bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi Jet Fusion PA12 Manufacturing Parameters for Watertightness, Strength and Tolerances
Authors: Morales-Planas Sergio , Minguella-Canela Joaquim , Lluma-Fuentes Jordi , Travieso-Rodriguez Jose Antonio , García-Granada Andrés-Amador
Published: August 2018

The aim of this paper is to explore the watertightness behaviour for high pressure applications using Multi Jet Fusion technology and polyamide 12 as a material. We report an efficient solution for manufacturing functional prototypes and final parts for water pressure applications and provide manufacturing rules for engineers in the pressurized product development process for up to 10 MPa of nominal pressure. The research findings show manufacturers the possibility of using additive manufacturing as an alternative to traditional manufacturing. Water leakage was studied using different printing orientations and wall thicknesses for a range of pressure values. An industrial ball valve was printed and validated with the ISO 9393 standard as also meeting tolerance requirements. This paper is a pioneering approach to the additive manufacturing of high-performance fluid handling components. This approach solves the problem of leakage caused by porosity in additive manufacturing technologies.
Excellent Carbonation Behavior of Rankinite Prepared by Calcining the C-S-H: Potential Recycling of Waste Concrete Powders for Prefabricated Building Products
Authors: Wang Kai , Ren Liang , Yang Luqing
Published: August 2018

Pure rankinite (C3S2) was prepared by calcining a C-S-H gel precursor at a temperature of 1300 °C. The carbonation hardening behavior of the resulting rankinite was revealed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectrum (EDS). The results indicate that the pure rankinite can be easily prepared at a lower temperature. The cubic compressive strengths of the resulting rankinite samples reach a value of 62.5 MPa after 24 h of carbonation curing. The main carbonation products formed during the carbonation process are crystalline calcite, vaterite and highly polymerized amorphous silica gels. The formed carbonation products fill the pores and bind to each other, creating a dense microstructure, which contributes to the excellent mechanical strength. These results provide a novel insight into potential recycling of waste concrete powders for prefabricated building products with lower CO2 emissions.
Electrical Conductivity and Optical Properties of Pulsed Laser Deposited LaNi5 Nanoscale Films
Authors: Todoran Daniela , Todoran Radu , Szakács Zsolt , Anitas Eugen
Published: August 2018

This work presents pulsed laser deposition as a method to obtain unoxidized LaNi5 nanoscale films and describes their temperature and thickness dependent electrical conductivity and the spectral dispersions of some optical properties. AB5-type rare earth element (REE)-nickel compounds are currently studied from both theoretical and practical points of view. Special challenges are posed during the preparation of these nanomaterials, which can be overcome using finely tuned parameters in a preparation process that always involves the use of high energies. Film deposition was made by laser—induced vaporization, with short and modulated impulses and electro–optical tuning of the quality factor, mainly on glass and one SiO2 substrate. Deposition geometry dependent linear thickness increase, between 1.5–2.5 nm per laser burst, was achieved. Film structures and phase compositions were determined using XRD and discussed in comparison with films obtained by similar deposition procedures. Temperature and scale dependent properties were determined by studying electrical conductivity and optical properties. Electrical conductivity was measured using the four-probe method. The observed semiconductor-like conductivity for film thicknesses up to 110 nm can be explained by thermal activation of electrons followed by inter-insular hopping or quantum tunneling, which, on the other hand, modulates the material’s native metallic conductance. Films with thicknesses above this value can be considered essentially metallic and bulk-like. The spectral behaviors of the refractive index and absorption coefficient were deduced from differential reflectance spectroscopy data acquired on a broad ultraviolet, visible, near- and mid-infrared (UV-VIS-NIR-MIR) domain, processed using the Kramers-Krönig formalism. Their study led to the identification of the allowed interband transitions. Electronic behavior in the energy bands near the Fermi level and in the surface and interface-states was described, discussing the differences between experimental data and the classical free-electron theoretical model applied for the bulk intermetallic alloy, in correlation with theoretical optical properties or experimental X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results from references. However, the dielectric-like shape of the reflectance of the thinnest film was in accordance with the Lorentz–Drude model.
Estimation of Residual Stress in Selective Laser Melting of a Zr-Based Amorphous Alloy
Authors: Xing Wei , Ouyang Di , Li Ning , Liu Lin
Published: August 2018

An accurate estimation of residual stresses is crucial to ensure dimensional accuracy and prevent premature fatigue failure of 3D printed components. Different from their crystalline counterparts, the effect of residual stress would be worse for amorphous alloys owing to their intrinsic brittleness with low fracture toughness. However, the generation of residual stress and its performance in 3D printed amorphous alloy components still remain unclear. Here, a finite element method combined with experiments and theoretical analyses was introduced to estimate the residual stress in selective laser melting of a Zr-based amorphous alloy. The results revealed that XY cross scanning strategy exhibits relatively low residual stress by comparison with X and Y strategies, and the residual stress becomes serious with increasing bar thickness. The residual stress, on the other hand, could be tuning by annealing or preheating the substrate. The above scenario is thoroughly understood according to the temperature gradient mechanism and its effect on microstructure evaluation.
Chromone Derivatives and Other Constituents from Cultures of the Marine Sponge-Associated Fungus Penicillium erubescens KUFA0220 and Their Antibacterial Activity
Authors: Kumla Decha , Pereira José A. , Dethoup Tida , Gales Luis , Freitas-Silva Joana , Costa Paulo M. , Lee Michael , Silva Artur M. S. , Sekeroglu Nazim , Pinto Madalena M. M. , Kijjoa Anake
Published: August 2018

A previously unreported chromene derivative, 1-hydroxy-12-methoxycitromycin (1c), and four previously undescribed chromone derivatives, including pyanochromone (3b), spirofuranochromone (4), 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-4-oxo-3-[(1E)-3-oxobut-1-en-1-yl]-4H-chromene-5-carboxylic acid (5), a pyranochromone dimer (6) were isolated, together with thirteen known compounds: β-sitostenone, ergosterol 5,8-endoperoxide, citromycin (1a), 12-methoxycitromycin (1b), myxotrichin D (1d), 12-methoxycitromycetin (1e), anhydrofulvic acid (2a), myxotrichin C (2b), penialidin D (2c), penialidin F (3a), SPF-3059-30 (7), GKK1032B (8) and secalonic acid A (9), from cultures of the marine sponge- associated fungus Penicillium erubescens KUFA0220. Compounds 1a–e, 2a, 3a, 4, 7–9, were tested for their antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative reference and multidrug-resistant strains isolated from the environment. Only 8 exhibited an in vitro growth inhibition of all Gram-positive bacteria whereas 9 showed growth inhibition of methicillin-resistant Staphyllococus aureus (MRSA). None of the compounds were active against Gram-negative bacteria tested.
Spray Pyrolysis Technique; High-K Dielectric Films and Luminescent Materials: A Review
Authors: Falcony Ciro , Aguilar-Frutis Miguel Angel , García-Hipólito Manuel
Published: August 2018

The spray pyrolysis technique has been extensively used to synthesize materials for a wide variety of applications such as micro and sub-micrometer dimension MOSFET´s for integrated circuits technology, light emitting devices for displays, and solid-state lighting, planar waveguides and other multilayer structure devices for photonics. This technique is an atmospheric pressure chemical synthesis of materials, in which a precursor solution of chemical compounds in the proper solvent is sprayed and converted into powders or films through a pyrolysis process. The most common ways to generate the aerosol for the spraying process are by pneumatic and ultrasonic systems. The synthesis parameters are usually optimized for the materials optical, structural, electric and mechanical characteristics required. There are several reviews of the research efforts in which spray pyrolysis and the processes involved have been described in detail. This review is intended to focus on research work developed with this technique in relation to high-K dielectric and luminescent materials in the form of coatings and powders as well as multiple layered structures.
Liquid Crystal Elastomer-Based Microelectrode Array for In Vitro Neuronal Recordings
Authors: Rihani Rashed , Kim Hyun , Black Bryan , Atmaramani Rahul , Saed Mohand , Pancrazio Joseph , Ware Taylor
Published: August 2018

Polymer-based biomedical electronics provide a tunable platform to interact with nervous tissue both in vitro and in vivo. Ultimately, the ability to control functional properties of neural interfaces may provide important advantages to study the nervous system or to restore function in patients with neurodegenerative disorders. Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are a class of smart materials that reversibly change shape when exposed to a variety of stimuli. Our interest in LCEs is based on leveraging this shape change to deploy electrode sites beyond the tissue regions exhibiting inflammation associated with chronic implantation. As a first step, we demonstrate that LCEs are cellular compatible materials that can be used as substrates for fabricating microelectrode arrays (MEAs) capable of recording single unit activity in vitro. Extracts from LCEs are non-cytotoxic (>70% normalized percent viability), as determined in accordance to ISO protocol 10993-5 using fibroblasts and primary murine cortical neurons. LCEs are also not functionally neurotoxic as determined by exposing cortical neurons cultured on conventional microelectrode arrays to LCE extract for 48 h. Microelectrode arrays fabricated on LCEs are stable, as determined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Examination of the impedance and phase at 1 kHz, a frequency associated with single unit recording, showed results well within range of electrophysiological recordings over 30 days of monitoring in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Moreover, the LCE arrays are shown to support viable cortical neuronal cultures over 27 days in vitro and to enable recording of prominent extracellular biopotentials comparable to those achieved with conventional commercially-available microelectrode arrays.
Antioxidant Activity as Biomarker of Honey Variety
Authors: Dżugan Małgorzata , Tomczyk Monika , Sowa Patrycja , Grabek-Lejko Dorota
Published: August 2018

Honey variety is commonly defined by beekeepers based on nectar flow availability and the only laboratory method to provide verification is the melissopalynological analysis. Therefore, a quick and simple method for accurate assessment of honey variety is still being researched. The aim of the study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of honey as an indicator of variety through the use of multivariate statistical analysis. Materials for the study consisted of 90 samples of varietal Polish honeys (rape-12, tilia-10, goldenrod-11, dandelion-5, buckwheat-6, multifloral-17, nectar-honeydew-8 and coniferous honeydew-16 and leafy honeydew-5) obtained directly from apiaries. Honeys were investigated in aspect of antioxidant capacity by photochemiluminescence (PCL) methods using standard ACW and ACL kits. As the reference FRAP and DPPH methods were used. The total phenolics content (TPC) was determined through the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The strongest antioxidant activity was found for buckwheat, while the weakest was found for rape honeys regardless of the used method. Results of the used methods were positively correlated (r = 0.42 to 0.94). Analysis conducted by PCL method confirmed that the minor fraction of honey antioxidants exhibits hydrophobic properties. Clear separation of honey varieties using PCA and Clustering method indicate that antioxidant activity can be a useful parameter for determining the botanical origin of honey.
Green Tea Catechin Is an Alternative Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor that Inhibits PD-L1 Expression and Lung Tumor Growth
Authors: Rawangkan Anchalee , Wongsirisin Pattama , Namiki Kozue , Iida Keisuke , Kobayashi Yasuhito , Shimizu Yoshihiko , Fujiki Hirota , Suganuma Masami
Published: August 2018

The anticancer activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors is attracting attention in various clinical sites. Since green tea catechin has cancer-preventive activity in humans, whether green tea catechin supports the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors was studied. We here report that (−)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) inhibited programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in non–small-cell lung cancer cells, induced by both interferon (IFN)-γ and epidermal growth factor (EGF). The mRNA and protein levels of IFN-γ–induced PD-L1 were reduced 40–80% after pretreatment with EGCG and green tea extract (GTE) in A549 cells, via inhibition of JAK2/STAT1 signaling. Similarly, EGF-induced PD-L1 expression was reduced about 37–50% in EGCG-pretreated Lu99 cells through inhibition of EGF receptor/Akt signaling. Furthermore, 0.3% GTE in drinking water reduced the average number of tumors per mouse from 4.1 ± 0.5 to 2.6 ± 0.4 and the percentage of PD-L1 positive cells from 9.6% to 2.9%, a decrease of 70%, in lung tumors of A/J mice given a single intraperitoneal injection of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). In co-culture experiments using F10-OVA melanoma cells and tumor-specific CD3+ T cells, EGCG reduced PD-L1 mRNA expression about 30% in F10-OVA cells and restored interleukin-2 mRNA expression in tumor-specific CD3+ T cells. The results show that green tea catechin is an immune checkpoint inhibitor.
Using XRF and ICP-OES in Biosorption Studies
Authors: Chojnacka Katarzyna , Samoraj Mateusz , Tuhy Łukasz , Michalak Izabela , Mironiuk Małgorzata , Mikulewicz Marcin
Published: August 2018

In this work, a method of recalculation of results of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique to Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) method was elaborated for biosorption studies. Equations that calibrate XRF to ICP-OES were determined, as a biosorbent strawberry, blackcurrant and raspberry seeds after supercritical CO2 extraction were used. ICP-OES showed a better precision and lower detection limits than XRF. The latter technique is cheaper, requires minimal sample preparation and gives faster results. Linear regression of the data gave almost 1:1 correlations without additional correction (for Cu r2 = 0.9998, Mn r2 = 0.807, Zn r2 = 0.979). Calibration and quantification of intensities of XRF was obtained using ICP-OES measurements after samples digestion with HNO3 in a microwave system. High positive correlations were estimated for Cu, Mn, Zn. It was demonstrated that XRF technique can be used together with other well established techniques (ICP-OES) to produce quantitative data from biosorption studies. Elaboration of cheap and quick analytical methodology is an important aspect in development of new processes and products based on biosorption process.
Comparative Transcriptome Profiling Reveals Defense-Related Genes against Meloidogyne incognita Invasion in Tobacco
Authors: Li Xiaohui , Xing Xuexia , Tian Pei , Zhang Mingzhen , Huo Zhaoguang , Zhao Ke , Liu Chao , Duan Duwei , He Wenjun , Yang Tiezhao
Published: August 2018

Root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne incognita are one of the most destructive pathogens, causing severe losses to tobacco productivity and quality. However, the underlying resistance mechanism of tobacco to M. incognita is not clear. In this study, two tobacco genotypes, K326 and Changbohuang, which are resistant and susceptible to M. incognita, respectively, were used for RNA-sequencing analysis. An average of 35 million clean reads were obtained. Compared with their expression levels in non-infected plants of the same genotype, 4354 and 545 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in the resistant and susceptible genotype, respectively, after M. incognita invasion. Overall, 291 DEGs, involved in diverse biological processes, were common between the two genotypes. Genes encoding toxic compound synthesis, cell wall modification, reactive oxygen species and the oxidative burst, salicylic acid signal transduction, and production of some other metabolites were putatively associated with tobacco resistance to M. incognita. In particular, the complex resistance response needed to overcome M. incognita invasion may be regulated by several transcription factors, such as the ethylene response factor, MYB, basic helix–loop–helix transcription factor, and indole acetic acid–leucine-resistant transcription factor. These results may aid in the identification of potential genes of resistance to M. incognita for tobacco cultivar improvement.
Phenanthrenes from Juncus Compressus Jacq. with Promising Antiproliferative and Anti-HSV-2 Activities
Authors: Bús Csaba , Kúsz Norbert , Jakab Gusztáv , Senobar Tahaei Seyyed Ashkan , Zupkó István , Endrész Valéria , Bogdanov Anita , Burián Katalin , Csupor-Löffler Boglárka , Hohmann Judit , Vasas Andrea
Published: August 2018

Juncaceae species are rich sources of phenanthrenes. The present study has focused on the isolation and structure determination of biologically active components from Juncus compressus. Eleven compounds (nine phenanthrenes and two flavonoids) have been isolated from the plant by the combination of different chromatographic methods. Two compounds (compressins A (Compound 1) and B (Compound 2)) are novel natural products, while seven phenanthrenes (effusol (Compound 3), effususol (Compound 4), juncusol (Compound 5), 2-hydroxy-1-methyl-4-oxymethylene-5-vinyl-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (Compound 6), 7-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-methoxy-5-vinyl-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (Compound 7), effususin A (Compound 8), and dehydroeffusol (Compound 9)), and two flavonoids (apigenin (Compound 10) and luteolin (Compound 11) were isolated for the first time from the plant. Compressin B (Compound 2) is a dimeric phenanthrene, in which two juncusol monomers (Compound 5) are connecting through their C-3 atoms. The structure elucidation of the isolated compounds was carried out using 1D, 2D NMR spectroscopic methods and HR-MS measurements. In vitro investigation of the antiproliferative effect of the phenanthrenes on two cervical (HeLa and SiHa) and an ovarian human tumor cell line (A2780) revealed that compounds have remarkable antiproliferative activity, mainly on the HeLa cell line. Moreover, juncusol (Compound 5) proved to possess significant antiviral activity against the herpes simplex 2 virus (HSV-2).
Highly Effective Removal of Metal Cyanide Complexes and Recovery of Palladium Using Quaternary-Ammonium-Functionalized MOFs
Authors: Zhang Qin , Chen Muhan , Zhong Lijiang , Ye Qun , Jiang Shaoshong , Huang Zhangjie
Published: August 2018

In this study, quaternary-ammonium-functionalized metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) Et-N-Cu(BDC-NH2)(DMF), were prepared, characterized, and applied for the highly effective removal of metal cyanide complexes, including Pd(CN)42−, Co(CN)63−, and Fe(CN)63−. Batch studies were carried out, and the maximum adsorption capacities of Pd(II), Co(III), and Fe(III) reached 172.9, 101.0, and 102.6, respectively. Adsorption was rapid, and equilibrium was established within 30 min. Et-N-Cu(BDC-NH2)(DMF) exhibited high thermal and chemical stability. Furthermore, absorbed Pd(CN)42− was selectively recovered by two-step elution. First, Co(CN)63− and Fe(CN)63− were eluted with a 1.5 mol L−1 KCl solution. Elution rates of Co(CN)63− and Fe(CN)63− were greater than 98.0%, whereas the elution percentage of Pd(CN)42− was less than 2.0%. Second, >97.0% Pd(CN)42− on the loaded MOFs was eluted using a 2.0 mol L−1 KI solution. The recovery rate of Pd(CN)42− was greater than 91.0% after five testing cycles. Adsorption isotherms, kinetics models, and adsorption thermodynamics of Pd(CN)42− on Et-N-Cu(BDC-NH2) (DMF) were also systematically investigated. The Et-N-Cu(BDC-NH2) (DMF) absorbent exhibited a rapid, excellent ability for the adsorption of metal cyanide complexes.
The Impact of Multimodal Communication on a Shared Mental Model, Trust, and Commitment in Human–Intelligent Virtual Agent Teams
Authors: Hanna Nader , Richards Deborah
Published: August 2018

There is an increasing interest in the use of intelligent virtual agents (IVAs) to work in teams with humans. To achieve successful outcomes for these heterogeneous teams, many of the aspects found in successful human teams will need to be supported. These aspects include behavioural (i.e., multimodal communication), cognitive (i.e., a shared mental model (SMM)), and social (trust and commitment). Novelly, this paper aims to investigate the impact of IVA’s multimodal communication on the development of a SMM between humans and IVAs. Moreover, this paper aims to explore the impact of the developed SMM on a human’s trust in an IVA’s decisions and a human’s commitment to honour his/her promises to an IVA. The results from two studies involving a collaborative activity showed a significant positive correlation between team multimodal communication (i.e., behavioural aspect) and a SMM between teammates (i.e., cognitive aspect). Moreover, the result showed that there is a significant positive correlation between the developed SMM and a human’s trust in the IVA’s decision and the human’s commitment to honour his/her promises (the establishment of the social aspect of teamwork). Additionally, the results showed a cumulative effect of all of these aspects on human–agent team performance. These results can guide the design of human–agent teamwork multimodal communication models.
Food Consumption as a Modifier of the Association between LEPR Gene Variants and Excess Body Weight in Children and Adolescents: A Study of the SCAALA Cohort
Authors: Dos Santos Rocha Aline , De Cássia Ribeiro-Silva Rita , Nunes de Oliveira Costa Gustavo , Alexandrina Figueiredo Camila , Cunha Rodrigues Laura , Maria Alvim Matos Sheila , Leovigildo Fiaccone Rosemeire , Oliveira Pablo Rafael , Alves-Santos Nadya Helena , Blanton Ronald E. , Lima Barreto Maurício
Published: August 2018

No studies showing that food consumption is a modifier of the association of variants of the leptin receptor gene (LEPR) with body weight have involved a Brazilian population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the modifying effect of dietary intake on the association between the LEPR gene and excess weight. In this study, 1211 children and adolescents aged 4–11 years were assessed. Participants were genotyped for 112 single-nucleotide variants of the LEPR gene. Anthropometric measurements were performed, and dietary data were obtained. Logistic regressions were used to study the associations of interest. Of the participants, 13.4% were overweight/obese. The risk allele (G) of the rs1137100 variant was associated with excess weight in individuals with fat consumption below the median (odds ratio OR = 1.92; 95% confidence interval CI = 1.18–3.14), with daily frequency of consumption of drink/artificial juice (OR = 2.15; 95% CI = 1.26–3.68) and refined cereals (OR = 2.17; 95% CI = 1.31–3.62) above the median. The risk allele (G) of variant rs1177681 was also associated with excess weight (OR = 2.74; 95% CI = 1.65–4.57) in subjects with a daily frequency of refined cereal consumption above the median. The association between LEPR and excess weight can be modulated by the type and distribution of dietary fatty acids, sugary drinks, and refined cereals.
Red Blood Cell Aggregation-Associated Dietary Pattern Predicts Hyperlipidemia and Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Lin Pei , Chang Chun-Chao , Yuan Kuo-Ching , Yeh Hsing-Jung , Fang Sheng-Uei , Cheng Tiong , Teng Kai-Tse , Chao Kuo-Ching , Tang Jui-Hsiang , Kao Wei-Yu , Lin Pao-Ying , Liu Ju-Shian , Chang Jung-Su
Published: August 2018

Red blood cell (RBC) aggregation and iron status are interrelated and strongly influenced by dietary factors, and their alterations pose a great risk of dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Currently, RBC aggregation-related dietary patterns remain unclear. This study investigated the dietary patterns that were associated with RBC aggregation and their predictive effects on hyperlipidemia and MetS. Anthropometric and blood biochemical data and food frequency questionnaires were collected from 212 adults. Dietary patterns were derived using reduced rank regression from 32 food groups. Adjusted linear regression showed that hepcidin, soluble CD163, and serum transferrin saturation (%TS) independently predicted RBC aggregation (all p < 0.01). Age-, sex-, and log-transformed body mass index (BMI)-adjusted prevalence rate ratio (PRR) showed a significant positive correlation between RBC aggregation and hyperlipidemia (p-trend < 0.05). RBC aggregation and iron-related dietary pattern scores (high consumption of noodles and deep-fried foods and low intake of steamed, boiled, and raw food, dairy products, orange, red, and purple vegetables, white and light-green vegetables, seafood, and rice) were also significantly associated with hyperlipidemia (p-trend < 0.05) and MetS (p-trend = 0.01) after adjusting for age, sex, and log-transformed BMI. Our results may help dieticians develop dietary strategies for preventing dyslipidemia and MetS.
Pharmacokinetics and Brain Distribution of the Active Components of DA-9805, Saikosaponin A, Paeonol and Imperatorin in Rats
Authors: Kwon Mi , Jeong Jin , Ryu Jayoung , Cho Young , Kang Hee
Published: August 2018

DA-9805 is a botanical anti-Parkinson’s drug candidate formulated from ethanol extracts of the root of Bupleurum falcatum, the root cortex of Paeonia suffruticosa, and the root of Angelica dahurica. The pharmacokinetics (PKs) and brain distribution of active/representative ingredients of DA-9805, Saikosaponin a (SSa; 1.1–4.6 mg/kg), Paeonol (PA; 14.8–59.2 mg/kg), and Imperatorin (IMP; 1.4–11.5 mg/kg) were evaluated following the intravenous or oral administration of each pure component and the equivalent dose of DA-9805 in rats. All three components had greater dose-normalized areas under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and slower clearance with higher doses, following intravenous administration. By contrast, dose-proportional AUC values of SSa, PA, and IMP were observed following the oral administration of each pure component (with the exception of IMP at the highest dose) or DA-9805. Compared to oral administration of each pure compound, DA-9805 administration showed an increase in the AUC of SSa (by 96.1–163%) and PA (by 155–164%), possibly due to inhibition of their metabolism by IMP or other component(s) in DA-9805. A delay in the absorption of PA and IMP was observed when they were administered as DA-9805. All three components of DA-9805 showed greater binding values in brain homogenates than in plasma, possibly explaining why the brain-to-plasma ratios were greater than unity following multiple oral administrations of DA-9805. By contrast, their levels in cerebrospinal fluid were negligible. Our results further our understanding of the comprehensive PK characteristics of SSa, PA, and IMP in rats and the comparative PKs between each pure component and DA-9805.
Chiricaspi (Brunfelsia grandiflora, Solanaceae), a Pharmacologically Promising Plant
Authors: Luzuriaga-Quichimbo Carmen X. , Hernández del Barco Míriam , Blanco-Salas José , Cerón-Martínez Carlos E. , Ruiz-Téllez Trinidad
Published: August 2018

This study’s objective was to evaluate the rescued traditional knowledge about the chiricaspi (Brunfelsia grandiflora s.l.), obtained in an isolated Canelo-Kichwa Amazonian community in the Pastaza province (Ecuador). This approach demonstrates well the value of biodiversity conservation in an endangered ecoregion. The authors describe the ancestral practices that remain in force today. They validated them through bibliographic revisions in data megabases, which presented activity and chemical components. The authors also propose possible routes for the development of new bioproducts based on the plant. In silico research about new drug design based on traditional knowledge about this species can produce significant progress in specific areas of childbirth, anesthesiology, and neurology.
Electrically Conductive Polyetheretherketone Nanocomposite Filaments: From Production to Fused Deposition Modeling
Authors: Gonçalves Jordana , Lima Patrícia , Krause Beate , Pötschke Petra , Lafont Ugo , Gomes José R. , Abreu Cristiano S. , Paiva Maria C. , Covas José A.
Published: August 2018

The present work reports the production and characterization of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) nanocomposite filaments incorporating carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphite nanoplates (GnP), electrically conductive and suitable for fused deposition modeling (FDM) processing. The nanocomposites were manufactured by melt mixing and those presenting electrical conductivity near 10 S/m were selected for the production of filaments for FDM. The extruded filaments were characterized for mechanical and thermal conductivity, polymer crystallinity, thermal relaxation, nanoparticle dispersion, thermoelectric effect, and coefficient of friction. They presented electrical conductivity in the range of 1.5 to 13.1 S/m, as well as good mechanical performance and higher thermal conductivity compared to PEEK. The addition of GnP improved the composites’ melt processability, maintained the electrical conductivity at target level, and reduced the coefficient of friction by up to 60%. Finally, three-dimensional (3D) printed test specimens were produced, showing a Young’s modulus and ultimate tensile strength comparable to those of the filaments, but a lower strain at break and electrical conductivity. This was attributed to the presence of large voids in the part, revealing the need for 3D printing parameter optimization. Finally, filament production was up-scaled to kilogram scale maintaining the properties of the research-scale filaments.
Ternary Sulfur/Polyacrylonitrile/SiO2 Composite Cathodes for High-Performance Sulfur/Lithium Ion Full Batteries
Authors: He Yusen , Shan Zhenzhen , Tan Taizhe , Chen Zhihong , Zhang Yongguang
Published: August 2018

In the present study, a novel sulfur/lithium-ion full battery was assembled while using ternary sulfur/polyacrylonitrile/SiO2 (S/PAN/SiO2) composite as the cathode and prelithiated graphite as the anode. For anode, Stabilized Lithium Metal Powder (SLMP) was successfully transformed into lithiated graphite anode. For cathode, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that SiO2 was uniformly distributed on S/PAN composites, where SiO2 served as an effective additive due to its ultra high absorb ability and enhanced ability in trapping soluble polysulfide. The tested half-cell based on S/PAN/SiO2 composite revealed high discharge capacity of 1106 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.2 C. The full cell based on prelithiated graphite//S/PAN/SiO2 composite system delivered a specific capacity of 810 mAh g−1 over 100 cycles.
Erratum: Xie, Y.Y.; et al. GRACE-Based Terrestrial Water Storage in Northwest China: Changes and Causes. Remote Sens. 2018, 10, 1163
Authors: Xie Yangyang , Huang Shengzhi , Liu Saiyan , Leng Guoyong , Peng Jian , Huang Qiang , Li Pei
Published: August 2018

The authors wish to make a correction to their paper [...]
Novel Measurements of Fine-Scale Albedo: Using a Commercial Quadcopter to Measure Radiation Fluxes
Authors: Levy Charlotte R. , Burakowski Elizabeth , Richardson Andrew D.
Published: August 2018

Remote sensing of radiative indices must balance spatially and temporally coarse satellite measurements with finer-scale, but geographically limited, in-situ surface measurements. Instruments mounted upon an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) can provide small-scale, mobile remote measurements that fill this resolution gap. Here we present and validate a novel method of obtaining albedo values using an unmodified quadcopter at a deciduous northern hardwood forest. We validate this method by comparing simultaneous albedo estimates by UAV and a fixed tower at the same site. We found that UAV provided stable albedo measurements across multiple flights, with results that were well within the range of tower-estimated albedo at similar forested sites. Our results indicate that in-situ albedo measurements (tower and UAV) capture more site-to-site variation in albedo than satellite measurements. Overall, we show that UAVs produce reliable, consistent albedo measurements that can capture crucial surface heterogeneity, clearly distinguishing between different land uses. Future application of this approach can provide detailed measurements of albedo and potentially other vegetation indices to enhance global research and modeling efforts.
Multispectral Pansharpening with Radiative Transfer-Based Detail-Injection Modeling for Preserving Changes in Vegetation Cover
Authors: Garzelli Andrea , Aiazzi Bruno , Alparone Luciano , Lolli Simone , Vivone Gemine
Published: August 2018

Whenever vegetated areas are monitored over time, phenological changes in land cover should be decoupled from changes in acquisition conditions, like atmospheric components, Sun and satellite heights and imaging instrument. This especially holds when the multispectral (MS) bands are sharpened for spatial resolution enhancement by means of a panchromatic (Pan) image of higher resolution, a process referred to as pansharpening. In this paper, we provide evidence that pansharpening of visible/near-infrared (VNIR) bands takes advantage of a correction of the path radiance term introduced by the atmosphere, during the fusion process. This holds whenever the fusion mechanism emulates the radiative transfer model ruling the acquisition of the Earth’s surface from space, that is for methods exploiting a multiplicative, or contrast-based, injection model of spatial details extracted from the panchromatic (Pan) image into the interpolated multispectral (MS) bands. The path radiance should be estimated and subtracted from each band before the product by Pan is accomplished. Both empirical and model-based estimation techniques of MS path radiances are compared within the framework of optimized algorithms. Simulations carried out on two GeoEye-1 observations of the same agricultural landscape on different dates highlight that the de-hazing of MS before fusion is beneficial to an accurate detection of seasonal changes in the scene, as measured by the normalized differential vegetation index (NDVI).
Radiative Transfer Modeling of Phytoplankton Fluorescence Quenching Processes
Authors: Zhai Peng-Wang , Boss Emmanuel , Franz Bryan , Werdell P. Jeremy , Hu Yongxiang
Published: August 2018

We report the first radiative transfer model that is able to simulate phytoplankton fluorescence with both photochemical and non-photochemical quenching included. The fluorescence source term in the inelastic radiative transfer equation is proportional to both the quantum yield and scalar irradiance at excitation wavelengths. The photochemical and nonphotochemical quenching processes change the quantum yield based on the photosynthetic active radiation. A sensitivity study was performed to demonstrate the dependence of the fluorescence signal on chlorophyll a concentration, aerosol optical depths and solar zenith angles. This work enables us to better model the phytoplankton fluorescence, which can be used in the design of new space-based sensors that can provide sufficient sensitivity to detect the phytoplankton fluorescence signal. It could also lead to more accurate remote sensing algorithms for the study of phytoplankton physiology.
The Causative Fault of the 2016 Mwp 6.1 Petermann Ranges Intraplate Earthquake (Central Australia) Retrieved by C- and L-Band InSAR Data
Authors: Polcari Marco , Albano Matteo , Atzori Simone , Bignami Christian , Stramondo Salvatore
Published: August 2018

On 21 May 2016, an Mwp 6.1 earthquake occurred along the Petermann Ranges in Central Australia. Such a seismic event can be classified as a rare intraplate earthquake because the affected area presents low seismicity, being at the center of the Indo-Australian plate. Also, the architecture and kinematics of shear zones in the Petermann Orogen are largely unknown. We used Sentinel-1 C-band descending data and ALOS-2 L-band ascending data to constrain the causative fault. Our analysis revealed that the earthquake nucleated along an unmapped secondary back-thrust of the main feature of the area, namely the Woodroffe thrust.
A Variational Model for Sea Image Enhancement
Authors: Song Mingzhu , Qu Hongsong , Zhang Guixiang , Tao Shuping , Jin Guang
Published: August 2018

The purpose of sea image enhancement is to enhance the information of the waves, whose contrast is generally weak. Enhancement effect is often affected by impulse-type noise and non-uniform illumination. In this paper, we propose a variational model for sea image enhancement using a solar halo model and a Retinex model. This paper mainly makes the following three contributions: 1. Establishing a Retinex model with noise suppression ability in sea images; 2. Establishing a solar-scattering halo model through sea image bitplane analysis; 3. Proposing a variational enhancement model combining the Retinex and halo models. The experimental results show that our method has a significant enhancement effect on sea surface images in different illumination environments compared with typical methods.
Use of SMOS L3 Soil Moisture Data: Validation and Drought Assessment for Pernambuco State, Northeast Brazil
Authors: Souza Alzira G. S. S. , Neto Alfredo Ribeiro , Rossato Luciana , Alvalá Regina C. S. , Souza Laio L.
Published: August 2018

The goal of this study was to validate soil moisture data from Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (SMOS) using two in situ databases for Pernambuco State, located in Northeast Brazil. The validation process involved two approaches, pixel-station comparison and areal average, for three regions in Pernambuco with different climatic characteristics. After validation, the SMOS data were used for drought assessment by calculating soil moisture anomalies for the available period of data. Four statistical criteria were used to verify the quality of the satellite data: Pearson correlation coefficient, Willmott index of agreement, BIAS, and root mean squared difference (RMSD). The average RMSD calculated from the daily time series in the pixel and the areal assessment were 0.071 m3m−3 and 0.04 m3m−3, respectively. Those values are near to the expected 0.04 m3m−3 accuracy of the SMOS mission. The analysis of soil moisture anomalies enabled the assessment of the dry period between 2012 and 2017 and the identification of regions most impacted by the drought. The driest year for all regions was 2012, when the anomaly values achieved −50% in some regions. The use of SMOS data provided additional information that was used in conjunction with the precipitation data to assess drought periods. This may be particularly relevant for planning in agriculture and supporting decision makers and farmers.
Difference and Potential of the Upward and Downward Sun-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence on Detecting Leaf Nitrogen Concentration in Wheat
Authors: Jia Min , Zhu Jie , Ma Chunchen , Alonso Luis , Li Dong , Cheng Tao , Tian Yongchao , Zhu Yan , Yao Xia , Cao Weixing
Published: August 2018

Precise detection of leaf nitrogen concentration (LNC) is helpful for nutrient diagnosis and fertilization guidance in farm crops. Numerous researchers have estimated LNC with techniques based on reflectance spectra or active chlorophyll fluorescence, which have limitations of low accuracy or small scale in the field. Given the correlation between chlorophyll and nitrogen contents, the response of sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) to chlorophyll (Chl) content reported in a few papers suggests the feasibility of quantifying LNC using SIF. Few studies have investigated the difference and power of the upward and downward SIF components on monitoring LNC in winter wheat. We conducted two field experiments to evaluate the capacity of SIF to monitor the LNC of winter wheat during the entire growth season and compare the differences of the upward and downward SIF for LNC detection. A FluoWat leaf clip coupled with a ASD spectrometer was used to measure the upward and downward SIF under sunlight. It was found that three (↓FY687, ↑FY687/↑FY739, and ↓FY687/↓FY739) out of the six SIF yield (FY) indices examined were significantly correlated to the LNC (R2 = 0.6, 0.51, 0.75, respectively). The downward SIF yield indices exhibited better performance than the upward FY indices in monitoring the LNC with the ↓FY687/↓FY739 being the best FY index. Moreover, the LNC models based on the three SIF yield indices are insensitive to the chlorophyll content and the leaf mass per area (LMA). These findings suggest the downward SIF should not be neglected for monitoring crop LNC at the leaf scale, although it is more difficult to measure with current instruments. The downward SIF could play an increasingly important role in understanding of the SIF emission for LNC detection at different scales. These results could provide a solid foundation for elucidating the mechanism of SIF for LNC estimation at the canopy scale.
Object-Based Image Analysis for Sago Palm Classification: The Most Important Features from High-Resolution Satellite Imagery
Authors: Hidayat Sarip , MATSUOKA Masayuki , Baja Sumbangan , Rampisela Dorothea
Published: August 2018

Sago palm (Metroxylon sagu) is a palm tree species originating in Indonesia. In the future, this starch-producing tree will play an important role in food security and biodiversity. Local governments have begun to emphasize the sustainable development of sago palm plantations; therefore, they require near-real-time geospatial information on palm stands. We developed a semi-automated classification scheme for mapping sago palm using machine learning within an object-based image analysis framework with Pleiades-1A imagery. In addition to spectral information, arithmetic, geometric, and textural features were employed to enhance the classification accuracy. Recursive feature elimination was applied to samples to rank the importance of 26 input features. A support vector machine (SVM) was used to perform classifications and resulted in the highest overall accuracy of 85.00% after inclusion of the eight most important features, including three spectral features, three arithmetic features, and two textural features. The SVM classifier showed normal fitting up to the eighth most important feature. According to the McNemar test results, using the top seven to 14 features provided a better classification accuracy. The significance of this research is the revelation of the most important features in recognizing sago palm among other similar tree species.
Automatic Groove Measurement and Evaluation with High Resolution Laser Profiling Data
Authors: Li Lin , Luo Wenting , Wang Kelvin C. P. , Liu Guangdong , Zhang Chao
Published: August 2018

Grooving is widely used to improve airport runway pavement skid resistance during wet weather. However, runway grooves deteriorate over time due to the combined effects of traffic loading, climate, and weather, which brings about a potential safety risk at the time of the aircraft takeoff and landing. Accordingly, periodic measurement and evaluation of groove performance are critical for runways to maintain adequate skid resistance. Nevertheless, such evaluation is difficult to implement due to the lack of sufficient technologies to identify shallow or worn grooves and slab joints. This paper proposes a new strategy to automatically identify airport runway grooves and slab joints using high resolution laser profiling data. First, K-means clustering based filter and moving window traversal algorithm are developed to locate the deepest point of the potential dips (including noises, true grooves, and slab joints). Subsequently the improved moving average filter and traversal algorithms are used to determine the left and right endpoint positions of each identified dip. Finally, the modified heuristic method is used to separate out slab joints from the identified dips, and then the polynomial support vector machine is introduced to distinguish out noises from the candidate grooves (including noises and true grooves), so that PCC slab-based runway safety evaluation can be performed. The performance of the proposed strategy is compared with that of the other two methods, and findings indicate that the new method is more powerful in runway groove and joint identification, with the F-measure score of 0.98. This study would be beneficial in airport runway groove safety evaluation and the subsequent maintenance and rehabilitation of airport runway.
Discrimination of Milks with a Multisensor System Based on Layer-by-Layer Films
Authors: Salvo-Comino Coral , García-Hernández Celia , García-Cabezón Cristina , Rodríguez-Méndez Maria Luz
Published: August 2018

A nanostructured electrochemical bi-sensor system for the analysis of milks has been developed using the layer-by-layer technique. The non-enzymatic sensor [CHI+IL/CuPcS]2, is a layered material containing a negative film of the anionic sulfonated copper phthalocyanine (CuPcS) acting as electrocatalytic material, and a cationic layer containing a mixture of an ionic liquid (IL) (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate) that enhances the conductivity, and chitosan (CHI), that facilitates the enzyme immobilization. The biosensor ([CHI+IL/CuPcS]2-GAO) results from the immobilization of galactose oxidase on the top of the LbL layers. FTIR, UV–vis, and AFM have confirmed the proposed structure and cyclic voltammetry has demonstrated the amplification caused by the combination of materials in the film. Sensors have been combined to form an electronic tongue for milk analysis. Principal component analysis has revealed the ability of the sensor system to discriminate between milk samples with different lactose content. Using a PLS-1 calibration models, correlations have been found between the voltammetric signals and chemical parameters measured by classical methods. PLS-1 models provide excellent correlations with lactose content. Additional information about other components, such as fats, proteins, and acidity, can also be obtained. The method developed is simple, and the short response time permits its use in assaying milk samples online.