Superior Source Research Articles

Photooxygenation of oxygen‐substituted naphthalenes

AbstractThe reaction of oxygen‐substituted naphthalenes with singlet oxygen (1O2) has been investigated, and labile endoperoxides have been isolated and characterized at –78°C for the first time. Low‐temperature kinetics by UV spectroscopy revealed that alkoxy and silyloxy substituents remarkably increase the rate of photooxygenations compared to 1,4‐dimethylnaphthalene, whereas acyloxy‐substituted acenes are inert towards 1O2. The reactivities nicely correlate with HOMO energies and free activation energies, which we determined by density functional theory calculations. The lability of the isolated endoperoxides is due to their very fast back reaction to the corresponding naphthalenes even at –20°C under release of 1O2, making them to superior sources of this reactive species under very mild conditions. Finally, a carbohydrate‐substituted naphthalene has been synthesized, which reacts reversibly with 1O2 and might be applied for enantioselective oxidations in future work.

Genetic and fruit trait differences between Chinese elite lines/varieties and American varieties of processing tomato

The history of processing tomato industry in China is short and the major variety being used in production to date is still Riegel 87-5, a variety released in 1996. To investigate the genetic and fruit trait differences between Chinese elite lines/varieties and American varieties, 51 including 24 recently developed Chinese elite lines, four Chinese varieties, and 23 American varieties were subjected to genotypic analysis using 547 InDel markers. The range of Nei’s genetic distance was wider in Chinese elite lines (0.209–0.383) than in Chinese varieties (0.126–0.214) and American varieties (0.223–0.342). Cluster analysis indicated that the 51 varieties/lines could be classified into three groups without specific relationship between group and country. This was further supported by population structure analysis using the software STRUCTURE2.3.4. Fruit traits were collected from 51 tomato varieties/lines grown in 2013 and 2014. The average soluble solid content was lower, while the average fruit weight was larger, and the average color was relatively poorer in both Chinese elite lines and varieties than in the American varieties. However, some elite lines such as 9508-h and their progenies had relatively good fruit traits, and thus could be superior sources for processing tomato improvement. The experience of developing processing tomato industry in China could be of value to countries with similar situations.

Trapped Flux Behavior in Melt-Growth GdBCO Bulk Superconductor Under Off-Axis Field Cooled Magnetization

The effective pinning of magnetic flux in high-temperature superconductor bulk plays a basic role in a variety of engineering applications as superior magnetic field sources. We have studied the trapped magnetic flux behavior of large single-grain GdBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ (GdBCO) bulk cryomagnet. Here, an off-axis field cooled magnetization is proposed, in which magnetic field was applied with an angle θ with respect to the crystallographic c-axis of the bulk, i.e., off-axis geometry. To verify the trapped flux performance, the flux density parallel to the c-axis was scanned with Hall sensor on the surface of the bulk after off-axis field cooled magnetization. It was found that the trapped flux component along the c-axis still remains strong with up to θ = 30°, and the total flux over the bulk surface reaches over 97% compared with that when θ = 0°. These results demonstrate GdBCO bulk can nearly maintain their full trapped flux potential along the c-axis under off-axis field cooled magnetization with finite inclination angle. Thus, the present off-axis magnetization can provide an alternative choice for the magnetization geometry design in HTS applications using bulks, when the magnetizing field cannot be applied perfectly aligned with the crystallographic c-axis of the bulk.

V. NEGUNDO, L. CAMARA AND B. VARIEGATA PLANTS LEAF EXTRACT EXHIBIT CONSIDERABLE IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTICANCER ACTIVITIES

Objective: The study was planned to investigate antioxidant and anticancer activities with the preliminary phytochemical analysis of methanolic extracts of Vitex negundo (V. negundo), Lantana camara (L. camara) and Bauhania variegata (B. variegata) plants leaf extracts.Methods: Phytochemical evaluation was performed for all the extracts, as per the standard methods. In vitro antioxidant activities were performed by using DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2, 2'-Azino-Bis-3-Ethylbenzothiazoline-6-Sulfonic Acid) and FRAP (Ferric reducing antioxidant power assay) method and compared with standard antioxidants. The anticancer activity of plant extract was assessed using MTT colorimetric assay.Results: The study of preliminary phytochemical proved the existence of alkaloids, flavonoids and phenolic types of phytochemicals in high amount. Methanolic extract of L. camara shows minimum IC50 value for DPPH assay (48.75±2.34 µg/ml) and FRAP assay (274.66±3.65 µg/ml). In ABTS assay B. variegata extract exhibit minimum IC50 value (60.48±3.01 µg/ml). Lower the IC50 value of extract, higher the effectiveness of the plant. Methanolic extract of all plants methanolic extracts showed anticancer activity against SH-SY-5Y cells (human neuroblastoma cell) but V. negundo was more effective against SH-SY-5Y cells with IC50 value (209 µg/ml) compared to remaining extracts.Conclusion: The current finding accomplished the in vitro activities, so that plant could be a superior source of antioxidant and anticancer drugs. But further in vivo assessment was needed before adding it into the pharma industry.

A comparison between marine and terrestrial invertebrate meals for mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio ) diets: Impact on growth, haematology and health

Invertebrate meals (e.g. polychaetes and insects) present novel and sustainable high-quality nutrient sources for use in fish feed formulations. To test this innovative source, an eleven-week feeding trial was conducted evaluating the effects of replacing the fishmeal (FM) component as an example of a superior protein source (FM CTRL) with ragworm meal (RW, Nereis virens) and/or silkworm pupae (SWP, Bombyx mori) in mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio) diets. Three experimental diets with partial replacement of FM (diets: RW + FM, SWP + FM and RW + SWP + FM) were formulated. All diets were formulated to be iso-nitrogenous, iso-lipidic and iso-energetic. Growth performance and feed utilization indices were assessed, and the feeding trial concluded with the analysis of haematological parameters to provide an indication of carp physiological and health status. Mean weight gain was greatest in mirror carp fed RW + FM (60.83 fish−1 day−1; P < 0.05 vs. all other diets) followed by SWP + FM (40.62 g fish−1 day−1; P < 0.05 vs. all other diets). The least weight gain was achieved in fish fed FM + SWP + RW+ and FM CTRL (34.34 and 33.96 g fish−1 day−1, respectively; not significantly different from each other). Fish fed on RW + FM diet had significantly lower plasma ammonia concentrations than any other dietary groups (P = 0.04). Mirror carp fed on SWP + FM diet (111.52 units mL−1) were observed to have a marked enhancement in alternative complement activity than FM CTRL (79.21 units mL−1, P = 0.041). Both ragworm and silkworm pupae meal present attractive sustainable functional feed component in carp diets, with benefits on enhancing growth performance and specific physiological parameters.

Remyelination improvement after neurotrophic factors secreting cells transplantation in rat spinal cord injury.

Objective(s):Neurotrophic factors secreting cells (NTS-SCs) may be a superior cell source for cell-based therapy in neurodegenerative diseases. NTS-SCs are able to secrete some neurotrophic Such as nerve growth factor and glia-derived neurotrophic factor. Our primary aim was to assess transplantation of neurotrophic factor secreting cells derived from human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) into the damaged spinal cord rats and determine the potential of these cells in remyelination.Materials and Methods:To this end, 40 adult male Wistar rats were categorized into four groups including; control, lysolecithin (Lysophosphatidylcholines or LPC), vehicle, and NTS-SCs transplan-tation. Local demyelination was induced using LPC injection into the lateral column of spinal cord. Seven days after the lysolecithin lesion, the cells transplantation was performed. The ultrastructure of myelinated fibers was examined with a transmission electron microscope to determine the extent of myelin destruction and remyelinization 4 weeks post cell transplantation. Moreover, the presence of oligodendrocyte in the lesion of spinal cord was assessed by immunohistochemistry procedure.Results:The results of current study indicated that in NTF-SCs transplantation group, the remyelination process and the mean of myelin sheath thickness as well as axonal diameters were significantly higher than other groups (P<0.001). Furthermore, immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that in NTF-SCs transplantation group more than 10 percent of transplanted cells were positive for specific markers of oligodendrocyte cells.Conclusion:NTF-SCs transplantation represents a valuable option for cell-based therapy in the nervous tissue damages.

Generation of functional cardiomyocytes derived from human somatic cells and therapy for heart diseases

Background and HypothesisSuccessful generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and their differentiation into cardiomyocytes (iCMCs) have created exciting possibilities, wherein iCMCs may offer a renewable cell source for therapy, disease modeling and drug discovery. The major problem remains to generate safe, homogeneous, highly efficient functional iCMCs from adult somatic cells for drug screening and cell therapy. Thus, we hypothesize that the iPSC‐derived functional iCMCs would be a good in vitro model for drug screening and a superior source of cells for therapy in a mouse heart failure model.MethodsRecently, we reported an approach of using highly efficient viral‐free combination of DNA and mRNA embryonic transcription factors to generate iPSCs and functional iCMCs from adult human cells. These differentiated iCMCs were characterized qualitatively and quantitatively by their genes and proteins expression. Furthermore, the contractility of chronotropic drugs treated and untreated iCMCs were measured and analyzed by our new particle image velocimetry (PIV) method followed by divergence and Fourier's spectrum analyses. We also compared our PIV technique with available standard confocal calcium transient imaging analysis. Finally, to see the therapeutic potential, we have transplanted these iCMCs intramyocardially in a mouse heart failure model.ResultsWe attained the following observations: We identified a new combination of mature CMC cell‐surface markers CD36 and γ‐sarcoglycan to isolate a homogenous population from the CMCs differentiated culture by FACS analysis. To follow the in vitro differentiation process of CMC cultures, we recorded and analyzed the same areas at various time points using high frame rate video microscopy. Our PIV image analysis technique provided beat patterns: time‐series data of tissue displacement, measured relative to a resting reference state. The beat patterns revealed that the contractility of early CMC nodes was asynchronous in space and irregular in time (days 8 and 13). During subsequent days as the CMCs matured, contractile centers became synchronous (day 15). Our optically recorded beat patterns were in good agreement with the calcium‐imaging signal. In our in vitro drug screening systems, isoproterenol resulted in a substantial and sustained increase in beat frequency without triggering arrhythmias, on an in vitro day 14 CMC culture. Our day 35 post‐echocardiography data showed a significant improvement in the cardiac functions in iCMCs treated mice over the untreated control mice. Moreover, the fluorescence imaging data showed that the injected cells were stained positive for human nuclear antigen, integrin‐β antigen and human cardiotroponin T (CTT), suggesting the presence of iCMCs at the 35‐day post‐transplanted mouse heart.ConclusionOverall, these in vitro data offer new opportunities to model cardiac diseases and allow efficient screening of drug effects at various stages of cardiac developments. Furthermore, our in vivo data showed that the human adult somatic cell‐derived iCMCs were engrafted well and also functional in the failing mouse heart, suggesting its therapeutic application.Support or Funding InformationAmerican Heart Association Grant‐in Aid

Abnormal frontoparietal synaptic gain mediating the P300 in patients with psychotic disorder and their unaffected relatives.

The "dysconnection hypothesis" of psychosis suggests that a disruption of functional integration underlies cognitive deficits and clinical symptoms. Impairments in the P300 potential are well documented in psychosis. Intrinsic (self-)connectivity in a frontoparietal cortical hierarchy during a P300 experiment was investigated. Dynamic Causal Modeling was used to estimate how evoked activity results from the dynamics of coupled neural populations and how neural coupling changes with the experimental factors. Twenty-four patients with psychotic disorder, twenty-four unaffected relatives, and twenty-five controls underwent EEG recordings during an auditory oddball paradigm. Sixteen frontoparietal network models (including primary auditory, superior parietal, and superior frontal sources) were analyzed and an optimal model of neural coupling, explaining diagnosis and genetic risk effects, as well as their interactions with task condition were identified. The winning model included changes in connectivity at all three hierarchical levels. Patients showed decreased self-inhibition-that is, increased cortical excitability-in left superior frontal gyrus across task conditions, compared with unaffected participants. Relatives had similar increases in excitability in left superior frontal and right superior parietal sources, and a reversal of the normal synaptic gain changes in response to targets relative to standard tones. It was confirmed that both subjects with psychotic disorder and their relatives show a context-independent loss of synaptic gain control at the highest hierarchy levels. The relatives also showed abnormal gain modulation responses to task-relevant stimuli. These may be caused by NMDA-receptor and/or GABAergic pathologies that change the excitability of superficial pyramidal cells and may be a potential biological marker for psychosis. Hum Brain Mapp 38:3262-3276, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

SU72. Abnormal Frontal Synaptic Gain Mediating the P300 in Patients With Psychosis and Their Unaffected Relatives

Abstract Background: The “dysconnection hypothesis” of psychosis suggests that a disruption of functional integration underlies cognitive deficits and clinical symptoms. Impairments in the P300 potential are well documented in psychosis. We investigated intrinsic (self-)connectivity in a cortical hierarchy during a P300 experiment. We used Dynamic Causal Modeling to estimate how evoked activity results from the dynamics of coupled neural populations and how neural coupling changes with the experimental factors. Methods: Twenty-four patients with psychosis, 24 unaffected relatives, and 25 controls underwent EEG recordings during an auditory oddball paradigm. We analyzed 16 frontoparietal models (primary auditory, superior parietal, and superior frontal sources) and identified an optimal model of neural coupling, explaining diagnosis and genetic risk effects, as well as their interactions with task condition. Results: The winning model included changes in connectivity at all 3 hierarchical levels. Patients showed decreased self-inhibition (ie, increased cortical excitability) in left superior frontal gyrus across task conditions, compared to unaffected participants. Relatives had similar increases in excitability in left superior frontal and right superior parietal sources, and a reversal of the normal synaptic gain changes in response to targets, relative to standard tones. Conclusion: We confirmed that both subjects with psychosis and their relatives show a context-independent loss of synaptic gain control at the highest levels of the hierarchy. The relatives also showed abnormal gain modulation responses to task-relevant stimuli. These may be caused by NMDA-receptor and/or GABAergic pathologies that change the excitability of superficial pyramidal cells and may be a potential biological marker for psychosis.

Nutritional value of bee-collected pollens of hardy kiwi, Actinidia arguta (Actinidiaceae) and oak, Quercus sp. (Fagaceae)

Bee-collected pollens have gained attention as natural dietary supplement for human nutrition over the honeybee feed, and become important commercial hive products for beekeepers. Oak trees, Quercus sp. (Family: Fagaceae) and hardy kiwi, Actinidia arguta (Family: Actinidiaceae) are important pollen sources for honey bees. During collection and storage through the addition of nectar and salivary secretions the chemical composition of pollen is changed. We analyzed nutrient contents of bee collected oak and hardy kiwi pollens and compared with recommended requirement of essential amino acids for honey bee brood development. The results revealed that protein content was found 23.2% for oak and 26.5% for hardy kiwi pollen. All the determined essential amino acid contents of both oak and kiwi pollen satisfied the minimum individual amino acid requirement of honey bee. Threonine was present in marginal level in hardy kiwi pollen. Fat content of oak and hardy kiwi pollen were found 7 and 4.5% respectively. The higher value of polyunsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid - stearic acid, lower AI and TI value, presence of essential fatty acid n-3 linolenic acid indicated these pollens as superior sources of fat. The most abundant mineral was found potassium in both the pollens followed by phosphorus. In contrast sodium content was found very less. In vitro digestibility of oak and kiwi pollen were found 69.5 and 37.8% suggesting the difficulty of nutrient uptake directly from pollen grains.

Commercialising energy technology innovations: case of waste heat recovery for power generation

The conversion of industrial waste heat to power represents a significant opportunity for society to reduce the impact of industry processes on the environment, as well as an opportunity for entrepreneurs to develop new and innovative renewable energy businesses models. Through systematic analysis and comparison to geothermal energy, this paper will show that waste heat is a superior energy source that should be considered an independent and specific renewable energy. The change in status to a recognised renewable energy will stimulate significant investment in industrial waste heat, with the potential to provide electricity to 10 million homes from the current industrial waste heat stream, reducing pollution and improving industry profitability. Additionally, this status change would allow investors and developers to collect all available incentives, such as incentive tax credits, production tax credits and renewable energy credits.

Next-Generation Sequencing Based Minimal Residual Disease Assessment in Peripheral Blood RNA from Multiple Myeloma Patients

Introduction: Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by the presence of monoclonal protein (M-protein) in serum and/or urine, clonal plasma cell accumulation in bone marrow, and related organ or tissue impairment. MM patients are monitored during and after therapy using immunoglobulin, M-protein and free light chain assays. Minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment of bone marrow samples from MM patients in complete remission (CR) using next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based technology has been shown to have prognostic value, and previous studies have demonstrated evidence of circulating myeloma cells in peripheral blood. In this prospective study, we compared the sensitivity of RNA- and DNA-based MRD assays in peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) samples collected from MM patients.Methods: Matched BM and PB samples were obtained from 50 MM patients in various stages of their disease. Diagnostic BM samples were used to identify clonal immunoglobulin sequences (i.e. clonotypes) unique to each MM patient. Matched BM and PB samples were then assessed for the presence of the MM clonotype. Using universal primer sets, we amplified immunoglobulin (IgH) variable (V), diversity (D), and joining (J) gene segments, the incomplete IgH-DJ rearrangement, and IgK receptors. Genomic DNA samples were assessed for all 3 receptors, while RNA samples were only assessed for the functional IgH-VDJ and IgK receptors. Amplified products were sequenced to obtain >1 million reads and analyzed using standardized algorithms for clonotype quantification. Myeloma-specific IgH, IgK, and IgH-DJ clonotypes were identified for each patient based on their high frequency at diagnosis. The presence of the myeloma clonotype was then assessed in BM cells (DNA), PB cells (DNA and RNA), and PB plasma (DNA) samples. Myeloma clonotype levels were calculated as previously described (Martinez-Lopez et al. 2014).Results: High-frequency myeloma clonotypes were identified in the BM of all 50 patients. We performed a sequence-level assessment of each clonotype to determine whether it was also evaluable in RNA. Non-functional clonotypes (e.g. IgH-DJ and kappa deleting element clones, frameshift/nonsense mutations, nonfunctional V or J segments, loss of cysteine in CDR3) were excluded from the analysis. 37 evaluable RNA clonotypes were identified in 28 of the 50 patients (56%).We compared the sensitivity of MRD assessment using DNA and RNA extracted from PB mononuclear cells. 20 clonotypes were qualitatively concordant in both DNA and RNA. 17 clonotypes were discordant, with all 17 clonotypes being detectable in RNA but not in DNA (Figure 1A). Only 4 of 21 (19%) clonotypes detectable in RNA were also detectable in DNA in the PB. Thus, RNA provides a clear sensitivity advantage over DNA analysis in PB cellular samples.We then investigated whether the sensitivity advantage conferred by RNA in PB cells was equivalent or superior to the sensitivity of DNA analysis in BM cells. On a patient level, 23 patients were qualitatively concordant in the PB and BM assays. 5 patients were discordant, with all patients being positive in BM and negative in PB. 4 of the discordant patients were positive at low levels in the BM (1-10 MM clonotype molecules per 1 million cells). On a clonotype level, 28 clonotypes were qualitatively concordant in BM DNA and PB RNA. 9 clonotypes were discordant, with all 9 clonotypes being positive in BM DNA and negative in PB RNA (Figure 1B). Nevertheless, PB RNA detected MRD in 21 of 30 with measurable disease in the BM DNA (ie, 70% sensitivity). These results demonstrate that MRD assessment using PB RNA is more informative than PB DNA in MM; however, despite the sensitivity improvement provided by RNA, MRD assessment in the BM DNA remains the superior sample source for MRD assessment, particularly when achievement of MRD negativity is the goal of therapy.Conclusions: NGS-based MRD assessment of BM in myeloma patients has been shown to have prognostic value. PB-based MRD assessment would improve clinical MRD assessment and monitoring paradigms. Our results demonstrate that RNA provides increased sensitivity for blood-based MRD assessment. Additional assay optimization to improve the fraction of clonotypes evaluable in RNA and to enhance sensitivity compared with BM is necessary before PB MRD monitoring in MM patients can be incorporated into routine clinical practice. [Display omitted] DisclosuresWolf:Telomere Diagnostics: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Kong:Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp: Employment, Equity Ownership. Bayes:Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp: Equity Ownership. Carlton:Adaptive Biotechnologies: Employment, Equity Ownership. Martin:Sanofi: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding.

Meat Quality and Physicochemical Trait Assessments of Berkshire and Commercial 3-way Crossbred Pigs.

In this study, we compared qualities and physiochemical traits of meat from Berkshire (black color) pigs with those of meat from 3-way Landrace (white color) × Yorkshire (white color) × Duroc (red color) crossbred pigs (LYD). Meat quality characteristics, including pH, color, drip loss, cooking loss, and free amino acid, fatty acid, vitamin, and mineral contents of longissimus dorsi muscles, were compared. Meat from Berkshire pigs had deeper meat color (redness), higher pH, and lower drip loss and cooking loss than meat from LYD pigs. Moreover, meat from Berkshire pigs had higher levels of phosphoserine, aspartic acid, threonine, serine, asparagine, α-aminoadipic acid, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, histidine, tryptophan, and carnosine and lower levels of glutamic acid, glycine, alanine, and ammonia than did meat from LYD pigs. The fatty acids oleic acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were present in significantly higher concentrations in Berkshire muscles than they were in LYD muscles. Additionally, Berkshire muscles were significantly enriched with nucleotide components (inosine), minerals (Mg and K), and antioxidant vitamins such as ascorbic acid (C) in comparison with LYD muscles. In conclusion, our results show that in comparison with LYD meat, Berkshire meat has better meat quality traits and is a superior nutritional source of all essential amino acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, vitamin C, and minerals (Mg and K).

The enrichment of chicken meat with omega-3 fatty acids by dietary fish oil or its mixture with rapeseed or flaxseed—Effect of feeding duration: Dietary fish oil, flaxseed, and rapeseed and n-3 enriched broiler meat

The consumption of chicken meat has steadily increased in recent decades, thereby making meat enriched with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) an important delivery route of this nutrient to humans. This study aimed to evaluate how feeding duration of a diet with fish oil and flaxseed or rapeseed can enhance broiler meat with n-3 fatty acids (FA). One hundred and twenty-three 15-day-old female broilers Ross 308 were housed individually and randomly allocated to four groups: control (15 birds), and three experimental groups (36 birds each) that were each divided into three subgroups of 12 birds. Four diets differing in fat composition were prepared. Lard was the source of supplementary fat in diet L; in the experimental diets, fat was derived from fish oil (FO, 10gkg−1 diet) and either lard (LFO), flaxseed (FFO), or rapeseed (RFO) in amounts appropriate to produce fat levels similar to those in the control diet. Diets were cold-pelleted and fed until slaughter at 36days of age. The control group was fed the L diet throughout the study, whereas birds in the experimental groups were fed the L diet until it was substituted by the experimental diets for one, two, or three weeks preceding slaughter. The performance of all groups did not differ from the control, but within the experimental groups, LFO birds had a higher body weight gain because of higher feed intake. RFO birds had a higher thyroid weight (P<0.02). The levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in breast and thigh meat lipids increased in groups fed the experimental diets as compared to the control. There were substantial increases in α-linolenic acid levels and a lower PUFAn-6/n-3 ratio in birds fed the FFO diet as compared to the RFO and LFO diets (P<0.001). Results indicated that one week of feeding the experimental diets was sufficient to enrich breast meat with LC-PUFA, whereas two weeks were needed to effectively enrich thigh meat with these FA. Thus, the meat of broilers fed diets with fish oil and either flaxseed or rapeseed over a period of two weeks before slaughter can be labeled as “high in omega-3 fatty acids.” A 100g portion of such breast or thigh meat would provide on average 33% and 15.5%, respectively, of the recommended daily intake of EPA and DHA for humans, and therefore make enriched chicken meat a superior source of LC-PUFA than lean fish meat.

Software Reliability Prediction Using Cuckoo Search Optimization, Empirical Mode Decomposition, and ARIMA Model

The demand of highly reliable and superior quality open source software's are increasing day by day. This demand force software developers to improvise the reliability of their software's. Authors have proposed several parametric and non-parametric software reliability models but they have their own limitations, like parametric model suffer from unrealistic model assumptions, operating environment condition dependencies. In contrast to parametric, non-parametric models overcome these issues but they are computationally costlier. So, the scope of optimization or development of new reliable model still exists. This paper presents an effective software reliability modeling based on Cuckoo Search optimization, Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition and ARIMA modeling of time series to provide more accurate prediction. Extensive experiments on 5 real datasets is conducted and results are collected. The analysis of results indicates the superiority of proposed technique over existing parametric and non-parametric models for open source software's and propriety software's.

The Performance of Relative-Value Equity Strategies

This paper examines investment strategies that combine time-series and cross-sectional stock sorts based on scaled price-to-earnings ratios, which I describe as relative-value strategies. Relative-value strategies buy (short) stocks that are below (above) their long-run historical absolute or market-relative valuation. I test the performance of relative-value strategies versus a traditional value strategy. I find that a relative-value effect exists, but is dwarfed by the traditional value effect. On average, the tested relative-value strategies deliver long-short returns of 1.25% p.a. and long-only excess returns of 0.69% p.a. over 1990 to 2014. The traditional value strategy produces long-short returns of 5.50% p.a. and long-only excess returns of 4.33% p.a. Relative-value strategies offer an alternative but not necessarily superior source of returns. I evaluate returns after adjusting for common risk factors. I explore the effect on returns from alternative portfolio formation and rebalancing rules. I discuss possible explanations for the findings and implications for investors.

Production of 1,3‐Butadiene from Erythritol

AbstractA methodology for the production of 1,3‐butadiene 1, the key monomer for synthetic rubber is reported here from erythritol 2. Erythritol is obtained from the fermentation of xylose by osmotolerant yeasts like Yarrowia lipolytica. Xylose was found to be a superior source of carbon yielding up to five fold higher titer values of erythritol as compared to that of glucose. Erythritol, the key intermediate, was then converted to 1,3‐butadiene through tetramesyl erythritol derivative 5 in significant yields.

Self-Powered Safety Helmet Based on Hybridized Nanogenerator for Emergency.

The rapid development of Internet of Things and the related sensor technology requires sustainable power sources for their continuous operation. Scavenging and utilizing the ambient environmental energy could be a superior solution. Here, we report a self-powered helmet for emergency, which was powered by the energy converted from ambient mechanical vibration via a hybridized nanogenerator that consists of a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) and an electromagnetic generator (EMG). Integrating with transformers and rectifiers, the hybridized nanogenerator can deliver a power density up to 167.22 W/m(3), which was demonstrated to light up 1000 commercial light-emitting diodes (LEDs) instantaneously. By wearing the developed safety helmet, equipped with rationally designed hybridized nanogenerator, the harvested vibration energy from natural human motion is also capable of powering a wireless pedometer for real-time transmitting data reporting to a personal cell phone. Without adding much extra weight to a commercial one, the developed wearing helmet can be a superior sustainable power source for explorers, engineers, mine-workers under well, as well as and disaster-relief workers, especially in remote areas. This work not only presents a significant step toward energy harvesting from human biomechanical movement, but also greatly expands the applicability of TENGs as power sources for self-sustained electronics.

Study of biological efficiency and yield of oyster mushroom with chemical treatment

Various concentration of nitrogen source, e.g. peptone, few carbon, viz ., maltose and lactose and inorganic chemicals, viz ., MgSO 4 and FeSO 4 (0.5 to 1.0) were screened to determine the most suitable concentration for better yield of Pleurotus sajor-caju , It was found that all the carbon source and inorganic chemicals gave maximum yield and biological efficiency in 0.5 per cent concentration. On that basis maltose and MgSO 4 were proved superior carbon source and inorganic chemical, respectively. Peptone, the semisolid protein as nitrogen source gave maximum yield and biological efficiency in 0.5 per cent concentration.

Abstracts from The 34(th) Annual National Neurotrauma Symposium June 26-29, 2016 Lexington, Kentucky.

Abstracts from The 34(th) Annual National Neurotrauma Symposium June 26-29, 2016 Lexington, Kentucky.