bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design of ANFIS for Hydrophobicity Classification of Polymeric Insulators with Two-Stage Feature Reduction Technique and Its Field Deployment
Authors: Jayabal Rajamohan , Vijayarekha K. , Rakesh Kumar S.
Published: December 2018

Hydrophobicity of polymeric insulator plays a vital role in determining the insulation quality in outdoor overhead electrical transmission and distribution lines. Loss of hydrophobicity increases the leakage current and leads to flashover. Monitoring hydrophobicity becomes a fundamental requirement to ensure continuity of power line operations. Hydrophobicity of polymeric insulator is classified according to STRI (Swedish Transmission Research Institute) guidelines. This paper proposes an intelligent ANFIS (Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System) based classifier to determine the hydrophobicity quality using the digital image of the insulator. Ten statistical features are extracted from the digital images. Two stages of feature reduction are employed to reduce the number of features. Pre-design stage uses PCA (Principal Component Analysis) and reduces the number of features to six from ten and the post-design stage analyzes the accumulation effect to reduce the number of features to four. Various ANFIS classifiers are trained using these reduced features extracted from the image. The performance of these ANFIS classifiers is evaluated in both field and laboratory specimens. Results indicate classification accuracy of 96.4% and 93.3% during the training and testing phase when triangular membership function with linear output function is employed in ANFIS. A GUI (Graphical User Interface) has also been designed to facilitate the use of the proposed system by field operators.
Research on Commutation and Coordination Control Strategy of Excitation Power Supply Based on Bidirectional Reduced Matrix Converter for Ion Accelerator
Authors: Song Weizhang , Liu Jiang , Sun Xiangdong , Wu Fenjun , Gao Daqing , Wang Youyun
Published: December 2018

The contribution of this paper is putting forward a kind of ion accelerator magnet excitation power supply with bidirectional reduced matrix converter (BRMC) as well as a coordination control strategy with bipolar current space vector modulation strategy, which is utilized to realize bidirectional power flow for a BRMC system to solve problems such as low input power factor, large input current harmonics and no bidirectional energy in the conventional ion accelerator magnet excitation power supply. Meanwhile, a hybrid commutation strategy combining the simplified three-step commutation with zero vector commutation was proposed to solve the commutation problem for a matrix-type first stage in BRMC. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed strategy, which can achieve bidirectional energy flow and safer commutation, have been verified by the experimental results.
Performance Study of a Novel Integrated Solar Combined Cycle System
Authors: Duan Liqiang , Wang Zhen
Published: December 2018

Based on a traditional integrated solar combined cycle system, a novel integrated solar combined cycle (ISCC) system is proposed, which preferentially integrates the solar energy driven lithium bromide absorption refrigeration system that is used to cool the gas turbine inlet air in this paper. Both the Aspen Plus and EBSILON softwares are used to build the models of the overall system. Both the thermodynamic performance and economic performance of the new system are compared with those of the traditional ISCC system without the inlet air cooling process. The new system can regulate the proportions of solar energy integrated in the refrigerator and the heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) based on the daily meteorological data, and the benefits of the solar energy integrated with the absorption refrigeration are greater than with the HRSG. The results of both the typical day performance and annual performance of different systems show that the new system has higher daily and annual system thermal efficiencies (52.90% and 57.00%, respectively), higher daily and annual solar photoelectric efficiencies (31.10% and 22.31%, respectively), and higher daily and annual solar photoelectric exergy efficiencies (33.30% and 23.87%, respectively) than the traditional ISCC system. The solar energy levelized cost of electricity of the new ISCC system is 0.181 $/kW·h, which is 0.061 $/kW·h lower than that of the traditional ISCC system.
Risk Data Analysis Based Anomaly Detection of Ship Information System
Authors: Xing Bowen , Jiang Yafeng , Liu Yuqing , Cao Shouqi
Published: December 2018

Due to the vulnerability and high risk of the ship environment, the Ship Information System (SIS) should provide 24 hours of uninterrupted protection against network attacks. Therefore, the corresponding intrusion detection mechanism is proposed for this situation. Based on the collaborative control structure of SIS, this paper proposes an anomaly detection pattern based on risk data analysis. An intrusion detection method based on the critical state is proposed, and the corresponding analysis algorithm is given. In the Industrial State Modeling Language (ISML), risk data are determined by all relevant data, even in different subsystems. In order to verify the attack recognition effect of the intrusion detection mechanism, this paper takes the course/roll collaborative control task as an example to carry out simulation verification of the effectiveness of the intrusion detection mechanism.
Energetical Analysis of Two Different Configurations of a Liquid-Gas Compressed Energy Storage
Authors: Vallati Andrea , Colucci Chiara , Oclon Pawel
Published: December 2018

In order to enhance the spreading of renewable energy sources in the Italian electric power market, as well as to promote self-production and to decrease the phase delay between energy production and consumption, energy storage solutions are catching on. Nowadays, in general, small size electric storage batteries represent a quite diffuse technology, while air liquid-compressed energy storage solutions are used for high size. The goal of this paper is the development of a numerical model for small size storage, environmentally sustainable, to exploit the higher efficiency of the liquid pumping to compress air. Two different solutions were analyzed, to improve the system efficiency and to exploit the heat produced by the compression phase of the gas. The study was performed with a numerical model implemented in Matlab, by analyzing the variation of thermodynamical parameters during the compression and the expansion phases, making an energetic assessment for the whole system. The results show a good global efficiency, thus making the system competitive with the smallest size storage batteries.
An Overview about Criticalities in the Modelling of Multi-Sector and Multi-Energy Systems
Authors: Arteconi Alessia
Published: December 2018

The urgent need for the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions requires efficient and integrated energy communities in order to decrease final energy demand and sustain energy transitions towards renewable energy sources (RES). This introduces a big research challenge for future energy systems design and optimization, given the multi-level and inter-sectorial dimensions of the problem. Buildings cover a central role in this context, because they represent the nexus between different energy carrier networks. The study of the management of multi-sector and multi-energy systems presents several challenges, such as the need to take into account uncertainties, to represent the heterogeneity of the energy demand and the scalability of the problem. This paper aims at outlining such a framework, and at showing the state-of-the-art nature of the above-mentioned challenges.
Species-Rich National Forests Experience More Intense Human Modification, but Why?
Authors: Belote R.
Published: December 2018

Ecologists have studied geographic gradients in biodiversity for decades and recently mapped the intensity of the “human footprint” around the planet. The combination of these efforts have identified some global hotspots of biodiversity that are heavily impacted by human-caused land cover change and infrastructure. However, other hotspots of biodiversity experience less intense modifications from humans. Relationships between species diversity and the human footprint may be driven by covarying factors, like climate, soils, or topography, that coincidentally influence patterns of biodiversity and human land use. Here, I investigated relationships between tree species richness and the degree of human modification among Forest Service ranger districts within the contiguous US. Ranger districts with more tree species tended to experience greater human modification. Using data on climate, soils, and topography, I explored mechanisms explaining the positive relationship between tree richness and human modification. I found that climate is related to both tree richness and human modification, which may be indirectly mediated through climate’s role governing productivity. Ranger districts with more productive climates support more species and greater human modification. To explore potential conservation consequences of these relationships, I also investigated whether the amount of area designated within highly protected conservation lands were related to climate, productivity, and topography. Less productive ranger districts with steeper slopes tended to experience the greatest relative amounts of conservation protection. Combined, these results suggest that complex relationships explain the geographic patterns of biodiversity and the human footprint, but that climate and topography partially govern patterns of each.
Simulations of the Polarized Sky for the SKA: How to Constrain Intracluster Magnetic Fields
Authors: Loi Francesca , Murgia Matteo , Govoni Federica , Vacca Valentina , Prandoni Isabella , Li Hui , Feretti Luigina , Giovannini Gabriele
Published: December 2018

The advent of the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) will have unprecedented impact on the study of magnetic fields in galaxy clusters. This instrument will be able to perform all-sky surveys in polarization, allowing us to build a rotation-measure (RM) grid based on an enormous number of sources. However, it is not always obvious how to extract correct information about the strength and the structure of magnetic fields from the RM grid. The simulations presented here help us to investigate this topic as they consist of full-Stokes idealized (because we did not add thermal noise) images of a pair of galaxy clusters between 950–1760 GHz, i.e., the SKA1-MID band 2. These images include not just cluster-embedded radio sources but also foreground and background discrete radio sources populating the simulated portion of the universe. To study the magnetic fields of the simulated galaxy clusters, we applied the RM synthesis technique on the simulated images and compared the “true” cluster RM values with those inferred from RM synthesis. The accuracy of our methodology is guarantee by the excellent agreement that we observed when we considered only the signal from the background radio sources. The presence of a Faraday screen, foreground, and cluster sources, introduces degeneracies and/or ambiguities that make the interpretation of the results more difficult.
Review of Ocular Manifestations of Joubert Syndrome
Authors: Wang Stephanie F. , Kowal Tia J. , Ning Ke , Koo Euna B. , Wu Albert Y. , Mahajan Vinit B. , Sun Yang
Published: December 2018

Joubert syndrome is a group of rare disorders that stem from defects in a sensory organelle, the primary cilia. Affected patients often present with disorders involving multiple organ systems, including the brain, eyes, and kidneys. Common symptoms include breathing abnormalities, mental developmental delays, loss of voluntary muscle coordination, and abnormal eye movements, with a diagnostic “molar tooth” sign observed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the midbrain. We reviewed the ocular phenotypes that can be found in patients with Joubert syndrome. Ocular motor apraxia is the most frequent (80% of patients), followed by strabismus (74%) and nystagmus (72%). A minority of patients also present with ptosis (43%), chorioretinal coloboma (30%), and optic nerve atrophy (22%). Although mutations in 34 genes have been found to be associated with Joubert syndrome, retinal degeneration has been reported in only 38% of patients. Mutations in AHI1 and CEP290, genes critical to primary cilia function, have been linked to retinal degeneration. In conclusion, Joubert syndrome is a rare pleiotropic group of disorders with variable ocular presentations.
The Progress of Tobacco Control Research in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Past 50 Years: A Systematic Review of the Design and Methods of the Studies
Authors: Mamudu Hadii M. , Subedi Pooja , Alamin Ali E. , Veeranki Sreenivas P. , Owusu Daniel , Poole Amy , Mbulo Lazarous , Ogwell Ouma A.E. , Oke Adekunle
Published: December 2018

Over one billion of the world’s population are smokers, with increasing tobacco use in low- and middle-income countries. However, information about the methodology of studies on tobacco control is limited. We conducted a literature search to examine and evaluate the methodological designs of published tobacco research in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) over the past 50 years. The first phase was completed in 2015 using PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. An additional search was completed in February 2017 using PubMed. Only tobacco/smoking research in SSA countries with human subjects and published in English was selected. Out of 1796 articles, 447 met the inclusion criteria and were from 26 countries, 11 of which had one study each. Over half of the publications were from South Africa and Nigeria. The earliest publication was in 1968 and the highest number of publications was in 2014 (n = 46). The majority of publications used quantitative methods (91.28%) and were cross-sectional (80.98%). The commonest data collection methods were self-administered questionnaires (38.53%), interviews (32.57%), and observation (20.41%). Around half of the studies were among adults and in urban settings. We conclud that SSA remains a “research desert” and needs more investment in tobacco control research and training.
Statins and Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes in Chronic Kidney Disease: Reaffirmation vs. Repudiation
Authors: Obialo Chamberlain I. , Ofili Elizabeth O. , Norris Keith C.
Published: December 2018

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden is several-fold higher in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Although statins have been shown to provide significant CVD benefits in both the general population and patients with CKD, this has not translated into survival advantage in patients with advanced CKD or on dialysis. It has been reported that CVD risk continues to escalate as CKD progresses to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD); however, the CVD risk reduction by statins appears to decline as patients’ progress from the early to later stages of CKD. Statins have also been associated with a higher incidence of stroke in ESKD patients. Thus, the CVD benefits of statins in ESKD remain questionable.
Incentive Strategies for Low-Carbon Supply Chains with Asymmetric Information of Carbon Reduction Efficiency
Authors: Wang Qinpeng , He Longfei
Published: December 2018

Information concerning carbon reduction efficiency is of great significance to supply chain operations. Considering the impact of information asymmetry on the performance of low-carbon supply chain, we therefore analyze a chain system with a single product designer and a single manufacturer. The manufacturer owns information on carbon reduction efficiency, whereas the product designer only knows that the carbon reduction efficiency of the manufacturer is either high or low. To induce the manufacturer to reveal his true private information of carbon-reduction efficiency to the product designer, we devise the pooling and separating equilibrium models to compare the impacts of these two models on supply chain performance, respectively. We find that the high-efficiency manufacturer gets his first-best choice at the equilibrium decision in the separating model, and obtains the information rent in the pooling model. The information rent increases in the efficiency difference between the two emission-reduction types. Additionally, we examine how the probability of the high (or low)-efficiency manufacturer being chosen impacts on both the profits of chain members and carbon-reduction levels. The research provides a reference for companies about how to cooperate with partner who possess private information of carbon emissions.
Larger Workplaces, People-Oriented Culture, and Specific Industry Sectors Are Associated with Co-Occurring Health Protection and Wellness Activities
Authors: Biswas Aviroop , Severin Colette N. , Smith Peter M. , Steenstra Ivan A. , Robson Lynda S. , Amick Benjamin C.
Published: December 2018

Employers are increasingly interested in offering workplace wellness programs in addition to occupational health and safety (OHS) activities to promote worker health, wellbeing, and productivity. Yet, there is a dearth of research on workplace factors that enable the implementation of OHS and wellness to inform the future integration of these activities in Canadian workplaces. This study explored workplace demographic factors associated with the co-implementation of OHS and wellness activities in a heterogenous sample of Canadian workplaces. Using a cross-sectional survey of 1285 workplaces from 2011 to 2014, latent profiles of co-occurrent OHS and wellness activities were identified, and multinomial logistic regression was used to assess associations between workplace demographic factors and the profiles. Most workplaces (84%) demonstrated little co-occurrence of OHS and wellness activities. Highest co-occurrence was associated with large workplaces (odds ratio (OR) = 3.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.15–5.89), in the electrical and utilities sector (OR = 5.57, 95% CI = 2.24–8.35), and a high people-oriented culture (OR = 4.70, 95% CI = 1.59–5.26). Promoting integrated OHS and wellness approaches in medium to large workplaces, in select industries, and emphasizing a people-oriented culture were found to be important factors for implementing OHS and wellness in Canadian organizations. Informed by these findings, future studies should understand the mechanisms to facilitate the integration of OHS and wellness in workplaces.
Evaluation of the Effects of Carbon 60 Nanoparticle Exposure to Adult Zebrafish: A Behavioral and Biochemical Approach to Elucidate the Mechanism of Toxicity
Authors: Sarasamma Sreeja , Audira Gilbert , Juniardi Stevhen , Sampurna Bonifasius Putera , Lai Yu-Heng , Hao Erwei , Chen Jung-Ren , Hsiao Chung-Der
Published: December 2018

There is a growing concern for the potential toxicity of engineered nanomaterials that have made their way into virtually all novel applications in the electronics, healthcare, cosmetics, technology, and engineering industries, and in particular, biomedical products. However, the potential toxicity of carbon 60 (C60) at the behavioral level has not been properly evaluated. In this study, we used idTracker, a multitracking algorithm to quantitatively assess behavioral toxicity induced by C60 nanoparticles (C60 NPs) in adult zebrafish. We demonstrated that locomotion, novel tank exploration, aggression, shoaling, and color preference activities of the C60 NPs-treated fish was significantly reduced. In addition, the C60 NPs-treated fish also displayed dysregulation of the circadian rhythm by showing lower locomotion activities in both day and night cycles. The biochemical results showed that C60 NPs exposure at low concentration induced oxidative stress and DNA damage, reduced anti-oxidative capacity and ATP (adenosine triphosphate) levels, and induced stress-associated hormones, hypoxia, as well as inflammation marker upregulation in muscle and gill tissues. Together, this work, for the first time, provide direct evidence showing that the chronic exposure of C60 NPs induced multiple behavioral abnormalities in adult zebrafish. Our findings suggest that the ecotoxicity of C60 NPs towards aquatic vertebrates should be carefully evaluated.
Combined Gastric and Colorectal Cancer Screening—A New Strategy
Authors: Selgrad Michael , Bornschein Jan , Kandulski Arne , Weigt Jochen , Roessner Albert , Wex Thomas , Malfertheiner Peter
Published: December 2018

Background: Our aim was to evaluate the feasibility of a serological assessment of gastric cancer risk in patients undergoing colonoscopy in countries with low-to-moderate incidence rates. Methods: Serum samples were prospectively collected from 453 patients (>50 years old) undergoing colonoscopies. Of these, 279 (61.6%) also underwent gastroscopy to correlate the results for serum pepsinogen I and II (sPG-I and sPG-II), sPG-I/II ratio, and anti-H. pylori antibodies with gastric histopathology findings (graded according to the updated Sydney classification and the Operative Link of Gastritis Assessment (OLGA) and the Operative Link for Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia assessment (OLGIM) systems). Results: H. pylori was found in 85 patients (30.5%). Chronic atrophic gastritis was diagnosed in 89 (31.9%) patients. High-risk OLGA (III–IV) stages were present in 24 patients, and high-risk OLGIM stages were present in 14 patients. There was an inverse correlation of sPG-I with the degree of atrophy and intestinal metaplasia (IM), as well as with the respective OLGA (r = −0.425; p < 0.001) and OLGIM (r = −0.303; p < 0.001) stages. A pathological sPG-I result was associated with a relative risk (RR) of 12.2 (95% confidence interval: 6.29–23.54; p < 0.001) for gastric preneoplastic changes. Conclusions: The assessment of serum pepsinogen allows the identification of patients at increased risk of gastric cancer. A prevention strategy of combining a screening colonoscopy with a serological screening for preneoplastic gastric changes should be considered in the general population.
Innate Immunity Cells and the Neurovascular Unit
Authors: Presta Ivan , Vismara Marco Flavio Michele , Novellino Fabiana , Donato Annalidia , Zaffino Paolo , Scali Elisabetta , Pirrone Krizia Caterina , Spadea Maria Francesca , Malara Natalia , Donato Giuseppe
Published: December 2018

Recent studies have clarified many still unknown aspects related to innate immunity and the blood-brain barrier relationship. They have also confirmed the close links between effector immune system cells, such as granulocytes, macrophages, microglia, natural killer cells and mast cells, and barrier functionality. The latter, in turn, is able to influence not only the entry of the cells of the immune system into the nervous tissue, but also their own activation. Interestingly, these two components and their interactions play a role of great importance not only in infectious diseases, but in almost all the pathologies of the central nervous system. In this paper, we review the main aspects in the field of vascular diseases (cerebral ischemia), of primitive and secondary neoplasms of Central Nervous System CNS, of CNS infectious diseases, of most common neurodegenerative diseases, in epilepsy and in demyelinating diseases (multiple sclerosis). Neuroinflammation phenomena are constantly present in all diseases; in every different pathological state, a variety of innate immunity cells responds to specific stimuli, differentiating their action, which can influence the blood-brain barrier permeability. This, in turn, undergoes anatomical and functional modifications, allowing the stabilization or the progression of the pathological processes.
Both Intrinsically Disordered Regions and Structural Domains Evolve Rapidly in Immune-Related Mammalian Proteins
Authors: Homma Keiichi , Anbo Hiroto , Noguchi Tamotsu , Fukuchi Satoshi
Published: December 2018

Eukaryotic proteins consist of structural domains (SDs) and intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs), i.e., regions that by themselves do not assume unique three-dimensional structures. IDRs are generally subject to less constraint and evolve more rapidly than SDs. Proteins with a lower number of protein-to-protein interactions (PPIs) are also less constrained and tend to evolve fast. Extracellular proteins of mammals, especially immune-related extracellular proteins, on average have relatively high evolution rates. This article aims to examine if a high evolution rate in IDRs or that in SDs accounts for the rapid evolution of extracellular proteins. To this end, we classified eukaryotic proteins based on their cellular localizations and analyzed them. Moreover, we divided proteins into SDs and IDRs and calculated the respective evolution rate. Fractional IDR content is positively correlated with evolution rate. For their fractional IDR content, immune-related extracellular proteins show an aberrantly high evolution rate. IDRs evolve more rapidly than SDs in most subcellular localizations. In extracellular proteins, however, the difference is diminished. For immune-related proteins in mammals in particular, the evolution rates in SDs come close to those in IDRs. Thus high evolution rates in both IDRs and SDs account for the rapid evolution of immune-related proteins.
Effects of Arachidonic and Docosohexahenoic Acid Supplementation during Gestation in Rats. Implication of Placental Oxidative Stress
Authors: Reyes-Hernández Cynthia Guadalupe , Ramiro-Cortijo David , Rodríguez-Rodríguez Pilar , Giambelluca Sonia , Simonato Manuela , González Mª del Carmen , López de Pablo Angel Luis , López-Giménez Mª del Rosario , Cogo Paola , Sáenz de Pipaón Miguel , Carnielli Virgilio P. , Arribas Silvia M.
Published: December 2018

Arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids (ARA and DHA) are important during pregnancy. However, the effects of dietary supplementation on fetal growth and oxidative stress are inconclusive. We aimed to assess the effect of high ARA and DHA diet during rat gestation on: (1) ARA and DHA availability in plasma and placenta, (2) fetal growth, and (3) placental oxidative stress, analyzing the influence of sex. Experimental diet (ED) was prepared by substituting soybean oil in the control diet (CD) by a fungi/algae-based oil containing ARA and DHA (2:1). Rats were fed with CD or ED during gestation; plasma, placenta, and fetuses were obtained at gestational day 20. DHA, ARA, and their precursors were analyzed in maternal plasma and placenta by gas chromatography/mass spectrophotometry. Fetuses and placentas were weighed, the proportion of fetuses with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) determined, and placental lipid and protein oxidation analyzed. ED fetuses exhibited lower body weight compared to CD, being >40% IUGR; fetal weight negatively correlated with maternal plasma ARA, but not DHA. Only ED female placenta exhibited higher lipid and protein oxidation compared to its CD counterparts; lipid peroxidation is negatively associated with fetal weight. In conclusion, high ARA during gestation associates with IUGR, through placental oxidative stress, with females being more susceptible.
Modeling Parkinson’s Disease and Atypical Parkinsonian Syndromes Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Authors: Mishima Takayasu , Fujioka Shinsuke , Fukae Jiro , Yuasa-Kawada Junichi , Tsuboi Yoshio
Published: December 2018

Parkinson’s disease (PD) and atypical parkinsonian syndromes are age-dependent multifactorial neurodegenerative diseases, which are clinically characterized by bradykinesia, tremor, muscle rigidity and postural instability. Although these diseases share several common clinical phenotypes, their pathophysiological aspects vary among the disease categories. Extensive animal-based approaches, as well as postmortem studies, have provided important insights into the disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. However, the exact pathological mechanisms triggering such diseases still remain elusive. Furthermore, the effects of drugs observed in animal models are not always reproduced in human clinical trials. By using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, it has become possible to establish patient-specific iPSCs from their somatic cells and to effectively differentiate these iPSCs into different types of neurons, reproducing some key aspects of the disease phenotypes in vitro. In this review, we summarize recent findings from iPSC-based modeling of PD and several atypical parkinsonian syndromes including multiple system atrophy, frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 and Perry syndrome. Furthermore, we discuss future challenges and prospects for modeling and understanding PD and atypical parkinsonian syndromes.
Perturbing the Dynamics and Organization of Cell Membrane Components: A New Paradigm for Cancer-Targeted Therapies
Authors: Bernardes Nuno , Fialho Arsenio
Published: December 2018

Cancer is a multi-process disease where different mechanisms exist in parallel to ensure cell survival and constant adaptation to the extracellular environment. To adapt rapidly, cancer cells re-arrange their plasma membranes to sustain proliferation, avoid apoptosis and resist anticancer drugs. In this review, we discuss novel approaches based on the modifications and manipulations that new classes of molecules can exert in the plasma membrane lateral organization and order of cancer cells, affecting growth factor signaling, invasiveness, and drug resistance. Furthermore, we present azurin, an anticancer protein from bacterial origin, as a new approach in the development of therapeutic strategies that target the cell membrane to improve the existing standard therapies.
Presyncodon, a Web Server for Gene Design with the Evolutionary Information of the Expression Hosts
Authors: Tian Jian , Li Qingbin , Chu Xiaoyu , Wu Ningfeng
Published: December 2018

In the natural host, most of the synonymous codons of a gene have been evolutionarily selected and related to protein expression and function. However, for the design of a new gene, most of the existing codon optimization tools select the high-frequency-usage codons and neglect the contribution of the low-frequency-usage codons (rare codons) to the expression of the target gene in the host. In this study, we developed the method Presyncodon, available in a web version, to predict the gene code from a protein sequence, using built-in evolutionary information on a specific expression host. The synonymous codon-usage pattern of a peptide was studied from three genomic datasets (Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Machine-learning models were constructed to predict a selection of synonymous codons (low- or high-frequency-usage codon) in a gene. This method could be easily and efficiently used to design new genes from protein sequences for optimal expression in three expression hosts (E. coli, B. subtilis, and S. cerevisiae). Presyncodon is free to academic and noncommercial users; accessible at http://www.mobioinfor.cn/presyncodon_www/index.html.
Fluorescently Tagged CCL19 and CCL21 to Monitor CCR7 and ACKR4 Functions
Authors: Purvanov Vladimir , Matti Christoph , Samson Guerric P. B. , Kindinger Ilona , Legler Daniel F.
Published: December 2018

Chemokines are essential guidance cues orchestrating cell migration in health and disease. Cognate chemokine receptors sense chemokine gradients over short distances to coordinate directional cell locomotion. The chemokines CCL19 and CCL21 are essential for recruiting CCR7-expressing dendritic cells bearing pathogen-derived antigens and lymphocytes to lymph nodes, where the two cell types meet to launch an adaptive immune response against the invading pathogen. CCR7-expressing cancer cells are also recruited by CCL19 and CCL21 to metastasize in lymphoid organs. In contrast, atypical chemokine receptors (ACKRs) do not transmit signals required for cell locomotion but scavenge chemokines. ACKR4 is crucial for internalizing and degrading CCL19 and CCL21 to establish local gradients, which are sensed by CCR7-expressing cells. Here, we describe the production of fluorescently tagged chemokines by fusing CCL19 and CCL21 to monomeric red fluorescent protein (mRFP). We show that purified CCL19-mRFP and CCL21-mRFP are versatile and powerful tools to study CCR7 and ACKR4 functions, such as receptor trafficking and chemokine scavenging, in a spatiotemporal fashion. We demonstrate that fluorescently tagged CCL19 and CCL21 permit the visualization and quantification of chemokine gradients in real time, while CCR7-expressing leukocytes and cancer cells sense the guidance cues and migrate along the chemokine gradients.
Predicting Currency Crises: A Novel Approach Combining Random Forests and Wavelet Transform
Authors: Xu Lei , Kinkyo Takuji , Hamori Shigeyuki
Published: December 2018

We propose a novel approach that combines random forests and the wavelet transform to model the prediction of currency crises. Our classification model of random forests, built using both standard predictors and wavelet predictors, and obtained from the wavelet transform, achieves a demonstrably high level of predictive accuracy. We also use variable importance measures to find that wavelet predictors are key predictors of crises. In particular, we find that real exchange rate appreciation and overvaluation, which are measured over a horizon of 16–32 months, are the most important.
High Electrochemical Performance from Oxygen Functional Groups Containing Porous Activated Carbon Electrode of Supercapacitors
Authors: Yang Wen , Li Yanjie , Feng Yanyan
Published: December 2018

Carbon electrode materials for double layer capacitors have attracted much attention, due to their low cost and abundant sources. Their low specific capacitance, however, hinders the development of carbon electrode materials. In this paper, the large specific surface area commercial activated carbons, rich in micropores, were initially oxygen-functionalized by treatment using concentrated H2SO4, saturated (NH4)2S2O8, and H2SO4/(NH4)2S2O4 mixed oxidants, respectively. The as-prepared samples were analyzed using N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Boehm titration, and used as electrode materials for supercapacitors. Characterization results displayed that the oxidation treatment decreased the specific surface area along with increasing oxygen content. The electrode test showed that the electrochemical activity increased as oxygen content increased. The result that oxygen-functionalized activated carbon, even with a lower specific surface area but much more oxygen content, had higher capacity than pristine activated carbon, tells of the critical role of oxygen functional groups. The excellent capacitive performance suggests a good potential for oxygen functional carbon material to be a highly promising electrode material for supercapacitors.
Additive and Substractive Surface Structuring by Femtosecond Laser Induced Material Ejection and Redistribution
Authors: Sedao Xxx , Lenci Matthieu , Rudenko Anton , Pascale-Hamri Alina , Colombier Jean-Philippe , Mauclair Cyril
Published: December 2018

A novel additive surface structuring process is devised, which involves localized, intense femtosecond laser irradiation. The irradiation induces a phase explosion of the material being irradiated, and a subsequent ejection of the ablative species that are used as additive building blocks. The ejected species are deposited and accumulated in the vicinity of the ablation site. This redistribution of the material can be repeated and controlled by raster scanning and multiple pulse irradiation. The deposition and accumulation cause the formation of µm-scale three-dimensional structures that surpass the initial surface level. The above-mentioned ablation, deposition, and accumulation all together constitute the proposed additive surface structuring process. In addition, the geometry of the three-dimensional structures can be further modified, if desirable, by a subsequent substractive ablation process. Microstructural analysis reveals a quasi-seamless conjugation between the surface where the structures grow and the structures additively grown by this method, and hence indicates the mechanic robustness of these structures. As a proof of concept, a sub-mm sized re-entrant structure and pillars are fabricated on aluminum substrate by this method. Single units as well as arrayed structures with arbitrary pattern lattice geometry are easily implemented in this additive surface structuring scheme. Engineered surface with desired functionalities can be realized by using this means, i.e., a surface with arrayed pillars being rendered with superhydrophobicity.
A Facile Method to Construct MXene/CuO Nanocomposite with Enhanced Catalytic Activity of CuO on Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate
Authors: Zhao Haifeng , Lv Jing , Sang Junshan , Zhu Li , Zheng Peng , Andrew Greg. L. , Tan Linghua
Published: December 2018

In this work, a mixing-calcination method was developed to facilely construct MXene/CuO nanocomposite. CuO and MXene were first dispersed in ethanol with sufficient mixing. After solvent evaporation, the dried mixture was calcinated under argon to produce a MXene/CuO nanocomposite. As characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), CuO nanoparticles (60–100 nm) were uniformly distributed on the surface and edge of MXene nanosheets. Furthermore, as evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), the high-temperature decomposition (HTD) temperature decrease of ammonium perchlorate (AP) upon addition of 1 wt% CuO (hybridized with 1 wt% MXene) was comparable with that of 2 wt% CuO alone, suggesting an enhanced catalytic activity of CuO on thermal decomposition of AP upon hybridization with MXene nanosheets. This strategy could be further applied to construct other MXene/transition metal oxide (MXene/TMO) composites with improved performance for various applications.
Copper Tridentate Schiff Base Complex Supported on SBA-15 as Efficient Nanocatalyst for Three-Component Reactions under Solventless Conditions
Authors: Diarjani Elham Sadat , Rajabi Fatemeh , Yahyazadeh Asieh , Puente-Santiago Alain R. , Luque Rafael
Published: December 2018

The anchorage of a supported copper Schiff base complex on SBA-15 materials provides highly efficient heterogeneous catalysts towards the solvent-free synthesis of dihydropyrimidinones derivatives via the Biginelli condensation reaction. The novel nanocatalysts exhibited a highly ordered mesostructure with a surface area of 346 m2g−1 and an average pore diameter of 8.6 nm. Additionally, the supported copper nanocatalysts were reused at least ten times, remaining almost unchanged from the initial activity. Both the mesoporous scaffold and the tridentate Schiff base ligand contributed to the stabilization of copper species.
Study of Size Effect on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of AlSi10Mg Samples Made by Selective Laser Melting
Authors: Dong Zhichao , Zhang Xiaoyu , Shi Wenhua , Zhou Hao , Lei Hongshuai , Liang Jun
Published: December 2018

The macroscopic mechanical performance of additive manufactured structures is essential for the design and application of multiscale microlattice structure. Performance is affected by microstructure and geometrical imperfection, which are strongly influenced by the size of the struts in selective laser melting (SLM) lattice structures. In this paper, the effect of size on microstructure, geometrical imperfection, and mechanical properties was systemically studied by conducting experimental tests. A series of AlSi10Mg rod-shaped samples with various diameters were fabricated using SLM. The uniaxial tensile test results show that with the decrease in build diameter, strength and Young’s modulus of strut decreased by 30% more than the stable state. The main reasons for this degradation were investigated through microscopic observation and micro X-ray computed tomography (μ-CT). In contrast with large-sized strut, the inherent porosity (1.87%) and section geometrical deviation (3%) of ponysize strut is greater because of the effect of thermal transform and hydrogen evolution, and the grain size is 0.5 μm. The discrepancy in microstructure, geometrical imperfection, and mechanical properties induced by size effect should be considered for the design and evaluation of SLM-fabricated complex structures.
Breast Cancer Relapse, Post-Surgical Confusion, and Dementia in the Elderly: An Unexpected Connection but with the Same Proposed Solution
Authors: Retsky Michael W. , Forget Patrice
Published: December 2018

A simple solution may exist for both the problem of sudden dementia and confusion after surgery in the elderly and the bimodal relapse pattern among breast cancer patients who were treated with a mastectomy. Systemic inflammation by a variety of mechanisms can induce tumor outgrowth from dormant states, such as single dormant cells and avascular micrometastases. This may also explain sudden confusion and dementia for the elderly after surgery. We propose that surgery-induced inflammation may be addressed by “protective anesthesia”. We suggest ketorolac for 4 days starting at the time of surgery to prevent early relapse in breast and probably other cancers; perhaps that or something similar could be used before surgery in elderly patients to prevent post-operative cognitive dysfunction.
Synthesis and Gas Transport Properties of Poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide)–Silica Nanocomposite Membranes
Authors: Bissadi Golnaz , Melo Santos Thiago , Kruczek Boguslaw
Published: December 2018

The emulsion polymerized mixed matrix (EPMM) method is a new approach to prepare nanocomposite membranes, in which inorganic nanoparticles are synthesized in situ at the interface of a dispersed aqueous phase in a continuous phase of polymer solution. In this paper, we report the synthesis and characterization of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO)-based EPMM membranes, in which silica nanoparticles are synthesized by the polymerization of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) in the presence of two different co-solvents, ethanol and acetone, which are soluble in both the aqueous phase and the polymer solution. The EPPM membranes prepared in the presence of acetone show greater conversions of TEOS and a different structure of the synthesized silica nanoparticles compared to the EPMM membranes prepared in the presence of ethanol. The former membranes are both more permeable and more selective for O2/N2 and CO2/CH4. Both types of EPMM membranes are more permeable than the reference PPO membranes. However, while their O2/N2 selectivity is practically unchanged, their CO2/CH4 selectivity is decreased compared to the reference PPO membranes.
Effects of Prior Microstructure and Heating Rate on the Depth of Increased Hardness in Laser Hardening: Comparison of Computer Simulation and Experimental Results
Authors: Mole Nikolaj , Bojinović Marko , Koc Pino , Štok Boris
Published: December 2018

The response of the hypo-eutectoid steel to laser hardening, which is measured as the depth of the increased hardness, depends not only on the set of the process parameters but also on the prior microstructure of the workpiece. The multiple preliminary stages of the treatment of the workpiece in the industrial conditions are commonly not completely known, resulting in an unclear prior microstructure of the workpiece. To model the response of the hypo-eutectoid steel, a validated numerical model for laser hardening has been used in the computer simulation of the process for four different cases. The numerical model takes into account the 3D geometry of the workpiece, its prior microstructure, and the effect of the heating rate during the laser hardening process on the kinetics of the phase transformation. The four cases were designed to take into account two different sets of process parameters and two different prior microstructures of the workpiece. The output of the computer simulation was verified experimentally.
High Quality Steel Casting by Using Advanced Mathematical Methods
Authors: Mauder Tomas , Stetina Josef
Published: December 2018

The main concept of this paper is to utilize advanced numerical modelling techniques with self-regulation algorithm in order to reach optimal casting conditions for real-time casting control. Fully 3-D macro-solidification model for the continuous casting (CC) process and an original fuzzy logic regulator are combined. The fuzzy logic (FL) regulator reacts on signals from two data inputs, the temperature field and the historical steel quality database. FL adjust the cooling intensity as a function of casting speed and pouring temperature. This approach was originally designed for the special high-quality high-additive steel grades such as higher strength grades, steel for acidic environments, steel for the offshore technology and so forth. However, mentioned approach can be also used for any arbitrary low-carbon steel grades. The usability and results of this approach are demonstrated for steel grade S355, were the real historical data from quality database contains approximately 2000 heats. The presented original solution together with the large steel quality databases can be used as an independent CC prediction control system.
Manufacturing of All Inkjet-Printed Organic Photovoltaic Cell Arrays and Evaluating Their Suitability for Flexible Electronics
Authors: Mitra Kalyan , Alalawe Abdelrahman , Voigt Stefanie , Boeffel Christine , Baumann Reinhard
Published: December 2018

The generation of electrical energy depending on renewable sources is rapidly growing and gaining serious attention due to its green sustainability. With fewer adverse impacts on the environment, the sun is considered as a nearly infinite source of renewable energy in the production of electrical energy using photovoltaic devices. On the other end, organic photovoltaic (OPV) is the class of solar cells that offers several advantages such as mechanical flexibility, solution processability, environmental friendliness, and being lightweight. In this research, we demonstrate the manufacturing route for printed OPV device arrays based on conventional architecture and using inkjet printing technology over an industrial platform. Inkjet technology is presently considered to be one of the most matured digital manufacturing technologies because it offers inherent additive nature and last stage customization flexibility (if the main goal is to obtain custom design devices). In this research paper, commercially available electronically functional inks were carefully selected and then implemented to show the importance of compatibility between OPV material stacks and the device architecture. One of the main outcomes of this work is that the manufacturing of the OPV devices was accomplished using inkjet technology in massive numbers ranging up to 1500 containing different device sizes, all of which were deposited on a flexible polymeric film and under normal atmospheric conditions. In this investigation, it was found that with a set of correct functional materials and architecture, a manufacturing yield of more than 85% could be accomplished, which would reflect high manufacturing repeatability, deposition accuracy, and processability of the inkjet technology.