bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) Observations of Titan 2004–2017
Authors: Nixon Conor A. , Ansty Todd M. , Lombardo Nicholas A. , Bjoraker Gordon L. , Achterberg Richard K. , Annex Andrew M. , Rice Malena , Romani Paul N. , Jennings Donald E. , Samuelson Robert E. , Anderson Carrie M. , Coustenis Athena , Bézard Bruno , Vinatier Sandrine , Lellouch Emmanuel , Courtin Regis , Teanby Nicholas A. , Cottini Valeria , Flasar F. Michael
Published: September 2019

From 2004 to 2017, the Cassini spacecraft orbited Saturn, completing 127 close flybys of its largest moon, Titan. Cassini’s Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS), one of 12 instruments carried on board, profiled Titan in the thermal infrared (7–1000 μm) throughout the entire 13 yr mission. CIRS observed on both targeted encounters (flybys) and more distant opportunities, collecting 8.4 million spectra from 837 individual Titan observations over 3633 hr. Observations of multiple types were made throughout the mission, building up a vast mosaic picture of Titan’s atmospheric state across spatial and temporal domains. This paper provides a guide to these observations, describing each type and chronicling its occurrences and global-seasonal coverage. The purpose is to provide a resource for future users of the CIRS data set, as well as those seeking to put existing CIRS publications into the overall context of the mission, and to facilitate future intercomparison of CIRS results with those of other Cassini instruments and ground-based observations.
Unprecedented Near-infrared Brightness and Variability of Sgr A*
Authors: Do Tuan , Witzel Gunther , Gautam Abhimat K. , Chen Zhuo , Ghez Andrea M. , Morris Mark R. , Becklin Eric E. , Ciurlo Anna , Hosek Matthew , Martinez Gregory D. , Matthews Keith , Sakai Shoko , Schödel Rainer
Published: September 2019

The electromagnetic counterpart to the Galactic center supermassive black hole, Sgr A*, has been observed in the near-infrared for over 20 yr and is known to be highly variable. We report new Keck Telescope observations showing that Sgr A* reached much brighter flux levels in 2019 than ever measured at near-infrared wavelengths. In the K′ band, Sgr A* reached flux levels of ∼6 mJy, twice the level of the previously observed peak flux from >13,000 measurements over 130 nights with the Very Large Telescope and Keck Telescopes. We also observe a factor of 75 change in flux over a 2 hr time span with no obvious color changes between 1.6 and 2.1 μm. The distribution of flux variations observed this year is also significantly different than the historical distribution. Using the most comprehensive statistical model published, the probability of a single night exhibiting peak flux levels observed this year, given historical Keck observations, is less than 0.3%. The probability of observing flux levels that are similar to all four nights of data in 2019 is less than 0.05%. This increase in brightness and variability may indicate a period of heightened activity from Sgr A* or a change in its accretion state. It may also indicate that the current model is not sufficient to model Sgr A* at high flux levels and should be updated. Potential physical origins of Sgr A*'s unprecedented brightness may be from changes in the accretion flow as a result of the star S0-2's closest passage to the black hole in 2018, or from a delayed reaction to the approach of the dusty object G2 in 2014. Additional multi-wavelength observations will be necessary to both monitor Sgr A* for potential state changes and to constrain the physical processes responsible for its current variability.
Predatory nematodes of the order Mononchida from riparian habitats in Bulgaria
Authors: Dipchikova Stela , Mladenov Aleksandar , Peneva Vlada , Lazarova Stela
Published: September 2019

The riparian zones represent habitats of high and specific biodiversity; however, historically they have been subject to intensive exploitation and most of them are drastically changed. Predatory nematodes are widespread terrestrial organisms and play an important role in biological regulation of litter/soil communities. Some preliminary results on the mononchid fauna in riparian habitats in South Bulgaria are presented. Thirty-four samples were collected from 29 localities with various vegetation types in three districts: Sofia, Smolyan and Burgas. Multiple core soil samples (3 per site) were collected from each habitat (15×15 m sampling site or along the river bank) around the roots of the dominant tree at a depth of 40–60 cm and from litter. The most intensively sampled plant tree was Salix spp. (11 samples) followed by Fraxinus spp. (8), Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. (6) and Ulmus spp. (3). Nematodes were isolated from 200 g of soil (by decanting and sieving method) and 10 g of litter (Baerman funnel method), fixed, dehydrated and mounted on permanent slides. More than 90% of all soil and litter samples contained at least one mononchid genus. Six genera: Prionchulus (Cobb, 1916) Wu and Hoeppli, 1929, Clarkus Jairajpuri, 1970, Mononchus Bastian, 1865 (fam. Mononchidae), Mylonchulus Cobb, 1916 (fam. Mylonchulidae), Miconchus Andrassy, 1958 and Anatonchus Cobb, 1916 (fam. Anatonchidae) were recovered. Prionchulus spp. prevailed in litter, occurring in half of the collected samples, while Mylonchulus spp. were most common in soil samples (35%). Representatives of Clarkus and rarely Mylonchulus occurred in both litter and soil. The highest diversity of mononchids (4 genera) was detected in the rhizosphere of Ulmus laevis Pall. along a small river in Strandzha Mt. Further morphological and molecular studies on populations and species identification are envisaged.
Diversity of Coomansus zschokkei-group (Nematoda, Mononchida) in Bulgaria
Authors: Mladenov Aleksandar , Elshishka Milka , Lazarova Stela , Lozanova Lyudmila , Radoslavov Georgi , Zdravkova Elena , Peneva Vlada
Published: September 2019

The genus Coomansus Jairajpuri & Khan, 1977 encompasses more than 30 species occuring in various habitats. The Coomansus zschokkei-group, characterized by a posterior position of the dorsal tooth, includes 11 species spread in the northern hemisphere: Europe (3 species), Asia (Far East, Korea, Japan – 8 species), North America (Costa Rica and USA – 1 species), which are reported from subalpine habitats and forests, but also freshwater lakes. So far, one species (C. zschokkei (Menzel, 1914)) was recorded from Bulgaria (Iliev and Ilieva 2019). During this study three undescribed species have been found from mountain areas of Bulgaria. These three closely related Coomansus species were studied using an integrative approach. Based on the dimensions of the buccal capsule and the posterior position of the dorsal tooth they are similar to C. zschokkei, C. cobbi (Eroshenko, 1975), C. mucronatus (Eroshenko, 1975) and C. simenensis (Kreis, 1924), but differ from them by a number of characters such as buccal capsule length, tail length, and lateral piece shape. Coomansus cf. menzeli Loof & Viniszewska-Slipińska, 1993 recovered from moss around birch tree at the Central Balkan Mountain is a new geographical record for Bulgaria. Phylogenetic analyses based on 18S and D2-D3 expansion domains of rRNA genes have been performed for the first time for members of Coomansus zschokkei-group. In both phylogenetic reconstructions, all Coomansus species with the exception of C. gerlachei (De Man, 1904) formed a monophyletic group with very high bootstrap support values. Speciation within the group seems to be related to glaciation and post-glaciation events in mountain areas.
Additions to the ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Maltese Islands
Authors: Mifsud David , Lapeva-Gjonova Albena
Published: September 2019

The Maltese Islands are situated in the Central Mediterranean basin having a total land area of c. 316 km2. A diverse ant fauna is present in this archipelago, which is increasingly threatened by habitat degradation and invasion of alien species. The myrmecofauna of the archipelago has received considerable attention by researchers since 1893, bringing the total number to 59 species (Gómez 2017, Salata and Borowiec 2018), 11 of which are non-native. Confirmation of some already reported species, e.g. Messor structor (Latreille, 1798), Tapinoma nigerrimum (Nylander, 1856), Tetramorium caespitum (Linnaeus, 1758), is required in the light of recent taxonomic changes.

Based on a critical literature review, older unpublished data (1995–1997) by one of us (DM), and newly collected ant material (mainly between 2015 and 2019) we provide an updated list of 70 ant species from the Maltese Islands. The specimens were collected by different techniques (e.g. direct sampling, sifting, MSS-traps, Malaise traps). Two ant species were recorded for the first time in the Maltese Islands and for five species we provide the first verified records. Seven morphospecies with unspecified taxonomic status were also collected and require further studies.
Survey on the singing cicadas (Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadoidea) of Bulgaria, including bioacoustics
Authors: Trilar Tomi , Gogala Matija , Gjonov Ilia
Published: September 2019

The singing cicadas (Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadoidea) of Bulgaria remain poorly known. There are published records for 14 species (Arabadzhiev 1963, Barjamova 1976, Barjamova 1978, Barjamova 1990, Dirimanov and Harizanov 1965, Dlabola 1955, Gogala et al. 2005, Háva 2016, Janković 1971, Nast 1972, Nast 1987, Nedyalkov 1908, Pelov 1968, Yoakimov 1909):Lyristes plebejus,Cicada orni,Cicadatra atra,C. hyalina,C. persica,Cicadetta montana,C. mediterranea,Oligoglena tibialis,Tympanistalna gastrica,Pagiphora annulata,Dimissalna dimissa,Saticula coriaria,Tibicina haematodesandT. steveni. Two species from this list should be excluded from the list of Bulgarian cicadas, sinceT. gastricais distributed in central and southern Portugal (Sueur et al. 2004) andS. coriariais a north African species (Boulard 1981).

We checked three major institutional collections housed in Sofia, Bulgaria: the National Museum of Natural History (NMNHS), Institute of Zoology (ZISB) and Biology Faculty of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" (BFUS). We confirmed 11 of the species mentioned in the literature, exceptC. mediterranea, and found 2 additional species:C. brevipennisandC. macedonica.

Based on this knowledge, we further investigated the singing cicadas of Bulgaria with the use of classical and bioacoustic methods in the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2018 and 2019. We were not able to confirm the presence ofC. persicaandC. mediterranea, but found three additional species:Cicadatra platyptera,Cicadetta cantilatrixandTettigettula pygmea. Using the bioacoustic methods we also detected 3 to 4 additional taxa, which need to be described.

Thus, the Bulgarian fauna of singing cicadas at the moment consists of 17+ species.
Delineation of two new, highly similar species of Taiwanese Cylindera tiger beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Cicindelinae) based on morphological and molecular evidence
Authors: Chou Ming-Hsun , Yeh Wen-Bin
Published: September 2019

Tiger beetles have been recognized primarily based on morphological characters. However, the variations of elytral maculation and coloration sometimes lead to misjudgment in species classification and the overlooking of the existence of cryptic species. Recently, specimens of two endemic species of TaiwaneseCylindera,C. sauteriandC. pseudocylindriformis, exhibit morphologically recognizable forms, indicating that some undescribed species may exist. To clarify their taxonomic status, morphological characteristics including male genitalia were examined and two mitochondrial genes, COI and 16S rDNA, and one nuclear 28S rDNA were analyzed. Molecular phylogenetic inferences indicated that both forms in both species are reciprocally monophyletic. Moreover, molecular dating showed the forms diverged approximately 1.3 million years ago. Two new species,Cylindera ooasp. nov.andCylindera autumnalissp. nov., are thereby described. The main recognizable characteristics separatingC. ooasp. nov.fromC. sauteriare the lack of a triangular spot at the middle edge of elytron and the elongated but not rounded subapical spot. ForC. autumnalissp. nov., the apical lunula near the elytral suture is thickened but not linear and slender, and its elytra are more metallic brownish than those ofC. pseudocylindriformis. Although their aedeagi characteristics are not distinctive, the body size of the proposed two new species is different. Field observation revealed that niche utilization would be relevant for differentiating these closely related species.
L’Atlas des Régions Naturelles, un manifeste photoconceptuel de la périphérie ordinaire
Authors: Bertho Raphaële
Published: September 2019

L’Atlas des Régions Naturelles initié en 2017 par Éric Tabuchi cherche à investir une place inédite pour la photographie au sein du projet d’architecture ou de paysage : l’image n’est pas ici convoquée par le biais de la commande, c’est son existence même qui a pour objet de susciter le projet. Il s’agit ici de tenter de cerner cet objet visuel original, héritier des voyages pittoresques du XIXe siècle comme du photo conceptualisme américain des années 1960, des missions photographiques françaises contemporaines comme des manifestes architecturaux de la fin du XXe siècle, de la pensée du paysage vernaculaire comme de la théorisation de l’ordinaire. L’analyse du protocole adopté comme des stratégies d’exposition permet de comprendre le projet d’Éric Tabuchi tout à la fois comme un manifeste de la périphérie que comme une proposition d’ingénierie intellectuelle d’appréhension des territoires actuels.
Photographie et maquette chez Le Corbusier. Dialogues entre la création et la diffusion.
Authors: de La Cova Miguel-Angel
Published: September 2019

De la Villa Fallet en 1907 jusqu’à l’hôpital de Venise en 1965, Le Corbusier a produit des maquettes et les a photographiées, soit pour la diffusion de son œuvre, soit pour utiliser le matériel iconographique comme instrument de travail. La photographie et la maquette apparaissent ainsi comme les acteurs communs de deux scènes qui ont marqué la trajectoire de l’artiste : les lieux de son travail et les espaces de diffusion. La sphère intime et la sphère publique, le moi et l’autre, sont réunies dans ces images nées de l’esprit de Le Corbusier ainsi que du travail de ses photographes et maquettistes, mené en étroite collaboration avec l’architecte pour la plupart d’entre eux. Les différents points de vue photographiques des maquettes montrent que celles-ci jouent un rôle au-delà d’une simulation de la réalité à venir. Comment la maquette est-elle présentée sur la photo ? Comment l’appareil photo se positionne-t-il devant le modèle ? Qu’est-ce qui intéresse l’architecte et le photographe ? Le dialogue entre les deux instruments, l’appareil photographique et la maquette, rend possible l’analyse de l’architecture et sa diffusion, par ailleurs il souligne la dimension plastique de l’objet. La photographie de maquette se démarque de la représentation académique plus traditionnelle du dessin et permet de comprendre les nouveaux processus de projet, à travers la manipulation de la maquette et des matériaux qu’elle occasionne. Il y a là un travail créatif qui demande un dialogue entre l’architecte, le photographe et le maquettiste, au-delà de la commande professionnelle.
la Photographie, la ville et le paysage urbain au Chili. La recherche de l’image totale et la naturalisation de Santiago
Authors: Tellez Andrés
Published: September 2019

Afin d’appréhender la question des particularités du travail des photographes au Chili à l’égard du paysage urbain, cet article propose une réflexion sur le rôle de la photographie en tant que produit culturel dans le processus de production de la ville, pensée elle aussi comme produit culturel. Les rapports entre la ville de Santiago du Chili et son milieu naturel constituent un thème central pour les photographes de la période comprise entre 1930 et 1970. Leur contribution au processus de naturalisation de la ville de Santiago, à une époque où les villes d’Amérique latine connaissent de grandes transformations, constitue une trace permanente, fixée dans la mémoire collective des habitants.
The Effect of Variable-Frequency Ultrasonic Melting Treatment Technology on Microstructure and Properties of AZ80 Magnesium Alloy
Authors: Le Qi Chi , Chen Xing Rui , Ning Shao Chen
Published: September 2019

The traditional fixed-frequency ultrasonic technology (FUT) and the variable-frequency ultrasonic technology (VUT) were used in direct-chill (DC) casting of an AZ80 magnesium alloy with the diameter of ∅255mm. The microstructure evolution, mechanical properties and macro-segment of Al element were investigated. The results show that both FUT and VUT can refine the α-Mg grain while the VUT has better efficiency which can reduce the grain size from 679-1454 μm (DC) to 150-241 μm. The homogeneity of grain size was also improved. These two technologies can also change the morphology and distribution of Mg17Al12 phase and tiny and refined morphology of Mg17Al12 phase and a homogeneous distribution can be obtained after VUT treatment. The YS and UTS were increased following the microstructure evolution, displaying the YS of 88.9-95.1 MPa and UTS of 164.3-173.1 MPa after VUT treatment. The segregation rate of Al element were improved with VUT treatment. Keywords: magnesium alloy; variable frequency ultrasonic technology; microstructure; mechanical properties;
Micro-Embossing Process in Ultrafine-Grained Pure Aluminum Processed by Equal-Channel Angular Pressing with Elevated Temperature
Authors: Su Qian , Xu Jie , Shi Lei , Shan De Bin , Guo Bin
Published: September 2019

Micro-embossing tests were performed on ultrafine-grained pure Al processed by equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) with 100 μm width of female die at different deformation temperature ranging from 298 K to 523 K under a force of 5 kN. The filling height, surface topography and microstructure of the cross section were measured by confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD), respectively. The effects of deformation temperature on formability of ultrafine-grained (UFG) pure Al during micro-embossing were analyzed. The results show that increase in deformation temperature can improve the formability of UFG pure Al on micro-embossing. Micro hot embossing of UFG pure aluminum is characterized by the rib sidewall, surface quality, and fully transferred patterns, which shows ultrafine-grained pure Al has potential application in micro-forming.
Electrophoretic Deposition of Polyaniline on a Copper Substrate and its Application in Corrosion Resistance
Authors: Fuseini Mohammed , El-Shazly Ahmed H. , Elkady Marwa , Hares Essam
Published: September 2019

Polyaniline (PANI) was prepared by chemical oxidation of aniline for formation of stable colloidal suspension. The suspension was prepared by dispersion of PANI/HCOOH stock solution into acetonitrile. The stable suspension of positively charged PANI colloids was deposited by applying electrophoretic technique on the surface of copper sheet. The coatings obtained were adherent to the copper substrate. The effect of operating parameters such as the deposition time, the concentration of solids in the colloidal suspension, and the voltage applied were examined on the deposition efficiency. The efficacy of the coated layer in corrosion resistance was evaluated using potentiodynamic (Tafel) polarization with a scan rate of-500 to +500 mV. The annealed PANI coated layer showed the highest corrosion efficiency of 86.5% followed by the normal PANI coated layer with inhibition efficiency of 84.4%. The mean roughness and the 3-D morphology of the obtained coated layers from the Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) were used to explain the surface energy of the coated layers. The rms values obtained for bare copper, annealed PANI coated layer, and the normal PANI coated layer were 63 nm, 182 nm, and 254 nm respectively. The characteristics of the coated surface were examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) which indicated a porous layer on the surface of the copper. The crystallographic structure of the coated layers were examined using XRD.
Factors Influencing Hardness of a Coating Material for Coating a Machine Component
Authors: Saikaew Charnnarong
Published: September 2019

This work investigated the influences of DC current, pressure and N2 to Ar gas flow rate on hardness of a TiN hard coating material for coating a fishing net-weaving machine component of a fishing net-weaving machine, namely upper hook. The target of this study was to maximize the hardness of TiN coated upper hook in order to maximize the corresponding wear resistance. Three process factors including DC current, operating pressure and N2 to Ar flow rate ratio were simultaneously investigated using the factorial design with replicates at the center point of the three factors method. Analysis of variance was used to investigate the effect of the three factors on the hardness of the TiN coated upper hook and the contour plots based on empirical model were plotted to obtain an appropriate operating condition of the statistically significant process factors with maximizing hardness value leading to the wear resistance of the upper hook. The results showed that the operating pressure and the N2 to Ar flow rate ratio and interaction among the three process factors significantly affected the average hardness at the level of significance of 0.05. Finally, an appropriate operating condition of the significant process factors was obtained at the higher levels of the operating pressure and the N2 to Ar flow rate ratio.
Self-Healing Epoxy Coating Modified by Double-Walled Microcapsules Based Polyurea for Metallic Protection
Authors: Ma Yan Xuan , Zhang Ying Rui , Liu Jia Tong , Li Meng Yao , Xu Ya Qian
Published: September 2019

The effectiveness of preploymer and 1,6-Hexamethylene diamine encapsulated by double-walled microcapsules based polyurea (PUA) was explored for healing the cracks generated in epoxy coatings. Double-walled microcapsules were systhesized by interfacial polymerization at the interface between the prepolymer droplets and the 1,6-Hexamethylene diamine droplets to form the polyurea shell. The effect of synthetic stirring speed on the morphology of the microcapsules was observed by scanning electronmicroscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy (OM). The chemical structure as well as the thermal properties and the core content were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) respectively. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies of the artificial scratched area showed that the coating containing 2wt% and 5wt% microcapsules could effectively prevent further corrosion of the coating with high corrosion resistance efficiencies of 61.61% and 45.99% after immersing for 144h in seawater.
Evaluation of Wear and Corrosion Behaviour of Hybrid Sintered Ti6Al4V Alloy
Authors: Ayodele Olusoji Oluremi , Awotunde Mary Ajimegoh , Shongwe Mxolisi Brendon , Adegbenjo Adewale Oladapo , Babalola Bukola J. , Obadele Babatunde A. , Olubambi Peter Apata
Published: September 2019

Ti6Al4V alloy was consolidated by hybrid spark plasma sintering at a temperature of 1200 °C, pressure of 50 MPa, holding time of 5 min and heating rate of 100 °C/min. This resulted in the maximum value of sintered density. Microstructural evolutions of the sintered compact were analysed with SEM. Sliding wear test were accomplished at different sliding loads of 5, 8 and 10 N using ball on disc tribometer configuration with stainless steel as the counterface material. Wear debris obtained was found to contain mostly the sintered materials with minute traces of the counterface material. The coefficient of friction reaches the maximum with increase in applied load. Worn surface analyses revealed the wear mechanism was abrasive. The potentiodynamic polarisation of the sintered compact showed the sintered compact in 0.9 wt % NaCl solution exhibited more resistance to corrosion.
Properties and Filtration Performance of Porous Clay Membrane Produced Using Sawdust as Pore Forming Agent
Authors: Rumaizah Che Zulkifli , Fazureen Azaman , Mohd Hasmizam Razali , Asmadi Ali , Mohd Al Amin Muhamad Nor
Published: September 2019

This study investigated the effect of sawdust at 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 wt% towards physical properties and filtration efficiency of porous clay membrane. Sawdust in various quantities was added into water containing clay, polyethylene glycol and sodium silicate and then stirred to form homogenized slurry. The slurry then was casted into Plaster of Paris (PoP) mould. The green body was cut into required sizes, dried and sintered in furnace at 1000 °C. The porosity and density of porous clay was determined by Archimedes principle, while morphology was observed by Hitachi Tabletop Scanning Electron Microscope (TTSEM). The filtration test was examined on a dead-end filtration setup in batch mode operation using nitrogen as carrier gas. Distilled water was filtered and used to determine membrane permeability, while aquaculture wastewater filtration was used to determine the turbidity removal. Turbidity of aquaculture wastewater and effluent (after filtration) were measured using turbidity meter. The results indicated that porosity increased from 38 % to 64 %, while density decreased from 1.5 g/cm3 to 0.8 g/cm3 with increasing amount of sawdust from 0 to 40 wt%. This data was supported by TTSEM which is indicate that the amount of pores increased with increasing amount of sawdust. Permeation of membrane increased from 45289 to 143999 L.h-1.m-2.bar-1 and efficiency of turbidity removal increased from 87 % to 89 % with increasing amount of sawdust from 0 to 40 wt%. As conclusion, 30 wt% was an optimum amount of sawdust which is produced ceramic membrane with good structure integrity, porosity, high permeability and high turbidity removal.
Multiscale Finite Element Simulation of Thermal Properties and Mechanical Strength of Reduced Graphene Oxide Reinforced Aluminium Matrix Composite
Authors: Nyanor Peter , El Kady Omayma A. , Hamada Atef S. , Nakamura Koichi , Hassan Mohsen A.
Published: September 2019

The effective properties of metal matrix composites (MMCs) depend on matrix material and reinforcement property specifications as well as bonding at interphase. The use of numerical methods such as finite element (FE) and mean field homogenization (MFH) can assist in predicting MMC properties thus reducing time and cost of optimizing composite properties through experiments. In the present work, a multiscale representative volume element (RVE) of the microstructure of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) reinforced Aluminium (Al) matrix composite (rGO/Al) is created in MSC DigiMat and analysed using Abaqus software. The effect of porosity and rGO reinforcement on thermal conductivity and strength of the rGO/Al composites is studied. The variation in thermal conductivity between FE-RVE and experimental data is a maximum of 2.2% and a minimum of 0.07% for rGO reinforcement of 1 wt.% and 3 wt.% respectively. The results show good agreement between FE-RVE simulation, MFH and experimental data. This approach can provide an efficient technique for selecting matrix and reinforcement phase properties for MMC fabrication. Keywords: Al/rGO composite, Multiscale finite element-representative volume, Thermal and mechanical properties
Numerical Modeling of PZT- Piezoelectric Composites with Passive and Active Polymer Matrix
Authors: Benard Oboso P. , Shaalan Nagih M. , Koichi Nakamura , Mahmoud Atef E. , Hassan Mohsen A.
Published: September 2019

Piezoelectric composite materials with a polymer matrix are important for underwater acoustic and biomedical imaging applications. The dependence of electromechanical properties of piezoelectric composite on constituent material characteristics and shape of piezoelectric inclusions is a central problem that provides the opportunity to tailor the performance of piezoelectric composites according to design needs. A numerical model has been developed to investigate the electromechanical properties of 1-3 piezoelectric composites with a passive and active polymer matrix. Maxwell Homogenization method is employed to homogenize the solution domain. It is demonstrated that the use of PVDF as an active polymer matrix has a significant influence on piezoelectric charge coefficient d31, hydrostatic coefficient dh, voltage coefficient gh, and hydrophone figure of merit ghdh when compared to the passive Araldite-D polymer matrix. Overall, a 5 to 30% volume fraction of PZT-7A fiber inclusions in an active polymer matrix is the optimum ratio that has a significant effect on piezoelectric properties. The accuracy and effectiveness of homogenized material constants were verified by comparing the derived composite properties with experimental work published elsewhere. These results provide much needed intuitiveness in the development of piezoelectric polymer composite with better performance for transducer applications.
IL-25 Orchestrates Activation of Th Cells via Conventional Dendritic Cells in Tissue to Exacerbate Chronic House Dust Mite–Induced Asthma Pathology
Authors: Claudio Estefania , Wang Hongshan , Kamenyeva Olena , Tang Wanhu , Ha Hye-lin , Siebenlist Ulrich
Published: September 2019

House dust mite (HDM) extract is a common trigger of asthma in humans. Chronic exposure to HDM also induces asthma-like pathology in mice. Allergic responses to HDM and other allergens are linked to release of IL-25, IL-33, and TSLP by epithelial cells; these cytokines, especially IL-33, target innate lymphoid cells type 2 to produce type 2 cytokines. To what extent and by what mechanisms IL-25 contributes to chronic HDM-induced pathology is not well understood. In humans, elevated levels of IL-25 appear to be associated with cases of uncontrolled asthma and exacerbated attacks. In this article, we demonstrate that blockade of IL-25 signaling in either lung conventional dendritic cells or in T cells resulted in similar decreases in production of IL-13 and IL-9 by T cells, reduced mast cell accumulation and tissue remodeling, and improved lung function but had only modest effects on eosinophilia. Stimulation of conventional dendritic cells by IL-25 promoted proximal accumulation of Th cells, and stimulation of Th cells by IL-25 locally promoted IL-13 and IL-9 production. IL-25 made notable contributions to chronic HDM-induced allergic asthma pathology by facilitating clustering and cross-stimulation of different cell types in tissue. Therapeutic targeting of IL-25 in combination with other treatments may be beneficial.
From biogas to biomethane: Techno-economic analysis of an anaerobic digestion power plant in a cattle/buffalo farm in central Italy
Authors: Scotto di Perta Ester , Cervelli Elena , Pironti di Campagna Maria , Pindozzi Stefania
Published: September 2019

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a mature technology commonly used for manure treatment, both for the stabilisation of waste and for the production of energy. The introduction of new incentives could represent an opportunity for biogas production, when the current feed-in-tariffs, which improved the financial feasibility of AD plants producing electricity will end. This paper examines the feasibility of reconverting an existing AD biogas production plant into a biomethane production plant. The AD plant, in this case study, is a two-stage reactor situated in the centre of Italy and mainly fed with livestock manure from both cows and buffaloes. The economic analysis of two hypotheses is provided: i) continuing the electricity production from biogas after the end of the current incentives (2025); ii) considering the new incentives program for the biomethane and reconverting the plant, using hollow-fibre membranes for the purification of the raw biogas (SEPURAN® Green modules, EnviTec). For this purpose, investment and operating costs, based on plant monitoring data (2105.3 m3 d–1, Biogas production; 4432.9 kWh d–1, electricity production) as well as on market analysis for costs evaluation were considered. The mean biogas production for the considered year was about 30% less than the expected production, indicated by producer, highlighting the need for the optimisation of the management of the reactors. Moreover, based on the averaged methane production (June 2017-June 2018), results show that: i) plant conversion for the biomethane production is not suitable for small-scale plants, due to the high investment costs of upgrading technology (1.2 M€); ii) when current incentives end, the electricity production from biogas in the current plant may not be self-sufficient, due to the highly expensive operating costs. This paper provides a first analysis of the possible fate of the biogas plants under the new incentives.
Geometric shape and tensile forces on silo bags for grain storage
Authors: Scarabino Ana
Published: September 2019

This work consists in the analytical derivation and numerical solution of the equation which determines the shape of the section of a silo bag: a long horizontal cylindrical plastic bag filled with either a liquid or a granular material which behaves similarly, exerting normal, but not frictional forces against the wall. The bag is considered inextensible and completely flexible, capable of supporting only tensile loads. These suppositions lead to a secondorder differential equation for the membrane shape, which is normalised and solved, in a way that allows, for any bag with any amount of filling, a simple computation of its geometry, enclosed area and tensile loads. A discussion is included about the effects on the theoretical results of the silo bag tensile deformation.
Recent trends in predictive biomarkers for determining malignant potential of oral potentially malignant disorders
Authors: Sarode Gargi S. , Sarode Sachin C. , Maniyar Nikunj , Sharma Nilesh , Yerwadekar Sujata , Patil Shankargouda
Published: September 2019

Despite of the tremendous advancements in the field of cancer prevention, detection and treatment, the overall prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) still remains poor. This can be partly imparted to the lack of early detection of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), especially those at a higher risk of progression into OSCC. Over years, various specific and non-specific markers have been introduced that could predict the malignant transformation of OPMDs; however detail information on these OPMD markers in a concise manner is lacking. Moreover, their use on daily clinical basis still remains questionable. With continuous research in the field of cytology and genomics, several contemporary biomarkers have been discovered that are not yet foregrounded and proved to be more promising than those used conventionally. Here, in the present paper, we overview several recently concluded predictive biomarkers with special emphasis on their role in molecular pathogenesis of OSCC transformation. These markers can be used for risk assessment of malignant transformation in patients with OPMDs as well as for prophylactic conciliation and fair management of the high-risk OPMD patient group.
Standard-dose versus high-dose radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy in esophageal cancer: A prospective randomized study
Authors: Nayan Navin , Bhattacharyya M. , Jagtap Vikas K. , Kalita A. K. , Sunku R. , Roy P. S.
Published: September 2019

Objective: The objective of this study is comparision of local and distant control rates with high-dose versus standard-dose radiotherapy along with concurrent chemotherapy in esophageal cancer – a prospective randomized study. Materials and Methods: Histologically proven Stage I–III patients with carcinoma esophagus were randomized into two groups. One group has been treated with standard-dose radiotherapy, i.e., a total dose of 50.4 Gy (1.8 Gy/day, 28#, 5 days/week). The other group (study arm) has received high-dose radiotherapy, i.e. a total dose of 64.8 Gy (1.8 Gy/day, 36#, 5 days/week). Both groups have received 2 cycles of 3 weekly concurrent chemotherapy (cisplatin 75 mg/m[2] on day 1 and 5-fluorouracil 750 mg/m[2] continuous intravenous infusion over 24 h on day 1–4). Follow-up response evaluation was done by both endoscopy and computed tomography scan after 6–8 weeks and after 2 months thereafter. Results: Out of a total of 28 patients, 68% showed a complete response, 14% showed partial response, and 18% patients developed progressive disease at first and subsequent follow up (median follow-up of 21 months). Among the complete response patients, rates were higher in high-dose group compared to standard-dose radiotherapy group (71% vs. 64%, P = 0.38). Treatment-related toxicities were acceptable in both groups. Conclusion: High-dose radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy seems to be more effective with acceptable toxicity in our study. However, further follow-up and large sample size may be required to validate the current study conclusion.
A Rare Case of Epidermoid Cyst in Neck
Authors: Srivastava Abhinav , Agrawal Ranjan , Bhardwaj Prashant
Published: September 2019

Epidermoid cysts are common lesions, but malignant transformation of their epithelium is rare. There are few case reports in the literature concerning malignant transformation of an epidermal cyst into squamous cell carcinoma. Two epidermoid cysts occurring simultaneously in the neck is rare and not a single case report is available in the literature. One of the cysts transforming into squamous cell carcinoma and the other showing atypical changes is still the rarest and not reported till date. We present a case of two epidermal inclusion cysts in a patient out of which there were atypical changes in one cyst and other cyst showed squamous cell carcinoma.

How to cite this article

Mohan C, Srivastava A, Agrawal R, Bhardwaj P. A Rare Case of Epidermoid Cyst in Neck. Int J Adv Integ Med Sci 2016;1(1):15-17.
Rasmussen's Aneurysm: Rare Cause for Massive Hemoptysis in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients
Authors: Tiwari Vijayesh Kumar , Bansal Sanjay
Published: September 2019

Rasmussen's aneurysm is a rare phenomenon and should be considered in patients with massive hemoptysis especially with old history of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). We present a case report of 62 years old diabetic lady with previous history of PTB which ended with diagnosis of Rasmussen's aneurysm.

How to cite this article

Tiwari VK, Bansal S, Kumar A, Kumar A. Rasmussen's Aneurysm: Rare Cause for Massive Hemoptysis in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients. Int J Adv Integ Med Sci 2016;1(1):36-37.
Mucoid and Nonmucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Respiratory Tract Infections
Authors: Prakash Ved , Mishra Prem P
Published: September 2019

Introduction

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common etiological agent causing various infections. The isolates can be mucoid or nonmucoid. It harbors innate resistance to a broad range of antibiotics.

Objectives

The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of the mucoid and nonmucoid isolates along with their antibiogram from respiratory samples.

Materials and methods

A total of 220 isolates of P. aeruginosa were obtained from various clinical specimens and 72 from respiratory samples. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was identified by standard colony morphology and bacteriological methods, and antibiotic sensitivity was determined by the Kirby Bauer method.

Results

Out of the 72 respiratory samples, 15 (20.83%) were mucoid strains and 57 (79.87%) nonmucoid strains. The mucoid colonies showed high resistance to antibiotics, such as co-trimoxazole (COT) (73.33%), ciprofloxacin (CIP) (60%), and ceftazidime (CAZ) (53.33%), whereas high resistance rate among the nonmucoid isolates were seen in (COT) (78.95%), (CIP) (71.93%), (CAZ) (54.39%), cefepime (52.63%).

Conclusion

The antibiotic susceptibility pattern helps in constituting the guidelines for treatment and management of the infections by P. aeruginosa.

How to cite this article

Mishra PP, Prakash V. Mucoid and Nonmucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Respiratory Tract Infections. Int J Adv Integ Med Sci 2016;1(2):43-45.
A Review of the Application of Finite Element Method (FEM) to Localized Corrosion Modeling
Authors: Liu Chao , Kelly Robert G.
Published: September 2019

The modeling of localized corrosion has usually focused on calculating the spatial and/or temporal distributions of chemical species, potential, and current. These are affected by the reactions considered, the geometry, and the modes of mass transport of importance. Finite element method (FEM) is a numerical technique to obtain approximate solutions to the differential equations based on different types of discretization in which the domain of interest is divided into different types of elements. The introduction of the FEM opened a variety of opportunities for increasing the complexity, and therefore the fidelity, of the localized corrosion conditions considered. This article first briefly introduces the FEM technique before describing the choices the modeler has with regards to the governing equations for the system. The history of the application of FEM to localized corrosion is given, highlighting the different aspects of localized corrosion that have been successfully modeled. Finally, some of the current challenges in FEM modeling of localized corrosion are outlined.
Mapping the drivers of uncertainty in atmospheric selenium deposition with global sensitivity analysis
Authors: Feinberg Aryeh , Maliki Moustapha , Stenke Andrea , Sudret Bruno , Peter Thomas , Winkel Lenny H. E.
Published: September 2019

Abstract. An estimated 0.5–1 billion people globally have inadequate intakes of selenium (Se), due to a lack of bioavailable Se in agricultural soils. Deposition from the atmosphere, especially through precipitation, is an important source of Se to soils. However, very little is known about the atmospheric cycling of Se. It has therefore been difficult to predict how far Se travels in the atmosphere and where it deposits. To answer these questions, we have built the first global atmospheric Se model by implementing Se chemistry into an aerosol–chemistry–climate model, SOCOL-AER. In the model, we include information from the literature about the emissions, speciation, and chemical transformation of atmospheric Se. Natural processes and anthropogenic activities emit volatile Se compounds, which oxidize quickly and partition to the particulate phase. Our model tracks the transport and deposition of Se in 7 gas-phase species and 41 aerosol tracers. However, there are large uncertainties associated with many of the model's input parameters. In order to identify which model uncertainties are the most important for understanding the atmospheric Se cycle, we conducted a global sensitivity analysis with 34 input parameters related to Se chemistry, Se emissions, and the interaction of Se with aerosols. In the first bottom-up estimate of its kind, we have calculated a median global atmospheric lifetime of 4.4 d (days), ranging from 2.9–6.4 d (2nd–98th percentile) given the uncertainties of the input parameters. The uncertainty in the Se lifetime is mainly driven by the uncertainty in the carbonyl selenide (OCSe) oxidation rate and the lack of tropospheric aerosol species other than sulfate aerosols in SOCOL-AER. In contrast to uncertainties in Se lifetime, the uncertainty in deposition flux maps are governed by Se emission factors, with all four Se sources (volcanic, marine biosphere, terrestrial biosphere, and anthropogenic emissions) contributing equally to the uncertainty in deposition over agricultural areas. We evaluated the simulated Se wet deposition fluxes from SOCOL-AER with a compiled database of rainwater Se measurements, since wet deposition contributes around 80 % of total Se deposition. Despite difficulties in comparing a global, coarse resolution model with local measurements from a range of time periods, past Se wet deposition measurements are within the range of the model's 2nd–98th percentile at 79 % of background sites. This agreement validates the application of the SOCOL-AER model to identifying regions which are at risk of low atmospheric Se inputs. In order to constrain the uncertainty in Se deposition fluxes over agricultural soils we should prioritize field campaigns measuring Se emissions, rather than laboratory measurements of Se rate constants.
All-sky assimilation of infrared radiances sensitive to mid- and upper-tropospheric moisture and cloud
Authors: Geer Alan J. , Migliorini Stefano , Matricardi Marco
Published: September 2019

Abstract. All-sky assimilation of infrared (IR) radiances has not yet become operational at any weather forecasting centre, but it promises to bring new observations in sensitive areas and avoid the need for cloud detection. A new all-sky IR configuration gives results comparable to (and in some areas better than) clear-sky assimilation of the same data, meaning that operational implementation is now feasible. The impact of seven upper-tropospheric water vapour (WV) sounding channels from the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) is evaluated in both all-sky and clear-sky approaches. All-sky radiative transfer simulations (and the forecast model's cloud fields) are now sufficiently accurate that systematic errors are comparable to those of clear-sky assimilation outside of a few difficult areas such as deep convection. All-sky assimilation brings 65 % more data than clear-sky assimilation globally, with the biggest increases in midlatitude storm tracks and tropical convective areas. However, all-sky gives slightly less weight to any one observation than in the clear-sky approach. In the midlatitudes, all-sky and clear-sky assimilation have similarly beneficial impact on mid- and upper-tropospheric dynamical forecast fields. Here the addition of data in cloudy areas is offset by the slightly lower weight given to the observations. But in the tropics, all-sky assimilation is significantly more beneficial than clear-sky assimilation, with improved dynamical short-range forecasts throughout the troposphere and stratosphere.
Total variation of atmospheric data: covariance minimization about objective functions to detect conditions of interest
Authors: Hamilton Nicholas
Published: September 2019

Abstract. Identification of atmospheric conditions within a multivariable atmospheric data set is a necessary step in the validation of emerging and existing high-fidelity models used to simulate wind plant flows and operation. Most often, conditions of interest are determined as those that occur most frequently, given the need for well-converged statistics from observations against which model results are compared. Aggregation of observations without regard to covariance between time series discounts the dynamical nature of the atmosphere and is not sufficiently representative of wind plant operating conditions. Identification and characterization of continuous time periods with atmospheric conditions that have a high value for analysis or simulation sets the stage for more advanced model validation and the development of real-time control and operational strategies. The current work explores a single metric for variation of a multivariate data sample that quantifies variability within each channel as well as covariance between channels. The total variation is used to identify periods of interest that conform to desired objective functions, such as quiescent conditions, ramps or waves of wind speed, and changes in wind direction. The direct detection and classification of events or periods of interest within atmospheric data sets is vital to developing our understanding of wind plant response and to the formulation of forecasting and control models.