bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early Effects of Sacubitril/Valsartan on Exercise Tolerance in Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction
Authors: Vitale Giuseppe , Romano Giuseppe , Di Franco Antonino , Caccamo Giuseppa , Nugara Cinzia , Ajello Laura , Storniolo Salvo , Sarullo Silvia , Agnese Valentina , Giallauria Francesco , Novo Giuseppina , Clemenza Francesco , Sarullo Filippo
Published: February 2019

Background. Sacubitril/valsartan in heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) was shown to be superior to enalapril in reducing the risk of death and hospitalization for HF. Our aim was to evaluate the cardiopulmonary effects of sacubitril/valsartan in patients with HFrEF. Methods. We conducted an observational study. Ninety-nine ambulatory patients with HFrEF underwent serial cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) after initiation of sacubitril/valsartan in addition to recommended therapy. Results. At baseline, 37% of patients had New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III. After a median follow-up of 6.2 months (range 3–14.9 months) systolic blood pressure decreased from 117 ± 14 to 101 ± 12 mmHg (p < 0.0001), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) increased from 27 ± 6 to 29.7 ± 7% (p < 0.0001), peak oxygen consumption (VO2) improved from 14.6 ± 3.3 (% of predicted = 53.8 ± 14.1) to 17.2 ± 4.7 mL/kg/min (% of predicted = 64.7 ± 17.8) (p < 0.0001), minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production relationship (VE/VCO2 Slope) decreased from 34.1 ± 6.3 to 31.7 ± 6.1 (p = 0.006), VO2 at anaerobic threshold increased from 11.3 ± 2.6 to 12.6 ± 3.5 mL/kg/min (p = 0.007), oxygen pulse increased from 11.5 ± 3.0 to 13.4 ± 4.3 mL/kg/min (p < 0.0001), and ∆VO2/∆Work increased from 9.2 ± 1.5 to 10.1 ± 1.8 mL/min/watt (p = 0.0002). Conclusion. Sacubitril/valsartan improved exercise tolerance, LVEF, peak VO2, and ventilatory efficiency at 6.2 months follow-up. Further studies are necessary to better clarify underlying mechanisms of this functional improvement.
Assessing Student’s Achievement Gaps between Ethnic Groups in Brazil
Authors: Rocha Luis E. C. , Nascimento Luana de F.
Published: February 2019

Achievement gaps refer to the difference in the performance on assessments of students belonging to different social groups. Achievement gaps between ethnic groups have been observed in countries with heterogeneous populations. In this paper, achievement gaps between ethnic populations in Brazil were analyzed by studying the performance of a large cohort of senior high-school students in a standardized national exam. Ethnic groups were stratified by Brazilian states and socio-economic variables to homogeneize the groups, and the analyses focused on the disciplines of mathematics and writing that involve different cognitive functions. A Welch’s t-test analysis was performed and key socio-economic variables that may explain the gaps were studied. The results show that gaps between ethnic groups of students living in low-income households were either statistically insignificant or small (2– 6 % ) if statistically significant. Larger gaps however were observed for students coming from high-income families in some contexts. Although parental education was associated with higher performance, it may either increase, decrease or maintain the gaps between White and Black, and between White and Pardo students. Our results support that socio-economic variables, linked to historical developments, have an impact on student’s performance irrespective of ethnic background, resulting on little to no influence on group performance when students are exposed to similar cultural and economic contexts.
Analysis of Hydrodynamic Performance of L-Type Podded Propulsion with Oblique Flow Angle
Authors: Wang Wei , Zhao Dagang , Guo Chunyu , Pang Yongjie
Published: February 2019

In this study, the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) method and a model experimental test in a towing tank are used to investigate the unsteady hydrodynamic performance of L-type podded propulsion under different oblique flow angles and advance coefficients. The results show that the load of the operative propeller increases with oblique flow angle and the bracket adds resistance to the pod due to the impact of water flow, leading to a reduced propeller thrust coefficient with increased oblique flow angle. Under a high advance coefficient, the speed of increase of the pressure effect is higher than that of the viscosity effect, and the propeller efficiency increases with the oblique flow angle. The nonuniformity of the inflow results in varying degrees of asymmetry in the horizontal and vertical distributions of the propeller blade pressure. Under high oblique flow angle, relatively strong interference effects are seen between venting vortexes and the cabin after blades, leading to a disorderly venting vortex system after the blade. The numerical simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental values. The study findings provide a foundation for further research on L-type podded propulsors.
Numerical Simulations of Wave-Induced Soil Erosion in Silty Sand Seabeds
Authors: Guo Zhen , Zhou Wenjie , Zhu Congbo , Yuan Feng , Rui Shengjie
Published: February 2019

Silty sand is a kind of typical marine sediment that is widely distributed in the offshore areas of East China. It has been found that under continuous actions of wave pressure, a mass of fine particles will gradually rise up to the surface of silty sand seabeds, i.e., the phenomenon called wave-induced soil erosion. This is thought to be due to the seepage flow caused by the pore-pressure accumulation within the seabed. In this paper, a kind of three-phase soil model (soil skeleton, pore fluid, and fluidized soil particles) is established to simulate the process of wave-induced soil erosion. In the simulations, the analytical solution for wave-induced pore-pressure accumulation was used, and Darcy flow law, mass conservation, and generation equations were coupled. Then, the time characteristics of wave-induced soil erosion in the seabed were studied, especially for the effects of wave height, wave period, and critical concentration of fluidized particles. It can be concluded that the most significant soil erosion under wave actions appears at the shallow seabed. With the increases of wave height and critical concentration of fluidized particles, the soil erosion rate and erosion degree increase obviously, and there exists a particular wave period that will lead to the most severe and the fastest rate of soil erosion in the seabed.
4-(4-Chlorophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5-thione
Authors: Yeo Chien , Azizan Ainnul , Tiekink Edward
Published: February 2019

The title compound, 4-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5-thione (1), was synthesized by a hetero-cyclization reaction of 4-chlorophenyl isothiocyanate and formic hydrazide. Compound 1 was characterized by a single-crystal X-ray structure determination as well as 1H and 13C{1H} NMR, IR, and UV spectroscopy, and microelemental analysis. X-ray crystallography on 1 confirms the molecule exists as the thione tautomer and shows the five-membered ring to be planar and to form a dihedral angle of 82.70(5)° with the appended chlorophenyl ring, indicating an almost orthogonal relationship. In the molecular packing, supramolecular dimers are formed via thioamide-N–H⋯S(thione) hydrogen bonds and these are connected by C=S⋯π(triazolyl) and C-Cl⋯π(triazolyl) interactions, leading to a three-dimensional architecture.
Damage Evolution of RC Beams Under Simultaneous Reinforcement Corrosion and Sustained Load
Authors: Shen Jiansheng , Gao Xi , Li Bo , Du Kun , Jin Ruoyu , Chen Wei , Xu Yidong
Published: February 2019

To accurately obtain the performance of concrete structures in coastal regions, it is necessary to correctly understand the damage evolution law of reinforced concrete (RC) members under real working conditions. In this paper, four RC beams, subjected to different levels of corrosion and sustained load, are first tested. Reinforcement corrosion coupled with sustained load increases the number and width of cracks at the soffit of beams but decreases their loading capacities. Crack width of the corroded beam under 50% of designed load is two times of that under 30% of designed load. Residual loading capacities of the corroded beams subjected to 30% and 50% of designed load are 87.5% and 81.8% of the control beam. A finite element model is developed for the corroded RC beams. Due to less confinement, concrete below and at the sides of reinforcements is subjected to a higher stress, compared to concrete above the reinforcements. Corrosion expansion of reinforcements is successfully modelled by a temperature-filed method, as it properly simulates the damage evolution of the corroded RC beams. As a result, concrete cracking, caused by the reinforcement corrosion, is well captured. Coupling reinforcement corrosion with sustained load significantly increases the damage level in RC beams, particularly for those subjected to a high sustained load. The whole damage evolution process of concrete cracking due to corrosion expansion under the coupling effect of sustained loading and environment can be simulated, thus providing a reference for the durability evaluation, life prediction, and numerical simulation of concrete structure.
Ceramic-Reinforced γ-TiAl-Based Composites: Synthesis, Structure, and Properties
Authors: Lazurenko Daria V. , Stark Andreas , Esikov Maksim A. , Paul Jonathan , Bataev Ivan A. , Kashimbetova Adelya A. , Mali Vyacheslav I. , Lorenz Uwe , Pyczak Florian
Published: February 2019

In this study, new multilayer TiAl-based composites were developed and characterized. The materials were produced by spark plasma sintering (SPS) of elemental Ti and Al foils and ceramic particles (TiB2 and TiC) at 1250 °C. The matrix of the composites consisted of α2-TiAl and γ-TiAl lamellas and reinforcing ceramic layers. Formation of the α2 + γ structure, which occurred via a number of solid–liquid and solid–solid reactions and intermediate phases, was characterized by in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction analysis. The combination of X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis revealed that an interaction of TiC with Ti and Al led to the formation of a Ti2AlC Mn+1AXn (MAX) phase. No chemical reactions between TiB2 and the matrix elements were observed. The microhardness, compressive strength, and creep behavior of the composites were measured to estimate their mechanical properties. The orientation of the layers with respect to the direction of the load affected the compressive strength and creep behavior of TiC-reinforced composites. The compressive strength of samples loaded in the perpendicular direction to layers was higher; however, the creep resistance was better for composites loaded in the longitudinal direction. The microhardness of the composites correlated with the microhardness of reinforcing components.
Microstructures and Properties of Porous Liquid-Phase-Sintered SiC Ceramic by Hot Press Sintering
Authors: Li Yajie , Wu Haibo , Liu Xuejian , Huang Zhengren
Published: February 2019

Porous liquid-phase-sintered SiC (L-SiC) ceramics were successfully fabricated by hot press sintering (HP) at 1800 °C in argon, using Al2O3 and Y2O3 as oxide additions. By varying the starting coarse SiC particle size, the relationships between pore microstructures and flexural strength as well as gas permeability of porous L-SiC were examined. All the as-sintered samples possessed homogeneous interconnected pores. The porosity of porous L-SiC decreased from 34.0% to 25.9%, and the peak pore size increased from 1.1 to 3.8 μm as the coarse SiC particle sizes increased. The flexural strengths of porous L-SiC ceramics at room temperature and 1000 °C were as high as 104.3 ± 7.3 MPa and 78.8 ± 5.1 MPa, respectively, though there was a decrease in accordance with their increasing pore sizes and particle sizes. Moreover, their gas permeability increased from 1.4 × 10−14 m2 to 4.6 × 10−14 m2 with the increase of pore size in spite of their decreased porosity.
Numerical Simulation of Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Concrete under Uniaxial Compression
Authors: Peng Yijiang , Wang Qing , Ying Liping , Kamel Mahmoud M. A. , Peng Hongtao
Published: February 2019

Based on the base force element method (BFEM), the dynamic mechanical behavior of concrete under uniaxial compression loading at different strain rates is investigated. The concrete can be considered as a three-phase composite material composed of aggregate, cement mortar, and interfacial transition zone (ITZ) on the meso-level. A two-dimensional random aggregate model is generated by the Monte Carlo method. A multi-linear two-dimensional damage model is applied to describe the damage properties of each phase in the concrete. The strain-softening behavior, strain-rate effect, and failure patterns of the concrete are studied. The numerical results find that the peaks of compressive stress and compressive strain of concrete show the rate-sensitivity in various degrees under different strain rates. The calculated results of the dynamic enhancement factors are in a good agreement with the formula given by the Comité Euro-International du Béton (CEB) and other experimental results. The failure diagram of the specimen clearly describes the compressive failure process of the concrete specimen. This failure’s characteristics are similar to the experimental results.
Modified Roller Coaster Surface in Space
Authors: BAŞ Selçuk , KÖRPINAR Talat
Published: February 2019

In this paper, a new modified roller coaster surface according to a modified orthogonal frame is investigated in Euclidean 3-space. In this method, a new modified roller coaster surface is modeled. Both the Gaussian curvature and mean curvature of roller coaster surfaces are investigated. Subsequently, we obtain several characterizations in Euclidean 3-space.
Stability Analysis of a Fractional-Order Linear System Described by the Caputo–Fabrizio Derivative
Authors: Li Hong , Cheng Jun , Li Hou-Biao , Zhong Shou-Ming
Published: February 2019

In this paper, stability analysis of a fractional-order linear system described by the Caputo–Fabrizio (CF) derivative is studied. In order to solve the problem, character equation of the system is defined at first by using the Laplace transform. Then, some simple necessary and sufficient stability conditions and sufficient stability conditions are given which will be the basis of doing research of a fractional-order system with a CF derivative. In addition, the difference of stability domain between two linear systems described by two different fractional derivatives is also studied. Our results permit researchers to check the stability by judging the locations in the complex plane of the dynamic matrix eigenvalues of the state space.
Further Results on the Resistance-Harary Index of Unicyclic Graphs
Authors: Lu Jian , Chen Shu-Bo , Liu Jia-Bao , Pan Xiang-Feng , Ji Ying-Jie
Published: February 2019

The Resistance-Harary index of a connected graph G is defined as R H ( G ) = ∑ { u , v } ⊆ V ( G ) 1 r ( u , v ) , where r ( u , v ) is the resistance distance between vertices u and v in G. A graph G is called a unicyclic graph if it contains exactly one cycle and a fully loaded unicyclic graph is a unicyclic graph that no vertex with degree less than three in its unique cycle. Let U ( n ) and U ( n ) be the set of unicyclic graphs and fully loaded unicyclic graphs of order n, respectively. In this paper, we determine the graphs of U ( n ) with second-largest Resistance-Harary index and determine the graphs of U ( n ) with largest Resistance-Harary index.
Thermoelastic Diffusion Multicomponent Half-Space under the Effect of Surface and Bulk Unsteady Perturbations
Authors: Davydov Sergey A. , Zemskov Andrei V. , Akhmetova Elena R.
Published: February 2019

This article presents an algorithm for solving the unsteady problem of one-dimensional coupled thermoelastic diffusion perturbations propagation in a multicomponent isotropic half-space, as a result of surface and bulk external effects. One-dimensional physico-mechanical processes, in a continuum, have been described by a local-equilibrium model, which included the coupled linear equations of an elastic medium motion, heat transfer, and mass transfer. The unknown functions of displacement, temperature, and concentration increments were sought in the integral form, which was a convolution of the surface and bulk Green’s functions and external effects functions. The Laplace transform on time and the Fourier sine and cosine transforms on the coordinate were used to find the Green’s functions. The obtained Green’s functions was analyzed. Test calculations were performed on the examples of some technological processes.
Growth and Biochemical Composition of Porphyridium purpureum SCS-02 under Different Nitrogen Concentrations
Authors: Li Tao , Xu Jin , Wu Houbo , Jiang Peiliang , Chen Zishuo , Xiang Wenzhou
Published: February 2019

Microalgae of the genus Porphyridium show great potential for large-scale commercial cultivation, as they accumulate large quantities of B-phycoerythrin (B-PE), long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) and exopolysaccharide (EPS). The present study aimed to adjust culture nitrogen concentrations to produce Porphyridium biomass rich in B-PE, LC-PUFAs and EPS. Porphyridium purpureum SCS-02 was cultured in ASW culture medium with low nitrogen supply (LN, 3.5 mM), medium nitrogen supply (MN, 5.9 mM) or high nitrogen supply (HN, 17.6 mM). HN significantly enhanced the accumulation of biomass, intracellular protein, B-PE and eicosapentaenoic acid. LN increased the intracellular carbohydrate and arachidonic acid content, and promoted the secretion of EPS. The total lipids content was almost unaffected by nitrogen concentration. Based on these results, a semi-continuous two-step process was proposed, which included the production of biomass rich in B-PE and LC-PUFAs with sufficient nitrogen, and induced EPS excretion with limited nitrogen and strong light.
Fusarisolins A–E, Polyketides from the Marine-Derived Fungus Fusarium solani H918
Authors: Niu Siwen , Tang Xi-Xiang , Fan Zuowang , Xia Jin-Mei , Xie Chun-Lan , Yang Xian-Wen
Published: February 2019

Five new (fusarisolins A–E, 1 to 5) and three known (6 to 8) polyketides were isolated from the marine-derived fungus Fusarium solani H918, along with six known phenolics (9 to 14). Their structures were established by comprehensive spectroscopic data analyses, methoxyphenylacetic acid (MPA) method, chemical conversion, and by comparison with data reported in the literature. Compounds 1 and 2 are the first two naturally occurring 21 carbons polyketides featuring a rare β- and γ-lactone unit, respectively. All isolates (1 to 14) were evaluated for their inhibitory effects against tea pathogenic fungus Pestalotiopsis theae and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) synthase gene expression. Compound 8 showed potent antifungal activity with an ED50 value of 55 μM, while 1, 8, 13, and 14 significantly inhibited HMG-CoA synthase gene expression.
A Noninvasive Comparison Study between Human Gliomas with IDH1 and IDH2 Mutations by MR Spectroscopy
Authors: Shen Xin , Voets Natalie L. , Larkin Sarah J. , de Pennington Nick , Plaha Puneet , Stacey Richard , McCullagh James S. O. , Schofield Christopher J. , Clare Stuart , Jezzard Peter , Cadoux-Hudson Tom , Ansorge Olaf , Emir Uzay E.
Published: February 2019

The oncogenes that are expressed in gliomas reprogram particular pathways of glucose, amino acids, and fatty acid metabolism. Mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase genes (IDH1/2) in diffuse gliomas are associated with abnormally high levels of 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) levels. The aim of this study was to determine whether metabolic reprogramming associated with IDH mutant gliomas leads to additional 1H MRS-detectable differences between IDH1 and IDH2 mutations, and to identify metabolites correlated with 2-HG. A total of 21 glioma patients (age= 37 ± 11, 13 males) were recruited for magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) using semi-localization by adiabatic selective refocusing pulse sequence at an ultra-high-field (7T). For 20 patients, the tumor mutation subtype was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and DNA sequencing. LCModel analysis was applied for metabolite quantification. A two-sample t-test was used for metabolite comparisons between IDH1 (n = 15) and IDH2 (n = 5) mutant gliomas. The Pearson correlation coefficients between 2-HG and associated metabolites were calculated. A Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple comparison. IDH2 mutant gliomas have a higher level of 2-HG/tCho (total choline=phosphocholine+glycerylphosphorylcholine) (2.48 ± 1.01vs.0.72 ± 0.38, Pc < 0.001) and myo-Inositol/tCho (2.70 ± 0.90 vs. 1.46 ± 0.51, Pc = 0.011) compared to IDH1 mutation gliomas. Associated metabolites, myo-Inositol and glucose+taurine were correlated with 2-HG levels. These results show the improved characterization of the metabolic pathways in IDH1 and IDH2 gliomas for precision medicine.
High-Performance Resistance-Switchable Multilayers of Graphene Oxide Blended with 1,3,4-Oxadiazole Acceptor Nanocomposite
Authors: Li Lei , Li Guangming
Published: February 2019

Graphene oxide (GO) has been actively utilized in nonvolatile resistive switching random access memory (ReRAM) devices due to solution-processability, accessibility for highly scalable device fabrication for transistor-based memory, and cross-bar memory arrays. Uncontrollable oxygen functional groups of GO, however, restrict its application. To obtain stable memory performance, 2-tert-butylphenyl-5-biphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PBD) a that can serve as 1,3,4-oxadiazole acceptor was carefully introduced onto the GO framework. Better stability was achieved by increasing the weight ratio of the chemical component from 2:1 to 10:1 in all GO-based solutions. Particularly, rewritable nonvolatile memory characteristics were dependent on the ratio between PBD and GO. PBD:GO devices with a proportion of 10:1 w/w exhibited better memory performance, possessed a higher ON/OFF ratio (>102) at a lower switching voltage of −0.67 V, and had a long retention ability. The interaction between PBD and GO can be demonstrated by transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, thermogravimetric analysis, fourier transform infrared spectra, Raman spectra, X-ray diffraction, and fluorescence spectra. The superior ReRAM properties of the multilayers of GO blended with the PBD nanocomposite are attributed to electron traps caused by the strong electron acceptors.
Plasmid-Mediated Colistin Resistance in Salmonella enterica: A Review
Authors: Lima Tiago , Domingues Sara , Da Silva Gabriela Jorge
Published: February 2019

Colistin is widely used in food-animal production. Salmonella enterica is a zoonotic pathogen, which can pass from animal to human microbiota through the consumption of contaminated food, and cause disease, often severe, especially in young children, elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Recently, plasmid-mediated colistin resistance was recognised; mcr-like genes are being identified worldwide. Colistin is not an antibiotic used to treat Salmonella infections, but has been increasingly used as one of the last treatment options for carbapenem resistant Enterobacteria in human infections. The finding of mobilizable mcr-like genes became a global concern due to the possibility of horizontal transfer of the plasmid that often carry resistance determinants to beta-lactams and/or quinolones. An understanding of the origin and dissemination of mcr-like genes in zoonotic pathogens such as S. enterica will facilitate the management of colistin use and target interventions to prevent further spread. The main objective of this review was to collect epidemiological data about mobilized colistin resistance in S. enterica, describing the mcr variants, identified serovars, origin of the isolate, country and other resistance genes located in the same genetic platform.
In Silico Analysis of Genetic VapC Profiles from the Toxin-Antitoxin Type II VapBC Modules among Pathogenic, Intermediate, and Non-Pathogenic Leptospira
Authors: Lopes Alexandre P. Y. , Azevedo Bruna O. P. , Emídio Rebeca C. , Damiano Deborah K. , Nascimento Ana L. T. O. , Barazzone Giovana C.
Published: February 2019

Pathogenic Leptospira spp. is the etiological agent of leptospirosis. The high diversity among Leptospira species provides an array to look for important mediators involved in pathogenesis. Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems represent an important survival mechanism on stress conditions. vapBC modules have been found in nearly one thousand genomes corresponding to about 40% of known TAs. In the present study, we investigated TA profiles of some strains of Leptospira using a TA database and compared them through protein alignment of VapC toxin sequences among Leptospira spp. genomes. Our analysis identified significant differences in the number of putative vapBC modules distributed in pathogenic, saprophytic, and intermediate strains: four in L. interrogans, three in L. borgpetersenii, eight in L. biflexa, and 15 in L. licerasiae. The VapC toxins show low identity among amino acid sequences within the species. Some VapC toxins appear to be exclusively conserved in unique species, others appear to be conserved among pathogenic or saprophytic strains, and some appear to be distributed randomly. The data shown here indicate that these modules evolved in a very complex manner, which highlights the strong need to identify and characterize new TAs as well as to understand their regulation networks and the possible roles of TA systems in pathogenic bacteria.
Li and Na Adsorption on Graphene and Graphene Oxide Examined by Density Functional Theory, Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules, and Electron Localization Function
Authors: Dimakis Nicholas , Salas Isaiah , Gonzalez Luis , Vadodaria Om , Ruiz Korinna , Bhatti Muhammad I.
Published: February 2019

Adsorption of Li and Na on pristine and defective graphene and graphene oxide (GO) is studied using density functional theory (DFT) structural and electronic calculations, quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM), and electron localization function (ELF) analyses. DFT calculations show that Li and Na adsorptions on pristine graphene are not stable at all metal coverages examined here. However, the presence of defects on graphene support stabilizes both Li and Na adsorptions. Increased Li and Na coverages cause metal nucleation and weaken adsorption. Defective graphene is associated with the presence of band gaps and, thus, Li and Na adsorptions can be used to tune these gaps. Electronic calculations show that Li– and Na–graphene interactions are Coulombic: as Li and Na coverages increase, the metal valences partially hybridize with the graphene bands and weaken metal–graphene support interactions. However, for Li adsorption on single vacancy graphene, QTAIM, ELF, and overlap populations calculations show that the Li-C bond has some covalent character. The Li and Na adsorptions on GO are significantly stronger than on graphene and strengthen upon increased coverages. This is due to Li and Na forming bonds with both carbon and oxygen GO atoms. QTAIM and ELF are used to analyze the metal–C and metal–metal bonds (when metal nucleation is present). The Li and Na clusters may contain both covalent and metallic intra metal–metal bonds: This effect is related to the adsorption support selection. ELF bifurcation diagrams show individual metal–C and metal–metal interactions, as Li and Na are adsorbed on graphene and GO, at the metal coverages examined here.
Electrochemical Characterization and Inhibiting Mechanism on Calcium Leaching of Graphene Oxide Reinforced Cement Composites
Authors: Long Wu-Jian , Ye Tao-Hua , Li Li-Xiao , Feng Gan-Lin
Published: February 2019

Calcium leaching is a degradation progress inside hardened cement composites, where Ca2+ ions in cement pore solution can migrate into the aggressive solution. In this work, calcium leaching of graphene oxide (GO) reinforced cement composites was effectively characterized by combined techniques of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Inhibiting mechanism of GO on calcium leaching of the composites was also examined. The obtained results show that the diameter of the semi-circle of the Nyquist curves of leached samples with GO addition decreased less than that of controlled samples. After leaching for 35 days, loss rate of model impedance RCCP of leached samples with 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2 wt.% GO addition was 94.85%, 84.07%, 79.66%, 75.34%, and 68.75%, respectively. Therefore, GO addition can significantly mitigate calcium leaching of cement composites, since it can absorb Ca2+ ions in cement pore solution, as well as improve the microstructure of the composites. In addition, coupling leaching depth and compressive strength loss were accurately predicted by using the impedance RCCP.
Morphology and Kinetics Evolution of Nanoscale Phase in Fe–Cr Alloys under External Strain
Authors: Zhu Lihui , Li Yongsheng , Shi Shujing , Yan Zhengwei , Chen Jing , Maqbool Shahid
Published: February 2019

Uniaxial strain was applied to aging Fe–Cr alloys to study the morphological orientation and kinetics of the nanoscale α′ phase by utilizing phase-field simulation. The effects of applied uniaxial compressive and tensile strain on the two and three-dimensional morphology as well as on the separation kinetics of the α′ phase are quantitatively clarified. Compared with the applied uniaxial tensile strain, the applied uniaxial compressive strain shows a greater effect on the rate of phase separation, lath shape morphology and an increased rate of growth and coarsening in the α′ phase, the boundary of the α + α′ phase region is widened influenced by the applied compressive strain, while the applied tensile strain results in an increase of particle number density and a decrease of particle radius. The peak value of particle size distribution of the α′ phase increases with aging time, while an opposite trend is shown under the applied strain, and there is an obvious deviation from the theoretical distribution of Lifshitz–Slyozov–Wagner under compressive strain. The orientation morphology and kinetic change show the substantial effects of applied strain on the phase separation and supplies the method for the morphological control of nanoscale particles.
Potential of Nanomaterial Applications in Dietary Supplements and Foods for Special Medical Purposes
Authors: Jampilek Josef , Kos Jiri , Kralova Katarina
Published: February 2019

Dietary supplements and foods for special medical purposes are special medical products classified according to the legal basis. They are regulated, for example, by the European Food Safety Authority and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as well as by various national regulations issued most frequently by the Ministry of Health and/or the Ministry of Agriculture of particular countries around the world. They constitute a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals, polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants or other compounds with a nutritional or physiological effect contained in the food/feed, alone or in combination, intended for direct consumption in small measured amounts. As nanotechnology provides “a new dimension” accompanied with new or modified properties conferred to many current materials, it is widely used for the production of a new generation of drug formulations, and it is also used in the food industry and even in various types of nutritional supplements. These nanoformulations of supplements are being prepared especially with the purpose to improve bioavailability, protect active ingredients against degradation, or reduce side effects. This contribution comprehensively summarizes the current state of the research focused on nanoformulated human and veterinary dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, and functional foods for special medical purposes, their particular applications in various food products and drinks as well as the most important related guidelines, regulations and directives.
Sorting out the Value of Cruciferous Sprouts as Sources of Bioactive Compounds for Nutrition and Health
Authors: Abellán Ángel , Domínguez-Perles Raúl , Moreno Diego A. , García-Viguera Cristina
Published: February 2019

Edible sprouts with germinating seeds of a few days of age are naturally rich in nutrients and other bioactive compounds. Among them, the cruciferous (Brassicaceae) sprouts stand out due to their high contents of glucosinolates (GLSs) and phenolic compounds. In order to obtain sprouts enriched in these phytochemicals, elicitation is being increasing used as a sustainable practice. Besides, the evidence regarding the bioavailability and the biological activity of these compounds after their dietary intake has also attracted growing interest in recent years, supporting the intake of the natural food instead of enriched ingredients or extracts. Also, there is a growing interest regarding their uses, consumption, and applications for health and wellbeing, in different industrial sectors. In this context, the present review aims to compile and update the available knowledge on the fundamental aspects of production, enrichment in composition, and the benefits upon consumption of diverse edible cruciferous sprouts, which are sources of phenolic compounds and glucosinolates, as well as the evidence on their biological actions in diverse pathophysiological situations and the molecular pathways involved.
Physiological and Transcriptional Responses in Weaned Piglets Fed Diets with Varying Phosphorus and Calcium Levels
Authors: Gerlinger Christian , Oster Michael , Borgelt Luisa , Reyer Henry , Muráni Eduard , Ponsuksili Siriluck , Polley Christian , Vollmar Brigitte , Reichel Martin , Wolf Petra , Wimmers Klaus
Published: February 2019

Phosphorus (P) is an important element of various metabolic and signalling processes, including bone metabolism and immune function. To elucidate the routes of P homeostasis and utilization, a five-week feeding study was conducted with weaned piglets receiving a diet with recommended amounts of P and Ca (M), or a diet with lower (L) or higher (H) P values and a constant Ca:P ratio. Routes of P utilization were deduced via bone characteristics (MicroCT), genome-wide transcriptomic profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and serum mineral levels. MicroCT revealed significantly lower bone mineral density, trabecular number, and mechanical fracture load in (L). Gene expression analyses showed transcripts of 276 and 115 annotated genes with higher or lower abundance in (H) than (L) that were related to basic cellular and metabolic processes as well as response to stimuli, developmental processes and immune system processes. This study shows the many molecular routes involved in P homeostasis that should be considered to improve endogenous mechanisms of P utilization.
Pharmacological Properties of Morus nigra L. (Black Mulberry) as A Promising Nutraceutical Resource
Authors: Lim Sung Ho , Choi Chang-Ik
Published: February 2019

Mulberry plants belonging to the Moraceae family have been grown for the purpose of being the nutrient source for silk worm and raw materials for the preparation of jams, marmalades, vinegars, juices, wines, and cosmetics. Morus nigra L. (black mulberry) is native to Southwestern Asia, and it has been used as a traditional herbal medicine for animals and humans. In this article, recent research progress on various biological and pharmacological properties of extracts, fractions, and isolated active constituents from different parts of M. nigra are reviewed. M. nigra exhibited a wide-spectrum of biological and pharmacological therapeutic effects including antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-melanogenic, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anticancer activities. M. nigra also showed protective effects against various human organs and systems, mainly based on its antioxidant capacity. These findings strongly suggest that M. nigra can be used as a promising nutraceutical resource to control and prevent various chronic diseases.
Diet Supplementation in ω3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Favors an Anti-Inflammatory Basal Environment in Mouse Adipose Tissue
Authors: Colson Cecilia , Ghandour Rayane A. , Dufies Océane , Rekima Samah , Loubat Agnès , Munro Patrick , Boyer Laurent , Pisani Didier F.
Published: February 2019

Oxylipins are metabolized from dietary ω3 and ω6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and are involved in an inflammatory response. Adipose tissue inflammatory background is a key factor of metabolic disorders and it is accepted that dietary fatty acids, in terms of quality and quantity, modulate oxylipin synthesis in this tissue. Moreover, it has been reported that diet supplementation in ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids resolves some inflammatory situations. Thus, it is crucial to assess the influence of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids on oxylipin synthesis and their impact on adipose tissue inflammation. To this end, mice fed an ω6- or ω3-enriched standard diet (ω6/ω3 ratio of 30 and 3.75, respectively) were analyzed for inflammatory phenotype and adipose tissue oxylipin content. Diet enrichment with an ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acid induced an increase in the oxylipins derived from ω6 linoleic acid, ω3 eicosapentaenoic, and ω3 docosahexaenoic acids in brown and white adipose tissues. Among these, the level of pro-resolving mediator intermediates, as well as anti-inflammatory metabolites, were augmented. Concomitantly, expressions of M2 macrophage markers were increased without affecting inflammatory cytokine contents. In vitro, these metabolites did not activate macrophages but participated in macrophage polarization by inflammatory stimuli. In conclusion, we demonstrated that an ω3-enriched diet, in non-obesogenic non-inflammatory conditions, induced synthesis of oxylipins which were involved in an anti-inflammatory response as well as enhancement of the M2 macrophage molecular signature, without affecting inflammatory cytokine secretion.
Caffeine Supplementation and Physical Performance, Muscle Damage and Perception of Fatigue in Soccer Players: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mielgo-Ayuso Juan , Calleja-Gonzalez Julio , Del Coso Juan , Urdampilleta Aritz , León-Guereño Patxi , Fernández-Lázaro Diego
Published: February 2019

Soccer is a complex team sport and success in this discipline depends on different factors such as physical fitness, player technique and team tactics, among others. In the last few years, several studies have described the impact of caffeine intake on soccer physical performance, but the results of these investigations have not been properly reviewed and summarized. The main objective of this review was to evaluate critically the effectiveness of a moderate dose of caffeine on soccer physical performance. A structured search was carried out following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines in the Medline/PubMed and Web of Science databases from January 2007 to November 2018. The search included studies with a cross-over and randomized experimental design in which the intake of caffeine (either from caffeinated drinks or pills) was compared to an identical placebo situation. There were no filters applied to the soccer players’ level, gender or age. This review included 17 articles that investigated the effects of caffeine on soccer-specific abilities (n = 12) or on muscle damage (n = 5). The review concluded that 5 investigations (100% of the number of investigations on this topic) had found ergogenic effects of caffeine on jump performance, 4 (100%) on repeated sprint ability and 2 (100%) on running distance during a simulated soccer game. However, only 1 investigation (25%) found as an effect of caffeine to increase serum markers of muscle damage, while no investigation reported an effect of caffeine to reduce perceived fatigue after soccer practice. In conclusion, a single and moderate dose of caffeine, ingested 5–60 min before a soccer practice, might produce valuable improvements in certain abilities related to enhanced soccer physical performance. However, caffeine does not seem to cause increased markers of muscle damage or changes in perceived exertion during soccer practice.
Macronutrient and Micronutrient Intake during Pregnancy: An Overview of Recent Evidence
Authors: Mousa Aya , Naqash Amreen , Lim Siew
Published: February 2019

Nutritional status during pregnancy can have a significant impact on maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Requirements for macronutrients such as energy and protein increase during pregnancy to maintain maternal homeostasis while supporting foetal growth. Energy restriction can limit gestational weight gain in women with obesity; however, there is insufficient evidence to support energy restriction during pregnancy. In undernourished women, balanced energy/protein supplementation may increase birthweight whereas high protein supplementation could have adverse effects on foetal growth. Modulating carbohydrate intake via a reduced glycaemic index or glycaemic load diet may prevent gestational diabetes and large-for-gestational-age infants. Certain micronutrients are also vital for improving pregnancy outcomes, including folic acid to prevent neural tube defects and iodine to prevent cretinism. Newly published studies support the use of calcium supplementation to prevent hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, particularly in women at high risk or with low dietary calcium intake. Although gaps in knowledge remain, research linking nutrition during pregnancy to maternofoetal outcomes has made dramatic advances over the last few years. In this review, we provide an overview of the most recent evidence pertaining to macronutrient and micronutrient requirements during pregnancy, the risks and consequences of deficiencies and the effects of supplementation on pregnancy outcomes.
Health Innovation in Patty Products. The Role of Food Neophobia in Consumers’ Non-Hypothetical Willingness to Pay, Purchase Intention and Hedonic Evaluation
Authors: Kallas Zein , Vitale Mauro , Gil José Maria
Published: February 2019

Consumers’ personality traits are key factors in understanding consumers’ choice and acceptance for health innovations in food products, in particular, food neophobia (FN). The patty product as a traditional pork product (TPP) with two innovative traditional pork products (ITPP) from the untapped pig breed (Porc Negre Mallorquí) in Spain were analysed. Patties were enriched with Porcini (Boletus edulis) using the claim “enriched with a natural source of dietary fiber Beta glucans that may contribute to improve our defence system” (ITPP1) and enriched with blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) using the claim “enriched with a natural source of antioxidant that may help to prevent cardiovascular diseases” (ITPP2). Two non-hypothetical discrete choice experiments were applied to investigate the importance of FN in consumers’ purchase intention (PI) and willingness to pay (WTP) before and after tasting the products. Results showed that the TPP and the ITPP2 received higher than expected PI and WTP. However, after tasting the products, consumers exhibited lower WTP for all ITPP showing the prevalence of the sensory experience on health innovation. The FN was highly related to WTP before the hedonic evaluation. However, it turned out to be non-significant, showing a homogenising role of the sensory experience in reducing the FN impact.
Examining the Association between Food Literacy and Food Insecurity
Authors: Begley Andrea , Paynter Ellen , Butcher Lucy , Dhaliwal Satvinder
Published: February 2019

Poor food literacy behaviours may contribute to food insecurity in developed countries. The aim of this research was to describe the apparent prevalence of food insecurity in adults at enrolment in a food literacy program and to examine the relationship between food insecurity and a range of independent variables. Individuals attending the Food Sensations® for Adults program in Western Australia from May 2016 to April 2018 completed a pre-program questionnaire (n = 1433) indicating if they had run out of money for food in the past month (food insecurity indicator), frequency of food literacy behaviours, selected dietary behaviours, and demographic characteristics. The level of food insecurity reported by participants (n = 1379) was 40.5%. Results from multiple logistic regression demonstrated that behaviours related to planning and management, shopping, preparation, and cooking were all statistically independently associated with food insecurity, in addition to soft/soda drink consumption, education, employment status, and being born in Australia. The results are salient as they indicate an association between food literacy and food insecurity. The implications are that food insecure participants may respond differently to food literacy programs. It may be necessary to screen people enrolling in programs, tailor program content, and include comprehensive measures in evaluation to determine effect on the impact of food literacy programs on different subgroups.
S-Matrix of Nonlocal Scalar Quantum Field Theory in Basis Functions Representation
Authors: Chebotarev Ivan V. , Guskov Vladislav A. , Ogarkov Stanislav L. , Bernard Matthew
Published: February 2019

Nonlocal quantum theory of a one-component scalar field in D-dimensional Euclidean spacetime is studied in representations of S -matrix theory for both polynomial and nonpolynomial interaction Lagrangians. The theory is formulated on coupling constant g in the form of an infrared smooth function of argument x for space without boundary. Nonlocality is given by the evolution of a Gaussian propagator for the local free theory with ultraviolet form factors depending on ultraviolet length parameter l. By representation of the S -matrix in terms of abstract functional integral over a primary scalar field, the S form of a grand canonical partition function is found. By expression of S -matrix in terms of the partition function, representation for S in terms of basis functions is obtained. Derivations are given for a discrete case where basis functions are Hermite functions, and for a continuous case where basis functions are trigonometric functions. The obtained expressions for the S -matrix are investigated within the framework of variational principle based on Jensen inequality. Through the latter, the majorant of S (more precisely, of − ln S ) is constructed. Equations with separable kernels satisfied by variational function q are found and solved, yielding results for both polynomial theory φ 4 (with suggestions for φ 6 ) and nonpolynomial sine-Gordon theory. A new definition of the S -matrix is proposed to solve additional divergences which arise in application of Jensen inequality for the continuous case. Analytical results are obtained and numerically illustrated, with plots of variational functions q and corresponding majorants for the S -matrices of the theory. For simplicity of numerical calculation, the D = 1 case is considered, and propagator for free theory G is in the form of Gaussian function typically in the Virton–Quark model, although the obtained analytical inferences are not, in principle, limited to these particular choices. Formulation for nonlocal QFT in momentum k space of extra dimensions with subsequent compactification into physical spacetime is discussed, alongside the compactification process.