bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION BY ECOLOGICAL ZONE AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS IN GHANA
Authors: AMO-ADJEI JOSHUA , KUMI-KYEREME AKWASI
Published: July 2014

The disease burden in both developed and developing countries is moving towards higher proportions of chronic diseases, and diseases such as cancers are now considered to be of public health concern. In sub-Saharan Africa, healthy behaviours such as fruit and vegetable consumption are recommended to reduce the chances of onset of chronic diseases. This paper examines the determinants of fruit and vegetable consumption in Ghana with particular emphasis on consumption by ecological zone. Data were from the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (n=4916 females; n=4568 males). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using basic descriptive and Poisson regression. The main independent variable was ecological zone and the dependent variables were levels of fruit and vegetable consumption. The mean number of fruits and vegetables consumed in a week was higher among females (fruits: 7.5, 95% CI=7.3–7.7; vegetables: 8.1, 95% CI=7.8–8.3) than males (fruits: 6.2, 95% CI=6.0–6.4; vegetables: 7.9, 95% CI=7.7–8.2). There were significant differences in consumption by ecological zone. Respondents in the Savannah zone consumed less fruit than those in the Coastal and Forest zones, but the differences in fruit and vegetable consumption between the Coastal and Savannah zones were not consistent, especially for vegetable consumption. The findings suggest that one of the key interventions to improve fruit and vegetable consumption could lie in improving distribution systems since their consumption is significantly higher in the Forest zone, where the production of fruit and vegetables is more developed than in the Savannah and Coastal zones. The findings relating to household wealth challenge conventional knowledge on fruit and vegetable consumption, and rather argue for equal consideration of spatial differences in critical health outcomes.
Special issue: Collisions in collisionless plasmas
Authors: Valentini F.
Published: July 2014

The special issue ‘Collisions in collisionless plasmas’ is intended to provide a collection of relevant contributions from different scientific fields in plasma physics, including experiments, theory, and numerical modeling, focused on the role of collisions on the dynamical evolution of weakly collisional plasma systems.
Potential habitat corridors and restoration areas for the black-and-white snub-nosed monkey Rhinopithecus bieti in Yunnan, China
Authors: Li Li , Xue Yadong , Wu Gongsheng , Li Diqiang , Giraudoux Patrick
Published: July 2014

The black-and-white snub-nosed monkey Rhinopithecus bieti is endemic to China, where its population is fragmented into 15 isolated groups and threatened despite efforts to protect the species. Here we analyse possible habitat connectivity between the groups reported in Yunnan, using genetic, least-cost path and Euclidean distances. We detect genetic isolation between the northern and southern groups but not among the northern groups. We show that genetic distance is better explained by human disturbance and land-cover least-cost paths than by Euclidian distance. High-quality habitats were found to be more fragmented in the southern part of the study area and interspersed with human-influenced areas unsuitable for black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys, which may explain the genetic isolation of the southern groups. Potential corridors are identified based on the least-cost path analysis, and seven sensitive areas are proposed for restoration. We recommend (1) that restoration is focused on the current range of the monkeys, with efforts to reduce human disturbance and human population pressure and increase public awareness, and (2) the development of a long-term plan for habitat restoration and corridor design in the areas between groups.
Hume's Fundamental Problem of Evil
Authors: Tarrant James
Published: July 2014

The problem of evil for theists was how to reconcile suffering with a benevolent God. Hume solved the problem of evil by claiming that the divine was amoral but not by denying God's existence which he needed in order to advocate his favoured notion of a general providence. Indeed, Hume's treatment of the problem of evil showed that his quarrel in the Natural History of Religion1and the Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding,2Section XI, was with a particular providence rather than the possibility of a divine orderer. The fundamental problem of evil for Hume, was evil's potential to drive people to the notion of a particular providence with its attendant damaging passions. In considering his alternative of the general providence Hume is shown to be closer to theism than has often been thought.
The association between cannabis abuse and subsequent schizophrenia: a Swedish national co-relative control study
Authors: Giordano G. N. , Ohlsson H. , Sundquist K. , Sundquist J. , Kendler K. S.
Published: July 2014

Background

Although cannabis abuse (CA) is known to be associated with schizophrenia, the causal nature of this association is unclear, with prodromal effects complicating its interpretation.

Method

From Swedish national registry databases, we used a co-relative case–control design with full-sibling, half-sibling and first-cousin comparisons, alongside a general Swedish population sample. Using ICD codes, 5456 individuals with an initial diagnosis of schizophrenia (2000–2010) were matched with five schizophrenia-free controls. We further identified first-cousin, half-sibling and full-sibling pairs discordant for CA and statistically extrapolated results for discordant monozygotic (MZ) twins.

Results

Within the general Swedish population, CA was strongly associated with later schizophrenia [odds ratio (OR) 10.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) 8.99–12.11]. This association was substantially attenuated both by increasing temporal delays between CA exposure and schizophrenia diagnosis and by controlling for increasing degrees of familial confounding. Extrapolated discordant MZ pairs suggested that fully controlling for confounding familial factors reduced the association between CA and later schizophrenia to more modest levels (ORs of approximately 3.3 and 1.6 with 3- and 7-year temporal delays respectively). Opiate, sedative, cocaine/stimulant and hallucinogen abuse were also strongly associated with subsequent schizophrenia in the general population. After controlling for familial confounding, only cocaine/stimulant exposure remained associated.

Conclusions

CA has an appreciable causal impact on future risk for schizophrenia. However, population-based estimates of cannabis–schizophrenia co-morbidity substantially overestimate their causal association. Predictions of the cases of schizophrenia that might be prevented by reduced cannabis consumption based on population associations are therefore likely to be considerably overestimated.
A Late Roman Military Burial from the Dyke Hills, Dorchester on Thames, Oxfordshire
Authors: Booth Paul
Published: July 2014

Damage to part of the earthwork at Dyke Hills, Dorchester on Thames, provided the opportunity to recover the badly disturbed remains of a late Roman burial which had contained an elaborate belt set and an axe. This burial, of a type very unusual in Roman Britain, is argued to be of early fifth-century date and to be directly comparable with well-known burials recovered near by in 1874 which formed a starting point for the ‘soldiers and settlers’ debates of the 1960s and beyond. The Dorchester burials are seen here as those of late Roman military personnel, and their local and wider context is discussed.
Life satisfaction among older people in Italy in a gender approach
Authors: MEGGIOLARO SILVIA , ONGARO FAUSTA
Published: July 2014

Over the last few decades, increasing attention has been paid to the issue of wellbeing among older people, and life satisfaction has been used as an indicator to evaluate older people's life conditions. This paper sheds some light on this topic with reference to Italy, a country characterised by an increasing ageing population. The aim is to examine life satisfaction among people aged 65 and older and its predictors. We adopt a gender approach to examine whether – as suggested by the literature – older men and women have different sources of satisfaction. We test this hypothesis in Italy, a country still characterised by an unbalanced public and private gender system. In doing this, we also control whether living arrangements – specifically living alone – influence the determinants of life satisfaction of older men and women. The data used are from the cross-sectional surveys ‘Aspects of Daily Life’, undertaken in Italy by the National Statistical Institute. The results do not show clear gender differences in the determinants of life satisfaction, with only some slight gender differences among those living alone. This suggests that the social and cultural environment may play a relevant role for older people's life satisfaction.
SOCIAL CHOICE AND THE ARROW CONDITIONS
Authors: Gibbard Allan F.
Published: July 2014

Arrow’s impossibility result stems chiefly from a combination of two requirements: independence and fixity. Independence says that the social choice is independent of individual preferences involving unavailable alternatives. Fixity says that the social choice is fixed by a social preference relation that is independent of what is available. Arrow found that requiring, further, that this relation be transitive yields impossibility. Here it is shown that allowing intransitive social indifference still permits only a vastly unsatisfactory system, a liberum veto oligarchy. Arrow’s argument for independence, though, undermines any rationale for fixity.
Prevalence of strongyloidiasis in Latin America: a systematic review of the literature
Authors: BUONFRATE D. , MENA M. A. , ANGHEBEN A. , REQUENA-MENDEZ A. , MUÑOZ J. , GOBBI F. , ALBONICO M. , GOTUZZO E. , BISOFFI Z. ,   the COHEMI Project Study Group
Published: July 2014

Strongyloides stercoralisis rarely recognized as a major public health issue, probably because its burden is largely underestimated. We reviewed the literature (both PubMed and ‘grey’ literature) about the prevalence of strongyloidiasis in Latin America, an area of presumable high endemicity. There were finally 88 papers involved in the analysis, covering the period between 1981 and 2011. Studies were heterogeneous in several aspects, such as the populations screened and the diagnostic methods used. Most of the studies relied on direct coproparasitological examination, which has low sensitivity for the detection ofS. stercoralislarvae. The following countries presented areas of high prevalence (>20%): Argentina, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru and Brazil. Globally, for most of the included countries it was not possible to define reliable data because of paucity and/or inadequacy of studies.S. stercoralisrequires specific diagnostic methods for its detection; therefore, surveys should be specifically designed in order to avoid underestimation of the infection.
Risk factors for sporadicVibrio parahaemolyticusgastroenteritis in east China: a matched case-control study
Authors: YAN W. X. , DAI Y. , ZHOU Y. J. , LIU H. , DUAN S. G. , HAN H. H. , CHEN Y.
Published: July 2014

To determine risk factors for sporadicVibrio parahaemolyticusgastroenteritis, we conducted a population-based case-control study in sentinel hospital surveillance areas of Shanghai and Jiangsu province, China. Seventy-one patients with diarrhoea and confirmedV. parahaemolyticusinfections were enrolled, and they were matched with 142 controls for gender, age and residential area. From the multivariable analysis,V. parahaemolyticusinfections were associated with antibiotics taken during the 4 weeks prior to illness [odds ratio (OR) 8·1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·2–56·4)], frequent eating out (OR 3·3, 95% CI 1·1–10·1), and shellfish consumption (OR 3·2, 95% CI 1·0–9·9), with population-attributable fractions of 0·09, 0·25, and 0·14, respectively. Protective factors included keeping the aquatic products refrigerated (OR 0·4, 95% CI 0·1–0·9) and pork consumption (OR 0·2, 95% CI 0·1–0·8). Further study of the association ofV. parahaemolyticusgastroenteritis with prior antibiotic use and shellfish consumption is needed.
A double-blinded comparison of in situ TUNEL and aniline blue versus flow cytometry acridine orange for the determination of sperm DNA fragmentation and nucleus decondensation state index
Authors: Hamidi Jamal , Frainais Christophe , Amar Edouard , Bailly Eric , Clément Patrice , Ménézo Yves
Published: July 2014

The impact of sperm DNA fragmentation on assisted reproductive technology (ART) successes, in terms of outcome, is now established. High levels of DNA strand breaks severely affect the probability of pregnancy. The importance of sperm nucleus condensation in early embryogenesis and, subsequently, on the quality of the conceptus is now emerging. In this article we have compared in situ analyses with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) (for DNA fragmentation) with aniline blue (AB) (for nucleus decondensation), versus flow cytometry (FC) after acridine orange staining, in a double-blinded analysis. In our hands, TUNEL and acridine orange give perfectly comparable results. For decondensation the results are also comparable, but the double-stranded green fluorescence obtained with acridine orange seems to slightly underestimate the decondensation status obtained with AB.
THE EVOLUTION OF ENDOGENOUS BUSINESS CYCLES
Authors: Farmer Roger E.A.
Published: July 2014

This paper distinguishes two kinds of endogenous business cycle models: EBC1 models, which display dynamic indeterminacy, and EBC2 models, which display steady-state indeterminacy. Both strands of the literature have their origins in the sunspot literature that developed at the University of Pennsylvania in the 1980s. I argue that EBC1 models are part of the evolution of modern macroeconomics that has classical roots dating back to the 1920s. EBC2 models provide a microfoundation for one of the most important ideas to emerge from Keynes's (1936)General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money: that high involuntary unemployment can persist as part of the steady-state equilibrium of a market economy.
From face-to-face to face-to-screen: remote management, effectiveness and accountability of humanitarian action in insecure environments
Authors: Donini Antonio , Maxwell Daniel
Published: July 2014

This article provides a first attempt at analysing the complex set of issues around remote management practices in insecure environments and their increased use. It looks at definitions and reviews existing published and grey literature on remote management and related practices. It tries to situate remote management in the evolving context of post-Cold War strategies of dealing with conflict and crisis. On the basis of interviews with a cross-section of aid workers, senior headquarters managerial and policy staff, donors, and research institutions, it provides an assessment of current remote management practices, with a particular focus on Afghanistan and Somalia, and their implications for the future of humanitarian action.
Developing a change model for peer worker interventions in mental health services: a qualitative research study
Authors: Gillard S. , Gibson S.L. , Holley J. , Lucock M.
Published: July 2014

Aims.

A range of peer worker roles are being introduced into mental health services internationally. There is some evidence that attests to the benefits of peer workers for the people they support but formal trial evidence in inconclusive, in part because the change model underpinning peer support-based interventions is underdeveloped. Complex intervention evaluation guidance suggests that understandings of how an intervention is associated with change in outcomes should be modelled, theoretically and empirically, before the intervention can be robustly evaluated. This paper aims to model the change mechanisms underlying peer worker interventions.

Methods.

In a qualitative, comparative case study of ten peer worker initiatives in statutory and voluntary sector mental health services in England in-depth interviews were carried out with 71 peer workers, service users, staff and managers, exploring their experiences of peer working. Using a Grounded Theory approach we identified core processes within the peer worker role that were productive of change for service users supported by peer workers.

Results.

Key change mechanisms were: (i) building trusting relationships based on shared lived experience; (ii) role-modelling individual recovery and living well with mental health problems; (iii) engaging service users with mental health services and the community. Mechanisms could be further explained by theoretical literature on role-modelling and relationship in mental health services. We were able to model process and downstream outcomes potentially associated with peer worker interventions.

Conclusions.

An empirically and theoretically grounded change model can be articulated that usefully informs the development, evaluation and planning of peer worker interventions.
CXCR4 and CXCR7 transduce through mTOR in human renal cancer cells
Authors: Ieranò C , Santagata S , Napolitano M , Guardia F , Grimaldi A , Antignani E , Botti G , Consales C , Riccio A , Nanayakkara M , Barone M V , Caraglia M , Scala S
Published: July 2014

Treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has improved significantly with the advent of agents targeting the mTOR pathway, such as temsirolimus and everolimus. However, their efficacy is thought to be limited by feedback loops and crosstalk with other pathways leading to the development of drug resistance. As CXCR4–CXCL12–CXCR7 axis has been described to have a crucial role in renal cancer; the crosstalk between the mTOR pathway and the CXCR4–CXCL12–CXCR7 chemokine receptor axis has been investigated in human renal cancer cells. In SN12C and A498, the common CXCR4–CXCR7 ligand, CXCL12, and the exclusive CXCR7 ligand, CXCL11, activated mTOR through P70S6K and 4EBP1 targets. The mTOR activation was specifically inhibited by CXCR4 antagonists (AMD3100, anti-CXCR4-12G5 and Peptide R, a newly developed CXCR4 antagonist) and CXCR7 antagonists (anti-CXCR7-12G8 and CCX771, CXCR7 inhibitor). To investigate the functional role of CXCR4, CXCR7 and mTOR in human renal cancer cells, both migration and wound healing were evaluated. SN12C and A498 cells migrated toward CXCL12 and CXCL11; CXCR4 and CXCR7 inhibitors impaired migration and treatment with mTOR inhibitor, RAD001, further inhibited it. Moreover, CXCL12 and CXCL11 induced wound healing while was impaired by AMD3100, the anti CXCR7 and RAD001. In SN12C and A498 cells, CXCL12 and CXCL11 promoted actin reorganization characterized by thin spikes at the cell periphery, whereas AMD3100 and anti-CXCR7 impaired CXCL12/CXCL11-induced actin polymerization, and RAD001 treatment further reduced it. In addition, when cell growth was evaluated in the presence of CXCL12, CXCL11 and mTOR inhibitors, an additive effect was demonstrated with the CXCR4, CXCR7 antagonists and RAD001. RAD001-resistant SN12C and A498 cells recovered RAD001 sensitivity in the presence of CXCR4 and CXCR7 antagonists. In conclusion, the entire axis CXCR4–CXCL12–CXCR7 regulates mTOR signaling in renal cancer cells offering new therapeutic opportunities and targets to overcome resistance to mTOR inhibitors.
Ancient harbour infrastructure in the Levant: tracking the birth and rise of new forms of anthropogenic pressure
Authors: Marriner Nick , Morhange Christophe , Kaniewski David , Carayon Nicolas
Published: July 2014

Beirut, Sidon and Tyre were major centres of maritime trade from the Bronze Age onwards. This economic prosperity generated increased pressures on the local environment, through urbanization and harbour development. Until now, however, the impact of expanding seaport infrastructure has largely been neglected and there is a paucity of data concerning the environmental stresses caused by these new forms of anthropogenic impacts. Sediment archives from Beirut, Sidon and Tyre are key to understanding human impacts in harbour areas because: (i) they lie at the heart of ancient trade networks; (ii) they encompass the emergence of early maritime infrastructure; and (iii) they enable human alterations of coastal areas to be characterized over long timescales. Here we report multivariate analyses of litho- and biostratigraphic data to probe human stressors in the context of their evolving seaport technologies. The statistical outcomes show a notable break between natural and artificial sedimentation that began during the Iron Age. Three anchorage phases can be distinguished: (i) Bronze Age proto-harbours that correspond to natural anchorages, with minor human impacts; (ii) semi-artificial Iron Age harbours, with stratigraphic evidence for artificial reinforcement of the natural endowments; and (iii) heavy human impacts leading to completely artificial Roman and Byzantine harbours.
Azo Schiff bases as colorimetric and fluorescent sensors for recognition of F−, Cd2+ and Hg2+ ions
Authors: Arabahmadi Raziyeh , Orojloo Masoumeh , Amani Saeid
Published: July 2014

The optical and colorimetric sensing properties of H2L1–H2L3 for anions were investigated by the naked eye and UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The spectral change of H2L1–H2L3 is due to the anion induced deprotonation and hence an increase in charge density and rigidity of the receptor molecule. The anion sensing abilities of the receptors toward halide anions were also monitored by electrochemical techniques.
Glycoconjugated porphyrin dimers as robust ratiometric temperature sensors
Authors: Hammerer Fabien , Garcia Guillaume , Charles Pauline , Sourdon Aude , Achelle Sylvain , Teulade-Fichou Marie-Paule , Maillard Philippe
Published: July 2014

We report the properties of glycoconjugated porphyrin dimers behaving as highly sensitive ratiometric temperature sensors in water.
Lithium-ion diffusion mechanisms in the battery anode material Li1+xV1−xO2
Authors: Panchmatia Pooja M. , Armstrong A. Robert , Bruce Peter G. , Islam M. Saiful
Published: July 2014

Layered Li1+xV1−xO2 has attracted recent interest as a potential low voltage and high energy density anode material for lithium-ion batteries.
Structure prediction of nanoclusters; a direct or a pre-screened search on the DFT energy landscape?
Authors: Farrow M. R. , Chow Y. , Woodley S. M.
Published: July 2014

Atomic structure prediction, using KLMC (Lamarckian evolutionary algorithm search), and properties comparison of (KF)n, (MgO)n, (ZnO)nand (CdSe)nnanoclusters.
On the existence and characteristics of π-beryllium bonds
Authors: Villanueva Estefanía Fernández , Mó Otilia , Yáñez Manuel
Published: July 2014

The existence of π-beryllium bonds explains the stability of the complexes between ethylene and acetylene and BeX2(X = H, F, and Cl) derivatives.
Dissolution of cellulose in ionic liquids: an ab initio molecular dynamics simulation study
Authors: Payal Rajdeep Singh , Balasubramanian Sundaram
Published: July 2014

Dissolution of cellulose in ionic liquids involves breaking of its inter- and intra-molecular hydrogen bonding network, as seen throughab initiomolecular dynamics simulations.
Assessing the hydration free energy of a homologous series of polyols with classical and quantum mechanical solvation models
Authors: Malaspina Thaciana , Abreu Leonardo M. , Fonseca Tertius L. , Fileti Eudes
Published: July 2014

Molecular dynamics (MD) and the polarizable continuum model (PCM) in combination with the SMD solvation model were used to study the hydration free energy of the homologous series of polyols, CnHn+2(OH)n(1 ≤n≤ 7).
Hydrodeoxygenation of propanoic acid over silica-supported palladium: effect of metal particle size
Authors: Lugo-José Yuliana K. , Monnier John R. , Heyden Andreas , Williams Christopher T.
Published: July 2014

A detailed discussion on the effect of Pd/SiO2 nanoparticle size on the gas-phase hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of propanoic acid (PAc) is presented.
Detecting gas molecules via atomic magnetization
Authors: Choi Heechae , Lee Minho , Kim Seungchul , Lee Kwang-Ryeol , Chung Yong-Chae
Published: July 2014

Adsorptions of gas molecules were found to alter the directions and magnitudes of magnetic moments of transition metal (Co, Fe) atoms adsorbed on graphene.
Laser ablation of an indium target: time-resolved Fourier-transform infrared spectra of In I in the 700–7700 cm−1 range
Authors: Civiš S. , Kubelík P. , Ferus M. , Chernov V. E. , Zanozina E. M. , Juha L.
Published: July 2014

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) in combination with a time-resolved Fourier-transform technique was applied to obtain spectra of In I in the infrared spectral region.
Functionality preservation with enhanced mechanical integrity in the nanocomposites of the metal–organic framework, ZIF-8, with BN nanosheets
Authors: Kumar Ram , Raut Devraj , Ahmad Irshad , Ramamurty Upadrasta , Maji Tapas Kumar , Rao C. N. R.
Published: July 2014

It has been possible to bestow significantly improved mechanical properties on a porous MOF by incorporating BN nanosheets.
Long-range chemical orders in Au–Pd nanoparticles revealed by aberration-corrected electron microscopy
Authors: Nelayah Jaysen , Nguyen Nhat Tai , Alloyeau Damien , Wang Guillaume Yangshu , Ricolleau Christian
Published: July 2014

We provide the first experimental evidence of long-range chemical orders in Au–Pd nanoalloys.
A promising monolayer membrane for oxygen separation from harmful gases: nitrogen-substituted polyphenylene
Authors: Lu Ruifeng , Meng Zhaoshun , Rao Dewei , Wang Yunhui , Shi Qi , Zhang Yadong , Kan Erjun , Xiao Chuanyun , Deng Kaiming
Published: July 2014

N doping enhances the O2adsorption on polyphenylene and dramatically reduces the diffusion barrier for O2across the pore.
Is the effect of surface modifying molecules on antibacterial activity universal for a given material?
Authors: Hsu Alexander , Liu Fangzhou , Leung Yu Hang , Ma Angel P. Y. , Djurišić Aleksandra B. , Leung Frederick C. C. , Chan Wai Kin , Lee Hung Kay
Published: July 2014

Surface coatings have different effects on antibacterial activity of ZnO, depending on the starting surface properties of the samples.
Solvent-free synthesis of Cu2ZnSnS4 nanocrystals: a facile, green, up-scalable route for low cost photovoltaic cells
Authors: Park Bo-In , Hwang Yoonjung , Lee Seung Yong , Lee Jae-Seung , Park Jong-Ku , Jeong Jeunghyun , Kim Jin Young , Kim BongSoo , Cho So-Hye , Lee Doh-Kwon
Published: July 2014

Cu2ZnSnS4 synthesized by a solvent-free mechanochemical process were successfully applied to fabricate Cu2ZnSnSe4 solar cells with efficiencies over 6%.
Carbon coated face-centered cubic Ru–C nanoalloys
Authors: Zhao Zhisheng , Meng Chuanmin , Li Peifang , Zhu Wenjun , Wang Qianqian , Ma Yanming , Shen Guoyin , Bai Ligang , He Hongliang , He Duanwei , Yu Dongli , He Julong , Xu Bo , Tian Yongjun
Published: July 2014

Carbon-encapsulated ruthenium–carbon (Ru–C) nanoalloys were synthesized by detonation shocks. The Ru–C alloy is assigned to a Ru32C4 solid solution, and shows a new fcc structure different from the original hcp structure of metal Ru.
Structural transformation of carbon-supported Pt3Cr nanoparticles from a disordered to an ordered phase as a durable oxygen reduction electrocatalyst
Authors: Zou Liangliang , Li Jun , Yuan Ting , Zhou Yi , Li Xuemei , Yang Hui
Published: July 2014

Carbon-supported Pt3Cr intermetallic nanoparticles synthesized by the structural transformation from disordered Pt3Cr alloy, exhibit much enhanced electrocatalytic activity and durability toward the oxygen reduction reaction.
Size control of noble metal clusters and metallic heterostructures through the reduction kinetics of metal precursors
Authors: Sevonkaev Igor V. , Herein Daniel , Jeske Gerald , Goia Dan V.
Published: July 2014

Eight precious metal salts/complexes were reduced in propylene glycol at temperatures ranging between 110 and 170 °C serving as ‘seeds’ for constructing complex core–shell and core–shell–shell multi-component structures.
Synthetic micro/nanomotors in drug delivery
Authors: Gao Wei , Wang Joseph
Published: July 2014

This article summarizes recent advances and future prospects and challenges on using synthetic micro/nanomachine based drug-delivery systems.
Synthesis of a dihydroquinoline based merocyanine as a ‘naked eye’ and ‘fluorogenic’ sensor for hydrazine hydrate in aqueous medium and hydrazine gas
Authors: Vijay K. , Nandi C. , Samant Shriniwas D.
Published: July 2014

1,2,2,4-Tetramethyldihydroquinoline (TMDQ) is formylated at the 6-position and the resulting quinoline aldehyde is condensed with 3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5(4H)-one to obtain a merocyanine 6-pyrazolinyl TMDQ.
Rhodamine based selective turn-on sensing of picric acid
Authors: Sivaraman Gandhi , Vidya Balasubramanian , Chellappa Duraisamy
Published: July 2014

A rhodamine based derivative RDD-1 bearing dimethylaminobenzaldehyde has been designed and synthesized.
One-pot synthesis of hierarchical mesoporous SnO2 spheres using a graft copolymer: enhanced photovoltaic and photocatalytic performance
Authors: Park Jung Tae , Lee Chang Soo , Kim Jong Hak
Published: July 2014

Hierarchical mesoporous SnO2 spheres with a large surface area were synthesized via a facile solvothermal reaction using a graft copolymer template.
Reusable bacteria immobilized electrospun nanofibrous webs for decolorization of methylene blue dye in wastewater treatment
Authors: San Nalan Oya , Celebioglu Aslı , Tümtaş Yasin , Uyar Tamer , Tekinay Turgay
Published: July 2014

In our study, an electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibrous web (CA-NFW) was found to be quite effective in immobilizing bacterial cells.
Tunable supercapacitor performance of potentiodynamically deposited urea-doped cobalt hydroxide
Authors: Vinothbabu Palanisamy , Elumalai Perumal
Published: July 2014

The influence of the basal length of Co(OH)2 on supercapacitor performance was examined in detail by adding simple urea molecules during deposition. It was observed that the specific capacitance of Co(OH)2 could be tuned from 700 to 1200 F g−1. This high specific capacitance was attributed to the better access of electrolyte.
Novel porous materials based on oligospiroketals (OSK)
Authors: Wessig Pablo , Gerngroß Maik , Pape Simon , Bruhns Philipp , Weber Jens
Published: July 2014

New materials with moderately high porosity are accessible by polyacetalization under very mild conditions.
Impact of non-solvents on the structural features and enzymatic digestibility of cellulose regenerated from an ionic liquid
Authors: Geng Xinglian , Henderson Wesley A.
Published: July 2014

The choice of non-solvent used to precipitate cellulose after dissolution in an ionic liquid strongly influence the resulting cellulose structure.
Ionic tagged amine supported on magnetic nanoparticles: synthesis and application for versatile catalytic Knoevenagel condensation in water
Authors: Ying Anguo , Qiu Fangli , Wu Chenglin , Hu Huanan , Yang Jianguo
Published: July 2014

Propylamine modified with imidazolium ionic moiety grafted onto magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) was prepared and evaluated as a catalyst for Knoevenagel condensation in water at room temperature.
Kinetics of domain registration in multicomponent lipid bilayer membranes
Authors: Sornbundit Kan , Modchang Charin , Triampo Wannapong , Triampo Darapond , Nuttavut Narin , Sunil Kumar P. B. , Laradji Mohamed
Published: July 2014

The kinetics of registration of lipid domains in the apposing leaflets of symmetric bilayer membranes is investigated via systematic dissipative particle dynamics simulations.
Molecular versus macroscopic perspective on the demixing transition of aqueous PNIPAM solutions by studying the dual character of the refractive index
Authors: Philipp Martine , Aleksandrova Ralitsa , Müller Ulrich , Ostermeyer Martin , Sanctuary Roland , Müller-Buschbaum Peter , Krüger Jan K.
Published: July 2014

The specific refractivity is much more affected than the specific volume by the phase separation of PNIPAM solutions.
Kinetically asymmetric charge and discharge behavior of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 at low temperature observed by in situ X-ray diffraction
Authors: Takahashi Ikuma , Murayama Haruno , Sato Kenji , Naka Takahiro , Kitada Koji , Fukuda Katsutoshi , Koyama Yukinori , Arai Hajime , Matsubara Eiichiro , Uchimoto Yoshiharu , Ogumi Zempachi
Published: July 2014

Thermodynamically reversible LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 electrodes kinetically behave asymmetrically during charging and discharging at low temperatures.
Computational and experimental analysis of Ba0.95La0.05FeO3−δ as a cathode material for solid oxide fuel cells
Authors: Chen Chi , Chen Dengjie , Gao Yang , Shao Zongping , Ciucci Francesco
Published: July 2014

La slightly-doped BaFeO3 as a SOFC cathode material is studied by experiments with single crystal thin films and molecular simulations.
Modelling and simulation of electron-rich effect on Li diffusion in group IVA elements (Si, Ge and Sn) for Li ion batteries
Authors: Wang Zhiguo , Su Qiulei , Deng Huiqiu , He Weidong , Lin Junhao , Fu Y. Q.
Published: July 2014

Enhancement of lithium diffusion by electron-rich effect in group IVA elements for lithium ion batteries.
A general top-down approach to synthesize rare earth doped-Gd2O3 nanocrystals as dualmodal contrast agents
Authors: Luo Ningqi , Yang Chuan , Tian Xiumei , Xiao Jun , Liu Jun , Chen Fei , Zhang Donghui , Xu Dekang , Zhang Yueli , Yang Guowei , Chen Dihu , Li Li
Published: July 2014

A general strategy, combining laser ablation in liquid with a standard solid state reaction technique, is developed to prepare dualmodal contrast agents for fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging applications.
Recent insights and therapeutic perspectives of angiotensin-(1–9) in the cardiovascular system
Authors: Ocaranza Maria Paz , Michea Luis , Chiong Mario , Lagos Carlos F. , Lavandero Sergio , Jalil Jorge E.
Published: July 2014

Chronic RAS (renin–angiotensin system) activation by both AngII (angiotensin II) and aldosterone leads to hypertension and perpetuates a cascade of pro-hypertrophic, pro-inflammatory, pro-thrombotic and atherogenic effects associated with cardiovascular damage. In 2000, a new pathway consisting of ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme2), Ang-(1–9) [angiotensin-(1–9)], Ang-(1–7) [angiotensin-(1–7)] and the Mas receptor was discovered. Activation of this novel pathway stimulates vasodilation, anti-hypertrophy and anti-hyperplasia. For some time, studies have focused mainly on ACE2, Ang-(1–7) and the Mas receptor, and their biological properties that counterbalance the ACE/AngII/AT1R (angiotensin type 1 receptor) axis. No previous information about Ang-(1–9) suggested that this peptide had biological properties. However, recent data suggest that Ang-(1–9) protects the heart and blood vessels (and possibly the kidney) from adverse cardiovascular remodelling in patients with hypertension and/or heart failure. These beneficial effects are not modified by the Mas receptor antagonist A779 [an Ang-(1–7) receptor blocker], but they are abolished by the AT2R (angiotensin type 2 receptor) antagonist PD123319. Current information suggests that the beneficial effects of Ang-(1–9) are mediated via the AT2R. In the present review, we summarize the biological effects of the novel vasoactive peptide Ang-(1–9), providing new evidence of its cardiovascular-protective activity. We also discuss the potential mechanism by which this peptide prevents and ameliorates the cardiovascular damage induced by RAS activation.
Position and orientation error analysis and its compensation for a wheeled train uncoupling robot with four degrees‐of‐freedom
Authors: Yao Jianjun , Gao Shuang , Jiang Guilin , Hill Thomas L. , Yu Han , Xiao Rui , Chen Shuo
Published: July 2014

A wheeled train uncoupling robot with four degrees‐of‐freedom has been developed to replace humans in the uncoupling task in a marshalling field for designating freight cars to different destinations. To successfully achieve the task in practical applications, the positioning accuracy of the robot is an important issue to be considered. Based on the kinematic model using Denavit–Hartenberg method, the matrix differential method is applied here to establish the static position and orientation error model. The impact of parameter errors upon the static pose error of the uncoupling manipulator is analysed. The flexibility of the robot's key components is taken into consideration to analyse its impact on the position and orientation error of the manipulator. The position and orientation error compensation is developed by using input motion planning method to improve the pose accuracy of the robot. Additional motions are added to each joint of the robot such that the uncoupling manipulator can generate a corresponding tiny perturbation, which is used to eliminate the positioning error, ensuring the uncoupling action is completed successfully.
Improved sensorless direct torque control method using adaptive flux observer
Authors: Saberi Hossein , Sabahi Mehran , Sharifian Mohammad Bagher Bannae , Feyzi Mohammadreza
Published: July 2014

A simple structure and a quick and robust response of the direct torque control (DTC) makes it attractive in ac drives. However, in sensorless applications, a precise estimation of the rotor speed is a crucial issue as along with the torque and flux estimation. In this paper an adaptive flux observer is introduced with a stator current and flux vector components as state variables and rotor speed as an unknown parameter which is estimated by using an adaptive scheme. A non‐linear inverter model is proposed to obtain a more accurate response. Also, torque, flux and current pulsations, during the steady‐state conditions, are considered as the disadvantages of the classical DTC method. A combined DTC and space vector modulation strategy is presented by using fuzzy logic control (FLC). FLCs are designed to obtain a fast response in the transients, and a high accuracy during the steady‐state conditions.
Single‐phase ac to high‐voltage dc converter with soft‐switching and diode‐capacitor voltage multiplier
Authors: Young Chung‐Ming , Wu Sheng‐Feng , Chen Ming‐Hui , Chen Sing‐Jhao
Published: July 2014

This paper proposes a single‐phase, soft‐switching, high step‐up ac–dc converter based on a diode‐capacitor voltage multiplier (DCVM) with a power factor correction (PFC). By applying the PFC technology, the proposed converter promises a near‐unity power factor and a low distortion line current, while providing an adjustable, high step‐up dc voltage that the conventional DCVM circuits cannot achieve. To reduce the switching losses, an auxiliary circuit for implementing a soft commutation is added to the power stage of the proposed converter. For operating at a fixed switching frequency, both the main and the auxiliary switches in the power stage are turned off with the zero‐current transmission (ZCT). The operating principle, the design considerations and the control strategy of the proposed converter all are detailed and investigated in this paper. A 1.2 kV/500 W laboratory prototype, which employs a commercial PFC IC UC3854 as a controller, is built for test, measurement and evaluation. Under the full‐load conditions, the measured power factor, the total harmonic distortion of the line current and the system efficiency are 99.6, 4.86 and 94%, respectively. The experimental results demonstrate the validity of the proposed converter.
New resonant LCL boost converter
Authors: Jabbari Masoud , Barati Fateme
Published: July 2014

This study presents a new soft‐switching resonant step‐up converter. An auxiliary high‐frequency resonant LC tank along with a switch constitute the auxiliary network added to the classic pulse width modulation (PWM) boost converter. Size of the main inductor of boost converter is also reduced, so that in conjunction with the auxiliary LC tank forms an LCL resonant network. This network provides zero‐current switching (ZCS) conditions for both switches independent from the load‐current and operating voltages. The converter can operate at ZCS in discontinuous conduction mode, continuous conduction mode (CCM) and deep‐CCM depending on the switching frequency; and, at deep‐CCM, the current stresses are minimised. Experimental results from a 100 W/100 kHz laboratory prototype verify the integrity of the presented theoretical analysis.
Dead‐time elimination method of nine‐switch converter
Authors: Gao Feng , Tian Hao , Li Nan
Published: July 2014

This study presents a novel dead‐time elimination method for operating nine‐switch converter. The proposed method assumes the unique switching cells of nine‐switch converter to operate under several subintervals divided during a fundamental period. Owing to the unidirectional conduction characteristics of switching cells, the nine‐switch converter can operate without dead‐time protection. Besides, for a special subinterval during which none of switching cells can be adopted, a novel switching signal transformation method is proposed to fully eliminate the dead‐time protection during the operation of nine‐switch converter. Matlab simulations and experimental results verify the effectiveness of proposed modulation scheme.
High‐efficiency battery charger with cascode output design
Authors: Chiu Huang‐Jen , Lo Yu‐Kang , Tseng Po‐Jung , Liu Yu‐Chen
Published: July 2014

This study presents a high‐efficiency battery charger with cascode output design. The output voltage is cascode comprising two parts: one is fixed and the other is variable. High efficiency can be achieved under a wide range of output voltage variations. This topology can increase the utilisation of transformer duty cycle and reduce the power loss. The constant current and constant voltage charging schemes can be achieved by the proposed cascode configuration for battery charger applications. A 3.3 kW laboratory prototype is implemented and tested. The experimental results verify the feasibility of the proposed scheme.
Line current harmonics of three‐level neutral‐point‐clamped electric multiple unit rectifiers: analysis, simulation and testing
Authors: Kejian Song , Mingli Wu , Agelidis Vassilios Georgios , Hui Wang
Published: July 2014

The harmonic spectra of the AC supply currents of electric multiple units (EMUs) employing three‐level neutral‐point‐clamped converters are discussed in this study. The analytical expressions of high‐order harmonics because of high‐frequency three‐level phase‐opposition disposition pulse‐width modulation are derived by using double Fourier series and a contour plot in a two‐dimensional plane. The carrier phase‐shift control to cancel some of the high‐order harmonics when two or more converters are interlaced is validated. The impact of converter's DC voltage controller on low‐order harmonics is formulated. The harmonic spectra are verified by computer simulations and through actual measured data taken at lower train speed and rated power from an EMU of the CRH380AL and tested on a 9 km long testing railway line in a purpose built rolling stocks plant.
Three‐phase interleaved high‐step‐up converter with coupled‐inductor‐based voltage quadrupler
Authors: Hu Yihua , Xiao Weidong , Li Wuhua , He Xiangning
Published: July 2014

This paper proposes a high‐efficient DC–DC solution with the features of galvanic isolation, high‐voltage gain, zero voltage switching operation, low input current ripple and high‐power density. The converter is implemented by a three‐phase coupled inductor bridge to remove the bulky input electrolytic capacitors. The introduced active clamp circuit recycles the energy stored in the leakage inductance and absorbs the voltage spikes on the main switch voltage. The series configuration with a voltage doubler at the second side contributes to a high‐voltage gain and reduces the voltage stress across the rectifier devices. The output diode reverse‐recovery problem is naturally mitigated by the leakage inductance of the coupled inductors. Moreover, the active control with a neutral‐point potential balance and a phase‐deficient operation of the proposed converter are also studied. A converter prototype is designed and evaluated to verify the theoretical analysis and demonstrate a superior performance over the prior studies.
Generalised hybrid switching topology for a single‐phase modular multilevel inverter
Authors: Kaliamoorthy Mylsamy , Rajasekaran Vairamani , Christopher Raj Irudayaraj Gerald , Hubert Tony Raj Lawrence
Published: July 2014

A modified single‐phase hybrid cascaded H bridge multilevel inverter with a minimum number of power electronic devices and isolated DC sources is presented in this study. It consists of two inverters (upper and lower) coupled in cascade. The lower inverter is capable of developing a multilevel output and switches at low frequency and another inverter develops two‐level output and switches at high frequency. In the proposed inverter, every additional power electronic switch in the lower inverter increases the level by four. This study also introduces a generalised hybrid modulation switching strategy, which gives arithmetical and logical expressions for switching the additional device for any required increase in levels. The voltage rating of the devices, conduction and switching loss of the proposed inverter are compared with the similarly setup topologies. The generalised hybrid modulation algorithm is simulated in MATLAB/Simulink and implemented in a SPATRAN 3A DSP board. Simulation and experimental results are presented for different loading conditions.
Real‐time control of shunt active power filter under distorted grid voltage and unbalanced load condition using self‐tuning filter
Authors: Biricik Samet , Redif Soydan , Özerdem Özgür C. , Khadem Shafiuzzaman K. , Basu Malabika
Published: July 2014

In this paper, an alternative control method is proposed to improve the harmonic suppression efficiency of the active power filter in a distorted and an unbalanced power system to compensate for the perturbations caused by the unbalanced non‐linear loads. The proposed method uses a self‐tuning filter (STF) to process the grid voltage in order to provide a uniform reference voltage to obtain the correct angular position of the phase locked loop. Moreover, the required compensation currents are obtained by implementing another STF in the transformed set of currents in order to separate the fundamental and the harmonic currents. This allows the calculation of a precise reference current for the unbalanced, the non‐linear and the variable load conditions. The proposed control method gives an adequate compensating current reference even for a non‐ideal voltage and unbalanced current conditions. The real‐time control of the filter under the distorted and the unbalanced power system is developed in an RT‐LAB real‐time platform. The results obtained in the software‐in‐the‐loop configuration are presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control technique.
Deep subwavelength Fabry-Perot resonances
Authors: Huang Cheng-Ping , Chan Che-Ting
Published: July 2014

Confinement of light by subwavelength objects facilitates the realization of compact photonic devices and the enhancement of light-matter interactions. The Fabry-Perot (FP) cavity provides an efficient tool for confining light. However, the conventional FP cavity length is usually comparable to or larger than the light wavelength, making them inconvenient for many applications. By manipulating the reflection phase at the cavity boundaries, the FP cavity length could be made much smaller than the wavelength. In this review, we consider the subwavelength FP resonance in a plasmonic system composed of a slit grating backed with a ground plane, covering the spectral range from microwave to THz and infrared regime. For very narrow slit width and spacer thickness, a typical zero-order and deep subwavelength FP resonance in the metallic slits can be strongly induced. Moreover, due to the subwavelength FP resonance, greatly enhanced electromagnetic pressure can also be induced in the system. The sign and magnitude of the electromagnetic pressure are dominated by the field penetration effect in the metal as well as the field enhancement in the FP cavities. The effect promises a variety of potential applications, such as detecting tiny motions and driving the mechanical oscillations.