bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Description of the Annual Reproductive Cycle of Wreckfish Polyprion americanus in Captivity
Authors: Papadaki Maria , Peleteiro José Benito , Alvarez-Blázquez Blanca , Rodríguez Villanueva José Luis , Linares Fatima , Vilar Antonio , Pérez Rial Evaristo , Lluch Nuria , Fakriadis Ioannis , Sigelaki Irini , Mylonas Constantinos C.
Published: October 2018

Successful spontaneous reproduction and the production of viable offspring of wild fish in captivity can take some years of adaptation, and may also involve different environmental conditions, sex ratios and densities compared to natural populations. We followed the reproductive cycle of wreckfish Polyprion americanus—a late maturing, deep-sea benthic species—in captivity in three different broodstocks in Spain under natural photoperiod and temperature, and one broodstock in Greece under a constant temperature of 16 °C for two consecutive years, to describe the reproductive cycle of the species and the associated sex steroid hormone profiles. Oogenesis begun in the fall and post-vitellogenic oocytes of 1250 μm were present between March and June. Males were in spermiation condition and produced good-quality sperm throughout the year, regardless of the temperature profile to which they were exposed. Some females completed oogenesis, underwent oocyte maturation, and spawned spontaneously under both constant and fluctuating temperatures. The sex steroid hormones of both males and females followed the already-known profiles during fish gametogenesis, except for 17,20β-dihydroxy-progesterone, which did not seem to be related to either female or male maturation. The female reproductive dysfunctions that were identified included (a) the arrest of oogenesis at the cortical alveoli stage in certain females; (b) the failure to undergo oocyte maturation in others; and (c) the production of large percentages of unfertilized eggs from the females that spawned spontaneously. Our study suggests that reproduction in captivity is possible in wreckfish maintained under typical marine aquaculture conditions, but that reliable spawning and production of high-quality eggs may require some years of adaptation to captivity, before the reproductive dysfunctions will be overcome.
Microbubble-Mediated Delivery for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Browning Richard J. , Stride Eleanor
Published: October 2018

Despite an overall improvement in survival rates for cancer, certain resistant forms of the disease still impose a significant burden on patients and healthcare systems. Standard chemotherapy in these cases is often ineffective and/or gives rise to severe side effects. Targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics could improve both tumour response and patient experience. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop effective methods for this. Ultrasound is an established technique in both diagnosis and therapy. Its use in conjunction with microbubbles is being actively researched for the targeted delivery of small-molecule drugs. In this review, we cover the methods by which ultrasound and microbubbles can be used to overcome tumour barriers to cancer therapy.
Potential of Food Hydrolyzed Proteins and Peptides to Chelate Iron or Calcium and Enhance their Absorption
Authors: Walters Mallory , Esfandi Ramak , Tsopmo Apollinaire
Published: October 2018

Iron and calcium are two essential micronutrients that have strong effects on nutrition and human health because of their involvement in several biological and redox processes. Iron is responsible for electron and oxygen transport, cell respiration, and gene expression, whereas calcium is responsible for intracellular metabolism, muscle contraction, cardiac function, and cell proliferation. The bioavailability of these nutrients in the body is dependent on enhancers and inhibitors, some of which are found in consumed foods. Hydrolyzed proteins and peptides from food proteins can bind these essential minerals in the body and facilitate their absorption and bioavailability. The binding is also important because excess free iron will increase oxidative stress and the risks of developing chronic diseases. This paper provides an overview of the function of calcium and iron, and strategies to enhance their absorption with an emphasis on hydrolyzed proteins and peptides from foods. It also discusses the relationship between the structure of peptides and their potential to act as transition metal ligands.
Homophily and Social Norms in Experimental Network Formation Games
Authors: Arifovic Jasmina , Danese Giuseppe
Published: October 2018

Field studies of networks have uncovered a preference to befriend people we perceive as similar according to some dimensions of our identity (“homophily”). Lab studies of network formation games have found that adherence to social norms of reciprocity and inequity aversion are also drivers of network choices. No study so far has attempted to investigate the role of both homophily and social norms in a controlled environment. At the beginning of our experiment, each player fills in a personal profile. Each player then views the profile of all other players and expresses a degree of perceived similarity between his/her profile and the profile of the other player. At this point, a repeated network formation game ensues. We find that: (1) potential homophily considerations triggered by the profile rating task did not measurably change the players’ behavior compared to the baseline; (2) reciprocity plays a significant role in the formulation of the players’ strategies, in particular lowering the probability that the player naively best responds to the network observed in the previous period. We speculate that reciprocation of past choices might be a more “available” aid in strategy-formulation than considerations related to the similarity of the other players.
Exploring the Concept of ‘Positive Ageing’ in the UK Workplace—A Literature Review
Authors: Keeble-Ramsay Diane
Published: October 2018

The participation rate of older people in the labour market is forecast to increase due to demographic changes afoot. For example, low fertility rates, higher life expectancy, and increases in the retirement age will affect labour availability. The working-age population trends indicate that the age group 55–64 years will expand. This trend is bolstered by policy debate about the sustainability of economic and social support systems for the wider population and necessary strategies to keep older workers in labour markets. Within the UK, as the statutory pension age is placed now at 67, changes affecting the national default retirement age (previously age 60 for women and 65 for men) already mean that many older workers will feature in workplaces past historical expectations. A lack of sensitivity about the adjustments older workers needed, due to age-related changes in health and functional capacities, attests the demoted valuing of ageing workers. Despite a rise in the importance of wisdom across cultures, the significance of experience that comes with ageing, however, has become less revered within the UK resulting in less than the institutional promotion of Positive Ageing might depict. This paper draws from a structured review of literature (SLR) which seeks to address the question of what is currently identified as ‘Positive Ageing’ to consider what contributions can be found in current literature that may represent these changes in the UK. The paper concludes that demographic change has stimulated significant re-thinking of workplace strategies for the maintenance of health and well-being of ageing workers at national or governmental policy levels. To ensure sustainability, workability, and productivity in work, however, the concept of Positive Ageing towards later life might be furthered despite that, at the organizational level, its enactment remains incomplete currently post retirement age.
p-21 Activated Kinase as a Molecular Target for Chemoprevention in Diabetes
Authors: Dammann Kyle , Khare Vineeta , Coleman Clyde , Berdel Henrik , Gasche Christoph
Published: October 2018

Hypothesis: Anti-diabetic drugs modulate p-21 activated kinase (PAK) signaling. Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with increased cancer risk. PAK signaling is implicated in cellular homeostasis when regulated, and cancer when unrestrained. Recent reports provided a role for PAK signaling in glucose homeostasis, but the role of PAKs in the pathogenesis of T2DM is unknown. Here, we performed a mini-meta-analysis to explore if anti-diabetic drugs modify PAK signaling pathways, and provide insight regarding modulation of these pathways, to potentially reduce diabetes-associated cancer risk. Methods: PAK interacting partners in T2DM were identified using the online STRING database. Correlation studies were performed via systematic literature review to understand the effect of anti-diabetic drugs on PAK signaling. A mini-meta-analysis correlated multiple clinical studies and revealed the overall clinical response rate and percentage of adverse events in piogliazone (n = 53) and metformin (n = 91) treated patients with PAK-associated diseases. Results: A total of 30 PAK interacting partners were identified (10: reduced beta-cell mass; 10: beta-cell dysfunction; 10: obesity-insulin resistance), which were highly associated with Wnt, and G-protein signaling. The anti-diabetic drug metformin activated signaling pathways upstream; whereas pioglitazone inhibited pathways downstream of PAK. Overall, clinical response upon pioglitazone treatment was 53%. Seventy-nine percent of pioglitazone and 75% of metformin treated patients had adverse events. Pioglitazone reduced molecular-PAK biomarkers of proliferation (Ki67 and CyclinD1), and metformin had the opposite effect. Conclusions: PAK signaling in T2DM likely involves Wnt and G-protein signaling, which may be altered by the anti-diabetic drugs metformin and pioglitazone. Apart from the therapeutic limitations of adverse events, pioglitazone may be promising in chemoprevention. However long-term multi-centered studies, which initiate pioglitazone treatment early will be required to fully assess the full potential of these drugs.
Synthesizing the Effects of Submarine Groundwater Discharge on Marine Biota
Authors: Lecher Alanna L. , Mackey Katherine R. M.
Published: October 2018

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is a global and well-studied geological process by which groundwater of varying salinities enters coastal waters. SGD is known to transport bioactive solutes, including but not limited to nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous, silica), gases (methane, carbon dioxide), and trace metals (iron, nickel, zinc). In addition, physical changes to the water column, such as changes in temperature and mixing can be caused by SGD. Therefore SGD influences both autotrophic and heterotrophic marine biota across all kingdoms of life. This paper synthesizes the current literature in which the impacts of SGD on marine biota were measured and observed by field, modeling, or laboratory studies. The review is grouped by organismal complexity: bacteria and phytoplankton, macrophytes (macroalgae and marine plants), animals, and ecosystem studies. Directions for future research about the impacts of SGD on marine life, including increasing the number of ecosystem assessment studies and including biological parameters in SGD flux studies, are also discussed.
Environmental Regulation, Two-Way Foreign Direct Investment, and Green Innovation Efficiency in China’s Manufacturing Industry
Authors: Feng Zhijun , Zeng Bo , Ming Qian
Published: October 2018

This paper adopts 2009 to 2015 panel data from 27 manufacturing industries in China. A Super-SBM model is used to measure the green innovation efficiency (GIE) of China’s manufacturing industry. A panel data model is then built to systematically examine the impact of environmental regulation (ER) and two-way foreign direct investment (FDI) on the GIE of China’s manufacturing industry under a unified analysis framework. The results are as follows: (1) the overall level of the green innovation efficiency in China’s manufacturing is low, and there is still great potential for improvement. Considering industry heterogeneity, the green innovation efficiency of patent-intensive manufacturing is significantly higher than that of non-patent-intensive manufacturing; (2) in terms of the whole manufacturing industry, ER and the interaction between ER and outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) have significantly negative effects on GIE, OFDI has significantly positive effects on GIE. (3) when considering industry heterogeneity, for patent-intensive manufacturing, ER and the interaction between ER and inward foreign direct investment (IFDI) have significantly negative effects on GIE, while IFDI has significantly positive effect on GIE. For non-patent-intensive manufacturing, ER and the interaction between ER and OFDI have significantly negative effects on GIE, while IFDI and the interaction between ER and IFDI have significantly positive effects on GIE.
Disparities in Unintentional Occupational Injury Mortality between High-Income Countries and Low- and Middle-Income Countries: 1990–2016
Authors: Wu Yue , Schwebel David C. , Hu Guoqing
Published: October 2018

Objective: Using estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, we examined differences in unintentional occupational injury mortality rates from 1990 to 2016 between high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: Unintentional occupational injury mortality rates were obtained through the GBD online visualization tool. We quantified mortality changes over time for common external causes of injury for ages 15–49 years and 50–69 years separately in HICs and LMICs using negative binomial regression models. Results: In 2016, there were 24,396 and 303,999 unintentional occupational injury deaths among individuals aged 15 to 69 years in HICs and LMICs, respectively, corresponding to 3.1 and 7.0 per 100,000 people. Between 1990 and 2016, unintentional occupational injury mortality for people aged 15–69 years dropped 46% (from 5.7 to 3.1 per 100,000 people) in HICs and 42% in LMICs (from 13.2 to 7.0 per 100,000 people). Sustained and large disparities existed between HICs and LMICs for both sexes and both age groups during 1990–2016 (mortality rate ratio: 2.2–2.4). All unintentional occupational injury causes of death displayed significant reduction with one exception (ages 15–49 years in HICs). Country-specific analysis revealed large variations in unintentional occupational injury mortality and changes in occupational injury mortality between 1990 and 2016. Conclusions: Despite substantial decreases in mortality between 1990 and 2016 for both HICs and LMICs, a large disparity continues to exist between HICs and LMICs. Multifaceted efforts are needed to reduce the disparity.
Haze Attitudes and the Willingness to Pay for Haze Improvement: Evidence from Four Cities in Shandong Province, China
Authors: Yang Fan , Ding Ling , Liu Cai , Xu Lizheng , Nicholas Stephen , Wang Jian
Published: October 2018

Background: Given the health and welfare impacts of haze, haze reduction governance challenges Chinese policy-makers. Surprisingly, there have been no studies of the differences in the public’s willingness to pay (WTP) for haze governance within a province. Yet haze reduction policies are implemented at the provincial level. Based on the contingent valuation method, data on WTP for haze governance across four industrial cities in Shandong province were collected using a questionnaire survey. Method: A combination of stratified sampling and non-probability sampling methods were used, yielding a valid sample of 1006 respondents. The Heckman sample selection model was used to analyze factors determining WTP and WTP amount. Results: 53% of respondents were unwilling to pay for haze reduction, while less than 1% of these respondents were satisfied with Shandong’s air quality. About half (47%) of the respondents were willing to pay, on average, US$14.14 per household per year for haze governance. We found that there were significant inter-city differences in the WTP and WTP amounts: those with a higher income, education, haze knowledge, and haze concern were WTP; age, marital status, and subjective indicators displayed a negative relationship with WTP amount. About two thirds of the non-payers, and those with poor environmental knowledge, argued that air quality improvement was mainly the responsibility of governments (39.3%) and polluters (25.6%), instead of ordinary citizens. Further, 27% of non-payers said that their income was too low to contribute to a pollution tax and 6.3% claimed that they did not believe the funds would be used effectively for environmental conservation. Conclusions: City-specific differences in WTP may caution against “one size fits all” policies. The study indicates that the government may need to target policies to specific cities and the characteristics of residents in those cities by age, education, and income groups and residents’ subjective evaluation of the government and the haze problem and those responsible for pollution.
The Effect of Detraining after a Period of Training on Cardiometabolic Health in Previously Sedentary Individuals
Authors: Nolan Paul B. , Keeling Shawn M. , Robitaille Chantelle A. , Buchanan Christina A. , Dalleck Lance C.
Published: October 2018

The purpose of this study was to quantify the time-magnitude changes in cardiometabolic health outcomes that occur with cessation of regular exercise training. All participants (n = 22) performed baseline testing, completed a 13-week exercise program, and completed post-program testing. Upon completion of the 13-week exercise program, participants were randomized to one of the following two treatment groups: (1) the treatment group that continued their exercise for 4 weeks (TRAIN); or (2) the treatment group that discontinued exercise (DETRAIN). Changes from baseline to 13 weeks in both the TRAIN and DETRAIN treatment groups for maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), body fat percentage, mean arterial pressure, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides were significantly favourable (p < 0.05). VO2max, body fat percentage, and favourable cardiometabolic health adaptations continued to improve (p < 0.05) with an additional one month of exercise training. Upon cessation of exercise, all measures of VO2max and body fat percentage, along with mean arterial pressure, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides significantly worsened (p < 0.05) in the DETRAIN treatment group. Favourable training adaptations were further enhanced with an additional month of continued exercise training, and cessation of regular exercise rapidly abolished all training adaptations within one month. These novel findings underscore the importance of sustained and uninterrupted exercise training.
Impacts of Dynamic Agglomeration Externalities on Eco-Efficiency: Empirical Evidence from China
Authors: Yu Yantuan , Zhang Yun , Miao Xiao
Published: October 2018

Ecological efficiency (eco-efficiency) reflects the synergetic degree of the development of resource, economic, and environmental systems. This paper measures urban eco-efficiency based on a nonconvex metafrontier data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach using data from 191 cities in China during the years of 2003 to 2013. In particular, the impacts of dynamic agglomeration externalities on urban eco-efficiency are investigated. Our empirical results show that eco-efficiency decreased from 2003 to 2013, and its spatial distribution demonstrates significant regional heterogeneity. Additionally, there exists an inverted U-shape relationship between dynamic externalities, including Marshall-Arrow-Romer (MAR), Jacobs and Porter externalities, and eco-efficiency. We also find that eco-efficiency can be enhanced by strengthening environmental regulations, optimizing industrial structures, and improving technological capacity. These findings are robust to alternative eco-efficiency measures, model specifications, and estimation approaches. Furthermore, we discuss related policy implications of our research results.
The Proposal of Molecular Mechanisms of Weak Organic Acids Intake-Induced Improvement of Insulin Resistance in Diabetes Mellitus via Elevation of Interstitial Fluid pH
Authors: Marunaka Yoshinori
Published: October 2018

Blood contains powerful pH-buffering molecules such as hemoglobin (Hb) and albumin, while interstitial fluids have little pH-buffering molecules. Thus, even under metabolic disorder conditions except severe cases, arterial blood pH is kept constant within the normal range (7.35~7.45), but the interstitial fluid pH under metabolic disorder conditions becomes lower than the normal level. Insulin resistance is one of the most important key factors in pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus, nevertheless the molecular mechanism of insulin resistance occurrence is still unclear. Our studies indicate that lowered interstitial fluid pH occurs in diabetes mellitus, causing insulin resistance via reduction of the binding affinity of insulin to its receptor. Therefore, the key point for improvement of insulin resistance occurring in diabetes mellitus is development of methods or techniques elevating the lowered interstitial fluid pH. Intake of weak organic acids is found to improve the insulin resistance by elevating the lowered interstitial fluid pH in diabetes mellitus. One of the molecular mechanisms of the pH elevation is that: (1) the carboxyl group (R-COO−) but not H+ composing weak organic acids in foods is absorbed into the body, and (2) the absorbed the carboxyl group (R-COO−) behaves as a pH buffer material, elevating the interstitial fluid pH. On the other hand, high salt intake has been suggested to cause diabetes mellitus; however, the molecular mechanism is unclear. A possible mechanism of high salt intake-caused diabetes mellitus is proposed from a viewpoint of regulation of the interstitial fluid pH: high salt intake lowers the interstitial fluid pH via high production of H+ associated with ATP synthesis required for the Na+,K+-ATPase to extrude the high leveled intracellular Na+ caused by high salt intake. This review article introduces the molecular mechanism causing the lowered interstitial fluid pH and insulin resistance in diabetes mellitus, the improvement of insulin resistance via intake of weak organic acid-containing foods, and a proposal mechanism of high salt intake-caused diabetes mellitus.
Effects of OsCDPK1 on the Structure and Physicochemical Properties of Starch in Developing Rice Seeds
Authors: Jiang Jian-Zhi , Kuo Chun-Hsiang , Chen Bo-Hong , Chen Mao-Kei , Lin Choun-Sea , Ho Shin-Lon
Published: October 2018

Overexpression of a constitutively active truncated form of OsCDPK1 (OEtr) in rice produced smaller seeds, but a double-stranded RNA gene-silenced form of OsCDPK1 (Ri) yielded larger seeds, suggesting that OsCDPK1 plays a functional role in rice seed development. In the study presented here, we propose a model in which OsCDPK1 plays key roles in negatively controlling the grain size, amylose content, and endosperm appearance, and also affects the physicochemical properties of the starch. The dehulled transgenic OEtr grains were smaller than the dehulled wild-type grains, and the OEtr endosperm was opaque and had a low amylose content and numerous small loosely packed polyhedral starch granules. However, the OEtr grain sizes and endosperm appearances were not affected by temperature, which ranged from low (22 °C) to high (31 °C) during the grain-filling phase. In contrast, the transgenic Ri grains were larger, had higher amylose content, and had more transparent endosperms filled with tightly packed polyhedral starch granules. This demonstrates that OsCDPK1 plays a novel functional role in starch biosynthesis during seed development and affects the transparent appearance of the endosperm. These results improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms through which the grain-filling process occurs in rice.
The Use of Some Clay Minerals as Natural Resources for Drug Carrier Applications
Authors: Massaro Marina , Colletti Carmelo Giuseppe , Lazzara Giuseppe , Riela Serena
Published: October 2018

The goal of modern research is to use environmentally preferable materials. In this context, clay minerals are emerging candidates for their bio- and ecocompatibility, low cost and natural availability. Clay minerals present different morphologies according to their layer arrangements. The use of clay minerals, especially in biomedical applications is known from ancient times and they are regaining attention in recent years. The most representative clay minerals are kaolinit, montmorillonite, sepiolites and halloysite. This review summarizes some clay minerals and their derivatives for application as nanocontainer for biologically active species.
Applications of Invertebrate Animal Models to Dimorphic Fungal Infections
Authors: Singulani Junya L. , Scorzoni Liliana , De Oliveira Haroldo C. , Marcos Caroline M. , Assato Patricia A. , Fusco-Almeida Ana , Mendes-Giannini Maria
Published: October 2018

Dimorphic fungi can be found in the yeast form during infection and as hyphae in the environment and are responsible for a large number of infections worldwide. Invertebrate animals have been shown to be convenient models in the study of fungal infections. These models have the advantages of being low cost, have no ethical issues, and an ease of experimentation, time-efficiency, and the possibility of using a large number of animals per experiment compared to mammalian models. Invertebrate animal models such as Galleria mellonella, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Acanthamoeba castellanii have been used to study dimorphic fungal infections in the context of virulence, innate immune response, and the efficacy and toxicity of antifungal agents. In this review, we first summarize the features of these models. In this aspect, the growth temperature, genome sequence, availability of different strains, and body characteristics should be considered in the model choice. Finally, we discuss the contribution and advances of these models, with respect to dimorphic fungi Paracoccidioides spp., Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Sporothrix spp., and Talaromyces marneffei (Penicillium marneffei).
Correction: Sakurai, H.; et al. How Close We Are to Achieving Commercially Viable Large-Scale Photobiological Hydrogen Production by Cyanobacteria: A Review of the Biological Aspects. Life 2015, 5, 997–1018
Authors: Sakurai Hidehiro , Masukawa Hajime , Kitashima Masaharu , Inoue Kazuhito
Published: October 2018

In the published article “How close we are to achieving commercially viable large-scale photobiological hydrogen production by cyanobacteria:[...]
Combating the Tribo-Corrosion of LDX2404 Lean Duplex Stainless Steel by Low Temperature Plasma Nitriding
Authors: Li Xiaoying , Dou Wenbo , Tian Linhai , Dong Hanshan
Published: October 2018

A lean duplex stainless steel, LDX2404, was DC plasma nitrided under a range of treatment conditions. The microstructure characterisation evaluation of the treated samples revealed that a dense, super-hard surface layer can be produced by low-temperature (<450 °C) plasma treatments. The original austenite phase became S-phase and the ferrite phase was supersaturated with nitrogen and ε-Fe3N nitride precipitated from it. When plasma nitriding was carried out at above 450 °C, chromium nitrides precipitated in the surface nitrided layer. Compared to the untreated samples, the surface hardness of the lean duplex stainless steel (DSS) is increased up to four times. The dry wear resistance increased when increasing the treatment temperature. In contrast, the low-temperature treated samples showed the best performance in the electrochemical corrosion and corrosion-wear tests; the performance of the high temperature (>450 °C) plasma nitrided samples was found to be significantly worse than that of the untreated material.
New Binary Blends of Ethylene-co-n-butyl Acrylate (EBA) Copolymer and Low Molecular Weight Rosin Ester Resin with Potential as Pressure Sensitive Adhesives
Authors: Sancho-Querol Sara , Yáñez-Pacios Andrés Jesús , Martín-Martínez José Miguel
Published: October 2018

For improving the adhesion property of ethylene-co-n-butyl acrylate copolymer (EBA) at ambient temperature, binary blends of EBA with 27 wt% n-butyl acrylate and different amounts (20–62 wt%) of low molecular weight hydrogenated glycerol rosin ester (ECH) resin have been prepared. The addition of glycerol rosin ester resin decreased the crystallinity and size of the ethylene domains of the EBA copolymer. The addition of up to 50 wt% (100 phr) ECH resin improved the compatibility with the EBA copolymer, whereas when more than 50 wt% (100 phr) ECH resin was added, the compatibility of the blends did not change but the viscoelastic properties were noticeably decreased. Furthermore, the compatibility was noticeably improved by adding only 20 wt% ECH resin although the best compromise between compatibility and viscoelasticity corresponded to the binary blend made with 43 wt% ECH resin. The EBA copolymer + ECH resin blends showed high tack (initial adhesion) at 25 °C and some of them even at 5 °C, and they have adequate 180° peel strength both to polar (polyethylene terephthalate-PET) and nonpolar (polypropylene-PP) substrate. Furthermore, all EBA copolymer + ECH resin blends showed high shear strength at 25 °C. Finally, the blend with 43 wt% ECH resin showed excellent pressure sensitive adhesive property exhibiting excellent creep, high tack, high 180° peel strength, and high single lap-shear strength.
A Novel, Multifunctional, Floatable, Lightweight Cement Composite: Development and Properties
Authors: Huang Zhenyu , Wang Fang , Zhou Yingwu , Sui Lili , Krishnan Padmaja , Liew Jat-Yuen. Richard
Published: October 2018

This paper presents the development of a novel, multifunctional, floatable, lightweight cement composite (FLCC) using three different types of glass microspheres for structural engineering applications. Eight different mixtures of FLCC were produced and their matrix-related parameters were examined experimentally by adopting different types of microsphere fillers, fiber content (polyethylene fibers (PE)), and water-to-binder ratios. Along with the mechanical properties such as compressive, flexural, tensile strengths, and modulus of elasticity, the water tightness of the material was evaluated by sorptivity measurements and the energy efficiency by thermal conductivity. The optimal FLCC has an oven-dry density of 750 kg/m3, compressive strength (fcm) up to 41 MPa after 28-day moist curing, low thermal conductivity of 0.152 W/mK, and very low sorptivity. It is found that an optimized amount of PE fiber is beneficial for improving the tensile resistance and ductility of FLCC while a relatively large amount of microspheres can increase the entrapped air voids in the FLCC matrix and reduce its density and thermal conductivity. Microstructural analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals that the microspheres are distributed uniformly in the cement matrix and are subjected to triaxial compression confinement, which leads to high strength of FLCC. Segregation due to density difference of FLCC ingredients is not observed with up to 60% (by weight) of glass microspheres added. Compared to the other lightweight aggregate concretes, the proposed FLCC could be used to build floating concrete structures, insulating elements, or even load-bearing structural elements such as floor and wall panels in which self-weight is a main concern.
Flow Stress Prediction and Hot Deformation Mechanisms in Ti-44Al-5Nb-(Mo, V, B) Alloy
Authors: Li Tianrui , Liu Guohuai , Xu Mang , Wang Bingxing , Fu Tianlian , Wang Zhaodong , Misra Raja Devesh Kumar
Published: October 2018

To elucidate the hot deformation characteristics of TiAl alloys, flow stress prediction, microstructural evolution and deformation mechanisms were investigated in Ti-44Al-5Nb-1Mo-2V-0.2B alloy by isothermal compression tests. A constitutive relationship using the Arrhenius model involving strain compensation and back propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) model were developed. A comparison of two models suggested that the BP-ANN model had excellent capabilities and was more accurate in predicting flow stress. Based on the microstructural analysis, bending and elongation of colonies, γ and B2 grains were the main microstructural constituents at low temperature and high strain rate. Dynamic recrystallization (DRX) of γ and dynamic recovery (DRY) of β/B2 were the main deformation mechanisms. With the increase of temperature and decrease of strain rate, phase transformation played an important role. The flake-like γ precipitates in B2 grains, and a coarsening of γ lamellae via α lath dissolution during compression were observed. Additionally, the flow softening process commenced with dislocation pile-up and formation of sub-grain boundaries, followed by grain refinement, twins and nano-lamellar nucleation. Continuous DRX and phase transformation promoted the formability of Ti-44Al-5Nb-1Mo-2V-0.2B alloy.
Effects of Holmium Additions on Microstructure and Properties of A356 Aluminum Alloys
Authors: Wang Qiang , Shi Zhiming , Li Hong , Lin Yaming , Li Ningyu , Gong Tianhao , Zhang Ruiying , Liu Huimin
Published: October 2018

Sr-modification of A356 alloys has distinct shortages due to the volatilization and oxidation during remelting and pouring, which often reduce the modification efficiency and mechanical properties of the alloys. To avoid the adverse effects and enhance the comprehensive properties, the effects of heavy rare earth element holmium (Ho) modification on the microstructure and properties of the alloy were investigated. Ho addition inhibited the intrinsic orientation growth of (111)Al planes and stimulated the growth of the (200)Al planes for α-Al crystals. The addition of 0.2 wt.% Ho produced the best refinement effect for α-Al grains; 0.3 wt.% of Ho addition yielded the most distinct modification effect for eutectic Si phases, which was further improved by a T6 treatment. The extra addition of 0.4 wt.% Ho resulted in the complete loss of the refinement and modification effects and in the abnormal growth of the α-Al crystals. Ho additions produced Al3Ho phases containing Fe elements, which were distributed on the boundaries of the α-Al dendrites. The corrosion-proof performance was enhanced by Ho addition and the T6 treatment; the tensile strength and elongation achieved the highest value upon 0.2 wt.% of Ho addition and the T6 treatment. Moreover, the hardness was also enhanced by Ho additions in both states.
Inhibition of UGT2B7 Enzyme Activity in Human and Rat Liver Microsomes by Herbal Constituents
Authors: Abdullah Nurul Huda , Ismail Sabariah
Published: October 2018

The co-use of conventional drug and herbal medicines may lead to herb-drug interaction via modulation of drug-metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) by herbal constituents. UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) catalyzing glucuronidation are the major metabolic enzymes of Phase II DMEs. The in vitro inhibitory effect of several herbal constituents on one of the most important UGT isoforms, UGT2B7, in human liver microsomes (HLM) and rat liver microsomes (RLM) was investigated. Zidovudine (ZDV) was used as the probe substrate to determine UGT2B7 activity. The intrinsic clearance (Vmax/Km) of ZDV in HLM is 1.65 µL/mg/min which is ten times greater than in RLM, which is 0.16 µL/mg/min. Andrographolide, kaempferol-3-rutinoside, mitragynine and zerumbone inhibited ZDV glucuronidation in HLM with IC50 values of 6.18 ± 1.27, 18.56 ± 8.62, 8.11 ± 4.48 and 4.57 ± 0.23 µM, respectively, hence, herb-drug interactions are possible if andrographolide, kaempferol-3-rutinoside, mitragynine and zerumbone are taken together with drugs that are highly metabolized by UGT2B7. Meanwhile, only mitragynine and zerumbone inhibited ZDV glucuronidation in RLM with IC50 values of 51.20 ± 5.95 μM and 8.14 ± 2.12 µM, respectively, indicating a difference between the human and rat microsomal model so caution must be exercised when extrapolating inhibitory metabolic data from rats to humans.
Designed Functional Dispersion for Insulin Protection from Pepsin Degradation and Skeletal Muscle Cell Proliferation: In Silico and In Vitro Study
Authors: Chittepu Veera C. S. R. , Kalhotra Poonam , Gallardo-Velázquez Tzayhri , Robles-de la Torre Raúl René , Osorio-Revilla Guillermo
Published: October 2018

Functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes with polyethylene glycol (PEGylated SWCNTs) are a promising nanomaterial that recently has emerged as the most attractive “cargo” to deliver chemicals, peptides, DNA and RNAs into cells. Insulin therapy is a recommended therapy to treat diabetes mellitus despite its side effects. Recently, functional dispersion made up of bioactive peptides, bioactive compounds and functionalized carbon nanomaterials such as PEGylated SWCNTs have proved to possess promising applications in nanomedicine. In the present study, molecular modeling simulations are utilized to assist in designing insulin hormone-PEGylated SWCNT composites, also called functional dispersion; to achieve this experimentally, an ultrasonication tool was utilized. Enzymatic degradation assay revealed that the designed functional dispersion protects about 70% of free insulin from pepsin. In addition, sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay, the quantification of insulin and glucose levels in differentiated skeletal muscle cell supernatants, reveals that functional dispersion regulates glucose and insulin levels to promote skeletal muscle cell proliferation. These findings offer new perspectives for designed functional dispersion, as potential pharmaceutical preparations to improve insulin therapy and promote skeletal muscle cell health.
Dopamine Assisted One-Step Pyrolysis of Glucose for the Preparation of Porous Carbon with A High Surface Area
Authors: Xiao Hanbo , Tao Cheng-an , Li Yujiao , Chen Xianzhe , Huang Jian , Wang Jianfang
Published: October 2018

Herein, a facile dopamine assisted one-pot synthesis approach is proposed for the preparation of porous carbon with a specific surface area (SSA) up to 2593 m2/g through the direct pyrolysis of a mixture of glucose, NH4Cl, and dopamine hydrochloride (DAH). The glucose is adopted as the carbon source and foaming agent, NH4Cl is used as the blowing agent, and DAH is served as collaborative carbon precursor as well as the nitrogen source for the first time. The effect of dopamine on the component, structure, and SSA of the as-prepared porous carbon materials are systematically studied. The moderate addition of dopamine, which influences the condensation and polymerization of glucose, matches better with ammonium salt decomposition. The SSA of porous carbon increases first and then decreases with the increasing amount of dopamine. In our case, the porous carbon produced with 5 wt% dopamine (PC-5) achieves the maximum SSA of up to 2593 m2/g. Accordingly, it also shows the greatest electrochemical performance. The PC-5 shows a capacitance of 96.7 F/g calculated from the discharge curve at 1 A/g. It also has a good capacitive rate capacity, the specific capacitance can still maintain 80%, even at a high current density of 10 A/g. Moreover, PC-5 exhibits a good cycling stability of 98.1% capacitive retention after 1000 cycles. The proposed method may show promising prospects for preparing porous carbon materials as advanced energy storage materials, storage, and catalyst supports.
Hesperidin Prevents Nitric Oxide Deficiency-Induced Cardiovascular Remodeling in Rats via Suppressing TGF-β1 and MMPs Protein Expression
Authors: Maneesai Putcharawipa , Bunbupha Sarawoot , Potue Prapassorn , Berkban Thewarid , Kukongviriyapan Upa , Kukongviriyapan Veerapol , Prachaney Parichat , Pakdeechote Poungrat
Published: October 2018

Hesperidin is a major flavonoid isolated from citrus fruits that exhibits several biological activities. This study aims to evaluate the effect of hesperidin on cardiovascular remodeling induced by n-nitro l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with l-NAME (40 mg/kg), l-NAME plus hesperidin (15 mg/kg), hesperidin (30 mg/kg), or captopril (2.5 mg/kg) for five weeks (n = 8/group). Hesperidin or captopril significantly prevented the development of hypertension in l-NAME rats. l-NAME-induced cardiac remodeling, i.e., increases in wall thickness, cross-sectional area (CSA), and fibrosis in the left ventricular and vascular remodeling, i.e., increases in wall thickness, CSA, vascular smooth muscle cells, and collagen deposition in the aorta were attenuated by hesperidin or captopril. These were associated with reduced oxidative stress markers, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), and enhancing plasma nitric oxide metabolite (NOx) in l-NAME treated groups. Furthermore, up-regulation of tumor necrosis factor receptor type 1 (TNF-R1) and TGF- β1 protein expression and the overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was suppressed in l-NAME rats treated with hesperidin or captopril. These data suggested that hesperidin had cardioprotective effects in l-NAME hypertensive rats. The possible mechanism may involve antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
The Protective Effect of Polygonum cuspidatum (PCE) Aqueous Extract in a Dry Eye Model
Authors: Park Bongkyun , Lee Ik Soo , Hyun Soo-Wang , Jo Kyuhyung , Lee Tae Gu , Kim Jin Sook , Kim Chan-Sik
Published: October 2018

Dry eyes are caused by highly increased osmolarity of tear film, inflammation, and apoptosis of the ocular surface. In this study, we investigated the effect of Polygonum cuspidatum (PCE) aqueous extract in in vivo and in vitro dry eye models. Dry eye was induced by excision of the lacrimal gland and hyperosmotic media. In vivo, oral administration of PCE in exorbital lacrimal gland-excised rats recovered tear volume and Mucin4 (MUC4) expression by inhibiting corneal irregularity and expression of inflammatory cytokines. In vitro, hyperosmotic media induced human corneal epithelial cell (HCEC) cytotoxicity though increased inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. PCE treatment significantly inhibited expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α), and activation of NF-κB p65 in hyperosmolar stress-induced HCECs. Hyperosmolarity-induced increase in Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX) expression and activation of cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and caspase 3 were attenuated in a concentration-dependent manner by PCE. PCE treatment restored anti-oxidative proteins such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in hyperosmolar stress-induced HCECs. These data demonstrate that PCE prevents adverse changes in the ocular surface and tear fluid through inhibition of hyperosmolar stress-induced inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidation, suggesting that PCE may have the potential to preserve eye health.
Breakfast in Japan: Findings from the 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey
Authors: Murakami Kentaro , Livingstone M. Barbara E. , Fujiwara Aya , Sasaki Satoshi
Published: October 2018

We assessed breakfast in Japan using data from the 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey. Dietary data were obtained from 1444 children (aged 6–11 years), 1134 adolescents (aged 12–17 years), 6531 younger adults (aged 18–49 years), and 13,343 older adults (aged ≥ 50 years), using a one-day weighed dietary record. Overall, 97% of participants reported consuming breakfast. Compared with breakfast skippers, breakfast consumers had a higher daily diet quality score assessed by the Nutrient-Rich Food Index 9.3 (NRF9.3). For those who consumed breakfast, breakfast accounted for 20–25% of daily energy intake. In comparison with the contribution to energy, breakfast accounted for higher proportions of carbohydrate and riboflavin, and lower proportions of MUFA, n-3 PUFA, thiamin, and niacin, as well as vitamins B-6 and C. The overall diet quality (NRF9.3 score) was positively associated with breakfast intake of protein, n-6 PUFA, n-3 PUFA, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, and almost all micronutrients examined, and inversely with that of added sugar. For foods, the NRF9.3 score was positively associated with breakfast intake of rice, potatoes, pulses, vegetables, fruits, and eggs and inversely with that of bread, sugar, and soft drinks. The findings will be useful in developing dietary recommendations for a balanced breakfast among Japanese.
Strategies to Obtain Encapsulation and Controlled Release of Pentamidine in Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles
Authors: Peretti Enrico , Miletto Ivana , Stella Barbara , Rocco Flavio , Berlier Gloria , Arpicco Silvia
Published: October 2018

Pentamidine (PTM), an antiprotozoal agent used in clinics as pentamidine isethionate salt (PTM-S), recently showed high potential also for the treatment of cancer and myotonic dystrophy type I. However, a severe limit to the systemic administration of PTM is represented by its nephrotoxicity, leading to the need for a system able to achieve a controlled release of the drug. In this study, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were employed for the first time to encapsulate PTM. PTM-S was first used for loading experiments into bare (MSN-OH) and aminopropyl, cyanopropyl and carboxypropyl-functionalized MSNs (MSN-NH2, MSN-CN and MSN-COOH respectively) but it was not adequately loaded in any MSNs. The free base of PTM (PTM-B) was then obtained from PTM-S and successfully loaded into MSNs. Specifically, MSN-COOH exhibited the highest loading capacity. In vitro evaluation of PTM-B kinetic release from the different MSNs was carried out. An influence of the functional groups in slowing the release of the drug, when compared to bare MSNs was observed. Altogether, these results demonstrate that MSN-COOH could be a promising system to achieve a controlled release of PTM.
Fire Phenomena of Rigid Polyurethane Foams
Authors: Günther Martin , Lorenzetti Alessandra , Schartel Bernhard
Published: October 2018

Rigid polyurethane foams (RPUFs) typically exhibit low thermal inertia, resulting in short ignition times and rapid flame spread. In this study, the fire phenomena of RPUFs were investigated using a multi-methodological approach to gain detailed insight into the fire behaviour of pentane- and water-blown polyurethane (PUR) as well as pentane-blown polyisocyanurate polyurethane (PIR) foams with densities ranging from 30 to 100 kg/m3. Thermophysical properties were studied using thermogravimetry (TG); flammability and fire behaviour were investigated by means of the limiting oxygen index (LOI) and a cone calorimeter. Temperature development in burning cone calorimeter specimens was monitored with thermocouples inside the foam samples and visual investigation of quenched specimens’ cross sections gave insight into the morphological changes during burning. A comprehensive investigation is presented, illuminating the processes taking place during foam combustion. Cone calorimeter tests revealed that in-depth absorption of radiation is a significant factor in estimating the time to ignition. Cross sections examined with an electron scanning microscope (SEM) revealed a pyrolysis front with an intact foam structure underneath, and temperature measurement inside burning specimens indicated that, as foam density increased, their burning behaviour shifted towards that of solid materials. The superior fire performance of PIR foams was found to be based on the cellular structure, which is retained in the residue to some extent.