bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Green Approach to the Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Mesh Surface for Oil/Water Separation
Authors: Wang Fajun , Lei Sheng , Xu Yao , Ou Junfei
Published: May 2015

We report a simple and environment friendly method to fabricate superhydrophobic metallic mesh surfaces for oil/water separation. The obtained mesh surface exhibits superhydrophobicity and superoleophilicity after it was dried in an oven at 200 °C for 10 min. A rough silver layer is formed on the mesh surface after immersion, and the spontaneous adsorption of airborne carbon contaminants on the silver surface lower the surface free energy of the mesh. No low‐surface‐energy reagents and/or volatile organic solvents are used. In addition, we demonstrate that by using the mesh box, oils can be separated and collected from the surface of water repeatedly, and that high separation efficiencies of larger than 92 % are retained for various oils. Moreover, the superhydrophobic mesh also possesses excellent corrosion resistance and thermal stability. Hence, these superhydrophobic meshes might be good candidates for the practical separation of oil from the surface of water.
Photophysical Properties of Intramolecular Charge Transfer in a Tribranched Donor–π–Acceptor Chromophore
Authors: Hu Jiangpu , Li Yang , Zhu Huaning , Qiu Shuhai , He Guiying , Zhu Xiaozhang , Xia Andong
Published: May 2015

The photophysical properties of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) in a novel tribranched donor–π–acceptor chromophore, triphenoxazine‐2,4,6‐triphenyl‐1,3,5‐triazine (tri‐PXZ‐TRZ), with thermally activated delayed fluorescence character was investigated in different aprotic solvents by steady‐state spectroscopy and femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy measurements. Increasing the solvent polarity led to a significant increase in the Stokes shift. The large Stokes shift in highly polar solvents was attributed to ICT properties upon excitation; this resulted in a strong interaction between the tri‐PXZ‐TRZ molecule and the surrounding solvent, which led to a strong solvation process. Quantum‐chemical calculations and changes in the dipole moment showed that this compound has a large degree of ICT. Furthermore, an apolar environment helped to preserve the symmetry of tri‐PXZ‐TRZ and to enhance its emission efficiency. The femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy results indicated that the excited‐state dynamics of this push–pull molecule were strongly influenced by solvent polarity through the formation of a solvent‐stabilized ICT state. The excited‐state relaxation mechanism of tri‐PXZ‐TRZ was proposed by performing target model analysis on the femtosecond transient absorption spectra. In addition, the delayed fluorescence of tri‐PXZ‐TRZ was significantly modulated by a potential competition between solvation and intersystem crossing processes.
White light emission materials of self‐assembled rare earth molybdates NaRe(MoO4)2 micro‐particles: the controllable synthesis, growth mechanism and luminescent properties
Authors: Yan Junpeng , Xiao Xiuzhen , Yu Jun , Mao Dongsen , Lu Guanzhong
Published: May 2015

The tetragonally double alkaline rare earth molybdates NaRe(MoO4)2 (Re = Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, and Er) micro‐particles in aqueous solution of Re(NO3)3 and Na2MoO4 were prepared hydrothermally by a facile and effective EDTA‐assisted method, and investigated by XRD, SEM, FE‐SEM, photoluminescence (PL) excitation and emission spectra. The results showed that the radii of Re ions, pH and the molar ratio of Re(NO3)3/Na2MoO4 in the synthesis solution play an important role in controlling sizes, morphologies and luminescent properties of the final products. And the possible formation mechanism for the bipyramid‐like structure and role of EDTA were discussed in detail. The microstructure and PL property of NaYxLa1‐x(MoO4)2:10%Eu3+ was investigated, and it showed that NaY0.5La0.5(MoO4)2 exhibited regular sphere‐like morphology and emitted the stronger red emission with better color purity than other products. When Tm3+, Dy3+ and Eu3+ with appropriate concentrations were used as dopants to modify this bipyramid NaY(MoO4)2 material, the white light emission material of NaY(MoO4)2:1%Tm3+‐11%Dy3+‐0.6%Eu3+ was successfully synthesized and its CIE chromaticity coordinates is (0.33, 0.33), which is the standard white light point. These novel white‐light‐emitting NaY(MoO4)2:1%Tm3+‐11%Dy3+‐0.6%Eu3+ with single phase would be a promising material in the WLED field.
Time‐ and Energy‐Efficient Solution Combustion Synthesis of Binary Metal Tungstate Nanoparticles with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity
Authors: Thomas Abegayl , Janáky Csaba , Samu Gergely F. , Huda Muhammad N. , Sarker Pranab , Liu J. Ping , van Nguyen Vuong , Wang Evelyn H. , Schug Kevin A. , Rajeshwar Krishnan
Published: May 2015

In the search for stable and efficient photocatalysts beyond TiO2, the tungsten‐based oxide semiconductors silver tungstate (Ag2WO4), copper tungstate (CuWO4), and zinc tungstate (ZnWO4) were prepared using solution combustion synthesis (SCS). The tungsten precursor’s influence on the product was of particular relevance to this study, and the most significant effects are highlighted. Each sample’s photocatalytic activity towards methyl orange degradation was studied and benchmarked against their respective commercial oxide sample obtained by solid‐state ceramic synthesis. Based on the results herein, we conclude that SCS is a time‐ and energy‐efficient method to synthesize crystalline binary tungstate nanomaterials even without additional excessive heat treatment. As many of these photocatalysts possess excellent photocatalytic activity, the discussed synthetic strategy may open sustainable materials chemistry avenues to solar energy conversion and environmental remediation.
Graphical analysis and design of multistage operational amplifiers with active feedback Miller compensation
Authors: Tepwimonpetkun Samattachai , Pholpoke Bhirawich , Wattanapanitch Woradorn
Published: May 2015

Frequency compensation of a multistage operational amplifier (op‐amp) is normally performed through solving nodal equations of an equivalent circuit to obtain the op‐amp's final transfer function. The process is often very tedious and offers little insight into the roles of the selected compensation scheme. In this paper, we present a graphical design approach for two‐stage and three‐stage op‐amps with active feedback Miller compensation. By viewing frequency compensation as a standard feedback problem, we can utilize the well‐known graphical tools such as the root locus and Bode plot to understand the effects of the compensation and to estimate the locations of the closed‐loop poles and zeros of the op‐amp. Intuitive graphical design procedures for two‐stage and three‐stage op‐amps are also formulated. To show its effectiveness, we illustrate our design approach through the design of a three‐stage op‐amp in a standard 0.18‐μm complementary metal‐oxide‐semiconductor (CMOS) process. With a load capacitance of 500 pF, post‐layout simulations show that the op‐amp achieves a low‐frequency gain of 144 dB, a phase margin of 58∘, and a unity‐gain frequency of 1.38 MHz while consuming a total bias current of 31 μA from a 1.8‐V supply voltage. Comparisons with the published amplifiers show that our op‐amp achieves the figure of merits comparable to those of the state of the art. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantitation of yeast cell–cell fusion using multicolor flow cytometry
Authors: Salzman Valentina , Porro Valentina , Bollati‐Fogolín Mariela , Aguilar Pablo S.
Published: May 2015

Mating of haploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells of opposite sex provides a powerful model system to study the cell–cell fusion. However, a rapid and standardized method is much needed for quantitative assessment of fusion efficiency. The gold standard method relies on counting mating pairs in fluorescence microscopy images. This current method is limited by expectancy bias and it is time consuming, restricting the number of both cell–cell fusion events and strains that can be analyzed at once. Automatic approaches present a solution to these limitations. Here, we describe a novel flow cytometric approach that is able to quickly both identify mating pairs within a mixture of gametes and quantify cell fusion efficiency. This method is based on staining the cell wall of yeast populations with different Concanavalin A–fluorophore conjugates. The mating subpopulation is identified as the two‐colored events set and fused and unfused mating pairs are subsequently discriminated by green fluorescent protein bimolecular complementation. A series of experiments was conducted to validate a simple and reliable protocol. Mating efficiency in each sample was determined by flow cytometry and compared with the one obtained with the current gold standard technique. The results show that mating pair counts using both methods produce indistinguishable outcomes and that the flow cytometry‐based method provides quantitative relevant information in a short time, making possible to quickly analyze many different cell populations. In conclusion, our data show multicolor flow cytometry‐based fusion quantitation to be a fast, robust, and reliable method to quantify the cell–cell fusion in yeast. © 2015 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
An energy‐efficient history‐based routing scheme for opportunistic networks
Authors: Dhurandher Sanjay K. , Sharma Deepak Kumar , Woungang Isaac , Saini Aakanksha
Published: May 2015

In opportunistic networks (Oppnets), nodes rely on contact opportunities between them to exchange information with each other. Routing and forwarding in Oppnets remains a challenging task because of the limited energy and bandwidth constraints. Various routing protocols for Oppnets have been proposed in the literature, but only few of them have explicitly investigated the energy issue. In this paper, some improvements in the already existing history‐based prediction for routing protocol for infrastructure‐less Oppnets (so‐called HBPR) is suggested so as to make it energy efficient. The proposed energy‐efficient HBPR protocol (EHBPR) addresses the energy constraints in HBPR and reduces the number of packets transferred in the network, which in turn results to a reduction in the nodes' energy consumption. Through simulations, the performance of EHBPR in terms of energy consumption is compared against the HBPR and the energy‐efficient n‐epidemic routing protocol. The results show that (1) EHBPR consumes 14.66% less energy than HBPR (respectively 13.14% less energy than n‐epidemic); (2) EHBPR generates 67.4% less dead nodes compared with HBPR (resp. 66.33% less dead nodes compared to n‐epidemic); and (3) EHBPR yields 77.86% less overhead ratio compared with HBPR (resp. 84.49% less overhead ratio compared with n‐epidemic). Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Versatile Reactivity of CH3CN‐Coordinated Nickel‐Iron Heterodimetallic Complexes with Cp* Ligand on Diazadithiolate (N2S2) or Dithiadithiolate (S4) Platforms
Authors: Yang Dawei , Li Yang , Su Linan , Wang Baomin , Qu Jingping
Published: May 2015

By using 3,7‐dithianonane‐1,9‐dithiol (S4) and N,N′‐dimethyl‐N,N′‐bis(2‐mercaptoethyl)ethylenediamine (N2S2) as ligands, two CH3CN‐coordinated nickel‐iron heterodimetallic complexes, [NiS4Fe(CH3CN)Cp*][PF6] (1a) and [NiN2S2Fe(CH3CN)Cp*][PF6] (1b) (Cp* = η5‐C5Me5), were synthesized and characterized spectroscopically and crystallographically. Reactivities of 1a and 1b towards CO, CH2Cl2, HBF4, and NOPF6 have also been investigated. A series of complexes coordinated with small molecules [NiS4Fe(L)Cp*][PF6]n [n = 1, L = Cl (2a), CO (3a); n = 2, L = NO (4a)], [NiN2S2Fe(L)Cp*][PF6] [L = Cl (2b), CO (3b)] were obtained. We also studied the redox properties of 2a, 2b, 3a, and 3b by cyclic voltammetry in CH2Cl2 and in CH3CN solution. Complex 3a was found to be an excellent electrocatalyst for proton reduction from HBF4.
Total Synthesis of Myrmekioside A, a Mono‐O‐alkyl‐diglycosylglycerol from Marine Sponge Myrmekioderma sp.
Authors: Zhang Jun , Li Chunxia , Sun Linlin , Yu Guangli , Guan Huashi
Published: May 2015

Myrmekioside A, which was isolated from the marine sponge Myrmekioderma sp. as a member of the family of natural mono‐O‐alkyl‐diglycosylglycerols, and which has a strong reversion effect on the tumor cell morphology of ras‐transformed cells at 5 μg/mL, was synthesized for the first time in 17 steps and 14 % overall yield. The β‐glycosidic linkages in myrmekioside A were successfully constructed by the neighbouring‐group‐participation approach using trichloroacetimidates and thioglycosides as glycosyl donors. The 2R absolute configuration at C‐2 of the glycerol backbone was derived from (S)‐1,2‐isopropylideneglycerol (8). This synthetic approach may be applicable to the preparation of other myrmekioside analogues featuring different sugars and alkyl chains for further structure–activity relationship studies.
The mixed blessings of migration: Life satisfaction and self‐esteem over the course of migration
Authors: Lönnqvist Jan‐Erik , Leikas Sointu , Mähönen Tuuli Anna , Jasinskaja‐Lahti Inga
Published: May 2015

We investigated the psychological adaptation of Ingrian–Finnish migrants from Russia to Finland between 2008 and 2013. Pre‐migration data (N = 225) were collected at the Finnish language courses that were part of the immigration training program. The three post‐migration follow‐ups were conducted half a year (N = 155), and 2 (N = 133) and 3 years (N = 85) after migration. Well‐being was assessed with measures of Life Satisfaction and Self‐Esteem. Life Satisfaction increased from pre‐migration to the first post‐migration measurement point, after which it stabilized. Self‐Esteem decreased throughout the study. Variables reflecting adjustment to the event of migration (e.g., acculturation stress, socio‐cultural adaptation) were primarily associated with well‐being at the first post‐migration measurement point. More general determinants of well‐being (e.g., social support and subjective economic situation) were more consistently associated with well‐being throughout the study. The results suggest that migration can be beneficial to some but detrimental to other types of well‐being.
Mediation analysis with structural equation models: Combining theory, design, and statistics
Authors: Danner Daniel , Hagemann Dirk , Fiedler Klaus
Published: May 2015

Statistical tests of indirect effects can hardly distinguish between genuine and spurious mediation effects. The present research demonstrates, however, that mediation analysis can be improved by combining a significance test of the indirect effect with assessing the fit of causal models. Testing only the indirect effect can be misleading, because significant results may also be obtained when the underlying causal model is different from the mediation model. We use simulated data to demonstrate that additionally assessing the fit of causal models with structural equation models can be used to exclude subsets of models that are incompatible with the observed data. The results suggest that combining structural equation modeling with appropriate research design and theoretically stringent mediation analysis can improve scientific insights. Finally, we discuss limitations of the structural equation modeling approach, and we emphasize the importance of non‐statistical methods for scientific discovery.
(How) does positive and negative extended cross‐group contact predict direct cross‐group contact and intergroup attitudes?
Authors: Mazziotta Agostino , Rohmann Anette , Wright Stephen C. , De Tezanos‐Pinto Pablo , Lutterbach Sebastian
Published: May 2015

Knowing that fellow ingroup members have cross‐group contact can affect how people think, feel, and behave towards an out‐group. Previous research on extended contact focused almost exclusively on positive cross‐group interactions, neglecting the fact that extended contact can also be negative. In this contribution, we introduce negative extended contact and investigate how both forms of extended contact predict direct cross‐group contact and intergroup attitudes. In two cross‐sectional studies (N1 = 286, N2 = 237), we found evidence that positive and negative extended contact uniquely predict intergroup attitudes, and that direct cross‐group contact mediates this effect. In , we also provide initial evidence that extended contact might either prepare for or impair direct contact by changing ingroup norms and intergroup self‐efficacy, which in turn influence feelings of intergroup anxiety.
Disproportionated Tin Oxide and Its Nanocomposite for High‐Performance Lithium‐Ion Battery Anodes
Authors: Park Jae‐Wan , Park Cheol‐Min
Published: May 2015

We exploited the unstable characteristics of solid SnO at all temperatures to develop a simple, fast, inexpensive, and scalable method based on high‐energy ball milling to transform SnO into a disproportionated nanocomposite that consists of amorphized Sn and nanocrystalline SnO2. In the first step of this process, nanostructured disproportionated SnO (d‐SnO) made up of nanosized Sn and SnO2 crystallites is produced by ball milling pure SnO powder. The electrochemical performance of the d‐SnO is then enhanced by creating a d‐SnO/C nanocomposite through additional ball milling. This d‐SnO/C nanocomposite was analyzed by various techniques, such as XRD, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, and extended X‐ray absorption fine structure analysis, and consists of amorphized Sn (≈sub‐3 nm) and nanocrystalline SnO2 (≈5–15 nm) within an amorphous carbon matrix. This structure produces excellent electrochemical performances with a high initial energy density (first charge: 892 mA h g−1 or 1436 mA h cm−3), a relatively good initial Coulombic efficiency (≈73 %), long cycling stability (above 642 mA h g−1 or 1034 mA h cm−3 over 300 cycles), and a fast rate capability (3 C: 585 mA h g−1 or 942 mA h cm−3). Based on these results, we believe that d‐SnO/C nanocomposite electrodes have the potential to create a new area of research in the field of high‐performance Li‐alloy‐based anode materials.
A note on 10Be‐derived mean erosion rates in catchments with heterogeneous lithology: examples from the western Central Andes
Authors: Carretier Sebastien , Regard Vincent , Vassallo Riccardo , Martinod Joseph , Christophoul Frederic , Gayer Eric , Audin Laurence , Lagane Christelle
Published: May 2015

Millennial catchment–mean erosion rates derived from terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides are generally based on the assumption that the lithologies of the parent rock each contain the same proportion of quartz. This is not always true for large catchments, in particular at the edge of mountainous plateaus where quartz‐rich basement rocks may adjoin sedimentary or volcano‐sedimentary rocks with low quartz content. The western Central Andes is an example of this type of situation. Different quartz contents may be taken into account by weighting the TCN production rates in the catchment. We recall the underlying theory and show that weighting the TCN production rate may also lead to bias in the case of a spatial correlation between erosion rate and lithology. We illustrate the difference between weighted and unweighted erosion rates for seven catchments (16 samples) in southern Peru and northern Chile and show variations up to a factor of 2 between both approaches. In this dataset, calculated erosion rates considering only granitoid outcrops are better correlated with catchment mean slopes than those obtained without taking into account the geological heterogeneity of the drained watershed. This dataset analysis demonstrates that weighting erosion rates by relative proportions of quartz is necessary to evaluate the uncertainties for calculated catchment–mean erosion rates and may reveal the correlation with geomorphic parameters. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Test–retest reliability of freesurfer measurements within and between sites: Effects of visual approval process
Authors: Iscan Zafer , Jin Tony B. , Kendrick Alexandria , Szeglin Bryan , Lu Hanzhang , Trivedi Madhukar , Fava Maurizio , McGrath Patrick J. , Weissman Myrna , Kurian Benji T. , Adams Phillip , Weyandt Sarah , Toups Marisa , Carmody Thomas , McInnis Melvin , Cusin Cristina , Cooper Crystal , Oquendo Maria A. , Parsey Ramin V. , DeLorenzo Christine
Published: May 2015

In the last decade, many studies have used automated processes to analyze magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data such as cortical thickness, which is one indicator of neuronal health. Due to the convenience of image processing software (e.g., FreeSurfer), standard practice is to rely on automated results without performing visual inspection of intermediate processing. In this work, structural MRIs of 40 healthy controls who were scanned twice were used to determine the test–retest reliability of FreeSurfer‐derived cortical measures in four groups of subjects—those 25 that passed visual inspection (approved), those 15 that failed visual inspection (disapproved), a combined group, and a subset of 10 subjects (Travel) whose test and retest scans occurred at different sites. Test–retest correlation (TRC), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and percent difference (PD) were used to measure the reliability in the Destrieux and Desikan–Killiany (DK) atlases. In the approved subjects, reliability of cortical thickness/surface area/volume (DK atlas only) were: TRC (0.82/0.88/0.88), ICC (0.81/0.87/0.88), PD (0.86/1.19/1.39), which represent a significant improvement over these measures when disapproved subjects are included. Travel subjects’ results show that cortical thickness reliability is more sensitive to site differences than the cortical surface area and volume. To determine the effect of visual inspection on sample size required for studies of MRI‐derived cortical thickness, the number of subjects required to show group differences was calculated. Significant differences observed across imaging sites, between visually approved/disapproved subjects, and across regions with different sizes suggest that these measures should be used with caution. Hum Brain Mapp 36:3472–3485, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Predicting landscape sensitivity to present and future floods in the Pacific Northwest, USA
Authors: Safeeq Mohammad , Grant Gordon E. , Lewis Sarah L. , Staab Brian
Published: May 2015

Floods are the most frequent natural disaster, causing more loss of life and property than any other in the USA. Floods also strongly influence the structure and function of watersheds, stream channels, and aquatic ecosystems. The Pacific Northwest is particularly vulnerable to climatically driven changes in flood frequency and magnitude, because snowpacks that strongly influence flood generation are near the freezing point and thus sensitive to small changes in temperature. To improve predictions of future flooding potential and inform strategies to adapt to these changes, we mapped the sensitivity of landscapes to changes in peak flows due to climate warming across Oregon and Washington. We first developed principal component‐based models for predicting peak flows across a range of recurrence intervals (2‐, 10‐, 25‐, 50‐, and 100‐years) based on historical instantaneous peak flow data from 1000 gauged watersheds in Oregon and Washington. Key predictors of peak flows included drainage area and principal component scores for climate, land cover, soil, and topographic metrics. We then used these regression models to predict future peak flows by perturbing the climate variables based on future climate projections (2020s, 2040s, and 2080s) for the A1B emission scenario. For each recurrence interval, peak flow sensitivities were computed as the ratio of future to current peak flow magnitudes. Our analysis suggests that temperature‐induced changes in snowpack dynamics will result in large (>30–40%) increases in peak flow magnitude in some areas, principally the Cascades, Olympics, and Blue Mountains and parts of the western edge of the Rocky Mountains. Flood generation processes in lower elevation areas are less likely to be affected, but some of these areas may be impacted by floodwaters from upstream. These results can assist land, water, and infrastructure managers in identifying watersheds and resources that are particularly vulnerable to increased peak flows and developing plans to increase their resilience. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Radiolabelling rituximab with 99mTc in three steps procedure
Authors: Fontan Charlotte , Bezombes Christine , Salabert Anne Sophie , Costes Julien , Lopez Raphael , Fournie Jean‐Jacques , Avet‐Loiseau Hervé , Coulais Yvon , Payoux Pierre , Tafani Mathieu
Published: May 2015

Lymphomas are the most frequent haematological malignancy. In non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL), more than 90% of tumor cells express the cluster of differentiation (CD) 20 antigen. At the end of frontline therapy, the evaluation of remission is based on computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography coupled with computer tomography (PET/CT) with [18F]‐fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG). Unfortunately, these techniques are not specific and cannot distinguish residual active tumor from inflammation. The aim of this study was to develop a specific radiotracer of NHL CD 20+ cells for clinical applications. The radiolabelling technique presented, based on the use of tricarbonyl compound, does not include an antibody reduction because this step could damage the protein. Actually, rituximab, an anti‐CD 20 chimeric antibody used for the treatment of these NHL, was radiolabelled with Isolink® 99mTc‐tricarbonyl compound in a three‐step procedure without using a specific antibody reducer. Radiolabelling yield was greater than 97%. In vitro experiments showed a conservation of antibody integrity. In vivo experiments using Single‐photon emission computed tomography/CT showed significant tumor targeting 24 h after injection of the radiotracer. It was consequently possible to develop an immunoradiolabelling method to specifically detect the residual disease. As this procedure is fast, reproducible and gentle, it will be possible to comply with Good Manufacturing Practices.
SERS‐based assays for sensitive detection of modafinil
Authors: Caglayan Mehmet Gokhan , Torul Hilal , Onur Feyyaz , Tamer Ugur
Published: May 2015

In this paper, we proposed two sensitive surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy assays for the determination of modafinil in urine matrix. In the first assay, modafinil was extracted by solid phase extraction and determined after sandwiching with silver nanoparticles. In the second assay, modafinil was extracted by non‐specific interaction with magnetic gold nanoparticles and determined by sandwiching with magnetic gold and silver nanoparticles. The non‐specific magnetic extraction does not require any analyte specific agent like antibody, aptamer, or molecularly imprinted polymer, therefore, the cost and complexity of the assay is very low. Both assays are capable for application to urine samples with the detection limits under the minimum required performance limit of modafinil. The assays were validated in terms of accuracy, precision, detection limits, and ranges. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in smoked buffalo mozzarella cheese produced in Campania Region, Italy
Authors: Fasano Evelina , Esposito Francesco , Scognamiglio Gelsomina , Cocchieri Amodio Renata , Cirillo Teresa
Published: May 2015

BACKGROUND

Smoked mozzarella is obtained through traditional smoking techniques or the use of liquid smoke. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) may be produced during the organic matrix combustion. The aim of this study was to evaluate benzo[a]pyrene (B(a)P), benzo[a]anthracene (B(a)A), benzo[b]fluoranthene (B(b)FA), benzo[k]fluoranthene (B(k)FA), benzo[ghi]perylene (B(g,h,i)PE), chrysene (CHR), dibenz[a,h]anthracene (DB(a,h)A) and indeno[1,2,3‐cd]pyrene (IP) in smoked buffalo mozzarella produced in Campania, evaluating also the influence of the different smoking techniques. Milk and mozzarella of the same batch, before and after smoking, were collected. The detection method was basic hydrolysis, clean‐up with silica and detection by HPLC equipped with a fluorescence detector.

RESULTS

For milk, only 30% was contaminated. In non‐smoked products the medians were >LODs only for B(a)A and CHR. In smoked mozzarellas the highest median was 0.37 ng g−1 wet weight (CHR).

CONCLUSION

It was found that the consumption of this typical food of Campania does not represent a risk for consumers, considering that the incidences on EFSA dietary intake were always lower than 1.5% for mozzarella cheese and lower than 3% for smoked mozzarella cheese. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Dietary supplementation of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens alters fatty acids of milk and rumen fluid in lactating goats
Authors: Shivani Swati , Srivastava Anima , Shandilya Umesh K , Kale Vishnu , Tyagi Amrish K
Published: May 2015

BACKGROUND

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers have high health amelioration potential and hence it is of great interest to increase the CLA content in dairy products. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of administration of high CLA producing Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens In‐1 on fatty acid composition of milk and rumen fluid in lactating goats. Four groups (n = 5) of lactating goats were assigned the following treatments: Control (C) (basal diet); T1 (basal diet + linoleic acid source), T2 (basal diet + suspension of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens In‐1, 109 CFU head−1) and T3 (basal diet + linoleic acid source + suspension of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens In‐1, 109 CFU head−1).

RESULTS

Rumen liquor and milk samples were collected on days 0, 15, 30, 60 and 90 of the experiment and linoleic isomerase enzyme (LA‐I) activity and fatty acid profiles were elucidated. Major effects of treatments were seen on day 30 of the experiment. Total CLA content of rumen fluid increased (P < 0.05) by 218.72, 182.26 and 304% whereas total saturated fatty acid (SFA) content was lowered (P < 0.05) by 6.1, 4.44 and 9.55% in T1, T2 and T3, respectively, as compared to control. Vaccenic acid in groups T2 and T3 increased (P < 0.05) by 66.67% and 105.7% as compared to control. In milk, total CLA increased by 2.03, 1.61 and 0.61 folds in T3, T2 and T1, respectively. Total monounsaturated fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid content increased (P < 0.05) in group T3 by 14.15 and 37.44%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Results of the present study indicated that administration of B. fibrisolvens In‐1 along with a linoleic acid (LA) source is a useful strategy to alter the biohydrogenation pattern in the rumen that subsequently decreased SFA content while increased CLA and unsaturated fatty acids in ruminant's milk. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Primary stapedotomy in children with otosclerosis: A prospective study of 41 consecutive cases
Authors: Vincent Robert , Wegner Inge , Vonck Bernard M. D. , Bittermann Arnold J. , Kamalski Digna M. A. , Grolman Wilko
Published: May 2015

Objectives/Hypothesis

To prospectively evaluate hearing outcomes in children with otosclerosis undergoing primary stapes surgery.

Study Design

A nonrandomized, nonblinded, prospective case series.

Methods

Thirty‐four consecutive pediatric patients who underwent 41 primary stapedotomies for otosclerosis in a tertiary referral center were included. Patients were included when there was evidence of otosclerotic stapes fixation and they had available postoperative pure‐tone audiometry. Patients underwent primary stapedotomy with vein graft interposition and reconstruction with a regular piston, bucket handle prosthesis, or total ossicular replacement prosthesis. Hearing results were evaluated using pre‐ and postoperative four‐frequency (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz) audiometry. Air‐conduction thresholds, bone‐conduction thresholds, and air‐bone gaps were measured. Postoperative audiometry was performed at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months after surgery and at a yearly interval thereafter.

Results

Overall, a postoperative air‐bone gap closure of 10 dB or less was achieved in 93% of cases and to within 20 dB in 98% of cases. Mean gain in air‐conduction threshold was 23 dB for the entire case series, and mean air‐bone gap closure was 23 dB. Postoperative sensorineural hearing loss, defined as changes in bone‐conduction thresholds exceeding 10 dB, occurred in one case at last follow‐up. The bone‐conduction threshold deteriorated 13 dB in this case.

Conclusion

Primary stapedotomy is a safe and feasible treatment option in children with juvenile otosclerosis.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 126:442–446, 2016
Varactor diode integrated dipole‐EBG base‐station antenna: Enhancing tilted radiation pattern
Authors: Kim Ilkyu , Park Byung‐chul , Lee Jeong‐Hae
Published: May 2015

The new dipole‐electromagnetic bandgap subarray antenna with an improved steerable beam is designed for base‐station antennas. The proposed antenna consists of four dipole array antenna mounted on the tunable mushroom structure to steer element pattern. Whereas past array antenna utilizes fixed element pattern, beam steering element pattern is used to track the maximum of the array pattern to improve the scan loss of the array pattern. A dipole antenna on 4 × 4 mushroom structure is designed as a compact single element capable of steerable radiation within 0°–27°. The consistent gain around 11.5–12.1 dB is achieved at 3.3 GHz within 0°–27° with the tilted element pattern whereas the gain reduces to 9.4–10.2 dB with fixed element pattern. The antenna radiation pattern is simulated and measured varying capacitances. The measured bandwidth of the antenna covers 3.2–3.55 GHz, which is partial WIMAX band. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:1794–1799, 2015
Miniaturized bandpass substrate integrated waveguide filter with frequency‐dependent coupling realized using asymmetric GCPW discontinuity
Authors: Jedrzejewski Andrzej , Szydlowski Lukasz , Mrozowski Michał
Published: May 2015

An asymmetric GCPW discontinuity is proposed to provide frequency‐dependent coupling in microwave bandpass filters. Wider and narrow sections introduce, respectively, the capacitive and inductive component to the equivalent circuit representing coupling. By selecting the dimensions of the discontinuity and width of the inductive window in substrate integrated waveguide, an additional transmission zero can be introduced at prescribed positions. A distinct feature of the proposed structure is a small footprint and low loss. As an example, a bandpass filter with a central frequency of 4.6 GHz and a 200 MHz passband is designed, and its performance is measured. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:1818–1821, 2015
Torsion sensing setup based on a three beam path Mach–Zehnder interferometer
Authors: Sierra‐Hernandez Juan M. , Castillo‐Guzman Arturo , Selvas‐Aguilar Romeo , Vargas‐Rodriguez Everardo , Gallegos‐Arellano Eloisa , Guzman‐Chavez Dinora. A. , Estudillo‐Ayala Julian M. , Jauregui‐Vazquez Daniel , Rojas‐Laguna Roberto
Published: May 2015

In this letter, a torsion sensing arrangement based on a three beam path Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) is presented. The MZI with three beam paths was fabricated by fusion splicing a piece of double ytterbium‐doped double‐cladding photonic crystal fiber (Yb‐d‐DPCF) between two segments of single mode fiber (SMF). Moreover, in our sensing arrangement the Yb‐d‐DPCF segment is acting both as the MZI as the gain medium. Here, a spectral MZI fringe shifting is induced by applying torsion over the Yb‐d‐DPCF. By this setup, a torsion sensitivity of 0.001 nm/° was achieved. Finally, it is shown that the sensing arrangement is compact and robust. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:1857–1860, 2015
Reconfigurable UWB antenna with electrically control for triple on‐demand rejection bandwidth
Authors: Nouri Mahdi , Aghdam Sajjad Abazari
Published: May 2015

A varactor diode reconfigurable ultra‐wideband antenna that with electrically controlling the rejects on‐demand WiMAX, WLAN, and C‐BAND signals in the entire 3.1–10.3 GHz range is presented. The antenna design, embedding the active devices, integration with the varactor diode, and biasing network are described. A method to vary the rejection on‐demanded bandwidth is also provided. The fabrication prototype is conformal and double‐sided. Results indicate a successful integration and minimal interference of the varactor diode voltage and biasing circuitry with the antenna, paving the road for more integrated reconfigurable antenna on communication systems using active devices technology. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:1894–1897, 2015
Development of small‐sized UWB antenna for binaural hearing AIDS
Authors: Byambaakhuu Batnairamdal , Lee Seung Min , Lee Sang‐Hoon , Cheon Changyul
Published: May 2015

This article introduces a new small‐sized antenna designed and produced for application in wireless binaural hearing aids. Taking into consideration the antenna position and design of binaural hearing aids, we suggest two different types of small antennas. To reduce the size of both antennas, we used a slot structure and a high‐dielectric constant material. The side that contacts the human skin was coated with a polydimethylsiloxane material that does not cause irritation even with long periods of usage. The proposed antennas were designed to be very small: the human‐body‐contact antenna is 4 × 3.2 × 0.201 mm, and the human‐body‐noncontact antenna is 4 × 4.5 × 0.735 mm. The two antennas operate at the center frequency of 8 GHz, and have an impedance bandwidth greater than 1 GHz. The characteristics of the return loss and radiation pattern were verified for these two antennas by performing the simulation using a three‐dimension phantom, which applied the human electrical properties and practical tests, and the communication performance were verified through the S21 experiment. In addition, by performing the location‐specific S21 experiment and comparing, the location with the best communication performance was determined. Experimental and simulation results in the Case 1 position showed excellent characteristics: the body‐contact antenna exhibited −55.8 dB, and the nonbody‐contact antenna exhibited −55.1 dB. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:1883–1889, 2015
Design of an ultrawideband planar circular metal antenna
Authors: Mondal Santanu , Sarkar Partha Pratim
Published: May 2015

In this article, a planar circular metal antenna is designed for ultrawideband applications. A modified design formula is proposed to predict the lower cut off frequency of the antenna. The error between theoretical and simulated lower cut off frequency is within 5% for variation of radius of the radiating element from 3 to 9 cm. A shorting strip is connected as a top inductive load to reduce the size of the antenna. The simulated and measured reflection coefficient, gain, and radiation pattern of the proposed shorted planar circular metal antenna are in good agreement. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:1925–1928, 2015
Scattering theory of waves by a perfectly conducting half‐screen between two different media
Authors: Umul Yusuf Ziya
Published: May 2015

The scattering process of electromagnetic waves by a half‐plane, located at the interface of two media with different dielectric constants, play an important role in the remote sensing applications and wireless technology for wave propagation over land‐sea transition. In this article, the diffracted fields are obtained for such geometry with the aid of a physical optics‐based method. A scattering integral is constructed for both of the media. The diffracted fields are obtained by the edge point technique and the constants, which were added to the diffraction coefficients, were evaluated from the continuity conditions across the transition of the two mediums. The uniform expressions of the diffracted waves are obtained and the results are investigated numerically. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:1928–1933, 2015
A compact octagonal fractal UWBMIMO antenna with WLAN band‐rejection
Authors: Tripathi Shrivishal , Mohan Akhilesh , Yadav Sandeep
Published: May 2015

In this article, a compact octagonal‐shaped fractal ultrawideband (UWB) multiple‐input‐multiple‐output (MIMO) antenna is presented and its characteristics are investigated. The application of Koch fractal geometry at the edges of octagonal monopole provides desired miniaturization and wideband phenomena due to its self‐similar and space filling properties. The two octagonal fractal antennas are placed orthogonal to each other and used to construct UWB MIMO antenna. An L‐shaped stub is used in the ground plane of the geometry to provide an improvement in the isolation. The band rejection in wireless local area network band is achieved by etching a C‐shaped slot from the monopole of the individual antenna. The compact dimension 40 × 25 mm2 of the antenna exhibits nearly omnidirectional radiation pattern, a low envelope correlation coefficient (<0.01), with good S‐parameters over the entire UWB frequency range. The measured results show good agreement with the simulated one. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:1919–1925, 2015
Miniaturized LTCC elliptic‐function lowpass filters with wide stopbands
Authors: Hsieh Lung‐Hwa , Dai Steve
Published: May 2015

A compact, high‐selectivity, and wide stopband lowpass filter is highly demanded in wireless communication systems to suppress adjacent harmonics and unwanted signals. In this letter, a new miniaturized lowpass filter with elliptic‐function frequency response is introduced. The filter is fabricated in multilayer low temperature cofired ceramics. The size of the miniaturized filter is 5.5 × 3.9 × 1.72 mm3. The measured insertion loss of the filter is better than 0.37 dB from DC to 1.28 GHz and the measured stopband of the filter is great than 22 dB from 2.3 to 7.5 GHz. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:1956–1957, 2015
Experimental research on silicon carbide photoconductive semiconductor switch
Authors: Sun Yanling , Yang Meng , Song Chaoyang , Guo Hui , Jiang Shuqing
Published: May 2015

Silicon carbide photoconductive semiconductor switches with the good performance of breakdown voltage above 10 kV and ∼16‐Ω minimum on‐resistance are fabricated and tested. A good electrical pulse output is obtained when the switch is triggered by optical pulses. The output performances with different bias voltages are discussed, and the results indicate that the nonlinear output will not occur with the bias voltage increasing. The effects of bias voltage and optical pulse energy on the on‐resistance are investigated. The performance of different switch samples is compared. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:1946–1948, 2015
A UWB semi‐ring MIMO antenna with isolation enhancement
Authors: Dhar Sagar K. , Sharawi Mohammad S.
Published: May 2015

In this article, an ultrawideband two element multiple‐input‐multiple‐output antenna is presented. The antenna is designed on a low cost FR4 substrate having an overall size of 50 × 90 × 1.52 mm3. The measured −10dB impedance bandwidth covers 1.85–10.6 GHz. The size of each radiator is 12 × 24 mm2 which is 0.011
where λ0 is the free space wavelength at 1.85 GHz. The minimum measured gain and efficiency are found to be 1.22 dBi and 51.8%, respectively. The isolation of the antenna is enhanced using a fork shaped structure. The measured isolation is more than 10 dB over the entire operating band. The measured envelop correlation coefficient is less than 0.16 while a diversity gain of approximately 9.5 dB is achieved. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:1941–1946, 2015
4D Flow MRI‐based pressure loss estimation in stenotic flows: Evaluation using numerical simulations
Authors: Casas Belen , Lantz Jonas , Dyverfeldt Petter , Ebbers Tino
Published: May 2015

Purpose

To assess how 4D flow MRI‐based pressure and energy loss estimates correspond to net transstenotic pressure gradients (TPGnet) and their dependence on spatial resolution.

Methods

Numerical velocity data of stenotic flow were obtained from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations in geometries with varying stenosis degrees, poststenotic diameters and flow rates. MRI measurements were simulated at different spatial resolutions. The simplified and extended Bernoulli equations, Pressure‐Poisson equation (PPE), and integration of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and viscous dissipation were compared against the true TPGnet.

Results

The simplified Bernoulli equation overestimated the true TPGnet (8.74 ± 0.67 versus 6.76 ± 0.54 mmHg). The extended Bernoulli equation performed better (6.57 ± 0.53 mmHg), although errors remained at low TPGnet. TPGnet estimations using the PPE were always close to zero. Total TKE and viscous dissipation correlated strongly with TPGnet for each geometry (r2 > 0.93) and moderately considering all geometries (r2 = 0.756 and r2 = 0.776, respectively). TKE estimates were accurate and minorly impacted by resolution. Viscous dissipation was overall underestimated and resolution dependent.

Conclusion

Several parameters overestimate or are not linearly related to TPGnet and/or depend on spatial resolution. Considering idealized axisymmetric geometries and in absence of noise, TPGnet was best estimated using the extended Bernoulli equation. Magn Reson Med 75:1808–1821, 2016. © 2015 The Authors. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance.
Second‐order motion‐compensated spin echo diffusion tensor imaging of the human heart
Authors: Stoeck Christian T. , von Deuster Constantin , Genet Martin , Atkinson David , Kozerke Sebastian
Published: May 2015

Purpose

Myocardial microstructure has been challenging to probe in vivo. Spin echo–based diffusion‐weighted sequences allow for single‐shot acquisitions but are highly sensitive to cardiac motion. In this study, the use of second‐order motion‐compensated diffusion encoding was compared with first‐order motion‐compensated diffusion‐weighted imaging during systolic contraction of the heart.

Methods

First‐ and second‐order motion‐compensated diffusion encoding gradients were incorporated into a triggered single‐shot spin echo sequence. The effect of contractile motion on the apparent diffusion coefficients and tensor orientations was investigated in vivo from basal to apical level of the heart.

Results

Second‐order motion compensation was found to increase the range of systolic trigger delays from 30%–55% to 15%–77% peak systole at the apex and from 25%–50% to 15%–79% peak systole at the base. Diffusion tensor analysis yielded more physiological transmural distributions when using second‐order motion‐compensated diffusion tensor imaging.

Conclusion

Higher‐order motion‐compensated diffusion encoding decreases the sensitivity to cardiac motion, thereby enabling cardiac DTI over a wider range of time points during systolic contraction of the heart. Magn Reson Med 75:1669–1676, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.