bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Growing Chlorella vulgaris on mixed wastewaters for biodiesel feedstock production and nutrient removal
Authors: Deng Xiangyuan , Gao Kun , Addy Min , Chen Paul , Li Da , Zhang Renchuan , Lu Qian , Ma Yiwei , Cheng Yanling , Liu Yuhuan , Ruan Roger 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDLarge water footprint and nutrients demand are two of the major issues during microalgae cultivation. In this study, anaerobically digested swine manure was mixed with centrate at different minimal dilution multiples (2×, 3×, 4×, 6× and 8×), which was used as media to cultivate Chlorella vulgaris (UTEX 2714) for reducing the production cost of algae cultivation and balancing the nutrient profiles of culture media.RESULTSChlorella vulgaris (UTEX 2714) grew well on the mixed wastewaters with a biomass productivity of 132.2 to 440.3 mg L−1 d−1. Nutrients in the mixed wastewaters were removed effectively by this alga, and the removal efficiencies of ammonium (NH4+‐N), total nitrogen (TN), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total phosphorus (TP) ranged from 98.3, 46.9, 30.2 and 21.8 to 99.3, 71.4, 42.2 and 80.4%, respectively. Additionally, chemical compositions, such as pigments, carbohydrate, protein and lipids, in this alga varied with the change of dilution multiple due to the different nutrient profiles of culture media. Predicted properties of biodiesel from the oils of this alga satisfied the specifications of biodiesel, ASTM D6751‐08 and EN 14214 standards.CONCLUSIONBiomass of C. vulgaris (UTEX 2714) can be used as a good‐quality feedstock for biodiesel production when grown on mixed wastewaters. This novel integration of using mixed wastewaters to cultivate microalgae would be an effective way to reduce the production cost of algal biomass. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Histomorphometry of pancreas development in hybrid chicken (Galus galus) embryo and fetus
Authors: da Silva Andrezza Braga Soares , Fonseca Clarisse Maria Barbosa , Cavalcante Maria Michele Araújo de Sousa , de Oliveira Ingrid Macedo , Ferraz Maíra Soares , Viana Felipe José Costa , Fontenele Rayssa Dourado , Conde Júnior Airton Mendes 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe pancreas comprises an important metabolic organ of endocrine and exocrine character that has embryonic origin of rudimentary buds that fuse to form the organ. The present work aims to describe the pancreatic histogenesis of hybrid chick embryos (Gallus gallus). The research was performed in the UFPI, previously approved by the CEUA with protocol no. 040/15. We used 120 fertilized eggs of hybrid chickens kept in an incubator with controlled temperature and humidity. Daily collections of embryos and fetuses were performed from 4 to 21 days of incubation through the anatomical dissection consecutive the euthanasia. The tissues, previously fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde, were submitted to histological processing and stained with hematoxylin–eosin. Finally, the mounted slides were analyzed in image software to obtain histomorphometric data, which were submitted to statistical analysis. The pancreas of hybrid chicken embryos originates around the fourth day of incubation with the dorsal and ventral pancreatic bud formation, which are composed by epithelial and mesenchymal cells. These cells differ in exocrine and endocrine cells. Around twelve embryonic days occurs the buds fusion and the immature organ formation that will give continue with the ductal system development, vascularization and compartmentalization of the endocrine and exocrine parts. Until 21st day of incubation it is possible to identify undifferentiated tissue forms which suggesting postnatal histogenesis. The description of pancreas histogenesis using histometric data on hybrid chicken embryos contributes to the clarification of embryonic development and reaffirms the premise that chickens serve as an experimental model for embryonic study of mammals.
Reduced innate immunity of Cuban Treefrogs at leading edge of range expansion
Authors: Goetz Scott M. , Romagosa Christina M. , Appel Arthur G. , Guyer Craig , Mendonça Mary T. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractDuring geographic range expansion, populations of non‐indigenous species at the invasion front may benefit from directing resources away from immune defense. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the strength of two innate immune components in populations of invasive Cuban Treefrogs (Osteopilus septentrionalis) in a long‐colonized area (core region) and at the invasion front (leading‐edge region). First, we compared the region‐specific metabolic response of frogs injected with an endotoxin that induces systemic inflammation (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) to sham‐injected control frogs pooled from both regions. Males and females were analyzed independently because we detected a sex‐related difference in mass‐independent metabolism of control frogs, with males exhibiting a significantly higher metabolic rate (F1, 21 = 29.02, P < 0.001) than females. We observed a significantly higher metabolic rate in LPS‐injected core frogs compared with control frogs for both males (P = 0.041) and females (P = 0.007). Conversely, in leading‐edge populations, there was no significant difference in the metabolic rate of LPS‐injected and control frogs (males, P = 0.195; females, P = 0.132). Second, we directly compared bacterial killing ability of frog blood plasma between regions. Bactericidal ability of plasma was significantly greater in frogs from the core region in comparison with those at the leading edge (F1, 26 = 28.67, P < 0.001). For both immune components that we examined, populations from the core exhibited stronger immune responses. Our findings support hypotheses predicting an inverse relationship between immunity and range expansion.
Silicon Photonics Circuit Design: Methods, Tools and Challenges
Authors: Bogaerts Wim , Chrostowski Lukas 
Published: March 2018

AbstractSilicon Photonics technology is rapidly maturing as a platform for larger‐scale photonic circuits. As a result, the associated design methodologies are also evolving from component‐oriented design to a more circuit‐oriented design flow, that makes abstraction from the very detailed geometry and enables design on a larger scale. In this paper, the state of this emerging photonic circuit design flow and its synergies with electronic design automation (EDA) are reviewed. The design flow from schematic capture, circuit simulation, layout and verification is covered. The similarities and the differences between photonic and electronic design, and the challenges and opportunities that present themselves in the new photonic design landscape, such as variability analysis, photonic‐electronic co‐simulation and compact model definition are discussed.
Ultrafast Raman fiber Laser with Random Distributed Feedback
Authors: Pan Weiwei , Zhang Lei , Jiang Huawei , Yang Xuezong , Cui Shuzhen , Feng Yan 
Published: March 2018

AbstractUltrafast Raman fiber lasers are wavelength‐agile light sources for various scientific and medical applications. Pulse pumping is an efficient way to generate a high power ultrafast Raman fiber laser, which however requires real‐time synchronization between the pump pulses and laser cavity. A pulse pumped Raman fiber laser with random distributed feedback is investigated. Under repetitive pulse pumping, compound cavities based on distributed Rayleigh scattering are formed automatically to synchronize with the pump pulse train. In a proof of principle experiment, self‐synchronization is observed and a stable picosecond pulsed random laser is generated at 1120 nm with an average power of 170 mW. Raman gain and random distributed feedback are spatially separated in the present pulse pumped laser configuration. This allows a direct characterization of the random distributed feedback and a comparison between random lasing and amplified spontaneous emission, which is not possible in previous continuous wave pumped random Raman fiber lasers.
Diversity of microbial communities potentially involved in mercury methylation in rice paddies surrounding typical mercury mining areas in China
Authors: Liu Xin , Ma Anzhou , Zhuang Guoqiang , Zhuang Xuliang 
Published: March 2018

AbstractMercury can be a serious hazard to human health, especially in paddy soils surrounding mining areas. In this study, mercury (Hg)‐methylating microbes with the potential biomarker gene hgcA were obtained from 45 paddy soil samples in mercury mining areas in Fenghuang, Wanshan, and Xunyang. In different areas, the abundance of the hgcA gene was affected by different environmental factors, including organic matter, pH, total carbon content, total nitrogen content, and total mercury content. Phylogenetic analysis showed that hgcA microbes in paddy soils were potentially members of the phyla Proteobacteria, Euryarchaeota, Chloroflexi, and two unnamed groups. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that pH and organic matter impacted the hgcA gene diversity and the microbial community structures in paddy soils. The identification of Hg‐methylating microbes may be crucial for understanding mercury methylation/demethylation processes, which would be helpful in assessing the risk of methylmercury contamination in the food chain.
Distributed dynamic load balancing with applications in radio access networks
Authors: Kreuger Per , Steinert Rebecca , Görnerup Olof , Gillblad Daniel 
Published: March 2018

SummaryManaging and balancing load in distributed systems remains a challenging problem in resource management, especially in networked systems where scalability concerns favour distributed and dynamic approaches. Distributed methods can also integrate well with centralised control paradigms if they provide high‐level usage statistics and control interfaces for supporting and deploying centralised policy decisions. We present a general method to compute target values for an arbitrary metric on the local system state and show that autonomous rebalancing actions based on the target values can be used to reliably and robustly improve the balance for metrics based on probabilistic risk estimates. To balance the trade‐off between balancing efficiency and cost, we introduce 2 methods of deriving rebalancing actuations from the computed targets that depend on parameters that directly affects the trade‐off. This enables policy level control of the distributed mechanism based on collected metric statistics from network elements. Evaluation results based on cellular radio access network simulations indicate that load balancing based on probabilistic overload risk metrics provides more robust balancing solutions with fewer handovers compared to a baseline setting based on average load.
Impact of supramolecular interactions on swelling and release behavior of UPy functionalized HEMA‐based hydrogels
Authors: Maleki Sara E. , Shokrollahi Parvin , Barzin Jalal 
Published: March 2018

Supramolecular polymeric hydrogels based on copolymers of 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and HEMA functionalized with ureidopyrimidinone (quadruple H‐bonding motifs and HU comonomer) were prepared at different HU comonomer ratios (PH‐Sn, n = HU mol%). For comparison, HEMA homopolymers (PH‐Cn, n = mol% of a chemical cross‐linker) were synthesized. In contrast to PH‐S0, PH‐Sn copolymers act like cross‐linked hydrogels and absorb large amounts of water while retaining shape. Viscosities of the hydrogels decreased, and elastic and loss moduli increased with increasing HU content. Compression modulus of the swollen PH‐Sn hydrogels increased with HU content and varied between 54 and 240 kPa. Study of metronidazole loading/release behaviors of PH‐S6 hydrogel against PH‐C6 revealed a negligible burst effect for the former and a sustained release that continued for about 120 hours. We conclude that modification of poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) with HU through urethane linkages is an effective strategy to developing physical hydrogels with predictable behavior for biomedical applications.
Divergent transcriptional profiles in pediatric asthma patients of low and high socioeconomic status
Authors: Miller Gregory E. , Chen Edith , Shalowitz Madeleine U. , Story Rachel E. , Leigh Adam K. K. , Ham Paula , Arevalo Jesusa M. G. , Cole Steve W. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAimThere are marked socioeconomic disparities in pediatric asthma control, but the molecular origins of these disparities are not well understood. To fill this gap, we performed genome‐wide expression profiling of monocytes and T‐helper cells from pediatric asthma patients of lower and higher socioeconomic status (SES).MethodNinety‐nine children with asthma participated in a cross‐sectional assessment. Out of which 87% were atopic, and most had disease of mild (54%) or moderate (29%) severity. Children were from lower‐SES (n = 49; household income <$50 000) or higher‐SES (n = 50; household income >$140 000) families. Peripheral blood monocytes and T‐helper cells were isolated for genome‐wide expression profiling of mRNA.ResultsLower‐SES children had worse asthma quality of life relative to higher‐SES children, by both their own and their parents’ reports. Although the groups had similar disease severity and potential confounds were controlled, their transcriptional profiles differed notably. The monocytes of lower‐SES children showed transcriptional indications of up‐regulated anti‐microbial and pro‐inflammatory activity. The T‐helper cells of lower‐SES children also had comparatively reduced expression of genes encoding γ‐interferon and tumor necrosis factor‐α, cytokines that orchestrate Type 1 responses. They also showed up‐regulated activity of transcription factors that polarize cells towards Type 2 responses and promote Th17 cell maturation.ConclusionCollectively, these patterns implicate pro‐inflammatory monocytes and Type 2 cytokine activity as mechanisms contributing to worse asthma control among lower‐SES children.
The timing and extent of acute physiotherapy involvement following lung transplantation: An observational study
Authors: Tarrant Benjamin James , Holland Anne , Le Maitre Caitlin , Robinson Rebecca , Corbett Monique , Bondarenko Janet , Button Brenda , Thompson Bruce , Snell Greg 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBackground and purposePhysiotherapy “standard care” for the acute post lung transplant recipient has not yet been documented. We aimed to analyse how soon patients commence exercise and how much time is dedicated to this during physiotherapy sessions acutely post lung transplantation.MethodsProspective observational study of bilateral sequential and single lung transplant recipients for any indication, ≥18 years. Participants were observed during 6 physiotherapy sessions: 3 initial and 3 prior to acute inpatient discharge. Duration and content of each session was recorded, consisting of physical exercise and non‐exercise tasks.ResultsThirty participants, 20 male, median age 58.5 (interquartile range 54.5–65.0) were observed over 173 sessions. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was the most common transplant indication (n = 12, 40%). Bilateral lung transplant was performed in 90% (n = 27) of participants. First time to mobilise was 2 (2–3) days. Participants received 14 (12.8–23.8) sessions over 18 (17–31) days. The mean duration of physiotherapy in the initial phase was 107.8 (standard deviation 21.8) min, with 22.9 (7.5) min spent exercising. In the final phase, exercise time increased to 28.1 (11.4) min out of 84.1 (24.6) min. Assessment was the most common non‐exercise component, at 26.6 (7.9) and 22.1 (12.5) min across the three initial and final sessions.Implications for physiotherapy practiceLung transplant recipients spent 21–34% of observed sessions performing physical exercise beginning 48 hr following surgery. Remaining physiotherapist time was spent on assessment, respiratory interventions, education, and patient‐specific duties. The use of physiotherapy assistants, structured, progressive exercise programs, and continued workplace innovation may enable a higher percentage of physiotherapist supervised physical exercise in the future.
Evaluating PFAS cross contamination issues
Authors: Bartlett Samuel A. , Davis Katherine L. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAvoiding cross contamination from per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that may occur during sampling of environmental media is the key to ensure reliable analytical results during a PFAS sampling program. Due to the ubiquitous nature of PFAS in commonly used sampling materials and personal protective equipment, mitigating the risk of cross contamination is a challenge that requires a conservative approach when planning and executing a PFAS sampling program. This article describes a conservative approach to PFAS sampling and includes a case study that evaluated three insect repellent products to determine their suitability for use during PFAS investigation. The three products were verified to be PFAS‐free for the 17 PFAS included in the analysis and, therefore, these products are suitable for use during PFAS sampling activities without concern for cross contamination.
Electrochemical oxidation of PFOA and PFOS in concentrated waste streams
Authors: Liang Shangtao , Pierce Randall "David" , Lin Hui , Chiang Sheau‐Yun (Dora) , Huang Qingguo "Jack" 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe electrochemical oxidation (EO) of environmentally persistent perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) with a Magnéli phase Ti4O7 electrode was investigated in this study. After 3 hours (hr) of electrolysis, 96.0 percent of PFOA (10 milligrams per liter [mg/L] in 100 milliliters [mL] 100 millimolar [mM] Na2SO4 solution) was removed following pseudo first‐order kinetics (k = 0.0226 per minute [min]) with the degradation half‐life of 30.7 min. Under the same treatment conditions, PFOS (10 mg/L in 100 mL 100 mM Na2SO4 solution) removal reached 98.9 percent with a pseudo first‐order degradation rate constant of 0.0491/min and the half‐life of 14.1 min. Although, the degradation of PFOA was slower than PFOS, when subjected to EO treatment in separate solutions, PFOA appeared to degrade faster than PFOS when both are present in the same solution, indicating possible competition between PFOA and PFOS during Ti4O7 anode‐based EO treatment with PFOA having the competitive advantage. Moreover, the EO treatment was applied to degrade highly concentrated PFOA (100.5 mg/L) and PFOS (68.6 mg/L) in ion‐exchange resin regenerant (still bottom) with high organic carbon content (15,800 mg/L). After 17‐hr electrolysis, the total removal of PFOA and PFOS was 77.2 and 96.5 percent, respectively, and the fluoride concentration increased from 0.84 mg/L to 836 mg/L. Also, the dark brown color of the original solution gradually faded during EO treatment. In another test using still bottom samples with lower total organic carbon (9,880 mg/L), the PFOA (15.5 mg/L) and PFOS (25.5 mg/L) concentrations were reduced to levels below the limits of quantification after 16‐hr treatment. In addition, the performance of EO treatment using different batch reactor setups was compared in this study, including one‐sided (one anode:one cathode) and two‐sided (one anode:two cathodes) setups. The two‐sided reactor configuration significantly enhanced the degradation efficiency, likely due to the larger anode area available for reactions.
Leveraging the Potential of Endomycorrhizal Spores and Montmorillonite for Hexavalent Chromium Adsorption from Aqueous Phase
Authors: Sathvika Talasila , Mudaliyar Manasi , Rajesh Vidya , Rajesh Nagarathnam 
Published: March 2018

AbstractMultidisciplinary approach involving biotechnology and chemistry opens up avenues to develop adsorbent materials that can be very useful to alleviate heavy metal toxicity. Towards this direction, we have explored the potential of endomycorrizhal fungal spores in conjunction with a clay mineral as a novel approach for chromium (VI) adsorption. The immobilization of AMF (Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungus) spores in montmorillonite (in its Na+ form) provides a good platform to adsorb hexavalent chromium. The adsorption was observed at pH 2.0‐3.0 involving the electrostatic interaction between the functional groups present in the fungi‐clay biosorbent surface and tetraoxohydrochromate (VI) anion. Diverse characterization techniques such as Fourier Transform‐Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), confocal microscopy and X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) were used to observe the interaction of chromium with the biosorbent. Batch adsorption studies involving the experimental variables such as pH variation, kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics were performed. Pseudo second order kinetics coupled with a Langmuir adsorption capacity of 11.185 mg g−1was realized for this biosorption process. The biosorbent was stable and regenerated for three adsorption‐desorption cycles using sodium hydroxide.
Magnetic Nanocomposite of Cross‐Linked Melamine Groups Decorated with Large Amounts of Gold NPs: Reduction of Nitro Compounds and Suzuki–Miyaura Coupling Reactions in Aqueous Media
Authors: Pourjavadi Porf. Ali , Keshavarzi Nahid , Moghaddam Firouz Matloubi , Hosseini Seyed Hassan 
Published: March 2018

AbstractA magnetic nanocomposite was prepared based on magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles entrapped into a cross‐linked nitrogen rich polymer which has high loading capacity for immobilization of gold nanoparticles. The synthesized catalyst was characterized using various methods including Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy ( FT‐IR), Energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), VSM and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The catalyst was proven to be highly efficient for reduction of nitroarenes as well as Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction. The reduction of nitroarenes and Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction were performed in water medium and excellent yields of the products were achieved. The catalyst was easily recovered and recycled several times without any significant loss of catalytic activity.
Synthesis, Theory and In Vitro Photodynamic Activities of New Copper(II)‐Histidinito Complexes
Authors: Musib Dulal , Banerjee Samya , Garai Aditya , Soraisam Uzeeta , Roy Mithun 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe photo‐dynamic effect of four new copper(II)‐histidinito complexes with phenanthroline‐based ligands were studied in details. All the complexes were tested against HeLa (Human Cervical Carcinoma) and 3T3 (normal fibroblast) cells both in dark and in visible light. Although the complexes were toxic to HeLa cells (IC50 ∼ 10 μM), visible light (400‐700 nm) remarkably enhanced the cytotoxicity of the complexes to the extent of sub‐micromolar level. Several photo‐physical measurements along with the Time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) calculations rationalize the level of photodynamic therapy (PDT) effect of the complexes, which is related to the generation of singlet oxygen (1O2) on photo‐activation. Presence of low lying, long‐lived triplet excited states facilitating the effective intersystem crossing was responsible for generation of higher level of singlet oxygen in pyrenyl complex. High level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on photo‐activation is primarily responsible for apoptotic photo‐cytotoxicity. Fluorescence microscopy revealed the cytosolic localization of the complex.Overall results are of paramount importance towards designing of next generation metal‐based PDT agents as the viable alternatives of porphyrins.