bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Artificial Insemination on different production parameter in Hubbard classic broiler parent stock
Authors: Habibullah M , Hashem MA , Rana MS , Islam MH
Published: July 2016

The experiment was conducted to determine the effect of artificial insemination (AI) on different production parameter in Hubbard Classic Broiler breeder parent stock. A total number of 300 female and 30 male Hubbard Classic broiler breeder parent stock birds were used as experimental animals and parameter recorded are: Health condition and body weight of birds, % of Production, % Hatchability,% Uniformity, grade A chicks, mortality % , hatching egg % & effect of diluents use, birth weight of day old chick (DOC). Significant variation (p<0.01) was observed in number of hatched birds, % of hatchability, production of total no of Grade A chicks, total number of damaged chicks and average chick weight. In the study, hatchability (%), production (%), growth and puberty weight (g) were significantly higher during post insemination compared to pre insemination stage, where as mortality (%) and uniformity (%) were significantly lower in case of post insemination stage. Body weight and uniformity (%) of birds either both sexes were significantly (p<0.01) different in birds at pre insemination stage compared to the birds at insemination. To be mentioned that body weight of birds was negatively correlated to the uniformity. Finally it could be concluded that AI may be better in all the parameters observed in this study than natural mating. So, AI can be practiced in Hubbard Classic broiler breeder parent stock.J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 13(1): 71-77, June 2015
Pond fish culture and needs for credit: A study in selected areas of Tangail district
Authors: Rahman MA , Ahmed F , Islam MS , Khan MA
Published: July 2016

This study examines the cost, returns, profitability of pond fish farm, requirements, adequacy, sources and utilization patterns of credit and problems associated with pond fish farming in Madhupur Upazila of Tangail district. A total of 60 farmers with small traditional types of ponds were randomly selected for this study. Both description and econometric analysis were used. Human labour was the most important and one of the largest inputs used for pond fish production. The average per acre human labour cost, fingerlings cost, feed cost, chemical fertilizers cost, manure cost, and lime cost were Tk. 9345, Tk. 18506, Tk.10476, Tk.3759, Tk. 329, and Tk.1605, respectively. Pond rental value was calculated at Tk. 11537 per acre for one year which shared 26.42 percent of total costs of pond fish production. Gross return was Tk. 70928 per acre. Gross margin and net return of the pond fish farm were Tk.38118 and Tk. 24081 per acre respectively. The BCR was 1.514. Out of 60 farmers, only 11 farmers received loans from different sources and 86.67 percent of applied amount received. About 83 percent of the loan used for operating expenditure of farming and rest 17 percent loan used for non-farm expenditure. There were some problems in fish farming, such as insufficient water, high feed cost etc. Government needs to provide subsidized feed, technical supports and credit facilities for the small scale fish farmers.J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 13(1): 117-124, June 2015
Determination of Phytoestrogen Content in Fresh-Cut Legume Forage
Authors: Hloucalová Pavlína , Skládanka Jiří , Horký Pavel , Klejdus Bořivoj , Pelikán Jan , Knotová Daniela
Published: July 2016

The aim of the study was to determine phytoestrogen content in fresh-cut legume forage. This issue has been much discussed in recent years in connection with the health and safety of feedstuffs and thus livestock health. The experiments were carried out on two experimental plots at Troubsko and Vatín, Czech Republic during June and July in 2015. Samples were collected of the four forage legume species perennial red clover (variety “Amos”), alfalfa (variety “Holyně”), and annuals Persian clover and Alexandrian clover. Forage was sampled twice at regular three to four day intervals leading up to harvest and a third time on the day of harvest. Fresh and wilted material was analyzed using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Higher levels ( p < 0.05) of isoflavones biochanin A (3.697 mg·g −1 of dry weight) and formononetin (4.315 mg·g −1 of dry weight) were found in red clover than in other species. The highest isoflavone content was detected in red clover, reaching 1.001% of dry matter ( p < 0.05), representing a risk for occurrence of reproduction problems and inhibited secretion of animal estrogen. The phytoestrogen content was particularly increased in wilted forage. Significant isoflavone reduction was observed over three to four day intervals leading up to harvest.
A Second WNT for Old Drugs: Drug Repositioning against WNT-Dependent Cancers
Authors: Ahmed Kamal , Shaw Holly , Koval Alexey , Katanaev Vladimir
Published: July 2016

Aberrant WNT signaling underlies cancerous transformation and growth in many tissues, such as the colon, breast, liver, and others. Downregulation of the WNT pathway is a desired mode of development of targeted therapies against these cancers. Despite the urgent need, no WNT signaling-directed drugs currently exist, and only very few candidates have reached early phase clinical trials. Among different strategies to develop WNT-targeting anti-cancer therapies, repositioning of existing drugs previously approved for other diseases is a promising approach. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, the anti-leprotic clofazimine, and the anti-trypanosomal suramin are among examples of drugs having recently revealed WNT-targeting activities. In total, 16 human-use drug compounds have been found to be working through the WNT pathway and show promise for their prospective repositioning against various cancers. Advances, hurdles, and prospects of developing these molecules as potential drugs against WNT-dependent cancers, as well as approaches for discovering new ones for repositioning, are the foci of the current review.
Chemical Composition of the Essential Oil from Aerial Parts of Javanian Pimpinella pruatjan Molk. and Its Molecular Phylogeny
Authors: Nurcahyanti Agustina , Nasser Issam , Sporer Frank , Graf Jürgen , Bermawie Nurliani , Reichling Jürgen , Wink Michael
Published: July 2016

The species-rich and diverse genus Pimpinella is mainly distributed in Europe and Asia; a few species occur in Africa. Yet, the Javanian Pimpinella, P. pruatjan, which has been used as an aphrodisiac in Indonesian traditional medicine, was studied for the first time in the context of chemical composition, as well as phylogeny analysis and antimicrobial activity. We examined the chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) from aerial parts of P. pruatjan by gas liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GLC-MS). The main component of EO was (Z)-γ-bisabolene. Several oxygenated monoterpenes, oxygenated sesquiterpenes, and sesquiterpenes were also detected. The genetic relationship of Pimpinella pruatjan Molk. to other Pimpinella species was reconstructed using nucleotide sequences of the nuclear DNA marker ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer). P. pruatjan clusters as a sister group to the African Pimpinella species. The EO did not exhibit an apparent antimicrobial activity.
Coupled Thermoelectric Devices: Theory and Experiment
Authors: Rojas Jaziel , Rivera Iván , Figueroa Aldo , Vázquez Federico
Published: July 2016

In this paper, we address theoretically and experimentally the optimization problem of the heat transfer occurring in two coupled thermoelectric devices. A simple experimental set up is used. The optimization parameters are the applied electric currents. When one thermoelectric is analysed, the temperature difference Δ T between the thermoelectric boundaries shows a parabolic profile with respect to the applied electric current. This behaviour agrees qualitatively with the corresponding experimental measurement. The global entropy generation shows a monotonous increase with the electric current. In the case of two coupled thermoelectric devices, elliptic isocontours for Δ T are obtained in applying an electric current through each of the thermoelectrics. The isocontours also fit well with measurements. Optimal figure of merit is found for a specific set of values of the applied electric currents. The entropy generation-thermal figure of merit relationship is studied. It is shown that, given a value of the thermal figure of merit, the device can be operated in a state of minimum entropy production.
Cyber-Physical System Security of a Power Grid: State-of-the-Art
Authors: Sun Chih-Che , Liu Chen-Ching , Xie Jing
Published: July 2016

As part of the smart grid development, more and more technologies are developed and deployed on the power grid to enhance the system reliability. A primary purpose of the smart grid is to significantly increase the capability of computer-based remote control and automation. As a result, the level of connectivity has become much higher, and cyber security also becomes a potential threat to the cyber-physical systems (CPSs). In this paper, a survey of the state-of-the-art is conducted on the cyber security of the power grid concerning issues of: (1) the structure of CPSs in a smart grid; (2) cyber vulnerability assessment; (3) cyber protection systems; and (4) testbeds of a CPS. At Washington State University (WSU), the Smart City Testbed (SCT) has been developed to provide a platform to test, analyze and validate defense mechanisms against potential cyber intrusions. A test case is provided in this paper to demonstrate how a testbed helps the study of cyber security and the anomaly detection system (ADS) for substations.
Novel Parametric Circuit Modeling for Li-Ion Batteries
Authors: Cheng Ximing , Yao Liguang , Xing Yinjiao , Pecht Michael
Published: July 2016

Because of their simplicity and dynamic response, current pulse series are often used to extract parameters for equivalent electrical circuit modeling of Li-ion batteries. These models are then applied for performance simulation, state estimation, and thermal analysis in electric vehicles. However, these methods have two problems: The assumption of linear dependence of the matrix columns and negative parameters estimated from discrete-time equations and least-squares methods. In this paper, continuous-time equations are exploited to construct a linearly independent data matrix and parameterize the circuit model by the combination of non-negative least squares and genetic algorithm, which constrains the model parameters to be positive. Trigonometric functions are then developed to fit the parameter curves. The developed model parameterization methodology was applied and assessed by a standard driving cycle.
Molecular Mechanisms Elicited by d-Aspartate in Leydig Cells and Spermatogonia
Authors: Di Fiore Maria , Santillo Alessandra , Falvo Sara , Longobardi Salvatore , Chieffi Baccari Gabriella
Published: July 2016

A bulk of evidence suggests that d-aspartate (d-Asp) regulates steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis in vertebrate testes. This review article focuses on intracellular signaling mechanisms elicited by d-Asp possibly via binding to the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) in both Leydig cells, and spermatogonia. In Leydig cells, the amino acid upregulates androgen production by eliciting the adenylate cyclase-cAMP and/or mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. d-Asp treatment enhances gene and protein expression of enzymes involved in the steroidogenic cascade. d-Asp also directly affects spermatogonial mitotic activity. In spermatogonial GC-1 cells, d-Asp induces phosphorylation of MAPK and AKT serine-threonine kinase proteins, and stimulates expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and aurora kinase B (AURKB). Further stimulation of spermatogonial GC-1 cell proliferation might come from estradiol/estrogen receptor β (ESR2) interaction. d-Asp modulates androgen and estrogen levels as well as the expression of their receptors in the rat epididymis by acting on mRNA levels of Srd5a1 and Cyp19a1 enzymes, hence suggesting involvement in spermatozoa maturation.
Human Aquaporin 4 Gating Dynamics under Perpendicularly-Oriented Electric-Field Impulses: A Molecular Dynamics Study
Authors: Marracino Paolo , Liberti Micaela , Trapani Erika , Burnham Christian , Avena Massimiliano , Garate José-Antonio , Apollonio Francesca , English Niall
Published: July 2016

Human aquaporin 4 has been studied using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in the absence and presence of pulses of external static electric fields. The pulses were 10 ns in duration and 0.012–0.065 V/Å in intensity acting along both directions perpendicular to the pores. Water permeability and the dipolar response of all residues of interest (including the selectivity filter) within the pores have been studied. Results showed decreased levels of water osmotic permeability within aquaporin channels during orthogonally-oriented field impulses, although care must be taken with regard to statistical certainty. This can be explained observing enhanced “dipolar flipping” of certain key residues, especially serine 211, histidine 201, arginine 216, histidine 95 and cysteine 178. These residues are placed at the extracellular end of the pore (serine 211, histidine 201, and arginine 216) and at the cytoplasm end (histidine 95 and cysteine 178), with the key role in gating mechanism, hence influencing water permeability.
Repellent Activity of Botanical Oils against Asian Citrus Psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae)
Authors: Kuhns Emily , Martini Xavier , Hoyte Angel , Stelinski Lukasz
Published: July 2016

The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, is the insect vector of the pathogen causing huanglongbing. We selected three botanical oils to evaluate behavioral activity against D. citri. In laboratory olfactometer assays, fir oil was repellent to D. citri females, while litsea and citronella oils elicited no response from D. citri females. In choice settling experiments, D. citri settled almost completely on control plants rather than on plants treated with fir oil at a 9.5 mg/day release rate. Therefore, we conducted field trials to determine if fir oil reduced D. citri densities in citrus groves. We found no repellency of D. citri from sweet orange resets that were treated with fir oil dispensers releasing 10.4 g/day/tree as compared with control plots. However, we found a two-week decrease in populations of D. citri as compared with controls when the deployment rate of these dispensers was doubled. Our results suggest that treatment of citrus with fir oil may have limited activity as a stand-alone management tool for D. citri and would require integration with other management practices.
Crystal Structures and Mechanical Properties of Ca2C at High Pressure
Authors: Wei Qun , Zhang Quan , Zhang Meiguang
Published: July 2016

Recently, a new high-pressure semiconductor phase of Ca2C (space group Pnma) was successfully synthesized, it has a low-pressure metallic phase (space group C2/m). In this paper, a systematic investigation of the pressure-induced phase transition of Ca2C is studied on the basis of first-principles calculations. The calculated enthalpy reveals that the phase transition which transforms from C2/m-Ca2C to Pnma-Ca2C occurs at 7.8 GPa, and it is a first-order phase transition with a volume drop of 26.7%. The calculated elastic constants show that C2/m-Ca2C is mechanically unstable above 6.4 GPa, indicating that the structural phase transition is due to mechanical instability. Both of the two phases exhibit the elastic anisotropy. The semiconductivity of Pnma-Ca2C and the metallicity of C2/m-Ca2C have been demonstrated by the electronic band structure calculations. The quasi-direct band gap of Pnma-Ca2C at 0 GPa is 0.86 eV. Furthermore, the detailed analysis of the total and partial density of states is performed to show the specific contribution to the Fermi level.
A 3D Lattice Modelling Study of Drying Shrinkage Damage in Concrete Repair Systems
Authors: Luković Mladena , Šavija Branko , Schlangen Erik , Ye Guang , Van Breugel Klaas
Published: July 2016

Differential shrinkage between repair material and concrete substrate is considered to be the main cause of premature failure of repair systems. The magnitude of induced stresses depends on many factors, for example the degree of restraint, moisture gradients caused by curing and drying conditions, type of repair material, etc. Numerical simulations combined with experimental observations can be of great use when determining the influence of these parameters on the performance of repair systems. In this work, a lattice type model was used to simulate first the moisture transport inside a repair system and then the resulting damage as a function of time. 3D simulations were performed, and damage patterns were qualitatively verified with experimental results and cracking tendencies in different brittle and ductile materials. The influence of substrate surface preparation, bond strength between the two materials, and thickness of the repair material were investigated. Benefits of using a specially tailored fibre reinforced material, namely strain hardening cementitious composite (SHCC), for controlling the damage development due to drying shrinkage in concrete repairs was also examined.
Classification of Induced Magnetic Field Signals for the Microstructural Characterization of Sigma Phase in Duplex Stainless Steels
Authors: Silva Edgard , Marinho Leandro , Filho Pedro , Leite João , Leite Josinaldo , Fialho Walter , De Albuquerque Victor , Tavares João
Published: July 2016

Duplex stainless steels present excellent mechanical and corrosion resistance properties. However, when heat treated at temperatures above 600 ∘ C, the undesirable tertiary sigma phase is formed. This phase presents high hardness, around 900 HV, and it is rich in chromium, the material toughness being compromised when the amount of this phase is not less than 4%. This work aimed to develop a solution for the detection of this phase in duplex stainless steels through the computational classification of induced magnetic field signals. The proposed solution is based on an Optimum Path Forest classifier, which was revealed to be more robust and effective than Bayes, Artificial Neural Network and Support Vector Machine based classifiers. The induced magnetic field was produced by the interaction between an applied external field and the microstructure. Samples of the 2205 duplex stainless steel were thermal aged in order to obtain different amounts of sigma phases (up to 18% in content). The obtained classification results were compared against the ones obtained by Charpy impact energy test, amount of sigma phase, and analysis of the fracture surface by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The proposed solution achieved a classification accuracy superior to 95% and was revealed to be robust to signal noise, being therefore a valid testing tool to be used in this domain.
N2 and CO2 Adsorption by Soils with High Kaolinite Content from San Juan Amecac, Puebla, México
Authors: Quiroz-Estrada Karla , Hernández-Espinosa Miguel , Rojas Fernando , Portillo Roberto , Rubio Efraín , López Lucía
Published: July 2016

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is considered one of the most important greenhouse gases in the study of climate change. CO2 adsorption was studied using the gas chromatography technique, while the Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption models were employed for processing isotherm data in the temperature range of 473–573 K. The isosteric heat of adsorption was calculated from the Clausius–Clapeyron equation. Moreover, the thermodynamic properties ΔG, ΔU, and ΔS were evaluated from the adsorption isotherms of Langmuir using the Van’t Hoff Equation. The four soil samples were recollected from San Juan Amecac, Puebla, Mexico, and their morphologies were investigated through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and N2 adsorption at 77 K. The SJA4 soil has a crystalline Kaolinite phase, which is one of its non-metallic raw materials, and N2 isotherms allowed for the determination of pore size distributions and specific surface areas of soil samples. The Barrett–Joyner–Halenda (BJH) distribution of pore diameters was bimodal with peaks at 1.04 and 3.7 nm, respectively. CO2 adsorption showed that the SJA1 soil afforded a higher amount of adsorbed CO2 in the temperature range from 453 to 573 K followed by SJA4 and finally SJA2, classifying this process as exothermic physisorption.
New Potential Antimalarial Agents: Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Some Novel Quinoline Derivatives as Antimalarial Agents
Authors: Radini Ibrahim , Elsheikh Tarek , El-Telbani Emad , Khidre Rizk
Published: July 2016

A novel series of dihydropyrimidines (DHPMs) 4a–j; 2-oxopyran-3-carboxylate 7a,b; 1-amino-1,2-dihydropyridine-3-carboxylate 8; and 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives 12 with quinolinyl residues have been synthesized in fairly good yields. The structure of the newly synthesized compounds was elucidated on the basis of analytical and spectral analyses. In vitro antimalarial evaluation of the synthesized quinoline derivatives against Plasmodium falciparum revealed them to possess moderate to high antimalarial activities, with IC50 values ranging from 0.014–5.87 μg/mL. Compounds 4b,g,i and 12 showed excellent antimalarial activity against to Plasmodium falciparum compared with the antimalarial agent chloroquine (CQ).
Differential Effects of Viscum album Preparations on the Maturation and Activation of Human Dendritic Cells and CD4+ T Cell Responses
Authors: Saha Chaitrali , Das Mrinmoy , Stephen-Victor Emmanuel , Friboulet Alain , Bayry Jagadeesh , Kaveri Srini
Published: July 2016

Extracts of Viscum album (VA); a semi-parasitic plant, are frequently used in the complementary therapy of cancer and other immunological disorders. Various reports show that VA modulates immune system and exerts immune-adjuvant activities that might influence tumor regression. Currently, several therapeutic preparations of VA are available and hence an insight into the mechanisms of action of different VA preparations is necessary. In the present study, we performed a comparative study of five different preparations of VA on maturation and activation of human dendritic cells (DCs) and ensuing CD4+ T cell responses. Monocyte-derived human DCs were treated with VA Qu Spez, VA Qu Frf, VA M Spez, VA P and VA A. Among the five VA preparations tested VA Qu Spez, a fermented extract with a high level of lectins, significantly induced DC maturation markers CD83, CD40, HLA-DR and CD86, and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, IL-8, IL-12 and TNF-α. Furthermore, analysis of T cell cytokines in DC-T cell co-culture revealed that VA Qu Spez significantly stimulated IFN-γ secretion without modulating regulatory T cells and other CD4+ T cytokines IL-4, IL-13 and IL-17A. Our study thus delineates differential effects of VA preparations on DC maturation; function and T cell responses.
Nobiletin Induces Protective Autophagy Accompanied by ER-Stress Mediated Apoptosis in Human Gastric Cancer SNU-16 Cells
Authors: Moon Jeong , Cho Somi
Published: July 2016

Nobiletin, a major component of citrus fruits, is a polymethoxyflavone derivative that exhibits anticancer activity against several forms of cancer, including SNU-16 human gastric cancer cells. To explore the nobiletin-induced cell death mechanism, we examined the changes in protein expression caused by nobiletin in human gastric cancer SNU-16 cells by means of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DGE), followed by peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) analysis. Seventeen of 20 selected protein spots were successfully identified, including nine upregulated and eight downregulated proteins. In nobiletin-treated SNU-16 cells the glucose-regulated protein 78 kDa (GRP78) mRNA level was induced most significantly among six proteins related to cell survival and death. Western blot analysis was used to confirm the expression of GRP78 protein. We detected increases in the levels of the ER-stress related proteins inositol requiring enzyme 1 alpha (IRE1-α), activating transcription factor 4 (ATF-4), and C/EBP homology protein (CHOP), as well as GRP78, in response to nobiletin in SNU-16 cells. Furthermore, the ER stress-mediated apoptotic protein caspase-4 was proteolytically activated by nobiletin. Pretreatment with chloroquine, an autophagy inhibitor, strongly augmented apoptosis in SNU-16 cells, as evidenced by decreased cell viability, an increased number of sub-G1 phase cells and increased levels of cleaved PARP. Our results suggest that nobiletin-induced apoptosis in SNU-16 cells is mediated by pathways involving intracellular ER stress-mediated protective autophagy. Thus, the combination of nobiletin and an autophagy inhibitor could be a promising treatment for gastric cancer patients.
Synthesis and Characterization of Magnetic Molecularly Imprinted Polymer for the Enrichment of Ofloxacin Enantiomers in Fish Samples
Authors: Wang Yan-Fei , Jin Huo-Xi , Wang Yang-Guang , Yang Li-Ye , OuYang Xiao-Kun , Wu Wei-Jian
Published: July 2016

A new method for the isolation and enrichment of ofloxacin enantiomers from fish samples was developed using magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs). These polymers can be easily collected and rapidly separated using an external magnetic field, and also exhibit a high specific recognition for ofloxacin enantiomers. The preparation of amino-functionalized MMIPs was carried out via suspension polymerization and a ring-opening reaction using rac-ofloxacin as a template, ethylenediamine as an active group, glycidyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate as functional monomers, divinylbenzene as a cross-linker, and Fe3O4 nanoparticles as magnetic cores. The characteristics of the MMIPs were assessed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements. Furthermore, the adsorption properties were determined using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The conditions for use of these MMIPs as magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) sorbents, including pH, adsorption time, desorption time, and eluent, were investigated in detail. An extraction method using MMIPs coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed for the determination of ofloxacin enantiomers in fish samples. The limits of quantitation (LOQ) for the developed method were 0.059 and 0.067 μg∙mL−1 for levofloxacin and dextrofloxacin, respectively. The recovery of ofloxacin enantiomers ranged from 79.2% ± 5.6% to 84.4% ± 4.6% and ofloxacin enantiomers had good linear relationships within the concentration range of 0.25–5.0 μg∙mL−1 (R2 > 0.999). The obtained results demonstrate that MSPE-HPLC is a promising approach for preconcentration, purification, and simultaneous separation of ofloxacin enantiomers in biomatrix samples.
In Situ Investigation of a Self-Accelerated Cocrystal Formation by Grinding Pyrazinamide with Oxalic Acid
Authors: Kulla Hannes , Greiser Sebastian , Benemann Sigrid , Rademann Klaus , Emmerling Franziska
Published: July 2016

A new cocrystal of pyrazinamide with oxalic acid was prepared mechanochemically and characterized by PXRD, Raman spectroscopy, solid-state NMR spectroscopy, DTA-TG, and SEM. Based on powder X-ray diffraction data the structure was solved. The formation pathway of the reaction was studied in situ using combined synchrotron PXRD and Raman spectroscopy. Using oxalic acid dihydrate the initially neat grinding turned into a rapid self-accelerated liquid-assisted grinding process by the release of crystallization water. Under these conditions, the cocrystal was formed directly within two minutes.
Exploring Flow Procedures for Diazonium Formation
Authors: Hu Te , Baxendale Ian , Baumann Marcus
Published: July 2016

The synthesis of diazonium salts is historically an important transformation extensively utilized in dye manufacture. However the highly reactive nature of the diazonium functionality has additionally led to the development of many new reactions including several carbon-carbon bond forming processes. It is therefore highly desirable to determine optimum conditions for the formation of diazonium compounds utilizing the latest processing tools such as flow chemistry to take advantage of the increased safety and continuous manufacturing capabilities. Herein we report a series of flow-based procedures to prepare diazonium salts for subsequent in-situ consumption.
Solid-State Metalloproteins—An Alternative to Immobilisation
Authors: Rapson Trevor
Published: July 2016

This commentary outlines a protein engineering approach as an alternative to immobilisation developed in our laboratory. We use a recombinant silk protein into which metal active sites can be incorporated to produce solid-state metalloprotein materials. The silk protein directly coordinates to the metal centres providing control over their reactivity akin to that seen in naturally occurring metalloproteins. These solid-state materials are remarkably stable at a range of temperatures and different solvent conditions. I discuss the genesis of this approach and highlight areas where such solid-state materials could find application.
Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Celiac Disease Patients on a Long-Term Gluten-Free Diet
Authors: Laurikka Pilvi , Salmi Teea , Collin Pekka , Huhtala Heini , Mäki Markku , Kaukinen Katri , Kurppa Kalle
Published: July 2016

Experience suggests that many celiac patients suffer from persistent symptoms despite a long-term gluten-free diet (GFD). We investigated the prevalence and severity of these symptoms in patients with variable duration of GFD. Altogether, 856 patients were classified into untreated (n = 128), short-term GFD (1–2 years, n = 93) and long-term GFD (≥3 years, n = 635) groups. Analyses were made of clinical and histological data and dietary adherence. Symptoms were evaluated by the validated GSRS questionnaire. One-hundred-sixty healthy subjects comprised the control group. Further, the severity of symptoms was compared with that in peptic ulcer, reflux disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Altogether, 93% of the short-term and 94% of the long-term treated patients had a strict GFD and recovered mucosa. Untreated patients had more diarrhea, indigestion and abdominal pain than those on GFD and controls. There were no differences in symptoms between the short- and long-term GFD groups, but both yielded poorer GSRS total score than controls (p = 0.03 and p = 0.05, respectively). Furthermore, patients treated 1–2 years had more diarrhea (p = 0.03) and those treated >10 years more reflux (p = 0.04) than controls. Long-term treated celiac patients showed relatively mild symptoms compared with other gastrointestinal diseases. Based on our results, good response to GFD sustained in long-term follow-up, but not all patients reach the level of healthy individuals.
Oxidized Xanthan Gum and Chitosan as Natural Adhesives for Cork
Authors: Paiva Diana , Gonçalves Carolina , Vale Isabel , Bastos Margarida , Magalhães Fernão
Published: July 2016

Natural cork stopper manufacturing produces a significant amount of cork waste, which is granulated and combined with synthetic glues for use in a wide range of applications. There is a high demand for using biosourced polymers in these composite materials. In this study, xanthan gum (XG) and chitosan (CS) were investigated as possible natural binders for cork. Xanthan gum was oxidized at two different aldehyde contents as a strategy to improve its water resistance. This modification was studied in detail by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and the degree of oxidation was determined by the hydroxylamine hydrochloride titration method. The performance of the adhesives was studied by tensile tests and total soluble matter (TSM) determinations. Xanthan gum showed no water resistance, contrary to oxidized xanthan gum and chitosan. It is hypothesized that the good performance of oxidized xanthan gum is due to the reaction of aldehyde groups—formed in the oxidation process—with hydroxyl groups on the cork surface during the high temperature drying. Combining oxidized xanthan gum with chitosan did not yield significant improvements.
Early Detection of Summer Crops Using High Spatial Resolution Optical Image Time Series
Authors: Marais Sicre Claire , Inglada Jordi , Fieuzal Rémy , Baup Frédéric , Valero Silvia , Cros Jérôme , Huc Mireille , Demarez Valérie
Published: July 2016

In the context of climate change, agricultural managers have the imperative to combine sufficient productivity with durability of the resources. Many studies have shown the interest of recent satellite missions as suitable tools for agricultural surveys. Nevertheless, they are not predictive methods. A system able to detect summer crops as early as possible is important in order to obtain valuable information for a better water management strategy. The detection of summer crops before the beginning of the irrigation period is therefore our objective. The study area is located near Toulouse (southwestern France), and is a region of mixed farming with a wide variety of irrigated and non-irrigated crops. Using the reference data for the years concerned, a set of fixed thresholds are applied to a vegetation index (the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI) for each agricultural season of multi-spectral satellite optical imagery acquired at decametric spatial resolutions from 2006 to 2013. The performance (i.e., accuracy) is contrasted according to the agricultural practices, the development states of the different crops and the number of acquisition dates (one to three in the results presented here). The detection of summer crops reaches 64% to 88% with a single date, 80% to 88% with two dates and 90% to 99% with three dates. The robustness of this method is tested for several years (showing an impact of meteorological conditions on the actual choice of images), several sensors and several resolutions.
Potential of ENVISAT Radar Altimetry for Water Level Monitoring in the Pantanal Wetland
Authors: Dettmering Denise , Schwatke Christian , Boergens Eva , Seitz Florian
Published: July 2016

Wetlands are important ecosystems playing an essential role for continental water regulation and the hydrologic cycle. Moreover, they are sensitive to climate changes as well as anthropogenic influences, such as land-use or dams. However, the monitoring of these regions is challenging as they are normally located in remote areas without in situ measurement stations. Radar altimetry provides important measurements for monitoring and analyzing water level variations in wetlands and flooded areas. Using the example of the Pantanal region in South America, this study demonstrates the capability and limitations of ENVISAT radar altimeter for monitoring water levels in inundation areas. By applying an innovative processing method consisting of a rigorous data screening by means of radar echo classification as well as an optimized waveform retracking, water level time series with respect to a global reference and with a temporal resolution of about one month are derived. A comparison between altimetry-derived height variations and six in situ time series reveals accuracies of 30 to 50 cm RMS. The derived water level time series document seasonal height variations of up to 1.5 m amplitude with maximum water levels between January and June. Large scale geographical pattern of water heights are visible within the wetland. However, some regions of the Pantanal show water level variations less than a few decimeter, which is below the accuracies of the method. These areas cannot be reliably monitored by ENVISAT.
Ultrasonic Sensing of Plant Water Needs for Agriculture
Authors: Gómez Álvarez-Arenas Tomas , Gil-Pelegrin Eustaquio , Ealo Cuello Joao , Fariñas Maria , Sancho-Knapik Domingo , Collazos Burbano David , Peguero-Pina Jose
Published: July 2016

Fresh water is a key natural resource for food production, sanitation and industrial uses and has a high environmental value. The largest water use worldwide (~70%) corresponds to irrigation in agriculture, where use of water is becoming essential to maintain productivity. Efficient irrigation control largely depends on having access to reliable information about the actual plant water needs. Therefore, fast, portable and non-invasive sensing techniques able to measure water requirements directly on the plant are essential to face the huge challenge posed by the extensive water use in agriculture, the increasing water shortage and the impact of climate change. Non-contact resonant ultrasonic spectroscopy (NC-RUS) in the frequency range 0.1–1.2 MHz has revealed as an efficient and powerful non-destructive, non-invasive and in vivo sensing technique for leaves of different plant species. In particular, NC-RUS allows determining surface mass, thickness and elastic modulus of the leaves. Hence, valuable information can be obtained about water content and turgor pressure. This work analyzes and reviews the main requirements for sensors, electronics, signal processing and data analysis in order to develop a fast, portable, robust and non-invasive NC-RUS system to monitor variations in leaves water content or turgor pressure. A sensing prototype is proposed, described and, as application example, used to study two different species: Vitis vinifera and Coffea arabica, whose leaves present thickness resonances in two different frequency bands (400–900 kHz and 200–400 kHz, respectively), These species are representative of two different climates and are related to two high-added value agricultural products where efficient irrigation management can be critical. Moreover, the technique can also be applied to other species and similar results can be obtained.
Towards an Improved LAI Collection Protocol via Simulated and Field-Based PAR Sensing
Authors: Yao Wei , Kelbe David , Leeuwen Martin , Romanczyk Paul , Aardt Jan
Published: July 2016

In support of NASA’s next-generation spectrometer—the Hyperspectral Infrared Imager (HyspIRI)—we are working towards assessing sub-pixel vegetation structure from imaging spectroscopy data. Of particular interest is Leaf Area Index (LAI), which is an informative, yet notoriously challenging parameter to efficiently measure in situ. While photosynthetically-active radiation (PAR) sensors have been validated for measuring crop LAI, there is limited literature on the efficacy of PAR-based LAI measurement in the forest environment. This study (i) validates PAR-based LAI measurement in forest environments, and (ii) proposes a suitable collection protocol, which balances efficiency with measurement variation, e.g., due to sun flecks and various-sized canopy gaps. A synthetic PAR sensor model was developed in the Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Image Generation (DIRSIG) model and used to validate LAI measurement based on first-principles and explicitly-known leaf geometry. Simulated collection parameters were adjusted to empirically identify optimal collection protocols. These collection protocols were then validated in the field by correlating PAR-based LAI measurement to the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) extracted from the “classic” Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS-C) data ( R 2 was 0.61). The results indicate that our proposed collecting protocol is suitable for measuring the LAI of sparse forest (LAI < 3–5 ( m 2 / m 2 )).
SME’s Appropriability Regime for Sustainable Development-the Role of Absorptive Capacity and Inventive Capacity
Authors: Seo HanGyeol , Chung Yanghon , Woo Chungwon , Chun Dongphil , Jang Soojeen
Published: July 2016

SMEs need to protect their innovation outcomes and increase profits from their innovations in order to make their growth sustainable. The appropriability regime enables SMEs to secure financial returns on their R&D investment so that SMEs can continuously invest in innovation and obtain financial gains. However, the appropriability regime can change the effects of protecting innovation outcomes depending on the capacity of knowledge exploration, especially for SMEs, and previous studies have not discussed these issues. Thus, the main objective of this paper is to explore how the knowledge exploration capacity affects the relationship between different types of appropriability regimes and innovation performance. Multivariate regression is used to analyze the manufacturing SMEs sampled from the Korea Innovation Survey 2007 (KIS 2007). Our results demonstrate that both formal and informal appropriability regimes can improve firm’s innovation performance. Furthermore, although both inventive and absorptive capacity have positive moderating effects on the relationship between the informal appropriability regime and innovation performance, the inventive capacity moderates negatively the relationship between the formal appropriability regime and innovation performance. As a whole, the significance of this paper lies in providing further understanding of the different types of appropriability regimes and knowledge exploration capacity in SMEs.
Field Evaluation of the Nutrient Removal Performance of a Gross Pollutant Trap (GPT) in Australia
Authors: Nichols Peter , Lucke Terry
Published: July 2016

Field testing of a proprietary stormwater treatment device (GPT) was undertaken over a one year period at a commercial site located in Sippy Downs, Queensland. The focus of the study was primarily on evaluating the effectiveness of the GPT device in removing pollution in the form of nutrients (Total Suspended Solids, Total Nitrogen, Total Phosphorus) from stormwater runoff. Water quality analysis was performed on water samples taken from the inflow and outflow of the GPT during 15 natural rainfall events. A new testing protocol was developed to ensure a comprehensive investigation of the stormwater treatment performance of the GPT. Pollution treatment Efficiency Ratios (ER) calculated for the GPT were found to be 49.2% for TSS, 26.6% for TN and 40.6% for TP. Although the nutrient removal rates of the GPT observed in the study were below those specified by Queensland regulations, the results are considered notable for a stormwater treatment device that was not specifically designed to remove nutrients from stormwater.
Geographical Variation of Climate Change Impact on Rice Yield in the Rice-Cropping Areas of Northeast China during 1980–2008
Authors: Liu Zhenhuan , Zhang Guojie , Yang Peng
Published: July 2016

Northeast China (NEC) is one of China’s major rice production areas and has experienced obvious climate warming over the past three decades, similar to other mid- to high-latitude regions in the Northern Hemisphere. The present study investigates the temporal and spatial impacts of climate warming on rice yield in mid–high latitude regions. In this study, two time series datasets of rice yield and climate records in the NEC, including 178 county sites and 105 climate stations and covering the period from 1980 to 2008, were compiled. From these data, the responses of rice yield to the rice-growing season temperature (GST), growing degree days (GDD), and precipitation (GSP) were estimated using a regression model. The results indicate that rice yield benefits from climate warming in the NEC. GST positively impacted rice yield in 64.6% of the counties, with an increase of approximately 3.65%; GDD positively impacted yield in 64% of the counties, an increase of approximately 3.2%; and GSP negatively impacted rice yield in 68% of the counties, with a decrease of approximately −2.3%. Spatial variation was observed in the climate-rice yield relationships. The statistical relationships of GST and GDD with rice yield were significantly and positively correlated with latitude, longitude, and altitude, while that of GSP and rice yield was significantly and negatively correlated with latitude and longitude and showed a nonsignificant positive correlation with altitude. In summary, climate warming has significantly increased rice yield over the last three decades in the region north of 42°N, east of 122.4°E, and at an elevation of 134–473 m, which covers the majority of the rice-growing areas in the NEC.
Sustainability of Land Use Promoted by Construction-to-Ecological Land Conversion: A Case Study of Shenzhen City, China
Authors: Peng Yunfei , Qian Jing , Ren Fu , Zhang Wenhui , Du Qingyun
Published: July 2016

Rapid urbanization and rapid urban growth present great challenges to the sustainable utilization of land resources. This paper discusses the on-going process of construction-to-ecological land conversion (CELC) in terms of three aspects: land use, environmental effects, and system responses. CELC is compared to other current land conversion strategies in China. Taking Shenzhen City as an example, this paper introduces five areas in which CELC has been implemented since 2009, including basic farmland protection zones, mining areas, ecological corridors, inefficient industrial zones, and urban villages. This paper argues that Shenzhen’s CELC model can improve the ecological environment, control urban sprawl, and promote sustainable land use and, thus, serve as an example for other cities in China.
Cubature Formulas of Multivariate Polynomials Arising from Symmetric Orbit Functions
Authors: Hrivnák Jiří , Motlochová Lenka , Patera Jiří
Published: July 2016

The paper develops applications of symmetric orbit functions, known from irreducible representations of simple Lie groups, in numerical analysis. It is shown that these functions have remarkable properties which yield to cubature formulas, approximating a weighted integral of any function by a weighted finite sum of function values, in connection with any simple Lie group. The cubature formulas are specialized for simple Lie groups of rank two. An optimal approximation of any function by multivariate polynomials arising from symmetric orbit functions is discussed.
Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Cyanobacterial Serine Protease Inhibitors Aeruginosin 828A and Cyanopeptolin 1020 in Human Hepatoma Cell Line Huh7 and Effects in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Authors: Faltermann Susanne , Hutter Simon , Christen Verena , Hettich Timm , Fent Karl
Published: July 2016

Intensive growth of cyanobacteria in freshwater promoted by eutrophication can lead to release of toxic secondary metabolites that may harm aquatic organisms and humans. The serine protease inhibitor aeruginosin 828A was isolated from a microcystin-deficient Planktothrix strain. We assessed potential molecular effects of aeruginosin 828A in comparison to another cyanobacterial serine protease inhibitor, cyanopeptolin 1020, in human hepatoma cell line Huh7, in zebrafish embryos and liver organ cultures. Aeruginosin 828A and cyanopeptolin 1020 promoted anti-inflammatory activity, as indicated by transcriptional down-regulation of interleukin 8 and tumor necrosis factor α in stimulated cells at concentrations of 50 and 100 µmol·L−1 aeruginosin 828A, and 100 µmol·L−1 cyanopeptolin 1020. Aeruginosin 828A induced the expression of CYP1A in Huh7 cells but did not affect enzyme activity. Furthermore, hatched zebrafish embryos and zebrafish liver organ cultures were exposed to aeruginosin 828A. The transcriptional responses were compared to those of cyanopeptolin 1020 and microcystin-LR. Aeruginosin 828A had only minimal effects on endoplasmic reticulum stress. In comparison to cyanopeptolin 1020 our data indicate that transcriptional effects of aeruginosin 828A in zebrafish are very minor. The data further demonstrate that pathways that are influenced by microcystin-LR are not affected by aeruginosin 828A.
Coordination of Genomic RNA Packaging with Viral Assembly in HIV-1
Authors: Hellmund Chris , Lever Andrew
Published: July 2016

The tremendous progress made in unraveling the complexities of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication has resulted in a library of drugs to target key aspects of the replication cycle of the virus. Yet, despite this accumulated wealth of knowledge, we still have much to learn about certain viral processes. One of these is virus assembly, where the viral genome and proteins come together to form infectious progeny. Here we review this topic from the perspective of how the route to production of an infectious virion is orchestrated by the viral genome, and we compare and contrast aspects of the assembly mechanisms employed by HIV-1 with those of other RNA viruses.