bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis and Optimization of Coupled Thermal Management Systems Used in Vehicles
Authors: Shu Gequn , Hu Chen , Tian Hua , Li Xiaoya , Yu Zhigang , Wang Mingtao
Published: April 2019

About 2/3 of the combustion energy of internal combustion engine (ICE) is lost through the exhaust and cooling systems during its operation. Besides, automobile accessories like the air conditioning system and the radiator fan will bring additional power consumption. To improve the ICE efficiency, this paper designs some coupled thermal management systems with different structures which include the air conditioning subsystem, the waste heat recovery subsystem, engine and coolant subsystem. CO2 is chosen as the working fluid for both the air conditioning subsystem and the waste heat recovery subsystem. After conducting experimental studies and a performance analysis for the subsystems, the coupled thermal management system is evaluated at different environmental temperatures and engine working conditions to choose the best structure. The optimal pump speed increases with the increase of environmental temperature and the decrease of engine load. The optimal coolant utilization rate decreases with the increase of engine load and environmental temperature, and the value is between 38% and 52%. While considering the effect of environmental temperature and road conditions of real driving and the energy consumption of all accessories of the thermal management system, the optimal thermal management system provides a net power of 4.2 kW, improving the ICE fuel economy by 1.2%.
An Intelligent Lightning Warning System Based on Electromagnetic Field and Neural Network
Authors: Wang Guoming , Kim Woo-Hyun , Kil Gyung-Suk , Park Dae-Won , Kim Sung-Wook
Published: April 2019

Prediction of lightning occurrence has significant relevance for reducing potential damage to electric installations, buildings, and humans. However, the existing lightning warning system (LWS) operates using the threshold method and has low prediction accuracy. In this paper, an intelligent LWS based on an electromagnetic field and the artificial neural network was developed for improving lightning prediction accuracy. An electric field mill sensor and a pair of loop antennas were designed to detect the real-time electric field and the magnetic field induced by lightning, respectively. The change rate of electric field, temperature, and humidity acquired 2 min before lightning strikes, were used for developing the neural network using the back propagation algorithm. After observing and predicting lightning strikes over six months, it was verified that the proposed LWS had a prediction accuracy of 93.9%.
Important Insect and Disease Threats to United States Tree Species and Geographic Patterns of Their Potential Impacts
Authors: Potter Kevin M. , Escanferla Maria E. , Jetton Robert M. , Man Gary
Published: April 2019

Diseases and insects, particularly those that are non-native and invasive, arguably pose the most destructive threat to North American forests. Currently, both exotic and native insects and diseases are producing extensive ecological damage and economic impacts. As part of an effort to identify United States tree species and forests most vulnerable to these epidemics, we compiled a list of the most serious insect and disease threats for 419 native tree species and assigned a severity rating for each of the 1378 combinations between mature tree hosts and 339 distinct insect and disease agents. We then joined this list with data from a spatially unbiased and nationally consistent forest inventory to assess the potential ecological impacts of insect and disease infestations. Specifically, potential host species mortality for each host/agent combination was used to weight species importance values on approximately 132,000 Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) plots across the conterminous 48 United States. When summed on each plot, these weighted importance values represent an estimate of the proportion of the plot’s existing importance value at risk of being lost. These plot estimates were then used to identify statistically significant geographic hotspots and coldspots and of potential forest impacts associated with insects and diseases in total, and for different agent types. In general, the potential impacts of insects and diseases were greater in the West, where there are both fewer agents and less diverse forests. The impact of non-native invasive agents, however, was potentially greater in the East. Indeed, the impacts of current exotic pests could be greatly magnified across much of the Eastern United States if these agents are able to reach the entirety of their hosts’ ranges. Both the list of agent/host severities and the spatially explicit results can inform species-level vulnerability assessments and broad-scale forest sustainability reporting efforts, and should provide valuable information for decision-makers who need to determine which tree species and locations to target for monitoring efforts and pro-active management activities.
An Optimal Energy-Saving Strategy for Home Energy Management Systems with Bounded Customer Rationality
Authors: Lin Guoying , Yang Yuyao , Pan Feng , Zhang Sijian , Wang Fen , Fan Shuai
Published: April 2019

With the development of techniques, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and edge computing, home energy management systems (HEMS) have been widely implemented to improve the electric energy efficiency of customers. In order to automatically optimize electric appliances’ operation schedules, this paper considers how to quantitatively evaluate a customer’s comfort satisfaction in energy-saving programs, and how to formulate the optimal energy-saving model based on this satisfaction evaluation. First, the paper categorizes the utility functions of current electric appliances into two types; time-sensitive utilities and temperature-sensitive utilities, which cover nearly all kinds of electric appliances in HEMS. Furthermore, considering the bounded rationality of customers, a novel concept called the energy-saving cost is defined by incorporating prospect theory in behavioral economics into general utility functions. The proposed energy-saving cost depicts the comfort loss risk for customers when their HEMS schedules the operation status of appliances, which is able to be set by residents as a coefficient in the automatic energy-saving program. An optimization model is formulated based on minimizing energy consumption. Because the energy-saving cost has already been evaluated in the context of the satisfaction of customers, the formulation of the optimization program is very simple and has high computational efficiency. The case study included in this paper is first performed on a general simulation system. Then, a case study is set up based on real field tests from a pilot project in Guangdong province, China, in which air-conditioners, lighting, and some other popular electric appliances were included. The total energy-saving rate reached 65.5% after the proposed energy-saving program was deployed in our project. The benchmark test shows our optimal strategy is able to considerably save electrical energy for residents while ensuring customers’ comfort satisfaction is maintained.
Ant Colony Optimization Task Scheduling Algorithm for SWIM Based on Load Balancing
Authors: Li Gang , Wu Zhijun
Published: April 2019

This paper focuses on the load imbalance problem in System Wide Information Management (SWIM) task scheduling. In order to meet the quality requirements of users for task completion, we studied large-scale network information system task scheduling methods. Combined with the traditional ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm, using the hardware performance quality index and load standard deviation function of SWIM resource nodes to update the pheromone, a SWIM ant colony task scheduling algorithm based on load balancing (ACTS-LB) is presented in this paper. The experimental simulation results show that the ACTS-LB algorithm performance is better than the traditional min-min algorithm, ACO algorithm and particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. It not only reduces the task execution time and improves the utilization of system resources, but also can maintain SWIM in a more load balanced state.
Genetic Effects of LPIN1 Polymorphisms on Milk Production Traits in Dairy Cattle
Authors: Han Bo , Yuan Yuwei , Liang Ruobing , Li Yanhua , Liu Lin , Sun Dongxiao
Published: April 2019

Our initial RNA sequencing work identified that lipin 1 (LPIN1) was differentially expressed during dry period, early lactation, and peak of lactation in dairy cows, and it was enriched into the fat metabolic Gene Ontology (GO) terms and pathways, thus we considered LPIN1 as the candidate gene for milk production traits. In this study, we detected the polymorphisms of LPIN1 and verified their genetic effects on milk yield and composition in a Chinese Holstein cow population. We found seven SNPs by re-sequencing the entire coding region and partial flanking region of LPIN1, including one in 5′ flanking region, four in exons, and two in 3′ flanking region. Of these, four SNPs, c.637T > C, c.708A > G, c.1521C > T, and c.1555A > C, in the exons were predicted to result in the amino acid replacements. With the Haploview 4.2, we found that seven SNPs in LPIN1 formed two haplotype blocks (D′ = 0.98–1.00). Single-SNP association analyses showed that SNPs were significantly associated with milk yield, fat yield, fat percentage, or protein yield in the first or second lactation (p = < 0.0001–0.0457), and only g.86049389C > T was strongly associated with protein percentage in both lactations (p = 0.0144 and 0.0237). The haplotype-based association analyses showed that the two haplotype blocks were significantly associated with milk yield, fat yield, protein yield, or protein percentage (p = < 0.0001–0.0383). By quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), we found that LPIN1 had relatively high expression in mammary gland and liver tissues. Furthermore, we predicted three SNPs, c.637T > C, c.708A > G, and c.1521C > T, using SOPMA software, changing the LPIN1 protein structure that might be potential functional mutations. In summary, we demonstrated the significant genetic effects of LPIN1 on milk production traits, and the identified SNPs could serve as genetic markers for dairy breeding.
Neural Ganglia Transcriptome and Peptidome Associated with Sexual Maturation in Female Pacific Abalone (Haliotis discus hannai)
Authors: Kim Mi Ae , Markkandan Kesavan , Han Na-Young , Park Jong-Moon , Lee Jung Sick , Lee Hookeun , Sohn Young Chang
Published: April 2019

Genetic information of reproduction and growth is essential for sustainable molluscan fisheries and aquaculture management. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the reproductive activity of the commercially important Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai. We performed de novo transcriptome sequencing of the ganglia in sexually immature and mature female Pacific abalone to better understand the sexual maturation process and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Of the ~305 million high-quality clean reads, 76,684 transcripts were de novo-assembled with an average length of 741 bp, 28.54% of which were annotated and classified according to Gene Ontology terms. There were 256 differentially expressed genes between the immature and mature abalone. Tandem mass spectrometry analysis, as compared to the predicted-peptide database of abalone ganglia transcriptome unigenes, identified 42 neuropeptide precursors, including 29 validated by peptidomic analyses. Label-free quantification revealed differential occurrences of 18 neuropeptide families between immature and mature abalone, including achatin, FMRFamide, crustacean cardioactive peptide, and pedal peptide A and B that were significantly more frequent at the mature stage. These results represent the first significant contribution to both maturation-related transcriptomic and peptidomic resources of the Pacific abalone ganglia and provide insight into the roles of various neuropeptides in reproductive regulation in marine gastropods.
Characterization of Microbiota Associated with Digesta and Mucosa in Different Regions of Gastrointestinal Tract of Nursery Pigs
Authors: Adhikari Bishnu , Kim Sung Woo , Kwon Young Min
Published: April 2019

Weaning is a crucial period when piglets have to cope with sudden dietary, social, and environmental stressors that often lead to serious intestinal dysbiosis and mortality. In this study, five mucosal and five digesta samples from each proximate jejunum, distal jejunum, and mid-colon were collected from 7- and 27-day post-weaned pigs and subjected to microbiota analysis using 16S rRNA gene profiling. Taxonomic analysis at phylum level revealed that Proteobacteria was significantly higher at 7 days (13.54%), while Bacteriodetes was higher at 27 days (30.72%) post weaning. Genera such as Campylobacter, Veillonella, Helicobacter, and Blautia that were previously reported in intestinal dysbiosis were significantly enriched in seven-day post-weaned pigs. However, microbial communities shifted as post weaning age increased with a significant increase in alpha diversity, and genera such as Moryella, Dialister, Clostridium, Streptococcus, Prevotella, and Bacteroides become significantly abundant in 27-day post-weaned pigs. Interestingly, the genus Campylobacter was significantly abundant on seven-day post-weaning in two piglets with diarrhea, implicating its role in post-weaning diarrhea. The results of this study suggest that gut microbiota in pigs with dysbiosis on 7-day post weaning undergoes significant changes toward a more normal state as the post-weaning age reaches 27 days.
Sphingosine-1-phosphate in Endothelial Cell Recellularization Improves Patency and Endothelialization of Decellularized Vascular Grafts In Vivo
Authors: Hsia Kai , Lin Chih-Hsun , Lee Hsin-Yu , Chen Wei-Min , Yao Chao-Ling , Chen Chien-Chin , Ma Hsu , Wang Shyh-Jen , Lu Jen-Her
Published: April 2019

Background: S1P has been shown to improve the endothelialization of decellularized vascular grafts in vitro. Here, we evaluated the potential of tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) constructed by ECs and S1P on decellularized vascular scaffolds in a rat model. Methods: Rat aorta was decellularized mainly by 0.1% SDS and characterized by histology. Rat ECs, were seeded onto decellularized scaffolds, and the viability of the ECs was evaluated by biochemical assays. Then, we investigated the in vivo patency rate and endothelialization for five groups of decellularized vascular grafts (each n = 6) in a rat abdominal aorta model for 14 days. The five groups included (1) rat allogenic aorta (RAA); (2) decellularized RAA (DRAA); (3) DRAA with S1P (DRAA/S1P); (4) DRAA with EC recellularization (DRAA/EC); and (5) DRAA with S1P and EC recellularization (DRAA/EC/S1P). Results: In vitro, ECs were identified by the uptake of Dil-Ac-LDL. S1P enhanced the expression of syndecan-1 on ECs and supported the proliferation of ECs on decellularized vascular grafts. In vivo, RAA and DRAA/EC/S1P both had 100% patency without thrombus formation within 14 days. Better endothelialization, more wall structure maintenance and less inflammation were noted in the DRAA/EC/S1P group. In contrast, there was thrombus formation in the DRAA, DRAA/S1P and DRAA/EC groups. Conclusion: S1P could inhibit thrombus formation to improve the patency rate of EC-covered decellularized vascular grafts in vivo and may play an important role in the construction of TEVGs.
Individual Immune-Modulatory Capabilities of MSC-Derived Extracellular Vesicle (EV) Preparations and Recipient-Dependent Responsiveness
Authors: Kordelas Lambros , Schwich Esther , Dittrich Robin , Horn Peter A. , Beelen Dietrich W. , Börger Verena , Giebel Bernd , Rebmann Vera
Published: April 2019

Treatment with extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) have been suggested as novel therapeutic option in acute inflammation-associated disorders due to their immune-modulatory capacities. As we have previously observed differences in the cytokine profile of independent MSC-EV preparations, functional differences of MSC-EV preparations have to be considered. To evaluate the immune-modulatory capabilities of specific MSC-EV preparations, reliable assays are required to characterize the functionality of MSC-EV preparations prior to administration to a patient. To this end, we established an in vitro assay evaluating the immune-modulatory capacities of MSC-EV preparations. Here, we compared the efficacy of four independent MSC-EV preparations to modulate the induction of T cell differentiation and cytokine production after phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)/Ionomycin stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) derived from six healthy donors. Flow cytometric analyses revealed that the four MSC-EV preparations differentially modulate the expression of surface markers, such as CD45RA, on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, resulting in shifts in the frequencies of effector and effector memory T cells. Moreover, cytokine profile in T cell subsets was affected in a MSC-EV-specific manner exclusively in CD8+ naïve T cells. Strikingly, hierarchical clustering revealed that the T cell response towards the MSC-EV preparations largely varied among the different PBMC donors. Thus, besides defining functional activity of MSC-EV preparations, it will be crucial to test whether patients intended for treatment with MSC-EV preparations are in principal competent to respond to the envisioned MSC-EV therapy.
Utility of ALT Concentration in Men and Women with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Cohort Study
Authors: Sung Ki-Chul , Lee Mi-Yeon , Lee Jong-Young , Lee Sung-Ho , Kim Seong-Hwan , Kim Sun H.
Published: April 2019

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT), but the clinical utility of ALT in detecting and following individuals with NAFLD remains unclear. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 30,988 men and 5204 women with NAFLD diagnosed by ultrasound and stratified them according to sex-specific ALT quartiles. We compared metabolic variables at baseline and repeated ultrasound after at least 6 months among ALT quartiles (Q) in men (Q1 5–24, Q2 25–33, Q3 34–48, Q4 ≥ 49 IU/L) and women (Q1 5–14, Q2 15–20, Q3 21–28, Q4 ≥ 29 IU/L). Prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) and metabolic abnormalities (glucose intolerance, hypertension) significantly (p < 0.001) increased from ALT Q1 to Q4 in both men and women at baseline. After a mean follow-up of 4.93 years, 17.6% of men and 31.1% of women resolved their NAFLD. The odds ratio (OR) of resolving significantly (p < 0.001) decreased by quartiles even after multiple adjustments. The adjusted OR for resolution in Q4 was 0.20 (0.18–0.23) in men and 0.35 (0.26–0.47) in women compared with Q1. Individuals with NAFLD span the full range of ALT concentrations, but those with the highest ALT have the worst metabolic profile and persistent NAFLD.
Fluctuations in Serum Chloride and Acute Kidney Injury among Critically Ill Patients: A Retrospective Association Study
Authors: Oh Tak Kyu , Song In-Ae , Jeon Young-Tae , Jo You Hwan
Published: April 2019

Exposure to dyschloremia among critically ill patients is associated with an increased risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). We aimed to investigate how fluctuations in serum chloride (Cl−) are associated with the development of AKI in critically ill patients. We retrospectively analyzed medical records of adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) between January 2012 and December 2017. Positive and negative fluctuations in Cl− were defined as the difference between the baseline Cl- and maximum Cl- levels and the difference between the baseline Cl− and minimum Cl− levels measured within 72 h after ICU admission, respectively. In total, 19,707 patients were included. The odds of developing AKI increased 1.06-fold for every 1 mmol L−1 increase in the positive fluctuations in Cl− (odds ratio: 1.06; 95% confidence interval: 1.04 to 1.08; p < 0.001) and 1.04-fold for every 1 mmol L−1 increase in the negative fluctuations in Cl− (odds ratio: 1.04; 95% confidence interval: 1.02 to 1.06; p < 0.001). Increases in both the positive and negative fluctuations in Cl- after ICU admission were associated with an increased risk of AKI. Furthermore, these associations differed based on the functional status of the kidneys at ICU admission or postoperative ICU admission.
Research on the Surface Evolution of Single Crystal Silicon Mirror Contaminated by Metallic Elements during Elastic Jet Polishing Techniques
Authors: Zhang Wanli , Shi Feng , Dai Yifan , Zhong Yaoyu , Song Ci , Tian Ye
Published: April 2019

Metallic elements can contaminate single crystal silicon mirror during ion beam etching (IBE) and other postprocessing methods, which can affect the performance of components in an infrared laser system. In this work, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) were used to characterize the distribution of contaminant represented by aluminum (Al). After characterizing contaminated area, elastic jet polishing (EJP), EJP, and static alkaline etching (SAE) combined technique were used to process the mirror. The morphology and laser-induced absorption were measured. Results show that metallic elements can mix with silicon and generate bulges due to the sputtering effect. In addition, SAE and EJP combined technique can remove metallic contaminant and stabilize the surface quality. Research results can be a reference on conducting postprocessing technologies to improve laser damage resistance property of single crystal silicon mirror in infrared laser system.
Accelerated Microbial Reduction of Azo Dye by Using Biochar from Iron-Rich-Biomass Pyrolysis
Authors: Tan Wenbing , Wang Lei , Yu Hanxia , Zhang Hui , Zhang Xiaohui , Jia Yufu , Li Tongtong , Dang Qiuling , Cui Dongyu , Xi Beidou
Published: April 2019

Biochar is widely used in the environmental-protection field. This study presents the first investigation of the mechanism of biochar prepared using iron (Fe)-rich biomass and its impact on the reductive removals of Orange G dye by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. The results show that biochars significantly accelerated electron transfer from cells to Orange G and thus stimulated reductive removal rate to 72–97%. Both the conductive domains and the charging and discharging of surface functional groups in biochars played crucial roles in the microbial reduction of Orange G to aniline. A high Fe content of the precursor significantly enhanced the conductor performance of the produced biochar and thus enabled the biochar to have a higher reductive removal rate of Orange G (97%) compared to the biochar prepared using low-Fe precursor (75%), but did not promote the charging and discharging capacity of the produced biochar. This study can prompt the search for natural biomass with high Fe content to confer the produced biochar with wide-ranging applications in stimulating the microbial reduction of redox-active pollutants.
Pitting Corrosion of Natural Aged Al–Mg–Si Extrusion Profile
Authors: Guan Quanmei , Sun Jing , Wang William Yi , Gao Junfeng , Zou Chengxiong , Wang Jun , Tang Bin , Kou Hongchao , Wang Haisheng , Hou Jianying , Gao Jun , Ma Jijun , Li Jinshan
Published: April 2019

With the quick development of the high-speed railway and the service of the China Railway High-speed (CRH) series for almost a decade, one of the greatest challenges is the management/maintenance of these trains in environmental conditions. It is critical to estimate pitting damage initiation and accumulation and set up a corresponding database in order to support the foundations for interactive corrosion risk management. In this work, the pitting corrosion of a nature-aged commercial 6005A-T6 aluminum extrusion profile for 200 days was studied comprehensively. The heterogeneous microstructures were conventionally identified by the in situ eddy current, suggesting which investigated regions to fabricate samples for. After constant immersion for 240 h in 3.5 wt % NaCl, the shapes and depths of the pits were captured and measured by optical microscope (OM) and three-dimensional optical profilometry (OP), providing detailed quantification of uniform pitting corrosion. The typical features of the pits dominated by the distribution of precipitates include the peripheral dissolution of the Al matrix, channeling corrosion, intergranular attack, and large pits in the grains. Due to the high density of continuous anodic and cathodic particles constituted by alloying elements in coarse grains, the number of pits in the coarse grains was the highest while the number in the fine grains was the lowest, indicating that fine grains have the best corrosion resistance. The experimental dataset of the pit depth integrated with its corresponding microstructure would set the benchmark for further modeling of the pit depth and the remaining ductility, in order to manage the damage tolerance of the materials.
Scanning Rate Extension of Conventional DSCs through Indirect Measurements
Authors: Fröck Hannes , Reich Michael , Milkereit Benjamin , Kessler Olaf
Published: April 2019

In this work, a method is presented which allows the determination of calorimetric information, and thus, information about the precipitation and dissolution behavior of aluminum alloys during heating rates that could not be previously measured. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is an established method for in-situ recording of dissolution and precipitation reactions in various aluminum alloys. Diverse types of DSC devices are suitable for different ranges of scanning rates. A combination of the various available commercial devices enables heating and cooling rates from 10−4 to 5 Ks−1 to be covered. However, in some manufacturing steps of aluminum alloys, heating rates up to several 100 Ks−1 are important. Currently, conventional DSC cannot achieve these high heating rates and they are still too slow for the chip-sensor based fast scanning calorimetry. In order to fill the gap, an indirect measurement method has been developed, which allows the determination of qualitative information, regarding the precipitation state, at various points of any heat treatment. Different rapid heat treatments were carried out on samples of an alloy EN AW-6082 in a quenching dilatometer and terminated at defined temperatures. Subsequent reheating of the samples in the DSC enables analysis of the precipitation state of the heat-treated samples. This method allows for previously un-measurable heat treatments to get information about the occurring precipitation and dissolution reactions during short-term heat treatments.
Corrosion Processes on Weathering Steel Bridges Influenced by Deposition of De-Icing Salts
Authors: Křivý Vít , Kubzová Monika , Konečný Petr , Kreislová Kateřina
Published: April 2019

The safety and durability of bridges designed from weathering steels are conditioned by the development of a sufficiently protective layer of corrosion products. Air pollution, microclimate around the bridge, time of wetness, structural solution of the bridge, and the position and orientation of the surface within the bridge structure all influence the development of protective layers on the surface of the weathering steel. In this article, attention is focused mainly on the microclimatic effects resulting from the road traffic under the bridge. The influence of chloride deposition on the development of corrosion products is evaluated using experimental in situ testing. Two neighboring bridges made of weathering steel and crossing different types of obstacles were selected for this experiment. Relations and dependences between the measured parameters (deposition rate of chlorides, corrosion rates, thickness of corrosion products and the amount of chlorides in corrosion products) are evaluated and discussed.
On the Microstructure and Isothermal Oxidation of Silica and Alumina Scale Forming Si-23Fe-15Cr-15Ti-1Nb and Si-25Nb-5Al-5Cr-5Ti (at.%) Silicide Alloys
Authors: Hernández-Negrete Ofelia , Tsakiropoulos Panos
Published: April 2019

An Nb-silicide based alloy will require some kind of coating system. Alumina and/or SiO2 forming alloys that are chemically compatible with the substrate could be components of such systems. In this work, the microstructures, and isothermal oxidation at 800 °C and 1200 °C of the alloys (at.%) Si-23Fe-15Cr-15Ti-1Nb (OHC1) and Si-25Nb-5Al-5Cr-5Ti (OHC5) were studied. The cast microstructures consisted of the (TM)6Si5, FeSi2Ti and (Fe,Cr)Si (OHC1), and the (Nb,Ti)(Si,Al)2, (Nb,Cr,Ti)6Si5, (Cr,Ti,Nb)(Si,Al)2 (Si)ss and (Al)ss (OHC5) phases. The same compounds were present in OHC1 at 1200 °C and the (Nb,Ti)(Si,Al)2 and (Nb,Cr,Ti)6Si5 in OHC5 at 1400 °C. In OHC1 the (TM)6Si5 was the primary phase, and the FeSi and FeSi2Ti formed a binary eutectic. In OHC5 the (Nb,Ti)(Si,Al)2 was the primary phase. At 800 °C both alloys did not pest. The scale of OHC1 was composed of SiO2, TiO2 and (Cr,Fe)2O3. The OHC5 formed a very thin and adherent scale composed of Al2O3, SiO2 and (Ti(1−x−y),Crx,Nby)O2. The scale on (Cr,Ti,Nb)(Si,Al)2 had an outer layer of SiO2 and Al2O3 and an inner layer of Al2O3. The scale on the (Nb,Cr,Ti)6Si5 was thin, and consisted of (Ti(1−x−y),Crx,Nby)O2 and SiO2 and some Al2O3 near the edges. In (Nb,Ti)(Si,Al)2 the critical Al concentration for the formation of Al2O3 scale was 3 at.%. For Al < 3 at.% there was internal oxidation. At 1200 °C the scale of OHC1 was composed of a SiO2 inner layer and outer layers of Cr2O3 and TiO2, and there was internal oxidation. It is most likely that a eutectic reaction had occurred in the scale. The scale of OHC5 was α-Al2O3. Both alloys exhibited good correlations with alumina forming Nb-Ti-Si-Al-Hf alloys and with non-pesting and oxidation resistant B containing Nb-silicide based alloys in maps of the parameters δ, Δχ and VEC.
Preparation and Investigation of Intelligent Polymeric Nanocapsule for Enhanced Oil Recovery
Authors: Shi Fang , Wu Jingchun , Zhao Bo
Published: April 2019

Micro-/nanomotors colloidal particles have attracted increasing interest as composite surfactants, owing to the combined advantages of both Janus solid surfactants and micro-/nanomotors. Here we put micro-/nanomotors colloidal particles into hollow polymeric micro-encapsulates. An intelligent polymeric nanocapsule was prepared for enhanced oil recovery by the self-assembly method. The particle size range of the polymeric capsule can be controlled between 20 to 1000 nm by adjusting the cross-linking thickness of the capsule’s outer membrane. The average particle size of polymeric capsules prepared in the study was 300 nm. The structure and properties of the Intelligent polymeric nanocapsule was characterized by a wide range of technics such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy by laser diffraction, fluorescence microscopy, pendant drop tensiometer, laser particle size instrument, and interface tension analyzer. It was found that the intelligent polymeric nanocapsule exhibited significant interfacial activity at the oil-water interface. When the Janus particles’ concentration reached saturation concentration, the adsorption of the amphiphilic nanoparticles at the interface was saturated, and the equilibrium surface tension dropped to around 31 mN/m. When the particles’ concentration reached a critical concentration of aggregation, the Gibbs stability criterion was fulfilled. The intelligent polymeric nanocapsule system has a better plugging and enhanced oil recovery capacity. The results obtained provide fundamental insights into the understanding of the assembly behavior and emulsifying properties of the intelligent polymeric nanocapsule, and further demonstrate the future potential of the intelligent polymeric nanocapsule used as colloid surfactants for enhanced oil recovery applications.
Decoration of Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotubes with Semiconductor Nanoparticles Using Atomic Layer Deposition
Authors: Szabó Anna , Bakos László Péter , Karajz Dániel , Gyulavári Tamás , Tóth Zsejke-Réka , Pap Zsolt , Szilágyi Imre Miklós , Igricz Tamás , Parditka Bence , Erdélyi Zoltán , Hernadi Klara
Published: April 2019

Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs or “CNT forest”) were decorated with semiconductor particles (TiO2 and ZnO) by atomic layer deposition (ALD). Both the structure and morphology of the components were systematically studied using scanning (SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods. Characterization results revealed that the decoration was successful in the whole bulk of VACNTs. The effect of a follow-up heat treatment was also investigated and its effect on the structure was proved. It was attested that atomic layer deposition is a suitable technique for the fabrication of semiconductor/vertically aligned carbon nanotubes composites. Regarding their technological importance, we hope that semiconductor/CNT forest nanocomposites find potential application in the near future.
Nanocomposites SnO2/SiO2 for CO Gas Sensors: Microstructure and Reactivity in the Interaction with the Gas Phase
Authors: Gulevich Dayana , Rumyantseva Marina , Gerasimov Evgeny , Marikutsa Artem , Krivetskiy Valeriy , Shatalova Tatyana , Khmelevsky Nikolay , Gaskov Alexander
Published: April 2019

Nanocomposites SnO2/SiO2 with a silicon content of [Si]/([Sn] + [Si]) = 3/86 mol.% were obtained by the hydrothermal method. The composition and microstructure of the samples were characterized by EDX, XRD, HRTEM and single-point Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) methods. The surface sites were investigated using thermal analysis, FTIR and XPS. It is shown that the insertion of silicon dioxide up to the value of [Si]/([Sn] + [Si]) = 19 mol.% stabilizes the growth of SnO2 nanoparticles during high-temperature annealing, which makes it possible to obtain sensor materials operating stably at different temperature conditions. The sensor properties of SnO2 and SnO2/SiO2 nanocomposites were studied by in situ conductivity measurements in the presence of 10–200 ppm CO in dry and humid air in the temperature range of 150–400 °C. It was found that SnO2/SiO2 nanocomposites are more sensitive to CO in humid air as compared to pure SnO2, and the sample with silicon content [Si]/([Sn] + [Si]) = 13 mol.% is resistant to changes in relative air humidity (RH = 4%–65%) in the whole temperature range, which makes it a promising sensor material for detecting CO in real conditions. The results are discussed in terms of the changes in the composition of surface-active groups, which alters the reactivity of the obtained materials.
Influence of TiO2 Nanoparticles on Liquid Crystalline, Structural and Electrochemical Properties of (8Z)-N-(4-((Z)-(4-pentylphenylimino)methyl)benzylidene)-4-pentylbenzenamine
Authors: Różycka Anna , Bogdanowicz Krzysztof Artur , Górska Natalia , Rysz Jakub , Marzec Monika , Iwan Agnieszka , Pich Robert , Januszko Adam
Published: April 2019

Organic–inorganic hybrids based on liquid crystalline symmetrical imine (8Z)-N-(4-((Z)-(4-pentylphenylimino)methyl)benzylidene)-4-pentylbenzenamine (AZJ1) with two aliphatic chains and TiO2 nanomaterials were obtained and investigated taking into account thr crystallographic form of titanium dioxide i.e., anatase versus rutile. The type of TiO2 influences the mesomorphic properties of imine AZJ1, as observed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarizing optical microscopy (POM) techniques. Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to investigate the interactions of oxygen vacancies located on the TiO2 surface with the studied AZJ1 imine together with studying the influence of temperature. Both imine:TiO2 anatase versus rutile hybrids possessed the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) levels of about −5.39 eV (AZJ1:anatase) and −5.33 eV (AZJ1:rutile) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) levels of about −2.24 eV. The presence of TiO2 in each hybrid did not strongly affect the redox properties of imine AZJ1. Organic devices with the configuration of ITO/TiO2/AZJ1 (or AZJ1:TiO2 anatase versus rutile)/Au were fabricated and investigated in the presence and absence of visible light irradiation with a light intensity of 93 mW/cm2. Finally, to analyze defects in the constructed organic devices we used thermal imaging and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The addition of TiO2 in both crystallographic forms has a positive influence on layer-forming properties that manifests itself as a very homogenous heat distribution for the whole sample.
Axial Compression Performance of Square Thin Walled Concrete-Filled Steel Tube Stub Columns with Reinforcement Stiffener under Constant High-Temperature
Authors: Lyu Xuetao , Xu Yang , Xu Qian , Yu Yang
Published: April 2019

This study investigated the axial compressive performance of six thin-walled concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) square column specimens with steel bar stiffeners and two non-stiffened specimens at constant temperatures of 20 °C, 100 °C, 200 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C and 800 °C. The mechanical properties of the specimens at different temperatures were analyzed in terms of the ultimate bearing capacity, failure mode, and load–displacement curve. The experiment results show that at high temperature, even though the mechanical properties of the specimens declined, leading to a decrease of the ultimate bearing capacity, the ductility and deformation capacity of the specimens improved inversely. Based on finite element software ABAQUS, numerical models were developed to calculate both temperature and mechanical fields, the results of which were in good agreement with experimental results. Then, the stress mechanism of eight specimens was analyzed using established numerical models. The analysis results show that with the increase of temperature, the longitudinal stress gradient of the concrete in the specimen column increases while the stress value decreases. The lateral restraint of the stiffeners is capable of restraining the steel outer buckling and enhancing the restraint effect on the concrete.
Discovery of Natural Dimeric Naphthopyrones as Potential Cytotoxic Agents through ROS-Mediated Apoptotic Pathway
Authors: Xu Kuo , Guo Chuanlong , Meng Jie , Tian Haiying , Guo Shuju , Shi Dayong
Published: April 2019

A study on the secondary metabolites of Aspergillus sp. XNM-4, which was derived from marine algae Leathesia nana (Chordariaceae), led to the identification of one previously undescribed (1) and seventeen known compounds (2–18). Their planar structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analyses, while the stereochemical assignments were defined by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. The biological activities of the compounds were assessed on five human cancer cell lines (PANC-1, A549, MDA-MB-231, Caco-2, and SK-OV-3), and one human normal cell line (HL-7702) using an MTT [3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] assay. Among them, the dimeric naphthopyrones 7, 10 and 12 exhibited potent cytotoxicity. Further mechanism studies showed that 12 induced apoptosis, arrested the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase in the PANC-1 cells, caused morphological changes and generated ROS; and it induces PANC-1 cells apoptosis via ROS-mediated PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity as a Measure of Cardiovascular Risk in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Two-Year Follow-Up Data from the ARCADE Study
Authors: Gale Nichola S. , Albarrati Ali M. , Munnery Margaret M. , Mcdonnell Barry J. , Benson Victoria S. , Tal-Singer Ruth M. , Cockcroft John R. , Shale Dennis J.
Published: April 2019

Background and objectives: Cardiovascular (CV) disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients with COPD have increased arterial stiffness, which may predict future CV risk. However, the development of arterial stiffness in COPD has not yet been studied prospectively. The Assessment of Risk in Chronic Airways Disease Evaluation (ARCADE) is a longitudinal study of CV risk and other comorbidities in COPD. The aims of this analysis were to explore factors associated with aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) at baseline and to describe the progression of aPWV in patients with COPD and comparators over two years. Materials and methods: At baseline, 520 patients with COPD (confirmed by spirometry) and 150 comparators free from respiratory disease were assessed for body composition, blood pressure, aPWV, noninvasive measures of cardiac output, inflammatory biomarkers, and exercise capacity. This was repeated after two years, and mortality cases and causes were also recorded. Results: At baseline, aPWV was greater in COPD patients 9.8 (95% confidence interval (CI) 9.7–10) versus comparators 8.7 (8.5–9.1) m/s (p < 0.01) after adjustments for age, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate. Mean blood pressure was 98 ± 11 in COPD patients and 95 ± 10 mmHg in comparators at baseline (p = 0.004). After two years, 301 patients and 105 comparators were fully reassessed. The mean (95% CI) aPWV increased similarly in patients 0.44 (0.25–0.63) and comparators 0.46 (0.23–0.69) m/s, without a change in blood pressure. At the two-year follow-up, there were 29 (6%) deaths in COPD patients, with the majority due to respiratory causes, with an overall dropout of 43% of patients with COPD and 30% of comparators. Conclusions: This was the first large longitudinal study of CV risk in COPD patients, and we confirmed greater aPWV in COPD patients than comparators after adjustments for confounding factors. After two years, patients and comparators had a similar increase of almost 0.5 m/s aPWV.
Effect of Thermodynamic Melt Formation Characteristics on Liquid Phase Fluidity of Iron Ore in the Sintering Process
Authors: Wu Shengli , Li Heping , Zhang Weili , Su Bo
Published: April 2019

The liquid phase fluidity of iron ore is a vital index of fundamental sintering characteristics. In this paper, FactSage software and a visible microsintering test device were used to research the influence of the thermodynamic melt characteristics on the liquid phase fluidity under fixed CaO content conditions. The results show that the laws governing liquid phase fluidity of iron ore are significantly different with a fixed alkalinity and fixed CaO content of the sample. The liquid phase content at the sintering temperature is the most important thermodynamic melt formation characteristic affecting the liquid phase fluidity. In addition to the liquid phase content, other minerals also have a greater impact on liquid phase fluidity. Decreasing the viscosity of the liquid phase improves the liquid phase fluidity of the iron ore, and the effect of the SiO2 content of the iron ore on the mixed phase viscosity is greater than that of the Al2O3 content.
Identification of N-Oxide-Containing Aromatic Heterocycles as Pharmacophores for Rumen Fermentation Modifiers
Authors: Bonifacino Carla , Rodríguez Gonzalo , Pérez-Ruchel Analía , Repetto José Luis , Cerecetto Hugo , Cajarville Cecilia , González Mercedes
Published: April 2019

Different strategies have been used to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from domesticated ruminants, including the removal of protozoa (defaunation). The objective of the present work was to analyze the potential of different N-oxide-containing aromatic heterocycles with known antiprotozoal activity as rumen-gas-abating agents. Nineteen pure compounds, belonging to seven different N-oxide chemotypes from our chemo-library were studied together with monensin in an in vitro rumen simulation assay. Fermentation profiles, i.e., gas production, pH, and short carboxylic acid concentrations, were compared to an untreated control at 96 h post inoculation. In our study, we investigated whole-ruminal fluid, with and without compound treatments, by NMR spectroscopy focusing on concentrations of the metabolites acetate, propionate, butyrate, and lactate. From data analysis, three of the compounds from different N-oxide chemotypes, including quinoxaline dioxide, benzofuroxan, and methylfuroxan, were able to diminish the production of gases such as monensin with similar gas production lag times for each of them. Additionally, unlike monensin, one methylfuroxan did not decrease the rumen pH during the analyzed incubation time, shifting rumen fermentation to increase the molar concentrations of propionate and butyrate. These facts suggest interesting alternatives as feed supplements to control gas emissions from dairy ruminants.
Transcriptomic Responses to Thermal Stress and Varied Phosphorus Conditions in Fugacium kawagutii
Authors: Lin Senjie , Yu Liying , Zhang Huan
Published: April 2019

Coral reef-associated Symbiodiniaceae live in tropical and oligotrophic environments and are prone to heat and nutrient stress. How their metabolic pathways respond to pulses of warming and phosphorus (P) depletion is underexplored. Here, we conducted RNA-seq analysis to investigate transcriptomic responses to thermal stress, phosphate deprivation, and organic phosphorus (OP) replacement in Fugacium kawagutii. Using dual-algorithm (edgeR and NOIseq) to remedy the problem of no replicates, we conservatively found 357 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under heat stress, potentially regulating cell wall modulation and the transport of iron, oxygen, and major nutrients. About 396 DEGs were detected under P deprivation and 671 under OP utilization, both mostly up-regulated and potentially involved in photosystem and defensome, despite different KEGG pathway enrichments. Additionally, we identified 221 genes that showed relatively stable expression levels across all conditions (likely core genes), mostly catalytic and binding proteins. This study reveals a wide range of, and in many cases previously unrecognized, molecular mechanisms in F. kawagutii to cope with heat stress and phosphorus-deficiency stress. Their quantitative expression dynamics, however, requires further verification with triplicated experiments, and the data reported here only provide clues for generating testable hypotheses about molecular mechanisms underpinning responses and adaptation in F. kawagutii to temperature and nutrient stresses.
Determination of Hg in Farmed and Wild Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus L.) Muscle
Authors: Annibaldi Anna , Truzzi Cristina , Carnevali Oliana , Pignalosa Paolo , Api Martina , Scarponi Giuseppe , Illuminati Silvia
Published: April 2019

Mercury (Hg) is a well-known toxic element, diffused in the environment, especially in the Mediterranean Sea which is rich in cinnabar deposits. Mercury bioaccumulation in fish is of great concern, especially for top-level aquatic predators (e.g., shark, tuna, swordfish) and above all for species of large human consumption and high nutritional value. This work aimed to determine Hg concentrations in farmed and wild Atlantic Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) caught in the Mediterranean area in order to evaluate the level of Hg bioaccumulation. selenium (Se) content was also determined, since this element is an antagonist of mercury toxicity. Mercury and Se were analysed by atomic absorption spectrometry after microwave digestion of the samples. Hg content in farmed tuna was below the legal limit (1 mg/kg, wet weight, w.w.) for all specimens (0.6 ± 0.2 mg/kg), whereas the wild ones had a content over the limit (1.7 ± 0.6 mg/kg); Se concentration was higher in farmed specimens (1.1 ± 0.9 mg/kg) compared to wild ones (0.6 ± 0.3 mg/kg). A safe seafood could show a Se/Hg ratio >1 and a health benefit value (HBVSe) > 0: farmed tuna had higher values than the wild specimens (Se/Hg 5.48 vs. 1.32; HBVSe 11.16 vs. 0.29). These results demonstrate that for Hg, there is a better risk/benefit ratio in farmed T. thynnus. making it safer than wild tuna.