bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Refractive index of human red blood cells between 290 nm and 1100 nm determined by optical extinction measurements
Authors: Gienger Jonas , Smuda Kathrin , Müller Ralph , Bär Markus , Neukammer Jörg
Published: March 2019

The knowledge of optical properties of biological cells is essential to interpret their interaction with light and to derive morphological information and parameters associated with cell function like the oxygen transport capacity of human red blood cells (RBCs). We present a method to determine the dependence between the refractive index (RI) of human RBCs and their intracellular hemoglobin (Hb) concentration from spectral extinction measurements of a cell suspension. The procedure is based on the analysis of the corresponding ensemble averaged extinction cross section $${\bar{{\boldsymbol{C}}}}_{{\bf{e}}{\bf{x}}{\bf{t}}}(\lambda )$$

C

¯

e
x
t

(

λ

)
. Thus far two complementary approaches have been taken to derive RIs of RBCs. The first one uses homogeneous macroscopic samples prepared by hemolysis for the destruction of the RBCs’ membranes and subsequent centrifugation. A second approach is the determination of RIs of single intact cells by microscopic investigation. These techniques are limited to a few discrete wavelengths or a rather narrow wavelength range. In addition most of these techniques require additional information about the concentration dependence. In contrast, our approach yields the RI increment with Hb concentration of intact, reversibly isovolumetrically sphered, oxygenated RBCs over a wide wavelength range from 290 nm to 1100 nm from macroscopic measurements.
Tonic inhibition of murine proximal colon is due to nitrergic suppression of Ca2+ signaling in interstitial cells of Cajal
Authors: Drumm Bernard T. , Rembetski Benjamin E. , Baker Salah A. , Sanders Kenton M.
Published: March 2019

Spontaneous excitability and contractions of colonic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are normally suppressed by inputs from inhibitory motor neurons, a behavior known as tonic inhibition. The post-junctional cell(s) mediating tonic inhibition have not been elucidated. We investigated the post-junctional cells mediating tonic inhibition in the proximal colon and whether tonic inhibition results from suppression of the activity of Ano1 channels, which are expressed exclusively in interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). We found that tetrodotoxin (TTX), an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, L-NNA, and an inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase, ODQ, greatly enhanced colonic contractions. Ano1 antagonists, benzbromarone and Ani9 inhibited the effects of TTX, L-NNA and ODQ. Ano1 channels are activated by Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in ICC, and blocking Ca2+ release with a SERCA inhibitor (thapsigargin) or a store-operated Ca2+ entry blocker (GSK 7975 A) reversed the effects of TTX, L-NNA and ODQ. Ca2+ imaging revealed that TTX, L-NNA and ODQ increased Ca2+ transient firing in colonic ICC. Our results suggest that tonic inhibition in the proximal colon occurs through suppression of Ca2+ release events in ICC. Suppression of Ca2+ release in ICC limits the open probability of Ano1 channels, reducing the excitability of electrically-coupled SMCs.
Characteristics of Atmospheric Reactive Nitrogen Deposition in Nyingchi City
Authors: Wang Wei , Xu Wen , Wen Zhang , Wang Dandan , Wang Sen , Zhang Zhiwei , Zhao Yuanhong , Liu Xuejun
Published: March 2019

Atmospheric reactive nitrogen (N) deposition has been proven to be an important nutrient input from external environments to forest ecosystems. However, the magnitude of atmospheric N deposition in the Tibetan region of China is not well known. In this study, multi-year (between 2005 and 2016) measurements of dry and wet N deposition were carried out in Nyingchi (NC) city, southeastern Tibet. Bulk deposition was collected by the rain gauge method; dry deposition was calculated by the inferential method, namely, multiplying ambient N concentrations by dry deposition velocity (Vd) of the N species. During the entire period, annual bulk and dry N deposition fluxes averaged 2.19 and 1.85 kg N ha−1 yr−1, respectively. Total N deposition fluxes (the sum of reduced and oxidized N species in dry and bulk deposition) showed an obvious increasing trend, especially for oxidized N species. Both bulk and dry N deposition showed a consistent seasonal pattern, with the highest fluxes in summer and the lowest in winter. Our findings suggest that N deposition to the urban environment in southeast Tibet has recently shifted from ammonium-dominated to nitrate-dominated conditions.
Subtle white matter alterations in schizophrenia identified with a new measure of fiber density
Authors: Stämpfli Philipp , Sommer Stefan , Manoliu Andrei , Burrer Achim , Schmidt André , Herdener Marcus , Seifritz Erich , Kaiser Stefan , Kirschner Matthias
Published: March 2019

Altered cerebral connectivity is one of the core pathophysiological mechanism underlying the development and progression of information-processing deficits in schizophrenia. To date, most diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies used fractional anisotropy (FA) to investigate disrupted white matter connections. However, a quantitative interpretation of FA changes is often impeded by the inherent limitations of the underlying tensor model. A more fine-grained measure of white matter alterations could be achieved by measuring fiber density (FD) - a novel non-tensor-derived diffusion marker. This study investigates, for the first time, FD alterations in schizophrenia patients. FD and FA maps were derived from diffusion data of 25 healthy controls (HC) and 21 patients with schizophrenia (SZ). Using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS), group differences in FD and FA were investigated across the entire white matter. Furthermore, we performed a region of interest (ROI) analysis of frontal fasciculi to detect potential correlations between FD and positive symptoms. As a result, whole brain TBSS analysis revealed reduced FD in SZ patients compared to HC in several white matter tracts including the left and right thalamic radiation (TR), superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), corpus callosum (CC), and corticospinal tract (CST). In contrast, there were no significant FA differences between groups. Further, FD values in the TR were negatively correlated with the severity of positive symptoms and medication dose in SZ patients. In summary, a novel diffusion-weighted data analysis approach enabled us to identify widespread FD changes in SZ patients with most prominent white matter alterations in the frontal and subcortical regions. Our findings suggest that the new FD measure may be more sensitive to subtle changes in the white matter microstructure compared to FA, particularly in the given population. Therefore, investigating FD may be a promising approach to detect subtle changes in the white matter microstructure of altered connectivity in schizophrenia.
Ezh1 arises from Ezh2 gene duplication but its function is not required for zebrafish development
Authors: Völkel Pamela , Bary Aurélie , Raby Ludivine , Chapart Anaïs , Dupret Barbara , Le Bourhis Xuefen , Angrand Pierre-Olivier
Published: March 2019

Trimethylation on H3K27 mediated by Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) is required to control gene repression programs involved in development, regulation of tissue homeostasis or maintenance and lineage specification of stem cells. In Drosophila, the PRC2 catalytic subunit is the single protein E(z), while in mammals this function is fulfilled by two proteins, Ezh1 and Ezh2. Based on database searches, we propose that Ezh1 arose from an Ezh2 gene duplication that has occurred in the common ancestor to elasmobranchs and bony vertebrates. Expression studies in zebrafish using in situ hybridization and RT-PCR followed by the sequencing of the amplicon revealed that ezh1 mRNAs are maternally deposited. Then, ezh1 transcripts are ubiquitously distributed in the entire embryo at 24 hpf and become more restricted to anterior part of the embryo at later developmental stages. To unveil the function of ezh1 in zebrafish, a mutant line was generated using the TALEN technology. Ezh1-deficient mutant fish are viable and fertile, but the loss of ezh1 function is responsible for the earlier death of ezh2 mutant larvae indicating that ezh1 contributes to zebrafish development in absence of zygotic ezh2 gene function. Furthermore, we show that presence of ezh1 transcripts from the maternal origin accounts for the delayed lethality of ezh2-deficient larvae.
Continuous Butanol Fermentation of Dilute Acid-Pretreated De-oiled Rice Bran by Clostridium acetobutylicum YM1
Authors: Al-Shorgani Najeeb Kaid Nasser , Al-Tabib Abdualati Ibrahim , Kadier Abudukeremu , Zanil Mohd Fauzi , Lee Kiat Moon , Kalil Mohd Sahaid
Published: March 2019

Continuous fermentation of dilute acid-pretreated de-oiled rice bran (DRB) to butanol by theClostridium acetobutylicumYM1 strain was investigated. Pretreatment of DRB with dilute sulfuric acid (1%) resulted in the production of 42.12 g/L total sugars, including 25.57 g/L glucose, 15.1 g/L xylose and 1.46 g/L cellobiose. Pretreated-DRB (SADRB) was used as a fermentation medium at various dilution rates, and a dilution rate of 0.02 h−1was optimal for solvent production, in which 11.18 g/L of total solvent was produced (acetone 4.37 g/L, butanol 5.89 g/L and ethanol 0.92 g/L). Detoxification of SADRB with activated charcoal resulted in the high removal of fermentation inhibitory compounds. Fermentation of detoxified-SADRB in continuous fermentation with a dilution rate of 0.02 h−1achieved higher concentrations of solvent (12.42 g/L) and butanol (6.87 g/L), respectively, with a solvent productivity of 0.248 g/L.h. This study showed that the solvent concentration and productivity in continuous fermentation from SADRB was higher than that obtained from batch culture fermentation. This study also provides an economic assessment for butanol production in continuous fermentation process from DRB to validate the commercial viability of this process.
Scale morphology and squamation pattern of Guiyu oneiros provide new insights into early osteichthyan body plan
Authors: Cui Xindong , Qiao Tuo , Zhu Min
Published: March 2019

Scale morphology and squamation play an important role in the study of fish phylogeny and classification. However, as the scales of the earliest osteichthyans or bony fishes are usually found in a disarticulated state, research into squamation patterns and phylogeny has been limited. Here we quantitatively describe the scale morphology of the oldest articulated osteichthyan, the 425-million-year-oldGuiyu oneiros, based on geometric morphometrics and high-resolution computed tomography. Based on the cluster analysis of the scales in the articulated specimens, we present a squamation pattern ofGuiyu oneiros, which divides the body scales into 4 main belts, comprising 16 areas. The new pattern reveals that the squamation of early osteichthyans is more complicated than previously known, and demonstrates that the taxa near the crown osteichthyan node in late Silurian had a greater degree of squamation zonation compared to more advanced forms. This study offers an important reference for the classification of detached scales of early osteichthyans, provides new insights into the early evolution of osteichthyan scales, and adds to our understanding of the early osteichthyan body plan.
Corosolic acid isolated from Eriobotrya japonica leaves reduces glucose level in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, zebrafish and rats
Authors: Xu Shuwen , Wang Gang , Peng Wei , Xu Yandi , Zhang Yu , Ge Ying , Jing Yue , Gong Zhunan
Published: March 2019

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) with high morbidity and mortality is characterized by abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism due in part to insulin resistance in liver, which lead to elevated hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. This study sough to explore the effects of corosolic acid (CA) in different T2D models and explored the underlying mechanism. Separated from Eriobotrya japonica leaves, CA purity was above 95% measured by a HPLC method. Compared with cAMP and DEX induced T2D HepG2 model, CA significantly stimulated glucose consumption and improved glycogen accumulation by inhibiting PEPCK mRNA expression. And in cAMP and DEX induced T2D zebrafish model, CA reduced glycogen degradation and increased glucose consumption by regulating some key enzymes in carbon metabolism including GLUT1, GLUT2, GLUT3, LDHA, LDHB, GP, G6Pase, GYS1, and PFKFB3. In addition, insulin receptor signals were also involved in CA-regulated hypoglycemic action. Furthermore, in STZ-induced T2D rat model, compared with diabetic control groups, CA remarkably downregulated the levels of serum lipid, blood glucose, ICAM-1, malonaldehyde and insulin resistance index, while upregulated SOD activity and impaired glucose tolerance. In a conclusion, CA can regulate glucose and lipid metabolic adaptation in T2D like HepG2, zebrafish and rat models partly through reducing inflammation and oxidative stress and suppressing PEPCK.
The MurG glycosyltransferase provides an oligomeric scaffold for the cytoplasmic steps of peptidoglycan biosynthesis in the human pathogen Bordetella pertussis
Authors: Laddomada Federica , Miyachiro Mayara M. , Jessop Matthew , Patin Delphine , Job Viviana , Mengin-Lecreulx Dominique , Le Roy Aline , Ebel Christine , Breyton Cécile , Gutsche Irina , Dessen Andréa
Published: March 2019

Peptidoglycan is a major component of the bacterial cell wall and thus a major determinant of cell shape. Its biosynthesis is initiated by several sequential reactions catalyzed by cytoplasmic Mur enzymes. Mur ligases (MurC, -D, -E, and -F) are essential for bacteria, metabolize molecules not present in eukaryotes, and are structurally and biochemically tractable. However, although many Mur inhibitors have been developed, few have shown promising antibacterial activity, prompting the hypothesis that within the cytoplasm, Mur enzymes could exist as a complex whose architecture limits access of small molecules to their active sites. This suggestion is supported by the observation that in many bacteria, mur genes are present in a single operon, and pairs of these genes often are fused to generate a single polypeptide. Here, we explored this genetic arrangement in the human pathogen Bordetella pertussis and show that MurE and MurF are expressed as a single, bifunctional protein. EM, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and analytical centrifugation (AUC) revealed that the MurE–MurF fusion displays an elongated, flexible structure that can dimerize. Moreover, MurE–MurF interacted with the peripheral glycosyltransferase MurG, which formed discrete oligomers resembling 4- or 5-armed stars in EM images. The oligomeric structure of MurG may allow it to play a bona fide scaffolding role for a potential Mur complex, facilitating the efficient conveyance of peptidoglycan-building blocks toward the inner membrane leaflet. Our findings shed light on the structural determinants of a peptidoglycan formation complex involving Mur enzymes in bacterial cell wall formation.
Metabolite profiling characterises chemotypes of Musa diploids and triploids at juvenile and pre-flowering growth stages
Authors: Drapal Margit , de Carvalho Elisabete Barros , Rouard Mathieu , Amah Delphine , Sardos Julie , Van den Houwe Ines , Brown Allan , Roux Nicolas , Swennen Rony , Fraser Paul D.
Published: March 2019

Bananas (Musa spp.) are consumed worldwide as dessert and cooking types. Edible banana varieties are for the most part seedless and sterile and therefore vegetatively propagated. This confers difficulties for breeding approaches against pressing biotic and abiotic threats and for the nutritional enhancement of banana pulp. A panel of banana accessions, representative of the diversity of wild and cultivated bananas, was analysed to assess the range of chemotypes available globally. The focus of this assessment was banana leaves at two growth stages (juvenile and pre-flowering), to see when during the plant growth metabolic differences can be established. The metabolic data corresponded to genomic trends reported in previous studies and demonstrated a link between metabolites/pathways and the genomes of M. acuminata and M. balbisiana. Furthermore, the vigour and resistance traits of M. balbisiana was connected to the phenolic composition and showed differences with the number of B genes in the hybrid accessions. Differences in the juvenile and pre-flowering data led to low correlation between the growth stages for prediction purposes.
A dual deformable liposomal ointment functionalized with retinoic acid and epidermal growth factor for enhanced burn wound healing therapy
Authors: Lu Kong-Jun , Wang Wei , Xu Xiao-Ling , Jin Fei-Yang , Qi Jing , Wang Xiao-Juan , Kang Xu-Qi , Zhu Meng-Lu , Huang Qiao-Ling , Yu Chao-Heng , You Jian , Du Yong-Zhong
Published: March 2019

A dual deformable liposomal ointment functionalized with TRA and EGF remarkably promoting wound healing.
Mice overexpressing hepcidin suggest ferroportin does not play a major role in Mn homeostasis
Authors: Jin Lian , Frazer David M , Lu Yan , Wilkins Sarah J , Ayton Scott , Bush Ashley , Anderson Gregory J
Published: March 2019

Manganese is an essential metal that is required for a wide range of biological functions. Ferroportin (FPN), the only known cellular exporter of iron, has also been proposed to play a role in manganese export, but this relationship is incompletely understood. To investigate this in more detail in vivo, we examined the relative distributions of manganese and iron in TMPRSS6 deficient mice, which are characterized by constitutively high expression of the iron regulatory hormone hepcidin and, consequently, very low FPN levels in their tissues. Tmprss6−/− mice showed frank iron deficiency and reduced iron levels in most tissues, consistent with FPN playing an important role in the distribution of this metal, but manganese levels were largely unaffected. Associated studies using intestine-specific FPN knockout mice showed that loss of FPN significantly reduced the dietary absorption of iron, but had no effect on manganese intake. Taken together, our data suggest that FPN does not play a major role in Mn transport in vivo. They do not exclude a minor role for FPN in manganese homeostasis, nor the possibility that the transporter may be relevant at high Mn levels, but at physiological levels of this metal, other transport proteins appear to be more important.
Methacrylated gelatin-embedded fabrication of 3D graphene-supported Co3O4 nanoparticles for water splitting
Authors: Zhuang Minghao , Liu Zhenjing , Ding Yao , Xu Gui-Liang , Li Yuhui , Tyagi Abhishek , Zhang Xiaoyi , Sun Cheng-Jun , Ren Yang , Ou Xuewu , Wong Hoilun , Cai Yuting , Wu Ruizhe , Abidi Irfan Haider , Zhang Qicheng , Xu Feng , Amine Khalil , Luo Zhengtang
Published: March 2019

We developed a general platform for the fabrication of Co3O4 nanoparticles supported by graphene foam (GF) for efficient electrocatalytic water splitting.
Gamma-Bi4V2O11 – a layered oxide material for ion exchange in aqueous media
Authors: Lv Peiwen , Huang Feng
Published: March 2019

Layered oxides gamma-Bi4V2O11 is found to undergo chemical transformations under room temperature. Gamma-Bi4V2O11 can be transformed to ABO4 in acid solution and A2X3 compounds in basic solution.
Hybrid multidimensional data acquisition and data processing strategy for comprehensive characterization of known, unknown and isomeric compounds from the compound Dan Zhi Tablet by UPLC-TWIMS-QTOFMS
Authors: Cheng Taofang , Ye Ji , Li Huiliang , Dong Hongyuan , Xie Ning , Mi Nan , Zhang Zhen , Zou Jingtao , Jin Huizi , Zhang Weidong
Published: March 2019

An integrated strategy for the comprehensive characterization of known, unknown and coeluting isomeric compounds of compound Dan Zhi Tablets.
Enhanced detection of toxicity in wastewater using a 2D smooth anode based microbial fuel cell toxicity sensor
Authors: Li Jianfeng , Hu Jingping , Yang Changzhu , Pu Wenhong , Hou Huijie , Xu Jikun , Liu Bingchuan , Yang Jiakuan
Published: March 2019

The thin biofilm on the anode surface is more conducive to the diffusion of toxins thus has better sensing performance.
Determination of nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in particulate matter 2.5 by laser ionization mass spectrometry using an on-line chemical-reduction system
Authors: Tang Yuanyuan , Yamamoto Shigekazu , Imasaka Totaro
Published: March 2019

Nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were separated by gas chromatography and were introduced into a reactor for on-line chemical reduction using hydrazine monohydrate as a chemical reducing agent.
Dibenzo[b,e]phosphindolizines synthesized by a ring-closing metathesis of benzo[b]phospholes with two vinyl tethers
Authors: Tsurusaki Akihiro , Matsumoto Hiroyo , Kamikawa Ken
Published: March 2019

The first phosphindolizine derivatives, dibenzo[b,e]phosphindolizines, with a bowl-shaped geometry were synthesized and fully characterized.
Synthesis of polysubstituted 3-aminoindenesviarhodium-catalysed [3+2] cascade annulations of benzimidates with alkenes
Authors: Wu Binjie , Yang Zi , Zhang Hong , Wang Lianhui , Cui Xiuling
Published: March 2019

A novel Rh-catalysed intermolecular [3+2] cascade cyclization of benzimidates and alkenes has been developed to assemble polysubstituted 3-aminoindenes, which exhibits good functional-group tolerance and excellent regioselectivity.
17O NMR and15N NMR chemical shifts of sterically-hindered amides: ground-state destabilization in amide electrophilicity
Authors: Pace Vittorio , Holzer Wolfgang , Ielo Laura , Shi Shicheng , Meng Guangrong , Hanna Mina , Szostak Roman , Szostak Michal
Published: March 2019

We report17O NMR and15N NMR spectroscopic data for sterically-hindered acyclic amides. The data demonstrate that a combined use of17O NMR and15N NMR serves as a powerful tool in assessing electronic effects of the amide bond.
Magnesium-mediated arylation of amines via C–F bond activation of fluoroarenes
Authors: Bole Leonie J. , Davin Laia , Kennedy Alan R. , McLellan Ross , Hevia Eva
Published: March 2019

Exploiting the high nucleophilic power of structurally defined β-diketiminate stabilised magnesium amides, a new method for amine arylation via rapid C–F bond activation of fluoroarenes is introduced.
Triarylamine-based hydrido-carboxylate rhenium(i) complexes as photosensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Veronese Lorenzo , Quartapelle Procopio Elsa , Moehl Thomas , Panigati Monica , Nonomura Kazuteru , Hagfeldt Anders
Published: March 2019

We report dinuclear hydrido-carbonyl rhenium complexes employed in DSSCs for the first time. An improved performance in solar cell efficiency was achieved by molecular design.
Emerging chemical tools and techniques for tracking biological manganese
Authors: Das Sayani , Khatua Kaustav , Rakshit Ananya , Carmona Asuncion , Sarkar Anindita , Bakthavatsalam Subha , Ortega Richard , Datta Ankona
Published: March 2019

This frontier article discusses chemical tools and techniques for tracking and imaging Mn ions in biology.
Preparation and performance testing of superhydrophobic flame retardant cotton fabric
Authors: Qin Hongling , Li Xuefei , Zhang Xiaolong , Guo Zhiguang
Published: March 2019

A superhydrophobic flame retardant coating was fabricated using a simple method of depositing a DAP coating and a H-ZrO2@PDMS coating on the surface of a cotton fabric. Thermal stability tests and vertical burning tests demonstrate the excellent flame retardancy of the coating.
Fabrication of a Pt nanoparticle surface on an aluminum substrate to achieve excellent superhydrophobicity and catalytic activity
Authors: Hassan Noor , Lu Shixiang , Xu Wenguo , He Ge , Faheem Muhammad , Ahmad Niaz , Khan Maroof Ahmad , Butt Beenish Zia
Published: March 2019

A superhydrophobic Pt–Al2O3/Al surface with excellent application characteristics has been fabricated on an aluminium substrate by a chemical method and annealing process.
Thieno[3,2-b]thiophene fused BODIPYs: synthesis, near-infrared luminescence and photosensitive properties
Authors: Sun Yijuan , Qu Zhirong , Zhou Zhikuan , Gai Lizhi , Lu Hua
Published: March 2019

Thieno[3,2-b]thiophene-fused BODIPYs possessing an intense absorption and emission in the NIR region have been synthesized and fully characterized.
Identification of β scission products from free radical polymerizations of butyl acrylate at high temperature
Authors: Drache Marco , Stehle Maria , Mätzig Jonas , Brandl Katrin , Jungbluth Marcel , Namyslo Jan C. , Schmidt Andreas , Beuermann Sabine
Published: March 2019

Unsaturated low molar mass species were identified via ESI-MS after fractionation of poly(butyl acrylate) from high temperature radical polymerization.
Intramolecular π-stacked perylene-diimide acceptors for non-fullerene organic solar cells
Authors: Zhang Jianquan , Bai Fujin , Li Yunke , Hu Huawei , Liu Bin , Zou Xinhui , Yu Han , Huang Jiachen , Pan Ding , Ade Harald , Yan He
Published: March 2019

Two isomeric perylene diimide acceptors with both intra- and intermolecular π–π stacking are developed for non-fullerene organic solar cells.
Rational design of a tubular, interlayer expanded MoS2–N/O doped carbon composite for excellent potassium-ion storage
Authors: Zheng Nan , Jiang Guangyu , Chen Xiao , Mao Jiayi , Zhou Yajun , Li Yongsheng
Published: March 2019

Potassium ion batteries (KIBs) are the emerging and promising energy storage system for large-scale electrochemical energy storage.
Metabolomic analysis reveals metabolic characteristics of children with short stature caused by growth hormone deficiency
Authors: Xu Rui , Zhu Hongwei , Zhang Cuiying , Shen Guiping , Feng Jianghua
Published: March 2019

The diagnosis of short stature (SS) is of widespread importance for later treatment. In the present paper, a metabolomic method was used to analyze the metabolic characteristics of SS children caused by endocrine metabolic diseases in order to understand the underlying biochemical mechanism and provide a potential intervention strategy for SS. According to the clinical diagnosis and family investigation, all patients with SS were confirmed to be due to the endocrine disorders, especially GH deficiency (GHD). A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomic analysis of serum was used to identify the metabolic changes in 45 SS children from the 35 healthy controls (HCs). The disturbed metabolic network related to SS was correspondingly derived from the differential metabolites. The SS children demonstrated higher serum levels of citrate, phenylalanine, creatinine, and tyrosine and lower serum levels of glucose, serine, betaine, inositol, lysine, glycerol, and glutamine compared with the HCs. The results demonstrated that the disturbed glucose metabolism and metabolism and biosynthesis of amino acids are typical metabolic features of SS, and the lower levels of lysine and glutamine are the metabolic characterization of the affected growth axes and stress state of SS, respectively. The significant changes of those serum metabolites are able to be regarded as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of SS. Accordingly, supplemental betaine in dietary pattern, the improvement of glycometabolism, and endogenous replenishment of lysine and glutamine allow the possible treatment strategy for SS.
Responses to Semantically Neutral Words in Varying Emotional Intonations
Authors: Krestar Maura L. , McLennan Conor T.
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Recent research on perception of emotionally charged material has found both an “emotionality effect” in which participants respond differently to emotionally charged stimuli relative to neutral stimuli in some cognitive–linguistic tasks and a “negativity bias” in which participants respond differently to negatively charged stimuli relative to neutral and positively charged stimuli. The current study investigated young adult listeners' bias when responding to neutral-meaning words in 2 tasks that varied attention to emotional intonation.

Method

Half the participants completed a word identification task in which they were instructed to type a word they had heard presented binaurally through Sony stereo MDR-ZX100 headphones. The other half of the participants completed an intonation identification task in which they were instructed to use a SuperLab RB-740 button box to identify the emotional prosody of the same words over headphones. For both tasks, all auditory stimuli were semantically neutral words spoken in happy, sad, and neutral emotional intonations. Researchers measured percent correct and reaction time (RT) for each word in both tasks.

Results

In the word identification task, when identifying semantically neutral words spoken in happy, sad, and neutral intonations, listeners' RTs to words in a sad intonation were longer than RTs to words in a happy intonation. In the intonation identification task, when identifying the emotional intonation of the same words spoken in the same emotional tones of voice, listeners' RTs to words in a sad intonation were significantly faster than those in a neutral intonation.

Conclusions

Results demonstrate a potential attentional negativity bias for neutral words varying in emotional intonation. Such results support an attention-based theoretical account. In an intonation identification task, an advantage emerged for words in a negative (sad) intonation relative to words in a neutral intonation. Thus, current models of emotional speech should acknowledge the amount of attention to emotional content (i.e., prosody) necessary to complete a cognitive task, as it has the potential to bias processing.
Numerical dispersion reduction approach for finite‐difference methods
Authors: Chen Guangzhi , Yang Shunchuan , Ren Qiang , Cui Shuo , Su Donglin
Published: March 2019

The finite‐difference methods (FDMs) suffer from the notorious numerical dispersion problem, especially when large simulation time steps and wideband pulses are involved. In this Letter, an approach to obtain optimised numerical dispersion for FDMs based on the adaptive wind driven optimisation (AWDO) is proposed. Numerical dispersion errors are analysed and minimised through the AWDO, then the authors could obtain the updating coefficients for the FDMs. The 2D case is exemplified to demonstrate the procedures in detail. Serval numerical experiments are carried out to validate the accuracy of the proposed approach.
Strategy on SS
Authors: Mu Junsheng , Jing Xiaojun , Xie Jianxiao , Zhang Rong hui
Published: March 2019

As an issue under heated discussion, spectrum sensing (SS) exhibits its particular significance in various application scenarios due to its limited spectrum resource and low spectrum utilisation. For a given SS scheme, detection probability, false alarm probability and available throughput jointly determine its performance. To consider these three factors as a whole, the possible performance improvement of an SS scheme will make a great difference in active demand for idle spectrum, especially in Internet of things‐based domains. Motivated by this, this study proposes a new strategy on SS to further improve its sensing performance, where the optimal sensing performance is demonstrated to be better than traditional schemes when signal‐to‐noise ratio is higher than 1.76 dB. Additionally, the authors extend the proposed scheme to multiple secondary user case and give optimal N for N‐out‐of‐K fusion rule. Both theoretical derivation and simulation experiments validate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Energy‐balanced and energy‐efficient clustering routing protocol for wireless sensor networks
Authors: Ogundile Olayinka O. , Balogun Muyiwa B. , Ijiga Owoicho E. , Falayi Elijah O.
Published: March 2019

Prolonging the network lifetime for a reasonable period while meeting users' needs is key in developing a data gathering algorithm for WSNs. Clustered sensor networks are considered as an efficient approach for extending the network lifetime of WSNs. In clustering, sensor devices are arranged in clusters. Inside the cluster, non‐cluster head nodes transmit data to the cluster head (CH) nodes while the CH forward the message to the sink. Irrespective of how the clusters are formed, a clustered WSN requires sturdy energy‐balanced (EB) and energy‐efficient (EE) communication protocol. Different from the previous clustered based routing protocol, this paper develops and analyses a selective‐path priority table EB and EE clustering based routing protocol, which employs a mobile sink. The priority table is formed by prioritising the two shortest paths to the CH or sink according to some simple but efficient rules. The rules are derived using some routing metrics such as transmission range/power and residual energy. The simulation results show that the proposed routing protocol can be integrated with most clustering formation algorithms, even in large scale WSNs. Besides, results show that this routing protocol improve the network lifetime and throughput as compared to similar schemes.
Performance prediction of surface‐mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor based on ring specimen test result
Authors: Kim Dong‐Min , Chin Jun‐Woo , Hong Jung‐Pyo , Lim Myung‐Seop
Published: March 2019

The B–H curve and iron loss of electrical steel sheets are essential data for predicting the performance of electric motors. The Epstein frame test is widely adopted to acquire these magnetic properties. However, for rotating electric machines with relatively small geometry, the ring specimen test is preferred because of its simplicity and geometric similarity. This study deals with the experimental verification of the ring specimen test. The B–H curve and iron loss of non‐oriented electrical steel sheets are measured via the Epstein frame test and the ring specimen test. Each result is applied in finite element analysis (FEA) of the fabricated electric motor. Furthermore, using these FEA results and the d‐q‐axis equivalent circuit, the performance of the electric motor is predicted. For experimental verification, electric motor tests are performed under no‐load and load conditions.
Controlled islanding of transmission system using synchrophasor measurements
Authors: Raj Akhil , Gajjar Gopal , Soman Shreevardhan Arunchandra
Published: March 2019

The authors propose a smart transmission system islanding scheme during an out‐of‐step (OOS) condition using PMU data. An OOS condition leads to the formation of electrical centers on a few transmission lines. The distance relays on the lines misinterpret it as a bolted three‐phase fault and trip leading to an uncontrolled system separation. The load‐rich islands can blackout due to massive generation‐load imbalance. Recent research has shown that the evolution of electrical centers can be tracked by PMUs and hence, distance relays on these lines can be temporarily blocked from operation. The authors now propose an adaptive islanding scheme wherein (i) the islands contain coherent generators and (ii) overall load shed is minimised. In other words, the authors propose a simple and efficient method for determining the optimal cutset using PMU data. The method does not require explicit coherency determination of generators and can be implemented within the time interval of two PMU frames (40 ms in India). Simulation results on the 16‐generator system and the Indian power system demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method.
Predicting adoption of mobile payments from the perspective of taxi drivers
Authors: Chen Chian‐Ching , Tsang Seng‐Su
Published: March 2019

With the development of mobile communication technologies, it brings new implementations in intelligent transport system (ITS). Previous studies of ITS ignored the advanced services from service providers and especially taxi drivers who provide mobile payment service at front‐line towards passengers. This research combines the unified theory of acceptance and use technology 2 (UTAUT2) and the moderating variable of experience, perceived risk (PR), to investigate the key influence on the adoption intention of mobile payments for the taxi drivers. A total of 228 valid questionnaires were collected and subsequently analysed by using the structural equation modelling (SEM) approach and back‐propagation artificial neural network. The results demonstrate that performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE) facilitating conditions (FCs), and PR are significant with respect to the adoption intention. As there is limited UTAUT2‐based research conducted on mobile payments, this article is among the few that attempt to extend the model and study taxi drivers in Taiwan, who play both roles of business and customer. This finding provides the current situation of a new technology on taxi industry. Furthermore, it also provides useful information and direction for mobile stakeholders and ITS implementations to understand the rationale behind the use of service and how it leads to promoting acceptance.
To text or not to text – drivers' interpretation of traffic situations as the basis for their decision to (not) engage in text messaging
Authors: Petzoldt Tibor , Schleinitz Katja
Published: March 2019

Texting while driving is more prevalent than ever. Still, at the same time, drivers seem to consciously select and reject certain traffic situations as appropriate for texting. However, it is unclear which situational characteristics drivers consider when making this decision. The aim of this study was to get a better understanding of drivers' reasoning when deciding to (not) text, focusing on their interpretation of the traffic context. Forty‐one drivers were confronted with 43 short video sequences showing different traffic situations from a driver's perspective. They were asked to indicate whether they would be willing to text in the presented situation and provide information regarding the situational characteristics that played a role in their decision. While the level of agreement between participants was high for certain situations (e.g. nearly all were willing to text when stopped at a red light), there was a considerable number of scenarios for which opinion was split, hinting at clear differences in the subjective assessment of these situations. Participants' explanations for their decision to text, as uncovered by qualitative content analysis, mainly referred to aspects that might indicate low attentional demand, low handling demand, as well the idea that there would be some margin for error.
Template‐free synthesis of novel urchin‐like nickel microstructures with enhanced ferromagnetic properties
Authors: Sun Jiale , Wang Jinpeng , Chen Huiyu , Xu Chunju
Published: March 2019

Novel urchin‐like nickel microstructures were prepared at 150°C via a facile hydrothermal method. Such urchin‐like particle is constructed by a spherical core and many spear‐shaped branches with length of 200–300 nm radiated from the centre. The synthetic process involved the chemical reduction of nickel ions by hydrazine hydrate and the oriented growth of nickel nanostructures under kinetic control independent of surfactant or external magnetic field. The magnetic properties were investigated at room temperature and the results demonstrated that the sample presented ferromagnetic properties with saturation magnetisation and coercivity values of ca. 44.6 emu/g and 257.7 Oe, respectively. These urchin‐like nickel microstructures are expected to bring new opportunities in application of magnetic storage and catalysis.
Study of the D-mixing parameter y in the factorization-assisted topological-amplitude approach
Authors: Qin Qin
Published: March 2019

The contributions to the D0 − $ \bar {D}^0 $ mixing parameter y from the D0 → PP, PV channels are calculated, based on the corresponding decay amplitudes extracted from data in the factorization-assisted topological-amplitude approach. It is found that the PP, PV contributions amount up to yPP+PV = (0.21 ± 0.07), about one third of the experiment measurement yexp = (0.63 ± 0.08)%.
Workstation-oriented distribution optimization of shipbuilding materials
Authors: Chen Gang , Jiang Yan , Sheng Xing , Wang Jingqian , Jia Hui
Published: March 2019

The optimization of material distribution is of great importance on shipbuilding project, which determines whether the production capacity of the ship is fully embodied. A workstation-oriented material distribution problem is formulated with reference to the production characteristics of shipyards. This problem can be considered as a complex vehicle routing problem (VRP) with capacity constraints, time windows and multiple distribution centers. In order to minimize the impact of distribution problems on production, a multi-population genetic algorithm (MPGA) that can minimize the sum of earliness and tardiness penalties is proposed in this paper. The proposed algorithm looks for near-optimal solutions for assigning distribution tasks and optimizing vehicle routing. Then, the evaluation of the solutions generated with MPGA is achieved with a priority-based heuristic algorithm. Simulation results of different cases show that the proposed MPGA allows logistics distribution system to operate more efficiently and solutions can be improved by 71% on average compared to those obtained with the traditional priority rule method.
Numerical calculation of oil film for ship stern bearing based on matrix method
Authors: Lei Junsong , Zhou Ruiping , Sheng Yongzhe , Chen Hao
Published: March 2019

Radial sliding bearings are widely used in ship shafting, its characteristics of lubricating oil film have important influence on the normal operation of the whole shaft system. In this work, the difference equations which is used to calculate the radial sliding bearing oil film features is transformed into matrix equations, the solving process be converted into solving matrix equation, combined with the powerful matrix calculation function of MATLAB, the solution process is simplified. It is not necessary to set the error precision and relaxation factor, so as to avoid the problem that the calculation result is not stable or even not convergent in the process of Successive Over Relaxation(SOR) method, and the calculation precision and stability are improved. The numerical results of matrix calculation method is compared with the result of SOR method, verified the correctness and feasibility of the matrix calculation method. Because the calculation is relatively stable, the matrix calculation method is more suitable for the calculation core of the relative computing software.
Simulation-based particle swarm optimization technique for the breadth design of stairs and passageway network at interchange stations
Authors: khattak Afaq
Published: March 2019

This study reports a novel hybrid simulation based Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) technique using PH-Distribution for the design of facilities at transit stations. First, a Discrete-Event Simulation (DES) model for the network of stairs and passageway is developed that incorporates all influential factors that were ignored by the existing design codes (TCRP Report-165). The DES model is coupled with the PSO technique to build an automated framework for the area of network of stairs and passageway. The experimental results by hybrid simulationoptimization reveal that: (1) increase in randomness (SCV) of passengers’ arrival causes increase in the breadth of both passageways and stairs; 2) For the same arrival rate and SCV, the stairs breadths are more than passageway breadths; 3) The breadth decreases from Level of Service (LOS) B towards D.
Research on the influence of electric vehicle driven system on vehicle shimmy based on numerical calculation
Authors: Li Xiaogao , Zhang Ning , Chen Nan
Published: March 2019

A 6 degrees of freedom shimmy model for four in-wheel motors independent drive electric vehicle with independent front suspension is established, and numerical analysis and simulation are used to study the dynamic response of vehicle shimmy. The influence of electric vehicle driving system on shimmy is studied by comparing with fuelengined vehicle, and the influence of vehicle structural parameters such as the caster angle, the inclination angle of front suspensions and the centre of gravity of vehicle on shimmy are studied too. It shows that as the in-wheel motor in drive system increases the weight of wheel, the amplitude of each degree of freedom in electric vehicle are larger than in fuel-engined vehicle when vehicle shimmies. The influence of the caster angle and the centre of gravity of vehicle on vehicle shimmy is obvious, but the inclination angle of front suspension have little influence.
The method of the phase control of the electrical installation during geodynamic monitoring
Authors: Dorofeev N V , Grecheneva A V , Kuzichkin O R , Romanov R V , Surzhik D I
Published: March 2019

The paper substantiates the application of the phase control of the multipolar equipotential electrical installation to improve the geodynamic sensitivity of the geoelectric control method in geodynamic and geotechnical monitoring systems. The principle of the control of the source of sounding signals and the detection of geodynamics of the geological environment is shown in article. In this work is proposed the device on base of the phase modulator to eliminate the shortcomings of existing devices of the controlling of the phase of sound geoelectrical signals. The developed device contains two amplitude limiters, the integrating unit, the adder, the master oscillator and the amplitude modulator. In practice the application of the proposed device allow to obtain the technical and the economic efficiency by simplifying of the circuit of the generation of the signal with the phase-modulation, by increasing the linearity of the modulation characteristic, and by generating of the signal with the phase-modulate on output of the device.
Bandwidth optimization for lane-based traffic signal settings with improved stopping criteria in non-linear TRANSYT delay
Authors: Wong C K , Liu Yi , Shen Yixin
Published: March 2019

While assigning given OD demand flows onto network links,
travel times along different routes could be varied depending on respective traffic volumes. To achieve equilibrium, all used routes should have the minimum and identical travel times. Such route travel times are composed by link travel times and end of link delay. Upstream and downstream traffic signals are coordinated through bandwidth maximization. Path flows and path travel times are modeled to be responsive to traffic signal settings to enable attractive path choices. Approximated linear function will be established to linearize the end of link delay in TRANSYT model.
The problem is formulated as a Binary-Mixed-Integer-Linear-Program and could be solved by standard branch-and-bound method.
Study on the flexure performance of fine concrete sheets reinforced with textile and short fiber composites
Authors: Yang Qiao-chu , Zhang Qin , Gong Su-su , Li San-ya
Published: March 2019

In order to study the influences of the contents of short fiber on the mechanical properties of concrete matrix, the properties of compressive, flexure and splitting of concrete matrix reinforced by alkali resistant glass fiber and calcium carbonate whisker were tested. To study the reinforced effect of different scale fibers on the flexure behavior of fine concrete sheets, the flexural tests of concrete sheet of fine concrete reinforced with basalt fiber mesh and short fiber composites were carried out. The results show that the properties of the compressive, flexure and splitting of fine concrete reinforced with appropriate amount of alkali resistant glass fiber and carbonate whisker are improved compared with that of concrete reinforced by one type of fiber. The flexure properties of the concrete sheets are improved obviously when continuous fiber textile and short fiber composite are adopted to reinforce.