bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis, Spectroscopic, Antimicrobial Activity and Computational Studies of Some Homoleptic and Heteroleptic Metal(II) Complexes of 2‐Furoic Acid Hydrazone
Authors: Ugwu Nwanneka F. , Anarado Chigozie J. O. , Ibeji Collins U. , Okpareke Obinna C. , Ezeorah Chigozie J. , Okagu Ogadimma D. , Ekennia Anthony C. , Cömert Füsun , Babahan Ilknur , Coban Burak , Ujam Oguejiofo T.
Published: October 2019

Homoleptic Co(II), Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes of a hydrazone derived from 3‐acetyl‐2‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐4H‐pyran‐4‐one (dehydroacetic acid) and 2‐furoic acid hydrazide, and their heteroleptic analogues with 2,2′‐bipyridine were synthesized. The complexes were characterized by spectroscopic methods (ESI‐MS, IR and NMR), elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility and molar conductance measurements. The homoleptic complexes adopted octahedral geometry, while the heteroleptic analogous had four‐coordinate tetrahedral (Co and Cu complexes) and square‐planar (Ni complex) geometries. The homoleptic complexes were non‐electrolytes, while the heteroleptic complexes were 1:1 electrolytes in DMSO. Antimicrobial experiments indicated that [Cu(L)2] and [Cu(L)(bipy)](CH3COO) had the best antibacterial activities, with MIC of 31.2 and 61.5 μg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, respectively. Molecular docking determined that [Cu(L)(bipy)]⋅CH3COO had the highest binding energy and hydrogen bonding interactions with one of the active sites of amino acid residue (LEU73). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the complexes revealed that [Cu(L)(bipy)]⋅CH3COO possessed low energy gap, suggesting a higher activity and ability to donate electrons to electron‐accepting species of biological targets.
Microfluidic Platforms toward Rational Material Fabrication for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Zhao Qilong , Cui Huanqing , Wang Yunlong , Du Xuemin
Published: October 2019

The emergence of micro/nanomaterials in recent decades has brought promising alternative approaches in various biomedicine‐related fields such as pharmaceutics, diagnostics, and therapeutics. These micro/nanomaterials for specific biomedical applications shall possess tailored properties and functionalities that are closely correlated to their geometries, structures, and compositions, therefore placing extremely high demands for manufacturing techniques. Owing to the superior capabilities in manipulating fluids and droplets at microscale, microfluidics has offered robust and versatile platform technologies enabling rational design and fabrication of micro/nanomaterials with precisely controlled geometries, structures and compositions in high throughput manners, making them excellent candidates for a variety of biomedical applications. This review briefly summarizes the progress of microfluidics in the fabrication of various micro/nanomaterials ranging from 0D (particles), 1D (fibers) to 2D/3D (film and bulk materials) materials with controllable geometries, structures, and compositions. The applications of these microfluidic‐based materials in the fields of diagnostics, drug delivery, organs‐on‐chips, tissue engineering, and stimuli‐responsive biodevices are introduced. Finally, an outlook is discussed on the future direction of microfluidic platforms for generating materials with superior properties and on‐demand functionalities. The integration of new materials and techniques with microfluidics will pave new avenues for preparing advanced micro/nanomaterials with enhanced performance for biomedical applications.
Metal Oxide Heterostructure Array via Spatially Controlled–Growth within Block Copolymer Templates
Authors: Azoulay Rotem , Shomrat Neta , Weisbord Inbal , Atiya Galit , Segal‐Peretz Tamar
Published: October 2019

Nanofabrication is continuously searching for new methodologies to fabricate 3D nanostructures with 3D control over their chemical composition. A new approach for heterostructure nanorod array fabrication through spatially controlled–growth of multiple metal oxides within block copolymer (BCP) templates is presented. Selective growth of metal oxides within the cylindrical polymer domains of polystyrene‐block‐poly methyl methacrylate is performed using sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS). Tuning the diffusion of trimethyl aluminum and diethyl zinc organometallic precursors in the BCP film directs the growth of AlOx and ZnO to different locations within the cylindrical BCP domains, in a single SIS process. BCP removal yields an AlOx‐ZnO heterostructure nanorods array, as corroborated by 3D characterization with scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) tomography and a combination of STEM and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy tomography. The strategy presented here will open up new routes for complex 3D nanostructure fabrication.
Effect of Amorphization Methods on the Properties and Structures of Potato Starch‐Monoglyceride Complex
Authors: Lan Xiaohong , Wu Qiaoyu , Yang Danlu , Lin Jingjie , Xu Shannan , Wu Jinhong , Wang Zhengwu , Wang Shaoyun
Published: October 2019

Recently, starch‐based fat replacers (FRs) have emerged as unique ingredients, possessing few calories and high vascular scavenger function without adverse organoleptic changes. Here, a two‐step modification method for the development of a starch‐based FRs is reported. First, native potato starch is amorphized by grinding, alkali and ethanol treatment. Then, the amorphized starch is complexed with monoglyceride. The results show that alkaline amorphous potato starch (AAPS) has the best emulsifying activity; ethanol amorphous potato starch complex (EAPSC) has the highest content of resistant starch (RS) (21.49%), while grinding amorphous potato starch (GAPS) retains the granular structure of the original starch best. The amorphization reduces the amylose content of starch, leading to reduced swelling power and increased digestibility. Complexation, on the other hand, is more like attaching a layer of the hydrophobic membrane. Combined with DSC and XRD, amorphization reduces the value of enthalpy and crystallinity, while the complexation process does the opposite. Overall, EAPSC is the best candidate for novel FRs, due to its greater emulsion stability and enzyme resistance. The experimental results provide a theoretical basis for the application of a novel potato starch‐monoglyceride complex in foods such as cakes and snack fillings.
Nitric oxide and peroxynitrite trigger and enhance release of neutrophil extracellular traps
Authors: Manda-Handzlik Aneta , Bystrzycka Weronika , Cieloch Adrianna , Glodkowska-Mrowka Eliza , Jankowska-Steifer Ewa , Heropolitanska-Pliszka Edyta , Skrobot Agnieszka , Muchowicz Angelika , Ciepiela Olga , Wachowska Malgorzata , Demkow Urszula
Published: October 2019

Despite great interest, the mechanism of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) release is not fully understood and some aspects of this process, e.g. the role of reactive nitrogen species (RNS), still remain unclear. Therefore, our aim was to investigate the mechanisms underlying RNS-induced formation of NETs and contribution of RNS to NETs release triggered by various physiological and synthetic stimuli. The involvement of RNS in NETs formation was studied in primary human neutrophils and differentiated human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60 cells). RNS (peroxynitrite and nitric oxide) efficiently induced NETs release and potentiated NETs-inducing properties of platelet activating factor and lipopolysaccharide. RNS-induced NETs formation was independent of autophagy and histone citrullination, but dependent on the activity of phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) and myeloperoxidase, as well as selective degradation of histones H2A and H2B by neutrophil elastase. Additionally, NADPH oxidase activity was required to release NETs upon stimulation with NO, as shown in NADPH-deficient neutrophils isolated from patients with chronic granulomatous disease. The role of RNS was further supported by increased RNS synthesis upon stimulation of NETs release with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and calcium ionophore A23187. Scavenging or inhibition of RNS formation diminished NETs release triggered by these stimuli while scavenging of peroxynitrite inhibited NO-induced NETs formation. Our data suggest that RNS may act as mediators and inducers of NETs release. These processes are PI3K-dependent and ROS-dependent. Since inflammatory reactions are often accompanied by nitrosative stress and NETs formation, our studies shed a new light on possible mechanisms engaged in various immune-mediated conditions.
Effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and voluntary commands on the spinal reflex excitability of remote limb muscles
Authors: Kato Tatsuya , Sasaki Atsushi , Yokoyama Hikaru , Milosevic Matija , Nakazawa Kimitaka
Published: October 2019

It is well known that contracting the upper limbs can affect spinal reflexes of the lower limb muscle, via intraneuronal networks within the central nervous system. However, it remains unknown whether neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), which can generate muscle contractions without central commands from the cortex, can also play a role in such inter-limb facilitation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the effects of unilateral upper limb contractions using NMES and voluntary unilateral upper limb contractions on the inter-limb spinal reflex facilitation in the lower limb muscles. Spinal reflex excitability was assessed using transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) to elicit responses bilaterally in multiple lower limb muscles, including ankle and thigh muscles. Five interventions were applied on the right wrist flexors for 70 s: (1) sensory-level NMES; (2) motor-level NMES; (3) voluntary contraction; (4) voluntary contraction and sensory-level NMES; (5) voluntary contraction and motor-level NMES. Results showed that spinal reflex excitability of ankle muscles was facilitated bilaterally during voluntary contraction of the upper limb unilaterally and that voluntary contraction with motor-level NMES had similar effects as just contracting voluntarily. Meanwhile, motor-level NMES facilitated contralateral thigh muscles, and sensory-level NMES had no effect. Overall, our results suggest that inter-limb facilitation effect of spinal reflex excitability in lower limb muscles depends, to a larger extent, on the presence of the central commands from the cortex during voluntary contractions. However, peripheral input generated by muscle contractions using NMES might have effects on the spinal reflex excitability of inter-limb muscles via spinal intraneuronal networks.
Preparing first-time slope failures hazard maps: from pixel-based to slope unit-based
Authors: Domènech Guillem , Alvioli Massimiliano , Corominas Jordi
Published: October 2019

In this work, we present a novel quantitative geographical information system-based procedure to obtain the magnitude (area) and frequency of medium to large first-time shallow slope failures. The procedure has been set up at the Barcedana Valley, in the Tremp Basin (Eastern Pyrenees). First, pixel-based susceptibility classes were defined using a slope stability index obtained with the physically based model SINMAP. The frequency calculated from the number of first-time failures recorded during the last 60 years was then assigned to each susceptibility class. We devised a procedure to estimate the size of potential failures by means of the aggregation of pixels within the boundaries of morphological slope units, optimized for the purpose. Finally, the landslide hazard was prepared using the magnitude-frequency matrix. Results show that a proper pixel clustering has been carried which avoids the generation of small groups of pixels with different susceptibility degrees within the same slope unit. For a given hill slope, the area of the cluster of pixels depends on the size of the slope unit, which is not unique as it depends on the criterion used to delineate them. Therefore, the latter is a key factor in the final results. In this study, we validated our results with the size distribution of the observed landslides. The methodology presented in this work can be applied using any susceptibility assessment method with a pixel-based output.
In Search of the Origins of Consciousness
Authors: Birch Jonathan
Published: October 2019

The Evolution of the Sensitive Soul is a landmark attempt to make progress on the problem of animal consciousness. Ginsburg and Jablonka propose a general cognitive marker of the presence of consciousness: Unlimited Associative Learning. They use this marker to defend a generous view about the distribution of consciousness in the natural world, on which a capacity for conscious experience is common to all vertebrates, many arthropods and some cephalopod molluscs. They use this inferred distribution to defend a view about the evolution of consciousness, on which it has evolved at least three times, first evolved at around the time of the Cambrian explosion (just over 500 million years ago), and was in fact the driving force behind that explosion. In this essay review, I reflect critically on the book’s central idea: the proposal that Unlimited Associative Learning provides a general marker of consciousness.
The Mitochondria-Targeted Methylglyoxal Sequestering Compound, MitoGamide, Is Cardioprotective in the Diabetic Heart
Authors: Tate Mitchel , Higgins Gavin C. , De Blasio Miles J. , Lindblom Runa , Prakoso Darnel , Deo Minh , Kiriazis Helen , Park Min , Baeza-Garza Carlos D. , Caldwell Stuart T. , Hartley Richard C. , Krieg Thomas , Murphy Michael P. , Coughlan Melinda T. , Ritchie Rebecca H.
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Methylglyoxal, a by-product of glycolysis and a precursor in the formation of advanced glycation end-products, is significantly elevated in the diabetic myocardium. Therefore, we sought to investigate the mitochondria-targeted methylglyoxal scavenger, MitoGamide, in an experimental model of spontaneous diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Methods

Male 6-week-old Akita or wild type mice received daily oral gavage of MitoGamide or vehicle for 10 weeks. Several morphological and systemic parameters were assessed, as well as cardiac function by echocardiography.

Results

Akita mice were smaller in size than wild type counterparts in terms of body weight and tibial length. Akita mice exhibited elevated blood glucose and glycated haemoglobin. Total heart and individual ventricles were all smaller in Akita mice. None of the aforementioned parameters was impacted by MitoGamide treatment. Echocardiographic analysis confirmed that cardiac dimensions were smaller in Akita hearts. Diastolic dysfunction was evident in Akita mice, and notably, MitoGamide treatment preferentially improved several of these markers, including e′/a′ ratio and E/e′ ratio.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that MitoGamide, a novel mitochondria-targeted approach, offers cardioprotection in experimental diabetes and therefore may offer therapeutic potential for the treatment of cardiomyopathy in patients with diabetes.
A Relation Between Autism Traits and Gender Self-concept: Evidence from Explicit and Implicit Measures
Authors: Kallitsounaki Aimilia , Williams David
Published: October 2019

A link between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and gender identity difficulties has been suggested. In this study, we found that, among adults from the general population (N = 101) ASD traits (measured using the Autism-spectrum Quotient) were associated negatively and significantly with the strength of both explicit gender self-concept (measured using the Personal Attributes Questionnaire) and implicit gender self-concept (measured using an Implicit Association Task). Further analyses showed that a subgroup with high/clinically significant ASD traits showed significantly weaker explicit and implicit gender self-concepts than a subgroup with low ASD traits. Results were similar in both males and females, although there was some evidence of a selective influence of ASD traits on implicit gender self-concept among females only.
Graphs with equal domination and covering numbers
Authors: Lingas Andrzej , Miotk Mateusz , Topp Jerzy , Żyliński Paweł
Published: October 2019

A dominating set of a graph G is a set $$D\subseteq V_G$$D⊆VG such that every vertex in $$V_G-D$$VG-D is adjacent to at least one vertex in D, and the domination number $$\gamma (G)$$γ(G) of G is the minimum cardinality of a dominating set of G. A set $$C\subseteq V_G$$C⊆VG is a covering set of G if every edge of G has at least one vertex in C. The covering number $$\beta (G)$$β(G) of G is the minimum cardinality of a covering set of G. The set of connected graphs G for which $$\gamma (G)=\beta (G)$$γ(G)=β(G) is denoted by $${\mathcal {C}}_{\gamma =\beta }$$Cγ=β, whereas $${\mathcal {B}}$$B denotes the set of all connected bipartite graphs in which the domination number is equal to the cardinality of the smaller partite set. In this paper, we provide alternative characterizations of graphs belonging to $${\mathcal {C}}_{\gamma =\beta }$$Cγ=β and $${\mathcal {B}}$$B. Next, we present a quadratic time algorithm for recognizing bipartite graphs belonging to $${\mathcal {B}}$$B, and, as a side result, we conclude that the algorithm of Arumugam et al. (Discrete Appl Math 161:1859–1867, 2013) allows to recognize all the graphs belonging to the set $${\mathcal {C}}_{\gamma =\beta }$$Cγ=β in quadratic time either. Finally, we consider the related problem of patrolling grids with mobile guards, and show that it can be solved in $$O(n \log n + m)$$O(nlogn+m) time, where n is the number of line segments of the input grid and m is the number of its intersection points.
Genetic polymorphism of drug metabolism enzymes (GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1) in the healthy Malian population
Authors: Kassogue Yaya , Diakite Brehima , Kassogue Oumar , Konate Issa , Tamboura Kadidiatou , Diarra Zoumana , Dehbi Hind , Nadifi Sellama , Traore Cheick Bougadari , Dao Sounkalo , Doumbia Seydou , Dolo Guimogo
Published: October 2019

Glutathione S-transferase genes, known to be highly polymorphic, are implicated in the process of phase II metabolism of many substrates, including xenobiotics, anticancer and anti-infective drugs. The detoxification activity is linked to individual genetic makeup. Therefore, the identification of alleles and genotypes in these genes within a population may help to better design genetic susceptibility and pharmacogenetic studies. We performed the present study to establish the frequencies of the GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 c. 313A > G (rs1695) polymorphisms in 206 individuals of the Malian healthy population. GSTM1 and GSTT1 were genotyped by using multiplex polymerase chain reaction, whereas genotypes of GSTP1 were identified by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism. The frequencies of GSTM1-null and GSTT1-null genotypes were respectively 24.3 and 41.3%. The observed genotype frequencies for GSTP1 were 25.73% homozygous wild-type AA, 49.03% heterozygous AG and 25.24% homozygous mutant GG. The frequency of GSTP1-A allele was 50.24% versus 49.76% for the GSTP1-G allele. The distribution of these three genes was homogeneous between men and women (p > 0.05). We found no statistical association between the presence of a particular profile of GSTM1 or GSTT1 with the genotypes of GSTP1 (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, we noticed that the majority of the individuals harboring the GSTM1-present or the GSTT1-present harbor also the GSTP1-AG genotype. In addition, the triple genotype GSTM1-present/GSTT1-present/AG was the most frequent with 25.2%. Our findings will facilitate future studies regarding genetic associations of multifactorial diseases and pharmacogenetic, thus opening the way to personalized medicine in our population.
Deliberative Law-Making: A Case Study of the Process of Enacting of a ‘Constitution of the Third Sector’ in the Polish Sejm
Authors: Juchacz Piotr W.
Published: October 2019

The main objective of the paper is to present a model of the good practices of deliberative cooperation in a parliamentary setting. This goal is achieved through applying the three functions of the deliberative system—epistemic, ethical and democratic (Mansbridge et al. 2012)—to an analysis of cooperation between different stakeholders during the work of a Polish Parliamentary Subcommittee. They are used as an evaluative tool for analysing the cooperation of MPs, members of the public and representatives of the government (promoters of the bill). The paper analyses a concrete example of the work of the Permanent Subcommittee on the government bill amending the Act on Public Benefit Activity and Voluntary Work in the Polish Parliament. This concrete example is presented asa model of good practices when it comes to deliberative cooperationbetween representatives of the authorities and citizens aiming at the development of shared practical judgement. The paper consists of three parts. In the first, a systemic approach to deliberative democracy is briefly introduced, and the history of the work on the bill is outlined. The main part consists of an analysis of the three speeches of three main stakeholders in the legislative process, from the perspective of their view of legislative deliberations, and in terms of the three functions of deliberative system. In the conclusions, four main issues are analysed with reference to the presented legislative deliberations: 1. Legislative committees as mixed deliberative spheres; 2. Internal/external deliberation; 3. The distinction between stakeholders/ordinary citizens; and 4. Deliberative stance/deliberative mindset.
The creation of institutional reality, special theory of relativity, and mere Cambridge change
Authors: Hansson Wahlberg Tobias
Published: October 2019

Saying so can make it so, J. L. Austin taught us long ago. Famously, John Searle has developed this Austinian insight in an account of the construction of institutional reality. Searle maintains that so-called Status Function Declarations, allegedly having a “double direction of fit” (i.e. a world-to-word and a word-to-world direction of fit), synchronically create worldly institutional facts, corresponding to the propositional content of the declarations. I argue that Searle’s account of the making of institutional reality is in tension with the special theory of relativity—irrespective of whether the account is interpreted as involving causal generation or non-causal grounding of worldly institutional facts—and should be replaced by a more modest theory which interprets the results of Status Function Declarations in terms of mere Cambridge change and institutional truth. I end the paper by indicating the import of this more modest theory for theorizing about the causal potency of institutional phenomena generated by declarations.
Representational unification in cognitive science: Is embodied cognition a unifying perspective?
Authors: Miłkowski Marcin , Nowakowski Przemysław
Published: October 2019

In this paper, we defend a novel, multidimensional account of representational unification, which we distinguish from integration. The dimensions of unity are simplicity, generality and scope, non-monstrosity, and systematization. In our account, unification is a graded property. The account is used to investigate the issue of how research traditions contribute to representational unification, focusing on embodied cognition in cognitive science. Embodied cognition contributes to unification even if it fails to offer a grand unification of cognitive science. The study of this failure shows that unification, contrary to what defenders of mechanistic explanation claim, is an important mechanistic virtue of research traditions.
Perceived Mistreatment and Emotional Capability Following Aggressive Treatment of Robots and Computers
Authors: Carlson Zachary , Lemmon Louise , Higgins MacCallister , Frank David , Salek Shahrezaie Roya , Feil-Seifer David
Published: October 2019

Robots (and computers) are increasingly being used in scenarios where they interact socially with people. How people react to these agents is telling about the perceived empathy of such agents. Mistreatment of robots (or computers) by co-workers might provoke such telling reactions. This study examines perceived mistreatment directed towards a robot in comparison to a computer. This will provide some understanding of how people feel about robots in collaborative social settings. We conducted a two by two between-subjects study with 80 participants. Participants worked cooperatively with either a robot or a computer agent. An experiment confederate would either act aggressively or neutrally towards the agent. We hypothesized that people would not perceive aggressive speech as mistreatment when an agent was capable of emotional feelings and similar to themselves; that participants would perceive the robot as more similar in appearance and emotionally capable to themselves than a computer; and so would observe more mistreatment with a robot. The final results supported our hypotheses; the participants observed greater mistreatment for the robot, but not the computer. Also participants felt significantly more sympathetic towards the robot and believed that it was much more emotionally capable.
Analysis of the Carbon Content Effect on the Microstructure and Thermal Behavior of Cobalt-Matrix Dental Alloy
Authors: Beer-Lech Karolina , Surowska Barbara , Pałka Krzysztof , Walczak Mariusz
Published: October 2019

The aim of the study was to consider the crystallization interval of dental CoCrMo alloys with different carbon contents as well quantitative and qualitative analysis of changes in their microstructure. The two different batches of Wironit extra-hard alloy (0.413 and 0.806% C by mass.) were tested. The chemical composition has been carried out as well as microstructure characterization (optical, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction). A quantitative and qualitative image analysis was performed. The process of differential thermal analysis was carried out in the Balzers VSG-02 vacuum induction furnace. The presence of the Co-β solution matrix and M23C6 carbides was demonstrated as well as Co-α solution. Along with the change in the content of carbon in the castings, a qualitative change in the microstructure was noted. Low carbon castings are dominated by blocky eutectic-type precipitates, whereas in high carbon castings, blocky dense precipitates dominate. The results showed that the carbon content influences the crystallization parameters of the alloy (in particular increasing the Tliq and decreasing the Tsol with lower carbon content). It was shown that the melting point of the alloy was higher than indicated by the manufacturer (1533–1578 K). For this study, the range of 1635–1660 K was obtained. This occurrence is very disadvantageous. Using the recommended pouring temperature of 1693 K for casting the material, which usually has a carbon content of about 0.4%, a low degree of superheat is obtained, which significantly limits or even excludes the castability of the alloy.
›Doppelte Optik‹ und ›poetische Zeitgenossenschaft‹ in Thomas Manns früher Auseinandersetzung mit dem Drama und in Hugo von Hofmannsthals Der Rosenkavalier
Authors: Mitterer Cornelius
Published: October 2019

Der Beitrag geht von der Annahme aus, dass Hugo von Hofmannsthal und Thomas Mann in ihrem Frühwerk eine ›doppelte Optik‹ zwischen Unterhaltungszweck und Qualitätsanspruch entwickelten, um sowohl einer innovativen Ästhetik als auch einer breiteren Leserschaft gerecht zu werden. Gleichzeitig war ihr Werk ein Beitrag zur Konstituierung ›poetischer Zeitgenossenschaft‹. Dies soll anhand von Thomas Manns theoretischer wie praktischer Auseinandersetzung mit dem Drama sowie anhand von Hugo von Hofmannsthals Libretto zur Oper Der Rosenkavalier gezeigt werden.
Tip-Timing Measurements and Numerical Analysis of Last-Stage Steam Turbine Mistuned Bladed Disc During Run-Down
Authors: Rzadkowski Romuald , Kubitz Leszek , Maziarz Michał , Troka Pawel , Dominiczak Krzysztof , Szczepanik Ryszard
Published: October 2019

Background

This paper presents the experimental and numerical studies of last-stage low-pressure (LP) mistuned steam turbine bladed discs during run-down.

Methods

The natural frequencies and mode shapes of the turbine bladed disc were calculated using an FE model. The influence of the shaft on the modal properties, such as natural frequencies and mode shapes, was considered. The tip-timing method was used to find the mistuned bladed disc modes and frequencies.

Conclusions

The experimental results from the tip-timing analysis show that the mistuning in combination with shaft coupling suppresses pure nodal diameter type blade vibrations associated with the fundamental mode shape of a cantilevered blade. Vibration modes emerge when even a single blade is vibrating due to the well-known mode localization caused by mistuning. The numerical results confirm this.
The effect of SnO2(110) supports on the geometrical and electronic properties of platinum nanoparticles
Authors: Rivera Rocabado David S. , Ishimoto Takayoshi , Koyama Michihisa
Published: October 2019

While Pt-nanoparticles supported on SnO2exhibit improved durability, a substantial detriment is observed on the Pt-nanoparticles’ activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction. A density functional theory method is used to calculate isolated, SnO2- and graphene-supported Pt-nanoparticles. Work function difference between the Pt-nanoparticles and SnO2leads to electron donation from the nanoparticles to the support, making the outer-shell atoms of the supported nanoparticles more positively charged compared to unsupported nanoparticles. From an electrostatic point of view, nucleophilic species tend to interact more stably with less negatively charged Pt atoms blocking the active sites for the reaction to occur, which can explain the low activity of Pt-nanoparticles supported on SnO2. Introducing oxygen vacancies and Nb dopants on SnO2decreases the support work function, which not only reduces the charge transferred from the Pt-nanoparticles to the support but also reverses the direction of the electrons flow making the surface Pt atoms more negatively charged. A similar effect is observed when using graphene, which has a lower work function than Pt. Thus, the blocking of the active sites by nucleophilic species decreases, hence increasing the activity. These results provide a clue to improve the activity by modifying the support work function and by selecting a support material with an appropriate work function to control the charge of the nanoparticle’s surface atoms.

Graphic abstract
Estimating the Present Value of Carbon Sequestration in U.S. Forests, 2015–2050, for Evaluating Federal Climate Change Mitigation Policies
Authors: Haight Robert G. , Bluffstone Randall , Kline Jeffrey D. , Coulston John W. , Wear David N. , Zook Kate
Published: October 2019

We demonstrate an application evaluating carbon sequestration benefits from federal policy alternatives. Using detailed forest inventory data, we projected carbon sequestration outcomes in the coterminous 48 states for a baseline scenario and three policy scenarios through 2050. Alternatives included (1) reducing deforestation from development, (2) afforestation in the eastern United States and reforestation in the western United States, and (3) reducing stand-replacing wildfires. We used social cost of carbon estimates to evaluate the present value of carbon sequestration benefits gained with each policy. Results suggest that afforestation and reforestation would provide the greatest marginal increase in carbon benefit, far exceeding policy cost.
Haemorrhagic Transformation of a MELAS Stroke-Like Lesion
Authors: Bensaidane Mohamed Reda , Camden Marie-Christine , Savard Martin
Published: October 2019

Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) is a rare progressive maternally inherited mitochondrial disease that clinically harbours various neurological and systemic manifestations.
Dynamics and wall collision of inertial particles in a solid–liquid turbulent channel flow
Authors: Ebrahimian Masoud , Sean Sanders R. , Ghaemi Sina
Published: October 2019

The dynamics and wall collision of inertial particles were investigated in non-isotropic turbulence of a horizontal liquid channel flow. The inertial particles were $125~\unicode[STIX]{x03BC}\text{m}$ glass beads at a volumetric concentration of 0.03 %. The bead-laden flow and the unladen base case had the same volumetric flow rates, with a shear Reynolds number, $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}}$, of the unladen flow equal to 410 based on the half-channel height and friction velocity. Lagrangian measurements of three-dimensional trajectories of both fluid tracers and glass beads were obtained using time-resolved particle tracking velocimetry based on the shake-the-box algorithm of Schanz et al. (Exp. Fluids, vol. 57, no. 5, 2016, pp. 1–27). The analysis showed that on average the near-wall glass beads decelerate in the streamwise direction, while farther away from the wall, the streamwise acceleration of the glass beads became positive. The ejection motions provided a local maximum streamwise acceleration above the buffer layer by transporting glass beads to high velocity layers and exposing them to a high drag force in the streamwise direction. Conversely, the sweep motion made the maximum contribution to the average streamwise deceleration of glass beads in the near-wall region. The wall-normal acceleration of the beads was positive in the vicinity of the wall, and it became negative farther from the wall. The investigation showed that the glass beads with sweeping motion had the maximum momentum, streamwise deceleration, and wall-normal acceleration among all the beads close to the wall and these values increased with increasing their trajectory angle. The investigation of the beads that collided with the wall showed that those with shallow impact angles (less than $1.5^{\circ }$) typically slide along the wall. The sliding beads had a small streamwise momentum exchange of ${\sim}5\,\%$ during these events. The duration of their sliding motion could be as much as five times the inner time scale of the unladen flow. The wall-normal velocity of these beads after sliding was greater than their wall-normal velocity before sliding, and was associated with the rotation induced lift force. Beads with impact angles greater than $1.5^{\circ }$ had shorter interaction times with the wall and smaller streamwise and wall-normal restitution ratios.
Transcritical flow over obstacles and holes: forced Korteweg–de Vries framework
Authors: Grimshaw Roger H. J. , Maleewong Montri
Published: October 2019

This paper extends a previous study of free-surface flow over two localised obstacles using the framework of the forced Korteweg–de Vries equation, to an analogous study of flow over two localised holes, or a combination of an obstacle and a hole. Importantly the terminology obstacle or hole can be reversed for a stratified fluid and refers more precisely to the relative polarity of the forcing and the solitary wave solution of the unforced Korteweg–de Vries equation. As in the previous study, our main concern is with the transcritical regime when the oncoming flow has a Froude number close to unity. In the transcritical regime at early times, undular bores are produced upstream and downstream of each forcing site. We then describe the interaction of these undular bores between the forcing sites, and the outcome at very large times.
Spreading and oscillation dynamics of drop impacting liquid film
Authors: Tang Xiaoyu , Saha Abhishek , Sun Chao , Law Chung K.
Published: October 2019

We herein report an experimental study to explore the effects of impact inertia, film thickness and viscosity on the dynamics of shape deformation of a drop impacting a liquid film. We have identified that the spreading dynamics shows a weak dependence on impact inertia, but strongly depends on the film thickness. For a thick film, the liquid surface deforms and absorbs part of the impact energy, and hence inhibits spreading of the drop. For a thin film, the drop motion is restricted by the bottom solid substrate, promoting spreading. The periodicity of the capillary controlled shape oscillation, on the other hand, is found to be independent of impact inertia and film thickness. The damping of the shape oscillation shows strong dependence on the film thickness, in that the oscillation decays faster for smaller film thicknesses, due to the enhanced viscous loss.
A complete Late Weichselian and Holocene record of aeolian coversands, drift sands and soils forced by climate change and human impact, Ossendrecht, the Netherlands
Authors: Kasse Cornelis , Aalbersberg Gerald
Published: October 2019

A stacked aeolian sequence with intercalated soils is presented from the southern Netherlands, which fully covers the Late Weichselian and Holocene periods. An integrated sedimentological (sedimentary structures, grain size), palynological (pollen) and dating approach (radiocarbon, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL)) was applied to unravel climatic and human forcing factors. The dating results of soils and sediments are compatible, and no large hiatuses between the radiocarbon-dated top of the soils and OSL-dated overlying sands were observed. It is argued that the peaty top of wet-type podzols can be used for reliable radiocarbon dating. This study reveals more phases than previously known of landscape stability (Usselo Soil and two podzol soils) and instability (Younger Coversand I and II, two drift-sand units) that are related to Late Weichselian climate change and Holocene human occupation. Regional aeolian deposition in source-bordering (river) dunes (Younger Coversand II) took place in the second part of the Younger Dryas, after 12.3 ka cal. BP, implying a delayed response to Younger Dryas cooling, vegetation cover decline and river pattern change of the Scheldt. The onset of podzolisation and development of ericaceous vegetation occurred prior to the introduction of Neolithic farming, which is earlier than previously assumed. Early podzolisation was followed by a short phase of local drift-sand deposition, atc.5500 cal. BP, that possibly relates to agriculture. Strong human impact on the landscape by deforestation and agriculture resulted in a second phase of widespread drift-sand deposition covering the younger podzol soil after AD 1000.
Unemployment, sanctions and mental health: the relationship between benefit sanctions and antidepressant prescribing
Authors: WILLIAMS EVAN
Published: October 2019

International social security systems increasingly place work-related conditions on individuals claiming out-of-work benefits, and enforce requirements through the use of benefit sanctions. The literature on the impacts of benefit sanctions considers both labour market and wider social effects, which this study contributes to through a focus on mental health. It considers the period of Coalition government (2010–15) in the UK, which imposed a comparatively high number of benefit sanctions and increased their severity through the Welfare Reform Act 2012. A longitudinal dataset is constructed using quarterly local authority-level data on Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) sanctions and antidepressant prescriptions in England. Results from fixed effects analyses indicate that, in the post-reform period, every 10 additional sanctions are associated with 4.57 additional antidepressant prescribing items (95% CI: 2.14 to 6.99), which translates to approximately one additional person receiving treatment. Importantly, this finding indicates that sanctions are associated with both adverse mental health impacts and wider public expenditure implications, which motivates further investigation at the individual-level. In addition, punitive sanctions form a core part of the new Universal Credit (UC) and so the results suggest the need to reassess the use of sanctions within the contemporary social security system.
Enhanced El Niño–Southern Oscillation Variability in Recent Decades
Authors: Grothe Pamela R. , Cobb Kim M. , Liguori Giovanni , Di Lorenzo Emanuele , Capotondi Antonietta , Lu Yanbin , Cheng Hai , Edwards R. Lawrence , Southon John R. , Santos Guaciara M. , Deocampo Daniel M. , Lynch‐Stieglitz Jean , Chen Tianran , Sayani Hussein R. , Thompson Diane M. , Conroy Jessica L. , Moore Andrea L. , Townsend Kayla , Hagos Melat , O'Connor Gemma , Toth Lauren T.
Published: October 2019

The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) represents the largest source of year‐to‐year global climate variability. While Earth system models suggest a range of possible shifts in ENSO properties under continued greenhouse gas forcing, many centuries of preindustrial climate data are required to detect a potential shift in the properties of recent ENSO extremes. Here we reconstruct the strength of ENSO variations over the last 7,000 years with a new ensemble of fossil coral oxygen isotope records from the Line Islands, located in the central equatorial Pacific. The corals document a significant decrease in ENSO variance of ~20% from 3,000 to 5,000 years ago, coinciding with changes in spring/fall precessional insolation. We find that ENSO variability over the last five decades is ~25% stronger than during the preindustrial. Our results provide empirical support for recent climate model projections showing an intensification of ENSO extremes under greenhouse forcing.
Automated Detection of Dynamic Earthquake Triggering by the High‐Frequency Power Integral Ratio
Authors: Yun Naidan , Zhou Shiyong , Yang Hongfeng , Yue Han , Zhao Li
Published: October 2019

Dynamic earthquake triggering can be used to investigate the responses of faults to stress disturbances. We develop a new method to detect dynamic triggering by estimating high‐frequency energy change before and during teleseismic waves using the HIgh‐Frequency power Integral ratio (HiFi). Our method is able to identify local events independent of earthquake catalog or subjective judgements. The significance in energy change is evaluated by a statistical analysis of the background ratio in a large number of days, which can suppress the influence of noise and variations in the background seismicity and yield a confidence level of dynamic triggering (0–1). We apply the HiFi method to the Geysers Geothermal Field in California, and the results are largely consistent with previous reports from the β statistic. By comparing the results of HiFi and β statistic, we select a confidence level range of 0.918–0.947 as the optimum threshold to identify dynamic triggering in the region.
Characteristics and Generation of Low‐Frequency Magnetosonic Waves Below the Proton Gyrofrequency
Authors: Teng Shangchun , Li Wen , Tao Xin , Ma Qianli , Shen Xiaochen
Published: October 2019

We report a Van Allen Probes observation of large‐amplitude magnetosonic waves with the peak intensity below the proton gyrofrequency (fcp), which may potentially be misinterpreted as electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves. The frequency spacing of the wave harmonic structure suggests that these magnetosonic waves are excited at a distant source region and propagate radially inward. We also conduct a statistical analysis of low‐frequency magnetosonic waves below fcp based on the Van Allen Probes data from October 2012 to December 2018. The spatial distribution shows that these low‐frequency magnetosonic emissions are dominantly observed inside the plasmasphere from the prenoon to the midnight sector within 5° of the geomagnetic equator and typically have modest‐to‐strong wave amplitudes ranging from tens of pT to hundreds of pT. Our study provides insight into understanding the generation and propagation of these low‐frequency magnetosonic waves in the Earth's inner magnetosphere.
Interleukin-6 signaling regulates hematopoietic stem cell emergence
Authors: Tie Ruxiu , Li Honghu , Cai Shuyang , Liang Zuyu , Shan Wei , Wang Binsheng , Tan Yamin , Zheng Weiyan , Huang He
Published: October 2019

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) produce all lineages of mature blood cells for the lifetime of an organism. In vertebrates, HSCs derive from the transition of the hemogenic endothelium (HE) in the floor of the embryonic dorsal aorta. Most recently, a series of proinflammatory factors, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, and Toll-like receptor 4, have been confirmed to play a key role in HSC specification. However, the full complement of necessary signaling inputs remains unknown to date. Here, we show that interleukin-6R (IL6R) via IL6 is required and sufficient for HSC generation. We found that Notch activates IL6R by regulating its expression in the HE and in HSCs. The secretion of IL6 mainly originates from HSC-independent myeloid cells, but not from HSCs and their adjacent vascular endothelial cells. In addition, blocking IL6 signaling does not affect vascular development or the production of primitive erythrocytes. Taken together, our results uncover a previously obscure relationship between IL6 signaling and HSC production and provide new insights into HSC regeneration using proinflammatory factors in vitro.
Educational attainment impacts drinking behaviors and risk for alcohol dependence: results from a two-sample Mendelian randomization study with ~780,000 participants
Authors: Rosoff Daniel B. , Clarke Toni-Kim , Adams Mark J. , McIntosh Andrew M. , Davey Smith George , Jung Jeesun , Lohoff Falk W.
Published: October 2019

Observational studies suggest that lower educational attainment (EA) may be associated with risky alcohol use behaviors; however, these findings may be biased by confounding and reverse causality. We performed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) using summary statistics from recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with >780,000 participants to assess the causal effects of EA on alcohol use behaviors and alcohol dependence (AD). Fifty-three independent genome-wide significant SNPs previously associated with EA were tested for association with alcohol use behaviors. We show that while genetic instruments associated with increased EA are not associated with total amount of weekly drinks, they are associated with reduced frequency of binge drinking ≥6 drinks (ßIVW = −0.198, 95% CI, −0.297 to –0.099, PIVW = 9.14 × 10−5), reduced total drinks consumed per drinking day (ßIVW = −0.207, 95% CI, −0.293 to –0.120, PIVW = 2.87 × 10−6), as well as lower weekly distilled spirits intake (ßIVW = −0.148, 95% CI, −0.188 to –0.107, PIVW = 6.24 × 10−13). Conversely, genetic instruments for increased EA were associated with increased alcohol intake frequency (ßIVW = 0.331, 95% CI, 0.267–0.396, PIVW = 4.62 × 10−24), and increased weekly white wine (ßIVW = 0.199, 95% CI, 0.159–0.238, PIVW = 7.96 × 10−23) and red wine intake (ßIVW = 0.204, 95% CI, 0.161–0.248, PIVW = 6.67 × 10−20). Genetic instruments associated with increased EA reduced AD risk: an additional 3.61 years schooling reduced the risk by ~50% (ORIVW = 0.508, 95% CI, 0.315–0.819, PIVW = 5.52 × 10−3). Consistency of results across complementary MR methods accommodating different assumptions about genetic pleiotropy strengthened causal inference. Our findings suggest EA may have important effects on alcohol consumption patterns and may provide potential mechanisms explaining reported associations between EA and adverse health outcomes.