bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifikasi tumbuhan dalam masakan tradisional urap-urap sebagai materi penyusunan buku referensi taksonomi tumbuhan
Authors: Ami Mucharommah Sartika , Candra Evi Ayu
Published: September 2019

One of the conservation efforts that needs to be implemented is plant exploration activities as local wisdom. There are various forms of local wisdom and one of them is traditional cuisine. This study aims to identify the types of plants used in traditional East Javanese cuisine, namely urap-urap. The types of plants that were identified obtained from the interview to the informant using an interview guide. Plant identification is done through direct observation using the observation sheet and the results compared with a reference scientific identification. Data were analyzed by descriptive qualitative. The results showed that there were 13 types of plants identified in traditional cuisine namely urap-urap, four types including the Monocotyledonae class and nine other types were members of the Dicotyledonae class. The 13 types of plants include Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Capsicum anuum, Capsicum frutescens, Citrus hystrix, Vigna radiata, Vigna sinensis, Ipomoea reptans, Cocos nucifera, Ocimum sanctum, Caempferia galanga, Cucumis sativus, and Caricaaya. This research concludes that 13 types of plants have been identified in traditional Javanese ointment which is Monocotyledonae and Dicotyledonae classes.
Analisis mutu briket arang dari limbah biomassa campuran kulit kopi dan tempurung kelapa dengan perekat tepung tapioka
Authors: Setyawan Bagus , Ulfa Rosiana
Published: September 2019

Plantation wastes such as coffee skins and coconut shells in Indonesia have not been utilized optimally. Waste can be utilized for the manufacture of charcoal briquettes as an alternative fuel. The purpose of this study was to determine the quality of charcoal briquettes from biomass waste mixed with coffee skin and coconut shell with tapioca flour adhesive. This research is a type of laboratory experimental research. The study used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 3 replications. Testing the quality of charcoal briquettes includes tests of water content, ash content, combustion rate, and heating value. The research data will be compared with the International charcoal briquette quality standards and the Indonesian National Standard (INS). The results showed that the water content and an ash content of the charcoal briquettes were still below the international charcoal briquette quality standards and INS. However, the heating value of this charcoal briquette is surpass the INS quality standard. The conclusion of the research is the quality of the charcoal briquettes from the waste of biomass of coffee husk and coconut shell with tapioca flour recorder in the aspects of water content and ash content is still below the international quality standard and SNI, but in the aspect of the heat value of the charcoal briquette the research results are above the SNI quality standard.
Estructuras tipo toxocistos en Pleurotus ostreatus y P. pulmonarius
Authors: Armas-Tizapantzi Anahí , Mata Gerardo , Hernández-Cuevas Laura Verónica , Montiel-González Alba Mónica
Published: September 2019

Antecedentes: Pleutorus ostreatus y P. pulmonarius producen compuestos tóxicos para nematodos y por ende potencialmente útiles para biocontrol; algunos de estos compuestos se originan en estructuras denominadas toxocistos.Objetivo: Describir las características morfológicas de las estructuras tipo toxocisto formadas in vitro por Pleurotus ostreatus y P. pulmonarius para contribuir al conocimiento de los caracteres morfológicos del género.Métodos: Las cepas de Pleurotus se hicieron crecer en paja de trigo y en placa con agar con extracto de malta (EMA) y agar con papa y dextrosa (PDA). El micelio crecido se procesó para su observación bajo microscopía electrónica de barrido.Resultados y conclusiones: El micelio de ambas especies, desarrollado en ambos sistemas, produce estructuras esféricas, pediceladas, morfológicamente similares. Aunque la morfología de estas estructuras es similar a las de los toxocistos descritos previamente para estas especies y para otras de Pleurotus; se consideran como estructuras tipo toxocistos en tanto no se corrobore la producción de compuestos nematotóxicos y sus funciones.
Evaluation of Late-Maturing Peach and Nectarine Fruit Quality by Chemical, Physical, and Sensory Determinations
Authors: Farina Vittorio , Lo Bianco Riccardo , Mazzaglia Agata
Published: September 2019

In this work, both analytical and sensory determinations were carried out to evaluate the quality of yellow (‘Summerset‘, ‘Tardiva 2000‘, ‘Fairtime’, ‘Guglielmina’) and white flesh (‘Daniela’) late-ripening peach and nectarine (‘California’ and ‘Fairlane’) cultivars. Analytical measurements included weight, diameter, soluble solid content, titratable acidity, pH, and peel color. To describe and quantify the peach and nectarine sensory profile, a panel of 10 judges generated 15 descriptors. According to univariate analysis of fruit quality attributes, ‘Fairtime’, ‘Summerset, ‘Daniela’, and ‘California’ produced large and attractive fruits with an extensive red peel color. On the other hand, ‘Guglielmina’, ‘Daniela’, ‘Tardiva 2000’, and ‘Fairlane’ produced superior quality fruit in terms of soluble solids, titratable acidity, sweetness, and flavor. The white flesh peach ‘Daniela’ produced fruits with the best balance between external and internal quality. Cluster analysis on standardized component coordinates from biplot analysis allowed for the identification of two main groups. One group included ‘Daniela’, ‘Guglielmin’, ‘Tardiva 2000’, and ‘Fairlane’, along with attributes that are more indicative of ripe fruit such as soluble solids, sweetness, sugar/acid, juiciness, ground color index, peel color uniformity, flesh color intensity, mealiness, peach odor and flavor, and flower odor and flavor. The other group included ‘Summerset’, ‘Fairtime’, and ‘California’ along with weight, diameter, consistency, flesh firmness, percentage of cover color, bitterness, titratable acidity, sour odor and flavor, and grassy odor and flavor. The dual approach adopted in this study indicates that cultivars with large and attractive fruits are often lacking real eating quality. This poses serious doubts on the real value of exterior appearance for recognizing high-quality peaches and nectarines.
PKR Promotes Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis of Human Articular Chondrocytes by Causing Mitochondrial Dysfunction through p38 MAPK Activation—PKR Activation Causes Apoptosis in Human Chondrocytes
Authors: Ma Ching-Hou , Wu Chin-Hsien , Jou I-Ming , Tu Yuan-Kun , Hung Ching-Hsia , Chou Wan-Ching , Chang Yun-Ching , Hsieh Pei-Ling , Tsai Kun-Ling
Published: September 2019

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common types of arthritis in the elderly people. It has been known that chondrocyte apoptosis occurs in OA cartilage; however, the detailed molecular mechanism remains unclear. In the current study, we aimed to elucidate the role of double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase R (PKR) in the TNF-α-caused apoptosis in chondrocytes. Human articular chondrocytes were digested from cartilages of OA subjects who accepted arthroplastic knee surgery. Our results showed that phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was increased after TNF-α stimulation or PKR activation using poly (I:C), and TNF-α-induced p38 MAPK upregulation was inhibited by PKR inhibition, suggesting phosphor-p38 MAPK was regulated by PKR. Moreover, we found that PKR participated in the p53-dependent destruction of AKT following activation of p38 MAPK. The inhibition of AKT led to the reduced expression of PGC-1α, which resulted in mitochondrial dysfunction and increased oxidative stress. We showed that the reduction of oxidative stress using antioxidant Mito TEMPO lowered the TNF-α-induced caspase-3 activation and TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells. The diminished apoptotic response was also observed after repression of PKR/p38 MAPK/p53/AKT/PGC-1α signaling. Taken together, we demonstrated that the aberrant mitochondrial biogenesis and increased oxidative stress in chondrocytes after TNF-α stimulation were mediated by PKR, which may contribute to the chondrocyte apoptosis and cartilage degeneration in OA.
The Prevention and Control Mechanism of Rockburst Hazards and Its Application in the Construction of a Deeply Buried Tunnel
Authors: Zhang Heng , Zhu Yimo , Chen Liang , Hu Weidong , Chen Shougen
Published: September 2019

Rockburst hazards induced by high geostress are particularly prominent during the construction of underground engineering. Prevention and control of rockburst is still a global challenge in the field of geotechnical engineering, which is of great significance. Based on the tunnel group of the Jinping II hydropower station of China, this paper analyzed the mechanical principle of support in the process of construction, and discussed in detail the active release and passive support by numerical simulation and field application. The results show that as two active measures, stress relieve holes and advanced stress relief blasting can release the energy of the microseismic source and transfer the high stress to the deeper surrounding rock, make the surface rock wall with a relatively low stress act as a protective barrier. Their stress release rate is about 12% and 33% in this project, respectively. In term of passive measure, the combined rapid support, which is mainly composed of water swelling anchor and nano-admixture shotcrete, is also an effective way to prevent and control the rockburst under high geostress.
Thermal Analysis and Stability of Boron/Potassium Nitrate Pyrotechnic Composition at 180 °C
Authors: Li Chaozhen , Yan Nan , Ye Yaokun , Lv Zhixing , He Xiang , Huang Jinhong , Zhang Nan
Published: September 2019

Aerospace missions require that pyrotechnic compositions are able to withstand 180 °C. Therefore, this paper studies the thermal stability and output performance of boron/potassium nitrate (abbreviated BPN) used in pyrotechnic devices. Firstly, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric (TG) tests are used to analyze the thermal reaction process of KNO3, boron, and BPN to qualitatively judge their thermal stability. Then, apparent morphology analysis, component analysis, and the p-t curve test, which is the closed bomb test to measure the output power of the pyrotechnic composition, are carried out with BPN samples before and after the high-temperature test to verify BPN stability at 180 °C. The weight change of boron powder caused by chemical reactions occurs above 500 °C. When the temperature is lower than the peak exothermic temperature of decomposition, no obvious chemical reaction occurs with KNO3, and only physical changes (crystal transformation and melting) occur. Combined with a verification test at 180 °C for two days, it is concluded that boron and KNO3 components are stable at 180 °C. With an increase in boron content, the thermal stability of BPN is improved, with the best performance achieved when the ratio is 25:75 (B:KNO3). BPN samples without binder have the best thermal stability. In a test at 180 °C for five days, the binder affects the weight loss and p-t curve of BPN, and BPN with fluororubber binder is better than BPN with unsaturated polyester binder.
Analysis of Microbial Community Dynamics during the Acclimatization Period of a Membrane Bioreactor Treating Table Olive Processing Wastewater
Authors: Patsios Sotiris I. , Michailidou Sofia , Pasentsis Konstantinos , Makris Antonios M. , Argiriou Anagnostis , Karabelas Anastasios J.
Published: September 2019

Biological treatment of table olive processing wastewater (TOPW) may be problematic due to its high organic and polyphenolic compound content. Biomass acclimatization is a necessary, yet sensitive, stage for efficient TOPW biological treatment. Next-generation sequencing technologies can provide valuable insights into this critical process step. An aerobic membrane bioreactor (MBR) system, initially inoculated with municipal activated sludge, was acclimatized to treat TOPW. Operational stability and bioremediation efficiency were monitored for approx. three months, whereas microbial community dynamics and metabolic adaptation were assessed through metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analysis. A swift change was identified in both the prokaryotic and eukaryotic bio-community after introduction of TOPW in the MBR, and a new diverse bio-community was established. Thauera and Paracoccus spp. are dominant contributors to the metabolic activity of the stable bio-community, which resulted in over 90% and 85% removal efficiency of total organic carbon and total polyphenols, respectively. This is the first study assessing the microbial community dynamics in a well-defined MBR process treating TOPW, offering guidance in the start-up of large-scale applications.
A New Orthodox Synagogue in Manhattan: Decision-Making and Design
Authors: Krinsky Carol Herselle
Published: September 2019

The Lincoln Square Synagogue, the largest Orthodox synagogue built in Manhattan during the last half century, was established in 1964 but moved in 2013 to a new building nearby, designed after the firm of CetraRuddy Architects, won a design competition. The present article is based on interviews with building committee members, the rabbi, and the architects as well as on press accounts and a book about the congregation’s history. The article recounts the process of designing the building, assesses the successful results, and provides future building committee members with ideas, caveats, and evaluations of design procedures.
Analysis of Li-Ion Battery Gases Vented in an Inert Atmosphere Thermal Test Chamber
Authors: Sturk David , Rosell Lars , Blomqvist Per , Ahlberg Tidblad Annika
Published: September 2019

One way to support the development of new safety practices in testing and field failure situations of electric vehicles and their lithium-ion (Li-ion) traction batteries is to conduct studies simulating plausible incident scenarios. This paper focuses on risks and hazards associated with venting of gaseous species formed by thermal decomposition reactions of the electrolyte and electrode materials during thermal runaway of the cell. A test set-up for qualitative and quantitative measurements of both major and minor gas species in the vented emissions from Li-ion batteries is described. The objective of the study is to measure gas emissions in the absence of flames, since gassing can occur without subsequent fire. Test results regarding gas emission rates, total gas emission volumes, and amounts of hydrogen fluoride (HF) and CO2 formed in inert atmosphere when heating lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and lithium nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) dioxide/lithium manganese oxide (LMO) spinel cell stacks are presented and discussed. Important test findings include the large difference in total gas emissions from NMC/LMO cells compared to LFP, 780 L kg−1 battery cells, and 42 L kg−1 battery cells, respectively. However, there was no significant difference in the total amount of HF formed for both cell types, suggesting that LFP releases higher concentrations of HF than NMC/LMO cells.
Potential Applications of High Pressure Homogenization in Winemaking: A Review
Authors: Comuzzo Piergiorgio , Calligaris Sonia
Published: September 2019

High pressure homogenization (HPH) is an emerging technology with several possible applications in the food sector, such as nanoemulsion preparation, microbial and enzymatic inactivation, cell disruption for the extraction of intracellular components, as well as modification of food biopolymer structures to steer their functionalities. All these effects are attributable to the intense mechanical stresses, such as cavitation and shear forces, suffered by the product during the passage through the homogenization valve. The exploitation of the disruptive forces delivered during HPH was also recently proposed for winemaking applications. In this review, after a general description of HPH and its main applications in food processing, the survey is extended to the use of this technology for the production of wine and fermented beverages, particularly focusing on the effects of HPH on the inactivation of wine microorganisms and the induction of yeast autolysis. Further enological applications of HPH technology, such as its use for the production of inactive dry yeast preparations, are also discussed.
Microbial Pyrrolnitrin: Natural Metabolite with Immense Practical Utility
Authors: Pawar Shraddha , Chaudhari Ambalal , Prabha Ratna , Shukla Renu , Singh Dhananjaya P.
Published: September 2019

Pyrrolnitrin (PRN) is a microbial pyrrole halometabolite of immense antimicrobial significance for agricultural, pharmaceutical and industrial implications. The compound and its derivatives have been isolated from rhizospheric fluorescent or non-fluorescent pseudomonads, Serratia and Burkholderia. They are known to confer biological control against a wide range of phytopathogenic fungi, and thus offer strong plant protection prospects against soil and seed-borne phytopathogenic diseases. Although chemical synthesis of PRN has been obtained using different steps, microbial production is still the most useful option for producing this metabolite. In many of the plant-associated isolates of Serratia and Burkholderia, production of PRN is dependent on the quorum-sensing regulation that usually involves N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) autoinducer signals. When applied on the organisms as antimicrobial agent, the molecule impedes synthesis of key biomolecules (DNA, RNA and protein), uncouples with oxidative phosphorylation, inhibits mitotic division and hampers several biological mechanisms. With its potential broad-spectrum activities, low phototoxicity, non-toxic nature and specificity for impacts on non-target organisms, the metabolite has emerged as a lead molecule of industrial importance, which has led to developing cost-effective methods for the biosynthesis of PRN using microbial fermentation. Quantum of work narrating focused research efforts in the emergence of this potential microbial metabolite is summarized here to present a consolidated, sequential and updated insight into the chemistry, biology and applicability of this natural molecule.
Lipid Profiling Reveals Browning Heterogeneity of White Adipose Tissue by Β3-Adrenergic Stimulation
Authors: He Ping , Hou Biyu , Li Yanliang , Xu Chunyang , Ma Peng , Lam Sin Man , Gil Victoria , Yang Xinyu , Yang Xiuying , Zhang Li , Shui Guanghou , Song Junke , Qiang Guifen , Liew Chong Wee , Du Guanhua
Published: September 2019

Background: White adipose tissue (WAT) browning confers beneficial effects on metabolic diseases. However, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is not as susceptible to browning as subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). Aim: Interpreting the heterogeneity of VAT and SAT in brown remodeling and provide promising lipid targets to promote WAT browning. Methods: We first investigated the effects of β3-adrenergic stimulation by CL316,243 on systemic metabolism. Then, high-coverage targeted lipidomics approach with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was utilized to provide extensive detection of lipid metabolites in VAT and SAT. Results: CL316,243 notably ameliorated the systemic metabolism and induced brown remodeling of SAT but browning resistance of VAT. Comprehensive lipidomics analysis revealed browning heterogeneity of VAT and SAT with more dramatic alteration of lipid classes and species in VAT rather than SAT, though VAT is resistant to browning. Adrenergic stimulation differentially affected glycerides content in VAT and SAT and boosted the abundance of more glycerophospholipids species in VAT than in SAT. Besides, CL316,243 increased sphingolipids in VAT without changes in SAT, meanwhile, elevated cardiolipin species more prominently in VAT than in SAT. Conclusions: We demonstrated the browning heterogeneity of WAT and identified potential lipid biomarkers which may provide lipid targets for overcoming VAT browning resistance.
Determining the Most Sensitive Socioeconomic Parameters for Quantitative Risk Assessment
Authors: Akter Marin , Kabir Rubaiya , Karim Dewan Sadia , Haque Anisul , Rahman Munsur , Haq Mohammad Asif ul , Jahan Momtaz , Asik Tansir Zaman
Published: September 2019

Risk assessment of climatic events and climate change is a globally challenging issue. For risk as well as vulnerability assessment, there can be a large number of socioeconomic indicators, from which it is difficult to identify the most sensitive ones. Many researchers have studied risk and vulnerability assessment through specific set of indicators. The set of selected indicators varies from expert to expert, which inherently results in a biased output. To avoid biased results in this study, the most sensitive indicators are selected through sensitivity analysis performed by applying a non-linear programming system, which is solved by Karush-Kuhn-Tucker conditions. Here, risk is assessed as a function of exposure, hazard, and vulnerability, which is defined in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), where, exposure and vulnerability are described via socioeconomic indicators. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistical test is applied to select the set of indicators that are the most sensitive for the system to assess risk. The method is applied to the Bangladesh coast to determine the most sensitive socioeconomic indicators in addition to assessing different climatic and climate change hazard risks. The methodology developed in this study can be a useful tool for risk-based planning.
Estimation of Displacement for Internet of Things Applications with Kalman Filter
Authors: Ferrero Renato , Gandino Filippo , Hemmatpour Masoud
Published: September 2019

In the vision of the Internet of Things, an object embedded in the physical world is recognizable and becomes smart by communicating data about itself and by accessing aggregate information from other devices. One of the most useful types of information for interactions among objects regards their movement. Mobile devices can infer their position by exploiting an embedded accelerometer. However, the double integration of the acceleration may not guarantee a reliable estimation of the displacement of the device (i.e., the difference in the new location). In fact, noise and measurement errors dramatically affect the assessment. This paper investigates the benefits and drawbacks of the use of the Kalman filter as a correction technique to achieve more precise estimation of displacement. The approach is evaluated with two accelerometers embedded in commercial devices: A smartphone and a sensor platform. The results show that the technique based on the Kalman filter dramatically reduces the percentage error, in comparison to the assessment made by double integration of the acceleration data; in particular, the precision is improved by up to 72%. At the same time, the computational overhead due to the Kalman filter can be assumed to be negligible in almost all application scenarios.
Electrospun Core-Shell Nanofiber as Separator for Lithium-Ion Batteries with High Performance and Improved Safety
Authors: Liang Zheng , Zhao Yun , Li Yanxi
Published: September 2019

Though the energy density of lithium-ion batteries continues to increase, safety issues related to the internal short circuit and the resulting combustion of highly flammable electrolytes impede the further development of lithium-ion batteries. It has been well-accepted that a thermal stable separator is important to postpone the entire battery short circuit and thermal runaway. Traditional methods to improve the thermal stability of separators include surface modification and/or developing alternate material systems for separators, which may affect the battery performance negatively. Herein, a thermostable and shrink-free separator with little compromise in battery performance was prepared by coaxial electrospinning and tested. The separator consisted of core-shell fiber networks where poly (vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) layer served as shell and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as the core. This core-shell fiber network exhibited little or even no shrinking/melting at elevated temperature over 250 °C. Meanwhile, it showed excellent electrolyte wettability and could take large amounts of liquid electrolyte, three times more than that of conventional Celgard 2400 separator. In addition, the half-cell using LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 as cathode and the aforementioned electrospun core-shell fiber network as separator demonstrated superior electrochemical behavior, stably cycling for 200 cycles at 1 C with a reversible capacity of 130 mA·h·g−1 and little capacity decay.
A Two-Stage Dispatch Mechanism for Virtual Power Plant Utilizing the CVaR Theory in the Electricity Spot Market
Authors: Gao Rui , Guo Hongxia , Zhang Ruihong , Mao Tian , Xu Qianyao , Zhou Baorong , Yang Ping
Published: September 2019

The electricity spot market is now being implemented in China. Demand response, as a kind of flexible resource, is also being studied and explored for the constructed power market. Among the many demand response applications, the virtual power plant (VPP) as an aggregator of distributed energy resources (DERs), receives ever-increasing attention. However, the participation manner and related impacts of the VPP to the electricity spot market are still unknown within the current power market rules. Under this background, obeying the present trading rules of China’s electricity spot market, a two-stage dispatching model with optimized bidding and operating strategy in the day-ahead (DA) and real-time (RT) market for the VPP is proposed. In the designed model, the conditional risk value (CVaR) is adopted to address the risk encountered by the uncertainty of the electricity spot market price. The impact of the user-side over-deviated revenue mechanism (UORM) of the China spot market on the income of the VPP in the DA and RT market is also analyzed. For a full evaluation, different coefficients for the influence of DA and RT risk, UORM, and energy storage system (ESS) are tested to investigate their respective impacts on the revenue of the VPP. The simulation cases prove that the proposed method is helpful for the VPP to optimize DERs’ output in the electricity spot market according to its own risk preference.
Writing the Displaced Person: H. G. Adler’s Poetics of Exile
Authors: Finch Helen
Published: September 2019

This article discusses the work of the Prague Jewish writer H. G. (Hans Günther) Adler (1910–1988) as an important contribution to the poetics of German-Jewish displacement in the wake of World War II. It demonstrates the significance of Adler’s early response to questions of refugee status, displacement and human rights in literature. The article argues that Adler’s work can be seen as providing in part a response to the question raised by Hannah Arendt, Joseph Slaughter and other recent theorists of literature and human rights: what poetic form is adequate to give literary expression to the mass displacements of the late twentieth and early twenty-first century? Adler’s short story ‘Note of a Displaced Person’ and his lengthy novel The Wall demonstrate the role that modernist poetics of fragmentation, in particular the legacy of Kafka, can have in bearing witness to this experience. They also demonstrate that the space of exile and displacement provides Adler with a vantage point from which to comment on the rights catastrophe of the twentieth century. Adler’s work develops a theological understanding of the crisis of displacement, a crisis that can only be resolved by restoring a relation between the divine and the human.
Flood Hazard Analysis of Proposed Regulator on Shatt Al-Arab River
Authors: Hamdan Ahmed , Abbas Abdulhussain , Najm Alauldeen
Published: September 2019

Recently, the Shatt Al-Arab River has suffered from increased salinization of its water due to the reduction of freshwater from its tributaries, mainly from the Tigris River, which has resulted in long-distance salinity intrusion. Therefore, there is a need to establish a regulator in the Abu-Flus district to prevent salt intrusion. The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of a proposed regulator on the Shatt Al-Arab River with simulations using the Hydrologic Engineering Center’s River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) model. The upstream boundary conditions were the daily discharges of Tigris River and the downstream boundary conditions were the hourly water stages of the Shatt Al-Arab River. The river model was operated by using the daily discharges recorded in 2014 for calibration and verification of the model. Then, a program operated with a suggested regulator and a flood wave assumed a 200 m3/s peak flow for a duration of 27 days. The flooding occurrence period of the flood wave was investigated under the effect of three study cases of regulator gates, which were fully open (case B1), tide gate (case B2), and fully closed (case B3). The results showed that flooding inundation occurred only in two cases (B2 and B3). These results will encourage the construction of the regulator considering certain precautions.
Biouptake Responses of Trace Metals to Long-Term Irrigation with Diverse Wastewater in the Wheat Rhizosphere Microenvironment
Authors: Li Renfei , Zhang Yuan , Yu Hong , Dang Qiuling , Yu Hanxia , Xi Beidou , Tan Wenbing
Published: September 2019

Wastewater irrigation is widely practiced and may cause serious environmental problems. However, current knowledge on the effects of long-term irrigation with wastewater from different sources on the biouptake of trace metals (TMs) in the rhizosphere zone by plants in farmlands is limited. Here, we analyzed wheat rhizosphere soil and wheat roots collected from a typical wastewater irrigation area in North China to evaluate the influence of wastewater irrigation from different sources on the bioavailability of trace metals in soils. Results showed that irrigation with tanning and domestic wastewater helped enhance the bioavailability of trace metals in rhizosphere soil by increasing the active organic carbon content, soil redox potential, and catalase activity, thus enhancing the proportion of the potentially bioavailable part of trace metal speciation. Conversely, irrigation with pharmaceutical wastewater can reduce the bioavailability of trace metals in rhizosphere soil by increasing total soil antibiotics and thus decreasing the proportions of bioavailable and potentially bioavailable parts of trace metal speciation. These findings can provide insights into the migration and transformation of trace metal speciation in soil rhizosphere microenvironments under the context of wastewater irrigation.
Synergy of Photocatalysis and Adsorption for Simultaneous Removal of Hexavalent Chromium and Methylene Blue by g-C3N4/BiFeO3/Carbon Nanotubes Ternary Composites
Authors: Huo Huiwen , Hu Xinjiang , Wang Hui , Li Jiang , Xie Guangyu , Tan Xiaofei , Jin Qi , Zhou Daixi , Li Chuang , Qiu Guoqiang , Liu Yunguo
Published: September 2019

A novel graphite-phase carbon nitride (g-C3N4)/bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) ternary magnetic composite (CNBT) was prepared by a hydrothermal synthesis. Using this material, Cr(VI) and methylene blue (MB) were removed from wastewater through synergistic adsorption and photocatalysis. The effects of pH, time, and pollutant concentration on the photocatalytic performance of CNBT, as well as possible interactions between Cr(VI) and MB species were analyzed. The obtained results showed that CNTs could effectively reduce the recombination rate of electron-hole pairs during the photocatalytic reaction of the g-C3N4/BiFeO3 composite, thereby improving its photocatalytic performance, while the presence of MB increased the reduction rate of Cr(VI). After 5 h of the simultaneous adsorption and photocatalysis by CNBT, the removal rates of Cr(VI) and MB were 93% and 98%, respectively. This study provides a new theoretical basis and technical guidance for the combined application of photocatalysis and adsorption in the treatment of wastewaters containing mixed pollutants.
The Public Distribution System and Food Security in India
Authors: George Neetu Abey , McKay Fiona H.
Published: September 2019

The Public Distribution System (PDS) of India plays a crucial role in reducing food insecurity by acting as a safety net by distributing essentials at a subsidised rate. While the PDS forms a cornerstone of government food and nutrition policy, India continues to be home to a large population of hungry and malnourished people. This review seeks to explore the functioning and efficiency of the PDS in achieving food and nutritional security in India. A comprehensive and systematic search using the key terms “food insecurity” OR “food security” AND “Public Distribution System” OR “PDS” OR “TPDS” AND “India” identified 23 articles which met the inclusion criteria. This review draws attention to the lack of published literature in areas of PDS and food security in India. The findings of the review emphasise the role of PDS in tackling hunger and malnutrition while highlighting its limited role in improving food security and childhood mortality due to operational inefficiencies. The PDS has the potential to act as a solution to food insecurity in India if the operational inefficiencies and environmental footprints are addressed by adequate policy reforms.
Determinants of Maternal Health-Related Quality of Life after Childbirth: The Generation R Study
Authors: Bai Guannan , Korfage Ida J , Mautner Eva , Raat Hein
Published: September 2019

Having good health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is essential, particularly for women after childbirth. However, little is known about its determinants. We aimed to identify the determinants of HRQoL after childbirth in a large community sample in the Netherlands. We have included 4312 women in the present study. HRQOL was assessed by a 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12) at around two months after childbirth; Physical and Mental Component Summary scores were calculated. Information on 27 potential determinants of HRQoL was collected through questionnaires and medical records. Multivariate linear regression models were applied to assess significant determinants of physical and mental HRQoL. Our study showed that older maternal age, shorter time since childbirth, elective/emergency cesarean delivery, loss of energy, maternal psychopathology, and the hospital admission of the infant were significantly associated with worse physical HRQoL (p < 0.05); older maternal age, non-western background, low household income, loss of energy, and maternal psychopathology were significantly associated with worse mental HRQoL (p < 0.05). We identified multiple determinants of suboptimal physical and mental HRQoL after childbirth. In particular, maternal psychopathology after childbirth was profoundly associated with mental HRQoL. These women may need support. We therefore call for awareness among health care professionals.
Estimating the Potential Public Health Impact of Prohibiting Characterizing Flavors in Cigars throughout the US
Authors: L. Rostron Brian , G. Corey Catherine , Holder-Hayes Enver , K. Ambrose Bridget
Published: September 2019

Flavored cigar use is common among cigar smokers, particularly those at younger ages. Several US localities have implemented policies restricting the sale of flavored tobacco products, including cigars. We estimated the population health benefits of removal of flavored cigars throughout the US in terms of reductions in cigar smoking-attributable mortality due to increased cessation and reductions in cigar smoking prevalence due to decreased initiation and continuing use. Monte Carlo simulation was used to estimate possible ranges for these values. We used published estimates of cigar use and attributable mortality in the US, as well as prior study conclusions on the effect of local and national flavor restriction policies. We estimated that removal of flavored cigars would result in approximately 800 (90% prediction interval = 400–1200) fewer cigar smoking-attributable deaths in the US each year and 112,000 fewer cigar smokers (90% prediction interval = 76,000–139,000) in each cohort of 18 year olds. The removal of characterizing flavors in cigars sold in the US is thus projected to have substantial public health benefits over time.
Functional Interplay between Cristae Biogenesis, Mitochondrial Dynamics and Mitochondrial DNA Integrity
Authors: Kondadi Arun Kumar , Anand Ruchika , Reichert Andreas S.
Published: September 2019

Mitochondria are vital cellular organelles involved in a plethora of cellular processes such as energy conversion, calcium homeostasis, heme biogenesis, regulation of apoptosis and ROS reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Although they are frequently depicted as static bean-shaped structures, our view has markedly changed over the past few decades as many studies have revealed a remarkable dynamicity of mitochondrial shapes and sizes both at the cellular and intra-mitochondrial levels. Aberrant changes in mitochondrial dynamics and cristae structure are associated with ageing and numerous human diseases (e.g., cancer, diabetes, various neurodegenerative diseases, types of neuro- and myopathies). Another unique feature of mitochondria is that they harbor their own genome, the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). MtDNA exists in several hundreds to thousands of copies per cell and is arranged and packaged in the mitochondrial matrix in structures termed mt-nucleoids. Many human diseases are mechanistically linked to mitochondrial dysfunction and alteration of the number and/or the integrity of mtDNA. In particular, several recent studies identified remarkable and partly unexpected links between mitochondrial structure, fusion and fission dynamics, and mtDNA. In this review, we will provide an overview about these recent insights and aim to clarify how mitochondrial dynamics, cristae ultrastructure and mtDNA structure influence each other and determine mitochondrial functions.
Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Extricate Bupivacaine-Impaired Skeletal Muscle Function via Mitigating Neutrophil-Mediated Acute Inflammation and Protecting against Fibrosis
Authors: Su Wen-Hong , Wang Ching-Jen , Fu Hung-Chun , Sheng Chien-Ming , Tsai Ching-Chin , Cheng Jai-Hong , Chuang Pei-Chin
Published: September 2019

Skeletal muscle injury presents a challenging traumatological dilemma, and current therapeutic options remain mediocre. This study was designed to delineate if engraftment of mesenchymal stem cells derived from umbilical cord Wharton’s jelly (uMSCs) could aid in skeletal muscle healing and persuasive molecular mechanisms. We established a skeletal muscle injury model by injection of myotoxin bupivacaine (BPVC) into quadriceps muscles of C57BL/6 mice. Post BPVC injection, neutrophils, the first host defensive line, rapidly invaded injured muscle and induced acute inflammation. Engrafted uMSCs effectively abolished neutrophil infiltration and activation, and diminished neutrophil chemotaxis, including Complement component 5a (C5a), Keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC), Macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2, LPS-induced CXC chemokine (LIX), Fractalkine, Leukotriene B4 (LTB4), and Interferon-γ, as determined using a Quantibody Mouse Cytokine Array assay. Subsequently, uMSCs noticeably prevented BPVC-accelerated collagen deposition and fibrosis, measured by Masson’s trichrome staining. Remarkably, uMSCs attenuated BPVC-induced Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 expression, a master regulator of fibrosis. Engrafted uMSCs attenuated TGF-β1 transmitting through interrupting the canonical Sma- And Mad-Related Protein (Smad)2/3 dependent pathway and noncanonical Smad-independent Transforming growth factor beta-activated kinase (TAK)-1/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling. The uMSCs abrogated TGF-β1-induced fibrosis by reducing extracellular matrix components including fibronectin-1, collagen (COL) 1A1, and COL10A1. Most importantly, uMSCs modestly extricated BPVC-impaired gait functions, determined using CatWalk™ XT gait analysis. This work provides several innovative insights into and molecular bases for employing uMSCs to execute therapeutic potential through the elimination of neutrophil-mediated acute inflammation toward protecting against fibrosis, thereby rescuing functional impairments post injury.
Target-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Deprivation Puts Retinal Ganglion Cells on Death Row: Cold Hard Evidence and Caveats
Authors: Claes Marie , De Groef Lies , Moons Lieve
Published: September 2019

Glaucoma and other optic neuropathies are characterized by axonal transport deficits. Axonal cargo travels back and forth between the soma and the axon terminus, a mechanism ensuring homeostasis and the viability of a neuron. An example of vital molecules in the axonal cargo are neurotrophic factors (NTFs). Hindered retrograde transport can cause a scarcity of those factors in the retina, which in turn can tilt the fate of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) towards apoptosis. This postulation is one of the most widely recognized theories to explain RGC death in the disease progression of glaucoma and is known as the NTF deprivation theory. For several decades, research has been focused on the use of NTFs as a novel neuroprotective glaucoma treatment. Until now, results in animal models have been promising, but translation to the clinic has been highly disappointing. Are we lacking important knowledge to lever NTF therapies towards the therapeutic armamentarium? Or did we get the wrong end of the stick regarding the NTF deprivation theory? In this review, we will tackle the existing evidence and caveats advocating for and against the target-derived NTF deprivation theory in glaucoma, whilst digging into associated therapy efforts.
Chronic Use of Proton-Pump Inhibitors and Iron Status in Renal Transplant Recipients
Authors: Douwes Rianne M. , Gomes-Neto António W. , Eisenga Michele F. , Vinke Joanna Sophia J. , de Borst Martin H. , van den Berg Else , Berger Stefan P. , Touw Daan J. , Hak Eelko , Blokzijl Hans , Navis Gerjan , Bakker Stephan J.L.
Published: September 2019

Proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) use may influence intestinal iron absorption. Low iron status and iron deficiency (ID) are frequent medical problems in renal transplant recipients (RTR). We hypothesized that chronic PPI use is associated with lower iron status and ID in RTR. Serum iron, ferritin, transferrin saturation (TSAT), and hemoglobin were measured in 646 stable outpatient RTR with a functioning allograft for ≥ 1 year from the “TransplantLines Food and Nutrition Biobank and Cohort Study” (NCT02811835). Median time since transplantation was 5.3 (1.8–12.0) years, mean age was 53 ± 13 years, and 56.2% used PPI. In multivariable linear regression analyses, PPI use was inversely associated with serum iron (β = −1.61, p = 0.001), natural log transformed serum ferritin (β = −0.31, p < 0.001), TSAT (β = −2.85, p = 0.001), and hemoglobin levels (β = −0.35, p = 0.007), independent of potential confounders. Moreover, PPI use was independently associated with increased risk of ID (Odds Ratio (OR): 1.57; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.07–2.31, p = 0.02). Additionally, the odds ratio in RTR taking a high PPI dose as compared to RTR taking no PPIs (OR 2.30; 95% CI 1.46–3.62, p < 0.001) was higher than in RTR taking a low PPI dose (OR:1.78; 95% CI 1.21–2.62, p = 0.004). We demonstrated that PPI use is associated with lower iron status and ID, suggesting impaired intestinal absorption of iron. Moreover, we found a stronger association with ID in RTR taking high PPI dosages. Use of PPIs should, therefore, be considered as a modifiable cause of ID in RTR.
The Effect of Machined Surface Conditioning on the Coating Interface of High Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF) Sprayed Coating
Authors: Tilger Meik , Biermann Dirk , Abdulgader Mohamed , Tillmann Wolfgang
Published: September 2019

Roughening the substrate surface is essential for thermal sprayed coatings. In this regard, sandblasting has established itself as an easy to use surface conditioning procedure. The quality of the obtained roughness depends on the conditions of the sandblasting material, adjusted parameters, and the kind of the process execution (manual or mechanical). These preconditions limit the reproducibility of the roughness obtained. Sandblasting causes residual compressive stress and may also lead to the inclusion of sand particles and notches in the roughened surface, which affects the interfacial properties of the coating, as well as the flexural strength of the coated parts. The hardness of the roughened surface plays, thereby, an important role. However, in order to reliably avoid these effects, microfinishing can be used as an alternative to generate a homogenous roughened substrate surface, control the induced residual stresses, and increase the reproducibility. In addition, the roughened surface pattern can be produced during the chip forming process of the to-be-coated parts. The utilization of the appropriate combination of machining processes and parameters should lead to the required surface pattern and thus to an enhanced coating adhesion and flexural strength of the coated part. The induced residual stresses and the quality of the obtained surface roughness have a significant influence on the coating adhesion and the lifespan of the coated parts. This paper aims to analyze, as a first step, the effect of the turning and microfinishing on the surface conditioning of the bearing steel 100Cr6 (AISI 52100). The investigation concludes by comparing the microfinished with the sandblasted surfaces with regard to the interface to and the adhesion of the WC–Co high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) sprayed coatings on them. Surface conditioning plays a decisive role by the induced residual stresses and the elimination of adhesion defects.
New Analytical Solutions for Time-Fractional Kolmogorov-Petrovsky-Piskunov Equation with Variety of Initial Boundary Conditions
Authors: Korkiatsakul Thanon , Koonprasert Sanoe , Neamprem Khomsan
Published: September 2019

The generalized time fractional Kolmogorov-Petrovsky-Piskunov equation (FKPP), D t α ω ( x , t ) = a ( x , t ) D x x ω ( x , t ) + F ( ω ( x , t ) ) , which plays an important role in engineering, chemical reaction problem is proposed by Caputo fractional order derivative sense. In this paper, we develop a framework wavelet, including shift Chebyshev polynomial of the first kind as a mother wavelet, and also construct some operational matrices that represent Caputo fractional derivative to obtain analytical solutions for FKPP equation with three different types of Initial Boundary conditions (Dirichlet, Dirichlet-Neumann, and Neumann-Robin). Our results shown that the Chebyshev wavelet is a powerful method, due to its simplicity, efficiency in analytical approximations, and its fast convergence. The comparison of the Chebyshev wavelet results indicates that the proposed method not only gives satisfactory results but also do not need large amount of CPU times.