bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Thermally-triggered Dual In-situ Self-healing Metallic Materials
Authors: Kim JeongTae , Kim Hee Jin , Hong Sung Hwan , Park Hae Jin , Kim Young Seok , Hwang Yun Jung , Jeong Yeon Beom , Park Jun-Young , Park Jin Man , Sarac Baran , Wang Wei-Min , Eckert Jürgen , Kim Ki Buem 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe microstructural evolution and crack filling phenomena of (Al81Cu13Si6)100−x(Sn57Bi43)
x
(x = 0, 1, and 3 at.%) composites was investigated. The Sn and Bi elements were selected by considering the ability for liquid phase separation when combined with Al, Cu, and Si. Because of liquid phase separation, both Al-Cu-Si-rich L1 and Sn-Bi-rich L2 phases separately solidified at different temperatures yielding a trimodal eutectic structure in the cast alloys. The Sn and Bi elements have high mobilities due to the large interface of the eutectic microstructure and tend to strongly diffuse towards higher strained region during heat treatment. Furthermore, the mobile Sn and Bi elements in the Al-Cu-Si-based bimodal eutectic structure evidently fill cracks during warm rolling at 423 K. These results reveal that the developed alloy system has simultaneously dual self-healing characteristics, derived from the both precipitated Sn-Bi-rich particles and low melting agent, and the proposed alloy design based on liquid phase separation provides a novel strategy for creating self-crack filling metallic materials.
Mapping Monthly Water Scarcity in Global Transboundary Basins at Country-Basin Mesh Based Spatial Resolution
Authors: Degefu Dagmawi Mulugeta , Weijun He , Zaiyi Liao , Liang Yuan , Zhengwei Huang , Min An 
Published: January 2018

AbstractCurrently fresh water scarcity is an issue with huge socio-economic and environmental impacts. Transboundary river and lake basins are among the sources of fresh water facing this challenge. Previous studies measured blue water scarcity at different spatial and temporal resolutions. But there is no global water availability and footprint assessment done at country-basin mesh based spatial and monthly temporal resolutions. In this study we assessed water scarcity at these spatial and temporal resolutions. Our results showed that around 1.6 billion people living within the 328 country-basin units out of the 560 we assessed in this study endures severe water scarcity at least for a month within the year. In addition, 175 country-basin units goes through severe water scarcity for 3–12 months in the year. These sub-basins include nearly a billion people. Generally, the results of this study provide insights regarding the number of people and country-basin units experiencing low, moderate, significant and severe water scarcity at a monthly temporal resolution. These insights might help these basins’ sharing countries to design and implement sustainable water management and sharing schemes.
Advanced Steel Microstructural Classification by Deep Learning Methods
Authors: Azimi Seyed Majid , Britz Dominik , Engstler Michael , Fritz Mario , Mücklich Frank 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe inner structure of a material is called microstructure. It stores the genesis of a material and determines all its physical and chemical properties. While microstructural characterization is widely spread and well known, the microstructural classification is mostly done manually by human experts, which gives rise to uncertainties due to subjectivity. Since the microstructure could be a combination of different phases or constituents with complex substructures its automatic classification is very challenging and only a few prior studies exist. Prior works focused on designed and engineered features by experts and classified microstructures separately from the feature extraction step. Recently, Deep Learning methods have shown strong performance in vision applications by learning the features from data together with the classification step. In this work, we propose a Deep Learning method for microstructural classification in the examples of certain microstructural constituents of low carbon steel. This novel method employs pixel-wise segmentation via Fully Convolutional Neural Network (FCNN) accompanied by a max-voting scheme. Our system achieves 93.94% classification accuracy, drastically outperforming the state-of-the-art method of 48.89% accuracy. Beyond the strong performance of our method, this line of research offers a more robust and first of all objective way for the difficult task of steel quality appreciation.
Continuous cropping of endangered therapeutic plants via electron beam soil-treatment and neutron tomography
Authors: Sim Cheul Muu , Seong Bong Jae , Kim Dong Won , Kim Yong Bum , Wi Seung Gon , Kim Gyuil , Oh Hwasuk , Kim TaeJoo , Chung Byung Yeoup , Song Jeong Young , Kim Hong Gi , Oh Sang-Keun , Shin Young Dol , Seok Jea Hwan , Kang Min Young , Lee Yunhee , Radebe Mabuti Jacob , Kardjilov Nikolay , Honermeier Bernd 
Published: January 2018

AbstractVarious medicinal plants are threatened with extinction owing to their over-exploitation and the prevalence of soil borne pathogens. In this study, soils infected with root-rot pathogens, which prevent continuous-cropping, were treated with an electron beam. The level of soil-borne fungus was reduced to ≤0.01% by soil electron beam treatment without appreciable effects on the levels of antagonistic microorganism or on the physicochemical properties of the soil. The survival rate of 4-year-old plant was higher in electron beam-treated soil (81.0%) than in fumigated (62.5%), virgin (78%), or untreated-replanting soil (0%). Additionally, under various soils conditions, neutron tomography permitted the monitoring of plant health and the detection of root pathological changes over a period of 4–6 years by quantitatively measuring root water contentin situ. These methods allow continual cropping on the same soil without pesticide treatment. This is a major step toward the environmentally friendly production of endangered therapeutic herbs.
Inferring genetic origins and phenotypic traits of George Bähr, the architect of the Dresden Frauenkirche
Authors: Peltzer Alexander , Mittnik Alissa , Wang Chuan-Chao , Begg Tristan , Posth Cosimo , Nieselt Kay , Krause Johannes 
Published: January 2018

AbstractFor historic individuals, the outward appearance and other phenotypic characteristics remain often non-resolved. Unfortunately, images or detailed written sources are only scarcely available in many cases. Attempts to study historic individuals with genetic data so far focused on hypervariable regions of mitochondrial DNA and to some extent on complete mitochondrial genomes. To elucidate the potential of in-solution based genome-wide SNP capture methods - as now widely applied in population genetics - we extracted DNA from the 17th century remains of George Bähr, the architect of the Dresdner Frauenkirche. We were able to identify the remains to be of male origin, showing sufficient DNA damage, deriving from a single person and being thus likely authentic. Furthermore, we were able to show that George Bähr had light skin pigmentation and most likely brown eyes. His genomic DNA furthermore points to a Central European origin. We see this analysis as an example to demonstrate the prospects that new in-solution SNP capture methods can provide for historic cases of forensic interest, using methods well established in ancient DNA (aDNA) research and population genetics.
Elevated particulate organic carbon export flux induced by internal waves in the oligotrophic northern South China Sea
Authors: Li Dewang , Chou Wen-Chen , Shih Yung-Yen , Chen Guan-Yu , Chang Yi , Chow Chun Hoe , Lin Tsang-Yuh , Hung Chin-Chang 
Published: January 2018

AbstractTo understand the biogeochemical response to internal waves in the deep basin of the northern South China Sea (NSCS), particulate organic carbon (POC) export fluxes were quantified for the first time during the passage of large internal waves using drifting sediment traps attached with hydrographic sensors. Results revealed large variations in temperature, nitrate and chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentrations during and after internal waves, suggesting that cold nutrient-replete waters may be brought to the euphotic zone in the dissipation zone during and after the passage of internal wave packets, resulted in phytoplankton flourished. Most importantly, POC export fluxes (110.9 ± 10.7 mg C m−2 d−1) were significantly enhanced after internal waves compared to non-internal wave area (32.6–73.0 mg C m−2 d−1) in the NSCS. Such elevated POC fluxes may be induced by downward flourished biogenic particles, particle aggregation or converged particles from mixed layer triggered by internal waves.
‘Photonic Hook’ based optomechanical nanoparticle manipulator
Authors: Ang Angeleene S. , Karabchevsky Alina , Minin Igor V. , Minin Oleg V. , Sukhov Sergey V. , Shalin Alexander S. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractSpecialized electromagnetic fields can be used for nanoparticle manipulation along a specific path, allowing enhanced transport and control over the particle’s motion. In this paper, we investigate the optical forces produced by a curved photonic jet, otherwise known as the “photonic hook”, created using an asymmetric cuboid. In our case, this cuboid is formed by appending a triangular prism to one side of a cube. A gold nanoparticle immersed in the cuboid’s transmitted field moves in a curved trajectory. This result could be used for moving nanoparticles around obstacles; hence we also consider the changes in the photonic hook’s forces when relatively large glass and gold obstacles are introduced at the region where the curved photonic jet is created. We show, that despite the obstacles, perturbing the field distribution, a particle can move around glass obstacles of a certain thickness. For larger glass slabs, the particle will be trapped stably near it. Moreover, we noticed that a partial obstruction of the photonic jet’s field using the gold obstacle results in a complete disruption of the particle’s trajectory.
Link between the causative genes of holoprosencephaly: Zic2 directly regulates Tgif1 expression
Authors: Ishiguro Akira , Hatayama Minoru , Otsuka Maky I. , Aruga Jun 
Published: January 2018

AbstractOne of the causal genes for holoprosencephaly (HPE) is ZIC2 (HPE5). It belongs to the zinc finger protein of the cerebellum (Zic) family of genes that share a C2H2-type zinc finger domain, similar to the GLI family of genes. In order to clarify the role of Zic2 in gene regulation, we searched for its direct target genes using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). We identified TGIF1 (HPE4), another holoprosencephaly-causative gene in humans. We identified Zic2-binding sites (ZBS) on the 5′ flanking region of Tgif1 by in vitro DNA binding assays. ZBS were essential for Zic2-dependent transcriptional activation in reporter gene assays. Zic2 showed a higher affinity to ZBS than GLI-binding sequences. Zic2-binding to the cis-regulatory element near the Tgif1 promoter may be involved in the mechanism underlying forebrain development and incidences of HPE.
Systems Analysis of the Liver Transcriptome in Adult Male Zebrafish Exposed to the Plasticizer (2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP)
Authors: Huff Matthew , da Silveira Willian A. , Carnevali Oliana , Renaud Ludivine , Hardiman Gary 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe organic compound diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) represents a high production volume chemical found in cosmetics, personal care products, laundry detergents, and household items. DEHP, along with other phthalates causes endocrine disruption in males. Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals has been linked to the development of several adverse health outcomes with apical end points including Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). This study examined the adult male zebrafish (Danio rerio) transcriptome after exposure to environmental levels of DEHP and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) using both DNA microarray and RNA-sequencing technologies. Our results show that exposure to DEHP is associated with differentially expressed (DE) transcripts associated with the disruption of metabolic processes in the liver, including perturbation of five biological pathways: ‘FOXA2 and FOXA3 transcription factor networks’, ‘Metabolic pathways’, ‘metabolism of amino acids and derivatives’, ‘metabolism of lipids and lipoproteins’, and ‘fatty acid, triacylglycerol, and ketone body metabolism’. DE transcripts unique to DEHP exposure, not observed with EE2 (i.e. non-estrogenic effects) exhibited a signature related to the regulation of transcription and translation, and ruffle assembly and organization. Collectively our results indicate that exposure to low DEHP levels modulates the expression of liver genes related to fatty acid metabolism and the development of NAFLD.
Identification of coffee bean varieties using hyperspectral imaging: influence of preprocessing methods and pixel-wise spectra analysis
Authors: Zhang Chu , Liu Fei , He Yong 
Published: January 2018

AbstractHyperspectral imaging was used to identify and to visualize the coffee bean varieties. Spectral preprocessing of pixel-wise spectra was conducted by different methods, including moving average smoothing (MA), wavelet transform (WT) and empirical mode decomposition (EMD). Meanwhile, spatial preprocessing of the gray-scale image at each wavelength was conducted by median filter (MF). Support vector machine (SVM) models using full sample average spectra and pixel-wise spectra, and the selected optimal wavelengths by second derivative spectra all achieved classification accuracy over 80%. Primarily, the SVM models using pixel-wise spectra were used to predict the sample average spectra, and these models obtained over 80% of the classification accuracy. Secondly, the SVM models using sample average spectra were used to predict pixel-wise spectra, but achieved with lower than 50% of classification accuracy. The results indicated that WT and EMD were suitable for pixel-wise spectra preprocessing. The use of pixel-wise spectra could extend the calibration set, and resulted in the good prediction results for pixel-wise spectra and sample average spectra. The overall results indicated the effectiveness of using spectral preprocessing and the adoption of pixel-wise spectra. The results provided an alternative way of data processing for applications of hyperspectral imaging in food industry.
The activity of the C4-dicarboxylic acid chemoreceptor of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is controlled by chemoattractants and antagonists
Authors: Martín-Mora David , Ortega Álvaro , Pérez-Maldonado Francisco J. , Krell Tino , Matilla Miguel A. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractChemotaxis toward organic acids has been associated with colonization fitness and virulence and the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibits taxis toward several tricarboxylic acid intermediates. In this study, we used high-throughput ligand screening and isothermal titration calorimetry to demonstrate that the ligand binding domain (LBD) of the chemoreceptor PA2652 directly recognizes five C4-dicarboxylic acids with KD values ranging from 23 µM to 1.24 mM. In vivo experimentation showed that three of the identified ligands act as chemoattractants whereas two of them behave as antagonists by inhibiting the downstream chemotaxis signalling cascade. In vitro and in vivo competition assays showed that antagonists compete with chemoattractants for binding to PA2652-LBD, thereby decreasing the affinity for chemoattractants and the subsequent chemotactic response. Two chemosensory pathways encoded in the genome of P. aeruginosa, che and che2, have been associated to chemotaxis but we found that only the che pathway is involved in PA2652-mediated taxis. The receptor PA2652 is predicted to contain a sCACHE LBD and analytical ultracentrifugation analyses showed that PA2652-LBD is dimeric in the presence and the absence of ligands. Our results indicate the feasibility of using antagonists to interfere specifically with chemotaxis, which may be an alternative strategy to fight bacterial pathogens.
Strain-engineered two-dimensional MoS2 as anode material for performance enhancement of Li/Na-ion batteries
Authors: Hao Jiongyue , Zheng Junfeng , Ling Faling , Chen Yankun , Jing Huirong , Zhou Tingwei , Fang Liang , Zhou Miao 
Published: January 2018

AbstractRecent years have witnessed a surge of research in two-dimensional (2D) nanostructures for development of new rechargeable Li/Na-ion battery systems. Herein,viafirst-principles calculations we demonstrate strain-engineered Li/Na adsorption and storage in 2D MoS2as anode material, aiming to enhance the operating performance of Li/Na-ion batteries. Our results show that tensile strain greatly increases the adsorption of Li/Na atoms on MoS2, and a modest strain of 6% increases Li (Na) adsorption energy by over 70%, which originates from the strain-induced upshift of Modstates towards Fermi level that interact strongly with Li/Nasstates, in analogy with thed-band model in metal catalyst. Significant narrowing of the n-doped semiconducting gap of MoS2suggests the improved electric conductivity that may benefit charge carrier transport. By mapping out the potential energy surfaces, we show shallow energy barriers of ion diffusion with ~0.2 eV for Li and 0.1 eV for Na. Furthermore, the strain-steered competition between chemical bonding and coulomb repulsion results in high Li/Na storage capability and relatively low average operating voltage. We believe that the fundamental principle underlying the use of strain to enhance performance of renewable ion battery is applicable to other stretchable low-dimensional nanomaterials.
Effects of the floral phytochemical eugenol on parasite evolution and bumble bee infection and preference
Authors: Palmer-Young Evan C. , Calhoun Austin C. , Mirzayeva Anastasiya , Sadd Ben M. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractEcological and evolutionary pressures on hosts and parasites jointly determine infection success. In pollinators, parasite exposure to floral phytochemicals may influence between-host transmission and within-host replication. In the bumble bee parasiteCrithidia bombi, strains vary in phytochemical resistance, and resistance increases underin vitroselection, implying that resistance/infectivity trade-offs could maintain intraspecific variation in resistance. We assessed costs and benefits ofin vitroselection for resistance to the floral phytochemical eugenol onC. bombiinfection inBombus impatiensfed eugenol-rich and eugenol-free diets. We also assessed infection-induced changes in host preferences for eugenol.In vitro, eugenol-exposed cells initially increased in size, but normalized during adaptation. Selection for eugenol resistance resulted in considerable (55%) but non-significant reductions in infection intensity; bee colony and body size were the strongest predictors of infection. Dietary eugenol did not alter infection, and infected bees preferred eugenol-free over eugenol-containing solutions. Although direct effects of eugenol exposure could influence between-host transmission at flowers, dietary eugenol did not ameliorate infection in bees. Limited within-host benefits of resistance, and possible trade-offs between resistance and infectivity, may relax selection for eugenol resistance and promote inter-strain variation in resistance. However, infection-induced dietary shifts could influence pollinator-mediated selection on floral traits.
Precipitation of string-shaped morphologies consisting of aligned α phase in a metastable β titanium alloy
Authors: Zhan Hongyi , Ceguerra Anna , Wang Gui , Cairney Julie , Dargusch Matthew 
Published: January 2018

AbstractString-shaped morphologies consisting of preferentially aligned lath-shaped α precipitates were observed in the metastable β Ti-6Cr-5Mo-5V-4Al alloy after deformations at high strain rates and elevated temperatures. The morphology and 3-dimentional arrangement of this feature have been elaborated based on the characterizations via a combination of transmission electron microscopy, transmission kikuchi diffraction and atom probe tomography. The 2D projected morphology of the coalescent α laths observed in the etched samples by SEM depends on the metallographic section. All the microstructural observations indicate that dislocation structures are most likely the nucleation sites for the aligned α laths. In addition, an appropriate testing temperature, which can ensure a relatively high diffusion rate of solutes without inducing strong recovery of dislocation structures, is necessary for the occurrence of the string-shaped morphologies.
Small Molecule Analogues of the parasitic worm product ES-62 interact with the TIR domain of MyD88 to inhibit pro-inflammatory signalling
Authors: Suckling Colin J. , Alam Shahabuddin , Olson Mark A. , Saikh Kamal U. , Harnett Margaret M. , Harnett William 
Published: January 2018

AbstractES-62 is a protein secreted by the parasitic worm Acanthocheilonema viteae that is anti-inflammatory by virtue of covalently attached phosphorylcholine. Previously we have reported that drug-like Small Molecule Analogues (SMAs) of its phosphorylcholine moiety can mimic ES-62 in protecting against disease development in certain mouse models of autoimmune and allergic conditions, due to them causing partial degradation of the TLR/IL-1R adaptor MyD88. We have now taken a molecular modelling approach to investigating the mechanism underlying this effect and this predicts that the SMAs interact directly with the MyD88 TIR domain. Further support for this is provided by assay of LPS-induced MyD88/NF-κB-driven secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) reporter activity in commercially-available stably transfected (TLR4-MD2-NF-κB-SEAP) HEK293 cells, as SMA12b-mediated inhibition of such SEAP activity is blocked by its pre-incubation with recombinant MyD88-TIR domain. Direct binding of SMA12b to the TIR domain is also shown to inhibit homo-dimerization of the adaptor, an event that can explain the observed degradation of the adaptor and inhibition of subsequent downstream signalling. Thus, these new data identify initial events by which drug-like ES-62 SMAs, which we also demonstrate are able to inhibit cytokine production by human cells, homeostatically maintain “safe” levels of MyD88 signalling.
VOC emissions influence intra- and interspecific interactions among stored-product Coleoptera in paddy rice
Authors: Giunti Giulia , Palmeri Vincenzo , Algeri Giuseppe Massimo , Campolo Orlando 
Published: January 2018

AbstractOlfaction is a pivotal sense for insects and granivorous pests may exploit grain volatiles for food selection.Tribolium confusum, is a secondary pest of stored cereals that benefits from primary pests’ infestation, as other secondary feeders, triggering competition. This study aimed to evaluate the preferences ofT. confusumfemales toward different-infested paddy rice, highlighting the impact of intra- and interspecific competition.Tribolium confusumshowed positive chemotaxis toward rice infested by larvae of a primary pest (Sitophilus zeamais), but not for grain attacked by adults alone. Furthermore, kernels concurrently infested by a primary (S. zeamais) and a secondary pest (T. confusumorCryptolestes ferrugineus) were evaluated in Y-tube bioassays, highlighting that both food-sources were innately attractive forT. confusumfemales. Moreover, females positively oriented toward rice infested by conspecifics, while they avoided grain infested byC. ferrugineus, averting an extremely competitive habitat. Behavioural responses ofT. confusumfemales and volatile emissions of different-infested rice highlighted the occurrence of plant-mediated interactions among insects from the same trophic guild. Seventy volatiles were identified and significant differences among the tested food-sources were recorded, emphasizing the presence of 6 putative attractants and 6 repellents, which may be useful biocontrol tools.