bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Cryptosporidium oocyst and Giardia cyst removal efficiency from urban and slaughterhouse wastewater treatment plants and assessment of cyst viability in wastewater effluent samples from Tehran, Iran
Authors: Hatam-Nahavandi Kareem , Mohebali Mehdi , Mahvi Amir-Hossein , Keshavarz Hossein , Khanaliha Khadijeh , Tarighi Fatemeh , Molaei-Rad Mohammad-bagher , Rezaeian Tahereh , Charehdar Sorour , Salimi Mahbobeh , Farnia Shohreh , Rezaeian Mostafa
Published: September 2015

Five municipal and domestic wastewater treatment plants, most of which had secondary treatment systems formed by activated sludge, were studied during 2013–2014 in Tehran. The study was done in order to evaluate their efficiency in terms of removal of Cryptosporidium and Giardia by (oo)cyst recovery in effluent samples using immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies. Results showed that mean concentrations of cysts in the influent samples always outnumbered mean concentrations of oocysts (883.3 ± 4,16.7–3,191.7 ± 1,067.2 versus 4.8 ± 6.2–83.8 ± 77.3 (oo)cysts/L), and that lower concentrations of (oo)cysts were recorded in summer, and higher levels in autumn, and that the difference was statistically significant (t-test, P <0.05) only in wastewater from slaughterhouses. Results for removal percentages of all the plants ranged from 76.7 to 92.1% for cysts and from 48.9 to 90.8% for oocysts. There was more reduction of (oo)cysts at the urban treatment plant by activated sludge-A2O-sand filtration than at plants with conventional activated sludge and activated sludge-trickling filter, however, this difference was not statistically significant for cysts and oocysts (ANOVA, P > 0.05). Infections in mice inoculated with cysts obtained from urban wastewater effluent demonstrated presence of infectious Giardia cysts. Results demonstrate limited efficiency of conventional wastewater treatment processes at physico-chemical removal of (oo)cysts.
Research on Magnetic Property of Nd2Fe14B/α-Fe Nanocomposite Under Different Roller Speeds
Authors: Liu Maoyuan , Chen Lei
Published: September 2015

Nano-composite permanent magnetic material is a new type of permanent magnetic material, and it is the
synthesis of soft and hard magnetic phase within the nanoscale. On the basis of exchange coupling hard magnetizing
theory, nano-composite permanent magnetic material can, at the same time, have high residual magnetization intensity of
soft magnetic phase and high coercivity of hard magnetic phase, which can be developed into new generation high
performance permanent magnetic material. Nevertheless, magnetic energy of permanent nano-composite magnet derived
from experiments differs greatly from the theoretical value, and this is mainly due to fairly great difference between the
micro-structure of material and the theoretical model. In this paper, the constituent was taken as (Nd, Pr, Dy)2(Fe,
Nb)14B/α-Fe, and the fusant rapid quenching method was adopted to study the impact of different roller speeds on the
magnetic property. Moreover, through the result of VSM, XRD and SPM, the magnetic property, phase composition and
micro structure of alloy were analyzed.
Experimental Study on Thermal Discharge Performance of A Phase Change Thermal Storage Material
Authors: Sun Yong , Xu Feng , Yang Guoli , Shi Yongjiang , Ma Lishan
Published: September 2015

Thermal energy storage (TES) equipment utilizing phase change material (PCM) was designed and built. The
PCM was sealed inside metal tubes and exchanged heat with process fluid flowing outside. The storage capacity
characteristics of the system were analyzed based on data covering the inlet and outlet temperatures of the process fluid,
volumetric flow rate of the process fluid and temperature change of the PCM.
Experiment Research on the Mechanical Property of Micron Particles Filled Silicone Rubber Material
Authors: Xiong Chen , Hongli Wang , Jinsheng Xu , Lei Zhao
Published: September 2015

Six kinds of different content of micron solid particles of silicone rubber materials were prepared by mixing
micron Al2O3, SiO2, cross-linking agent, and catalyst, etc. into the matrix material of micron-sized hydroxyl-terminated
polydimethylsiloxane. The effect of micron solid particles on the mechanical property of silicone rubber was examined by
the uniaxial tensile tests. Non-contact strain test system was adopted to measure the strain response of the samples in the
experiments. The results show that, the mechanical property of silicone rubber material is rate-dependent, presenting a
hyper-elastic property, which is similar to rubber-like material. The strength of the granular filled material increased with
the content of the solid particles, moreover, the enhancement effect caused by SiO2 was stronger than that caused by
Al2O3.
Application of Resonance Demodulation in Rolling Bearing Fault
Diagnosis Based on Electronic Resonant
Authors: Wu Zhe
Published: September 2015

The resonance demodulation is an important method in rolling bearing fault feature extraction and fault
diagnosis. But in the traditional resonance demodulation method, the resonant frequency of the accelerometer sensing
fault information is discrete to some degree due to processing, debugging and installing factors, and the parameters of the
band-pass filter are in need for defining beforehand. Meanwhile, as the message generated by bearing early minor failure
is often submerged in strong background noise, the SNR is low, the capacity to apply traditional resonance demodulation
method to improve the SNR is limited, and the diagnosis effects are not obvious enough. This paper makes use of the
equivalence between the electronic resonant system and the mechanical resonance system and conducts resonant gain for
sensor output signal using electronic resonators, overcoming the shortcomings of the traditional methods, realizing a
UNB high-resolution detection and improved fault feature signal SNR. Besides, the effectiveness of the proposed method
has been validated by simulations and experiments, which possess important guiding significance for the engineering
practice.
Editorial: Lipid Rafts and Amyloidogenesis
Authors: Araki Wataru
Published: September 2015

Lipid Rafts and Amyloidogenesis

Lipid rafts are the membrane microdomains enriched in cholesterol and sphingolipids, which play important roles in such
cellular processes as protein sorting and signal transduction. Lipid rafts have recently received significant attention as they have
been shown to be important regions for the generation and accumulation of β-amyloid peptide (Aβ), the main culprit in the
pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. For instance, the proteases responsible for the production of Aβ are localized to lipid
rafts, and rafts appear to be involved in the pathological aggregation of Aβ. Thus, the relationship between lipid rafts and
amyloidogenesis is considered a critical issue to be investigated. In addition, modulation of lipid rafts is an interesting issue in
biological sciences. In this special issue, the first two articles by Wataru Araki and Madepalli K. Lakshmana focus on the
relation between lipid rafts and the mechanisms of Aβ generation, and the third article by Gunter P. Eckert mainly deals with
the manipulation of lipid rafts in neuronal cells. I hope that this special issue provides informative unique collection of minireviews
which highlight the significance of lipid rafts in amyloidogenesis.
β- and γ-Secretases and Lipid Rafts
Authors: Araki Wataru
Published: September 2015

The cerebral accumulation of β-amyloid protein (Aβ) is thought to play a key role in the molecular pathology
of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recent evidence indicates that both β-secretase and γ-secretase, the membrane-associated
proteases directly involved in the generation of Aβ from its precursor, amyloid precursor protein (APP), are localized to
cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains termed lipid rafts. This underscores the significance of lipid rafts in the
amyloidogenic processing of APP. In the present mini-review, I summarize recent research developments that shed light
on the association of β-secretase and γ-secretase with lipid rafts, and discuss their implications for the pathology and
therapeutics of AD.
Manipulation of Lipid Rafts in Neuronal Cells
Authors: P. Eckert Gunter
Published: September 2015

Lipid rafts are specialized plasma membrane micro-domains highly enriched in cholesterol, sphingolipids and
glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchored proteins. Lipid rafts are thought to be located in the exofacial leaflet of
plasma membranes. Functionally, lipid rafts are involved in intracellular trafficking of proteins and lipids, secretory and
endocytotic pathways, signal transduction, inflammation and in cell-surface proteolysis. There has been substantial
interest in lipid rafts in brain, both with respect to normal functioning and with certain neurodegenerative diseases. Based
on the impact of lipid rafts on multitude biochemical pathways, modulation of lipid rafts is used to study related disease
pathways and probably offers a target for pharmacological intervention. Lipid rafts can be targeted by modulation of its
main components, namely cholesterol and sphingolipids. Other approaches include the modulation of membrane
dynamics and it has been reported that protein-lipid interactions can vary the occurrence and composition of these
membrane micro-domains. The present review summarizes the possibilities to modulate lipid rafts with focus on neuronal
cells.
A Programmatic Approach to Patient Blood Management – Reducing
Transfusions and Improving Patient Outcomes
Authors: Farmer Shannon L. , Trentino Kevin , Hofmann Axel , Semmens James B. , Mukhtar S. Aqif , Prosser Gareth , Hamdorf Jeffrey M. , Rao Sudhakar , Leahy Michael F.
Published: September 2015

In July 2008, the Western Australia (WA) Department of Health embarked on a landmark 5-year project to
implement a sustainable comprehensive health-system-wide Patient Blood Management Program. Fundamentally, it was a
quality and safety initiative, which also had profound resource and economic implications. Unsustainable escalating direct
and indirect costs of blood, potentially severe blood shortages due to changing population dynamics, donor deferrals, loss
of altruism, wide variations in transfusion practice and growing knowledge of transfusion limitations and adverse
outcomes necessitate a paradigm shift in the management of anemia and blood loss. The concept of patient-focused blood
management is proving to be an effective force for change. This approach has now evolved to embrace comprehensive
hospital-wide Patient Blood Management Programs. These programs show significant reductions in blood utilisation, and
costs while achieving similar or improved patient outcomes. The WA Program is achieving these outcomes across a health
jurisdiction in a sustained manner.
Emergency Severity Index Scores Differ by Health Provider’s Gender and
Patient’s Age
Authors: Vigil Jacob M. , Alcock Joe , Coulombe Patrick , Strenth Chance
Published: September 2015

Background:

Experimental research shows that laywomen express higher levels of empathy than men to pain
suffering behaviors in others and female practitioners interact with and may prescribe different levels of pain medication
to patients than male practitioners.

Objectives:

In this study we conduct a small medical records review to examine the
possibility that female emergency department nurses assign lower levels (i.e., more urgent, serious, resource extensive) of
emergency severity index (ESI) scores of patients presenting for care in the emergency department than male nurses,
raising the possibility that patients receive disparate treatment during triage depending on the gender of medical staff.

Methods:

The patient-provided pain scores and the examiner-determined ESI scores of forty-eight male, emergency department
patients (21-89yrs, Mage = 57.2, SDage = 19.3) were examined across multiple visits, along with the gender of
their triage examiner at each visit of (127 total patient/provider interactions).

Results:

A cross-classified mixed-effects
model to analyze the influence of examiner gender on the triage scores that showed a significant Examiner Gender x
Patient Age interaction. Further probing showed that female practitioners ascribed significantly lower ESI scores than
male practitioners, although this effect was limited to patients younger than 55 years of age.

Conclusion:

These findings
warrant larger-scale investigations of patient and examiner influences on patient treatment, which are necessary for
creating more standardized protocols for reliably assessing emergency-care patients and for reducing health disparities in
patient treatment quality.
Surgically Induced Corneal Astigmatism Following Intravitreal Ranibizumab Injection
Authors: Kocatürk Tolga , Erkan Erol , Eğrilmez Sait , Çakmak Harun , Dündar Sema O. , Dayanir Volkan
Published: September 2015

Purpose :

To evaluate surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) after an intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) injection.

Methods :

Fifty eight eyes of 58 patients who underwent IVR injection due to age-related macular degeneration (wet form)
or macular edema were included in this study. Patients’ pre- and postoperative detailed ophthalmologic examinations
were done and topographic keratometric values (K1, K2) were noted. Pre- and postoperative measurements were
compared.

Results :

The mean preoperative astigmatism of 0.87 Diopters (D) was found to be 0.95 D, 0.75 D, 0.82 D and 0.78 D on
the 1st day, 3rd day, 1st week and 1st month, respectively. After injection, absolute change in astigmatism was found to
be 0.08 D, 0.12 D, 0.05 D and 0.09 D on the 1st day, 3rd day, 1st week and 1st month, respectively. The absolute change
in astigmatism seemed to be insignificant in terms of refractive analysis, however; when we performed a vectorial
analysis, which takes into account changes in the axis of astigmatism, the mean value of induced astigmatism were found
to be 0.33±0.22 D, 0.32±0.29 D, 0.41±0.37 D, 0.46±0.32 D on the 1st day, 3rd day, 1st week and on 1st month,
respectively.

Conclusion :

Intravitreal injection is a minimally invasive ophthalmologic procedure, however; it may still cause
statistically significant induced astigmatism when evaluated from a vectorial point of view.
Experimental Study on CRI Technology in the Degradation of COD in Wastewater Reuse
Authors: Qiao Pengshuai
Published: September 2015

With the improvement of the urbanization level, the mixed city water has surged and the traditional
denitrogenating cost in the course of wastewater reuse has been unbearable. This experiment used the technology of the
constructed rapid infiltration (CRI) and applied the soil column simulation method in the laboratory. The results show that
nitrogen removal rates of two soil columns are 73.73% - 75.54%, 66.70% - 77.81% and 79.33% - 73.08% under three wet/
dry (3 h/9 h, 6h/18 h, 8 h/40 h) ratios conditions, individually. The same soil column with the same wet/ dry ratio has a
higher ammonia nitrogen removal rate within a shorter operation time. The comparison result of experiments show that
the artificial soil mixture ratio in column 2 is better than that of column 1, arriving at the optimum operation conditions of
the system.
Registration of the OhW (Oh43×W64A) Maize Recombinant Inbred Mapping Population
Authors: Johnson James M. , Muttoni German , de Leon Natalia , Kaeppler Shawn M.
Published: September 2015

The Oh43×W64A (OhW) maize (Zea mays L.) mapping population (MP‐3, NSL 511549 MAP) consists of 255 recombinant inbred lines (RILs). This mapping population was constructed from a cross between inbred lines Oh43 (Ames 19288) and W64A (PI 587152). Our primary goal was to develop a mapping population segregating for a large number of important agronomic traits using a cross of lines that formed a heterotic hybrid used in the northern Corn Belt. Genetic markers were scored using genotyping‐by‐sequencing technology, and a high‐density genetic map was constructed using the single nucleotide polymorphism data. A wide range of phenotypic diversity among individuals, and transgressive segregation, was observed for all traits measured. The registration of this RIL mapping population provides geneticists and breeders with a highly diverse set of lines in combination with a dense genetic map that can be utilized to identify quantitative trait loci at high mapping resolution.
Dissolution enhancement of glimepiride dispersion using glyceryl monostearate and ?-cyclodextrin as carrier
Authors: Rafshanjani Md. Abu Shuaib , Rahman Md. Mofizur , Parvin Shumaia , Kader Md. Abdul
Published: September 2015

Glimepiride is an antidiabetic drug of sulfonylurea group and indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The present study was conducted to enhance the dissolution rate of glimepiride solid lipid nano particle dispersions using hot homogenization method and glimepiride solid dispersion by precipitation method. Solid lipid nanoparticles have been used as suitable carriers for delivery of drug with poor solubility. In this investigation glyceryl monostearate and stearic acid were used as solid lipid, Lutrol F-68 as surfactant, Tween 80 as stabilizer and the used polymer were urea crystal and ?-cyclodextrin. Three formulations were prepared in different ratios for two methods and were designated as GMLN1 to GMLN3 in case of hot homogenization method and GMP1 to GMP3 for precipitation method. The evaluation of all the dispersions were done by in vitro dissolution studies using US Pharmacopeia type II apparatus (paddle method) in 900ml distilled water at 50 rpm to a temperature of 37°C ± 0.5°C for 45 minutes. In situ and externally sink method revealed the release pattern of drug was found to follow zero order, first order and Korsmeyer-Peppas equations. Improved dissolution profile was observed in all the solid lipid nano particle dispersions as compared to pure drug as well as market preparation. Thus, glyceryl monostearate and ?-cyclodextrin can be successfully used as carrier for improvement of dissolution and bioavailability of glimepiride.Rafshanjani et al., International Current Pharmaceutical Journal, September 2015, 4(10): 436-441
Effect of HPMC and ethyl cellulose polymeric granules and its combinations in press coated tablets of lornoxicam: fabrication and in vitro characterization
Authors: Dineshmohan S. , Gupta V R M , Ramesh A. , Harika V. , Sravani T.
Published: September 2015

The main objective of the present exploration was to formulate and evaluate chronomodulated press-coated tablets to deliver the NSAID lornoxicam, when a pain in the joints, functional disability persist in the early morning time is typically observed in most Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Pre formulation studies and drug excipient compatibility studies were carried out for lornoxicam and excipients. Core tablets containing lornoxicam was prepared by direct compression method and the tablets were subjected to various pre-compression and post-compression parameters (C1-C4 formula) based on the above result best core tablet batch was selected and used for press coating processes. HPMC and EC granules were used as controlled release polymers in the outer layer. These tablets were subjected to pre and post compression parameters, finally the tablets were evaluated for lag time and in vitro dissolution. Results of preformulation studies were acceptable limits. No interaction was observed between lornoxicam and excipients by FTIR. The results of pre and post compression studies were within limits. Formulation code CC3 was identified as best formulation that extends a release profile with 6 h lag time followed by complete lornoxicam release after 8 h. From the graphical representation it can be well perceive that this is perfectly fit in to Korsemeyer which had a Regression coefficient (R2) of 0.9431. The results of the in-vitro release data of this layer were fitted to the Korsemeyer-Peppas equation to examine the release pattern of the drug from the polymeric system. The drug release was identified as super case II transport as the n value found to be more than 0.89.Dineshmohan et al., International Current Pharmaceutical Journal, September 2015, 4(10): 447-452
Elastic Cube Actuator with Six Degrees of Freedom Output
Authors: Wang Pengchuan , Conn Andrew
Published: September 2015

Unlike conventional rigid actuators, soft robotic technologies possess inherent compliance, so they can stretch and twist along every axis without the need for articulated joints. This compliance is exploited here using dielectric elastomer membranes to develop a novel six degrees of freedom (6-DOF) polymer actuator that unifies ordinarily separate components into a simple cubic structure. This cube actuator design incorporates elastic dielectric elastomer membranes on four faces which are coupled by a cross-shaped end effector. The inherent elasticity of each membrane greatly reduces kinematic constraint and enables a 6-DOF actuation output to be produced via the end effector. An electro-mechanical model of the cube actuator is presented that captures the non-linear hyperelastic behaviour of the active membranes. It is demonstrated that the model accurately predicts actuator displacement and blocking moment for a range of input voltages. Experimental testing of a prototype 60 mm device demonstrates 6-DOF operation. The prototype produces maximum linear and rotational displacements of ±2.6 mm (±4.3%) and ±4.8° respectively and a maximum blocking moment of ±76 mNm. The capacity for full 6-DOF actuation from a compact, readily scalable and easily fabricated polymeric package enables implementation in a range of mechatronics and robotics applications.
Performance Comparison between Optimised Camber and Span for a Morphing Wing
Authors: Beaverstock Christopher , Woods Benjamin , Fincham James , Friswell Michael
Published: September 2015

Morphing technology offers a strategy to modify the wing geometry, and the wing planform and cross-sectional parameters can be optimised to the flight conditions. This paper presents an investigation into the effect of span and camber morphing on the mission performance of a 25-kg UAV, with a straight, rectangular, unswept wing. The wing is optimised over two velocities for various fixed wing and morphing wing strategies, where the objective is to maximise aerodynamic efficiency or range. The investigation analyses the effect of the low and high speed velocity selected, the weighting of the low and high velocity on the computation of the mission parameter, the maximum allowable span retraction and the weight penalty on the mission performance. Models that represent the adaptive aspect ratio (AdAR) span morphing concept and the fish bone active camber (FishBAC) camber morphing concept are used to investigate the effect on the wing parameters. The results indicate that generally morphing for both span and camber, the aerodynamic efficiency is maximised for a 30%–70% to 40%–60% weighting between the low and high speed flight conditions, respectively. The span morphing strategy with optimised fixed camber at the root can deliver up to 25% improvement in the aerodynamic efficiency over a fixed camber and span, for an allowable 50% retraction with a velocity range of 50–115 kph. Reducing the allowable retraction to 25% reduces the improvement to 8%–10% for a 50%–50% mission weighting. Camber morphing offers a maximum of 4.5% improvement approximately for a velocity range of 50–90 kph. Improvements in the efficiency achieved through camber morphing are more sensitive to the velocity range in the mission, generally decreasing rapidly by reducing or increasing the velocity range, where span morphing appears more robust for an increase in velocity range beyond the optimum. However, where span morphing requires considerable modification to the planform, the camber change required for optimum performance is only a 5% trailing edge tip deflection relative to cross-sectional chord length. Span morphing, at the optimal mission velocity range, with 25% allowable retraction, can allow up to a 12% increase in mass before no performance advantage is observed, where the camber morphing only allows up to 3%. This provides the designer with a mass budget that must be achieved for morphing to be viable to increase the mission performance.
Fundamentals of Highly Non-Degenerate Cascaded Four-Wave Mixing
Authors: Weigand Rosa , Crespo Helder
Published: September 2015

By crossing two intense ultrashort laser pulses with different colors in a transparent medium, like a simple piece of glass, a fan of multicolored broadband light pulses can be simultaneously generated. These newly generated pulses are emitted in several well-defined directions and can cover a broad spectral range, from the infrared to the ultraviolet and beyond. This beautiful phenomenon, first observed and described 15 years ago, is due to highly-nondegenerate cascaded four-wave mixing (cascaded FWM, or CFWM). Here, we present a review of our work on the generation and measurement of multicolored light pulses based on third-order nonlinearities in transparent solids, from the discovery and first demonstration of highly-nondegenerate CFWM, to the coherent synthesis of single-cycle pulses by superposition of the multicolored light pulses produced by CFWM. We will also present the development and main results of a dedicated 2.5-D nonlinear propagation model, i.e., with propagation occurring along a two-dimensional plane while assuming cylindrically symmetric pump beam profiles, capable of adequately describing noncollinear FWM and CFWM processes. A new method for the generation of femtosecond pulses in the deep-ultraviolet (DUV) based on FWM and CFWM will also be described. These experimental and theoretical results show that highly-nondegenerate third-order nonlinear optical processes are formally well understood and provide broader bandwidths than other nonlinear optical processes for the generation of ultrashort light pulses with wavelengths extending from the near-infrared to the deep-ultraviolet, which have many applications in science and technology.
Splicing Regulation of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines and Chemokines: At the Interface of the Neuroendocrine and Immune Systems
Authors: Shakola Felitsiya , Suri Parul , Ruggiu Matteo
Published: September 2015

Alternative splicing plays a key role in posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression, allowing a single gene to encode multiple protein isoforms. As such, alternative splicing amplifies the coding capacity of the genome enormously, generates protein diversity, and alters protein function. More than 90% of human genes undergo alternative splicing, and alternative splicing is especially prevalent in the nervous and immune systems, tissues where cells need to react swiftly and adapt to changes in the environment through carefully regulated mechanisms of cell differentiation, migration, targeting, and activation. Given its prevalence and complexity, this highly regulated mode of gene expression is prone to be affected by disease. In the following review, we look at how alternative splicing of signaling molecules—cytokines and their receptors—changes in different pathological conditions, from chronic inflammation to neurologic disorders, providing means of functional interaction between the immune and neuroendocrine systems. Switches in alternative splicing patterns can be very dynamic and can produce signaling molecules with distinct or antagonistic functions and localization to different subcellular compartments. This newly discovered link expands our understanding of the biology of immune and neuroendocrine cells, and has the potential to open new windows of opportunity for treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
Use of a µ-Scale Synthetic Gas Bench for Direct Comparison of Urea-SCR and NH3-SCR Reactions over an Oxide Based Powdered Catalyst
Authors: Seneque Mickael , Can Fabien , Duprez Daniel , Courtois Xavier
Published: September 2015

The selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx by NH3 has been extensively studied in the literature, mainly because of its high potential to remediate the pollution of diesel exhaust gases. The implementation of the NH3-SCR process into passenger cars requires the use of an ammonia precursor, provided by a urea aqueous solution in the conventional process. Although the thermal decomposition and hydrolysis mechanisms of urea are well documented in the literature, the influence of the direct use of urea on the NOx reduction over SCR catalysts may be problematic. With the aim to evaluate prototype powdered catalysts, a specific synthetic gas bench adjusted to powdered material was developed, allowing the use of NH3 or urea as reductant for direct comparison. The design of the experimental setup allows vaporization of liquid urea at 200 °C under 10 bar using an HPLC pump and a micro injector of 50 μm diameter. This work presents the experimental setup of the catalytic test and some remarkable catalytic results towards further development of new catalytic formulations specifically dedicated to urea-SCR. Indeed, a possible divergence in terms of DeNOx efficiency is evidenced depending on the nature of the reductant, NH3 or urea solution. Particularly, the evaluated catalyst may not allow an optimal NOx conversion because of a lack in ammonia availability when the urea residence time is shortened. This is attributed to insufficient activity of isocyanic acid (HNCO) hydrolysis, which can be improved by addition upstream of an active solid for the hydrolysis reaction such as ZrO2. Thus, this µ-scale synthetic gas bench adjusted to powdered materials enables the specific behaviour of urea use for NOx reduction to be demonstrated.
Mosaic Pattern of Lung Attenuation on Chest CT in Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Ussavarungsi Kamonpun , Lee Augustine , Burger Charles
Published: September 2015

A mosaic pattern of lung attenuation on chest computed tomography (CT) may be due to various etiologies. There is limited published data on CT results when used to evaluate pulmonary hypertension (PH). We retrospectively studied the frequency of mosaic pattern in patients with PH and the cause of the PH by diagnostic group, as well as the correlation between the mosaic pattern and the following: demographics, severity of the PH, main pulmonary artery (PA) size, PA/aorta (PA/Ao) ratio, pulmonary function tests (PFT), and ventilation perfusion scan results. Overall, 18% of the cohort had CT mosaic pattern (34/189). Mosaic pattern was present in 17/113 (15%) in Group 1 pulmonary arterial hypertension, 5/13 (28%) in Group 2 pulmonary venous hypertension and 8/50 (16%) in Group 3 PH. Conversely, Group 4 chronic thromboembolic PH was more prevalent in 4/8 (50%). Main PA size, PA/Ao ratio, and segmental perfusion defect were positively associated with mosaic pattern. In contrast, factors such as age, gender, body mass index, functional class, hemodynamic data, and PFT values were not associated with mosaic pattern. Mosaic pattern is not specific as an isolated finding for distinguishing the subtype of PH.
Thixotropic Phenomena in Water: Quantitative Indicators of Casimir-Magnetic Transformations from Vacuum Oscillations (Virtual Particles)
Authors: Persinger Michael
Published: September 2015

The ~1.5 × 10−20 J which is considered a universal quantity and is associated with the movement of protons in water also relates to the ratio of the magnetic moment of a proton divided by its unit charge, multiplied by viscosity and applied over the O-H distance. There is quantitative evidence that thixotropy, the “spontaneous” increased viscosity in water when undisturbed, originates from the transformation of virtual particles or vacuum oscillations to real states through conversion of Casimir-magnetic energies that involve the frequency of the neutral hydrogen line and the upper bound threshold value for intergalactic magnetic fields. The results indicate that ½ of a single electron orbit is real (particle) and the other ½ is virtual (wave). The matter equivalent per s for virtual-to-real states for electrons in 1 mL of water with a neutral pH is consistent with the numbers of protons (H+) and the measured range of molecules in the coherent domains for both width and duration of growth and is similar to widths of intergalactic dust grains from which planets and stars may condense. The de Broglie momentum for the lower boundary of the width of coherent domains multiplied by the fine structure velocity of an electron is concurrent with the quantum when one proton is being removed from another and when the upper boundary of the rest mass of a photon is transformed by the product of velocities for putative “entanglement” and light. Theoretical and experimental results indicate that components of thixotropy, such as specific domains of intercalated water molecules, could display excess correlations over very large distances. Because the energies of the universal quantity and water converge it may be a special conduit for discrete transformations from virtual to real states.
A Novel Choice Procedure of Magnetic Component Values for Phase Shifted Full Bridge Converters with a Variable Dead-Time Control Method
Authors: Zhao Lei , Li Haoyu , Yu Yanxue , Wang Yantian
Published: September 2015

Magnetic components are important parts of the phase shifted full bridge (PSFB) converter. During the dead-time of switches located in the same leg, the converter can achieve zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) by using the energies stored in magnetic components to discharge or charge the output capacitances of switches. Dead-time is usually calculated under a given set of pre-defined load condition which results in that the available energies are insufficient and ZVS capability is lost at light loads. In this paper, the PSFB converter is controlled by variable dead-time method and thus full advantage can be taken of the energies stored in magnetic components. Considering that dead-time has a great effect on ZVS, the relationship between available energies and magnetic component values is formulated by analyzing the equivalent circuits during dead-time intervals. Magnetic component values are chosen based on such relationship. The proposed choice procedure can make the available energies greater than the required energies for ZVS operation over a wide range of load conditions. Moreover, the burst mode control is adopted in order to reduce the standby power loss. Experimental results coincide with the theoretical analysis. The proposed method is a simple and practical solution to extend the ZVS range.
Capturing the Interrelationship between Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour in Children in the Context of Diverse Environmental Exposures
Authors: Katapally Tarun , Muhajarine Nazeem
Published: September 2015

Even though physical activity and sedentary behaviour are two distinct behaviours, their interdependent relationship needs to be studied in the same environment. This study examines the influence of urban design, neighbourhood built and social environment, and household and individual factors on the interdependent relationship between objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour in children in the Canadian city of Saskatoon. Saskatoon’s built environment was assessed by two validated observation tools. Neighbourhood socioeconomic variables were derived from 2006 Statistics Canada Census and 2010 G5 Census projections. A questionnaire was administered to 10–14 year old children to collect individual and household data, followed by accelerometry to collect physical activity and sedentary behaviour data. Multilevel logistic regression models were developed to understand the interrelationship between physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the context of diverse environmental exposures. A complex set of factors including denser built environment, positive peer relationships and consistent parental support influenced the interrelationship between physical activity and sedentary behaviour. In developing interventions to facilitate active living, it is not only imperative to delineate pathways through which diverse environmental exposures influence physical activity and sedentary behaviour, but also to account for the interrelationship between physical activity and sedentary behaviour.
Bisphenol-A and Female Infertility: A Possible Role of Gene-Environment Interactions
Authors: Huo Xiaona , Chen Dan , He Yonghua , Zhu Wenting , Zhou Wei , Zhang Jun
Published: September 2015

Background: Bisphenol-A (BPA) is widely used and ubiquitous in the environment. Animal studies indicate that BPA affects reproduction, however, the gene-environment interaction mechanism(s) involved in this association remains unclear. We performed a literature review to summarize the evidence on this topic. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed using as keywords BPA, gene, infertility and female reproduction. Full-text articles in both human and animals published in English prior to December 2014 were selected. Results: Evidence shows that BPA can interfere with endocrine function of hypothalamic-pituitary axis, such as by changing gonadotropin-releasing hormones (GnRH) secretion in hypothalamus and promoting pituitary proliferation. Such actions affect puberty, ovulation and may even result in infertility. Ovary, uterus and other reproductive organs are also targets of BPA. BPA exposure impairs the structure and functions of female reproductive system in different times of life cycle and may contribute to infertility. Both epidemiological and experimental evidences demonstrate that BPA affects reproduction-related gene expression and epigenetic modification that are closely associated with infertility. The detrimental effects on reproduction may be lifelong and transgenerational. Conclusions: Evidence on gene-environment interactions, especially from human studies, is still limited. Further research on this topic is warranted.
What Do Breastfeeding Women Taking Herbal Galactagogues Perceive of Community Pharmacists’ Role in Breastfeeding Support? A Qualitative Study
Authors: Sim Tin , Hattingh H. , Sherriff Jillian , Tee Lisa
Published: September 2015

Information from pharmacists may affect breastfeeding womens’ decisions and choice of therapy. Community pharmacies remain one of the main sources of herbal medicines in Australia. In this study, we aimed to explore the perspectives of breastfeeding women on pharmacists’ role and whether there is potential for role expansion, as well as the facilitators and barriers in meeting their healthcare-related needs in the community pharmacy setting. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 Western Australian women who were using one or more herbal galactagogues while breastfeeding. Participants’ views were classified into three major themes: (i) facilitators and (ii) barriers to an increased role of pharmacists; and (iii) implementation of breastfeeding related-services in community pharmacy settings. Overall perspectives of participants were positive about the potential for role expansion of pharmacists to meet their breastfeeding-related needs. Whilst most participants perceived community pharmacies as convenient sources of trusted information, some recognised barriers to an increased role of pharmacists. Several breastfeeding support services perceived to be useful in community pharmacy settings were identified. Issues raised highlighted areas of pharmacy practice which required improvement and revealed opportunities for expansion of pharmacists’ role to better support women and promote breastfeeding in the community.
Development of Seven Microsatellite Markers Using Next Generation Sequencing for the Conservation on the Korean Population of Dorcus hopei (E. Saunders, 1854) (Coleoptera, Lucanidae)
Authors: Kang Tae , Han Sang , Park Sun
Published: September 2015

We developed microsatellite markers for genetic structural analyses of Dorcus hopei, a stag beetle species, using next generation sequencing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based genotyping for regional populations. A total of 407,070,351 base pairs of genomic DNA containing >4000 microsatellite loci except AT repeats were sequenced. From 76 loci selected for primer design, 27 were polymorphic. Of these 27 markers, 10 were tested on three regional populations: two Chinese (Shichuan and Guangxi) and one Korean (Wanju). Three markers were excluded due to inconsistent amplification, genotyping errors, and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). By multi-locus genotyping, the allele number, observed heterozygosity and polymorphism information content of seven microsatellite loci were ranged 2‒10, 0.1333‒1.0000, and 0.1228‒0.8509, respectively. In an analysis on the genetic differentiation among regional populations including one Japanese population and one cross-breeding population, the individual colored bar-plots showed that both Chinese populations were closer to each other than to the Far East Asian populations. In Far East Asian populations, Wanju and Nirasaki populations could not be distinguished from each other because the frequency of genetic contents was very similar in some individuals of two populations. Moreover, the cross-breeding population contained all patterns of genetic contents shown in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese populations, compared with the genetic content frequency of each regional population. As a result, we examined whether the cross-breeding population might be a hybrid population, and might contain a possibility of interbreeding with Chinese populations in parental generations. Therefore, these markers will be useful for analyses of genetic diversity in populations, genetic relationships between regional populations, genetic structure analyses, and origin tests.
SOX2 Promotes the Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition of Esophageal Squamous Cells by Modulating Slug Expression through the Activation of STAT3/HIF-α Signaling
Authors: Gao Hui , Teng Chunyuan , Huang Wenjing , Peng Jianjun , Wang Chunbo
Published: September 2015

The transcription factor sex determining region (Y SRY)-box 2 (SOX2) is known to play a crucial role in the maintenance of self renewal or pluripotency of undifferentiated embryonic and neuronal stem cells. An elevated expression of SOX2 has been correlated with poor prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We sought to investigate the mechanism(s) by which SOX2 modulates the ESCC metastasis. The SOX2 coding DNA sequence was inserted into pCMV vector and stably transfected in ESCC cells (Eca-109). The effect of SOX2 over expression was evaluated on cell migration, invasion and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). We also measured the expression of Slug to explore if this transcription factor is involved in SOX2-mediated regulation of cell migration/invasion and EMT. In addition, we determined the role of STAT3/HIF-1α to further probe the mechanism of SOX2-mediated metastasis via Slug. Our results demonstrated that SOX2 over expressing Eca-109 cells showed an enhanced cell migration/invasion. Moreover, these cells exhibited the EMT characteristics, that is, a significantly suppressed expression of the epithelial cells marker with a concomitant enhancement of those of the mesenchymal markers. An increased expression of Slug in SOX2 over expressing cells suggested the involvement of this transcription factor in SOX2-regulated metastasis. Whereas the expressions of STAT3/HIF-1α were found to be up-regulated in SOX2 expressing cells, blockade of these transcription factors resulted in the inhibition of Slug expression at both protein and mRNA levels. Conclusion: These results suggest that SOX2 promoted the metastasis of ESCC, at least in part, by modulating Slug expression through the activation of STAT3/HIF-1α signaling.
A Novel Nanoprobe for Multimodal Imaging Is Effectively Incorporated into Human Melanoma Metastatic Cell Lines
Authors: Aasen Synnøve , Pospisilova Aneta , Eichler Tilo , Panek Jiri , Hruby Martin , Stepanek Petr , Spriet Endy , Jirak Daniel , Skaftnesmo Kai , Thorsen Frits
Published: September 2015

To facilitate efficient drug delivery to tumor tissue, several nanomaterials have been designed, with combined diagnostic and therapeutic properties. In this work, we carried out fundamental in vitro and in vivo experiments to assess the labeling efficacy of our novel theranostic nanoprobe, consisting of glycogen conjugated with a red fluorescent probe and gadolinium. Microscopy and resazurin viability assays were used to study cell labeling and cell viability in human metastatic melanoma cell lines. Fluorescence lifetime correlation spectroscopy (FLCS) was done to investigate nanoprobe stability. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to study T1 relaxivity in vitro, and contrast enhancement in a subcutaneous in vivo tumor model. Efficient cell labeling was demonstrated, while cell viability, cell migration, and cell growth was not affected. FLCS showed that the nanoprobe did not degrade in blood plasma. MRI demonstrated that down to 750 cells/μL of labeled cells in agar phantoms could be detected. In vivo MRI showed that contrast enhancement in tumors was comparable between Omniscan contrast agent and the nanoprobe. In conclusion, we demonstrate for the first time that a non-toxic glycogen-based nanoprobe may effectively visualize tumor cells and tissue, and, in future experiments, we will investigate its therapeutic potential by conjugating therapeutic compounds to the nanoprobe.
Lipidomics to Assess Omega 3 Bioactivity
Authors: Visioli Francesco
Published: September 2015

How can we resolve the conflict between the strong epidemiological evidence pointing to the usefulness of fish—and, thus, omega 3—consumption with the debacle of supplementation trials? One potential explanation is that the null results obtained thus far are the consequences of ill-contrived investigations that do not allow us to conclude on the effects (or lack thereof) of omega 3 fatty acid supplementation. One potential solution is through the use of lipidomics, which should prove very useful to screen suitable patients and to correlate plasma (or red blood cells, or whole blood, or phospholipid) fatty acid profile with outcomes. This has never been done in omega 3 trials. The wise use of lipidomics should be essential part of future omega 3 trials and would help in untangling this current riddle.
Non-Proteinuric Diabetic Nephropathy
Authors: Robles Nicolas , Villa Juan , Gallego Roman
Published: September 2015

Diabetic nephropathy patients traditionally show significant macroalbuminuria prior to the development of renal impairment. However, this clinical paradigm has recently been questioned. Epidemiological surveys confirm that chronic kidney disease (CKD) diagnosed by a low glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is more common in diabetic patients than in the non-diabetic population but a low number of patients had levels of proteinuria above that which traditionally defines overt diabetic nephropathy (>500 mg/g). The large number of patients with low levels of proteinuria suggests that the traditional clinical paradigm of overt diabetic nephropathy is changing since it does not seem to be the underlying renal lesion in most of diabetic subjects with CKD.