bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Mobile Solution for Augmenting a Manufacturing Environment with User-Generated Annotations
Authors: He Fan , Ong S.K. , Nee A.Y.C.
Published: February 2019

The ever-increasing complexity in manufacturing environments has caused delay and uncertainty for on-site personnel when retrieving critical information. Currently, information associated with manufacturing environments is created and stored in centralized terminals and even paper-based logbooks. Any delays in accessing this information can hinder critical decision-making processes that are essential to ensure maximum efficiency and productivity. To increase the competitiveness of manufacturing companies, the authors present a user-oriented markerless augmented reality authoring solution for the manufacturing environment utilizing the capability of a modern smartphone or head-mounted display. With a one-time setup and calibration, the end user is able to augment a physical workspace with a digital layer and annotate any stationary object with application data including maintenance records, service tickets, and usage logs. By directly mapping the data onto a relevant physical object, it allows more efficient reuse and better contextualization of manufacturing information. The backend expandable data structure also enhances extensibility so that the users can modify the digital layer with ease when the physical environment changes. This annotation tool defines a novel way of managing manufacturing information to help companies work more efficiently and effectively.
Modelling the (Essential) Role of Proton Transport by Electrolyte Bases for Electrochemical Water Oxidation at Near-Neutral pH
Authors: Dau Holger , Pasquini Chiara
Published: February 2019

The oxygen-evolution reaction (OER) in the near-neutral pH-regime is of high interest, e.g., for coupling of OER and CO2-reduction in the production of non-fossil fuels. A simple model is proposed that assumes equal proton activities in the catalyst film and the near-surface electrolyte. Equations are derived that describe the limitations relating to proton transport mediated by fluxes of molecular “buffer bases” in the electrolyte. The model explains (1) the need for buffer bases in near-neutral OER and (2) the pH dependence of the catalytic current at high overpotentials. The latter is determined by the concentration of unprotonated buffer bases times an effective diffusion constant, which can be estimated for simple cell geometries from tabulated diffusion coefficients. The model predicts (3) a macroscopic region of increased pH close to the OER electrode and at intermediate overpotentials, (4) a Tafel slope that depends on the reciprocal buffer capacity; both predictions are awaiting experimental verification. The suggested first-order model captures and predicts major trends of OER in the near-neutral pH, without accounting for proton-transport limitations at the catalyst–electrolyte interface and within the catalyst material, but the full quantitative agreement may require refinements. The suggested model also may be applicable to further electrocatalytic processes.
Virulence of Two Entomophthoralean Fungi, Pandora neoaphidis and Entomophthora planchoniana, to Their Conspecific (Sitobion avenae) and Heterospecific (Rhopalosiphum padi) Aphid Hosts
Authors: Ben Fekih Ibtissem , Jensen Annette Bruun , Boukhris-Bouhachem Sonia , Pozsgai Gabor , Rezgui Salah , Rensing Christopher , Eilenberg Jørgen
Published: February 2019

Pandora neoaphidis and Entomophthora planchoniana (phylum Entomophthoromycota) are important fungal pathogens on cereal aphids, Sitobion avenae and Rhopalosiphum padi. Here, we evaluated and compared for the first time the virulence of these two fungi, both produced in S. avenae cadavers, against the two aphid species subjected to the same exposure. Two laboratory bioassays were carried out using a method imitating entomophthoralean transmission in the field. Healthy colonies of the two aphid species were exposed to the same conidial shower of P. neoaphidis or E. planchoniana, in both cases from a cadaver of S. avenae. The experiments were performed under LD 18:6 h at 21 °C and a successful transmission was monitored for a period of nine days after initial exposure. Susceptibility of both S. avenae and R. padi to fungal infection showed a sigmoid trend. The fitted nonlinear model showed that the conspecific host, S. avenae, was more susceptible to E. planchoniana infection than the heterospecific host R. padi, was. In the case of P. neoaphidis, LT50 for S. avenae was 5.0 days compared to 5.9 days for R. padi. For E. planchoniana, the LT50 for S. avenae was 4.9 days, while the measured infection level in R. padi was always below 50 percent. Our results suggest that transmission from conspecific aphid host to heterospecific aphid host can occur in the field, but with expected highest transmission success to the conspecific host.
Effect of Prophylactic Amiodarone Infusion on the Recurrence of Ventricular Arrhythmias in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Survivors: A Propensity-Matched Analysis
Authors: Lee Byung Kook , Youn Chun Song , Kim Youn-Jung , Ryoo Seung Mok , Lim Kyung Soo , Nam Gi-Byoung , Kim Su Jin , Kim Won Young
Published: February 2019

Amiodarone is recommended for shock-refractory ventricular arrhythmia during resuscitation; however, it is unknown whether amiodarone is effective for preventing ventricular arrhythmia recurrence in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors treated with targeted temperature management (TTM). We investigated the effectiveness of prophylactic amiodarone in preventing ventricular arrhythmia recurrence in OHCA survivors. Data of consecutive adult non-traumatic OHCA survivors treated with TTM between 2010 and 2016 were extracted from prospective cardiac arrest registries of four tertiary care hospitals. The prophylactic amiodarone group was matched in a 1:1 ratio by using propensity scores. The primary outcome was ventricular arrhythmia recurrence requiring defibrillation during TTM. Among 295 patients with an initially shockable rhythm and 149 patients with initially non-shockable-turned-shockable rhythm, 124 patients (27.9%) received prophylactic amiodarone infusion. The incidence of ventricular arrhythmia recurrence was 11.26% (50/444). Multivariate analysis showed prophylactic amiodarone therapy to be the independent factor associated with ventricular arrhythmia recurrence (odds ratio 1.95, 95% CI 1.04–3.65, p = 0.04), however, no such association was observed (odds ratio 1.32, 95% CI 0.57–3.04, p = 0.51) after propensity score matching. In this propensity-score-matched study, prophylactic amiodarone infusion had no effect on preventing ventricular arrhythmia recurrence in OHCA survivors with shockable cardiac arrest. Prophylactic amiodarone administration must be considered carefully.
Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Individual Particles in Dense Dust Clouds: Benchmarking Camera Orientations and Reconstruction Algorithms
Authors: Himpel Michael , Melzer André
Published: February 2019

In dusty plasmas, determining the three-dimensional particle positions and trajectories of individual particles is often required. This paper benchmarks two approaches capable of reconstructing the trajectories of particles in three dimensions. The influences of the particle number, the particle number density, and the orientation of the individual cameras are studied. Additionally, the demands on the desired image quality, required for these algorithms, are discussed. The reader is given practical information for the appropriate reconstruction approach and camera positioning that should/could be used in a specific application.
Statistical Arbitrage in Cryptocurrency Markets
Authors: Fischer Thomas Günter , Krauss Christopher , Deinert Alexander
Published: February 2019

Machine learning research has gained momentum—also in finance. Consequently, initial machine-learning-based statistical arbitrage strategies have emerged in the U.S. equities markets in the academic literature, see e.g., Takeuchi and Lee (2013); Moritz and Zimmermann (2014); Krauss et al. (2017). With our paper, we pose the question how such a statistical arbitrage approach would fare in the cryptocurrency space on minute-binned data. Specifically, we train a random forest on lagged returns of 40 cryptocurrency coins, with the objective to predict whether a coin outperforms the cross-sectional median of all 40 coins over the subsequent 120 min. We buy the coins with the top-3 predictions and short-sell the coins with the flop-3 predictions, only to reverse the positions after 120 min. During the out-of-sample period of our backtest, ranging from 18 June 2018 to 17 September 2018, and after more than 100,000 trades, we find statistically and economically significant returns of 7.1 bps per day, after transaction costs of 15 bps per half-turn. While this finding poses a challenge to the semi-strong from of market efficiency, we critically discuss it in light of limits to arbitrage, focusing on total volume constraints of the presented intraday-strategy.
Effect of Corporate Governance on Institutional Investors’ Preferences: An Empirical Investigation in Taiwan
Authors: Lu Su-Lien , Li Ying-Hui
Published: February 2019

This study discusses the institutional investors’ shareholding base on corporate governance system in Taiwan. The sample was 4760 Taiwanese companies from 2005 to 2012. Then, this study established six hypotheses to investigate the effects of corporate governance on institutional investors’ shareholdings. The panel data regression model and piecewise regression model were adopted to determine whether six hypotheses are supported. For sensitive analysis, additional consideration was given on the basis of industrial category (electronics or nonelectronics), and the 2008–2010 global financial crises. This study discovered that a nonlinear relationship exists between the domestic institutional investors’ shareholdings. The managerial ownership ratio and blockholder ownership ratio have positive effects both on domestic and foreign institutional investors. However, domestic and foreign institutional investors have distinct opinions regarding independent director ratios. Finally, the corporate governance did not improve institutional investors’ shareholdings during financial crisis periods; instead, they paid more attention to firm profits or other characteristics.
One City for All? The Characteristics of Residential Displacement in Southwest Washington, DC
Authors: Lindsay-Herrera Flora
Published: February 2019

This paper examines two periods of renewal in Washington, DC, USA’s southwest quadrant and their relationship with displacement. The paper situates this discussion within both the local historical continuum and globally-recognized paradigms, such as “the right to the city”. This article primarily serves as an overview of urban planning consequences in Southwest Washington DC based on extant academic literature and policy briefs. Compared with the abrupt physical displacement in the 1950s and 1960s precipitated by a large-scale federally funded urban raze and rebuild project, urban planning in present-day DC includes mechanisms for public engagement and provisions for housing security. However, countervailing economic incentives and rapid demographic changes have introduced anxieties about involuntary mobility that the literature suggests may be born out of forced or responsive displacement. Two potential case studies in the area warrant future study to understand present-day mobilities in the context of the economic and socio-cultural factors shaping the actions of present and prospective residents and decision-makers.
Fabrication of Diatomite/Silicalite-1 Composites and Their Property for VOCs Adsorption
Authors: Liu Yutong , Tian Tao
Published: February 2019

Adsorption technology is an effective method to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In this work, we prepared hierarchical porous materials using modified diatomite (Dt) as a support and nano-sized silicalite-1 (S-1) seeds as inorganic fillers, which were applied to adsorb volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The characterization of the composites indicated that S-1 was successfully coated onto the surface of modified Dt, and the best surface area of the composites was 398.8 m2/g, nearly 40 times as large as Dt. The adsorption capacities of Dt/S-1 composites for three probe VOCs (ethyl acetate, acetone, and toluene) were rather superior to Dt, and the composites had preferential adsorption selectivity for ethyl acetate. Effects of seeded zeolite contents and hydrothermal conditions for the adsorption capacity of composites were discussed in this paper. The composite seeded with 5 wt% S-1 zeolite, which was subsequently synthesized by hydrothermal reaction at 100 °C for four days, showed the maximum adsorption capacity (1.31 mmol/g for ethyl acetate). The pseudo second-order model provided a perfect fit to adsorption kinetics, while the Langmuir model agreed the best with the adsorption isotherms. In addition, the composites had selective adsorption to ethyl acetate among these three probes VOCs. The regeneration experiments were also carried out, and the adsorption efficiency of the adsorbents was still up to 67% after five adsorption–desorption cycles. The hierarchical porous Dt/S-1 composites have an excellent VOC adsorption performance, satisfactory selectivity, and recycling ability.
Monolithic Structure-Optical Fiber Sensor with Temperature Compensation for Pressure Measurement
Authors: Wang Wenhua , Zhou Xinlei , Wu Weina , Chen Jihua , He Shenlong , Guo Weifeng , Gao Junbin , Huang Shaoxin , Chen Xuanhua
Published: February 2019

In this paper, an optical fiber pressure sensor cascading a diaphragm-assisted Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) and a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is proposed and demonstrated. The sensor comprises an optical fiber, a fused-silica ferrule, and a fused-silica diaphragm. We use a femtosecond laser firstly to fabricate a pit on the end face of the ferrule and then investigate the laser heat conduction welding and deep penetration welding technology for manufacturing the seepage pressure sensor of the all-fused-silica material. We develop a sensor based on a monolithic structured FPI without adhesive bonding by means of all-laser-welding. The pressure characteristics of the sensor have good linearity at different temperatures. Also, the monolithic structured sensor possesses excellent resolution, hysteresis, and long-term stability. The environmental temperature obtained by the FBG is employed to compensate for the difference in seepage pressure at different temperatures, and the difference in seepage pressure responses at different temperatures is shown to be very small after temperature compensation.
A Computational and Experimental Investigation of the Phonon and Optical Properties of Au2P3
Authors: Snure Michael , Prusnick Timothy , Bianco Elisabeth , Badescu Stefan C.
Published: February 2019

In a combined experimental and theoretical study of gold phosphide (Au2P3), we investigate its vibrational properties, band structure, and dielectric properties, providing new insight into the properties of this underexplored material. Using a simple synthesis route, Au2P3 thin films were produced, enabling the first reported Raman analysis of this material. Coupled with first-principles calculations of these Raman modes, this analysis reveals that low-frequency vibrations are due to Au or mixed Au to P, and at higher frequencies, they are due to P vibrations. Further band structure and dielectric calculations reveal Au2P3 to be a narrow band (0.16 eV) indirect semiconductor. This work helps to fill major gaps in our understanding of key properties in this material that will benefit future research in this field.
Investigating the Functions of Particles in Packed Aggregate Blend using a Discrete Element Method
Authors: Miao Yinghao , Yu Weixiao , Hou Yue , Guo Liyan , Wang Linbing
Published: February 2019

In asphalt mixture, aggregates account for up to 90% of the total volume and play an important role in the mechanical characteristics of asphalt mixture. The proportions of fine and coarse aggregates in gradation, as well as the function of aggregate particles, are important factors for the skeleton structure performance of asphalt mixtures. However, the existing asphalt mixture design methods are mostly based on empirical methods, where the non-uniformity and complexity of the composition of asphalt mixtures are not fully studied. In this study, the skeleton structure of aggregate mixture and function of aggregate are studied and analyzed using the Discrete Element Method (DEM). The Particle Flow 3D (PFC3D) DEM program is used to perform the numerical simulation. The average contact number and interaction forces by aggregate particles of different sizes are obtained and studied. The skeleton structure of aggregate mixture and function of aggregate particles are further analyzed from the meso-structural perspective.
Modelling the Influence of Waste Rubber on Compressive Strength of Concrete by Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Hadzima-Nyarko Marijana , Nyarko Emmanuel Karlo , Ademović Naida , Miličević Ivana , Kalman Šipoš Tanja
Published: February 2019

One of the major causes of ecological and environmental problems comes from the enormous number of discarded waste tires, which is directly connected to the exponential growth of the world’s population. In this paper, previous works carried out on the effects of partial or full replacement of aggregate in concrete with waste rubber on some properties of concrete were investigated. A database containing 457 mixtures with partial or full replacement of natural aggregate with waste rubber in concrete provided by different researchers was formed. This database served as the basis for investigating the influence of partial or full replacement of natural aggregate with waste rubber in concrete on compressive strength. With the aid of the database, the possibility of achieving reliable prediction of the compressive strength of concrete with tire rubber is explored using neural network modelling.
Nanosecond-Laser Generation of Nanoparticles in Liquids: From Ablation through Bubble Dynamics to Nanoparticle Yield
Authors: Kudryashov Sergey I. , Samokhvalov Andrey A. , Nastulyavichus Alena A. , Saraeva Irina N. , Mikhailovskii Vladimir Y. , Ionin Andrey A. , Veiko Vadim P.
Published: February 2019

A comprehensive picture of the nanosecond-laser generation of colloidal nanoparticles in liquids is nowadays the demand of their high-throughput industrial fabrication for diverse perspective biomedical, material science, and optoelectronic applications. In this study, using silicon as an example, we present a self-consistent experimental visualization and theoretical description of key transient stages during nanosecond-laser generation of colloidal nanoparticles in liquids: plasma-mediated injection of ablated mass into the liquid and driving the vapor bubble, finalized by the colloid appearance in the liquid. The explored fundamental transient stages envision the basic temporal and spatial scales, as well as laser parameter windows, for the demanded high-throughput nanosecond-laser generation of colloidal nanoparticles in liquids.
Surface Treatment of Carbon Fibers by Oxy-Fluorination
Authors: Kruppke Iris , Scheffler Christina , Simon Frank , Hund Rolf-Dieter , Cherif Chokri
Published: February 2019

In this paper, the oxy-fluorination process and the influence of different concentrations of fluorine and oxygen in the gas phase on the physicochemical properties of polyacrylonitrile(PAN)-based carbon fibers are described. The properties of the treated carbon structures are determined by zeta potential and tensiometry measurements. In addition, changes in surface composition and morphology are investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Adhesion properties are characterized by the single fiber pull-out (SFPO) test. Furthermore, changes in intrinsic properties are described by means of tensile and density measurements. After a primary desizing effect by oxy-fluorination, an increased number of oxygen-containing surface functional groups could be detected, which led to more debonding work in SFPOs with an epoxy-based matrix. It was also shown that the polar surface energy grows with rising fluorine concentration in the reaction gas mixture. In addition, a minor increase of ~10% in the maximum strength of PAN-based carbon fibers is detected by single fiber tensile measurements after oxy-fluorination with a fluorine content of 5% in the reaction mixture.
Rapid Growth of TiO2 Nanoflowers via Low-Temperature Solution Process: Photovoltaic and Sensing Applications
Authors: Akhtar M. Shaheer , Umar Ahmad , Sood Swati , Jung InSung , Hegazy H. H. , Algarni H.
Published: February 2019

This paper reports the rapid synthesis, characterization, and photovoltaic and sensing applications of TiO2 nanoflowers prepared by a facile low-temperature solution process. The morphological characterizations clearly reveal the high-density growth of a three-dimensional flower-shaped structure composed of small petal-like rods. The detailed properties confirmed that the synthesized nanoflowers exhibited high crystallinity with anatase phase and possessed an energy bandgap of 3.2 eV. The synthesized TiO2 nanoflowers were utilized as photo-anode and electron-mediating materials to fabricate dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) and liquid nitroaniline sensor applications. The fabricated DSSC demonstrated a moderate conversion efficiency of ~3.64% with a maximum incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE) of ~41% at 540 nm. The fabricated liquid nitroaniline sensor demonstrated a good sensitivity of ~268.9 μA mM−1 cm−2 with a low detection limit of 1.05 mM in a short response time of 10 s.
The Photodynamic Properties and the Genotoxicity of Heat-Treated Silicalite-1 Films
Authors: Jirka Ivan , Kopová Ivana , Kubát Pavel , Tabor Edyta , Bačáková Lucie , Bouša Milan , Sajdl Petr
Published: February 2019

We investigated the use of a supported silicalite-1 film (SF) as a promising coating for metallic materials used in the fabrication of prostheses. The role of carbonaceous residua present on high-temperature calcined-SF in generating singlet oxygen for future use as a sterilization method has also been addressed, and the potential genotoxicity of these residua in osteoblast-like cells has been investigated. Calcination of as-synthesized SF induced the appearance of a rather complicated mixture of aliphatic and aromatic species on its outer surface. A series of variously volatile polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), including naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, and pyrene, were identified in micromole concentrations. Irradiation of these PAHs on calcined-SF immersed in air-saturated chloroform led to the formation of very low concentrations of singlet oxygen. However, an increased level of DNA damage was observed on calcined-SF by immunofluorescence staining of phosphorylated histone H2AX analyzed by flow cytometry.
Electrospun Polylactic Acid (PLLA) Microtube Array Membrane (MTAM)—An Advanced Substrate for Anticancer Drug Screening
Authors: Tseng Chia-Hsuan , Huang Wan-Ting , Chew Chee Ho , Lai Jun-Kai , Tu Shih-Hsin , Wei Po-Li , Lee Kang-Yun , Lai Gi-Ming , Chen Chien-Chung
Published: February 2019

The advent of personalized cancer treatment resulted in the shift from the administration of cytotoxic drugs with broad activity spectrum to a targeted tumor-specific therapy. Aligned to this development, the focus of this study revolved around the application of our novel and patented microtube array membrane (MTAM) in the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) developed an HFA (hollow fiber assay) assay; hereinafter known as MTAM/HFA. Electrospun poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) MTAM was sterilized and loaded with cell lines/patient derived tumor cells (PDTC) and subcutaneously implanted into the backs of BALB/C mice. Anticancer drugs were administered at the respective time points and the respective MTAMs were retrieved and the viability tumor cells within were quantified with the MTT assay. Results revealed that the MTAMs were excellent culture substrate for various cancer cell lines and PDTCs (patient derived tumor cells). Compared to traditional HFA systems that utilize traditional hollow fibers, MTAM/HFA revealed superior drug sensitivity for a wide range of anticancer drug classes. Additionally, the duration for each test was <14 days; all this while capable of producing similar trend outcome to the current gold-standard xenograft models. These benefits were observed in both the in vitro and in vivo stages, making it a highly practical phenotypic-based solution that could potentially be applied in personalized medicine.
Simulation of Field Assisted Sintering of Silicon Germanium Alloys
Authors: Tukmakova Anastasiia , Novotelnova Anna , Samusevich Kseniia , Usenko Andrey , Moskovskikh Dmitriy , Smirnov Alexandr , Mirofyanchenko Ekaterina , Takagi Toshiyuki , Miki Hiroyuki , Khovaylo Vladimir
Published: February 2019

We report a numerical study of the field assisted sintering of silicon germanium alloys by a finite element method, which takes into account contact resistances, thermal expansion and the thermoelectric effect. The distribution of electrical and thermal fields was analyzed numerically, based on the experimental data collected from spark plasma sintering (SPS) apparatus. The thermoelectric properties of Si-Ge used within the simulation were considered as the function of density and the sintering temperature. Quantitative estimation of the temperature distribution during the sintering pointed to a significant, up to 60 °C, temperature difference within the specimen volume for the case of the sintering temperature at 1150 °C.
Deposition of Stainless Steel Thin Films: An Electron Beam Physical Vapour Deposition Approach
Authors: Ali Naser , Teixeira Joao A. , Addali Abdulmajid , Saeed Maryam , Al-Zubi Feras , Sedaghat Ahmad , Bahzad Husain
Published: February 2019

This study demonstrates an electron beam physical vapour deposition approach as an alternative stainless steel thin films fabrication method with controlled layer thickness and uniform particles distribution capability. The films were fabricated at a range of starting electron beam power percentages of 3–10%, and thickness of 50–150 nm. Surface topography and wettability analysis of the samples were investigated to observe the changes in surface microstructure and the contact angle behaviour of 20 °C to 60 °C deionised waters, of pH 4, pH 7, and pH 9, with the as-prepared surfaces. The results indicated that films fabricated at low controlled deposition rates provided uniform particles distribution and had the closest elemental percentages to stainless steel 316L and that increasing the deposition thickness caused the surface roughness to reduce by 38%. Surface wettability behaviour, in general, showed that the surface hydrophobic nature tends to weaken with the increase in temperature of the three examined fluids.
Numerical Analysis of Curing Residual Stress and Deformation in Thermosetting Composite Laminates with Comparison between Different Constitutive Models
Authors: Dai Jianfeng , Xi Shangbin , Li Dongna
Published: February 2019

A multi-physics coupling numerical model of the curing process is proposed for the thermosetting resin composites in this paper, and the modified “cure hardening instantaneously linear elastic (CHILE)” model and viscoelastic model are adopted to forecast residual stress and deformation during the curing process. The thermophysical properties of both models are evolved in line with temperature and degree of cure (DOC). Accordingly, the numerical simulation results are improved to be more accurate. Additionally, the elastic modulus of the materials is calibrated to be equal to the modulus of viscoelastic relaxation by a defined function of time in the CHILE model. Subsequently, this work effectuates the two proposed models in a three-dimensional composite laminate structure. Through comparing the two numerical outcomes, it is customary that the residual stress and deformation acquired by the modified model of CHILE conform to those ones assessed through adopting the viscoelastic model.
Oxidation Protective Hybrid Coating for Thermoelectric Materials
Authors: Gucci Francesco , D’Isanto Fabiana , Zhang Ruizhi , Reece Michael J. , Smeacetto Federico , Salvo Milena
Published: February 2019

Two commercial hybrid coatings, cured at temperatures lower than 300 °C, were successfully used to protect magnesium silicide stannide and zinc-doped tetrahedrite thermoelectrics. The oxidation rate of magnesium silicide at 500 °C in air was substantially reduced after 120 h with the application of the solvent-based coating and a slight increase in power factor was observed. The water-based coating was effective in preventing an increase in electrical resistivity for a coated tethtraedrite, preserving its power factor after 48 h at 350 °C.
Notch (In)Sensitivity of Aluminum Matrix Syntactic Foams
Authors: Szlancsik Attila , Katona Bálint , Károly Dóra , Orbulov Imre Norbert
Published: February 2019

Aluminum alloy (Al99.5 or AlSi12)-based metal matrix syntactic foams (MMSFs) were produced by pressure infiltration with ~65 vol % Globocer filler (33 wt % Al2O3, 48 wt % SiO2, 19 wt % Al2O3∙SiO2). The infiltrated blocks were machined by different geometry tools in order to produce notched samples. The samples were loaded in three-point bending, and the loading force values were recorded against the cross-head displacements and the crack opening displacements. To measure up the notch sensitivity and toughness of the MMSFs, the fracture energies and the fracture toughness values were determined. The results showed that the mentioned quantities are needed to describe the behavior of MMSFs. The fracture energies were shown to be notch-sensitive, while the fracture toughness values were dependent only on the matrix material and were insensitive to the notch geometry. The complex investigation of the fracture surfaces revealed strong bonding between the hollow spheres and the Al99.5 matrix due to a chemical reaction, while this bonding was found to be weaker in the case of the AlSi12 matrix. This difference resulted in completely different crack propagation modes in the case of the different matrices.
Using Resistin, Glucose, Age and BMI and Pruning Fuzzy Neural Network for the Construction of Expert Systems in the Prediction of Breast Cancer
Authors: Silva Araújo Vinícius Jonathan , Guimarães Augusto Junio , de Campos Souza Paulo Vitor , Rezende Thiago Silva , Araújo Vanessa Souza
Published: February 2019

Research on predictions of breast cancer grows in the scientific community, providing data on studies in patient surveys. Predictive models link areas of medicine and artificial intelligence to collect data and improve disease assessments that affect a large part of the population, such as breast cancer. In this work, we used a hybrid artificial intelligence model based on concepts of neural networks and fuzzy systems to assist in the identification of people with breast cancer through fuzzy rules. The hybrid model can manipulate the data collected in medical examinations and identify patterns between healthy people and people with breast cancer with an acceptable level of accuracy. These intelligent techniques allow the creation of expert systems based on logical rules of the IF/THEN type. To demonstrate the feasibility of applying fuzzy neural networks, binary pattern classification tests were performed where the dimensions of the problem are used for a model, and the answers identify whether or not the patient has cancer. In the tests, experiments were replicated with several characteristics collected in the examinations done by medical specialists. The results of the tests, compared to other models commonly used for this purpose in the literature, confirm that the hybrid model has a tremendous predictive capacity in the prediction of people with breast cancer maintaining acceptable levels of accuracy with good ability to act on false positives and false negatives, assisting the scientific milieu with its forecasts with the significant characteristic of interpretability of breast cancer. In addition to coherent predictions, the fuzzy neural network enables the construction of systems in high level programming languages to build support systems for physicians’ actions during the initial stages of treatment of the disease with the fuzzy rules found, allowing the construction of systems that replicate the knowledge of medical specialists, disseminating it to other professionals.
A 6-Letter ‘DNA’ for Baskets with Handles
Authors: Mallos James
Published: February 2019

Fabric surfaces, made using techniques such as crochet and net-making, are typically worked in a linear order that meanders, without crossing itself, to ultimately visit and build the entire surface. For a closed basket, whose surface is a topological sphere, it is known that the construction can be described by a codeword on a 4-letter alphabet via Mullin’s encoding of plane graphs. Mullin’s code exemplifies the formal language known as the Shuffled Dyck Language with 2 Types of Parenthesis ( S D L 2 ). Besides its 4-letter alphabet, S D L 2 has some other similarities to DNA: Any word can be ‘evolved’ via a sequence of local mutations (rewriting rules), and ‘gene-splicing’ two S D L 2 words, by an insertion or concatenation, produces another S D L 2 word. However, S D L 2 comes up short when we attempt to make a basket with handles. I show that extending the language to S D L 3 , by addition of a third type of parenthesis, succeeds for orientable surfaces with handles—provided an appropriate choice of cut graph is made.
The Prolongation Structure of the Modified Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation and Its Initial-Boundary Value Problem on the Half Line via the Riemann-Hilbert Approach
Authors: Liu Tongshuai , Dong Huanhe
Published: February 2019

In this paper, the Lax pair of the modified nonlinear Schrödinger equation (mNLS) is derived by means of the prolongation structure theory. Based on the obtained Lax pair, the mNLS equation on the half line is analyzed with the assistance of Fokas method. A Riemann-Hilbert problem is formulated in the complex plane with respect to the spectral parameter. According to the initial-boundary values, the spectral function can be defined. Furthermore, the jump matrices and the global relations can be obtained. Finally, the potential q ( x , t ) can be represented by the solution of this Riemann-Hilbert problem.
Analytic Solution of a Class of Singular Second-Order Boundary Value Problems with Applications
Authors: Ali Hoda S. , Alali Elham , Ebaid Abdelhalim , Alharbi Fahad M.
Published: February 2019

Recently, it was observed that the concentration/heat transfer of pure/nano fluids are finally governed by singular second-order boundary value problems with exponential coefficients. These coefficients were transformed into polynomials and therefore the governing equations become singular in a new independent variable. Unfortunately, the published approximate solutions in the literature suffer from some weaknesses as showed by one of the present coauthors. Hence, the exact solution for such types of problems becomes a challenge. In this paper, a straightforward approach is presented to obtaining the exact solution for such class of singular second-order boundary value problems. The results are also applied to some selected problems within the literature. Accordingly, the published solutions are recovered as special cases of the present ones.
Some Special Elements and Pseudo Inverse Functions in Groupoids
Authors: Liu Yong Lin , Kim Hee Sik , Neggers Joseph
Published: February 2019

In this paper, we consider a theory of elements u of a groupoid ( X , ∗ ) that are associated with certain functions u ^ : X → X , pseudo-inverse functions, which are generalizations of the inverses associated with units of groupoids with identity elements. If classifying the elements u as special of one of twelve types, then it is possible to do a rather detailed analysis of certain cases, leftoids, rightoids and linear groupoids included, which demonstrates that it is possible to develop a successful theory and that a good deal of information has already been obtained with much more possible in the future.
Normed Dual Algebras
Authors: Ludkowski Sergey
Published: February 2019

This article is devoted to the investigation of dual and annihilator normed algebras. Their structure is studied in the paper. Extensions of algebras and fields are considered and by using them, core radicals and radicals are investigated. Moreover, for this purpose ∗-algebras and finely regular algebras are also studied. Relations with operator theory and realizations of these algebras by operator algebras are outlined.
Cumulative Measure of Inaccuracy and Mutual Information in k-th Lower Record Values
Authors: Eskandarzadeh Maryam , Di Crescenzo Antonio , Tahmasebi Saeid
Published: February 2019

In this paper, we discuss the cumulative measure of inaccuracy in k-lower record values and study characterization results of dynamic cumulative inaccuracy. We also present some properties of the proposed measures, and the empirical cumulative measure of inaccuracy in k-lower record values. We prove a central limit theorem for the empirical cumulative measure of inaccuracy under exponentially distributed populations. Finally, we analyze the mutual information for measuring the degree of dependency between lower record values, and we show that it is distribution-free.
Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia due to Drug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii: Risk Factors and Mortality Relation with Resistance Profiles, and Independent Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality
Authors: Čiginskienė Aušra , Dambrauskienė Asta , Rello Jordi , Adukauskienė Dalia
Published: February 2019

Background and objectives: High mortality and healthcare costs area associated with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) due to Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii). The data concerning the link between multidrug-resistance of A. baumannii strains and outcomes remains controversial. Therefore, we aimed to identify the relation of risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and mortality with the drug resistance profiles of Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) and independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. Methods: A retrospective ongoing cohort study of 60 patients that were treated for VAP due to drug-resistant A. baumannii in medical-surgical intensive care units (ICU) over a two-year period was conducted. Results: The proportions of multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and potentially pandrug-resistant (pPDR) A. baumannii were 13.3%, 68.3%, and 18.3%, respectively. The SAPS II scores on ICU admission were 42.6, 48.7, and 49 (p = 0.048); hospital length of stay (LOS) prior to ICU was 0, one, and two days (p = 0.036), prior to mechanical ventilation (MV)—0, 0, and three days (p = 0.013), and carbapenem use prior to VAP—50%, 29.3%, and 18.2% (p = 0.036), respectively. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 63.3%. In MDR, XDR, and pPDR A. baumannii VAP groups, it was 62.5%, 61.3%, and 72.7% (p = 0.772), respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that female gender (95% OR 5.26; CI: 1.21–22.83), SOFA score on ICU admission (95% OR 1.28; CI: 1.06–1.53), and RBC transfusion (95% OR 5.98; CI: 1.41–25.27) were all independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: The VAP risk factors: higher SAPS II score, increased hospital LOS prior to ICU, and MV were related to the higher resistance profile of A. baumannii. Carbapenem use was found to be associated with the risk of MDR A. baumannii VAP. Mortality due to drug-resistant A. baumannii VAP was high, but it was not associated with the A. baumannii resistance profile. Female gender, SOFA score, and RBC transfusion were found to be independent predictors of in-hospital mortality.
FeSiBPNbCu Bulk Nanocrystalline Alloys with High GFA and Excellent Soft-Magnetic Properties
Authors: Liu Lei , Zhou Bang , Zhang Yiqun , He Aina , Zhang Tao , Li Fushan , Dong Yaqiang , Wang Xinmin
Published: February 2019

(Fe0.76Si0.09B0.1P0.05)99.3−xNbxCu0.7 (x = 0–1.5 at. %) bulk nanocrystalline alloys were prepared to investigate the alloying effects of Nb on glass forming ability, thermal stability, soft magnetic properties, and crystallization behavior. It was found that the amorphous forming ability was greatly improved with the addition of minor Nb. The thermal stability of Nb-containing alloy was significantly improved because the initial crystallization temperature and crystallization activation of the primary phase were obviously better than that of the Nb-free alloy. Further, the larger intervals of two-phase crystallization temperature and the significantly higher activation energy of crystallization of the second phase in the Nb-containing alloys favor the formation of a single α-Fe(Si) nanocrystalline structure. Moreover, Nb-containing alloys exhibit excellent soft magnetic properties, including high saturation magnetization of 1.42–1.49 T, low coercivity of around 1.0 A/m, and high permeability of about 18,000 at 1 kHz, which makes the alloys promising soft magnetic materials for industrial applications.
A Simulation Study on the Flow Behavior of Liquid Steel in Tundish with Annular Argon Blowing in the Upper Nozzle
Authors: Qin Xufeng , Cheng Changgui , Li Yang , Zhang Chunming , Zhang Jinlei , Jin Yan
Published: February 2019

A three-dimensional mathematical model of gas−liquid two-phase flow has been established to study the flow behavior of liquid steel in the tundish. The effect of the argon flow rate and casting speed on the flow behavior of liquid steel, as well as the migration behavior of argon bubbles, was investigated. The results from the mathematical model were found to be consistent with those from the tundish water model. There were some swirl flows around the stopper when the annular argon blowing process was adopted; the flow of liquid steel near the liquid surface was active around the stopper. With increased argon flow rate, the vortex range and intensity around the stopper gradually increased, and the vertical flow velocity of the liquid steel in the vicinity of the stopper increased; the argon volume flow in the tundish and mold all increased. With increased casting speed, the vortex range and intensity around the stopper gradually decreased, the peak value of vertical flow velocity of liquid steel at the vicinity of the stopper decreased, and the distribution and ratio of argon volume flow between the tundish and the mold decreased. To avoid slag entrapment and purify the liquid steel, the argon flow rate should not be more than 3 L·min−1. These results provide a theoretical basis to optimize the parameters of the annular argon blowing at the upper nozzle and improve the slab quality.
Evaluation of Sample Preparation Methods for the Analysis of Reef-Building Corals Using 1H-NMR-Based Metabolomics
Authors: Andersson Erik R. , Day Rusty D. , Loewenstein Julie M. , Woodley Cheryl M. , Schock Tracey B.
Published: February 2019

The field of metabolomics generally lacks standardized methods for the preparation of samples prior to analysis. This is especially true for metabolomics of reef-building corals, where the handful of studies that were published employ a range of sample preparation protocols. The utilization of metabolomics may prove essential in understanding coral biology in the face of increasing environmental threats, and an optimized method for preparing coral samples for metabolomics analysis would aid this cause. The current study evaluates three important steps during sample processing of stony corals: (i) metabolite extraction, (ii) metabolism preservation, and (iii) subsampling. Results indicate that a modified Bligh and Dyer extraction is more reproducible across multiple coral species compared to methyl tert-butyl ether and methanol extractions, while a methanol extraction is superior for feature detection. Additionally, few differences were detected between spectra from frozen or lyophilized coral samples. Finally, extraction of entire coral nubbins increased feature detection, but decreased throughput and was more susceptible to subsampling error compared to a novel tissue powder subsampling method. Overall, we recommend the use of a modified Bligh and Dyer extraction, lyophilized samples, and the analysis of brushed tissue powder for the preparation of reef-building coral samples for 1H NMR metabolomics.
Identification and Quantification of Enniatins and Beauvericin in Animal Feeds and Their Ingredients by LC-QTRAP/MS/MS
Authors: Tolosa Josefa , Rodríguez-Carrasco Yelko , Ferrer Emilia , Mañes Jordi
Published: February 2019

Emerging fusariotoxins, mainly enniatins (ENNs) and beauvericin (BEA), are secondary toxic metabolites produced by Fusarium spp. and are widely distributed contaminants of cereals and by-products. Mycotoxin contamination in these products supposes an important risk to feed supply security in the feed industry due to the common use of cereals in feed formulations. Hence, continuous monitoring of both raw materials and feed mixtures is highly recommended as stated by sanitary authorities. Therefore, an analytical procedure based on liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and an acetonitrile-based extraction followed by a d-SPE (QuEChERS) step for the simultaneous determination of emerging Fusarium mycotoxins was in-house validated and successfully applied to raw materials (n = 39) and feed manufactured with them (n = 48). The analytical method was validated following the European guidelines and satisfactory results were obtained. Both raw materials and complete feedstuffs showed mycotoxin contamination at incidences of 18% and 92%, respectively. ENN B was the most commonly found mycotoxin in the analyzed samples at concentrations up to several tens of µg/kg. On the other hand, the co-occurrence of mycotoxins was observed in 47% of samples, ENN B and BEA being the most common combination. These results highlight the necessity to take a vigilant attitude to monitor the occurrence of contaminants in raw materials and feedstuffs throughout the manufacturing chain and storage.
Fabrication of a Low Adhesive Superhydrophobic Surface on Ti6Al4V Alloys Using TiO2/Ni Composite Electrodeposition
Authors: Meng Jianbing , Dong Xiaojuan , Zhao Yugang , Xu Rufeng , Bai Xue , Zhou Haian
Published: February 2019

A superhydrophobic surface with low adhesion and good wear resistance was fabricated on Ti6Al4V substrates via TiO2/Ni composite electrodeposition, and subsequently modified with a fluoroalkylsilane (FAS) film. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and optical contact angle measurements were used to characterize the surface morphologies, chemical compositions, and surface wettability. The superhydrophobicity of the as-prepared surface results from the fabrication of a hierarchical structure and the assembly of low-surface energy fluorinated components. The as-prepared surface had a water contact angle as high as 162.6° and a sliding angle close to 1.8°. Scratch and abrasion tests showed that the superhydrophobic coating provided a superior wear resistance and stable mechanical abrasion protection. In addition, the influence of processing conditions, such as working voltage, deposited time, pH value, and TiO2 concentration, was also investigated.