bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Farmers’ Participation Obstacles in Management of Irrigation Networks
Authors: Arayesh Mohammad Bagher , Mirzaei Arezoo , Sabouri Mohammad Sadegh
Published: September 2016

The purposes of this study are to analysis and group the participations’ obstacles of users in usage management and the irrigation networks maintenance in Semnan province. It was applied research and causal-correlation method was used. The statistical population of the study consists of all farmers having used irrigation networks in the Semnan province (Garmsar and Damghan town) having a population over of 18650 and finally 255 of which answered the questions. The main instrument used for date collection was questionnaire. To determine validity, the questionnaires were given to experts and some doctorate students, and then to evaluate reliability of the questionnaires, a pretest has been done, which was on 30 random farmers of Tehran (Varamin area), the gained questionnaire’s Alpha Coefficient was %88, it shows suitable reliability of the questionnaires. the main obstacles for the farmers’ participation were political obstacles (government’s inattention to roles of non–governmental organizations, the government’s inattention to users’ ownership right, the users being’s not clear of goals of participation, the focus of the maintenance and management activities of irrigation networks by the government, The government’s inattention to role of council) which have the most share (31.12) and then economical obstacles were (not economical in the maintenance and management of irrigation networks, lack of credits necessary for programs, usage management and the irrigation networks maintenance projects having the late outcome, financial inability for participation). Psychological and personal factors (unwell physical state for participation; programs are not adaptive with the farmers’ needs) which have the least share (3.39) in explaining total variance of the participations’ obstacles of users in usage management and the irrigation networks maintenance. These 5 factors explained 66.12 of total variance of all public participation’s obstacles in the usage management and the irrigation networks maintenance.
Balancing Function and Environment toward Sustainable Design: A Building Insulation Case Study
Authors: Manoosingh Celine
Published: September 2016

This study utilizes a proposed sustainable design process to investigate the functional and environmental metrics associated with an alternative insulation for use in buildings. A prototype exploring the use of evacuated packets of a silica compound substituting for conventional insulation was assessed. Assessment criteria included experimental comparison of heat transfer characteristics, as compared to a control facility. Additionally, a comprehensive environmental life cycle assessment and disassembly analysis was performed. Pilot study results indicate that in the new insulation design applied to the unit, heat flux decreased by an average of 4%, and improved environmental sustainability, resulting in a savings of 1.2 metric tons of CO2e over 20 years per 100 sq. ft. of insulation replaced. Results provide an alternative insulation design for use in construction, and a framework by which to assess the efficiency and environmental performance of sustainable building products.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Sustainable Development, Vol. 9, No. 5
Authors: Sun Sherry
Published: September 2016

Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Sustainable Development, Vol. 9, No. 5, 2016
Application of Risk Perception Theory to Develop a Measurement Framework for City Resilience: Case Study of Suita, Japan
Authors: Ebisudani Maiko , Tokai Akihiro
Published: September 2016

Risk management has developed as an important aspect of sustainability. In order to manage risk more effectively, an overall evaluation of regional resilience needs to be performed. Therefore, this paper develops a framework to measure overall resilience in a community, focusing on risk perceptions of citizens of Suita City, Japan. The framework includes three main phases: (1) identifying multiple risks in the city through discussions with local experts and city workers; (2) prioritizing those risks by applying principal component analysis (PCA); and (3) understanding the relationships among them using decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) analysis. As a result, 21 risks were identified, and subsequently, four risks were prioritized: climate change, lack of self-sufficient energy, damage to the ecosystem, and natural disasters. Lastly, the application of DEMATEL analysis revealed that climate change and natural disasters have the greatest cause-effect relationships among the risks. The framework proves that multiple risks can be prioritized and gives overall suggestions on what kinds of risk a community is facing; where to start considering how to manage resilience; and which functions/services a community should improve to boost resilience. The identification, prioritization, and visualization of significant risk relationships completed in this study can support decision-making processes in strengthening community resilience.
Territorial Changes and Effects on the Health of the Populations Surrounding Case Study: Itaqui Port, Northeast of Brazil
Authors: Gama Rios Livia Regina Montes , Castro Antonio Carlos Leal , Ferreira Helen Roberta Silva , Soares Leonardo Silva , Azevedo James Werllen De Jesus , Silva Marcelo Henrique Lopes
Published: September 2016

This study addresses the territorial changes and health conditions of populations living in the area affected by the Porto do Itaqui Thermal Power Plant (TPP), specifically the Vila Maranhão, Cajueiro, Camboa dos Frades, Nova Camboa dos Frades and São Benedito communities located in the municipality of São Luís – MA, Brazil. The data consisted of 191 interviews that were conducted from January to October 2013. The results showed that the individuals from these communities had a low educational level, with most having attended school only up to the elementary level, which contributes to a high rate of unemployment or of individuals surviving on temporary jobs. The communities’ environmental awareness indicated that the main difficulties were associated with the lack of public policies, particularly regarding roads, garbage collection, low sanitation coverage, increased violence, unemployment, and informal employment. Regarding air quality, the results showed that the air pollutant concentrations still met the established limits, although the Camboa dos Frades community showed greater health problems due to a direct influence of pollutants. The reconfiguration of land use and land cover caused changes in the organization of the communities and the environment, reflected by the predominance of semi-urbanized areas and changes in the flows of small bodies of water caused by siltation from erosion. The identification of health conditions and the changes occurring in the communities affected by projects such as the TPP is important; therefore, public policies for urban mobility, spatial planning, health, education and urban safety should be proposed for such communities.
Success and Success Factors of Domestic Rainwater Harvesting Projects in the Caribbean
Authors: Peters Everson James
Published: September 2016

In the Caribbean, domestic rainwater harvesting (DRWH) projects are being implemented to augment water supplies in water scarce islands and as a no-regret approach to adaptation to climate change. The evaluation of these projects is usually limited to the implementation process i.e. measuring the ability of the project to meet the set deliverables. Factors that are considered are the cost and time specified for the installation of the DRWH systems and the quality of the harvested water. There is seldom a post-project evaluation to determine whether the beneficiaries are able to properly maintain the system and or to improve on it, or whether the project is leading to increased household collection and use of rainwater in the project location and its environs. This paper is based on a survey of key stakeholders actively involved in the promotion of DRWH over a number of years. Active involvement was the basis of accepting the information on their perception as adequate in providing a reliable measure of the level of success of DRWH projects. The metrics for success were based on stakeholders’ perspective of the success of DRWH projects as determined by community involvement, rate of uptake of DRWH, increased awareness, impact of training on maintenance of systems, appropriate use of the systems, increased use of rainwater, increased capacity of community leaders to train and improved support by local private sector. It was found that there was willingness to invest in DRWH particularly among the stakeholders who have regularly used rainwater. The stakeholders were also asked to corroborate a set of pre-selected factors that were considered important for the successful development of DRWH projects. A ranking of these factors indicated that although the cost of the DRWH systems was the most important factor for success, technical issues were imperceptibly more important than economic and social issues.
Placental Pathology of Zika Virus: Viral Infection of the Placenta Induces Villous Stromal Macrophage (Hofbauer Cell) Proliferation and Hyperplasia
Authors: Rosenberg Avi Z. , Yu Weiying , Hill D. Ashley , Reyes Christine A. , Schwartz David A.
Published: September 2016

Context.—The placenta is an important component in understanding the fetal response to intrauterine Zika virus infection, but the pathologic changes in this organ remain largely unknown. Hofbauer cells are fetal-derived macrophages normally present in the chorionic villous stroma. They have been implicated in a variety of physiological and pathologic processes, in particular involving infectious agents.

Objectives.—To characterize the fetal and maternal responses and viral localization in the placenta following Zika virus transmission to an 11 weeks' gestation fetus. The clinical course was notable for prolonged viremia in the mother and extensive neuronal necrosis in the fetus. The fetus was delivered at 21 weeks' gestation after pregnancy termination.

Design.—The placenta was evaluated by using immunohistochemistry for inflammatory cells (macrophages/monocytes [Hofbauer cells], B and T lymphocytes) and proliferating cells, and an RNA probe to Zika virus. The fetal brain and the placenta were previously found to be positive for Zika virus RNA by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction.

Results.—The placenta demonstrated prominently enlarged, hydropic chorionic villi with hyperplasia and focal proliferation of Hofbauer cells. The degree of Hofbauer cell hyperplasia gave an exaggerated immature appearance to the villi. No acute or chronic villitis, villous necrosis, remote necroinflammatory abnormalities, chorioamnionitis, funisitis, or hemorrhages were present. An RNA probe to Zika virus was positive in villous stromal cells, presumably Hofbauer cells.

Conclusions.—Zika virus placental infection induces proliferation and prominent hyperplasia of Hofbauer cells in the chorionic villi but does not elicit villous necrosis or a maternal or fetal lymphoplasmacellular or acute inflammatory cell reaction.
Disinfection Data Integrity in Washington State
Authors: Deem Steve , Feagin Nancy
Published: September 2016

Disinfection data inaccuracies found in Washington State water systems reveal opportunities for improving data collection and disinfection practices.
Why Are We Doing This? And What Should We Be Doing?
Authors: Warren Linda P. , Axtell Rich
Published: September 2016

Have you revised your water system risk assessment (formerly known as a vulnerability assessment) recently? As you may be aware, in the United States the water system assessments required by the Bioterrorism Act of 2002 are out of date.
Working for Water Together
Authors: Lafrance David B. , O'Neill J.
Published: September 2016

As leaders of two prominent water associations, we talk a lot about the positive benefits of collaboration. In one of our recent conversations we asked ourselves two questions. The first was, on how many events, programs, publications, and other offerings do AWWA and WEF collaborate? And the second, perhaps more critical, question is, do our members know how much we do together?
Comment on Why Flint Matters
Authors: Rothstein Eric
Published: September 2016

Compilation of letters regarding articles published in past issues of the Journal AWWA.
Expand Utility Efficiency to Save Energy and Water
Authors: Chelius James J. , McDonald Michael E.
Published: September 2016

A multifaceted approach can help water and wastewater utilities maximize energy efficiency, improve operational reliability, and conserve water in a time of increased concern about limited water supplies, energy consumption, water quality, and climate change.
Predictive Analytics Steer Water Reuse Process Control
Authors: Conner Nicole , Cass Ron , Nix Daniel
Published: September 2016

Water scarcity, climate change, and population growth have led some water utilities to augment potable water supplies with direct potable reuse (DPR). Predictive analytics can be used to ensure treatment process reliability and encourage public trust in DPR.
Swabbie Simplifies Cleaning Repaired Mains
Authors: Lins John
Published: September 2016

Swabbie is an innovative tool for cleaning and disinfecting the interior of any diameter or length of pipe before the pipe is installed in a distribution system during water main repairs.
Radviliškio rajono agronimai: Baisogalos, Radviliškio ir Šeduvos valsčių agronimų darybos linkmės
Authors: Mickienė Ilona , Gailiūnaitė Sandra
Published: September 2016

Straipsnyje analizuojama Radviliškio rajono Baisogalos, Radviliškio ir Šeduvos valsčių agronimų daryba, kuri papildoma semantine analize. Agronimai rinkti praėjusio šimtmečio pirmojoje pusėje ir dabar saugomi Lietuvių kalbos instituto Vardyno skyriuje. Tiriamąją medžiagą sudaro 1185 (936 neskaitant pasikartojančių) agronimai, išrašyti iš Žemės vardų anketų. Agronimų darybos analizė pateikiama remiantis A.  Vanago toponimų struktūrine-gramatine schema: išskirti pirminiai ir antriniai agronimai toliau skirstomi į smulkesnes darybines grupes. Atlikta agronimų darybinė analizė rodo, kad daugiau užrašyta antrinių agronimų, turinčių derivacinių požymių (57,7 %). Apie pusę (54,6 %) antrinių agronimų grupės sudaro vediniai. Smulkesnė vardų klasifikacija atskleidė, kad daugumą jų sudaro priesagų vediniai (78,6 %), kurių darybai pavartotos 29 priesagos. Mažesnes vedinių grupes sudaro galūnių (9,5 %) ir priešdėlių (11,9 %) vediniai. Galūnių vedinių darybai pavartotos 7 galūnės. Priešdėlių vedinių darybai pavartoti tik 3 priešdėliai: pa-, pri-, už-. Mažesnė antrinių agronimų grupė yra dūriniai (29,1 %). Mažiausiai rasta sudėtinių vardų (16,3 %). Šioje grupėje populiariausi kilmininkiniai agronimai (85,2 %), kurių pirmasis komponentas – bendrinis daiktavardis (58,7 %). Pirminių agronimų rasta 364 (38,9 %). Analizė rodo, kad absoliučią jų daugumą sudaro daiktavardiniai agronimai (95,9 %). Ateityje numatoma visų Radviliškio rajono agronimų darybos analizė papildys šiame straipsnyje pateiktus duomenis, suteiks galimybę juos lyginti su kitų rajonų agronimais, atskleisti būdingus agronimų darybos bruožus.
Excesso de peso e fatores associados: um estudo de base populacional
Authors: Martins Tatiana Carvalho Reis , Chagas Rosangela Barbosa , Andrade Jailza de Fátima Ribeiro , Mendes Danilo Cangussu , Souza Luís Paulo Souza e , Dias Orlene Veloso , Costa Simone De Melo , Caldeira Antônio Prates
Published: October 2016

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo estimar el predominio del sobrepeso y factores asociados entre adultos y ancianos.

Es un estudio transversal, de base poblacional, realizado en ciudad de tamaño medio del Norte de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Fueron entrevistadas personas de edad igual o superior a 18 años. Se realizó un análisis múltiple por regresión de Poisson, tomando, como variable dependiente, el sobrepeso (IMC ≥ 25kg/m2). El predominio del sobrepeso fue el 53,7%. Después del análisis múltiple, permanecieron asociados al sobrepeso: edad igual o superior a 40 años, estar casado/vivir en unión estable, el consumo de alcohol, el tabaquismo, la hipertensión y depresión.

Los resultados ponen de manifiesto una preocupante prevalencia del sobrepeso. Entre las variables asociadas, en el modelo final, están las relacionadas con el estilo de vida. En este sentido las acciones de promoción de la salud son fundamentales para la prevención del sobrepeso entre los adultos y los ancianos.
Making acoustic half-Bessel beams with metasurfaces
Authors: Tang Kun , Hong Yuanzhuo , Qiu Chunyin , Peng Shasha , Ke Manzhu , Liu Zhengyou
Published: September 2016

Unlike the well-known Airy beams that can be deformed beyond paraxial angles, the half-Bessel (HB) Beams can bend to steeper angles. Here we propose an effective metasurface design for constructing two-dimensional acoustic HB beams. The design is based on an array of spatially varied coiling-slit units, each of which mimics the wave responses derived from the analytical expression of the acoustic HB beam. A tradeoff method is utilized here to simplify the variable amplitude responses. The full-wave simulations and experimental measurements consistently manifest the effectiveness of this design process. Potential applications, such as the large-angle bending transport of particles, can be anticipated.
Giant low-frequency multipeak self-biased magnetoelectric properties in four-phase structure with stepped ultrasonic horn
Authors: Li Jie , Lu Caijiang
Published: September 2016

This paper develops a self-biased magnetoelectric (ME) heterostructure FeCuNbSiB/terfenol-d/ultrasonic-horn/PZT by sandwiching a piezoelectric Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) plate and a magnetization-graded FeCuNbSiB/terfenol-d layer on a rectangular-stepped ultrasonic horn substrate. The rectangular-stepped ultrasonic horn substrate severs as the resonance frequency determining element of the ME heterostructure, converges and amplifies the vibration excited by the magnetization-graded FeCuNbSiB/terfenol-d layer. The experiments show that fifteen large peaks of ME response with magnitudes of 0.2–7.5 V/(cm·Oe) in 0.5–50 kHz range are observed at zero-biased magnetic field. This demonstrates that the proposed multi-peak self-biased heterostructure may be useful for multifunctional devices for multi-frequency operation.
Introduction to Special Issue: Professional-Citizen Relations
Authors: Sommer Harrits Gitte , Thorup Larsen Lars
Published: September 2016

Introduction to Special Issue: Professional-Citizen Relations
Municipal public health officials and the Public Health Act
Authors: Lyshol Heidi
Published: September 2016

Introduction: The Norwegian Public Health Act of 2012 was intended to give the municipalities a bigger stake in the health of the population by emphasizing public health at a municipal level. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the Act on public health officials in the execution of their vocational roles.Research questions: How do public health officials in Norwegian municipalities balance the requirements of the new Public Health Act and what their local leaders, both politicians and bureaucrats, want? How do they use the Act in the performance of their vocational roles? Does this have any relevance for vocational teachers? Method :After a literature search, semi-formal interviews were conducted with 13 municipal public health officials who were also given practical tasks and short questionnaires. The interview transcripts were analysed using Thematic Analysis. This qualitative research technique is defined and described. Discussion and Results: The study shows that the public health workers see the Act as a useful tool and actively use it to leverage the public health field into greater importance. They feel that the Act is empowering, gives them greater pride in their work, and that it helps both them and their superiors to achieve greater understanding of public health workers’ roles in their municipalities. Using the informants’ own words, changes in the municipal public health workers’ roles and vocational self-definitions are discussed in the context of the new Act and selections from the relevant literature. Conclusion: The Public Health Act has changed the roles of municipal public health workers and helped them to further public health by giving them more responsibility and expanded their duty to safeguard health in all policies. The Act is seen as empowering, giving public health professionals pride in their work and greater role understanding, and should be heavily featured in the curriculum of future public health workers.
Dynamics and stability of directional jumps in the desert locust
Authors: Gvirsman Omer , Kosa Gabor , Ayali Amir
Published: September 2016

Locusts are known for their ability to jump large distances to avoid predation. The jump also serves to launch the adult locust into the air in order to initiate flight. Various aspects of this important behavior have been studied extensively, from muscle physiology and biomechanics, to the energy storage systems involved in powering the jump, and more. Less well understood are the mechanisms participating in control of the jump trajectory. Here we utilise video monitoring and careful analysis of experimental directional jumps by adult desert locusts, together with dynamic computer simulation, in order to understand how the locusts control the direction and elevation of the jump, the residual angular velocities resulting from the jump and the timing of flapping-flight initiation. Our study confirms and expands early findings regarding the instrumental role of the initial body position and orientation. Both real-jump video analysis and simulations based on our expanded dynamical model demonstrate that the initial body coordinates of position (relative to the hind-legs ground-contact points) are dominant in predicting the jumps’ azimuth and elevation angles. We also report a strong linear correlation between the jumps’ pitch-angular-velocity and flight initiation timing, such that head downwards rotations lead to earlier wing opening. In addition to offering important insights into the bio-mechanical principles of locust jumping and flight initiation, the findings from this study will be used in designing future prototypes of a bio-inspired miniature jumping robot that will be employed in animal behaviour studies and environmental monitoring applications.
Climate change and dissolved organic carbon export to the Gulf of Maine
Authors: Huntington Thomas G. , Balch William M. , Aiken George R. , Sheffield Justin , Luo Lifeng , Roesler Collin S. , Camill Philip
Published: September 2016

Ongoing climate change is affecting the concentration, export (flux), and timing of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) exported to the Gulf of Maine (GoM) through changes in hydrologic regime. DOC export was calculated for water years 1950 through 2013 for 20 rivers and for water years 1930 through 2013 for 14 rivers draining to the GoM. DOC export was also estimated for the 21st century based on climate and hydrologic modeling in a previously published study. DOC export was calculated by using the regression model LOADEST to fit seasonally adjusted concentration discharge (C‐Q) relations. Our results are an analysis of the sensitivity of DOC export to changes in hydrologic conditions over time since land cover and vegetation were held constant over time. Despite large interannual variability, all rivers had increasing DOC export during winter and these trends were significant (p < 0.05) in 10 out of 20 rivers for 1950 to 2013 and in 13 out of 14 rivers for 1930 to 2013. All rivers also had increasing annual export of DOC although fewer trends were statistically significant than for winter export. Projections for DOC export during the 21st century were variable depending on the climate model and greenhouse gas emission scenario that affected future river discharge through effects on precipitation and evapotranspiration. The most consistent result was a significant increase in DOC export in winter in all model‐by‐emission scenarios. DOC export was projected to decrease during the summer in all model‐by‐emission scenarios, with statistically significant decreases in half of the scenarios.
Tearing the terroir: Details and implications of surface rupture and deformation from the 24 August 2014 M6.0 South Napa earthquake, California
Authors: DeLong Stephen B. , Donnellan Andrea , Ponti Daniel J. , Rubin Ron S. , Lienkaemper James J. , Prentice Carol S. , Dawson Timothy E. , Seitz Gordon , Schwartz David P. , Hudnut Kenneth W. , Rosa Carla , Pickering Alexandra , Parker Jay W.
Published: September 2016

The Mw 6.0 South Napa earthquake of 24 August 2014 caused slip on several active fault strands within the West Napa Fault Zone (WNFZ). Field mapping identified 12.5 km of surface rupture. These field observations, near‐field geodesy and space geodesy, together provide evidence for more than ~30 km of surface deformation with a relatively complex distribution across a number of subparallel lineaments. Along a ~7 km section north of the epicenter, the surface rupture is confined to a single trace that cuts alluvial deposits, reoccupying a low‐slope scarp. The rupture continued northward onto at least four other traces through subparallel ridges and valleys. Postseismic slip exceeded coseismic slip along much of the southern part of the main rupture trace with total slip 1 year postevent approaching 0.5 m at locations where only a few centimeters were measured the day of the earthquake. Analysis of airborne interferometric synthetic aperture radar data provides slip distributions along fault traces, indicates connectivity and extent of secondary traces, and confirms that postseismic slip only occurred on the main trace of the fault, perhaps indicating secondary structures ruptured as coseismic triggered slip. Previous mapping identified the WNFZ as a zone of distributed faulting, and this was generally borne out by the complex 2014 rupture pattern. Implications for hazard analysis in similar settings include the need to consider the possibility of complex surface rupture in areas of complex topography, especially where multiple potentially Quaternary‐active fault strands can be mapped.
Analysis of longitudinal variations in North Pacific alkalinity to improve predictive algorithms
Authors: Fry Claudia H. , Tyrrell Toby , Achterberg Eric P.
Published: September 2016

The causes of natural variation in alkalinity in the North Pacific surface ocean need to be investigated to understand the carbon cycle and to improve predictive algorithms. We used GLODAPv2 to test hypotheses on the causes of three longitudinal phenomena in Alk*, a tracer of calcium carbonate cycling. These phenomena are (a) an increase from east to west between 45°N and 55°N, (b) an increase from west to east between 25°N and 40°N, and (c) a minor increase from west to east in the equatorial upwelling region. Between 45°N and 55°N, Alk* is higher on the western than on the eastern side, and this is associated with denser isopycnals with higher Alk* lying at shallower depths. Between 25°N and 40°N, upwelling along the North American continental shelf causes higher Alk* in the east. Along the equator, a strong east‐west trend was not observed, even though the upwelling on the eastern side of the basin is more intense, because the water brought to the surface is not high in Alk*. We created two algorithms to predict alkalinity, one for the entire Pacific Ocean north of 30°S and one for the eastern margin. The Pacific Ocean algorithm is more accurate than the commonly used algorithm published by Lee et al. (2006), of similar accuracy to the best previously published algorithm by Sasse et al. (2013), and is less biased with longitude than other algorithms in the subpolar North Pacific. Our eastern margin algorithm is more accurate than previously published algorithms.
Enceladus's and Dione's floating ice shells supported by minimum stress isostasy
Authors: Beuthe Mikael , Rivoldini Attilio , Trinh Antony
Published: September 2016

Enceladus's gravity and shape have been explained in terms of a thick isostatic ice shell floating on a global ocean, in contradiction of the thin shell implied by librations. Here we propose a new isostatic model minimizing crustal deviatoric stress and demonstrate that gravity and shape data predict a 38 ± 4 km thick ocean beneath a 23 ± 4 km thick shell agreeing with—but independent of—libration data. Isostatic and tidal stresses are comparable in magnitude. South polar crust is only 7 ± 4 km thick, facilitating the opening of water conduits and enhancing tidal dissipation through stress concentration. Enceladus's resonant companion, Dione, is in a similar state of minimum stress isostasy. Its gravity and shape can be explained in terms of a 99 ± 23 km thick isostatic shell overlying a 65 ± 30 km thick global ocean, thus providing the first clear evidence for a present‐day ocean within Dione.
Influence of dynamical equatorial flattening and orientation of a triaxial core on prograde diurnal polar motion of the Earth
Authors: Sun Rong , Shen Wen Bin
Published: September 2016

The noise floor of empirical models of the prograde diurnal Earth rotation could reach as low as 1 µas as shown by several recent studies. In another aspect, the differences between these empirical models with the theoretical model predictions given by International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) Conventions (2010) for certain diurnal frequencies are more than 10 µas (e.g.,K1). The triaxiality of the core is ignored in the theoretical model given by IERS Conventions (2010) because it is highly uncertain. To explain the differences between the empirical models and the theoretical model, we consider the possible influence of a triaxial core. We use the differences between the empirical models and the theoretical model predictions given by IERS Conventions (2010) as inputs to invert the triaxiality parameter of the core. In the inversion, we assume the ocean tide response is subjected to the admittance theory. So extra six admittance parameters are introduced to model the differences between the smooth responses inferred from the empirical models and that given by theoretical model predictions from IERS Conventions (2010). The results show that adding core triaxiality into the theoretical model could narrow the differences between the empirical models and the theoretical model at the prograde diurnal band. As for the dynamical equatorial flattening of the core, the estimates inverted based on the different empirical models are consistent within standard deviation. The results also suggest that the principal axes of the triaxial core do not coincide with the principal axes of the whole Earth.
Pressure field induced in the water column by acoustic‐gravity waves generated from sea bottom motion
Authors: C. A. Oliveira Tiago , Kadri Usama
Published: September 2016

An uplift of the ocean bottom caused by a submarine earthquake can trigger acoustic‐gravity waves that travel at near the speed of sound in water and thus may act as early tsunami precursors. We study the spatiotemporal evolution of the pressure field induced by acoustic‐gravity modes during submarine earthquakes, analytically. We show that these modes may all induce comparable temporal variations in pressure at different water depths in regions far from the epicenter, though the pressure field depends on the presence of a leading acoustic‐gravity wave mode. Practically, this can assist in the implementation of an early tsunami detection system by identifying the pressure and frequency ranges of measurement equipment and appropriate installation locations.
Vernal distribution and turnover of dimethylsulfide (DMS) in the surface water of the Yellow Sea
Authors: Li Cheng‐Xuan , Yang Gui‐Peng , Wang Bao‐Dong , Xu Zong‐Jun
Published: September 2016

The spatial and interannual variations of dimethylsulfide (DMS) and its precursors, dissolved and particulate dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), were discussed on the basis of field observations in the surface waters of the Yellow Sea during spring 2007. Maxima of dimethylated sulfur compounds and low chlorophyll a concentrations were found in the central southern Yellow Sea, whereas low concentrations of DMS and DMSP were detected at the boundary between the northern and southern parts of the Yellow Sea. This frontal region is influenced by active water currents, air‐sea interface exchanges, and biological turnover. The horizontal variations in DMS production and consumption rates showed a decreasing tendency from the coastal to offshore areas mainly due to the complicated biological features. DMS positively correlated with dissolved CH4 and CO2 but negatively correlated with nutrients (nitrite and phosphate). Particulate DMSP concentrations and DMS production rates positively correlated with dinoflagellate abundances but negatively correlated with diatom cell densities. DMS and DMSP concentrations, as well as DMS production and consumption rates, exhibited approximately 2.0–2.8 fold increases from 2005 to 2012. This finding was likely caused by shifts in the phytoplankton communities from diatoms to dinoflagellates and the increases in abundances of zooplankton and bacteria. Average sea‐to‐air DMS fluxes were estimated to be 8.12 ± 1.24 µmol·(m−2·d−1), and DMS microbial consumption was approximately 1.68 times faster than the DMS sea‐air exchange. These findings imply that biological consumption, relative to ventilation, is a predominant mechanism in DMS removal from the surface water.
Effects of mesoscale eddies on the volume transport and branch pattern of the Kuroshio east of Taiwan
Authors: Yan Xiaomei , Zhu Xiao‐Hua , Pang Chongguang , Zhang Linlin
Published: September 2016

Using satellite altimeter data and a long‐term altimetric transport index for the Kuroshio inflow northeast of Taiwan, the effects of mesoscale eddies on the Kuroshio volume transport (KVT) at the East Taiwan Channel and the branching pattern of the Kuroshio east of Taiwan are investigated at scales from those of individual events to interannual timescales. Both anticyclonic and cyclonic eddies are found to be able either to strengthen or weaken the KVT, depending on the relative strength of mass convergence and divergence produced upstream and downstream of the eddies. The major factor influencing the intensity of the Kuroshio inflow is the meridional location of the eddies. For single eddy events, the KVT is significantly correlated with the latitude of the eddy's center, the correlations being 0.44 and −0.48 for anticyclonic and cyclonic eddies, respectively. For dipole eddy events, when the direction angle falls in the interval 40–150° (240–300°), the KVT anomaly tends to be positive (negative). Furthermore, low KVT events generally correspond to the formation of the Ryukyu Current branch, which is also generated from strong mass divergence produced by the eddies. In addition, on interannual timescales, the variation of KVT is closely related to the relative number of anticyclonic to cyclonic eddies west of 125°E, with a correlation of 0.5.
Improving snow process modeling with satellite‐based estimation of near‐surface‐air‐temperature lapse rate
Authors: Wang Lei , Sun Litao , Shrestha Maheswor , Li Xiuping , Liu Wenbin , Zhou Jing , Yang Kun , Lu Hui , Chen Deliang
Published: September 2016

In distributed hydrological modeling, surface air temperature (Tair) is of great importance in simulating cold region processes, while the near‐surface‐air‐temperature lapse rate (NLR) is crucial to prepare Tair (when interpolating Tair from site observations to model grids). In this study, a distributed biosphere hydrological model with improved snow physics (WEB‐DHM‐S) was rigorously evaluated in a typical cold, large river basin (e.g., the upper Yellow River basin), given a mean monthly NLRs. Based on the validated model, we have examined the influence of the NLR on the simulated snow processes and streamflows. We found that the NLR has a large effect on the simulated streamflows, with a maximum difference of greater than 24% among the various scenarios for NLRs considered. To supplement the insufficient number of monitoring sites for near‐surface‐air‐temperature at developing/undeveloped mountain regions, the nighttime Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer land surface temperature is used as an alternative to derive the approximate NLR at a finer spatial scale (e.g., at different elevation bands, different land covers, different aspects, and different snow conditions). Using satellite‐based estimation of NLR, the modeling of snow processes has been greatly refined. Results show that both the determination of rainfall/snowfall and the snowpack process were significantly improved, contributing to a reduced summer evapotranspiration and thus an improved streamflow simulation.
Codelivery of a π–π Stacked Dual Anticancer Drug Combination with Nanocarriers for Overcoming Multidrug Resistance and Tumor Metastasis
Authors: Wei Xiao , Wang Yi , Xiong Xiang , Guo Xing , Zhang Lei , Zhang Xiaobin , Zhou Shaobing
Published: September 2016

The multidrug resistance (MDR) of cancer cells is a major obstacle in cancer chemotherapy and very few strategies are available to overcome it. Here, a new strategy is developed to codeliver a π–π stacked dual anticancer drug combination with an actively targeted, pH‐ and reduction‐sensitive polymer micellar platform for combating multidrug resistance and tumor metastasis. In contrast to other methods, two traditional chemotherapeutics, doxorubicin (DOX) and 10‐hydroxycamptothecin with complex aromatic π–π conjugated structures, are integrated into one drug delivery system via a π–π stacking interaction, which enables the released drugs to evade the recognition of drug pumps due to a slight change in the drug's molecular structure. The micelles exhibit active targeting of DOX‐resistant human breast cancer MCF‐7 cells (MCF‐7/ADR) and have the ability to control the release of the drug in response to the microenvironmental stimuli of tumor cells. As a result, the codelivery of the π–π stacked dual anticancer drug combination displays high therapeutic efficacy in the MCF‐7/ADR tumor model and successfully prevents the lung metastasis of tumor cells. The mechanism underlying the reversal of MDR is investigated, and the results reveal that the synergistic effect of the π–π stacked dual drugs promotes mitochondria‐dependent apoptosis.
Size‐Selective Binding of Sodium and Potassium Ions in Nanoporous Thin Films of Polymerized Liquid Crystals
Authors: Bögels Gerardus M. , Lugger Jody A. M. , Goor Olga J. G. M. , Sijbesma Rint P.
Published: September 2016

The development of a nanoporous material from a columnar liquid crystalline complex between a polymerizable benzoic acid derivative and a 1,3,5‐tris(1H‐benzo[d]imidazol‐2‐yl)benzene template molecule is described. The morphology of the liquid crystalline complex is retained upon polymerization and quantitative removal of the template molecule affords a nanoporous material with the same lattice parameters. The nanoporous material selectively binds cations from aqueous solution, with selectivity for sodium and potassium ions over lithium and barium ions, as shown with FT‐IR. Binding is also quantified gravimetrically with a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring, a technique that is used for this purpose for the first time here.
Singlet–Triplet Splitting Energy Management via Acceptor Substitution: Complanation Molecular Design for Deep‐Blue Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitters and Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes Application
Authors: Cai Xinyi , Gao Bin , Li Xiang‐Long , Cao Yong , Su Shi‐Jian
Published: September 2016

A barely reached balance between weak intramolecular‐charge‐transfer (ICT) and small singlet–triplet splitting energy (ΔEST) for reverse intersystem crossing from non‐emissive triplet state to radiative singlet state impedes the realization of deep‐blue thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials. By discarding the twisted‐ICT framework for a flattened molecular backbone and introducing a strong acceptor possessing n–π* transition character, hypsochromic color, a large radiative rate (kF), and small ΔEST are achieved simultaneously. Six molecules with a 9,9‐dimethyl‐10‐phenyl‐9,10‐dihydroacridine (i‐DMAc) donor are synthesized and investigated. Coinciding with time‐dependent density functional theory, the reduced dihedral angles between donor (D) and acceptor (A) weaken ICT from dispersed charge density and enable a large kF from increased frontier molecular orbitals overlap. Despite the separated highest occupied (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) population, the intercalation of phenyl bridges between D–A increases kF but significantly lowers the local triplet excited state, indicating small HOMO and LUMO overlap is not a sufficient, but necessary condition for reduced ΔEST. Integrating short conjugation length and carbonyl or triazine acceptors into the complanation molecules, deep‐blue TADF organic light‐emitting diodes demonstrate maximum external quantum efficiencies of 11.5% and 10.9% with Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage coordinates of (0.16, 0.09) and (0.15, 0.11), respectively, which is quite close to the stringent National Television System Committee blue standard.
Ternary Ta2NiSe5 Flakes for a High‐Performance Infrared Photodetector
Authors: Li Liang , Wang Weike , Gan Lin , Zhou Nan , Zhu Xiangde , Zhang Qi , Li Huiqiao , Tian Mingliang , Zhai Tianyou
Published: September 2016

Multielemental systems enable the use of multiple degrees of freedom for control of physical properties by means of stoichiometric variation. This has attracted extremely high interest in the field of 2D optoelectronics in recent years. Here, for the first time, multilayer 2D ternary Ta2NiSe5 flakes are successfully fabricated using a mechanical exfoliation method from chemical vapor transport synthesized high quality bulk and the optoelectronic properties are systematically investigated. Importantly, a high responsivity of 17.21 A W−1 and high external quantum efficiency of 2645% are recorded from an as‐fabricated photodetector at room temperature in air; this is superior to most other 2D materials‐based photodetectors that have been reported. More intriguingly, a usual sublinear and an unusual superlinear light‐intensity‐dependent photocurrent are observed under air and vacuum, respectively. These excellent and special properties make multilayer ternary Ta2NiSe5 a highly competitive candidate for future infrared optoelectronic applications and an interesting platform for photophysics studies.
Boosting Power‐Generating Performance of Triboelectric Nanogenerators via Artificial Control of Ferroelectric Polarization and Dielectric Properties
Authors: Seung Wanchul , Yoon Hong‐Joon , Kim Tae Yun , Ryu Hanjun , Kim Jihye , Lee Ju‐Hyuck , Lee Jeong Hwan , Kim Sanghyun , Park Yun Kwon , Park Young Jun , Kim Sang‐Woo
Published: September 2016

Low output current represents a critical challenge that has interrupted the use of triboelectric nanogenerators (TNGs) in a wide range of applications as sustainable power sources. Many approaches (e.g., operation at high frequency, parallel stacks of individual devices, and hybridization with other energy harvesters) remain limited in solving the challenge of low output current from TNGs. Here, a nanocomposite material system having a superior surface charge density as a triboelectric active material is reported. The nanocomposite material consists of a high dielectric ceramic material, barium titanate, showing great charge‐trapping capability, together with a ferroelectric copolymer matrix, Poly(vinylidenefluoride‐co‐trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF‐TrFE)), with electrically manipulated polarization with strong triboelectric charge transfer characteristics. Based on a contact potential difference study showing that poled P(VDF‐TrFE) has 18 times higher charge attracting properties, a fraction between two components is optimized. Boosting power‐generating performance is achieved for 1130 V of output voltage and 1.5 mA of output current with this ferroelectric composite‐based TNG, under 6 kgf of pushing force at 5 Hz. An enormously faster charging property than traditional polymer film‐based TNGs is demonstrated in this study. Finally, the charging of a self‐powering smartwatch with a charging management circuit system with no external power sources is demonstrated successfully.
Correction of wall adhesion effects in the centrifugal compression of strong colloidal gels
Authors: Buscall Richard , Lester Daniel R.
Published: September 2016

Several methods for measuring the compressive strength of strong particulate gels are available, including the centrifuge method, whereby the strength as a function of volume‐fraction is obtained parametrically from the dependence of equilibrium sediment height upon acceleration. The analysis used conventionally due to Buscall & White (1987) ignores the possibility that the particulate network might adhere to the walls of the centrifuge tube, even though many types of cohesive particulate gel can be expected to. The neglect of adhesion is justifiable when the ratio of the shear to compressive strength is small, which it can be for many systems away from the gel‐point, but never very near it. The errors arising from neglect of adhesion are investigated theoretically and quantified by synthesising equilibrium sediment height versus acceleration data for various degrees of adhesion and then analysing them in the conventional manner. Approximate correction factors suggested by dimensionless analysis are then tested. The errors introduced by certain other approximations made routinely in order to render the data‐inversion practicable are analysed too. For example, it shown that the error introduced by treating the acceleration vector as approximately one‐dimensional is minuscule for typical centrifuge dimensions, whereas making this assumption renders the data inversion tractable. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 1520–1528, 2017
N‐doped porous carbons for CO2 capture: Rational choice of N‐containing polymer with high phenyl density as precursor
Authors: Geng Jian‐Cheng , Xue Ding‐Ming , Liu Xiao‐Qin , Shi Yao‐Qi , Sun Lin‐Bing
Published: September 2016

N‐doped porous carbons (NPCs) are highly promising for CO2 capture, but their preparation is severely hindered by two factors, namely, the high cost of N‐containing polymer precursors and the low yield of carbon products. Here we report for the first time the fabrication of NPCs through the rational choice of the polymer NUT‐4, with low cost and high phenyl density, as precursor. For the material NPC‐600 obtained from carbonization at 600°C, the yield is as high as 52.1%. The adsorption capacity of CO2 on NPC‐600 reaches 6.9 mmol/g at 273 K and 1 bar, which is obviously higher than that on the benchmarks, including 13X zeolite (4.1 mmol/g) and activated carbon (2.8 mmol/g), as well as most reported carbon materials. Our results also demonstrate that the present NPCs can be completely regenerated under mild conditions. The abundant microporosity and “CO2‐philic” (N‐doped) sites are responsible for the adsorption performance. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 1648–1658, 2017