bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring Knowledge and Attitudes about Vitamin D among Adults in Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Aljefree Najlaa , Lee Patricia , Ahmed Faruk
Published: October 2017

Abstract: Vitamin D deficiency is widespread in Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study was to explore participants’ knowledge about vitamin D and attitudes toward sun exposure. The study also aimed to explore the social and cultural factors that might potentially contribute to vitamin D deficiency in Saudi Arabia. Face-to-face interviews were carried out in the cities of Jeddah and Makkah between May and October 2015. The interview questions were semi-structured, and the data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Study participants showed a reasonable level of knowledge in different areas about vitamin D, including the effect of vitamin D deficiency on bone health and exposure to sunlight as the main source of vitamin D. Participants were also knowledgeable about vitamin D supplements as another source of this vitamin. Nevertheless, there was a shortage of knowledge in relation to dietary sources of vitamin D. In respect to attitudes toward sun exposure, some participants had positive attitudes toward sunlight and were willing to expose themselves to sunlight, but it was restricted to the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat. These participants who liked exposure to sunlight were largely exposing only their faces and hands to sunlight. Other participants had negative attitudes toward sun exposure and were avoiding sunlight. Moreover, the study participants identified several barriers to sun exposure, including hot climate, living in high-rise buildings, limited public areas allowing outdoor activities, lifestyle issues such as physical inactivity, and some religious concerns such as wearing the hijab. The study results also demonstrate that females were more enthusiastic about taking actions to improve their vitamin D status in comparison with males. Recommendations for health education interventions that increase awareness about vitamin D sources, especially food sources, are made. Also, educational interventions should focus on increasing awareness about the sufficient time of the day and duration for sun exposure to improve vitamin D status and the importance of the intake of vitamin D supplements as an affordable source to improve vitamin D status. Increasing males’ awareness of the benefits of vitamin D is important to encourage them to adopt behaviors to improve vitamin D.
A Novel Vaping Machine Dedicated to Fully Controlling the Generation of E-Cigarette Emissions
Authors: Soulet Sébastien , Pairaud Charly , Lalo Hélène
Published: October 2017

The accurate study of aerosol composition and nicotine release by electronic cigarettes is a major issue. In order to fully and correctly characterize aerosol, emission generation has to be completely mastered. This study describes an original vaping machine named Universal System for Analysis of Vaping (U-SAV), dedicated to vaping product study, enabling the control and real-time monitoring of applied flow rate and power. Repeatability and stability of the machine are demonstrated on flow rate, power regulation and e-liquid consumption. The emission protocol used to characterize the vaping machine is based on the AFNOR-XP-D90-300-3 standard (15 W power, 1 Ω atomizer resistance, 100 puffs collected per session, 1.1 L/min airflow rate). Each of the parameters has been verified with two standardized liquids by studying mass variations, power regulation and flow rate stability. U-SAV presents the required and necessary stability for the full control of emission generation. The U-SAV is recognised by the French association for standardization (AFNOR), European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and International Standards Organisation (ISO) as a vaping machine. It can be used to highlight the influence of the e-liquid composition, user behaviour and nature of the device, on the e-liquid consumption and aerosol composition.
Behaviors Related to Mosquito-Borne Diseases among Different Ethnic Minority Groups along the China-Laos Border Areas
Authors: Wu Chao , Guo Xiaofang , Zhao Jun , Lv Quan , Li Hongbin , McNeil Edward , Chongsuvivatwong Virasakdi , Zhou Hongning
Published: October 2017

Background: In China, mosquito-borne diseases are most common in the sub-tropical area of Yunnan province. The objective of this study was to examine behaviors related to mosquito-borne diseases in different ethnic minority groups and different socioeconomic groups of people living in this region. Methods: A stratified two-stage cluster sampling technique with probability proportional to size was used in Mengla County, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan. Twelve villages were used to recruit adult (≥18 years old) and eight schools were used for children (<18 years old). A questionnaire on behaviors and environment variables related to mosquito-borne diseases was devised. Results: Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) grouped 20 behaviors into three domains, namely, environmental condition, bed net use behaviors, and repellent use behaviors, respectively. The Han ethnicity had the lowest odds of rearing pigs, their odds being significantly lower than those of Yi and Yao. For bed net use, Dai and other ethnic minority groups were less likely to use bed nets compared to Yi and Yao. The odds of repellent use in the Han ethnicity was lower than in Yi, but higher than in Dai. The Dai group was the most likely ethnicity to use repellents. Farmers were at a higher risk for pig rearing and not using repellents. Education of less than primary school held the lowest odds of pig rearing. Those with low income were at a higher risk for not using bed nets and repellent except in pig rearing. Those with a small family size were at a lower risk for pig rearing. Conclusion: Different ethnic and socioeconomic groups in the study areas require different specific emphases for the prevention of mosquito-borne diseases.
Barriers and Facilitators for Health Behavior Change among Adults from Multi-Problem Households: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Nagelhout Gera , Hogeling Lette , Spruijt Renate , Postma Nathalie , De Vries Hein
Published: October 2017

Multi-problem households are households with problems on more than one of the following core problem areas: socio-economic problems, psycho-social problems, and problems related to child care. The aim of this study was to examine barriers and facilitators for health behavior change among adults from multi-problem households, as well as to identify ideas for a health promotion program. A qualitative study involving 25 semi-structured interviews was conducted among Dutch adults who received intensive family home care for multi-problem households. Results were discussed with eight social workers in a focus group interview. Data were analyzed using the Framework Method. The results revealed that the main reason for not engaging in sports were the costs. Physical activity was facilitated by physically active (transport to) work and by dog ownership. Respondents who received a food bank package reported this as a barrier for healthy eating. Those with medical conditions such as diabetes indicated that this motivated them to eat healthily. Smokers and former smokers reported that stress was a major barrier for quitting smoking but that medical conditions could motivate them to quit smoking. A reported reason for not using alcohol was having difficult past experiences such as violence and abuse by alcoholics. Mentioned intervention ideas were: something social, an outdoor sports event, cooking classes, a walking group, and children’s activities in nature. Free or cheap activities that include social interaction and reduce stress are in line with the identified barriers and facilitators. Besides these activities, it may be important to influence the target group’s environment by educating social workers and ensuring healthier food bank packages.
Non-Traditional Risk Factors of Albuminuria in the Pediatric Population: A Scoping Review
Authors: Sierra-Diaz Erick , Celis-de la Rosa Alfredo , Lozano-Kasten Felipe , Bravo-Cuellar Alejandro , Garcia-Gutierrez Mariana , Georgina Hernandez-Flores
Published: October 2017

The presence of albumin in urine has been used for more than four decades as a marker of renal and cardiovascular damage. Most of the information on this marker is related to adults. The prevalence of albuminuria in the pediatric population has been reported as being 2.2–12.8% in some countries. Most research in this field is related to albuminuria and diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension. Using the methodology described by Arksey and O’Malley in 2005, a scoping review was carried out to show that the presence of albumin in urine in the pediatric population might be associated with environmental, demographic, congenital, infectious, and non-infectious factors. The information collected is supported by 74 references present in PubMed. The results reveal the multiple causes associated with albuminuria in the pediatric population. This information can be very useful for clinical practice by adding knowledge about albuminuria behavior in children.
Design of Research on Performance of a New Iridium Coordination Compound for the Detection of Hg2+
Authors: Ma Hailing , Tsai Sang-Bing
Published: October 2017

Heavy metal pollution has become one of the most significant pollution problems encountered by our country in terms of environment protection. In addition to the significant effects of heavy metals on the human body and other organisms through water, food chain enrichment and other routes, heavy metals involved in daily necessities beyond the level limit could also affect people’s lives, so the detection of heavy metals is extremely important. Ir (III) coordination compound, considered to be one of the best phosphorescent sensing materials, is characterized by high luminous efficiency, easy modification of the ligand and so on, and it has potential applications in the field of heavy metal detection. This project aims to product a new Ir (III) functional coordination compound by designing a new auxiliary ligand and a main ligand with a sulfur identification unit, in order to systematically investigate the application of iridium coordination compound in the detection of the heavy metal Hg2+. With the introduction of the sulfur identification unit, selective sensing of Hg2+ could be achieved. Additionally, a new auxiliary ligand is also introduced to produce a functional iridium coordination compound with high quantum efficiency, and to diversify the application of iridium coordination compound in this field.
Molecular Characterization and Functional Analysis of a Ferritin Heavy Chain Subunit from the Eri-Silkworm, Samia cynthia ricini
Authors: Yu Hai-Zhong , Zhang Shang-Zhi , Ma Yan , Fei Dong-Qiong , Li Bing , Yang Li-Ang , Wang Jie , Li Zhen , Muhammad Azharuddin , Xu Jia-Ping
Published: October 2017

Ferritins are conserved iron-binding proteins that are primarily involved in iron storage, detoxification and the immune response. Despite the importance of ferritin in organisms, little is known about their roles in the eri-silkworm (Samia cynthia ricini). We previously identified a ferritin heavy chain subunit named ScFerHCH in the S. c. ricini transcriptome database. The full-length S. c. ricini ferritin heavy chain subunit (ScFerHCH) was 1863 bp and encoded a protein of 231 amino acids with a deduced molecular weight of 25.89 kDa. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that ScFerHCH shared a high amino acid identity with the Bombyx mori and Danaus plexippus heavy chain subunits. Higher ScFerHCH expression levels were found in the silk gland, fat body and midgut of S. c. ricini by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting. Injection of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was associated with an upregulation of ScFerHCH in the midgut, fat body and hemolymph, indicating that ScFerHCH may contribute to the host’s defense against invading pathogens. In addition, the anti-oxidation activity and iron-binding capacity of recombinant ScFerHCH protein were examined. Taken together, our results suggest that the ferritin heavy chain subunit from eri-silkworm may play critical roles not only in innate immune defense, but also in organismic iron homeostasis.
Neutrosophic N-Structures Applied to BCK/BCI-Algebras
Authors: Jun Young , Smarandache Florentin , Bordbar Hashem
Published: October 2017

Neutrosophic N -structures with applications in B C K / B C I -algebras is discussed. The notions of a neutrosophic N -subalgebra and a (closed) neutrosophic N -ideal in a B C K / B C I -algebra are introduced, and several related properties are investigated. Characterizations of a neutrosophic N -subalgebra and a neutrosophic N -ideal are considered, and relations between a neutrosophic N -subalgebra and a neutrosophic N -ideal are stated. Conditions for a neutrosophic N -ideal to be a closed neutrosophic N -ideal are provided.
The Roles of the Wnt-Antagonists Axin and Lrp4 during Embryogenesis of the Red Flour Beetle Tribolium castaneum
Authors: Prühs Romy , Beermann Anke , Schröder Reinhard
Published: October 2017

In both vertebrates and invertebrates, the Wnt-signaling pathway is essential for numerous processes in embryogenesis and during adult life. Wnt activity is fine-tuned at various levels by the interplay of a number of Wnt-agonists (Wnt ligands, Frizzled-receptors, Lrp5/6 coreceptors) and Wnt-antagonists (among them Axin, Secreted frizzled and Lrp4) to define anterior–posterior polarity of the early embryo and specify cell fate in organogenesis. So far, the functional analysis of Wnt-pathway components in insects has concentrated on the roles of Wnt-agonists and on the Wnt-antagonist Axin. We depict here additional features of the Wnt-antagonist Axin in the flour beetle Tribolium castaneum. We show that Tc-axin is dynamically expressed throughout embryogenesis and confirm its essential role in head development. In addition, we describe an as yet undetected, more extreme Tc-axin RNAi-phenotype, the ectopic formation of posterior abdominal segments in reverse polarity and a second hindgut at the anterior. For the first time, we describe here that an lrp4 ortholog is involved in axis formation in an insect. The Tribolium Lrp4 ortholog is ubiquitously expressed throughout embryogenesis. Its downregulation via maternal RNAi results in the reduction of head structures but not in axis polarity reversal. Furthermore, segmentation is impaired and larvae develop with a severe gap-phenotype. We conclude that, as in vertebrates, Tc-lrp4 functions as a Wnt-inhibitor in Tribolium during various stages of embryogenesis. We discuss the role of both components as negative modulators of Wnt signaling in respect to axis formation and segmentation in Tribolium.
Sea Level Change and Coastal Climate Services: The Way Forward
Authors: Le Cozannet Gonéri , Nicholls Robert , Hinkel Jochen , Sweet William , McInnes Kathleen , Van de Wal Roderik , Slangen Aimée , Lowe Jason , White Kathleen
Published: October 2017

For many climate change impacts such as drought and heat waves, global and national frameworks for climate services are providing ever more critical support to adaptation activities. Coastal zones are especially in need of climate services for adaptation, as they are increasingly threatened by sea level rise and its impacts, such as submergence, flooding, shoreline erosion, salinization and wetland change. In this paper, we examine how annual to multi-decadal sea level projections can be used within coastal climate services (CCS). To this end, we review the current state-of-the art of coastal climate services in the US, Australia and France, and identify lessons learned. More broadly, we also review current barriers in the development of CCS, and identify research and development efforts for overcoming barriers and facilitating their continued growth. The latter includes: (1) research in the field of sea level, coastal and adaptation science and (2) cross-cutting research in the area of user interactions, decision making, propagation of uncertainties and overall service architecture design. We suggest that standard approaches are required to translate relative sea level information into the forms required to inform the wide range of relevant decisions across coastal management, including coastal adaptation.
Prebiotic RNA Network Formation: A Taxonomy of Molecular Cooperation
Authors: Mathis Cole , Ramprasad Sanjay , Walker Sara , Lehman Niles
Published: October 2017

Cooperation is essential for evolution of biological complexity. Recent work has shown game theoretic arguments, commonly used to model biological cooperation, can also illuminate the dynamics of chemical systems. Here we investigate the types of cooperation possible in a real RNA system based on the Azoarcus ribozyme, by constructing a taxonomy of possible cooperative groups. We construct a computational model of this system to investigate the features of the real system promoting cooperation. We find triplet interactions among genotypes are intrinsically biased towards cooperation due to the particular distribution of catalytic rate constants measured empirically in the real system. For other distributions cooperation is less favored. We discuss implications for understanding cooperation as a driver of complexification in the origin of life.
Comparison of Heavy-Duty Scuffing Behavior between Chromium-Based Ceramic Composite and Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum-Coated Ring Sliding against Cast Iron Liner under Starvation
Authors: Shen Yan , Yu Baihong , Lv Yutao , Li Bin
Published: October 2017

A running-in and starved lubrication experiment is designed to investigate the heavy-duty scuffing behavior of piston ring coatings against cast iron (Fe) cylinder liner using the piston ring reciprocating liner test rig. The scuffing resistance of the piston ring with the chromium-based ceramic composite coating (CKS), and that with the thermally sprayed nickel-chromium-molybdenum coating (NCM) is compared at different nominal pressures (40~100 MPa) and temperatures (180~250 °C). With the failure time as a criterion, the rank order is as follows: NCM/Fe > CKS/Fe. Before the scoring occurs at the interface of the piston ring and cylinder liner (PRCL), the cast iron liner enters into a “polish wear” stage, and iron-based adhesive materials begin to form on the piston ring surface. With the macroscopic adhesion formation, the plastic shearing cycle causes surface damages mainly due to abrasive effects for the CKS/Fe pairs and adhesive effects for the NCM/Fe pairs.
Laser Powder Cladding of Ti-6Al-4V α/β Alloy
Authors: Al-Sayed Ali Samar , Hussein Abdel , Nofal Adel , Hasseb Elnaby Salah , Elgazzar Haytham , Sabour Hassan
Published: October 2017

Laser cladding process was performed on a commercial Ti-6Al-4V (α + β) titanium alloy by means of tungsten carbide-nickel based alloy powder blend. Nd:YAG laser with a 2.2-KW continuous wave was used with coaxial jet nozzle coupled with a standard powder feeding system. Four-track deposition of a blended powder consisting of 60 wt % tungsten carbide (WC) and 40 wt % NiCrBSi was successfully made on the alloy. The high content of the hard WC particles is intended to enhance the abrasion resistance of the titanium alloy. The goal was to create a uniform distribution of hard WC particles that is crack-free and nonporous to enhance the wear resistance of such alloy. This was achieved by changing the laser cladding parameters to reach the optimum conditions for favorable mechanical properties. The laser cladding samples were subjected to thorough microstructure examinations, microhardness and abrasion tests. Phase identification was obtained by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The obtained results revealed that the best clad layers were achieved at a specific heat input value of 59.5 J·mm−2. An increase by more than three folds in the microhardness values of the clad layers was achieved and the wear resistance was improved by values reaching 400 times.
A Mesoscopic Analytical Model to Predict the Onset of Wrinkling in Plain Woven Preforms under Bias Extension Shear Deformation
Authors: Hosseini Abbas , Kashani Masoud , Sassani Farrokh , Milani Abbas , Ko Frank
Published: October 2017

A mesoscopic analytical model of wrinkling of Plain-Woven Composite Preforms (PWCPs) under the bias extension test is presented, based on a new instability analysis. The analysis is aimed to facilitate a better understanding of the nature of wrinkle formation in woven fabrics caused by large in-plane shear, while it accounts for the effect of fabric and process parameters on the onset of wrinkling. To this end, the mechanism of wrinkle formation in PWCPs in mesoscale is simplified and an equivalent structure composed of bars and different types of springs is proposed, mimicking the behavior of a representative PWCP element at the post-locking state. The parameters of this equivalent structure are derived based on geometric and mechanical characteristics of the PWCP. The principle of minimum total potential energy is employed to formluate the model, and experimental validation is carried out to reveal the effectiveness of the derived wrinkling prediction equation.
The Influence of Backwater Al3+ on Diaspore Bauxite Flotation
Authors: Fang Chaojun , Chang Ziyong , Feng Qiming , Xiao Wei , Yu Shichao , Qiu Guanzhou , Wang Jun
Published: October 2017

The effect of Al3+ in backwater on the flotation of diaspore bauxite was investigated by micro-flotation tests and the underlying mechanisms were investigated by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) measurement, zeta potential measurements, solution chemistry analyses, and synchrotron near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) analyses. The ICP measurement results show the concentration of Al3+ in backwater was up to 1 × 10−4 mol/L. The micro-flotation results indicated that backwater Al3+ reduced the flotation recovery of diaspore and improved the flotation recovery of kaolinite at pH 9, which was the pH value used in the industrial flotation. The adsorption of Al3+ species changed the zeta potential, the Al atomic abundance, and the number of active sites on the mineral surface. In particular, the result of solution chemistry analyses and synchrotron NEXAFS analyses show that the Al3+ in backwater was adsorbed on the mineral surface in the form of Al(OH)3 (s), and the bond of –Al–O–Al–(OH)2 or –Al/Si–O–Al–(OH)2 was formed at pH 9. It changed the intensity of hydrogen bond force between minerals and collectors, and resulted in the depression of diaspore flotation and the activation of kaolinite flotation. This study can be used to guide the application of backwater in the flotation of diaspore bauxite in industry.
Alpha-Galacto-Oligosaccharides at Low Dose Improve Liver Steatosis in a High-Fat Diet Mouse Model
Authors: Chappuis Eric , Morel-Depeisse Fanny , Bariohay Bruno , Roux Julien
Published: October 2017

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is the major liver disease worldwide and is linked to the development of metabolic syndrome and obesity. As alpha-galacto-oligosaccharides (α-GOS) from legumes have been shown to reduce body weight and hyperphagia in overweight adults, it was hypothesized that they would exert benefits on the development of metabolic syndrome and associated NAFLD in a rodent model. C57Bl/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet until they developed metabolic syndrome and were then orally treated either with α-GOS at a physiological dose (2.2 g/kg BW/d) or the vehicle over 7 weeks. α-GOS induced a reduction in food intake, but without affecting body weight during the first week of treatment, when compared to the vehicle. Fasting glycaemia was improved after 4 weeks of treatment with α-GOS, whereas insulin sensitivity (assessed with HOMA-IR) was unaffected at the end of the experiment. Plasma non-esterified fatty acids, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol were lowered by α-GOS while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides levels remained unaffected. α-GOS markedly improved liver steatosis as well as free fatty acid and triglyceride accumulation in the liver. α-GOS improved plasma lipids and prevented NAFLD development through mechanisms which are independent of body weight management and glycemic control.
From 2-Alkylsulfanylimidazoles to 2-Alkylimidazoles: An Approach towards Metabolically More Stable p38α MAP Kinase Inhibitors
Authors: Heider Fabian , Haun Urs , Döring Eva , Kudolo Mark , Sessler Catharina , Albrecht Wolfgang , Laufer Stefan , Koch Pierre
Published: October 2017

In vitro and in vivo metabolism studies revealed that 2-alkylsulfanylimidazole ML3403 (4-(5-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(methylthio)-1H-imidazol-4-yl)-N-(1-phenylethyl)pyridin-2-amine) undergoes rapid oxidation to the sulfoxide. Replacing the sulfur atom present in the two potent p38α mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitors ML3403 and LN950 (2-((5-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-(2-((3-methylbutan-2-yl)amino)pyridin-4-yl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl)thio)ethan-1-ol) by a methylene group resulted in 2-alkylimidazole derivatives 1 and 2, respectively, having a remarkably improved metabolic stability. The 2-alkylimidazole analogs 1 and 2 showed 20% and 10% biotransformation after 4 h of incubation with human liver microsomes, respectively. They display a 4-fold increased binding affinity towards the target kinase as well as similar in vitro potency and ex vivo efficacy relative to their 2-alkylsulfanylimidazole counterparts ML3403 and LN950. For example, 2-alkylimidazole 2, the analog of LN950, inhibits both the p38α MAP kinase as well as the LPS-stimulated tumor necrosis factor-α release from human whole blood in the low double-digit nanomolar range.
A Highly Selective and Sensitive Fluorescent Turn-Off Probe for Cu2+ Based on a Guanidine Derivative
Authors: Ye Fei , Chai Qiong , Liang Xiao-Min , Li Ming-Qiang , Wang Zhi-Qiang , Fu Ying
Published: October 2017

A new highly selective and sensitive fluorescent probe for Cu2+, N-n-butyl-4-(1′-cyclooctene-1′,3′,6′-triazole)-1,8-naphthalimide (L), was synthesized and evaluated. The structure of compound L was characterized via IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and HRMS. The fluorescent probe was quenched by Cu2+ with a 1:1 binding ratio and behaved as a “turn-off” sensor. An efficient and sensitive spectrofluorometric method was developed for detecting and estimating trace levels of Cu2+ in EtOH/H2O. The ligand exhibited excitation and emission maxima at 447 and 518 nm, respectively. The equilibrium binding constant of the ligand with Cu2+ was 1.57 × 104 M−1, as calculated using the Stern
Recent Progresses and Development of Advanced Atomic Layer Deposition towards High-Performance Li-Ion Batteries
Authors: Lu Wei , Liang Longwei , Sun Xuan , Sun Xiaofei , Wu Chen , Hou Linrui , Sun Jinfeng , Yuan Changzhou
Published: October 2017

Electrode materials and electrolytes play a vital role in device-level performance of rechargeable Li-ion batteries (LIBs). However, electrode structure/component degeneration and electrode-electrolyte sur-/interface evolution are identified as the most crucial obstacles in practical applications. Thanks to its congenital advantages, atomic layer deposition (ALD) methodology has attracted enormous attention in advanced LIBs. This review mainly focuses upon the up-to-date progress and development of the ALD in high-performance LIBs. The significant roles of the ALD in rational design and fabrication of multi-dimensional nanostructured electrode materials, and finely tailoring electrode-electrolyte sur-/interfaces are comprehensively highlighted. Furthermore, we clearly envision that this contribution will motivate more extensive and insightful studies in the ALD to considerably improve Li-storage behaviors. Future trends and prospects to further develop advanced ALD nanotechnology in next-generation LIBs were also presented.
Transformation of CuO Nanoparticles in the Aquatic Environment: Influence of pH, Electrolytes and Natural Organic Matter
Authors: Peng Cheng , Shen Chensi , Zheng Siyuan , Yang Weiling , Hu Hang , Liu Jianshe , Shi Jiyan
Published: October 2017

Many studies have shown the effect of solution chemistry on the environmental behavior of metal-based nanoparticles (NPs), except CuO NPs. Here, we investigated the agglomeration, sedimentation, dissolution, and speciation of CuO NPs by varying pH, ionic strength, ionic valence, and natural organic matter (NOM). The results showed that as the pH moved away from 6, the size of CuO agglomerates decreased, along with the enhanced NP suspension stabilization, due to the increase of electrostatic repulsive force. Increasing ionic strength and valence intensified the agglomeration and sedimentation of CuO NPs because of the compression of electrical double layers. The presence of humic acid and citric acid enhanced the dispersion and stabilization of CuO NP suspension, but l-cysteine showed a different impact. Decreasing pH, increasing ionic strength and all NOM improved the dissolution of CuO NPs, but the divalent electrolyte (CaCl2) inhibited the Cu2+ release from CuO NPs compared to the monovalent electrolyte (NaCl). In addition, X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) analysis demonstrated that the presence of l-cysteine transformed more than 30% of CuO NPs to Cu(I)-cysteine by coordinating with thiol group. This study can give us an in-depth understanding on the environmental behavior and fate of CuO NPs in the aquatic environment.
Regulation of the Electroanalytical Performance of Ultrathin Titanium Dioxide Nanosheets toward Lead Ions by Non-Metal Doping
Authors: Zhang Junping , Liao Jianjun , Yang Fan , Xu Ming , Lin Shiwei
Published: October 2017

Three non-metallic elements, sulfur, fluorine, and iodine, were used to dope the ultrathin two-dimensional TiO2 nanosheets, which would regulate their electroanalytical properties toward heavy metal ions. Among these doped materials, fluorine-doped TiO2 nanosheets shows the highest electrochemical sensitivity and a superior detection limit toward Pb(II) when the doping concentration is 10%. When compared with the bare TiO2 nanosheets, the sensitivity increased by 102%, and the detection limit decreased by 36.4%. Through combining further electrochemical experiments and density-functional theory calculations, the enhanced electrochemical performance stemming from element doping was then investigated in detail. The theoretical calculation demonstrated that fluorine doping could greatly increase the adsorption energy of Pb(II) on the TiO2 nanosheets and enhance their loading capacity. Both cyclic voltammetric and electrical impedance spectroscopy analysis indicated the enhanced electron transfer rate on the electrode modified by fluorine-doped TiO2 nanosheets. Further measurement on the desorption performance showed the better stripping response of Pb(II) on the electrode with TiO2 nanosheets after fluorine doping, which suggests that fluorine doping is beneficial for Pb(II) diffuse onto the electrode surface for the reduction and stripping reaction. Therefore, the element doping of two-dimensional TiO2 nanosheets provides a facile method to extend the electronic materials toward detection of heavy metal ions in the environment.
Evaluation of MC3T3 Cells Proliferation and Drug Release Study from Sodium Hyaluronate-1,4-butanediol Diglycidyl Ether Patterned Gel
Authors: Bang Sumi , Das Dipankar , Yu Jiyun , Noh Insup
Published: October 2017

A pattern gel has been fabricated using sodium hyaluronate (HA) and 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDGE) through the micro-molding technique. The cellular behavior of osteoblast cells (MC3T3) in the presence and absence of dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG) and sodium borate (NaB) in the pattern gel (HA-BDDGE) has been evaluated for its potential application in bone regeneration. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (13C NMR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results implied the crosslinking reaction between HA and BDDGE. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed the formation of pattern on the surface of HA-BDDGE. The gel property of the crosslinked HA-BDDGE has been investigated by swelling study in distilled water at 37 °C. The HA-BDDGE gel releases DMOG in a controlled way for up to seven days in water at 37 °C. The synthesized gel is biocompatible and the bolus drug delivery results indicated that the DMOG containing patterned gel demonstrates a better cell migration ability on the surface than NaB. For local delivery, the pattern gel with 300 µM NaB or 300 µM DMOG induced cell clusters formation, and the gel with 150 µM NaB/DMOG showed high cell proliferation capability only. The vital role of NaB for bone regeneration has been endorsed from the formation of cell clusters in presence of NaB in the media. The in vitro results indicated that the pattern gel showed angiogenic and osteogenic responses with good ALP activity and enhanced HIF-1α, and Runx2 levels in the presence of DMOG and NaB in MC3T3 cells. Hence, the HA-BDDGE gel could be used in bone regeneration application.
Modeling of Interactions between the Zebrafish Hatching Enzyme ZHE1 and A Series of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles: Nano-QSAR and Causal Analysis of Inactivation Mechanisms
Authors: Sizochenko Natalia , Leszczynska Danuta , Leszczynski Jerzy
Published: October 2017

The quantitative relationships between the activity of zebrafish ZHE1 enzyme and a series of experimental and physicochemical features of 24 metal oxide nanoparticles were revealed. Vital characteristics of the nanoparticles’ structure were reflected using both experimental and theoretical descriptors. The developed quantitative structure–activity relationship model for nanoparticles (nano-QSAR) was capable of predicting the enzyme inactivation based on four descriptors: the hydrodynamic radius, mass density, the Wigner–Seitz radius, and the covalent index. The nano-QSAR model was calculated using the non-linear regression tree M5P algorithm. The developed model is characterized by high robustness R2bagging = 0.90 and external predictivity Q2EXT = 0.93. This model is in agreement with modern theories of aquatic toxicity. Dissolution and size-dependent characteristics are among the key driving forces for enzyme inactivation. It was proven that ZnO, CuO, Cr2O3, and NiO nanoparticles demonstrated strong inhibitory effects because of their solubility. The proposed approach could be used as a non-experimental alternative to animal testing. Additionally, methods of causal discovery were applied to shed light on the mechanisms and modes of action.
Role of Information Anxiety and Information Load on Processing of Prescription Drug Information Leaflets
Authors: Bapat Shweta , Patel Harshali , Sansgiry Sujit
Published: October 2017

In this study, we evaluate the role of information anxiety and information load on the intention to read information from prescription drug information leaflets (PILs). These PILs were developed based on the principals of information load and consumer information processing. This was an experimental prospective repeated measures study conducted in the United States where 360 (62% response rate) university students (>18 years old) participated. Participants were presented with a scenario followed by exposure to the three drug product information sources used to operationalize information load. The three sources were: (i) current practice; (ii) pre-existing one-page text only; and (iii) interventional one-page prototype PILs designed for the study. Information anxiety was measured as anxiety experienced by the individual when encountering information. The outcome variable of intention to read PILs was defined as the likelihood that the patient will read the information provided in the leaflets. A survey questionnaire was used to capture the data and the objectives were analyzed by performing a repeated measures MANOVA using SAS version 9.3. When compared to current practice and one-page text only leaflets, one-page PILs had significantly lower scores on information anxiety (p < 0.001) and information load (p < 0.001). The intention to read was highest and significantly different (p < 0.001) for PILs as compared to current practice or text only leaflets. Information anxiety and information load significantly impacted intention to read (p < 0.001). Newly developed PILs increased patient’s intention to read and can help in improving the counseling services provided by pharmacists.
Facile Synthesis of Polyaniline Nanotubes with Square Capillary Using Urea as Template
Authors: Pang Shuhua , Chen Weiliang , Yang Zhewei , Liu Zheng , Fan Xin , Fang Dong
Published: October 2017

Polyaniline nanotubes were successfully synthesized by a facile in situ chemical oxidative polymerization method using urea as soft template. When the urea/aniline molar ratio is 3:1, the as-prepared nanotubular polyaniline (PANI-3) shows regular and uniform square capillaries, which provides a high electrode/electrolyte contact, easy ion diffusion and enhanced electroactive regions during the electrochemical process, leading to weak internal resistance and improved electrochemical performance. The PANI-3 sample exhibits a high specific capacitance of 405 F/g at current density of 0.2 A/g, and PANI only has a specific capacitance of 263 F/g. At current density of 1 A/g, the capacitance of PANI-3 is still 263 F/g (64.9% of the capacitance at 0.2 A/g). Such a PANI-3 nanotube, with regular and uniform capillary, is a promising electrode material for high-performance supercapacitors.
Conjugated Polymers Containing BODIPY and Fluorene Units for Sensitive Detection of CN− Ions: Site-Selective Synthesis, Photo-Physical and Electrochemical Properties
Authors: He Tian , Tang Danting , Lin Cuiling , Shen Xi , Lu Chenjie , Xu Luonan , Gu Zhengye , Xu Zheng , Qiu Huayu , Zhang Qian , Yin Shouchun
Published: October 2017

Conjugated polymers containing distinct molecular units are expected to be very interesting because of their unique properties endowed by these units and the formed conjugated polymers. Herein, four new conjugated copolymers based on fluorene and 4,4’-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY) have been designed and synthesized via Sonogashira polymerization. The fluorene unit was attached to the 3,5- or 2,6-positions of BODIPY by ethynylenes or p-diacetylenebenzene. The obtained polymers show good thermal stability and broad absorption in the wavelength range from 300 to 750 nm. The effects of site-selective copolymerization and conjugation length along the polymer backbone on the optoelectronic and electrochemical properties of these copolymers were systematically studied by UV-Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) and cyclic voltammetry. Besides, it is found that the BODIPY-based copolymers exhibit selectively sensitive responses to cyanide anions, resulting in obvious change of UV-Vis absorption spectra and significant fluorescence quenching of the polymers among various common anions.
Thermal and Rheological Properties of Crude Tall Oil for Use in Biodiesel Production
Authors: Adewale Peter , Christopher Lew
Published: October 2017

The primary objective of this work was to investigate the thermal and rheological properties of crude tall oil (CTO), a low-cost by-product from the Kraft pulping process, as a potential feedstock for biodiesel production. Adequate knowledge of CTO properties is a prerequisite for the optimal design of a cost-effective biodiesel process and related processing equipment. The study revealed the correlation between the physicochemical properties, thermal, and rheological behavior of CTO. It was established that the trans/esterification temperature for CTO was greater than the temperature at which viscosity of CTO entered a steady-state. This information is useful in the selection of appropriate agitation conditions for optimal biodiesel production from CTO. The point of interception of storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G′′) determined the glass transition temperature (40 °C) of CTO that strongly correlated with its melting point (35.3 °C). The flow pattern of CTO was modeled as a non-Newtonian fluid. Furthermore, due to the high content of fatty acids (FA) in CTO, it is recommended to first reduce the FA level by acid catalyzed methanolysis prior to alkali treatment, or alternatively apply a one-step heterogeneous or enzymatic trans/esterification of CTO for high-yield biodiesel production.
How a Model of Communication Can Assist Nurses to Foster Hope When Communicating with Patients Living with a Terminal Prognosis
Authors: Petley Rebecca
Published: October 2017

Nurses play a central role in joint decision-making and person-centred care, whereby care is focused on the needs of an individual patient. A key part of person-centred care is the way nurses engage with patients because good communication can impact on a person’s spiritual wellbeing, particularly in relation to their ability to have hope. The way nurses communicate can be even more pertinent for people living with a terminal prognosis as the issues discussed can in themselves significantly influence a person’s spiritual wellbeing. This paper combines contemporary research on how health professionals can foster hope in patients living with a terminal prognosis with The Awareness Context Theory described by Glaser and Strauss in 1965. A model of communication is then used to demonstrate how the research on hope and The Awareness Context Theory can be applied to practice.
A Workflow for Automated Satellite Image Processing: from Raw VHSR Data to Object-Based Spectral Information for Smallholder Agriculture
Authors: Stratoulias Dimitris , Tolpekin Valentyn , De By Rolf , Zurita-Milla Raul , Retsios Vasilios , Bijker Wietske , Hasan Mohammad , Vermote Eric
Published: October 2017

Earth Observation has become a progressively important source of information for land use and land cover services over the past decades. At the same time, an increasing number of reconnaissance satellites have been set in orbit with ever increasing spatial, temporal, spectral, and radiometric resolutions. The available bulk of data, fostered by open access policies adopted by several agencies, is setting a new landscape in remote sensing in which timeliness and efficiency are important aspects of data processing. This study presents a fully automated workflow able to process a large collection of very high spatial resolution satellite images to produce actionable information in the application framework of smallholder farming. The workflow applies sequential image processing, extracts meaningful statistical information from agricultural parcels, and stores them in a crop spectrotemporal signature library. An important objective is to follow crop development through the season by analyzing multi-temporal and multi-sensor images. The workflow is based on free and open-source software, namely R, Python, Linux shell scripts, the Geospatial Data Abstraction Library, custom FORTRAN, C++, and the GNU Make utilities. We tested and applied this workflow on a multi-sensor image archive of over 270 VHSR WorldView-2, -3, QuickBird, GeoEye, and RapidEye images acquired over five different study areas where smallholder agriculture prevails.
Bio-Inspired Distributed Transmission Power Control Considering QoS Fairness in Wireless Body Area Sensor Networks
Authors: Lee Chan-Jae , Jung Ji-Young , Lee Jung-Ryun
Published: October 2017

Recently, the development of wireless body area sensor network (WBASN) has accelerated due to the rapid development of wireless technology. In the WBASN environment, many WBASNs coexist where communication ranges overlap with each other, resulting in the possibility of interference. Although nodes in a WBASN typically operate at a low power level, to avoid adversely affecting the human body, high transmission rates may be required to support some applications. In addition to this, since many varieties of applications exist in the WBASN environment, each prospective user may have different quality of service (QoS) requirements. Hence, the following issues should be considered in the WBASN environment: (1) interference between adjacent WBASNs, which influences the performance of a specific system, and (2) the degree of satisfaction on the QoS of each user, i.e., the required QoS such as user throughput should be considered to ensure that all users in the network are provided with a fair QoS satisfaction. Thus, in this paper, we propose a transmission power adjustment algorithm that addresses interference problems and guarantees QoS fairness between users. First, we use a new utility function to measure the degree of the satisfaction on the QoS for each user. Then, the transmission power of each sensor node is calculated using the Cucker–Smale model, and the QoS satisfaction of each user is synchronized dispersively. The results of simulations show that the proposed algorithm performs better than existing algorithms, with respect to QoS fairness and energy efficiency.
Extrinsic Calibration of Camera and 2D Laser Sensors without Overlap
Authors: Ahmad Yousef Khalil , Mohd Bassam , Al-Widyan Khalid , Hayajneh Thaier  
Published: October 2017

Extrinsic calibration of a camera and a 2D laser range finder (lidar) sensors is crucial in sensor data fusion applications; for example SLAM algorithms used in mobile robot platforms. The fundamental challenge of extrinsic calibration is when the camera-lidar sensors do not overlap or share the same field of view. In this paper we propose a novel and flexible approach for the extrinsic calibration of a camera-lidar system without overlap, which can be used for robotic platform self-calibration. The approach is based on the robot–world hand–eye calibration (RWHE) problem; proven to have efficient and accurate solutions. First, the system was mapped to the RWHE calibration problem modeled as the linear relationship AX = ZB , where X and Z are unknown calibration matrices. Then, we computed the transformation matrix B , which was the main challenge in the above mapping. The computation is based on reasonable assumptions about geometric structure in the calibration environment. The reliability and accuracy of the proposed approach is compared to a state-of-the-art method in extrinsic 2D lidar to camera calibration. Experimental results from real datasets indicate that the proposed approach provides better results with an L2 norm translational and rotational deviations of 314 mm and 0 . 12 ∘ respectively.
Remote Sensing-Based Quantification of the Impact of Flash Flooding on the Rice Production: A Case Study over Northeastern Bangladesh
Authors: Ahmed M. , Rahaman Khan , Kok Aaron , Hassan Quazi
Published: October 2017

The northeastern region of Bangladesh often experiences flash flooding during the pre-harvesting period of the boro rice crop, which is the major cereal crop in the country. In this study, our objective was to delineate the impact of the 2017 flash flood (that initiated on 27 March 2017) on boro rice using multi-temporal Landsat-8 OLI and MODIS data. Initially, we opted to use Landsat-8 OLI data for mapping the damages; however, during and after the flooding event the acquisition of cloud free images were challenging. Thus, we used this data to map the cultivated boro rice acreage considering the planting to mature stages of the crop. Also, in order to map the extent of the damaged boro area, we utilized MODIS data as their 16-day composites provided cloud free information. Our results indicated that both the cultivated and damaged boro area estimates based on satellite data had strong relationships while compared to the ground-based estimates (i.e., r2 values approximately 0.92 for both cases, and RMSE of 18,374 and 9380 ha for cultivated and damaged areas, respectively). Finally, we believe that our study would be critical for planning and ensuring food security for the country.