bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ПРОГНОЗИРОВАНИЕ ТЕХНИЧЕСКИ ВОЗМОЖНОГО ОБЪЕМА ВНЕДРЕНИЯ ПОЛИМЕРНЫХ КОМПОЗИЦИОННЫХ МАТЕРИАЛОВ В КОНСТРУКЦИЯХ САМОЛЕТОВ
Authors: Gvozdov M.O. , Kondratiev A.V.
Published: November 2017

Предложен общий статистический подход к прогнозированию технически возможного объема внедрения полимерных композиционных материалов в конструкциях летательных аппаратов. Дальнейшая углубленная разработка предложенного статистического подхода может быть положена в основу синтеза научных основ прогнозирования внедрения полимерных композиционных материалов в конструкциях летательных аппаратов как краткосрочного, так и перспективного периодов с учетом различных определяющих факторов отечественного развития отрасли.
IJTAR 3:1 Editorial
Authors: Hay Julie
Published: November 2017

IJTAR 3:1 Editorial
IJTAR 4:1 2nd EATA TA Research Conference Proceedings: Contents
Authors: Hay Julie
Published: November 2017

IJTAR 4:1 2nd EATA TA Research Conference Proceedings: Contents
IJTAR 5:2 Editorial
Authors: Hay Julie
Published: November 2017

Editorial for Vol 5 No 2
TA Treatment of Depression: A Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design Study - ‘Sara’
Authors: Benelli Enrico , Revello Barbara , Piccirillo Cristina , Mazzetti Marco , Calvo Vincenzo , Palmieri Arianna , Sambin Marco , Widdowson Mark
Published: November 2017

This study is the first of a series of three, and represents an Italian systematic replication of previous UK findings (Widdowson 2012a, 2012b, 2012c, 2013) that investigated the effectiveness of a recently manualised transactional analysis treatment for depression with British clients, using Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design (HSCED). The various stages of HSCED as a systematic case study research method are described, as a quasi-judicial method to sift case evidence in which researchers construct opposing arguments around quantitative and qualitative multiple source evidences and judges evaluate these for and against propositions to conclude whether the client changed substantially over the course of therapy and that the outcome was attributable to the therapy. The therapist in this case was a white Italian woman with 10 years clinical experience and the client, Sara, was a 62-year old white Italian woman with moderate depression and three recent bereavements, who attended sixteen sessions of transactional analysis therapy. The diagnosis is based on the new DSM-5 criteria that allow differentiation between Depression and Bereavement. The conclusion of the judges was that this was a good-outcome case: the client improved early over the course of the therapy, reported positive experience of therapy and maintained the improvement at the end of the follow-up.
The Many Faces of Transactional Analysis: A Survey Study of the Practice and Identity of Transactional Analysis Therapists in the UK
Authors: Gregory Siobhan
Published: November 2017

An online survey method was used with a sample of 99 therapists who had completed at least 4 years of transactional analysis psychotherapy training to investigate factors including their views on the most and least practised TA psychotherapy approaches based on the ‘schools’ of Classical, Redecision, Cathexis, Integrative, Psychodynamic and Relational. Demographic information on gender, age, therapeutic activity and professional associations was also collected, and the survey explored subjects’ willingness to diversify their knowledge of therapies other than TA, how much they integrated across therapeutic modalities, and their commitment to a TA Identity.Statistical analysis was conducted on the TA Identity and Integrative Identity scales within the survey, which were shown to have good reliability and internal consistency. Statistical analysis of results indicated that participants displayed significantly higher levels of Integrative Identity than TA Identity, although it was not clear whether that related to the TA Integrative approach or to the general integration of different approaches. Attainment of the international TA qualification as Certified Transactional Analyst (Psychotherapy) was shown to be related to commitment to TA and commitment in the TA community.
Impact of the Application of Redecision Methods in Executive Coaching Workshops on Psychological Wellbeing: a Quantitative Evaluation of Effectiveness
Authors: Widdowson Mark , Theuns Peter , Rosseau Mil , Rosseau Rik
Published: November 2017

Previous research has found that participants in redecision marathons experience increased personal growth and improvements in psychological well-being (McNeel, 1982; Noriega-Gayol, 1997; Widdowson & Rosseau, 2014). In this article, the authors conducted a quantitative analysis based on the use of the Ryff Scales of Psychological Wellbeing to determine whether participants (n=49) at an executive coaching redecision marathon would experience an increase in psychological well-being. The findings show statistically significant improvements in psychological well-being overall, and specifically within the sub-scales of autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth and self-acceptance, suggesting that redecision-based workshops are effective for improving subjective psychological well-being.
TA Treatment of Depression: A Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design Study - ‘Anna’
Authors: Benelli Enrico , Moretti Emanuela , Cavallero Giorgio Cristiano , Greco Giovanni , Calvo Vincenzo , Mannarini Stefania , Palmieri Arianna , Widdowson Mark
Published: November 2017

This study is the first of a series of seven, and belongs to the second Italian systematic replication of findings from two previous series (Widdowson 2012a, 2012b, 2012c, 2013; Benelli, 2016a, 2016b, 2016c) that investigated the effectiveness of a manualised transactional analysis treatment for depression through Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design (HSCED). The therapist was a white Italian woman with 8 years of clinical experience and the client, Anna, was a 33-year old white Italian woman who attended 16 sessions of transactional analysis psychotherapy. Anna satisfied DSM-5 criteria for mild persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) with anxious distress. The conclusion of the judges was that this was a good-outcome case: the dysthymic symptoms improved over the course of the therapy and were maintained in the ‘healthy’ range at the 6-month follow-up, the client reported a positive experience of the therapy and described important changes in intrapsychic and interpersonal patterns. In this case study, transactional analysis treatment for depression has proven its efficacy in treating persistent depressive disorder.
A Therapist’s Review of Process: Rupture and repair cycles in relational transactional analysis psychotherapy for a client with a dismissive attachment style: ‘Martha’
Authors: Baba Neal Silvia
Published: November 2017

This article is a therapist review of the process that occurred during a systematic case study of psychotherapy with ‘Martha’, a female client who presented with depression, anxiety, alexithymia and dismissive/avoidant attachment style.  Assessment, diagnosis of the client and treatment direction is described, followed by a detailed account of the therapeutic process through 12 sessions and 2 post-therapy interviews. Analysis team results are summarised, indicating support for the therapist’s identification of issues during the process of the therapy. Particular attention is paid by the analysis team two points of rupture and repair, with pragmatic evaluation confirming that the relational struggles between therapist and client seemed pivotal in generating positive change.Citation - APA format:Baba Neal, S. (2017). A Therapist’s Review of Process: Rupture and repair cycles in relational transactional analysis psychotherapy for a client with a dismissive attachment style: ‘Martha’. International Journal of Transactional Analysis Research & Practice, 8(2), 24-34.
Can music cue sexual arousal?
Authors: Wan Cynthia , Lalumière Martin L.
Published: November 2017

The preparation hypothesis posits that women's genital responses (vasocongestion and lubrication) occur automatically in the presence of any sexual stimulus to prevent injuries from sexual activities. It follows that women's genital responses should be easily conditioned to non-sexual cues that reliably predict impending sexual activities. It has been difficult, however, to demonstrate classical conditioning of genital responses in women in the laboratory. In the current study, we used music as an auditory conditioned stimulus (CS) and vignette narrations of consensual sex, non-consensual sex, and neutral (nonsexual) interactions as unconditioned stimuli (US). Eighteen women (range=18–27 years, M=21.9 years, SD=2.2 years,) and 18 men (range=19–29 years, M=22.8 years, SD=2.8 years) were exposed to three neutrally-rated classical music pieces, each paired with a different type of vignette. Participants were exposed to 3 pre-acquisition trials, 12 acquisition trials, and a minimum of 9 extinction trials. After each trial, participants were asked to rate the CS (or the US in CS-US pairings) on pleasantness, anxiousness, and perceived sexual arousal. Vaginal photoplethysmography and penile plethysmography were used to assess changes in genital responses. The sexual vignettes produced genital responses and the nonsexual vignettes did not. We did not observe conditioning of genital responses to music in either sex, but did so for men's and women's feelings of sexual arousal toward songs paired with a consensual sex story. The results were not consistent with the preparation hypothesis.
The Credibility Chasm in Policy Research from Academics, Think Tanks, and Advocacy Organizations
Authors: Doberstein Carey
Published: November 2017

How do key policy professionals inside government view various sources of policy research? Are there systematic differences in the perceptions of the quality and credibility of research derived from different sources? This is a replication of and expansion on Doberstein (2017), which presented a randomized controlled survey experiment using policy analysts to systematically test the source effects of policy research. Doberstein's experimental findings provide evidence for the hypothesis that academic research is perceived to be substantially more credible to government policy analysts than think tank or advocacy organization research, regardless of its content, and that sources perceived as more ideological are much less credible. This study replicates that experiment in three additional Canadian provincial governments to verify whether the relationship found in the original study persists in a larger sample and in conjunction with further randomization procedures. This study corroborates the original study's findings, confirming that external policy advice systems are subject to powerful heuristics that bureaucrats use to sift through evidence and advice.
Determination of global and local cleavage fracture characteristics of high strength bolt steels
Authors: Wu Bo , Döbereiner Benedikt , Piao Zhengyin , Sabotke Björn , Brinnel Victoria , Münstermann Sebastian
Published: November 2017

High strength bolts with large diameters are widely used in steel structures from the infrastructure and energy conversion sectors. The brittle fracture behavior of these connections has to be taken into account, especially for structures operating at cold environment, such as the offshore wind energy plant. Generally, two groups of methods are employed for cleavage fracture assessment, i. e., global approaches developed in the fracture mechanics frame and local criteria based on the damage mechanics approach proposed by Beremin. This work aims to determine characteristics of high strength bolt steels in the strength class 10.9 for cleavage fracture assessment. Fracture mechanics tests are conducted to determine the experimental master curves. In addition, numerical approaches are employed to derive the parameters of Beremin model from the master curves.
Calibrating the Robertson’s Platoon Dispersion Model on a Coordinated Corridor with Advance Warning Flashers
Authors: Zhao Li , Rilett Laurence R. , Tufuor Ernest
Published: November 2017

Platoon dispersion (PD) is the foundation of traffic signal coordination in an urban traffic network. PD describes the phenomenon by which vehicles depart from an upstream intersection as a platoon and begin to disperse before they arrive at the downstream intersection. Recently, advance warning flashers (AWFs) have been applied in many high-speed corridors. There is a need to update the traditional PD model to include the effect of AWFs. This paper examines the traffic flow dispersion patterns when an AWF is present and tests the hypothesis that the AWF will affect PD on a coordinated signal corridor. Platoon vehicles, which are not affected by the operation of the AWF, are used for comparison. Results show that when the AWF effect is included in the PD model, the smoothing factor F of the Robertson’s PD model ranges from 0.11 to 0.13. This range is smaller than the smoothing factor without the AWF effect. The platoon arrival time coefficient β ranges from 0.777 to 0.819 with the AWF effect. This is approximately the same as the default value of 0.8 in the TRANSYT simulation model. The PD coefficient α increases from an average of 0.11 with the AWF effect to an average of 0.24 without the AWF effect, which indicates an increase in roadway friction. It was concluded that AWFs increase the dispersion of the platoons, which might affect signal coordination.
Platooning Strategy for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles: Transition from Light Traffic
Authors: Bang Soohyuk , Ahn Soyoung
Published: November 2017

This study presents a strategy for platoon formation and evolution of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) in free-flow traffic. The proposed strategy is based on swarm intelligence, which describes bird flocking, fish schooling, and so on, in natural and artificial systems. In this concept, CAVs behave according to some rules to move together as a platoon without collisions. The rules are expressed by a spring–mass–damper system: CAV platoon formation and evolution are controlled by the spring constant and damping coefficient. Valid domains of these control parameters were derived on the basis of physical vehicle properties (e.g., bounded acceleration and deceleration) for realistic control. Furthermore, various relationships—maximum (in which the spring constant was set at its maximum for the given flow), quadratic, and cubic—between the control parameters and traffic flow were examined with simulations to obtain insight into desirable control parameter settings. The results suggest that the most efficient platooning can be achieved by the maximum relationship between the spring constant and flow with critical damping. However, the cubic relationship coupled with overdamping is more desirable in low-flow states to allow more freedom for vehicles to change lanes.
Route-Choice Modeling for Pedestrian Evacuation Based on Infrastructure Knowledge and Personal Preferences
Authors: Stubenschrott Martin , Matyus Thomas , Schrom-Feiertag Helmut , Kogler Christian , Seer Stefan
Published: November 2017

In recent years, pedestrian simulation has been a valuable tool for the quantitative assessment of egress performance in various environments during emergency evacuation. For a high level of realism, an evacuation simulation requires a behavioral model that takes into account behavioral aspects of real pedestrians. In many studies, however, it is assumed that simulated pedestrians have a global knowledge of the infrastructure and choose either a predefined or the shortest route. It is questionable whether this simplification provides realistic results. This study addresses the problem of human-like route-choice behavior for microscopic pedestrian simulations. A route-choice model is presented that considers two concepts: first, the modeling of infrastructure knowledge to represent the variations in the decision-making processes of pedestrians with different degrees of familiarity with the infrastructure (e.g., regular commuters versus first-time visitors). Second, for each pedestrian the internal preference for selecting a certain path can be calibrated to allow the choice for the fastest routes or the ones that are most convenient for the agent (e.g., by avoiding stairs). The approach here uses a hybrid route-choice behavior model composed of a graph-based macrolevel representation of the environment, which is augmented with local information to avoid obstacles and dense crowds in the vicinity. This method was applied with different parameter sets in an evacuation study of a multilevel subway station. The results show the impact of these parameters on evacuation times, use of infrastructure elements, and crowd density at specific locations.
Operational Walking Dynamics of Crowds Modeled with Linear Regression
Authors: Duives Dorine C. , Daamen Winnie , Hoogendoorn Serge P.
Published: November 2017

In this study the influence of interaction characteristics on operational walking dynamics within a crowd—specifically the influence of the distance headway, time headway, angle of sight, angle of interaction, walking speed, and number of pedestrians located nearby on a pedestrian’s change in speed and direction—is investigated. To the authors’ best knowledge, this is the first time that the combined effect of the characteristics of interactions between pedestrians on the operational walking dynamics of pedestrians has been quantified. The walking speed and the number of pedestrians in close proximity were found to influence the adaptation of speed and direction. The other characteristics of the interaction affect either the change in speed (i.e., distance headway and interaction angle) or the change in direction (i.e., time headway and angle of sight). The results of this study strongly indicate that the density experienced by pedestrians is not the only characteristic of the crowd that affects pedestrians’ operational walking dynamics. Consequently, to model crowd movements correctly, the other characteristics of the interaction must also be taken into account in pedestrian flow theory and simulation models.
Influence of Professional Affiliation on Expert’s View on Welfare Measures
Authors: Dam Otten Nina , Rousing Tine , Forkman Björn
Published: November 2017

The present study seeks to investigate the influence of expert affiliation in the weighing procedures within animal welfare assessments. Experts are often gathered with different backgrounds with differing approaches to animal welfare posing a potential pitfall if affiliation groups are not balanced in numbers of experts. At two time points (2012 and 2016), dairy cattle and swine experts from four different stakeholder groups, namely researchers (RES), production advisors (CONS), practicing veterinarians (VET) and animal welfare control officers (AWC) were asked to weigh eight different welfare criteria: Hunger, Thirst, Resting comfort, Ease of movement, Injuries, Disease, Human-animal bond and Emotional state. A total of 54 dairy cattle experts (RES = 15%, CONS = 22%, VET = 35%, AWC = 28%) and 34 swine experts (RES = 24%, CONS = 35%, AWC = 41%) participated. Between—and within—group differences in the prioritization of criteria were assessed. AWC cattle experts differed consistently from the other cattle expert groups but only significantly for the criteria Hunger (p = 0.04), and tendencies towards significance within the criteria Thirst (p = 0.06). No significant differences were found between expert groups among swine experts. Inter-expert differences were more pronounced for both species. The results highlight the challenges of using expert weightings in aggregated welfare assessment models, as the choice of expert affiliation may play a confounding role in the final aggregation due to different prioritization of criteria.
Determination of the Constants of GTN Damage Model Using Experiment, Polynomial Regression and Kriging Methods
Authors: Rahimidehgolan Foad , Majzoobi Gholamhossien , Alinejad Farhad , Fathi Sola Jalal
Published: November 2017

Damage models, particularly the Gurson–Tvergaard–Needleman (GTN) model, are widely used in numerical simulation of material deformations. Each damage model has some constants which must be identified for each material. The direct identification methods are costly and time consuming. In the current work, a combination of experimental, numerical simulation and optimization were used to determine the constants. Quasi-static and dynamic tests were carried out on notched specimens. The experimental profiles of the specimens were used to determine the constants. The constants of GTN damage model were identified through the proposed method and using the results of quasi-static tests. Numerical simulation of the dynamic test was performed utilizing the constants obtained from quasi-static experiments. The results showed a high precision in predicting the specimen’s profile in the dynamic testing. The sensitivity analysis was performed on the constants of GTN model to validate the proposed method. Finally, the experiments were simulated using the Johnson–Cook (J–C) damage model and the results were compared to those obtained from GTN damage model.
Base Catalysis by Mono- and Polyoxometalates
Authors: Kamata Keigo , Sugahara Kosei
Published: November 2017

In sharp contrast with acid-, photo-, and oxidation-catalysis by polyoxometalates, base catalysis by polyoxometalates has scarcely been investigated. The use of polyoxometalates as base catalysts have very recently received much attention and has been extensively investigated. Numerous mono- and polyoxometalate base catalyst systems effective for the chemical fixation of CO2, cyanosilylation of carbonyl compounds, and C–C bond forming reactions have been developed. Mono- and polyoxometalate base catalysts are classified into four main groups with respect to their structures: (a) monomeric metalates; (b) isopolyoxometalates; (c) heteropolyoxometalates; and (d) transition-metal-substituted polyoxometalates. This review article focuses on the relationship among the molecular structures, the basic properties, and the unique base catalysis of polyoxometalates on the basis of groups (a)–(d). In addition, reaction mechanisms including the specific activation of substrates and/or reagents such as the abstraction of protons, nucleophilic action toward substrates, and bifunctional action in combination with metal catalysts are comprehensively summarized.
Danger: High Voltage—The Role of Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels in Central Nervous System Pathology
Authors: Schampel Andrea , Kuerten Stefanie
Published: November 2017

Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) are widely distributed within the central nervous system (CNS) and presumed to play an important role in the pathophysiology of a broad spectrum of CNS disorders including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease as well as multiple sclerosis. Several calcium channel blockers have been in clinical practice for many years so that their toxicity and side effects are well studied. However, these drugs are primarily used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and most if not all effects on brain functions are secondary to peripheral effects on blood pressure and circulation. While the use of calcium channel antagonists for the treatment of CNS diseases therefore still heavily depends on the development of novel strategies to specifically target different channels and channel subunits, this review is meant to provide an impulse to further emphasize the importance of future research towards this goal.
Effects of Thermal Annealing on the Properties of Mechanically Exfoliated Suspended and On-Substrate Few-Layer Graphene
Authors: Alyobi Mona , Barnett Chris , Cobley Richard
Published: November 2017

Graphene’s novel electrical, optical, and mechanical properties are affected both by substrate interaction and processing steps required to fabricate contacts and devices. Annealing is used to clean graphene devices, but this can lead to doping and defect changes and strain effects. There is often disagreement about which of these effects are occurring and which result in observed changes in Raman spectra. The effects of vacuum annealing on mechanically exfoliated pristine, suspended, and attached thin and thick few-layer graphene on SiO2/Si are investigated here using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Before annealing, Raman shows that the differences in 2D and G band positions and the appearance of a disorder-induced D band of all regions were mainly because of compressive or tensile structural deformations emerging through mechanical exfoliation instead of charge doping. Annealing at low temperature is sufficient to eliminate most of the defects. However, compressive strain is induced in the sheet by annealing at high temperature, and for thin regions increased substrate conformation leads to the apparent disappearance of the sheets. The intensity ratio of the 2D and G bands also reduces with induced compressive strain, and thus should not be used to detect doping.
Heat Transfer Characteristics and Prediction Model of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (SC-CO2) in a Vertical Tube
Authors: Cai Can , Wang Xiaochuan , Mao Shaohua , Kang Yong , Lu Yiyuan , Han Xiangdong , Liu Wenchuan
Published: November 2017

Due to its distinct capability to improve the efficiency of shale gas production, supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) fracturing has attracted increased attention in recent years. Heat transfer occurs in the transportation and fracture processes. To better predict and understand the heat transfer of SC-CO2 near the critical region, numerical simulations focusing on a vertical flow pipe were performed. Various turbulence models and turbulent Prandtl numbers (Prt) were evaluated to capture the heat transfer deterioration (HTD). The simulations show that the turbulent Prandtl number model (TWL model) combined with the Shear Stress Transport (SST) k-ω turbulence model accurately predicts the HTD in the critical region. It was found that Prt has a strong effect on the heat transfer prediction. The HTD occurred under larger heat flux density conditions, and an acceleration process was observed. Gravity also affects the HTD through the linkage of buoyancy, and HTD did not occur under zero-gravity conditions.
Enhanced Regenerative Braking Strategies for Electric Vehicles: Dynamic Performance and Potential Analysis
Authors: Xiao Boyi , Lu Huazhong , Wang Hailin , Ruan Jiageng , Zhang Nong
Published: November 2017

A regenerative braking system and hydraulic braking system are used in conjunction in the majority of electric vehicles worldwide. We propose a new regenerative braking distribution strategy that is based on multi-input fuzzy control logic while considering the influences of the battery’s state of charge, the brake strength and the motor speed. To verify the braking performance and recovery economy, this strategy was applied to a battery electric vehicle model and compared with two other improved regenerative braking strategies. The performance simulation was performed using standard driving cycles (NEDC, LA92, and JP1015) and a real-world-based urban cycle in China. The tested braking strategies satisfied the general safety requirements of Europe (as specified in ECE-13H), and the emergency braking scenario and economic potential were tested. The simulation results demonstrated the differences in the braking force distribution performance of these three regenerative braking strategies, the feasibility of the braking methods for the proposed driving cycles and the energy economic potential of the three strategies.
Comparative Research on Solar Phase Change Material Storage Wall Systems under Different Summer Working Conditions
Authors: Xu Lijie , Ji Jie , Luo Chenglong , Sun Dan , Xiong Jihai , Liao Mengyin
Published: November 2017

To study and analyze the performance characteristics and the effectiveness of the system under practical application scenarios, the present work compares the performance of solar energy phase change material storage wall systems suitable for buildings in hot summer and cold winter regions under different summer working conditions. The experimental facility was installed on light-weight insulation wall and ordinary wall; ventilation conditions of shutting/opening doors and windows, respectively, were set. The experimental facility showed different thermal characteristics when it was installed on insulation wall and on solid wall whether it was vented or not; under vented working condition, the temperature of the external surface of the south-facing wall which attached to the solid wall experimental system was lower, demonstrating that under practical building scenarios the present technology could better reveal its capability of avoiding the overheating issue of the solar heating wall in summer.
What If Healthy Aging Is the ‘New Normal’?
Authors: Ory Marcia , Smith Matthew
Published: November 2017

We dedicate this special issue to our colleague, Dr. Lucinda Bryant (1941–2016).[...]
Using Visual Exploratory Data Analysis to Facilitate Collaboration and Hypothesis Generation in Cross-Disciplinary Research
Authors: Ma Xiaogang , Hummer Daniel , Golden Joshua , Fox Peter , Hazen Robert , Morrison Shaunna , Downs Robert , Madhikarmi Bhuwan , Wang Chengbin , Meyer Michael
Published: November 2017

Massive open data resources are changing the way that people do science. To make use of those data resources, data science methods and technology can be leveraged by stakeholders of various disciplines. The objective of this paper is to present our experience of using visual exploratory data analysis as a method to facilitate collaboration and hypothesis generation in geoscience research. The research team consisted of both geoscientists and computer scientists. A use case-driven, iterative approach was applied to create a collaborative and communicative environment. Through several rounds of use case analysis and technological development, a data visualization pilot system was created for studying the co-relationships between chemical elements and mineral species. The exploratory data analyses conducted in those use case studies led to several research hypotheses for future work. This research illustrates the usefulness of exploratory data analysis for hypothesis generation in a data science process. Although the presented project is in geoscience, the discussed method and experience can also be translated into other disciplines.
Synthesis, Spectroscopic Characterization and Antimicrobial Potential of Certain New Isatin-Indole Molecular Hybrids
Authors: Al-Wabli Reem , Zakaria Azza , Attia Mohamed
Published: November 2017

Molecular hybridization has a wide application in medicinal chemistry to obtain new biologically active compounds. New isatin-indole molecular hybrids 5a–n have been synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopic tools. The in vitro antimicrobial potential of the prepared compounds 5a–n was assessed using diameter of the inhibition zone (DIZ) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays against a panel of Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. Most of the synthesized compounds 5a–n showed weak activities against Gram-negative bacteria while compounds 5b and 5c exhibited good activities against Gram-positive bacteria. On the other hand, compound 5j emerged as the most active compound towards Candida albicans (C. albicans), with an MIC value of 3.9 µg/mL, and compound 5g as the most active congener towards Asperagillus niger (A. niger), with an MIC value of 15.6 µg/mL. Moreover, compound 5h manifested the best anti-P. notatum effect, with an MIC value of 7.8 µg/mL, making it equipotent with compound 5g.
An Efficient Approach for Lipase-Catalyzed Synthesis of Retinyl Laurate Nutraceutical by Combining Ultrasound Assistance and Artificial Neural Network Optimization
Authors: Huang Shang-Ming , Li Hsin-Ju , Liu Yung-Chuan , Kuo Chia-Hung , Shieh Chwen-Jen
Published: November 2017

Although retinol is an important nutrient, retinol is highly sensitive to oxidation. At present, some ester forms of retinol are generally used in nutritional supplements because of its stability and bioavailability. However, such esters are commonly synthesized by chemical procedures which are harmful to the environment. Thus, this study utilized a green method using lipase as a catalyst with sonication assistance to produce a retinol derivative named retinyl laurate. Moreover, the process was optimized by an artificial neural network (ANN). First, a three-level-four-factor central composite design (CCD) was employed to design 27 experiments, which the highest relative conversion was 82.64%. Further, the optimal architecture of the CCD-employing ANN was developed, including the learning Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm, the transfer function (hyperbolic tangent), iterations (10,000), and the nodes of the hidden layer (6). The best performance of the ANN was evaluated by the root mean squared error (RMSE) and the coefficient of determination (R2) from predicting and observed data, which displayed a good data-fitting property. Finally, the process performed with optimal parameters actually obtained a relative conversion of 88.31% without long-term reactions, and the lipase showed great reusability for biosynthesis. Thus, this study utilizes green technology to efficiently produce retinyl laurate, and the bioprocess is well established by ANN-mediated modeling and optimization.
Development of Gallic Acid-Modified Hydrogels Using Interpenetrating Chitosan Network and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant Activity
Authors: Kang Byungman , Vales Temmy , Cho Byoung-Ki , Kim Jong-Ki , Kim Ho-Joong
Published: November 2017

In this work, antioxidant hydrogels were prepared by the construction of an interpenetrating chitosan network and functionalization with gallic acid. The poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) p(HEMA)-based hydrogels were first synthesized and subsequently surface-modified with an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) structure prepared with methacrylamide chitosan via free radical polymerization. The resulting chitosan-IPN hydrogels were surface-functionalized with gallic acid through an amide coupling reaction, which afforded the antioxidant hydrogels. Notably, gallic-acid-modified hydrogels based on a longer chitosan backbone exhibited superior antioxidant activity than their counterpart with a shorter chitosan moiety; this correlated to the amount of gallic acid attached to the chitosan backbone. Moreover, the surface contact angles of the chitosan-modified hydrogels decreased, indicating that surface functionalization of the hydrogels with chitosan-IPN increased the wettability because of the presence of the hydrophilic chitosan network chain. Our study indicates that chitosan-IPN hydrogels may facilitate the development of applications in biomedical devices and ophthalmic materials.
Synergistic Effect of Fluorinated and N Doped TiO2 Nanoparticles Leading to Different Microstructure and Enhanced Photocatalytic Bacterial Inactivation
Authors: Milosevic Irena , Jayaprakash Amarnath , Greenwood Brigitte , Van Driel Birgit , Rtimi Sami , Bowen Paul
Published: November 2017

This work focuses on the development of a facile and scalable wet milling method followed by heat treatment to prepare fluorinated and/or N-doped TiO2 nanopowders with improved photocatalytic properties under visible light. The structural and electronic properties of doped particles were investigated by various techniques. The successful doping of TiO2 was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the atoms appeared to be mainly located in interstitial positions for N whereas the fluorination is located at the TiO2 surface. The formation of intragap states was found to be responsible for the band gap narrowing leading to the faster bacterial inactivation dynamics observed for the fluorinated and N doped TiO2 particles compared to N-doped TiO2. This was attributed to a synergistic effect. The results presented in this study confirmed the suitability of the preparation approach for the large-scale production of cost-efficient doped TiO2 for effective bacterial inactivation.
Thiolated Chitosan Masked Polymeric Microspheres with Incorporated Mesocellular Silica Foam (MCF) for Intranasal Delivery of Paliperidone
Authors: Nanaki Stavroula , Tseklima Maria , Christodoulou Evi , Triantafyllidis Konstantinos , Kostoglou Margaritis , Bikiaris Dimitrios
Published: November 2017

In this study, mesocellular silica foam (MCF) was used to encapsulate paliperidone, an antipsychotic drug used in patients suffering from bipolar disorder. MCF with the drug adsorbed was further encapsulated into poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) 75/25 w/w microspheres and these have been coated with thiolated chitosan. As found by TEM analysis, thiolated chitosan formed a thin layer on the polymeric microspheres’ surface and was used in order to enhance their mucoadhesiveness. These microspheres aimed at the intranasal delivery of paliperidone. The DSC and XRD studies showed that paliperidone was encapsulated in amorphous form inside the MCF silica and for this reason its dissolution profile was enhanced compared to the neat drug. In coated microspheres, thiolated chitosan reduced the initial burst effect of the paliperidone dissolution profile and in all cases sustained release formulations have been prepared. The release mechanism was also theoretically studied and three kinetic models were proposed and successfully fitted for a dissolution profile of prepared formulations to be found.
Generation of Polymer Nanocomposites through Shear-Driven Aggregation of Binary Colloids
Authors: Sheng Xinxin , Zhang Li , Wu Hua
Published: November 2017

Design of polymer nanocomposites has been an intense research topic in recent decades because hybrid nanomaterials are widely used in many fields. Throughout their development, there has often been a challenging issue how one can uniformly distribute nanoparticles (NPs) in a polymer matrix, avoiding their agglomeration. In this short review, we first introduce the theory of colloidal aggregation/gelation purely based on intense shear forces. Then, we illustrate a methodology for preparing polymer nanocomposites where the NPs (as fillers) are uniformly and randomly distributed inside a matrix of polymer NPs, based on intense shear-driven aggregation of binary colloids, without using any additives. Its feasibility has been demonstrated using two stable binary colloids composed of (1) poly-methyl methacrylate fillers and polystyrene NPs, and (2) graphene oxide sheets (fillers) and poly-vinylidene fluoride NPs. The mechanism leading to capturing and distribution of the fillers inside the polymer NP matrix has been illustrated, and the advantages of the proposed methodology compared with the other common methods are also discussed.
Cardanol Groups Grafted on Poly(vinyl chloride)—Synthesis, Performance and Plasticization Mechanism
Authors: Jia Puyou , Zhang Meng , Hu Lihong , Wang Rui , Sun Chao , Zhou Yonghong
Published: November 2017

Internally plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) materials are investigated via grafting of propargyl ether cardanol (PEC). The chemical structure of the materials was studied by FT-IR and 1H NMR. The performace of the obtained internally plasticized PVC materials was also investigated with TGA, DSC and leaching tests. The results showed that grafting of propargyl ether cardanol (PEC) on PVC increased the free volume and distance of PVC chains, which efficiently decreased the glass transition temperature (Tg). No migration was found in the leaching tests for internally plasticized PVC films compared with plasticized PVC materials with commercial plasticizer dioctyl phthalate (DOP). The internal plasticization mechanism was also disscussed according to lubrication theory and free volume theory. This work provides a meaningful strategy for designing no-migration PVC materials by introducing cardanol groups as branched chains.
Styrene-Assisted Maleic Anhydride Grafted Poly(lactic acid) as an Effective Compatibilizer for Wood Flour/Poly(lactic acid) Bio-Composites
Authors: Du Jun , Wang Youyong , Xie Xinfeng , Xu Min , Song Yongming
Published: November 2017

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of styrene-assisted maleic anhydride-grafted poly(lactic acid) (PLA-g-St/MAH) on the interfacial properties of wood flour/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) bio-composites. PLA-g-St/MAH was synthesized by free-radical melt grafting using styrene as a comonomer and dicumyl peroxide as an initiator. The structure of PLA-g-St/MAH was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Wood flour/PLA composites were prepared by compression molding using PLA-g-St/MAH as a compatibilizer. The effects of PLA-g-St/MAH on the rheological and mechanical properties, as well as on the fractured surface morphology of the composites were investigated. Results indicated that storage modulus, complex viscosity, equilibrium torque, and shear heat were significantly increased. The mechanical properties of the wood flour/PLA composites were also significantly increased after the addition of PLA-g-St/MAH. The maximum values were achieved at the loading rate of 3 wt % because of the improved interfacial adhesion between the wood flour and the PLA matrix.
Emergy Perspectives on the Environmental Performance and Sustainability of Small-Scale Gold Production Systems in Ghana
Authors: Asamoah Ernest , Zhang Lixiao , Liang Sai , Pang Mingyue , Tang Shoujuan
Published: November 2017

Small-scale gold mining is an important component of the Ghanaian economy but it has also caused enormous damage to local ecosystems. In this paper, an emergy analysis was conducted in Ghana to assess the environmental performance and the relative sustainability of two artisanal and small-scale gold production systems: alluvial “dig and wash” and underground “ghetto” mines. Results show that both production systems have high environmental impacts, as indicated by an environmental loading ratio (ELR) of 4.31 and environmental sustainability index (ESI) of 0.33 for the alluvial system and 2.53 and 0.52 for the underground system, respectively. Concerning the international trade balance, the emergy exchange ratios of the two systems are both lower than one, at, 0.23 and 0.33 for the alluvial and underground systems, respectively, indicating a significant amount of resource loss to foreign regions. This study could assist in the regulation of the small-scale mining sector bearing in mind the unsustainable nature of their activities. In addition, supporting miners to consider land rehabilitation ethics is urgently needed.
Planning Emergency Shelters for Urban Disaster Resilience: An Integrated Location-Allocation Modeling Approach
Authors: Zhao Laijun , Li Huiyong , Sun Yan , Huang Rongbing , Hu Qingmi , Wang Jiajia , Gao Fei
Published: November 2017

In recent years, extreme natural hazards threaten cities more than ever due to contemporary society’s high vulnerability in cities. Hence, local governments need to implement risk mitigation and disaster operation management to enhance disaster resilience in cities. Transforming existing open spaces within cities into emergency shelters is an effective method of providing essential life support and an agent of recovery in the wake of disasters. Emergency shelters planning must identify suitable locations for shelters and reasonably allocate evacuees to those shelters. In this paper, we first consider both the buildings’ post-disaster condition and the human choice factor that affect evacuees’ decision, and propose a forecasting method to estimate the time-varying shelter demand. Then we formulate an integrated location-allocation model that is used sequentially: an emergency shelter location model to satisfy the time-varying shelter demand in a given urban area with a goal of minimizing the total setup cost of locating the shelters and an allocation model that allocates the evacuees to shelters with a goal of minimizing their total evacuation distance. We also develop an efficient algorithm to solve the model. Finally, we propose an emergency shelters planning based on a case study of Shanghai, China.
Social Systems: Resources and Strategies
Authors: Brazhnikov Pavel
Published: November 2017

This theoretical article reviews the model describing processes in social systems based on the analysis of their resource base. Application of the system theory can help to explain why some systems are aimed at prevention of type I errors, while others seek to decrease the quantity of type II errors. Such differences are manifested in investment of resources either into deep interaction or into wide coverage. Some examples of such strategies in economic, market and production systems are provided in the article. The article introduces some provisions of the system theory in the context of the resource flows. The main indicators that are considered in this article are the characteristics of the sources of the exchanging flows of resources. Their relative frequency and quality are investigated; on the basis of which the most effective strategy of the system is derived; as a mechanism for redistribution of resources. The rigor of the system’s strategy depends on the magnitude of the difference in characteristics. It is explained how exactly it influences the exchange processes, that in reality systems do not interact simultaneously and one of the opposite resource flows is always delayed. It is shown how the system strategy depends on the risks linked with interactions. Also, there are grounds for the need to accumulate resources, including in the situation of their surplus. The model helps also explain shift of economic centers throughout history. Additionally, there is an analogy between systems strategies and the competitive strategies described by M. Porter and outsourcing versus integration.
Development of a Hydrologic Connectivity Dataset for SWAT Assessments in the US
Authors: White Michael , Beiger Katrin , Gambone Marilyn , Haney Elizabeth , Arnold Jeff , Gao Jungang
Published: November 2017

Model-based water quality assessments are an important informer of conservation and environmental policy in the U.S. The recently completed national scale Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) is being replicated using an improved model populated with new and higher resolution data. National assessments are particularly difficult as models must operate with both a very large spatial extent (the contiguous U.S.) while maintaining a level of granularity required to capture important small scale processes. In this research, we developed datasets to describe the hydrologic connectivity at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 12-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC-12) level. Connectivity between 86,000 HUC-12s as provided by the Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD) was evaluated and corrected. We also detailed a method to resolve the highly detailed National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) stream segments within each HUC-12 into vastly simplified representative channel schemes suitable for use in the recently developed Soil and Water Assessment Tool + (SWAT+) model. This representative channel approach strikes a balance between computational complexity and accurate representation of the hydrologic system. These data will be tested in the upcoming CEAP II national assessment. Until then, all the WBD corrections and NHDPlus representative channel data are provided via the web for other researchers to evaluate and utilize.