bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In Situ Decoration of Gold Nanoparticles on Graphene Oxide via Nanosecond Laser Ablation for Remarkable Chemical Sensing and Catalysis
Authors: Nancy Parvathy , Nair Anju K , Antoine Rodolphe , Thomas Sabu , Kalarikkal Nandakumar
Published: August 2019

Gold decorated graphene-based nano-hybrids find extensive research interest due to their enhanced chemical catalytic performance and biochemical sensing. The unique physicochemical properties and the very large surface area makes them propitious platform for the rapid buildouts of science and technology. Graphene serves as an outstanding matrix for anchoring numerous nanomaterials because of its atomically thin 2D morphological features. Herein, we have designed a metal-graphene nano-hybrid through pulsed laser ablation. Commercially available graphite powder was employed for the preparation of graphene oxide (GO) using modified Hummers’ method. A solid, thin gold (Au) foil was ablated in an aqueous suspension of GO using second harmonic wavelength (532 nm) of the Nd:YAG laser for immediate generation of the Au-GO nano-hybrid. The synthesis strategy employed here does not entail any detrimental chemical reagents and hence avoids the inclusion of reagent byproducts to the reaction mixture, toxicity, and environmental or chemical contamination. Optical and morphological characterizations were performed to substantiate the successful anchoring of Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) on the GO sheets. Remarkably, these photon-generated nano-hybrids can act as an excellent surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) platform for the sensing/detection of the 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) with a very low detection limit of 1 × 10−12 M and preserves better reproducibility also. In addition, these hybrid materials were found to act as an effective catalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). Thus, this is a rapid, mild, efficient and green synthesis approach for the fabrication of active organometallic sensors and catalysts.
Association between Ready-to-Eat Cereal Consumption and Nutrient Intake, Nutritional Adequacy, and Diet Quality among Infants, Toddlers, and Children in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015–2016
Authors: Smith Jessica D. , Zhu Yong , Vanage Vipra , Jain Neha , Holschuh Norton , Hermetet Agler Anne
Published: August 2019

Ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal is a popular food among children. However, there are no recent data on the associations between RTE cereal consumption and dietary outcomes in the U.S. Therefore, we sought to investigate how RTE cereal was associated with nutrient and food group intakes and overall dietary quality among children aged 0.5 to 17 years using the latest data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2015–2016). Thirty-six percent of children reported consuming RTE cereal. RTE cereal eaters consumed the same number of calories as non-eaters but had higher intakes of total carbohydrates, total sugar, fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin D, as well as lower intakes of total fat and saturated fat (p ≤ 0.0007). We also found that children who consumed RTE cereal had 29% higher total dairy intake (p < 0.0001) and 61% higher whole grain intake (p < 0.0001). Lastly, children who ate RTE cereal had higher diet quality than the children that did not eat RTE cereal, as shown by Healthy Eating Index 2015 total score (52.6 versus 47.7, p < 0.0001). Therefore, consumption of whole-grain fortified RTE cereals should be encouraged as part of healthy dietary patterns for children.
Efficacy of Nutritional Interventions as Stand-Alone or Synergistic Treatments with Exercise for the Management of Sarcopenia
Authors: Damanti Sarah , Azzolino Domenico , Roncaglione Carlotta , Arosio Beatrice , Rossi Paolo , Cesari Matteo
Published: August 2019

Sarcopenia is an age-related and accelerated process characterized by a progressive loss of muscle mass and strength/function. It is a multifactorial process associated with several adverse outcomes including falls, frailty, functional decline, hospitalization, and mortality. Hence, sarcopenia represents a major public health problem and has become the focus of intense research. Unfortunately, no pharmacological treatments are yet available to prevent or treat this age-related condition. At present, the only strategies for the management of sarcopenia are mainly based on nutritional and physical exercise interventions. The purpose of this review is, thus, to provide an overview on the role of proteins and other key nutrients, alone or in combination with physical exercise, on muscle parameters.
Brain-Behavior-Immune Interaction: Serum Cytokines and Growth Factors in Patients with Eating Disorders at Extremes of the Body Mass Index (BMI) Spectrum
Authors: Caroleo Mariarita , Carbone Elvira Anna , Greco Marta , Corigliano Domenica Maria , Arcidiacono Biagio , Fazia Gilda , Rania Marianna , Aloi Matteo , Gallelli Luca , Segura-Garcia Cristina , Foti Daniela Patrizia , Brunetti Antonio
Published: August 2019

Alterations of the immune system are known in eating disorders (EDs), however the importance of cytokine balance in this context has not been clarified. We compared cytokines and growth factors at opposite ends of BMI ranges, in 90 patients classified in relation to BMI, depressive and EDs comorbidities. Serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were determined by a biochip analyzer (Randox Labs). Differences were calculated through ANOVA. Possible predictors of higher cytokine levels were evaluated through regression analysis. IL-1α, IL-10, EGF, and IFN-γ were altered individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) and binge eating disorder (BED). Night-eating was associated with IL-8 and EGF levels, IL-10 concentrations with post-dinner eating and negatively with sweet-eating, long fasting with higher IFN-γ levels. IL-2 increase was not linked to EDs, but to the interaction of depression and BMI. Altogether, for the first time, IL-1α, IL-10, EGF, and IFN-γ were shown to differ between AN and HCs, and between AN and individuals with obesity with or without BED. Only IL-2 was influenced by depression. Dysfunctional eating behaviors predicted abnormal concentrations of IL-10, EGF, IL-8 and IFN-γ.
Nutritional Assessment in Preterm Infants: A Practical Approach in the NICU
Authors: Pereira-da-Silva Luis , Virella Daniel , Fusch Christoph
Published: August 2019

A practical approach for nutritional assessment in preterm infants under intensive care, based on anthropometric measurements and commonly used biochemical markers, is suggested. The choice of anthropometric charts depends on the purpose: Fenton 2013 charts to assess intrauterine growth, an online growth calculator to monitor intra-hospital weight gain, and Intergrowth-21st standards to monitor growth after discharge. Body weight, though largely used, does not inform on body compartment sizes. Mid-upper arm circumference estimates body adiposity and is easy to measure. Body length reflects skeletal growth and fat-free mass, provided it is accurately measured. Head circumference indicates brain growth. Skinfolds estimate reasonably body fat. Weight-to-length ratio, body mass index, and ponderal index can assess body proportionality at birth. These and other derived indices, such as the mid-upper arm circumference to head circumference ratio, could be proxies of body composition but need validation. Low blood urea nitrogen may indicate insufficient protein intake. Prealbumin and retinol binding protein are good markers of current protein status, but they may be affected by non-nutritional factors. The combination of a high serum alkaline phosphatase level and a low serum phosphate level is the best biochemical marker for the early detection of metabolic bone disease.
Selenium-Binding Protein 1 Indicates Myocardial Stress and Risk for Adverse Outcome in Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Kühn-Heid Ellen C. D. , Kühn Eike C. , Ney Julia , Wendt Sebastian , Seelig Julian , Schwiebert Christian , Minich Waldemar B. , Stoppe Christian , Schomburg Lutz
Published: August 2019

Selenium-binding protein 1 (SELENBP1) is an intracellular protein that has been detected in the circulation in response to myocardial infarction. Hypoxia and cardiac surgery affect selenoprotein expression and selenium (Se) status. For this reason, we decided to analyze circulating SELENBP1 concentrations in patients (n = 75) necessitating cardioplegia and a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) during the course of the cardiac surgery. Serum samples were collected at seven time-points spanning the full surgical process. SELENBP1 was quantified by a highly sensitive newly developed immunological assay. Serum concentrations of SELENBP1 increased markedly during the intervention and showed a positive association with the duration of ischemia (ρ = 0.6, p < 0.0001). Elevated serum SELENBP1 concentrations at 1 h after arrival at the intensive care unit (post-surgery) were predictive to identify patients at risk of adverse outcome (death, bradycardia or cerebral ischemia, “endpoint 1”; OR 29.9, CI 3.3–268.8, p = 0.00027). Circulating SELENBP1 during intervention (2 min after reperfusion or 15 min after weaning from the CPB) correlated positively with an established marker of myocardial infarction (CK-MB) measured after the intervention (each with ρ = 0.5, p < 0.0001). We concluded that serum concentrations of SELENBP1 were strongly associated with cardiac arrest and the duration of myocardial ischemia already early during surgery, thereby constituting a novel and promising quantitative marker for myocardial hypoxia, with a high potential to improve diagnostics and prediction in combination with the established clinical parameters.
Pediatric Thermoregulation: Considerations in the Face of Global Climate Change
Authors: Smith Caroline J.
Published: August 2019

Predicted global climate change, including rising average temperatures, increasing airborne pollution, and ultraviolet radiation exposure, presents multiple environmental stressors contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. Extreme temperatures and more frequent and severe heat events will increase the risk of heat-related illness and associated complications in vulnerable populations, including infants and children. Historically, children have been viewed to possess inferior thermoregulatory capabilities, owing to lower sweat rates and higher core temperature responses compared to adults. Accumulating evidence counters this notion, with limited child–adult differences in thermoregulation evident during mild and moderate heat exposure, with increased risk of heat illness only at environmental extremes. In the context of predicted global climate change, extreme environmental temperatures will be encountered more frequently, placing children at increased risk. Thermoregulatory and overall physiological strain in high temperatures may be further exacerbated by exposure to/presence of physiological and environmental stressors including pollution, ultraviolet radiation, obesity, diabetes, associated comorbidities, and polypharmacy that are more commonly occurring at younger ages. The aim of this review is to revisit fundamental differences in child–adult thermoregulation in the face of these multifaceted climate challenges, address emerging concerns, and emphasize risk reduction strategies for the health and performance of children in the heat.
Nanocarrier Lipid Composition Modulates the Impact of Pulmonary Surfactant Protein B (SP-B) on Cellular Delivery of siRNA
Authors: Guagliardo Roberta , Merckx Pieterjan , Zamborlin Agata , De Backer Lynn , Echaide Mercedes , Pérez-Gil Jesus , De Smedt Stefaan C. , Raemdonck Koen
Published: August 2019

Two decades since the discovery of the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway, we are now witnessing the approval of the first RNAi-based treatments with small interfering RNA (siRNA) drugs. Nevertheless, the widespread use of siRNA is limited by various extra- and intracellular barriers, requiring its encapsulation in a suitable (nanosized) delivery system. On the intracellular level, the endosomal membrane is a major barrier following endocytosis of siRNA-loaded nanoparticles in target cells and innovative materials to promote cytosolic siRNA delivery are highly sought after. We previously identified the endogenous lung surfactant protein B (SP-B) as siRNA delivery enhancer when reconstituted in (proteo) lipid-coated nanogels. It is known that the surface-active function of SP-B in the lung is influenced by the lipid composition of the lung surfactant. Here, we investigated the role of the lipid component on the siRNA delivery-promoting activity of SP-B proteolipid-coated nanogels in more detail. Our results clearly indicate that SP-B prefers fluid membranes with cholesterol not exceeding physiological levels. In addition, SP-B retains its activity in the presence of different classes of anionic lipids. In contrast, comparable fractions of SP-B did not promote the siRNA delivery potential of DOTAP:DOPE cationic liposomes. Finally, we demonstrate that the beneficial effect of lung surfactant on siRNA delivery is not limited to lung-related cell types, providing broader therapeutic opportunities in other tissues as well.
Optimal Tracking of QR Inspired LEA Using Particle Filter for Secured Visual MIMO Communication Based Vehicular Network
Authors: Chinnusamy Manikandan , Sidharthan Rakesh Kumar , Sivanandam Venkatesh , Kommi Sai Siva Satwik , Mallari Rao Chandrasekar , Periasamy Neelamegam
Published: August 2019

Line of sight (LoS) and security are the fundamental requirement for any secure visual MIMO communication based vehicular networks. Uneven speed, irregular terrains, and uncertain appearance of obstacles disgrace LoS between the visual multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmitter and receiver. This paper proposes optimal tracking techniques to maintain LoS using a novel quick response (QR) inspired light emitting array (LEA) pattern. Automatic geometric transformation of the QR code in conjunction with the particle filter is used to track the dynamically varying LEA position. In addition to that, an adaptive threshold technique (ATT) has been proposed to minimize error caused by ambient light variations and interferences. A novel key generation algorithm is also proposed to improve the security of the visual MIMO communication system. It utilizes a customized linear feedback shift register (LFSR) and synthetic color image to generate a stronger key. The randomness test demonstrates the robustness of the proposed key generation technique with a minimal probability value of 0.1223 (>0.01). Simulation and real-time studies have been carried out in the presence of geometric distortions, and the bit error rate (BER) performance is evaluated. Results illustrate that the proposed techniques make the visual MIMO system more secure and reliable for vehicular networks.
Interaction of Huanglongbing and Foliar Applications of Copper on Water Relations of Citrus sinensis cv. Valencia
Authors: Hamido Said A. , Ebel Robert C. , Morgan Kelly T.
Published: August 2019

The following study was conducted to determine the impact of frequent foliar Cu applications on water relations of Huanglongbing (HLB)-affected Citrus sinensis cv. ‘Valencia’. HLB in Florida is putatively caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus that is vectored by the Asian citrus psyllid. The experiment was conducted in a psyllid-free greenhouse with trees grown in Immokalee fine sand soil with the trees well-maintained to promote health. Cu was applied to the foliage at 0×, 0.5×, 1×, and 2× the commercially recommended rates, which were 0, 46, 92, and 184 mM, respectively, with applications made 3× in both 2016 and 2017. Previous studies indicate that HLB causes roots to decline before the canopy develops symptoms, which increases the ratio between the evaporative surface area of the canopy to the uptake surface area of roots and increases the hydraulic strain within the tree. In the current study, overall growth was suppressed substantially by HLB and Cu treatments but the ratio between evaporative surface area (leaf surface area) and the uptake surface area of roots (feeder root surface area) was not affected by either treatment. Stem water potential (Ψxylem), which was used as a measure of plant water deficits and the hydraulic strain within the tree, was significantly 13% lower for HLB-affected trees than the non-HLB controls but were not affected by Cu treatments. All Ψxylem measurements were in a range typical of well-watered trees conditions. Stomatal conductance (ks) and root and soil resistances (Rr+s) were not affected by HLB and Cu. The results of this experiment suggest that tree leaf area and feeder roots are reduced when the trees are affected by HLB or are treated with foliar Cu applications such that plant water deficits are not significantly different over that of the controls.
The Essential Oil of Thymbra capitata and its Application as A Biocide on Stone and Derived Surfaces
Authors: Gagliano Candela Rossella , Maggi Filippo , Lazzara Giuseppe , Rosselli Sergio , Bruno Maurizio
Published: August 2019

Many chemicals used nowadays for the preservation of cultural heritage pose a risk to both human health and the environment. Thus, it is desirable to find new and eco-friendly biocides that can replace the synthetic ones. In this regard, plant essential oils represent effective alternatives to synthetic substances for the preservation of historical monuments. Thymbra capitata (syn. Thymus capitatus) is a medicinal and aromatic plant growing in the Mediterranean area and endowed with important pharmacological properties related to its essential oil. Among them, the antimicrobial ones make the T. capitata essential oil an ideal candidate for industrial applications; for instance, as biocide for the inhibition and elimination of biological patinas of cyanobacteria and green algae on historical monuments. In the present work, we studied the chemical composition of the essential oil from T. capitata growing in Malta by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The major volatile component is the phenolic monoterpene carvacrol (73.2%), which is capable of damaging the cytoplasmic membrane and to interfere both in the growth curve and in the invasive capacity, though the contribution of minor components γ-terpinene and p-cymene cannot be disregarded. For the oil application on the stone surface, Pickering emulsions systems were prepared with an essential oil/water 1:3 mass ratio stabilized with kaolinite at 4 mass% in the presence of Laponite®; this allowed to limit the fast volatility of the oil and guaranteed a better application and an easier removal from the artefacts attacked by biodeteriogens both indoor and outdoor. This formulation caused the elimination of biodeteriogens from treated surfaces without residuals or films on artworks surface, and the effect was retained up to four months.
Garcienone, a Novel Compound Involved in Allelopathic Activity of Garcinia Xanthochymus Hook
Authors: Rob Md. Mahfuzur , Iwasaki Arihiro , Suzuki Ryota , Suenaga Kiyotake , Kato-Noguchi Hisashi
Published: August 2019

Plants are sources of diversified allelopathic substances that can be investigated for use in eco-friendly and efficient herbicides. An aqueous methanol extract from the leaves of Garcinia xanthochymus exhibited strong inhibitory activity against barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv.), foxtail fescue (Vulpia myuros (L.) C.C.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and cress (Lepidium sativum L.), and appears to be a promising source of allelopathic substances. Hence, bio-activity guided purification of the extract through a series of column chromatography steps yielded a novel compound assigned as garcienone ((R, E)-5-hydroxy-5-((6S, 9S)-6-methyl-9-(prop-13-en-10-yl) tetrahydrofuran-6-yl) pent-3-en-2-one). Garcienone significantly inhibited the growth of cress at a concentration of 10 μM. The concentrations resulting in 50% growth inhibition (I50) of cress roots and shoots were 120.5 and 156.3 μM, respectively. This report is the first to isolate and identify garcienone and to determine its allelopathic potential.
Sugar Alcohol-Based Deep Eutectic Solvents as Potato Starch Plasticizers
Authors: Zdanowicz Magdalena , Staciwa Piotr , Jędrzejewski Roman , Spychaj Tadeusz
Published: August 2019

The aim of this work was to prepare sugar alcohol-based deep eutectic solvents (DES) and test them as starch plasticizers. Thermoplastic starch (TPS) films were obtained via a simple and convenient thermocompression method. Influence of starch/DES premixtures conditioning (preheating, storage time) on TPS properties was investigated. TPS/sorbitol (S)-based DES exhibited similar tensile strength (TS) (8.6 MPa) but twice higher elongation at the break (ε) (33%) when compared with TPS plasticized only with S. Extra treatment, i.e., heating or prolonged storage time, facilitated starch/DES plasticizing. Starch with selected DES was also extruded and the influence of preconditioning and extrusion rotational speed were subsequently studied on thermocompressed films. Extrusion at 100 rpm led to films with TS up to ca. 10 MPa and ε up to 52%. Some differences in film samples morphology obtained via two processing methods were observed. X-ray diffractograms revealed that extruded samples exhibited a V-type peak at 18.2°, with intensity depending on plasticizer total molecular size. Applied techniques (mechanical tests, XRD, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), FTIR-Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR), and moisture sorption) indicated that S-based DES forms stronger interactions with starch than glycerol (G) only used as conventional plasticizer, thus leading to better mechanical properties and inhibited tendency to starch recrystallization (studied up to one year).
Fluorescent Nanodiamonds Enable Long-Term Detection of Human Adipose-Derived Stem/Stromal Cells in an In Vivo Chondrogenesis Model Using Decellularized Extracellular Matrices and Fibrin Glue Polymer
Authors: Wu Yi-Chia , Wang Ya-Chin , Wang Wei-Ting , Wang Hui-Min David , Lin Hsin-Hung , Su Long-Jyun , Kuo Yur-Ren , Lai Chung-Sheng , Ho Mei-Ling , Yu John
Published: August 2019

Clinically available materials, including allogeneic irradiated costal cartilage and fibrin glue polymer, were used as scaffolds for in vivo chondrogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem/stromal cells (hASCs) in the attempt to develop a more efficient treatment over current methods. Current studies include the use of growth-factor stimulation, tissue engineering, and biocompatible materials; however, most methods involve complicated processes and pose clinical limitations. In this report, the xenografts in the experimental group composed of a diced decellularized cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM), hASCs, and fibrin glue polymer were implanted into the subcutaneous layer of nude mice, and the results were compared with two groups of controls; one control group received implantation of decellularized cartilage ECM and fibrin glue polymer, and the other control group received implantation of hASCs mixed with fibrin glue polymer. To evaluate whether hASCs had in vivo chondrogenesis in the xenografts, hASCs were labeled with fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs), a biocompatible and photostable nanomaterial, to allow for long-term detection and histological analysis. Increased cellularity, glycosaminoglycan, and collagen deposition were found by the histological examination in the experimental group compared with control groups. With the background-free detection technique and time-gated fluorescence imaging, the numbers and locations of the FND-labeled hASCs could be detected by confocal microscopy. The chondrocyte-specific markers, such as aggrecan and type II collagen, were colocalized with cells containing signals of FNDs which indicated in vivo chondrogenesis of hASCs. Taken together, functional in vivo chondrogenesis of the hASCs could be achieved by clinically available decellularized cartilage ECM and fibrin glue polymer in the nude mice model without in vitro chondrogenic induction. The fluorescent signals of FNDs in hASCs can be detected in histological analysis, such as hematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E staining) without the interference of the autofluorescence. Our study may warrant future clinical applications of the combination of decellular cartilage ECM, fibrin glue polymer, and hASCs for cartilage repair.
Growing Nano-SiO2 on the Surface of Aramid Fibers Assisted by Supercritical CO2 to Enhance the Thermal Stability, Interfacial Shear Strength, and UV Resistance
Authors: Zhang Luwei , Kong Haijuan , Qiao Mengmeng , Ding Xiaoma , Yu Muhuo
Published: August 2019

Aramid fibers (AFs) with their high Young′s modulus and tenacity are easy to degrade seriously with ultraviolet (UV) radiation that leads to reduction in their performance, causing premature failure and limiting their outdoor end use. Herein, we report a method to synthesize nano-SiO2 on AFs surfaces in supercritical carbon dioxide (Sc-CO2) to simultaneously improve their UV resistance, thermal stability, and interfacial shear strength (IFSS). The effects of different pressures (10, 12, 14, 16 MPa) on the growth of nanoparticles were investigated. The untreated and modified fibers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that the nano-SiO2-decorated fibers exhibited improvement of thermal stability and mechanical properties, and the IFSS of the nano-SiO2 modified fibers increases by up to 64% compared with the untreated fibers. After exposure to 216 h of UV radiation, the AFs-UV shows a less decrease in tensile strength, elongation to break and tensile modulus, retaining only 73%, 91%, and 85% of the pristine AFs, respectively, while those of AFs-SiO2-14MPa-UV retain 91.5%, 98%, and 95.5%. In short, this study presents a green method for growing nano-SiO2 on the surface of AFs by Sc-CO2 to enhance the thermal stability, IFSS, and UV resistance.
Pore Structure and Properties of PEEK Hollow Fiber Membranes: Influence of the Phase Structure Evolution of PEEK/PEI Composite
Authors: Chen Gong , Chen Yuan , Huang Tingjian , He Zhongchen , Xu Jianjun , Liu Pengqing
Published: August 2019

Poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) hollow fiber membranes were successfully prepared from miscible blends of PEEK and polyetherimide (PEI) via thermally-induced phase separation (TIPS) with subsequent extraction of the PEI diluent. The phase structure evolution, extraction kinetics, membrane morphology, pore size distribution and permeability for the hollow fiber membrane were studied in detail. Extraction experiments, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMA) studies showed that the heat treatment had a significant influence on the two-phase structure of PEEK/PEI, and that it was controlled by the crystallization kinetic of PEEK and the diffusion kinetic of PEI. As the annealing temperature increased, the controlling factor of the phase separation changed from PEEK crystallization to PEI diffusion, and the main distribution of the amorphous PEI chains were changed from the interlamellar region to the interfibrillar or interspherulitic regions of PEEK crystallization. When the annealing temperature increased from 240 °C to 280 °C, the extracted amount of PEI increased from 85.19 to 96.24 wt %, and the pore diameter of PEEK membrane increased from 10.59 to 37.85 nm, while the surface area of the PEEK membrane decreased from 111.9 to 83.69 m2/g. Moreover, the water flux of the PEEK hollow fiber membranes increased from 1.91 × 10−2 to 1.65 × 10−1 L h−1 m−2 bar−1 as the annealing temperature increased from 240 °C to 270 °C. The structure and properties of the PEEK hollow fiber membrane can be effectively controlled by regulating heat treatment conditions.
Effect of Fibers Configuration and Thickness on Tensile Behavior of GFRP Laminates Exposed to Harsh Environment
Authors: Bazli Milad , Ashrafi Hamed , Jafari Armin , Zhao Xiao-Ling , Raman R.K. Singh , Bai Yu
Published: August 2019

The present study indicates the importance of using glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) laminates with appropriate thickness and fibers orientation when exposed to harsh environmental conditions. The effect of different environmental conditions on tensile properties of different GFRP laminates is investigated. Laminates were exposed to three environmental conditions: (1) Freeze/thaw cycles without the presence of moisture, (2) freeze/thaw cycles with the presence of moisture and (3) UV radiation and water vapor condensation cycles. The effect of fiber configuration and laminate thickness were investigated by considering three types of fiber arrangement: (1) Continuous unidirectional, (2) continuous woven and (3) chopped strand mat and two thicknesses (2 and 5 mm). Microstructure and tensile properties of the laminates after exposure to different periods of conditioning (0, 750, 1250 and 2000 h) were studied using SEM and tensile tests. Statistical analyses were used to quantify the obtained results and propose prediction models. The results showed that the condition comprising UV radiation and moisture condition was the most aggressive, while dry freeze/thaw environment was the least. Furthermore, the laminates with chopped strand mat and continuous unidirectional fibers respectively experienced the highest and the lowest reductions properties in all environmental conditions. The maximum reductions in tensile strength for chopped strand mat laminates were about 7%, 32%, and 42% in the dry freeze/thaw, wet freeze/thaw and UV with moisture environments, respectively. The corresponding decreases in the tensile strength for unidirectional laminates were negligible, 17% and 23%, whereas those for the woven laminates were and 7%, 24%, and 34%.
Assessment of the Total Volume Membrane Charge Density through Mathematical Modeling for Separation of Succinic Acid Aqueous Solutions on Ceramic Nanofiltration Membrane
Authors: Marecka-Migacz Agata , Tomasz Mitkowski Piotr , Antczak Jerzy , Różański Jacek , Prochaska Krystyna
Published: August 2019

Nanofiltration of aqueous solutions of succinic acid with the addition of sodium hydroxide or magnesium hydroxycarbonate has been investigated experimentally and modeled with the comprehensively described Donnan–Steric partitioning model. The experimental retentions of acid at the same pH varied between 16% and 78%, while the estimated total volume membrane charge densities were in the range of −35.73 and +875.69 mol/m3. This work presents a novel insight into the modeling of nanofiltration and investigates the relations between the estimated total volume membrane charge densities, ionic strength, and component concentration on the performance of ceramic membrane. In addition, this study takes into consideration other parameters such as pH regulation and viscosities of solutions.
Valorization of Swine Manure into Hydrochars
Authors: Lentz Zac , Kolar Praveen , Classen John J.
Published: August 2019

There is a significant interest in valorizing swine manure that is produced in enormous quantities. Therefore, considering the high moisture content in swine manure, the objective of this research was to convert manure slurry into hydrochars via hydrothermal carbonization and analyze the yields, pH, energy contents, and thermal and oxidation kinetic parameters. Experiments were performed in triplicate in 250 mL kettle reactors lined with polypropylene at 180 °C, 200 °C, 240 °C, 220 °C, and 260 °C for 24 h. Analyses of the results indicated that the process temperature affected the hydrochar yields, with yield generally decreasing with increasing temperature, but it had little effect on the composition of the hydrochar. The hydrochars were found to have higher volatile contents and H/C and O/C ratios and about 85% of the energy compared to coal. However, the presence of high fraction (35–38%) of ash in hydrochars is a serious concern and needs to be addressed before the complete utilization of hydrochars as fuels. The surface characterization of hydrochars coupled with wet chemistry experiments indicated that hydrochars were equipped with nitrogen functional groups with points of zero charges between 6.76 and 7.85, making them suitable as adsorbents and soil remediation agents and energy storage devices.
Discrete Element Method (DEM) and Experimental Studies of the Angle of Repose and Porosity Distribution of Pellet Pile
Authors: Wei Han , Li Meng , Li Ying , Ge Yao , Saxén Henrik , Yu Yaowei
Published: August 2019

The lumpy zone in a blast furnace is composed of piles formed naturally during burden charging. The properties of this zone have significant effects on the blast furnace operation, including heat and mass transfer, chemical reactions and gas flow. The properties of the layers mainly include the angle of repose and porosity distribution. This paper introduces two methods, the Discharging Method and the Lifting Method, to study the influence of the packing method on the angle of repose of the pile. The relationships of the angle of repose and porosity with physical parameters are also investigated. The porosity distribution in the bottom of a pile shows a decreasing trend from the region below the apex to the center. The coordination number of the particles is employed to explain this change. The maximum of the frequency distribution of it was found to show a negative correlation to the static friction coefficient, but becomes insensitive to the parameter as the static friction coefficient increases above 0.6.
Numerical Study of the Effects of Injection Fluctuations on Liquid Nitrogen Spray Cooling
Authors: Xue Rong , Ruan Yixiao , Liu Xiufang , Chen Liang , Liu Liqiang , Hou Yu
Published: August 2019

Spray cooling with liquid nitrogen is increasingly utilized as an efficient approach to achieve cryogenic cooling. Effects of injection mass flow rate fluctuations on the evaporation, temperature distribution, and droplet distribution of a spray field were examined by employing a validated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) numerical model. The numerical results indicated that injection fluctuations enhanced the volume-averaging turbulent kinetic energy and promoted the evaporation of the whole spray field. The strengthened mass and heat transfer between the liquid nitrogen droplets and the surrounding vapor created by the fluctuating injection led to a lower temperature of the whole volume. A relatively smaller droplet size and a more inhomogeneous droplet distribution were obtained under the unsteady inlet. The changes of the frequency and the amplitude of the fluctuations had little effects on the overall spray development. The results could enrich the knowledge of the relation between the inevitable fluctuations and the overall spray development and the cooling performance in a practical spray cooling system with cryogenic fluids.
Third Mission Activities at Austrian Universities of Applied Sciences: Results from an Expert Survey
Authors: Gaisch Martina , Noemeyer Daniela , Aichinger Regina
Published: August 2019

This article looks at third mission activities as an integral part of universities of applied sciences (UAS) and sheds light on the wide portfolio of third stream initiatives at the Austrian applied higher education sector. In a pilot study, this research explores how the sector (consisting of 21 UAS) perceives its role as an enabler for prosperity, innovation and knowledge transfer in the local areas. In addition, we sought to identify the wide range of potential rationales behind regional engagement, attempted to differentiate between concepts that primarily target the traditional roles of universities (teaching and research) and seek to integrate third mission elements (Entrepreneurial University, Triple Helix, Mode 2) with an eye on economic gains and those that foreground additional responsibilities at the tertiary level for societal purposes. In this sense, we sought to carve out to what extent institutions also engage in third mission activities predominantly for non-economic reasons (Engaged University, Regional Innovation Systems, Sustainable University). Such a differentiation may have the potential to outline the paradigms for third mission activities in a more systematic and structured way. In addition, this analysis may allow Austrian UAS to make more informed decisions along the lines of third-stream initiatives that are based on their strategic positioning and profile.
Recent Advances in Radioisotope Imaging Technology for Plant Science Research in Japan
Authors: Suzui Nobuo , Tanoi Keitaro , Furukawa Jun , Kawachi Naoki
Published: August 2019

Soil provides most of the essential elements required for the growth of plants. These elements are absorbed by the roots and then transported to the leaves via the xylem. Photoassimilates and other nutrients are translocated from the leaves to the maturing organs via the phloem. Non-essential elements are also transported via the same route. Therefore, an accurate understanding of the movement of these elements across the plant body is of paramount importance in plant science research. Radioisotope imaging is often utilized to understand element kinetics in the plant body. Live plant imaging is one of the recent advancements in this field. In this article, we recapitulate the developments in radioisotope imaging technology for plant science research in Japanese research groups. This collation provides useful insights into the application of radioisotope imaging technology in wide domains including plant science.
An American Hero: Faith-Based Emergency Health Care in Karen State, Myanmar and Beyond
Authors: Horstmann Alexander
Published: August 2019

This article examines the vastly expanded mobility of displaced Karen villagers in the evangelical humanitarian movement, the Free Burma Rangers. This builds on ethnographic fieldwork on humanitarian cultures in the Thai-Burmese borderlands conducted since 2007 with a Thai research team and funded by Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious Diversity. While refugees are too often presented as victims, the article argues that by joining the mission, the Karen freedom fighters become ambassadors of a political ideology and evangelism. Bringing Christianity with them from their displaced homes, displaced Karen meet the evangelical humanitarian organization in the Karen hills or in the Thai refugee camps, train with them, and supply the villagers left behind with emergency health care and religious messages. Sponsored by American evangelical churches, the US military, and resettled Karen communities in the West, the freedom fighters of the Free Burma Rangers mobilize people and resources all over the globe. Recently, they have expanded their operations beyond Myanmar to places as far as Syria, Iraq and South Sudan, thus getting involved in what it presents as a global struggle between good and evil.
Liquidity Risk Drivers and Bank Business Models
Authors: Galletta Simona , Mazzù Sebastiano
Published: August 2019

This paper examines the bank liquidity risk while using a maturity mismatch indicator of loans and deposits (LTDm) during a specific period. Core banking activities that are based on the process of maturity transformation are the most exposed to liquidity risk. The financial crisis in 2007–2009 highlighted the importance of liquidity to the functioning of both the financial markets and the banking sector. We investigate how characteristics of a bank, such as size, capital, and business model, are related to liquidity risk, while using a sample of European banks in the period after the financial crisis, from 2011 to 2017. While employing a generalized method of moment two-step estimator, we find that the banking size increases the liquidity risk, whereas capital is not an effective deterrent. Moreover, our findings reveal that, for savings banks, income diversification raises the liquidity risk while investment banks reliant on non-deposit funding decrease the exposure to liquidity risk.
Persistence of Bank Credit Default Swap Spreads
Authors: Huang Xin
Published: August 2019

Credit default swap (CDS) spreads measure the default risk of the reference entity and have been frequently used in recent empirical papers. To provide a rigorous econometrics foundation for empirical CDS analysis, this paper applies the augmented Dickey–Fuller, Phillips–Perron, Kwiatkowski–Phillips–Schmidt–Shin, and Ng–Perron tests to study the unit root property of CDS spreads, and it uses the Phillips–Ouliaris–Hansen tests to determine whether they are cointegrated. The empirical sample consists of daily CDS spreads of the six large U.S. banks from 2001 to 2018. The main findings are that it is log, not raw, CDS spreads that are unit root processes, and that log CDS spreads are cointegrated. These findings imply that, even though the risks of individual banks may deviate from each other in the short run, there is a long-run relation that ties them together. As these CDS spreads are an important input for financial systemic risk, there are at least two policy implications. First, in monitoring systemic risk, policymakers should focus on long-run trends rather than short-run fluctuations of CDS spreads. Second, in controlling systemic risk, policy measures that reduce the long-run risks of individual banks, such as stress testing and capital buffers, are helpful in mitigating overall systemic risk.
Drivers of Old-Age Dependence and Long-Term Care Usage in Switzerland—A Structural Equation Model Approach
Authors: Rudnytskyi Iegor , Wagner Joël
Published: August 2019

Long-term care (LTC) encompasses a set of services provided to impaired and dependent elderly people. To assess the level of the dependence several scales are used, including activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental ADL (IADL) and functional limitations. Once an elderly person fails to perform these activities independently, he or she requires special assistance. Help can be provided as informal care by relatives and as formal care by professionals. The aim of this research is to study individual characteristics that relate to the demand of LTC and to analyze the relation between formal and informal care. We base our study on data from the Swiss Health Survey focusing on respondents aged over 65 years. Using the structural equation modeling technique, we develop a statistical model that considers the dependence concept as a latent variable. This hidden dependence variable combines three indices linked to the limitations in ADL, in IADL and functional limitations. Accounting for causality links between covariates enables us to include the indirect effect of pathologies on the receipt of LTC mediated via dependence. In our model, we do not assume a causal relationship between formal and informal care. From our results, we observe a significant impact of pathologies as well as of the socio-demographic factors on the demand for LTC. The relationship between formal and informal care is found to be of both a complementary and substitutional nature.
Land Cover Maps Production with High Resolution Satellite Image Time Series and Convolutional Neural Networks: Adaptations and Limits for Operational Systems
Authors: Stoian Andrei , Poulain Vincent , Inglada Jordi , Poughon Victor , Derksen Dawa
Published: August 2019

The Sentinel-2 satellite mission offers high resolution multispectral time-series image data, enabling the production of detailed land cover maps globally. When mapping large territories, the trade-off between processing time and result quality is a central design decision. Currently, this machine learning task is usually performed using pixel-wise classification methods. However, the radical shift of the computer vision field away from hand-engineered image features and towards more automation by representation learning comes with many promises, including higher quality results and less engineering effort. In particular, convolutional neural networks learn features which take into account the context of the pixels and, therefore, a better representation of the data can be obtained. In this paper, we assess fully convolutional neural network architectures as replacements for a Random Forest classifier in an operational context for the production of high resolution land cover maps with Sentinel-2 time-series at the country scale. Our contributions include a framework for working with Sentinel-2 L2A time-series image data, an adaptation of the U-Net model (a fully convolutional neural network) for dealing with sparse annotation data while maintaining high resolution output, and an analysis of those results in the context of operational production of land cover maps. We conclude that fully convolutional neural networks can yield improved results with respect to pixel-wise Random Forest classifiers for classes where texture and context are pertinent. However, this new approach shows higher variability in quality across different landscapes and comes with a computational cost which could be to high for operational systems.
Improved Empirical Coefficients for Estimating Water Vapor Weighted Mean Temperature over Europe for GNSS Applications
Authors: Baldysz Zofia , Nykiel Grzegorz
Published: August 2019

Development of the so-called global navigation satellite system (GNSS) meteorology is based on the possibility of determining a precipitable water vapor (PWV) from a GNSS zenith wet delay (ZWD). Conversion of ZWD to the PWV requires application of water vapor weighted mean temperature ( T m ) measurements, which can be done using a surface temperature ( T s ) and its linear dependency to the T m . In this study we analyzed up to 24 years (1994–2018) of data from 49 radio-sounding (RS) stations over Europe to determine reliable coefficients of the T m − T s relationship. Their accuracy was verified using 109 RS stations. The analysis showed that for most of the stations, there are visible differences between coefficients estimated for the time of day and night. Consequently, the ETm4 model containing coefficients determined four times a day is presented. For hours other than the primary synoptic hours, linear interpolation was used. However, since this approach was not enough in some cases, we applied the dependence of T m − T s coefficients on the time of day using a polynomial (ETmPoly model). This resulted in accuracy at the level of 2.8 ± 0.3 K. We also conducted an analysis of the impact of this model on the PWV GNSS. Analysis showed that differences in PWV reached 0.8 mm compared to other commonly used models.