bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Effects of Ochratoxin A on the Glutathione Redox System and Its Regulation in Chicken
Authors: Kövesi Benjámin , Cserháti Mátyás , Erdélyi Márta , Zándoki Erika , Mézes Miklós , Balogh Krisztián
Published: June 2019

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of three-weeks ochratoxin A (OTA) exposure on some lipid peroxidation parameters, reduced glutathione concentration and glutathione-peroxidase activity, as well as expression of oxidative stress response-related (KEAP1, NRF2) and glutathione system (GPX3, GPX4, GSS, GSR) genes in chickens. Three levels of exposure (106, 654 and 1126 μg/kg feed) were applied. The results showed that OTA initiated free radical formation, which was suggested by the increase in the malondialdehyde content in the liver and kidney, which was more marked in the liver, depending on the length of exposure and dose. Reduced glutathione concentration increased as an effect of the highest OTA dose in blood plasma and in liver, but not in red blood cell hemolysates and the kidney. Glutathione peroxidase activity did not change in the blood and showed increasing tendency in the liver, and significant increase in the kidney. Expression of KEAP1 gene showed up-regulation in the liver, and down-regulation in the kidney, but overexpression of NRF2 gene was found in the liver and kidney at the highest dose. However, down-regulation of Nrf2 dependent genes, GPX3, GPX4, GSS and GSR, suggested an improper antioxidant response at the protein level, thus oxidative stress occurred, even at the dose of the EU regulatory limit for poultry diets.
Carotenoids and Markers of Oxidative Stress in Human Observational Studies and Intervention Trials: Implications for Chronic Diseases
Authors: Bohn Torsten
Published: June 2019

Carotenoids include C30, C40 and C50 terpenoid-based molecules, many of which constitute coloured pigments. However, >1100 of these are known to occur in nature and only about a dozen are known to play a role in our daily diet. Carotenoids have received much attention due to their proposed health benefits, including reducing the incidence of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Many of these diseases are characterized by chronic inflammation co-occurring with oxidative stress, characterized by, for example, enhanced plasma F2-isoprostane concentrations, malondialdehyde, and 8-hydroxyguanosine. Though carotenoids can act as direct antioxidants, quenching, for example, singlet oxygen and peroxide radicals, an important biological function appears to rest also in the activation of the body’s own antioxidant defence system, related to superoxide-dismutase, catalase, and glutathione-peroxidase expression, likely due to the interaction with transcription factors, such as nuclear-factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2). Though mostly based on small-scale and observational studies which do not allow for drawing conclusions regarding causality, several supplementation trials with isolated carotenoids or food items suggest positive health effects. However, negative effects have also been reported, especially regarding beta-carotene for smokers. This review is aimed at summarizing the results from human observational studies/intervention trials targeting carotenoids in relation to chronic diseases characterized by oxidative stress and markers thereof.
CVD Synthesis of Solid, Hollow, and Nitrogen-Doped Hollow Carbon Spheres from Polypropylene Waste Materials
Authors: Tripathi Pranav K. , Durbach Shane , Coville Neil J.
Published: June 2019

Plastic waste leaves a serious environmental footprint on the planet and it is imperative to reduce this. Consequently, recycling has been regarded as an important approach in providing one solution to this problem. In this study, we enhanced the value of polypropylene (PP) plastic waste by using it as a hydrocarbon source to synthesize a variety of spherical carbon nanomaterials. Here, a CVD method was used to decompose the PP initially into a hydrocarbon gas (propylene). Thereafter, PP was employed to synthesize solid carbon spheres (SCSs), hollow carbon spheres (HCSs), and nitrogen-doped hollow carbon spheres (NHCSs). The latter two were made using a silica template while the N-doping was achieved by the addition of melamine to PP. Yields obtained were between 12–20%. The SCSs (d = 800 nm to 1200 nm), HCSs (id = 985 nm; shell width = 35 nm), and NHCSs (id = ca. 1000 nm; shell width = 40 nm) were all characterized by TEM, SEM, TGA, laser Raman spectroscopy, and XPS.
Verification of the Structural Performance of Textile Reinforced Reactive Powder Concrete Sandwich Facade Elements
Authors: Flansbjer Mathias , Williams Portal Natalie , Vennetti Daniel
Published: June 2019

As a part of the SESBE (Smart Elements for Sustainable Building Envelopes) project, non-load bearing sandwich elements were developed with Textile Reinforced Reactive Powder Concrete (TRRPC) for outer and inner facings, Foam Concrete (FC) for the insulating core and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) continuous connectors. The structural performance of the developed elements was verified at various levels by means of a thorough experimental program coupled with numerical analysis. Experiments were conducted on individual materials (i.e., tensile and compressive tests), composites (i.e., uniaxial tensile, flexural and pull-out tests), as well as components (i.e., local anchorage failure, shear, flexural and wind loading tests). The experimentally yielded material properties were used as input for the developed models to verify the findings of various component tests and to allow for further material development. In this paper, the component tests related to local anchorage failure and wind loading are presented and coupled to a structural model of the sandwich element. The validated structural model provided a greater understanding of the physical mechanisms governing the element’s structural behavior and its structural performance under various dead and wind load cases. Lastly, the performance of the sandwich elements, in terms of composite action, was shown to be greatly correlated to the properties of the GFRP connectors, such as stiffness and strength.
Lossless WDM PON Photonic Integrated Receivers Including SOAs
Authors: Nadimi Goki Pantea , Imran Muhammad , Porzi Claudio , Toccafondo Veronica , Fresi Francesco , Cavaliere Fabio , Potì Luca
Published: June 2019

The role of a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) for amplifying downstream traffic at optical network terminals (ONT) within a silicon-photonics integrated receiver in a high capacity passive optical network (PON) is investigated. The nearly traveling wave SOA effects are evaluated by considering fabrication and link loss constraints through numerical analysis and experimental validation. The impact of hybrid integration of a SOA chip on a silicon on insulator (SOI) photonic chip using the flip chip bonding technique on SOA design is evaluated through numerical analysis of a multi section cavity model. The performance of the proposed ONT receiver design employing twin parallel SOAs is evaluated experimentally on a 32 × 25 Gb/s OOK WDM transmission system considering cross gain modulation (XGM) and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) constraints. The XGM impact is evaluated through 32 channel wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) transmission and a likely PON worst case scenario of high channel power difference (~10 dB) between adjacent channels. The impact of ASE is evaluated through the worst-case polarization condition, i.e., when all of the signal is coupled to only one. Successful transmission was achieved in both worst-case conditions with limited impact on performance. SOA results indicate that a maximum residual facet reflectivity of 4 × 10−4 for the chip-bonded device can lead to a power penalty below 2 dB in a polarization-diversity twin SOAs receiver.
Bloch Oscillations Due to Quantum Domain Breathing in One-Dimensional Electronic Photoinduced Phase Transitions
Authors: Iwano Kaoru
Published: June 2019

We theoretically predict a novel oscillation that will be observed during the dynamical processes of one-dimensional electronic photoinduced phase transitions. This oscillation is considered to be a breathing mode of a quantum domain of a photoinduced phase in the background of the initial phase. When the initial phase is sufficiently stable, being far apart from the phase boundary, the domain feels a constant attractive force depending on its size or the distance between the two domain walls. This fact allows an interpretation that this oscillation is essentially the same as a so-called Bloch oscillation seen for the Stark ladder.
A Roadmap for the Integration of Active Solar Systems into Buildings
Authors: Vassiliades Constantinos , Kalogirou Soteris , Michael Aimilios , Savvides Andreas
Published: June 2019

This paper aims to simplify the interdisciplinary design process that will be used as a design tool for the viable integration of active solar energy systems into buildings, i.e., Building-Integrated Solar Thermal Systems—BISTSs; Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Systems—BIPVSs, through the creation of a roadmap. The research also aims supplement the work of researchers who have dealt with the creation of design tools that aim to optimise a specific aspect of a building design, or their geometric forms, in order to shape energy-efficient and sustainable architectural solutions. More specifically, a prescriptive design strategy is derived from the proposed design tool. This is based on five design steps, each of which is analysed and which lead to the creation of a comprehensive design tool for siting buildings so as to optimise the integration of solar systems. The originality of this tool is based on the fact that it makes an important step in the standardisation of these studies.
Health Risk Assessment of Banned Veterinary Drugs and Quinolone Residues in Shrimp through Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Tsai Ming-Yang , Lin Chuen-Fu , Yang Wei-Cheng , Lin Chien-Teng , Hung Kuo-Hsiang , Chang Geng-Ruei
Published: June 2019

The presence of antibiotic residues in seafood and their effect on public health constitute a matter of concern for consumers worldwide. Antibiotic residues can have adverse effects on both humans and animals, especially residues of banned veterinary drugs. In this study, we applied a validated method to analyze veterinary drug residues in shrimp, including the levels of banned chloramphenicol, malachite green, leucomalachite green, and four nitrofuran metabolites as well as thiamphenicol, florfenicol, and five quinolones, which have no recommended maximum residual levels in shrimp tissues in Taiwan. We collected 53 samples of whiteleg, grass, or giant river shrimp from Taiwanese aquafarms and production areas from July 2016 to December 2017. We found 0.31 ng/g of a chloramphenicol in one grass shrimp, 5.62 ng/g of enrofloxacin in one whiteleg shrimp, 1.52 ng/g of flumequine in one whiteleg shrimp, and 1.01 ng/g of flumequine in one giant river shrimp, indicating that 7.55% of the samples contained veterinary drug residues. We evaluated the health risk by deriving the estimated daily intake (EDI). The quinolone residue EDI was below 1.0% of the acceptable daily intake recommended by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization. The risk was thus discovered to be negligible, indicating no immediate health risk associated with shrimp consumption. The present findings can serve as a reference regarding food safety and in monitoring of the veterinary drug residues present in aquatic organisms. Continual monitoring of residues in shrimp is critical for further assessment of possible effects on human health.
Expert Control Systems for Maximum Power Point Tracking in a Wind Turbine with PMSG: State of the Art
Authors: Chavero-Navarrete Ernesto , Trejo-Perea Mario , Jáuregui-Correa Juan Carlos , Carrillo-Serrano Roberto Valentín , Ríos-Moreno José Gabriel
Published: June 2019

Wind power is a renewable energy source that has been developed in recent years. Large turbines are increasingly seen. The advantage of generating electrical power in this way is that it can be connected to the grid, making it an economical and easily available source of energy. The fundamental problem of a wind turbine is the randomness in a wide range of wind speeds that determine the electrical energy generated, as well as abrupt changes in wind speed that make the system unstable and unsafe. A conventional control system based on a mathematical model is effective with moderate disturbances, but slow with very large oscillations such as those produced by turbulence. To solve this problem, expert control systems (ECS) are proposed, which are based on human experience and an adequate management of stored information of each of its variables, providing a way to determine solutions. This revision of recent years, mentions the expert systems developed to obtain the point of maximum power generation in a wind turbine with permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) and, therefore, offers a control solution that adapts to the specifications of any wind turbine.
Blockchain-Based Badge Award with Existence Proof
Authors: Choi Min , Kiran Shinde Rupali , Oh Se-Chang , Kwon Oh-Young
Published: June 2019

In this paper, we present a badge awarding system for performance assessment in education using blockchain technology. Learners will be awarded badges, which are certified for a predetermined level of progress in terms of learning. All the badges are stored in a backpack, which is an environment for storing and presenting the obtained badges. Badges are immutable and verifiable as well as rigid. The use of badges in the education system makes education more interesting, skill-based, and adaptable to changes. The key contribution of our work is in terms of compatibility with Openbadge specification and integrated cooperating platform between digital badge awarding and blockchaining. Our system implementation is compatible with Open Badges of IMS Global Learning Consortium, which is used to earn, issue, and award badges across various platforms. The badges are trusted by the IMS standard, the criteria to earn a badge is verified through the network, and the overall process is transparent compared to the traditional education system. Moreover, all badge awarding events in our system are recorded in a blockchain. Once stored, the contents cannot be tampered with. Thereafter, anyone can check the validity of the badge through the blockchain. Our platform will be useful for distance learning as well as time and location independent learning. The experimental results are as follows. On a Bitcoin-based digital badge publishing platform, the execution time required to award the badge is 24.53 s, while on the Ethereum-based digital badge publishing platform, the execution time to award the badge is only 3.86 s. It can also be used for career management and personal history. The learners can obtain the current knowledge required for a job. Lifelong learning will be also possible with this platform.
Atmospheric Forcing of Coastal Upwelling in the Southern Baltic Sea Basin
Authors: Bednorz Ewa , Półrolniczak Marek , Czernecki Bartosz , Tomczyk Arkadiusz M.
Published: June 2019

This study analyzes the atmospheric forcing of upwelling occurrence along differently oriented coastlines of the southern Baltic Sea basin. The mean daily sea surface temperature (SST) data from the summer seasons (June–August) of the years 1982–2017 made the basis for the detection of upwelling cases. For the atmospheric part of the analysis, monthly indices of four macroscale circulation patterns were used: North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), Scandinavian (SCAND), East Atlantic (EA) and East Atlantic/Western Russia (EATL/WRUS). In order to identify the local airflows and wind conditions, zonal and meridional regional circulation indices were constructed and introduced to the analysis. Within the southern Baltic Sea basin, upwelling occurs most frequently along the zonally oriented southern coasts of Sweden, and least frequently along the southern (Polish) and eastern (Lithuanian-Latvian) coasts. Among the macroscale circulation patterns, the SCAND has the strongest impact on the horizontal flow of surface sea waters in the southern Baltic, which triggers upwelling. The summer NAO and EA appeared to have a weak effect on upwelling occurrence, and EATL/WRUS have the smallest impact. Local circulation indices allowed us to recognize the atmospheric control of upwelling frequency better than the indices of the macroscale patterns. Anomalies in upwelling frequency are their highest at the positive/negative phase of the zonal circulation, particularly along the southern and eastern coast of the southern Baltic Sea basin.
Feasibility of the Inverse-Dispersion Model for Quantifying Drydock Emissions
Authors: Kura Bhaskar , Jilla Abhinay
Published: June 2019

Important processes within the shipbuilding and ship repair industry include metal cutting, welding, surface preparation, and painting. When dealing with ship repair, ships are brought into drydocks to carry out necessary repairs. Typical repairs include but are not limited to dry or wet abrasive blasting for removing the old paint and rust followed by repainting of the external hull. Also, the painting of superstructure is carried out as necessary. Additionally, many metal cutting and welding operations are carried out. Air pollutant emissions generated from repair operations carried out within drydock are challenging to quantify, particularly if some of these repair activities do not have reliable emission factors. This paper investigates the feasibility of the inverse dispersion model for quantifying drydock emissions in a shipyard environment. The authors use a well-established Gaussian dispersion model that is used as a regulatory model in the United States and many other countries in a two-step process using a code developed in MATLAB: (1) Source-to-Receptor modeling to compute ambient concentrations using assumed emissions from various sources and meteorological conditions, and (2) The utilization of the computed ambient concentrations at various receptors to compute emissions at those sources (assumed in the first step) using the inverse Gaussian code developed.
Identification and Characterization of microRNAs and Their Predicted Functions in Biomineralization in the Pearl Oyster (Pinctada fucata)
Authors: Huang Songqian , Ichikawa Yuki , Yoshitake Kazutoshi , Kinoshita Shigeharu , Igarashi Yoji , Omori Fumito , Maeyama Kaoru , Nagai Kiyohito , Watabe Shugo , Asakawa Shuichi
Published: June 2019

The biological process of pearl formation is an ongoing research topic, and a number of genes associated with this process have been identified. However, the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) in biomineralization in the pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata, is not well understood. In order to investigate the divergence and function of miRNAs in P. fucata, we performed a transcriptome analysis of small RNA libraries prepared from adductor muscle, gill, ovary, and mantle tissues. We identified 186 known and 42 novel miRNAs in these tissues. Clustering analysis showed that the expression patterns of miRNAs were similar among the somatic tissues, but they differed significantly between the somatic and ovary tissues. To validate the existence of the identified miRNAs, nine known and three novel miRNAs were verified by stem-loop qRT-PCR using U6 snRNA as an internal reference. The expression abundance and target prediction between miRNAs and biomineralization-related genes indicated that miR-1990c-3p, miR-876, miR-9a-3p, and novel-3 may be key factors in the regulatory network that act by controlling the formation of matrix proteins or the differentiation of mineralogenic cells during shell formation in mantle tissue. Our findings serve to further clarify the processes underlying biomineralization in P. fucata.
IL7RA rs6897932 Polymorphism Is Associated with Better CD4+ T-Cell Recovery in HIV Infected Patients Starting Combination Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: Resino Salvador , Navarrete-Muñoz María A. , Blanco Julià , Pacheco Yolanda M. , Castro Iván , Berenguer Juan , Santos Jesús , Vera-Méndez Francisco J. , Górgolas Miguel , Jiménez-Sousa M. A. Ángeles , Benito José M. , Rallón Norma
Published: June 2019

Interleukin-7 receptor subunit alpha (IL7RA) rs6897932 polymorphism IS related to CD4+ recovery after combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), but no studies so far have analyzed its potential impact in patients with very low CD4+ T-cells count. We aimed to analyze the association between IL7RA rs6897932 polymorphism and CD4+ T-cells count restoration in HIV-infected patients starting combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) with CD4+ T-cells count <200 cells/mm3. We performed a retrospective study in 411 patients followed for 24 months with a DNA sample available for genotyping. The change in CD4+ T-cells count during the follow-up was considered as the primary outcome. The rs6897932 polymorphism had a minimum allele frequency (MAF) >20% and was in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (p = 0.550). Of 411 patients, 256 carried the CC genotype, while 155 had the CT/TT genotype. The CT/TT genotype was associated with a higher slope of CD4+ T-cells recovery (arithmetic mean ratio; AMR = 1.16; p = 0.016), higher CD4+ T-cells increase (AMR = 1.19; p = 0.004), and higher CD4+ T-cells count at the end of follow-up (AMR = 1.13; p = 0.006). Besides, rs6897932 CT/TT was related to a higher odds of having a value of CD4+ T-cells at the end of follow-up ≥500 CD4+ cells/mm3 (OR = 2.44; p = 0.006). After multiple testing correction (Benjamini–Hochberg), only the increase of ≥ 400 CD4+ cells/mm3 lost statistical significance (p = 0.052). IL7RA rs6897932 CT/TT genotype was related to a better CD4+ T-cells recovery and it could be used to improve the management of HIV-infected patients starting cART with CD4+ T-cells count <200 cells/mm3.
Clozapine Normalizes a Glutamatergic Transmission Abnormality Induced by an Impaired NMDA Receptor in the Thalamocortical Pathway via the Activation of a Group III Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor
Authors: Fukuyama Kouji , Kato Ryo , Murata Masahiko , Shiroyama Takashi , Okada Motohiro
Published: June 2019

Pharmacological mechanisms of gold-standard antipsychotics against treatment-refractory schizophrenia, such as clozapine (CLZ), remain unclear. We aimed to explore the mechanisms of CLZ by investigating the effects of MK801 and CLZ on tripartite synaptic transmission in the thalamocortical glutamatergic pathway using multi-probe microdialysis and primary cultured astrocytes. l-glutamate release in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) was unaffected by local MK801 administration into mPFC but was enhanced in the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MDTN) and reticular thalamic nucleus (RTN) via GABAergic disinhibition in the RTN–MDTN pathway. The local administration of therapeutically relevant concentrations of CLZ into mPFC and MDTN increased and did not affect mPFC l-glutamate release. The local administration of the therapeutically relevant concentration of CLZ into mPFC reduced MK801-induced mPFC l-glutamate release via presynaptic group III metabotropic glutamate receptor (III-mGluR) activation. However, toxic concentrations of CLZ activated l-glutamate release associated with hemichannels. This study demonstrated that RTN is a candidate generator region in which impaired N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)/glutamate receptors likely produce thalamocortical hyperglutamatergic transmission. Additionally, we identified several mechanisms of CLZ relating to its superiority in treatment-resistant schizophrenia and its severe adverse effects: (1) the prevention of thalamocortical hyperglutamatergic transmission via activation of mPFC presynaptic III-mGluR and (2) activation of astroglial l-glutamate release associated with hemichannels. These actions may contribute to the unique clinical profile of CLZ.
Mechanisms for Auditory Perception: A Neurocognitive Study of Second Language Learning of Mandarin Chinese
Authors: Yang Jing , Li Ping
Published: June 2019

Speech perception is an important early skill for language learning. This study uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the relationship between auditory perception abilities and second language (L2) vocabulary learning in an effort to explore behavior-brain correlations. Twenty-one English monolinguals learned 48 auditory Chinese pseudowords over six weeks. Their pre-training abilities in non-linguistic pitch and linguistic tone perception significantly and positively predicted their novel word-learning performance, which correlated with their brain response patterns in the left Heschl’s gyrus. Analyses of regions of interest (ROIs) showed coactivation of the frontal and temporal regions during novel lexical retrieval, and the non-linguistic pitch perception ability modulated brain activations in these regions. Effective connectivity analyses further indicated a collaboration of a ventral stream for speech perception and a dorsal stream for sensory-motor mapping in the L2 network. The ventral stream, compared with the dorsal stream, played a more dominant role in auditory word learning as the L2 proficiency increased. Better pitch and tone perception abilities strengthened the ventral pathways and decreased the reliance on frontal regions. These findings are discussed in light of current models of speech processing and L2 learning.
Multiple Levels of Control Processes for Wisconsin Card Sorts: An Observational Study
Authors: Kopp Bruno , Steinke Alexander , Bertram Malte , Skripuletz Thomas , Lange Florian
Published: June 2019

We explored short-term behavioral plasticity on the Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (M-WCST) by deriving novel error metrics by stratifying traditional set loss and perseverative errors. Separating the rule set and the response set allowed for the measurement of performance across four trial types, crossing rule set (i.e., maintain vs. switch) and response demand (i.e., repeat vs. alternate). Critically, these four trial types can be grouped based on trial-wise feedback on t − 1 trials. Rewarded (correct) maintain t − 1 trials should lead to error enhancement when the response demands shift from repeat to alternate. In contrast, punished (incorrect) t − 1 trials should lead to error suppression when the response demands shift from repeat to alternate. The results supported the error suppression prediction: An error suppression effect (ESE) was observed across numerous patient samples. Exploratory analyses show that the ESE did not share substantial portions of variance with traditional neuropsychological measures of executive functioning. They further point into the direction that striatal or limbic circuit neuropathology may be associated with enhanced ESE. These data suggest that punishment of the recently executed response induces behavioral avoidance, which is detectable as the ESE on the WCST. The assessment of the ESE might provide an index of response-related avoidance learning on the WCST.
An Exploration of Synergies between Lean Concepts and BIM in FM: A Review and Directions for Future Research
Authors: Terreno Saratu , Asadi Somayeh , Anumba Chimay
Published: June 2019

Though Building Information Modeling (BIM) has been proposed as a lean solution for the construction industry, its implementation would itself benefit from a proactive lean approach. This paper aims to study the implementation of BIM in Facilities Management (FM), and explores the synergistic potential of a lean approach. This was carried out through an integrative review of existing literature. BIM-FM implementation was categorized into three phases, which were analyzed to uncover the challenges and barriers faced in each; and explore the potential of a proactive lean approach to counter them. A number of key findings emerged. The existence of inefficiencies and variability in information management leading to an increase in labor hours was identified as a persistent problem in BIM-FM implementation. This had been derived by systematically mapping the challenges to their resultant effects on business processes based on the seven identified wastes in business. The paper provides both academics and practitioners with a collated list of issues based on a new way of examining BIM in FM implementation. It discusses the need for and synergistic potential of lean concepts to reduce information and time waste.
Evaluation on the Methane Production Potential of Wood Waste Pretreated with NaOH and Co-Digested with Pig Manure
Authors: Li Renfei , Tan Wenbing , Zhao Xinyu , Dang Qiuling , Song Qidao , Xi Beidou , Zhang Xiaohui
Published: June 2019

Wood waste generated during the tree felling and processing is a rich, green, and renewable lignocellulosic biomass. However, an effective method to apply wood waste in anaerobic digestion is lacking. The high carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio and rich lignin content of wood waste are the major limiting factors for high biogas production. NaOH pre-treatment for lignocellulosic biomass is a promising approach to weaken the adverse effect of complex crystalline cellulosic structure on biogas production in anaerobic digestion, and the synergistic integration of lignocellulosic biomass with low C/N ratio biomass in anaerobic digestion is a logical option to balance the excessive C/N ratio. Here, we assessed the improvement of methane production of wood waste in anaerobic digestion by NaOH pretreatment, co-digestion technique, and their combination. The results showed that the methane yield of the single digestion of wood waste was increased by 38.5% after NaOH pretreatment compared with the untreated wood waste. The methane production of the co-digestion of wood waste and pig manure was higher than that of the single digestion of wood waste and had nonsignificant difference with the single-digestion of pig manure. The methane yield of the co-digestion of wood waste pretreated with NaOH and pig manure was increased by 75.8% than that of the untreated wood waste. The findings indicated that wood waste as a sustainable biomass source has considerable potential to achieve high biogas production in anaerobic digestion.
Oxidative Thermal Sintering and Redispersion of Rh Nanoparticles on Supports with High Oxygen Ion Lability
Authors: Goula Grammatiki , Botzolaki Georgia , Osatiashtiani Amin , Parlett Christopher M. A. , Kyriakou Georgios , Lambert Richard M. , Yentekakis Ioannis V.
Published: June 2019

The thermal sintering under oxidative conditions of Rh nanoparticles supported on oxides characterized by very different oxygen storage capacities (OSC) and labilities was studied at 750 and 850 °C. Under sintering conditions, significant particle growth occurred for Rh/γ-Al2O3 (up to 120% at 850 °C). In striking contrast, Rh/ACZ (alumina–ceria–zirconia) and Rh/CZ (ceria–zirconia) exhibited marked resistance to sintering, and even moderate (ca. −10% at 850 °C) to pronounced (ca. −60% at 850 °C) redispersion of the Rh. A model is proposed based on a double-layer description of metal–support interactions assigned to back-spillover of labile oxygen ions onto the Rh particles, accompanied by trapping of atomic Rh by the resulting surface oxygen vacancies. This model accounts for the observed resistance to sintering and actual redispersion of Rh, consistent with both alternative sintering mechanisms, namely Ostwald ripening (OR) or particle migration and coalescence (PMC).
Catalyst/Feedstock Ratio Effect on FCC Using Different Catalysts Samples
Authors: Alkhlel Abdualkaber , de Lasa Hugo
Published: June 2019

The present study is a follow-up to a recent authors contribution which describes the effect of the C/O (catalyst/oil) ratio on catalytic cracking activity and catalyst deactivation. This study, while valuable, was limited to one fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst. The aim of the present study is to consider the C/O effect using three FCC catalysts with different activities and acidities. Catalysts were characterized in terms of crystallinity, total acidity, specific surface Area (SSA), temperature programmed ammonia desorption (NH3-TPD), and pyridine chemisorption. 1,3,5-TIPB (1,3,5-tri-isopropyl benzene) catalytic cracking runs were carried out in a bench-scale mini-fluidized batch unit CREC (chemical reactor engineering centre) riser simulator. All data were taken at 550 °C with a contact time of 7 s. Every experiment involved 0.2 g of 1,3,5-TIPB with the amount of catalyst changing in the 0.12–1 g range. The resulting 0.6–5 g oil/g cat ratios showed a consistent 1,3,5-TIPB conversion increasing first, then stabilizing, and finally decreasing modestly. On the other hand, coke formation and undesirable benzene selectivity always rose. Thus, the reported results show that catalyst density affects both catalyst coking and deactivation, displaying an optimum C/O ratio, achieving maximum hydrocarbon conversions in FCC units.
Inhibition of the Fission Machinery Mitigates OPA1 Impairment in Adult Skeletal Muscles
Authors: Romanello Vanina , Scalabrin Marco , Albiero Mattia , Blaauw Bert , Scorrano Luca , Sandri Marco
Published: June 2019

The maintenance of muscle mass and its ability to function relies on a bioenergetic efficient mitochondrial network. This network is highly impacted by fusion and fission events. We have recently shown that the acute deletion of the fusion protein Opa1 induces muscle atrophy, systemic inflammatory response, precocious epithelial senescence, and premature death that are caused by muscle-dependent secretion of FGF21. However, both fusion and fission machinery are suppressed in aging sarcopenia, cancer cachexia, and chemotherapy-induced muscle wasting. We generated inducible muscle-specific Opa1 and Drp1 double-knockout mice to address the physiological relevance of the concomitant impairment of fusion and fission machinery in skeletal muscle. Here we show that acute ablation of Opa1 and Drp1 in adult muscle causes the accumulation of abnormal and dysfunctional mitochondria, as well as the inhibition of autophagy and mitophagy pathways. This ultimately results in ER stress, muscle loss, and the reduction of force generation. However, the simultaneous inhibition of the fission protein Drp1 when Opa1 is absent alleviates FGF21 induction, oxidative stress, denervation, and inflammation rescuing the lethal phenotype of Opa1 knockout mice, despite the presence of any muscle weakness. Thus, the simultaneous inhibition of fusion and fission processes mitigates the detrimental effects of unbalanced mitochondrial fusion and prevents the secretion of pro-senescence factors.
Thermomechanical Characterization of SiC/SiC Ceramic Matrix Composites in a Combustion Facility
Authors: Panakarajupally Ragav P. , Presby Michael J. , Manigandan K. , Zhou Jianyu , Chase George G. , Morscher Gregory N.
Published: June 2019

A combustion facility which includes uniaxial mechanical loading was implemented that enables environmental conditions more akin to jet engine environments compared to conventional static environment tests. Two types of woven SiC/SiC ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), melt-infiltrated (MI) and chemical vapor infiltrated (CVI), were subjected to fatigue loading in the combustion facility and under isothermal furnace conditions. Some CVI test coupons were coated with a multilayer environmental barrier coating (EBC) of mullite + ytterbium monosilicate using slurry infiltration process to demonstrate the performance with a coating. Combustion conditions were applied using a high velocity oxy fuel gun on the front side of the specimen and mechanical loading was applied using a horizontal hydraulic MTS machine. All the specimens considered were subjected to tension-tension fatigue loading at 100 MPa, stress ratio of 0.1 and specimen front-side surface temperature of 1200 ± 20 °C. Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods, such as electrical resistance (ER), was used as an in-situ health monitoring technique. Similar fatigue tests were performed in an isothermal furnace for comparison. A much lower fatigue life was observed for the uncoated specimens tested under combustion conditions in comparison to isothermal furnace condition. This difference in fatigue life was attributed to damage associated with added thermal stress due to the thermal gradient and higher rate of oxidative embrittlement due to the presence of high velocity combustion gases in the combustion environment. EBC coating increased the fatigue life in combustion environment. However, EBC coated specimens experienced spallation in the high-velocity flame due to the presence of micro cracks in the coating surface. Fracture surfaces of the failed specimens were investigated under the scanning electron microscope (SEM) to determine the extent of oxidation and damage.
Medical Cannabis Certification in a Large Pediatric Oncology Center
Authors: Skrypek Mary M. , Bostrom Bruce C. , Bendel Anne E.
Published: June 2019

In Minnesota, medical cannabis was approved for use in 2014. From July 2015 to February 2019, our center certified 103 pediatric and young adult patients for the use of medical cannabis under the qualifying conditions of cancer and treatment-related symptoms. Here, we provide a review of the literature on medical cannabis use in pediatric and young adult cancer patients. We also provide demographic data on our patients certified for medical cannabis. The most common diagnoses were leukemia/lymphoma (36%), brain tumors (37%), and malignant solid tumors (26%). The most common indications were chemotherapy-related nausea, pain, and cancer cachexia. The age range at certification was 1.4–28.7 years (median 15.3 years). The time from cancer diagnosis to certification ranged from 0.5–197 months (median 8.9 months). The majority (94%) were certified during their first line of treatment. In the 32 patients who died from recurrent or progressive cancer, the time from certification to death was 1.3–30.3 months (median 4.4 years). Despite requesting certification, a subset (24%) never had medical cannabis dispensed. In our experience, pediatric and young adult oncology patients are interested in medical cannabis to help manage treatment-related symptoms. Ongoing analysis of this data will identify the therapeutic efficacy of medical cannabis.
Evaluating Superconductors through Current Induced Depairing
Authors: Kunchur Milind N.
Published: June 2019

The phenomenon of superconductivity occurs in the phase space of three principal parameters: temperature T, magnetic field B, and current density j. The critical temperature T c is one of the first parameters that is measured and in a certain way defines the superconductor. From the practical applications point of view, of equal importance is the upper critical magnetic field B c 2 and conventional critical current density j c (above which the system begins to show resistance without entering the normal state). However, a seldom-measured parameter, the depairing current density j d , holds the same fundamental importance as T c and B c 2 , in that it defines a boundary between the superconducting and normal states. A study of j d sheds unique light on other important characteristics of the superconducting state such as the superfluid density and the nature of the normal state below T c , information that can play a key role in better understanding newly-discovered superconducting materials. From a measurement perspective, the extremely high values of j d make it difficult to measure, which is the reason why it is seldom measured. Here, we will review the fundamentals of current-induced depairing and the fast-pulsed current technique that facilitates its measurement and discuss the results of its application to the topological-insulator/chalcogenide interfacial superconducting system.
Effect of Self-Invertible Matrix on Cipher Hexagraphic Polyfunction
Authors: Ching Sally Lin Pei , Yunos Faridah
Published: June 2019

A cryptography system was developed previously based on Cipher Polygraphic Polyfunction transformations, C i × j ( t ) ≡ A i × i t P i × j m o d N where C i × j , P i × j , A i × i are cipher text, plain text, and encryption key, respectively. Whereas, ( t ) is the number of transformations of plain text to cipher text. In this system, the parameters ( A i × i , ( t ) ) are kept in secret by a sender of messages. The security of this system, including its combination with the second order linear recurrence Lucas sequence (LUC) and the Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir and Leonard Adleman (RSA) method, until now is being upgraded by some researchers. The studies found that there is some type of self-invertible A 4 × 4 should be not chosen before transforming a plain text to cipher text in order to enhance the security of Cipher Tetragraphic Trifunction. This paper also seeks to obtain some patterns of self-invertible keys A 6 × 6 and subsequently examine their effect on the system of Cipher Hexagraphic Polyfunction transformation. For that purpose, we need to find some solutions L 3 × 3 for L 3 × 3 2 ≡ A 3 × 3 mod N when A 3 × 3 are diagonal and symmetric matrices and subsequently implement the key L 3 × 3 to get the pattern of A 6 × 6 .
Phylogenetically Diverse Fusarium Species Associated with Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor L. Moench) and Finger Millet (Eleusine Coracana L. Garten) Grains from Ethiopia
Authors: Chala Alemayehu , Degefu Tulu , Brurberg May Bente
Published: June 2019

Fusarium is one of the most diverse fungal genera affecting several crops around the world. This study describes the phylogeny of Fusarium species associated with grains of sorghum and finger millet from different parts of Ethiopia. Forty-two sorghum and 34 finger millet grain samples were mycologically analysed. All of the sorghum and more than 40% of the finger millet grain samples were contaminated by the Fusarium species. The Fusarium load was higher in sorghum grains than that in finger millet grains. In addition, 67 test isolates were phylogenetically analysed using EF-1α and β-tubulin gene primers. Results revealed the presence of eight phylogenetic placements within the genus Fusarium, where 22 of the isolates showed a close phylogenetic relation to the F. incarnatum–equiseti species complex. Nevertheless, they possess a distinct shape of apical cells of macroconidia, justifying the presence of new species within the Fusarium genus. The new species was the most dominant, represented by 33% of the test isolates. The current work can be seen as an important addition to the knowledge of the biodiversity of fungal species that exists within the Fusarium genus. It also reports a previously unknown Fusarium species that needs to be investigated further for toxin production potential.
The Effects of Edaphic and Climatic Factors on Secondary Lichen Chemistry: A Case Study Using Saxicolous Lichens
Authors: Paukov Alexander , Teptina Anzhelika , Morozova Maria , Kruglova Ekaterina , Favero-Longo Sergio E. , Bishop Cora , Rajakaruna Nishanta
Published: June 2019

Diversity of secondary lichen metabolites and their relationship to substrate and environmental parameters were studied in saxicolous lichens in the Middle and South Urals of Russia. Atranorin, usnic acid, gyrophoric acid, zeorin, norstictic acid, antraquinones and stictic acid were found in 73, 42, 41, 37, 36, 35 and 32 species, respectively, of 543 taxa collected. One hundred and ninety six species (i.e., 36% of total species documented) contained no secondary metabolites. Spectra of secondary metabolites of crustose lichens varied on different rock types, while in fruticose and foliose groups only those species without lichen acids were dependent on the substrate type. In Canonical Correspondence Analysis, secondary lichen metabolites were subdivided into groups depending on the concentration of Ca and metals in the substrate. Gyrophoric, lobaric, psoromic, rhizocarpic and stictic acids were common in crustose lichens in metal-poor habitats; species with antraquinones and lichens without any secondary metabolites were most abundant on limestone (alkalic and metal-poor), while other common lichen metabolites had no to minimal dependence on the chemistry of the substrate. The two additional abiotic factors affecting the composition of secondary metabolites were the maximum temperature of the warmest month and elevation. Our results suggest a range of possible relationships exist among lichen acids, rocks and climatic parameters. Furthermore, the same metabolite may affect both accumulation of metals and stress tolerance under unfavorable conditions.
Analytical Solutions of Fractional-Order Heat and Wave Equations by the Natural Transform Decomposition Method
Authors: Khan Hassan , Shah Rasool , Kumam Poom , Arif Muhammad
Published: June 2019

In the present article, fractional-order heat and wave equations are solved by using the natural transform decomposition method. The series form solutions are obtained for fractional-order heat and wave equations, using the proposed method. Some numerical examples are presented to understand the procedure of natural transform decomposition method. The natural transform decomposition method procedure has shown that less volume of calculations and a high rate of convergence can be easily applied to other nonlinear problems. Therefore, the natural transform decomposition method is considered to be one of the best analytical techniques, in order to solve fractional-order linear and nonlinear Partial deferential equations, particularly fractional-order heat and wave equation.
An Experiment on Autoregressive and Threshold Autoregressive Models with Non-Gaussian Error with Application to Realized Volatility
Authors: Zhang Ziyi , Li Wai Keung
Published: June 2019

This article explores the fitting of Autoregressive (AR) and Threshold AR (TAR) models with a non-Gaussian error structure. This is motivated by the problem of finding a possible probabilistic model for the realized volatility. A Gamma random error is proposed to cater for the non-negativity of the realized volatility. With many good properties, such as consistency even for non-Gaussian errors, the maximum likelihood estimate is applied. Furthermore, a non-gradient numerical Nelder–Mead method for optimization and a penalty method, introduced for the non-negative constraint imposed by the Gamma distribution, are used. In the simulation experiments, the proposed fitting method found the true model with a rather insignificant bias and mean square error (MSE), given the true AR or TAR model. The AR and TAR models with Gamma random error are then tested on empirical realized volatility data of 30 stocks, where one third of the cases are fitted quite well, suggesting that the model may have potential as a supplement for current Gaussian random error models with proper adaptation.
Language Development and Deaf/Hard of Hearing Children
Authors: Scott Jessica A. , Dostal Hannah M.
Published: June 2019

This article explores the available research literature on language development and language interventions among deaf and hard of hearing (d/hh) children. This literature is divided into two broad categories: Research on natural languages (specifically American Sign Language and spoken English) and research on communication systems (specifically iterations of signed English and cued speech). These bodies of literature are summarized, with special attention paid to intervention research and research exploring the impacts of language skills on literacy development. Findings indicate that there is generally a stronger research base on natural languages as compared to communication systems, though more studies in both categories are necessary. Additionally, there are very few intervention studies and even fewer that aim to intervene upon language with the explicit goal of impacting literacy; therefore, there is little known about whether and how interventions that aim to support language development may have direct or indirect impacts on literacy within this population. Further research on this topic, as well as replication studies and research with larger sample sizes, is strongly recommended.