bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surface changes of yttria‐stabilized zirconia in water and Hanks solution characterized using XPS
Authors: Oishi M. , Tsutsumi Y. , Chen P. , Ashida M. , Doi H. , Hanawa T.
Published: March 2018

Adhesion of soft and hard tissues to yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ) has been reported, despite its chemical inertness. To investigate the underlying mechanism of adhesion of hard and soft tissues to YSZ in dental implants, YSZ disks with (100), (110), and (111) crystalline planes were immersed in water for 60 days and in Hanks solution for 7 days, and the changes in the surface chemical states were characterized using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. After immersion in water for 60 days, the concentration of hydroxyl groups on the YSZ surface increased. Therefore, the surface of YSZ was hydrated during immersion in water. In addition, phosphate groups were formed on the surface of YSZ immersed in Hanks solution. We conclude that the formation of phosphate on the YSZ surface in physiological conditions can promote reaction with the surrounding tissues.
State Diagram for a Waxy Rice Starch–Soluble Dietary Fiber Composite System
Authors: Wan Jie , Zhou Guohui , Luo Shunjing , Liu Chengmei , Liu Fei , Ding Yueping
Published: March 2018

Soluble dietary fiber (SDF) significantly affects human health. The addition of SDF to food not only improves the health benefits, but also modifies its textural properties and shelf life. Moisture sorption isotherms and state diagrams are developed for waxy rice starch (WRS) and waxy rice starch–soluble dietary fiber (WRS‐SDF) to investigate the effects of SDF on the stability of WRS. The moisture sorption isotherms of WRS and WRS‐SDF are modeled using the Guggenheim–Anderson–de Boer (GAB) equation. The GAB monolayer moisture contents are calculated as 8.87 and 9.28 g/100 g (dry basis) for WRS and WRS‐SDF, respectively. For WRS, the maximal‐freeze‐concentration conditions at (characteristic solids content) = 0.75 g g−1 (dry basis) are (characteristic end point of freezing) = −16.8 °C and (characteristic glass transition) = −38.5 °C. For WRS‐SDF at  =0.74 g g−1 (dry basis),  = −13.5 °C and  = −29.6 °C. The differences in values of the maximal‐freeze‐concentration conditions are attributed to the good hygroscopicity and water‐holding capacity of SDF. When combined with the Williams–Landel–Ferry (WLF) equation, the results indicated that the storage of WRS‐SDF is shorter than that of WRS under the same holding condition.
Exact RG flow equations and quantum gravity
Authors: de Alwis S.P.
Published: March 2018

Abstract

We discuss the different forms of the functional RG equation and their relation to each other. In particular we suggest a generalized background field version that is close in spirit to the Polchinski equation as an alternative to the Wetterich equation to study Weinberg’s asymptotic safety program for defining quantum gravity, and argue that the former is better suited for this purpose. Using the heat kernel expansion and proper time regularization we find evidence in support of this program in agreement with previous work.
Spheres, charges, instantons, and bootstrap: A five-dimensional odyssey
Authors: Chang Chi-Ming , Fluder Martin , Lin Ying-Hsuan , Wang Yifan
Published: March 2018

Abstract

We combine supersymmetric localization and the conformal bootstrap to study five-dimensional superconformal field theories. To begin, we classify the admissible counter-terms and derive a general relation between the five-sphere partition function and the conformal and flavor central charges. Along the way, we discover a new superconformal anomaly in five dimensions. We then propose a precise triple factorization formula for the five-sphere partition function, that incorporates instantons and is consistent with flavor symmetry enhancement. We numerically evaluate the central charges for the rank-one Seiberg and Morrison-Seiberg theories, and find strong evidence for their saturation of bootstrap bounds, thereby determining the spectra of long multiplets in these theories. Lastly, our results provide new evidence for the F-theorem and possibly a C-theorem in five-dimensional superconformal theories.
Deformation of $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 SYM with varying couplings via fluxes and intersecting branes
Authors: Choi Jaewang , Fernández-Melgarejo José J. , Sugimoto Shigeki
Published: March 2018

Abstract

We study deformations of

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory with space-time dependent couplings by embedding probe D3-branes in supergravity backgrounds with non-trivial fluxes. The effective action on the world-volume of the D3-branes is analyzed and a map between the deformation parameters and the fluxes is obtained. As an explicit example, we consider D3-branes in a background corresponding to (p, q) 5-branes intersecting them and show that the effective theory on the D3-branes precisely agrees with the supersymmetric Janus configuration found by Gaiotto and Witten in [1]. D3-branes in an intersecting D3-brane background is also analyzed and the D3-brane effective action reproduces one of the supersymmetric configurations with ISO(1, 1) × SO(2) × SO(4) symmetry found in our previous paper [2].
Non-supersymmetric Wilson loop in $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 SYM and defect 1d CFT
Authors: Beccaria Matteo , Giombi Simone , Tseytlin Arkady A.
Published: March 2018

Abstract

Following Polchinski and Sully (arXiv:1104.5077), we consider a generalized Wilson loop operator containing a constant parameter ζ in front of the scalar coupling term, so that ζ = 0 corresponds to the standard Wilson loop, while ζ = 1 to the locally supersymmetric one. We compute the expectation value of this operator for circular loop as a function of ζ to second order in the planar weak coupling expansion in

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 4 SYM theory. We then explain the relation of the expansion near the two conformal points ζ = 0 and ζ = 1 to the correlators of scalar operators inserted on the loop. We also discuss the AdS5 × S
5 string 1-loop correction to the strong-coupling expansion of the standard circular Wilson loop, as well as its generalization to the case of mixed boundary conditions on the five-sphere coordinates, corresponding to general ζ. From the point of view of the defect CFT1 defined on the Wilson line, the ζ-dependent term can be seen as a perturbation driving a RG flow from the standard Wilson loop in the UV to the supersymmetric Wilson loop in the IR. Both at weak and strong coupling we find that the logarithm of the expectation value of the standard Wilson loop for the circular contour is larger than that of the supersymmetric one, which appears to be in agreement with the 1d analog of the F-theorem.
Exact renormalization group in Batalin-Vilkovisky theory
Authors: Zucchini Roberto
Published: March 2018

Abstract

In this paper, inspired by the Costello’s seminal work [11], we present a general formulation of exact renormalization group (RG) within the Batalin-Vilkovisky (BV) quantization scheme. In the spirit of effective field theory, the BV bracket and Laplacian structure as well as the BV effective action (EA) depend on an effective energy scale. The BV EA at a certain scale satisfies the BV quantum master equation at that scale. The RG flow of the EA is implemented by BV canonical maps intertwining the BV structures at different scales. Infinitesimally, this generates the BV exact renormalization group equation (RGE). We show that BV RG theory can be extended by augmenting the scale parameter space R to its shifted tangent bundle T [1]ℝ. The extra odd direction in scale space allows for a BV RG supersymmetry that constrains the structure of the BV RGE bringing it to Polchinski’s form [6]. We investigate the implications of BV RG supersymmetry in perturbation theory. Finally, we illustrate our findings by constructing free models of BV RG flow and EA exhibiting RG supersymmetry in the degree −1 symplectic framework and studying the perturbation theory thereof. We find in particular that the odd partner of effective action describes perturbatively the deviation of the interacting RG flow from its free counterpart.
Three-loop massive form factors: complete light-fermion corrections for the vector current
Authors: Lee Roman N. , Smirnov Alexander V. , Smirnov Vladimir A. , Steinhauser Matthias
Published: March 2018

Abstract

We compute the three-loop QCD corrections to the massive quark-anti-quark-photon form factors F
1 and F
2 involving a closed loop of massless fermions. This subset is gauge invariant and contains both planar and non-planar contributions. We perform the reduction using FIRE and compute the master integrals with the help of differential equations. Our analytic results can be expressed in terms of Goncharov polylogarithms. We provide analytic results for all master integrals which are not present in the large-N

c
calculation considered in refs. [1, 2].
Hydroxyhydroquinone impairs fat utilization in mice by reducing nitric oxide availability
Authors: Ishida Keiko , Misawa Koichi , Yamamoto Masaki , Shimotoyodome Akira
Published: March 2018

Habitual consumption of chlorogenic acid compounds (CGAs) from coffee increases fat catabolism and reduces body fat; however, the contribution of roasted coffee remains unclear. Hydroxyhydroquinone (HHQ) impairs the vasodilatory and antihypertensive effects of CGAs by reducing nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Since HHQ also reduces fat catabolism, we hypothesized that HHQ does so by decreasing NO availability. Therefore, we investigated the effect of HHQ on energy metabolism in KKAy mice. In HHQ-treated mice, fat oxidation was significantly low and dose-dependent, serum and urinary hydrogen peroxide were high, and plasma NO metabolites and S-nitrosylated liver proteins were low. In HHQ-treated mouse hepatocytes, the palmitate-induced increase in cellular oxygen consumption was negatively affected, and HHQ or L-NAME reduced cellular fatty acid utilization. In conclusion, HHQ can impair fat utilization by reducing NO availability in mice. Protein S-nitrosylation reduction in liver cells after HHQ consumption may be associated with impaired fatty acid oxidation.
The Social Functions and Dysfunctions of Brazilian Immigrant Congregations in “terra incognita”
Authors: Serrao Rodrigo , Cavendish James
Published: March 2018

Ethnic congregations are often considered safe havens for immigrants. This is supported by a large body of literature showing that many religious congregations in diasporic contexts help immigrants maintain their ethnic group identity and cohesion, build social capital, and adapt more smoothly to life in an unfamiliar society. The role of ethnic congregations in the lives of immigrants is, however, complex and multifaceted, and some recent research suggests that, in some ways, these congregations may inhibit their adaptation to the larger society and arouse tensions among the very immigrant communities they intend to help. In light of these varying observations, we seek to explore the functions—and potential dysfunctions—that ethnic congregations have among Brazilians who have immigrated to central Texas. Using data drawn in 2013 from participant observation and 16 in-depth interviews conducted in two Brazilian evangelical congregations, we find that respondents perceive that their congregations strengthen their feelings of attachment to Brazilian culture and language and foster the development of social capital within to the Brazilian immigrant community. At the same time, however, some respondents acknowledge that church members can become overly dependent on their congregations and isolated from the larger society, leaving them susceptible to potential exploitation at the hands of more established co-ethnics within the congregation.
Understanding Important Hotel Attributes from the Consumer Perspective over Time
Authors: Jang Sungha , Liu Tian , Kang Ji Hye , Yang Huichen
Published: March 2018

Consumers consider various product attributes when they evaluate products. Researchers and practitioners have used multi-attribute models to understand which product attributes are important for consumers. However, in those models, product attributes are limited and are determined by researchers at the time of the inquiry. In this study, using a longitudinal study of hotel reviews over 6 years, the top 30 important hotel attributes from the perspective of consumers are identified and examined as to how the importance of these hotel attributes has changed over time. Our findings show that staff is the most important attribute with a positive effect on ratings at all times and that other attributes show consistent positive (negative) effects with small changes of importance over the years. Our study provides managerial implications of what attributes hotel managers need to maintain or improve for customer satisfaction.
“Let's Try and Grapple All of This”: A Snapshot of Racial Identity Development and Racial Pedagogical Decision Making in An Elective Social Studies Course
Authors: Hawkman Andrea M.
Published: March 2018

This case study chronicles the pedagogical decision making of one high school teacher, Mr. Diego de la Vega, a pseudonym, as he teaches about race and racism in his elective social studies class, Race, Gender, and Ethnicity. De la Vega draws upon his own racial biography and experiences with race/ism to engage with high school students around racialized content. A conceptual framework grounded in racial identity development theory is used. This snapshot of racial pedagogical decision making, or RPDM, features a discussion of implications for social studies pedagogy to promote racial identity development in the classroom.
Shear instability of an axisymmetric air–water coaxial jet
Authors: Matas Jean-Philippe , Delon Antoine , Cartellier Alain
Published: March 2018

We study the destabilization of a round liquid jet by a fast annular gas stream. We measure the frequency of the shear instability waves for several geometries and air/water velocities. We then carry out a linear stability analysis, and show that there are three competing mechanisms for the destabilization: a convective instability, an absolute instability driven by surface tension and an absolute instability driven by confinement. We compare the predictions of this analysis with experimental results, and propose scaling laws for wave frequency in each regime. We finally introduce criteria to predict the boundaries between these three regimes.
On the limiting Stokes wave of extreme height in arbitrary water depth
Authors: Zhong Xiaoxu , Liao Shijun
Published: March 2018

Both Schwartz (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 62 (3), 1974, pp. 553–578) and Cokelet (Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond., vol. 286 (1335), 1977, pp. 183–230) failed to gain convergent results for limiting Stokes waves in extremely shallow water by means of perturbation methods, even with the aid of extrapolation techniques such as the Padé approximant. In particular, it is extremely difficult for traditional analytic/numerical approaches to present the wave profile of limiting waves with a sharp crest of$120^{\circ }$included angle first mentioned by Stokes in the 1880s. Thus, traditionally, different wave models are used for waves in different water depths. In this paper, by means of the homotopy analysis method (HAM), an analytic approximation method for highly nonlinear equations, we successfully gain convergent results (and especially the wave profiles) of the limiting Stokes waves with this kind of sharp crest in arbitrary water depth, even including solitary waves of extreme form in extremely shallow water, without using any extrapolation techniques. Therefore, in the frame of the HAM, the Stokes wave can be used as a unified theory for all kinds of waves, including periodic waves in deep and intermediate depths, cnoidal waves in shallow water and solitary waves in extremely shallow water.
Introduction of iodised salt benefits infants’ mental development in a community-based cluster-randomised effectiveness trial in Ethiopia
Authors: Bougma Karim , Aboud Frances E. , Lemma Tizita M. , Frongillo Edward A. , Marquis Grace S.
Published: March 2018

The effectiveness of salt iodisation in improving the mental development of young children has not been assessed. We implemented a community-based cluster-randomised effectiveness trial in sixty randomly selected districts in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. We randomly allocated each district to treatment and randomly selected one of its villages. In parallel to national salt iodisation efforts, iodised salt was brought early into the markets of the thirty intervention villages before it became widely available in the thirty control villages 4–6 months later. The primary outcome was children’s mental development scores on the Bayley Scales. This was an intention-to-treat analysis using mixed linear models adjusted for covariates and clusters. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT013496. We assessed 1835 infants aged 5–11 months at baseline. The same children (85 % of the sample) were re-assessed at 20–29 months when all villages had iodised salt. At endline, urinary iodine concentration was higher in children in the intervention group compared with those in the control group (median 228·0v. 155·1 µg/l,P=0·001). The intervention group had higher scores compared with the control group on the Bayley composite score (raw scores:130·60v. 128·51; standardised scores: 27·8v. 26·9;d=0·13; 95 % CI 0·02, 0·23) and three of the four subscales: cognitive (53·27v. 52·54,d=0·13; 95 % CI 0·03, 0·23), receptive language (20·71v. 20·18,d=0·13; 95 % CI 0·03, 0·24) and fine motor (35·45v. 34·94,d=0·15; 95 % CI 0·04, 0·25). The introduction of iodised salt contributes to children’s higher urinary iodine concentration and mental development.
Changing to a vegetarian diet reduces the body creatine pool in omnivorous women, but appears not to affect carnitine and carnosine homeostasis: a randomised trial
Authors: Blancquaert Laura , Baguet Audrey , Bex Tine , Volkaert Anneke , Everaert Inge , Delanghe Joris , Petrovic Mirko , Vervaet Chris , De Henauw Stefaan , Constantin-Teodosiu Dumitru , Greenhaff Paul , Derave Wim
Published: March 2018

Balanced vegetarian diets are popular, although they are nearly absent in creatine and carnosine and contain considerably less carnitine than non-vegetarian diets. Few longitudinal intervention studies investigating the effect of a vegetarian diet on the availability of these compounds currently exist. We aimed to investigate the effect of transiently switching omnivores onto a vegetarian diet for 6 months on muscle and plasma creatine, carnitine and carnosine homeostasis. In a 6-month intervention, forty omnivorous women were ascribed to three groups: continued omnivorous diet (control,n10), vegetarian diet without supplementation (Veg+Pla,n15) and vegetarian diet combined with dailyβ-alanine (0·8–0·4 g/d) and creatine supplementation (1 g creatine monohydrate/d) (Veg+Suppl,n15). Before (0 months; 0M), after 3 months (3M) and 6 months (6M), a fasted venous blood sample and 24-h urine was collected, and muscle carnosine content was determined by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). Muscle biopsies were obtained at 0M and 3M. Plasma creatine and muscle total creatine content declined from 0M to 3M in Veg+Pla (P=0·013 andP=0·009, respectively), whereas plasma creatine increased from 0M in Veg+Suppl (P=0·004). None of the carnitine-related compounds in plasma or muscle showed a significant time×group interaction effect.1H-MRS-determined muscle carnosine content was unchanged over 6M in control and Veg+Pla, but increased in Veg+Suppl in soleus (P<0·001) and gastrocnemius (P=0·001) muscle. To conclude, the body creatine pool declined over a 3-month vegetarian diet in omnivorous women, which was ameliorated when accompanied by low-dose dietary creatine supplementation. Carnitine and carnosine homeostasis was unaffected by a 3- or 6-month vegetarian diet, respectively.
Psychotic-like experiences with cannabis use predict cannabis cessation and desire to quit: a cannabis discontinuation hypothesis
Authors: Sami Musa , Notley Caitlin , Kouimtsidis Christos , Lynskey Michael , Bhattacharyya Sagnik
Published: March 2018

Background

Evidence suggests that cannabis-induced psychotic-like experiences may be a marker of psychosis proneness. The effect of such experiences on cannabis use has not systematically been examined.

Methods

We undertook a mixed-methods online survey of 1231 cannabis users (including 926 continued users) using the Cannabis Experiences Questionnaire. We examined the effect of psychotic-like and pleasurable experiences on cessation of cannabis and intention to quit. Socio-demographic variables, cannabis use parameters and substance misuse history were included as covariates. Free-text data explored subjective reasons for changes in use.

Results

Cessation of cannabis use was associated with greater psychotic-like experiences [p < 0.001, Exp(B) 1.262, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.179–1.351], whilst continued cannabis users were more likely to report pleasurable experiences [p < 0.001, Exp(B) 0.717, 95% CI 0.662–0.776]. Intention to quit cannabis in continued users was associated with greater psychotic-like experiences [p < 0.003, Exp(B) 1.131, 95% CI 1.044–1.225], whilst intention to not quit was significantly associated with increased pleasurable experiences [p < 0.015, Exp(B) 0.892, 95% CI 0.814–0.978]. Whereas former users clearly ascribed cessation to negative experiences, continued users who expressed intention to quit less readily ascribed the intention to negative experiences.

Conclusions

Elucidation of psychotic-like experiences may form the basis of a therapeutic intervention for those who wish to quit. Cessation in those with cannabis-induced psychotomimetic experiences may offset the risk for the development of a psychotic disorder, in this higher risk group.
Impact of postoperative intravaginal brachytherapy on survival for patients with intermediate-risk cervical cancer at National Cancer Institute (NCI), Egypt
Authors: Mahmoud Mohamed , Abdelgeleel Shaimaa , Mahmoud Ahmed M.
Published: March 2018

Background

Cervical cancer is considered to be the fourth most frequent cancer among women. Postoperative treatment is indicated depending up on surgical findings and disease stage.

Objective

The objective of this study was to assess the long-term postoperative outcomes of cervical cancer patients with intermediate risk factors who have received pelvic external beam radiotherapy with or without vaginal brachytherapy, and treatment-related toxicities.

Patients and methods

In this retrospective study, the records were collected for all patients with cervical cancer who received postoperative radiotherapy at the National Cancer Institute between the years 2008 and 2013. The end points of the study were local control, progression-free survival, overall survival (OS) and delayed complications.

Results

Out of 248 patients, the median age of patients who did not receive brachytherapy was 53 years and the median age of patients who received brachytherapy was 52 years. A statistically significant difference was found in OS, progression-free survival and recurrence-free survival for those who received brachytherapy, with a p value<0·001, 0·01 and 0·004, respectively.

Conclusion

The addition of brachytherapy to postoperative external beam radiotherapy improves OS, progression-free survival and local control for patients with intermediate-risk cervical cancer.
Pacific’s Garbage Hot Spot Holds More Plastic Debris Than Thought
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: March 2018

A nonprofit that helped to collect data for the research plans to use the study’s findings to help guide it in an upcoming campaign to remove buoyant plastic trash from ocean gyres.
Genome-wide identification of natural RNA aptamers in prokaryotes and eukaryotes
Authors: Tapsin Sidika , Sun Miao , Shen Yang , Zhang Huibin , Lim Xin Ni , Susanto Teodorus Theo , Yang Siwy Ling , Zeng Gui Sheng , Lee Jasmine , Lezhava Alexander , Ang Ee Lui , Zhang Lian Hui , Wang Yue , Zhao Huimin , Nagarajan Niranjan , Wan Yue
Published: March 2018

RNAs are well-suited to act as cellular sensors that detect and respond to metabolite changes in the environment, due to their ability to fold into complex structures. Here, we introduce a genome-wide strategy called PARCEL that experimentally identifies RNA aptamers in vitro, in a high-throughput manner. By applying PARCEL to a collection of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, we have revealed 58 new RNA aptamers to three key metabolites, greatly expanding the list of natural RNA aptamers. The newly identified RNA aptamers exhibit significant sequence conservation, are highly structured and show an unexpected prevalence in coding regions. We identified a prokaryotic precursor tmRNA that binds vitamin B2 (FMN) to facilitate its maturation, as well as eukaryotic mRNAs that bind and respond to FMN, suggesting FMN as the second RNA-binding ligand to affect eukaryotic expression. PARCEL results show that RNA-based sensing and gene regulation is more widespread than previously appreciated in different organisms.
Information-to-work conversion by Maxwell’s demon in a superconducting circuit quantum electrodynamical system
Authors: Masuyama Y. , Funo K. , Murashita Y. , Noguchi A. , Kono S. , Tabuchi Y. , Yamazaki R. , Ueda M. , Nakamura Y.
Published: March 2018

Information thermodynamics bridges information theory and statistical physics by connecting information content and entropy production through measurement and feedback control. Maxwell’s demon is a hypothetical character that uses information about a system to reduce its entropy. Here we realize a Maxwell’s demon acting on a superconducting quantum circuit. We implement quantum non-demolition projective measurement and feedback operation of a qubit and verify the generalized integral fluctuation theorem. We also evaluate the conversion efficiency from information gain to work in the feedback protocol. Our experiment constitutes a step toward experimental studies of quantum information thermodynamics in artificially made quantum machines.
Characterization of ultraviolet-quenching dissolved organic matter (DOM) in mature and young leachates before and after biological pre-treatment
Authors: Zhao Renzun , Jung Chanil , Trzopek Alicja , Torrens Kevin , Deng Yang
Published: March 2018

The discharge of municipal landfill leachate into publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) is a common leachate management practice in the United States.
Multi-component post-polymerization modification reactions of polymers featuring lignin-model compounds
Authors: Kakuchi Ryohei , Yoshida Satoshi , Sasaki Takasuke , Kanoh Shigeyoshi , Maeda Katsuhiro
Published: March 2018

Biomass derived aromatic aldehydes, vanillin and syringaldehyde, were integrated with multicomponent reaction based polymer synthesis.
Review of computer simulations on anti-cancer drug delivery in MOFs
Authors: Kotzabasaki Marianna , Froudakis George E.
Published: March 2018

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been recently used as potential nanocarrier platforms in biomedical applications such as drug storage and delivery, due to their low toxicity, biodegradability, high internal surface area, widely tunable composition, high payloads and controlled drug release.
Topotactic anion-exchange in thermoelectric nanostructured layered tin chalcogenides with reduced selenium content
Authors: Han Guang , Popuri Srinivas R. , Greer Heather F. , Zhang Ruizhi , Ferre-Llin Lourdes , Bos Jan-Willem G. , Zhou Wuzong , Reece Michael J. , Paul Douglas J. , Knox Andrew R. , Gregory Duncan H.
Published: March 2018

Topotactic solution synthesis yields nanostructured tin chalcogenides, SnS1−xSex with controllable composition; spark plasma sintered SnS0.1Se0.9 achieves ZT ≈ 1.16 at 923 K via microstructural texture tuning.
Heterogeneous wettable cotton based superhydrophobic Janus biofabric engineered with PLA/functionalized-organoclay microfibers for efficient oil–water separation
Authors: Gore Prakash M. , Kandasubramanian Balasubramanian
Published: March 2018

The recent requirement for superwettable materials for efficient absorption of heavy oils and waste organic solvents, and the concern for the global warming has led to the advancement of environment friendly functional materials.
Molecular mechanisms for delicately tuning the morphology and properties of Fe3O4 nanoparticle clusters
Authors: Wei Xiaojun , Jing Lihong , Liu Chunyan , Hou Yi , Jiao Mingxia , Gao Mingyuan
Published: March 2018

After being oxidized, dihydric alcohols drive the formation of monodisperse Fe3O4 particle clusters.
Laser ablation single particle aerosol mass spectrometry for the direct analysis of raw coal samples
Authors: Zhu Hui , Liu Mei , Guo Teng , Xu Li , Dong Junguo , Feng Jialiang , Cheng Ping , Zhou Zhen
Published: March 2018

LA-SPAMS was developed for online measurement of the size and chemical composition of individual particles ablated from solid materials.
Different positions of amide side chains on the benzimidazo[1,2-a]quinoline skeleton strongly influence biological activity
Authors: Perin Nataša , Alić Jasna , Liekens Sandra , Van Aerschot Arthur , Vervaeke Peter , Gadakh Bharat , Hranjec Marijana
Published: March 2018

Benzimidazo[1,2-a]quinolines substituted with amide chains have been evaluated for their antiproliferative, antibacterial and antiviral activity in vitro.
Carbon chain shape selectivity by the mouse olfactory receptor OR-I7
Authors: Liu Min Ting , Ho Jianghai , Liu Jason Karl , Purakait Radhanath , Morzan Uriel N. , Ahmed Lucky , Batista Victor S. , Matsunami Hiroaki , Ryan Kevin
Published: March 2018

A series of conformationally restricted aldehyde antagonists show that the OR-I7 receptor discriminates antagonist carbon chains by shape selectivity.
Chiral proton-transfer shuttle catalysts for carbene insertion reactions
Authors: Ren Yuan-Yuan , Zhu Shou-Fei , Zhou Qi-Lin
Published: March 2018

The development of chiral proton-transfer shuttles provides a totally new enantiocontrol strategy for transition metal-catalyzed asymmetric carbene insertion reactions.
Alternating ring-opening copolymerization of phthalic anhydride with epoxides catalysed by salophen chromium(iii) complexes. An effect of substituents in salophen ligands
Authors: Bester K. , Bukowska A. , Myśliwiec B. , Hus K. , Tomczyk D. , Urbaniak P. , Bukowski W.
Published: March 2018

The effect of a ligand structure on the catalytic activity of salophen chromium(iii) complexes in the ring-opening copolymerization of phthalic anhydride with a series of epoxides was studied.
Uniform core–shell nanobiscuits of Fe7S8@C for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries with excellent performance
Authors: Shi Ludi , Li Dongzhi , Yu Jiali , Liu Huichao , Zhao Yong , Xin Hailin , Lin Yemao , Lin Chengdong , Li Cuihua , Zhu Caizhen
Published: March 2018

The as-prepared Fe7S8@C exhibits outstanding electrochemical performance as anode materials for LIBs and SIBs owing to the biscuit-like nanostructure and conformal surface coating with carbon.
Inter-phase charge and energy transfer in Ruddlesden–Popper 2D perovskites: critical role of the spacing cations
Authors: Zheng Kaibo , Chen Yani , Sun Yong , Chen Junsheng , Chábera Pavel , Schaller Richard , Al-Marri Mohammed J. , Canton Sophie E. , Liang Ziqi , Pullerits Tõnu
Published: March 2018

Photo-generated charge carrier dynamics in Ruddlesden–Popper 2D perovskites with linear (n-BA) and branched (iso-BA) butylamine as spacing cations have been studied by using transient absorption and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopies.
A supramolecular approach to construct a hydrolase mimic with photo-switchable catalytic activity
Authors: Zhao Yanan , Lei Bingqian , Wang Mengfan , Wu Shengtang , Qi Wei , Su Rongxin , He Zhimin
Published: March 2018

A supramolecular artificial hydrolase with photo-switchable catalytic activity was developed by the introduction of a photo-responsive group in peptide, which leads to the assembly/disassembly of the peptide nanofibers.
Blind decoding of image steganography using entropy model
Authors: Kim C.R. , Lee S.H. , Lee J.H. , Park J.‐I.
Published: March 2018

Image steganography hides secret information in the cover images so naturally that the existence of hidden data in the stego‐image is not recognisable. This Letter proposes a new approach to blind decoding of image steganography using the local entropy distributions of decoded images. The local entropy distributions of incorrectly decoded images are different from those of normal ones because of the abnormal image structures in the erroneously decoded images. This blind decoding in the image steganography is very useful to extract hidden image information because there are enormous least significant bit (LSB)‐based steganography methods, and it is very hard to find the methods by observing manipulated LSBs.
Physical layer security in cognitive radio network with energy harvesting relay and jamming in the presence of direct link
Authors: Maji Pranabesh , Dhar Roy Sanjay , Kundu Sumit
Published: March 2018

In this paper, we examine the physical (PHY) layer security in terms of secrecy outage of an energy harvesting (EH) relay based underlay cognitive radio network (CRN) in the presence of an eavesdropper. A dual hop communication network consisting of an energy harvesting relay that harvests energy from radio transmission of secondary user (SU) network using a time switching relay (TSR) scheme is studied. The relay works in decode and forward (DF) mode and forwards the confidential message to the destination, if it is successfully decoded at the relay. The advantage of the direct link between source to destination is exploited, if the relay link is in outage. Furthermore, simultaneous transmission of message signal and jamming signal to the legitimate nodes and illegitimate node respectively degrades the eavesdropping link capacity. We evaluate the secrecy outage probability (SOP) of the network under study. It is found that exploiting the direct link at the destination increases the secrecy in transmission as compared to the case of only relay based transmission without direct link. The impact of interference threshold, energy harvesting time, power allocation factor, target data rate, target secrecy rate and direct link on SOP of this proposed network is investigated.
2D curtailed harmonic memory polynomial for reduced complexity in concurrent dual‐band modelling and digital predistortion with the second band at harmonic frequency
Authors: Jaraut Praveen , Rawat Meenakshi , Ghannouchi Fadhel M.
Published: March 2018

Multi‐band transmitter systems are evolving to support the smooth transition from 4G to 5G communication systems. Moreover, recent developments of multi‐band and ultra‐wideband power amplifiers have led to a possible scenario where the second carrier signal is transmitted at the harmonic frequency of the first carrier signal. This results in harmonic interference from the first carrier signal as well as additional cross‐modulation and intermodulation distortion (IMD) components, which cannot be filtered out. The computational and memory requirements for digital predistortion (DPD) in such scenario increase drastically to include all interference terms. This study presents a novel two‐dimensional curtailed harmonic memory polynomial (2D‐CHMP) model to capture harmonic interferences, cross‐modulation and IMDs. The model complexity and memory requirement of 2D‐CHMP are very less as compared to the state‐of‐the‐art two‐dimensional harmonic memory polynomial (2D‐HMP) model. For proof‐of‐concept, it is shown with two different measurement setups that the proposed 2D‐CHMP DPD provides similar linearisation performances as compared to the 2D‐HMP DPD with less number of coefficients and computational complexity. As a study, it is shown that the proposed model can be further adapted to a low‐precision (low‐bit) environment by utilising principal component analysis.
Adaptive decomposition method for multi‐modal medical image fusion
Authors: Wang Jing , Li Xiongfei , Zhang Yan , Zhang Xiaoli
Published: March 2018

In traditional image fusion, source images are separated into a fixed space. The low‐frequency part and the high‐frequency part are not discriminated according to the nature of the image. Traditional fusion rules often use a fixed proportion, causing colour distortion. In this study, a new adaptive decomposition algorithm is proposed to distinguish high frequency and low frequency of structure image to obtain smoothing layer and texture layer. The smoothing layer of the structural image and the colour information of the function image are fused according to dynamic rules, and then the texture layer is added. On the basis of the objective evaluation metrics, the spectral information evaluation metrics are introduced to evaluate the retention of colour. In the experiments, the proposed method is compared with other six classical image fusion methods. The experiment results show that the proposed method can retain the colour information and structure information very well at the same time. Concerning subjective and objective evaluation, the proposed algorithm is superior to other algorithms.
Efficient bivariate image denoising technique using new orthogonal CWT filter design
Authors: Fahmy Mamdouh F. , Fahmy Omar M.
Published: March 2018

The complex wavelet transforms (CWTs) are known for their excellent edge preserving together with nearly shift invariant features. This study presents new orthogonal CWT filter designs. The proposed designs guarantee the perfect reconstruction feature of the CWT system while satisfying in a least squares sense, the CWT Hilbert constraints over the filter's pass‐band. The study also describes a new image denoising technique based on bivariate thresholding of the noisy CWT coefficients. In this respect, a simple model is proposed to model the dependence between the magnitudes of the children and parent wavelet coefficient at every sub‐band. This allows the derivation of a closed‐form expression for the clean thresholded magnitudes. Several illustrative examples are given to verify the superior denoising performance especially in salt & pepper case.
Calculation of phase fraction in steel microstructure images using random forest classifier
Authors: Paul Angshuman , Gangopadhyay Abhinandan , Chintha Appa Rao , Mukherjee Dipti Prasad , Das Prasun , Kundu Saurabh
Published: March 2018

Proportions of different phases (phase fraction) in the microstructures determine the quality of dual phase (DP) steel. So, calculation of phase fraction in the microstructures of steel samples is important for quality assurance. Manual calculation of phase fraction involves Le Pera etching of steel which is time consuming and dependent on operator efficiency. Calculation of phase fraction from Le Pera etched samples requires cumbersome manual observations. Nital etching is a faster alternative to Le Pera etching. However, due to lack of visually discriminative information, different phases cannot be identified manually from nital images. We propose a novel method for automatic calculation of phase fractions in steel microstructures from nital images using machine learning techniques. We show that regional contour patterns and local entropy (which cannot be evaluated manually) of regions of nital images are related to the formation process of the phases. We design a method that automatically evaluates regional contour patterns and local entropy from nital images of DP steel. Subsequently, we construct a random forest classifier that uses regional contour patterns and local entropy as features for classification of different phases. Our method is ∼150 times faster than manual classification. Experiments show close to 90% accuracy in classification.
Some variants of spiral LBP in texture recognition
Authors: Kazak Nihan , Koc Mehmet
Published: March 2018

Texture classification is one of the recently popular study topics in pattern recognition. Local binary pattern (LBP) is a very efficient local texture descriptor and is used for feature extraction in texture recognition. There are five main steps in representation of texture images: neighbourhood topology and sampling, thresholding and quantisation, encoding and regrouping, combining complementary features. In this study, the authors used symmetric two spirals LBP to measure the grey‐scale difference between the centre pixel and its neighbours. They also extended the proposed method by using four spirals LBP to generate the LBP code. For classification, linear regression classification method, which is generally used to solve the face recognition problems, is used. The authors tested the performance of their method on UIUC and CUReT texture image databases. It is experimentally demonstrated that the proposed method achieves the highest classification accuracy among the comparative methods on texture databases.
Call blocking probabilities in a two‐link multirate loss system for Poisson traffic
Authors: Sagkriotis Stefanos G. , Pantelis Spyros K. , Moscholios Ioannis D. , Vassilakis Vassilios G.
Published: March 2018

The authors propose two multirate teletraffic loss models in a two‐link system that accommodates Poisson arriving calls from different service‐classes with different bandwidth‐per‐call requirements. Each link has two thresholds which refer to the number of in‐service calls in the link. The lowest threshold named support threshold, defines up to which point the link can support calls offloaded from the other link. The highest threshold, named offloading threshold, defines the point where the link starts offloading calls to the other link. Two different bandwidth sharing policies are considered: (i) the complete sharing policy, in which a call can be accepted in a link if there exist enough available bandwidth units and (ii) the bandwidth reservation policy, in which an integer number of bandwidth units is reserved to benefit calls of high bandwidth requirements. The two models do not have a product form solution for the steady state probabilities. However, they propose approximate formulas for the calculation of call blocking probabilities. The accuracy of the formulas is verified through simulation and found to be quite satisfactory.
Integrated Approach to Drilling Project in Unconventional Reservoir Using Reservoir Simulation
Authors: Stopa Jerzy , Wiśniowski Rafał , Wojnarowski Paweł , Janiga Damian , Skrzypaszek Krzysztof
Published: March 2018

Accumulation and flow mechanisms in unconventional reservoir are different compared to conventional. This requires a special approach of field management with drilling and stimulation treatments as major factor for further production. Integrated approach of unconventional reservoir production optimization assumes coupling drilling project with full scale reservoir simulation for determine best well placement, well length, fracturing treatment design and mid-length distance between wells. Full scale reservoir simulation model emulate a part of polish shale – gas field. The aim of this paper is to establish influence of technical factor for gas production from shale gas field. Due to low reservoir permeability, stimulation treatment should be direct towards maximizing the hydraulic contact. On the basis of production scenarios, 15 stages hydraulic fracturing allows boost gas production over 1.5 times compared to 8 stages. Due to the possible interference of the wells, it is necessary to determine the distance between the horizontal parts of the wells trajectories. In order to determine the distance between the wells allowing to maximize recovery factor of resources in the stimulated zone, a numerical algorithm based on a dynamic model was developed and implemented. Numerical testing and comparative study show that the most favourable arrangement assumes a minimum allowable distance between the wells. This is related to the volume ratio of the drainage zone to the total volume of the stimulated zone.
Methane Content Estimation in DuongHuy Coal Mine
Authors: Nguyen Van Thinh , Mijał Waldemar , Dang Vu Chi , Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai
Published: March 2018

Methane hazard has always been considered for underground coal mining as it can lead to methane explosion. In Quang Ninh province, several coal mines such as Mạo Khe coal mine, Khe Cham coal mine, especially Duong Huy mine that have high methane content. Experimental data to examine contents of methane bearing coal seams at different depths are not similar in Duong coal mine. In order to ensure safety, this report has been undertaken to determine a pattern of changing methane contents of coal seams at different exploitation depths in Duong Huy underground coal mine.
Evaluation of Rock Bolt Support for Polish Hard Rock Mines
Authors: Skrzypkowski Krzysztof
Published: March 2018

The article presents different types of rock bolt support used in Polish ore mining. Individual point resin and expansion rock bolt support were characterized. The roof classes for zinc and lead and copper ore mines were presented. Furthermore, in the article laboratory tests of point resin rock bolt support in a geometric scale of 1:1 with minimal fixing length of 0.6 m were made. Static testing of point resin rock bolt support were carried out on a laboratory test facility of Department of Underground Mining which simulate mine conditions for Polish ore and hard coal mining. Laboratory tests of point resin bolts were carried out, especially for the ZGH Bolesław, zinc and lead “Olkusz – Pomorzany” mine. The primary aim of the research was to check whether at the anchoring point length of 0.6 m by means of one and a half resin cartridge, the type bolt “Olkusz – 20A” is able to overcome the load.The second purpose of the study was to obtain load – displacement characteristic with determination of the elastic and plastic range of the bolt. For the best simulation of mine conditions the station steel cylinders with an external diameter of 0.1 m and a length of 0.6 m with a core of rock from the roof of the underground excavations were used.
Total Factor Productivity Growth, Technical Progress & Efficiency Change in Vietnam Coal Industry – Nonparametric Approach
Authors: Phuong Vu Hung
Published: March 2018

This research applies Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach to analyze Total Factor Productivity (TFP) and efficiency changes in Vietnam coal mining industry from 2007 to 2013. The TFP of Vietnam coal mining companies decreased due to slow technological progress and unimproved efficiency. The decadence of technical efficiency in many enterprises proved that the coal mining industry has a large potential to increase productivity through technical efficiency improvement. Enhancing human resource training, technology and research & development investment could help the industry to improve efficiency and productivity in Vietnam coal mining industry.
Seismic Linear Noise Attenuation with Use of Radial Transform
Authors: Szymańska-Małysa Żaneta
Published: March 2018

One of the goals of seismic data processing is to attenuate the recorded noise in order to enable correct interpretation of the image. Radial transform has been used as a very effective tool in the attenuation of various types of linear noise, both numerical and real (such as ground roll, direct waves, head waves, guided waves etc). The result of transformation from offset – time (X – T) domain into apparent velocity – time (R – T) domain is frequency separation between reflections and linear events. In this article synthetic and real seismic shot gathers were examined. One example was targeted at far offset area of dataset where reflections and noise had similar apparent velocities and frequency bands. Another example was a result of elastic modelling where linear artefacts were produced. Bandpass filtering and scaling operation executed in radial domain attenuated all discussed types of linear noise very effectively. After noise reduction all further processing steps reveal better results, especially velocity analysis, migration and stacking. In all presented cases signal-to-noise ratio was significantly increased and reflections covered previously by noise were revealed. Power spectra of filtered seismic records preserved real dynamics of reflections.