bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel Molecular Markers for Breast Cancer
Authors: Inoue Kazushi , Fry Elizabeth A.
Published: March 2016

The use of molecular biomarkers assures that breast cancer (BC) patients receive optimal treatment. Established biomarkers, such as estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, HER2, and Ki67, have been playing significant roles in the subcategorization of BC to predict the prognosis and decide the specific therapy to each patient. Antihormonal therapy using 4-hydroxytamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors have been employed in patients whose tumor cells express hormone receptors, while monoclonal antibody to HER2 has been administered to HER2-positive BCs. Although new therapeutic agents have been developed in the past few decades, many patients still die of the disease due to relapse; thus, novel molecular markers that predict therapeutic failure and those that can be targets for specific therapy are expected. We have chosen four of such molecules by reviewing recent publications, which are cyclin E, B-Myb, Twist, and DMP1β. The oncogenicity of these molecules has been demonstrated in vivo and/or in vitro through studies using transgenic mice or siRNAs, and their expressions have been shown to be associated with shortened overall or disease-free survival of BC patients. The former three molecules have been shown to accelerate epithelial-mesenchymal transition that is often associated with cancer stem cell-ness and metastasis; all these four can be novel therapeutic targets as well. Thus, large prospective studies employing immunohistochemistry will be needed to establish the predictive values of these molecules in patients with BC.
Genetic Susceptibility to Interstitial Lung Disease Associated with Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Tochimoto Akiko , Kawaguchi Yasushi , Yamanaka Hisashi
Published: March 2016

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease that is characterized by tissue fibrosis, microvasculopathy, and autoimmunity. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common complication of SSc and is one of the frequent causes of mortality in SSc. Although the exact etiology of SSc remains unknown, clinical and experimental investigations have suggested that genetic and environmental factors are relevant to the pathogenesis of SSc and SSc-ILD. More than 30 genes have been identified as susceptibility loci for SSc, most of which are involved in immune regulation and inflammation. It is thought that the key pathogenesis of SSc-ILD is caused by the release of profibrotic mediators such as transforming growth factor β1 and connective tissue growth factor from lung cells induced by a persistent damage. This review presents the genetic susceptibility to SSc-ILD, including human leukocyte antigen and non-human leukocyte antigen genes, especially focusing on connective tissue growth factor.
Impact of Transfusion on Cancer Growth and Outcome
Authors: Goubran Hadi A. , Elemary Mohamed , Radosevich Miryana , seghatchian Jerard , El-Ekiaby Magdy , Burnouf Thierry
Published: March 2016

For many years, transfusion of allogeneic red blood cells, platelet concentrates, and plasma units has been part of the standard therapeutic arsenal used along the surgical and nonsurgical treatment of patients with malignancies. Although the benefits of these blood products are not a matter of debate in specific pathological conditions associated with life-threatening low blood cell counts or bleeding, increasing clinical evidence is nevertheless suggesting that deliberate transfusion of these blood components may actually lead to negative clinical outcomes by affecting patient's immune defense, stimulating tumor growth, tethering, and dissemination. Rigorous preclinical and clinical studies are needed to dimension the clinical relevance, benefits, and risks of transfusion of blood components in cancer patients and understand the amplitude of problems. There is also a need to consider validating preparation methods of blood components for so far ignored biological markers, such as microparticles and biological response modifiers. Meanwhile, blood component transfusions should be regarded as a personalized medicine, taking into careful consideration the status and specificities of the patient, rather than as a routine hospital procedure.
CETP Inhibition: Past Failures and Future Hopes
Authors: Kosmas Constantine E. , Dejesus Eddy , Rosario Digna , Vittorio Timothy J.
Published: March 2016

The atheroprotective role of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in cardiovascular disease has been unequivocally established, and epidemiological data have clearly demonstrated a strong inverse relationship between HDL-C levels and the risk of cardiovascular events, which is independent of the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Thus, it would be logical to hypothesize that raising HDL-C might potentially lead to a reduction of cardiovascular risk. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) promotes the transfer of cholesteryl esters from HDL to very low-density lipoprotein and LDL. Therefore, CETP inhibition raises HDL-C levels and decreases LDL-C levels. The first trials with CETP inhibitors failed to show a reduction in cardiovascular events. However, newer CETP inhibitors with more favorable effects on lipids are presently being tested in clinical trials with the hope that their use may lead to a reduction in cardiovascular risk. This review aims to provide the current evidence regarding CETP inhibition, as well as the clinical and scientific data pertaining to the new CETP inhibitors in development.
Effect of Infant Formula Containing a Low Dose of the Probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis CNCM I-3446 on Immune and Gut Functions in C-Section Delivered Babies: A Pilot Study
Authors: Baglatzi L. , Gavrili S. , Stamouli K. , Zachaki S. , Favre L. , Pecquet S. , Benyacoub J. , Costalos C.
Published: March 2016

Background

In the absence of breast-feeding and its immunomodulatory factors, supplementation of starter infant formula (IF) with probiotics is currently used to support immune functions and gut development.

Aim

To assess whether immune-related beneficial effects of regular dose (10 7 CFU/g of powder) of the probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis CNCM I-3446 (hereafter named B. lactis) in starter IF supplementation can be maintained with starter IF containing a low dose (10 4 CFU/g of powder) of B. lactis.

Method

This trial was designed as a pilot, prospective, double-blind, randomized, single-center clinical trial of two parallel groups ( n = 77 infants/group) of C-section delivered infants receiving a starter IF containing either low dose or regular dose of the probiotic B. lactis from birth to six months of age. In addition, a reference group of infants breast-fed for a minimum of four months ( n = 44 infants), also born by C-section, were included. All groups were then provided follow-up formula without B. lactis up to 12 months of age. Occurrence of diarrhea, immune and gut maturation, responses to vaccinations, and growth were assessed from birth to 12 months. The effect of low-dose B. lactis formula was compared to regular-dose B. lactis formula, considered as reference for IF with probiotics, and both were further compared to breast-feeding as a physiological reference.

Results

Data showed that feeding low-dose B. lactis IF provides similar effects as feeding regular-dose B. lactis IF or breast milk. No consistent statistical differences regarding early life protection against gastrointestinal infections, immune and gut maturation, microbiota establishment, and growth were observed between randomized formula-fed groups as well as with the breast-fed reference group.

Conclusion

This pilot study suggests that supplementing C-section born neonates with low-dose B. lactis-containing starter formula may impact immune as well as gut maturation similarly to regular-dose B. lactis, close to the breast-feeding reference.
Anti-Infective Metabolites of a Newly Isolated Bacillus thuringiensis KL1 Associated with Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata Nees.), a Traditional Medicinal Herb
Authors: Roy Sudipta , Yasmin Sahana , Ghosh Subhadeep , Bhattacharya Somesankar , Banerjee Debdulal
Published: March 2016

This study was conducted to isolate endophytic bacteria possessing anti-infective property from Kalmegh ( Andrographis paniculata Nees.), a well-known medicinal plant. A total of 23 strains were isolated from this plant among which the strain KL1, isolated from surface-sterilized leaf of this medicinal herb, showed broad-spectrum antagonism against an array of Gram-positive and -negative bacterial pathogens. Ethyl acetate extract of KL1-fermented media yielded a greenish amorphous substance retaining anti-infective property. Solvent-extracted crude material was separated by thin-layer chromatography, and the active ingredient was located by autobiogram analysis. The purified anti-infective compound was found as anthracene derivative as analyzed by ultraviolet and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The strain was identified as Bacillus thuringiensis KL1 from cultural, physiochemical, and molecular aspects. The above results indicate the pharmaceutical potential of the candidate isolate.
Self-Management Interventions to Prevent the Secondary Condition of Pain in People with Disability Due to Mobility Limitations
Authors: Froehlich-Grobe Katherine , Driver Simon J. , Sanches Katherine D.
Published: March 2016

Introduction

This focused review examines the use and effectiveness of self-management strategies in preventing or managing pain, which is among the most common secondary conditions faced by individuals with a mobility disability.

Methods

This focused review was part of a two-phase comprehensive scoping review. Phase I was a comprehensive scoping review of the literature targeting multiple outcomes of self-management interventions for those with mobility impairment, and Phase II was a focused review of the literature on self-management interventions that target pain as a primary or secondary outcome. Two authors searched CINAHL, PubMed, and PsyclNFO for papers published from January 1988 through August 2014 using specified search terms. Following the scoping review, the authors independently screened and selected the studies and reviewed the eligible studies, and the first author extracted data from the included studies.

Results

The scoping review yielded 40 studies that addressed pain self-management interventions for those living with mobility impairment. These 40 accumulated papers revealed a heterogeneous evidence base in terms of setting (clinic, community, and online), target populations, intervention duration (3 weeks to 24 months), and mode (health-care providers and lay leaders). Most of the reviewed studies reported that the self-management intervention led to significant reduction of pain over time, suggesting that self-management may be a promising approach for addressing pain experienced by people who live with mobility limitations.

Discussion

This review also reveals moderate-to-high bias across studies, and findings indicate that future research should enhance the methodological quality to provide stronger evidence about the effectiveness of self-management strategies for reducing pain among those with mobility impairments.
Stability of Soft Quasicrystals in a Coupled-Mode Swift-Hohenberg Model for Three-Component Systems
Authors: Jiang Kai , Tong Jiajun , Zhang Pingwen
Published: March 2016

In this article, we discuss the stability of soft quasicrystalline phases in a coupled-mode Swift-Hohenberg model for three-component systems, where the characteristic length scales are governed by the positive-definite gradient terms. Classic two-mode approximation method and direct numerical minimization are applied to the model. In the latter approach, we apply the projection method to deal with the potentially quasiperiodic ground states. A variable cell method of optimizing the shape and size of higher-dimensional periodic cell is developed to minimize the free energy with respect to the order parameters. Based on the developed numerical methods, we rediscover decagonal and dodecagonal quasicrystalline phases, and find diverse periodic phases and complex modulated phases. Furthermore, phase diagrams are obtained in various phase spaces by comparing the free energies of different candidate structures. It does show not only the important roles of system parameters, but also the effect of optimizing computational domain. In particular, the optimization of computational cell allows us to capture the ground states and phase behavior with higher fidelity. We also make some discussions on our results and show the potential of applying our numerical methods to a larger class of mean-field free energy functionals.
Assessing Economic Damages in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation: The State of Washington
Authors: Taylor Laura , Brandt William G.
Published: March 2016

In contribution to the series on economic damages in personal injury and wrongful death cases by state, this article presents the legal framework for calculating economic damages in personal injury and wrongful death actions in the State of Washington. Topics covered include the Washington State court system, expert testimony and discovery, survival and wrongful death statutes, dependency, life expectancy, earning capacity, household services, taxes, consumption and present value. Also briefly discussed are investment income, lost inheritance, post-injury death, mitigation, collateral sources, and punitive damages.
A global simulation of brown carbon: implications for photochemistry and direct radiative effect
Authors: Jo Duseong S. , Park Rokjin J. , Lee Seungun , Kim Sang-Woo , Zhang Xiaolu
Published: March 2016

Abstract. Recent observations suggest that a certain fraction of organic carbon (OC) aerosol effectively absorbs solar radiation, which is also known as brown carbon (BrC) aerosol. Despite much observational evidence of its presence, very few global modelling studies have been conducted because of poor understanding of global BrC emissions. Here we present an explicit global simulation of BrC in a global 3-D chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem), including global BrC emission estimates from primary (3.9 ± 1.7 and 3.0 ± 1.3 TgC yr−1 from biomass burning and biofuel) and secondary (5.7 TgC yr−1 from aromatic oxidation) sources. We evaluate the model by comparing the results with observed absorption by water-soluble OC in surface air in the United States, and with single scattering albedo observations at Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) sites all over the globe. The model successfully reproduces the seasonal variations of observed light absorption by water-soluble OC, but underestimates the magnitudes, especially in regions with high secondary source contributions. Our global simulations show that BrC accounts for 21 % of the global mean surface OC concentration, which is typically assumed to be scattering. We find that the global direct radiative effect of BrC is nearly zero at the top of the atmosphere, and consequently decreases the direct radiative cooling effect of OC by 16 %. In addition, the BrC absorption leads to a general reduction of NO2 photolysis rates, whose maximum decreases occur in Asia up to −8 % (−17 %) on an annual (spring) mean basis. The resulting decreases of annual (spring) mean surface ozone concentrations are up to −6 % (−13 %) in Asia, indicating a non-negligible effect of BrC on photochemistry in this region.
PCBs in the Arctic atmosphere: determining important driving forces using a global atmospheric transport model
Authors: Friedman Carey L. , Selin Noelle E.
Published: March 2016

Abstract. We present a spatially and temporally resolved global atmospheric polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) model, driven by meteorological data, that is skilled at simulating mean atmospheric PCB concentrations and seasonal cycles in the Northern Hemisphere midlatitudes and mean Arctic concentrations. However, the model does not capture the observed Arctic summer maximum in atmospheric PCBs. We use the model to estimate global budgets for seven PCB congeners, and we demonstrate that congeners that deposit more readily show lower potential for long-range transport, consistent with a recently described "differential removal hypothesis" regarding the hemispheric transport of PCBs. Using sensitivity simulations to assess processes within, outside, or transport to the Arctic, we examine the influence of climate- and emissions-driven processes on Arctic concentrations and their effect on improving the simulated Arctic seasonal cycle. We find evidence that processes occurring outside the Arctic have a greater influence on Arctic atmospheric PCB levels than processes that occur within the Arctic. Our simulations suggest that re-emissions from sea ice melting or from the Arctic Ocean during summer would have to be unrealistically high in order to capture observed temporal trends of PCBs in the Arctic atmosphere. We conclude that midlatitude processes are likely to have a greater effect on the Arctic under global change scenarios than re-emissions within the Arctic.
Gross and Morphormetry of the Stomach of the Wild Gray Guinea Savannah Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
Authors: Nathaniel Wanmi , Oliver Nzalak James , Kigir Esther
Published: March 2016

Apparently healthy wild gray guinea savannah squirrel, totaling fourteen (14) in number were used for this study. After being captured from the wild, they were kept for two weeks before they were sacrificed. Weight and length of the whole animal, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and stomach were taken and recorded in gram (g) and centimeter (cm). The mean weight of live animal was 380.04 ± 46.00 g with the GIT counting for 9.97 % of the total body weight. The mean weight and length of the stomach were 1.59 ± 0.36 g and 4.00 ± 0.61 cm, accounting for 0.42 % and 2.94 % respectively. Externally, the stomach was gray-whitish in fresh sample, bean-shaped, covered almost entirely by deep pink like coloured liver ventrally. The interior surface is grayish with non glandular portion around the cardiac area and longitudinally folded glandular portion. Areas of sphincters were recognized as pyloric, toward the intestinal point of attachment to the stomach and cardiac sphincter toward the point of attachment of the esophagus. More folding was noticed toward the pyloric region indicative of food storing and distension capability of the stomach.
Enhancement of Salt Uptake with the Application of Rotary Magnetic Field in Brining Cucumber
Authors: Jin Yamei , Yang Na , Zhou Yuyi , Li Dandan , Chen Haiying , Tong Qunyi , Xu Xueming
Published: March 2016

An experimental system by use of magnetic and hydrodynamic force was established to accelerate mass transport and thus to shorten the salting equilibrium time in salting of fresh-cut cucumbers. The cucumbers were brined with flowing 3% NaCl solution under rotary magnetic field at 22 ºC. During brining period, salt contents of the cucumbers at varying Reynolds number of flowing brine, rotary frequency, and magnetic flux density of magnetic field were separately investigated and the salt uptake kinetics was also analyzed. Results showed that flowing brine disturbed the salt diffusion into cucumber tissues without the application of magnetic field. Consequently, the salt uptake rate decreased compared to the conventional brining. No significant difference in salt content of cucumbers was observed between the conventional brining and static-magnetic-field-assisted brining. The salt uptake rate was improved by the combination of rotary magnetic field and flowing brine. The increment of salt uptake rate during this combined treatment got larger with the increase of magnetic flux density. Salt uptake rate of cucumber increased with the increase of rotational frequency of the magnetic field and Reynolds number of the flowing brine, up to a critical value. A 170% increment in salt uptake rate constant could be achieved at magnetic flux density 0.13 T, rotational frequency 5 Hz and Reynolds number 1127. Thus, an intergrated technique based upon rotary magnetic field and flowing brine is provided for brining of porous agricultural products.
Cost-, Cumulative Energy- and Emergy Aspects of Conventional and Organic Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Cultivation
Authors: Kuczuk Anna
Published: March 2016

The differences in the investment, cost, energy efficiency of cultivation in organic and conventional systems are considerable. This paper reports the results of emergy analysis and comparison of cost and energy efficiency of the two systems based on the example of growing winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The differences between the two systems include the total cost of production as well as various levels of economic efficiency of production in a conventional system. It was noted that the cost of conventional production is decided on by the large cost of production materials. These farms demonstrate considerably lower energy efficiency of production. In contrast, in organic farms we can observe lower yield levels associated with the more extensive production quality. However, in the considerations we needs to take into account how the two types of production affect the natural environment. For this reason, emergy analysis was taken up, as its results indicate lower energy use in ecological cultivation.
Diversity of Pepper (Capsicum spp.) Genotypes from Eritrea Assessed by Morphological Traits
Authors: Saleh Brhan Khiar , Kasili Remmy W. , Mamati Edward G. , Araia Woldeamlak , Nyende Aggrey B.
Published: March 2016

Diversity in plant genetic resources provides an opportunity for plant breeders to develop new and improved cultivars with desirable characteristics. The purpose of this study was to assess the diversity of Eritrean pepper germplasm in order to obtain information for improving it. A total of 60 pepper (Capsicum spp.) seed sample collections were obtained from farmers and institutions in Eritrea. The collections were evaluated at two sites located in two different agro-climatic regions of the country. The collections were assessed using 16 quantitative and 23 qualitative descriptors. A Randomized Complete Block Design was used for the evaluation. Quantitative and qualitative data of the two sites were subjected to Principal Component Analysis, Principal Coordinate Analysis, Hierarchal clustering, Analysis of variance and Correlation. The distribution of characters of the different quantitative and qualitative traits and the performance of the collections showed the existece of variable characters distributed among the collections indicating considerable diversity. For quantitative variables, the first three components were able to explain 61%, 58% and 67% of the total variation in Hamelmalo, Asmara and combined data of the two sites respectively. While for the qualitative variables the first three components were able to explain a variation of 58% in Hamelmalo, 49%, in Asmara and 55% combined data of the two sites. Phenological attributes and fruit characteristics were found to contribute more to the variation. The majority of the traits evaluated were significant and the highest Coefficient of Variation was related to fruit characteristics. The results of this study showed that there is sufficient variability within the Eritrean pepper genotypes that could be used in future breeding and crop improvement programs.
Plant Density Effect on Silage Yield of Maize Cultivars
Authors: Haddadi Mohammad Hossein , Mohseni Masoud
Published: March 2016

In order to study of plant density effect on silage yield of new maize hybrids an experiment was conducted in factorial on the basis of randomized completely block design with four replications at agricultural research station in Qarakheil (Qaemshahr) in 2014 in Iran, after wheat harvesting. New hybrids are SC703 and SC705 that were compared with SC704. Four densities were 75,000, 85,000, 95,000 and 105,000 plant per hectar. Eeach plant planted in four rows with intera-row spacing of 75 cm. Silage yield, plant height, ear height, kernel number in ear row, kernel row number,dry silage yield, kernel, stem and leaves protein were measured. Result showed that SC704 had the highest silage yield with 70.96 t/ha. SC705 and SC703 had 64.67 and 60.22 t/ha silage yield. Density of 105,000 and 95,000 plant per hectar had higher silage yields in compare of other densities with 67.04 and 66.20 t/ha respectively. Result showed that SC704 had the highest dry silage yield with 43.19 t/ha. SC705 and SC703 had 38.69 and 36.75 t/ha dry silage yield respectively. Density of 105,000 and 95,000 plant per hectar had higher dry silage yields in compare of other densities with 40.67 and 40.55 t/ha respectively. With increasing of density, crude protein (in kernel, stem and leaves) decreased.
ADAPTIVE PARAMETER SELECTION FOR GRAPH CUT-BASED SEGMENTATION ON CELL IMAGES
Authors: Oyebode Kazeem Oyeyemi , Tapamo Jules R.
Published: March 2016

Graph cut segmentation approach provides a platform for segmenting images in a globally optimised fashion. The graph cut energy function includes a parameter that adjusts its data term and smoothness term relative to each other. However, one of the key challenges in graph cut segmentation is finding a suitable parameter value that suits a given segmentation. A suitable parameter value is desirable in order to avoid image oversegmentation or under-segmentation. To address the problem of trial and error in manual parameter selection, we propose an intuitive and adaptive parameter selection for cell segmentation using graph cut. The greyscale image of the cell is logarithmically transformed to shrink the dynamic range of foreground pixels in order to extract the boundaries of cells. The extracted cell boundary dynamically adjusts and contextualises the parameter value of the graph cut, countering its shrink bias. Experiments suggest that the proposed model outperforms previous cell segmentation approaches.
ON THE PRECISION OF CURVE LENGTH ESTIMATION IN THE PLANE
Authors: Gomez Ana Isabel , Cruz Marcos , Cruz-Orive Luis Manuel
Published: March 2016

The estimator of planar curve length based on intersection counting with a square grid, called the Buffon-Steinhaus estimator, is simple, design unbiased and efficient. However, the prediction of its error variance from a single grid superimposition is a non trivial problem. A previously published predictor is checked here by means of repeated Monte Carlo superimpositions of a curve onto a square grid, with isotropic uniform randomness relative to each other. Nine curvilinear features (namely flattened DNA molecule projections) were considered, and complete data are shown for two of them. Automatization required image processing to transform the original tiff image of each curve into a polygonal approximation consisting of between 180 and 416 straight line segments or ‘links’ for the different curves. The performance of the variance prediction formula proved to be satisfactory for practical use (at least for the curves studied).
PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS
Authors: Kubínová Lucie
Published: March 2016

Dear colleagues, Let me wish you and our Image Analysis & Stereology Journal all the best in 2016. It is great honour for me to be in charge of the International Society for Stereology (ISS). I would like to thank Eric Pirard for all his tremendous work and effort he has put into ISS activities in past years, together with all members of the ISS Board. I am glad Eric is willing to help me with ISS as „Immediate Past President“. I also rely on close collaboration with Ida Eržen and Marko Kreft, the Editors-in-Chief of Image Analysis & Stereology (IAS), IAS Editorial Board and future ISS Board. I appreciate long-term cooperation between the Image Analysis & Stereology Journal and the International Society for Stereology and I am looking forward to broaden our relationships in the future. As a President of ISS I plan to evoke new activities which would help to make ISS vivid and useful to scientific community. We are planning new courses on stereology, image analysis and related topics run in cooperation with ISS with reduced fee for ISS members, competion for the best PhD thesis using stereology and/or image analysis, ISS history mapping, etc. I welcome your further suggestions and comments. I would like to cordially invite you to become members of the International Society for Stereology (http://stereologysociety.org/membership.html) and to take part in new activities organized by ISS, such as:Special Session „3D Image Analysis and Stereology in Fluorescence Microscopy“ at ISBI 2016 (in Prague, see http://biomedicalimaging.org/2016/?page_id=768).Round table discussion on „Stereology and 3D image analysis in microscopy“ to be held at the 16th European Microscopy Congress in Lyon (EMC 2016, see http://www.emc2016.fr/en/scientific-programme/special/stereology).It is my intention to involve young people and fresh ideas in the activities of ISS and in further improvement of IAS. Please contact me at lucie.kubinova@fgu.cas.cz Looking forward to our collaboration, Lucie KubínováPresident of IASDepartment of BiomathematicsInstitute of PhysiologyCzech Academy of SciencesPrague, Czech Republic
Modulation of anxiety and fear via distinct intrahippocampal circuits
Authors: Engin Elif , Smith Kiersten S , Gao Yudong , Nagy David , Foster Rachel A , Tsvetkov Evgeny , Keist Ruth , Crestani Florence , Fritschy Jean-Marc , Bolshakov Vadim Y , Hajos Mihaly , Heldt Scott A , Rudolph Uwe
Published: March 2016

Recent findings indicate a high level of specialization at the level of microcircuits and cell populations within brain structures with regards to the control of fear and anxiety. The hippocampus, however, has been treated as a unitary structure in anxiety and fear research despite mounting evidence that different hippocampal subregions have specialized roles in other cognitive domains. Using novel cell-type- and region-specific conditional knockouts of the GABAA receptor α2 subunit, we demonstrate that inhibition of the principal neurons of the dentate gyrus and CA3 via α2-containing GABAA receptors (α2GABAARs) is required to suppress anxiety, while the inhibition of CA1 pyramidal neurons is required to suppress fear responses. We further show that the diazepam-modulation of hippocampal theta activity shows certain parallels with our behavioral findings, suggesting a possible mechanism for the observed behavioral effects. Thus, our findings demonstrate a double dissociation in the regulation of anxiety versus fear by hippocampal microcircuitry.
Preparation and Characterization of Anadara Granosa Shells and CaCO3 as Heterogeneous Catalyst for Biodiesel Production
Authors: Hadiyanto Hadiyanto , Lestari Sri Puji , Widayat Widayat
Published: March 2016

Nowadays, the use of homogenous catalyst has been gradually reduced for its operational reason. The homogenous catalyst leads in difficulty of separation after the process completed and the life cycle is shorter. Therefore, most of researches are introducing heterogenous catalyst for its substitution. This research was aimed to evaluate the use of shell of Anadara granosa and CaCO3 as source of CaO based catalyst through impregnation method. The preparation of the catalyst was started by decomposition of shells and CaCO3 at temperature of 800 oC for 3 hours, followed by impregnation at 70 oC for 4 hours and then calcined at 800 oC for 2 hours. The CaCO3 based catalyst gained high yield of biodiesel (94%) as compared to Anadara granoasa based catalyst (92%). The reusability study showed that these catalysts could be used until three times recycle with 40-60% yield of biodiesel. The CaO contents of catalyst decreased up to 90% after three times recycles.
Kinetic Modeling of C3H6 Inhibition on NO Oxidation over Pt Catalyst
Authors: Azis Muhammad Mufti , Creaser Derek
Published: March 2016

Exhaust after treatment for lean burn and diesel engine is a complex catalytic system that consists of a number of catalytic units. Pt/Al2O3 is often used as a model Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) that plays an important role to facilitate oxidation of NO to NO2. In the present study, we proposed a detailed kinetic model of NO oxidation as well as low temperature C3H6 inhibition to simulate temperature-programmed reaction (TPR) data for NO oxidation over Pt/Al2O3. A steady-state microkinetic model based on Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism for NO oxidation was proposed. In addition, low temperature C3H6 inhibition was proposed as a result of site blocking as well as surface nitrite consumption. The model can explain the experimental data well over the studied temperature range.
Kinetics and Thermodynamics of Ultrasound-Assisted Depolymerization of κ-Carrageenan
Authors: Ratnawati Ratnawati , Prasetyaningrum Aji , Wardhani Dyah Hesti
Published: March 2016

The ultrasound-assisted depolymerization of κ-carrageenan has been studied at various temperatures and times. The κ-carrageenan with initial molecular weight of 545 kDa was dispersed in water to form a 5 g/L solution, which was then depolymerized in an ultrasound device at various temperatures and times. The viscosity of the solution was measured using Brookfield viscometer, which was then used to find the number-average molecular weight by Mark-Houwink equation. To obtain the kinetics of κ-carrageenan depolymerization, the number-average molecular weight data was treated using midpoint-chain scission kinetics model. The pre-exponential factor and activation energies for the reaction are 2.683×10-7 mol g-1 min-1 and 6.43 kJ mol-1, respectively. The limiting molecular weight varies from 160 kDa to 240 kDa, and it is linearly correlated to temperature. The results are compared to the result of thermal depolymerization by calculating the half life. It is revealed that ultrasound assisted depolymerization of κ-carrageenan is faster than thermal depolymerization at temperatures below 72.2°C. Compared to thermal depolymerization, the ultrasound-assisted process has lower values of Ea, ΔG‡, ΔH‡, and ΔS‡, which can be attributed to the ultrasonically induced breakage of non-covalent bonds in κ-carrageenan molecules.
Preliminary Testing of Hybrid Catalytic-Plasma Reactor for Biodiesel Production Using Modified-Carbon Catalyst
Authors: Buchori Luqman , Istadi Istadi , Purwanto Purwanto , Kurniawan Anggun , Maulana Teuku Irfan
Published: March 2016

Preliminary testing of hybrid catalytic-plasma reactor for biodiesel production through transesterification of soybean oil with methanol over modified-carbon catalyst was investigated. This research focused on synergetic roles of non-thermal plasma and catalysis in the transesterification process. The amount of modified-carbon catalyst with grain size of 1.75 mm was placed into fixed tubular reactor within discharge zone. The discharge zone of the hybrid catalytic-plasma reactor was defined in the volume area between high voltage and ground electrodes. Weight Hourly Space Velocity (WHSV) of 1.85 h-1 of reactant feed was studied at reaction temperature of 65 oC and at ambient pressure. The modified-carbon catalyst was prepared by impregnation of active carbon within H2SO4 solution followed by drying at 100 oC for overnight and calcining at 300 oC for 3 h. It was found that biodiesel yield obtained using the hybrid catalytic-plasma reactor was 92.39% and 73.91% when using active carbon and modified-carbon catalysts, respectively better than without plasma. Therefore, there were synergetic effects of non-thermal plasma and catalysis roles for driving the transesterification process.
Kinetic Study on the SO2 Adsorption using CuO/γ-Al2O3 Adsorbent
Authors: Bahrin David , Subagjo Subagjo , Susanto Herri
Published: March 2016

Adsorbent CuO/g-Al2O3 for adsorption of SO2 were prepared by impregnating Cu(NO3)2.3H2O solution. Five types of adsorbent were obtained 5Cu (intended Cu concentration of 5%, actual of 4.92%), 8Cu (7.68%), 15Cu(14.13%), 22Cu (20.80%) and 27Cu (25.80%). For activity test, model gas containing SO2 with a concentration of about 0.755 mol/m3 were passed through the bed of 1 gram adsorbent at a flow rate in the range of 1.4-1.8 mL/s. Adsorption of SO2 were carried out at a constant temperature of 300, 350, 400 or 450 °C. Increasing sulfur loadings (gram of sulfur per gram of adsorbent) were observed with increasing adsorption temperatures, but not with increasing Cu content in the adsorbent. Among those types, adsorbent of 8Cu was considered as the best with respect to the sulfur loading (3 g of sulfur per 100 g of adsorbent). Adsorbent 5Cu had actually a better sulfur loading, but it was suspected being contributed also by adsorption of SO2 on Al2O3. The shrinking core model was used in the kinetic study of adsorption using 8Cu and with additional assumption of a spherical particle. Compared to film diffusion and pore diffusion controlling step models, the reaction rate limitation was the best to fit the experimental data. The reaction rate constant for this model at temperatures of 300, 350, 400 and 450 °C were 0.022, 0.038, 0.042, and 0.059 kg.m.mol-1.min-1, respectively. The activation energy was 21.25 kJ.mol-1 and the frequency factor was 2.02 min-1.
Analysis of Chemical Reaction Kinetics Behavior of Nitrogen Oxide During Air-staged Combustion in Pulverized Boiler
Authors: Zhang Jun-Xia , Zhang Jiang Feng
Published: March 2016

Because the air-staged combustion technology is one of the key technologies with low investment running costs and high emission reduction efficiency for the pulverized boiler, it is important to reveal the chemical reaction kinetics mechanism for developing various technologies of nitrogen oxide reduction emissions. At the present work, a three-dimensional mesh model of the large-scale four corner tangentially fired boiler furnace is established with the GAMBIT pre-processing of the FLUENT software. The partial turbulent premixed and diffusion flame was simulated for the air-staged combustion processing. Parameters distributions for the air-staged and no the air-staged were obtained, including in-furnace flow field, temperature field and nitrogen oxide concentration field. The results show that the air-staged has more regular velocity field, higher velocity of flue gas, higher turbulence intensity and more uniform temperature of flue gas. In addition, a lower negative pressure zone and lower O2 concentration zone is formed in the main combustion zone, which is conducive to the NO of fuel type reduced to N2, enhanced the effect of NOx reduction.
Application of Al/B/Fe2O3 Nano Thermite in Composite Solid Propellant
Authors: Deng Jingke , Li Guoping , Shen Lianhua , Luo Yunjun
Published: March 2016

Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) propellant were prepared with different content of Al/B/Fe2O3 nano thermite, and the mechanical, thermal and energetic performances were studied. Al/B/Fe2O3 nano thermite exhibited good compatibility with HTPB and dioctyl sebacate (DOS) through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tests. Mechanical experiments show that the mechanical properties of HTPB propellant could be improved by the addition of a small quantity of Al/B/Fe2O3 nano thermite, compared with the absence of Al/B/Fe2O3 nano thermite. For example, with the addition of 3% Al/B/Fe2O3 nano thermite, the tensile strength and elongation of propellant had the increase of 15.3% and 32.1%, respectively. Thermal analysis indicated that the decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) in HTPB propellant could be catalyzed by Al/B/Fe2O3 nano thermite, the high-temperature exothermic peak of AP was shifted to lower temperature by 70.8 °C when the content of Al/B/Fe2O3 nano thermite was 5%, and the heat released was enhanced by 70%. At the same time, the heat of explosion of HTPB propellant could also be enhanced by the addition of Al/B/Fe2O3 nano thermite.
Preface, BCREC Vol. 11 No. 1 Year 2016
Authors: Istadi Istadi
Published: March 2016

DOI: 10.9767/bcrec.11.1.441.v-vii
Amines, Lower Aliphatic
Authors: Roose Peter , Turcotte Michael G.
Published: March 2016

Lower aliphatic amines are derivatives of ammonia with one, two, or all three of the hydrogen atoms replaced by alkyl groups of five carbons or less. Amines are toxic, colorless gases or liquids, highly flammable or combustible, and have strong odors. Lower molecular weight amines are water‐soluble and are sold as aqueous solutions and in pure form. Amines react with water and acids to form alkyl ammonium compounds analogous to ammonia. The lower aliphatic amines are widely used as intermediates in the manufacture of medicinal, agricultural, textile, rubber, and plastic chemicals.

Lower aliphatic amines can be prepared by a variety of methods using different types of raw materials. By far the largest commercial applications involve the reaction of alcohol with ammonia to form the corresponding amines. Because of the hazards and toxicity of alkylamines, protective clothing, and a suitable respirator should be used when handling alkylamines, and proper labeling of shipments is required.
A unified approach to inner magnetospheric state prediction
Authors: Bortnik J. , Li W. , Thorne R. M. , Angelopoulos V.
Published: March 2016

This brief technique paper presents a method of reconstructing the global, time‐varying distribution of some physical quantity Q that has been sparsely sampled at various locations within the magnetosphere and at different times. The quantity Q can be essentially any measurement taken on the satellite including a variety of waves (chorus, hiss, magnetosonic, and ion cyclotron), electrons of various energies ranging from cold to relativistic, and ions of various species and energies. As an illustrative example, we chose Q to be the electron number density (inferred from spacecraft potential) measured by three Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) probes between 2008 and 2014 and use the SYM‐H index, taken at a 5 min cadence for the 5 h preceding each observed data point as the main regressor, although the predictor can also be any suitable geomagnetic index or solar wind parameter. Results show that the equatorial electron number density can be accurately reconstructed throughout the whole of the inner magnetosphere as a function of space and time, even capturing the dynamics of elementary plasmaspheric plume formation and corotation, suggesting that the dynamics of various other physical quantities could be similarly captured. For our main model, we use a simple, fully connected feedforward neural network with two hidden layers having sigmoidal activation functions and an output layer with a linear activation function to perform the reconstruction. The training is performed using the Levenberg‐Marquardt algorithm and gives typical RMS errors of ~1.7 and regression of >0.93, which is considered excellent. We also present a discussion on the different applications and future extensions of the present model, for modeling various physical quantities.
Polar cap plasma patch primary linear instability growth rates compared
Authors: Burston Robert , Mitchell Cathryn , Astin Ivan
Published: March 2016

Four primary plasma instability processes have been proposed in the literature to explain the generation of phase scintillation associated with polar cap plasma patches. These are the gradient drift, current convective, and Kelvin‐Helmholtz instabilities and a small‐scale “turbulence” process. In this paper the range of possible values of the linear growth rates for each of these processes is explored using Dynamics Explorer 2 satellite observations. It is found that the inertial turbulence instability is the dominant process, followed by inertial gradient drift, collisional turbulence, and collisional shortwave current convective instabilities. The other processes, such as Kelvin‐Helmholtz, collisional gradient drift, and inertial shortwave current convective instabilities, very rarely (<1% of the time) give rise to a growth rate exceeding 1/60, that is deemed to be significant (in publications) to give rise to GPS scintillation.
Network of observations on the atmospheric electrical parameters during geomagnetic storm on 5 April 2010
Authors: Victor N. Jeni , Manu S. , Frank‐Kamenetsky A. V. , Panneerselvam C. , Anil Kumar C. P. , Elango P.
Published: March 2016

The effects of a geomagnetic storm on the variation of the atmospheric electric field over Maitri (70°45′S, 11°44′E), Dome C (75°06′S, 123°20′E), and Vostok (78°27′S, 106°52′E) Antarctic research stations are presented in this paper. For the first time, the paper reports the simultaneous observations of the atmospheric electric field/potential gradient (PG) over the three high‐latitude stations at the Southern Hemisphere, and its associated changes due to a substorm phenomenon. PG data obtained from these three stations under fair‐weather conditions on 5 April 2010 are analyzed. The duration of geomagnetic disturbance is classified into three intervals, which contains three consecutive substorms based on the magnetic records of the Maitri station. The substorm is directly related to an enhancement of the magnetospheric convective electric field at high latitude, generally controlled by the solar wind parameters. It is found that the variation in the amplitude of PG depends on the magnetic latitude during substorm onset. During the substorm expansion phase, when the convection cell is at overhead, PG is significantly enhanced due to the downward mapping of the ionospheric horizontal electric field. The present observation demonstrated the changes on PG due to the spatial extension of the convection cell from high latitudes up to middle latitudes.
Charge states of energetic oxygen and sulfur ions in Jupiter's magnetosphere
Authors: Clark G. , Mauk B. H. , Paranicas C. , Kollmann P. , Smith H. T.
Published: March 2016

Pitch angle distributions of proton and energetic heavy ion fluxes near Europa's orbit have been measured by the Galileo Energetic Particles Detector (EPD). At similar energies, these distributions have important differences. If their source and transport processes are similar, as we hypothesize here, then it is difficult to reconcile their different pitch angle distributions. By looking at the same question, other researchers have proposed that the heavies are multiply charged, leading to differences in how the particles are lost. This could not be confirmed directly with EPD because that detector does not separate heavy ion measurements by charge state. However, indirect analyses of the data have extracted the charge state of a few sulfur events. We present here a complete list of ion injections observed with EPD over the whole mission. Energetic sulfur and oxygen charge states can be inferred through a dispersion analysis of dynamic injections that makes use of the charge‐dependent nature of the gradient‐curvature azimuthal drift. We find that sulfur is predominantly multiply charged, whereas oxygen is more evenly distributed between singly and doubly charged states. In addition to current theories on energetic heavy ion transport near the Europa region, we propose that charge gain for the oxygen ions (electron stripping) may play an important role in the character of energetic particles in that region.