bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New Topologically Unique Metal-Organic Architectures Driven by a Pyridine-Tricarboxylate Building Block
Authors: Gu Jinzhong , Cai Yan , Wen Min , Ge Zhijun , Kirillov Alexander M.
Published: September 2018

Two new three-dimensional (3D) coordination compounds, namely a lead(II) coordination polymer (CP) {[Pb3(µ5-cpta)(µ6-cpta)(phen)2]·2H2O}n (1) and a zinc(II) metal-organic framework (MOF) {[Zn2(µ4-cpta)(µ-OH)(µ-4,4′-bipy)]·6H2O}n (2), were hydrothermally assembled from 2-(5-carboxypyridin-2-yl)terephthalic acid (H3cpta) as an unexplored principal building block and aromatic N,N-donors as crystallization mediators. Both products were isolated as air-stable microcrystalline solids and were fully characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental and thermogravimetric analysis, and powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Structural and topological features of CP 1 and MOF 2 were analyzed in detail, allowing to identify a topologically unique 4,5,5,6-connected net in 1 or a very rare 4,4-connected net with the isx topology in 2. Thermal stability and solid-state luminescent behavior of 1 and 2 were also investigated. Apart from revealing a notable topological novelty, both compounds also represent the first structurally characterized Pb(II) and Zn(II) derivatives assembled from H3cpta, thus opening up the application of this unexplored pyridine-tricarboxylate block in the design of new metal-organic architectures.
Synthesizing High-Utility Patterns from Different Data Sources
Authors: Muley Abhinav , Gudadhe Manish
Published: September 2018

In large organizations, it is often required to collect data from the different geographic branches spread over different locations. Extensive amounts of data may be gathered at the centralized location in order to generate interesting patterns via mono-mining the amassed database. However, it is feasible to mine the useful patterns at the data source itself and forward only these patterns to the centralized company, rather than the entire original database. These patterns also exist in huge numbers, and different sources calculate different utility values for each pattern. This paper proposes a weighted model for aggregating the high-utility patterns from different data sources. The procedure of pattern selection was also proposed to efficiently extract high-utility patterns in our weighted model by discarding low-utility patterns. Meanwhile, the synthesizing model yielded high-utility patterns, unlike association rule mining, in which frequent itemsets are generated by considering each item with equal utility, which is not true in real life applications such as sales transactions. Extensive experiments performed on the datasets with varied characteristics show that the proposed algorithm will be effective for mining very sparse and sparse databases with a huge number of transactions. Our proposed model also outperforms various state-of-the-art distributed models of mining in terms of running time.
An Efficient Mobility Model for Improving Transmissions in Multi-UAVs Enabled WSNs
Authors: Sayeed Mohd. Abuzar , Kumar Rajesh
Published: September 2018

Multi-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) enabled Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) provide a wide range of applications, covering civilian and military expeditions along with geographical navigation, control, and reconnaissance. The coordinated networks formed between the UAVs and the WSNs help in enhancing the issues related to quality as well as coverage. The overall coverage issues result in starvation as an effect of long waiting time for the nodes, while forwarding the traffic. The coverage problem can be resolved by an intelligent choice of UAV way-points. Therefore, a specialized UAV mobility model is required which takes into account the topological structure as well as the importance of strategic locations to fix UAV way-points and decide the data transmission paradigm. To resolve this problem, a novel mobility model is proposed, which takes into account the attraction factor for setting up the way-points for UAV movements. The model is capable of deciding between the locations which result in more coverage, increased throughput with lesser number of UAVs employed, as justified by the simulation results and comparative evaluations.
Quasi-Circulator Using an Asymmetric Coupler for Tx Leakage Cancellation
Authors: Yoo Bo-Yoon , Park Jae-Hyun , Yang Jong-Ryul
Published: September 2018

A quasi-circulator is proposed by using an asymmetric coupler with high isolation between the transmitting (Tx) and receiving (Rx) ports. The proposed quasi-circulator consists of quarter-wave transmission lines, which have unbalanced characteristic impedances and the terminated port, which is purposely unmatched with the reference impedance in the coupler. The port compensates for the asymmetric impedances of the coupler using the proposed design parameter. Because of its asymmetric structure and the usage of the unmatched port, the proposed circulator can be accurately designed to have high Tx–Rx isolation without increasing the signal losses in the Tx and Rx paths at the operating frequency. The proposed quasi-circulators show isolation improvements of 9.07 dB at 2.45 GHz and 7.95 dB at 24.125 GHz compared with conventional circulators using the symmetric couplers. The characteristic improvement of the proposed quasi-circulator was demonstrated by the increase of the detectable range of the 2.45 GHz Doppler radar sensor with the quasi-circulator.
An Analysis of the Risk Posed by Leachate from Dumpsites in Developing Countries
Authors: Vaccari Mentore , Vinti Giovanni , Tudor Terry
Published: September 2018

The disposal of municipal solid waste into primarily dumpsites in developing countries causes a number of potential public and environmental health risks. While there have been various studies that have evaluated the contaminants that cause the risks, these studies have generally not examined in a holistic way the manner in which these contaminants move. This study therefore sought to model the flow of a range of contaminants in dumpsites (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn), and potential health risks as a means of enabling the more effective siting of facilities to reduce the risks posed. The study proposes a conservative model, using well consolidated equations and assumption, taking into account the path the pollutant makes to reach the water table and the point of exposure. The modelling may be useful to easily identify the boundaries of the area of risk related to the presence of a dumpsite in a Developing Country, beyond which a local community may use or build a safe well for drinking water. The results show as the area of risk is large and varies significantly with changes in input parameters, suggesting that without site-specific information it is better to follow conservative assumptions.
Nuclear Envelope Regulation of Oncogenic Processes: Roles in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Preston Claudia C. , Faustino Randolph S.
Published: September 2018

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive and intractable malignancy with high mortality. This is due in part to a high resistance to chemotherapeutics and radiation treatment conferred by diverse regulatory mechanisms. Among these, constituents of the nuclear envelope play a significant role in regulating oncogenesis and pancreatic tumor biology, and this review focuses on three specific components and their roles in cancer. The LINC complex is a nuclear envelope component formed by proteins with SUN and KASH domains that interact in the periplasmic space of the nuclear envelope. These interactions functionally and structurally couple the cytoskeleton to chromatin and facilitates gene regulation informed by cytoplasmic activity. Furthermore, cancer cell invasiveness is impacted by LINC complex biology. The nuclear lamina is adjacent to the inner nuclear membrane of the nuclear envelope and can actively regulate chromatin in addition to providing structural integrity to the nucleus. A disrupted lamina can impart biophysical compromise to nuclear structure and function, as well as form dysfunctional micronuclei that may lead to genomic instability and chromothripsis. In close relationship to the nuclear lamina is the nuclear pore complex, a large megadalton structure that spans both outer and inner membranes of the nuclear envelope. The nuclear pore complex mediates bidirectional nucleocytoplasmic transport and is comprised of specialized proteins called nucleoporins that are overexpressed in many cancers and are diagnostic markers for oncogenesis. Furthermore, recent demonstration of gene regulatory functions for discrete nucleoporins independent of their nuclear trafficking function suggests that these proteins may contribute more to malignant phenotypes beyond serving as biomarkers. The nuclear envelope is thus a complex, intricate regulator of cell signaling, with roles in pancreatic tumorigenesis and general oncogenic transformation.
Ecological Interactions between Cork Oak (Quercus suber L.) and Stone Pine (Pinus pinea L.): Results from a Pot Experiment
Authors: Correia Alexandra C. , Galla António , Nunes Alexandra , Pereira João S.
Published: September 2018

Portuguese cork oak (Quercus suber L.) extended mortality and lack of regeneration have been the drivers of important changes in the traditional cork oak woodlands (savanna-like) montado. The decrease in tree cover fosters the mixture with stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) for pine-nut production providing shelter for oak regeneration. The use of nurse species, namely pines, to help Quercus spp. regeneration is known, but whether cork oak could be favoured by the mixture with stone pine remains a question. A pot experiment with cork oak (Qs) and stone pine (Pp) growing in inter-(Qs×Pp) and intraspecific mixtures (Qs×Qs, Pp×Pp) combinations and in monocultures, was installed in a greenhouse in Lisbon, Portugal. Morphological measurements of above- and belowground biomass components were carried out in 3 harvesting campaigns at 4, 8 and 11 months. Leaf nitrogen content and mycorrhizal symbiotic formations were quantified. During the seedling stage and under comfort water and nutrient conditions, the root growth and morphology of Qs and Pp showed contrasting patterns, suggesting complementary soil exploitation interactions in interspecific mixtures and potential competition in intraspecific mixtures. The mixture of Qs with Pp seems to be advantageous in the first stages of plant growth as Pp develop abundant mycorrhizae symbiosis formations which elicit mycorrhization of Qs plants coexisting in the same pot. This study suggests that stone pine can potentially help in establishing cork oak as seedlings, possibly facilitating nutrient uptake through mycorrhizae. However, complementary field studies are needed.
The Impact of Non-Saccharomyces Yeast on Traditional Method Sparkling Wine
Authors: Ivit Nedret Neslihan , Kemp Belinda
Published: September 2018

The interest in non-Saccharomyces yeast for use in sparkling wine production has increased in recent years. Studies have reported differences in amino acids and ammonia, volatile aroma compounds (VOCs), glycerol, organic acids, proteins and polysaccharides. The aim of this review is to report on our current knowledge concerning the influence of non-Saccharomyces yeast on sparkling wine chemical composition and sensory profiles. Further information regarding the nutritional requirements of each of these yeasts and nutrient supplementation products specifically for non-Saccharomyces yeasts are likely to be produced in the future. Further studies that focus on the long-term aging ability of sparkling wines made from non-Saccharomyces yeast and mixed inoculations including their foam ability and persistence, organic acid levels and mouthfeel properties are recommended as future research topics.
Game Theoretical Model of Cancer Dynamics with Four Cell Phenotypes
Authors: Hurlbut Elena , Ortega Ethan , Erovenko Igor V. , Rowell Jonathan T.
Published: September 2018

The development of a cancerous tumor requires affected cells to collectively display an assortment of characteristic behaviors that contribute differently to its growth. A heterogeneous population of tumor cells is far more resistant to treatment than a homogeneous one as different cell types respond dissimilarly to treatments; yet, these cell types are also in competition with one another. This paper models heterogeneous cancer cell interactions within the tumor mass through several game theoretic approaches including classical normal form games, replicator dynamics, and spatial games. Our concept model community consists of four cell strategies: an angiogenesis-factor-producing cell, a proliferative cell, a cytotoxin producing cell, and a neutral stromal cell. By comparing pairwise strategic interactions, invasibility and counter-invasibility, we establish conditions for dominance and the existence of both monomorphic and polymorphic equilibria. The spatial game supports co-occurrence among multiple subpopulations in accordance with biological observations of developing tumors. As the tumor progresses from primarily stromal cells to a more malignant state, angiogenic and cytotoxic cells form clusters while proliferative cells are widespread. The clustering of certain subpopulations suggests insight into the behaviors of cancer cells that could influence future treatment strategies.
The Circulation of Worthless Tokens Aids Cooperation: An Experiment Inspired by the Kula
Authors: Danese Giuseppe , Mittone Luigi
Published: September 2018

Many anthropological records exist of seemingly worthless tokens exchanged in traditional societies. The most famous instances of such tokens are probably the Kula necklaces and armbands first described by B. Malinowski. In our experiment, each participant can send a token to another participant before each round of a repeated public good game. We use as examples of tokens a bracelet built by the participants in the lab, a simple piece of cardboard provided by the experimenter, and an object brought from home by the participants. Notwithstanding the cheap-talk nature of the decision to send the token, both sending and receiving the token are associated with a significant increase in contributions to the public good. Regression analysis shows that contributions to the public good in the treatments featuring a bracelet and a cardboard piece are higher than in a control study. The home object appears not to have been equally useful in increasing contributions.
Wnt Effector TCF4 Is Dispensable for Wnt Signaling in Human Cancer Cells
Authors: Hrckulak Dusan , Janeckova Lucie , Lanikova Lucie , Kriz Vitezslav , Horazna Monika , Babosova Olga , Vojtechova Martina , Galuskova Katerina , Sloncova Eva , Korinek Vladimir
Published: September 2018

T-cell factor 4 (TCF4), together with β-catenin coactivator, functions as the major transcriptional mediator of the canonical wingless/integrated (Wnt) signaling pathway in the intestinal epithelium. The pathway activity is essential for both intestinal homeostasis and tumorigenesis. To date, several mouse models and cellular systems have been used to analyze TCF4 function. However, some findings were conflicting, especially those that were related to the defects observed in the mouse gastrointestinal tract after Tcf4 gene deletion, or to a potential tumor suppressive role of the gene in intestinal cancer cells or tumors. Here, we present the results obtained using a newly generated conditional Tcf4 allele that allows inactivation of all potential Tcf4 isoforms in the mouse tissue or small intestinal and colon organoids. We also employed the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 system to disrupt the TCF4 gene in human cells. We showed that in adult mice, epithelial expression of Tcf4 is indispensable for cell proliferation and tumor initiation. However, in human cells, the TCF4 role is redundant with the related T-cell factor 1 (TCF1) and lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 (LEF1) transcription factors.
Tailoring Signs to Engage Two Distinct Types of Geotourists to Geological Sites
Authors: Prendivoj Sonja M.
Published: September 2018

Interpretive signs are the silent ambassadors of geosites and serve a diverse audience. The primary aim of this study is to develop signs for geosites targeted at two unique groups of geotourists. A conceptual multidisciplinary geotourist typology is formulated to identify two main classes of geotourists comprising the audience. Latent and archetypal geotourists inhabit various roles at geotourism sites depending on their expectations for the event, affecting the visitor experience via fluid contextual factors. Principally, latent geotourists arrive seeking novel touristic experiences while archetypal geotourists seek knowledge-building opportunities. Because signs represent one fragment of the multi-dimensional visitor experience, an approach that offers a palette of options is advocated. After the unified typology to identify the audience is presented, a multi-layered technique that offers both interpretation and a link to augmented information on signs is suggested. Some best practices in sign design are described and preliminary plans for testing are shared. The author’s overriding goal is to refine the mechanics and format of signs to garner maximum attracting and holding power, ensuring that the message is read and the target outcome is achieved. By providing tools to visitors to geological sites that enable them to create narratives that are compatible with their expectations, we facilitate a multi-dimensional constructive experience that engages everyone.
Advances in Large-Scale Flood Monitoring and Detection
Authors: Manfreda Salvatore , Samela Caterina , Refice Alberto , Tramutoli Valerio , Nardi Fernando
Published: September 2018

The last decades have seen a massive advance in technologies for Earth observation (EO) and environmental monitoring, which provided scientists and engineers with valuable spatial information for studying hydrologic processes. At the same time, the power of computers and newly developed algorithms have grown sharply. Such advances have extended the range of possibilities for hydrologists, who are trying to exploit these potentials the most, updating and re-inventing the way hydrologic and hydraulic analyses are carried out. A variety of research fields have progressed significantly, ranging from the evaluation of water features, to the classification of land-cover, the identification of river morphology, and the monitoring of extreme flood events. The description of flood processes may particularly benefit from the integrated use of recent algorithms and monitoring techniques. In fact, flood exposure and risk over large areas and in scarce data environments have always been challenging topics due to the limited information available on river basin hydrology, basin morphology, land cover, and the resulting model uncertainty. The ability of new tools to carry out intensive analyses over huge datasets allows us to produce flood studies over large extents and with a growing level of detail. The present Special Issue aims to describe the state-of-the-art on flood assessment, monitoring, and management using new algorithms, new measurement systems and EO data. More specifically, we collected a number of contributions dealing with: (1) the impact of climate change on floods; (2) real time flood forecasting systems; (3) applications of EO data for hazard, vulnerability, risk mapping, and post-disaster recovery phase; and (4) development of tools and platforms for assessment and validation of hazard/risk models.
How Does Emotional Intelligence Make One Feel Better at Work? The Mediational Role of Work Engagement
Authors: Extremera Natalio , Mérida-López Sergio , Sánchez-Álvarez Nicolás , Quintana-Orts Cirenia
Published: September 2018

Although previous research has highlighted the association between emotional intelligence (EI) and job satisfaction, the underlying mechanisms remain relatively unexplored. To address this gap, this study examined employee engagement as a potential mediator of the association. A multi-occupational sample of 405 Spanish professionals completed the Wong Law Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale and an Overall Job Satisfaction Scale as well as providing socio-demographic data. As expected, employees’ EI was positively related to engagement dimensions (vigour, dedication and absorption) as well as overall job satisfaction. Bootstrap estimates from multiple mediation analysis confirmed that employees’ perceived EI was indirectly associated with job satisfaction via vigour and dedication scores, even when controlling for the effects of socio-demographic variables. Similarly, the same pattern was found when multiple mediation was conducted for each EI dimension. Our study contributes to understanding of the processes involved in maintaining and enhancing positive attitudes at work, providing the first, encouraging evidence that work engagement play a role in the EI-job satisfaction link. Our results extend the EI literature by elucidating the pathways through which EI is linked to positive employee attitudes and suggests that intervention programs designed to bolster EI might prove effective at increasing job satisfaction.
A Comparative Study of Nutritional Status, Knowledge Attitude and Practices (KAP) and Dietary Intake between International and Chinese Students in Nanjing, China
Authors: Ul Haq Ijaz , Mariyam Zahula , Li Min , Huang Xiaojia , Jiang Pan , Zeb Falak , Wu Xiaoyue , Feng Qing , Zhou Ming
Published: September 2018

University students tend to have poor dietary practices, which ultimately affect their nutritional status. International students are becoming more prevalent in China. The current study aimed to compare the nutritional status, knowledge attitude and practices (KAP) and dietary intake between international and Chinese students in China. A comparative study was conducted in undergraduate students of Nanjing Medical University aged 17–31 years including 308 international and 393 Chinese students. Data was collected by self-administered questionnaire. Body composition was detected by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Student t-test and chi square test were used for comparison. Linear regressions were used for association of nutritional status with determinants. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in international student was higher than Chinese students. International male and female students were having significantly (p < 0.05) high BMI and percent body fats than Chinese male and female students. Nutritional KAP scores of Chinese students was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than international students. As for diet consumption, daily milk consumption was high in international students while daily egg and weekly fish and meat consumption were found more in Chinese students. Fast foods and carbonated drinks weekly consumption was significantly (p < 0.001) high in international students. After adjusted for age, gender, education, sleeping duration and physical exercise, the inverse association of nutritional KAP with BMI remained significant. Our data indicate that international students had more percent body fats, less nutritional KAP scores and unhealthy dietary habits than Chinese students. Proper nutrition education and guidance for improving good habits and nutritional status is suggested for international students.
Study of Hybrid PVA/MA/TEOS Pervaporation Membrane and Evaluation of Energy Requirement for Desalination by Pervaporation
Authors: Xie Zongli , Ng Derrick , Hoang Manh , Zhang Jianhua , Gray Stephen
Published: September 2018

Desalination by pervaporation is a membrane process that is yet to be realized for commercial application. To investigate the feasibility and viability of scaling up, a process engineering model was developed to evaluate the energy requirement based on the experimental study of a hybrid polyvinyl alcohol/maleic acid/tetraethyl orthosilicate (PVA/MA/TEOS) Pervaporation Membrane. The energy consumption includes the external heating and cooling required for the feed and permeate streams, as well as the electrical power associated with pumps for re-circulating feed and maintaining vacuum. The thermal energy requirement is significant (e.g., up to 2609 MJ/m3 of thermal energy) and is required to maintain the feed stream at 65 °C in recirculation mode. The electrical energy requirement is very small (<0.2 kWh/m3 of required at 65 °C feed temperature at steady state) with the vacuum pump contributing to the majority of the electrical energy. The energy required for the pervaporation process was also compared to other desalination processes such as Reverse Osmosis (RO), Multi-stage Flash (MSF), and Multiple Effect Distillation (MED). The electrical energy requirement for pervaporation is the lowest among these desalination technologies. However, the thermal energy needed for pervaporation is significant. Pervaporation may be attractive when the process is integrated with waste heat and heat recovery option and used in niche applications such as RO brine concentration or salt recovery.
Quiescence in Aedes aegypti: Interpopulation Differences Contribute to Population Dynamics and Vectorial Capacity
Authors: Oliva Luciana O. , La Corte Roseli , Santana Marcelo O. , Albuquerque Cleide M. R. de
Published: September 2018

The strategy of Aedes aegypti to prolong embryonic viability by quiescence has severe implications for geographic expansion and maintenance of mosquito populations in areas under control measures. We evaluated the effects of quiescence on biological parameters directly or indirectly associated with population dynamics and vectorial capacity in populations of this mosquito species from two Brazilian municipalities characterized as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika transmission areas. Egg viability, initial hatching time, post-embryonic development time, adult emergence rate, sexual proportion, adult size, fecundity, and fertility were analyzed using eggs stored for 10, 40, 70, 100, 130, and 160 d. Quiescence time reduced overall egg viability and post-embryonic development time in both municipalities but was more costly in Aracaju (100 d, 8 d) than in Recife (130 d, 7.5 d). Emergence rates increased in Recife when the eggs were older, but not in Aracaju. Significant deviations in sexual proportion, with male predominance, were observed in both populations. Initial hatch, fecundity, fertility, and adult size did not significantly influence egg quiescence time. These results indicate intrinsic and differential characteristics for each A. aegypti population, suggesting a differential cost of quiescence for population dynamics parameters that can indirectly affect vectorial capacity and control measures.
Abducens Nerve Palsy as Initial Presentation of Multiple Myeloma and Intracranial Plasmacytoma
Authors: Ibekwe Elochukwu , Horsley Neil , Jiang Lan , Achenjang Nadine-Stella , Anudu Azubuogu , Akhtar Zeeshan , Chornenka Karina , Monohan Gregory , Chornenkyy Yevgen
Published: September 2018

Central Nervous System (CNS) involvement in multiple myeloma and/or multifocal solitary plasmacytoma is rare. Although they are unique entities, multiple myeloma (MM) and plasmacytoma represent a spectrum of plasma cell neoplastic diseases that can sometimes occur concurrently. Plasmacytomas very often present as late-stage sequelae of MM. In this case report, we report a 53-year-old female presenting with right abducens cranial nerve (CN) VI palsy as an initial presentation secondary to lesion of the right clivus.
On the Formation and Distribution of In Situ Synthesized TiB2 Reinforcements in Cast Aluminium Matrix Composites
Authors: Rane Kedarnath , Dhokey Narendra
Published: September 2018

Introduction of TiB2 reinforcements into aluminium matrices allows composites to be obtained that exhibit excellent mechanical properties and good wear and corrosion resistance. These composites find applications in the automotive, aerospace and marine industries. In the present work, the in situ synthesis of ultrafine TiB2 particulates in an aluminium matrix was accomplished by reaction synthesis of TiB2 using K2TiF6 and KBF4 (in 120% excess to the stoichiometrically needed) fluxes in pre-melted aluminium. Composites were prepared with different concentrations of TiB2 in (2.5, 5 and 10 wt %) in an aluminium matrix. The holding time of the molten composite in an induction furnace was varied from 10 min to 50 min. The in situ formation of TiB2 reinforcement and its distribution in cast aluminiummatrix composites was analyzed based on microstructural studies, microhardness measurements and wear tests. The exothermic reaction between the halide fluxes starts after 10 min of holding time and completes before 20 min of holding time. The dominant phase was TiB2 after 20 min of holding time, while the formation of Ti3B4 was observed as the holding time was extended. The distribution of the reinforcing phases was studied by analyzing the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. An optimum holding time (20 min) of the composite melt was determined based on the dominant wear mechanism, microhardness, and phase composition of the composites.
Special Issue: Fungal Endophytes in Plants
Authors: Strobel Gary
Published: September 2018

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Bring Your Own Reputation: A Feasible Trust System for Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Mühlbauer Ricardo , Kleinschmidt João Henrique
Published: September 2018

The establishment of trust in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) will require the application of non-conventional measures of information security, such as reputation of the participants. The system proposed in this paper uses the concept of certified reputation, in which vehicles communicate providing digital certificates that include their own reputation level. The vehicles periodically come in contact with certification and traffic control authorities to update their reputation levels, which are determined by the validation of their behavior on the network. Decision-making mechanisms in the receiver vehicles are responsible for evaluating whether the messages are true or false, based on the reputation of the communication nodes. The quantitative analysis of simulated scenarios showed the combination of the central reputation scheme with an appropriate vehicular decision mechanism achieved a total of correct decisions superior than without reputation systems. Considering the constraints of a high mobile network, the proposed system is a feasible way to reduce the risk of anomalous or malicious behavior in a vehicular network.
Porous Titanium Scaffolds Fabricated by Metal Injection Moulding for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Dehghan-Manshadi Ali , Chen Yunhui , Shi Zhiming , Bermingham Michael , StJohn David , Dargusch Matthew , Qian Ma
Published: September 2018

Biocompatible titanium scaffolds with up to 40% interconnected porosity were manufactured through the metal injection moulding process and the space holder technique. The mechanical properties of the manufactured scaffold showed a high level of compatibility with those of the cortical human bone. Sintering at 1250 °C produced scaffolds with 36% porosity and more than 90% interconnected pores, a compressive yield stress of 220 MPa and a Young’s modulus of 7.80 GPa, all suitable for bone tissue engineering. Increasing the sintering temperature to 1300 °C increased the Young’s modulus to 22.0 GPa due to reduced porosity, while reducing the sintering temperature to 1150 °C lowered the yield stress to 120 MPa, indicative of insufficient sintering. Electrochemical studies revealed that samples sintered at 1150 °C have a higher corrosion rate compared with those at a sintering temperature of 1250 °C. Overall, it was concluded that sintering at 1250 °C yielded the most desirable results.
Tunable Multipolar Fano Resonances and Electric Field Enhancements in Au Ring-Disk Plasmonic Nanostructures
Authors: Qiu Rong , Lin Hang , Huang Jing , Liang Cuiping , Yi Zao
Published: September 2018

We theoretically research the characteristics of tunable multipolar Fano resonances in novel-designed Au ring-disk plasmonic nanostructures. We systematically study some structural parameters that influence the multipolar Fano resonances of the nanostructures. Adjustment of the radius (R1 and R2) of the Au ring, the radius (R3) of the Au disk and the thickness (H) of the Au ring-disk can effectively adjust the multipolar Fano resonances. The complex field distributions excited by a Au ring-disk can produce dark resonance modes. At the frequency of the multipolar Fano resonances, strong localized field distributions can be obtained. The Fano resonances exhibit strong light-extinction properties in Au ring-disk nanostructures, which can be applied to an optical tunable filter and optical switch.
Effect of Temperature and Hold Time of Induction Brazing on Microstructure and Shear Strength of Martensitic Stainless Steel Joints
Authors: Chen Yunxia , Cui Haichao
Published: September 2018

1Cr12Mo martensitic stainless steel is widely used for intermediate and low-pressure steam turbine blades in fossil-fuel power plants. A nickel-based filler metal (SFA-5.8 BNi-2) was used to braze 1Cr12Mo in an Ar atmosphere. The influence of brazing temperature and hold time on the joints was studied. Microstructure of the joints brazed, element distribution and shear stress were evaluated at different brazing temperatures, ranging from 1050 °C to 1120 °C, with holding times of 10 s, 30 s, 50 s and 90 s. The results show that brazing joints mainly consist of the matrix of the braze alloy, the precipitation, and the diffusion affected zone. The filler metal elements diffusion is more active with increased brazing temperature and prolonged hold time. The shear strength of the brazed joints is greater than 250 MPa when the brazing temperature is 1080 °C and the hold time is 30 s.
Machine Learning Applications on Agricultural Datasets for Smart Farm Enhancement
Authors: Balducci Fabrizio , Impedovo Donato , Pirlo Giuseppe
Published: September 2018

This work aims to show how to manage heterogeneous information and data coming from real datasets that collect physical, biological, and sensory values. As productive companies—public or private, large or small—need increasing profitability with costs reduction, discovering appropriate ways to exploit data that are continuously recorded and made available can be the right choice to achieve these goals. The agricultural field is only apparently refractory to the digital technology and the “smart farm” model is increasingly widespread by exploiting the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm applied to environmental and historical information through time-series. The focus of this study is the design and deployment of practical tasks, ranging from crop harvest forecasting to missing or wrong sensors data reconstruction, exploiting and comparing various machine learning techniques to suggest toward which direction to employ efforts and investments. The results show how there are ample margins for innovation while supporting requests and needs coming from companies that wish to employ a sustainable and optimized agriculture industrial business, investing not only in technology, but also in the knowledge and in skilled workforce required to take the best out of it.
Submerged Osmotic Processes: Design and Operation to Mitigate Mass Transfer Limitations
Authors: Blandin Gaetan , Rodriguez-Roda Ignasi , Comas Joaquim
Published: September 2018

Submerged forward osmosis (FO) is of high interest for bioreactors, such as osmotic membrane bioreactor, microalgae photobioreactor, food or bioproduct concentration where pumping through pressurized modules is a limitation due to viscosity or breakage of fragile components. However, so far, most FO efforts have been put towards cross flow configurations. This study provides, for the first time, insights on mass transfer limitations in the operation of submerged osmotic systems and offer recommendations for optimized design and operation. It is demonstrated that operation of the submerged plate and frame FO module requires draw circulation in the vacuum mode (vacuum assisted osmosis) that is in favor of the permeation flux. However, high pressure drops and dead zones occurring in classical U-shape FO draw channel strongly disadvantage this design; straight channel design proves to be more effective. External concentration polarization (ECP) is also a crucial element in the submerged FO process since mixing of the feed solution is not as optimized as in the cross flow module unless applying intense stirring. Among the mitigation techniques tested, air scouring proves to be more efficient than feed solution circulation. However, ECP mitigation methodology has to be adapted to application specificities with regards to combined/synergetic effects with fouling mitigation.
Effect of Na2O and Rb2O on Inclusion Removal in C96V Saw Wire Steels Using Low-Basicity LF (Ladle Furnace) Refining Slags
Authors: Chen Changyong , Jiang Zhouhua , Li Yang , Sun Meng , Chen Kui , Wang Qi , Li Huabing
Published: September 2018

Inclusion removal and modification of C96V saw wire steel using Na2O- and Rb2O- containing novel low-basicity LF (ladle furnace) Refining Slags have been researched. The results indicated that the addition of Na2O deteriorates inclusion removal; by contrast, the addition of Rb2O seems to significantly enhance inclusion removal. In detail, Rb2O can improve the cleanliness in the as-quenched C96V saw wire steel melts compared to preexisting synthetic LF refining slag compositions: (i) The average inclusion diameter experienced a remarkable decrease after reaction between the liquid steel and the synthetic LF refining slag; (ii) In addition, the number of inclusions also suffered from a dramatic decrease, with the reaction time increasing from 900 to 2700 s (15 to 45 min); (iii) Furthermore, both of the MnO-SiO2-Al2O3 and CaO-SiO2-Al2O3 inclusion system mainly concentrated in the low melting zone when the composition of Rb2O in synthetic refining slag was ≥5.0 wt%. This is mainly because Na2O significantly reduces the viscosity of refining slag, while Rb2O increases it. Then, there are two remarkable influences causing the increase of viscosity of refining slag with the addition of Rb2O: the inclusions can be sufficiently entrained within the slag once absorbed due to the significant increase in the viscosity; and the slag entrapment during refining process weakened dramatically.
Untargeted Metabolomics Analysis of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) Fruit and Its Correlation to Fruit Morphologies
Authors: Hanifah Abu , Maharijaya Awang , Putri Sastia P. , Laviña Walter A. , Sobir
Published: September 2018

Eggplant is one of the most widely cultivated vegetables in the world and has high biodiversity in terms of fruit shape, size, and color. Therefore, fruit morphology and nutrient content become important considerations for both consumers and breeders who develop new eggplant-based products. To gain insight on the diversity of eggplant metabolites, twenty-one eggplant accessions were analyzed by untargeted metabolomics using GC-MS and LC-MS. The dataset of eggplant fruit morphologies, and metabolites specific to different eggplant fruit accessions were used for correlation analysis. Untargeted metabolomics analysis using LC-MS and GC-MS was able to detect 136 and 207 peaks, respectively. Fifty-one (51) metabolites from the LC-MS analysis and 207 metabolites from the GC-MS analysis were putatively identified, which included alkaloids, terpenes, terpenoids, fatty acids, and flavonoids. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that 14 fruit morphologies were correlated with several metabolites. This information will be very useful for the development of strategies for eggplant breeding.
Luminescent Properties of Eu3+-Doped Hybrid SiO2-PMMA Material for Photonic Applications
Authors: Trejo-García Pablo Marco , Palomino-Merino Rodolfo , De la Cruz Juan , Espinosa José Eduardo , Aceves Raúl , Moreno-Barbosa Eduardo , Moreno Oscar Portillo
Published: September 2018

Hybrid organic-inorganic materials are of great interest for various applications. Here, we report on the synthesis and optical characterization of silica-PMMA samples with different Eu3+ molar concentrations. The optical properties of this material make it suitable for photonic applications. The samples were prepared using the sol-gel method, mixing tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as a silica glass precursor and methyl methacrylate (PMMA) as a polymer component. Europium nitrate pentahydrate was then added in six different molar concentrations (0.0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1%) to obtain as many different samples of the material. The absorption spectra were obtained applying the Kubelka–Munk formula to the diffuse reflectance spectra of the samples, all in the wavelength range between 240 and 2500 nm. The emission and excitation measurements were made in the visible range. Five bands could be identified in the emission spectra, related to electronic transitions of the ion Eu3+ (4D0→7Fi, i from 0 to 4). In the excitation spectra, the following bands were detected: 7F0→5G3 (379 nm), 7F0→5G2 (380 nm), 7F0→5L6 (392 nm), 7F0→5D3 (407 nm), 7F0→5D2 (462 nm), and 7F0→5D1 (530 nm). The emission decay times were measured for the different samples and showed an inverse dependence with the Eu3+ concentration.
MEMS Inertial Sensors Based Gait Analysis for Rehabilitation Assessment via Multi-Sensor Fusion
Authors: Qiu Sen , Liu Long , Zhao Hongyu , Wang Zhelong , Jiang Yongmei
Published: September 2018

Gait and posture are regular activities which are fully controlled by the sensorimotor cortex. In this study, fluctuations of joint angle and asymmetry of foot elevation in human walking stride records are analyzed to assess gait in healthy adults and patients affected with gait disorders. This paper aims to build a low-cost, intelligent and lightweight wearable gait analysis platform based on the emerging body sensor networks, which can be used for rehabilitation assessment of patients with gait impairments. A calibration method for accelerometer and magnetometer was proposed to deal with ubiquitous orthoronal error and magnetic disturbance. Proportional integral controller based complementary filter and error correction of gait parameters have been defined with a multi-sensor data fusion algorithm. The purpose of the current work is to investigate the effectiveness of obtained gait data in differentiating healthy subjects and patients with gait impairments. Preliminary clinical gait experiments results showed that the proposed system can be effective in auxiliary diagnosis and rehabilitation plan formulation compared to existing methods, which indicated that the proposed method has great potential as an auxiliary for medical rehabilitation assessment.
Effects of Superplasticizer on the Hydration, Consistency, and Strength Development of Cemented Paste Backfill
Authors: Zhang Jian , Deng Hongwei , Taheri Abbas , Deng Junren , Ke Bo
Published: September 2018

The strength and consistency of cemented paste backfill (CPB) are of key concerns in the stope stability and cost control for underground mines. It is common practice to use additives, such as superplasticizer, to improve the performance of CPB. This study mainly focuses on the effects of superplasticizer on the hydration, consistency, and strength of CPB. In this study, a polynaphtalene sulfonate was used as the superplasticizer. The binder is a mix of 33.3% ordinary Portland cement and 66.7% fly ash. The CPB specimens with a tailings-binder ratio of 3:1 and a solid concentration of 70% were then tested by a low field nuclear magnetic resonance system after different hydration times. Effects of polynaphtalene sulfonate on the hydration, fluidity, and strength were investigated. Results showed that the polynaphtalene sulfonate has a strong influence on short-duration hydration, which may contribute to the strength increase of CPB. It has been demonstrated that the polynaphtalene sulfonate improved the fluidity of the CPB mixture. With the increased dosage of polynaphtalene sulfonate, the slump increased. It was also found that the polynaphtalene sulfonate dosage has a negligible effect on the 1 day (d) strength while it has a strengthening effect on the 7 d, 14 d, and 28 d strength of CPB specimens.
Towards Greener Lixiviants in Value Recovery from Mine Wastes: Efficacy of Organic Acids for the Dissolution of Copper and Arsenic from Legacy Mine Tailings
Authors: Crane Richard A. , Sapsford Devin J.
Published: September 2018

In many cases, it may be possible to recover value (e.g., metals, land) from legacy mine wastes and tailings when applying leaching-based remediation such as dump/heap leaching or in-vessel soil washing. However, if the lixiviant used has the potential to cause environmental damage upon leakage, then this approach will have limited practicability due to actual or perceived risk. This study focused on comparing the efficacy of organic acids, namely methanesulfonic (CH3SO3H) and citric (C6H8O7) acid, with mineral acids, namely sulfuric (H2SO4) and hydrochloric (HCl) acid, for the dissolution of Cu and As from mine tailings. The advantage of the former acid type is the fact that its conjungate base is readily biodegradable which should thereby limit the environmental impact of accidental spill/leakage (particularly in non-carbonate terrain) and might also be directly useful in capture/recovery systems coupled with percolation leaching (e.g., as an electron donor in sulphate-reducing bioreactors). The operational factors acid concentration, leaching time, mixing intensity and solid–liquid ratio, were tested in order to determine the optimum conditions for metal dissolution. HCl, H2SO4, and CH3SO3H typically exhibited a relatively similar leaching ability for As despite their different pKa values, with dissolutions of 58%, 56%, 55%, and 44% recorded for H2SO4, HCl, CH3SO3H, and C6H8O7, respectively, after 48 h when using 1 M concentrations and a 10:1 L:S ratio. For the same conditions, H2SO4 was generally the most effective acid type for Cu removal with 38% compared to 32%, 29% and 22% for HCl, CH3SO3H and C6H8O7. As such, CH3SO3H and C6H8O7 demonstrated similar performances to strong mineral acids and, as such, hold great promise as environmentally compatible alternatives to conventional mineral acids for metal recovery from ores and waste.
Optimization of Flavonoids Extraction Process in Panax notoginseng Stem Leaf and a Study of Antioxidant Activity and Its Effects on Mouse Melanoma B16 Cells
Authors: Dai Chun-Yan , Liu Peng-Fei , Liao Pei-Ran , Qu Yuan , Wang Cheng-Xiao , Yang Ye , Cui Xiu-Ming
Published: September 2018

The Panax notoginseng (P. notoginseng) stem leaf is rich in flavonoids. However, because of a lack of research on the flavonoid extraction process and functional development of P. notoginseng stem leaf, these parts are discarded as agricultural wastes. Therefore, in this study, we intend to optimize the extraction process and develop the skin-whitening functions of P. notoginseng stem leaf extracts. The extraction process of the stem and leaf of P. notoginseng flavonoid (SLPF) is optimized based on the Box–Behnken design (BBD) and the response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum extraction conditions of the SLPF are as follows: the extraction time, the ethanol concentration, the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) content and the liquid material ratio (v/w, which are 52 min, 48.7%, 1.9%, and 20:1, respectively. Under the optimal extraction conditions, the average total SLPF content is 2.10%. The antioxidant activity and anti-deposition of melanin of mouse B16 cells of P. notoginseng stem leaf extracts are studied. The results indicate that the EC50 values of reducing activity, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activities, the superoxide anion removal ability, and the 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) free radical removal ability are 7.212, 2.893, 2.949, and 0.855 mg/mL, respectively. The extracts IC50 values of the tyrosinase and melanin synthesis are 0.045 and 0.046 mg/mL, respectively. Therefore, the optimal processing technology for the SLPF obtained in this study not only increases its utilization rate, but also decreases material costs. The extracts from the P. notoginseng stem leaf may be developed as food or beauty products.