bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterizing Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Injury in Almond, a New Host Crop in California
Authors: Rijal Jhalendra , Gyawaly Sudan
Published: September 2018

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), is an invasive species from Asia. This polyphagous, stink bug species has posed a serious production challenge in several crop species in the areas where established. The insect has spread to all the mainland states in the U.S. in about one and half decades after its first detection in Pennsylvania. The types of crops reported to have been infested by this stink bug have increased with its spread to new geographic locations. In this study, we report the first evidence of H. halys infestation in almond fruit in California. In Stanislaus County, an adult brown marmorated stink bug in an almond orchard was first observed in May 2017. The stink bug feeding on almond fruits caused excessive gumming to the developing fruits, and damage to the kernels along with typical necrotic feeding signs on the shell (endocarp) and hull (exocarp and pericarp) of the fruit at harvest. The infestation and damage by H. halys on almond warrants further research to develop Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies for this pest.
Attraction of Culex pipiens to House Sparrows Is Influenced by Host Age but Not Uropygial Gland Secretions
Authors: Garvin Mary C. , Austin Amy , Boyer Kevin , Gefke Madeleine , Wright Celestina , Pryor Yemko , Soble Anah , Whelan Rebecca J.
Published: September 2018

Culex pipiens serves as the endemic vector of West Nile virus (WNV) in eastern North America, where house sparrows (HOSP, Passer domesticus) serve as a reservoir host. We tested the hypotheses that: (1) Attraction of Cx. pipiens to HOSP is influenced by bird age and (2) that age-specific variation in chemical profiles of bird uropygial gland secretions informs this choice. We conducted mosquito choice trials in an olfactometer and found that Cx. pipiens were more often attracted to adult sparrows over nestlings, however, they demonstrated no preference for adults over fledglings. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry we observed age-specific differences in the semi-volatile chemical profiles of house sparrow uropygial gland secretions. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found no significant difference in mosquito feeding preference between the secretions of adults and those of either nestlings or fledglings. We suggest that other chemical cues influence the feeding preference of Cx. pipiens, either independently of uropygial gland secretions, or synergistically with them.
Distributed Strain Sensing from Different Optical Fiber Configurations
Authors: Drake Daniel A. , Sullivan Rani W. , Wilson J. Caleb
Published: September 2018

Strain distributions were obtained from optical fibers arranged in three different configurations on transversely-loaded cantilevered beams. Traditional strain measurement sensors, such as strain gauges, are limited to measuring strain at discrete points on a structural member. However, distributed optical fibers can measure high spatial (<1 mm spacing) strain or temperature distributions. In this study, optical fibers in spiral, grid, and rosette configurations were bonded to aluminum cantilevered beams subjected to tip loads. Strain distributions from optical fiber sensors were measured using a swept wavelength coherent interferometric technique. The optical fiber strain measurements show good agreement with strain gauge measurements. The attributes of each sensor configuration are discussed.
Examining Young Children’s Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors in an Exergaming Program Using Accelerometry
Authors: Quan Minghui , Pope Zachary , Gao Zan
Published: September 2018

Exergaming has been observed to be a viable supplemental approach in promoting physical activity (PA) among children. However, whether sex differences in PA and sedentary behaviors exist during exergaming is inconsistent. Thus, this study aimed to quantify, via accelerometry, young children’s PA and sedentary behaviors during exergaming as well as examine sex differences in these PA and sedentary behaviors during gameplay. In total, 121 first- and second-grade children (mean age = 6.89 ± 0.9 years; 73 girls) were included in the analysis. Children were a part of a large 18-week parent study. Children wore ActiGraph GT1M accelerometers during exergaming play, with four measurements purposively selected from the 28 total exergaming sessions to capture children’s PA and sedentary behaviors during exergaming play. Outcome variables included mean percentages of time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), light PA (LPA), and sedentary behavior during each exergaming session. One-way ANOVA was performed to determine whether there were differences in the percentage of time engaged in MVPA, LPA, and sedentary behavior during exergaming by sex. Accelerometry data indicated that children’s mean percentage of exergaming time spent in MVPA, LPA, and sedentary behavior were 19.9%, 32.9%, and 47.2%, respectively. However, no sex differences were present. Observations in this study indicated that boys and girls have similar PA levels during exergaming and suggests that features inherent to exergaming may assist in PA promotion among both sexes.
Temperature Modeling of AISI 1045 Steel during Surface Hardening Processes
Authors: Hung Tsung-Pin , Shi Hao-En , Kuang Jao-Hwa
Published: September 2018

A Coupled thermo-mechanical finite element model was employed to simulate the possible effects of varying laser scanning parameters on the surface hardening process for AISI 1045 and AISI 4140 steels. We took advantage of the high-power density of laser beams to heat the surface of workpieces quickly to achieve self-quenching effects. The finite element model, along with the temperature-dependent material properties, was applied to characterize the possible quenching and tempering effects during single-track laser surface heat treatment. We verified the accuracy of the proposed model through experiments. The effects of laser surface hardening parameters, such as power variation, scanning speed, and laser spot size, on the surface temperature distribution, hardening width, and hardening depth variations during the single-track surface laser treatment process, were investigated using the proposed model. The analysis results show that laser power and scanning speed are the key parameters that affect the hardening of the material. The numerical results reveal that the proposed finite element model is able to simulate the laser surface heat treatment process and tempering effect of steel.
Independent Manipulating of Orthogonal-Polarization Terahertz Waves Using A Reconfigurable Graphene-Based Metasurface
Authors: Deng Li , Zhang Yuanyuan , Zhu Jianfeng , Qu Meijun , Wang Ling , Zhang Chen
Published: September 2018

Viewing the trend of miniaturization and integration in modern electronic device design, a reconfigurable multi-functional graphene-based metasurface is proposed in this paper. By virtue of the reconfigurability of reflection patterns, this metasurface is able to independently manipulate orthogonal linearly polarized terahertz wave. The building blocks of the proposed metasurface are series of graphene-strips-based unit-cells. Each unit-cell consists of two orthogonal graphene strips and a grounded substrate, which has anisotropic responses for each of orthogonal polarizations (x-polarized and y-polarized waves). The reflection phases of both x- and y-polarized waves can be controlled independently through separate electrical tuning. Based on the proposed metasurface, functionalities including beam splitting, beam deflecting, and linear-to-circular polarization converting using a shared aperture are numerically demonstrated and analyzed. Simulation results demonstrate excellent performance, which is consistent with the theorized expectations. This work paves the way for enhancing the miniaturization of modern electronic/optical devices and potentially has important applications in the next-generation information systems for communication, sensing, and imaging.
Insights into Galvanic Corrosion Behavior of Ti-Cu Dissimilar Joint: Effect of Microstructure and Volta Potential
Authors: Rahimi Ehsan , Rafsanjani-Abbasi Ali , Imani Amin , Hosseinpour Saman , Davoodi Ali
Published: September 2018

The effect of microstructure on corrosion behavior of a solid-state explosion welded Ti-Cu bimetal is investigated by means of alternating current-direct current (AC-DC) electrochemical measurements, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy (SKPFM). The results indicate that the titanium regions in the welding interface, local melted zone (LMZ), and LMZ-Cu interface are potential sites for initiation of corrosion attacks. SKPFM mapping clearly shows that before exposure of the sample to a 3.5% NaCl corrosive solution and at the beginning of the exposure, the Cu side of the bimetal has a higher Volta potential in comparison to that of the Ti region, and thus acts as a cathode. Electrochemical measurements also confirm that titanium acts as an anode and copper as a cathode, in the first moments of immersion, in accordance with macroscopic observations and SKPFM results. However, by growing a passive layer of titanium oxide and titanium hydroxide on the Ti side after about 1 h exposure to the corrosive medium, the titanium side becomes nobler and the polarity arrangement in the galvanic couple reverses.
Connection Mechanism of Molten Pool during Laser Transmission Welding of T-Joint with Minor Gap Presence
Authors: Xu Ke , Cui Haichao , Li Fuquan
Published: September 2018

Laser welding of T-joint transmitting from the face plate to the core is commonly used in the sandwich structure preparation. Minor gaps between the face and the core plate are inevitably present after several beads on the sandwich structure welding due to the thermal deformation. The effects of gap presence on fluid flow from the face to the core plate are rather significant, where the gas can be easily entrapped into the pool and form the pores. To this end, three-dimensional transient simulations based on VOF (volume of fluid) method were conducted to explore and ascertain the effect of fluid flow inside the pool on the pore formation due to the gap presence. It was found that minor gap within 0.2 mm will not reduce the welding quality. Under the effects of gravity and surface tension, the fluid from the face sheet will drop down to the core, which removes all the air out of the gap and the laser goes through the fluid of the gap and then shines on the core, which prevents the air from being entrapped into the pool. While the laser goes though gap, the wall of keyhole opens and closes continuously. The vibrating time of keyhole is approximately 0.029 s. After finishing the vibration, the welding is stable, which is the same as common unfull penetration. Finally, the simulated results are well verified through observing the plasma oscillating frequency in the gap and comparing to the pore-free bead profile. This paper supplies evidence that minor gap presence during laser transmitting welding on sandwich structure has nothing to do with pore formation.
Detecting and Handling Cyber-Attacks in Model Predictive Control of Chemical Processes
Authors: Wu Zhe , Albalawi Fahad , Zhang Junfeng , Zhang Zhihao , Durand Helen , Christofides Panagiotis D.
Published: September 2018

Since industrial control systems are usually integrated with numerous physical devices, the security of control systems plays an important role in safe operation of industrial chemical processes. However, due to the use of a large number of control actuators and measurement sensors and the increasing use of wireless communication, control systems are becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks, which may spread rapidly and may cause severe industrial incidents. To mitigate the impact of cyber-attacks in chemical processes, this work integrates a neural network (NN)-based detection method and a Lyapunov-based model predictive controller for a class of nonlinear systems. A chemical process example is used to illustrate the application of the proposed NN-based detection and LMPC methods to handle cyber-attacks.
Evaluation of Differentiated Bone Cells Proliferation by Blue Shark Skin Collagen via Biochemical for Bone Tissue Engineering
Authors: Elango Jeevithan , Lee Jung Woo , Wang Shujun , Henrotin Yves , De Val José Eduardo Maté Sánchez , M. Regenstein Joe , Lim Sun Young , Bao Bin , Wu Wenhui
Published: September 2018

Collagen from a marine resource is believed to have more potential activity in bone tissue engineering and their bioactivity depends on biochemical and structural properties. Considering the above concept, pepsin soluble collagen (PSC) and acid soluble collagen (ASC) from blue shark (Prionace glauca) skin were extracted and its biochemical and osteogenic properties were investigated. The hydroxyproline content was higher in PSC than ASC and the purified collagens contained three distinct bands α1, α2, and β dimer. The purity of collagen was confirmed by the RP-HPLC profile and the thermogravimetric data showed a two-step thermal degradation pattern. ASC had a sharp decline in viscosity at 20–30 °C. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images revealed the fibrillar network structure of collagens. Proliferation rates of the differentiated mouse bone marrow-mesenchymal stem (dMBMS) and differentiated osteoblastic (dMC3T3E1) cells were increased in collagen treated groups rather than the controls and the effect was dose-dependent, which was further supported by higher osteogenic protein and mRNA expression in collagen treated bone cells. Among two collagens, PSC had significantly increased dMBMS cell proliferation and this was materialized through increasing RUNX2 and collagen-I expression in bone cells. Accordingly, the collagens from blue shark skin with excellent biochemical and osteogenic properties could be a suitable biomaterial for therapeutic application.
Ischemic Heart Disease during Acute Exacerbations of COPD
Authors: Malo de Molina Rosa , Aguado Silvia , Arellano Carlos , Valle Manuel , Ussetti Piedad
Published: September 2018

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have a higher risk of acute cardiovascular events, and around 30% die from cardiovascular diseases. Recent data suggest an increased risk of myocardial infarction in the following days of a severe exacerbation of COPD. Disruption in the balance during the exacerbation with tachycardia, increased inflammation and systemic oxidative stress as well as some other factors may confer an increased risk of subsequent cardiovascular events. A number of investigations may be useful to an early diagnosis, including electrocardiography, imaging techniques and blood test for biomarkers. Some drugs that have changed prognosis in the cardiovascular setting such as cardioselective beta-blockers may be underused in patients with COPD despite its demonstrated benefits. This review focuses on several aspects of exacerbation of COPD and cardiovascular events including epidemiology, possible mechanism, diagnosis and treatment.
Mathematical Model for Prediction and Optimization of Weld Bead Geometry in All-Position Automatic Welding of Pipes
Authors: Liao Baoyi , Shi Yonghua , Cui Yanxin , Cui Shuwan , Jiang Zexin , Yi Yaoyong
Published: September 2018

In this study all-position automatic tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding was exploited to enhance quality and efficiency in the welding of copper-nickel alloy pipes. The mathematical models of all-position automatic TIG weld bead shapes were conducted by the response surface method (RSM) on the foundation of central composition design (CCD). The statistical models were verified for their significance and adequacy by analysis of variance (ANOVA). In addition, the influences of welding peak current, welding velocity, welding duty ratio, and welding position on weld bead geometry were investigated. Finally, optimal welding parameters at the welding positions of 0° to 180° were determined by using RSM.
Modeling of Precipitation Hardening during Coiling of Nb–Mo Steels
Authors: Maetz Jean-Yves , Militzer Matthias , Chen Yu Wen , Yang Jer-Ren , Goo Nam Hoon , Kim Soo Jin , Jian Bian , Mohrbacher Hardy
Published: September 2018

Nb–Mo low-alloyed steels are promising advanced high strength steels (AHSS) because of the highly dislocated bainitic ferrite microstructure conferring an excellent combination of strength and toughness. In this study, the potential of precipitation strengthening during coiling for hot-strip Nb–Mo-bearing low-carbon steels has been investigated using hot-torsion and aging tests to simulate the hot-rolling process including coiling. The obtained microstructures were characterized using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), highlighting the effects of Nb and Mo additions on formation and tempering of the bainitic ferrite microstructures. Further, the evolution of nanometer-sized precipitates was quantified with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The resulting age hardening kinetics have been modelled by combining a phenomenological precipitation strengthening model with a tempering model. Analysis of the model suggests a narrower coiling temperature window to maximize the precipitation strengthening potential in bainite/ferrite high strength low-alloyed (HSLA) steels than that for conventional HSLA steels with polygonal ferrite/pearlite microstructures.
Homogenization and Growth Behavior of Second-Phase Particles in a Deformed Zr–Sn–Nb–Fe–Cu–Si–O Alloy
Authors: Chen Liang-Yu , Sang Peng , Zhang Lina , Song Dongpo , Chu Yan-Qiu , Chai Linjiang , Zhang Lai-Chang
Published: September 2018

Homogeneous distribution of fine second-phase particles (SPPs) fabricated by cycles of deformation and annealing in zirconium alloys is a critical consideration for the corrosion resistance of fuel claddings. Different deformation degrees of zirconium alloys would result in distinctive microstructures, leading to a distinct growth of SPPs during subsequent annealing. Unfortunately, the homogenization and growth behavior of SPPs in deformed zirconium alloys have not been well studied. In this work, a β-quenched Zr–Sn–Nb–Fe–Cu–Si–O alloy was rolled and annealed at 580 °C or 680 °C. The morphologies, distributions, and sizes of SPPs resulting from the different processing procedures were investigated. A linear distribution of SPPs is found in the β-quenched sample. Afterward, SPPs grow and are randomly distributed during heat treatment as the deformation degree or annealing time (or temperature) increases. The homogenization and growth of SPPs are attributed to the Ostwald ripening mechanism that is governed by lattice diffusion and short-circuit diffusion. The sample with a higher deformation degree is speculated to have a larger number of defects that provide more shortcuts for the mass transfer of SPPs, thereby facilitating a homogeneous distribution of fine SPPs during annealing.
A Holistic and Experimentally-Based View on Recycling of Off-Gas Dust within the Integrated Steel Plant
Authors: Andersson Anton , Gullberg Amanda , Kullerstedt Adeline , Sandberg Erik , Andersson Mats , Ahmed Hesham , Sundqvist-Ökvist Lena , Björkman Bo
Published: September 2018

Ore-based ironmaking generates a variety of residues, including slags and fines such as dust and sludges. Recycling of these residues within the integrated steel plant or in other applications is essential from a raw-material efficiency perspective. The main recycling route of off-gas dust is to the blast furnace (BF) via sinter, cold-bonded briquettes and tuyere injection. However, solely relying on the BF for recycling implicates that certain residues cannot be recycled in order to avoid build-up of unwanted elements, such as zinc. By introducing a holistic view on recycling where recycling via other process routes, such as the desulfurization (deS) station and the basic oxygen furnace (BOF), landfilling can be avoided. In the present study, process integration analyses were utilized to determine the most efficient recycling routes for off-gas dust that are currently not recycled within the integrated steel plants of Sweden. The feasibility of recycling was studied in experiments conducted in laboratory, pilot, and full-scale trials in the BF, deS station, and BOF. The process integration analyses suggested that recycling to the BF should be maximized before considering the deS station and BOF. The experiments indicated that the amount of residue that are not recycled could be minimized.
Single-Layered Microfluidic Network-Based Combinatorial Dilution for Standard Simplex Lattice Design
Authors: Lee Kangsun , Kim Choong , Oh Kwang W.
Published: September 2018

In this paper, we presented a straightforward strategy to generate 15 combinations of three samples based on an experimental simplex lattice design using a single-layer microfluidic network. First, we investigated the performances of the plain structural and the groove structural combinatorial devices by computational simulation (CFD-ACE+). The simulated output concentrations were extremely close to the desirable values within an absolute error of less than 1%. Based on the simulated designs, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) devices were fabricated with soft lithography and tested with fluorescent dye (sodium salt). The mixing results for 15 combinations showed good performance, with an absolute error of less than 4%. We also investigated two liquid handling methods (bottom–up and top–down) for high-throughput screening and assay. The liquid-handling methods were successfully accomplished by adding the systematic structured groove sets on the mixing channels.
Thermophilic Proteins as Versatile Scaffolds for Protein Engineering
Authors: Finch Anthony J. , Kim Jin Ryoun
Published: September 2018

Literature from the past two decades has outlined the existence of a trade-off between protein stability and function. This trade-off creates a unique challenge for protein engineers who seek to introduce new functionality to proteins. These engineers must carefully balance the mutation-mediated creation and/or optimization of function with the destabilizing effect of those mutations. Subsequent research has shown that protein stability is positively correlated with “evolvability” or the ability to support mutations which bestow new functionality on the protein. Since the ultimate goal of protein engineering is to create and/or optimize a protein’s function, highly stable proteins are preferred as potential scaffolds for protein engineering. This review focuses on the application potential for thermophilic proteins as scaffolds for protein engineering. The relatively high inherent thermostability of these proteins grants them a great deal of mutational robustness, making them promising scaffolds for various protein engineering applications. Comparative studies on the evolvability of thermophilic and mesophilic proteins have strongly supported the argument that thermophilic proteins are more evolvable than mesophilic proteins. These findings indicate that thermophilic proteins may represent the scaffold of choice for protein engineering in the future.
Bioprocessing of Functional Ingredients from Flaxseed
Authors: Dzuvor Christian Kwesi Ofotsu , Taylor Jordan Tauai , Acquah Caleb , Pan Sharadwata , Agyei Dominic
Published: September 2018

Flaxseeds (Linum usitatissimum L.) are oilseeds endowed with nutritional constituents such as lignans, lipids, proteins, fibre, carbohydrates, and micronutrients. Owing to their established high nutritional profile, flaxseeds have gained an established reputation as a dietary source of high value functional ingredients. Through the application of varied bioprocessing techniques, these essential constituents in flaxseeds can be made bioavailable for different applications such as nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and food industry. However, despite their food and health applications, flaxseeds contain high levels of phytotoxic compounds such as linatine, phytic acids, protease inhibitors, and cyanogenic glycosides. Epidemiological studies have shown that the consumption of these compounds can lead to poor bioavailability of essential nutrients and/or health complications. As such, these components must be removed or inactivated to physiologically undetectable limits to render flaxseeds safe for consumption. Herein, critical description of the types, characteristics, and bioprocessing of functional ingredients in flaxseed is presented.
Silica/Polyethylene Glycol Hybrid Materials Prepared by a Sol-Gel Method and Containing Chlorogenic Acid
Authors: Catauro Michelina , Tranquillo Elisabetta , Salzillo Alessia , Capasso Lucia , Illiano Michela , Sapio Luigi , Naviglio Silvio
Published: September 2018

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a very common dietary polyphenolic compound. CGA is becoming very attractive due to its potential use as preventive and therapeutic agent in many diseases, including cancer. Inorganic/organic hybrid materials are gaining considerable attention in the biomedical field. The sol-gel process provides a useful way to obtain functional organic/inorganic hybrids. The aim of this study was to synthesize silica/polyethylene glycol (PEG) hybrids with different percentages of CGA by sol-gel technique and to investigate their impact on the cancer cell proliferation. Synthesized materials have been chemically characterized through the FTIR spectroscopy and their bioactivity evaluated looking by SEM at their ability to produce a hydroxyapatite layer on their surface upon incubation with simulated body fluid (SBF). Finally, their effects on cell proliferation were studied in cell lines by direct cell number counting, MTT, flow cytometry-based cell-cycle and cell death assays, and immunoblotting experiments. Notably, we found that SiO2/PEG/CGA hybrids exhibit clear antiproliferative effects in different tumor, including breast cancer and osteosarcoma, cell lines in a CGA dependent manner, but not in normal cells. Overall, our results increase the evidence of CGA as a possible anticancer agent and illustrate the potential for clinical applications of sol-gel synthesized SiO2/PEG/CGA materials.
1-(N-Acylamino)alkyltriarylphosphonium Salts with Weakened Cα-P+ Bond Strength—Synthetic Applications
Authors: Adamek Jakub , Węgrzyk Anna , Kończewicz Justyna , Walczak Krzysztof , Erfurt Karol
Published: September 2018

The α-amidoalkylating properties of 1-(N-acylamino)alkyltriarylphosphonium salts with weakened Cα-P+ bond strength are discussed and examined. It is demonstrated that such type of phosphonium salts reacts smoothly with a diverse array of carbon- and heteroatom-based nucleophiles, including 1-morpholinocyclohexene, 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, benzotriazole sodium salt, p-toluenesulfinate sodium salt, benzylamine, triarylphosphines, and other P-nucleophiles. Reactions are conducted at room temperature, in a short time (5–15 min) and mostly without catalysts. Simple work-up procedures result in good or very good yields of products. The structures of known compounds were established by spectroscopic methods and all new compounds have been fully characterized using 1H-, 13C-, 31P-NMR, IR spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Mechanistic aspects of described transformations are also performed and discussed. It was demonstrated that unique properties make 1-(N-acylamino)alkyl-triarylphosphonium salts with weakened Cα-P+ bond strength interesting building blocks with great potential, especially in α-amidoalkylation reactions.
Synthesis, Antifungal Activities and Molecular Docking Studies of Benzoxazole and Benzothiazole Derivatives
Authors: Luo Bo , Li Ding , Zhang An-Ling , Gao Jin-Ming
Published: September 2018

Based on benzoxazole and benzothiazole scaffold as an important pharmacophore, two series of 2-(aryloxymethyl) benzoxazole and benzothiazole derivatives were synthesized and their antifungal effects against eight phytopathogenic fungi were evaluated. Compounds 5a, 5b, 5h, and 5i exhibited significant antifungal activities against most of the pathogens tested. Especially 5a, 5b, 5h, 5i, 5j, and 6h inhibited the growth of F. solani with IC50 of 4.34–17.61 μg/mL, which were stronger than that of the positive control, hymexazol (IC50 of 38.92 μg/mL). 5h was the most potent inhibitor (IC50 of 4.34 μg/mL) against F. Solani, which was about nine times more potent than hymexazol. Most of the test compounds displayed significant antifungal effects against B. cinerea (IC50 of 19.92–77.41 μg/mL), among them, 5a was the best one (IC50 of 19.92 μg/mL). The structure-activity relationships (SARs) were compared and analyzed. The result indicates that the electron-drawing ability and position of the substituents have a significant impact on biological activities. Furthermore, docking studies were carried out on the lipid transfer protein sec14p from S. cerevisiae, and preliminarily verified the antifungal activities. Taken together, these results provide 2-(phenoxymethyl)benzo[d]oxazole as an encouraging framework that could lead to the development of potent novel antifungal agents.
Synthesis and Properties of Low-Molecular-Weight PEI-Based Lipopolymers for Delivery of DNA
Authors: Xun Miao-Miao , Huang Zheng , Xiao Ya-Ping , Liu Yan-Hong , Zhang Ji , Zhang Ju-Hui , Yu Xiao-Qi
Published: September 2018

Rapid enzymatic degradation and fragmentation during DNA administration can result in limited gene expression, and consequently, poor efficacy. It is necessary to use novel vectors for DNA delivery. Herein, we aimed to design useful carriers for enhancing transfection efficiency (TE). These lipopolymers were prepared through Michael addition reactions from low-molecular-weight (LMW) polyethyleneimine (PEI) and linkers with three kinds of steroids. Agarose gel electrophoresis assay results displayed that the three lipopolymers could condense plasmid DNA well, and the formed polyplexes had appropriate sizes around 200–300 nm, and zeta potentials of about +25–40 mV. The results of in vitro experiments using HeLa, HEK293, and MCF-7 cells showed that these lipopolymers present higher TE than 25-kDa PEI, both in the absence and presence of 10% serum. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy studies also demonstrated that these lipopolymer/DNA complexes present higher cellular uptake and intracellular distribution. The measurement of critical micelle concentration (CMC) revealed that these lipopolymers could form micelles, which are suited for drug delivery. All results suggest that the three materials may serve as hopeful candidates for gene and drug delivery in future in vivo applications.
Design and Biophysical Characterization of Poly (l-Lactic) Acid Microcarriers with and without Modification of Chitosan and Nanohydroxyapatite
Authors: Li Liying , Song Kedong , Chen Yongzhi , Wang Yiwei , Shi Fangxin , Nie Yi , Liu Tianqing
Published: September 2018

Nowadays, microcarriers are widely utilized in drug delivery, defect filling, and cell culture. Also, many researchers focus on the combination of synthetic and natural polymers and bioactive ceramics to prepare composite biomaterials for tissue engineering and regeneration. In this study, three kinds of microcarriers were prepared based on physical doping and surface modification, named Poly (l-lactic) acid (PLLA), PLLA/nanohydroxyapatite (PLLA/nHA), and PLLA/nHA/Chitosan (PLLA/nHA/Ch). The physicochemical properties of the microcarriers and their functional performances in MC3T3-E1 cell culture were compared. Statistical results showed that the average diameter of PLLA microcarriers was 291.9 ± 30.7 μm, and that of PLLA/nHA and PLLA/nHA/Ch microcarriers decreased to 275.7 ± 30.6 μm and 269.4 ± 26.3 μm, respectively. The surface roughness and protein adsorption of microcarriers were enhanced with the doping of nHA and coating of chitosan. The cell-carrier cultivation stated that the PLLA/nHA microcarriers had the greatest proliferation-promoting effect, while the PLLA/nHA/Ch microcarriers performed the strongest attachment with MC3T3-E1 cells. Besides, the cells on the PLLA/nHA/Ch microcarriers exhibited optimal osteogenic expression. Generally, chitosan was found to improve microcarriers with superior characteristics in cell adhesion and differentiation, and nanohydroxyapatite was beneficial for microcarriers regarding sphericity and cell proliferation. Overall, the modified microcarriers may be considered as a promising tool for bone tissue engineering.
Energy Transfer in Dendritic Systems Having Pyrene Peripheral Groups as Donors and Different Acceptor Groups
Authors: Porcu Pasquale , Vonlanthen Mireille , Ruiu Andrea , González-Méndez Israel , Rivera Ernesto
Published: September 2018

In this feature article, a specific overview of resonance energy transfer (FRET) in dendritic molecules was performed. We focused mainly on constructs bearing peripheral pyrene groups as donor moieties using different acceptor groups, such as porphyrin, fullerene C60, ruthenium-bipyridine complexes, and cyclen-core. We have studied the effect of all the different donor-acceptor pairs in the energy transfer efficiency (FRET). In all cases, high FRET efficiency values were observed.
Self-Assembled, Adjuvant/Antigen-Based Nanovaccine Mediates Anti-Tumor Immune Response against Melanoma Tumor
Authors: Rajendrakumar Santhosh Kalash , Mohapatra Adityanarayan , Singh Bijay , Revuri Vishnu , Lee Yong-Kyu , Kim Chang Seong , Cho Chong-Su , Park In-Kyu
Published: September 2018

Malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive type of cancer that requires radical treatment strategies to inhibit the cancer cell progression and metastasis. In recent years, preclinical research and clinical trials on melanoma treatment have been considerably focused on the adjuvant-based immunotherapy for enhancing the immune response of innate immune cells against cancer cells. However, the clinical outcome of these adjuvant-based treatments is inadequate due to an improper delivery system for these immune activators to reach the target site. Hence, we developed a vaccine formulation containing tumor lysate protein (TL) and poly I:C (PIC) complexed with positively charged poly (sorbitol-co-polyethylenimine (PEI) (PSPEI). The resulting ionic PSPEI-polyplexed antigen/adjuvant (PAA) (PSPEI-PAA) nanocomplexes were stable at the physiological condition, are non-toxic, and have enhanced intracellular uptake of antigen and adjuvant in immature dendritic cells leading to dendritic cell maturation. In the murine B16F10 tumor xenograft model, PSPEI-PAA nanocomplexes significantly suppressed tumor growth and did not exhibit any noticeable sign of toxicity. The level of matured dendritic cells (CD80+/CD86+ cells) in the tumor draining lymph node of PSPEI-PAA treated tumor mice were enhanced and therefore CD8+ T cells infiltration in the tumor were enriched. Additionally, the cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) assay involving co-culturing of splenocytes isolated from the PSPEI-PAA-treated mice with that of B16F10 cells significantly revealed enhanced cancer killing by the TL-reactivated CTLs compared to untreated control mice bearing tumor. Therefore, we strongly believe that PSPEI-PAA nanocomplexes could be an efficient antigen/adjuvant delivery system and enhance the antitumor immune response against melanoma tumor in the future clinical trials.
“[…] from Our Own Comfort Zone […] to […] All the ‘Peripheries’” (EG 20). A Franciscan Keyword of Pope Francis and its Significance for Christian Worship
Authors: Winter Stephan
Published: September 2018

In Evangelii gaudium (No. 20), Pope Francis writes: “In our day Jesus’ command to ‘go and make disciples’ echoes in the changing scenarios and ever new challenges to the Church’s mission of evangelization […]. Each Christian and every community must discern the path that the Lord points out, but all of us are asked to obey his call to go forth from our own comfort zone in order to reach all the ‘peripheries’ in need of the light of the Gospel.” Here and in other passages the Pope makes clear that he understands the Church and its mission in a very Franciscan way. Consider how St. Francis of Assisi kept company with the poor, and bear in mind texts like his “Instructions for brothers who want to go on the missions”. Celebration in worship is an important element of such an evangelization: it opens a way to the experience of the One who really sends the Good News to all believers! This article argues that Francis prefers two options to promote a Franciscan worship practice in that sense: for him it is “imperative to evangelize cultures in order to inculturate the Gospel” (EG 69). Firstly, worshipping should be connected with “authentic ‘popular piety” as the “starting point” of Evangelization (ibid. and EG 70), and secondly the translation of official liturgical texts should follow a threefold fidelity: to the Bible, to the Church’s tradition, and to any given people’s own language (cf. Motu Proprio Magnum Principium). The Pope’s strategy here follows de facto ideas of St. Francis, such as when the Poverello enlivened the mystery of the Incarnation by arranging a manger in Greccio (1223). One conclusion from this is that the Church has to develop ideas “in restoring a mystical adherence to the faith in a pluralistic religious landscape” (EG 70).
Non-Linear Lumped-Parameter Modeling of Planar Multi-Link Manipulators with Highly Flexible Arms
Authors: Giorgio Ivan , Del Vescovo Dionisio
Published: September 2018

The problem of the trajectory-tracking and vibration control of highly flexible planar multi-links robot arms is investigated. We discretize the links according to the Hencky bar-chain model, which is an application of the lumped parameters techniques. In this approach, each link is considered as a kinematic chain of rigid bodies, and suitable springs are added in order to model bending resistance. The control strategy employed is based on an optimal input pre-shaping and a feedback of the joint angles to treat the effects of undesired disturbances. Some numerical examples are given to show the potentialities of the proposed control, and a comparison with a standard collocated Proportional-Derivative (PD) control strategy is performed. In particular, we study the cases of a linear and a parabolic trajectory with a polynomial time law chosen to minimize the onset of possible vibrations.
Uncertainty and Variation of Remotely Sensed Lake Ice Phenology across the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Guo Linan , Wu Yanhong , Zheng Hongxing , Zhang Bing , Li Junsheng , Zhang Fangfang , Shen Qian
Published: September 2018

In the Tibetan Plateau (TP), the changes of lake ice phenology not only reflect regional climate change, but also impose substantial ecohydrological impacts on the local environment. Due to the limitation of ground observation, remote sensing has been used as an alternative tool to investigate recent changes of lake ice phenology. However, uncertainties exist in the remotely sensed lake ice phenology owing to both the data and methods used. In this paper, three different remotely sensed datasets are used to investigate the lake ice phenology variation in the past decade across the Tibetan Plateau, with the consideration of the underlying uncertainties. The remotely sensed data used include reflectance data, snow product, and land surface temperature (LST) data of moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS). The uncertainties of the three methods based on the corresponding data are assessed using the triple collocation approach. Comparatively, it is found that the method based on reflectance data outperforms the other two methods. The three methods are more consistent in determining the thawing dates rather than the freezing dates of lake ice. It is consistently shown by the three methods that the ice-covering duration in the northern part of the TP lasts longer than that in the south. Though there is no general trend of lake ice phenology across the TP for the period of 2000–2015, the warmer climate and stronger wind have led to the earlier break-up of lake ice.
Development of Operational Applications for TerraSAR-X
Authors: Lang Oliver , Lumsdon Parivash , Walter Diana , Anderssohn Jan , Koppe Wolfgang , Janoth Jüergen , Koban Tamer , Stahl Christoph
Published: September 2018

In the course of the TerraSAR-X mission, various new applications based on X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data have been developed and made available as operational products or services. In this article, we elaborate on proven characteristics of TerraSAR-X that are responsible for development of operational applications. This article is written from the perspective of a commercial data and service provider and the focus is on the following applications with high commercial relevance, and varying operational maturity levels: Surface Movement Monitoring (SMM), Ground Control Point (GCP) extraction and Automatic Target Recognition (ATR). Based on these applications, the article highlights the successful transition of innovative research into sustainable and operational use within various market segments. TerraSAR-X’s high orbit accuracy, its precise radar beam tracing, the high-resolution modes, and high-quality radiometric performance have proven to be the instrument’s advanced characteristics, through, which reliable ground control points and surface movement measurements are obtained. Moreover, TerraSAR-X high-resolution data has been widely exploited for the clarity of its target signatures in the fields of target intelligence and identification. TerraSAR-X’s multi temporal interferometry applications are non-invasive and are now fully standardised autonomous tools to measure surface deformation. In particular, multi-baseline interferometric techniques, such as Persistent Scatter Interferometry (PSI) and Small Baseline Subsets (SBAS) benefit from TerraSAR-X’s highly precise orbit information and phase stability. Similarly, the instrument’s precise orbit information is responsible for sub-metre accuracy of Ground Control Points (GCPs), which are essential inputs for orthorectification of remote sensing imagery, to locate targets, and to precisely georeference a variety of datasets. While geolocation accuracy is an essential ingredient in the intelligence field, high-resolution TerraSAR-X data, particularly in Staring SpotLight mode has been widely used in surveillance, security and reconnaissance applications in real-time and also by automatic or assisted target recognition software.
Indirect Estimation of Structural Parameters in South African Forests Using MISR-HR and LiDAR Remote Sensing Data
Authors: Mahlangu Precious , Mathieu Renaud , Wessels Konrad , Naidoo Laven , Verstraete Michel , Asner Gregory , Main Russell
Published: September 2018

Forest structural data are essential for assessing biophysical processes and changes, and promoting sustainable forest management. For 18+ years, the Multi-Angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) instrument has been observing the land surface reflectance anisotropy, which is known to be related to vegetation structure. This study sought to determine the performance of a new MISR-High Resolution (HR) dataset, recently produced at a full 275 m spatial resolution, and consisting of 36 Bidirectional Reflectance Factors (BRF) and 12 Rahman–Pinty–Verstraete (RPV) parameters, to estimate the mean tree height (Hmean) and canopy cover (CC) across structurally diverse, heterogeneous, and fragmented forest types in South Africa. Airborne LiDAR data were used to train and validate Random Forest models which were tested across various MISR-HR scenarios. The combination of MISR multi-angular and multispectral data was consistently effective in improving the estimation of structural parameters, and produced the lowest relative root mean square error (rRMSE) (33.14% and 38.58%), for Hmean and CC respectively. The combined RPV parameters for all four bands yielded the best results in comparison to the models of the RPV parameters separately: Hmean (R2 = 0.71, rRMSE = 34.84%) and CC (R2 = 0.60, rRMSE = 40.96%). However, the combined RPV parameters for all four bands in comparison to the MISR-HR BRF 36 band model it performed poorer (rRMSE of 5.1% and 6.2% higher for Hmean and CC, respectively). When considered separately, savanna forest type had greater improvement when adding multi-angular data, with the highest accuracies obtained for the Hmean parameter (R2 of 0.67, rRMSE of 31.28%). The findings demonstrate the potential of the optical multi-spectral and multi-directional newly processed data (MISR-HR) for estimating forest structure across Southern African forest types.
A Novel Integrated Approach of Relevance Vector Machine Optimized by Imperialist Competitive Algorithm for Spatial Modeling of Shallow Landslides
Authors: Tien Bui Dieu , Shahabi Himan , Shirzadi Ataollah , Chapi Kamran , Hoang Nhat-Duc , Pham Binh , Bui Quang-Thanh , Tran Chuyen-Trung , Panahi Mahdi , Bin Ahmad Baharin , Saro Lee
Published: September 2018

This research aims at proposing a new artificial intelligence approach (namely RVM-ICA) which is based on the Relevance Vector Machine (RVM) and the Imperialist Competitive Algorithm (ICA) optimization for landslide susceptibility modeling. A Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial database was generated from Lang Son city in Lang Son province (Vietnam). This GIS database includes a landslide inventory map and fourteen landslide conditioning factors. The suitability of these factors for landslide susceptibility modeling in the study area was verified by the Information Gain Ratio (IGR) technique. A landslide susceptibility prediction model based on RVM-ICA and the GIS database was established by training and prediction phases. The predictive capability of the new approach was evaluated by calculations of sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (AUC). In addition, to assess the applicability of the proposed model, two state-of-the-art soft computing techniques including the support vector machine (SVM) and logistic regression (LR) were used as benchmark methods. The results of this study show that RVM-ICA with AUC = 0.92 achieved a high goodness-of-fit based on both the training and testing datasets. The predictive capability of RVM-ICA outperformed those of SVM with AUC = 0.91 and LR with AUC = 0.87. The experimental results confirm that the newly proposed model is a very promising alternative to assist planners and decision makers in the task of managing landslide prone areas.