bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reactive-Sputtered Prepared Tin Oxide Thin Film as an Electron Transport Layer for Planar Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Sun Wenhai , Wang Shuo , Li Shina , Miao Xu , Zhu Yu , Du Chen , Ma Ruixin , Wang Chengyan
Published: May 2019

Currently, tin oxide (SnO2) is a highly sought-after semiconductor material used in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) because of its good transmittance, the appropriate energy level, high electron mobility, high conductivity, ideal band gap and excellent chemical stability. In this study, SnO2 film was successfully prepared by radio frequency reactive magnetron sputtering (RS) under room temperature conditions. The obtained SnO2 thin films not only exhibited high transmittance in the visible region as well as the pure phase, but also had a suitable energy band structure and lower surface roughness than FTO (SnO2:F) glass substrate, which contributes to the improvement of the adjacent interface morphology. The SnO2 films prepared by reactive sputtering could effectively suppress carrier recombination and act as an electron transport layer. Moreover, the maximum efficiency of the device based on reactive sputtering of SnO2 as the electron transport layer (ETL) for planar perovskite solar cells (PSCs) was 14.63%. This study mainly described the preparation of SnO2 by reactive sputtering under room temperature conditions.
Nematic and Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Structures in Cells with Tangential-Conical Boundary Conditions
Authors: Krakhalev Mikhail N. , Bikbaev Rashid G. , Sutormin Vitaly S. , Timofeev Ivan V. , Zyryanov Victor Ya.
Published: May 2019

Orientational structures formed in nematic and cholesteric layers with tangential-conical boundary conditions have been investigated. LC cells with one substrate specifying the conical surface anchoring and another substrate specifying the tangential one have been considered. The director configurations and topological defects have been identified analyzing the texture patterns obtained by polarizing microscope in comparison with the structures and optical textures calculated by free energy minimization procedure of director field and finite-difference time-domain method, respectively. The domains, periodic structures and two-dimensional defects proper to the LC cells with tangential-conical anchoring have been studied depending on the layer thickness and cholesteric pitch.
Stem-Maps of Forest Restoration Cuttings in Pinus ponderosa-Dominated Forests in the Interior West, USA
Authors: Ziegler Justin P. , Hoffman Chad M. , Battaglia Mike A. , Mell William
Published: May 2019

Stem-maps, maps of tree locations with optional associated measurements, are increasingly being used for ecological study in forest and plant sciences. Analyses of stem-map data have led to greater scientific understanding and improved forest management. However, availability of these data for reuse remains limited. We present a description of eight 4-ha stem-maps used in four prior research studies. These stem-maps contain locations and associated measurements of residual trees and stumps measured after forest restoration cuttings in Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Data are published in two file formats to facilitate reuse.
Assessing Reef-Island Shoreline Change Using UAV-Derived Orthomosaics and Digital Surface Models
Authors: Lowe Meagan , Adnan Farrah , Hamylton Sarah , Carvalho Rafael , Woodroffe Colin
Published: May 2019

This study presents an analysis of shoreline change on reef islands using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-derived orthomosaics and digital surface models (DSMs) collected on Sipadan Island, Sabah, Malaysia, and Sasahura Ite Island, Isabel Province, Solomon Islands. The high resolution of UAV-derived orthomosaics enabled changes in the position of the base of beach to be detected with confidence. The accuracy of the UAV-derived DSMs was assessed against equivalent topographic profiles via root-mean-square error, and found to be <0.21 m in all but one case; this demonstrates the potential for using UAV-derived DSMs to interpret three-dimensional island beach morphology and detect patterns of geomorphic change. The correlation between planimetric and volumetric change along selected beach transects was also investigated and found to be variable, indicating that a multifaceted approach including both planimetric (two-dimensional) and volumetric (three-dimensional) metrics is of value when analysing reef-island change. However, interpretations of UAV-derived data must carefully consider errors associated with global positioning system (GPS) positioning, the distribution of ground control points, the chosen UAV flight parameters, and the data processing methodology. Further application of this technology has the potential to expand our understanding of reef-island morphodynamics and their vulnerability to sea-level rise and other stressors.
Background Indicators
Authors: Raunig Burkhard
Published: May 2019

It is customary to assume that an indicator of a latent variable is driven by the latent variable and some random noise. In contrast, a background indicator is also systematically influenced by variables outside the structural model of interest. Background indicators deserve attention because in empirical work they are difficult to distinguish from ordinary effect indicators. This paper assesses instrumental variable (IV) estimation of the effect of a latent variable in a linear model when a background indicator replaces the latent variable. It turns out that IV estimates are inconsistent in many important cases. In some cases, the estimates capture causal effects of the indicator rather than causal effects of the latent variable. A simulation experiment that considers the impact of economic uncertainty on aggregate consumption illustrates some of the results.
Anaerobic Digestion Technology for Methane Production Using Deer Manure Under Different Experimental Conditions
Authors: Wang Hanxi , Xu Jianling , Sheng Lianxi , Liu Xuejun , Zong Meihan , Yao Difu
Published: May 2019

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is an important technology for the treatment of livestock and poultry manure. The optimal experimental conditions were studied, with deer manure as a fermentation material and mushroom residue as an inoculum. At the same time, methane production was increased by adding zeolite and changing the magnetic field conditions. The results showed that a 6% solid content was the best condition for producing methane. The optimal conditions for methane production were obtained by adding 35 g of mushroom residue to 80 g of deer manure at 35 °C. The addition of organic wastewater (OW) improved methane production. The result of improving the methane production factor showed that adding zeolite during the reaction process could increase the methane production rate. When the amount of zeolite was over 8% total solids (TSes), methane production could improve, but the rate decreased. Setting a different magnetic field strength in the AD environment showed that when the distance between the magnetic field and the reactor was 50 mm and the magnetic field strength was 10–50 mT, the methane production increment and the content of methane in the mixed gases increased.
Predicting Energy Generation Using Forecasting Techniques in Catalan Reservoirs
Authors: Parada Raúl , Font Jordi , Casas-Roma Jordi
Published: May 2019

Reservoirs are natural or artificial lakes used as a source of water supply for society daily applications. In addition, hydroelectric power plants produce electricity while water flows through the reservoir. However, reservoirs are limited natural resources since water levels vary according to annual rainfalls and other natural events, and consequently, the energy generation. Therefore, forecasting techniques are helpful to predict water level, and thus, electricity production. This paper examines state-of-the-art methods to predict the water level in Catalan reservoirs comparing two approaches: using the water level uniquely, uni-variant; and adding meteorological data, multi-variant. With respect to relating works, our contribution includes a longer times series prediction keeping a high precision. The results return that combining Support Vector Machine and the multi-variant approach provides the highest precision with an R 2 value of 0.99.
Dry Anaerobic Digestion of Food and Paper Industry Wastes at Different Solid Contents
Authors: Jansson Anette T. , Patinvoh Regina J. , Sárvári Horváth IIona , Taherzadeh Mohammad J.
Published: May 2019

A large volume of food is being wasted every year, while the pulp and paper industry also generate a large amount of solid wastes on a daily basis, causing environmental challenges around the world. Dry anaerobic digestion (AD) of these solid wastes is a cost-effective method for proper management. However, dry digestion of these waste streams has been restricted due to their complex structure, the presence of possible inhibitors and inappropriate operating conditions. In light of this fact, dry digestion of food waste (FW) and paper wastes (PW) was conducted at different total solid (TS) concentrations of reactor mixtures of 14%, 16%, 18% and 20% TS, corresponding to substrate to inoculum (S/I) ratio of 0.5 and 1; investigating the optimum operating conditions for effective dry digestion of these complex wastes. The highest methane yields of 402 NmlCH4/gVS and 229 NmlCH4/gVS were obtained from digestion of FW and PW, respectively at 14%TS corresponding to an S/I ratio of 0.5. Increasing the S/I ratio from 0.5 to 1 and thereby having a TS content of 20% in the reactor mixtures was unfavorable to the digestion of both substrates.
Alterations in the Fatty Acid Composition in Infant Formulas and ω3-PUFA Enriched UHT Milk during Storage
Authors: Rodríguez-Alcalá Luis Miguel , Calvo María V. , Fontecha Javier , Alonso Leocadio
Published: May 2019

ω3-polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are known to have several beneficial effects, such as preventing the occurrence of cardiovascular events in adults and improving the development of the central nervous system during fetal life and childhood. Dairy products enriched in PUFA are now available on the market and can help consumers to meet the ω3-PUFA daily intake recommendations. Although PUFA are prone to oxidation, little information exists regarding the alterations they undergo when products containing PUFA are stored. In this study, five infant formulae (IF) and five ω3-PUFA enriched Ultra High Temperature (UHT)-milk products were examined during storage at room temperature in terms of fatty acid (FA) composition and trans fatty acid (tFA) content until the end of shelf life by chromatography techniques. The IF included two follow-on formulae, two first-age formulae and a special medical purpose formula with different fat contents (from 2.6% to 27.7%). In the ω3-PUFA enriched UHT-milk products the milk fat was replaced by eicosapentanoic fatty acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) rich oils. The fatty acid content of all samples remained stable whereas some variations were observed for the tFA isomer content (p < 0.05) in the UHT-milk samples.
From Academia to Reality Check: A Theoretical Framework on the Use of Chemometric in Food Sciences
Authors: Truong Vi Khanh , Dupont Madeleine , Elbourne Aaron , Gangadoo Sheeana , Rajapaksha Pathirannahalage Piumie , Cheeseman Samuel , Chapman James , Cozzolino Daniel
Published: May 2019

There is no doubt that the current knowledge in chemistry, biochemistry, biology, and mathematics have led to advances in our understanding about food and food systems. However, the so-called reductionist approach has dominated food research, hindering new developments and innovation in the field. In the last three decades, food science has moved into the digital and technological era, inducing several challenges resulting from the use of modern instrumental techniques, computing and algorithms incorporated to the exploration, mining, and description of data derived from this complexity. In this environment, food scientists need to be mindful of the issues (advantages and disadvantages) involved in the routine applications of chemometrics. The objective of this opinion paper is to give an overview of the key issues associated with the implementation of chemometrics in food research and development. Please note that specifics about the different methodologies and techniques are beyond the scope of this review.
Low Molecular Weight Gelators Based on Functionalized l-Dopa Promote Organogels Formation
Authors: Giuri Demetra , Zanna Nicola , Tomasini Claudia
Published: May 2019

We prepared the small pseudopeptide Lau-l-Dopa(OBn)2-d-Oxd-OBn (Lau = lauric acid; l-Dopa = l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine; d-Oxd = (4R,5S)-4-methyl-5-carboxyl-oxazolidin-2-one; Bn = benzyl) through a number of coupling reactions between lauric acid, protected l-Dopa and d-Oxd with an excellent overall yield. The ability of the product to form supramolecular organogels has been tested with different organic solvents of increasing polarity and compared with the results obtained with the small pseudopeptide Fmoc-l-Dopa(OBn)2-d-Oxd-OBn. The mechanical and rheological properties of the organogels demonstrated solvent-dependent properties, with a storage modulus of 82 kPa for the ethanol organogel. Finally, to have a preliminary test of the organogels’ ability to adsorb pollutants, we treated a sample of the ethanol organogel with an aqueous solution of Rhodamine B (RhB) for 24 h. The water solution slowly lost its pink color, which became trapped in the organogel.
An Entamoeba-Specific Mitosomal Membrane Protein with Potential Association to the Golgi Apparatus
Authors: Santos Herbert J. , Hanadate Yuki , Imai Kenichiro , Nozaki Tomoyoshi
Published: May 2019

The aerobic mitochondrion had undergone evolutionary diversification, most notable among lineages of anaerobic protists. Entamoeba is one of the genera of parasitic protozoans that lack canonical mitochondria, and instead possess mitochondrion-related organelles (MROs), specifically mitosomes. Entamoeba mitosomes exhibit functional reduction and divergence, most exemplified by the organelle’s inability to produce ATP and synthesize iron-sulfur cluster. Instead, this organelle is capable of sulfate activation, which has been linked to amoebic stage conversion. In order to understand other unique features and components of this MRO, we utilized an in silico prediction tool to screen transmembrane domain containing proteins in the mitosome proteome. Here, we characterize a novel lineage-specific mitosomal membrane protein, named Entamoeba transmembrane mitosomal protein of 30 kDa (ETMP30; EHI_172170), predicted to contain five transmembrane domains. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated colocalization of hemagglutinin (HA)-tagged ETMP30 with the mitosomal marker, adenosine-5’-phosphosulfate kinase. Mitosomal membrane localization was indicated by immunoelectron microscopy analysis, which was supported by carbonate fractionation assay. Transcriptional gene silencing successfully repressed RNA expression by 60%, and led to a defect in growth and partial elongation of mitosomes. Immunoprecipitation of ETMP30 from ETMP30-HA-expressing transformant using anti-HA antibody pulled down one interacting protein of 126 kDa. Protein sequencing by mass spectrometry revealed this protein as a cation-transporting P-type ATPase, previously reported to localize to vacuolar compartments/Golgi-like structures, hinting at a possible mitosome-vacuole/Golgi contact site.
AON-Mediated Exon Skipping to Bypass Protein Truncation in Retinal Dystrophies Due to the Recurrent CEP290 c.4723A > T Mutation. Fact or Fiction?
Authors: Barny Iris , Perrault Isabelle , Michel Christel , Goudin Nicolas , Defoort-Dhellemmes Sabine , Ghazi Imad , Kaplan Josseline , Rozet Jean-Michel , Gerard Xavier
Published: May 2019

Mutations in CEP290 encoding a centrosomal protein important to cilia formation cause a spectrum of diseases, from isolated retinal dystrophies to multivisceral and sometimes embryo–lethal ciliopathies. In recent years, endogenous and/or selective non-canonical exon skipping of mutant exons have been documented in attenuated retinal disease cases. This observation led us to consider targeted exon skipping to bypass protein truncation resulting from a recurrent mutation in exon 36 (c.4723A > T, p.Lys1575*) causing isolated retinal ciliopathy. Here, we report two unrelated individuals (P1 and P2), carrying the mutation in homozygosity but affected with early-onset severe retinal dystrophy and congenital blindness, respectively. Studying skin-derived fibroblasts, we observed basal skipping and nonsense associated–altered splicing of exon 36, producing low (P1) and very low (P2) levels of CEP290 products. Consistent with a more severe disease, fibroblasts from P2 exhibited reduced ciliation compared to P1 cells displaying normally abundant cilia; both lines presented however significantly elongated cilia, suggesting altered axonemal trafficking. Antisense oligonucleotides (AONs)-mediated skipping of exon 36 increased the abundance of the premature termination codon (PTC)-free mRNA and protein, reduced axonemal length and improved cilia formation in P2 but not in P1 expressing higher levels of skipped mRNA, questioning AON-mediated exon skipping to treat patients carrying the recurrent c.4723A > T mutation.
‘A Marriage of Freud and Euclid’: Psychotic Epistemology in The Atrocity Exhibition and Crash
Authors: Francis Samuel
Published: May 2019

The writings of J.G. Ballard respond to the sciences in multiple ways; as such his (early) writing may productively be discussed as science fiction. However, the theoretical discipline to which he publicly signalled most allegiance, psychoanalysis, is one whose status in relation to science is highly contested and complex. In the 1960s Ballard signalled publicly in his non-fiction writing a belief in psychoanalysis as a science, a position in keeping with psychoanalysis’ contemporary status as the predominant psychological paradigm. Various early Ballard stories enact psychoanalytic theories, while the novel usually read as his serious debut, The Drowned World, aligns itself allusively with an oft-cited depiction by Freud of the revelatory and paradigm-changing nature of the psychoanalytic project. Ballard’s enthusiastic embrace of psychoanalysis in his early 1960s fiction mutated into a fascinatingly delirious vision in some of his most experimental work of the late 1960s and early 1970s of a fusion of psychoanalysis with the mathematical sciences. This paper explores how this ‘Marriage of Freud and Euclid’ is played out in its most systematic form in The Atrocity Exhibition and its successor Crash. By his late career Ballard was acknowledging problems raised over psychoanalysis’ scientific status in the positivist critique of Karl Popper and the work of various combatants in the ‘Freud Wars’ of the 1990s; Ballard at this stage seemed to move towards agreement with interpretations of Freud as a literary or philosophical figure. However, despite making pronouncements reflecting changes in dominant cultural appraisals of Freud, Ballard continued in his later writings to extrapolate the fictive and interpretative possibilities of Freudian and post-Freudian ideas. This article attempts to develop a deeper understanding of Ballard’s ‘scientific’ deployment of psychoanalysis in The Atrocity Exhibition and Crash within the context of a more fully culturally-situated understanding of psychoanalysis’ relationship to science, and thereby to create new possibilities for understanding the meanings of Ballard’s writing within culture at large.
Retrospective Analysis of Injuries and Hospitalizations of Patients Following the 2009 Earthquake of L’Aquila City
Authors: Del Papa Jacopo , Vittorini Pierpaolo , D’Aloisio Francesco , Muselli Mario , Giuliani Anna Rita , Mascitelli Alfonso , Fabiani Leila
Published: May 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate the injury patterns and the hospitalizations of patients who were admitted to hospital following the 2009 earthquake in the city of L’Aquila, Central Italy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to analyze the patterns of earthquake-related injuries in Italy. We reviewed the hospital discharge data of 171 patients admitted to hospital within the following 96 h from the mainshock. This is an observational and descriptive study: We controlled for variables such as patient demographics, primary and secondary ICD-9-CM (International Classification of Diseases) diagnosis codes in order to identify the multiple injured patients, main type of injury that resulted in the hospital admission, discharge disposition, and average length of stay (LOS). Seventy-three percent of the 171 patients were admitted to hospital on the first day. Multiple injuries accounted for 52% of all trauma admissions, with a female to male ratio of 63% versus 37%. The most common type of injuries involved bone fractures (46.8%), while lower extremities were the most frequently affected sites (38.75%). The average LOS was 12.11 days. This study allows the evaluation of the impact of earthquake-related injuries in relation both to the health needs of the victims and to the use of the health care resources and assistance.
Crisis in the Family and Positive Youth Development: The Role of Family Functioning
Authors: Mackova Jaroslava , Dankulincova Veselska Zuzana , Filakovska Bobakova Daniela , Madarasova Geckova Andrea , van Dijk Jitse P. , Reijneveld Sijmen A.
Published: May 2019

The family is a very important institution that provides relationships and contexts in which adolescents are included and where the trajectory of positive development can be activated. A family crisis can affect family functioning and endanger adolescent development. Therefore, we aimed to explore the association of crisis in the family with positive youth development (PYD), and further, whether adolescent-perceived family functioning mediates or moderates this relation. The sample consisted of Slovak adolescents (N = 341, 44% boys, mean age = 13.16) who completed questionnaires that included questions on family crisis and joint family activities, the Alabama parenting questionnaire and the Very Short PYD questionnaire in the baseline measurement of the Care4Youth cohort study. We found a positive association of perceived positive parenting (B = 0.51; p < 0.001) and family activities (B = 0.50; p < 0.001) with PYD, whereas crisis in the family (B = −0.42; p = 0.01) and perceived poor supervision (B = −0.30; p < 0.001) were negatively associated with PYD. Using serial mediation model, we found following pathway which connected crisis in the family with PYD: crisis in the family → perceived poor parental supervision → joint family activities → PYD. This implies that family interventions and counselling to support parenting skills, especially parental supervision and family activities, to those with the signs of an ongoing family crisis may help to counteract the negative effect of the family crisis on PYD.
NonLinear Effects of Environmental Regulation on Eco-Efficiency under the Constraint of Land Use Carbon Emissions: Evidence Based on a Bootstrapping Approach and Panel Threshold Model
Authors: Yang Haoran , Zheng Hao , Liu Hongguang , Wu Qun
Published: May 2019

Eco-efficiency has been receiving attention worldwide, and the effective implementation of environmental regulations (ERs) has become crucial to regional eco-efficiency. This paper uses a method combining mixed directional distance function and bootstrapping approach to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of eco-efficiency under the constraint of land use carbon emission in China from 2004 to 2016. The nonlinear relationship between ER and eco-efficiency is observed with a panel threshold model. Results from empirical tests reveal that eco-efficiency in China during the study period has an upward trend, and the spatial and temporal distribution of eco-efficiency is unbalanced and concentrated. Technical innovation and land marketization (LM) shows double threshold, whereas industrial structure (IS) has a single threshold effect. LM has a promotional effect on eco-efficiency, which differs in the promotion before and after promotion across the threshold value. Reasonable ER can reduce cost by stimulating the innovation of green production technology and achieves a win-win situation between environment and output. This finding further verifies that the ER for eco-efficiency under the constraint of land use carbon emission conforms to the Porter hypothesis. The effect of ER on eco-efficiency changes from negative to positive with the increase of IS level. Adjusting the ownership structure and increasing the proportion of green achievements in the promotion and assessment of officials are important measures in the upgrading of eco-efficiency.
Me’akai in Tonga: Exploring the Nature and Context of the Food Tongan Children Eat in Ha’apai Using Wearable Cameras
Authors: Veatupu Loma , Puloka Viliami , Smith Moira , McKerchar Christina , Signal Louise
Published: May 2019

Unhealthy food consumption is a key driver of the global pandemic in non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The Government of Tonga has prioritised NCD prevention due to the very high rates of NCDs in the Kingdom. This research examines the nature and context of the me’akai (food) consumed by Tongan children in Ha’apai using wearable cameras. Thirty-six randomly selected 11-year-old children used wearable cameras to record their lives for three days, as part of the wider Kids’Cam Tonga project. Images were analysed to assess the participants’ food consumption according to a new data analysis protocol for Tonga. Core foods were defined as including breads and cereals, fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and alternatives, and staple vegetables. Non-core food types included confectionery, unhealthy snack foods, edible ices, and processed meat. Tongan researchers led the research in partnership with the Government of Tonga. Overall, children were observed to have consumed a mean of 4.5 (95% CI 3.3, 6.7) non-core and 2.3 (95% CI 1.8, 2.9) core foods per 10 h day, excluding mixed meals. Unhealthy snack foods, confectionary, and cookies, cakes, and desserts were the most commonly consumed non-core foods, and fresh fruit was the most frequently consumed core food. Snacking was the most frequent eating episode observed, with children snacking on non-core foods four times a day (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.5 to 6.2) compared to 1.8 (95% CI 1.3 to 2.6) core food snacks per day. Most commonly, children were observed eating at home, at school, and on the road while out walking. The most common sources of food were the home, other children, and the supermarket. On average, children consumed one purchased product per day, almost all (90%) of which were non-core. Children were also observed eating an average of just less than one mixed meal per day. Less than half (45.2%) of all mixed meals observed were traditional foods. This research illustrates the presence, and likely dominance, of energy-dense nutrient-poor (EDNP) foods in the diet of these Tongan children. It highlights a transition from a traditional diet and suggests that these children live in an obesogenic environment, one that promotes obesity as a normal response to an abnormal environment. The findings support efforts by the Government of Tonga for the implementation of a healthy School Food Policy, junk food taxes, and initiatives to ban the importation of EDNP foods. This study has relevance for other Pacific Island nations and all nations concerned with addressing obesity and other diet-related NCDs.
The Evolutionary Trends of Health Behaviors in Chinese Elderly and the Influencing Factors of These Trends: 2005–2014
Authors: Feng Yan , Liu Erpeng , Yue Zhang , Zhang Qilin , Han Tiankuo
Published: May 2019

As China is now facing the severe challenge of rapid population ageing, the health behaviors in Chinese elderly people are of great significance for realizing the goal of “Healthy Ageing” and the construction of a “Healthy China”. Little is known about the evolutionary trends of health behaviors in the Chinese elderly and about the factors influencing these trends; thus, the purposes of this paper are: (1) To describe the classes and evolutionary trends of health behaviors in the Chinese elderly; and (2) to explore the factors that influence the changes in the health behaviors in the elderly in China. Latent class analysis (LCA) is applied in this study to analyze the classes of health behaviors in the Chinese elderly. Growth mixture modelling (GMM) is employed to describe the evolutionary trends of the health behaviors in elderly people in China. In addition, the Bivariate analysis model is adopted to identify the influencing factors of the evolution of health behaviors. The data were derived from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) from 2005 to 2014. The results reveal that the health behaviors in the Chinese elderly can be grouped into five classes: Negative, relatively negative, fair, relatively positive, and positive. Approximately 77.2% of the health behaviors in the Chinese elderly have the characteristics of “modified”, with a positive tendency. Moreover, approximately 22.8% of the health behaviors in Chinese elderly people have the characteristics of “non-modified”, with a negative tendency or remaining unchanged. The evolution of the health behaviors in the elderly in China is more affected by economic factors such as timely medical treatment during childhood, pension, occupations before the age of 60 and family income, as well as by self-rated health (SRH) and demographic characteristics such as household registration, age, and education level. Hence, various possible interventions should be made to improve the health behaviors in elderly people.
Screening and Diagnosis of Chronic Pharyngitis Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Li Zhichao , Huang Jilin , Hu Zhiping
Published: May 2019

Chronic pharyngitis is a common disease, which has a long duration and a wide range of onset. It is easy to misdiagnose by mistaking it with other diseases, such as chronic tonsillitis, by using common diagnostic methods. In order to reduce costs and avoid misdiagnosis, the search for an affordable and rapid diagnostic method is becoming more and more important for chronic pharyngitis research. Speech disorder is one of the typical symptoms of patients with chronic pharyngitis. This paper introduces a convolutional neural network model for diagnosis based on the typical symptom of speech disorder. First of all, the voice data is converted into a speech spectrogram, which can better output the speech characteristic information and lay a foundation for computer diagnosis and discrimination. Second, we construct a deep convolutional neural network for the diagnosis of chronic pharyngitis through the design of the structure, the design of the network layer, and the description of the function. Finally, we perform a parameter optimization experiment on the convolutional neural network and judge the recognition efficiency of chronic pharyngitis. The results show that the convolutional neural network has a high recognition rate for patients with chronic pharyngitis and has a good diagnostic effect.
Occurrence, Removal and Bioaccumulation of Perfluoroalkyl Substances in Lake Chaohu, China
Authors: Pan Xu , Ye Jing , Zhang Hui , Tang Jun , Pan Dandan
Published: May 2019

The perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAAs) have received growing attention in recent years as emerging contaminants in the aquatic environment. The occurrence, removal and bioaccumulation of fourteen PFAAs (C4–C14 carboxylate; C4, C6, C8 sulfonates) were investigated in Lake Chaohu, China. The concentrations of the selected PFAAs in inflowing river, lake water and sewage treatment plant (STP) samples were analyzed by ultra performance liquid chromatograph (UPLC–MS/MS). The results showed that perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), perfluorobutyric acid (PFBA) and perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA), instead of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), were predominant PFAAs in the inflowing river and lake water with maximum concentrations in the ranges of 52.2–1866 and 27–236 ng L−1, respectively. The highest concentrations of total PFAAs were detected in the western rivers. The effluents from seven STPs were likely important sources of PFAAs in surface water, and the amount of the daily fluxes in the effluent were 132 g for short-chain PFAAs and 109 g for long-chain PFAAs. PFAAs were widely detected in Chinese icefish (Neosalanx tangkahkeii taihuensis) collected from Lake Chaohu, with maximal concentrations ranging from 1.79 ng g−1 to 50.9 ng g−1. The logarithmic bioaccumulation factors of perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA, 3.5), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS, 3.35) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA, 3.31) indicated the bioaccumulation of these long-chain PFAAs. This study is useful for enhancing our understanding of the pollution profiles of PFAAs and their environmental health risk in the freshwater lake.
Assessment of Groundwater Quality in CKDu Affected Areas of Sri Lanka: Implications for Drinking Water Treatment
Authors: Cooray Titus , Wei Yuansong , Zhong Hui , Zheng Libing , Weragoda Sujithra K. , Weerasooriya Rohan
Published: May 2019

This study investigated the water quality of the groundwater that was collected from the chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) prevailing areas in the dry zone of Sri Lanka to assess its suitability for drinking purposes, and for the first time a Water Quality Index (WQI) with emphasis on proposing appropriate drinking water treatment method was developed. A total of 88 groundwater samples were collected in dry (December 2016) and wet (May 2017) seasons; high concentrations of water hardness, fluoride, salinity, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and the general alkaline nature of water were the main issues that were observed for disease incidence. The chemical weathering of the underlying bedrock, followed by ion exchange and precipitation processes, primarily controlled groundwater geochemistry. During the 1985–2017 period, the variations of the annual rainfall and temperature were minimal, which suggests no evidence for major climatic changes within the study areas. Almost all of the samples from the CKDu regions show a low alkali hazard and most of the samples show a medium to high salinity hazard. The DOC of the studied samples was mainly composed of the organic fractions in the following order, as fulvic acids > humic acids > aromatic protein II > soluble microbial by-products, and the molecular weights (MW) of these fractions ranged from 100–3000 Da. Based on the water quality index (WQI) calculations, it was found that only 3.8% in the wet season and 2.6% in the dry season of total water samples were categorized as the “excellent” type, and all other water sources require a further treatment before consumption. As there is an urgent need for establishing proper long-term drinking water treatment technology for the CKDu affected area, these findings can be used as benchmark of raw water quality in the design processes of treatment plants.
Resolved Hyperfine at L-band for High-Spin CoEDTA, A Model for Co Sites in Proteins
Authors: Antholine William E.
Published: May 2019

Low-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra were obtained for the Co complex of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (CoEDTA). It was found that the cobalt hyperfine at geff-mid is better resolved at a low frequency, L-band (1.37 GHz), and not resolved at X-band (9.631 GHz), which is the conventional frequency used for most spectra for metal complexes. Resolved cobalt hyperfine lines lead to additional EPR parameters like A-mid for cobalt and a more-accurate determination of g-mid. Resolved hyperfine lines in the L-band, but not the S-band, spectra were obtained at a concentration of 1 mM. Knowing these additional EPR parameters provides a means to better determine the electron density in the ground state orbital for each cobalt complex, as well as to determine differences upon a change of ligation. If zinc sites can be replaced by cobalt, the cobalt spectra for these sites will enhance the characterization of the zinc sites.
Gradient-Based Iterative Parameter Estimation Algorithms for Dynamical Systems from Observation Data
Authors: Ding Feng , Pan Jian , Alsaedi Ahmed , Hayat Tasawar
Published: May 2019

It is well-known that mathematical models are the basis for system analysis and controller design. This paper considers the parameter identification problems of stochastic systems by the controlled autoregressive model. A gradient-based iterative algorithm is derived from observation data by using the gradient search. By using the multi-innovation identification theory, we propose a multi-innovation gradient-based iterative algorithm to improve the performance of the algorithm. Finally, a numerical simulation example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.
Comparison of the Microstructure of M2 Steel Fabricated by Continuous Casting and with a Sand Mould
Authors: Zhang Jinwen , Zhao Zhigang , Wang Wenxian , Wang Yutian
Published: May 2019

AISI M2 steel was smelted in a 150 kg medium-frequency induction furnace and cast to form round billets with a cross-section diameter of 100 mm via a vertical continuous caster and sand mold. The secondary dendrite arm spacing (λ2), cooling rates, permeability and size and distribution of grains and network carbides of the two billets were studied. The results show that the continuous casting process can effectively decrease the λ2 value, permeability and size of the grains and carbides and improve the distribution of the grains and carbides during solidification. The λ2 values of the billets cast with a sand mold and continuous caster are 37.34 μm and 21.14 μm, respectively, and the cooling rate is 3.6 K·s−1 and 12.0 K·s−1, respectively. The area fractions of carbides at the center of the billets cast with the sand mold and continuous caster are 0.24 and 0.16, respectively, and increase by 27.7% and 25.4%, respectively, compared with their average values. The average grain size of billets cast with the sand mold and continuous caster is 69.4 μm and 50.5 μm, respectively. Compared with the sand mold billet, the grain size at the center of the continuous casting billet is reduced by 25.5%. The relationship between the grain size and cooling rate is presented in this paper.
Manufacturing of Titanium Components with 3DPMD
Authors: Hoefer Kevin , Nitsche Alexander , Haelsig André , Mayr Peter
Published: May 2019

Within this work, the 3D plasma metal deposition (3DPMD) process is introduced as an additive manufacturing process for titanium components. For this purpose, demonstrators were designed, manufactured and subsequently analyzed. Process-structure-property relationships are discussed. By analyzing the microstructure, the chemical composition and the mechanical-technological properties, it is shown that the production of titanium parts with 3DPMD is possible. The micro tensile tests showed that a load parallel to the build direction is the most critical case for the component. Furthermore, a brittle material behavior could be determined due to enhanced oxygen content in the component. By subsequent heat treatment, the brittle failure behavior could be increased to a fracture elongation of 4.6%. In sum, the 3DPMD process has the potential to manufacture near-net-shape titanium parts out of metal powders. Critical issues are the protection of the weldment and the lack of ductility of the titanium component.
An Electrothermal Cu/W Bimorph Tip-Tilt-Piston MEMS Mirror with High Reliability
Authors: Zhou Liang , Zhang Xiaoyang , Xie Huikai
Published: May 2019

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and characterization of an electrothermal MEMS mirror with large tip, tilt and piston scan. This MEMS mirror is based on electrothermal bimorph actuation with Cu and W thin-film layers forming the bimorphs. The MEMS mirror is fabricated via a combination of surface and bulk micromachining. The piston displacement and tip-tilt optical angle of the mirror plate of the fabricated MEMS mirror are around 114 μm and ±8°, respectively at only 2.35 V. The measured response time is 7.3 ms. The piston and tip-tilt resonant frequencies are measured to be 1.5 kHz and 2.7 kHz, respectively. The MEMS mirror survived 220 billion scanning cycles with little change of its scanning characteristics, indicating that the MEMS mirror is stable and reliable.
High Pressure Crystal Structure and Electrical Properties of a Single Component Molecular Crystal [Ni(dddt)2] (dddt = 5,6-dihydro-1,4-dithiin-2,3-dithiolate)
Authors: Cui Hengbo , Tsumuraya Takao , Yeung Hamish H.-M. , Coates Chloe S. , Warren Mark R. , Kato Reizo
Published: May 2019

Single-component molecular conductors form an important class of materials showing exotic quantum phenomena, owing to the range of behavior they exhibit under physical stimuli. We report the effect of high pressure on the electrical properties and crystal structure of the single-component crystal [Ni(dddt)2] (where dddt = 5,6-dihydro-1,4-dithiin-2,3-dithiolate). The system is isoelectronic and isostructural with [Pd(dddt)2], which is the first example of a single-component molecular crystal that exhibits nodal line semimetallic behavior under high pressure. Systematic high pressure four-probe electrical resistivity measurements were performed up to 21.6 GPa, using a Diamond Anvil Cell (DAC), and high pressure single crystal synchrotron X-ray diffraction was performed up to 11.2 GPa. We found that [Ni(dddt)2] initially exhibits a decrease of resistivity upon increasing pressure but, unlike [Pd(dddt)2], it shows pressure-independent semiconductivity above 9.5 GPa. This correlates with decreasing changes in the unit cell parameters and intermolecular interactions, most notably the π-π stacking distance within chains of [Ni(dddt)2] molecules. Using first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations, based on the experimentally-determined crystal structures, we confirm that the band gap decreases with increasing pressure. Thus, we have been able to rationalize the electrical behavior of [Ni(dddt)2] in the pressure-dependent regime, and suggest possible explanations for its pressure-independent behavior at higher pressures.
Insulin Release Mechanism Modulated by Toxins Isolated from Animal Venoms: From Basic Research to Drug Development Prospects
Authors: Sarmiento Beatriz Elena , Santos Menezes Luis Felipe , Schwartz Elisabeth F.
Published: May 2019

Venom from mammals, amphibians, snakes, arachnids, sea anemones and insects provides diverse sources of peptides with different potential medical applications. Several of these peptides have already been converted into drugs and some are still in the clinical phase. Diabetes type 2 is one of the diseases with the highest mortality rate worldwide, requiring specific attention. Diverse drugs are available (e.g., Sulfonylureas) for effective treatment, but with several adverse secondary effects, most of them related to the low specificity of these compounds to the target. In this context, the search for specific and high-affinity compounds for the management of this metabolic disease is growing. Toxins isolated from animal venom have high specificity and affinity for different molecular targets, of which the most important are ion channels. This review will present an overview about the electrical activity of the ion channels present in pancreatic β cells that are involved in the insulin secretion process, in addition to the diversity of peptides that can interact and modulate the electrical activity of pancreatic β cells. The importance of prospecting bioactive peptides for therapeutic use is also reinforced.
Biofilm Formation in Acinetobacter Baumannii: Genotype-Phenotype Correlation
Authors: Yang Cheng-Hong , Su Pai-Wei , Moi Sin-Hua , Chuang Li-Yeh
Published: May 2019

Strains of Acinetobacter baumannii are commensal and opportunistic pathogens that have emerged as problematic hospital pathogens due to its biofilm formation ability and multiple antibiotic resistances. The biofilm-associated pathogens usually exhibit dramatically decreased susceptibility to antibiotics. This study was aimed to investigate the correlation of biofilm-forming ability, antibiotic resistance and biofilm-related genes of 154 A. baumannii isolates which were collected from a teaching hospital in Taiwan. Biofilm-forming ability of the isolates was evaluated by crystal violet staining and observed by scanning electron microscopy. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by disc diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration; the biofilm-related genes were screened by polymerase chain reaction. Results showed that among the 154 tested isolates, 15.6% of the clinical isolates were weak biofilm producers, while 32.5% and 45.4% of them possessed moderate and strong biofilm formation ability, respectively. The experimental results revealed that the multiple drug resistant isolates usually provided a higher biofilm formation. The prevalence of biofilm related genes including bap, blaPER-1, csuE and ompA among the isolated strains was 79.2%, 38.3%, 91.6%, and 68.8%, respectively. The results indicated that the antibiotic resistance, the formation of biofilm and the related genes were significantly correlated. The results of this study can effectively help to understand the antibiotic resistant mechanism and provides the valuable information to the screening, identification, diagnosis, treatment and control of clinical antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
Tuning the Optical Properties of Hyperbolic Metamaterials by Controlling the Volume Fraction of Metallic Nanorods
Authors: Leontiev Alexey P. , Volkova Olga Yu. , Kolmychek Irina A. , Venets Anastasia V. , Pomozov Alexander R. , Stolyarov Vasily S. , Murzina Tatiana V. , Napolskii Kirill S.
Published: May 2019

Porous films of anodic aluminum oxide are widely used as templates for the electrochemical preparation of functional nanocomposites containing ordered arrays of anisotropic nanostructures. In these structures, the volume fraction of the inclusion phase, which strongly determines the functional properties of the nanocomposite, is equal to the porosity of the initial template. For the range of systems, the most pronounced effects and the best functional properties are expected when the volume fraction of metal is less than 10%, whereas the porosity of anodic aluminum oxide typically exceeds this value. In the present work, the possibility of the application of anodic aluminum oxide for obtaining hyperbolic metamaterials in the form of nanocomposites with the metal volume fraction smaller than the template porosity is demonstrated for the first time. A decrease in the fraction of the pores accessible for electrodeposition is achieved by controlled blocking of the portion of pores during anodization when the template is formed. The effectiveness of the proposed approach has been shown in the example of obtaining nanocomposites containing Au nanorods arrays. The possibility for the control over the position of the resonance absorption band corresponding to the excitation of collective longitudinal oscillations of the electron gas in the nanorods in a wide range of wavelengths by controlled decreasing of the metal volume fraction, is shown.