bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Statistical Process Control on Port State Control
Authors: Yuan Chien-Chung , Chung Wu-Hsun , Cai Cunqiang , Sung Shu-Te
Published: September 2020

Port state control (PSC) inspection is a critical measure in maritime safety, preventing substandard ships from entering ports. However, the current inspection system lacks an effective tool to monitor ship inspections and to identify which factors cause abnormal instances. Although statistical process control (SPC) has been proven an effective tool in process control in various other industries, this study is a pioneer in exploring the application of SPC on maritime inspections. In this paper, the inspection records collected in Taiwan’s ports are utilized to construct control charts of inspection deficiencies so as to identify time-independent abnormal instances in inspections. Following that, a cause-and-effect diagram is conducted to trace the cause of those abnormal instances occurring at a specific time period. The results demonstrate that SPC is effective to monitor maritime inspections and is capable of identifying time-dependent abnormal instances. From a managerial and practical perspective, port administrations can use SPC to identify time-dependent abnormal instances and take proactive actions to mitigate the non-random phenomena in PSC inspections. To keep deficiency occurring in a stable and low profile, port administrations need persistent and consistent inspection requirements and avoid non-routine inspections. Meanwhile, inspectors with various specialties and backgrounds require consistent training.
Spatial–Temporal Variability of the Calculated Characteristics of the Ocean in the Arctic Zone of Russia by Using the NEMO Model with Altimetry Data Assimilation
Authors: Belyaev Konstantin , Kuleshov Andrey , Smirnov Ilya
Published: September 2020

The spatial–temporal variability of the calculated characteristics of the ocean in the Arctic zone of Russia is studied. In this study, the known hydrodynamic model of the ocean Nucleus for European Modelling of the Ocean (NEMO) is used with assimilation of observation data on the sea surface height taken from the Archiving, Validating and Interpolation Satellite Observation (AVISO) archive. We use the Generalized Kalman filter (GKF) method, developed earlier by the authors of this study, in conjunction with the method of decomposition of symmetric matrices into empirical orthogonal functions (EOF, Karhunen–Loeve decomposition). The investigations are focused mostly on the northern seas of Russia. The main characteristics of the ocean, such as the current velocity, sea surface height, and sea surface temperature are calculated with data assimilation (DA) and without DA (the control calculation). The calculation results are analyzed and their spatial–temporal variability over a time period of 14 days is studied. It is shown that the main spatial variability of characteristics after DA is in good agreement with the localization of currents in the North Atlantic and in the Arctic zone of Russia. The contribution of each of the eigenvectors and eigenvalues of the covariation matrix to the spatial–temporal variability of the calculated characteristics is shown by using the EOF analysis.
Effect of Maneuvering on Ice-Induced Loading on Ship Hull: Dedicated Full-Scale Tests in the Baltic Sea
Authors: Suominen Mikko , Li Fang , Lu Liangliang , Kujala Pentti , Bekker Anriëtte , Lehtiranta Jonni
Published: September 2020

Maneuvers in level ice are common operations for icebreakers and polar supply vessels. Maneuvering exposes the midship and stern area to ice interaction, influencing the magnitude and frequency of ice-induced loading in these areas. However, full-scale measurements do not typically cover the midship and stern areas, as measurements have commonly focused on the bow area. Controlled maneuvering tests were conducted during the ice trials of S.A. Agulhas II in the Baltic Sea. During these tests, ice-induced loading at different hull areas was measured simultaneously with ship control, navigation, and ice condition data. This work studied the effect of maneuvers on the characteristics and statistics of ice-induced loading at different hull areas and compared the impact to ahead operations. The study showed that the maneuvers had minor impact to the magnitude, frequency, and duration of loading at the bow and bow shoulder. On the other hand, maneuvers had a clear effect on the load magnitude and frequency at the stern shoulder. Additionally, a statistical analysis showed that the load magnitude increased as a function of load duration in all hull areas. Furthermore, the analyzed measurement data are presented and made available with the paper.
Application of Probiotic Yeasts on Candida Species Associated Infection
Authors: Kunyeit Lohith , K A Anu-Appaiah , Rao Reeta P.
Published: September 2020

Superficial and life-threatening invasive Candida infections are a major clinical challenge in hospitalized and immuno-compromised patients. Emerging drug-resistance among Candida species is exacerbated by the limited availability of antifungals and their associated side-effects. In the current review, we discuss the application of probiotic yeasts as a potential alternative/ combination therapy against Candida infections. Preclinical studies have identified several probiotic yeasts that effectively inhibit virulence of Candida species, including Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, Candida krusei and Candida auris. However, Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii is the only probiotic yeast commercially available. In addition, clinical studies have further confirmed the in vitro and in vivo activity of the probiotic yeasts against Candida species. Probiotics use a variety of protective mechanisms, including posing a physical barrier, the ability to aggregate pathogens and render them avirulent. Secreted metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids effectively inhibit the adhesion and morphological transition of Candida species. Overall, the probiotic yeasts could be a promising effective alternative or combination therapy for Candida infections. Additional studies would bolster the application of probiotic yeasts.
Corporate Governance Characteristics of Private SMEs’ Annual Report Submission Violations
Authors: Lukason Oliver , Camacho-Miñano María-del-Mar
Published: September 2020

Managers are, by law, responsible for the timely disclosure of financial information through annual reports, but despite that, it is usual that they are engaged in the unethical behaviour of not meeting the submission deadlines set in law. This paper sheds light on the afore-given issue by aiming to find out how corporate governance characteristics are associated with annual report deadline violations in private micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We use the population of SMEs from Estonia, in total 77,212 unique firms, in logistic regression analysis with the delay of presenting an annual report over the legal deadline as the dependent and relevant corporate governance characteristics as the independent variables. Our results indicate that the presence of woman on the board, higher manager’s age, longer tenure and a larger proportion of stock owned by board members lead to less likely violation of the annual report submission deadline, but in turn, the presence of more business ties and existence of a majority owner behave in the opposite way. The likelihood of violation does not depend on board size. We also check the robustness of the obtained results with respect to the severity of delay, firm age and size, which all indicate a varying importance of the explanatory corporate governance characteristics.
Spatial and Ecological Farmer Knowledge and Decision-Making about Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity
Authors: Kpienbaareh Daniel , Bezner Kerr Rachel , Luginaah Isaac , Wang Jinfei , Lupafya Esther , Dakishoni Laifolo , Shumba Lizzie
Published: September 2020

Amid climate change, biodiversity loss and food insecurity, there is the growing need to draw synergies between micro-scale environmental processes and practices, and macro-level ecosystem dynamics to facilitate conservation decision-making. Adopting this synergistic approach can improve crop yields and profitability more sustainably, enhance livelihoods and mitigate climate change. Using spatially explicit data generated through a public participatory geographic information system methodology (n = 37), complemented by spatial analysis, interviews (n = 68) and focus group discussions (n = 4), we explored the synergies between participatory farmer-to-farmer agroecology knowledge sharing, farm-level decisions and their links with macro-level prioritization of conservation strategies. We mapped farm conditions and ecosystem services (ES) of two village areas with varying knowledge systems about farming. Results of the farm-level analysis revealed variations in spatial perception among farmers, differences in understanding the dynamics of crop growth and varying priorities for extension services based on agroecological knowledge. The ES use pattern analysis revealed hotspots in the mapped ES indicators with similarities in both village areas. Despite the similarities in ES use, priorities for biodiversity conservation align with farmers’ understanding of farm processes and practices. Farmers with training in agroecology prioritized strategies that are ecologically friendly while farmers with no agroecology training prioritized the use of strict regulations. Importantly, the results show that agroecology can potentially contribute to biodiversity conservation and food security, with climate change mitigation co-benefits. The findings generally contribute to debates on land sparing and land sharing conservation strategies and advance social learning theory as it pertains to acquiring agroecological knowledge for improved yield and a sustainable environment.
Urban Cadastral Situation in Ecuador: Analysis to Determine the Degree of Proximity of the Cadastral Systems to the 3D Cadastral Model
Authors: Velastegui-Cáceres Julia , Rodríguez-Espinosa Víctor M. , Padilla-Almeida Oswaldo
Published: September 2020

As 3D cadastres offer advantages in several areas by providing information with greater accuracy and a high level of detail, a diagnosis of the cadastral situation is required prior to the implementation of a 3D cadastral model. Therefore, this study focuses on diagnosing the urban cadastral situation in Ecuador based on an analysis of eight cantonal decentralized autonomous governments that were selected primarily for the availability of their cadastral information. The twelve characteristics included in the analysis supported the definition of a cadastral development scale based on the fulfillment of each characteristic. The official cadastral databases, meetings, and interviews with personnel related to the cadastres were used in the analysis to gain in-depth knowledge of the situation in each canton. The findings demonstrated that most cantons had similar characteristics and are at an intermediate level of cadastral development. Therefore, there is the need for cantons to have standardized cadastral information in accordance with national and international regulations. Thus, in this research, we developed an initial Ecuadorian land administration domain model country profile to initiate the transition towards 3D cadastre.
Customizable 3D-Printed (Co-)Cultivation Systems for In Vitro Study of Angiogenesis
Authors: Siller Ina G. , Epping Niklas-Maximilian , Lavrentieva Antonina , Scheper Thomas , Bahnemann Janina
Published: September 2020

Due to the ever-increasing resolution of 3D printing technology, additive manufacturing is now even used to produce complex devices for laboratory applications. Personalized experimental devices or entire cultivation systems of almost unlimited complexity can potentially be manufactured within hours from start to finish—an enormous potential for experimental parallelization in a highly controllable environment. This study presents customized 3D-printed co-cultivation systems, which qualify for angiogenesis studies. In these systems, endothelial and mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSC) were indirectly co-cultivated—that is, both cell types were physically separated through a rigid, 3D-printed barrier in the middle, while still sharing the same cell culture medium that allows for the exchange of signalling molecules. Biochemical-based cytotoxicity assays initially confirmed that the 3D printing material does not exert any negative effects on cells. Since the material also enables phase contrast and fluorescence microscopy, the behaviour of cells could be observed over the entire cultivation via both. Microscopic observations and subsequent quantitative analysis revealed that endothelial cells form tubular-like structures as angiogenic feature when indirectly co-cultured alongside AD-MSCs in the 3D-printed co-cultivation system. In addition, further 3D-printed devices are also introduced that address different issues and aspire to help in varying experimental setups. Our results mark an important step forward for the integration of customized 3D-printed systems as self-contained test systems or equipment in biomedical applications.
Orientation and Aggregation of Polymer Chains in the Straight Electrospinning Jet
Authors: Subbotin Andrey , Kulichikhin Valery
Published: September 2020

The dynamics of a straight section of a jet arising during the electrospinning of a polymer solution without entanglements, and the orientation of polymer chains in the jet were explored based on the analysis of the forces balance equation and the rheological equation of the finitely extensible nonlinear elastic model. Two modes of the jet behavior were predicted. At relatively low volumetric flow rates, the straight jet has a limited length, after that, its rectilinear motion becomes impossible, while at higher flow rates, the jet always remains straightforward. It is shown that polymer chains in a jet can be strongly stretched, which leads to phase separation in a spinning solution. Aggregation of the stretched chains was also studied and the parameters of the emerging inhomogeneous structure were predicted.
Melt-Spun Fibers for Textile Applications
Authors: Hufenus Rudolf , Yan Yurong , Dauner Martin , Kikutani Takeshi
Published: September 2020

Textiles have a very long history, but they are far from becoming outdated. They gain new importance in technical applications, and man-made fibers are at the center of this ongoing innovation. The development of high-tech textiles relies on enhancements of fiber raw materials and processing techniques. Today, melt spinning of polymers is the most commonly used method for manufacturing commercial fibers, due to the simplicity of the production line, high spinning velocities, low production cost and environmental friendliness. Topics covered in this review are established and novel polymers, additives and processes used in melt spinning. In addition, fundamental questions regarding fiber morphologies, structure-property relationships, as well as flow and draw instabilities are addressed. Multicomponent melt-spinning, where several functionalities can be combined in one fiber, is also discussed. Finally, textile applications and melt-spun fiber specialties are presented, which emphasize how ongoing research efforts keep the high value of fibers and textiles alive.
The In Vivo Toxicity and Antimicrobial Properties for Electrolyzed Oxidizing (EO) Water-Based Mouthwashes
Authors: Hsieh Yi-Ling , Yao Jiun-Cheng , Hsieh Sung-Chih , Teng Nai-Chia , Chu You-Tai , Yu Wen-Xin , Chen Chung-He , Chang Liang-Yu , Huang Ching-Shuan , Lee Tzu-Hsin , Kareiva Aivaras , Yang Jen-Chang
Published: September 2020

The objective of this study was to verify the feasibility of electrolyzed oxidizing (EO) water as a mouthwash through the evaluation of its in vivo toxicity by embryonic zebrafish and antimicrobial efficacy against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). Methodology: Each 1.5–3.0 g of sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium bromide (NaBr), or calcium chloride (CaCl2) were added into an electrolyzer with 300 mL of DD water to produce electrolyzed oxidizing (EO) water. A zebrafish embryo assay was used to evaluate acute toxicity of specimens. Antimicrobial property was conducted with 100 μL microbial count of 1 × 108 cfu/mL S. mutans to blend with each 10 mL specimen of chlorhexidine (CHX) gluconate or hypochlorous acid (HOCl) for various time points. The concentration of viable microorganisms was assessed according to individually standardized inoculum by a plate-count method. Results: Among the EO water produced from NaCl, NaBr, and CaCl2, the EO water from NaCl showed a relatively low mortality rate of zebrafish embryos and was chosen for a detailed investigation. The mortality rates for the groups treated with EO water containing 0.0125% and 0.0250% HOCl were not statically different from those of a negative control, however the mortality rate was 66.7 ± 26.2% in 0.2% CHX gluconate for the same treatment time of 0.5 min. All of the HOCl or 2.0% CHX gluconate groups showed >99.9% antimicrobial effectiveness against S. mutans; while the 0.2% CHX gluconate group showed a bacterial reduction rate of 87.5% and 97.1% for treatment times of 0.5 min and 1.0 min, respectively. Conclusions: Except for the 0.2% CHX gluconate, all the HOCl specimens and 2.0% CHX gluconate revealed similar antimicrobial properties (>99.9%) against S. mutans. The EO water comprised of both 0.0125% and 0.0250% HOCl showed >99.9% antimicrobial efficacy but with little in vivo toxicity, illuminating the possibility as an alternative mouthwash for dental and oral care.
Mechanical Properties of SLM-Printed Aluminium Alloys: A Review
Authors: Ponnusamy Panneer , Rahman Rashid Rizwan Abdul , Masood Syed Hasan , Ruan Dong , Palanisamy Suresh
Published: September 2020

Selective laser melting (SLM) is a powder bed fusion type metal additive manufacturing process which is being applied to manufacture highly customised and value-added parts in biomedical, defence, aerospace, and automotive industries. Aluminium alloy is one of the widely used metals in manufacturing parts in SLM in these sectors due to its light weight, high strength, and corrosion resistance properties. Parts used in such applications can be subjected to severe dynamic loadings and high temperature conditions in service. It is important to understand the mechanical response of such products produced by SLM under different loading and operating conditions. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the latest research carried out in understanding the mechanical properties of aluminium alloys processed by SLM under static, dynamic, different build orientations, and heat treatment conditions with the aim of identifying research gaps and future research directions.
Silicon Oxycarbide-Graphite Electrodes for High-Power Energy Storage Devices
Authors: Knozowski Dominik , Graczyk-Zajac Magdalena , Trykowski Grzegorz , Wilamowska-Zawłocka Monika
Published: September 2020

Herein we present a study on polymer-derived silicon oxycarbide (SiOC)/graphite composites for a potential application as an electrode in high power energy storage devices, such as Lithium-Ion Capacitor (LIC). The composites were processed using high power ultrasound-assisted sol-gel synthesis followed by pyrolysis. The intensive sonication enhances gelation and drying process, improving the homogenous distribution of the graphitic flakes in the preceramic blends. The physicochemical investigation of SiOC/graphite composites using X-ray diffraction, 29Si solid state NMR and Raman spectroscopy indicated no reaction occurring between the components. The electrochemical measurements revealed enhanced capacity (by up to 63%) at high current rates (1.86 A g−1) recorded for SiOC/graphite composite compared to the pure components. Moreover, the addition of graphite to the SiOC matrix decreased the value of delithiation potential, which is a desirable feature for anodes in LIC.
Determination of Formation Energies and Phase Diagrams of Transition Metal Oxides with DFT+U
Authors: Mutter Daniel , Urban Daniel F. , Elsässer Christian
Published: September 2020

Knowledge about the formation energies of compounds is essential to derive phase diagrams of multicomponent phases with respect to elemental reservoirs. The determination of formation energies using common (semi-)local exchange-correlation approximations of the density functional theory (DFT) exhibits well-known systematic errors if applied to oxide compounds containing transition metal elements. In this work, we generalize, reevaluate, and discuss a set of approaches proposed and widely applied in the literature to correct for errors arising from the over-binding of the O2 molecule and from correlation effects of electrons in localized transition-metal orbitals. The DFT+U method is exemplarily applied to iron oxide compounds, and a procedure is presented to obtain the U values, which lead to formation energies and electronic band gaps comparable to the experimental values. Using such corrected formation energies, we derive the phase diagrams for LaFeO3, Li5FeO4, and NaFeO2, which are promising materials for energy conversion and storage devices. A scheme is presented to transform the variables of the phase diagrams from the chemical potentials of elemental phases to those of precursor compounds of a solid-state reaction, which represents the experimental synthesis process more appropriately. The discussed workflow of the methods can directly be applied to other transition metal oxides.
Additive Effect of Platelet Rich Fibrin with Coronally Advanced Flap Procedure in Root Coverage of Miller’s Class I and II Recession Defects—A PRISMA Compliant Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Panda Saurav , Satpathy Anurag , Chandra Das Abhaya , Kumar Manoj , Mishra Lora , Gupta Swati , Srivastava Gunjan , Lukomska-Szymanska Monika , Taschieri Silvio , Del Fabbro Massimo
Published: September 2020

Aim: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the additive effect of leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) on coronally advanced flap (CAF) procedures in root coverage of Miller’s class I and II gingival recession defects. Review methodology: A comprehensive search in MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus and CENTRAL (the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), along with an additional hand search, provided eight randomized clinical trials to be included in this review. A total of 167 patients with 470 gingival recession defects were analyzed. A meta-analysis was carried out to assess the change in gingival thickness (GT), width of keratinized gingiva (WKG), root coverage percentage (%RC), clinical attachment level (CAL) and recession depth (RD) at all follow-ups between CAF alone and CAF + L-PRF groups for all included studies. A subgroup analysis was carried out based on recession type (single/multiple). Results: Overall, a significant improvement in GT, CAL and RD was found when treated with CAF + L-PRF. There was a trend for a positive effect in terms of an increase in WKG when using L-PRF, especially in the treatment of single recession, though significance was not achieved (p = 0.08 overall). The results of heterogeneity among the subgroups were varied and were found to be greater than 91.3% for GT and 32.8% for WKG. Conclusion: L-PRF when used in addition to CAF showed favorable results for the treatment of class I and II gingival recession defects.
Effect of Internal Curing by Super Absorbent Polymer on the Autogenous Shrinkage of Alkali-Activated Slag Mortars
Authors: Wang Pengju , Chen Haiming , Chen Peiyuan , Pan Jin , Xu Yangchen , Wang Hao , Shen Wenfeng , Cao Ke
Published: September 2020

Alkali activated slag (AAS) mortar is becoming an increasingly popular green building material because of its excellent engineering properties and low CO2 emissions, promising to replace ordinary Portland cement (OPC) mortar. However, AAS’s high shrinkage and short setting time are the important reasons to limit its wide application in engineering. This paper was conducted to investigate the effect of internal curing(IC) by super absorbent polymer (SAP) on the autogenous shrinkage of AAS mortars. For this, an experimental study was carried out to evaluate the effect of SAP dosage on the setting time, autogenous shrinkage, compressive strength, microstructure, and pore structure. The SAP were incorporated at different dosage of 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 percent by weight of slag. The workability, physical (porosity), mechanical, and shrinkage properties of the mortars were evaluated, and a complementary study on microstructure was made. The results indicated that the setting time increased with an increase of SAP dosage due to the additional activator released by SAP. Autogenous shrinkage decreased with an increase of SAP dosage, and was mitigated completely when the dosage of SAP ≥ 0.2% wt of slag. Although IC by means of SAP reduced the compressive strength, this reduction (23% at 56 days for 0.2% SAP) was acceptable given the important role that it played on mitigating autogenous shrinkage. In the research, the 0.2% SAP dosage was the optimal content. The results can provide data and basis for practical application of AAS mortar.
Fibre-Reinforced Foamed Concretes: A Review
Authors: Amran Mugahed , Fediuk Roman , Vatin Nikolai , Huei Lee Yeong , Murali Gunasekaran , Ozbakkaloglu Togay , Klyuev Sergey , Alabduljabber Hisham
Published: September 2020

Foamed concrete (FC) is a high-quality building material with densities from 300 to 1850 kg/m3, which can have potential use in civil engineering, both as insulation from heat and sound, and for load-bearing structures. However, due to the nature of the cement material and its high porosity, FC is very weak in withstanding tensile loads; therefore, it often cracks in a plastic state, during shrinkage while drying, and also in a solid state. This paper is the first comprehensive review of the use of man-made and natural fibres to produce fibre-reinforced foamed concrete (FRFC). For this purpose, various foaming agents, fibres and other components that can serve as a basis for FRFC are reviewed and discussed in detail. Several factors have been found to affect the mechanical properties of FRFC, namely: fresh and hardened densities, particle size distribution, percentage of pozzolanic material used and volume of chemical foam agent. It was found that the rheological properties of the FRFC mix are influenced by the properties of both fibres and foam; therefore, it is necessary to apply an additional dosage of a foam agent to enhance the adhesion and cohesion between the foam agent and the cementitious filler in comparison with materials without fibres. Various types of fibres allow the reduction of by autogenous shrinkage a factor of 1.2–1.8 and drying shrinkage by a factor of 1.3–1.8. Incorporation of fibres leads to only a slight increase in the compressive strength of foamed concrete; however, it can significantly improve the flexural strength (up to 4 times), tensile strength (up to 3 times) and impact strength (up to 6 times). At the same time, the addition of fibres leads to practically no change in the heat and sound insulation characteristics of foamed concrete and this is basically depended on the type of fibres used such as Nylon and aramid fibres. Thus, FRFC having the presented set of properties has applications in various areas of construction, both in the construction of load-bearing and enclosing structures.
An Improved Migrating Birds Optimization Algorithm for a Hybrid Flow Shop Scheduling within Steel Plants
Authors: Han Dayong , Tang Qiuhua , Zhang Zikai , Li Zixiang
Published: September 2020

Steelmaking and the continuous-casting (SCC) scheduling problem is a realistic hybrid flow shop scheduling problem with continuous-casting production at the last stage. This study considers the SCC scheduling problem with diverse products, which is a vital and difficult problem in steel plants. To tackle this problem, this study first presents the mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model to minimize the objective of makespan. Then, an improved migrating birds optimization algorithm (IMBO) is proposed to tackle this considered NP-hard problem. In the proposed IMBO, several improvements are employed to achieve the proper balance between exploration and exploitation. Specifically, a two-level decoding procedure is designed to achieve feasible solutions; the simulated annealing-based acceptance criterion is employed to ensure the diversity of the population and help the algorithm to escape from being trapped in local optima; a competitive mechanism is developed to emphasize exploitation capacity by searching around the most promising solution space. The computational experiments demonstrate that the proposed IMBO obtains competing performance and it outperforms seven other implemented algorithms in the comparative study.
Computational Methods in Interdisciplinary Applications of Nonlinear Dynamics
Authors: Olejnik Paweł
Published: September 2020

Nonlinear dynamics takes its origins from physics and applied mathematics [...]
A Marine Alkaloid, Ascomylactam A, Suppresses Lung Tumorigenesis via Inducing Cell Cycle G1/S Arrest through ROS/Akt/Rb Pathway
Authors: Wang Lan , Huang Yun , Huang Cui-hong , Yu Jian-chen , Zheng Ying-chun , Chen Yan , She Zhi-gang , Yuan Jie
Published: September 2020

Ascomylactam A was reported for the first time as a new 13-membered-ring macrocyclic alkaloid in 2019 from the mangrove endophytic fungus Didymella sp. CYSK-4 from the South China Sea. The aim of our study was to delineate the effects of ascomylactam A (AsA) on lung cancer cells and explore the antitumor molecular mechanisms underlying of AsA. In vitro, AsA markedly inhibited the cell proliferation with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values from 4 to 8 μM on six lung cancer cell lines, respectively. In vivo, AsA suppressed the tumor growth of A549, NCI-H460 and NCI-H1975 xenografts significantly in mice. Furthermore, by analyses of the soft agar colony formation, 5-ethynyl-20-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) imaging, flow cytometry and Western blotting, AsA demonstrated the ability to induce cell cycle arrest in G1 and G1/S phases by increasing ROS generation and decreasing of Akt activity. Conversely, ROS inhibitors and overexpression of Akt could decrease cell growth inhibition and cell cycle arrest induced by AsA. Therefore, we believe that AsA blocks the cell cycle via an ROS-dependent Akt/Cyclin D1/Rb signaling pathway, which consequently leads to the observed antitumor effect both in vitro and in vivo. Our results suggest a novel leading compound for antitumor drug development.
Detergent and Water Recovery from Laundry Wastewater Using Tilted Panel Membrane Filtration System
Authors: Barambu Nafiu Umar , Peter Derrick , Yusoff Mohd Hizami Mohd , Bilad Muhammad Roil , Shamsuddin Norazanita , Marbelia Lisendra , Nordin Nik Abdul Hadi , Jaafar Juhana
Published: September 2020

Increasing global concern on clean water scarcity and environmental sustainability drive invention in water reclamation technology. Laundry wastewater reclamation via membrane technology faces the challenge of membrane fouling. This paper assesses a tilting-the-filtration-panel filtration system for the treatment of real laundry wastewater filtration aimed for water and detergent reuse. Results showed that the panel tilting significantly improved fouling control and enhanced permeability due to enhanced contact of air bubbles with the membrane surface, which induced continuous detachment of foulant from the membrane surface. The combination of aeration rate and tilting angle resulted in up to 83% permeability enhancement from 109 to 221.4 ± 10.8 (L/m2·h·bar). The system also offers 32% detergent recovery. Overall findings suggest that the system offers an attractive approach for both fouling management and detergent recovery and can potentially be applied under a simple setup in which filtration can be driven by gravity/hydrostatic pressure.
Performance Evaluation of Tight Ultrafiltration Membrane Systems at Pilot Scale for Agave Fructans Fractionation and Purification
Authors: Luiz-Santos Noe , Prado-Ramírez Rogelio , Arriola-Guevara Enrique , Camacho-Ruiz Rosa-María , Moreno-Vilet Lorena
Published: September 2020

Ceramic and polymeric membrane systems were compared at the pilot scale for separating agave fructans into different molecular weight fractions that help to diversify them into more specific industrial applications. The effect of the transmembrane pressure of ultrafiltration performance was evaluated through hydraulic permeability, permeate flux and rejection coefficients, using the same operating conditions such as temperature, feed concentration and the molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of membranes. The fouling phenomenon and the global yield of the process were evaluated in concentration mode. A size distribution analysis of agave fructans is presented and grouped by molecular weight in different fractions. Great differences were found between both systems, since rejection coefficients of 68.6% and 100% for fructans with degrees of polymerization (DP) > 10, 36.3% and 99.3% for fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and 21.4% and 34.2% for mono-disaccharides were obtained for ceramic and polymeric membrane systems, respectively. Thus, ceramic membranes are better for use in the fractionation process since they reached a purity of 42.2% of FOS with a yield of 40.1% in the permeate and 78.23% for fructans with DP > 10 and a yield of 70% in the retentate. Polymeric membranes make for an efficient fructan purification process, eliminating only mono-disaccharides, and reaching a 97.7% purity (considering both fructan fractions) with a yield of 64.3% in the retentate.
P84/ZCC Hollow Fiber Mixed Matrix Membrane with PDMS Coating to Enhance Air Separation Performance
Authors: Widiastuti Nurul , Gunawan Triyanda , Fansuri Hamzah , Salleh Wan Norharyati Wan , Ismail Ahmad Fauzi , Sazali Norazlianie
Published: September 2020

This research introduces zeolite carbon composite (ZCC) as a new filler on polymeric membranes based on the BTDA-TDI/MDI (P84) co-polyimide for the air separation process. The separation performance was further improved by a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coating to cover up the surface defect. The incorporation of 1 wt% ZCC into P84 co-polyimide matrix enhanced the O2 permeability from 7.12 to 18.90 Barrer (2.65 times) and the O2/N2 selectivity from 4.11 to 4.92 Barrer (19.71% improvement). The PDMS coating on the membrane further improved the O2/N2 selectivity by up to 60%. The results showed that the incorporation of ZCC and PDMS coating onto the P84 co-polyimide membrane was able to increase the overall air separation performance.
Diverse Immunoregulatory Roles of Oxysterols—The Oxidized Cholesterol Metabolites
Authors: Choi Chloe , Finlay David K.
Published: September 2020

Intermediates of both cholesterol synthesis and cholesterol metabolism can have diverse roles in the control of cellular processes that go beyond the control of cholesterol homeostasis. For example, oxidized forms of cholesterol, called oxysterols have functions ranging from the control of gene expression, signal transduction and cell migration. This is of particular interest in the context of immunology and immunometabolism where we now know that metabolic processes are key towards shaping the nature of immune responses. Equally, aberrant metabolic processes including altered cholesterol homeostasis contribute to immune dysregulation and dysfunction in pathological situations. This review article brings together our current understanding of how oxysterols affect the control of immune responses in diverse immunological settings.
Plasma Docosahexaenoic Acid and Eicosapentaenoic Acid Concentrations Are Positively Associated with Brown Adipose Tissue Activity in Humans
Authors: Xiang Angie S. , Giles Corey , Loh Rebecca K.C. , Formosa Melissa F. , Eikelis Nina , Lambert Gavin W. , Meikle Peter J. , Kingwell Bronwyn A. , Carey Andrew L.
Published: September 2020

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation is a possible therapeutic strategy to increase energy expenditure and improve metabolic homeostasis in obesity. Recent studies have revealed novel interactions between BAT and circulating lipid species—in particular, the non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and oxylipin lipid classes. This study aimed to identify individual lipid species that may be associated with cold-stimulated BAT activity in humans. A panel of 44 NEFA and 41 oxylipin species were measured using mass-spectrometry-based lipidomics in the plasma of fourteen healthy male participants before and after 90 min of mild cold exposure. Lipid measures were correlated with BAT activity measured via 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), along with norepinephrine (NE) concentration (a surrogate marker of sympathetic activity). The study identified a significant increase in total NEFA concentration following cold exposure that was positively associated with NE concentration change. Individually, 33 NEFA and 11 oxylipin species increased significantly in response to cold exposure. The concentration of the omega-3 NEFA, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) at baseline was significantly associated with BAT activity, and the cold-induced change in 18 NEFA species was significantly associated with BAT activity. No significant associations were identified between BAT activity and oxylipins.
Design, Fabrication, and Validation of a Petri Dish-Compatible PDMS Bioreactor for the Tensile Stimulation and Characterization of Microtissues
Authors: Alhudaithy Soliman , Abdulmalik Sama , Kumbar Sangamesh G. , Hoshino Kazunori
Published: September 2020

In this paper, we report on a novel biocompatible micromechanical bioreactor (actuator and sensor) designed for the in situ manipulation and characterization of live microtissues. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an application-targeted sterile bioreactor that is accessible, inexpensive, adjustable, and easily fabricated. Our method relies on a simple polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) molding technique for fabrication and is compatible with commonly-used laboratory equipment and materials. Our unique design includes a flexible thin membrane that allows for the transfer of an external actuation into the PDMS beam-based actuator and sensor placed inside a conventional 35 mm cell culture Petri dish. Through computational analysis followed by experimental testing, we demonstrated its functionality, accuracy, sensitivity, and tunable operating range. Through time-course testing, the actuator delivered strains of over 20% to biodegradable electrospun poly (D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) 85:15 non-aligned nanofibers (~91 µm thick). At the same time, the sensor was able to characterize time-course changes in Young’s modulus (down to 10–150 kPa), induced by an application of isopropyl alcohol (IPA). Furthermore, the actuator delivered strains of up to 4% to PDMS monolayers (~30 µm thick), simultaneously characterizing their elastic modulus up to ~2.2 MPa. The platform repeatedly applied dynamic (0.23 Hz) tensile stimuli to live Human Dermal Fibroblast (HDF) cells for 12 hours (h) and recorded the cellular reorientation towards two angle regimes, with averages of −58.85° and +56.02°. The device biocompatibility with live cells was demonstrated for one week, with no signs of cytotoxicity. We can conclude that our PDMS bioreactor is advantageous for low-cost tissue/cell culture micromanipulation studies involving mechanical actuation and characterization. Our device eliminates the need for an expensive experimental setup for cell micromanipulation, increasing the ease of live-cell manipulation studies by providing an affordable way of conducting high-throughput experiments without the need to open the Petri dish, reducing manual handling, cross-contamination, supplies, and costs. The device design, material, and methods allow the user to define the operational range based on their targeted samples/application.
Lab-on-a-Chip for Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathology
Authors: Beverung Sean , Wu Jingwen , Steward Robert
Published: September 2020

Lab-on-a-chip technologies have allowed researchers to acquire a flexible, yet relatively inexpensive testbed to study one of the leading causes of death worldwide, cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular diseases, such as peripheral artery disease, arteriosclerosis, and aortic stenosis, for example, have all been studied by lab-on-a-chip technologies. These technologies allow for the integration of mammalian cells into functional structures that mimic vital organs with geometries comparable to those found in vivo. For this review, we focus on microdevices that have been developed to study cardiovascular physiology and pathology. With these technologies, researchers can better understand the electrical–biomechanical properties unique to cardiomyocytes and better stimulate and understand the influence of blood flow on the human vasculature. Such studies have helped increase our understanding of many cardiovascular diseases in general; as such, we present here a review of the current state of the field and potential for the future.
A 0.026 mm2 Time Domain CMOS Temperature Sensor with Simple Current Source
Authors: Park Sangwoo , Byun Sangjin
Published: September 2020

This paper presents a time domain CMOS temperature sensor with a simple current source. This sensor chip only occupies a small active die area of 0.026 mm2 because it adopts a simple current source consisting of an n-type poly resistor and a PMOS transistor and a simple current controlled oscillator consisting of three current starved inverter delay cells. Although this current source is based on a simple architecture, it has better temperature linearity than the conventional approach that generates a temperature-dependent current through a poly resistor using a feedback loop. This temperature sensor is designed in a 0.18 μm 1P6M CMOS process. In the post-layout simulations, the temperature error was measured within a range from −1.0 to +0.7 °C over the temperature range of 0 to 100 °C after two point calibration was carried out at 20 and 80 °C, respectively. The temperature resolution was set as 0.32 °C and the temperature to digital conversion rate was 50 kHz. The energy efficiency is 1.4 nJ/sample and the supply voltage sensitivity is 0.077 °C/mV at 27 °C while the supply voltage varies from 1.65 to 1.95 V.
Seasonality in Spatial Turnover of Bacterioplankton Along an Ecological Gradient in the East China Sea: Biogeographic Patterns, Processes and Drivers
Authors: Hu Hanjing , He Jiaying , Yan Huizhen , Hou Dandi , Zhang Demin , Liu Lian , Wang Kai
Published: September 2020

Seasonal succession in bacterioplankton is a common process in marine waters. However, seasonality in their spatial turnover is largely unknown. Here, we investigated spatial turnover of surface bacterioplankton along a nearshore-to-offshore gradient in the East China Sea across four seasons. Although seasonality overwhelmed spatial variability of bacterioplankton composition, we found significant spatial turnover of bacterioplankton along the gradient as well as overall seasonal consistency in biogeographic patterns (including distance–decay relationship and covariation of community composition with distance to shore) with subtle changes. Bacterioplankton assembly was consistently dominated by deterministic mechanisms across seasons, with changes in specific processes. We found overall seasonal consistency in abiotic factors (mainly salinity and nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients) shaping bacterioplankton composition, while phytoplankton showed a similar influence as abiotic factors only in spring. Although key taxa responsible for bacterioplankton spatial turnover showed certain season-specificity, seasonal switching between closely related taxa occurred within most dominant families. Moreover, many close relatives showed different responding patterns to the environmental gradients in different seasons, suggesting their differences in both seasonally climatic and spatially environmental preferences. Our results provide insights into seasonal consistency and variability in spatial turnover of bacterioplankton in terms of biogeographic patterns, ecological processes, and external and internal drivers.
Synthesis and Characterization of Citrate-Stabilized Gold-Coated Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Stein René , Friedrich Bernhard , Mühlberger Marina , Cebulla Nadine , Schreiber Eveline , Tietze Rainer , Cicha Iwona , Alexiou Christoph , Dutz Silvio , Boccaccini Aldo R. , Unterweger Harald
Published: September 2020

Surface-functionalized gold-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Au-SPIONs) may be a useful tool in various biomedical applications. To obtain Au-SPIONs, gold salt was precipitated onto citrate-stabilized SPIONs (Cit-SPIONs) using a simple, aqueous one-pot technique inspired by the Turkevich method of gold nanoparticle synthesis. By the further stabilization of the Au-SPION surface with additional citrate (Cit-Au-SPIONs), controllable and reproducible Z-averages enhanced long-term dispersion stability and moderate dispersion pH values were achieved. The citrate concentration of the reaction solution and the gold/iron ratio was found to have a major influence on the particle characteristics. While the gold-coating reduced the saturation magnetization to 40.7% in comparison to pure Cit-SPIONs, the superparamagnetic behavior of Cit-Au-SPIONs was maintained. The formation of nanosized gold on the SPION surface was confirmed by X-ray diffraction measurements. Cit-Au-SPION concentrations of up to 100 µg Fe/mL for 48 h had no cytotoxic effect on Jurkat cells. At a particle concentration of 100 µg Fe/mL, Jurkat cells were found to take up Cit-Au-SPIONs after 24 h of incubation. A significantly higher attachment of thiol-containing L-cysteine to the particle surface was observed for Cit-Au-SPIONs (53%) in comparison to pure Cit-SPIONs (7%).
Potential Treatment of Breast and Lung Cancer Using Dicoma anomala, an African Medicinal Plant
Authors: Chota Alexander , George Blassan P. , Abrahamse Heidi
Published: September 2020

Globally, cancer has been identified as one of the leading causes of death in public health. Its etiology is based on consistent exposure to carcinogenic. Plant-derived anticancer compounds are known to be less toxic to the normal cells and are classified into acetylenic compounds, phenolics, terpenes, and phytosterols. Dicoma anomala is a perennial herb belonging to the family Asteraceae and is widely distributed in Sub-Saharan Africa and used in the treatment of cancer, malaria, fever, diabetes, ulcers, cold, and cough. This review aimed at highlighting the benefits of D. anomala in various therapeutic applications with special reference to the treatment of cancers and the mechanisms through which the plant-derived agents induce cell death.
Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Copper and Selenium Status in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Authors: Robberecht Harry , Verlaet Annelies A. J. , Breynaert Annelies , De Bruyne Tess , Hermans Nina
Published: September 2020

In this study, we critically review the literature concerning the relation of Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu and Se and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Elemental status is estimated using peripheral blood parameters, hair, urine, daily intake and response to supplementation. The observed associations between concentration levels of the elements Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu and Se and ADHD symptoms are contradictory. This is partly due to the heterogeneity and complexity of the disorder. As a trend, lower ferritin and zinc levels can be observed. However, this correlation is not causative, as illustrated by placebo-controlled trials reporting conflicting evidence on the efficacy of supplementation. Well-defined studies on changes in concentration levels of the elements in relation to ADHD symptoms before and after treatment with therapeutics it will be possible to shed more light on the significance of these elements in this behavioral disorder. The discussion on whether a change in concentration of an element is cause or consequence of ADHD is not within the scope of this article.