bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus in the western region of Nepal
Authors: Shrestha Umid Kumar , Bhatta Bhup Dev
Published: March 2017

Background and aims: The hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are associated with major public health concerns. The aim of the study was to determine the seroprevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV in the western region of Nepal.Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study, in which 15,791 patients, attending to Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal, were investigated for HBV, HCV and HIV from June 2013 to March 2016; demographic and biochemical profile were studied among the patients with positive test results.Results: Among 15,791 patients [male 6614 (41.9%) and female 9177 (58.1%)], HBV was found in 180 (1.1%), HCV in 52 (0.3%) and HIV in 77 (0.5%). The HBV was found in 63.9% of males and 36.1% of females, HCV in 67.3% of males and 32.7% of females, and HIV in 61% of males and 39% of females which showed that males had more positivity of HBV (P<0.001), HCV (P<0.001) and HIV (P 0.001) than that of female. The HBV was found more in 20-29 years age group (27.2%), HCV in 30-39 years (32.7%), and HIV in 40-49 years (28.6%), with all having p<0.001. Among the patients of HBV, HCV and HIV, the mean values of total bilirubin were 1.4 mg/dl, 0.8 mg/dl and 2.6 mg/dl, Aspartate Transaminase 75.9 U/L, 54.3 U/L and 92.7 U/L, Alanine Transaminase 54.6 U/L, 55.5 U/L and 56.1 U/L, and Alkaline Phosphatase 124.2 U/L, 109.2 U/L and 107.2 U/L, respectively. The majority of patients with HCV had a history of intravenous drug abuse and HIV had concomitant alcoholic liver disease.Conclusion: The HBV was more prevalent followed by HIV and HCV in the western region of Nepal with more prevalence seen in males than in females. Regular screening of HBV, HCV and HIV among the selected patients can help detecting many new cases in Nepal.Journal of Advances in Internal Medicine 2016;05(01):6-10
Theorizing E-Commerce Business Models: On the Impact of Partially and Fully Supported Transaction Phases on Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty
Authors: Madlberger Maria , Matook Sabine
Published: March 2017

Although considerable research has been conducted on the definition and classification of e-commerce business models, little research has integrated the support and impact of distinct transaction phases within e-commerce business models. Indeed, any channel design decisions depend on the arrangement of the three transaction phases, viz. information phase, agreement phase and fulfilment phase. Whereas in literature, a complete support of transaction phases is implicitly assumed, in practice, e-commerce firms exist that consciously do not support all three transaction phases through the online channel. In cases for which only certain phases are supported in one channel, the customer is required to switch to another channel to complete the transaction. To gain an initial understanding of the relevance of transaction phases, we examine the influence of transaction phase support in one channel on satisfaction and reuse intention of an e-commerce website under consideration of users’ prior experiences. We conduct a laboratory experiment involving two e-commerce business models that differ only in the number of supported transaction phases via the online channel. Empirical data was analysed using a Bayesian network approach. Our analysis indicates the types of users who value partial support compared to those users who prefer full support of transaction phases. The results will assist firms in meeting future challenges regarding user engagement and attraction to their online stores.
Investigating Electric Bicycles as a Travel Mode Choice for Escorting Children to School: A Case Study in Kunming, China
Authors: Liu Yang , Ji Yanjie , Liu Qiyang , He Min , Ma Xinwei
Published: March 2017

To encourage low-carbon travel, reduce car trips, and improve the urban traffic system, an understanding of travel mode choice for escorting children to and from school is important. Previous studies have focused mostly on walking and bicycling. However, the electric bicycle (e-bike—a mainstream escorting mode in China) rarely has been investigated. The factors that affect travel mode choice (walking, e-bike, or car) for escorting children to and from school are explored at the household level in a case study from Kunming, China. Intrahousehold interactions and parental space–time constraints are represented by the comparative working hours of the parents and space–time coordination in joint parent–child trips, respectively. A multinomial logit model was applied in mode analysis. The results reveal interesting phenomena in travel mode choices for escorting children to school. When the mother’s working hours are longer than the father’s, the travel mode choice for escorting a child to and from school is less likely to be walking or e-bike; in other words, a car is the preferred choice in mother-dominated households. The distance deviation between parents and children is a significant factor in choosing between a car or an e-bike. Children are more likely to be escorted by e-bikes as a result of distance deviations, and walking or e-bike is less likely to be chosen when the school is far from home. Results could be valuable for traffic demand management to reduce car use for trips to and from school. In addition, e-bike development should be considered seriously for the future development of China.
Priority Areas of Intervention for Improving Urban Bus Services: Experience in Kolkata, India
Authors: Cheranchery Munavar Fairooz , Maitra Bhargab
Published: March 2017

Priority areas of intervention for the improvement of urban bus services were investigated and identified in the city of Kolkata, India. A paper-based survey was conducted to collect responses from choice riders (who own a car and predominantly travel by car or taxi) and captive riders (who do not own a car and predominantly travel by bus). The choice riders and captive riders identified air-conditioned (AC) and non-air-conditioned bus services, respectively, as two areas for intervention. Revised importance–performance analysis and fuzzy C-means clustering algorithm were used to analyze responses. Trip attributes were classified under three satisfaction factors (basic, performance, and excitement), and various management schemes were identified for AC and non-AC bus services. The areas of intervention were identified by analyzing the factor structures of travelers and the management schemes for the bus services derived from the perceptions of the travelers. Results indicated that choice riders and captive riders had distinct travel requirements and that their priority areas of intervention for improving AC and non-AC services also were different. With the requirements of choice riders and captive riders, these results offer direction for improving bus service in Kolkata. The methodology also could be used to formulate policies and measures for service improvement in other contexts.
Accessibility, Affordability, and Addressing Informal Services in Bus Reform: Lessons from Bogotá, Colombia
Authors: Rodriguez Camila , Peralta-Quirós Tatiana , Guzman Luis A. , Cárdenas Reyes Sebastian A.
Published: March 2017

Many cities in the developing world are reforming transit by formalizing bus services to capture user and nonuser benefits. A forerunner in transit reform, the city of Bogotá, Colombia, first implemented the TransMilenio bus rapid transit (BRT) system and then more recently undertook a large-scale initiative to formalize and regulate traditional urban buses in the city. This integrated public transport system [Sistema Integrado de Transporte Público (SITP)] is transforming Bogotá’s traditional urban bus system into a regulated, concessionary system with restructured bus routes that integrates operations, fares, and infrastructure with the TransMilenio BRT. An investigation was conducted to determine whether the SITP has increased affordability and employment accessibility for public transit users in Bogotá. Results revealed that most accessibility improvements resulted from the recent expansion (and significantly higher speeds) of TransMilenio rather than the SITP. Results of an analysis conducted with budget constraints to determine affordable accessibility indicated that employment accessibility was reduced overall; however, the new integrated fare increased accessibility over traditional buses, especially on the periphery and in southern areas of the city, as a result of reduced transfer costs. Overall, results partly explain the lack of enthusiasm for the bus reform process on the part of public transit users and the political discomfort that becomes apparent when embarking on this process in developing-world cities. Also, more incremental, flexible reform might be crafted for public transportation systems that are dominated by informal services.
Development and Validation of Highway Emergency Lane Illegal Occupancy Scale for Chinese Drivers
Authors: Feng Zhongxiang , Zhan Jingjing , Liu Jing , Zhang Weihua , Zhou Muxiong , Wang Kun
Published: March 2017

Illegal behavior such as casually parking or traveling in the highway emergency lane have negative effects on public traffic safety. The Highway Emergency Lane Illegal Occupancy Scale was developed for Chinese drivers, and psychometric properties and influencing factors were assessed. Three hundred drivers submitted questionnaires; after incomplete questionnaires were excluded, 239 complete questionnaires remained for study. Exploratory factor analysis was used to determine the factor structure, which showed that all factors were internally reliable. Demographic variables were found to have significant negative correlations with occupancy behaviors. Additional analysis indicated that drivers between 41 and 55 years old or with more than 10 years of driving experience had significantly fewer total points than drivers in other age groups, indicating that they were less inclined to occupy the highway emergency lane. Drivers with a postgraduate education or higher were especially aware of the traffic rules to be obeyed to ensure safety. A significant positive correlation was found between traffic violation variables and occupancy behaviors. The average score of legal consciousness was highest among all factors, indicating that Chinese drivers lack an understanding of traffic laws and regulations. Insufficient institutions, indifferent management, and poor education compound this illegal occupancy phenomenon in the highway emergency lane.
Taxi Booking Mobile App Order Demand Prediction Based on Short-Term Traffic Forecasting
Authors: Li Yunxuan , Lu Jian , Zhang Lin , Zhao Yi
Published: March 2017

The Didi Dache app is China’s biggest taxi booking mobile app and is popular in cities. Unsurprisingly, short-term traffic demand forecasting is critical to enabling Didi Dache to maximize use by drivers and ensure that riders can always find a car whenever and wherever they may need a ride. In this paper, a short-term traffic demand forecasting model, Wave SVM, is proposed. It combines the complementary advantages of Daubechies5 wavelets analysis and least squares support vector machine (LS-SVM) models while it overcomes their respective shortcomings. This method includes four stages: in the first stage, original data are preprocessed; in the second stage, these data are decomposed into high-frequency and low-frequency series by wavelet; in the third stage, the prediction stage, the LS-SVM method is applied to train and predict the corresponding high-frequency and low-frequency series; in the last stage, the diverse predicted sequences are reconstructed by wavelet. The real taxi-hailing orders data are applied to evaluate the model’s performance and practicality, and the results are encouraging. The Wave SVM model, compared with the prediction error of state-of-the-art models, not only has the best prediction performance but also appears to be the most capable of capturing the nonstationary characteristics of the short-term traffic dynamic systems.
Study on Pedestrian Risk Exposure at Unsignalized Intersection in a Country with Extreme Vehicle Heterogeneity and Poor Lane Discipline
Authors: Dutta Bhupali , Vasudevan Vinod
Published: March 2017

The pedestrian is an integral element in the urban road infrastructure. Extreme vehicle heterogeneity, poor lane discipline, lack of adequate infrastructure, and road users’ poor understanding of the right-of-way and yielding make Indian roads extremely dangerous for pedestrians, especially at intersections. Since motorists, in general, do not yield to pedestrians at unsignalized intersections, pedestrians are forced to wait. When the waiting time exceeds a particular threshold, a pedestrian may attempt an unsafe crossing by accepting rolling gaps. The motivation behind this research paper was to understand the effect of waiting time on pedestrian rolling gap acceptance behavior at unsignalized intersections in India under heterogeneous traffic. This paper presents a study on pedestrian crossing behavior at unsignalized intersections in an urban traffic environment that used the survival analysis approach. The field data were collected from six sites in the city of Kanpur, India. The results show that rolling gap acceptance behavior is affected by various factors, such as pedestrian demographic characteristics, approaching vehicle features, and pedestrian group composition. Male pedestrians behave more aggressively and undertake unsafe street crossings. When pedestrians are part of a group, they do not accept rolling gaps easily. One interesting finding of the study is that when the approaching vehicle type is a two-wheeler or when vehicles are not in a platoon, the probability of accepting a rolling gap decreases.
Modeling Pedestrian Level of Service at Signalized Intersection Under Mixed Traffic Conditions
Authors: Marisamynathan S. , Vedagiri P.
Published: March 2017

Developing countries such as India need to have the proper pedestrian level of service (PLOS) criteria for various facilities to help in planning, designing, and maintaining pedestrian facilities. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop a suitable method for estimating the PLOS model under mixed traffic conditions and also to define threshold values for PLOS classification at signalized intersections. First, the data were collected with video and a user perceptions survey at eight selected signalized intersections in Mumbai, India. Second, pedestrian crossing behaviors were modeled according to arrival pattern, crossing speed, noncompliance behavior, and pedestrian–vehicular interaction. Third, a pedestrian delay model was proposed by considering crossing behavior variations and subsequent validation with field data. Fourth, significant variables were identified on the basis of the Pearson’s correlation test with user’s perceptions score. Fifth, the conventional linear regression (CLR) technique was explored to determine the PLOS. To overcome the limitations of the CLR technique, fuzzy linear regression (FLR) was done to develop a PLOS model that fits mixed traffic conditions in India. Two models were validated, and their statistical performance results indicate that the FLR model predicts the PLOS score more precisely. Finally, k-means and fuzzy C-means (FCM) clustering techniques were applied to classify the PLOS score, and the results were compared by time complexity value and field values. The performance evaluation results indicate that the k-means method saves time but fails to produce more reliable threshold values, and the FCM method produces more accurate and efficient threshold values for the PLOS score at signalized intersections under mixed traffic conditions.
Analysis of Pedestrian Movement on Delhi Roads by Using Naturalistic Observation Techniques
Authors: Jha Abhaya , Tiwari Geetam , Mohan Dinesh , Mukherjee Sudipto , Banerjee Subhashish
Published: March 2017

Pedestrian fatalities constitute about 30% of the deaths caused by road traffic crashes in India. The proportion of pedestrian fatalities in large cities (Delhi, Mumbai, etc.) varies from 50% to 60% and is about 20% to 30% on national and state highways. Pedestrians are present on all road categories in urban as well as rural areas. At least 20% to 40% of work trips are taken as pedestrian trips in most Indian cities. However, on pedestrian facilities such as footpaths, safe crossing facilities are not present in most Indian cities. Even when present, their poor maintenance and poor construction quality make them unusable. As a result, pedestrians are forced to share the road space with motorized vehicles and to cross the roads where there is no safe pedestrian crossing. This paper attempts to study pedestrian behavior—walking along the road and crossing the road—by detecting pedestrians with the use of a vehicle-mounted camera. The vehicle is driven on various categories of roads at different times. The data collected with this method are varied temporally as well as spatially. A smartphone–based GPS logging app was used to collect telemetry data, which were synced with the camera feed. The objective of this study was to understand pedestrian behavior—walking on the road versus a footpath in the presence of various road features, such as the number of lanes, presence of medians, and presence of footpaths. The influence of the presence of public transport stops, junctions, foot bridges, and grade-separated junctions (flyover) on pedestrian crossing behavior was studied.
Acoustic Emission and Modal Frequency Variation in Concrete Specimens under Four-Point Bending
Authors: Lacidogna Giuseppe , Piana Gianfranco , Carpinteri Alberto
Published: March 2017

The Acoustic Emission (AE) and Dynamic Identification (DI) techniques were applied simultaneously, in an original way, to examine the stress dependent damage progress in pre-notched concrete beams tested in four-point bending. The damage mechanisms were characterized by analyzing the AE signals registered during the tests, conducted by increasing the specimen’s vertical deflection. In particular, the dominant fracture mode was identified, and correlations between dissipated and emitted energies were investigated. Moreover, variations in the natural bending frequencies, produced by the crack advancement under loading, were detected and put in relation with the cumulated AE energy. Two different types of piezoelectric (PZT) sensors, operating in well distinct frequency ranges, were used to measure AE and modal signals. This study may be of interest with an outlook on possible correlations between a multi-parameter structural monitoring and the solution of inverse problems by numerical models.
Coenzyme-A-Independent Transacylation System; Possible Involvement of Phospholipase A2 in Transacylation
Authors: Yamashita Atsushi , Hayashi Yasuhiro , Matsumoto Naoki , Nemoto-Sasaki Yoko , Koizumi Takanori , Inagaki Yusuke , Oka Saori , Tanikawa Takashi , Sugiura Takayuki
Published: March 2017

The coenzyme A (CoA)-independent transacylation system catalyzes fatty acid transfer from phospholipids to lysophospholipids in the absence of cofactors such as CoA. It prefers to use C20 and C22 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as arachidonic acid, which are esterified in the glycerophospholipid at the sn-2 position. This system can also acylate alkyl ether-linked lysophospholipids, is involved in the enrichment of arachidonic acid in alkyl ether-linked glycerophospholipids, and is critical for the metabolism of eicosanoids and platelet-activating factor. Despite their importance, the enzymes responsible for these reactions have yet to be identified. In this review, we describe the features of the Ca2+-independent, membrane-bound CoA-independent transacylation system and its selectivity for arachidonic acid. We also speculate on the involvement of phospholipase A2 in the CoA-independent transacylation reaction.
The Enzymology of 2-Hydroxyglutarate, 2-Hydroxyglutaramate and 2-Hydroxysuccinamate and Their Relationship to Oncometabolites
Authors: Hariharan Vivek , Denton Travis , Paraszcszak Sarah , McEvoy Kyle , Jeitner Thomas , Krasnikov Boris , Cooper Arthur
Published: March 2017

Many enzymes make “mistakes”. Consequently, repair enzymes have evolved to correct these mistakes. For example, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase (mMDH) slowly catalyze the reduction of 2-oxoglutarate (2-OG) to the oncometabolite l-2-hydroxyglutarate (l-2-HG). l-2-HG dehydrogenase corrects this error by converting l-2-HG to 2-OG. LDH also catalyzes the reduction of the oxo group of 2-oxoglutaramate (2-OGM; transamination product of l-glutamine). We show here that human glutamine synthetase (GS) catalyzes the amidation of the terminal carboxyl of both the l- and d- isomers of 2-HG. The reaction of 2-OGM with LDH and the reaction of l-2-HG with GS generate l-2-hydroxyglutaramate (l-2-HGM). We also show that l-2-HGM is a substrate of human ω-amidase. The product (l-2-HG) can then be converted to 2-OG by l-2-HG dehydrogenase. Previous work showed that 2-oxosuccinamate (2-OSM; transamination product of l-asparagine) is an excellent substrate of LDH. Finally, we also show that human ω-amidase converts the product of this reaction (i.e., l-2-hydroxysuccinamate; l-2-HSM) to l-malate. Thus, ω-amidase may act together with hydroxyglutarate dehydrogenases to repair certain “mistakes” of GS and LDH. The present findings suggest that non-productive pathways for nitrogen metabolism occur in mammalian tissues in vivo. Perturbations of these pathways may contribute to symptoms associated with hydroxyglutaric acidurias and to tumor progression. Finally, methods for the synthesis of l-2-HGM and l-2-HSM are described that should be useful in determining the roles of ω-amidase/4- and 5-C compounds in photorespiration in plants.
Towards Trustworthy Collaborative Editing
Authors: Babi Mamdouh , Zhao Wenbing
Published: March 2017

Real-time collaborative editing applications are drastically different from typical client–server applications in that every participant has a copy of the shared document. In this type of environment, each participant acts as both a client and a server replica. In this article, we elaborate on how to adapt Byzantine fault tolerance (BFT) mechanisms to enhance the trustworthiness of such applications. It is apparent that traditional BFT algorithms cannot be used directly because it would dictate that all updates submitted by participants be applied sequentially, which would defeat the purpose of collaborative editing. The goal of this study is to design and implement an efficient BFT solution by exploiting the application semantics and by doing a threat analysis of these types of applications. Our solution can be considered as a form of optimistic BFT in that local states maintained by each participant may diverge temporarily. The states of the participants are made consistent with each other by a periodic synchronization mechanism.
Epitaxial Defects in Nanoscale InP Fin Structures Revealed by Wet-Chemical Etching
Authors: Dorp Dennis van , Mannarino Manuel , Arnauts Sophia , Bender Hugo , Merckling Clement , Moussa Alain , Vandervorst Wilfried , Schulze Andreas
Published: March 2017

In this work, we report on wet-chemical defect revealing in InP fin structures relevant for device manufacturing. Both HCl and HBr solutions were explored using bulk InP as a reference. A distinct difference in pit morphology was observed between the two acids, attributed to an anisotropy in step edge reactivity. The morphology of the etch pits in bulk InP suggests that the dislocations are oriented mainly perpendicular to the surface. By studying the influence of the acid concentration on the InP fin recess in nanoscale trenches, it was found that aqueous HCl solution was most suitable for revealing defects. Planar defects in InP fin structures grown by the aspect ratio trapping technique could be visualized as characteristic shallow grooves approximately one nanometer deep. It is challenging to reveal defects in wide-field InP fins. In these structures, dislocations also reach the surface next to stack faults or twinning planes. Due to the inclined nature, dislocation-related pits are only a few atomic layers deep. Extending the pits is limited by the high reactivity of the fin sides and the strong surface roughening during etching. The process window for revealing wet-chemical defects in InP fins is limited.
Multiscale Cross-Approximate Entropy Analysis of Bilateral Fingertips Photoplethysmographic Pulse Amplitudes among Middle-to-Old Aged Individuals with or without Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Wu Hsien-Tsai , Yang Cheng-Chan , Lin Gen-Min , Haryadi Bagus , Chu Shiao-Chiang , Yang Chieh-Ming , Sun Cheuk-Kwan
Published: March 2017

Multiscale cross-approximate entropy (MC-ApEn) between two different physiological signals could evaluate cardiovascular health in diabetes. Whether MC-ApEn analysis between two similar signals such as photoplethysmographic (PPG) pulse amplitudes of bilateral fingertips can reflect diabetes status is unknown. From a middle-to-old-aged population free of prior cardiovascular disease, we selected the unaffected (no type 2 diabetes, n = 36), the well-controlled diabetes (glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) < 8%, n = 30), and the poorly- controlled diabetes (HbA1c ≥ 8%, n = 26) groups. MC-ApEn indexes were calculated from simultaneous consecutive 1500 PPG pulse amplitudes signals of bilateral index fingertips. The average of scale factors 1–5 (MC-ApEnSS) and of scale factors 6–10 (MC-ApEnLS) were defined as the small- and large-scales MC-ApEn, respectively. The MC-ApEnLS index was highest in the unaffected, followed by the well-controlled diabetes, and then the poorly-controlled diabetes (0.70, 0.62, and 0.53; all paired p-values were <0.05); in contrast, the MC-ApEnSS index did not differ between groups. Our findings suggested that the bilateral fingertips large-scale MC-ApEnLS index of PPG pulse amplitudes might be able to evaluate the glycemic status and detect subtle vascular disease in type 2 diabetes.
Characteristic Variations and Similarities in Biochemical, Molecular, and Functional Properties of Glyoxalases across Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
Authors: Kaur Charanpreet , Sharma Shweta , Hasan Mohammad , Pareek Ashwani , Singla-Pareek Sneh , Sopory Sudhir
Published: March 2017

The glyoxalase system is the ubiquitous pathway for the detoxification of methylglyoxal (MG) in the biological systems. It comprises two enzymes, glyoxalase I (GLYI) and glyoxalase II (GLYII), which act sequentially to convert MG into d-lactate, thereby helping living systems get rid of this otherwise cytotoxic byproduct of metabolism. In addition, a glutathione-independent GLYIII enzyme activity also exists in the biological systems that can directly convert MG to d-lactate. Humans and Escherichia coli possess a single copy of GLYI (encoding either the Ni- or Zn-dependent form) and GLYII genes, which through MG detoxification provide protection against various pathological and disease conditions. By contrast, the plant genome possesses multiple GLYI and GLYII genes with a role in abiotic stress tolerance. Plants possess both Ni2+- and Zn2+-dependent forms of GLYI, and studies on plant glyoxalases reveal the various unique features of these enzymes distinguishing them from prokaryotic and other eukaryotic glyoxalases. Through this review, we provide an overview of the plant glyoxalase family along with a comparative analysis of glyoxalases across various species, highlighting similarities as well as differences in the biochemical, molecular, and physiological properties of these enzymes. We believe that the evolution of multiple glyoxalases isoforms in plants is an important component of their robust defense strategies.
Oxidative Stress-Induced Afterdepolarizations and Protein Kinase C Signaling
Authors: Fei Yu-Dong , Li Wei , Hou Jian-Wen , Guo Kai , Chen Xiao-Meng , Chen Yi-He , Wang Qian , Xu Xiao-Lei , Wang Yue-Peng , Li Yi-Gang
Published: March 2017

Background: Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress has been demonstrated to induce afterdepolarizations and triggered activities in isolated myocytes, but the underlying mechanisms remain not fully understood. We aimed to explore whether protein kinase C (PKC) activation plays an important role in oxidative stress-induced afterdepolarizations. Methods: Action potentials and ion currents of isolated rabbit cardiomyocytes were recorded using the patch clamp technique. H2O2 (1 mM) was perfused to induce oxidative stress and the specific classical PKC inhibitor, Gö 6983 (1 μM), was applied to test the involvement of PKC. Results: H2O2 perfusion prolonged the action potential duration and induced afterdepolarizations. Pretreatment with Gö 6983 prevented the emergence of H2O2-induced afterdepolarizations. Additional application of Gö 6983 with H2O2 effectively suppressed H2O2-induced afterdepolarizations. H2O2 increased the late sodium current (INa,L) (n = 7, p < 0.01) and the L-type calcium current (ICa,L) (n = 5, p < 0.01), which were significantly reversed by Gö 6983 (p < 0.01). H2O2 also increased the transient outward potassium current (Ito) (n = 6, p < 0.05). However, Gö 6983 showed little effect on H2O2-induced enhancement of Ito. Conclusions: H2O2 induced afterdepolarizations via the activation of PKC and the enhancement of ICa,L and INa,L. These results provide evidence of a link between oxidative stress, PKC activation and afterdepolarizations.
Effect of the Biofilm Age and Starvation on Acid Tolerance of Biofilm Formed by Streptococcus mutans Isolated from Caries-Active and Caries-Free Adults
Authors: Jiang Shan , Chen Shuai , Zhang Chengfei , Zhao Xingfu , Huang Xiaojing , Cai Zhiyu
Published: March 2017

Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is considered a leading cause of dental caries. The capability of S. mutans to tolerate low pH is essential for its cariogenicity. Aciduricity of S. mutans is linked to its adaptation to environmental stress in oral cavity. This study aimed to investigate the effect of biofilm age and starvation condition on acid tolerance of biofilm formed by S. mutans clinical isolates. S. mutans clinical strains isolated from caries-active (SM593) and caries-free (SM18) adults and a reference strain (ATCC25175) were used for biofilm formation. (1) Both young and mature biofilms were formed and then exposed to pH 3.0 for 30 min with (acid-adapted group) or without (non-adapted group) pre-exposure to pH 5.5 for three hours. (2) The mature biofilms were cultured with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (starved group) or TPY (polypeptone-yeast extract) medium (non-starved group) at pH 7.0 for 24 h and then immersed in medium of pH 3.0 for 30 min. Biofilms were analyzed through viability staining and confocal laser scanning microscopy. In all three strains, mature, acid-adapted and starved biofilms showed significantly less destructive structure and more viable bacteria after acid shock than young, non-adapted and non-starved biofilms, respectively (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, in each condition, SM593 biofilm was denser, with a significantly larger number of viable bacteria than that of SM18 and ATCC25175 (all p < 0.05). Findings demonstrated that mature, acid-adapted and starvation might protect biofilms of all three S. mutans strains against acid shock. Additionally, SM593 exhibited greater aciduricity compared to SM18 and ATCC25175, which indicated that the colonization of high cariogenicity of clinical strains may lead to high caries risk in individuals.
Triphenylphosphine-(N,N-dimethyldithiocarbamato)-gold(I) Methanol Solvate
Authors: Bélanger-Desmarais Nicolas , Reber Christian
Published: March 2017

Abstract: A gold(I) complex with a triphenylphosphine and a monodentate N,N-dimethyldithiocarbamate ligand was synthesized and characterized by Raman spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction. DFT calculations (Gaussian 09, PBE1PBE/Lanl2dz) were undertaken for a single complex in the gas phase. The DFT-optimized structure and calculated Raman spectrum are in good agreement with the crystal structure and the experimental spectrum. Assignments of the Raman peaks are based on these DFT calculations. Frontier molecular orbitals were calculated and their nature is discussed.
Effects of Heat-Treated Wood Particles on the Physico-Mechanical Properties and Extended Creep Behavior of Wood/Recycled-HDPE Composites Using the Time–Temperature Superposition Principle
Authors: Yang Teng-Chun , Chien Yi-Chi , Wu Tung-Lin , Hung Ke-Chang , Wu Jyh-Horng
Published: March 2017

This study investigated the effectiveness of heat-treated wood particles for improving the physico-mechanical properties and creep performance of wood/recycled-HDPE composites. The results reveal that the composites with heat-treated wood particles had significantly decreased moisture content, water absorption, and thickness swelling, while no improvements of the flexural properties or the wood screw holding strength were observed, except for the internal bond strength. Additionally, creep tests were conducted at a series of elevated temperatures using the time–temperature superposition principle (TTSP), and the TTSP-predicted creep compliance curves fit well with the experimental data. The creep resistance values of composites with heat-treated wood particles were greater than those having untreated wood particles due to the hydrophobic character of the treated wood particles and improved interfacial compatibility between the wood particles and polymer matrix. At a reference temperature of 20 °C, the improvement of creep resistance (ICR) of composites with heat-treated wood particles reached approximately 30% over a 30-year period, and it increased significantly with increasing reference temperature.
Toughening Mechanisms in Nanolayered MAX Phase Ceramics—A Review
Authors: Chen Xinhua , Bei Guoping
Published: March 2017

Advanced engineering and functional ceramics are sensitive to damage cracks, which delay the wide applications of these materials in various fields. Ceramic composites with enhanced fracture toughness may trigger a paradigm for design and application of the brittle components. This paper reviews the toughening mechanisms for the nanolayered MAX phase ceramics. The main toughening mechanisms for these ternary compounds were controlled by particle toughening, phase-transformation toughening and fiber-reinforced toughening, as well as texture toughening. Based on the various toughening mechanisms in MAX phase, models of SiC particles and fibers toughening Ti3SiC2 are established to predict and explain the toughening mechanisms. The modeling work provides insights and guidance to fabricate MAX phase-related composites with optimized microstructures in order to achieve the desired mechanical properties required for harsh application environments.
Marine Collagen Peptides from the Skin of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Characterization and Wound Healing Evaluation
Authors: Hu Zhang , Yang Ping , Zhou Chunxia , Li Sidong , Hong Pengzhi
Published: March 2017

Burns can cause tremendous economic problems associated with irreparable harm to patients and their families. To characterize marine collagen peptides (MCPs) from the skin of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), molecular weight distribution and amino acid composition of MCPs were determined, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to analyze the chemical structure. Meanwhile, to evaluate the wound healing activity, in vitro and in vivo experiments were carried out. The results showed that MCPs prepared from the skin of Nile tilapia by composite enzymatic hydrolysis were composed of polypeptides with different molecular weights and the contents of polypeptides with molecular weights of less than 5 kDa accounted for 99.14%. From the amino acid composition, the majority of residues, accounting for over 58% of the total residues in MCPs, were hydrophilic. FTIR indicated that the main molecular conformations inside MCPs were random coil. In vitro scratch assay showed that there were significant effects on the scratch closure by the treatment of MCPs with the concentration of 50.0 μg/mL. In the experiments of deep partial-thickness scald wound in rabbits, MCPs could enhance the process of wound healing. Therefore, MCPs from the skin of Nile tilapia (O. niloticus) have promising applications in wound care.
From Marine Venoms to Drugs: Efficiently Supported by a Combination of Transcriptomics and Proteomics
Authors: Xie Bing , Huang Yu , Baumann Kate , Fry Bryan , Shi Qiong
Published: March 2017

The potential of marine natural products to become new drugs is vast; however, research is still in its infancy. The chemical and biological diversity of marine toxins is immeasurable and as such an extraordinary resource for the discovery of new drugs. With the rapid development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), it has been much easier and faster to identify more toxins and predict their functions with bioinformatics pipelines, which pave the way for novel drug developments. Here we provide an overview of related bioinformatics pipelines that have been supported by a combination of transcriptomics and proteomics for identification and function prediction of novel marine toxins.
Study of the Effect of Sodium Sulfide as a Selective Depressor in the Separation of Chalcopyrite and Molybdenite
Authors: Peng Huiqing , Wu Di , Abdalla Mohamed , Luo Wen , Jiao Wenya , Bie Xuexiang
Published: March 2017

Two kinds of collectors, sodium butyl xanthate and kerosene, and a depressor, sodium sulfide, were used in this research. The study applied flotation tests, pulp potential measurements, contact angle measurements, adsorption calculations, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses to demonstrate the correlation between reagents and minerals. For xanthate collectors, the best flotation responses of chalcopyrite and molybdenite were obtained at pH = 8, and, for kerosene, these were obtained at pH = 4. The flotation of molybdenite seemed to be less influenced by xanthate than by kerosene, while that of chalcopyrite showed the opposite. The optimum concentration of sodium sulfide for separation was 0.03 mol/L, which rejected 83% chalcopyrite and recovered 82% molybdenite in the single mineral flotation. Pulp potential measurements revealed that the dixanthogen and xanthate were decomposed and desorbed, respectively, from the mineral surface in a reducing environment. The contact angle measurement and adsorption calculation conformed to the flotation response, indicating that few functions of the xanthate and sodium sulfide on the molybdenite flotation were due to their low adsorption densities. The FTIR results further clarified that the xanthate ion was adsorbed on chalcopyrite by forming cuprous xanthate and dixanthogen; however, on molybdenite the adsorption product was only dixanthogen. After conditioning with sodium sulfide, the chalcopyrite surface became clean, but the molybdenite surface still retained slight peaks of dixanthogen. Meanwhile, the possible mechanism was expounded in this research.
The Role of Molecular Modeling in TiO2 Photocatalysis
Authors: Cinar Zekiye
Published: March 2017

Molecular Modeling methods play a very important role in TiO2 photocatalysis. Recent advances in TiO2 photocatalysis have produced a number of interesting surface phenomena, reaction products, and various novel visible light active photocatalysts with improved properties. Quantum mechanical calculations appear promising as a means of describing the mechanisms and the product distributions of the photocatalytic degradation reactions of organic pollutants in both gas and aqueous phases. Since quantum mechanical methods utilize the principles of particle physics, their use may be extended to the design of new photocatalysts. This review introduces molecular modeling methods briefly and emphasizes the use of these methods in TiO2 photocatalysis. The methods used for obtaining information about the degradabilities of the pollutant molecules, predicting reaction mechanisms, and evaluating the roles of the dopants and surface modifiers are explained.
Gelidium elegans Regulates the AMPK-PRDM16-UCP-1 Pathway and Has a Synergistic Effect with Orlistat on Obesity-Associated Features in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet
Authors: Choi Jia , Kim Kui-Jin , Koh Eun-Jeong , Lee Boo-Yong
Published: March 2017

The incidence of obesity is rising at an alarming rate throughout the world and is becoming a major public health concern with incalculable social and economic costs. Gelidium elegans (GENS), also previously known as Gelidium amansii, has been shown to exhibit anti-obesity effects. Nevertheless, the mechanism by which GENS is able to do this remains unclear. In the present study, our results showed that GENS prevents high-fat diet (HFD)-induced weight gain through modulation of the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-PR domain-containing16 (PRDM16)-uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) pathway in a mice model. We also found that GENS decreased hyperglycemia in mice that had been fed a HFD compared to corresponding controls. We also assessed the beneficial effect of the combined treatment with GENS and orlistat (a Food and Drug Administration-approved obesity drug) on obesity characteristics in HFD-fed mice. We found that in HFD-fed mice, the combination of GENS and orlistat is associated with more significant weight loss than orlistat treatment alone. Moreover, our results demonstrated a positive synergistic effect of GENS and orlistat on hyperglycemia and plasma triglyceride level in these animals. Thus, we suggest that a combination therapy of GENS and orlistat may positively influence obesity-related health outcomes in a diet-induced obese population.
Development of TRPM8 Antagonists to Treat Chronic Pain and Migraine
Authors: Weyer Andy , Lehto Sonya
Published: March 2017

A review. Development of pharmaceutical antagonists of transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) have been pursued for the treatment of chronic pain and migraine. This review focuses on the current state of this progress.
Optimization and Characterization of High-Harmonic Generation for Probing Solid Density Plasmas
Authors: Koliyadu Jayanath , Künzel Swen , Wodzinski Thomas , Keitel Barbara , Duarte Joana , Williams Gareth , João Celso , Pires Hugo , Hariton Victor , Galletti Mario , Gomes Nuno , Figueira Gonçalo , Dias João , Lopes Nelson , Zeitoun Philippe , Plönjes Elke , Fajardo Marta
Published: March 2017

The creation of high energy density plasma states produced during laser–solid interaction on a sub-picosecond timescale opens a way to create astrophysical plasmas in the lab to investigate their properties, such as the frequency-dependent refractive index. Available probes to measure absorption and phase-changes given by the complex refractive index of the plasma state are extreme-UV (EUV) and soft X-ray (XUV) ultra-short pulses from high harmonic generation (HHG). For demanding imaging applications such as single-shot measurements of solid density plasmas, the HHG probe has to be optimized in photon number and characterized in intensity and wavefront stability from shot-to-shot. In an experiment, a coherent EUV source based on HHG driven by a compact diode-pumped laser is optimized in photons per pulse for argon and xenon, and the shot-to-shot intensity stability and wavefront changes are characterized. The experimental results are compared to an analytical model estimating the HHG yield, showing good agreement. The obtained values are compared to available data for solid density plasmas to confirm the feasibility of HHG as a probe.
Label-Free Colorimetric Detection of Influenza Antigen Based on an Antibody-Polydiacetylene Conjugate and Its Coated Polyvinylidene Difluoride Membrane
Authors: Jeong Jae-pil , Cho Eunae , Yun Deokgyu , Kim Taejoon , Lee Im-Soon , Jung Seunho
Published: March 2017

This study presents an antibody-conjugated polydiacetylene (PDA) and its coated polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane. The M149 antibody was hybridized to nano-vesicles consisting of pentacosa-10,12-diynoic acid (PCDA) and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC). After photo-polymerization at 254 nm, the effects on the PDA by antigenic injection were investigated with UV-vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Because PDA, an alternating ene-yne molecule, induces a blue-to-red color transition and an interesting fluorescent response by the distortion of its backbone, the biomolecular recognition of an antibody–antigen can be converted into an optical and fluorescent signal. Thus, an influenza antigen was successfully detected with the proposed label-free method. Furthermore, the vesicular system was improved by coating it onto a membrane type sensing platform for its stability and portability. The proposed antibody-PDA composite PVDF membrane has potential for rapid, easy and selective visualization of the influenza virus.
DNA Compaction and Charge Inversion Induced by Organic Monovalent Ions
Authors: Xia Wenyan , Wang Yanwei , Yang Anthony , Yang Guangcan
Published: March 2017

DNA condensation and charge inversion usually occur in solutions of multivalent counterions. In the present study, we show that the organic monovalent ions of tetraphenyl chloride arsenic (Ph4As+) can induce DNA compaction and even invert its electrophoretic mobility by single molecular methods. The morphology of condensed DNA was directly observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in the presence of a low concentration of Ph4As+ in DNA solution. The magnetic tweezers (MT) measurements showed that DNA compaction happens at very low Ph4As+ concentration (≤1 μM), and the typical step-like structures could be found in the extension-time curves of tethering DNA. However, when the concentration of Ph4As+ increased to 1 mM, the steps disappeared in the pulling curves and globular structures could be found in the corresponding AFM images. Electrophoretic mobility measurement showed that charge inversion of DNA induced by the monovalent ions happened at 1.6 mM Ph4As+, which is consistent with the prediction based on the strong hydrophobicity of Ph4As+. We infer that the hydrophobic effect is the main driving force of DNA charge inversion and compaction by the organic monovalent ion.
An Object-Based Semantic Classification Method for High Resolution Remote Sensing Imagery Using Ontology
Authors: Gu Haiyan , Li Haitao , Yan Li , Liu Zhengjun , Blaschke Thomas , Soergel Uwe
Published: March 2017

Geographic Object-Based Image Analysis (GEOBIA) techniques have become increasingly popular in remote sensing. GEOBIA has been claimed to represent a paradigm shift in remote sensing interpretation. Still, GEOBIA—similar to other emerging paradigms—lacks formal expressions and objective modelling structures and in particular semantic classification methods using ontologies. This study has put forward an object-based semantic classification method for high resolution satellite imagery using an ontology that aims to fully exploit the advantages of ontology to GEOBIA. A three-step workflow has been introduced: ontology modelling, initial classification based on a data-driven machine learning method, and semantic classification based on knowledge-driven semantic rules. The classification part is based on data-driven machine learning, segmentation, feature selection, sample collection and an initial classification. Then, image objects are re-classified based on the ontological model whereby the semantic relations are expressed in the formal languages OWL and SWRL. The results show that the method with ontology—as compared to the decision tree classification without using the ontology—yielded minor statistical improvements in terms of accuracy for this particular image. However, this framework enhances existing GEOBIA methodologies: ontologies express and organize the whole structure of GEOBIA and allow establishing relations, particularly spatially explicit relations between objects as well as multi-scale/hierarchical relations.