bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Petroleum Sorbers Based on Renewable Alkyd Resin and Lignin
Authors: Marinho Vitor , Lima Nathali , Neves Maria Angelica , Souza Fernando
Published: August 2018

The interest in magnetic nanoparticles has been growing in recent years, several fields of research are exploring the properties of these materials. Among them, the authors can mention the inclusion of these nanoparticles in materials that perform the cleaning of oil spills, thus producing easy contaminant removal from the place by the aid of the action of a magnetic field. Several materials can be used aiming to this purpose. However, to the best of our knowledge, alkyd resins filled with lignin has never been used as oil spill cleanup tools. So, these materials are prepared and tested using several techniques, such as FTIR, SEM, and XRD. Besides that, the oil spill cleanup capability of the prepared materials is also tested. According to the exponential model used to describe the oil spill cleanup experiments, the best material is able to remove (25 ± 2) g of petroleum from the water. Thus, the presented material can be used as an oil spill cleanup tool, reducing environmental impacts.
Oil Biodegradation Systems Based on γ Irradiated Poly (Butylene Succinate)
Authors: Caetano Rosana M.J. , Bedor Priscilla B.A. , de Jesus Edgar F.O. , Leite Selma G.F. , Souza Fernando G.
Published: August 2018

The risks of environmental damage are inherent in oil activities, being a constant concern to our modern society. Among the remediation strategies, the biological one is safer and more inexpensive compared to physic‐chemicals approaches. Bioremediation can be enhanced using biodegradable polymers as coating materials of the nutrient release systems. However, some of these polymers can be improved using electromagnetic radiation, able to modify their properties, such as, molar mass, changing the materials physicochemical behavior. Thus, immobilizing urea in poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) matrix, producing a petroleum bioremediation tool was the primary goal in the paper herein. The composites were obtained by melting at 110 °C with subsequent application of gamma (γ) radiation at doses of 15, 25, 50, and 75 kGy. The obtained results allowed to infer that the increase of the γ radiation doses improved the immobilization, thus reducing the immediate urea release. Besides that, the preliminary biodegradation results showed that the highest rates of hydrocarbon reduction at the end of the analysis period were reached using the material irradiated at 25 kGy. These results are encouraging and proved that irradiated PBS‐urea systems could be used as oil spill disasters tool.
Influence of Styrene‐Butadiene Co‐Polymer on the Hydration Kinetics of SBR‐Modified Well Cement Slurries
Authors: Aboelkheir Mostafa , Siqueira Celeste Y. S. , Souza Fernando G. , Toledo Filho Romildo D.
Published: August 2018

Flexible cement sheath can eliminate the formation of cracks caused by the thermal recovery in the EOR methods. SBR‐modified slurries were fabricated by adding Styrene‐Butadiene Rubber (SBR) in latex to the cement matrix. In this article, the influence of this latex on the hydration kinetics of the cement slurry was investigated. SBR (≈83% of Styrene) was added by 6%, 10%, and 13% (V/V) to prepare the slurries and the kinetics in both fresh and hardened states were accompanied by UCA and isothermal calorimetry. The results indicated that in the very early ages of hydration, Ca(OH)2 was consumed by SBR (demulsification phenomenon). A retarding effect was observed and the percolation threshold values were increased by 18.05%, 19.44%, and 27.77% for the SBR‐modified slurries, whereas an overall higher accumulated heat could be observed in the isothermal calorimetry curves when compared to the reference slurry.
Dissemination of enteroviruses in the production chain of organic lettuce in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Authors: Werneck Lucia M. C. , Baptista Marcia Leite , Miagostovich Marize P. , da Silva Edson Elias
Published: August 2018

This study aimed to survey the environmental dissemination of enterovirus (EV) in a site of organic lettuce situated in the mountainous region of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For this purpose, a total of 96 environmental samples, including water and lettuce samples obtained in different stages of the production chain (e.g., irrigation water, seedlings, lettuces grown, and washed lettuces ready‐to‐eat), were analyzed. EV genomes were detected in 12.5% (12/96) of the tested samples (eight from irrigation water and 4 from lettuce samples). Levels of viral concentration ranged from 3.37 × 103 to 4.72 × 106 genomic copies per liter (gc L−1) and from 2.14 × 104 to 5.56 × 104 genome copies per 25 grams (gc 25 g−1) for the water and lettuce samples, respectively. Such findings suggest that the use of viruses as human fecal contamination markers must be considered in order to improve food safety in organic supply chains.
In Vitro Gut Metabolism of [U‐13C]‐Quinic Acid, The Other Hydrolysis Product of Chlorogenic Acid
Authors: Naranjo Pinta Martine , Montoliu Ivan , Aura Anna‐Marja , Seppänen‐Laakso Tuulikki , Barron Denis , Moco Sofia
Published: August 2018

Scope

Quinic acid in its free form is broadly abundant in plants, and can accumulate in copious amounts in coffee, tea, and certain fruits. However, it has been mostly studied as chlorogenic acid, an ester of caffeic and quinic acids. When chlorogenic acid reaches the colon, it is hydrolyzed by microbial esterases releasing caffeic and quinic acids. While biotransformation of chlorogenic and caffeic acids have been elucidated by in vitro and in vivo studies, the gut metabolism of quinic acid has been so far overlooked.

Methods and Results

[U‐13C]‐Quinic acid is submitted to a colonic model using human fecal microbiota for assessing its metabolic fate. The metabolite profiles formed along microbial biotransformation are monitored by a combined metabolomics approach, using both 2D GC– and ultra‐HPLC–MS. Six metabolic intermediates are identified by incorporation of isotopic label.

Conclusion

Two parallel degradation pathways could be proposed: (1) an oxidative route, leading to aromatization and accumulation of protocatechuic acid, and a (2) reductive route, including dehydroxylation to cyclohexane carboxylic acid. Elucidating the biotransformation of food bioactives by the gut microbiota is of relevance for understanding nutrition, interindividual variability and potential effects on human metabolism.
A Review of Approaches for Monitoring the Effectiveness of Regional River Habitat Restoration Programs
Authors: Roni Philip , Åberg Ulrika , Weber Christine
Published: August 2018

Large regional programs to restore riverine habitat for fish and aquatic organisms have become common throughout North America, Europe, and elsewhere. Evaluating the effectiveness of projects implemented under these programs—sometimes called programmatic monitoring and evaluation—has proven challenging, and little guidance exists on programmatic monitoring and evaluation approaches and their effectiveness. In this paper, we review different approaches for evaluating the effectiveness of river restoration projects implemented across a region. These programmatic monitoring and evaluation approaches include case studies, meta-analyses, multiple before–after control–impact (mBACI), extensive posttreatment (EPT), intensively monitored watersheds (IMWs), and hybrid programmatic approaches that use a combination of different experimental designs. For each approach, we discuss the pros and cons as well as provide examples. The most appropriate approach depends in part on the questions that the programmatic monitoring and evaluation strives to address, the spatial and temporal scale at which detection of a response is expected, and the scale of inference. Case studies and mBACI approaches can answer questions about individual projects but have several limitations in terms of cost, timely results, and feasibility. A meta-analysis, which can provide broadly applicable results, is dependent upon a large number of case studies being completed. The EPT approach can provide relatively quick and easy-to-interpret results, but it requires a large population of completed projects and careful selection of controls. The IMW approach has been broadly applied in western North America but has had limited success and appears to be tractable only in small catchments where restoration and monitoring can be well controlled. Based on results from recent efforts in the USA and Europe, the most feasible programmatic monitoring and evaluation approach in terms of cost, implementability, and production of timely results appears to be a hybrid approach that uses a combination of the EPT and mBACI approaches.
Testimonial tips: How to make the most of your brand ambassadors
Authors: Talarico Donna
Published: August 2018

People trust their peers. For this reason, testimonials are a tried‐and‐true tactic for conveying your brand promise. Maybe you have gotten away from using these comments, or perhaps you are looking to up your testimonial game in print and on the web. Here, I'll share a few tips on gathering, editing, using, and reusing feedback from your students and alumni.
Influence of the Water/Titanium Alkoxide Ratio on the Morphology and Catalytic Activity of Titania–Nickel Composite Particles for the Hydrolysis of Ammonia Borane
Authors: Umegaki Tetsuo , Yamamoto Yoshifumi , Xu Qiang , Kojima Yoshiyuki
Published: August 2018

This work reports the influence of the water/titanium alkoxide ratio during the preparation of titania–nickel composite particles on their morphology and catalytic activity toward the hydrolysis of ammonia borane. The titania–nickel composite particle catalysts were fabricated by using a sol‐gel method, followed by an activation process in aqueous solution containing sodium borohydride and ammonia borane. From the scanning electron microscopy images and pore‐size distributions calculated from nitrogen sorption data, the particle dispersion was significantly enhanced at ratios above 6000, and increased with increasing water/titanium alkoxide ratio. Stoichiometric amounts of hydrogen were evolved in the presence of all of the prepared titania–nickel composite particle catalysts. The particle dispersion influenced the hydrogen evolution rate from aqueous ammonia borane solution, and the samples with the most highly dispersed particles showed the highest hydrogen evolution rate. The most active catalyst showed an apparent activation energy comparable to that of other reported catalysts and high cycle ability for the hydrolysis of ammonia borane.
Selected properties of polylactide containing natural antiaging compounds
Authors: Moraczewski Krzysztof , Stepczyńska Magdalena , Malinowski Rafał , Budner Bogusław , Karasiewicz Tomasz , Jagodziński Bartłomiej
Published: August 2018

Polyphenols are a group of chemical compounds that have very good antiaging properties. Natural plant substances may be an excellent source of polyphenols. The paper presents study on polylactide containing from 0.5 to 10 wt% extracts of coffee, cocoa, or cinnamon. Preliminary investigations of antiaging properties of tested extracts were carried out. The selected mechanical and thermal properties have also been determined. The results indicate that tested extracts have good antiaging properties and do not adversely affect properties of polylactide. The obtained materials had similar or even better properties than a reference sample containing a commercial antiaging compound.
The effects of work–family interface on domain‐specific satisfaction and well‐being across nations: The moderating effects of individualistic culture and economic development
Authors: Xu Shan , Wang Yanling , Mu Ren , Jin Jiafei , Gao Feiyi
Published: August 2018

Work–family conflict (WFC) and work–family enrichment (WFE) have been shown to be important predictors of employees’ domain‐specific satisfaction and well‐being. In this meta‐analysis, we consider how the effects of WFC/WFE on various outcomes differ across different national cultures and economic settings. We hypothesized that WFC would have stronger effects on employees’ domain‐specific satisfaction and well‐being in high individualistic nations and economies with higher levels of economic development, whereas WFE would have stronger effects on employees’ domain‐specific satisfaction and well‐being in low individualistic nations and economies with lower levels of economic development. Results generally supported these hypotheses, suggesting that employees in more individualistic and more developed countries are more sensitive to how work interferes with family life, whereas employees in less individualistic and less developed countries are more sensitive to how work provides material, social, and cognitive resources that help in the fulfillment of family roles. Further research is needed exploring more detailed explanations for these differences and their implications for spillover theory and work–family practices in organizations.
A Bayesian hierarchal modeling approach to shortening phase I/II trials of anticancer drug combinations
Authors: Yada Shinjo , Hamada Chikuma
Published: August 2018

In phase I/II anticancer drug‐combination trials, trial design to evaluate toxicity and efficacy has been studied by dividing the trial into 2 stages, followed by seamless execution of the 2 stages. In the first stage, admissible dose combinations in toxicity are identified, followed by patient assignment among the identified admissible dose combinations using adaptive randomization in the second stage. When patients are assigned using adaptive randomization, it is desirable to determine a more appropriate dose combination by taking into consideration both drug efficacy and toxicity; however, during the course of this determination and evaluation of toxicity and efficacy, there remains a concern that the trial duration might be prolonged. Therefore, we proposed a trial design to assign patients adaptively to more appropriate dose combinations in both toxicity and efficacy and to shorten trial duration without compromising trial performance. When selecting the dose combination for subsequent cohorts, unobserved data are treated as missing data, which are imputed using a data augmentation algorithm involving a gamma process. Probabilities associated with toxicity and efficacy are estimated applying a Bayesian hierarchical model to the imputed data, thereby allowing more patients to be assigned more appropriate dose combinations in both toxicity and efficacy through adaptive randomization. Results of simulation studies suggested that the proposed approach shortened trial duration without significantly compromising the performance of the trial as compared with existing approaches. We believe that the proposed approach will expedite drug development time and reduce costs associated with clinical development.
Loss of high‐mobility group N5 contributes to the promotion of human endometrial stromal cell decidualization
Authors: Kimura Machiko , Kajihara Takeshi , Mizuno Yumi , Sato Tomomi , Ishihara Osamu
Published: August 2018

Purpose

High‐mobility group N (HMGN) proteins are the only non‐histone proteins that specifically bind within the nucleosome between core histones and DNA. Among them, HMGN5 is one of the candidates that could participate in mouse endometrial decidualization; however, the specific role of HMGN5 remains to be clarified in human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs).

Methods

Primary HESCs were isolated from hysterectomy specimens and incubated with or without 8‐bromo‐cyclic adenosine monophosphate (8‐br‐cAMP) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA).

Results

We demonstrated that HMGN5 expression in decidualized HESCs stimulated by 8‐br‐cAMP and MPA decreased significantly. The inhibition of HMGN5 expression by small interfering RNA (siRNA) induced the major decidual marker genes expression, including IGFBP1 (insulin‐like growth factor binding protein 1) and PRL (prolactin). In addition, microRNA‐542‐3p (miR‐542‐3p), which was identified as a regulatory miRNA of IGFBP1 during decidualization, was significantly suppressed by HMGN5 siRNA. However, the expression of HMGN5 was not alternated by miR‐542‐3p overexpression.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the down‐regulation of HMGN5 plays a role in the promotion of human endometrial stromal decidualization and acts upstream of miR‐542‐3p.
Simplified approach to uncertainty of measurement in the clinical virology laboratory
Authors: Newman Howard , Tshisevhe Vhudzani
Published: August 2018

Medical laboratories are required to ensure the quality of their diagnostic results. Quality assurance procedures include quality assessments (internal and external), quality controls (negative, positive, or internal controls), equipment monitoring, and audits. Quality control data may be used to evaluate the uncertainty of measurement. All clinical virology laboratories require a standard operating procedure detailing their consideration of uncertainty of measurement, as this parameter may impact on the overall quality of diagnostic results as well as the clinical interpretation thereof. This review aims to provide a simplified approach to the concept of uncertainty of measurement, specific for clinical virology laboratories.
Build a more diverse, likely‐to‐succeed class through intentionality
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: August 2018

The University of Oregon boasts a student body that is more diverse than the overall population of the state of Oregon, a fact of which Roger Thompson, vice president for student services and enrollment management at U of O, is very proud. When Thompson joined the institution, the population of underrepresented domestic minority students accounted for only 17 percent of the student body.
Intravenous Infusion of Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Phase Ia Clinical Trial
Authors: Park Eun Hye , Lim Hee-suk , Lee Seunghee , Roh Kyounghwan , Seo Kwang-Won , Kang Kyung-Sun , Shin Kichul
Published: August 2018

Based on immunomodulatory actions of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs), in vitro or preclinical studies of hUCB-MSCs have been conducted extensively in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, few human trials have investigated the outcomes of hUCB-MSC infusions. The CURE-iv trial was a phase I, uncontrolled, open label trial for RA patients with moderate disease activity despite treatment with methotrexate. The patients received a single intravenous infusion of 2.5 × 107, 5 × 107, or 1 × 108 cells of hUCB-MSCs for 30 minutes, three patients in each cluster, with an increment of cell numbers when there was no dose-limited adverse event. Clinical and safety assessments were performed during the study period, and serum cytokines were measured at baseline and 24 hours after the infusion. Out of 11 screened RA patients, 9 were enrolled. The participants were predominantly female (78%) and the mean age was 57.4 years. The mean disease duration was 9.5 years, and baseline 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28; using erythrocyte sedimentation rate) was 4.53. There was no major toxicity in all clusters up to 4 weeks after the infusion. Serum erythrocyte sedimentation rate changes at 4 weeks (n = 9) were −7.9 ± 10.4 (p = .0517) and DAS28 changes were −1.60 ± 1.57 (p = .0159). Reduced levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α at 24 hours were observed in the cluster infused with 1 × 108 MSCs. This phase Ia hUCB-MSC infusion trial for established RA patients revealed no short-term safety concerns.
Multitechnique investigation of sulfur phases in the corrosion product layers of iron corroded in long‐term anoxic conditions: From micrometer to nanometer scale
Authors: Bouttemy Muriel , Grousset Sophie , Mercier‐Bion Florence , Neff Delphine , Etcheberry Arnaud , Dillmann Philippe
Published: August 2018

The understanding of anoxic corrosion mechanism is essential to develop predictive models targeting to optimize extraction and conservation operations as well as aging behavior of industrial or cultural heritage ferrous objects. The corrosion product layers issued from carbonated anoxic environment of iron often contain iron sulfides, as pyrite FeS2, greigite Fe3S4, and mackinawite FeS, mixed at the submicron scale, and their presence strongly impacts the corrosion processes. The determination of their spatial arrangement in corrosion product layer directly informs about their origin (bacterial or inorganic) and, so, about the corrosion mechanisms. Previous studies have displayed that sulfur isotopic measurements using nano‐Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) are particularly relevant to discriminate between biotic or abiotic origin of iron sulfides. But this technique does not enable to correlate this origin to the nature of sulfide compounds. In this work, an innovative approach combining μ‐Raman spectroscopy (structural identification) for sulfide compounds localization at micrometric scale and nano‐Auger spectroscopy (chemical diagnostic) at higher spatial resolution is presented. This multi‐technique methodology is detailed and its capabilities evaluated on an archeological system. Auger spectra of pure iron sulfides phases (pyrite, greigite, and mackinawite) are obtained and, by considering the derivative spectra of Fe‐MVV and of S‐LVV spectral regions, evidence‐specific signatures for each phase, and so, the possibility to differentiate them. This result enables to propose a complete determination of the iron sulfides mix by coupling nano‐SIMS and nano‐Auger to get a complete knowledge of the role of iron sulfides in the anoxic corrosion of ferrous objects.
Analysis of longitudinal data from outcome‐dependent visit processes: Failure of proposed methods in realistic settings and potential improvements
Authors: Neuhaus John M. , McCulloch Charles E. , Boylan Ross D.
Published: August 2018

The timing and frequency of the measurement of longitudinal outcomes in databases may be associated with the value of the outcome. Such visit processes are termed outcome dependent, and previous work showed that conducting standard analyses that ignore outcome‐dependent visit times can produce highly biased estimates of the associations of covariates with outcomes. The literature contains several classes of approaches to analyze longitudinal data subject to outcome‐dependent visit times, and all of these are based on simplifying assumptions about the visit process. Based on extensive discussions with subject matter investigators, we identified common characteristics of outcome‐dependent visit processes that allowed us to evaluate the performance of existing methods in settings with more realistic visit processes than have been previously investigated. This paper uses the analysis of data from a study of kidney function, theory, and simulation studies to examine a range of settings that vary from those where all visits have a low degree of missingness and outcome dependence (which we call “regular” visits) to those where all visits have a high degree of missingness and outcome dependence (which we call “irregular” visits). Our results show that while all the approaches we studied can yield biased estimates of some covariate effects, other covariate effects can be estimated with little bias. In particular, mixed effects models fit by maximum likelihood yielded little bias in estimates of the effects of covariates not associated with the random effects and small bias in estimates of the effects of covariates associated with the random effects. Other approaches produced estimates with greater bias. Our results also show that the presence of some regular visits in the data set protects mixed model analyses from bias but not other methods.
Asymmetric Hydrogenation vs Transfer Hydrogenation in the Reduction of Cyclic Imines
Authors: Facchetti Giorgio , Bucci Raffaella , Fusè Marco , Rimoldi Isabella
Published: August 2018

A comparison between the two most common reduction approaches for obtaining chiral amines, asymmetric hydrogenation (AH) versus asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH), was accomplished by using iridium complexes based on atropoisomeric diphosphines and cyclic diamines as ligands respectively. Seven substrates, different in electronic and steric properties, were screened applying both reduction methods. For AH the best results in terms of enantioselectivity (e.e. up to 64%) were obtained by using [Ir(COD)(TetraMe‐BITIOP)]Cl in the presence of DCDMH as additive. ATH was carried out with [IrCp*(CAMPY)Cl]Cl as catalyst, allowing the obtainment of the products with appreciable e.e. (up to 76%).
Comparison of rest‐break interventions during a mentally demanding task
Authors: Blasche Gerhard , Szabo Barbara , Wagner‐Menghin Michaela , Ekmekcioglu Cem , Gollner Erwin
Published: August 2018

Research is scarce on ways to enhance the effect of rest breaks during mentally demanding tasks. The present study investigated the effectiveness of two rest‐break interventions on well‐being during an academic lecture. Sixty‐six students (53 females, mean age 22.5 years) enrolled in two different university classes of 4‐hr duration participated in the study. Two measures of well‐being (fatigue and vigor) were assessed immediately before, after, and 20 minutes after the break. A control condition without a break as well as an unstructured break was compared with breaks either encompassing physical activity or a relaxation exercise. Compared with the nonbreak condition, the unstructured rest break led to an increase in vigor, the exercise break as well as the relaxation break both to an increase in vigor and a decrease in fatigue at 20‐min post break. Compared with the unstructured break, exercise led to an (additional) increase in vigor and relaxation to an (additional) decrease in fatigue at 20‐min post break. Thus, the effects of rest breaks during mentally demanding tasks can be enhanced by engaging in physical activity or relaxation exercises, with effects lasting at least as long as 20 min into the continuation of the task.
Nanofiber‐Directed Anisotropic Self‐Assembly of CdSe–CdS Quantum Rods for Linearly Polarized Light Emission Evidenced by Quantum Rod Orientation Microscopy
Authors: Chakrabarty Arkajyoti , Raffy Guillaume , Maity Mitasree , Gartzia‐Rivero Leire , Marre Samuel , Aymonier Cyril , Maitra Uday , Del Guerzo André
Published: August 2018

Hybrid soft materials composed of CdSe–CdS nanorods or “quantum rods” (QRs) and the fluorescent 2,3‐didecyloxyanthracene (DDOA) low molecular weight organogelator are obtained through self‐assembly. Spectroscopy, microscopy, and rheology studies show that the QRs and DDOA coassemble, thereby stabilizing the organogels. Depending on the QR load and excitation wavelength, single nanofibers (NFs) of the hybrid gel display either sharp polarized red luminescence (under green excitation), or dual perpendicularly polarized blue and red emissions (under UV excitation). Transmission electron microscopy, microspectroscopy, and quantum rod orientation microscopy (QROM) reveal that QRs align along the organogel NFs with order parameters reaching 76% and 87%. This paves the way for obtaining surfaces of QR/NF assemblies yielding sharp red linearly polarized emission. In addition, this work demonstrates that QRs can be used more generally to probe nanostructured soft materials, even nonemissive ones. QROM allows to establish maps of the orientation of single QRs dispersed onto or within a gel network by measuring the polarization of the emission of the individual QRs. As occurs within this work in which QRs and NFs interact, the orientation of each QR reveals information on the underlying nanostructure (such as surface striation, bundle formation, and helicity).
Taxonomy‐based testing and validation of a new defect classification for health software
Authors: Rajaram Hamsini Ketheswarasarma , Loane John , MacMahon Silvana Togneri , Mc Caffery Fergal
Published: August 2018

Defect‐based testing is a powerful tool for finding errors in software. Many software manufacturers avoid this method because it requires a detailed defect taxonomy that is expensive to construct and difficult to validate. The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation is developing SW91, a defect taxonomy to be published as a standard for health software. This paper details three methods to validate SW91 for its comprehensiveness. The initial validations of SW91 were conducted via mapping vulnerabilities from the common weakness enumeration and a dataset from a medical device software development company in Ireland. Taxonomy‐based testing is another validation method proposed in this research, and its applicability was investigated using empirical data from a medical device software development company in Ireland. Finally, the paper details future plans to implement taxonomy‐based testing to improve software quality in medical device software and to validate SW91. This validation will focus on the efficiency, reliability, and ability to perform useful analyses and defect coverage of SW91.
Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells with Titanium Cathode Interlayer
Authors: Chen Tao , Shi Tongfei , Li Xinhua , Zheng Jianqiang , Fan Weisheng , Ni Bin , Wang Yuqi , Dai Jianming , Xiao Zhengguo
Published: August 2018

Electron and hole transport layers play a critical role in high performance metal halide perovskite solar cells. Many organic and inorganic electron/hole transport layers are developed and studied in the last few years. In this work, the authors innovatively use a ultra‐thin layer of titanium (Ti) as a cathode interlayer between metal electrode and perovskite film, without using any organic or inorganic electron transport layers, in planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and soft X‐ray absorption near edge structure results prove that Ti film forms a bonding layer with nitrogen (N) atoms in metylammonium anions at perovskite/Ti interface, which passivates surface defects and suppresses surface decomposition of perovskite film. The champian solar cell based on methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) shows a short circuit current density of 22.5 mA cm−2, a open circuit voltage of 1.03 V and a fill factor of 78.2%, yielding a power conversion efficiency of 18.1%. Notably, Ti has low diffusivity and serves as a compact blocking layer that prevents the diffusion of metal atoms into the perovskite layer, resulting in improved device stability. Our work shows that Ti is a promising low‐cost material to replace organic and inorganic electron transporting layers for efficient perovskite solar cells.
A coordinator‐specific privacy‐preserving model for E‐health monitoring using artificial bee colony approach
Authors: Dhasarathan Chandramohan , Dayalan Rajaguru , Thirumal Vengattaram , Ponnurangam Dhavachelvan
Published: August 2018

In the contemporary scientific world, unpredictable health‐related issues and tribulations are changing into new diseases for the next generation. Medication and its treatment levels have advanced to the next level to support the human race. A patient's regular health check‐up in hospices and continuous guidance from a practitioner are added as habitual in a typical human life. However, it might not support patients who escalate to critical care in a fraction of minutes. As a sustaining connotation for healthcare, body sensors (BS) have been espoused for the regular monitoring the patients; irrespective of the patient's daily activities, BS follows him or her like a shadow without his or her intervention. The sensed information is transmitted to the medication department exclusively, and it is expected to reach the concerned practitioner, most importantly without delay and intervention. The health information which are generated at critical situations, have to be traversed to reach the healthcare system. There is a need for network miniaturization to process the patient health information. There are issues pertaining to data forecasting of the base station or healthcare management system. This paper particularly focuses on the coordinator‐specific optimized healthcare monitoring through patient data forwarding during normal, emergency, and critical cases. However, if every patient has his or her own device, that is, bring your own devices (BYODs), then there arises a data privacy problem for sharing resources in BYODs. For organizing the smart device resources, there might be an optimization technique to allocate resources in the network frame due to its mobility and ad hoc nature. To perform the resource allocation process, the proposed system adopts the artificial bee colony approach for the evolution of information collected from the patient's sensors for a precautionary medication process. The efficiency of the proposed system is evaluated using existing techniques. The experimental result analysis shows that the proposed system performance is high in all scenarios, and moreover, it maintains a high reliability rate in delivering sensitive data more effectively.
An efficient mechanism to generate dynamic keys based on genetic algorithm
Authors: Chunka Chukhu , Goswami Rajat Subhra , Banerjee Subhasish
Published: August 2018

Sharing information and providing services are the key factors of the computer network. Due to publically in nature of computer network and improvement of various technology in the field of computer science, the chances of hacking and licking the confidentiality of shared messages have increased exponentially. Hence, preventing such possibilities and maintaining the confidentiality over the computer network has become the primary and forth most requirement. According to Shannon's perfect secrecy, the confidentiality of shared information can only be maintained if the size of the key is greater or equal to the length of the message. In this paper, an efficient mechanism has been proposed to establish the initial secret key based on the genetic algorithm (GA) and variable key generation mechanism, which helps to change the keys after selection of the initial key for each new block of data transmission to make the key size as long as the size of the original message. To prove the efficiency of the proposed scheme, a comparative studies with the existing related schemes have also been carried out later in this paper.
A hybrid approach to testing for nonfunctional faults in embedded systems using genetic algorithms
Authors: Yu Tingting , Srisa‐an Witawas , Cohen Myra B. , Rothermel Gregg
Published: August 2018

Embedded systems are challenging to program correctly, because they use an interrupt‐driven programming paradigm and run in resource‐constrained environments. This leads to various classes of nonfunctional faults that can be detected only by customized verification techniques. These nonfunctional faults are specifically related to usage of resources such as time and memory. For example, the presence of interrupts can induce delays in interrupt servicing and in system execution time. Such delays can occur when multiple interrupt service routines and interrupts of different priorities compete for resources on a given CPU. As another example, stack overflows are caused when the combination of active methods and interrupt invocations on the stack grows too large, and these can lead to data loss and other significant device failures. To detect these types of nonfunctional faults, developers need to estimate worst‐case resource usage. Most existing approaches for calculating such estimates are based on static analysis; however, these have a tendency to overapproximate the resources needed. Dynamic techniques such as random testing, in contrast, often underapproximate resource usage. In this article, we present SimEspresso, a framework that uses a combination of static analysis and a test case generation algorithm to estimate worst‐case resource usage. There are three different worst‐case resource usage scenarios that we consider: (1) worst‐case execution times, (2) worst‐case interrupt latencies, and (3) worst‐case stack usage. SimEspresso first uses static analysis to identify program paths and interrupt interleavings that potentially lead to worst‐case scenarios. It then uses a genetic algorithm to generate test cases that guide program execution down these paths, using these particular interrupt interleavings. We performed an empirical study to evaluate the effectiveness of SimEspresso; our results show that SimEspresso is more effective than static analysis approaches and improves significantly over the state of the art dynamic technique, random test case generation. We also find that when we use only the genetic algorithm, omitting the static analysis, SimEspresso performs almost as effectively, but takes significantly longer to complete its task.
A matrix model for the latitude Wilson loop in ABJM theory
Authors: Bianchi Marco S. , Griguolo Luca , Mauri Andrea , Penati Silvia , Seminara Domenico
Published: August 2018

Abstract

In ABJ(M) theory, we propose a matrix model for the exact evaluation of BPS Wilson loops on a latitude circular contour, so providing a new weak-strong interpolation tool. Intriguingly, the matrix model turns out to be a particular case of that computing torus knot invariants in U(N
1|N
2) Chern-Simons theory. At weak coupling we check our proposal against a three-loop computation, performed for generic framing, winding number and representation. The matrix model is amenable of a Fermi gas formulation, which we use to systematically compute the strong coupling and genus expansions. For the fermionic Wilson loop the leading planar behavior agrees with a previous string theory prediction. For the bosonic operator our result provides a clue for finding the corresponding string dual configuration. Our matrix model is consistent with recent proposals for computing Bremsstrahlung functions exactly in terms of latitude Wilson loops. As a by-product, we extend the conjecture for the exact B
1/6

θ

Bremsstrahlung function to generic representations and test it with a four-loop perturbative computation. Finally, we propose an exact prediction for B
1/2 at unequal gauge group ranks.
Flavourful Z′ portal for vector-like neutrino dark matter and $$ {R}_{K^{\left(*\right)}} $$
Authors: Falkowski Adam , King Stephen F. , Perdomo Elena , Pierre Mathias
Published: August 2018

Abstract

We discuss a flavourful Z′ portal model with a coupling to fourth-family singlet Dirac neutrino dark matter. In the absence of mixing, the Z′ is fermiophobic, having no couplings to the three chiral families, but does couple to a fourth vector-like family. Due to mixing effects, the Z′ gets induced couplings to second family left-handed lepton doublets and third family left-handed quark doublets. This model can simultaneously account for the measured B-decay ratios R

K
and R

K*
and for the observed relic abundance of dark matter. We identify the parameter space where this explanation is consistent with existing experimental constraints from dark matter direct and indirect detection, LHC searches, and precision measurements of flavour mixing and neutrino processes.
Vacua of exotic massive 3D gravity
Authors: Chernicoff Mariano , Giribet Gaston , Grandi Nicolás , Oliva Julio
Published: August 2018

Abstract

We consider the recently proposed exotic 3D massive gravity. We show that this theory has a rich space of vacua, including asymptotically Anti de-Sitter (AdS) geometries obeying either the standard Brown-Henneaux boundary conditions or the weakened asymptotic behavior of the so-called Log-gravity. Both sectors contain non-Einstein spaces with SO(2) ×

$$ \mathbb{R} $$

ℝ

isometry group, showing that the Birkhoff theorem does not hold all over the parameter space, even if strong AdS boundary conditions are imposed. Some of these geometries correspond to 3D black holes dressed with a Log-gravity graviton. We conjecture that such geometries appear in a curve of the parameter space where the exotic 3D massive gravity on AdS3 is dual to a chiral conformal field theory. The theory also contains other interesting vacua, including different families of non-AdS black holes.
Complete sequence of the ANKK1 gene in Mexican-Mestizo individuals with obesity, with or without binge eating disorder
Authors: Palacios Adriana , Canto Patricia , Tejeda María Elena , Stephano Sylvana , Luján Hassell , García-García Eduardo , Rojano-Mejía David , Méndez Juan Pablo
Published: August 2018

Background:

The aim of this study was to investigate if Mexican-Mestizo individuals with obesity, with or without binge eating disorder (BED), exhibited mutations or other type of genetic variants in the sequence ofANKK1.

Subjects and methods:

Fifty unrelated individuals (21–53 years of age) with obesity, of Mexican-Mestizo ethnic origin were included; 25 of them had BED and 25 presented obesity without BED. The diagnosis of BED was based on criteria proposed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Besides, we also analyzed 100 individuals with normal body mass index. DNA from blood leukocytes was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and all exons ofANKK1were sequenced.

Results:

AfterANKK1sequencing we did not find any mutations; however, we observed various polymorphisms. One polymorphism, rs4938013 in exon 2 showed an association with obesity, whilst rs1800497 (also known as Taq1A) in exon 8, showed an association with BED (P = 0.020). Remarkable, for this study, the number of individuals for both polymorphisms for and additive model was sufficient to derive strong statistical power (80%, with a P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

To our knowledge, this constitutes the first report where the complete sequences ofANKK1has been analyzed in individuals with obesity, with or without BED. No mutations were found; however, one polymorphism was associated with obesity, with or without BED, and another one was associated with BED.
Sexual Activity and Risk of Prostate Cancer: A Dose–Response Meta-Analysis
Authors: Jian Zhongyu , Ye Donghui , Chen Yuntian , Li Hong , Wang Kunjie
Published: August 2018

Introduction

The role of sexual activity (SA) on prostate cancer (PCa) risk is still controversial.

Aim

To determine the associations among number of female sexual partners, age at first intercourse, ejaculation frequency (EF), and the risk of PCa.

Methods

A systematic literature search on MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was conducted to identify the relevant studies published before April 2018. We calculated the summary odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI to determine the association between SA and PCa risk. A 2-stage dose-response meta-analysis was performed to explore the trend from the correlated log OR estimates.

Main Outcome Measures

Outcome measures included characteristics of included studies, associations among number of female sexual partners, age at first intercourse, as well as EF and PCa risk.

Results

A total of 21 case-control studies and 1 cohort study with 55,490 participants (14,976 patients and 40,514 controls) were included in this meta-analysis. Linear and significant dose–response associations were found among number of female sexual partner as well as age at first intercourse and PCa risk, an increment of 10 female sexual partners associated with a 1.10-fold increase of PCa risk (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01–1.21), and the risk of PCa was decreased by 4% for every 5-year delay in age at first intercourse (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.92–0.99). Although no linear association was observed between EF and the risk of PCa, moderate EF (2–4 times per week) was significantly associated with a lower risk of PCa (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.87–0.96).

Clinical Implications

Modification of SA factors would appear to be a useful low-risk approach to decreasing the risk of PCa.

Strengths & Limitations

This is the first dose–response meta-analysis performed to describe the association between SA and PCa risk. However, the direction of causality between SA and risk of PCa should be interpreted with caution because most included studies used case-control design.

Conclusion

Meta-analysis of the included studies indicated that men with fewer sexual partner numbers, older age at first intercourse, and moderate frequent ejaculation were associated with a significantly decreased risk of PCa.
Transition in a separation bubble under tonal and broadband acoustic excitation
Authors: Kurelek John William , Kotsonis Marios , Yarusevych Serhiy
Published: August 2018

Transition and flow development in a separation bubble formed on an airfoil are studied experimentally. The effects of tonal and broadband acoustic excitation are considered since such acoustic emissions commonly result from airfoil self-noise and can influence flow development via a feedback loop. This interdependence is decoupled, and the problem is studied in a controlled manner through the use of an external acoustic source. The flow field is assessed using time-resolved, two-component particle image velocimetry, the results of which show that, for equivalent energy input levels, tonal and broadband excitation can produce equivalent changes in the mean separation bubble topology. These changes in topology result from the influence of excitation on transition and the subsequent development of coherent structures in the bubble. Both tonal and broadband excitation lead to earlier shear layer roll-up and thus reduce the bubble size and advance mean reattachment upstream, while the shed vortices tend to persist farther downstream of mean reattachment in the case of tonal excitation. Through a cross-examination of linear stability theory (LST) predictions and measured disturbance characteristics, nonlinear disturbance interactions are shown to play a crucial role in the transition process, leading to significantly different disturbance development for the tonal and broadband excited flows. Specifically, tonal excitation results in transition being dominated by the excited mode, which grows in strong accordance with linear theory and damps the growth of all other disturbances. On the other hand, disturbance amplitudes are more moderate for the natural and broadband excited flows, and so all unstable disturbances initially grow in accordance with LST. For all cases, a rapid redistribution of perturbation energy to a broad range of frequencies follows, with the phenomenon occurring earliest for the broadband excitation case. By taking nonlinear effects into consideration, important ramifications are made clear in regards to comparing LST predictions and experimental or numerical results, thus explaining the trends reported in recent investigations. These findings offer new insights into the influence of tonal and broadband noise emissions, resulting from airfoil self-noise or otherwise, on transition and flow development within a separation bubble.
On Robust Discursive Equality
Authors: BESCH THOMAS M.
Published: August 2018

This paper explores the idea of robust discursive equality on which respect-based conceptions of justificatory reciprocity often draw. I distinguish between formal and substantive discursive equality and argue that if justificatory reciprocity requires that people be accorded formally equal discursive standing, robust discursive equality should not be construed as requiring standing that is equal substantively, or in terms of its discursive purchase. Still, robust discursive equality is purchase sensitive: it does not obtain when discursive standing is impermissibly unequal in purchase. I then showcase different candidate conceptions of purchase justice, and draw conclusions about the substantive commitments of justificatory reciprocity.
Least Energy Nodal Solutions for a Defocusing Schrödinger Equation with Supercritical Exponent
Authors: Yang Minbo , Santos Carlos Alberto , Zhou Jiazheng
Published: August 2018

In this paper we consider the existence of least energy nodal solution for the defocusing quasilinear Schrödinger equation
$$-\Delta u - u \Delta u^2 + V(x)u = a(x)[g(u) + \lambda \vert u \vert ^{p-2}u] \hbox{in} {\open R}^N,$$
where λ≥0 is a real parameter, V(x) is a non-vanishing function, a(x) can be a vanishing positive function at infinity, the nonlinearity g(u) is of subcritical growth, the exponent p≥22*, and N≥3. The proof is based on a dual argument on Nehari manifold by employing a deformation argument and an $L^{\infty}({\open R}^{N})$-estimative.