bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Interfacial Ge and RF-Bias on the Microstructure and Stress Evolution upon Annealing of Ag/AlN Multilayers
Authors: Cancellieri Claudia , Klyatskina Elizaveta , Chiodi Mirco , Janczak-Rusch Jolanta , Jeurgens Lars
Published: November 2018

The present study addresses the structural stability and mass outflow of Ag 10 nm/Ge 1 nm/AlN 10 nm nanomultilayers (NMLs) during thermal treatments in different atmospheres (Ar and air). The nanomultilayers were obtained by magnetron sputtering under different deposition conditions (with and without the RF (Radio-Frequency)-bias application). The microstructure of the as-deposited and thermally treated NMLs were analyzed by XRD and SEM techniques, deriving morphology, microstructure and internal stress. Bias application during the deposition is found to create highly disordered interfaces and to have a very strong influence on the morphology and structural evolution with temperature of the nano-multilayers. Complete multilayer degradation is observed for the bias sample when annealed in Ar at 700 ∘C, while the periodic multilayer structure is preserved for the non-bias samples. Structural and morphological changes are observed starting from 400 ∘C, accompanied with Ag surface migration. The highest Ag amount on the surface is detected in air atmosphere for bias and non-bias samples annealed at temperatures as high as 700 ∘C. The presence of Ge is found to strongly hinder the Ag surface migration. Ag outflow is measured to take place only through the network of surface cracks in the AlN barrier formed upon heating. The crack formation and Ag migration are discussed together with the stress relaxation. The present study demonstrates the feasibility to tailor the stress state of as-deposited NML structures and observe different structural evolution depending on the initial conditions. This paves the way for advanced experimental strategies to tailor directional mass outflow in nanoconfined filler systems for advanced nano-joining applications.
Experimental and Simulation Study of Low-Velocity Impact on Glass Fiber Composite Laminates with Reinforcing Shape Memory Alloys at Different Layer Positions
Authors: Sun Min , Chang Mengzhou , Wang Zhenqing , Li Hao , Sun Xiaokun
Published: November 2018

The effects of shape memory alloy (SMA) wires on the damage behavior of glass fibers/epoxy resin composite laminates for the case of low-velocity impact are investigated experimentally and numerically. In this work, the low-velocity impact tests of SMAs/glass fibers/epoxy resin composite laminates are carried out. The elastic–plastic theory was adopted to simulate the mechanical behavior of SMA during the loading stage. The three-dimensional (3D) Hashin failure criterion is adopted in Abaqus/Explicit to model the damage initiation of composite laminates. The cohesive damage model is introduced to control the interface element and model the delamination failure. Moreover, the impact damage mechanisms of composite laminates are analyzed based on the experimental and numerical simulation results. These results show that the numerical results obtained in the present study have a reasonably good agreement with the experimental results. In addition, it is also found that impact damages are mainly caused by matrix cracks and delamination with no perforation for the case of 32-J impact energy, and impact damages are mainly caused by fibers breakage with perforation for the case of 64-J impact energy.
Advancing High-Speed Transmissions over OCDMA Networks by Employing an Intelligently Structured Receiver for Noise Mitigation
Authors: Chen Kai-Sheng , Chen Yi-Chang , Liao Long-Guang
Published: November 2018

We propose an intelligently structured receiver to achieve high-speed transmissions over optical code-division multiple access (OCDMA) networks. Employing spectral-amplitude coding (SAC) reduces multiuser interference (MUI) in OCDMA, but the network bit-rate is limited by phase-induced intensity noise (PIIN) coming from the incoherency of light sources. To mitigate PIIN, the receiver performs interference estimations and regenerations through consecutive stages. The MUI is removed by subtracting the estimated interference term from the received multiplexed signals. For PIIN variance, it is both dependent on and positively related to user number and bit-rate. Reducing the number of interference users allows the network to support transmissions with a higher speed under a given noise level. The proposed scheme has the advantages of all-optical signal processing and a compact structure. Additionally, the function of noise suppression is rarely studied in the existing MUI elimination schemes, such as serial interference cancellation (SIC) and parallel interference cancellation (PIC). The simulation results show the proposed receiver achieves significant increment in bit-rate than the conventional balanced detector in SAC–OCDMA networks.
Developing Inlaid Colouring Technique for Hot-Glass Making Process
Authors: Choi Kee Ryong
Published: November 2018

This article discusses both the complexity and technical benefits of developing an inlaid colouring technique for the hot glass-making process. This technique was inspired by the ancient Korean ceramic decorative technique known as Sanggam, and has allowed me to delineate geometric patterns and counterfeit letters onto glass artworks, before encapsulating them between layers of transparent glass. By developing a typography design that deliberately chooses the wrong consonant and vowel letters, and combines Korean characters, the resulting designs do not fit into either South Korean or British visual culture. A number of optical properties (in particular refraction, reflection, and distortion) provoke a sense of ambiguity in the viewer’s visual experience of, as well as their response to, a series of glass artworks created for experimental purposes. The technique offers an innovative creative tool for artists working in the field of glass art, enabling them to depict expressive drawings and images through a line drawing style, using diverse colours, and in a more controlled manner than the hot glass-making process of the ‘Graal’ technique. The technical possibilities and limitations of the inlaid glass colouring technique are addressed at each step of the development process, while examples of the technical palette serve as a useful reference for artists working in the field of glass art.
On Dissipation: Goodbye, Dragon Inn and the “Death of Cinema”
Authors: Bergstrom Anders
Published: November 2018

This paper explores the cinematic meta-theme of the “death of cinema” through the lens of Taiwanese director, Tsai Ming-liang’s 2003 film, Goodbye, Dragon Inn. In the film, the final screening of the wuxia pian classic, Dragon Inn, directed by King Hu, provides a focal point for the exploration of the diminished experience of institutional cinema in the post-cinematic age. Using the concept of “dissipation” in conjunction with a reappraisal of the turn to affect theory, this paper explores the kinds of subjective experiences that cinema can offer, and the affective experience of cinema-going itself, as portrayed in Goodbye, Dragon Inn. More specifically, in theorizing the role of dissipation in cinema-going, this paper explores the deployment of time and space in Goodbye, Dragon Inn and how it directs attention to the bodily action of cinema-going itself. The result is a critique of the possibilities of post-cinematic affects, rooted in an understanding of the way that late-capitalism continues to dominate and shape the range of experiences in the contemporary moment.
Random Forest Algorithm for the Relationship between Negative Air Ions and Environmental Factors in an Urban Park
Authors: Miao Si , Zhang Xuyi , Han Yujie , Sun Wen , Liu Chunjiang , Yin Shan
Published: November 2018

Negative air ions (NAIs) are a natural component of air and have a positive impact on the health of urban residents. Few studies have focused on the relationship between NAI concentration (NAIC) in the urban atmosphere and environmental factors, such as meteorological factors and air pollutants. Therefore, we established observation points in Zhongshan Park in downtown Shanghai, China, and continuously measured and recorded changes in NAIC for one year. We also monitored nine meteorological factors and six atmospheric pollutants. Through correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis, the key factors influencing NAIC were screened, and the effects of those factors on NAIC were explored using the random forest algorithm. The results show that NAIC is most sensitive to humidity, followed by radiation and temperature, and finally to PM2.5. Humidity is the most critical factor, primarily because it directly affects the formation of NAIs from both the environment and vegetation. Furthermore, our results reveal that the mechanisms through which NAIC is influenced by the same factor varies seasonally. We analyzed the relationship between NAIC in an urban atmosphere and environmental factors by using big data, which is a new method for studying the relationships between NAIs and environmental factors. Our results indicate potential explanations for the mechanisms underlying NAI response to various environmental factors.
Coherence-Length Effects in Fast Atom Diffraction at Grazing Incidence
Authors: Gravielle María Silvia , Miraglia Jorge Esteban , Frisco Leandro
Published: November 2018

Coherence properties of projectiles, found relevant in ion-atom collisions, are investigated by analyzing the influence of the degree of coherence of the atomic beam on interference patterns produced by grazing-incidence fast-atom diffraction (GIFAD or FAD). The transverse coherence length of the projectiles, which depends on the incidence conditions and the collimating setup, determines the overall characteristics of GIFAD distributions. We show that for atoms scattered from a LiF(001) surface after a given collimation, we can modify the interference signatures of the angular spectra by varying the total impact energy, while keeping the normal energy as a constant. Also, the role played by the geometry of the collimating aperture is analyzed, comparing results for square and circular openings. Furthermore, we study the spot-beam effect, which is due to different focus points of the impinging particles. We show that when a region narrower than a single crystallographic channel is coherently illuminated by the atomic beam, the spot-beam contribution strongly affects the visibility of the interference structures, contributing to the gradual quantum-classical transition of the projectile distributions.
Overview of Bile Acids Signaling and Perspective on the Signal of Ursodeoxycholic Acid, the Most Hydrophilic Bile Acid, in the Heart
Authors: Hanafi Noorul Izzati , Mohamed Anis Syamimi , Sheikh Abdul Kadir Siti Hamimah , Othman Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan
Published: November 2018

Bile acids (BA) are classically known as an important agent in lipid absorption and cholesterol metabolism. Nowadays, their role in glucose regulation and energy homeostasis are widely reported. BAs are involved in various cellular signaling pathways, such as protein kinase cascades, cyclic AMP (cAMP) synthesis, and calcium mobilization. They are ligands for several nuclear hormone receptors, including farnesoid X-receptor (FXR). Recently, BAs have been shown to bind to muscarinic receptor and Takeda G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (TGR5), both G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), independent of the nuclear hormone receptors. Moreover, BA signals have also been elucidated in other nonclassical BA pathways, such as sphingosine-1-posphate and BK (large conductance calcium- and voltage activated potassium) channels. Hydrophobic BAs have been proven to affect heart rate and its contraction. Elevated BAs are associated with arrhythmias in adults and fetal heart, and altered ratios of primary and secondary bile acid are reported in chronic heart failure patients. Meanwhile, in patients with liver cirrhosis, cardiac dysfunction has been strongly linked to the increase in serum bile acid concentrations. In contrast, the most hydrophilic BA, known as ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), has been found to be beneficial in improving peripheral blood flow in chronic heart failure patients and in protecting the heart against reperfusion injury. This review provides an overview of BA signaling, with the main emphasis on past and present perspectives on UDCA signals in the heart.
Palladium Nanoparticles Supported on Triphenylphosphine-Functionalized Porous Polymer as an Active and Recyclable Catalyst for the Carbonylation of Chloroacetates
Authors: Wan Yali , Chen Zaifei , Liu Dingfu , Lei Yizhu
Published: November 2018

Dialkyl malonates are important organic intermediates that are widely used as building blocks in organic synthesis. Herein, palladium nanoparticles supported on a triphenylphosphine-functionalized porous polymer were successfully developed as an efficient and recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of dialkyl malonates via the catalytic carbonylation of chloroacetates. The influence of reaction parameters such as solvent, base, and promoter on activity was carefully investigated. With a 1 mol% of palladium usage, excellent yields of dialkyl malonates were obtained. Importantly, the catalyst can be easily separated and reused at least four times, without a significant loss in reactivity. Furthermore, the developed catalyst was also highly active for the alkoxycarbonylation of α-chloro ketones.
Biocatalytic Pickering Emulsions Stabilized by Lipase-Immobilized Carbon Nanotubes for Biodiesel Production
Authors: Wang Lihui , Liu Xinlong , Jiang Yanjun , Zhou Liya , Ma Li , He Ying , Gao Jing
Published: November 2018

Biodiesel is a promising renewable energy source that can replace fossil fuel, but its production is limited by a lack of high-efficiency catalysts for mass production and popularization. In this study, we developed a biocatalytic Pickering emulsion using multiwall carbon nanotube-immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB@PE) to produce biodiesel, with J. curcas L. seed oil and methanol as substrates. The morphology of CALB@PE was characterized in detail. A central composite design of the response surface methodology (CCD-RSM) was used to study the effects of the parameters on biodiesel yield, namely the amount of J. curcas L. seed oil (1.5 g), molar ratio of methanol to oil (1:1–7:1), CALB@PE dosage (20–140 mg), temperature (30–50 °C), and reaction time (0–24 h). The experimental responses were fitted with a quadratic polynomial equation, and the optimum reaction conditions were the methanol/oil molar ratio of 4.64:1, CALB@PE dosage of 106.87 mg, and temperature of 34.9 °C, with a reaction time of 11.06 h. A yield of 95.2%, which was basically consistent with the predicted value of 95.53%, was obtained. CALB@PE could be reused up to 10 times without a substantial loss of activity. CALB@PE exhibited better reusability than that of Novozym 435 in the process of biodiesel production.
Carvacrol Attenuates Hippocampal Neuronal Death after Global Cerebral Ischemia via Inhibition of Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 7
Authors: Hong Dae Ki , Choi Bo Young , Kho A Ra , Lee Song Hee , Jeong Jeong Hyun , Kang Beom Seok , Kang Dong Hyeon , Park Kyoung-Ha , Suh Sang Won
Published: November 2018

Over the last two decades, evidence supporting the concept of zinc-induced neuronal death has been introduced, and several intervention strategies have been investigated. Vesicular zinc is released into the synaptic cleft, where it then translocates to the cytoplasm, which leads to the production of reactive oxygen species and neurodegeneration. Carvacrol inhibits transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7), which regulates the homeostasis of extracellular metal ions, such as calcium and zinc. In the present study, we test whether carvacrol displays any neuroprotective effects after global cerebral ischemia (GCI), via a blockade of zinc influx. To test our hypothesis, we used eight-week-old male Sprague–Dawley rats, and a GCI model was induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (CCAO), accompanied by blood withdrawal from the femoral artery. Ischemic duration was defined as a seven-minute electroencephalographic (EEG) isoelectric period. Carvacrol (50 mg/kg) was injected into the intraperitoneal space once per day for three days after the onset of GCI. The present study found that administration of carvacrol significantly decreased the number of degenerating neurons, microglial activation, oxidative damage, and zinc translocation after GCI, via downregulation of TRPM7 channels. These findings suggest that carvacrol, a TRPM7 inhibitor, may have therapeutic potential after GCI by reducing intracellular zinc translocation.
Perturbations in Traffic: Aberrant Nucleocytoplasmic Transport at the Heart of Neurodegeneration
Authors: Fahrenkrog Birthe , Harel Amnon
Published: November 2018

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and Huntington’s disease (HD), are characterized by intracellular aggregation of proteins. In the case of ALS and FTD, these protein aggregates are found in the cytoplasm of affected neurons and contain certain RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), namely the TAR DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) and the fused in sarcoma (FUS) gene product. TDP-43 and FUS are nuclear proteins and their displacement to the cytoplasm is thought to be adverse in at least two ways: loss-of-function in the nucleus and gain-of-toxicity in the cytoplasm. In the case of HD, expansion of a polyglutamine (polyQ) stretch within the N-terminal domain of the Huntingtin (HTT) protein leads to nuclear accumulation of polyQ HTT (or mHTT) and a toxic gain-of-function phenotype resulting in neurodegeneration. Numerous studies in recent years have provided evidence that defects in nucleocytoplasmic transport critically contribute to the pathology of these neurodegenerative diseases. A new mechanistic view is emerging, implicating three types of perturbations in normal cellular pathways that rely on nucleocytoplasmic transport: displacement of nuclear transport receptors and nucleoporins from nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), mislocalization and aggregation of RNA-binding proteins, and weakening of the chaperone activity of nuclear import receptors.
The Roles of Primary Cilia in Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Pala Rajasekharreddy , Jamal Maha , Alshammari Qamar , Nauli Surya M.
Published: November 2018

Primary cilia are microtubule-based organelles found in most mammalian cell types. Cilia act as sensory organelles that transmit extracellular clues into intracellular signals for molecular and cellular responses. Biochemical and molecular defects in primary cilia are associated with a wide range of diseases, termed ciliopathies, with phenotypes ranging from polycystic kidney disease, liver disorders, mental retardation, and obesity to cardiovascular diseases. Primary cilia in vascular endothelia protrude into the lumen of blood vessels and function as molecular switches for calcium (Ca2+) and nitric oxide (NO) signaling. As mechanosensory organelles, endothelial cilia are involved in blood flow sensing. Dysfunction in endothelial cilia contributes to aberrant fluid-sensing and thus results in vascular disorders, including hypertension, aneurysm, and atherosclerosis. This review focuses on the most recent findings on the roles of endothelial primary cilia within vascular biology and alludes to the possibility of primary cilium as a therapeutic target for cardiovascular disorders.
Nuclear Respiratory Factor 1 Acting as an Oncoprotein Drives Estrogen-Induced Breast Carcinogenesis
Authors: Das Jayanta K. , Felty Quentin , Poppiti Robert , Jackson Robert M. , Roy Deodutta
Published: November 2018

We have previously shown nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1)-mediated transcriptional programming of mitobiogenesis contributes to estrogen-induced breast cancer through modulating cell cycle progression. In this study, we report a new role of NRF1 that goes beyond that of programming mitobiogenesis. Specifically, we report a novel oncogenic function of NRF1 supporting its causative role in breast cancer development and progression. The gain of NRF1 and/or treatment with 17β-estradiol (E2) produced heterogeneous breast cancer stem cell (BCSC)-like subsets composed of more than 10 distinct cell sub-populations. Flow sorting combined with confocal imaging of markers for pluripotency, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), and BCSCs phenotypically confirmed that the BCSC-like subset arise from cell re-programming. Thus, we determined the molecular actions of NRF1 on its target gene CXCR4 because of its known role in the acquisition of the BCSC-like subset through EMT. CXCR4 was activated by NRF1 in a redox-dependent manner during malignant transformation. An NRF1-induced BCSC-like subset was able to form xenograft tumors in vivo, while inhibiting transcription of CXCR4 prevented xenograft tumor growth. Consistent with our observation of NRF1-driven breast tumorigenesis in the experimental model, higher protein levels of NRF1 were also found in human breast cancer tissue specimens. This highly novel role of NRF1 in the stochastic acquisition of BCSC-like subsets and their progression to a malignant phenotype may open an entirely new research direction targeting NRF1 signaling in invasive breast cancer. Our discovery of targeting transcriptional activation of CXCR4 to inhibit NRF1-induced oncogenic transformation provides a mechanistic explanation for estrogen-dependent breast carcinogenesis and opens new avenues in strategic therapeutics to fight breast cancer.
Minimally Invasive Surgery in Pediatric Surgical Oncology
Authors: Phelps Hannah , Lovvorn, III Harold
Published: November 2018

The application of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) to resect pediatric solid tumors offers the potential for reduced postoperative morbidity with smaller wounds, less pain, fewer surgical site infections, decreased blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and less disruption to treatment regimens. However, significant controversy surrounds the question of whether a high-fidelity oncologic resection of childhood cancers can be achieved through MIS. This review outlines the diverse applications of MIS to treat pediatric malignancies, up to and including definitive resection. This work further summarizes the current evidence supporting the efficacy of MIS to accomplish a definitive, oncologic resection as well as appropriate patient selection criteria for the minimally invasive approach.
Exploring the Effect of Perceptions on Children’s Physical Activity in Varying Geographic Contexts: Using a Structural Equation Modelling Approach to Examine a Cross-Sectional Dataset
Authors: Taylor Leah G. , Clark Andrew F. , Wilk Piotr , Button Brenton L. , Gilliland Jason A.
Published: November 2018

Most Canadian children are not meeting the recommended 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day. Research suggests that children’s perceptions of their environment have an influence on their physical activity behaviours, but there is a lack of generalizability among previous work. The purpose of this study was to assess the mediating effect of children’s perceptions of barriers to physical activity on the relationship between their environments and their level of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (measured with accelerometers). Structural equation modelling stratified by gender was used to assess the research objective in a sample of 546 participants aged 8–14 years old from Northwestern and Southwestern Ontario, Canada. In both models stratified by gender, perceptions of barriers did not significantly mediate the relationship between urbanicity and physical activity. Independent of all other factors, there was no significant relationship between urbanicity and physical activity in girls, but there was in boys. These results offer insight into potential processes by which perceptions impact physical activity and provide initial information to further our understanding of the behavioural aspects of physical activity through multiple levels of analysis. Researchers must continue to improve efforts for quantifying the experience of children’s daily activity contexts.
Parenting in the Context of Children’s Chronic Pain: Balancing Care and Burden
Authors: Guite Jessica W. , Russell Beth S. , Homan Kendra J. , Tepe Rebecca M. , Williams Sara E.
Published: November 2018

Parents of youth with chronic health conditions encounter numerous challenges in supporting their children across pediatric treatment contexts. Structural barriers to care, such as access issues and coordinating care across school, health, and family settings, can exacerbate challenges to daily functioning. Parents are often concomitantly managing their child’s chronic condition, their own health care needs, work and family demands. For these parents, accomplishing a manageable “work-life balance” feels elusive, if not impossible, when a chronic health condition is part of family life. Based on a recent symposium presentation, combined perspectives from the disciplines of pediatric psychology, parenting, and human development and family studies consider key challenges and opportunities to assist parent coping with stress associated with caregiving amidst pervasive changes in healthcare service delivery. Two innovative interventions to support parents in both an outpatient (“Parents as Coping Coaches”) and an inpatient (“Putting Parents FIRST”) context are described, with commonalities and unique aspects highlighted for each. These programs are considered in reference to a rapidly changing healthcare landscape, growing focus on the family as a core context for care, and importance of parent/caregiver self-care and crucial role in supporting children’s long-term health and resiliency.
Discoloration Resistance of Electrolytic Copper Foil Following 1,2,3-Benzotriazole Surface Treatment with Sodium Molybdate
Authors: Shin Dong-Jun , Kim Yu-Kyoung , Yoon Jeong-Mo , Park Il-Song
Published: November 2018

The copper which an important component in the electronics industry, can suffer from discoloration and corrosion. The electrolytic copper foil was treated by 1,2,3-benzo-triazole (BTA) for an environmentally friendly non-chromate surface treatment. It was designed to prevent discoloration and improve corrosion resistance, consisted of BTA and inorganic sodium molybdate (Na2MoO4). Also the ratio of the constituent compounds and the deposition time were varied. Electrochemical corrosion of the Cu-BTA was evaluated using potentiodynamic polarization. Discoloration was analyzed after humidity and heat resistance conditioning. Surface characteristics were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Increasing corrosion potential and decreasing current density were observed with increasing Na2MoO4 content. A denser protective coating formed as the deposition time increased. Although chromate treatment under severe humidity (80% humidity, 80 °C, 100 h) provided the highest humidity resistance, surface treatment with Na2MoO4 had better heat discoloration inhibition under severe heat-resistant conditions (180 °C, 10 min). When BTA reacts with Cu to form the Cu-BTA-type insoluble protective film, Na2MoO4 accelerates the film formation without being itself adsorbed onto the film. Therefore, the addition of Na2MoO4 increased anticorrosive efficiency through direct/indirect action.
Oleo/Hydrophobic Coatings Containing Nano-Particles for the Protection of Stone Materials Having Different Porosity
Authors: Lettieri Mariateresa , Masieri Maurizio , Morelli Alessandra , Pipoli Mariachiara , Frigione Mariaenrica
Published: November 2018

Conservation strategies to limit the degradation of stone materials are being constantly developed. To this aim, new materials are designed to confer hydrophobic properties and anti-graffiti protection to the treated surfaces. Hybrid nanocomposites, based on inorganic nano-particles added to an organic matrix, have been recently proposed for treatments of stone surfaces, obtaining promising and innovative properties. In the present paper, an experimental product based on fluorine resin containing SiO2 nano-particles, a commercial fluorine-based product and a silicon-based material were applied as protective coatings on two calcareous stones (compact and porous) widely employed in the Mediterranean region. All the studied products are expected to provide both water and anti-graffiti protection to both stones’ surfaces. The rheological characterization of the liquid products, changes in color of the surfaces, and variations in water vapor permeability allowed the compatibility of the protective systems applied to stones to be evaluated. Water–stone contact angle measurements and water absorption by capillarity were used to control the action against water ingress. The oleophobicity was assessed by measuring the oil–stone contact angle. The experimental nano-filled product proved to be a suitable hydrophobic coating for compact and porous stones; furthermore, it provides high oleophobicity to the treated surfaces, as required for anti-graffiti systems.
Impact of Nonlinear Thermal Radiation and Entropy Optimization Coatings with Hybrid Nanoliquid Flow Past a Curved Stretched Surface
Authors: Lu Dianchen , Ramzan Muhammad , Ahmad Shafiq , Shafee Ahmad , Suleman Muhammad
Published: November 2018

The present investigation addresses the flow of hybrid (nickel–zinc ferrite and ethylene glycol) nanoliquid with entropy optimization and nonlinear thermal radiation coatings past a curved stretching surface. Analysis was carried out in the presence of magnetohydrodynamic, heat generation/absorption, and convective heat and mass flux conditions. Solution of the modeled problem was attained numerically using MATLAB built-in function bvp4c. Impacts of prominent parameters on betrothed distributions were depicted through graphs and were well supported by requisite discussions. Numerically calculated values of Sherwood number were established in a tabulated form and were scrutinized critically. An excellent concurrence was achieved when results of the presented model were compared with previously published result; hence, dependable results are being presented. It was observed that concentration field diminished with increasing values of curvature parameter, though the opposite trend was noticed for velocity and temperature distributions. Further, it was detected that Nusselt number decreased with augmented values of radiation and curvature parameters.
Luminescence Properties of Co-Doped Eu3+, Bi3+ Lu2O3/Polyvinylpyrrolidone Films
Authors: Morales-Ramírez Ángel de Jesús , García-Hernández Margarita , Medina-Velázquez Dulce Yolotzin , Ruiz-Guerrero María del Rosario , Juárez-López Fernando , Reyes-Miranda Joan
Published: November 2018

The effect of the polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP, MW = 130,000) molar content, PVP/Lu = 1, 2.5, 4 and 5; on the photoluminescent and structural properties of sol-gel derived Lu2O3:Eu3+, Bi3+ has been analyzed. Thin hybrid films were deposited by means of the dip-coating technique on silica quartz substrates. Films deposited at 700 °C presented a cubic structure, with non-preferential orientation, even with the presence of PVP. The photoluminescence (PL) spectrum and Comission Internationale de l’Éclairage (CIE) chromaticity diagram of films revealed a reddish Eu3+ emission at 612 nm (5D0 → 7F2) with an excitation at 320 nm of the Bi ions (6s2 → 6s6p), showing a highly-effective energy transfer process form Bi3+ to Eu3+ luminescent centers. On the other hand, the color temperature of the samples is strongly dependent on the PVP content, as a consequence of the observed difference on the branching ratios of 5D0 → 7FJ transitions of europium ions. Lifetime studies present two different behaviors for the thin films: A non-exponential nature for the lower PVP contents, and a simple exponential nature for the highest PVP one, showing that the PVP tends to promote a better dissolution of segregates and, therefore, increases the lifetime of the Eu3+ emission.
Coefficient-of-Determination Fourier Transform
Authors: Marko Matthew David
Published: November 2018

This algorithm is designed to perform numerical transforms to convert data from the temporal domain into the spectral domain. This algorithm obtains the spectral magnitude and phase by studying the Coefficient of Determination of a series of artificial sinusoidal functions with the temporal data, and normalizing the variance data into a high-resolution spectral representation of the time-domain data with a finite sampling rate. What is especially beneficial about this algorithm is that it can produce spectral data at any user-defined resolution, and this highly resolved spectral data can be transformed back to the temporal domain.
Influence of the Initial Powder’s Specific Surface Area on the Properties of Sm-Doped Ceria Thin Films
Authors: Sriubas Mantas , Bockute Kristina , Kainbayev Nursultan , Laukaitis Giedrius
Published: November 2018

The influence of a specific surface area of evaporating powder on the properties of thin Sm-doped cerium (SDC) oxide films has not yet been sufficiently investigated. Therefore, SDC films were deposited by e-beam evaporation using Sm0.2Ce0.8O2-δ powders of 6.2 m2/g, 11.3 m2/g, and 201.3 m2/g specific surface area on SiO2, and Al2O3 substrates. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that SDC thin films deposited on 600 °C SiO2 substrates changed their preferred orientation from (111) to (311), (200), and (220) when evaporating 6.2 m2/g and 11.3 m2/g powders and using 0.2 nm/s, 1.2 nm/s, and 1.6 nm/s deposition rates. However, thin films deposited by evaporating powder of 201.3 m2/g specific surface area do not change their preferred orientation. The crystallite size of the SDC thin films depends on the substrate temperature and specific surface area of the evaporating powder. It increases from 6.40 nm to 89.1 nm with increasing substrate temperature (50–600 °C). Moreover, crystallites formed by evaporating a powder of 201.3 m2/g specific surface area are 1.4 times larger than crystallites formed by evaporating a powder of 6.2 m2/g specific surface area. An impedance analysis revealed that the normalized resistance of “grains” is higher than the normalized resistance of grain boundaries. Moreover, a total conductivity depends on crystallite size. It changes from 4.4 × 10−7 S/cm to 1.1 × 10−2 S/cm (600 °C) when the crystallite sizes vary from 6.40 nm to 89.10 nm. In addition, the optical band gap becomes wider with increasing crystallite size proving that the Ce3+ concentration decreases with an increasing crystallite size.
Hybrid-Grained Dynamic Load Balanced GEMM on NUMA Architectures
Authors: Su Xing , Lei Fei
Published: November 2018

The Basic Linear Algebra Subprograms (BLAS) is a fundamental numerical software and GEneral Matrix Multiply (GEMM) is the most important computational kernel routine in the BLAS library. On multi-core and many-core processors, the whole workload of GEMM is partitioned and scheduled to multiple threads to exploit the parallel hardware. Generally, the workload is equally partitioned among threads and all threads are expected to accomplish their work in roughly the same time. However, this is not the case on Non-Uniform Memory Access (NUMA) architectures. The NUMA effect may cause threads to run at different speeds, and the overall executing times of GEMM is determined by the slowest thread. In this paper, we propose a hybrid-grained dynamic load-balancing method to reduce the harm of the NUMA effect by allowing fast threads to steal work from slow ones. We evaluate the proposed method on Phytium 2000+, an emerging 64-core high-performance processor based on Arm’s AArch64 architecture. Results show that our method reduces the synchronization overhead by 51.5% and achieves an improvement of GEMM performance by 1.9%.
Time-Dependent Diffusion Coefficients for Chaotic Advection due to Fluctuations of Convective Rolls
Authors: Yamanaka Kazuma , Narumi Takayuki , Hashiguchi Megumi , Okabe Hirotaka , Hara Kazuhiro , Hidaka Yoshiki
Published: November 2018

The properties of chaotic advection arising from defect turbulence, that is, weak turbulence in the electroconvection of nematic liquid crystals, were experimentally investigated. Defect turbulence is a phenomenon in which fluctuations of convective rolls arise and are globally disturbed while maintaining convective rolls locally. The time-dependent diffusion coefficient, as measured from the motion of a tagged particle driven by the turbulence, was used to clarify the dependence of the type of diffusion on coarse-graining time. The results showed that, as coarse-graining time increases, the type of diffusion changes from superdiffusion → subdiffusion → normal diffusion. The change in diffusive properties over the observed timescale reflects the coexistence of local order and global disorder in the defect turbulence.
Landscape Microzones within Thermokarst Depressions of Central Yakutia under Present Climatic Conditions
Authors: Desyatkin Alexey , Takakai Fumiaki , Nikolaeva Maya
Published: November 2018

Thermokarst (alas) of Central Yakutia is an intrazonal dynamic landscape in the form of rounded depressions with peculiar soils and meadow vegetation, microclimate, and fauna that are very different from the surrounding typical taiga landscapes. During the formation of alas depression, complete processing of thawed ground with the formation of new soils occurs and entirely changes the biogeochemical cycle. Because this system is closed, all water-soluble substances, such as N/C and soluble salts, etc., accumulate inside the depression. Using standard methods and instruments, we measured the main properties of alas soils. Depending on the hydrothermal and physicochemical regimes, thawing depth, and greenhouse gas (GHG) flux, three main belts of soils and vegetation were distinguished within the alas: (1) steppe meadow, located on most elevated places, not sufficiently moistened, with alas steppe soils and steppe vegetation; (2) middle meadow, located lower than stepped meadow in elevation, normally moist, with alas sod-meadow soils and highest productivity vegetation; and (3) wet meadow, located around the lake, excessively moistened, with alas marshy sod-meadow soils and marsh vegetation. Therefore, the soils of wet and real meadows, due to the abundance of organic matter, are significant sources of CO2 and CH4, especially in humid years. Under the climate warming observed over recent decades in this territory, the alas ecosystem has undergone considerable change. Thus, the classification and mapping of belts within the alas can have both applied and fundamental importance.
Orwell’s Tattoos: Skin, Guilt, and Magic in ‘Shooting an Elephant’ (1936)
Authors: Mullen Lisa
Published: November 2018

This paper considers the significance of the talismanic tattoos on Orwell’s hands, which he acquired in Burma during his time as a colonial policeman from 1922 to 1927. It examines historical evidence suggesting that such tattoos were understood differently by British and Burmese people, and concludes that, for Orwell, their meaning was multilayered: first, they were a means of understanding Burmese culture more intimately; second, they were a psychological attempt to cathect his feelings of guilt about his complicity in colonial injustice by remaking his ‘skin-ego’; and third, they were a gesture towards the possibility that inscription—first in the form of tattoos, and later in the written word—might be a way to understand and process his self-alienation. The paper goes on to examine Orwell’s 1936 essay ‘Shooting an Elephant’ in the light of Orwell’s interest in inscription, and traces its themes of mark-making, magic, and authorship, arguing that these ideas enabled him, at a crucial moment in his development as a writer, to map his experiences of colonialism onto his wider commitment to anti-fascist and anti-authoritarian politics.
Archaeological Restoration and Heritage Actions in Ollantaytambo
Authors: Garcia Pablo
Published: November 2018

This article is concerned with the history of restoration work carried out over the last 40 years or so in the Inca site of Ollantaytambo, in the Cuzco region of Peru. The information gathered comes mainly from interviews conducted with professionals relevant to the study, as well as from archival work. Rather than dwelling on the appropriateness or not of the technical solutions implemented, from the point of view of international standards and expectations, the focus lies on the underlying reasons that have driven changes in the site´s physical appearance. Factors like restoration principles at work during the various interventions, the role of photography and visibility, the delicate relationship between tangible and intangible heritage, and the influence of tourism in an area visually inspired by the powerful imaginaries of Machu Picchu are explored. Some of the problems identified are associated with processes of puesta en valor, monumentalism, the influence of foreign models, and the role of architect-restorers. It will be argued that the site´s restoration history is problematic in ways that invite critical reassessment and engagement with current international debates on conservation and restoration concepts and practices, like authenticity.
Food Security Experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families with Young Children in An Urban Setting: Influencing Factors and Coping Strategies
Authors: McCarthy Leisa , Chang Anne B. , Brimblecombe Julie
Published: November 2018

Evidence on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ food security experiences and coping strategies used when food insecurity occurs is limited. Such evidence is important to inform policies that can reduce the consequences of food insecurity. This study investigated factors perceived by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families with young children to influence household food security, and coping strategies used, in an urban setting. A qualitative research inductive approach was used. Data were collected through an iterative process of inquiry through initial interviews with 30 primary care-givers, followed by in-depth interviews with six participants to further explore emerging themes. Major topics explored were: influencing factors, food insecurity experiences, impact on food selection, and coping strategies. Food affordability relating to income and living expenses was a major barrier to a healthy diet with large household bills impacting food choice and meal quality. Access to family support was the main reported coping strategy. Food insecurity is experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, it is largely intermittent occurring especially when large household bills are due for payment. Family support provides an essential safety net and the implications of this are important to consider in public policy to address food insecurity.
Real-Time Visualization of Geo-Sensor Data Based on the Protocol-Coupling Symbol Construction Method
Authors: Jiao Donglai , Sun Jintao
Published: November 2018

Obtaining and visualizing the internal state and position information of the remote device using sensors are important aspects of industrial manufacturing. For large-scale geo-sensors that have been recently used, map-based management and visualization of the geo-sensor devices have become ubiquitous. Users often build multiple map symbols to represent the multiple states of a device based on traditional map symbols. Visualizing multiple geo-sensor data in real time with one map symbol is difficult. In this paper, a protocol-coupling map symbol and a construction method for real-time data visualization is introduced where different sensor states of the geo-sensor are expressed with one symbol. The sensor data visualization method in supervisory control and data acquisition systems (SCADA) was introduced and applied to the construction and visualization process of map symbols. First, based on the traditional vector map symbols and the communication protocol parsing interface, the mapping relationship between the sensor data item and the graphic element is defined in the map symbol construction process. Second, by referring to the streaming services method in ArcGIS GeoEvent, geo-sensor data acquisition and a transfer broker in a GIS server is built, through which the real-time sensor data can be transferred from the remote side to the map client and used for map symbol rendering. Finally, the new map symbols are used for real-time geo-sensor data visualization in applications. In the application of the real-time monitoring of geo-sensor devices, remote device information was acquired by sensor and transmitted to the broker then cached on the server side. If the cached sensor data has changed compared to the previous, the changed data will be pushed to map client by broker. The communication module in the map client that communicates with the broker receives changed geo-sensor data and triggers a refresh of the map. Then the protocol-coupling map symbol is rendered according to the mapping profile and the status of the geo-sensor device will be displayed on the map in real time. All the methods and processes were verified in client-server and browser-server GIS architecture.
Neonatal Screening for Sickle Cell Disease in Belgium for More than 20 Years: An Experience for Comprehensive Care Improvement
Authors: Gulbis Béatrice , Lê Phu-Quoc , Ketelslegers Olivier , Dresse Marie-Françoise , Adam Anne-Sophie , Cotton Frédéric , Boemer François , Bours Vincent , Minon Jean-Marc , Ferster Alina
Published: November 2018

Our previous results reported that compared to sickle cell patients who were not screened at birth, those who benefited from it had a lower incidence of a first bacteremia and a reduced number and days of hospitalizations. In this context, this article reviews the Belgian experience on neonatal screening for sickle cell disease (SCD). It gives an update on the two regional neonatal screening programs for SCD in Belgium and their impact on initiatives to improve clinical care for sickle cell patients. Neonatal screening in Brussels and Liège Regions began in 1994 and 2002, respectively. Compiled results for the 2009 to 2017 period demonstrated a birth prevalence of sickle cell disorder above 1:2000. In parallel, to improve clinical care, (1) a committee of health care providers dedicated to non-malignant hematological diseases has been created within the Belgian Haematology Society; (2) a clinical registry was implemented in 2008 and has been updated in 2018; (3) a plan of action has been proposed to the Belgian national health authority. To date, neonatal screening is not integrated into the respective Belgian regional neonatal screening programs, the ongoing initiatives in Brussels and Liège Regions are not any further funded and better management of the disease through the implementation of specific actions is not yet perceived as a public health priority in Belgium.