bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Peptides as Therapeutic Agents for Inflammatory-Related Diseases
Authors: La Manna Sara , Di Natale Concetta , Florio Daniele , Marasco Daniela
Published: September 2018

Inflammation is a physiological mechanism used by organisms to defend themselves against infection, restoring homeostasis in damaged tissues. It represents the starting point of several chronic diseases such as asthma, skin disorders, cancer, cardiovascular syndrome, arthritis, and neurological diseases. An increasing number of studies highlight the over-expression of inflammatory molecules such as oxidants, cytokines, chemokines, matrix metalloproteinases, and transcription factors into damaged tissues. The treatment of inflammatory disorders is usually linked to the use of unspecific small molecule drugs that can cause undesired side effects. Recently, many efforts are directed to develop alternative and more selective anti-inflammatory therapies, several of them imply the use of peptides. Indeed, peptides demonstrated as elected lead compounds toward several targets for their high specificity as well as recent and innovative synthetic strategies. Several endogenous peptides identified during inflammatory responses showed anti-inflammatory activities by inhibiting, reducing, and/or modulating the expression and activity of mediators. This review aims to discuss the potentialities and therapeutic use of peptides as anti-inflammatory agents in the treatment of different inflammation-related diseases and to explore the importance of peptide-based therapies.
Effect of Central Longitudinal Dipole Interactions on Chiral Liquid-Crystal Phases
Authors: Nozawa Takuma , Brumby Paul E. , Yasuoka Kenji
Published: September 2018

Monte Carlo simulations of chiral liquid-crystals, represented by a simple coarse-grained chiral Gay–Berne model, were performed to investigate the effect of central longitudinal dipole interactions on phase behavior. A systematic analysis of the structural properties and phase behavior of both achiral and chiral systems, with dipole interactions, reveals differing effects; strong dipole interactions enhance the formation of layered structures; however, chiral interactions may prevent the formation of such phases under certain conditions. We also observed a short-ranged smectic structure within the cholesteric phases with strong dipole interactions. This constitutes possible evidence of presmectic ordering and/or the existence of chiral line liquid phases, which have previously been observed in X-ray experiments to occur between the smectic twisted grain boundary and cholesteric phases. These results provide a systematic understanding of how the phase behavior of chiral liquid-crystals changes when alterations are made to the strength of dipole interactions.
Waxberry-Like Nanosphere Li4Mn5O12 as High Performance Electrode Materials for Supercapacitors
Authors: Ji Peiyuan , Xi Yi , Zhang Chengshuang , Wang Chuanshen , Hu Chenguo , Guan Yuzhu , Zhang Dazhi
Published: September 2018

Porous materials have superior electrochemical performance owing to its their structure, which could increase the specific and contact area with the electrode. The spinel Li4Mn5O12 has a three-dimensional tunnel structure for a better diffusion path, which has the advantage of lithium ion insertion and extraction in the framework. However, multi-space spherical materials with single morphologies are rarely studied. In this work, waxberry-like and raspberry-like nanospheres for Li4Mn5O12 have been fabricated by the wet chemistry and solid-state methods for the first time. The diameter of a single waxberry- and raspberry-like nanosphere is about 1 μm and 600 nm, respectively. The specific capacitance of Li4Mn5O12 was 535 mF cm−2 and 147.25 F g−1 at the scan rate of 2 mV s−1, and the energy density was 110.7 Wh kg−1, remaining at 70% after 5000th charge-discharge cycles. Compared with raspberry-like nanosphere Li4Mn5O12, the waxberry-like nanoporous spinel Li4Mn5O12 shows the better electrochemical performance and stability; furthermore, these electrochemical performances have been improved greatly compared to the previous studies. All these results indicate that the waxberry-like nanoporous spinel Li4Mn5O12 could provide a potential application in high performance supercapacitors.
Simulation of the 2003 Foss Barge - Point Wells Oil Spill: A Comparison between BLOSOM and GNOME Oil Spill Models
Authors: Duran Rodrigo , Romeo Lucy , Whiting Jonathan , Vielma Jason , Rose Kelly , Bunn Amoret , Bauer Jennifer
Published: September 2018

The Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Energy Technology Laboratory’s (NETL’s) Blowout and Spill Occurrence Model (BLOSOM), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) General NOAA Operational Modeling Environment (GNOME) are compared. Increasingly complex simulations are used to assess similarities and differences between the two models’ components. The simulations presented here are forced by ocean currents from a Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM) implementation that has excellent skill in representing tidal motion, and with observed wind data that compensates for a coarse vertical ocean model resolution. The comprehensive comparison between GNOME and BLOSOM presented here, should aid modelers in interpreting their results. Beyond many similarities, aspects where both models are distinct are highlighted. Some suggestions for improvement are included, e.g., the inclusion of temporal interpolation of the forcing fields (BLOSOM) or the inclusion of a deflection angle option when parameterizing wind-driven processes (GNOME). Overall, GNOME and BLOSOM perform similarly, and are found to be complementary oil spill models. This paper also sheds light on what drove the historical Point Wells spill, and serves the additional purpose of being a learning resource for those interested in oil spill modeling. The increasingly complex approach used for the comparison is also used, in parallel, to illustrate the approach an oil spill modeler would typically follow when trying to hindcast or forecast an oil spill, including detailed technical information on basic aspects, like choosing a computational time step. We discuss our successful hindcast of the 2003 Point Wells oil spill that, to our knowledge, had remained unexplained. The oil spill models’ solutions are compared to the historical Point Wells’ oil trajectory, in time and space, as determined from overflight information. Our hindcast broadly replicates the correct locations at the correct times, using accurate tide and wind forcing. While the choice of wind coefficient we use is unconventional, a simplified analytic model supported by observations, suggests that it is justified under this study’s circumstances. We highlight some of the key oceanographic findings as they may relate to other oil spills, and to the regional oceanography of the Salish Sea, including recommendations for future studies.
Carbon Nanomaterials Based Smart Fabrics with Selectable Characteristics for In-Line Monitoring of High-Performance Composites
Authors: Wang Guantao , Wang Yong , Luo Yun , Luo Sida
Published: September 2018

Carbon nanomaterials have gradually demonstrated their superiority for in-line process monitoring of high-performance composites. To explore the advantages of structures, properties, as well as sensing mechanisms, three types of carbon nanomaterials-based fiber sensors, namely, carbon nanotube-coated fibers, reduced graphene oxide-coated fibers, and carbon fibers, were produced and used as key sensing elements embedded in fabrics for monitoring the manufacturing process of fiber-reinforced polymeric composites. Detailed microstructural characterizations were performed through SEM and Raman analyses. The resistance change of the smart fabric was monitored in the real-time process of composite manufacturing. By systematically analyzing the piezoresistive performance, a three-stage sensing behavior has been achieved for registering resin infiltration, gelation, cross-linking, and post-curing. In the first stage, the incorporation of resin expands the packing structure of various sensing media and introduces different levels of increases in the resistance. In the second stage, the concomitant resin shrinkage dominates the resistance attenuation after reaching the maximum level. In the last stage, the diminished shrinkage effect competes with the disruption of the conducting network, resulting in continuous rising or depressing of the resistance.
3D-Printed PCL/PLA Composite Stents: Towards a New Solution to Cardiovascular Problems
Authors: Guerra Antonio J. , Cano Paula , Rabionet Marc , Puig Teresa , Ciurana Joaquim
Published: September 2018

Biodegradable stents (BRS) offer enormous potential but first they must meet five specific requirements: (i) their manufacturing process must be precise; (ii) degradation should have minimal toxicity; (iii) the rate of degradation should match the recovery rate of vascular tissue; (iv) ideally, they should induce rapid endothelialization to restore the functions of vascular tissue, but at the same time reduce the risk of restenosis; and (v) their mechanical behavior should comply with medical requirements, namely, the flexibility required to facilitate placement but also sufficient radial rigidity to support the vessel. Although the first three requirements have been comprehensively studied, the last two have been overlooked. One possible way of addressing these issues would be to fabricate composite stents using materials that have different mechanical, biological, or medical properties, for instance, Polylactide Acid (PLA) or Polycaprolactone (PCL). However, fashioning such stents using the traditional stent manufacturing process known as laser cutting would be impossible. Our work, therefore, aims to produce PCL/PLA composite stents using a novel 3D tubular printer based on Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM). The cell geometry (shape and area) and the materials (PCL and PLA) of the stents were analyzed and correlated with 3T3 cell proliferation, degradation rates, dynamic mechanical and radial expansion tests to determine the best parameters for a stent that will satisfy the five strict BRS requirements. Results proved that the 3D-printing process was highly suitable for producing composite stents (approximately 85–95% accuracy). Both PCL and PLA demonstrated their biocompatibility with PCL stents presenting an average cell proliferation of 12.46% and PLA 8.28% after only 3 days. Furthermore, the PCL/PLA composite stents demonstrated their potential in degradation, dynamic mechanical and expansion tests. Moreover, and regardless of the order of the layers, the composite stents showed (virtually) medium levels of degradation rates and mechanical modulus. Radially, they exhibited the virtues of PCL in the expansion step (elasticity) and those of PLA in the recoil step (rigidity). Results have clearly demonstrated that composite PCL/PLA stents are a highly promising solution to fulfilling the rigorous BRS requirements.
Novel Porous Phosphorus–Calcium–Magnesium Coatings on Titanium with Copper or Zinc Obtained by DC Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation: Fabrication and Characterization
Authors: Rokosz Krzysztof , Hryniewicz Tadeusz , Gaiaschi Sofia , Chapon Patrick , Raaen Steinar , Matýsek Dalibor , Dudek Łukasz , Pietrzak Kornel
Published: September 2018

In this paper, the characteristics of new porous coatings fabricated at three voltages in electrolytes based on H3PO4 with calcium nitrate tetrahydrate, magnesium nitrate hexahydrate, and copper(II) nitrate trihydrate are presented. The SEM, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GDOES), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and XRD techniques for coating identification were used. It was found that the higher the plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) (micro arc oxidation (MAO)) voltage, the thicker the porous coating with higher amounts of built-in elements coming from the electrolyte and more amorphous phase with signals from crystalline Ca(H2PO4)2∙H2O and/or Ti(HPO4)2∙H2O. Additionally, the external parts of the obtained porous coatings formed on titanium consisted mainly of Ti4+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and PO43−, HPO42−, H2PO4−, P2O74− as well as Zn2+ or copper Cu+/Cu2+. The surface should be characterized by high biocompatibility, due to the presence of structures based on calcium and phosphates, and have bactericidal properties, due to the presence of zinc and copper ions. Furthermore, the addition of magnesium ions should accelerate the healing of postoperative wounds, which could lead to faster patient recovery.
Sintering Temperature-Dependence on Radiopacity of Bi(2−x) ZrxO(3+x/2) Powders Prepared by Sol-Gel Process
Authors: Chen May-Show , Chen Shih-Hsun , Lai Fu-Chih , Chen Chin-Yi , Hsieh Ming-Yuan , Chang Wei-Jen , Yang Jen-Chang , Lin Chung-Kwei
Published: September 2018

Bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) is an effective additive used to enhance radiography resolution for dental materials. However, there are potential concerns regarding its biocompatibility and connection to tissue discoloration. In the present study, we modified the radiopacity properties of Bi2O3 with zirconium oxide (ZrO2) using a sol-gel process and investigated the composition, as well as the effects of heat treatment temperature using Thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The harvested Bi2−xZrxO3+x/2 particles showed that the dominant phase transferred from α-Bi2O3 to β-Bi7.38Zr0.62O12.31 after a heat treatment of over 750 °C for 2 h. As the x values of Bi2−xZrxO3+x/2 increased from 0.2 to 1.0, more zirconium oxide precipitated onto the particle surface, thus enhancing the surface roughness of particles. For sol-gel Bi1.8Zr0.2O3.1 powders (x = 0.2), the radiopacity values became 4.90 ± 0.23 and 5.83 ± 0.22 mmAl after a heat treatment of 500 °C and 750 °C, respectively.
Heat-Induced Discoloration of Chromophore Structures in Eucalyptus Lignin
Authors: Zhang Peng , Wei Yanxia , Liu Yang , Gao Jianmin , Chen Yao , Fan Yongming
Published: September 2018

The color changes corresponding to chromophore structures in lignin caused by exposure of Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus grandis and E. urophylla) to heat were investigated. Eucalyptus wood powders were heat treated under saturated steam atmospheres for 10 h at 110 °C, 130 °C and 150 °C. The lignin was isolated before and after heat treatment. The physicochemical properties of the lignin and changes in chromophore structures during heat treatment was evaluated through wet chemical analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), diffuse reflectance ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (DRUV-Vis), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and 13C Cross polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (13C CPMAS NMR). Wood color darkened and reddened with the increase in pressure and temperature. Depolymerization and dehydration reactions occurred via demethoxylation with heat treatment in saturated steam at 110 °C or 130 °C. Lignin condensed to form insoluble compounds after heat treatment in saturated steam at 150 °C. G units increased and S units decreased through demethylation during heat treatment, as revealed by FTIR and 13C-NMR analysis.
A Heuristic Method for Certifying Isolated Zeros of Polynomial Systems
Authors: Dou  Xiaojie , Cheng  Jin-San
Published: September 2018

In this paper, by transforming the given over-determined system into a square system, we prove a necessary and sufficient condition to certify the simple real zeros of the over-determined system by certifying the simple real zeros of the square system. After certifying a simple real zero of the related square system with the interval methods, we assert that the certified zero is a local minimum of sum of squares of the input polynomials. If the value of sum of squares of the input polynomials at the certified zero is equal to zero, it is a zero of the input system. As an application, we also consider the heuristic verification of isolated zeros of polynomial systems and their multiplicity structures.
Left Ventricular Volume in Bovines: The Correlation between Teichholz’s Medical Mathematical Method and the Volume of the Truncated Prolate Spheroid
Authors: Domingues José Sérgio , Coelho Ravel Alvarenga , Bento Francielly dos Santos , Almeida Brenda Cristina , De Castro Ayanne Oliveira
Published: September 2018

The main objective of this article is to determine the existing linear correlation between the real left ventricular volume (RV) from the heart of bovines and the volumes obtained by Teichholz’s mathematical model and the volume of the truncated prolate spheroid (TPS) to identify which model has a higher proximity to the RV. For that, ten silicon rubber molds of the left ventricle (LV) were manufactured, and their real volumes were obtained through Archimedes’ principle, and their linear dimensions were also obtained. These dimensions were used to feed Teichholz’s and the TPS models. It was verified that, for ventricles of lower volume, the models showed relatively close results, and Teichholz’s model was the most accurate one. The TPS method shows a grave accuracy mistake for higher volume ventricles. Besides, both methods showed strong linear correlations with the RV, and both with high significance.
Bacillamidins A–G from a Marine-Derived Bacillus pumilus
Authors: Zhou Si-Yu , Hu Yi-Jie , Meng Fan-Cheng , Qu Shen-Yue , Wang Rui , Andersen Raymond J. , Liao Zhi-Hua , Chen Min
Published: September 2018

Seven long-chain amides, including five previously undescribed bacillamidins A–E (1–5) and two previously reported synthetic analogs, bacillamidins F (6) and G (7), were isolated from extracts of the marine-derived Bacillus pumilus strain RJA1515. The structures of the new compounds were established by extensive analysis of 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data as well as high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), and the absolute configurations of the stereogenic carbons of 1–4 were established by comparison of the calculated and the experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. The cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of 1–7 were evaluated.
Highly Substituted Benzophenone Aldehydes and Eremophilane Derivatives from the Deep-Sea Derived Fungus Phomopsis lithocarpus FS508
Authors: Xu Jian-Lin , Liu Hong-Xin , Chen Yu-Chan , Tan Hai-Bo , Guo Heng , Xu Li-Qiong , Li Sai-Ni , Huang Zi-Lei , Li Hao-Hua , Gao Xiao-Xia , Zhang Wei-Min
Published: September 2018

Five new benzophenone derivatives named tenellones D–H (1–5), sharing a rare naturally occurring aldehyde functionality in this family, and a new eremophilane derivative named lithocarin A (7), together with two known compounds (6 and 8), were isolated from the deep marine sediment-derived fungus Phomopsis lithocarpus FS508. All of the structures for these new compounds were fully characterized and established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic interpretation and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Compound 5 exhibited cytotoxic activity against HepG-2 and A549 cell lines with IC50 values of 16.0 and 17.6 μM, respectively.
Characterization and Integration of Terahertz Technology within Microfluidic Platforms
Authors: Alfihed Salman , Bergen Mark , Ciocoiu Antonia , Holzman Jonathan , Foulds Ian
Published: September 2018

In this work, the prospects of integrating terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy (TDS) within polymer-based microfluidic platforms are investigated. The work considers platforms based upon the polar polymers polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and the nonpolar polymers fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), polystyrene (PS), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). The THz absorption coefficients for these polymers are measured. Two microfluidic platforms are then designed, fabricated, and tested, with one being based upon PET, as a representative high-loss polar polymer, and one being based upon UHMWPE, as a representative low-loss nonpolar polymer. It is shown that the UHMWPE microfluidic platform yields reliable measurements of THz absorption coefficients up to a frequency of 1.75 THz, in contrast to the PET microfluidic platform, which functions only up to 1.38 THz. The distinction seen here is attributed to the differing levels of THz absorption and the manifestation of differing f for the systems. Such findings can play an important role in the future integration of THz technology and polymer-based microfluidic systems.
Impact of Clay Minerals on the Dewatering of Coal Slurry: An Experimental and Molecular-Simulation Study
Authors: Ma Xiaomin , Fan Yuping , Dong Xianshu , Chen Ruxia , Li Hongliang , Sun Dong , Yao Suling
Published: September 2018

The cleaning process of coals is challenging due to the existence of clay minerals. The overall objective of this study is to investigate how the dewatering of coal slurry is impacted by the presence of clay minerals, i.e., kaolinite and montmorillonite. Filtration tests were first conducted to investigate the effect of kaolinite and montmorillonite on the dewatering efficiency of coal. Specifically, we measured the filtration velocity, moisture, average specific resistance, and porosity of filter cakes for six slurry samples, in which different amounts of kaolinite and montmorillonite were contained. Filtration tests show that a small amount of kaolinite and montmorillonite leads to a significant reduction in the filtration velocity and porosity, and a big increase in the average specific resistance and the moisture of the filter cake. We observe that most kaolinite existed in the top and middle layers of the filter cake, while most montmorillonite existed in the top layer; on the contrary, little montmorillonite is observed in the middle and bottom layers of the filter cake. Montmorillonite results in a much more deteriorative effect than kaolinite. Considering that the interactions between clay minerals and water may play a key role, we then further investigate the effect of such interactions using molecular simulations. Simulation results show that water molecules could hardly diffuse into kaolinite from the edge, while they could readily penetrate into the montmorillonite layers from the edge surface. This result can be explained by the hydrated cation in montmorillonite. The adsorption density of water on the octahedral surface of kaolinite is higher than that of water on the tetrahedral surface of kaolinite. Furthermore, the adsorption density of water on the double surfaces of kaolinite is higher than that of water on the montmorillonite surface. This research is expected to provide benefits or contributions to the dewatering of clay-rich coal tailings.
Microbial Degradation of Pesticide Residues and an Emphasis on the Degradation of Cypermethrin and 3-phenoxy Benzoic Acid: A Review
Authors: Huang Yichen , Xiao Lijuan , Li Feiyu , Xiao Mengshi , Lin Derong , Long Xiaomei , Wu Zhijun
Published: September 2018

Nowadays, pesticides are widely used in preventing and controlling the diseases and pests of crop, but at the same time pesticide residues have brought serious harm to human’s health and the environment. It is an important subject to study microbial degradation of pesticides in soil environment in the field of internationally environmental restoration science and technology. This paper summarized the microbial species in the environment, the study of herbicide and pesticides degrading bacteria and the mechanism and application of pesticide microbial degrading bacteria. Cypermethrin and other pyrethroid pesticides were used widely currently, while they were difficult to be degraded in the natural conditions, and an intermediate metabolite, 3-phenoxy benzoic acid would be produced in the degradation process, causing the secondary pollution of agricultural products and a series of problems. Taking it above as an example, the paper paid attention to the degradation process of microorganism under natural conditions and factors affecting the microbial degradation of pesticide. In addition, the developed trend of the research on microbial degradation of pesticide and some obvious problems that need further solution were put forward.
Glycosaminoglycan-Protein Interactions by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy
Authors: Pomin Vitor H. , Wang Xu
Published: September 2018

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is one of the most utilized and informative analytical techniques for investigating glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-protein complexes. NMR methods that are commonly applied to GAG-protein systems include chemical shift perturbation, saturation transfer difference, and transferred nuclear Overhauser effect. Although these NMR methods have revealed valuable insight into the protein-GAG complexes, elucidating high-resolution structural and dynamic information of these often transient interactions remains challenging. In addition, preparation of structurally homogeneous and isotopically enriched GAG ligands for structural investigations continues to be laborious. As a result, understanding of the structure-activity relationship of GAGs is still primitive. To overcome these deficiencies, several innovative NMR techniques have been developed lately. Here, we review some of the commonly used techniques along with more novel methods such as waterLOGSY and experiments to examine structure and dynamic of lysine and arginine side chains to identify GAG-binding sites. We will also present the latest technology that is used to produce isotopically enriched as well as paramagnetically tagged GAG ligands. Recent results that were obtained from solid-state NMR of amyloid’s interaction with GAG are also presented together with a brief discussion on computer assisted modeling of GAG-protein complexes using sparse experimental data.
Recent Advances in Mitochondria-Targeted Gene Delivery
Authors: Jang Yoon-ha , Lim Kwang-il
Published: September 2018

Mitochondria are the energy-producing organelles of cells. Mitochondrial dysfunctions link to various syndromes and diseases including myoclonic epilepsy and ragged-red fiber disease (MERRF), Leigh syndrome (LS), and Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). Primary mitochondrial diseases often result from mutations of mitochondrial genomes and nuclear genes that encode the mitochondrial components. However, complete intracellular correction of the mutated genetic parts relevant to mitochondrial structures and functions is technically challenging. Instead, there have been diverse attempts to provide corrected genetic materials with cells. In this review, we discuss recent novel physical, chemical and biological strategies, and methods to introduce genetic cargos into mitochondria of eukaryotic cells. Effective mitochondria-targeting gene delivery systems can reverse multiple mitochondrial disorders by enabling cells to produce functional mitochondrial components.
Identification of Antiglycative Compounds in Japanese Red Water Pepper (Red Leaf Variant of the Persicaria hydropiper Sprout)
Authors: Takabe Wakako , Yamaguchi Taiki , Hayashi Hideharu , Sugimura Natsuhiko , Yagi Masayuki , Yonei Yoshikazu
Published: September 2018

Glycation, the nonenzymatic reaction between proteins and excess blood sugar, is implicated in multiple disorders and occurs via the formation and accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). In our previous studies, we demonstrated that the red-leaf variant of the Persicaria hydropiper sprout (Japanese red water pepper, Benitade) is one of the potent plants that inhibit formation of AGEs. In this study, we aimed to identify antiglycative compounds in Benitade. Benitade extracts were prepared with hot water, then fractionated by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The antiglycative efficacy of each fraction was evaluated by measuring the formation of fluorescent AGEs (Ex 370 nm/Em 440 nm). Two fractions, which contained peaks at 26.4 min and 31.8 min, showed potent antiglycative efficacy. When we hydrolyzed these peaks, they shifted to 32.5 and 41.4 min, which are the same retention times as cyanidin and quercetin, respectively. Based on thin-layer chromatography, both compounds contained galactose. Finally, ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqTOF-MS) analyses were performed to determine the structure of those compounds. Overall, we identified two glycosides, cyanidin 3-O-galactoside (idaein) and quercetin 3-O-galactoside (hyperin), as representative antiglycative compounds in Benitade.
Research Progress in Organic Photomultiplication Photodetectors
Authors: Shi Linlin , Liang Qiangbing , Wang Wenyan , Zhang Ye , Li Guohui , Ji Ting , Hao Yuying , Cui Yanxia
Published: September 2018

Organic photomultiplication photodetectors have attracted considerable research interest due to their extremely high external quantum efficiency and corresponding high detectivity. Significant progress has been made in the aspects of their structural design and performance improvement in the past few years. There are two types of organic photomultiplication photodetectors, which are made of organic small molecular compounds and polymers. In this paper, the research progress in each type of organic photomultiplication photodetectors based on the trap assisted carrier tunneling effect is reviewed in detail. In addition, other mechanisms for the photomultiplication processes in organic devices are introduced. Finally, the paper is summarized and the prospects of future research into organic photomultiplication photodetectors are discussed.
Preconception Micronutrient Supplementation Reduced Circulating Branched Chain Amino Acids at 12 Weeks Gestation in an Open Trial of Guatemalan Women Who Are Overweight or Obese
Authors: Borengasser Sarah J. , Baker Peter R. , Kerns Mattie E. , Miller Leland V. , Palacios Alexandra P. , Kemp Jennifer F. , Westcott Jamie E. , Morrison Seth D. , Hernandez Teri L. , Garces Ana , Figueroa Lester , Friedman Jacob E. , Hambidge K. Michael , Krebs Nancy F.
Published: September 2018

Elevated branched chain amino acids (BCAAs: valine, leucine, and isoleucine) are well-established biomarkers of obesity-associated insulin resistance (IR). Mounting evidence suggests that low- and middle-income countries are suffering from a “double burden” of both undernutrition (growth stunting) and overnutrition (obesity) as these countries undergo a “nutrition transition”. The purpose of this study was to examine if pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) and a daily lipid-based micronutrient supplement (LNS, Nutriset) would lead to cross-sectional differences in circulating levels of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) in Guatemalan women experiencing short stature during early pregnancy. Using data from an ongoing randomized controlled trial, Women First, we studied women who were normal weight (NW, BMI range for this cohort = 20.1–24.1 kg/m2) or overweight/obese (OW/OB, BMI range for this cohort = 25.6–31.9 kg/m2), and divided into two groups: those who received daily LNS ≥ 3 months prior to conception through 12 weeks gestation (+LNS), or no LNS (−LNS) (n = 9–10/group). BCAAs levels were obtained from dried blood spot card samples (DBS) assessed at 12 weeks gestation. DBS cards provide a stable, efficient, and reliable means of collecting, transporting, and storing blood samples in low resource or field settings. Circulating maternal leptin, adiponectin, and insulin were determined by immunoassays from serum samples collected at 12 weeks gestation. We found maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (ppBMI) was associated with higher circulating BCAAs (r2 = 0.433, p = 0.002) and higher leptin/adiponectin ratio (r = 0.466, p = 0.044) in −LNS mothers at 12 weeks gestation. +LNS mothers demonstrated no correlations between BCAAs or leptin/adiponectin ratio across ppBMI suggesting LNS may be effective at improving metabolic status in OW/OB mothers during early pregnancy.
Diuretics, Ca-Antagonists, and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors Affect Zinc Status in Hypertensive Patients on Monotherapy: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Suliburska Joanna , Skrypnik Katarzyna , Szulińska Monika , Kupsz Justyna , Markuszewski Leszek , Bogdański Paweł
Published: September 2018

Background: Antihypertensive drugs affect mineral metabolism, inflammation, and the oxidative state. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of antihypertensive monopharmacotherapy with diuretics, β-blockers, calcium antagonists (Ca-antagonists), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I), and angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARBs) on zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu) status, parameters of oxidative and inflammatory states, and glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with newly diagnosed primary arterial hypertension (AH). Methods: Ninety-eight hypertensive subjects received diuretics, β-blockers, Ca-antagonists, ACE-I, or ARB for three months. Zn, Fe, and Cu concentrations were determined in blood, urine, and hair. Results: A decrease in zinc serum and erythrocyte concentration and an increase in zinc urine concentration were registered after diuretic administration. Ca-antagonists led to a decrease in erythrocyte zinc concentration. A decrease in serum zinc concentration was observed after ACE-I. A decrease in triglyceride serum concentration was noted after ACE-I therapy, and a decrease in tumor necrosis factor-α serum concentration was seen following administration of Ca-antagonists. Hypotensive drugs led to decreases in catalase and superoxide dismutase serum concentrations. Conclusions: Three-months of monotherapy with diuretics, Ca-antagonists, or ACE-I impairs zinc status in patients with newly diagnosed primary AH. Antihypertensive monopharmacotherapy and zinc metabolism alterations affect lipid metabolism, the oxidative state, and the inflammatory state.
Amorphous Nanoparticulate Formulation of Sirolimus and Its Tablets
Authors: Shen Yudong , Li Xingya , Le Yuan
Published: September 2018

Nanocrystallization and amorphization have proven to be two effective strategies to improve the bioavailability of water-insoluble drugs. The purpose of our work was to develop a nano-formulated tablet of sirolimus (SRL) for enhanced dissolution. Amorphous SRL nanocomposites were prepared using anti-solvent precipitation via a high-gravity rotating packed bed. Various factors that affect particle size and size distribution, such as excipients, rotating speed, antisolvent/solvent flow rate, were investigated. Structure, stability and in vitro dissolution of the as-prepared SRL were evaluated. Furthermore, the nanoparticulated SRL tablet formula was screened to control drug release. Importantly, SRL tablets exhibit different dissolution profile by adjusting HPMC (hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose) content, which makes them more suitable for various formulation developments.
Thickness-Dependent DC Electrical Breakdown of Polyimide Modulated by Charge Transport and Molecular Displacement
Authors: Min Daomin , Li Yuwei , Yan Chenyu , Xie Dongri , Li Shengtao , Wu Qingzhou , Xing Zhaoliang
Published: September 2018

Polyimide has excellent electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties and is widely used as a dielectric material in electrical equipment and electronic devices. However, the influencing mechanism of sample thickness on electrical breakdown of polyimide has not been very clear until now. The direct current (DC) electrical breakdown properties of polyimide as a function of thickness were investigated by experiments and simulations of space charge modulated electrical breakdown (SCEB) model and charge transport and molecular displacement modulated (CTMD) model. The experimental results show that the electrical breakdown field decreases with an increase in the sample thickness in the form of an inverse power function, and the inverse power index is 0.324. Trap properties and carrier mobility were also measured for the simulations. Both the simulation results obtained by the SCEB model and the CTMD model have the inverse power forms of breakdown field as a function of thickness with the power indexes of 0.030 and 0.339. The outputs of the CTMD model were closer to the experiments. This indicates that the displacement of a molecular chain with occupied deep traps enlarging the free volume might be a main factor causing the DC electrical breakdown field of polyimide varying with sample thickness.
Influence of the Lignin Content on the Properties of Poly(Lactic Acid)/lignin-Containing Cellulose Nanofibrils Composite Films
Authors: Wang Xuan , Jia Yuan , Liu Zhen , Miao Jiaojiao
Published: September 2018

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/lignin-containing cellulose nanofibrils (L-CNFs) composite films with different lignin contents were produced bythe solution casting method. The effect of the lignin content on the mechanical, thermal, and crystallinity properties, and PLA/LCNFs interfacial adhesion wereinvestigated by tensile tests, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The tensile strength and modulus of the PLA/9-LCNFs (9 wt % lignin LCNFs) composites are 37% and 61% higher than those of pure PLA, respectively. The glass transition temperature (Tg) decreases from 61.2 for pure PLA to 52.6 °C for the PLA/14-LCNFs (14 wt % lignin LCNFs) composite, and the composites have higher thermal stability below 380 °C than pure PLA. The DSC results indicate that the LCNFs, containing different lignin contents, act as a nucleating agent to increase the degree of crystallinity of PLA. The effect of the LCNFs lignin content on the PLA/LCNFs compatibility/adhesion was confirmed by the FTIR, SEM, and Tg results. Increasing the LCNFs lignin content increases the storage modulus of the PLA/LCNFs composites to a maximum for the PLA/9-LCNFs composite. This study shows that the lignin content has a considerable effect on the strength and flexibility of PLA/LCNFs composites.
Comparison of C-Band Quad-Polarization Synthetic Aperture Radar Wind Retrieval Models
Authors: Fang He , Xie Tao , Perrie William , Zhang Guosheng , Yang Jingsong , He Yijun
Published: September 2018

This work discusses the accuracy of C-2PO (C-band cross-polarized ocean backscatter) and CMOD4 (C-band model) geophysical model functions (GMF) for sea surface wind speed retrieval from satellite-born Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images over in the Northwest Pacific off the coast of China. In situ observations are used for comparison of the retrieved wind speed using two established wind retrieval models: C-2PO model and CMOD4 GMF. Using 439 samples from 92 RADARSAT-2 fine quad-polarization SAR images and corresponding reference winds, we created two subset wind speed databases: the training and testing subsets. From the training data subset, we retrieve ocean surface wind speeds (OSWSs) from different models at each polarization and compare with reference wind speeds. The RMSEs of SAR-retrieved wind speeds are: 2.5 m/s: 2.11 m/s (VH-polarized), 2.13 m/s (HV-polarized), 1.86 m/s (VV-polarized) and 2.26 m/s (HH-polarized) and the correlation coefficients are 0.86 (VH-polarized), 0.85(HV-polarized), 0.87(VV-polarized) and 0.83 (HH-polarized), which are statistically significant at the 99.9% significance level. Moreover, we found that OSWSs retrieved using C-2PO model at VH-polarized are most suitable for moderate-to-high winds while CMOD4 GMF at VV-polarized tend to be best for low-to-moderate winds. A hybrid wind retrieval model is put forward composed of the two models, C-2PO and CMOD4 and sets of SAR test data are used in order to establish an appropriate wind speed threshold, to differentiate the wind speed range appropriate for one model from that of the other. The results show that the OSWSs retrieved using our hybrid method has RMSE of 1.66 m/s and the correlation coefficient are 0.9, thereby significantly outperforming both the C-2PO and CMOD4 models.
Applications of DINEOF to Satellite-Derived Chlorophyll-a from a Productive Coastal Region
Authors: Hilborn Andrea , Costa Maycira
Published: September 2018

A major limitation for remote sensing analyses of oceanographic variables is loss of spatial data. The Data INterpolating Empirical Orthogonal Functions (DINEOF) method has demonstrated effectiveness for filling spatial gaps in remote sensing datasets, making them more easily implemented in further applications. However, the spatial and temporal coverage of the input image dataset can heavily impact the outcomes of using this method and, thus, further metrics derived from these datasets, such as phytoplankton bloom phenology. In this study, we used a three-year time series of MODIS-Aqua chlorophyll-a to evaluate the DINEOF reconstruction output accuracy corresponding to variation in the form of the input data used (i.e., daily or week composite scenes) and time series length (annual or three consecutive years) for a dynamic region, the Salish Sea, Canada. The accuracy of the output data was assessed considering the original chla pixels. Daily input time series produced higher accuracy reconstructing chla (95.08–97.08% explained variance, RMSExval 1.49–1.65 mg m−3) than did all week composite counterparts (68.99–76.88% explained variance, RMSExval 1.87–2.07 mg m−3), with longer time series producing better relationships to original chla pixel concentrations. Daily images were assessed relative to extracted in situ chla measurements, with original satellite chla achieving a better relationship to in situ matchups than DINEOF gap-filled chla, and with annual DINEOF-processed data performing better than the multiyear. These results contribute to the ongoing body of work encouraging production of ocean color datasets with consistent processing for global purposes such as climate change studies.
Damage Identification for Underground Structure Based on Frequency Response Function
Authors: Wang Shengnan , Long Xiaohong , Luo Hui , Zhu Hongping
Published: September 2018

Damage identification that is based on modal analysis is widely used in traditional structural damage identification. However, modal analysis is difficult in high damping structures and modal concentrated structures. Unlike approaches based on modal analysis, damage identification based on the frequency response function allows for the avoidance of error and easy verification through other test points. An updating algorithm is devised is this study by utilizing the frequency response function together with the dynamic reduction with respect to the selected design parameters. Numerical results indicate that the method can be used to define multiple parameters with large variation and incomplete measurement data and is robust against measurement noise. With the purpose of avoiding the occurrence of resonance and gaining additional information, the trial and error method has been used to choose a proper frequency. Furthermore, an experimental scale model in a soil box is subjected to the excitation of moving load to validate the effectiveness of the damage identification approach. The improved damage identification method for underground structures, which is based on the analysis of the frequency response function, can be adopted as an efficient and functional damage identification tool.
A Lightweight Convolutional Neural Network Based on Visual Attention for SAR Image Target Classification
Authors: Shao Jiaqi , Qu Changwen , Li Jianwei , Peng Shujuan
Published: September 2018

With the continuous development of the convolutional neural network (CNN) concept and other deep learning technologies, target recognition in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images has entered a new stage. At present, shallow CNNs with simple structure are mostly applied in SAR image target recognition, even though their feature extraction ability is limited to a large extent. What’s more, research on improving SAR image target recognition efficiency and imbalanced data processing is relatively scarce. Thus, a lightweight CNN model for target recognition in SAR image is designed in this paper. First, based on visual attention mechanism, the channel attention by-pass and spatial attention by-pass are introduced to the network to enhance the feature extraction ability. Then, the depthwise separable convolution is used to replace the standard convolution to reduce the computation cost and heighten the recognition efficiency. Finally, a new weighted distance measure loss function is introduced to weaken the adverse effect of data imbalance on the recognition accuracy of minority class. A series of recognition experiments based on two open data sets of MSTAR and OpenSARShip are implemented. Experimental results show that compared with four advanced networks recently proposed, our network can greatly diminish the model size and iteration time while guaranteeing the recognition accuracy, and it can effectively alleviate the adverse effects of data imbalance on recognition results.
Arabizi in Saudi Arabia: A Deviant Form of Language or Simply a Form of Expression?
Authors: Alghamdi Hamdah , Petraki Eleni
Published: September 2018

The popularity of social networking sites in the Arab world has resulted in a new writing code, Arabizi, which combines Roman letters and numbers to represent the Arabic language. This new code received vehement criticism from Arabic linguists who argued that Arabizi is detrimental to the Arabic language and Arab identity. Arabizi use, however, has been increasing, especially in Saudi Arabia, a highly conservative and religious society. To address this apparent contradiction, this study investigated the reasons why young Saudi Arabians use Arabizi online and their attitudes towards its use. The research was based on 131 questionnaires distributed on social networking sites, and 20 interviews conducted with Saudi users of Arabizi. The findings suggest participants use Arabizi because (1), it is the language of their peers, (2) it is cool and stylish, (3) they have difficulties with the Arabic language, and (4) Arabizi constitutes a secret code, allowing escape from judgements of the older generation. The study concludes that Arabizi is a strong marker of Arab youth identity and group solidarity.