bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Curcumin Analogue C1 Promotes Hex and Gal Recruitment to the Plasma Membrane via mTORC1-Independent TFEB Activation
Authors: Magini Alessandro , Polchi Alice , Di Meo Danila , Buratta Sandra , Chiaradia Elisabetta , Germani Raimondo , Emiliani Carla , Tancini Brunella
Published: March 2019

The monocarbonyl analogue of curcumin (1E,4E)-1,5-Bis(2-methoxyphenyl)penta-1,4-dien-3-one (C1) has been used as a specific activator of the master gene transcription factor EB (TFEB) to correlate the activation of this nuclear factor with the increased activity of lysosomal glycohydrolases and their recruitment to the cell surface. The presence of active lysosomal glycohydrolases associated with the lipid microdomains has been extensively demonstrated, and their role in glycosphingolipid (GSL) remodeling in both physiological and pathological conditions, such as neurodegenerative disorders, has been suggested. Here, we demonstrate that Jurkat cell stimulation elicits TFEB nuclear translocation and an increase of both the expression of hexosaminidase subunit beta (HEXB), hexosaminidase subunit alpha (HEXA), and galactosidase beta 1 (GLB1) genes, and the recruitment of β-hexosaminidase (Hex, EC 3.2.1.52) and β-galactosidase (Gal, EC 3.2.1.23) on lipid microdomains. Treatment of Jurkat cells with the curcumin analogue C1 also resulted in an increase of both lysosomal glycohydrolase activity and their targeting to the cell surface. Similar effects of C1 on lysosomal glycohydrolase expression and their recruitment to lipid microdomains was observed by treating the SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line; the effects of C1 treatment were abolished by TFEB silencing. Together, these results clearly demonstrate the existence of a direct link between TFEB nuclear translocation and the transport of Hex and Gal from lysosomes to the plasma membrane.
SIRT2 Inhibition Results in Meiotic Arrest, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, and Disturbance of Redox Homeostasis during Bovine Oocyte Maturation
Authors: Xu Dejun , Wu Lin , Jiang Xiaohan , Yang Li , Cheng Jianyong , Chen Huali , Hua Rongmao , Geng Guoxia , Yang Lulu , Li Qingwang
Published: March 2019

SIRT2, a member of the sirtuin family, has been recently shown to exert important effects on mitosis and/or metabolism. However, its roles in oocyte maturation have not been fully clarified. In this study, SIRT2, located in the cytoplasm and nucleus, was found in abundance in the meiotic stage, and its expression gradually decreased until the blastocyst stage. Treatment with SIRT2 inhibitors resulted in the prevention of oocyte maturation and the formation of poor-quality oocytes. By performing confocal scanning and quantitative analysis, the results showed that SIRT2 inhibition induced prominent defects in spindle/chromosome morphology, and led to the hyperacetylation of α-tubulin and H4K16. In particular, SIRT2 inhibition impeded cytoplasmic maturation by disturbing the normal distribution of cortical granules, endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria during oocyte meiosis. Meanwhile, exposure to SirReal2 led to elevated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, low ATP production, and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential in oocytes. Further analysis revealed that SIRT2 inhibition modulated mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics via the downregulation of TFAM and Mfn2, and the upregulation of DRP1. Mechanistically, SIRT2 inhibition blocked the nuclear translocation of FoxO3a by increasing FoxO3a acetylation, thereby downregulating the expression of FoxO3a-dependent antioxidant genes SOD2 and Cat. These results provide insights into the potential mechanisms by which SIRT2-dependent deacetylation activity exerts its effects on oocyte quality.
Physiological and Environmental Factors Affecting the Composition of the Ejaculate in Mosquitoes and Other Insects
Authors: Meuti Megan E. , Short Sarah M.
Published: March 2019

In addition to transferring sperm, male mosquitoes deliver several proteins, hormones and other factors to females in their seminal fluid that inhibit remating, alter host-seeking behaviors and stimulate oviposition. Recently, bioinformatics, transcriptomics and proteomics have been used to characterize the genes transcribed in male reproductive tissues and the individual proteins that are delivered to females. Thanks to these foundational studies, we now understand the complexity of the ejaculate in several mosquito species. Building on this work, researchers have begun to identify the functions of various proteins and hormones in the male ejaculate, and how they mediate their effects on female mosquitoes. Here, we present an overview of these studies, followed by a discussion of an under-studied aspect of male reproductive physiology: the effects of biotic and abiotic factors on the composition of the ejaculate. We argue that future research in this area would improve our understanding of male reproductive biology from a physiological and ecological perspective, and that researchers may be able to leverage this information to study key components of the ejaculate. Furthermore, this work has the potential to improve mosquito control by allowing us to account for relevant factors when implementing vector control strategies involving male reproductive biology.
Synergistic Action of Gefitinib and GSK41364A Simultaneously Loaded in Ratiometrically-Engineered Polymeric Nanoparticles for Glioblastoma Multiforme
Authors: Velpurisiva Praveena , Rai Prakash
Published: March 2019

Glioblastoma Multiforme is a deadly cancer of glial cells with very low survival rates. Current treatment options are invasive and have serious side effects. Single drug treatments make the tumor refractory after a certain period. Combination therapies have shown improvements in treatment responses against aggressive forms of cancer and are becoming a mainstay in the management of cancer. The purpose of this study is to design a combinatorial treatment regimen by engineering desired ratios of two different small molecule drugs (gefitinib and GSK461364A) in a single carrier that can reduce off-target effects and increase their bioavailability. Synergistic effects were observed with our formulation when optimal ratios of gefitinib and GSK461364A were loaded in poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid and polyethylene glycol (PLGA-PEG) nanoparticles and tested for efficacy in U87-malignant glioma (U87-MG) cells. Combination nanoparticles proved to be more effective compared to single drug encapsulated nanoparticles, free drug combinations, and the mixture of two single loaded nanoparticles, with statistically significant values at certain ratios and drug concentrations. We also observed drastically reduced clonogenic potential of the cells that were treated with free drugs and nanoparticle combinations in a colony forming assay. From our findings, we conclude that the combination of GSK461364A and higher concentrations of gefitinib when encapsulated in nanoparticles yield synergistic killing of glioma cells. This study could form the basis for designing new combination treatments using nanoparticles to deliver multiple drugs to cancer cells for synergistic effects.
The Application of Virtual Reality for Preoperative Planning of Lymphovenous Anastomosis in a Patient with a Complex Lymphatic Malformation
Authors: Giacalone Guido , Yamamoto Takumi , Belva Florence , Hayashi Akitatsu , Dori Yoav , Zviman Menekhem M. , Gysen Mieke , Nam Hannah H. , Jolley Matthew A. , Kato Motoi
Published: March 2019

The management of lymphatic malformations (LMs) is challenging, particularly for large and complex lesions involving anatomical structures in the adjacent tissue. While lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) has been reported as an effective treatment for lymphedema, it has hardly been described as a treatment for LM. Virtual reality has the ability to visualize human structures in three dimensions and can be used for the preoperative planning of complex cases. Here, we describe the first case of the management of an LM by LVA preoperatively planned with virtual reality. A young woman presented with an LM previously treated by gross excision. Following persistent complaints of swelling, a minimally invasive microsurgical intervention was planned. The results of the single photon emission tomography with computed tomography (SPECT-CT) and lymphoscintigraphy were analyzed using a virtual reality program, and a 3D patient-specific model was constructed. Based on the combined findings of this 3D model and lymphography with a fluorescent marker, a precise skin incision could be determined and one lymph vessel was anastomosed to a nearby vein. The swelling of the thigh reduced and the discomfort disappeared. Although more reports are needed to confirm its efficacy, LVA planned with virtual reality constructed images appears to be a valuable treatment option for complex lesions, including LMs.
Lactate Clearance Predicts Good Neurological Outcomes in Cardiac Arrest Patients Treated with Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
Authors: Jung Christian , Bueter Sandra , Wernly Bernhard , Masyuk Maryna , Saeed Diyar , Albert Alexander , Fuernau Georg , Kelm Malte , Westenfeld Ralf
Published: March 2019

Background: We evaluated critically ill patients undergoing extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) due to cardiac arrest (CA) with respect to baseline characteristics and laboratory assessments, including lactate and lactate clearance for prognostic relevance. Methods: The primary endpoint was 30-day mortality. The impact on 30-day mortality was assessed by uni- and multivariable Cox regression analyses. Neurological outcome assessed by Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) was pooled into two groups: scores of 1–3 (bad GOS score) and scores of 4–5 (good GOS score). Results: A total of 93 patients were included in the study. Serum lactate concentration (hazard ratio (HR) 1.09; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–1.13; p < 0.001), hemoglobin, (Hb; HR 0.87; 95% CI 0.79–0.96; p = 0.004), and catecholamine use were associated with 30-day-mortality. In a multivariable model, only lactate clearance (after 6 h; OR 0.97; 95% CI 0.94–0.997; p = 0.03) was associated with a good GOS score. The optimal cut-off of lactate clearance at 6 h for the prediction of a bad GOS score was at ≤13%. Patients with a lactate clearance at 6 h ≤13% evidenced higher rates of bad GOS scores (97% vs. 73%; p = 0.01). Conclusions: Whereas lactate clearance does not predict mortality, it was the sole predictor of good neurological outcomes and might therefore guide clinicians when to stop ECPR.
Poorer Quality of Life and Treatment Satisfaction is Associated with Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes without Other Advanced Late Complications
Authors: Granado-Casas Minerva , Castelblanco Esmeralda , Ramírez-Morros Anna , Martín Mariona , Alcubierre Nuria , Martínez-Alonso Montserrat , Valldeperas Xavier , Traveset Alicia , Rubinat Esther , Lucas-Martin Ana , Hernández Marta , Alonso Núria , Mauricio Didac
Published: March 2019

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) may potentially cause vision loss and affect the patient’s quality of life (QoL) and treatment satisfaction (TS). Using specific tools, we aimed to assess the impact of DR and clinical factors on the QoL and TS in patients with type 1 diabetes. This was a cross-sectional, two-centre study. A sample of 102 patients with DR and 140 non-DR patients were compared. The Audit of Diabetes-Dependent Quality of Life (ADDQoL-19) and Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ-s) were administered. Data analysis included bivariate and multivariable analysis. Patients with DR showed a poorer perception of present QoL (p = 0.039), work life (p = 0.037), dependence (p = 0.010), and had a lower average weighted impact (AWI) score (p = 0.045). The multivariable analysis showed that DR was associated with a lower present QoL (p = 0.040), work life (p = 0.036) and dependence (p = 0.016). With regards to TS, DR was associated with a higher perceived frequency of hypoglycaemia (p = 0.019). In patients with type 1 diabetes, the presence of DR is associated with a poorer perception of their QoL. With regard to TS, these subjects also show a higher perceived frequency of hypoglycaemia.
Reinforced Concrete Corbel Strengthened Using Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) Sheets
Authors: Souza Rafael Alves de , Trautwein Leandro Mouta , Ferreira Mauricio de Pina
Published: March 2019

This paper presents and discusses the procedures adopted for repairing and strengthening a damaged reinforced concrete corbel of an industrial biomass boiler. The reinforced concrete corbel was subjected to concrete spalling, favoring the risk of the main tie reinforcement slip in the anchorage zone. The proposed solution involved a local repair with a polymeric mortar and subsequent strengthening using carbon fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets, attending the requirements imposed by the in site conditions and the design plans. The intervention allowed the confinement of the concrete zone subjected to spalling and provided additional safety for the main tie reinforcement of the corbel. The applied technique was demonstrated to be fast, reliable, practical, and cheaper than other available solutions, such as section enlargements with concrete jacketing.
Effect by Diamond Surface Modification on Biomolecular Adhesion
Authors: Tian Yuan , Larsson Karin
Published: March 2019

Diamond, as material, show very attractive properties. They include superior electronic properties (when doped), chemical inertness, controllable surface termination, and biocompatibility. It is thus clear that surface termination is very important for those applications where the implant material is based on diamond. The present theoretical work has focused on the effect of diamond surface termination, in combination with type of surface plane, on the adhesion of important biomolecules for vascularization and bone regeneration. These biomolecules include Arginine-Glycine-Aspartic acid (RGD), Chitosan, Heparin, Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (BMP2), Angiopoietin 1 (AGP1), Fibronectin and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). The various surface planes are diamond diamond (100)-2x1 and (111). The theoretical results show that the non-covalent binding of these biomolecules is in proportion with their molecular weights. Moreover, three groups of biomolecules were observed for both types of surface planes. The most strongly binding biomolecule was the BMP2 molecule. The smaller polypeptides (RGD, Chitosan and Heparin) formed a less strongly binding group. Finally, the biomolecules VEGF, Fibronectin and Angiopoietin showed bond strengths numerically in between the other two groups (thereby forming a third group). Moreover, the (111) surface was generally observed to display a stronger bonding of the biomolecules, as compared with the (100)-2x1 surface.
Magnetostrictive Guided Wave Technique Verification for Detection and Monitoring Defects in the Pipe Weld
Authors: Oh Se-Beom , Cheong Yong-Moo , Lee Deok-Hyun , Kim Kyung-Mo
Published: March 2019

During inspection of piping in nuclear power plants or other industries, it is difficult to implement conventional nondestructive techniques due to limited accessibility or obstacles such as pipes with insulation, pipes buried underground, structural complexity, or radiation environments. In addition, since the defects mainly occur in the weld region or support area, it is not easy to separate defect signals from those of structural components. To solve these problems, we developed a technique to detect and monitor the formation and growth of defects, using a magnetostrictive guided wave sensor. This sensor has advantages (such as sharp and clear signal patterns and ability to easily eliminate the signal from the geometric structure) over the conventional piezoelectric transducer. To verify our technique, signals from actual pipe welds with defects were acquired and processed with our phase matching/subtraction program. The proposed technique shows a superior capability for detection and monitoring of defects, compared to the conventional guided wave methods.
Influence of Manufacturing Parameters on Mechanical Properties of Porous Materials by Selective Laser Sintering
Authors: Stoia Dan Ioan , Linul Emanoil , Marsavina Liviu
Published: March 2019

This paper presents a study on the tensile properties of Alumide and polyamide PA2200 standard samples produced by Additive manufacturing (AM) based on selective laser sintering (SLS). Because of the orthogonal trajectories of the laser beam during exposure, different orientations of the samples may lead to different mechanical properties. In order to reveal this process issue, four orientations of the samples in building envelope were investigated. For data reliability, all the other process parameters were constant for each material and every orientation. The tensile tests highlight small differences in elastic properties of the two materials, while significant differences in strength properties and energy absorption were observed. Nevertheless, Young modulus indicates high stiffness of the Alumide comparing to PA2200 samples. The stereo microscopy reveals a brittle fracture site for Alumide and a ductile fracture with longitudinal splitting zones for PA2200. From the orientation point of view, similar properties of samples oriented at 0 and 90 degrees for all investigated mechanical properties were observed. However, tensile strength was less influenced by the sample orientations.
Strain Rate during Creep in High-Pressure Die-Cast AZ91 Magnesium Alloys at Intermediate Temperatures
Authors: Preciado Mónica , Bravo Pedro M. , Calaf José , Ballorca Daniel
Published: March 2019

During creep, magnesium alloys undergo microstructural changes due to temperature and stress. These alterations are associated with the evolution of the present phases at a microstructural level, creating different strain rates during primary and tertiary creep, and with the stability of the inter-metallic phase Mg17Al12 formed at these temperatures. In this paper, the results of creep testing of high-pressure die-cast AZ91 magnesium alloys are reported. During creep, continuous and discontinuous precipitates grow, which influences creep resistance. The creep mechanism that acts at these intermediate temperatures up to 150 °C is termed dislocation climbing. Finally, the influence of the type of precipitates on the creep behavior of alloys is determined by promoting the formation of continuous precipitates by a short heat treatment prior to creep testing.
Memristor-CMOS Hybrid Circuit for Temporal-Pooling of Sensory and Hippocampal Responses of Cortical Neurons
Authors: Nguyen Tien Van , Pham Khoa Van , Min Kyeong-Sik
Published: March 2019

As a software framework, Hierarchical Temporal Memory (HTM) has been developed to perform the brain’s neocortical functions, such as spatial and temporal pooling. However, it should be realized with hardware not software not only to mimic the neocortical function but also to exploit its architectural benefit. To do so, we propose a new memristor-CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) hybrid circuit of temporal-pooling here, which is composed of the input-layer and output-layer neurons mimicking the neocortex. In the hybrid circuit, the input-layer neurons have the proximal and basal/distal dendrites to combine sensory information with the temporal/location information from the brain’s hippocampus. Using the same crossbar architecture, the output-layer neurons can perform a prediction by integrating the temporal information on the basal/distal dendrites. For training the proposed circuit, we used only simple Hebbian learning, not the complicated backpropagation algorithm. Due to the simple hardware of Hebbian learning, the proposed hybrid circuit can be very suitable to online learning. The proposed memristor-CMOS hybrid circuit has been verified by the circuit simulation using the real memristor model. The proposed circuit has been verified to predict both the ordinal and out-of-order sequences. In addition, the proposed circuit has been tested with the external noise and memristance variation.
Intelligent Optimization of Hard-Turning Parameters Using Evolutionary Algorithms for Smart Manufacturing
Authors: Mia Mozammel , Królczyk Grzegorz , Maruda Radosław , Wojciechowski Szymon
Published: March 2019

Recently, the concept of smart manufacturing systems urges for intelligent optimization of process parameters to eliminate wastage of resources, especially materials and energy. In this context, the current study deals with optimization of hard-turning parameters using evolutionary algorithms. Though the complex programming, parameters selection, and ability to obtain the global optimal solution are major concerns of evolutionary based algorithms, in the present paper, the optimization was performed by using efficient algorithms i.e., teaching–learning-based optimization and bacterial foraging optimization. Furthermore, the weighted sum method was used to transform the diverse responses into a single response, and then multi-objective optimization was performed using the teaching–learning-based optimization method and the standard bacterial foraging optimization method. Finally, the optimum results reported by these methods are compared to choose the best method. In fact, owing to better convergence within shortest time, the teaching–learning-based optimization approach is recommended. It is expected that the outcome of this research would help to efficiently and intelligently perform the hard-turning process under automatic and optimized environment.
Modification of Pyrolytic Oil from Waste Tyres as a Promising Method for Light Fuel Production
Authors: Dębek Cezary
Published: March 2019

Due to its high total sulphur content and other unfavourable properties, pyrolytic oil obtained as a result of tyres pyrolysis is not suitable for use as motor or heating fuel. Therefore, pyrolytic oil was hydrorefined. Hydrorefined oil was used as a component of light heating oil. A composition was prepared from 30 wt % hydrorefinate with 70 wt % Ekoterm Plus (a commercial oil). Unfortunately, the flash point temperature of the hydrorefinate was too low, and did not allow fuel compliant with the Polish standard PN-C-96024:2011 for L1 light heating oil to be obtained. Therefore, the fraction with boiling point below 180 °C was removed from the hydrorefinate. The residue, with a flash point of 74 °C and a sulphur content of 0.143 wt %, was mixed with Ekoterm Plus and fuels with a hydrorefinate fraction content of 30 and 50 wt % were prepared. The composition containing 30 wt % met the requirements for L1 oil in the whole range of tested parameters. Total sulphur content was 0.092 wt %, specific weight was 856 kg/m3 and closed cup flash point was 64 °C. However, the composition containing 50 wt % hydrorefinate did not meet the requirements regarding sulphur content and specific weight. Sulphur content, specific gravity, and flash point are the parameters limiting the possibility of using hydrorefined pyrolytic oil for composing light heating oils compliant with the mentioned standard.
ZnCr2O4 Inclusions in ZnO Matrix Investigated by Probe-Corrected STEM-EELS
Authors: Zhan Wei , Kosinskiy Andrey Yurievich , Vines Lasse , Johansen Klaus Magnus , Carvalho Patricia Almeida , Prytz Øystein
Published: March 2019

The ZnCr2O4/ZnO materials system has a wide range of potential applications, for example, as a photocatalytic material for waste-water treatment and gas sensing. In this study, probe-corrected high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy and geometric phase analysis were utilized to study the dislocation structure and strain distribution at the interface between zinc oxide (ZnO) and embedded zinc chromium oxide (ZnCr2O4) particles. Ball-milled and dry-pressed ZnO and chromium oxide (α-Cr2O3) powder formed ZnCr2O4 inclusions in ZnO with size ~400 nm, where the interface properties depended on the interface orientation. In particular, sharp interfaces were observed for ZnO [2 1 ¯ 1 ¯ 3]/ZnCr2O4 [1 1 ¯ 0] orientations, while ZnO [1 2 ¯ 10]/ZnCr2O4 [112] orientations revealed an interface over several atomic layers, with a high density of dislocations. Further, monochromated electron energy-loss spectroscopy was employed to map the optical band gap of ZnCr2O4 nanoparticles in the ZnO matrix and their interface, where the average band gap of ZnCr2O4 nanoparticles was measured to be 3.84 ± 0.03 eV, in contrast to 3.22 ± 0.01 eV for the ZnO matrix.
Unified Strength Model of Asphalt Mixture under Various Loading Modes
Authors: Xia Chengdong , Lv Songtao , You Lingyun , Chen Dong , Li Yipeng , Zheng Jianlong
Published: March 2019

Although the rutting resistance, fatigue cracking, and the resistance to water and frost are important for the asphalt pavement, the strength of asphalt mixture is also an important factor for the asphalt mixture design. The strength of asphalt mixture is directly associated with the overall performance of asphalt mixture. As a top layer material of asphalt pavement, the strength of asphalt mixture plays an indispensable role in the top structural bearing layer. In the present design system, the strength of asphalt pavement is usually achieved via the laboratory tests. The stress states are usually different for the different laboratory approaches. Even at the same stress level, the laboratory strengths of asphalt mixture obtained are significantly different, which leads to misunderstanding of the asphalt mixtures used in asphalt pavement structure design. The arbitrariness of strength determinations affects the effectiveness of the asphalt pavement structure design in civil engineering. Therefore, in order to overcome the design deviation caused by the randomness of the laboratory strength of asphalt mixtures, in this study, the direct tension, indirect tension, and unconfined compression tests were implemented on the specimens under different loading rates. The strength model of asphalt mixture under different loading modes was established. The relationship between the strength ratio and loading rate of direct tension, indirect tension, and unconfined compression tests was adopted separately. Then, one unified strength model of asphalt mixture with different loading modes was established. The preliminary results show that the proposed unified strength model could be applied to improve the accurate degree of laboratory strength. The effectiveness of laboratory-based asphalt pavement structure design can therefore be promoted.
Crack Healing and Mechanical Properties Recovery in SA 508–3 Steel
Authors: Qiu Yao , Xin Ruishan , Luo Jianbin , Ma Qingxian
Published: March 2019

Internal cracks could be healed under the process of hot plastic deformation. In this study, mechanical properties recovery after crack healing in SA 508–3 steel were investigated. Microstructures of the crack healing zones were observed using an optical microscope (OM) and electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD) technology, and the recovery degrees of mechanical properties in the crack healing zones with the healing temperature and a reduction ratio were tested systematically. The results showed that the internal cracks in SA 508–3 steel disappeared and were replaced by newly formed grains, achieved by recrystallization and abnormal grain growth. The tensile properties of crack healing zones could be fully restored, while their impact and low cycle fatigue properties could only be partially achieved. The recovery degrees of mechanical properties in crack healing zones increased with increasing the healing temperature and reduction ratio in the temperature range of 950–1050 °C. When the temperature was above 1150 °C, the impact properties began to deteriorate because of grain coarsening and larger MA (martensite–austenite) constituents. The microstructural evolution of the crack zone in the SA 508–3 steel was sketched.
Evaluation of Joint Formation and Mechanical Performance of the AA7075-T6/CFRP Spot Joints Produced by Frictional Heat
Authors: Manente André Natalia , F. dos Santos Jorge , T. Amancio-Filho Sergio
Published: March 2019

The development of lightweight hybrid metal–polymer structures has recently attracted interest from the transportation industry. Nevertheless, the possibility of joining metals and polymers or composites is still a great challenge. Friction Spot Joining (FSpJ) is a prize-winning friction-based joining technique for metal–polymer hybrid structures. The technology is environment-friendly and comprises very short joining cycles (2 to 8 s). In the current work, aluminum alloy 7075-T6 and carbon-fiber-reinforced polyphenylene sulfide (CF-PPS) friction spot joints were produced and evaluated for the first time in the literature. The spot joints were investigated in terms of microstructure, mechanical performance under quasi-static loading and failure mechanisms. Macro- and micro-mechanical interlocking were identified as the main bonding mechanism, along with adhesion forces as a result of the reconsolidated polymer layer. Moreover, the influence of the joining force on the mechanical performance of the joints was addressed. Ultimate lap shear forces up to 4068 ± 184 N were achieved in this study. A mixture of adhesive–cohesive failure mode was identified, while cohesive failure was dominant. Finally, a qualitative comparison with other state-of-the-art joining technologies for hybrid structures demonstrated that the friction spot joints eventually exhibit superior/similar strength than/to concurrent technologies and shorter joining times.
Modeling of Magnetorheological Elastomers Using the Elastic–Plastic Model with Kinematic Hardening
Authors: Lewandowski Daniel
Published: March 2019

The paper describes the modeling process of the magnetomechanical properties of magnetorheological elastomers. Unlike the primary sources in which a viscoelastic model is commonly used, in this work, the elastic–plastic model with linear hardening was adopted. Its parameters were determined from data obtained in an experiment. Measurement data encompassed a range of various strain rates and amplitudes, as well as a range of magnetic field values. Model parameters as a function of a magnetic field were obtained as a result of identification. The correctness of data correlation was shown by comparing hysteresis loops τ ( γ ) . Satisfactory consistency between experimental and model research was achieved on the assumption that the model was applied only to higher strain rates, above the boundary value γ ˙ A = 0.025 ( 1 / s ) .
Ultrasonic Modification of Ag Nanowires and Their Applications in Flexible Transparent Film Heaters and SERS Detectors
Authors: Sun Jie , Yu Xinxiang , Li Zhutie , Zhao Junfeng , Zhu Pengcheng , Dong Xiaoyan , Yu Zhigang , Zhao Zhiguo , Shi Dandan , Wang Junqin , Dai Han
Published: March 2019

Ultrasonic morphology modification of silver (Ag) nanowires and their applications in transparent film heaters for defogging in electric vehicles and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detectors have been studied. With 10 min ultrasonic treatment of Ag nanowires, the electro-thermal conversion capability of Ag nanowire based transparent film heaters is efficiently improved (about 50% increase in temperature rise), which can be mainly attributed to the cross-section area reduction and the serious agglomerations of the ultrasonic modified Ag nanowire films. Furthermore, the bending or fracture caused by deformation of Ag nanowires after ultrasonic treatment provides more hot spots for SERS, and therefore lead to a significant SERS signal enhancement. This work not only greatly improves the performance of Ag nanowire based transparent film heaters and SERS detectors, but provides a new way for the functional modification of Ag nanowires.
Porous Alumina Ceramics Obtained by Particles Self-Assembly Combing Freeze Drying Method
Authors: Hu Shujuan , Feng Bo , Tang Xiaoxia , Zhang Yue
Published: March 2019

An innovative approach for fabricating porous alumina ceramics is demonstrated in this paper. The distinguished feature is that the construction of the porous structure stems from the interaction between ceramic particles, which is a poorly explored area. By tailoring the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) interaction energy to the second minimum, the dilute ceramic slurry would be gelled by the weakly assembled particle network, and the assembled structure is conserved via a freeze drying strategy. The DLVO theoretical analyses revealed that the second minimum of interaction energy could be obtained when the counter-ion concentration in colloidal suspension is 1.5 × 10−2 mol/L. The properties of the as-assembled samples were compared with one produced by the conventional freeze drying method. Results showed that the self-assembly of alumina particles has a positive influence on micro structures. Unlike the laminar pores generated by the traditional freeze drying procedure, the assembled samples show homogeneously interconnected and hierarchical open pores which were stable even after a 24 h dwell time at 950 °C (open porosity is 79.19% for the slurry of vol 20% solid loading). Particularly, after sintering at 1550 °C for 2 h, open porosity (67.01%) of the assembled samples was significantly greater than that of their un-assembled counterparts (39.97%). Besides, the assembled sample shows a narrower pore size distribution and a relatively higher cumulative pore volume.
Tuning Optical and Granulometric Properties of Gold Nanostructures Synthesized with the Aid of Different Types of Honeys for Microwave-Induced Hyperthermia
Authors: Dzimitrowicz Anna , Cyganowski Piotr , Jamroz Piotr , Jermakowicz-Bartkowiak Dorota , Rzegocka Malgorzata , Cwiklinska Agnieszka , Pohl Pawel
Published: March 2019

Size-controlled gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesised with solutions of three types of Polish honeys (lime, multiflower, honeydew) and used in microwave-induced hyperthermia cancer treatment. Optical and structural properties of nanostructures were optimized in reference to measurements made by using UV/Vis absorption spectrophotometry (UV/Vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) supported by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR). In addition, concentrations of reducing sugars and polyphenols of honeys applied were determined to reveal the role of these chemical compounds in green synthesis of AuNPs. It was found that the smallest AuNPs (20.6 ± 23.3 nm) were produced using a 20% (w/v) multiflower aqueous honey solution and 25 mg·L−1 of Au(III) ions. These AuNPs were then employed in microwave-induced hyperthermia in a system simulating metastatic tissues. This research illustrated that AuNPs, as produced with the aid of a multiflower honey solution, could be suitably used for microwave-induced heating of cancer. A fluid containing resultant Au nanostructures, as compared to water, revealed facilitated heating and the ability to maintain a temperature of 45 °C required for hyperthermia treatment.
The Decomposition Theorems of AG-Neutrosophic Extended Triplet Loops and Strong AG-(l, l)-Loops
Authors: Wu Xiaoying , Zhang Xiaohong
Published: March 2019

In this paper, some new properties of Abel Grassmann‘s Neutrosophic Extended Triplet Loop (AG-NET-Loop) were further studied. The following important results were proved: (1) an AG-NET-Loop is weakly commutative if, and only if, it is a commutative neutrosophic extended triplet (NETG); (2) every AG-NET-Loop is the disjoint union of its maximal subgroups. At the same time, the new notion of Abel Grassmann’s (l, l)-Loop (AG-(l, l)-Loop), which is the Abel-Grassmann’s groupoid with the local left identity and local left inverse, were introduced. The strong AG-(l, l)-Loops were systematically analyzed, and the following decomposition theorem was proved: every strong AG-(l, l)-Loop is the disjoint union of its maximal sub-AG-groups.
Risk Measurement of Stock Markets in BRICS, G7, and G20: Vine Copulas versus Factor Copulas
Authors: Song Quanrui , Liu Jianxu , Sriboonchitta Songsak
Published: March 2019

Multivariate copulas have been widely used to handle risk in the financial market. This paper aimed to adopt two novel multivariate copulas, Vine copulas and Factor copulas, to measure and compare the financial risks of the emerging economy, developed economy, and global economy. In this paper, we used data from three groups (BRICS, which stands for emerging markets, specifically, those of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa; G7, which refers to developed countries; and G20, which represents the global market), separated into three periods (pre-crisis, crisis, and post-crisis) and weighed Value at Risk (VaR) and Expected Shortfall (ES) (based on their market capitalization) to compare among three copulas, C-Vine, D-Vine, and Factor copulas. Also, real financial data demonstrated that Factor copulas have stronger stability and perform better than the other two copulas in high-dimensional data. Moreover, we showed that BRICS has the highest risk and G20 has the lowest risk of the three groups.
Stereo-Selective Pharmacokinetics of Ilimaquinone Epimers Extracted from a Marine Sponge in Rats
Authors: Son Heebin , Noh Keumhan , Park InWha , Na MinKyun , Oh Sangtaek , Shin Beom Soo , Kang Wonku
Published: March 2019

An ilimquinone (IQ) mixture isolated from Hippiospongia metachromia, consisting of IQ and epi-ilimaquinone (epi-IQ), exerts anti-HIV, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. An HPLC-MS/MS method was developed for simultaneous determination of the two epimers in rat plasma, separating them using a biphenyl column. Ascorbic acid is added during the sample preparation to ensure the stability of both isomers. The plasma concentrations of the isomers were monitored following intravenous and oral administration of the IQ mixture in rats as well as the individual epimers that were separately orally administered. Compare to IQ, epi-IQ was much more stable in rat plasma, likely due to its configurations of decalin. Both substances decayed in more than bi-exponential pattern, with an elimination rate constant of 1.2 h−1 for IQ and 1.7 h−1 for epi-IQ. The epi-IQ was distributed more widely than IQ by about two-fold. Consequently, the clearance of epi-IQ was greater than that of IQ by about three-fold. The oral absolute bioavailability for IQ was 38%, and, that for epi-IQ, was 13%. Although the systemic exposure of IQ was greater than that of epi-IQ by ~8.7-fold, the clearance of each isomer was similar when administered either orally or intravenously, when normalized for bioavailability. The stereo-specific behavior of the isomers appears to originate from differences in both their tissue distribution and gastrointestinal permeability.
Acute Exacerbation of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Kishaba Tomoo
Published: March 2019

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common form of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is often seen in elderly men who smoke. A diagnosis of IPF is based on a combination of a detailed clinical history, specific physical examination, laboratory findings, pulmonary function tests, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest, and histopathology. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has a heterogeneous clinical course, from an asymptomatic stable state to progressive respiratory failure or acute exacerbation (AE). Acute exacerbation of IPF has several important differential diagnoses, such as heart failure and volume overload. The International Working Group project proposed new criteria for defining AE of IPF in 2016, which divides it into triggered and idiopathic AE. On the basis of these criteria, physicians can detect AE of IPF more easily. The recent international IPF guidelines emphasized the utility of chest HRCT. In addition, two antifibrotic agents have become available. We should focus on both the management and prevention of AE. The diagnostic process, laboratory findings, typical chest imaging, management, and prognosis of AE are comprehensively reviewed in this article.
Polymer of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIM-1) Membranes Treated with Supercritical CO2
Authors: Scholes Colin A. , Kanehashi Shinji
Published: March 2019

Polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) are a promising membrane material for gas separation, because of their high free volume and micro-cavity size distribution. This is countered by PIMs-based membranes being highly susceptible to physical aging, which dramatically reduces their permselectivity over extended periods of time. Supercritical carbon dioxide is known to plasticize and partially solubilise polymers, altering the underlying membrane morphology, and hence impacting the gas separation properties. This investigation reports on the change in PIM-1 membranes after being exposed to supercritical CO2 for two- and eight-hour intervals, followed by two depressurization protocols, a rapid depressurization and a slow depressurization. The exposure times enables the impact contact time with supercritical CO2 has on the membrane morphology to be investigated, as well as the subsequent depressurization event. The density of the post supercritical CO2 exposed membranes, irrespective of exposure time and depressurization, were greater than the untreated membrane. This indicated that supercritical CO2 had solubilised the polymer chain, enabling PIM-1 to rearrange and contract the free volume micro-cavities present. As a consequence, the permeabilities of He, CH4, O2 and CO2 were all reduced for the supercritical CO2-treated membranes compared to the original membrane, while N2 permeability remained unchanged. Importantly, the physical aging properties of the supercritical CO2-treated membranes altered, with only minor reductions in N2, CH4 and O2 permeabilities observed over extended periods of time. In contrast, He and CO2 permeabilities experienced similar physical aging in the supercritical treated membranes to that of the original membrane. This was interpreted as the supercritical CO2 treatment enabling micro-cavity contraction to favour the smaller CO2 molecule, due to size exclusion of the larger N2, CH4 and O2 molecules. Therefore, physical aging of the treated membranes only had minor impact on N2, CH4 and O2 permeability; while the smaller He and CO2 gases experience greater permeability loss. This result implies that supercritical CO2 exposure has potential to limit physical aging performance loss in PIM-1 based membranes for O2/N2 separation.
Effects of CeO2 on Viscosity, Structure, and Crystallization of Mold Fluxes for Casting Rare Earths Alloyed Steels
Authors: Cai Zeyun , Song Bo , Li Longfei , Liu Zhen , Cui Xiaokang
Published: March 2019

The CaO-Al2O3-based mold fluxes are proposed for the Ce-bearing heavy rail steel continuous casting because of the low reactivity. Effects of CeO2 on the melting temperature, the viscous property, and the crystallization behavior of the CaO-Al2O3-Li2O-B2O3 mold fluxes were studied using hemisphere melting point method, rotating cylinder method, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) in the present work. The microstructure of the mold fluxes was analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results revealed that the addition of CeO2 would increase the melting temperature, but decrease the viscosity at each temperature due to its influence on increasing the depolymerization of the mold fluxes at high temperature. The precipitation of CaO was restrained and CaCeAlO4 generated with increasing CeO2 content since the crystal phases were affected by the microstructure of the melts. The change of the crystalline phases in mold fluxes influences the break temperature and the viscosity of the mold fluxes below the break temperature. These results obtained can provide guidelines for designing new mold fluxes for casting rare earth alloy heavy rail steels.
A Simple, Reusable and Low-Cost LVDT-Based in Situ Bolt Preload Monitoring System during Fastening for a Truck Wheel Assembly
Authors: Jang Shin , Nam Juhyun , Lee Samgon , Oh Je Hoon
Published: March 2019

The aim of this study is to design and test a new, simple, and reusable linear variable differential transformer (LVDT)-based in situ bolt preload monitoring system (L-PMS) during fastening of a truck wheel assembly. Instead of measuring the elongation of a bolt, the distance between the end surfaces of both the bolt and nut was monitored via the L-PMS. The distance obtained from the L-PMS was experimentally correlated with the actual preload measured by a washer-type load cell. Since the variation of the distance is related to the stiffness of the bolt and clamped parts, a finite element analysis was also conducted to predict the sensitivity of L-PMS. There was a strong linear relationship between the distance and bolt preload after the bolt and nut were fully snugged. However, a logarithm-shaped nonlinear relationship was irregularly observed before getting snugged, making it difficult to define a clear relationship. In order to tackle this issue, an arc-shaped conductive line was screen-printed onto the surface of the clamped parts using a conductive carbon paste. The results show that a resistance variation of the conductive line during fastening enables to determine the snug point, so the L-PMS combined with resistance measurement results in an approximately ±6% error in the measurement of bolt preload. The proposed L-PMS offers a simple but highly reliable way for measuring bolt preload during fastening, which could be utilized in a heavy-truck production line.
Explosive Welding of Copper to High Nitrogen Austenitic Stainless Steel
Authors: Liu Yingbin , Li Chao , Hu Xiaoyan , Yin Chufan , Liu Tiansheng
Published: March 2019

In this work, T2 red copper and high nitrogen austenitic stainless steel (HNASS) were explosively welded for the first time. The welding window was theoretically developed, and the experiment was designed by considering the effect of explosive loading on welding quality. To evaluate the welding quality, the microstructure and mechanical properties of the composite material were systematically investigated. The results showed that the welding quality was in good agreement with the results predicted by the welding window. The micromorphology of the welding interface changed with a varied welding parameter, and no intermetallic compounds were found at the welding interface by EDS analysis. The microhardness of the two raw materials both increased near the welding interface, and the enhancement increased with the explosive loading. The failure pattern of the welding interface in the tension-shear experiments was dominated by the strength failure of the red copper.
Cavitating Flow through a Micro-Orifice
Authors: Jin Zhi-jiang , Gao Zhi-xin , Li Xiao-juan , Qian Jin-yuan
Published: March 2019

Microfluidic systems have witnessed rapid development in recent years. As one of the most common structures, the micro-orifice is always included inside microfluidic systems. Hydrodynamic cavitation in the micro-orifice has been experimentally discovered and is harmful to microfluidic systems. This paper investigates cavitating flow through a micro-orifice. A rectangular micro-orifice with a l/d ratio varying from 0.25 to 4 was selected and the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet varied from 50 to 300 kPa. Results show that cavitation intensity increased with an increase in pressure difference. Decreasing exit pressure led to a decrease in cavitation number and cavitation could be prevented by increasing the exit pressure. In addition, the vapor cavity also increased with an increase in pressure difference and l/d ratio. Results also show the pressure ratio at cavitation inception was 1.8 when l/d was above 0.5 and the cavitation number almost remained constant when l/d was larger than 2. Moreover, there was an apparent difference in cavitation number depending on whether l/d was larger than 1.