bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teknologi Portable Inflated Greenhouse Sebagai Fasilitas Pendukung Peningkatan Ketahanan Pangan Dan Pertanian Perkotaan (Urban Farming)
Authors: Nasihien Ronny Durrotun , Wulandari Diah Ayu Restuti , Zacoeb Achfas , . Harimurti , Setiawan M. Ikhsan
Published: February 2018

Pertanian Perkotaan (Urban Farming) memanfaatkan intensifikasi lahan, guna memenuhi kebutuhan sayuran dan buah segar sehari-hari bagi masyarakat pemukiman/perumahan di perkotaan. Teknologi Portable inflated Greenhouse sebagai fasilitas pendukung produksi pertanian perkotaan, dapat dibangun serta dipindahkan ke lokasi pemukiman/perumahan tertentu secara mudah, aman, cepat dan ringan (0,55mm PVC Terpaulin) sehingga produk pertanian perkotaan semakin dekat dengan konsumen pemukiman di perkotaan, dampaknya harga semakin murah namun berkualitas. Tujuan jangka panjang adalah mengembangkan protitipe Portable inflated Greenhouse sebagai fasilitas Urban Farming yang memenuhi aspek kekuatan, kecepatan, efektifitas, kenyamanan serta mendorong hasil panen tanaman buah/sayuran hidroponik yang higienis, murah dan menguntungkan, sehingga produk Portable inflated Greenhouse otomatis mendukung peningkatan produksi pangan Nasional. Target khusus adalah tersedianya protitipe Portable inflated Greenhouse sebagai fasilitas Urban Farming guna peningkatan produktifitas tanaman buah/sayuran hidroponik higienis, murah dan menguntungkan, sehingga berprospek tinggi untuk diproduksi massal guna memenuhi kebutuhan pangan Nasional. Metode Penelitian menggunakan Metode Eksperimen dan Action Research, diawali dengan pengembangan rancang bangun, pembuatan, pengujian dan perbaikan prototipe Portable inflated Greenhouse meliputi (1) uji kekuatan dan ketahanan bahan Portable inflated Greenhouse terhadap cuaca, (2) uji bahan Portable inflated Greenhouse yang paling efektif sebagai komponen struktur, (3) uji kecepatan pembuatan, pengangkutan, perakitan, pemasangan, pembongkaran Portable inflated Greenhouse, (4) uji temperatur, kelembaban dan tekanan udara didalam Portable inflated Greenhouse, (5) uji tanaman buah/sayuran hidroponik yang cocok dikembangkan dalam bangunan portable inflated greenhouse sehingga diperoleh hasil panen yang higienis, murah dan menguntungkan. Tahun pertama melakukan pengembangan rancang bangun prototipe Portable inflated Greenhouse, dilanjutkan pembuatan prototipe dan diakhiri dengan uji coba prototipe serta uji coba lapangan di di Lab Universitas Narotama, dipublikasikan pada Seminar/Proceeding Internasional dan Jurnal Internasional terindex, diajukan registrasi PATEN KemenkumHAM. Hasil penelitian berupa Teknologi Tepat Guna dipublikasikan pada Seminar/Proceeding Internasional dan Jurnal Internasional terindex, diproses PATEN KemenkumHAM, serta layak diproduksi massal guna mendukung percepatan produksi pangan Nasional yang higienis, murah dan menguntungkan.
Assessing and Explaining the Efficiency of Extensive Olive Oil Farmers: The Case of Pelion Peninsula in Greece
Authors: Niavis Spyros , Tamvakis Nikos , Manos Basil , Vlontzos George
Published: February 2018

The production of olives and olive oil in the Mediterranean region is one of the most important cultivations. The continuous changes imposed by the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) towards strengthening the influence of market forces have increased the necessity for the assessment of the efficiency of production protocols or patterns being implemented by the farmers. As regards olive trees cultivation, the efficiency of inputs utilization has not been studied in depth, despite the fact that this is a critical issue for both farmers and consumers. This study evaluates the efficiency rates of 100 Greek agricultural holdings specialized on olive trees cultivation by implementing a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) input oriented model. The inputs being used are land, fertilizers, agrochemicals, labour, and energy. The output being used is the revenue of each holding. The results quantify the significant variations of efficiency scores, providing evidence that there is space for restructuring the production process, in order to improve efficiency and thus decrease the production cost of inefficient farmers.
Bi-Functionalized Clay Nanotubes for Anti-Cancer Therapy
Authors: Grimes William , Luo Yangyang , McFarland Antwine , Mills David
Published: February 2018

Systemic toxicity is an undesired consequence of the majority of chemotherapeutic drugs. Multifunctional nanoparticles with combined diagnostic and therapeutic functions show great promise towards personalized nanomedicine. Halloysite clay nanotubes (HNTs) have shown potential as a drug delivery vehicle, and its surface can be modified and tailored as a targeted drug delivery system. In this short report, we modified the HNT surface by covalently bonding folic acid (FA) and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). The modification of HNTs with folic acid imparts the potential to target tumor cells selectively. The addition of FITC offers a method for quantifying the effectiveness of the FA tagged HNTs ability to target tumor cells. We documented cell uptake of our bi-functionalized HNT (bHNT) through phase contrast and epi-fluorescent microscopy. bHNTs showed no signs of cytotoxicity up to a concentration of 150 µg/mL. The increase in cell death with increased bHNT concentration may be due to induced cytotoxicity resulting from intracellular bHNT accumulation that disrupts cellular function leading to cell death. With HNTs recognized as having the ability to serve as both a nanocontainer and nanocarrier, we envision our construct as a potential modular platform for potential use in cancer therapeutics. The HNT interior can be loaded with a variety of anti-cancer drugs (or other chemotherapeutics) and serve as a “death cargo” designed to kill cancer cells while providing feedback imaging data on drug efficacy. The surface of the HNT can be modified with gold or silver nanoparticles and used in photothermal therapy by converting light to heat inside tumors. Our HNT-based drug delivery system has the potential to provide localized and targeted therapies that limit or reduce side effects, reduce patient costs and length of hospital stays, and improve quality of life. However, further research is needed to validate the potential of this new chemotherapeutic drug delivery system.
Multidimensional Analysis of the Effects of Waste Materials on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Recycled Mixtures with Foamed Bitumen
Authors: Mazurek Grzegorz , Iwański Marek
Published: February 2018

The paper reports the results from the tests of recycled mixture samples containing waste materials. Six types of waste materials were used in the mineral mix, in various configurations. Statistical inference was based on the multidimensional analysis through the reduction of input data size. Three groups of recycled mixtures were identified, each representing significantly different properties. The first group included rigid recycled mixtures, the second group comprised flexible mixtures, and those with the lowest cohesion and rigidity were in the third group. The statistical inference demonstrated that the recycled mixtures with waste materials to be most recommended were those with a high bitumen content (>2.5%). A high proportion of reclaimed asphalt pavement material was found to provide high performance of the recycled mixture, whereas recycled aggregate reduced the stiffness of the mix and its resistance to moisture.
Neuroprotective Effects of neuroEPO Using an In Vitro Model of Stroke
Authors: Fernando Garzón , Yamila Rodríguez , Cesar García , Ramón Rama
Published: February 2018

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein initially identified as a hormone synthesized and secreted by the kidney that regulates erythropoiesis. EPO, and a group of its derivatives, are being evaluated as possible neuroprotective agents in cerebral ischemia. The objective of this study, using an in vitro model, was to determine how neuroEPO—which is a variant of EPO with a low sialic acid content—protects neurons from the toxic action of glutamate. Primary neuronal cultures were obtained from the forebrains of Wistar rat embryos after 17 days of gestation. Excitotoxicity was induced after nine days of in vitro culture by treatment with a medium containing 100 µM glutamate for 15 min. After this time, a new medium containing 100 ng of neuroEPO/mL was added. Morphological cell change was assessed by phase-contrast microscopy. Oxidative stress was analysed by measuring antioxidant and oxidant activity. After 24 h, the treatment with 100 ng of neuroEPO/mL showed a significant (p < 0.01) decrease in mortality, compared to cells treated with glutamate alone. neuroEPO treatment decreased mortality and tended to reproduce the morphological characteristics of the control. The oxidative stress induced by glutamate is reduced after neuroEPO treatment. These results confirm that neuroEPO has a protective effect against neuronal damage induced by excitotoxicity, improving antioxidant activity in the neuron, and protecting it from oxidative stress.
Oriented Decoration in Metal-Functionalized Ordered Mesoporous Silicas and Their Catalytic Applications in the Oxidation of Aromatic Compounds
Authors: Zhou Shijian , Yang Fu , Wang Bangbang , Su Hang , Lu Kangchao , Ding Yun , Lei Kai , Xu Man , Shao Bo , Wang Yun , Kong Yan
Published: February 2018

Ordered mesoporous silicas (OMSs) attract considerable attention due to their advanced structural properties. However, for the pristine silica materials, the inert property greatly inhibits their catalytic applications. Thus, to contribute to the versatile surface of OMSs, different metal active sites, including acidic/basic sites and redox sites, have been introduced into specific locations (mesoporous channels and framework) of OMSs and the metal-functionalized ordered mesoporous silicas (MOMSs) show great potential in the catalytic applications. In this review, we first present the categories of metal active sites. Then, the synthesized processes of MOMSs are thoroughly discussed, in which the metal active sites would be introduced with the assistance of organic groups into the specific locations of OMSs. In addition, the structural morphologies of OMSs are elaborated and the catalytic applications of MOMSs in the oxidation of aromatic compounds are illustrated in detail. Finally, the prospects for the future development in this field are proposed.
Scientific Peer Review: Guidelines for Informative Peer Review. By J. Matthias Starck. Springer Spektrum: Wiesbaden, Germany, 2017; 60 pp.; ISBN: 978-3-658-19915-9
Authors: Sanganyado Edmond
Published: February 2018

Peer-reviewed publications, such as journal articles, book reviews, and books are critical in the dissemination of scientific knowledge [...]
Arc-Sprayed Fe-Based Coatings from Cored Wires for Wear and Corrosion Protection in Power Engineering
Authors: Yury Korobov , Filiрpov Michael , Makarov Aleksey , Malygina Irina , Soboleva Natalia , Fantozzi Davide , Andrea Milanti , Koivuluoto Heli , Vuoristo Petri
Published: February 2018

High wear and corrosion of parts lead to an increase in operating costs at thermal power plants. The present paper shows a possible solution to this problem through the arc spraying of protective coatings. Cored wires of the base alloying system Fe-Cr-C were used as a feedstock. Rise of wear- and heat-resistance of the coatings was achieved by additional alloying with Al, B, Ti, and Y. The wear and heat resistance of the coatings were tested via a two-body wear test accompanied by microhardness measurement and the gravimetric method, respectively. A high-temperature corrosion test was performed at 550 °C under KCl salt deposition. The porosity and adhesion strengths of the coatings were also evaluated. The microstructure was investigated with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) unit equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) microanalyzer, and the phase composition was assessed by X-ray diffractometry. The test results showed the positive influence of additional alloying with Y on the coating properties. A comparison with commercial boiler materials showed that the coatings have the same level of heat resistance as austenite steels and are an order of magnitude higher than that of pearlite and martensite-ferrite steels. The coatings can be applied to wear- and heat-resistant applications at 20–700 °C.
Effect of Hexagonal Phase Content on Wear Behaviour of AlTiN Arc PVD Coatings
Authors: Kohlscheen Joern , Bareiss Christian
Published: February 2018

In this study, the effect of increasing aluminum content and magnetic steering field strength on the structure and wear behavior of arc PVD AlTiN coatings is discussed. Deposition was done by means of an industrial-scale PVD unit for tool coating. The aluminium content in the AlTi source material was increased from 67 to 73 at.%. We applied two settings of the magnetic field that steers the arc across the cathode surface thereby evaporating the AlTi alloy differently. The resulting coating thickness ranged from 3.5 to about 7 µm. Cemented tungsten carbide was used as substrate material. Coating properties like hardness, adhesion, and crystal phases were analyzed by indentation and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The wear behaviour of the different AlTiN hard coatings were investigated in two ways. In a first idealized test, cyclic impacting was done applying a constant force. The resulting wear pattern was quantified by an Alicona multi-focus microscope. A second wear test was done by metal cutting under realistic conditions. Fly milling of ductile cast iron (EN-GJS-700) was performed with regular interruptions in order to measure the increasing wear mark. As expected, aluminium contents above 67 at.% (in the metal fraction of the coating) lead to a decreased wear resistance as the soft hexagonal phase exceeds values of a few vol.%. However, it was found that the formation of the hexagonal phase can be effectively influenced and delayed by increasing the magnetic steering field at the cathode. The wear behavior observed in cyclic impact testing corresponds well to results obtained with the more complex loading situation encountered in milling.
Damping Oriented Design of Thin-Walled Mechanical Components by Means of Multi-Layer Coating Technology
Authors: Catania Giuseppe , Strozzi Matteo
Published: February 2018

The damping behaviour of multi-layer composite mechanical components, shown by recent research and application papers, is analyzed. A local dissipation mechanism, acting at the interface between any two different layers of the composite component, is taken into account, and a beam model, to be used for validating the known experimental results, is proposed. Multi-layer prismatic beams, consisting of a metal substrate and of some thin coated layers exhibiting variable stiffness and adherence properties, are considered in order to make it possible to study and validate this assumption. A dynamical model, based on a simple beam geometry but taking into account the previously introduced local dissipation mechanism and distributed visco-elastic constraints, is proposed. Some different application examples of specific multi-layer beams are considered, and some numerical examples concerning the beam free and forced response are described. The influence of the multilayer system parameters on the damping behaviour of the free and forced response of the composite beam is investigated by means of the definition of some damping estimators. Some effective multi-coating configurations, giving a relevant increase of the damping estimators of the coated structure with respect to the same uncoated structure, are obtained from the model simulation, and the results are critically discussed.
Improved Capacity and Fairness of Massive Machine Type Communications in Millimetre Wave 5G Network
Authors: Al-Falahy Naser , Alani Omar
Published: February 2018

In the Fifth Generation (5G) wireless standard, the Internet of Things (IoT) will interconnect billions of Machine Type Communications (MTC) devices. Fixed and mobile wearable devices and sensors are expected to contribute to the majority of IoT traffic. MTC device mobility has been considered with three speeds, namely zero (fixed) and medium and high speeds of 30 and 100 kmph. Different values for device mobility are used to simulate the impact of device mobility on MTC traffic. This work demonstrates the gain of using distributed antennas on MTC traffic in terms of spectral efficiency and fairness among MTC devices, which affects the number of devices that can be successfully connected. The mutual use of Distributed Base Stations (DBS) with Remote Radio Units (RRU) and the adoption of the millimetre wave band, particularly in the 26 GHz range, have been considered the key enabling technologies for addressing MTC traffic growth. An algorithm has been set to schedule this type of traffic and to show whether MTC devices completed their traffic upload or failed to reach the margin. The gains of the new architecture have been demonstrated in terms of spectral efficiency, data throughput and the fairness index.
Pigment Production by the Edible Filamentous Fungus Neurospora Intermedia
Authors: Gmoser Rebecca , Ferreira Jorge , Lundin Magnus , Taherzadeh Mohammad , Lennartsson Patrik
Published: February 2018

The production of pigments by edible filamentous fungi is gaining attention as a result of the increased interest in natural sources with added functionality in the food, feed, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and textile industries. The filamentous fungus Neurospora intermedia, used for production of the Indonesian food “oncom”, is one potential source of pigments. The objective of the study was to evaluate the fungus’ pigment production. The joint effect from different factors (carbon and nitrogen source, ZnCl2, MgCl2 and MnCl2) on pigment production by N. intermedia is reported for the first time. The scale-up to 4.5 L bubble column bioreactors was also performed to investigate the effect of pH and aeration. Pigment production of the fungus was successfully manipulated by varying several factors. The results showed that the formation of pigments was strongly influenced by light, carbon, pH, the co-factor Zn2+ and first- to fourth-order interactions between factors. The highest pigmentation (1.19 ± 0.08 mg carotenoids/g dry weight biomass) was achieved in a bubble column reactor. This study provides important insights into pigmentation of this biotechnologically important fungus and lays a foundation for future utilizations of N. intermedia for pigment production.
Biological Production of 3-Hydroxypropionic Acid: An Update on the Current Status
Authors: Matsakas Leonidas , Hrůzová Kateřina , Rova Ulrika , Christakopoulos Paul
Published: February 2018

The production of high added-value chemicals from renewable resources is a necessity in our attempts to switch to a more sustainable society. 3-Hydroxypropionic acid (3HP) is a promising molecule that can be used for the production of an important array of high added-value chemicals, such as 1,3-propanediol, acrylic acid, acrylamide, and bioplastics. Biological production of 3HP has been studied extensively, mainly from glycerol and glucose, which are both renewable resources. To enable conversion of these carbon sources to 3HP, extensive work has been performed to identify appropriate biochemical pathways and the enzymes that are involved in them. Novel enzymes have also been identified and expressed in host microorganisms to improve the production yields of 3HP. Various process configurations have also been proposed, resulting in improved conversion yields. The intense research efforts have resulted in the production of as much as 83.8 g/L 3HP from renewable carbon resources, and a system whereby 3-hydroxypropionitrile was converted to 3HP through whole-cell catalysis which resulted in 184.7 g/L 3HP. Although there are still challenges and difficulties that need to be addressed, the research results from the past four years have been an important step towards biological production of 3HP at the industrial level.
Future Directions for Transuranic Single Molecule Magnets
Authors: Magnani Nicola , Caciuffo Roberto
Published: February 2018

Single Molecule Magnets (SMMs) based on transition metals and rare earths have been the object of considerable attention for the past 25 years. These systems exhibit slow relaxation of the magnetization, arising from a sizeable anisotropy barrier, and magnetic hysteresis of purely molecular origin below a given blocking temperature. Despite initial predictions that SMMs based on 5f-block elements could outperform most others, the results obtained so far have not met expectations. Exploiting the versatile chemistry of actinides and their favorable intrinsic magnetic properties proved, indeed, to be more difficult than assumed. However, the large majority of studies reported so far have been dedicated to uranium molecules, thus leaving the largest part of the 5f-block practically unexplored. Here, we present a short review of the progress achieved up to now and discuss some options for a possible way forward.
Printing Smart Designs of Light Emitting Devices with Maintained Textile Properties
Authors: Verboven Inge , Stryckers Jeroen , Mecnika Viktorija , Vandevenne Glen , Jose Manoj , Deferme Wim
Published: February 2018

To maintain typical textile properties, smart designs of light emitting devices are printed directly onto textile substrates. A first approach shows improved designs for alternating current powder electroluminescence (ACPEL) devices. A configuration with the following build-up, starting from the textile substrate, was applied using the screen printing technique: silver (10 µm)/barium titanate (10 µm)/zinc-oxide (10 µm) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)poly(styrenesulfonate) (10 µm). Textile properties such as flexibility, drapability and air permeability are preserved by implementing a pixel-like design of the printed layers. Another route is the application of organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) fabricated out of following layers, also starting from the textile substrate: polyurethane or acrylate (10–20 µm) as smoothing layer/silver (200 nm)/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)poly(styrenesulfonate) (35 nm)/super yellow (80 nm)/calcium/aluminum (12/17 nm). Their very thin nm-range layer thickness, preserving the flexibility and drapability of the substrate, and their low working voltage, makes these devices the possible future in light-emitting wearables.
Carbon-Based Nanomaterials/Allotropes: A Glimpse of Their Synthesis, Properties and Some Applications
Authors: Nasir Salisu , Hussein Mohd , Zainal Zulkarnain , Yusof Nor
Published: February 2018

Carbon in its single entity and various forms has been used in technology and human life for many centuries. Since prehistoric times, carbon-based materials such as graphite, charcoal and carbon black have been used as writing and drawing materials. In the past two and a half decades or so, conjugated carbon nanomaterials, especially carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, activated carbon and graphite have been used as energy materials due to their exclusive properties. Due to their outstanding chemical, mechanical, electrical and thermal properties, carbon nanostructures have recently found application in many diverse areas; including drug delivery, electronics, composite materials, sensors, field emission devices, energy storage and conversion, etc. Following the global energy outlook, it is forecasted that the world energy demand will double by 2050. This calls for a new and efficient means to double the energy supply in order to meet the challenges that forge ahead. Carbon nanomaterials are believed to be appropriate and promising (when used as energy materials) to cushion the threat. Consequently, the amazing properties of these materials and greatest potentials towards greener and environment friendly synthesis methods and industrial scale production of carbon nanostructured materials is undoubtedly necessary and can therefore be glimpsed as the focal point of many researchers in science and technology in the 21st century. This is based on the incredible future that lies ahead with these smart carbon-based materials. This review is determined to give a synopsis of new advances towards their synthesis, properties, and some applications as reported in the existing literatures.
Encapsulation of Multiple Microalgal Cells via a Combination of Biomimetic Mineralization and LbL Coating
Authors: Kim Minjeong , Choi Myoung , Ra Ho , Park Seung , Kim Yong-Joo , Lee Kyubock
Published: February 2018

The encapsulation of living cells is appealing for its various applications to cell-based sensors, bioreactors, biocatalysts, and bioenergy. In this work, we introduce the encapsulation of multiple microalgal cells in hollow polymer shells of rhombohedral shape by the following sequential processes: embedding of microalgae in CaCO3 crystals; layer-by-layer (LbL) coating of polyelectrolytes; and removal of sacrificial crystals. The microcapsule size was controlled by the alteration of CaCO3 crystal size, which is dependent on CaCl2/Na2CO3 concentration. The microalgal cells could be embedded in CaCO3 crystals by a two-step process: heterogeneous nucleation of crystal on the cell surface followed by cell embedment by the subsequent growth of crystal. The surfaces of the microalgal cells were highly favorable for the crystal growth of calcite; thus, micrometer-sized microalgae could be perfectly occluded in the calcite crystal without changing its rhombohedral shape. The surfaces of the microcapsules, moreover, could be decorated with gold nanoparticles, Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), by which we would expect the functionalities of a light-triggered release, magnetic separation, and enhanced mechanical and electrical strength, respectively. This approach, entailing the encapsulation of microalgae in semi-permeable and hollow polymer microcapsules, has the potential for application to microbial-cell immobilization for high-biomass-concentration cultivation as well as various other bioapplications.
On Generalized Pata Type Contractions
Authors: Jacob Geno Kadwin , Khan M. S. , Park Choonkil , Yun Sungsik
Published: February 2018

In this paper, the existence of fixed point for Pata type Zamfirescu mapping in a complete metric space is proved. Our result give existence of fixed point for a wider class of functions and also prove the existence of best proximity point to the result on “A fixed point theorem in metric spaces”, given by vittorino Pata.
An Algorithmic Comparison of the Hyper-Reduction and the Discrete Empirical Interpolation Method for a Nonlinear Thermal Problem
Authors: Fritzen Felix , Haasdonk Bernard , Ryckelynck David , Schöps Sebastian
Published: February 2018

A novel algorithmic discussion of the methodological and numerical differences of competing parametric model reduction techniques for nonlinear problems is presented. First, the Galerkin reduced basis (RB) formulation is presented, which fails at providing significant gains with respect to the computational efficiency for nonlinear problems. Renowned methods for the reduction of the computing time of nonlinear reduced order models are the Hyper-Reduction and the (Discrete) Empirical Interpolation Method (EIM, DEIM). An algorithmic description and a methodological comparison of both methods are provided. The accuracy of the predictions of the hyper-reduced model and the (D)EIM in comparison to the Galerkin RB is investigated. All three approaches are applied to a simple uncertainty quantification of a planar nonlinear thermal conduction problem. The results are compared to computationally intense finite element simulations.
Chlorinated Azaphilone Pigments with Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities Isolated from the Deep Sea Derived Fungus Chaetomium sp. NA-S01-R1
Authors: Wang Weiyi , Liao Yanyan , Chen Ruixuan , Hou Yanping , Ke Wenqian , Zhang Beibei , Gao Maolin , Shao Zongze , Chen Jianming , Li Fang
Published: February 2018

Four novel compounds, chaephilone C (1), chaetoviridides A–C (2–4), were obtained from the culture of a deep sea derived fungus Chaetomium sp. NA-S01-R1, together with four known compounds—chaetoviridin A (5), chaetoviridine E (6), chaetomugilin D (7) and cochliodone A (8). Their structures, including absolute configurations, were assigned based on NMR, MS and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) ECD calculations. A plausible biogenetic pathway for compounds 1–3 was proposed. Compounds 2 and 3 exhibited antibacterial activities against Vibrio rotiferianus and Vibrio vulnificus. Compounds 1, 3 and 4 displayed similar anti-methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (anti-MRSA) activities in comparison to chloramphenicol. Compound 2 showed the most potent cytotoxic activities towards the Hep G2 cell and compounds 1 and 3 demonstrated relatively stronger cytotoxic activities than the other compounds against the HeLa cell.
Untargeted Metabolomics Profiling of an 80.5 km Simulated Treadmill Ultramarathon
Authors: Howe Christopher , Alshehri Ahmed , Muggeridge David , Mullen Alexander , Boyd Marie , Spendiff Owen , Moir Hannah , Watson David
Published: February 2018

Metabolomic profiling of nine trained ultramarathon runners completing an 80.5 km self-paced treadmill-based time trial was carried out. Plasma samples were obtained from venous whole blood, collected at rest and on completion of the distance (post-80.5 km). The samples were analyzed by using high-resolution mass spectrometry in combination with both hydrophilic interaction (HILIC) and reversed phase (RP) chromatography. The extracted putatively identified features were modeled using Simca P 14.1 software (Umetrics, Umea, Sweden). A large number of amino acids decreased post-80.5 km and fatty acid metabolism was affected with an increase in the formation of medium-chain unsaturated and partially oxidized fatty acids and conjugates of fatty acids with carnitines. A possible explanation for the complex pattern of medium-chain and oxidized fatty acids formed is that the prolonged exercise provoked the proliferation of peroxisomes. The peroxisomes may provide a readily utilizable form of energy through formation of acetyl carnitine and other acyl carnitines for export to mitochondria in the muscles; and secondly may serve to regulate the levels of oxidized metabolites of long-chain fatty acids. This is the first study to provide evidence of the metabolic profile in response to prolonged ultramarathon running using an untargeted approach. The findings provide an insight to the effects of ultramarathon running on the metabolic specificities and alterations that may demonstrate cardio-protective effects.
Pyrophosphate-Inhibition of Apatite Formation Studied by In Situ X-Ray Diffraction
Authors: Ibsen Casper , Birkedal Henrik
Published: February 2018

The pathways to crystals are still under debate, especially for materials relevant to biomineralization, such as calcium phosphate apatite known from bone and teeth. Pyrophosphate is widely used in biology to control apatite formation since it is a potent inhibitor of apatite crystallization. The impacts of pyrophosphate on apatite formation and crystallization kinetics are, however, not fully understood. Therefore, we studied apatite crystallization in water by synchrotron in situ X-ray diffraction. Crystallization was conducted from calcium chloride (0.2 M) and sodium phosphate (0.12 M) at pH 12 where hydrogen phosphate is the dominant phosphate species and at 60 °C to allow the synchrotron measurements to be conducted in a timely fashion. Following the formation of an initial amorphous phase, needle shaped crystals formed that had an octacalcium phosphate-like composition, but were too small to display the full 3D periodic structure of octacalcium phosphate. At later growth stages the crystals became apatitic, as revealed by changes in the lattice constant and calcium content. Pyrophosphate strongly inhibited nucleation of apatite and increased the onset of crystallization from minute to hour time scales. Pyrophosphate also reduced the rate of growth. Furthermore, when the pyrophosphate concentration exceeded ~1% of the calcium concentration, the resultant crystals had reduced size anisotropy suggesting that pyrophosphate interacts in a site-specific manner with the formation of apatite crystals.
Enhancing the Bioconversion of Azelaic Acid to Its Derivatives by Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Khairudin Nurshafira , Basri Mahiran , Fard Masoumi Hamid , Samson Shazwani , Ashari Siti
Published: February 2018

Azelaic acid (AzA) and its derivatives have been known to be effective in the treatment of acne and various cutaneous hyperpigmentary disorders. The esterification of azelaic acid with lauryl alcohol (LA) to produce dilaurylazelate using immobilized lipase B from Candida antarctica (Novozym 435) is reported. Response surface methodology was selected to optimize the reaction conditions. A well-fitting quadratic polynomial regression model for the acid conversion was established with regards to several parameters, including reaction time and temperature, enzyme amount, and substrate molar ratios. The regression equation obtained by the central composite design of RSM predicted that the optimal reaction conditions included a reaction time of 360 min, 0.14 g of enzyme, a reaction temperature of 46 °C, and a molar ratio of substrates of 1:4.1. The results from the model were in good agreement with the experimental data and were within the experimental range (R2 of 0.9732).The inhibition zone can be seen at dilaurylazelate ester with diameter 9.0±0.1 mm activities against Staphylococcus epidermidis S273. The normal fibroblasts cell line (3T3) was used to assess the cytotoxicity activity of AzA and AzA derivative, which is dilaurylazelate ester. The comparison of the IC50 (50% inhibition of cell viability) value for AzA and AzA derivative was demonstrated. The IC50 value for AzA was 85.28 μg/mL, whereas the IC50 value for AzA derivative was more than 100 μg/mL. The 3T3 cell was still able to survive without any sign of toxicity from the AzA derivative; thus, it was proven to be non-toxic in this MTT assay when compared with AzA.
The Antioxidant and Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitory Activity of Plumeria rubra Flowers
Authors: Mohamed Isa Siti , Ablat Abdulwali , Mohamad Jamaludin
Published: February 2018

Plumeria rubra Linn of the family Apocynaceae is locally known in Malaysia as “Kemboja”. It has been used by local traditional medicine practitioners for the treatment of arthritis-related disease. The LCMS/MS analysis of the methanol extract of flowers (PR-ME) showed that it contains 3-O-caffeyolquinic acid, 5-caffeoquinic acid, 1,3-dicaffeoquinic acid, chlorogenic acid, citric acid, 3,3-di-O-methylellagic acid, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, kaempferol-3-rutinoside, kaempferol, quercetin 3-O-α-l-arabinopyranoside, quercetin, quinic acid and rutin. The flower PR-ME contained high amounts of phenol and flavonoid at 184.632 mg GAE/g and 203.2.2 mg QE/g, respectively. It also exhibited the highest DPPH, FRAP, metal chelating, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide superoxide radical scavenging activity. Similarly, the XO inhibitory activity in vitro assay possesses the highest inhibition effects at an IC50 = 23.91 μg/mL. There was no mortality or signs of toxicity in rats at a dose of 4 g/kg body weight. The administration of the flower PR-ME at doses of 400 mg/kg to the rats significantly reduced serum uric acid 43.77%. Similarly, the XO activity in the liver was significantly inhibited by flower PR-ME at doses of 400 mg/kg. These results confirm that the flower PR-ME of P. rubra contains active phytochemical compounds as detected in LCMS/MS that contribute to the inhibition of XO activity in vitro and in vivo in reducing acid uric level in serum and simultaneously scavenging the free radical to reduce the oxidative stress.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Performance Evaluation of Sulfur-Containing Diphenylamines Based on Intramolecular Synergism
Authors: He Jun-Bo , Shi Hao , Wang Yue , Gao Xin-Lei
Published: February 2018

To obtain novel structural antioxidants that have different antioxidant mechanisms, four 2-(alkylthio)-N-(4-(phenylamino)phenyl)acetamides 2a–d as dual functional antioxidants are designed, synthesized, and confirmed by 1H-NMR, FTIR, MS, and elemental analysis. The antioxidant behavior of compounds 2a–d as additives of base oil triisodecyl trimellitate (TIDTM) is evaluated by non-isothermal and isothermal DSC analyses. The results showed all compounds can greatly increase the incipient oxidation temperature (IOT) and oxidation induction time (OIT) of TIDTM, especially, compound 2c exhibited an OIT value of 72.5 min at 230 °C, which is almost 28 times the length of TIDTM. Moreover, compounds 2a–d do not affect the tribological performance of TIDTM. The mechanism of antioxidants involved an intramolecular synergism are proposed. This work demonstrates compound 2c can be used as a novel potential antioxidant additive of TIDTM; in addition, it would inspire the emergence of highly potent antioxidants with different antioxidant mechanisms.
Comparative Analysis of Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Activity and Quantitative Characterization of Some Phenolic Compounds in Selected Herbs and Spices in Different Solvent Extraction Systems
Authors: Sepahpour Shabnam , Selamat Jinap , Abdul Manap Mohd , Khatib Alfi , Abdull Razis Ahmad
Published: February 2018

This study evaluated the efficacy of various organic solvents (80% acetone, 80% ethanol, 80% methanol) and distilled water for extracting antioxidant phenolic compounds from turmeric, curry leaf, torch ginger and lemon grass extracts. They were analyzed regarding the total phenol and flavonoid contents, antioxidant activity and concentration of some phenolic compounds. Antioxidant activity was determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Quantification of phenolic compounds was carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). All the extracts possessed antioxidant activity, however, the different solvents showed different efficiencies in the extraction of phenolic compounds. Turmeric showed the highest DPPH values (67.83–13.78%) and FRAP (84.9–2.3 mg quercetin/g freeze-dried crude extract), followed by curry leaf, torch ginger and lemon grass. While 80% acetone was shown to be the most efficient solvent for the extraction of total phenolic compounds from turmeric, torch ginger and lemon grass (221.68, 98.10 and 28.19 mg GA/g freeze dried crude extract, respectively), for the recovery of phenolic compounds from curry leaf (92.23 mg GA/g freeze-dried crude extract), 80% ethanol was the most appropriate solvent. Results of HPLC revealed that the amount of phenolic compounds varied depending on the types of solvents used.
Reduction of Hexavalent Chromium and Detection of Chromate Reductase (ChrR) in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
Authors: Baldiris Rosa , Acosta-Tapia Natali , Montes Alfredo , Hernández Jennifer , Vivas-Reyes Ricardo
Published: February 2018

An Gram negative strain of S. maltophilia, indigenous to environments contaminated by Cr(VI) and identified by biochemical methods and 16S rRNA gene analysis, reduced chromate by 100%, 98–99% and 92% at concentrations in the 10–70, 80–300, and 500 mg/L range, respectively at pH 7 and temperature 37 °C. Increasing concentrations of Cr(VI) in the medium lowered the growth rate but could not be directly correlated with the amount of Cr(VI) reduced. The strain also exhibited multiple resistance to antibiotics and tolerance and resistance to various heavy metals (Ni, Zn and Cu), with the exception of Hg. Hexavalent chromium reduction was mainly associated with the soluble fraction of the cell evaluated with crude cell-free extracts. A protein of molecular weight around 25 kDa was detected on SDS-PAGE gel depending on the concentration of hexavalent chromium in the medium (0, 100 and 500 mg/L). In silico analysis in this contribution, revealed the presence of the chromate reductase gene ChrR in S. maltophilia, evidenced through a fragment of around 468 bp obtained experimentally. High Cr(VI) concentration resistance and high Cr(VI) reducing ability of the strain make it a suitable candidate for bioremediation.
Novel Conjugated Polymers Prepared by Direct (Hetero) arylation: An Eco-Friendly Tool for Organic Electronics
Authors: Liu Fuchuan , Zhang Yangqian , Wang Hang , Zhang Shiming
Published: February 2018

The phthalimide (PhI) moiety has been attracting more attention as an excellent acceptor building block in donor-acceptor (D-A) conjugated polymers. In this paper; three D-A conjugated polymers with or without thiocarbonyl moieties are successfully prepared by the direct (hetero)-arylation polymerization (DHAP), which is an atom efficient and facile synthetic strategy to obtain polymer materials. Compared with the traditional carbon-carbon coupling reactions, this method possesses more advantages, including: fewer synthetic steps, avoidance of the preparation of the organometallic reagents, higher atom economy and fewer toxic byproducts, better compatibility with chemically sensitive functional groups and so on. All three of these designed PhI-based polymers exhibited favourable optoelectronic and thermal performance. The optical, thermodynamic and electrochemical properties of the synthesized polymers were systematically investigated using ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The results of these three polymers indicated that thionation of the carbonyl was a highly effective methods to improve the properties of PhI-based polymers; and provided impetus for the development of thionated PhI derivatives for organic electronic applications.
Small Molecules: Therapeutic Application in Neuropsychiatric and Neurodegenerative Disorders
Authors: Schiavone Stefania , Trabace Luigia
Published: February 2018

In recent years, an increasing number of studies have been published, focusing on the potential therapeutic use of small catalytic agents with strong biological properties. So far, most of these works have only regarded specific clinical fields, such as oncology, infectivology and general pathology, in particular with respect to the treatment of significant inflammatory processes. However, interesting data on possible therapeutic applications of small molecules for the treatment of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative illnesses are emerging, especially with respect to the possibility to modulate the cellular redox state. Indeed, a crucial role of redox dysregulation in the pathogenesis of these disorders has been widely demonstrated by both pre-clinical and clinical studies, being the reduction of the total amount of free radicals a promising novel therapeutic approach for these diseases. In this review, we focused our interest on studies published during the last ten years reporting therapeutic potential of small molecules for the treatment of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, also based on the biological efficiency of these compounds in detecting intracellular disturbances induced by increased production of reactive oxygen species.
Qualitative and Quantitative Detection of PrPSc Based on the Controlled Release Property of Magnetic Microspheres Using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR)
Authors: Lou Zhichao , Han He , Mao Dun , Jiang Yibin , Song Jianyue
Published: February 2018

Prion protein (PrPSc) has drawn widespread attention due to its pathological potential to prion diseases. In this work, we constructed a novel surface plasmon resonance (SPR) detection assay involving magnetic microspheres (MMs) and its controlled release property, for selective capture, embedding, concentration, and SPR detection of PrPSc with high sensitivity and specificity. Aptamer-modified magnetic particles (AMNPs) were used to specifically capture PrPSc. Amphiphilic copolymer was used to embed the labeled PrPSc and form magnetic microspheres to isolate PrPSc from the external environment. Static magnetic and alternating magnetic fields were used to concentrate and control release the embedded PrPSc, respectively. Finally, the released AMNPs-labeled PrPSc was detected by SPR which was equipped with a bare gold sensing film. A good linear relationship was obtained between SPR responses and the logarithm of PrPSc concentrations over a range of 0.01–1000 ng/mL. The detection sensitivity for PrPSc was improved by 10 fold compared with SPR direct detection format. The specificity of the present biosensor was also determined by PrPC and other reagents as controls. This proposed approach could also be used to isolate and detect other highly pathogenic biomolecules with similar structural characteristics by altering the corresponding aptamer in the AMNPs conjugates.
Accounting for the Boundary Problem at Subnational Level: The Supply–Demand Balance of Biomass Cooking Fuels in Kitui County, Kenya
Authors: Bär Roger , Ehrensperger Albrecht
Published: February 2018

In sub-Saharan Africa, the high demand for wood-based cooking fuels calls for urgent policy action to steer the cooking energy sector towards more sustainability. While the subnational scale is growing in importance for policy planning, current energy assessments still only consider individual entities without taking into account resource flows. Ignoring flows of biomass cooking fuels in supply–demand assessments is a system boundary problem that can lead to misleading policy recommendations. In this paper, we tackle the boundary problem in subnational supply–demand assessments and provide a tool to support knowledge-based decision-making on the management of biomass cooking fuels in sub-Saharan Africa. Using Kitui County as a case study, we developed and tested an approach consisting of a supply model, local demand model, balance model, availability model, and adjusted balance model. The balance model only considers local fuel supplies and demand, whereas the adjusted balance model also considers external demand, which reduces the locally available supply of fuel. The results show that fuel demand and supply are spatially heterogeneous and vary between wood-based and non-woody fuels, and that the transport distance of fuels strongly affects local fuel availability and determines whether the supply–demand balance is positive or negative. We conclude that subnational energy policies should consider geographical distribution of supply and demand, aim to increase the fuel mix, consider external demand in supply–demand assessments, and differentiate between fuels for self-consumption and the market.
An Equity Autopsy: Exploring the Role of Water Rights in Water Allocations and Impacts for the Central Valley Project during the 2012–2016 California Drought
Authors: Sugg Zachary
Published: February 2018

Entrenched Western water rights regimes may appear to function relatively well in wet years, but extreme drought events can expose the kinds of harsh ecological and socio-economic outcomes that the hard edges of prior appropriation inherently generate. During the 2012–2016 California drought some irrigators received little or no water at all in consecutive years while others received comparatively large allocations. This paper focuses on the role that California’s water rights priority system and its administration via Central Valley Project contracts have played in generating disproportionate water allocations and impacts during the drought. The analysis is structured around two key questions: (a) in what ways does strict adherence to a priority system of water allocations produce inequitable socio-ecological outcomes during severe drought? (b) how might the system be changed to foster outcomes that are more equitable and fair, and with less costly and less serious conflicts in a non-stationary climate future marked by extreme events? Using an equity perspective, I draw from the doctrine of equitable apportionment to imagine a water rights regime that is better able to create a fairer distribution of drought impacts while meaningfully elevating the importance of future generations and increasing adaptive capacity.