bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modelling the rotating magnetic field with the skin effect
Authors: Zhang Yi , Zeng Zhong , Yao Liping , Qiao Long , Yin Linmao , Lu Yiyu
Published: August 2016

The skin effect appears when a rotating magnetic field (RMF) penetrates the melt with electrical conductivity, and the skin effect becomes more obvious with the increased dimensionless shielding parameter K. In this paper, an analytic solution, based on the Bessel functions for the distribution of the rotating magnetic field with the skin effect in melt was derived. In order to model the interaction of the rotating magnetic field and melt convection, the polynomial of the analytic solution was truncated in different terms. In addition, the applicative range of K for different truncation was estimated. Then the rotating magnetic field with truncation was introduced to the rotating magnetic field Φ1-Φ2 model. Through the simulation results of the finite volume method, the estimated range of K for the approximate magnetic field with different truncation was verified.
Anisotropic flexible mechanical design of prosthetic socket liner
Authors: Su Daniel , Li Xiang , Luo Yun
Published: August 2016

Prosthesis is an important means of compensatory morphological and functional way to help extremity disabled patients in rehabilitation and reintegration. As the human-machine interface (HMI) in between the prosthesis and the stump, compatibility of the prosthetic socket liner interface greatly influence whether the amputee abandoned artificial limbs or not. Base on complaint bistable mechanism and 3D printing technology, this paper presents a bionic elastomer design of prosthetic socket liner. Compatible flexible continuum structure has interface design to achieving anisotropy mechanical force properties.
Electroelastic fields of the general line source in periodically layered piezoelectric structure
Authors: Nowacki J.P. , Drabik A. , Alshits V.I.
Published: August 2016

Electroelastic 2D fields excited by a straight general line source in an anisotropic periodically layered piezoelectric medium are expressed in an implicit analytical form of well-convergent Fourier integral. The analysis is given in terms of the 8 × 8 propagator matrix constructed for a graded or stratified medium formed by a periodic succession of layers. The general line source represents a combination of the straight 4D dislocation with the force and charge distributed along the same line.
Investigation on the design of magnetic spring-beam vibration isolator with negative stiffness characteristic
Authors: Dong Guangxu , Zhang Xinong , Luo Yajun , Zhang Yahong
Published: August 2016

To improve the performance of vibration isolator in the low frequency region, a magnetic spring-beam vibration isolator with the high-static-low-dynamic stiffness (HSLDS) characteristic is developed in this paper. The proposed isolator is designed by combining a negative stiffness magnetic spring (NSMS) in parallel with an Euler-Bernoulli beam. The NSMS comprising four magnet pairs is utilized to reduce the resonant frequency of the isolator. An analytical expression of the negative stiffness (NS) of the NSMS is derived according to the Amperian current model, and the approximation to NS is deduced. Based on the harmonic balance method (HBM), the dynamic response of the isolator is obtained and the impacts of external force and damping ratio on the force transmissibility are investigated numerically. The simulated results demonstrate that the NSMS can effectively reduce the resonant frequency of the isolator and broaden the bandwidth for vibration isolation. Also the damping property of the isolator with NSMS is improved.
Factor shares analysis of livestock products in selected areas of Bangladesh
Authors: Islam Md Mamun Or , Kamruzzaman M , Sufian Md Kaosar Niaz Bin
Published: August 2016

A study was undertaken to assess the contribution of different inputs such as feed, labor veterinary services and depreciation cost etc. to the development of livestock sector including poultry in the study area. The factor shares of livestock products was estimated based on the primary data for the periods of April to July, 2012.The factor shares of livestock production suggested that current factors (Feed, hired labor, veterinary services and other inputs) and family labor was the major component in the livestock production. Traditional milk producing farmers in Gazipur were not benefited from their farming due to residual share was negative (-11.15%). For commercial milk production, on an average the largest share current factors (60.54 percent) followed by residual (28.1 percent), family labor (6.63 percent), depreciation (4.74 percent), respectively and residual share was positive. Production of beef cattle on an average the largest share current factors (74.26 percent) followed by family labor (21.73 percent), depreciation (46.425 percent), respectively and residual share was negative (-2.41 percent). Production of egg by traditional management was found profitable enterprise in small and large categories of farms. As a result, residual share was positive (1.54 percent and 12.01 percent) for small and large farms. In case of commercial poultry production on an average the largest share current inputs (74.29 percent), residual ((19.64 percent), followed by family labor (5.64 percent) and depreciation (0.44 percent) respectively. In addition, on an average broiler production the largest share current inputs (84.18 percent), residual (12.53 percent), followed by family labor (2.68 percent) and depreciation (0.62 percent) respectively.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2016, 2(2): 196-201
Growth response of Aspergillus flavus IMS1103 isolated from poultry feed
Authors: Ahmed Monzur Morshed , Fakruddin Md , Hossain Md Nur , Mahbub Khandaker Rayhan , Chowdhury Abhijit
Published: August 2016

Aspergillus flavus strains were isolated from locally available poultry feeds. Effect of temperature, pH and culture media on growth of Aspergillus flavus was studied. Temperature ranged from 4-42°C (4, 10, 20, 25, 30, 37 and 42°C) was examined. Except for 4°C and 10°C, the isolate was able to grow for the whole temperature range. The growth was maximum at 25°C and was influenced with increasing or decreasing of temperature from 42°C to 20°C.The lag time was strongly influenced by the temperature at lower temperature level than at higher temperature range. Effect of pH on growth of Aspergillus flavus was also examined; from comparison of 3 different pH levels, it is concluded that at most temperatures pH 6.5 showed a higher growth rate and as a consequence required a shorter time to achieve maximum colony diameter. No significant variations in the lag time were observed. A natural poultry feed meal agar medium (FMAM) was developed in the laboratory and growth of A. flavus was compared with other 2 synthetic dehydrated media namely; Czapeksdox Agar (CDA) and potato dextrose Agar (PDA). Poultry feed meal agar medium showed better growth response than Czapeksdox agar and potato dextrose agar at all conditions. At 25°C and pH 6.5 found optimum for growth of Aspergillus flavus in feed meal agar medium whereas, temperature 30°C and pH 6.5 found optimum for growth for Czapeksdox agar media and temperature 30°C and pH 6 showed high growth rate on potato dextrose agar. Poultry feed meal media showed high affinity for growth of mycelium and early spore formation than other media examined.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2016, 2(2): 221-228
Potentiality of producing summer cauliflower as influenced by organic manures and spacing
Authors: Farzana Laila , Solaiman Abul Hasnat M , Amin Md Ruhul
Published: August 2016

The experiment was conducted to find out the effect of organic manures and spacing on the growth and yield of cauliflower in summer season. In this study, the treatment consisted of three organic manures viz. F0: no organic manure, F1: cowdung, F2: vermicompost and three spacing viz. S1 (60 × 30) cm, S2 (60 × 40) cm, S3 (60 × 50) cm. Two factorial experiments were laid out in the RCBD with three replications. Significant variations in all parameter were observed due to organic manure and spacing at different days after transplanting. For organic manure, highest yield of cauliflower (12.98 t ha-1) was obtained from F2 and lowest (8.24 t ha-1) from F0. For spacing, highest yield of cauliflower (11.25 t ha-1) was obtained from S1 and lowest (10.57 t ha-1) from S3. For combined effect, highest yield of cauliflower (13.33 t ha-1) was obtained from F2S1 and the lowest (7.91 t ha-1) from F0S3. The highest BCR (3.79) was found from F2S1 and lowest (2.7) from F0S3. It is found from the experiment that growth and yield of summer cauliflower were positively correlated with organic manure and spacing. However, white beauty cultivars can be cultivated in summer season and use of vermicompost with 60×50 cm spacing would be beneficial for the farmers.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2016, 2(2): 304-317
Physicochemical properties and plankton composition of the river Meghna, Bangladesh
Authors: Hossain Md Robiul Awal , Pramanik Md Mehedi Hasan , Flura - , Haidar Md Istiaque , Mahmud Yahia
Published: August 2016

The present study was conducted to assess the physicochemical properties and plankton composition of water from the river Meghna (Shatnol to Chor Alexander) in thirteen (13) sampling spots during the period of July 2014 to June 2015. Ten (three were physical and seven were chemical) physicochemical parameters of water viz temperature (air and water), transparency, dissolved oxygen (DO), free carbon dioxide (Co2), Conductivity, pH, total hardness, total alkalinity and ammonia (NH3), plankton community of both phytoplankton and zooplanktons were studied in aforesaid 13 sampling spots of the river Meghna. Maximum air temperature was recorded 37°C at Ananda Bazar. Maximum water temperature was recorded 30°C at Kaligonj, Chor Ludhua and Chor Alexander area of the river Meghna. Transparency was found minimum 12 cm at Chor Ludhua and maximum 75 cm at Horina Ghat. The concentration of dissolved oxygen was found maximum at Chor Voirabi and Horina Ghat 7.3 mg/l and was found minimum at Kaligonj 3.5 mg/l. Free CO2 was found highest at Kaligonj 17 mg/l and lowest at Horina Ghat 5 mg/l. pH was found ranged from almost neutral to alkaline (Minimum 7.2 to Maximum 9). Total hardness was found highest at Chor Alexander 802 mg/l and lowest at Eklaspur 35 mg/l. Total alkalinity was found highest at Chor Alexander 145 mg/l and found minimum at Madrasa Ghat and Hizla 29 mg/l. Conductivity was found highest at Chor Alexander and Chor Ludhua 1000 ?s/cm. Ammonia concentration was found ranged from 0.00 to 0.03mg/l. The mean contribution of phytoplankton was about 90.5% of the total planktonic organisms and zooplankton contributed the rest. The major groups of phytoplankton were found Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Dinophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Myxophyceae and Xanthophyceae. Total 9 genera of zooplankton were identified from four families namely Rotifera with 2 genera, Cladocera with 3 genera, Copepoda with 3 genera and Ostracoda with 1 genus from the selected sampling spots.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2016, 2(2): 324-331
Bisphthalonitrile with a Disulfide-Based Linker and its Dimethylene Analogue: Comparative Structural Insights
Authors: Alpugan Serkan , Ekineker Gülçin , Ahsen Vefa , Berber Savaş , Önal Emel , Dumoulin Fabienne
Published: August 2016

Phthalonitriles are key precursors of phthalocyanines. Self-quenching dimeric phthalocyanines likely to be cleaved into monomeric species are of potential interest for tumour-site activated photosensitisers. Disulfide linkers can be specifically cleaved in tumoral tissue do to their reductive nature. Hence, a disulfide-linked phthalonitrile was designed to serve as further precursor of specifically tumour-activatable phthalocyanine-based photosensitising systems. Bisphthalonitrile with a disulfide-based linker and its dimethylene analogue were comparatively analyzed on a spectroscopic point of view as well as with DFT calculations. A thorough crystallographic analysis of the disulfide-linked derivative was conducted.
Metal(II) Complexes of Compartmental Polynuclear Schiff Bases Containing Phenolate and Alkoxy Groups
Authors: Mautner Franz , Fischer Roland , Spell Mark , Acevedo Andres , Tran Diana , Massoud Salah
Published: August 2016

Five mono-nuclear Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes and one dinuclear Zn(II) complex were synthesized from the Schiff bases N,N'-bis(3-ethoxy-2-hydroxybenzylidene)-1,2-phenylenediamine (H2LOEt-phda) and 2-ethoxy-6-({2-[(3-ethoxy-2-hydroxybenzylidene)amino]-benzyl}iminomethyl)phenol (H2LOEt-ambza): [Cu(LOEt-phda)(H2O)].H2O (1), [Ni(LOEt-phda)].H2O (2), [Cu(LOEt-ambza)].H2O·EtOH (3), [Cu(LOEt-ambza)].H2O (4), [Ni(LOEt-ambza)] (5) and [Zn2(LOEt-ambza)(μ-OAc)(OAc)] (6). The complexes were structurally characterized with elemental microanalyses, IR, UV-Vis and ESI-MS spectroscopic techniques as well as single crystal X-ray crystallography. The metal centers display distorted square planar geometries in 2–4 and 5 and distorted square pyramidal (SP) in 1, whereas in 6 an intermediate geometry between SP and TBP was observed around the first Zn2+ ion and a tetrahedral around the second ion, with one acetate is acting as a bridging ligand. In all cases, metal ions were incorporated into the N2-O2 binding site with no involvement of the alkoxy groups in the coordination. The LOEt-ambza-complexes 3–6 revealed significant dihedral angles between the phenol rings and the plane containing the central benzene ring, and large O2-O2 bond distances (5.1-5.9 Ǻ). Results are discussed in relation to other related Schiff base complexes.
Groundwater Evaporation Ponds: A Viable Option for the Management of Shallow Saline Waterlogged Areas
Authors: Surinaidu Lagudu , Nandan Mogali , Prathapar Sanmugam , Gurunadha Rao Velidi , Rajmohan Natarajan
Published: August 2016

The province of Punjab is the main food basket of India. In recent years, many regions of Punjab are facing acute waterlogging problems and increased secondary salinity, which have negative impacts on food security of the nation. In particular, these problems are more pronounced in the Muktsar district of Punjab. The observed groundwater levels trend between 2005 and 2011 implies that groundwater levels are coming towards the land surface at the rate of 0.5 m/year in Lambi and Malout blocks. In this study, a groundwater flow model was constructed using MODFLOW to understand the groundwater table dynamics and to test the groundwater evaporation ponds to draw down the groundwater levels in the waterlogging areas of Muktsar district. The predicted flow model results indicate that groundwater levels could be depleted at the rate of 0.3 m/year between 2012 and 2018 after the construction of Groundwater Evaporation Ponds (GEP). In addition, the constructed ponds can be used for aquaculture that generates additional income. The proposed GEP method may be a promising tool and suitable for the reduction of waterlogging in any region if there is no proper surface drainage, and also for enhancement of agricultural production that improves the social and economic status of the farming community.
Phylogenetic-Derived Insights into the Evolution of Sialylation in Eukaryotes: Comprehensive Analysis of Vertebrate β-Galactoside α2,3/6-Sialyltransferases (ST3Gal and ST6Gal)
Authors: Teppa Roxana , Petit Daniel , Plechakova Olga , Cogez Virginie , Harduin-Lepers Anne
Published: August 2016

Cell surface of eukaryotic cells is covered with a wide variety of sialylated molecules involved in diverse biological processes and taking part in cell–cell interactions. Although the physiological relevance of these sialylated glycoconjugates in vertebrates begins to be deciphered, the origin and evolution of the genetic machinery implicated in their biosynthetic pathway are poorly understood. Among the variety of actors involved in the sialylation machinery, sialyltransferases are key enzymes for the biosynthesis of sialylated molecules. This review focus on β-galactoside α2,3/6-sialyltransferases belonging to the ST3Gal and ST6Gal families. We propose here an outline of the evolutionary history of these two major ST families. Comparative genomics, molecular phylogeny and structural bioinformatics provided insights into the functional innovations in sialic acid metabolism and enabled to explore how ST-gene function evolved in vertebrates.
RETRACTED: Advanced Glycation End-Products Enhance Lung Cancer Cell Invasion and Migration
Authors: Hsia Te-Chun , Yin Mei-Chin , Mong Mei-Chin
Published: August 2016

Effects of carboxymethyllysine (CML) and pentosidine, two advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), upon invasion and migration in A549 and Calu-6 cells, two non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines were examined. CML or pentosidine at 1, 2, 4, 8 or 16 μmol/L were added into cells. Proliferation, invasion and migration were measured. CML or pentosidine at 4–16 μmol/L promoted invasion and migration in both cell lines, and increased the production of reactive oxygen species, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and transforming growth factor-β1. CML or pentosidine at 2–16 μmol/L up-regulated the protein expression of AGE receptor, p47phox, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and fibronectin in test NSCLC cells. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 protein expression in A549 and Calu-6 cells was increased by CML or pentosidine at 4–16 μmol/L. These two AGEs at 2–16 μmol/L enhanced nuclear factor κ-B (NF-κ B) p65 protein expression and p38 phosphorylation in A549 cells. However, CML or pentosidine at 4–16 μmol/L up-regulated NF-κB p65 and p-p38 protein expression in Calu-6 cells. These findings suggest that CML and pentosidine, by promoting the invasion, migration and production of associated factors, benefit NSCLC metastasis.
Silk Spinning in Silkworms and Spiders
Authors: Andersson Marlene , Johansson Jan , Rising Anna
Published: August 2016

Spiders and silkworms spin silks that outcompete the toughness of all natural and manmade fibers. Herein, we compare and contrast the spinning of silk in silkworms and spiders, with the aim of identifying features that are important for fiber formation. Although spiders and silkworms are very distantly related, some features of spinning silk seem to be universal. Both spiders and silkworms produce large silk proteins that are highly repetitive and extremely soluble at high pH, likely due to the globular terminal domains that flank an intermediate repetitive region. The silk proteins are produced and stored at a very high concentration in glands, and then transported along a narrowing tube in which they change conformation in response primarily to a pH gradient generated by carbonic anhydrase and proton pumps, as well as to ions and shear forces. The silk proteins thereby convert from random coil and alpha helical soluble conformations to beta sheet fibers. We suggest that factors that need to be optimized for successful production of artificial silk proteins capable of forming tough fibers include protein solubility, pH sensitivity, and preservation of natively folded proteins throughout the purification and initial spinning processes.
Oleuropein Prevents Neuronal Death, Mitigates Mitochondrial Superoxide Production and Modulates Autophagy in a Dopaminergic Cellular Model
Authors: Achour Imène , Arel-Dubeau Anne-Marie , Renaud Justine , Legrand Manon , Attard Everaldo , Germain Marc , Martinoli Maria-Grazia
Published: August 2016

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, primarily affecting dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. There is currently no cure for PD and present medications aim to alleviate clinical symptoms, thus prevention remains the ideal strategy to reduce the prevalence of this disease. The goal of this study was to investigate whether oleuropein (OLE), the major phenolic compound in olive derivatives, may prevent neuronal degeneration in a cellular dopaminergic model of PD, differentiated PC12 cells exposed to the potent parkinsonian toxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). We also investigated OLE’s ability to mitigate mitochondrial oxidative stress and modulate the autophagic flux. Our results obtained by measuring cytotoxicity and apoptotic events demonstrate that OLE significantly decreases neuronal death. OLE could also reduce mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species resulting from blocking superoxide dismutase activity. Moreover, quantification of autophagic and acidic vesicles in the cytoplasm alongside expression of specific autophagic markers uncovered a regulatory role for OLE against autophagic flux impairment induced by bafilomycin A1. Altogether, our results define OLE as a neuroprotective, anti-oxidative and autophagy-regulating molecule, in a neuronal dopaminergic cellular model.
Evidence of Decoupling Protein Structure from Spidroin Expression in Spider Dragline Silks
Authors: Blamires Sean , Kasumovic Michael , Tso I-Min , Martens Penny , Hook James , Rawal Aditya
Published: August 2016

The exceptional strength and extensibility of spider dragline silk have been thought to be facilitated by two spidroins, major ampullate spidroin 1 (MaSp1) and major ampullate spidroin 2 (MaSp2), under the assumption that protein secondary structures are coupled with the expressed spidroins. We tested this assumption for the dragline silk of three co-existing Australian spiders, Argiope keyserlingi, Latrodectus hasselti and Nephila plumipes. We found that silk amino acid compositions did not differ among spiders collected in May. We extended these analyses temporally and found the amino acid compositions of A. keyserlingi silks to differ when collected in May compared to November, while those of L. hasselti did not. To ascertain whether their secondary structures were decoupled from spidroin expression, we performed solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) analysis on the silks of all spiders collected in May. We found the distribution of alanine toward β-sheet and 3,10helix/random coil conformations differed between species, as did their relative crystallinities, with A. keyserlingi having the greatest 3,10helix/random coil composition and N. plumipes the greatest crystallinity. The protein secondary structures correlated with the mechanical properties for each of the silks better than the amino acid compositions. Our findings suggested that a differential distribution of alanine during spinning could decouple secondary structures from spidroin expression ensuring that silks of desirable mechanical properties are consistently produced. Alternative explanations include the possibility that other spidroins were incorporated into some silks.
Ciona as a Simple Chordate Model for Heart Development and Regeneration
Authors: Evans Anderson Heather , Christiaen Lionel
Published: August 2016

Cardiac cell specification and the genetic determinants that govern this process are highly conserved among Chordates. Recent studies have established the importance of evolutionarily-conserved mechanisms in the study of congenital heart defects and disease, as well as cardiac regeneration. As a basal Chordate, the Ciona model system presents a simple scaffold that recapitulates the basic blueprint of cardiac development in Chordates. Here we will focus on the development and cellular structure of the heart of the ascidian Ciona as compared to other Chordates, principally vertebrates. Comparison of the Ciona model system to heart development in other Chordates presents great potential for dissecting the genetic mechanisms that underlie congenital heart defects and disease at the cellular level and might provide additional insight into potential pathways for therapeutic cardiac regeneration.
Studies on the Alkali–Silica Reaction Rim in a Simplified Calcium–Alkali–Silicate System
Authors: Zheng Kunpeng , Adriaensens Peter , De Schutter Geert , Ye Guang , Taerwe Luc
Published: August 2016

This work is intended to provide a better understanding about the properties and roles of the reaction rim in an alkali–silica reaction. A simplified calcium–alkali–silicate system was created to simulate the multiple interactions among reactive silica, alkaline solution and portlandite near the aggregate surface during the formation and evolution of the reaction rim in an alkali–silica reaction. A transport barrier preventing the migration of calcium and silicate through itself was found on the interface between the alkali silicate and the calcium hydroxide. The barrier was mainly composed of calcium alkali silicate with silicon–oxygen organizations of Q2 and Q3 according to the results of 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance, the calcium to silica mole ratio ranging from 0.22 to 0.53 and the alkali to silica ratio ranging from 0.20 to 0.26 based the location of the elemental compositional analysis and the storage period of the system.
Constrained Sintering in Fabrication of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Authors: Lee Hae-Weon , Park Mansoo , Hong Jongsup , Kim Hyoungchul , Yoon Kyung , Son Ji-Won , Lee Jong-Ho , Kim Byung-Kook
Published: August 2016

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are inevitably affected by the tensile stress field imposed by the rigid substrate during constrained sintering, which strongly affects microstructural evolution and flaw generation in the fabrication process and subsequent operation. In the case of sintering a composite cathode, one component acts as a continuous matrix phase while the other acts as a dispersed phase depending upon the initial composition and packing structure. The clustering of dispersed particles in the matrix has significant effects on the final microstructure, and strong rigidity of the clusters covering the entire cathode volume is desirable to obtain stable pore structure. The local constraints developed around the dispersed particles and their clusters effectively suppress generation of major process flaws, and microstructural features such as triple phase boundary and porosity could be readily controlled by adjusting the content and size of the dispersed particles. However, in the fabrication of the dense electrolyte layer via the chemical solution deposition route using slow-sintering nanoparticles dispersed in a sol matrix, the rigidity of the cluster should be minimized for the fine matrix to continuously densify, and special care should be taken in selecting the size of the dispersed particles to optimize the thermodynamic stability criteria of the grain size and film thickness. The principles of constrained sintering presented in this paper could be used as basic guidelines for realizing the ideal microstructure of SOFCs.
Design of Friction Stir Spot Welding Tools by Using a Novel Thermal-Mechanical Approach
Authors: Su Zheng-Ming , Qiu Qi-Hong , Lin Pai-Chen
Published: August 2016

A simple thermal-mechanical model for friction stir spot welding (FSSW) was developed to obtain similar weld performance for different weld tools. Use of the thermal-mechanical model and a combined approach enabled the design of weld tools for various sizes but similar qualities. Three weld tools for weld radii of 4, 5, and 6 mm were made to join 6061-T6 aluminum sheets. Performance evaluations of the three weld tools compared fracture behavior, microstructure, micro-hardness distribution, and welding temperature of welds in lap-shear specimens. For welds made by the three weld tools under identical processing conditions, failure loads were approximately proportional to tool size. Failure modes, microstructures, and micro-hardness distributions were similar. Welding temperatures correlated with frictional heat generation rate densities. Because the three weld tools sufficiently met all design objectives, the proposed approach is considered a simple and feasible guideline for preliminary tool design.
Chemical and Structural Characterization of Several Mid-Term Explanted Breast Prostheses
Authors: Amoresano Angela , De Stefano Luca , Rea Ilaria , Pane Federica , Birolo Leila , Schonauer Fabrizio
Published: August 2016

The recent scandal of poly implant prostheses (PIP), which were found in some cases to be made of non-medical grade silicone (as reported by the European Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks), had a great social impact. Thousands of patients asked for implant removal with significant costs for public health care systems. We analysed, by a multidisciplinary approach, sixteen different breast implants after explantation by using several analytical and structural techniques, such as Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), mass spectrometry equipped by ion coupled plasma (ICP-MS), gas-chromatography (GC-MS), and tensile testing. Traces of organic (fatty acid) and inorganic (Fe, Cr, Pt, Na, and other metals) substances were found in all samples, and, even if these values are under danger threshold levels, our study results highlight the possibility of bioaccumulation and tissue contamination, implying the need for continuous medical surveillance and monitoring of material aging.
Salidroside Suppresses HUVECs Cell Injury Induced by Oxidative Stress through Activating the Nrf2 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zhu Yao , Zhang Ya-Jie , Liu Wei-Wei , Shi Ai-Wu , Gu Ning
Published: August 2016

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Salidroside (SAL), one of the main effective constituents of Rhodiola rosea, has been reported to suppress oxidative stress-induced cardiomyocyte injury and necrosis by promoting transcription of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-regulated genes such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (quinone1) (NQO1). However, it has not been indicated whether SAL might ameliorate endothelial injury induced by oxidative stress. Here, our study demonstrated that SAL might suppress HUVEC cell injury induced by oxidative stress through activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway. The results of our study indicated that SAL decreased the levels of intercellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and improved the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), resulting in protective effects against oxidative stress-induced cell damage in HUVECs. It suppressed oxidative stress damage by inducing Nrf2 nuclear translocation and activating the expression of Nrf2-regulated antioxidant enzyme genes such as HO-1 and NQO1 in HUVECs. Knockdown of Nrf2 with siRNA abolished the cytoprotective effects against oxidative stress, decreased the expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1, and inhibited the nucleus translocation of Nrf2 in HUVECs. This study is the first to demonstrate that SAL suppresses HUVECs cell injury induced by oxidative stress through activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway.
The Effectiveness of Different Diet Strategies to Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risk in Youth
Authors: Gow Megan , Garnett Sarah , Baur Louise , Lister Natalie
Published: August 2016

Type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents has become a prominent clinical issue in recent decades. Increasing numbers of young people have risk factors for type 2 diabetes, particularly obesity, indicating the need for effective type 2 diabetes prevention strategies. The aim of this review was to identify specific dietary strategies that optimize improvements in risk factors for type 2 diabetes in youth and hence reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes development. Our review of the current literature indicates that dietary interventions lead to weight loss when intervention adherence is high. However, in addition to weight loss, a diet that is reduced in carbohydrates may optimize improvements in other type 2 diabetes risk factors, including insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. While further research is needed to confirm this finding, reduced carbohydrate diets may include a very low-carbohydrate diet, a very low-energy diet, a lower-glycemic-index diet, and/or an intermittent fasting diet. This array of dietary strategies provides a suite of intervention options for clinicians to recommend to young people at risk of type 2 diabetes. However, these findings are in contrast to current guidelines for the prevention of type 2 diabetes in adults which recommends a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet.
The Connection between Biaxial Orientation and Shear Thinning for Quasi-Ideal Rods
Authors: Lang Christian , Kohlbrecher Joachim , Porcar Lionel , Lettinga Minne
Published: August 2016

The complete orientational ordering tensor of quasi-ideal colloidal rods is obtained as a function of shear rate by performing rheo-SANS (rheology with small angle neutron scattering) measurements on isotropic fd-virus suspensions in the two relevant scattering planes, the flow-gradient (1-2) and the flow-vorticity (1-3) plane. Microscopic ordering can be identified as the origin of the observed shear thinning. A qualitative description of the rheological response by Smoluchowski, as well as Doi–Edwards–Kuzuu theory is possible, as we obtain a master curve for different concentrations, scaling the shear rate with the apparent collective rotational diffusion coefficient. However, the observation suggests that the interdependence of ordering and shear thinning at small shear rates is stronger than predicted. The extracted zero-shear viscosity matches the concentration dependence of the self-diffusion of rods in semi-dilute solutions, while the director tilts close towards the flow direction already at very low shear rates. In contrast, we observe a smaller dependence on the shear rate in the overall ordering at high shear rates, as well as an ever-increasing biaxiality.
Mapping Above-Ground Biomass by Integrating Optical and SAR Imagery: A Case Study of Xixi National Wetland Park, China
Authors: Huang Chudong , Ye Xinyue , Deng Chengbin , Zhang Zili , Wan Zi
Published: August 2016

Wetlands are important ecosystems as they are known as the “kidney of the earth”. Particularly, urban wetlands play an important role in providing both natural and social beneficial services. However, urban wetlands are suffering from various human impacts, such as excessive land use conversion, air and water pollution, especially those in developing countries undergoing rapid industrialization and urbanization. Therefore, it is of great necessity to derive timely biomass information for optimal design, management and protection of urban wetlands. In this paper, we develop a set of models for estimating above ground biomass (AGB) in Xixi National Wetland Park in Hangzhou, China by using optical images and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images. A series of vegetation indices (VIs) derived from optical data is introduced along with spectral data. The modeling methods consist of (1) curve estimation; (2) linear regression for multivariable model; (3) Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) modeling. Curve estimation is a combination of linear and nonlinear regressions. It is applied to generate AGB models from a single variable including Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and radar backscatter coefficient. The models are then compared via three accuracy metrics. According to the results, SAR models generally show better accuracy than optical models and BPNN models show the greatest accuracy among all the models. The BPNN model from the combination of Terra Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) and European Remote-Sensing Satellite-2 (ERS-2) SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) image has the least root mean square (RMSE, 0.396 kg/m2), least mean absolute error (MAE, 0.256 kg/m2) and the greatest correlation coefficient (0.974). The results indicate that AGB can be estimated by integrating optical and SAR imagery. Four maps of AGB are derived to illustrate the distribution of AGB in the study area. The total AGB in the study area is estimated to be between 165,000 and 210,000 kg/m2.
Does Institutional Failure Undermine the Physical Design Performance of Solar Water Pumping Systems in Rural Nepal?
Authors: Dhital Ram , Ito Yutaka , Kaneko Shinji , Komatsu Satoru , Mihara Ryota , Yoshida Yuichiro
Published: August 2016

The mountainous hinterland in rural Nepal lacks a fundamental social infrastructure. For example, the lack of electricity causes water provision difficulties, especially in mountainous areas where villagers, especially women and children, often spend a considerable amount of time just conveying water to their homes. To overcome this challenge, a subsidy policy for the installation of a solar-photovoltaic water pumping system (SWPS) has recently been implemented nationwide in Nepal. The Nepali government’s tight financial constraints require that the installation process is both economically and technologically sound. However, the institutional design of the current subsidization policy is price-distortionary and potentially induces the installation of inefficient systems. By collecting original field data from 38 wards in all seven regions of Nepal, this paper measures the SWPS’s technical efficiencies and then identifies relevant economic policies that will enhance the performance of the SWPS. Our results show, inter alia, that a higher dependency on financial support from the government is associated with excessive investment in the SWPS.
Towards an Urban Resilience Index: A Case Study in 50 Spanish Cities
Authors: Suárez Marta , Gómez-Baggethun Erik , Benayas Javier , Tilbury Daniella
Published: August 2016

Urbanization is a major driver of land use change and global environmental decline. With accelerated urbanization worldwide, it is essential to put in place new policies to conserve urban ecosystems, species and the services these provide in order to secure more sustainable, resilient and livable cities for the 21st century. In urban planning, the concept of resilience has broadly replaced the word sustainability. In recent years, resilience indicators have been gradually developed, but few address urban resilience from a social-ecological systems perspective. We develop a methodological framework to measure urban resilience, define an urban resilience index and apply it to Spanish province capitals as a case study. Results show that most Spanish province capitals are far from being resilient. We conclude that increased efforts to measure urban resilience should be in place, and we offer the urban resilience index as a theoretical framework for measuring resilience in urban social-ecological systems that can be gradually improved as more data become available.
Quantitative Detection and Attribution of Runoff Variations in the Aksu River Basin
Authors: Meng Fanhao , Liu Tie , Huang Yue , Luo Min , Bao Anming , Hou Dawei
Published: August 2016

Since the flow variations of Aksu River are strongly influenced by climate change and human activities which threat the local ecosystem and sustainable development, it is necessary to quantify the impact degree of the driving factors. Therefore, this study aims to quantify the impacts of climate change and human activities on the variability of runoff in the Aksu River Basin. The Mann-Kendall trend test and accumulative anomaly method were used to detect the break points of the flow difference value (FDV) between the upstream and downstream flume stations. The improved slope change ratio of cumulative quantity (SCRCQ) method and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model were applied to decouple the contribution of each driving factor to the FDV variations. Furthermore, a Pearson Correlation Analysis was performed to show the relationships among the driving factors and the FDV. The time series prior to the year (1988) of break point was considered as the baseline period. Based on the annual precipitation and the potential evapotranspiration (PET), the relative impacts of precipitation, PET and human activities on FDV variations as determined by the SCRCQ method were 77.35%, −0.98% and 23.63%, respectively. In addition, the SWAT model indicated that climate factors and human activities were responsible for 92.28% and 7.72% of the variability, respectively. Thus, climate change and human activities showed a similar scale of impact on FDV changes.
Estimated Grass Grazing Removal Rate in a Semiarid Eurasian Steppe Watershed as Influenced by Climate
Authors: Wang Xixi , Pedram Shohreh , Liu Tingxi , Gao Ruizhong , Li Fengling , Luo Yanyun
Published: August 2016

Grazing removal rate of grasses needs to be determined for various climate conditions to address eco-environmental concerns (e.g., desertification) related to steppe grassland degradation. The conventional approach, which requires survey data on animal species and heads as well as grass consumption per individual animal, is too costly and time-consuming to be applied at a watershed scale. The objective of this study was to present a new approach that can be used to estimate grazing removal rate with no requirement of animal-related data. The application of this new approach was demonstrated in a Eurasian semiarid typical-steppe watershed for an analysis period of 2000 to 2010. The results indicate that the removal rate tended to become larger, but its temporal variation tended to become smaller, from the upstream to downstream. Averaged across the watershed, the removal rate ranged from 63.9 to 401.0 g DM m−2 (or 22.4 to 60.9%) during the analysis period. As expected, the removal rate in an atmospherically wetter year was higher than that in an atmospherically drier year. Nevertheless, none of the eleven analysis years had a removal rate higher than the threshold value of 65%, above which the risk of grassland degradation would become much greater.
Synovial fluid pretreatment with hyaluronidase facilitates isolation of CD44+ extracellular vesicles
Authors: Boere Janneke , van de Lest Chris H. A. , Libregts Sten F. W. M. , Arkesteijn Ger J. A. , Geerts Willie J. C. , Nolte‐'t Hoen Esther N. M. , Malda Jos , van Weeren P. René , Wauben Marca H. M.
Published: August 2016

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) in synovial fluid (SF) are gaining increased recognition as important factors in joint homeostasis, joint regeneration, and as biomarkers of joint disease. A limited number of studies have investigated EVs in SF samples of patients with joint disease, but knowledge on the role of EVs in healthy joints is lacking. In addition, no standardized protocol is available for isolation of EVs from SF. Based on the high viscosity of SF caused by high concentrations of hyaluronic acid (HA) – a prominent extracellular matrix component – it was hypothesized that EV recovery could be optimized by pretreatment with hyaluronidase (HYase). Therefore, the efficiency of EV isolation from healthy equine SF samples was tested by performing sequential ultracentrifugation steps (10,000g, 100,000g and 200,000g) in the presence or absence of HYase. Quantitative EV analysis using high‐resolution flow cytometry showed an efficient recovery of EVs after 100,000g ultracentrifugation, with an increased yield of CD44+ EVs when SF samples were pretreated with HYase. Morphological analysis of SF‐derived EVs with cryo‐transmission‐electron microscopy did not indicate damage by high‐speed ultracentrifugation and revealed that most EVs are spherical with a diameter of 20–200 nm. Further protein characterization by Western blotting revealed that healthy SF‐derived EVs contain CD9, Annexin‐1, and CD90/Thy1.1. Taken together, these data suggest that EV isolation protocols for body fluids that contain relatively high amounts of HA, such as SF, could benefit from treatment of the fluid with HYase prior to ultracentrifugation. This method facilitates recovery and detection of CD44+ EVs within the HA‐rich extracellular matrix. Furthermore, based on the findings presented here, it is recommended to sediment SF‐derived EVs with at least 100,000g for optimal EV recovery.
Language Death in the Valley of Puebla: A Socio-Geographic Approach
Authors: Knab, Hasson de Knab Tim, Liliane
Published: August 2016

n/a
Multiple Dependency in Blackfoot
Authors: Frantz Donald G.
Published: August 2016

This is a brief study of Blackfoot sentences in which a single nominal bears relations to both an upstairs (matrix) and downstairs (embedded) clause. In particular, I wish to focus attention on the linear positions possible for such nominals, for they indicate the need for revision of a "law" of Arc Pair Grammar (APG) (Johnson and Postal, to appear).
Functional Grammar
Authors: Kay Martin
Published: August 2016

The term functional grammar has been used before, notably by Dik (1978). I risk adding to the number of its meanings here, and thus debasing its value, only because it is peculiarly apt for this new employment. I propose to outline a new grammatical formalism which, if it can be successfully developed, will be worthy of the name functional on three counts. First, it is required to function as part of a model of language production and comprehension. The formalism is interpretable by an abstract machine whose operation is intended to model tl1c syntactic processing of sentences by speakers and hearers indifferently. This is not to say that it is not also intended to represent a speaker's grammatical competence. Secondly, the formalism ascribes to every sentence, word, and phrase, a functional description which differs from the strnctural description of better known formalisms mainly by stressing the function mat a part plays in a whole rather than me position a part occupies in a sequence of omers. The names of grammatical categories, like S, NP, and VP will therefore play a secondary role to terms like subject, object, and modifier. Thirdly, properties that distinguish among logically equivalent sentences will have equal importance with properties that they share. In omer words, mis will be a functionalist view of grammar in which notions like topic and focus, given and new will have equal status with subject and predicate, positive and negative.
USING ForeCAT DEFLECTIONS AND ROTATIONS TO CONSTRAIN THE EARLY EVOLUTION OF CMEs
Authors: Kay C. , Opher M. , Colaninno R. C. , Vourlidas A.
Published: August 2016

To accurately predict the space weather effects of the impacts of coronal mass ejection (CME) at Earth one must know if and when a CME will impact Earth and the CME parameters upon impact. In 2015 Kay et al. presented Forecasting a CME’s Altered Trajectory (ForeCAT), a model for CME deflections based on the magnetic forces from the background solar magnetic field. Knowing the deflection and rotation of a CME enables prediction of Earth impacts and the orientation of the CME upon impact. We first reconstruct the positions of the 2010 April 8  and the 2012 July 12 CMEs from the observations. The first of these CMEs exhibits significant deflection and rotation (34° deflection and 58° rotation), while the second shows almost no deflection or rotation (<3° each). Using ForeCAT, we explore a range of initial parameters, such as the CME’s location and size, and find parameters that can successfully reproduce the behavior for each CME. Additionally, since the deflection depends strongly on the behavior of a CME in the low corona, we are able to constrain the expansion and propagation of these CMEs in the low corona.