RAST: finding related documents based on triplet similarity

With the increasing amount of information available in recent years, searching for the desired content is becoming a challenging task. In this work, a tool for searching abstracts submitted to scientific conferences is introduced. It not only searches abstracts by the given keyword(s) but also displays abstracts related to a single or multiple selection. It also displays highly relevant abstracts together with possible keywords to help users refine their search. Analysis of the conditional similarity algorithm proposed here has shown that it does provide better output compared to ordinary cosine similarity, as well as the list of possible keywords reflects results of latent topic analysis. An interface for storing and sorting selected abstracts for future review and/or printing is also provided.     

Electronic band-edge properties of rock salt PbY and SnY (Y= S, Se, and Te)

The electronic band-edges of lead chalcogenides PbY and tin chalcogenides SnY (where Y = S, Se, and Te) are investigated by the means of a full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FPLAPW) method and the local density approximation (LDA). All six chalcogenide binaries have similar electronic structures and density-of-states, but there are differences in the symmetry of the band-edge states at and near the Brillouin zone L-point. These differences give the characteristic composition, pressure, and temperature dependences of the energy gap in Pb_1−xSn_xY alloys.We find that: (1) SnY are zero-gap semiconductors E_g = 0 if the spin–orbit (SO) interaction is excluded. The reason for this is that the conduction band (CB) and the valence band (VB) cross along the Q ≡ LW line. (2) Including the SO interaction splits this crossing and creates a direct gap along the Q-line, thus away from the L symmetry point. Hence, the fundamental band gap E_g in SnY is induced by the SO interaction and the energy gap is rather small E_g ≈ 0.2–0.3 eV. At the L-point, the CB state has symmetric and the VB state is antisymmetric thereby the L-point pressure coefficient ∂E_g(L)/∂p is a positive quantity. (3) PbY have a direct band gap at the L-point both when SO coupling is excluded and included. In contrast to SnY, the SO interaction decreases the gap energy in PbY. (4) Including the SO interaction, the LDA yields incorrect symmetries of the band-edge states at the L-point; the CB state has and the VB state has symmetry. However, a small increase of the cell volume corrects this LDA failure, producing an antisymmetric CB state and a symmetric VB state, and thereby also yields the characteristic negative pressure coefficient ∂E_g(L)/∂p in agreement with experimental findings. (5) Although PbY and SnY have different band-edge physics at their respective equilibrium lattice constants, the change of the band-edges with respect to cell volume is qualitatively the same for all six chalcogenides. (6) Finally, in the discussion of the symmetry of the band edges, it is important to clearly state the chosen unit cell origin; a shift by (a/2,0,0) changes the labeling of the irreducible representations.     

Numerical and experimental analysis of microstructure formation during stainless steels solidification

The aim of this work is to examine microstructure formation during the solidification of unidirectional solidified AISI 304 stainless steel. Numerical and experimental results indicate that this numerical model allows a precise analysis of the AISI 304 stainless steel microstructure formation. This model determines temperature profiles, position of liquid and solid isotherms, thermal parameters (thermal gradients, tip rate movement, rate cooling), and finally, the secondary inter dendritic spacing. This model was tested by comparing the experimental values results, and thus a reasonable correlation was found.     

The Role of Regulation in Meeting Water Demands under Climate Change

The satisfaction of water demands in semi-arid regions could be affected as a consequence of climate change. In this study, the impact due to future climate scenarios in the Chira and Piura basins located in northern Peru was evaluated. Two indicators, the demand satisfaction index (I₁) and the demand reliability index (I_2p), were used to analyze water scarcity problems. An analysis of the basins by region highlighted the importance of regulation infrastructure in minimizing the effects of climate change to meet water demands.     

Yield Analysis of Oil Palm Cultivated Under Irrigation in the Brazilian Savanna

The oil palm is currently a major source of oil used worldwide for biofuel production and food. In Brazil, it is grown in high rainfall and high temperature regions. The high cost of this oil crop in the Brazilian Amazonia, combined with environmental and land ownership issues and the occurrence of diseases, has aroused considerable interest in growing it in other regions of the country, including the Savanna (Cerrado) Biome. This study aimed to evaluate, for 1 year, the fruit bunch, the oil yield, and other parameters of two oil palm cultivars (BRS C1001 and BRS C2501) under the typical Savanna conditions in the Federal District, Brazil. Differences between these cultivars were observed in some parameters evaluated throughout the year (p < 0.05). The oil yield/bunch ranged from 25 to 32 and 29 to 36 % for BRS C2501 and BRS C1001 cultivars, respectively and similar to those obtained for the same cultivars in the Brazilian Amazonia and for other genotypes in Indonesia, Sumatra, and Malaysia. Both cultivars proved to be promising in terms of oil yield in a trail carried out at 1000 m of altitude under irrigation at Cerrado Biome in Brazil.     

Multifilter rotating shadowband radiometer calibration for spectral aerosol optical depth retrievals over S?o Paulo City, Brazil

Multifilter rotating shadowband radiometer (MFRSR) calibration values for aerosol optical depth (AOD) retrievals were determined by means of the general method formulated by Forgan [Appl. Opt.33, 4841 (1994)] at a polluted urban site. The obtained precision is comparable with the classical method, the Langley plot, applied on clean mountaintops distant of pollution sources. The AOD retrieved over S?o Paulo City with both calibration procedures is compared with the Aerosol Robotic Network data. The observed results are similar, and, except for the shortest wavelength (415 nm), the MFRSR's AOD is systematically overestimated by approximately 0.03.     

Alcohol extract of Bauhinia forficata link reduces lipid peroxidation in the testis and epididymis of adult Wistar rats

Bauhinia forficata is a medicinal plant that has flavonoid components with hypoglycemic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antibacterial, antiviral and anti‐inflammatory action. Aim of this study is to evaluate the action of B. forficata alcoholic extract in the male genital system of adult male Wistar rats. For that, 20 adult male Wistar rats were distributed into two experimental groups: the B. forficata group, receiving B. forficata alcoholic extract (0.1 ml/10 g body weight/day) on alternate days, and the control group, receiving just the vehicle for 30 days straight both via gavage. On the 31st day, the animals were euthanized, and the testis and epididymis were collected for histopathological, biochemical, morphometric, and sperm count analysis. Mass spectrometry identified new compounds in the extract: trans‐caffeic acid, liquiritigenin, gallocatechin, and 2,4,6‐trihydroxyphenanthren‐2‐glycoside. Biochemical analysis showed higher total cholesterol levels in the testis and lower malondialdehyde levels in the testis and epididymis, in the B. forficata group. The mast cell count showed a reduction in degranulated mast cells in the caput region of the epididymis, in the B. forficata group. The luminal compartment of the caput and the epithelial of the epididymis cauda were reduced, whereas the stromal region of the epididymis caput was increased in the B. forficata group, compared with the control group. The testicular tissue was less impaired, considering that all the histological analyses were similar to the control. We believe that B. forficata alcoholic extract in the male genital system showed antioxidant action, especially in the epididymal tissue.     

Syndecan Family Gene and Protein Expression and Their Prognostic Values for Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the leading cause of cancer-associated mortality in men, and new biomarkers are still needed. The expression pattern and protein tissue localization of proteoglycans of the syndecan family (SDC 1–4) and syntenin-1 (SDCBP) were determined in normal and prostatic tumor tissue from two genetically engineered mouse models and human prostate tumors. Studies were validated using SDC 1–4 and SDCBP mRNA levels and patient survival data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and CamCAP databases. RNAseq showed increased expression of Sdc1 in Pb-Cre4/Pten^f/f mouse Pca and upregulation of Sdc3 expression and downregulation of Sdc2 and Sdc4 when compared to the normal prostatic tissue in Pb-Cre4/Trp53^f/f-;Rb1^f/f mouse tumors. These changes were confirmed by immunohistochemistry. In human PCa, SDC 1–4 and SDCBP immunostaining showed variable localization. Furthermore, Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that patients expressing SDC3 had shorter prostate-specific survival than those without SDC3 expression (log-rank test, p = 0.0047). Analysis of the MSKCC-derived expression showed that SDC1 and SDC3 overexpression is predictive of decreased biochemical recurrence-free survival (p = 0.0099 and p = 0.045, respectively), and SDC4 overexpression is predictive of increased biochemical recurrence-free survival (p = 0.035). SDC4 overexpression was associated with a better prognosis, while SDC1 and SDC3 were associated with more aggressive tumors and a worse prognosis.