bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the physicochemical, proximate, and sensory properties of moinmoin from blends of cowpea and water yam flour
Authors: Otunola Gloria Aderonke , Afolayan Anthony Jide 
Published: April 2018

AbstractMoinmoin is a steamed cowpea seed‐based pudding native to Nigeria. This study evaluated the physicochemical, proximate, and sensory properties of moinmoin from a blend of cowpea and water yam flours. The pudding was prepared by varying the proportion of cowpea to water yam flour (CWYP). The blends were in the ratio 75:25% (CWYP1), 50:50% (CWYP2), and 100:0% cowpea flour (CPP) which served as the control. Physicochemical evaluation indicated that the products will have good keeping quality and reconstitute easily. Protein content was 26.90%, 20.10%, and 17.60% for CPP, CWYP1 and CWYP2, respectively, and the presence of water yam significantly (p < .05) increased the crude fiber, ash, and carbohydrate contents of the cowpea/water yam products relative to the control. Pasting properties revealed that regardless of the proportion of water yam in the mixture, the moinmoin samples cooked at approximately the same time; and sensory evaluation showed that CWYP1 was best preferred in terms of taste, flavor, color, and overall acceptability. These findings suggest that the cowpea/water yam pudding can meet the nutritional demands of a meal and that the 75%–25% cowpea/water yam mixture was the most acceptable. The study contributes to the knowledge nutritious products with desirable organoleptic qualities from a blend of cowpea and water yam flour, allowing for up to 50% water yam substitution. It also provides an alternative way of utilizing water yam thus preventing wastage during peak production and ensuring food and nutritional security because of the balanced products obtained.
Numerical Analysis of Different Multi‐serpentine Flow Fields for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
Authors: Liu H. C. , Yang W. M. , Cheng L. S. , Tan J. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe flow field on bipolar plate of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) plays a decisive role in cell performance. In this work, two compensated flow fields, termed separated multi‐serpentine flow field and combined multi‐serpentine flow field, were investigated to understand their effects on cell performance, flow uniformity and water removal capability. The results show that the compensated flow fields can significantly enhance flow uniformity and cross‐flow under the rib, compared with the conventional multi‐serpentine one, resulting in even distribution of current density. Furthermore, the combined multi‐serpentine flow field shows more uniform distribution of current density and stronger water removal capability than the separated one, because it combines the entrance parts and exit parts of the channels.
Neural architecture in lymphoid organs: Hard‐wired antigen presenting cells and neurite networks in antigen entrance areas
Authors: Wülfing Clemens , Schuran Fenja Amrei , Urban Julia , Oehlmann Jasmin , Günther Hauke Simon 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIntroductionRecently, we found abundant innervation of antigen presenting cells that were reached and enclosed by single neurites. These neurally hard‐wired antigen presenting cells (wAPC) could be observed in the T‐cell zone of superficial cervical lymph nodes of rats and other mammalians, including humans.MethodsAs a consequence, we investigated lymph nodes at many different anatomical positions as well as all primary and secondary lymphoid organs (SLO) in rodents for a similar morphology of innervation regarding antigen presenting cells known in those tissues.ResultsAs a result, we confirmed wAPC in lymph nodes independent from their draining areas and anatomical positions but also in all other T‐cell zones of lymphoid organs, like Peyer's patches, NALT and BALT, as well as in the thymic medulla. Other cells were innervated in a similar fashion but with seemingly missing antigen presenting capacity. Both types of innervated immune cells were observed as being also present in the dermis of the skin. Only in the spleen wAPC could not be detected. Beyond this systematic finding, we also found another regular phenomenon: a dense network of neurites that stained for neurofilament always in antigen entrance areas of lymphoid organs (subsinoidal layer of lymph nodes, subepithelial dome of Peyer's patches, subsinoidal layer of the splenic white pulp, margins of NALT and BALT). Lastly, also thymic epithelial cells (TEC) restricted to the corticomedullary junction of the thymus showed similar neurofilament staining.ConclusionsTherefore, we propose much more hard‐wired and probably afferent connections between lymphoid organs and the central nervous system than is hitherto known.
Inorganic Reactions Self‐organize Life‐like Microstructures Far from Equilibrium
Authors: Knoll Pamela , Steinbock Oliver 
Published: April 2018

AbstractA fundamental problem in chemistry is the nontrivial extension of molecular complexity to macroscopic length scales. The exploration of such concepts offers profound insights into the hierarchical organization of living matter and promises a novel engineering paradigm under which materials and devices are grown biomimetically far from the thermodynamic equilibrium. Inorganic microstructures called biomorphs are an ideal model system to develop such approaches. They are polycrystalline nanorod assemblies that form in basic solution from alkaline‐earth metal ions, silicate, and carbonate. Biomorphs range in size from tens of micrometers to millimeters and form over several hours under simple experimental settings. Their noneuhedral, life‐like shapes include surprising leafs, helices, funnels, urns, and coral‐shaped motifs. Here we review the current understanding of biomorphs, highlight links to nonlinear chemical dynamics, and discuss applications in materials science and astrobiology.
Excluding pairs of tournaments
Authors: Choromanski Krzysztof 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe Erdős–Hajnal conjecture states that for every given undirected graph H there exists a constant such that every graph G that does not contain H as an induced subgraph contains a clique or a stable set of size at least . The conjecture is still open. Its equivalent directed version states that for every given tournament H there exists a constant such that every H‐free tournament T contains a transitive subtournament of order at least . In this article, we prove that for several pairs of tournaments, H1 and H2, there exists a constant such that every ‐free tournament T contains a transitive subtournament of size at least . In particular, we prove that for several tournaments H, there exists a constant such that every ‐free tournament T, where stands for the complement of H, has a transitive subtournament of size at least . To the best of our knowledge these are first nontrivial results of this type.
Fermented meat sausages from game and venison: what are the opportunities and limitations?
Authors: Chakanya Chido , Arnaud Elodie , Muchenje Voster , Hoffman Louwrens C 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAn increase in the acceptance, demand and production of game meat and venison has been experienced globally. Game meat and venison fit into consumers' ideology of healthy and environmentally friendly meat when compared to domesticated animals. Opportunities exist to explore the use of these meat sources in developing new products, particularly as game meat and venison in their fresh state are sometimes perceived as being tough. Consumers have shown a trend for trying exciting new products with different organoleptic qualities, and fermented sausages occupy a special niche in the gastro‐economic trade. In this review, the production potential of game meat and venison and its prospective use in the development of fermented sausages are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the importance of meat characteristics in textural and sensorial development as well as the safety of fermented sausages. Additionally, consumers' perception of venison and game meat is discussed. Possible areas of research and knowledge gaps are highlighted, particularly the potential use of meat with high pH and microbial load. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
A topographic perspective on the distribution of degraded meadows and their changes on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau, West China
Authors: Li Xilai , Gao Jay , Zhang Jing 
Published: April 2018

AbstractMeadow degradation is a serious environmental and ecological problem on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau. A topographic perspective on the changes in the severity of meadow degradation can yield vital information on the effectiveness of rehabilitative measures and efforts. This study aims to reveal the topographic properties of degraded meadows in relation to those of the general terrain in the Qingzhen Township of southern Qinghai Province of China comparatively. After degraded meadows were mapped at 3 levels of severity from satellite images recorded in 1995, 2001, and 2015, the topographic features of degraded meadows, intact meadows, and the changes between them were explored in a geographic information system. It is found that degraded meadows increased by 528.07 ha (15.21%) during 1995–2001, but lost 1,495.67 ha (37.40%) during 2001–2015. The most and the least severely degraded meadows experienced a loss whereas moderately degraded meadows increased, with most changes taking place between adjoining levels of severity. Topographically, the changes in degradation severity bear a consistent relationship with elevation and slope gradient in that more severely degraded meadows are located at a lower elevation of a gentler slope. The changes from degraded to intact meadows take place at a lower elevation on a gentler slope, an outcome likely attributable to the rehabilitative efforts.
Preliminary study on the treatment of vitiligo with carbon dioxide fractional laser together with tacrolimus
Authors: Chen Wei , Zhou Yuan , Huang Fei‐ran , Luo Dan , Wang Da‐guang 
Published: April 2018

BackgroundTacrolimus is a conventional medication for the treatment of vitiligo, but the effect of a single medication is limited.ObjectiveThis paper aims at observing the effects, adverse responses, and repigmentation results of the joint treatment of vitiligo by Carbon dioxide (CO2) fractional laser together with tacrolimus.MethodsForty‐five patients with vitiligo were randomly divided into two groups: treatment (T) group and control (C) group, and each group was further divided into three subgroups (face, torso and limbs, and hand and foot) according to the location of the skin defect. Both groups used topical 0.1% tacrolimus cream, but the T group was given one CO2 fractional laser treatment each month. We observed the clinical efficacy, adverse responses, and repigmentation results after 6 months.ResultsCompared to the C group, the T group showed better improvement in both objective and subjective assessments. When the treatment time was increased, the efficacy was also improved, and the repigmentation in the T group occured in three ways: perifollicular repigmentation, marginal repigmentation and diffuse repigmentation. There were three cases of isomorphic responses (2 cases in the rapid progression stage, one case in the progression stage), and 1 case formed scarring on the neck in the T group.ConclusionsThe treatment of vitiligo by CO2 fractional laser together with tacrolimus is significantly effective and is most suitable for patients in the progression stage. Patients in the rapid progression stage should use this approach with caution, and its efficacy was limited for patients in the stable stage. An extended course of treatment is helpful for the repigmentation of white patches. All three forms of repigmentation can occur in the joint treatment of vitiligo by CO2 fractional laser together with tacrolimus. Lasers Surg. Med. 50:829–836, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prevalence of fecal viruses and bacteriophage in Canadian farmed mink (Neovison vison)
Authors: Xie Xiao‐Ting , Kropinski Andrew M. , Tapscott Brian , Weese J. Scott , Turner Patricia V. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractRecent viral metagenomic studies have demonstrated the diversity of eukaryotic viruses and bacteriophage shed in the feces of domestic species. Although enteric disease is a major concern in the commercial mink farming industry, few etiologic agents have been well characterized. This study aimed to identify viruses shed in the fecal matter of clinically healthy commercial mink from 40 southern Ontario farms. Viral RNA was extracted from 67 pooled fecal samples (30 adult female mink and 37 kit) and amplified for Illumina sequencing on the NextSeq platform, and the resulting contigs were trimmed and assembled using Trimmomatic 0.36.0 and Spades 3.8.0 in iVirus (CyVerse, AZ, USA) and SeqMan NGen 12 (DNAStar, WI, USA). Identification of assembled sequences >100 bp (Geneious 10.1.3) showed an abundance of bacteriophage sequences, mainly from families Siphoviridae (53%), Podoviridae (22%), Myoviridae (20%), Inoviridae (1%), Leviviridae (0.04%), Tectiviridae (0.01%), and Microviridae (0.01%). A diverse range of vertebrate viruses were detected, of which posavirus 3, mink bocavirus, gyroviruses, and avian‐associated viruses were most abundant. Additionally, sequences from nonvertebrate viruses with water and soil‐associated amebal and algal hosts were also highly prevalent. The results of this study show that viruses shed in the fecal matter of healthy commercial mink are highly diverse and could be closely associated with diet, and that more research is necessary to determine how the detected viruses may impact mink health.
Quorum‐dependent transfer of the opine‐catabolic plasmid pAoF64/95 is regulated by a novel mechanism involving inhibition of the TraR antiactivator TraM
Authors: Wetzel Margaret E. , Asenstorfer Robert E. , Tate Max E. , Farrand Stephen K. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractWe previously described a plasmid of Agrobacterium spp., pAoF64/95, in which the quorum‐sensing system that controls conjugative transfer is induced by the opine mannopine. We also showed that the quorum‐sensing regulators TraR, TraM, and TraI function similarly to their counterparts in other repABC plasmids. However, traR, unlike its counterpart on Ti plasmids, is monocistronic and not located in an operon that is inducible by the conjugative opine. Here, we report that both traR and traM are expressed constitutively and not regulated by growth with mannopine. We report two additional regulatory genes, mrtR and tmsP, that are involved in a novel mechanism of control of TraR activity. Both genes are located in the distantly linked region of pAoF64/95 encoding mannopine utilization. MrtR, in the absence of mannopine, represses the four‐gene mocC operon as well as tmsP, which is the distal gene of the eight‐gene motA operon. As judged by a bacterial two‐hybrid analysis, TmsP, which shows amino acid sequence relatedness with the TraM‐binding domain of TraR, interacts with the antiactivator. We propose a model in which mannopine, acting through the repressor MrtR, induces expression of TmsP which then titrates the levels of TraM thereby freeing TraR to activate the tra regulon.
Inhibition of carbonic anhydrase IX targets primary tumors, metastases, and cancer stem cells: Three for the price of one
Authors: Supuran Claudiu T. , Alterio Vincenzo , Di Fiore Anna , D’ Ambrosio Katia , Carta Fabrizio , Monti Simona Maria , De Simone Giuseppina 
Published: April 2018

AbstractHuman carbonic anhydrase (CA) IX is a tumor‐associated protein, since it is scarcely present in normal tissues, but highly overexpressed in a large number of solid tumors, where it actively contributes to survival and metastatic spread of tumor cells. Due to these features, the characterization of its biochemical, structural, and functional features for drug design purposes has been extensively carried out, with consequent development of several highly selective small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies to be used for different purposes. Aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive state‐of‐the‐art of studies performed on this enzyme, regarding structural, functional, and biomedical aspects, as well as the development of molecules with diagnostic and therapeutic applications for cancer treatment. A brief description of additional pharmacologic applications for CA IX inhibition in other diseases, such as arthritis and ischemia, is also provided.
High gain pentagonal loop rectifying antenna
Authors: Ahn Chi‐Hyung , Oh Seongwon 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn this article, a high gain rectifying antenna using a pair of pentagonal loops has been developed for wireless power transfer at 5.8 GHz. For a long range wireless power transfer, the rectenna system requires high gain and high conversion efficiency. The proposed rectenna system consists of a pair of pentagonal loop antennas to achieve high gain characteristics, an impedance transformer, and a rectifying circuit which are designed on a CPS (Coplanar stripline) structure. A metal reflector is also placed for achieving higher gain characteristics in a broadside direction. A CPS to microstrip line balun is designed to verify performance of the pentagonal loop antennas based on CPS structure. The fabricated pentagonal antenna demonstrates high gain of 10.1 dBi, and it results in receiving more RF energy from a designated source. An impedance transformer is designed to change the antenna's input impedance to diode's input impedance and block higher order signals coming back from the rectifying diode. To obtain high conversion efficiency, several load resistors are used. The proposed rectenna system based on CPS pentagonal loops shows measured conversion efficiency of 75% at 5.8 GHz, and its performance has been verified through simulation and measurement.
A 28 GHz LNA using defected ground structure for 5G application
Authors: Luo Jiang , He Jin , Wang Hao , Chang Sheng , Huang Qijun , Yu Xiao‐Peng 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn this article, a defected ground structure (DGS) is proposed to replace the inductor placed between common source and common gate stage in cascode low‐noise amplifier (LNA), leading to silicon area reducing as well as good internal matching condition. For verification, a 28 GHz three‐stage cascode LNA with DGS is designed and implemented in a 130‐nm CMOS technology. The fabricated prototype achieves a peak gain of 20 dB and minimum noise figure of 5.2 dB. The LNA occupies small silicon area of only 0.12 mm2 excluding testing pads, and it draws a current of 16 mA from a 1.5 V supply voltage.
Hilbert fractal stub‐based wideband microstrip bandpass filter with notched band on low‐cost substrate
Authors: Karthie S. , Salivahanan S. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractA wideband Hilbert fractal stub‐based microstrip bandpass filter with a notched band at 5 GHz on a low‐cost substrate is presented. The proposed filter has a 3 dB fractional bandwidth of 88% from 2.9 to 7.3 GHz, with the lower passband of 43% and upper passband of 32% separated by a notched band. The measured insertion loss of the fabricated filter is less than 1.2 dB in the two passbands of 2.9 to 4.5 GHz and 5.3 to 7.3 GHz. The filter is designed and simulated using full‐wave electromagnetic analysis tool and is validated experimentally. Measured data matches reasonably well with the simulated response. This filter can find applications in any wideband wireless communication devices.
Compact filtering power divider with wide passband bandwidth
Authors: Zhang Bo , Yu Cuiping , Wu Yongle , Liu Yuanan 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn this article, a compact filtering power divider (PD) with wide passband bandwidth and high selectivity is designed and analyzed. The filtering PD is constructed by quarter‐ wavelength three‐conductor parallel‐coupled line structure terminated with two stepped impedance transmission line sections as well as an isolation resistor loaded on unique location. The even‐odd mode analysis is adopted to explain the operating mechanism of signal splitting, filtering, and isolating. Then, a practical design procedure is introduced. For verification, a wideband filtering PD centered at 3.0 GHz with a fractional bandwidth of 62% is designed and fabricated. The measured results agree well with the simulated ones.
Patch array with distribution system based on radial waveguide
Authors: Pasternak Yuriy G. , Proskurin Dmitry K. , Fedorov Sergey M. , Chuguevskiy Vitaliy I. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractDesign of a broadband antenna array with a distribution system based on radial waveguide with absorbing elements is presented. Dependence of the array main characteristics on the design parameters is studied.
Open‐ended waveguide dielectric probe using time‐domain measurements
Authors: Chan Kevin , Rambabu Karumudi , Boulanger Pierre 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe method of using a coaxial‐to‐waveguide adaptor as a broadband dielectric probe with time‐domain measurements is presented. The reflected pulses at the aperture of the open‐ended waveguide are measured for short circuit and dielectric slab loads. A reflection coefficient frequency response analysis is applied to the pulses for the relative permittivity extraction of the dielectric slab. Dispersion compensation is introduced for error correction. Accuracies of within 10% are achievable for an octave bandwidth.
Double‐square and gridded‐square loop frequency‐selective surface in the K‐band
Authors: Liu Xiaoming , Li Zhuo , Tang Cuiwei , Yu Junsheng , Zhou Jun , Chen Xiaodong 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn this article, the double square loop and gridded square loop structures were studied to investigate their operating principle and the effects of the key parameters for the design of high selectivity frequency‐selective surface (FSS). An explicit expression was proposed for the starting point of optimization. To experimentally verify the design principle, a K‐band FSS was fabricated and measured. Measurement was conducted using time gated method and compared with the simulation, showing a satisfactory agreement between each other.
Multiband microstrip yagi‐uda antenna based on drivers stack configuration
Authors: Tirado‐Mendez Jose A. , Jardon‐Aguilar Hildeberto , Flores‐Leal Ruben , Rangel‐Merino Arturo , Linares‐Miranda Roberto 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn this article, a multiband Yagi‐Uda antenna is developed based on a driver stack configuration, providing the required bands without modifying significantly the parameters of a conventional one. The design and construction are very easy in comparison to other similar configurations. The resonances are derived from each driver used in the configuration, which are excited simultaneously without any complex feeding network. The reflector and directors are proposed according to the largest and shortest driver, respectively, in order to preserve the directive radiation pattern as well as the gain compared to a conventional Yagi‐Uda antenna. In this case, the device is designed to perform at 600, 900, and 1900 MHz, achieving an average gain of 4.5 dBi, and a front‐to‐back lobe ratio of 10 dB by using just one director.
An efficient raw data simulation algorithm for large complex marine targets and extended sea clutter in spotlight SAR
Authors: Sofiani Rahman , Heidar Hamid , Kazerooni Morteza 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAn efficient algorithm is proposed to simulate the backscattering field of a complex marine target and surrounding 3D sea surface as clutter. Sea surface backscattering is simulated based on the numerical solution of the Electric Field Integral Equation by an improved meshing algorithm. The complex target is modeled using the discrete scattering centers independently. Combining the target and sea surface backscattered fields is used to extract the SAR raw data. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified for 2 hypothetical cases.