bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Load Rejection Transient Process Simulation of a Kaplan Turbine Model by Co-Adjusting Guide Vanes and Runner Blades
Authors: Chen Huixiang , Zhou Daqing , Zheng Yuan , Jiang Shengwen , Yu An , Guo You
Published: November 2018

To obtain the flow mechanism of the transient characteristics of a Kaplan turbine, a three-dimensional (3-D) unsteady, incompressible flow simulation during load rejection was conducted using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method in this paper. The dynamic mesh and re-meshing methods were performed to simulate the closing process of the guide vanes and runner blades. The evolution of inner flow patterns and varying regularities of some parameters, such as the runner rotation speed, unit flow rate, unit torque, axial force, and static pressure of the monitored points were revealed, and the results were consistent with the experimental data. During the load rejection process, the guide vane closing behavior played a decisive role in changing the external characteristics and inner flow configurations. In this paper, the runner blades underwent a linear needle closure law and guide vanes operated according to a stage-closing law of “first fast, then slow,” where the inflection point was t = 2.3 s. At the segment point of the guide vane closing curve, a water hammer occurs between guide vanes and a large quantity of vortices emerged in the runner and the draft tube. The pressure at the measurement points changes dramatically and the axial thrust rises sharply, marking a unique time in the transient process. Thus, the quality of a transient process could be effectively improved by properly setting the location of segmented point. This study conducted a dynamic simulation of co-adjustment of the guide vanes and the blades, and the results could be used in fault diagnosis of transient operations at hydropower plants.
Electrocatalytic Activity of Pd/Ir/Sn/Ta/TiO2 Composite Electrodes
Authors: Park Jung Eun , Yang Seung Kyu , Kim Ji Hyun , Park Mi-Jung , Lee Eun Sil
Published: November 2018

This study compared the electrolytic refining process using different commercial Pd-based electrodes. The Pd-based electrode had an Ir:Sn molar ratio of 1:1 and contained 10% tantalum on a titanium substrate. The palladium weight ratio varied from 0 g to 1.8 g, 4.7 g, 8.6 g, and 15.4 g. Electrolytic refining was investigated for the Pd-based electrode in 3 M of H2SO4. The interfacial microstructure and components of the substrate were investigated using energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and the electrochemical properties of the materials were measured using cyclic voltammetry, linear scan voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and accelerated life tests. Of all the tested Pd-based electrodes, those with a palladium loading weight of 8.6 g showed the highest and most stable electrode activity at 3 M of H2SO4, with a capacitance retention of 96% of its initial value. The accelerated life test results for the 8.6 g Pd-Ir-Sn-Ta/TiO2 electrode showed a gradual slope with an efficiency of almost 100% at 1000 h in an aqueous solution of 3 M of H2SO4. After the test, the dissolved elements that caused resistance in the electrolyte increased with increasing palladium loading content. Thus, the 8.6 g Pd-Ir-Sn-Ta/TiO2 electrode demonstrated the optimum composition in 3 M of H2SO4 for electrolyte refining.
Development and Evaluation of Black Spruce (Picea mariana (Miller) B.S.P.) Diameter Increment Models across Silvicultural Treatments in Northern Minnesota, USA
Authors: Anderson Brian D. , Russell Matthew B. , Windmuller-Campione Marcella A. , Palik Brian J. , Kastendick Douglas N.
Published: November 2018

The black spruce cover type occupies roughly 10% of Minnesota’s 7 million hectares of forestland, and is an important species, both ecologically and economically. A clearcut regeneration harvest is the main silvicultural system in black spruce in this region. The effects of managing black spruce with alternative silvicultural methods in the Lake States remains largely understudied. Here, we examine a silviculture study in lowland black spruce to assess the performance of two diameter growth models fit to this data compared to a widely-used model. Six silvicultural treatments (clearcut strips, clearcut patches, thinning, group selection, single-tree selection, and shelterwood) and a control were treated and measured around 1950, with a follow-up measurement occurring 10 years later. Fixed- and mixed-effects growth-models were adapted from the previous work, and fit to 10,231 observations and compared to a recently released diameter growth model. The mixed-effects model using treatment, compartment, and plot as nested random effects outperformed the fixed-effects model, and outperformed a model proposed for use in the Lake States variant of the Forest Vegetation Simulator that was fit to this data. This modeling approach of localized growth models across a wide-range of diameters (9.1–32.1 cm) more accurately predicted the diameter growth in lowland black spruce than the conventional approach of using separate models for large (>12.7 cm) and small (≤12.7 cm) diameter trees.
Experimental Set-Up for the Investigation of Thermomechanical Oscillations of Thin Heaters in Air
Authors: Nesis Sergey , Gottwald Daniel , Geber Thomas , Pelster Rolf
Published: November 2018

The simultaneous visualization and characterization of heat transfer processes from hot vibrating objects is a challenging task. This article presents an experimental set-up for the investigation of thermomechanical oscillations in thin cylindrical heaters, allowing us to visualize convection processes using Schlieren photography, infrared photometry, and other methods. It is demonstrated that heat transfer considerably changes in the regions of parametric instability.
The Challenge of Detecting Intracluster Filaments with Faraday Rotation
Authors: Locatelli Nicola , Vazza Franco , Domínguez-Fernández Paola
Published: November 2018

The detection of filaments in the cosmic web will be crucial to distinguish between the possible magnetogenesis scenarios, and future large polarization surveys will be able to shed light on their magnetization level. In this work, we use numerical simulations of galaxy clusters to investigate their possible detection. We compute the Faraday Rotation signal in intracluster filaments and compare it to its surrounding environment. We find that the expected big improvement in sensitivity with the SKA-MID will in principle allow the detection of a large fraction of filaments surrounding galaxy clusters. However, the contamination of the intrinsic Faraday Rotation of background polarized sources will represent a big limiter to the number of objects that can be significantly detected. We discuss possible strategies to minimize this effect and increase the chances of detection of the cosmic web with the large statistics expected from future surveys.
The Rate of Short-Duration Gamma-Ray Bursts in the Local Universe
Authors: Mandhai Soheb , Tanvir Nial , Lamb Gavin , Levan Andrew , Tsang David
Published: November 2018

Following the faint gamma-ray burst, GRB 170817A, coincident with a gravitational wave-detected binary neutron star merger at d ∼ 40 Mpc, we consider the constraints on a local population of faint short duration GRBs (defined here broadly as T 90 < 4 s). We review proposed low-redshift short-GRBs and consider statistical limits on a d ≲ 200 Mpc population using Swift/Burst Alert Telescope (BAT), Fermi/Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM), and Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (CGRO) Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) GRBs. Swift/BAT short-GRBs give an upper limit for the all-sky rate of < 4 y − 1 at d < 200 Mpc, corresponding to < 5% of SGRBs. Cross-correlation of selected CGRO/BATSE and Fermi/GBM GRBs with d < 100 Mpc galaxy positions returns a weaker constraint of ≲ 12 y − 1 . A separate search for correlations due to SGR giant flares in nearby ( d < 11 Mpc) galaxies finds an upper limit of < 3 y − 1 . Our analysis suggests that GRB 170817A-like events are likely to be rare in existing SGRB catalogues. The best candidate for an analogue remains GRB 050906, where the Swift/BAT location was consistent with the galaxy IC 0327 at d ≈ 132 Mpc. If binary neutron star merger rates are at the high end of current estimates, then our results imply that at most a few percent will be accompanied by detectable gamma-ray flashes in the forthcoming LIGO/Virgo science runs.
N6-methyladenosine (m6A): Revisiting the Old with Focus on New, an Arabidopsis thaliana Centered Review
Authors: Bhat Susheel Sagar , Bielewicz Dawid , Jarmolowski Artur , Szweykowska-Kulinska Zofia
Published: November 2018

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is known to occur in plant and animal messenger RNAs (mRNAs) since the 1970s. However, the scope and function of this modification remained un-explored till very recently. Since the beginning of this decade, owing to major technological breakthroughs, the interest in m6A has peaked again. Similar to animal mRNAs, plant mRNAs are also m6A methylated, within a specific sequence motif which is conserved across these kingdoms. m6A has been found to be pivotal for plant development and necessary for processes ranging from seed germination to floral development. A wide range of proteins involved in methylation of adenosine have been identified alongside proteins that remove or identify m6A. This review aims to put together the current knowledge regarding m6A in Arabidopsis thaliana.
The Hyper-Angular Cube Concept for Improving the Spatial and Acoustic Resolution of MBES Backscatter Angular Response Analysis
Authors: Alevizos Evangelos , Greinert Jens
Published: November 2018

This study presents a novel approach, based on high-dimensionality hydro-acoustic data, for improving the performance of angular response analysis (ARA) on multibeam backscatter data in terms of acoustic class separation and spatial resolution. This approach is based on the hyper-angular cube (HAC) data structure which offers the possibility to extract one angular response from each cell of the cube. The HAC consists of a finite number of backscatter layers, each representing backscatter values corresponding to single-incidence angle ensonifications. The construction of the HAC layers can be achieved either by interpolating dense soundings from highly overlapping multibeam echo-sounder (MBES) surveys (interpolated HAC, iHAC) or by producing several backscatter mosaics, each being normalized at a different incidence angle (synthetic HAC, sHAC). The latter approach can be applied to multibeam data with standard overlap, thus minimizing the cost for data acquisition. The sHAC is as efficient as the iHAC produced by actual soundings, providing distinct angular responses for each seafloor type. The HAC data structure increases acoustic class separability between different acoustic features. Moreover, the results of angular response analysis are applied on a fine spatial scale (cell dimensions) offering more detailed acoustic maps of the seafloor. Considering that angular information is expressed through high-dimensional backscatter layers, we further applied three machine learning algorithms (random forest, support vector machine, and artificial neural network) and one pattern recognition method (sum of absolute differences) for supervised classification of the HAC, using a limited amount of ground truth data (one sample per seafloor type). Results from supervised classification were compared with results from an unsupervised method for inter-comparison of the supervised algorithms. It was found that all algorithms (regarding both the iHAC and the sHAC) produced very similar results with good agreement (>0.5 kappa) with the unsupervised classification. Only the artificial neural network required the total amount of ground truth data for producing comparable results with the remaining algorithms.
Morphodynamics Assessment by Means of Mesoforms and Video-Monitoring in a Dissipative Beach
Authors: Montes Juan , Simarro Gonzalo , Benavente Javier , Plomaritis Theocharis A. , Del Río Laura
Published: November 2018

In this study a video-monitoring system was used to analyze the presence of mesoforms during a time period of five years in the urban beach of La Victoria, Cádiz, Spain. This technique allowed the generation of plan views using an improved version of ULISES software. The presence and spatiotemporal variability of the most common mesoforms, such as bars and cusps, was identified in all the plan views. Furthermore, the morphodynamic state of the beach was investigated in combination with local hydrodynamic data. The cusp systems were also studied by means of wavelet analyses and different theories on cusps formation were tested. The presence of the investigated features was related to the wave energy and its seasonal variations. The behavior of the mesoforms demonstrated the important role of a subtidal rocky outcrop in the nearshore processes. The results also show that bars and cusps as indicators of the nearshore processes are a useful tool for the macroscopic analysis of surf zone dynamics in dissipative beaches.
Developing an Approximation of a Natural, Rough Gravel Riverbed Both Physically and Numerically
Authors: Stubbs Alex , Stoesser Thorsten , Bockelmann-Evans Bettina
Published: November 2018

Near-bed and pore space turbulent flows are beginning to be understood using new technologies and advances in direct numerical simulation (DNS) and large-eddy simulation (LES) techniques. However, the riverbed geometry that is used in many computational studies remains overly simplistic. Thus, this study presents the development of an artificial representation of a gravel riverbed matrix, and the assessment of how well it approximates a natural riverbed. A physical model of a gravel riverbed matrix that was 120 mm deep, 300 mm wide, and 2.048 m long was manufactured from cast acrylic. Additionally, a numerical approximation of the physical model was created and used for analysis. The pore matrix of the artificial riverbed was found to be comparable to that of a natural gravel riverbed in terms of its porosity and void ratio. The diameters of the artificial riverbed’s surface particles were found to vary less, with fewer irregularities, than those found for natural gravel riverbeds; yet, they were normally distributed similarly to natural riverbeds. A power spectral density function showed that the artificial riverbed exhibited a degree of roughness that was much lower than that found in nature. Thus, the hydraulic resistance and friction factor will both be lower than desired. These findings suggest that the novel methods that have been developed in this study can offer both the physical and numerical approximation of a gravel bed surface that is comparable to a natural gravel riverbed with low surface roughness, reduced particle size variance, and typical particle distribution and porosity.
Mealybug Wilt of Pineapple and Associated Viruses
Authors: Dey Kishore K. , Green James C. , Melzer Michael , Borth Wayne , Hu John S.
Published: November 2018

Mealybug wilt of pineapple (MWP) is a disease of pineapple that has a long history in Hawaii, but is present throughout the world where pineapples are grown in tropical regions. The disease has an interesting etiology that is poorly understood but involves an association with virus particles, mealybug vectors, and ants which spread the mealybug vectors. Several distinct pineapple mealybug wilt-associated virus (PMWaV) species have been identified thus far with potential further member species yet to be characterized. Pineapple mealybug wilt-associated viruses are member species of the Ampelovirus genus of the Closteroviridae family. Ampeloviruses are split into two subgroups, subgroup I and subgroup II. PMWaV-2 is a subgroup II member, and these have a longer and more complex genome with additional genes on the 3’ terminus of the RNA genome compared to subgroup I ampeloviruses. PMWaV-2, along with the presence of mealybug vectors, have been shown to be necessary factors in symptom development in Hawaii. Some of these extra genes in the 3’ of PMWaV-2 have recently been shown to function as silencing suppressors, and may play a role in the virulence of PMWaV-2 and symptom development. In other regions of the world, reports of symptomatic plants without PMWaV-2 infection, but with PMWaV-1, -3 or some combination, contradict the requirement of PMWaV-2 for symptom development in MWP. It is possible that further, uncharacterized PMWaVs may be present in symptomatic pineapple plants that test negative for PMWaV-2, explaining the inconsistency in symptom development. More research is necessary to explore the confusing etiology of the MWP disease, and to perhaps shed light upon the symptom development.
Correlates of Mild Cognitive Impairment of Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Wuhan, China
Authors: Liu Xiaojun , Yin Xiao , Tan Anran , He Meikun , Jiang Dongdong , Hou Yitan , Lu Yuanan , Mao Zongfu
Published: November 2018

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an early stage of Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia that occurs mainly in older adults. The MCI phase could be considered as an observational period for the secondary prevention of dementia. This study aims to assess potential differences in the risk of MCI among different elderly groups in Wuhan, China, and to further identify the most vulnerable populations using logistic regression models. A total of 622 older adults participated in this study, and the prevalence of MCI was 34.1%. We found that individuals aged 80–84 (odds ratio, OR = 1.908, 95% confidence interval, 95% CI 1.026 to 3.549) or above (OR = 2.529, 95% CI 1.249 to 5.122), and those with two chronic diseases (OR = 1.982, 95% CI 1.153 to 3.407) or more (OR = 2.466, 95% CI 1.419 to 4.286) were more likely to be diagnosed with MCI. Those with high school degrees (OR = 0.451, 95% CI 0.230 to 0.883) or above (OR = 0.318, 95% CI 0.129 to 0.783) and those with a family per-capita monthly income of 3001–4500 yuan (OR = 0.320, 95% CI 0.137 to 0.750) or above (OR = 0.335, 95% CI 0.135 to 0.830) were less likely to experience MCI. The results also showed that those aged 80 or above were more likely to present with cognitive decline and/or reduced activities of daily living (ADL) function, with the odds ratios being 1.874 and 3.782, respectively. Individuals with two, or three or more chronic diseases were more likely to experience cognitive decline and/or reduced ADL function, with odds ratios of 2.423 and 2.631, respectively. Increased risk of suffering from either MCI and/or decline in ADL functioning is strongly positively associated with older age, lower educational levels, poorer family economic status, and multiple chronic diseases. Our findings highlight that the local, regional, and even national specific MCI-related health promotion measures and interventions must target these vulnerable populations.
HiBuffer: Buffer Analysis of 10-Million-Scale Spatial Data in Real Time
Authors: Ma Mengyu , Wu Ye , Luo Wenze , Chen Luo , Li Jun , Jing Ning
Published: November 2018

Buffer analysis, a fundamental function in a geographic information system (GIS), identifies areas by the surrounding geographic features within a given distance. Real-time buffer analysis for large-scale spatial data remains a challenging problem since the computational scales of conventional data-oriented methods expand rapidly with increasing data volume. In this paper, we introduce HiBuffer, a visualization-oriented model for real-time buffer analysis. An efficient buffer generation method is proposed which introduces spatial indexes and a corresponding query strategy. Buffer results are organized into a tile-pyramid structure to enable stepless zooming. Moreover, a fully optimized hybrid parallel processing architecture is proposed for the real-time buffer analysis of large-scale spatial data. Experiments using real-world datasets show that our approach can reduce computation time by up to several orders of magnitude while preserving superior visualization effects. Additional experiments were conducted to analyze the influence of spatial data density, buffer radius, and request rate on HiBuffer performance, and the results demonstrate the adaptability and stability of HiBuffer. The parallel scalability of HiBuffer was also tested, showing that HiBuffer achieves high performance of parallel acceleration. Experimental results verify that HiBuffer is capable of handling 10-million-scale data.
Reduction of Map Information Regulates Visual Attention without Affecting Route Recognition Performance
Authors: Keil Julian , Mocnik Franz-Benjamin , Edler Dennis , Dickmann Frank , Kuchinke Lars
Published: November 2018

Map-based navigation is a diverse task that stands in contradiction to the goal of completeness of web mapping services. As each navigation task is different, it also requires and can dispense with different map information to support effective and efficient wayfinding. Task-oriented reduction of the elements displayed in a map may therefore support navigation. In order to investigate effects of map reduction on route recognition and visual attention towards specific map elements, we created maps in which areas offside an inserted route were displayed as transparent. In a route memory experiment, where participants had to memorize routes and match them to routes displayed in following stimuli, these maps were compared to unmodified maps. Eye movement analyses revealed that in the reduced maps, areas offside the route were fixated less often. Route recognition performance was not affected by the map reduction. Our results indicate that task-oriented map reduction may direct visual attention towards relevant map elements at no cost for route recognition.
The Emerging Role of Insulin Receptor Isoforms in Thyroid Cancer: Clinical Implications and New Perspectives
Authors: Vella Veronica , Malaguarnera Roberta
Published: November 2018

Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common endocrine tumor. Although the majority of TCs show good prognoses, a minor proportion are aggressive and refractory to conventional therapies. So far, the molecular mechanisms underlying TC pathogenesis are incompletely understood. Evidence suggests that TC cells and their precursors are responsive to insulin and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), and often overexpress receptors for insulin (IR) and IGF-1 (IGF-1R). IR exists in two isoforms, namely IR-A and IR-B. The first binds insulin and IGF-2, unlike IR-B, which only binds insulin. IR-A is preferentially expressed in prenatal life and contributes to development through IGF-2 action. Aggressive TC overexpresses IR-A, IGF-2, and IGF-1R. The over-activation of IR-A/IGF-2 loop in TC is associated with stem-like features and refractoriness to some targeted therapies. Importantly, both IR isoforms crosstalk with IGF-1R, giving rise to the formation of hybrids receptors (HR-A or HR-B). Other interactions have been demonstrated with other molecules such as the non-integrin collagen receptor, discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1), and the receptor for the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), Met. These functional networks provide mechanisms for IR signaling diversification, which may also exert a role in TC stem cell biology, thereby contributing to TC initiation and progression. This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which deregulated IR isoforms and their crosstalk with other molecules and signaling pathways in TC cells and their precursors may contribute to thyroid carcinogenesis, progression, and resistance to conventional treatments. We also highlight how targeting these alterations starting from TC progenitors cells may represent new therapeutic strategies to improve the clinical management of advanced TCs.
Reprogramming Tumor Associated Macrophage Phenotype by a Polysaccharide from Ilex asprella for Sarcoma Immunotherapy
Authors: Li Qiu , Hao Zhihui , Hong Yeting , He Wei , Zhao Wenwen
Published: November 2018

We report here the discovery of an acidic polysaccharide, namely IAPS-2, from the root of Ilex asprella, with anti-tumor activity via a repolarizing tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) phenotype. We obtained IAPS-2 polysaccharide from this herb based on acidity and found that IAPS-2 expressed the activity of promoting the secretion of anti-tumor cytokines in macrophages. Furthermore, we evaluated its anti-tumor effect on TAM cells, through the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling. In particular, in the tumor murine model, IAPS-2 demonstrated that it could significantly inhibit the growth of tumors via modulating the function of TAMs and increase the animal survival rate. In summary, IAPS-2, with a clearly illustrated chemical composition, potent anti-tumor activity, and a solid mechanism of action, may be developed into a valuable therapeutic tool for cancer immunotherapy.
Nutrient-Dependent Changes of Protein Palmitoylation: Impact on Nuclear Enzymes and Regulation of Gene Expression
Authors: Spinelli Matteo , Fusco Salvatore , Grassi Claudio
Published: November 2018

Diet is the main environmental stimulus chronically impinging on the organism throughout the entire life. Nutrients impact cells via a plethora of mechanisms including the regulation of both protein post-translational modifications and gene expression. Palmitoylation is the most-studied protein lipidation, which consists of the attachment of a molecule of palmitic acid to residues of proteins. S-palmitoylation is a reversible cysteine modification finely regulated by palmitoyl-transferases and acyl-thioesterases that is involved in the regulation of protein trafficking and activity. Recently, several studies have demonstrated that diet-dependent molecules such as insulin and fatty acids may affect protein palmitoylation. Here, we examine the role of protein palmitoylation on the regulation of gene expression focusing on the impact of this modification on the activity of chromatin remodeler enzymes, transcription factors, and nuclear proteins. We also discuss how this physiological phenomenon may represent a pivotal mechanism underlying the impact of diet and nutrient-dependent signals on human diseases.
Genetic Overlap between General Cognitive Function and Schizophrenia: A Review of Cognitive GWASs
Authors: Ohi Kazutaka , Sumiyoshi Chika , Fujino Haruo , Yasuda Yuka , Yamamori Hidenaga , Fujimoto Michiko , Shiino Tomoko , Sumiyoshi Tomiki , Hashimoto Ryota
Published: November 2018

General cognitive (intelligence) function is substantially heritable, and is a major determinant of economic and health-related life outcomes. Cognitive impairments and intelligence decline are core features of schizophrenia which are evident before the onset of the illness. Genetic overlaps between cognitive impairments and the vulnerability for the illness have been suggested. Here, we review the literature on recent large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of general cognitive function and correlations between cognitive function and genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia. In the last decade, large-scale GWASs (n > 30,000) of general cognitive function and schizophrenia have demonstrated that substantial proportions of the heritability of the cognitive function and schizophrenia are explained by a polygenic component consisting of many common genetic variants with small effects. To date, GWASs have identified more than 100 loci linked to general cognitive function and 108 loci linked to schizophrenia. These genetic variants are mostly intronic or intergenic. Genes identified around these genetic variants are densely expressed in brain tissues. Schizophrenia-related genetic risks are consistently correlated with lower general cognitive function (rg = −0.20) and higher educational attainment (rg = 0.08). Cognitive functions are associated with many of the socioeconomic and health-related outcomes. Current treatment strategies largely fail to improve cognitive impairments of schizophrenia. Therefore, further study is needed to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying both cognition and schizophrenia.
The Human Microbiota and Obesity: A Literature Systematic Review of In Vivo Models and Technical Approaches
Authors: Carrera-Quintanar Lucrecia , Ortuño-Sahagún Daniel , Franco-Arroyo Noel N. , Viveros-Paredes Juan M. , Zepeda-Morales Adelaida S. , Lopez-Roa Rocio I.
Published: November 2018

Obesity is a noncommunicable disease that affects a considerable part of humanity. Recently, it has been recognized that gut microbiota constitutes a fundamental factor in the triggering and development of a large number of pathologies, among which obesity is one of the most related to the processes of dysbiosis. In this review, different animal model approaches, methodologies, and genome scale metabolic databases were revisited to study the gut microbiota and its relationship with metabolic disease. As a data source, PubMed for English-language published material from 1 January 2013, to 22 August 2018, were screened. Some previous studies were included if they were considered classics or highly relevant. Studies that included innovative technical approaches or different in vivo or in vitro models for the study of the relationship between gut microbiota and obesity were selected after a 16-different-keyword exhaustive search. A clear panorama of the current available options for the study of microbiota’s influence on obesity, both for animal model election and technical approaches, is presented to the researcher. All the knowledge generated from the study of the microbiota opens the possibility of considering fecal transplantation as a relevant therapeutic alternative for obesity and other metabolic disease treatment.
Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia: Insights from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Authors: Hoffmann Anke , Ziller Michael , Spengler Dietmar
Published: November 2018

Childhood-onset schizophrenia (COS) is a rare psychiatric disorder characterized by earlier onset, more severe course, and poorer outcome relative to adult-onset schizophrenia (AOS). Even though, clinical, neuroimaging, and genetic studies support that COS is continuous to AOS. Early neurodevelopmental deviations in COS are thought to be significantly mediated through poorly understood genetic risk factors that may also predispose to long-term outcome. In this review, we discuss findings from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that allow the generation of disease-relevant cell types from early brain development. Because iPSCs capture each donor’s genotype, case/control studies can uncover molecular and cellular underpinnings of COS. Indeed, recent studies identified alterations in neural progenitor and neuronal cell function, comprising dendrites, synapses, electrical activity, glutamate signaling, and miRNA expression. Interestingly, transcriptional signatures of iPSC-derived cells from patients with COS showed concordance with postmortem brain samples from SCZ, indicating that changes in vitro may recapitulate changes from the diseased brain. Considering this progress, we discuss also current caveats from the field of iPSC-based disease modeling and how to proceed from basic studies to improved diagnosis and treatment of COS.
Enhanced Electrochemical Performance of Carbon Nanotube with Nitrogen and Iron Using Liquid Phase Plasma Process for Supercapacitor Applications
Authors: Lee Heon , Kim Byung-Joo , Kim Sun-Jae , Park Young-Kwon , Jung Sang-Chul
Published: November 2018

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) and iron oxide particles precipitated on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (IONCNTs) were fabricated by a liquid phase plasma (LPP) process for applications to anode materials in supercapacitors. The nitrogen element and amorphous iron oxide nanoparticles were evenly disseminated on the pristine multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The electrochemical performance of the NCNTs and IONCNTs were investigated and compared with those of pristine MWCNTs. The IONCNTs exhibited superior electrochemical performance to pristine MWCNTs and NCNTs. The specific capacitance of the as-fabricated composites increased as the content of nitrogen and iron oxide particles increased. In addition, the charge transfer resistance of the composites was reduced with introducing nitrogen and iron oxide.
Stearoyl-Chitosan Coated Nanoparticles Obtained by Microemulsion Cold Dilution Technique
Authors: Chirio Daniela , Peira Elena , Sapino Simona , Dianzani Chiara , Barge Alessandro , Muntoni Elisabetta , Morel Silvia , Gallarate Marina
Published: November 2018

Chitosan is an excipient which has been studied thoroughly in research works thanks to its positive characteristics such as muco-adhesiveness and ability to open epithelial-tight-junctions. In this article, lipophilic stearoyl chitosan (ST-CS) was synthetized in order to anchor this polymer to lipid nanoparticles and prepare ST-CS-coated nanoparticles (ST-CS-NP) using the microemulsion cold dilution technique. Curcumin (CURC) was used as model drug. CURC-ST-CS-NP were characterized by dimensional analysis, zeta potential, drug entrapment, drug release; tested in vitro on Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cell (HUVEC) cells to study its cytotoxicity and on human pancreatic cancer cells (PANC-1) to determine inhibition ability; tested in rats to determine CURC blood profiles and biodistribution. CURC-ST-CS-NP had mean diameters in the range 200–400 nm and CURC entrapment up to 73%. These systems did not show cytotoxicity on HUVEC cells at all tested dilutions and revealed to be more effective than free CURC solution on PANC-1 cells at 5 and 10 µM CURC. Blood profile studies evidenced as CURC entrapment in NP prolonged the permanence of drug in the systemic circulation compared to CURC solution due to a certain stealth property of NP, probably attributable to hydrophilic chitosan coating. Biodistribution studies showed a smaller CURC concentration in RES organs when CURC-ST-CS-NP were administered.
Towards the Representation of Etymological Data on the Semantic Web
Authors: Khan Anas Fahad
Published: November 2018

In this article, we look at the potential for a wide-coverage modelling of etymological information as linked data using the Resource Data Framework (RDF) data model. We begin with a discussion of some of the most typical features of etymological data and the challenges that these might pose to an RDF-based modelling. We then propose a new vocabulary for representing etymological data, the Ontolex-lemon Etymological Extension (lemonETY), based on the ontolex-lemon model. Each of the main elements of our new model is motivated with reference to the preceding discussion.
Iron and Copper Intracellular Chelation as an Anticancer Drug Strategy
Authors: Gaur Kavita , Vázquez-Salgado Alexandra M. , Duran-Camacho Geraldo , Dominguez-Martinez Irivette , Benjamín-Rivera Josué A. , Fernández-Vega Lauren , Carmona Sarabia Lesly , Cruz García Angelys , Pérez-Deliz Felipe , Méndez Román José A. , Vega-Cartagena Melissa , Loza-Rosas Sergio A. , Rodriguez Acevedo Xaymara , Tinoco Arthur D.
Published: November 2018

A very promising direction in the development of anticancer drugs is inhibiting the molecular pathways that keep cancer cells alive and able to metastasize. Copper and iron are two essential metals that play significant roles in the rapid proliferation of cancer cells and several chelators have been studied to suppress the bioavailability of these metals in the cells. This review discusses the major contributions that Cu and Fe play in the progression and spreading of cancer and evaluates select Cu and Fe chelators that demonstrate great promise as anticancer drugs. Efforts to improve the cellular delivery, efficacy, and tumor responsiveness of these chelators are also presented including a transmetallation strategy for dual targeting of Cu and Fe. To elucidate the effectiveness and specificity of Cu and Fe chelators for treating cancer, analytical tools are described for measuring Cu and Fe levels and for tracking the metals in cells, tissue, and the body.
Corrosion of Hydrogen Storage Metal Alloy LaMm-Ni4.1Al0.3Mn0.4Co0.45 in the Aqueous Solutions of Alkali Metal Hydroxides
Authors: Karwowska Malgorzata , Fijalkowski Karol J. , Czerwiński Andrzej A.
Published: November 2018

Corrosion of pristine AB5-type metal alloy LaMm-Ni4.1Al0.3Mn0.4Co0.45 in the aqueous solutions of alkali metal hydroxides of diverse composition and concentration was tested. Correlation was observed between the alloy corrosion intensity in various hydroxide solutions, and its electrochemical capacity in these electrolytes. Mm(OH)3, CoO(OH), and nickel metal aggregates were detected among the products of selective oxidation of the alloy. High intensity corrosion of the alloy was observed in RbOH and CsOH solutions leading to formation of ternary oxides at the surface of the alloy. Presence of rubidium and cesium ions in the electrolyte were found to create an additional driving force for lanthanides (La and Ce) to leave the lattice of the alloy, thus, enhancing its corrosion. Corrosion, together with mechanical degradation, were found to be the main reasons of deactivation of LaMm-Ni4.1Al0.3Mn0.4Co0.45 alloy upon elongated electrochemical treatment.
Study on Adsorption Mechanism and Failure Characteristics of CO2 Adsorption by Potassium-Based Adsorbents with Different Supports
Authors: Fan Bao-guo , Jia Li , Wang Yan-lin , Zhao Rui , Mei Xue-song , Liu Yan-yan , Jin Yan
Published: November 2018

In order to obtain the adsorption mechanism and failure characteristics of CO2 adsorption by potassium-based adsorbents with different supports, five types of supports (circulating fluidized bed boiler fly ash, pulverized coal boiler fly ash, activated carbon, molecular sieve, and alumina) and three kinds of adsorbents under the modified conditions of K2CO3 theoretical loading (10%, 30%, and 50%) were studied. The effect of the reaction temperature (50 °C, 60 °C, 70 °C, 80 °C, and 90 °C) and CO2 concentration (5%, 7.5%, 10%, 12.5%, and 15%) on the adsorption of CO2 by the adsorbent after loading and the effect of flue gas composition on the failure characteristics of adsorbents were obtained. At the same time, the microscopic characteristics of the adsorbents before and after loading and the reaction were studied by using a specific surface area and porosity analyzer as well as a scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffractometer. Combining its reaction and adsorption kinetics process, the mechanism of influence was explored. The results show that the optimal theoretical loading of the five adsorbents is 30% and the reaction temperature of 70 °C and the concentration of 12.5% CO2 are the best reaction conditions. The actual loading and CO2 adsorption performance of the K2CO3/AC adsorbent are the best while the K2CO3/Al2O3 adsorbent is the worst. During the carbonation reaction of the adsorbent, the cumulative pore volume plays a more important role in the adsorption process than the specific surface area. As the reaction temperature increases, the internal diffusion resistance increases remarkably. K2CO3/AC has the lowest activation energy and the carbonation reaction is the easiest to carry out. SO2 and HCl react with K2CO3 to produce new substances, which leads to the gradual failure of the adsorbents and K2CO3/AC has the best cycle failure performance.
Effect of High-Pressure Torsion on Structure and Properties of Ti-15Mo/TiB Metal-Matrix Composite
Authors: Zherebtsov Sergey , Ozerov Maxim , Klimova Margarita , Stepanov Nikita , Vershinina Tatyana , Ivanisenko Yulia , Salishchev Gennady
Published: November 2018

The microstructure and microhardness evolution of a Ti-15(wt.%)Mo/TiB metal-matrix composite (MMC) during high-pressure torsion (HPT) at 400 °C was studied. The composite was fabricated by spark plasma sintering of a Ti, Mo and TiB2 powders mixture at 1200 °C. In the initial condition, the structure of the composite consisted mainly of body-centered cubic (bcc) Ti solid solution and TiB whiskers. An increase in dislocation density, a considerable decrease in a grain size in the bcc Ti matrix, and breaking/rearrangement of the TiB whiskers were observed during HPT. The (sub)grain size in the bcc Ti matrix attained after 1 revolution was ~75 nm and then gradually decreased to ~55 nm after 5 revolutions. The TiB particle sizes after 5 revolutions was found to be 130–210 nm. The microhardness increased with strain from 575 HV in the initial state to 730 HV after 5 revolutions. Various hardening mechanisms’ contributions in the Ti-15Mo/TiB were evaluated.
Cyclic Deformation and Correspondent Crack Initiation at Low-Stress Amplitudes in Mg–Gd–Y–Zr Alloy
Authors: He Chao , Wu Yujuan , Peng Liming , Su Ning , Li Xue , Yang Kun , Liu Yongjie , Yuan Shucheng , Tian Renhui
Published: November 2018

Cyclic deformation at low-stress amplitudes of a rare earth-containing magnesium alloy (Mg–Gd–Y–Zr) was investigated with emphasis on the responsible microstructural relationship between deformation mechanism and fatigue crack initiation. The results show that the microstructural deformation is extremely inhomogeneous at the low-stress amplitudes. Both deformation twinning and non-basal slip are barely observed, and basal slip is the predominant deformation to accommodate micro-plasticity. Fatigue crack initiation occurred at the basal slip bands, causing the morphology of facet on the fracture surface. Therefore, the basal slip is of prime importance in low-stress cyclic deformation and fatigue failure, and fatigue improvement could potentially be obtained through hindering the motion of basal dislocation by microstructural obstacles.
Fabrication of Macroporous Biomorphic SiC from Cellulose Nanofibers Aerogel
Authors: Wang Mingjie , Liu Fu , Chen Yao , Gao Jianmin
Published: November 2018

The biomorphic Silicon Carbide (BioSiC) ceramic with highly interconnected porous three-dimensional (3D) structure was fabricated by utilizing balsa wood cellulose nanofibers aerogel as the biotemplate and polycarbosilane (PCS) as the preceramic precursor. Evolution of morphology, composition, and pore properties from untreated wood to porous BioSiC was investigated systemically. The shrinkage and weight gain during pyrolysis was discussed. It was found that the structure of as-synthesized BioSiC was related to the microstructure of wood aerogel template and the concentration of PCS precursor. The proper microstructure of cellulose skeleton which was essential for the infiltration process could obtained by removing lignin and hemicellulose appropriately. The optimum PCS content was 40 wt. % for easy infiltration and proper SiC content. The results revealed that the dredged skeleton of cellulose was reproduced perfectly by PCS ceramization. The obtained BioSiC presented high porosity (61.03%) and low density (0.86 g/cm3) with good Darcy permeability (19.22 mD).
Innovative Strain Sensing for Detection of Exterior Wall Tile Lesion: Smart Skin Sensory System
Authors: Chang Chih-Yuan , Hung San-Shan , Liu Li-Hua , Lin Chien-Pang
Published: November 2018

Tiles are commonly used to cover the exteriors of buildings in Taiwan. However, older buildings in Taiwan encounter the problem of tiles falling off due to natural deterioration, which is unsightly, and more importantly, a threat to public safety. Nevertheless, no current method exists that can effectively detect flaws in building tiles in real time. This study combined the fields of civil engineering and automatic control to reduce risks caused by falling tiles by improving real-time detection of at-risk areas. Micro-resistance was combined with fuzzy theory as the logical foundation for evaluating tile status. String-type strain gauges were adopted as sensors to design a smart skin sensory system that could measure signs of deterioration in tile surface lesions. The design was found to be feasible. In the future, it can be further developed for facile real-time assessment of tile status.
Characterization and Structural Performance in Bending of CLT Panels Made from Small-Diameter Logs of Loblolly/Slash Pine
Authors: Baño Vanesa , Godoy Daniel , Figueredo Diego , Vega Abel
Published: November 2018

The main objective of this work was to study the structural viability of using small-diameter logs of Uruguayan Loblolly/Slash pine, mainly from thinning operations, to design cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels. A visual grade named “CTH” (coniferous thinning) was proposed, and 45 specimens of sawn timber boards were tested, resulting in 51% lower bending strength than that of the minimum strength class C14. Subsequently, 20 CLT panels were manufactured and experimentally tested, the results showed that the bending strength of the CLT panels was 43% above that of the individual layers. Additionally, the structural performance of the CLT panels for use in floors was calculated, and the thickness-span relationship depending on strength class and imposed load are presented. Results showed than the use of CTH timber to design CLT floors implies a volume (m3/m2) 17% higher than that using C24 timber.
Characterizations of Right Weakly Regular Semigroups in Terms of Generalized Cubic Soft Sets
Authors: Gulistan Muhammad , Feng Feng , Khan Madad , Sezgin Aslıhan
Published: November 2018

Cubic sets are the very useful generalization of fuzzy sets where one is allowed to extend the output through a subinterval of [ 0 , 1 ] and a number from [ 0 , 1 ] . Generalized cubic sets generalized the cubic sets with the help of cubic point. On the other hand Soft sets were proved to be very effective tool for handling imprecision. Semigroups are the associative structures have many applications in the theory of Automata. In this paper we blend the idea of cubic sets, generalized cubic sets and semigroups with the soft sets in order to develop a generalized approach namely generalized cubic soft sets in semigroups. As the ideal theory play a fundamental role in algebraic structures through this we can make a quotient structures. So we apply the idea of neutrosophic cubic soft sets in a very particular class of semigroups namely weakly regular semigroups and characterize it through different types of ideals. By using generalized cubic soft sets we define different types of generalized cubic soft ideals in semigroups through three different ways. We discuss a relationship between the generalized cubic soft ideals and characteristic functions and cubic level sets after providing some basic operations. We discuss two different lattice structures in semigroups and show that in the case when a semigroup is regular both structures coincides with each other. We characterize right weakly regular semigroups using different types of generalized cubic soft ideals. In this characterization we use some classical results as without them we cannot prove the inter relationship between a weakly regular semigroups and generalized cubic soft ideals. This generalization leads us to a new research direction in algebraic structures and in decision making theory.