bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Copper-Modified Zeolites and Silica for Conversion of Methane to Methanol
Authors: Wang Xueting , Martin Natalia M. , Nilsson Johan , Carlson Stefan , Gustafson Johan , Skoglundh Magnus , Carlsson Per-Anders
Published: November 2018

Powder materials containing copper ions supported on ZSM-5 (Cu-Zeolite Socony Mobil-5) and SSZ-13 (Cu-Standard Oil synthesised zeolite-13), and predominantly CuO nanoparticles on amorphous SiO 2 were synthesised, characterised, wash-coated onto ceramic monoliths and, for the first time, compared as catalysts for direct conversion of methane to methanol (DCMM) at ambient pressure (1 atm) using O 2 , N 2 O and NO as oxidants. Methanol production was monitored and quantified using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Methanol is formed over all monolith samples, though the formation is considerably higher for the copper-exchanged zeolites. Hence, copper ions are the main active sites for DCMM. The minor amount of methanol produced over the Cu/SiO 2 sample, however, suggests that zeolites are not the sole substrate that can host those active copper sites but also silica. Further, we present the first ambient pressure in situ infrared spectroscopic measurements revealing the formation and consumption of surface methoxy species, which are considered to be key intermediates in the DCMM reaction.
HKUST-1 Supported on Zirconium Phosphate as an Efficient Catalyst for Solvent Free Oxidation of Cyclohexene: DFT Study
Authors: Aman Razia , Clearfield Abraham , Sadiq Mohammad , Ali Zahid
Published: November 2018

Layer by layer metal-organic framework (MOF) supported on zirconium phosphate (ZrP) was synthesized at very mild conditions and used for the liquid phase oxidation of cyclohexene in solvent free condition in the presence of molecular oxygen. The MOF-ZrP was characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermal gravimetric analyzer (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analyzer. The characterization shows a smooth morphology of MOF-ZrP with good stability under 200 °C having surface area 285 m2/g. The catalytic activity of the MOF-ZrP revealed that increase of layers of MOF on ZrP enhances conversion, as well as selectivity of oxidation of cyclohexene. DFT studies were used to explore the structure and electron properties of HKUST-1 (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology), which is a clue for the catalytic behavior of the catalyst.
The Intermolecular Interaction of Ephexin4 Leads to Autoinhibition by Impeding Binding of RhoG
Authors: Kim Kwanhyeong , Lee Juyeon , Moon Hyunji , Lee Sang-Ah , Kim Deokhwan , Yang Susumin , Lee Dae-Hee , Lee Gwangrog , Park Daeho
Published: November 2018

Ephexin4 is a guanine nucleotide-exchange factor (GEF) for RhoG and is involved in various RhoG-related cellular processes such as phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and migration of cancer cells. Ephexin4 forms an oligomer via an intermolecular interaction, and its GEF activity is increased in the presence of Elmo, an Ephexin4-interacting protein. However, it is uncertain if and how Ephexin4 is autoinhibited. Here, using an Ephexin4 mutant that abrogated the intermolecular interaction, we report that this interaction impeded binding of RhoG to Ephexin4 and thus inhibited RhoG activation. Mutation of the glutamate residue at position 295, which is a highly conserved residue located in the region of Ephexin4 required for the intermolecular interaction, to alanine (Ephexin4E295A) disrupted the intermolecular interaction and increased binding of RhoG, resulting in augmented RhoG activation. In addition, phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and formation of membrane ruffles were increased more by expression of Ephexin4E295A than by expression of wild-type Ephexin4. Taken together, our data suggest that Ephexin4 is autoinhibited through its intermolecular interaction, which impedes binding of RhoG.
Mechanism of Resistance to Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and a Potential Treatment Strategy
Authors: Nagano Tatsuya , Tachihara Motoko , Nishimura Yoshihiro
Published: November 2018

Treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) improves the overall survival of patients with EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). First-generation EGFR-TKIs (e.g., gefitinib and erlotinib) or second-generation EGFR-TKIs (e.g., afatinib and dacomitinib) are effective for the treatment of EGFR-mutated NSCLC, especially in patients with EGFR exon 19 deletions or an exon 21 L858R mutation. However, almost all cases experience disease recurrence after 1 to 2 years due to acquired resistance. The EGFR T790M mutation in exon 20 is the most frequent alteration associated with the development of acquired resistance. Osimertinib—a third-generation EGFR-TKI—targets the T790M mutation and has demonstrated high efficacy against EGFR-mutated lung cancer. However, the development of acquired resistance to third-generation EGFR-TKI, involving the cysteine residue at codon 797 mutation, has been observed. Other mechanisms of acquired resistance include the activation of alternative pathways or downstream targets and histological transformation (i.e., epithelial–mesenchymal transition or conversion to small-cell lung cancer). Furthermore, the development of primary resistance through overexpression of the hepatocyte growth factor and suppression of Bcl-2-like protein 11 expression may lead to problems. In this report, we review these mechanisms and discuss therapeutic strategies to overcome resistance to EGFR-TKIs.
Proteomic Signatures of Clostridium difficile Stressed with Metronidazole, Vancomycin, or Fidaxomicin
Authors: Maaß Sandra , Otto Andreas , Albrecht Dirk , Riedel Katharina , Trautwein-Schult Anke , Becher Dörte
Published: November 2018

The anaerobic pathogen Clostridium difficile is of growing significance for the health care system due to its increasing incidence and mortality. As C. difficile infection is both supported and treated by antibiotics, a deeper knowledge on how antimicrobial agents affect the physiology of this important pathogen may help to understand and prevent the development and spreading of antibiotic resistant strains. As the proteomic response of a cell to stress aims at counteracting the harmful effects of this stress, it can be expected that the pattern of a pathogen’s responses to antibiotic treatment will be dependent on the antibiotic mechanism of action. Hence, every antibiotic treatment is expected to result in a specific proteomic signature characterizing its mode of action. In the study presented here, the proteomic response of C. difficile 630∆erm to vancomycin, metronidazole, and fidaxomicin stress was investigated on the level of protein abundance and protein synthesis based on 2D PAGE. The quantification of 425 proteins of C. difficile allowed the deduction of proteomic signatures specific for each drug treatment. Indeed, these proteomic signatures indicate very specific cellular responses to each antibiotic with only little overlap of the responses. Whereas signature proteins for vancomycin stress fulfil various cellular functions, the proteomic signature of metronidazole stress is characterized by alterations of proteins involved in protein biosynthesis and protein degradation as well as in DNA replication, recombination, and repair. In contrast, proteins differentially expressed after fidaxomicin treatment can be assigned to amino acid biosynthesis, transcription, cell motility, and the cell envelope functions. Notably, the data provided by this study hint also at so far unknown antibiotic detoxification mechanisms.
Advances in Automotive Conversion Coatings during Pretreatment of the Body Structure: A Review
Authors: Doerre Mark , Hibbitts Larry , Patrick Gabriela , Akafuah Nelson K.
Published: November 2018

Automotive conversion coatings consist of layers of materials that are chemically applied to the body structures of vehicles before painting to improve corrosion protection and paint adhesion. These coatings are a consequence of surface-based chemical reactions and are sandwiched between paint layers and the base metal; the chemical reactions involved distinctly classify conversion coatings from other coating technologies. Although the tri-cationic conversion coating bath chemistry that was developed around the end of the 20th century remains persistent, environmental, health, and cost issues favor a new generation of greener methods and materials such as zirconium. Environmental forces driving lightweight material selection during automobile body design are possibly more influential for transitioning to zirconium than the concerns regarding the body coating process. The chemistry involved in some conversion coatings processing has been known for over 100 years. However, recent advances in chemical processing, changes in the components used for vehicle body structures, environmental considerations and costs have prompted the automobile industry to embrace new conversion coatings technologies. These are discussed herein along with a historical perspective that has led to the use of current conversion coatings technologies. In addition, future directions for automobile body conversion coatings are discussed that may affect conversion coatings in the age of multi-material body structures.
Making Sense of the World: Framing Models for Trustworthy Sensor-Driven Systems
Authors: Calder Muffy , Dobson Simon , Fisher Michael , McCann Julie
Published: November 2018

Sensor-driven systems provide data and information that facilitate real-time decision-making and autonomous actuation, as well as enable informed policy choices. However, can we be sure that these systems work as expected? Can we model them in a way that captures all the key issues? We define two concepts: frames of reference and frames of function that help us organise models of sensor-based systems and their purpose. Examples from a smart water distribution network illustrate how frames offer a lens through which to organise and balance multiple views of the system. Frames aid communication between modellers, analysts and stakeholders, and distinguish the purpose of each model, which contributes towards our trust that the system fulfils its purpose.
Protecting Image Processing Pipelines against Configuration Memory Errors in SRAM-Based FPGAs
Authors: Aranda Luis Alberto , Reviriego Pedro , Maestro Juan Antonio
Published: November 2018

Image processing systems are widely used in space applications, so different radiation-induced malfunctions may occur in the system depending on the device that is implementing the algorithm. SRAM-based FPGAs are commonly used to speed up the image processing algorithm, but then the system could be vulnerable to configuration memory errors caused by single event upsets (SEUs). In those systems, the captured image is streamed pixel by pixel from the camera to the FPGA. Certain local operations such as median or rank filters need to process the image locally instead of pixel by pixel, so some particular pixel caching structures such as line-buffer-based pipelines can be used to accelerate the filtering process. However, an SRAM-based FPGA implementation of these pipelines may have malfunctions due to the mentioned configuration memory errors, so an error mitigation technique is required. In this paper, a novel method to protect line-buffer-based pipelines against SRAM-based FPGA configuration memory errors is presented. Experimental results show that, using our protection technique, considerable savings in terms of FPGA resources can be achieved while maintaining the SEU protection coverage provided by other classic pipeline protection schemes.
A Model of Ultra-Short Pulsed Laser Ablation of Metal with Considering Plasma Shielding and Non-Fourier Effect
Authors: Tan Sheng , Wu Jianjun , Zhang Yu , Wang Moge , Ou Yang
Published: November 2018

In this paper, a non-Fourier heat conduction model of ultra-short pulsed laser ablation of metal is established that takes into account the effect of the heat source, laser heating of the target, the evaporation and phase explosion of target material, the formation and expansion of the plasma plume, and interaction of the plasma plume with the incoming laser. Temperature dependent optical and thermophysical properties are also considered in the model due to the properties of the target will change over a wide range during the ultra-short pulsed laser ablation process. The results show that the plasma shielding has a great influence on the process of ultra-short pulsed laser ablation, especially at higher laser fluence. The non-Fourier effect has a great influence on the temperature characteristics and ablation depth of the target. The ultra-short pulsed laser ablation can effectively reduce the heat affected zone compared to nanosecond pulsed laser ablation. The comparison between the simulation results and the experimental results in the literature shows that the model with the plasma shielding and the non-Fourier effect can simulate the ultra-short pulsed laser ablation process better.
Activation of the Fuels with Low Reactivity Using the High-Power Laser Pulses
Authors: Egorov Roman I. , Zaitsev Alexandr S. , Salgansky Eugene A.
Published: November 2018

In this paper we have proposed the simple and effective approach to activation of the low reactivity industrial fuel which can be used immediately inside the furnace. The high-power laser pulses initiates partial gasification of the fuel together with its ultra-fine atomization. The gas-aerosol cloud surrounding the initial coal-water slurry droplet can consist of approximately 10% (after absorption of hundred pulses) of the initial droplet weight. The ratio of the syngas and aerosol weights is like 1:2 when pulse intensity is higher than 8 J/cm 2 . The size and velocity distributions of the ultra-fine aerosol particles were analysed using the original realization of the particle tracking velocimetry technique.
Harmonics and Reduction of Energy Consumption in Lighting Systems by Using LED Lamps
Authors: Phannil Natthanon , Jettanasen Chaiyan , Ngaopitakkul Atthapol
Published: November 2018

This paper proposes the study and analysis of harmonics, energy consumption and power quality of light emitting diode (LED) lamps equipped in building lighting systems. LED lamps with external (LED MR16) and internal (LED light bulb) drivers are investigated using an experimental setup to compare the results. The power quality of both LED lamps is studied by using a power quality meter to measure the generated harmonic currents from various case studies. The case study is divided into four major cases: one LED lamp is turned on with one driver, two LED lamps are turned on using the two drivers, eight LED lamps are turned on with one driver, and eight LED lamps are turned on with the eight drivers. As harmonics are related to total power factor (PF), which affects the energy savings of the building, hence, a filtering circuit to reduce harmonic current has been designed and implemented to improve power quality and/or power factor of the system. The different cases of harmonic filter insertion at the input of an LED lamp’s driver are discussed and then compared with a lighting standard to show the effectiveness of the passive filtering technique used in the studied system. In addition, the obtained result can be applied to both newly built and retrofitted buildings that aim to use LED technology to increase energy efficiency and decrease energy costs, and could be a helpful guide for end-users and manufacturers in addressing and developing LED issues.
Energy-Efficient Multicast Precoding for Massive MIMO Transmission with Statistical CSI
Authors: You Li , Wang Wenjin , Gao Xiqi
Published: November 2018

In this paper, we investigate energy-efficient multicast precoding for massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission. In contrast with most previous work, where instantaneous channel state information (CSI) is exploited to facilitate energy-efficient wireless transmission design, we assume that the base station can only exploit statistical CSI of the user terminals for downlink multicast precoding. First, in terms of maximizing the system energy efficiency, the eigenvectors of the optimal energy-efficient multicast transmit covariance matrix are identified in closed form, which indicates that optimal energy-efficient multicast precoding should be performed in the beam domain in massive MIMO. Then, the large-dimensional matrix-valued precoding design is simplified into an energy-efficient power allocation problem in the beam domain with significantly reduced optimization variables. Using Dinkelbach’s transform, we further propose a sequential beam domain power allocation algorithm which is guaranteed to converge to the global optimum. In addition, we use the large-dimensional random matrix theory to derive the deterministic equivalent of the objective to reduce the computational complexity involved in sample averaging. We present numerical results to illustrate the near-optimal performance of our proposed energy-efficient multicast precoding for massive MIMO.
Is More Always Merrier? Intersectionality as an Antecedent of Job Insecurity
Authors: Lavaysse Lindsey M. , Probst Tahira M. , Arena Jr. David F.
Published: November 2018

As modern workplace environments are becoming increasingly diverse, the experiences of disenfranchised employees have become a topic of great interest to scholars and business professionals alike. While the experiences of individuals with singular stigmatized identities have been well-established, a dearth of research has assessed how intersectionality, i.e., holding multiple stigmatized identities, combine and intertwine to shape workplace experiences. We contribute to a growing literature on intersectionality by assessing the extent to which employees identifying with multiple stigmatized identities may constitute a risk factor for the experience of job insecurity, a prevalent and potent economic stressor. Additionally, we propose that job insecurity will partially mediate the relationship between intersectionality and a variety of adverse workplace outcomes associated with increased job insecurity perceptions. In order to test these hypotheses, we collected survey data from 449 employed individuals within the United States over two timepoints. Results of the tests of our direct and indirect hypotheses revealed that individuals with more stigmatized identities reported greater perceptions of job insecurity, and intersectionality indirectly affected workplace outcomes via this heightened job insecurity. Our results highlight a new antecedent of job insecurity for consideration and is meant to motivate others to approach diversity-related research questions with multiple identities in mind, in an effort to encapsulate the full spectrum of one’s experience based on their identity makeup.
Profiles of Environmental Mold: Indoor and Outdoor Air Sampling in a Hematology Hospital in Seoul, South Korea
Authors: Cho Sung-Yeon , Myong Jun-Pyo , Kim Won-Bok , Park Chulmin , Lee Sung Jeon , Lee Sang Hyeon , Lee Dong-Gun
Published: November 2018

Inhalation of fungal spores can cause various spectrums of fungal diseases in immunocompromised hosts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations and profiles of fungal species in air collected at different locations in hematology wards and outside of the hospital in Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital over the course of a year. Air sampling was performed at four locations—outside the hospital (O), in the general ward (GW), in the lounge in the cleanroom (CRL), and in the patients’ room in the cleanroom (CRR)—by using Andersen single-stage air sampler at every two weeks between May 2017 and May 2018. The results showed higher mean fungal density in summer, and the concentrations of fungi decreased as follows: O (954.8 colony-forming units, CFU/m3) > GW (4.2 CFU/m3) > CRL (0.7 CFU/m3) > CRR (0 CFU/m3). Aspergillus was most prevalent both inside (47%) and outside (62%) of the hospital. However, the outdoor fungal profile was more diverse than the indoor profile. Within the hospital, Penicillium was the second most dominant species. In conclusion, the outdoor fungal profile is diverse even in Seoul, a highly urbanized area in Korea. The distribution of indoor air fungi is significantly different from outdoor due to air quality systems. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), as well as high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA)-filtered systems should be established to effectively reduce levels of indoor fungi.
Menstrual Hygiene Management and Waste Disposal in Low and Middle Income Countries—A Review of the Literature
Authors: Elledge Myles , Muralidharan Arundati , Parker Alison , Ravndal Kristin , Siddiqui Mariam , Toolaram Anju , Woodward Katherine
Published: November 2018

Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) has gained some attention and several literature reviews have been published. However, both original papers and reviews tend to focus on absorbent access and use and not on the disposal of menstrual waste. This review aims to fill a gap in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector by bringing a focus specifically on menstrual hygiene safe disposal in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). We reviewed published literature since 2002 on menstrual hygiene with a focus on menstrual waste management and menstrual absorbent disposal in LMIC. Database searches were conducted of both peer reviewed literature and grey literature, in addition to hand searching of references of relevant earlier literature reviews. In total 152 articles and reports were identified and 75 met the inclusion criteria and was included in the final review. Existing polices on MHM was also reviewed with a focus on India and South Africa. The review showed that disposal of menstrual waste is often neglected MHM and sanitation value chains, leading to improper disposal and negative impacts on users, the sanitation systems and the environment. Findings call for further research to gain better understandings of MHM waste streams, disposal behaviors, absorbent materials and waste management technologies to deliver health, safety, mobility and dignity for women and girls.
Building a Framework of Usability Patterns for Web Applications in Spatial Data Infrastructures
Authors: Henzen Christin
Published: November 2018

Web applications in spatial data infrastructures (SDIs) should provide robust and user-friendly user interfaces for geoinformation (GI) discovery, analysis, and usage. Poor usability, e.g., caused by unsuitable information presentation or inappropriate (non) availability of functions, can result in inefficient or faulty usage and can increase the acceptance of the application and provided geoinformation. Until now, a number of usability problems in GI web applications were identified; however, methods to summarize these problems, to provide (software-independent) solutions for them, and to find pairs of problems and related solutions hardly exist. We propose an adapted usability pattern concept for web applications in SDIs to map and categorize usability problems and best practice solutions and we enable a GI context-specific creation and discovery of these problems and solutions. The concept includes developed pattern types, relationships, and rules on how to use the relationships for the different pattern types.
Old Receptor, New Tricks—The Ever-Expanding Universe of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Functions. Report from the 4th AHR Meeting, 29–31 August 2018 in Paris, France
Authors: Esser Charlotte , Lawrence B. Paige , Sherr David H. , Perdew Gary H. , Puga Alvaro , Barouki Robert , Coumoul Xavier
Published: November 2018

In a time where “translational” science has become a mantra in the biomedical field, it is reassuring when years of research into a biological phenomenon suddenly points towards novel prevention or therapeutic approaches to disease, thereby demonstrating once again that basic science and translational science are intimately linked. The studies on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) discussed here provide a perfect example of how years of basic toxicological research on a molecule, whose normal physiological function remained a mystery for so long, has now yielded a treasure trove of actionable information on the development of targeted therapeutics. Examples are autoimmunity, metabolic imbalance, inflammatory skin and gastro-intestinal diseases, cancer, development and perhaps ageing. Indeed, the AHR field no longer asks, “What does this receptor do in the absence of xenobiotics?” It now asks, “What doesn’t this receptor do?”.
DNA Vaccines—How Far From Clinical Use?
Authors: Hobernik Dominika , Bros Matthias
Published: November 2018

Two decades ago successful transfection of antigen presenting cells (APC) in vivo was demonstrated which resulted in the induction of primary adaptive immune responses. Due to the good biocompatibility of plasmid DNA, their cost-efficient production and long shelf life, many researchers aimed to develop DNA vaccine-based immunotherapeutic strategies for treatment of infections and cancer, but also autoimmune diseases and allergies. This review aims to summarize our current knowledge on the course of action of DNA vaccines, and which factors are responsible for the poor immunogenicity in human so far. Important optimization steps that improve DNA transfection efficiency comprise the introduction of DNA-complexing nano-carriers aimed to prevent extracellular DNA degradation, enabling APC targeting, and enhanced endo/lysosomal escape of DNA. Attachment of virus-derived nuclear localization sequences facilitates nuclear entry of DNA. Improvements in DNA vaccine design include the use of APC-specific promotors for transcriptional targeting, the arrangement of multiple antigen sequences, the co-delivery of molecular adjuvants to prevent tolerance induction, and strategies to circumvent potential inhibitory effects of the vector backbone. Successful clinical use of DNA vaccines may require combined employment of all of these parameters, and combination treatment with additional drugs.
Methylation-Based Classification of Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma into Two New Subclasses Differing in Immune-Related Gene Expression
Authors: Li Xia , Cai Yunpeng
Published: November 2018

Cervical cancer is traditionally classified into two major histological subtypes, cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) and cervical adenocarcinoma (CA). However, heterogeneity exists among patients, comprising possible subpopulations with distinct molecular profiles. We applied consensus clustering to 307 methylation samples with cervical cancer from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Fisher’s exact test was used to perform transcription factors (TFs) and genomic region enrichment. Gene expression profiles were downloaded from TCGA to assess expression differences. Immune cell fraction was calculated to quantify the immune cells infiltration. Putative neo-epitopes were predicted from somatic mutations. Three subclasses were identified: Class 1 correlating with the CA subtype and Classes 2 and 3 dividing the CSCC subtype into two subclasses. We found the hypomethylated probes in Class 3 exhibited strong enrichment in promoter region as compared with Class 2. Five TFs significantly enriched in the hypomethylated promoters and their highly expressed target genes in Class 3 functionally involved in the immune pathway. Gene function analysis revealed that immune-related genes were significantly increased in Class 3, and a higher level of immune cell infiltration was estimated. High expression of 24 immune genes exhibited a better overall survival and correlated with neo-epitope burden. Additionally, we found only two immune-related driver genes, CARD11 and JAK3, to be significantly increased in Class 3. Our analyses provide a classification of the largest CSCC subtype into two new subclasses, revealing they harbored differences in immune-related gene expression.
Exercise Training-Induced Changes in MicroRNAs: Beneficial Regulatory Effects in Hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes, and Obesity
Authors: Improta Caria Alex Cleber , Nonaka Carolina Kymie Vasques , Pereira Ciro Silveira , Soares Milena Botelho Pereira , Macambira Simone Garcia , Souza Bruno Solano de Freitas
Published: November 2018

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. They are involved in the regulation of physiological processes, such as adaptation to physical exercise, and also in disease settings, such as systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), and obesity. In SAH, microRNAs play a significant role in the regulation of key signaling pathways that lead to the hyperactivation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, proliferation, and phenotypic change in smooth muscle cells, and the hyperactivation of the sympathetic nervous system. MicroRNAs are also involved in the regulation of insulin signaling and blood glucose levels in T2D, and participate in lipid metabolism, adipogenesis, and adipocyte differentiation in obesity, with specific microRNA signatures involved in the pathogenesis of each disease. Many studies report the benefits promoted by exercise training in cardiovascular diseases by reducing blood pressure, glucose levels, and improving insulin signaling and lipid metabolism. The molecular mechanisms involved, however, remain poorly understood, especially regarding the participation of microRNAs in these processes. This review aimed to highlight microRNAs already known to be associated with SAH, T2D, and obesity, as well as their possible regulation by exercise training.
Causal Transcription Regulatory Network Inference Using Enhancer Activity as a Causal Anchor
Authors: Vipin Deepti , Wang Lingfei , Devailly Guillaume , Michoel Tom , Joshi Anagha
Published: November 2018

Transcription control plays a crucial role in establishing a unique gene expression signature for each of the hundreds of mammalian cell types. Though gene expression data have been widely used to infer cellular regulatory networks, existing methods mainly infer correlations rather than causality. We developed statistical models and likelihood-ratio tests to infer causal gene regulatory networks using enhancer RNA (eRNA) expression information as a causal anchor and applied the framework to eRNA and transcript expression data from the FANTOM Consortium. Predicted causal targets of transcription factors (TFs) in mouse embryonic stem cells, macrophages and erythroblastic leukaemia overlapped significantly with experimentally-validated targets from ChIP-seq and perturbation data. We further improved the model by taking into account that some TFs might act in a quantitative, dosage-dependent manner, whereas others might act predominantly in a binary on/off fashion. We predicted TF targets from concerted variation of eRNA and TF and target promoter expression levels within a single cell type, as well as across multiple cell types. Importantly, TFs with high-confidence predictions were largely different between these two analyses, demonstrating that variability within a cell type is highly relevant for target prediction of cell type-specific factors. Finally, we generated a compendium of high-confidence TF targets across diverse human cell and tissue types.
Transcriptome Analysis of Long Non-Coding RNA in the Bovine Mammary Gland Following Dietary Supplementation with Linseed Oil and Safflower Oil
Authors: Ibeagha-Awemu Eveline M. , Li Ran , Dudemaine Pier-Luc , Do Duy N. , Bissonnette Nathalie
Published: November 2018

This study aimed to characterize the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression in the bovine mammary gland and to infer their functions in dietary response to 5% linseed oil (LSO) or 5% safflower oil (SFO). Twelve cows (six per treatment) in mid lactation were fed a control diet for 28 days followed by a treatment period (control diet supplemented with 5% LSO or 5% SFO) of 28 days. Mammary gland biopsies were collected from each animal on day-14 (D-14, control period), D+7 (early treatment period) and D+28 (late treatment period) and were subjected to RNA-Sequencing and subsequent bioinformatics analyses. Functional enrichment of lncRNA was performed via potential cis regulated target genes located within 50 kb flanking regions of lncRNAs and having expression correlation of >0.7 with mRNAs. A total of 4955 lncRNAs (325 known and 4630 novel) were identified which potentially cis targeted 59 and 494 genes in LSO and SFO treatments, respectively. Enrichments of cis target genes of lncRNAs indicated potential roles of lncRNAs in immune function, nucleic acid metabolism and cell membrane organization processes as well as involvement in Notch, cAMP and TGF-β signaling pathways. Thirty-two and 21 lncRNAs were differentially expressed (DE) in LSO and SFO treatments, respectively. Six genes (KCNF1, STARD13, BCL6, NXPE2, HHIPL2 and MMD) were identified as potential cis target genes of six DE lncRNAs. In conclusion, this study has identified lncRNAs with potential roles in mammary gland functions and potential candidate genes and pathways via which lncRNAs might function in response to LSO and SFA.
Immunotherapy: A Novel Era of Promising Treatments for Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Castella Maria , Fernández de Larrea Carlos , Martín-Antonio Beatriz
Published: November 2018

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable hematological malignancy characterized by clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells in bone marrow. In the last 20 years, the introduction of autologous stem cell transplantation, followed by proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory agents, increased the survival of MM patients by 50%. However, still a high proportion of patients relapse and become refractory, especially, high-risk patients with adverse cytogenetics where these treatment combinations have shown limited benefit. Therefore, novel strategies, such as immunotherapy, have been developed in the last few years to help improve the survival of these patients. Immunotherapy treatments include a high number of different strategies used to attack the tumor cells by using the immune system. Here, we will review the most successful immunotherapy strategies published up to date in patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) MM, including monoclonal antibodies targeting specific antigens on the tumor cells, antibodies combined with cytotoxic drugs or Antibodies Drug Conjugates, immune checkpoint inhibitors which eliminate the barriers that damper immune cells and prevent them from attacking tumor cells, bi-specific T-cell engagers antibodies (BiTEs), bi-specific antibodies and the infusion of chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells. We overview the results of clinical studies that have been presented up to date and also review pre-clinical studies describing potential novel treatments for MM.
Transient Secondary Structures as General Target-Binding Motifs in Intrinsically Disordered Proteins
Authors: Kim Do-Hyoung , Han Kyou-Hoon
Published: November 2018

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are unorthodox proteins that do not form three-dimensional structures under non-denaturing conditions, but perform important biological functions. In addition, IDPs are associated with many critical diseases including cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, and viral diseases. Due to the generic name of “unstructured” proteins used for IDPs in the early days, the notion that IDPs would be completely unstructured down to the level of secondary structures has prevailed for a long time. During the last two decades, ample evidence has been accumulated showing that IDPs in their target-free state are pre-populated with transient secondary structures critical for target binding. Nevertheless, such a message did not seem to have reached with sufficient clarity to the IDP or protein science community largely because similar but different expressions were used to denote the fundamentally same phenomenon of presence of such transient secondary structures, which is not surprising for a quickly evolving field. Here, we summarize the critical roles that these transient secondary structures play for diverse functions of IDPs by describing how various expressions referring to transient secondary structures have been used in different contexts.
Fabrication of (111)-Oriented Nanotwinned Au Films for Au-to-Au Direct Bonding
Authors: Wu John A. , Huang Chih-Yang , Wu Wen-Wei , Chen Chih
Published: November 2018

We reported that highly (111)-oriented nanotwinned gold can be fabricated by periodical-reverse electroplating. The as-deposited films are shown to have a strong (111) preferred orientation, increasing with the reverse current time. The ratios of I(111)/I(220) and I(111)/I(200) in X-ray diffraction signals indicates a strong (111) preferred orientation. Using the advantage of the fast surface diffusion of (111) plane compared to the other planes of gold, we performed direct bonding with different thicknesses. Grain growth was observed over two films’ interfaces to eliminate the bonding interface, when annealed at 250 °C for 1 h. Shear tests were performed to gain insight on the bonding quality. All the chips failed at either the silicon substrate or substrate-adhesion layer, showing possible higher strength than the tested maximum, 40.8 MPa.
Micro-Magnetic and Microstructural Characterization of Wear Progress on Case-Hardened 16MnCr5 Gear Wheels
Authors: Knyazeva Marina , Rozo Vasquez Julian , Gondecki Leonard , Weibring Max , Pöhl Fabian , Kipp Monika , Tenberge Peter , Theisen Werner , Walther Frank , Biermann Dirk
Published: November 2018

The evaluation of wear progress of gear tooth flanks made of 16MnCr5 was performed using non-destructive micro-magnetic testing, specifically Barkhausen noise (BN) and incremental permeability (IP). Based on the physical interaction of the microstructure with the magnetic field, the micro-magnetic characterization allowed the analysis of changes of microstructure caused by wear, including phase transformation and development of residual stresses. Due to wide parameter variation and application of bandpass filter frequencies of micro-magnetic signals, it was possible to indicate and separate the main damage mechanisms considering the wear development. It could be shown that the maximum amplitude of BN correlates directly with the profile form deviation and increases with the progress of wear. Surface investigations via optical and scanning electron microscopy indicated strong surface fatigue wear with micro-pitting and micro-cracks, evident in cross-section after 3 × 105 cycles. The result of fatigue on the surface layer was the decrease of residual compression stresses, which was indicated by means of coercivity by BN-analysis. The different topographies of the surfaces, characterized via confocal white light microscopy, were also reflected in maximum BN-amplitude. Using complementary microscopic characterization in the cross-section, a strong correlation between micro-magnetic parameters and microstructure was confirmed and wear progress was characterized in dependence of depth under the wear surface. The phase transformation of retained austenite into martensite according to wear development, measured by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) was also detected by micro-magnetic testing by IP-analysis.
Effects of Grinding Passes and Direction on Material Removal Behaviours in the Rail Grinding Process
Authors: Zhang Shuyue , Zhou Kun , Ding Haohao , Guo Jun , Liu Qiyue , Wang Wenjian
Published: November 2018

A three-dimensional finite element model of rail grinding was established to explore the effects of grinding passes and grinding direction on the material removal behaviour of grinding rails during the grinding process. The results indicate that as the number of grinding passes increases, a decrease in the grinding force reduces both the amount of removed rail material and the surface roughness. There is a decrease in the grinding ratio caused by the increase in the wear on the grinding wheel and the decreased removal of the rail material. When the grinding direction changes, the wear of the grinding wheel decreases, which is contrary to the increasing trend of the amount of removed rail material, the grinding ratio, the surface roughness and the grinding force.
Titania-Based Hybrid Materials with ZnO, ZrO2 and MoS2: A Review
Authors: Kubiak Adam , Siwińska-Ciesielczyk Katarzyna , Jesionowski Teofil
Published: November 2018

Titania has properties that enable it to be used in a variety of applications, including self-cleaning surfaces, air and water purification systems, hydrogen evolution, and photoelectrochemical conversion. In order to improve the properties of titanium dioxide, modifications are made to obtain oxide/hybrid systems that are intended to have the properties of both components. In particular, zinc oxide, zirconia and molybdenum disulfide have been proposed as the second component of binary systems due to their antibacterial, electrochemical and photocatalytic properties. This paper presents a review of the current state of knowledge on the synthesis and practical utility of TiO2-ZnO and TiO2-ZrO2 oxide systems and TiO2-MoS2 hybrid materials. The first part focuses on the hydrothermal method; then a review is made of the literature on the synthesis of the aforementioned materials using the sol-gel method. In the last section, the literature on the electrospinning method of synthesis is reviewed. The most significant physico-chemical, structural and dispersive-morphological properties of binary hybrid systems based on TiO2 are described. A key aim of this review is to indicate the properties of TiO2-ZnO, TiO2-ZrO2 and TiO2-MoS2 hybrid systems that have the greatest importance for practical applications. The variety of utilities of titania-based hybrid materials is emphasized.
Surface Oxidation of TiNiSn (Half-Heusler) Alloy by Oxygen and Water Vapor
Authors: Appel Oshrat , Cohen Shai , Beeri Ofer , Shamir Noah , Gelbstein Yaniv , Zalkind Shimon
Published: November 2018

TiNiSn-based half-Heusler semiconducting compounds have the highest potential as n-type thermoelectric materials for the use at elevated temperatures. In order to use these compounds in a thermoelectric module, it is crucial to examine their behaviour at a working temperature (approximately 1000 K) under oxygen and a humid atmosphere. Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were utilized to study the surface composition and oxidation of the TiNiSn alloy at elevated temperatures. It was found that during heating in vacuum, Sn segregates to the surface. Exposing the alloy to oxygen at room temperature will cause surface oxidation of Ti to TiO2 and Ti2O3 and some minor oxidation of Sn. Oxidation at 1000 K induces Ti segregation to the surface, creating a titanium oxide layer composed of mainly TiO2 as well as Ti2O3 and TiO. Water vapor was found to be a weaker oxidative gas medium compared to oxygen.
Geometric Construction of Some Lehmer Means
Authors: Høibakk Ralph , Lukkassen Dag , Meidell Annette , Persson Lars-Erik
Published: November 2018

The main aim of this paper is to contribute to the recently initiated research concerning geometric constructions of means, where the variables are appearing as line segments. The present study shows that all Lehmer means of two variables for integer power k and for k = m 2 , where m is an integer, can be geometrically constructed, that Lehmer means for power k = 0 , 1 and 2 can be geometrically constructed for any number of variables and that Lehmer means for power k = 1 / 2 and − 1 can be geometrically constructed, where the number of variables is n = 2 m and m is a positive integer.
Residual Stress Differences between Uniform and Non-Uniform Heating Treatment of Bimetallic Roll: Effect of Creep Behavior on Residual Stress
Authors: Noda Nao-Aki , Sano Yoshikazu , Aridi Mohd Radzi , Tsuboi Kenji , Oda Nozomu
Published: November 2018

The work roll is one of the most important tools in the steel rolling industry. Work rolls are used under extremely severe conditions such as high temperature, high loading, and an aggressive atmosphere. To meet those demands, bimetallic rolls have recently been used to replace conventional single material rolls. Usually, a compressive residual stress is introduced to prevent surface cracking. However, a tensile residual stress at the center appears to balance the compressive residual stress. This center residual stress sometimes causes roll failure. In this paper, therefore, a simulation is performed using the finite element method (FEM) for the quenching process of the bimetallic roll by considering the creep behavior. Then the effect of pre-heating conditions is discussed. The results show that the maximum stress point for the tensile stress at the roll center for non-uniform heating is 24% less than that achieved with uniform heating, although the same compressive stresses appear at the surface. Then, using different work roll diameters, the center tensile residual stress for non-uniform heating is found to be smaller than the uniform heating. Also, it is found that the area ratios of the shell-core only have a small influence on the residual stress of the bimetallic roll for both heating treatments.
A Study on Two-Stage Cold Forging for a Drive Shaft with Internal Spline and Spur Gear Geometries
Authors: Ku Tae-Wan
Published: November 2018

A two-stage cold forging process was proposed to manufacture a drive shaft with an internal spline and spur gear geometries, and this process was mainly composed of a forward extrusion for preform and a forward-backward extrusion for the drive shaft. In the process design, the preform was designed using a volume apportioning scheme from the required target shape, thereafter, the initial round billet was outlined. AISI 1035 carbon steel was selected as the raw material, and a spheroidizing heat treatment was adopted. Using the raw and spheroidizing annealed workpieces, uni-axial tensile and compression tests were carried out to evaluate the effect of the heat treatment and to measure the mechanical properties. Finite element simulations were sequentially performed to assure the suitability of the proposed process design. Considering the results from the process design and the numerical simulations, the related tool components were prepared and applied to a series of experimental investigations. The preform and the drive shaft fabricated by the two-stage cold forging experiments were compared with the required target and the numerically predicted configurations. The results indicated that the two-stage cold forging process proposed in this study could be well applied to the production of the drive shaft with an internal spline and spur gear structures.
A Review for Compact Model of Thin-Film Transistors (TFTs)
Authors: Lu Nianduan , Jiang Wenfeng , Wu Quantan , Geng Di , Li Ling , Liu Ming
Published: November 2018

Thin-film transistors (TFTs) have grown into a huge industry due to their broad applications in display, radio-frequency identification tags (RFID), logical calculation, etc. In order to bridge the gap between the fabrication process and the circuit design, compact model plays an indispensable role in the development and application of TFTs. The purpose of this review is to provide a theoretical description of compact models of TFTs with different active layers, such as polysilicon, amorphous silicon, organic and In-Ga-Zn-O (IGZO) semiconductors. Special attention is paid to the surface-potential-based compact models of silicon-based TFTs. With the understanding of both the charge transport characteristics and the requirement of TFTs in organic and IGZO TFTs, we have proposed the surface-potential-based compact models and the parameter extraction techniques. The proposed models can provide accurate circuit-level performance prediction and RFID circuit design, and pass the Gummel symmetry test (GST). Finally; the outlook on the compact models of TFTs is briefly discussed.