bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of a Jet in a Binary System at Supercritical Environment
Authors: Fu Qingfei , Fang Zixuan , Zhang Yunxiao , Yang Lijun
Published: December 2018

With the development of large-thrust liquid rocket engines, the behavior of liquid in supercritical conditions arouses increasing public interest. Due to the high pressure and temperature of the combustion chamber, fuel reaches its critical point much more easily, and enters supercritical conditions. Due to the drastic changes in the physical properties of the fluid near the critical point, it is usually difficult to simulate the fluid motion using traditional computational fluid dynamic methods; but molecular dynamics (MD) can simulate fluid motion at the molecular level. In view of the engineering application, the physical properties of a binary system consisting of argon and nitrogen, and the stability of subcritical jets sprayed into supercritical environment, has been studied here using the MD method. First, the molecular dynamic simulation of the equation of state (EOS) of the mixture was put forward. Four conditions, with different mixing ratios of nitrogen, were designed. The results showed that the mixing ratio of nitrogen noticeably affected the results; these results were compared with the Soave-Redich-Kwong (SRK) EOS. Second, a simulation was conducted of subcritical nitrogen jet sprayed into a supercritical argon environment. After analyzing the results, the jet density and temperature distributions were obtained and the disturbance growth rate of the shear layer was analyzed.
Characterization of Nanoparticle Intestinal Transport Using an In Vitro Co-Culture Model
Authors: Strugari Alina F.G. , Stan Miruna S. , Gharbia Sami , Hermenean Anca , Dinischiotu Anca
Published: December 2018

We aimed to obtain a tunable intestinal model and study the transport of different types of nanoparticles. Caco-2/HT29-MTX co-cultures of different seeding ratios (7:3 and 5:5), cultured on Transwell® systems, were exposed to non-cytotoxic concentration levels (20 μg/mL) of silicon quantum dots and iron oxide (α-Fe2O3) nanoparticles. Transepithelial electric resistance was measured before and after exposure, and permeability was assessed via the paracellular marker Lucifer Yellow. At regular intervals during the 3 h transport study, samples were collected from the basolateral compartments for the detection and quantitative testing of nanoparticles. Cell morphology characterization was done using phalloidin-FITC/DAPI labeling, and Alcian Blue/eosin staining was performed on insert cross-sections in order to compare the intestinal models and evaluate the production of mucins. Morphological alterations of the Caco-2/HT29-MTX (7:3 ratio) co-cultures were observed at the end of the transport study compared with the controls. The nanoparticle suspensions tested did not diffuse across the intestinal model and were not detected in the receiving compartments, probably due to their tendency to precipitate at the monolayer surface level and form visible aggregates. These preliminary results indicate the need for further nanoparticle functionalization in order to appropriately assess intestinal absorption in vitro.
Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in an Obese State and the Protective Effects of Gallic Acid
Authors: Dludla Phiwayinkosi V. , Nkambule Bongani B. , Jack Babalwa , Mkandla Zibusiso , Mutize Tinashe , Silvestri Sonia , Orlando Patrick , Tiano Luca , Louw Johan , Mazibuko-Mbeje Sithandiwe E.
Published: December 2018

Metabolic complications in an obese state can be aggravated by an abnormal inflammatory response and enhanced production of reactive oxygen species. Pro-inflammatory response is known to be associated with the formation of toxic reactive oxygen species and subsequent generation of oxidative stress. Indeed, adipocytes from obese individuals display an altered adipokine profile, with upregulated expression and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL-6). Interestingly, natural compounds, including phenolic enriched foods are increasingly explored for their ameliorative effects against various metabolic diseases. Of interest is gallic acid, a trihydroxybenzoic acid that has progressively demonstrated robust anti-obesity capabilities in various experimental models. In addition to reducing excessive lipid storage in obese subjects, gallic acid has been shown to specifically target the adipose tissue to suppress lipogenesis, improve insulin signaling, and concomitantly combat raised pro-inflammatory response and oxidative stress. This review will revise mechanisms involved in the pathophysiological effects of inflammation and oxidative stress in an obese state. To better inform on its therapeutic potential and improvement of human health, available evidence reporting on the anti-obesity properties of gallic acid and its derivatives will be discussed, with emphases on its modulatory effect on molecular mechanisms involved in insulin signaling, inflammation and oxidative stress.
Enhanced Delivery of 4-Thioureidoiminomethylpyridinium Perchlorate in Tuberculosis Models with IgG Functionalized Poly(Lactic Acid)-Based Particles
Authors: Churilov Leonid , Korzhikov-Vlakh Viktor , Sinitsyna Ekaterina , Polyakov Dmitry , Darashkevich Oleg , Poida Mikhail , Platonova Galina , Vinogradova Tatiana , Utekhin Vladimir , Zabolotnykh Natalia , Zinserling Vsevolod , Yablonsky Peter , Urtti Arto , Tennikova Tatiana
Published: December 2018

The compound 4-thioureidoiminomethylpyridinium perchlorate (perchlozone©) is a novel anti-tuberculosis drug that is active in multiple drug resistance cases, but the compound is hepatotoxic. To decrease the systemic load and to achieve targeting, we encapsulated the drug into poly(lactic acid)-based micro- (1100 nm) and nanoparticles (170 nm) that were modified with single-chain camel immunoglobulin G (IgG) for targeting. Both micro- and nanoparticles formed stable suspensions in saline solution at particle concentrations of 10–50 mg/mL. The formulations were injected intraperitoneally and intravenously into the mice with experimental tuberculosis. The survival of control animals was compared to that of mice which were treated with daily oral drug solution, single intraperitoneal administration of drug-loaded particles, and those treated both intravenously and intraperitoneally by drug-loaded particles modified with polyclonal camel IgGs. The distribution of particles in the organs of mice was analyzed with immunofluorescence and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Morphological changes related to tuberculosis and drug toxicity were registered. Phagocytic macrophages internalized particles and transported them to the foci of tuberculosis in inner organs. Nanoparticle-based drug formulations, especially those with IgG, resulted in better survival and lower degree of lung manifestations than the other modes of treatment.
Measuring Efficiency of Generating Electric Processes
Authors: Wang Chia-Nan , Luu Quoc-Chien , Nguyen Thi-Kim-Lien
Published: December 2018

Electric energy sources are the foundation for supporting for the industrialization and modernization; however, the processes of electricity generation increase CO2 emissions. This study integrates the Holt–Winters model in number cruncher statistical system (NCSS) to estimate the forecasting data and the undesirable model in data envelopment analysis (DEA) to calculate the efficiency of electricity production in 14 countries all over the world from past to future. The Holt–Winters model is utilized to estimate the future; then, the actual and forecasting data are applied into the undesirable model to compute the performance. From the principle of an undesirable model, the study determines the input and output factors as follows nonrenewable and renewable fuels (inputs), electricity generation (desirable output), and CO2 emissions (undesirable output). The empirical results exhibit efficient/inefficient terms over the period from 2011–2021 while converting these fuels into electricity energy and CO2 emissions. The efficiency reveals the environmental effect level from the electricity generation. The analysis scores recommend a direction for improving the inefficient terms via the principle of inputs and undesirable outputs excess and desirable outputs shortfalls in an undesirable model.
The Development of a GIS Methodology to Identify Oxbows and Former Stream Meanders from LiDAR-Derived Digital Elevation Models
Authors: L. Zambory Courtney , Ellis Harvest , L. Pierce Clay , J. Roe Kevin , J. Weber Michael , E. Schilling Keith , C. Young Nathan
Published: December 2018

Anthropogenic development of floodplains and alteration to natural hydrological regimes have resulted in extensive loss of off-channel habitat. Interest has grown in restoring these habitats as an effective conservation strategy for numerous aquatic species. This study developed a process to reproducibly identify areas of former stream meanders to assist future off-channel restoration site selections. Three watersheds in Iowa and Minnesota where off-channel restorations are currently being conducted to aid the conservation of the Topeka Shiner (Notropis topeka) were selected as the study area. Floodplain depressions were identified with LiDAR-derived digital elevation models, and their morphologic and topographic characteristics were described. Classification tree models were developed to distinguish relic streams and oxbows from other landscape features. All models demonstrated a strong ability to distinguish between target and non-target features with area under the receiver operator curve (AUC) values ≥ 0.82 and correct classification rates ≥ 0.88. Solidity, concavity, and mean height above channel metrics were among the first splits in all trees. To compensate for the noise associated with the final model designation, features were ranked by their conditional probability. The results of this study will provide conservation managers with an improved process to identify candidate restoration sites.
Detection of Rice Phenological Variations under Heavy Metal Stress by Means of Blended Landsat and MODIS Image Time Series
Authors: Zhang Biyao , Liu Xiangnan , Liu Meiling , Meng Yuanyuan
Published: December 2018

Monitoring phenological changes of crops through remote sensing methods is becoming a new perspective in assessing heavy metal contamination in agricultural farmlands. This paper proposes a method that combines the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the normalized difference water index (NDWI) to detect heavy metal stress-induced variations in satellite-derived rice phenology. First, we applied the enhanced spatial and temporal adaptive reflectance fusion model to obtain the NDVI and NDWI time series for the NDVI–NDWI phase–space construction. Then, six specific rice phenometrics were derived from the NDVI and the phase–space, respectively. Last, we introduced a relative phenophase index (RPI), which characterizes the relative change of the phenometrics to identify the rice paddies under heavy metal stress. The results indicated that satellite-derived rice phenometrics are generally influenced by human and natural factors (e.g., transplanting date, air temperature, and solar radiation), while the RPI showed weak correlations with all of these variables. In the determination of heavy metal stress, the NDVI- and phase–space-based RPIs of unstressed rice both show significantly (p < 0.001) higher values than those of stressed rice, while the phase–space-based RPI shows more apparent statistical difference between the stressed and unstressed rice compared to the NDVI-based one. Our work proved the capability of the phase–space-based method as well as the RPI in the discrimination of regional heavy metal pollution in rice fields.
Yield of Leafy Greens and Microclimate in Deep Winter Greenhouse Production in Minnesota
Authors: Flavin Hodge Claire , Rogers Mary , Handeen Dan , Schweser Greg
Published: December 2018

The Deep Winter Greenhouse (DWG) uses passive solar technology to create an environment where cold tolerant crops like leafy greens can be grown during the winter to satisfy consumer demand for fresh local produce year-round and increase revenue for farmers. A cultivar trial consisting of 12 different salad greens was conducted in partnership with three farmers in order to determine suitable cultivars for these unique systems. Yield and days to maturity were recorded, and microclimate conditions such as light, temperature, and relative humidity were tracked throughout the season. This study included three sites from three distinct locations within Minnesota. Environmental differences among the DWG sites and within site replicates were observed. Yield also varied with micro-climate. The trials demonstrate that lettuces and greens such as ‘Florence’ (Lactuca sativa L.), ‘Salanova’ (Lactuca sativa L.), and ‘Vitamin Green’ (Brassica rapa L.) generally grow well. These cultivar trials, coupled with other horticultural trials and economic analyses, will better inform recommendations for farmers growing in these unique environments.
Composition of a Soil Organic Carbon Increment under Different Vegetable Cultivation Patterns: A Study Using Three SOC Pools
Authors: Liu Yang , Liu Xiaoyu , Feng Yanfang , Yu Dongsheng , Shi Xuezheng
Published: December 2018

Previous studies suggest that vegetable cultivation increases soil organic carbon (SOC) storage. However, how stable the SOC increment is, and how greenhouse cultivation contributes to the SOC increment in terms of quantity and stability, remains unclear. Soil samples were taken from three typical vegetable cultivation pattern fields: open field (OF), seasonal greenhouse (SG), and permanent greenhouse (PG), as well as adjacent non-vegetable fields. Three conceptual SOC pools, including active (Ca), slow (Cs), and resistant (Cr) pools were fractionated to evaluate SOC sequestration and its stability in vegetable cultivation. The results indicate that vegetable cultivation is associated with greater stored SOC compared with non-vegetable cultivation (SOC increased by 57.9% on average). Using non-vegetable fields as a reference, SOC increments by vegetable cultivation were associated with a higher proportion of Ca (3.7–6.6%) than the reference fields (1.0–2.0%), indicating that the SOC increments might be easily decomposed. Among the three vegetable cultivation patterns, SG, with a higher increase in Cr, is recommended due to its relatively more stable SOC sequestration. Overall, vegetable cultivation could enhance the quantity of SOC, but the stability of the SOC increment is affected by the vegetable cultivation pattern.
Pricing of Digital Video Supply Chain: Free versus Paid Service on the Direct Distribution Channel
Authors: Kim Yunhyoung , Mo Jeonghoon
Published: December 2018

Media publishers that have commonly relied on profits from advertisements and content sales to fund their operations are not only content providers (manufacturers) to media aggregator platforms (retailers) but are also competing service providers (rival retailers) in the digital video supply chain. Different from a traditional media supply chain, they can easily operate their own direct distribution channels in the Internet era. In the digital video supply chain, it is not clear whether commercialization of the direct distribution channel would be beneficial for the media publisher because it would decrease profits from advertisements. The choice about commercialization should be investigated thoroughly because it is closely related to the media publishers’ sustainability as a public medium in a digital environment. In this study, we analyze the impacts of commercializing the direct distribution channel based on a game-theoretic approach. Specifically, we compare the profits of a media publisher with and without the commercialization of the channel from analyses of sequentially defined games. Our results show that media publishers prefer to use a free service on their direct channel if the content they provide is not highly valued. They can also choose not to provide their content to the media aggregator with a paid service.
The Optimization of Visual Comfort and Energy Consumption Induced by Natural Light Based on PSO
Authors: Zhang Yonggang , Zhong Yongwei , Gong Yingda , Zheng Lirong
Published: December 2018

This paper presents the “model construction method”, an optimization method and industrial internet of things (IIoT) technology that is proposed for nearly zero energy buildings (nZEB), providing a comfortable visual environment by only utilizing natural light while improving its induced indoor air conditioner energy consumption (ACEC). The incident light is sampled by light sensors, and this data is sent to the cloud server. The visual comfort and indoor ACEC, both of which are induced by incident light, are combined as the optimization objective, and the area of windows covered by curtains is used as the optimal parameter in the particle swarm optimization (PSO). The visual comfort and indoor ACEC induced by incident light are modeled, and the construction method is independent of the geographical location. Five modes are defined for applications with different purposes, the performance of which are investigated and compared carefully. The result shows that natural light could provide comfortable visual comfort, while the ACEC induced by it could be reduced effectively.
Biofuel Production and Phosphorus Recovery through an Integrated Treatment of Agro-Industrial Waste
Authors: Siciliano Alessio , Limonti Carlo , Mehariya Sanjeet , Molino Antonio , Calabrò Vincenza
Published: December 2018

The present study aimed to develop an integrated treatment of agro-industrial waste for biofuel (biogas and syngas) production and for phosphorus recovery. In the first step, an anaerobic digestion (AD) process was carried out on two different mixtures of raw agro-industrial residues. Specifically, a mixture of asparagus and tomato wastes (mixture-1) and a mixture of potatoes and kiwifruit residues (mixture-2) were investigated. The results proved that the properties of mixtures notably affect the evolution of the digestion process. Indeed, despite the lower organic load, the maximum biogas yield, of about 0.44 L/gCODremoved, was obtained for mixture-1. For mixture-2, the digestion process was hindered by the accumulation of acidity due to the lack of alkalinity in respect to the amount of volatile fatty acids. In the second step, the digestates from AD were utilized for syngas production using supercritical water gasification (SCWG) at 450 °C and 250 bar. Both the digestates were rapidly converted into syngas, which was mainly composed of H2, CO2, CH4, and CO. The maximum values of global gasification efficiency, equal to 56.5 g/kgCOD, and gas yield, equal to 1.8 mol/kgTS, were detected for mixture-2. The last step of the integrated treatment aimed to recover the phosphorus content, in the form of MgKPO4ˑ6H2O, from the residual liquid fraction of SCWG. The experimental results proved that at pH = 10 and Mg/P = 1 it is possible to obtain almost complete phosphorus removal. Moreover, by using the scanning electronic microscopy, it was demonstrated that the produced precipitate was effectively composed of magnesium potassium phosphate crystals.
Regional Temporal and Spatial Trends in Drought and Flood Disasters in China and Assessment of Economic Losses in Recent Years
Authors: Chou Jieming , Xian Tian , Dong Wenjie , Xu Yuan
Published: December 2018

Understanding the temporal and spatial distribution in disasters plays an important role in disaster risk management. The present study aims to explore the long-term trends in drought and floods over China and estimate the economic losses they cause. A peak-over-threshold approach is used to identify flood peaks, and the relationship between the disasters and climate indices is investigated using Poisson regression. The major results are as follows: (1) the northeastern part of China was severely affected by drought disasters (average damaged area was 6.44 million hectares); (2) the northern part of East China and Central China upstream of the Yangtze River were severely affected by flood disasters (average damaged area was 3.97 million hectares); (3) in the Yangtze River Basin, there are increasing trends in terms of drought and extreme precipitation, especially upstream of the Yangtze River, accompanied by severe disaster losses; and (4) by combining the trends in drought and extreme precipitation days with the spatial distribution of damaged areas, the study indicates that the increasing trend in droughts has shifted gradually from north to south, and the increasing trend in extreme precipitation gradually has shifted from south to north.
Community-Level Physiological Profiles of Microorganisms from Different Types of Soil That Are Characteristic to Poland—A Long-Term Microplot Experiment
Authors: Grządziel Jarosław , Furtak Karolina , Gałązka Anna
Published: December 2018

Comparative studies, such as the analysis of physicochemical properties and the microbiological composition of soil, are burdened with many problems resulting from the various locations of soils—often, different weather conditions among the experimental fields and varying time between the sample collection and analysis. The aim of this study was to assess the differences in the physiological profiles of bacterial communities from eight different types of soils from Poland, used in the microplot experiment that was established in 1881. The same plant species were continuously grown at all plots, at the same time, and the soil received the same type of fertilization. Moreover, the soils were always under the same weather conditions. The community-level physiological profiles of microorganisms were evaluated by using the Biolog EcoPlate™ method. The analysis demonstrated that good quality soils, especially the Gleyic Chernozem, Cambic Leptosol, and the Fluvic Cambisol exhibit a significantly higher enzyme activity, compared with the dystric soils. The dehydrogenases activity in the different time-points indicates a wide soil microbiome buffering capacity, which allows the persistence of a relatively permanent physiological profile, over many years.
Stochastic Bifurcation of a Strongly Non-Linear Vibro-Impact System with Coulomb Friction under Real Noise
Authors: Liu Li , Xu Wei , Yue Xiaole , Huang Dongmei
Published: December 2018

This manuscript investigated the response of a strongly non-linear vibro-impact (VI) system with Coulomb friction. The impact model is used with classical impact. The excitation is modelled by real noise. First, the VI system is converted into a simplified system without any barrier by non-smooth transformation (symmetric transformation). The stochastic averaging method is adopted to obtain the theoretical stationary probability function of the VI system. Next, the Duffing Van der Pol VI system with Coulomb friction is used to verify the validity of the proposed theoretical method compared with numerical simulations. Moreover, the influence of bandwidth, noise intensity, and friction amplitude are further analyzed in detail on the probability density function (PDF) of distribution of the VI system. The P-bifurcation is studied by a qualitative change of friction amplitude and restitution coefficient on the stationary probability distribution, which indicated that these parameters can arouse the emergence of stochastic P-bifurcation.
The Modified Vaccination Technique
Authors: Barabas Arpad , Cole Chad , Kovacs Zoltan , Kovacs Erno , Lafreniere Rene
Published: December 2018

In addition to active and passive immunizations, there is a third method of immunization, the modified vaccination technique, which is based on injecting a combination of target antigens and antibodies against this antigen. The vaccine is essentially comprised of immune complexes with pre-determined immune-inducing components. When such an immune complex (target antigen × antibody against the target antigen) with a slight antigen excess is administered, it evokes a corrective immune response by the production of the same antibody with the same specificity against the target antigen that is present in the immune complex (pre-determined immune response).
Microbial Processing and Production of Aquatic Fluorescent Organic Matter in a Model Freshwater System
Authors: Fox Bethany G. , Thorn Robin M.S. , Anesio Alexandre M. , Cox Timothy , Attridge John W. , Reynolds Darren M.
Published: December 2018

Organic matter (OM) has an essential biogeochemical influence along the hydrological continuum and within aquatic ecosystems. Organic matter derived via microbial processes was investigated within a range of model freshwater samples over a 10-day period. For this, excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy in combination with parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis was employed. This research shows the origin and processing of both protein-like and humic-like fluorescence within environmental and synthetic samples over the sampling period. The microbial origin of Peak T fluorescence is demonstrated within both synthetic samples and in environmental samples. Using a range of incubation temperatures provides evidence for the microbial metabolic origin of Peak T fluorescence. From temporally resolved experiments, evidence is provided that Peak T fluorescence is an indication of metabolic activity at the microbial community level and not a proxy for bacterial enumeration. This data also reveals that humic-like fluorescence can be microbially derived in situ and is not solely of terrestrial origin, likely to result from the upregulation of cellular processes prior to cell multiplication. This work provides evidence that freshwater microbes can engineer fluorescent OM, demonstrating that microbial communities not only process, but also transform, fluorescent organic matter.
Electrolyte tuning in dye-sensitized solar cells with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) iron(II) sensitizers
Authors: Karpacheva Mariia , Housecroft Catherine E , Constable Edwin C
Published: December 2018

We demonstrate that the performances of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) sensitized with a previously reported N-heterocyclic carbene iron(II) dye in the presence of chenodeoxycholic acid co-adsorbant, can be considerably improved by altering the composition of the electrolyte while retaining an I−/I3− redox shuttle. Critical factors are the solvent, presence of ionic liquid, and the use of the additives 1-methylbenzimidazole (MBI) and 4-tert-butylpyridine (TBP). For the electrolyte solvent, 3-methoxypropionitrile (MPN) is preferable to acetonitrile, leading to a higher short-circuit current density (JSC) with little change in the open-circuit voltage (VOC). For electrolytes containing MPN, an ionic liquid and MBI (0.5 M), DSC performance depended on the ionic liquid with 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluoridophosphate (EMIMPF) > 1,2-dimethyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide (DMPII) > 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (BMII) ≈ 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluoridophosphate (BMIMPF). Omitting the MBI leads to a significant improvement in JSC when the ionic liquid is DMPII, BMII or BMIMPF, but with EMIMPF the removal of the MBI additive results in a dramatic decrease in VOC (542 to 42 mV). For electrolytes containing MPN and DMPII, the effects of altering the MBI concentration have also been investigated. Although the addition of TBP improves VOC, it causes significant decreases in JSC. The best performing DSCs with the NHC-iron(II) dye employ an I−/I3−-based electrolyte with MPN as solvent, DMPII ionic liquid (0.6 M) with no or 0.01 M MBI; values of JSC = 2.31 to 2.78 mA cm−2, VOC = 292 to 374 mV have been achieved giving η in the range of 0.47 to 0.57% which represents 7.8 to 9.3% relative to an N719 reference DSC set at 100%. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy has been used to understand the role of the MBI additive in the electrolytes.
Thermophilic phosphoribosyltransferases Thermus thermophilus HB27 in nucleotide synthesis
Authors: Fateev Ilja V , Sinitsina Ekaterina V , Bikanasova Aiguzel U , Kostromina Maria A , Tuzova Elena S , Esipova Larisa V , Muravyova Tatiana I , Kayushin Alexei L , Konstantinova Irina D , Esipov Roman S
Published: December 2018

Phosphoribosyltransferases are the tools that allow the synthesis of nucleotide analogues using multi-enzymatic cascades. The recombinant adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (TthAPRT) and hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (TthHPRT) from Thermus thermophilus HB27 were expressed in E.coli strains and purified by chromatographic methods with yields of 10–13 mg per liter of culture. The activity dependence of TthAPRT and TthHPRT on different factors was investigated along with the substrate specificity towards different heterocyclic bases. The kinetic parameters for TthHPRT with natural substrates were determined. Two nucleotides were synthesized: 9-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)-2-chloroadenine 5'-monophosphate (2-Сl-AMP) using TthAPRT and 1-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-4-one 5'-monophosphate (Allop-MP) using TthНPRT.
Hybrid Wheat Prediction Using Genomic, Pedigree, and Environmental Covariables Interaction Models
Authors: Basnet Bhoja Raj , Crossa Jose , Dreisigacker Susanne , Pérez‐Rodríguez Paulino , Manes Yann , Singh Ravi P. , Rosyara Umesh R. , Camarillo‐Castillo Fatima , Murua Mercedes
Published: December 2018

In this study, we used genotype × environment interactions (G×E) models for hybrid prediction, where similarity between lines was assessed by pedigree and molecular markers, and similarity between environments was accounted for by environmental covariables. We use five genomic and pedigree models (M1–M5) under four cross‐validation (CV) schemes: prediction of hybrids when the training set (i) includes hybrids of all males and females evaluated only in some environments (T2FM), (ii) excludes all progenies from a randomly selected male (T1M), (iii) includes all progenies from 20% randomly selected females in combination with all males (T1F), and (iv) includes one randomly selected male plus 40% randomly selected females that were crossed with it (T0FM). Models were tested on a total of 1888 wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) hybrids including 18 males and 667 females in three consecutive years. For grain yield, the most complex model (M5) under T2FM had slightly higher prediction accuracy than the less complex model. For T1F, the prediction accuracy of hybrids for grain yield and other traits of the most complete model was 0.50 to 0.55. For T1M, Model M3 exhibited high prediction accuracies for flowering traits (0.71), whereas the more complex model (M5) demonstrated high accuracy for grain yield (0.5). For T0FM, the prediction accuracy for grain yield of Model M5 was 0.61. Including genomic and pedigree gave relatively high prediction accuracy even when both parents were untested. Results show that it is possible to predict unobserved hybrids when modeling genomic general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) and their interactions with environments.
STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS FOR CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING
Authors: Bivainis Juozas , Tamošiūnas Andrius
Published: December 2018

The paper analyses solutions of corporate restructuring, specifying the techniques of their application in the context of improvement of strategic management, rationalization of corporate management functions as well as measures to control the restructuring process.

The benefit of application of the proposed corporate restructuring solutions is revealed. Greater possibilities to rationalize the restructuring process, use of human potential, material and financial assets, other relevant strategic corporate property, to develop resources of an enterprise and thus to reach greater competitiveness of enterprises are created.
CORPORATE REAL ESTATE DISPOSAL IMPACT ON PERFORMANCE RATIOS
Authors: Louko Antti
Published: December 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of corporate real estate disposals on corporate performance ratios in Europe between the years 1998–2002. In addition, it was studied whether the retail and telecom corporations that conducted large real estate disposals were in significantly worse condition before the transactions than other corporations in the same business sector. The study indicated that those retail corporations that had divested corporate real estate were less profitable compared to other corporations in the same business sector before the transactions. Similarly, some evidence was found that the telecom corporations that were disposing of real estate had worse capital structure and short‐term solvency before the transactions than other European telecom corporations. It seems, however, that the overall economical environment and other corporate operations have often influenced the development of the performance ratios more than the property disposals, at least in the most volatile business sectors.
THE ESTATE SURVEYORS AND VALUERS AND THE MAGIC NUMBER: A POINT ESTIMATE OR A RANGE OF VALUE?
Authors: Aluko Bioye Tajudeen , Ajayl C. A. , Amidu Abdul-Rasheed
Published: December 2018

Property value is imprecise because of the imperfection of the property market. But, estate surveyors and valuers in Nigeria traditionally have continued to express this value as a single amount. This paper, therefore, attempts to examine the rationale behind this approach and the attendant problems associated with it. Besides, the paper, amongst other things, recommended that estate surveyors and valuers should expand the scope of their services beyond the confines of point estimates so that clients be informed as to the amount of possible deviation and the magnitude of risk in the value estimate through the adoption of statistical techniques.
Spectroscopic Confirmation of the Quadruply Lensed Quasar WG0214-2105
Authors: Lee 李見 Chien-Hsiu 修
Published: December 2018

We present timely spectroscopic follow-ups of WG0214-2105, a background quasar strongly lensed by a foreground galaxy into four images. WG0204-2105 was recently identified by Agnello from a combination of the mid-infrared quasar color selection using WISE photometry and the exquisite astrometric resolution of Gaia, and can be clearly seen in the Dark Energy Survey, VST-ALTAS, and Pan-STARRS optical imaging. The quasar images are relatively faint, thus prompting us to conduct spectroscopic observations using the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrographs (GMOS) spectrograph on board the 8 m Gemini telescope. The GMOS spectra firmly detected the emission lines, e.g., Lyα, C iv, and C iii], from the background quasar, allowing us to confirm the lensing nature and pin down the quasar redshifts to be z = 3.24. There are also absorption lines, putatively associated with a foreground absorber at z = 0.45. We also derive the broadband photometry of the quasar images using the Pan-STARRS grizy images, as well as the time-delay using the aforementioned redshifts. Future long-term photometric follow-up will help narrow down the time-delays, providing a firm basis to determine Hubble constant.
Debris Disks among Kepler Solar Rotational Analog Stars
Authors: Silva Sobrinho R. , Costa A. D. Da , Martins B. L. Canto , Leão I. C. , Silva D. Freire da , Teixeira M. A. , Souza M. Gomes de , Freitas D. B. de , Bravo J. P. , Chagas M. L. Das , Medeiros J. R. De
Published: December 2018

Observations of circumstellar disks provide a powerful tool for our understanding of planetary system dynamics. Analogs to the solar system asteroid belts, debris disks result from the collision of the remaining solid material of the planet formation process. Even if the presence of disks is now reported for hundreds of stars, its detection around stars similar to the Sun is still very sparse. We report the results of a search for debris disks around Kepler stars with surface physical parameters close to solar values, including rotation period, using observations by the Wide-field infrared Survey Explorer. From the entire sample of Kepler stars, 881 targets were identified with these parameters and only six of them (KIC 1868785, 7267949, 7435796, 10533222, 11352643, and KIC 11666436) show unambiguous infrared excess, for which we determined as debris disk physical parameters. Interestingly, the present study reveals traces of debris disks much more massive and brighter than the solar system zodiacal dust, probably resulting from recent violent collisional events, orbiting stars with ages around the solar values.
On the Detection of Supermassive Primordial Stars
Authors: Surace Marco , Whalen Daniel J. , Hartwig Tilman , Zackrisson Erik , Glover S. C. O. , Patrick Samuel , Woods Tyrone E. , Heger Alexander , Haemmerlé Lionel
Published: December 2018

The collapse of supermassive primordial stars in hot, atomically cooled halos may have given birth to the first quasars at z ∼ 15–20. Recent numerical simulations of these rapidly accreting stars reveal that they are cool, red hypergiants shrouded by dense envelopes of pristine atomically cooled gas at 6000–8000 K, with luminosities L ≳ 1010
L
⊙. Could such luminous but cool objects be detected as the first stage of quasar formation in future near-infrared (NIR) surveys? We have now calculated the spectra of supermassive primordial stars in their birth envelopes with the Cloudy code. We find that some of these stars will be visible to the James Webb Space Telescope at z ≲ 20 and that with modest gravitational lensing, Euclid and the Wide-Field Infrared Space Telescope could detect them out to z ∼ 10–12. Rather than obscuring the star, its accretion envelope enhances its visibility in the NIR today by reprocessing its short-wavelength flux into photons that are just redward of the Lyman limit in the rest frame of the star.
Fixation Devices in ACL Surgery: What Do I Need to Know?
Authors: Singhal Manuj C , Fites Brandon S , Johnson Darren L
Published: December 2018

Anterior cruciate ligament surgery has become a reliable and reproducible procedure resulting in patient satisfaction in >90% of cases.
Dry Eye After Photorefractive Keratectomy With Adjuvant Mitomycin C
Authors: Kymionis George D , Tsiklis Nikolaos S , Ginis Harilaos , Diakonis Vasilios F , Pallikaris Ioannis
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report a patient with dry eye after bilateral photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) with mitomycin C treatment in one eye.

METHODS: A 29-year-old woman underwent PRK for moderate myopia. The left eye was randomly assigned and intraoperative topical mitomycin C was administered. The right (control) eye was treated with intraoperative corticosteroid only.

RESULTS: The patient developed dry eye symptoms and superficial punctuate keratopathy in the eye treated with mitomycin C. Fifteen months after surgery no improvement was noted.

CONCLUSIONS: Photorefractive keratectomy with mitomycin C treatment could induce or exacerbate dry eye. [J Refract Surg. 2006;22:511-513.]
Corneal Higher Order Aberrations: A Method to Grade Keratoconus
Authors: Alió Jorge L , Shabayek Mohamed H
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To use the anterior corneal surface higher order aberrations as a tool to detect and grade keratoconus using corneal map analysis videokeratoscopy.

METHODS: A prospective observational comparative study of 80 eyes was performed. The eyes were divided into two groups. Group A comprised 40 eyes of 20 asymptomatic individuals with no ocular pathology. Mean sphere was -0.03 diopters (D) (range: +0.75 to -0.75 D), mean cylinder was -0.27 D, mean average K was 43.28 D, and mean uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was 1.01. Group B comprised 40 eyes of 25 patients with keratoconus. Mean sphere was -3.70 D (range: +2.00 to -10.00 D), mean cylinder was -3.82 D, mean average K was 49.29, and mean best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) was 0.61.

RESULTS: In group A, mean root-mean-square (RMS) of spherical (Z
4
and Z
6
), coma-like (Z
3
, Z
5
, and Z
7
), and higher order aberrations (Z^sub 3-7^) were 0.38 µm, 0.35 µm, and 0.52 µm, respectively. In group B, mean RMS of spherical, coma-like, and higher order aberrations were 1.06 µm, 2.90 µm, and 3.14 µm, respectively, for a 6.0-mm simulated pupil diameter. Mean RMS differences between the two groups were 0.68 µm (P≤.0002), 2.55 µm (P≤.0001), and 2.61 µm (P≤.0001) for spherical, coma-like, and total higher order aberrations, respectively. In group B, according to Amsler-Krumeich classification, the mean RMS of coma-like aberration was 1.87 µm in grade I (14 eyes), 2.97 µm in grade II (11 eyes), 3.46 µm in grade III (12 eyes), and 5.20 µm in grade IV (3 eyes).

CONCLUSIONS: Corneal higher order aberrations, especially coma-like aberrations, are significantly higher in eyes with keratoconus than normal eyes. Coma-like aberrations, with the aid of a corneal aberrometry map, are good indicators for early detection and grading of keratoconus. [J Refract Surg. 2006;22:539-545.]
Fourier Analysis of Single Running Suture Adjustment in Penetrating and Deep Lamellar Keratoplasty
Authors: Kaido Minako , Dogru Murat , Goto Eiki , Shimazaki Jun , Tsubota Kazuo
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate clinical and visual results of running suture adjustment after keratoplasty.

METHODS: Thirty-seven eyes of 33 patients received running suture adjustment after keratoplasty. Changes in uncorrected visual acuity, distance best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), refraction, and Fourier analysis constituents were assessed before and after suture adjustment.

RESULTS: Thirty eyes, which had improvement of distance BSCVA soon after suture adjustment, maintained improvement at 1 year, whereas 7 eyes with decreased distance BSCVA soon after suture adjustment experienced no improvement at 1 year. Patients with poor distance BSCVA at 1 year had significantly higher high order irregularity than patients with better distance BSCVA despite similar cylindrical power outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: Astigmatism after keratoplasty can be effectively reduced by suture adjustment. [J Refract Surg. 2006;22:617-620.]
Intra-individual Variability of Penetrating Keratoplasty Outcome After Excimer Laser Versus Motorized Corneal
Authors: Szentmáry Nóra , Langenbucher Achim , Naumann Gottfried O H , Seitz Berthold
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess the intra-individual variability of outcomes after penetrating keratoplasty by comparing mechanical and nonmechanical corneal trephination.

METHODS: Fifteen patients (30 eyes, 16 with keratoconus and 14 with Fuchs' dystrophy; median age at penetrating keratoplasty 56.3/53.5 years) were assessed whose trephination was performed using a motor trephine in one eye and the 193-nm excimer laser (MEL 60, Carl Zeiss-Meditec) in the other eye by one experienced surgeon. Subjective refractometry, standard keratometry, and corneal topography were used to assess best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA); spherical equivalent refraction; keratometric and topographic central corneal power; refractive, keratometric, and topographic astigmatism; surface regularity index; surface asymmetry index; and potential visual acuity preoperatively, before first suture removal (at 1 year), and at last available follow-up after final suture removal but before additional surgery (1.3 and 1.9 years, respectively).

RESULTS: Before first suture removal BSCVA was significantly higher (0.7 vs 0.5; P=. 008) after excimer laser trephination. At the end of follow-up, refractive/ keratometric/topographic astigmatism (2.20/2.10/2.40 diopters [D] vs 5.00/6.00/7.10 D) and surface regularity index (0.8 vs 1.1) were significantly lower (P= .02, P=. 005, P= .01, and P=. 03, respectively) and potential visual acuity was significantly higher (0.9/0.6; P=. 02) after excimer laser trephination.

CONCLUSIONS: During long-term follow-up, all-suturesout postkeratoplasty astigmatism and surface regularity are superior in the eye where nonmechanical excimer laser was applied in contrast to the fellow eye with motor trephination in the same individual. [J Refract Surg. 2006;22:804-810.]
Comparison of Partial Coherence Interferometers: ACMaster Versus Laboratory Prototype
Authors: Kriechbaum Katharina , Leydolt Christina , Findl Oliver , Bolz Matthias , Drexler Wolfgang
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate anterior segment biometry using the ACMaster (Carl Zeiss Méditée AG, Jena, Germany) in regard to precision of measurement and clinical performance compared to the original laboratory prototype of the partial coherence interferometry technique.

METHODS: Ten phakic (20 eyes) and 27 Pseudophakie (44 eyes) patients were included in this study. Anterior segment biometry of phakic and Pseudophakie study eyes was performed using the ACMaster and the laboratory prototype of the partial coherence interferometry technique. The ACMaster isa commercially available device based on the partial coherence interferometry technique, which provides high precision anterior segment measurements in a quick and user-friendly fashion. Examination included measurement of central corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth, and lens thickness, the latter only in the phakic eyes.

RESULTS: The consistency of anterior segment measurements performed with both units was excellent in phakic as well as in Pseudophakie eyes. In Pseudophakie eyes, the measurement of anterior chamber thickness and lens thickness with the ACMaster produced several (typical) measurement artifacts in some cases, which partially aggravated the identification of the A-scan peak representing the anterior intraocular lens surface.

CONCLUSIONS: The ACMaster is a user-friendly device that enables axial anterior segment biometry using the partial coherence interferometry technique with a reproducibility similar to that of the original laboratory prototype. [J Refract Surg. 2006;22:811-816.]
Optical Quality Measurements of Hydrophobic Acrylic Intraocular Lenses
Authors: Sakuraba Tomoki
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare the optical quality of several models of hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs).

METHODS: Modulation transfer function (MTF) measurements were performed using a model eye system on four models of hydrophobic acrylic IOLs. Models tested were the AcrySof SA60AT, MA60AC, and MA60BM (Alcon, Ft Worth, Tex), as well as the model VA-60BB (Hoya, Tokyo, Japan). For benchmarking, the Alcon model MZ60BD polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) lens was also measured. Three lenses of each model were tested at frequencies of 50 and 100 line pairs (lp)/mm (corresponding to 20/40 and 20/20, respectively).

RESULTS: With a 3-mm aperture, the Alcon AcrySof models had mean MTF values ranging from 58.5% to 60.3% at 100 Ip/mm and 78.0% to 79.7% at 50 Ip/mm. The Hoya model VA-60BB provided statistically significantly lower (P<.05) MTF values than the Alcon AcrySof models at both frequencies (47.3±1.2% at 100 Ip/mm and 71.8±1.9% at 50 Ip/mm). With a 5-rmm aperture, the Alcon AcrySof models had MTF values ranging from 32.9% to 34.3% at 100 Ip/mm and 45.2% to 46.7% at 50 Ip/mm. Under these larger aperture conditions, the Hoya model VA-60BB also had statistically significantly lower MTF values (20.9 ±0.8% at 100 Ip/mm and 27.2±1.1% at 50 Ip/mm). Under both apertures and frequencies, the Alcon PMMA lens had statistically significantly higher MTF values than the Hoya lens and statistically significant lower MTF values than all AcrySof models.

CONCLUSIONS: Using both 3- and 5-mm aperture settings as well as frequencies corresponding to 20/20 and 20/40 vision, statistically significantly higher MTF values were obtained for AcrySof lenses, which were greater than the PMMA lens, which were greater than the Hoya model VA-60BB. The differences in MTF values between lens models are more exaggerated with a 5-mm aperture and may highlight differences in lens manufacturing processes. [J Refract Surg. 2006;22:824-826.]