bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Performance evaluation and modeling of a submerged membrane bioreactor treating combined municipal and industrial wastewater using radial basis function artificial neural networks
Authors: Mirbagheri Seyed Ahmad , Bagheri Majid , Boudaghpour Siamak , Ehteshami Majid , Bagheri Zahra 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
Treatment process models are efficient tools to assure proper operation and better control of wastewater treatment systems. The current research was an effort to evaluate performance of a submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR) treating combined municipal and industrial wastewater and to simulate effluent quality parameters of the SMBR using a radial basis function artificial neural network (RBFANN). The results showed that the treatment efficiencies increase and hydraulic retention time (HRT) decreases for combined wastewater compared with municipal and industrial wastewaters. The BOD, COD,

$$ {\mathrm{NH}}_4^{+}-\mathrm{N} $$

N
H

4
+

−
N

and total phosphorous (TP) removal efficiencies for combined wastewater at HRT of 7 hours were 96.9%, 96%, 96.7% and 92%, respectively. As desirable criteria for treating wastewater, the TBOD/TP ratio increased, the BOD and COD concentrations decreased to 700 and 1000 mg/L, respectively and the BOD/COD ratio was about 0.5 for combined wastewater. The training procedures of the RBFANN models were successful for all predicted components. The train and test models showed an almost perfect match between the experimental and predicted values of effluent BOD, COD,

$$ {\mathrm{NH}}_4^{+}-\mathrm{N} $$

N
H

4
+

−
N

and TP. The coefficient of determination (R2) values were higher than 0.98 and root mean squared error (RMSE) values did not exceed 7% for train and test models.
Calcitriol Prevents In Vitro Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Mineralization by Regulating Calcium-Sensing Receptor Expression
Authors: Mary Aurélien , Hénaut Lucie , Boudot Cédric , Six Isabelle , Brazier Michel , Massy Ziad A. , Drüeke Tilman B. , Kamel Saïd , Mentaverri Romuald 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
Vascular calcification (VC) is a degenerative disease that contributes to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. A negative relationship has been demonstrated between VC and calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) expression in the vasculature. Of interest, vitamin D response elements, which allow responsiveness to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], are present in the promoters of the CaSR gene. We hypothesized that 1,25(OH)2D3, by modulating CaSR expression in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), might protect against VC. Human VSMCs were exposed to increasing concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D3 (0.01–10 nmol/L) in noncalcifying (1.8 mmol/L) or procalcifying Ca2+0 condition (5.0 mmol/L). Using quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting we observed a significant increase in both CaSR mRNA and protein levels after exposure to 1.0 nmol/L 1,25(OH)2D3. This effect was associated with a maximal increase in CaSR expression at the cell surface after 48 hours of 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment, as assessed by flow cytometry. Down-regulation of the vitamin D receptor by small interfering RNA abolished these effects. In the procalcifying condition, 1.0 nmol/L 1,25(OH)2D3 blocked the Ca2+0-induced decrease in total and surface CaSR expression and protected against mineralization. Down-regulation of CaSR expression by CaSR small interfering RNA abolished this protective effect. 1,25(OH)2D3 concentrations of 0.5 and 5.0 nmol/L were also effective, but other (0.01, 0.1, and 10 nmol/L) concentrations did not modify CaSR expression and human VSMC mineralization. In conclusion, these findings suggest that nanomolar concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D3 induce a CaSR-dependent protection against VC. Both lower and higher concentrations are either ineffective or may even promote VC. Whether this also holds true in the clinical setting requires further study.
SIRT1 Relays Nutritional Inputs to the Circadian Clock Through the Sf1 Neurons of the Ventromedial Hypothalamus
Authors: Orozco-Solis Ricardo , Ramadori Giorgio , Coppari Roberto , Sassone-Corsi Paolo 
Published: March 2015

AbstractCircadian rhythms govern homeostasis and organism physiology. Nutritional cues act as time givers, contributing to the synchronization between central and peripheral clocks. Neuronal food-synchronized clocks are thought to reside in hypothalamic nuclei such as the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) and the dorsomedial hypothalamus or extrahypothalamic brain areas such as nucleus accumbens. Interestingly, the metabolic sensor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent deacetylase sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) is highly expressed in the VMH and was shown to contribute to both control of energy balance and clock function. We used mice with targeted ablation of Sirt1 in the steroidogenic factor 1 neurons of the VMH to gain insight on the role played by this deacetylase in the modulation of the central clock by nutritional inputs. By studying circadian behavior and circadian gene expression, we reveal that SIRT1 operates as a metabolic sensor connecting food intake to circadian behavior. Indeed, under food restriction and absence of light, SIRT1 in the VMH contributes to activity behavior and circadian gene expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Thus, under specific physiological conditions, SIRT1 contributes to the modulation of the circadian clock by nutrients.
Adipose VEGF Links the White-to-Brown Fat Switch With Environmental, Genetic, and Pharmacological Stimuli in Male Mice
Authors: During Matthew J. , Liu Xianglan , Huang Wei , Magee Daniel , Slater Andrew , McMurphy Travis , Wang Chuansong , Cao Lei 
Published: March 2015

AbstractLiving in an enriched environment (EE) decreases adiposity, increases energy expenditure, causes resistance to diet induced obesity, and induces brown-like (beige) cells in white fat via activating a hypothalamic-adipocyte axis. Here we report that EE stimulated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in a fat depot-specific manner prior to the emergence of beige cells. The VEGF up-regulation was independent of hypoxia but required intact sympathetic tone to the adipose tissue. Targeted adipose overexpression of VEGF reproduced the browning effect of EE. Adipose-specific VEGF knockout or pharmacological VEGF blockade with antibodies abolished the induction of beige cell by EE. Hypothalamic brain-derived neurotrophic factor stimulated by EE regulated the adipose VEGF expression, and VEGF signaling was essential to the hypothalamic brain-derived neurotrophic factor-induced white adipose tissue browning. Furthermore, VEGF signaling was essential to the beige cells induction by exercise, a β3-adrenergic agonist, and a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ ligand, suggesting a common downstream pathway integrating diverse upstream mechanisms. Exploiting this pathway may offer potential therapeutic interventions to obesity and metabolic diseases.
Minireview: The Impact of Antenatal Therapeutic Synthetic Glucocorticoids on the Developing Fetal Brain
Authors: Peffer Melanie E. , Zhang Janie Y. , Umfrey Leah , Rudine Anthony C. , Monaghan A. Paula , DeFranco Donald B. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe life-threatening, emotional, and economic burdens of premature birth have been greatly alleviated by antenatal glucocorticoid (GC) treatment. Antenatal GCs accelerate tissue development reducing respiratory distress syndrome and intraventricular hemorrhage in premature infants. However, they can also alter developmental processes in the brain and trigger adverse behavioral and metabolic outcomes later in life. This review summarizes animal model and clinical studies that examined the impact of antenatal GCs on the developing brain. In addition, we describe studies that assess glucocorticoid receptor (GR) action in neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) in vivo and in vitro. We highlight recent work from our group on two GR pathways that impact NSPC proliferation, ie, a nongenomic GR pathway that regulates gap junction intercellular communication between coupled NSPCs through site-specific phosphorylation of connexin 43 and a genomic pathway driven by differential promoter recruitment of a specific GR phosphoisoform.
Sodium valproate increases the brain isoform of glycogen phosphorylase: looking for a compensation mechanism in McArdle disease using a mouse primary skeletal-muscle culture in vitro
Authors: de Luna Noemí , Brull Astrid , Guiu Josep Maria , Lucia Alejandro , Martin Miguel Angel , Arenas Joaquin , Martí Ramon , Andreu Antoni L. , Pinós Tomàs 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACT
McArdle disease, also termed ‘glycogen storage disease type V’, is a disorder of skeletal muscle carbohydrate metabolism caused by inherited deficiency of the muscle-specific isoform of glycogen phosphorylase (GP-MM). It is an autosomic recessive disorder that is caused by mutations in the PYGM gene and typically presents with exercise intolerance, i.e. episodes of early exertional fatigue frequently accompanied by rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuria. Muscle biopsies from affected individuals contain subsarcolemmal deposits of glycogen. Besides GP-MM, two other GP isoforms have been described: the liver (GP-LL) and brain (GP-BB) isoforms, which are encoded by the PYGL and PYGB genes, respectively; GP-BB is the main GP isoform found in human and rat foetal tissues, including the muscle, although its postnatal expression is dramatically reduced in the vast majority of differentiated tissues with the exception of brain and heart, where it remains as the major isoform. We developed a cell culture model from knock-in McArdle mice that mimics the glycogen accumulation and GP-MM deficiency observed in skeletal muscle from individuals with McArdle disease. We treated mouse primary skeletal muscle cultures in vitro with sodium valproate (VPA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor. After VPA treatment, myotubes expressed GP-BB and a dose-dependent decrease in glycogen accumulation was also observed. Thus, this in vitro model could be useful for high-throughput screening of new drugs to treat this disease. The immortalization of these primary skeletal muscle cultures could provide a never-ending source of cells for this experimental model. Furthermore, VPA could be considered as a gene-expression modulator, allowing compensatory expression of GP-BB and decreased glycogen accumulation in skeletal muscle of individuals with McArdle disease.
Hollow Microspheres Fabricated from Aqueous Bubbles Stabilized with Latex Particles
Authors: Nakayama Saori , Fukuhara Kenta , Nakamura Yoshinobu , Fujii Syuji 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
Aqueous bubbles stabilized solely by micrometer-sized, near-monodisperse, sterically stabilized polystyrene (PS) latex particles can be transformed into polymeric hollow microspheres containing air by exposure to a solvent: the PS particles adsorbed at the air–water interface are plasticized with the solvent to form a polymer film on the surface of the aqueous bubbles.
Military-specific application of nutritional supplements: a brief overview
Authors: Hoedebecke Kyle , Brink Will 
Published: March 2015

The Soldiers of America's military endure numerous physical and mental challenges that demand strict physical fitness regimens, extreme mental agility, and a perpetual readiness to deploy at a moment's notice. The chronicity of these stressors has the potential to dramatically reduce performance - both directly and indirectly. Because of this risk, many Soldiers turn to nutritional supplements with hopes of optimizing performance. Increasing amounts of research have demonstrated that various supplements may enhance overall physical prowess, health, and offer quicker recovery in the face of corporal or psychological extremes. Most individuals, including many medical and nutrition professionals, possess only an elementary comprehension of nutritional supplements and their effect on Soldiers in training or combat environments. Nevertheless, a grasp of these details is required for safety and optimal benefits. Various compounds have been evaluated - to include evidence within the military setting - and found to augment endurance, increase cognitive function, decrease knee pain, or offer hearing or lung protection in the face of high-energy impulses. These efficacious outcomes may serve to augment the health and longevity of these Soldiers; however, continued research is needed for efficacy and long-term safety within specific environments.
An Empirical Investigation of Dynamic Ordering Policies
Authors: Larson Chad R. , Turcic Danko , Zhang Fuqiang 
Published: March 2015

Adaptive base stock policy is a well-known tool for managing inventories in nonstationary demand environments. This paper presents empirical tests of this policy using aggregate, firm-level data. First, we extend a single-item adaptive base stock policy in previous literature to a multi-item case. Second, we transform the policy derived for the multi-item case to a regression model that relates firm-level inventory purchases to firm-level sales and changes in sales forecasts. We focus on two research questions: Can the adaptive base stock policy explain cross-sectional ordering behaviors under sales growth? To the extent that the adaptive base stock policy fails to explain ordering behaviors under sales growth, are there frictions that explain such a finding? Our empirical results demonstrate disparities in ordering behaviors between firms experiencing high and moderate sales growth. Contrary to theoretical prediction, this implies that inventory purchases are a function of not only current sales and changes in sales forecast but also past sales growth. As potential explanations for this departure from theoretical prediction, we show that both future demand dynamics and inventory holding risks depend on past sales growth. In addition, we find that firms' inventory holding risks may also be affected by purchasing constraints imposed by supply chain contracts. Our results provide managerial implications for practitioners and inform future theoretical research. This paper was accepted by Martin Lariviere, operations management.
Oscillating spectral multipliers on Riemannian manifolds
Authors: Georgiadis Athanasios G. 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
Suppose that M is a Riemannian manifold satisfying the doubling volume property. Let L be a self-adjoint positive definite operator on M. We consider the heat semigroup

e

-
t
L

$e^{-tL}$

and we assume that the associated heat kernel

p
t

(
x
,
y
)

$p_{t}(x,y)$

satisfies certain upper Gaussian estimates. We study the Lp
boundedness of oscillating spectral multipliers

m

α
,
β

(
L
)

$m_{\alpha ,\beta }(L)$

.
The challenges in defining and measuring diagnostic error
Authors: Zwaan Laura , Singh Hardeep 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
Diagnostic errors have emerged as a serious patient safety problem but they are hard to detect and complex to define. At the research summit of the 2013 Diagnostic Error in Medicine 6th International Conference, we convened a multidisciplinary expert panel to discuss challenges in defining and measuring diagnostic errors in real-world settings. In this paper, we synthesize these discussions and outline key research challenges in operationalizing the definition and measurement of diagnostic error. Some of these challenges include 1) difficulties in determining error when the disease or diagnosis is evolving over time and in different care settings, 2) accounting for a balance between underdiagnosis and overaggressive diagnostic pursuits, and 3) determining disease diagnosis likelihood and severity in hindsight. We also build on these discussions to describe how some of these challenges can be addressed while conducting research on measuring diagnostic error.
Thermoelectric Material Tensor Derived from the Onsager–de Groot–Callen Model
Authors: Feldhoff Armin 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
The Onsager–de Groot–Callen model describes thermoelectricity in the framework of the thermodynamics of irreversible processes, which uses rather abstract kinetic matrix and generalized forces to describe the flux of the substance-like quantities electric charge and thermal energy (“heat”). A brief review of the derivation of the basic equations according to this model is given. Primarily, this model relies on the total differential of energy as in Gibb’s thermodynamics, but it then removes entropy to capture the energy production rate as a measure of irreversibility. Depending on the fluxes of interest, “proper” generalized forces are identified. The use of Onsager’s reciprocal relations helps to determine the coefficients of a kinetic matrix to link the generalized forces with the generalized potentials. The present article places entropy back into the as-obtained basic equations. The equations are then transformed such that the flux densities of electric charge and entropy appear with equal ranks. The respective conjugated intensive variables electrochemical potential and temperature then appear as the thermodynamic potentials. Moreover, the thermoelectric material is described by a material-specific tensor, which is composed only of the isothermal electric conductivity, the Seebeck coefficient and the entropy conductivity. The result is identical to that recently obtained by Fuchs using a direct entropic approach, which does not require Onsager’s reciprocal relations as a prerequisite. The benefit of this approach is the appearance of a material-specific thermoelectric tensor rather than a so-called kinetic matrix, which not only provides a new quality to the discussion but also facilitates descriptions of the thermoelectric phenomenon and the underlying energy conversion process. The latter can easily be understood as the transfer of energy from thermal to electric phenomenon or vice versa when fluxes of entropy and electric charge, as well as the local thermodynamic potentials temperature and electrochemical potential, are known.
Influence of Withdrawing Rates on Elements Segregation and Creep Properties of A Single Crystal Nickel-Based Superalloy
Authors: Tian Sugui , Zhang Chao , Yu Xingfu , Zeng Zheng , Su Yong 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe single crystal nickel-based superalloys with different dendrite spacings were prepared by using various withdrawing rates, and the influence of withdrawing rates on elements segregation and creep properties of them is investigated through creep property measurements and microstructure observation. Results show that relatively bigger withdrawing rate leads to the smaller dendrite spacing and lower segregation extent of elements between the dendrite/interdendrite regions, which further causes the better creep resistance of the alloy. Dislocations climbing over the rafted
Improvement in wear and corrosion resistance of AISI 1020 steel by high velocity oxy-fuel spray coating containing Ni-Cr-B-Si-Fe-C
Authors: Prince M. , Thanu A. Justin , Gopalakrishnan P. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractIn this investigation, AISI 1020 low carbon steel has been selected as the base material. The Ni based super alloy powder NiCrBSiFeC was sprayed on the base material using high velocity oxy-fuel spraying (HVOF) technique. The thickness of the coating was approximately 0.5 mm (500 μm). The coating was characterized using optical microscopy, Vickers microhardness testing, X-ray diffraction technique and scanning electron microscopy. Dry sliding wear tests were carried out at 3 m
Fundamental Researches on the High-speed and High-efficiency Steelmaking Reaction
Authors: Kitamura Shin-ya , Shibata Hiroyuki , Maruoka Nobuhiro 
Published: March 2015

AbstractTraditionally, steelmaking reactions have been analyzed by thermodynamics. Recently, software packages that can be used to calculate the equilibrium conditions have improved greatly. In some cases, information obtained in this software is useful for analyzing the steelmaking reaction. On the other hand, in industrial operation, steelmaking reactions, i.e., decarburization, dephosphorization, desulfurization or nitrogen removal, do not reach the equilibrium condition. Therefore, the kinetic model is very important for gaining a theoretical understanding of the steelmaking reaction. In this paper, the following recent research activities were shown; 1) mass transfer of impurities between solid oxide and liquid slag, 2) simulation model of hot metal dephosphorization by multiphase slag, 3) evaluation of reaction rate at bath surface in gas-liquid reaction system and 4) condition for forming of metal emulsion by bottom bubbling.
Effect of Process Variables on the Formation of Streak Defects on Anodized Aluminum Extrusions: An Overview
Authors: Zhu Hanliang , Couper Malcolm J. , Dahle Arne K. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractStreak defects are often present on anodized extrusions of 6xxx series aluminum alloys, increasing the fabrication cost of these products. Moreover, streaking often only becomes visible after etching and anodizing treatments, rather than in the as-extruded condition, making it difficult to identify the original causes and influencing factors of these defects. In this paper, various process variables that influence the formation of streak defects on anodized aluminium extrusions are reviewed on the basis of a literature review, industrial practice and experimental results. The influencing factors involved in various processing steps such as billet quality, extrusion process, die design and etching process are considered. Effective measures for preventing the formation of streak defects in industrial extrusion products are discussed.
Prediction of Properties of Metals Relevant to Process Simulation
Authors: Robinson Jim A. J. , Brooks Rob F. , Quested Peter N. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractIndustrial metal processes, such as casting, primary production and welding are frequently simulated using physical models which require alloy properties including liquidus and solidus temperatures and fraction solid; properties associated with heat flow: enthalpy, heat capacity and thermal conductivity and properties associated with fluid flow: density, surface tension and viscosity. These properties are required both as a function of temperature and composition. In recent years, significant developments in the experimental methods for measuring these properties have occurred, but their measurement still remains difficult and expensive. These constraints have driven the development of methods for the prediction of the properties based upon the chemical composition of the alloy.The paper describes a software program to predict properties of alloys based upon their chemical composition. The properties included are enthalpy, enthalpy of fusion, heat capacity, density, volume, fraction solid during solidification, solidification range, thermal conductivity, phases formed during solidification and viscosity. Most of the underlying models are based upon thermodynamic calculations using MTDATA, a software tool for the calculation of thermodynamics and phase equilibria developed at NPL. Transport properties such as thermal conductivity and viscosity are difficult to model and for example, thermal conductivity is estimated using empirical relationships. The program has been deliberately designed for the engineer who is not expert in thermophysical properties. The predictions will be compared with measurements for selected alloys.
Contribution to Kinetics of Superplastic Deformation of Dispersion Strengthened Al-Al4C3 System
Authors: Besterci Michal , Varchola Marián , Kováč Ladislav , Velgosová Oksana 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe influence of temperature at constant strain rate has been evaluated with respect to superplastic behavior of dispersion strengthened Al-Al