bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impacts of size fractionation, commingling, and drying temperature on physical and pasting properties of broken rice kernels
Authors: Bruce Rebecca M. , Atungulu Griffiths G. , Sadaka Sammy
Published: November 2019

Background and objectives

Inconsistencies in rice flour produced from broken rice (brokens) may be due to differences in size, composition, and processing methods of the brokens. This study sought to investigate the effect of size fractionation, drying temperature, and commingling practices on the physical and pasting properties of broken rice. Broken rice was generated from rice (cultivar XP753) dried at 25, 45, and 60°C. The brokens were classified into large, medium, and small sizes using US sieve size 10 (2.00 mm), 12 (1.68 mm), and 20 (0.84 mm), respectively. Commingling of the brokens based on size was done. Physical and pasting properties of broken rice flour were analyzed.

Findings

Drying temperature and size of brokens had significant impacts on protein content, starch damage content, bulk density, peak viscosity, trough viscosity, breakdown viscosity, final viscosity, and peak time of brokens. Comingled samples were not significantly different from at least one of the individual constituents of the comingled flour for most of the properties measured. Developed models predicted large brokens obtained from drying at 60°C as the most suitable for products requiring high peak and final viscosities and short peak time. Small brokens obtained from drying at 60°C were predicted as the most suitable for high protein and low starch damage products. The impact of size, drying temperature, and commingling on the physical and pasting properties of brokens may be due to variations in rice composition across the length of the rice kernel, variations in kernel thickness, differences in degrees of milling of different parts of the rice kernel, modifications in the starch structure during drying, and differences in protein content and functionality of the brokens.

Conclusions

Drying temperature and size fractionation of brokens are important in maintaining consistency in the cooking properties of broken rice and resulting products.

Significance and novelty

Size fractionation of brokens and control of drying temperature provides the opportunity to better understand the functionality of brokens, control commingling practices, direct brokens to the right end‐use processes, and maximize the potential of this by‐product in producing premium products.
Electrochemically Controlled Reversible Lithium Capture and Release Enabled by LiMn2O4 Nanorods
Authors: Xie Ning , Li Yaqian , Lu Yue , Gong Jingming , Hu Xianluo
Published: November 2019

Nowadays the world's demand for lithium extraction has been vigorously growing, especially driven by an increased lithium use in new consumer electronic battery technologies and electric cars. Conventional methods for industrial lithium production from two major sources of underground brine deposits and mineral ore deposits are straightforward, but time‐consuming from several months to a few years to complete. Therefore, efficient and low‐energy‐consuming lithium extraction is highly desirable. Here, we develop an attractive electrochemical method for lithium recovery with low energy consumption and high selectivity based on a cell system using LiMn2O4 nanorods. Despite the presence of other cations, lithium ions can be selectively recovered from brine with a low energy consumption of 1.76 Wh mol−1. The resulting electrochemical cell system using LiMn2O4 nanorods exhibits outstanding cyclability with a recovery capacity retention of 37.4 % over 200 cycles. The lithium extraction strategy is effective and economical, which holds great promise for future lithium recycling.
Mathematical and numerical challenges in optical screening of female breast
Authors: Causin Paola , Lupieri Marina G. , Naldi Giovanni , Weishaeupl Rada‐M.
Published: November 2019

Diffuse optical tomography (DOT) is an emerging imaging technique which uses light for diagnostic purposes in a non‐invasive and non‐ionizing way. In this paper, we focus on DOT application to female breast screening, where the surface of the breast is illuminated by light sources and the outgoing light is collected on the surface. The comparison of measured light data with the equivalent field obtained from a relevant mathematical model yields the DOT inverse problem whose solution provides an estimate of the optical coefficients of the tissue. These latter, in turn, can be related to clinical markers for cancer detection. The goal of this work is to propose a mathematical and computational approach tailored to the concept of a DOT imaging device able to perform fast and accurate screenings at an affordable cost. Namely, we address two original points about the crucial issue of the solution of the severely ill‐conditioned DOT inverse problem: (a) a computational approach based on Green's functions which do not require the exact knowledge of the tissue geometry, proposed here in the declination of the Method of Fundamental Solutions, which allows to enforce correct boundary conditions; (b) the elastic net regularization technique that shares the desirable properties of both theℓ2‐ andℓ1‐norm penalization approaches and opens the possibility for sparsity recognition in the optical coefficients field and refinement procedures.
Dynamical behaviour of non‐linear quantum ion acoustic wave in weakly magnetized electron–positron–ion plasma
Authors: Roy Debasish , Sahu Biswajit
Published: November 2019

In order to investigate the propagation characteristics of linear and non‐linear ion acoustic waves (IAWs) in electron–positron–ion quantum plasma in the presence of external weak magnetic field, we have used a quantum hydrodynamic model, and degenerate statistics for the electrons and positrons are taken into account. It is found that the linear dispersion relation of the IAW was modified by the externally applied magnetic field. By using the reductive perturbation technique, a gyration‐modified Korteweg‐de Vries equation is derived for finite amplitude non‐linear IAWs. Time‐dependent numerical simulation shows the formation of an oscillating tail in front of the ion acoustic solitons in the presence of a weak magnetic field. It is also seen that the amplitude and width of solitons and oscillating tails are affected by the relevant plasma parameters such as quantum diffraction, positron concentration, and magnetic field. We have performed our analysis by extending it to account for approximate soliton solution by asymptotic perturbation technique and non‐linear analysis via a dynamical system approach. The analytical results show the distortion of the shape of the localized soliton with time, and the non‐linear analysis confirms the generation of oscillating tails.
Magnetoacoustic waves with effect of arbitrary degree of temperature and spin degeneracy in electron‐positron‐ion plasmas
Authors: Ali Safdar , Ahmad Mushtaq , Ikram Muhammad
Published: November 2019

The linear properties of magnetosonic waves are studied in nearly degenerate and nearly non‐degenerate quantum plasmas composed of electrons, positrons and ions in the presence of spin‐ effect. Using the fluid equations, a generalized dispersion relation for perpendicular and oblique propagation is derived. It is found that degree of temperature and spin degeneracy modify the dispersive properties of the given modes. The results of analysis are beneficial for understanding the collective phenomena in dense quantum astrophysical plasmas.
Studies on the in vivo metabolism of methylstenbolone and detection of novel long term metabolites for doping control analysis
Authors: Piper Thomas , Fusshöller Gregor , Schänzer Wilhelm , Lagojda Andreas , Kuehne Dirk , Thevis Mario
Published: November 2019

The anabolic‐androgenic steroid methylstenbolone (MSTEN; 2α,17α‐dimethyl‐17β‐hydroxy‐5α‐androst‐1‐en‐3‐one) is available as a so‐called designer steroid or nutritional supplement. It is occasionally detected in doping control samples, predominantly tested and confirmed as the glucuronic acid conjugate of methylstenbolone. The absence of other meaningful metabolites reported as target analytes for sports drug testing purposes can be explained by the advertised metabolic stability of methylstenbolone. In 2013, a first investigation into the human metabolism of methylstenbolone was published, and two hydroxylated metabolites were identified as potential targets for initial testing procedures in doping controls. These metabolites were not observed in recent doping control samples that yielded adverse analytical findings for methylstenbolone, and in the light of additional data originating from a recent publication on the in vivo metabolism of methylstenbolone in the horse, revisiting the metabolic reactions in humans appeared warranted. Therefore, deuterated methylstenbolone together with hydrogen isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) in combination with high accuracy/high resolution mass spectrometry were employed. After oral administration of a single dose of 10 mg of doubly labeled methylstenbolone, urine samples were collected for 29 days. Up to 40 different deuterated methylstenbolone metabolites were detected in post‐administration samples, predominantly as glucuronic acid conjugates, and all were investigated regarding their potential to prolong the detection window for doping controls. Besides methylstenbolone excreted glucuronidated, three additional metabolites were still detectable at the end of the study on day 29. The most promising candidates for inclusion into routine sports drug testing methods (2α,17α‐dimethyl‐5α‐androst‐1‐ene‐3β,17β‐diol and 2α,17α‐dimethyl‐5α‐androst‐1‐ene‐3α,17β‐diol) were synthesized and characterized by NMR.
Phylogenetic structure and formation mechanism of shrub communities in arid and semiarid areas of the Mongolian Plateau
Authors: Zheng Ying , Dong Lei , Li Zhiyong , Zhang Jinghui , Li Zijing , Miao Bailing , Jia Chengzhen , Liang Cunzhu , Wang Lixin , Li Frank Yonghong
Published: November 2019

The mechanisms of species coexistence within a community have always been the focus in ecological research. Community phylogenetic structure reflects the relationship of historical processes, regional environments, and interactions between species, and studying it is imperative to understand the formation and maintenance mechanisms of community composition and biodiversity. We studied the phylogenetic structure of the shrub communities in arid and semiarid areas of the Mongolian Plateau. First, the phylogenetic signals of four plant traits (height, canopy, leaf length, and leaf width) of shrubs and subshrubs were measured to determine the phylogenetic conservation of these traits. Then, the net relatedness index (NRI) of shrub communities was calculated to characterize their phylogenetic structure. Finally, the relationship between the NRI and current climate and paleoclimate (since the Last Glacial Maximum, LGM) factors was analyzed to understand the formation and maintenance mechanisms of these plant communities. We found that desert shrub communities showed a trend toward phylogenetic overdispersion; that is, limiting similarity was predominant in arid and semiarid areas of the Mongolian Plateau despite the phylogenetic structure and formation mechanisms differing across habitats. The typical desert and sandy shrub communities showed a significant phylogenetic overdispersion, while the steppified desert shrub communities showed a weak phylogenetic clustering. It was found that mean winter temperature (i.e., in the driest quarter) was the major factor limiting steppified desert shrub phylogeny distribution. Both cold and drought (despite having opposite consequences) differentiated the typical desert to steppified desert shrub communities. The increase in temperature since the LGM is conducive to the invasion of shrub plants into steppe grassland, and this process may be intensified by global warming.
Using environmental DNA metabarcoding to map invasive and native invertebrates in two Great Lakes tributaries
Authors: Mychek‐Londer Justin G. , Balasingham Katherine D. , Heath Daniel D.
Published: November 2019

Background

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) threaten ecosystems and native species.

Methods

To determine spatial distributions of at‐risk native taxa and AIS in two biologically diverse Laurentian Great Lakes tributaries, we extracted environmental DNA (eDNA) from water samples and used a universal PCR primer set targeting the CO1 gene for metabarcoding of selected taxa. We sampled 43 sites for eDNA in each of the Grand and Sydenham rivers in southwestern Ontario.

Results

We assigned sequences to 49 taxa at the species level and four mollusks to genus level. Detected AIS included two oligochaete worms (Branchiura sowerbyi,Potamothrix moldaviensis), a freshwater jellyfish (Craspedacusta sowerbyi), a calanoid copepod (Skistodiaptomus pallidus), and a bivalve dreissenid mussel (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis). All but D. r. bugensis were previously unreported in these tributaries. Detected native mollusks included one globally endangered species the rayed bean (Villosa fabalis), one provincially listed threatened species the maple leaf mussel (Quadrula quadrula), and several other at‐risk and unique mollusk species of special interest in Ontario, Canada, and the United States (e.g.,Sphaerium fabale,Pyganodon grandis). At several sampling sites in each river, AIS eDNA overlapped with or was near to sites with detections of at‐risk native mollusks. Most AIS and some native taxa demonstrated clustered detection patterns within each river. However, in some cases, independent detections of individual species occurred at individual sites within each river that were relatively far apart. Our findings should be interpreted with some caution due to the limitations of the aquatic “universal” primer set and the availability of comprehensive reference sequence databases.

Conclusion

Results from eDNA metabarcoding in our study helped reveal invertebrate AIS and at‐risk species distributions and will help direct approaches for conserving biodiversity in each of these Great Lakes tributaries.
The First Fused N‐Heterocyclic Imidazole Pyridine Selones and Their Coordination Ability Towards Bismuth(III) Salts
Authors: Karupnaswamy Ramesh , Mannarsamy Maruthupandi , Vaddamanu Moulali , Prabusankar Ganesan
Published: November 2019

The first fused N‐heterocyclic selone ligands, namely 2‐(2′,6′‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazole[1,5‐a]pyridine‐2‐selone and 2‐(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl) imidazole[1,5‐a]pyridine‐2‐selone were isolated and their coordination ability was explored with bismuth trihalides to isolate the steric controlled bismuth(III) dinuclear complexes. Notably, a similar approach with N,N′‐disubstituted imidazole selone, such as imidazole‐1‐methyl‐3‐(2‐isopropyl)selone, gave the first polynuclear bismuth(III) selone chain. These new bismuth(III) selones were characterized by elemental analysis, FT‐IR, multinuclear (1H and 13C) NMR spectroscopy, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction techniques. In solid‐state structure, these new bismuth(III) selone complexes depict the unique coordination environment, geometry, and bonding features.
Controlling the Thermal Stability and Volatility of Organogold(I) Compounds for Vapor Deposition with Complementary Ligand Design
Authors: Griffiths Matthew B. E. , Dubrawski Zachary S. , Bačić Goran , Japahuge Achini , Masuda Jason D. , Zeng Tao , Barry Seán T.
Published: November 2019

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) of gold is being studied by multiple research groups, but to date no process using non‐energetic co‐reactants has been demonstrated. In order to access milder co‐reactants, precursors with higher thermal stability are required. We set out to uncover how structure and bonding affect the stability and volatility of a family of twelve organogold(I) compounds using a combination of techniques: X‐ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and density functional theory (DFT). Small, unsubstituted phosphonium ylide ligands bind more strongly to Au(I) than their silyl‐substituted analogues, but the utility of both these ligands suffers due to their poor volatility and substantial thermal decomposition. Pentafluorophenyl (C6F5) is introduced as a new, very electronegative ligand for gold vapor deposition precursors, and it was found that the disadvantage to volatility due to π‐stacking and other intermolecular interactions in the solid state was overshadowed by dramatic improvements to kinetic and thermodynamic stability. We introduce a new figure of merit to compare and rank the suitability of these and other complexes as precursors for vapor deposition. Finally, DFT calculations on four compounds that have high figures of merit show a linear correlation between the gold‐coordinative ligand bond dissociation energies and the observed decomposition temperatures, highlighting and justifying this design strategy.
How do we optimize message matching interventions? Identifying matching thresholds, and simultaneously matching to multiple characteristics
Authors: Joyal‐Desmarais Keven , Rothman Alexander J. , Snyder Mark
Published: November 2019

Matching the content of persuasive messages to the characteristics (e.g., motives, personality) of people receiving them is a widely used technique to improve persuasion. However, little is known about how to optimize matching beyond simply using the technique. We propose that matching interventions can be strengthened by matching messages to multiple characteristics at a time, and introduce the concept of matching thresholds to improve the way interventionists assign messages. Matching thresholds are defined as the points along characteristics where people change from being most responsive to one message type to another. We provide statistical and methodological tools to estimate matching thresholds, and evaluate these tools in two simulation studies. We then report an online experiment (N = 568) where we find an advantage for simultaneously matching messages to two characteristics (promotion focus and interdependent self‐construal) and provide estimates of the matching thresholds to guide the assignment of gain/loss frames and independence/interdependence appeals.
Policy, governing and politicality
Authors: Hoppe Robert
Published: November 2019

This Forum contribution takes a critical look at 'policy', 'policymaking' and 'governing' as key concepts in policy studies. I briefly peruse the historical etymology of 'policy' to unearth root meanings that, jointly, make up the 'signature' of policy in the language used by observers, practitioners and citizens. Next, I discuss the relation between 'policy' and 'governing'. In a normative conclusion I reflect on the possibility of problematisation as source for a less depoliticised, more democratic post policy centered way of governing.
The antiepileptic effect of Gastrodiae Rhizoma through modulating overexpression of mTOR and attenuating astrogliosis in pilocarpine mice model
Authors: Yip Ka Lai , Koon Chi Man , Chen Zi Yi , Chook Ping , Leung Ping Chung , Schachter Steven , Leung Wai Hong , Mok Chung Tong , Leung Howan
Published: November 2019

Objective

To investigate the effect of water extract of Gastrodiae Rhizoma (GR) on the development of acquired temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and on regulating the expression of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and semaphorin 3F (SEMA3F).

Methods

A pilocarpine‐induced status epilepticus (SE) model was adopted to precipitate injury in the limbic systems. GR and carbamazepine (CBZ) treatments were given to mice for 14 days prior to SE induction to demonstrate the antiepileptic effects and continued for 5 more days to illustrate the effects on histologic studies.

Results

Our results consolidated that GR treatment (92.1 minutes) could delay the SE onset in comparison with the control group (61.5 minutes, P = .041). Fewer mice had reached SE with GR treatment (41.7%) when compared with the control group (83.3%, P = .044). GR treatment (2.1 hours/mouse) could suppress the number of acute seizures in post‐SE survival mice when compared with the control group (4.5 hours/mouse, P < .001). The effects of GR treatment were elucidated with the mechanism of actions. GR treatment reduced the overexpression of mTOR (0.27 vs 0.67 AU/mg protein, P = .047). GR treatment increased the underexpression of SEMA3F (0.51 vs 0.16 µg/mg protein, P = .034). In the histochemical study of microtubule‐associated protein 2 (MAP2) staining, our results showed that GR prevented neuronal loss in the GR treatment group (64.8% positively stained pixel area) as compared with the control group (59%, P = .014) in the hippocampus. In glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) staining, the severity of astrogliosis was mitigated by the GR treatment (4.1% positively stained pixel area) when compared to the control group (5.6%, P = .047) in the hippocampus.

Significance

These results provide preclinical evidence to support the use of GR, which could suppress acute seizures and relieve pathological changes in pilocarpine‐induced TLE mice. We demonstrated that the antiepileptic effects of GR could be accompanied by mTOR reduction and astrogliosis attenuation.
Multiobjective optimization‐based radio resource allocation and sharing algorithm for D2D‐based V2V communication
Authors: Feki Souhir , Belghith Aymen , Zarai Faouzi
Published: November 2019

Vehicular communication systems have recently attracted a lot of attention because of their potential to improve road efficiency, comfort, and safety. In this paper, we investigate the resource management problem for device‐to‐device–based vehicle‐to‐vehicle communication. A multiobjective radio resource allocation and sharing algorithm is proposed based on a swarm intelligence algorithm called ant colony optimization (ACO). First, for the resource allocation process, three objective functions are formulated to maximize the users' transmission capacity, reduce the mobile transmission power, and minimize the intracell interference. Second, for the resource sharing process, we define two objective functions to optimize the resource utilization and reduce the intercell interference. Finally, a weighted sum method is used to join these objective functions and define one multiobjective optimization problem. The ACO algorithm is used to determine the Pareto optimal solution. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm performs well and achieves promising performance in terms of network sum rate, packet drop rate, average queuing delay, resource utilization, and mobile's transmission power.
Natural flavor ester synthesis catalyzed by lipases
Authors: Bayout Ikram , Bouzemi Nassima , Guo Na , Mao Xiangzhao , Serra Stefano , Riva Sergio , Secundo Francesco
Published: November 2019

In spite of the fact that several flavors and fragrances are obtained either by chemical synthesis or by extraction from plants, the application of biocatalysis for the sake of a safe and productive pathway by more sustainable chemical processes is the main alternative. The current study focuses on the synthesis of three flavor esters, namelycis‐3‐hexen‐1‐yl acetate, 2‐phenylethyl acetate, and methyl phenylacetate,viatransesterification and esterification of the natural corresponding alcohols or acids. The impact of optimizing variables that influence this lipase‐catalyzed synthesis, such as enzyme formulations, solvent‐free media, and acetylating agents, is crucial to achieving higher conversions. The enzymatic transesterification using Novozym 435 affordedcis‐3‐hexen‐1‐yl, and 2‐phenylethyl acetates with high yields (>90%) in green solvents. Similar results were obtained in solvent‐free system, which is more economic for the scaling up of this synthesis. In the case of esterification reactions, the removal of water, formed as a by‐product, with the use of Aquasorb enhanced the conversions as in the case of methyl phenylacetate attained with a conversion of 89% in the presence of Novozym 435. However, this effect was not observed in the larger scale reaction (with 0.85 mol ofcis‐3‐hexen‐1‐ol). Instead, the efficient strategy of gradual addition of acetic acid has proven to significantly improve the yield ofcis‐3‐hexen‐1‐yl acetate (from 2% up to about 80% in the case of the preparative reaction with 100 mL substrate). Box‐Behnken analysis was also performed to identify the lowest amount of acetylating agent and the shorter time to obtain the highest conversion ratio. This analysis showed that a triacetin/alcohol molar ratio of 1 and 1.75 can be sufficient to obtain a conversion >90% and up to 95%, forcis‐3‐hexen‐1‐yl acetate and 2‐phenylethyl acetate, respectively, similarly to what is obtained with higher triacetin/alcohol molar ratios and comparable reaction time.
Influence of growth temperature on thermal tolerance of leading foodborne pathogens
Authors: Kim Chyer , Alrefaei Rana , Bushlaibi Mariam , Ndegwa Eunice , Kaseloo Paul , Wynn Crystal
Published: November 2019

Accurate prediction of the thermal destruction rate of foodborne pathogens is important for food processors to ensure proper food safety. When bacteria are subjected to thermal stress during storage, sublethal stresses and/or thermal acclimation may lead to differences in their subsequent tolerance to thermal treatment. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the thermal tolerance of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica, and Staphylococcus aureus that are incubated during overnight growth in tryptic soy broth at four temperatures (15, 25, 35, and 45°C). Following incubation, the bacteria were subjected to thermal treatments at 55, 60, and 65°C. At the end of each treatment time, bacterial survival was quantified and further calculated for the thermal death decimal reduction time (D‐value) and thermal destruction temperature (z‐value) using a linear model for thermal treatment time (min) vs. microbial population (Log CFU/ml) and thermal treatment temperature (°C) vs. D‐value, respectively, for each bacterium. Among the four bacterial species, E. coli generally had longer D‐values and lower z‐values than did other bacteria. Increasing patterns of D‐ and z‐values in Listeria were obtained with the increment of incubation temperatures from 15 to 45°C. The z‐values of Staphylococcus (6.19°C), Salmonella (6.73°C), Listeria (7.10°C), and Listeria (7.26°C) were the highest at 15, 25, 35, and 45°C, respectively. Although further research is needed to validate the findings on food matrix, findings in this study clearly affirm that adaptation of bacteria to certain stresses may reduce the effectiveness of preservation hurdles applied during later stages of food processing and storage.
Physicochemical, nutritional, and quality parameters of salted semidried mullet (Chelon haematocheilus) prepared with different processing methods
Authors: Jo Hee Geun , Kim Min Ji , Moon Bo Yeong , Sin Yong Sik , Lee Kyoung Seon , Cheong Sun Hee
Published: November 2019

The mullet (Chelon haematocheilus) is a cosmopolitan coastal species. It is often consumed as a sliced raw fish in Korea and as a dried and salted fish roe in several countries, including the southeastern United States and Japan. In this study, to optimize traditional processing of salted semidried mullet (SSDM) for the development of high‐quality products, nine different types of traditional process were applied, and quality changes including physicochemical, nutritional, and sanitary properties were observed. The approximate composition of SSDM was as follows: moisture, 66.1% to 71.8%; ash, 1.65% to 3.75%; crude protein, 16.12% to 18.09%; and crude lipid, 1.11% to 2.07%. The salinity, water activity (Aw), color parameters, peroxide value (POV), acid value (AV), thiobarbituric acid (TBA), and the total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB‐N) contents in fresh mullet (FM) and different SSDM groups were affected by different processing techniques including salt concentration and drying methods. In particular, the salinity was significantly increased, whereas the Aw was significantly decreased in all SSDM groups compared to those of FM group. In both FM and SSDM groups, the AV, POV, and TBA values gradually increased with prolonged storage and crude fat content; however, they were not affected by salinity. The amino and fatty acid content also varied depending on the processing method; however, the composition and protein patterns were similar among the groups. The total aerobic bacterial numbers of all SSDM groups were also influenced by different processing methods. The microbial numbers in the mullet after salted semidried treatment were markedly lower than in the FM group during refrigerated storage for 14 days. Therefore, salted semidried treatment for mullet show extended shelf life and improved microbiological safety and biochemical parameters during refrigerated storage.
Provenance of Upper Pennsylvanian siliciclastic‐carbonate deposits from the Monte Alegre and Itaituba formations, North Brazil: An integrated study of sandstone petrography, heavy mineral analysis and garnet geochemistry
Authors: Mendes Anderson Conceição , da Silva Eduardo Francisco , Fonseca Arthur Iven T. , Nogueira Afonso C.R. , da Silva Thays Ferreira , do Nascimento Jornada do S.S. , Igreja Haroldo F.E.
Published: November 2019

The Monte Alegre and Itaituba formations record the transition from a fluvial‐aeolian to a carbonate platform system during the Pennsylvanian on the southern margin of the Amazonas Basin, North Brazil. Sandstones of these formations were analysed for their petrofacies, provenance, tectonic configuration and diagenetic history to determine their origin. The Monte Alegre sandstones are fine‐ to medium‐grained, well‐sorted, bimodal quartz‐arenites with a normal grain‐supported framework of straight and concavo‐convex contacts. They present 97% of ZTR (zircon‐tourmaline‐rutile) heavy minerals. The Itaituba sandstones are fine‐ to very fine‐grained, well‐sorted, sub‐arkoses with an open to normal framework supported by carbonate cement. The heavy minerals are represented by zircon, tourmaline, rutile, kyanite and garnet, with almandine and pyrope as the main types derived from high‐grade amphibolite‐ to‐ granulite‐facies metasediments, in addition to intermediate‐acidic igneous rocks. The petrofacies analysis revealed that the sandstones of these formations belong to the tectonic regime of the continental block, Interior Craton. The Amazonas Basin basement on the southern edge consists of intrusive suites and cratonic rocks of the Tapajós and Iriri‐Xingu provinces, which are represented by the Cuiú‐Cuiú Complex and the Iriri Group. These groups of rocks were the main sources of sandstones of these formations. This conclusion indicates that these rocks were uplifted, exposed and eroded during and/or after the Middle Carboniferous. The imprints of early and deep burial diagenesis of these sandstones, including different stages of compaction, cementation and heavy minerals elimination, produced differences in sandstones porosity and heavy minerals assembly.
Attributable Fractions of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease for Mortality in the United States: Results From the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey With 27 Years of Follow‐up
Authors: Alvarez Christian S. , Graubard Barry I. , Thistle Jake E. , Petrick Jessica L. , McGlynn Katherine A.
Published: November 2019

Background and Aims

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses a range of conditions, from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Studies in the United States have reported an increased mortality risk among individuals with NAFLD; therefore, the population attributable fractions (PAFs) for mortality were examined.

Approach and Results

A total of 12,253 adult individuals with ultrasound assessment of NAFLD from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and mortality follow‐up through 2015 were included in the analysis. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to estimate multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for NAFLD in association with all‐cause and cause‐specific mortality. Overall, sex‐ and race/ethnicity‐specific PAFs and 95% CIs were estimated. In the current study, presence of NAFLD was associated with a 20% increased risk of all‐cause mortality (HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.08, 1.34). The overall PAF for all‐cause mortality associated with NAFLD was 7.5% (95% CI, 3.0, 12.0). The PAF for diabetes‐specific mortality was 38.0% (95% CI, 13.1, 63.0) overall, 40.8% (95% CI, 2.1, 79.6) in men, and 36.8% (95% CI, 6.6, 67.0) in women. The PAF for liver disease (LD)‐specific mortality was notably higher in men (68.3%; 95% CI, 36.3, 100.0) than women (3.5%; 95% CI, −39.7, 46.8). In the race‐specific analysis, the PAFs of NAFLD for all‐cause mortality (9.3%; 95% CI, 4.0, 14.6) and diabetes‐specific mortality (44.4%; 95% CI, 10.8, 78.0) were significantly greater than zero only for whites.

Conclusions

In the United States, approximately 8% of all‐cause mortality and more than one‐third of LD‐ and diabetes‐specific deaths are associated with NAFLD. With these high percentages, efforts are needed to reduce the burden of NAFLD in the United States.
Fluid limit for a genetic mutation model
Authors: Bajo Caraballo Carlos , Grigorescu Ilie
Published: November 2019

We trace the time evolution of the number Ut of nondeleterious mutations, present in a gene modeled by a word of length L and DNA fragments by characters labeled 0, 1,…, N. For simplification, deleterious mutations are codified as equal to 0. The discrete case studied in Grigorescu (Stochastic Models, 29, 2013 p. 328), is a modified version of the Pólya urn, where the two types are exactly the zeros and nonzeros. A random continuous‐time binary mutation model, where the probability of creating a deleterious mutation is 1/N, while the probability of recovery , γ continuous, is studied under a Eulerian scaling , L → ∞. The fluid limit ut, emerging due to the high frequency scale of mutations, is the solution of a deterministic generalized logistic equation. The power law γ(u) = cua captures important features in both genetical and epidemiological interpretations, with c being the intensity of the intervention, a the strength/virulence of the disease, and 1/N the decay rate/infectiousness. Among other applications, we obtain a quantitative study of ΔT, the maximal interval between tests. Several stochastic optimization problems, including a generalization of the Shepp urn (The Annals of Mathematical Statistics, 40, 1969 p. 993), are proposed.
Three‐dimensional computational comparison of mini‐pinned heat sinks using different nanofluids: Part two—energy and exergy characteristics
Authors: Al‐damook Amer , Alfellag Mohand A. , Khalil Wissam H.
Published: November 2019

The energy and exergy characteristics of 3D‐pinned heat sink (HS) designs have been computationally compared as the second part of a three‐part investigation. Different pin profiles, such as circular, square, triangular, strip and elliptic pins, and without pin HS are conducted with three different types of nanofluids—Al2O3‐water, SiO2‐water, and CuO‐water for laminar forced convection. The concentrations of nanofluids vary from 0 to 5 vol% with different Reynolds numbers ranging between 100 and 1000. The finite volume method employing the SIMPLE algorithm for a computational solution is applied to solve the Navier–Stokes and energy equations. Four criterions studies are explained—energy efficiency, exergy loss, and exergy efficiency of HSs with pressure drop. The results showed that the highest energy and exergy efficiencies are nearly 76% and 57%, respectively, for elliptic‐pinned HSs using pure water, while about 82% and 62% using 5 vol% of SiO2‐water nanofluids. Besides, the elliptic‐pinned HSs have a favorable reduction in the exergy loss, nearly 17% using 5 vol% of SiO2‐water nanofluids. Subsequently, the elliptic‐pinned HS is recommended to apply with pure water considering the development in pressure drop required. However, the elliptic‐pinned HSs could be employed with 5 vol% of SiO2‐water nanofluids regardless of the development in pressure drop required for thermal energy dissipation applications with more exergy efficiency and reduction of exergy loss.
Integrative clinical transcriptome analysis reveals TMPRSS2‐ERG dependency of prognostic biomarkers in prostate adenocarcinoma
Authors: Gerke Julia S. , Orth Martin F. , Tolkach Yuri , Romero‐Pérez Laura , Wehweck Fabienne S. , Stein Stefanie , Musa Julian , Knott Maximilian M.L. , Hölting Tilman L.B. , Li Jing , Sannino Giuseppina , Marchetto Aruna , Ohmura Shunya , Cidre‐Aranaz Florencia , Müller‐Nurasyid Martina , Strauch Konstantin , Stief Christian , Kristiansen Glen , Kirchner Thomas , Buchner Alexander , Grünewald Thomas G.P.
Published: November 2019

In prostate adenocarcinoma (PCa), distinction between indolent and aggressive disease is challenging. Around 50% of PCa are characterized by TMPRSS2‐ERG (T2E)‐fusion oncoproteins defining two molecular subtypes (T2E‐positive/negative). However, current prognostic tests do not differ between both molecular subtypes, which might affect outcome prediction. To investigate gene‐signatures associated with metastasis in T2E‐positive and T2E‐negative PCa independently, we integrated tumor transcriptomes and clinicopathological data of two cohorts (total n = 783), and analyzed metastasis‐associated gene‐signatures regarding the T2E‐status. Here, we show that the prognostic value of biomarkers in PCa critically depends on the T2E‐status. Using gene‐set enrichment analyses, we uncovered that metastatic T2E‐positive and T2E‐negative PCa are characterized by distinct gene‐signatures. In addition, by testing genes shared by several functional gene‐signatures for their association with event‐free survival in a validation cohort (n = 272), we identified five genes (ASPN, BGN, COL1A1, RRM2 and TYMS)—three of which are included in commercially available prognostic tests—whose high expression was significantly associated with worse outcome exclusively in T2E‐negative PCa. Among these genes, RRM2 and TYMS were validated by immunohistochemistry in another validation cohort (n = 135), and several of them proved to add prognostic information to current clinicopathological predictors, such as Gleason score, exclusively for T2E‐negative patients. No prognostic biomarkers were identified exclusively for T2E‐positive tumors. Collectively, our study discovers that the T2E‐status, which is per se not a strong prognostic biomarker, crucially determines the prognostic value of other biomarkers. Our data suggest that the molecular subtype needs to be considered when applying prognostic biomarkers for outcome prediction in PCa.
Co‐evolved genetic programs for stock market trading
Authors: Nicholls Jason F. , Engelbrecht Andries P.
Published: November 2019

The profitability of trading rules evolved by three different optimised genetic programs, namely a single population genetic program (GP), a co‐operative co‐evolved GP, and a competitive co‐evolved GP is compared. Profitability is determined by trading thirteen listed shares on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) over a period of April 2003 to June 2008. An empirical study presented here shows that GPs can generate profitable trading rules across a variety of industries and market conditions. The results show that the co‐operative co‐evolved GP generates trading rules perform significantly worse than a single population GP and a competitively co‐evolved GP. The results also show that a competitive co‐evolved GP and the single population GP produce similar trading rules. The profits returned by the evolved trading rules are compared to the profit returned by the buy‐and‐hold trading strategy. The evolved trading rules significantly outperform the buy‐and‐hold strategy when the market trends downwards. No significant difference is identified among the buy‐and‐hold strategy, the competitive co‐evolved GP, and single population GP when the market trends upwards.
Spectroscopically tracing the reactions of octahydridosilsesquioxane (H8Si8O12) with organic molecules
Authors: Chen Ching‐Wen , Chao Pei‐Yu , Chung Yu‐Yin , Wu You‐Zhen , Lin Jong‐Liang
Published: November 2019

This article studies the reactions and mechanisms of H8Si8O12 (T8H8) molecules with n‐propanol, acetone, allyl alcohol, n‐butylamine, allylamine, acetic acid, and 1‐octene in air, at room temperature, and without catalysts. The reaction between T8H8 and n‐propanol involves both the highly polarized SiO and SiH bonds and results in cage breakage and forming Q4 and Q3 structures with OC3H7 in the reaction product. T8H8 also reacts with acetone, and the resultant product possesses SiOCH(CH3)2. Allyl alcohol is less reactive to cause T8H8 decomposition, and the resultant product contains SiOCH2CHCH2 and SiOCH2(CH2)3CHCH2. However, it is found that basically T8H8 does not react with acetic acid and 1‐octene. In the reactions of T8H8 with n‐butylamine and allylamine, the resultant products contain SiNH(CH2)3CH3 and SiNHCH2CHCH2, respectively. For the reaction with T8H8, allylamine is less active than n‐butylamine. Possible mechanisms for the T8H8 reactions are discussed.
Selective cyclization of S‐substituted pyrimidinethione: Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of novel polysubstituted thiazolopyrimidine and thiazolodipyrimidine derivatives
Authors: Alzahrani Hayat E. , Fouda Ahmed M. , Youssef Ayman M. S.
Published: November 2019

The synthetic strategy is based on alkylation of 4‐aryl‐N‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐6‐methyl‐2‐thioxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyrimidine‐5‐carboxamide derivatives IV a–g, with some alkyl halides and α‐haloketones, namely, methyl iodide, chloroacetonitrile, and phenacyl bromide to give the corresponding S‐substituted derivatives Va–c. Treatment of IVa–c with ethyl bromoacetate in ethanol under reflux in the presence of potassium hydroxide solution led to the formation of N‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐7‐methyl‐3‐oxo‐5‐(aryl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐5H‐thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyrimidine‐6‐carboxamide derivative VIII a–c in a single‐step synthesis. On the other hand, compound IVa reacted with α‐halo carbonitriles, namely, chloro acetonitrile, and monobromo malononitrile, to produce directly thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyrimidine derivatives Xa and Xb, respectively, Compound Xb also reacted with each of formic acid, formamide, and ammonium thiocyanate to form thiazolodipyrimidine derivatives XI–XIII, respectively. Compound VIIIa–c coupled with arenediazonium salts in pyridine to give the corresponding 2‐arylhydrazo derivatives XVIa–e. Compounds IV a–g and VIIIa–c were resynthesized under microwave irradiation. Some of the newly synthesized compounds were tested for their antimicrobial activities.
Approximate Steiner (r − 1, r, n)‐systems without three blocks on r + 2 points
Authors: Sidorenko Alexander
Published: November 2019

For a family of ‐graphs, let denote the maximum number of edges in an ‐free ‐graph on vertices. Let denote the family of all ‐graphs with edges and at most vertices. We prove that .
Paley type partial difference sets in abelian groups
Authors: Wang Zeying
Published: November 2019

Partial difference sets with parameters are called Paley type partial difference sets. In this note, we prove that if there exists a Paley type partial difference set in an abelian group of order v, where v is not a prime power, then or , an odd integer. In 2010, Polhill constructed Paley type partial difference sets in abelian groups with those orders. Thus, combining with the constructions of Polhill and the classical Paley construction using nonzero squares of a finite field, we completely answer the following question: “For which odd positive integers , can we find a Paley type partial difference set in an abelian group of order ?”
A time‐saving–modified Giemsa stain is a better diagnostic method of Helicobacter pylori infection compared with the rapid urease test
Authors: Fan Chi‐Chen , Chen Chung‐Hsing , Chou Chi , Kao Ting‐Yu , Cheng An Ning , Lee Alan Yueh‐Luen , Kuo Cheng‐Liang
Published: November 2019

Background

Despite having chronic gastritis, most people infected by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are asymptomatic and have no specific clinical signs and symptoms. H. pylori infection can be diagnosed by several detection methods. Giemsa stain and rapid urease test (CLO test) are the most performed tests of H. pylori infection at first‐line clinical examination because of their simplicity and reliability. However, the sensitivity of CLO test is significantly reduced in patients with atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia, and the weaknesses of Giemsa stain are higher cost and time‐consuming.

Methods

The Giemsa stain was modified in several staining solutions and procedures based on the simplified Giemsa technique described by Gray, Wyatt, & Rathbone (1986). The modified Giemsa stain is examined its efficacy and compared with the CLO test using 233 H. pylori‐infected patients with gastric disease.

Results

The modified Giemsa stain is comparable to the traditional one. Statistical analysis indicated that the modified Giemsa stain obtains greater accuracy in H. pylori‐infected patients with gastritis and ulcer than the CLO test (48.1% vs. 43.7%). Moreover, considering the prognosis of different symptoms of gastric diseases, the modified Giemsa stain has a more accurate prognosis than combination symptoms (P = 1.8E‐05 vs. P = 5.49E‐05). The modified Giemsa stain is confirmed to be better than CLO test using 233 H. pylori‐infected patients with gastric disease.

Conclusions

The modified Giemsa stain is more simplified and time‐saving than traditional Giemsa stain, which is comparable to the traditional one and is confirmed to be better than CLO test using 233 H. pylori‐infected patients with gastric disease. In clinical examination, this modified Giemsa stain can be applied to routine examination and provides quick and accurate diagnosis and prognosis to H. pylori‐infected patients with gastric diseases.
Effect of ketamine combined with lidocaine in pediatric anesthesia
Authors: Fang Hua , Li Hua‐Feng , Yang Miao , Zhang Fang‐Xiang , Liao Ren , Wang Ru‐Rong , Wang Quan‐Yun , Zheng Peng‐Cheng , Zhang Jian‐Ping
Published: November 2019

Background

We conducted a randomized clinical trial to determine whether adjunctive lidocaine diminishes the incidence of adverse effects in pediatric patients sedated with ketamine.

Methods

This case‐control study involved 586 consecutive pediatric patients necessitating anesthesia. Then systolic blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood oxygen saturation were observed. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (Cr) levels were tested. General dose of ketamine, the time of onset and duration of anesthesia and postoperative recovery, anesthesia effect, and adverse reaction were subsequently compared. High‐performance liquid chromatography was employed to detect ketamine concentration at different time points after administration, and the postoperative cognition function was further evaluated.

Results

Intra‐ and post‐operation, the rising degree of ALT, AST, BUN, and Cr in patients treated with ketamine was higher than those in patients treated with the ketamine‐lidocaine complex. General dose of ketamine, the time of onset and duration of anesthesia, postoperative recovery time, and the incidence rate of adverse reaction in patients treated with ketamine‐lidocaine complex were lower, but the concentration of ketamine was higher compared to the patients treated with ketamine. In patients treated with the ketamine‐lidocaine complex, elimination half‐life of ketamine was prolonged, the area under curve was increased, and the plasma clearance rate was decreased relative to those with ketamine alone.

Conclusions

Ketamine combined with lidocaine may be beneficial in shortening the onset of anesthesia, promoting postoperative awake, prolonging elimination half‐life, increasing area under curve, and decreasing plasma clearance rate and incidence of adverse reactions.