bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flower-Like Au–CuO/Bi2WO6 Microsphere Catalysts: Synthesis, Characterization, and Their Catalytic Performances for CO Oxidation
Authors: Wang Lili , Zhu Baolin , Zhang Shoumin , Huang Weiping
Published: September 2017

The flower-like Bi2WO6 microsphere was synthesized through a simple hydrothermal route, and three catalysts, Au/Bi2WO6, CuO/Bi2WO6, and Au–CuO/Bi2WO6, were prepared by a deposition–precipitation method. The morphology and structure of the catalysts were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, surface area analyzer, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, UV/Vis spectrometer, as well as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Their catalytic performances in catalytic CO oxidation were evaluated. For Au/Bi2WO6 and CuO/Bi2WO6, Au and CuO nanoparticles highly dispersed on Bi2WO6 are 3 and 10 nm, respectively, in average size. For Au–CuO/Bi2WO6, a part of the Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) strongly adheres to the CuO, due to the strong interaction between Au NPs and CuO, which has a positive effect on catalytic activity of Au–CuO/Bi2WO6. Au–CuO/Bi2WO6 can convert CO into CO2 completely at 40 °C, as the contents of Au and Cu are 0.438 wt % and 4.85 wt %, respectively.
Correlated Disorder in Myelinated Axons Orientational Geometry and Structure
Authors: Di Gioacchino Michael , Campi Gaetano , Poccia Nicola , Bianconi Antonio
Published: September 2017

While the ultrastructure of myelin is considered a quasi-crystalline stable system, nowadays its multiscale complex dynamics appear to play a key role in its functionality, degeneration and repair processes following neurological diseases and trauma. In this work, we investigated the fluctuation of the myelin supramolecular assembly by measuring the spatial distribution of orientation fluctuations of axons in a Xenopus Laevis sciatic nerve associated with nerve functionality. To this end, we used scanning micro X-ray diffraction (SμXRD), a non-invasive technique that has already been applied to other heterogeneous systems presenting complex geometries from microscale to nanoscale. We found that the orientation of the spatial fluctuations of fresh axons show a Levy flight distribution, which is a clear indication of correlated disorder. We found that the Levy flight distribution was missing in the aged nerve prepared in an unfresh state. This result shows that the spatial distribution of axon orientation fluctuations in unfresh nerve state loses the correlated disorder and assumes a random disorder behavior. This work provides a deeper understanding of the ultrastructure-function nerve relation and paves the way for the study of other materials and biomaterials using the SμXRD technique to detect fluctuations in their supramolecular structure.
In Search of Unambiguous Evidence of the Fulde–Ferrell–Larkin–Ovchinnikov State in Quasi-Low Dimensional Superconductors
Authors: Croitoru Mihail , Buzdin Alexandre
Published: September 2017

In layered conductors with a sufficiently weak interlayer coupling in-plane magnetic field cause only small diamagnetic currents and the orbital depairing is strongly suppressed. Therefore, the Zeeman effect predominantly governs the spin-singlet superconductivity making the formation of the spatially modulated Fulde–Ferrell–Larkin–Ovchinnikov (FFLO) phase possible in such materials. Despite decades of strenuous effort, this state still remains a profound mystery. In the last several years, however, there have been observed several hints indicating the experimental realization of the FFLO state in organic layered superconductors. The emergence of the FFLO phase has been demonstrated mainly based on thermodynamic quantities or microscopically with spin polarization distribution that exhibit anomalies within the superconducting state in the presence of the in-plane magnetic field. However, the direct observation of superconducting order parameter modulation is so far missing. Recently, there have been proposed theoretically several hallmark signatures for FFLO phase, which are a direct consequence of its main feature, the spatial modulation of the order parameter, and hence can provide incontrovertible evidence of FFLO. In this article, a review of these signatures and the underlying theoretical framework is given with the purpose to summarize the results obtained so far, omitting duplications, and to emphasize the ideas and physics behind them.
Strength and Character of R–X···π Interactions Involving Aromatic Amino Acid Sidechains in Protein-Ligand Complexes Derived from Crystal Structures in the Protein Data Bank
Authors: Riley Kevin , Tran Khanh-An
Published: September 2017

Here, we investigate the strengths of R–X···π interactions, involving both chlorine and bromine, in model systems derived from protein-ligand complexes found in the PDB. We find that the strengths of these interactions can vary significantly, with binding energies ranging from −2.01 to −3.60 kcal/mol. Symmetry adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) analysis shows that, as would be expected, dispersion plays the largest role in stabilizing these R–X···π interactions, generally accounting for about 50% to 80% of attraction. R–Br···π interactions are, for the most part, found to be stronger than R–Cl···π interactions, although the relative geometries of the interacting pair and the halogen’s chemical environment can also have a strong impact. The two factors that have the strongest impact on the strength of these R–X···π interactions is the distance between the halogen and the phenyl plane as well as the size of the halogen σ-hole.
Robust Biometric Authentication from an Information Theoretic Perspective
Authors: Grigorescu Andrea , Boche Holger , Schaefer Rafael
Published: September 2017

Robust biometric authentication is studied from an information theoretic perspective. Compound sources are used to account for uncertainty in the knowledge of the source statistics and are further used to model certain attack classes. It is shown that authentication is robust against source uncertainty and a special class of attacks under the strong secrecy condition. A single-letter characterization of the privacy secrecy capacity region is derived for the generated and chosen secret key model. Furthermore, the question is studied whether small variations of the compound source lead to large losses of the privacy secrecy capacity region. It is shown that biometric authentication is robust in the sense that its privacy secrecy capacity region depends continuously on the compound source.
Entropy Analysis on Electro-Kinetically Modulated Peristaltic Propulsion of Magnetized Nanofluid Flow through a Microchannel
Authors: Bhatti Muhammad , Sheikholeslami Mohsen , Zeeshan Ahmed
Published: September 2017

A theoretical and a mathematical model is presented to determine the entropy generation on electro-kinetically modulated peristaltic propulsion on the magnetized nanofluid flow through a microchannel with joule heating. The mathematical modeling is based on the energy, momentum, continuity, and entropy equation in the Cartesian coordinate system. The effects of viscous dissipation, heat absorption, magnetic field, and electrokinetic body force are also taken into account. The electric field terms are helpful to model the electrical potential terms by means of Poisson–Boltzmann equations, ionic Nernst–Planck equation, and Debye length approximation. A perturbation method has been applied to solve the coupled nonlinear partial differential equations and a series solution is obtained up to second order. The physical behavior of all the governing parameters is discussed for pressure rise, velocity profile, entropy profile, and temperature profile.
On the Fragility of Bulk Metallic Glass Forming Liquids
Authors: Gallino Isabella
Published: September 2017

In contrast to pure metals and most non-glass forming alloys, metallic glass-formers are moderately strong liquids in terms of fragility. The notion of fragility of an undercooling liquid reflects the sensitivity of the viscosity of the liquid to temperature changes and describes the degree of departure of the liquid kinetics from the Arrhenius equation. In general, the fragility of metallic glass-formers increases with the complexity of the alloy with differences between the alloy families, e.g., Pd-based alloys being more fragile than Zr-based alloys, which are more fragile than Mg-based alloys. Here, experimental data are assessed for 15 bulk metallic glasses-formers including the novel and technologically important systems based on Ni-Cr-Nb-P-B, Fe-Mo-Ni-Cr-P-C-B, and Au-Ag-Pd-Cu-Si. The data for the equilibrium viscosity are analyzed using the Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann (VFT) equation, the Mauro–Yue–Ellison–Gupta–Allan (MYEGA) equation, and the Adam–Gibbs approach based on specific heat capacity data. An overall larger trend of the excess specific heat for the more fragile supercooled liquids is experimentally observed than for the stronger liquids. Moreover, the stronger the glass, the higher the free enthalpy barrier to cooperative rearrangements is, suggesting the same microscopic origin and rigorously connecting the kinetic and thermodynamic aspects of fragility.
Impedance-Based Stability Analysis in Grid Interconnection Impact Study Owing to the Increased Adoption of Converter-Interfaced Generators
Authors: Cho Youngho , Hur Kyeon , Kang Yong , Muljadi Eduard
Published: September 2017

This study investigates the emerging harmonic stability concerns to be addressed by grid planners in generation interconnection studies, owing to the increased adoption of renewable energy resources connected to the grid via power electronic converters. The wideband and high-frequency electromagnetic transient (EMT) characteristics of these converter-interfaced generators (CIGs) and their interaction with the grid impedance are not accurately captured in the typical dynamic studies conducted by grid planners. This paper thus identifies the desired components to be studied and subsequently develops a practical process for integrating a new CIG into a grid with the existing CIGs. The steps of this process are as follows: the impedance equation of a CIG using its control dynamics and an interface filter to the grid, for example, an LCL filter (inductor-capacitor-inductor type), is developed; an equivalent impedance model including the existing CIGs nearby and the grid observed from the point of common coupling are derived; the system stability for credible operating scenarios is assessed. Detailed EMT simulations validate the accuracy of the impedance models and stability assessment for various connection scenarios. By complementing the conventional EMT simulation studies, the proposed analytical approach enables grid planners to identify critical design parameters for seamlessly integrating a new CIG and ensuring the reliability of the grid.
Development of an Integrated Thermal Energy Storage and Free-Piston Stirling Generator for a Concentrating Solar Power System
Authors: Qiu Songgang , Solomon Laura , Rinker Garrett
Published: September 2017

Incorporating thermal energy storage (TES) into a concentrating solar power (CSP) system extends the power production hours, eliminating intermittency and reducing the Levelized Cost of the Energy (LCOE). The designed TES system was integrated with a 3 kW free-piston Stirling convertor. A NaF–NaCl eutectic salt was chosen as the phase change material (PCM) with a melting temperature of 680 °C. This eutectic salt has an energy density that is 5 to 10 times that of a typical molten salt PCM. In order to overcome the drawbacks of the material having a low thermal conductivity, heat pipes were embedded into the PCM to enhance the heat transfer rate within the system. Since the dish collector tracks the sun over the course of the day, two operational extremes were tested on the system; horizontal (zero solar elevation at sunrise/sunset) and vertical (solar noon). Although the system’s performance was below the expectations due to improperly sized wicks in the secondary heat pipes, the results indicated that the Stirling engine was able to produce 1.3 kWh of electricity by extracting latent heat energy from the PCM; thus, the concept of the design was validated.
Enumerative Optimization Procedure for the Gear Train Optimization Problem of a Two-Speed Dedicated Electric Transmission
Authors: Xu Xiangyang , Chen Zhifeng , Liu Yanjing , Dong Peng , Liu Yanfang
Published: September 2017

Gear train optimization problems (GTOPs) can be very difficult. This paper proposes an enumerative optimization procedure (EOP) for the GTOP of a two-speed dedicated electric transmission (2DET) for electric vehicles (EVs). The EOP combines enumeration with the Min-Max Principle of Optimality (MMPO). First, the requirements of the EV and the requirements of manufacture and operation were checked in a dedicated order to obtain the feasible region of the GTOP. Then, the MMPO was implemented within the feasible region to reveal the global optimum in terms of the performance of the EV, the load capacity of the gears and the size of the gear train (GT). Results demonstrated that the EOP was effective in determining the feasible region and simultaneously and globally optimizing multiple criteria for the GTOP. The idea of combining enumeration with optimization, as the EOP presents, may be helpful to solve other GTOPs and provide global optima that are immediately practical and applicable.
Advanced Energy Storage Technologies and Their Applications (AESA2017)
Authors: Xiong Rui , Li Hailong , Zhou Xuan
Published: September 2017

This editorial summarizes the performance of the special issue entitled Advanced Energy Storage Technologies and Applications (AESA), which is published in MDPI’s Energies journal in 2017. The special issue includes a total of 22 papers from four countries. Lithium-ion battery, electric vehicle, and energy storage were the topics attracting the most attentions. New methods have been proposed with very sound results.
Using Thermostats for Indoor Climate Control in Office Buildings: The Effect on Thermal Comfort
Authors: Kontes Georgios , Giannakis Georgios , Horn Philip , Steiger Simone , Rovas Dimitrios
Published: September 2017

Thermostats are widely used in temperature regulation of indoor spaces and have a direct impact on energy use and occupant thermal comfort. Existing guidelines make recommendations for properly selecting set points to reduce energy use, but there is little or no information regarding the actual achieved thermal comfort of the occupants. While dry-bulb air temperature measured at the thermostat location is sometimes a good proxy, there is less understanding of whether thermal comfort targets are actually met. In this direction, we have defined an experimental simulation protocol involving two office buildings; the buildings have contrasting geometrical and construction characteristics, as well as different building services systems for meeting heating and cooling demands. A parametric analysis is performed for combinations of controlled variables and boundary conditions. In all cases, occupant thermal comfort is estimated using the Fanger index, as defined in ISO 7730. The results of the parametric study suggest that simple bounds on the dry-bulb air temperature are not sufficient to ensure comfort, and in many cases, more detailed considerations taking into account building characteristics, as well as the types of building heating and cooling services are required. The implication is that the calculation or estimation of detailed comfort indices, or even the use of personalised comfort models, is key towards a more human-centric approach to building design and operation.
Performance Investigation of the Novel Solar-Powered Dehumidification Window for Residential Buildings
Authors: Yang Wansheng , Deng Hao , Wang Zhangyuan , Zhao Xudong , He Song
Published: September 2017

In this paper, a solar-powered dehumidification window (SPDW), combining a conventional double-glazed building window with a solid desiccant packed bed and a photovoltaic panel, has been proposed to dehumidify the air supplied to a residential building in an energy-saving way. The solid desiccant packed bed was installed between the double layers of the residential window to achieve the compact building-integrated window-dehumidifying system that could be regenerated by solar energy, and the photovoltaic panel was used to compensate the electricity for the operation of the fans to supply the air to the building. To investigate the dehumidification and regeneration performance of the SPDW, the transient moisture removal, dehumidification efficiency, temperature difference between the building inlet and outlet air, heat transfer characteristics, desiccant temperature, regeneration rate, and the power of the fans and the photovoltaic panel were analysed for different inlet air conditions and simulated solar radiation. It was found that, for the system operated under an inlet air temperature of 19.2 °C and a relative humidity of 86.1% during the dehumidification process, the system performed with a maximum transient moisture removal of 7.1 g/kg, a maximum dehumidification efficiency of 58.60%, a maximum temperature difference between the inlet and outlet air of 10.7 °C, and a maximum released adsorption heat absorbed by the dehumidified air of 89.66%. In the regeneration process, the system performed with a maximum desiccant temperature of 35.3 °C, a maximum regeneration rate of 153 g/h, and a maximum power of the photovoltaic panels of 39.83 W under the simulated solar radiation of 900 W/m2. The results from the established semi-empirical model agreed well with the testing results, and the model could be used to predict the water content ratio of the desiccant modules during the dehumidification process under different conditions, which will be helpful in the analysis and application of the SPDW in the future.
Simplified 1D Incompressible Two-Fluid Model with Artificial Diffusion for Slug Flow Capturing in Horizontal and Nearly Horizontal Pipes
Authors: Bonzanini Arianna , Picchi Davide , Poesio Pietro
Published: September 2017

This article proposes a numerical resolution of a one-dimensional (1D), transient, simplified two-fluid model regularized with an artificial diffusion term for modeling stratified, wavy and slug flow in horizontal and nearly horizontal pipes. Artificial diffusion is introduced to prevent the unbounded growth of instabilities where the 1D two-fluid model is ill-posed. We propose a method to set the artificial diffusion case by case to obtain the desired cut-off at short wavelengths by combining the choice of the spatial discretisation and the amplification factors obtained by the linear stability analysis of the model. A proper criterion to simulate two-phase to single-phase flow transition, which occurs during slug formation, is also developed. Flow pattern transitions have been numerically computed and compared against theoretical transition boundaries and experimental observations. Moreover, we showed that the developed code computes slug initiation and slug characteristics, in a reasonably accurate way considering the simplicity of the model, comparing numerical results with well-known empirical correlations and experimental data. Furthermore, the model simplicity leads to a computationally-inexpensive numerical resolution; this can be useful in engineering applications where obtaining fast numerical results is fundamental, such as applications involving automated control for two-phase flows.
New Design of a CNG-H2-AIR Mixer for Internal Combustion Engines: An Experimental and Numerical Study
Authors: Mahmood Hussein A. , Adam Nor Mariah. , Sahari B. B. , Masuri S. U.
Published: September 2017

Several studies have aimed to convert diesel engines to dual- or tri-fuel engines to improve their fuel economy and reduce the emissions from diesel engine, however, most of these studies do not consider enhancing the homogeneity of fuel mixtures inside the engine and accurately controlling the air fuel ratio. In this study, a new air-fuel mixer was designed, manufactured and tested. The proposed air-gaseous fuel mixer design was conceived to be suitable for mixing air with compressed natural gas (CNG) and a blend of hydrogen and compressed natural gas (HCNG) that gives homogenous mixtures with high uniformity index and also to be easily connected with an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) for controlling accurately the air-gaseous fuel ratio for different engine speeds. For optimizing the homogeneity inside the new mixer, fourteen different mixer models were created to investigate the effects of diameter, location, and the number of holes inside the mixer on the homogeneity and distribution of the mixtures. Computational fluid dynamics analysis software was used to check the flow behavior, distribution and homogeneity of mixtures inside the new mixer models. The simulation results revealed that the best uniformity index (UI) values are obtained in model 7 where the UI values are 0.939 and 0.937, respectively, for an air fuel ratio for a blend of hydrogen and compressed natural gas (AFRHCNG) = 51.31 and the air fuel ratio for compressed natural gas (AFRCNG) = 34.15. According to the numerical and experimental results for the new mixer (model 7) under different engine speeds (1000–4000) and air-CNG ratio of 34.15, a meaningful agreement is reached between the experimental and numerical values for AFRCNG (coefficient of determination (R2) = 0.96 and coefficient of variation (CoV) = 0.001494).
Spectrometer-Based Line-of-Sight Temperature Measurements during Alkali-Pulverized Coal Combustion in a Power Station Boiler
Authors: Yan Weijie , Ya Yunqi , Du Feng , Shao Hao , Zhao Peitao
Published: September 2017

A portable spectrometer system that simultaneously measures the temperature, emissivity, and radiation intensity of an alkali metal was used in a 1000 MW coal-fired power plant boiler furnace. A calibrated fiber-optic spectrometer system was applied to obtain the radiation intensity of the flame. A simple method based on polynomial fitting was used to separate the continuous baseline from the measured flame spectra that contained both continuous and discontinuous bands. Nine synthetic spectra that included the baseline, noise, and three simulated discontinuous bands based on a Gaussian function were created to test the accuracy of the separation method. The accuracy of the estimated continuous baseline was evaluated by the goodness-of-fit coefficient quality metric. The results indicated good spectral matching for the selected profiles. The soot emissivity model by Hottel and Broughton was employed to calculate temperature and emissivity. The influence of discontinuous emission spectra on the temperature and emissivity calculations was evaluated. The results showed that the maximum difference of the measurement points of the calculated temperature was only 6 K and that the relative difference in emissivity among the measurement points was less than 5%. In addition, a comparison between the actual intensity of the alkali metal and the calculated temperature indicated that the change in the radiation intensity of the alkali metal followed the trend of the calculated temperature. This study serves as a preliminary investigation for measuring gas-phase alkali metal concentrations in a furnace.
Collaborative Conservation of a Socio-Ecological Production Landscape through ICT Tools
Authors: Peng Li-Pei , Wang Chung-Jung , Onitsuka Kenichiro
Published: September 2017

Rural socio-ecological production landscape (SEPL) presents a mosaic combination of various use and spatial patterns. The rural SEPL claims conservation because it produces bundles of ecosystem services and well-being for people. However, due to the prevalent use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in recent years, we attempt to explore how the new ICT tool was employed to conserve the rural SEPL. This study targets four rural communities that the Balian River flows across in Sanzhi district, New Taipei city. These communities self-organized a river conservation patrol team and utilized LINE (an instant messaging software) group to manage the SEPL as well. We conducted mixed method research to collect their group conversation evidences including time, amount and content for basic quantitative analysis. Further, we adopted the qualitative in-depth interviews of key-informants to examine the characteristic of activities, the collaboration among communities and the benefits and issues during their action practices. The results show the ICT tools are indeed effective in assisting in social learning when conducting a cross-region of SEPL conservation activities.
Individual Tree Detection from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Derived Canopy Height Model in an Open Canopy Mixed Conifer Forest
Authors: Mohan Midhun , Silva Carlos , Klauberg Carine , Jat Prahlad , Catts Glenn , Cardil Adrián , Hudak Andrew , Dia Mahendra
Published: September 2017

Advances in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology and data processing capabilities have made it feasible to obtain high-resolution imagery and three dimensional (3D) data which can be used for forest monitoring and assessing tree attributes. This study evaluates the applicability of low consumer grade cameras attached to UAVs and structure-from-motion (SfM) algorithm for automatic individual tree detection (ITD) using a local-maxima based algorithm on UAV-derived Canopy Height Models (CHMs). This study was conducted in a private forest at Cache Creek located east of Jackson city, Wyoming. Based on the UAV-imagery, we allocated 30 field plots of 20 m × 20 m. For each plot, the number of trees was counted manually using the UAV-derived orthomosaic for reference. A total of 367 reference trees were counted as part of this study and the algorithm detected 312 trees resulting in an accuracy higher than 85% (F-score of 0.86). Overall, the algorithm missed 55 trees (omission errors), and falsely detected 46 trees (commission errors) resulting in a total count of 358 trees. We further determined the impact of fixed tree window sizes (FWS) and fixed smoothing window sizes (SWS) on the ITD accuracy, and detected an inverse relationship between tree density and FWS. From our results, it can be concluded that ITD can be performed with an acceptable accuracy (F > 0.80) from UAV-derived CHMs in an open canopy forest, and has the potential to supplement future research directed towards estimation of above ground biomass and stem volume from UAV-imagery.
Excessive Accumulation of Chinese Fir Litter Inhibits Its Own Seedling Emergence and Early Growth—A Greenhouse Perspective
Authors: Liu Bo , Daryanto Stefani , Wang Lixin , Li Yanjuan , Liu Qingqing , Zhao Chong , Wang Zhengning
Published: September 2017

Litter accumulation can strongly influence plants’ natural regeneration via both physical and chemical mechanisms, but the relative influence of each mechanism on seedling establishment remains to be elucidated. Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) is one of the most important commercial plantations in southern China, but its natural regeneration is poor, possibly due to its thick leaf litter accumulation. We used natural and plastic litter to study the effects of Chinese fir litter on its own seedling emergence and early growth, as well as to assess whether the effect is physical or chemical in nature. Results showed that high litter amount (800 g·m−2) significantly reduced seedling emergence and the survival rate for both natural and plastic litter. Low litter amount (200 g·m−2) exerted a slightly positive effect on root mass, leaf mass, and total mass, while high litter amount significantly inhibited root mass, leaf mass, and total mass for both natural and plastic litter. Root-mass ratio was significantly lower, and leaf-mass ratio was significantly greater under high litter cover than under control for both natural and plastic litter. Although the root/shoot ratio decreased with increasing litter amount, such effect was only significant for high litter treatment for both natural and plastic litter. Seedling robustness (aboveground biomass divided by seedling height) decreased with increasing litter amount, with high litter treatment generating the least robust seedlings. Because plastic and natural litter did not differ in their effects on seedling emergence and growth, the litter layer’s short-term influence is primarily physical. These data indicated that as litter cover increased, the initial slightly positive effects on seedling emergence and early growth could shift to inhibitory effects. Furthermore, to penetrate the thick litter layer, Chinese fir seedlings allocated more resources towards stems and aboveground growth at the expense of their roots. This study provided experimental evidence of litter amount as a key ecological factor affecting seedling development and subsequent natural regeneration of Chinese fir.
Colloidal Dispersions of Gelled Lipid Nanoparticles (GLN): Concept and Potential Applications
Authors: Carrancá Palomo Mariana , Martín Prieto Victoria , Kirilov Plamen
Published: September 2017

The interest in using colloidal dispersions of gelled lipid nanoparticles (GLN) for different fields of application has increased in recent years, notably in cosmetic, dermatology, and/or pharmaceutics due to their capacity to immobilize compounds with poor water solubility. The pharmaceutical field desires to achieve lipophilic drug formulations which are able to conserve their stability, although it is well-known that emulsions and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) present a lack of stability over time, leading to system destabilization. Furthermore, stable colloidal dispersions of gelled oil particles do not affect the properties of the molecule to be delivered, and they result as an alternative for the previously appointed systems. This review is an attempt to present the reader with an overview of colloidal dispersions of GLN, their concept, formulation methods, as well as the techniques used for their characterization. Moreover, various application fields of organogel dispersions have been illustrated to demonstrate the potential application range of these recent materials.
The Short-term Effects of a Cyberbullying Prevention Intervention for Parents of Middle School Students
Authors: Roberto Anthony , Eden Jen , Deiss Douglas , Savage Matthew , Ramos-Salazar Leslie
Published: September 2017

This study experimentally evaluated the short-term effects of the Arizona Attorney General’s cybersafety promotion presentation, a key component of which is cyberbullying prevention. Fifty-one parents of children attending a middle school in the southwestern United States participated in the study. Results reveal parents who viewed the presentation believed their children to be more susceptible to cyberbullying, and indicated that they were more likely to talk to their children about saving evidence, not retaliating, and telling an adult compared to parents who had not viewed the presentation. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.
The Impact of a City-Level Minimum-Wage Policy on Supermarket Food Prices in Seattle-King County
Authors: Otten Jennifer , Buszkiewicz James , Tang Wesley , Aggarwal Anju , Long Mark , Vigdor Jacob , Drewnowski Adam
Published: September 2017

Background: Many states and localities throughout the U.S. have adopted higher minimum wages. Higher labor costs among low-wage food system workers could result in higher food prices. Methods: Using a market basket of 106 foods, food prices were collected at affected chain supermarket stores in Seattle and same-chain unaffected stores in King County (n = 12 total, six per location). Prices were collected at 1 month pre- (March 2015) and 1-month post-policy enactment (May 2015), then again 1-year post-policy enactment (May 2016). Unpaired t-tests were used to detect price differences by location at fixed time while paired t-tests were used to detect price difference across time with fixed store chain. A multi-level, linear differences-in-differences model, was used to detect the changes in the average market basket item food prices over time across regions, overall and by food group. Results: There were no significant differences in overall market basket or item-level costs at one-month (−$0.01, SE = 0.05, p = 0.884) or one-year post-policy enactment (−$0.02, SE = 0.08, p = 0.772). No significant increases were observed by food group. Conclusions: There is no evidence of change in supermarket food prices by market basket or increase in prices by food group in response to the implementation of Seattle’s minimum wage ordinance.
Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution and Health Risks in the Soil-Plant-Human System in the Yangtze River Delta, China
Authors: Hu Bifeng , Jia Xiaolin , Hu Jie , Xu Dongyun , Xia Fang , Li Yan
Published: September 2017

Heavy metal (HM) contamination and accumulation is a serious problem around the world due to the toxicity, abundant sources, non-biodegradable properties, and accumulative behaviour of HMs. The degree of soil HM contamination in China, especially in the Yangtze River Delta, is prominent. In this study, 1822 pairs of soil and crop samples at corresponding locations were collected from the southern Yangtze River Delta of China, and the contents of Ni, Cr, Zn, Cd, As, Cu, Hg, and Pb were measured. The single pollution index in soil (SPI) and Nemerow composite pollution index (NCPI) were used to assess the degree of HM pollution in soil, and the crop pollution index (CPI) was used to explore the degree of HM accumulation in crops. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was used to investigate the translocation of heavy metals in the soil-crop system. The health risks caused by HMs were calculated based on the model released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The SPIs of all elements were at the unpolluted level. The mean NCPI was at the alert level. The mean CPIs were in the following decreasing order: Ni (1.007) > Cr (0.483) > Zn (0.335) > Cd (0.314) > As (0.232) > Cu (0.187) > Hg (0.118) > Pb (0.105). Only the mean content of Ni in the crops exceeded the national standard value. The standard exceeding rates were used to represent the percentage of samples whose heavy metal content is higher than the corresponding national standard values. The standard exceeding rates of Cu, Hg, and Cd in soil were significantly higher than corresponding values in crops. Meanwhile, the standard exceeding rates of Ni, As, and Cr in crops were significantly higher than corresponding values in soil. The chronic daily intake (CDI) of children (13.8 × 10−3) was the largest among three age groups, followed by adults (6.998 × 10−4) and seniors (5.488 × 10−4). The bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) of all crops followed the order Cd (0.249) > Zn (0.133) > As (0.076) > Cu (0.064) > Ni (0.018) > Hg (0.011) > Cr (0.010) > Pb (0.001). Therefore, Cd was most easily absorbed by crops, and different crops had different capacities to absorb HMs. The hazard quotient (HQ) represents the potential non-carcinogenic risk for an individual HM and it is an estimation of daily exposure to the human population that is not likely to represent an appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime. All the HQs of the HMs for the different age groups were significantly less than the alert value of 1.0 and were at a safe level. This indicated that citizens in the study area face low potential non-carcinogenic risk caused by HMs. The total carcinogens risks (TCRs) for children, adults, and seniors were 5.24 × 10−5, 2.65 × 10−5, and 2.08 × 10−5, respectively, all of which were less than the guideline value but at the alert level. Ingestion was the main pathway of carcinogen risk to human health.
The Effect of Bisphenol A on Puberty: A Critical Review of the Medical Literature
Authors: Leonardi Alberto , Cofini Marta , Rigante Donato , Lucchetti Laura , Cipolla Clelia , Penta Laura , Esposito Susanna
Published: September 2017

Many scientific studies have revealed a trend towards an earlier onset of puberty and have disclosed an increasing number of children that display precocious puberty. As an explanation, some authors have considered the global socio-economic improvement across different populations, and other authors have considered the action of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Among these, bisphenol A (BPA), an aromatic compound largely used worldwide as a precursor of some plastics and chemical additives, is well known for its molecular oestrogen-like and obesogenic actions. We reviewed the medical literature of the previous 20 years that examined associations between BPA exposure and the age of puberty in humans, considering only those referring to clinical or epidemiological data. Of 19 studies, only 7 showed a correlation between BPA and puberty. In particular, the possible disruptive role of BPA on puberty may be seen in those with central precocious puberty or isolated premature breast development aged 2 months to 4 years old, even if the mechanism is undefined. Some studies also found a close relationship between urinary BPA, body weight, and early puberty, which can be explained by the obesogenic effect of BPA itself. The currently available data do not allow establishment of a clear role for BPA in pubertal development because of the conflicting results among all clinical and epidemiological studies examined. Further research is needed to fully understand the potential role of exposure to EDCs and their adverse endocrine health outcomes.
A Multivariate Dynamic Spatial Factor Model for Speciated Pollutants and Adverse Birth Outcomes
Authors: Kaufeld Kimberly , Fuentes Montse , Reich Brian , Herring Amy , Shaw Gary , Terres Maria
Published: September 2017

Evidence suggests that exposure to elevated concentrations of air pollution during pregnancy is associated with increased risks of birth defects and other adverse birth outcomes. While current regulations put limits on total PM2.5 concentrations, there are many speciated pollutants within this size class that likely have distinct effects on perinatal health. However, due to correlations between these speciated pollutants, it can be difficult to decipher their effects in a model for birth outcomes. To combat this difficulty, we develop a multivariate spatio-temporal Bayesian model for speciated particulate matter using dynamic spatial factors. These spatial factors can then be interpolated to the pregnant women’s homes to be used to model birth defects. The birth defect model allows the impact of pollutants to vary across different weeks of the pregnancy in order to identify susceptible periods. The proposed methodology is illustrated using pollutant monitoring data from the Environmental Protection Agency and birth records from the National Birth Defect Prevention Study
Study of the Relevance of the Quality of Care, Operating Efficiency and Inefficient Quality Competition of Senior Care Facilities
Authors: Lin Jwu-Rong , Chen Ching-Yu , Peng Tso-Kwei
Published: September 2017

The purpose of this research is to examine the relation between operating efficiency and the quality of care of senior care facilities. We designed a data envelopment analysis, combining epsilon-based measure and metafrontier efficiency analyses to estimate the operating efficiency for senior care facilities, followed by an iterative seemingly unrelated regression to evaluate the relation between the quality of care and operating efficiency. In the empirical studies, Taiwan census data was utilized and findings include the following: Despite the greater operating scale of the general type of senior care facilities, their average metafrontier technical efficiency is inferior to that of nursing homes. We adopted senior care facility accreditation results from Taiwan as a variable to represent the quality of care and examined the relation of accreditation results and operating efficiency. We found that the quality of care of general senior care facilities is negatively related to operating efficiency; however, for nursing homes, the relationship is not significant. Our findings show that facilities invest more in input resources to obtain better ratings in the accreditation report. Operating efficiency, however, does not improve. Quality competition in the industry in Taiwan is inefficient, especially for general senior care facilities.
3D Printed, Microgroove Pattern-Driven Generation of Oriented Ligamentous Architectures
Authors: Park Chan , Kim Kyoung-Hwa , Lee Yong-Moo , Giannobile William , Seol Yang-Jo
Published: September 2017

Specific orientations of regenerated ligaments are crucially required for mechanoresponsive properties and various biomechanical adaptations, which are the key interplay to support mineralized tissues. Although various 2D platforms or 3D printing systems can guide cellular activities or aligned organizations, it remains a challenge to develop ligament-guided, 3D architectures with the angular controllability for parallel, oblique or perpendicular orientations of cells required for biomechanical support of organs. Here, we show the use of scaffold design by additive manufacturing for specific topographies or angulated microgroove patterns to control cell orientations such as parallel (0°), oblique (45°) and perpendicular (90°) angulations. These results demonstrate that ligament cells displayed highly predictable and controllable orientations along microgroove patterns on 3D biopolymeric scaffolds. Our findings demonstrate that 3D printed topographical approaches can regulate spatiotemporal cell organizations that offer strong potential for adaptation to complex tissue defects to regenerate ligament-bone complexes.
Novel Insights into the Adipokinome of Obese and Obese/Diabetic Mouse Models
Authors: Knebel Birgit , Goeddeke Simon , Poschmann Gereon , Markgraf Daniel , Jacob Sylvia , Nitzgen Ulrike , Passlack Waltraud , Preuss Christina , Dicken Hans-Dieter , Stühler Kai , Hartwig Sonja , Lehr Stefan , Kotzka Jorg
Published: September 2017

The group of adipokines comprises hundreds of biological active proteins and peptides released from adipose tissue. Alterations of those complex protein signatures are suggested to play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of multifactorial, metabolic diseases. We hypothesized that also the pathophysiology of type-2-diabetes is linked to the dysregulation of the adipocyte secretome. To test this, we investigated mouse models with monogenic defects in leptin signaling which are susceptible to adipositas (C57BL/6 Cg-Lepob (obob)) or adipositas with diabetes (C57BL/KS Cg-Leprdb (dbdb)) according to their genetic background. At the age of 17 weeks, visceral fat was obtained and primary murine adipocytes were isolated to harvest secretomes. Quantitative proteome analyses (LC-ESI-MS/MS) identified more than 800 potential secreted proteins. The secretome patterns revealed significant differences connected to the pathophysiology of obese mice. Pathway analyses indicated that these differences focus on exosome modelling, but failed to provide more precise specifications. To investigate the relationship of secretome data to insulin sensitivity, we examined the content of diabetogenic lipids, i.e., diacylglycerols (DAGs), identified as key players in lipid-induced insulin resistance. In contrast to obob mice, fat tissue of dbdb mice showed elevated DAG content, especially of DAG species with saturated fatty acid C16:0 and C18:0, while unsaturated fatty acid C16:1 were only changed in obob. Furthermore, DAG signatures of the models specifically correlate to secreted regulated adipokines indicating specific pathways. In conclusion, our data further support the concept that the fat tissue is an endocrine organ that releases bioactive factors corresponding to adipose tissue health status.
Antioxidant Artemisia princeps Extract Enhances the Expression of Filaggrin and Loricrin via the AHR/OVOL1 Pathway
Authors: Hirano Akiko , Goto Masashi , Mitsui Tsukasa , Hashimoto-Hachiya Akiko , Tsuji Gaku , Furue Masutaka
Published: September 2017

The Japanese mugwort, Artemisia princeps (yomogi in Japanese), has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Skin care products containing Artemisia princeps extract (APE) are known to improve dry skin symptoms in atopic dermatitis. Atopic dry skin is associated with a marked reduction of skin barrier proteins, such as filaggrin (FLG) and loricrin (LOR). Recently, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), and its downstream transcription factor OVO-like 1 (OVOL1), have been shown to regulate the gene expression of FLG and LOR. The focus of this paper is to evaluate the effects of APE on the AHR/OVOL1/FLG or LOR pathway since they have remained unknown to this point. We first demonstrated that non-cytotoxic concentrations of APE significantly upregulated antioxidant enzymes, NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone 1 and heme oxygenase 1, in human keratinocytes. Even at these low concentrations, APE induced nuclear translocation of AHR and significantly upregulated CYP1A1 (a specific target gene for AHR activation), FLG, and LOR expression. AHR knockdown downregulated OVOL1 expression. The APE-induced upregulation of FLG and LOR was canceled in keratinocytes with AHR or OVOL1 knockdown. In conclusion, antioxidant APE is a potent phytoextract that upregulates FLG and LOR expression in an AHR/OVOL1-dependent manner and this may underpin the barrier-repairing effects of APE in treating atopic dry skin.
Histogram-Based Color Transfer for Image Stitching
Authors: Tian Qi-Chong , Cohen Laurent
Published: September 2017

Color inconsistency often exists between the images to be stitched and will reduce the visual quality of the stitching results. Color transfer plays an important role in image stitching. This kind of technique can produce corrected images which are color consistent. This paper presents a color transfer approach via histogram specification and global mapping. The proposed algorithm can make images share the same color style and obtain color consistency. There are four main steps in this algorithm. Firstly, overlapping regions between a reference image and a test image are obtained. Secondly, an exact histogram specification is conducted for the overlapping region in the test image using the histogram of the overlapping region in the reference image. Thirdly, a global mapping function is obtained by minimizing color differences with an iterative method. Lastly, the global mapping function is applied to the whole test image for producing a color-corrected image. Both the synthetic dataset and real dataset are tested. The experiments demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms the compared methods both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Efficient Inverted Organic Solar Cells Based on a Fullerene Derivative-Modified Transparent Cathode
Authors: Wang Yifan , Cong Hailin , Yu Bing , Zhang Zhiguo , Zhan Xiaowei
Published: September 2017

Indium tin oxide (ITO) is a transparent conductive material which is extensively used in organic solar cells (OSCs) as electrodes. In inverted OSCs, ITO is usually employed as a cathode, which should be modified by cathode buffer layers (CBLs) to achieve better contact with the active layers. In this paper, an amine group functionalized fullerene derivative (DMAPA-C60) is used as a CBL to modify the transparent cathode ITO in inverted OSCs based on PTB7 as a donor and PC71BM as an acceptor. Compared with traditional ZnO CBL, DMAPA-C60 exhibited comparable transmittance. OSCs based on DMAPA-C60 show much better device performance compared with their ZnO counterparts (power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) improved from 6.24 to 7.43%). This is mainly because a better contact between the DMAPA-C60 modified ITO and the active layer is formed, which leads to better electron transport and collection. Nanoscale morphologies also demonstrate that the surface of DMAPA-C60-modified ITO is plainer than the ZnO counterparts, which also leads to the better device performance.