bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) cellulose conversion into levulinic acid using hierarchical Mn/ZSM-5 heterogeneous catalyst
Authors: Rahayu D U C , Hutauruk J E , Krisnandi Y K , Saepudin E 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) is one of the potential biomasses containing cellulose that can be used as a source for renewable energy. However, the cellulose is tightly connected with lignin in lignocellulose system, which needs to be separated, so called delignification, before being used. To investigate the effect of delignification on conversion reaction, the pretreated cellulose was treated with different delignification processes, i.e. alkali delignification using 10 % NaOH (w/v) and oxidative delignification using 2 % NaOCl (v/v). Furthermore, cellulose conversion from OPEFB into levulinic acid was performed using hierarchical Mn/ZSM-5 (Mn/Hi_ZSM-5) heterogeneous catalyst with various reaction times and concentration of H3PO4. The cellulose conversion into levulinic acid in the absence of catalyst was also conducted to study the effect of catalyst. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed the highest cellulose conversion into levulinic acid was achieved using cellulose from alkali delignification (28.08 % yield) in optimum reaction condition of 40 % H3PO4 (v/v), 30 % H2O2 (v/v), and 0.1 g of Mn/Hi_ZSM-5 at 100 °C for 10 h. Mn/Hi_ZSM-5 revealed good selectivity for levulinic acid with the absence of 5-HMF as an intermediate compound in conversion reaction.
Conversion of cellulose from sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) bagasse to levulinic acid over hierarchical Mn/ZSM-5 heterogeneous catalyst
Authors: Nurani D A , Krisnandi Y K , Simanjuntak M B , Rahayu D U C , Saepudin E 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
The non-food biomass, sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) bagasse (SSB), can be a possible source for synthesis of platform chemical such as levulinic acid (LA). It contains high sugar derived from cellulose and hemicellulose. Delignification process of SSB becomes important due to accessibility to those sugars. In this work, the effect of different chemical pretreatments on the delignification process was studied, including alkali pretreatment (NaOH) and oxidative pretreatment (NaOCl2). The products were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The pretreated SSB was then converted into LA using hierarchical Mn/ZSM-5 heterogeneous catalyst at 100 °C with various concentrations of phosphoric acid and fixed concentration of hydrogen peroxide. The conversion reaction was based on Fenton-like reaction. Quantitative analysis of the products was performed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The result shows that lignin content was significantly reduced from 28.42 % to 16.81 % using 10 % NaOH. Alkali pretreatment on SSB also produces higher yield of LA than oxidative pretreatment. The optimum % yield of LA 14.37 % was achieved using derived cellulose in alkali pretreatment in reaction condition 30 % of H3PO4 (v/v), 30 % H2O2 (v/v), and 10 % of Mn/ZSM-5 at 100 °C for 10 h reaction time. The catalyst shows good selectivity to LA due to the absence of HMF as intermediate. Beside LA, formic acid and acetic acid were also found in the conversion products.
The incident electrical field angle effect in localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of bimetallic Ag-Au nanorod using MNPBEM simulation
Authors: Kuddah M S M , Putra M H , Djuhana D 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
In this study, we have performed the incident electrical field angle effect in localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectra of bimetallic Ag–Au nanorod using Metallic Nano-Particle Boundary Element Method (MNPBEM) based on the boundary element method. The diameter and length of nanorod are 40 nm and 100 nm, respectively. The fraction of Ag in bimetallic Agx, Au(100-x) are 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 within weight percent. The dielectric function of Ag–Au was generated by linear approximation and the incident angle used from 0 to 90 degrees. We found that the intensity of the extinction curve shows decreasing follow logistic type curve as the incident angle increases whereas the resonance peak is constant. For a given silver fraction in bimetallic Ag-Au, the resonance peak of LSPR shifted to higher energy or blue-shift and the intensity increased. Interestingly, the LSPR of bimetallic Ag–Au occurred in the visible range and the transition mode from longitudinal to transverse mode was observed at the angle greater than 60 degrees.
Primary study of KOH alkali fusion – nitric acid leaching process in extraction of West Kalimantan zircon concentrate
Authors: Yustanti E , Ode F A F , Sulistiyono E 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
This paper aims to prepare the primary study of zirconia concentrate using KOH alkali fusion, nitric acid leaching and coprecipitation method. Alkali fusion with KOH was done with stoichiometric ratio ZrSiO4/KOH of 1:1.5 at 700 °C and 180 min. Variation of water leaching temperature at 25 °C, 95 °C and concentration in nitric acid at 4M and 6M were investigated to determine the optimal parameter to form zirconia. Phase in raw material, residue of water leaching, and product of calcination were investigated by using XRD. High composition of zirconia at 52.12 % and silica 9.64 % in zircon concentrate corresponded to the intensity peak of XRD pattern. Alkali fusion with KOH changed the visual and microstructure into irregular and porous structure in the strong caustic environment. Temperature of water leaching at 25 °C was the optimal condition to produce the highest intensity peak of zirconate and the zirconia formation. Nitric acid at 4M was preferable to form the lower of silica gel formation and produce the highest zirconia.
Study of structure and composition on La0.7Ba0.25Nd0.05Mn1-x
Cu
x
O3(x = 0, 0.03, 0.05 and 0.07) prepared by sol-gel method
Authors: Munazat D R , Razaq D S , Soegijono B , Kurniawan B , Budiawanti S , Nanto D 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
In this work, we have investigated the effect of Cu substitution on structural and chemical composition of La0.7Ba0.25Nd0.05Mn1-xCuxO3 (x = 0, 0.03, 0.05 and 0.07) synthesized by sol-gel method. The samples were sintered at 700 °C for 24 hours. Analysis of X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) patterns revealed that the samples are in cubic structure with space group Pm-3m. The result of Rietveld refinements showed that the increasing Cu doping influences the lattice parameter, unit cell volume and d<Mn-O>. Goldschmidt’s tolerance factor was calculated and confirmed that cubic is the most stable structure. The average crystallite size (D) was determined by applying the Scherrer’s equation, indicating the sample in nanocrystalline. Their crystallite sizes are 17.9981, 18.5809, l5.9273 and 16.9486 nm for x = 0, 0.03, 0.05, and 0.07, respectively. The X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) revealed a spectrum of Cu which means Cu has successfully substituted the Mn site. There is no significant difference between the designated and measured composition.
Thermal behavior, dielectric and corrosion resistance of polyurethane/carbon/nanoclay hybrid materials
Authors: Ramadhan I H , Soegijono B , Kurniawan O , Virgawati E , Mudzakir I 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Recently, research on hybrid materials of Polyurethane/Carbon/Nanoclay are challenging because of their applications. In this study, these materials were fabricated with various amounts of carbon and organoclay (1, 3, and 5) wt.%). The samples were characterized by thermogravimetry analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, optical microscope, RLC meter, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and salt spray test. The results showed that the samples with 5 wt.% carbon/organoclay have higher dielectric constant. Thermal behavior of the samples depends on the content of the filler. Salt spray test showed that the samples with 1 wt.% carbon/organoclay have higher corrosion resistance.
Effect of copper substitution on the structure of La0.7Sr0.25Nd0.05Mn1-xCuxO3 (x = 0, 0.03, 0.05, and 0.07) manganites
Authors: Razaq D S , Munazat D R , Soegijono B , Kurniawan B , Budiawanti S , Nanto D 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
The effect of copper substitution on the structure of La0.7S0.25Nd0.05Mn1-xCuxO3(x = 0, 0.03, 0.05, and 0.07) has been studied by using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The samples were successfully synthesized by using citrate-nitrate sol-gel method. Rietveld refinement analysis showed that all samples crystallized in rhombohedral system with

R

3
¯

c

space group without any detectable trace of impurities. Further analysis on the crystal structural of the samples revealed that copper substitution decreases the average Mn-O-Mn bond angle (<Mn-O-Mn>) and increases the Mn-O bond length (d<Mn-O<). Scherrer equation showed the samples are in nanocrystalline. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) results indicate that copper has successfully substituted the manganese ion.
Liquid scintillators for large area tracking system
Authors: Benhammou Yan , Etzion Erez , Mizrachi Gilad , Moshe Meny Raviv , Silver Yiftah 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
We report on studies of non-toxic scintillating liquid useful for large surface detectors. Arrays of liquid scintillators offer a rather simple tool for detecting charged particles traversing a surface and tracking their path through a defined volume. Insertion of wavelength shifting fibres along the liquid scintillating containers significantly improves the light collection at the two ends of the scintillators. We have demonstrated that we can achieve timing resolution of


(
1

ns) allowing good spatial resolution. Liquid scintillators with fibres read by Photo-multipliers or SiPMs provide an inexpensive alternative technology which suits well the requirement of the MATHUSLA experiment tracking system.
A residual performance methodology to evaluate multifunctional systems
Authors: Johannisson Wilhelm , Nguyen Sang , Lindbergh Göran , Zenkert Dan , Greenhalgh Emile S , Shaffer Milo S P , Kucernak Anthony R J 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
The development of multifunctional materials and structures is receiving increasing interest for many applications and industries; it is a promising way to increase system-wide efficiency and improve the ability to meet environmental targets. However, quantifying the advantages of a multifunctional solution over monofunctional systems can be challenging. One approach is to calculate a reduction in mass, volume or other penalty function. Another approach is to use a multifunctional efficiency metric. However, either approach can lead to results that are unfamiliar or difficult to interpret and implement for an audience without a multifunctional materials or structures background.
Instead, we introduce a comparative metric for multifunctional materials that correlates with familiar design parameters for monofunctional materials. This metric allows the potential benefits of the multifunctional system to be understood easily without needing a holistic viewpoint. The analysis is applied to two different examples of multifunctional systems; a structural battery and a structural supercapacitor, demonstrating the methodology and its potential for state-of-the-art structural power materials to offer a weight saving over conventional systems. This metric offers a new way to communicate research on structural power which could help identify and prioritise future research.
Green synthesis of copper nanoparticles using leaf extract of Ageratum houstonianum Mill. and study of their photocatalytic and antibacterial activities
Authors: Chandraker Sandip Kumar , Lal Mishri , Ghosh Mithun Kumar , Tiwari Vivek , Ghorai Tanmay Kumar , Shukla Ravindra 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
The novel copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) were synthesized using aqueous leaf extract of Ageratum houstonianum Mill. (AHLE). The green synthesized AH-CuNPs have a useful dye degradation property in the existence of daylight. The photocatalytic activity of AH-CuNPs was evaluated against an azo dye congo red (CR), whereas, same NPs displayed no effect on other dyes. The CR was completely degraded within 2 h, and the reaction rate was followed by pseudo-first-order kinetics, and the rate constant was recorded 3.1 × 10−4 s−1, (R2 = 0.9359). Antibacterial activity of green synthesized AH-CuNPs was studied against gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli (MTCC no. 40), and a significant growth inhibition was recorded with 12.43 ± 0.233 mm zone of inhibition. The AH-CuNPs were characterized through UV-visible spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, FT-IR, TEM, and zeta particle size analyzer. Ageratum houstonianum mediated green synthesized copper nanoparticles (AH-CuNPs) were cubic, hexagonal, and rectangular in shape, with average size of ∼80 nm. The optical band gap was 4.5 eV, which was investigated using UV-visible spectroscopy, and the band gap value revealed that AH-CuNPs were semiconductor materials.
Mate availability determines use of alternative reproductive phenotypes in hermaphrodites
Authors: Felmy Anja , Weissert Nora , Travis Joseph , Jokela Jukka 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
In many species, individuals can employ alternative reproductive phenotypes, with profound consequences for individual fitness and population dynamics. This is particularly relevant for self-compatible hermaphrodites, which have exceptionally many reproductive options. Here we investigated the occurrence of reproductive phenotypes in the simultaneously hermaphroditic freshwater snail Radix balthica under experimentally simulated conditions of low versus moderate population density. We captured all mating behavior on camera and measured individual female lifetime reproductive success. We found every possible reproductive phenotype: (1) both male and female (i.e., truly hermaphroditic) reproduction, (2) purely female and (3) purely male reproduction, (4) male reproduction combined with self-fertilization and (5) female mating activity, (6) pure self-fertilization without mating and (7–8) two types of reproductive failure. Variation in alternative reproductive phenotypes was explained by mate availability (10.8%) and individual condition, approximated by a snail’s mean daily growth rate (17.5%). Increased mate availability resulted in a lower diversity of reproductive phenotypes, in particular increasing the frequency of true hermaphrodites. However, it lowered phenotype-specific fecundities and hence reduced the population growth rate. Snails in better condition were more likely to reproduce as true hermaphrodites or pure females, whereas low-condition snails tended to suffer reproductive failure. Overall, we show substantial variation in alternative reproductive phenotypes in a hermaphrodite, which is possibly in part maintained by fluctuations in population density and thus mate availability, and by variation in individual condition. We also provide evidence of an almost 2-fold increase in clutch size that can be ascribed specifically to mating as a female.
COVID-2019-associated overexpressed Prevotella proteins mediated host–pathogen interactions and their role in coronavirus outbreak
Authors: Khan Abdul Arif , Khan Zakir 
Published: April 2020

Abstract

Motivation
The outbreak of COVID-2019 initiated at Wuhan, China has become a global threat by rapid transmission and severe fatalities. Recent studies have uncovered whole genome sequence of SARS-CoV-2 (causing COVID-2019). In addition, lung metagenomic studies on infected patients revealed overrepresented Prevotella spp. producing certain proteins in abundance. We performed host–pathogen protein–protein interaction analysis between SARS-CoV-2 and overrepresented Prevotella proteins with human proteome. We also performed functional overrepresentation analysis of interacting proteins to understand their role in COVID-2019 severity.

Results
It was found that overexpressed Prevotella proteins can promote viral infection. As per the results, Prevotella proteins, but not viral proteins, are involved in multiple interactions with NF-kB, which is involved in increasing clinical severity of COVID-2019. Prevotella may have role in COVID-2019 outbreak and should be given importance for understanding disease mechanisms and improving treatment outcomes.

Supplementary information
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Deshrinking ridge regression for genome-wide association studies
Authors: Wang Meiyue , Li Ruidong , Xu Shizhong 
Published: April 2020

Abstract

Motivation
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are still the primary steps toward gene discovery. The urgency is more obvious in the big data era when GWAS are conducted simultaneously for thousand traits, e.g. transcriptomic and metabolomic traits. Efficient mixed model association (EMMA) and genome-wide efficient mixed model association (GEMMA) are the widely used methods for GWAS. An algorithm with high computational efficiency is badly needed. It is interesting to note that the test statistics of the ordinary ridge regression (ORR) have the same patterns across the genome as those obtained from the EMMA method. However, ORR has never been used for GWAS due to its severe shrinkage on the estimated effects and the test statistics.

Results
We introduce a degree of freedom for each marker effect obtained from ORR and use it to deshrink both the estimated effect and the standard error so that the Wald test of ORR is brought back to the same level as that of EMMA. The new method is called deshrinking ridge regression (DRR). By evaluating the methods under three different model sizes (small, medium and large), we demonstrate that DRR is more generalized for all model sizes than EMMA, which only works for medium and large models. Furthermore, DRR detect all markers in a simultaneous manner instead of scanning one marker at a time. As a result, the computational time complexity of DRR is much simpler than EMMA and about m (number of genetic variants) times simpler than that of GEMMA when the sample size is way smaller than the number of markers.

Contact
shizhong.xu@ucr.edu

Supplementary information
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
IL-1Rahigh-IL-4low-IL-13low: A Novel Plasma Cytokine Signature Associated with Olfactory Dysfunction in Older US Adults
Authors: Darnell Eli P , Wroblewski Kristen E , Pagel Kristina L , Kern David W , McClintock Martha K , Pinto Jayant M 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Inflammation has been implicated in physical frailty, but its role in sensory impairment is unclear. Given that olfactory impairment predicts dementia and mortality, determining the role of the immune system in olfactory dysfunction would provide insights mechanisms of neurosensory decline. We analyzed data from the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project, a representative sample of home-dwelling older US adults. Plasma levels of 18 cytokines were measured using standard protocols (Luminex xMAP). Olfactory function was assessed with validated tools (n-butanol sensitivity and odor identification, each via Sniffin’ Sticks). We tested the association between cytokine profiles and olfactory function using multivariate ordinal logistic regression, adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, education level, cognitive function, smoking status, and comorbidity. Older adults with the IL-1Rahigh-IL-4low-IL-13low cytokine profile had worse n-butanol odor sensitivity (odds ratio [OR] = 1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19–2.17) and worse odor identification (OR = 1.42, 95% CI 1.11–1.80). Proinflammatory, Th1, or Th2 cytokine profiles were not associated with olfactory function. Moreover, accounting for physical frailty did not alter the main findings. In conclusion, we identified a plasma cytokine signature—IL-1Rahigh-IL-4low-IL-13low—that is associated with olfactory dysfunction in older US adults. These data implicate systemic inflammation in age-related olfactory dysfunction and support a role for immune mechanisms in this process, a concept that warrants additional scrutiny.
Risk-based Vaccines and the Need for Risk-based Subnational Vaccination Strategies for Introduction
Authors: Muhib Farzana B , Pecenka Clint J , Marfin Anthony A 
Published: April 2020

Abstract

Background
Most vaccines in the Expanded Program on Immunization are universal childhood vaccines (eg, measles and rotavirus vaccines). Other vaccines such as typhoid conjugate (TCV) and Japanese encephalitis vaccines are risk based and only used in countries where populations are at risk of these diseases. However, strategies to introduce risk-based vaccines are becoming complex due to increasing intracountry variability in disease incidence. There is a need to assess whether subnational vaccine strategies are appropriate.

Criteria, challenges, and benefits
Subnational strategies consider intracountry heterogeneous risk and prioritize vaccination only in those areas that are at risk; there is no intent to introduce the vaccine nationally. The following variables should be considered to determine appropriateness of subnational strategies: disease burden, outbreak potential, treatment availability and costs, cost-effectiveness, and availability of other preventive interventions. We propose criteria for each variable and use a hypothetical country considering TCV introduction to show how criteria are applied to determine if a subnational strategy is appropriate. Challenges include granularity of disease-burden data, political challenges of vaccinating only a portion of a population, and potentially higher costs of introduction. Benefits include targeted reduction of disease burden, increased equity for marginalized populations, and progress on development goals.

Conclusions
In the absence of perfect information at the national level, adopting a subnational vaccine strategy can provide country decision makers with an alternative to national vaccine introduction. Given the changing nature of communicable disease burden, subnational vaccination may be a tool to effectively avert mortality and morbidity while maximizing the use of available health and financial resources.
Method for Economic Evaluation of Bacterial Whole Genome Sequencing Surveillance Compared to Standard of Care in Detecting Hospital Outbreaks
Authors: Kumar Praveen , Sundermann Alexander J , Martin Elise M , Snyder Graham M , Marsh Jane W , Harrison Lee H , Roberts Mark S 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundWhole genome sequencing (WGS) surveillance and electronic health record data mining have the potential to greatly enhance the identification and control of hospital outbreaks. The objective was to develop methods for examining economic value of a WGS surveillance-based infection prevention (IP) program compared to standard of care (SoC).MethodsThe economic value of a WGS surveillance-based IP program was assessed from a hospital’s perspective using historical outbreaks from 2011–2016. We used transmission network of outbreaks to estimate incremental cost per transmission averted. The number of transmissions averted depended on the effectiveness of intervening against transmission routes, time from transmission to positive culture results and time taken to obtain WGS results and intervene on the transmission route identified. The total cost of an IP program included cost of staffing, WGS, and treating infections.ResultsApproximately 41 out of 89 (46%) transmissions could have been averted under the WGS surveillance-based IP program, and it was found to be a less costly and more effective strategy than SoC. The results were most sensitive to the cost of performing WGS and the number of isolates sequenced per year under WGS surveillance. The probability of the WGS surveillance-based IP program being cost-effective was 80% if willingness to pay exceeded $2400 per transmission averted.ConclusionsThe proposed economic analysis is a useful tool to examine economic value of a WGS surveillance-based IP program. These methods will be applied to a prospective evaluation of WGS surveillance compared to SoC.