bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stress relaxation behavior of annealed aluminum-carbon nanotube composite
Authors: Mansoor Muhammad , Shahid Muhammad 
Published: November 2017

Abstract
The mechanical properties and stress relaxation behavior of annealed aluminum-carbon nanotube composite were studied and compared with those of pure aluminum. The composite was prepared using an induction furnace, where 1.6 vol.% of multiwall carbon nanotubes were added in aluminum as strengthening material. It was found that the mechanical strength of the annealed composite was almost twice that of aluminum. The stress relaxation behavior of both materials was logarithmic in nature. However, the stress relaxation, hardening component, and intrinsic height of the thermally activated barrier were significantly influenced by the presence of nanotubes in the aluminum matrix. It was found that the stress relaxation rate of the composite was reduced (>30%) and the hardening component was increased (>100%) compared with that of aluminum. The calculated strengths of the thermally activated barriers for aluminum and the composite were 1.7 and 2.6 eV, respectively.
Representation of doubly infinite matrices as non-commutative Laurent series
Authors: Arenas-Herrera María Ivonne , Verde-Star Luis 
Published: November 2017

Abstract
We present a new way to deal with doubly infinite lower Hessenberg matrices based on the representation of the matrices as the sum of their diagonal submatrices. We show that such representation is a simple and useful tool for computation purposes and also to obtain general properties of the matrices related with inversion, similarity, commutativity, and Pincherle derivatives. The diagonal representation allows us to consider the ring of doubly infinite lower Hessenberg matrices over a ring R as a ring of Laurent series in one indeterminate, with coefficients in the ring of R-valued sequences that don’t commute with the indeterminate.
Antiferromagnetic ordering in the plumbide EuPdPb
Authors: Heletta Lukas , Klenner Steffen , Block Theresa , Pöttgen Rainer 
Published: November 2017

Abstract
The plumbide EuPdPb was synthesized in polycrystalline form by reaction of the elements in a sealed niobium ampoule in a muffle furnace. The structure was refined from single-crystal X-ray diffractometer data: TiNiSi type, Pnma, a=752.4(2), b=476.0(2), c=826.8(2) pm, wR2=0.0485, 704 F
2 values and 20 variables. The europium atoms are coordinated by two tilted and puckered Pd3Pb3 hexagons (280–289 pm Pd–Pb) with pronounced Eu–Pd bonding (312–339 pm). Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements show Curie-Weiss behaviour and an experimental magnetic moment of 7.35(1) μB per Eu atom. EuPdPb orders antiferromagnetically at T
N=13.8(5) K and shows a metamagnetic transition at a critical field of 15 kOe. 151Eu Mössbauer spectra confirm divalent europium (δ=–10.04(1) mm s−1) and show full magnetic hyperfine field splitting (B
hf=21.1(1) T) at 6 K.
Liquid Water Confined in Cellulose with Variable Interfacial Hydrophilicity
Authors: Watermann Tobias , Sebastiani Daniel 
Published: November 2017

Abstract
We investigate liquid water confined within nanoscale cellulose slabs by means of molecular dynamics simulations. Depending on the construction of the cellulose–water interface, two different surface structures with distinct levels of hydrophilicity are exposed to the water. The different philicities are reflected in the response of the water phase to this geometric confinement, both in terms of the density profile and in the strength of the aqueous hydrogen bonding network. At the smooth surface cut along the (010) axis of the cellulose crystal, water shows typical properties of a hydrophilic confinement: the density shows fluctuations that disappear further away from the wall, the water molecules orient themselves and the coordination numbers increases at the interface. As a consequence, the water becomes “harder” at the interface, with a considerably increased local ordering. At the zigzag-shaped surface along the (111) axis, the degree of hydrophilicity is reduced, and only small effects can be seen: the density shows weak fluctuations, and the orientation of the water molecules is closer to that of bulk water than to the smooth surface. The local coordination numbers remains constant over the whole confinement. Our work shows that the nature of the exposed cellulose interface has a strong influence on how the structure of adjacent water is modified. The different ways of surface construction yield distinct degrees of hydrophilicity and spatial accessibility regarding the hydrogen bond network, resulting in a notably different interfacial water structure.
Effect of Moisture on Methane Permeation Through Fermenter Covering Films in Biogas Plants
Authors: Weber Marius , Arena Francesco , Konrad Andreas , Hempelmann Rolf 
Published: November 2017

Abstract
Methane permeation through polyamide and polyethylene mono and multilayer films has been measured via direct coupling of a gaschromatograph with a permeation measurement cell. Methane permeabilities [in cm3 (STP)·mm·d−1·bar−1·m−2] for single films were found to be 335 for polyethylene (PE) at 40°C, 0.64 for polyamide (PA) 6/6.6 with dry gas and 8.7 for PA 6/6.6 with water vapour saturated test gas. As a result, under operating conditions of biogas production facilities (40°C, water vapour saturated), the replacement of PE by PA, as biogas membrane on top of a fermenter, can reduce methane emission through permeation by a factor of about 40.
Mechanical Characterization of Granite Rock Materials: On the Influence from Pre-Existing Defects
Authors: Jelagin D. , Saadati M. , Jerjen I. , Larsson P.-L. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract
The length, orientation, and population of pre-existing cracks play an important role in the mechanical response of quasi-brittle materials, such as granite. Specifically, Bohus granite rock is at issue in the present investigation. The aims of this study are (1) to demonstrate the existence and characteristics of pre-existing defects (cracks) in granite rock specimens, and (2) to determine the influence from these defects at characterization of such materials. In doing so, X-ray tomography was the method used to visualize the cracking of three-point bending specimens in the context of pre-existing defects. It was also the intention to relate the experimentally determined effect of these cracks at three-point bending testing with corresponding results from numerical methods and specifically finite-element calculations. In the latter case, the location of these cracks was of primary interest and it was shown that this feature can be of considerable importance at material characterization.
Blast Performance of Demining Footwear: Numerical and Experimental Trials on Frangible Leg Model and Injury Modeling
Authors: Karahan M. , Karahan E. A. , Karahan N. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract
This study reveals the protective efficacy of a personal protective boot against mine blasts, both experimentally and numerically. By employing analyses conducted with the use of different amounts of explosives, the protective efficacy of the developed boot is compared to a typical military boot as reference. Both for analysis and verification tests, a ballistic gelatin covered frangible leg model was used. Strain energy that is exerted on the leg was determined with numerical analyses and verified with data obtained from strain gauges that were placed on the leg model. By employing the dynamic finite-element method, the physical injury that occurred to the leg model was examined and compared with the results of the blast test. The Type 2 boot decreased the strain energy by approximately 80 % compared with the Type 1 boot. This observation was also verified with measurements obtained from strain-gauge sensors placed along the tibia. It was observed that the damage occurring on the tibia was limited to local injuries and concentrated at a single spot without causing any fractures with the Type 2 boot. As a result of axial load, the leg with the Type 1 boot demonstrated fractures at several points rather than a fracture at a single point based on deflection. Hence, the latter case yields irremediable injuries.
Evaluation of Nano-ZnO Dispersed State in Bitumen with Digital Imaging Processing Techniques
Authors: Li R. , Dai Y. , Wang P. , Sun C. , Zhang J. , Pei J. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract
Nano-ZnO can be used as the tracer material to mark the asphalt, and the dispersion of nano-ZnO in the asphalt has an important impact on the mark effect; thus, it is important to study the dispersion state of nano-ZnO in asphalt. In order to achieve this goal, a method of sample preparation to make the nano-ZnO particle exposed to the asphalt surface, and a method for evaluating the dispersion state of nano-ZnO based on digital image processing technique, were put forward in this paper. In this quantitative evaluation system, scanning electron microscope and IPP software were used to scan the sample and output data; area ratio variation coefficient, number variation coefficient, and average particle size of nano-ZnO particle were used to evaluate the dispersion of nano-ZnO. Besides that, through the research of the dispersion state, the optimal dispersion conditions of nano-ZnO in asphalt were found out in this paper.
Performance Evaluation of Standalone Photovoltaic System with Isolated Dual-Inductor dc–dc Converter for Water-Pumping Application
Authors: Hussaini M. Mohammadha , Amala A. Josephine 
Published: November 2017

Abstract
This paper proposes a new dual inductor-based converter for an autonomous photovoltaic (PV) water pumping system without the use of a battery bank. This converter is used to provide continuous power to the three-phase induction motor drive directly from the PV array. The proposed system offers two boosting stages to boost the low value of PV array output voltage into a high-value dc voltage, which is required for the dc link of the three-phase inverter. The dual inductor-based converter provides power to the load in both the ON state and OFF state of the chopping switch over buck, boost, and Ćuk converters used in PV-integrated water pumping applications. The principle of operation of the proposed dual inductor-based converter-fed, three-phase induction motor are analyzed and discussed. The MATLAB simulation and experimental prototype results are presented to validate the performance of the proposed dual boost converter-fed, three-phase induction motor.
The Influence of Genetic Stability onAspergillus fumigatusVirulence and Azole Resistance
Authors: dos Reis Thaila Fernanda , Silva Lilian Pereira , de Castro Patrícia Alves , Almeida de Lima Pollyne Borborema , do Carmo Rafaela Andrade , Marini Marjorie Mendes , da Silveira José Franco , Ferreira Beatriz Henriques , Rodrigues Fernando , Malavazi Iran , Goldman Gustavo H 
Published: November 2017

AbstractGenetic stability is extremely important for the survival of every living organism, and a very complex set of genes has evolved to cope with DNA repair upon DNA damage. Here, we investigated the Aspergillus fumigatus AtmA (Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated, ATM) and AtrA kinases, and how they impact virulence and the evolution of azole resistance. We demonstrated that A. fumigatus atmA and atrA null mutants are haploid and have a discrete chromosomal polymorphism. The ΔatmA and ΔatrA strains are sensitive to several DNA-damaging agents, but surprisingly both strains were more resistant than the wild-type strain to paraquat, menadione, and hydrogen peroxide. The atmA and atrA genes showed synthetic lethality emphasizing the cooperation between both enzymes and their consequent redundancy. The lack of atmA and atrA does not cause any significant virulence reduction in A. fumigatus in a neutropenic murine model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and in the invertebrate alternative model Galleria mellonela. Wild-type, ΔatmA, and ΔatrA populations that were previously transferred 10 times in minimal medium (MM) in the absence of voriconazole have not shown any significant changes in drug resistance acquisition. In contrast, ΔatmA and ΔatrA populations that similarly evolved in the presence of a subinhibitory concentration of voriconazole showed an ∼5–10-fold increase when compared to the original minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values. There are discrete alterations in the voriconazole target Cyp51A/Erg11A or cyp51/erg11 and/or Cdr1B efflux transporter overexpression that do not seem to be the main mechanisms to explain voriconazole resistance in these evolved populations. Taken together, these results suggest that genetic instability caused by ΔatmA and ΔatrA mutations can confer an adaptive advantage, mainly in the intensity of voriconazole resistance acquisition.
Rapid and Efficient CRISPR/Cas9-Based Mating-Type Switching of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Xie Ze-Xiong , Mitchell Leslie A , Liu Hui-Min , Li Bing-Zhi , Liu Duo , Agmon Neta , Wu Yi , Li Xia , Zhou Xiao , Li Bo , Xiao Wen-Hai , Ding Ming-Zhu , Wang Ying , Yuan Ying-Jin , Boeke Jef D 
Published: November 2017

Abstract
Rapid and highly efficient mating-type switching of Saccharomyces cerevisiae enables a wide variety of genetic manipulations, such as the construction of strains, for instance, isogenic haploid pairs of both mating-types, diploids and polyploids. We used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate a double-strand break at the MAT locus and, in a single cotransformation, both haploid and diploid cells were switched to the specified mating-type at ∼80% efficiency. The mating-type of strains carrying either rod or ring chromosome III were switched, including those lacking HMLα and HMRa cryptic mating loci. Furthermore, we transplanted the synthetic yeast chromosome V to build a haploid polysynthetic chromosome strain by using this method together with an endoreduplication intercross strategy. The CRISPR/Cas9 mating-type switching method will be useful in building the complete synthetic yeast (Sc2.0) genome. Importantly, it is a generally useful method to build polyploids of a defined genotype and generally expedites strain construction, for example, in the construction of fully a/a/α/α isogenic tetraploids.
Delayed Encounter of Parental Genomes Can Lead to Aneuploidy in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Tartakoff Alan Michael , Dulce David , Landis Elizabeth 
Published: November 2017

Abstract
We have investigated an extreme deviation from the norm of genome unification that occurs during mating in the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This deviation is encountered when yeast that carry a mutation of the spindle pole body protein, Kar1, are mated with wildtype cells. In this case, nuclear fusion is delayed and the genotypes of a fraction of zygotic progeny suggest that chromosomes have “transferred” between the parental nuclei in zygotes. This classic, yet bizarre, occurrence is routinely used to generate aneuploid (disomic) yeast. [kar1 × wt] zygotes, like [wt × wt] zygotes, initially have a single spindle pole body per nucleus. Unlike [wt × wt] zygotes, in [kar1 × wt] zygotes, the number of spindle pole bodies per nucleus then can increase before nuclear fusion. When such nuclei fuse, the spindle pole bodies do not coalesce efficiently, and subsets of spindle pole bodies and centromeres can enter buds. The genotypes of corresponding biparental progeny show evidence of extensive haplotype-biased chromosome loss, and can also include heterotypic chromosomal markers. They thus allow rationalization of chromosome “transfer” as being due to an unanticipated yet plausible mechanism. Perturbation of the unification of genomes likely contributes to infertility in other organisms.
Aspectos del crédito hipotecario en el bienestar de las personas trabajadoras. El caso de la banca comercial y el INFONAVIT en México
Authors: Salmerón-Zapata Absalón José , García-Santillán Arturo , Moreno-García Elena , Texon-Dorantes Eyla Jeannete 
Published: November 2017

Más allá de presentar un estudio comparativo en donde se muestre en términos financieros el mayor beneficio posible para el trabajador, derivado de algún esquema de crédito hipotecario para la adquisición de una vivienda, el objetivo de este trabajo se centra en mostrar dos opciones de crédito para tal fin: una de estas opciones es el crédito hipotecario que ofrece la banca comercial de primer piso y otra opción es el crédito hipotecario a través del Instituto del Fondo Nacional para la Vivienda de los Trabajadores (INFONAVIT). Para ello fue necesario realizar un análisis financiero mediante el uso de modelos de amortización en su modalidad vencida. Los resultados indican que el financiamiento por parte de la banca de primer piso es la más conveniente, porque comparativamente, el monto de la mensualidad es más bajo y la vida del crédito hipotecario es más corta, asimismo la tasa de interés es más baja en la banca de primer piso. Sin embargo para quienes no puedan obtener un crédito por parte de la Banca comercial, las instituciones de seguridad social como el INFONAVIT resultan ser un escenario viable para adquirir dicha vivienda. Ambas opciones tienen sus beneficios, lo que lleva a pensar que la selección de la opción de crédito dependerá de la situación económica y laboral de la persona que solicite el crédito.
Ergonomics in laparoscopy: a questionnaire survey of physical discomfort and symptoms in surgeons following laparoscopic surgery
Authors: K. C. Madhu Shankar , K. Manjunath , Krishnappa Rohit 
Published: November 2017

Background: The prolonged and frequent use of laparoscopic equipment raises ergonomic risks that may cause physical distress for surgeons. We aimed to assess the prevalence of laparoscopic surgeons’ physical distress associated with ergonomic problems in the operating room (OR) and their awareness of the ergonomic guidelines in laparoscopy.Methods: A sample of 150 laparoscopic surgeons was assessed using a questionnaire on demographic information, ergonomic issues in the OR, musculoskeletal symptoms, and awareness of the ergonomic guidelines for the OR.Results: There were 112 survey respondents (74.3%) with valid questionnaires. Among the respondents 50% had completed laparoscopic training programs while 39.2% had no laparoscopic training. 61.5% respondents placed the operating table at umbilicus height during the actual operation. The majority of the respondents used only one monitor during the procedure. Only 4.3% placed the monitor below the eye level. 3% of the respondents attributed pain due to foot pedal design. The respondents experienced discomfort in the following regions in descending order: right shoulder (87.2%), left shoulder (78.3%), neck (67.4%), back (46.8%), hand (30.3%), leg (21.6%), and wrist (15.8%). The respondents with more than 5yrs of experience complained less discomfort than those with less than 5yrs. Only 54.6% of respondents were aware of the ergonomic guidelines. However, almost all of the respondents (100%) regarded the ergonomic guidelines to be important in the OR.Conclusions: Most of the laparoscopic surgeons were not aware of the ergonomic guidelines for the laproscopic OR; especially, junior laparoscopic surgeons and surgeons with <5 years of laparoscopic surgical experience were more affected. They have been suffering from varying degrees of physical discomfort caused by ergonomic issues. There is an urgent need for education regarding ergonomic guidelines in the OR for laparoscopic surgeons.
Control of cystic artery during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: clips versus ultrasonic energy devices which is better?
Authors: Venkatapuram Mahidhar Reddy , Sateesh Sreeram 
Published: November 2017

Background: This study was undertaken to know whether clip usage or ultrasonic energy application, obtains better haemostasis of cystic artery during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Methods: About 80 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were selected on a prospective basis and divided into two equal groups- A and B. a comparative study was done between the two group. Clips were used to control cystic artery in group A patients and ultrasonic energy device was used for the same in group B.Results: In group A, 2 patients had clip slippage intraoperatively which was dealt by reapplication of clips.in group B,1 patient had intraoperative bleeding from cystic artery few minutes after application of ultrasonic energy which was dealt by bipolar cauterization. In both the groups no, postoperative bleeding was encountered.Conclusions: During laparoscopic cholecystectomy, clip usage and ultrasonic energy application are equally competent in achieving haemostasis of cystic artery.
VAAFT versus fistulectomy in the management of anorectal fistulae: a comparative study?
Authors: Venkatapuram Mahidhar Reddy , Sateesh Sreeram 
Published: November 2017

Background: Among the perianal diseases Fistula in ano is a very common condition bringing lot of discomfort to the patient with a high rate of recurrence as well. Conventionally fistulectomy has been the treatment of choice for fistula-in-ano. But the procedure is associated with lot of recurrence, morbidity and sphincter incontinence. Among several recent procedures VAAFT-video assisted anal fistula treatment is gaining popularity. So, we conducted this study to know the effectiveness of VAAFT over conventional fistulectomy.Methods: This prospective comparative study was undertaken to compare VAAFT and fistulectomy in the management of fistula-in-ano. A one-year study was carried out on 50 patients from mid-2015 to 2016. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess pain in the postoperative period. All patients were observed for one-year period for any recurrence of disease. Results were statistically analysed by SPSS 15.0 software.Results: two groups were formed among the 50 patients selected for study. There was male preponderance in both the groups. majority of patients belonged to 31-40 years of age group. Majority of the patients had low anal fistulae followed by patients with high anal fistulae and anorectal fistulae in that order. There was recurrence of disease in 12% of people operated by fistulectomy whereas it was only 1% in group who underwent VAAFT.Conclusions: VAAFT procedure offered significantly less recurrence rates in comparison with fistulectomy. There was less postoperative pain and nil complications after surgery. Patient satisfaction was high. Our study concluded VAAFT as a safe and effective procedure alternative to conventional fistulectomy.