous system, including protein aggregate formation, reflects the subtle dysregulation of multiple functional pathways. Our previous work has shown intermittent fasting (IF) enhances longevity, maintains adult behaviors and reduces aggregates, in part, by promoting autophagic function in the aging Drosophila brain. To clarify the impact that IF-treatment has upon aging, we used high throughput RNA-sequencing technology to examine the changing transcriptome in adult Drosophila tissues. Principle component analysis (PCA) and other analyses showed ~1200 age-related transcriptional differences in head and muscle tissues, with few genes having matching expression patterns. Pathway components showing age-dependent expression differences were involved with stress response, metabolic, neural and chromatin remodeling functions. Middle-aged tissues also showed a significant increase in transcriptional drift-variance (TD), which in the CNS included multiple proteolytic pathway components. Overall, IF-treatment had a demonstrably positive impact on aged transcriptomes, partly ameliorating both fold and variance changes. Consistent with these findings, aged IF-treated flies displayed more youthful metabolic, behavioral and basal proteolytic profiles that closely correlated with transcriptional alterations to key components. These results indicate that even modest dietary changes can have therapeutic consequences, slowing the progressive decline of multiple cellular systems, including proteostasis in the aging nervous system.
Bio-Based Cellulose Acetate Films Reinforced with Lignin and Glycerol
Authors: Gontijo de Melo Patricia , Fornazier Borges Mariana , Afonso Ferreira Jéssica , Vicente Barbosa Silva Matheus , Ruggiero Reinaldo
Published: April 2018

Two sets of four cellulose acetate (degree of substitution = 2.2) were incorporated with lignin extracted from the macaúba endocarp, before and after being chemically modified to sodium carboxymethyl-lignin and aluminum carboxymethyl-lignin, respectively. The eight membranes were prepared by the casting method after dissolution in acetone and embedded with lignins (0.1% w/w), one without modification (CAc-Lig) and two chemically modified (CAc-CMLNa) and (CAc-CMLAl), compared to membranes of pure acetate (CAc). In group II, in the four membranes prepared, glycerol was added (10% w/w) as a plasticizer. The membranes were characterized by a number of techniques: thermal (differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)), morphological (scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM)), structural (X-ray powder diffraction (XRD)), hydrophobic (contact angle and water vapor permeability), and thermomechanical (dynamic thermal mechanical analysis and tensile tests). The results show that despite some incompatibility with the cellulose acetate, the incorporation of the lignin in a concentration of 0.1% w/w acts as a reinforcement in the membrane, greatly increasing the tension rupture of the material. The presence of glycerol in a concentration of 10% w/w also acts as a reinforcement in all membranes, in addition to increasing the tension rupture. In this study, glycerol and acetate both increased the compatibility of the membranes.
Location Regularization-Based POI Recommendation in Location-Based Social Networks
Authors: Guo Lei , Jiang Haoran , Wang Xinhua
Published: April 2018

POI (point-of-interest) recommendation as one of the efficient information filtering techniques has been widely utilized in helping people find places they are likely to visit, and many related methods have been proposed. Although the methods that exploit geographical information for POI recommendation have been studied, few of these studies have addressed the implicit feedback problem. In fact, in most location-based social networks, the user’s negative preferences are not explicitly observable. Consequently, it is inappropriate to treat POI recommendation as traditional recommendation problem. Moreover, previous studies mainly explore the geographical information from a user perspective and the methods that model them from a location perspective are not well explored. Hence, this work concentrates on exploiting the geographical characteristics from a location perspective for implicit feedback, where a neighborhood aware Bayesian personalized ranking method (NBPR) is proposed. To be specific, the weighted Bayesian framework that was proposed for personalized ranking is first introduced as our basic POI recommendation method. To exploit the geographical characteristics from a location perspective, we then constrain the ranking loss by using a regularization term derived from locations, and assume nearest neighboring POIs are more inclined to be visited by similar users. Finally, several experiments are conducted on two real-world social networks to evaluate the NBPR method, where we can find that our NBPR method has better performance than other related recommendation algorithms. This result also demonstrates the effectiveness of our method with neighborhood information and the importance of the geographical characteristics.
Reduced Graphene Oxide: Effect of Reduction on Electrical Conductivity
Authors: Rao Sanjeev , Upadhyay Jahnavee , Polychronopoulou Kyriaki , Umer Rehan , Das Raj
Published: April 2018

In this study, the effect of reduction on the electrical conductivity of Graphene Oxide (GO) is investigated. The aim of this fabrication was to render electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding to thin polymer films using GO as fillers. The electrical conductivity was determined using the four-probe method and shielding effectiveness was theoretically determined using the experimentally obtained conductivity values. The initial oxidation of graphite was performed using Hummers’ method and the oxidized GO was dispersed in water for further exfoliation by ultrasonication. Thin films of sonicated GO dispersions were solution casted and dried in a convection oven at 50 °C overnight. The dried films were treated with 48% hydrobromic acid (HBr), 95% hydrochloric acid (HCl) or 66% hydroiodic acid (HI) for 2 h, 24 h or 48 h. A partial factorial design of experiments based on Taguchi method was used to identify the best reducing agent to obtain maximum electrical conductivity in the partially reduced GO films. The experimental analysis indicates that the electrical resistivity of GO is highly dependent on the type of acid treatment and the samples treated with HI acid exhibited lowest resistivity of ~0.003 Ω·cm. The drop in resistivity value after chemical reduction was of the order of 10,000 times, and range obtained in this work is among the lowest reported so far. The theoretical EMI shielding of the reduced GO film provided a shielding effectiveness of 5.06 dB at 12 GHz.
Load-Bearing Capacity and Retention of Newly Developed Micro-Locking Implant Prosthetic System: An In Vitro Pilot Study
Authors: Choi Jae-Won , Choi Kyung-Hee , Chae Hee-Jin , Chae Sung-Ki , Bae Eun-Bin , Lee Jin-Ju , Lee So-Hyoun , Jeong Chang-Mo , Huh Jung-Bo
Published: April 2018

The aim of this study was to introduce the newly developed micro-locking implant prosthetic system and to evaluate the resulting its characteristics. To evaluate load-bearing capacity, 25 implants were divided into five groups: external-hexagon connection (EH), internal-octagon connection (IO), internal-hexagon connection (IH), one-body implant (OB), micro-locking implant system (ML). The maximum compressive load was measured using a universal testing machine (UTM) according to the ISO 14801. Retention was evaluated in two experiments: (1) a tensile test of the structure modifications of the components (attachment and implant) and (2) a tensile test after cyclic loading (total 5,000,000 cycles, 100 N, 2 Hz). The load-bearing capacity of the ML group was not significantly different from the other groups (p > 0.05). The number of balls in the attachment and the presence of a hexagonal receptacle did not show a significant correlation with retention (p > 0.05), but the shape of the retentive groove in the implant post had a statistically significant effect on retention (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the retention loss was observed during the initial 1,000,000 cycles, but an overall constant retention was maintained afterward. Various preclinical studies on this novel micro-locking implant prosthetic system should continue so that it can be applied in clinical practice.
Improved Optical and Morphological Properties of Vinyl-Substituted Hybrid Silica Materials Incorporating a Zn-Metalloporphyrin
Authors: Dudás Zoltán , Fagadar-Cosma Eugenia , Len Adél , Románszki Loránd , Almásy László , Vlad-Oros Beatrice , Dascălu Daniela , Krajnc Andraž , Kriechbaum Manfred , Kuncser Andrei
Published: April 2018

This work is focused on a novel class of hybrid materials exhibiting enhanced optical properties and high surface areas that combine the morphology offered by the vinyl substituted silica host, and the excellent absorption and emission properties of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphyrin-Zn(II) tetrachloride as a water soluble guest molecule. In order to optimize the synthesis procedure and the performance of the immobilized porphyrin, silica precursor mixtures of different compositions were used. To achieve the requirements regarding the hydrophobicity and the porous structure of the gels for the successful incorporation of porphyrin, the content of vinyltriacetoxysilane was systematically changed and thoroughly investigated. Substitution of the silica gels with organic groups is a viable way to provide new properties to the support. An exhaustive characterization of the synthesized silica samples was realised by complementary physicochemical methods, such as infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), absorption spectroscopy (UV-Vis) and photoluminescence, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (29Si-MAS-NMR) transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM and SEM), nitrogen absorption (BET), contact angle (CA), small angle X ray and neutron scattering (SAXS and SANS). All hybrids showed an increase in emission intensity in the wide region from 575 to 725 nm (Q bands) in comparison with bare porphyrin. By simply tuning the vinyltriacetoxysilane content, the hydrophilic/hydrophobic profile of the hybrid materials was changed, while maintaining a high surface area. Good control of hydrophobicity is important to enhance properties such as dispersion, stability behaviour, and resistance to water, in order to achieve highly dispersible systems in water for biomedical applications.
Effect of Gypsum on the Early Hydration of Cubic and Na-Doped Orthorhombic Tricalcium Aluminate
Authors: Kirchheim Ana , Rodríguez Erich , Myers Rupert , A. Gobbo Luciano , M. Monteiro Paulo , C. C. Dal Molin Denise , De Souza Rui , Cincotto Maria
Published: April 2018

The tricalcium aluminate (C3A) and sulfate content in cement influence the hydration chemistry, setting time and rheology of cement paste, mortar and concrete. Here, in situ experiments are performed to better understand the effect of gypsum on the early hydration of cubic (cub-)C3A and Na-doped orthorhombic (orth-)C3A. The isothermal calorimetry data show that the solid-phase assemblage produced by the hydration of C3A is greatly modified as a function of its crystal structure type and gypsum content, the latter of which induces non-linear changes in the heat release rate. These data are consistent with the in situ X-ray diffraction results, which show that a higher gypsum content accelerates the consumption of orth-C3A and the subsequent precipitation of ettringite, which is contrary to the cub-C3A system where gypsum retarded the hydration rate. These in situ results provide new insight into the relationship between the chemistry and early-age properties of cub- and orth-C3A hydration and corroborate the reported ex situ findings of these systems.
Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, and Corrosion Resistance of Thermomechanically Processed AlZn6Mg0.8Zr Alloy
Authors: Kowalski Aleksander , Ozgowicz Wojciech , Jurczak Wojciech , Grajcar Adam , Boczkal Sonia , Żelechowski Janusz
Published: April 2018

The paper presents results of the investigations on the effect of low-temperature thermomechanical treatment (LTTT) on the microstructure of AlZn6Mg0.8Zr alloy (7000 series) and its mechanical properties as well as electrochemical and stress corrosion resistance. For comparison of the LTTT effect, the alloy was subjected to conventional precipitation hardening. Comparative studies were conducted in the fields of metallographic examinations and static tensile tests. It was found that mechanical properties after the LTTT were better in comparison to after conventional heat treatment (CHT). The tested alloy after low-temperature thermomechanical treatment with increasing plastic deformation shows decreased electrochemical corrosion resistance during potentiodynamic tests. The alloy after low-temperature thermomechanical treatment with deformation degree in the range of 10 to 30% is characterized by a high resistance to stress corrosion specified by the level of PSCC indices.
Synthesis of a Novel Electrospun Polycaprolactone Scaffold Functionalized with Ibuprofen for Periodontal Regeneration: An In Vitro andIn Vivo Study
Authors: Batool Fareeha , Morand David-Nicolas , Thomas Lionel , Bugueno Isaac , Aragon Javier , Irusta Silvia , Keller Laetitia , Benkirane-Jessel Nadia , Tenenbaum Henri , Huck Olivier
Published: April 2018

Ibuprofen (IBU) has been shown to improve periodontal treatment outcomes. The aim of this study was to develop a new anti-inflammatory scaffold by functionalizing an electrospun nanofibrous poly-ε-caprolactone membrane with IBU (IBU-PCL) and to evaluate its impact on periodontal inflammation, wound healing and regeneration in vitro and in vivo. IBU-PCL was synthesized through electrospinning. The effects of IBU-PCL on the proliferation and migration of epithelial cells (EC) and fibroblasts (FB) exposed to Porphyromonas gingivlais lipopolysaccharide (Pg-LPS) were evaluated through the AlamarBlue test and scratch assay, respectively. Anti-inflammatory and remodeling properties were investigated through Real time qPCR. Finally, the in vivo efficacy of the IBU-PCL membrane was assessed in an experimental periodontitis mouse model through histomorphometric analysis. The results showed that the anti-inflammatory effects of IBU on gingival cells were effectively amplified using the functionalized membrane. IBU-PCL reduced the proliferation and migration of cells challenged by Pg-LPS, as well as the expression of fibronectin-1, collagen-IV, integrin α3β1 and laminin-5. In vivo, the membranes significantly improved the clinical attachment and IBU-PCL also reduced inflammation-induced bone destruction. These data showed that the IBU-PCL membrane could efficiently and differentially control inflammatory and migratory gingival cell responses and potentially promote periodontal regeneration.
Toxicological Investigations on the Sea Urchin Tripneustes gratilla (Toxopneustidae, Echinoid) from Anaho Bay (Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia): Evidence for the Presence of Pacific Ciguatoxins
Authors: Darius Hélène Taiana , Roué Mélanie , Sibat Manoella , Viallon Jérôme , Gatti Clémence Mahana iti , Vandersea Mark W. , Tester Patricia A. , Litaker R. Wayne , Amzil Zouher , Hess Philipp , Chinain Mireille
Published: April 2018

The sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla (Toxopneustidae, Echinoids) is a source of protein for many islanders in the Indo-West Pacific. It was previously reported to occasionally cause ciguatera-like poisoning; however, the exact nature of the causative agent was not confirmed. In April and July 2015, ciguatera poisonings were reported following the consumption of T. gratilla in Anaho Bay (Nuku Hiva Island, Marquesas archipelago, French Polynesia). Patient symptomatology was recorded and sea urchin samples were collected from Anaho Bay in July 2015 and November 2016. Toxicity analysis using the neuroblastoma cell–based assay (CBA-N2a) detected the presence of ciguatoxins (CTXs) in T. gratilla samples. Gambierdiscus species were predominant in the benthic assemblages of Anaho Bay, and G. polynesiensis was highly prevalent in in vitro cultures according to qPCR results. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analyses revealed that P-CTX-3B was the major ciguatoxin congener in toxic sea urchin samples, followed by 51-OH-P-CTX-3C, P-CTX-3C, P-CTX-4A, and P-CTX-4B. Between July 2015 and November 2016, the toxin content in T. gratilla decreased, but was consistently above the safety limit allowed for human consumption. This study provides evidence of CTX bioaccumulation in T. gratilla as a cause of ciguatera-like poisoning associated with a documented symptomatology.
Physically-Based Modeling and Characterization of Hot Flow Behavior in an Interphase-Precipitated Ti-Mo Microalloyed Steel
Authors: Wu Chuanfeng , Cai Minghui , Yang Peiru , Su Junhua , Guo Xiaopeng
Published: April 2018

In this contribution, a series of hot compression tests was conducted on a typical interphase-precipitated Ti-Mo steel at relatively higher strain rates of 0.1~10 s−1 and temperatures of 900~1150 °C using a Gleeble-2000 thermo-mechanical simulator. A combination of Bergstrom and Kolmogorov–Johnson–Mehl–Avrami models was first used to accurately predict the whole flow behaviors of Ti-Mo steel involving dynamic recrystallization, under various hot deformation conditions. By comparing the characteristic stresses and material parameters, especially at the higher strain rates studied, the dependence of hot flow behavior on strain rate and deformation temperature was further clarified. The hardening parameter U and peak density ρp exhibited an approximately positive linear relationship with the Zener–Hollomon (Z) parameter, while the softening parameter Ω dropped with increasing Z value. The Avrami exponent nA varied between 1.2 and 2.1 with lnZ, implying two diverse nucleation mechanisms of dynamic recrystallization. The experimental verification was performed as well based on the microstructural evolution and mechanism analysis upon straining. The proposed constitutive models may provide a powerful tool for optimizing the hot working processes of high performance Ti-Mo microalloyed steels with interphase precipitation.
Study of Localized Corrosion of AISI 430 and AISI 304 Batches Having Different Roughness
Authors: Bellezze Tiziano , Viceré Annamaria , Giuliani Giampaolo , Sorrentino Emanuele , Roventi Gabriella
Published: April 2018

In this work, the localized corrosion resistance of different batches of AISI 430 and AISI 304 stainless steels, having Scotch-Brite surface finishing, was investigated as a function of their roughness (in terms of Rz) and chemical composition. The study was performed by recording anodic cyclic potentiodynamic polarization curves at room temperature in two NaCl solutions (0.35 and 1.75 wt %). From the anodic curves, corrosion potential (Ecorr), protection potential (Eprot), and pitting potential (Epit) were obtained. In general, the results indicate that AISI 304 has better localized corrosion resistance than AISI 430, both in terms of pitting initiation and repassivation ability, independently from roughness. In particular, an increase of roughness determined a decrease of Epit only in the case of AISI 304 in the less concentrated NaCl solution. This result was related to the higher variability of the corresponding Rz values compared to those of AISI 430. Finally, from the analysis of the loop hysteresis of the anodic curves, in relation to Epit−Eprot values, durability information on the tested stainless steels were obtained: AISI 304 shows higher corrosion performances with respect to AISI 430, thanks to the higher chromium content of the former compared to the latter.
Rheological Characterization of Semi-Solid Metals: A Review
Authors: Modigell Michael , Pola Annalisa , Tocci Marialaura
Published: April 2018

In the present review, the main findings on the rheological characterization of semi-solid metals (SSM) are presented. Experimental results are a fundamental basis for the development of comprehensive and accurate mathematics used to design the process effectively. For this reason, the main experimental procedures for the rheological characterization of SSM are given, together with the models most widely used to fit experimental data. Subsequently, the material behavior under steady state condition is summarized. Also, non-viscous properties and transient conditions are discussed since they are especially relevant for the industrial semi-solid processing.
Preparation and Melting of Scrap in Aluminum Recycling: A Review
Authors: Capuzzi Stefano , Timelli Giulio
Published: April 2018

This work provides an overview of the aluminum (Al) recycling process, from the scrap upgrading to the melting process. Innovations and new trends regarding the Al recycling technologies are highlighted. Aluminum recycling offers advantages in terms of environmental and economic benefits. The presence of deleterious impurities in recycled Al alloys is increasing and this is the main drawback if compared to primary alloys. The continuous growth of undesired elements can be mitigated by different technologies, preliminary operations and treatments, and by the optimization of the melting process. Downgrading and dilution are possible solutions to reduce the rate of impurities, but they are not sustainable if the final use of Al alloy continuously increases. The main objectives in the development of the Al recycling are shown and discussed. In particular, the evolution of preliminary treatments of the scrap, as sorting, comminution and de-coating, is reported and a review of the melting technologies is also presented. However, the choice of performing preliminary operations to the melting stage, thus improving the operating conditions during the furnace running, is a trade-off between costs and process efficiency.
Machinability of Eco-Friendly Lead-Free Brass Alloys: Cutting-Force and Surface-Roughness Optimization
Authors: Toulfatzis Anagnostis , Pantazopoulos George , David Constantine , Sagris Dimitrios , Paipetis Alkiviadis
Published: April 2018

The machinability in turning mode of three lead-free brass alloys, CuZn42 (CW510L), CuZn38As (CW511L) and CuZn36 (C27450) was evaluated in comparison with a reference free-cutting leaded brass CuZn39Pb3 (CW614N), as far as the quality characteristics, i.e., cutting force and surface roughness, were concerned. A design of experiments (DOE) technique, according to the Taguchi L16 orthogonal array (OA) methodology, as well as analysis of variance (ANOVA) were employed in order to identify the critical-to-machinability parameters and to obtain their optimum values for high-performance machining. The experimental design consisted of four factors (cutting speed, depth of cut, feed rate and alloy) with four levels for each factor using the “smaller-the-better” criterion for quality characteristics’ optimization. The data means and signal-to-noise (S/N) responses indicated that the depth of cut and the feed rate were the most influential factors for the cutting force and surface roughness, respectively. The optimized machining parameters for cutting force (34.59 N) and surface roughness (1.22 μm) minimization were determined. Confirmation experiments (cutting force: 39.37 N and surface roughness: 1.71 μm) seem to show that they are in close agreement to the main conclusions, thereby validating the findings of the statistical evaluation performed.
Chemical Dealloying Synthesis of CuS Nanowire-on-Nanoplate Network as Anode Materials for Li-Ion Batteries
Authors: Wang Zhifeng , Zhang Xiaomin , Zhang Yongguang , Li Man , Qin Chunling , Bakenov Zhumabay
Published: April 2018

CuS is a metal sulfide anode material used in constructing lithium ion batteries (LIBs) with great promise. However, its practical application is limited by rapid capacity decline, poor cycling, and rate performance. In this work, the CuS nanowire-on-nanoplate network is synthesized through an improved dealloying method under two contrasting reaction temperatures. When used as an LIB anode, the as-obtained CuS network exhibits superior cycling performance (420 mAh·g−1 retained after 100 cycles at 0.2 C). When at 3 C, it still delivers a capacity of around 350 mAh·g−1. The improved electrochemical performances of the CuS anode should be attributed to the well-designed nanowire-on-nanoplate network structure in which the introduction of nanowires improves Li storage sites, shortens Li-ion diffusion distance, enhances the conductivity of active materials, and offers multiscale spaces for buffering the volume variation. The fabrication route adopted in this paper has an important significance for developing the dealloying technique and designing more suitable anode structures for LIBs.
Pasture Feeding Changes the Bovine Rumen and Milk Metabolome
Authors: O’Callaghan Tom , Vázquez-Fresno Rosa , Serra-Cayuela Arnau , Dong Edison , Mandal Rupasri , Hennessy Deirdre , McAuliffe Stephen , Dillon Pat , Wishart David , Stanton Catherine , Ross R.
Published: April 2018

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of two pasture feeding systems—perennial ryegrass (GRS) and perennial ryegrass and white clover (CLV)—and an indoor total mixed ration (TMR) system on the (a) rumen microbiome; (b) rumen fluid and milk metabolome; and (c) to assess the potential to distinguish milk from different feeding systems by their respective metabolomes. Rumen fluid was collected from nine rumen cannulated cows under the different feeding systems in early, mid and late lactation, and raw milk samples were collected from ten non-cannulated cows in mid-lactation from each of the feeding systems. The microbiota present in rumen liquid and solid portions were analysed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, while 1H-NMR untargeted metabolomic analysis was performed on rumen fluid and raw milk samples. The rumen microbiota composition was not found to be significantly altered by any feeding system in this study, likely as a result of a shortened adaptation period (two weeks’ exposure time). In contrast, feeding system had a significant effect on both the rumen and milk metabolome. Increased concentrations of volatile fatty acids including acetic acid, an important source of energy for the cow, were detected in the rumen of TMR and CLV-fed cows. Pasture feeding resulted in significantly higher concentrations of isoacids in the rumen. The ruminal fluids of both CLV and GRS-fed cows were found to have increased concentrations of p-cresol, a product of microbiome metabolism. CLV feeding resulted in increased rumen concentrations of formate, a substrate compound for methanogenesis. The TMR feeding resulted in significantly higher rumen choline content, which contributes to animal health and milk production, and succinate, a product of carbohydrate metabolism. Milk and rumen-fluids were shown to have varying levels of dimethyl sulfone in each feeding system, which was found to be an important compound for distinguishing between the diets. CLV feeding resulted in increased concentrations of milk urea. Milk from pasture-based feeding systems was shown to have significantly higher concentrations of hippuric acid, a potential biomarker of pasture-derived milk. This study has demonstrated that 1H-NMR metabolomics coupled with multivariate analysis is capable of distinguishing both rumen-fluid and milk derived from cows on different feeding systems, specifically between indoor TMR and pasture-based diets used in this study.
Stretchable Tattoo-Like Heater with On-Site Temperature Feedback Control
Authors: Stier Andrew , Halekote Eshan , Mark Andrew , Qiao Shutao , Yang Shixuan , Diller Kenneth , Lu Nanshu
Published: April 2018

Wearable tissue heaters can play many important roles in the medical field. They may be used for heat therapy, perioperative warming and controlled transdermal drug delivery, among other applications. State-of-the-art heaters are too bulky, rigid, or difficult to control to be able to maintain long-term wearability and safety. Recently, there has been progress in the development of stretchable heaters that may be attached directly to the skin surface, but they often use expensive materials or processes and take significant time to fabricate. Moreover, they lack continuously active, on-site, unobstructive temperature feedback control, which is critical for accommodating the dynamic temperatures required for most medical applications. We have developed, fabricated and tested a cost-effective, large area, ultra-thin and ultra-soft tattoo-like heater that has autonomous proportional-integral-derivative (PID) temperature control. The device comprises a stretchable aluminum heater and a stretchable gold resistance temperature detector (RTD) on a soft medical tape as fabricated using the cost and time effective “cut-and-paste” method. It can be noninvasively laminated onto human skin and can follow skin deformation during flexure without imposing any constraint. We demonstrate the device’s ability to maintain a target temperature typical of medical uses over extended durations of time and to accurately adjust to a new set point in process. The cost of the device is low enough to justify disposable use.
A Study on Measurement Variations in Resonant Characteristics of Electrostatically Actuated MEMS Resonators
Authors: Iqbal Faisal , Lee Byeungleul
Published: April 2018

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) resonators require fast, accurate, and cost-effective testing for mass production. Among the different test methods, frequency domain analysis is one of the easiest and fastest. This paper presents the measurement uncertainties in electrostatically actuated MEMS resonators, using frequency domain analysis. The influence of the applied driving force was studied to evaluate the measurement variations in resonant characteristics, such as the natural frequency and the quality factor of the resonator. To quantify the measurement results, measurement system analysis (MSA) was performed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) method. The results demonstrate that the resonant frequency (

f
r

) is mostly affected by systematic error. However, the quality (Q) factor strongly depends on the applied driving force. To reduce the measurement variations in Q factor, experiments were carried out to study the influence of DC and/or AC driving voltages on the resonator. The results reveal that measurement uncertainties in the quality factor were high for a small electrostatic force.
Extracellular Phytase Production by the Wine Yeast S. cerevisiae (Finarome Strain) during Submerged Fermentation
Authors: Kłosowski Grzegorz , Mikulski Dawid , Jankowiak Oliwia
Published: April 2018

One of the key steps in the production of phytases of microbial origin is selection of culture parameters, followed by isolation of the enzyme and evaluation of its catalytic activity. It was found that conditions for S. cerevisiae yeast culture, strain Finarome, giving the reduction in phytic acid concentration of more than 98% within 24 h of incubation were as follows: pH 5.5, 32 °C, continuous stirring at 80 rpm, the use of mannose as a carbon source and aspartic acid as a source of nitrogen. The highest catalytic activity of the isolated phytase was observed at 37 °C, pH 4.0 and using phytate as substrate at concentration of 5.0 mM. The presence of ethanol in the medium at a concentration of 12% v/v reduces the catalytic activity to above 60%. Properties of phytase derived from S. cerevisiae yeast culture, strain Finarome, indicate the possibility of its application in the form of a cell’s free crude protein isolate for the hydrolysis of phytic acid to improve the efficiency of alcoholic fermentation processes. Our results also suggest a possibility to use the strain under study to obtain a fusant derived with specialized distillery strains, capable of carrying out a highly efficient fermentation process combined with the utilization of phytates.
Sinularin Selectively Kills Breast Cancer Cells Showing G2/M Arrest, Apoptosis, and Oxidative DNA Damage
Authors: Huang Hurng-Wern , Tang Jen-Yang , Ou-Yang Fu , Wang Hui-Ru , Guan Pei-Ying , Huang Chiung-Yao , Chen Chung-Yi , Hou Ming-Feng , Sheu Jyh-Horng , Chang Hsueh-Wei
Published: April 2018

The natural compound sinularin, isolated from marine soft corals, is antiproliferative against several cancers, but its possible selective killing effect has rarely been investigated. This study investigates the selective killing potential and mechanisms of sinularin-treated breast cancer cells. In 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H- tetrazolium, inner salt (MTS) assay, sinularin dose-responsively decreased the cell viability of two breast cancer (SKBR3 and MDA-MB-231) cells, but showed less effect on breast normal (M10) cells after a 24 h treatment. According to 7-aminoactinomycin D (7AAD) flow cytometry, sinularin dose-responsively induced the G2/M cycle arrest of SKBR3 cells. Sinularin dose-responsively induced apoptosis on SKBR3 cells in terms of a flow cytometry-based annexin V/7AAD assay and pancaspase activity, as well as Western blotting for cleaved forms of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), caspases 3, 8, and 9. These caspases and PARP activations were suppressed by N-acetylcysteine (NAC) pretreatment. Moreover, sinularin dose-responsively induced oxidative stress and DNA damage according to flow cytometry analyses of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MitoMP), mitochondrial superoxide, and 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG)). In conclusion, sinularin induces selective killing, G2/M arrest, apoptosis, and oxidative DNA damage of breast cancer cells.
Erratum: Ramanathan, A.; et al. Metal-Incorporated Mesoporous Silicates: Tunable Catalytic Properties and Applications. Molecules 2018, 23, 263
Authors: Ramanathan Anand , Subramaniam Bala
Published: April 2018

The authors wish to make the following change to their paper [1].[...]
Multi-Component Analysis of Ilex Kudingcha C. J. Tseng by a Single Marker Quantification Method and Chemometric Discrimination of HPLC Fingerprints
Authors: Yi Huan , Zhou Jie , Shang Xueying , Zhao Zhongxiang , Peng Qian , Zhu Mingjuan , Zhu Chenchen , Lin Chaozhan , Liu Qide , Liao Qiongfeng , Zhang Lei
Published: April 2018

The quantitative analysis of multiple components with a single marker (QAMS) method was firstly established for simultaneous determination of 18 active components in Ilex kudingcha C. J. Tseng by HPLC. Using rutin, isochlorogenic acid A and kudinoside A as internal refererence substances (IRS), compatibility results showed that the relative correction factors (RCFs) of all compounds showed good reproducibility under different chromatographic conditions. On the basis of previous studies, the accuracy of the QAMS method was systematically evaluated by investigating the influences of curve intercept, analytes and IRS concentration. The results showed that the concentration (especially at low level) of analytes and curve intercept were the major influencing parameters for the LRG-QAMS method (LRG = linear regression), whereas the influence of IRS concentration seemed more apparent in terms of the AVG-QAMS method (AVG = average). The two approaches were complementary with each other. In addition, hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), principal components analysis (PCA) and similarity analysis (SA) were performed to differentiate and classify the samples based on the contents of 18 marker compounds. The results of the different chemometric analyses were completely consistent with each other, and could be supported by the quantification results.
Tricycloalternarene Analogs from a Symbiotic Fungus Aspergillus sp. D and Their Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Effects
Authors: Zhang Huawei , Zhao Ziping , Chen Jianwei , Bai Xuelian , Wang Hong
Published: April 2018

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the crude extract of fermentation broth of one symbiotic strain Aspergillus sp. D from the coastal plant Edgeworthia chrysantha Lindl. led to isolation of one new meroterpenoid, tricycloalternarene 14b (1), together with four known analogs (2–5), tricycloalternarenes 2b (2), 3a (3), 3b (4), and ACTG-toxin F (5). Their chemical structures were unambiguously established on the basis of NMR, mass spectrometry, and optical rotation data analysis, as well as by comparison with literature data. Biological assays indicated that compound 2 exhibited potent in vitro cytotoxicity against human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cell line with an IC50 value of 2.91 μM, and compound 5 had a moderate inhibitory effect on Candida albicans, with an MIC value of 15.63 μM. The results indicated that this symbiotic strain D is an important producer of tricycloalternarene derivatives, with potential therapeutic application in treatment of cancer and pathogen infection.
Production of Flocculants, Adsorbents, and Dispersants from Lignin
Authors: Chen Jiachuan , Eraghi Kazzaz Armin , AlipoorMazandarani Niloofar , Hosseinpour Feizi Zahra , Fatehi Pedram
Published: April 2018

Currently, lignin is mainly produced in pulping processes, but it is considered as an under-utilized chemical since it is being mainly used as a fuel source. Lignin contains many hydroxyl groups that can participate in chemical reactions to produce value-added products. Flocculants, adsorbents, and dispersants have a wide range of applications in industry, but they are mainly oil-based chemicals and expensive. This paper reviews the pathways to produce water soluble lignin-based flocculants, adsorbents, and dispersants. It provides information on the recent progress in the possible use of these lignin-based flocculants, adsorbents, and dispersants. It also critically discusses the advantages and disadvantages of various approaches to produce such products. The challenges present in the production of lignin-based flocculants, adsorbents, and dispersants and possible scenarios to overcome these challenges for commercial use of these products in industry are discussed.