bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Different Raw Material Property for the Fabrication on Al/CNT Nanocomposite Using a Ball Mill with a Discrete Element Method (DEM) Simulation
Authors: Jargalsaikhan Battsetseg , Bor Amgalan , Lee Jehyun , Choi Heekyu
Published: October 2019

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have received interest as an attractive reinforcing agent metal matrix composites regarded as an increase to mechanical properties of the final product. Aluminum/carbon nanotubes (Al/CNTs) nanocomposites were observed with different raw material at the optimized experimental condition. In this study, Al-based CNTs composites were three different samples, including un-milled Al, un-milled Al with CNTs, and milled Al with CNTs nanocomposites in the presence of additional CNTs with various experimental conditions while using a traditional ball mill (TBM). The particle morphology and CNT dispersions of milled composites were respectively analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and the mechanical properties of the fabricated composites were tested. In each sample, CNTs were well dispersed on the surface of Al powder at different experimental conditions for milling in a TBM. The Al/CNTs nanocomposites were processed by compacting, sintering and rolling process. The Vickers hardness was used to characterize the mechanical properties. The hardness of Al/CNTs nanocomposites that were fabricated with milled Al with CNT was higher than the reached to in the nanocomposites prepared with the use of un-milled Al with CNT nanocomposites. Therefore, the discrete element method (DEM) simulation was used to complete quantitative analysis. The flow pattern, impact force, and energy at various experimental conditions are considered. The results of the simulations are compared with experimental data.
A Continuum Damage Model for Intralaminar Progressive Failure Analysis of CFRP Laminates Based on the Modified Puck’s Theory
Authors: Gu Jiefei , Li Ke , Su Lei
Published: October 2019

A continuum damage model is proposed to predict the intralaminar progressive failure of CFRP laminates based on the modified Puck’s theory. Puck’s failure criteria, with consideration of the in situ strength effect, are employed to evaluate the onset of intralaminar failure including fiber fracture and inter-fiber fracture. After damage initiation, a bilinear constitutive relation is used to describe the damage evolution process. In strict accordance with Puck’s concept of action plane, the extent of damage is quantified by the damage variables defined in the fracture plane coordinate system, rather than the traditional material principal coordinate system. Theoretical and experimental evaluation of CFRP laminates under different loading conditions demonstrates the rationality and effectiveness of the proposed numerical model. The model has been successfully implemented in a finite element (FE) software to simulate the intralaminar progressive failure process of CFRP laminates. A good agreement between the experimental and numerical results demonstrates that the present model is capable of predicting the intralaminar failure of CFRP laminates.
Physical Mechanism of Concrete Damage under Compression
Authors: Liu Hankun , Ren Xiaodan , Liang Shixue , Li Jie
Published: October 2019

Although considerable effort has been taken regarding concrete damage, the physical mechanism of concrete damage under compression remains unknown. This paper presents, for the first time, the physical reality of the damage of concrete under compression in the view of statistical and probabilistic information (SPI) at the mesoscale. To investigate the mesoscale compressive fracture, the confined force chain buckling model is proposed; using which the mesoscale parameters concerned could be directly from nanoindentation by random field theory. Then, the mesoscale parameters could also be identified from macro-testing using the stochastic damage model. In addition, the link between these two mesoscale parameters could be established by the relative entropy. A good agreement between them from nano- and macro- testing when the constraint factor approaches around 33, indicates that the mesoscale parameters in the stochastic damage model could be verified through the present research. Our results suggest that concrete damage is strongly dependent on the mesoscale random failure, where meso-randomness originates from intrinsic meso-inhomogeneity and meso-fracture arises physically from the buckling of the confined force chain system. The mesoscale random buckling of the confined force chain system above tends to constitute the physical mechanism of concrete damage under compression.
Does a High Amount of Unhydrated Portland Cement Ensure an Effective Autogenous Self-Healing of Mortar?
Authors: Rajczakowska Magdalena , Nilsson Lennart , Habermehl-Cwirzen Karin , Hedlund Hans , Cwirzen Andrzej
Published: October 2019

It is commonly accepted that the autogenous self-healing of concrete is mainly controlled by the hydration of Portland cement and its extent depends on the availability of anhydrous particles. High-performance (HPCs) and ultra-high performance concretes (UHPCs) incorporating very high amounts of cement and having a low water-to-cement ratio reach the hydration degree of only 70–50%. Consequently, the presence of a large amount of unhydrated cement should result in excellent autogenous self-healing. The main aim of this study was to examine whether this commonly accepted hypothesis was correct. The study included tests performed on UHPC and mortars with a low water-to-cement ratio and high cement content. Additionally, aging effects were verified on 12-month-old UHPC samples. Analysis was conducted on the crack surfaces and inside of the cracks. The results strongly indicated that the formation of a dense microstructure and rapidly hydrating, freshly exposed anhydrous cement particles could significantly limit or even hinder the self-healing process. The availability of anhydrous cement appeared not to guarantee development of a highly effective healing process.
Comparative Study on Welding Characteristics of Laser-CMT and Plasma-CMT Hybrid Welded AA6082-T6 Aluminum Alloy Butt Joints
Authors: Xin Zhibin , Yang Zhibin , Zhao Han , Chen Yuxin
Published: October 2019

Laser-CMT (Cold Metal Transfer) and plasma-CMT hybrid welding are two promising alternative joining technologies for traditional Metal-Inert-Gas (MIG) welding of the aluminum alloy joints in the high speed trains manufacturing industry. In this work, a comparative study on the weld formation, microstructure, micro-hardness, and mechanical properties of the butt joints in the two welding methods was conducted. The results indicate that the overall quality of the laser-CMT and plasma-CMT welds were good, especially of the laser-CMT hybrid weld, and the laser-CMT hybrid welding process needed a lower heat input. The width of the partially melted zone of the laser-CMT hybrid weld was narrower than that in the plasma-CMT hybrid weld. Micro-hardness test results show that two distinct softening regions were identified in the heat affected zone, and the micro-hardness values of each zone in the laser-CMT hybrid weld were lower than that in the plasma-CMT hybrid weld. The tensile strength of the laser-CMT hybrid welded joints was higher than that of the plasma-CMT hybrid welded joints, which could reach up to 79.4% and 73.7% of the base materials, respectively. All the fractures occurred in the softening region and exhibited a ductile shear fracture with a shear angle of approximately 45°. The fractographs manifested that the laser-CMT and plasma-CMT hybrid welded joints presented ductile fracture and ductile-brittle fracture features, respectively.
A Kinetic Study of the Pozzolanic Reaction of Fly Ash, CaO, and Na2O in the Preparation of Fly Ash Belite Cement
Authors: Gong Yongfan , Yu Ben , Fang Yonghao , Yang Dingyi , Wu Shu-an , Yan Yurong
Published: October 2019

Fly ash belite cement is a kind of low-carbon cement prepared by a two-step process involving hydrothermal synthesis and low-temperature calcination. Pozzolanic reaction pastes, as the precursors of fly ash belite cement prepared by hydrothermal synthesis, are affected mainly by reaction temperature, time, ratios of the mass of fly ash/lime (FA/CA), and the dosage of Na2O. The absorbance rate of CaO with reaction time was tested for all samples, and the reaction kinetic model and parameters of the granule-hydrothermal synthesis method were discussed. A kinetic model for the hydrothermal synthesis in the presence of Na2O was proposed based on the Kondo’s modified Jander equation and Arrhenius equation. The activation energy (Ea) of the process was determined to be 67.76 kJ/mol. In addition, with an increasing dosage of Na2O, the pre-exponential factor A of the Arrhenius equation increased. However, the hydrothermal reaction degree was accurately predicted using the kinetic model characterized by the absorption rate of CaO. The results indicated that Na2O, as an alkali activator, facilitated the diffusion of Ca2+ firstly, then partly dissolved the amorphous phase in the mixtures and, finally, accelerated the formation of poorly crystallized hydrates.
Performance and Durability of Porous Asphalt Mixtures Manufactured Exclusively with Electric Steel Slags
Authors: Skaf Marta , Pasquini Emiliano , Revilla-Cuesta Víctor , Ortega-López Vanesa
Published: October 2019

Electric arc furnace slag (EAFS) and ladle furnace slag (LFS) are by-products of the electric steelmaking sector with suitable properties for use in bituminous mixtures as both coarse and fine aggregates, respectively. In this research, the production of a porous asphalt mixture with an aggregate skeleton consisting exclusively of electric steelmaking slags (using neither natural aggregates nor fillers) is explored. The test program examines the asphalt mixtures in terms of their mechanical performance (abrasion loss and indirect tensile strength), durability (cold abrasion loss, aging, and long-term behavior), water sensitivity, skid and rutting resistance, and permeability. The results of the slag-mixes are compared with a standard mix, manufactured with siliceous aggregates and cement as filler. The porous mixes manufactured with the slags provided similar results to the conventional standard mixtures. Some issues were noted in relation to compaction difficulties and the higher void contents of the slag mixtures, which reduced their resistance to raveling. Other features linked to permeability and skid resistance were largely improved, suggesting that these mixtures are especially suitable for permeable pavements in rainy regions. In conclusion, a porous asphalt mixture was produced with 100% slag aggregates that met current standards for long-lasting and environmentally friendly mixtures.
Effect of Temperature Gradient on the Grain Size Homogeneity of SEED Produced Semi-Solid Slurries by Phase-Field Simulation
Authors: Qu Wenying , Luo Min , Guo Zhipeng , Hu Xiaogang , Zhang Ang , Zhang Fan , Li Daquan , Zhang Yongzhong
Published: October 2019

The distribution homogeneity of grain size affects the fluidity of the semi-solid slurry, which in turn affects the properties of the casting. One key factor affecting grain size uniformity resides in the nucleation number, which has been studied thoroughly, while the other factor is temperature gradient which has not been investigated yet. In this study, the microstructure evolutions under certain temperature gradients are investigated by experiment and simulation using a two-dimensional quantitative phase-field (PF) model. A parallel and adaptive mesh refinement algorithm is adopted to solve the nonlinear phase-field equations. The results indicate that temperature gradient can affect the size distribution of microstructure in the semi-solid slurry prepared by the SEED process. A higher temperature gradient (in the range of 0.230~0.657 °C/mm) along the radial direction is beneficial to the homogeneity of the grain size in a slurry.
Microstructure Evolution of the Semi-Macro Segregation Induced Banded Structure in High Strength Oil Tubes During Quenching and Tempering Treatments
Authors: Li Bo , Luo Ming , Yang Zhanbing , Yang Feifei , Liu Huasong , Tang Haiyan , Zhang Zhonghua , Zhang Jiaquan
Published: October 2019

C110 oil well casing tubes should have high strength and corrosion resistance which is commonly used for deep wells operation containing corrosive media. In this paper, the microstructure evolution of a kind of semi-macro segregation originated banded structure in casing tubes is studied under different heat treatments. It is shown that the characteristics of the banded structure will change significantly in subsequent hot working and heat treatment processes. For the hot-rolled ones, the banded structure is composed of pearlite plus bainite. After quenching, it evolves into martensite band with high concentration solute elements. Finally, the banded structure will change into a carbide banding under the following tempering process. The temperature and cooling rate of the tempering practice show an obvious effect on the final band structure. To improve anti-SSC (sulfide stress corrosion cracking) performance, the favorable QT (quenching and tempering) practice for C110 steel should be a higher tempering temperature and a quicker cooling rate, from which the banded structure defects can be decreased together with an obvious improvement of the tube wall hardness uniformity.
Luminescent Properties of (004) Highly Oriented Cubic Zinc Blende ZnO Thin Films
Authors: Muñoz-Aguirre Narcizo , Martínez-Pérez Lilia , Muñoz-Aguirre Severino , Flores-Herrera Luis Armando , Vergara Hernández Erasto , Zelaya-Angel Orlando
Published: October 2019

Photoluminescence properties of cubic zinc blende ZnO thin films grown on glass substrates prepared by the spray pyrolysis method are discussed. X-ray diffraction spectra show the crystalline wurtzite with preferential growth in the (002) orientation and a metastable cubic zinc blende phase highly oriented in the (004) direction. Raman measurements support the ZnO cubic modification growth of the films. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of zinc blende films are characterized by a new PL band centerd at 2.70 eV, the blue emission, in addition there are two principal bands that are also found in hexagonal ZnO films with the peak positions at 2.83 eV and 2.35 eV. The origin of the 2.70 eV band can be attributed to transitions from Zn-interstitial to Zn-vacancies. It is also important to mention that the PL intensity of the 2.35 eV band of the zinc blende thin films is relatively higher than in the band present in hexagonal ZnO films, which means that zinc blende films have more oxygen vacancies, as was corroborated by means of the energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS) measurements. PL spectra at 77 °K were measured and the 2.70 eV band was confirmed for the zinc blende films. Some PL bands of cubic films also appeared for the hexagonal phase, which is due, to a certain extent, to the similar ions stacking of both wurtzite and zinc blende symmetries.
Effect of Conductive Coatings on Micro-Electro-Discharge Machinability of Aluminum Nitride Ceramic Using On-Machine-Fabricated Microelectrodes
Authors: Rashid Asif , Bilal Azat , Liu Chong , Jahan M. P. , Talamona Didier , Perveen Asma
Published: October 2019

The objective of this study is to investigate the feasibility of machining micro-holes on the non-conductive Aluminum Nitride (AlN) ceramics using micro-electro-discharge machining (EDM) process by exploiting various coating techniques. Although ceramics possess excellent mechanical properties under compressive load condition and superior thermal properties, machining of microscale features on ceramics remains challenging due to the extreme brittleness associated with ceramics. Due to the involvement of higher cutting force and tool wear issue, conventional machining process appears to be unsuitable for machining ceramics. On the other hand, non-contact and negligible process force associated with EDM process makes it one of the competitive processes for machining of ceramics. A series of experiments were carried out on AlN ceramics using “Assistive Electrode” micro-EDM process with a goal of machining blind micro-holes into the ceramics with the aid of on-machine fabricated copper tungsten tools. It was found that multi-layer coatings of silver and copper with copper tungsten electrode resulted in successful machining with high-aspect-ratio holes during powder mixed micro-EDM of AlN ceramics, while micro-holes with less than one aspect ratio are machined without powder addition to the dielectric. It was also observed that comparatively lower level of discharge energies, i.e., lower value of voltages and capacitances were favorable for successful machining of micro-holes in ceramics, even though it results in significantly higher machining time. Despite of relatively low discharge energy usage in micro-EDM, machined surfaces appear to be very rough. The machined surfaces indicate that melting and evaporation, as well as thermal spalling, are the dominating material removal mechanisms. The machined surfaces contained many thermal cracks and porosity on the surface. The elemental composition analysis confirms the presence of aluminum and nitrogen elements on the machined surface. Finally, by careful selection of machining conditions and assistive electrode, successful machining of micro-holes is possible on the non-conductive ceramic surfaces using the micro-EDM process.
Experimental Study on the Energy-Release Characteristics of Fine-Grained Fe/Al Energetic Jets under Impact Loading
Authors: Li Qiang , Du Ye
Published: October 2019

The energy released by the active metal phase in fine-grained Fe/Al energetic materials enables the replacement of conventional materials in new types of weapons. This paper describes an experiment designed to study the energy-release characteristics of fine-grained Fe/Al energetic jets under impact loading. By means of dynamic mechanical properties analysis, the physical and chemical properties of Fe/Al energetic materials with specific content are studied, and the preparation process is determined. The energy-release properties of fine-grained Fe/Al jets subject to different impact conditions are studied based on experimental data, and energy-release differences are discussed. The results show that for fine-grained Fe/Al energetic materials to remain active and exhibit high strength, the highest sintering temperature is 550 °C. With increasing impact energy, the energy release of fine-grained Fe/Al energetic jets increases. At an impact-energy threshold of 121.1 J/mm2, the chemical reaction of the fine-grained Fe/Al energetic jets is saturated. The experimental data and microscopic analysis show that when the impact energy reaches the threshold, the energy efficiency ratio of Fe/Al energetic jets can reach 95.3%.
Model Formulation Over Lie Groups and Numerical Methods to Simulate the Motion of Gyrostats and Quadrotors
Authors: Fiori Simone
Published: October 2019

The present paper recalls a formulation of non-conservative system dynamics through the Lagrange–d’Alembert principle expressed through a generalized Euler–Poincaré form of the system equation on a Lie group. The paper illustrates applications of the generalized Euler–Poincaré equations on the rotation groups to a gyrostat satellite and a quadcopter drone. The numerical solution of the dynamical equations on the rotation groups is tackled via a generalized forward Euler method and an explicit Runge–Kutta integration method tailored to Lie groups.
Global Behavior of a Higher Order Fuzzy Difference Equation
Authors: Su Guangwang , Sun Taixiang , Qin Bin
Published: October 2019

Our aim in this paper is to investigate the convergence behavior of the positive solutions of a higher order fuzzy difference equation and show that all positive solutions of this equation converge to its unique positive equilibrium under appropriate assumptions. Furthermore, we give two examples to account for the applicability of the main result of this paper.
Design and Complex Dynamics of Potra–Pták-Type Optimal Methods for Solving Nonlinear Equations and Its Applications
Authors: Chand Prem B. , Chicharro Francisco I. , Garrido Neus , Jain Pankaj
Published: October 2019

In this paper, using the idea of weight functions on the Potra–Pták method, an optimal fourth order method, a non optimal sixth order method, and a family of optimal eighth order methods are proposed. These methods are tested on some numerical examples, and the results are compared with some known methods of the corresponding order. It is proved that the results obtained from the proposed methods are compatible with other methods. The proposed methods are tested on some problems related to engineering and science. Furthermore, applying these methods on quadratic and cubic polynomials, their stability is analyzed by means of their basins of attraction.
Bridging Symbolic Computation and Economics: A Dynamic and Interactive Tool to Analyze the Price Elasticity of Supply
Authors: Andraz Jorge M. , Candeias Renato , Conceição Ana C.
Published: October 2019

It is not possible to achieve the objectives and skills of a program in economics, at the secondary and undergraduate levels, without resorting to graphic illustrations. In this way, the use of educational software has been increasingly recognized as a useful tool to promote students’ motivation to deal with, and understand, new economic concepts. Current digital technology allows students to work with a large number and variety of graphics in an interactive way, complementing the theoretical results and the so often used paper and pencil calculations. The computer algebra system Mathematica is a very powerful software that allows the implementation of many interactive visual applications. Thanks to the symbolic and numerical capabilities of Mathematica, these applications allow the user to interact with the graphical and analytical information in real time. However, Mathematica is a commercially distributed application which makes it difficult for teachers and students to access. The main goal of this paper is to present a new dynamic and interactive tool, created with Mathematica and available in the Computable Document Format. This format allows anyone with a computer to use, at no cost, the PES(Linear)-Tool, even without an active Wolfram Mathematica license. The PES(Linear)-Tool can be used as an active learning tool to promote better student activity and engagement in the learning process, among students enrolled in socio-economic programs. This tool is very intuitive to use which makes it suitable for less experienced users.
Actinomycin V Suppresses Human Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma A549 Cells by Inducing G2/M Phase Arrest and Apoptosis via the p53-Dependent Pathway
Authors: Lin Shi-qi , Jia Fu-juan , Zhang Cai-yun , Liu Fang-yuan , Ma Jia-hui , Han Zhuo , Xie Wei-dong , Li Xia
Published: October 2019

Actinomycin V, extracted and separated from marine-derived actinomycete Streptomyces sp., as the superior potential replacement of actinomycin D (which showed defect for its hepatotoxicity) has revealed an ideal effect in the suppression of migration and invasion in human breast cancer cells as referred to in our previous study. In this study, the involvement of p53 in the cell cycle arrest and pro-apoptotic action of actinomycin V was investigated in human non-small-cell lung carcinoma A549 cells. Results from the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay showed that cytotoxic activity of actinomycin V on A549 cells (with wild-type p53) was stronger than the NCI-H1299 cells (p53-deficient). Actinomycin V upregulated both of the protein and mRNA expression levels of p53, p21Waf1/Cip1 and Bax in A549 cells. For this situation, actinomycin V decreased the M-phase related proteins (Cdc2, Cdc25A and Cyclin B1) expression, arrested cells in G2/M phase and subsequently triggered apoptosis by mediating the Bcl-2 family proteins’ expression (Bax and Bcl-2). Furthermore, the effects of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in A549 cells which were induced by actinomycin V could be reversed by the pifithrin-α, a specific inhibitor of p53 transcriptional activity. Collectively, our results suggest that actinomycin V causes up-regulation of p53 by which the growth of A549 cells is suppressed for cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.
Bioinformatics for Marine Products: An Overview of Resources, Bottlenecks, and Perspectives
Authors: Ambrosino Luca , Tangherlini Michael , Colantuono Chiara , Esposito Alfonso , Sangiovanni Mara , Miralto Marco , Sansone Clementina , Chiusano Maria Luisa
Published: October 2019

The sea represents a major source of biodiversity. It exhibits many different ecosystems in a huge variety of environmental conditions where marine organisms have evolved with extensive diversification of structures and functions, making the marine environment a treasure trove of molecules with potential for biotechnological applications and innovation in many different areas. Rapid progress of the omics sciences has revealed novel opportunities to advance the knowledge of biological systems, paving the way for an unprecedented revolution in the field and expanding marine research from model organisms to an increasing number of marine species. Multi-level approaches based on molecular investigations at genomic, metagenomic, transcriptomic, metatranscriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic levels are essential to discover marine resources and further explore key molecular processes involved in their production and action. As a consequence, omics approaches, accompanied by the associated bioinformatic resources and computational tools for molecular analyses and modeling, are boosting the rapid advancement of biotechnologies. In this review, we provide an overview of the most relevant bioinformatic resources and major approaches, highlighting perspectives and bottlenecks for an appropriate exploitation of these opportunities for biotechnology applications from marine resources.
Cultivation of Sponge-Associated Bacteria from Agelas sventres and Xestospongia muta Collected from Different Depths
Authors: Indraningrat Anak , Micheller Sebastian , Runderkamp Mandy , Sauerland Ina , Becking Leontine , Smidt Hauke , Sipkema Detmer
Published: October 2019

Sponge-associated bacteria have been mostly cultured from shallow water (≤30 m) sponges, whereas only few studies targeted specimens from below 30 m. This study assessed the cultivability of bacteria from two marine sponges Xestospongia muta and Agelas sventres collected from shallow (<30 m), upper mesophotic (30–60 m), and lower mesophotic (60–90 m) reefs. Sponge-associated bacteria were cultivated on six different media, and replicate plates were used to pick individual colonies or to recover the entire biomass. Prokaryotic community analysis was conducted using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons. A total of 144 bacterial isolates were picked following a colony morphology coding scheme and subsequently identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Sponge individuals at each depth-range harboured specific cultivable bacteria that were not retrieved from specimens collected at other depths. However, there were substantial differences in the number of colonies obtained for replicate sponges of the same species. In addition, source of inoculum and cultivation medium had more impact on the cultured prokaryotic community than sample collection depth. This suggests that the “plate count anomaly” is larger than differences in sponge-associated prokaryotic community composition related to depth.
Efficacy of a Validated Yoga Protocol on Dyslipidemia in Diabetes Patients: NMB-2017 India Trial
Authors: Nagarathna Raghuram , Tyagi Rahul , Kaur Gurkeerat , Vendan Vetri , Acharya Ishwara , Anand Akshay , Singh Amit , Nagendra Hongasandra
Published: October 2019

Background: Dyslipidemia is considered a risk factor in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) resulting in cardio-vascular complications. Yoga practices have shown promising results in alleviating Type 2 Diabetes pathology. Method: In this stratified trial on a Yoga based lifestyle program in cases with Type 2 diabetes, in the rural and urban population from all zones of India, a total of 17,012 adults (>20 years) of both genders were screened for lipid profile and sugar levels. Those who satisfied the selection criteria were taught the Diabetes Yoga Protocol (DYP) for three months and the data were analyzed. Results: Among those with Diabetes, 29.1% had elevated total cholesterol (TC > 200 mg/dL) levels that were higher in urban (69%) than rural (31%) Diabetes patients. There was a positive correlation (p = 0.048) between HbA1c and total cholesterol levels. DYP intervention helped in reducing TC from 232.34 ± 31.48 mg/dL to 189.38 ± 40.23 mg/dL with significant pre post difference (p < 0.001). Conversion rate from high TC (>200 mg/dL) to normal TC (<200 mg/dL) was observed in 60.3% of cases with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM); from high LDL (>130 mg/dL) to normal LDL (<130 mg/dL) in 73.7%; from high triglyceride (>200 mg/dL) to normal triglyceride level (<200 mg/dL) in 63%; from low HDL (<45 mg/dL) to normal HDL (>45 mg/dL) in 43.7% of T2DM patients after three months of DYP. Conclusions: A Yoga lifestyle program designed specifically to manage Diabetes helps in reducing the co-morbidity of dyslipidemia in cases of patients with T2DM.
Creep and High-Temperature Deformation of Metals and Alloys
Authors: Gariboldi Elisabetta , Spigarelli Stefano
Published: October 2019

The occurrence of time-dependent deformation of metals and alloys under constant loads or stresses, a phenomenon termed “creep”, has been documented for at least two centuries [...]
Influences of Different Die Bearing Geometries on the Wire-Drawing Process
Authors: Martinez Gustavo Aristides Santana , Santos Eduardo Ferro dos , Kabayama Leonardo Kyo , Guidi Erick Siqueira , Silva Fernando de Azevedo
Published: October 2019

Metalworking is an essential process for the manufacture of machinery and equipment components. The design of the die geometry is an essential aspect of metalworking, and directly affects the resultant product’s quality and cost. As a matter of fact, a comprehensive understanding of the die bearing geometry plays a vital role in the die design process. For the specific case of wire drawing, however, few efforts have been dedicated to the study of the geometry of the bearing zone. In this regard, the present paper involves an attempt to investigate the effects of different geometries of the die bearing. For different forms of reduction as well as bearing zones, measurements are carried out for the wire-drawing process. Subsequently, by extracting the friction coefficients from the electrolytic tough pitch copper wire in cold-drawn essays, the numerical simulations are also implemented. We present the results on both the superficial and center radial tensions obtained by finite element methods. It is observed that the reduction of the friction coefficient leads to an increase in radial stress, while for a given friction coefficient, the substitution of the C-type die by the R-type one results in a decrease in the superficial radial stress of up to 93.27%, but an increase at the center of the material. Moreover, the die angle is found to play a less significant role in the resultant center radial stress, but it significantly affects the superficial radial stress. Lastly, R-type dies result in smaller superficial radial stress, with a change of up to 34.48%, but a slightly larger center radial stress up to 6.55% for different die angles. The implications of the present findings are discussed.
A Novel Cyclic-Quenching-ART for Stabilizing Austenite in Nb–Mo Micro-Alloyed Medium-Mn Steel
Authors: Liu Chunquan , Peng Qichun , Xue Zhengliang , Yang Chengwei
Published: October 2019

In the context of obtaining an excellent elongation and tensile-strength combination in the third generation of advanced high strength steel, we emphasized the practical significance of adjusting the retained austenite fraction and stability in medium-Mn steel to obtain better mechanical properties. A novel cyclic quenching and austenite reverse transformation (CQ-ART) was used to obtain a large retained austenite content in Fe-0.25C-3.98Mn-1.22Al-0.20Si-0.19Mo-0.03Nb (wt.%) Nb–Mo micro-alloyed medium-Mn steel. The results show that after twice cyclic quenching and ART, the alloy exhibited optimum comprehensive properties, characterized by an ultimate tensile strength of 838 MPa, a total elongation of 90.8%, a product of strength and elongation of 76.1 GPa%, and the volume fraction of austenite of approximately 62 vol.%. The stability of retained austenite was significantly improved with the increasing of the number of cyclic quenching. Moreover, the effects of CQ-ART on the microstructure evolution, mechanical properties, C/Mn partitioning behavior, and austenite stability were investigated. Further, the strengthening effect of microalloying elements Nb–Mo was also discussed.
Effect of Cooling Rate on AlN Precipitation in FeCrAl Stainless Steel During Solidification
Authors: Deng Zhenqiang , He Yang , Liu Jianhua , Yan Baijun , Yang Yindong , McLean Alexander
Published: October 2019

The effect of cooling rate on the evolution of AlN inclusions precipitated during solidification in FeCrAl stainless steel was investigated using an experimental study and thermodynamic and kinetic calculations. The number and size of AlN inclusions precipitated under different cooling rates were examined with the feature function of the field-emission scanning electron microscope. A model combining micro-segregation and the diffusion-controlled growth model was set up to determine the mechanism of AlN particle growth. The results showed that AlN precipitates in the mushy zone. The size of AlN particles decreases and the number of AlN particles increases with increasing cooling rate, whereas the volume fraction is essentially unchanged. The AlN particles grow during solidification after the content of solutes in molten steel has exceeded the concentration in equilibrium with AlN. The nitrogen content varies significantly with the cooling rate during solidification. Increasing the cooling rate and reducing the nitrogen content in the molten steel can reduce the AlN particle size in FeCrAl alloys as the growth time decreases.
Enhanced Efficiencies of Perovskite Solar Cells by Incorporating Silver Nanowires into the Hole Transport Layer
Authors: Cheng Chien-Jui , Balamurugan Rathinam , Liu Bo-Tau
Published: October 2019

In this study, we incorporated silver nanowires (AgNWs) into poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as a hole transport layer (HTL) for inverted perovskite solar cells (PVSCs). The effect of AgNW incorporation on the perovskite crystallization, charge transfer, and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PVSCs were analyzed and discussed. Compared with neat PEDOT:PSS HTL, incorporation of few AgNWs into PEDOT:PSS can significantly enhance the PCE by 25%. However, the AgNW incorporation may result in performance overestimation due to the lateral charge transfer. The corrosion of AgNWs with a perovskite layer was discussed. Too much AgNW incorporation may lead to defects on the interface between the HTL and the perovskite layer. An extra PEDOT:PSS layer over the pristine PEDOT:PSS-AgNW layer can prevent AgNWs from corrosion by iodide ions.
Comparison of Different Invasive and Non-Invasive Methods to Characterize Intestinal Microbiota throughout a Production Cycle of Broiler Chickens
Authors: Kers Jannigje , Fischer Egil , Stegeman J. , Smidt Hauke , Velkers Francisca
Published: October 2019

In the short life of broiler chickens, their intestinal microbiota undergoes many changes. To study underlying biological mechanisms and factors that influence the intestinal microbiota development, longitudinal data from flocks and individual birds is needed. However, post-mortem collection of samples hampers longitudinal data collection. In this study, invasively collected cecal and ileal content, cloacal swabs collected from the same bird, and boot sock samples and cecal droppings from the litter of the broilers’ poultry house, were collected on days 0, 2, 7, 14 and 35 post-hatch. The different sample types were evaluated on their applicability and reliability to characterize the broiler intestinal microbiota. The microbiota of 247 samples was assessed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing. Analyses of α and β measures showed a similar development of microbiota composition of cecal droppings compared to cecal content. Furthermore, the composition of cecal content samples was comparable to that of the boot socks until day 14 post-hatch. This study shows that the value of non-invasive sample types varies at different ages and depends on the goal of the microbiota characterization. Specifically, cecal droppings and boot socks may be useful alternatives for cecal samples to determine intestinal microbiota composition longitudinally.
Expression of DinJ-YafQ System of Lactobacillus casei Group Strains in Response to Food Processing Stresses
Authors: Levante Alessia , Folli Claudia , Montanini Barbara , Ferrari Alberto , Neviani Erasmo , Lazzi Camilla
Published: October 2019

Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are widely distributed in bacterial genomes and are involved in the adaptive response of microorganisms to stress conditions. Few studies have addressed TA systems in Lactobacillus and their role in the adaptation to food environments and processes. In this work, for six strains belonging to L. casei group isolated from dairy products, the expression of DinJ-YafQ TA system was investigated after exposure to various food-related stresses (nutrient starvation, low pH, high salt concentration, oxidative stress, and high temperature), as well as to the presence of antibiotics. In particular, culturability and DinJ-YafQ expression were evaluated for all strains and conditions by plate counts and RT qPCR. Among all the food-related stress conditions, only thermal stress was capable to significantly affect culturability. Furthermore, exposure to ampicillin significantly decreased the culturability of two L. rhamnosus strains. The regulation of DinJ-YafQ TA system resulted strain-specific; however, high temperature was the most significant stress condition able to modulate DinJ-YafQ expression. The increasing knowledge about TA systems activity and regulation might offer new perspectives to understand the mechanisms that L. casei group strains exploit to adapt to different niches or production processes.
Co-Immobilization of Tri-Enzymes for the Conversion of Hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-Diformylfuran
Authors: Wu Zhuofu , Shi Linjuan , Yu Xiaoxiao , Zhang Sitong , Chen Guang
Published: October 2019

Acting as a “green” manufacturing route, the enzyme toolbox made up of galactose oxidase, catalase, and horseradish peroxidase can achieve a satisfactory yield of 2,5-diformylfuran derived from 30 mM hydroxymethylfurfural. However, as the concentration of hydroxymethylfurfural increases, the substrate causes oxidative damage to the activity of the tri-enzyme system, and the accumulated hydrogen peroxide produced by galactose oxidase causes tri-enzyme inactivation. The cost of tri-enzymes is also very high. These problems prevent the utilization of this enzyme toolbox in practice. To address this, galactose oxidase, catalase, and horseradish peroxidase were co-immobilized into Cu3(PO4)2 nanoflowers in this study. The resulting co-immobilized tri-enzymes possessed better tolerance towards the oxidative damage caused by hydroxymethylfurfural at high concentrations, as compared to free tri-enzymes. Moreover, the 2,5-diformylfuran yield of co-immobilized tri-enzymes (95.7 ± 2.7%) was 1.06 times higher than that of separately immobilized enzymes (90.4 ± 1.9%). This result could be attributed to the boosted protective effect provided by catalase to the activity of galactose oxidase, owing to the physical proximity between them on the same support. After 30 recycles, co-immobilized tri-enzymes still achieves 86% of the initial yield. Moreover, co-immobilized tri-enzymes show enhanced thermal stability compared with free tri-enzymes. This work paves the way for the production of 2,5-diformylfuran from hydroxymethylfurfural via co-immobilized tri-enzymes.
The Exchange Mechanism of Alkaline and Alkaline-Earth Ions in Zeolite N
Authors: Khosravi Monireh , Murthy Vinuthaa , D R Mackinnon Ian
Published: October 2019

Zeolite N is a synthetic zeolite of the EDI framework family from the more than 200 known zeolite types. Previous experimental laboratory and field data show that zeolite N has a high capacity for exchange of ions. Computational modelling and simulation techniques are effective tools that help explain the atomic-scale behaviour of zeolites under different processing conditions and allow comparison with experiment. In this study, the ion exchange behaviour of synthetic zeolite N in an aqueous environment is investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. The exchange mechanism of K+ extra-framework cations with alkaline and alkaline-earth cations NH4+, Li+, Na+, Rb+, Cs+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ is explored in different crystallographic directions inside the zeolite N structure. Moreover, the effect of different framework partial charges on MD simulation results obtained from different DFT calculations are examined. The results show that the diffusion and exchange of cations in zeolite N are affected by shape and size of channels controlling the ion exchange flow as well as the nature of cation, ionic size and charge density.
Drug Side-Effect Prediction Via Random Walk on the Signed Heterogeneous Drug Network
Authors: Hu Baofang , Wang Hong , Yu Zhenmei
Published: October 2019

Drug side-effects have become a major public health concern as they are the underlying cause of over a million serious injuries and deaths each year. Therefore, it is of critical importance to detect side-effects as early as possible. Existing computational methods mainly utilize the drug chemical profile and the drug biological profile to predict the side-effects of a drug. In the utilized drug biological profile information, they only focus on drug–target interactions and neglect the modes of action of drugs on target proteins. In this paper, we develop a new method for predicting potential side-effects of drugs based on more comprehensive drug information in which the modes of action of drugs on target proteins are integrated. Drug information of multiple types is modeled as a signed heterogeneous information network. We propose a signed heterogeneous information network embedding framework for learning drug embeddings and predicting side-effects of drugs. We use two bias random walk procedures to obtain drug sequences and train a Skip-gram model to learn drug embeddings. We experimentally demonstrate the performance of the proposed method by comparison with state-of-the-art methods. Furthermore, the results of a case study support our hypothesis that modes of action of drugs on target proteins are meaningful in side-effect prediction.
Formulation of a Mixture of Plant Extracts for Attenuating Postprandial Glycemia and Diet-Induced Disorders in Rats
Authors: Jurgoński Adam , Billing-Marczak Katarzyna , Juśkiewicz Jerzy , Krotkiewski Marcin
Published: October 2019

The aim of this study was to design a mixture consisting of plant-derived preparations containing inhibitors of carbohydrate digestion and/or glucose absorption that could lower postprandial glycemia and attenuate dietary-induced disorders. The following standardized preparations were tested: white mulberry leaf extract, green coffee bean extract, white kidney bean extract, pomelo fruit extract, bitter melon fruit extract, and purified l-arabinose. The study design was composed of oral sucrose and starch tolerance tests in Wistar rats preceded by a single ingestion of the preparations or their mixtures. Then, a 20 week-long experiment was conducted on rats that were fed a high-fat diet and supplemented with the most effective mixture. Based on the results of the oral sucrose and starch tolerance tests, the mulberry leaf extract, l-arabinose, kidney bean extract, and coffee bean extract were selected for composing three mixtures. The most effective inhibition of postprandial glycemia in the oral tolerance tests was observed after the ingestion of a mixture of mulberry leaf, kidney bean, and coffee bean extract. The glucose-lowering effect of the mixture and its effective dosage was confirmed in the feeding experiment.
Correction: Ramírez-Vélez, R.; et al. Validation of Surrogate Anthropometric Indices in Older Adults: What Is the Best Indicator of High Cardiometabolic Risk Factor Clustering? Nutrients 2019, 11, 1701
Authors: Ramírez-Vélez Robinson , Pérez-Sousa Miguel Ángel , Izquierdo Mikel , Cano-Gutierrez Carlos A. , González-Jiménez Emilio , Schmidt-RioValle Jacqueline , González-Ruíz Katherine , Correa-Rodríguez María
Published: October 2019

The authors would like to make the following corrections to the published paper [1]: (1) In the result section replace: On page 6, in the text of the Section 3 [...]
Statistical Approaches in the Studies Assessing Associations between Human Milk Immune Composition and Allergic Diseases: A Scoping Review
Authors: Blyuss Oleg , Cheung Ka Yan , Chen Jessica , Parr Callum , Petrou Loukia , Komarova Alina , Kokina Maria , Luzan Polina , Pasko Egor , Eremeeva Alina , Peshko Dmitrii , Eliseev Vladimir I. , Pedersen Sindre Andre , Azad Meghan B. , Jarvinen Kirsi M. , Peroni Diego G. , Verhasselt Valerie , Boyle Robert J. , Warner John O. , Simpson Melanie R. , Munblit Daniel
Published: October 2019

A growing number of studies are focusing on the associations between human milk (HM) immunological composition and allergic diseases. This scoping review aims to identify statistical methods applied in the field and highlight pitfalls and unmet needs. A comprehensive literature search in MEDLINE and Embase retrieved 13,607 unique records. Following title/abstract screening, 29 studies met the selection criteria and were included in this review. We found that definitions of colostrum and mature milk varied across the studies. A total of 17 out of 29 (59%) studies collected samples longitudinally, but only 12% of these used serial (longitudinal) analyses. Multivariable analysis was used in 45% of the studies, but statistical approaches to modelling varied largely across the studies. Types of variables included as potential confounding factors differed considerably between models. Discrimination analysis was absent from all studies and only a single study reported classification measures. Outcomes of this scoping review highlight lack of standardization, both in data collection and handling, which remains one of the main challenges in the field. Improved standardization could be obtained by a consensus group of researchers and clinicians that could recommend appropriate methods to be applied in future prospective studies, as well as already existing datasets.
Reply to: “Comment on the Role of Muscle Mass Gain Following Protein Supplementation Plus Exercise Therapy in Older Adults with Sarcopenia and Frailty Risks: A Systematic Review and Meta-Regression Analysis of Randomized Trials, Nutrients 2019, 11, 1713”
Authors: Liao Chun-De , Chen Hung-Chou , Huang Shih-Wei , Liou Tsan-Hon
Published: October 2019

We thank Chen et al [...]