bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adelmo Genro Filho and the Theory of Journalism: 30 Years of “The Secret of the Pyramid”
Authors: Pontes Felipe Simão
Published: June 2017

In 1987, Adelmo Genro Filho [a Brazilian theoretician of Journalism] presented his dissertation and then published his book “O Segredo da Pirâmide: para uma teoria marxista do jornalismo” [The Secret of the Pyramid: a Marxist theory of journalism]. In this book, the author defends journalism as a form of singular knowledge, different from the arts and science, and which cannot be reduced to an epiphenomenon of capitalism and its marketing element. This text reveals details from the life and short career of Genro Filho. It also presents some of the main concepts from his book and discusses their relevance to the changes in journalism over the last 30 years. The author tries to explain the experience of journalists in the daily interpretation of social facts while maintaining the epistemological, ontological and ethical characteristics that differentiate journalism from other fields. Em 1987, Adelmo Genro Filho apresentou a dissertação e, em seguida, publicou o livro “O Segredo da Pirâmide: para uma teoria marxista do jornalismo”. Nesta obra, o autor defende que o jornalismo é uma forma de conhecimento cristalizado no singular, diferente da arte e da ciência, e que não pode ser reduzido a um epifenômeno do capitalismo e ao seu aspecto mercadológico. O presente texto expõe elementos da vida e da curta carreira de Genro Filho, apresenta alguns dos conceitos centrais do livro e discute a atualidade deles diante das transformações pelas quais passou e passa o jornalismo. Dentre as principais demandas contemporâneas, oferece o esforço do autor em explicar a prática do jornalista frente à fenomenologia cotidiana de interpretação dos fatos sociais, sem perder de vista as características epistemológicas, ontológicas e éticas que diferenciam o jornalismo. En 1987, Adelmo Genro Filho presentó su disertación y luego publicó el libro "O Segredo da Pirâmide: para uma teoria marxista do jornalismo" (El secreto de la pirámide: para una teoría marxista del periodismo). En este libro, el autor defiende al periodismo como una forma de conocimiento cristalizado en lo singular, diferente del arte y la ciencia, y que no puede reducirse a un epifenómeno del capitalismo y una mercancía. Este texto expone elementos de la vida y una corta carrera de Genro Filho, presenta algunos de los conceptos nodales del libro y los discute la actualidad a las transformaciones del periodismo en los últimos 30 años. Entre las principales demandas contemporáneas, se ofrece el esfuerzo del autor para explicar la práctica del periodista frente a la fenomenología cotidiana de la interpretación de hechos sociales, con las características epistemológicas, ontológicas y éticas que diferencian al periodismo.
A New Approach to Image-Based Estimation of Food Volume
Authors: Hassannejad Hamid , Matrella Guido , Ciampolini Paolo , Munari Ilaria , Mordonini Monica , Cagnoni Stefano
Published: June 2017

A balanced diet is the key to a healthy lifestyle and is crucial for preventing or dealing with many chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Therefore, monitoring diet can be an effective way of improving people’s health. However, manual reporting of food intake has been shown to be inaccurate and often impractical. This paper presents a new approach to food intake quantity estimation using image-based modeling. The modeling method consists of three steps: firstly, a short video of the food is taken by the user’s smartphone. From such a video, six frames are selected based on the pictures’ viewpoints as determined by the smartphone’s orientation sensors. Secondly, the user marks one of the frames to seed an interactive segmentation algorithm. Segmentation is based on a Gaussian Mixture Model alongside the graph-cut algorithm. Finally, a customized image-based modeling algorithm generates a point-cloud to model the food. At the same time, a stochastic object-detection method locates a checkerboard used as size/ground reference. The modeling algorithm is optimized such that the use of six input images still results in an acceptable computation cost. In our evaluation procedure, we achieved an average accuracy of 92 % on a test set that includes images of different kinds of pasta and bread, with an average processing time of about 23 s.
Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization for Smallholders: What Is It and How Can We Implement It?
Authors: Sims Brian , Kienzle Josef
Published: June 2017

Smallholder farmers are the main producers of the world’s food and they will have to increase production by up to 100 percent by 2050 to feed the growing population. This must be achieved while preserving natural resources and that is why sustainable agricultural mechanization (SAM) will be fundamental to the process. SAM is climate-smart and environmentally benign and essentially means no-till conservation agriculture, which requires specific mechanization inputs. Principally, these are seeders and planters capable of penetrating soil surface vegetative cover to deposit seed and fertilizer at the required depth and spacing; and equipment for management of cover crops and weeds. Mechanization is required not only for crop production, but also for processing and along the entire value chain. Mechanization inputs are usually expensive and so specialist service provision will be the indicated way forward. This will need collaboration from both the private and public sectors and will involve public-private partnerships to be developed in one form or another. Given the poor track record of public sector mechanization provision, the delivery of SAM should be firmly in the hands of the private sector that should be committed to SAM principles or otherwise be incentivized to the concept through smart subsidies. Improved information flows via smallholder farmer-friendly innovation platforms; and continuing development and testing of SAM technologies via regional centres of excellence will both be required—especially for sub-Saharan Africa.
Effect of Seasonal Temperature on the Performance and on the Microbial Community of a Novel AWFR for Decentralized Domestic Wastewater Pretreatment
Authors: Li Juanhong , Lu Xiwu
Published: June 2017

Due to environmental burden and human health risks in developing countries, the treatment of decentralized domestic wastewater has been a matter of great concern in recent years. A novel pilot-scale three-stage anaerobic wool-felt filter reactor (AWFR) was designed to treat real decentralized domestic wastewater at seasonal temperature variations of 8 to 35 °C for 364 days. The results showed that the average chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies of AWFR in summer and winter were 76 ± 7.2% and 52 ± 5.9% at one day and three days Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT), respectively. COD mass balance analysis demonstrated that even though COD removal was lower in winter, approximately 43.5% of influent COD was still converted to methane. High-throughput MiSeq sequencing analyses indicated that Methanosaeta, Methanobacterium, and Methanolinea were the predominant methanogens, whereas the genus Bacillus probably played important roles in fermentation processes throughout the whole operation period. The performance and microbial community composition study suggested the application potential of the AWFR system for the pretreatment of decentralized domestic wastewater.
Effects of Nozzle Configuration on Rock Erosion Under a Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Jet at Various Pressures and Temperatures
Authors: Huang Man , Kang Yong , Wang Xiaochuan , Hu Yi , Li Deng , Cai Can , Chen Feng
Published: June 2017

The supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) jet offers many advantages over water jets in the field of oil and gas exploration and development. To take better advantage of the SC-CO2 jet, effects of nozzle configuration on rock erosion characteristics were experimentally investigated with respect to the erosion volume. A convergent nozzle and two Laval nozzles, as well as artificial cores were employed in the experiments. It was found that the Laval nozzle can enhance rock erosion ability, which largely depends on the pressure and temperature conditions. The enhancement increases with rising inlet pressure. Compared with the convergent nozzle, the Laval-1 nozzle maximally enhances the erosion volume by 10%, 21.2% and 30.3% at inlet pressures of 30, 40 and 50 MPa, respectively; while the Laval-2 nozzle maximally increases the erosion volume by 32.5%, 49.2% and 60%. Moreover, the enhancement decreases with increasing ambient pressure under constant inlet pressure or constant pressure drop. The growth of fluid temperature above the critical value can increase the enhancement. In addition, the jet from the Laval-2 nozzle with a smooth inner profile always has a greater erosion ability than that from the Laval-1 nozzle.
Status of the SXFEL Facility
Authors: Zhao Zhentang , Wang Dong , Gu Qiang , Yin Lixin , Gu Ming , Leng Yongbin , Liu Bo
Published: June 2017

The Shanghai soft X-ray Free-Electron Laser facility (SXFEL) is being developed in two steps; the SXFEL test facility (SXFEL-TF), and the SXFEL user facility (SXFEL-UF). The SXFEL-TF is a critical development step towards the construction a soft X-ray FEL user facility in China, and is under commissioning at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF) campus. The test facility is going to generate 8.8 nm FEL radiation using an 840 MeV electron linac passing through the two-stage cascaded HGHG-HGHG or EEHG-HGHG (high-gain harmonic generation, echo-enabled harmonic generation) scheme. The construction of the SXFEL-TF started at the end of 2014. Its accelerator tunnel and klystron gallery were ready for equipment installation in April 2016, and the installation of the SXFEL-TF linac and radiator undulators were completed by the end of 2016. In the meantime, the SXFEL-UF, with a designated wavelength in the water window region, began construction in November 2016. This was based on upgrading the linac energy to 1.5 GeV, and the building of a second undulator line and five experimental end-stations. Construction status and the future plans of the SXFEL are reported in this paper.
The Influences of Assisting Gas Type and Process Parameters on the Fiber Laser Microprofiling of Thin CoCr Tubes for Vascular Stents
Authors: Liu Lei , Li Dongbo , Tong Yifei , Zhu Yufu
Published: June 2017

Cobalt chromium (CoCr) alloy tubes have been widely used in manufacturing of vascular stents, due to their excellent bio-mechanical properties, especially their high strength. In recent years, fiber lasers have been used in the micro-machining of vascular stents, given their better cutting quality than neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) lasers. A comparison study of CoCr fiber laser cutting with oxygen and argon is presented, and the differences, such as surface topography, chemical composition, and kerfs geometry, between the oxygen cuts and argon cuts are studied. Three types of topographies are obtained for the oxygen cuts, and the underlying reason for the different topographies are discussed. The influences of key parameters including power, repetition rate, pulse width, and cutting speed on the cutting quality are analyzed. The present research can also provide an optimization guideline for the micro-profiling of CoCr vascular stents.
Kinetics Study of Gas Pollutant Adsorption and Thermal Desorption on Silica Gel
Authors: A Rong , Liu Meng , Pang Liping , Yang Dongsheng , Wang Jun , Zhou Yue
Published: June 2017

Silica gel is a typical porous desiccant material. Its adsorption performance for gaseous air pollutants was investigated to determine its potential contribution to reducing such pollutants. Three gaseous air pollutants, toluene, carbon dioxide, and methane, were investigated in this paper. A thermogravimetric analyzer was used to obtain the equilibrium adsorption capacity of gases on single silica gel particles. The silica gel adsorption capacity for toluene is much higher than that for carbon dioxide and methane. To understand gas pollutant thermal desorption from silica gel, the thermogravimetric analysis of toluene desorption was conducted with 609 ppm toluene vapor at 313 K, 323 K, and 333 K. The overall regeneration rate of silica gel was strongly dependent on temperature and the enthalpy of desorption. The gas pollutant adsorption performance and thermal desorption on silica gel material may be used to estimate the operating and design parameters for gas pollutant adsorption by desiccant wheels.
Vibro-Acoustic Numerical Analysis for the Chain Cover of a Car Engine
Authors: Armentani Enrico , Sepe Raffaele , Parente Antonio , Pirelli Mauro
Published: June 2017

In this work, a vibro-acoustic numerical and experimental analysis was carried out for the chain cover of a low powered four-cylinder four-stroke diesel engine, belonging to the FPT (FCA Power Train) family called SDE (Small Diesel Engine). By applying a methodology used in the acoustic optimization of new FPT engine components, firstly a finite element model (FEM) of the engine was defined, then a vibration analysis was performed for the whole engine (modal analysis), and finally a forced response analysis was developed for the only chain cover (separated from the overall engine). The boundary conditions applied to the chain cover were the accelerations experimentally measured by accelerometers located at the points of connection among chain cover, head cover, and crankcase. Subsequently, a boundary element (BE) model of the only chain cover was realized to determine the chain cover noise emission, starting from the previously calculated structural vibrations. The numerical vibro-acoustic outcomes were compared with those experimentally observed, obtaining a good correlation. All the information thus obtained allowed the identification of those critical areas, in terms of noise generation, in which to undertake necessary improvements.
Recent Advances and Challenges towards Sustainable Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Production
Authors: Kourmentza Constantina , Plácido Jersson , Venetsaneas Nikolaos , Burniol-Figols Anna , Varrone Cristiano , Gavala Hariklia N. , Reis Maria A. M.
Published: June 2017

Sustainable biofuels, biomaterials, and fine chemicals production is a critical matter that research teams around the globe are focusing on nowadays. Polyhydroxyalkanoates represent one of the biomaterials of the future due to their physicochemical properties, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. Designing efficient and economic bioprocesses, combined with the respective social and environmental benefits, has brought together scientists from different backgrounds highlighting the multidisciplinary character of such a venture. In the current review, challenges and opportunities regarding polyhydroxyalkanoate production are presented and discussed, covering key steps of their overall production process by applying pure and mixed culture biotechnology, from raw bioprocess development to downstream processing.
Evaluation of Visual-Evoked Cerebral Metabolic Rate of Oxygen as a Diagnostic Marker in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Hubbard Nicholas , Sanchez Araujo Yoel , Caballero Camila , Ouyang Minhui , Turner Monroe , Himes Lyndahl , Faghihahmadabadi Shawheen , Thomas Binu , Hart John , Huang Hao , Okuda Darin , Rypma Bart
Published: June 2017

A multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis often relies upon clinical presentation and qualitative analysis of standard, magnetic resonance brain images. However, the accuracy of MS diagnoses can be improved by utilizing advanced brain imaging methods. We assessed the accuracy of a new neuroimaging marker, visual-evoked cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (veCMRO2), in classifying MS patients and closely age- and sex-matched healthy control (HC) participants. MS patients and HCs underwent calibrated functional magnetic resonance imaging (cfMRI) during a visual stimulation task, diffusion tensor imaging, T1- and T2-weighted imaging, neuropsychological testing, and completed self-report questionnaires. Using resampling techniques to avoid bias and increase the generalizability of the results, we assessed the accuracy of veCMRO2 in classifying MS patients and HCs. veCMRO2 classification accuracy was also examined in the context of other evoked visuofunctional measures, white matter microstructural integrity, lesion-based measures from T2-weighted imaging, atrophy measures from T1-weighted imaging, neuropsychological tests, and self-report assays of clinical symptomology. veCMRO2 was significant and within the top 16% of measures (43 total) in classifying MS status using both within-sample (82% accuracy) and out-of-sample (77% accuracy) observations. High accuracy of veCMRO2 in classifying MS demonstrated an encouraging first step toward establishing veCMRO2 as a neurodiagnostic marker of MS.
Levy-Lieb-Based Monte Carlo Study of the Dimensionality Behaviour of the Electronic Kinetic Functional
Authors: A. Seshaditya , Ghiringhelli Luca , Delle Site Luigi
Published: June 2017

We consider a gas of interacting electrons in the limit of nearly uniform density and treat the one dimensional (1D), two dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) cases. We focus on the determination of the correlation part of the kinetic functional by employing a Monte Carlo sampling technique of electrons in space based on an analytic derivation via the Levy-Lieb constrained search principle. Of particular interest is the question of the behaviour of the functional as one passes from 1D to 3D; according to the basic principles of Density Functional Theory (DFT) the form of the universal functional should be independent of the dimensionality. However, in practice the straightforward use of current approximate functionals in different dimensions is problematic. Here, we show that going from the 3D to the 2D case the functional form is consistent (concave function) but in 1D becomes convex; such a drastic difference is peculiar of 1D electron systems as it is for other quantities. Given the interesting behaviour of the functional, this study represents a basic first-principle approach to the problem and suggests further investigations using highly accurate (though expensive) many-electron computational techniques, such as Quantum Monte Carlo.
Nb-Doped 0.8BaTiO3-0.2Bi(Mg0.5Ti0.5)O3 Ceramics with Stable Dielectric Properties at High Temperature
Authors: Si Feng , Tang Bin , Fang Zixuan , Zhang Shuren
Published: June 2017

Nb-doped 0.8BaTiO3-0.2Bi(Mg0.5Ti0.5)O3 ceramics were prepared by conventional solid-state method. The dielectric properties and the structural properties were investigated. When Nb2O5 is doped into 0.8BT-0.2BMT system, a small amount of Ba4Ti12O27 secondary phase is formed. The lattice parameters gradually increase with the Nb2O5 doping. It is found that the temperature-capacitance characteristics greatly depend on Nb2O5 content. With the addition of 3.0 mol% Nb2O5, a 0.8BT-0.2BMT ceramic sample could satisfy the EIA X9R specification. This material is promising for high-temperature MLCC application.
Effect of an External Electric Field on the Kinetics of Dislocation-Free Growth of Tetragonal Hen Egg White Lysozyme Crystals
Authors: Koizumi Haruhiko , Uda Satoshi , Fujiwara Kozo , Okada Junpei , Nozawa Jun
Published: June 2017

Dislocation-free tetragonal hen egg white (HEW) lysozyme crystals were grown from a seed crystal in a cell. The rates of tetragonal HEW lysozyme crystal growth normal to the (110) and (101) faces with and without a 1-MHz external electric field were measured. A decrease in the typical growth rates of the crystal measured under an applied field at 1 MHz was observed, although the overall driving force increased. Assuming that the birth and spread mechanism of two-dimensional nucleation occurs, an increase in the effective surface energy of the step ends was realized in the presence of the electric field, which led to an improvement in the crystal quality of the tetragonal HEW lysozyme crystals. This article also discusses the increase in the effective surface energy of the step ends with respect to the change in the entropy of the solid.
Biomarkers and Imaging Findings of Anderson–Fabry Disease—What We Know Now
Authors: Beirão Idalina , Cabrita Ana , Torres Márcia , Silva Fernando , Aguiar Patrício , Laranjeira Francisco , Gomes Ana Marta
Published: June 2017

Anderson–Fabry disease (AFD) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder, caused by deficiency or absence of the alpha-galactosidase A activity, with a consequent glycosphingolipid accumulation. Biomarkers and imaging findings may be useful for diagnosis, identification of an organ involvement, therapy monitoring and prognosis. The aim of this article is to review the current available literature on biomarkers and imaging findings of AFD patients. An extensive bibliographic review from PubMed, Medline and Clinical Key databases was performed by a group of experts from nephrology, neurology, genetics, cardiology and internal medicine, aiming for consensus. Lyso-GB3 is a valuable biomarker to establish the diagnosis. Proteinuria and creatinine are the most valuable to detect renal damage. Troponin I and high-sensitivity assays for cardiac troponin T can identify patients with cardiac lesions, but new techniques of cardiac imaging are essential to detect incipient damage. Specific cerebrovascular imaging findings are present in AFD patients. Techniques as metabolomics and proteomics have been developed in order to find an AFD fingerprint. Lyso-GB3 is important for evaluating the pathogenic mutations and monitoring the response to treatment. Many biomarkers can detect renal, cardiac and cerebrovascular involvement, but none of these have proved to be important to monitoring the response to treatment. Imaging features are preferred in order to find cardiac and cerebrovascular compromise in AFD patients.
Peierls–Bogolyubov’s Inequality for Deformed Exponentials
Authors: Hansen Frank , Liang Jin , Shi Guanghua
Published: June 2017

We study the convexity or concavity of certain trace functions for the deformed logarithmic and exponential functions, and in this way obtain new trace inequalities for deformed exponentials that may be considered as generalizations of Peierls–Bogolyubov’s inequality. We use these results to improve previously-known lower bounds for the Tsallis relative entropy.
Does FDI Really Matter to Economic Growth in India?
Authors: Choi Yoon , Baek Jungho
Published: June 2017

The main contribution of this article is to examine the productivity spillover effects from India’s inward foreign direct investment (FDI), controlling for trade, in the framework of the cointegrated vector autoregression (CVAR). For this purpose, using the Solow residual approach the aggregate total factor productivity (TFP) in India is estimated to measure FDI-induced spillovers. The results show that the inflow of FDI to India indeed improves TFP growth through positive spillover effects. We also find that trade appears to have a detrimental effect on TFP growth in India.
The Energy-Efficient Operation Problem of a Freight Train Considering Long-Distance Steep Downhill Sections
Authors: Lin Xuan , Wang Qingyuan , Wang Pengling , Sun Pengfei , Feng Xiaoyun
Published: June 2017

With the energy consumption rising in rail transport, the railway sector is showing increasing interest in the energy-efficient operation of freight trains. Freight trains require more complicated driving strategies than ordinary passenger trains do due to their heavy loads, especially in the long-distance steep downhill (LDSD) sections that are very common in freight rail lines in China. This paper studies the energy-efficient operation of a freight train considering LDSD sections. An optimal control model including regenerative and pneumatic braking is developed for the freight train. Then, when a train leaves/enters the LDSD section, we verify the uniqueness of control transitions and discuss the speed profile linkage between LDSD and its adjacent sections, which indicates that the periodic braking should be applied on LDSD sections for optimality. Additionally, given the same running time for the entire journey, our analysis shows that electrical braking-full braking strategy is more energy-efficient than coasting-full braking strategy on LDSD sections. Finally, a numerical algorithm for the optimal driving solution is proposed. The simulation results demonstrate that the driving strategies generated by the proposed algorithm performs better than those from fuzzy predictive control and field operation regarding energy saving.
Measuring of Thermal Conductivities of Soils and Rocks to Be Used in the Calculation of A Geothermal Installation
Authors: Sáez Blázquez Cristina , Farfán Martín Arturo , Martín Nieto Ignacio , Gonzalez-Aguilera Diego
Published: June 2017

The thermal conductivity of soils and rocks constitutes an important property for the design of geothermal energy foundations and borehole heat exchange systems. Therefore, it is interesting to find new alternatives to define this parameter involved in the calculation of very low enthalpy geothermal installations. This work presents the development of an experimental set-up for measurements of thermal conductivity of soils and rocks. The device was designed based on the principle of the Guarded Hot Plate method using as heat source a laboratory heater. The thermal conductivity of thirteen rocky and soil samples was experimentally measured. Results are finally compared with the most common thermal conductivity values for each material. In summary, the aim of the present research is suggesting a procedure to determine the thermal conductivity parameter by a simple and economic way. Thus, increases of the final price of these systems that techniques such as the “Thermal Response Test” (TRT) involvs, could be avoided. Calculations with software “Earth Energy Designer” (EED) highlighted the importance of knowing the thermal conductivity of the surrounding ground of these geothermal systems.
Constant DC-Capacitor Voltage-Control-Based Harmonics Compensation Strategy of Smart Charger for Electric Vehicles in Single-Phase Three-Wire Distribution Feeders
Authors: Ikeda Fuka , Yamada Hiroaki , Tanaka Toshihiko , Okamoto Masayuki
Published: June 2017

This paper discusses harmonic current compensation of the constant DC-capacitor voltage-control (CDCVC)-based strategy of smart chargers for electric vehicles (EVs) in single-phase three-wire distribution feeders (SPTWDFs) under nonlinear load conditions. The basic principle of the CDCVC-based harmonics compensation strategy under nonlinear load conditions is discussed in detail. The instantaneous power flowing into the three-leg pulse-width modulated (PWM) rectifier, which performs as a smart charger, shows that the CDCVC-based strategy achieves balanced and sinusoidal source currents with a unity power factor. The CDCVC-based harmonics compensation strategy does not require any calculation blocks of fundamental reactive, unbalanced active, and harmonic currents. Thus, the authors propose a simplified algorithm to compensate for reactive, unbalanced active, and harmonic currents. A digital computer simulation is implemented to confirm the validity and high practicability of the CDCVC-based harmonics compensation strategy using PSIM software. Simulation results demonstrate that balanced and sinusoidal source currents with a unity power factor in SPTWDFs are obtained on the secondary side of the pole-mounted distribution transformer (PMDT) during both the battery-charging and discharging operations in EVs, compensating for the reactive, unbalanced active, and harmonic currents.
The Risks Associated with Glyphosate-Based Herbicide Use in Planted Forests
Authors: Rolando Carol , Baillie Brenda , Thompson Dean , Little Keith
Published: June 2017

Glyphosate-based herbicides are the dominant products used internationally for control of vegetation in planted forests. Few international, scientific syntheses on glyphosate, specific to its use in planted forests, are publically available. We provide an international overview of the current use of glyphosate-based herbicides in planted forests and the associated risks. Glyphosate is used infrequently in planted forests and at rates not exceeding 4 kg ha1. It is used within legal label recommendations and applied by trained applicators. While the highest risk of human exposure to glyphosate is during manual operational application, when applied according to label recommendations the risk of exposure to levels that exceed accepted toxicity standards is low. A review of the literature on the direct and indirect risks of operationally applied glyphosate-based herbicides indicated no significant adverse effects to terrestrial and aquatic fauna. While additional research in some areas is required, such as the use of glyphosate-based products in forests outside of North America, and the potential indirect effects of glyphosate stored in sediments, most of the priority questions have been addressed by scientific investigations. Based on the extensive available scientific evidence we conclude that glyphosate-based herbicides, as typically employed in planted forest management, do not pose a significant risk to humans and the terrestrial and aquatic environments.
Transcription of Nanofibrous Cerium Phosphate Using a pH-Sensitive Lipodipeptide Hydrogel Template
Authors: Llusar Mario , Escuder Beatriu , López-Castro Juan , Trasobares Susana , Monrós Guillermo
Published: June 2017

A novel and simple transcription strategy has been designed for the template-synthesis of CePO4·xH2O nanofibers having an improved nanofibrous morphology using a pH-sensitive nanofibrous hydrogel (glycine-alanine lipodipeptide) as structure-directing scaffold. The phosphorylated hydrogel was employed as a template to direct the mineralization of high aspect ratio nanofibrous cerium phosphate, which in-situ formed by diffusion of aqueous CeCl3 and subsequent drying (60 °C) and annealing treatments (250, 600 and 900 °C). Dried xerogels and annealed CePO4 powders were characterized by conventional thermal and thermogravimetric analysis (DTA/TG), and Wide-Angle X-ray powder diffraction (WAXD) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) techniques. A molecular packing model for the formation of the fibrous xerogel template was proposed, in accordance with results from Fourier-Transformed Infrarred (FTIR) and WAXD measurements. The morphology, crystalline structure and composition of CePO4 nanofibers were characterized by electron microscopy techniques (Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy/High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM/HRTEM), and Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy working in High Angle Annular Dark-Field (STEM-HAADF)) with associated X-ray energy-dispersive detector (EDS) and Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy-Electron Energy Loss (STEM-EELS) spectroscopies. Noteworthy, this templating approach successfully led to the formation of CePO4·H2O nanofibrous bundles of rather co-aligned and elongated nanofibers (10–20 nm thick and up to ca. 1 μm long). The formed nanofibers consisted of hexagonal (P6222) CePO4 nanocrystals (at 60 and 250 °C), with a better-grown and more homogeneous fibrous morphology with respect to a reference CePO4 prepared under similar (non-templated) conditions, and transformed into nanofibrous monoclinic monazite (P21/n) around 600 °C. The nanofibrous morphology was highly preserved after annealing at 900 °C under N2, although collapsed under air conditions. The nanofibrous CePO4 (as-prepared hexagonal and 900 °C-annealed monoclinic) exhibited an enhanced UV photo-luminescent emission with respect to non-fibrous homologues.
Lithium in Drinking Water and Incidence of Suicide: A Nationwide Individual-Level Cohort Study with 22 Years of Follow-Up
Authors: Knudsen Nikoline , Schullehner Jörg , Hansen Birgitte , Jørgensen Lisbeth , Kristiansen Søren , Voutchkova Denitza , Gerds Thomas , Andersen Per , Bihrmann Kristine , Grønbæk Morten , Kessing Lars , Ersbøll Annette
Published: June 2017

Suicide is a major public health concern. High-dose lithium is used to stabilize mood and prevent suicide in patients with affective disorders. Lithium occurs naturally in drinking water worldwide in much lower doses, but with large geographical variation. Several studies conducted at an aggregate level have suggested an association between lithium in drinking water and a reduced risk of suicide; however, a causal relation is uncertain. Individual-level register-based data on the entire Danish adult population (3.7 million individuals) from 1991 to 2012 were linked with a moving five-year time-weighted average (TWA) lithium exposure level from drinking water hypothesizing an inverse relationship. The mean lithium level was 11.6 μg/L ranging from 0.6 to 30.7 μg/L. The suicide rate decreased from 29.7 per 100,000 person-years at risk in 1991 to 18.4 per 100,000 person-years in 2012. We found no significant indication of an association between increasing five-year TWA lithium exposure level and decreasing suicide rate. The comprehensiveness of using individual-level data and spatial analyses with 22 years of follow-up makes a pronounced contribution to previous findings. Our findings demonstrate that there does not seem to be a protective effect of exposure to lithium on the incidence of suicide with levels below 31 μg/L in drinking water.
Flavonoids, Thyroid Iodide Uptake and Thyroid Cancer—A Review
Authors: Gonçalves Carlos , De Freitas Mariana , Ferreira Andrea
Published: June 2017

Thyroid cancer is the most common malignant tumor of the endocrine system and the incidence has been increasing in recent years. In a great part of the differentiated carcinomas, thyrocytes are capable of uptaking iodide. In these cases, the main therapeutic approach includes thyroidectomy followed by ablative therapy with radioiodine. However, in part of the patients, the capacity to concentrate iodide is lost due to down-regulation of the sodium-iodide symporter (NIS), the protein responsible for transporting iodide into the thyrocytes. Thus, therapy with radioiodide becomes ineffective, limiting therapeutic options and reducing the life expectancy of the patient. Excessive ingestion of some flavonoids has been associated with thyroid dysfunction and goiter. Nevertheless, studies have shown that some flavonoids can be beneficial for thyroid cancer, by reducing cell proliferation and increasing cell death, besides increasing NIS mRNA levels and iodide uptake. Recent data show that the flavonoids apingenin and rutin are capable of increasing NIS function and expression in vivo. Herein we review literature data regarding the effect of flavonoids on thyroid cancer, besides the effect of these compounds on the expression and function of the sodium-iodide symporter. We will also discuss the possibility of using flavonoids as adjuvants for therapy of thyroid cancer.
Identifying High Quality Document–Summary Pairs through Text Matching
Authors: Hou Yongshuai , Xiang Yang , Tang Buzhou , Chen Qingcai , Wang Xiaolong , Zhu Fangze
Published: June 2017

Text summarization namely, automatically generating a short summary of a given document, is a difficult task in natural language processing. Nowadays, deep learning as a new technique has gradually been deployed for text summarization, but there is still a lack of large-scale high quality datasets for this technique. In this paper, we proposed a novel deep learning method to identify high quality document–summary pairs for building a large-scale pairs dataset. Concretely, a long short-term memory (LSTM)-based model was designed to measure the quality of document–summary pairs. In order to leverage information across all parts of each document, we further proposed an improved LSTM-based model by removing the forget gate in the LSTM unit. Experiments conducted on the training set and the test set built upon Sina Weibo (a Chinese microblog website similar to Twitter) showed that the LSTM-based models significantly outperformed baseline models with regard to the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) value.
A Differential–Developmental Model (DDM): Mental Speed, Attention Lapses, and General Intelligence (g)
Authors: Coyle Thomas
Published: June 2017

The aim of this paper is to provide a parsimonious account of developmental and individual differences in intelligence (measured as g). The paper proposes a Differential–Developmental Model (DDM), which focuses on factors common to intelligence and cognitive development (e.g., mental speed and attention lapses). It also proposes a complementary method based on Jensen’s box, a chronometric device. The device systematically varies task complexity, and separates two components of mental speed that differentially predict intelligence and cognitive development (reaction time and movement time). The paper reviews key assumptions of DDM, preliminary findings relevant to DDM, and future research on DDM.
Flexible, Scalable and Energy Efficient Bio-Signals Processing on the PULP Platform: A Case Study on Seizure Detection
Authors: Montagna Fabio , Benatti Simone , Rossi Davide
Published: June 2017

Ultra-low power operation and extreme energy efficiency are strong requirements for a number of high-growth application areas requiring near-sensor processing, including elaboration of biosignals. Parallel near-threshold computing is emerging as an approach to achieve significant improvements in energy efficiency while overcoming the performance degradation typical of low-voltage operations. In this paper, we demonstrate the capabilities of the PULP (Parallel Ultra-Low Power) platform on an algorithm for seizure detection, representative of a wide range of EEG signal processing applications. Starting from the 28-nm FD-SOI (Fully Depleted Silicon On Insulator) technology implementation of the third embodiment of the PULP architecture, we analyze the energy-efficient implementation of the seizure detection algorithm on PULP. The proposed parallel implementation exploits the dynamic voltage and frequency scaling capabilities, as well as the embedded power knobs of the PULP platform, reducing energy consumption for a seizure detection by up to 10× with respect to a sequential implementation at the nominal supply voltage and by 4.2× with respect to a sequential implementation with voltage scaling. Moreover, we analyze the trans-precision optimization of the algorithm on PULP, by means of a hybrid fixed- and floating-point implementation. This approach reduces the energy consumption by up to 43% with respect to the plain fixed-point and floating-point implementations, leveraging the requirements in terms of the precision of the kernels composing the processing chain to improve energy efficiency. Thanks to the proposed architecture and system-level approach for optimization, we demonstrate that PULP reduces energy consumption by up to 140× with respect to commercial low-power microcontrollers, being able to satisfy the real-time constraints typical of bio-medical applications, breaking the barrier of microwatts for a 50-ms complete seizure detection and a few milliwatts for a 5-ms detection latency on a fully-programmable architecture.
Nonlinear Transient Modeling and Design of Turbocharger Rotor/Semi-Floating Bush Bearing System
Authors: Cao Jianming , Dousti Saeid , Allaire Paul , Dimond Tim
Published: June 2017

This work presents the bearing design and analysis of radial semi-floating bush oil lubricated bearings for a typical industrial turbocharger configuration. Initially, the stability analysis for a linear rotor/bearing system is evaluated through eigenvalues and eigenvectors. The stiffness and damping coefficients of the inner oil film are obtained for the linear modeling process. The operating speed range of the turbocharger is high enough, at 21,000 to 24,000 rpm, to be unstable, indicating that the analysis should be and is carried out with nonlinear transient modeling. The nonlinear transient analysis evaluates the rotor and bush limit cycle orbits, rotor dynamics, the forces acting on the rotor and semi-floating bush surfaces, the oil flow through the bearing, the oil temperatures, and the power loss of the two oil films. The optimum design of a set of semi-floating bush bearings for this application depends strongly upon the clearances of the bush and squeeze film damper, usually expressed as the non-dimensional clearance to radius ratio. A typical clearance is evaluated to determine the bearing performance in terms of orbit size, forces acting on the bush and squeeze damper surfaces, oil flow through the bearing, power loss, and thermal heating. The nonlinear transient orbit values are evaluated for frequency content using the FFT to determine which orbits show both the synchronous and sub-synchronous vibration components and the associated rotor modes excited. These results are compared to the linear analysis over the operating speed range. The oil flow through the bearing component is much larger than the squeeze film damper. The forces acting on the bush and squeeze damper surfaces are related to the fatigue life of the bearing.
Effect of Different Carbon Sources on Bacterial Nanocellulose Production and Structure Using the Low pH Resistant Strain Komagataeibacter Medellinensis
Authors: Molina-Ramírez Carlos , Castro Margarita , Osorio Marlon , Torres-Taborda Mabel , Gómez Beatriz , Zuluaga Robin , Gómez Catalina , Gañán Piedad , Rojas Orlando , Castro Cristina
Published: June 2017

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a polymer obtained by fermentation with microorganism of different genera. Recently, new producer species have been discovered, which require identification of the most important variables affecting cellulose production. In this work, the influence of different carbon sources in BC production by a novel low pH-resistant strain Komagataeibacter medellinensis was established. The Hestrin-Schramm culture medium was used as a reference and was compared to other media comprising glucose, fructose, and sucrose, used as carbon sources at three concentrations (1, 2, and 3% w/v). The BC yield and dynamics of carbon consumption were determined at given fermentation times during cellulose production. While the carbon source did not influence the BC structural characteristics, different production levels were determined: glucose > sucrose > fructose. These results highlight considerations to improve BC industrial production and to establish the BC property space for applications in different fields.
A Novel Electro-Thermal Laminated Ceramic with Carbon-Based Layer
Authors: Ji Yi , Huang Bin , Rao Pinggen
Published: June 2017

A novel electro-thermal laminated ceramic composed of ceramic tile, carbon-based layer, dielectric layer, and foaming ceramic layer was designed and prepared by tape casting. The surface temperature achieved at an applied voltage of 10 V by the laminated ceramics was 40.3 °C when the thickness of carbon-based suspension was 1.0 mm and the adhesive strength between ceramic tile and carbon-based layer was 1.02 ± 0.06 MPa. In addition, the thermal aging results at 100 °C up to 192 h confirmed the high thermal stability and reliability of the electro-thermal laminated ceramics. The development of this laminated ceramic with excellent electro-thermal properties and safety provides a new individual heating device which is highly expected to be widely applied in the field of indoor heat supply.
Porous Materials from Thermally Activated Kaolinite: Preparation, Characterization and Application
Authors: Luo Jun , Jiang Tao , Li Guanghui , Peng Zhiwei , Rao Mingjun , Zhang Yuanbo
Published: June 2017

In the present study, porous alumina/silica materials were prepared by selective leaching of silicon/aluminum constituents from thermal-activated kaolinite in inorganic acid or alkali liquor. The correlations between the characteristics of the prepared porous materials and the dissolution properties of activated kaolinite were also investigated. The results show that the specific surface area (SSA) of porous alumina/silica increases with silica/alumina dissolution, but without marked change of the BJH pore size. Furthermore, change in pore volume is more dependent on activation temperature. The porous alumina and silica obtained from alkali leaching of kaolinite activated at 1150 °C for 15 min and acid leaching of kaolinite activated at 850 °C for 15 min are mesoporous, with SSAs, BJH pore sizes and pore volumes of 55.8 m2/g and 280.3 m2/g, 6.06 nm and 3.06 nm, 0.1455 mL/g and 0.1945 mL/g, respectively. According to the adsorption tests, porous alumina has superior adsorption capacities for Cu2+, Pb2+ and Cd2+ compared with porous silica and activated carbon. The maximum capacities of porous alumina for Cu2+, Pb2+ and Cd2+ are 134 mg/g, 183 mg/g and 195 mg/g, respectively, at 30 °C.
A Short Review of Membrane Fouling in Forward Osmosis Processes
Authors: Chun Youngpil , Mulcahy Dennis , Zou Linda , Kim In
Published: June 2017

Interest in forward osmosis (FO) research has rapidly increased in the last decade due to problems of water and energy scarcity. FO processes have been used in many applications, including wastewater reclamation, desalination, energy production, fertigation, and food and pharmaceutical processing. However, the inherent disadvantages of FO, such as lower permeate water flux compared to pressure driven membrane processes, concentration polarisation (CP), reverse salt diffusion, the energy consumption of draw solution recovery and issues of membrane fouling have restricted its industrial applications. This paper focuses on the fouling phenomena of FO processes in different areas, including organic, inorganic and biological categories, for better understanding of this long-standing issue in membrane processes. Furthermore, membrane fouling monitoring and mitigation strategies are reviewed.
Microwave and Ultrasound Augmented Leaching of Complicated Zinc Oxide Ores in Ammonia and Ammonium Citrate Solutions
Authors: Zhang Libo , Li Haoyu , Peng Jinhui , Srinivasakannan Chandrasekar , Li Shiwei , Yin Shaohua
Published: June 2017

Recovery of zinc from low grade zinc oxide ore is attempted with ammonia and ammonium citrate solutions augmented by microwave roasting and ultrasound radiation. The influence of the ammonia-ammonium ratio, roasting temperature, ultrasound power, and leaching time were assessed on the recovery of zinc. A maximum zinc recovery of 88.57% could be achieved at a roasting temperature of 673 K, leaching temperature of 298 K, stirring speed of 300 rpm, total ammonia concentration of 5 mol/L with an ammonium citrate concentration of 1.2 mol/L, liquid to solid ratio of 5:1, the ultrasound power was 600 W and the leaching time was 120 min. The enhancement in recovery with increases in the roasting temperature up to 673 K was attributed to the conversion of ZnCO3 to ZnO. The phases of mineral samples and the reaction residues were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD).
Recent Advances and Future Perspectives on Microfluidic Liquid Handling
Authors: Nguyen Nam-Trung , Hejazian Majid , Ooi Chin , Kashaninejad Navid
Published: June 2017

The interdisciplinary research field of microfluidics has the potential to revolutionize current technologies that require the handling of a small amount of fluid, a fast response, low costs and automation. Microfluidic platforms that handle small amounts of liquid have been categorised as continuous-flow microfluidics and digital microfluidics. The first part of this paper discusses the recent advances of the two main and opposing applications of liquid handling in continuous-flow microfluidics: mixing and separation. Mixing and separation are essential steps in most lab-on-a-chip platforms, as sample preparation and detection are required for a variety of biological and chemical assays. The second part discusses the various digital microfluidic strategies, based on droplets and liquid marbles, for the manipulation of discrete microdroplets. More advanced digital microfluidic devices combining electrowetting with other techniques are also introduced. The applications of the emerging field of liquid-marble-based digital microfluidics are also highlighted. Finally, future perspectives on microfluidic liquid handling are discussed.