bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of Metal Magnetic Memory Testing of 35CrMo Steel during Fatigue Loading
Authors: Hu Zhibin , Fan Jianchun , Wu Shengnan , Dai Haoyuan , Liu Shujie
Published: February 2018

The fatigue fracture of a drillstring could cause drilling disturbances and some negative impacts (e.g., economic loss) will be brought when restoring the drillstring to functionality. In order to evaluate the effects of the fatigue damage of the drillstring during drilling, a new apparatus, which could monitor the load level in real-time, was built to perform the four-point bending fatigue test on 35CrMo steel, a typical material of drillstrings. Such an apparatus is based on metal magnetic memory (MMM) technology and can acquire the tangential and normal components of MMM signals. Based on the analysis of the change of surface morphology and MMM signals, it was concluded that the variation of MMM signals could be divided into four stages, which are used to accurately describe the fatigue damage process of the drillstring. Additionally, the MMM signal characteristics are introduced to especially evaluate the fatigue damage of the drillstring, including crack initiation. Furthermore, the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results demonstrated that morphologies of fatigue fracture were related to the variation of MMM signals. Linear fitting results indicated that fatigue crack length had a good linear relationship with the characteristics, so it is feasible to monitor fatigue damage and predict the residual life of a drillstring by using MMM technology.
Exothermic Reaction Kinetics in High Energy Density Al-Ni with Nanoscale Multilayers Synthesized by Cryomilling
Authors: Oh Minseok , Oh Min , Han Deokhyun , Jung Sang-Hyun , Ahn Byungmin
Published: February 2018

The Al-Ni system is known as a high energy density materials (HEDM) because of its highly exothermic nature during intermetallic compound (IMC) formation. In this study, elemental Al and Ni powder were milled to explore the effect of cryomilling atmosphere on the microstructure and exothermic behavior. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations show continuous structural refinement up to 8 h of cryomilling. No IMC phase was detected in the X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrum. Differential thermal analyzer (DTA) results show two exothermic peaks for 8 h cryomilled powder as compared to that of powder milled for 1 h. The ignition temperature of prepared powder mixture also decreased due to gradual structural refinement. The activation energy was also calculated and correlated with the DTA and SEM results. The cryomilled Al-Ni powder is composed of fine Al-Ni metastable junctions which improve the reactivity at a lower exothermic reaction temperature.
Research on Power Plant Ash Impact on the Quality of Soil in Kostolac and Gacko Coal Basins
Authors: Savic Dragana , Nisic Dragana , Malic Nenad , Dragosavljevic Zlatko , Medenica Dragan
Published: February 2018

Increased concentrations of heavy metals in ash can adversely affect the microbiological and pedogenetic processes in soil. The aim of this paper is to determine the impact of ash from unburned coal generated in the Kostolac and Gacko coal basins on the quality of soil in the surrounding environment. The investigation included the surface soil layer that was sampled and tested during 2016 and 2017. A total of 30 samples of Kostolac soil and 9 samples of Gacko soil were analyzed for the content of 8 heavy metals: Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, Hg, As, Cr and Ni. The analyses were carried out by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) technique according to the EPA 6020A method and the following conclusions were made: Kostolac coal ash affects the quality of the surrounding soil in terms of Ni, Cu and Cr as evidenced by the moderately strong correlation of the Ni-Cu pair (k = 0.71), as well as the Cu-Cr pair (k = 0.73) and strong correlation of the Ni-Cr pair (k = 0.82), while the high recorded concentration of Pb, Hg, As and Zn is attributed to other sources of pollution, such as the traffic network and intensive farming activities, and in some cases, its impact is only local. All recorded concentrations of heavy metals are within the remediation values. The effect of ash on soil contamination in the surroundings of the Gacko coal basin is limited to Ni and Cd, with a strong correlation coefficient of this pair (k = 0.82). The recorded overrun of maximum allowed concentration of Cr is evidenced in only 2 samples, and in terms of this element the contamination of the Gacko soil can be considered to be local. It is concluded that prevailing winds play a part in soil pollution. Cluster analysis showed that Ni, Cr and Zn have very similar values in analyzed soil samples from both basins, while a cluster composed of only Hg, in the case of Gacko, indicates lower contamination with Hg compared to the other heavy metals.
Rare Earth Elements (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, and Sm) from a Carbonatite Deposit: Mineralogical Characterization and Geochemical Behavior
Authors: Edahbi Mohamed , Plante Benoît , Benzaazoua Mostafa , Kormos Lori , Pelletier Mia
Published: February 2018

Geochemical characterization including mineralogical measurements and kinetic testing was completed on samples from the Montviel carbonatite deposit, located in Quebec (Canada). Three main lithological units representing both waste and ore grades were sampled from drill core. A rare earth element (REE) concentrate was produced through a combination of gravity and magnetic separation. All samples were characterized using different mineralogical techniques (i.e., quantitative evaluation of minerals by scanning electron microscopy (QEMSCAN), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy with X-ray microanalysis (SEM-EDS)) in order to quantify modal mineralogy, liberation, REE deportment and composition of REE-bearing phases. The REE concentrate was then submitted for kinetic testing (weathering cell) in order to investigate the REE leaching potential. The mineralogical results indicate that: (i) the main REE-bearing minerals in all samples are burbankite, kukharenkoite-Ce, monazite, and apatite; (ii) the samples are dominated by REE-free carbonates (i.e., calcite, ankerite, and siderite); and (iii) LREE is more abundant than HREE. Grades of REE minerals, sulfides and oxides are richer in the concentrate than in the host lithologies. The geochemical test results show that low concentrations of light REE are leached under kinetic testing conditions (8.8–139.6 µg/L total light REE). These results are explained by a low reactivity of the REE-bearing carbonates in the kinetic testing conditions, low amounts of REE in solids, and by precipitation of secondary REE minerals.
Biological and Geochemical Development of Placer Gold Deposits at Rich Hill, Arizona, USA
Authors: Melchiorre Erik , Orwin Paul , Reith Frank , Rea Maria , Yahn Jeff , Allison Robert
Published: February 2018

Placer gold from the Devils Nest deposits at Rich Hill, Arizona, USA, was studied using a range of micro-analytical and microbiological techniques to assess if differences in (paleo)-environmental conditions of three stratigraphically-adjacent placer units are recorded by the gold particles themselves. High-angle basin and range faulting at 5–17 Ma produced a shallow basin that preserved three placer units. The stratigraphically-oldest unit is thin gold-rich gravel within bedrock gravity traps, hosting elongated and flattened placer gold particles coated with manganese-, iron-, barium- (Mn-Fe-Ba) oxide crusts. These crusts host abundant nano-particulate and microcrystalline secondary gold, as well as thick biomats. Gold surfaces display unusual plumate-dendritic structures of putative secondary gold. A new micro-aerophilic Betaproteobacterium, identified as a strain of Comamonas testosteroni, was isolated from these biomats. Significantly, this ‘black’ placer gold is the radiogenically youngest of the gold from the three placer units. The middle unit has well-rounded gold nuggets with deep chemical weathering rims, which likely recorded chemical weathering during a wetter period in Arizona’s history. Biomats, nano-particulate gold and secondary gold growths were not observed here. The uppermost unit is a pulse placer deposited by debris flows during a recent drier period. Deep cracks and pits in the rough and angular gold from this unit host biomats and nano-particulate gold. During this late arid period, and continuing to the present, microbial communities established within the wet, oxygen-poor bedrock traps of the lowermost placer unit, which resulted in biological modification of placer gold chemistry, and production of Mn-Fe-Ba oxide biomats, which have coated and cemented both gold and sediments. Similarly, deep cracks and pits in gold from the uppermost unit provided a moist and sheltered micro-environment for additional gold-tolerant biological communities. In conclusion, placer gold from the Devils Nest deposits at Rich Hill, Arizona, USA, preserves a detailed record of physical, chemical and biological modifications.
Antifungal Activity of Natural Volatile Organic Compounds against Litchi Downy Blight Pathogen Peronophythora litchii
Authors: Xing Mengyu , Zheng Li , Deng Yizhen , Xu Dandan , Xi Pinggen , Li Minhui , Kong Guanghui , Jiang Zide
Published: February 2018

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is a commercially important fruit but its production and quality are restricted by litchi downy blight, caused by the oomycete pathogen Peronophythora litchii Chen. Volatile substances produced by a biocontrol antinomycetes Streptomyces fimicarius BWL-H1 could inhibited P. litchii growth and development both in vitro and in detached litchi leaf and fruit infection assay. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyses indicated that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from BWL-H1 resulted in severe damage to the endomembrane system and cell wall of P. litchii cells in vitro and abnormal morphology of appressoria, as well as deformed new hyphae in infection process. VOCs could suppress mycelial growth, sporulation, while with no obvious effect on sporangia germination. Based on gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometric analyses, 32 VOCs were identified from S. fimicarius BWL-H1, the most abundant of which was phenylethyl alcohol. Eight VOCs, including phenylethyl alcohol, ethyl phenylacetate, methyl anthranilate, α-copaene, caryophyllene, humulene, methyl salicylate and 4-ethylphenol, that are commercially available, were purchased and their bioactivity was tested individually. Except for humulene, the other seven tested volatile compounds shown strong inhibitory activity against mycelial growth, sporulation, sporangia germination and germ-tube growth of P. litchii. Especially, 4-ethylphenol showed the highest inhibitory effect on sporulation at a very low concentration of 2 µL/L. Overall, our results provided a better understanding of the mode of action of volatiles from BWL-H1 on P. litchii, and showed that volatiles from BWL-H1 have the potential for control of postharvest litchi downy blight.
Comparative Evaluation of Soluble and Insoluble-Bound Phenolics and Antioxidant Activity of Two Chinese Mistletoes
Authors: Li Qing , Yang Shihua , Li Yongqiang , Xue Xiaofeng , Huang Yonghua , Luo Hengguo , Zhang Yiming , Lu Zhichao
Published: February 2018

Mistletoes are used medicinally in order to treat various human illnesses. Few studies have reported on the phenolic content and antioxidant properties of Chinese mistletoes (CMs). In this work, the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activities of soluble and insoluble-bound phenolic extracts from CMs hosted by Camellia assamica (Mast.) Chang (CMC) and Pyrus, i, f. (CMP) were compared. Phenolic compounds in CMC and CMP were identified and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results indicated that the TPC of soluble phenolic extracts was higher than insoluble-bound phenolic counterparts in both CMC and CMP. In addition, the TPC of soluble, insoluble-bound and total phenolic fractions (9.91 ± 0.23, 4.59 ± 0.27 and 14.50 ± 0.35 μmol ferulic acid equivalents per gram (FAE/g) dry sample) extracted from CMP were higher than those extracted from CMC. The soluble phenolic extracts in CMP showed higher antioxidant activities than those in CMC. Eighteen phenolic compounds from soluble and insoluble-bound phenolic extracts from the CMs were identified and quantified by HPLC. This study indicates that CMC and CMP, especially the latter, could be sources of antioxidants in human health care.
Coordination-Enhanced Luminescence on Tetra-Phenylethylene-Based Supramolecular Assemblies
Authors: Yan Qian-Qian , Hu Shao-Jun , Zhang Guang-Lu , Zhang Ting , Zhou Li-Peng , Sun Qing-Fu
Published: February 2018

Materials with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties have received increased attention recently due to their potential applications in light-emitting devices, chemo/biosensors and biomedical diagnostics. In general, AIE requires the forced aggregation of the AIEgens induced by the poor solvent or close arrangement of AIEgens covalently attached to polymer chains. Here, we report two coordination-enhanced fluorescent supramolecular complexes featuring hierarchically restricted intramolecular motions via the self-assembly of tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-based tetra-dentate (La) and bidentate (Lb) ligands and the cis-Pd(en)(NO3)2 (en = ethylenediamine) unit. While the free ligands are non-emissive in dilute solution and show typical AIE properties in both mixed solvent system and the solid state, the self-assembled complexes maintain their fluorescent nature in the solution state. In particular, the Pd4(La)2 complex shows remarkable 6-fold fluorescent enhancement over La in dilute solution. We anticipate that these kinds of coordination-enhanced emissive supramolecules will find applications in biomedical sensing or labeling.
Segmenting Proteins into Tripeptides to Enhance Conformational Sampling with Monte Carlo Methods
Authors: Denarie Laurent , Al-Bluwi Ibrahim , Vaisset Marc , Siméon Thierry , Cortés Juan
Published: February 2018

This paper presents an approach to enhance conformational sampling of proteins employing stochastic algorithms such as Monte Carlo (MC) methods. The approach is based on a mechanistic representation of proteins and on the application of methods originating from robotics. We outline the general ideas of our approach and detail how it can be applied to construct several MC move classes, all operating on a shared representation of the molecule and using a single mathematical solver. We showcase these sampling techniques on several types of proteins. Results show that combining several move classes, which can be easily implemented thanks to the proposed approach, significantly improves sampling efficiency.
Laminated Copper Nanocluster Incorporated Antioxidative Paper Device with RGB System-Assisted Signal Improvement
Authors: Chen Chong-You , Chen Chia-Lin , Wang Chang-Ming , Liao Wei-Ssu
Published: February 2018

Paper-based analytical devices are an emerging class of lightweight and simple-to-use analytical platform. However, challenges such as instrumental requirements and chemical reagents durability, represent a barrier for less-developed countries and markets. Herein, we report an advanced laminated device using red emitting copper nanocluster and RGB digital analysis for signal improvement. Upon RGB system assistance, the device signal-to-background ratio and the calibration sensitivity are highly enhanced under a filter-free setup. In addition, the calibration sensitivity, limit of detection, and coefficient of determination are on par with those determined by instrumental fluorescence analysis. Moreover, the limitation of using oxidation-susceptible fluorescent nanomaterials is overcome by the introduction of protecting tape barriers, antioxidative sheets, and lamination enclosing. The robustness of device is highly advanced, and the durability is prolonged to more than tenfold.
Effect of the Composition of Lanthanide Complexes on Their Luminescence Enhancement by Ag@SiO2 Core-Shell Nanoparticles
Authors: Wang Xiao-Jing , Qu Yan-Rong , Zhao Yong-Liang , Chu Hai-Bin
Published: February 2018

Metal-enhanced luminescence of lanthanide complexes by noble metal nanoparticles has attracted much attention because of its high efficiency in improving the luminescent properties of lanthanide ions. Herein, nine kinds of europium and terbium complexes—RE(TPTZ)(ampca)3·3H2O, RE(TPTZ)(BA)3·3H2O, RE(phen)(ampca)3·3H2O, RE(phen)(PTA)1.5·3H2O (RE = Eu, Tb) and Eu(phen)(BA)3·3H2O (TPTZ = 2,4,6-tri(2-pyridyl)-s-triazine, ampca = 3-aminopyrazine-2-carboxylic acid, BA = benzoic acid, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, PTA = phthalic acid)—have been synthesized. Meanwhile, seven kinds of core-shell Ag@SiO2 nanoparticles of two different core sizes (80–100 nm and 40–60 nm) and varied shell thicknesses (5, 12, 20, 30 and 40 nm) have been prepared. The combination of these nine types of lanthanide complexes and seven kinds of Ag@SiO2 nanoparticles provides an opportunity for a thorough investigation of the metal-enhanced luminescence effect. Luminescence spectra analysis showed that the luminescence enhancement factor not only depends on the size of the Ag@SiO2 nanoparticles, but also strongly relates to the composition of the lanthanide complexes. Terbium complexes typically possess higher enhancement factors than their corresponding europium complexes with the same ligands, which may result from better spectral overlap between the emission bands of Tb complexes and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption bands of Ag@SiO2. For the complexes with the same lanthanide ion but varied ligands, the complexes with high enhancement factors are typically those with excitation wavelengths located nearby the SPR absorption bands of Ag@SiO2 nanoparticles. These findings suggest a combinatorial chemistry strategy is necessary to obtain an optimal metal-enhanced luminescence effect for lanthanide complexes.
Markers of Iron Status Are Associated with Risk of Hyperuricemia among Chinese Adults: Nationwide Population-Based Study
Authors: Li Xiangping , He Tingchao , Yu Kai , Lu Qian , Alkasir Rashad , Guo Guifang , Xue Yong
Published: February 2018

Background: Elevated serum uric acid (SUA) involved in iron metabolism, has been increasingly recognized as a risk factor for gout and cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between markers of iron status with risk of hyperuricemia (HU) in Chinese adult population. Methods: Data were extracted from the 2009 wave of the China Health and Nutrition Survey, consisting of 7946 apparently healthy adults. Serum ferritin (SF), transferrin, soluble transferrin receptors (sTfR), hemoglobin (Hb), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and SUA were measured. Diet was assessed with three consecutive 24 h recalls. Demographic characteristics, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and physical activities were investigated using a structured questionnaire. Multilevel mixed-effects models were constructed to estimate the associations of SF, transferrin, sTfR, and Hb with SUA and the risk of HU. Results: The crude prevalence of HU was 16.1%. SF, transferrin, and Hb levels were positively associated with SUA and the risk of HU after adjustment for cluster effects and potential confounders (all p-trend < 0.05). Compared with participants in the lowest quartile of SF, those in the highest quartile had significantly higher SUA concentrations (β = 0.899 mg/dL, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.788, 1.010; p < 0.001) and higher risk of HU (odds ratio (OR) = 3.086, 95% CI: 2.450, 3.888; p < 0.001). Participants with the highest quartile of transferrin had significantly higher SUA concentrations (β = 0.488 mg/dL, 95% CI: 0.389, 0.587; p < 0.001) and higher risk of HU (OR: 1.900; 95% CI: 1.579, 2.286; p < 0.001) when compared with those with the lowest quartile. In male participants, those in the highest quartile of Hb had significantly higher risk of HU when compared to the reference group (OR: 1.401, 95% CI: 1.104, 1.777; p < 0.01); however, this association was not found in female participants (OR: 1.093; 95% CI: 0.821, 1.455; p = 0.544). Conclusion: SF, transferrin, and Hb levels were positively associated with the risk of HU, and additional studies are needed to confirm the findings, as well as to elucidate their underlying mechanisms.
Dynamics of a Complex Multilayer Polymer Network: Mechanical Relaxation and Energy Transfer
Authors: Jurjiu Aurel , Turcu Flaviu , Galiceanu Mircea
Published: February 2018

In this paper, we focus on the mechanical relaxation of a multilayer polymer network built by connecting identical layers that have, as underlying topologies, the dual Sierpinski gasket and the regular dendrimer. Additionally, we analyze the dynamics of dipolar energy transfer over a system of chromophores arranged in the form of a multilayer network. Both dynamical processes are studied in the framework of the generalized Gaussian structure (GSS) model. We develop a method whereby the whole eigenvalue spectrum of the connectivity matrix of the multilayer network can be determined iteratively, thereby rendering possible the analysis of the dynamics of networks consisting of a large number of layers. This fact allows us to study in detail the crossover from layer-like behavior to chain-like behavior. Remarkably, we highlight the existence of two bulk-like behaviors. The theoretical findings with respect to the decomposition of the intermediate domain of the relaxation quantities, as well as the chain-like behavior, are well supported by experimental results.
Transparent Theological Dialogue—“Moseka Phofu Ya Gaabo Ga a Tshabe Go Swa Lentswe” (A Setswana Proverb)
Authors: Resane Kelebogile
Published: February 2018

This paper looks into the definition of Setswana proverb: Moseka phofu ya gaabo ga a tshabe go swa lentswe (One must fight impatiently for what rightly belongs to him or her). The proverb is used to express the African thought of transparent dialogue that can be applied in theological deliberations; leading to sound theological conclusions adequate to address the corruption in the socio-political landscape. Transparency is explained from the African concept of addressing socio-political struggles. Theology calls for robust dialogue for the alternative society. This calls for understanding of African thought of fighting impatiently for the marginalized and the poor—a mandate that is similar to the church’s calling for liberating the oppressed masses through dialogue with others and communities in context. A special exploration is made through the symbiosis of dogma and kerygma for the incessant intervention of theology on behalf of the silent masses. An appeal is made for liberation theology and mainstream theology to dialogue in order for communities to experience salvation authentically.
Wind Direction Extraction from SAR in Coastal Areas
Authors: Zecchetto Stefano
Published: February 2018

This paper aims to illustrate and test a method, based on the Two-Dimensional Continuous Wavelet Transform (2D-CWT), developed to extract the wind directions from the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images. The knowledge of the wind direction is essential to retrieve the wind speed by using the radar-backscatter versus wind speed algorithms. The method has been applied to 61 SAR images from different satellites (Envisat, COSMO-SkyMed, Radarsat-2 and Sentinel-1A,B), and the results have been compared with the analysis wind fields from the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) model, with in situ reports and with scatterometer data when available. The 2D-CWT method provides satisfactory results, both in areas a few kilometres from the coast and offshore. It is reliable as it produces good direction estimates, no matter what the characteristics of the SAR are. Statistics reports a success in the SAR wind direction estimates in 95% of cases (in 83% of cases the SAR-ECMWF wind direction difference is < ± 20 ∘ , in 92 % < ± 30 ∘ ) with a mean directional bias B θ < 7 ∘ . The SAR derived wind directions cannot be said to be validated, as the data available at present cannot be really representative of the wind field in the coastal area. However, the figures given by SAR winds are highly valuable even not properly validated, providing an independent and unique view of the spatial variability of the wind over the sea, which is possible by using the 2D-CWT method to derive the wind directions.
Energy Efficient Data Transmission for Sensors with Wireless Charging
Authors: Fang Xiaolin , Luo Junzhou , Wu Weiwei , Gao Hong
Published: February 2018

This paper studies the problem of maximizing the energy utilization for data transmission in sensors with periodical wireless charging process while taking into account the thermal effect. Two classes of problems are analyzed: one is the case that wireless charging can process for only a limited period of time, and the other is the case that wireless charging can process for a long enough time. Algorithms are proposed to solve the problems and analysis of these algorithms are also provided. For the first problem, three subproblems are studied, and, for the general problem, we give an algorithm that can derive a performance bound of ( 1 − 1 2 m ) ( O P T − E ) compared to an optimal solution. In addition, for the second problem, we provide an algorithm with 2 m 2 m − 1 O P T + 1 performance bound for the general problem. Simulations confirm the analysis of the algorithms.
Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access for Ubiquitous Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Anwar Asim , Seet Boon-Chong , Ding Zhiguo
Published: February 2018

Ubiquitous wireless sensor networks (UWSNs) have become a critical technology for enabling smart cities and other ubiquitous monitoring applications. Their deployment, however, can be seriously hampered by the spectrum available to the sheer number of sensors for communication. To support the communication needs of UWSNs without requiring more spectrum resources, the power-domain non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) technique originally proposed for 5th Generation (5G) cellular networks is investigated for UWSNs for the first time in this paper. However, unlike 5G networks that operate in the licensed spectrum, UWSNs mostly operate in unlicensed spectrum where sensors also experience cross-technology interferences from other devices sharing the same spectrum. In this paper, we model the interferences from various sources at the sensors using stochastic geometry framework. To evaluate the performance, we derive a theorem and present new closed form expression for the outage probability of the sensors in a downlink scenario under interference limited environment. In addition, diversity analysis for the ordered NOMA users is performed. Based on the derived outage probability, we evaluate the average link throughput and energy consumption efficiency of NOMA against conventional orthogonal multiple access (OMA) technique in UWSNs. Further, the required computational complexity for the NOMA users is presented.
Infrared Thermography as a Non-Invasive Tool to Explore Differences in the Musculoskeletal System of Children with Hemophilia Compared to an Age-Matched Healthy Group
Authors: Seuser Axel , Kurnik Karin , Mahlein Anne-Katrin
Published: February 2018

Recurrent joint bleeds and silent bleeds are the most common clinical feature in patients with hemophilia. Every bleed causes an immediate inflammatory response and is the leading cause of chronic crippling arthropathy. With the help of infrared thermography we wanted to detect early differences between a group of clinical non-symptomatic children with hemophilia (CWH) with no history of clinically detected joint bleeds and a healthy age-matched group of children. This could help to discover early inflammation and help implement early treatment and preventative strategies. It could be demonstrated that infrared thermography is sensitive enough to detect more signs of early inflammatory response in the CWH than in healthy children. It seems to detect more side differences in temperature than clinical examination of silent symptoms detects tender points. Silent symptoms/tender points seem to be combined with early local inflammation. Using such a non-invasive and sensor-based early detection, prevention of overloading and bleeding might be achieved.
An Improved Adaptive Received Beamforming for Nested Frequency Offset and Nested Array FDA-MIMO Radar
Authors: Cheng Sibei , Zhang Qingjun , Bian Mingming , Hao Xinhong
Published: February 2018

For the conventional FDA-MIMO (frequency diversity array multiple-input-multiple-output) Radar with uniform frequency offset and uniform linear array, the DOFs (degrees of freedom) of the adaptive beamformer are limited by the number of elements. A better performance—for example, a better suppression for strong interferences and a more desirable trade-off between the main lobe and side lobe—can be achieved with a greater number of DOFs. In order to obtain larger DOFs, this paper researches the signal model of the FDA-MIMO Radar with nested frequency offset and nested array, then proposes an improved adaptive beamforming method that uses the augmented matrix instead of the covariance matrix to calculate the optimum weight vectors and can be used to improve the output performances of FDA-MIMO Radar with the same element number or reduce the element number while maintain the approximate output performances such as the received beampattern, the main lobe width, side lobe depths and the output SINR (signal-to-interference-noise ratio). The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is verified by simulations.
Silver Eco-Solvent Ink for Reactive Printing of Polychromatic SERS and SPR Substrates
Authors: Dustov Mavlavi , Golovina Diana , Polyakov Alexander , Goldt Anastasia , Eliseev Andrei , Kolesnikov Efim , Sukhorukova Irina , Shtansky Dmitry , Grünert Wolfgang , Grigorieva Anastasia
Published: February 2018

A new reactive ink based on a silver citrate complex is proposed for a photochemical route to surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy active substrates with controllable extinction spectra. The drop-cast test of the ink reveals homogeneous nucleation of silver and colloid particle growth originating directly from photochemical in situ reduction in droplets, while the following evaporation of the deposited ink produces small nano- and micron-size particles. The prepared nanostructures and substrates were accurately characterized by electron microscopy methods and optical extinction spectroscopy. Varying the duration of UV irradiation allows tuning the morphology of individual silver nanoparticles forming hierarchical ring structures with numerous “hot spots” for most efficient Raman enhancement. Raman measurements of probe molecules of rhodamine 6G and methylene blue reached the largest signal enhancement of 106 by the resonance effects.
Cave Pearl Data Logger: A Flexible Arduino-Based Logging Platform for Long-Term Monitoring in Harsh Environments
Authors: Beddows Patricia A. , Mallon Edward K.
Published: February 2018

A low-cost data logging platform is presented that provides long-term operation in remote or submerged environments. Three premade “breakout boards” from the open-source Arduino ecosystem are assembled into the core of the data logger. Power optimization techniques are presented which extend the operational life of this module-based design to >1 year on three alkaline AA batteries. Robust underwater housings are constructed for these loggers using PVC fittings. Both the logging platform and the enclosures, are easy to build and modify without specialized tools or a significant background in electronics. This combination turns the Cave Pearl data logger into a generalized prototyping system and this design flexibility is demonstrated with two field studies recording drip rates in a cave and water flow in a flooded cave system. This paper describes a complete DIY solution, suitable for a wide range of challenging deployment conditions.
Titania and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Coating with Polydopamine and Encapsulation within Lecithin Liposomes—Water Treatment Analysis by Gel Filtration Chromatography with Fluorescence Detection
Authors: Zhao Xuhao , Lai Edward
Published: February 2018

The interplay of metal oxide nanoparticles, environmental pollution, and health risks is key to all industrial and drinking water treatment processes. In this work we present a study using gel filtration chromatography for the analytical investigation of metal oxide nanoparticles in water, their coating with polydopamine, and their encapsulation within lecithin liposomes. Polydopamine prevents TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles from aggregation during chromatographic separation. Lecithin forms liposomes that encapsulate the nanoparticles and carry them through the gel filtration column, producing an increase of peak area for quantitative analysis without any change in retention time to affect qualitative identification. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that demonstrates the potential application of lecithin liposomes for cleaning up metal oxide nanoparticles in water treatment. Encapsulation of graphene quantum dots by liposomes would allow for monitoring of nanoparticle-loaded liposomes to ensure their complete removal by membrane ultrafiltration from treated water.
Action Not Words: Obama’s Opportunity to Transform U.S.-Muslim Relations
Authors: Gardner Ronald
Published: February 2018

Newly inaugurated President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Barack Obama made his diplomatic debut promoting conflict transformation between the United States and the international Muslim community following eight years of U.S. militarized intervention in the Middle East. Since Obama demonstrated an acute knowledge of its necessity and the mechanisms for transforming the quality of relations, we evaluate whether his actions were consistent with his message. This article first maps the conflict relationship by examining public opinion to identify the roots of the bilateral conflict relationship. It then identifies mechanisms and policies implemented by Barack Obama to determine when and if they aligned with his conciliatory rhetoric. We determine that Obama’s legacy among the international Muslim community will be one of opportunity lost, as his administration ultimately failed to operationalize and institutionalize the promised program likely due to domestic and regional influences.
Multiple Model Predictive Hybrid Feedforward Control of Fuel Cell Power Generation System
Authors: Wu Long , Sun Li , Shen Jiong , Hua Qingsong
Published: February 2018

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is widely considered as an alternative solution among the family of the sustainable distributed generation. Its load flexibility enables it adjusting the power output to meet the requirements from power grid balance. Although promising, its control is challenging when faced with load changes, during which the output voltage is required to be maintained as constant and fuel utilization rate kept within a safe range. Moreover, it makes the control even more intractable because of the multivariable coupling and strong nonlinearity within the wide-range operating conditions. To this end, this paper developed a multiple model predictive control strategy for reliable SOFC operation. The resistance load is regarded as a measurable disturbance, which is an input to the model predictive control as feedforward compensation. The coupling is accommodated by the receding horizon optimization. The nonlinearity is mitigated by the multiple linear models, the weighted sum of which serves as the final control execution. The merits of the proposed control structure are demonstrated by the simulation results.
Modelling Soil Carbon Content in South Patagonia and Evaluating Changes According to Climate, Vegetation, Desertification and Grazing
Authors: Peri Pablo , Rosas Yamina , Ladd Brenton , Toledo Santiago , Lasagno Romina , Martínez Pastur Guillermo
Published: February 2018

In Southern Patagonia, a long-term monitoring network has been established to assess bio-indicators as an early warning of environmental changes due to climate change and human activities. Soil organic carbon (SOC) content in rangelands provides a range of important ecosystem services and supports the capacity of the land to sustain plant and animal productivity. The objectives in this study were to model SOC (30 cm) stocks at a regional scale using climatic, topographic and vegetation variables, and to establish a baseline that can be used as an indicator of rangeland condition. For modelling, we used a stepwise multiple regression to identify variables that explain SOC variation at the landscape scale. With the SOC model, we obtained a SOC map for the entire Santa Cruz province, where the variables derived from the multiple linear regression models were integrated into a geographic information system (GIS). SOC stock to 30 cm ranged from 1.38 to 32.63 kg C m−2. The fitted model explained 76.4% of SOC variation using as independent variables isothermality, precipitation seasonality and vegetation cover expressed as a normalized difference vegetation index. The SOC map discriminated in three categories (low, medium, high) determined patterns among environmental and land use variables. For example, SOC decreased with desertification due to erosion processes. The understanding and mapping of SOC in Patagonia contributes as a bridge across main issues such as climate change, desertification and biodiversity conservation.
Measuring Service Quality of Rural Accommodations
Authors: Choi Hyunsuk , Ann Saehya , Lee Kwang-Woo , Park Duk-Byeong
Published: February 2018

The aim of this study is to examine the most important service quality factors for rural accommodations in rural tourism villages in South Korea by simultaneously utilizing Importance–Performance analysis (IPA) and gap analysis. The tabulated results were presented in a two-dimensional grid t showing the strengths and weaknesses of the tourism attributes being studied. Among the 18 items measuring the service quality of rural accommodations, there are no items identified for the concentrate quadrant. Ten items fall in the “Keep up the good work” quadrant, which indicates high performance and importance values. It also includes “the attitude of local residents”, “the attitude of the accommodation’s owner”, and “the expertise of the owner”. Management of rural accommodations in South Korea must make special efforts to maintain and improve service quality for these ten high performance and importance attributes. Gap analysis is used to illustrate how tourism operators can improve their service quality.
Communication Barriers and Lessons Learned in Energy Policy
Authors: Smith Hollie , Gilbert Christine
Published: February 2018

In the past 30 years, energy researchers have concluded their academic publication with sections that deal directly with policy implications and recommendations. Yet too often, these recommendations are written with little understanding of how policymakers balance different needs, prefer to communicate, or use scientific information. In this manuscript, we outline key variables—time, training, and interpretation—that are key to understanding how to better communicate research implications to policymakers. We recommend emphasizing the power of language and the use of boundary objects in an attempt to mitigate the issues presented between researchers and policymakers.
An Empirical Study on Sustainable Agriculture Land Use Right Transfer in the Heihe River Basin
Authors: Sun Ye , Akiyama Tomohiro
Published: February 2018

Agriculture land use right transfer (ALURT) is a new policy designed to meet the demand of the sustainable development of agriculture in China. In the Heihe river basin (HRB), ALURT has also recently been introduced to cope with the emerging challenges in agriculture. In this paper, we empirically study the long-term viability of this new policy in HRB using a sustainability assessment. We collect the documents of ALURT contracts, statistical data of ALURT performance, and conduct interviews with its users. The main finding is that the centralized institutional structure of ALURT in HRB compromises its long-term viability. In particular, the power imbalance under the regulation of the intermediate agency, which causes the dissatisfaction of the participants, is threatening the application of the ALURT policy in the long run. Therefore, we suggest that the role of the intermediate agency in ALURT needs to be redefined, to better serve the sustainable development of agriculture in HRB.
Synergistic Effect Evaluation of Main and Auxiliary Industry of Power Grid Based on the Information Fusion Technology from the Perspective of Sustainable Development of Enterprises
Authors: Xu Xiaomin , Wang Qiong , Niu Dongxiao , Zhang Lihui
Published: February 2018

With the development of the diversified economic union, the power grid enterprises’ auxiliary industries are continuing to grow and develop faster. However, in the process of development, power grid enterprises are still faced with the problem of low efficiency of the management of main and auxiliary and resource allocation and utilization. Thus, the synergistic development evaluation for power grid enterprises’ main and auxiliary industries has a strong practical significance. It can help the managers to find the short board of each industry and search for the exploration direction for improvement to promote the sustainable development of the main and auxiliary industries comprehensively. It can also provide the reference for improving the management level of power grid enterprises. Information fusion technology, as a process of information processing for decision making, can make use of multi-source information synergistically to get a more objective and more essential understanding of the same thing or the same goal. It has been applied to many fields in a mature way. Based on the characteristics of each industry, this paper constructs a synergistic effect evaluation index system of the main and auxiliary industries from the aspects of management foundation, resource integration, operational efficiency and effectiveness. The variable precision fuzzy rough set (VPFRS) is introduced to screen the index system, eliminate redundant indexes, retain key indexes and improve the efficiency and accuracy of evaluation effectively. Meanwhile, based on the characteristic of dealing with the imprecise problem of the vague set, this paper establishes the evaluation model based on information fusion technology of the variable precision fuzzy rough set and vague set (VPFRS-Vague). In order to verify the validity of the model, five typical companies belonging to power grid enterprises are selected as examples for analysis to prove the validity and applicability of the evaluation method.
Evaluating the Practice and Outcomes of Applying Regenerative Development to a Large-Scale Project in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Hes Dominique , Stephan André , Moosavi Sareh
Published: February 2018

Regenerative development is one of the critical pathways or processes towards an ecological worldview and a built environment in synergy with the natural environment. This vision aims to restore and support environmental, social and economic flows from a systems perspective. While regenerative development has been discussed in theory and applied to some projects, very few studies have analysed the processes that support its emergence. Our study investigates the design process of an ongoing development project, “Seacombe West” in Victoria, Australia. It evaluates the design outputs, using the LENSES Framework (Living Environments in Natural, Social, and Economic Systems) which is specifically designed to facilitate the emergence of regenerative development thinking. The project included a series of four workshops that led to a set of guidelines that in turn were used to design a masterplan. We evaluate the resulting guidelines, the masterplan, and the experience of the participants through an online survey (70% response rate) and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders. Our results show that using LENSES encouraged systems thinking and helps facilitate a transdisciplinary approach towards regenerative development. This evaluation provides insights into how regenerative development can emerge in projects and how the potential for net benefit can be embedded.
False Barriers in the Purchase of Organic Foods. The Case of Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Spain
Authors: Torres-Ruiz Francisco , Vega-Zamora Manuela , Parras-Rosa Manuel
Published: February 2018

Although Spain is the world’s top organic extra virgin olive oil (OEVOO) producer, domestic consumption is low. Most of the OEVOO produced is destined for external markets. As access to these markets is rife with challenges, developing internal demand has become a matter of utmost importance. Therefore, the general objective of this study is to analyse what is limiting OEVOO consumption levels in Spain. Although a review of the literature reveals some potential explanatory factors, this study analyses the relationship between consumption levels and the limiting factors perceived by consumers. The main novelty of the study is that these limiting factors are divided into two distinct dimensions: difficulties perceived by consumers in the purchase of OEVOO, and the impact of these on their buying behaviour. Based on the results of a survey of 793 people, this distinction throws up a clear paradox: although practically all the factors considered as difficulties are perceived to exist, these do not appear to fully explain the decision not to purchase the product. The suggested explanation for this is simply that the “organic” attribute or label is not highly valued or appreciated by Spanish consumers. Considering the quantitative significance of the group of non-consumers in the population, promoting social and environmental awareness emerges as the best strategy to improve the public’s appreciation of the organic label and boost internal demand.
Transformational Training Programs and Quality Orientation of Employees: Does Employees’ Loyalty Matter?
Authors: Al Qudah Nidal , Yang Yang , Anjum Muhammad
Published: February 2018

Transformational training programs, employee loyalty and quality orientation of employees have been some of the important concerns for both academicians and practitioners for decades. Yet, little is known about their underlying relationship dynamics, especially in the context of higher education institutions. The pivotal aim of this study was to investigate the interplay of transformational training programs, loyalty and quality orientation of employees. For this, a causal model demonstrating the direct and indirect relationships of transformational training programs, employee loyalty and quality orientation was built and tested. Data for this study were collected from 212 (n = 212) academics (deans, head of departments and faculty members) from all private sector universities in Amman, Jordan, through a cross sectional survey. Results indicated that both direct and indirect effects of transformational training programs on quality orientation of employees were significant. More specifically, the positive effects that transformational training programs have on quality orientation of employees are through employee loyalty. This finding significantly advances the existing body of knowledge and implies that transformational training programs enhance employees’ loyalty which, in turn, escalates employees’ orientations towards quality. Hence, it is concluded that the objective of inculcating quality orientation amongst employees cannot be achieved with mere reliance upon transformational training programs. Several contextual factors, such as employee loyalty, should also be focused on and fostered to ensure the effects that training programs have on certain desirable outcomes.