bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Species richness effects on the vegetative expansion of transplanted seagrass in Indonesia
Authors: Asriani Nenni , Ambo-Rappe Rohani , Lanuru Mahatma , Williams Susan L. 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
Seagrass restoration is necessary to provide the critical ecosystem functions that are being lost with seagrass decline. Seagrass restoration of mixed species seagrass beds, especially in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, is poorly understood. Here, we transplanted random combinations of 1, 2, 4 and 5 seagrass species common in Indonesia to determine the effect of multispecies plantings on expansion of rhizomes. We measured seagrass vegetative expansion outside of the transplantation plots after 1 year post-transplantation for 5 months. The expansion rate increased with species richness. This result indicates that a multispecies approach to seagrass restoration in Indonesia would benefit restoration efforts. Further, for multispecies restoration we suggest using five-species combinations because they expanded the fastest of all species richness levels by the end of the experiment (on average 15.4 cm2 day−1).
Parathormone stability in hemodialyzed patients and healthy subjects: comparison on non-centrifuged EDTA and serum samples with second- and third-generation assays
Authors: Schleck Marie-Louise , Souberbielle Jean-Claude , Delanaye Pierre , Plebani Mario , Cavalier Etienne 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackground:Parathyroid hormone (PTH) stability is important. Many studies have shown divergent results between EDTA and serum, which are mainly linked to differences in protocols or cut-offs used to determine whether or not PTH remained stable. No studies have yet compared PTH stability as measured by second- and third-generation assays on the same samples in hemodialyzed patients and healthy subjects.Methods:Five pairs of samples (EDTA and gel tubes) were obtained in 10 hemodialyzed patients before a dialysis session and in 10 healthy subjects. One pair was centrifuged and run directly to define the “T0”. Two pairs were kept at +4°C and two pairs were kept at +25°C. They were centrifuged after 4 and 18 h. Supernatant was kept at –80°C for 1 week. All samples were measured in a single batch, on Roche Cobas and DiaSorin XL second- and third-generation PTH assays. We used three different approaches to evaluate PTH stability: Wilcoxon test, an Acceptable Change Limit (ACL) according to ISO Guide 5725-6 and a Total Change Limit (TCL) derived from the sum of biological and technical variability according to WHO.Results:PTH decreased in all samples. Stability of PTH was mainly dependent on the way it was evaluated. Percentages of decrease were systematically lower in EDTA vs. serum. Wilcoxon and ACL showed that PTH was no more stable after 4 h at +4°C in EDTA or serum gel tubes. None of the subjects presented a PTH decrease higher than the TCL with EDTA plasma. In serum gel tubes, PTH was unstable only when kept at 25°C for 18 h.Conclusions:PTH seems more stable in EDTA than in serum gel tubes but only when samples have to stay unprocessed for a long period (18 h) at room temperature (25°C), which can happen when samples are delivered from external care centers. For all the other conditions, using serum gel tubes is recommended since calcium measurement, which is necessary for a good PTH results interpretation, can be achieved on the same tube.
Comparison of four methods of establishing control limits for monitoring quality controls in infectious disease serology testing
Authors: Dimech Wayne , Karakaltsas Marina , Vincini Giuseppe A. 
Published: May 2018

Abstract

Background:
A general trend towards conducting infectious disease serology testing in centralized laboratories means that quality control (QC) principles used for clinical chemistry testing are applied to infectious disease testing. However, no systematic assessment of methods used to establish QC limits has been applied to infectious disease serology testing.

Methods:
A total of 103 QC data sets, obtained from six different infectious disease serology analytes, were parsed through standard methods for establishing statistical control limits, including guidelines from Public Health England, USA Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), German Richtlinien der Bundesärztekammer (RiliBÄK) and Australian QConnect. The percentage of QC results failing each method was compared.

Results:
The percentage of data sets having more than 20% of QC results failing Westgard rules when the first 20 results were used to calculate the mean±2 standard deviation (SD) ranged from 3 (2.9%) for R4S to 66 (64.1%) for 10X rule, whereas the percentage ranged from 0 (0%) for R4S to 32 (40.5%) for 10X when the first 100 results were used to calculate the mean±2 SD. By contrast, the percentage of data sets with >20% failing the RiliBÄK control limits was 25 (24.3%). Only two data sets (1.9%) had more than 20% of results outside the QConnect Limits.

Conclusions:
The rate of failure of QCs using QConnect Limits was more applicable for monitoring infectious disease serology testing compared with UK Public Health, CLSI and RiliBÄK, as the alternatives to QConnect Limits reported an unacceptably high percentage of failures across the 103 data sets.
Released from ZrO2/SiO2 coating resveratrol inhibits senescence and oxidative stress of human adipose-derived stem cells (ASC)
Authors: Kornicka K. , Walczak R. , Mucha A. , Marycz K. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe rapid aging of the population results in increased number of metabolic and degenerative disorders, especially in the elderly.Thus, a novel approach in the fields of orthopedic and reconstructive surgery for bone regeneration is strongly desirable. A new perspective in the therapy of bone fractures is tissue engineering which combines living cells with biomaterials to develop modern substitutes that can restore tissue functions. Metallic biomaterials, including stainless steel and pure titanium, have been extensively used for the fabrication of surgical implants over decades. Chemical modification of material surface for example incorporation of chemotactic factors may significantly improve the therapeutic effect. In this paper we describe titanium substrate modifications with ZrO2/SiO2coating functionalized with resveratrol using a sol – gel, dip-coating technique. Moreover, we established the effects of fabricated scaffolds on adipose stem cells isolated from elderly patients. Using fluorescence imaging, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)and cytotoxicity tests, we established that 0.5 Res_ZrO2/SiO2significantly reduced apoptosis and accumulation of oxidative stress factors in adipose derived stem cells (ASC). Thus exploitation of fabricated biomaterials in regenerative medicine as a strategy for rejuvenate ASC from elderly patientsin vivo, seems fully justified.
Fast removal of pollutants from vehicle emissions during cold-start stage
Authors: Wang Ran , Li Jia Hui , Qian Feng 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
Recently, enormous research passion has been devoted to reduce air pollution caused by vehicle emissions. Effective vehicle emission control method is to convert exhaust pollutants by placing catalyst in the exhaust pipe. However, the major stumbling block is that a large portion of emission occurs in the initial 20–30 s during the engine cold-start stage, before catalyst can reach its operating temperature. To address the challenge, herein we developed a catalyst utilizing Pd and Rh as active components, Ce-Zr solid solution as assistant, γ-Al2O3 as coating and Fe-Cr-Al as supporter. The catalyst component was optimized (atom ratio of Ce:Zr is 6:4, mass ratio of Pd:Rh is 8:2, total weight of Pd and Rh is 1.2 g/L, pore density is 700 pores/inch2) and high-frequency electrical heating technique was employed to decrease operating temperature from 400°C to 350°C and improve exhaust conversion efficiency by 78%.
Pine Cone and Boron Compounds Effect as Reinforcement on Mechanical and Flammability Properties of Polyester Composites
Authors: Borazan Alev Akpinar , Gokdai Duygu 
Published: May 2018

AbstractNatural fibers are known to be environmentally friendly, and they can be used as an alternative to glass and carbon fibers because of their low cost. Pine cone fibers are a good choice for use in composite manufacturing because they mainly consist of cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin macromolecules which provide a hydrophilic character.The potential pine cone forest reserve of Turkey is 54,000 ha. Boron compounds such as borax, boric acid. and zinc borate are generally used for their flame-retardant effect. In this study, three kinds of boron compounds, boron oxide, borax pentahydrate and borax decahydrate, were used to provide better mechanical properties and better incombustibility. The synergistic effects of both waste pine cone and boron compounds were sampled for the manufacture of polyester composites by using a casting process. The composites produced with different fiber contents were characterized by some mechanical properties (bending strength, flexural modulus, izod impact); physical analyses (water absorption, swelling thickness, open porosity, bulk density); flame retardancy (LOI); and TGA, SEM-EDS, and FT-IR analyses. According to mechanical test results, boron oxide showed better bending strength and flexural modulus compared to the other boron compounds. The LOI of composites with a boron compound was higher than the composites with only pine cone reinforcement.
Fractional PID Controller Applied to a Chemical Plant with Level and pH Control
Authors: Aguiar Renato Aparecido , Franco Ivan Carlos , Leonardi Fabrizio , Lima Fábio 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
One of the most important processes in the chemical, biological and petrochemical industries is the control of the potential of hydrogen (pH). As it is a multivariable process and non-linear, pH control gives rise to many challenges for designers in both dynamic responses and robustness issues. Despite all this complexity, in many circumstances pH control is performed by using a conventional proportional integral derivative (PID) control, which is very common in industry. This paper proposes using a fractional-order PID to improve the pH control performance of a lab-scale process, as it is more flexible, i. e., there is a higher number of variables to be adjusted. Results from a simulation have been compared to those from both conventional and fractional-order PID controls, which has shown the better performance of the latter related to important metrics such as the control effort and dynamic response of the controlled variables.
“Qabbani versus Qur’an”: Arabism and the Umma in Robin Yassin-Kassab’s The Road from Damascus
Authors: Qutait Tasnim 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
In The Road from Damascus (2008), Syrian-British writer Robin Yassin-Kassab’s debut novel, the protagonist describes “the opposing camps of [his] childhood,” as narratives of “Qabbani versus Qur’an” (56). While Sami’s father idolises the pan-Arabist poet Nizar Qabbani and supports the Syrian regime despite its repressive policies, Sami’s mother, disillusioned with nationalist ideology, turns instead to faith, offering her son a “different mythology” based on “the adventures of God’s messengers” (53). Tracing Sami’s negotiations of these seemingly opposed inherited narratives, Yassin-Kassab’s novel examines the lingering impact of pan-Arabism and the alternatives offered by Islamic frameworks. While critics have previously approached this novel as part of a growing corpus of British Muslim fiction, in this essay, I focus more closely on the novel’s interrogation of Arab nationalism. As I will show, Yassin-Kassab’s novel unfolds as a series of ideological disillusionments that chart the protagonist’s confrontation with the failure of nationalist politics. Inviting the reader to follow the protagonist’s successive conversions and de-conversion from various forms of nationalism, Yassin-Kassab’s representation of the polarisation between “Qabbani versus Qur’an” poses the question of how one might find alternatives beyond such restrictive dichotomies, dramatizing the inadequacies of political vision in the Arab world today.
Exploring the role of defective fibronectin matrix assembly in the VHL-associated CNS hemangioblastoma
Authors: Vikkath Narendranath , Ariyannur Prasanth , Menon Krishnakumar N. , MR Bindhu , Pillai Ashok 
Published: May 2018

Abstract

Background:
Central nervous system (CNS) hemangioblastoma (HB) is the most common tumor in the von Hippel Lindau (VHL) disorder, the hereditary tumor syndrome caused by the biallelic mutations of the VHL gene. The disrupted VHL and Elongin protein interaction on hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) induces a set of hypoxia-inducible genes, resulting in an unchecked endothelial cell proliferation that then leads to hemangioblastoma formation. However, recent studies have shown that disruptive germline mutations of VHL need not result in hemangioblastoma, though it can cause other manifestations of the VHL syndrome. Similarly, sporadic hemangioblastoma can occur rarely without a somatic biallelic VHL mutation. The VHL protein was earlier found to be associated with the deposition of matrix fibronectin (FN) protein in the renal extracellular matrix.

Methods:
The present study was designed to investigate the deposition of the matrix FN protein in VHL-associated hemangioblastoma.

Results:
Seven HB tumor samples from the VHL syndrome had lower expressions of tissue FN compared to the control cerebellum samples or the control blood vessel sample. On comparing the VHL and FN protein expressions in a timed endothelial tube assay, the VHL protein expression was absent during the initial phase of tube formation but started expressing after 6 h. The levels of matrix form of FN gradually increased along with the VHL expression during the maturation of tube formation. Tube formation was found to be enhanced with extraneously added soluble FN and inhibited by matrix FN. Similarly, tube formation was inhibited by a modified tripeptide (RGD) inhibitor of integrin (-αVβ3), namely, Cyclo-Ala-Arg-Gly-Asp-3-aminomethylbenzoyl.

Conclusions:
Our study implicates that the extracellular deposition and matrix formation of FN is important for vascular endothelial proliferation, and that its absence has roles in the development of hemangioblastoma in the VHL syndrome.
Carbon supported g-C3N4 for electrochemical sensing of hydrazine
Authors: Ramanujam Kothandaraman , Thirupathi Thippani 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThis study reports a synthesis of carbon supported graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4-KBC) obtained by pyrolysis of melamine with Ketjenblack 600JD carbon (KBC) at 550°C for 4 h in a N2atmosphere. g-C3N4-KBC oxidizes hydrazine at an onset potential 0.145 V vs. SCE close to the thermodynamic standard potential of hydrazine (0.23 V vs. SHE). In comparison to the controls, KBC and g-C3N4, g-C3N4-KBC oxidizes hydrazine at lower overpotential.Most research has tended to focus on transition metal-based catalysts and few are of carbon material such as graphene nanoflakes, graphene oxide, and carbon nanotubes. A comparison in terms of sensitivity, detection range and stability reveals g-C3N4-KBC electrode’s superiority over other carbon material-based catalysts. To the best of our knowledge, the g-C3N4-KBC catalyst is not reported for sensing hydrazine in the literature.
Tidal current energy potential of Nalón river estuary assessment using a high precision flow model
Authors: Badano Nicolás , Valdés Rodolfo Espina , Álvarez Eduardo Álvarez 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
Obtaining energy from tide currents in onshore locations is of great interest due to the proximity to the points of consumption. This opens the door to the feasibility of new installations based on hydrokinetic microturbines even in zones of moderate speed. In this context, the accuracy of energy predictions based on hydrodynamic models is of paramount importance. This research presents a high precision methodology based on a multidimensional hydrodynamic model that is used to study the energetic potential in estuaries. Moreover, it is able to estimate the flow variations caused by microturbine installations. The paper also shows the results obtained from the application of the methodology in a study of the Nalón river mouth (Asturias, Spain).
Some Characterizations of the Log-Logistic Distribution
Authors: Ahsanullah Mohammad , Alzaatreh Ayman 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
The log-logistic distribution is a right skewed distribution of a random variable whose logarithm has the logistic distribution. In this paper, characterizations based on truncated moments, functions of order statistics and record values are obtained. Also, limiting distributions for the extreme order statistics are studied.
Modeling kraft cooking kinetics of fiber mixes from TMP and unbleached kraft pulps for assessment of old corrugated cardboard delignification
Authors: Dollié Lucas , Mortha Gérard , Marlin Nathalie 
Published: May 2018

AbstractKraft cooking kinetics of three different lignocellulosic substrates have been investigated, namely fibers from unbleached kraft pulp (UBKP from Pinus radiata), fibers from softwood unbleached thermomechanical pulp (TMP), and wood chips for TMP production. UBKP and TMP were considered to be representative of a fiber mixture obtained after the pulping and cleaning of old corrugated cardboards (OCC). The characteristic parameters for fitting a mathematical model for kraft pulping were estimated. Based on the results, a “fiber mixture cooking model” was developed to predict the cooking kinetics of TMP/UBKP mixes, accounting for the proportion of each component. The aim was to tailor OCC upcycling in terms of high quality products, which can be used for various purposes including paper and non-paper applications.
Low Acyl Gellan Gum as a Gelling Agent in Medium of Saccharomyces Yeasts
Authors: Zhang Liguo , Du Jinhua , Jiang Yang 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
Commercial agar used in microbiological culture has a disadvantage of impurity and opacity. This work aimed to provide an alternative gelling agent to agar and the function of low acyl gellan gum in microbiological culture media was studied. The results showed the texture and water activity of GYGs (glucose-YNB medium containing low acyl gellan gum at different concentrations of 0.3%, 0.6%, 0.9%, 1.2%, 1.5%) were suitable for cultivation of Saccharomyces yeasts. The gelling temperature of GYGs was enhanced with the increased concentration of low acyl gellan gum, while clarity of medium and colony diameter decreased. Scanning electron microscope showed that GYG09 (glucose-YNB medium containing 0.9% low acyl gellan gum) possessed homogeneous porous structures, which was superior to GYA20 with respect to higher clarity and lower dosage of gelling agent when surface plating method was used; however, GYG09 was not suitable for pour plating method.
Influence of Moisture Content on Physicomechanical Properties, Starch-Protein Microstructure and Fractal Parameter of Oat Groats
Authors: Zhao Nan , Li Bo-wen , Fu Nan , Li Dong , Wang Li-jun , Chen Xiao-dong 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
This study was performed to investigate the influence of moisture content on physicomechanical properties, starch-protein microstructure and fractal parameter of oat groats. Selected physical properties were determined as a function of moisture content. The results showed that moisture content had a significant effect on these characteristics. Majority of physical properties increased linearly with moisture content ranged from 11.8 % to 27.0 %, while mechanical properties decreased nonlinearly as third power function in the above range. Moreover, the increasing granule size, less gaps and more contact points can be observed in the microstructure of starch-protein network with high moisture. Meanwhile, high moisture content also resulted in that fractal parameter of oat section increased from 2.6891 to 2.8001 significantly. These moisture-dependent characteristics are useful in further study of oat groats and the heuristic methods used in this study may be extrapolated to other varieties of cereal.
The Effect of Solution Properties on the Photochemical Ability of Pulsed Light to Inactivate Soybean Lipoxygenase
Authors: Alhendi Abeer , Yang Wade , Sarnoski Paul J. 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
Inactivation of pure soybean lipoxygenase (LOX) by pulsed light (PL) technique was found to occur due to a photochemical effect, while inactivation of soybean LOX in a real food (soymilk) was due to the photothermal effect of PL. The effect of solution properties on the photochemical ability of PL to inactivate and degrade LOX was investigated. LOX was placed in different conditions and treated with PL at a 7 cm distance with different times. The result showed that LOX was less stable during PL operation at pH 9 compared with pH 6.8. Increasing LOX concentration, adding starch, and making a colored solution did reduce the photochemical ability of PL to inactivate LOX. PL and thermal treatment of partially purified LOX degraded the LOX band (measured by using SDS-PAGE) when no protease inhibitors were added. Controlling protease activity led to degradation of LOX by PL but not by thermal treatment.
Approaches to the Numerical Estimates of Grid Convergence of NSE in the Presence of Singularities
Authors: Zhang Chenguang , Nandakumar Krishnaswamy 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
Evaluating the order of accuracy (order) is an integral part of the development and application of numerical algorithms. Apart from theoretical functional analysis to place bounds on error estimates, numerical experiments are often essential for nonlinear problems to validate the estimates in a reliable answer. The common workflow is to apply the algorithm using successively finer temporal/spatial grid resolutions

δ
i

${\delta _i}$

, measure the error

\isin
i

${\isin _i}$

in each solution against the exact solution, the order is then obtained as the slope of the line that fits

(
log

\isin
i

,
log

δ
i

)

$(\log {\isin _i}, \log {\delta _i})$

. We show that if the problem has singularities like divergence to infinity or discontinuous jump, this common workflow underestimates the order if solution at regions around the singularity is used. Several numerical examples with different levels of complexity are explored. A simple one-dimensional theoretical model shows it is impossible to numerically evaluate the order close to singularity on uniform grids.
A case study of the application of GPS to lunar laser ranging timing systems
Authors: Munghemezulu C. , Combrinck L. , Botai O. J. 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
The Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory is currently building a Lunar Laser Ranging station. This geodetic technique requires a good timing system to measure a round trip of laser photons from the telescope to the Moon and back to the telescope. We test the newly acquired timing system using examples of the Global Positioning System applications. Data in Receiver Independent Exchange Format was processed using GAMIT/GLOBK software. The results were compared against those derived from the Global Positioning System receivers that were integrated with a frequency standard from a hydrogen maser and a standard internal quartz. The results indicate that (i) the rubidium clock operates optimally and the clock drifted to within error margins of sub-centimetre level during the period of 2.5 seconds, (ii) the selected site for the permanent installation of the timing antenna has minimal multipath effect and (iii) we observed no improvement in Global Positioning System products derived from receivers that were integrated with different frequency standards.