bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Organization and Management of Conservation Programs and Research in Domestic Animal Genetic Resources
Authors: Delgado Bermejo Juan Vicente , Martínez Martínez María Amparo , Rodríguez Galván Guadalupe , Stemmer Angélika , Navas González Francisco Javier , Camacho Vallejo María Esperanza
Published: December 2019

Creating national committees for domestic animal genetic resources within genetic resource national commissions is recommended to organize in situ and ex situ conservation initiatives. In situ conservation is a high priority because it retains traditional zootechnical contexts and locations to ensure the long-term survival of breeds. In situ actions can be based on subsidies, technical support, structure creation, or trademark definition. Provisional or permanent relocation of breeds may prevent immediate extinction when catastrophes, epizootics, or social conflicts compromise in situ conservation. Ex situ in vivo (animal preservation in rescue or quarantine centers) and in vitro methods (germplasm, tissues/cells, DNA/genes storage) are also potential options. Alert systems must detect emergencies and summon the national committee to implement appropriate procedures. Ex situ coordinated centers must be prepared to permanently or provisionally receive extremely endangered collections. National germplasm banks must maintain sufficient samples of national breeds (duplicated) in their collections to restore extinct populations at levels that guarantee the survival of biodiversity. A conservation management survey, describing national and international governmental and non-governmental structures, was developed. Conservation research initiatives for international domestic animal genetic resources from consortia centralize the efforts of studies on molecular, genomic or geo-evolutionary breed characterization, breed distinction, and functional gene identification. Several consortia also consider ex situ conservation relying on socioeconomic or cultural aspects. The CONBIAND network (Conservation for the Biodiversity of Local Domestic Animals for Sustainable Rural Development) exemplifies conservation efficiency maximization in a low-funding setting, integrating several Latin American consortia with international cooperation where limited human, material, and economic resources are available.
Nonasymptotic Upper Bounds on Binary Single Deletion Codes via Mixed Integer Linear Programming
Authors: No Albert
Published: December 2019

The size of the largest binary single deletion code has been unknown for more than 50 years. It is known that Varshamov–Tenengolts (VT) code is an optimum single deletion code for block length n ≤ 10 ; however, only a few upper bounds of the size of single deletion code are proposed for larger n. We provide improved upper bounds using Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) relaxation technique. Especially, we show the size of single deletion code is smaller than or equal to 173 when the block length n is 11. In the second half of the paper, we propose a conjecture that is equivalent to the long-lasting conjecture that “VT code is optimum for all n”. This equivalent formulation of the conjecture contains small sub-problems that can be numerically verified. We provide numerical results that support the conjecture.
Facial Expression Recognition of Nonlinear Facial Variations Using Deep Locality De-Expression Residue Learning in the Wild
Authors: Ullah Asad , Wang Jing , Anwar M. Shahid , Ahmad Usman , Saeed Uzair , Fei Zesong
Published: December 2019

Automatic facial expression recognition is an emerging field. Moreover, the interest has been increased with the transition from laboratory-controlled conditions to in the wild scenarios. Most of the research has been done over nonoccluded faces under the constrained environment, while automatic facial expression is less understood/implemented for partial occlusion in the real world conditions. Apart from that, our research aims to tackle the issues of overfitting (caused by the shortage of adequate training data) and to alleviate the expression-unrelated/intraclass/nonlinear facial variations, such as head pose estimation, eye gaze estimation, intensity and microexpressions. In our research, we control the magnitude of each Action Unit (AU) and combine several of the Action Unit combinations to leverage learning from the generative and discriminative representations for automatic FER. We have also addressed the problem of diversification of expressions from lab controlled to real-world scenarios from our cross-database study and proposed a model for enhancement of the discriminative power of deep features while increasing the interclass scatters, by preserving the locality closeness. Furthermore, facial expression consists of an expressive component as well as neutral component, so we proposed a generative model which is capable of generating neutral expression from an input image using cGAN. The expressive component is filtered and passed to the intermediate layers and the process is called De-expression Residue Learning. The residue in the intermediate/middle layers is very important for learning through expressive components. Finally, we validate the effectiveness of our method (DLP-DeRL) through qualitative and quantitative experimental results using four databases. Our method is more accurate and robust, and outperforms all the existing methods (hand crafted features and deep learning) while dealing the images in the wild.
Elastic Computing in the Fog on Internet of Things to Improve the Performance of Low Cost Nodes
Authors: Fayos-Jordan Rafael , Felici-Castell Santiago , Segura-Garcia Jaume , Pastor-Aparicio Adolfo , Lopez-Ballester Jesus
Published: December 2019

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network widely used with the purpose of connecting almost everything, everywhere to the Internet. To cope with this goal, low cost nodes are being used; otherwise, it would be very expensive to expand so fast. These networks are set up with small distributed devices (nodes) that have a power supply, processing unit, memory, sensors, and wireless communications. In the market, we can find different alternatives for these devices, such as small board computers (SBCs), e.g., Raspberry Pi (RPi)), with different features. Usually these devices run a coarse version of a Linux operating system. Nevertheless, there are many scenarios that require enhanced computational power that these nodes alone are unable to provide. In this context, we need to introduce a kind of collaboration among the devices to overcome their constraints. We based our solution in a combination of clustering techniques (building a mesh network using their wireless capabilities); at the same time we try to orchestrate the resources in order to improve their processing capabilities in an elastic computing fashion. This paradigm is called fog computing on IoT. We propose in this paper the use of cloud computing technologies, such as Linux containers, based on Docker, and a container orchestration platform (COP) to run on the top of a cluster of these nodes, but adapted to the fog computing paradigm. Notice that these technologies are open source and developed for Linux operating system. As an example, in our results we show an IoT application for soundscape monitoring as a proof of concept that it will allow us to compare different alternatives in its design and implementation; in particular, with regard to the COP selection, between Docker Swarm and Kubernetes. We conclude that using and combining these techniques, we can improve the overall computation capabilities of these IoT nodes within a fog computing paradigm.
Analysis of an SDN-Based Cooperative Caching Network with Heterogeneous Contents
Authors: Li Qi , Wang Xiaoxiang , Wang Dongyu , Zhang Yibo , Lan Yanwen , Liu Qiang , Song Lei
Published: December 2019

The ubiquity of data-enabled mobile devices and wireless-enabled data applications has fostered the rapid development of wireless content caching, which is an efficient approach to mitigating cellular traffic pressure. Considering the content characteristics and real caching circumstances, a software-defined network (SDN)-based cooperative caching system is presented. First, we define a new file block library with heterogeneous content attributes [file popularity, mobile user (MU) preference, file size]. An SDN-based three-tier caching network is presented in which the base station supplies control coverage for the entire macrocell and cache helpers (CHs), MUs with cache capacities offer data coverage. Using the ‘most popular content’ and ‘largest diversity content’, a distributed cooperative caching strategy is proposed in which the caches of the MUs store the most popular contents of the file block library to mitigate the effect of MU mobility, and those of the CHs store the remaining contents in a probabilistic caching manner to enrich the content diversity and reduce the MU caching pressure. The request meet probability (RMPro) is subsequently proposed, and the optimal caching distribution of the contents in the probabilistic caching strategy is obtained via optimization. Finally, using the result of RMPro optimization, we also analyze the content retrieval delays that occur when a typical MU requests a file block or a whole file. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed caching system can achieve quasi-optimal revenue performance compared with other contrasting schemes.
An Optimal Wavelet Packets Basis Method for Cascade Hydro-PV-Pumped Storage Generation Systems to Smooth Photovoltaic Power Fluctuations
Authors: Wu Fan , Wang Jun , Sun Zhang , Wang Tao , Chen Lei , Han Xiaoyan
Published: December 2019

Due to the volatility of natural resources, the power fluctuations of photovoltaic (PV) generation have serious negative impacts on the power quality. This paper reports a novel approach to resolve this problem in a combined cascade hydro-PV-pumped storage (CH-PV-PS) generation system through appropriate power distribution on a small time scale. According to the characteristics of power generation systems and multi-constraints, how to obtain the optimal smoothing effects with the small cost is a key challenge. For this purpose, wavelet packet decomposition is modified by constructing cost function and ideal power trajectory sequences to obtain a new adaptive power distribution method for the CH-PV-PS generation system considering the boundary conditions of the system in this paper. At the same time, to meet the real-time control requirements of actual systems, an additive function is presented to improve the optimization speed of the adaptive power distribution method. In the meantime, a fuzzy controller is designed to optimize the inevitable delay time of the power scheduling system, and the starting threshold is set to avoid the frequently mode conversion of pumped storage. Finally, the performance of the method is evaluated based on the PV station data in Xiaojin County, Sichuan Province, China. Simulation results based on Matlab-simulink indicate that the proposed method can effectively suppress PV power fluctuations and ensure normal operation of the CH-PV-PS generation system within the multiple constraints.
A Power Loss Decrease Method Based on Finite Set Model Predictive Control for a Motor Emulator with Reduced Switch Count
Authors: Qin Rui , Yang Chunhua , Tao Hongwei , Peng Tao , Yang Chao , Chen Zhiwen
Published: December 2019

This paper presents a power loss decrease method based on finite set model predictive control (FSMPC) with delay compensation for a motor emulator with reduced switch count. Specifically, the topology and mathematical model of the proposed motor emulator with reduced switch count are firstly built. Secondly, in light of given instructions, the normal or fault reference current of the motor emulator is set by a reference current setter. Then delay compensation is applied for the predictive current model to calculate the current residual generated by each switch control signal, and the current tracking performance under actions of two adjacent switch control signals is evaluated for each sector. Finally, a switch power loss objective function is defined, then the two adjacent switch control signals that generate the lowest switch power loss are selected for the next second instant, which minimizes the power loss of the motor emulator with ensuring satisfied current tracking performance. Simulation and experimental results show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Exposure Complexity and Community Capacity to Manage Wildfire Risk: A Coupled Biophysical and Social Analysis of 60 Communities in the Western United States
Authors: Nielsen-Pincus Max , Evers Cody , Ager Alan
Published: December 2019

Coordinated approaches to wildfire risk mitigation strategies that cross-ownership and management boundaries are found in many policies and programs worldwide. The “all lands” approach of the United States (US) National Cohesive Strategy, for example, attempts to address the mismatches between biophysical risk and the social potential to address risks by improving multijurisdictional coordination and collaboration. Local capacity to coordinate wildfire risk mitigation, therefore, may be an important influence on whether risk reduction planning makes success stories out of at-risk communities, or turns what would appear a manageable problem into a disaster waiting to happen. We analyzed the relationship between predicted housing exposure to wildfire and local self-assessment of community competence to mitigate wildfire risks in 60 communities in the western US. Results generally demonstrate that (1) the number of sources of wildfire risk influences local housing exposure to wildfire, and (2) perceived community-competence is associated with predicted exposure to wildfire. We suggest that investments in ongoing updates to community risk planning and efforts to build multi-jurisdictional risk management networks may help to leverage existing capacity, especially in moderate capacity communities. The analysis improves the social-ecological understanding of wildfire risks and highlights potential causal linkages between community capacity and wildfire exposure.
A Comprehensive Characterisation of Volatile and Fatty Acid Profiles of Legume Seeds
Authors: Khrisanapant Prit , Kebede Biniam , Leong Sze Ying , Oey Indrawati
Published: December 2019

Legumes are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which make them susceptible to (non) enzymatic oxidations leading to undesirable odour formation. This study aimed to characterise the volatile and fatty acid profiles of eleven types of legumes using headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and GC coupled with a flame ionisation detector (GC-FID), respectively. Volatile aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, esters, terpenes and hydrocarbons were the chemical groups identified across all the legumes. The lipids comprised palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and α-linolenic acids, with unsaturated fatty acids comprising at least 66.1% to 85.3% of the total lipids for the legumes studied. Multivariate data analysis was used to compare volatile and fatty acid profiles between legumes, which allow discriminant compounds pertinent to specific legumes to be identified. Results showed that soybean, chickpea and lentil had distinct volatile and fatty acid profiles, with discriminating volatiles including lactone, ester and ketone, respectively. While all three Phaseolus cultivars shared similar volatile profiles, 3-methyl-1-butanol was found to be the only volatile differentiating them against the other eight legumes. Overall, this is the first time a multivariate data analysis has been used to characterise the volatile and fatty acid profiles across different legume seeds, while also identifying discriminating compounds specific for certain legume species. Such information can contribute to the creation of legume-based ingredients with specific volatile characteristics while reducing undesirable odours, or potentially inform relevant breeding programs.
Major Role of Voluminosity in the Compressibility and Sol–Gel Transition of Casein Micelle Dispersions Concentrated at 7 °C and 20 °C
Authors: Doudiès Floriane , Arsène Anne-Sophie , Garnier-Lambrouin Fabienne , Famelart Marie-Hélène , Bouchoux Antoine , Pignon Frédéric , Gésan-Guiziou Geneviève
Published: December 2019

The objective of this work is to bring new information about the influence of temperatures (7 °C and 20 °C) on the equation of state and sol–gel transition behavior of casein micelle dispersions. Casein micelle dispersions have been concentrated and equilibrated at different osmotic pressures using equilibrium dialysis at 7 °C and 20 °C. The osmotic stress technique measured the osmotic pressures of the dispersions over a wide range of concentrations. Rheological properties of concentrated dispersions were then characterized, respectively at 7 °C and at 20 °C. The essential result is that casein micelle dispersions are less compressible at 7 °C than at 20 °C and that concentration of sol–gel transition is lower at 7 °C than at 20 °C, with compressibility defined as the inverse to the resistance to the compression, and that is proportional to the cost to remove water from structure. From our interpretations, these two features were fully consistent with a release of soluble β-casein and nanoclusters CaP and an increased casein micelle hydration and apparent voluminosity at 7 °C as compared with 20 °C.
Effects of Pre-Processing Short-Term Hot-Water Treatments on Quality and Shelf Life of Fresh-Cut Apple Slices
Authors: Rux Guido , Efe Efecan , Ulrichs Christian , Huyskens-Keil Susanne , Hassenberg Karin , Herppich Werner B.
Published: December 2019

Processing, especially cutting, reduces the shelf life of fruits. In practice, fresh-cut fruit salads are, therefore, often sold immersed in sugar syrups to increase shelf life. Pre-processing short-term hot-water treatments (sHWT) may further extend the shelf life of fresh-cuts by effectively reducing microbial contaminations before cutting. In this study, fresh-cut ‘Braeburn’ apples, a major component of fruit salads, were short-term (30 s) hot water-treated (55 °C or 65 °C), partially treated with a commercial anti-browning solution (ascorbic/citric acid) after cutting and, thereafter, stored immersed in sugar syrup. To, for the first time, comprehensively and comparatively evaluate the currently unexplored positive or negative effects of these treatments on fruit quality and shelf life, relevant parameters were analyzed at defined intervals during storage at 4 °C for up to 13 days. Compared to acid pre-treated controls, sHWT significantly reduced the microbial loads of apple slices but did not affect their quality during the 5 day-standard shelf life period of fresh-cuts. Yeasts were most critical for shelf life of fresh-cut apples immersed in sugar syrup. The combination of sHWT and post-processing acid treatment did not further improve quality or extend shelf life. Although sHWT could not extend potential maximum shelf life beyond 10 d, results highlighted the potentials of this technique to replace pre-processing chemical treatments and, thus, to save valuable resources.
Analysis of Flood Storage Area Operations in Huai River Using 1D and 2D River Simulation Models Coupled with Global Optimization Algorithms
Authors: Jonoski Andreja , Popescu Ioana , Zhe Sun , Mu Yuhan , He Yiqing
Published: December 2019

This article addresses the issue of flood management using four flood storage areas in the middle section of Huai River in China which protect the important downstream city of Bengbu. The same areas are also used by the local population as residential and agricultural zones. An optimization problem is therefore posed, with two objectives of simultaneously minimizing the downstream flood risk in Bengbu city and the storage areas’ economic damages. The methodology involved development of river flood models using HEC-RAS, with varying complexity, such as 1-dimensional (1D) model with storage areas represented as lumped conceptual reservoirs, and 2-dimensional (2D) models with detailed representation of the terrain, land-use and hydrodynamics in the storage areas. Experiments of coupling these models with global optimization algorithms (NSGA-II, PESA-II and SPEA-II) were performed (using the HEC-RAS Controller), in which the two objective functions were minimized, while using stage differences between the river and the storage areas as decision variables for controlling the opening/closing of the gates at the lateral structures that link the river with the storage areas. The comparative analysis of the results indicate that more refined optimal operational strategies that spread the damages across all storage areas can be obtained only with the detailed flood simulation models, regardless of the optimization algorithm used.
Mechanisms of Metastatic Tumor Dormancy and Implications for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Neophytou Christiana M. , Kyriakou Theodora-Christina , Papageorgis Panagiotis
Published: December 2019

Metastasis, a multistep process during which tumor cells disseminate to secondary organs, represents the main cause of death for cancer patients. Metastatic dormancy is a late stage during cancer progression, following extravasation of cells at a secondary site, where the metastatic cells stop proliferating but survive in a quiescent state. When the microenvironmental conditions are favorable, they re-initiate proliferation and colonize, sometimes years after treatment of the primary tumor. This phenomenon represents a major clinical obstacle in cancer patient care. In this review, we describe the current knowledge regarding the genetic or epigenetic mechanisms that are activated by cancer cells that either sustain tumor dormancy or promote escape from this inactive state. In addition, we focus on the role of the microenvironment with emphasis on the effects of extracellular matrix proteins and in factors implicated in regulating dormancy during colonization to the lungs, brain, and bone. Finally, we describe the opportunities and efforts being made for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to combat metastatic cancer, by targeting the dormancy stage.
MicroRNA-137 Inhibits Cancer Progression by Targeting Del-1 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Lee Soo Jung , Jeong Jae-Hwan , Kang Seung Hee , Kang Jieun , Kim Eun Ae , Lee Jeeyeon , Jung Jin Hyang , Park Ho Yong , Chae Yee Soo
Published: December 2019

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can be used to target a variety of human malignancy by targeting their oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. The developmental endothelial locus-1 (Del-1) might be under miRNA regulation. This study investigated microRNA-137 (miR-137) function and Del-1 expression in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells and tissues. Del-1 mRNA and miRNA-137 levels were determined via qRT-PCR in breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231, MCF7, SK-BR3, and T-47D) and tissues from 30 patients with TNBC. The effects of miR-137 on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were determined using MTT assays, wound healing, and Matrigel transwell assays. The luciferase reporter assay revealed direct binding of miR-137 to the 3′-UTR of Del-1. miR-137 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells. Among the 30 TNBC specimens, miR-137 was downregulated and Del-1 level in plasma was significantly elevated relative to normal controls. It is concluded that miR-137 regulates Del-1 expression in TNBC by directly binding to the Del-1 gene and cancer progression. The results implicate miR-137 as a new therapeutic biomarker for patients with TNBC.
Regulation of Photomorphogenic Development by Plant Phytochromes
Authors: Tripathi Sharanya , Hoang Quyen T. N. , Han Yun-Jeong , Kim Jeong-Il
Published: December 2019

Photomorphogenesis and skotomorphogenesis are two key events that control plant development, from seed germination to flowering and senescence. A group of wavelength-specific photoreceptors, E3 ubiquitin ligases, and various transcription factors work together to regulate these two critical processes. Phytochromes are the main photoreceptors in plants for perceiving red/far-red light and transducing the light signals to downstream factors that regulate the gene expression network for photomorphogenic development. In this review, we highlight key developmental stages in the life cycle of plants and how phytochromes and other components in the phytochrome signaling pathway play roles in plant growth and development.
Electron Transfer Induced Decomposition in Potassium–Nitroimidazoles Collisions: An Experimental and Theoretical Work
Authors: Mendes Mónica , García Gustavo , Bacchus-Montabonel Marie-Christine , Limão-Vieira Paulo
Published: December 2019

Electron transfer induced decomposition mechanism of nitroimidazole and a selection of analogue molecules in collisions with neutral potassium (K) atoms from 10 to 1000 eV have been thoroughly investigated. In this laboratory collision regime, the formation of negative ions was time-of-flight mass analyzed and the fragmentation patterns and branching ratios have been obtained. The most abundant anions have been assigned to the parent molecule and the nitrogen oxide anion (NO2–) and the electron transfer mechanisms are comprehensively discussed. This work focuses on the analysis of all fragment anions produced and it is complementary of our recent work on selective hydrogen loss from the transient negative ions produced in these collisions. Ab initio theoretical calculations were performed for 4-nitroimidazole (4NI), 2-nitroimidazole (2NI), 1-methyl-4- (Me4NI) and 1-methyl-5-nitroimidazole (Me5NI), and imidazole (IMI) in the presence of a potassium atom and provided a strong basis for the assignment of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals accessed in the collision process.
How Do eHMIs Affect Pedestrians’ Crossing Behavior? A Study Using a Head-Mounted Display Combined with a Motion Suit
Authors: Kooijman Lars , Happee Riender , de Winter Joost
Published: December 2019

In future traffic, automated vehicles may be equipped with external human-machine interfaces (eHMIs) that can communicate with pedestrians. Previous research suggests that, during first encounters, pedestrians regard text-based eHMIs as clearer than light-based eHMIs. However, in much of the previous research, pedestrians were asked to imagine crossing the road, and unable or not allowed to do so. We investigated the effects of eHMIs on participants’ crossing behavior. Twenty-four participants were immersed in a virtual urban environment using a head-mounted display coupled to a motion-tracking suit. We manipulated the approaching vehicles’ behavior (yielding, nonyielding) and eHMI type (None, Text, Front Brake Lights). Participants could cross the road whenever they felt safe enough to do so. The results showed that forward walking velocities, as recorded at the pelvis, were, on average, higher when an eHMI was present compared to no eHMI if the vehicle yielded. In nonyielding conditions, participants showed a slight forward motion and refrained from crossing. An analysis of participants’ thorax angle indicated rotation towards the approaching vehicles and subsequent rotation towards the crossing path. It is concluded that results obtained via a setup in which participants can cross the road are similar to results from survey studies, with eHMIs yielding a higher crossing intention compared to no eHMI. The motion suit allows investigating pedestrian behaviors related to bodily attention and hesitation.
Higher Sodium Intake Assessed by 24 Hour Urinary Sodium Excretion Is Associated with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: The PREVEND Cohort Study
Authors: van den Berg Eline H. , Gruppen Eke G. , Blokzijl Hans , Bakker Stephan J.L. , Dullaart Robin P.F.
Published: December 2019

A higher sodium intake is conceivably associated with insulin resistant conditions like obesity, but associations of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with a higher sodium intake determined by 24 hours (24 h) urine collections are still unclear. Dietary sodium intake was measured by sodium excretion in two complete consecutive 24 h urine collections in 6132 participants of the Prevention of Renal and Vascular End-Stage Disease (PREVEND) cohort. Fatty Liver Index (FLI) ≥60 and Hepatic Steatosis Index (HSI) >36 were used as proxies of suspected NAFLD. 1936 (31.6%) participants had an FLI ≥60, coinciding with the increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D), metabolic syndrome, hypertension and history of cardiovascular disease. Sodium intake was higher in participants with an FLI ≥60 (163.63 ± 61.81 mmol/24 h vs. 136.76 ± 50.90 mmol/24 h, p < 0.001), with increasing incidence in ascending quartile categories of sodium intake (p < 0.001). Multivariably, an FLI ≥60 was positively associated with a higher sodium intake when taking account for T2D, a positive cardiovascular history, hypertension, alcohol intake, smoking and medication use (odds ratio (OR) 1.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.44–1.64, p < 0.001). Additional adjustment for the Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) diminished this association (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.21–1.41, p < 0.001). HSI >36 showed similar results. Associations remained essentially unaltered after adjustment for body surface area or waist/hip ratio. In conclusion, suspected NAFLD is a feature of higher sodium intake. Insulin resistance-related processes may contribute to the association of NAFLD with sodium intake.
Biomimetic Biomolecules in Next Generation Xeno-Hybrid Bone Graft Material Show Enhanced In Vitro Bone Cells Response
Authors: Perale Giuseppe , Monjo Marta , Ramis Joana M. , Øvrebø Øystein , Betge Felice , Lyngstadaas Petter , Haugen Håvard J.
Published: December 2019

Bone defects resulting from trauma, disease, surgery or congenital malformations are a significant health problem worldwide. Consequently, bone is the second most transplanted tissue just after blood. Although bone grafts (BGs) have been used for decades to improve bone repairs, none of the currently available BGs possesses all the desirable characteristics. One way to overcome such limitations is to introduce the feature of controlled release of active bone-promoting biomolecules: however, the administration of, e.g., recombinant Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have been used in concentrations overshooting physiologically occurring concentrations and has thus raised concerns as documented side effects were recorded. Secondly, most such biomolecules are very sensitive to organic solvents and this hinders their use. Here, we present a novel xeno-hybrid bone graft, SmartBonePep®, with a new type of biomolecule (i.e., intrinsically disordered proteins, IDPs) that is both resistant to processing with organic solvent and both triggers bone cells proliferation and differentiation. SmartBonePep® is an advanced and improved modification of SmartBone®, which is a bone substitute produced by combining naturally-derived mineral bone structures with resorbable polymers and collagen fragments. Not only have we demonstrated that Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs) can be successfully and safely loaded onto a SmartBonePep®, withstanding the hefty manufacturing processes, but also made them bioavailable in a tuneable manner and proved that these biomolecules are a robust and resilient biomolecule family, being a better candidate with respect to other biomolecules for effectively producing the next generation bone grafts. Most other biomolecules which enhances bone formation, e.g., BMP, would not have tolerated the organic solvent used to produce SmartBonePep®.
Double-Emulsion Copolyester Microcapsules for Sustained Intraperitoneal Release of Carboplatin
Authors: Cymbaluk-Płoska Aneta , Sobolewski Peter , Chudecka-Głaz Anita , Wiśniewska Ewa , Łapczuk Joanna , Frankowski Marcin , Droździk Marek , El Fray Miroslawa
Published: December 2019

Despite on-going medical advances, ovarian cancer survival rates have stagnated. In order to improve IP delivery of platinum-based antineoplastics, we aimed to develop a sustained drug delivery system for carboplatin (CPt). Toward this aim, we pursued a double emulsion process for obtaining CPt-loaded microcapsules composed of poly(ethylene terephthalate-ethylene dilinoleate) (PET-DLA) copolymer. We were able to obtain PET-DLA microspheres in the targeted size range of 10–25 µm (median: 18.5 µm), to reduce intraperitoneal clearance by phagocytosis and lymphoid transit. Empty microspheres showed the lack of toxicity in vitro. The double emulsion process yielded 2.5% w/w CPt loading and obtained microcapsules exhibited sustained (>20 day) zero-order release. The encapsulated CPt was confirmed to be bioavailable, as the microcapsules demonstrated efficacy against human ovarian adenocarcinoma (SK-OV-3) cells in vitro. Following intraperitoneal injection in mice, we did not observe adhesions, only mild, clinically-insignificant, local inflammatory response. Tissue platinum levels, monitored over 14 days using atomic absorption spectroscopy, revealed low burst and reduced systemic uptake (plasma, kidney), as compared to neat carboplatin injection. Overall, the results demonstrate the potential of the developed microencapsulation system for long-term intraperitoneal sustained release of carboplatin for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
Kinetic Analysis of High-Temperature Plastic Flow in 2.25Cr-1Mo-0.25V Steel
Authors: Zhang Yongtao , Luo Peng , Niu Longjiang , Lu Zhanpeng , Yan Haitao , Hu Xiaoli
Published: December 2019

High-temperature plastic flow of heat-resistant 2.25Cr-1Mo-0.25V steel was investigated by hot tension (at 500–650 °C) on a Gleeble 3800 machine. The strain rate of hot tension was set as 0.001–1 s−1. The constitutive relation of the steel was modeled by the introduction of the parameters termed “true activation energy” and “threshold stress”. Then, the kinetics of high-temperature plastic flow was analyzed based on an Arrhenius equation modified by a “threshold stress”. The stress exponent of the modified equation was equal to 5. True activation energy was estimated to be 132 kJ·mol−1. According to the slip band model, the basic mechanism behind the hot deformation of the steel was considered to be dislocation climbing, which was governed by grain boundary diffusion. This model proved to be successful in its analysis of the experimental results of hot tension tests.
Non-Destructive Characterization of Railway Materials and Components with Infrared Thermography Technique
Authors: Kim Jeongguk
Published: December 2019

Infrared (IR) thermography technology is one of the leading non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques based on infrared detection. Infrared thermography, in particular, has the advantage of not only being used in non-contact mode but also provides full images, real-time inspection, and relatively fast results. These advantages make it possible to perform thermal imaging analysis of railway materials and/or components, such as brake disc simulation, monitoring of abnormal heat generation, and monitoring of temperature changes, during mechanical tests. This study introduces the current state of research on railway materials and/or components using IR thermography technology. An attempt was made to characterize the deterioration of electrical equipment of diesel electric locomotives using infrared thermal imaging techniques. In addition, surface temperature monitoring was performed during tensile testing of railway steels using a high-speed infrared camera. Damage evolution due to the hot spot generation of railway brake discs was successfully monitored using high-speed IR cameras. In this paper, IR thermal imaging technology, used as a non-destructive evaluation analysis in the railway field, was introduced, and the results of recent research are presented.
General Study and Gene Expression Profiling of Endotheliocytes Cultivated on Electrospun Materials
Authors: Stepanova Alena O. , Laktionov Petr P. , Cherepanova Anna V. , Chernonosova Vera S. , Shevelev Georgiy Yu. , Zaporozhchenko Ivan A. , Karaskov Alexander M. , Laktionov Pavel P.
Published: December 2019

Endothelization of the luminal surface of vascular grafts is required for their long-term functioning. Here, we have cultivated human endothelial cells (HUVEC) on different 3D matrices to assess cell proliferation, gene expression and select the best substrate for endothelization. 3D matrices were produced by electrospinning from solutions of poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), polycaprolactone (PCL), and blends of PCL with gelatin (Gl) in hexafluoroisopropanol. Structure and surface properties of 3D matrices were characterized by SEM, AFM, and sessile drop analysis. Cell adhesion, viability, and proliferation were studied by SEM, Alamar Blue staining, and 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay. Gene expression profiling was done on an Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform. Obtained data indicated that 3D matrices produced from PCL with Gl and treated with glutaraldehyde provide the most suitable support for HUVEC adhesion and proliferation. Transcriptome sequencing has demonstrated a minimal difference of gene expression profile in HUVEC cultivated on the surface of these matrices as compared to tissue culture plastic, thus confirming these matrices as the best support for endothelization.
Review of the Quench Sensitivity of Aluminium Alloys: Analysis of the Kinetics and Nature of Quench-Induced Precipitation
Authors: Milkereit Benjamin , Starink Marco J. , Rometsch Paul A. , Schick Christoph , Kessler Olaf
Published: December 2019

For aluminium alloys, precipitation strengthening is controlled by age-hardening heat treatments, including solution treatment, quenching, and ageing. In terms of technological applications, quenching is considered a critical step, because detrimental quench-induced precipitation must be avoided to exploit the full age-hardening potential of the alloy. The alloy therefore needs to be quenched faster than a critical cooling rate, but slow enough to avoid undesired distortion and residual stresses. These contrary requirements for quenching can only be aligned based on detailed knowledge of the kinetics of quench-induced precipitation. Until the beginning of the 21st century, the kinetics of relevant solid-solid phase transformations in aluminium alloys could only be estimated by ex-situ testing of different properties. Over the past ten years, significant progress has been achieved in this field of materials science, enabled by the development of highly sensitive differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. This review presents a comprehensive report on the solid-solid phase transformation kinetics in Al alloys covering precipitation and dissolution reactions during heating from different initial states, dissolution during solution annealing and to a vast extent quench-induced precipitation during continuous cooling over a dynamic cooling rate range of ten orders of magnitude. The kinetic analyses are complemented by sophisticated micro- and nano-structural analyses and continuous cooling precipitation (CCP) diagrams are derived. The measurement of enthalpies released by quench-induced precipitation as a function of the cooling rate also enables predictions of the quench sensitivities of Al alloys using physically-based models. Various alloys are compared, and general aspects of quench-induced precipitation in Al alloys are derived.
Concentration and Separation of Heavy Rare-Earth Metals at Stripping Stage
Authors: Cheremisina Olga , Sergeev Vasiliy , Fedorov Alexander , Alferova Daria
Published: December 2019

The separation and concentration processes of heavy rare-earth metals—yttrium, ytterbium, erbium, and dysprosium—during stripping from the organic phase based on di-2-ethylhexylphosphoric acid (D2EHPA, or DEHPA) solutions were investigated in this work. Optimal conditions providing high separation factors of rare-earth metals (REM) and their extraction degree to the aqueous phase were determined. The usage of sulfuric acid solutions with a concentration of 2–6 mol/L, depending on the type of extracted rare-earth element, was proposed as a stripping agent for rare-earth metals (REM), and the usage of oxalic acid solution was proposed as an iron stripping solution from the organic phase. To increase the REM stripping efficiency, the antagonistic effect of tributyl phosphate in the di-2-ethylhexylphosphoric acid-kerosene-tributyl phosphate system was considered. The possibility of increasing the capacity of the organic solvent by cleaning the organic phase from iron ions using oxalic acid solutions was revealed. The influence of temperature, aqueous and organic phase ratio, stirring rate, and re-extractant concentration on the distribution and separation factors of adjacent heavy rare-earth-metal (HREM) pairs during the re-extraction process were determined. A schematic diagram of the laboratory-tested separation process of heavy rare-earth metals into individual components with the obtaining of yttrium and ytterbium concentrates containing more than 99% of the target components was proposed.
Phage-based Electrochemical Sensors: A Review
Authors: Xu Jingting , Chau Ying , Lee Yi-kuen
Published: December 2019

Phages based electrochemical sensors have received much attention due to their high specificity, sensitivity and simplicity. Phages or bacteriophages provide natural affinity to their host bacteria cells and can serve as the recognition element for electrochemical sensors. It can also act as a tool for bacteria infection and lysis followed by detection of the released cell contents, such as enzymes and ions. In addition, possible detection of the other desired targets, such as antibodies have been demonstrated with phage display techniques. In this paper, the recent development of phage-based electrochemical sensors has been reviewed in terms of the different immobilization protocols and electrochemical detection techniques.
Accurate Measurements of the Rotational Velocities of Brushless Direct-Current Motors by Using an Ultrasensitive Magnetoimpedance Sensing System
Authors: Wang Tao , Wang Bicong , Luo Yufeng , Li Hengyu , Rao Jinjun , Wu Zhizheng , Liu Mei
Published: December 2019

Reports on measurements of the rotational velocity by using giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) sensors are rarely seen. In this study, a rotational-velocity sensing system based on GMI effect was established to measure rotational velocities of brushless direct-current motors. Square waves and sawtooth waves were observed due to the rotation of the shaft. We also found that the square waves gradually became sawtooth waves with increasing the measurement distance and rotational velocity. The GMI-based rotational-velocity measurement results (1000–4300 r/min) were further confirmed using the Hall sensor. This GMI sensor is capable of measuring ultrahigh rotational velocity of 84,000 r/min with a large voltage response of 5 V, even when setting a large measurement distance of 9 cm. Accordingly, the GMI sensor is very useful for sensitive measurements of high rotational velocity.
The Effect of Weathering on Salt Release from Coal Mine Spoils
Authors: Hilton Melinda , Shaygan Mandana , McIntyre Neil , Baumgartl Thomas , Edraki Mansour
Published: December 2019

Coal mine spoils have the potential to create environmental impacts, such as salt load to surrounding environments, particularly when exposed to weathering processes. This study was conducted to understand the effect of physical and chemical weathering on the magnitude, rate, and dynamics of salt release from different coal mine spoils. Five spoil samples from three mines in Queensland were sieved to three different particle size fractions (<2 mm, 2–6 mm, and >6 mm). Two samples were dispersive spoils, and three samples were nondispersive spoils. The spoils were subjected to seven wet–dry cycles, where the samples were periodically leached with deionised water. The rate, magnitude, and dynamics of solutes released from spoils were spoil specific. One set of spoils did not show any evidence of weathering, but initially had higher accumulation of salts. In contrast, broad oxidative weathering occurred in another set of spoils; this led to acid generation and resulted in physical weathering, promoting adsorption–desorption and dissolution and, thus, a greater release of salts. This study indicated that the rate and magnitude of salt release decreased with increasing particle size. Nevertheless, when the spoil is dispersive, the degree of weathering manages salt release irrespective of initial particle size. This study revealed that the long-term salt release from spoils is not only governed by geochemistry, weathering degree, and particle size but also controlled by the water/rock ratio and hydrological conditions of spoils.
Suppressive Interaction Approach for Masking Stale Note of Instant Ripened Pu-Erh Tea Products
Authors: Zhang Ting , Ni Hui , Qiu Xu-Jian , Li Ting , Zhang Liang-Zhen , Li Li-Jun , Jiang Ze-Dong , Li Qing-Biao , Chen Feng , Zheng Fu-Ping
Published: December 2019

The unpleasant stale note is a negative factor hindering the consumption of instant ripened Pu-erh tea products. This study focused on investigating volatile chemicals in instant ripened Pu-erh tea that could mask the stale note via sensory evaluation, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) analyses. GC-MS and GC-O analyses showed that linalool, linalool oxides, trans-β-ionone, benzeneacetaldehyde, and methoxybenzenes were the major aroma contributors to the simultaneous distillation and extraction (SDE) extract of instant ripened Pu-erh tea. Sensory evaluation showed that the SDE extract had a strong stale note, which was due to methoxybenzenes. By investigating suppressive interaction among flavour components, the stale note from methoxybenzenes was shown to have reciprocal masking interactions with sweet, floral, and green notes. Moreover, the validation experiment showed that the addition of 40 μg/mL of trans-β-ionone in the instant ripened Pu-erh tea completely masked the stale note and improved the overall aromatic acceptance. These results elucidate the volatile chemicals that could mask the stale note of instant ripened Pu-erh tea products, which might help to develop high quality products made from instant ripened Pu-erh tea.
Amelioration of Hyperglycemia-Induced Nephropathy by 3,3′-Diindolylmethane in Diabetic Mice
Authors: Choi Kyeong-Mi , Yoo Hwan-Soo
Published: December 2019

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (insulin-dependent diabetes) is characterized by hyperglycemia caused by an insulin deficiency. Diabetic nephropathy is a major complication of hyperglycemia. 3,3′-diindolylmethane (DIM)-a natural compound produced from indole-3-carbinol, found in cruciferous vegetables-enhances glucose uptake by increasing the activation of the insulin signaling pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In this study, we investigated whether DIM could improve insulin-dependent diabetes and nephropathy in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. In mice, STZ induced hyperglycemia, hunger, thirst, and abnormally increased kidney weight and serum creatinine, which is a renal functional parameter. DIM decreased STZ-increased high blood glucose levels and food and water intake in diabetic mice. DIM also improved diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting the expression of PKC-α, the marker of albuminuria, and TGF-β1, an indicator of renal hypertrophy, in diabetic mice. Our findings suggest that DIM may ameliorate hyperglycemia and diabetic nephropathy through the inhibition of PKC-α and TGF-β1 signaling.