bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifikasi Atribut Aroma dan Rasa Rempah Dengan Profiled Test
Authors: Pratama Melati
Published: April 2018

Herbal dan rempah adalah komoditi yang paling banyak digunakan dalam makanan. Keberagaman herbal dan rempah mempengaruhi aroma dan rasa. Aroma dan rasa pada masing-masing herbal dan rempah dapat ditentukan menggunakan profiled sensory test. Pada penelitian ini, Profiled test dilakukan dengan mendeskripsikan aroma dan rasa dari masing-masing herbal dan rempah. Sampel yang digunakan adalah bawang putih segar, bubuk bawang putih, lada hitam, bubuk lada hitam, cabe, bubuk cabe, daun salam dan bay leaf. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa bawang putih, lada hitam dan cabai segar memiliki aroma dan rasa pedas menyengat, yang disebabkan bawang putih mengandung allicin, lada hitam mengandung piperine dan chavicine, serta cabai mengandung capsaicin yang merupakan senyawa aktif. Allicin pada bawang putih segar memiliki sifat pedas yang sama dengan piperine, chavicine dan capsaicin.  Perbedaan dari ketiga senyawa tersebut adalah allicin bersifat tidak stabil dibanding piperine, chavicin dan capsaicin. Stabilitas piperine, chavicine dan capsaicin menjadikan bubuk lada hitam dan bubuk cabai dapat digunakan pada makanan yang telah diolah.           Kata kunci : herbal dan rempah, aroma dan rasa, profiled test
Impact of Microfinance Programme on Employment Status of the Participants
Authors: Joshi . Ruchi , Joshi C. S.
Published: April 2018

Microfinance has emerged as a ray of hope among the various measure to wipe out poverty. In India, failure of formal finance to the poor has led to the growth of microfinance. Numerous traditional and informal system of credit was already in existence before microfinance came into vogue. NABARD a regulatory body defined microfinance as “the provision of thrift, saving, credit and financial services and products of very small amount to the poor in rural, semi-urban and urban areas for enabling them to raise their income levels and improve their standard of living”(Sen,2008). The paper also provide the progress of microfinance programme in Uttarakhand on the basis of secondary data. The present paper examines the impact of microfinance programme on employment status of the respondents in the State of Uttarakhand on the basis of primary data collected from the field. As the programme has increased the engagement of SHG group members i.e; participants of the programme economic activities which result in the increase level of employment. Microfinance play an important role in the development of the state as the programme increased the employment status which result beneficiaries to come out of poverty and the standard of living also raised by accessing the basic requirements.
An Approach Using Concept Lattice Structure for Data Mining and Information Retrieval
Authors: Quan Tran Lam , Thang Vu Tat
Published: April 2018

Since the 1980s, the concept lattice was studied and applied to the problems of text mining, frequent itemset, classification, etc. The formal concept analysis - FCA is one of the main techniques applied in the concept lattice. FCA is a mathematical theory which is applied to the data mining by setting a table with rows describing objects and columns describing attributes, with relationships between them, and then sets up the concept lattice structure. In the area of information retrieval, FCA considers the correlation of objects-attributes the same as those of documents-terms. In the process of setting up the lattice, FCA defines each node in the lattice as a concept. The algorithm for the construction of concept lattice will install a couple on each node, including a set of documents with common terms, and a set of terms which co-occurs in documents. In a larger scale, each concept in the lattice could be recognized as a couple of questions - answers. In the lattice, the action of browsing up or down of nodes will allow approaching more general concepts or more detail concepts, respectively.
Characterization of lower bainite formed below M

S
*
Authors: Feng J. , Wettlaufer M.
Published: April 2018

Lower bainite can indeed grow below martensite start temperature (M

S
) in a commercial alloy. Ultrahigh-strength low-alloyed 42CrMo4 steels are austempered below M

S
. The preliminary martensite and lower bainite packets formed during austempering partition the prior austenite grains effectively. The obtained ultrafine-grained nanostructured microstructure enhances the mechanical properties of the alloys significantly. Morphology and overall microstructure are examined by reflection optical microscope and scanning electron microscopy. Substructures of lower bainite and virgin/tempered martensite are revealed by transmission electron microscopy. With increasing duration of austempering, a clear transition from cleavage to ductile rupture was observed by fractography. Effects of grain partitioning and the risk of embrittlement have been discussed concretely. The better understanding of the microstructure austempered below M

S
will feedback to the materials development activities both in conventional and new materials areas.
Testis Size and Asymmetry in the Guinea Fowl (Numida Meleagris): A Test of the Compensation Hypothesis
Authors: Abdul-Rahman Ibn Iddriss , Obese Frederick Y. , Robinson Jane E.
Published: April 2018

Despite numerous studies on testicular asymmetry in birds, there are still inconsistent reports on the pattern of asymmetry in species belonging to various phylogenetic groups and exhibiting diverse lifestyles. In addition, there is a lack of clarity on whether functional differences exist between the left and right testes despite differences in size, as well as no evidence of naturally occurring compensation in testis size in terrestrial and galliform birds. A study involving 400 Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris) cocks was conducted to determine asymmetry and compensatory growth in the testes as well as age-related changes in absolute and relative testicular asymmetry. The left testis had significantly higher weight, volume and relative weight than the right testis. Similarly, populations of round spermatids, type I spermatocytes, total germ cell, Sertoli efficiency, actual and apparent seminiferous tubular diameters and testicular sperm production were higher in the left than the right testis. Correlations between the left and right testicular gross anatomical and histological biometric traits were strong and positive. Left biased asymmetry was recorded in the Guinea Fowl. Absolute testicular asymmetry increased with age, but tended to stabilise from 20 weeks of age, while relative testicular asymmetry remained stable throughout. Both absolute and relative testicular asymmetries were higher in breeding than non-breeding males. Compensatory growth was recorded in both testes with no difference in the degree of compensation. The left biased asymmetry observed in the Guinea Fowl was reflected in functional differences between the two testes.
Sharply Reduced Biofilm Formation from Cobetia marina and in Black Sea Water on Modified Siloxane Coatings
Authors: Akuzov Danail , Franca Lia , Grunwald Ingo , Vladkova Todorka
Published: April 2018

Siloxane fouling release coatings are currently the only viable non-toxic commercial alternative to toxic biocide antifouling paints. However, they only partially inhibit biofouling since biofilms remain a major issue. With the aim to improve the bacterial resistance of siloxane coatings modified with non-ionic surfactant (NIS), antioxidant (AO) or both NIS/AO, the ability of PEG-silane co-cross-linker was investigated to reduce Cobetia marina adhesion and multispecies biofilm formation from natural seawater. Surface physical-chemical and physical-mechanical parameters relevant to bio-adhesion were estimated before the testing of the biofilm formation. Slightly reduced biofilm from C. marina and sharply reduced multispecies biofilm, formed in natural sea water, were found on the PEG-silane co-cross-linked coatings without modifying additives. However, both C. marina growth and biofilm formation from natural sea water were sharply reduced on the PEG-silane co-cross-linked coatings containing NIS or AO, even more, no C. marina adhesion was seen on the coating containing NIS and AO simultaneously. Possible explanations of the observed effects are presented in this article. It was concluded that the PEG-silane co-cross-linker, toghether with NIS and AO, can be used as an efficient tool to additionally reduce the bioadhesion of Gram-negative marine bacteria and multispecies biofilm formation on siloxane antifouling coatings.
Nonclassicality by Local Gaussian Unitary Operations for Gaussian States
Authors: Wang Yangyang , Qi Xiaofei , Hou Jinchuan
Published: April 2018

A measure of nonclassicality N in terms of local Gaussian unitary operations for bipartite Gaussian states is introduced. N is a faithful quantum correlation measure for Gaussian states as product states have no such correlation and every non product Gaussian state contains it. For any bipartite Gaussian state ρ A B , we always have 0 ≤ N ( ρ A B ) < 1 , where the upper bound 1 is sharp. An explicit formula of N for ( 1 + 1 ) -mode Gaussian states and an estimate of N for ( n + m ) -mode Gaussian states are presented. A criterion of entanglement is established in terms of this correlation. The quantum correlation N is also compared with entanglement, Gaussian discord and Gaussian geometric discord.
Distance Entropy Cartography Characterises Centrality in Complex Networks
Authors: Stella Massimo , De Domenico Manlio
Published: April 2018

We introduce distance entropy as a measure of homogeneity in the distribution of path lengths between a given node and its neighbours in a complex network. Distance entropy defines a new centrality measure whose properties are investigated for a variety of synthetic network models. By coupling distance entropy information with closeness centrality, we introduce a network cartography which allows one to reduce the degeneracy of ranking based on closeness alone. We apply this methodology to the empirical multiplex lexical network encoding the linguistic relationships known to English speaking toddlers. We show that the distance entropy cartography better predicts how children learn words compared to closeness centrality. Our results highlight the importance of distance entropy for gaining insights from distance patterns in complex networks.
Influence of the Applied Working Fluid and the Arrangement of the Steering Edges on Multi-Vane Expander Performance in Micro ORC System
Authors: Rak Józef , Błasiak Przemysław , Kolasiński Piotr
Published: April 2018

Micro-power domestic organic Rankine cycle (ORC) systems are nowadays of great interest. These systems are considered for combined heat and power (CHP) generation in domestic and distributed applications. The main issues of ORC systems design is selection of the expander and the working fluid. Thanks to their positive features, multi-vane expanders are especially promising for application in micro-power ORC systems. These expanders are very simple in design, small in dimensions, inexpensive and feature low gas flow capacity and expansion ratio. The application of multi-vane expanders in ORC systems is innovative and currently limited to prototype applications. However, a literature review indicates the growing interest in these machines and the potential for practical implementation. For this reason, it is necessary to conduct detailed studies on the multi-vane expanders operation in ORC systems. In this paper the results of experimental and numerical investigations on the influence of the applied working fluid and the arrangement of the steering edges on multi-vane expander performance in micro ORC system are reported. The experiments were performed using the specially designed lab test-stand, i.e. the domestic ORC system. Numerical simulations were proceeded in ANSYS CFX software (ANSYS, Inc., Canonsburg, PA, USA) and were focused on determining the expander performance under various flow conditions of different working fluids. Detailed numerical analysis of the arrangement of the machine steering edges showed existence of optimal mutual position of the inlet and outlet port for which the multi-vane expander achieves maximum internal work and internal efficiency.
Cascaded Multilevel Inverter Topology Based on Cascaded H-Bridge Multilevel Inverter
Authors: Noman Abdullah , A. Al-Shamma’a Abdullrahman , Addoweesh Khaled , Alabduljabbar Ayman , Alolah Abdulrahman
Published: April 2018

A three-phase multilevel inverter topology for use in various applications is proposed. The present topology introduces a combination of a cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter with a cascaded three-phase voltage source inverter (three-phase triple voltage source inverter (TVSI)). This combination will increase the number of voltage levels generated when using fewer components compared with the conventional multilevel inverter topologies for the same voltage levels generated. The other advantage gained from the proposed configuration is the assurance of a continuous power supply to the grid in case of failure in one part of the proposed configuration. In addition, the voltage stresses on switches are reduced by half compared if each part in the proposed topology is working independently. The comparison of the proposed topology with some conventional multilevel inverter topologies is presented. The proposed topology is built in the SIMULINK environment and is simulated under various loads in addition to being connected to the grid. Phase-shifted pulse width modulation technique is used to generate the required switching pulses to drive the switches of the proposed topology. The inverter is experimentally implemented in the lab, and the switching pulses are generated with the help of MicroLabBox produced by dSPACE (digital signal processing and control engineering) company. The simulation and experimental results and their comparisons are presented to verify the proposed topology’s effectiveness and reliability.
Coalbed Methane Extraction Using the Self-Oscillating Water Jet Slotting Method
Authors: Liu Chengwei , Xia Binwei , Lu Yiyu
Published: April 2018

Self-oscillating Water Jet (SOWJ) slotting in Coalbed Methane (CBM) is proposed to overcome low gas permeability, high gas desorption, and difficult mining in deep coal beds. SOWJ slotting excitation expands the fracture network, increases coal permeability, and strengthens gas desorption. The coupled effect of these three processes increases CBM extraction. Analysis of the characteristics of SOWJ, the effect of coal slotting, and changes in coal permeability shows that (1) SOWJ impacts on coal-rock mass, forming the erosion–peeling zone, fragmentation zone, and distal conical crack zone in the rock. The jet impact and cavitation sonic vibrating effect generate coal vibration; (2) The slots and fractures formed by the jets release the coal’s elastic energy, depressurising the coal and changing the stress field. The stress redistribution further expands the fractures and the subsequent perforative fracture network; (3) Slot formation increases the coal’s exposed area, changing the gas flow pattern. The decrease of effective stress increases coal permeability; the vibration characteristics of the jets and the cavitation sonic vibrating effect enhance gas desorption, which increases gas emission; (4) Extraction field tests showed that single-hole extraction of CBM from conventional boreholes was 1606 m3 and the average standard scalar volume was 0.01 m3/min, compared to 7081 m3 and 0.042 m3/min for SOWJ slotting boreholes, 4.41 and 4.2 times, respectively, of the conventional boreholes. Thus, SOWJ slotting can significantly improve CBM mining.
Fuzzy Nonlinear Dynamic Evaporator Model in Supercritical Organic Rankine Cycle Waste Heat Recovery Systems
Authors: Chowdhury Jahedul , Nguyen Bao , Thornhill David , Hu Yukun , Soulatiantork Payam , Balta-Ozkan Nazmiye , Varga Liz
Published: April 2018

The organic Rankine cycle (ORC)-based waste heat recovery (WHR) system operating under a supercritical condition has a higher potential of thermal efficiency and work output than a traditional subcritical cycle. However, the operation of supercritical cycles is more challenging due to the high pressure in the system and transient behavior of waste heat sources from industrial and automotive engines that affect the performance of the system and the evaporator, which is the most crucial component of the ORC. To take the transient behavior into account, the dynamic model of the evaporator using renowned finite volume (FV) technique is developed in this paper. Although the FV model can capture the transient effects accurately, the model has a limitation for real-time control applications due to its time-intensive computation. To capture the transient effects and reduce the simulation time, a novel fuzzy-based nonlinear dynamic evaporator model is also developed and presented in this paper. The results show that the fuzzy-based model was able to capture the transient effects at a data fitness of over 90%, while it has potential to complete the simulation 700 times faster than the FV model. By integrating with other subcomponent models of the system, such as pump, expander, and condenser, the predicted system output and pressure have a mean average percentage error of 3.11% and 0.001%, respectively. These results suggest that the developed fuzzy-based evaporator and the overall ORC-WHR system can be used for transient simulations and to develop control strategies for real-time applications.
Cancer Services and Their Initiatives to Improve the Care of Indigenous Australians
Authors: Taylor Emma , Haigh Margaret , Shahid Shaouli , Garvey Gail , Cunningham Joan , Thompson Sandra
Published: April 2018

Indigenous Australians continue to experience significantly poorer outcomes from cancer than non-Indigenous Australians. Despite the importance of culturally appropriate cancer services in improving outcomes, there is a lack of awareness of current programs and initiatives that are aimed at meeting the needs of Indigenous patients. Telephone interviews were used to identify and describe the Indigenous-specific programs and initiatives that are implemented in a subset of the services that participated in a larger national online survey of cancer treatment services. Fourteen services located across Australia participated in the interviews. Participants identified a number of factors that were seen as critical to delivering culturally appropriate treatment and support, including having a trained workforce with effective cross-cultural communication skills, providing best practice care, and improving the knowledge, attitudes, and understanding of cancer by Indigenous people. However, over a third of participants were not sure how their service compared with others, indicating that they were not aware of how other services are doing in this field. There are currently many Indigenous-specific programs and initiatives that are aimed at providing culturally appropriate treatment and supporting Indigenous people affected by cancer across Australia. However, details of these initiatives are not widely known and barriers to information sharing exist. Further research in this area is needed to evaluate programs and initiatives and showcase the effective approaches to Indigenous cancer care.
Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Young Adults: A Survey of Russian Undergraduate Students
Authors: Drachev Sergei , Brenn Tormod , Trovik Tordis
Published: April 2018

Background: Oral health (OH) is poor among young adults in Russia, but there is little information on OH-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in this population. We investigated how socio-demographic factors, self-reported OH characteristics, oral health behaviour, and clinically-assessed OH are related to OHRQoL in medical and dental students in North-West Russia. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 391 medical and 275 dental Russian undergraduate students aged 18–25 years. Information on socio-demographic, self-reported OH characteristics, and oral health behaviour was obtained from a structured, self-administered questionnaire. A clinical examination was performed to assess dental caries experience based on the decayed (D) missing (M) filled (F) teeth (T) index; Simplified Oral Hygiene Index; and Gingival Index. OHRQoL was measured by the OH Impact Profile (OHIP-14). Results: 53.6% of students reported low OHRQoL during the last 12 months. Female sex (odds ratio [OR] = 1.48, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–2.19), rural place of childhood residence (OR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.06–2.28), poor self-assessed dental aesthetic (OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.16–2.64), dissatisfaction with mouth and teeth (OR = 2.51, 95% CI: 1.68–3.77), and DMFT index (OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01–1.09), were all significantly, independently associated with low OHRQoL. Conclusion: Socio-demographic factors (rural place of childhood residence, female sex), poor self-reported OH characteristics, and high DMFT index were associated with low OHRQoL.
DK1 Induces Apoptosis via Mitochondria-Dependent Signaling Pathway in Human Colon Carcinoma Cell Lines In Vitro
Authors: Hussin Yazmin , Aziz Muhammad , Che Rahim Nurul , Yeap Swee , Mohamad Nurul , Masarudin Mas , Nordin Noraini , Abd Rahman Nik , Yong Chean , Akhtar Muhammad , Zamrus Siti , Alitheen Noorjahan
Published: April 2018

Extensive research has been done in the search for innovative treatments against colon adenocarcinomas; however, the incidence rate of patients remains a major cause of cancer-related deaths in Malaysia. Natural bioactive compounds such as curcumin have been substantially studied as an alternative to anticancer drug therapies and have been surmised as a potent agent but, nevertheless, remain deficient due to its poor cellular uptake. Therefore, efforts now have shifted toward mimicking curcumin to synthesize novel compounds sharing similar effects. A synthetic analog, (Z)-3-hydroxy-1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-phenylprop-2-ene-1-one (DK1), was recently synthesized and reported to confer improved bioavailability and selectivity toward human breast cancer cells. This study, therefore, aims to assess the anticancer mechanism of DK1 in relation to the induction of in vitro cell death in selected human colon cancer cell lines. Using the3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay, the cytotoxicity of DK1 towards HT29 and SW620 cell lines were investigated. Acridine orange/propidium iodide (AO/PI) dual-staining assay and flow cytometry analyses (cell cycle analysis, Annexin/V-FITC and JC-1 assays) were incorporated to determine the mode of cell death. To further determine the mechanism of cell death, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and proteome profiling were conducted. Results from this study suggest that DK1 induced changes in cell morphology, leading to a decrease in cell viability and subsequent induction of apoptosis. DK1 treatment inhibited cell viability and proliferation 48 h post treatment with IC50 values of 7.5 ± 1.6 µM for HT29 cells and 14.5 ± 4.3 µM for SW620 cells, causing cell cycle arrest with increased accumulation of cell populations at the sub-G0/G1phaseof 74% and 23%, respectively. Flow cytometry analyses showed that DK1 treatment in cancer cells induced apoptosis, as indicated by DNA fragmentation and depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane. qRT-PCR results show significant upregulation in the expression of caspase-9 in both HT29 and SW620 cell lines, further supporting that cell death induction by DK1 is via an intrinsic pathway. These outcomes, therefore, demonstrate DK1 as a potential anticancer agent for colon adenocarcinoma due to its anti-apoptotic attributes.
The JAK2 GGCC (46/1) Haplotype in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: Causal or Random?
Authors: Anelli Luisa , Zagaria Antonella , Specchia Giorgina , Albano Francesco
Published: April 2018

The germline JAK2 haplotype known as “GGCC or 46/1 haplotype” (haplotypeGGCC_46/1) consists of a combination of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) mapping in a region of about 250 kb, extending from the JAK2 intron 10 to the Insulin-like 4 (INLS4) gene. Four main SNPs (rs3780367, rs10974944, rs12343867, and rs1159782) generating a “GGCC” combination are more frequently indicated to represent the JAK2 haplotype. These SNPs are inherited together and are frequently associated with the onset of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) positive for both JAK2 V617 and exon 12 mutations. The association between the JAK2 haplotypeGGCC_46/1 and mutations in other genes, such as thrombopoietin receptor (MPL) and calreticulin (CALR), or the association with triple negative MPN, is still controversial. This review provides an overview of the frequency and the role of the JAK2 haplotypeGGCC_46/1 in the pathogenesis of different myeloid neoplasms and describes the hypothetical mechanisms at the basis of the association with JAK2 gene mutations. Moreover, possible clinical implications are discussed, as different papers reported contrasting data about the correlation between the JAK2 haplotypeGGCC_46/1 and blood cell count, survival, or disease progression.
Facile Syntheses and Molecular-Docking of Novel Substituted 3,4-Dimethyl-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxamide/carbohydrazide Analogues with Antimicrobial and Antifungal Properties
Authors: Bhosale Jitendra , Dabur Rajesh , Jadhav Gopal , Bendre R.
Published: April 2018

The article describes the use of facile one-pot, high-yielding reactions to synthesize substituted 3,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxamides 3a–m and carbohydrazide analogues 5a–l as potential antifungal and antimicrobial agents. The structural identity and purity of the synthesized compounds were assigned based on appropriate spectroscopic techniques. Synthesized compounds were assessed in vitro for antifungal and antibacterial activity. The compounds 5h, 5i and 5j were found to be the most potent against Aspergillus fumigatus, with MIC values of 0.039 mg/mL. The compound 5f bearing a 2, 6-dichloro group on the phenyl ring was found to be the most active broad spectrum antibacterial agent with a MIC value of 0.039 mg/mL. The mode of action of the most promising antifungal compounds (one representative from each series; 3j and 5h) was established by their molecular docking with the active site of sterol 14α-demethylase. Molecular docking studies revealed a highly spontaneous binding ability of the tested compounds in the access channel away from catalytic heme iron of the enzyme, which suggested that the tested compounds inhibit this enzyme and would avoid heme iron-related deleterious side effects observed with many existing antifungal compounds.
Epigallocatechin Gallate-Modified Gelatin Sponges Treated by Vacuum Heating as a Novel Scaffold for Bone Tissue Engineering
Authors: Honda Yoshitomo , Takeda Yoshihiro , Li Peiqi , Huang Anqi , Sasayama Satoshi , Hara Eiki , Uemura Naoya , Ueda Mamoru , Hashimoto Masanori , Arita Kenji , Matsumoto Naoyuki , Hashimoto Yoshiya , Baba Shunsuke , Tanaka Tomonari
Published: April 2018

Chemical modification of gelatin using epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) promotes bone formation in vivo. However, further improvements are required to increase the mechanical strength and bone-forming ability of fabricated EGCG-modified gelatin sponges (EGCG-GS) for practical applications in regenerative therapy. In the present study, we investigated whether vacuum heating-induced dehydrothermal cross-linking of EGCG-GS enhances bone formation in critical-sized rat calvarial defects. The bone-forming ability of vacuum-heated EGCG-GS (vhEGCG-GS) and other sponges was evaluated by micro-computed tomography and histological staining. The degradation of sponges was assessed using protein assays, and cell morphology and proliferation were verified by scanning electron microscopy and immunostaining using osteoblastic UMR106 cells in vitro. Four weeks after the implantation of sponges, greater bone formation was detected for vhEGCG-GS than for EGCG-GS or vacuum-heated gelatin sponges (dehydrothermal cross-linked sponges without EGCG). In vitro experiments revealed that the relatively low degradability of vhEGCG-GS supports cell attachment, proliferation, and cell–cell communication on the matrix. These findings suggest that vacuum heating enhanced the bone forming ability of EGCG-GS, possibly via the dehydrothermal cross-linking of EGCG-GS, which provides a scaffold for cells, and by maintaining the pharmacological effect of EGCG.
Tracing Actin Filament Bundles in Three-Dimensional Electron Tomography Density Maps of Hair Cell Stereocilia
Authors: Sazzed Salim , Song Junha , Kovacs Julio , Wriggers Willy , Auer Manfred , He Jing
Published: April 2018

Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) is a powerful method of visualizing the three-dimensional organization of supramolecular complexes, such as the cytoskeleton, in their native cell and tissue contexts. Due to its minimal electron dose and reconstruction artifacts arising from the missing wedge during data collection, cryo-ET typically results in noisy density maps that display anisotropic XY versus Z resolution. Molecular crowding further exacerbates the challenge of automatically detecting supramolecular complexes, such as the actin bundle in hair cell stereocilia. Stereocilia are pivotal to the mechanoelectrical transduction process in inner ear sensory epithelial hair cells. Given the complexity and dense arrangement of actin bundles, traditional approaches to filament detection and tracing have failed in these cases. In this study, we introduce BundleTrac, an effective method to trace hundreds of filaments in a bundle. A comparison between BundleTrac and manually tracing the actin filaments in a stereocilium showed that BundleTrac accurately built 326 of 330 filaments (98.8%), with an overall cross-distance of 1.3 voxels for the 330 filaments. BundleTrac is an effective semi-automatic modeling approach in which a seed point is provided for each filament and the rest of the filament is computationally identified. We also demonstrate the potential of a denoising method that uses a polynomial regression to address the resolution and high-noise anisotropic environment of the density map.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure and DFT Studies of a New Dinuclear Ag(I)-Malonamide Complex
Authors: Soliman Saied , Barakat Assem , Islam Mohammad , Ghabbour Hazem
Published: April 2018

The synthesis and structural aspects of a new dinuclear silver (I) complex with malonamide type ligand (L) is reported. Each Ag ion in the [Ag2L2(NO3)2]·H2O complex is coordinated to two ligands, L, each acting as a bridged ligand via its two pyridine arms; Ag(I) acts as a connector between them. Two types of Ag-ligands close contacts were detected: Ag–N1, Ag–N4 from the two L units, and Ag–O5, Ag—O6 from the two nitrate anions, wherein both the nitrate ions are inside the cage formed by the [Ag2L2] unit. The coordination geometry around each Ag(I) is a distorted tetrahedron. The [Ag2L2(NO3)2] complex units are connected by weak intermolecular C—H…O interactions. The different intermolecular interactions were quantified using Hirshfeld surface analysis. Using two DFT methods (B3LYP and WB97XD), the nature and strength of the Ag–N and Ag–O interactions were described using atoms in molecules (AIM) and natural bond orbital (NBO) analyses. Topological parameters indicated that the strength of the two Ag–N bonds was similar, while that of the two Ag–O interactions were significantly different. Moreover, the Ag–N interactions have a predominant covalent character, while the Ag–O interactions are mainly ionic. The NBO analysis indicated that the most important anti-bonding Ag-orbital in these interactions has an s-orbital character.
Continuous Separation of Light Olefin/Paraffin Mixtures on ZIF-4 by Pressure Swing Adsorption and Membrane Permeation
Authors: Hovestadt Maximilian , Friebe Sebastian , Helmich Lailah , Lange Marcus , Möllmer Jens , Gläser Roger , Mundstock Alexander , Hartmann Martin
Published: April 2018

In this study, two zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) called ZIF-4 and ZIF-zni (zni is the network topology) were characterized by sorption studies regarding their paraffin/olefin separation potential. In particular, equilibrated pure and mixed gas adsorption isotherms of ethane and ethene were recorded at 293 K up to 3 MPa. ZIF-4 exhibits selectivities for ethane in the range of 1.5–3, which is promising for continuous pressure swing adsorption (PSA). ZIF-4 shows high cycle stability with promising separation potential regarding ethane, which results in purification of the more industrial desired olefin. Furthermore, both ZIF materials were implemented in Matrimid to prepare a mixed matrix membrane (MMM) and were used in the continuous separation of a propane/propene mixture. The separation performance of the neat polymer is drastically increased after embedding porous ZIF-4 crystals in the Matrimid matrix, especially at higher feed pressures (3–5 barg). Due to the smaller kinetic diameter of the olefin, the permeability is higher compared to the paraffin.
Almonds and Cardiovascular Health: A Review
Authors: Kalita Soumik , Khandelwal Shweta , Madan Jagmeet , Pandya Himanshu , Sesikeran Boindala , Krishnaswamy Kamala
Published: April 2018

Several preventive strategies to reduce dyslipidemia have been suggested, of which dietary modification features as an important one. Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and strategies to manage dyslipidemia have been shown to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although there are proven pharmacological therapies to help manage this condition, nutritional interventions are a safer option to help prevent and manage dyslipidemia. Addition of almonds in the daily diet has been proposed to beneficially impact the lipid profile. This review critically examines the available evidence assessing the effect of almonds on dyslipidemia in the South Asian (particularly Indian) context. An extensive review comprised of epidemiological studies, clinical trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews was conducted from published literature from across the world. Studies examining the effect of almonds on different aspects of dyslipidemia viz. high low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceridaemia, and high total cholesterol levels have been included. In several studies, almonds have been shown to reduce LDL-C—which is a known risk factor for CHD—and the effect of almonds has been well documented in systematic reviews and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Addition of almonds in the diet has been shown to not only to reduce LDL-C levels, but also to maintain HDL-C levels. This review provides information about the use of this simple nutritional strategy which may help manage known major risk factors for heart disease, such as high LDL-C and low HDL-C levels especially in the context of South Asians.
A Flexible Sensing Unit Manufacturing Method of Electrochemical Seismic Sensor
Authors: Li Guanglei , Sun Zhenyuan , Wang Junbo , Chen Deyong , Chen Jian , Chen Lianhong , Xu Chao , Qi Wenjie , Zheng Yu
Published: April 2018

This paper presents an electrochemical seismic sensor in which paraylene was used as a substrate and insulating layer of micro-fabricated electrodes, enabling the detection of seismic signals with enhanced sensitivities in comparison to silicon-based counterparts. Based on microfabrication, paralene-based electrochemical seismic sensors were fabricated in which the thickness of the insulating spacer was 6.7 μm. Compared to silicon-based counterparts with ~100 μm insulating layers, the parylene-based devices produced higher sensitivities of 490.3 ± 6.1 V/(m/s) vs. 192.2 ± 1.9 V/(m/s) at 0.1 Hz, 4764.4 ± 18 V/(m/s) vs. 318.9 ± 6.5 V/(m/s) at 1 Hz, and 4128.1 ± 38.3 V/(m/s) vs. 254.5 ± 4.2 V/(m/s) at 10 Hz. In addition, the outputs of the parylene vs. silicon devices in response to two transit inputs were compared, producing peak responses of 2.97 V vs. 0.22 V and 2.41 V vs. 0.19 V, respectively. Furthermore, the self-noises of parylene vs. silicon-based devices were compared as follows: −82.3 ± 3.9 dB vs. −90.4 ± 9.4 dB at 0.1 Hz, −75.7 ± 7.3 dB vs. −98.2 ± 9.9 dB at 1 Hz, and −62.4 ± 7.7 dB vs. −91.1 ± 8.1 dB at 10 Hz. The developed parylene-based electrochemical seismic sensors may function as an enabling technique for further detection of seismic motions in various applications.
A Novel Well Drill Assisted with High-Frequency Vibration Using the Bending Mode
Authors: Qi Xinda , Chen Weishan , Liu Yingxiang , Tang Xintian , Shi Shengjun
Published: April 2018

It is important for companies to increase the efficiency of drilling as well as prolong the lifetime of the drilling tool. Since some previous investigations indicated that a superposition of well drilling with an additional vibration increases the drilling efficiency, this paper introduces a novel well drill which is assisted with additional vibrations by means of piezoelectric sandwich bending vibration transducer. The proposed drill uses bending vibrations in two different directions to from an elliptical trajectory movement, which can help the drill to break the surface of hard material more efficiently and clean away the lithic fragments more easily. The proposed well drill with bending vibration transducer is designed to have a resonance frequency of the first bending vibration mode of about 1779 Hz. The motion equation of the particle on the edge of the drill bit is developed and analyzed. The vibration trajectory of the particle on the edge of the drill bit is calculated by using finite element method. A prototype of the proposed drill using bending vibrations is fabricated and tested to verify the aim of drilling efficiency increase. The feed speed of the vibration assisted drilling is tested to be about 0.296 mm/s when the excitation voltage of the transducer is 300 V, while this speed decreases to about 0.195 mm/s when no vibration is added. This comparison shows that the feed speed of the vibration assisted drilling is about 52% higher than that of the normal drilling, which means the proposed drill has a better efficiency and it is important to consider vibration superimposition in well drilling. In addition, the surface of the drill hole gained by the vibration assisted drilling is smoother than that of the normal drilling, which makes the clearance easier.
Joint Decisions on Emission Reduction and Inventory Replenishment with Overconfidence and Low-Carbon Preference
Authors: Ji Shoufeng , Zhao Dan , Peng Xiaoshuai
Published: April 2018

This paper presents a game-theoretical analysis of joint decisions on carbon emission reduction and inventory replenishment with overconfidence and consumer’s low-carbon preference for key supply chain players when facing effort-dependent demand. We consider respectively the overconfidence of a supplier who overestimates the impacts of his emission reduction efforts on product demand and the overconfidence of a retailer who underestimates the variability of the stochastic demand. We find, surprisingly, that the supplier’s overconfidence can mitigate “double marginalization” but hurt self-profit, while the retailer’s overconfidence can be an irrelevant factor for self-profit. The retailer aiming at short-term trading should actively seek an overconfident supplier, while the supplier should actively seek a rational retailer for whom the critical fractile is more than 0.5, whereas for an overconfident retailer, the critical fractile is less than or equal to 0.5. The study also underlines the effect of regulation parameters as an important contextual factor influencing low-carbon operations.
Pessimism on the Food Front
Authors: Ehrlich Paul , Harte John
Published: April 2018

Virtually all trends, biophysical and socioeconomic, suggest that levels of hunger, already high, will only increase as the human population grows and its life-support systems are degraded. Steps that might ameliorate the situation are, unhappily, nowhere in sight.
Governing Transactions and Interdependences between Linked Value Chains in a Circular Economy: The Case of Wastewater Reuse in Braunschweig (Germany)
Authors: Maaß Oliver , Grundmann Philipp
Published: April 2018

Reusing wastewater in agriculture has attracted increasing attention as a strategy to support the transition towards the circular economy in the water and agriculture sector. As a consequence, there is great interest in solutions for governing the transactions and interdependences between the associated value chains. This paper explores the institutions and governance structures for coordinating transactions and interdependences between actors in linked value chains of wastewater treatment and crop production. It aims to analyze how transactions and interdependences shape the governance structures for reusing wastewater at the local level. A transaction costs analysis based on data from semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire is applied to the agricultural wastewater reuse scheme of the Wastewater Association Braunschweig (Germany). The results show that different governance structures are needed to match with the different properties and requirements of the transactions and activities between linked value chains of wastewater treatment and crop production. Interdependences resulting from transactions between wastewater providers and farmers increase the need for hybrid and hierarchical elements in the governance structures for wastewater reuse. The authors conclude that aligning governance structures with transactions and interdependences is key to efficiently governing transactions and interdependences between linked value chains in a circular economy.
Viability of Green Roofs as a Flood Mitigation Element in the Central Region of Chile
Authors: Mora-Melià Daniel , López-Aburto Carlos , Ballesteros-Pérez Pablo , Muñoz-Velasco Pedro
Published: April 2018

Population increase and urban development over the last 20 years in Chile have outgrown most rainwater drainage and evacuation systems. Many cities located in the central region suffer from frequent floods in some of their sectors during winter rainfall events. In addition, the lack of green spaces in these cities leads to biodiversity loss, increasing temperatures, greater energy demands, etc. Green roofs offer a solution that can mitigate climate change by reducing the runoff in cities with extensive, highly impermeable areas. This work analyses the installation of green roofs as a potential solution to the sectorial floods suffered by many cities in central Chile. The methodology includes the identification of conflictive sectors in the city of Curicó, hydrological modelling with the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) software, the consideration of different distributions and types of green roof surfaces, and computational simulations to determine the feasibility of green roofs for preventing floods. The results show that, for moderate rainfall events, all studied sectors could avoid flooding if at least 50% of the surrounding area had green roofs (irrespective of the type of green roof). In contrast, in the presence of strong rainfall events, only some semi-extensive and extensive green roofs covering 60% to 95% of the surrounding area, respectively, could prevent flooding.
Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Disposal in the Belt and Road Initiative: A Preliminary Proposal for Chengdu City
Authors: Huang Junhan , Zhao Rui , Huang Tao , Wang Xiaoqian , Tseng Ming-Lang
Published: April 2018

The Chinese green Belt and Road initiative is promoted. This study takes Chengdu as a key hub under the Belt and Road initiative. The municipal solid waste disposal is the point to control pollution and move toward sustainability. Hence, sustainable municipal solid waste disposal needs to be studied. The prior studies are absent in the planning scenarios analysis. This study proposes a case study to propose three planning scenarios for waste disposal to enhance its sustainability. Scenario 1 represents the current waste disposal mode in Chengdu; Scenario 2 considers all the wastes being incinerated; and Scenario 3 focuses on the incorporation of three disposal methods, i.e., anaerobic digestion, incineration, and landfilling. These three scenarios are assessed based on their greenhouse gas emissions, costs, and public acceptance, to determine the optimality for future managerial practice. Results indicated that Scenario 3 has the highest overall efficiency, yet is challenging in terms of economic feasibility. The limitations of the study are also discussed.
Driving Behaviour and Sustainable Mobility—Policies and Approaches Revisited
Authors: Keyvanfar Ali , Shafaghat Arezou , Muhammad Nasiru , Ferwati M.
Published: April 2018

Climate change is receiving increasing attention in recent years. The transportation sector contributes substantially to increased fuel consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and poor air quality, which imposes a serious respiratory health hazard. Road transport has made a significant contribution to this effect. Consequently, many countries have attempted to mitigate climate change using various strategies. This study analysed and compared the number of policies and other approaches necessary to achieve reduced fuel consumption and carbon emission. Frequency aggregation indicates that the mitigation policies associated with driving behaviours adopted to curtail this consumption and decrease hazardous emissions, as well as a safety enhancement. Furthermore, car-sharing/carpooling was the least investigated approach to establish its influence on mitigation of climate change. Additionally, the influence of such driving behaviours as acceleration/deceleration and the compliance to speed limits on each approach was discussed. Other driving behaviours, such as gear shifting, compliance to traffic laws, choice of route, and idling and braking style, were also discussed. Likewise, the influence of aggression, anxiety, and motivation on driving behaviour of motorists was highlighted. The research determined that driving behaviours can lead to new adaptive driving behaviours and, thus, cause a significant decrease of vehicle fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Recomputing Causality Assignments on Lumped Process Models When Adding New Simplification Assumptions
Authors: Belmonte Antonio , Garrido Juan , Jiménez Jorge , Vázquez Francisco
Published: April 2018

This paper presents a new algorithm for the resolution of over-constrained lumped process systems, where partial differential equations of a continuous time and space model of the system are reduced into ordinary differential equations with a finite number of parameters and where the model equations outnumber the unknown model variables. Our proposal is aimed at the study and improvement of the algorithm proposed by Hangos-Szerkenyi-Tuza. This new algorithm improves the computational cost and solves some of the internal problems of the aforementioned algorithm in its original formulation. The proposed algorithm is based on parameter relaxation that can be modified easily. It retains the necessary information of the lumped process system to reduce the time cost after introducing changes during the system formulation. It also allows adjustment of the system formulations that change its differential index between simulations.