bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Camera trap flash-type does not influence the behaviour of feral cats (Felis catus)
Authors: Taggart Patrick L. , Peacock David E. , Fancourt Bronwyn A.
Published: September 2019

Camera traps are now the most commonly used technique for indexing feral cat (Felis catus) and predator populations. Camera flash-type has been suggested to influence an animal's behaviour and their redetection by similar cameras, with white-flash cameras being shown to reduce the probability of redetecting some species. We investigated the influence of camera flash-type on the behaviour of feral cats by categorising their behavioural response to white-flash and infrared-flash cameras and assessing the frequency with which individual cats were redetected by the same white-flash camera or a different white-flash camera at the same site following their initial detection. We found no evidence that flash type had any influence on the cats’ observed behavioural responses towards cameras, or that cats captured by white-flash cameras avoided redetection. Our findings suggest that white-flash cameras are suitable for the detection and redetection of cats, and provide better-quality images from which to identify individual cats.
High rates of cannibalism and food waste consumption by dingoes living at a remote mining operation in the Great Sandy Desert, Western Australia
Authors: Smith Bradley P. , Morrant Damian S. , Vague Anne-Louise , Doherty Tim S.
Published: September 2019

Mining operations in remote Australia represent a unique opportunity to examine the impact of supplementary food and water provision on local wildlife. Here, we present a dietary analysis of dingoes living at a mine site in the Great Sandy Desert, Western Australia. A total of 270 faeces (scats) were collected from across the mine footprint on two occasions three months apart. The most frequently consumed food resource was anthropogenic (rubbish), which was found in 218 of 270 faeces (80.7% of scats and 65.3% of scat volume). Also of note was a high proportion of dingo remains, which was found in 51 of 270 faeces (18.9% of scats and 10.4% of scat volume), suggesting the occurrence of cannibalism. These findings highlight the potential influence of human-modified areas and associated resource availability on the diet of dingoes, and have implications for the environmental management of areas surrounding mining operations.
Salen-Based Metal Complexes and the Physical Properties of their Porous Organic Polymers
Authors: Solomon Marcello B. , Southon Peter D. , Rawal Aditya , Hook James M. , Jolliffe Katrina A. , D'Alessandro Deanna M.
Published: September 2019

Porous organic polymers (POPs) represent interesting candidate materials for carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption applications owing to the permanently porous nature of the structures and the ability to vary metalloligand centres that can be incorporated as a potential means of property tuning. This work reports the synthesis and characterisation of four transition metal complexes (using M=Mn, Ni, Fe, and Pd) of the bis-bromo salen ligand, and the incorporation of these complexes into POPs with tris-(p-ethynyl)-triphenylamine to yield metallated polymers (POPMn, POPNi, POPFe, and POPPd). The POPs were shown to possess Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface areas of up to 650m2g−1. Overall, this work provides further insight into the potential of permanently porous polymeric materials in post-combustion capture applications.
Predicting catch per unit effort from a multispecies commercial fishery in Port Phillip Bay, Australia
Authors: Ryan Karina L. , Meyer Denny
Published: September 2019

Quantitative models that predict stock abundance can inform stock assessments and adaptive management that allows for less stringent controls when abundance is high and environmental conditions are suitable, or tightening controls when abundance is low and environmental conditions are least suitable. Absolute estimates of stock abundance are difficult and expensive to obtain, but data from routine reporting in commercial fisheries logbooks can provide an indicator of stock status. Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models were constructed using catch per unit effort (CPUE) from commercial fishing in Port Phillip Bay from 1978–79 to 2009–10. Univariate and multivariate models were compared for short-lived species (Sepioteuthis australis), and species represented by 1–2 year-classes (Sillaginodes punctatus) and 5–6 year-classes (Chrysophrys auratus). Simple transfer models incorporating environmental variables produced the best predictive models for all species. Multivariate ARIMA models are dependent on the availability of an appropriate time series of explanatory variables. This study demonstrates an application of time series methods to predict monthly CPUE that is relevant to fisheries for species that are short lived or vulnerable to fishing during short phases in their life history or where high intra-annual variation in stock abundance occurs through environmental variability.
Digital-resolution detection of microRNA with single-base selectivity by photonic resonator absorption microscopy
Authors: Canady Taylor D. , Li Nantao , Smith Lucas D. , Lu Yi , Kohli Manish , Smith Andrew M. , Cunningham Brian T.
Published: September 2019

Significance

Highly selective and sensitive detection of microRNA is a key challenge in the development of liquid-biopsy approaches. Technologies that can achieve high diagnostic performance without the requirement of complicated processing steps or expensive equipment are necessary for broad use. With these features in mind, we demonstrate a digital-readout microRNA diagnostic that fundamentally relies on microRNA-activated nanoparticle-photonic crystal hybrid coupling. The hybrid formation allows for clear detection of single-particle binding events due to enhanced nanoparticle absorption at the binding location. Whereas the applied photonics lend the assay concentration sensitivity, we additionally demonstrate broad placement single-base mismatch selectivity and complex media detection by applying free-energy tuned toehold probes.
Intracellular redox potential is correlated with miRNA expression in MCF7 cells under hypoxic conditions
Authors: Johnston Hannah , Dickinson Paul , Ivens Alasdair , Buck Amy H. , Levine R. D. , Remacle Francoise , Campbell Colin J.
Published: September 2019

Significance

Cancer is associated with low-oxygen cellular environments. However, a better understanding of the connection between the amount of oxygen in a cell’s microenvironment and its behavior is much needed. By optical measurements, we have characterized how the redox chemistry and the intracellular redox potential of cells respond to changes in oxygen pressure. Through surprisal analysis (a technique based on thermodynamics), we were able to identify changes in cellular signaling molecules (microRNAs [miRNAs]) that correlate with redox changes and found that, at low-oxygen conditions, these miRNAs are associated with tumor spread and survival. The changes in miRNA expression were used to quantify the free-energy variations with oxygen pressure, variations that reflect the changes in the measured intracellular redox potential.
Diversification of giant and large eukaryotic dsDNA viruses predated the origin of modern eukaryotes
Authors: Guglielmini Julien , Woo Anthony C. , Krupovic Mart , Forterre Patrick , Gaia Morgan
Published: September 2019

Giant and large eukaryotic double-stranded DNA viruses from the Nucleo-Cytoplasmic Large DNA Virus (NCLDV) assemblage represent a remarkably diverse and potentially ancient component of the eukaryotic virome. However, their origin(s), evolution, and potential roles in the emergence of modern eukaryotes remain subjects of intense debate. Here we present robust phylogenetic trees of NCLDVs, based on the 8 most conserved proteins responsible for virion morphogenesis and informational processes. Our results uncover the evolutionary relationships between different NCLDV families and support the existence of 2 superclades of NCLDVs, each encompassing several families. We present evidence strongly suggesting that the NCLDV core genes, which are involved in both informational processes and virion formation, were acquired vertically from a common ancestor. Among them, the largest subunits of the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase were transferred between 2 clades of NCLDVs and proto-eukaryotes, giving rise to 2 of the 3 eukaryotic DNA-dependent RNA polymerases. Our results strongly suggest that these transfers and the diversification of NCLDVs predated the emergence of modern eukaryotes, emphasizing the major role of viruses in the evolution of cellular domains.
Why die for my sibling? The positive association between identity fusion and imagined loss with endorsement of self-sacrifice / ¿Por qué morir por un hermano? La asociación positiva entre la fusión de identidad y la pérdida imaginada con la disposición al autosacrificio
Authors: Vázquez Alexandra , Ordoñana Juan R. , Whitehouse Harvey , Gómez Ángel
Published: September 2019

Identity fusion — a visceral feeling of connection with a group — is a powerful predictor of willingness to engage in extreme pro-group behaviour. Here we propose that identity fusion also reinforces willingness to fight and die for one’s siblings, and we explore one of the underlying mechanisms producing this effect. We additionally controlled for a powerful predictor of family investment, perceived psychological similarity with the sibling. Our study shows that fusion with a sibling, but not perceived similarity, is positively associated with willingness to fight and die for the sibling. This relation is mediated by the imagined personal consequences of losing one’s sibling. This research extends previous work on fusion with groups to pairs of individuals and identifies a new mediator of the effect of fusion on willingness to fight and die for others. Overall, these results suggest that identity fusion might contribute towards explaining self-sacrifice among genetically related individuals as predicted by the theory of kin selection.
Design and on-orbit status of the trigger system for the DAMPE mission
Authors: Zhang Yong-Qiang , Guo Jian-Hua , Liu Yang , Feng Chang-Qing , Zhang Yun-Long , Dong Tie-Kuang , Zang Jing-Jing , Yue Chuan
Published: September 2019

DArk Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE), the first Chinese astronomical satellite, was successfully launched at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on 2015 Dec. 17. DAMPE consists of four subdetectors: Plastic Scintillator array Detector (PSD), Silicon-Tungsten tracKer-converter (STK), Bismuth Germanium Oxide (BGO) imaging calorimeter and NeUtron Detector (NUD). The global hardware trigger signal, which is generated by hits from the BGO calorimeter and the trigger logic board in the data acquisition system (DAQ), is responsible for event selection and DAQ synchronization of DAMPE. On orbit, to improve the detection efficiency, different trigger logics are used for event selection in different regions of latitude. The DAMPE trigger system compresses the average on-orbit trigger rate to 60Hz and reduces science data mass to less than 13GB per day to meet the requirement for the satellite’s data link. The whole trigger system has run stably up to now, ensuring excellent on-orbit operation of DAMPE.
How does a strong surrounding magnetic field influence the evolution of a supernova remnant?
Authors: Wu Dan , Zhang Meng-Fei
Published: September 2019

We simulate the evolution of supernova remnants (SNRs) in a strong magnetic field. Usually, supernovae explode in a normal interstellar medium with magnetic field of no more than 50 μG, which has been well studied. However, the surrounding magnetic field will be much stronger in some situations, such as in a galactic center. Therefore, we try to explore these situations. The simulations show that a strong magnetic field of 1 mG will align the motion of ejecta in a way similar to a jet. The ejecta propagating perpendicularly to the magnetic field will be reflected and generate a strong reverse shock. When the reverse shock converges in the explosion center, it will more or less flow along the central magnetic field. Finally, most of the ejecta will propagate parallel to the magnetic field.
Relationship between colposcopy and bioelectric parameters in cervical squamous epithelium in women in Caldas, Colombia in premenopausal, menopausal and postmenopausal stages
Authors: Gallego-Sanchez P , Olarte-Echeverri G , Aristizabal-Botero W , Rojas-Diaz J , Ruiz-Villa C
Published: September 2019

The aim of this research was to measure the structural changes in the squamous epithelium of women in the perimenopausal stages through colposcopic and electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). 167 women between 44 and 69 years of age were classified into three groups: premenopausal, menopausal and postmenopausal. Each of them underwent colposcopic examinations and were evaluated by electrical impedance spectroscopy to measure the resistivity of those tissues in two sets of measurements: firstly, after the application of normal saline solution (NSS) at 0.9% and secondly, after being impregnated with 4% acetic acid (AA). It was found that the resistivity of the extracellular matrix (R) of the cervical squamous tissue, measured with NSS and with AA, decreases progressively from the premenopausal stage (NSS 16.7 +/-15 Ω-m; AA 22.3 +/-14.2 Ω-m) until the postmenopausal stage (NSS 7.0 +/-8.1 Ω-m; AA 9.6 +/- 10.6 Ω-m). The characteristic frequency (Fc) of the impedance spectra increases significantly for the mentioned stages from 38.6 kHz to 102.3 kHz with NSS and from 29.5 kHz to 86.4 kHz with AA. It was evidenced that, as the years of amenorrhea increase, the electrical resistivity of the tissues decreases progressively.
Gene-sensor on the Basis of Magnetic Immobilization and Bioimpedance Measurements: a proof of concept
Authors: Laguna D U , Sanchez V , Ames G , González C A
Published: September 2019

Detection of molecular markers or specific DNA sequences (genes) represents the future in genomic medicine. Gene detection requires expensive equipment and specialized technicians, thus biosensors development that allows such detection quickly, economically and simply is fundamental in the first level of health care. In this study the development and evaluation of a genosensor based on magnetic anchoring of DNA sequences and electrical bioimpedance spectroscopy measurements is presented. As a first proof of concept, bioimpedance measurements were developed in PCR product anchored by magnetic nanoparticles and two conditions were compared; PCR product and absence of amplicons. The experimental evaluation indicates technical feasibility of developing a biosensor of molecular markers or specific genes trough electric bioimpedance measurements assisted with magnetic nanoparticles. The observations show that the DNA biosensor proposal offers the possibility of detecting a PCR product and differentiating it from the absence of amplicons.
Continuous monitoring of conductivity using a uniform magnetic field
Authors: Rojas-Diaz J , Felice C J , Ruiz G A
Published: September 2019

A spherical coil was used to measure a broad range of conductivities of solutions of NaCl in water. The method proposed in this paperrelates the conductivity of the sample with the frequency at the minimum value of an imaginary admittance spectrum when the coil is immersed in the solution. There is a high correlation between the experimental results and the fit equation (r = 0.95). Since the proposed method is an inductive one, the drawbacks of electrode methods are avoided, e.g. the interface polarization impedance. The method presented is fast, does not require an estimate for the Q factor and the measurements do not depend on the sample volume when the coil is completely immersed. This system is capable of continuous monitoring of biological and inorganic samples.
The Frontier of Estimator in Agriculture Economics: Application for Rice Products in 7 Top Countries in Asia
Authors: Chaiboonsri Chukiat , Wannapan Satawat
Published: September 2019

The purpose to econometrically calculate the comparing estimators in parametric estimations is successfully done in this paper. The two powerful estimators such as the James-Stein estimation (JSE) and Maximum Likelihood estimation (MLE) were employed to solve the most efficiently parametric forecasting. Experimentally, the yearly time-series data of rice exporting products during 2006 to 2016 was collected and observed from 7 Asian countries, which are the major exporters in the world, such as Thailand, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Myanmar, China, and Cambodia. Methodologically, the comparison between the two estimators was based on the linear regression to provide residual terms. Empirically, the results of the estimator comparison implied that the JSE can be substantially replaced the counterpart when doing in the multiple-factors estimation, and error terms estimated were compared for seeking the best estimator to predict trends of rice products. Consequently, it is sensible to introduce the J-S estimator can be one of interesting tools in the modern econometric researches.
Image Feature Extraction Method to Analyze Soft-Mode Turbulence Fluctuation in Nematic Liquid Crystal
Authors: Suryantari Risti , Yusuf Yusril , Flaviana
Published: September 2019

An electroconvective pattern called soft-mode turbulence (SMT) of homeotropic alignment in MBBA (4’-Methoxy-benzylidene-4-butyl-aniline) nematic liquid crystal appears when an external electric field with a certain frequency applied on the nematic liquid crystal sample at a threshold voltage (V
SMT). The threshold voltage will increase with increasing of frequency. SMT fluctuation occurs when V
SMT continues to increase at the same frequency. This phenomenon can be analized by applying an image processing tecnique. Based on image feature extraction method, inhomogeneity of SMT patterns can be observed through contrast, correlation, energy, homogeneity, and entropy parameters. Those parameters represent a result in accordance with the image visualization. Significant changes in the value of contrast, energy, homogeneity, and entropy parameters occur at V> V
SMT which fluctuation begin. In this experiment the fluctuation begin at V = 27.3 V.
Impact of vehicular lateral placement on speed under non-lane discipline traffic stream
Authors: Pal Dibyendu , Sreenivasulu S.
Published: September 2019

The vehicles plying on the roads of developing nations such as India are mixed in nature and do not follow any lane markings. The vehicles can easily take place laterally on any free space across the road section anticipating better maneuverability on the next time step. The vehicles usually maintain different speed for faster and safer forward movement on the next time step. Therefore, this study aims to find the relationship between vehicular speed and lateral placement. For this purpose, two hrs traffic video data were collected from VIP Road, Kolkata, India. From the traffic video film, vehicle trajectories were extracted using image processing software TRAZER after applying appropriate corrections. From the lateral placement distribution of each category of vehicles, it is observed that LMV prefers median lane, whereas MTW and MThW prefer shoulder lane. Speed-placement models were developed for all vehicles clustered and each category of the vehicle using the first hour data. It was observed that the relationship between average speed and lateral placement is linear up to a certain distance from the median edge and quadratic for the remaining portion of the road width. The speed-placement models’ validation using second-hour data indicate that the developed models are highly accurate in terms of MAPE. The results obtained in this study may be used as an input parameter while assigning vehicular speed based on lateral placement for analyzing non-lane discipline traffic stream using the simulation model.
Electron transport mechanisms in CdSxTe1-x solid solution thin films prepared by thermal evaporation method
Authors: Gaewdang T. , Wongcharoen Ng.
Published: September 2019

In this paper, CdSxTe1-x (0≤x≤1.0) thin films were prepared by thermal evaporation method in vacuum. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that the films exhibited a zincblende structure with the preferred orientation of (111) plane when x ≤ 0.2. However, when x ≥ 0.8, they had a wurtzite structure with the preferred orientation of (002) plane. For the composition 0.2 ≤ x ≤ 0.6, the zincblende and wurtzite phases coexisted in the system and the films became less preferentially oriented. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to study the morphological features of the samples. Energy gap values in the range of 1.45-2.39 eV were deduced from optical transmission spectra. The temperature dependence of electrical conductivity from room temperature down to liquid-helium temperature of CdSxTe1-x thin films was performed in order to identify the dominant conduction mechanism. It was shown that three types of conduction mechanisms can be expected. In the high temperature range about 220-300 K, Seto’s model of thermionic emission dominated, whereas, in the low temperature range (about 145-185 K), the dominant hopping conduction was Mott variable range hopping. However, the lower temperature region (about 70-105 K) Efros-Shklovskii variable range hopping was observed. The set of parameters describing the properties of localized electrons in each conduction behavior were examined.
Performed Of Filter Nano Textile For Purification Of Aerosol Water By Electrospinning Technique
Authors: Jawad K H , Mohammed D B , Alsaffar M R
Published: September 2019

Poly styrene (PS) Nano filter prepare by electrospinning technique for cleaning the dust water from dumps and maintain the properties of the resulting water. 18% con. of (PS + dimethyl forma amide DMF ) solution prepared for electrospinning pump on Aluminium surface for (10hr.), 4µm thickness filter resulted. Some test performed on this filter involve: morphology by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thickness by digital micrometre, contact angle by contact angle shape drop analyser. In addition that, some tests performed on the water sample after dumps separating from water by preparing nano filter, these tests involve: viscosity, surface tension, density, PH number, and weight of the sample, Results show the prepared filter have hydrophobic behavior and it has (108°) θ (contact angle), the prepared filter has nano structured with beads through its morphology.
How do cancer-sniffing dogs sort biological samples? Exploring case-control samples with non-targeted LC-Orbitrap, GC-MS, and immunochemistry methods
Authors: Pleil Joachim D , Wallace M Ariel Geer , McCord James , Madden Michael C , Sobus Jon , Ferguson Glenn
Published: September 2019

Early identification of disease onset is regarded as an important factor for successful medical intervention. However, cancer and other long-term latency diseases are rare and may take years to manifest clinically. As such, there are no gold standards with which to immediately validate proposed preclinical screening methodologies. There is evidence that dogs can sort samples reproducibly into yes/no categories based on case-control training, but the basis of their decisions is unknown. Because dogs are sniffing air, the distinguishing chemicals must be either in the gas-phase or attached to aerosols and/or airborne particles. Recent biomonitoring research has shown how to extract and analyze semi- and non-volatile compounds from human breath in exhaled condensates and aerosols. Further research has shown that exhaled aerosols can be directly collected on standard hospital-style olefin polypropylene masks and that these masks can be used as a simple sampling scheme for canine screening. In this article, detailed liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HR-MS) with Orbitrap instrumentation and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses were performed on two sets of masks sorted by consensus of a four-dog cohort as either cancer or control. Specifically, after sorting by the dogs, sample masks were cut into multiple sections and extracted for LC-MS and GC-MS non-targeted analyses. Extracts were also analyzed for human cytokines, confirming the presence of human aerosol content above levels in blank masks. In preliminary evaluations, 345 and 44 high quality chemical features were detected by LC-MS and GC-MS analyses, respectively. These features were used to develop provisional orthogonal projection to latent structures-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) models to determine if the samples classified as cancer (case) or non-cancer (control) by the dogs could be separated into the same groups using analytical instrumentation. While the OPLS-DA model for the LC-HR-MS data was able to separate the two groups with statistical significance, although weak explanatory power, the GC-MS model was not found to be significant. These results suggest that the dogs may rely on the less volatile compounds from breath aerosol that were analyzed by LC-HR-MS than the more volatile compounds observed by GC-MS to sort mask samples into groups. These results provide justification for more expansive studies in the future that aim to characterize specific chemical features, and the role(s) of these features in maintaining homeostatic biological processes.
Lighting systems calculations for heritage buildings
Authors: Galațanu C D
Published: September 2019

The heritage buildings generate specific problems for electrical installations, with supplementary request from lighting systems. The continuous trends towards modernization are traditionally in conflict with the conservation of the architectural details. This major constraint must be considered for new circuits, but also for luminaire, when retrofit is the main approach. After the esthetical considerations, the engineering approach raises a problem in connection with the dimensioning methods. For heritage buildings, the lighting systems must cover infinity of situation, very different from classical designing methods, based on Utilization Factor or Direct Illumination Calculus for orthogonal situations. An original method of calculation is proposed, based on analytical geometry, useful for any orientation of the working plane. Even this method has important limitations, generated by the specifically architectural details, and a lighting simulation is necessary. Based on DIALuxEVO7, specific methods are presented. The importance of results interpretation is also underline.
Computational Assessment of a RC Water Tank – A Comparative Static Analysis
Authors: Filip A , Covatariu D
Published: September 2019

Liquids storage tanks are special structures and strategically very important. Water tanks, in particular, are important to assure continued operation of water distribution system in the event of unpredicted events. The aim of this article is to investigate the structural behaviour of a buried reinforced concrete water tank in different exploitation stages. A comparative study based on a finite element method (FEM) was considered in order to identify the most subjected areas of the structural elements (stress distribution). Numeric analysis using two advanced structural analysis and design software programs (Axis VM and SCIA Engineer) have been used for more accurate results. It was taken into consideration the extreme possibilities: case when the water tank is empty and when the water tank is at full capacity. The numerical results obtained were compared and the obtained results of both approaches has revealed minimal values differences.
Experimental study on high temperature damage of anisotropic sandstone
Authors: Chang Sen , Xu Jinyu , Gu Chao , Wen Ming , Meng Boxu , Wang Tengjiao , Liu Gaojie , Chen Haowen
Published: September 2019

Rocks often have certain bedding structures under long-term geological conditions, which leads to different performances. In this paper, ultrasonic analysis of horizontal bedding and vertical bedding is carried out by high temperature tests on anisotropic red sandstone samples to obtain data on mass, density, porosity and longitudinal wave velocity as a function of temperature. Then through the apparent morphology analysis of the sample, data processing and image analysis, the high temperature damage law of the anisotropic sandstone is finally obtained, which provides theoretical support for underground resource development and underground engineering construction.
Complex plane analysis of fractional derivative model and its use for parameter determination of viscoelastic material
Authors: Yin Y L , Yang Z H , Shi M L
Published: September 2019

The mechanical properties of viscoelastic materials are usually described by a rheological model composed of spring and dashpot in series or in parallel or their combination. The complex modulus as a function of angular frequency was firstly deduced, when fractional derivative rheological model is subjected to a sinusoidal perturbation in dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) measurements. Then, the algebraic equations between the storage and loss moduli of the fractional Zener model in complex plane have been developed. The curve on the complex plane, a plot of loss modulus against storage modulus, is a repressed or distorted semicircle with its center below the real axis. The parameters of mechanical elements can be graphically estimated from its complex plane plot. The dynamic mechanical test of bituminous mixtures was carried out by frequency sweep over a wide range of 200 Hz to 0.02 Hz and its mechanical response can be described adequately by the fractional Zener model, whose element parameters are determined via geometric method.
Biotherapeutic mechanism of salidroside on gastric carcinoma cells
Authors: Wang Xiaoping , Wang Qiaoxia , Lin Huanping , Xu Bing , Chang Na , Chao Xu , Shi Hailong , Meng Bobo
Published: September 2019

To study the biotherapy mechanisms of salidroside in treatment of gastric carcinoma, we inoculated the BALB/C mice with a gastric carcinoma cell line as the research model. The mice were divided into four groups. Mice in the experimental groups received different doses of salidroside for sixty days after grafting. Mice were fed with normal saline as control. All the mice were executed at the 61st day. Tumor volume was detected periodically and tumor weight was measured immediately after the mice sacrificed. Serum cytokines, perforin and granzyme B were detected by ELISA. The anti-tumor effect was examined by cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) method. Our results demonstrated that salidroside could suppress the proliferation of gastric carcinoma cells by activating the immune cells and inducing the secretion of cytokines, perforin and granzyme B. Our study suggests that salidroside inhibited the growth of gastric cancers by activating the immune cells, which may lay a better basis for further study on gastric cancer biotherapy.
Synthesis, characterization and adsorption behaviors of Faujasite-type zeolites towards methylene blue
Authors: Zhang Yunhui , Wang Zhongwei , Zhang Zhenguang , Wu Liuming , Fan Yingju , Sun Zhongxi
Published: September 2019

The conventional hydrothermal method was applied to synthesize two microporous Faujasite-type zeolite (FAU) with model substances (sodium silicate, sodium hydroxide and aluminium). The chemical formula of FAU-1 and FAU-2 were 0.99Na2O·Al2O3·4.07SiO2·5.7H2O and 1.03Na2O·Al2O3·3.8SiO2·8H2O, respectively. The isoelectric points (IEP) were around 4.5, and the surface area were 244.50 m2/g and 485.85 m2/g. The adsorption kinetics, intra-particle diffusion and isotherms of methylene blue (MB) on two FAUs were reported from batch adsorption tests. The adsorption obeys pseudo-first-order model and reached equilibrium within 80 min. Intra-particle diffusion is the rate-determining step and the removal decreased with the increase of pH. The adsorption follows BET model, indicating multi-molecular layer adsorption. The adsorption capacity of FAU-2 towards MB is 147.19 mg/g, more than doubles that of FAU-1 (62.74 mg/g). Adsorption mechanism may include ion exchange, hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. This study may provide guidance for the hydrothermal synthesis of FAU and the universal theoretical basis for its practical application in MB contaminated wastewater treatment.
Effect of Different Reducing Agents on Silicon-Aluminum Alloy Prepared from Coal Fly Ash
Authors: Bai Zhiling , Qin Bingke
Published: September 2019

The effect of charcoal and coke as reducing agents on the preparation of silicon-aluminium alloy from coal fly ash was studied. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the reduction products under the action of two reducing agents was carried out. The results showed that SiC and Al2SiO5 were formed in the reduction products with charcoal or coke as reducing agent at 2073K, and impurity Fe2SiO4 was formed in the products with coke as reducing agent. At 2173K, when charcoal or coke was used as reducing agent, the same kinds of reduction products were SiC, Si, Al, Al2O3 and Al4.5FeSi, and the intensity of diffraction peaks of Al and Si in reduction products by charcoal as reducing agent was higher than that of Al and Si in reduction products using coke as reducing agent. At 2273K and charcoal as reducing agent, the reduction products of coal fly ash were Al, Si, SiC and Al4.5FeSi. When coke was used as reducing agent, the products of reduction coal fly ash were Si, FeSi, SiC, Al and Al4.5FeSi. In this study, the reduction ability of charcoal is better than that of coke at different temperatures, and the reduction effect of silicon-aluminium alloy prepared by charcoal reduction coal fly ash is the best at 2273K for heating 30 minutes.
Fluent simulation of centrifugal atomization of multi-solid wastes molten slag melted by blast furnace slag, fly ash and waste incineration ash
Authors: Dai Yue Lai , Wei Hang Biao , Hu Jun
Published: September 2019

Based on finite element numerical simulation method, Fluent software was used to simulate the centrifugal atomization process of multi-solid wastes molten slag melted by blast furnace slag, fly ash and waste incineration ash. The feasibility of the finite element model in simulating centrifugal atomization was verified by comparing the experimental results with the calculated results. The influence of rotating speed, nozzle angle and the inlet velocity of compressed air injected on the slag particle distribution were studied. Results showed that the rotating speed of the turntable should not exceed 1000 rpm, the inlet velocity of compressed air should be about 5 m/s, and the nozzle angle of compressed air should be set between 40 and 60 degrees, which have positive effect on the centrifugal atomization of multi-solid wastes molten slag. The heat recovery efficiency can reach 73.7% under the condition of 800 rpm rotary speed, 5 m/s compressed air inlet velocity, 0.1 m/s flow rate of 1800 K molten slag beam and in 300 K ambient temperature.
Extracting heavy metal stress indicators from remote sensing imagery using WOFOST model and wavelet packet decomposition algorithm
Authors: Xu Zhao , Zhao Shuang , Qian Xu
Published: September 2019

Heavy metal pollution of crops seriously endangers food security and indirectly threatens human health. Direct measures in the fields and laboratories through on-site sample collection, testing, and analysis are time-consuming and labor intensive, thereby prohibiting their applications in large-scale monitoring. Remote sensing techniques provide an alternative means through examining above-ground vegetation status, e.g. leaf area index (LAI). Heavy metals, however, are typically accumulated in the root of crops, which may also be affected by a large number of external environmental factors besides heavy metals. The objective of this paper, therefore, is to identify heavy metal stress indicators of crops through integrating LAI extraction from remote sensing imagery, weight of rice roots (WRT) estimation by the World Food Study (WOFOST) model, and heavy metal stress indicator identification with the wavelet packet decomposition (WPD) method. First, LAI was retrieved from the HJ CCD data over three continuous years through constructing a relationship between LAI and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Next, dry weight of rice roots (WRT) curves over these three continuous years were estimated using the WOFOST model with multi-temporal LAIs are inputs. Finally, a component (e.g. cfs 14) was identified to represent the heavy metal pollution status with the Wavelet Packet Decomposition (WPD) of the WRT curves of these three years. Validation results suggest that the identified component can successfully represent different levels of heavy metal stress.
Discussion on Guangzhou-Enping Fault Based on Gravity and Deep Seismic Data
Authors: Huang J T , Ren Z H , Lin J F , Zhang X , Sheng Q , Wu H P , Yang F
Published: September 2019

In this paper, the gravity and magnetic data and the preliminary results of the interpretation of the artificial seismic depth sounding in the Pearl River Estuary are combined with the geological data for the discussion of the most important northeast fault in the Pearl River Delta region in terms of the characteristics of deep strata of Guangzhou-Enping fault. It is believed that the Guangzhou-Enping fault is an NE-trending deep fault with a cutting depth of more than 30km, a depth of Moho, a steep dip, and the largest extent in the Pearl River Delta, and has a certain cut with the near EW-oriented fault. Therefore, the Guangzhou-Enping fault is active to some extent which provides a channel for deep material upwelling. The deep flow of molten material is the main component of the low-velocity zone of the lower and middle crust, and the surface is characterized by rich mineral resources, hot springs and basalt exposure.
Effect analysis of central column on seismic dynamic response of metro station structure
Authors: Lv Youyi , Cao Ye
Published: September 2019

When the metro station structure has central column or no central column, the metro station structure shows different patterns of destruction. In this article, based on the nonlinear elastic-plastic finite element model for metro station, considering the structure-soil dynamic interaction, the influence laws of the central column on the dynamic response and failure mode of the metro station structure under near and far-field earthquakes are studied. We found that the horizontal displacements and dynamic amplification factors of the metro station with central columns is less than those of the metro station without central columns under near and far field earthquakes, and the existence of central column effectively inhibits the deformation and vibration of the metro station under earthquake, and improves the stability of the metro station.
Analysis of features importance based on different seasonal OLI images by Random Forest
Authors: Zhang Ying , Wang Lin , Ai Yunfei , Bai Xuejiao
Published: September 2019

The paper explores the importance of phenological information of vegetation for vegetation classification. The time series of OLI images in different season are used to obtain the samples of different vegetation types. The importance of single OLI image and the multi-temperal OLI image combinations are separately calculated using Random Forest (RF). The results show that near infrared band (band5) or short-wave infrared band (band6) for single OLI image are important bands to distinguish vegetation types, and Coastal band (band1) also has potential information to distinguish vegetation types. For different time series of OLI image combinations, OLI images in May and July were optimal for vegetation types differentiation. Therefore, the phenological information of vegetation is important to improve the separability of vegetation, and the use of multi-sequence images can improve the classification accuracy of vegetation and achieve rapid and accurate remote sensing forest mapping.
Students Responses to Thermal Environments in University Classrooms in Zunyi, China
Authors: Liu Jing , Luo Qing , Cai Ting
Published: September 2019

Indoor thermal environment has significant influence on occupants’ working efficiency, study performance and well-being, particularly in space with high population density but no HVAC system. Therefore, in order to understand the indoor thermal environmental conditions and subjects’ interactions with ambient physical environment, a field study was carried out during winter time in naturally ventilated classrooms in Zunyi, China. The range of indoor air temperature variation during investigation period, 11.57°C to 19.80°C, was not within the thermal comfort zone recommended by ASHRAE 55 Standard. Nearly 80% of occupants regarded indoor thermal condition as ‘slight cool’ and ‘cool’, and wanted indoor environment to be warmer as a consequence. The thermal neutral temperature, acceptable range and thermal sensitivity under AMV model were 20.27°C, 16.60-23.95°C and 4.33°C / unit, respectively. People’s clothing adjustment followed the tendency that the mean values of clothing insulation decreased gradually with indoor air temperature increasing. The discrepancies of subjects’ thermal sensations, thermal neutral temperatures, thermal acceptable temperature zone and thermal sensitivity reflected the adaptations of occupants in response to ambient thermal stimuli. Due to the more tolerance of cold environment revealed in this study, the energy used for space heating would be reduced to some extent. The findings obtained from this investigation also provide guidelines on building refurbishment, maintenance and new building design.
Advanced Treatment Experiment of Brewing Wastewater
Authors: Zhang L , Cheng G W , Gao F J , Duan S Y
Published: September 2019

The decolorization of wastewater treated by biochemical treatment with Fenton catalytic oxidation technology was studied by using Dashaba sauce-flavored brewing wastewater in Erhe Town of Guizhou city as the research object. The results of single factor and orthogonal test show that the dosages of pH, FeSO4 and H2O2 in wastewater mainly affect the chromaticity of wastewater, while the dosages of pH, quartz sand in wastewater mainly affect the effect of flocculation and sedimentation. When the initial chromaticity and UV254 of the wastewater are 179 degrees and 1.51 cm-1 respectively, the optimum process parameters are pH 6.5, FeSO4 2.5 mmol/L, H2O2 25.0 mmol/L and quartz sand 3.0 g/L. The effluent chromaticity and UV254 removal rate are 68.06% and 31.78%, and the chromaticity reached the emission limit value required in Table 3 of GB 27631~2011 “Emission Standards for Water Pollutants in Fermented Alcohol and Liquor Industry”. Moreover, and the flocculation and sedimentation effect of iron mud is better and the treatment drug consumption is less.
Design and Implementation of Soil Environmental Quality Visualization System Based on WebGIS
Authors: Zhao Yi , Liang Hong , Zhao Juan , Zhou Ningshan , Zhang Yuxia , Jin Yu
Published: September 2019

Multi-scale soil environmental quality survey and social production practice have accumulated a large number of soil data, which is the valuable essential data for practice and research. It is urgent to rely on information technology to strengthen the management and application of soil information. This paper designs a WebGIS system for visualizing soil environmental quality based on the B/S model of three-tier network structure. The system uses the map engine ArcGIS API for JavaScript and HTML5 canvas dynamic rendering technology as the core of the technology, and combines ArcGIS Server and spatial database technology to achieve a series of functions such as soil environmental quality data management, soil pollution visualization and statistical analysis. The system deployment is applied to the Yunnan Provincial Environmental Monitoring Center Station, which enables rapid and high-performance visual display of soil environmental quality information and enhances the rapid information sharing capability between the environmental monitoring departments of Yunnan Province.
Evaluating the contraction value of ferromagnetic material at early fatigue loading stage using magnetic flux leakage signature
Authors: Arifin A , Sahadan S N , Abdullah S
Published: September 2019

This work focuses on the investigation to evaluate a material parameter, namely a contraction value ψ, at failure in estimating the fatigue life of ferromagnetic steel based on magnetic metal memory method. It begins with specimen preparation made from mild carbon steel and it was machined as specified in the ASTM E467-01 standard. These cyclic tests were performed using the 25-kN servo-hydraulic machine with the applied axial loading levels were at 60% UTS and 70% UTS. The magnetic flux leakage was then measured at every hour of the load applied, and the nature of change of magnetic leakage intensity Hp
over the surface of the specimen. A further analysis on the collected signals or pattern was carried out based on the Hp
distribution and its gradient at dHp/dx, and both parameters were later being used to estimate total loading time before specimen failure. A further analysis on the collected signals or pattern was carried out based on the Hp
distribution and its gradient at dHp/dx, and both parameters were later being used to estimate total loading time before specimen failure. At every hour of loading cycles, the fatigue life of the specimen is estimated using the specific calculation of this MMM approach.
Systematics of the allotrope formation in elemental gallium films
Authors: Fischer Dieter , Andriyevsky Bohdan , Schön J Christian
Published: September 2019

Elemental gallium forms unusual allotropes, whose structures all differ distinctly from the close-packing of spheres typical for nearly all elemental metals. At standard pressure, four different crystalline allotropes are known where the α-Ga allotrope is the thermodynamically stable one. Since the other allotropes can only be obtained under special conditions such as spatial confinement or undercooling, the structural relations among the gallium allotropes are not well-explored. We present here a systematic investigation of the dependence of the crystal structure formation in elemental gallium films on the deposition temperature and the subsequent annealing procedures using in situ x-ray powder diffraction and Raman measurements, complemented by ab initio calculations. The films were prepared with the femtosecond pulsed-laser-deposition technique on a substrate kept at constant temperature in the range of –190 °C to 25 °C, followed by cooling + heating cycles in the same temperature range. Besides preparing α-, β-, γ- and amorphous Ga films as a single phase, a new gallium allotrope, β′-Ga, was synthesized, which is a distorted derivative of the β-Ga crystal structure. Furthermore, no direct transition between the α-Ga phase on one side and the β-, β′-, and γ-Ga phases on the other side was observed in the solid state. Surprisingly, at room temperature amorphous gallium and below –60 °C the α-Ga allotrope, respectively, is formed in the deposited films.