bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stepwise-Selected Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and B. subtilis Strains from Composted Aromatic Plant Waste Able to Control Soil-Borne Diseases
Authors: Zaccardelli Massimo , Sorrentino Roberto , Caputo Michele , Scotti Riccardo , De Falco Enrica , Pane Catello
Published: January 2020

In the present study, 133 bacterial isolates from 11 composted aromatic plant wastes were selected for their ability to inhibit the mycelial growth of the soil-borne phytopathogenic fungi Sclerotinia minor and Rhizoctonia solani. Successively, a subset of 35 from them were further characterized for their ability to control, in vivo, rocket damping-off caused by the two fungi. Moreover, the isolates were characterized for morphology of the colonies, Gram reaction, siderophore production, P-solubilization and for the presence of antimicrobial lipopeptide genes in the genome. The screening for the in vitro antagonisms showed a mycelial growth reduction ranging between 31.7% and 56.1% for R. solani and 34.4% and 59.4% for S. minor. All the isolates were not able to produce siderophores and some of them were able to solubilize P. The isolates contained two or more of the five lipoproteins coding genes investigated in this study. The most promising isolates were identified at species level by 16S-rRNA partial gene sequence analysis and were grouped in two main clusters related to Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens reference strains. Results indicated that Bacillus isolates from compost are good candidates for application in the biocontrol of cultivated plants.
Impact of Irrigation and Fertigation on the Yield and Quality of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) in a Moderate Climate
Authors: Żarski Jacek , Kuśmierek-Tomaszewska Renata , Dudek Stanisław
Published: January 2020

In Poland, under conditions of the moderate climate and transition between maritime and continental climates, the average rainfall totals of the growing season are in the range of 350–400 mm; however, they are distinguished by great temporal and spatial variability. Climatological studies demonstrate that the drought frequency is approximately 30%. Therefore, under such conditions, irrigation has a supplementary and intervention nature and is applied only when dry periods occur. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of sprinkler irrigation and increased nitrogen fertilization on the yield and quality of sugar beet roots and yield of sugar. The average increase of the yield under irrigation was 18.1 t·ha−1 which constituted a 22.8% increase in the yield. Furthermore, there was a marked tendency of a higher sugar content in the roots of irrigated plants. The absolute, relative, and unit average sugar beet root yield increases obtained under the influence of sprinkler irrigation and the lack of a significant diversity in the sugar content in roots confirm that irrigation contributed to an appropriate pace of plant growth and development. The increased rate of nitrogen fertilization (N2) of 160 kg N·ha−1 plus an additional 40 kg N·ha−1 resulted in the significantly greater root yields compared to the control (N1) (160 kg N·ha−1), i.e., an average of 7.6 t·ha−1 (9%). Based on the crop-water production function, the maximum root yields were obtained for the N1 rate at a total precipitation and irrigation amount of 382 mm, compared with 367 mm for the N2 rate.
Objective Comparison between Platelet Rich Plasma Alone and in Combination with Physical Therapy in Dogs with Osteoarthritis Caused by Hip Dysplasia
Authors: Cuervo Belén , Rubio Mónica , Chicharro Deborah , Damiá Elena , Santana Angelo , Carrillo José María , Romero Ayla Del , Vilar José Manuel , Cerón José Joaquín , Sopena Joaquín Jesús
Published: January 2020

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most significant joint diseases worldwide. There are different therapies for OA treatment, and a relatively new strategy is the use of plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF), a platelet rich plasma (PRP) derivative. The objective of this study was to objectively assess the efficacy and duration of the effect of an intraarticular injection of PRGF and a combination of PRGF + physical therapy. The objective assessment was provided using a force platform. The obtained parameters were peak vertical force (PVF) and vertical impulse (VI). A total of 24 dogs with lameness and pain associated to OA attributable to bilateral hip dysplasia were included in the study. Animals were divided into two study groups and evaluated at baseline and at 30, 90, and 180 days after intraarticular PRGF or PRGF + physical therapy. Significant differences were observed at every checkpoint with respect to basal time in both groups. However, after 180 days, the PRGF group showed a decrease in PVF and VI with respect to the values obtained at 90 days. However, the PRGF + physical therapy group maintained increased values of both PVF and VI values during the 180-day study period.
Characterization of the Rumen Microbiota and Volatile Fatty Acid Profiles of Weaned Goat Kids under Shrub-Grassland Grazing and Indoor Feeding
Authors: Guo Jiazhong , Li Pengfei , Liu Shuai , Miao Bin , Zeng Bo , Jiang Yahui , Li Li , Wang Linjie , Chen Yu , Zhang Hongping
Published: January 2020

In this study, we conducted comparative analyses to characterize the rumen microbiota and volatile fatty acid (VFA) profiles of weaned Nanjiang Yellow goat kids under shrub-grassland grazing (GR), shrub-grassland grazing and supplementary feeding (SF), and indoor feeding (IF) systems. We observed significant differences (p < 0.05) in the concentrations of total VFA and the proportions of acetate and butyrate in the rumen fluid among the three groups, whereas the proportions of propionate and the acetate/propionate ratio did not differ substantially. Alpha diversity of the rumen bacterial and archaeal populations in the GR and SF kids was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that in the IF goat kids, and significant differences (p < 0.05) in similarity were observed in the comparisons of GR vs. IF and SF vs. IF. The most predominant bacterial phyla were Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes across the three groups, and the archaeal community was mainly composed of Euryarchaeota. At the genus and species levels, the cellulose-degrading bacteria, including Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, were abundant in the GR and SF groups. Furthermore, 27 bacterial and 11 unique archaeal taxa, such as Lachnospiraceae, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, and Methanobrevibacter ruminantium, were identified as biomarkers, and showed significantly different (p < 0.05) abundances among the three groups. Significant Spearman correlations (p < 0.05), between the abundances of several microbial biomarkers and the concentrations of VFAs, were further observed. In summary, our results demonstrated that the adaptation to grazing required more rumen bacterial populations due to complex forage types in shrub-grassland, although the rumen fermentation pattern did not change substantially among the three feeding systems. Some microbial taxa could be used as biomarkers for different feeding systems, particularly cellulose-degrading bacteria associated with grazing.
Gene Expression Profiling in Ovaries and Association Analyses Reveal HEP21 as a Candidate Gene for Sexual Maturity in Chickens
Authors: Chen Biao , Liang Guitao , Zhu Xuenong , Tan Yuwen , Xu Jiguo , Wu Hongxiang , Mao Huirong , Zhang Yutao , Chen Jiakun , Rao Yousheng , Zhou Min , Liu Sanfeng
Published: January 2020

The age of onset of sexual maturity is an important reproductive trait in chickens. In this study, we explored candidate genes associated with sexual maturity and ovary development in chickens. We performed DGE RNA-sequencing analyses of ovaries of pre-laying (P-F-O1, L-F-O1) and laying (P-F-O2, L-F-O2) hens of two sub-breeds of Ningdu Yellow chicken. A total of 3197 genes were identified in the two comparisons, and 966 and 1860 genes were detected exclusively in comparisons of P-F-O1 vs. P-F-O2 and L-F-O1 vs. L-F-O2, respectively. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses showed that genes involved in transmembrane signaling receptor activity, cell adhesion, developmental processes, the neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction pathway, and the calcium signaling pathway were enriched in both comparisons. Genes on these pathways, including growth hormone (GH), integrin subunit beta 3 (ITGB3), thyroid stimulating hormone subunit beta (TSHB), prolactin (PRL), and transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGFB3), play indispensable roles in sexual maturity. As a gene unique to poultry, hen egg protein 21 kDa (HEP21) was chosen as the candidate gene. Differential expression and association analyses were performed. RNA-seq data and qPCR showed that HEP21 was significantly differentially expressed in pre-pubertal and pubertal ovaries. A total of 23 variations were detected in HEP21. Association analyses of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in HEP21 and reproductive traits showed that rs315156783 was significantly related to comb height at 84 and 91 days. These results indicate that HEP21 is a candidate gene for sexual maturity in chickens. Our results contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of sexual maturity and reproduction in chickens.
Effects of Fermented Tea Residue on Fattening Performance, Meat Quality, Digestive Performance, Serum Antioxidant Capacity, and Intestinal Morphology in Fatteners
Authors: Ding Xiaoqing , Li Huaiyu , Wen Zhiwei , Hou Yong , Wang Genliang , Fan Jinghui , Qian Lichun
Published: January 2020

This study investigated the dietary supplementation of tea residue fermented by Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus niger, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, to explore its effects on growth performance, digestion performance, meat quality, serum antioxidant capacity, and intestinal morphology in pigs bred for rapid growth, also known as fatteners. One hundred and ninety-two healthy “Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire” ternary hybrid pigs (body weight 70 ± 1.0 kg) were randomly divided into four groups according to the feeding test requirements, with four replicates in each group, and 12 fatteners per replicate. The control group (CG) was fed the basal diet. Treatments 1 (T1), 2 (T2), and 3 (T3), comprising ratios of 10%, 15%, and 20% of tea residue were added to the basal diet. The test period was 60 days. The results showed that supplementation of FTR in fatteners’ diets increased final body weight (FBW), average daily gain (ADG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in the T1 and T2 groups (p < 0.05). Compared with the other groups, the lightness (L*) and pH were significantly affected in the T2 group (p < 0.05). Compared with the CG, dietary supplementation of FTR significantly increased the nutrient digestibility of crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P), improved the lipase and trypsin activities, and reduced drip loss and the shear force of fatteners (p < 0.05). Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were significantly increased in the T2 and T3 groups compared with the other groups (p < 0.05). Supplementation of FTR in the jejunum significantly increased the villi height of the T2 group and the ratio of villi height to crypt depth of the FTR groups. Compared with the other two groups, the T2 and T3 groups significantly reduced the ratio of the villous height to crypt depth in the duodenum (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the tea residue after fermentation was shown to have beneficial effects on the fattening performance, digestion performance, meat quality, serum antioxidant capacity, and intestinal morphology of fatteners.
Revisiting Hunter Perceptions toward Chronic Wasting Disease: Changes in Behavior over Time
Authors: Holland Angela M. , Haus Jacob M. , Eyler T. Brian , Duda Mark D. , Bowman Jacob L.
Published: January 2020

Hunter behavior varies in relation to perceived risk of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and changes in perceptions of CWD will lead to changes in behavior over time. During 2018, we surveyed deer (Odocoileus virginianus or Cervus nippon) hunters from Maryland, USA, regarding behavioral changes due to CWD. We matched 477 respondents to their harvest record and created two geographical groups based on harvest history in counties closest to disease presence. We compared the proportion of hunters who claimed to have changed their behavior in each group and estimated the effects of CWD on harvest rate for the 4 years immediately after the discovery of CWD and the following 4-year period. We found no difference between the groups in the proportion of hunters who changed their behavior due to CWD. We found a significant decline in harvest rate for hunters who claimed to change their behavior in the group closest to CWD presence during the period immediately after the discovery of CWD; however, these same hunters increased their harvest rates in the next time period to pre-CWD levels. Overall, we found that time alleviates some perceived risk of CWD and that this is reflected in hunting behavior.
The Effects of Dietary Inclusion of Bilberry and Walnut Leaves in Laying Hens’ Diets on the Antioxidant Properties of Eggs
Authors: Untea Arabela Elena , Varzaru Iulia , Panaite Tatiana Dumitra , Gavris Teodor , Lupu Alexandra , Ropota Mariana
Published: January 2020

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of dietary inclusion of walnut and bilberry leaves (WL and BL), as sources of natural antioxidants in poultry diets, on the enrichment of antioxidant nutrients in the egg yolk and on the susceptibility of the yolk to lipid peroxidation during storage. The experiment was conducted on 32-week-old TETRA SL LL laying hens, which were assigned to three dietary treatments with 30 birds each. Each treatment was replicated 10 times with three chicks per replicate pen. Experimental dietary treatments differed from control diet (C) by addition of 0.5% BL supplement or 1% WL supplement. The phytoadditives were not significant contributors to the productive parameters. The addition of BL and WL in laying hens’ diets significantly increased the total polyphenol content, and the zinc, lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations in the egg yolks. In regards to the oxidative stability parameters, a significant decrease in the concentrations of primary oxidation products formed in the egg yolk of experimental groups was seen, proving an efficient inhibition effect of the phytoadditives on peroxyl radical formation. A significant correlation was observed between primary oxidation products and total polyphenol content of the egg yolks, where zinc, lutein and zeaxanthin are the bioactive compounds that inhibit the formation of secondary oxidation products.
Effects of Dietary Non-Fibrous Carbohydrate (NFC) to Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) Ratio Change on Rumen Bacteria in Sheep Based on Three Generations of Full-Length Amplifiers Sequencing
Authors: Pu Xuanxuan , Guo Xuefeng , Shahzad Khuram , Wang Mengzhi , Jiang Chenyu , Liu Junfeng , Zhang Xiuping , Zhang Sujiang , Cheng Long
Published: January 2020

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary NFC/NDF ratio change on rumen bacteria in sheep. Twelve Karakul sheep were assigned randomly into four groups fed with four dietary NFC/NDF ratios of 0.54, 0.96, 1.37, and 1.90 and they were assigned into groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The experiment was divided into four periods: I (1–18 d), II (19–36 d), III (37–54 d), and IV (55–72 d). In each period, the first 15 d were used for adaption, and then rumen fluid was collected for 3 d from each sheep before morning feeding. The fluid was analyzed with three generations of full-length amplifiers sequencing. Results showed that the bacterial diversity of group 4 was decreased in period III and IV. At the phylum level, Bacteroidetes (37–60%) and Firmicutes (26–51%) were the most dominant bacteria over the four periods. The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Tenericutes, and Spirochaete changed with dietary NFC/NDF ratio change over the four periods, but there was no difference among groups over the four periods (p > 0.05). At the genus level, unidentified-Lachnospiraceae was the dominant genus, and its relative abundance in group 3 was high during the period I and III (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Mycoplasma in group 4 was high in the period I and II (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Succiniclasticum was high in group 2 of period II (p < 0.05). At the species level, the relative abundance of Butyrivibrio-fibrisolvens was found to be high in group 3 during periods I and III (p < 0.05). The main semi-cellulose-degrading bacteria and starch-degrading bacteria were low, and there was no significant difference among groups over four periods (p > 0.05). Taken together, the dietary NFC/NDF ratio of 1.90 decreased the diversity of bacteria as a period changed from I to IV. While the main phylum bacteria didn’t change, their relative abundance changed with the dietary NFC/NDF ratio change over the four periods. The most prevalent genus was unidentified-Lachnospiraceae, and its relative abundance was higher in dietary NFC/NDF ratio of 1.37 than other groups. Similarly, the main cellulose-degrading species was higher in the treatment of dietary NFC/NDF ratio of 1.37 than other groups.
Effects of Feeding Multinutrient Blocks Including Avocado Pulp and Peels to Dairy Goats on Feed Intake and Milk Yield and Composition
Authors: de Evan Trinidad , Carro María Dolores , Fernández Yepes Julia Eugenia , Haro Ana , Arbesú Lesly , Romero-Huelva Manuel , Molina-Alcaide Eduarda
Published: January 2020

Twelve Murciano-Granadina dairy goats were divided into two homogeneous groups, which were fed either a control diet composed of 40% alfalfa hay and 60% concentrate or a diet based on 40% alfalfa hay, 40% concentrate and 20% multinutrient blocks, including 14.8% avocado pulp and peels (APP). Total dry matter (DM) intake was similar (p = 0.709) for both diets, but APP-fed goats had lower (p = 0.024) concentrate intake and tended (p = 0.063) to have lower fat intake compared with those fed the control diet. The average intake of blocks was low (66.4 g DM/d), which was attributed to avocado lipids oxidation and rancidity. Neither milk yield (p = 0,921) nor the efficiency of energy and nitrogen use were affected (p = 0.909 and 0. 840, respectively) by the diet, but milk fat tended to be greater (p = 0.057) in the APP-fed goats compared with the animals fed the control diet. Other milk components were similar (p ≥ 0.110) for both diets, and only subtle changes in the milk fatty acid profile were observed. In summary, the intake of blocks containing avocado wastes by dairy goats was low probably due to avocado lipids oxidation causing off-flavors and reduced palatability.
In Vitro Digestion of Chestnut and Quebracho Tannin Extracts: Antimicrobial Effect, Antioxidant Capacity and Cytomodulatory Activity in Swine Intestinal IPEC-J2 Cells
Authors: Reggi Serena , Giromini Carlotta , Dell’Anno Matteo , Baldi Antonella , Rebucci Raffaella , Rossi Luciana
Published: January 2020

Quebracho (Qu) and chestnut (Ch) are natural sources of tannins and they are currently used in animal nutrition as feed ingredients. However, to date the bio-accessibility, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and intestinal epithelial cell stimulatory doses of Qu and Ch have not been determined. Our study investigates the antioxidant and E. coli F4+ and F18+ growth inhibitory activity of Qu, Ch, and their combinations after solubilization in water (to evaluate the already bio-accessible molecules) and after simulated gastro-intestinal digestion in vitro. The effect of an in vitro digested Ch and Qu combination was also tested on intestinal epithelial IPEC-J2 cells experimentally stressed with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS). The results showed that undigested Qu and Ch alone, and in combination, exerted a valuable antioxidant capacity and E. coli F4+ and F18+ growth inhibitory activity. The concentration of 1200 µg/mL exhibited the highest E. coli growth inhibitory activity for all the samples tested. In addition, after in vitro digestion, Qu and Qu50%–Ch50% maintained E. coli growth inhibitory activity and a modest antioxidant capacity. Three hours pre-treatment with in vitro digested Qu50%–Ch50% counteracted the H2O2 and DSS experimentally-induced stress in the intestinal IPEC-J2 cells. Ch and Qu tannin extracts, particularly when combined, may exert E. coli F4+ and F18+ growth inhibitory activity and valuable antioxidant and cell viability modulation activities.
Effect of Mechanical Stimulation Applied to the Lower-Limb Musculature on Stability and Function of Stair Climbing
Authors: Ko Seunghun , Kwak Kiyoung , Kim Huigyun , Kim Dongwook
Published: January 2020

Mechanical muscle-tendon vibration affects musculature and the nervous system. As the vibrations used in previous studies were varied, consistently determining the effect of mechanical vibration was challenging. Additionally, only a few studies have applied vibrations to dynamic motion. This study investigated whether the vibration based on the sensorimotor response could affect the stability and function of stair climbing. Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals were recorded from the sensorimotor area, and mu rhythms, dependent on the vibration frequencies, were analyzed. Based on the analysis, the vibratory stimulus conditions were set and applied to the Achilles tendon of the lower limb during stair climbing. Simultaneously, electromyogram (EMG) signals from the gastrocnemius lateralis (GL), gastrocnemius medialis (GM), soleus (SOL), and tibialis anterior (TA) were recorded. Activations and co-activations of the shank muscles were analyzed according to the phases of stair climbing. When vibration was applied, the TA activation decreased in the pull-up (PU) phase, and calf muscle activations increased during the forward continuous (FCN) phase. These changes and their degrees differ significantly between stimulus conditions (p < 0.05). Co-activation changes, which differed significantly with conditions (p < 0.05), appeared mostly in the PU. These results imply that the vibration affects stability and function of stair climbing, suggesting that the vibration characteristics should be considered when they are applied to dynamic movement.
Monitoring and Analysis of Dynamic Characteristics of Super High-rise Buildings using GB-RAR: A Case Study of the WGC under Construction, China
Authors: Zhou Lv , Guo Jiming , Wen Xuelin , Ma Jun , Yang Fei , Wang Cheng , Zhang Di
Published: January 2020

Accurate dynamic characteristics of super high-rise buildings serve as a guide in their construction and operation. Ground-based real aperture radar (GB-RAR) techniques have been applied in monitoring and analyzing the dynamic characteristics of different buildings, but only few studies have utilized them to derive the dynamic characteristics of super high-rise buildings, especially those higher than 400 m and under construction. In this study, we proposed a set of technical methods for monitoring and analyzing the dynamic characteristics of super high-rise buildings based on GB-RAR and wavelet analysis. A case study was conducted on the monitoring and analysis of the dynamic characteristics of the Wuhan Greenland Center (WGC) under construction (5–7 July 2017) with a 636 m design height. Displacement time series was accurately derived through GB-RAR and wavelet analysis, and the accuracy reached the submillimeter level. The maximum horizontal displacement amplitudes at the top of the building in the north–south and east–west directions were 18.84 and 15.94 mm, respectively. The roof displacement trajectory of the WGC was clearly identified. A certain negative correlation between the temperature and displacement changes at the roof of the building was identified. Study results demonstrate that the proposed method is effective for the dynamic monitoring and analysis of super high-rise buildings with noninvasive and nondestructive characteristics.
Pedestrian Detection at Night in Infrared Images Using an Attention-Guided Encoder-Decoder Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Chen Yunfan , Shin Hyunchul
Published: January 2020

Pedestrian-related accidents are much more likely to occur during nighttime when visible (VI) cameras are much less effective. Unlike VI cameras, infrared (IR) cameras can work in total darkness. However, IR images have several drawbacks, such as low-resolution, noise, and thermal energy characteristics that can differ depending on the weather. To overcome these drawbacks, we propose an IR camera system to identify pedestrians at night that uses a novel attention-guided encoder-decoder convolutional neural network (AED-CNN). In AED-CNN, encoder-decoder modules are introduced to generate multi-scale features, in which new skip connection blocks are incorporated into the decoder to combine the feature maps from the encoder and decoder module. This new architecture increases context information which is helpful for extracting discriminative features from low-resolution and noisy IR images. Furthermore, we propose an attention module to re-weight the multi-scale features generated by the encoder-decoder module. The attention mechanism effectively highlights pedestrians while eliminating background interference, which helps to detect pedestrians under various weather conditions. Empirical experiments on two challenging datasets fully demonstrate that our method shows superior performance. Our approach significantly improves the precision of the state-of-the-art method by 5.1% and 23.78% on the Keimyung University (KMU) and Computer Vision Center (CVC)-09 pedestrian dataset, respectively.
Earthquake Shake Detecting by Data Mining from Social Network Platforms
Authors: Chuo Yu-Jung
Published: January 2020

This study used social media posts of the related effect of earthquakes to derive seismic shake scale distributions in regions of Taiwan and compared it with the regional seismic scale reported by the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) of Taiwan. This study conducted a context searching to scrawl the relationship phrase on the social media network platform, PTT bulletin board system (BBS), to detect the earthquake shake scale using the keywords of the context. In this investigation a decision tree model for analyzing the semantic words from the context of the target event to detect the earthquake shake scale was devised. The results indicate that we can pick out the keywords to use to detect the earthquake shake scale at about 85%. Furthermore, the results of the derived shake scale show that the four studied cases are in a good agreement with the presented news from the CWB of Taiwan. In this study, the author attempted to develop a quick earthquake shake scale detection model by semantic analysis of the collected earthquake disaster information reported on the social media network platform.
Prediction of Concrete Failure Time Based on Statistical Properties of Compressive Strength
Authors: Wang Jiao , Zheng Weiji , Zhao Yangang , Zhang Xiaogang
Published: January 2020

Since the heterogeneity of the cement-based material contributes to a random spatial distribution of compressive strength, a reliability analysis based on the compressive strength of concrete is fundamental to carry out structural safety assessment. By analyzing 10,317 datapoints on compressive strength of concrete, a time-varying reliability evaluation based on the third-moment (TM) method was proposed to predict the service life of concrete. Unlike the second-moment (SM) method, skewness is taken into account in the TM; thus, the calculated result of concrete failure time based on the TM is more accurate. In this paper, the errors of the calculated results using time-varying reliability evaluation are within 3%, as shown by Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. In addition, the proposed model (aiming to calculate the equivalent design compressive strength) verifies the concrete failure time calculated by time-varying reliability. According to the results, concrete failure times calculated by these two models are in good agreement. Overall, based on the simple and effective methodology adopted in this paper, it is feasible to develop time-varying reliability based on other factors that might also lead to concrete failure, such as carbonation-induced corrosion, cracking, or deflection of the concrete.
Hypolipidemic Activities of Two Pentapeptides (VIAPW and IRWWW) from Miiuy Croaker (Miichthys miiuy) Muscle on Lipid Accumulation in HepG2 Cells through Regulation of AMPK Pathway
Authors: Wang Yu-Mei , Pan Xin , He Yu , Chi Chang-Feng , Wang Bin
Published: January 2020

In this work, the hypolipidemic activities of two pentapeptides (VIAPW and IRWWW) from miiuy croaker (Miichthys miiuy) muscle on oleic acid (OA)-induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells were investigated. VIAPW and IRWWW could significantly inhibit lipid accumulation induced by OA and decreased intracellular levels of intracellular triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) in a dose-effect dependence manner. At the concentration of 100 μm, the TG levels of VIAPW (0.201 ± 0.006 mm) and IRWWW (0.186 ± 0.005 mm) were very (p < 0.01) and extremely (p < 0.001) significantly lower than those (0.247 ± 0.004 mm) of the OA model group; the levels of TC of VIAPW (45.88 ± 0.74 μg/mg protein) and IRWWW (41.02 ± 0.14 μg/mg protein) were very (p < 0.01) and extremely (p < 0.001) significantly lower than that (53.45 ± 0.10μg/mg protein) of the OA model group (p < 0.01). The hypolipidemic mechanisms of VIAPW and IRWWW were to down-regulate the expression levels of genes of SREBP-1c, SREBP-2, FAS, ACC, and HMGR in lipid synthesis and to up-regulate the expression levels of genes of PPARα, ACOX-1, and CPT-1 in lipid oxidation. These results suggested that VIAPW and IRWWW could play their hypolipidemic activities in HepG2 cells through regulation of AMPK pathway and act as hypolipidemic nutrient ingredients applied in public healthy and functional foods.
Exceptional Points in Non-Hermitian Photonic Crystals Incorporated With a Defect
Authors: Liu Fangmei , Zhao Dong , Cao Hui , Xu Bin , Xu Wuxiong , Ke Shaolin
Published: January 2020

We explored exceptional points (EPs) in one dimensional non-Hermitian photonic crystals incorporated with a defect. The defect was asymmetric with respect to the center. Two EPs could be derived by modulating the normalized frequency and the gain-loss coefficient of defect. The reflection coefficient complex phase changed dramatically around EPs, and the change in complex phase was π at EPs. The electric field of EPs was mainly restricted to the defect, which can induce a giant Goos–Hänchen (GH) shift. Moreover, we found a coherent perfect absorption-laser point (CPA-LP) in the structure. A giant GH shift also existed around the CPA-LP. The study may have found applications in highly sensitive sensors.
A Comparative Study on Cooling Period Thermal Comfort Assessment in Modern Open Office Landscape in Estonia
Authors: Kiil Martin , Simson Raimo , Thalfeldt Martin , Kurnitski Jarek
Published: January 2020

Local thermal comfort and draught rate has been studied widely. There has been more meaningful research performed in controlled boundary condition situations than in actual work environments involving occupants. Thermal comfort conditions in office buildings in Estonia have been barely investigated in the past. In this paper, the results of thermal comfort and draught rate assessment in five office buildings in Tallinn are presented and discussed. Studied office landscapes vary in heating, ventilation and cooling system parameters, room units, and elements. All sample buildings were less than six years old, equipped with dedicated outdoor air ventilation system and room conditioning units. The on-site measurements consisted of thermal comfort and draught rate assessment with indoor climate questionnaire. The purpose of the survey is to assess the correspondence between heating, ventilation and cooling system design, and the actual situation. Results show, whether and in what extent the standard-based criteria for thermal comfort is suitable for actual usage of the occupants. Preferring one room conditioning unit type or system may not guarantee better thermal environment without draught. Although some heating, ventilation and cooling systems observed in this study should create the prerequisites for ensuring more comfort, results show that this is not the case for all buildings in this study.
Radial Distributions of Sea Surface Temperature and Their Impacts on the Rapid Intensification of Typhoon Hato (2017)
Authors: Zhang Ze , Zhang Weimin , Zhao Wenjing , Zhao Chengwu
Published: January 2020

As a category-3 typhoon, Hato (2017) experienced the notable rapid intensification (RI) over the hot sea surface before its landfall. The RI process and the influences of local sea surface temperature (SST) patterns on the evolution of Hato were well captured and carefully investigated using a high-resolution air–sea coupled model. To further explore the close relationship between the radial distributions of SST and storm evolution, a sensitive experiment with time-fixed SST was also performed. Results showed that the time-fixed SST experiment produced earlier RI following the rapid core structure adjustment, as higher SST in the core region was found favorable to increasing the near-surface water vapor and latent heat flux. Strong updrafts were thus facilitated inside the eyewall, inducing the eyewall contraction and RI of the storm. In contrast, cooler SST inside the core region should account for the delay of RI as the intense convection located in the outer rainbands, inhibiting the transportation of energy into the inner-core. Momentum tendency analysis also proves these mechanisms. Therefore, not only the value of SST but also its radial-gradient, plays an important role in the evolution of tropical cyclones, highlighting the need for an advanced air–sea coupled model.
Membrane Binding of Neuronal Calcium Sensor-1: Highly Specific Interaction with Phosphatidylinositol-3-Phosphate
Authors: Baksheeva Viktoriia E. , Nemashkalova Ekaterina L. , Firsov Alexander M. , Zalevsky Arthur O. , Vladimirov Vasily I. , Tikhomirova Natalia K. , Philippov Pavel P. , Zamyatnin Andrey A. , Zinchenko Dmitry V. , Antonenko Yuri N. , Permyakov Sergey E. , Zernii Evgeni Yu.
Published: January 2020

Neuronal calcium sensors are a family of N-terminally myristoylated membrane-binding proteins possessing a different intracellular localization and thereby targeting unique signaling partner(s). Apart from the myristoyl group, the membrane attachment of these proteins may be modulated by their N-terminal positively charged residues responsible for specific recognition of the membrane components. Here, we examined the interaction of neuronal calcium sensor-1 (NCS-1) with natural membranes of different lipid composition as well as individual phospholipids in form of multilamellar liposomes or immobilized monolayers and characterized the role of myristoyl group and N-terminal lysine residues in membrane binding and phospholipid preference of the protein. NCS-1 binds to photoreceptor and hippocampal membranes in a Ca2+-independent manner and the binding is attenuated in the absence of myristoyl group. Meanwhile, the interaction with photoreceptor membranes is less dependent on myristoylation and more sensitive to replacement of K3, K7, and/or K9 of NCS-1 by glutamic acid, reflecting affinity of the protein to negatively charged phospholipids. Consistently, among the major phospholipids, NCS-1 preferentially interacts with phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol with micromolar affinity and the interaction with the former is inhibited upon mutating of N-terminal lysines of the protein. Remarkably, NCS-1 demonstrates pronounced specific binding to phosphoinositides with high preference for phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate. The binding does not depend on myristoylation and, unexpectedly, is not sensitive to the charge inversion mutations. Instead, phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate can be recognized by a specific site located in the N-terminal region of the protein. These data provide important novel insights into the general mechanism of membrane binding of NCS-1 and its targeting to specific phospholipids ensuring involvement of the protein in phosphoinositide-regulated signaling pathways.
The Contribution of IgG Glycosylation to Antibody-Dependent Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity (ADCC) and Complement-Dependent Cytotoxicity (CDC) in Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: An in Vitro Model of Thyroid Autoimmunity
Authors: Ząbczyńska Marta , Polak Katarzyna , Kozłowska Kamila , Sokołowski Grzegorz , Pocheć Ewa
Published: January 2020

Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) are involved in destruction of thyroid tissue in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT). N-glycosylation of the Fc fragment affects the effector functions of IgG by enhancing or suppressing the cytotoxicity effect. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of HT-specific IgG glycosylation in ADCC and CDC, using in vitro models. The normal thyroid Nthy-ori 3-1 cell line and thyroid carcinoma FTC-133 cells were used as the target cells. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors and the HL-60 human promyelotic leukemia cell line served as the effector cells. IgG was isolated from sera of HT and healthy donors and then treated with α2-3,6,8-neuraminidase to cut off sialic acids (SA) from N-glycans. We observed more intensive cytotoxicity in the presence of IgG from HT patients than in the presence of IgG from healthy donors. Removal of SA from IgG N-glycans increased ADCC intensity and reduced CDC. We conclude that the enhanced thyrocyte lysis resulted from the higher anti-TPO content in the whole IgG pool of HT donors and from altered IgG glycosylation in HT autoimmunity.
The Guanidine Pseudoalkaloids 10-Methoxy-Leonurine and Leonurine Act as Competitive Inhibitors of Tyrosinase
Authors: Kim Jang Hoon , Leem Hyun Hee , Lee Ga Young
Published: January 2020

Tyrosinase plays a key role in the production of melanin. A variety of industrial fields have shown interest in the development of tyrosinase inhibitors from plants. In this study, compounds 1–5 derived from Leonurus japonicas were evaluated to determine their ability to inhibit tyrosinase. Of these, 10-methoxy-leonurine (1) and leonurine (2) exhibited IC50 values of 7.4 ± 0.4 and 12.4 ± 0.8 μM, respectively, and acted as competitive inhibitors of tyrosinase, with Ki values in the micromolar range. In silico modeling revealed a guanidine group located in the inner cavity and a benzene ring docked within the active site of these compounds. These guanidine pseudoalkaloids show potential not only as tyrosinase inhibitors but also as lead compounds in new scaffolds for the development of novel inhibitors.
Multiple Targets Directed Multiple Ligands: An In Silico and In Vitro Approach to Evaluating the Effect of Triphala on Angiogenesis
Authors: Abhinand Chandran S. , Athira Prabhakaran A. , Soumya Sasikumar J. , Sudhakaran Perumana R.
Published: January 2020

Angiogenesis is critical in both physiological and pathological conditions and targeting angiogenesis is a promising strategy for the development of therapies against cancer; however, cells develop resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy, necessitating a more effective strategy. Natural medicines have been used in anti-cancer therapy for many years, but the mechanisms behind these have not generally been explored. Triphala churna (THL), an Indian ayurvedic herbal formulation made from the dried fruits of three medicinal plants, is used as a herbal drug for the treatment of various diseases, including cancer. THL contains over fifteen phytochemicals with different pharmacological effects, especially inhibition of tumor progression. In this study, we examined the effect of these compounds against different targets using docking and in vitro studies. Results showed that THL has a prediction efficacy of (−)436.7, and it inhibited angiogenesis by blocking multiple components of the VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling pathway. The anti-angiogenic effect was mediated by the combined effect of the two top ranked phytochemicals, punicalagin (−424.8) and chebulagic acid (−414.8). The new approach developed in this study to determine the potential efficacy of herbal formulation could be a useful strategy to assess the efficacy of different herbal formulations.
Catalytic Properties of Microporous Zeolite Catalysts in Synthesis of Isosorbide from Sorbitol by Dehydration
Authors: Jeong Sangmin , Jeon Ki-Joon , Park Young-Kwon , Kim Byung-Joo , Chung Kyong-Hwan , Jung Sang-Chul
Published: January 2020

As bisphenol A has been found to cause hormonal disturbances, the natural biomaterial isosorbide is emerging as a substitute. In this study, a method for isosorbide synthesis from sorbitol was proposed by dehydration under high temperature and high pressure reaction. Microporous zeolites and Amberlyst 35 solid acids with various acid strengths and pore characteristics were applied as catalysts. In the synthesis of isosorbide from sorbitol, the acidity of the catalyst was the main factor. MOR and MFI zeolite catalysts with high acid strength and small pore size showed low conversion of sorbitol and low yield of isosorbide. On the other hand, the conversion of sorbitol was high in BEA zeolite with moderate acid strength. Amberlyst 35 solid acid catalysts showed a relatively high conversion of sorbitol, but low yield of isosorbide. The Amberlyst 35 solid acid catalyst without micropores did not show any inhibitory effects on the production of by-products. However, in the BEA zeolite catalyst, which has a relatively large pore structure compared with the MOR and MFI zeolites, the formation of by-products was suppressed in the pores, thereby improving the yield of isosorbide.
Monitoring Hydrometeorological Droughts Using a Simplified Precipitation Index
Authors: Alsumaiei Abdullah A.
Published: January 2020

Efficient water management plans should rely on quantitative metrics for assessing water resource shortage scenarios. This study develops a simplified precipitation index (PI) requiring precipitation data only in order to assess hydrometeorological droughts affecting various hydrological systems. The PI index is inspired by the famous Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), and it aims to provide the same indication for drought severity and duration while overcoming the disadvantage of needing hydrological data normalization. Avoiding hydrological data normalization overcomes the non-satisfactory results of this procedure that were reported in previous studies. Analysis of groundwater drought drivers in the arid region of Kuwait is presented to test the index applicability at timescales 12 and 24 months using available historical precipitation data from 1958 to 2017. A bivariate joint probability analysis was conducted by Clayton copula to assess the occurrence of certain drought severities and durations. The results showed that PI is comparable to the original SPI and provides drought severity linearly propagating with respect to time. This index constitutes a simple means to help water managers assess and describe the impact of droughts in precipitation-controlled systems and establish appropriate water management plans.
Characterization of Thermochemical and Thermomechanical Properties of Eyjafjallajökull Volcanic Ash Glass
Authors: Webster Rebekah I. , Bansal Narottam P. , Salem Jonathan A. , Opila Elizabeth J. , Wiesner Valerie L.
Published: January 2020

The properties of a volcanic ash glass obtained from the Eyjafjallajökull eruption of 2010 were studied. Crystallization experiments were carried out on bulk and powdered glass samples at temperatures between 900 and 1300 °C. Iron oxides, Fe3O4 and Fe2O3, and a silicate plagioclase, (Na,Ca)(Si,Al)4O8, were observed. Bulk samples remained mostly amorphous after up to 40 h at temperature. Powdered glass samples showed increased crystallinity after heat treatment compared to bulk samples. The average coefficient of thermal expansion of the glass was 7.00 × 10−6 K−1 over 25–720 °C. The Vickers hardness of the glass was 6–7 GPa and the indentation fracture toughness, 1–2 MPa √m Values for density, elastic modulus, and Poisson’s ratio were 2.52 g/cm3, 75 GPa, and 0.24, respectively. The viscosity of the glass was determined experimentally and compared to three common models from the literature. The implications for the deposition of volcanic ash on hot section components of aircraft turbine engines are discussed.
Microstructure and Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry of Hard/Lubricant Mo-Ti-Al-N Multilayered Coatings Prepared by Multi-Arc Ion Plating at Low Substrate Rotation
Authors: Wang Zesong , Tian Canxin , Tolstogouzov Alexander , Liang Feng , Zou Changwei , Li Songquan , Gusev Sergey I. , Yousaf Muhammad Imran , Pelenovich Vasiliy , Zuo Wenbin , Fu Dejun , Hu Donghong
Published: January 2020

To develop the hard and self-lubricating coatings applied for the industrial dry-cutting and die-casting machining tool fields, a series of MoTiAlN/MoN/Mo multilayered coatings were deposited on Si substrates under low substrate rotation by cathodic multi-arc ion plating. XRD, SEM, TEM, RBS, nanoindentation, and tribology tester were used to monitor the phase structure, morphology, component, nanohardness, and friction coefficient of the coatings. It was found that the coatings deposited at various substrate rotations comprised paramount cubic B1 structure TiAlN and Mo2N phases. The micrographs confirmed that the mean modulation period and total physical thickness of multilayered TiAlN/Mo2N coatings with a sharp interface fabricated at 2 revolutions per minute (rpm) were 26 nm and 1.15 μm. The mean nanohardness and friction coefficient were ca. 30 GPa and 0.4, respectively. RBS results along with the SIMNRA code allowed to estimate the total atomic concentrations and the physical thickness of individual sublayer as well as the modulation period of multilayered coatings, which demonstrated an efficiency of this approach for characterization of nano-multilayered structures.
Improvement of Plasma Resistance of Anodic Aluminum-Oxide Film in Sulfuric Acid Containing Cerium(IV) Ion
Authors: So Jongho , Choi Eunmi , Kim Jin-Tae , Shin Jae-Soo , Song Je-Boem , Kim Minjoong , Chung Chin-Wook , Yun Ju-Young
Published: January 2020

The parts of equipment in a process chamber for semiconductors are protected with an anodic aluminum-oxide (AAO) film to prevent plasma corrosion. We added cerium(IV) ions to sulfuric acid in the anodizing of an AAO film to improve the plasma corrosion resistance, and confirmed that the AAO film thickness increased by up to ~20% when using 3 mM cerium(IV) ions compared with general anodizing. The α-Al2O3 phase increased with increasing cerium(IV) ion concentration. The breakdown voltage and etching rate improved to ~35% and 40%, respectively. The film’s performance regarding the generation of contamination particles reduced by ~50%.
Nonclassical Nucleation and Crystallization
Authors: Cölfen Helmut
Published: January 2020

Nucleation and growth are of uttermost importance for crystallization since they determine the structure, shape, and properties of a crystal [...]