bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PLP1 Mutations in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Identification of a New Mutation and Potential Pathogenicity of the Mutations
Authors: Cloake Nancy C. , Yan Jun , Aminian Atefeh , Pender Michael P. , Greer Judith M.
Published: October 2018

PLP1 is located on the X-chromosome and encodes myelin proteolipid protein (PLP), the most abundant protein in central nervous system myelin. Generally, point mutations in PLP1 result in X-linked dysmyelinating disorders, such as Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD) or spastic paraplegia type 2 (SPG2). However, several case studies have identified patients with missense point mutations in PLP1 and clinical symptoms and signs compatible with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). To investigate if PLP1 mutations occur relatively frequently in MS, we sequenced the coding regions of PLP1 in 22 female MS patients who had developed disease after the age of 40 and in 42 healthy women, and identified a missense mutation in exon 2 of PLP1 resulting in a Leu30Val mutation in the protein in one of the MS patients. mCherry-tagged plasmids containing wild type or mutant PLP1 sequences of PLP, including two known PMD/SPG2-related mutations as positive controls, were constructed and transfected into Cos-7 cells. In comparison with cells transfected with wild type PLP1, all mutations caused significant accumulation of PLP in the endoplasmic reticulum of the cells and induction of the unfolded protein response—a mechanism that leads to apoptosis of cells expressing mutant proteins. Additionally, in silico analysis of the binding of peptides containing the Leu30Val mutation to the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules carried by the patient harboring this mutation suggested that the mutation could produce several novel immunogenic epitopes in this patient. These results support the idea that mutations in myelin-related genes could contribute to the development of MS in a small proportion of patients.
Grip Strength Moderates the Association between Anthropometric and Body Composition Indicators and Liver Fat in Youth with an Excess of Adiposity
Authors: Ramírez-Vélez Robinson , Izquierdo Mikel , Correa-Bautista Jorge , Tordecilla-Sanders Alejandra , Correa-Rodríguez María , Schmidt Rio-Valle Jacqueline , González-Jiménez Emilio , González-Ruíz Katherine
Published: October 2018

Paediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the most common early driver of chronic liver disease. The aim of this study was to examine whether grip strength moderates the association between anthropometric and body composition parameters and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), an indicator of fat deposits in the liver, in children and adolescents with excess of adiposity. A total of 127 adolescents (67% girls) aged between 11 and 17, attending two public schools in Bogotá (Colombia), who had an axiological evaluation of obesity were included in this study. A grip strength test was assessed as an indicator of muscular strength, and cardiorespiratory fitness by maximal oxygen uptake was assessed using the 20 m shuttle-run test. Waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), fat mass, and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) (cm3) were included as anthropometric and body composition measures. CAP was determined with a FibroScan® 502 Touch device (Echosens, Paris, France). The anthropometric and body composition parameters including WC, WHtR, fat mass, and VAT were positively associated with the CAP (range β = 0.423 to 0.580), slightly reduced after being adjusted for handgrip strength/weight. The Johnson-Neyman technique revealed a significant inverse relationship between WC, WHtR, VAT, and CAP when grip strength normalized by body mass was above but not equal to or below 0.475 (8.1% of the sample), 0.469 (8.9% of the sample), and 0.470 (8.5% of the sample), respectively. In conclusion, grip strength adjusted by body mass, has a moderating effect on the association between anthropometric and body composition parameters (including WC, WHtR, and VAT) and CAP in in children and adolescents with excess of adiposity, suggesting the importance of promoting muscular strength during paediatric population in order to prevent NAFLD.
Development and Evaluation of an Injectable Chitosan/β-Glycerophosphate Paste as a Local Antibiotic Delivery System for Trauma Care
Authors: Boles Logan , Alexander Christopher , Pace Leslie , Haggard Warren , Bumgardner Joel , Jennings Jessica
Published: October 2018

Complex open musculoskeletal wounds are a leading cause of morbidity worldwide, partially due to a high risk of bacterial contamination. Local delivery systems may be used as adjunctive therapies to prevent infection, but they may be nondegradable, possess inadequate wound coverage, or migrate from the wound site. To address this issue, a thermo-responsive, injectable chitosan paste was fabricated by incorporating beta-glycerophosphate. The efficacy of thermo-paste as an adjunctive infection prevention tool was evaluated in terms of cytocompatibility, degradation, antibacterial, injectability, and inflammation properties. In vitro studies demonstrated thermo-paste may be loaded with amikacin and vancomycin and release inhibitory levels for at least 3 days. Further, approximately 60% of thermo-paste was enzymatically degraded within 7 days in vitro. The viability of cells exposed to thermo-paste exceeded ISO 10993-5 standards with approximately 73% relative viability of a control chitosan sponge. The ejection force of thermo-paste, approximately 20 N, was lower than previously studied paste formulations and within relevant clinical ejection force ranges. An in vivo murine biocompatibility study demonstrated that thermo-paste induced minimal inflammation after implantation for 7 days, similar to previously developed chitosan pastes. Results from these preliminary preclinical studies indicate that thermo-paste shows promise for further development as an antibiotic delivery system for infection prevention.
Effect of Build Orientation on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Selective Laser-Melted Ti-6Al-4V Alloy
Authors: Hartunian Patrick , Eshraghi Mohsen
Published: October 2018

One of the challenges of additive manufacturing (AM) technology is the inability to generate repeatable microstructure and mechanical properties in different orientations. In this work, the effect of build orientation on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti–6Al–4V specimens manufactured by selective laser melting (SLM) was studied. The samples built in the Z orientation showed weaker tensile strength compared to the samples built in X, and Y orientations. Samples built in X and Y orientations exhibited brittle fracture features in areas close to the substrate and ductile fracture features in the area farther from the substrate. Defects including pores, cracks, and unmelted/partially-melted powder particles contributed to lower tensile and fracture toughness properties in different orientations.
Advances in the Treatment of Mycoses in Pediatric Patients
Authors: Iosifidis Elias , Papachristou Savvas , Roilides Emmanuel
Published: October 2018

The main indications for antifungal drug administration in pediatrics are reviewed as well as an update of the data of antifungal agents and antifungal policies performed. Specifically, antifungal therapy in three main areas is updated as follows: (a) Prophylaxis of premature neonates against invasive candidiasis; (b) management of candidemia and meningoencephalitis in neonates; and (c) prophylaxis, empiric therapy, and targeted antifungal therapy in children with primary or secondary immunodeficiencies. Fluconazole remains the most frequent antifungal prophylactic agent given to high-risk neonates and children. However, the emergence of fluconazole resistance, particularly in non-albicans Candida species, should be considered during preventive or empiric therapy. In very-low birth-weight neonates, although fluconazole is used as antifungal prophylaxis in neonatal intensive care units (NICU’s) with relatively high incidence of invasive candidiasis (IC), its role is under continuous debate. Amphotericin B, primarily in its liposomal formulation, remains the mainstay of therapy for treating neonatal and pediatric yeast and mold infections. Voriconazole is indicated for mold infections except for mucormycosis in children >2 years. Newer triazoles-such as posaconazole and isavuconazole-as well as echinocandins, are either licensed or under study for first-line or salvage therapy, whereas combination therapy is kept for refractory cases.
Ferromagnetic Properties of N-Doped and Undoped TiO2 Rutile Single-Crystal Wafers with Addition of Tungsten Trioxide
Authors: Xu Jing , Wang Haiying , Zhou Zhongpo , Zou Zhaorui
Published: October 2018

In this work, undoped, N-doped, WO3-loaded undoped, and WO3-loaded with N-doped TiO2 rutile single-crystal wafers were fabricated by direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering. N-doping into TiO2 and WO3 loading onto TiO2 surface were used to increase and decrease oxygen vacancies. Various measurements were conducted to analyze the structural and magnetic properties of the samples. X-ray diffraction results showed that the N-doping and WO3 loading did not change the phase of all samples. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results revealed that W element loaded onto rutile single-crystal wafers existed in the form of WO3. UV-Vis spectrometer results showed that the absorption edge of WO3-loaded undoped and WO3-loaded with N-doped TiO2 rutile single-crystal wafers had red shift, resulting in a slight decrease in the corresponding band gap. Photoluminescence spectra indicated that oxygen vacancies existed in all samples due to the postannealing atmosphere, and oxygen vacancies density increased with N-doping, while decreasing with WO3 loading onto TiO2 surface. The magnetic properties of the samples were investigated, and the saturation magnetization values were in the order N-doped > WO3-loaded with N-doped > undoped > WO3-loaded undoped rutile single-crystal wafers, which was the same order as the oxygen vacancy densities of these samples. N-doping improved the saturation magnetization values, while WO3-loaded decreased the saturation magnetization values. This paper reveals that the magnetic properties of WO3-loaded with N-doped rutile single-crystal wafers originate from oxygen vacancies.
Corrosion Failure Mechanism of Associated Gas Transmission Pipeline
Authors: Zhao Weimin , Zhang Timing , Wang Yonglin , Qiao Jianhua , Wang Zerui
Published: October 2018

Corrosion has been responsible for several gas pipeline leakage accidents; thus, clarifying its failure mechanisms is a precondition to prevent such accidents. On the basis of failure analysis of corroded pipe sections, laboratory exposure tests were conducted by simulating three possible corrosion environments inside a gas pipeline. The corrosion rate indicated by depth change was adopted in this study. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to analyze corrosion products. Results showed that the specimens completely immersed in condensate water were generally corroded and that the specimens exposed to gas were locally corroded. However, the corrosion rate of the latter was slightly lower; hence, no autocatalysis of occluded corrosion cell occurred in the formation of corrosion pit, and uniform corrosion occurred in the precipitation location of condensate water. The areas in the range of 5 mm below the waterline indicated severe corrosion, and the rate could reach twice that of other areas. The corrosion products were mainly FeO(OH) and FeCO3, thereby proving that the corrosion failure of pipelines was caused by oxygen absorption corrosion and CO2 corrosion. Suggestions were presented to control corrosion failure of associated gas pipelines.
Potential Use of Plastic Wastes for Low Thermal Conductivity Concrete
Authors: Poonyakan Artid , Rachakornkij Manaskorn , Wecharatana Methi , Smittakorn Watanachai
Published: October 2018

The use of plastics has increased over the years, thus resulting in a large volume of plastic waste being generated and accumulated in the environment. Due to its non-biodegradability and persistence, recycling processes have become one of the sustainable solutions for preventing environmental deterioration. Plastic wastes, including high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), were collected from industrial sector and used as additional ingredients to improve concrete properties. Prior to concrete processing, an increase in wettability of plastic fibers using nonionic surfactant, Dehydol LS-12, was investigated. At the optimal concentration of 10 times of the critical micelle concentration (CMC), an interfacial tension and a contact angle were reduced to 31–32 mN/m and 65°–68°, respectively. Properties of concrete were determined and compared to those of the mortar samples. Porosity was found to increase with higher volume fraction of plastic fibers, whereas decreases in workability, bulk density, thermal conductivity, splitting tensile strength, and compressive strength were encountered. The lowest thermal conductivity was recorded for concrete samples prepared with 30% by volume of LDPE fibers, and the rest in descending order were HDPE, PP, and PET, respectively. Furthermore, the maximal inclusions of plastic fibers were 5% for HDPE and LDPE, 10% for PP, and 50% for PET so as to satisfy the precast concrete wall requirements.
Statistical Mechanics Treatment of the Broadened Snoek Relaxation Peak in Ternary Niobium–Vanadium–Oxygen Alloys
Authors: Ren Jian , Yu Liming , Liu Yongchang , Li Huijun , Ma Zongqin , Wu Jiefeng
Published: October 2018

The Snoek relaxation profiles for ternary Niobium–Vanadium–Oxygen systems were analyzed by an embedded-cell model of statistical mechanics treatment. The relaxation characteristic and broadening mechanism were systematically discussed and some conflicting interpretations in the early research were clarified. The complicated Snoek spectrums of the Nb–V–O system can be resolved into a series of effective elementary Debye peaks, which result from the transitions of interstitial oxygen atoms between adjacent octahedral sites. The relaxation parameters of each elementary peak can be determined by element species and atomic arrangements within the corresponding embedded octahedron. The Snoek relaxation characteristic in Nb–V–O systems mainly depends on the sites distributions and the transitions status of the interstitial oxygen atoms, which are controlled by the site-dependence energies and the transition probabilities, respectively.
System of Extended General Variational Inequalities for Relaxed Cocoercive Mappings in Hilbert Space
Authors: Kim Kyung Soo
Published: October 2018

In this manuscript, we study a system of extended general variational inequalities (SEGVI) with several nonlinear operators, more precisely, six relaxed ( α , r ) -cocoercive mappings. Using the projection method, we show that a system of extended general variational inequalities is equivalent to the nonlinear projection equations. This alternative equivalent problem is used to consider the existence and convergence (or approximate solvability) of a solution of a system of extended general variational inequalities under suitable conditions.
Massive Gene Expansion and Sequence Diversification Is Associated with Diverse Tissue Distribution, Regulation and Antimicrobial Properties of Anti-Lipopolysaccharide Factors in Shrimp
Authors: Matos Gabriel Machado , Schmitt Paulina , Barreto Cairé , Farias Natanael Dantas , Toledo-Silva Guilherme , Guzmán Fanny , Destoumieux-Garzón Delphine , Perazzolo Luciane Maria , Rosa Rafael Diego
Published: October 2018

Anti-lipopolysaccharide factors (ALFs) are antimicrobial peptides with a central β-hairpin structure able to bind to microbial components. Mining sequence databases for ALFs allowed us to show the remarkable diversity of ALF sequences in shrimp. We found at least seven members of the ALF family (Groups A to G), including two novel Groups (F and G), all of which are encoded by different loci with conserved gene organization. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that gene expansion and subsequent diversification of the ALF family occurred in crustaceans before shrimp speciation occurred. The transcriptional profile of ALFs was compared in terms of tissue distribution, response to two pathogens and during shrimp development in Litopenaeus vannamei, the most cultivated species. ALFs were found to be constitutively expressed in hemocytes and to respond differently to tissue damage. While synthetic β-hairpins of Groups E and G displayed both antibacterial and antifungal activities, no activity was recorded for Group F β-hairpins. Altogether, our results showed that ALFs form a family of shrimp AMPs that has been the subject of intense diversification. The different genes differ in terms of tissue expression, regulation and function. These data strongly suggest that multiple selection pressures have led to functional diversification of ALFs in shrimp.
Cardiac Glucolipotoxicity and Cardiovascular Outcomes
Authors: Cerf Marlon E.
Published: October 2018

Cardiac insulin signaling can be impaired due to the altered fatty acid metabolism to induce insulin resistance. In diabetes and insulin resistance, the metabolic, structural and ultimately functional alterations in the heart and vasculature culminate in diabetic cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, ischemia and eventually heart failure. Glucolipotoxicity describes the combined, often synergistic, adverse effects of elevated glucose and free fatty acid concentrations on heart structure, function, and survival. The quality of fatty acid shapes the cardiac structure and function, often influencing survival. A healthy fatty acid balance is therefore critical for maintaining cardiac integrity and function.
Surface-Engineered Inorganic Nanoporous Membranes for Vapor and Pervaporative Separations of Water–Ethanol Mixtures
Authors: Hu Michael Z. , Engtrakul Chaiwat , Bischoff Brian L. , Lu Mi , Alemseghed Mussie
Published: October 2018

Surface wettability-tailored porous ceramic/metallic membranes (in the tubular and planar disc form) were prepared and studied for both vapor-phase separation and liquid pervaporative separations of water-ethanol mixtures. Superhydrophobic nanoceramic membranes demonstrated more selective permeation of ethanol (relative to water) by cross-flow pervaporation of liquid ethanol–water mixture (10 wt % ethanol feed at 80 °C). In addition, both superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic membranes were tested for the vapor-phase separations of water–ethanol mixtures. Porous inorganic membranes having relatively large nanopores (up to 8-nm) demonstrated good separation selectivity with higher permeation flux through a non-molecular-sieving mechanism. Due to surface-enhanced separation selectivity, larger nanopore-sized membranes (~5–100 nm) can be employed for both pervaporation and vapor phase separations to obtain higher selectivity (e.g., permselectivity for ethanol of 13.9 during pervaporation and a vapor phase separation factor of 1.6), with higher flux due to larger nanopores than the traditional size-exclusion membranes (e.g., inorganic zeolite-based membranes having sub-nanometer pores). The prepared superhydrophobic porous inorganic membranes in this work showed good thermal stability (i.e., the large contact angle remains the same after 300 °C for 4 h) and chemical stability to ethanol, while the silica-textured superhydrophilic surfaced membranes can tolerate even higher temperatures. These surface-engineered metallic/ceramic nanoporous membranes should have better high-temperature tolerance for hot vapor processing than those reported for polymeric membranes.
Membrane Processes for the Nuclear Fusion Fuel Cycle
Authors: Tosti Silvano , Pozio Alfonso
Published: October 2018

This paper reviews the membrane processes for the nuclear fusion fuel cycle—namely, the treatment of the plasma exhaust gases and the extraction of tritium from the breeding blankets. With respect to the traditional processes, the application of membrane reactors to the fusion fuel cycle reduces the tritium inventory and processing time, thus increasing the safety and availability of the system. As an example, self-supported Pd-alloy membrane tubes have been studied for the separation of hydrogen and its isotopes from both gas- and liquid-tritiated streams through water-gas shift and isotopic swamping reactions. Furthermore, this paper describes an innovative membrane system (Membrane Gas–Liquid Contactor) for the extraction of hydrogen isotopes from liquid LiPb blankets. Porous membranes are exposed to the liquid metal that penetrates the pores without passing through them, then realizing a gas–liquid interface through which the mass transfer of hydrogen isotopes takes place. Compared to the conventional hydrogen isotope extraction processes from LiPb that use the “permeator against vacuum” concept, the proposed process significantly reduces mass-transfer resistance by improving the efficiency of the tritium recovery system.
Influence of Welding Speed on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Electron Beam-Welded Joints of TC4 and 4J29 Sheets using Cu/Nb Multi-Interlayers
Authors: Mo Defeng , Wang Yang , Fang Yongjian , Song Tingfeng , Jiang Xiaosong
Published: October 2018

Dissimilar metal joining between titanium and kovar alloys was conducted using electron beam welding. Metallurgical bonding of titanium alloys and kovar alloys was achieved by using a Cu/Nb multi-interlayer. The effects of welding speed on weld appearance, microstructure and mechanical properties of welded joints were investigated. The microstructure of welded joints was characterized by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The mechanical properties of welded joints were investigated by tensile strength and micro-hardness tests. The results showed that welding speed had great effects on the weld appearance, microstructure, and mechanical properties of electron beam-welded joints. With an increase of welding speed, at the titanium alloy side, the amount of (Nb,Ti) solid solution was increased, while the formation of brittle FeTi was effectively suppressed. At the kovar alloy side, microstructure was mainly composed of soft Cu solid solution and some α-Fe + γ phases. In addition, higher welding speeds within a certain range was beneficial for eliminating the formation of cracks, and inhibiting the embrittlement of welded joints. Therefore, the tensile strength of welded joints was increased to about 120 MPa for a welding speed of 10 mm/s. Furthermore, the bonding mechanism of TC4/Nb/Cu/4J29 dissimilar welded joints had been investigated and detailed.
Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Temperature and Strain Rate on the Superplastic Deformation Behavior of Ti-Based Alloys in the (α+β) Temperature Field
Authors: Mosleh Ahmed O. , Mikhaylovskaya Anastasia V. , Kotov Anton D. , AbuShanab Waheed S. , Moustafa Essam B. , Portnoy Vladimir K.
Published: October 2018

This paper presents the effect of temperature and strain rate on the superplastic deformation behavior of Ti-3%Mo-1%V-4%Al, Ti-4%V-6%Al, and Ti-1.8%Mn-2.5%Al alloys, which have different initial microstructures. The microstructure, before and after superplastic deformation in the deformation regimes that provided the maximum elongation, was analyzed. The deformation regimes, corresponding to the minimum strain hardening/softening effect, provided a higher elongation to failure due to their low tendency toward dynamic grain growth. As the values of stress became steady (σs), the elongation to failure and strain-hardening coefficient were analyzed under various temperature–strain rate deformation regimes. The analysis of variance of these values was performed to determine the most influential control parameter. The results showed that the strain rate was a more significant parameter than the temperature, with respect to the σs, for the investigated alloys. The most influential parameter, with both the elongation to failure and strain-hardening coefficient, was the temperature of the Ti-3%Mo-1%V-4%Al and Ti-1.8%Mn-2.5%Al alloys and the strain rate of the Ti-4%V-6%Al alloy.
Mesomechanical Modeling and Numerical Simulation of the Diffraction Elastic Constants for Ti6Al4V Polycrystalline Alloy
Authors: Chen Qiang , Liu Li , Zhu Changjun , Chen Kanghua
Published: October 2018

A mesoscopic mechanical model based on the Mori-Tanaka method and Eshelby’s inclusion theory was presented to investigate the uniform elastic deformation behavior of Ti6Al4V with β-Ti and α-Ti phases. In particular, elastic mechanics field equations of inclusion and matrix phases were established separately, and several crystal plane diffraction elastic constants were predicted under uniaxial loading in this model. The results demonstrated that diffracted crystal plane elastic constants diversified with the elastic stiffness of the composition phase. In consequence, elastic deformation of one particular phase is related to the constraint of the whole deformation of all the phases constituting the materials. In this work, diffracted crystal plane elastic constants corresponding to different phases exert a substantial role in the determination of stresses by diffraction methods. Several numerical simulation results were compared and discussed.
Investigating Tungsten Carbide Micro-Hole Drilling Characteristics by Desktop Micro-ECM with NaOH Solution
Authors: Wu Yung-Yi , Sheu Dong-Yea
Published: October 2018

Due to their hardness and low tool wear, tungsten carbides are widely used in industrial applications, such as spray nozzles, wire drawing dies and spinning nozzles. However, there is no conventional machining process that is capable of fabricating micro-holes, slots and complicated shapes in tungsten carbide. In this study, a low-cost desktop micro electro-chemical machining (ECM) was developed to investigate the characteristics of tungsten carbide micro-hole drilling. The performance parameters of the machining conditions by desktop micro-ECM, such as the machining time, material removal rate, relative tool wear rate, surface quality and dimensional accuracy, were also investigated in this study. The experimental results demonstrate that the low-cost desktop micro-ECM could fabricate micro-holes in the tungsten cemented carbide (WC-Co) workpiece.
Kaolinite Claystone-Based Geopolymer Materials: Effect of Chemical Composition and Curing Conditions
Authors: Hájková Pavlína
Published: October 2018

This work describes the role of chemical composition and curing conditions in geopolymer strength, leachability of chemical elements and porosity. The study focuses on geopolymer material prepared from calcined kaolinite claystone, which is not studied frequently as a raw material for geopolymer production, although it has a high application potential as it is easily commercially available and allows preparation of geopolymers with low viscosity. The composition of geopolymers and their curing methods were selected considering their ease of use in the praxis. Therefore, the potassium water glass itself was used as alkali activator without any KOH or NaOH addition. Chemical composition was changed only by the density of water glass in the range of 1.2 to 1.6 g·cm−3. Geopolymers were cured at a temperature within the range of 5 °C–70 °C to speed up the solidification process as well as by microwave radiation. High compressive strengths were obtained for geopolymers with the highest densities of the water glass (1.5 and 1.6 g·cm−3) in dependence on various curing conditions. Higher strengths were achieved in the case of samples where the solidification was not accelerated. The samples cured at lower temperatures (5 °C) showed lower porosity compared to the other curing types. The lowest leachability of Si and alkalis was reached for the samples with water glass density 1.5 g·cm−3.
Stability of Chromium in Stainless Steel Slag during Cooling
Authors: Zhao Qing , Liu Chengjun , Cao Longhu , Zheng Xiang , Jiang Maofa
Published: October 2018

The chromium elution behavior of stainless steel (SS) slag depends highly on the chromium distribution, and the molten modification process proved to effectively improve the chromium enrichment in stable phases. However, the phase transformation and variation of chromium stability during the subsequent cooling process is still poorly understood. In this work, the phase composition and chromium distribution of SS slag from different quenching temperatures were experimentally studied, and the stability of chromium-bearing phases was evaluated using standard leaching tests. The results indicated that dicalcium silicate and spinel phases had formed in the molten slag at 1600 °C, while the dicalcium silicate disappeared and the phases of merwinite and melilite precipitated when the temperature decreased from 1600 to 1300 °C (at a rate of 5 °C/min). During this cooling process, the chromium migrated from other phases into the spinel, significantly suppressing the chromium elution. The leaching results also demonstrated that the potential chromium-bearing phases of glass, dicalcium silicate and merwinite are unstable and are presumably the main source of chromium release. The treated SS slag meets the requirements for the utilization of chromium-bearing slag in the cement and brick industries.
Astaxanthin-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Preservation of Antioxidant Activity
Authors: Rodriguez-Ruiz Violeta , Salatti-Dorado José Ángel , Barzegari Abolfazl , Nicolas-Boluda Alba , Houaoui Amel , Caballo Carmen , Caballero-Casero Noelia , Sicilia Dolores , Bastias Venegas Jorge , Pauthe Emmanuel , Omidi Yadollah , Letourneur Didier , Rubio Soledad , Gueguen Virginie , Pavon-Djavid Graciela
Published: October 2018

Astaxanthin is a xanthophyll carotenoid showing efficient scavenging ability and represents an interesting candidate in the development of new therapies for preventing and treating oxidative stress-related pathologies. However, its high lipophilicity and thermolability often limits its antioxidant efficacy in human applications. Here, we developed a formulation of lipid carriers to protect astaxanthin’s antioxidant activity. The synthesis of natural astaxanthin-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers using a green process with sunflower oil as liquid lipid is presented. Their antioxidant activity was measured by α-Tocopherol Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity assay and was compared to those of both natural astaxanthin and α-tocopherol. Characterizations by dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy, and scattering electron microscopy techniques were carried out and showed spherical and surface negative charged particles with z-average and polydispersity values of ~60 nm and ~0.3, respectively. Astaxanthin loading was also investigated showing an astaxanthin recovery of more than 90% after synthesis of nanostructured lipid carriers. These results demonstrate the capability of the formulation to stabilize astaxanthin molecule and preserve and enhance the antioxidant activity.
Correlation of Paraoxonase-1 with the Severity of Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Szczeklik Katarzyna , Mach Tomasz , Cibor Dorota , Owczarek Danuta , Sapa Jacek , Papież Monika , Pytko-Polończyk Jolanta , Krzyściak Wirginia
Published: October 2018

Diagnostics of Crohn’s disease (CD) requires noninvasive biomarkers facilitating early detection and differentiation of the disease. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to determine the relationship between paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), the severity of CD, oxidative stress, and inflammation in CD. The CD activity index was based on the current classification. Plasma PON-1 was measured in 47 patients with CD, and in 23 control volunteers. Using quantitative variables such as receiver operating characteristics (ROC) (area under the curve (AUC)), the diagnostic utility of PON-1 in differentiating the severity of CD was assessed. Circulating PON-1 was found to be decreased in the CD group compared to the control group (269.89 vs. 402.56 U/L, respectively), and it correlated well with the disease activity. PON-1 correlated positively with hemoglobin (Hb) (r = 0.539, p < 0.001), hematocrit (Ht) (r = 0.48, p < 0.001), total cholesterol (TC) (r = 0.343, p < 0.001), high density lipoprotein (HDL) (r = 0.536, p < 0.001), low density lipoprotein (LDL) (r = 0.54, p < 0.001), and triglyceride (TG) (r = 0.561, p < 0.001) and correlated negatively with white blood cell count (WBC) (r = −0.262, p = 0.029), platelet count (PLT) (r = −0.326, p = 0.006), C-reactive protein (CRP) (r = −0.61, p < 0.001), and malondialdehyde (MDA) (r = −0.924, p < 0.001). PON-1 as a marker for CD differentiation possessed a sensitivity and specificity of 93.62% and 91.30%, respectively. CD was found to be associated with the decrease in the levels of PON-1, which correlates well with activity of the disease and reflects the intensification of inflammation, as well as intensified lipid peroxidation. High sensitivity and specificity of PON-1 determines its selection as a good screening test for CD severity.
Aminobenzosuberone Scaffold as a Modular Chemical Tool for the Inhibition of Therapeutically Relevant M1 Aminopeptidases
Authors: Salomon Emmanuel , Schmitt Marjorie , Marapaka Anil Kumar , Stamogiannos Athanasios , Revelant Germain , Schmitt Céline , Alavi Sarah , Florent Isabelle , Addlagatta Anthony , Stratikos Efstratios , Tarnus Céline , Albrecht Sébastien
Published: October 2018

The synthesis of racemic substituted 7-amino-5,7,8,9-tetrahydrobenzocyclohepten-6-one hydrochlorides was optimized to enhance reproducibility and increase the overall yield. In order to investigate their specificity, series of enzyme inhibition assays were carried out against a diversity of proteases, covering representative members of aspartic, cysteine, metallo and serine endopeptidases and including eight members of the monometallic M1 family of aminopeptidases as well as two members of the bimetallic M17 and M28 aminopeptidase families. This aminobenzosuberone scaffold indeed demonstrated selective inhibition of M1 aminopeptidases to the exclusion of other tested protease families; it was particularly potent against mammalian APN and its bacterial/parasitic orthologues EcPepN and PfAM1.
Reading More than Histones: The Prevalence of Nucleic Acid Binding among Reader Domains
Authors: Weaver Tyler M. , Morrison Emma A. , Musselman Catherine A.
Published: October 2018

The eukaryotic genome is packaged into the cell nucleus in the form of chromatin, a complex of genomic DNA and histone proteins. Chromatin structure regulation is critical for all DNA templated processes and involves, among many things, extensive post-translational modification of the histone proteins. These modifications can be “read out” by histone binding subdomains known as histone reader domains. A large number of reader domains have been identified and found to selectively recognize an array of histone post-translational modifications in order to target, retain, or regulate chromatin-modifying and remodeling complexes at their substrates. Interestingly, an increasing number of these histone reader domains are being identified as also harboring nucleic acid binding activity. In this review, we present a summary of the histone reader domains currently known to bind nucleic acids, with a focus on the molecular mechanisms of binding and the interplay between DNA and histone recognition. Additionally, we highlight the functional implications of nucleic acid binding in chromatin association and regulation. We propose that nucleic acid binding is as functionally important as histone binding, and that a significant portion of the as yet untested reader domains will emerge to have nucleic acid binding capabilities.
Amide Bond Activation of Biological Molecules
Authors: Mahesh Sriram , Tang Kuei-Chien , Raj Monika
Published: October 2018

Amide bonds are the most prevalent structures found in organic molecules and various biomolecules such as peptides, proteins, DNA, and RNA. The unique feature of amide bonds is their ability to form resonating structures, thus, they are highly stable and adopt particular three-dimensional structures, which, in turn, are responsible for their functions. The main focus of this review article is to report the methodologies for the activation of the unactivated amide bonds present in biomolecules, which includes the enzymatic approach, metal complexes, and non-metal based methods. This article also discusses some of the applications of amide bond activation approaches in the sequencing of proteins and the synthesis of peptide acids, esters, amides, and thioesters.
Effect of High Pressure Treatment on Poly(lactic acid)/Nano–TiO2 Composite Films
Authors: Chi Hai , Li Wenhui , Fan Chunli , Zhang Cheng , Li Lin , Qin Yuyue , Yuan Minglong
Published: October 2018

The microstructure, thermal properties, mechanical properties and oxygen and water vapor barrier properties of a poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/nano-TiO2 composite film before and after high pressure treatment were studied. Structural analysis showed that the functional group structure of the high pressure treated composite film did not change. It was found that the high pressure treatment did not form new chemical bonds between the nanoparticles and the PLA. The micro-section of the composite film after high pressure treatment became very rough, and the structure was depressed. Through the analysis of thermal and mechanical properties, high pressure treatment can not only increase the strength and stiffness of the composite film, but also increase the crystallinity of the composite film. Through the analysis of barrier properties, it is found that the barrier properties of composite films after high pressure treatment were been improved by the applied high pressure treatment.
The Application of Supercritical Fluid Extraction in Phenolic Compounds Isolation from Natural Plant Materials
Authors: Tyśkiewicz Katarzyna , Konkol Marcin , Rój Edward
Published: October 2018

The separation of phenolic compounds by supercritical fluid extraction has been widely studied throughout the last two decades. This is evidenced by a number of publications and articles. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) has become thus the effective method of separating the mentioned group of compounds. On the other hand, SFE is a beneficial approach in plant waste materials utilization and reduction of environmental burdens caused by the wastes. The aim of the study is to gather and systematize available information on the phenolic compounds separation that have been reported so far as well as to evaluate whether there is one optimal supercritical fluid extraction method for the phenolic compounds.
A Solvothermal Synthesis of TiO2 Nanoparticles in a Non-Polar Medium to Prepare Highly Stable Nanofluids with Improved Thermal Properties
Authors: Aguilar Teresa , Carrillo-Berdugo Ivan , Gómez-Villarejo Roberto , Gallardo Juan Jesús , Martínez-Merino Paloma , Piñero José Carlos , Alcántara Rodrigo , Fernández-Lorenzo Concha , Navas Javier
Published: October 2018

Nanofluids are systems with several interesting heat transfer applications, but it can be a challenge to obtain highly stable suspensions. One way to overcome this challenge is to create the appropriate conditions to disperse the nanomaterial in the fluid. However, when the heat transfer fluid used is a non-polar organic oil, there are complications due to the low polarity of this solvent. Therefore, this study introduces a method to synthesize TiO2 nanoparticles inside a non-polar fluid typically used in heat transfer applications. Nanoparticles produced were characterized for their structural and chemical properties using techniques such as X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The nanofluid showed a high stability, which was analyzed by means of UV-vis spectroscopy and by measuring its particle size and ζ potential. So, this nanofluid will have many possible applications. In this work, the use as heat transfer fluid was tested. In this sense, nanofluid also presented enhanced isobaric specific heat and thermal conductivity values with regard to the base fluid, which led to the heat transfer coefficient increasing by 14.4%. Thus, the nanofluid prepared could be a promising alternative to typical HTFs thanks to its improved thermal properties and high stability resulting from the synthesis procedure.
Homologous Gold Nanoparticles and Nanoclusters Composites with Enhanced Surface Raman Scattering and Metal Fluorescence for Cancer Imaging
Authors: Wu Xiaoxia , Peng Yan , Duan Xiaomei , Yang Lingyan , Lan Jinze , Wang Fu
Published: October 2018

A large number of deaths from cancer can be attributed to the lack of effective early-stage diagnostic techniques. Thus, accurate and effective early diagnosis is a major research goal worldwide. With the unique phenomenon of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), plasmonic nanomaterials have attracted considerable attention for applications in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF). Both SERS and MEF are ultra-sensitive methods for the detection and identification of early tumor at molecular level. To combine the merits of the fast and accurate imaging of MEF and the stable and clear imaging of SERS, we propose a novel dual functional imaging nanoprobe based on gold nanoparticles and gold nanocluster composites (denoted AuNPC-RGD). The gold nanoparticles are used as LSPR substrates to realized enhancement of Raman or fluorescence signal, while the gold nanoclusters serve as a fluorophore for MEF imaging, and exhibit better biocompatibility and stability. Furthermore, target molecule of cyclic Arg-Gly-Asp (cRGD) is incorporated into the composite to improve delivery efficiency, selectivity and imaging accuracy. These integrated properties endow AuNPC-RGD composites with outstanding biocompatibility and excellent imaging abilities, which could be used to achieve accurate and effective diagnosis for early cancer.
Use of Plasma-Synthesized Nano-Catalysts for CO Hydrogenation in Low-Temperature Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis: Effect of Catalyst Pre-Treatment
Authors: Aluha James , Gutierrez Stéphane , Gitzhofer François , Abatzoglou Nicolas
Published: October 2018

A study was done on the effect of temperature and catalyst pre-treatment on CO hydrogenation over plasma-synthesized catalysts during the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS). Nanometric Co/C, Fe/C, and 50%Co-50%Fe/C catalysts with BET specific surface area of ~80 m2 g–1 were tested at a 2 MPa pressure and a gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 2000 cm3 h−1 g−1 of a catalyst (at STP) in hydrogen-rich FTS feed gas (H2:CO = 2.2). After pre-treatment in both H2 and CO, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the used catalysts shifted from a mono-modal particle-size distribution (mean ~11 nm) to a multi-modal distribution with a substantial increase in the smaller nanoparticles (~5 nm), which was statistically significant. Further characterization was conducted by scanning electron microscopy (SEM with EDX elemental mapping), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The average CO conversion at 500 K was 18% (Co/C), 17% (Fe/C), and 16% (Co-Fe/C); 46%, 37%, and 57% at 520 K; and 85%, 86% and 71% at 540 K respectively. The selectivity of Co/C for C5+ was ~98% with 8% gasoline, 61%, diesel and 28% wax (fractions) at 500 K; 22% gasoline, 50% diesel, and 19% wax at 520 K; and 24% gasoline, 34% diesel, and 11% wax at 540 K, besides CO2 and CH4 as by-products. Fe-containing catalysts manifested similar trends, with a poor conformity to the Anderson–Schulz–Flory (ASF) product distribution.
Examining Associations between Body Mass Index in 18–25 Year-Olds and Energy Intake from Alcohol: Findings from the Health Survey for England and the Scottish Health Survey
Authors: Albani Viviana , Bradley Jennifer , Wrieden Wendy L. , Scott Stephanie , Muir Cassey , Power Christine , Fitzgerald Niamh , Stead Martine , Kaner Eileen , Adamson Ashley J.
Published: October 2018

Evidence on the relationship between alcohol consumption and body mass index (BMI) is mixed, particularly for young adults. This study explored the relationship between energy obtained from alcoholic beverages and BMI using data for 18–25 year-olds (n = 7691) from pooled cross-sections of the 2008–2014 Health Survey for England and the Scottish Health Survey. Energy obtained from alcoholic beverages (excluding mixers) on the heaviest drinking day in the past week was expressed as percentage of total recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of energy (% RDA Energy). Linear regressions were estimated of BMI on alcohol intake categories controlling for intake frequency, physical activity, longstanding illness and other covariates, with separate analyses for men and women, and by beverage type. Significant associations with BMI were observed with the ‘Very High’ category of alcohol intake (>75% RDA Energy) for men (p < 0.001, 1.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.98, 2.49) and with the “High” (>50% to 75% RDA Energy) (p < 0.001, 1.67, 95% CI 0.26, 2.58) and above category for women, when compared with the Low (>0–25% RDA Energy) category. Young adults drinking the highest levels of alcohol on a single occasion were more likely to be obese than those with the lowest intake. Interventions to address internationally rising youth obesity rates should also consider reducing alcohol consumption by increasing alcohol prices, and reducing availability and marketing exposure.
Differences in Tissue Distribution of Cyano–B12 and Hydroxo–B12 One Week after Oral Intake: An Experimental Study in Male Wistar Rats
Authors: Greibe Eva , Nymark Ole , Fedosov Sergey N. , Heegaard Christian W. , Nexo Ebba
Published: October 2018

Foods contain natural vitamin B12 forms, such as hydroxo–B12 (HO–B12), whereas vitamin pills contain the synthetic cyano–B12 (CN–B12). Recent studies in rats showed different tissue distributions of CN–B12 and HO–B12 24 h after oral administration. Here, we investigate whether these differences are sustained or leveled out with time in both B12-deplete and -replete rats, thereby assessing if the two forms are equally good at maintaining a normal B12 status. Male Wistar rats were fed diets with low (n = 16) or high (n = 12) B12 content for 17 days. At day 10, the rats received a single oral dose of [57Co]-labeled CN–B12 or HO–B12 (n = 6 and n = 8, respectively, in each diet group). The rats were sacrificed on day 17 and endogenous B12 and [57Co]–B12 were measured in liver, kidney, and plasma. We found that the low-B12 diet introduced a B12-deplete state as judged from medians of endogenous B12 compared to rats on a (high-B12 diet): Plasma (565 (1410) pmol/L), liver (28.2 (33.2) pmol/g), and kidneys (123 (1300) pmol/g). One week after oral administration, the labeled B12 was distributed as follows: HO–B12 > CN–B12 (liver) and CN–B12 > HO–B12 (kidneys, plasma). The tissue/plasma ratios showed different equilibriums for labeled CN–B12 and HO–B12 in the B12-deplete and -replete groups. The equilibrium of endogenous B12 resembled [57Co]CN–B12 in replete rats but differed from both [57Co]CN–B12 and [57Co]HO–B12 in deplete rats. The data suggest long-term differences in tissue utilization of the two B12 forms and warrant further studies concerning the possible benefits of consuming HO–B12 instead of CN–B12 in oral B12 replacement.