bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simple Estimators for ARCH Models
Authors: Prono Todd
Published: October 2016

Covariances between contemporaneous squared values and lagged levels form the basis for closed-form instrumental variables estimators of ARCH processes. These simple estimators rely on asymmetry for identification (either in the model's rescaled errors or the conditional variance function) and apply to threshold ARCH (l) and ARCH (p) with p < ∞ processes. Limit theory for these estimators is established in the case where the ARCH processes are regularly varying with a well-defined third and sixth moment of the raw returns and rescaled errors, respectively. The resulting limits are highly non-normal in empirically relevant cases, with slow rates of convergence relative to the thin-tailed √n-case. Nevertheless, Monte Carlo studies of a heavy-tailed ARCH (l) process show the simple IV estimator to outperform standard QMLE in (relatively) small samples when the data are (heavily) skewed. Methods for determining confidence intervals for the ARCH estimates are also discussed.
Effects of Changing Monetary and Regulatory Policy on Overnight Money Markets
Authors: Klee Elizabeth , Senyuz Zeynep , Yoldas Emre
Published: October 2016

Money markets have been operating under a new monetary policy implementation framework since the Federal Reserve started paying interest on bank reserves in late 2008. The regulatory environment has also evolved substantially over this period. We develop and test hypotheses regarding the effects of changes in the monetary and regulatory policy on dynamics of key overnight funding markets. We find that the federal funds rate continued to provide an anchor, albeit weaker, for unsecured funding rates amid substantial decline in activity and changing composition of trades, while its transmission to the repo market had been hampered. The overnight reverse repurchase (ON RRP) operations that started in late 2013 contributed to stronger co-movement among overnight funding rates and markedly reduced their volatility. The change in the FDIC assessment fees and Basel III leverage ratio regulations have exacerbated financial-reporting-day effects in unsecured markets. In contrast, consistent with lower dealer leverage in the post-crisis period, such effects have weakened in the repo market, especially after the inception of the ON RRP facility. Finally, superabundant bank reserves appear to have significantly diminished the effects of reserve-maintenance on the money market rates.
Cambio climático y agricultura: una revisión de la literatura con énfasis en América Latina
Authors: López Feldman Alejandro J. , Hernández Cortés Danae
Published: October 2016

El incremento en la concentración de gases de efecto invernadero es tal que parece inevitable que se presenten cambios en el clima, los cuales forzarán al sector agrícola a tomar medidas de adaptación. Sin embargo, las capacidades de adaptación son limitadas y por lo tanto es muy probable que el cambio climático afecte la disponibilidad y acceso a alimentos e incremente la volatilidad de los precios. En este artículo se presenta una síntesis de la evidencia de los efectos del cambio climático sobre el sector, con énfasis en América Latina. La revisión deja en claro que los efectos serán heterogéneos y que además pueden ser sumamente cuantiosos. Resulta entonces necesario contar con políticas públicas enfocadas en la mitigación de los gases de efecto invernadero, promoviendo al mismo tiempo la adaptación ante el cambio climático. El artículo concluye con algunas consideraciones sobre temaspara investigación futura que puedan contribuir al diseño de dichas políticas públicas.
How terroir affects bunch uniformity, ripening and berry composition in Vitis vinifera cvs. Carignan and Grenache
Authors: Edo-Roca Maite , Nadal Montse , Lampreave Míriam
Published: October 2016

Aims: Vineyards from early and late terroir were evaluated during ripening to determine optimal grape composition, with special emphasis on bunch uniformity.

Methods and results: Four treatments were studied over three years : Carignan and Grenache in two terroir, early and late. Samples were divided into two parts (top and bottom half of the bunch) in order to determine berry weight, sugar content, titratable acidity, total and extractable anthocyanins, total phenols, and seed maturity. The results showed bunch uniformity in Carignan. The kinetics of berry maturity generally showed a straight line pattern in Grenache while in Carignan it varied. For both cultivars, berry weight and yield were higher in the late parcel, whereas anthocyanins were more concentrated in the early terroir.

Conclusion: Pulp maturity is less influenced by the terroir effect than phenolic maturity. Vintage or terroir affect Carignan more consistently than Grenache. Carignan does not achieve complete phenolic ripeness in the late mesoclimate. In warm years, Grenache grapes should be gathered as soon as the pulp reaches the optimal sugar level because the accumulation of anthocyanins does not improve when the harvest is delayed beyond that point.

Significance and impact of the study: The evaluation of phenolic maturity in relation to terroir and bunch uniformity contributes to defining ideal harvest time and optimizing winery management.
Qualitative composition and extractability of grape skin tannins during the ripening period. Role of the extraction solvent
Authors: Bautista-Ortín Ana Belén , Busse-Valverde Naiara , Rodriguez-Rodriguez Pedro , Jimenez-Pascual Estefanía , Gil-Muñoz Rocío , Gómez-Plaza Encarnación
Published: October 2016

Aims: The changes that skin tannins undergo during ripening, which are crucial for their extractability and transfer to wine, were followed in Monastrell grape skins. To elucidate whether the commonly used analytical method involving extraction with 70 % acetone overestimates the quantity of tannins that could be extracted during the winemaking process, the extraction with aqueous 12.5 % ethanol was also monitored throughout the ripening period.

Methods and results: When 70 % acetone was used as extraction solvent, the results showed that skin tannin concentration decreased towards maturity. When tannins were extracted with 12.5 % ethanol, their concentration during the first part of maturation was much higher than that obtained with the acetone extraction. However, both methods gave similar quantitative results for the last sampling dates, although the mean degree of polymerization (mDP) of the extracted tannins was significantly lower using the ethanol method.

Conclusions: The acetone method provides, for ripe grapes, an accurate prediction of what may be quantitatively extracted by a fermenting medium, although it overestimates the tannin mDP.

Significance and impact of the study: The structural composition of tannins (and not only their concentration) might be essential for defining the sensorial characteristics of the wine and the differences observed in tannin mDP between the acetone and the ethanol method may be of importance when predicting wine organoleptic characteristics.
HERMENÊUTICA FILOSÓFICA UMA CONFIGURAÇÃO ENTRE A AMIZADE ARISTOTÉLICA E A DIALÉTICA DIALÓGICA
Authors: Rohden Luiz
Published: October 2016

Neste artigo pretendemos mostrar, por um lado, alguns aspectos da hermenêutica  filosófica desenvolvida por Hans-Georg Gadamer. Optamos aqui pela explicitação do diálogo enquanto o modo mais próprio da hermenêutica efetivar-se. Para tanto, desenvolveremos algumas exigências e condições intrínsecas ao diálogo hermenêutico, o que nos permite reformular e ampliar a concepção hegeliana de dialética sintética. Eis porque a dialética, a partir da hermenêutica gadameriana, passa a ser denominada de dialógica. Por outro lado, mostraremos a proximidade e o vínculo existente entre a hermenêutica e a ética aristotélica no que diz respeito à concepção aristotélica de amizade. Revisitaremos esta concepção com o intuito de mostrar que nela estão reunidos e justificados os principais pressupostos da postura hermenêutica. Além disso, a imbricação entre a dialética dialógica gadameriana e a concepção de amizade em Aristóteles, mostra-se não só fecunda e atual do ponto de vista ético-político, mas necessária para filosofar hoje.Abstract: This article discusses some aspects of the hermeneutical philosophy developed by Hans-Georg Gadamer. The author chose dialogue as the most genuine way for hermeneutics to be put into effect. For that purpose, he develops some demands and intrinsic conditions of the hermeneutical dialogue, which allows him to revise and broaden the Hegelian view of  synthetic dialectics. This is why dialectics is called dialogical dialectics on the basis of  adamer’s hermeneutics. On the other hand, the article shows the proximity and bond that exists between hermeneutics and Aristotle’s ethics, particularly Aristotle’s view of friendship. It takes anew this view in order to demonstrate that it brings together and justifies the main assumptions of the hermeneutical attitude. Furthermore, the overlapping between Gadamer’s dialogical dialectics and Aristotle’s view of friendship proves to be not only fruitful and up-to-date – when it is understood within an ethical-political project – but also necessary to make philosophy today.
MANIPULAÇÃO GENÉTICA E A CRISE DA IDENTIDADE MODERNA: TAYLOR, DENNETT E O “NATURALISMO TARDIO”
Authors: Fonseca José Sérgio Duarte da
Published: October 2016

: No presente artigo partirei das teses de Charles Taylor sobre a necessária vinculação entre a identidade humana e a objetividade do bem para criticar o que chamarei de “naturalismo tardio” e sua “definição fraca” de ser humano, instanciado aqui pela tentativa de naturalização da ética proposta por Daniel Dennett. Defenderei a tese de que a inarticulação do “naturalismo tardio” oculta uma contradição que, juntamente com a possibilidade técnica da revisão eugênica do genoma humano, produz uma crise de nossa identidade moderna, permitindo assim a constituição lenta e gradual de uma sociedade “biocrática” de moldes pré-modernos.Abstract: In this paper I argue that Charles Taylor‘s theses on the necessary relation between human identity and the objectivity of the Good can be used as the basis to criticize what I call “late naturalism” and its “weak definition” of human being, exemplified here by the attempt of naturalization of ethics proposed by Daniel Dennett. I argue that the inarticulation of “late naturalism” hides a contradiction, which, in connection with the technical possibility of the eugenic revision of human genome, produces a crisis in our modern identity, allowing, in this way, a gradual and slow constitution of a “biocratic” society of a pre-modern kind.
TEORIA DA JUSTIÇA EM ALEXANDRE KOJÈVE
Authors: Bavaresco Agemir
Published: October 2016

A Teoria da Justiça em Alexandre Kojève, apresentada no trabalho, segundo a sua obra Esboço de uma Fenomenologia do Direito, tem no desejo antropogênico o estatuto básico para a constituição do reconhecimento intersubjetivo que é um processo dialético, baseado na figura do senhor e do escravo da Fenomenologia do Espírito de Hegel. Da luta pelo reconhecimento, portanto, da intersubjetividade, resultará a relação jurídica arbitrada por um terceiro imparcial. Considerando que o modelo metodológico hegelo-kojèviano é pertinente para compreender o fenômeno jurídico, em que medida este método e estatuto teórico-prático contribuem para a superação do Direito moderno, centrado na garantia subjetiva dos direitos fundamentais? Posto este problema, tem-se como objetivo, apresentar a teoria kojèviana da justiça como um pressuposto epistemológico plausível para uma hermenêutica jusfilosófica de viés intersubjetivo. Para Kojève, o Direito é a aplicação de um ideal de justiça às interações sociais dadas, conforme os modelos de Direito, determinando-se dialeticamente assim: O escravo renuncia, inicialmente, à igualdade aceitando a equivalência; o senhor não considera a equivalência, mantendo a igualdade. Depois, a dialética do senhor e do escravo alcança a cidadania, através da dialética entre o Direito aristocrático e burguês, levando, enfim, ao Direito sintético do cidadão.Abstract: This paper focuses on the Theory of Justice in Alexander Kojève as it is presented in Kojève’s Sketch for a Phenomenology of Right . Anthropogenical desire is the basic statute for the constitution of intersubjective recognition, a dialectical process based on the master and slave relationship in Hegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit. It is from the fight for recognition, therefore from intersubjectivity, that the juridical relation mediated by an impartial third party arises. Considering that the methodological hegelo-kojèvian model is appropriate for understanding the juridical model, to what extent does this method and theoretical-practical statute contribute to the overcoming of modern Law and its evolution toward communitarianist intersubjective Law? Taking this into account, the aim of this work is to present Kojève’s theory of justice as a reasonable epistemological presupposition for a jus-philosophical hermeneutics of an intersubjective kind. For Kojève, the Law is the application of an ideal of justice to given social interactions, according to legal patterns that are dialectically determined as follows: initially, the slave renounces equality and accepts equivalence; the master does not consider equivalence and maintains equality. Afterwards, the master-slave dialectic reaches citizenship through the dialectic between aristocratic and bourgeois Law, eventually leading to the citizens’ synthetic Law.
Conformational Flexibility and the Interaction of Huperzine A in the Active Site of Acetylcholinesterase: A Quantum Chemical and Charge Density Study
Authors: Azhagesan Renuga Parameswari , Kandasamy Saravanan , Poomani Kumaradhas
Published: October 2016

Huperzine A is an herbal reversible inhibitor of Acetylcholinesterase (AChE). A molecular docking analysis on Huperzine A molecule has been carried out to understand its structure, conformational flexibility, intermolecular interaction and the binding affinity in the active site of AChE enzyme. Further, the charge density distribution of huperzine A molecule (lifted from the active site of AChE) was determined from the high level quantum chemical calculations coupled with charge density analysis. The binding affinity of Huperzine A towards AChE was calculated from the molecular docking; the lowest docked energy is -8.46 kcal/mol. In the active site, huperzine A molecule interacts with acyl binding pocket-Phe330 of AChE, that is, the bicyclo ring group of huperzine A forms an intermolecular interaction with the oxygen atom of main chain of the amino acid residue Phe330 at the distances 3.02 and 3.25 Å respectively. On the other hand, a gas phase study on huperzine A molecule also performed using HF and DFT (B3LYP) methods with the basis set 6-311G**. The molecular structure, conformation, and the charge density distribution of huperzine A molecule in the gas phase have determined using quantum chemical calculations and the charge density analysis. The comparative studies between the gas phase and the active site forms of huperzine A molecule, explicitly reveals the degree of conformational modification and the charge density redistribution of huperzine A when present in the active site. The dipole moment of the molecule in the active site is 6.85 D, which is slightly higher than its gas phase value (5.91 D). The electrostatic potential (ESP) surface of active site molecule clearly shows the strong electronegative and positive ESP regions of the molecule, which are the expected strong reactive locations of the molecule.
Analysis of Inflection and Singular Points on Parametric Curve with a Shape Factor
Authors: Liu Zhi , Li Chen , Tan Jieqing , Chen Xiaoyan
Published: October 2016

The features of a class of cubic curves with a shape factor are analyzed by means of the theory of envelope and topological mapping. The effects of the shape factor on the cubic curves are made clear. Necessary and sufficient conditions are derived for the curve to have one or two inflection points, a loop or a cusp, or to be locally or globally convex. Those conditions are completely characterized by the relative position of the edge vectors of the control polygon and the shape factor. The results are summarized in a shape diagram, which is useful when the cubic parametric curves are used for geometric modeling. Furthermore we discussed the influences of the shape factor on the shape diagram and the ability for adjusting the shape of the curve.
Reduction of Quantization Error in Multirate Output Feedback Control
Authors: Sato Takao ,   University of Hyogo, Sakaguchi Hironobu , Araki Nozomu , Konishi Yasuo
Published: October 2016

[abstFig src='/00280005/04.jpg' width='250' text='Multirate output feedback control' ] In the new design method we propose for a multirate output feedback control system, the hold interval of control input is longer than the sampling interval of plant output. In this system, unknown state variables are calculated using control input and plant output without observers. The multirate output feedback control system has been extended by introducing new design parameters that are designed independent of the calculation of the state variable. To our knowledge, however, no systematic design scheme has ever been proposed for design parameters in this case. In this study, quantization error is dealt with statistically and design parameters are decided to minimize quantization error.
Adaptive Combustion Control System Design of Diesel Engine via ASPR Based Adaptive Output Feedback with a PFC
Authors: Mizumoto Ikuro ,   Department of Intelligent Mechanical Systems, Kumamoto University, Fujii Seiya , Tsunematsu Jyunpei
Published: October 2016

[abstFig src='/00280005/07.jpg' width='300' text='Adaptive engine combustion control system' ] This paper deals with a combustion control system design problem of diesel engine. For a combustion model of diesel engine, which has been provided for on-board control, an adaptive control system based on an adaptive output feedback control with a simple adaptive feedforward input will be proposed based on the “almost strictly positive real-ness” (ASPR-ness) of the controlled system. A simple parallel feedforward compensator (PFC) design scheme, which renders the resulting augmented controlled system ASPR, will also be proposed based on basic combustion model properties to design stable adaptive control system for the diesel engine combustion control. The effectiveness of our proposal is confirmed through numerical simulation.
Meaningful Thresholds for the Volume-Outcome Relationship in Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Wilson Sean , Marx Robert G. , Pan Ting-Jung , Lyman Stephen
Published: October 2016

Background:

Increasing evidence supports the finding that patients undergoing a total knee arthroplasty with high-volume physicians and hospitals achieve better outcomes. Unfortunately, the existing definitions for high-volume surgeons and hospitals are highly variable and entirely arbitrary. The aim of this study was to identify a set of meaningful hospital and surgeon total knee arthroplasty volume thresholds.

Methods:

Using 289,976 patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty from an administrative database, we applied stratum-specific likelihood ratio (SSLR) analysis of a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to generate sets of volume thresholds most predictive of adverse outcomes. The outcomes considered for surgeon volume included 90-day complication and 2-year revision. For hospital volume, we considered 90-day complications and 90-day mortality.

Results:

SSLR analysis of the ROC curves for 90-day complication and 2-year revision rates by surgeon volume identified four volume categories: 0 to 12, 13 to 59, 60 to 145, and ≥146 total knee arthroplasties per year. Complication rates decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in progressively higher-volume categories. Revision rates followed a similar pattern, but did not decrease between surgeons performing 60 to 145 arthroplasties per year and those performing ≥146 arthroplasties per year. SSLR analysis of 90-day complication and 90-day mortality rates by hospital volume also identified four volume categories: 0 to 89, 90 to 235, 236 to 644, and ≥645 total knee arthroplasties per year. Complication rates decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in progressively higher-volume categories, but the rates did not decrease between hospitals performing 236 to 644 arthroplasties per year and those performing ≥645 arthroplasties per year. Mortality rates for hospitals with ≥645 total knee arthroplasties per year were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those below the threshold.

Conclusions:

Our study supports the use of SSLR analysis of ROC curves for risk-based volume stratification in total knee arthroplasty volume-outcomes research. SSLR analysis established meaningful volume definitions for low, medium, high, and very high-volume total knee arthroplasty surgeons and hospitals. This should help patients, surgeons, hospitals, and policymakers to make decisions with regard to the optimal delivery of total knee arthroplasty.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Safety and Outcomes of Inpatient Compared with Outpatient Surgical Procedures for Ankle Fractures
Authors: Qin Charles , Dekker Robert G. , Blough Jordan T. , Kadakia Anish R.
Published: October 2016

Background:

As the cost of health-care delivery rises in the era of bundled payments for care, there is an impetus toward minimizing hospitalization. Evidence to support the safety of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of ankle fractures in the outpatient setting is largely anecdotal.

Methods:

Patients who underwent ORIF from 2005 to 2013 were identified via postoperative diagnoses of ankle fracture and Current Procedural Terminology codes; patients with open fractures and patients who were emergency cases were excluded. Patients undergoing inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures were propensity score-matched to reduce differences in the baseline characteristics. Primary tracked outcomes included medical and surgical complications, readmission, and reoperation within 30 days of the procedure. Binary logistic regression models were created that determined the risk-adjusted relationship between admission status and primary outcomes.

Results:

Outpatient surgical procedures were associated with lower rates of urinary tract infection (0.4% compared with 0.9%; p = 0.041), pneumonia (0.0% compared with 0.5%; p = 0.002), venous thromboembolic events (0.3% compared with 0.8%; p = 0.049), and bleeding requiring transfusion (0.1% compared with 0.6%; p = 0.012). Outpatient status was independently associated with reduced 30-day medical morbidity (odds ratio, 0.344 [95% confidence interval, 0.201 to 0.589]). No significant differences were uncovered with respect to surgical complications (p = 0.076), unplanned reoperations (p = 0.301), and unplanned readmissions (p = 0.358).

Conclusions:

In patients with closed fractures and minimal comorbidities, outpatient ORIF was associated with reduced risk of select 30-day medical morbidity and no difference in surgical morbidity, reoperations, and readmissions relative to inpatient. Factors unaccounted for when creating matched cohorts may impact our results. Our findings lend reassurance to surgeons who defer admission for low-risk patients.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Water governance in India and China: comparison of water law, policy and administration
Authors: Araral Eduardo , Ratra Shivani
Published: October 2016

We compare water governance between China and India in terms of water laws, policies and administration based on a survey of 182 water experts from 19 provinces/states. We find that water governance in China is consistently stronger compared with India across 17 indicators of water governance. We speculate that these variations could be attributed to differences in political, legal and administrative systems as well as levels of economic development and political system.
Dual-acting of Hybrid Compounds - A New Dawn in the Discovery of Multi-target Drugs: Lead Generation Approaches
Authors: Abdolmaleki Azizeh , Ghasemi Jahan B.
Published: October 2016

Finding high quality beginning compounds is a critical job at the start of the lead generation
stage for multi-target drug discovery (MTDD). Designing hybrid compounds as selective multitarget
chemical entity is a challenge, opportunity, and new idea to better act against specific multiple
targets. One hybrid molecule is formed by two (or more) pharmacophore group’s participation. So,
these new compounds often exhibit two or more activities going about as multi-target drugs (mtdrugs)
and may have superior safety or efficacy. Application of integrating a range of information and
sophisticated new in silico, bioinformatics, structural biology, pharmacogenomics methods may be
useful to discover/design, and synthesis of the new hybrid molecules. In this regard, many rational
and screening approaches have followed by medicinal chemists for the lead generation in MTDD.
Here, we review some popular lead generation approaches that have been used for designing multiple
ligands (DMLs). This paper focuses on dual- acting chemical entities that incorporate a part of two
drugs or bioactive compounds to compose hybrid molecules. Also, it presents some of key concepts
and limitations/strengths of lead generation methods by comparing combination framework method
with screening approaches. Besides, a number of examples to represent applications of hybrid molecules
in the drug discovery are included.
Experimental Study on Mechanical and Degradation Characteristics of Crushed Rock Aggregate
Authors: Wang Pengcheng , Liu Jiankun , Tian Zeye , Li Xu
Published: October 2016

Particle breakage of crushed rock aggregate (CRA), especially uniformly graded CRA, can always be observed under different loading conditions. The degradation process will greatly influence the mechanical response. A large-scale direct shear system was used to investigate the mechanical and degradation behavior of five gradations of CRA (four uniformly graded and one well graded). The index of Hardin’s relative breakage potential was used to evaluate the breakage state of the four gradations of the uniformly graded CRA. The relationship between particle breakage and mechanical behavior was also evaluated. The results indicate that the shear strength of CRA increased obviously with normal stress; volumetric dilation was always observed after the initial contraction; smaller normal stress always led to larger dilation as well as a lower amount of contraction; and the shear strength and compression displacement under the same normal stress increased with particle size. Larger vertical pressure always produced more breakage, and the largest content increment always happened in the secondary sieve size, followed by the smaller sieve size. Compared with the breakage index, the relative breakage potential was better for evaluating the degradation of the uniformly graded CRA; the degradation resulted in a decrease in the peak stress ratio, peak friction angle, peak compression displacement, and peak dilation angle, which all can be linearly fitted with the relative breakage potential.
Use of Oedometer Equipped with High-Suction Tensiometer to Characterize Unsaturated Soils
Authors: Zhang Xiong , Lu Haijun , Li Lin
Published: October 2016

Suction-controlled triaxial tests have been used extensively to characterize unsaturated soils. However, this type of tests requires sophisticated and therefore expensive equipment and is very time-consuming. These limitations have been the main obstacles for research, dissemination, and implementation of unsaturated soil mechanics in engineering practice. Compared with the suction-controlled triaxial test apparatus, an oedometer for saturated soils is much simpler. It is 300 to 400 times more efficient to run a constant water content oedometer test for unsaturated soils than a suction-controlled triaxial test. The major disadvantage of the constant water content oedometer test is that its stress path is difficult to analyze and no method is available to take advantage of the test results for constitutive modeling purposes. In this paper, a conventional oedometer for saturated soils was modified to characterize unsaturated soils under constant water content compression. An analysis method was also developed to use the results directly from constant water content oedometer tests for constitutive modeling. A series of constant water content oedometer tests was used to demonstrate the application of the proposed method from which the capability and the effectiveness of the proposed developments were evaluated. With developments in equipment and analysis, it is now possible to characterize unsaturated soils rapidly in a simple and efficient way.
Correlation of Consolidation Parameters of Cohesive Soils with Piezocone Penetration Test Data
Authors: Abu-Farsakh Murad Y. , Pant Rohit Raj , Haque M. Nafiul
Published: October 2016

This paper presents an evaluation of the piezocone penetration test (PCPT) interpretation methods and the development of new correlation methods for reasonably estimating the consolidation parameters of cohesive soils, namely, the constrained modulus and overconsolidation ratio (OCR). Laboratory and in situ PCPT test data collected from seven sites in Louisiana were used in this study. Shelby tube samples were collected and used to evaluate the consolidation properties in a laboratory. Statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate the current interpretation methods and to explore new correlations. The results of this study showed that the PCPT data can be reasonably implemented to calculate the constrained modulus and OCR of cohesive soils. Backcalculated constrained modulus and OCR parameters from field measurements are in close agreement with PCPT-derived values.
SEED PRODUCTION FEASIBILITY STUDY ON SELECTED APPROVED RICE (Oryza sativa L.) HYBRID VARIETIES
Authors: Islam M. R. , Mian M. A. K. , Ali M. S.
Published: October 2016

The seed production feasibility of approved hybrid varieties of rice were assessed using 15 commercially approved varieties comprising four public hybrids. Higher seed yield potentiality and earliness in maturity were the two most important indicators for popularizing hybrid rice variety in Bangladesh. The field performance of the approved hybrid rice varieties were found to vary significantly for different traits. Maximum outcrossing potential was observed in SL08HA followed by BRRI hybrid dhan2A but F1 seed yield per plant was the highest in BRRI hybrid dhan3A due to its high tillering ability followed by BRRI hybrid dhan2A, ACI1A and Heera2A. Among the tested entries F1 seed production potentiality of BRRI hybrid dhan3A was maximum indicated its commercial prospect of large scale seed production. Public bred hybrid BRRI hybrid dhan3 and BRRI hybrid dhan2 has immense potentiality for large scale commercialization but BRRI should ensure the quality of parental lines seed as well as supply sufficient amount of seeds according to the demand. Private company hybrids ACI1H and Heera2H have good commercial prospects but seed production under Bangladesh conditions needs to be fine tune.
Chemical Analysis of Extracts from Newfoundland Berries and Potential Neuroprotective Effects
Authors: Hossain Mohammad , Shea Emily , Daneshtalab Mohsen , Weber John
Published: October 2016

Various species of berries have been reported to contain several polyphenolic compounds, such as anthocyanins and flavonols, which are known to possess high antioxidant activity and may be beneficial for human health. To our knowledge, a thorough chemical analysis of polyphenolics in species of these plants native to Newfoundland, Canada has not been conducted. The primary objective of this study was to determine the polyphenolic compounds present in commercial extracts from Newfoundland berries, which included blueberries (V. angustifolium), lingonberries (V. vitis-idaea) and black currant (Ribes lacustre). Anthocyanin and flavonol glycosides in powdered extracts from Ribes lacustre and the Vaccinium species were identified using the high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) separation method with mass spectrometric (MS) detection. The identified compounds were extracted from dried berries by various solvents via ultrasonication followed by centrifugation. A reverse-phase analytical column was employed to identify the retention time of each chemical component before submission for LC–MS analysis. A total of 21 phenolic compounds were tentatively identified in the three species. Further, we tested the effects of the lingonberry extract for its ability to protect neurons and glia from trauma utilizing an in vitro model of cell injury. Surprisingly, these extracts provided complete protection from cell death in this model. These findings indicate the presence of a wide variety of anthocyanins and flavonols in berries that grow natively in Newfoundland. These powdered extracts maintain these compounds intact despite being processed from berry fruit, indicating their potential use as dietary supplements. In addition, these recent findings and previous data from our lab demonstrate the ability of compounds in berries to protect the nervous system from traumatic insults.
Characteristics of the Nonoccurrence of Tropical Cyclones in the Western North Pacific in August 2014
Authors: Choi Jae-Won , Cha Yumi , Kim Jeoung-Yun
Published: October 2016

This study identified the causes of the nonoccurrence of tropical cyclones (TCs) in August 2014 by examining large-scale environments. First, over the previous 30 years, the TC genesis frequency in August showed an overall statistically significant decline. In the tropical and subtropical western Pacific, the outgoing longwave radiation anomaly index also exhibited an overall increase until recently. Regarding precipitable water and precipitation, an analysis was performed on the difference between the mean values for August 2014 and the mean values for August over the previous 30 years. As a result, while convective activities were suppressed in the tropical and subtropical western Pacific, convective activities were strong in the mid-latitudes of East Asia. This indicates that while the western North Pacific summer monsoon was weakened in August 2014, the East Asian summer monsoon was strengthened. The weakening of the western North Pacific summer monsoon may have made it difficult for TCs to occur. An analysis of 850 hPa and 500 hPa stream flows showed the strengthening of anomalous huge anticyclonic circulations in the tropical and subtropical western Pacific, whereas anomalously cyclonic circulations were reinforced in the mid-latitudes of East Asia. This was associated with the result that the western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) showed further westward and southward expansion in August 2014 compared to the climatological mean WNPSH. Therefore, TCs were unlikely to occur in the tropical and subtropical western Pacific, but anomalous cold northerlies and anomalous warm southerlies converged in the Japanese Islands after originating in China’s central region and passing the East China Sea. Therefore, a favorable environment for the occurrence of precipitation had been formed.
Impact of Tidal Level Variations on Wave Energy Absorption at Wave Hub
Authors: Castellucci Valeria , Eriksson Mikael , Waters Rafael
Published: October 2016

The energy absorption of the wave energy converters (WEC) characterized by a limited stroke length —like the point absorbers developed at Uppsala University—depends on the sea level variation at the deployment site. In coastal areas characterized by high tidal ranges, the daily energy production of the generators is not optimal. The study presented in this paper quantifies the effects of the changing sea level at the Wave Hub test site, located at the south-west coast of England. This area is strongly affected by tides: the tidal height calculated as the difference between the Mean High Water Spring and the Mean Low Water Spring in 2014 was about 6.6 m. The results are obtained from a hydro-mechanic model that analyzes the behaviour of the point absorber at the Wave Hub, taking into account the sea state occurrence scatter diagram and the tidal time series at the site. It turns out that the impact of the tide decreases the energy absorption by 53%. For this reason, the need for a tidal compensation system to be included in the design of the WEC becomes compelling. The economic advantages are evaluated for different scenarios: the economic analysis proposed within the paper allows an educated guess to be made on the profits. The alternative of extending the stroke length of the WEC is investigated, and the gain in energy absorption is estimated.
The Association of Ideal Cardiovascular Health and Atherogenic Index of Plasma in Rural Population: A Cross-Sectional Study from Northeast China
Authors: Chang Ye , Li Yuan , Guo Xiaofan , Dai Dongxue , Sun Yingxian
Published: October 2016

In 2010, the American Heart Association has proposed a new concept “ideal cardiovascular health” (CVH) based on seven CVH metrics: smoking, body mass index, physical activity, diet score, total cholesterol, blood pressure, and fasting plasma glucose. We aimed to determine the association of CVH with atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), a strong marker for atherosclerosis (AS). This cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural areas of northeast China and 11,113 middle-aged subjects were enrolled. Seven CVH metrics were classified into ideal, intermediate, and poor groups. AIP was calculated as log (TG/HDL) (triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). AIP > 0.21 was classified into the high AIP group and served as dependent variable. All seven CVH metrics were correlated with AIP. A gradient relationship between the number of poor CVH metrics and the prevalence of high AIP existed. Log binomial regression analysis showed that compared to those with five to seven ideal CVH metrics, individuals with four, three, two, one, and no ideal CVH metrics had 1.67, 2.66, 4.00, 5.30 and 6.50 times higher prevalence for high AIP. The subjects with poor CVH status had 2.73 times higher prevalence for high AIP. We found an inversely gradient relationship between the number of ideal CVH metrics and lower prevalence of high AIP.
A Novel Nanohybrid Nanofibrous Adsorbent for Water Purification from Dye Pollutants
Authors: Homaeigohar Shahin , Zillohu Ahnaf , Abdelaziz Ramzy , Hedayati Mehdi , Elbahri Mady
Published: October 2016

In this study, we devised a novel nanofibrous adsorbent made of polyethersulfone (PES) for removal of methylene blue (MB) dye pollutant from water. The polymer shows a low isoelectric point thus at elevated pHs and, being nanofibrous, can offer a huge highly hydroxylated surface area for adsorption of cationic MB molecules. As an extra challenge, to augment the adsorbent’s properties in terms of adsorption capacity in neutral and acidic conditions and thermal stability, vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) nanoparticles were added to the nanofibers. Adsorption data were analyzed according to the Freundlich adsorption model. The thermodynamic parameters verified that only at basic pH is the adsorption spontaneous and in general the process is entropy-driven and endothermic. The kinetics of the adsorption process was evaluated by the pseudo-first- and pseudo-second-order models. The latter model exhibited the highest correlation with data. In sum, the adsorbent showed a promising potential for dye removal from industrial dyeing wastewater systems, especially when envisaging their alkaline and hot conditions.
Synthesis and Characterization of N-Doped Porous TiO2 Hollow Spheres and Their Photocatalytic and Optical Properties
Authors: Li Hongliang , Liu Hui , Fu Aiping , Wu Guanglei , Xu Man , Pang Guangsheng , Guo Peizhi , Liu Jingquan , Zhao Xiu
Published: October 2016

Three kinds of N-doped mesoporous TiO2 hollow spheres with different N-doping contents, surface area, and pore size distributions were prepared based on a sol–gel synthesis and combined with a calcination process. Melamine formaldehyde (MF) microspheres have been used as sacrificial template and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was selected as pore-directing agent. Core–shell intermediate spheres of titania-coated MF with diameters of 1.2–1.6 μm were fabricated by varying the volume concentration of TiO2 precursor from 1 to 3 vol %. By calcining the core–shell composite spheres at 500 °C for 3 h in air, an in situ N-doping process occurred upon the decomposition of the MF template and CTAB or PVP pore-directing surfactant. N-doped mesoporous TiO2 hollow spheres with sizes in the range of 0.4–1.2 μm and shell thickness from 40 to 110 nm were obtained. The composition and N-doping content, thermal stability, morphology, surface area and pore size distribution, wall thickness, photocatalytic activities, and optical properties of the mesoporous TiO2 hollow spheres derived from different conditions were investigated and compared based on Fourier-transformation infrared (FTIR), SEM, TEM, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), nitrogen adsorption–desorption, and UV–vis spectrophotoscopy techniques. The influences of particle size, N-doping, porous, and hollow characteristics of the TiO2 hollow spheres on their photocatalytic activities and optical properties have been studied and discussed based on the composition analysis, structure characterization, and optical property investigation of these hollow spherical TiO2 matrices.
Flexural Capability of Patterned Transparent Conductive Substrate by Performing Electrical Measurements and Stress Simulations
Authors: Lee Chang-Chun , Huang Pei-Chen , Wang Ko-Shun
Published: October 2016

The suitability of stacked thin films for next-generation display technology was analyzed based on their properties and geometrical designs to evaluate the mechanical reliability of transparent conducting thin films utilized in flexural displays. In general, the high bending stress induced by various operation conditions is a major concern regarding the mechanical reliability of indium–tin–oxide (ITO) films deposited on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates; mechanical reliability is commonly used to estimate the flexibility of displays. However, the pattern effect is rarely investigated to estimate the mechanical reliability of ITO/PET films. Thus, this study examined the flexible content of patterned ITO/PET films with two different line widths by conducting bending tests and sheet resistance measurements. Moreover, a stress–strain simulation enabled by finite element analysis was performed on the patterned ITO/PET to explore the stress impact of stacked film structures under various levels of flexural load. Results show that the design of the ITO/PET film can be applied in developing mechanically reliable flexible electronics.
A Fracture Analysis of Ti-10Mo-8V-1Fe-3.5Al Alloy Screws during Assembly
Authors: Zhang Weifang , Huang Yuanxing , Dai Wei , Jin Xiaoshuai , Yin Chang
Published: October 2016

Titanium screws have properties that make them ideal for applications that require both a high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance, such as fastener applications for aviation and aerospace. The fracture behavior of Ti-10Mo-8V-1Fe-3.5Al (TB3) alloy screws during assembly was explored. Besides visual examination, other experimental techniques used for the investigation are as follows: (1) fracture characteristics and damage morphology via scanning electron microscopy (SEM); (2) chemical constituents via energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and hydrogen concentration testing; (3) metallographic observation; (4) stress durability embrittlement testing; and (5) torsion simulation testing. Results show that the fracture mode of the screws is brittle. There is no obvious relation to hydrogen-induced brittle. The main reason for the fracture of titanium alloy screws is internal defects, around which oxygen content is high, increasing brittleness. The internal defects of screws result from grain boundary cracking caused by hot forging.
Porous Alpha-Tricalcium Phosphate with Immobilized Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Enhances Bone Regeneration in a Canine Mandibular Bone Defect Model
Authors: Kobayashi Nobuhiro , Hashimoto Yoshiya , Otaka Akihisa , Yamaoka Tetsuji , Morita Shosuke
Published: October 2016

The effect of porous alpha-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) with immobilized basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on bone regeneration was evaluated in a canine mandibular bone defect model. Identical bone defects were made in the canine mandible; six defects in each animal were filled with porous α-TCP with bFGF bound via heparin (bFGF group), whereas the other was filled with unmodified porous α-TCP (control group). Micro-computed tomography and histological evaluation were performed two, four and eight weeks after implantation. The bone mineral density of the bFGF group was higher than that of the control group at each time point (p < 0.05), and the bone mineral content of the bFGF group was higher than that of the control group at four and eight weeks (p < 0.05). Histological evaluation two weeks after implantation revealed that the porous α-TCP had degraded and bone had formed on the surface of α-TCP particles in the bFGF group. At eight weeks, continuous cortical bone with a Haversian structure covered the top of bone defects in the bFGF group. These findings demonstrate that porous α-TCP with immobilized bFGF can promote bone regeneration.
Is Hypovitaminosis D Associated with Stress Perception in the Elderly? A Nationwide Representative Study in Korea
Authors: Gwon Mieun , Tak Young , Kim Yun , Lee Sang , Lee Jeong , Jeong Dong , Yi Yu , Lee Seung , Hwang Hye , Lee Youngin
Published: October 2016

Hypovitaminosis D and stress are common problems among the elderly. The aim of this cross-sectional nationally representative study was to evaluate the association between hypovitaminosis D and stress perception using large-scale nationally representative data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2012–2013). In our study, a total of 1393 elders (≥65 years old) were included to evaluate the association between hypovitaminosis D and stress perception. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were determined using radioimmunoassay, and perceived stress status was assessed by a self-reporting questionnaire. The association between hypovitaminosis D and stress perception according to sex was examined using logistic regression analysis. After multivariate adjustment for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors and comorbidities, hypovitaminosis D was significantly associated with perceived stress (odds ratio, 2.73; 95% confidence interval, 1.10–6.77; p = 0.029) among women; however, this association was not significant among men. Hypovitaminosis D was a risk factor for higher stress perception in older Korean women. Even though the role of vitamin D in stress perception is still unclear, we suggest screening for hypovitaminosis D among the elderly.