bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Discovering the Interpersonal Relationship Between Luxury Perfume Brands and Consumers
Authors: Jain Varsha , Bhandari Chakshu , B.E. Ganesh
Published: December 2018

Luxury perfume brands are an integral part of the luxury brands sector globally and nationally. One of the main reasons for the same is that luxury perfume brands have had an extended usage across cultures and traditions. Additionally, luxury perfume brands are a high involvement category. Thus, this category needs to be developed and promoted with a specific means. This means is the development of a strong and reflexive relation between the luxury perfume brands and the consumers. Further, it should be premised on both value based and utility based satisfaction. Despite this, there is a dearth of studies that have consolidated the means of developing strong interpersonal relations between this category and consumers. Therefore, this paper aims at discovering a framework for consolidating and developing a strong interpersonal relation between the luxury perfume brand and the consumers. To this effect, we have used qualitative research in the form of semi structured personal interviews supplemented by Zaltman Metaphor Elicitation Technique. The findings from these explorations were developed into a robust framework using the precepts of Brand Personality, CAC (Cogntive- Affective- Conative) model and the Triangulat theory of love.
Got To Get You Into My Life: A qualitative investigation into opt-in text marketing
Authors: Ghiloni Beth W.
Published: December 2018

This study investigates the promise of mobile marketing and the negative attitudes that millennials express toward it. The literature on mobile marketing is dominated theoretically by the Technology Acceptance Model and methodologically with quantitative methodologies. Within this framework, privacy concerns lead to negative attitudes toward opting in to marketing text messages. This study, by way of contrast, seeks to understand the context of the phone as an environment within which millennials ask to receive marketing messages. Specifically, it explores the meaning to millennials attribute to their phone texting space, the content of this space and why they choose to opt in to corporate messages (vs. personal messages). These data suggest that privacy concerns and negative attitudes toward messages are mitigated when a brand is seen as a part of the consumers’ digital and social identity. The scholarly implication of this work is that specific brands as well as consumer brand engagement should be included in models assessing technology acceptance. The practical implication of this research is that opt-in to SMS is an invitation by the consumer to the brand to enter their self-created social network. It is a potential indicator of customer loyalty and deep brand engagement.
Editorial
Authors: Dogan Evinc
Published: December 2018

Transnational Marketing Journal was a proud sponsor of the 3rd Taste of City: Food and Place Marketing Conference 2018 hosted by Akdeniz University Tourism Faculty in Antalya, Turkey on 4-5 October. There were four sessions concentrated on different dimensions of food and place marketing. Particularly (trans)nationality dimension of food crossing borders, diaspora food culture and nation-branding attracted attention. Turkish coffee and coffee houses were discussed through several case studies. Papers presented about festivals (Jujube), events, street food and hedonism added spice and zest to the conference program. Many presentations included illustrative photos supporting often qualitative and subjective analyses of food and place marketing and branding.We look forward to seeing you in the next conference!
Undoing Difference: Academic Historians and the Downton Abbey Audience
Authors: Upchurch Charles
Published: December 2018

A number of proposals have been put forward in recent years by historians in both the British and American academies for increasing the audience for academic history. In part this is due to the significant reduction in support for history programmes in both countries since the 2008 financial crisis. Absent from those proposals, however, is a call to use the popular interest generated by programmes such as Downton Abbey to foster an appreciation for academic history outside the university. Drawing on theories of fan culture developed within media and cultural studies, this article argues for the compatibility of academic history and communities created by fans. It discusses my experience of using Downton Abbey to lecture on the pre-First World War British voting system, utilising the biographies of the show's characters to demonstrate the ways in which British voting was far more restricted in practice than it seemed. The article argues that even those committed to the most traditional forms of academic history can take advantage of opportunities presented by shows like Downton Abbey. It then explores the connections between this method of public engagement and Judith Butler's arguments in Undoing Gender, which examine how conditions for recognition and communication across ideological and cultural divisions can be created.
‘The New Downton Abbey’? Poldark and the Presentation and Perception of an Eighteenth-century Past
Authors: Greig Hannah
Published: December 2018

As soon as it was commissioned, Poldark, like a number of other recent historical dramas, was labelled as the ‘new Downton Abbey’ and the comparison has persisted. Given Downton Abbey's hit status such comparisons are surely welcomed by production companies. For historians, however, such associations highlight an important phenomenon: the grouping of diverse period dramas as broadly similar, all perceived as being ‘like’ Downton. In what ways, though, are such dramas part of the same genre? And what implications do such associations have for how we should approach and analyse period dramas as a form of public history? This article uses a case study of Poldark as a starting point for addressing these questions, exploring the history foregrounded in the Poldark narratives and examining what happens to audience perceptions of that history as the story moves from novel to screen. It argues that although Winston Graham created a deeply researched, revisionist historical world in his fiction, his historical innovation is rarely acknowledged when his stories are consumed. While this goes some way to explaining why it is that a drama set in the eighteenth century can be regarded as being ‘like’ Downton Abbey, this apparent lack of engagement with a drama's specific historical content raises important, if difficult, questions for historians keen to analyse historical drama as a form of public history.
Total OH Reactivity Changes Over the Amazon Rainforest During an El Niño Event
Authors: Pfannerstill Eva Y. , Nölscher Anke C. , Yáñez-Serrano Ana M. , Bourtsoukidis Efstratios , Keßel Stephan , Janssen Ruud H. H. , Tsokankunku Anywhere , Wolff Stefan , Sörgel Matthias , Sá Marta O. , Araújo Alessandro , Walter David , Lavrič Jošt , Dias-Júnior Cléo Q. , Kesselmeier Jürgen , Williams Jonathan
Published: December 2018

The 2015/16 El Niño event caused unprecedented drought and warming in the Amazon basin. How tropical forests react to such extreme events in terms of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions is of interest as the frequency of these events is predicted to increase through climate change. The diverse VOCs emitted can be significant for plants' carbon budgets, influence ozone and particle production, and through their reactivity impact OH concentrations. Total OH reactivity is a directly measureable quantity that gives the reaction frequency of OH radicals with all reactive species in the atmosphere in s−1. Here we present a comparison of the OH reactivity diel cycle from November 2015, i.e., extreme drought and elevated temperatures associated with strong El Niño conditions, with November 2012, a “normal” El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-neutral period. Interestingly, the diel maximum of OH reactivity during the El Niño event occurred at sunset instead of, under normal conditions, early afternoon. The absolute total diel OH reactivity, however, did not change significantly. Daytime OH reactivity averages were 24.3 ± 14.5 s−1 in 2012 and 24.6 ± 11.9 s−1 in 2015, respectively. Our findings suggest that a combination of stronger turbulent transport above the canopy with stress-related monoterpene and, possibly, other biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions were responsible for the increased reactivity at sunset.
Screening for Salt Tolerance in Four Local Varieties of Phaseolus lunatus from Spain
Authors: Arteaga Sugenith , Al Hassan Mohamad , Chaminda Bandara Wijesinghe M. , Yabor Lourdes , Llinares Josep V. , Boscaiu Monica , Vicente Oscar
Published: December 2018

This study assessed the responses of four local Spanish cultivars of Phaseolus lunatus (lima bean) to moderate salinity. For three weeks, plants were exposed to increasing salinity (50–150 mM NaCl) under greenhouse conditions. At the end of the experiment, several growth and biochemical parameters were determined. Salt stress reduced the fresh weight of aerial organs, allowing us to rank the four genotypes according to their tolerance to salinity. The concentration of most photosynthetic pigments remained unaltered, except carotenoids that were reduced in the least salt-tolerant cv. (cultivar) VPH-79. Leaf Na+ and Cl− concentrations increased with increased salt concentration of irrigation water, but K+ either remained constant, as in the most tolerant ‘BGV-15410’, or increased in the other cultivars, resulting in an unchanged K+/Na+ ratio under stress in two of the selected cultivars. Moreover, proline increased in all cultivars, most notably in cv. VPH-79, with the highest absolute concentrations registered in the more salt tolerant cultivars. Interestingly, these cultivars already had a relatively higher proline concentration in non-stressed plants. These findings indicate that P. lunatus is moderately salt tolerant and that its main mechanisms to adjust to salinity stress are the maintenance of high concentrations of K+ and proline accumulation in leaves.
Assessment of Fertilizer Management Strategies Aiming to Increase Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Wheat Grown Under Conservation Agriculture
Authors: Santillano-Cázares Jesús , Núñez-Ramírez Fidel , Ruíz-Alvarado Cristina , Cárdenas-Castañeda María Elena , Ortiz-Monasterio Iván
Published: December 2018

Sustainable crop production systems can be attained by using inputs efficiently and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) parameters are indirect measurements of sustainability of production systems. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of selected nitrogen (N) management treatments on wheat yields, grain and straw N concentration, and NUE parameters, under conservation agriculture (CA). The present study was conducted at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), in northwest, Mexico. Seventeen treatments were tested which included urea sources, timing, and methods of fertilizer application. Orthogonal contrasts were used to compare groups of treatments and correlation and regression analyses were used to look at the relationships between wheat yields and NUE parameters. Contrasts run to compare wheat yields or agronomic efficiency of N (AEN) performed similarly. Sources of urea or timing of fertilizer application had a significant effect on yields or AEN (p > 0.050). However, methods of application resulted in a highly significant (p < 0.0001) difference on wheat yields and agronomic efficiency of N. NUE parameters recorded in this study were average but the productivity associated to NUE levels was high. Results in this study indicate that wheat grew under non-critically limiting N supply levels, suggesting that N mineralization and reduced N losses from the soil under CA contributed to this favorable nutritional condition, thus minimizing the importance of N management practices under stable, mature CA systems.
Assessment of Intercropping and Plastic Mulch as Tools to Manage Heat Stress, Productivity and Quality of Jalapeño Pepper
Authors: Santillano-Cázares Jesús , Ruiz-Alvarado Cristina , García-López Alejandro M. , Escobosa-García Isabel , Cárdenas-Salazar Víctor , Morales-Maza Antonio , Núñez-Ramírez Fidel
Published: December 2018

Under a global warming scenario, it is important to adopt practices that favor soil water conservation, such as plant intercropping systems and the use of plastic mulching. The objective of this study was to determine how microenvironment, morphology, productivity and quality of jalapeño peppers were affected by corn intercropping and the use of plastic mulching. Two experiments were conducted during 2015 and 2016 in the Valley of Mexicali, Mexico, a region characterized by its extreme aridity, soil salinity, hot temperatures and high radiation during the summer. Four treatments were tested: jalapeño peppers grown on bare soil (BS); on bare soil intercropped with corn (BS+IC); on plastic mulch (PMu); and on plastic mulch intercropped with corn (PMu+IC). The response variables measured were yield, fruit quality attributes, microclimatic variables, and morphology of the pepper crop. PMu treatment produced the tallest pepper plants and yields, while the BS+IC treatment produced the smallest plants and the lowest yields. A possible explanation for the higher biomass and crop yield of the PMu treatment is the lack of competition from corn and the effect of plastic mulching in reducing soil salinity. It is concluded that competition from corn on jalapeño pepper dramatically affected the pepper’s productivity, particularly under high soil salinity and extremely high temperature conditions.
TEG Design for Waste Heat Recovery at an Aviation Jet Engine Nozzle
Authors: Ziolkowski Pawel , Zabrocki Knud , Müller Eckhard
Published: December 2018

Finite element model (FEM)-based simulations are conducted for the application of a thermoelectric generator (TEG) between the hot core stream and the cool bypass flow at the nozzle of an aviation turbofan engine. This work reports the resulting requirements on the TEG design with respect to applied thermoelectric (TE) element lengths and filling factors (F) of the TE modules in order to achieve a positive effect on the specific fuel consumption. Assuming a virtual optimized TE material and varying the convective heat transfer coefficients (HTC) between the nozzle surfaces and the gas flows, this work reports the achievable power output. System-level requirement on the gravimetric power density (>100 Wkg−1) can only be met for F ≤ 21%. When extrapolating TEG coverage to the full nozzle surface, the power output reaches 1.65 kW per engine. The assessment of further potential for power generation is demonstrated by a parametric study on F, convective HTC, and materials performance. This study confirms a feasible design range for TEG installation on the aircraft nozzle with a positive impact on the fuel consumption. This application translates into a reduction of operational costs, allowing for an economically efficient TEG-installation with respect to the cost-specific power output of modern thermoelectric materials.
The Effects on Muscle Activity and Discomfort of Varying Load Carriage With and Without an Augmentation Exoskeleton
Authors: Li Huaixian , Cheng Wenming , Liu Fang , Zhang Mingkui , Wang Kun
Published: December 2018

Load carriage is a key risk factor for Muscular Skeletal Disorders (MSDs). As one way to decrease such injuries, some exoskeletons have been developed for regular load carriage. We examined the ergonomic potential of an augmentation exoskeleton. Nine subjects completed eight trials of carrying tasks, using four loading levels (0, 15, 30, and 45 kg) and two carrying conditions (with and without the exoskeleton). Electromyography (EMG) and the extended NASA-TLX rating scales were investigated and analyzed by linear mixed modeling and two-way ANOVA methods. Noraxon MR3.8, SPSS19.0, and MATLAB R2014b software were adapted. The results show that most of the muscle mean activities increased significantly (p < 0.05) with exoskeleton assistance. However, the interactive effects illustrate a decreasing trend with increase of load level. The mean discomfort rating scale values were generally higher, but subjects generally preferred using the exoskeleton in heavier loading tasks. The exoskeleton can effectively augment the performance of humans in heavy load carriage. The main reasons for higher muscle activity are from inflexible structures and inharmonious human–robot interactions. In order to decrease the MSD risks and increase comfort, optimal human–robot control strategies and adaptable kinematic design should be improved.
Numerical and Experimental Methods for the Assessment of Wind Turbine Control Upgrades
Authors: Astolfi Davide , Castellani Francesco , Berno Francesco , Terzi Ludovico
Published: December 2018

Megawatt-scale wind turbine technology is nowadays mature and, therefore, several technical improvements in order to optimize the efficiency of wind power conversion have been recently spreading in the industry. Due to the nonstationary conditions to which wind turbines are subjected because of the stochastic nature of the source, the quantification of the impact of wind turbine power curve upgrades is a complex task and in general, it has been observed that the efficiency of the upgrades can vary considerably depending on the wind flow conditions at the microscale level. In this work, a test case of wind turbine control system improvement was studied numerically and through operational data. The wind turbine is multi-megawatt; it is part of a wind farm sited in a complex terrain in Italy, featuring 17 wind turbines. The analyzed control upgrade is an optimization of the revolutions per minute (rpm) management. The impact of this upgrade was quantified through a method based on operational data: It consists of the study, before and after the upgrade, of the residuals between the measured power output of the wind turbine of interest and an appropriate model of the power output itself. The input variables for the model were selected to be some operational parameters of the nearby wind turbines: They were selected from the data set at disposal with a stepwise regression algorithm. This work also includes a numerical characterization of the problem, by means of aeroelastic simulations performed with the FAST software: By mimicking the pre- and post-upgrade generator rpm–generator torque curve, it is subsequently possible to estimate how the wind turbine power curve changes. The main result of this work is that the two estimates of production improvement have the same order of magnitude (1.0% of the production below rated power). In general, this study sheds light on the perspective of employing not only operational data, but also a sort of digital replica of the wind turbine of interest, in order to reliably quantify the impact of control system upgrades.
Inversion of a Thunderstorm Cloud Charging Model Based on a 3D Atmospheric Electric Field
Authors: Xu Wei , Zhang Cancan , Ji Xinyuan , Xing Hongyan
Published: December 2018

The measurement of the atmospheric electric field is of great significance for the study of thunderstorm cloud charge models. Traditional electric field meters can only measure the vertical component of the atmospheric electric field, and thus it is difficult to invert the structure of the thunderstorm cloud. A three-dimensional atmospheric electric field meter was developed to simultaneously measure the horizontal and vertical components of the atmospheric electric field in this paper. The effective measurement linearly relates the measured electric field to the induced voltage, and the nonlinear equations of the three-dimensional atmospheric electric field and the thunderstorm cloud-charging model parameters were derived. The particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO) and the three-dimensional atmospheric electric field were used to invert the thunderstorm clouds. Experimental observations of the three-dimensional electric field in a cloud during a thunderstorm were analyzed. Combined with the typical charged structure model, parameters such as the charge and relative distance of the thunderstorm cloud were determined. The results showed that the value of the inversion fitness function reached 0.7288, and the charge structure was even. The measurement of the three-dimensional atmospheric electric field provides a new means of observation for the study of atmospheric electricity.
An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Nanomanipulation of SiO2 Nanoparticles: Design, Fabrication and Feasibility
Authors: Luisetto Igor , Tuti Simonetta , Marconi Eleonora , Veroli Andrea , Buzzin Alessio , De Cesare Giampiero , Natali Stefano , Verotti Matteo , Giovine Ennio , Belfiore Nicola
Published: December 2018

Although some recent developments in nanotechnology made the prospects of a direct mechanical manipulation of micro- or nano-objects quite realistic, there are still several concerns and difficulties that affect such an endeavor. This is probably due to the large base of knowledge that is necessary to approach the problem of handling a nano-object by means of a nano- or micro-device. Therefore, any progress in this field is possible only by means of an integrated and interdisciplinary approach, which takes into account different aspects of the phenomenon. During the actual pioneering phase, there is a certain convenience in handling nano-objects that: (a) have peculiar known characteristics; (b) are easily recognizable, and (c) are interesting to the scientific community. This paper presents the interdisciplinary activities that were necessary to set up an experiment where specifically synthesized SiO2 particles came in contact with the tips of specifically-designed and -fabricated nanomanipulators. SiO2 mesoporous nanoparticles (KCC-1), having a peculiar dendritic structure, have been selected as a suitable nano-object because of the possibility to easily modulate their morphology. The expected contact force has been also calculated by means of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) electro-mechanical simulations.
Factorial Design Analysis for Localization Algorithms
Authors: Mass-Sanchez Joaquin , Ruiz-Ibarra Erica , Gonzalez-Sanchez Ana , Espinoza-Ruiz Adolfo , Cortez-Gonzalez Joaquin
Published: December 2018

Localization is a fundamental problem in Wireless Sensor Networks, as it provides useful information regarding the detection of an event. There are different localization algorithms applied in single-hop or multi-hop networks; in both cases their performance depends on several factors involved in the evaluation scenario such as node density, the number of reference nodes and the log-normal shadowing propagation model, determined by the path-loss exponent ( η ) and the noise level ( σ d B ) which impact on the accuracy and precision performance metrics of localization techniques. In this paper, we present a statistical analysis based on the 2 k factorial methodology to determine the key factors affecting the performance metrics of localization techniques in a single-hop network to concentrate on such parameters, thus reducing the amount of simulation time required. For this proposal, MATLAB simulations are carried out in different scenarios, i.e., extreme values are used for each of the factors of interest and the impact of the interaction among them in the performance metrics is observed. The simulation results show that the path-loss exponent ( η ) and noise level ( σ d B ) factors have the greatest impact on the accuracy and precision metrics evaluated in this study. Based on this statistical analysis, we recommend estimating the propagation model as close to reality as possible to consider it in the design of new localization techniques and thus improve their accuracy and precision metrics.
Numerical Study of Heat Transfer Enhancement for Laminar Nanofluids Flow
Authors: Ramirez-Tijerina Ramon , Rivera-Solorio Carlos I. , Singh Jogender , Nigam K. D. P.
Published: December 2018

The laminar forced convection has been investigated for the flow of nanofluids in conventional straight tube (L = 5.34 m, dt = 10 mm) and straight microtube (L = 0.3 m, dt = 0.5 mm) under the constant temperature and constant heat flux conditions, separately. A wide range of the process parameters has been studied by varying three different type of base fluids including water, ethylene glycol and turbine oil with five different type of nanoparticles viz. Al2O3, TiO2, CuO, SiO2 and ZnO. Six different combinations of the geometries, base fluids and nanoparticle concentrations are considered in the present study. In addition to the single-phase model (SPH), the single-phase dispersion model (SPD) has been also used for effectiveness of the computed results. The results showed that Nusselt number (Nu) increases with increase in Reynolds number (Re). Further, the Nu considerably enhanced (up to 16% at volume fraction ϕ b = 4%, Re = 950) with increase in nanoparticle concentrations. Heat transfer correlations are developed for the flow of nanofluids in conventional straight tube and straight microtube over a wide range of process conditions (25 < Re < 1500, 0 < ϕ b < 10, 6 < Pr < 500) to enable a large number of engineering applications.
Chained Anomaly Detection Models for Federated Learning: An Intrusion Detection Case Study
Authors: Preuveneers Davy , Rimmer Vera , Tsingenopoulos Ilias , Spooren Jan , Joosen Wouter , Ilie-Zudor Elisabeth
Published: December 2018

The adoption of machine learning and deep learning is on the rise in the cybersecurity domain where these AI methods help strengthen traditional system monitoring and threat detection solutions. However, adversaries too are becoming more effective in concealing malicious behavior amongst large amounts of benign behavior data. To address the increasing time-to-detection of these stealthy attacks, interconnected and federated learning systems can improve the detection of malicious behavior by joining forces and pooling together monitoring data. The major challenge that we address in this work is that in a federated learning setup, an adversary has many more opportunities to poison one of the local machine learning models with malicious training samples, thereby influencing the outcome of the federated learning and evading detection. We present a solution where contributing parties in federated learning can be held accountable and have their model updates audited. We describe a permissioned blockchain-based federated learning method where incremental updates to an anomaly detection machine learning model are chained together on the distributed ledger. By integrating federated learning with blockchain technology, our solution supports the auditing of machine learning models without the necessity to centralize the training data. Experiments with a realistic intrusion detection use case and an autoencoder for anomaly detection illustrate that the increased complexity caused by blockchain technology has a limited performance impact on the federated learning, varying between 5 and 15%, while providing full transparency over the distributed training process of the neural network. Furthermore, our blockchain-based federated learning solution can be generalized and applied to more sophisticated neural network architectures and other use cases.
Optimized Passive Defense Measures via IR Imaging
Authors: Tiwari Bhupendra Nath , Hadzieva Elena , Pogarcic Ivan
Published: December 2018

In this paper, we study IR spectroscopy system design by optimizing the radiation energy in the plane of the surface temperature and wavelength. We provide infrared system designing criteria towards the formation of the optimized image of an arbitrary radiating body. As per this formulation, we find that an optimal image arises via an intrinsic statistical measure as late time thermal effects. We also outline the qualitative characteristics of the thermal radiation energy and associated quantities undermining its stability. This classifies (un)stable radiation zone detection towards cutting edge IR based information theory research & development in designing of thermal detectors. Finally, we discuss perspective applications of the IR technology, ensemble averaging, digital coding, and formation of an optimal thermal image.
Urban Air Quality in a Coastal City: Wollongong during the MUMBA Campaign
Authors: Paton-Walsh Clare , Guérette Élise-Andrée , Emmerson Kathryn , Cope Martin , Kubistin Dagmar , Humphries Ruhi , Wilson Stephen , Buchholz Rebecca , Jones Nicholas B. , Griffith David W. T. , Dominick Doreena , Galbally Ian , Keywood Melita , Lawson Sarah , Harnwell James , Ward Jason , Griffiths Alan , Chambers Scott
Published: December 2018

We present findings from the Measurements of Urban, Marine and Biogenic Air (MUMBA) campaign, which took place in the coastal city of Wollongong in New South Wales, Australia. We focus on a few key air quality indicators, along with a comparison to regional scale chemical transport model predictions at a spatial resolution of 1 km by 1 km. We find that the CSIRO chemical transport model provides accurate simulations of ozone concentrations at most times, but underestimates the ozone enhancements that occur during extreme temperature events. The model also meets previously published performance standards for fine particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5), and the larger aerosol fraction (PM10). We explore the observed composition of the atmosphere within this urban air-shed during the MUMBA campaign and discuss the different influences on air quality in the city. Our findings suggest that further improvements to our ability to simulate air quality in this coastal city can be made through more accurate anthropogenic and biogenic emissions inventories and better understanding of the impact of extreme temperatures on air quality. The challenges in modelling air quality within the urban air-shed of Wollongong, including difficulties in accurate simulation of the local meteorology, are likely to be replicated in many other coastal cities in the Southern Hemisphere.
Transport Paths and Identification for Potential Sources of Haze Pollution in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration from 2014 to 2017
Authors: Zhu Linglong , Zhang Yonghong , Kan Xi , Wang Jiangeng
Published: December 2018

Besides local emissions, long-range transportation of polluted air masses also has a huge impact on haze pollution. In this study, the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model was used to determine the transport paths and potential sources of haze pollution in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration. Haze days were determined by setting the threshold of meteorological elements. Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing and Hefei were selected as four representative cities to calculate the −72 h backward transport trajectory of haze air mass; thus, the main transport path was obtained after clustering. A potential source contribution function and concentration weighted field were used to identify potential pollution sources of the study. The results showed that the number of haze days in the northern Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration is much higher than that in the south. Haze days and Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration showed a downward trend. The transport paths could be summarized as long-range transports from the northwest and coastal direction during the dry season and short-distance transports from all directions. −72 h air flow trajectories come from the higher altitudes in dry season than these in wet season. The main sources of potential pollution are Hebei, Shandong, Anhui and northern Jiangsu.
Best Practices in Fragile X Syndrome Treatment Development
Authors: Erickson Craig A. , Kaufmann Walter E. , Budimirovic Dejan B. , Lachiewicz Ave , Haas-Givler Barbara , Miller Robert M. , Weber Jayne Dixon , Abbeduto Leonard , Hessl David , Hagerman Randi J. , Berry-Kravis Elizabeth
Published: December 2018

Preclinical studies using animal models of fragile X syndrome have yielded several agents that rescue a wide variety of phenotypes. However, translation of these treatments to humans with the disorder has not yet been successful, shedding light on a variety of limitations with both animal models and human trial design. As members of the Clinical Trials Committee of the National Fragile X Foundation, we have discussed a variety of recommendations at the level of preclinical development, transition from preclinical to human projects, family involvement, and multi-site trial planning. Our recommendations are made with the vision that effective new treatment will lie at the intersection of innovation, rigorous and reproducible research, and stakeholder involvement.
Testing the Validity of Self-Reported Posttraumatic Growth in Young Adult Cancer Survivors
Authors: Park Crystal L. , Sinnott Sinead M.
Published: December 2018

Posttraumatic growth has garnered increasing interest as a potential positive consequence of traumatic events and illnesses. However, scientific investigations have yet to demonstrate the validity of self-reports of posttraumatic growth. The most common measure used to assess this construct is the Post Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI); however, the extent to which the PTGI (as well as other self-report measures of perceived posttraumatic growth; PPTG) assess actual positive change remains unknown. The present study aimed to examine the validity of PPTG measures. We assessed 83 adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors at two time points, one year apart. We measured the stability of PTGI from T1 to T2, correlated three measures of PPTG that used different methods (only positive, positive or negative, positive and negative change) with wellbeing measures, and compared PTGI scores with changes in psychosocial resources. PTGI scores were stable over time. More nuanced measures of PPTG appeared to capture more perceived change, although no measure of PPTG was favorably related to wellbeing. Finally, PTGI did not correlate with change in psychosocial resources, with the exception of spirituality. Overall, our results suggest that measures of PPTG do not capture actual positive changes experienced by AYA cancer survivors.
In Silico Approach for Immunohistochemical Evaluation of a Cytoplasmic Marker in Breast Cancer
Authors: Mazo Claudia , Orue-Etxebarria Estibaliz , Zabalza Ignacio , Vivanco Maria d. M. , Kypta Robert M. , Beristain Andoni
Published: December 2018

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women and the second most common cancer overall, with nearly 1.7 million new cases worldwide every year. Breast cancer patients need accurate tools for early diagnosis and to improve treatment. Biomarkers are increasingly used to describe and evaluate tumours for prognosis, to facilitate and predict response to therapy and to evaluate residual tumor, post-treatment. Here, we evaluate different methods to separate Diaminobenzidine (DAB) from Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining for Wnt-1, a potential cytoplasmic breast cancer biomarker. A method comprising clustering and Color deconvolution allowed us to recognize and quantify Wnt-1 levels accurately at pixel levels. Experimental validation was conducted using a set of 12,288 blocks of m × n pixels without overlap, extracted from a Tissue Microarray (TMA) composed of 192 tissue cores. Intraclass Correlations (ICC) among evaluators of the data of 0.634 , 0.791 , 0.551 and 0.63 for each Allred class and an average ICC of 0.752 among evaluators and automatic classification were obtained. Furthermore, this method received an average rating of 4.26 out of 5 in the Wnt-1 segmentation process from the evaluators.
Oncogenic Activation of Nrf2, Though as a Master Antioxidant Transcription Factor, Liberated by Specific Knockout of the Full-Length Nrf1α that Acts as a Dominant Tumor Repressor
Authors: Qiu Lu , Wang Meng , Hu Shaofan , Ru Xufang , Ren Yonggang , Zhang Zhengwen , Yu Siwang , Zhang Yiguo
Published: December 2018

Liver-specific knockout of Nrf1 in the mouse leads to spontaneous development of non- alcoholic steatohepatitis with dyslipidemia, and then its deterioration results in hepatoma, but the underlying mechanism remains elusive to date. A similar pathological model is reconstructed here by using human Nrf1α-specific knockout cell lines. Our evidence has demonstrated that a marked increase of the inflammation marker COX2 definitely occurs in Nrf1α−/− cells. Loss of Nrf1α leads to hyperactivation of Nrf2, which results from substantial decreases in Keap1, PTEN and most of 26S proteasomal subunits in Nrf1α−/− cells. Further investigation of xenograft model mice showed that malignant growth of Nrf1α−/−-derived tumors is almost abolished by silencing of Nrf2, while Nrf1α+/+-tumor is markedly repressed by an inactive mutant (i.e., Nrf2−/−ΔTA), but largely unaffected by a priori constitutive activator (i.e., caNrf2ΔN). Mechanistic studies, combined with transcriptomic sequencing, unraveled a panoramic view of opposing and unifying inter-regulatory cross-talks between Nrf1α and Nrf2 at different layers of the endogenous regulatory networks from multiple signaling towards differential expression profiling of target genes. Collectively, Nrf1α manifests a dominant tumor-suppressive effect by confining Nrf2 oncogenicity. Though as a tumor promoter, Nrf2 can also, in turn, directly activate the transcriptional expression of Nrf1 to form a negative feedback loop. In view of such mutual inter-regulation by between Nrf1α and Nrf2, it should thus be taken severe cautions to interpret the experimental results from loss of Nrf1α, Nrf2 or both.
Network Structured CuWO4/BiVO4/Co-Pi Nanocomposite for Solar Water Splitting
Authors: Peng Ben , Xia Mengyang , Li Chao , Yue Changshen , Diao Peng
Published: December 2018

A network structured CuWO4/BiVO4 nanocomposite with a high specific surface area was prepared from CuWO4 nanoflake (NF) arrays via a method that combined drop-casting and thermal annealing. The obtained CuWO4/BiVO4 exhibited high catalytic activity toward photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation. When cobalt phosphate (Co-Pi) was coupled with CuWO4/BiVO4, the activity of the resulting CuWO4/BiVO4/Co-Pi composite for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) was further improved. The photocurrent density (Jph) for OER on CuWO4/BiVO4/Co-Pi is among the highest reported on a CuWO4-based photoanode in a neutral solution. The high activity for the PEC OER was attributed to the high specific surface area of the composite, the formation of a CuWO4/BiVO4 heterojunction that accelerated electron–hole separation, and the coupling of the Co-Pi co-catalyst with CuWO4/BiVO4, which improved the charge transfer rate across composite/solution interface.
Tangential Flow Filtration for Highly Efficient Concentration of Extracellular Vesicles from Large Volumes of Fluid
Authors: Busatto Sara , Vilanilam George , Ticer Taylor , Lin Wen-Lang , Dickson Dennis W. , Shapiro Shane , Bergese Paolo , Wolfram Joy
Published: December 2018

Concentration of extracellular vesicles (EVs) from biological fluids in a scalable and reproducible manner represents a major challenge. This study reports the use of tangential flow filtration (TFF) for the highly efficient isolation of EVs from large volumes of samples. When compared to ultracentrifugation (UC), which is the most widely used method to concentrate EVs, TFF is a more efficient, scalable, and gentler method. Comparative assessment of TFF and UC of conditioned cell culture media revealed that the former concentrates EVs of comparable physicochemical characteristics, but with higher yield, less single macromolecules and aggregates (<15 nm in size), and improved batch-to-batch consistency in half the processing time (1 h). The TFF protocol was then successfully implemented on fluids derived from patient lipoaspirate. EVs from adipose tissue are of high clinical relevance, as they are expected to mirror the regenerative properties of the parent cells.
The Role of Mitochondria in Reactive Oxygen Species Generation and Its Implications for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Kausar Saima , Wang Feng , Cui Hongjuan
Published: December 2018

Mitochondria are dynamic cellular organelles that consistently migrate, fuse, and divide to modulate their number, size, and shape. In addition, they produce ATP, reactive oxygen species, and also have a biological role in antioxidant activities and Ca2+ buffering. Mitochondria are thought to play a crucial biological role in most neurodegenerative disorders. Neurons, being high-energy-demanding cells, are closely related to the maintenance, dynamics, and functions of mitochondria. Thus, impairment of mitochondrial activities is associated with neurodegenerative diseases, pointing to the significance of mitochondrial functions in normal cell physiology. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in our knowledge of mitochondrial functions, which has raised interest in defining the involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we summarize the existing knowledge of the mitochondrial function in reactive oxygen species generation and its involvement in the development of neurodegenerative diseases.
Experimental Study on the Oxidation and Diffusion Behavior of Inconel 625 and Tool Materials
Authors: Liu Erliang , Wang Ning , Qi Jin , Xu Zhichao , Liu Xia , Zhang Huiping
Published: December 2018

Oxidation and diffusion simulation experiments were conducted to choose the most suitable material for cutting the Inconel 625 superalloy. Three tool materials, WC/Co, coated carbide, and ceramic were used as tool materials in the oxidation simulation experiment. The three tool materials were heated for 30 min in a high-temperature furnace, and the high-temperature oxidation products were examined with scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Tools were heated for 90 min in a vacuum tube furnace. The element diffusion behaviors of Inconel 625 and the tool materials were analysed with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and XRD. Some of the WC and Co in the WC/Co and coated carbide tool materials was oxidized to WO3, Co3O4, and CoWO4, and the oxidation reaction became more intense as the temperature increased. For the ceramic tool, only TiC was oxidized to TiO2, which indicates good oxidation resistance. In the diffusion couple experiments, the diffusion levels of the three tool materials increased with temperature, but the degree of influence differed. Diffusion of elements was hindered by the (Al, Ti) N coating of the coated carbide and effectively inhibited by the Al2O3 in the ceramic tool. In terms of oxidation and diffusion, the most suitable tool material for cutting Inconel 625 was the ceramic, followed by the coated carbide and then WC/Co.
Entropy Measures in Analysis of Head up Tilt Test Outcome for Diagnosing Vasovagal Syncope
Authors: Buszko Katarzyna , Piątkowska Agnieszka , Koźluk Edward , Fabiszak Tomasz , Opolski Grzegorz
Published: December 2018

The paper presents possible applications of entropy measures in analysis of biosignals recorded during head up tilt testing (HUTT) in patients with suspected vasovagal syndrome. The study group comprised 80 patients who developed syncope during HUTT (57 in the passive phase of the test (HUTT(+) group) and 23 who had negative result of passive phase and developed syncope after provocation with nitroglycerine (HUTT(−) group)). The paper focuses on assessment of monitored signals’ complexity (heart rate expressed as R-R intervals (RRI), blood pressure (sBP, dBP) and stroke volume (SV)) using various types of entropy measures (Sample Entropy (SE), Fuzzy Entropy (FE), Shannon Entropy (Sh), Conditional Entropy (CE), Permutation Entropy (PE)). Assessment of the complexity of signals in supine position indicated presence of significant differences between HUTT(+) versus HUTT(−) patients only for Conditional Entropy (CE(RRI)). Values of CE(RRI) higher than 0.7 indicate likelihood of a positive result of HUTT already at the passive phase. During tilting, in the pre-syncope phase, significant differences were found for: (SE(sBP), SE(dBP), FE(RRI), FE(sBP), FE(dBP), FE(SV), Sh(sBP), Sh(SV), CE(sBP), CE(dBP)). HUTT(+) patients demonstrated significant changes in signals’ complexity more frequently than HUTT(−) patients. When comparing entropy measurements done in the supine position with those during tilting, SV assessed in HUTT(+) patients was the only parameter for which all tested measures of entropy (SE(SV), FE(SV), Sh(SV), CE(SV), PE(SV)) showed significant differences.
Comments on “The Principle of Least Action for Reversible Thermodynamic Processes and Cycles”, Entropy 2018, 20, 542
Authors: Bormashenko Edward
Published: December 2018

The goal of this comment note is to express my concerns about the recent paper by Tian Zhao et al. (Entropy 2018, 20, 542). It is foreseen that this comment will stimulate a fruitful discussion of the issues involved. The principle of the least thermodynamic action is applicable for the analysis of the Carnot cycle using the entropy (not heat) generation extrema theorem. The transversality conditions of the variational problem provide the rectangular shape of the ST diagram for the Carnot cycle.
A Simple Thermodynamic Model of the Internal Convective Zone of the Earth
Authors: Arango-Reyes Karen , Barranco-Jiménez Marco Antonio , Ares de Parga-Álvarez Gonzalo , Angulo-Brown Fernando
Published: December 2018

As it is well known both atmospheric and mantle convection are very complex phenomena. The dynamical description of these processes is a very difficult task involving complicated 2-D or 3-D mathematical models. However, a first approximation to these phenomena can be by means of simplified thermodynamic models where the restriction imposed by the laws of thermodynamics play an important role. An example of this approach is the model proposed by Gordon and Zarmi in 1989 to emulate the convective cells of the atmospheric air by using finite-time thermodynamics (FTT). In the present article we use the FTT Gordon-Zarmi model to coarsely describe the convection in the Earth’s mantle. Our results permit the existence of two layers of convective cells along the mantle. Besides the model reasonably reproduce the temperatures of the main discontinuities in the mantle, such as the 410 km-discontinuity, the Repetti transition zone and the so-called D-Layer.
A Decentralized, Hybrid Photovoltaic-Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System for Application to a Commercial Building
Authors: Arsalis Alexandros , Georghiou George
Published: December 2018

New energy solutions are needed to decrease the currently high electricity costs from conventional electricity-only central power plants in Cyprus. A promising solution is a decentralized, hybrid photovoltaic-solid oxide fuel cell (PV-SOFC) system. In this study a decentralized, hybrid PV-SOFC system is investigated as a solution for useful energy supply to a commercial building (small hotel). An actual load profile and solar/weather data are fed to the system model to determine the thermoeconomic characteristics of the proposed system. The maximum power outputs for the PV and SOFC subsystems are 70 and 152 kWe, respectively. The average net electrical and total efficiencies for the SOFC subsystem are 0.303 and 0.700, respectively. Maximum net electrical and total efficiencies reach up to 0.375 and 0.756, respectively. The lifecycle cost for the system is 1.24 million USD, with a unit cost of electricity at 0.1057 USD/kWh. In comparison to the conventional case, the unit cost of electricity is about 50% lower, while the reduction in CO2 emissions is about 36%. The proposed system is capable of power and heat generation at a lower cost, owing to the recent progress in both PV and fuel cell technologies, namely longer lifetime and lower specific cost.