bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and Bone Regeneration Capacity of Premixed Magnesium Phosphate Cement Pastes
Authors: Ewald Andrea , Kreczy Dorothea , Brückner Theresa , Gbureck Uwe , Bengel Melanie , Hoess Andreas , Nies Berthold , Bator Julia , Klammert Uwe , Fuchs Andreas
Published: July 2019

Magnesium phosphate cements (MPC) have been demonstrated to have a superior bone regeneration capacity due to their good solubility under in vivo conditions. While in the past only aqueous MPC pastes have been applied, the current study describes the fabrication and in vitro/in vivo testing of an oil-based calcium doped magnesium phosphate (CaMgP) cement paste. Premixed oil-based pastes with CaMgP chemistry combine the advantages of conventional MPC such as high mechanical strength and good resorbability with a prolonged shelf-life and an easier clinical handling. The pastes set in an aqueous environment and predominantly form struvite and achieve a compressive strength of ~8–10 MPa after setting. The implantation into a drill-hole defect at the distal femoral condyle of New Zealand white rabbits over a course of 6 and 12 weeks demonstrated good biocompatibility of the materials without the formation of soft connective tissue or any signs of inflammation. In contrast to a hydroxyapatite forming reference paste, the premixed CaMgP pastes showed subsequent degradation and bony regeneration. The CaMgP cement pastes presented herein are promising bone replacement materials with excellent material properties for an improved and facilitated clinical application.
Photocatalytic Abatement of Volatile Organic Compounds by TiO2 Nanoparticles Doped with Either Phosphorous or Zirconium
Authors: Dosa Melodj , Piumetti Marco , Bensaid Samir , Andana Tahrizi , Galletti Camilla , Fino Debora , Russo Nunzio
Published: July 2019

The aim of this work is to study the activity of novel TiO2-based photocatalysts doped with either phosphorus or zirconium under a UV-Vis source. A set of mesoporous catalysts was prepared by the direct synthesis: TiO2_A and TiO2_B (titanium oxide synthesized by two different procedures), P-TiO2 and Zr-TiO2 (binary oxides with either nonmetal or metal into the TiO2 framework). Complementary characterizations (N2 physisorption at 77 K, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and (DR)UV-Vis spectroscopy) were used to investigate the physicochemical properties of the prepared catalysts. Then, the photocatalysts were tested for the oxidation of propylene and ethylene under UV-Vis light. As a result, the most promising catalyst for both the propylene and ethylene oxidation reactions was the P-TiO2 (propylene conversion = 27.8% and ethylene conversion = 13%, TOS = 3 h), thus confirming the beneficial effect of P-doping into the TiO2 framework on the photocatalytic activity.
Hybrid Circuit of Memristor and Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor for Defect-Tolerant Spatial Pooling with Boost-Factor Adjustment
Authors: Nguyen Tien Van , Pham Khoa Van , Min Kyeong-Sik
Published: July 2019

Hierarchical Temporal Memory (HTM) has been known as a software framework to model the brain’s neocortical operation. However, mimicking the brain’s neocortical operation by not software but hardware is more desirable, because the hardware can not only describe the neocortical operation, but can also employ the brain’s architectural advantages. To develop a hybrid circuit of memristor and Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) for realizing HTM’s spatial pooler (SP) by hardware, memristor defects such as stuck-at-faults and variations should be considered. For solving the defect problem, we first show that the boost-factor adjustment can make HTM’s SP defect-tolerant, because the false activation of defective columns are suppressed. Second, we propose a memristor-CMOS hybrid circuit with the boost-factor adjustment to realize this defect-tolerant SP by hardware. The proposed circuit does not rely on the conventional defect-aware mapping scheme, which cannot avoid the false activation of defective columns. For the Modified subset of National Institute of Standards and Technology (MNIST) vectors, the boost-factor adjusted crossbar with defects = 10% shows a rate loss of only ~0.6%, compared to the ideal crossbar with defects = 0%. On the contrary, the defect-aware mapping without the boost-factor adjustment demonstrates a significant rate loss of ~21.0%. The energy overhead of the boost-factor adjustment is only ~0.05% of the programming energy of memristor synapse crossbar.
Audio Signal Processing Using Fractional Linear Prediction
Authors: Skovranek Tomas , Despotovic Vladimir
Published: July 2019

Fractional linear prediction (FLP), as a generalization of conventional linear prediction (LP), was recently successfully applied in different fields of research and engineering, such as biomedical signal processing, speech modeling and image processing. The FLP model has a similar design as the conventional LP model, i.e., it uses a linear combination of “fractional terms” with different orders of fractional derivative. Assuming only one “fractional term” and using limited number of previous samples for prediction, FLP model with “restricted memory” is presented in this paper and the closed-form expressions for calculation of FLP coefficients are derived. This FLP model is fully comparable with the widely used low-order LP, as it uses the same number of previous samples, but less predictor coefficients, making it more efficient. Two different datasets, MIDI Aligned Piano Sounds (MAPS) and Orchset, were used for the experiments. Triads representing the chords composed of three randomly chosen notes and usual Western musical chords (both of them from MAPS dataset) served as the test signals, while the piano recordings from MAPS dataset and orchestra recordings from the Orchset dataset served as the musical signal. The results show enhancement of FLP over LP in terms of model complexity, whereas the performance is comparable.
An Interactive Data-Driven (Dynamic) Multiple Attribute Decision Making Model via Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Functions
Authors: Baykasoğlu Adil , Gölcük İlker
Published: July 2019

A new multiple attribute decision making (MADM) model was proposed in this paper in order to cope with the temporal performance of alternatives during different time periods. Although dynamic MADM problems are enjoying a more visible position in the literature, majority of the applications deal with combining past and present data by means of aggregation operators. There is a research gap in developing data-driven methodologies to capture the patterns and trends in the historical data. In parallel with the fact that style of decision making evolving from intuition-based to data-driven, the present study proposes a new interval type-2 fuzzy (IT2F) functions model in order to predict current performance of alternatives based on the historical decision matrices. As the availability of accurate historical data with desired quality cannot always be obtained and the data usually involves imprecision and uncertainty, predictions regarding the performance of alternatives are modeled as IT2F sets. These estimated outputs are transformed into interpretable forms by utilizing the vocabulary matching procedures. Then the interactive procedures are employed to allow decision makers to modify the predicted decision matrix based on their perceptions and subjective judgments. Finally, ranking of alternatives are performed based on past and current performance scores.
Cybersecurity Investment Allocation for a Multi-Branch Firm: Modeling and Optimization
Authors: Xu Lu , Li Yanhui , Fu Jing
Published: July 2019

Network interconnection and information sharing among firms and their departments expose them to cybersecurity breaches. Traditional cybersecurity studies have paid little attention to the reallocation of security investment within firms. This paper proposes a mathematical model for optimal allocation of cybersecurity investment among headquarters and branches with budget constraints. The differences in size of information sets and system interconnection have been taken into account. The responses of optimal allocation to internal and external factors, such as the portion of branch information set, the propagation probability, the budget constraints, and the intrinsic vulnerability, have been studied in deep both theoretically and numerically. Analysis results indicate that the group will give priority to protecting headquarters when the total budget is small and intrinsic vulnerability is high. The security investment allocated to each branch increases with budget, propagation probability and portion of information set, but never exceeds 1 / ( n + 1 ) of total budget. Numerical simulations also verify that security information sharing among headquarters and branches can help improve the efficiency of security investment in the whole system. Furthermore, the findings of this paper will draw attention to the reallocation of cybersecurity investment within a business group and help cybersecurity managers to develop investment allocation strategies and policies.
Dynamic Analysis of a Pest Management Smith Model with Impulsive State Feedback Control and Continuous Delay
Authors: Shi Zhenzhen , Li Yaning , Cheng Huidong
Published: July 2019

In our paper, we propose a single population Smith model with continuous delay and impulsive state feedback control. The application in pest management of this model is investigated. First, the singularity of this model is qualitatively analyzed; then, we consider the existence and uniqueness of order-one periodic orbit in order to determine the frequency of the implementation of chemical control. Moreover, based on the limit method of the sequences of subsequent points, we verify the stability of periodic orbit to ensure a certain robustness of this control; at last, we carry out the numerical simulations to verify the correctness of the theoretical results.
Asymptotic Almost-Periodicity for a Class of Weyl-Like Fractional Difference Equations
Authors: Cao Junfei , Debbouche Amar , Zhou Yong
Published: July 2019

This work deal with asymptotic almost-periodicity of mild solutions for a class of difference equations with a Weyl-like fractional difference in Banach space. Based on a combination of a decomposition technique and the Krasnoselskii’s fixed point theorem, we establish some new existence theorems of mild solutions with asymptotic almost-periodicity. Our results extend some related conclusions, since (locally) Lipschitz assumption on the nonlinear perturbation is not needed and with Lipschitz assumption becoming a special case. An example is presented to validate the application of our results.
Relationship between Psychological Distress and Continuous Sedentary Behavior in Healthy Older Adults
Authors: Owari Yutaka , Miyatake Nobuyuki
Published: July 2019

Background: Our purpose is to clarify whether psychological distress (PD) affects the rate of continuous sedentary behavior (CSB). Materials and Methods: In this secondary analysis, a sample population of 80 healthy older adults aged 65 years or older participated in a health club of college A from 2016 to 2017. We conducted Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using the cross-lagged and synchronous effects models. We adopted the following as proxy variables: CSB (based on the ratio of 1.5 METs sessions or more continuing for over 30 min) CSB and PD (based on the Kessler psychological distress scale: K6). Results: “2016 K6” had a significant influence on “2017 CSB” (standardization factor (β) = 0.136, p = 0.020) using the cross-lagged effects model, and “2017 K6” significantly influenced “2017 CSB” (β = 0.166, p = 0.039) using the synchronous effects model. Fit indices were Adjusted Goodness-of-Fit Index (AGFI) = 0.990, Confirmatory Fit Index (CFI) = 1.000, and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.000. Conclusion: The results suggest that PD may affect the ratio of CSB one year later.
Grain Size Effect on the Mechanical Behavior of Metastable Fe-23Cr-8.5Ni Alloy
Authors: Xie Lin , Wang Chunpeng , Wang Yuhui , Wu Guilin , Huang Xiaoxu
Published: July 2019

An Fe-23Cr-8.5Ni alloy was used as a model material to study the grain size effect on the mechanical behavior of metastable duplex metal. Alloy samples with different grain sizes ranging from 0.1 to 2 μm were prepared by cold-rolling and annealing. A structural refinement to about 0.1 μm results in a high yield strength but very limited ductility. A significant improvement of ductility occurred at the grain size of about 0.4 μm. A further increase in grain size results in a decreased strength and a slightly improved ductility. The alloy with a grain size of about 0.4 μm exhibits an excellent combination of strength and ductility, where the yield strength and tensile elongation are increased up to 738 MPa and 29% as compared to 320 MPa and 33% of a coarse-grained (about 2 μm) sample, respectively. The origin of the excellent mechanical properties was attributed to the unique deformation characteristics associated with the transformation induced plasticity and the development of back stress.
Effect of Strengthening Methods on the Defect Evolution under Irradiations Investigated with Rate Theory Simulations
Authors: Chen Cheng , Guo Liping , Wei Yaxia , Xie Ziyang , Long Yunxiang
Published: July 2019

Under irradiations, mechanical performance of nuclear alloys would degrade due to irradiation induced defects. Different strengthening methods can play a different role in the evolution of the defects. In this study, the effect of four typical strengthening methods including fine grain strengthening, dislocation strengthening, second phase strengthening and solid solutions strengthening on the defect evolutions in bcc iron-based alloys are investigated with rate theory simulations, a technique capable of simulating a long-term evolution of defects caused by irradiations. Simulations show that at high dose, irradiation induced voids become the dominating factor that affect irradiation hardening. Strengthening methods with the enhancement of sink strength (fine grain strengthening, dislocation strengthening and second phase strengthening) have little effects on the evolution of voids, while strengthening method with impediment of migration of defects (solid solutions strengthening) can effectively inhibit the nucleation and growth of voids. For fine grain strengthening and dislocation strengthening, the irradiation hardening is almost kept unchanged when changing grain size and initial dislocation density. For second phase strengthening, the irradiation hardening can be inhibited to some extent by increasing mainly the number density of precipitates. The solid solutions strengthening is the most proper method to inhibit irradiation hardening of bcc iron-based alloy because it can inhibit the development of voids, especially at high dose.
A Surface Transition Layer Model for Size Effect in T2 Copper Micro-Compression
Authors: Deng Lei , Liu Wei , Wang Xinyun , Jin Junsong
Published: July 2019

The effects of sample size and grain size on the surface morphology and flow stress of deformed samples were investigated by means of copper micro-cylinder compression experiments at room temperature. The results of SEM showed that when the grain size increased or the sample size decreased, the deformation non-uniformity of samples’ free surfaces increased. Meanwhile, the stress–strain curves showed that during the compression process, the flow stress of the sample also tended to decrease as the grain size increased or the sample size decreased. According to the experimental results of nanoindentation, a surface transition layer model was established on the basis of the surface layer model by considering the mutual constraint of grains and the existence of transition layer grains. The experimental results indicated that the stress–strain curve calculated by the surface transition layer model can more accurately reflect the actual deformation situation of the material compared to the surface layer model.
Feasibility Study of Hole Repair and Maintenance Operations by Dry Drilling of Magnesium Alloy UNS M11917 for Aeronautical Components
Authors: Berzosa Fernando , de Agustina Beatriz , Rubio Eva María , Davim J. Paulo
Published: July 2019

Magnesium alloys are increasingly used due to the reduction of weight and pollutants that can be obtained, especially in the aeronautical, aerospace, and automotive sectors. In maintenance and repair tasks, it is common to carry out re-drilling processes, which must comply with the established quality requirements and be performed following the required safety and environmental standards. Currently, there is still a lack of knowledge of the machining of these alloys, especially with regards to drilling operations. The present article studies the influence of different cutting parameters on the surface quality obtained by drilling during repair and/or maintaining operations. For this propose, an experimental design was established that allows for the optimization of resources, using the average roughness (Ra) as the response variable, and it was analyzed through the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results were within the margins of variation of the factors considered: the combination of factor levels that keep the Ra within the established margin, those that allow for the minimization of roughness, and those that allow for the reduction of machining time. In this sense, these operations were carried out in the most efficient way.
Effect of Cooling Rate on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties in the CGHAZ of Electroslag Welded Pearlitic Rail Steel
Authors: Khan Adnan Raza , Yu Shengfu , Wang Hao , Jiang Yuan
Published: July 2019

The effect of cooling rate, ranging from 6 to 1 °C/s, on microstructure and mechanical properties in the coarse-grained heat affected zone (CGHAZ) of electroslag welded pearlitic rail steel has been investigated by using confocal scanning laser microcopy (CSLM) and Gleeble 3500 thermo-mechanical simulator. During heating, the formed austenite was inhomogeneous with fractions of untransformed ferrite, which has influenced the pearlite transformation during cooling by providing additional nucleation sites to pearlite. During cooling, at 6 °C/s, the microstructure was composed of martensite and bainite with little pearlite. From 4 to 1 °C/s, microstructures were completely pearlite. Lowering the cooling rate of the CGHAZ from 4 to 1 °C/s increased the pearlite start temperature and reduced the pearlite growth rate. Meanwhile, this increase in pearlite start temperature enlarged the pearlite interlamellar spacing. Alternatively, increasing pearlite interlamellar spacing in the CGHAZ by lowering the cooling rate from 6 to 1 °C/s reduced the hardness and tensile strength, whereas toughness was found unaffected by the pearlite interlamellar spacing. It has been found that a cooling rate of 4 °C/s leads to the formation of pearlite with fine interlamellar spacing of 117 nm in the CGHAZ of electroslag welded pearlitic rail steel where hardness is 425 HV, tensile strength is 1077 MPa, and toughness is 9.1 J.
Relationship between Vitamin D Level and Lipid Profile in Non-Obese Children
Authors: Kim Mi Ra , Jeong Su Jin
Published: July 2019

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with not only cardiovascular disease itself but also cardiovascular risk factors, including obesity, hypertension, diabetes, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between vitamin D level and lipid profile in non-obese children. A total of 243 non-obese healthy volunteers, aged 9–18 years, were enrolled from March to May 2017. Their height and weight were measured, and body mass index was calculated. Subjects underwent blood tests, including measurements of vitamin D (25(OH)D) level and lipid panels, and were divided into either the vitamin D-deficient group (<20 ng/mL) or normal group. The student’s t-test and a simple linear regression analysis were used to estimate the association between vitamin D level and lipid profile. Overall, 69.5% of non-obese children (n = 169) had a 25(OH)D level of less than 20 ng/mL. The vitamin D-deficient group showed higher triglyceride (TG) level and TG/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio than the normal group (TG level: 90.27 vs. 74.74 mmol/L, p = 0.003; TG/HDL-C ratio: 1.753 vs. 1.358, p = 0.003). Vitamin D level seems to affect the lipid profile, even in non-obese children, and a low vitamin D level may progress to dyslipidemia or obesity in non-obese children.
Fabrication of a Monolithic Implantable Neural Interface from Cubic Silicon Carbide
Authors: Beygi Mohammad , Bentley John T. , Frewin Christopher L. , Kuliasha Cary A. , Takshi Arash , Bernardin Evans K. , La Via Francesco , Saddow Stephen E.
Published: July 2019

One of the main issues with micron-sized intracortical neural interfaces (INIs) is their long-term reliability, with one major factor stemming from the material failure caused by the heterogeneous integration of multiple materials used to realize the implant. Single crystalline cubic silicon carbide (3C-SiC) is a semiconductor material that has been long recognized for its mechanical robustness and chemical inertness. It has the benefit of demonstrated biocompatibility, which makes it a promising candidate for chronically-stable, implantable INIs. Here, we report on the fabrication and initial electrochemical characterization of a nearly monolithic, Michigan-style 3C-SiC microelectrode array (MEA) probe. The probe consists of a single 5 mm-long shank with 16 electrode sites. An ~8 µm-thick p-type 3C-SiC epilayer was grown on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer, which was followed by a ~2 µm-thick epilayer of heavily n-type (n+) 3C-SiC in order to form conductive traces and the electrode sites. Diodes formed between the p and n+ layers provided substrate isolation between the channels. A thin layer of amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC) was deposited via plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) to insulate the surface of the probe from the external environment. Forming the probes on a SOI wafer supported the ease of probe removal from the handle wafer by simple immersion in HF, thus aiding in the manufacturability of the probes. Free-standing probes and planar single-ended test microelectrodes were fabricated from the same 3C-SiC epiwafers. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were performed on test microelectrodes with an area of 491 µm2 in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution. The measurements showed an impedance magnitude of 165 kΩ ± 14.7 kΩ (mean ± standard deviation) at 1 kHz, anodic charge storage capacity (CSC) of 15.4 ± 1.46 mC/cm2, and a cathodic CSC of 15.2 ± 1.03 mC/cm2. Current-voltage tests were conducted to characterize the p-n diode, n-p-n junction isolation, and leakage currents. The turn-on voltage was determined to be on the order of ~1.4 V and the leakage current was less than 8 μArms. This all-SiC neural probe realizes nearly monolithic integration of device components to provide a likely neurocompatible INI that should mitigate long-term reliability issues associated with chronic implantation.
Design and Fabrication of a Push-Pull Electrostatic Actuated Cantilever Waveguide Scanner
Authors: Wang Wei-Chih , Gu Kebin , Tsui ChiLeung
Published: July 2019

The paper presents a novel fully integrated MEMS-based non-resonating operated 2D mechanical scanning system using a 1D push-pull actuator. Details of the design, fabrication and tests performed are presented. The current design utilizes an integrated electrostatic push-pull actuator and a SU-8 rib waveguide with a large core cross section (4 μm in height and 20 μm in width) in broadband single mode operation (λ = 0.4 μm to 0.65 μm). We have successfully demonstrated a 2D scanning motion using non- resonating operation with 201 Hz in vertical direction and 20 Hz in horizontal direction. This non-resonating scanner system has achieved a field of view (FOV) of 0.019 to 0.072 radians in vertical and horizontal directions, with the advantage of overcoming its frequency shift caused by fabrication uncertainties. In addition, we observed two fundamental resonances at 201 and 536 Hz in the vertical and horizontal directions with corresponding displacements of 130 and 19 μm, or 0.072 and 0.0105 radian field of view operating at a +150 V input. A gradient index (GRIN) lens is placed at the end of the waveguide to focus the diverging beam output from the waveguide and a 20 μm beam diameter is observed at the focal plane. The transmission efficiency of the waveguide is slightly low (~10%) and slight tensile residual stress can be observed at the cantilever portion of the waveguide due to inherent imperfections in the fabrication process.
Optimized Soft Lithography Method for Polymer Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Flakes Fabrication
Authors: Zhou Guanqing , Liu Sunqian , Liu Wei , Yuan Dong , Zhou Guofu
Published: July 2019

Polymer cholesteric liquid crystal (PCLC) flakes are gaining increasing interest for a wide variety of applications because of their unique optical properties and capabilities. Soft lithography is the most effective way to fabricate regularly shaped PCLC flakes. However, it is not easy to peel the flakes from the mold without breaking them. In order to peel the PCLC flakes from the patterned polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) mold in a convenient way, in this paper, a method of coating a layer of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) on a PDMS mold was proposed. The influence of the thickness of the PVA layer on the shape of the PCLC flakes and the release time from the PDMS mold were investigated. The results show that the presence of the PVA layer can speed up the release of the PCLC flakes and help maintain the shape effectively. Notably, the utilization of a PVA layer makes the PDMS mold recyclable. The influence of PCLC flake shape was also studied. This work will promote the development of switchable PCLC flake-based technologies.
Effect of Different Laser Wavelengths on Periodontopathogens in Peri-Implantitis: A Review of In Vivo Studies
Authors: Świder Katarzyna , Dominiak Marzena , Grzech-Leśniak Kinga , Matys Jacek
Published: July 2019

Nowadays, many studies are examining the effectiveness of dental lasers in the treatment of peri-implantitis; however, most of them only report periodontal parameter changes. The authors of this review tried to address the question: “What is the effect of different laser wavelengths on oral bacteria that cause peri-implantitis?” An electronic search of PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was performed. The following search terms were used: (peri-implantitis OR periimplantitis) OR/AND (microbial OR microbiologic) AND (laser OR Er:YAG OR erbium OR diode OR Nd:YAG OR neodymium-doped OR Er,Cr:YSGG OR chromium-doped). Initially, 212 studies were identified. After screening the titles and abstracts and excluding studies according to predefined inclusion criteria, seven publications were included in the review. Three studies about the effect of aPDT (antimicrobial photodynamic therapy) reported a decrease in the different bacterial strains associated with peri-implantitis, e.g., A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, T. denticola, T. forsythia, F. nucleatum, and C. rectus. Two studies showed that the high-power diode laser may have some effect on peri-implant pathogens. Two articles about the Er:YAG laser reported a lowering in the count of oral pathogens; however, it was hard to determine if this was due to the use of the laser. aPDT has the ability to decrease the count of peri-implant pathogens, whereas Er:YAG laser application shows no significant effect on oral bacteria in the long term.
Mineralogy and Geochemistry of the No. 5−2 High-Sulfur Coal from the Dongpo Mine, Weibei Coalfield, Shaanxi, North China, with Emphasis on Anomalies of Gallium and Lithium
Authors: Qin Guohong , Cao Daiyong , Wei Yingchun , Wang Anmin , Liu Jincheng
Published: July 2019

This paper reports the mineral compositions and geochemical characteristics of the No. 5−2 high-sulfur coal (Taiyuan Formation) from Dongpo Mine, Weibei Coalfield, Shaanxi, Northern China via transmitted and reflected light microscopy, scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF). We also confirmed the input of intermediate-felsic volcanic ashes into the Taiyuan Formation coals in Dongpo Mine, Weibei Coalfield. The results show that Dongpo coals are enriched in Ga and Li compared to the average values for world hard coals, and they are depleted in Al2O3 compared to Chinese coals. The coal low temperature ash contains kaolinite, illite, quartz, calcite, pyrite, and to a lesser extent, chlorite, plagioclase, dolomite, ankerite, and apatite. The concentration anomalies of Ga and Li in No. 5−2 high-sulfur coal were not caused by the Benxi Formation Bauxite, but by the influence of multiple geological factors. The Middle Proterozoic moyite from the Yinshan Oldland led to the slightly higher Ga and Li contents of the No. 5−2 coal than those in world hard coals. Input of synchronization volcanic ash, injection of hydrothermal fluids during the syngenetic or early diagenetic stages and influence of seawater further contributed to the Ga and Li enrichment of the No. 5−2 coal.
An Effective Method of Isolating Honey Proteins
Authors: Bocian Aleksandra , Buczkowicz Justyna , Jaromin Marcin , Hus Konrad Kamil , Legáth Jaroslav
Published: July 2019

Honey is a natural sweetener composed mostly of sugars, but it contains also pollen grains, proteins, free amino acids, and minerals. The amounts and proportions of these components depend on the honey type and bee species. Despite the low content of honey protein, they are becoming a popular study object, and have recently been used as markers of the authenticity and quality of honey. Currently, the most popular methods of protein isolation from honey are dialysis against distilled water, lyophilization of dialysate, or various precipitation protocols. In this work, we propose a new method based on saturated phenol. We tested it on three popular polish honey types and we proved its compatibility with both 1D and 2D polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and MS (mass spectrometry) techniques. The elaborated technique is also potentially less expensive and less time-consuming than other previously described methods, while being equally effective.
Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Improves the Biological Features of Mouse Bone Marrow-Derived EPCs Partially through PI3K/AKT/eNOS/NO Pathway
Authors: Wang Xia , Zhan Enxin , Lu Guohua , Mu Qingjie , Zhang Tianliang , Yang Nana
Published: July 2019

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a bioactive sphingolipid, is recognized as a critical regulator in physiological and pathophysiological processes of atherosclerosis (AS). However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. As the precursor cells of endothelial cells (ECs), endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) can prevent AS development through repairing endothelial monolayer impaired by proatherogenic factors. The present study investigated the effects of S1P on the biological features of mouse bone marrow-derived EPCs and the underlying mechanism. The results showed that S1P improved cell viability, adhesion, and nitric oxide (NO) release of EPCs in a bell-shaped manner, and migration and tube formation dose-dependently. The aforementioned beneficial effects of S1P on EPCs could be inhibited by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor of LY294002 and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor of N’-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME). The inhibitor of LY294002 inhibited S1P-stimulated activation of phosphorylated protein kinase B (AKT) (p-AKT) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) (p-eNOS), and down-regulated the level of eNOS significantly. The results suggest that S1P improves the biological features of EPCs partially through PI3K/AKT/eNOS/NO signaling pathway.
Intracellular Accumulation as an Indicator of Cytotoxicity to Screen Hepatotoxic Components of Chelidonium majus L. by LC–MS/MS
Authors: Wu Cuiting , Wang Xin , Xu Ming , Liu Youping , Di Xin
Published: July 2019

A novel strategy was developed to identify hepatotoxic compounds in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). It is based on the exposure of HL-7702 cells to a TCM extract, followed by the identification and further determination of potential hepatotoxic compounds accumulated in the cells by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). As a case study, potential hepatotoxic components in Chelidonium majus L. were screened out. Five alkaloids (sanguinarine, coptisine, chelerythrine, protopine, and chelidonine) were identified by LC–MS/MS within 10 min, and their intracellular concentrations were first simultaneously measured by LC–MS/MS with a run time of 4 min. A cell viability assay was performed to assess the cytotoxicity of each alkaloid. With their higher intracellular concentrations, sanguinarine, coptisine, and chelerythrine were identified as the main hepatotoxic constituents in Ch. majus. The study provides a powerful tool for the fast prediction of cytotoxic components in complex natural mixtures on a high-throughput basis.
A Comparative Study of the Anticancer Activity and PARP-1 Inhibiting Effect of Benzofuran–Pyrazole Scaffold and Its Nano-Sized Particles in Human Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Anwar Manal M. , Abd El-Karim Somaia S. , Mahmoud Ahlam H. , Amr Abd El-Galil E. , Al-Omar Mohamed A.
Published: July 2019

Breast cancer is considered the most common and deadly cancer among women worldwide. Nanomedicine has become extremely attractive in the field of cancer treatment. Due to the high surface to volume ratio and other unique properties, nanomaterials can be specifically targeted to certain cells and tissues to interact with the living systems. The strategic planning of this study is based on using the nanoprecipitation method to prepare nanoparticles BZP-NPs (3.8–5.7 nm) of the previously prepared benzofuran–pyrazole compound (IV) BZP which showed promising cytotoxic activity. The capacity of BZP and BZP-NPs to suppress the growth of human breast tumor MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells was evaluated using MTT assay. The IC50 doses of BZP and BZP-NPs targeting normal breast cells MCF-12A exceeded those targeting the cancer cells by >1000-fold, demonstrating their reasonable safety profiles in normal cells. Furthermore, cell cycle analysis, apoptosis induction detection, assessment of p53, Bcl-2, caspase-3, and PARP-1 levels of BZP and its nano-sized-BZP-NPs particles were also evaluated. Although the obtained results were in the favor of compound IV in its normal-sized particles, BZP-NPs appeared as a hit compound which showed improved cytotoxicity against the tested human breast cancer cells associated with the induction of pre-G1 apoptosis as well as cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase. The increase in caspase-3 level, upregulation of p53, and downregulation of Bcl-2 protein expression levels confirmed apoptosis. Furthermore, ELISA results exhibited that BZP-NPs produced a more favorable impact as a PARP-1 enzyme inhibitor than the parent BZP.
Effect of the Use of Purified Grape Pomace as a Fining Agent on the Volatile Composition of Monastrell Wines
Authors: Gil-Muñoz Rocio , Jiménez-Martínez María Dolores , Bautista-Ortín Ana Belén , Gómez-Plaza Encarna
Published: July 2019

(1) Background: The lack of viable alternatives for the industrial exploitation of grape pomace is one of the reasons why it is considered a serious environmental pollutant. However, as a byproduct, it could be used as a fining agent, since previous studies have shown that it is able to eliminate undesirable substances in wine. However, the little information available does not describe its effect on wine aroma. (2) Methods: Purified grape pomace extracts were used for fining a red wine and their effect on the volatile compounds of the wine was assessed, comparing the results with those obtained with different commercial fining agents. (3) Results: The results showed how purified grape pomace decreased the total volatile content of a wine to a similar extent as other fining products, such as yeast extracts or gelatin. Among the different families of volatile compounds analyzed, only total esters and terpenes differed from the levels recorded for a control wine, being slightly lower. No statistical differences were found for the rest of the volatile compounds (alcohols, carbonyl, lactones, and acids) compared with the levels measured in control wine. (4) Conclusions: The results suggest that purified grape pomace could be used as a non-allergenic wine fining agent.
Recovery and Detection of Enteric Viruses from Non-Traditional Irrigation Water Sources
Authors: Anderson-Coughlin Brienna L. , Kniel Kalmia E.
Published: July 2019

The variability of environmental water samples impacts the allowance of one method to be universally ideal for all water types and volumes. Surface and reclaimed waters can be used for crop irrigation and may be referred to as non-traditional irrigation waters as these water types may be associated with a higher risk of microbial contamination compared to groundwater. These waters are typically more microbially and chemically complex than groundwater and have a higher risk of viral contamination. To detect viruses in these water types, an infinite number of variations can be made to traditional recovery methods. This protocol was developed based on a commonly used virus adsorption and elution (VIRADEL) method. Additional steps were included to simplify and efficiently reduce particulates in the viral concentrate and remove DNA from eluted nucleic acids prior to detection. Method alterations allow for volumes up to 40 liters to be processed with consistent recovery of enteric viruses including Aichi virus, hepatitis A virus, and noroviruses belonging to genogroups GI and GII. No inhibition was observed among either surface or reclaimed water samples. This protocol could be utilized in the monitoring of a wide array of irrigation water sources throughout irrigation processes.
Bioinspired Cilia Sensors with Graphene Sensing Elements Fabricated Using 3D Printing and Casting
Authors: Kamat Amar M. , Pei Yutao , Kottapalli Ajay G.P.
Published: July 2019

Sensor designs found in nature are optimal due to their evolution over millions of years, making them well-suited for sensing applications. However, replicating these complex, three-dimensional (3D), biomimetic designs in artificial and flexible sensors using conventional techniques such as lithography is challenging. In this paper, we introduce a new processing paradigm for the simplified fabrication of flexible sensors featuring complex and bioinspired structures. The proposed fabrication workflow entailed 3D-printing a metallic mold with complex and intricate 3D features such as a micropillar and a microchannel, casting polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) inside the mold to obtain the desired structure, and drop-casting piezoresistive graphene nanoplatelets into the predesigned microchannel to form a flexible strain gauge. The graphene-on-PDMS strain gauge showed a high gauge factor of 37 as measured via cyclical tension-compression tests. The processing workflow was used to fabricate a flow sensor inspired by hair-like ‘cilia’ sensors found in nature, which comprised a cilia-inspired pillar and a cantilever with a microchannel that housed the graphene strain gauge. The sensor showed good sensitivity against both tactile and water flow stimuli, with detection thresholds as low as 12 µm in the former and 58 mm/s in the latter, demonstrating the feasibility of our method in developing flexible flow sensors.
Charge Storage Properties of Nanostructured Poly (3,4–ethylenedioxythiophene) Electrodes Revealed by Advanced Electrogravimetry
Authors: Lé Tao , Aradilla David , Bidan Gérard , Billon Florence , Debiemme-Chouvy Catherine , Perrot Hubert , Sel Ozlem
Published: July 2019

PEDOT nanowires (NWs) directly grown on the conducting electrode of quartz resonators enable an advanced electrogravimetric analysis of their charge storage behavior. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) and its coupling with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (ac–electrogravimetry or AC–EG) were used complementarily and reveal that TBA+, BF4− and ACN participate in the charge compensation process with different kinetics and quantity. BF4− anions were dominant in terms of concentration over TBA+ cations and the anion transfer results in the exclusion of the solvent molecules. TBA+ concentration variation in the electrode was small compared to that of the BF4− counterpart. However, Mw of TBA+ is much higher than BF4− (242.3 vs. 86.6 g·mol−1). Thus, TBA+ cations’ gravimetric contribution to the EQCM response was more significant than that of BF4−. Additional contribution of ACN with an opposite flux direction compared with BF4−, led to a net mass gain/lost during a negative/positive potential scan, masking partially the anion response. Such subtleties of the interfacial ion transfer processes were disentangled due to the complementarity of the EQCM and AC–EG methodologies, which were applied here for the characterization of electrochemical processes at the PEDOT NW electrode/organic electrolyte interface.
Effect of Electron Irradiation Fluence on InP-Based High Electron Mobility Transistors
Authors: Sun Shuxiang , Ding Peng , Jin Zhi , Zhong Yinghui , Li Yuxiao , Wei Zhichao
Published: July 2019

In this paper, the effect of electron irradiation fluence on direct current (DC) and radio frequency (RF) of InP-based high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) was investigated comprehensively. The devices were exposed to a 1 MeV electron beam with varied irradiation fluences from 1 × 1014 cm−2, 1 × 1015 cm−2, to 1 × 1016 cm−2. Both the channel current and transconductance dramatically decreased as the irradiation fluence rose up to 1 × 1016 cm−2, whereas the specific channel on-resistance (Ron) exhibited an apparent increasing trend. These changes could be responsible for the reduction of mobility in the channel by the irradiation-induced trap charges. However, the kink effect became weaker with the increase of the electron fluence. Additionally, the current gain cut-off frequency (fT) and maximum oscillation frequency (fmax) demonstrated a slightly downward trend as the irradiation fluence rose up to 1 × 1016 cm−2. The degradation of frequency properties was mainly due to the increase of gate-drain capacitance (CGD) and the ratio of gate-drain capacitance and gate-source capacitance (CGD/CGS). Moreover, the increase of Ron may be another important factor for fmax reduction.
Associations between Snacking and Weight Status among Adolescents 12–19 Years in the United States
Authors: Tripicchio Gina L. , Kachurak Alexandria , Davey Adam , Bailey Regan L. , Dabritz Lauren J. , Fisher Jennifer O.
Published: July 2019

Snacking is a significant contributor to energy intake among adolescents, but its association with weight status is unclear. To elucidate this association, data from 6545 adolescents (12–19 years) in the 2005–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analyzed. The mean number of daily snack occasions, mean snack size, and mean snack energy density were examined by weight classification (body mass index (BMI)-for-age percentiles: normal weight (NW) <85th; overweight (OW) ≥85th to <95th; obese (OB) ≥95th). Models included all snacking parameters, mean meal size, demographic characteristics, survey cycle year, and dietary reporting accuracy. Adolescents with NW consumed fewer snacks daily (1.69 (0.02) snacks/day) and smaller snacks per occasion (262.32 (4.41) calories (kcal)/snack) compared to adolescents with OW (1.85 (0.05) snacks/day, p = 0.005; 305.41 (8.84) kcal/snack, p < 0.001), and OB (1.97 (0.05) snacks/day; 339.60 (10.12) kcal/snack, both p < 0.001). Adolescents with OW and OB also consumed more added sugar, saturated fat and sodium from snacks, but had lower mean energy density per snack compared to snacks consumed by NW adolescents. US adolescents with OW and OB consume more snacks daily and more calories at each snacking occasion compared to adolescents with NW. Future studies should examine the prospective associations between snacking and weight status and impact on overall diet quality.
Mixed Nut Consumption May Improve Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Overweight and Obese Adults
Authors: Abbaspour Nazanin , Roberts Traci , Hooshmand Shirin , Kern Mark , Hong Mee Young
Published: July 2019

Emerging research indicates that nuts are a source of health-promoting compounds demonstrating cardioprotective benefits. However, most studies have assessed the effect of single nuts rather than a nut mixture. The objective of this study was, therefore, to examine the effect of mixed-nut consumption on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in overweight and obese adults. In a randomized, parallel-arm, controlled trial, 48 participants consumed isocaloric (250 kcal) amounts of pretzels or mixed-nuts. Body weight (BW) (p = 0.024), BMI (p = 0.043), and insulin levels (p = 0.032) were significantly lower in the nut group compared to the pretzel group. Mixed-nut consumption also significantly reduced glucose (p = 0.04) and insulin (p = 0.032) levels after 4 and 8 weeks compared to baseline, respectively. Lactate dehydrogenase of the nut group was significantly lower than the pretzel group (p = 0.002). No significant differences were detected between groups for triglycerides, LDL-C, and HDL-C. However, pretzel consumption increased triglycerides (p = 0.048) from 4 weeks to 8 weeks. Moreover, LDL-C increased (p = 0.038) while HDL-C transiently decreased (p = 0.044) from baseline to 4 weeks. No significant lipid changes were detected within the nut group. Our results suggest that supplementing the diet with mixed-nuts could improve CVD risk factors by improving BW and glucose regulation in comparison to a common carbohydrate-rich snack without promoting the negative effects on lipids detected with pretzels.
Bioavailability of Sulforaphane Following Ingestion of Glucoraphanin-Rich Broccoli Sprout and Seed Extracts with Active Myrosinase: A Pilot Study of the Effects of Proton Pump Inhibitor Administration
Authors: Fahey Jed W. , Wade Kristina L. , Stephenson Katherine K. , Panjwani Anita A. , Liu Hua , Cornblatt Grace , Cornblatt Brian S. , Ownby Stacy L. , Fuchs Edward , Holtzclaw Walter David , Cheskin Lawrence J.
Published: July 2019

We examined whether gastric acidity would affect the activity of myrosinase, co-delivered with glucoraphanin (GR), to convert GR to sulforaphane (SF). A broccoli seed and sprout extract (BSE) rich in GR and active myrosinase was delivered before and after participants began taking the anti-acid omeprazole, a potent proton pump inhibitor. Gastric acidity appears to attenuate GR bioavailability, as evidenced by more SF and its metabolites being excreted after participants started taking omeprazole. Enteric coating enhanced conversion of GR to SF, perhaps by sparing myrosinase from the acidity of the stomach. There were negligible effects of age, sex, ethnicity, BMI, vegetable consumption, and bowel movement frequency and quality. Greater body mass correlated with reduced conversion efficiency. Changes in the expression of 20 genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were evaluated as possible pharmacodynamic indicators. When grouped by their primary functions based on a priori knowledge, expression of genes associated with inflammation decreased non-significantly, and those genes associated with cytoprotection, detoxification and antioxidant functions increased significantly with bioavailability. Using principal components analysis, component loadings of the changes in gene expression confirmed these groupings in a sensitivity analysis.