bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural optimization of silicon for high efficiencies of light emission
Authors: Sugishita Yuma , Inukai Keisuke , Goshima Keishiro
Published: June 2018

Conventional metal patterns in integrated circuits are known to exhibit drawbacks such as signal delays and heat generation. The use of the silicon photonics technology has been proposed to overcome these drawbacks. Silicon‐based materials and processing technologies offer cost‐effective solutions for large‐scale fabrication in microelectronics, such as for the fabrication of silicon integrated circuits. However, the fabrication of light‐emitting diodes using silicon‐based materials for the silicon photonics has not been realized so far. We investigated the structural optimization of silicon to obtain a high efficiency of light emission. And we observed the correlation between the high‐efficiency light emission and alkali impurities such as Na and K.
Community-level and phenological responses of emerging aquatic insects exposed to 3 neonicotinoid insecticides: An in situ wetland limnocorral approach
Authors: Cavallaro Michael C. , Liber Karsten , Headley John V. , Peru Kerry M. , Morrissey Christy A.
Published: June 2018

Seasonal aquatic insect emergence represents a critical subsidy link between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Early and late instar larvae developing in wetlands near neonicotinoid-treated cropland can be at risk of chronic insecticide exposure. In the present study, an in situ wetland limnocorral experiment compared emergent insect community responses to imidacloprid, clothianidin, and thiamethoxam. Twenty-one limnocorrals were dosed weekly for 9 wk to target peak nominal doses of 0.0, 0.05, or 0.5 μg/L, followed by a 6-wk recovery period. Thirty-nine aquatic insect taxa were recorded but 11 taxa groups made up 97% of the community composition. Principal response curves (PRCs) indicated that during the dosing period, community composition among the treatments resembled the controls. During the 6-wk recovery period, significant deviance was observed in the high imidacloprid treatment with similar trends in the clothianidin treatment, suggesting that community effects from neonicotinoid exposure can be delayed. Non-biting midges (Diptera: Chironomidae) and damselflies (Odonata: Zygoptera) emerged 18 to 25 d earlier than controls in the imidacloprid and clothianidin neonicotinoid treatments, with no effects from thiamethoxam treatments. These data suggest that phenology and subtle community effects can occur at measured neonicotinoid concentrations of 0.045 (imidacloprid) and 0.038 μg/L (clothianidin) under chronic repeated exposure conditions. Synchronization and community dynamics are critical to aquatic insects and consumers; thus, neonicotinoids may have broad implications for wetland ecosystem function. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:2401–2412. © 2018 SETAC

Abstract
Legal Culture, Path Dependence and Dysfunctional Layering in Belgian Corporate Insolvency Law
Authors: de Ruysscher Dave
Published: June 2018

The history of Belgian corporate insolvency law demonstrates the lasting effect and the replication of implicit legal–economic conceptions. Even though, since the middle of the 19th century, pre‐insolvency proceedings were made available in Belgium, the effectiveness of these proceedings was limited. This was due to the dysfunctional juxtaposing of proceedings and the reluctance of the legislator to change earlier approaches. Closely related thereto was the lack of impact assessments preceding legal reforms and the continuation of ideas regarding the restrained powers of courts and preferential treatment of secured creditors. Debates in Parliament turned around principles, not around the effect or harmonisation of laws. Members of Parliament typically had had legal training; economic analyses were largely absent. In the course of the 20th century, new ideas on broader intervention by judges were put down in draft bills, but only a small portion of them made it to become legislation. The 1997 law on restructuring proceedings went farthest in granting competences to the commercial court for assessing the feasibility of reorganisation schemes, but this was readjusted in 2009. As a result, judicial restraint is still present, and the rights of secured creditors are considered paramount, this in spite of contrary foreign examples. Strong path dependence in Belgian corporate insolvency law is the result of prevailing beliefs and cannot be attributed to lobbying efforts or deliberate choice. Copyright © 2018 INSOL International and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Incidence, pain, and mobility assessment of pregnant women with sacroiliac dysfunction
Authors: Filipec Manuela , Jadanec Marinela , Kostovic‐Srzentic Mirna , van der Vaart Huub , Matijevic Ratko
Published: June 2018

Objectives

To determine the incidence of sacroiliac dysfunction in pregnancy and assess its progress during the course of the pregnancy.

Methods

The present prospective cohort study, performed between April 1, 2013, and May 31, 2016, enrolled primigravidae aged 25–35 years before 13 weeks of pregnancies who were experiencing back pain and did not have prior symptoms of sacroiliac dysfunction. Participants attended regular follow‐up over 6 months and clinical functional tests were used to diagnose sacroiliac dysfunction. Women with sacroiliac dysfunction were assessed at 3‐week intervals with a numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) and the pregnancy mobility index (PMI).

Results

Among 1500 women who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, 1181 (78.7%) were diagnosed with sacroiliac dysfunction and 1143 completed all follow‐up. Pain assessed by the NPRS gradually worsened from the first toward the third trimester (P<0.001). The level of disability assessed by the PMI also increased from the beginning to the end of pregnancy (P<0.001).

Conclusion

Sacroiliac dysfunction represents an important problem during pregnancy; pain severity and mobility problems increased during the course of pregnancy in the present study.

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry

ACTRN12613000246785
Pelvic floor dysfunction in the immediate puerperium, and 1 and 3 months after vaginal or cesarean delivery
Authors: Colla Cássia , Paiva Luciana L. , Ferla Lia , Trento Maria J.B. , de Vargas Isadora M.P. , dos Santos Bianca A. , Ferreira Charles F. , Ramos José G.L.
Published: June 2018

Objective

To identify and assess postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) between vaginal delivery, elective cesarean delivery (ECD), and intrapartum cesarean delivery (ICD).

Methods

The present prospective observational study included women aged at least 18 years with no history of pelvic surgery or lower urinary tract malformation, and who had not undergone pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training in the preceding 12 months, who underwent delivery at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil between August 1, 2016, and May 31, 2017. Participants were assessed at 48 hours (phase 1), 1 month (phase 2), and 3 months (phase 3) after delivery. Assessments included the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire, Short Form (ICIQ‐SF); the Jorge‐Wexner anal incontinence scale; a self‐rated visual analog scale for pelvic pain; the pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP‐Q) system; and a PFM perineometer.

Results

A total of 227 women were assessed in phase 1 (141 vaginal deliveries; 28 ICDs; and 58 ECDs), 79 in phase 2, and 41 in phase 3. The ICIQ‐SF, Jorge‐Wexner scale, visual analog scale, and perineometer measurements did not identify significant differences in relation to the type of delivery (P>0.05).

Conclusion

The type of delivery was not associated with differences in the short‐term development of postpartum PFD.
Environmental decontamination using photocatalytic fuel cells and photoelectrocatalysis‐microbial fuel cells
Authors: He Rui , Liu Lifen , Shi Peng , Nie Cheng
Published: June 2018

BACKGROUND

To decontaminate sites of pollutants, fuel cell and bio‐electrochemical fuel cell reactors can degrade pollutants and generate electricity simultaneously, potentially decrease cost, energy consumptions and treatment cycle. In this study, a photocatalytic fuel cell (PFC) and PEC‐MFC (integrated photo‐electro‐catalysis with microbial fuel cell) were investigated to decontaminate sand/water polluted by RhB, antibiotics and heavy metal ions.

RESULTS

In the PFC, paired electrodes with ZnIn2S4‐AgAgCl/GO or ZnIn2S4‐RGO/MnO2, effectively removed pollutants in sand/water. The removal of RhB was 95.6% in 100 min with an external resistance of 1 Ω under aeration. Adding cyclo‐dextrin increased pollutant removals, realized 66% removal of RhB in overlying water, and significant removal in sand after 5 h, and 70% removal of tetracycline in overlying water, but only 60% without cyclodextrin after 4 h. Adding KMnO4 and NaHSO3 promoted decontamination of tetracycline from sand/water, tetracycline in water was almost completely degraded in 3.5 h with the addition, but only about 65% without any addition. In the PEC‐MFC, integrating photo‐electro‐catalytic electrode with bio‐anode, Cr(VI) in the cathode chamber was reduced rapidly and the concentration of RhB in sand decreased quickly, nearly complete in 2 h. The Cr(VI) in sand was reduced in several hours, so that, compared with previous reports, the treatment time is significantly shortened.

CONCLUSION

The PFC and PEC‐MFC systems are successful in decontaminating sand/water in polluted sites and are cost‐effective and sustainable methods. By building an on‐site or off‐site system with washing and cycling of the liquid stream, it could be a convenient remediation method for polluted sites. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Epidemiology and clinical course of inflammatory bowel disease in the Central Province of Sri Lanka: A hospital‐based study
Authors: Kalubowila Udaya , Liyanaarachchi Tharanga , Galketiya K B , Rathnayaka Palitha , Piyasena I N A P , Tennakoon Sampath , Perera K M P , Pathirana S D M U , Wettewa D. B. , Ratnayake W R A N M P , Raayiz R M , Dissanayaka D M I U
Published: June 2018

Background and Aim

There is increasing prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Asia, but Sri Lankan data on the state of epidemiology and clinical course of IBD are scarce.

Methods

A hospital‐based study was done by recruiting IBD patients who permanently reside in the Central Province (population 2.57 million, 12.6% of Sri Lankan population) of Sri Lanka. Cases were confirmed by standard criteria and data were collected from health records and patient interviews at clinic visits and hospital admissions.

Results

There were 200 cases of IBD; (ulcerative colitis [UC]—140, Crohn's disease [CD]—60, microscopic colitis—7). The crude prevalence rate of UC was 5.44/100 000 (95% CI 5.41–5.47/100 000) and CD was 2.33/100 000 (95% CI 2.31–2.35/100 000). Female to male ratios were 1:0.8 for UC but 1:1.5 for CD.

Mean age at diagnosis was 42.0 and 31.9 years for UC and CD, respectively. One UC and one CD patient had positive family history of IBD. Among the UC patients, 60.7%, 24.3%, and 15% had proctitis, left sided, and extensive disease, respectively. At presentation, 62.1% of the UC patients have had moderately severe disease. 60% of the CD patients had only large bowel involvement and 80% had nonstricturing and nonpenetrating disease. Extra intestinal manifestations were present in 45.7% and 60.0% of UC and CD patients, respectively, in which peripheral arthralgia and arthritis being the commonest. 6.4% of UC and 23.3% of the CD patients (total of 23) required infliximab for induction of remission.

Conclusion

The prevalence of IBD in the Central Province of Sri Lanka is lower than other Asian and Western populations. There is a predominance of male gender and isolated colonic disease in CD patients. UC patients have an equal gender distribution and a higher proportion of proctitis. CD needed induction with infliximab than UC.
Development and pilot of an international survey: ‘Radiation Therapists and Psychosocial Support’
Authors: Elsner Kelly L. , Naehrig Diana , Halkett Georgia K. B. , Dhillon Haryana M.
Published: June 2018

Introduction

Up to one third of radiation therapy patients are reported to have unmet psychosocial needs. Radiation therapists (RTs) have daily contact with patients and can provide daily psychosocial support to reduce patient anxiety, fear and loneliness. However, RTs vary in their values, skills, training, knowledge and involvement in providing psychosocial support.

The aims of this study were to: (1) develop an online survey instrument to explore RT values, skills, training and knowledge regarding patient anxiety and psychosocial support, and (2) pilot the instrument with RT professionals to assess content validity, functionality and length.

Method

An online cross‐sectional survey, titled ‘Radiation therapists and psychosocial support’ was developed. Items included patient vignettes, embedded items from RT research, and the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL5). Four radiation oncology departments volunteered to pilot the survey; each nominated four RT staff to participate. Survey data were analysed descriptively and qualitative feedback grouped and coded to determine whether the survey needed to be refined.

Results

Thirteen of sixteen RTs completed the pilot survey and feedback form. Median time to completion was 35 mins, with 54% of respondents stating this was too long. Respondents reported content, questions and response options were relevant and appropriate. Feedback was used to: refine the survey instrument, minimise responder burden and drop out and improve functionality and quality of data collection.

Conclusion

This pilot of the ‘Radiation therapists and psychosocial support’ survey instrument demonstrated content validity and usability. The main survey will be circulated to a representative sample of RTs for completion.
Feeding Practices and Nutrition Intakes Among Non‐Critically Ill, Postoperative Adult Patients: An Observational Study
Authors: Rattray Megan , Marshall Andrea , Desbrow Ben , Roberts Shelley
Published: June 2018

Background

Evidence‐based guidelines (EBG) recommend recommencing oral feeding (liquids and solids) ≤24 hours after surgery. The aims of this study were to determine time to first diet (any) and solid‐diet prescriptions, delivery, and intakes among adult, non‐critically ill, postoperative patients.

Methods

This prospective cross‐sectional study included 100 postsurgical patients. Demographic and perioperative dietary‐related data were collected from patients’ medical records or via direct observation. Dietary intakes were observed for the duration patients were enrolled in the study (from end of surgery to discharge). The amount of energy (kcal) and protein (g) consumed per patient per day was analyzed and considered adequate if it met ≥75% of a patient's estimated requirements.

Results

89 and 52 patients consumed their first intake and first solid intake ≤24 hours after surgery, respectively. For their first intake, 53% of patients had clear or free liquids. Median times to first diet prescription (range: 1.3–5.7 hours), delivery (range: 2.1–12.5 hours), and intake (range: 2.2–13.9 hours) were ≤24 hours after surgery for all patient groups. Time to first solid‐diet prescription (range: 1.3–77.8 hours), delivery (range: 2.1–78.0 hours) and intake (range: 2.2–78.2 hours) varied considerably. Urologic and gastrointestinal patients experienced the greatest delays to first solid‐diet prescription and first solid intake. Only 26 patients met both their energy and protein requirements for ≥1 day during their stay.

Conclusion

While practice appears consistent with EBG recommendations for commencing nutrition (any type) after surgery, the reintroduction of adequate diet requires improvement.
Impact of social information on intentions to volunteer domestically for foreign causes
Authors: Cao Xiaoxia
Published: June 2018

It is a big challenge for nonprofits devoted to foreign causes to recruit volunteers. To help address this issue and contribute to an understudied area of volunteer recruitment research—the effectiveness of persuasive appeals used for recruitment—this study examined the impact of social information on people's intentions to volunteer domestically for foreign causes because such information is found to influence giving behavior. To be more specific, an online experiment was conducted to investigate how and why social information may influence volunteer intentions. The results showed that the information exerted anticipated indirect positive impacts on the intentions (through increasing the perception that fellow citizens would volunteer in response to a recruitment appeal and arousing collective pride) but had no significant overall impact on the intentions. The findings not only contribute to our understanding of how and why social information may influence volunteering domestically for foreign causes but also suggest effective appeals that nonprofits devoted to foreign causes can use to recruit new volunteers and expand their volunteer base.
Hypoxanthine Secretion from Human Adipose Tissue and its Increase in Hypoxia
Authors: Nagao Hirofumi , Nishizawa Hitoshi , Tanaka Yoshimitsu , Fukata Tadafumi , Mizushima Tsunekazu , Furuno Masahiro , Bamba Takeshi , Tsushima Yu , Fujishima Yuya , Kita Shunbun , Funahashi Tohru , Maeda Norikazu , Mori Masaki , Fukusaki Eiichiro , Shimomura Iichiro
Published: June 2018

Objective

The production of uric acid in murine white adipose tissue (mWAT), and that such production was augmented in obese mice, was recently reported. However, little is known about the secretion of metabolites associated with purine catabolism in human WAT (hWAT). The present study analyzed this in hWAT.

Methods

Freshly isolated hWAT and mWAT were cultured. The secretion of metabolites associated with purine catabolism was measured. Tissue distribution profiles of genes associated with purine metabolism and metabolite profiling of adipocytes in hypoxia were analyzed.

Results

Secretion of hypoxanthine from hWAT was higher than those of xanthine and uric acid. On the other hand, secretion of uric acid was relatively higher than xanthine and hypoxanthine in mWAT. Xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) mRNA expression levels in hWAT were markedly lower than that in the human liver. In murine tissues, XOR mRNA expression levels in mWAT were comparable with those in the liver. Cultured human adipocytes secreted hypoxanthine, and its secretion was increased under hypoxia. The metabolic analysis of human adipocytes showed that hypoxia increased metabolites associated with de novo biosynthesis of purine nucleotides.

Conclusions

The present study revealed that hypoxanthine was secreted from human adipose tissue, and the secretion might be increased in local hypoxia.
The challenges of type 1 diabetes and new psychoactive substance misuse
Authors: Charlton Jacqui , Albanese Alessio , Brodie Liz
Published: June 2018

Substance misuse, specifically novel psychoactive substances (NPSs), can have multiple effects on physical and psychological health and well‐being. This is of particular concern to people with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) as their use may impact on effective glucose management and may result in acute complications and deleterious consequences. This review aims to investigate the physical and psychological effects of NPSs and traditional illicit drug use on glycaemic control and corresponding self‐care for people with T1DM.

We performed a literature search of seven electronic databases for articles published between 2011–2017, using MeSH search headings: diabetes, young people, substance misuse, novel psychoactive substances, club drugs, street drugs, rave drugs, legal highs, designer drugs, research chemicals, glycaemic control, ketoacidosis, self‐management, and harm reduction.

Literature was scant, despite the available evidence of increased substance use in the UK. There is a paucity of evidence about the effects of NPSs and traditional illicit drug use on glycaemic control, and a lack of educational information which could be used to inform users with T1DM and health care professionals about their risks and preventative self‐care strategies.

Patient awareness of potential problems with regard to safety is an essential component of effective risk management, health protection and glycaemic control. Health care professionals also require evidence‐based information regarding these components in order to inform and empower patients who choose to participate in this potential risky behaviour. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons.
Glycated haemoglobin and iron deficiency anaemia: a case‐control study
Authors: Intra Jari , Limonta Giuseppe , Cappellini Fabrizio , Bertona Maria , Brambilla Paolo
Published: June 2018

Several studies have suggested an association between iron deficiency anaemia and higher HbA1c levels, but the results are conflicting and the matter is under debate. We conducted a retrospective case‐control study to investigate both the effects of iron deficiency and the reduction of haemoglobin level on HbA1c measurement in subjects with iron deficiency anaemia.

Laboratory data were collected from a sample of subjects consecutively assessed from 1990–2016 in the Italian Hospital of Desio, Lombardy. All non‐pregnant subjects aged over 12 years with one HbA1c measurement, a complete blood count, fasting blood glucose, and ferritin values during the same blood collection were enrolled.

A total of 2625 subjects met the study criteria. In all, 109 individuals were diagnosed as affected by iron deficiency anaemia, while 2516 had normal iron and haemoglobin values. The adjusted means of HbA1c were significantly higher in subjects with iron deficiency anaemia (36.87mmol/mol [5.53%]), compared to those measured in individuals without anaemia (34.75mmol/mol [5.34%]); (p<0.0001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that haemoglobin values are inversely associated with HbA1c levels.

To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first attempt to propose, for subjects affected by iron deficiency anaemia, a correction of HbA1c values based on haemoglobin level after a complete blood count, which may be required when diagnosing pre‐diabetes and monitoring diabetes. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons.
Innovative Advances in Connectivity and Community Pharmacist Patient Care Services: Implications for Patient Safety
Authors: Bacci Jennifer L. , Berenbrok Lucas A.
Published: June 2018

The scope of community pharmacy practice has expanded beyond the provision of drug product to include the provision of patient care services. Likewise, the community pharmacist's approach to patient safety must also expand beyond prevention of errors during medication dispensing to include optimization of medications and prevention of adverse events throughout the entire medication use process. Connectivity to patient data and other health care providers has been a long‐standing challenge in community pharmacy with implications for the delivery and safety of patient care. We describe three innovative advances in connectivity in community pharmacy practice that enhance patient safety in the provision of community pharmacist patient care services across the entire medication use process. Specifically, we discuss the growing use of immunization information systems, quality improvement platforms, and health information exchanges in community pharmacy practice and their implications for patient safety.
Functional analysis of four upregulated carboxylesterase genes associated with fenpropathrin resistance in Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval)
Authors: Wei Peng , Li Jinhang , Liu Xinyang , Nan Can , Shi Li , Zhang Yichao , Li Chuanzhen , He Lin
Published: June 2018

BACKGROUND

Carboxylesterases (CarEs) are important in pesticide resistance. Four overexpressed CarE genes with inducible character were screened out in fenpropathrin‐resistant Tetranychus cinnabarinus, but their functional roles remained to be further analyzed by RNAi and protein expression.

RESULTS

Feeding a single double‐stranded (ds)RNA of each of four genes led to gene‐specific downregulation of mRNA, decreased esterase activity and diminished resistance in T. cinnabarinus. More interestingly, feeding four dsRNAs simultaneously led to a more significant decrease in enzymatic activity and fold resistance than feeding a single dsRNA individually, suggesting that these CarE genes were involved in fenpropathrin‐resistance and had cooperative roles. The gene CarE6 was regarded as the primary and representative candidate to be functionally expressed, because silencing of CarE6 led to the most significant decrease in resistance level. The activity of CarE6 protein was competitively inhibited by fenpropathrin. It could effectively decompose 41.7 ± 0.09% of fenpropathrin within 3 h, proving that CarE6 protein was capable of metabolizing fenpropathrin effectively in T. cinnabarinus.

CONCLUSION

The results confirm that four CarE genes are cooperatively involved in fenpropathrin resistance and the metabolic enzymes encoded by these overexpressed genes do indeed metabolize acaricide in resistant T. cinnabarinus in the evolution of acaricide resistance. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Pt‐Functionalized Nanoporous TiO2 Nanoparticles With Enhanced Gas Sensing Performances Toward Acetone
Authors: Xing Xinxin , Chen Nan , Yang Yue , Zhao Rongjun , Wang Zhezhe , Wang Zidong , Zou Tong , Wang Yude
Published: June 2018

A facile hydrothermal method is used to prepare Pt‐functionalized nanoporous TiO2 nanoparticles. These are used as gas‐sensing material in sensors, fabricated according to the indirect heating method. Gas‐sensing performance of the sensors is investigated by testing their gas response to acetone, which exhibits favorable selectivity, good gas response value, fast response/recovery time, low detection concentration and good long‐term stability to acetone. Gas response β was defined as the ratio of Ra/Rg, where Ra and Rg are the resistance values of gas sensor exposed in air and objective gas, respectively. Among all these as‐prepared gas sensors, the 0.5% Pt‐functionalized TiO2 based gas sensor shows the highest gas response value of 29.51–200 ppm acetone at 300 °C, and the gas response value is 5.2 times higher than that (5.67) of pure TiO2 based gas sensor. It also has excellent selectivity to acetone when comparing with toluene, n‐butanol, isopropanol, ethanol, and methanol. The large specific surface area (168.101 m2 g−1) provides enough contacting interface between gas and the as‐prepared materials, then the gas molecules could be broken into CO2 and H2O by the active adsorbed oxygen species. The present results of the Pt‐functionalized TiO2 based gas sensors illustrates their potential application in detecting acetone.
Big data analytics using semi‐supervised learning methods
Authors: Frumosu Flavia D. , Kulahci Murat
Published: June 2018

The expanding availability of complex data structures requires development of new analysis methods for process understanding and monitoring. In manufacturing, this is primarily due to high‐frequency and high‐dimensional data available through automated data collection schemes and sensors. However, particularly for fast production rate situations, data on the quality characteristics of the process output tend to be scarcer than the available process data. There has been a considerable effort in incorporating latent structure–based methods in the context of complex data. The research question addressed in this paper is to make use of latent structure–based methods in the pursuit of better predictions using all available data including the process data for which there are no corresponding output measurements, ie, unlabeled data. Inspiration for the research question comes from an industrial setting where there is a need for prediction with extremely low tolerances. A semi‐supervised principal component regression method is compared against benchmark latent structure–based methods, principal components regression, and partial least squares, on simulated and experimental data. In the analysis, we show the circumstances in which it becomes more advantageous to use the semi‐supervised principal component regression over these competing methods.
Rotary drum soil blending for source zone remediation: Various application scenarios
Authors: Markesic Steve , Rossabi Joe , Haselow John , Romano Jay , Adams Tim
Published: June 2018

Mechanical blending of contaminated soil with amendments has recently reemerged as an important treatment technology. From its original application using large‐diameter augers in the early 1990s to the current use of rotary drum blenders, soil blending is being used as an alternative to other remediation technologies like amendment injection and soil vapor and groundwater extraction. Shallow (approximately 10 m below ground surface [bgs] or less) soil blending also offers an alternative to excavation and disposal. Soil blending has been used to remediate a site with various contaminants including, but not limited to, chlorinated solvents, petroleum, and metals. The types of soils susceptible to soil blending vary from sands and gravels to silts and clays to fractured rock and combinations of all of these. The types of amendments blended include oxidants, reducing agents, biological enhancements, and stabilizing amendments. Soil blending systems deliver the power to the mixing head to adequately mix the soil and amendment to enhance remediation effectiveness. Since long‐term contamination is often a result of heterogeneously distributed residual contaminant in localized source zones that are difficult to access, the typical aim of soil blending is to homogenize the soil while effectively distributing amendment to these zones made accessible by blending. By effectively homogenizing the soil, however, soil blending will increase the void ratio and disrupt the shear strength and bearing capacity of the soil so an important component of a soil blending technology is proper recovery of these geotechnical parameters. This can be achieved by using well‐known soil improvement techniques such as amending all or a portion of the blended area with Portland cement or lime. Several case studies of soil blending treatments of different contaminants and amendments in various soil types are provided.
Arsenic, manganese, and cyanide removal in a tailing storage facility for a gold mine using phytoremediation
Authors: Sampanpanish Pantawat
Published: June 2018

In this study, six selected plants (Acacia mangium, A. auriculiformis, Leucaena leucocepphala, bamboo, Pennisetum purpureum, and Vetiveria zizanioides) were cultivated in a mine tailing storage facility in a gold mine area. P. purpureum, a monocot species, provided the highest phytoremediation efficiency. Therefore, it is a potentially appropriate plant for site remediation. It is interesting that P. purpureum is perennial, meaning it can be easily planted and requires less effort and input for care with the ability to flourish year round. Thus, this study recommends using P. purpureum for phytoremediation of heavy metals and cyanide in gold mine areas.
Adaptive localization and mapping with application to planetary rovers
Authors: Hidalgo‐Carrió Javier , Poulakis Pantelis , Kirchner Frank
Published: June 2018

Future exploration rovers will be equipped with substantial onboard autonomy. SLAM is a fundamental part and has a close connection with robot perception, planning, and control. The community has made great progress in the past decade by enabling real‐world solutions and is addressing important challenges in high‐level scalability, resources awareness, and domain adaptation. A novel adaptive SLAM system is proposed to accomplish rover navigation and computational demands. It starts from a three‐dimensional odometry dead reckoning solution and builds up to a full graph optimization that takes into account rover traction performance. A complete kinematics of the rover locomotion system improves the wheel odometry solution. In addition, an odometry error model is inferred using Gaussian processes (GPs) to predict nonsystematic errors induced by poor traction of the rover with the terrain. The nonparametric GP regression serves to adapt the localization and mapping to the current navigation demands (domain adaptation). The method brings scalability and adaptiveness to modern SLAM. Therefore, an adaptive strategy develops to adjust the image frame rate (active perception) and to influence the optimization backend by including high informative keyframes in the graph (adaptive information gain). The work is experimentally verified on a representative planetary rover under a realistic field test scenario. The results show a modern SLAM systems that adapt to the predicted error. The system maintains accuracy with less number of nodes taking the most benefit of both wheel and visual methods in a consistent graph‐based smoothing approach.
Enhancing Organolead Halide Perovskite Solar Cells Performance Through Interfacial Engineering Using Ag‐doped TiO2 Hole Blocking Layer
Authors: Wu Ming‐Chung , Liao Ying‐Han , Chan Shun‐Hsiang , Lu Chun‐Fu , Su Wei‐Fang
Published: June 2018

Various silver‐doped titanium dioxide (Ag‐TiO2) hole blocking layers are used to improve the organolead halide perovskite‐structured solar cells (PSCs) performances. In this work, a series of Ag‐TiO2 compact layers with various dopant levels are successfully synthesized, and they are used to fabricate PSCs. The silver doping effects on the morphology and physical properties of Ag‐TiO2 compact layers are studied using X‐ray diffractometer, UV‐visible spectroscopy, contact angle meter, scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, and time‐resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy. Furthermore, the photo‐assisted Kelvin probe force microscopy is used to monitor the surface potentials. With 1.0 mol% Ag‐TiO2 PSCs, the short‐circuit current density increases notably because of the lower electron–hole recombination, which increases the electron injection. After optimizing the synthesis conditions, the champion device based on 1.0 mol% Ag‐TiO2 exhibits a power conversion efficiency of 14.1% under AM 1.5 G irradiation (100 mW · cm−2).
Influence of High Temperature Interaction on the Softening and Melting Behaviors of Iron Bearing Materials in the Blast Furnace
Authors: Wu Shengli , Wang Laixin , Lu Yanan , Gu Kai
Published: June 2018

The cohesive zone in the blast furnace is largely affected by the softening and melting behaviors of ferrous burden. The Visual High Temperature Method (VHTM) has been employed, in present work, to explore the softening and melting behavior of sinter, two different types of lump ores, and one acid pellet. All iron bearing materials are observed to swell before they shrink. This observation is more dominant in case of dense structured lump ore B. The shrinking temperature intervals are different from one another. This contributes to the gas permeability of ore layer in the cohesive zone because “ore window” is formed. In addition to this, the softening and melting behavior of mixed burdens (consist of sinter and other acid materials) have also been studied. Results display that the softening and melting behavior of all materials are improved. This observation is more dominant for lump ore A. It is attributed to high temperature interactions between sinter and acid iron bearing materials. The high temperature interactivity is largely influenced by the chemical compositions, pore structure, and contact condition. Experimental results of two groups of integrated burdens verify the importance of high temperature interaction for improving the softening and melting characteristics of iron bearing materials.
Optimal Design and Experimental Study of Ejector for Ladle Baking
Authors: Yuan Fei , He Dongfeng , Feng Kai , Zhang Minghui , Wang Hongbing
Published: June 2018

Current regenerative ladle preheating devices for steel plants are supposed to be equipped with an induced draft fan to suction high‐temperature flue gas, which flows through the regenerator and heats it simultaneously. Replacing the traditional draft fan of ladle preheaters with high‐pressure air of steel plants and ejectors is of great significance in energy conservation and emission reduction. The influence of the ejector nozzle diameter, nozzle to throat clearance, diffuser chamber structure, and primary gas inlet pressure on the ejector performance is analyzed through a combination of establishing a three‐dimensional ejector model and simulation work with the numerical simulation software Fluent. The optimal ejector design parameters are proposed and validated using experimental data. The research showed that the ejector can achieve the best performance with the parameters of 0.42 MPa inlet pressure for high‐pressure primary gas, 0.027 m ejector nozzle diameter, 0.11 m nozzle to throat clearance, 8° divergence angle of the diffuser, and 0.19 m length of diffuser chamber. The entrained mass flow rate of the secondary gas is 1.14 kg s−1 for the optimal ejector. The experimental results are consistent with those of the numerical simulation and verified that the optimal design of ejector device met the practical requirements.
Synthesis, Characterization of Inulin Propionate Ester, and Evaluation of its in Vitro Effect on SCFA Production
Authors: Zhu Xiaozhen , Jia Chenchen , Meng Xianyao , Xing Mengjing , Yi Yuetao , Gao Xuelu
Published: June 2018

In this study, the authors developed a method for the synthesis of inulin propionate ester as dietary fiber carrier to increase the amounts of short chain fatty acids (SCFA). The propionylated inulin showed an appreciable effect for increasing SCFA compared with control inulin. The structure characteristics of inulin propionate ester are established based on FT‐IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectra. Meanwhile, response surface methodology (RSM) is used to optimize the synthesis conditions and investigate the effect of three parameters on the degree of substitution (DS). The optimal conditions are as follows: the ratio of anhydride to inulin of 4.5:1, the concentration of 30%, the temperature of 40 °C. The results indicated that the ratio of anhydride to inulin and the concentration has a significant effect on DS. Under these conditions, the experimental DS was 2.86. In a 48 h in vitro fermentation experiment, the results of propionylated inulin had a good potential for enhancing propionate ratio compared to control inulin. This experiment provides a novel carrier molecule whereby SCFA is chemically bound by an ester bond to inulin which would be beneficial for delivering high concentration of SCFA and influencing intestinal health.
An optimum bidding strategy of CVPP by interval optimization
Authors: Hu Jiakai , Liu Yangyang , Jiang Chuanwen
Published: June 2018

Virtual power plant (VPP) aggregates distributed energy resources (DER) as a single profile to overcome scale disadvantage and dispersed characteristics. A commercial virtual power plant (CVPP) especially operates to improve the power‐market involvement. In this article, the CVPP medium‐term bidding strategy is optimized to obtain the profit interval mostly preferred by the CVPP's decision maker. Because the medium‐term forecast of renewable power generation and day ahead (DA) market price is far more difficult than short term, interval optimization is proposed, which does not require uncertain variable‐distribution assumption. The pessimism degree is introduced to quantify the decision maker's risk acceptance and compare intervals so as to solve the interval‐optimization model. Within the interval‐optimization framework, the bidding strategy between the bilateral contract (BC) and the DA market is figured out. A combined DA market deal and gas turbine generator strategy is proposed to cope with power shortage. Finally, an in‐depth sensitivity analysis is applied, and the characteristics and caution of interval optimization are deduced. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Assessment of venous hemodynamics and volume homeostasis during pregnancy: recommendations of the International Working Group on Maternal Hemodynamics
Authors: Gyselaers W. , Spaanderman M. ,   on behalf of the International Working Group on Maternal Hemodynamics
Published: June 2018

Venous hemodynamics and volume homeostasis are important aspects of cardiovascular physiology. However, today their relevance is still very much underappreciated. Their most important role is maintenance and control of venous return and, as such, cardiac output. A high‐flow/low‐resistance circulation, remaining constant under physiological circumstances, is mandatory for an uncomplicated course of pregnancy. In this article, characteristics of normal and abnormal venous and volume regulating functions are discussed with respect to normal and pathologic outcomes of pregnancy, and current (non‐invasive) methods to assess these functions are summarized. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Taming Godavari River: Navigating through religious, developmental, and environmental narratives
Authors: Dahake Shilpa
Published: June 2018

Exploring the production and the social construction of Godavari riverscape in Nashik, this article presents a case of ongoing socio‐ecological transformations in the Indian cities. This case‐study aims to contribute to the burgeoning scholarship on the political ecology of urban water bodies in India and expands the political ecology of waterscapes by engaging with the cultural politics of water. The Godavari, one of the seven sacred rivers in Hinduism, meanders through the fast urbanizing and a religious city of Nashik. Thousands of pilgrims converge every day along the Godavari in the Nashik and millions throng during the Hindu pilgrimage festival of Kumbh Mela—one of the biggest congregations in the world. Here, religious tourism coupled with modernist developmental agendas is rapidly (re)shaping the river into a prized religious and real estate commodity while ignoring the river ecology. This article nuances the perception, investigation, and management of rivers by examining three interrelated questions: How do the performance, circulation, and contestation of the multiple narratives surrounding the river transform its ecology and relationship with the city? In what ways do notions of control and exploitation of rivers normalize in the collective conscience of the societies? How do social relations (re)create and configure the emotional ties with the river in public imagination?

This article is categorized under:

Human Water > Water as Imagined and Represented

Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness
Brain (re)organization following visual loss
Authors: Voss Patrice
Published: June 2018

The study of the neural consequences of sensory loss provides a unique window into the brain's functional and organizational principles. Although the blind visual cortex has been implicated in the cross‐modal processing of nonvisual inputs for quite some time, recent research has shown that certain cortical organizational principles are preserved even in the case of complete sensory loss. Furthermore, a growing body of work has shown that markers of neuroplasticity extend to neuroanatomical metrics that include cortical thickness and myelinization. Although our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie sensory deprivation‐driven cross‐modal plasticity is improving, several critical questions remain unanswered. The specific pathways that underlie the rerouting of nonvisual information, for instance, have not been fully elucidated. The fact that important cross‐modal recruitment occurs following transient deprivation in sighted individuals suggests that significant rewiring following blindness may not be required. Furthermore, there are marked individual differences regarding the magnitude and functional relevance of the cross‐modal reorganization. It is also not clear to what extent precise environmental factors may play a role in establishing the degree of reorganization across individuals, as opposed to factors that might specifically relate to the cause or the nature of the visual loss. In sum, although many unresolved questions remain, sensory deprivation continues to be an excellent model for studying the plastic nature of the brain.

This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Brain Function and Dysfunction

Psychology > Perception and Psychophysics

Neuroscience > Plasticity
On regularity for an Ericksen‐Leslie's parabolic‐hyperbolic liquid crystals model
Authors: Lu Shengqi , Chen Miaochao , Liu Qilin
Published: June 2018

We prove a regularity criterion for an Ericksen‐Leslie's model when the space dimension . We also prove the global well‐posedness of strong solutions for a generalized wave map in a bounded domain when , and prove a regularity criterion for the generalized wave maps when .
Quantum and classical dynamics of heavy quarks in a quark-gluon plasma
Authors: Blaizot Jean-Paul , Escobedo Miguel Angel
Published: June 2018

Abstract

We derive equations for the time evolution of the reduced density matrix of a collection of heavy quarks and antiquarks immersed in a quark gluon plasma. These equations, in their original form, rely on two approximations: the weak coupling between the heavy quarks and the plasma, the fast response of the plasma to the perturbation caused by the heavy quarks. An additional semi-classical approximation is performed. This allows us to recover results previously obtained for the abelian plasma using the influence functional formalism. In the case of QCD, specific features of the color dynamics make the implementation of the semi-classical approximation more involved. We explore two approximate strategies to solve numerically the resulting equations in the case of a quark-antiquark pair. One involves Langevin equations with additional random color forces, the other treats the transition between the singlet and octet color configurations as collisions in a Boltzmann equation which can be solved with Monte Carlo techniques.
Domain wall and three dimensional duality
Authors: Eto Minoru , Fujimori Toshiaki , Nitta Muneto
Published: June 2018

Abstract

We discuss 1/2 BPS domain walls in the 3d

$$ \mathcal{N}=4 $$

N
=
4

supersymmetric gauge theory which is self-dual under the 3d mirror symmetry. We find that if a BF-type coupling is introduced, invariance of the BPS domain wall under the duality transformation can be explicitly seen from the classical BPS equations. It has been known that particles and vortices are swapped under the 3d duality transformations. We show that Noether charges and vortex topological charges localized on the domain walls are correctly exchanged under the 3d mirror symmetry.
On Northern Hemisphere Wave Patterns Associated with Winter Rainfall Events in China
Authors: Stephan Claudia Christine , Ng Yan Ho , Klingaman Nicholas P.
Published: June 2018

During extended winter (November–April), 43% of the intraseasonal rainfall variability in China is explained by three spatial patterns of temporally coherent rainfall. These patterns were identified with empirical orthogonal teleconnection (EOT) analysis of observed 1982–2007 pentad rainfall anomalies and connected to midlatitude disturbances. However, examination of individual strong EOT events shows that there is substantial inter-event variability in their dynamical evolution, which implies that precursor patterns found in regressions cannot serve as useful predictors. To understand the physical nature and origins of the extratropical precursors, the EOT technique is applied to six simulations of the Met Office Unified Model at horizontal resolutions of 200–40 km, with and without air–sea coupling. All simulations reproduce the observed precursor patterns in regressions, indicating robust underlying dynamical processes. Further investigation into the dynamics associated with observed patterns shows that Rossby wave dynamics can explain the large inter-event variability. The results suggest that the apparently slowly evolving or quasi-stationary waves in regression analysis are a statistical amalgamation of more rapidly propagating waves with a variety of origins and properties.