bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biomass catalytic pyrolysis: process design and economic analysis
Authors: Vasalos I. A. , Lappas A. A. , Kopalidou E. P. , Kalogiannis K. G. 
Published: January 2016

The estimation of catalytic pyrolysis oil (CPO) production cost in a biomass catalytic pyrolysis (BCP) process is the objective of this study. Experiments carried out with a woody biomass (Beechwood) and a commercially available ZSM‐5 catalyst in a circulating fluid bed (CFB) reactor are the basis for the design of a commercial unit. In the CFB unit, the catalytic pyrolysis step takes place at 482°C and at a catalyst to biomass ratio of 15–20. Following this step, the vapor temperature exiting the reactor is cooled from 482 to 340°C by recovering energy for steam production. The vapors are condensed in two quench towers with recirculated oil and water. Following water separation, the CPO flows to storage. A commercial scale process was designed for a capacity of 180,000 metric tons (MT) per year (8 wt% moisture, 0.54 wt% ash) or 500 MT/day of moisture ash free (MAF) biomass (90% operating factor). The projected costs are valid only for an nth plant and they underestimate the cost for a first of its kind plant. Following procedures used for estimating investment and operating costs for a fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCCU), it is found that for BCP the estimated cost of producing CPO with 18 wt% oxygen is 615 US$/MT or 22 US$/GJ. A sensitivity analysis showed that the price of CPO could vary from 615 to 841 US$/MT (22–31 US$/GJ). On a crude oil energy equivalent basis, the bio‐oil cost lies in the range of 36–49 US$/GJ. WIREs Energy Environ 2016, 5:370–383. doi: 10.1002/wene.192This article is categorized under:

Bioenergy > Science and Materials
The role of the ribosome in the regulation of longevity and lifespan extension
Authors: MacInnes Alyson W. 
Published: January 2016

The most energy‐consuming process that a cell must undertake to stay viable is the continuous biogenesis of ribosomes for the translation of RNA into protein. Given the inextricable links between energy consumption and cellular lifespan, it is not surprising that mutations and environmental cues that reduce ribosome biogenesis result in an extension of eukaryotic lifespan. This review goes into detail describing recent discoveries of different and often unexpected elements that play a role in the regulation of longevity by virtue of their ribosome biogenesis functions. These roles include controlling the transcription and processing of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), the translation of ribosomal protein (RP) genes, and the number of ribosomes overall. Together these findings suggest that a fundamental mechanism across eukaryotic species for extending lifespan is to slow down or halt the expenditure of cellular energy that is normally absorbed by the manufacturing and assembly of new ribosomes. WIREs RNA 2016, 7:198–212. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1325This article is categorized under:

Translation > Ribosome Structure/Function
RNA Processing > Splicing Mechanisms
Association between VDR FokI Polymorphism and Intervertebral Disk Degeneration
Authors: Zhao Jian , Yang Mingyuan , Shao Jie , Bai Yushu , Li Ming 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
Intervertebral disk degeneration (IDD) is strongly associated with genetic predisposition and environmental susceptibility. Several studies been conducted to investigate the potential association between IDD and FokI polymorphism located in the gene encoding the vitamin D receptor (VDR), and inconsistent conclusions had been reached among different ethnic populations. In order to assess the association between the FokI polymorphism and the risk of IDD, we performed a comprehensive and systematic meta-analysis. Candidate articles were retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and China Biology Medical (CBM) with strict inclusion criteria in January 2015. Among the 54 articles that were retrieved, only eight studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled data analysis based on allele contrast, homozygote, heterozygote, dominant, and recessive models revealed no significant correlation between the FokI polymorphism and the risk of IDD. However, when stratified by ethnicity, significant associations were detected for Hispanics based on allele contrast (OR = 1.395, 95% CI = 1.059–1.836, P  = 0.018), homozygote (OR = 1.849, 95% CI = 1.001–3.416, P  = 0.049), heterozygote (OR = 1.254, 95% CI = 1.049–1.498, P  = 0.013), and dominant (OR = 1.742, 95% CI = 1.174–2.583, P  = 0.006) models, and for Asians using the dominant model (OR = 1.293, 95% CI = 1.025–1.632, P  = 0.030), whereas there is no significant association detected for Caucasians. In conclusion, FokI polymorphism is not generally associated with IDD, but there is increased risk for IDD in Hispanics and Asians carrying FokI allele T.
Breast conservation after neoadjuvant therapy for tumors ≥5 cm: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Libson Shai , Koshenkov Vadim , Rodgers Steven , Hurley Judith , Avisar Eli 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACT

Introduction:
Neoadjuvant therapy (NT) can facilitate breast conservation (BC). Similar oncologic outcomes have been reported with BC and mastectomy for T1 and T2 lesions, but studies of BC results for tumors ≥5 cm are limited. Our experience with BC for tumors ≥5 cm is reported.

Patients and methods:
A retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database of all breast cancer patients treated with NT at our institution between 2003 and 2010 was performed to identify patients treated with BC for tumors ≥5 cm. Demographics, stage, tumor histology, pathologic response, tumor margins, failure patterns and rates, as well as survival rates were recorded.

Results:
Thirty patients treated with BC after NT for large tumors were identified. The only selection criteria for BC were technical ability with acceptable cosmetic results and negative margins. Patients with genetic predisposition for additional breast cancer were excluded. The mean follow-up was 43 months and the mean age at diagnosis was 51. The mean tumor size at diagnosis was 6.4 cm and the mean pathological size was 2.1 cm. Four of thirty (13.3%) had either systemic progression or regional recurrence. Three patients had systemic progression, 2 had regional recurrence and none had local recurrence. At a mean follow-up of 43 months, the success rate of BC on intent to treat basis was 96.7%, with an overall survival of 86.7% and disease-free survival of 83.3%.

Conclusion:
BC after NT is a safe option for carefully selected patients with tumors ≥5 cm. In this series, the oncologic results for the duration of the study were comparable to those reported after mastectomy.
Diagnosis of tuberculosis in groups of badgers: an exploration of the impact of trapping efficiency, infection prevalence and the use of multiple tests
Authors: BUZDUGAN S. N. , CHAMBERS M. A. , DELAHAY R. J. , DREWE J. A. 
Published: January 2016

SUMMARYAccurate detection of infection withMycobacterium bovisin live badgers would enable targeted tuberculosis control. Practical challenges in sampling wild badger populations mean that diagnosis of infection at the group (rather than the individual) level is attractive. We modelled data spanning 7 years containing over 2000 sampling events from a population of wild badgers in southwest England to quantify the ability to correctly identify the infection status of badgers at the group level. We explored the effects of variations in: (1) trapping efficiency; (2) prevalence ofM. bovis; (3) using three diagnostic tests singly and in combination with one another; and (4) the number of badgers required to test positive in order to classify groups as infected. No single test was able to reliably identify infected badger groups if <90% of the animals were sampled (given an infection prevalence of 20% and group size of 15 badgers). However, the parallel use of two tests enabled an infected group to be correctly identified when only 50% of the animals were tested and a threshold of two positive badgers was used. Levels of trapping efficiency observed in previous field studies appear to be sufficient to usefully employ a combination of two existing diagnostic tests, or others of similar or greater accuracy, to identify infected badger groups without the need to capture all individuals. To improve on this, we suggest that any new diagnostic test for badgers would ideally need to be >80% sensitive, at least 94% specific, and able to be performed rapidly in the field.
Herpes simplex virus encephalitis in Peru: a multicentre prospective study
Authors: MONTANO S. M. , MORI N. , NELSON C. A. , TON T. G. N. , CELIS V. , TICONA E. , SIHUINCHA M. , TILLEY D. H. , KOCHEL T. , ZUNT J. R. ,   the Meningoencephalitis Working Group
Published: January 2016

SUMMARYHerpes simplex virus (HSV) is one of the most commonly identified infectious aetiologies of encephalitis in North America and Europe. The epidemiology of encephalitis beyond these regions, however, is poorly defined. During 2009–2012 we enrolled 313 patients in a multicentre prospective study of encephalitis in Peru, 45 (14·4%) of whom had confirmed HSV infection. Of 38 patients with known HSV type, 84% had HSV-1 and 16% had HSV-2. Patients with HSV infection were significantly more likely to present in the summer months (44·4% vs. 20·0%, P = 0·003) and have nausea (60·0% vs. 39·8%, P = 0·01) and rash (15·6% vs. 5·3%, P = 0·01) compared to patients without HSV infection. These findings highlight differences in the epidemiology and clinical presentation of HSV encephalitis outside of the Northern Hemisphere that warrant further investigation. Furthermore, there is an urgent need for improved HSV diagnostic capacity and availability of intravenous acyclovir in Peru.
Flooding risks and housing markets: a spatial hedonic analysis for La Plata City
Authors: Rabassa Mariano Javier , Zoloa Juan Ignacio 
Published: January 2016

AbstractOn 2 April 2013 a major flood struck the City of La Plata, Argentina, killing 89 people and displacing thousands of others. That event, the worst flood the city has suffered in the past 100 years, prompted plans for a new hydraulic infrastructure. Although such an investment is necessary, little is known about its benefits. This paper intends to shed some light on this issue by estimating the willingness to pay to avoid the risk of experiencing a flooding event. For this purpose, we have taken thousands of real estate prices in the La Plata Metropolitan Area and combined them with a high-resolution flood risks map to estimate spatial hedonic price models. The results show significant price discounting for properties in flood-prone areas.
Comparing the nutrition environment and practices of home- and centre-based child-care facilities
Authors: Martyniuk Olivia JM , Vanderloo Leigh M , Irwin Jennifer D , Burke Shauna M , Tucker Patricia 
Published: January 2016

AbstractObjectiveTo assess and compare the nutrition environment and practices (as they relate to pre-schoolers) of centre- and home-based child-care facilities.DesignUsing a cross-sectional study design, nineteen child-care facilities (ten centre-based, nine home-based) were assessed for one full day using the Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation (EPAO) tool (consisting of a day-long observation/review of the nutrition environment, practices and related documents). Specifically, eight nutrition-related subscales were considered.SettingChild-care facilities in London, Ontario, Canada.SubjectsChild-care facilities were recruited through directors at centre-based programmes and the providers of home-based programmes.ResultsThe mean total nutrition environment EPAO scores for centre- and home-based facilities were 12·3 (sd 1·94) and 10·8 (sd 0·78) out of 20 (where a higher score indicates a more supportive environment with regard to nutrition), respectively. The difference between the total nutrition environment EPAO score for centre- and home-based facilities was approaching significance (P=0·055). For both types of facilities, the highest nutrition subscale score (out of 20) was achieved in the staff behaviours domain (centre mean=17·4; home mean=17·0) and the lowest was in the nutrition training and education domain (centre mean=3·6; home mean=2·0).ConclusionsAdditional research is needed to confirm these findings. In order to better support child-care staff and enhance the overall nutrition environment in child care, modifications to food practices could be adopted. Specifically, the nutritional quality of foods/beverages provided to pre-schoolers could be improved, nutrition-related training for child-care staff could be provided, and a nutrition curriculum could be created to educate pre-schoolers about healthy food choices.
Electrochemically driven mechanical energy harvesting
Authors: Kim Sangtae , Choi Soon Ju , Zhao Kejie , Yang Hui , Gobbi Giorgia , Zhang Sulin , Li Ju 
Published: January 2016

AbstractEfficient mechanical energy harvesters enable various wearable devices and auxiliary energy supply. Here we report a novel class of mechanical energy harvesters via stress–voltage coupling in electrochemically alloyed electrodes. The device consists of two identical Li-alloyed Si as electrodes, separated by electrolyte-soaked polymer membranes. Bending-induced asymmetric stresses generate chemical potential difference, driving lithium ion flux from the compressed to the tensed electrode to generate electrical current. Removing the bending reverses ion flux and electrical current. Our thermodynamic analysis reveals that the ideal energy-harvesting efficiency of this device is dictated by the Poisson’s ratio of the electrodes. For the thin-film-based energy harvester used in this study, the device has achieved a generating capacity of 15%. The device demonstrates a practical use of stress-composition–voltage coupling in electrochemically active alloys to harvest low-grade mechanical energies from various low-frequency motions, such as everyday human activities.
A polymer scaffold for self-healing perovskite solar cells
Authors: Zhao Yicheng , Wei Jing , Li Heng , Yan Yin , Zhou Wenke , Yu Dapeng , Zhao Qing 
Published: January 2016

AbstractAdvancing of the lead halide perovskite solar cells towards photovoltaic market demands large-scale devices of high-power conversion efficiency, high reproducibility and stability via low-cost fabrication technology, and in particular resistance to humid environment for long-time operation. Here we achieve uniform perovskite film based on a novel polymer-scaffold architecture via a mild-temperature process. These solar cells exhibit efficiency of up to ∼16% with small variation. The unencapsulated devices retain high output for up to 300 h in highly humid environment (70% relative humidity). Moreover, they show strong humidity resistant and self-healing behaviour, recovering rapidly after removing from water vapour. Not only the film can self-heal in this case, but the corresponding devices can present power conversion efficiency recovery after the water vapour is removed. Our work demonstrates the value of cheap, long chain and hygroscopic polymer scaffold in perovskite solar cells towards commercialization.
Reverse transduction measured in the living cochlea by low-coherence heterodyne interferometry
Authors: Ren Tianying , He Wenxuan , Barr-Gillespie Peter G. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractIt is generally believed that the remarkable sensitivity and frequency selectivity of mammalian hearing depend on outer hair cell-generated force, which amplifies sound-induced vibrations inside the cochlea. This ‘reverse transduction’ force production has never been demonstrated experimentally, however, in the living ear. Here by directly measuring microstructure vibrations inside the cochlear partition using a custom-built interferometer, we demonstrate that electrical stimulation can evoke both fast broadband and slow sharply tuned responses of the reticular lamina, but only a slow tuned response of the basilar membrane. Our results indicate that outer hair cells can generate sufficient force to drive the reticular lamina over all audible frequencies in living cochleae. Contrary to expectations, the cellular force causes a travelling wave rather than an immediate local vibration of the basilar membrane; this travelling wave vibrates in phase with the reticular lamina at the best frequency, and results in maximal vibration at the apical ends of outer hair cells.
Unveiling the Mechanism for the Split Hysteresis Loop in Epitaxial Co2Fe1-xMnxAl Full-Heusler Alloy Films
Authors: Tao X. D. , Wang H. L. , Miao B. F. , Sun L. , You B. , Wu D. , Zhang W. , Oepen H. P. , Zhao J. H. , Ding H. F. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractUtilizing epitaxial Co2Fe1-xMnxAl full-Heusler alloy films on GaAs (001), we address the controversy over the analysis for the split hysteresis loop which is commonly found in systems consisting of both uniaxial and fourfold anisotropies. Quantitative comparisons are carried out on the values of the twofold and fourfold anisotropy fields obtained with ferromagnetic resonance and vibrating sample magnetometer measurements. The most suitable model for describing the split hysteresis loop is identified. In combination with the component resolved magnetization measurements, these results provide compelling evidences that the switching is caused by the domain wall nucleation and movements with the switching fields centered at the point where the energy landscape shows equal minima for magnetization orienting near the easy axis and the field supported hard axis.
Genesis of charge orders in high temperature superconductors
Authors: Tu Wei-Lin , Lee Ting-Kuo 
Published: January 2016

AbstractOne of the most puzzling facts about cuprate high-temperature superconductors in the lightly doped regime is the coexistence of uniform superconductivity and/or antiferromagnetism with many low-energy charge-ordered states in a unidirectional charge density wave or a bidirectional checkerboard structure. Recent experiments have discovered that these charge density waves exhibit different symmetries in their intra-unit-cell form factors for different cuprate families. Using a renormalized mean-field theory for a well-known, strongly correlated model of cuprates, we obtain a number of charge-ordered states with nearly degenerate energies without invoking special features of the Fermi surface. All of these self-consistent solutions have a pair density wave intertwined with a charge density wave and sometimes a spin density wave. Most of these states vanish in the underdoped regime, except for one with a large d-form factor that vanishes at approximately 19% doping of the holes, as reported by experiments. Furthermore, these states could be modified to have a global superconducting order, with a nodal-like density of states at low energy.
Aspergillus flavus Conidia-derived Carbon/Sulfur Composite as a Cathode Material for High Performance Lithium–Sulfur Battery
Authors: Xu Maowen , Jia Min , Mao Cuiping , Liu Sangui , Bao Shujuan , Jiang Jian , Liu Yang , Lu Zhisong 
Published: January 2016

AbstractA novel approach was developed to prepare porous carbon materials with an extremely high surface area of 2459.6 m2g−1 by using Aspergillus flavus conidia as precursors. The porous carbon serves as a superior cathode material to anchor sulfur due to its uniform and tortuous morphology, enabling high capacity and good cycle lifetime in lithium sulfur-batteries. Under a current rate of 0.2 C, the carbon-sulfur composites with 56.7 wt% sulfur loading deliver an initial capacity of 1625 mAh g−1, which is almost equal to the theoretical capacity of sulfur. The good performance may be ascribed to excellent electronic networks constructed by the high-surface-area carbon species. Moreover, the semi-closed architecture of derived carbons can effectively retard the polysulfides dissolution during charge/discharge, resulting in a capacity of 940 mAh g−1 after 120 charge/discharge cycles.
Ionizing radiation modulates human macrophages towards a pro-inflammatory phenotype preserving their pro-invasive and pro-angiogenic capacities
Authors: Teresa Pinto Ana , Laranjeiro Pinto Marta , Patrícia Cardoso Ana , Monteiro Cátia , Teixeira Pinto Marta , Filipe Maia André , Castro Patrícia , Figueira Rita , Monteiro Armanda , Marques Margarida , Mareel Marc , dos Santos Susana Gomes , Seruca Raquel , Adolfo Barbosa Mário , Rocha Sónia , José Oliveira Maria 
Published: January 2016

AbstractIn order to improve the efficacy of conventional radiotherapy, attention has been paid to immune cells, which not only modulate cancer cell response to therapy but are also highly recruited to tumours after irradiation. Particularly, the effect of ionizing radiation on macrophages, using therapeutically relevant doses, is not well understood. To evaluate how radiotherapy affects macrophage behaviour and macrophage-mediated cancer cell activity, human monocyte derived-macrophages were subjected, for a week, to cumulative ionizing radiation doses, as used during cancer treatment (2 Gy/fraction/day). Irradiated macrophages remained viable and metabolically active, despite DNA damage. NF-kappaB transcription activation and increased Bcl-xL expression evidenced the promotion of pro-survival activity. A significant increase of pro-inflammatory macrophage markersCD80, CD86 and HLA-DR, but notCCR7,TNFandIL1Bwas observed after 10 Gy cumulative doses, while anti-inflammatory markersCD163,MRC1,VCANand IL-10 expression decreased, suggesting the modulation towards a more pro-inflammatory phenotype. Moreover, ionizing radiation induced macrophage morphological alterations and increased their phagocytic rate, without affecting matrix metalloproteases (MMP)2 and MMP9 activity. Importantly, irradiated macrophages promoted cancer cell-invasion and cancer cell-induced angiogenesis. Our work highlights macrophage ability to sustain cancer cell activities as a major concern that needs to be addressed to improve radiotherapy efficacy.
Testis-enriched heat shock protein A2 (HSPA2): Adaptive advantages of the birds with internal testes over the mammals with testicular descent
Authors: Padhi Abinash , Ghaly Mona M. , Ma Li 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe molecular chaperone heat shock protein A2 (HSPA2), a member of the 70 kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) family, plays an important role in spermatogenesis and male fertility. Although HSPA2 is evolutionarily highly conserved across the metazoan lineages, the observation of striking differences in temperature-sensitive expressions, testicular physiology, spermatogenesis, as well as its role in male fertility indicates that avian and mammalian HSPA2 may exhibit distinct evolutionary trajectory. The present study reports that while mammalian HSPA2 is constrained by intense purifying selection, avian HSPA2 has been subjected to positive selection. The majority of the positively selected amino acid residues fall on the α-helix and β-sheets of the peptide-binding domain located at the carboxyl-terminal region of the avian HSPA2. The detection of positively selected sites at the helix and β-sheets, which are less tolerant to molecular adaptation, indicates an important functional consequence and contribution to the structural and functional diversification of the avian HSPA2. Collectively, avian HSPA2 may have an adaptive advantage over the mammals in response to heat stress and therefore, mammals with testicular descent may be at a greater risk in the event of scrotal temperature rise.