bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Trace Dissolved Oxygen Removal Using a Hydrocyclone to Enhance Denitrification
Authors: Liu Yi , Wang Hua-lin 
Published: May 2018

AbstractDissolved oxygen (DO) is entrained by mixed liquid recirculation (MLR) into the anoxic basin in the pre‐denitrification biological nitrogen removal (PDBNR) process and should be removed to enhance denitrification. A laboratory‐scale PDBNR reactor with an anoxic basin divided into two isometric components was built to investigate the effect of a hydrocyclone on DO removal from the MLR and the subsequent denitrification. The denitrification rate of the mixture of influent and hydrocyclone‐treated nitrified wastewater increased with increasing DO and was higher than that of the wastewater in a conventional anoxic component. More total nitrogen was removed in the anoxic component due to the application of the hydrocyclone in the MLR of a laboratory‐scale reactor and a full‐scale anoxic/aerobic reactor.
Electrodeposition of Gold Nanostructures at the Interface of a Pickering Emulsion
Authors: Booth Samuel G. , Alghamdi Rafgah G. , Belić Domagoj , Brust Mathias 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe controlled electrodeposition of nanoparticles at the surface of an emulsion droplet offers enticing possibilities in regards to the formation of intricate structures or fine control over the locus or duration of nanoparticle growth. In this work we develop electrochemical control over the spontaneous reduction of aqueous phase Au(III) by heterogeneous electron transfer from decamethylferrocene present in an emulsion droplet – resulting in the growth of nanoparticles. As gold is a highly effective conduit for the passage of electrical current, even on the nanoscale, the deposition significantly enhances the current response for the single electron transfer of decamethylferrocene when acting as a redox indicator. The nanostructures formed at the surface of the emulsion droplets were imaged by cryo‐TEM, providing an insight into the types of structures that may form when stabilised by the interface alone, and how the structures are able to conduct electrons.
The MOF+ Technique: A Potential Multifunctional Platform
Authors: Xiong Yang Yang , Wu Hui Qiong , Luo Feng 
Published: May 2018

AbstractPores are the most ubiquitous moieties in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). Based on pore, the MOFs can thus communicate with various guest molecules, leading to many important applications such as storage, separation, and catalysis. However, its abundant surface, presenting another basic component, is often ignored. This is primarily due to the intrinsic stability of surface atoms of MOFs towards external surroundings, or an opposite status of badly destroying the structure of MOFs. In this concept article, we present a novel MOF+ technique, which is a complete surface technique. The design, mechanism, applications, challenges and perspectives are discussed in detail.
N‐Terminal Charged Residues of Amyloid‐β Peptide Modulate Amyloidogenesis and Interaction with Lipid Membrane
Authors: Morris Clifford , Cupples Shirin , Kent Thomas W. , Elbassal Esmail A. , Wojcikiewicz Ewa P. , Yi Peng , Du Deguo 
Published: May 2018

AbstractInteractions of amyloid‐β (Aβ) peptides and cellular membranes are proposed to be closely related with Aβ neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we systematically investigated the effect of the N‐terminal hydrophilic region of Aβ40 on its amyloidogenesis and interaction with supported phospholipid bilayer. Our results show that modulation of the charge properties of the dynamic N‐terminal region dramatically influences the aggregation properties of Aβ. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that the N‐terminal charged residues play a crucial role in driving the early adsorption and latter remobilization of the peptide on membrane bilayer, and mediating the rigidity and viscoelasticity properties of the bound Aβ40 at the membrane interface. The results provide new mechanistic insight into the early Aβ‐membrane interactions and binding, which may be critical for elucidating membrane‐mediated Aβ amyloidogenesis in a physiological environment and unravelling the origin of Aβ neurotoxicity.
Dodecabromo‐ and Dodecaiodocentrohexaindane: Td‐Symmetrical Key Building Blocks for Twelve‐Fold Cross‐Coupling Reactions and Six‐Fold Orthogonal Extension
Authors: Linke Jens , Neumann Beate , Stammler Hans‐Georg , Kuck Dietmar 
Published: May 2018

AbstractCentrohexaindane was converted into its Td‐symmetrical 2,3,6,7,10,11,14,15,20,21,26,27‐dodecabromo and ‐dodecaiodo derivatives using N‐bromo‐ and N‐iodosuccinimide, respectively, in the presence of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid as a catalyst in single, highly efficient steps. Sonication or microwave irradiation was indispensable to enforce exhaustive halogenation of the twelve equivalent peripheral positions of this Cartesian polyaromatic hydrocarbon. Despite their extremely poor solubility in most organic solvents, the new dodecahalo derivatives were fully characterized, including single crystal X‐ray structure analysis. Subsequent Pd0‐catalyzed twelve‐fold C−C cross‐coupling reactions furnished the corresponding dodecamethyl, dodeca(phenylethynyl) and dodecaphenyl derivatives in good to excellent yields. The latter hydrocarbon was also analyzed by X‐ray diffraction.
A fluid‐structure interaction (FSI)‐based numerical investigation of peristalsis in an obstructed human ureter
Authors: Takaddus Ahmed Tasnub , Gautam Prashanta , Chandy Abhilash J. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractUrine moves from the kidney to the bladder through the ureter. A series of compression waves facilitates this transport. Due to the highly concentrated mineral deposits in urine, stones are formed in the kidney and travel down through the urinary tract. While passing, a larger stone can get stuck and cause severe damage to ureter wall. Also, stones in the ureter obstructing the urine flow can cause pain and backflow of urine which in turn might require surgical intervention. The current study develops a 2D axisymmetric numerical model to gain an understanding of the ureter obstruction and its effects on the flow, which are critical in assessing the different treatment options. Transient computational analysis involving a two‐way fully coupled fluid‐structure interaction with the arbitrary Lagrangian‐Eulerian method between the ureteral wall and urine flow is conducted with an obstruction in the ureter. The ureter wall is modeled as an anisotropic hyperelastic material, data of which, is based on biaxial tests on human ureter from previous literature, while the incompressible Navier‐Stokes equations are solved to calculate urine flow. A finite element–based monolithic solver is used for the simulations here. The obstruction is placed in the fluid domain as a circular stone at the proximal part of the ureter. One of the objectives of this study is to quantify the effect of the ureteral obstruction. A sharp jump in pressure gradient and wall shear stress, as well as retrograde urine flow, is observed as a result of the obstruction.
Early‐Stage Sustainability Evaluation of Nanoscale Cathode Materials for Lithium Ion Batteries
Authors: Hischier Roland , Kwon Nam Hee , Brog Jean‐Pierre , Fromm Katharina M. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractResults of an early‐stage sustainability evaluation of two development strategies for new nanoscale cathode materials for Li‐ion batteries are reported: (i) a new production pathway for an existing material (LiCoO2) and (ii) a new nanomaterial (LiMnPO4). Nano‐LiCoO2 was synthesized by a single‐source precursor route at a low temperature with a short reaction time, which results in a smaller grain size and, thereby, a better diffusivity for Li ions. Nano‐LiMnPO4 was synthesized by a wet chemical method. The sustainability potential of these materials was then investigated (at the laboratory and pilot production scales). The results show that the environmental impact of nano‐LiMnPO4 is lower than that of the other examined nanomaterial by several factors regardless of the indicator used for comparison. In contrast to commercial cathode materials, this new material shows, particularly on an energy and capacity basis, results of the same order of magnitude as those of lithium manganese oxide (LiMn2O4) and only slightly higher values than those for lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4); values that are clearly lower than those for high‐temperature LiCoO2.
Males, but not females, perform strategic mate searching movements between host plants in a leaf beetle with scramble competition polygyny
Authors: Muniz Danilo G. , Baena Martha L. , Macías‐Ordóñez Rogelio , Machado Glauco 
Published: May 2018

AbstractMate searching is assumed to be performed mostly by males, but when females benefit from multiple mating or are under risk of failing to mate, they may also perform mate searching. This is especially important in scramble competition polygynies, in which mate searching is the main mechanism of mate competition. Typically, more mobile individuals are expected to achieve higher mating success because mobility increases their probability of finding mates. If we assume individual movements are mainly explained by mate searching in scramble competition polygynies, we can investigate searching strategies by asking when individuals should leave their location and where they should go. We hypothesize that individuals will leave their locations when mating opportunities are scarce and will seek spatially close sites with better mating opportunities. We tested these hypotheses for males and females of Leptinotarsa undecimlineata, a leaf beetle with scramble competition polygyny in which both sexes are promiscuous. Individuals mate and feed exclusively on Solanum plants, and thus, individual movements can be described as switches between plants. Females were less likely than males to leave isolated plants, and both males and females moved preferentially to neighboring plants. Males were more likely to leave when the local number of females was low, and the number of males was high. They moved to plants with more females, a behavior consistent with a mate searching strategy. Females were more likely to move to plants with fewer males and many females, a behavior consistent with male harassment avoidance. Strategic movement is widely considered in foraging context, but seldom in a mate searching context. Considering that selection to minimize searching costs, maximize mating success, and minimize harassment may be ubiquitous in nature, we argue that strategic movements by mate searching individuals are likely to occur in many species.
Genotyping by sequencing reveals contrasting patterns of population structure, ecologically mediated divergence, and long‐distance dispersal in North American palms
Authors: Klimova Anastasia , Ortega‐Rubio Alfredo , Vendrami David L. J. , Hoffman Joseph I. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractComparative studies can provide powerful insights into processes that affect population divergence and thereby help to elucidate the mechanisms by which contemporary populations may respond to environmental change. Furthermore, approaches such as genotyping by sequencing (GBS) provide unprecedented power for resolving genetic differences among species and populations. We therefore usedGBSto provide a genomewide perspective on the comparative population structure of two palm genera,WashingtoniaandBrahea, on the Baja California peninsula, a region of high landscape and ecological complexity. First, we used phylogenetic analysis to address taxonomic uncertainties among five currently recognized species. We resolved three main clades, the first corresponding toW. robustaandW. filifera, the second toB. brandegeeiandB. armata, and the third toB. edulisfrom Guadalupe Island. Focusing on the first two clades, we then delved deeper by investigating the underlying population structure. Striking differences were found, withGBSuncovering four distinctWashingtoniapopulations and identifying a suite of loci associated with temperature, consistent with ecologically mediated divergence. By contrast, individual mountain ranges could be resolved inBraheaand few loci were associated with environmental variables, implying a more prominent role of neutral divergence. Finally, evidence was found for long‐distance dispersal events inWashingtoniabut notBrahea, in line with knowledge of the dispersal mechanisms of these palms including the possibility of human‐mediated dispersal. Overall, our study demonstrates the power ofGBStogether with a comparative approach to elucidate markedly different patterns of genomewide divergence mediated by multiple effectors.
Analysis on behavioral characteristics of agents to suppress bullying
Authors: Ide Hiroyasu , Okuda Takashi 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe number of bullying recognition at school is increasing every year, and it is a very serious problem in Japan. It is said that the cause of bullying is attributed to the fact that students have independent values in groups and they interact in a complicated way. In this research, we added some special agents into the agent‐based model of bullying, and verified what behavioral characteristics are most effective in suppressing bullying by using multi‐agent simulation. As a result, it was found that the behavioral characteristic “take the tuning action to an agent with a small number of selected values when the number of bullying candidates exceeds the threshold value, and take the tuning action to an agent who is a bullying candidate when the number of bullying candidates is less than or equal to the threshold value” of special agents is most effective in suppressing bullying.
Comparison of protein precipitation methods from adipose tissue using difference gel electrophoresis
Authors: Benabdelkamel Hicham , Masood Afshan , Alanazi Ibrahim O , Alfadda Assim A 
Published: May 2018

AbstractProteomic methods have great potential to aid our understanding of the functional and pathological roles of adipose tissue. A critical initial step in the proteomic studies is the efficient isolation of proteins before conducting detailed analysis. In this study, three different methods were used for precipitating proteins; we analyzed samples from visceral adipose tissue, subcutaneous adipose tissue, and stromal visceral fraction extracts after chloroform/methanol, acetone, and trichloroacetic acid precipitation. The proteins recovered after the precipitation steps were examined by 2D‐DIGE. Statistical analyses were carried out using simple linear regression analyses and R2 values were calculated for the intra‐ and inter‐method comparisons. We found that all three precipitation methods provided highly reproducible protein spots that were recovered when run in duplicate using the same method of precipitation, irrespective of whether it was solvent (R2 = 0.85–0.98) or acid‐based (R2 = 0.80–0.96). A higher variation and poor correlation was noted for the recovered protein spots when comparisons were made between the methods (R2 = 0.40–0.88) and also when the same method was compared between different sample types. In this study, TCA‐precipitated samples were enriched in lower molecular mass proteins compared to the samples extracted by solvent‐based precipitation methods.
Multisensory integration processing during olfactory‐visual stimulation—An fMRI graph theoretical network analysis
Authors: Ripp Isabelle , zur Nieden Anna‐Nora , Blankenagel Sonja , Franzmeier Nicolai , Lundström Johan N. , Freiherr Jessica 
Published: May 2018

AbstractIn this study, we aimed to understand how whole‐brain neural networks compute sensory information integration based on the olfactory and visual system. Task‐related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data was obtained during unimodal and bimodal sensory stimulation. Based on the identification of multisensory integration processing (MIP) specific hub‐like network nodes analyzed with network‐based statistics using region‐of‐interest based connectivity matrices, we conclude the following brain areas to be important for processing the presented bimodal sensory information: right precuneus connected contralaterally to the supramarginal gyrus for memory‐related imagery and phonology retrieval, and the left middle occipital gyrus connected ipsilaterally to the inferior frontal gyrus via the inferior fronto‐occipital fasciculus including functional aspects of working memory. Applied graph theory for quantification of the resulting complex network topologies indicates a significantly increased global efficiency and clustering coefficient in networks including aspects of MIP reflecting a simultaneous better integration and segregation. Graph theoretical analysis of positive and negative network correlations allowing for inferences about excitatory and inhibitory network architectures revealed—not significant, but very consistent—that MIP‐specific neural networks are dominated by inhibitory relationships between brain regions involved in stimulus processing.
Identification of Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment using multimodal sparse hierarchical extreme learning machine
Authors: Kim Jongin , Lee Boreom 
Published: May 2018

AbstractDifferent modalities such as structural MRI, FDG‐PET, and CSF have complementary information, which is likely to be very useful for diagnosis of AD and MCI. Therefore, it is possible to develop a more effective and accurate AD/MCI automatic diagnosis method by integrating complementary information of different modalities. In this paper, we propose multi‐modal sparse hierarchical extreme leaning machine (MSH‐ELM). We used volume and mean intensity extracted from 93 regions of interest (ROIs) as features of MRI and FDG‐PET, respectively, and used p‐tau, t‐tau, and as CSF features. In detail, high‐level representation was individually extracted from each of MRI, FDG‐PET, and CSF using a stacked sparse extreme learning machine auto‐encoder (sELM‐AE). Then, another stacked sELM‐AE was devised to acquire a joint hierarchical feature representation by fusing the high‐level representations obtained from each modality. Finally, we classified joint hierarchical feature representation using a kernel‐based extreme learning machine (KELM). The results of MSH‐ELM were compared with those of conventional ELM, single kernel support vector machine (SK‐SVM), multiple kernel support vector machine (MK‐SVM) and stacked auto‐encoder (SAE). Performance was evaluated through 10‐fold cross‐validation. In the classification of AD vs. HC and MCI vs. HC problem, the proposed MSH‐ELM method showed mean balanced accuracies of 96.10% and 86.46%, respectively, which is much better than those of competing methods. In summary, the proposed algorithm exhibits consistently better performance than SK‐SVM, ELM, MK‐SVM and SAE in the two binary classification problems (AD vs. HC and MCI vs. HC).
Experimental and analytical studies of solute transport during run‐off over vegetated surfaces
Authors: Zhang Taotao , Xiao Yang , Liang Dongfang , Wang Lei 
Published: May 2018

AbstractSolute transport in overland flow is considered as one of the main contributors to water pollution. Although many models of pollutant transport mechanism from soil to run‐off water have been proposed, the characteristics of solute transport accompanying the water run‐off over vegetated surface have not been well studied. In this study, a series of laboratory experiments were conducted to study the solute transport over vegetated surfaces. Based on the experimental results, an idea of the “stationary water layer” in run‐off was proposed. Applying the complete mixing theory in the stationary water layer, an analytical solute transport model was developed with the assumption that the upper run‐off completely mixes with the underlying water in the stationary water layer for each site. The results show that the predictions made by the present model are in good agreement with the measured experimental data. For the vegetated surfaces, the depth of stationary water layer is related to the rainfall intensity, bed slope, and vegetation density. The analytical solution shows that the maximum solute transport occurs at the time of concentration. This study advances our understanding of the mechanisms of solute transport over vegetated areas.
Isotopic evidence of subtle nutrient enrichment in mangrove habitats of Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica
Authors: Samper‐Villarreal Jimena , Cortés Jorge , Polunin Nicholas V.C. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractMangroves are of great ecological and socio‐economic importance, yet they are under threat from urban development on the southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica. To test for possible nutrient‐related impacts, we compared water‐column nutrient concentrations, C and N stable isotope values and other environmental variables between mangroves with known sewage loading (three “nutrient loaded” locations) and those without such loading (three “reference” locations). Instantaneous nutrient concentrations were low at all locations, Secchi depth was greater at reference locations, and chlorophyll concentrations were higher at nutrient loaded mangroves. Suspended matter did not vary between reference and nutrient loaded mangroves, and nor did bivalve and algal δ13C and δ15N values. Enrichment of δ15N and δ13C of red mangrove leaves at the nutrient loaded locations is attributed to pulsed inputs of materials that were not detected in the instantaneous nutrient data. We provide evidence of isotopic enrichment at nutrient loaded locations from mangrove material and recommend that adequate waste water treatment be carried out on all anthropogenic discharges into this vulnerable marine system.
Simulation of less‐mobile porosity dynamics in contrasting sediment water interface porous media
Authors: MahmoodPoor Dehkordy Farzaneh , Briggs Martin A. , Day‐Lewis Frederick D. , Bagtzoglou Amvrossios C. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractConsidering heterogeneity in porous media pore size and connectivity is essential to predicting reactive solute transport across interfaces. However, exchange with less‐mobile porosity is rarely considered in surface water/groundwater recharge studies. Previous research indicates that a combination of pore‐fluid sampling and geoelectrical measurements can be used to quantify less‐mobile porosity exchange dynamics using the time‐varying relation between fluid and bulk electrical conductivity. For this study, we use macro‐scale (10 s of cm) advection–dispersion solute transport models linked with electrical conduction in COMSOL Multiphysics to explore less‐mobile porosity dynamics in two different types of observed sediment water interface porous media. Modeled sediment textures contrast from strongly layered streambed deposits to poorly sorted lakebed sands and cobbles. During simulated ionic tracer perturbations, a lag between fluid and bulk electrical conductivity, and the resultant hysteresis, is observed for all simulations indicating differential loading of pore spaces with tracer. Less‐mobile exchange parameters are determined graphically from these tracer time series data without the need for inverse numerical model simulation. In both sediment types, effective less‐mobile porosity exchange parameters are variable in response to changes in flow direction and fluid flux. These observed flow‐dependent effects directly impact local less‐mobile residence times and associated contact time for biogeochemical reaction. The simulations indicate that for the sediment textures explored here, less‐mobile porosity exchange is dominated by variable rates of advection through the domain, rather than diffusion of solute, for typical low‐to‐moderate rate (approximately 3–40 cm/day) hyporheic fluid fluxes. Overall, our model‐based results show that less‐mobile porosity may be expected in a range of natural hyporheic sediments and that changes in flowpath orientation and magnitude will impact less‐mobile exchange parameters. These temporal dynamics can be assessed with the geoelectrical experimental tracer method applied at laboratory and field scales.