bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Controversy Surrounding the Intercountry Adoption
Authors: Muranyi Fanni
Published: August 2015

The purpose of this article is to identify characteristics of the legal framework of intercountryadoption. This study is specifically concerned with the international and Hungarian legislation.In the first part, the international conventions and the Hungarian rules are presented. Theseshow that a considerable progress has been made in the last century in law-making.A short statistical analysis illustrates the role of Hungary in intercountry adoption.The final section considers possible risks and abuses in the process: exploitation, familytracing, loss of cultural heritage, over-representation Roma children, debate over closed oropen adoption and adoption agencies.On the basis of the results of this study, it can be concluded that the intercountry adoptiongives rise to a great debate and serious cause for complaining about abuses which weaken thechildren’s rights.This dissertation hopes to offer a comprehensive view on the advantages and challenges ofintercountry adoption.
Information-Processing Biases in Children and Adolescents:An Introduction to the Special Issue
Authors: Micco Jamie A.
Published: August 2015

This special issue focuses on new developments in research on information-processing biases in children and adolescents. Prior research suggests that attention and interpretation biases in response to emotional stimuli may be associated with the etiology and maintenance of anxiety and depression in youth. Although our understanding of youth biases has burgeoned over the past decade, questions remain regarding mixed findings across studies, heterogeneity of biases across individuals, specific factors that contribute to and maintain biases, and how best to maximize the efficacy of interventions designed to modify biases. Through the use of innovative methods and technology, the articles in this special issue illustrate progress being made toward filling these gaps in our knowledge and showcase some of the exciting new developments in this area of research.
Effective Flow Properties for Cells Containing Fractures of Arbitrary Geometry
Authors: Sakhaee-Pour A.. , Wheeler Mary F.
Published: August 2015

Hydrocarbon production from unconventional resources such as shale usually entails stimulation by hydraulic fracturing, which results in nonplanar (curved) fractures. However, most reservoir models assume that the induced fractures are planar for the sake of simplicity. Considering the growing interest of the petroleum industry in better understanding production from these resources, we develop a fracture-cell model to capture the effects of fracture nonplanarity on transport properties.

To build a realistic reservoir model for a fractured formation, we must account for three types of interactions: matrix-matrix (M-M), matrix-fracture (M-F), and fracture-fracture (F-F). The transport properties of the M-M interaction are based on laboratory measurements. In this study, we analytically determine the transport properties of the two other types of interactions (M-F and F-F). For this purpose, we account for the aperture size and spatial location of the fracture. As a result, we provide effective porosity and effective anisotropic permeabilities for a reservoir cell that contains a fracture inside it. The reservoir cell with transport properties that are modified is a fracture cell.

We implement the fracture-cell model in a reservoir simulator and perform analyses for a single fracture and for multiple intersecting fractures; these fractures are nonplanar. The analyses include both single- and multiphase flow models and show that the hydrocarbon pressure inside the reservoir is strongly dependent on the fracture geometry when the matrix permeability is smaller than 1 µd. Thus, it is crucial to model the fracture geometry more accurately in unconventional reservoirs with ultralow permeabilities such as shale.

One can easily implement the developed fracture-cell model in reservoir simulators, and there is no local refinement around the fracture. The main advantage of the proposed model is its simplicity, conjoined with its ability to capture the nonplanarity of the fracture. The developed model has major applications for understanding production from formations that are heavily fractured.
EOR: Challenges of Translating Fine Scale Displacement Into Full Field Models Part 3
Authors: Moreno J. E. , Flew S.. , Gurpinar O..
Published: August 2015

The use of numerical finite-difference models to substantiate EOR implementation decisions has significantly increased, along with the need for accurate numerical representation of the driving forces and processes dominating the fluid flow. As reservoir characterization improves, so does the need for more representative models, since the perception appears to exist that increased accuracy and therefore predictive power, is linearly dependent on model size. Technology advances in hardware and software have overcome many of the past limitations on numerical model size, but not eliminitated them; hence correct upscaling is not only relevant but still very necessary to breach measurement scale gaps which are not limited to the traditional geocellular-to-numerical processes but probably now critical at the core/log to geomodelling stage previously overlooked by most reservoir engineers.

Numerical simulation of chemical flooding incorporates different challenges to those observed in miscible and immiscible flooding; flow mechanisms and EOR agent interaction with the reservoir have a higher degree of complexity with advanced numerical formulations (along with resolution requirements) to depict the fluid flow in a finite-difference space. This paper is a continuation of our previous work on miscible and immiscible flooding; we investigate the effect of grid size on the displacement behavior of a polymer flood, in terms of force balances, concentration changes and polymer rheology using different reservoir architectures, and discuss the potential caveats for application of more complex chemical processes and highlight the scale at which such modeling retains the underlying physical character.
Numerical Modelling on Dynamic Adsorption of Viscoelastic Polymer in Near Wellbore Conditions by Population Balance Method
Authors: Choi ByungIn , Jeong Moon Sik , Lee Kun Sang
Published: August 2015

Significant injectivity loss during polymer injection measured particularly in the near wellbore has been reported. This challengeable issue is identified as bridging polymer adsorption caused by the bridging of pore throats via macromolecular polymers previously stretched under elongational flow conditions occurring in the vicinity of the injection well. There has been no attempt to describe this phenomenon by numerical simulation model because the conventional Langmuir isotherm widely used in reservoir simulation is not able to contain this bridging-adsorption observed in complicated polymer flooding experiments.

This study focuses on the development of numerical model for the bridging adsorption by implementing population balance theory and performs extensive simulation verifications with small core-scale reservoir rock. To reflect distinct flow condition to induce bridging adsorption, the rate of bridging adsorption is established by considering the relationship of expanded polymer under shear force and narrow pore size. To verify the feasibility of new model, simulation results are compared with experiment output reported in previous studies. The simulation results indicate that a considerable amount of bridged polymer can be generated in the low permeability cells only if the polymer solution is exposed to high shear velocity related with shear rate. This is in accordance with a number of previous experimental reports. In addition, the mechanism to induce permeability reduction is totally different from that of conventional Langmuir's isotherm which is widely incorporated in commercial simulators. With buildup of bridging-polymer, the adsorption model can enable the application of numerical simulation targeted at chemical EOR process to be wider.
Case Study of Hot Water Foam Flooding in Deep Heavy Oil Reservoirs
Authors: Wu Yongbin , Liu Xueqi , Xing Dongmei
Published: August 2015

EOR of deep waterflooded reservoir with low porosity and permeability is challenged by low heat efficiency of conventional thermal process. Conventional chemical process like surfactant flooding also has some risk because of high oil viscosity and water channeling along fractures since the wells are hydraulically fractured. The conventional waterflooding can only last for a short period of effective production and low water cut level, and the performance enhancement by EOR operations will be greatly reduced after water cut reaches to a high level. Therefore, it is quite urgent to make and apply reasonable EOR strategy for this kind of reservoirs.

In this paper, the experiments were carried out to evaluate the potential of continuing conventional waterflooding and the performance of enhancing water temperature and change of injection agents, which optimized that the hot water foam flooding would be the best choice in terms of oil viscosity reduction, conformance profile control and oil displacement efficiency enhancement[1–3]. Based on the 3D geologic modelling, the waterflood target area was extracted and upscaled as the numerical simulation model to make history match and the residual oil saturation analysis. According to the current well status and well spacing, the reservoir engineering optimization was conducted to optimize the foaming system, converting timing and paramters of production and injection. Based on the reservoir engineering design, the hot water foam flooding was implemented from Janurary 2014, and the production performance is quite encouraging, which has the significant guidance for the EOR of similar deep heavy oil reservoirs.
Rheological Properties of Stimuli-Responsive Polymers in Solution to Improve the Salinity and Temperature Performances of Polymer-Based Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery Technologies
Authors: Leblanc T.. , Braun O.. , Thomas A.. , Divers T.. , Gaillard N.. , Favero C..
Published: August 2015

While polymer flooding has proven to be an effective technique to improve oil recovery from mature reservoirs, the new objective pursued by the main stakeholders consists now in optimizing the overall costs and decrease the risks associated to the implementation of chemical enhanced oil recovery methods.

Several options do exist to tackle these challenges. Developing more costeffective polymers is one of these. Traditional partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamides (HPAM) are sensitive to brine hardness and temperature; increasing both lead to a drop in viscosity which could be detrimental to the success of the project. As a result, it is generally necessary to increase the dosage of the HPAM to reach the targeted viscosity and balance for the viscosity drop induced by polymer collapse, but always at the expense of the economics of the project. In extreme cases, the project can be aborted for economic reasons. This paper describes a new class of polymers, called “stimuli-responsive”, which has been designed to overcome the aforementioned challenges.

This new family of polyacrylamide-based polymers has structurally modified to counterbalance the negative effect of salinity and temperature encountered during the transit through the reservoir. The placement, number and quantity of stimuliresponsive grafts can be finetuned to each reservoir condition to develop its full potential in the subterranean formation. This variable comes on top of other possible adjustments made to the polymer backbone including molecular weight, hydrolysis and incorporation of thermostable groups such as ATBS (acrylamide tertio butyl sulfonic acid) and/or NVP (Nvinyl pyrrolidone).

A series of rheological tests has been performed to demonstrate several features of the solutions prepared from these polymers, including salinity resistance, effect of temperature and longterm stability tests. Moreover, injectivity and retention tests have been performed to evaluate the behavior of these polymers in porous medium. A reduction in the polymer dosage on the injection side and the stimuli responsive behavior of the polymer also open new opportunities to minimize the impact of the presence of said polymer in the coproduced water on surface facilities. Some preliminary experiments have been performed in these directions.

The objective of the study is also to demonstrate the possibility to develop innovative and costeffective polymers for each reservoir condition. It encompasses an early and particularly close cooperation between the polymer manufacturer and the company willing to improve oil recovery from its reservoirs.
Visualising Surfactant EOR in Core Plugs and Micromodels
Authors: Howe A.M.. M. , Clarke A.. , Mitchell J.. , Staniland J.. , Hawkes L.A.. A.
Published: August 2015

This work describes two types of laboratory chemical enhanced oil recovery (EOR) flooding experiment. Results are presented for micromodels and core floods (Bentheimer sandstone). Saturation behaviour is followed directly by optical microscopy in the micromodels and these images enable interpretation of the saturation development in the sandstone core as determined using spatially resolved nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The oil is a simple alkane (decane) but the surfactant combination is designed for EOR. The work is supported by surfactant phase behaviour, oil-water interfacial tension (spinning drop), and effluent analysis (surfactant concentration). The data and analysis presented here confirms much of that previously inferred general behaviour, using modern direct observation techniques (NMR and microfluidics). These micromodel data directly illustrate local behaviour of middle phases within the porous network, the mobilisation of ganglia, and the formation of middle phase from ganglia. The correlation of micromodel data with spatially resolved core data is striking, and allows identification of behaviours within the core.

An aqueous formulation of anionic surfactants and butan-2-ol is injected into decane-saturated porous media. The formulations were selected to give rise to equilibrium L1 and L3 phase behaviours at different NaCl concentrations. The aqueous formulation contains 1% of each of a C12,13 alcohol-propoxy-sulfate and a C20-24 internal olefin sulfonate (supplied by Shell Chemicals) and 8% butan-2-ol. This formulation with 2% and 4% NaCl give rise to L1 and L3 phase behaviour and oil-water (measured) interfacial tensions of 0.10 and 0.006 mN/m, respectively, which at the flow rates used give corresponding capillary numbers of 3.5×10-5 and 6.0×10-4, compared to a surfactant-free flood value of ~ 1×10-7. Both surfactant formulations provide improved oil displacement from the core. Adding surfactant in “L1-based” formulations reduces interfacial tension. However, “L3-based” formulations give ultra-low interfacial tensions and hence better recovery, exhibiting complex behaviour consistent with (1) the formation of, and then (2) the displacement of, microemulsion phases.
Experiment Aided Optimization of IWAG Recovery Process in a Complex Field With Complex Fluid: A Case Study
Authors: Khanifar Ahmad , Abd Raub Mohd Razib , Tewari Raj Deo , Zain Zahidah M , Sedaralit M Faizal
Published: August 2015

Among various Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) processes and techniques, Malaysia's matured offshore oilfield which is currently under water injection for pressure maintenance appears to be amenable to water alternating gas (WAG) implementation. EOR screening studies show that WAG EOR application is ranked high among other EOR techniques and stands better chance of success techno-economically.

This paper addresses the immiscible water alternating gas (IWAG) core flooding experiments which were conducted to further investigate and to validate the efficiency of IWAG as a viable EOR technique in one of the highly-faulted, multi-stack reservoirs offshore Malaysia. The IWAG coreflooding experiments were performed on field core composites using current field production gas which has more than 60 % mole CO2. The composite core samples were initially saturated with live oil and irreducible formation water and then flooded with formation water to residual oil saturation at reservoir conditions. Following waterflooding, a number of WAG cycle slugs were injected. The displacements were conducted at pressures well below the estimated minimum miscibility pressure during these experiments.

The coreflood experimental results show that the IWAG injection has a potential to recover up to 7.0 % additional oil recovery over waterflooding. Injection fluids are sea water and CO2 rich produced hydrocarbon gas. Furthermore, almost 2.0 % of this incremental oil recovery can be attributed mostly to the hysteresis effects from IWAG process. In conclusion, the results of this laboratory IWAG project has provided the pertinent data required for constructing a reservoir simulation prediction model under IWAG process. Instead of the conventional drainage-imbibition curves input, WAGHYSTER parameters established from IWAG coreflood matching has been used for IWAG prediction evaluation and optimization scenarios for full-field scale implementation. Despite the limited available laboratory data which was based on certain rock properties, the history-matched numerical IWAG coreflood model and the established parameters such as Land's parameter, secondary drainage reduction factor and residual oil modification fraction forms the basis of input to further evaluate the sensitivity of these parameters on IWAG full-field implementation.
An Analytical Model for Analyzing and Forecasting Production From Multifractured Horizontal Wells With Complex Branched-Fracture Geometry
Authors: Heidari Sureshjani M.. , Clarkson C. R.
Published: August 2015

Analytical methods for analyzing and forecasting production from multifractured horizontal wells completed in unconventional reservoirs are in their infancy. Among the difficulties in modeling such systems is the incorporation of fracture-network complexity as a result of the hydraulic-fracturing process. Along with a primary propped-hydraulic-fracture network, a secondary fracture network, which may or may not contain proppant, may be activated during the stimulation process, creating a “branched-fracture” network. These secondary fractures can be the result of reactivation of healed natural fractures, for example.

In the current work, we develop a fully analytical enhanced-fracture-region (EFR) model for analyzing and forecasting multifractured horizontal wells with complex fracture geometry that is more-general, -rigorous, and -flexible than those previously developed. Specifically, our new model allows nonsymmetric placement of a well within its area of drainage, to reflect unequal horizontal-lateral spacing; this is a very real scenario observed in the field, particularly for the external laterals on a pad. The solutions also can be reduced to be applicable for homogeneous systems without branch fractures. In addition to the general EFR solution, we have provided local solutions that can be used to analyze individual flow regimes in sequence. We provide practical examples of the application (and sometimes misapplication) of local solutions by use of simulated and field cases. One important observation is that a negative intercept obtained from a straight line drawn through data on a square-root-of-time plot (commonly used to analyze transient linear flow) may indicate EFR behavior, but this straight line should not be interpreted as linear flow because it represents transitional flow from one linear-flow period to another.

Our general EFR solution therefore provides a powerful tool to improve both forecasting and flow-regime interpretation for hydraulic-fracture/reservoir characterization.
The Dictionaries in Which We Learn to Think
Authors: Flanagan Tim
Published: August 2015

Taking its title from the discussion of a ‘new Meno’ to be found in Difference and Repetition, through an examination of the link between learning and thinking set out across Deleuze's work this paper charts the important sense in which philosophical thought is characterised by an apprenticeship. The claim is that just as certain aesthetic and biological processes involve inscrutable and non-resembling elements that cannot be known in advance, the experience of learning is one oriented by unforseen encounters. With a view to a peculiarly heuristic use of dictionaries in the case of language learning, the paper shows how the logic (or event) of this experience is one whereby the putative meaning of things does not enjoy a priority over the immanence of their expression.
Saints, Jesters and Nomads: The Anomalous Pedagogies of Lacan, Žižek, … Deleuze and Guattari
Authors: jagodzinski jan
Published: August 2015

In this essay I bring together Lacan, Žižek, Deleuze and Guattari as mediators and intercessors for one another. The tensions that exist between them still continue to reverberate throughout the academic community. The intent is to query their pedagogies in what they are trying to ‘do’ within the context of capitalism in particular. I have called their pedagogies anomalous in keeping with their thrust of becoming other in their own particular ways through what I take to be three pedagogical conceptual personae: saint, jester and nomad. I try to show how Deleuze and Guattari managed to supplant and perhaps overcome Lacan's own pedagogical project to have psychoanalysis as a way out from capitalism, which has been continued today by Žižek. I do this by showing how Lacan's mathemes, used in his four discourses, can be understood as having been deterritorialised by Deleuze and Guattari to present us with a counter-actualised pedagogy that challenges psychoanalysis as presented by both Lacan and Žižek. Nevertheless, reconciliations between the thought of Deleuze, Guattari and Lacan are possible. The reader will also find that particular door open, yet not fully explored here.
On the Fractional Poisson Process and the Discretized Stable Subordinator
Authors: Gorenflo Rudolf , Mainardi Francesco
Published: August 2015

We consider the renewal counting number process N = N(t) as a forward march over the non-negative integers with independent identically distributed waiting times. We embed the values of the counting numbers N in a “pseudo-spatial” non-negative half-line x ≥ 0 and observe that for physical time likewise we have t ≥ 0. Thus we apply the Laplace transform with respect to both variables x and t. Applying then a modification of the Montroll-Weiss-Cox formalism of continuous time random walk we obtain the essential characteristics of a renewal process in the transform domain and, if we are lucky, also in the physical domain. The process t = t(N) of accumulation of waiting times is inverse to the counting number process, in honour of the Danish mathematician and telecommunication engineer A.K. Erlang we call it the Erlang process. It yields the probability of exactly n renewal events in the interval (0; t]. We apply our Laplace-Laplace formalism to the fractional Poisson process whose waiting times are of Mittag-Leffler type and to a renewal process whose waiting times are of Wright type. The process of Mittag-Leffler type includes as a limiting case the classical Poisson process, the process of Wright type represents the discretized stable subordinator and a re-scaled version of it was used in our method of parametric subordination of time-space fractional diffusion processes. Properly rescaling the counting number process N(t) and the Erlang process t(N) yields as diffusion limits the inverse stable and the stable subordinator, respectively.
Convergence of a Fixed-Point Minimum Error Entropy Algorithm
Authors: Zhang Yu , Chen Badong , Liu Xi , Yuan Zejian , Principe Jose
Published: August 2015

The minimum error entropy (MEE) criterion is an important learning criterion in information theoretical learning (ITL). However, the MEE solution cannot be obtained in closed form even for a simple linear regression problem, and one has to search it, usually, in an iterative manner. The fixed-point iteration is an efficient way to solve the MEE solution. In this work, we study a fixed-point MEE algorithm for linear regression, and our focus is mainly on the convergence issue. We provide a sufficient condition (although a little loose) that guarantees the convergence of the fixed-point MEE algorithm. An illustrative example is also presented.
Adaptive Fuzzy Control for Nonlinear Fractional-Order Uncertain Systems with Unknown Uncertainties and External Disturbance
Authors: Li Ling , Sun Yeguo
Published: August 2015

In this paper, the problem of robust control of nonlinear fractional-order systems in the presence of uncertainties and external disturbance is investigated. Fuzzy logic systems are used for estimating the unknown nonlinear functions. Based on the fractional Lyapunov direct method and some proposed Lemmas, an adaptive fuzzy controller is designed. The proposed method can guarantee all the signals in the closed-loop systems remain bounded and the tracking errors converge to an arbitrary small region of the origin. Lastly, an illustrative example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed results.
A Kolmogorov-Smirnov Based Test for Comparing the Predictive Accuracy of Two Sets of Forecasts
Authors: Hassani Hossein , Silva Emmanuel
Published: August 2015

This paper introduces a complement statistical test for distinguishing between the predictive accuracy of two sets of forecasts. We propose a non-parametric test founded upon the principles of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test, referred to as the KS Predictive Accuracy (KSPA) test. The KSPA test is able to serve two distinct purposes. Initially, the test seeks to determine whether there exists a statistically significant difference between the distribution of forecast errors, and secondly it exploits the principles of stochastic dominance to determine whether the forecasts with the lower error also reports a stochastically smaller error than forecasts from a competing model, and thereby enables distinguishing between the predictive accuracy of forecasts. We perform a simulation study for the size and power of the proposed test and report the results for different noise distributions, sample sizes and forecasting horizons. The simulation results indicate that the KSPA test is correctly sized, and robust in the face of varying forecasting horizons and sample sizes along with significant accuracy gains reported especially in the case of small sample sizes. Real world applications are also considered to illustrate the applicability of the proposed KSPA test in practice.
Optimal Real-Time Scheduling for Hybrid Energy Storage Systems and Wind Farms Based on Model Predictive Control
Authors: Xiong Meng , Gao Feng , Liu Kun , Chen Siyun , Dong Jiaojiao
Published: August 2015

Energy storage devices are expected to be more frequently implemented in wind farms in near future. In this paper, both pumped hydro and fly wheel storage systems are used to assist a wind farm to smooth the power fluctuations. Due to the significant difference in the response speeds of the two storages types, the wind farm coordination with two types of energy storage is a problem. This paper presents two methods for the coordination problem: a two-level hierarchical model predictive control (MPC) method and a single-level MPC method. In the single-level MPC method, only one MPC controller coordinates the wind farm and the two storage systems to follow the grid scheduling. Alternatively, in the two-level MPC method, two MPC controllers are used to coordinate the wind farm and the two storage systems. The structure of two level MPC consists of outer level and inner level MPC. They run alternatively to perform real-time scheduling and then stop, thus obtaining long-term scheduling results and sending some results to the inner level as input. The single-level MPC method performs both long- and short-term scheduling tasks in each interval. The simulation results show that the methods proposed can improve the utilization of wind power and reduce wind power spillage. In addition, the single-level MPC and the two-level MPC are not interchangeable. The single-level MPC has the advantage of following the grid schedule while the two-level MPC can reduce the optimization time by 60%.
Electromagnetic Design and Analysis of a Novel Fault-Tolerant Flux-Modulated Memory Machine
Authors: Wang Qingsong , Niu Shuangxia
Published: August 2015

Electric machines play an important role in modern energy conversion systems. This paper presents a novel brushless fault-tolerant flux-modulated memory (FTFM) machine, which incorporates the merits of a flux-modulated permanent magnet machine and multi-phase memory machine and is very suitable for applications that require wide speed ranges of constant-power operation. Due to the magnetic modulation effect, the FTFM machine can produce a large torque at relatively low speeds. Due to the usage of aluminum-nickel-cobalt (AlNiCo) magnets, this machine can readily achieve a flexible air-gap flux controllability with temporary DC current pulses. Consequently, the constant-power region is effectively expanded, and the machine\'s efficiency during constant-power operation is increased. Due to the multi-phase armature winding design, the FTFM machine enables lower torque ripple, increased fault tolerance ability and a higher possibility of splitting the machine power through a higher number of phases, thus the per-phase converter rating can be reduced. The design methodology and working principle of this kind of machine are discussed. The electromagnetic performances of the proposed machine are analyzed using the time-stepping finite element method (TS-FEM).
Eco-Friendly Disperse Dyeing and Functional Finishing of Nylon 6 Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Elmaaty Tarek , El-Aziz Eman , Ma Jaehuyk , El-Taweel Fathy , Okubayashi Satoko
Published: August 2015

In this work, a supercritical carbon dioxide assembly was successfully constructed for dyeing Nylon6 fabric. Primary experiments were carried out to confirm the possibility of bringing the dyeing up to factory scale. A series of disperse azo dyes with potential antibacterial activity were applied to dye the fabric under our study in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2). The factors affecting the dyeing conditions (i.e., dye concentration, time, temperature and pressure) and functional properties were discussed and compared with those in aqueous dyeing. The comparison revealed that elimination of auxiliary chemicals such as salt, carrier or dispersing agent has no diverse effect on dyeing. The color strength of the dyed fabric evaluated by using K/S measurements increased by increasing dye concentration from 2% to 6% owf. (on weight of fabric). The nylon6 fabrics dyed in supercritical carbon dioxide have good fastness properties, and especially light fastness compared with conventional exhaustion dyeing. Antibacterial activity of the dyed samples under supercritical conditions was evaluated and the results showed excellent antibacterial efficiency.
Effects of Meteorological Conditions on PM2.5 Concentrations in Nagasaki, Japan
Authors: Wang Jianhua , Ogawa Susumu
Published: August 2015

The fine particulate matter (PM2.5) problem has attracted much scientific and public attention, due to its effects on visibility, human health, and global climate. There are three factors that have important effect on PM2.5 mass concentration: domestic pollutant emission sources, external sources outside of the country, and the meteorological conditions. Nagasaki is a coastal prefecture located at the westernmost part of Japan, which is an ideal location to study pollutants from long range transport and correlation between PM2.5 and meteorological conditions. In this paper, PM2.5 concentration data and meteorological data were obtained during 1 January 2013~31 December 2013. The spatial distribution depicts that the western part of the study area has the most serious PM2.5 pollution. The correlation analysis results between PM2.5 concentration and meteorological data showed that temperature had a negative, and precipitation had a positive, correlation with PM2.5. There was a threshold in the correlations between humidity and wind speed and PM2.5. The correlation was positive or negative depending on the meteorological variable values, if these were lower or higher than the threshold. From the relationship with wind direction, it can be depicted that the west wind might bring the most pollutants to Nagasaki.
Composition, Cytotoxic and Antimicrobial Activities of Satureja intermedia C.A.Mey Essential Oil
Authors: Sharifi-Rad Javad , Sharifi-Rad Mehdi , Hoseini-Alfatemi Seyedeh , Iriti Marcello , Sharifi-Rad Majid , Sharifi-Rad Marzieh
Published: August 2015

In this study, the essential oil (EO) constituents from the aerial parts of Satureja intermedia C.A.Mey were detected by GC and GC/MS. The antimicrobial activity of EO on oral pathogens and its cytotoxicity to human cancer cells were determined by the microbroth dilution method and the crystal violet staining method, respectively. Thirty-nine compounds were identified and the main EO constituents were γ-terpinene (37.1%), thymol (30.2%), p-cymene (16.2%), limonene (3.9%), α-terpinene (3.3%), myrcene (2.5%), germacrene B (1.4%), elemicine (1.1%) and carvacrol (0.5%). The S. intermedia EO showed a concentration-dependent decrease in viability of Hep-G2 (hepatocellular carcinoma) and MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma) human cancer cell lines (p < 0.05). Antimicrobial screening of S. intermedia EO demonstrated slight antibacterial and antifungal activities against Streptococcus mutants, S. salivarius, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and C. glabrata. Further preclinical studies are needed to assess the efficacy and safety of S. intermedia EO as a new promising anticancer agent.
Membrane Affinity of Platensimycin and Its Dialkylamine Analogs
Authors: Rowe Ian , Guo Min , Yasmann Anthony , Cember Abigail , Sintim Herman , Sukharev Sergei
Published: August 2015

Membrane permeability is a desired property in drug design, but there have been difficulties in quantifying the direct drug partitioning into native membranes. Platensimycin (PL) is a new promising antibiotic whose biosynthetic production is costly. Six dialkylamine analogs of PL were synthesized with identical pharmacophores but different side chains; five of them were found inactive. To address the possibility that their activity is limited by the permeation step, we calculated polarity, measured surface activity and the ability to insert into the phospholipid monolayers. The partitioning of PL and the analogs into the cytoplasmic membrane of E. coli was assessed by activation curve shifts of a re-engineered mechanosensitive channel, MscS, in patch-clamp experiments. Despite predicted differences in polarity, the affinities to lipid monolayers and native membranes were comparable for most of the analogs. For PL and the di-myrtenyl analog QD-11, both carrying bulky sidechains, the affinity for the native membrane was lower than for monolayers (half-membranes), signifying that intercalation must overcome the lateral pressure of the bilayer. We conclude that the biological activity among the studied PL analogs is unlikely to be limited by their membrane permeability. We also discuss the capacity of endogenous tension-activated channels to detect asymmetric partitioning of exogenous substances into the native bacterial membrane and the different contributions to the thermodynamic force which drives permeation.
Effect of Heavy Metals in Plants of the Genus Brassica
Authors: Mourato Miguel , Moreira Inês , Leitão Inês , Pinto Filipa , Sales Joana , Martins Luisa
Published: August 2015

Several species from the Brassica genus are very important agricultural crops in different parts of the world and are also known to be heavy metal accumulators. There have been a large number of studies regarding the tolerance, uptake and defense mechanism in several of these species, notably Brassica juncea and B. napus, against the stress induced by heavy metals. Numerous studies have also been published about the capacity of these species to be used for phytoremediation purposes but with mixed results. This review will focus on the latest developments in the study of the uptake capacity, oxidative damage and biochemical and physiological tolerance and defense mechanisms to heavy metal toxicity on six economically important species: B. juncea, B. napus, B. oleracea, B. carinata, B. rapa and B. nigra.
Study on Welding Mechanism Based on Modification of Polypropylene for Improving the Laser Transmission Weldability to PA66
Authors: Liu Huixia , Jiang Hairong , Guo Dehui , Chen Guochun , Yan Zhang , Li Pin , Zhu Hejun , Chen Jun , Wang Xiao
Published: August 2015

Polypropylene and PA66 are widely used in our daily life, but they cannot be welded by laser transmission welding (LTW) because of polar differences and poor compatibility. In this paper, grafting modification technology is used to improve the welding performance between polypropylene and PA66. Firstly, the strong reactive and polar maleic-anhydride (MAH) is grafted to polypropylene and infrared spectrometer is used to prove that MAH has been grafted to polypropylene. At the same time, the mechanical and thermal properties of the graft modified polypropylene (TGMPP) are tested. The results prove that the grafting modification has little influence on them. Also, the optical properties of TGMPP are measured. Then, the high welding strength between TGMPP and PA66 is found and the mechanism of the weldability is researched, which shows that there are two reasons for the high welding strength. By observing the micro morphology of the welding zone, one reason found is that the modification of polypropylene can improve the compatibility between polypropylene and PA66 and make them easy to diffuse mutually, which causes many locking structures formed in the welding region. The other reason is that there are chemical reactions between TGMPP and PA66 proved by the X-ray photoelectron spectrometer.
A Database of Force-Field Parameters, Dynamics, and Properties of Antimicrobial Compounds
Authors: Malloci Giuliano , Vargiu Attilio , Serra Giovanni , Bosin Andrea , Ruggerone Paolo , Ceccarelli Matteo
Published: August 2015

We present an on-line database of all-atom force-field parameters and molecular properties of compounds with antimicrobial activity (mostly antibiotics and some beta-lactamase inhibitors). For each compound, we provide the General Amber Force Field parameters for the major species at physiological pH, together with an analysis of properties of interest as extracted from µs-long molecular dynamics simulations in explicit water solution. The properties include number and population of structural clusters, molecular flexibility, hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecular surfaces, the statistics of intraand inter-molecular H-bonds, as well as structural and dynamical properties of solvent molecules within first and second solvation shells. In addition, the database contains several key molecular parameters, such as energy of the frontier molecular orbitals, vibrational properties, rotational constants, atomic partial charges and electric dipole moment, computed by Density Functional Theory. The present database (to our knowledge the first extensive one including dynamical properties) is part of a wider project aiming to build-up a database containing structural, physico-chemical and dynamical properties of medicinal compounds using different force-field parameters with increasing level of complexity and reliability. The database is freely accessible at http://www.dsf.unica.it/translocation/db/.
Nanostructures for the Inhibition of Viral Infections
Authors: Szunerits Sabine , Barras Alexandre , Khanal Manakamana , Pagneux Quentin , Boukherroub Rabah
Published: August 2015

Multivalent interactions are omnipresent in biology and confer biological systems with dramatically enhanced affinities towards different receptors. Such multivalent binding interactions have lately been considered for the development of new therapeutic strategies against bacterial and viral infections. Multivalent polymers, dendrimers, and liposomes have successfully targeted pathogenic interactions. While a high synthetic effort was often needed for the development of such therapeutics, the integration of multiple ligands onto nanostructures turned to be a viable alternative. Particles modified with multiple ligands have the additional advantage of creating a high local concentration of binding molecules. This review article will summarize the different nanoparticle-based approaches currently available for the treatment of viral infections.
Mosquitocidal and Oviposition Repellent Activities of the Extracts of Seaweed Bryopsis pennata on Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus
Authors: Yu Ke-Xin , Wong Ching-Lee , Ahmad Rohani , Jantan Ibrahim
Published: August 2015

The ever-increasing threat from infectious diseases and the development of insecticide resistance in mosquito populations drive the global search for new natural insecticides. The aims of this study were to evaluate the mosquitocidal activity of the extracts of seaweed Bryopsis pennata against dengue vectors Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, and determine the seaweed’s toxic effect on brine shrimp nauplii (as a non-target organism). In addition, the chemical compositions of the active larvicidal extract and fraction were analyzed by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Chloroform extract exhibited strong ovicidal activity (with LC50 values of 229.3 and 250.5 µg/mL) and larvicidal activity against Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. The larvicidal potential of chloroform extract was further ascertained when its A7 fraction exhibited strong toxic effect against Ae. aegypti (LC50 = 4.7 µg/mL) and Ae. albopictus (LC50 = 5.3 µg/mL). LC-MS analysis of the chloroform extract gave a tentative identification of 13 compounds; Bis-(3-oxoundecyl) tetrasulfide was identified as the major compound in A7 fraction. Methanol extract showed strong repellent effect against female oviposition, along with weak adulticidal activity against mosquito and weak toxicity against brine shrimp nauplii. The mosquitocidal results of B. pennata suggest further investigation for the development of effective insecticide.
Isolation, Characterization, Crystal Structure Elucidation of Two Flavanones and Simultaneous RP-HPLC Determination of Five Major Compounds from Syzygium campanulatum Korth
Authors: Memon Abdul , Ismail Zhari , Al-Suede Fouad , Aisha Abdalrahim , Hamil Mohammad , Saeed Mohammed , Laghari Madeeha , Majid Amin
Published: August 2015

Two flavanones named (2S)-7-Hydroxy-5-methoxy-6,8-dimethyl flavanone (1), (S)-5,7-dihydroxy-6,8-dimethyl-flavanone (2), along with known chalcone, namely, (E)-2ʹ,4ʹ- dihydroxy-6ʹ-methoxy-3ʹ,5ʹ-dimethylchalcone (3) and two triterpenoids, namely, betulinic and ursolic acids (4 and 5), were isolated from the leaves of Syzygium campanulatum Korth (Myrtaceae). The structures of compounds (1 and 2) were determined on the basis of UV-visible, FTIR, NMR spectroscopies and LC-EIMS analytical techniques. Furthermore, new, simple, precise, selective, accurate, highly sensitive, efficient and reproducible RP-HPLC method was developed and validated for the quantitative analysis of the compounds (1–5) from S. campanulatum plants of five different age. RP-HPLC method was validated in terms of specificity, linearity (r2 ≤ 0.999), precision (2.0% RSD), and recoveries (94.4%–105%). The LOD and LOQ of these compounds ranged from 0.13–0.38 and 0.10–2.23 μg·mL−1, OPEN ACCESS respectively. Anti-proliferative activity of isolated flavanones (1 and 2) and standardized extract of S. campanulatum was evaluated on human colon cancer (HCT 116) cell line. Compounds (1 and 2) and extract revealed potent and dose-dependent activity with IC50 67.6, 132.9 and 93.4 μg·mL−1, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on isolation, characterization, X-ray crystallographic analysis of compounds (1 and 2) and simultaneous RP-HPLC determination of five major compounds (1–5) from different age of S. campanulatum plants.
Evaluation of the Relative Validity of the Short Diet Questionnaire for Assessing Usual Consumption Frequencies of Selected Nutrients and Foods
Authors: Shatenstein Bryna , Payette Hélène
Published: August 2015

A 36-item Short Diet Questionnaire (SDQ) was developed to assess usual consumption frequencies of foods providing fats, fibre, calcium, vitamin D, in addition to fruits and vegetables. It was pretested among 30 community-dwelling participants from the Québec Longitudinal Study on Nutrition and Successful Aging, “NuAge” (n = 1793, 52.4% women), recruited in three age groups (70 ± 2 years; 75 ± 2 years; 80 ± 2 years). Following revision, the SDQ was administered to 527 NuAge participants (55% female), distributed among the three age groups, both sexes and languages (French, English) prior to the second of three non-consecutive 24 h diet recalls (24HR) and validated relative to the mean of three 24HR. Full data were available for 396 participants. Most SDQ nutrients and fruit and vegetable servings were lower than 24HR estimates (p < 0.05) except calcium, vitamin D, and saturated and trans fats. Spearman correlations between the SDQ and 24HR were modest and significant (p < 0.01), ranging from 0.19 (cholesterol) to 0.45 (fruits and vegetables). Cross-classification into quartiles showed 33% of items were jointly classified into identical quartiles of the distribution, 73% into identical and contiguous quartiles, and only 7% were frankly misclassified. The SDQ is a reasonably accurate, rapid approach for ranking usual frequencies of selected nutrients and foods. Further testing is needed in a broader age range.
Ferulic Acid Alleviates Changes in a Rat Model of Metabolic Syndrome Induced by High-Carbohydrate, High-Fat Diet
Authors: Senaphan Ketmanee , Kukongviriyapan Upa , Sangartit Weerapon , Pakdeechote Poungrat , Pannangpetch Patchareewan , Prachaney Parichat , Greenwald Stephen , Kukongviriyapan Veerapol
Published: August 2015

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities characterized by obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Ferulic acid (FA) is the major phenolic compound found in rice oil and various fruits and vegetables. In this study, we examined the beneficial effects of FA in minimizing insulin resistance, vascular dysfunction and remodeling in a rat model of high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-induced metabolic changes, which is regarded as an analogue of metabolic syndrome (MS) in man. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high carbohydrate, high fat (HCHF) diet and 15% fructose in drinking water for 16 weeks, where control rats were fed with standard chow diet and tap water. FA (30 or 60 mg/kg) was orally administered to the HCHF and control rats during the last six weeks of the study. We observed that FA significantly improved insulin sensitivity and lipid profiles, and reduced elevated blood pressure, compared to untreated controls (p < 0.05). Moreover, FA also improved vascular function and prevented vascular remodeling of mesenteric arteries. The effects of FA in HCHF-induced MS may be realized through suppression of oxidative stress by down-regulation of p47phox, increased nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability with up-regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and suppression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Our results suggest that supplementation of FA may have health benefits by minimizing the cardiovascular complications of MS and alleviating its symptoms.