bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differences in Development of Oleic and Linoleic Acid in High- and Normal-Oleic Virginia and Runner-Type Peanuts
Authors: Klevorn C.M. , Hendrix K.W. , Sanders T.H. , Dean L.L.
Published: April 2016

A consistent, pure supply of high-oleic (HO) peanuts is important to certain segments of the food industry as it allows for the production of confections and other products with improved shelf-life characteristics. Peanut shellers have struggled with food industry demands for lots which contain greater than 95% high-oleic peanuts. Normal-oleic (NO) and HO cultivars of virginia and runner market type peanuts were grown during the 2012 and 2013 growing season respectively to investigate differences in fatty acid development between HO and NO peanuts. Fatty acid profiles of individual seeds from individual plants taken across the growing season were determined in relation to seed fresh weight. Fatty acid profiles of HO virginia-type seeds from the early sampling date of 78 days after planting (DAP) revealed oleic acid to linoleic acid ratios (O/L) of only 4.0 in the seeds of the greatest fresh weight. As the oleic acid concentration in many of the HO virginia-type peanuts reached 60 to 80% and the linoleic acid concentrations ranged from less than 1.0 to 10 % by the middle sampling date (106 DAP), the O/L ratios of most HO seeds were well above the industry accepted cut-off ratio of 9.0. A similar change in the fatty acids was seen in the HO runner cultivar. Increases in oleic acid and decreases in linoleic acid contents occurred in conjunction with the increased seed fresh weights. The data indicate that HO seed attain high-oleic status as physiological development progresses as seen in the changing seed fresh weight. However at the final sampling dates which corresponded to the harvest dates, O/L ratios of less than 9.0 were still present for the HO cultivars of both market types despite the fresh weight of some seeds being of potential marketable size. It was concluded that some of the perceived contamination of HO seed lots with NO seed could be the result of normal peanut development, especially in the virginia-type cultivar with the larger sized seeds.
Agriculture census based dynamics of changes in livestock farming of Bangladesh-A review
Authors: Huque KS , Huda N
Published: April 2016

The present work was undertaken to determine the dynamics of changes taken place in farm animal production system of Bangladesh transmuting gradually on a cusp of increasing feed and food competition and gaining competitive advantages in domestic production of milk, meat and eggs. The data available from livestock population of the Agricultural Census of 1960 and of 1977, Agricultural and Livestock Census of 1983-84, the census of agriculture 2008 and the livestock and poultry survey of 2009 were used to figure out quantitative changes and extrapolate inherent causes of them. During the period of 1960 to 2009 human population increased at a faster pace (55.2 million to 144.0 million) than livestock population (10.5 to 17.0 livestock units). The later may be explained by a reduction of per capita availability of bovine animals (0.38 in 1960 to 0.18 in 2009) while the same for small ruminants remained similar (0.12 to 0.12, respectively), and that of poultry increased from 0.65 to 1.07, respectively. However, over the decade dairy farming, cattle fattening and commercial poultry supported increased production of livestock products. The ratio of total cows to adult male cattle of 0.56 in 1960 increased to 0.88 in 1977 reflecting farmers` interest on dairying, and the trend was being continued till 2009. Farm animal population at medium and large farms decreased over the period significantly (P<0.01) but, it increased at Non-farm and small farm levels and the difference was significant (P<0.01) in different areas of the country. Compared to the livestock unit of 1984 the extent of its increase at Non-farm and small farm level was 228.0% and 82.0%, respectively, and the extent of decrease at medium and large farm level was 24.9% and 49.9%, respectively. Fragmentation of land reduced medium and large farm numbers resulting in an increase of non-farm and small farm households over the time, and keeping farm animals by the latter gradually increased the share of livestock by land poor peoples. The trends being continued over the decades may impact livestock productions further. This requires data generation through regular agricultural census emphasizing socioeconomic and geographical changes in livestock productions more for identification and quantification of factors dictate ongoing transformation process and driving strategic policy implications to achieve sustainable livestock production integrating measures for climate changes.Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2016. 45 (1): 1-6
Cecil: A Moment or a Movement? Analysis of Media Coverage of the Death of a Lion, Panthera leo
Authors: Macdonald David , Jacobsen Kim , Burnham Dawn , Johnson Paul , Loveridge Andrew
Published: April 2016

The killing of a satellite-tagged male lion by a trophy hunter in Zimbabwe in July 2015 provoked an unprecedented media reaction. We analyse the global media response to the trophy hunting of the lion, nicknamed “Cecil”, a study animal in a long-term project run by Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU). We collaborated with a media-monitoring company to investigate the development of the media coverage spatially and temporally. Relevant articles were identified using a Boolean search for the terms Cecil AND lion in 127 languages. Stories about Cecil the Lion in the editorial media increased from approximately 15 per day to nearly 12,000 at its peak, and mentions of Cecil the Lion in social media reached 87,533 at its peak. We found that, while there were clear regional differences in the level of media saturation of the Cecil story, the patterns of the development of the coverage of this story were remarkably similar across the globe, and that there was no evidence of a lag between the social media and the editorial media. Further, all the main social media platforms appeared to react in synchrony. This story appears to have spread synchronously across media channels and geographically across the globe over the span of about two days. For lion conservation in particular, and perhaps for wildlife conservation more generally, we speculate that the atmosphere may have been changed significantly. We consider the possible reasons why this incident provoked a reaction unprecedented in the conservation sector.
Dynamics of a Stochastic Intraguild Predation Model
Authors: Xing Zejing , Cui Hongtao , Zhang Jimin
Published: April 2016

Intraguild predation (IGP) is a widespread ecological phenomenon which occurs when one predator species attacks another predator species with which it competes for a shared prey species. The objective of this paper is to study the dynamical properties of a stochastic intraguild predation model. We analyze stochastic persistence and extinction of the stochastic IGP model containing five cases and establish the sufficient criteria for global asymptotic stability of the positive solutions. This study shows that it is possible for the coexistence of three species under the influence of environmental noise, and that the noise may have a positive effect for IGP species. A stationary distribution of the stochastic IGP model is established and it has the ergodic property, suggesting that the time average of population size with the development of time is equal to the stationary distribution in space. Finally, we show that our results may be extended to two well-known biological systems: food chains and exploitative competition.
Feasibility of Storing Latent Heat with Liquid Crystals. Proof of Concept at Lab Scale
Authors: Bayón Rocío , Coco Silverio , Barcenilla María , Espinet Pablo , Imbuluzqueta Gorka , Hidalgo Jokin , Rojas Esther
Published: April 2016

In this work, the first experimental results of thermotropic liquid crystals used as phase change materials for thermal storage are presented. For that purpose, the n = 10 derivative from the family of 4′-n-alkoxybiphenyl-4-carboxylic acids has been prepared. Different techniques like polarized-light microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis and rheological measurements have been applied for its characterization. Having a mesophase/isotropic transition temperature around 251 °C, a clearing enthalpy of 55 kJ/kg, a thermal heat capacity of around 2.4 kJ/kg and a dynamic viscosity lower than 0.6 Pas, this compound fulfills the main requirements for being considered as latent heat storage material. Although further studies on thermal stability are necessary, the results already obtained are both promising and encouraging since they demonstrate de viability of this new application of liquid crystals as thermal storage media.
One-Dimensional Modelling of Marine Current Turbine Runaway Behaviour
Authors: Lundin Staffan , Goude Anders , Leijon Mats
Published: April 2016

If a turbine loses its electrical load, it will rotate freely and increase speed, eventually achieving that rotational speed which produces zero net torque. This is known as a runaway situation. Unlike many other types of turbine, a marine current turbine will typically overshoot the final runaway speed before slowing down and settling at the runaway speed. Since the hydrodynamic forces acting on the turbine are dependent on rotational speed and acceleration, turbine behaviour during runaway becomes important for load analyses during turbine design. In this article, we consider analytical and numerical models of marine current turbine runaway behaviour in one dimension. The analytical model is found not to capture the overshoot phenomenon, while still providing useful estimates of acceleration at the onset of runaway. The numerical model incorporates turbine wake build-up and predicts a rotational speed overshoot. The predictions of the models are compared against measurements of runaway of a marine current turbine. The models are also used to recreate previously-published results for a tidal turbine and applied to a wind turbine. It is found that both models provide reasonable estimates of maximum accelerations. The numerical model is found to capture the speed overshoot well.
Comparison of Dissolved Gases in Mineral and Vegetable Insulating Oils under Typical Electrical and Thermal Faults
Authors: Xiang Chenmeng , Zhou Quan , Li Jian , Huang Qingdan , Song Haoyong , Zhang Zhaotao
Published: April 2016

Dissolved gas analysis (DGA) is attracting greater and greater interest from researchers as a fault diagnostic tool for power transformers filled with vegetable insulating oils. This paper presents experimental results of dissolved gases in insulating oils under typical electrical and thermal faults in transformers. The tests covered three types of insulating oils, including two types of vegetable oil, which are camellia insulating oil, Envirotemp FR3, and a type of mineral insulating oil, to simulate thermal faults in oils from 90 °C to 800 °C and electrical faults including breakdown and partial discharges in oils. The experimental results reveal that the content and proportion of dissolved gases in different types of insulating oils under the same fault condition are different, especially under thermal faults due to the obvious differences of their chemical compositions. Four different classic diagnosis methods were applied: ratio method, graphic method, and Duval’s triangle and Duval’s pentagon method. These confirmed that the diagnosis methods developed for mineral oil were not fully appropriate for diagnosis of electrical and thermal faults in vegetable insulating oils and needs some modification. Therefore, some modification aiming at different types of vegetable oils based on Duval Triangle 3 were proposed in this paper and obtained a good diagnostic result. Furthermore, gas formation mechanisms of different types of vegetable insulating oils under thermal stress are interpreted by means of unimolecular pyrolysis simulation and reaction enthalpies calculation.
Effect of Borehole Material on Analytical Solutions of the Heat Transfer Model of Ground Heat Exchangers Considering Groundwater Flow
Authors: Park Sangwoo , Lee Seokjae , Lee Hyobum , Pham Khanh , Choi Hangseok
Published: April 2016

Groundwater flow is one of the most important factors for the design of a ground heat exchanger (GHEX) since the thermal environment of the ground around the buried GHEX is significantly affected by heat convection due to the groundwater flow. Several preceding studies have been conducted to develop analytical solutions to the heat transfer model of GHEX with consideration of groundwater flow. One of these solutions is the combined heat transfer model of conduction and convection. However, the developed combined analytical models are inapplicable to all of the configurations of ordinary GHEXs because these solutions assume that the inner part of the borehole is thermally inert or consists of the same material as that of the surrounding ground. In this paper, the applicability of the combined solid cylindrical heat source model, which is the most suitable to energy piles until now, was evaluated by performing a series of numerical analyses. In the numerical analysis, the inner part of the borehole was modeled as two different materials (i.e., permeable ground formation and impermeable fill such as concrete) to evaluate applicability of the analytical solution along with different diameter-length (D/L) ratios of borehole. In a small value of the D/L ratio, the analytical solution to the combined heat transfer model is in good agreement with the result of numerical analysis. On the other hand, when increasing the D/L ratio, the analytical solution significantly overestimates the effect of groundwater flow on the heat transfer of GHEXs because the analytical solution disregards the existence of the impermeable region in the borehole. Consequently, such tendency is more critical in the GHEX with a large D/L ratio such as large-diameter energy piles.
Cooling Performance Characteristics of the Stack Thermal Management System for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles under Actual Driving Conditions
Authors: Lee Ho-Seong , Cho Choong-Won , Seo Jae-Hyeong , Lee Moo-Yeon
Published: April 2016

The cooling performance of the stack radiator of a fuel cell electric vehicle was evaluated under various actual road driving conditions, such as highway and uphill travel. The thermal stability was then optimized, thereby ensuring stable operation of the stack thermal management system. The coolant inlet temperature of the radiator in the highway mode was lower than that associated with the uphill mode because the corresponding frontal air velocity was higher than obtained in the uphill mode. In both the highway and uphill modes, the coolant temperatures of the radiator, operated under actual road driving conditions, were lower than the allowable limit (80 °C); this is the maximum temperature at which stable operation of the stack thermal management system of the fuel cell electric vehicle could be maintained. Furthermore, under actual road driving conditions in uphill mode, the initial temperature difference (ITD) between the coolant temperature and air temperature of the system was higher than that associated with the highway mode; this higher ITD occurred even though the thermal load of the system in uphill mode was greater than that corresponding to the highway mode. Since the coolant inlet temperature is expected to exceed the allowable limit (80 °C) in uphill mode under higher ambient temperature with air conditioning system operation, the FEM design layout should be modified to improve the heat capacity. In addition, the overall volume of the stack cooling radiator is 52.2% higher than that of the present model and the coolant inlet temperature of the improved radiator is 22.7% lower than that of the present model.
Plant Diversity along the Eastern and Western Slopes of Baima Snow Mountain, China
Authors: Yang Yang , Shen Zehao , Han Jie , Zhongyong Ciren
Published: April 2016

Species richness and turnover rates differed between the western and eastern aspects of Baima Snow Mountain: maximum species richness (94 species in a transect of 1000 m2) was recorded at 2800 m on the western aspect and at 3400 m on the eastern aspect (126 species), which also recorded a much higher value of gamma diversity (501 species) than the western aspect (300 species). The turnover rates were the highest in the transition zones between different vegetation types, whereas species-area curves showed larger within-transect beta diversity at middle elevations. The effect of elevation on alpha diversity was due mainly to the differences in seasonal temperature and moisture, and these environmental factors mattered more than spatial distances to the turnover rates along the elevation gradient, although the impact of the environmental factors differed with the growth form (herb, shrubs or trees) of the species. The differences in the patterns of plant biodiversity between the two aspects helped to assess several hypotheses that seek to explain such patterns, to highlight the impacts of contemporary climate and historical and regional factors and to plan biological conservation and forest management in this region more scientifically.
A Multidimensional Environmental Value Orientation Approach to Forest Recreation Area Tourism Market Segmentation
Authors: Wang Cheng-Ping , Li Ching , Liu Sung-Ta
Published: April 2016

This paper uses multidimensional environmental value orientations as the segmentation bases for analyzing a natural destination tourism market of the National Forest Recreation Areas in Taiwan. Cluster analyses identify two segments, Acceptance and Conditionality, within 1870 usable observations. Independent sample t test and crosstab analyses are applied to examine these segments’ forest value orientations, sociodemographic features, and service demands. The Acceptance group tends to be potential ecotourists, while still recognizing the commercial value of the natural resources. The Conditionality group may not possess a strong sense of ecotourism, given that its favored services can affect the environment. Overall, this article confirms the use of multidimensional environmental value orientation approaches can generate a comprehensive natural tourist segment comparison that benefits practical management decision making.
Exploring the Climate Change, Migration and Conflict Nexus
Authors: Burrows Kate , Kinney Patrick
Published: April 2016

The potential link between climate change, migration, and conflict has been widely discussed and is increasingly viewed by policy makers as a security issue. However, considerable uncertainty remains regarding the role that climate variability and change play among the many drivers of migration and conflict. The overall objective of this paper is to explore the potential pathways linking climate change, migration and increased risk of conflict. We review the existing literature surrounding this issue and break the problem into two components: the links between climate change and migration, and those between migration and conflict. We found a large range of views regarding the importance of climate change as a driver for increasing rates of migration and subsequently of conflict. We argue that future research should focus not only on the climate-migration-conflict pathway but also work to understand the other pathways by which climate variability and change might exacerbate conflict. We conclude by proposing five questions to help guide future research on the link between climate change, migration, and conflict.
Biodiesel Production from Chlorella protothecoides Oil by Microwave-Assisted Transesterification
Authors: Gülyurt Mustafa , Özçimen Didem , İnan Benan
Published: April 2016

In this study, biodiesel production from microalgal oil by microwave-assisted transesterification was carried out to investigate its efficiency. Transesterification reactions were performed by using Chlorella protothecoides oil as feedstock, methanol, and potassium hydroxide as the catalyst. Methanol:oil ratio, reaction time and catalyst:oil ratio were investigated as process parameters affected methyl ester yield. 9:1 methanol/oil molar ratio, 1.5% KOH catalyst/oil ratio and 10 min were optimum values for the highest fatty acid methyl ester yield.
Smad3 Sensitizes Hepatocelluar Carcinoma Cells to Cisplatin by Repressing Phosphorylation of AKT
Authors: Zhou Hong-Hao , Chen Lin , Liang Hui-Fang , Li Guang-Zhen , Zhang Bi-Xiang , Chen Xiao-Ping
Published: April 2016

Background: Heptocelluar carcinoma (HCC) is insensitive to chemotherapy due to limited bioavailability and acquired drug resistance. Smad3 plays dual roles by inhibiting cell growth initially and promoting the progression of advanced tumors in HCC. However, the role of smad3 in chemosensitivity of HCC remains elusive. Methods: The role of smad3 in chemosensitivity of HCC was measured by cell viability, apoptosis, plate colony formation assays and xenograft tumor models. Non-smad signaling was detected by Western blotting to search for the underlying mechanisms. Results: Smad3 enhanced the chemosensitivity of HCC cells to cisplatin. Smad3 upregulated p21Waf1/Cip1 and downregulated c-myc and bcl2 with the treatment of cisplatin. Moreover, overexpression of smad3 repressed the phosphorylation of AKT, and vice versa. Inhibition of PI3K/AKT pathway by LY294002 restored chemosensitivity of smad3-deficiency cells to cisplatin in HCC. Conclusion: Smad3 sensitizes HCC cells to the effects of cisplatin by repressing phosphorylation of AKT and combination of inhibitor of AKT pathway and conventional chemotherapy may be a potential way to solve drug resistance in HCC.
Epigenetic Modulation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Differentiation to Oligodendrocytes
Authors: Douvaras Panagiotis , Rusielewicz Tomasz , Kim Kwi , Haines Jeffery , Casaccia Patrizia , Fossati Valentina
Published: April 2016

Pluripotent stem cells provide an invaluable tool for generating human, disease-relevant cells. Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, characterized by myelin damage. Oligodendrocytes are the myelinating cells of the central nervous system (CNS); they differentiate from progenitor cells, and their membranes ensheath axons, providing trophic support and allowing fast conduction velocity. The current understanding of oligodendrocyte biology was founded by rodent studies, where the establishment of repressive epigenetic marks on histone proteins, followed by activation of myelin genes, leads to lineage progression. To assess whether this epigenetic regulation is conserved across species, we differentiated human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells to oligodendrocytes and asked whether similar histone marks and relative enzymatic activities could be detected. The transcriptional levels of enzymes responsible for methylation and acetylation of histone marks were analyzed during oligodendrocyte differentiation, and the post-translational modifications on histones were detected using immunofluorescence. These studies showed that also in human cells, differentiation along the oligodendrocyte lineage is characterized by the acquisition of multiple repressive histone marks, including deacetylation of lysine residues on histone H3 and trimethylation of residues K9 and K27. These data suggest that the epigenetic modulation of oligodendrocyte identity is highly conserved across species.
Treatment of Established Status Epilepticus
Authors: Falco-Walter Jessica , Bleck Thomas
Published: April 2016

Status epilepticus is the most severe form of epilepsy, with a high mortality rate and high health care costs. Status epilepticus is divided into four stages: early, established, refractory, and super-refractory. While initial treatment with benzodiazepines has become standard of care for early status epilepticus, treatment after benzodiazepine failure (established status epilepticus (ESE)) is incompletely studied. Effective treatment of ESE is critical as morbidity and mortality increases dramatically the longer convulsive status epilepticus persists. Phenytoin/fosphenytoin, valproic acid, levetiracetam, phenobarbital, and lacosamide are the most frequently prescribed antiseizure medications for treatment of ESE. To date there are no class 1 data to support pharmacologic recommendations of one agent over another. We review each of these medications, their pharmacology, the scientific evidence in support and against each in the available literature, adverse effects and safety profiles, dosing recommendations, and limitations of the available evidence. We also discuss future directions including the established status epilepticus treatment trial (ESETT). Substantial further research is urgently needed to identify these patients (particularly those with non-convulsive status epilepticus), elucidate the most efficacious antiseizure treatment with head-to-head randomized prospective trials, and determine whether this differs for convulsive vs. non-convulsive ESE.
A Phase-Shifting Method for Improving the Heating Uniformity of Microwave Processing Materials
Authors: Liao Yinhong , Lan Junqing , Zhang Chun , Hong Tao , Yang Yang , Huang Kama , Zhu Huacheng
Published: April 2016

Microwave processing of materials has been found to deliver enormous advantages over conventional processing methods in terms of mechanical and physical properties of the materials. However, the non-uniform temperature distribution is the key problem of microwave processing, which is related to the structure of the cavity, and the placement and physical parameters of the material. In this paper, a new microwave cavity structure with a sliding short based on phase-shifting heating is creatively proposed to improve the temperature uniformity. An electronic mathematical model based on the Finite Element Method (FEM) is built to predict the temperature distribution. Meanwhile, a new computational approach based on the theory of transformation optics is first provided to solve the problem of the moving boundary in the model simulation. At first, the experiment is carried out to validate the model, and heating results from the experiment show good agreement with the model’s prediction. Based on the verified model, materials selected among a wide range of dielectric constants are treated by stationary heating and phase-shifting heating. The coefficient of variation (COV) of the temperature and temperature difference has been compared in detail between stationary heating and phase-shifting heating. A significant improvement in heating uniformity can be seen from the temperature distribution for most of the materials. Furthermore, three other materials are also treated at high temperature and the heating uniformity is also improved. Briefly, the strategy of phase-shifting heating plays a significant role in solve the problem of non-uniform heating in microwave-based material processing. A 25%–58% increase in uniformity from adapting the phase-shifting method can be observed for the microwave-processed materials.
Fabrication of Vacuum-Sealed Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer Arrays Using Glass Reflow Process
Authors: Toan Nguyen , Hahng Shim , Song Yunheub , Ono Takahito
Published: April 2016

This paper presents a process for the fabrication of vacuum-sealed capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) arrays using glass reflow and anodic bonding techniques. Silicon through-wafer interconnects have been investigated by the glass reflow process. Then, the patterned silicon-glass reflow wafer is anodically bonded to an SOI (silicon-on-insulator) wafer for the fabrication of CMUT devices. The CMUT 5 × 5 array has been successfully fabricated. The resonant frequency of the CMUT array with a one-cell radius of 100 µm and sensing gap of 3.2 µm (distance between top and bottom electrodes) is observed at 2.84 MHz. The Q factor is approximately 1300 at pressure of 0.01 Pa.
Glycyrrhetic Acid Ameliorates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Vivo
Authors: Jeon Yong-Deok , Kang Sa-Haeng , Bang Keuk-Soo , Chang Young-Nam , Lee Jong-Hyun , Jin Jong-Sik
Published: April 2016

Glycyrrhizae Radix (GR) is a Korean traditional herb medicine that is widely used in clinical health care. Glycyrrhetic acid (GA) is an aglycone saponin extracted from GR that has anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-viral effects. However, the anti-inflammatory effects of GA in colitis have not been reported. This study investigated the role of GA on ulcerative colitis in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mouse colitis model. DSS-treated mice displayed weight loss and shortened colon length compared with control mice. Mice administered GA showed less weight loss and longer colon length than the DSS-treated group. Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were decreased by GA treatment. GA treatment also reduced DSS-induced microscopic damage to colon tissue. GA regulates the phosphorylation of transcription factors including nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and IκB alpha, and regulates the expression of cycloxygenase-2 and prostaglandin E2. GA thus showed beneficial effects in a mouse model of colitis, implicating GA might be a useful herb-derived medicine in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.
Neuroprotective Effects of Biochanin A against β-Amyloid-Induced Neurotoxicity in PC12 Cells via a Mitochondrial-Dependent Apoptosis Pathway
Authors: Tan Ji , Kim Min
Published: April 2016

Alzheimer’s disease is considered one of the major neurodegenerative diseases and is characterized by the production of β-amyloid (Aβ) proteins and progressive loss of neurons. Biochanin A, a phytoestrogen compound found mainly in Trifolium pratense, was used in the present study as a potential alternative to estrogen replacement therapy via the investigation of its neuroprotective effects against Aβ25–35-induced toxicity, as well as of its potential mechanisms of action in PC12 cells. Exposure of these cells to the Aβ25–35 protein significantly increased cell viability loss and apoptosis. However, the effects induced by Aβ25–35 were markedly reversed in the present of biochanin A. Pretreatment with biochanin A attenuated the cytotoxic effect of the Aβ25–35 protein by decreasing viability loss, LDH release, and caspase activity in cells. Moreover, we found that expression of cytochrome c and Puma were reduced, alongside with the restoration of Bcl-2/Bax and Bcl-xL/Bax ratio in the presence of biochanin A, which led to a decrease in the apoptotic rate. These data demonstrate that mitochondria are involved in the protective effect of biochanin A against Aβ25–35 and that this drug attenuated Aβ25–35-induced PC12 cell injury and apoptosis by preventing mitochondrial dysfunction. Thus, biochanin A might raise a possibility as a potential therapeutic agent for Alzheimer’s disease and other related neurodegenerative diseases.
Association between Dietary Patterns and the Risk of Hypertension among Chinese: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zheng Pei-Fen , Shu Long , Zhang Xiao-Yan , Si Cai-Juan , Yu Xiao-Long , Gao Wei , Tong Xiao-Qing , Zhang Lun
Published: April 2016

Epidemiological studies of different dietary patterns and the risk of hypertension among a middle-aged Chinese population remain extremely scare. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify dietary patterns and investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and the risk of hypertension among Chinese adults aged 45–60 years. The present cross-sectional study includes 2560 participants who reported their dietary intake using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Dietary patterns were identified using factor analysis. Anthropometric measurements were obtained using standardized procedures. We used log-binomial regression analysis to examine the associations between dietary patterns and hypertension risk. Four major dietary patterns were identified and labeled as traditional Chinese, animal food, western fast-food, and high-salt patterns. After adjusting for potential confounders, participants in the highest quartile of animal food pattern scores had a greater prevalence ratio (PR) for hypertension (PR = 1.26; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.064–1.727; p < 0.05) in comparison to those from the lowest quartile. Compared with the lowest quartile of high-salt pattern, the highest quartile had a higher prevalence ratio for hypertension (PR = 1.12; 95% CI: 1.013–1.635; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings indicated that animal food and high-salt patterns were associated with increased risk of hypertension, while traditional Chinese and western fast-food patterns were not associated with the risk of hypertension. Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings.
Long Chain Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation Alleviates Doxorubicin-Induced Depressive-Like Behaviors and Neurotoxicity in Rats: Involvement of Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation
Authors: Wu Yan-Qin , Dang Rui-Li , Tang Mi-Mi , Cai Hua-Lin , Li Huan-De , Liao De-Hua , He Xin , Cao Ling-Juan , Xue Ying , Jiang Pei
Published: April 2016

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a chemotherapeutic agent widely used in human malignancies. Its long-term use can cause neurobiological side-effects associated with depression. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs), the essential fatty acids found in fish oil, possess neuroprotecitve and antidepressant activities. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the potential protective effects of ω-3 PUFAs against DOX-induced behavioral changes and neurotoxicity. ω-3 PUFAs were given daily by gavage (1.5 g/kg) over three weeks starting seven days before DOX administration (2.5 mg/kg). Open-field test (OFT) and forced swimming test (FST) were conducted to assess exploratory activity and despair behavior, respectively. Our data showed that ω-3 PUFAs supplementation significantly mitigated the behavioral changes induced by DOX. ω-3 PUFAs pretreatment also alleviated the DOX-induced neural apoptosis. Meanwhile, ω-3 PUFAs treatment ameliorated DOX-induced oxidative stress in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Additionally, gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, and the protein levels of NF-κB and iNOS were significantly increased in brain tissues of DOX-treated group, whereas ω-3 PUFAs supplementation significantly attenuated DOX-induced neuroinflammation. In conclusion, ω-3 PUFAs can effectively protect against DOX-induced depressive-like behaviors, and the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effect are potentially associated with its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties.
Dietary Capsaicin Protects Cardiometabolic Organs from Dysfunction
Authors: Sun Fang , Xiong Shiqiang , Zhu Zhiming
Published: April 2016

Chili peppers have a long history of use for flavoring, coloring, and preserving food, as well as for medical purposes. The increased use of chili peppers in food is very popular worldwide. Capsaicin is the major pungent bioactivator in chili peppers. The beneficial effects of capsaicin on cardiovascular function and metabolic regulation have been validated in experimental and population studies. The receptor for capsaicin is called the transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1). TRPV1 is ubiquitously distributed in the brain, sensory nerves, dorsal root ganglia, bladder, gut, and blood vessels. Activation of TRPV1 leads to increased intracellular calcium signaling and, subsequently, various physiological effects. TRPV1 is well known for its prominent roles in inflammation, oxidation stress, and pain sensation. Recently, TRPV1 was found to play critical roles in cardiovascular function and metabolic homeostasis. Experimental studies demonstrated that activation of TRPV1 by capsaicin could ameliorate obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Additionally, TRPV1 activation preserved the function of cardiometabolic organs. Furthermore, population studies also confirmed the beneficial effects of capsaicin on human health. The habitual consumption of spicy foods was inversely associated with both total and certain causes of specific mortality after adjustment for other known or potential risk factors. The enjoyment of spicy flavors in food was associated with a lower prevalence of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. These results suggest that capsaicin and TRPV1 may be potential targets for the management of cardiometabolic vascular diseases and their related target organs dysfunction.
Challenges, Solutions, and Quality Metrics of Personal Genome Assembly in Advancing Precision Medicine
Authors: Xiao Wenming , Wu Leihong , Yavas Gokhan , Simonyan Vahan , Ning Baitang , Hong Huixiao
Published: April 2016

Even though each of us shares more than 99% of the DNA sequences in our genome, there are millions of sequence codes or structure in small regions that differ between individuals, giving us different characteristics of appearance or responsiveness to medical treatments. Currently, genetic variants in diseased tissues, such as tumors, are uncovered by exploring the differences between the reference genome and the sequences detected in the diseased tissue. However, the public reference genome was derived with the DNA from multiple individuals. As a result of this, the reference genome is incomplete and may misrepresent the sequence variants of the general population. The more reliable solution is to compare sequences of diseased tissue with its own genome sequence derived from tissue in a normal state. As the price to sequence the human genome has dropped dramatically to around $1000, it shows a promising future of documenting the personal genome for every individual. However, de novo assembly of individual genomes at an affordable cost is still challenging. Thus, till now, only a few human genomes have been fully assembled. In this review, we introduce the history of human genome sequencing and the evolution of sequencing platforms, from Sanger sequencing to emerging “third generation sequencing” technologies. We present the currently available de novo assembly and post-assembly software packages for human genome assembly and their requirements for computational infrastructures. We recommend that a combined hybrid assembly with long and short reads would be a promising way to generate good quality human genome assemblies and specify parameters for the quality assessment of assembly outcomes. We provide a perspective view of the benefit of using personal genomes as references and suggestions for obtaining a quality personal genome. Finally, we discuss the usage of the personal genome in aiding vaccine design and development, monitoring host immune-response, tailoring drug therapy and detecting tumors. We believe the precision medicine would largely benefit from bioinformatics solutions, particularly for personal genome assembly.
Quantification of Plasmodiophora brassicae Using a DNA-Based Soil Test Facilitates Sustainable Oilseed Rape Production
Authors: Wallenhammar Ann-Charlotte , Gunnarson Albin , Hansson Fredrik , Jonsson Anders
Published: April 2016

Outbreaks of clubroot disease caused by the soil-borne obligate parasite Plasmodiophora brassicae are common in oilseed rape (OSR) in Sweden. A DNA-based soil testing service that identifies fields where P. brassicae poses a significant risk of clubroot infection is now commercially available. It was applied here in field surveys to monitor the prevalence of P. brassicae DNA in field soils intended for winter OSR production and winter OSR field experiments. In 2013 in Scania, prior to planting, P. brassicae DNA was detected in 60% of 45 fields on 10 of 18 farms. In 2014, P. brassicae DNA was detected in 44% of 59 fields in 14 of 36 farms, in the main winter OSR producing region in southern Sweden. P. brassicae was present indicative of a risk for >10% yield loss with susceptible cultivars (>1300 DNA copies g soil−1) in 47% and 44% of fields in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Furthermore, P. brassicae DNA was indicative of sites at risk of complete crop failure if susceptible cultivars were grown (>50 000 copies g−1 soil) in 14% and 8% of fields in 2013 and 2014, respectively. A survey of all fields at Lanna research station in western Sweden showed that P. brassicae was spread throughout the farm, as only three of the fields (20%) showed infection levels below the detection limit for P.brassicae DNA, while the level was >50,000 DNA copies g−1 soil in 20% of the fields. Soil-borne spread is of critical importance and soil scraped off footwear showed levels of up to 682 million spores g−1 soil. Soil testing is an important tool for determining the presence of P. brassicae and providing an indication of potential yield loss, e.g., in advisory work on planning for a sustainable OSR crop rotation. This soil test is gaining acceptance as a tool that increases the likelihood of success in precision agriculture and in applied research conducted in commercial oilseed fields and at research stations. The present application highlights the importance of prevention of disease spread by cleaning of farm equipment, footwear, etc.
Smart Homopolymer Microgels: Influence of the Monomer Structure on the Particle Properties
Authors: Wedel Bastian , Hertle Yvonne , Wrede Oliver , Bookhold Johannes , Hellweg Thomas
Published: April 2016

In this work, we compare the properties of smart homopolymer microgels based on N-n-propylacrylamide (NNPAM), N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and N-isopropylmethacrylamide (NIPMAM) synthesized under identical conditions. The particles are studied with respect to size, morphology, and swelling behavior using scanning electron and scanning force microscopy. In addition, light scattering techniques and fluorescent probes are employed to follow the swelling/de-swelling of the particles. Significant differences are found and discussed. Poly(N-n-propylacrylamide) (PNNPAM) microgels stand out due to their very sharp volume phase transition, whereas Poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) (PNIPMAM) particles are found to exhibit a more homogeneous network structure compared to the other two systems.
Vision-Based Leader Vehicle Trajectory Tracking for Multiple Agricultural Vehicles
Authors: Zhang Linhuan , Ahamed Tofael , Zhang Yan , Gao Pengbo , Takigawa Tomohiro
Published: April 2016

The aim of this study was to design a navigation system composed of a human-controlled leader vehicle and a follower vehicle. The follower vehicle automatically tracks the leader vehicle. With such a system, a human driver can control two vehicles efficiently in agricultural operations. The tracking system was developed for the leader and the follower vehicle, and control of the follower was performed using a camera vision system. A stable and accurate monocular vision-based sensing system was designed, consisting of a camera and rectangular markers. Noise in the data acquisition was reduced by using the least-squares method. A feedback control algorithm was used to allow the follower vehicle to track the trajectory of the leader vehicle. A proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controller was introduced to maintain the required distance between the leader and the follower vehicle. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the sensing and tracking performances of the leader-follower system while the leader vehicle was driven at an average speed of 0.3 m/s. In the case of linear trajectory tracking, the RMS errors were 6.5 cm, 8.9 cm and 16.4 cm for straight, turning and zigzag paths, respectively. Again, for parallel trajectory tracking, the root mean square (RMS) errors were found to be 7.1 cm, 14.6 cm and 14.0 cm for straight, turning and zigzag paths, respectively. The navigation performances indicated that the autonomous follower vehicle was able to follow the leader vehicle, and the tracking accuracy was found to be satisfactory. Therefore, the developed leader-follower system can be implemented for the harvesting of grains, using a combine as the leader and an unloader as the autonomous follower vehicle.
High Temperature Shear Horizontal Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer for Guided Wave Inspection
Authors: Kogia Maria , Gan Tat-Hean , Balachandran Wamadeva , Livadas Makis , Kappatos Vassilios , Szabo Istvan , Mohimi Abbas , Round Andrew
Published: April 2016

Guided Wave Testing (GWT) using novel Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducers (EMATs) is proposed for the inspection of large structures operating at high temperatures. To date, high temperature EMATs have been developed only for thickness measurements and they are not suitable for GWT. A pair of water-cooled EMATs capable of exciting and receiving Shear Horizontal (SH0) waves for GWT with optimal high temperature properties (up to 500 °C) has been developed. Thermal and Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations of the EMAT design have been performed and experimentally validated. The optimal thermal EMAT design, material selection and operating conditions were calculated. The EMAT was successfully tested regarding its thermal and GWT performance from ambient temperature to 500 °C.
Remote Evaluation of Rotational Velocity Using a Quadrant Photo-Detector and a DSC Algorithm
Authors: Zeng Xiangkai , Zhu Zhixiong , Chen Yang
Published: April 2016

This paper presents an approach to remotely evaluate the rotational velocity of a measured object by using a quadrant photo-detector and a differential subtraction correlation (DSC) algorithm. The rotational velocity of a rotating object is determined by two temporal-delay numbers at the minima of two DSCs that are derived from the four output signals of the quadrant photo-detector, and the sign of the calculated rotational velocity directly represents the rotational direction. The DSC algorithm does not require any multiplication operations. Experimental calculations were performed to confirm the proposed evaluation method. The calculated rotational velocity, including its amplitude and direction, showed good agreement with the given one, which had an amplitude error of ~0.3%, and had over 1100 times the efficiency of the traditional cross-correlation method in the case of data number N > 4800. The confirmations have shown that the remote evaluation of rotational velocity can be done without any circular division disk, and that it has much fewer error sources, making it simple, accurate and effective for remotely evaluating rotational velocity.
Life Cycle Inventory Analysis for a Small-Scale Trawl Fishery in Sendai Bay, Japan
Authors: Watanabe Kazuhito , Tahara Kiyotaka
Published: April 2016

A reduced environmental burden, while maintaining high quality and low cost, has become an important factor for achieving sustainability in the fisheries sector. The authors performed life cycle inventory (LCI) analysis targeting the fish production for a small-scale trawl fishery including small trawlers operating in Sendai Bay, Japan. The average annual cumulative CO2 emissions for the small trawlers were 4.7 ton-CO2/ton-product and 8.3 ton-CO2/million Japanese yen (JPN). Total fuel consumption contributed to 97% of the global warming potential. The range of variation in the basic unit of CO2 for each small trawler was also elucidated. Energy conservation through lower fuel consumption is shown to be an effective measure for reducing CO2 in a small trawler fishery. Moreover, the authors examined the system boundary, the determination of the functional unit, and the allocation method of applying LCI analysis to fisheries. Finally, the economy and environment of small trawler fisheries are discussed as important factors for sustainable fisheries, and the life cycle approach is applied to a new fishery type in Japan.
RETRACTED: Vallati et al. A New Method to Energy Saving in a Micro Grid. Sustainability 2015, 7, 13904–13919
Authors:   Sustainability Editorial Office
Published: April 2016

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