bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flexural Behaviour of Precast, Prestressed Ribbed RPC Bottom Panels
Authors: Wenzhong Zheng , Xueyuan Lu , Ying Wang
Published: August 2015

This study introduces a new type of precast, prestressed reactive powder concrete (RPC) bottom panel for a
large-span composite slab. The bottom panels, which have one or two inverted ribs with openings, act as formwork during
the construction stage. The paper experimentally investigated the crack characteristics, deflection, and normal section
bearing capacity of four precast, prestressed ribbed RPC bottom panels under flexural load. The results indicated that the
RPC ultimate strain under non-uniform compression is 5500x106 and the plastic influence coefficient of the section
modulus is linear with the longitudinal reinforcement ratio. The tensile stress of RPC at the cracked section should be
considered while calculating the flexural stiffness; the equation used to determine the nominal tensile stress of RPC as a
major variable for calculating the crack width at the bottom of panels was proposed. The bottom panels generally exhibit
an over-reinforced failure mode behaviour without the composite layer; the calculation method of the normal section bearing
capacity of this mode was established.
An Intelligent Tool Selection System Based on CRB and RBR
Authors: Wang Rui , Zhao Wu , Luo Cunjing , Wang Zhiyong , Luo Tao
Published: August 2015

The manufacturing industries dealing with machining and tools' manufacturing generate a large amount of data
concerning the machining process. However, in most cases, this information is not used efficiently as there is no system
dedicated for storing and manipulating such data. In order to use these data to improve the efficiency and increase the
benefit of machining, the cutting database system is built for these manufacturing enterprises, which can provide rational
cutting parameters and tool solutions. JAVA and MYSQL are used as the base of database management system, combining
XML and JavaScript technology. The intelligent tool selection model was designed, and the functions of basic information
management and query were realized. It was concluded that it can commend reasonable cutting parameters and
tool solutions according to machining condition input.
Operation Mode Analysis, Parameter Matching and Control Strategy
Research for a Novel Range-Extended Electric Vehicle
Authors: Hu Jianjun , Zu Guoqiang , Xie Ming , Chen Jia
Published: August 2015

In order to improve the dynamic performance and endurance mileage of vehicle, operation mode and parameter
matching were analyzed and designed on a novel power transmission scheme of range-extended electric vehicle (R-EEV),
and the following control strategy of the engine optimization curve was proposed. The simulation was carried out on the
Matlab/Simulink software platform and the results showed that the matching parameters and the control strategy of engine
were both reasonable, the dynamic performance improved and the vehicle could be operated efficiently.
Integrated Durability of Automobile Alternator Test System Design Based
on LabVIEW
Authors: Weibin Wu , Yue Feng , Junyi Du , Pengbo Xu , Yunlin Feng , Tiansheng Hong , Jiewei Chen , Luoshi Liu
Published: August 2015

New standards in the automotive industry highlighted the situation of the actual operation of the alternator and
a variety of harsh environment simulation limit test. Using new standards in the automotive industry as a guide, this article
presents a virtual instrument based on the durability of automobile generator integrated test system. The design adopt virtual
instrument technology in designing the system, Graphic language, LabVIEW is applied in writing measure-control
program. The system uses a lot of features on LABVIEW, including Data acquisition, control of serials port, etc. Test implementation
uses the host computer via RS232 and RS485 communication port and the data acquisition card, NI PCI-
6221, to control the frequency hybrid motor, temperature control box, electronic loads and other intelligent devices, and to
simulate a variety of automotive alternator working conditions and real-time monitoring to monitor the status of generators.
Using this system, two separate automobile alternators can be tested in terms of high-speed vehicle impact and high
temperature durability test and electrical performance test and other tests at the same time. As a result, the generator speed
measurement error is within 1%, the control error is within 2%, voltage and current measurement errors were within 0.5%
and 0.4%, which meets the requirements.
Modularized Cutting Tool Selection Expert System
Authors: Wang Chen , Zhao Wu , Chen Ling , Zhang Kai , Guo Xin
Published: August 2015

This paper is to present a rule-based cutting tool selecting expert system which has knowledge modules and
rule bases. Besides, according to different process targets, the selection progress will apply corresponding constraints and
rule modules. The logic of tool selection follows a decision-making procedure as an experienced engineers. The strategy
of system is to guide the user through several standard steps: information input; feature recognition; selection of
machining method; selection of tool material and type; calculation of process parameter and solving cutting problem. This
system also has a modularized structure which allows adding new functions and new modules to expand knowledge base
and data base. Modules involves in this system are composed of the user interface, knowledge acquisition facility,
explanation facility, the knowledge base module, the inference engine and the database module.
Study on Fluid-Structure Interaction for the Multistage High Speed
Centrifugal Pumps Rotors
Authors: Yabin Tian , Jing Wang , Liang Wang
Published: August 2015

In the designing process of high-speed multistage centrifugal pump, in addition to the hydraulic characteristics,
the calculation problem of the axis of wet critical speed is the emphasis of concern. On the base of the finite element
model of the "dry" state rotor dynamics, when the flow force play a individual role in physical separate discs and cylinder,
resistance formula is derived. Establish the "wet" mode of motion equation of rotor disc and shaft section, then integrate
the flow force into the motion equation of the whole system unit, we can find the fluid-solid coupling finite element model
of the rotor dynamics. Write the calculation procedure with ANSYS APDL language, and the analysis and testing of fluidsolid
coupling dynamics program to an actual high-speed multistage centrifugal pump rotor system is done.
Comfort Driven Redesign Methods: An Application to Mattresses
Production Systems
Authors: Vallone M. , Naddeo A. , Cappetti N. , Califano R.
Published: August 2015

The definitions of methods and tools used to evaluate how workers perceive the comfort during their activities
remains an “open” problem at this time. Many researchers have dealt with that problem in the last twenty years, focusing
their efforts primarily on the automotive sector and on VDT workstation comfort.

This paper analyzes how workers position themselves at workstations used in industrial processes that sew together the
edges of mattresses. The aim of the analysis is to determine whether workers can position themselves in ways that allow
them to carry out activities in simple and economical ways.

The Strain Index was used to identify the most critical and risky work phases in order to evaluate workers' risk of
biomechanical overload. The OCRA checklist was used to evaluate the overall risk level associated with repeated
completions of the total cycle of work and to develop a virtual-postural analysis to evaluate workers' perceived levels of
discomfort.

For the virtual-postural analysis, DELMIA® software was used to virtually model a workstation, and records of activities
and the postures associated with various repetitive actions were gathered in a non-invasive manner with cameras and
video cameras. CaMAN® software developed by the researchers from the Department of Industrial Engineering in Salerno
(Italy) was used to calculate comfort indexes.

An analysis of the comfort indexes was used to make as the basis for suggestions to correct workers' postures and for
plans to redesign the workstations in order to improve ergonomics and allow workers to perceive them as more
comfortable.
Resistance Analysis of Open Caisson Towing on Water in the Construction of the Large Scale Bridge
Authors: XiaoJun Yang , Liang Chen , Wei Zhou , Yingjie Xiao
Published: August 2015

In order to solve the towing problem on water of the open caisson in the construction of the large scale bridge
efficiently, combining with the towing operation project, the dragged open caisson and environmental data, etc. we design
and produce the open caisson physical model and configure the test environment, use the force cell to collect real-time experimental
data, analyze and demonstrate the towing resistance of the open caisson. Use the experimental data and the
model of resistance similarity transformation to calculate the resistance, while the towing speed is 1m/s, 2m/s and 3m/s,
the resistance is 323 KN, 724KN, 1398KN in the straight test mode and the resistance is 365 KN, 861KN, 2326KN in the
transverse test mode. The results show that the resistance of the open caisson has certain growth trend with the towing
speed rising, which both have large correlation, and the resistance of transverse situation is larger than straight mode.
Research on the Design and Detailing of a Re-constructional High-rise uilding Structure Project Reconstruction
Authors: Yuhong Ling , BiaoYi Lin , Yu Ke , QingJun Chen
Published: August 2015

This paper introduced the reconstruction practice and detailing of a high-rise reinforced concrete frame-shear
wall structure. To fully utilize the old structure and meet the requirement of the reconstructed structure, certain measures
have been put forward. The enlarging of concrete pile cap and adding strip foundation-beam were used to support the new
added shear wall. The reconstruction concept detailing of the roof of basement, the enlarging of the beam or column sections
and the application of the inclined column are introduced. The whole structure analysis shows that the reconstructed
structure is safe enough to meet all the requirement of the designing code and the settlement observation shows that the
deformation of the whole structure in gravity is small. The paper shows the design and detailing of the reconstructed engineering
is effective and will be valuable to the similar engineering structures.
Numerical Analysis on Mutual Influences in Urban Subway Double-Hole Parallel Tunneling
Authors: Shi Youzhi , Li Xiufang
Published: August 2015

mutual influence of the double-hole tunnel evacuation of urban subways is one of key issues involving the
subway construction safety. The asynchronous one-direction evacuation, synchronous one-direction evacuation and opposite
evacuation methods are frequently used in double-hole tunnel evacuation. This paper establishes three-dimensional
numerical model by using the finite element analysis software MIDAS/GTS v2.01 and mainly studies the mutual influences
of tunnels in the asynchronous one-direction evacuation and synchronous one-direction evacuation. The following
conclusions are concluded based on computing. The preliminary conclusion is that the influential distance between the
evacuation section of two tunnels is 3D (D is the tunnel diameter) in the parallel tunnel asynchronous evacuation, namely
when the lagging distance is more than 3D, the lagging evacuation tunnel will not affect the advance evacuation tunnel
section. The asynchronous evacuation of the vertical distribution tunnel is divided into the up tunnel first evacuation and
down tunnel first evacuation. For up tunnel first evacuation, the influence range of the lagging distance is 5D. For down
tunnel first evacuation, the influence range of the lagging distance is 1D. For up tunnel first evacuation on the slope, the
influence range of the lagging distance is 5D. On the whole, the influence of two tunnels in up tunnel first evacuation is
bigger than it in down tunnel first evacuation. The numerical analysis results will have important theoretical meaning and
application value for building technology of the parallel double-hole tunnel.
Research on Preventing Moral Hazard of Construction Project Based on Information Asymmetries
Authors: Xiang Pengcheng , Wang Jinan
Published: August 2015

There exists the problem of information asymmetry among the participants in construction project who form
economic partnerships one another. Information asymmetries among the participants in construction project places a premium
on adverse selection and moral hazard. The major objective of this article is to implement the mechanisms of incentive
and monitoring under the framework of principal-agent theory in analysis of moral hazard of construction project and
to explore how to prevent it. The optimization model of incentive and monitoring under the circumstance of asymmetric
information will be founded on the basis of the analysis of the effect of incentive and monitoring mechanisms in the principal-
agent relationship. It indicates that reliability of information can be increased when bringing incentive and monitoring
mechanisms into reward contract, which can prevent moral hazard of construction project.
Concussion in the National Hockey League: a systematic review of the literature
Authors: Kuhn Andrew W , Solomon Gary S
Published: August 2015

Players in the National Hockey League (NHL) are often sidelined by injuries, including concussion. The acute, intermediate and long-term effects of repetitive head trauma remain a concern of many. In 1997, the NHL and NHL Players Association established the NHL-NHL Players Association Concussion Program to diagnose, assess and treat concussion via a standardized and scientific approach. Documenting and analyzing the trends, incidence and underlying mechanisms of concussion may help in devising future prevention and treatment plans for concussion in hockey in general and the NHL in particular. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to systematically review and summarize the existing published literature on the trends, incidence rates and underlying mechanisms of concussion in the NHL.
Returning the student to school after concussion: what do clinicians need to know?
Authors: Rose Sean C , McNally Kelly A , Heyer Geoffrey L
Published: August 2015

Participation in school is vital to a child’s academic and social development. Following concussion, returning the student to school can pose several challenges for families, healthcare providers and school personnel. The complex constellation of postconcussion symptoms can impair learning and can make the school environment intolerable. Research evidence to guide the return to school process is lacking, but protocols have been proposed that outline a gradual reintroduction to school with academic accommodations tailored to the student’s specific symptoms. Key medical and school personnel must understand their respective roles to optimize the process. This review of the current literature examines the available data and expert recommendations that can support a student’s successful return to school following concussion.
Liraglutide Reduces CNS Activation in Response to Visual Food Cues Only After Short-term Treatment in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: ten Kulve Jennifer S. , Veltman Dick J. , van Bloemendaal Liselotte , Barkhof Frederik , Drent Madeleine L. , Diamant Michaela , IJzerman Richard G.
Published: August 2015

OBJECTIVE

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are associated with reduced appetite and body weight. We investigated whether these effects could be mediated by the central nervous system (CNS).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We performed a randomized crossover study in obese patients with type 2 diabetes (n = 20, mean age 59.3 ± 4.1 years, mean BMI 32 ± 4.7 kg/m2), consisting of two periods of 12-week treatment with either liraglutide 1.8 mg or insulin glargine. Using functional MRI, we determined the effects of treatment on CNS responses to viewing food pictures in the fasted condition and 30 min after meal intake.

RESULTS

After 12 weeks, the decrease in HbA1c was larger with liraglutide versus insulin glargine (Δ−0.7% vs. −0.2%, P < 0.001). Body weight decreased during liraglutide versus insulin glargine (Δ−3.3 kg vs. 0.8 kg, P < 0.001). After 10 days, patients treated with liraglutide, compared with insulin glargine, showed decreased responses to food pictures in insula and putamen (P ≤ 0.02). In addition, liraglutide enhanced the satiating effect of meal intake on responses in putamen and amygdala (P ≤ 0.05). Differences between liraglutide and insulin glargine were not observed after 12 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with insulin, liraglutide decreased CNS activation significantly only after short-term treatment, suggesting that these effects of GLP-1RA on the CNS may contribute to the induction of weight loss, but not necessarily to its maintenance, in view of the absence of an effect of liraglutide on CNS activation in response to food pictures after longer-term treatment.
Discourse about the end of the world
Authors: Brzozowska Dorota
Published: August 2015

The increased prevalence of discourse concerning the expected end of the world was observed in various countries and manifested in various genres especially in the years 2000 and 2012. Some of the discourse was conducted in a serious manner, whereas other instances included humorous motifs and were used for commercial purposes.

The aim of this paper is to take a closer look at the typical motifs prevailing in the discourse concerning the end of the world, with special emphasis on the humorous aspect - both universal and culture-specific. Texts found on Polish, German, English and Russian websites were analyzed.

In the studied material, the end of the world was understood literally and broadly - in terms of extermination of the human race, eschatology - or narrowly, in terms of statistical data concerning the death of a given number of people, or even individually, referring to the imminent ending of each person’s particular world. T he metaphorical meaning of the end of the world was also used in the sense of “a commotion”, “the pressure of business”, “a mess, confusion”, and “accumulation of problems”, referring mostly to the functioning of particular institutions or lack of access to the Internet, or reviving common stereotypes.
New challenges in psycholinguistics: Interactivity and alignment in interpersonal communication
Authors: Karpiński Maciej
Published: August 2015

In the present text, some recent changes in the perspective taken by psycholinguists in the study of language and communication are discussed. T heir interests seem to gradually shift from the study of language processing as an isolated and independent phenomenon towards inclusion of more interactional factors being indispensable components of interpersonal communication and involved in the process of communicative alignment. Alignment is here understood as a complex phenomenon that goes beyond increasing similarity of mental representations and related communicative behaviour. It simultaneously occurs on many levels and in various modalities, including those traditionally excluded from language study. A s a consequence, it implies not only more flexibility in the study of interpersonal communication but it also means a shift in the psycholinguistic methodology and probably also in the widely accepted picture of language and its limits.
Polish pronunciation animations developed on the basis of electromagnetic articulography
Authors: Lorenc Anita
Published: August 2015

This paper discusses the subject of pronunciation visualization, based on methodologies in experimental phonetics. It presents a brief survey of major Polish instrumental research into articulation, focusing primarily on contemporary dynamic visualizations using electromagnetic articulography. The author’s own investigations were conducted using an AG 500 articulograph, a device which records and visualizes the working and movement of the articulatory organs. Two speakers were recorded: one with standard pronunciation and the other with articulation defects. A multi-specialist team prepared vocal tract models, taking into account the speaker’s anatomical conditions as recorded with the articulograph, video recordings, and photographs. Articulographic data enabled the preparation of pronunciation animations of 45 words, which show the standard realization of all vowels and consonants of Polish, and eight animations of non-standard articulation.
Integrated Precipitable Water Vapour Measurements At Polish Polar Station Hornsund From GPS Observations Verified By Aerological Techniques
Authors: Kruczyk Michał , Liwosz Tomasz
Published: August 2015

We present results of the comparison of integrated precipitable water measurements from GPS solution and aerological techniques: CIMEL-318 sun-photometer and radiosoundings (RAOB). Integrated Precipitable Water (IPW) - important meteorological parameter is derived from GPS tropospheric solutions by known procedure for GPS station at Polish Polar Station, Hornsund (Svalbard). The relation between 2 m temperature and the mean temperature of atmosphere above, used to convert from wet part of tropospheric delay (ZWD) to IPW, has been derived using local radiosonde data at Ny Alesund. Sunphotometer data have been provided by AERONET. Quality of dedicated tropospheric solutions has been verified by comparison with EPN tropospheric combined product. Several IPW comparisons and analyses lead to determination of systematic difference between techniques: GPS IPW and sunphotometer data (not present in case of RAOBs). IPW measured by CIMEL is on average 5% bigger (0.5 mm) than IPW from GPS. This bias changes seasonally and is a function of atmospheric temperature what signals some systematic deficiencies in solar photometry as IPW retrieval technique. CIMEL IPW show some temperature dependent bias also in relation to radiosoundings.
Identification Of The Reference Base For Horizontal Displacements By “All-Pairs Method”
Authors: Kwaśniak Mieczysław
Published: August 2015

In studies of movement essential element of the correctness of the obtained results is correct identification of the reference base. One method for such identification, referred to as “all-pairs method”, is to examine the insignificance of the mutual displacement of potential reference points in all combinations of pairs. It is a well known exact method of identification, but its use in practice is limited to the study of vertical displacements. In this work we present the possibility of application of this method in the study of horizontal displacements. Numerical example illustrates the calculation procedure of the proposed method.
Professional Sense-Makers
Authors: Domina Thurston , Lewis Ryan , Agarwal Priyanka , Hanselman Paul
Published: August 2015

This brief documents the expansion of instructional specialist staffing in U.S. public school districts. We use data from the National Center of Education Statistics’ annual Common Core of Data to chart staffing trends in public school districts between 1997–1998 and 2012–2013. The number of instructional specialists per 1,000 U.S students doubled during that period, and the proportion of districts employing no specialists declined from nearly 20% to 7%. We suggest that specialists are poised to play a pivotal “professional sense-making” role as schools work to implement new instructional standards in the classroom.
'Our Table Factory, Inc.': Learning Marx through role play
Authors: Maghbouleh Neda , Childress Clayton , Alamo-Pastrana Carlos
Published: August 2015

Marx's critique of capitalism remains foundational to the university social science curriculum yet little is known about how instructors teach Marx. In post-industrial, service-oriented economies, students are also increasingly disconnected from the conditions of industrial capitalism that animate Marx's analysis. Inspired by the discussion of how a piece of wood becomes a table in Marx's Capital Vol. 1., 'Our Table Factory, Inc.' simulates a diverse array of roles in the chain of production into and out of a table factory to understand key concepts: means/mode of production, use/exchange value, primitive accumulation wage/surplus labour, proletariat, bourgeoisie, alienation, false consciousness, commodity fetishism and communist revolution. We describe the exercise and present qualitative and quantitative assessment data from introductory sociology undergraduates across three small teaching-intensive universities in the United States. Findings detail the exercise's efficacy in fostering retention of material and in facilitating critical engagement with issues of inequality.
River inundation suggests ice-sheet runoff retention
Authors: Overeem Irina , Hudson Benjamin , Welty Ethan , Mikkelsen Andreas , Bamber Jonathan , Petersen Dorthe , Lewinter Adam , Hasholt Bent
Published: August 2015

The Greenland ice sheet is experiencing dramatic melt that is likely to continue with rapid Arctic warming. However, the proportion of meltwater stored before reaching the global ocean remains difficult to quantify. We use NASA MODIS surface reflectance data to estimate river discharge from two West Greenland rivers – the Watson River near Kangerlussuaq and the Naujat Kuat River near Nuuk – over the summers of 2000–12. By comparison with in situ river discharge observations, ‘inundation–discharge’ relations were constructed for both rivers. MODIS-based total annual discharges agree well with total discharge estimated from in situ observations (86% of summer discharge in 2009 to 96% in 2011 at the Watson River, and 106% of total discharge in 2011 to 104% in 2012 at the Naujat Kuat River). We find, however, that a time-lapse camera, deployed at the Watson River in summer 2012, better captures the variations in observed discharge, benefiting from fewer data gaps due to clouds. The MODIS-derived estimates indicate that summer discharge has not significantly increased over the last decade, despite a strong warming trend. Also, meltwater runoff estimates derived from the regional climate model RACMO2/GR for the drainage basins are higher than our reconstructions of river discharge. These results provide indirect evidence for a considerable component of water storage within the glacio-hydrological system.
A porosity-based Biot model for acoustic waves in snow
Authors: Sidler Rolf
Published: August 2015

Phase velocities and attenuation in snow cannot be explained by the widely used elastic or viscoelastic models for acoustic wave propagation. Instead, Biot’s model of wave propagation in porous materials should be used. However, the application of Biot’s model is complicated by the large property space of the underlying porous material. Here constant properties for ice and air, and empirical relationships are used to estimate unknown porous properties from snow porosity. Using this set of equations, phase velocities and plane wave attenuation of shear- and compressional waves are predicted as functions of porosity or density. For light snow the peculiarity was found that the velocity of the first compressional wave is lower than that of the second compressional wave that is commonly referred to as the ‘slow’ wave. The reversal of the velocities comes with an increase of attenuation for the first compressional wave. This is in line with the common observation that sound is strongly absorbed in light snow. The results have important implications for the use of acoustic waves to evaluate snow properties and to numerically simulate wave propagation in snow.
Learning from the Co-operative Institutional Model: How to Enhance Organizational Robustness of Third Sector Organizations with More Pluralistic Forms of Governance
Authors: Taylor Keith
Published: August 2015

Third sector organizations are oftentimes seen as contributing to a robust civil society. Yet the dominant modes of third sector organizational governance often adhere to a unitary orientation. The over-reliance on unitary modes of governance introduces two challenges: first, organizational stakeholders are kept from utilizing participatory mechanisms that would enable them to act as societal intermediaries, and; second, these organizations may underperform due to the artificial separation of stakeholders from participating in governance. This paper addresses calls to widen our knowledge by translating theory into practice through a discussion about the efficacy of pluralistic governance. The co-operative enterprise in introduced to focus analyses on pluralist modes of stakeholder governance. A specific co-operative’s governance structure and practice is introduced—Choctaw Electric Co-operative—through an archival analyses of secondary media accounts of a stakeholder-led reform initiative in rural Oklahoma. The Ostrom Design Principles—a diagnostic used to assess institutional robustness—are applied to demonstrate the shortsightedness of unitary governance, and highlight the potential benefits of pluralistic stakeholder engagement. Knowledge is widened in two ways: first, empirical analyses of co-operative enterprise may provide for significant insights and innovations in third sector governance, and; second proper systems of pluralistic governance exhibit enormous capacity to better orient the firm toward better serving the stakeholder base, improving performance and institutional robustness, while empowering stakeholders as societal intermediaries.
Trace Element Management in Rice
Authors: Sebastian Abin , Prasad Majeti
Published: August 2015

Trace elements (TEs) are vital for the operation of metabolic pathways that promote growth and structural integrity. Paddy soils are often prone to TE limitation due to intensive cultivation and irrigation practices. Apart from this, rice paddies are potentially contaminated with transition metals such as Cd, which are often referred to as toxic TEs. Deficiency of TEs in the soil not only delays plant growth but also causes exposure of plant roots to toxic TEs. Fine-tuning of nutrient cycling in the rice field is a practical solution to cope with TEs deficiency. Adjustment of soil physicochemical properties, biological process such as microbial activities, and fertilization helps to control TEs mobilization in soil. Modifications in root architecture, metal transporters activity, and physiological processes are also promising approaches to enhance TEs accumulation in grains. Through genetic manipulation, these modifications help to increase TE mining capacity of rice plants as well as transport and trafficking of TEs into the grains. The present review summarizes that regulation of TE mobilization in soil, and the genetic improvement of TE acquisition traits help to boost essential TE content in rice grain.
Study of Black Sand Particles from Sand Dunes in Badr, Saudi Arabia Using Electron Microscopy
Authors: Khwaja Haider , Aburizaiza Omar , Hershey Daniel , Siddique Azhar , E. David , Zeb Jahan , Abbass Mohammad , Blake Donald , Hussain Mirza , Aburiziza Abdullah , Kramer Malissa , Simpson Isobel
Published: August 2015

Particulate air pollution is a health concern. This study determines the microscopic make-up of different varieties of sand particles collected at a sand dune site in Badr, Saudi Arabia in 2012. Three categories of sand were studied: black sand, white sand, and volcanic sand. The study used multiple high resolution electron microscopies to study the morphologies, emission source types, size, and elemental composition of the particles, and to evaluate the presence of surface “coatings or contaminants” deposited or transported by the black sand particles. White sand was comprised of natural coarse particles linked to wind-blown releases from crustal surfaces, weathering of igneous/metamorphic rock sources, and volcanic activities. Black sand particles exhibited different morphologies and microstructures (surface roughness) compared with the white sand and volcanic sand. Morphological Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Laser Scanning Microscopy (LSM) analyses revealed that the black sand contained fine and ultrafine particles (50 to 500 nm ranges) and was strongly magnetic, indicating the mineral magnetite or elemental iron. Aqueous extracts of black sands were acidic (pH = 5.0). Fe, C, O, Ti, Si, V, and S dominated the composition of black sand. Results suggest that carbon and other contaminant fine particles were produced by fossil-fuel combustion and industrial emissions in heavily industrialized areas of Haifa and Yanbu, and transported as cloud condensation nuclei to Douf Mountain. The suite of techniques used in this study has yielded an in-depth characterization of sand particles. Such information will be needed in future environmental, toxicological, epidemiological, and source apportionment studies.
Characteristics of PM10 and PM2.5 at Mount Wutai Buddhism Scenic Spot, Shanxi, China
Authors: Wu Zhihui , Liu Fenwu , Fan Wenhua
Published: August 2015

A survey was conducted to effectively investigate the characteristics of airborne particulate pollutants PM10 and PM2.5 during the peak tourist season at Mount Wutai Buddhism scenic spot, Shanxi, China. Characteristics of the PM10 and PM2.5 in Wu Ye Temple (core incense burners), Manjusri Temple (a traffic hub), Yang Bai Lin Village (a residential district), and Nan Shan Temple (located in a primitive forest district), were determined. The results showed that the PM10 concentration was more than 1.01–1.14 times higher than the threshold (50 μg/m3) of World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines (2005), and the PM2.5 concentration was 1.75–2.70 times higher than the above standard (25 μg/m3). Particle size analysis indicated that the distribution of fine particulate matter in Wu Ye Temple ranged from 0 to 3.30 μm. In other sampling points, the fine particulate was mainly distributed in the range of 0–5.90 μm. The particulates in Wu Ye Temple were mainly characterized by spherical, rod-like, and irregular soot aggregates (PM10) and spherical particles of dust (PM2.5). Manjusri Temple and Yang Bai Lin Village predominantly exhibited irregular soil mineral particulate matter (PM10), and amorphous ultrafine soot particulate matter (PM2.5).
Experiments with Highly-Ionized Atoms in Unitary Penning Traps
Authors: Hoogerheide Shannon , Naing Aung , Dreiling Joan , Brewer Samuel , Guise Nicholas , Tan Joseph
Published: August 2015

Highly-ionized atoms with special properties have been proposed for interesting applications, including potential candidates for a new generation of optical atomic clocks at the one part in 1019 level of precision, quantum information processing and tests of fundamental theory. The proposed atomic systems are largely unexplored. Recent developments at NIST are described, including the isolation of highly-ionized atoms at low energy in unitary Penning traps and the use of these traps for the precise measurement of radiative decay lifetimes (demonstrated with a forbidden transition in Kr17+), as well as for studying electron capture processes.
Targeting the Checkpoint to Kill Cancer Cells
Authors: Benada Jan , Macurek Libor
Published: August 2015

Cancer treatments such as radiotherapy and most of the chemotherapies act by damaging DNA of cancer cells. Upon DNA damage, cells stop proliferation at cell cycle checkpoints, which provides them time for DNA repair. Inhibiting the checkpoint allows entry to mitosis despite the presence of DNA damage and can lead to cell death. Importantly, as cancer cells exhibit increased levels of endogenous DNA damage due to an excessive replication stress, inhibiting the checkpoint kinases alone could act as a directed anti-cancer therapy. Here, we review the current status of inhibitors targeted towards the checkpoint effectors and discuss mechanisms of their actions in killing of cancer cells.
BIM Guidelines Inform Facilities Management Databases: A Case Study over Time
Authors: Kensek Karen
Published: August 2015

A building information model (BIM) contains data that can be accessed and exported for other uses during the lifetime of the building especially for facilities management (FM) and operations. Working under the guidance of well-designed BIM guidelines to insure completeness and compatibility with FM software, architects and contractors can deliver an information rich data model that is valuable to the client. Large owners such as universities often provide these detailed guidelines and deliverable requirements to their building teams. Investigation of the University of Southern California (USC) Facilities Management Service’s (FMS) website showed a detailed plan including standards, file names, parameter lists, and other requirements of BIM data, which were specifically designated for facilities management use, as deliverables on new construction projects. Three critical details were also unearthed in the reading of these documents: Revit was the default BIM software; COBie was adapted to help meet facilities management goals; and EcoDomus provided a display of the collected data viewed through Navisworks. Published accounts about the Cinema Arts Complex developed with and under these guidelines reported positive results. Further examination with new projects underway reveal the rapidly changing relational database landscape evident in the new USC “Project Record Revit Requirement Execution Plan (PRxP)”.
Thermal Comfort Studies in Naturally Ventilated Buildings in Jakarta, Indonesia
Authors: Karyono Tri , Sri Elita , Sulistiawan Jevi , Triswanti Yenny
Published: August 2015

Many thermal comfort studies have been conducted in offices, classrooms and dwellings, but few in public buildings such as cathedrals, museums and markets. A recent thermal comfort study has been conducted in three naturally ventilated (NV) buildings, a cathedral, a museum and a market, in Jakarta, between March and April 2014. There is a curiosity as to whether people doing slightly different activities with slightly different clothing insulation values, in different building types, might have different comfort temperatures. Approximately the same number of subjects (respondents) participated in the study of each building. Using the same monitoring equipment, results of this study show that subjects’ comfort temperatures were found to be similar in all of the buildings; however, it was found that the spread of the subjects’ comfort range in the three buildings was significantly different.
Egg Food Challenges are Associated with More Gastrointestinal Reactions
Authors: Gupta Malika , Grossmann Liron , Spergel Jonathan , Cianferoni Antonella
Published: August 2015

Egg allergy is a common pediatric allergy, and is usually outgrown by elementary school age. There is, therefore, a need to perform an oral food challenge (OFC) to establish the presence of food allergy to egg. In this study, we conducted a retrospective review of 2304 OFCs at a pediatric center and analyzed the severity of reactions during egg OFCs and compared them with other foods. The gastrointestinal system (GI) has been reported as more affected in egg food challenge. This study confirmed that 11% of patients undergoing egg OFC had GI symptoms vs. 7% undergoing food challenges for other foods or compared to milk, peanut and tree nut, individually. However, the involvement of lower respiratory tract was less frequent with egg than observed in peanut and tree nut OFC and similar to observed rate in milk. In conclusion, our study confirmed that OFC to egg causes more GI symptoms and less respiratory symptoms compared to other foods, in particular peanuts and tree nuts. However, 27% of children who failed egg OFC had lower respiratory tract reactions and required the use of epinephrine, similarly to children undergoing milk challenge.
The Dramatic Modulatory Role of the 2'N Substitution of the Terminal Amino Hexose of Globotetraosylceramide in Determining Binding by Members of the Verotoxin Family
Authors: Mylvaganam Murugesapillai , Binnington Beth , Budani Monique , Soltyk Anna , Lingwood Clifford
Published: August 2015

Although globotetraosylceramide (Gb4) is only recognized by a single member of the verotoxin family namely, the pig edema disease toxin (VT2e), removal of the acetyl group from the terminal N-acetyl hexosamine of Gb4 to generate the free amino sugar containing species (aminoGb4) results in the generation of a glycolipid preferentially recognized by all members of the verotoxin family (i.e., VT1, VT2, VT2c, and VT2e). GT3, a site-specific mutant of VT2e, in which Gb4 recognition is lost but Gb3 binding is retained, also binds aminoGb4. We have now compared the binding of VT1, VT2, VT2e, and GT3 to a series of aminoGb4 derivatives using a TLC overlay technique. DimethylaminoGb4 is bound by VT1 and VT2 but not VT2e or GT3; formylaminoGb4 binds all toxins but poorly to VT2 and preferentially VT2e; trifluoroacetylaminoGb4 binds only VT2e and GT3; isopropylaminoGb4 binds VT1 and poorly to VT2; benzylaminoGb4 binds all four toxins. Thus, there is a marked distinction between the permissible amino substitutions for VT1 and VT2e binding. GT3 is a hybrid between these in that, according to the substitution, it behaves similarly either to VT1 or to VT2e. For each species, GT3 does not however, show a hybrid binding between that of VT1 and VT2e. Analysis of the binding as a function of pH shows opposite effects for VT1 and VT2e: decreased pH increases VT1, but decreases VT2e receptor glycolipid binding.
Application of an Online-Coupled Regional Climate Model, WRF-CAM5, over East Asia for Examination of Ice Nucleation Schemes: Part I. Comprehensive Model Evaluation and Trend Analysis for 2006 and 2011
Authors: Chen Ying , Zhang Yang , Fan Jiwen , Leung Lai-Yung , Zhang Qiang , He Kebin
Published: August 2015

Online-coupled climate and chemistry models are necessary to realistically represent the interactions between climate variables and chemical species and accurately simulate aerosol direct and indirect effects on cloud, precipitation, and radiation. In this Part I of a two-part paper, simulations from the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with the physics package of Community Atmosphere Model (WRF-CAM5) are conducted with the default heterogeneous ice nucleation parameterization over East Asia for two full years: 2006 and 2011. A comprehensive model evaluation is performed using satellite and surface observations. The model shows an overall acceptable performance for major meteorological variables at the surface and in the boundary layer, as well as column variables (e.g., precipitation, cloud fraction, precipitating water vapor, downward longwave and shortwave radiation). Moderate to large biases exist for cloud condensation nuclei over oceanic areas, cloud variables (e.g., cloud droplet number concentration, cloud liquid and ice water paths, cloud optical depth, longwave and shortwave cloud forcing). These biases indicate a need to improve the model treatments for cloud processes, especially cloud droplets and ice nucleation, as well as to reduce uncertainty in the satellite retrievals. The model simulates well the column abundances of chemical species except for column SO2 but relatively poor for surface concentrations of several species such as CO, NO2, SO2, PM2.5, and PM10. Several reasons could contribute to the underestimation of major chemical species in East Asia including underestimations of anthropogenic emissions and natural dust emissions, uncertainties in the spatial and vertical distributions of the anthropogenic emissions, as well as biases in meteorological, radiative, and cloud predictions. Despite moderate to large biases in the chemical predictions, the model performance is generally consistent with or even better than that reported for East Asia with only a few exceptions. The model generally reproduces the observed seasonal variations and the difference between 2006 and 2011 for most variables or chemical species. Overall, these results demonstrate promising skills of WRF-CAM5 for long-term simulations at a regional scale and suggest several areas of potential improvements.
Combined Biogas and Bioethanol Production: Opportunities and Challenges for Industrial Application
Authors: Cesaro Alessandra , Belgiorno Vincenzo
Published: August 2015

In the last decades the increasing energy requirements along with the need to face the consequences of climate change have driven the search for renewable energy sources, in order to replace as much as possible the use of fossil fuels. In this context biomass has generated great interest as it can be converted into energy via several routes, including fermentation and anaerobic digestion. The former is the most common option to produce ethanol, which has been recognized as one of the leading candidates to substitute a large fraction of the liquid fuels produced from oil. As the economic competitiveness of bioethanol fermentation processes has to be enhanced in order to promote its wider implementation, the most recent trends are directed towards the use of fermentation by-products within anaerobic digestion. The integration of both fermentation and anaerobic digestion, in a biorefinery concept, would allow the production of ethanol along with that of biogas, which can be used to produce heat and electricity, thus improving the overall energy balance. This work aims at reviewing the main studies on the combination of both bioethanol and biogas production processes, in order to highlight the strength and weakness of the integrated treatment for industrial application.
Coelectrodeposition of Ternary Mn-Oxide/Polypyrrole Composites for ORR Electrocatalysts: A Study Based on Micro-X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy and X-ray Fluorescence Mapping
Authors: Bozzini Benedetto , Bocchetta Patrizia , Gianoncelli Alessandra
Published: August 2015

Low energy X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and soft X-ray absorption (XAS) microspectroscopies at high space-resolution are employed for the investigation of the coelectrodeposition of composites consisting of a polypyrrole(PPy)-matrix and Mn-based ternary dispersoids, that have been proposed as promising electrocatalysts for oxygen-reduction electrodes. Specifically, we studied Mn–Co–Cu/PP, Mn–Co–Mg/PPy and Mn–Ni–Mg/PPy co-electrodeposits. The Mn–Co–Cu system features the best ORR electrocatalytic activity in terms of electron transfer number, onset potential, half-wave potential and current density. XRF maps and micro-XAS spectra yield compositional and chemical state distributions, contributing unique molecular-level information on the pulse-plating processes. Mn, Ni, Co and Mg exhibit a bimodal distribution consisting of mesoscopic aggregates of micrometric globuli, separated by polymer-rich ridges. Within this common qualitative scenario, the individual systems exhibit quantitatively different chemical distribution patterns, resulting from specific electrokinetic and electrosorption properties of the single components. The electrodeposits consist of Mn3+,4+-oxide particles, accompanied by combinations of Co0/Co2+, Ni0/Ni2+ and Cu0,+/Cu2+ resulting from the alternance of cathodic and anodic pulses. The formation of highly electroactive Mn3+,4+ in the as-fabricated material is a specific feature of the ternary systems, deriving from synergistic stabilisation brought about by two types of bivalent dopants as well as by galvanic contact to elemental metal; this result represents a considerable improvement in material quality with respect to previously studied Mn/PPy and Mn-based/PPy binaries.