bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A hybrid algorithm to combine redundancy and concurrency in virtual network resource pooling
Authors: Klapez Martin , Grazia Carlo Augusto , Casoni Maurizio 
Published: November 2017

AbstractEmergency scenarios pose significant hurdles to wireless communications, especially when these are performed through terrestrial cellular networks. This is because network infrastructures can be damaged, or the sudden surge of network demand can cause unbearable network congestion. Unfortunately, public safety operators employ terrestrial cellular networks to perform data communications and are therefore at risk of being unable to effectively operate in critical situations. Virtual network resource pooling is a software‐defined networking (SDN)‐based network framework that allows collaborative hosts to pool together their network channels to provide connectivity despite the sudden unavailability of network paths or to compensate for high degrees of packet losses. Once hosts' resources are pooled, a dispatching algorithm on the SDN controller is required to enforce a proper policy of packets distribution. This paper presents a dispatching algorithm that is designed to provide fast and reliable transmissions despite lossy and unreliable channels. It works by introducing the minimum amount of packet redundancy that is needed to obtain a packet delivery probability given as a parameter and by using the remaining network resources to augment transfer goodput. Emulation results confirm that with respect to policies that selectively aim to improve goodput or to introduce packet redundancy, this hybrid algorithm can compensate for high packet loss ratios and improve goodput at the same time.
Fractionation of secondary effluents of wastewater treatment plants in view of the evaluation of membrane fouling in a further ultrafiltration step
Authors: Ferrer‐Polonio Eva , McCabe Mandy , Mendoza‐Roca José A , Vincent‐Vela María‐Cinta 
Published: November 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDUltrafiltration is used as tertiary treatment in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) for wastewater reclamation. However, membrane fouling is the main drawback of the process. In this work a new effluent organic matter fractionation procedure with adsorption resins (XAD‐8, XAD4 and IRA‐958) has been applied without recovering the adsorbed fractions. In this way, strong and weak hydrophobic and charged hydrophilic substances of the dissolved organic matter (DOM) were removed for further ultrafiltration, in order to know the most fouling fraction. For this, secondary effluents of two WWTP and two membranes with different molecular weight cut‐offs (100 kDa and 3 kDa) were used in ultrafiltration experiments in a laboratory plant.RESULTSThe hydrophobic substances (especially the strong hydrophobics) predominated over the hydrophilic compounds. Membrane fouling was higher for the membrane with the highest molecular weight cut‐off (100 kDa). Thus, flux decline was around 25–47% higher than that measured for the 3 kDa membrane. The charged hydrophilic substances (CHi) were identified as the most fouling compounds with 100 kDa membrane. Reversible fouling was predominant.CONCLUSIONSThe proposed fractionation system enabled determination of the contribution of the different fractions to the DOM. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Protective effects of Lactococcus lactis expressing alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase on acute alcoholic liver injury in mice
Authors: Lyu Yunbin , Zhong Lei , Liu Yanan , Lu Jing , LaPointe Gisèle , Lu Fengxia , Lu Zhaoxin 
Published: November 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDAlcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) play important roles in alcohol metabolism. Therefore, a possible effective way to attenuate alcoholic liver damage is the exogenous supply of these two enzymes to the stomach as they might accelerate the oxidation of ethanol into nontoxic acetate.RESULTSADH and ALDH were coexpressed in Lactococcus lactis NZ3900 and used as treatments for acute alcoholic liver injury in mice. Intragastric ethanol administration was carried out at 5.6 g kg‐1 body weight per day in mice for 15 consecutive days and different doses of recombinant ADH‐ALDH L. lactis treatment were administrated together with ethanol. A high dose of L. lactis recombinant ADH‐ALDH treatment (ADH activity of 2000 U kg‐1 BW and ALDH activity of 1000 U kg‐1 BW) reduced the serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase levels by 38.1%, 54.8% and 23.2%, respectively, in ethanol‐treated mice. Moreover, it also helped maintaining serum lipid levels and liver oxidative stress parameters against ethanol. Histopathological examination of mice livers revealed that L. lactis recombinant ADH‐ALDH at a high dose (ADH activity of 2000 U kg‐1 BW and ALDH activity of 1000 U kg‐1 BW) protected liver tissue from the damage induced by ethanol.CONCLUSIONResults demonstrate that L. lactis with ADH and ALDH activity exhibit a dose‐dependent protective effect on alcohol‐induced liver damage in mice. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Enhancement of furfural–cyclopentanone aldol condensation using binary water–ethanol mixtures as solvent
Authors: Cueto Jennifer , Faba Laura , Díaz Eva , Ordóñez Salvador 
Published: November 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDCyclopentanone (CPO) – furfural (FFL) aldol condensation is a very interesting reaction for upgrading the furfural obtained in the depolymerization – dehydration reaction of cellulosic materials. Reaction is faster with cyclopentanone than with other ketones, and resulting condensation adducts are attractive for manufacturing drop‐in fuels. However, the most important problem is that these adducts present low water solubility.RESULTSBinary systems combining water (needed to promote aldol condensation) and ethanol (for enhancing the condensation adducts solubility) at different ratios have been tested. Operation parameters, such as water/ethanol ratio, temperature and reaction time, were optimized for this reaction. Best results (global yield to condensation adducts higher than 36%) were achieved using 1:2 water/ethanol ratio, and working at 303 K. Higher water ratios lead to the precipitation of condensation products, whereas higher ethanol concentrations hinder the catalyst performance. A reaction mechanism, considering a first‐order kinetic model on cyclopentanone concentration, was proposed. Kinetic constants have been empirically correlated with ethanol concentration in the reaction medium.CONCLUSIONSThe use of binary ethanol–water binary mixtures with controlled solvent ratios can avoid the precipitation of condensation adducts. This precipitation leads to important operation problems in the reactor as well as to catalyst deactivation. The negative effect of the presence of ethanol on the reaction kinetics can be overcome by increasing reaction temperature. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Reductive dehalogenation of a chloroacetanilide herbicide in a flow electrochemical cell fitted with Ag‐modified Ni foams
Authors: He Wenyan , Lou Yaoyin , Verlato Enrico , Soutrel Isabelle , Floner Didier , Fourcade Florence , Amrane Abdeltif , Musiani Marco , Geneste Florence 
Published: November 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe aim of this work is to adapt the electrochemical reduction of Alachlor™, using Ag‐modified Ni foam electrodes to environmental applications. In this context, preparative electrolyses of Alachlor™ were performed in a flow electrochemical cell in different electrolytic media.RESULTSThe highest catalytic activity for the reduction of Alachlor™ was obtained in 0.05 mol L‐1 NaOH, with a conversion yield of 93%. The dechlorination yield of Alachlor™ estimated from the Cl‐ concentration was 77%, significantly lower than its conversion yield, but higher than the yield of deschloroalachlor (69%), the main dehalogenated by‐product, indicating the presence of other by‐products.CONCLUSIONSTotal reduction of Alachlor™ was achieved in conditions adapted to environmental applications, showing that this process can be used for dechlorination treatment of Alachlor™ in aqueous media. Although a high dechlorination yield was obtained, biodegradability estimated from BOD5 measurements remained low, showing that the C–Cl bond is not the only functional group that is responsible for the biorecalcitrance of Alachlor™. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Somatic Complaints in a Deployed Cohort of Georgian Military Personnel: Mediating Effect of Depression and Anxiety
Authors: Sikharulidze Giorgi , van Geloven Nan , Lelashvili Estate , Kalandarishvili Giorgi , Gugushvili Nino , Vermetten Eric 
Published: November 2017

AbstractSeveral studies have shown the relationship between symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), somatic symptoms, and the mediating effect of depression and anxiety. The following study was conducted to investigate the relationship between PTSD symptoms and somatic complaints through underlying symptoms of depression and anxiety. The participants of the study were 2,799 veterans who were examined after a 6‐month deployment. They were assessed using the PTSD Checklist (PCL‐5) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) for depression, anxiety, and somatic complaints. To check the indirect effect of PTSD on somatic complaints through depression and anxiety, mediation model 4 (parallel mediation) of the SPSS PROCESS macro was used. There was a significant total indirect effect of PTSD through depression and anxiety on somatic complaints, b = 0.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.12, 0.16], from which an indirect effect of PTSD on somatic complaints through depression was b = 0.08, 95% CI [0.06, 0.10], and through anxiety it equaled b = 0.06, 95% CI [0.04, 0.07]. The ratio of indirect to total effect was 0.66, 95% CI [0.59, 0.75]. The present study helps us to understand the role of depression and anxiety symptoms when the symptoms of PTSD and somatic complaints are present. These new findings may have implications for the management as well as treatment of PTSD because they recognize the importance of symptoms of anxiety and depression when somatic complaints are present.
Ionic liquids–based magnetic nanofluids as lubricants
Authors: Shi Xin , Huang Wei , Wang Xiaolei 
Published: November 2017

AbstractIn this paper, a kind of ionic liquid–based ferrofluid, which may be suitable as a prospective lubricant was synthesised. The nanosized magnetic particles dispersing in the ionic liquid were coated with a layer of designed surfactant containing ionic liquid unit with carboxylic acid group. Three ionic liquids, 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (C2MIMBF4), 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (C4MIMBF4), and 1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (C6MIMBF4), with the same anionic structure and cationic backbone were used as carrier liquid. The effect of cation alkyl chain length on the colloidal stability was checked qualitatively by direct observation and magnetic sedimentation. The lubrication performances of the stable ferrofluid were evaluated. Experiment result shows that stable ferrofluid can only be achieved for the ionic liquid C6MIMBF4 with the longest alkyl chain. Lubrication tests first evidence the benefits of ionic liquid–based ferrofluid as a new kind of magnetic lubricant, whose lubrication behaviour can be actively controlled by the application of magnetic field.
Kefir Peptides Prevent Hyperlipidemia and Obesity in High‐Fat‐Diet‐Induced Obese Rats via Lipid Metabolism Modulation
Authors: Tung Yu‐Tang , Chen Hsiao‐Ling , Wu Hsin‐Shan , Ho Mei‐Hsuan , Chong Kowit‐Yu , Chen Chuan‐Mu 
Published: November 2017

ScopeObesity has reached epidemic proportions worldwide. Obesity is a complex metabolic disorder that is linked to numerous serious health complications with high morbidity. The present study evaluated the effects of kefir peptides on high fat diet (HFD)‐induced obesity in rats.Methods and resultsKefir peptides markedly improved obesity, including body weight gain, inflammatory reactions and the formation of adipose tissue fat deposits around the epididymis and kidney, and adipocyte size. Treating high fat diet (HFD)‐induced obese rats with kefir peptides significantly reduced the fatty acid synthase protein and increased the p‐acetyl‐CoA carboxylase protein to block lipogenesis in the livers. Kefir peptides also increased fatty acid oxidation by increasing the protein expressions of phosphorylated AMP‐activated protein kinase, peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐α, and hepatic carnitine palmitoyltransferase‐1 in the livers. In addition, administration of kefir peptides significantly decreased the inflammatory response (TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and TGF‐β) to modulate oxidative damage.ConclusionThese results demonstrate that kefir peptides treatment improves obesity via inhibition of lipogenesis, modulation of oxidative damage, and stimulation of lipid oxidation. Therefore, kefir peptides may act as an anti‐obesity agent to prevent body fat accumulation and obesity‐related metabolic diseases.
Purple Potato Extract Promotes Intestinal Epithelial Differentiation and Barrier Function by Activating AMP‐Activated Protein Kinase
Authors: Sun Xiaofei , Du Min , Navarre Duroy A. , Zhu Mei‐Jun 
Published: November 2017

ScopePerturbation of gut epithelial barrier function induces inflammation and other health problems that originate from the gut. Purple potato contains a high content of beneficial polyphenolic compounds. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of purple potato extract (PPE) on intestinal differentiation and barrier function, and explore its underlying mechanism using Caco‐2 cells and ex vivo cultured gut tissues.Methods and resultsPPE increases transepithelial electrical resistance and decreases FITC‐dextran paracellular flux in Caco‐2 cells, which are associated with strengthened intestinal epithelial differentiation in both Caco‐2 cells and ex vivo guts. Furthermore, PPE treatment enhances AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity, concomitant with the increased expression of CDX2, a key transcriptional factor regulating intestinal epithelial differentiation. Knocking out AMPK using CRISPR/Cas9 system abolishes the positive effects of PPE on intestinal epithelial differentiation and barrier function, in junction with the reduced expression of CDX2.ConclusionPPE improves gut epithelial differentiation and barrier function via activating AMPK, indicating that PPE, as well as associated purple potato consumption, could be used as a supportive dietary therapeutic strategy for improving gut epithelial health.
Gallic Acid and Gallates in Human Health and Disease: Do Mitochondria Hold the Key to Success?
Authors: Kosuru Rekha Yamini , Roy Amrita , Das Sujoy K. , Bera Soumen 
Published: November 2017

AbstractGallic acid and gallate esters are widely used as dietary supplements or additives with clinical significances. Over the last few decades, a large number of publications have been reported stating the antioxidative, antiapoptotic, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and anticancer properties of gallic acid and gallates, and mostly demonstrated their antioxidative or prooxidative properties influencing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling networks. However, very little focus has been paid to clinical trials, and this restricted their use as a prescribed preventative supplement. Since mitochondria are the principal organelles responsible for ROS generation, we reviewed the existing literature of mitochondria‐specific effects of gallates including ROS production, respiration, mitochondrial biogenesis, apoptosis, and the physico‐chemical parameters affecting the outcome of gallate supplementation to various health scenarios such as cardiovascular diseases, neurodegeneration, hepatic ailments, or cancers. The major signaling pathways and the molecules targeted by gallic acid and its derivatives have also been discussed with emphasis on mitochondria as the target site. This review provides a better understanding of the effect of gallic acid and gallate esters on mitochondrial functions and in designing effective preventative measures against the onset of various diseases.
Analytical dose modeling for preclinical proton irradiation of millimetric targets
Authors: Vanstalle Marie , Constanzo Julie , Karakaya Yusuf , Finck Christian , Rousseau Marc , Brasse David 
Published: November 2017

PurposeDue to the considerable development of proton radiotherapy, several proton platforms have emerged to irradiate small animals in order to study the biological effectiveness of proton radiation. A dedicated analytical treatment planning tool was developed in this study to accurately calculate the delivered dose given the specific constraints imposed by the small dimensions of the irradiated areas.MethodsThe treatment planning system (TPS) developed in this study is based on an analytical formulation of the Bragg peak and uses experimental range values of protons. The method was validated after comparison with experimental data from the literature and then compared to Monte Carlo simulations conducted using Geant4. Three examples of treatment planning, performed with phantoms made of water targets and bone‐slab insert, were generated with the analytical formulation and Geant4. Each treatment planning was evaluated using dose‐volume histograms and gamma index maps.ResultsWe demonstrate the value of the analytical function for mouse irradiation, which requires a targeting accuracy of 0.1 mm. Using the appropriate database, the analytical modeling limits the errors caused by misestimating the stopping power. For example, 99% of a 1‐mm tumor irradiated with a 24‐MeV beam receives the prescribed dose. The analytical dose deviations from the prescribed dose remain within the dose tolerances stated by report 62 of the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements for all tested configurations. In addition, the gamma index maps show that the highly constrained targeting accuracy of 0.1 mm for mouse irradiation leads to a significant disagreement between Geant4 and the reference. This simulated treatment planning is nevertheless compatible with a targeting accuracy exceeding 0.2 mm, corresponding to rat and rabbit irradiations.ConclusionGood dose accuracy for millimetric tumors is achieved with the analytical calculation used in this work. These volume sizes are typical in mouse models for radiation studies. Our results demonstrate that the choice of analytical rather than simulated treatment planning depends on the animal model under consideration.
DFT calculations of the defect structures, electronic structures, and EPR parameters for three Rh2+ centers in AgCl
Authors: Wu Li‐Na , Wu Shao‐Yi , Zhong Si‐Ying , Zhang Li‐Juan , Tan Qin‐Qin 
Published: November 2017

The local structures for various Rh2+ centers in AgCl are theoretically studied using density functional theory (DFT) with periodic CP2K program. Through geometry optimizing, the stable ground states with minimal energies and electronic structures are obtained for the tetragonally elongated (TE), orthorhombically elongated (OE), and tetragonally compressed (TC) centers, and the corresponding g and hyperfine coupling tensors are calculated in ORCA level. The calculations reveal obvious Jahn–Teller elongation distortions of about 0.109 and 0.110 Å along [001] axis for TE and OE centers without and with 1 next nearest neighbor (nnn) cation vacancy VAg in [100] axis, respectively. Whereas TC center with 1 nnn VAg along [001] axis exhibits moderate axial compression of about 0.066 Å due to the Jahn–Teller effect. For OE and TC centers with 1 nnn VAg, the ligand intervening in the central Rh2+ and the VAg is found to displace away from the VAg by about 0.028 and 0.024 Å, respectively. The present results are discussed and compared with those of the previous calculations based on the perturbation formulas by using the improved ligand field theory.
Optimization and validation of accelerated golden‐angle radial sparse MRI reconstruction with self‐calibrating GRAPPA operator gridding
Authors: Benkert Thomas , Tian Ye , Huang Chenchan , DiBella Edward V.R. , Chandarana Hersh , Feng Li 
Published: November 2017

PurposeGolden‐angle radial sparse parallel (GRASP) MRI reconstruction requires gridding and regridding to transform data between radial and Cartesian k‐space. These operations are repeatedly performed in each iteration, which makes the reconstruction computationally demanding. This work aimed to accelerate GRASP reconstruction using self‐calibrating GRAPPA operator gridding (GROG) and to validate its performance in clinical imaging.MethodsGROG is an alternative gridding approach based on parallel imaging, in which k‐space data acquired on a non‐Cartesian grid are shifted onto a Cartesian k‐space grid using information from multicoil arrays. For iterative non‐Cartesian image reconstruction, GROG is performed only once as a preprocessing step. Therefore, the subsequent iterative reconstruction can be performed directly in Cartesian space, which significantly reduces computational burden. Here, a framework combining GROG with GRASP (GROG‐GRASP) is first optimized and then compared with standard GRASP reconstruction in 22 prostate patients.ResultsGROG‐GRASP achieved approximately 4.2‐fold reduction in reconstruction time compared with GRASP (∼333 min versus ∼78 min) while maintaining image quality (structural similarity index ≈ 0.97 and root mean square error ≈ 0.007). Visual image quality assessment by two experienced radiologists did not show significant differences between the two reconstruction schemes. With a graphics processing unit implementation, image reconstruction time can be further reduced to approximately 14 min.ConclusionThe GRASP reconstruction can be substantially accelerated using GROG. This framework is promising toward broader clinical application of GRASP and other iterative non‐Cartesian reconstruction methods. Magn Reson Med 80:286–293, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Hierarchical model reduction for incompressible fluids in pipes
Authors: Guzzetti Sofia , Perotto Simona , Veneziani Alessandro 
Published: November 2017

SummaryHierarchical model reduction is intended to solve efficiently partial differential equations in domains with a geometrically dominant direction. In many engineering applications, these problems are often reduced to 1‐dimensional differential systems. This guarantees computational efficiency yet dumps local accuracy as nonaxial dynamics are dropped. Hierarchical model reduction recovers the secondary components of the dynamics of interest with a combination of different discretization techniques, following up a natural separation of variables. The dominant direction is generally solved by the finite element method or isogeometric analysis to guarantee flexibility, while the transverse components are solved by spectral methods, to guarantee a small number of degrees of freedom. By judiciously selecting the number of transverse modes, the method has been proven to improve significantly the accuracy of purely 1‐dimensional solvers, with great computational efficiency. A Cartesian framework has been used so far both in slab domains and cylindrical pipes (including arteries) mapped to Cartesian reference domains. In this paper, we investigate the alternative use of a polar coordinates system for the transverse dynamics in circular or elliptical pipes. This seems a natural choice for applications like computational hemodynamics. In spite of this, the selection of a basis function set for the transverse dynamics is troublesome. As pointed out in the literature—even for simple elliptical problems—there is no “best” basis available. In this paper, we perform an extensive investigation of hierarchical model reduction in polar coordinates to discuss different possible choices for the transverse basis, pointing out pros and cons of the polar coordinate system.