bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental and Numerical Study on the Seismic Performance of Prefabricated Reinforced Masonry Shear Walls
Authors: Xu Weifan , Yang Xu , Wang Fenglai , Chi Bin
Published: October 2018

The seismic performance of prefabricated reinforced concrete block masonry shear walls (PRMSWs) was studied. Five PRMSWs were tested under cyclic loading to evaluate the effect of the axial compression ratio and the distribution of the vertical rebar on the inelastic behavior. Based on the experimental results, the lateral load capacity, failure mode, lateral drift, ductility, stiffness degradation, energy dissipation, and the seismic performance stability of the specimens were analyzed. The finite element analysis of the specimens was conducted with ABAQUS, which agreed quite well with the laboratory findings. Relevant results showed that PRMSW exhibited favorable ductility and energy dissipation. The increase of the compression ratio led to stiffer, but more brittle, inelastic behavior of the specimens that had higher flexural strength. The shear walls that had concentrated vertical rebar at the sides exhibited relatively higher load capacity and less ductility compared to the walls that had evenly distributed rebar. The inelastic lateral drift limit of the PRMSW could be assigned 1/120. The equivalent viscous damping ratio of the PRMSW was 9–13% at ultimate load. These results provide a technical basis for the design and application of the PRMSW structures.
Reconstructing Histories: Analyzing Exhibition Photographs with Computational Methods
Authors: Lang Sabine , Ommer Björn
Published: October 2018

Displays of art in public or private spaces have long been of interest to curators, gallerists, artists and art historians. The emergence of gallery paintings at the beginning of the seventeenth century and the photographic documentation of (modern) exhibitions testify to that. Taken as factual documents, these images are not only representative of social status, wealth or the museum’s thematic focus, but also contain information about artistic relations and exhibition practices. Digitization efforts of previous years have made these documents, including photographs, catalogs or press releases, available to public audiences and scholars. While a manual analysis has proved to be insufficient, because of the sheer number of available data, computational approaches and tools allowed for a greater access. The following article describes how digital images of exhibitions, as released by the New York Museum of Modern Art in the fall of 2016, are studied with a retrieval system to analyze in which artistic contexts selected artworks were presented in exhibits.
Catalysts for the Controlled Polymerization of Conjugated Dienes
Authors: Visseaux Marc
Published: October 2018

Since its first discovery at the beginning of the 1960s […]
Pathogenic Role of Immune Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Implications in Clinical Treatment and Biomarker Development
Authors: Yap Hooi-Yeen , Tee Sabrina Zi-Yi , Wong Magdelyn Mei-Theng , Chow Sook-Khuan , Peh Suat-Cheng , Teow Sin-Yeang
Published: October 2018

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, autoimmune, systemic, inflammatory disorder that affects synovial joints, both small and large joints, in a symmetric pattern. This disorder usually does not directly cause death but significantly reduces the quality of life and life expectancy of patients if left untreated. There is no cure for RA but, patients are usually on long-term disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to suppress the joint inflammation, to minimize joint damage, to preserve joint function, and to keep the disease in remission. RA is strongly associated with various immune cells and each of the cell type contributes differently to the disease pathogenesis. Several types of immunomodulatory molecules mainly cytokines secreted from immune cells mediate pathogenesis of RA, hence complicating the disease treatment and management. There are various treatments for RA depending on the severity of the disease and more importantly, the patient’s response towards the given drugs. Early diagnosis of RA and treatment with (DMARDs) are known to significantly improve the treatment outcome of patients. Sensitive biomarkers are crucial in early detection of disease as well as to monitor the disease activity and progress. This review aims to discuss the pathogenic role of various immune cells and immunological molecules in RA. This review also highlights the importance of understanding the immune cells in treating RA and in exploring novel biomarkers.
Effects of Air Exposure on Hard and Soft X-ray Photoemission Spectra of Ultrananocrystalline Diamond/Amorphous Carbon Composite Films
Authors: Egiza Mohamed , Naragino Hiroshi , Tominaga Aki , Hanada Kenji , Kamitani Kazutaka , Sugiyama Takeharu , Ikenaga Eiji , Murasawa Koki , Gonda Hidenobu , Sakurai Masatoshi , Yoshitake Tsuyoshi
Published: October 2018

Hard X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (HAXPES) was employed for the structural evaluation of ultrananocrystalline diamond/amorphous carbon (UNCD/a-C) composite films deposited on cemented carbide substrates, at substrate temperatures up to 550 °C by coaxial arc plasma deposition. The results were compared with those of soft X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (SXPES). Since nanocrystalline diamond grains are easily destroyed by argon ion bombardment, the structural evaluation of UNCD/a-C films, without the argon ion bombardment, is preferable for precise evaluation. For samples that were preserved in a vacuum box after film preparation, the sp3 fraction estimated from HAXPES is in good agreement with that of SXPES. The substrate temperature dependencies also exhibited good correspondence with that of hardness and Young’s modulus of the films. On the other hand, the sp3 fraction estimated from SXPES for samples that were not preserved in the vacuum box had an apparent deviation from those of HAXPES. Since it is possible for HAXPES to precisely estimate the sp3 fraction without the ion bombardment treatment, HAXPES is a feasible method for UNCD/a-C films, comprising nanocrystalline diamond grains.
Structural and Magnetic Studies of Cr3+ Substituted Nickel Ferrite Nanomaterials Prepared by Sol-Gel Auto-Combustion
Authors: Lin Jinpei , He Yun , Du Xianglin , Lin Qing , Yang Hu , Shen Hongtao
Published: October 2018

The present study envisages the preparation of chromium substituted Nickel ferrite NiCrxFe2−xO4 (x = 0~1.0) powders by a sol-gel auto-combustion method. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) showed that the specimens with x > 0.2 exhibited a single-phase spinel structure, and that more content of Cr within a specimen is favorable for the synthesis of pure Ni-Cr ferrites. The lattice parameter decreased with an increase in the Cr concentration. The sample without calcining exhibited a good crystallinity. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed the formation of ferrite powders nano-particles, and that the substitution of Cr weakened the agglomeration between the particles. Mössbauer spectra of NiCrxFe2−xO4 showed two normal Zeeman-split sextets that displayed a ferrimagnetic behavior. Furthermore, the spectra indicated that iron was in the Fe3+ state, and the magnetic hyperfine field at the tetrahedral tended to decrease with an increase in the Cr substitution. The saturation magnetization decreased by the Cr3+ ions, and reached a minimum value (Ms = 4.46 emu/g). With an increase in the annealing temperature, the coercivity increased initially, which later decreased.
Recursive Method for Distribution System Reliability Evaluation
Authors: Wang Huaizhi , Zhang Xian , Li Qing , Wang Guibin , Jiang Hui , Peng Jianchun
Published: October 2018

This paper proposes a novel hybrid recursive method for distribution system reliability evaluation to deal with the computational limit and low-efficiency problem which exist in previously developed techniques as the system becomes larger. This method includes a bottom-up process and a top-down process, which are developed on the basis of a recursive principle, and the synthesis of both processes yield the reliability performance of each bus of the system. The bottom-up process considers the effects of downstream failures on upstream customers, and the top-down process considers the effects of upstream failures on downstream customers. In addition, a novel switch zone concept is defined and introduced into the bottom-up recursive process to save the computation cost. Besides, section technique (ST) and shortest path method (SPM) are employed to effectively simplify the recursive path and thus, the computation efficiency can be improved. The most significant feature of the proposed method over ST, SPM, failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) is that it provides a more generalized equivalent approach to maximally simplify the network for reliable evaluation irrespective of the network topology. The effectiveness of the proposed method has been validated through comprehensive tests on Roy Billinton test system (RBTS) bus 6 and a practical-sized distribution system in China.
Physical Properties of Seeds of Eleven Spruce Species
Authors: Kaliniewicz Zdzisław , Żuk Zbigniew , Kusińska Elżbieta
Published: October 2018

Information about the variations and correlations between the physical properties of seeds is essential for designing and modeling seed processing operations. The aim of this study was to determine the variations in the basic physical properties of seeds of selected spruce species and to identify the correlations between these attributes for the needs of the seed sorting processes. Terminal velocity, thickness, width, length, mass, and the angle of external friction were determined in the seeds of 11 spruce species. The measured parameters were used to calculate three aspect ratios (geometric mean diameter, sphericity index, and specific mass) of each seed. The average values of the basic physical properties of the analyzed seeds were determined in the following range: terminal velocity—5.25 to 8.34 m s−1, thickness—1.10 to 2.32 mm, width—1.43 to 3.19 mm, length—2.76 to 5.52 mm, the angle of external friction—23.1 to 30.0°, and mass—2.29 to 18.57 mg. The seeds of Jezo spruce and Meyer’s spruce were most similar to the seeds of other spruce species, whereas oriental spruce seeds differed most considerably from the remaining seeds. Our findings indicate that spruce seeds should be sorted primarily with the use of mesh sieves with longitudinal openings to obtain fractions with similar seed mass and to promote even germination.
Heat-Shock-Induced Removal of Transgenes Using the Gene-Deletor System in Hybrid Aspen (Populus tremula × P. tremuloides)
Authors: Wang Beibei , Zhang Yan , Zhao Jian , Dong Mingliang , Zhang Jinfeng
Published: October 2018

To evaluate the efficacy of the gene-deletor system in aspen, we evaluated the system for foreign gene removal in a hybrid aspen clone, INRA 353-53 (Populus tremula × P. tremuloides). The recombinase flipping DNA (FLP) gene was under the control of the heat-inducible promoter of Gmhsp17.6-L, and the β-glucuronidase (gusA) gene which was under the control of the 35S promoter and were constructed using the gene-deletor system in the pCaLFGmFNLFG vector. Six transgenic plants and their sublines were heated at 42 °C for 8 h and gene deletion was verified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Three lines exhibited partial transgene deletion while the remaining three lines did not delete. Transgenic lines were evaluated by Southern-blot analyses, verifying that the six transgenic plant lines all had a single copy of transfer DNA (t-DNA). Two partial-deletion lines and two non-deletion lines were analysed for methylation and expression of promoter and recombinase. Hardly any methylation was detected in the Gmhsp17.6-L promoter or recombinase FLP gene sequences, however, the expression of the promoter and recombinase was increased significantly in the partial-deletion compared with the non-deletion line after heat-shock treatment. These results suggest that the excision efficiency had no direct relationship with methylation status of the Gmhsp17.6-L promoter and FLP recombinase, yet was affected by the expression of the Gmhsp17.6-L and FLP after heat-shock treatment.
De Novo Assembly of Two Swedish Genomes Reveals Missing Segments from the Human GRCh38 Reference and Improves Variant Calling of Population-Scale Sequencing Data
Authors: Ameur Adam , Che Huiwen , Martin Marcel , Bunikis Ignas , Dahlberg Johan , Höijer Ida , Häggqvist Susana , Vezzi Francesco , Nordlund Jessica , Olason Pall , Feuk Lars , Gyllensten Ulf
Published: October 2018

The current human reference sequence (GRCh38) is a foundation for large-scale sequencing projects. However, recent studies have suggested that GRCh38 may be incomplete and give a suboptimal representation of specific population groups. Here, we performed a de novo assembly of two Swedish genomes that revealed over 10 Mb of sequences absent from the human GRCh38 reference in each individual. Around 6 Mb of these novel sequences (NS) are shared with a Chinese personal genome. The NS are highly repetitive, have an elevated GC-content, and are primarily located in centromeric or telomeric regions. Up to 1 Mb of NS can be assigned to chromosome Y, and large segments are also missing from GRCh38 at chromosomes 14, 17, and 21. Inclusion of NS into the GRCh38 reference radically improves the alignment and variant calling from short-read whole-genome sequencing data at several genomic loci. A re-analysis of a Swedish population-scale sequencing project yields > 75,000 putative novel single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and removes > 10,000 false positive SNV calls per individual, some of which are located in protein coding regions. Our results highlight that the GRCh38 reference is not yet complete and demonstrate that personal genome assemblies from local populations can improve the analysis of short-read whole-genome sequencing data.
B Chromosomes in Populations of Mammals Revisited
Authors: Vujošević Mladen , Rajičić Marija , Blagojević Jelena
Published: October 2018

The study of B chromosomes (Bs) started more than a century ago, while their presence in mammals dates since 1965. As the past two decades have seen huge progress in application of molecular techniques, we decided to throw a glance on new data on Bs in mammals and to review them. We listed 85 mammals with Bs that make 1.94% of karyotypically studied species. Contrary to general view, a typical B chromosome in mammals appears both as sub- or metacentric that is the same size as small chromosomes of standard complement. Both karyotypically stable and unstable species possess Bs. The presence of Bs in certain species influences the cell division, the degree of recombination, the development, a number of quantitative characteristics, the host-parasite interactions and their behaviour. There is at least some data on molecular structure of Bs recorded in nearly a quarter of species. Nevertheless, a more detailed molecular composition of Bs presently known for six mammalian species, confirms the presence of protein coding genes, and the transcriptional activity for some of them. Therefore, the idea that Bs are inert is outdated, but the role of Bs is yet to be determined. The maintenance of Bs is obviously not the same for all species, so the current models must be adapted while bearing in mind that Bs are not inactive as it was once thought.
Sleep Quality in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Associations with Pain, Disability, Disease Duration, and Activity
Authors: Grabovac Igor , Haider Sandra , Berner Carolin , Lamprecht Thomas , Fenzl Karl-Heinrich , Erlacher Ludwig , Quittan Michael , Dorner Thomas E.
Published: October 2018

We aimed to assess the subjective sleep quality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its correlation with disease activity, pain, inflammatory parameters, and functional disability. In a cross-sectional study, patients with confirmed RA diagnosis responded to a questionnaire (consisting of socio-demographic data, the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index, and the Medical Outcome Study Sleep Scale). Disease activity was assessed with the Clinical Disease Activity Index, and pain levels using the visual analogue scale. In addition, inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha) were analyzed. Ninety-five patients were analyzed, predominantly female, with an average age of 50.59 (9.61) years. Fifty-seven percent reported non-optimal sleep duration, where functional disability (92.7% vs. 69.8%; p = 0.006) and higher median pain levels (3.75 (2.3–6.0) vs. 2.5 (2.0–3.5); p = 0.003) were also more prevalent. No differences in sociodemographic variables, disease duration or activity, inflammatory parameters, or use of biological and corticosteroid therapy were observed. The multivariate regression analysis showed that more intense pain was associated with a lower likelihood of optimal sleep (odds ratio (OR) = 0.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.47–0.98, p = 0.038). Patients with RA report a high prevalence of non-optimal sleep, which is linked to pain level. Clinicians need to be aware of this issue and the potential effects on health and functional status.
Biodegradable Metals
Authors: Aghion Eli
Published: October 2018

Over the last two decades, significant scientific efforts have been devoted to developingbiodegradable metal implants for orthopedic and cardiovascular applications, mainly due to theirimproved mechanical properties compared to those of biodegradable polymers [...]
The Sustainable Management of Metals: An Analysis of Global Research
Authors: Aznar-Sánchez José A. , Velasco-Muñoz Juan F. , García-Gómez José J. , López-Serrano María J.
Published: October 2018

The objective of this study was to analyze research trends in the field of sustainable management of metals on a global level between 1993 and 2017. To do so, a bibliometric analysis was carried out on a total of 6967 articles. The results revealed the growing interest in this research field, particularly over the last five year-period during which 63% of all articles were published. The three journals in which most articles had been published were the Journal of Cleaner Production, ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, and Chemsuschem. The countries that published the most articles were China, the United States, India, Germany, and the United Kingdom. A sizeable network of collaboration has been established between countries for the joint publication of studies. The main lines of research have been focused on metal decontamination in water and soil, waste management oriented towards reuse and recycling, and the innovation of processes for cleaner and more efficient production. The results revealed the need for comprehensive studies that integrate different disciplines within the same analytical framework, and to promote research that contributes to the different dimensions of sustainability (environmental, economic, and social).
Thermal Stability of Retained Austenite and Properties of A Multi-Phase Low Alloy Steel
Authors: Xie Zhenjia , Xiong Lin , Han Gang , Wang Xuelin , Shang Chengjia
Published: October 2018

In this work, we elucidate the effects of tempering on the microstructure and properties in a low carbon low alloy steel, with particular emphasis on the thermal stability of retained austenite during high-temperature tempering at 500–700 °C for 1 h. Volume fraction of ~14% of retained austenite was obtained in the studied steel by two-step intercritical heat treatment. Results from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that retained austenite had high thermal stability when tempering at 500 and 600 °C for 1 h. The volume fraction was ~11–12%, the length and width remained ~0.77 and 0.21 μm, and concentration of Mn and Ni in retained austenite remained ~6.2–6.6 and ~1.6 wt %, respectively. However, when tempering at 700 °C for 1 h, the volume fraction of retained austenite was decreased largely to ~8%. The underlying reason could be attributed to the growth of austenite during high-temperature holding, leading to a depletion of alloy contents and a decrease in stability. Moreover, for samples tempered at 700 °C for 1 h, retained austenite rapidly transformed into martensite at a strain of 2–10%, and a dramatic increase in work hardening was observed. This indicated that the mechanical stability of retained austenite decreased.
SiO2 Stabilized Magnetic Nanoparticles as a Highly Effective Catalyst for the Degradation of Basic Fuchsin in Industrial Dye Wastewaters
Authors: Ning Jingheng , Wang Min , Luo Xin , Hu Qiongcan , Hou Rong , Chen Weiwei , Chen Donger , Wang Jianhui , Liu Jun
Published: October 2018

Catalytic degradation of organic pollutants by nanomaterials is an effective way for environmental remediation. The Fenton reaction involving H2O2 oxidation catalysed by Fe3+ is an advisable way for wastewater degradation. Herein, Fe3O4/SiO2 core-shell nanoparticles were prepared as catalyst by coprecipitation and sol-gel methods, and this catalyst is used for degradation of fuchsin in wastewater by H2O2. The Fenton reaction between H2O2 and Fe3O4 is proposed to explain the catalytic performance. The coating of SiO2 on Fe3O4 nanoparticles could dramatically stabilize the Fe3O4 in aqueous solution and prevent their oxidation. More importantly, the magnetic property of Fe3O4 nanoparticles endows them with good recyclability. Thus, due to the outstanding catalytic results, almost 100% removal degradation was achieved within 5 min over a wide pH value range at room temperature, which is better than that without catalysts. Temperature is a positive factor for improving the degradation rate, but room temperature is selected as the best temperature for economic and energy savings reasons, because more than 98% of fuchsins can still be degraded at room temperature. Moreover, these Fe3O4/SiO2 core-shell nanoparticles exhibit excellent magnetic recyclability and stable properties after repeated utilization. Therefore, these as-presented Fe3O4/SiO2 core-shell nanoparticles with low-cost and high performance are expected to be applied in practical industry wastewater degradation.
66Ga: A Novelty or a Valuable Preclinical Screening Tool for the Design of Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals?
Authors: Amor-Coarasa Alejandro , Kelly James M. , Ponnala Shashikanth , Nikolopoulou Anastasia , Williams Clarence , Babich John W.
Published: October 2018

Emerging interest in extending the plasma half-life of small molecule radioligands warrants a consideration of the appropriate radionuclide for PET imaging at longer time points (>8 h). Among candidate positron-emitting radionuclides, 66Ga (t1/2 = 9.5 h, β+ = 57%) has suitable nuclear and chemical properties for the labeling and PET imaging of radioligands of this profile. We investigated the value of 66Ga to preclinical screening and the evaluation of albumin-binding PSMA-targeting small molecules. 66Ga was produced by irradiation of a natZn target. 66Ga3+ ions were separated from Zn2+ ions by an optimized UTEVA anion exchange column that retained 99.99987% of Zn2+ ions and allowed 90.2 ± 2.8% recovery of 66Ga3+. Three ligands were radiolabeled in 46.4 ± 20.5%; radiochemical yield and >90% radiochemical purity. Molar activity was 632 ± 380 MBq/µmol. Uptake in the tumor and kidneys at 1, 3, 6, and 24 h p.i. was determined by µPET/CT imaging and more completely predicted the distribution kinetics than uptake of the [68Ga]Ga-labeled ligands did. Although there are multiple challenges to the use of 66Ga for clinical PET imaging, it can be a valuable research tool for ligand screening and preclinical imaging beyond 24 h.
Safe Synthesis of 4,7-Dibromo[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-d]pyridazine and Its SNAr Reactions
Authors: Chmovzh Timofey N. , Knyazeva Ekaterina A. , Lyssenko Konstantin A. , Popov Vadim V. , Rakitin Oleg A.
Published: October 2018

A safe and efficient synthesis of 4,7-dibromo[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-d]pyridazine from the commercial diaminomaleonitrile is reported. Conditions for selective aromatic nucleophilic substitution of one or two bromine atoms by oxygen and nitrogen nucleophiles are found, whereas thiols formed the bis-derivatives only. Buchwald-Hartwig or Ullmann techniques are successful for incorporation of a weak nitrogen base, such as carbazole, into the [1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-d]pyridazine core. The formation of rather stable S…η2-(N=N) bound chains in 4,7-bis(alkylthio)-[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-d]pyridines makes these compounds promising for the design of liquid crystals.
Glycosylation of Methoxylated Flavonoids in the Cultures of Isaria fumosorosea KCH J2
Authors: Dymarska Monika , Janeczko Tomasz , Kostrzewa-Susłow Edyta
Published: October 2018

Flavonoids are widely described plant secondary metabolites with high and diverse pro-health properties. In nature, they occur mostly in the form of glycosides. Our research showed that an excellent way to obtain the sugar derivatives of flavonoids is through biotransformations with the use of entomopathogenic filamentous fungi as biocatalysts. In the current paper, we described the biotransformations of five methoxylated flavonoid compounds (2′-methoxyflavanone, 3′-methoxyflavanone, 4′-methoxyflavanone, 6-methoxyflavanone, and 6-methoxyflavone) in cultures of Isaria fumosorosea KCH J2. As a result, we obtained twelve new flavonoid 4-O-methylglucopyranosides. The products were purified with methods that enabled the reduction of the consumption of organic solvents (preparative TLC and flash chromatography). The structures of the products were confirmed with spectroscopic methods (NMR: 1H, 13C, HSQC, HMBC, COSY). The compounds obtained by us expand the library of available flavonoid derivatives and can be used in biological research.
Comparison of Two Methods for the Determination of Selected Pesticides in Honey and Honeybee Samples
Authors: Bargańska Żaneta , Konieczka Piotr , Namieśnik Jacek
Published: October 2018

Developed and validated analytical methods for the determination of a wide spectrum of pesticide residues in honey and honeybee samples after the modification of QuEChERS extraction in combination with gas chromatography–tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography–tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were discussed and compared. The developed methods were evaluated regarding the utilized equipment and reagents using Eco-Scale and compared in terms of extraction time, accuracy, precision, sensitivity and versatility, with similar procedures. The results proved that the QuEChERS protocol in combination with LC and GC techniques fulfills the requirements of green analytical chemistry, so it can be used as a tool in environmental monitoring. The recovery was 85–116% for honey and 85.5–103.5% for honeybee samples. The developed methods were successfully applied in monitoring real samples collected from three districts of Pomerania in Poland. Analysis of real samples revealed the presence of the following pesticides: bifenthrin, fenpyroximate, methidathione, spinosad, thiamethoxam, triazophos, metconazole and cypermethrin at levels higher than the MRLs established by the EU.
Molecular Dynamics Study on the Reverse Osmosis Using Multilayer Porous Graphene Membranes
Authors: Zhang Zhongqiang , Zhang Fujian , Liu Zhen , Cheng Guanggui , Wang Xiaodong , Ding Jianning
Published: October 2018

In this study, the reverse osmosis (RO) of a salt solution was investigated using a molecular dynamics method to explore the performance of a multilayer porous graphene membrane. The effects of the salt solution concentration, pressure, layer separation and pore offset on the RO performance of the membrane were investigated and the influences of the number of layers and the gradient structure were determined. The results show that as the salt solution concentration increases, the energy barrier of the water molecules passing through the bilayer porous graphene membranes changes slightly, indicating that the effect of the water flux on the membrane can be ignored. The salt rejection performance of the membrane improves with an increase in the concentration of the salt solution. When the pressure is increased, the energy barrier decreases, the water flux increases and the salt rejection decreases. When the layer separation of the bilayer porous graphene membrane is the same as the equilibrium spacing of the graphene membrane, the energy barrier is the lowest and the membrane water flux is the largest. The energy barrier of the bilayer porous graphene membrane increases with increasing layer separation, resulting in a decrease in the water flux of the membrane. The salt rejection increases with increasing layer separation. The water flux of the membrane decreases as the energy barrier increases with increasing pore offset and the salt rejection increases. The energy barrier effect is more pronounced for a larger number of graphene layers and the water flux of the membrane decreases because it is more difficult for the water molecules to pass through the porous graphene membrane. However, the salt rejection performance improves with the increase in the number of layers. The gradient pore structure enhances the energy barrier effect of the water molecules permeating through the membrane and the water flux of the membrane decreases. The salt rejection performance is improved by the gradient pore structure. The research results provide theoretical guidance for research on the RO performance of porous graphene membranes and the design of porous graphene membranes.
RETRACTED: Enhanced Adsorption of Zn(II) onto Graphene Oxides Investigated Using Batch and Modeling Techniques
Authors: Pan Min , Wu Guangxue , Liu Chang , Lin Xinxin , Huang Xiaoming
Published: October 2018

Graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized and employed as an adsorbent for Zn(II) removal from an aqueous solution. The adsorption isotherms showed that Zn(II) adsorption can be better described using the Freundlich model than the Langmuir model. The maximum adsorption capacity of Zn(II) on GO determined using the Langmuir model at pH 7.0 and 293 K was 208.33 mg/g. The calculation of thermodynamic parameters revealed that the process of Zn(II) adsorption on GO was chemisorptions, endothermic, and spontaneous. Kinetic studies indicated that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model showed a better simulation of Zn(II) adsorption than the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. On the basis of surface complexation modeling, the double layer model provided a satisfactory prediction of Zn(II) by inner-sphere surface complexes (for example, SOZn+ and SOZnOH species), indicating that the interaction mechanism between Zn(II) and GO was mainly inner-sphere complexation. In terms of reusability, GO could maintain 92.23% of its initial capability after six cycles. These findings indicated that GO was a promising candidate for the immobilization and preconcentration of Zn(II) from aqueous solutions.
New Fe2O3-Clay@C Nanocomposite Anodes for Li-Ion Batteries Obtained by Facile Hydrothermal Processes
Authors: Alonso-Domínguez Daniel , Pico María Pilar , Álvarez-Serrano Inmaculada , López María Luisa
Published: October 2018

New iron-oxide-based anodes are prepared by an environmentally-friendly and low-cost route. The analysis of the composition, structure, and microstructure of the samples reveals the presence of a major hematite phase, which is accompanied by a certain concentration of an oxyhydroxide phase, which can act as a “lithium-reservoir”. By using sodium alginate as a binder, the synthesized anodes display superior electrochemical response, i.e., high specific capacity values and high stability, not only versus Li but also versus a high voltage cathode in a full cell. From these bare materials, clay-supported anodes are further obtained using sepiolite and bentonite natural silicates. The electrochemical performance of such composites is improved, especially for the sepiolite-containing one treated at 400 °C. The thermal treatment at this temperature provides the optimal conditions for a synergic nano-architecture to develop between the clay and the hematite nanoparticles. High capacity values of ~2500 mA h g−1 after 30 cycles at 1 A g−1 and retentions close to 92% are obtained. Moreover, after 450 cycles at 2 A g−1 current rate, this composite electrode displays values as high as ~700 mA h g−1. These results are interpreted taking into account the interactions between the iron oxide nanoparticles and the sepiolite surface through hydrogen bonds. The electrochemical performance is not only dependent on the oxidation state and particle morphology, but the composition is revealed as a key feature.
Migration Energy Barriers for the Surface and Bulk of Self-Assembly ZnO Nanorods
Authors: Chang Feng-Ming , Wu Zhong-Zhe , Huang Jing-Heng , Chen Wei-Ting , Brahma Sanjaya , Lo Kuang Yao
Published: October 2018

Post-annealing treatment is a necessary process to create/eliminate/repair defects in self–assembly (SA) metal oxide by providing enough thermal energy to the O atoms to overcome the migration energy barrier in ZnO. The height of migration energy barrier is dependent on the depth from the surface, which is hard to be estimated by theoretical calculations, as well as the optical analyses. SA ZnO nanorods (ZNRs) have high surface-to-volume ratio to provide complete picture between the optical and surface properties obtained by photoluminescence (PL) and ultraviolet/X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (UPS/XPS), which is used to investigate the evolution of structure and chemical states of the surface layers to reveal mutual agreement on all observations in PL, XPS, and UPS. We demonstrate variation of the surface structure of SA-ZNRs by scanning over a range of annealing temperatures and time to regulate the structure variation of SA-ZNRs, and their optical analyses agrees well with PL, XPS and UPS, which indicates the dependence of migration energy barriers on the depth from the surface of ZNR. The results reveal the well ZNRs formed at 570 °C and the further oxidation process and the formation of hydroperoxide on the Zn-rich surface of ZNRs at 640 °C.
Ammonium Polyphosphate Intercalated Layered Double Hydroxide and Zinc Borate as Highly Efficient Flame Retardant Nanofillers for Polypropylene
Authors: Gao Yanshan , Wang Qiang , Lin Weiran
Published: October 2018

We found in our previous study that layered double hydroxides (LDHs) which undergo aqueous miscible organic solvent treatment (AMOST) can tune the hydrophobicity surface of LDHs to be hydrophobic, and then the solvent mixing method can be used to prepare polymer/LDH nanocomposites. However, flame retardant property is not very high if LDHs are only used. In this present work, ammonium polyphosphate (APP) intercalated LDHs and zinc borate (ZB) was incorporated into a polypropylene (PP) matrix using the solvent mixing method. The structures, morphologies, and performance of the composites were characterized carefully. The peak heat release rate (PHRR) reduction of PP containing 10 and 20 wt % APP-LDH reached 27% and 55%, respectively, which increased up to 63% compared with PP/CO3-LDH. After incorporating 2 wt % ZB in the PP/APP-LDH system, the flame retardant property was further improved. Polypropylene composites with 20 wt % APP-LDH and 2 wt % ZB showed a 58% PHRR reduction. In addition, thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) results indicated that the addition of APP-LDH and ZB improved the temperature at 50% weight loss (T50%) and the char formation of the materials significantly.
Multiscale Interface Effect on Homogeneous Dielectric Structure of ZrO2/Teflon Nanocomposite for Electrowetting Application
Authors: Hou Jiaxin , Feng Yancong , Liao Jinglun , Ding Wenwen , Shui Lingling , Li Hao , Wang Yao , Tang Biao , Umar Ahmad , Zhou Guofu
Published: October 2018

Electrowetting-on-dielectric is a preferred option in practical applications of the electrowetting phenomenon but limited by dielectric and breakdown performances of the dielectric layer. In the present work, a ceramic/polymer nanocomposite as a novel dielectric layer is developed to intensify the overall electrowetting performances by multiscale interface effect. Hereinto, surface fluoro-modified ZrO2 nanoparticles (mZrO2) are dispersed well in AF 1600 matrix to form a mZrO2@AF 1600 nanocomposite. The small addition of mZrO2 improves the dielectric constant of the nanocomposite, and the experimental value is larger than the theoretical value calculated by Maxwell–Garnett model, but fits well with the Rahaman–Khastgir model. The molecular dynamics simulations with the explicit model further verify the interfacial effect. Meanwhile, double contact angle modulation and higher breakdown field strength (Eb) are obtained. For the three-layer sandwich structure, both the top and bottom AF 1600 layer decrease the surface roughness for better electrowetting reproducibility and wider wettability modulation. The Forlani–Minnaja theory related to the empirical relationship between Eb and thickness of dielectric layer fit well with the monolayer structure, but cannot be applied in multi-layer structures. A new relationship is proposed to guide the design of dielectric multi-layers with high breakdown field strength.
Adaptive Compressive Sensing and Data Recovery for Periodical Monitoring Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Chen Jian , Jia Jie , Deng Yansha , Wang Xingwei , Aghvami Abdol-Hamid
Published: October 2018

The development of compressive sensing (CS) technology has inspired data gathering in wireless sensor networks to move from traditional raw data gathering towards compression based gathering using data correlations. While extensive efforts have been made to improve the data gathering efficiency, little has been done for data that is gathered and recovered data with unknown and dynamic sparsity. In this work, we present an adaptive compressive sensing data gathering scheme to capture the dynamic nature of signal sparsity. By only re-sampling a few measurements, the current sparsity as well as the new sampling rate can be accurately determined, thus guaranteeing recovery performance and saving energy. In order to recover a signal with unknown sparsity, we further propose an adaptive step size variation integrated with a sparsity adaptive matching pursuit algorithm to improve the recovery performance and convergence speed. Our simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can capture the variation in the sparsities of the original signal and obtain a much longer network lifetime than traditional raw data gathering algorithms.
Determination of Project Procurement Method with a Graphical Analytic Model
Authors: Wang Kwo-Wuu , Hsu Yuan-Yu , Yu Wen-der , Cheng Shao-tsai
Published: October 2018

Procurement is a key stage affecting the successful delivery of a sustainable project. Previous project procurement practice employed either the Lowest Tender (LT) method for homogeneous projects or the Best Value (BV) method for heterogeneous projects. Recently, a new type of procurement method for moderately heterogeneous project, the Heterogeneous Lowest Tender (HLT), was introduced and it has proven to be more beneficial and sustainable to clients in terms of both cost-effectiveness and the delivery performance of project products/results. However, statistics also showed that only 0.33% of public works adopt HLT for project procurement in Taiwan due to the lack of a useful method selection model. To solve this problem, this paper proposes an enhanced graphical method that is based on a previously defined Price Elasticity of Performance (PEP) measure, namely the Graphical Analysis Method for Price Elasticity of Performance (GAM-PEP), to select a more appropriate method from among the three prevailing project procurement methods: LT, BV, and HLT, so that the sustainability objectives of a project can be better realized. Finally, a real-world case construction procurement project was selected to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed model. It is concluded that the proposed GAM-PEP outperforms the previous models in determining the most sustainable project procurement method.
Determining the Efficacy, Safety and Suitability of Disinfectants to Prevent Emerging Infectious Disease Transmission
Authors: Lantagne Daniele , Wolfe Marlene , Gallandat Karin , Opryszko Melissa
Published: October 2018

The scale of the 2014–2017 West African Ebola Virus Disease outbreak overwhelmed the international response capacity. This has led to inconsistencies in international guidance documents, particularly around chlorine disinfection of surfaces and hands to prevent transmission. To provide evidence for the disinfection recommendations, three research strands were conducted: (1) impacts of chlorine chemistry; (2) efficacy of surface cleaning recommendations; and (3) safety and efficacy of handwashing recommendations. Strand 1 research found that the compound chemistry of the chlorine source has an impact on the chlorine solution shelf-life (<1 day–30 days), with testing of chlorine solutions recommended to ensure accuracy. Strand 2 research found that surface cleaning with 0.5% chlorine solutions with a 15-min exposure time is efficacious in reducing transmission risk. Strand 3 research found that community handwashing with chlorine solutions is as safe and efficacious as handwashing with soap and water or sanitizer, which offers a benefit of reducing pathogens in the rinsing water. Using calcium hypochlorite as the chlorine source compound provided a particularly good performance in chemistry and handwashing studies. The research was successful at providing information to align with the inconsistent international guidelines. Further research is needed to proactively establish the efficacy, safety and suitability of disinfection for the seven viral pathogens that are considered likely to cause severe outbreaks with few/no medical countermeasures.
Shear Stress-Based Analysis of Sediment Incipient Deposition in Rigid Boundary Open Channels
Authors: Unal Necati Erdem
Published: October 2018

Urban drainage and sewer systems, and channels in general, are treated by the deposition of sediment that comes from water collecting systems, such as roads, parking lots, land, cultivation areas, and so forth, which are all under gradual or sudden change. The carrying capacity of urban area channels is reduced heavily by sediment transport that might even totally block the channel. In order to solve the sedimentation problem, it is therefore important that the channel is designed by considering self-cleansing criteria. Incipient deposition is proposed as a conservative method for channel design and is the subject of this study. With this aim, an experimental study carried out in trapezoidal, rectangular, circular, U-shape, and V-bottom channels is presented. Four different sizes of sand were used as sediment in the experiments performed in a tilting flume under nine different longitudinal channel bed slopes. A shear stress approach is considered, with the Shields and Yalin methods used in the analysis. Using the experimental data, functionals are developed for both methods. It is seen that the bed shear stress changes with the shape of the channel cross-section. Incipient deposition in rectangular and V-bottom channels starts under the lowest and the highest shear stress, respectively, due mainly to the shape of the channel cross-section that affects the distribution of shear stress on the channel bed.
Oceanographic and Bathymetric Features as the Target for Pelagic MPA Design: A Case Study on the Cape of Gata
Authors: Muñoz María , Reul Andreas , García-Martínez María del Carmen , Plaza Francisco , Bautista Begoña , Moya Francina , Vargas-Yáñez Manuel
Published: October 2018

The Cape of Gata region (southeast Spain) allocates the thermo-haline Almeria–Oran front (AOF), which separates two biogeographical zones, with a very irregular bathymetry, consisting of two canyons and seamounts in an area of 100 × 100 km. An interdisciplinary oceanographic sampling strategy allowed us to solve mesoscale processes including current–bathymetry interactions. Subsurface fertilizing processes and elevated chlorophyll a concentrations were found at the front, seamount, and submarine canyons, turning an apparently oligotrophic area into a rich one. According to a horizontal tracking simulation, the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM) at the front is located above the pycnocline and travels fast offshore, transporting productivity from the fertilization process quickly from the region. The DCM at the seamount, in contrast, develops below the pycnocline and remains for almost three weeks in this area. In spite of the coastal marine protected areas (MPAs), a high surface nitrate concentration plume with its origin in a small coastal area without any protection was detected. Local circulation patterns and bathymetry–current interactions provide elevated productivity in surface water which is vertically connected to deep-sea fauna via the daily vertical migration of zooplankton, suggesting elevated biodiversity on the seamount and canyons of the area studied. Based on these results, and considering the presence of coastal MPAs and a Coastal Area Management Program, future studies on benthic fauna, an enlargement of coastal MPAs, and a transboundary land–deep-sea management program are suggested.
Archéologie urbaine à Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis)
Authors: Meyer Olivier , Bourgeau Laurent , Coxall David John , Meyer-Rodrigues Nicole
Published: October 2018

A l'ombre de la prestigieuse Basilique royale, le centre historique de Saint-Denis (1) fait l'objet d'une rénovation urbaine de grande envergure. Cette opération intervient après un regrettable processus de taudification qui allait transformer un pittoresque témoin de l'architecture traditionnelle de l' Ile-de-France en un quartier délabré où l'insalubrité de l'habitat atteint parfois l'état de péril caractérisé. Cette réurbanisation, sans doute justifiable dans son souci de revivifier un quartier déchu pour lui rendre sa fonction historique de centre-ville, pose une fois de plus le problème de l'intervention archéologique face à la destruction définitive d'un sous-sol potentiellement riche en informations historiques. Nous cherchons ici à présenter la réponse archéologique qui a été apportée localement à ce problème, en nous efforçant de préciser le cadre historique de ces travaux et le contexte administratif qui en a permis la réalisation, afin que cette expérience concrète soit soumise au débat tragiquement d'actualité que soulève la destruction rapide des centres urbains.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WEBSITE DESIGN AND POSITIVE EWOM INTENTION: TESTING MEDIATOR AND MODERATOR EFFECT
Authors: Phan Quyen Phu Thi , Pilík Michal
Published: October 2018

Electronic word of mouth (eWOM) has paid attention to the phenomenon of marketing strategy because of the power of online comments to behavioural consequences. The key challenge for scholars and practitioners is to explore why consumers would like to give positive reviews of products and service. However, little empirical research has been conducted on the effect of website design on eWOM intention. The objective of this paper is to investigate the impact of website design (aesthetic and usability) on eWOM intention, which is based on the adoption of the stimulus – organism – response model. To test the hypotheses, the study uses the Partial Least Squares (PLS) to test a total of 290 respondents collected from Taiwanese customers via an online survey. The outcomes show the impact of the website’s design on the attitude toward it, which would lead to positive eWOM. The study also provides empirical evidence on the moderating role of online purchasing experience and the mediating effect of attitude toward a website on eWOM intention. Finally, the discussions also show implications and managerial insight for both scholars and marketers.