bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anti‐predator mechanisms in evolutionarily predator‐naïve vs. adapted fish larvae
Authors: Ros Albert , Dunst Julian , Gugele Sarah , Brinker Alexander 
Published: April 2019

AbstractIt is a fundamental feature of evolution that natural selection acts on individuals to adapt to predation pressure via the development of anti‐predator mechanisms. As such mechanisms are costly in terms of energy and time, species living in habitats where predators are rare or absent were expected to show reduced predator responses. Such a reduction was expected for larvae of the native whitefish (Coregonus wartmanni) in Upper Lake Constance, as these pass their initial stage in a historically predator‐free pelagic habitat and only start to encounter predators in a later ontogenetic stage during which they shift to littoral habitat. However, a recent invader of the pelagic waters of the lake, the three‐spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), is implicated in a severe decline in whitefish recruitment through larval predation. The predator‐naivety effect and its consequences on predation were experimentally tested by comparing predator defenses of different age classes of whitefish with those of roach (Rutilus rutilus) and perch (Perca fluviatilis), two species whose larvae grow up in a predator‐holding habitat. As predator, the three‐spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) was selected. Sticklebacks actively hunted all prey species but predation was high on whitefish only. The addition of zooplankton (Daphnia) as alternative prey for sticklebacks in the experimental setup did not reduce predation on the whitefish larvae, indicating a clear preference for whitefish in this invasive predator. The escape responses of roach and perch were found to be clearly more complex and diverse to those of the predator‐naïve whitefish larvae. Particularly striking was that whitefish often did not show any apparent behavioral response to the approaching predator. Only large whitefish larvae (Table 1: length = 40.8 ± 0.6 mm) appeared capable of escaping predation, and this was correlated with a change in complexity of predator escape responses. Thus, differences in predation pressure for the different larvae species were highly related to the observed interspecific differences in predator defenses, and with the ontogenetic intraspecific change in whitefish from poor and inefficient predator escape responses to complex and more efficient predator escape responses. The evolutionary consequences of stickleback as an invasive predator on whitefish larvae behavior are discussed.
When groups do not cure: Group esteem moderates the social cure effect
Authors: DeMarco Tina C. , Newheiser Anna‐Kaisa 
Published: April 2019

AbstractGroup membership enhances well‐being. In two preregistered studies, we tested the assumption that only positively viewed groups yield this “social cure” effect and explored the impact of membership in negatively viewed groups, proposing that the social cure effect is qualified by group esteem (the degree to which ingroups are valued and liked). In Study 1 (N = 396), we manipulated social identity gain (vs. loss) and measured group esteem, and found that gaining (vs. losing) a group membership more strongly increased psychological need satisfaction when group esteem was higher. In Study 2 (N = 494), we manipulated identity gain (vs. loss) and group esteem, and found that gaining (vs. losing) a high‐esteem group membership enhanced well‐being via increased need satisfaction, whereas gaining (vs. losing) a low‐esteem group membership undermined well‐being via decreased need satisfaction. Our results contribute to conceptual models of how group membership influences individuals and suggest that membership in low‐esteem groups can harm well‐being.
Political and media discourses about integrating refugees in the UK
Authors: Goodman Simon , Kirkwood Steve 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThis article addresses political and media discourses about integrating refugees in the UK in the context of the “refugee crisis”. A discursive psychological approach is presented as the best way to understand what talk about the concept is used to accomplish in these debates. A large corpus of political discussions (13 hours of debate featuring 146 politicians) and 960 newspaper articles from the UK were discourse analysed. The analysis identified five dilemmas about integration: Integration is positive and necessary, but challenging; Host communities are presented as welcoming, but there are limits to their capacity; Refugees are responsible for integration, but host communities need to provide support; Good refugees integrate, bad ones don't; Refugees are vulnerable and are skilled. All are used to warrant the inclusion or exclusion of refugees. The responsibility of western nations to support refugees is therefore contingent on the refugees behaving in specific ways.
Experimental and computational analysis of the collector geometry of a solar chimney
Authors: Ayadi Ahmed , Driss Zied , Abid Mohamed Salah 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe solar chimney power plants (SCPP) are thermodynamic devices that transform the heat produced by the solar radiation into electricity. A SCPP make significant contributions to the energy generating in countries where sunlight is available. The optimization of the solar setups is essential to enhance their economic profitability. In this article, a numerical method is investigated by the use of the commercial CFD code Ansys Fluent to analyze the airflow within the solar chimney. Different considered cases have been studied. Indeed, a new design of the SCPP is presented and compared with a conventional solar chimney power plant (CSCPP). The proposed design is characterized by a convergent collector output. For each case, the local flow characteristics were presented and discussed. This technical solution favorite the generated power of CSCPP. This article is identified important to increase the generated power for an existing SCPP.
Biogas production from most agricultural organic wastes by anaerobic digestion in Taiwan
Authors: Lo Fang‐Chen , Lin Kae‐Long , Pai Tzu‐Yi , Yang Wen‐Goang , Tzeng Yew‐Min , Chiu Hsun‐Ying , Lo Sheng‐Wen , Hsiao Kuo‐Chu , Banks Charles J. , Lo Huang‐Mu 
Published: April 2019

AbstractAgricultural organic wastes (AOW) have the potential to provide bioenergy particularly found in biogas by anaerobic digestion (AD). In this study, the biogas production (BP) of AOW was obtained by batch AD with anaerobic digesters (500 mL) at 35°C incubator. The results showed that BP values in terms of volatile solids (VS) from rice husk, rice straw, flower residues, fruit and vegetable residues, wasted oyster shell residue (WOSR), fishery residues, livestock and poultry manures, livestock and poultry slaughter wastes (LPSW), and eight equally mixed wastes (EEMW) were 84.03, 193.36, 153.32, 76.27, 150.48, 63.26, 169.63, 615.74, and 172.83 mL/g VS, respectively. LPSW showed the highest μm of 16.99 mL/g VS‐d, the highest BP of 615.74 mL/g VS and the highest bioconversion efficiency of 65.98% compared to the other organic wastes. BP from the most AOW in Taiwan by AD was estimated to be 768,567,753 (743,522,223, excluding WOSR) m3/year. The annual BP of 768,567,753 m3/year of the eight total major AOW by AD was lower (∼20.11%) than 961,989,781 m3/year of the EEMW by anaerobic co‐digestion. Result also showed that modified Gompertz equation was suitable to describe BP accumulation and BP rate.
Effect of internal hydrocarbon reforming during coupled operation of a biomass gasifier with hot gas cleaning and SOFC stacks
Authors: Fischer Felix , Hauser Michael , Hauck Maximilian , Herrmann Stephan , Fendt Sebastian , Jeong Hyeondeok , Lenser Christian , Menzler Norbert H. , Spliethoff Hartmut 
Published: April 2019

AbstractIn the context of energy transition and climate change, a combination of highly efficient modern solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and thermo‐chemical conversion of biogenic residues could complement other intermittent renewable sources such as wind and solar. In order to reduce required gas cleaning efforts and to increase the process efficiency, the influence of hydrocarbons on SOFC performance is experimentally investigated in this study. For the first time, the operation of Ni/YSZ anode‐supported cells in Jülich F10 stacks is performed with pre‐reformed and with bio‐syngas containing full hydrocarbon content at realistic current densities. Sulfur and other impurities were removed in both cases. No degradation could be observed within normal operation on clean gas. With the tar reformer bypassed, the pressure drop over the stack increased due to severe carbon deposition on the anode substrate and the nickel current collector mesh inside the SOFC stack, so that operation had to be terminated after five hours. This behavior is different from single‐cell tests, where electrochemical degradation is the limiting factor. The results show that improvements are not only necessary for cell materials and that future research must also consider other stack components.
Experimental and numerical investigations on pressure pulsation in a pump mode operation of a pump as turbine
Authors: Zhang Jinfeng , Appiah Desmond , Zhang Fan , Yuan Shouqi , Gu Yandong , Asomani Stephen N. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractHydropower has been the leading renewable source and cheapest ways to generate electrical energy in the world. In recent years, there has been a major upsurge in the hydropower development because of the use of pump as turbine (PAT). However, the operational reliability of a PAT is greatly affected by the unsteady flow fields; therefore, it is important to examine the unsteady flow behavior which can be used as a reference to reduce the noise, vibration, and cavitation performance for centrifugal pumps working as turbines. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the unsteady flow fields by analyzing the distribution of the pressure pulsations using both numerical and experimental measurements in a PAT operating in pump mode. Firstly, the three‐dimensional (3D) unsteady flow equations were solved using SST k‐ω turbulence model during the numerical calculations. Secondly, the numerical results of the hydraulic pump performance were validated by the experimental measurements for numerical accuracy. Lastly, pressure transducers are positioned at certain monitoring points to measure the pressure in the PAT investigated. The numerical and experimental results show that the main frequency of the pressure pulsation is equal to the blade frequency, and as it deviates from the design operating condition, the magnitude of pressure pulsation intensifies. Furthermore, the impeller eye marked the lowest pressure coefficients especially at the design condition and makes it highly susceptible to cavitation. High pressure coefficients were obviously seen at the pressure side on the blade surface closer to the trailing edge at all studied operating conditions. Meanwhile, the rotor‐stator interaction generated the highest pressure pulsation distribution at the volute tongue. Thus, modification of the volute tongue is an optimal approach of reducing the pressure pulsation intensity in the volute and pump as a whole.
Forecasting air pollution PM2.5 in Beijing using weather data and multiple kernel learning
Authors: Xu Xiang 
Published: April 2019

AbstractPM2.5 mass concentration prediction is an important research issue because of the increasing impact of air pollution on the urban environment. In this paper, a PM2.5 forecasting framework incorporating meteorological factors based on multiple kernel learning (MKL) is proposed to forecast the near future PM2.5. In addition, we develop a novel two‐step algorithm for solving the primal MKL problem. Compared with most existing MKL 2‐step algorithms, the proposed algorithm does not require the optimal step size for updating kernel combination coefficients by linear search. To demonstrate the performance of the proposed forecasting framework, its performance is compared to single kernel‐based support vector regression (SVR). Data sets of an inland city Beijing acquired from UCI are used to train and validate both of two methods. Experiments show that our proposed method outperforms the SVR.
Successive grinding and sieving as a new tool to fractionate polyphenols and antioxidants of plants powders: Application to Boscia senegalensis seeds, Dichrostachys glomerata fruits, and Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx powders
Authors: Deli Markusse , Ndjantou Elie Baudelaire , Ngatchic Metsagang Josiane Thérèse , Petit Jeremy , Njintang Yanou Nicolas , Scher Joël 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe present investigation aimed at evaluating the effect of powder fractionation based on particle size on the chemical composition in macronutrients, polyphenol contents, and antioxidant properties of powders of Boscia senegalensis seeds, Dichrostachys glomerata fruits, and Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces. Significant differences (p < 0.05) among granulometric classes of each plant were observed for the chemical composition in macronutrients. A decrease in particle size of plant powders was associated with an increase in ash, protein, and fat contents, while carbohydrate content was lowered. The following Granulometric classes, [0–180 µm] for Boscia senegalensis, [180–212 µm] for Dichrostachys glomerata, and [212–315 µm] for Hibiscus sabdariffa, respectively, were found to maximize total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. These results confirm that the grinding and controlled differential screening technology is an approach may serve as a useful guide to obtain optimum polyphenol extraction and enhance antioxidant activity of plant products.
Effect of whey protein on blood pressure in pre‐ and mildly hypertensive adults: A randomized controlled study
Authors: Yang Jing , Wang Hai‐Peng , Tong Xing , Li Zeng‐Ning , Xu Jia‐Ying , Zhou Li , Zhou Bing‐Yuan , Qin Li‐Qiang 
Published: April 2019

AbstractIn China, the frequency of mild hypertension cases remains prevalently high. Meanwhile, diets containing functional ingredients that control blood pressure have received considerable attention. In this randomized, controlled intervention study, 65 participants were randomly assigned to consume 30 g of whey protein or maltodextrin daily for 12 weeks. Blood pressure, body composition, biochemical analysis in plasma, and flow‐mediated dilation (FMD), an index for evaluating endothelial function, were measured. Finally, 54 participants (27 participants in each group) completed the study. At the end of the intervention, the average systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 129.5 ± 7.7 mmHg in the control group and 128.2 ± 6.9 mmHg in the whey protein group (p = 0.052). In the overweight and obese participants, the SBP was significantly lower in the whey protein group than in the control group (126.5 ± 6.9 mmHg vs. 128.8 ± 7.4 mmHg, p = 0.033), and body fat, fat percentage, and waist circumference significantly decreased in the whey protein group (p = 0.010, 0.016, 0.019, respectively). No difference was observed between the control and whey protein groups with regard to the changes in plasma lipids, inflammatory cytokines, antioxidative indexes, endothelium‐1, nitric oxide, angiotensin II, and angiotensin‐converting enzyme. The increase in FMD was significantly higher in the whey protein group than in the control group (5.2% vs. 0.3%, p = 0.040). In conclusion, whey protein significantly decreased SBP in pre‐ and mildly hypertensive adults, who are also overweight and obese. Whey protein also improved endothelial function. The lowering effect of blood pressure was probably related to body fat loss in these participants.
Using an inverse modelling approach with equifinality control to investigate the dominant controls on snowmelt nutrient export
Authors: Costa Diogo , Pomeroy John , Baulch Helen , Elliott Jane , Wheater Howard 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThere is great interest in modelling the export of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from agricultural fields because of ongoing challenges of eutrophication. However, the use of existing hydrochemistry models can be problematic in cold regions because models frequently employ incomplete or conceptually incorrect representations of the dominant cold regions hydrological processes and are overparameterized, often with insufficient data for validation. Here, a process‐based N model, WINTRA, which is coupled to a physically based cold regions hydrological model, was expanded to simulate P and account for overwinter soil nutrient biochemical cycling. An inverse modelling approach, using this model with consideration of parameter equifinality, was applied to an intensively monitored agricultural basin in Manitoba, Canada, to help identify the main climate, soil, and anthropogenic controls on nutrient export. Consistent with observations, the model results suggest that snow water equivalent, melt rate, snow cover depletion rate, and contributing area for run‐off generation determine the opportunity time and surface area for run‐off–soil interaction. These physical controls have not been addressed in existing models. Results also show that the time lag between the start of snowmelt and the arrival of peak nutrient concentration in run‐off increased with decreasing antecedent soil moisture content, highlighting potential implications of frozen soils on run‐off processes and hydrochemistry. The simulations showed TDP concentration peaks generally arriving earlier than NO3 but also decreasing faster afterwards, which suggests a significant contribution of plant residue Total dissolved Phosphorus (TDP) to early snowmelt run‐off. Antecedent fall tillage and fertilizer application increased TDP concentrations in spring snowmelt run‐off but did not consistently affect NO3 run‐off. In this case, the antecedent soil moisture content seemed to have had a dominant effect on overwinter soil N biogeochemical processes such as mineralization, which are often ignored in models. This work demonstrates both the need for better representation of cold regions processes in hydrochemical models and the model improvements that are possible if these are included.
Fabrication and characterization of pectin‐based three‐dimensional porous scaffolds suitable for treatment of peritoneal adhesions
Authors: Kulikouskaya Viktoryia , Kraskouski Aliaksandr , Hileuskaya Kseniya , Zhura Alexandr , Tratsyak Stanislau , Agabekov Vladimir 
Published: April 2019

AbstractFormation of peritoneal adhesions is common complication after abdominal and pelvic surgery. They bear a significant health problem with an influence to quality of life and health care expenses. Promising approach for their prevention is using of biodegradable barrier films for physical separation of peritoneal surfaces. In the present study, highly porous pectin‐based three‐dimensional (3D) scaffolds were obtained by freeze‐drying technique. Physico‐chemical properties of the formed materials, including their morphology, porosity, density, and stability, have been studied. The evaluation of their biocompatibility, biodegradation, and potential antiadhesion effect was studied by in vivo experiment. To reinforce the scaffolds structure and improve their stability in physiological solutions, pectin chains were cross‐linked with divalent cations. We determined optimal cross‐linking conditions, which allow obtaining scaffolds with desired biodegradation rate. These cross‐linked scaffolds fully dissolved within 8 days in the peritoneal cavity with low presence of complications and some antiadhesive effect. It has also been determined that mesenchymal stem cells from adipose tissue could effectively adhere to the scaffolds with preservation of their viability. Our results show that obtained materials can be suggested as mechanical scaffold for delivery of the stem cells culture to peritoneal surfaces as a part of complex antiadhesive barrier system.
Eriodictyol inhibits survival and inflammatory responses and promotes apoptosis in rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast‐like synoviocytes through AKT/FOXO1 signaling
Authors: Liu YingChun , Yan XiaoNing 
Published: April 2019

Abstract2‐(3,4‐Dihydroxyphenyl)‐5,7‐dihydroxy‐2,3‐dihydrochromen‐4‐one (eriodictyol), a flavonoid compound, was proved to possess anti‐inflammatory, antioxidative, and antiarthritis activities. However, the effects of eriodictyol on the rheumatoid proliferation, apoptosis, and inflammatory response of arthritis fibroblast‐like synoviocytes (RA‐FLS) remain unclear. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine the effects of eriodictyol on RA‐FLS survival, apoptosis, and inflammatory response, and further explore the potential underlying mechanisms. Our results showed that eriodictyol inhibited the survival of RA‐FLSs and promoted its apoptosis. Eriodictyol significantly reduced RA‐FLS secretion of tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 6 (IL‐6), IL‐8, and IL‐1β. Furthermore, eriodictyol prevented the activation of the protein kinase B (AKT) pathway and increased the expression of forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) in RA‐FLS. FOXO1 silence reversed the effects of eriodictyol on RA‐FLS survival, apoptosis, and inflammation. In conclusion, these findings indicated that eriodictyol inhibits the cell survival and inflammatory response in RA‐FLS, and the AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway is involved in the effect of eriodictyol on the RA‐FLS. Thus, eriodictyol might be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
The expression of long non coding RNA genes is associated with expression with polymorphisms of HULC rs7763881 and MALAT1 rs619586 in hepatocellular carcinoma and HBV Egyptian patients
Authors: Motawi Tarek M.K. , El‐Maraghy Shohda A. , Sabry Dina , Mehana Noha A. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractLong noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), highly upregulated liver cancer (HULC), metastasis‐associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1), lncRNA‐AF085935, and lncRNA‐uc003wbd have been implicated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in HULC and MALAT1 are associated with HCC susceptibility. However, association between these SNPs and lncRNA‐AF085935 and lncRNA‐uc003wbd expression and their potential clinical value in differentiating HCC from both hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐infected Egyptian patients and the healthy specimens have not been explored yet. In the present study, SNPs rs7763881 in HULC and rs619586 in MALAT1 were genotyped in 70 HBV‐positive HCC, 70 HBV patients, and 70 healthy controls in Egyptian population and the level of serum lncRNA‐AF085935 and lncRNA‐uc003wbd of all the subjects was assayed by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. HULC rs7763881 AC/CC genotype was significantly associated with decreased HCC risk. Similarly, AG/GG of MALAT1 rs619586 was associated with decreased HCC risk with a borderline significance. Serum lncRNA‐AF085935 and lncRNA‐uc003wbd levels were upregulated in HBV‐positive HCC and HBV patients vs controls and discriminated these groups by receiver operating characteristic analysis. Patients carrying AC/CC genotype of rs7763881 and AG/GG of rs619586 had lower serum lncRNA‐AF085935 and lncRNA‐uc003wbd levels compared with AA genotype. In conclusion, genetic variants of lncRNA HULC and lncRNA MALAT1 are associated with the decreased susceptibility to HCC in HBV‐persistent carriers and are correlated with serum lncRNA‐AF085935 and lncRNAuc003wbd levels, two potential noninvasive diagnostic biomarkers for HCC.