bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on Preparation and Characterization of the SiO2 Photonic Crystal
Authors: Cai Yun Gao , Li Xin Qi
Published: July 2018

SiO2colloidal particles at the size range of 270-910 nm were synthesized by hydrolysis of ethyl silicate (TEOS) in the mixed solvents of TEOS and water under the catalysis of ammonium water solution; the effect of the addition manner of the mixed solution of TEOS and ethanol through immediateness and drop by drop were discussed; besides, two dimentional (2-D) SiO2photonic crystals (PCs) with hexagonal arrangement structure were successfully prepared by the gravity sedimentation method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microcopy (SEM) were employed to analyze the crystallinity and morphology of the synthesized SiO2colloidal particles and the 2-D SiO2photonic crystals, the results show that during the progress of the synthesized SiO2colloidal particles by the Stöber method, the addition manner of the mixed solution of TEOS and ethanol through drop by drop instead of immediateness could avoid the double-sized SiO2colloidal particles in a certain extent effectively. The reasons for the experimental results in this investigation have been discussed.
Effect of Electrolyte Concentration on Electrochemical Properties of Zinc Hexacyanoferrate Electrode in Zinc-Ion Batteries
Authors: Kim Du Yeol , Lee Chang Hee , Jeong Soon Ki
Published: July 2018

The aqueous rechargeable zinc ion battery (ARZIB) system has been actively studied in the field of energy storage. Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) are considered effective cathode materials in the ARZIB system. In our previous study, Zn(NO3)2 solutions of different concentrations were used as electrolytes in an ARZIB system with a zinc hexacyanoferrate (ZnHCF) electrode. And the effect of electrolyte concentration on the electrochemical performance was studied. In this study, the effect of electrolyte concentration was demonstrated through electrochemical tests and Raman analysis. Charge/discharge tests were conducted at different electrolyte concentrations. And electrochemical performance degradation was observed above a certain electrolyte concentration. This effect was due to the strong interaction between the zinc cations and the nitrate anions, confirmed by the Raman spectroscopy analysis of the Zn(NO3)2 electrolyte.
Thermoelectric Properties of Bi2Te3-ySey Bulk Materials Synthesized by Melting-Grinding Process
Authors: Park Min Soo , Ha Gook Hyun , Koo Hye Young , Park Yong Ho
Published: July 2018

The Bi–Te thermoelectric system shows an excellent figure of merit (ZT) near room temperature. Research on increasing the ZT value for n‑type Bi–Te is imperative because the thermoelectric properties of this compound are inferior to those of the p-type material. For this purpose, n-type Bi2Te3-ySey powders with various amounts of Se dopant (0.3 ≤ y ≤ 0.6) were synthesized by a vacuum melting-grinding process to improve the physical properties. The ZT value of the sintered bodies was investigated in the temperature range of 298–423 K with regard to the electrical and thermal characteristics. As the Se content increased, the electrical conductivity decreased owing to a reduction in the carrier concentration, which improved the overall value of ZT. The thermal conductivity clearly decreased as the Se content increased in the temperature range of 298–373 K due to increased alloy scattering, as well as a reduction in the lattice thermal conductivity caused by crystal grain boundary scattering. At room temperature, Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 (y = 0.3) exhibited the highest ZT of 0.85. At increased temperatures, the ZT value was highest for Bi2Te2.55Se0.45 (y = 0.45), indicating that the optimal effect of the Se dopants varies depending on the temperature range.
Thermopolarization Phenomena in the Temperature Range of Glass Transition of Amorphous Polydiethylsiloxane
Authors: Popov I.V.
Published: July 2018

The transition from the glass to the highly elastic state in polydiethylsiloxane (PDES) is not reflected on the temperature dependences of the relative permittivity, the dielectric loss tangent, and the specific volumetric electrical conductivity. But, the peak of the current of thermostimulated depolarization (TSD) is fixed in the temperature range of the transition to the highly elastic state. The peak of the TSD current at T ~ 130K indicates a continuous amorphous phase formation in the experimental conditions. The maximum value of the TSD current directly depends on the content of the amorphous phase in the polymer. The cooling of the polymer in an electric field reduces the magnitude of the peak. Exposure in the mesophase leads to an almost complete absence of thermopolarization effects near the glass transition temperature. This peak of the TSD current in the absence of preliminary polarization is characteristic, presumably, only for flexible-chain polymers where structural units have pyroelectric properties. Under certain conditions, PDES demonstrates itself as an active dielectric in the temperature range of 90 - 180K.
Research on a New Metal-N-Poly Thermoelectric Material Sensor for Vacuum Sensing with Self Heating
Authors: Shen Chih Hsiung , Chen Shu Jung , Lin Shih Hao
Published: July 2018

This paper proposes a new vacuum sensor with CMOS Metal-N-Poly thermoelectric materials which works for both thermoelectric sensing and resistive heating. A new method of vacuum measurement with self-heating is proposed based on the dual phases of heating and sensing for the same element which is realized with CMOS thermoelectric sensor. Using the TSMC 0.35 μm CMOS-MEMS process, the proposed thermoelectric sensor is designed and fabricated with standard CMOS materials of the 4th metal and N-polysilicon to form 64 pairs of central-symmetrical thermocouples. There is an air convection-sensing area at the center of membrane and is filled with array of micro-through-holes to enhance the effect of heat convection. When the air molecules move through the array of hole, the heat exchange will take away the heat to cause a temperature drop of sensing area which gives a weak voltage between the cold and hot end of the thermocouples. The heating of thermopile itself is designed at the first phase and sensing the output voltage at the second phase subsequently. According to a careful investigation of the measurement with a wide range of 10m~10k torr, our proposed sensing scheme based on a thermoelectric type sensor is proved for practical vacuum detection and most of all it is proved as a new approach to use a commercial thermopile without heater, which is easier to include than a special custom design.
Three-Layer Clad Strip Casting Using a Vertical Type Tandem Twin Roll Caster
Authors: Haga Toshio , Okamura Kentaro , Warari Hisaki , Nishida Shinichi
Published: July 2018

This paper shows improvements made to a vertical type tandem twin roll caster and the appropriate casting conditions necessary to cast three-layer clad strips, the base strip of which has a lower solidification temperature than the overlay strip. In experiments, 4045 aluminum alloy was used for the base strip and 3003 aluminum alloy was used for the overlay strips. The roll speed was 30 m/min. By connecting the overlay strips to the base strip one at a time and cooling the base strip to between 450 and 530°C after applying the first overlay strip, a sound three-layer clad strip – defined as one in which the interfaces between strips are clear and do not separate during bending-to-failure tests – could be cast. The tensile shear testing between the base and second overlay strip was improved as the base-strip temperature was increased to 450-530°C range.
Effect of FeO-CaO-SiO2-MgO-xAl2O3 Slags with 12.0~26.0 wt.% Al2O3 Content on Dephosphorization of Molten Steel
Authors: Lin Chi-Ming , Yu C.W. , Wu W. , Li C.C. , Chang K.L.
Published: July 2018

The purpose of this investigation is to understand the effect of FeO-CaO-SiO2-MgO-xAl2O3 slags with 12.0~26.0 wt.% Al2O3 content on dephosphorization of molten steel. The dephosphorization experiments of FeO-CaO-SiO2-MgO-xAl2O3 slags are evaluated by a heater of induction furnace at the temperature of 1823 K. The results show that the dephosphorization ability of FeO-CaO-SiO2-MgO-xAl2O3 slags significantly decreases with the increasing of Al2O3 content. The oxidative slag with 12.4 wt.% Al2O3 possesses the biggest dephosphorization ability (approximately 82.7%) in all conditions. When the Al2O3 content of oxidative slag increases from 12.4 to 25.7 wt.%, the dephosphorization ability decreases from 82.7% to 34.6%. P2O5 content of oxidative slag also decreases with the increasing of Al2O3 content. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results reveal that the Fe-based slag with 12.4 wt.% Al2O3 contains the constituent phases of FexO and Ca2Al2SiO7. As the Al2O3 content of Fe-based slag is above 22.1 wt.%, the constituent phase of FeAl2O4 is generated. The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (ESD) results verify that the capacity of phosphorus of FeAl2O4 phase is the worst in all phases. The capacity of phosphorus for each phase is Ca2Al2SiO7 phase > FexO phase > (Fe,Mg)Al2O4 phase.
Evaluation of Moisture Resistance of Hot-Mix Asphalt Mixture Containing Refined Air-Cooled Slag for Road Pavements
Authors: Lee Kang Hun , Kook Man Ho , Ha Dong Ho , Kwon Soo Ahn , Lee Moon Sup
Published: July 2018

Recently, potholes have drawn attention as a major pavement distress. In Korea and other countries, slaked lime is used to improve the moisture resistance of asphalt mixtures in order to prevent road damages by moisture. The present study was conducted to evaluate the moisture resistance of asphalt mixtures containing air-cooled slag having a chemical composition similar to that of slaked lime. To evaluate the moisture resistance of asphalt mixtures containing air-cooled slag, a moisture resistance test that is applied in Korea and other countries was performed. The evaluation of the moisture resistance of asphalt mixtures containing air-cooled slag showed that the coverage ratio measured by the dynamic immersion test was about 80%, which was similar to that of the asphalt mixtures containing slaked lime. In the case of the indirect tensile strength test, the TSR value tends to increase with increasing the air-cooled slag content of the specimens. But the indirect tensile strength was slightly lower in the specimen containing 3% air-cooled slag. The Hamburg wheel tracking test showed that the moisture resistance of the specimens produced in a laboratory and in a plant was good but that of the specimen containing 3% air-cooled slag was slightly lower. The laboratory experiment performed in the present study showed that the moisture resistance was improved by the addition of air-cooled slag, which has a similar composition with slaked lime, to asphalt mixtures. However, when the entire filler of the asphalt mixture was replaced by air-cooled slag, the strength was slightly decreased, indicating that an appropriate amount of air-cooled slag should be added. The applicability of air-cooled slag to asphalt pavement material may need to be studied through a microstructure analysis and a long-term pavement performance test to investigate the mechanism more accurately.
The Study of Wrinkling Mechanism of Plasma-Treated Microphase-Separated Polyurethane Surface
Authors: Morozov Ilya A. , Beliaev Anton Y. , Izyumov Roman I.
Published: July 2018

Stiff coating on the phase-separated soft polyurethane substrate under the compression deformation is investigated by the finite element modeling (FEM). External strain leads to the wrinkling of layer surface, which is characterized by a set of wavelengths and amplitudes. The influence of the thickness and stiffness of the layer, elastic modulus of the substrate on the structural-mechanical properties of the deformed surface is studied. The results of the model are in good accordance with the experiment (plasma immersion ion impanation of nitrogen ions into the polyurethane substrate) and allowed to estimate the modulus of the coating and the deformation of the surface.
Use of Magnesium Hydroxide as Flame Retardant in Poly(Lactic Acid)/High Impact Polystyrene/Wood Flour Composites
Authors: Kongkraireug Nuttaburut , Chuayjuljit Saowaroj , Chaiwutthinan Phasawat , Larpkasemsuk Amnouy , Boonmahitthisud Anyaporn
Published: July 2018

This work aimed to use magnesium hydroxide (MH) as a flame retardant in poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/high impact polystyrene (HIPS)/wood flour (WF) composite. The 80/20/20 PLA/HIPS/WF composite was melt mixed with three loadings (20, 30 and 40 phr) of MH on a twin screw extruder, followed by an injection molding. The prepared wood-plastic composites (WPCs) were investigated for their impact strength (IS), tensile strength (TS), Young’s modulus (E), elongation at break (EB), flammability and morphology. The results showed that the 80/20/20 PLA/HIPS/WF composite exhibited higher IS, TS and E than the neat PLA, but at the expense of reducing the EB. It was also found that the WPCs filled with MH at all loadings provided much higher flame resistance and E over the neat PLA, HIPS, PLA/HIPS blend and PLA/HIPS/WF composite. Therefore, the MH could play an effective role as flame retardant in the WPCs.
Study on Equipment Failure Based on Static Strength Analysis
Authors: Sun Ying Shi
Published: July 2018

In this paper, the theory of process failure as the basis for analysis of working conditions based on the use of production line process equipment. In ANSYS static strength theory, technology and equipment to analyze the static strength, find the weak points of equipment. For weak points and system reliability and lifetime prediction, and establish the reliability of the system platform to guide the process equipment and tooling security monitoring, to provide a scientific basis for the use of tooling and equipment reliability.
Anti-Biofilm Formation of Streptococcus mutans by Jasmine Mouthwash
Authors: Thaweboon Sroisiri , Thaweboon Boonyanit
Published: July 2018

Streptococcus mutans has been reported to be a major causative microorganism for oral biofilm associated with dental caries. Jasmine sambac or Arabian jasmine is a species of jasmine native to tropical and warm temperate regions particularly West and Southeast Asia. The antimicrobial activities of essential oil extracted from the flowers of J. sambac have been shown to attract researchers. Objective: To determine the anti-biofilm formation of S. mutans by mouthwash containing jasmine oil. Materials and Methods: S. mutans KPSK2, the cariogenic strain of oral streptococci was used in the study. The 24-h biofilms of S. mutans were formed on polystyrene plates treated with jasmine mouthwash. The 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate and phosphate buffer saline mouthwash were used as a positive and negative control respectively. The amount of biofilm was quantified by crystal violet staining and spectrophotometry at an optical density of 595 nm. Results: Jasmine mouthwash showed a significant inhibitory effect on S. mutans biofilm formation by decreasing 43% of biofilm whereas that of chlorhexidine showed 71% reduction. Conclusion: The anti-biofilm formation property of jasmine mouthwash was elucidated; therefore it might be another drug of choice that can be used as an adjunct to control the oral health in the prevention of dental caries.
Effect of Kaempferia parviflora on Streptococcus mutans Biofilm Formation and its Cytotoxicity
Authors: Mala Supaporn , Thaweboon Sroisiri , Luksamijarukul Pipat , Thaweboon Boonyanit , Saranpuetti Chayaporn , Kaypetch Rattiporn
Published: July 2018

Streptococcus mutans is the most prevalent bacterial species isolated from the human oral cavity. Its ability to form biofilms is an important factor in the pathogenesis of dental caries. Thus, the search for new antimicrobial agents, especially from plants, has been intensified. Kaempferia parviflora has been the subject of research for many pharmacological and antimicrobial activities. In this study, we evaluated the effect of ethanolic extract of K. parviflora root (0.46, 0.94, 1.87, 3.75, 7.5, 15, and 30 mg/ml) on S. mutans KPSK2 biofilm formation using crystal violet assay. Cytotoxicity was determined according to 10993-5/2009 on human gingival fibroblast by MTT assay. The results showed that K. parviflora extract could inhibit biofilm formation to approximately 62-82% at the concentrations of 0.46-30 mg/ml. In the case of cytotoxicity, no cytotoxic potential was demonstrated at concentration of £ 7.5 mg/ml of K. parviflora. In conclusion, K. parviflora extract is a potentially useful anti-biofilm agent against caries-associated bacteria and could be used as adjunct to other caries preventive measures.
Aligned Collagen Scaffolds Enhance Tenogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow-Derived Stem Cells
Authors: Zhang Ke Ke , Liu Chang , Sun Yu Long
Published: July 2018

Tendon repair remains a formidable challenge in clinic, due to its limited function in long-term recovery. Decellularized native tendon extracellular matrix (ECM), which contains specific bioactive factors and a large number of collagen fibers, seeded with bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) has been found to promote tendon neogenesis. However, the effect of arrangements of natural collagen fibers on the differentiation of BMSCs remains unclear. Here, we prepared aligned collagen fiber scaffolds from rat tail tendon ECM to investigate the effect of collagen arrangements on the morphology, proliferation and differentiation of rat BMSCs in vitro. It was found that BMSCs were elongated and aligned along the collagen fibers on the aligned collagen fibers. Furthermore, the aligned collagen scaffolds significantly enhanced the expression of tenocyte markers TNMD and THBS4. The results indicated that aligned collagen scaffolds could induce the tenogenesis of BMSCs, which would provide an alternative approach for tendon tissue engineering.
Antifungal, Anti-Inflammatory and Cytotoxic Effects of Zingiber cassumunar Gel
Authors: Thaweboon Sroisiri , Thaweboon Boonyanit , Kaypetch Rattiporn
Published: July 2018

This study aimed to investigate the antifungal, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic effects of Zingiber cassumunar gel. The gel was prepared from essential oil of Zingiber cassumunar rhizome by the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research. Antifungal activity of the gel was firstly determined by the well diffusion method against Candida albicans ATCC 10238 and candida strain isolated from the patient’s lesion. Then, the Agar overlay technique was used to test the cytotoxicity of Z. cassumunar gel on mouse fibroblasts (ATCC clone 929) according to ISO 7405. For anti-inflammatory effect of the gel, TPA (carrageenan lambda type IV, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13- acetate)-induced mouse ear edema method was used. The results of well diffusion showed that Z. cassumunar gel was quite a potent antifungal agent against both strains of tested C. albicans with inhibition zones of 12-13 mm. In the cytotoxicity test, the gel exhibited no toxicity to cell culture. In addition, topical administration of Z. cassumunar gel could decrease mouse ear edema induced by TPA. At 30 and 60 min-time points, Z. cassumunar gel showed higher anti-inflammatory activity than triamcinolone which was used as reference anti-inflammatory drug. In conclusion, gel prepared from Z. cassumunar oil showed antifungal activity against both strains of C. albicans. In addition, its anti-inflammatory effect was demonstrated within 30 min by the TPA-induced mouse ear edema model. The gel was non-toxic to cell culture after 24-h incubation. Further studies are needed to clarify the safety and benefit of this gel for clinical use in the treatment of candidal infection and inflammation.
Biological Oxidation and Removal of Iron in Copper-Containing Acidic Mine Drainage by Using Siliceous Stones as Carrier Materials
Authors: Fan Jun Hui , Liu Xing Yu , Gu Qi Yuan , Zhang Ming Jiang
Published: July 2018

Acid mine drainage is detrimental to the environment, which is rich of a variety of heavy metals, and has a low pH value and high acidity. The purpose of this paper is to study the bio-oxidation of ferrous iron and the selective precipitation of ferric iron, to gain a long-term effective solution to the environmental problem. The maximum ferrous iron bio-oxidation rate (76.19mg/L·h) was obtained at a low pH value of 3.0 and culture temperature of 30°C. In addition, we found a relatively higher ferric iron removal rate (99.18%) and the lowest copper loss rate (4.59%) at a pH value of 3.2 and reaction temperature of 30°C and stirring time of 4h.
Development of Adsorbent Prussian Blue (PB) Impregnated through the Grafting of Covalent Organic Polymers (COPs) for the Removal of Radioactivity Cesium (Cs-137)
Authors: Kim Bok Seong , Kim Young Sug , Kang Sung Won , Oh Dae Min , Kim Sol , Hwang Yu Hoon , Seo Young Gyo
Published: July 2018

This study aims to utilize Prussian Blue (PB) to develop a high performance adsorbent for removing radioactive cesium from radioactive accidents. Prussian blue (PB) can adsorb selectively to cesium (Cs), which is high in adsorption efficiency, but has a disadvantage that it is difficult to recover after adsorption, so there is a high concern about secondary environmental pollution. Therefore, this study modified the surface of powder activated carbon (PAC) particles by using covalent organic polymer (COP) for stable immobilization of PB, and developed a PB-impregnated adsorbent (COP-PAC-PB). Synthesis of COP-PAC-PB was performed by sequentially reacting with iron (III) chloride and potassium ferrocyanide solution to synthesize PB in COP pore (In-situ). The maximum adsorption of COP-PAC-PB on cesium was 19 mg / g and the removal efficiency for radioactivity cesium (Cs-137, 60 Bq / kg) was 97.3%. In addition, PB was synthesized by the same method as that of COP-PAC-PB, which is a modification product of the unmodified group (PAC, Ox-PAC), and UV-vis analysis was performed to compare PB desorption characteristics after washing Respectively. In the unmodified group (PAC-PB, Ox-PAC-PB), a large amount of PB was desorbed when washed once to 6 times. In the case of COP-PAC-PB, it was not. As a result, the surface of the PAC particles was effectively modified using COP, and the adsorbent with Prussian blue stably immobilized was developed.
Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Fiber Reinforced High Density Poly(Ethylene) Composites: Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis
Authors: Chafidz Achmad , Rofiqah Umi , Mutiara Tintin , Rizal Muhammad , Kaavessina Mujtahid , Hartanto Dhoni
Published: July 2018

In the present work, high density polyethylene (HDPE)/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) fiber composites with four different PVA fiber loadings (i.e. 0, 5, 10, 20 wt%) have been prepared via melt compounding method using a twin-screw extruder. The composites were characterized for their morphology by using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Whereas, the dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) was carried out by using an oscillatory rheometer. The DMTA test was carried out under torsion mode using temperature sweep test on rectangular composites samples. The DMTA results showed that the storage modulus (G¢) of the composites were higher than that of the neat HDPE and increased with increasing PVA fiber loadings. This indicated that there was a considerable stiffness enhancement of the composites. For example, at temperature of 60°C, the increases of stiffness (i.e. storage modulus) of the composites were approximately 3, 31, and 54% for PVAC-5, 10, and 20, respectively. Whereas, at higher temperature (i.e. 120°C), the increases were about 4, 50, and 98% for PVAC-5, 10, and 20, respectively. These results indicated that even at higher temperatures, the enhancement of storage modulus of the composites was still high.
Investigation of the Influence of Heat Treatment on the Strength of FGRP Used in Sandwich Constructions
Authors: Protsenko Alexander E. , Malysheva Daria P. , Petrov Victor V.
Published: July 2018

The article presents the data of an experimental study on how heat treatment influences the physical and mechanical properties of cured samples of sandwich structures. The sandwich structures were made using VaRTM method. Heat treatment at 80 °С and 60 °С leads to increase in the bending strength. Three-point bend tests of sandwich structures and FGRP were conducted. Also, hardness and tensile strength were determined. Heat treatment results in increase of bending stress of FGRP by 71%, via the the tensile strength of heat-treated FGRP increased by 78%. The results characterize the relationship between the durability and the temperature and exposure time of the sandwich structures. The results correlate with the data of swelling of the cured binder. As a result of heat treatment at 80 °С for 4 hours, the extent of swelling decreased by 14%. The heat treatment of sandwich structures at a temperature of 80 °С for 4 hours is optimal and leads to increase in the tensile strength by 30.7%.
The benefits and dangers for churches and ministry institutions to work in a regulated environment, with reference to professionalising religious practice via South African Qualifications Authority and the National Qualifications Framework Act
Authors: Duncan Graham A.
Published: July 2018

Since 1994 and the coming of democracy to South Africa there has been a concerted attempt to develop a coherent, unified educational system that will redress the inequities of the apartheid systems. Significant to this ongoing process is the field of higher education, where relevant legislation has been enacted in order to bring coherence and consistency to the education system in the public and private sectors. Significant issues have arisen with regard to the provision made by private religious educational institutions, especially those who have experienced difficulties in being accredited by statutory bodies. This paper seeks to explore these issues and suggest ways forward that are appropriate within an emerging unitary system of education that is fit for purpose in Africa and particularly South Africa, taking as a case study the formation of the Association of Christian Religious Practitioners.
Beyond test scores: A framework for reporting mathematics assessment results to enhance teaching and learning
Authors: Moloi Meshack , Kanjee Anil
Published: July 2018

In this article we propose a framework for reporting mathematics results from national assessment surveys (NAS) such that effective use of the resulting reports can enhance teaching and learning. We explored literature on factors that may contribute to non-utilisation of assessment data as a basis for decision-making. In the context of South Africa, we identified the form and formats in which results of NAS are reported as a possible limiting factor to the effective use of summative assessment results for formative purposes. As an alternative, we propose a standards-based reporting framework that will ensure accurate measurement of, and meaningful feedback on, what learners know and can do. We illustrate how, within a properly designed reporting framework, the results of a NAS in mathematics can be used for formative purposes to enhance teaching and learning and, possibly, improve learner performance.
Global Trends in Typhoidal Salmonellosis: A Systematic Review
Authors: Als Daina , Radhakrishnan Amruta , Arora Paul , Gaffey Michelle F. , Campisi Susan , Velummailum Russanthy , Zareef Farhana , Bhutta Zulfiqar A.
Published: July 2018

Typhoid and paratyphoid fever continue to significantly contribute to global morbidity and mortality. Disease burden is higher in low-and middle-income settings where surveillance programs are rare and little systematic information exists at population level. This review evaluates national, regional, and global trends in the incidence of typhoid fever and of related morbidity and mortality. A literature search in Medline, Embase, and Web of Science was conducted in June 2016, followed by screening and data extraction in duplicate. Studies reporting blood culture estimates of typhoid or paratyphoid morbidity and mortality were included in the analysis. Our search yielded 5,563 unique records, of which 1978 were assessed for relevance with 219 records meeting the eligibility criteria. Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi was the most commonly reported organism (91%), with the occurrence of typhoidal Salmonella (either incidence or prevalence) being the most commonly reported outcome (78%), followed by typhoid fever mortality, ileal perforation morbidity, and perforation mortality, respectively. Fewer than 50% of studies stratified outcomes by age or urban/rural locality. Surveillance data were available from 29 countries and patient-focused studies were available from 32 countries. Our review presents a mixed picture with declines reported in many regions and settings but with large gaps in surveillance and published data. Regional trends show generally high incidence rates in South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and East Asia and Pacific where the disease is endemic in many countries. Significant increases have been reported in certain countries but should be explored in the context of long-term trends and underlying at-risk populations.
Enteric Fever and Related Contextual Factors in Bangladesh
Authors: Saha Shampa , Saha Senjuti , Das Rajib Chandra , Faruque A. S. G. , Salam M. Abdus , Islam Maksuda , Saha Samir K.
Published: July 2018

Enteric fever remains a major public health problem in the developing world. With the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, disease prevention is becoming essential. There is evidence that improvement of contextual factors, such as socioeconomic development and water supply and sanitation, reduce the burden of this disease. However, such positive results are not universal. This study describes enteric fever trends in Bangladesh along with these factors’ progress between 1990 and 2014. Retrospective enteric fever data were collected from Dhaka Shishu (children) Hospital (DSH), Shishu Shasthya Foundation Hospital (SSFH), International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh, and Popular Diagnostic Center (PDC). Contextual factors data were gathered from relevant organizations and their websites and plotted against time to see trends. During 2001–2014, data for a total of 131,449 blood cultures were available at DSH, SSFH, and PDC. Of those, 7,100 (isolation rate 5.4%) yielded either Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi or Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi growth without visible change in isolation rate trends. Contextual factors data were reported from 1990 to 2014. There were significant developments for sanitation facilities, drinking water supply, female literacy, and reduction in poverty head count ratio. During this time period, population density also increased significantly. Despite improvements in these contextual factors in Bangladesh, the enteric fever trend seems steady, possibly because of high population density and unplanned development of water supply and sewerage system. Although proper development of these two factors is important, immunization with an effective vaccine is instrumental to prevent this disease immediately in endemic countries such as Bangladesh, specifically to overcome the challenge of emerging resistance to available antibiotics.
Implementation of Interventions for the Control of Typhoid Fever in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Barac Raluca , Als Daina , Radhakrishnan Amruta , Gaffey Michelle F. , Bhutta Zulfiqar A. , Barwick Melanie
Published: July 2018

Past research has focused on typhoid fever surveillance with little attention to implementation methods or effectiveness of control interventions. This study purposefully sampled key informants working in public health in Chile, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, South Africa, and Nigeria to 1) scope typhoid-relevant interventions implemented between 1990 and 2015 and 2) explore contextual factors perceived to be associated with their implementation, based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). We used a mixed methods design and collected quantitative data (CFIR questionnaire) and qualitative data (interviews with 34 public health experts). Interview data were analyzed using a deductive qualitative content analysis and summary descriptive statistics are provided for the CFIR data. Despite relatively few typhoid-specific interventions reportedly implemented in these countries, interventions for diarrheal disease control and regulations for food safety and food handlers were common. Most countries implemented agricultural and sewage treatment practices, yet few addressed the control of antibiotic medication. Several contextual factors were perceived to have influenced the implementation of typhoid interventions, either as enablers (e.g., economic development) or barriers (e.g., limited resources and habitual behaviors). Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research factors rated as important in the implementation of typhoid interventions were remarkably consistent across countries. The findings provide a snapshot of typhoid-relevant interventions implemented over 25 years and highlight factors associated with implementation success from the perspective of a sample of key informants. These findings can inform systematic investigations of the implementation of typhoid control interventions and contribute to a better understanding of the direct effects of implementation efforts.
Longitudinal Typhoid Fever Trends in India from 2000 to 2015
Authors: Balaji Veeraraghavan , Kapil Arti , Shastri Jayanthi , Pragasam Agila Kumari , Gole Geeta , Choudhari Sirshendu , Kang Gagandeep , John Jacob
Published: July 2018

A very high incidence of typhoid was described in studies conducted in urban locations on the Indian subcontinent at the end of the twentieth century. Despite their availability, licensed immunogenic conjugate typhoid vaccines have not been introduced in the national immunization program, in part, because of a lack of understanding of where and for whom prevention is most necessary. Uncertainty regarding the burden of disease is based on the lack of reliable, recent estimates of culture-confirmed typhoid and an observed trend of low isolations of Salmonella Typhi and fewer complications at large referral hospitals in India. In this article, we examine the trends of S. Typhi isolation at three large tertiary care centers across India over 15 years and describe trends of recognized risk factors for typhoid from published literature. There appears to be a decline in the isolation of S. Typhi in blood cultures, which is more apparent in the past 5 years. These trends are temporally related to economic improvement, female literacy, and the use of antibiotics such as cephalosporins and azithromycin. The analysis of trends of culture-confirmed typhoid may not accurately capture the typhoid incidence trends if antibiotic use confounds the burden of disease presenting to larger facilities. Emerging antimicrobial resistance may result in a resurgence of disease if the underlying incidence and transmission of typhoid are not adequately addressed through public health approaches.
Categorisation of the Main Disruptive Events in the Sensitive Products Transportation Supply Chains
Authors: Schoen Quentin , Sanchis Raquel , Poler Raul , Lauras Matthieu , Fontanili Franck , Truptil Sébastien
Published: July 2018

The upcoming logistic environment is about to modify deeply the way we supply products. In fact, some new trends are going to require more and more agility between a large number of stakeholders in open and dynamic networks. This should be possible to achieve thanks to new data collection and treatment abilities. Considering this moving technological and logistic environment, it appears necessary to define and categorize more specifically the main disruptive events that can affect a supply chain. In fact, amount of data are collected on the field and must be helpful to make relevant decisions in case of disruption. In order to understand automatically what these data mean, it is necessary to detect and classify the disruptive events in order to find the best adaptation. This paper focuses on the sensitive products’ supply chains, that are facing with agility high requirements, based on their ability to detect disruptive events. We take as an example the blood supply chain.
Detection of insertion/deletions (indels) of the ATBF1 gene and their effects on growth-related traits in three indigenous goat breeds
Authors: Wei Zhenyu , Wang Ke , Hui Yiqing , Yan Hailong , Zhu Haijing , Qu Lei , Pan Chuanying , Chen Hong , Lan Xianyong
Published: July 2018

Abstract. The AT motif-binding factor (ATBF1), also known as zinc finger homeobox 3 (ZFXH3), is necessary for activating the POU1F1 gene; thus, the ATBF1 gene greatly affects the grow traits in animals. The objective of this work was to explore novel indel (insertion/deletion) variations and their associations with growth traits in three native Chinese goat breeds. Two indels within the ATBF1 gene were found in the Shaanbei white cashmere goat (SWCG; n=581), the Guanzhong dairy goat (GZDG; n=334) and the Hainan black goat (HNBG; n=270) for the first time using 12 pairs of primers. Association analysis revealed that the P1-12-bp indel was consistently correlated with the body height of the three breeds, and individuals with ID (insertion/deletion) and DD (deletion/deletion) genotypes had a higher body weight than the II (insertion/insertion) genotype (P=0.036); the P11-6-bp indel was consistently correlated with chest circumference and hip width of the three breeds. Moreover, these two loci were associated with other several growth-related traits in different breeds. Hence, these findings indicated that the goat ATBF1 gene had marked effects on growth traits and the growth-trait-related loci, which would contribute to improving the growth-related traits of local breeds in the goat industry by implementing marker-assisted selection (MAS).
Multi-model comparison of urban heat island modelling approaches
Authors: Karlický Jan , Huszár Peter , Halenka Tomáš , Belda Michal , Žák Michal , Pišoft Petr , Mikšovský Jiří
Published: July 2018

Abstract. Cities are characterized by different physical properties of surface compared to their rural counterparts, resulting in a specific regime of the meteorological phenomenon. Our study aims to evaluate the impact of typical urban surfaces on the central European urban climate in several model simulations, performed with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and Regional Climate Model (RegCM). The specific processes occurring in the typical urban environment are described in the models by various types of urban parameterizations, greatly differing in complexity. Our results show that all models and urban parameterizations are able to reproduce the most typical urban effect, the summer evening and nocturnal urban heat island, with the average magnitude of 2–3 °C. The impact of cities on the wind is clearly dependent on the urban parameterization employed, with more simple ones unable to fully capture the wind speed reduction induced by the city. In the summer, a significant difference in the boundary-layer height (about 25 %) between models is detected. The urban-induced changes of temperature and wind speed are propagated into higher altitudes up to 2 km, with a decreasing tendency of their magnitudes. With the exception of the daytime in the summer, the urban environment improves the weather conditions a little with regard to the pollutant dispersion, which could lead to the partly decreased concentration of the primary pollutants.
Hydrochemical changes induced by underground pumped storage hydropower: influence of aquifer parameters in coal mine environments
Authors: Pujades Estanislao , Jurado Anna , Orban Philippe , Dassargues Alain
Published: July 2018

Abstract. Underground pumped storage hydropower (UPSH) induces hydrochemical changes
when water evolves to reach equilibrium with the atmosphere (in the surface
reservoir) and with the surrounding medium (in the underground reservoir).
These hydrochemical changes may impact the environment and the efficiency of
the system (i.e., the UPSH plant), especially in coal mine environments where
the presence of sulphide minerals is common. For this reason, it is needed to
assess the variables that control the behavior of the system in order to
establish criteria for the selection of abandoned mines to be used as
underground reservoirs in future UPSH plants. Coupled hydro-chemical numerical models are used for investigating the
influence of hydraulic parameters on the hydrochemical changes when pyrite
is present in the surrounding medium. Results show the role of the hydraulic
conductivity and the porosity on the system behavior, which is helpful for
selecting those abandoned mines where the hydrochemical changes and their
associated consequences will be less.
Riparian evapotranspiration is essential to simulate streamflow dynamics and water budgets in a Mediterranean catchment
Authors: Lupon Anna , Ledesma José L. J. , Bernal Susana
Published: July 2018

Abstract. Riparian trees can regulate streamflow dynamics and water
budgets by taking up large amounts of water from both soil and groundwater
compartments. However, their role has not been fully recognized in the
hydrologic literature and the catchment modeling community. In this study, we
explored the influence of riparian evapotranspiration (ET) on streamflow by
simulating daily stream water exports from three nested Mediterranean
catchments, both including and excluding the riparian compartment in the
structure of the PERSiST (Precipitation, Evapotranspiration and Runoff
Simulator for Solute Transport) rainfall–runoff model. The model goodness of fit for the calibration period
(September 2010–August 2012) significantly improved with the inclusion of
the riparian compartment, especially during the vegetative period, when
according to our simulations, the riparian zone significantly reduced the
overestimation of mean daily streamflow (from 53 % to 27 %). At the
catchment scale, simulated riparian ET accounted for 5.5 % to 8.4 % of
annual water depletions over a 20-year reference period (1981–2000), and its
contribution was especially noticeable during summer (from 8 % to 26 %).
Simulations considering climate change scenarios suggest large increases in
riparian ET during the dormant period (from 19 % to 46 %) but only small
increases (from 1 % to 2 %) in its contribution to annual water budgets.
Overall, our results highlight that a good assessment of riparian ET is
essential for understanding catchment hydrology and streamflow dynamics in
Mediterranean regions. Thus, the inclusion of the riparian compartment in
hydrological models is strongly recommended in order to establish proper
management strategies in water-limited regions.
Hydrological effects of climate variability and vegetation dynamics on annual fluvial water balance in global large river basins
Authors: Liu Jianyu , Zhang Qiang , Singh Vijay P. , Song Changqing , Zhang Yongqiang , Sun Peng , Gu Xihui
Published: July 2018

Abstract. The partitioning of precipitation into runoff (R) and
evapotranspiration (E), governed by the controlling parameter in the Budyko
framework (i.e., n parameter in the Choudhury and Yang equation), is
critical to assessing the water balance at global scale. It is widely
acknowledged that the spatial variation in this controlling parameter is
affected by landscape characteristics, but characterizing its temporal
variation remains yet to be done. Considering effective precipitation
(Pe), the Budyko framework was extended to the annual water
balance analysis. To reflect the mismatch between water supply
(precipitation, P) and energy (potential evapotranspiration, E0), we
proposed a climate seasonality and asynchrony index (SAI) in terms of both
phase and amplitude mismatch between P and E0. Considering streamflow
changes in 26 large river basins as a case study, SAI was found to the key
factor explaining 51 % of the annual variance of parameter n.
Furthermore, the vegetation dynamics (M) remarkably impacted the temporal
variation in n, explaining 67 % of the variance. With SAI and M, a
semi-empirical formula for parameter n was developed at the annual scale to
describe annual runoff (R) and evapotranspiration (E). The impacts of
climate variability (Pe, E0 and SAI) and M on R and E
changes were then quantified. Results showed that R and E changes were
controlled mainly by the Pe variations in most river basins over
the globe, while SAI acted as the controlling factor modifying R and E
changes in the East Asian subtropical monsoon zone. SAI, M and E0 have
larger impacts on E than on R, whereas Pe has larger impacts
on R.
Climate risks, digital media, and big data: following communication trails to investigate urban communities' resilience
Authors: Vicari Rosa , Tchiguirinskaia Ioulia , Schertzer Daniel
Published: July 2018

Abstract. Nowadays, when extreme weather affects an urban area, huge amounts of digital data are spontaneously produced by the population on the Internet. These digital trails can provide an insight on the interactions existing between climate related risks and the social perception of these risks. According to this research big data exploration techniques can be exploited to monitor these interactions and their effect on urban resilience. The experiments presented in this paper show that digital research can bring out the most central issues in the digital media, identify the stakeholders that have the capacity to influence the debate and, therefore, the community attitudes towards an issue. Three corpora of Web communication data have been extracted: press news covering the June 2016 Seine River flood; press news covering the October 2015 Alpes-Maritimes flood; tweets on the 2016 Seine River flood. The analysis of these datasets involves an iteration between manual and automated extraction of hundreds of key terms, network representations based on key terms co-occurrences, automated cluster visualisation based on adjacency matrix, and profiling of social media users. Visual observation of the network coupled to quantitative analysis of its nodes and edges allow obtaining an in-depth understanding of the most prominent topics and actors, as well as of the connections and clusters that these topics and actors tend to form in the journalistic sphere. Through a comparison of the three datasets, it is also possible to observe how these patterns change over time, in different urban areas and in different digital media contexts.