bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pasting, thermo, and Mixolab thermomechanical properties of potato starch–wheat gluten composite systems
Authors: Xu Fen , Liu Wei , Liu Qiannan , Zhang Chunjiang , Hu Honghai , Zhang Hong 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis research investigated the viscosity, thermal, thermomechanical, and microstructural properties of potato starch–wheat gluten composite systems with different starch/gluten ratios under mechanical shear and heating conditions. Results showed that the peak, trough, and final viscosities increased with the increase in potato starch fraction. The breakdown and setback values of samples decreased with increasing gluten content, and the endothermic enthalpy showed a similar variation trend. The gelatinization temperature of the samples increased significantly as the gluten proportion increased. Morphological observation showed that the gluten protein was wrapped around potato starch granules and the starch granules have a diluting effect on gluten network. Moreover, gluten formed a water diffusion barrier out of the starch granules, this barrier effect and the competitive hydration between starch and gluten could primarily explain the delayed gelatinization temperatures.
Alleviating effects of reduced graphene oxide against lead‐induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in human alveolar epithelial (A549) cells
Authors: Ahamed Maqusood , Akhtar Mohd Javed , Khan M.A. Majeed , Alhadlaq Hisham A. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBroad application of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and ubiquitous lead (Pb) pollution may increase the possibility of combined exposure of humans. Information on the combined effects of rGO and Pb in human cells is scarce. This work was designed to explore the potential effects of rGO on Pb‐induced toxicity in human alveolar epithelial (A549) cells. Prepared rGO was polycrystalline in nature. The formation of a few layers of visible creases and silky morphology due to high aspect ratio was confirmed. Low level (25 μg/mL) of rGO was not toxic to A549 cells. However, Pb exposure (25 μg/mL) induced cell viability reduction, lactate dehydrogenase enzyme leakage with rounded morphology in A549 cells. Remarkably, Pb‐induced cytotoxicity was significantly mitigated by rGO co‐exposure. Pb‐induced mitochondrial membrane potential loss, cell cycle arrest and higher activity of caspase‐3 and ‐9 enzymes were also alleviated by rGO co‐exposure. Moreover, we observed that Pb exposure causes generation of pro‐oxidants (e.g., reactive oxygen species, hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation) and antioxidant depletion (e.g., glutathione and antioxidant enzymes). In addition, the effects of Pb on pro‐oxidant and antioxidant markers were significantly reverted by GO co‐exposure. Inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry suggested that due to the adsorption of Pb on rGO sheets, accessibility of Pb ions for A549 cells was limited. Hence, rGO reduced the toxicity of Pb in A549 cells. This research warrants further study to work on detailed underlying mechanisms of the mitigating effects of rGO against Pb‐induced toxicity on a molecular level.
Analytical calculation of the solvent‐accessible surface area and its nuclear gradients by stereographic projection: A general approach for molecules, polymers, nanotubes, helices, and surfaces
Authors: Vassetti Dario , Civalleri Bartolomeo , Labat Frédéric 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIn this article, we explore an alternative to the analytical Gauss–Bonnet approach for computing the solvent‐accessible surface area (SASA) and its nuclear gradients. These two key quantities are required to evaluate the nonelectrostatic contribution to the solvation energy and its nuclear gradients in implicit solvation models. We extend a previously proposed analytical approach for finite systems based on the stereographic projection technique to infinite periodic systems such as polymers, nanotubes, helices, or surfaces and detail its implementation in the Crystal code. We provide the full derivation of the SASA nuclear gradients, and introduce an iterative perturbation scheme of the atomic coordinates to stabilize the gradients calculation for certain difficult symmetric systems. An excellent agreement of computed SASA with reference analytical values is found for finite systems, while the SASA size‐extensivity is verified for infinite periodic systems. In addition, correctness of the analytical gradients is confirmed by the excellent agreement obtained with numerical gradients and by the translational invariance achieved, both for finite and infinite periodic systems. Overall therefore, the stereographic projection approach appears as a general, simple, and efficient technique to compute the key quantities required for the calculation of the nonelectrostatic contribution to the solvation energy and its nuclear gradients in implicit solvation models applicable to both finite and infinite periodic systems.
Evaluation of an integrated 3D‐printed phantom for coronary CT angiography using iterative reconstruction algorithm
Authors: Abdullah Kamarul A. , McEntee Mark F. , Reed Warren , Kench Peter L. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIntroduction3D‐printed imaging phantoms are now increasingly available and used for computed tomography (CT) dose optimisation study and image quality analysis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the integrated 3D‐printed cardiac insert phantom when evaluating iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithm in coronary CT angiography (CCTA) protocols.MethodsThe 3D‐printed cardiac insert phantom was positioned into a chest phantom and scanned with a 16‐slice CT scanner. Acquisitions were performed with CCTA protocols using 120 kVp at four different tube currents, 300, 200, 100 and 50 mA (protocols A, B, C and D, respectively). The image data sets were reconstructed with a filtered back projection (FBP) and three different IR algorithm strengths. The image quality metrics of image noise, signal–noise ratio (SNR) and contrast–noise ratio (CNR) were calculated for each protocol.ResultsDecrease in dose levels has significantly increased the image noise, compared to FBP of protocol A (P < 0.001). As a result, the SNR and CNR were significantly decreased (P < 0.001). For FBP, the highest noise with poor SNR and CNR was protocol D with 19.0 ± 1.6 HU, 18.9 ± 2.5 and 25.1 ± 3.6, respectively. For IR algorithm, the highest strength (AIDR3Dstrong) yielded the lowest noise with excellent SNR and CNR.ConclusionsThe use of IR algorithm and increasing its strengths have reduced noise significantly and thus increased the SNR and CNR when compared to FBP. Therefore, this integrated 3D‐printed phantom approach could be used for dose optimisation study and image quality analysis in CCTA protocols.
Topoclimatic zones and characteristics of the upper Ganga basin, Uttarakhand, India
Authors: Yadav Bankim C. , Thayyen Renoj J. , Jain Kamal 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe upper Ganga basin (UGB) constituting Bhagirathi and Alakananda basins has been considered as a single hydrological unit so far with comparable climate forcing. Here, we show three distinct “topoclimatic zones” of this basin having characteristically different temperature, precipitation, and orographic processes. The orographic discontinuity forced by a mountain ridge with an average elevation of 5,200 m a.s.l. is instrumental in the development of these topoclimatic zones. The northern region of the basin is identified as high elevation and high temperature zone (HE‐HT) with monsoon moisture deficit. This monsoon deficit region is characterized by higher land surface temperature lapse rate (LSTLR) during July and August (JA) derived from MODIS‐LST (11.00°C/km) as compared to much lower LSTLR of monsoon topoclimatic zone (5.78°C/km). The nival‐glacier regimes of the monsoon dominant and monsoon deficit regions constituted the third topoclimatic zone characterized by high elevation‐low temperature zone (HE‐LT). This zone has comparatively lower temperature lapse rate (5.26°C/km) than the immediately lower elevations. The coldest points identified in the basin are mostly placed in monsoon deficit regions with higher LSTLR. The 10–12°C isotherm in the monsoon deficit zone runs at 5,300 m a.s.l. as compared to 3,200 m a.s.l. in monsoon dominant zone. It is proposed that 80% of glacier area in the UGB is in the monsoon deficit zone that is regulated by the northern region orographic processes rather than southern slopes. Glacier change in the southern and northern zones show significant difference during the period of 1994–2016/2017, with significantly higher glacier area loss in the HE‐HT zone. The study highlights the importance of these topoclimatic considerations while evaluating the climate and hydrology of UGB.
Wind variability over the Caspian Sea, its impact on Caspian seawater level and link with ENSO
Authors: Arpe Klaus , Molavi‐Arabshahi Mahboubeh , Leroy Suzanne Alice Ghislaine 
Published: March 2020

AbstractNewly available time series of 10‐m winds over last 60 years in the South Caspian Sea (CS) region show a remarkable shift in wind speed in 1995, that is also the year of maximum elevation of the Caspian Sea level (CSL). Our aim is to find the mechanisms linking these two features. This change is not only seen in the wind observations along the Southern CS coast, but also in the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) reanalysis covering the Southern CS, leading there to an increase of evaporation after 1995. Due to wind increase, evaporation increases but does not lead to enhanced precipitation over the CS catchment area, the water seems to be lost to the east of the drainage basin for the water budget of the CS after 1995. This stopped the CSL rise and caused its post‐1995 fall. The connection between the wind speed and the trend of the CSL can also be seen for the 1977 low stand. Before 1977, the CSL was slightly dropping with relatively strong wind, then the wind speed fell and the CSL started to rise. The change of the wind seems to be induced by a teleconnection from El Niño‐Southern oscillation (ENSO). It is shown that ENSO impact is much stronger than that of North Atlantic oscillation (NAO), not only for the change of the CSL, but also for several key components of the CS water budget, like the Volga river discharge and wind speed. The wind speed is induced by ENSO, which is demonstrated by a shift of the jet stream over the CS area. This could be an explanative link between ENSO and CSL variability, but still needs further understanding. The NAO has a similar impact but to a lesser degree. When NAO and ENSO are working in the same direction, the CSL change is enhanced like from 1990 to 1995.
Relative pollen productivities of the major plant taxa of subtropical evergreen–deciduous mixed woodland in China
Authors: Jiang Fangyuan , Xu Qinghai , Zhang Shengrui , Li Furong , Zhang Kun , Wang Meng , Shen Wei , Sun Yuanhao , Zhou Zhongze 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTQuantifying the relationship between pollen and vegetation is an essential step in the pollen‐based quantitative reconstruction of past vegetation cover. In this study, we use the Extended R‐Value (ERV) model and a modern dataset of pollen (collected from moss polsters) and related vegetation from 50 sites in the Daba Mountains (subtropical China) to (i) estimate the relevant source area of pollen (RSAP) of the moss samples and the relative pollen productivities (RPPs) of nine major plant taxa‐characteristic of the region, and (ii) evaluate the obtained RPPs. The RSAP estimates of moss polsters vary between 225 and 610 m depending on the ERV submodels and models of pollen dispersal and deposition used. The RPP estimates are different from values published in previous studies from temperate and subtropical China. This may be explained by differences in methodology, climate and vegetation (species composition and spatial distribution), of which vegetation is probably the most important factor. The ranking of the RPP estimates for the nine taxa is Pinus > Juglandaceae > D − Quercus (deciduous Quercus) > Poaceae > Rosaceae > Cyperaceae > Anacardiaceae > Castanea > Fabaceae. We use a ‘leave‐one‐out’ cross‐validation strategy and the Landscape Reconstruction Algorithm (LRA) for pollen‐based reconstruction of regional and local plant cover to evaluate the ERV model‐based RPP estimates. Both the REVEALS (Regional Estimates of VEgetation Abundance from Large Sites)‐based and the LOVE (LOcal Vegetation Estimates)‐based plant cover using the RPP estimates are closer to the modern vegetation composition than pollen percentages, thus confirming the applicability of the ERV model and the LRA approach in subtropical China.
Synergistic Population Density and Environmental Effects on Deer Body Condition
Authors: Ayotte Pascale , Le Corre Mael , Côté Steeve D. 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTThe ability to predict energy and protein allocation to different body condition parameters according to environmental constraints is a key component in understanding the processes underlying population dynamics. We investigated the influence of a proxy of population density and environmental factors on individual body condition parameters of female white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) based on long‐term monitoring (2002–2013) of autumn harvest on Anticosti Island, Québec, Canada. We used dressed body mass, peroneus muscle mass, and rump fat thickness to evaluate the nutritional status of 3,123 adult females. Density index and winter precipitation negatively affected fat reserves in autumn. We detected the negative effect of winter precipitation on fat reserves only at low density likely because individuals at high density were already in bad condition. High normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in spring (May–Jun) reduced body mass, and this influence was more pronounced under high population density, probably because individuals at high densities were less likely to be buffered against environmental fluctuations when resources were scarcer than resources at low population density. Using different body condition parameters, our results provide additional insights on how northern ungulates influenced by food limitation may respond to future environmental changes. We recommend managers to collect long‐term data on multiple physiological indicators of body condition. These data could be used as an index of ecological changes and provide a quantitative basis to help setting harvest objectives or supporting adaptive management. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.
Enhanced High‐Temperature Dielectric Properties of Poly(aryl ether sulfone)/BaTiO3 Nanocomposites via Constructing Chemical Crosslinked Networks
Authors: Liu Jie , Li Xuefeng , Ma Shengqi , Zhang Junhu , Jiang Zhenhua , Zhang Yunhe 
Published: March 2020

AbstractHeat‐resistant and crosslinked polymers/ceramic composites have been prepared and investigated for enhancing high‐temperature dielectric properties to adapt the development of advanced electric and electronic systems. Here, a series of crosslinkable heat‐resistant poly(arylene ether sulfone)s (DPAES) with large dipole units of −SO2− are designed and synthesized as matrix, which are blended with BaTiO3 (BT) nanoparticles to fabricate crosslinked polymer composites for boosting high‐temperature dielectric properties. The results show that BT/c‐DPAES possess great dielectric stability at measured frequency and temperature. Meanwhile, the discharged energy density and efficiency of BT/c‐DPAES composites are higher than that of BT/DPAES at high temperatures, e.g., 10 vol% BT/c‐DPAES has a discharged energy density of 1.7 J cm−3 and efficiency of 73%, increasing by 42% and 128% in contrast to BT/DPAES, respectively. The enhanced high‐temperature energy storage properties can be attributed to the construction of a crosslinked polymer network, reducing leakage current density of composites.
The multifarious roles of the chemokine CXCL14 in cancer progression and immune responses
Authors: Westrich Joseph A. , Vermeer Daniel W. , Colbert Paul L. , Spanos William C. , Pyeon Dohun 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe chemokine CXCL14 is a highly conserved, homeostatic chemokine that is constitutively expressed in skin epithelia. Responsible for immune cell recruitment and maturation, as well as impacting epithelial cell motility, CXCL14 contributes to the establishment of immune surveillance within normal epithelial layers. Furthermore, CXCL14 is critical to upregulating major histocompatibility complex class I expression on tumor cells. Given these important roles, CXCL14 is often dysregulated in several types of carcinomas including cervical, colorectal, endometrial, and head and neck cancers. Its disruption has been shown to limit critical antitumor immune regulation and is correlated to poor patient prognosis. However, other studies have found that in certain cancers, namely pancreatic and some breast cancers, overexpression of stromal CXCL14 correlates with poor patient survival due to increased invasiveness. Contributing to the ambiguity CXCL14 plays in cancer is that the native CXCL14 receptor remains uncharacterized, although several candidate receptors have been proposed. Despite the complexity of CXCL14 functions, it remains clear that this chemokine is a key regulatory factor in cancer and represents a potential target for future cancer immunotherapies.
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Statin Use
Authors: Bayram Ece , Marras Connie , Standaert David G. , Kluger Benzi M. , Bordelon Yvette M. , Shprecher David R. , Litvan Irene ,   and the ENGENE‐PSP Consortium
Published: March 2020

AbstractIntroductionStatins were proposed to be neuroprotective; however, the effects are unknown in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a pure tauopathy.MethodsData of 284 PSP cases and 284 age‐matched, sex‐matched, and race‐matched controls were obtained from the environmental and genetic PSP (ENGENE‐PSP) study. Cases were evaluated with the PSP Rating Scale, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, Mattis Dementia Rating Scale, and Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Statin associations with PSP risk, onset age, and disease features were analyzed.ResultsUnivariate models showed lower PSP risk for type 1 statin users (simvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin). After adjusting for confounding variables, statin use and lower PSP risk association remained only at a trend level. For PSP cases, type 1 statins were associated with 1‐year older onset age; type 2 statins (atorvastatin, rosuvastatin) were associated with the lower PSP Rating Scale and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale.ConclusionStatins may have inverse associations with PSP risk and motor impairment. Randomized prospective studies are required to confirm this effect. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
On the limitations of echo planar 4D flow MRI
Authors: Dillinger Hannes , Walheim Jonas , Kozerke Sebastian 
Published: March 2020

PurposeTo compare EPI and GRE readout in high‐flow velocity regimes and evaluate their impact on measurement accuracy in silico and in vitro.Theory and MethodsPhase‐contrast sequences for EPI and GRE were simulated using CFD velocity data to assess displacement artifacts as well as effective spatial resolution. In silico findings were validated experimentally using a steady flow phantom.ResultsFor EPI factor 5 and simulated stenotic flow with peak velocity of 2.2 m, displacement artifacts resulted in misregistration of 7.3 mm at echo time and the effective resolution was locally reduced by factors 5 and 8 compared to GRE for flow along phase and frequency encoding directions, respectively. In vitro, a maximum velocity difference between EPI factor 5 and GRE of 0.97 m was found.ConclusionsFour‐dimensional flow MRI using EPI readout results not only in considerable velocity misregistration but also in spatially varying degradation of resolution. The proposed work indicates that EPI is inferior to standard GRE for 4D flow MRI.
Active learning polynomial chaos expansion for reliability analysis by maximizing expected indicator function prediction error
Authors: Cheng Kai , Lu Zhenzhou 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAssessing the failure probability of complex aeronautical structure is a difficult task in presence of uncertainties. In this paper, active learning polynomial chaos expansion (PCE) is developed for reliability analysis. The proposed method firstly assigns a Gaussian Process (GP) prior to the model response, and the covariance function of this GP is defined by the inner product of PCE basis function. Then, we show that a PCE model can be derived by the posterior mean of the GP, and the posterior variance is obtained to measure the local prediction error as Kriging model. Also, the expectation of the prediction variance is derived to measure the overall accuracy of the obtained PCE model. Then, a learning function, named expected indicator function prediction error (EIFPE), is proposed to update the design of experiment of PCE model for reliability analysis. This learning function is developed under the framework of the variance‐bias decomposition. It selects new points sequentially by maximizing the EIFPE that considers both the variance and bias information, and it provides a dynamic balance between global exploration and local exploitation. Finally, several test functions and engineering applications are investigated, and the results are compared with the widely used Kriging model combined with U and expected feasibility function learning function. Results show that the proposed method is efficient and accurate for complex engineering applications.
Saddle‐point optimality criteria in modified variational control problems with partial differential equation constraints
Authors: Treanţă Savin 
Published: March 2020

SummaryIn this article, based on a multidimensional control problem, in short (MCP), we introduce a modified multidimensional variational control problem involving first‐order partial differential equations and inequality‐type constraints. As well, we formulate and prove optimality conditions for this new variational control problem. Furthermore, we establish (under some generalized convexity assumptions) an equivalence between an optimal solution of (MCP) and a saddle‐point associated with the Lagrange functional (Lagrangian) corresponding to the modified multidimensional control problem. Also, in order to illustrate our main characterization results and their effectiveness, we present several applications.