bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of RGB Vegetation Indices to Estimate Chlorophyll Content in Sugar Beet Leaves in the Final Cultivation Stage
Authors: Sánchez-Sastre Luis Fernando , Alte da Veiga Nuno M. S. , Ruiz-Potosme Norlan Miguel , Carrión-Prieto Paula , Marcos-Robles José Luis , Navas-Gracia Luis Manuel , Martín-Ramos Pablo
Published: March 2020

Estimation of chlorophyll content with portable meters is an easy way to quantify crop nitrogen status in sugar beet leaves. In this work, an alternative for chlorophyll content estimation using RGB-only vegetation indices has been explored. In a first step, pictures of spring-sown ‘Fernanda KWS’ variety sugar beet leaves taken with a commercial camera were used to calculate 25 RGB indices reported in the literature and to obtain 9 new indices through principal component analysis (PCA) and stepwise linear regression (SLR) techniques. The performance of the 34 indices was examined in order to evaluate their ability to estimate chlorophyll content and chlorophyll degradation in the leaves under different natural light conditions along 4 days of the canopy senescence period. Two of the new proposed RGB indices were found to improve the already good performance of the indices reported in the literature, particularly for leaves featuring low chlorophyll contents. The 4 best indices were finally tested in field conditions, using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-taken photographs of a sugar beet plot, finding a reasonably good agreement with chlorophyll-meter data for all indices, in particular for I2 and (R−B)/(R+G+B). Consequently, the suggested RGB indices may hold promise for inexpensive chlorophyll estimation in sugar beet leaves during the harvest time, although a direct relationship with nitrogen status still needs to be validated.
Head-to-Head Comparison of the Incremental Predictive Value of The Three Established Risk Markers, Hs-troponin I, C-Reactive Protein, and NT-proBNP, in Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Nikorowitsch Julius , Ojeda Francisco , Lackner Karl J. , Schnabel Renate B. , Blankenberg Stefan , Zeller Tanja , Karakas Mahir
Published: March 2020

Risk stratification among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is of considerable interest to potentially guide secondary preventive therapies. Cardiac troponins as well as C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and natriuretic peptides have emerged as biomarkers for risk stratification. The question remains if one of these biomarkers is superior in predicting adverse outcomes. Thus, we perform a head-to-head comparison between high-sensitivity troponin I (hsTnI), hsCRP, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with CAD. Plasma levels were measured in a cohort of 2193 patients with documented CAD. The main outcome measures were cardiovascular (CV) death and/or nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI). During a median follow-up of 3.8 years, all three biomarkers were associated with cardiovascular death and/or MI. After adjustments for conventional cardiovascular risk factors, the hazard ratio (HR) per standard deviation (SD) for the prediction of CV death and/or nonfatal MI was 1.39 [95% CI: 1.24–1.57, p < 0.001] for hsTnI, 1.41 [95% CI: 1.24–1.60, p < 0.001] for hsCRP, and 1.64 [95% CI: 1.39–1.92, p < 0.001] for NT-proBNP. However, upon further adjustments for the other two biomarkers, only NT-proBNP was still associated with the combined endpoint with an HR of 1.47 [95% CI: 1.19–1.82, p < 0.001]. Conclusively, NT-proBNP is reliably linked to CV death and MI in patients with CAD and provides incremental value beyond hsCRP and hsTnI.
Protective Effects of Chromium Picolinate Against Diabetic-Induced Renal Dysfunction and Renal Fibrosis in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Qi Shan Shan , Zheng Hong Xing , Jiang Hai , Yuan Li Ping , Dong Le Chen
Published: March 2020

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most important complications of diabetes, and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). While Chromium picolinate (CrPic) supplementation has been found to be effective in treating diabetes, its effects on diabetic-induced nephropathy have not been studied. Therefore, in this study, CrPic (1 mg kg−1 d−1) was administered to a DN rat model by oral gavage for eight weeks to investigate its effects. The results show that CrPic supplementation caused a decrease in levels of blood glucose, serum insulin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, and urinary albumin in DN rats. It also reversed renal pathological changes, including renal glomerular sclerosis and interstitial fibrosis. In addition, the oxidative defense system in the kidneys of DN rats was found to be improved; the biological activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) increased; and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) lowered. Immunohistochemical results reveal that the expression levels of renal transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), Smad 2, and Smad 3 decreased significantly in the kidneys of rats in the CrPic-treated group. CrPic administration was thus found to ameliorate diabetic nephropathy in SD rats via an antioxidative stress mechanism, as well the ability to inhibit TGF-β1/Smad2/3 expression. This study suggests that CrPic could be a potential renal-protective nutrient against diabetic nephropathy.
Alcohol Metabolizing Enzymes, Microsomal Ethanol Oxidizing System, Cytochrome P450 2E1, Catalase, and Aldehyde Dehydrogenase in Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease
Authors: Jiang Yanchao , Zhang Ting , Kusumanchi Praveen , Han Sen , Yang Zhihong , Liangpunsakul Suthat
Published: March 2020

Once ingested, most of the alcohol is metabolized in the liver by alcohol dehydrogenase to acetaldehyde. Two additional pathways of acetaldehyde generation are by microsomal ethanol oxidizing system (cytochrome P450 2E1) and catalase. Acetaldehyde can form adducts which can interfere with cellular function, leading to alcohol-induced liver injury. The variants of alcohol metabolizing genes encode enzymes with varied kinetic properties and result in the different rate of alcohol elimination and acetaldehyde generation. Allelic variants of these genes with higher enzymatic activity are believed to be able to modify susceptibility to alcohol-induced liver injury; however, the human studies on the association of these variants and alcohol-associated liver disease are inconclusive. In addition to acetaldehyde, the shift in the redox state during alcohol elimination may also link to other pathways resulting in activation of downstream signaling leading to liver injury.
Reversal of Hyperglycemia and Suppression of Type 1 Diabetes in the NOD Mouse with Apoptotic DNA Immunotherapy™ (ADi™), ADi-100
Authors: Alleva David G. , Rezaee Melika , Yip Linda , Ren Gang , Rosenberg Jarrett , Concepcion Waldo , Escher Alan , Shabahang Shahrokh , Thakor Avnesh S.
Published: March 2020

The antigen-specific apoptotic DNA immunotherapeutic, ADi-100, is designed to suppress type 1 diabetes and consists of two DNA plasmids encoding genetic sequences of the apoptosis-inducing molecule, BAX, and the secreted form of the autoantigen, glutamic acid decarboxylase 65, that is CpG hyper-methylated to avoid inflammatory signaling (msGAD55). Upon a four-day treatment with ADi-100 of young female non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, the frequency of various tolerogenic dendritic cell populations increased in draining lymph nodes; these cells lost the capacity to stimulate glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)-specific CD4+ T lymphocytes and were associated with the previously demonstrated enhancement of GAD-specific regulatory T cells. The efficacy of two ADi-100 formulations containing different proportions of BAX and msGAD55, 1:4 (10/40 µg) and 1:2 (17/33 µg), was evaluated in mildly hyperglycemic pre-diabetic NOD female mice. Both formulations suppressed the incidence of diabetes by 80% in an antigen-specific manner, while all untreated mice developed diabetes. However, treatment of pre-diabetic mice with significantly higher hyperglycemia, denoting progressive disease, showed that ADi-100 1:2 strongly suppressed diabetes incidence by 80% whereas the ADi-100 1:4 was less effective (50%). As an antigen-specific monotherapy, ADi-100 is highly efficacious in reversing elevated hyperglycemia to prevent diabetes, in which increasing apoptosis-inducing BAX content is a promising immune tolerance feature.
Mechanism and Chemoselectivity of Mn-Catalyzed Intramolecular Nitrene Transfer Reaction: C–H Amination vs. C=C Aziridination
Authors: Wang Juping , Zheng Kangcheng , Li Ting , Zhan Xiaojing
Published: March 2020

The reactivity, mechanism and chemoselectivity of the Mn-catalyzed intramolecular C–H amination versus C=C aziridination of allylic substrate cis-4-hexenylsulfamate are investigated by BP86 density functional theory computations. Emphasis is placed on the origins of high reactivity and high chemoselectivity of Mn catalysis. The N p orbital character of frontier orbitals, a strong electron-withdrawing porphyrazine ligand and a poor π backbonding of high-valent MnIII metal to N atom lead to high electrophilic reactivity of Mn-nitrene. The calculated energy barrier of C–H amination is 9.9 kcal/mol lower than that of C=C aziridination, which indicates that Mn-based catalysis has an excellent level of chemoselectivity towards C–H amination, well consistent with the experimental the product ratio of amintion-to-aziridination I:A (i.e., (Insertion):(Aziridination)) >20:1. This extraordinary chemoselectivity towards C–H amination originates from the structural features of porphyrazine: a rigid ligand with the big π-conjugated bond. Electron-donating substituents can further increase Mn-catalyzed C–H amination reactivity. The controlling factors found in this work may be considered as design elements for an economical and environmentally friendly C–H amination system with high reactivity and high chemoselectivity.
Changes in the Concentration of Markers Participating in the Regulation of the Apoptosis Receptor Pathway Involving Soluble Tumour Necrosis Factor Ligand Inducing Apoptosis (sTRAIL) and Osteoprotegerin (OPG) in the Serum of Women with Ovarian Cancer—Participation in Pathogenesis or a Possible Clinical Use?
Authors: Mielczarek-Palacz Aleksandra , Kondera-Anasz Zdzisława , Smycz-Kubańska Marta
Published: March 2020

Due to the ability to selectively induce apoptosis in cancer cells, the most interesting target for clinical research is the tumour necrosis factor ligand inducing apoptosis (TRAIL), which binds specific receptors, including osteoprotegerin (OPG). The aim of the study was to analyse the concentration of soluble TRAIL (sTRAIL) and OPG in the serum of women with serous or mucinous ovarian cancer, taking into account different levels of cancer histological differentiation. The group included 97 women with the diagnosed Cystadenocarcinoma papillare serosum IIIc and Cystadenocarcinoma mucinosum IIIc. Concentrations of parameters were measured by ELISA. Analysis of the obtained results showed a statistically significantly higher concentration of sTRAIL and OPG in the serum of women with ovarian serous and mucinous cancer compared to the control group (p < 0.0001). Statistical significance was found between sTRAIL and OPG concentration in G1 and G3 serous cancer (p < 0.01) and in OPG mucinous cancer between G1 and G3 (p < 0.01) and G2 and G3 (p < 0.01). An important role in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer is played by disorders of the apoptosis process involving the sTRAIL/OPG system, which are associated with the histological type and the degree of histological differentiation of the tumour. Determining the concentration of tested parameters in combination with other markers may be useful in the future in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer, but that requires further research.
Controlled Stepwise Synthesis and Characterization of a Ternary Multicomponent Crystal with 2-Methylresorcinol
Authors: Komisarek Daniel , Schauerte Carsten , Merz Klaus
Published: March 2020

A typical approach of a multicomponent crystal design starts with a retrosynthetic analysis of the target molecule followed by a one-pot reaction of all components. To develop protocols for multicomponent crystal syntheses, controlled stepwise syntheses of a selected crystalline ternary multicomponent system 1 involving 2-methylresorcinol (MRS), tetramethyl-pyrazine (TMP), and 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (BPE) are presented. The obtained binary cocrystals 2 (involving MRS and TMP) and 3 (involving MRS and BPE) as well as the final resulting ternary multicomponent system 1 were characterized by X-ray analysis.
Nonsyndromic Oral Cleft in First-Degree Relatives of Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Oliveira Dias Verônica , Reis Barbosa Martelli Daniella , Santos Maria , Fernandes Maia Célia , Soares de Andrade Rodrigo , Coletta Ricardo , Martelli Júnior Hercílio
Published: March 2020

Multiple studies have demonstrated an association between cancer and nonsyndromic oral clefts in different populations. In this study, we assessed the occurrence of nonsyndromic oral clefts in families of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL, n = 50) and controls (n = 125). The parents of the patients answered a questionnaire with basic demographic information and family history of nonsyndromic oral clefts in first-degree relatives. Statistical analysis was carried out using Fisher’s exact test. In the ALL group, 22 (44%) were male and 28 (56%) were female, and the average age was 13.2 ± 12.2 years. In the control group, 64 (51.2%) were male and 65 were female and the average age was 11.3 ± 10.3 years. Two out of 50 patients (4%) with acute lymphoblastic leukemia had a positive history of nonsyndromic oral clefts, whereas there were no reported occurrences of nonsyndromic oral clefts in the control group (OR: 12.94, 95% CI: 0.61–274.6, p = 0.08). Despite the limited population, the frequency of nonsyndromic oral clefts was increased in the first-degree relatives of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Studies with larger samples and molecular analyses are needed to better understand the possible etiological relationship between cancer and nonsyndromic oral clefts.
Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) for the Assessment of Renewable Energy Technologies in a Household: A Review
Authors: Siksnelyte-Butkiene Indre , Zavadskas Edmundas Kazimieras , Streimikiene Dalia
Published: March 2020

Different power generation technologies have different advantages and disadvantages. However, if compared to traditional energy sources, renewable energy sources provide a possibility to solve the climate change and economic decarbonization issues that are so relevant today. Therefore, the analysis and evaluation of renewable energy technologies has been receiving increasing attention in the politics of different countries and the scientific literature. The household sector consumes almost one third of all energy produced, thus studies on the evaluation of renewable energy production technologies in households are very important. This article reviews the scientific literature that have used multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods as a key tool to evaluate renewable energy technologies in households. The findings of the conducted research are categorized according to the objectives pursued and the criteria on which the evaluation was based are discussed. The article also provides an overview and in-depth analysis of MCDM methods and distinguishes the main advantages and disadvantages of using them to evaluate technologies in households.
Experimental Investigation of the Performance and Spray Characteristics of a Supersonic Two-Phase Flow Ejector with Different Structures
Authors: Li Shizhen , Li Wei , Liu Yanjun , Ji Chen , Zhang Jingzhi
Published: March 2020

A two-phase flow ejector is an important part of a water mist fire suppression system, and these devices have become a popular research topic in recent years. This paper proposes a supersonic ejector that aims to improve the efficiency of water mist fire suppression systems. The effects of ejector geometric parameters on the entrainment ratio (ER) were explored. The effects of primary flow pressure (PP) on the mixing process and flow phenomena were studied by a high-speed camera. The experimental results show that the ER first increases and then decreases with increasing PP. ER increases with increasing ejector area ratio (AR). The PP corresponding to the maximum ER of ejectors with a different nozzle exit position (NXP) is 3.6 bar. The ejector with an NXP of +1 and AR of 6 demonstrate the best performance, and the ER of this ejector reaches 36.29. The spray half-cone angle of the ejector increases with increasing ER, reaching a maximum value of 7.07°. The unstable atomization half-cone angle is mainly due to a two-phase flow pulsating phenomenon. The pulsation period is 10 ms. In the present study, a general rule that provides a reference for ejector design and selection was obtained through experiments.
An Integrated Energy Simulation Model for Buildings
Authors: Kampelis Nikolaos , Papayiannis Georgios I. , Kolokotsa Dionysia , Galanis Georgios N. , Isidori Daniela , Cristalli Cristina , Yannacopoulos Athanasios N.
Published: March 2020

The operation of buildings is linked to approximately 36% of the global energy consumption, 40% of greenhouse gas emissions, and climate change. Assessing the energy consumption and efficiency of buildings is a complex task addressed by a variety of methods. Building energy modeling is among the dominant methodologies in evaluating the energy efficiency of buildings commonly applied for evaluating design and renovation energy efficiency measures. Although building energy modeling is a valuable tool, it is rarely the case that simulation results are assessed against the building’s actual energy performance. In this context, the simulation results of the HVAC energy consumption in the case of a smart industrial near-zero energy building are used to explore areas of uncertainty and deviation of the building energy model against measured data. Initial model results are improved based on a trial and error approach to minimize deviation based on key identified parameters. In addition, a novel approach based on functional shape modeling and Kalman filtering is developed and applied to further minimize systematic discrepancies. Results indicate a significant initial performance gap between the initial model and the actual energy consumption. The efficiency and the effectiveness of the developed integrated model is highlighted.
Direct Consideration of Eddy Current Losses in Laminated Magnetic Cores in Finite Element Method (FEM) Calculations Using the Laplace Transform
Authors: Gołębiowski Marek , Gołębiowski Lesław , Smoleń Andrzej , Mazur Damian
Published: March 2020

The following article presents a computation procedure that enables us to simulate the dynamic states of electric machines with a laminated magnetic core, with direct consideration of the eddy current losses. The presented approach enables a significant reduction of the simulation process computational complexity. The verification of the obtained data correctness is based on a detailed balance of energy and power in the investigated system. The correctness of the obtained results was also confirmed by comparing them with the results included in norms that describe the losses in laminated sheets. The presented approach is based on expressing the equivalent permeability of transformer metal sheets by using RC or RL circuits. The impedances of these circuits are treated as the transmittance of Infinite Impulse Response filters (IIR) of the Laplace s variable. In this form they are implemented in direct calculations of the dynamics of electric machines based on field-circuital models, using the Finite Element Method (FEM). In this way, we present the method of including eddy current losses in laminated metal circuits of chokes or transformers, during calculations using the finite element method, with the IIR filter in the domain of the variable s of the Laplace transform. Eddy current losses are directly included in the calculation process. Therefore, they have a direct impact on the transient state waveforms. However, the use of the Laplace variable s caused an excessive increase in the number of state variables, and the overall computational efficiency of the presented method is sufficiently low so as to be used in the simulation process of electrical machine dynamic states with a relatively large number of elements in the FE Model.
Hepatoprotective Effects of Steamed and Freeze-Dried Mature Silkworm Larval Powder against Ethanol-Induced Fatty Liver Disease in Rats
Authors: Lee Da-Young , Hong Kyung-Sook , Song Moon-Young , Yun Sun-Mi , Ji Sang-Deok , Son Jong-Gon , Kim Eun-Hee
Published: March 2020

Silkworm, Bombyx mori, contains high amounts of beneficial nutrients, including amino acids, proteins, essential minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids. We have previously reported a technique for producing steamed and freeze-dried mature silkworm larval powder (SMSP), which makes it easier to digest mature silkworm. In this study, we investigated the preventive effects of SMSP on alcoholic fatty liver disease and elucidated its mechanism of action. Male Sprague-Dawley rats treated with SMSP (50 mg/kg) or normal diet (AIN-76A) were administered 25% ethanol (3 g/kg body weight) by oral gavage for 4 weeks. SMSP administration for 4 weeks significantly decreased hepatic fat accumulation in ethanol-treated rats by modulating lipogenesis and fatty acid oxidation-related molecules such as sirtuin 1, AMP-activated protein kinase, and acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1. Moreover, SMSP administration significantly diminished the levels of triglyceride in liver tissues by as much as 35%, as well as lowering the serum levels of triglyceride, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, alanine transaminase, and aspartate aminotransferase in ethanol-treated rats. SMSP supplementation also decreased the pro-inflammatory tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin 1 beta levels and cytochrome P450 2E1 generating oxidative stress. These results suggest that SMSP administration may be possible for the prevention of alcoholic liver disease.
Beef Quality Preferences: Factors Driving Consumer Satisfaction
Authors: Felderhoff Chad , Lyford Conrad , Malaga Jaime , Polkinghorne Rod , Brooks Chance , Garmyn Andrea , Miller Mark
Published: March 2020

The current study was designed to broaden the understanding of the attributes impacting the sensory properties of beef when consumed. Using a survey of consumers from three different geographical regions in the United States (US), we determined the impacts of three attributes on overall satisfaction in several different ways. The two main statistical methods used were an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model and the Conditional Logit model. Perhaps the most important finding of this study was that flavor was the largest contributor to consumer satisfaction. This finding was consistent throughout all the models. In the base model, flavor represented 59% of the satisfaction rating. Additionally, results indicated domestic beef was preferred over Australian beef by US consumers. Another important finding of the study was the impact of the demographic variables of age, income, and gender on satisfaction. The older group generally placed more emphasis on tenderness, while younger people preferred juicier beef. Males were more responsive than females for all attributes, especially tenderness. Those with higher income were more responsive to tenderness for all quality levels, but the lower income group was more responsive to juiciness. Overall, flavor had the largest impact on consumers’ satisfaction level in comparison to tenderness or juiciness.
Caregiver-Attributed Etiologies of Children’s Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Study in Taiwan
Authors: Chou Wen-Jiun , Liu Tai-Ling , Hsiao Ray C. , Chen Yu-Min , Chang Chih-Cheng , Yen Cheng-Fang
Published: March 2020

The aim of this survey study was to examine the etiologies of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) attributed by caregivers of Taiwanese children with ADHD, particularly factors affecting such attribution. This study had 400 caregivers of children with ADHD as participants. We examined the caregiver-attributed etiologies of ADHD and factors affecting such attribution. Caregivers completed the self-report questionnaire to rate how likely they perceived various etiologies of ADHD to be; the Affiliate Stigma Scale for the level of affiliate stigma; and the short Chinese version of the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham, Version IV Scale for child’s ADHD and oppositional symptoms. Brain dysfunction (84.8%) was the most commonly attributed etiology, followed by failure of caregivers in disciplining the child (44.0%); a poor diet, such as a sugar-rich diet (40.8%); a poor living environment (38.8%); the child imitating their peers’ improper behavior (37.3%); failure of school staff in disciplining the child (29.0%); the education system’s overemphasis on academic performance (27.3%); and supernatural beings or divination-based reasons (3.8%). Caregivers’ affiliate stigma was significantly associated with the attribution of several nonbiological etiologies other than brain dysfunction. Caregivers’ education level and children’s sex, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and oppositional symptoms were significantly associated with various caregiver-attributed etiologies. Therefore, to deliver more accurate knowledge about ADHD in educational programs, health professionals should consider those etiologies that are attributed by caregivers of children with ADHD.
Application of the Key Characteristics of Carcinogens to Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
Authors: Temkin Alexis M. , Hocevar Barbara A. , Andrews David Q. , Naidenko Olga V. , Kamendulis Lisa M.
Published: March 2020

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) constitute a large class of environmentally persistent chemicals used in industrial and consumer products. Human exposure to PFAS is extensive, and PFAS contamination has been reported in drinking water and food supplies as well as in the serum of nearly all people. The most well-studied member of the PFAS class, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), induces tumors in animal bioassays and has been associated with elevated risk of cancer in human populations. GenX, one of the PFOA replacement chemicals, induces tumors in animal bioassays as well. Using the Key Characteristics of Carcinogens framework for cancer hazard identification, we considered the existing epidemiological, toxicological and mechanistic data for 26 different PFAS. We found strong evidence that multiple PFAS induce oxidative stress, are immunosuppressive, and modulate receptor-mediated effects. We also found suggestive evidence indicating that some PFAS can induce epigenetic alterations and influence cell proliferation. Experimental data indicate that PFAS are not genotoxic and generally do not undergo metabolic activation. Data are currently insufficient to assess whether any PFAS promote chronic inflammation, cellular immortalization or alter DNA repair. While more research is needed to address data gaps, evidence exists that several PFAS exhibit one or more of the key characteristics of carcinogens.
The Agglomeration of Manufacturing Industry, Innovation and Haze Pollution in China: Theory and Evidence
Authors: Liu Zhidong , Cai Yang , Hao Xiaojing
Published: March 2020

Haze pollution in China is a serious environmental issue, which does harm both to people’s health and to economic development. Simultaneously, as an important industrial development law, agglomeration may result in the increased concentration of manufacturing firms and, consequently, an increase in haze pollution. However, the positive externalities of agglomeration can also improve the efficiency of regional innovation, which curbs haze pollution. In this paper, we construct both theoretical and empirical models to investigate the effects of industrial manufacturing agglomeration on haze pollution. The results reveal the following: (1) By incorporating the effect of agglomeration and haze pollution into a general endogenous growth model, we show an inverted-U relationship between agglomeration and haze pollution on the balance growth path. (2) Based on data concerning haze pollution (PM2.5) and data from 285 Chinese cities, the empirical results verify the findings of the theoretical model. Further, we calculated the values of agglomeration variables, with respect to the inflection points of the inverted-U, which the cities need to reach in order to gain the specific agglomeration values required to enjoy the inhibition effect of agglomeration on haze pollution. (3) A heterogeneity analysis shows that the inverted-U relationship is more obvious among the cities in the middle and northeastern areas of China, as well as medium-size cities. (4) Cities’ environmental regulation policies and high-quality institutional environments can restrain the positive effect of agglomeration on haze pollution. (5) Using three measures of innovation, it is also empirically found that innovation is the mechanism (mediator) between agglomeration and haze pollution.
The Control of Cell Expansion, Cell Division, and Vascular Development by Brassinosteroids: A Historical Perspective
Authors: Oh Man-Ho , Honey Saxon H. , Tax Frans E.
Published: March 2020

Steroid hormones are important signaling molecules in plants and animals. The plant steroid hormone brassinosteroids were first isolated and characterized in the 1970s and have been studied since then for their functions in plant growth. Treatment of plants or plant cells with brassinosteroids revealed they play important roles during diverse developmental processes, including control of cell expansion, cell division, and vascular differentiation. Molecular genetic studies, primarily in Arabidopsis thaliana, but increasingly in many other plants, have identified many genes involved in brassinosteroid biosynthesis and responses. Here we review the roles of brassinosteroids in cell expansion, cell division, and vascular differentiation, comparing the early physiological studies with more recent results of the analysis of mutants in brassinosteroid biosynthesis and signaling genes. A few representative examples of other molecular pathways that share developmental roles with brassinosteroids are described, including pathways that share functional overlap or response components with the brassinosteroid pathway. We conclude by briefly discussing the origin and conservation of brassinosteroid signaling.
MiR&moRe2: A Bioinformatics Tool to Characterize microRNAs and microRNA-Offset RNAs from Small RNA-Seq Data
Authors: Gaffo Enrico , Bortolomeazzi Michele , Bisognin Andrea , Di Battista Piero , Lovisa Federica , Mussolin Lara , Bortoluzzi Stefania
Published: March 2020

MicroRNA-offset RNAs (moRNAs) are microRNA-like small RNAs generated by microRNA precursors. To date, little is known about moRNAs and bioinformatics tools to inspect their expression are still missing. We developed miR&moRe2, the first bioinformatics method to consistently characterize microRNAs, moRNAs, and their isoforms from small RNA sequencing data. To illustrate miR&moRe2 discovery power, we applied it to several published datasets. MoRNAs identified by miR&moRe2 were in agreement with previous research findings. Moreover, we observed that moRNAs and new microRNAs predicted by miR&moRe2 were downregulated upon the silencing of the microRNA-biogenesis pathway. Further, in a sizeable dataset of human blood cell populations, tens of novel miRNAs and moRNAs were discovered, some of them with significantly varied expression levels among the cell types. Results demonstrate that miR&moRe2 is a valid tool for a comprehensive study of small RNAs generated from microRNA precursors and could help to investigate their biogenesis and function.
Development of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for Rapid Detection of Cucurbit Leaf Crumple Virus
Authors: Waliullah Sumyya , Ling Kai-Shu , Cieniewicz Elizabeth J. , Oliver Jonathan E. , Ji Pingsheng , Ali Md Emran
Published: March 2020

A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was developed for simple, rapid and efficient detection of Cucurbit leaf crumple virus (CuLCrV), one of the most important begomoviruses that infects cucurbits worldwide. A set of six specific primers targeting a total 240 nt sequence regions in the DNA A of CuLCrV were designed and synthesized for detection of CuLCrV from infected leaf tissues using real-time LAMP amplification with the Genie® III system, which was further confirmed by gel electrophoresis and SYBR™ Green I DNA staining for visual observation. The optimum reaction temperature and time were determined, and no cross-reactivity was seen with other begomoviruses. The LAMP assay could amplify CuLCrV from a mixed virus assay. The sensitivity assay demonstrated that the LAMP reaction was more sensitive than conventional PCR, but less sensitive than qPCR. However, it was simpler and faster than the other assays evaluated. The LAMP assay also amplified CuLCrV-infected symptomatic and asymptomatic samples more efficiently than PCR. Successful LAMP amplification was observed in mixed virus-infected field samples. This simple, rapid, and sensitive method has the capacity to detect CuLCrV in samples collected in the field and is therefore suitable for early detection of the disease to reduce the risk of epidemics.
Copper(II) Halide Salts with 1-(4′-Pyridyl)-Pyridinediium
Authors: Monroe Jeffrey C. , Landee Christopher P. , Rademeyer Melanie , Turnbull Mark M.
Published: March 2020

The compounds [1,4′-bipyridine]-1,1′-diium [CuCl4] (1) and [1,4′-bipyridine]-1,1′-diium [CuBr4] (2) were prepared and their crystal structures and magnetic properties are reported. The compounds are isomorphous and crystallize in the monoclinic space group C2/c. The cation crystallizes in a two-fold disordered fashion with the terminal nitrogen and carbon atoms exhibiting 50% occupancies. This results in a crystal packing arrangement with significant hydrogen bonding that is very similar to that observed in the corresponding 4,4′-bipyridinediium complexes. Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements and room temperature EPR spectroscopy indicate the presence of very weak antiferromagnetic exchange. The data were fit to the Curie–Weiss law and yielded Weiss constants of −0.26(5) K (1) and −1.0(1) K (2).
Risk Retirement—Decreasing Uncertainty and Informing Consenting Processes for Marine Renewable Energy Development
Authors: Copping Andrea E. , Freeman Mikaela C. , Gorton Alicia M. , Hemery Lenaïg G.
Published: March 2020

Marine renewable energy (MRE) is under development in many coastal nations, adding to the portfolio of low carbon energy sources that power national electricity grids as well as off-grid uses in isolated areas and at sea. Progress in establishing the MRE industry, largely wave and tidal energy, has been slowed in part due to uncertainty about environmental risks of these devices, including harm to marine animals and habitats, and the associated concerns of regulators and stakeholders. A process for risk retirement was developed to organize and apply knowledge in a strategic manner that considered whether specific environmental effects are likely to cause harm. The risk retirement process was tested against two key MRE stressors: effects of underwater noise from operational MRE devices on marine animals, and effects of electromagnetic fields from MRE electrical export cables on marine animals. The effects of installation of MRE devices were not accounted for in this analysis. Applying the risk retirement process could decrease the need for costly investigations of each potential effect at every new MRE project site and help move the industry beyond current barriers.
In Situ Electrochemical Study of the Growth Kinetics of Passive Film on TC11 Alloy in Sulfate Solution at 300 °C/10 MPa
Authors: Zha Lei , Li Heping , Wang Ning
Published: March 2020

TC11 alloy is a promising structural material, and has a wide range of applications in many corrosive and high temperature hydrothermal systems. The passive film has an important influence on its electrochemical behavior. In this study, in-situ electrochemical methods (that is, open circuit potential (OCP), linear polarization (LP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)) were used to monitor the long period electrochemical behavior of TC11 alloy in 0.01 M Na2SO4 solution at 300 °C/10 MPa. The growth kinetics of the passive film was mainly studied. The correlation between the evolution of the electrochemical behavior and the growth of the oxide film was discussed. The results showed that although the OCP gradually stabilized after twenty thousand seconds, henceforth the polarization resistance (Rp) was still increasing due to the thickening of the passive film. An equivalent circuit was proposed to fit the EIS experimental data, leading to determination of film capacitance and film resistance. Besides, the electrochemical data was interpreted in terms of the point defect model (PDM). The EIS results are consistent with the Rp results.
Synthesis Based on a Preceramic Polymer and Alumina Nanoparticles via UV Lithography for High Temperature Applications
Authors: Almeataq Mohammed S. , Alosime Eid M.
Published: March 2020

Because of the increased demand for preceramic polymers in high-tech applications, there has been growing interest in the synthesis of preceramic polymers, including polysiloxanes and alumina. These polymers are preferred because of their low thermal expansion, conformability to surfaces over large areas, and flexibility. The primary objective was to evaluate the aspects of polymer-derived ceramic routs, focusing on the UV lithography process of preceramic polymers and the pyrolyzing properties of the final ceramics. We found that the p(DMS-co-AMS) copolymer was effective in scattering the hydrophilic Al2O3 nanoparticles into the exceedingly hydrophobic solvent. The physico-chemical behavior of characterized copolymers was explored during their pyrolytic transformation into amorphous silicon-based ceramics. The results indicate that an increase of the pyrolysis temperature degraded the Si–O network through the carbothermic reaction of silicon. We also found a rapid elimination of copolymer pores and densification when the temperature increased (1100 to 1200 °C). At different but specific temperature ranges, there are different distinct rearrangement reactions in the conversion of polymer to ceramic; reductions of the melting point (Tm) of the total heat of melting (ΔHm) of the pyrolysis process resulted in the crystallization of ceramic materials; hence, lithography based on pyrolysis properties of preceramic polymers is a critical method in the conversation of polymers.
Using Eco-Friendly Recycled Powder from CDW to Prepare Strain Hardening Cementitious Composites (SHCC) and Properties Determination
Authors: Wang Wan , Wu Huixia , Ma Zhiming , Wu Ruixue
Published: March 2020

Using eco-friendly recycled brick powder (RBP) derived from waste brick to prepare strain hardening cementitious composites (SHCC) provides a new way of recycling the construction and demolition waste (CDW), and the dosage of cement in SHCC can be decreased. This paper investigated the micro-properties and mechanical properties of SHCC containing RBP by a series of experiments. The results showed that RBP had typical characteristics of supplementary cementitious material (SCM). The addition of RBP increased the SiO2 content and decreased the hydration products in cementitious materials; in this case, the mechanical properties of mortar decreased with increasing RBP replacements, and a linear relationship was observed between them. It was noticed that the adverse effect of RBP on the mechanical properties decreased with increasing PVA fiber content in mortar. For SHCC containing various RBP replacements, the ultimate load increased, and the ultimate displacement decreased with increasing curing days. When using RBP to replace cement by weight, the ultimate displacement increased with the addition of RBP. Meanwhile, there was no significant reduction in the ultimate load of SHCC. When using RBP to replace fly ash (FA) by weight, the incorporation of RBP decreased the ultimate displacement of SHCC, whereas the ultimate load was improved. For example, the ultimate load and displacement of SHCC with 54%RBP were 17.6% higher and 16.4% lower, respectively, than those of SHCC with 54% FA.
A Probabilistic Linguistic Multiple Attribute Decision Making Based on a New Correlation Coefficient Method and its Application in Hospital Assessment
Authors: Luo Dandan , Zeng Shouzhen , Chen Ji
Published: March 2020

The probabilistic linguistic term set (PLTS) is a newly emerging mathematical tool for handling uncertainties. It is considered a useful extension of linguistic term sets associated with probability information and can improve the effectiveness of multiple attribute decision making (MADM). This paper proposes a new PLTS correlation coefficient and addresses its usefulness in MADM problems. For achieving this aim, some new concepts of mean, variance, and covariance of the PLTS are first proposed. Moreover, a novel PLTS Pearson correlation coefficient is defined to overcome the shortcomings of the existing methods, whose significant feature is that it lies in the interval [−1,1], which makes it more effective in reflecting the negative and positive correlation between PLTSs. A weighted PLTS Pearson correlation coefficient is further defined to consider the importance of attribute weights and expand the scope of application. Then, a relative PLTS closeness coefficient is constructed based on the developed Pearson correlation coefficient, and based on which, a Pearson correlation-based TOPSIS (technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution) approach for MADM problems is developed. Finally, the effectiveness as well as the applicability of the developed method are illustrated through numerical examples and comparative analysis.
A Multilevel Iteration Method for Solving a Coupled Integral Equation Model in Image Restoration
Authors: Yang Hongqi , Zhou Bing
Published: March 2020

The problem of out-of-focus image restoration can be modeled as an ill-posed integral equation, which can be regularized as a second kind of equation using the Tikhonov method. The multiscale collocation method with the compression strategy has already been developed to discretize this well-posed equation. However, the integral computation and solution of the large multiscale collocation integral equation are two time-consuming processes. To overcome these difficulties, we propose a fully discrete multiscale collocation method using an integral approximation strategy to compute the integral, which efficiently converts the integral operation to the matrix operation and reduces costs. In addition, we also propose a multilevel iteration method (MIM) to solve the fully discrete integral equation obtained from the integral approximation strategy. Herein, the stopping criterion and the computation complexity that correspond to the MIM are shown. Furthermore, a posteriori parameter choice strategy is developed for this method, and the final convergence order is evaluated. We present three numerical experiments to display the performance and computation efficiency of our proposed methods.
Interaction Between Root Exudates of the Poisonous Plant Stellera chamaejasme L. and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on the Growth of Leymus Chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel
Authors: Zhu Xinrui , Li Xiaote , Xing Fu , Chen Chen , Huang Guohui , Gao Ying
Published: March 2020

The growth of a large number of poisonous plants is an indicator of grassland degradation. Releasing allelochemicals through root exudates is one of the strategies with which poisonous plants affect neighboring plants in nature. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can form a mutualistic symbiosis with most of the higher plants. However, the manner of interaction between root exudates of poisonous plants and AMF on neighboring herbage in grasslands remains poorly understood. Stellera chamaejasme L., a common poisonous plant with approved allelopathy, is widely distributed with the dominant grass of Leymus chinensis in the degradeds of Northern China. In this study, we investigated the addition of S. chamaejasme root exudates (SRE), the inoculation of AMF, and their interaction on the growth and tissue nitrogen contents of L. chinensis, the characteristics of rhizosphere AMF, and soil physicochemical properties. Results showed that SRE had significant effects on ramet number, aboveground biomass, and total nitrogen of L. chinensis in a concentration dependent manner. Additionally, SRE had a significant negative effect on the rate of mycorrhiza infection and spore density of the AMF. Meanwhile, the addition of SRE significantly affected soil pH, electrical conductivity, available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), total nitrogen (TN), and total carbon (TC) contents; while neither inoculation of AMF itself nor the interaction of AMF with SRE significantly affected the growth of L. chinensis. The interaction between AMF and SRE dramatically changed the pH, AP, and TC of rhizosphere soil. Therefore, we suggested SRE of S. chamaejasme affected the growth of L. chinensis by altering soil pH and nutrient availability. AMF could change the effect of SRE on soil nutrients and have the potential to regulate the allelopathic effects of S. chamaejasme and the interspecific interaction between the two plant species. We have provided new evidence for the allelopathic mechanism of S. chamaejasme and the regulation effects of AMF on the interspecific relationship between poisonous plants and neighboring plants. Our findings reveal the complex interplay between the root exudates of poisonous plants and rhizosphere AMF in regulating population growth and dynamics of neighboring plants in degraded grassland ecosystems.
In Vitro, In Silico, and In Vivo Assessments of Pharmacokinetic Properties of ZM241385
Authors: Byeon Jin-Ju , Park Min-Ho , Shin Seok-Ho , Park Yuri , Lee Byeong ill , Choi Jang-mi , Kim Nahye , Park Seo-jin , Park Min-jae , Lim Jeong-hyeon , Na Young-Guk , Shin Young G.
Published: March 2020

Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. Adenosine regulates the response to other neurotransmitters in the brain regions related to motor function. In the several subtypes of adenosine receptors, especially, adenosine 2A receptors (A2ARs) are involved in neurodegenerative conditions. ZM241385 is one of the selective non-xanthine A2AR antagonists with high affinity in the nanomolar range. This study describes the in vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetic properties of ZM241385 in rats. A liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometric (LC-qToF MS) method was developed for the determination of ZM241385 in rat plasma. In vivo IV administration studies showed that ZM241385 was rapidly eliminated in rats. However, the result of in vitro metabolic stability studies showed that ZM241385 had moderate clearance, suggesting that there is an extra clearance pathway in addition to hepatic clearance. In addition, in vivo PO administration studies demonstrated that ZM241385 had low exposure in rats. The results of semi-mass balance studies and the in silico PBPK modeling studies suggested that the low bioavailability of ZM241385 after oral administration in rats was due to the metabolism and by liver, kidney, and gut.