bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flux concentrating multi-tooth splitting poles permanent magnet vernier machine cogging torque optimization and experimental verification
Authors: Kong Wangqi , Zhang Yang , Huang Mingming , Huang Quanzhen
Published: February 2018

Permanent magnet vernier machine (PMVM) based on flux modulation principle has attracted increasing attention in low-speed direct-drive applications due to its high torque capability. A novel flux concentrating multi-tooth splitting poles permanent magnet vernier machine (FCMSP-PMVM) was proposed and designed, which has higher flux density relative to the conventional surface ones. The analytical cogging torque expression of the machine is derived by Maxwell energy method and Fourier series expansion to comprehensively provide insight into the variation of the cogging torque with main parameters. The number of flux modulation pole (FMP) per stator tooth, the circumferential width and radial depth of each FMP, pole arc coefficient, namely [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are defined to investigated the relationship between machine unique parameters and its cogging torque. Analysis and computation of the cogging torque characteristic of the proposed flux concentrating PMVM are studied by time-step finite element analysis (FEA). The FEA results demonstrate that [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are the key parameters to the cogging torque optimization for the proposed machine. It is also confirmed that the pole arc coefficient has small influence to the cogging torque of the proposed machine compared with the traditional PM machines. Finally, a FCMSP-PMVM prototype is built to verify the above analysis and computation. The measured performance of the constructed prototype machine has confirmed the correctness of finite-element modeling results. Experience gained from this study has led to develop a set of design rules for the concentrated winding PMVM.
Misadventures in Monte Carlo
Authors: Demsyn-Jones Richard
Published: February 2018

Estimating probability is the very core of forecasting. Increasing computing power has enabled researchers to design highly intractable probability models, such that model results are identified through the Monte Carlo method of repeated stochastic simulation. However, confidence in the Monte Carlo identification of the model can be mistaken for accuracy in the underlying model itself. This paper describes simulations in a problem space of topical interest: basketball season forecasting. Monte Carlo simulations are widely used in sports forecasting, since the multitude of possibilities makes direct calculation of playoff probabilities infeasible. Error correlation across games requires due care, as demonstrated with a realistic multilevel basketball model, similar to some in use today. The model is built separately for each of 20 NBA seasons, modeling team strength as a composition of player strength and player allocation of minutes, while also incorporating team persistent effects. Each season is evaluated out-of-time, collectively demonstrating systematic and substantial overconfidence in playoff probabilities, which can be eliminated by incorporating error correlation. This paper focuses on clarifying the use of Monte Carlo simulations for probability calculations in sports.
Effects of combining high- and low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on upper limb hemiparesis in the early phase of stroke
Authors: Long Hua , Wang Hongbin , Zhao Chenguang , Duan Qiang , Feng Feng , Hui Nan , Mao Li , Liu Huiling , Mou Xiang , Yuan Hua
Published: February 2018

Background:

Both high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) and low-frequency rTMS (LF-rTMS) are reported to benefit upper limb motor function rehabilitation in patients with stroke. However, the efficacy of combining LF- and HF-rTMS (LF-HF rTMS) has not been adequately explored, especially in the early phase of stroke.

Objective:

To compare the effects of LF- and LF-HF rTMS on the upper limb motor function in the early phase post stroke.

Methods:

Sixty-two patients were randomly assigned to three groups: LF-rTMS group (1 Hz rTMS to the contralesional hemisphere), LF-HF rTMS group (1 Hz rTMS to the contralesional hemisphere followed by 10 Hz rTMS to the lesional hemisphere) and sham group. The patients received the same conventional rehabilitation accompanied with sessions of rTMS for 15 consecutive days. The upper limb motor function was evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) before the first session, after the last session, and at 3 months after the last session.

Results:

All patients finished the study without any adverse reaction. Three groups exhibited improvement in terms of the FMA score and the log WMFT time at the end of the treatment and 3 months later. Better improvement was found in the LF-HF rTMS group than in the LF-rTMS and sham groups.

Conclusion:

The results indicated that both LF- and LF-HF rTMS were effective in promoting upper limb motor recovery in patients with acute stroke. Combining HF- and LF-rTMS protocol in the present study is tolerable and more beneficial for motor improvement than the unilateral use of LF-rTMS alone.
Aerobic rehabilitation program for improving muscle function in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Di Martino Siria , Tramonti Caterina , Unti Elisa , Del Gamba Claudia , Bonuccelli Ubaldo , Rossi Bruno , Ceravolo Roberto , Chisari Carmelo
Published: February 2018

Background:

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is characterized by progressive and disabling symptoms. An impaired oxidative metabolism efficiency was supposed to be involved in the systemic impairment. Rehabilitative treatment represents a valid tool in promoting skeletal muscle’s adaptations, even if no solid studies on muscle metabolic features are still available.

Objective:

To evaluate the efficiency of skeletal muscle oxidative metabolism in PD patients in comparison with age-matched controls and test the role of an intensive aerobic treatment on muscle oxidative metabolism and its clinical effects.

Methods:

60 PD patients and 32 age-matched healthy controls participated. Haematic lactate values were detected during and after a submaximal incremental exercise on treadmill. The number of steps completed during the exercise was recorded. From these patients 10 underwent to an intensive aerobic treatment on treadmill (4 sessions/week for 4 weeks). Haematic lactate values and functional scales were recorded before (T0) and after (T1) treatment.

Results:

At rest no significant difference in hematic lactate values between PD and control subjects was found. Lactate blood levels were significantly higher ( p < 0,001) after the aerobic exercise test in PD patients compared to controls. These values remained higher at any time during recovery period ( p < 0,001). No significant relationship between lactate values and the number of completed steps was found. After the rehabilitation treatment haematic value of lactate showed a significant reduction ( p < 0,05) at 0, 5 and 10 minutes of recovery period with a normalization of value at 30’. All functional scales showed an improvement trend at T1, in particular Berg Balance Scale and 6 Meter Walking Test showed a significant reduction ( p < 0,001 and p < 0,05 respectively).

Conclusion:

Our data clearly show an impaired muscle oxidative efficiency in PD subjects. The intensive rehabilitation program on treadmill showed a beneficial effect on muscle oxidative metabolism, endurance and balance, confirming the focal role of rehabilitation in PD patients.
Voluntary contraction enhances spinal reciprocal inhibition induced by patterned electrical stimulation in patients with stroke
Authors: Takahashi Yoko , Fujiwara Toshiyuki , Yamaguchi Tomofumi , Matsunaga Hikaru , Kawakami Michiyuki , Honaga Kaoru , Mizuno Katsuhiro , Liu Meigen
Published: February 2018

Background:

Reciprocal inhibition (RI) may be important for recovering locomotion after stroke. Patterned electrical stimulation (PES) can modulate RI in a manner that could be enhanced by voluntary muscle contraction (VC).

Objective:

To investigate whether VC enhances the PES-induced spinal RI in patients with stroke.

Methods:

Twelve patients with chronic stroke underwent three 20 min tasks, each on different days: (1) PES (10 pulses, 100 Hz every 2 s) applied to the common peroneal nerve; (2) VC consisting of isometric contraction of the affected-side tibialis anterior muscle; (3) PES combined with VC (PES + VC). RI from the tibialis anterior to the soleus muscle was assessed before, immediately after, and 10, 20, and 30 min after the task.

Results:

Compared to the baseline, PES + VC significantly increased the changes in reciprocal inhibition at immediately after and 10 min after the task. PES alone significantly increased this change immediately after the task, while VC alone showed no significant increase.

Conclusion:

VC enhanced the PES-induced plastic changes in RI in patients with stroke. This effect can potentially increase the success rate of newer neurorehabilitative approaches in achieving functional recovery after stroke.
Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on walking ability after stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li Yi , Fan Jingjing , Yang Jingyi , He Chengqi , Li Shasha
Published: February 2018

Background:

As a promising technique, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has gained so much attention in its potential effects on functional recovery of lower limb following stroke. However, individual studies have yielded inconsistent or conflicting results.

Objective:

To investigate the efficacy and safety of tDCS for the functional recovery of lower limb following stroke reported in the randomized controlled trials by using a meta-analysis.

Methods:

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database was comprehensively searched for randomized controlled trials published until April 2017 that investigated the effects of tDCS on lower limb function. Main outcomes included walking speed, walking endurance, mobility, balance function, muscle strength of lower limb and adverse events.

Results:

A total of 10 trials ( n = 194) met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis demonstrated a significant effect of tDCS on mobility (SMD 0.44, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.87, P = 0.04) and muscle strength of lower limb (SMD 1.54, 95% CI: 0.29 to 2.78, P = 0.02). No significant effects were found in walking speed (SMD 0.39, 95% CI: –0.06 to 0.85, P = 0.09), walking endurance (SMD 0.28, 95% CI: –0.28 to 0.84, P = 0.33) and balance function (SMD 0.44, 95% CI: –0.06 to 0.94, P = 0.08).

Conclusion:

tDCS might have beneficial effects on improving mobility and muscle strength of lower limb among individuals with stroke. Future studies with larger sample sizes and an adequate follow-up period are needed.
Effects of posture and coactivation on corticomotor excitability of ankle muscles
Authors: Kesar Trisha M. , Eicholtz Steven , Lin Bethany J. , Wolf Steven L. , Borich Michael R.
Published: February 2018

Background:

The use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to evaluate corticomotor excitability of lower limb (LL) muscles can provide insights about neuroplasticity mechanisms underlying LL rehabilitation. However, to date, a majority of TMS studies have focused on upper limb muscles. Posture-related activation is an important under-investigated factor influencing corticomotor excitability of LL muscles.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of posture and background activation on corticomotor excitability of ankle muscles.

Methods:

Fourteen young neurologically-unimpaired participants (26.1±4.1 years) completed the study. TMS-evoked motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded from the tibialis anterior (TA) and soleus during 4 conditions – standing, standing coactivation, sitting, and sitting coactivation. TA and soleus MEP amplitudes were compared during: (1) standing versus sitting;(2) standing coactivation (standing while activating both TA and soleus) versus sitting coactivation; and (3) standing coactivation versus standing. For each comparison, background EMG for TA and soleus were matched. Trial-to-trial coefficient of variation of MEP amplitude and coil-positioning errors were additional dependent variables.

Results:

No differences were observed in TA or soleus MEP amplitudes during standing versus sitting. Compared to sitting coactivation, larger MEPs were observed during standing coactivation for soleus but not TA. Compared to standing, the standing coactivation task demonstrated larger MEPs and reduced trial-to-trial MEP variability.

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest that incorporation of measurements in standing in future TMS studies may provide novel insights into neural circuits controlling LL muscles. Standing and standing coactivation tasks may be beneficial for obtaining functionally-relevant neuroplasticity assessments of LL musculature.
The potential dual role of transcallosal inhibition in post-stroke motor recovery
Authors: Bertolucci Federica , Chisari Carmelo , Fregni Felipe
Published: February 2018

Up to now, the mechanism of motor impairment and recovery after stroke has been thought to be based on the interhemispheric competition model. According to this model, which assumes that suppressing the excitability of contralesional hemisphere will enhance recovery by reducing transcallosal inhibition (TCI) of the stroke hemisphere, many clinical trials used non-invasive brain stimulation to improve motor function. Despite some positive findings, meta-analysis shows an important source of variability in the results, questioning whether the interhemispheric competition model would be exhaustive enough to explain the positive results or whether other mechanisms could explain the motor effects of inhibitory stimulation in the contralesional hemisphere. The goal of this study was to review the relationship between increased TCI and motor impairment after stroke.

A systematic review of clinical studies investigating TCI through transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in stroke patients and the relationship of this metric with motor recovery was then performed. After a literary search in PubMed eleven articles were included. The potential role of several covariates was examined and discussed.

Overall, the importance of TCI as a putative mechanism for stimulation of the contralesional hemisphere seems to depend on the baseline motor function. In other words, from evidence coming mostly from chronic patients, modulation of abnormal TCI seems to be useful for patients with good motor function and less important in patients with poor motor function. TCI seems to be negatively correlated with mirror movements of the paretic hand. It can be inferred that suppressing the activity of the contralesional hemisphere could be beneficial for patients with good residual motor function and strong TCI, but not for those with poor motor function and weak TCI. Baseline motor function and measure of TCI should be taken into account for stratification of patients in clinical trials and for the design of customized treatment.
snRPN controls the ability of neurons to regenerate axons
Authors: Mertsch Sonja , Schlicht Katrin , Melkonyan Harutyun , Schlatt Stefan , Thanos Solon
Published: February 2018

Background:

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) of mammals lose the ability to regenerate injured axons during postnatal maturation, but little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Objective:

It remains of particular importance to understand the mechanisms of axonal regeneration to develop new therapeutic approaches for nerve injuries.

Methods:

Retinas from newborn to adult monkeys ( Callithrix jacchus) 1 were obtained immediately after death and cultured in vitro. Growths of axons were monitored using microscopy and time-lapse video cinematography. Immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, qRT-PCR, and genomics were performed to characterize molecules associated with axonal regeneration and growth. A genomic screen was performed by using retinal explants versus native and non-regenerative explants obtained from eye cadavers on the day of birth, and hybridizing the mRNA with cross-reacting cDNA on conventional human microarrays. Followed the genomic screen, siRNA experiments were conducted to identify the functional involvement of identified candidates.

Results:

Neuron-specific human ribonucleoprotein N (snRPN) was found to be a potential regulator of impaired axonal regeneration during neuronal maturation in these animals. In particular, up-regulation of snRPN was observed during retinal maturation, coinciding with a decline in regenerative ability. Axon regeneration was reactivated in snRPN-knockout retinal ex vivo explants of adult monkey.

Conclusion:

These results suggest that coordinated snRPN-driven activities within the neuron-specific ribonucleoprotein complex regulate the regenerative ability of RGCs in primates, thereby highlighting a potential new role for snRPN within neurons and the possibility of novel postinjury therapies.
Systemic administration of donepezil attenuates the efficacy of environmental enrichment on neurobehavioral outcome after experimental traumatic brain injury
Authors: Bondi Corina O. , Yelleswarapu Narayana K. , Day-Cooney Julian , Memarzadeh Kimiya , Folweiler Kaitlin A. , Bou-Abboud Carine E. , Leary Jacob B. , Cheng Jeffrey P. , Tehranian-DePasquale Roya , Kline Anthony E.
Published: February 2018

Background:

The acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI) donepezil (DON) is recommended as a potential treatment for cognition after clinical traumatic brain injury (TBI) and therefore may be prescribed as an adjunct therapy during rehabilitation. However, a dose-response study evaluating DON after a controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury in rats did not reveal cognitive benefits.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of DON on behavioral and histological outcome when combined with environmental enrichment (EE), a preclinical model of neurorehabilitation. It was hypothesized that the combined treatments would produce a synergistic effect yielding improved recovery over neurorehabilitation alone.

Methods:

Isoflurane-anesthetized adult male rats received a CCI or sham injury and then were randomly assigned to EE or standard (STD) housing plus systemic injections of DON (0.25 mg/kg) or vehicle (VEH; 1.0 mL/kg saline) once daily for 19 days beginning 24 hr after injury. Function was assessed by established motor and cognitive tests on post-injury days 1–5 and 14–19, respectively. Cortical lesion volume was quantified on day 19.

Results:

DON was ineffective when administered alone. In contrast, EE conferred significant motor and cognitive benefits, and reduced cortical lesion volume vs. STD ( p < 0.05). Combining the therapies weakened the efficacy of rehabilitation as revealed by diminished motor and cognitive recovery in the TBI+EE+DON group vs. the TBI+EE+VEH group ( p < 0.05).

Conclusion:

These data replicate previous findings showing that EE is beneficial and DON is ineffective after CCI and add to the literature a novel and unpredicted finding that supports neither the hypothesis nor the use of DON for TBI. Investigation of other AChEIs after CCI injury is necessary to gain further insight into the value of this therapeutic strategy.
Repetitive sessions of tDCS to improve naming in post-stroke aphasia: Insights from an individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis
Authors: Rosso Charlotte , Arbizu Céline , Dhennain Claire , Lamy Jean-Charles , Samson Yves
Published: February 2018

Objectives:

Small clinical trials reported that repetitive sessions of tDCS could improve naming abilities in post-stroke aphasia. However, systematic meta-analyses found no effect, but all of these analyses pooled data from both single and repetitive sessions at the group level. The aim of this paper was to perform a meta-analysis based on individual patient data to explore the effects of repetitive tDCS sessions on naming in post-stroke aphasia and in prespecified subgroups.

Methods:

We searched for published sham-controlled trials using the keywords “aphasia OR language” AND “transcranial direct current stimulation OR tDCS” AND “stroke”. We computed an active and sham improvement ratio by dividing the difference between naming scores after and before the active or sham sessions, respectively, by the total number of picture items. Because of heterogeneity (I2 = 66%, p: 0.002), we used random-effects models to estimate the standardized mean difference (SMD) for the naming outcome. We then analyzed subgroups according to number of sessions, polarity, side/location of the active electrode, post-stroke delay, aphasia severity and comprehension disorders.

Results:

Seven eligible studies were identified, including 68 chronic stroke patients. tDCS was beneficial on naming ability (35% ±34% in the active vs. 25% ±37% in the sham condition). An SMD of 0.8 (95% CI: 0.27–1.33) was found for the naming outcome. Additionally, there was a dose-dependent effect (5 vs. >5 sessions). We also demonstrated a prevalence of anodal vs. cathodal condition and left vs. right targeting electrode. Finally, repetitive sessions were beneficial regardless of the severity of aphasia, comprehension disorders or post-stroke delay.

Conclusion:

Repetitive sessions of tDCS are likely to be valuable in enhancing naming accuracy in post-stroke aphasia.
A New Greedy Insertion Heuristic Algorithm with a Multi-Stage Filtering Mechanism for Energy-Efficient Single Machine Scheduling Problems
Authors: Zhang Hongliang , Fang Youcai , Pan Ruilin , Ge Chuanming
Published: February 2018

To improve energy efficiency and maintain the stability of the power grid, time-of-use (TOU) electricity tariffs have been widely used around the world, which bring both opportunities and challenges to the energy-efficient scheduling problems. Single machine scheduling problems under TOU electricity tariffs are of great significance both in theory and practice. Although methods based on discrete-time or continuous-time models have been put forward for addressing this problem, they are deficient in solution quality or time complexity, especially when dealing with large-size instances. To address large-scale problems more efficiently, a new greedy insertion heuristic algorithm with a multi-stage filtering mechanism including coarse granularity and fine granularity filtering is developed in this paper. Based on the concentration and diffusion strategy, the algorithm can quickly filter out many impossible positions in the coarse granularity filtering stage, and then, each job can find its optimal position in a relatively large space in the fine granularity filtering stage. To show the effectiveness and computational process of the proposed algorithm, a real case study is provided. Furthermore, two sets of contrast experiments are conducted, aiming to demonstrate the good application of the algorithm. The experiments indicate that the small-size instances can be solved within 0.02 s using our algorithm, and the accuracy is further improved. For the large-size instances, the computation speed of our algorithm is improved greatly compared with the classic greedy insertion heuristic algorithm.
Application of the Hybrid Simulation Method for the Full-Scale Precast Reinforced Concrete Shear Wall Structure
Authors: Chen Zaixian , Wang Huanding , Wang Hao , Jiang Hongbin , Zhu Xingji , Wang Kun
Published: February 2018

The hybrid simulation (HS) testing method combines physical test and numerical simulation, and provides a viable alternative to evaluate the structural seismic performance. Most studies focused on the accuracy, stability and reliability of the HS method in the small-scale tests. It is a challenge to evaluate the seismic performance of a twelve-story pre-cast reinforced concrete shear-wall structure using this HS method which takes the full-scale bottom three-story structural model as the physical substructure and the elastic non-linear model as the numerical substructure. This paper employs an equivalent force control (EFC) method with implicit integration algorithm to deal with the numerical integration of the equation of motion (EOM) and the control of the loading device. Because of the arrangement of the test model, an elastic non-linear numerical model is used to simulate the numerical substructure. And non-subdivision strategy for the displacement inflection point of numerical substructure is used to easily realize the simulation of the numerical substructure and thus reduce the measured error. The parameters of the EFC method are calculated basing on analytical and numerical studies and used to the actual full-scale HS test. Finally, the accuracy and feasibility of the EFC-based HS method is verified experimentally through the substructure HS tests of the pre-cast reinforced concrete shear-wall structure model. And the testing results of the descending stage can be conveniently obtained from the EFC-based HS method.
Pitch Channel Control of a REMUS AUV with Input Saturation and Coupling Disturbances
Authors: Wu Nailong , Wu Chao , Ge Tong , Yang Deqing , Yang Rui
Published: February 2018

The motion of an underwater vehicle is prone to be affected by time-varying model parameters and the actuator limitation in control practice. Adaptive control is an effective method to deal with the general system dynamic uncertainties and disturbances. However, the effect of disturbances control on transient dynamics is not prominent. In this paper, we redesign the L 1 adaptive control architecture (L1AC) with anti-windup (AW) compensator to guarantee robust and fast adaption of the underwater vehicle with input saturation and coupling disturbances. To reduce the fluctuation of vehicle states, the Riccati-based AW compensator is utilized to compensate the output signal from L1AC controller via taking proper modification. The proposed method is applied to the pitch channel of REMUS vehicle’s six Degrees Of Freedom (DOF) model with strong nonlinearities and compared with L1AC baseline controller. Simulations show the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy compared to the original L1AC. Besides, the fluctuation in roll channel coupled with pitch channel is suppressed according to the performances of control tests.
Immediate Settlement of Ring Footings Resting on Inhomogeneous Finite Stratum
Authors: Lee Joon , Jeong Sangseom
Published: February 2018

This paper describes the immediate settlement of uniformly loaded rough ring footings with any stiffness on an inhomogeneous finite layer overlying a rough rigid base, which is not yet covered in the literature. Numerical solutions for a wide range of geometric and material combinations are obtained by finite element method. The effects of dimensionless parameters related to footing internal opening, compressibility, footing stiffness, finite layer thickness and soil inhomogeneity are examined. Based on the results, design charts are presented in the form of settlement influence factors that can be used to calculate the immediate settlements at the inner and outer points of ring footings.
Effect of Wind Speed on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aerosol Optical Depth over the North Pacific
Authors: Merkulova Lena , Freud Eyal , Mårtensson E. , Nilsson E. , Glantz Paul
Published: February 2018

The surface-wind speed influences on aerosol optical depth (AOD), derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aqua daily observations over the central North Pacific during the period 2003–2016, have been investigated in this study. The cloud coverage is relatively low over the present investigation area compared to other marine areas, which favors AOD derived from passive remote sensing from space. In this study, we have combined MODIS AOD with 2 m wind speed (U2m) on a satellite-pixel basis, which has been interpolated from National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis. In addition, daily averaged AOD derived from Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) measurements in the free-troposphere at the Mauna Loa Observatory (3397 m above sea level), Hawaii, was subtracted from the MODIS column AOD values. The latter was to reduce the contribution of aerosols above the planetary boundary layer. This study shows relatively strong power-law relationships between MODIS mean AOD and surface-wind speed for marine background conditions in summer, fall and winter of the current period. However, previous established relationships between AOD and surface-wind speed deviate substantially. Even so, for similar marine conditions the present relationship agrees reasonable well with a power-law relationship derived for north-east Atlantic conditions. The present MODIS retrievals of AOD in the marine atmosphere agree reasonably well with ground-based remote sensing of AOD.
Statistical Modelling of Temperature and Moisture Uptake of Biochars Exposed to Selected Relative Humidity of Air
Authors: Bastistella Luciane , Rousset Patrick , Aviz Antonio , Caldeira-Pires Armando , Humbert Gilles , Nogueira Manoel
Published: February 2018

New experimental techniques, as well as modern variants on known methods, have recently been employed to investigate the fundamental reactions underlying the oxidation of biochar. The purpose of this paper was to experimentally and statistically study how the relative humidity of air, mass, and particle size of four biochars influenced the adsorption of water and the increase in temperature. A random factorial design was employed using the intuitive statistical software Xlstat. A simple linear regression model and an analysis of variance with a pairwise comparison were performed. The experimental study was carried out on the wood of Quercus pubescens, Cyclobalanopsis glauca, Trigonostemon huangmosun, and Bambusa vulgaris, and involved five relative humidity conditions (22, 43, 75, 84, and 90%), two mass samples (0.1 and 1 g), and two particle sizes (powder and piece). Two response variables including water adsorption and temperature increase were analyzed and discussed. The temperature did not increase linearly with the adsorption of water. Temperature was modeled by nine explanatory variables, while water adsorption was modeled by eight. Five variables, including factors and their interactions, were found to be common to the two models. Sample mass and relative humidity influenced the two qualitative variables, while particle size and biochar type only influenced the temperature.
Integrated Systems Approach Reveals Sphingolipid Metabolism Pathway Dysregulation in Association with Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Malamon John , Kriete Andres
Published: February 2018

Late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) and age are significantly correlated such that one-third of Americans beyond 85 years of age are afflicted. We have designed and implemented a pilot study that combines systems biology approaches with traditional next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis techniques to identify relevant regulatory pathways, infer functional relationships and confirm the dysregulation of these biological pathways in LOAD. Our study design is a most comprehensive systems approach combining co-expression network modeling derived from RNA-seq data, rigorous quality control (QC) standards, functional ontology, and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) derived from whole exome (WES) single nucleotide variant (SNV) genotype data. Our initial results reveal several statistically significant, biologically relevant genes involved in sphingolipid metabolism. To validate these findings, we performed a gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The GSEA revealed the sphingolipid metabolism pathway and regulation of autophagy in association with LOAD cases. In the execution of this study, we have successfully tested an integrative approach to identify both novel and known LOAD drivers in order to develop a broader and more detailed picture of the highly complex transcriptional and regulatory landscape of age-related dementia.
Attenuation of Glucose-Induced Myoglobin Glycation and the Formation of Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) by (R)-α-Lipoic Acid In Vitro
Authors: Ghelani Hardik , Razmovski-Naumovski Valentina , Pragada Rajeswara Rao , Nammi Srinivas
Published: February 2018

High-carbohydrate containing diets have become a precursor to glucose-mediated protein glycation which has been linked to an increase in diabetic and cardiovascular complications. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effect of (R)-α-lipoic acid (ALA) against glucose-induced myoglobin glycation and the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in vitro. Methods: The effect of ALA on myoglobin glycation was determined via the formation of AGEs fluorescence intensity, iron released from the heme moiety of myoglobin and the level of fructosamine. The extent of glycation-induced myoglobin oxidation was measured via the levels of protein carbonyl and thiol. Results: The results showed that the co-incubation of ALA (1, 2 and 4 mM) with myoglobin (1 mg/mL) and glucose (1 M) significantly decreased the levels of fructosamine, which is directly associated with the decrease in the formation of AGEs. Furthermore, ALA significantly reduced the release of free iron from myoglobin which is attributed to the protection of myoglobin from glucose-induced glycation. The results also demonstrated a significant protective effect of ALA on myoglobin from oxidative damage, as seen from the decreased protein carbonyls and increased protein thiols. Conclusion: The anti-glycation properties of ALA suggest that ALA supplementation may be beneficial in the prevention of AGEs-mediated diabetic and cardiovascular complications.
Sensitivity to Social Contingency in Adults with High-Functioning Autism during Computer-Mediated Embodied Interaction
Authors: Zapata-Fonseca Leonardo , Froese Tom , Schilbach Leonhard , Vogeley Kai , Timmermans Bert
Published: February 2018

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be understood as a social interaction disorder. This makes the emerging “second-person approach” to social cognition a more promising framework for studying ASD than classical approaches focusing on mindreading capacities in detached, observer-based arrangements. According to the second-person approach, embodied, perceptual, and embedded or interactive capabilities are also required for understanding others, and these are hypothesized to be compromised in ASD. We therefore recorded the dynamics of real-time sensorimotor interaction in pairs of control participants and participants with High-Functioning Autism (HFA), using the minimalistic human-computer interface paradigm known as “perceptual crossing” (PC). We investigated whether HFA is associated with impaired detection of social contingency, i.e., a reduced sensitivity to the other’s responsiveness to one’s own behavior. Surprisingly, our analysis reveals that, at least under the conditions of this highly simplified, computer-mediated, embodied form of social interaction, people with HFA perform equally well as controls. This finding supports the increasing use of virtual reality interfaces for helping people with ASD to better compensate for their social disabilities. Further dynamical analyses are necessary for a better understanding of the mechanisms that are leading to the somewhat surprising results here obtained.
Bioapplications of Cell-SELEX-Generated Aptamers in Cancer Diagnostics, Therapeutics, Theranostics and Biomarker Discovery: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Pang Xuehui , Cui Cheng , Wan Shuo , Jiang Ying , Zhang Liangliang , Xia Lian , Li Long , Li Xiaowei , Tan Weihong
Published: February 2018

Currently, functional single-stranded oligonucleotide probes, termed aptamers, generated by an iterative technology, Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX), are utilized to selectively target molecules or cells with high affinity. Aptamers hold considerable promise as multifunctional molecules or conjugates for challenging nanotechnologies or bioapplications now and in the future. In this review, we first describe recent endeavors to select aptamers towards live cancer cells via cell-SELEX. We then introduce several characteristic applications of selected aptamers, especially in imaging, drug delivery and therapy. In part, these advances have been made possible via synthesis of aptamer-based nanomaterials, which, by their sizes, shapes, and physicochemical properties, allow such aptamer-nanomaterial complexes to function as signal reporters or drug carriers. We also describe how these aptamer-based molecular tools contribute to cancer biomarker discovery through high-affinity recognition of membrane protein receptors.
Effect of Dopant Loading on the Structural and Catalytic Properties of Mn-Doped SrTiO3 Catalysts for Catalytic Soot Combustion
Authors: Suárez-Vázquez Santiago , Cruz-López Arquímedes , Molina-Guerrero Carlos , Sánchez-Vázquez Astrid , Macías-Sotelo Carlos
Published: February 2018

Soot particles have been associated with respiratory diseases and cancer. To decrease these emissions, perovskite-mixed oxides have been proposed due to their thermal stability and redox surface properties. In this work, SrTiO3 doped with different amounts of Mn were synthesized by the hydrothermal method and tested for soot combustion. Results show that at low Mn content, structural distortion, and higher Oads/Olat ratio were observed which was attributed to the high content of Mn3+ in Ti sites. On the other hand, increasing the Mn content led to surface segregation of manganese oxide. All synthesized catalysts showed mesopores in the range of 32–47 nm. In the catalytic combustion of soot, the samples synthesized in this work lowered the combustion temperature by more than 100 °C compared with the uncatalyzed reaction. The sample doped with 1 wt % of Mn showed the best catalytic activity. The activation energy of these samples was also calculated, and the order of decreasing activation energy is as follows: uncatalyzed > Mn0 > Mn8 > Mn4 > Mn1. The best catalytic activity for Mn1 was attributed to its physicochemical properties and the mobility of the oxygen from the bulk to the surface at temperatures higher than 500 °C.
g-C3N4-Based Nanomaterials for Visible Light-Driven Photocatalysis
Authors: Kumar Santosh , Karthikeyan Sekar , Lee Adam F.
Published: February 2018

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is a promising material for photocatalytic applications such as solar fuels production through CO2 reduction and water splitting, and environmental remediation through the degradation of organic pollutants. This promise reflects the advantageous photophysical properties of g-C3N4 nanostructures, notably high surface area, quantum efficiency, interfacial charge separation and transport, and ease of modification through either composite formation or the incorporation of desirable surface functionalities. Here, we review recent progress in the synthesis and photocatalytic applications of diverse g-C3N4 nanostructured materials, and highlight the physical basis underpinning their performance for each application. Potential new architectures, such as hierarchical or composite g-C3N4 nanostructures, that may offer further performance enhancements in solar energy harvesting and conversion are also outlined.
MiRNAs at the Crossroads between Innate Immunity and Cancer: Focus on Macrophages
Authors: Curtale Graziella
Published: February 2018

Innate immune cells form an integrative component of the tumor microenvironment (TME), which can control or prevent tumor initiation and progression, due to the simultaneous processing of both anti- and pro-growth signals. This decision-making process is a consequence of gene expression changes, which are in part dependent on post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms. In this context, microRNAs have been shown to regulate both recruitment and activation of specific tumor-associated immune cells in the TME. This review aims to describe the most important microRNAs that target cancer-related innate immune pathways. The role of exosomal microRNAs in tumor progression and microRNA-based therapeutic strategies are also discussed.
Nitric Oxide Sensors for Biological Applications
Authors: Iverson Nicole , Hofferber Eric , Stapleton Joseph
Published: February 2018

Nitric oxide (NO) is an essential signaling molecule within biological systems and is believed to be involved in numerous diseases. As a result of NO’s high reaction rate, the detection of the concentration of NO, let alone the presence or absence of the molecule, is extremely difficult. Researchers have developed multiple assays and probes in an attempt to quantify NO within biological solutions, each of which has advantages and disadvantages. This review highlights many of the current NO sensors, from those that are commercially available to the newest sensors being optimized in research labs, to assist in the understanding and utilization of NO sensors in biological fields.
Hydrogen Permeation, and Mechanical and Tribological Behavior, of CrNx Coatings Deposited at Various Bias Voltages on IN718 by Direct Current Reactive Sputtering
Authors: Kashkarov Egor , Obrosov Aleksei , Sutygina Alina , Uludintceva Elena , Mitrofanov Andrei , Weiß Sabine
Published: February 2018

In the current work, the microstructure, hydrogen permeability, and properties of chromium nitride (CrNx) thin films deposited on the Inconel 718 superalloy using direct current reactive sputtering are investigated. The influence of the substrate bias voltage on the crystal structure, mechanical, and tribological properties before and after hydrogen exposure was studied. It was found that increasing the substrate bias voltage leads to densification of the coating. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results reveal a change from mixed fcc-CrN + hcp-Cr2N to the approximately stoichiometric hcp-Cr2N phase with increasing substrate bias confirmed by wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (WDS). The texture coefficients of (113), (110), and (111) planes vary significantly with increasing substrate bias voltage. The hydrogen permeability was measured by gas-phase hydrogenation. The CrN coating deposited at 60 V with mixed c-CrN and (113) textured hcp-Cr2N phases exhibits the lowest hydrogen absorption at 873 K. It is suggested that the crystal orientation is only one parameter influencing the permeation resistance of the CrNx coating together with the film structure, the presence of mixing phases, and the packing density of the structure. After hydrogenation, the hardness increased for all coatings, which could be related to the formation of a Cr2O3 oxide film on the surface, as well as the defect formation after hydrogen loading. Tribological tests reveal that hydrogenation leads to a decrease of the friction coefficient by up to 40%. The lowest value of 0.25 ± 0.02 was reached for the CrNx coating deposited at 60 V after hydrogenation.
Multifunctional Surface Modification of Mulberry Silk Fabric via PNIPAAm/Chitosan/PEO Nanofibers Coating and Cross-Linking Technology
Authors: Li Jia , Wang Boxiang , Lin Jie , Cheng Dehong , Lu Yanhua
Published: February 2018

Multifunctional mulberry silk fabrics with excellent temperature- and pH-sensitivity, antibacterial properties and permeability are successfully prepared by surface modification with PNIPAAm/chitosan/poly(ethylene oxide) nanofibers. The nanofibers deposited on the surface of mulberry silk fabric are produced by the electrospinning technique. The surface properties of mulberry silk fabrics were changed by coating process and glutaraldehyde vapor cross-linking technology. The PNIPAAm/chitosan/PEO nanofibers have good apparent morphology and uniform fiber diameter. The contact angle of modified mulberry silk obviously increases with the increasing temperature. The bacterial reduction rates of modification of mulberry silk against E. coli and S. aureus all reach above 80%. Permeability test results show that it can largely improve the poor permeability of coated fabric by intelligent nanofiber modification technology. The air permeability of temperature- and pH-sensitivity mulberry silk fabric modified with PNIPAAm/chitosan/PEO nanofibers, which has reached about 5.1 × 102 L/m2/s, is higher than that of the silk fabric coated with PNIPAAm/chitosan/PEO solution that reached 1.5 × 102 L/m2/s. The nanofibers coated with mulberry silk fabrics show outstanding temperature- and pH-sensitivity, antibacterial properties and permeability, and may be a potential application in medical care, intelligent materials and textiles.
Crystal Structural Determination of SrAlD5 with Corner-Sharing AlD6 Octahedron Chains by X-ray and Neutron Diffraction
Authors: Sato Toyoto , Takagi Shigeyuki , Sørby Magnus , Deledda Stefano , Hauback Bjørn , Orimo Shin-ichi
Published: February 2018

Aluminium-based complex hydrides (alanates) composed of metal cation(s) and complex anion(s), [AlH4]− or [AlH6]3− with covalent Al–H bonds, have attracted tremendous attention as hydrogen storage materials since the discovery of the reversible hydrogen desorption and absorption reactions on Ti-enhanced NaAlH4. In cases wherein alkaline-earth metals (M) are used as a metal cation, MAlH5 with corner-sharing AlH6 octahedron chains are known to form. The crystal structure of SrAlH5 has remained unsolved although two different results have been theoretically and experimentally proposed. Focusing on the corner-sharing AlH6 octahedron chains as a unique feature of the alkaline-earth metal, we here report the crystal structure of SrAlD5 investigated by synchrotron radiation powder X-ray and neutron diffraction. SrAlD5 was elucidated to adopt an orthorhombic unit cell with a = 4.6226(10) Å, b = 12.6213(30) Å and c = 5.0321(10) Å in the space group Pbcm (No. 57) and Z = 4. The Al–D distances (1.77–1.81 Å) in the corner-sharing AlD6 octahedra matched with those in the isolated [AlD6]3− although the D–Al–D angles in the penta-alanates are significantly more distorted than the isolated [AlD6]3−.
Tightly-Coupled Joint User Self-Calibration of Accelerometers, Gyroscopes, and Magnetometers
Authors: Chow Jacky , Hol Jeroen , Luinge Henk
Published: February 2018

Inertial measurement units (IMUs) are fundamental for attitude control of drones. With the advancements in micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) fabrication processes, size, power consumption, and price of these sensors have reduced significantly and attracted many new applications. However, this came at the expense of sensors requiring frequent recalibration, as they are highly contaminated with systematic errors. This paper presents a novel method to jointly calibrate the accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer triad in a MEMS IMU without additional equipment. Opportunistic zero change in velocity and position updates, and inclination updates were used in conjunction with relative orientation updates from magnetometers in a robust batch least-squares adjustment. Solutions from the proposed self-calibration were compared to existing calibration methods. Empirical results suggest that the new method is robust against magnetic distortions and can achieve performance similar to a specialized calibration that uses a more accurate (and expensive) IMU as reference. The jointly estimated accelerometer and gyroscope calibration parameters can deliver a more accurate dead-reckoning solution than the popular multi-position calibration method (i.e., 54% improvement in orientation accuracy) by recovering the gyroscope scale error and other systematic errors. In addition, it can improve parameter observability as well as reduce calibration time by incorporating dynamic data with static orientations. The proposed calibration was also applied on-site pre-mission by simply waving the sensor by hand and was able to improve the orientation tracking accuracy by 73%.