bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phenolic content and antioxidant activity ofZiziphus jujubaMill. fruit extracts
Authors: Adjdir S. , Benariba N. , Laoufi H. , Djaziri R.
Published: June 2018

The aim of this study is to evaluate the antioxidant activity of dried fruit extracts of Zizyphus jujubaMill. Polyphenols and flavonoids content determined in aqueous extract (aq), hydromethanolic (EM), hydroacetonic (EA) extracts, and their ethyl acetate (Acet) andn-butanol (n-but) fractions reveal variable rates; 42.84–94.70 mg gallic acid equivalent per g extract and 47.02–427.33 mg catechin equivalent per g extract. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by different assays using total antioxidant capacity, 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), β-carotene bleaching assay, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). In DPPH assay, all extracts showed an interesting scavenging effect, an estimated reduction rate about 75.58–97.71% was determined with the IC50(the half maximal inhibitory concentration) values ranging from 12 to 503.6 μg/ml. In β-carotene bleaching assay, 500 μg/ml of each extract showed a large inhibition (51.14–85.01%) with IC50values ranging from 48 to 462 μg/ml compared to butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), and tannic acid 0.6, 2.00, and 461 μg/ml, respectively. The results of FRAP show that the crude extracts (aq ˃ EM ˃ EA) are less efficient than their fractions (Acet/aq˃ Acet/EA˃n-but/EA) which demonstrate an important activity. Concerning total antioxidant capacity essay (TAC), the highest capacity was noticed for Acet/aq (71.98 μg gallic acid equivalents [GAE]/mg extract) and Acet/EA extract (64.62 μg GAE/mg of extract). The antioxidant activity of dried fruit extracts ofZ. jujubais mainly related to its polyphenol content essentially on flavonoids, which qualifies this species as a source of natural antioxidant.
Effect of chitosan on quality and shelf life of beef at refrigerated storage
Authors: Alam J , Murshed HM , Rahman SME , Oh DH
Published: June 2018

In this study, the microbiological quality and shelf life of beef treated with different concentrations of chitosan (CHI) was investigated. Beef samples obtained from a local market were dipped into 1%, 1.5% and 2% chitosan solutions prepared with 1% acetic acid. The samples were drained, vacuum packed and stored at 4°C for a period of 12 days. The samples were evaluated for sensorial properties (color, odor and overall acceptability) and microbial counts (TVC, TCC and TYMC) on 0, 4, 8 and 12 days of storage. Chitosan treated samples having 1%, 1.5%, 2% chitosan solution and control which were expressed as T1, T2, T3 and T0 respectively. The obtained results showed that addition of chitosan solution, significantly (p<0.05) affected on physicochemical (pH, CP, POV, Cooking Loss), microbiological (TVC, TCC, TYMC) and sensory attributes (color, odor, overall acceptance) compared to control samples at refrigerated temperature. The pH and POV of all the treatment groups increase significantly (p<0.05) compared to control group at different days of interval during storage. The CP and cooking loss of different treatment groups decrease significantly (p<0.05) compared to control group at different days of interval during storage. The results also revealed that the samples were dipped in chitosan solution (1%, 1.5%, 2%) significantly (p<0.05) improved the microbiological quality, sensory attributes and reduced lipid oxidation in beef samples compared to the control samples at different days interval. However, abnormal changes were not determined on the samples treated with chitosan, even on the last day of storage. In beef, storage at 4°C for 12 days, chitosan inhibited the growth of spoilage bacteria, reduce lipid oxidation, putrefaction and resulted in better sensory test. The results indicated that the application of chitosan on the beef samples improve the microbiological quality and extends the shelf life usually 5-8 days, which could an alternative to chemical protective additives.Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2017. 46 (4): 230-238
Inform: Efficient Information-Theoretic Analysis of Collective Behaviors
Authors: Moore Douglas G. , Valentini Gabriele , Walker Sara I. , Levin Michael
Published: June 2018

The study of collective behavior has traditionally relied on a variety of different methodological tools ranging from more theoretical methods such as population or game-theoretic models to empirical ones like Monte Carlo or multi-agent simulations. An approach that is increasingly being explored is the use of information theory as a methodological framework to study the flow of information and the statistical properties of collectives of interacting agents. While a few general purpose toolkits exist, most of the existing software for information theoretic analysis of collective systems is limited in scope. We introduce Inform, an open-source framework for efficient information theoretic analysis that exploits the computational power of a C library while simplifying its use through a variety of wrappers for common higher-level scripting languages. We focus on two such wrappers here: PyInform (Python) and rinform (R). Inform and its wrappers are cross-platform and general-purpose. They include classical information-theoretic measures, measures of information dynamics and information-based methods to study the statistical behavior of collective systems, and expose a lower-level API that allow users to construct measures of their own. We describe the architecture of the Inform framework, study its computational efficiency and use it to analyze three different case studies of collective behavior: biochemical information storage in regenerating planaria, nest-site selection in the ant Temnothorax rugatulus, and collective decision making in multi-agent simulations.
Experimental Characterisation of a Flat Dielectric Elastomer Loudspeaker
Authors: Rustighi Emiliano , Kaal William , Herold Sven , Kubbara Ahmed
Published: June 2018

Conventional loudspeakers are often heavy, require substantial design spaces and are hard to integrate into lightweight structures (e.g., panels). To overcome these drawbacks, this paper presents a novel extremely flat loudspeaker which uses dielectric elastomer actuators with natural rubber for the elastomeric layers and metal electrodes as transduction mechanism. To facilitate the deformation of the elastomer, the electrodes are perforated. The microscopic holes lead to a macroscopically compressible stack configuration despite the elastomer incompressibility. The design is developed and the materials are chosen to guarantee low mechanical and electrical losses and a high efficiency in the entire frequency range up to several kilohertz. The loudspeaker was designed, built and afterwards experimentally investigated and characterised. Laser measurements of the surface velocity were performed to find dynamic effects present at the diaphragm. To further characterise the device, a semi anechoic chamber as used. Sound pressure levels emitted by the device were recorded at different bias and alternating voltages to study their influence. The nonlinearity of the loudspeaker, which is inherent for this kind of actuators, was quantified considering the total harmonic distortion. Here, a dependence on the amplitude of the alternating voltage is observed. Further, the distortion decreases rapidly the higher the frequency is, which qualifies the loudspeaker concept to properly work at high frequencies. Transfer functions between supplied voltage and on-axis sound pressure were measured and showed in principle potential for high frequency application. Further, the behaviour of the diaphragm changing from rigid piston to resilient disk with respect to frequency for different configurations was observed. Additionally, the directivity of the loudspeaker was investigated at several frequencies, and was in accordance with previously found research outcomes. The results, especially in the high frequency range, prove the usability of this design concept for practical applications.
Differences in Risk Perception Factors and Behaviours amongst and within Professionals and Trainees in the Aviation Engineering Domain
Authors: Chionis Dimitrios , Karanikas Nektarios
Published: June 2018

In the aviation sector, the variability in the appreciation of safety risk perception factors and responses to risk behaviours has not been sufficiently studied for engineers and technicians. Through a questionnaire survey, this study investigated differences amongst professionals and trainees across eleven risk perception factors and five indicative risk behaviour scenarios. The findings indicated significant differences between the two groups in four factors and three scenarios as well as within groups. Moreover, age, years of work and study and educational level were other factors accounting for such differences within each group of professionals and trainees. The results showing these significant differences are aligned with relevant research about pilots and indicate that the appreciation of risk perception factors by aviation engineers and the development of their risk behaviours deserves more attention. Our findings cannot be generalised due to the small sample and its distribution across the demographic variables. However, the results of this study suggest the need tailoring risk communication and training to address the different degrees to which influences of risk perception factors are comprehended, and risk behaviours emerge in aviation engineering trainees and professionals. Further research could focus on the development of a respective uniform framework and tool for the specific workforce group and could administer surveys to more extensive and more representative samples by including open-ended questions and broader social, organisational and systemic factors.
The Impact of Human Error in the Use of Agricultural Tractors: A Case Study Research in Vineyard Cultivation in Italy
Authors: Fargnoli Mario , Lombardi Mara , Haber Nicolas , Puri Daniele
Published: June 2018

Recently, standards and regulations concerning occupational safety have become more and more rigorous. Nevertheless, the number of accidents and victims has not decreased significantly, as reported by official statistics. In Italy, the agricultural sector is certainly one of the most affected by this situation, especially taking into account the occurrence of serious injuries and fatalities related to the use of tractors. The main reasons for such a situation can be ascribed to the peculiarities of agricultural operations. Therefore, when analyzing the root causes of agricultural accidents, a user-centered approach is needed in order to make the development of health and safety interventions easier and more effective. Based on this, the present paper proposes a practical case study research focused on integrating the factor of human error into the risk assessment procedures of agricultural activities in vineyard cultivation. Such an approach allowed us to consider the impact of human error—while performing work activities (e.g., the use of a tractor)—on hazards and related hazardous events in a thorough manner. The proposed approach represents a novelty in the sector of the safety assessment of agricultural activities, providing a first valuable basis for further analysis and implementation by researchers and practitioners.
Method for Measuring Cooling Efficiency of Water Droplets Impinging onto Hot Metal Discs
Authors: Bjørge Joachim , Metallinou Maria-Monika , Log Torgrim , Frette Øyvind
Published: June 2018

The present work outlines a method for measuring the cooling efficiency of droplets impinging onto hot metal discs in the temperature range of 85 °C to 400 °C, i.e., covering the boiling regimes experienced when applying water to heated objects in fires. Stainless steel and aluminum test discs (with 50-mm diameter, 10-mm thickness, and a surface roughness of Ra 0.4 or Ra 3) were suspended horizontally by four thermocouples that were used to record disc temperatures. The discs were heated by a laboratory burner prior to the experiments, and left to cool with and without applying 2.4-mm diameter water droplets to the discs while the disc temperatures were recorded. The droplets were generated by the acceleration of gravity from a hypodermic injection needle, and hit the disc center at a speed of 2.2 m/s and a rate of 0.02 g/s, i.e., about three droplets per second. Based on the recorded rate of the temperature change, as well as disc mass and disc heat capacity, the absolute droplet cooling effect and the relative cooling efficiency relative to complete droplet evaporation were obtained. There were significant differences in the cooling efficiency as a function of temperature for the two metals investigated, but there was no statistically significant difference with respect to whether the surface roughness was Ra 0.4 or Ra 3. Aluminum showed a higher cooling efficiency in the temperature range of 110 °C to 140 °C, and a lower cooling efficiency in the temperature range of 180 °C to 300 °C compared to stainless steel. Both metals gave a maximum cooling efficiency in the range of 75% to 85%. A minimum of 5% cooling efficiency was experienced for the aluminum disc at 235 °C, i.e., the observed Leidenfrost point. However, stainless steel did not give a clear minimum in cooling efficiency, which was about 12–14% for disc temperatures above 300 °C. This simple and straightforward technique is well suited for assessing the cooling efficiency of water droplets impinging onto heated metal objects. The test rig also worked well for demonstrating droplet boiling regimes and water droplet cooling efficiency to fire safety engineering students.
Passively Q-Switched Operation of a Tm,Ho:LuVO4 Laser with a Graphene Saturable Absorber
Authors: Wang Wei , Li Linjun , Zhang Hongtian , Qin Jinping , Lu Yuang , Xu Chong , Li Shasha , Shen Yingjie , Yang Wenlong , Yang Yuqiang , Yu Xiaoyang
Published: June 2018

A passively Q-switched (PQS) operation of Tm,Ho:LuVO4 laser is experimentally demonstrated with a graphene saturable absorber (SA) mirror. An average output power of 1034 mW at 54.5 kHz is acquired with an 8% optical–optical conversion efficiency. The energy per pulse of 40.4 μJ and a peak power of 56.07 W are achieved; the narrowest pulse width of 300 ns is acquired, and the output wavelengths of Tm,Ho:LuVO4 are 2075.02 nm in a continuous wave (CW) regime and 2057.03 nm in a PQS regime.
Spatially-Resolved Electron Density Measurement in Hydrogen Pellet Ablation Cloud
Authors: Seguineaud Guillaume , Motojima Gen , Narushima Yoshiro , Goto Motoshi
Published: June 2018

A spectroscopic method for spatial resolution measurement in fuel pellet ablation clouds is being developed in the Large Helical Device (LHD). Spatial resolution is obtained thanks to optics that have a narrow, band-shaped field-of-view. The Stark-broadened Hβ emission line of a deuterium pellet ablation cloud is isolated and analyzed with a spectral lineshape code. The electron density profile of the ablation cloud along its direction of elongation is derived through least squares fitting. The obtained profile is peaked and has a dip at its center which confirms what can be found in simulations. Moreover, the order of magnitudes for the derived electron densities are in agreement with what has already been found in the LHD.
What Do You Mean by “Nonlinear Eigenvalue Problems”?
Authors: Chiappinelli Raffaele
Published: June 2018

A nonlinear eigenvalue problem is generally described by an equation of the form F(λ,x)=0, where F(λ,0)=0 for all λ, and contains by definition two unknowns: the eigenvalue parameter λ and the “nontrivial” vector(s) x corresponding to it. The nonlinear dependence of F can be in either of them (and of course in both), and also the research in this area seems to follow two quite different directions. In this review paper, we try to collect some points of possible common interest for both fields.
The Development of a Menthol Solution for Use during Sport and Exercise
Authors: Best Russ , Spears Iain , Hurst Philip , Berger Nicolas
Published: June 2018

Menthol mouth-swilling has been shown to improve performance across differing exercise modalities, yet no work has been conducted to ascertain the preferred concentration of menthol within a swill. Colour has also been shown to influence psychophysiological outcomes, and may influence the efficacy of ergogenic aids. We conducted two experiments: one to ascertain preferred menthol concentration (0.005–0.105% menthol), the second to assess colour preference (Light Blue, Dark Blue, Light Green, Dark Green, Red). Participants rated swills for Smell, Taste, Freshness, Mouth Feel and Irritation (plus Appearance in the second trial) via 15 cm Visual Analogue Scales (VAS), having swilled and expectorated 25 mL of fluid. Both trials employed a crossover design, with tasting order assigned by Latin squares. Differences were assessed for statistical significance (p < 0.05) using one-way repeated measures ANOVAs. Standardised mean differences ±90% confidence intervals were calculated to assess the magnitude of any observed differences. No significant differences were found between concentrations for total VAS score, but higher concentrations demonstrated a greater number of small effects. Similarly, no significant differences between colours were found. Small effects were found when Light Green was compared to Dark Green and Red. Effects were trivial when Light Green was compared to Light Blue (0.05 ± 0.20) and Dark Blue (0.19 ± 0.32). We recommend athletes employ a Light Green or Light Blue 0.1% menthol mouth-swill.
Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT) in Peripheral Nerve Regeneration: A Systematic Review
Authors: Rosso Marcelie Priscila de Oliveira , Buchaim Daniela Vieira , Kawano Natália , Furlanette Gabriela , Pomini Karina Torres , Buchaim Rogério Leone
Published: June 2018

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has been investigated because of its intimate relationship with tissue recovery processes, such as on peripheral nerve damage. Based on the wide range of benefits that the PBMT has shown and its clinical relevance, the aim of this research was to carry out a systematic review of the last 10 years, ascertaining the influence of the PBMT in the regeneration of injured peripheral nerves. The search was performed in the PubMed/MEDLINE database with the combination of the keywords: low-level laser therapy AND nerve regeneration. Initially, 54 articles were obtained, 26 articles of which were chosen for the study according to the inclusion criteria. In the qualitative aspect, it was observed that PBMT was able to accelerate the process of nerve regeneration, presenting an increase in the number of myelinated fibers and a better lamellar organization of myelin sheath, besides improvement of electrophysiological function, immunoreactivity, high functionality rate, decrease of inflammation, pain, and the facilitation of neural regeneration, release of growth factors, increase of vascular network and collagen. It was concluded that PBMT has beneficial effects on the recovery of nerve lesions, especially when related to a faster regeneration and functional improvement, despite the variety of parameters.
Inhibitory Projections in the Mouse Auditory Tectothalamic System
Authors: Clarke Blaise A. , Lee Charles C.
Published: June 2018

The medial geniculate body (MGB) is the target of excitatory and inhibitory inputs from several neural sources. Among these, the inferior colliculus (IC) is an important nucleus in the midbrain that acts as a nexus for auditory projections, ascending and descending, throughout the rest of the central auditory system and provides both excitatory and inhibitory inputs to the MGB. In our study, we assessed the relative contribution from presumed excitatory and inhibitory IC neurons to the MGB in mice. Using retrograde tract tracing with cholera toxin beta subunit (CTβ)-Alexa Fluor 594 injected into the MGB of transgenic, vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT)-Venus mice, we quantitatively analyzed the projections from both the ipsilateral and contralateral IC to the MGB. Our results demonstrate inhibitory projections from both ICs to the MGB that likely play a significant role in shaping auditory processing. These results complement prior studies in other species, which suggest that the inhibitory tectothalamic pathway is important in the regulation of neuronal activity in the auditory forebrain.
Perinatal MAO Inhibition Produces Long-Lasting Impairment of Serotonin Function in Offspring
Authors: Burke Mark W. , Fillion Myriam , Mejia Jose , Ervin Frank R. , Palmour Roberta M.
Published: June 2018

In addition to transmitter functions, many neuroamines have trophic or ontogenetic regulatory effects important to both normal and disordered brain development. In previous work (Mejia et al., 2002), we showed that pharmacologically inhibiting monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity during murine gestation increases the prevalence of behaviors thought to reflect impulsivity and aggression. The goal of the present study was to determine the extent to which this treatment influences dopamine and serotonin innervation of murine cortical and subcortical areas, as measured by regional density of dopamine (DAT) and serotonin transporters (SERT). We measured DAT and SERT densities at 3 developmental times (PND 14, 35 and 90) following inhibition of MAO A, or MAO B or both throughout murine gestation and early post-natal development. DAT binding was unaltered within the nigrostriatal pathway, but concurrent inhibition of MAO-A and MAO-B significantly and specifically reduced SERT binding by 10–25% in both the frontal cortex and raphe nuclei. Low levels of SERT binding persisted (PND 35, 90) after the termination (PND 21) of exposure to MAO inhibitors and was most marked in brain structures germane to the previously described behavioral changes. The relatively modest level of enzyme inhibition (25–40%) required to produce these effects mandates care in the use of any compound which might inhibit MAO activity during gestation.
Oxidative Stress in Patients with Drug Resistant Partial Complex Seizure
Authors: Lorigados Pedre Lourdes , Gallardo Juan , Morales Chacón Lilia , Vega García Angélica , Flores-Mendoza Monserrat , Neri-Gómez Teresa , Estupiñán Díaz Bárbara , Cruz-Xenes Rachel , Pavón Fuentes Nancy , Orozco-Suárez Sandra
Published: June 2018

Oxidative stress (OS) has been implicated as a pathophysiological mechanism of drug-resistant epilepsy, but little is known about the relationship between OS markers and clinical parameters, such as the number of drugs, age onset of seizure and frequency of seizures per month. The current study’s aim was to evaluate several oxidative stress markers and antioxidants in 18 drug-resistant partial complex seizure (DRPCS) patients compared to a control group (age and sex matched), and the results were related to clinical variables. We examined malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), advanced glycation end products (AGEs), nitric oxide (NO), uric acid, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione, vitamin C, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE) and nitrotyrosine (3-NT). All markers except 4-HNE and 3-NT were studied by spectrophotometry. The expressions of 4-HNE and 3-NT were evaluated by Western blot analysis. MDA levels in patients were significantly increased (p ≤ 0.0001) while AOPP levels were similar to the control group. AGEs, NO and uric acid concentrations were significantly decreased (p ≤ 0.004, p ≤ 0.005, p ≤ 0.0001, respectively). Expressions of 3-NT and 4-HNE were increased (p ≤ 0.005) similarly to SOD activity (p = 0.0001), whereas vitamin C was considerably diminished (p = 0.0001). Glutathione levels were similar to the control group. There was a positive correlation between NO and MDA with the number of drugs. The expression of 3-NT was positively related with the frequency of seizures per month. There was a negative relationship between MDA and age at onset of seizures, as well as vitamin C with seizure frequency/month. We detected an imbalance in the redox state in patients with DRCPS, supporting oxidative stress as a relevant mechanism in this pathology. Thus, it is apparent that some oxidant and antioxidant parameters are closely linked with clinical variables.
Trajectories of Graphitizable Anthracene Coke and Non-Graphitizable Sucrose Char during the Earliest Stages of Annealing by Rapid CO2 Laser Heating
Authors: Abrahamson Joseph , Jain Abhishek , Van Duin Adri , Vander Wal Randy
Published: June 2018

The earliest stages of annealing of graphitizable anthracene coke and non-graphitizable sucrose char were observed by rapid heating with a CO2 laser. Structural transformations were observed with transmission electron microscopy. Anthracene coke and sucrose char were laser heated to 1200 °C and 2600 °C for 0.25–300 s. The transformations are compared to traditional furnace heating at matching temperatures for a 1 h duration. Traditional furnace and CO2 laser annealing followed the same pathway, based upon equivalent end structures. Graphitizable anthracene coke annealed faster than non-graphitizable sucrose char. Sucrose char passed through a structural state of completely closed shell nanoparticles that opened upon additional heat treatment and gave rise to the irregular pore structure found in the end product. The observed curvature in sucrose char annealed at 2600 °C results from shell opening. The initial presence of curvature and loss by heat treatment argues that odd membered rings are present initially and not formed upon heat treatment. Thus, odd membered rings are not manufactured during the annealing process due to impinging growth of stacks, but are likely present in the starting structure. The observed unraveling of the closed shell structure was simulated with ReaxFF.
WIP-YAP/TAZ as A New Pro-Oncogenic Pathway in Glioma
Authors: Rivas Sergio , Antón Inés M. , Wandosell Francisco
Published: June 2018

Wild-type p53 (wtp53) is described as a tumour suppressor gene, and mutations in p53 occur in many human cancers. Indeed, in high-grade malignant glioma, numerous molecular genetics studies have established central roles of RTK-PI3K-PTEN and ARF-MDM2-p53 INK4a-RB pathways in promoting oncogenic capacity. Deregulation of these signalling pathways, among others, drives changes in the glial/stem cell state and environment that permit autonomous growth. The initially transformed cell may undergo subsequent modifications, acquiring a more complete tumour-initiating phenotype responsible for disease advancement to stages that are more aggressive. We recently established that the oncogenic activity of mutant p53 (mtp53) is driven by the actin cytoskeleton-associated protein WIP (WASP-interacting protein), correlated with tumour growth, and more importantly that both proteins are responsible for the tumour-initiating cell phenotype. We reported that WIP knockdown in mtp53-expressing glioblastoma greatly reduced proliferation and growth capacity of cancer stem cell (CSC)-like cells and decreased CSC-like markers, such as hyaluronic acid receptor (CD44), prominin-1 (CD133), yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ). We thus propose a new CSC signalling pathway downstream of mtp53 in which Akt regulates WIP and controls YAP/TAZ stability. WIP drives a mechanism that stimulates growth signals, promoting YAP/TAZ and β-catenin stability in a Hippo-independent fashion, which allows cells to coordinate processes such as proliferation, stemness and invasiveness, which are key factors in cancer progression. Based on this multistep tumourigenic model, it is tantalizing to propose that WIP inhibitors may be applied as an effective anti-cancer therapy.
Recombinant TSR1 of ADAMTS5 Suppresses Melanoma Growth in Mice via an Anti-angiogenic Mechanism
Authors: Renganathan Bhuvanasundar , Durairaj Vinoth , Kirman Dogan Can , Esubonteng Paa Kow A. , Ang Swee Kim , Ge Ruowen
Published: June 2018

Inhibiting tumor angiogenesis is a well-established approach for anticancer therapeutic development. A Disintegrin-like and Metalloproteinase with ThromboSpondin Motifs 5 (ADAMTS5) is a secreted matrix metalloproteinase in the ADAMTS family that also functions as an anti-angiogenic/anti-tumorigenic molecule. Its anti-angiogenic/anti-tumorigenic function is independent from its proteinase activity, but requires its first thrombospondin type 1 repeat (TSR1). However, it is not known if recombinant TSR1 (rTSR1) can function as an anticancer therapeutic. In this report, we expressed and purified a 75-residue recombinant TSR1 polypeptide from E. coli and investigated its ability to function as an anticancer therapeutic in mice. We demonstrate that rTSR1 is present in the blood circulation as well as in the tumor tissue at 15 min post intraperitoneal injection. Intraperitoneal delivery of rTSR1 potently suppressed subcutaneous B16F10 melanoma growth as a single agent, accompanied by diminished tumor angiogenesis, increased apoptosis, and reduced cell proliferation in the tumor tissue. Consistently, rTSR1 dose-dependently induced the apoptosis of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in a caspase-dependent manner. This work indicates that rTSR1 of ADAMTS5 can function as a potent anticancer therapy in mice. It thus has the potential to be further developed into an anticancer drug.
Unfolding the Endoplasmic Reticulum of a Social Amoeba: Dictyostelium discoideum as a New Model for the Study of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress
Authors: Domínguez-Martín Eunice , Hernández-Elvira Mariana , Vincent Olivier , Coria Roberto , Escalante Ricardo
Published: June 2018

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a membranous network with an intricate dynamic architecture necessary for various essential cellular processes. Nearly one third of the proteins trafficking through the secretory pathway are folded and matured in the ER. Additionally, it acts as calcium storage, and it is a main source for lipid biosynthesis. The ER is highly connected with other organelles through regions of membrane apposition that allow organelle remodeling, as well as lipid and calcium traffic. Cells are under constant changes due to metabolic requirements and environmental conditions that challenge the ER network’s maintenance. The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a signaling pathway that restores homeostasis of this intracellular compartment upon ER stress conditions by reducing the load of proteins, and by increasing the processes of protein folding and degradation. Significant progress on the study of the mechanisms that restore ER homeostasis was achieved using model organisms such as yeast, Arabidopsis, and mammalian cells. In this review, we address the current knowledge on ER architecture and ER stress response in Dictyostelium discoideum. This social amoeba alternates between unicellular and multicellular phases and is recognized as a valuable biomedical model organism and an alternative to yeast, particularly for the presence of traits conserved in animal cells that were lost in fungi.
Oxidation Behavior of MoSi2-Coated TZM Alloys during Isothermal Exposure at High Temperatures
Authors: Choi Kwangsu , Kim Young Joo , Kim Min Kyu , Lee Sangyeob , Lee Seong , Park Joon Sik
Published: June 2018

Coating properties and oxidation behaviors of Si pack cementation-coated TZM (Mo-0.5Ti-0.1Zr-0.02C) alloys were investigated in order to understand the stability of the coating layer at high temperatures up to 1350 °C in an ambient atmosphere. After the pack cementation coatings, MoSi2 and Mo5Si3 layers were formed. When MoSi2-coated TZM alloys were oxidized in air at high temperatures, the Si in the outer MoSi2 layer diffused and formed SiO2. Also, due to the diffusion of Si, the MoSi2 layer was transformed into a columnar shaped Mo5Si3 phase. During isothermal oxidation, the Mo5Si3 phase was formed both within the coated MoSi2 layer and between the MoSi2 and the substrate. The coating properties and the oxidation behavior of the Si pack-coated TZM alloys were discussed along with the identification of growth kinetics.
Sequential Hashing with Minimum Padding
Authors: Hirose Shoichi
Published: June 2018

This article presents a sequential domain extension scheme with minimum padding for hashing using a compression function. The proposed domain extension scheme is free from the length extension property. The collision resistance of a hash function using the proposed domain extension is shown to be reduced to the collision resistance and the everywhere preimage resistance of the underlying compression function in the standard model, where the compression function is assumed to be chosen at random from a function family in some efficient way. Its indifferentiability from a random oracle up to the birthday bound is also shown on the assumption that the underlying compression function is a fixed-input-length random oracle or the Davies-Meyer mode of a block cipher chosen uniformly at random. The proposed domain extension is also applied to the sponge construction and the resultant hash function is shown to be indifferentiable from a random oracle up to the birthday bound in the ideal permutation model. The proposed domain extension scheme is expected to be useful for processing short messages.
Influence of Doping Tb on the Mechanical Properties and Martensitic Transformation of Ni-Mn-Sn Magnetic Shape Memory Alloys
Authors: Tian Xiaohua , Zhang Kun , Tan Changlong , Guo Erjun
Published: June 2018

Brittleness and low working temperature are two key factors that restrict the application of Ni-Mn-Sn alloys. Element doping is an effective means to improve performance of materials. In present paper, martensitic transformation (MT) and mechanical properties of Ni48Mn39Sn13−xTbx (x = 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 at.%) alloys are investigated. It is found that the Tb addition refines significantly the grains and causes the formation of a Tb-rich phase. All the samples undergo the martensitic transformation from parent phase to martensite. And the martensitic transformation characteristic temperatures increase remarkably from −60.7 °C for x = 0 to 364.1 °C for x = 5. The appropriate amount of Tb addition in Ni48Mn39Sn13−xTbx (x = 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 at.%) alloys significantly enhances the compressive strength and improves the ductility, which can be ascribed to the grain refinement. The compressive stress of 571.8 MPa and strain 22.0% are obtained in the Ni48Mn39Sn11Tb2 alloy. Then the mechanical properties decrease with the further increased Tb content. Simultaneous improving of martensitic transformation temperature and mechanical properties in Ni-Mn-Sn magnetic alloy are achieved by Tb doping.
Atom-Diffraction from Surfaces with Defects: A Fermatian, Newtonian and Bohmian Joint View
Authors: Sanz Ángel
Published: June 2018

Bohmian mechanics, widely known within the field of the quantum foundations, has been a quite useful resource for computational and interpretive purposes in a wide variety of practical problems. Here, it is used to establish a comparative analysis at different levels of approximation in the problem of the diffraction of helium atoms from a substrate consisting of a defect with axial symmetry on top of a flat surface. The motivation behind this work is to determine which aspects of one level survive in the next level of refinement and, therefore, to get a better idea of what we usually denote as quantum-classical correspondence. To this end, first a quantum treatment of the problem is performed with both an approximated hard-wall model and then with a realistic interaction potential model. The interpretation and explanation of the features displayed by the corresponding diffraction intensity patterns is then revisited with a series of trajectory-based approaches: Fermatian trajectories (optical rays), Newtonian trajectories and Bohmian trajectories. As it is seen, while Fermatian and Newtonian trajectories show some similarities, Bohmian trajectories behave quite differently due to their implicit non-classicality.
Entropy and Geometric Objects
Authors: Schmitz Georg J.
Published: June 2018

Different notions of entropy can be identified in different scientific communities: (i) the thermodynamic sense; (ii) the information sense; (iii) the statistical sense; (iv) the disorder sense; and (v) the homogeneity sense. Especially the “disorder sense” and the “homogeneity sense” relate to and require the notion of space and time. One of the few prominent examples relating entropy to both geometry and space is the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy of a Black Hole. Although this was developed for describing a physical object—a black hole—having a mass, a momentum, a temperature, an electrical charge, etc., absolutely no information about this object’s attributes can ultimately be found in the final formulation. In contrast, the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy in its dimensionless form is a positive quantity only comprising geometric attributes such as an area A—the area of the event horizon of the black hole, a length LP—the Planck length, and a factor 1/4. A purely geometric approach to this formulation will be presented here. The approach is based on a continuous 3D extension of the Heaviside function which draws on the phase-field concept of diffuse interfaces. Entropy enters into the local and statistical description of contrast or gradient distributions in the transition region of the extended Heaviside function definition. The structure of the Bekenstein-Hawking formulation is ultimately derived for a geometric sphere based solely on geometric-statistical considerations.
Uncertainty Relations for Coarse–Grained Measurements: An Overview
Authors: Toscano Fabricio , Tasca Daniel S. , Rudnicki Łukasz , Walborn Stephen P.
Published: June 2018

Uncertainty relations involving incompatible observables are one of the cornerstones of quantum mechanics. Aside from their fundamental significance, they play an important role in practical applications, such as detection of quantum correlations and security requirements in quantum cryptography. In continuous variable systems, the spectra of the relevant observables form a continuum and this necessitates the coarse graining of measurements. However, these coarse-grained observables do not necessarily obey the same uncertainty relations as the original ones, a fact that can lead to false results when considering applications. That is, one cannot naively replace the original observables in the uncertainty relation for the coarse-grained observables and expect consistent results. As such, several uncertainty relations that are specifically designed for coarse-grained observables have been developed. In recognition of the 90th anniversary of the seminal Heisenberg uncertainty relation, celebrated last year, and all the subsequent work since then, here we give a review of the state of the art of coarse-grained uncertainty relations in continuous variable quantum systems, as well as their applications to fundamental quantum physics and quantum information tasks. Our review is meant to be balanced in its content, since both theoretical considerations and experimental perspectives are put on an equal footing.
A Novel Fault Diagnosis Method of Rolling Bearings Based on AFEWT-KDEMI
Authors: Ge Mingtao , Wang Jie , Zhang Fangfang , Bai Ke , Ren Xiangyang
Published: June 2018

According to the dynamic characteristics of the rolling bearing vibration signal and the distribution characteristics of its noise, a fault identification method based on the adaptive filtering empirical wavelet transform (AFEWT) and kernel density estimation mutual information (KDEMI) classifier is proposed. First, we use AFEWT to extract the feature of the rolling bearing vibration signal. The hypothesis test of the Gaussian distribution is carried out for the sub-modes that are obtained by the twice decomposition of EWT, and Gaussian noise is filtered out according to the test results. In this way, we can overcome the noise interference and avoid the mode selection problem when we extract the feature of the signal. Then we combine the advantages of kernel density estimation (KDE) and mutual information (MI) and put forward a KDEMI classifier. The mutual information of the probability density combining the unknown signal feature vector and the probability density of the known type signal is calculated. The type of the unknown signal is determined via the value of the mutual information, so as to achieve the purpose of fault identification of the rolling bearing. In order to verify the effectiveness of AFEWT in feature extraction, we extract signal features using three methods, AFEWT, EWT, and EMD, and then use the same classifier to identify fault signals. Experimental results show that the fault signal has the highest recognition rate by using AFEWT for feature extraction. At the same time, in order to verify the performance of the AFEWT-KDEMI method, we compare two classical fault signal identification methods, SVM and BP neural network, with the AFEWT-KDEMI method. Through experimental analysis, we found that the AFEWT-KDEMI method is more stable and effective.
The Energy Industry in the Czech Republic: On the Way to the Internet of Things
Authors: Maryska Milos , Doucek Petr , Nedomova Lea , Sladek Pavel
Published: June 2018

This article describes and discusses research into the perspectives for deploying the IoT (Internet of Things) within the Czech energy industry. Our conclusions are based on empirical research performed among 50 energy-industry experts in 2016 and 2017. This was two-stage research in which we held interviews with these experts in order to select the set of the most acceptable IoT technologies for deployment in the energy industry, and then used the TOPSIS method to select the most suitable technologies among them for deployment in the Czech environment. For use in determining the most suitable technologies, we also defined—with the help of the mentioned experts—individual selection parameters and weightings for them, enabling us to apply the TOPSIS method to the selected set of technologies. Our result was the selection of the SIGFOX IoT technology.
A New Diagnostic Algorithm for Multiple IGBTs Open Circuit Faults by the Phase Currents for Power Inverter in Electric Vehicles
Authors: Wei Hongqian , Zhang Youtong , Yu Lei , Zhang Mengzhu , Teffah Khaled
Published: June 2018

In order to simplify the application and improve diagnostic speed of the diagnostics, a novel method to diagnose multiple open circuit faults in insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) by three-phase currents for power inverter in electric vehicles is presented. The summation of currents with semi-period phase-difference is described in diagnostic variables with exploration of the current information in faulty condition. In contrast with plentiful existing methods which rely on the motor models and control parameters, this algorithm merely requires phase currents. Meanwhile, the normalized way based on the absolute phase currents and variable parameter moving average method are applied to improve the diagnostic speed and independence of load variation, which contributes to the real-time application in the electric vehicles. Experimental results, using a vector-controlled permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) and digital signal processor MC56F8346, are presented to verify the algorithm effectiveness, showing many features, such as applicability for multiple open circuit faults, well-robustness against false alarms, briefness and agility for the diagnosis function.
Influence of Water Immersion on Pore System and Methane Desorption of Shales: A Case Study of Batu Gajah and Kroh Shale Formations in Malaysia
Authors: Al-Mutarreb Ahmed , Jufar Shiferaw Regassa , Abdulelah Hesham , Padmanabhan Eswaran
Published: June 2018

The influence of water on the pore system and gas desorption in shale remains an open question that is not yet fully understood. In this study, we present the effect of water on the shale pore system and recovered desorbed gas through a series of measurements on shale samples. We utilized the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) low pressure N2 adsorption and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) to observe and analyze the effects of water immersion and moisture on the pore system of shale samples from Batu Gajah (BG) and Kroh shale formations in Malaysia. The impact of water on desorption was then measured using the United States former Bureau of Mines (USBM) modified method. The results showed that the micropore and mesopore volumes of the Batu Gajah (BG) and Kroh (KH) shale samples were reduced by 64.84% and 44.12%, respectively, after the samples were immersed in water. The BET-specific surface area declined by 88.34% and 59.63% for the BG and KH sample, respectively. Desorption results showed that the methane desorbed volume was (KH: 1.22 cc/g, BG: 0.94 cc/g) for the water immersed sample, and (KH: 0.72 cc/g, BG: 0.60) for the equilibrated sample. The difference can be attributed to the proportion of the organic (total organic carbon) and inorganic (clay) content found in the two shale samples. The total organic carbon (TOC) existing in the KH sample was 12.1 wt %, which was greater than the organic carbon content of the BG sample (2.1 wt %). The clay content was found to be more dominant in the BG shale when compared to the KH shale.
Experimental Investigation of the Use of Waste Mineral Oils as a Fuel with Organic-Based Mn Additive
Authors: Özdalyan Bülent , Orman Recep Ç.
Published: June 2018

The heat values of waste mineral oils are equal to the heat value of the fuel oil. However, heat value alone is not sufficient for the use of waste minerals oils as fuel. However, the critical physical properties of fuels such as density and viscosity need to be adapted to the system in order to be used. In this study, the engine oils used in the first 10,000 km of the vehicles were used as waste mineral oil. An organic-based Mn additive was synthesized to improve the properties of the waste mineral oil. It was observed that mixing the Mn additive with the waste mineral oil at different doses (4, 8, 12, and 16 ppm) improves the viscosity of the waste oil and the flash point. The resulting fuel was evaluated for emission using different loads in a 5 kW capacity generator to compare the fuel with standard diesel fuel and to determine the effect of Mn addition. In the experimental study, it was observed that the emission characteristics of the fuel obtained from waste mineral oil were worse than diesel fuel, but some improvement was observed with Mn addition. As a result, we found that the use of waste mineral oils in engines in fuel standards was not appropriate, but may be improved with additives.