bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Active Infrared Thermography for Seal Contamination Detection in Heat-Sealed Food Packaging
Authors: D’huys Karlien , Saeys Wouter , De Ketelaere Bart
Published: November 2016

Packaging protects food products from environmental influences, assuring quality and safety throughout shelf life if properly performed. Packaging quality depends on the quality of the packaging material and of the closure or seal. A common problem possibly jeopardizing seal quality is the presence of seal contamination, which can cause a decreased seal strength, an increased packaging failure risk and leak formation. Therefore, early detection and removal of seal contaminated packages from the production chain is crucial. In this work, a pulsed-type active thermography method using the heated seal bars as an excitation source was studied for detecting seal contamination. Thermal image sequences of contaminated seals were recorded shortly after sealing. The detection performances of six thermal image processing methods, based on a single frame, a fit of the cooling profiles, thermal signal reconstruction, pulsed phase thermography, principal component thermography and a matched filter, were compared. High resolution digital images served as a reference to quantify seal contamination, and processed thermal images were mapped to these references. The lowest detection limit (equivalent diameter 0.60 mm) was obtained for the method based on a fit of the cooling profiles. Moreover, the detection performance of this method did not depend strongly on the time after sealing at which recording of the thermal images was started, making it a robust and generally applicable method.
Freckle Defect Formation near the Casting Interfaces of Directionally Solidified Superalloys
Authors: Hong Jianping , Ma Dexin , Wang Jun , Wang Fu , Sun Baode , Dong Anping , Li Fei , Bührig-Polaczek Andreas
Published: November 2016

Freckle defects usually appear on the surface of castings and industrial ingots during the directional solidification process and most of them are located near the interface between the shell mold and superalloys. Ceramic cores create more interfaces in the directionally solidified (DS) and single crystal (SX) hollow turbine blades. In order to investigate the location of freckle occurrence in superalloys, superalloy CM247 LC was directionally solidified in an industrial-sized Bridgman furnace. Instead of ceramic cores, Alumina tubes were used inside of the casting specimens. It was found that freckles occur not only on the casting external surfaces, but also appear near the internal interfaces between the ceramic core and superalloys. Meanwhile, the size, initial position, and area of freckle were investigated in various diameters of the specimens. The initial position of the freckle chain reduces when the diameter of the rods increase. Freckle area follows a linear relationship in various diameters and the average freckle fraction is 1.1% of cross sectional area of casting specimens. The flow of liquid metal near the interfaces was stronger than that in the interdendritic region in the mushy zone, and explained why freckle tends to occur on the outer or inner surfaces of castings. This new phenomenon suggests that freckles are more likely to occur on the outer or inner surfaces of the hollow turbine blades.
The Rise of Single-Ion Magnets as Spin Qubits
Authors: Ding You-Song , Deng Yi-Fei , Zheng Yan-Zhen
Published: November 2016

Recent studies revealed that magnetic molecules with single spin centers showed exciting phenomena related to quantum information processing, such as long quantum coherence times and Rabi oscillations. In this review, we go over these phenomena according to the essential metal ions, from which we can see the development of single-ion magnets as spin qubits is booming, especially quantum coherence times have been significantly enhanced from nanoseconds to hundreds of microseconds in a short period. Hence, the correlations between the molecular structures and quantum coherence are becoming clearer. In this regard, some chemical approaches to designing better spin qubits have been discussed.
Tensile Properties and Microstructures of a 2024-T351 Aluminum Alloy Subjected to Cryogenic Treatment
Authors: Zhou Jianzhong , Xu Suqiang , Huang Shu , Meng Xiankai , Sheng Jie , Zhang Haifeng , Li Jing , Sun Yunhui , Boateng Emmanuel
Published: November 2016

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the cryogenic treatment (CT) using liquid nitrogen on tensile properties and microstructures of the 2024-T351 aluminum alloy. Tensile tests were carried out, and tensile fractures were observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The microstructure evolution of 2024-T351 subjected to CT was also studied using both an optic microscope (OM) and a SEM. The components of the second phase were tested with an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The results showed that both the ultimate strength and the yield strength of the 2024-T351 aluminum alloy could be improved through CT without the sacrifice of elongation. In addition, tensile fractures showed that the plasticity of 2024-T351 aluminum might also be improved, as the dimples in the fracture of the CTed specimens were markedly more uniform compared with the untreated specimen. The phenomenon of grains refinement (GR) was found through microstructure observation. It was also found that the second phases were distributed more uniformly after CT. A conceivable mechanism concerning the shrinking effect and crystal grain movement was raised to explain the experimental phenomena. The effects of CT on residual stress in the 2024-T351 aluminum alloy are discussed herein. Measurements showed that tensile residual stress in 2024-T351 was removed, and slight compressive residual stress was generated after CT. This may also contribute to the improvement of the tensile properties of the alloy.
A Lightweight Structure Redesign Method Based on Selective Laser Melting
Authors: Tang Li , Wu Chunbing , Zhang Zhixiong , Shang Jianzhong , Yan Chao
Published: November 2016

The purpose of this paper is to present a new design method of lightweight parts fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM) based on the “Skin-Frame” and to explore the influence of fabrication defects on SLM parts with different sizes. Some standard lattice parts were designed according to the Chinese GB/T 1452-2005 standard and manufactured by SLM. Then these samples were tested in an MTS Insight 30 compression testing machine to study the trends of the yield process with different structure sizes. A set of standard cylinder samples were also designed according to the Chinese GB/T 228-2010 standard. These samples, which were made of iron-nickel alloy (IN718), were also processed by SLM, and then tested in the universal material testing machine INSTRON 1346 to obtain their tensile strength. Furthermore, a lightweight redesigned method was researched. Then some common parts such as a stopper and connecting plate were redesigned using this method. These redesigned parts were fabricated and some application tests have already been performed. The compression testing results show that when the minimum structure size is larger than 1.5 mm, the mechanical characteristics will hardly be affected by process defects. The cylinder parts were fractured by the universal material testing machine at about 1069.6 MPa. These redesigned parts worked well in application tests, with both the weight and fabrication time of these parts reduced more than 20%.
Discovery of a Flexible Triazolylbutanoic Acid as a Highly Potent Uric Acid Transporter 1 (URAT1) Inhibitor
Authors: Tian He , Liu Wei , Zhou Zhixing , Shang Qian , Liu Yuqiang , Xie Yafei , Liu Changying , Xu Weiren , Tang Lida , Wang Jianwu , Zhao Guilong
Published: November 2016

In order to systematically explore and understand the structure–activity relationship (SAR) of a lesinurad-based hit (1c) derived from the replacement of the S atom in lesinurad with CH2, 18 compounds (1a–1r) were designed, synthesized and subjected to in vitro URAT1 inhibitory assay. The SAR exploration led to the discovery of a highly potent flexible URAT1 inhibitor, 1q, which was 31-fold more potent than parent lesinurad (IC50 = 0.23 μM against human URAT1 for 1q vs 7.18 μM for lesinurad). The present study discovered a flexible molecular scaffold, as represented by 1q, which might serve as a promising prototype scaffold for further development of potent URAT1 inhibitors, and also demonstrated that the S atom in lesinurad was not indispensable for its URAT1 inhibitory activity.
Oxidatively Locked [Co2L3]6+ Cylinders Derived from Bis(bidentate) 2-Pyridyl-1,2,3-triazole “Click” Ligands: Synthesis, Stability, and Antimicrobial Studies
Authors: Vasdev Roan , Preston Dan , Scottwell Synøve , Brooks Heather , Crowley James , Schramm Michael
Published: November 2016

A small family of [Co2(Lpytrz)3]6+ cylinders was synthesised from bis(bidentate) 2-pyridyl-1,2,3-triazole “click” ligands (Lpytrz) through an “assembly-followed-by-oxidation” method. The cylinders were characterised using 1H, 13C, and DOSY NMR, IR, and UV-Vis spectroscopies, along with electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESMS). Stability studies were conducted in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and D2O. In contrast to similar, previously studied, [Fe2(Lpytrz)3]4+ helicates the more kinetically inert [Co2(Lpytrz)3]6+ systems proved stable (over a period of days) when exposed to DMSO and were even more stable in D2O. The triply stranded [Co2(Lpytrz)3]6+ systems and the corresponding “free” ligands were tested for antimicrobial activity in vitro against both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) microorganisms. Agar-based disk diffusion and Mueller–Hinton broth micro-dilution assays showed that the [Co2(Lpytrz)3]6+ cylinders were not active against either strain of bacteria. It is presumed that a high charge of the [Co2(Lpytrz)3]6+ cylinders is preventing them from crossing the bacterial cell membranes, rendering the compounds biologically inactive.
Black Tea Increases Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells and Improves Flow Mediated Dilatation Counteracting Deleterious Effects from a Fat Load in Hypertensive Patients: A Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Grassi Davide , Draijer Richard , Schalkwijk Casper , Desideri Giovambattista , D’Angeli Anatolia , Francavilla Sandro , Mulder Theo , Ferri Claudio
Published: November 2016

(1) Background: Endothelial dysfunction predicts cardiovascular events. Circulating angiogenic cells (CACs) maintain and repair the endothelium regulating its function. Tea flavonoids reduce cardiovascular risk. We investigated the effects of black tea on the number of CACs and on flow-mediated dilation (FMD) before and after an oral fat in hypertensives; (2) Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, controlled, cross-over study, 19 patients were assigned to black tea (150 mg polyphenols) or a placebo twice a day for eight days. Measurements were obtained in a fasted state and after consuming whipping cream, and FMD was measured at baseline and after consumption of the products; (3) Results: Compared with the placebo, black tea ingestion increased functionally active CACs (36 ± 22 vs. 56 ± 21 cells per high-power field; p = 0.006) and FMD (5.0% ± 0.3% vs. 6.6% ± 0.3%, p < 0.0001). Tea further increased FMD 1, 2, 3, and 4 h after consumption, with maximal response 2 h after intake (p < 0.0001). Fat challenge decreased FMD, while tea consumption counteracted FMD impairment (p < 0.0001); (4) Conclusions: We demonstrated the vascular protective properties of black tea by increasing the number of CACs and preventing endothelial dysfunction induced by acute oral fat load in hypertensive patients. Considering that tea is the most consumed beverage after water, our findings are of clinical relevance and interest.
Co-Delivery of Imiquimod and Plasmid DNA via an Amphiphilic pH-Responsive Star Polymer that Forms Unimolecular Micelles in Water
Authors: Lin Wenjing , Yao Na , Li Hongru , Hanson Samuel , Han Wenqing , Wang Chun , Zhang Lijuan
Published: November 2016

Dual functional unimolecular micelles based on a pH-responsive amphiphilic star polymer β-CD-(PLA-b-PDMAEMA-b-PEtOxMA)21 have been developed for the co-delivery of imiquimod and plasmid DNA to dendritic cells. The star polymer with well-defined triblock arms was synthesized by combining activator regenerated by electron-transfer atom-transfer radical polymerization with ring-opening polymerization. Dissipative particle dynamics simulation showed that core-mesophere-shell-type unimolecular micelles could be formed. Imiquimod-loaded micelles had a drug loading of 1.6 wt % and a larger average size (28 nm) than blank micelles (19 nm). The release of imiquimod in vitro was accelerated at the mildly acidic endolysosomal pH (5.0) in comparison to physiologic pH (7.4). Compared with blank micelles, a higher N:P ratio was required for imiquimod-loaded micelles to fully condense DNA into micelleplexes averaging 200–400 nm in size. In comparison to blank micelleplexes, imiquimod-loaded micelleplexes of the same N:P ratio displayed similar or slightly higher efficiency of gene transfection in a mouse dendritic cell line (DC2.4) without cytotoxicity. These results suggest that such pH-responsive unimolecular micelles formed by the well-defined amphiphilic star polymer may serve as promising nano-scale carriers for combined delivery of hydrophobic immunostimulatory drugs (such as imiquimod) and plasmid DNA with potential application in gene-based immunotherapy.
Using Landsat, MODIS, and a Biophysical Model to Evaluate LST in Urban Centers
Authors: Al-Hamdan Mohammad , Quattrochi Dale , Bounoua Lahouari , Lachir Asia , Zhang Ping
Published: November 2016

In this paper, we assessed and compared land surface temperature (LST) in urban centers using data from Landsat, MODIS, and the Simple Biosphere model (SiB2). We also evaluated the sensitivity of the model’s LST to different land cover types, fractions (percentages), and emissivities compared to reference points derived from Landsat thermal data. This was demonstrated in three climatologically- and morphologically-different cities of Atlanta, GA, New York, NY, and Washington, DC. Our results showed that in these cities SiB2 was sensitive to both the emissivity and the land cover type and fraction, but much more sensitive to the latter. The practical implications of these results are rather significant since they imply that the SiB2 model can be used to run different scenarios for evaluating urban heat island (UHI) mitigation strategies. This study also showed that using detailed emissivities per land cover type and fractions from Landsat-derived data caused a convergence of the model results towards the Landsat-derived LST for most of the studied cases. This study also showed that SiB2 LSTs are closer in magnitude to Landsat-derived LSTs than MODIS-derived LSTs. It is important, however, to emphasize that both Landsat and MODIS LSTs are not direct observations and, as such, do not represent a ground truth. More studies will be needed to compare these results to in situ LST data and provide further validation.
Water Budget Analysis within the Surrounding of Prominent Lakes and Reservoirs from Multi-Sensor Earth Observation Data and Hydrological Models: Case Studies of the Aral Sea and Lake Mead
Authors: Singh Alka , Seitz Florian , Eicker Annette , Güntner Andreas
Published: November 2016

The hydrological budget of a region is determined based on the horizontal and vertical water fluxes acting in both inward and outward directions. These integrated water fluxes vary, altering the total water storage and consequently the gravitational force of the region. The time-dependent gravitational field can be observed through the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) gravimetric satellite mission, provided that the mass variation is above the sensitivity of GRACE. This study evaluates mass changes in prominent reservoir regions through three independent approaches viz. fluxes, storages, and gravity, by combining remote sensing products, in-situ data and hydrological model outputs using WaterGAP Global Hydrological Model (WGHM) and Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS). The results show that the dynamics revealed by the GRACE signal can be better explored by a hybrid method, which combines remote sensing-based reservoir volume estimates with hydrological model outputs, than by exclusive model-based storage estimates. For the given arid/semi-arid regions, GLDAS based storage estimations perform better than WGHM.
Random Forest Classification of Wetland Landcovers from Multi-Sensor Data in the Arid Region of Xinjiang, China
Authors: Tian Shaohong , Zhang Xianfeng , Tian Jie , Sun Quan
Published: November 2016

The wetland classification from remotely sensed data is usually difficult due to the extensive seasonal vegetation dynamics and hydrological fluctuation. This study presents a random forest classification approach for the retrieval of the wetland landcover in the arid regions by fusing the Pléiade-1B data with multi-date Landsat-8 data. The segmentation of the Pléiade-1B multispectral image data was performed based on an object-oriented approach, and the geometric and spectral features were extracted for the segmented image objects. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) series data were also calculated from the multi-date Landsat-8 data, reflecting vegetation phenological changes in its growth cycle. The feature set extracted from the two sensors data was optimized and employed to create the random forest model for the classification of the wetland landcovers in the Ertix River in northern Xinjiang, China. Comparison with other classification methods such as support vector machine and artificial neural network classifiers indicates that the random forest classifier can achieve accurate classification with an overall accuracy of 93% and the Kappa coefficient of 0.92. The classification accuracy of the farming lands and water bodies that have distinct boundaries with the surrounding land covers was improved 5%–10% by making use of the property of geometric shapes. To remove the difficulty in the classification that was caused by the similar spectral features of the vegetation covers, the phenological difference and the textural information of co-occurrence gray matrix were incorporated into the classification, and the main wetland vegetation covers in the study area were derived from the two sensors data. The inclusion of phenological information in the classification enables the classification errors being reduced down, and the overall accuracy was improved approximately 10%. The results show that the proposed random forest classification by fusing multi-sensor data can retrieve better wetland landcover information than the other classifiers, which is significant for the monitoring and management of the wetland ecological resources in arid areas.
Development and Sensing Properties Study of Underwater Assembled Water Depth-Inclination Sensors for a Multi-Component Mooring System, Using a Self-Contained Technique
Authors: Wu Wenhua , Feng Jiaguo , Xie Bin , Tang Da , Yue Qianjin , Xie Ribin
Published: November 2016

Prototype monitoring techniques play an important role in the safety guarantee of mooring systems in marine engineering. In general, the complexities of harsh ocean environmental conditions bring difficulties to the traditional monitoring methods of application, implementation and maintenance. Large amounts of existing mooring systems still lack valid monitoring strategies. In this paper, an underwater monitoring method which may be used to achieve the mechanical responses of a multi-point catenary mooring system, is present. A novel self-contained assembled water depth-inclination (D-I) sensor is designed and manufactured. Several advanced technologies, such as standalone, low power consumption and synchronism, are considered to satisfy the long-term implementation requirements with low cost during the design process. The design scheme of the water resistance barrel and installation clamp, which satisfies the diver installation, are also provided in the paper. An on-site test has previously been carried out on a production semisubmersible platform in the South China Sea. The prototype data analyses, including the D-I value in the time domain (including the data recorded during the mooring retraction and release process) and spectral characteristics, are presented to reveal the accuracy, feasibility and stability of the sensor in terms of fitting for the prototype monitoring of catenary mooring systems, especially for in-service aging platforms.
Development of a Detection Algorithm for Use with Reflectance-Based, Real-Time Chemical Sensing
Authors: Malanoski Anthony , Johnson Brandy , Erickson Jeffrey , Stenger David
Published: November 2016

Here, we describe our efforts focused on development of an algorithm for identification of detection events in a real-time sensing application relying on reporting of color values using commercially available color sensing chips. The effort focuses on the identification of event occurrence, rather than target identification, and utilizes approaches suitable to onboard device incorporation to facilitate portable and autonomous use. The described algorithm first excludes electronic noise generated by the sensor system and determines response thresholds. This automatic adjustment provides the potential for use with device variations as well as accommodating differing indicator behaviors. Multiple signal channels (RGB) as well as multiple indicator array elements are combined for reporting of an event with a minimum of false responses. While the method reported was developed for use with paper-supported porphyrin and metalloporphyrin indicators, it should be equally applicable to other colorimetric indicators. Depending on device configurations, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) sensitivities of 1 could be obtained with specificities of 0.87 (threshold 160 ppb, ethanol).
A Theoretical and Empirical Integrated Method to Select the Optimal Combined Signals for Geometry-Free and Geometry-Based Three-Carrier Ambiguity Resolution
Authors: Zhao Dongsheng , Roberts Gethin , Lau Lawrence , Hancock Craig , Bai Ruibin
Published: November 2016

Twelve GPS Block IIF satellites, out of the current constellation, can transmit on three-frequency signals (L1, L2, L5). Taking advantages of these signals, Three-Carrier Ambiguity Resolution (TCAR) is expected to bring much benefit for ambiguity resolution. One of the research areas is to find the optimal combined signals for a better ambiguity resolution in geometry-free (GF) and geometry-based (GB) mode. However, the existing researches select the signals through either pure theoretical analysis or testing with simulated data, which might be biased as the real observation condition could be different from theoretical prediction or simulation. In this paper, we propose a theoretical and empirical integrated method, which first selects the possible optimal combined signals in theory and then refines these signals with real triple-frequency GPS data, observed at eleven baselines of different lengths. An interpolation technique is also adopted in order to show changes of the AR performance with the increase in baseline length. The results show that the AR success rate can be improved by 3% in GF mode and 8% in GB mode at certain intervals of the baseline length. Therefore, the TCAR can perform better by adopting the combined signals proposed in this paper when the baseline meets the length condition.
RETRACTED: Carbon Emission Mitigation Potentials of Different Policy Scenarios and Their Effects on International Aviation in the Korean Context
Authors: Yoon Sungwook , Jeong Sukjae
Published: November 2016

The objective of this study is to seek better policy options for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction in Korea’s international aviation industry by analyzing economic efficiency and environmental effectiveness with a system dynamics (SD) model. Accordingly, we measured airlines sales and CO2 emission reductions to evaluate economic efficiency and environmental effectiveness, respectively, for various policies. The results show that the average carbon emission reduction rates of four policies compared to the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario between 2015 and 2030 are 4.00% (Voluntary Agreement), 7.25% (Emission Trading System or ETS-30,000), 8.33% (Carbon Tax or CT-37,500), and 8.48% (Emission Charge System or EC-30,000). The average rate of decrease in airline sales compared to BAU for the ETS policy is 0.1% at 2030. Our results show that the ETS approach is the most efficient of all the analyzed CO2 reduction policies in economic terms, while the EC approach is the best policy to reduce GHG emissions. This study provides a foundation for devising effective response measures pertaining to GHG reduction and supports decision making on carbon tax and carbon credit pricing.
Characterizing and Assessing the Agricultural Land Use Intensity of the Beijing Mountainous Region
Authors: Zhang Weiwei , Li Hong
Published: November 2016

Recently, land use and land cover change have received increased attention, and an approach is required that can assess agricultural land use intensity on a general basis. This study demonstrated the usefulness of a tool for characterizing and assessing agricultural land use intensity in Beijing mountainous region. An emergy analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were adopted to obtain agricultural input and output intensity data. Correlation and regression analyses were used to study the relationship among land capability, agricultural input, output intensity, and agricultural system sustainability. Ultimately, the agricultural land use intensity types in the Beijing mountainous region were identified through a cluster analysis. The results produced five indices of agricultural input intensity and five indices of output intensity. Non-renewable energy was the overwhelming input, and grain, meat, eggs, and vegetables were the major outputs of the agricultural system. The results also showed that there was better natural land quality, higher input intensity, greater output intensity, and lower agricultural system sustainability. Eight types of agricultural intensity were classified and assessed, and they may be used to evaluate and monitor sustainable land use and provide baseline measurements of land use intensity for land use analyses and change detection.
Assessment of Reclamation Treatments of Abandoned Farmland in an Arid Region of China
Authors: Yang Haichang , Zhang Fenghua , Chen Yun , Xu Tingbao , Cheng Zhibo , Liang Jing
Published: November 2016

Reclamation of abandoned farmland is crucial to a sustainable agriculture in arid regions. This study aims to evaluate the impact of different reclamation treatments on abandoned salinized farmland. We investigated four artificial reclamation treatments, continuous cotton (CC), continuous alfalfa (CA), tree-wheat intercropping (TW) and trees (TS), which were conducted in 2011–2012 in the Manasi River Basin of Xinjiang Province, China. Soil nutrient, microorganism and enzyme activity were examined in comparison with natural succession (CK) in an integrated analysis on soil fertility improvement and soil salinization control with these reclamations. Results indicate that the four artificial reclamation treatments are more effective approaches than natural restoration to reclaim abandoned farmland. TW and CA significantly increased soil nutrient content compared to CK. CC reduced soil salinity to the lowest level among all treatments. TW significantly enhanced soil enzyme activity. All four artificial reclamations increased soil microbial populations and soil microbial biomass carbon. TW and CA had the greatest overall optimal effects among the four treatments in terms of the ecological outcomes. If both economic benefits and ecological effects are considered, TW would be the best reclamation mode. The findings from this study will assist in selecting a feasible method for reclamation of abandoned farmland for sustainable agriculture in arid regions.
Deoxynivalenol and Its Modified Forms: Are There Major Differences?
Authors: Alizadeh Arash , Braber Saskia , Akbari Peyman , Kraneveld Aletta , Garssen Johan , Fink-Gremmels Johanna
Published: November 2016

Considering the diverse toxic effects of the Fusarium toxin deoxynivalenol (DON), its common occurrence in wheat-based products, and its stability during processing, DON constitutes an increasing health concern for humans and animals. In addition to the parent compound DON, human and animal exposure encompasses the acetylated fungal metabolites 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3ADON) and 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (15ADON) as well as the plant-derived DON-glucoside (DON3G) and the bacterial product de-epoxy-DON (DOM-1). In the current study we used the well-established Caco-2 cell model to compare the effects of these naturally occurring forms of DON on cell viability and markers of barrier integrity, as well as on the release of the pro-inflammatory chemokine chemokine CXC motif ligand (CXCL8). Results show that 3ADON is less potent in inducing adverse effects on barrier integrity when compared to DON, whereas 15ADON appears to be slightly more potent than DON. In contrast, DON3G and DOM-1 exerted no measurable adverse effects on the intestinal barrier. It was also demonstrated that galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are able to protect epithelial cells against DON and its acetylated forms, which suggests that GOS are beneficial food additives in the protection of vulnerable segments of the human population against adverse effects of DON and its derivatives.
Host–Pathogen Interactions in Measles Virus Replication and Anti-Viral Immunity
Authors: Jiang Yanliang , Qin Yali , Chen Mingzhou
Published: November 2016

The measles virus (MeV) is a contagious pathogenic RNA virus of the family Paramyxoviridae, genus Morbillivirus, that can cause serious symptoms and even fetal complications. Here, we summarize current molecular advances in MeV research, and emphasize the connection between host cells and MeV replication. Although measles has reemerged recently, the potential for its eradication is promising with significant progress in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of its replication and host-pathogen interactions.
Two Novel Myoviruses from the North of Iraq Reveal Insights into Clostridium difficile Phage Diversity and Biology
Authors: Rashid Srwa , Barylski Jakub , Hargreaves Katherine , Millard Andrew , Vinner Gurinder , Clokie Martha
Published: November 2016

Bacteriophages (phages) are increasingly being explored as therapeutic agents to combat bacterial diseases, including Clostridium difficile infections. Therapeutic phages need to be able to efficiently target and kill a wide range of clinically relevant strains. While many phage groups have yet to be investigated in detail, those with new and useful properties can potentially be identified when phages from newly studied geographies are characterised. Here, we report the isolation of C. difficile phages from soil samples from the north of Iraq. Two myoviruses, CDKM15 and CDKM9, were selected for detailed sequence analysis on the basis of their broad and potentially useful host range. CDKM9 infects 25/80 strains from 12/20 C. difficile ribotypes, and CDKM15 infects 20/80 strains from 9/20 ribotypes. Both phages can infect the clinically relevant ribotypes R027 and R001. Phylogenetic analysis based on whole genome sequencing revealed that the phages are genetically distinct from each other but closely related to other long-tailed myoviruses. A comparative genomic analysis revealed key differences in the genes predicted to encode for proteins involved in bacterial infection. Notably, CDKM15 carries a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) array with spacers that are homologous to sequences in the CDKM9 genome and of phages from diverse localities. The findings presented suggest a possible shared evolutionary past for these phages and provides evidence of their widespread dispersal.
Tomato Productivity and Quality in Aquaponics: Comparison of Three Hydroponic Methods
Authors: Schmautz Zala , Loeu Fionna , Liebisch Frank , Graber Andreas , Mathis Alex , Griessler Bulc Tjaša , Junge Ranka
Published: November 2016

Aquaponics (AP) is a food production system that combines hydroponic (HP) crop production with recirculating aquaculture. Different types of hydroponic systems have been used for growing crops in aquaponics. However, very few studies have compared their suitability and efficiency in an aquaponic context. The study presented here compares tomato yield, morphological (external) and biochemical (internal) fruit quality, and overall tomato plant vitality from three different HP systems (nutrient film technique, drip irrigation system, and floating raft culture) and examines the distribution of nutrients in different parts of the tomato plant. Three replicate AP systems were set up, each incorporating the three different HP systems coupled with a separate recirculating aquaculture unit growing Nile tilapia. The results showed that the choice of the cultivation system had little influence on most of the above-mentioned properties. Tomato fruit mineral content was found to be in similar range for N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, and Zn as reported in the literature. Yield and fruit quality were similar in all three systems. However, the drip irrigation system did perform slightly better. The slightly higher oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) of the fruits grown in AP in comparison to commercially produced and supermarket derived tomatoes might indicate a potential for producing fruits with higher health value for humans.
Evolution of Two Urbanized Estuaries: Environmental Change, Legal Framework, and Implications for Sea-Level Rise Vulnerability
Authors: Pinto Pedro , Kondolf G.
Published: November 2016

The San Francisco Bay (CA, USA) and the Tagus Estuary (Lisbon, Portugal) share striking similarities in terms of morphology and urban development. A finer analysis of development patterns reveals crucial differences in the extent of shoreline alteration and types of land use that now encroach upon natural estuarine habitat. Through historical map analysis and prior stratigraphic and historical research, we reconstruct in GIS environment the evolution of both estuaries over the last millennia and the relative distribution of different classes of land cover. We also discuss the legal frameworks that accompanied this evolution, and how they have influenced the process of wetland reclamation and landfilling. We compared the legal history and synchronous patterns of development by compiling historical mapping information and resorting to GIS analysis to explore spatial patterns over time. This method was useful in isolating events and decisions that were unique to each of the case studies. The Tagus Estuary has experienced disruption of natural environments for over two millennia. Yet, the State has been able to keep estuarine lowlands under public control, even if vast areas have been transformed into farmland. Public control could allow wetland migration with rising seas and restoration efforts. The San Francisco Bay was affected by several decades of elevated sediment loads in the 19th century, which induced rapid wetland expansion, but virtual cutoff of sediment supply by dams in the 20th century now impairs their ability to accrete. Meanwhile, tidal wetlands were subject to extremely fast and poorly regulated development. Artificially filled and/or drained wetlands were transferred to local governments and private landowners, in violation of the Public Trust Doctrine. The transformation of wetlands into salt ponds, industrial zones and even residential neighborhoods created extensive developed areas at or below sea level, which are vulnerable to even modest rises in sea level. Remaining wetlands are now heavily encroached on their landward side by urban development, which prevents their landward migration. Different legal interpretations of comparable definitions of public trusts and jurisdictions over shorelines may have significant implications for the ability to adapt to sea-level rise.
A Comparative Study of Three Different Types of Stem Cells for Treatment of Rat Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Ruzicka Jiri , Machova-Urdzikova Lucia , Gillick John , Amemori Takashi , Romanyuk Nataliya , Karova Kristyna , Zaviskova Kristyna , Dubisova Jana , Kubinova Sarka , Murali Raj , Sykova Eva , Jhanwar-Uniyal Meena , Jendelova Pavla
Published: November 2016

Three different sources of human stem cells—bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs), neural progenitors (NPs) derived from immortalized spinal fetal cell line (SPC-01), and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)—were compared in the treatment of a balloon-induced spinal cord compression lesion in rats. One week after lesioning, the rats received either BM-MSCs (intrathecally) or NPs (SPC-01 cells or iPSC-NPs, both intraspinally), or saline. The rats were assessed for their locomotor skills (BBB, flat beam test, and rotarod). Morphometric analyses of spared white and gray matter, axonal sprouting, and glial scar formation, as well as qPCR and Luminex assay, were conducted to detect endogenous gene expression, while inflammatory cytokine levels were performed to evaluate the host tissue response to stem cell therapy. The highest locomotor recovery was observed in iPSC-NP-grafted animals, which also displayed the highest amount of preserved white and gray matter. Grafted iPSC-NPs and SPC-01 cells significantly increased the number of growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43+) axons, reduced astrogliosis, downregulated Casp3 expression, and increased IL-6 and IL-12 levels. hMSCs transiently decreased levels of inflammatory IL-2 and TNF-α. These findings correlate with the short survival of hMSCs, while NPs survived for 2 months and matured slowly into glia- and tissue-specific neuronal precursors. SPC-01 cells differentiated more in astroglial phenotypes with a dense structure of the implant, whereas iPSC-NPs displayed a more neuronal phenotype with a loose structure of the graft. We concluded that the BBB scores of iPSC-NP- and hMSC-injected rats were superior to the SPC-01-treated group. The iPSC-NP treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI) provided the highest recovery of locomotor function due to robust graft survival and its effect on tissue sparing, reduction of glial scarring, and increased axonal sprouting.
Transplantation of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Results of Phase I/IIa Clinical Trial
Authors: Syková Eva , Rychmach Petr , Drahorádová Ivana , Konrádová ŠImona , Růžičková Kateřina , Voříšek Ivan , Forostyak Serhiy , Homola Aleš , Bojar Martin
Published: November 2016

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive untreatable neurodegenerative disorder, leading to the death of the cortical and spinal motoneurons (MNs). Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (BM-MSCs) may represent a new approach to slowing down the progression of ALS by providing neurotrophic support to host MNs and by having an anti-inflammatory effect. We have designed a prospective, nonrandomized, open-label clinical trial (phase I/IIa, EudraCT No. 2011-000362-35) to assess the safety and efficacy of autologous multipotent BM-MSCs in ALS treatment. Autologous BM-MSCs were isolated and expanded under GMP conditions. Patients received 15 ± 4.5 × 106 of BM-MSCs via lumbar puncture into the cerebrospinal fluid. Patients were monitored for 6 months before treatment and then for an 18-month follow-up period. Potential adverse reactions were assessed, and the clinical outcome was evaluated by the ALS functional rating scale (ALSFRS), forced vital capacity (FVC), and weakness scales (WSs) to assess muscle strength on the lower and upper extremities. In total, 26 patients were enrolled in the study and were assessed for safety; 23 patients were suitable for efficacy evaluation. After intrathecal BM-MSC application, about 30% of the patients experienced a mild to moderate headache, resembling the headaches after a standard lumbar puncture. No suspected serious adverse reactions (SUSAR) were observed. We found a reduction in ALSFRS decline at 3 months after application ( p < 0.02) that, in some cases, persisted for 6 months ( p < 0.05). In about 80% of the patients, FVC values remained stable or above 70% for a time period of 9 months. Values of WS were stable in 75% of patients at 3 months after application. Our results demonstrate that the intrathecal application of BM-MSCs in ALS patients is a safe procedure and that it can slow down progression of the disease.
Downregulation of Homeobox B7 Inhibits the Tumorigenesis and Progression of Osteosarcoma
Authors: Yang Lei , Xie Fei , Li Shuangqing
Published: November 2016

Homeobox B7 (HOXB7), a member of the HOX gene family, plays a role in tumorigenesis. However, until now the expression status and role of HOXB7 in osteosarcoma remain unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the functional role and mechanism of HOXB7 in osteosarcoma.
Our results demonstrated that HOXB7 was overexpressed in osteosarcoma cell lines. Downregulation of HOXB7 significantly inhibited osteosarcoma cell proliferation in vitro, as well as attenuated xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Downregulation of HOXB7 also inhibited the migration and invasion
of osteosarcoma cells. Furthermore, downregulation of HOXB7 significantly suppressed the protein expression levels of p-PI3K and p-Akt in U2OS cells. In summary, our data demonstrated that downregulation of HOXB7 inhibited proliferation, invasion, and tumorigenesis, partly through suppressing
the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in osteosarcoma cells. Our findings provide new insights into the role of HOXB7 in osteosarcoma and new therapeutic targets for the treatment of osteosarcoma.
Can Whale Watching Be a Conduit for Spreading Educational and Conservation Messages? A Case Study in Juneau, Alaska
Authors: Lopez Gabrille , Pearson Heidi C.
Published: November 2016

Whale watching is growing in popularity, with over 100 countries participating in different forms of whale- and dolphin-watching activities. As the whale-watching industry increases, vessel traffic, as well as encounters between cetaceans and people, will increase. Although there are
policies to reduce potential disturbance of the whales and/or dolphins, tour companies often face pressure to please their customers. It is thereby important to understand the experiences of passengers while recognizing the educational and conservation messages whale watches can spread to
their passengers. Here, a case study of whale watching in Juneau, Alaska is presented, which investigates passenger knowledge, experience, attitude, and intentions regarding whales, whale watching, and conservation. Self-administered paper and pencil multiple answer choice surveys and researcher-administered
interview surveys were conducted. The majority of passengers gained most of their knowledge about whales from that day's whale watch, had no awareness of NOAA guidelines/regulations, and had no prior whale-watching experience. The top two determinants of whale-watching quality were getting
close to whales and seeing whales do interesting behaviors. Most passengers placed high importance on seeing whales in the wild and were very likely to tell friends and family about what was learned on the tour. There was no significant relationship between awareness of NOAA guidelines and
previous whale-watching experience or the top determinant of whale-watching quality (getting close to whales). Additionally, there were no significant relationships between importance of seeing whales in the wild and the likelihood of telling friends and family about what they learned, or
joining or donating to an environmental or conservation organization. Interview surveys revealed a combination of in-depth knowledge and biased perceptions of whales. This study reveals the capacity for whale watching to advance public knowledge of cetaceans and marine conservation and the
importance of managing passenger expectations.
The Personality Profile of Tinnitus Sufferers and a Nontinnitus Control Group
Authors: Durai Mithila , O’Keeffe Mary G. , Searchfield Grant D.
Published: November 2016

Background:Chronic tinnitus (phantom perception of sound) significantly disrupts quality of life in 15‐20% of those who experience it. Understanding how certain personality traits impact tinnitus perception and distress can be beneficial for the development of interventions
to improve the lives of tinnitus sufferers.Purpose:Four key self-reported personality traits (social closeness, stress reaction, alienation, and self-control) were identified from previous research as being associated with tinnitus. These were compared between tinnitus and age-, gender-,
and hearing level-matched nontinnitus controls to see whether underlying profile differences exist, and if personality traits levels correlate with various tinnitus characteristics assessed in typical clinical questionnaires.Research Design:A Web-based personality survey was administered
comprising of self-control, stress reaction, alienation, and social closeness subscale questions of the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire, the Hearing Handicap Inventory-Screening Version, TFI, and the Tinnitus Case History Questionnaire.Study Sample:A total of 154 participants
with tinnitus (81 males, 73 females, mean age = 62.6 yr) and 61 control (32 males, 29 females, mean age = 59.62 yr) participants were recruited via e-mail invitations to a tinnitus research clinic database, poster, and social media Web site advertising.Data Collection and Analysis:Statistical
analysis was conducted using parametric statistics and IBM SPSS® Version 22 software.Results:Tinnitus sufferers displayed higher levels of stress reaction, lower social closeness, lower self-control, and higher alienation than the control group (p < 0.05). Alienation
was related to tinnitus pitch and self-reported hyperacusis measured using the Tinnitus Case History Questionnaire (p < 0.05). Stress reaction correlated with self-reported hyperacusis, whether tinnitus sufferers had sought other treatments, and whether loud sounds make the tinnitus
worse (p < 0.05).Conclusions:The four personality traits examined in this study exhibited a consistent association with tinnitus perception and distress, and differentiated tinnitus sufferers from nontinnitus control. Some of the traits also correlated significantly with certain
characteristics measured in tinnitus history questionnaires. Personality traits are described in relation to “maladaptive” residuals under the Adaptation Level Theory model of tinnitus. The results of the study suggest that certain personality traits correlate with the clinical
presentation of tinnitus.