bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determining the factors affecting the distribution of Muscari latifolium, an endemic plant of Turkey, and a mapping species distribution model
Authors: Yilmaz Hatice , Yilmaz Osman Yalçın , Akyüz Yaşar Feyza 
Published: January 2017

AbstractSpecies distribution modeling was used to determine factors among the large predictor candidate data set that affect the distribution of Muscari latifolium, an endemic bulbous plant species of Turkey, to quantify the relative importance of each factor and make a potential spatial distribution map of M. latifolium. Models were built using the Boosted Regression Trees method based on 35 presence and 70 absence records obtained through field sampling in the Gönen Dam watershed area of the Kazdağı Mountains in West Anatolia. Large candidate variables of monthly and seasonal climate, fine‐scale land surface, and geologic and biotic variables were simplified using a BRT simplifying procedure. Analyses performed on these resources, direct and indirect variables showed that there were 14 main factors that influence the species’ distribution. Five of the 14 most important variables influencing the distribution of the species are bedrock type, Quercus cerris density, precipitation during the wettest month, Pinus nigra density, and northness. These variables account for approximately 60% of the relative importance for determining the distribution of the species. Prediction performance was assessed by 10 random subsample data sets and gave a maximum the area under a receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) value of 0.93 and an average AUC value of 0.8. This study provides a significant contribution to the knowledge of the habitat requirements and ecological characteristics of this species. The distribution of this species is explained by a combination of biotic and abiotic factors. Hence, using biotic interaction and fine‐scale land surface variables in species distribution models improved the accuracy and precision of the model. The knowledge of the relationships between distribution patterns and environmental factors and biotic interaction of M. latifolium can help develop a management and conservation strategy for this species.
Influence of thermal treatment on the stability of vegetable “milk” obtained by ultrafiltration of aqueous oil body extracts from various sources
Authors: Naziri Eleni , Koupantsis Thomas , Mantzouridou Fani Th. , Paraskevopoulou Adamantini , Tsimidou Maria Z. , Kiosseoglou Vassilios 
Published: January 2017

Vegetable “milk” obtained by aqueous extraction of oil bodies from maize germ, hazelnut, or sesame seed, followed by concentration of the extracts by ultrafiltration were subjected to thermal treatment to ensure their microbial quality and safety. Thermal treatment did not induce any important variations on the volatile profile of the hazelnut and sesame seed “milk” products, while the aroma character of maize germ “milk” was appreciably affected. The physical stability of both the maize germ and hazelnut “milk” was not adversely influenced by the thermal treatment as they exhibited satisfactory stability against droplet aggregation/coalescence during storage. On the contrary, the heated sesame seed “milk” was destabilized through the development of droplet aggregates. Studies on the oxidative stability of the “milk” products revealed a positive effect of heating while no losses in different classes of endogenous bioactive constituents (tocopherols and lignans) were observed. The potential industrial applications are discussed.Practical applications: The consumption of food products with enhanced health benefits such as vegetable “milk” is gaining ground due to the change of the dietary habits of the consumers towards non‐dairy products. The stability of “milk” products based on concentrated (i.e., by ultrafiltration) aqueous oil body extracts of maize germ, hazelnut, and sesame seed has never been examined before. The investigation of the impact of thermal treatment on the microbiological, physical, and oxidative stability of such product is of scientific interest as well as of practical application since it reflects the quality assurance and the higher economic sustainability of such products in the market.The hazelnut and maize germ “milks” are promising novel products while sesame seed “milk” can be used as raw material for other applications.
Carbon Capture and Utilization Update
Authors: Al‐Mamoori Ahmed , Krishnamurthy Anirudh , Rownaghi Ali A. , Rezaei Fateme 
Published: January 2017

AbstractIn recent years, carbon capture and utilization (CCU) has been proposed as a potential technological solution to the problems of greenhouse‐gas emissions and the ever‐growing energy demand. To combat climate change and ocean acidification as a result of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, efforts have already been put forth to capture and sequester CO2 from large point sources, especially power plants; however, the utilization of CO2 as a feedstock to make valuable chemicals, materials, and transportation fuels is potentially more desirable and provides a better and long‐term solution than sequestration. The products of CO2 utilization can supplement or replace chemical feedstocks in the fine chemicals, pharmaceutical, and polymer industries. In this review, we first provide an overview of the current status of CO2‐capture technologies and their associated challenges and opportunities with respect to efficiency and economy followed by an overview of various carbon‐utilization approaches. The current status of combined CO2 capture and utilization, as a novel efficient and cost‐effective approach, is also briefly discussed. We summarize the main challenges associated with the design, development, and large‐scale deployment of CO2 capture and utilization processes to provide a perspective and roadmap for the development of new technologies and opportunities to accelerate their scale‐up in the near future.
Modified seismic design of concentrically braced frames considering flexural demand on columns
Authors: Kumar P. C. Ashwin , Anand Shubham , Sahoo Dipti Ranjan 
Published: January 2017

SummarySpecial concentrically braced frames (SCBFs) are considered as one of the most economical and effective lateral force‐resisting systems in structures located in the regions of high seismicity. Steel braces in a braced frame undergo large axial deformations in tension and compression to dissipate the seismic energy. However, past studies have shown that SCBFs exhibit the soft‐story hinge mechanisms and unpredictable failure patterns under earthquake loading conditions. These inelastic responses along with the use of continuous structural sections as columns over consecutive floors induce flexural demand that is not considered in the current design practice. In this study, the evaluation of seismic performance of nine SCBFs designed as per the current practice has been carried out for three different story heights (i.e., three‐story, six‐story, and nine‐story) and three types of brace configurations (namely, chevron, splitX, and singleX). Three additional design techniques are also explored based on (i) the inclusion of column moments in the design; (ii) the theory of formation of plastic hinges; and (iii) the design of braces considering the forces computed at their post‐buckled stages. Nonlinear dynamic analyses of these study frames have been evaluated numerically using a computer software Perform‐3D for a suite of 40 ground motions representing the design basis earthquake and maximum considered earthquake hazard levels. Analyses results showed that the SCBFs designed as per the modified procedures achieved the desired performance objectives without the formation of soft‐story mechanism. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Performance analysis of a tower solar collector‐aided coal‐fired power generation system
Authors: Duan Liqiang , Yu Xiaohui , Jia Shilun , Wang Buyun , Zhang Jinsheng 
Published: January 2017

AbstractIn this paper, a tower solar collector‐aided coal‐fired power generation (TSCACPG) system is proposed and studied in order to save the fossil energy and protect the environment. The integration scheme of tower solar collector and conventional coal‐fired power plant is proposed. Based on the simulation platform TRNSYS, the TSCACPG system model is established and the dynamic performance of the TSCACPG system with the operating mode of coal saving is studied. The TSCACPG system performances of 1 day and 1 year are all discussed by using the DNI data of typical year in Chinese typical city of Dunhuang. Then, the sensitivity analysis of the TSCACPG system is carried out by changing the heliostat field scale (the size of the molten salt tower also changes accordingly). The annual performance of the TSCACPG system is also acquired. In consideration of the economic costs, the heliostat field area with the maximum annual solar‐to‐electric efficiency is selected as the optimal value. The results show that, for the case studied, the optimal heliostat field area is 101,400 m2, and the maximum annual solar‐to‐electric efficiency is 16.74%. And under the optimal situation, the standard coal consumption rate of the original coal‐fired power plant is reduced from 301.5 g/kWh to 294.5 g/kWh.
Effects of starch concentration on calcium‐enhanced black bullhead catfish protein gels
Authors: Paker Ilgin , Matak Kristen E. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractCalcium‐enhanced protein recovered from black bullhead catfish was used to develop gels containing increasing amounts of potato starch (0–20 g/kg protein paste) and the effects of starch on functional, textural, and color properties were tested. Energy required to unfold protein groups was greater with the addition of 5 g starch/kg protein paste. Gels containing starch were harder, chewier, and less springy (p < .05) than gels without starch. For most measurements, regression analysis showed that increasing the starch concentration beyond 5 g/kg did not contribute to further significant textural changes. Torsional shear stress and strain along with Kramer shear force increased as the concentration of starch increased (R2 = .79, .79, and .53, respectively). The addition of ≥10 g starch/kg protein paste resulted in darker gels and gels got darker as more starch was added (R2 = .71). Results showed no benefit to increasing starch concentration in gels beyond 5 g starch/kg protein paste.
A step toward regionalized scale-consistent agricultural life cycle assessment inventories
Authors: Morais Tiago G , Teixeira Ricardo FM , Domingos Tiago 
Published: January 2017

Abstract

Life cycle inventory (LCI) regionalization (i.e., the determination of input and output flows from production processes at a subcountry scale) is a priority in life cycle assessment (LCA) studies, particularly in the agri-food sector. Many regionalized LCAs fail to ensure that microlevel inventories are consistent with country-level aggregated data—or “scale consistent.” They also fail to construct LCIs using international reference guidelines and trustworthy standardized data sources. This failure generates inaccuracies and biases in inventories and can compromise comparability among international LCA studies. Our study introduces scale consistency as a principle for regionalized agri-food LCIs. We present a generic procedure that defines how scale-dependent LCI flows should be regionalized, depending on data availability. We then present a list of inventory flows that require regionalization and their suggested calculation procedures (methods and models) from 2 methodological guides developed by projects Agribalyse and World Food LCA Database. As proof of concept, we apply the procedure to Portugal and assess whether the methods and models proposed for each type of inventory flow in both guides can potentially be applied consistently with the data available. For 17 inventory flows, we apply calculated scale-consistent inventory flows for Portuguese agriculture, covering 260 products that can be used in future LCA studies. Comparing results with international databases, we show that this procedure can improve country-level estimates significantly. Our study is the first step in introducing scale consistency as a guiding principle for regionalized LCIs for agri-food LCA studies. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:939–951. © 2017 SETAC

Key Points
This paper introduces the idea of scale consistency in life cycle inventory (LCI) regionalization for the agri-food sector and proposes an expedited method to operationalize this idea. Scale-consistency is not spontaneously reached by methods and models commonly proposed for inventory regionalization and requires explicit consideration in procedures to aid comparability between products from different countries. We use the Portuguese case to build a regionalized and scale-consistent LCI using the method proposed in this study.
Dynamics of the KB Proton Pathway in Cytochrome ba3 from Thermus thermophilus
Authors: von Ballmoos Christoph , Smirnova Irina , Poiana Federica , Gonska Nathalie , Chang Hsin‐Yang , Gennis Robert B. , Brzezinski Peter , Ädelroth Pia 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThe ba3 cytochrome c oxidase from Thermus thermophilus is a B‐type oxygen‐reducing heme‐copper oxidase and a proton pump. It uses only one proton pathway for transfer of protons to the catalytic site, the KB pathway. It was previously shown that the ba3 oxidase has an overall similar reaction sequence to that in mitochondrial‐like A‐type oxidases. However, the timing of loading the pump site, and formation and decay of catalytic intermediates is different in the two types of oxidases. In the present study, we have investigated variants in which two amino acids of the KB proton pathway leading to the catalytic site were exchanged; Tyr‐248 (located ∼23 Å below the active site towards the cytoplasm) in subunit I (Y248T) and Glu‐15 (∼26 Å below the active site, ∼16 Å from Tyr‐248) in subunit II (E15IIQ). Even though the overall catalytic turnover in these two variants is similar and very low (<1 % of wildtype), the substitutions had distinctly different effects on the kinetics of proton transfer to the catalytic site. The results indicate that the Glu‐15II is the only essentially crucial residue of the KB pathway, but that the Tyr‐248 also plays a distinct role in defining an internal proton donor and controlling the dynamics of proton transfer to the pump site and the catalytic site.
Correlation between rapid HIV testing and fourth‐generation ELISA results for HIV detection among pregnant patients in the delivery room
Authors: Almaguer Alejandro G. , Mendoza‐Flores Lidia , Sánchez‐López Luis A. , Palau‐Dávila Laura A. , Padilla‐Orozco Magaly , Camacho‐Ortiz Adrián 
Published: January 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo analyze the usefulness of rapid HIV testing in pregnant patients in the delivery room.MethodsThis prospective study compared a rapid test and a fourth‐generation enzyme‐linked immunoassay (ELISA) for HIV screening among pregnant patients admitted in labor with an unknown HIV status at a university hospital in Mexico between July 2015 and February 2016. Pearson correlation analysis was performed, and the diagnostic accuracy of the two tests was assessed with HIV RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as the reference method.ResultsOverall, 534 patients were included. With a signal‐to‐cutoff (S/CO) value of 1.0 or more as a diagnostic criterion, 6 (1.1%) patients had a positive ELISA result. Three had a negative rapid test and three had a positive test (r=0.705). With an S/CO value of 2.0 or more as cutoff, 4 (0.7%) patients had a positive ELISA result. Three had a positive rapid test and one had a negative test (r=0.865). Only three of six patients with an S/CO of 1.0 or more were confirmed to have HIV by RNA PCR.ConclusionThe rapid test showed a strong correlation with the fourth‐generation ELISA. Therefore, rapid testing is a useful tool in the delivery room for patients with unknown HIV status.
Tetramethylpyrazine attenuates sinusoidal angiogenesis via inhibition of hedgehog signaling in liver fibrosis
Authors: Zhao Shifeng , Zhang Zili , Yao Zhen , Shao Jiangjuan , Chen Anping , Zhang Feng , Zheng Shizhong 
Published: January 2017

AbstractAccumulating evidence indicates that hedgehog signaling plays a pivotal role in pathological angiogenesis and is involved in wound‐healing responses in a number of adult tissues, including the liver. We previously demonstrated that hedgehog signaling promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis in hepatic stellate cells. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on hedgehog signaling and to further examine the molecular mechanisms of TMP‐induced antiangiogenesic effects in liver fibrosis. We found that TMP ameliorated the expression of proangiogenic markers vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF‐A), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGF‐R2), platelet‐derived growth factor BB (PDGF‐BB), platelet‐derived growth factor‐β receptor (PDGF‐βR) and hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF‐1α), concomitant with reduced abundance of endothelial markers platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule‐1 (PECAM‐1/CD31), CD34 and von willebrand factor in vivo and in vitro. Interestingly, TMP attenuated the abundance of sonic hedgehog, smoothened (Smo) and glioblastoma but increased the expression of hedgehog‐interacting protein in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, which was underlying mechanism for the antiangiogenesic activity of TMP. Downregulation of Smo activity, using selective Smo inhibitor cyclopamine, lead to a synergistic effect with TMP, whereas Smo overexpression plasmid impaired the induction of antiangiogenesic effects of TMP. Overall, these results provide novel implications to reveal the molecular mechanism of TMP‐inhibited liver sinusoidal angiogenesis, by which points to the possibility of using TMP‐based antiangiogenic drugs for the treatment of liver fibrosis. © 2017 IUBMB Life, 69(2):115–127, 2017
Root architectural responses of wheat cultivars to localised phosphorus application are phenotypically similar
Authors: Rabbi Sheikh M.F. , Guppy Chris N. , Tighe Matthew K. , Flavel Richard J. , Young Iain M. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractDifferences in nutrient recovery from fertiliser bands may improve cereal variety selection. The objective of this study was to identify the variation in root plasticity across commonly grown Australian wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars in response to a phosphorus (P)‐enriched band. Ten wheat cultivars were screened for root proliferation within a 150 mg P kg−1 band in P‐responsive soil. Plants were destructively harvested at the four‐leaf phenological stage and various growth parameters, including root length density (RLD), were measured on banded and uniformly adequate P treatments. All wheat cultivars increased RLD between three and nine times in the P band. However, there was no significant difference in root plasticity among the cultivars tested. Although all cultivars produced longer, though ≈ 9% thinner roots when responding to the P band, the phenotypic response was unable to compensate fully for the lower P status encountered in the soil. Despite 23% longer root lengths in the P‐band treatments, P uptake per unit root length was 78% lower than in uniformly adequate P treatments. Our results indicate that root plasticity of wheat cultivars in a P‐enriched band was phenotypically similar. Further research is necessary before selecting for wheat cultivars that respond to localised nutrient patches with increased RLD.
Three‐dimensional printing of MRI‐visible phantoms and MR image‐guided therapy simulation
Authors: Mitsouras Dimitris , Lee Thomas C. , Liacouras Peter , Ionita Ciprian N. , Pietilla Todd , Maier Stephan E. , Mulkern Robert V. 
Published: January 2017

PurposeTo demonstrate the use of anatomic MRI‐visible three‐dimensional (3D)‐printed phantoms and to assess process accuracy and material MR signal properties.MethodsA cervical spine model was generated from computed tomography (CT) data and 3D‐printed using an MR signal‐generating material. Printed phantom accuracy and signal characteristics were assessed using 120 kVp CT and 3 Tesla (T) MR imaging. The MR relaxation rates and diffusion coefficient of the fabricated phantom were measured and 1H spectra were acquired to provide insight into the nature of the proton signal. Finally, T2‐weighted imaging was performed during cryoablation of the model.ResultsThe printed model produced a CT signal of 102 ± 8 Hounsfield unit, and an MR signal roughly 1/3rd that of saline in short echo time/short repetition time GRE MRI (456 ± 36 versus 1526 ± 121 arbitrary signal units). Compared with the model designed from the in vivo CT scan, the printed model differed by 0.13 ± 0.11 mm in CT, and 0.62 ± 0.28 mm in MR. The printed material had T2∼32 ms,
∼7 ms, T1∼193 ms, and a very small diffusion coefficient less than olive oil. MRI monitoring of the cryoablation demonstrated iceball formation similar to an in vivo procedure.ConclusionCurrent 3D printing technology can be used to print anatomically accurate phantoms that can be imaged by both CT and MRI. Such models can be used to simulate MRI‐guided interventions such as cryosurgeries. Future development of the proposed technique can potentially lead to printed models that depict different tissues and anatomical structures with different MR signal characteristics. Magn Reson Med 77:613–622, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Selective Hydrogenation of Nitriles to Primary Amines Catalyzed by a Polysilane/SiO2‐Supported Palladium Catalyst under Continuous‐Flow Conditions
Authors: Saito Yuki , Ishitani Haruro , Ueno Masaharu , Kobayashi Shū 
Published: January 2017

AbstractHydrogenation of nitriles to primary amines with heterogeneous catalysts under liquid‐phase continuous‐flow conditions is described. Newly developed polysilane/SiO2‐supported Pd was found to be an effective catalyst and various nitriles were converted into primary amine salts in almost quantitative yields under mild reaction conditions. Interestingly, a complex mixture was obtained under batch conditions. Lifetime experiments showed that this catalyst remained active for more than 300 h (TON≥10 000) without loss of selectivity and no metal leaching from the catalyst occurred. By using this continuous‐flow hydrogenation, synthesis of venlafaxine, an antidepressant drug, has been accomplished.