bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tamarisk and Russian Olive Occurrence and Absence Dataset Collected in Select Tributaries of the Colorado River for 2017
Authors: Vorster Anthony G. , Woodward Brian D. , West Amanda M. , Young Nicholas E. , Sturtevant Robert G. , Mayer Timothy J. , Girma Rebecca K. , Evangelista Paul H.
Published: October 2018

Non-native and invasive tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) and Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) are common in riparian areas of the Colorado River Basin and are regarded as problematic by many land and water managers. Widespread location data showing current distribution of these species, especially data suitable for remote sensing analyses, are lacking. This dataset contains 3476 species occurrence and absence point records for tamarisk and Russian olive along rivers within the Colorado River Basin in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. Data were collected in the field in the summer of 2017 with high-resolution imagery loaded on computer tablets. This dataset includes status (live, dead, defoliated, etc.) of observed tamarisk to capture variability in tamarisk health across the basin, in part attributable to the tamarisk beetle (Diorhabda spp.). For absence points, vegetation or land cover were recorded. These data have a range of applications including serving as a baseline for the current distribution of these species, species distribution modeling, species detection with remote sensing, and invasive species management.
Near Field Antenna Measurement Sampling Strategies: From Linear to Nonlinear Interpolation
Authors: Migliore Marco Donald
Published: October 2018

The aim of this review paper is to discuss some of the advanced sampling techniques proposed in the last decade in the framework of planar near-field measurements, clarifying the theoretical basis of the different techniques, and showing the advantages in terms of number of measurements. Instead of discussing the details of the techniques, the attention is focused on their theoretical bases to give a gentle introduction to the techniques. For each sampling method, examples on a liner array are discussed to clarify the advantages and disadvantages of the method.
Automatic Generation Control of Nuclear Heating Reactor Power Plants
Authors: Dong Zhe , Liu Miao , Jiang Di , Huang Xiaojin , Zhang Yajun , Zhang Zuoyi
Published: October 2018

A nuclear heating reactor (NHR) is a typical integral pressurized water reactor (iPWR) with advanced design features such as an integral primary circuit, self-pressurization, full-power-range natural circulation, and hydraulic control rods. Through adjusting its electric power output according to the variation of demand, NHR power plants can be adopted to stablize the fluctuation of grid frequency caused by the intermittent nature of renewable generation, which is useful for deepening the penetration of renewables. The flexibility of an NHR power plant relies on the automatic generation control (AGC) function of the plant coordination control system, whose central is the AGC law. In this paper, the plant control system with AGC function is designed for NHR plants, where the AGC is realized based on the stabilizers of grid frequency and main steam pressure. Then, the AGC problem is transferred to the disturbance attenuation problem of a second-order dynamic system, and an active disturbance attenuation control (ADRC), which is just the addition of a feedback control given by a proportional‒integral (PI) law and a feedforward control driven by a disturbance observer (DO), is then proposed. Finally, this ADRC is applied to realize the AGC function for NHR-200II reactor power plant, and numerical simulation results show the implementation feasibility and satisfactory performance.
Consumer Attitudes towards Industrial CO2 Capture and Storage Products and Technologies
Authors: Kashintseva Valentina , Strielkowski Wadim , Streimikis Justas , Veynbender Tatiana
Published: October 2018

This paper discusses and elicits consumer attitudes towards industrial carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and storage (ICCS) products and technologies. It presents a comprehensive review of the relevant research literature on consumer attitudes towards ICCS represented by the willingness-to-pay (WTP) and willingness-to-accept (WTA) negative externalities and outcomes of the carbon capture and storage (the so-called “not-in-my-backyard” (NIMBY) approach). In addition, it employs a concise empirical model that uses the data from the online questionnaire survey conducted in 7 European Union (EU) countries with and without ICSS sites. Our results demonstrate that having at least one ICCS site significantly reduces the WTA for the ICCS products and technologies. It is shown that further increase of ICCS sites, including those in the neighboring regions and countries, leads to the increase of negative consumer attitudes to the ICCS technologies and renewable energy policies. It becomes apparent that the majority of consumers are willing to support industrial CO2 capture and storage only if it happens far away from their dwellings. The outcomes of this paper might be informative for the EU local industries and policy-makers who are planning the location of ICCS sites and optimizing the public support for their endeavors. Moreover, they might be relevant for the stakeholders dealing with the threat of climate change and the necessity for the decarbonization of the economy.
Coordinated Control of Multiple Virtual Synchronous Generators in Mitigating Power Oscillation
Authors: Hu Pan , Chen Hongkun , Cao Kan , Hu Yuchuan , Kai Ding , Chen Lei , Wang Yi
Published: October 2018

Virtual synchronous generators (VSGs) present attractive technical advantages and contribute to enhanced system operation and reduced oscillation damping in dynamic systems. Traditional VSGs often lack an interworking during power oscillation. In this paper, a coordinated control strategy for multiple VSGs is proposed for mitigating power oscillation. Based on a theoretical analysis of the parameter impact of VSGs, a coordinated approach considering uncertainty is presented by utilizing polytopic linear differential inclusion (PLDI) and a D-stable model to enhance the small-signal stability of system. Subsequently, the inertia and damping of multiple VSGs are jointly exploited to reduce oscillation periods and overshoots during transient response. Simulation, utilizing a two-area four-machine system and a typical microgrid test system, demonstrates the benefits of the proposed strategy in enhancing operation stability and the anti-disturbing ability of multiple VSGs. The results conclusively confirm the validity and applicability of the method.
Data Report: Molecular and Isotopic Compositions of the Extracted Gas from China’s First Offshore Natural Gas Hydrate Production Test in South China Sea
Authors: Ye Jianliang , Qin Xuwen , Qiu Haijun , Xie Wenwei , Lu Hongfeng , Lu Cheng , Zhou Jianhou , Liu Jiyong , Yang Tianbang , Cao Jun , Sa Rina
Published: October 2018

Three hundred gas samples recovered from SHSC-4 during China’s first gas hydrate production test in the South China Sea were examined for gas component and isotopic composition. According to the gas chromatography analysis, all the gas samples from SHSC-4 are predominated by CH4, with minor N2 + O2, as well as trace amounts of CO2, C2H6, and C3H8. No H2S was detected. The molecular and isotopic data of the gas samples fall into the region of “mixed origin” on the plot of C1/(C2 + C3) − δ13C1, which is close to the microbial origin. The discrimination diagram of δ13C1 − δDCH4 shows that the methane in all of the samples is of microbial origin, and is derived from the CO2 reduction.
Carbon Productivity: Findings from Industry Case Studies in Beijing
Authors: Lu Min , Wang Xing , Cang Yuquan
Published: October 2018

Simultaneously protecting the environment and promoting the economy are two critical dimensions for sustainable development. Carbon productivity is popularly used in assessing the environmental and economic efficiency over time, and is deemed as the appropriate indicator of sustainable development. Given the prominent contribution of energy consumption to sustainable development, this study incorporates energy consumption into the Log Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) decomposition model to explore the main factors influencing carbon productivity change. Based on the data from 19 industries in Beijing from 2013 to 2016, this study then reports the carbon productivities and their changes. Energy productivity change is the main cause of carbon productivity changes, and its correlation with carbon productivity change is significantly positive, whereas there is a weak correlation and no significant difference in energy consumption per unit of carbon emissions. Although the average carbon productivities in all 19 industries increased year over year in Beijing, the average level could be further promoted by improving energy productivity. The carbon productivities of the primary and secondary industries are less than the average, and far below the tertiary industry level. For the primary industry, increasing economic levels is conducive to improving carbon productivity; for secondary industry, reducing energy consumption and enhancing energy efficiency are most effective; and for tertiary industry, maintaining an outstanding performance will guarantee sustainable development in Beijing. This study has defined carbon productivity change from the energy consumption perspective and for the first time, comprehensively measured it for all industries in Beijing. The results are expected to assist these industries to essentially improve productivity performance and thus improve development sustainability.
A Simple Method for Reducing THD and Improving the Efficiency in CSI Topology Based on SiC Power Devices
Authors: Fernández Efrén , Paredes Alejandro , Sala Vicent , Romeral Luis
Published: October 2018

Silicon carbide (SiC)-based switching devices provide significant performance improvements in many aspects, including lower power dissipation, higher operating temperatures, and faster switching; compared with conventional Si devices, all these features contribute to these devices generating interest in applications for electric traction systems. The topology that is frequently used in these systems is the voltage source inverter (VSI), but the use of SiC devices in the current source inverter topology (CSI), which is considered as an emerging topology, generates interest. This paper presents a method for improving total harmonic distortion (THD) in the currents of output and efficiency in SiC current source inverter for future application in an electric traction system. The method that is proposed consists of improving the coupling of a bidirectional converter topology, voltage current (V-I) and CSI. The V-I converter serves as a current regulator for the CSI, and allows for the recovery of energy. The method involves an effective selection of the switching frequencies and phase angles for the carrier signals that are present in each converter topology. With this method, it is expected to have a reduction of the total harmonic distortion, THD in the output currents. In addition, a comparative analysis between converters with all-SiC technology and converters with hybrid technology is realized, to verify the impact of the SiC devices in the power converters efficiency.
Comparison of Blade Element Method and CFD Simulations of a 10 MW Wind Turbine
Authors: Bangga Galih
Published: October 2018

The present studies deliver the computational investigations of a 10 MW turbine with a diameter of 205.8 m developed within the framework of the AVATAR (Advanced Aerodynamic Tools for Large Rotors) project. The simulations were carried out using two methods with different fidelity levels, namely the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and blade element and momentum (BEM) approaches. For this purpose, a new BEM code namely B-GO was developed employing several correction terms and three different polar and spatial interpolation options. Several flow conditions were considered in the simulations, ranging from the design condition to the off-design condition where massive flow separation takes place, challenging the validity of the BEM approach. An excellent agreement is obtained between the BEM computations and the 3D CFD results for all blade regions, even when massive flow separation occurs on the blade inboard area. The results demonstrate that the selection of the polar data can influence the accuracy of the BEM results significantly, where the 3D polar datasets extracted from the CFD simulations are considered the best. The BEM prediction depends on the interpolation order and the blade segment discretization.
Conservation of the Traditional Grain Mills in Dakhla Oasis, Egypt: Study of Mechanical Systems and Restoration
Authors: Ali Yasser
Published: October 2018

This paper is the first study of traditional grain mills in Dakhla Oasis, Egypt, to ensure the sustainability of these traditional production systems while retaining their original function. In this sense, the aim of this study was to analyze the mechanical systems of the animal-powered traditional mills in Dakhla Oasis, which remain the key to figuring out the puzzle of how these mills work and produce flour. This is an original study that examines a sample animal-powered mill to be conserved; this sample old mill was selected from seven potential grain mills, after investigating each mill. This study provides the technical background and description of the selected grain mill in Dakhla Oasis, and describes its working and mechanical movement. In addition, the physical properties of the historic grain mill wood were measured (e.g., density, shrinkage, and hardness), using scientific techniques, to get some information about their properties. In this study, the methodology for grain mill conservation was based on a combination of the traditional experience of the old craftsmen and modern technology applications in the restoration and rehabilitation of animal-powered mills, in addition to the use of software programs in data analysis. Our results proved that the ancient traditional expertise of the old craftsmen and scientific techniques are the most appropriate methods for restoring and preserving animal-powered mills, which include the determination and rework of the mechanical movement between the wooden gear wheel and millstones. Finally, this study gives an in-depth look into the practical scientific restoration of animal-powered mills in Egypt and other countries.
Natural Background and Anthropogenic Arsenic Enrichment in Florida Soils, Surface Water, and Groundwater: A Review with a Discussion on Public Health Risk
Authors: Missimer Thomas M. , Teaf Christopher M. , Beeson William T. , Maliva Robert G. , Woolschlager John , Covert Douglas J.
Published: October 2018

Florida geologic units and soils contain a wide range in concentrations of naturally-occurring arsenic. The average range of bulk rock concentrations is 1 to 13.1 mg/kg with concentrations in accessary minerals being over 1000 mg/kg. Florida soils contain natural arsenic concentrations which can exceed 10 mg/kg in some circumstances, with organic-rich soils often having the highest concentrations. Anthropogenic sources of arsenic have added about 610,000 metric tons of arsenic into the Florida environment since 1970, thereby increasing background concentrations in soils. The anthropogenic sources of arsenic in soils include: pesticides (used in Florida beginning in the 1890’s), fertilizers, chromated copper arsenate (CCA)-treated wood, soil amendments, cattle-dipping vats, chicken litter, sludges from water treatment plants, and others. The default Soil Cleanup Target Level (SCTL) in Florida for arsenic in residential soils is 2.1 mg/kg which is below some naturally-occurring background concentrations in soils and anthropogenic concentrations in agricultural soils. A review of risk considerations shows that adverse health impacts associated with exposure to arsenic is dependent on many factors and that the Florida cleanup levels are very conservative. Exposure to arsenic in soils at concentrations that exceed the Florida default cleanup level set specifically for residential environments does not necessarily pose a meaningful a priori public health risk, given important considerations such as the form of arsenic present, the route(s) of exposure, and the actual circumstances of exposure (e.g., frequency, duration, and magnitude).
A Novel 3D Anisotropic Total Variation Regularized Low Rank Method for Hyperspectral Image Mixed Denoising
Authors: Sun Le , Zhan Tianming , Wu Zebin , Jeon Byeungwoo
Published: October 2018

Known to be structured in several patterns at the same time, the prior image of interest is always modeled with the idea of enforcing multiple constraints on unknown signals. For instance, when dealing with a hyperspectral restoration problem, the combination of constraints with piece-wise smoothness and low rank has yielded promising reconstruction results. In this paper, we propose a novel mixed-noise removal method by employing 3D anisotropic total variation and low rank constraints simultaneously for the problem of hyperspectral image (HSI) restoration. The main idea of the proposed method is based on the assumption that the spectra in an HSI lies in the same low rank subspace and both spatial and spectral domains exhibit the property of piecewise smoothness. The low rankness of an HSI is approximately exploited by the nuclear norm, while the spectral-spatial smoothness is explored using 3D anisotropic total variation (3DATV), which is defined as a combination of 2D spatial TV and 1D spectral TV of the HSI cube. Finally, the proposed restoration model is effectively solved by the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM). Experimental results of both simulated and real HSI datasets validate the superior performance of the proposed method in terms of quantitative assessment and visual quality.
Preparation and Characterization of Functionalized Graphene Oxide Carrier for siRNA Delivery
Authors: Li Jing , Ge Xu , Cui Chunying , Zhang Yifan , Wang Yifan , Wang Xiaoli , Sun Qi
Published: October 2018

A successful siRNA delivery system is dependent on the development of a good siRNA carrier. Graphene oxide (GO) has gained great attention as a promising nanocarrier in recent years. It has been reported that GO could be used to deliver a series of drugs including synthetic compounds, proteins, antibodies, and genes. Our previous research indicated that functionalized GO could deliver siRNA into tumor cells and induce a gene silencing effect, to follow up the research, in this research, GO-R8/cRGDfV(GRcR) was designed and prepared for VEGF-siRNA delivery as a novel carrier. The Zeta potential and particle size of the new designed GRcR carrier was measured at (29.46 ± 5.32) mV and (135.7 ± 3.3) nm respectively, and after transfection, the VEGF mRNA level and protein expression level were down-regulated by 48.22% (p < 0.01) and 38.3% (p < 0.01) in HeLa cells, respectively. The fluorescent images of the treated BALB/c nude mice revealed that GRcR/VEGF-siRNA could conduct targeted delivery of VEGF-siRNA into tumor tissues and showed a gene silencing effect as well as a tumor growth inhibitory effect (p < 0.01) in vivo. Further studies showed that GRcR/VEGF-siRNA could effectively inhibit angiogenesis by suppressing VEGF expression. Histology and immunohistochemistry studies demonstrated that GRcR/VEGF-siRNA could inhibit tumor tissue growth effectively and have anti-angiogenesis activity, which was the result of VEGF protein downregulation. Both in vitro and in vivo results demonstrated that GRcR/VEGF-siRNA could be used as an ideal nonviral tumor-targeting vector for VEGF-siRNA delivery in gene therapy.
AST-120 Reduces Neuroinflammation Induced by Indoxyl Sulfate in Glial Cells
Authors: Adesso Simona , Paterniti Irene , Cuzzocrea Salvatore , Fujioka Masaki , Autore Giuseppina , Magnus Tim , Pinto Aldo , Marzocco Stefania
Published: October 2018

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) involves multiple organ dysfunction, and the neurological complications that are often present in CKD patients support the idea of a crosstalk between the kidneys and the brain. Evidence suggests a possible role for products accumulating in these patients as uremic toxins in various CKD complications, including neurodegeneration. Indoxyl sulfate (IS), derived from tryptophan metabolism, is well-known as a uremic nephron-vascular toxin, and recent evidence suggests it also has a role in the immune response and in neurodegeneration. Inflammation has been associated with neurodegenerative diseases, as well as with CKD. In this study, we demonstrated that sera of CKD patients induced a significant inflammation in astrocyte cells which was proportional to IS sera concentrations, and that the IS adsorbent, AST-120, reduced this inflammatory response. These results indicated that, among the uremic toxins accumulating in serum of CKD patients, IS significantly contributed to astrocyte inflammation. Moreover, being also chronic inflammation associated with CKD, here we reported that IS further increased inflammation and oxidative stress in primary central nervous system (CNS) cells, via Nuclear Factor-κB (NF-κB) and Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) activation, and induced neuron death. This study is a step towards elucidating IS as a potential pharmacological target in CKD patients.
Fixed Point Results on Δ-Symmetric Quasi-Metric Space via Simulation Function with an Application to Ulam Stability
Authors: Alqahtani Badr , Fulga Andreea , Karapınar Erdal
Published: October 2018

In this paper, in the setting of Δ -symmetric quasi-metric spaces, the existence and uniqueness of a fixed point of certain operators are scrutinized carefully by using simulation functions. The most interesting side of such operators is that they do not form a contraction. As an application, in the same framework, the Ulam stability of such operators is investigated. We also propose some examples to illustrate our results.
Sandensolide Induces Oxidative Stress-Mediated Apoptosis in Oral Cancer Cells and in Zebrafish Xenograft Model
Authors: Yu Chung-I , Chen Chung-Yi , Liu Wangta , Chang Po-Chih , Huang Chiung-Wei , Han Kuang-Fen , Lin In-Pin , Lin Mei-Ying , Lee Chien-Hsing
Published: October 2018

Presently, natural sources and herbs are being sought for the treatment of human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in order to alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy. This study investigates the effect of sandensolide, a cembrane isolated from Sinularia flexibilis, to inhibit human OSCC cell growth with the aim of developing a new drug for the treatment of oral cancer. In vitro cultured human OSCC models (Ca9.22, SCC9 and HSC-3 cell lines) and oral normal cells (HGF-1), as well as a zebrafish xenograft model, were used to test the cytotoxicity of sandensolide (MTT assay), as well as to perform cell cycle analysis and Western blotting. Both the in vitro bioassay and the zebrafish xenograft model demonstrated the anti-oral cancer effect of sandensolide. Moreover, sandensolide was able to significantly suppress colony formation and induce apoptosis, as well as cell cycle arrest, in OSCC by regulating multiple key proteins. Induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed in sandensolide-treated oral cancer cells. However, these apoptotic changes were rescued by NAC pretreatment. These findings contribute to the knowledge of the model of action of sandensolide, which may induce oxidative stress-mediated cell death pathways as a potential agent in oral cancer therapeutics.
Effect of Jet Flow between Electrodes on the Cathode Quality in Copper Electrorefining with High Current Density
Authors: Wang Hongdan , Wang Qian , Xia Wentang , Ren Bingzhi
Published: October 2018

Increasing current density is one of the main methods for improving the productivity of copper electrorefining. However, in the conventional bottom-inlet/top-outlet mode, an increase in current density leads to a deterioration of the surface quality of the cathode copper. This paper describes an experimental study of the influence of the jet flow between electrodes on the cathode quality. The surface roughness and the standard deviation of the cathode copper were used to evaluate the cathode quality. The results showed that in the single-side jet inlet mode, the electrolyte circulation rate has great influence on the surface roughness of the cathode copper, which is inversely correlated. However, when the electrolyte circulation rate is small, the surface roughness of the cathode copper is not uniform. The farther the position at the surface of the cathode copper is to the jet region, the coarser the cathode copper surface, and vice versa.
Scandium and Titanium Recovery from Bauxite Residue by Direct Leaching with a Brønsted Acidic Ionic Liquid
Authors: Bonomi Chiara , Alexandri Alexandra , Vind Johannes , Panagiotopoulou Angeliki , Tsakiridis Petros , Panias Dimitrios
Published: October 2018

In this study, bauxite residue was directly leached using the Brønsted acidic ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogensulfate. Stirring rate, retention time, temperature, and pulp density have been studied in detail as the parameters that affect the leaching process. Their optimized combination has shown high recovery yields of Sc, nearly 80%, and Ti (90%), almost total dissolution of Fe, while Al and Na were partially extracted in the range of 30–40%. Si and rare earth element (REEs) dissolutions were found to be negligible, whereas Ca was dissolved and reprecipitated as CaSO4. The solid residue after leaching was fully characterized, providing explanations for the destiny of REEs that remain undissolved during the leaching process. The solid residue produced after dissolution can be further treated to extract REEs, while the leachate can be subjected to metal recovery processes (i.e., liquid–liquid extraction) to extract metals and regenerate ionic liquid.
Synthesis of Pure NiTiSn by Mechanical Alloying: An Investigation of the Optimal Experimental Conditions Supported by First Principles Calculations
Authors: Tillard Monique , Berche Alexandre , Jund Philippe
Published: October 2018

Synthesis of NiTiSn by a mechanical alloying process followed by a high temperature thermal annealing was studied. Experiments were conducted varying parameters like the provided energy, the mechanical alloying reaction time, as well as the annealing temperature and duration. Based on the careful investigation of the phases present in the samples by systematic X-ray diffraction (after mechanical alloying and after annealing) and selected microscopy analyses, a reaction mechanism is proposed supported by theoretical calculations at the DFT (Density Functional Theory) level. An energy window to prepare directly NiTiSn has been evidenced. Highly pure NiTiSn has also been obtained by conversion from a multicomponent precursor obtained by low energy mechanical alloying.
Experimental Characterization of the Primary Stability of Acetabular Press-Fit Cups with Open-Porous Load-Bearing Structures on the Surface Layer
Authors: Weißmann Volker , Boss Christian , Schulze Christian , Hansmann Harald , Bader Rainer
Published: October 2018

Background: Nowadays, hip cups are being used in a wide range of design versions and in an increasing number of units. Their development is progressing steadily. In contrast to conventional methods of manufacturing acetabular cups, additive methods play an increasingly central role in the development progress. Method: A series of eight modified cups were developed on the basis of a standard press-fit cup with a pole flattening and in a reduced version. The surface structures consist of repetitive open-pore load-bearing textural elements aligned right-angled to the cup surface. We used three different types of unit cells (twisted, combined and combined open structures) for constructing of the surface structure. All cups were manufactured using selective laser melting (SLM) of titanium powder (Ti6Al4V). To evaluate the primary stability of the press fit cups in the artificial bone cavity, pull-out and lever-out tests were conducted. All tests were carried out under exact fit conditions. The closed-cell polyurethane (PU) foam, which was used as an artificial bone cavity, was characterized mechanically in order to preempt any potential impact on the test results. Results and conclusions: The pull-out forces as well as the lever moments of the examined cups differ significantly depending on the elementary cells used. The best results in pull-out forces and lever-out moments are shown by the press-fit cups with a combined structure. The results for the assessment of primary stability are related to the geometry used (unit cell), the dimensions of the unit cell, and the volume and porosity responsible for the press fit. Corresponding functional relationships could be identified. The findings show that the implementation of reduced cups in a press-fit design makes sense as part of the development work.
Special Issue on Plasma Medicine
Authors: Laroussi Mounir , Keidar Michael , Hori Masaru
Published: October 2018

n/a
Effects of Nano-CaCO3 Content on the Crystallization, Mechanical Properties, and Cell Structure of PP Nanocomposites in Microcellular Injection Molding
Authors: Mao Huajie , He Bo , Guo Wei , Hua Lin , Yang Qing
Published: October 2018

Using supercritical nitrogen as the physical foaming agent, microcellular polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites were prepared in microcellular injection molding. The main purpose of this work is to study effects of content of nano-CaCO3 on the crystallization, mechanical properties, and cell structure of PP nanocomposites in microcellular injection molding. The results show that adding nano-CaCO3 to PP could improve its mechanical properties and cell structure. The thermal stability and crystallinity enhances with increase of nano-CaCO3. As a bubble nucleating agent, adding nano-CaCO3 to PP improves the cell structure in both the parallel sections and vertical sections. The mechanical properties increase first and then decrease with increase of nano-CaCO3. The mechanical properties are affected by the cell structure, as well. The mechanical properties and cell structure are optimum when the content of nano-CaCO3 is 6 wt %.
Design of a Cooperative Lane Change Protocol for a Connected and Automated Vehicle Based on an Estimation of the Communication Delay
Authors: An Hongil , Jung Jae-il
Published: October 2018

Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) have recently attracted a great deal of attention. Various studies have been conducted to improve vehicle and traffic safety through vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communication. In the field of CAVs, lane change research is considered a very challenging subject. This paper presents a cooperative lane change protocol, considering the impact of V2V communication delay. When creating a path for a lane change in the local path planning module, V2V communication delay occurs. Each vehicle was represented, in our study, by an oriented bounding box (OBB) to determine the risk of collision. We set up a highway driving simulation environment and verified the improved protocol by implementing a longitudinal and lateral controller.
A Sum of Incidentals or a Structural Problem? The True Nature of Food Waste in the Metropolitan Region of Barcelona
Authors: Diaz-Ruiz Raquel , Costa-Font Montserrat , López-i-Gelats Feliu , Gil José M.
Published: October 2018

Addressing the generation of food waste is a major challenge nowadays. An increasing interest in studying food waste generation has emerged over the last decade. However, little attention has been devoted to understanding the root of the problem by carrying out a whole-supply-chain analysis and applying multidimensional approaches. The aim of this paper was to identify the causes of food waste in the metropolitan region of Barcelona along the food supply chain, considering the relevant stakeholders’ perceptions. Moreover, we examined the circumstantial or structural nature of the identified causes. We conducted a qualitative study consisting of 24 in-depth interviews of key stakeholders in the region along the food supply chain from October 2014 to January 2015. The interviews were analyzed by content analysis, and the main results are presented here. We used a conceptual framework that differentiates among micro, meso, and macro causes to disentangle the nature of the causes. The results from this study show the great interest of regional stakeholders in the issue of the generation of food waste and provide a complete map of the causes of food waste in the metropolitan region. From our study, we advocate that food waste is not only a sum of incidentals but it a structural problem.
Evaluating China’s Paired-Assistance Policy (PAP) in Response to the Wenchuan Earthquake: A Sustainability Perspective
Authors: Zhang Haibo , Tao Zhigang
Published: October 2018

Taking a ten-year retrospective view, this article qualitatively evaluates the performance of the paired-assistance policy (PAP) implemented in response to China’s Wenchuan earthquake from the perspective of sustainable recovery. Based on a review of relevant literature, the article proposes an integrated framework for the qualitative evaluation of the sustainability of disaster recovery. First, sustainable recovery prioritizes sustainability as the goal of activities undertaken to improve the local quality of life and local economic and environmental conditions. Second, sustainable recovery is a process involving several stages, from restoration to replacement reconstruction and finally to developmental construction. Third, sustainable recovery creates a structure that fosters local reliance through interactions between external and internal entities. Fourth, sustainable recovery emphasizes betterment over restoration and hazard mitigation. Overall, sustainable recovery integrates these four characteristics. Using the case-study method, this article qualitatively evaluates the Jiangsu-Mianzhu PAP (JM-PAP) from the perspective of sustainable recovery. The findings suggest that the JM-PAP laid a good foundation for sustainable recovery after the Wenchuan earthquake. Finally, policy recommendations are offered to improve the performance of the PAP in achieving sustainable recovery after future disasters in China.
Indicators of Sustainability in Educational Practice: Perception of Teachers and Students of UAGro-Mexico
Authors: Brito Rosa María , Rodríguez Columba , Aparicio José Luis , Paolacci Jerome , Sampedro María Laura , Beltrán Juana
Published: October 2018

Teachers and university students require knowledge to generate positive changes and to overcome environmental challenges through innovative and relevant research. The Autonomous University of Guerrero lacks reliable methodologies and instruments required to evaluate progress towards sustainable development. This research proposes sustainability indicators as substantive functions at the educational levels of high school, bachelor’s degree, and postgraduate study. Indicators were developed via two surveys of 63 teachers and 511 students from four educational programs. Data processing was undertaken using SPSS 21 and Excel 2011. The results show that the environment was ranked more highly than the social and economic indicators. In terms of the participants, the functions of extension (61%), research (58%), teaching (45%), and management (43%) were ranked higher for students; in relation to teachers, research (15%), extension (18%), and teaching (43%) were ranked lower. It was concluded that students show greater socio-environmental concern, while teachers focus more on teaching rather than on the other substantive functions. These results represent relevant and well-founded information that can be used to make decisions that lead the university toward sustainability.
From Geographical Indications to Rural Development: A Review of the Economic Effects of European Union Policy
Authors: Cei Leonardo , Defrancesco Edi , Stefani Gianluca
Published: October 2018

One of the main functions of geographical indications (GIs) is to provide information and quality to consumers. This, in turn, can generate benefits for producers and stimulate rural development processes, as advocated by European Union (EU) legislation. The objective of the present study is to understand if the theorized effects of GIs on local economic development are supported by empirical evidence. Using a systematic approach, we reviewed the literature on the topic and structured the results of the review adopting a supply chain framework. This allows us to better understand how the effects of GIs are distributed among the chain actors and finally arrive at the local territories where GI products originate. Evidence shows that GIs are actually able to generate value added, especially at the consumer and retailer levels, while the effects on the economic performance of producers are more heterogeneous and dependent on specific local conditions. The review also highlighted some drawbacks in the literature that make it difficult to draw robust conclusions about the actual impact of GI policy at the European level. Therefore, despite the GI tool actually showing good potential for improving local economic conditions, more structured and focused research is needed.
Optimal Energy Recovery from Water Distribution Systems Using Smart Operation Scheduling
Authors: Telci Ilker T. , Aral Mustafa M.
Published: October 2018

Micro hydropower generators (micro turbines), are used to recover excess energy from hydraulic systems and these applications have important potential in renewable energy production. One of the most viable environments for the use of micro turbines is the water distribution network where, by design, there is always excess energy since minimum pressures are to be maintained throughout the system, and the system is designed to meet future water supply needs of a planning period. Under these circumstances, maintaining the target pressures is not an easy task due to the increasing complexity of the water distribution network to supply future demands. As a result, pressures at several locations of the network tend to be higher than the required minimum pressures. In this paper, we outline a methodology to recover this excess energy using smart operation management and the best placement of micro turbines in the system. In this approach, the best micro turbine locations and their operation schedule is determined to recover as much available excess energy as possible from the water distribution network while satisfying the current demand for water supply and pressure. Genetic algorithms (GAs) are used to obtain optimal solutions and a “smart seeding” approach is developed to improve the performance of the GA. The Dover Township pump-driven water distribution system in New Jersey, United States of America (USA) was selected as the study area to test the proposed methodology. This pump-driven network was also converted into a hypothetical gravity-driven network to observe the differences between the energy recovery potential of the pump-driven and gravity-driven systems. The performance of the energy recovery system was evaluated by calculating the equivalent number of average American homes that can be fed by the energy produced and the resulting carbon-dioxide emission reductions that may be achieved. The results show that this approach is an effective tool for applications in renewable energy production in water distribution systems for small towns such as Dover Township. It is expected that, for larger water distribution systems with high energy usage, the energy recovery potential will be much higher.
Recherches sur la déformation sous charge à haute température de quelques roches éruptives
Authors: Sabatier Germain
Published: October 2018

Description d'une méthode de mesure de la viscosité des roches, à chaud, au-dessus de 10⁷ poises. Application à des rhyolites vitreuses entre 800 et 1 100° C et à diverses roches éruptives, partiellement fondues à la température de l'expérience (1 000-1 150° C).
Amélioration de la structure de la humboldtine FeC2O4. 2 H2O
Authors: Caric S.
Published: October 2018

La structure de l'oxalate de fer hydraté, Fe C₂O₄ . 2H₂O, a été déterminée récemment par F. Mazzi et C. Garavelli (1957). Ce travail précise les résultats précédents : la humboldtine appartient au système monoclinique et a pour groupe spatial C 2 /c. Les constantes réticulaires sont :

a = 12,060 Â ; b = 5,550 Â ; c = 9,804 Â ; p = 127°58'

La maille contient 4 molécules et les groupes C₂O₄ sont liés aux atomes de fer de façon à former des chaînes suivant l'axe b. L'emploi des fonctions-différences de Cochran a permis d'atteindre, pour les plans (hol) la valeur de R = 0,07, pour les plans (okl) R = 0,067 et pour les plans (2 hkh) R = 0,065.
Procédé d'enregistrement électrostatique des diagrammes et images de diffraction et de microscopie électroniques
Authors: Trillat Jean-Jacques , Tertian L.
Published: October 2018

La plaque photographique peut être remplacée par une feuille de matériau isolant ; les régions où sont localisés les électrons après traversée de la préparation sont révélées à sec à l'aide de poudres très fines électrisées positivement, et l'image obtenue est ensuite fixée.
Matériaux pour la minéralogie de Madagascar. II. La dumortiérite de Riampotsy
Authors: Christophe Michel-Lévy Mireille , Emberger André , Sandréa André Philippe
Published: October 2018

La dumortiérite forme avec le quartz des masses pierreuses bleues ; propriétés optiques, analyse chimique (pauvreté en B203) ; le diagramme X est amélioré par chauffage du minéral à 500° ; celui-ci présente une faible radioactivité
L'agitation thermique dans les cristaux moléculaires : la diffusion des rayons X par l'acridine III
Authors: Amorós Portolés José Luis , Acha A. de , Canut M.-L.
Published: October 2018

Nous avons étudié la diffusion thermique des rayons X pari' acridine III à la température ordinaire à partir des diagrammes de Laue. Les régions de diffusion thermique continue sont interprétées avec notre fonction transformée de Fourier de différences (TFD) et le modèle d'indépendance de mouvement des quatre molécules de la maille unitaire. Le modèle qui considère le mouvement accouplé des paires de molécules n'est pas en accord avec les régions observées. Après avoir calculé une valeur approchée de la température caractéristique de Debye (0 = 410 K), nous comparons théoriquement le comportement des fonctions de Laval de premier, second et troisième ordre et de notre fonction TFD en fonction de la température et de |x|.

Le phénomène d'inversion de la diffusion donné par les fonctions de Laval permettra d'élucider, en refroidissant le cristal, si les régions diffuses continues peuvent être exprimées aussi, malgré leur complexité, par une contribution notable des diffusions de premier, second et troisième ordre de Laval.
Étude de la transmission anormale des rayons X dans des cristaux de silicium. I. Cas des cristaux parfaits
Authors: Authier André
Published: October 2018

On rappelle les bases de la théorie dynamique de la diffraction des rayons X en utilisant une méthode géométrique pour le calcul de la position des points caractéristiques et de l'amplitude des ondes dans le cristal et on calcule le trajet de l'énergie dans le cas d'une onde incidente plane et infinie. La distribution d'énergie sur la face de sortie du cristal est vérifiée quantitativement dans le cas d'une onde limitée. On montre qu'il est possible, en utilisant le phénomène de réfraction multiple et une fente fine, d'établir une corrélation pratiquement biunivoque entre l'angle d'incidence et la longueur d'onde des rayons d'un pinceau. Cette corrélation permet de mettre en évidence photographiquement la séparation des champs d'ondes dans le deuxième cristal d'un montage à deux cristaux et de serrer de très près les profils intrinsèques des raies de réflexion. On calcule et on vérifie en valeur absolue la répartition d'énergie sur la face de sortie du deuxième cristal.

On étudie d'autre part expérimentalement les profils des raies de réflexion et les intensités intégrées en fonction de l'épaisseur de l'échantillon. On utilise pour cela un double spectrographe par transmission et l'on fait des mesures absolues à l'aide d'une chambre d'ionisation.
Etude préliminaire de la solubilité du basalte dans l'eau à haute température
Authors: Iiyama Jean Toshimichi
Published: October 2018

Etude préliminaire de la solubilité dans l'eau d'un basalte à 200° C, 300° C et 400° C. La silice et le sodium sont les éléments les plus solubles. Dans l'eau pure, la chaux ne se dissout pas beaucoup (quelques ppm), mais en présence de gaz carbonique, elle se dissout plus facilement. Discussion des conséquences géologiques.
Propriétés électriques et optiques du phénanthrène cristallisé
Authors: Gay J. , Kara R. , Mathieu Jean-Paul
Published: October 2018

La piézoélectricité, ainsi que la coïncidence des fréquences de vibration en absorption et en diffusion, confirment le groupe de symétrie P2₁ des cristaux. L'étude de la dispersion des indices de réfraction principaux a permis de calculer les polarisabilités principales des molécules et de rendre compte du spectre Raman dû aux pivotements de celles-ci dans la maille.
Remarques sur quelques-unes des principales associations minérales dans les micaschistes de Bretagne méridionale (Finistère — Morbihan)
Authors: Cogné Jean
Published: October 2018

Le développement des principaux «minéraux de métamorphisme » connus en Bretagne méridionale dans les micaschistes est lié à la superposition du métamorphisme hercynien épizonal (suivi par la mise en place des granites intrusifs à deux micas) sur un domaine métamorphique ancien mésozonal. Si la répartition des espèces minérales est naturellement fonction en premier lieu de la nature chimique des séries primitives, leur différenciation résulte, pour la plupart, des différents types d'efforts tectoniques contemporains du métamorphisme nouveau entraînant la rétromorphose des séries métamorphiques anciennes.
Vermiculite de Decazeville (Aveyron)
Authors: Pulou Raymond , Monchoux Pierre , Vetter Pierre
Published: October 2018

De la vermiculite en grandes lames a été découverte au sud du Massif Central dans la région de Decazeville. Ce minéral s'est développé dans les serpentines au contact des gneiss. L'étude minéralogique a montré qu'il s'agissait de vermiculite-chlorite .
Observations pétrographiques et minéralogiques sur le minerai de fer de l'Ordovicien inférieur du synclinal de Martigné-Ferchaud (Ille-et-Vilaine)
Authors: Chauvel Jean-Jacques
Published: October 2018

Les deux échantillons étudiés proviennent de deux sondages distants l'un de l'autre de 18 km et atteignant le minerai de fer situé dans le grès armoricain du synclinal de Martigné-Ferchaud (couche A, à quelques mètres sous les schistes intermédiaires). La structure oolithique est nette dans les deux cas, mais la composition minéralogique des deux échantillons est différente. L'un, carbonaté et chloriteux, est riche en éléments de quartz ; l'autre, constitué de magnétite et de chlorite est totalement dépourvu de quartz. Cette étude pétrographique permet de mettre en évidence des différences dans les conditions de sédimentation : apports plus ou moins importants de matériel grossier, milieux plus ou moins réducteurs.
Combinaisons des macles Manebach-Baveno dans l'orthose du granite de Raon-l'Étape (Vosges)
Authors: Nicolas A.
Published: October 2018

Étude détaillée du granite de Raon-l'Étape, de l'orthose de ce granite et des différents types de macles qui affectent ce feldspath. Ces associations de macles sont liées, semble-t-il, à une granitisation d'un type précis. Application à la pétrographie locale et régionale des granites hercyniens rhénans.
La terminologie des méthodes de prospections géochimiques
Authors: Granier Claude Louis
Published: October 2018

L'auteur rappelle et donne les définitions des termes utilisés au cours des prospections géochimiques.

Il présente ensuite une classification des prospections où il est tenu compte de l'échelle du travail (stratégique ou tactique) du type de l'anomalie (allogène ou authigène) et du matériau prélevé.